Hong Kong: CE meets Thai Prime Minister Chief Executive John Lee met Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at Government House today. Mr Lee welcomed Mr Sretthas visit to Hong Kong and congratulated him on his election as the 30th Thai Prime Minister. Mr Lee said Hong Kong and Thailand enjoy close economic and trade relations, noting that Thailand is Hong Kongs fourth largest trading partner among member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while Hong Kong is the fourth largest overseas investor in Thailand. He expressed hope that Hong Kong and Thailand can maintain a close relationship and strengthen their economic and trade co-operation. Mr Lee also thanked Thailand for supporting Hong Kongs early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. He said Hong Kong can serve as an important hub connecting the Mainland with other economies and contribute towards mutually beneficial regional economic development. Stressing that Hong Kong is fully committed to promoting people-to-people bonds with regions along the Belt & Road, particularly Southeast Asian countries, Mr Lee said that tens of thousands of Thai residents living in Hong Kong have brought vibrancy to the citys diverse culture and made significant contributions to its socio-economic development. He added that it is encouraging that Thailands travel market has rapidly recovered, with the number of Thai visitors to Hong Kong between June and August this year exceeding 90% of the level seen before the pandemic. He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government looks forward to continuing to collaborate with the Thai Government to promote cultural exchange between the two places. This story has been published on: 2023-10-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Interview: Swiss business leader upbeat on BRI, Sino-Swiss economic cooperation 08:38, October 09, 2023 By Martina Fuchs ( Xinhua GENEVA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Felix Sutter, president of the Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), on Sunday expressed his optimism for the economic cooperation and trade outlook between the two countries. "It's a great initiative. When it launched 10 years ago, it was something totally new for the world. It was a revival of century and millennium-old trade corridors and trade routes. The modernization of trade called for a relaunch of these ancient channels," Felix Sutter told Xinhua in an interview via video link. "The full realization of the Belt and Road Initiative and its objectives will take decades to achieve. It's not something that only takes 10 years," he emphasized. Proposed by China in 2013, BRI aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and beyond along the ancient Silk Road trade routes for common development and prosperity. Pointing out the importance that regional and non-Chinese companies get involved in realizing BRI projects, Sutter said, "For a prosperous and unified global economy, we have to make sure that every country and everyone can contribute and participate in building this infrastructure in a relevant and cost-efficient manner." "China plays an important role in the global economy and the Belt and Road Initiative certainly helped, especially in terms of connecting eco hubs and eco centers together," he said. Statistics show that from 2013 to 2022, China's trade in goods with Belt and Road countries increased from 1.04 trillion U.S. dollars to 2.07 trillion U.S. dollars, while two-way investment exceeded 270 billion U.S. dollars. According to a World Bank research report, by 2030, the BRI will increase trade among participating countries by 2.8 percent to 9.7 percent, global trade by 1.7 percent to 6.2 percent, and global income by 0.7 percent to 2.9 percent. Commenting on the Chinese economic outlook, Sutter expressed his optimism, citing China's big market, advanced technologies and a lot of experienced entrepreneurs as its advantages. China's gross domestic product grew 5.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2023, according to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics. The International Monetary Fund forecast in July that China's economy will grow 5.2 percent this year. Since 2010, China has been Switzerland's biggest trading partner in Asia and third largest globally after the European Union and the United States. A bilateral free trade agreement was signed in 2013 and entered into force in July 2014. Noting that Sino-Swiss economic cooperation is of high quality and well-established in the past 73 years and "the last 30, 40 years have been much more powerful," Sutter said, "We need entrepreneurs on both sides who talk to each other ... so that we can grow further together, and our bridge can get wider and stronger." (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) Secretary of State Antony Blinken watches President Joe Biden gives remarks on Oct. 7, 2023, about the Hamas attacks on Israel at the White House. (HAIYUN JIANG/Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times) It was the worst attack on the state of Israel in 50 years. About 1,000 terrorists affiliated with Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad sneaked into Israel from Gaza by air, land and sea, surprising the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, and catching the normally capable Israeli intelligence services by complete surprise. The attack was as devastating as it was lethal. At the time of writing, Israeli security forces were still trying to flush out terrorist fighters holed up in small Israeli towns close to the Gaza border. This is our 9/11, a spokesperson for the IDF said. They got us. Advertisement More than 700 Israelis were killed in a single day. Nine Americans lost their lives as well, according to the State Department. Dozens of people have been kidnapped by Palestinian militants and sent back to Gaza, presumably to be used as bargaining chips in prison release negotiations. The Hamas rocket fire continues, forcing hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the immediate area to run to bomb shelters. Amid the chaos, numerous questions are swirling. Most of them dont have clear answers at the moment. Advertisement The most immediate question on the list: How exactly will Israel respond? In a way, the Israelis are already responding, pummeling Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip for the last two days. Israel struck 2,400 Hamas targets, from command-and-control facilities to rocket manufacturing sites, on Monday alone. The death toll in the densely packed enclave is substantial, with more than 550 people killed in the airstrikes thus far. How many are militants as opposed to civilians, its impossible to say. Airstrikes have been Israels de facto response to attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip over the last decade. Ever since the 2014 war against Hamas, successive Israeli governments have been highly dubious about ground operations in the area, if only because they would entail a high cost. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus strategy on Gaza has relied on a mixture of carrots and sticks: periodic strikes on Hamas installations when necessary and, on occasion, the relaxation of economic restrictions to induce better behavior from the de facto Hamas government there. The goal wasnt to topple Hamas but to maintain a stable equilibrium and a degree of quiet for Israels southern border communities. Of course, last weekends attacks were of such gravity that this well-worn playbook is no longer of use. The IDF has called up 300,000 reservists and sent them to the southern front. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of the enclave, with electricity, food and fuel all prevented from entering. Its increasingly difficult to believe that so many Israeli troops would be called up and deployed close to the Gaza border only to have them sit there and perform guard duty. A large-scale ground invasion of Gaza seems more and more a question of when, not if. In which case, the international community should prepare itself for the situation to get even worse before it gets better. Regarding the U.S., to what extent will the Israeli-Palestinian violence undermine the Biden administrations other priorities in the Middle East? 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 > The White House has big dreams in this region. Senior administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, have spent considerable time and diplomatic capital trying to cement a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Blinken has described a hypothetical Israeli-Saudi pact as one with transformative potential. Sullivan and Brett McGurk, President Joe Bidens top Middle East adviser, have traveled to Saudi Arabia multiple times and no doubt have had even more conversations with their Saudi colleagues over the phone on the technicalities and modalities of such a deal. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was fully invested in moving relations with Israel out into the open, even if he was also asking for an exorbitantly high price from the United States in the process (including a U.S. defense guarantee and support for a Saudi-based nuclear program with enrichment capability). The Hamas assault in Israel, though, may have unraveled the normalization track U.S. officials were so desperate to consummate. The Israelis were disappointed with the statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry immediately after the attack, which all but blamed the Israelis for creating an explosive situation. Given the impending Israeli ground incursion into Gaza, Prince Mohammed will now be extremely cautious before proceeding with the normalization process. For the Saudis to continue with business as usual at a time when its highly likely the Israeli military will be battling Palestinian militants in the streets of Gaza and with all the civilian casualties such battles will entail is just not practical from Riyadhs standpoint. Israel-Saudi normalization may not be dead in the water yet, but it will probably be frozen until the impending war in Gaza is over whenever that might be. Finally, we shouldnt forget about the Biden administrations Iran policy either. The White House continues to have a line of communication open with the Iranians, at least indirectly. Last month, Washington and Tehran finalized a prisoner exchange after more than a year of negotiations, and if reports are accurate, the two have entered into an informal arrangement that aims to deescalate the situation between them. Advertisement Yet if Iran was involved in the attack on Israel in some way, as unnamed Hamas and Hezbollah sources indicated to The Wall Street Journal, the White House might have to make a determination as to whether its current policy is sustainable. And, if not, what adaptations it needs to make to better meet U.S. interests. Policymaking is never an easy job. For those responsible for the Middle East, the job just got even harder. Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to Delhi police on a plea seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death of two students of IIT Delhi. Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar issued notice on the petition and directed Delhi police to file the status report. These incidents are from July and September 2023. The matter is listed on October 19 for the hearing. This petition has been moved by the family members of the deceased students. The petitioner's counsel Mehmood Pracha argued that the deceased students belong to the SC community. No FIR is registered. There are allegations of caste discrimination by other students and teachers. ASG appeared on behalf of the Central Government and submitted that there was no complaint received all these years. A total of 18 students of SC/ST were examined who said that they never faced any discrimination, ASG argued. How these students were performing, Justice Bhatnagar asked. The counsel for the petitioner submitted that they were doing well. On the other, ASG rebutted that these students were not good at studies. This present petition has been moved by Amit Kumar, Vidya Devi and Sushma through advocate Mehmood Pracha and Jatin Bhatt. It is stated that the sons of Petitioners Vidya Devi and Sushma have died on the premises of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The son of Vidya Devi died on the night of September 1, while the son of Sushma died on the night of July 8 this year. Both the students belonged to the Scheduled Caste communities and suffered atrocities and discrimination on this account, the plea alleged. The petitioners have made a Central Government, Delhi Police, DCP, SHO, IIT Delhi, CBI and Delhi government respondents in the petition. It is alleged that the facts surrounding the deaths of students Anil Kumar and Ayush Ashna suggest that the deceased persons were murdered. However, despite repeated complaints by the Petitioners, no action has been taken by the authorities. The petitioners have sought direction from police authorities or CBI to register appropriate FIRs in the cases involving the deaths of the students. The petitioner has also prayed to direct an independent inquiry into case-based atrocities being committed on the premises of the IIT Delhi. It has also sought strict compliance and implementation of provisions of the SC/ST(POA)Act,1989 and rules and regulations under the SC/ST(POA) Rules 1995. (ANI) Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that freebies announced ahead of polls sport the "tadka of populism" and political parties find that it is difficult to implement such promises and either do not make good their pledges or stop it entirely after they come to power. "As you said there is some announcement in one state or some other in another state, don't know why they forget for five years and at the end make announcements one month or 15 days - (ahead of poll dates announcements). Anyway, that is within the domain of the state governments," the CEC said. The chief poll officer was responding to questions at a media briefing on how the commission was reining in such practices and what according to them was the definition of a freebie. "Such freebies announcements have the 'tadka' of populism. Implementing the freebies and otherwise, both are difficult (choices)," CEC Kumar said. "You are aware that the Commission had issued a proforma which is in the public domain...This proforma basically says that political parties have the right to say in their manifesto what they are going to do. At the same time, the voters also have the right to know when they will be implemented, how much, and how. The proforma asks what is your debt to GDP ratio, interest payments to total revenue receipts, whether you will breach FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act) targets, whether you will cut allocation in other schemes to fulfil the manifesto, and whether they will put additional taxes (on citizens). So, the intention was to bring everything into the public domain," CEC Kumar said. "Another thing is present versus future generations. Are you not mortgaging the future generations? So there is a balance that needs to come so that voters must know the picture that is coming out of the financial fundamentals," the chief added. Further, CEC said the public has the right to know how the political parties would fulfil those freebies so that they can make an informed choice. "The commission has already issued this circular (proforma) and done the political party consultations. But as you are aware, the matter is subjudice and the commision will act as soon as there is clarity and the decision is available on the subject," the CEC said. The Election Commission today announced the schedule for assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana. Polls will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30. Counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. Of the five states, polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. Congress and BJP are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Telangana is expected to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and BJP. (ANI) A day after condemning the "brutal attack" on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Congress on Monday extended support for Palestinians. A resolution passed during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today, the party called for a ceasefire. The resolution passed by Congress supported the rights of the Palestinian people. "The CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days. The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect," the resolution passed by the Congress said. It further said that the CWC calls for an "immediate cease-fire and for negotiations" to begin on all outstanding issues including the imperative issues that have given rise to the present conflict. Earlier on Sunday, the Congress appeared cautious and avoided questioning the Government on its stand in relation to the fresh conflict which can have domestic electoral ramifications. "The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop," Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, the death toll in Israel has jumped to 800 Israelis since Saturday's attack. According to the Israeli government, over 2400 people have been injured as well, according to Hebrew media reports. Earlier 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). (ANI) In order to remove difficulties faced by the Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has increased the monetary ceiling of gold loans under Bullet Repayment Scheme from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh for UCBs to meet prescribed Priority Sector Lending (PSL) target, Ministry of Cooperation said on Monday. The move is part of various initiatives taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of Cooperation to strengthen cooperatives and treat them at par with other forms of economic entities, both as beneficiaries and participants. The RBI on Friday announced the increase in the monetary ceiling of gold loans that can be granted under the bullet repayment scheme from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4 lakh for UCBs who have met the overall PSL target and sub-targets as of March 31. The Ministry of Cooperation recently had also taken another historic decision to provide funds to the registrar of cooperatives of states and Union Territories (UTs) and Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs) by the Center for computerisation. The total estimated expenditure for this scheme will be Rs 225.09 crore and it will enable people to quickly access services provided by the cooperative departments of the states and the offices of ARDBs as well as bring transparency and uniformity in the functioning of these offices, which will make them more efficient and save the time. On the lines of the computerization scheme of all Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) in the country, a centrally sponsored scheme has been approved for the computerization of 1,851 units of ARDBs of 13 states through a national unified software and computerization of offices of Registrar of Cooperatives of all states and UTs similar to Central Registrar. (ANI) Troops of the Trishakti Corps Indian Army are undertaking operations at a massive scale to reconnect villages cut off after the flash flood. The focus of the operations is towards restoring connectivity to North Sikkim through Chungthang, which was the worst affected during the devastating flood that occurred after the landslides, the Indian Army said in a statement. Troops of the Indian Army undertook a challenging operation through difficult terrain and have reached the isolated village of Rabom, North West of Chungthang and rescue of 150-200 civilians are underway. Over the last five days, multipronged efforts have been launched. These include ensuring the sustenance of all places cut off by troops present there, reaching out to places cut off and where troops are not present, restoration of communication and connectivity to the cut-off places for immediate use, damage assessment and planning for long-term reconstruction work. Immediately the account has been taken of all tourists and locals in the areas of Chaten, Lachen, Lachung and Thangu in North Sikkim. A list of 2000 tourists including 63 foreign nationals has been compiled and assistance is being provided in terms of food, medical aid, accommodation and telephone connectivity. A helpline was established through which, relatives of all the tourists are informed about the well-being of the tourists. "This effort will continue till they are evacuated. With the improvement in the weather, air evacuation of tourists has started on October 9. Another action being undertaken by the Indian Army is to reconnect the villages that have been cut off," the Army said. Towards that end, a log bridge over Lachen Chu connecting Chungthang to Pegong has been completed by troops of the Indian Army along with ITBP and locals, it added. Meanwhile, the Indian Army and BRO with the assistance of ITBP troops launched a footbridge from Chungthang's side. Special teams were launched on October 7 to open the route to Chaten via Rabom. The teams, launched from Chaten and Chungthang side moved over difficult terrain under inclement weather and reached Rabom village on the night of October 8. A foot link-up has thus been established and assistance is being provided to the 150-200 civilians stranded in the area. Simultaneously, an assessment of the damage and plans for restoring road communication in the entire state has been completed by DG BRO and Senior Engineer officials of the Indian Army. A number of meetings with the State Government and all agencies have been held and ground reconnaissance has been carried out by the team, in some of which, even the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Mr PS Tamang was present. The CM has assured of all assistance in terms of availability of land, forest clearance etc for the reconstruction work. To ensure the sustenance of the people at Chungthang, rations have been provided to the Gurudwara at Chungthang. Medical aid is being provided at all locations and so far more than 1500 patients have been treated by the Trishakti Healers. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday extended interim bail granted to senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on medical grounds till October 18 in an alleged money laundering case. The matter was listed before a bench of Justice AS Bopanna and Bela M Trivedi, who listed the matter for further hearing on October 18 "List the matter on October 18 at 3 pm as the matter cannot be taken up for consideration today," the court said. "In the meanwhile, the interim bail, granted earlier, is extended till the next date of hearing i.e. October 18, 2023," the court added. Jain has undergone surgery on July 21. The interim bail given to Jain on medical grounds has been extended from time to time. On May 26, the top court granted interim bail to Satyendar Jain for six weeks in the money laundering case but imposed various conditions including that he should not talk to the media or leave Delhi without permission. The top court had also given Jain to choose any hospital of his choice for his medical treatment. The top court had made it clear that interim bail is considered in medical conditions. The AAP leader's lawyer had told the top court that he had lost 35 kg and turned into a skeleton due to this. Satyendar Jain has moved the top court challenging the Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail plea in the money laundering case against him. On April 6, the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail plea of Jain, stating that the applicant is an influential person and has the potential of tampering with evidence. The HC had kept the order reserved on March 21 after the conclusion of the submissions made by the defence and prosecution sides after multiple hearings. During arguments in the High Court, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju appeared for the Enforcement Directorate contented that money laundering is crystal clear against Jain and other co-accused. In his bail plea, Jain stated, "I appeared before ED on 7 occasions. I have cooperated and participated in the investigation." On November 17, 2022, the trial court dismissed the bail petition of Satyendar Jain. He was arrested on May 30, 2022, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate and is presently in Judicial Custody in the case. The ED case is based on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) complaint registered on the allegation that Satyender Jain had acquired movable properties in the name of various persons from February 14, 2015, to May 31, 2017, which he could not satisfactorily account for. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of the Union Government on a plea moved by former Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy seeking information regarding "Chinese encroachment" on Indian territory under the Right to Information Act, 2005. The petition stated that the said second Appeal has now been pending for more than five months without any resolution, and even without a date assigned for a hearing. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notice to the Union Government on a plea moved by Subramanian Swamy. Petitioner has prayed for a direction to CIC to dispose of the petitioner's RTI Second Appeal dated March 14, 2023. Swamy has sought expeditious disposal of his RTI second appeal before the Central Information Commission. He has also sought direction on the respondent authorities to give a effective response to his RTI application that he filed on November 10 last year. Petitioner has made Union Ministry Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence respondents. Swamy filed the RTI application on November 10, 2022, seeking information on Chinese encroachment on the Indian territory. It is Swamy's case that his RTI application was transferred between various departments even after the expiry of the timeline as per the RTI Act. He then filed a first appeal in January which was also transferred between various departments and thus, he received no effective resolution. The First Appeal was also transferred between various departments and received no effective resolution. The petitioner Swamy received, a letter dated March 3, 2023, from Director (G) and First Appellate Authority, Department of Military Affairs, Ministry of Defence, by which the said officer transferred the Petitioner's First Appeal to the Ministry of External Affairs, while also "disposing off" the First Appeal of the Petitioner.The petition has further stated that Aggrieved by the non-resolution of his RTI Query or his First Appeal, the petitioner approached the Chief Information Commission in second Appeal dated March 13, 2023, which was registered. It is also stated that the petitioner received a letter dated March 15, 2023, from the Ministry of External Affairs, once again informing him that his Appeal has been transferred, after filing of the Second Appeal. Thereafter, the petitioner sent a letter to the Chief Information Commissioner, requesting him to hear the second appeal expeditiously, dated March 27, 2023, to which the petitioner never received a response. The second appeal is pending with the Ministry of Home Affairs to date, without been heard even once, the plea said. The matter will now be heard on January 8. (ANI) According to Delhi Police, the incident took place under the limits of Naraina police station. Sanjay, a resident of Rajeev Camp, works as a plumber and he got stuck while maintaining the lift, they said. "A PCR was received at Naraina police station regarding the incident. Immediately, the local police reached the spot. With the help of a local technician, the lift was opened and the injured person was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead brought dead," police said. "There was some issue of water logging in the lift area, for which he was called. While he was examining that area, the lift moved and he got stuck," police added. An investigation into the matter is underway. Further information is awaited. (ANI) The Indian Air Force airlifted 149 civilians stranded in Lachen and Lachung villages of Skikim's Mangan District on Monday, said a press release. The airlift came after six days of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in South Lhonak Lake, which created havoc across the Teesta basin in Sikkim and North Bengal, said the official statement. The airlift was carried out by the Indian Air Force using M8, F4, F7, C2, MI 17 and Chinook helicopters after the weather in North Sikkim cleared on Monday, added the official statement. According to the press release, the rescued airlifted civilians included 29 people from Chaten Village in Lachen, while 120 people were rescued from the Lachung village. The official release further mentioned that Lachen-Mangan MLA, Samdup Lepcha, also reached Chaten on Monday along with Mangan District Magistrate, Hem Kumar Chettri, and Superintendent of Police, Sonam Dechu Bhutia, where they met Lachen Pipons (local panchayats) and village elders. SP Bhutia informed that a total of 523 tourists were left stranded in Lachen and 60-80 civilians including tourists and locals will be evacuated tomorrow. According to the official release, the Mangan SP further said that the people in Lachen are facing LPG cylinder shortages and there is no electricity supply. We have promised to ferry medicines tomorrow through airlift but in terms of LPG cylinders, they will have to consider using firewood for the time being, he added. SP Bhutia further informed that two civilians in Zemu Village, a husband and wife working as General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) guards are missing and there is a possibility that they might have been swept by the GLOF but still the search and rescue mission for the couple is still going on. The Mangan SP further said that in Munshithang, the village has been severely damaged but no person is missing or dead. The Trishakti Troops of the Indian Army also rescued 150-200 civilians from Rabom Village, North West of Chungthang on Monday, said the press release. SP Bhutia informed that Chaten Power House inaugurated by CM Prem Singh Golay in September is safe, added the release. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore on Monday said that his party is ready to fight the 'war' and will leave no stone unturned for winning the Rajasthan assembly elections scheduled to be held on November 23. Rathore, an MP from Jaipur Rural has been named as the party candidate from Jaipur's Jhotwara seat in the first list of 41 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls. Speaking to ANI, Rathore thanked the top leadership of the party for fielding him in the assembly polls of Rajasthan. "A new zeal comes among the workers that a few people who used to work with PM Modi and who PM Modi has seen carefully are being fielded in the Vidhan Sabha election. We are ready to fight a war, we will leave no seat, no morcha. This is a good message...This is a battle for this country. I am thankful that the BJP workers and PM Modi believed that I would be able to replicate the kind of work that I did as an MP, in Vidhan Sabha. A major change is required in Rajasthan..." Rathore, the former union minister said. On being asked about the party's CM face for the upcoming Rajasthan election, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said that the politics of report card takes place within the party. "The most important thing is for a team to work in such a manner that can do politics of development in Rajasthan and bring a change. The 'politics of face' that happened in the last 5 years has ruined Rajasthan...Report Card politics takes place in BJP - not dynasty but report card..." the BJP leader added. Rathore also said that the BJP will contest the elections on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's face and will deliver good governance. "We will bring governance in Rajasthan in line with PM Modi's image. We will have zero tolerance on terrorism, appeasement and corruption," he told reporters. The BJP, on Monday, released its first list of the candidates for the Rajasthan elections. Seven MPs have been named in the first list of 41 candidates by the BJP for the Rajasthan elections, just hours after the Election Commission announced the poll dates. The seven MPs and the seats they will contest from include Diya Kumari (Vidhyadhar Nagar), Bhagirath Choudhary (Kishangarh), Kirodi Lal Meena (Sawai Madhopur), Devji Patel (Sanchore), Narendra Kumar (Mandawa), Rajyavardhan Rathore (Jhotwara) and Baba Balaknath (Tijara). According to the BJP, the names were finalised at a meeting of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) that was chaired by the BJP chief JP Nadda on October 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also attended the meeting. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will go to polls on different days from November 7-30 and votes will be counted for the five states on December 3. According to the Election Commission of India, voting for all 40 assembly seats in Mizoram will take place on November 7 along with the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh. The remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17 alongside all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Voting for all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on November 23, while the 119-member Telangana Assembly will be the last to go to polls on November 30. Counting of votes for all five states will take place on December 3, CEC Kumar said. While Congress is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by BJP, Telangana by Bharat Rashtra Samithi and Mizoram by Mizo National Front (MNF). (ANI) Chicago, already grappling with a daunting budget deficit of $538 million for fiscal year 2024 and a possible $1.9 billion shortfall by 2026, now faces a crisis exacerbated by the unchecked surge in new immigrant arrivals. The city has poured more than $100 million into accommodating these newcomers, with the immigration care cost estimate skyrocketing to a staggering $345 million by years end. This number is poised to climb even higher as the daily influx of immigrants, particularly from Texas, continues unabated, with about 25 buses of new arrivals coming per day. As a result, the current monthly expenditures of $30 million may double or even triple, as the city inexplicably refuses to take action to limit new arrivals or control expenditures. Advertisement The sanctuary city program, with its unsustainable financial implications, now threatens Chicago with a fiscal Armageddon that its residents will ultimately pay for. We are witnessing the grim consequences of this policy in the failure of Mayor Brandon Johnsons signature program, Treatment Not Trauma. Originally intended to create alternatives to police responses to 911 calls and connect troubled Chicagoans with critical mental health and intervention services, this initiative has produced only a working group studying the possibility of reopening six closed mental health centers by the end of the mayors first term. One cant help but imagine what could be achieved with the funds being spent on Chicagos self-inflicted immigration crisis. Community mental health centers, opioid and drug addiction centers, and essential occupational training centers could all be established. Likewise, much-needed teenage, young adult and reentry work programs could be financed, which could help combat the ongoing crime epidemic. According to the University of Illinois at Chicagos Great Cities Institute, there are more than 66,000 jobless young adults ages 20 to 24 in Chicago alone, and youth unemployment remains a significant contributor to the citys crime problem. Advertisement Regrettably, the citys leadership appears more inclined to demand additional funding from the state and federal governments rather than addressing the root of the issue by controlling arrivals and expenditures. Johnsons floor leader, Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, 35th, has even publicly criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker for a perceived lack of support. However, Pritzker rightly points out that the state has already allocated $330 million, a sum that continues to grow, to assist the city with the crisis. The success of American immigrants, of all races, has historically been grounded in their ability to secure employment or start their own businesses, not in relying on government assistance. Immigration has undoubtedly been a cornerstone of Americas success, but it should not entail a policy devoid of border control and that creates greater government dependency. Chicago should establish a firm cap on the number of new arrivals and collaborate fully with the federal government to enforce immigration laws, while also expediting immigrants entry into the workforce by granting temporary work permits and business licenses. At the state level, Pritzker should be as bold as Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas and demand that he end the public transportation of immigrants to cities such as Chicago. Furthermore, he should urge the Biden administration to regulate interstate commerce to put a stop to government-sponsored and taxpayer-funded human trafficking. In the interim, Pritzker could deploy the state police and even the National Guard to intercept buses transporting immigrants from the South, conducting inspections and cataloging passengers identities upon entry into the state. This proactive approach is crucial, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and mothers, allowing for better management and allocation of resources. However, such coordinated leadership seems absent at the city level. As Chicagos crisis deepens, it is crucial for the Black community, which will bear the brunt of the diversion of millions of dollars to immigrant programs, not to unfairly blame the Latino community. Both communities share concerns about the immigrant influx, which will result in fewer police officers, reduced investment in underresourced communities, diminished city services and higher taxes and fees. 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 > In conclusion, Chicago must implement a strict cap on the influx of new immigrants while removing obstacles for newcomers to secure jobs that contribute to the citys economy. Transparency, accountability and responsible fiscal management must be applied to spending on immigrants. Its time for the citys leadership to prioritize the well-being of its residents and address the immigration crisis in a manner that respects the rule of law and the principles that have made America great. Advertisement Paul Vallas is an adviser for the Illinois Policy Institute. He ran for Chicago mayor this year and in 2019 and was previously budget director for the city and CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Balaji was taken to the government-run Stanley Medical College in Chennai early on Monday morning. https://x.com/ANI/status/1711260661886693468?s=20 The DMK leader, lodged at the Central Prison in Puzhal was brought in for a health check-up after he developed chest pain. Balaji, who currently holds no portfolio in the MK Stalin-led DMK government in the state, was seen entering the hospital in a wheelchair amid tight security. Senthil Balaji, after his arrest on June 14, had complained of chest pain and was subsequently taken to a government hospital in Chennai. He was later allowed by the Madras High Court on June 15 to be shifted to a private hospital of his choice and was later taken from the Tamil Nadu government's Multi Super Speciality Hospital to Kauvery Hospital at Alwarpet. Doctors treating him had recommended a bypass surgery. Since his second remand period was valid till July 19, Balaji was shifted to prison immediately after his discharge from the hospital. Balaji was under the PMLA in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam in the Tamil Nadu transport department when he was the transport minister in the erstwhile AIADMK government led by the late J Jayalalithaa. (ANI) Pattali Makkal Katchi President Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Monday appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to conduct the caste-based census in the state, similar to the lines conducted in Bihar. Ramadoss, while speaking to ANI, said that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin should announce to conduct the survey in the session of the Assembly. "PMK has been fighting for a caste-based census for the last 40 years. When we were a part of the UPA govt in 2004 and 2009, we put a lot of pressure on the then Home Minister to bring out caste-based enumeration in the census. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Today, Bihar has done caste-based census and this should be followed by all states. Tamil Nadu government should do it and CM should announce it in this session of the Assembly...Actually, the Government of India should conduct a caste-based census," the PMK President said. 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) Vodafone Idea has filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court in relation to judgment that had dismissed pleas by telecom companies seeking correction of errors in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues payable by them. Senior advocate Harish Salve mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that a curative petition has been filed. "This court has said there are arithmetical errors and this is a curative plea," Salve told the bench. In September 2020, the Supreme Court had granted telecom companies a period of 10 years to clear their pending AGR dues to the Central government, with a 10 per cent payment to be made every year. The deadline given to the telcos for the first instalment was March 31, 2021. In the year 2021, the Supreme Court had dismissed the plea of telecom majors, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, seeking correction of errors in calculation of AGR dues payable by them as per the top court's 2019 judgement. The companies had then submitted that the Department of Telecom (DoT) had made arithmetical errors in calculation of AGR dues and wanted the Court to allow rectification of errors.The total liability on Vodafone-Idea was Rs. 58,254 crore, while Bharti Airtel was to pay Rs. 43,980 crore. In its curative plea, Vodafone India said that it seeks to challenge only the two directions of the top court and it is not challenging or questioning the imposition of license fee on them as defined by the the court. The first challenge, the company said was to the direction of the top court where it had said that "demands made by the DoT would be final and that even the manifest/clerical/arithmetical errors in the computation of dues could not to be rectified and the licensees would be compelled to make payment of the tentative/provisional show-cause cum demands raised by the DoT." The plea said that the second direction challenged by the telecom company was the apex court court's order that the "licensees would be liable to pay penalty of 50 per cent of the entire amount of short-payment and interest on the said penalty at a rate which will be 2 per per cent above the prime lending rate of State Bank of India and that too compounded monthly (In addition to interest for delayed payment which itself being very high is penal in nature)." The curative plea stated that since the petitioner is already bearing an excessively high rate of interest on delayed payment which is akin to penalty, it should not be further burdened with penalty and interest on penalty. "It may be considered that the telecom industry is currently going through a critical phase and it is essential that it is not burdened with such exorbitant penalty in addition to penal interest," the petition stated. It added, "The Petitioner is already at the verge of a financial crisis, which threatens its very existence and the judgment passed by this Court prohibiting even the corrections of clerical and arithmetical errors in the demands, foreclosing any reduction of the amount payable by thousands of crores of rupees and further imposing a penalty and interest on penalty, is highly unjust." (ANI) Weighing in on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, defence experts have said that Israel is a powerful country and its army is trained to deal with such attacks. The experts were also of the opinion that Israel is capable of easily eliminating Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah. International Affairs and Defence Expert, Major General (Retd) Sanjay Soi told ANI that Hamas firing as many as 5,000 rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip definitely must have taken Israel by surprise. "This was an intelligence failure on Israel's part. The death toll has soared and Israel is witnessing such a situation after a long time. Israel has a very strong intelligence system. They take a productive stand, Israel does not leave its land and cannot ever bear casualties," Maj Gen (Retd) Soi added. He also said, "Attacks from every direction are a big challenge for Israel but Israel's army is trained. They are prepared for such attacks. Israel has recovered very quickly. The counter-attack will be very dangerous." When asked about India's stand on this conflict, the defence expert said that India's terms with the Middle East have been very good. "But the way the attack was done...targeting especially civilian areas...India has always been opposed to terrorism. So, India has strongly condemned and has said that we stand with Israel at this time," he added. Meanwhile, another defence expert, Qamar Agha, said, "Israel has that capability to easily destroy such militant organisations alone. They will take revenge. The operation will take a long time." Mahesh Sachdeva, a former Indian diplomat termed the situation in Israel very worrisome. "The attack has halted the ongoing internal conflict of Israel. The judiciary overhaul, which seeks to curb the judiciary's influence over lawmaking and public policy is facing a backlash by the general public...Now the Supreme Court is discussing how to protect its own judicial powers. The attack came at such a time," Sachdeva told ANI. He also underscored that Israel is a powerful country and will eventually push back the militant organisations and will once again secure its border. "It is very much possible that Israel does military intervention, send its army to Gaza and if this happens, more violence will erupt and then it will be difficult to say anything about the endgame," Sachdeva added. The death toll in Israel since Hamas began its attack has surpassed 700 people, according to officials, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media outlets. Israeli forces continue to battle with Hamas terrorists as they clear out communities along the border. According to the Israel Health Ministry, more than 2,243 people have been injured and brought to hospitals in Israel amid the ongoing situation, The Times of Israel reported. (ANI) Alleging that the agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were involved in the killing of separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada, an independent blogger, Jennifer Zeng, has said that China's "purpose was to frame India creating discord between India and the West". She also alleged that it was a part of the CCP's sinister "Ignition Plan" to disrupt the world in line with Xi Jinping's military strategy regarding Taiwan. Jennifer Zeng is a Chinese born rights activist, journalist who is currently living in the US. In a video posted on the social media platform, X, Zeng dubbed the killing of Nijjar as an assassination claiming, "Today shocking revelations about the 'assassination ' of Sikh religious leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the 'assassination' was carried out by CCP agents." On 18 June 2023, Hardeep Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. The independent blogger attributed her allegations to Chinese writer and YouTuber Lao Deng, who according to her, lives in Canada now. "Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative 'Ignition Plan', the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held there...The objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West," Zeng claims in the video posted on X. "The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh leader in Canada. Following the meeting, the CCP agents meticulously executed the killing plan," she claimed. Explaining their modus operandi, the independent blogger alleges, "On June 18th, the agents armed with silenced guns tracked Nijjar. When the deed was done, they destroyed the dash camera in Nijjar's Car to erase any evidence. After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes." She also alleged that the killers even purposely learned Indian-accent English. "Therefore, they purposely spoke in India accent English...In fact, these actions were part of the scheme by CCP secret agent to frame India," said Zeng. She also claimed that Lao revealed that the CCP's 'ignition plan' was devised this year after the CCP's two sessions. There has been no response to Jennifer Zeng's allegations, posted in the video on Sunday afternonn (US time) from either the Chinese foreign ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada soured after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the killing 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. India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Amid escalating tensions, India has called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. 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) Dubai [UAE], October 9 (ANI/WAM): Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Dubai Corporate for Ambulance Services (DCAS) are showcasing their efforts at the AccessAbilities Expo. This year's edition of the event is expected to achieve record growth in the number of global exhibitors specialised in manufacturing advanced technologies and devices that contribute towards empowering People of Determination as well as key regional rehabilitation centres serving more than 50 million People of Determination living in the Middle East. DHA's and DCAS's participation in this pertinent expo is in line with the commitment of the UAE and the vision of Dubai to build an inclusive society that embraces people with determination and their families. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) have joined forces at the exhibition, which begins on Monday at the Dubai World Trade Centre, to demonstrate their collaborative efforts. Marwan Al Mulla, CEO of the Health Regulation Sector at DHA, stated that the annual participation of DHA in this international event aims to highlight the value and importance of Dubai's accomplishments in enhancing the quality of life for all, including people of determination. The exhibition focuses on their lives and issues, and the DHA will highlight its commitment to serve and provide the best healthcare systems for their care. Al Mulla emphasised that this event offers an important opportunity for the DHA to showcase its overall efforts, including unifying procedures and mechanisms for early detection of disabilities, integrating treatment methods and protocols, enhancing healthcare and social services, and ensuring equal opportunities in education, health, employment, and more. Ramadan AlBlooshi, Director at DHA's Public Health & Protection Department also highlighted the organisation's ongoing efforts to improve the level of healthcare services provided to people of determination. He added that initiatives and programmes aimed at offering comprehensive and integrated care for people with determination are being implemented. Regarding the participation of the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services in the exhibition, Mishal Abdulkarim Julfar, Executive Director of DCAS, stated: "Our effective strategic partnership with the DHA has opened new horizons for collaboration and joint work in delivering quality services to the community. Today, we are presenting at the 5th edition of the AccessAbilities Expo for People of Determination in a unified platform, enhancing cognitive and service cooperation opportunities for people of determination. Our goal is to create a society that prioritises health safety and promotes the concept of safe and prompt medical care." (ANI/WAM) During the call, Sheikh Abdullah stressed the importance of exercising the utmost restraint, noting that Gaza's escalation forebodes dire repercussions for the region. The two top diplomats discussed international efforts to contain the crisis and agreed to continue coordination and consultations in the coming period and work to avoid further escalation in the region. (ANI/WAM) Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan on Sunday extended wishes for the grand opening of the US' largest hand-carved Hindu temple, Akshardham in New Jersey. In a congratulatory message, he wrote on X, "Congratulations on the grand opening of #Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey! This moment is a source of great pride for India, symbolizing collective dedication and unity. I extend my warmest congratulations to everyone involved. Akshardham's creation is a testament to the visionary guidance of revered Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj". The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 and is set to be inaugurated by Mahant Swami Maharaj, and dignitaries on October 8, 2023. Minister of State for I&B, DL Murugan also extended wishes for the opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Jersey. "Congratulations on the grand opening of Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey! This is a moment of immense pride for us Hindus, marking another instance of Indian excellence on the global stage. The fruition of this project, which demanded 12 years of tireless dedication from over 12,500 volunteers across North America, is a testament to our collective strength. Spread across 185 acres, Akshardham stands as the largest Hindu temple on American soil, adorned with symbols of Sanatan Dharma. Our hearts swell with pride. We extend our warmest congratulations to all. This achievement elevates the reputation of Indians worldwide, a testament to the visionary guidance of Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj", he wrote on X. The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 with the help of 12,500 volunteers across North America. The temple is known as BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. After 12 years of relentless effort of the volunteers, the large temple covering 183 acres of land will be open to the public from Monday. The stone Mahamandir, set to become the centerpiece of the Akshardham campus, is a marvel of craftsmanship and devotion, blending intricate artistry with spiritual significance. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005. (ANI) Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations on Monday highlighted the severity of war crimes of Hamas terrorists, who in a "surprise attack" killed hundreds of Israelis, killing them at will and stomping on them as if they were insects. "Ruthless terrorists gunned down innocent Israeli civilians in the streets, murdering anything that moved... These terrorists broke into homes and shot people point blank as if they were stomping on insects...," he said. Erdan further emphasized that these are "blatant documented war crimes." Moreover, noting that this did not end there, as the Hamas terrorists killed several others at an outdoor party where Israelis were celebrating the holiday weekend. "Babies separated from their mothers were brutally taken hostage. These are war crimes, blatant documented war crimes but tragically the abomination doesn't end here. Hamas terrorists happened upon an outdoor party of young Israelis celebrating the holiday weekend...,." he said. Erdan further noted that the country has suffered an unprecedented attack. "The past days have been devastating for each and every Israeli. Israel suffered an unprecedented attack and the number of casualties is catastrophic, truly unfathomable. Over the past two days following the Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, my country has suffered hundreds of fatalities," he said. Highlighting the Hamas surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, Erdan said that hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel, firing thousands of rockets into Israel. "Yesterday in the early morning...Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets into Israel but this was only the beginning as rockets rained down indiscriminately upon Israeli towns and cities. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel...," he added. On Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The death toll in Israel since Hamas began its attack has surpassed 700 people, according to officials, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media outlets. Moreover, several Israelis have also been taken as hostages in Gaza. In a retaliatory move against the Hamas attack in Israel, the Israel Air Force on Monday attacked various buildings where the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas were staying, along with several operational headquarters. According to the Israel Air Force, the air force also attacked a headquarters spread over an area of three floors and a headquarters associated with the senior Hamas naval force, Muhammad Kashta. Moreover, the Air Force also destroyed an operational asset used by the terrorist organization, which is located in the heart of a mosque in the Jabaliya area. In a previous post by IAF, it said that their jets struck the military headquarters belonging to the Hamas group and were used by the organization for recent operations. (ANI) President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan who is on a State visit to India on Monday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Tanzanian President Hassan at Hyderabad House in the national capital. During the meeting, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) will be exchanged in various areas between the two sides. Tanzanian President who is in India on the invitation of President Drapupadi Murumu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. President Hassan was earlier today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Earlier in the day, Samia Suluhu Hassan appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit would open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. "I would like to express Tanzania's appreciation for the excellent existing relationship between our two countries which has been there for decades. My expectation from this visit is going to open new avenues for political and economic development and economic cooperation that will lead to strategic partnerships of our two countries," she said. President Hassan further highlighted that her country expects the bilateral ties founded by our forefathers to continue for decades. Earlier on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with the Tanzanian President and thanked her for appreciating PM Modi's initiative for the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member in the G20. A Presidential visit from Tanzania is taking place after a span of over eight years and will further invigorate and strengthen the "historic and friendly relations" between India and Tanzania, according to a statement by the ministry of external affairs. After holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, President Tanzania will also meet President Droupadi Murmu. A state banquet will also be hosted by President Murmu in honour of the Tanzanian President. Moreover, the Tanzanian President will participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi on October 10. She will depart from India on October 11. On Saturday, Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Yusuf Makamba said that during President Hassan's India visit, the two countries will elevate their defence relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. (ANI) People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023, during an Israeli air strike. At least 70 people were reported killed in Israel, while Gaza authorities released a death toll of 198 in the bloodiest escalation in the wider conflict since May 2021, with hundreds more wounded on both sides. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty) October 7, 2023 is a day destined for multi-generational infamy in Israel. On this Saturday, rockets and gunfire bore down and ordinary people were either murdered or snatched from their homes in the middle of a religious holiday, when most were praying or relaxing. Advertisement Aside from infiltrating scores of communities by land, sea and air in a massive operation on Israeli soil, the Palestinian Hamas militant group also uploaded hundreds of videos, now a potent weapon of war. Many of them appeared to contain shocking footage of older Israelis led away from their lives, terror on their faces, or even of the bodies of younger Israeli women, shot and then their corpses desecrated for propaganda. A music festival near the Gaza Strip became a killing field, as attackers from the Hamas militant group with automatic weapons went tree by tree, one young Israeli told the BBC, shooting anyone they could find. All easily watchable on your phone. Advertisement As numb as so many are to violence and cruelty, a weekend with some 600 dead in Israel, according to the Israeli government, still was a terrifying reminder of how cruel and barbaric the human race can be. Americans were likely among that number, it emerged Sunday. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority said that more than 300 on the Gaza Strip had been killed by Israeli air strikes launched in retaliation for the breaching of its borders. Given Israels longstanding belief in the power of deterrence, and in the associated need for retribution, those numbers are sure to rise. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke immediately of war. And war is clearly what lies ahead. In Israel this past summer, we heard first-hand of disaffection with leaders from both ordinary Israelis and ordinary Palestinians. But for most Israelis, Saturdays events will render that moot, at least in the short term. And understandably so. Their country was brutally attacked and civilians butchered. Joe Biden was right when he said Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. In the wake of the Hamas action this weekend, it has no other choice. 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 > Words like normalization, much discussed this summer in the region, suddenly seemed risible. Aside from its carriage of sorrow and despondency, this weekend was a reminder that that which simmers can rapidly return to the boil, even if the worlds media have mostly been focused elsewhere. The same could be said of Bidens administration, of course: As with the matter of immigration, the question of Israel and Palestine (let along Saudi Arabia) long has threatened to splay inter-party disagreement. Biden has preferred to project and protect Democratic unity and put primary focus elsewhere. Not so easy now. For Israel, there are many questions for the coming days. Who paid for the Hamas weaponry and this level of logistics? What other countries were involved in all this death? How must the presence of so many hostages change its actions? How did the famously skilled Israeli intelligence forces, not to mention the political class, apparently not have an inkling of the imminence of so major an operation? Advertisement That appears to have been a staggering failure, but then the U.S. was taken by surprise on 9/11, too. Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Palestine Ambassador to India Adnan Abu Al-Hija on Monday refused to condemn the Hamas attack on Israel. He instead questioned world leaders for not condemning Israeli militias action in West Bank. Asked whether he is condemning Hamas attack, he said, "No sure not, sure not. Hamas is part of the Palestinian people and I condemn the occupation. If there is no occupation, there is no Hamas, there is no ..., there is no arm except the government arm. Israel has its militias, right and what they are doing same what Hamas maybe, the operation of Hamas is a little bit bigger, right. But no one condemn what the daily settlers do, those militias, Israeli militias in West Bank." In an exclusive interview with ANI, he claimed that 260 Palestinians have been killed so far in 2023. He further alleged that more than 5000 people are in Israeli prisons and about 300 people remain under administrative detention in Israel. He said, "What about the Palestinian? What about the Palestinian? The Palestinian I'm talking about, from the beginning of this year, 260 people have been killed. They are civilian. Secondly, we have more than 5000 in the Israelis jail. We have about 300 people administrative detention in Israel. They make hunger strike to release them. They have nothing, the Israelis have nothing against just put them in jail. Now, anyone who want to condemn what Hamas have done, he should before condemn what the Israelis and their settlers do in West Bank." Adnan Abu Al-Hija noted that any conflict is bad from the beginning but people need to know why Hamas carried out attack on Hamas. He questioned world over its silence on actions of Israel. He said, "Any conflict or any bloody conflict is very bad from the beginning but we have I think to know why Hamas have attacked. Now, if you look to the situation we can take it just to the years ago. We should go back to years of massacres committed by the Israelis forces and their settler armed militias." He accused Israel of killing more than 260 people in Palestine since the beginning of the year and added that no one condemned Israel's action. "Now, from the beginning of this year, the Israelis have killed more than 260 people in Palestine, in West Bank. No one talk about it, no one condemned that. The Israelis every day confiscate land, building settlements, jailing people, killing people. The settlers are doing same what the Israeli occupying forces do the same by killing and defended by I think in Israel they work in one system, from the High Court to the settlers. "Why Because the settler killed one of the Palestinians when they caught him and rarely killed him. While the Palestinian, if he do anything against the Israelis, within few hours they caught him. The settler, when they take him to the court, the sentence will be you are not allowed to go two weeks to West Bank. So they make all their crimes and defendant in that system, from the High Court to the government, to the police, to the settlers," he added. He expressed hope that the Palestinians will get their independent state. Palestinian envoy said that Israel wants peace and land at the same time and added that "they will never get it." He said that Palestinians want to live with the Israelis in peace and spoke about the Oslo agreement. Asked whether the situation should de-escalate now as the attacks are taking place inside Gaza and other places, he said, "I hope there is no war ever. I hope the Palestinian will get their independent state. I think we have signed Oslo agreement 30 years ago and after from 1999 we should be independent. But, the Israelis in that time they are destroying these agreements and destroying the two state solution. They want peace and land at the same time and they will never get it. Why because we have the right, like any other people in the world, to live in peace." "We want to live with the Israelis in peace and because of that we went to Oslo agreement. Because of that we accept 22 per cent of our historical land to establish the independent state of Palestine," he added. In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack. As the Hamas terror group attacks on Israel continue for the third day," There is a very active scene in the southern city of Sderot in Israel as people living there can still hear explosions happening in the distance, Israeli-based television channel i24NEWS reported. According to the reports, there are about six to seven active, ongoing scenes of exchange gunfire between Hamas terrorists and Israeli soldiers, i24NEWS reported. (ANI) Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the deadly attack on Israel in which the death toll has risen to thousands the Wall Street Journal reported. According to senior members of terrorist groups Hamaz and Hezbollah, Iran gave approval for the assault at a meeting held in Beirut last Monday, according to the WSJ report that was cited by the Israel Foreign Ministry statement on X app. According to them, officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursions, marking the most significant breach of Israel's borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Details regarding the operation were refined during several meetings that were held in Beirut. IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah attended these meetings, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. The attack was planned to coincide with Israel's internal political turmoil surrounding Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. In addition, the attack was planned to disrupt the rapidly progressing US-brokered negotiations aimed at normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a development considered as a threat by Iran, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, Wall Street Journal reported. A European official and an adviser to the Syrian government gave the same account of Israel's involvement in the lead-up to the attack on Israel, the US daily reported. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated 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. In an interview with ABC News, Blinken 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." Blinken 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." Meanwhile, in the statement shared on X, Israel Foreign Ministry said, "According to the Wall Street Journal Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's Saturday surprise attack on Israel Iran gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group. Officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursions--the most significant breach of Israel's borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur War--those people said." It further said, "Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended by IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon, they said. In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack. In another post, the Israel Foreign Ministry said, "A European official and an adviser to the Syrian government, however, gave the same account of Iran's involvement in the lead-up to the attack as the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members. Asked about the meetings, Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, said the group planned the attacks on its own." It added, "This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision," he said. The IRGC's broader plan is to create a multi-front threat that can strangle Israel from all sides--Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the north and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members and an Iranian official. At least 700 Israelis are confirmed dead, and Saturday's assault has punctured the country's aura of invincibility and left Israelis questioning how their vaunted security forces could let this happen." Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to turn all known hideouts of the terrorist outfit into "rubble". He warned all Gaza residents to leave, adding that the country would immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities. Netanyahu said the 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. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], October 9 (ANI/WAM): The Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA) made history as the first Middle Eastern member to participate in the 2023 World Conference of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), which took place in Reykjavik, Iceland, recently. The IFRRO boasts over 150 members spanning 85 countries, representing many authors, visual artists, book publishers, magazines, newspapers, and musicians. Under the leadership of Mohammed Al Kamali, a member of the Association's Board of Directors, and Majd Al Shehhi, Director of ERRA, the conference's opening session commenced in the presence of President Gudni Th. Johannesson of the Republic of Iceland. In attendance were members of IFFRO, representatives of administrative bodies, and a diverse group of authors and publishers from around the world, who participated in the annual elections to confirm the President and Council members for the 2023-2024 term. Throughout the conference, attendees engaged in presentations and panel discussions, among other meetings. The event encompassed discussions covering a diverse array of copyright-related topics, exploring current trends and challenges within the collective rights management process and underscoring the paramount importance of safeguarding the rights of creators on both regional and global scales. Al Shehhi was pleased with the continued participation in this important international event, describing it as "a major step in elevating the UAE's position on the global stage regarding copyright protection and its leadership in nurturing creative industries." She also emphasised that this participation seamlessly aligned with the Association's strategic goals, which aimed to strengthen its global role in protecting the rights of writers and publishers while efficiently managing the shared and paid use of works encompassing text and images. She elaborated that they signed a bilateral agreement with the Malaysia Reprographic Rights Centre (MARC) to represent a substantial collection of Malaysian literary works, noting that "In return, we strived to make these works accessible to libraries and universities in the UAE that held licenses with our organisation. Concurrently, the rights to Emirati works, which we had obtained permission from their creators, including writers and publishers, were represented in Malaysian libraries and universities. This reciprocal arrangement significantly contributed to the exchange of cultural content and facilitated the broader dissemination of the creative works of Emirati artists." (ANI/WAM) Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday said that India and Tanzania are growing in terms of trade and investment "The numbers are satisfying," further noting that India is the third largest trading partner in Tanzania. While addressing the media after the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tanzania, she said, "On trade and investment, the numbers are satisfying. We are growing. In investment Indian investors in Tanzania, the number is growing. The value of the projects is growing as well. On trade volumes, the numbers are growing. As we're speaking up to 2022, our figures were USD 3.1 billion. So this makes India the third largest trading partner in Tanzania and the fifth largest investor in our country." She further added that through this visit, both countries have managed to open more avenues of cooperation for economic development as well as political development. "To us, Tanzania India is like an extended family member which is just a cost away. There's a story that before Gandhi's return to India he made a stop to Zanzibar on his way to South Africa. This and many more other tells signifies the historical brotherly ties and brotherly ties and friendship that span a century," she said. Tanzanian President further lauded PM Modi for successfully hosting the G20 Summit. "My visit is occurring just a few weeks after the G 20 summit...I wish to commend honourable Modi and the government of the Republic of India for the successful hosting of the G 20 summit," she said. This visit is to reaffirm the commitment by Tanzania to enhance and deepen the historic friendship and bilateral cooperation that has existed over decades. "It is also an opportunity for us to express our sense of gratitude for the invaluable support rendered by the government and the people of India to our socio-economic endeavours. Over decades we have been working together in the development of various sectors, as they have been mentioned by His Excellency," Hassan said. The Tanzanian president also expressed gratitude for the opening of the IIT Madras campus in Tanzania. "The decision by the Indian Institute of Technologies to establish the first-ever overseas campus in our country is an honour and a privilege to us," she said. We have been working in the supply of clean and safe water as well as defence and security. Also, issues of our concern have been adequately worked out. She further noted that Tanzania will be fully participating in the India-Africa Summit. "We are aware of the coming India-Africa Summit and Tanzania has pledged that we'll be participating fully in this summit and we are ready to play the role that will be required to play to make the summit successful," she added. Concluding her statement, Hassan stressed that Tanzania wishes to retreat further the commitment to closely work with India, "innovating our bilateral cooperation to a strategic partnership that will advance our development agenda to greater hates." Tanzanian President who is in India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. President Hassan was earlier today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Earlier in the day, Samia Suluhu Hassan appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit would open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. (ANI) Family members of Aanand Sah, one of the Nepalese students killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel are shocked and grief-stricken. His mother Shivakali Devi lost her conscience after losing her 22-year-old son who was the only bread earner of the family. Aanand Sah's father Soman Sah breaks down whenever flashbacks of his son run on his mind not knowing what to do next. It was a few months back when Soman had sent Aanand to Israel for ten months under the "Learn and Earn" scheme for the practical of BSc Agriculture. Soman Sah said, "He went to Israel for further studies. He was outstanding amongst the students who were on the fray, out of more than 100 students only 50 were selected through interviews. There were no charges for application, visa and flight fare, only the personal expenses need to be incurred by us. I took the loan of 300 thousand and then sent him. I am just a farmer and have mortgaged the lands for it." According to the family members, Aanand since his early childhood had a keen interest in agriculture and was on his way to making a career in the same field. Upon getting selected for the scheme to go to Israel for practical he had planned to return back and start working in the field of agriculture, Soman recalled. "Papa I want to go Israel for technical education, Israel is one of the best places in the world for agriculture and I will learn more technical knowledge and can use it in Nepal later but now he is gone," Soman broke down as he recalled the conversation with his son. The Sudur Paschim University where Aanand was studying on full scholarship, had sent 50 students to Israel for ten months practical and was killed in an ongoing terrorist attack by the Hamas terrorist group which started Saturday. The family of Aanand is still unaware of the circumstances under which he lost his life as the authorities are yet to contact the family. Soman Sah said, "There has been no contact from anyone from the Nepalese authorities, neither there has been communication from the college where he was studying in Israel." "We came to know about it through the news, 'bauwa' friend informed us after seeing it on the news and messaged us on the phone that he is gone," said the father calling his son with the pet name "Bauwa" meaning lovely son. As per the family, Aanand wasn't able to attend the classes in Israel because he needed to deposit a fee of USD 5088 to enroll in the class starting on October 12, 2023. In order to support the family and reduce pressure on the family, Aanand has started working on a farm. The family doesn't have any details about the farm where he was working or the university where he was supposed to enroll. Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to contact the families of the 10 deceased students nor has any state mechanism offered condolence to the families. Nepal's government has called on its citizens residing in Israel to register themselves online as it plans to repatriate them. The Israeli Police confirmed the deaths of the 10 Nepal students. The toll is expected to go up as some of the injured are in serious condition and there are others who are yet to be contacted. The Embassy of Nepal issued a notice, calling on distressed Nepal citizens to register themselves as operations at the Tel Aviv-based airport are proceeding without disruption enabling passage of flights, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a late-night release issued on Sunday stated, "We have requested the Israeli government to promptly identify and arrange for repatriation of the deceased Nepal nationals, as well as to ensure the rescue and appropriate medical treatment for the injured." To make the process smoother, online registration is being prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nepal Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israel government. "This registration will collect crucial details from Nepalese citizens wishing to return to Nepal from Israel," the statement added. As the fighting enters the third day, about 10 Nepalese students have been killed who were in Israel under the 'Learn and Earn' program supported by the Israeli government. The deceased- students from Sudur Paschim University of Nepal fell victim to an attack by Hamas, according to the official statement. (ANI) India and Tanzania on Monday discussed issues related to reforms of the United Nations, a Ministry of External Affairs official said on Monday. Both countries have agreed to work together on the reform of the UN Security Council through expansion in both categories of membership, Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) said. Addressing a special briefing on Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's State visit to India, the MEA official said, "Both sides also discussed issues related to the reforms of the United Nations. Both countries are in agreement to work together on the much needed reform of the UN Security Council through expansion in both categories of membership.Tanzania also gave their support for Indian non-permanent election bid for 2028-29." Tanzania congratulated India on a successful G20 Presidency and President Samia Suluhu Hassan appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal initiative for inclusion of African Union into G20 as a permanent member, the MEA official said "Tanzania congratulated India on a successful G20 Presidency and the G20 New Delhi Leaders declaration adopted at the G20 Leaders Summit last September in which G20 leaders welcomed African Union as the permanent member of the G20 and the Tanzanian President deeply appreciated India's gesture, particularly Honourable Prime Minister Modi's personal initiative in bringing together the leadership of the G20 to bring African Union into G20 as a permanent member," he said. He said that Tanzanian President will deliver address to the Indian and Tanzanian business communities at the India-Tanzania Business and Investment Forum. He noted that Samia Suluhu Hassan's visit is expected to give further impetus to bilateral relations and promote economic linkages between India and Tanzania. "Tomorrow, on October 10th, the President Samia Suluhu Hassan will attend the India-Tanzania Business and Investment Forum, where she will deliver the keynote address to the Indian and Tanzanian business communities," the MEA official said. "She will also hold one-on-one meeting with a key Indian business leaders seeking investments into Tanzania. The visit of Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan is expected to give a further impetus to bilateral relations and promote economic linkages between two countries, including investment in Tanzania by Indian entrepreneurs," he added. He noted that relations between India and Tanzania has registered good progress in recent times. He said both nations are exploring new areas of cooperation. "India-Tanzanian relations have registered good progress in recent times which is why today's visit is very significant that both sides have agreed to elevate the relationship to that of a strategic partnership. We are also exploring new areas of cooperation, including trade in local currencies and also the proposal to set up an Indian industrial park in Tanzania and provide vocational training facilities for Tanzanian youth...," he said. Earlier in the day, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Tanzanian President Hassan at Hyderabad House in the national capital. She was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Tanzanian President who is in India on the invitation of President Drapupadi Murumu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. (ANI) American economic historian and labour economist Claudia Goldin won the 2023 Nobel Economics Prize for her work examining wage inequality between men and women, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday. The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023 was awarded to 77-year-old Claudia Goldin "for having advanced our understanding of women's labour market outcomes" the prize-giving body said in a statement. Goldin will receive 11 million Swedish kronor, or around USD 1 million, as the sole winner of this year's prize. Born in 1946, Goldin is currently a professor of Economics at Harvard University and is only the third woman to win the Nobel in Economics. Previous women recipients include Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019. Duflo was 46 years old when she was awarded in 2019. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said that Goldin was "surprised and very, very glad" to hear she had won. According to the Prize giving body, Goldin uncovered key drivers of gender differences in the labour market. Her research has given us new and often surprising insights into women's historical and contemporary roles in the labour market, it said. Over the past century, the proportion of women in paid work has tripled in many high-income countries. This is one of the biggest societal and economic changes in the labour market in modern times, but significant gender differences remain. "By trawling through the archives and compiling and correcting historical data, Goldin has been able to present new and often surprising facts. The fact that women's choices have often been, and remain, limited by marriage and responsibility for the home and family is at the heart of her analyses and explanatory models," it said. Goldin's insights reach far outside the borders of the US and similar patterns have been observed in many other countries. "Her research brings us a better understanding of the labour markets of yesterday, today and tomorrow," it said. Goldin collected over 200 years of data from the US, allowing her to demonstrate how and why gender differences in earnings and employment rates have changed over time. She showed that female participation in the labour market did not have an upward trend over this entire period, but instead forms a U-shaped curve. The participation of married women decreased with the transition from an agrarian to an industrial society in the early nineteenth century, but then started to increase with the growth of the service sector in the early twentieth century. Goldin explained this pattern as the result of structural change and evolving social norms regarding women's responsibilities for home and family. During the 20th century, women's education levels continuously increased, and in most high-income countries they are now substantially higher than for men. Goldin demonstrated that access to the contraceptive pill played an important role in accelerating this revolutionary change by offering new opportunities for career planning. Historically, much of the gender gap in earnings could be explained by differences in education and occupational choices. However, this year's economic sciences laureate Claudia Goldin has shown that the bulk of this earnings difference is now between men and women in the same occupation, and that it largely arises with the birth of the first child. Despite modernisation, economic growth and rising proportions of employed women in the twentieth century, for a long period of time the earnings gap between women and men hardly closed. According to 2023 economic sciences laureate Claudia Goldin, part of the explanation is that educational decisions, which impact a lifetime of career opportunities, are made at a relatively young age. If the expectations of young women are formed by the experiences of previous generations - for instance, their mothers, who did not go back to work until the children had grown up - then development will be slow. "Understanding women's role in the labour is important for society. Thanks to Claudia Goldin's groundbreaking research we now know much more about the underlying factors and which barriers may need to be addressed in the future," according to Jakob Svensson, Chair of the Committee for Prize in Economic Sciences. Jason Furman, the former top economic adviser to President Barack Obama described Goldin's success as "fantastic". "Fantastic! A pathbreaking scholar who has reshaped the way I think about inequality, women in the labor force force and much more. A generous mentor to generations of students," he tweeted. He also posted that he had reviewed her book "Career and Family," which explained how the gender pay gap was due to institutional hurdles, rather than discrimination - and how having a child has a significant, negative impact on a woman's earnings. (ANI) Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip. He made the statement after an assessment at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba. "I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed," Gallant said. "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," he added. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack. The Government Press Office, a body that operates under the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, said that the number of hostages in Gaza was more than 100. The Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Israeli troops have regained control of all towns on the Gaza border. He said that the incidents of clashes between troops and terrorists in the past few hours have been "isolated," The Times of Israel reported. Hagari said that three terrorists were killed by troops in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. According to him, one was killed in Be'eri, five were killed in Holit and Sufa and four were killed in Alumim. Hagari said that currently, there is no fighting in any of the towns. Hagari said, "It is possible there are still terrorists in the area." He said breaches of the Gaza border barrier will be physically secured by tanks, which will be supported by combat helicopters and drones, The Times of Israel reported. According to him, the Israeli army has evacuated 15 out of 24 towns on the border and will continue to evacuate the others in the coming day. He said Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage. He said some 4,400 rockets have been launched toward Israel since the fighting started on Saturday morning. The IDF said that it is carrying out a fresh wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it is hitting targets that belong to Hamas terror group. According to the military, further details will be provided soon, according to The Times of Israel report. In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and reviewed the full range of bilateral ties. He said that the two nations have decided to work together to form a five-year roadmap in the defence sector. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, PM Modi stated, "Had an excellent meeting with President @SuluhuSamia. We reviewed the full range of India-Tanzania relations and have elevated our time-tested relation to a Strategic Partnership. The areas of our discussion included trade, commerce and people-to-people linkages." He stated that India and Tanzania are keen to explore new avenues of cooperation in various areas like education, skill development and information technology. In a post stated on X, PM Modi stated, "India and Tanzania are keen to explore new avenues of cooperation in sectors such as education, skill development and IT. At the same time, we want to further deepen linkages in areas like water resources, agriculture and healthcare, where we are working closely at present." In another tweet, he stated, "Our nations have decided to work together to form a five year roadmap in the defence sector. This will be beneficial for military training, maritime cooperation, capacity building and the defence industry." Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tanzania India's largest and the closest development partner of India in Africa, noting that today marks a historic day in India-Tanzania relations. In his joint statement after the meeting with Tanzanian President, PM Modi said, "Today is a historic day in the relations between India and Tanzania. Today we are turning our age-old friendship into a Strategic Partnership," he said. Highlighting that India and Tanzania are important partners for mutual trade and investment, he said, "Both sides are working on an agreement to increase trade in local currencies." PM Modi said, "Tanzania is India's largest and closest development partner in Africa." Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said that India and Tanzania are growing in terms of trade and investment. She said, "On trade and investment, the numbers are satisfying. We are growing. In investment Indian investors in Tanzania, the number is growing. The value of the projects is growing as well. On trade volumes, the numbers are growing. As we're speaking up to 2022, our figures were USD 3.1 billion. So this makes India the third largest trading partner in Tanzania and the fifth largest investor in our country." Tanzanian President who is in India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. President Hassan was earlier today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Earlier in the day, Samia Suluhu Hassan appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit would open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. (ANI) The Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), has announced the creation of a special corner for writings by Indian diplomats at its library, on the occasion of the 77th Indian Foreign Service Day. A list of books written by Indian diplomats since the creation of the Indian Foreign Service has been prepared over the years by poet-diplomat Abhay K. which is available in the public domain. Manipal Academy of Higher Education located in Manipal, Karnataka is a place of higher learning that hosts a rich multi-storeyed library where international students from many countries come to study. Speaking about the importance of creating a corner of books written by Indian diplomats, Lt. Gen. MD Venkatesh, VC, MAHE said, "We are delighted to announce on the occasion of 77th Indian Foreign Service Day to create a special corner for writings by Indian diplomats. I think our students will greatly benefit from reading these books which cover a variety of subjects from statecraft, foreign policy to poetry, novels and memoirs." Speaking about this welcome initiative of MAHE, Manipal poet-diplomat Abhay K said - "Indian diplomats have contributed significantly in creating a better understanding about India in the world and a better understanding of the world in India through their writings. As we celebrate the 77th IFS Day today, it's a matter of great pride and satisfaction to learn that Manipal Academy of Higher Education has decided to create a special corner at its library in Manipal to honour the rich legacy of writings by Indian diplomats." The Indian Diplomats' writing corner will be updated from time to time in consultation with the IFS Association and the Association of Indian Diplomats. (ANI) The criminal fraud trial of cryptocurrency bad boy Sam Bankman-Fried got underway last week, while at the same time, the crypto crowd went missing in action at the Futures Industry Association conference in Chicago. Not long ago, SBF, as hes widely known, dominated the citys annual financial-market confab, parading around the Sheraton Grand Chicago with his scruffy pals like he owned the place. And considering how much his FTX trading firm had paid for sponsorships, he practically did. Advertisement At this years conference, crypto was all but invisible. With the heat turned up from the SBF trial, and trading volume languishing, this once-hot industry has gone underground. There are no flashy television ads, lavish sponsorships or ham-handed attempts to scrap the checks-and-balances of prudent risk management. But crypto is a long way from dead, and even as its most famous spokesman tries to avoid being locked up for decades, an industry with an image problem is laying the groundwork for a comeback. Advertisement Were rooting for it, and Chicagos business community should be rooting for it, too. Cryptocurrencies are digital files that can me thought of, to quote one of Bankman-Frieds prosecutors, as a kind of money that exists on the Internet. They rely on blockchain, a digital ledger that permanently records transactions. That useful technology enables participants to trade with each other, person to person, without a central counterparty to guarantee the trades, as in Chicagos more traditional financial markets. The industry is crying out for strong, clear rules so that mainstream financial firms can participate in it without getting a bad name. This year, even as this trial loomed, crypto lobbyists have made quiet progress in the U.S. House to establish a long-sought regulatory framework for digital assets. House Republicans have championed legislation that would clarify oversight of crypto markets in the U.S. by giving more extensive authority to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The CFTC is not the popgun regulator of years past, and it makes sense for crypto to be overseen by the same derivatives experts who have long kept track of Chicagos futures markets. The legislation is attracting some welcome crossover votes from Democrats, and similar legislation in the Senate is being sponsored by Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., so some rare bipartisan cooperation is in the offing. Making the CFTC the No. 1 regulator would be a dream come true for the crypto industry, not least because the rival Securities and Exchange Commission has taken a harder line against it. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has maintained that crypto needs to conform to existing securities laws, and he is pursuing a string of enforcement actions against some of the leading crypto operators. Were hopeful the legislation will perform a public service by defining these digital assets once and for all and giving regulators stronger tools for oversight. But nothing is close to being approved. The ongoing SEC enforcement cases could change the landscape, and getting any legislation through the hot mess that is the GOP-controlled House will be a challenge at least until the next election. Overshadowing any serious discussion of cryptos future is the spectacle of the SBF trial, which is already underway and expected to last about six weeks. On Tuesday, Caroline Ellison, Bankman-Frieds sometime lover, close business partner and now a star cooperating witness for the prosecution, is expected to take the stand and attract an outsize share of press coverage. Advertisement 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 > On Capitol Hill, the crypto industry has tried to portray the 31-year-old Bankman-Fried (who has pleaded not guilty) as a rogue outlier. Thats a laugh, considering how he served as its very public face while spreading around tens of millions in political contributions to both Democrats and Republicans. Skeptics such as Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts can be counted on to use the SBF trials daily drumbeat of salacious scandal to remind everyone about the dirty downside of unregulated crypto. The dirt is real. The collapse of FTX cost customers a fortune and badly tarnished what was an exciting new marketplace. In his opening statement, federal prosecutor Thane Rehn said Bankman-Fried lied to the world about the security of customer funds under his care and knowingly stole billions of dollars from thousands of people. Bankman-Fried attorney Mark Cohen told the jury his math nerd client acted in good faith, saying, Sam didnt defraud anyone. Sam didnt intend to defraud anyone. Thats a hard sell with billions of dollars missing. And even if Bankman-Fried were to walk free, the crypto industry still would need to prove that its not a haven for fraud where customer funds can readily disappear. Heres hoping our dysfunctional Congress can get its act together and approve legislation to help clean up crypto, which is a lot bigger and more important than the man currently on trial. The U.S. badly needs some sensible new guardrails so the crypto market can develop responsibly including in Chicago, which has a proud history of taking market innovations like this one to the next level. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a strongly worded statement, affirmed that the Israeli retaliation has just begun, and Hamas will go through much "tough and terrible" things, The Times of Israel reported. PM Netanyahu also told local politicians from southern Israel that Israel will transform the region as it retaliates for a devastating Hamas attack and works to restore and support traumatized communities. In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, the death toll in Israel has jumped to 800 Israelis since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2400 people have been injured as well. "I know you've been through tough, terrible things. What Hamas will go through will be tough and terrible -- we're already in the midst of the battle and we've only just begun," Times of Israel quoted Netanyahu as saying citing the PM Office. He further praised the soldiers for their steadfastness and says the coming fight would take time. "The nation will turn over every stone to help you all. I ask that you stand strong because we are going to change the Middle East," he said. Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip. He made the statement after an assessment at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba. "I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed," Gallant said. "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," he added. The Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Israeli troops have regained control of all towns on the Gaza border. He said that the incidents of clashes between troops and terrorists in the past few hours have been "isolated," The Times of Israel reported. Hagari said that three terrorists were killed by troops in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. According to him, one was killed in Be'eri, five were killed in Holit and Sufa and four were killed in Alumim. Hagari said that currently, there is no fighting in any of the towns. The IDF said that it is carrying out a fresh wave of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The IDF said it is hitting targets that belong to Hamas terror group. According to the military, further details will be provided soon, according to The Times of Israel report. (ANI) Dozens of students held a candlelight vigil on the premises of Patan Durbar Square here commemorating the 10 Nepali students killed by Hamas in Israel. The members of the Nepal Student Union observed a minute of silence on Monday evening and lit candles while they stood in line holding banners and placards that read "Heartfelt condolence" and "Pray for World Peace" and called for prompt rescue of remaining Nepali citizens trapped in Israel. The 10 Nepali students who were flown to Israel under the "Learn and Earn" scheme of the Israeli Government fell victim to the attack of the Hamas terror group. The Nepal Embassy in Tel Aviv late on Sunday evening confirmed the death of Nepali citizens as well as stated some were in critical condition and some were missing. "Today we are gathered here to commemorate the fallen 10 Nepali agriculture students who lost their lives in the ongoing fight between Israel and Hamas, they (Nepali students) were in Israel for an Internship and have been killed. The whole nation is now mourning and is in complete shock," Dipendra Regmi, one of the participants of the vigil ceremony told ANI. According to the Foreign Minister of Nepal, there are about 4,500 Nepali working as caregivers in Israel whereas 265 additional Nepali students are in Israel participating in the learning and earning programmes, sponsored by the Israeli government. During Sunday''s address at the parliament, Foreign Minister NP Saud stated that 119 students from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 from Tribhuvan University, and 49 from Far-Western University were flown to Israel lately. Notably, 17 of the 49 students from Sudur Paschim University were studying in Kibbutz Alumim, located in southern Israel close to border areas with Gaza. The Foreign Minister in his address had mentioned 10 students to be out of contact who by late evening were confirmed dead. In addition, the Foreign Minister also stated that 4 of the 17 students from Sudur Paschim University have sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital. The Embassy of Nepal in Israel tried to establish contact with the missing students while those living inside the bunkers have continued to upload videos on social media pleading for help. "Am in continuous contact with my friends who are there (in Israel), some of my brothers and sisters are also there. I want the government to repatriate those trapped in there though there are some reports of rescue by the embassy- this gives us positive thinking. In recent times, the attack on Northern Israel has continued to rage and those trapped in there only have the desire for their safe evacuation and we also want the same- to see them safe back here," Kushal Lamichhane, another participant told ANI. Nepal''s Ministry of Foreign Affairs late on Monday evening announced that Nepali students in Israel have been rescued and the process of relocating them to safety has already begun. Issuing a statement on Monday evening, the MoFA said that some students have already been relocated to a safe place while others are in the process of being relocated. As per the Ministry release, the Nepali embassy in Israel has begun coordinating with the Israel government and agencies concerned to bring home the bodies of the 10 Nepali students who were killed in Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel in Saturday''s attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The government had opened online registration on Monday morning to repatriate Nepalis in coordination with the Israeli government. More than 200 Nepalis in Israel have already filled out the registration form. Taking onto social media platform X, Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced the observance of a national day of mourning on Tuesday. "The Special meeting of the Council of Ministers, today (October 9) has declared a National Day of Mourning on 23rd of Ashoj (October 10), to mourn the loss of lives. The meeting has also decided to repatriate the dead bodies as soon as possible in coordination with the Government of Israel," Dahal tweeted Further, the Prime Minister announced the sending of flights to evacuate nationals from Israel which has been under surprise terrorist attack since Saturday (October 7). "Likewise, the Government of Nepal has also decided to coordinate the search for the missing and on treatment of the injured, The Charted flights will be managed to repatriate the Nepalese from Israel. In this time of grief and difficulty, I appeal to all Nepali people to be patient," he said. (ANI) India and France's collaboration in the field of space can drive the two countries forward to reach new heights and explore new frontiers, said French Ambassador-designate Thierry Mathou on Monday. The 2nd edition of the annual Indian Space Conclave organised by the Indian Space Association (ISpA) kicked off in the national capital on Monday. The first day was dedicated to India-France collaboration in the space sector. The event was attended by representatives of French and Indian space industry leaders, startups and government officials. At an event to celebrate France's participation as the Country of Honour at the Indian Space Conclave 2023, the envoy stated that this is a new beginning of a strategic partnership. His remarks come hours after the signing of a significant memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India's premier industry association of space and satellite companies, ISpA, and GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association. "We have gathered to celebrate the success of this event. I am convinced that this trip is the beginning of a new strategic partnership with India," Thierry Mathou said. "Let's forge together the spirit of collaboration that drives us forward. Together we can reach new heights, explore the new frontier, and make the impossible possible as India did in an outstanding manner in August with Isro's successful Chandrayan III mission," he said. ISpA and GIFAS signed an MoU to enhance understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of business opportunities in France and India. The envoy hailed the signing of the MoU, saying: "It exemplifies the essence of collaboration and innovation between the business-space association of both countries." The collaboration will help foster sustainable growth, promote innovation and advocate the adoption of new technologies in France and India's space industries, a release said. (ANI) A Sunday shooting at a Pennsylvania community center left one man dead and eight others wounded, Pennsylvania State Police confirmed. State police in Indiana County said officers responded around 12:35 a.m. Sunday to a shooting at a community center in White Township, about 50 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Nine people between the ages of 18 and 23 were shot, including a 22-year-old man from Pittsburgh who died at the scene, police said in a statement. Authorities said some of the victims were treated at area hospitals and released while one individual remained in critical condition as of Sunday. Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said around 150 people were attending a privately organized party at the Chevy Chase Community Center at the time of the shooting. Bivens called it a very complex and spread out crime scene, telling the media dozens of gunshots were fired within the building. Thousands of pieces of evidence were collected, including numerous fire shell casings, multiple firearms, cellphones and clothing, Bivens said. Police said they believe more than one shooter was involved but declined to provide more details. No arrests have been made as authorities work on several leads. Bivens said authorities are still putting together exactly what happened leading up to the shooting and urged anyone with information to speak with authorities. Asked if there is a threat to the public, Bivens said, We believe this was an incident that was really isolated to the attendees at that party. Bivens said officers initially received a disturbance call around midnight for excessive noise coming from the community center. When officers arrived, multiple gunshots were heard from the building, prompting calls for backup. Some of those injured were already outside of the building, where they received treatment. As the gunshots continued, other officers entered the building and located other victims as attendees tried to exit the building through doors and windows. No police personnel were injured, Bivens confirmed. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to arrests and prosecution, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has offered up to $5,000 more, police said. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A 22-year-old man died and eight others were injured in a mass shooting at a party early Sunday in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, state police said. The gunfire broke out around 12:35 a.m. at a community center in White Township, where a private event was being held, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release. Jamar Montae Porterfield Herriot Jr., of Homestead, Pennsylvania, died from his injuries at the scene, according to a report from the Indiana County coroner. Police initially said he was from nearby Pittsburgh. Three women and five men between the ages of 19 and 23 were taken to hospitals; some have been released after treatment. An 18-year-old from Chicago is in critical condition, according to the latest release from police. An 18-year-old man from Florida is among the injured and the other six are from Pennsylvania. At this time, the incident is under active investigation and no suspects are in custody, state police said. Police are urging anyone with information to contact authorities. Authorities did not provide a suspect description and its unclear what led to the shooting. The incident adds one more to the at least 540 mass shootings reported so far this year in the United States, according to the Gun Violence Archive. CNN and the Gun Violence Archive define a mass shooting as a shooting that injured or killed four or more people, not including the shooter. CNNs Amy Simonson contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Chelsea on Sunday night. According to the DAs office, on Sunday around 10:23 p.m., Chelsea police received multiple 911 calls as well as a ShotSpotter activation in the area of Congress Ave and Shurtleff St. Upon arrival, officers located a 23-year-old male lying on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. State police later identified the man as Santos David Canizales, of Chelsea. Canizales was transported by EMS to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where he was pronounced dead. Once again were looking at a young life cut short and a family forced to live with eternal grief, all due to illegal guns too easily obtained and too willingly used, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden said. We are doing everything possible to identify and arrest those responsible for this tragedy, he added. The cause of the shooting is under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Chelsea Police at 617-466-4800. CPD ivestigating shots fired 89 Congress. Person transported area hospital unknown condition. Scene is fluid but secure. Further updates or briefs will be made as the situation warrants. Anyone with information can contact CPD-617-466-4800 Chelsea Police (@CityofChelseaPD) October 9, 2023 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 KEENE, Texas - A jury in Johnson County convicted a 12-year-old boy for the death of a fast food restaurant employee. The boy was arrested in May following a shooting at Sonic in Keene, which is located about 30 miles south of Fort Worth. RELATED: Keene Sonic worker killed by 12-year-old with AR-15 rifle, police say Matt Davis His name is not being released because of his age. Investigators said he shot 32-year-old Sonic worker Matt Davis multiple times with an assault rifle. The boy at the restaurant with 20-year-old Angel Gomez. Angel Gomez The shooting happened after Davis confronted Gomez about urinating in the parking lot, and the two got into a fight. Jurors found the 12-year-old "delinquent," which is the juvenile court equivalent to guilty. The sentencing phase of his trial is set to begin on Thursday. Gomez was also charged with murder and tampering with evidence for leaving the scene with the AR-15. Family members said Davis had just moved to Keene and started working at Sonic. He left behind a fiance and a 10-year-old son. A jury in Texas has found a 12-year-old boy delinquent of murder in the shooting of a Sonic fast-food chain employee this spring. The boy, who is from Fort Worth, was convicted in the May 13 death of 32-year-old Matthew Davis at the drive-in restaurant in Keene, about 40 miles southwest of downtown Dallas. Jurors deliberated for seven hours on Thursday before finding the boy guilty following a three-day trial in Johnson County Court , the Johnson County Sheriff's Office announced on social media Sunday. The boy, whose name is not being released due to his age, is set to be sentenced this week, the agency posted. Aggressive bobcat at large: Animal attacks 2 children, 2 dogs in Georgia in separate incidents Sentencing set Thursday The Johnson County District Attorney's Office could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY to say what the boy faces when sentenced. The boy and a co-defendant, Angel Gomez, of Fort Worth, were charged in the shooting. The sheriff's office identified Gomez as the boy's uncle. Court records were not available for Gomez on Monday to determine the status of his case. A 12-year-old boy from Fort Worth was found delinquent in the May 13, 2023 death of 32-year-old Matthew Davis at the drive-in restaurant in Keene, Texas. He is set to be sentenced on October 12, 2023. 1 dead, 8 injured in mass shooting at Pennsylvania community center Shot with an AR-style .22 rifle According to the Keene Police Department, Davis worked at the Sonic and, about 9:40 p.m. that day, confronted Gomez for "being disorderly in the parking lot." A physical fight broke out, police said in a statement, and the boy shot Davis multiple times with an AR-style .22 rifle while the boy was sitting in the back seat of Gomez's vehicle. Police Chief James Kidd previously told USA TODAY at least six shots struck the victim. Arriving officers found Davis suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, then taken by medical helicopter to another facility where he died. The boy and Gomez fled the area with the weapon. According to the police report, Gomez returned to the scene after the shooting and was arrested. The sheriff's office reported an investigation led officers to a location about 20 miles south in Rio Vista, Texas where they located the boy and took him into custody. Police also recovered several firearms at the scene, the agency reported. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas boy guilty of shooting, killing Sonic worker using AR-style rile A 15-year-old male was shot in the leg during a drive-by shooting, a sergeant on scene said. Dayton police officers and medics responded to the shooting, at approximately 7:17 p.m. >>Shooting involving off-duty officer under investigation after aggravated robbery in Kettering The child was shot near a residence on 819 Cherry Drive and Rugby Street, which is close to W Hillcrest Avenue, the sergeant said. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries. This is a breaking news story and when News Center 7 learns more information, we will update the story. CHICAGO - Police are warning North Side residents about a string of garage burglaries that occurred over the last week. In each incident, the offenders entered through the side door of a garage and took property from vehicles parked inside, police said. The burglaries occurred at the following locations and times: 1500 block of West Oakdale Avenue on Oct. 7 at 1:38 a.m. 1500 block of West Oakdale Avenue on Oct. 7 at 1:30 a.m. 1200 block of West Nelson Street on Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. 2400 block of West Cullom Avenue on Oct. 3 at 8 a.m. 4200 block of North Wolcott Avenue on Oct. 3 at 1:48 a.m. 4200 block of North Wolcott Avenue on Oct. 3 at 1:38 a.m. 4100 Block of North Hermitage Ave on Oct. 3 at 1 a.m. 2500 block of North Racine Avenue on Oct. 2 at 5 a.m. One of the offenders is described as an African-American man, wearing a black ski mask, a gray sweatshirt and gloves. The other offender is described as a Hispanic man, wearing a black ski mask, a gray sweatshirt and gloves. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Bureau of Detectives Area Three at (312) 744-8263. At least two Ukrainian civilians have been killed and 22 more people injured during the past day, 8 October, due to military actions by the Russian army. Source: information from Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy Oblast Military Administrations; Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson City Military Administration Details: One person in Kherson Oblast was killed and another 18 people were injured, including two children, due to Russian aggression. The Russians wounded four residents of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on 8 October. A woman was killed in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast. The Russians conducted 53 attacks over the past 24 hours in Kherson Oblast, firing 288 projectiles from mortars, artillery, Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, AGS grenade launchers, tanks, aircraft, and UAVs. They fired 96 projectiles on the city of Kherson. The Russian military targeted residential areas of the oblast's settlements; a car park and critical infrastructure facility in the city of Kherson, and church premises in Kherson district. Mrochko said Russian troops had also fired on Kherson from the temporarily occupied left bank last night, but there was no information about casualties. Two private residential buildings in Kharkiv Oblast were seriously damaged as a result of Russian artillery fire on the city of Vovchansk in Chuhuiv district after 18:00 on Sunday. A 65-year-old civilian woman was killed. In total, at least five private residential buildings were damaged in Vovchansk during the past day due to the Russian strikes. Russian forces also attacked the village of Zemlianky in Kharkiv Oblast after 18:30. There were no casualties or serious damage. In total, over 15 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast came under Russian fire, including Kamianka, Dvorichna, Kyslivka, Kozacha Lopan, and Okhrimivka. Russian military personnel conducted 77 strikes on 16 settlements in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, with no casualties reported. The Russians fired on Khotin hromada in Sumy Oblast on Monday morning, 9 October, with four mortar explosions recorded. The aftermath of the attack has not yet been established. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories - ed.] 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! Marie Curie, pictured in 1925 in the laboratory of Paris university, remains the onlt woman to win two Nobel prizes (-) It as been a record year for women in the Nobel prizes season, with Claudia Goldin of the United States swelling their ranks on Monday by winning the Economics Prize. Goldin sealed the bumper year for Nobel women, three days after Iranian rights activist Narges Mohammadi , jailed for campaigning against the oppression of women, won the Peace Prize. Franco-Swedish scientist Anne L'Huillier also shared the physics prize and Hungary's Katalin Kariko the medicine prize. If it is a record year it is because the first two did not share the prize with anyone else, meaning that for the first time almost half {47 percent} of the Nobel prizes went to women, against just over two fifths (42 percent} in 2009 and 2004, the previous highest proportion. In another first, Goldin is the first woman to have won the economics prize on her own. 2023 also stands out because three out of four women laureates won prizes which have been dominated by men. Since the first Nobel prizes were awarded in 1901, women have won only five out of 225 physics prizes, three out of 93 economics prizes and 13 out of 227 medicine prizes. In total, 65 women have won prizes, representing only 6.7 percent of the total, with the number on the rise since the early 2020s. Marie Curie was the first woman laureate in 1903 and she is to this day the only woman to have received two Nobel prizes, first for physics in 1903 and then in 1911 in chemistry. jah/jmy/cb/pvh Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley brought in over $11 million in fundraising the past three months as she runs for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, her campaign confirmed to Fox News on Monday. The haul by Haley a two-term governor who later served as ambassador to the United Nations in then-President Trump's administration during the July-September third quarter of 2023 fundraising was an increase from the $7.3 million she raised during the April-June second quarter. With just over three months to go until the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses kick off the GOP presidential nominating calendar, the Haley campaign touted that they had $11.6 million cash on hand in their coffers as of the beginning of the month, including $9.1 million of which can be spent in the presidential primaries. HALEY ON THE RISE IN THIS KEY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY STATE: POLL Nikki Haley delivers remarks during the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Sept. 27, 2023, in Simi Valley, California. The Haley campaign also touted "an explosion in donor interest," with nearly 40,000 new contributors in the third quarter "We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum," Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement. "Nikki is emerging as the candidate who can move America beyond the chaos and drama of the past and present, and we have the resources we need to do it." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP THIS IS HOW MUCH DONALD TRUMP HAULED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS IN FUNDRAISING Haley has seen her standing in the polls rise over the past couple of months, thanks in part to well-regarded performances in the first two presidential nomination debates. She is now in second place in the Republican nomination race in some of the latest surveys in New Hampshire, which votes second in the primary and caucus schedule, and her home state of South Carolina, which holds the first southern contest. Former ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, speaks at a town hall at Jethros BBQ, on Sept. 16, 2023, in West Des Moines, Iowa. Haley's fundraising, while robust, pales in comparison to the whopping $45.5 million the Trump campaign said that he hauled in during the third quarter. The former president's political team also reported over $37.5 million in their campaign coffers as of the end of last month. Trump is the commanding front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination in both fundraising and polling as he makes his third straight White House run. Trump's lead expanded over the spring and summer as he made history as the first former or current president in American history to be indicted for a crime. Trump's four indictments including in federal court in Washington, D.C., and in Fulton County court in Georgia on charges he tried to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss have only fueled his support among Republican voters in both polling and fundraising. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign last week reported a $15 million fundraising haul over the past three months. Those figures, however, were down from the $20 million he brought in during the second quarter of fundraising, and DeSantis had only $5 million cash on hand in funds that could be spent on the presidential primaries. Presidential candidates have until Oct. 15 to file their third quarter reports with the Federal Election Commission. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: 2024 Watch: Haley hauls in $11M the past 3 months for her presidential campaign A 21-year-old bought a tiny $200 plot of land in the middle of the desert because he feels like Gen Z 'literally owns nothing' PJ Yancey bought a tiny plot of land in Joshua Tree. Screenshot/TikTok - peejstead PJ Yancey went viral with a video showing off a plot of land he bought in Joshua Tree, California. It cost him $200, and with materials to build on it, the project totaled under $1,000, he said. Yancey told Insider he was inspired because landownership for Gen Zers had become a difficult feat. A 21-year-old from Los Angeles went viral on TikTok last week with a video showing how he bought a small patch of land in Joshua Tree for $200. He told Insider he made the purchase because he thought it would feel good to stand on grounds that he owned especially with homeownership becoming more difficult for his generation. In the clip, which has been viewed over 1.5 million times, PJ Yancey gives a tour of his small piece of land, which he said was about 1,000 square feet. The space consists mostly of dirt, with a campfire area in the middle and a covered hammock on a wooden structure. He also shows off a wooden sunshaded chair that helps shield him from the heat. In total, Yancey said the land and all the materials he used to build his structures cost him under $1,000. This embedded content is not available in your region. In the clip, he also shows viewers that the nearby area is full of other tiny plots. One of his neighbors had put up a mailbox and tiki torches, while another demarcated their area with lights around the perimeter. "One time, some dude came out here at the same time that I was out here to go visit his plot, and it was like a guy my age, and it was really cool," Yancey says in the TikTok post. "We just got to hang out." He told Insider he bought the land from a company called Minute Land, which has numerous microplots available to purchase on its website. Yancey in his self-built sunshade structure. PJ Yancey The comments are full of people reacting to his unconventional lifestyle, with some imagining how cold or frightened they'd be if they lived alone in the desert. Some viewers said he should've bought a few more plots so he could combine them. Multiple people said it looked like "Minecraft" in real life. "I'm gonna buy the lot directly adjacent to yours and build a bigger hammock with a lawn," one person said. "Home ownership in 2023," another top comment said. Despite these jokey responses, Yancey said his intentions with the purchase were serious and that he was inspired by seeing a lack of landownership among younger people. His hammock at night. PJ Yancey "The thing about being in Gen Z is that, generally, we quite literally own nothing," he said. "We're not homeowners; we don't own a ranch, a vacation home, any kind of property at all. If we're living on our own, it's in someone else's house or apartment." Yancey said he didn't live there permanently but that he'd spent a few nights in the hammock. Overall, he said he'd found the process of making a shelter with his own hands a "grounding human experience." He praised the bareness of the setup, and because it was a relatively cheap endeavor, he doesn't feel pressured to try to get the most out of the space he's happy to have it as a quick weekend escape, he said. "It's far from a luxury vacation spot, but I feel like, in a way, it accomplishes much more for you than one," he said. "My takeaway is that solitary time in a unique environment is a valuable experience, and if people are inspired by my experience and try it, I succeeded." Read the original article on Insider TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Three Florida high school students were arrested after they were caught making a hit list of other students, authorities said. On Friday, the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office said its deputies arrested three students at Creekside High School who posed a credible threat to their classmates. Their youth services deputies said they found text messages between the three students that had photographs of other students with their faces circled and photos of the school grounds with an area circled out. Possibly impaired driver crashes into road work truck on I-4 in Tampa, FHP says Deputies said there were also signs of firearm use in the messages. According to Sheriff Robert A. Hardwick, the potential victims addresses were also listed in the messages. The hit list was created for select students the group wanted to physically harm and the lethal hit list was created for students the group wanted to kill, the sheriffs office said. All three students, who were 15 and 14 years of age, were arrested on charges of written threats to kill or do bodily harm and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. A sample version of the renewal notice sent to Missouri Medicaid recipients in the past. Springfield resident Eric Honeycutt thought that he and his son had lost their coverage through MO HealthNet, Missouri's Medicaid program. Near the end of September, Honeycutt said he received a letter informing him that his eligibility was denied because he hadn't turned in required paperwork. But he said he sent in the paperwork well before deadline. Around the same time, his son's counselor called to tell them the medical billers found his son's Medicaid was also cancelled and that his son "wouldnt be able to get his therapy unless we did self-pay, which is too expensive for us," Honeycutt said. However, Honeycutt said when he called DSS, he was told something different. "I called in and found out that my coverage was still active but was pending the renewal process because theres something like one million people who need to be re-certified," Honeycutt said. Honeycutt's son didn't lose his coverage, but in August nearly 13,000 Missouri children were deemed ineligible for health care benefits. More than 75% of those were removed for procedural reasons, meaning that there were issues with the paperwork and not necessarily due to the child being ineligible. Verification of Medicaid eligibility reveals that over a three-month period almost 40,000 kids lost health care coverage. Renewal, notifications are a work in progress Some states have experienced a glitch in the verification process that calculates household eligibility rather than individual eligibility. This led to over 12,000 people being erroneously deemed ineligible in Kansas. Missouri, however, says that it has not experienced this issue. Department of Social Services spokesperson Caitlin Whaley said that the number of children being disenrolled is in line with the number of children who receive Medicaid. Kids make up about half of all enrollees. The number that are being disenrolled is roughly proportional to the amount of kids that are on Medicaid relative to the overall population, Whaley said. This is Honeycutt's first time renewing coverage. He's concerned about the process, since he has heard that many people are having experiences similar to his own. "Theres a ton of people who are getting the same notices that their coverage is declined and not active. Then when they go through the time to call back into the Medicaid office, everyone is finding out no, its still active, its just going through the process of being re-certified," Honeycutt said. "The only thing you can do is call in and hope the person that you talk to knows whats going on." Whaley said there is no way of knowing the reason a denial notice would be sent unless she saw the specific notices and looked at each case. She said that the wording on "adverse action" notices, however, may cause some confusion. Adverse action notices inform enrollees that their benefits may be reduced or discontinued. "(Adverse action) notices are used for numerous case changes but do not necessarily mean that coverage has been canceled. For example, with children we may issue an adverse action if a child is moving from Medicaid for Children to CHIP where they need to pay a premium in order to activate their coverage," Whaley said. "We are currently working on making our notices to participants more clear so that there is less confusion about what action was taken by the agency and what steps may be required of the participant." In Missouri, 77% of coverage denials were for procedural reasons During the pandemic, the Medicaid verification process was put on a three-year hold. When the verification process started in June, about 1.5 million people, or roughly a quarter of the state, were receiving health care benefits from Medicaid. For those who enrolled during the pandemic, they may be navigating the renewal process for the first time. Now, more than 82,000 have been disenrolled, although 77% of those were denied coverage for procedural reasons. Dr. Matthew Stinson said Jordan Valley Community Health Center has been working with about 50 people per week on Medicaid applications or renewals. Stinson is executive vice president of medical and behavioral health at Jordan Valley Community Health Center, which is a Springfield-based federally qualified health center with locations around the Ozarks. Those who have been denied for procedural reasons have 90 days to complete the required paperwork and immediately resume coverage. They are eligible to reapply if they miss that 90-day window. Folks can always come in and reapply, Whaley said. Even for a number of the population that are eligible in Missouri we have what's called prior quarter coverage, which means that if they indicate on their form that they want us to look into that, then we potentially could cover the three months prior to their application date as well if they were eligible during those months. Whaley said that it can sometimes be hard to get in touch with some recipients, especially those who have not updated their address or phone numbers with the agency. One of the most challenging things is we understand that people who might use our services, a lot of times move around a lot, Whaley said. So if we don't have a good address for them, it's hard to send them information when we need to. Without reliable means of contact, it may mean that some recipients wont even realize that they lost coverage until they try to use it. They might not realize it until they go in to get a medical procedure or go to the doctor, Whaley said. In an effort to prevent lapses in coverage like that, Stinson said the health center is trying to work ahead of enrollment deadlines. "Were working proactively with patients who are on our schedule to reach out to them ahead of time, to say, 'Did you know that your Medicaid has been terminated or is due to be processed here in the next 90 days, can we go ahead and set up a time to do that?'" Stinson said. While the application or renewal process can be long and tedious, Stinson wants people to know that they don't have to navigate it alone. JVCHC has "a group of experts" patients can work with and computers set up at health centers so people can seek help while they complete renewal or applications. "There is help; people don't have to be overwhelmed by (the process)," Stinson said. Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri Medicaid denials largely due to paperwork issues A young CEO who started a 3D-printing business to create what he believes are faster, cheaper, more hurricane-resistant and environmentally-friendly homes, is also working with NASA to pioneer 3D printing on the moon. By the end of the decade, a printer from Jason Ballard's company, Icon is scheduled to fly to the moon to test print part of a landing pad as part of a partnership with NASA. Closer to home, Icon hopes its 3D-printing technology can eventually help address a serious housing deficit in the U.S. Why Jason Ballard views 3D-printed homes as the future The U.S. is short about 3.8 million housing units, both for rent and for sale, according to the most recent estimates from Freddie Mac. What is available is out of financial reach for most Americans. An analysis of homes that went on sale last year, done by the real estate website Redfin, revealed that only 21% of them were affordable for the typical buyer. Houses are being built using 3D-printing technology in Texas. / Credit: 60 Minutes Ballard's initial career plan had been to become an Episcopal priest. "But along the way, I started just, getting this, like, itch about housing not being right," he said. "So I studied conservation biology. I got involved in sustainable building, and I worked at the local homeless shelter. And so now I'm thinking about homelessness and I'm working in sustainable building. Along the way, my hometown gets destroyed by a hurricane." When he was approved to go to seminary, he sought guidance from the Episcopal bishop of Texas, who, he says, told him, "Jason, I want you to pursue this housing thing like this is your priesthood; this is your vocation." Ballard co-founded Icon in 2017 with Evan Loomis, a college friend with a background in finance, and Alex Le Roux, a Baylor engineering graduate. Their first small 3D printed home, which was unveiled at the SXSW festival in 2018, landed them a meeting with Alan Graham, the founder of a first-of-its-kind village called Community First! Village, which provides small homes to several hundred formerly homeless men and women. Icon 3D printed a welcome center and six small houses at Community First! Village. That's how Tim Shea, a 73-year-old man who'd battled heroin addiction for decades, in 2020 became the first person in this country to live in a 3D-printed home. "I would resign if I was only allowed to build luxury homes, and we would go bankrupt right now if all we built was 3% margin homes for homeless people," Ballard said. "But once this technology arrives in its full force, I think it fundamentally transforms the way we build." It's not just about cost Ballard views 3D printing as a needed paradigm shift in the construction industry. He argues that traditional stick frame housing is susceptible to hurricanes, fires, and termites. To cut costs, Ballard says developers often trim quality on materials and labor, and they create cookie cutter developments. "We are not succeeding at something we have to get right. And on top of that, it's an ecological disaster," Ballard said. "And I would certainly say, and I think you would agree, it is existentially urgent that we shelter ourselves without ruining the planet we have to live on." Jason Ballard demonstrated the difference between a conventionally built wall and a 3D-printed wall. / Credit: 60 Minutes As Ballard explains it, conventionally built walls involve multiple steps and building materials: siding, moisture barrier, sheathing, studs, drywall, float, tape and texture. Conversely, 3D-printed walls are built with a single material, which is delivered by a robot. Ballard also argues that 3D printing generates less waste. How 3D printing homes works Icon's process starts with one-and-a-half-ton sacks of dry concrete powder, which get mixed with water, sand and additives. The mixture is then pumped to a robotic printer. The printer follows a pre-programmed floor plan, with a nozzle that squeezes out the wet, concrete mixture layer by layer. Each layer is called a "bead" and takes about 30 minutes to lay down, Conner Jenkins, Icon's senior construction project manager, said. By the time one complete pass is done, the layer has hardened enough to support the next bead. Steel is added every 10th layer for strength, and cutouts are left for plumbing and electricity. It takes about two weeks to print a full, 160-bead house. For now, Icon is only 3D printing the walls of its houses. Roofs, windows, doors and insulation are added the old-fashioned way. The technique is being used to build what will soon be the world's first large community of 3D-printed homes. Icon is printing 100 houses as part of a huge, new development north of Austin, Texas called Wolf Ranch. The 3D-printed homes will start in the high $400,000 range. NASA's partnership with Icon to bring 3D printing to the moon Ballard, who once applied to be an astronaut but was rejected, is thinking beyond firsts on Earth. Icon has partnered with NASA to pioneer 3D printing on the moon. NASA has announced a series of Artemis missions with the goal of returning American astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, this time to stay. Staying on the moon requires infrastructure, including landing pads, roads and housing, which can't easily be transported from the Earth. At Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, NASA scientists Jennifer Edmunson and Corky Clinton run a program called MMPACT, Moon to Mars Planetary Autonomous Construction Technologies. "We want to be able to make structures that we need without having to be tended by astronauts," Clinton said. NASA scientists Jennifer Edmunson and Corky Clinton / Credit: 60 Minutes Clinton and his team at NASA had long been interested in 3D printing as a potential technology for building on the moon, so when he heard about Icon's early 3D printing work, he traveled to Austin to inspect it. NASA gave Icon development money in 2020 and then, last fall, a $57 million contract. Ballard and Evan Jensen, who's leading the project for Icon, are working to figure out the fundamental challenge: how to 3D print infrastructure on the moon without having to ship material there from Earth. It means using what's called lunar regolith, which covers the moon's surface, rather than concrete and water, as a building material. "Regolith is made up of rock that has been pummeled over billions of years from asteroids, comets and things," Edmunson, the NASA scientist, said. Icon has a big tub full of simulated moon regolith in its Austin facility, and has invented and built a robotic system to 3D print with it. The company has created a new way to 3D print -- using lasers. Instead of a nozzle squirting out soft concrete, a high-intensity laser beam melts the powdery simulated regolith to transform it into a hard, strong, building material. They're running experiments now, using the laser to create a small sample. Icon sends their test prints to NASA, where they're blasted with a plasma torch that reaches almost 4,000 degrees, to see if the materials can take the heat a landing pad would have to withstand. The next test will be operating the robotic arm and laser inside NASA's thermal vacuum chamber, which mimics the moon's extreme cold, heat and vacuum conditions. "We can see the steps and the technology to get us there," Edmunson said. Ballard and NASA aren't stopping at the moon - they view 3D printing on Mars as a realistic future ambition. While working on the NASA project, Icon continues to formulate new mixes to reduce the carbon footprint of its concrete for buildings on Earth. The company is also trying out more radical architecture, including advanced geometric designs, domes, and patterned walls. Next year, Icon will print round hotel rooms in Marfa, Texas and futuristic-looking designer homes. Are Ballard's plans too good to be true? Ballard is aware of the skepticism surrounding CEO's of young companies overpromising and hyping, and he says he sometimes hesitates to even share what he sees coming in the future. When pushed, though, he says, "In the future, I think most buildings will be designed by AI; most projects will be run by software; and almost everything will be built by robots. And I don't think that's that far away." What's more, he says, "Housing will be more abundant, more affordable, [and] more beautiful." When asked whether these predictions might fall under the category of 'too good to be true,' he says, "But cars and airplanes and the moon landing seemed too good to be true for a moment as well. And so, like, maybe the only proof I can give you is, like, I'm betting my life on it. Like, I have this one precious life to live, and I'm using it to do this." Reported by Lesley Stahl, Shari Finkelstein, Collette Richards. 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 Soldiers from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade have taken prisoner the commander of the Alga Volunteer Battalion of the Russian army on the Bakhmut front. Source: 3rd Separate Assault Brigade Quote: "In a remarkable operation on the Bakhmut front, soldiers from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade have taken prisoner an enemy major, the commander of the Alga Volunteer Battalion of the 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade of the Russian Federation. He is now part of the exchange fund of the occupiers senior officers." Details: The Russian commander said that a "f***ing tonne of people have been killed here" in when asked about the state of Russian forces in the area. The Alga Battalion is a volunteer battalion from the Republic of Tatarstan (a federal subject of the Russian Federation). In March 2023, some social media users claimed that the battalion was neutralised in Ukraine, but Algas commander said that those claims were causing tensions and panic. He countered that there are always "military and civilian" casualties during wars, and called those Russian social media users who talked about his battalions losses "traitors" and "deserters". 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 5-year-old boy being dropped off at school died after being struck by a van, Nevada police reported. A van pulling around vehicles that were stopped to drop off students at the North Las Vegas school hit the child as he exited another vehicle at 7:50 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, police said in a news release. The boy, identified by his family as Kamari Jordan Wolfe, died at a hospital, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. His family remembered him as being full of life. He never met a stranger, grandmother Kari Schultz told the publication. He wasnt shy at all. He talked to everybody. He gave people hugs and he squeezed them so tight, you know, he just wouldnt let go. A day that should have been filled with learning, has left this young family learning how to live without their son and brother, said a GoFundMe established to help the family. My heart dropped, Ana Romero, the mother of one of Kamaris classmates at Somerset Academy, told KSNV. And I picked up my little one early because I felt bad. And she said her teacher was upset and she wasnt feeling well and that one of her friends was not in class because he was in an accident. She still doesnt know what happened. She believes hes coming back. I dont know how to tell her. The school issued a statement saying counselors will be available, according to the station. The 41-year-old van driver, who stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, was arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter and failing to pay attention while driving, police said. Police ask any one with information to call 702-633-9111. Beloved pre-K teacher dies in early-morning crash, North Carolina officials say Teen shot dead at party, California police say. Didnt deserve to die like this Mystery of body found in canyon in 1996 continues, California sheriff says Its that time of year again. Bright backpacks, yellow pencils and pink erasers adorn storefronts and shopping sites, evoking the fresh promise of a new school year. But for all the lip-service that we pay teachers, its one of the only professions in which workers are routinely expected to provide the supplies necessary to do their job. Fostering a love of reading is a tall order, one made virtually impossible without funds to purchase books. Imagine asking a surgeon to come to work with their own scalpel and sutures. If you havent had a child in a public school or worked in one yourself, you might assume that most teachers are given the basics but the teacher wish lists you may have seen online tell a very different story. Some schools and districts are well-funded, down to the electric pencil sharpeners, but a shocking number are not. Kelly Gallagher, a science teacher in New Jersey, told HuffPost: I buy supplies for labs that arent ordered from the science supply [company] (oil, baking soda, bleach, sugar, Q-tips, cotton balls, etc.). ... Ive done teacher wishlist programs to get things for my class, like stethoscopes, lab coats, pulse oximeters, supplemental books, and while those are technically donations, they take my time, which does have value. Sometimes the regulations governing purchases are downright nonsensical. Sandra Riek Gill, who taught preschool in Bowling Green, Kentucky, told HuffPost, The district provided a nice laser jet printer but did not provide the ink. We were told to use our classroom budget. Our yearly budget was $300 and the ink was $295. When students families dont have the resources to provide them with basics, such as food, clothing and toiletries, teachers often step in and help out. On every level, and often at their own expense, educators chip away at the profound inequities that define our society. Staci, a physical education teacher for 32 years, tweeted that she has purchased clothes, shoes (tons of sneakers), personal items such as toothbrush, paste, brush, comb, towel. She has also provided class time for elementary students to shower. In addition, she has bought school supplies, backpacks, coats and food for the weekend for her students. We asked our HuffPost Parents Facebook community about the items people are surprised to learn that teachers often have to buy for their classrooms. Heres what they told us: Fans: Most of our building isnt air conditioned, and we return on August 14th. Heather Mcalpin-Berkemeir, high school English teacher, Cincinnati, Ohio Furniture and books: Bookcases, shelves, hundreds of books for a classroom library. Kathie Hilliard Technology and accessories: A stand for a projector, extension cords, a computer for a student. Merry Mc @merrymclellan Cleaning supplies: Wipes for messes Louise Dewaele A desk and chair: Somehow not provided and we arent allowed to use our $75 in supply money to purchase. Also, cant use that money for tissues, sanitizer or basic needs for students. Rebecca Nitterauer McCord Carpet: I desperately need a new one this year, and I am not allowed to use my district provided funds. Sarah Underwood Storage: Storage bins, posters, curtains, and sometimes furniture. Kim Mecum Decor: Bulletin board paper/borders, incentive charts/stickers/prizes, any decorations Denise Iannascola Matarante; Anything that makes it more homey Britany Tuetken Food: Snacks for students Catherine Sullivan We also scoured teacher wish lists posted online and collected some popular items: Tissues Adhesive bandages Menstrual care products Hand soap and lotion Plastic baggies Play-Doh Legos Popsicle sticks Rubber bands Glue Crayons Scissors Markers Stickers Sticky notes Folders Visual timer Poster paper Clipboards Broom and dustpan Laminator and film Whiteboard Dry erase markers Whiteboard erasers Doorstops Flashcards Puzzles Games Paint and paintbrushes iPad chargers Headphones for audio books and other listening activities Rocking chair Rug Flexible seating options, such as exercise balls Pencil sharpener Copy paper Heavy-duty stapler Staples Staple remover Paper towels Related... A skydiver was killed when he made a hard landing in the lawn of a Florida neighborhood, police said. Frederick C. Morello, 69, from Ormond Beach, was involved in a solo parachuting incident on Oct. 7, according to a news release from the Titusville Police Department. Police officers and the fire department responded to the home when Morello was found wearing parachute attire and gear and lying in the lawn, according to the release. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. One neighbor shared surveillance footage that captured the dangerous moments before Morellos death in the reflection of a vehicles back window, WKMG reported. The video, played by the outlet, showed a skydiver descending at a fast speed with a parachute before the hard landing. The Titusville Fire Department said the home was adjacent to Arthur Dunn Airpark, home of Skydive Space Center, a popular skydiving company known for its dives over shuttle launch pads, the main assembly building and the shuttle landing runway of the Kennedy Space Center, according to its website. Police did not release if Morello was diving with the company. McClatchy News reached out to Skydive Space Center for confirmation of Morellos dive and did not receive an immediate response. Police said they are investigating the death and will release more information as it becomes available. The crash site is just miles from where two skydivers hit the ground after an apparent parachute malfunction in 2020, according to a Facebook post from the Titusville Fire Department, WZVN reported. The two skydivers were left in critical condition, the outlet reported. Titusville is about 40 miles east of Orlando. Man shoots down drone harassing him during burglary investigation in Florida, feds say Mystery of body found in canyon in 1996 continues, California sheriff says 68-year-old hiker got lost in remote wilderness. How his phone helped crews reach him Planes are dropping rabies vaccines in North Carolina and other states. Heres why A 7-year-old Tennessee girl died after suffocating on her birthday balloons, according to her mother. Channa Kelly said her daughter, Alexandra Hope Kelly, celebrated her 7th birthday on Sept. 27. Kelly said she bought a 34-inch Mylar #7 balloon inflated with helium for her daughters party, along with several latex balloons. As a parent, I was always aware of the choking hazard of latex balloons, but never imagined that there was such a risk regarding these very large Mylar helium-filled balloons, Kelly wrote on Facebook. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Oct. 1, Alexandra asked if she could pop her birthday balloons, including the #7. Kelly said she went to lie down in her room while her daughter played. When she walked back in the living room, she found Alexandra face down on the floor and unresponsive with the Mylar balloon over her head. On Sunday, October 1st my entire world collapsed around me all because I was unaware of the risk surrounding these types of balloons, Kelly wrote. It is unknown whether she passed away from helium poisoning or suffocation. Kelly said she is sharing the story in the hopes of preventing the tragedy from happening to someone else. TRENDING STORIES: I hope and pray that this will prevent and save the life of other children, Kelly said. I wouldnt want anyone else to experience the pain and devastation that the loss of a child brings. Kelly described her daughter as full of curiosity and a child who loved arts and crafts, swimming and spending time with her cousin and friends. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] She loved to sing and dance and make her mama laugh, her obituary read. Her animated conversation could make anyone smile and she was wonderful to talk to. Bursting with creativity, Alex loved any arts and crafts project she could get her hands on. Family friends have set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses. A helicopter crashed in the New Hampshire woods, killing its 73-year-old pilot, according to state officials. Soon after taking off from Croydon on the evening of Oct. 8, the aircraft vanished from JBI Helicopter Services radar, according to a news release from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. It had been scheduled to land in Quonset, Rhode Island, later that night, but never arrived. State and local officials initiated a search for the missing aircraft, and shortly before 2 a.m. on Oct. 9, the wreckage was located in the woods of Croydon. The helicopter had sustained substantial damage and the pilot, who was the sole occupant, was found deceased, officials said. The pilot was identified as Carl Svenson, a 73-year-old resident of Loudon, New Hampshire. He had been a pilot for about a half-century who started working for JBI Helicopter Services during the 1980s. Located at our heliport in Pembroke, NH, JBI Helicopter Services has been providing reliable, safe, professional services to customers in the Northeast and throughout the country since 1983, the companys website says. McClatchy News has reached out to the company for comment. The cause of the crash is under investigation, officials said. Cop handcuffs 9-year-old boy at Florida school, suit says. Do you want to go to jail? Nurses call for help and tend to hiker who fell off trail in Washington, rescuers say School finds loaded handgun in substitute teachers backpack, Maryland cops say Officials are investigating a helicopter crash that killed a pilot in New Hampshire on Sunday night. Around 10:30 p.m. authorities were notified of a helicopter crash in Croydon in the area of Pine Hill Rd. New Hampshire Fish & Game says JBI Helicopter Services reported a helicopter departed their location in Croydon around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The helicopter service says it was scheduled to arrive in Rhode Island but shortly after it departed, employees were not able to track its location. Croydon Fire Chief Jason Rook said the plane crashed into a heavily wooded area near the takeoff site. Crews searched for hours for the helicopter and it was located around 1:50 a.m. on Monday. The solo occupant, the pilot, Carl Svenson, 73, of Loudon was found dead in the heavily damaged helicopter, the NH Fish and Game Department said. Svenson had been a pilot for about 50 years and started working for JBI Helicopter Services in the 1980s. Croydon is a small town in western New Hampshire, about 35 miles from Vermont. The cause of the crash is under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW At least nine Americans have died in bloody violence between Hamas and Israel, a U.S. official said Monday, the third day since Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack in Israel. Matt Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said Monday morning that an unspecified number of Americans remained unaccounted for in Israel, and that America was working to determine the tally. The identities of the dead Americans were not immediately released, and it was unclear if any were from New York, which is home to about 1.6 million Jews. We can confirm that there are nine American citizens who have lost their lives as a result of these horrific attacks, Miller told MSNBC. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. The State Department said it was in contact with the families of the dead Americans. More than 1,200 people have already been reported dead in the conflict, which was escalating Monday as Israel ordered a retaliatory assault on the blockaded Gaza Strip. At least 700 people have died in Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The Palestinian death toll was 560, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday. Major airlines have canceled flights into and out of Israel. Rep. Grace Meng , a Democrat who represents much of central and eastern Queens, wrote a letter to the State Department asking it to use all resources at its disposal to help Americans in Israel return to the U.S. A spokesman for Meng, Jordan Goldes, said a handful of Mengs constituents were in Israel. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Brooklyn Democrat, said in a statement late Sunday night that he had been briefed on the rising American death tally then four and that it would rise. The viciousness and brutality of this unprecedented attack from Hamas targeting innocent civilians children, families, seniors is overwhelming and heart wrenching, added Schumer, who is Jewish and is currently on a trip to China. Schumer, the majority leader, met with Chinas President Xi Jinping on Monday and urged China to stand with the U.S. in a united front in support of Israel, Schumers office said. Schumers spokesman, Angelo Roefaro, said the majority leader convinced Xi to strengthen a statement opposing violence against civilians in Israel. Rep. Kevin McCarthy open to returning as House Speaker amid Israel war New York City is home to the largest Jewish population of any city on the globe. It also has a significantly smaller Palestinian population; the exact size is not clear, but could number in the tens of thousands. One New York City congressman, Dan Goldman, was in Israel when the fighting began, having made a trip for a family Bar Mitzvah, his office said. Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotels interior stairwell until early Sunday morning, his spokesman, Simone Kanter, said in a statement. Goldman, who represents lower Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn, returned to New York City on Sunday afternoon, Kanter said. PHOTOS: More than 1,000 dead in war between Israel and Hamas In response to the attacks by Hamas, Israels military struck more than 1,200 targets in the Gaza Strip between Saturday and Monday morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF said it hit another 1,200 targets on Monday. What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told mayors of border towns, according to the BBC. We are going to change the Middle East. Israeli officials announces a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, area home to more than 2M Palestinians Some Israelis have been taken hostage by Hamas militants, according to Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. was working to determine if any Americans had been taken hostage. Hundreds fill Times Square for rival protests over violence in Israel Weve seen reports about hostages, he told NBC News, referring to Americans. Were very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. With Joseph Wilkinson In August 2023, Mary L. Smith, a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation, became the first Native American to lead the American Bar Association (ABA), the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. She was installed as the president of the ABA at the organization's convention in Denver. On Monday, Smith released the following statement to commermorate Indigenous Peoples' Day: On this Indigenous Peoples Day, the American Bar Association pays tribute to the rich diversity of the American Indians, Native Hawaiians and Native Alaskans who have contributed so much to the culture and success of our nation. While we reflect on the history and contributions of Indigenous peoples, we also should use this day to reaffirm our commitment to justice, equality and respect for all. Indigenous Peoples Day provides an opportunity to admire and recognize the extraordinary contributions of Indigenous peoples to our society in fields ranging from public service to entrepreneurship and the arts. Indigenous peoples serve in the military at a much higher rate than other groups, have been reliable and persistent stewards of our environment for centuries and have played a critical role in shaping the legal landscape of our country. 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. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights put forth the idea that all people have certain fundamental rights that the government needs to protect, mainly the promise of equality for all people. Unfortunately, that is a promise that our nation has never fully lived up to, especially when it comes to Indigenous peoples. Mary L. Smith Historical injustices have been inflicted upon Indigenous peoples, including forced removals, dispossession of lands and attempts to eradicate their languages and cultures. As lawyers, it is our responsibility to recognize these wrongs, uphold the dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples and work towards a more equitable future for all. The ABA remains committed to supporting Indigenous communities in their pursuit of justice and self-determination by endorsing efforts to strengthen tribal sovereignty, protecting Indigenous sacred sites and ensuring equal access to justice within tribal jurisdictions. The ABA recognizes the importance of respecting tribal treaties, promoting economic development on reservations and confronting the persistent issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Indigenous Peoples Day is a day to celebrate achievements, but it is also a time to issue a call to action for all lawyers to stand in unity with Indigenous communities, amplifying their voices and working together to advance a more just future for all. 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 The U.K. care home sector was pegged as a 7.7 billion market in 2021, according to most recent estimates, yet capacity is shrinking at a time when the average age of the general population continues to grow. Throw into the mix a lack of transparency over pricing and service availability, and it's clear that families looking for the most suitable care home for their elderly loved ones face mounting challenges. This is something that Lottie is setting out to address, with an online marketplace that helps those seeking care find the best care homes and services for their needs, while also catering to additional categories such as home care. Founded out of London in 2021 by brothers Will and Chris Donnelly, Lottie claims some 500,000 monthly users, which it says represents 300% growth over the past 12 months. Following on from a $7 million funding round last year, the company today announced it has raised $21 million (16.35 million) in a Series A round of funding led by U.S. VC giant Accel, with participation from existing backer General Catalyst. Found lacking The social care sector has not been hugely disrupted by the digital revolution these past few decades, with families typically having to liaise directly with local care services, or use directories and websites such as Care UK or Carehome.co.uk, which don't always have all the information that a care-seeker might need, such as pricing and real-time availability. Last year, Lottie acquired a care home software company called Found, which many care homes already used to manage the occupancy and CRM side of their business. Off the back of this, Lottie is now offering real-time service availability, only displaying listings that have actual capacity -- which is a major time-saving for situations where families need to find a care home quickly. "Prior to Lottie, and based on our research, families would find themselves contacting an average of six services before reaching a service that had availability and could meet their care requirements," Lottie co-founder and co-CEO Will Donnelly explained to TechCrunch. "By contrast, Lottie allows families to instantly connect with services accepting new clients today, and therefore supercharges the search process." Lottie listing Lottie listing. Image Credits: Lottie With Found integrated into its marketplace, Lottie can offer care providers a holistic platform for managing enquiries, customer relationships, occupancy, financials and more. This also means that in the future, Lottie will manage payments, so that families can pay directly through the platform similar to other booking marketplaces. "In addition to this, Found will allow Lottie to digitize the viewing, health assessment and referencing stages of the booking process, all of which remain offline today and are currently undertaken via manual means," Donnelly said. Lottie / Found: Dashboard Lottie / Found: Dashboard. Image Credits: Lottie In terms of business model, Lottie monetizes via several streams. Through its core marketplace, care providers are currently charged for lead generations and billed on a pay-per-query basis. "This charge model supports Lottie in giving care seekers access to care services with immediate vacancies, as providers will turn off their listings once their service is at full capacity, and they no longer wish to pay for additional new enquiries," Donnelly said. But with Lottie shifting to a marketplace model via its Found integration, it will soon take a percentage fee from the duration of each residency booked through the Lottie platform. And as a SaaS company, Lottie will also be charging care providers for using its software, with a subscription model in place starting at 150 per month. Expansion While Lottie is entirely focused on the U.K. care home market for now, the fact that it has secured two major U.S. VC firms as backers, who between them have invested in the likes of Spotify, Slack, Atlassian, Airbnb and Snap, is somewhat telling of its global aspirations. However, Donnelly said that he doesn't envision the company looking to international markets until 2025. "International expansion is on our radar, and it was a key reason for why we have strategically aligned ourselves with two global venture capital funds," Donnelly said. "The U.S. market will offer Lotties first route to international expansion due to the similar market characteristics." With another $21 million in the bank, taking its total funding to $31 million to date, the company said that it plans to double its headcount to more than 100 by the end of next year as it builds out its tech. "While we will grow all departments, Lotties main hiring focus is on expanding our product and engineering teams," Donnelly said. "With the additional funding, Lottie plans to build out Found to be a comprehensive home operating system and modular solution, meaning providers no longer need to use multiple softwares to manage their operations and instead can just use one single system -- that being Found." Robert F Kennedy Jr - the anti-vaccination activist, environmental lawyer and member of America's most famous political family - is running for president as an independent. Although his chances of capturing the White House are slim to none, he could impact a close race. "If it becomes a choice between Trump and Kennedy, that's a really tough question," says Sherri Guoan. "In a perfect world, I would love for them to run together." Mrs Guoan and her husband Brandon drove more than an hour from the Detroit area to see Mr Kennedy in Michigan's state capital on Saturday. Mr Guoan calls himself an "old school Democrat, a Kennedy Democrat." But the couple both voted for Donald Trump in 2020. "Trump is very controversial and I think the country could use a fresh start," says Mrs Guoan, but there's no way she'll vote for Joe Biden , whom she calls "the worst president this country has ever had." The BBC spoke to dozens of voters in an eclectic crowd of a few hundred in Lansing. They offered some clues into how a Kennedy campaign might alter the overall race - and in what direction. Sherri and Brandon Guoan are Trump voters who have thrown their support behind Mr Kennedy, who often describes himself as a "liberal Democrat" Standing just a few feet away from the Guaons is retired autoworker and proud union member Alex Hernandez. A Democrat who voted for Mr Biden, he recalls his parents taking him to see a speech by Mr Kennedy's father in 1968. "He has the name and he has the heritage," he says of the younger Kennedy. "I wanted to come down here and hear what he has to say." Robert F Kennedy Jr is part of a Democratic political dynasty. He counts a president and senator among his uncles, and in 1968 his father was assassinated while running for the party's presidential nomination. Mr Kennedy began his own quest for the White House earlier this year by entering the Democratic Party's nomination process. He never presented a significant challenge to President Joe Biden, however, and at a rally in Philadelphia on Monday he declared he is running as an independent candidate instead. "Instead of two parties we have this kind of uniparty, a two-headed monster that's constantly bickering with itself as it leads us all over a cliff," he told the crowd. "The Democrats are frightened that I'm going to spoil the election for President Biden. And the Republicans are frightened that I'm going to spoil it for President Trump. The truth is, they're both right." Will a Kennedy campaign hurt Biden or Trump? The announcement reflects how the policies and priorities of Mr Kennedy and the modern Democratic Party have diverged. His deep scepticism about vaccines and the push to support Ukraine, for example, are out of step with most Democratic politicians. Mr Kennedy spent most of his career as an environmental lawyer but has been more recently known for spreading doubt and falsehoods about vaccinations through his foundation, Children's Health Defense, which got huge boosts in funding and publicity during the Covid pandemic. His signature issue resonates more with grassroots Republican voters than with Democrats. A recent poll funded by a political action committee backing the Kennedy campaign indicated that in a three-way race, Mr Kennedy Jr would siphon off slightly more support from Donald Trump than from Joe Biden. However, another survey, conducted by Ipsos and Reuters, showed the opposite. During his stump speech in Michigan on Saturday, Kennedy emphasised his environmental credentials, a populist economic message, and the history of his political family - only mentioning vaccines very briefly. "People feel that the system is disintegrating," he said. "Not just economically, but mental health and physical health, and all these communities are being torn apart in all these different ways. "A lot of them are living pay cheque to pay cheque, at the edge of desperation." Matthew Ruggles says there is no way he will vote for the Democratic or Republican nominee for president Many voters said they had voted for Mr Trump and preferred his policies, if not his personality. But there were no shortage of self-declared Democrats or people who said they would refuse to vote for either of the major parties. "If I didn't have an option of Kennedy, I would probably just write him in," says Matthew Ruggles. Two of his friends standing nearby agree. "There's no point in voting for either of those [major] parties." The unknown third-party factor "A third-party candidate can attract people who aren't interested in the other candidates - maybe they did vote in the past but they felt overlooked," says Melissa Smith, author of Third Parties, Outsiders, and Renegades: Modern Challenges to the Two-Party System in Presidential Elections. When it comes to the raw vote numbers, Ms Smith says, the true impact of an independent candidate can be hard to gauge, even years after an election. In 2020, the closest state, Georgia, was decided by just more than 11,000 votes. At the same time, more than 60,000 Georgians voted for the Libertarian Party ticket headed by Jo Jorgenson. The Libertarian vote was also greater than Joe Biden's margin of victory in the crucial states of Wisconsin and Arizona. But whether in the absence of a third party those voters would have voted for Mr Trump, Mr Biden or not at all is a nearly impossible question to answer. And Ms Smith says that simple dissatisfaction with the major parties is not enough to push most voters to independent and third-party candidates. Mr Kennedy also faces a different challenge to previous would-be disruptors of the two-party system. Because Mr Trump has already claimed the mantle of anti-establishment outsider, and reshaped the Republican Party in his populist image, there is less political terrain available to exploit. That is why Mr Kennedy's stance on vaccines, which for years has run contrary to the scientific mainstream, may be one issue where he stands out from the other candidates - even if he is currently avoiding focusing on it. Mr Kennedy, Ms Smith says, "trades in conspiracy theories and that's what's going to attract some people" - even though Mr Trump has himself spread falsehoods about widespread election fraud. For many in the crowd on Saturday, Mr Kennedy's views on vaccines were part of his appeal - a feature, rather than a bug. Several repeated debunked theories about a connection between childhood vaccines and autism, while several more mentioned their opposition to vaccine mandates, whether by the government or private companies. "We're not saying vaccines aren't good. We're not saying they're bad. We just want to ask about them," says student Jacob Kostecke, who was wearing a Kennedy T-shirt and says he's planning on a career in the medical field. "He's just trying to keep an open mind and just bring us together, where I feel like everything's just so divided and so political right now." More than a year away from the November 2024 election, it is impossible to know if the Kennedy campaign will catch fire or remain a fringe movement. But Jacob says if Mr Kennedy was not on the ballot, he would vote for Mr Trump. Kennedy supporters Tiana Colley and Jacob Kostecke The director of the Anti-Defamation League criticized MSNBC while appearing on the network for the way it was covering the ongoing fighting between Hamas and Israeli military forces. While I am sad and trying to cope, Ill be honest. I am angry. I am angry with the world that allowed the dehumanization of Israelis and sanitized the terrorism of Hamas, said Jonathan Greenblatt during an appearance Monday on Morning Joe. I must say, I love this show, and I love this network, but Ive got to ask, whos writing the scripts? Hamas? Greenblatt described in detail the atrocities that have been committed in Israel by members of Hamas during the surprise attack over the weekend, saying, They are not fighters. They are not militants. And Im looking right at the camera, they are terrorists. So I just think, like, guys get this story, right, and all these pictures of like, you know, missiles or the rubble in Gaza, please talk to the Israeli mothers and fathers who lost their children, he said. And please stop calling this a retaliation. This is a defensive measure against an organization that is committed to one thing: killing Jews, not a peaceful resolution of a conflict, but murdering Jews. And if youre wondering if Im exaggerating, please, I beg of you, everyone watching and everyone at this network, just watch the footage. As of Monday afternoon, Israel was reporting about 900 deaths as a result of Hamas attacks. The Palestinian health ministry said 680 people have been killed. The U.S. designates Hamas as a terrorist group. The State Department confirmed Monday that at least nine Americans are among the hundreds of fatalities that have occurred since Hamas attack over the weekend. Hamas is also reportedly holding an unspecified number of hostages in Gaza and has threatened to broadcast executions of hostages if Israel targets civilians in Gaza. Each of the major Western media companies has been providing live continuous breaking news coverage of the conflict Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The number of deaths from the devastating earthquakes that struck Afghanistan have surged past 2,400 even as immediate international aid is yet to reach the country due to governments wary of dealing directly with the Taliban. In a press conference on Sunday, Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Talibans ministry of disasters, said the death toll from two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes had increased to 2,445, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in the history of Afghanistan. Mr Sayeeq also revised down the number of injured to more than 2,000. Earlier, he had claimed 9,240 people had been injured in the tremors that struck the Herat province. While the world rushed to send aid after earthquakes rocked Syria, Turkey and Morocco this year and killed thousands, the Taliban official said many are still trapped under the rubble in Afghanistan days after the tremors struck one of the worlds poorest countries. The country is yet to receive an immediate global response due to the Taliban regimes actions as well as international attention being drawn towards the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Mr Sayeeq said the earthquakes completely perished several villages, apart from decimating 1,300 houses. The US Geological Survey said the quakes epicentre was about 40km northwest of Herat. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks of magnitudes 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. Almost 36 hours after the first earthquake hit Herat province, there have been no planes of aid flying in and no specialists on the ground. Activists said people have been left to dig through the debris themselves to rescue the injured. The International Rescue Committee warned that the lack of help and rescue equipment could push the death toll higher in western Afghanistan because trapped survivors cannot be freed. Theres not much disaster management capacity and what there is cant cover people on the ground, said Salma Ben Aissa, the director for the international groups Afghanistan mission said. The numbers (of dead) are increasing hour by hour. Ben Aissas colleague Jawed Niamati said Herat city is empty. People are sleeping in the open, on roadsides and in parks, as they fear more quakes. Temperatures drop to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at night, he said. People injured in the quake on Saturday have been unable to get the treatment they need because of Afghanistans poor medical infrastructure so they are losing their lives. A lack of food, shelter and clean water are increasing health risks among communities. The disaster comes just a year after an earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan in June 2022 and killed at least 1,000 people. Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for the international community to come forward, but only a handful of countries, including Pakistan and China, have publicly offered support. Additional reporting by agencies A solitary door is all that remains of a building in Herat after the Saturday's quake Rescuers are digging for survivors of a powerful earthquake that flattened whole villages in Afghanistan, killing more than 1,000 people. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck Saturday morning in Herat province, a barren landscape dotted with mud brick homes. Villagers are still using shovels and bare hands to search for more than 500 people missing, the UN says. Aid, delayed by blocked routes and communication lines being down, only started to trickle in on Monday. There are fears the death toll could be much higher. The quake hit Zindajan, a rural district some 40km (25 miles) from Herat city, where "100% of homes are estimated to have been completely destroyed," according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). A map of quake affected area Images from the villages show entire houses, which were too fragile to withstand such a quake, reduced to rubble. "We came home and saw there was nothing left. Everything had turned to mud," one resident Nek Mohammad told AFP news agency. "We started to dig with shovels and whatever we had to rescue women and children from the rubble." The Taliban government and aid agencies initially struggled to estimate the death toll, or how many remained missing. It's unlikely officials had population records for such remote villages. The area is also home to communities displaced by war and drought, making it difficult for the local administration to know exactly how many people have been living there. Cracked walls and a gaping hole in the ceiling of a house in Herat province "From what the colleagues in the field tell us, survivors were terrified, hungry, and desperate for help," said Philippe Kropf, the head of communications for the World Food Programme (WFP). He stressed that a "complete picture" of the situation on the ground is still being formed. Warning that winter is only a month away, Mr Kropf told the BBC that the latest crisis comes at a time when 15 million people - a third of the population - already do not know where their next meal will come from. The WFP needs some $400m (327m) in funding to deliver food to remote locations and help millions of the most vulnerable people, including widows and the disabled, to survive winter. Ill-equipped hospitals have also been struggling to accommodate the injured, who now number more than 1,600. Many of them were sent to the Herat Regional Hospital, where teams from the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) have been since Saturday. "Fortunately, most of the patients arriving are non-emergency cases," says Prue Coakley, the acting country representative for MSF in Afghanistan. "However, many of them do not have homes to return to, that is why many of them are remaining in the hospital while authorities look for alternative places for them to stay." She added that a team focused on paediatric patients had been sent to the hospital in Herat. The UN says a majority of the quake survivors who are being treated are women and children, while doctors tell the BBC women and children also account for many of the dead. The Taliban government has said quake survivors are in urgent need of food, drinking water, medicine, clothes and tents for shelter. Several aid agencies have dispatched help, including the Afghan Red Cross Society, MSF, WFP and Unicef. But the agencies say the cash-strapped country needs more aid. Afghanistan has been reeling from an economic crisis since the Taliban takeover in 2021, when aid given directly to the government was stopped. Few countries have pledged money since Saturday's quake. China's Red Cross Society has offered $200,000 (164,220) in emergency cash aid, Chinese media reported. Neighbouring Pakistan has said it is in contact with Afghan officials and will "extend all possible support to the recovery effort". Afghanistan is frequently hit by earthquakes - especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range as it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In June last year, the province of Paktika was hit by a 5.9 magnitude quake which killed more than 1,000 people and left tens of thousands homeless. UK special forces killed nine people "in their beds" during an Afghanistan night raid, an independent inquiry has heard. Family members say the victims were unarmed civilians. The SAS had claimed they acted in self-defence. Senior officers suspected troops of carrying out a policy of executing "fighting age" men even if they posed no threat. The government announced the inquiry after BBC Panorama revealed an SAS squadron killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances on one six-month tour. As substantive hearings got under way at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday, UK special forces were accused of "abusing" night raids in order to commit "numerous" extra-judicial killings - which were allegedly later covered up. Hundreds of deliberate detention operations were carried out by special forces between 2010 and 2013. Lead counsel to the inquiry, Oliver Glasgow KC, set out the details of seven separate kill/capture missions involving the deaths of 33 people, including a number of children. The alleged unlawful killings of the nine people in the Nad Ali district of Helmand is understood to have occurred as a number of families gathered before a wake on 7 February 2011. They were sleeping in a single-roomed outbuilding. The SAS said they had fired in self-defence having been fired upon. Mr Glasgow pointed out the low height of what appear to be bullet holes in the walls of the outbuilding, first revealed by the BBC last year. Graphic showing how bullet holes were found clustered close to ground level - suggesting people had been kneeling or lying down when shot Habibullah Alizai, who owns the home that was raided on 7 February, said he was awoken by the "noise of shouting and gunshots" before soldiers took him from his room to be "interrogated and beaten". Mr Alizai was the first to discover the bodies of his two sons, and the seven others who had been killed. Mr Glasgow told the hearing: "The family insist that all the deceased were innocent civilians, that no-one in the compound was armed and that there were no weapons present. "We anticipate the evidence from the families will be that they were shot in bed, most likely while asleep." The family said the youngest was 14 years old. The special forces squadron said in post-operational paperwork that operatives were "engaged by armed men" so returned fire, resulting in the nine deaths. It added that three AK-47 assault rifles were found in the outbuilding. The SAS has been accused of planting weapons in order to justify illegal killings. An internal special forces Serious Incident Review, which had access to photographs taken by the SAS at the scene and statements from the British troops involved, concluded that "the actions taken were wholly appropriate" and recommended "no further investigative action". The inquiry is set to hear submissions on behalf of the families of 33 people, including eight under-18s, who were killed by special forces. Members of the families called on the inquiry to "provide us with the truth". Allegations of cover-ups of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP) will also be examined. 'My family want the truth' One member of the Saifullah family, whose father, two brothers and cousin were killed by the same SAS squadron during a night raid on 16 February 2011, said they are "having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties" since the raid by British forces. "My family and I request the inquiry team to provide us with the truth and explain to us why and on what basis we had to go through this cruelty," they said. Mansour Aziz has called on the inquiry to listen to two children who were severely injured by British forces during a night raid on their family home in August 2012. The existence of the highly classified operation was first revealed by the BBC last year. He said: "Our house was raided by foreigners and my brother and sister-in-law were killed and their two children severely injured whilst they were sleeping in their bed. "We want to know the truth and why it was our house that was raided. We are asking for the court to listen to these children and bring justice." Imran was three years old and his brother Bilal one and a half when they were shot and seriously wounded by UK special forces. Mr Glasgow also told the hearing of claims that Afghan partner units "refused to serve with UK special forces due to their behaviour". Lord Justice Haddon-Cave is chairing the independent inquiry In his opening submissions, he said: "Let there be no misunderstanding for those who have something to hide - the inquiry will use all its powers to make sure that if there is credible information of wrongdoing... no matter how senior their position, they are referred to the relevant authorities." Two RMP investigations, codenamed Operation Cestro and Operation Northmoor, are also expected to be scrutinised by the inquiry. The latter, a 10m project set up in 2014 to examine allegations of wrongdoing by British armed forces, involved over 100 military police officers. Its detectives investigated evidence that one SAS squadron had killed dozens of unarmed men, detainees and civilians, but resulted in no charges being brought. Operation Cestro investigated the killing of four young people in Loy Bagh village in Helmand on 18 October 2012. The youngest were 14 and 12 when they were killed by a member of the SAS. The RMP referred three soldiers to the Service Prosecuting Authority - including the shooter on four counts of murder - but it resulted in no prosecutions. Mohammed Tayeb, 14, was killed in Loy Bagh village in Helmand An MoD spokesman said: "The MoD is fully committed to supporting the inquiry as it continues its work. "It is not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry and it is up to the statutory inquiry team, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine which allegations are investigated." Bottom line for Get in touch request Do you have information about this story that you want to share? Get in touch using SecureDrop, a highly anonymous and secure way of whistleblowing to the BBC which uses the TOR network. Or by using the Signal messaging app, an end-to-end encrypted message service designed to protect your data. SecureDrop: http://kt2bqe753wj6dgarak2ryj4d6a5tccrivbvod5ab3uxhug5fi624vsqd.onion/ Signal: 07714 956 936 Please note that the SecureDrop link will only work in a Tor browser. For information on keeping secure and anonymous, here's some advice on how to use SecureDrop. Bottom line for Get in touch request A black bear and her cub were euthanized after the sow charged at two boys in Colorado Springs last week, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department has said. Authorities said that officials received a call for help on the evening of Oct. 4 about a bear attack with injuries involving two boys in a heavily wooded open space in Colorado Springs. Officers arrived at the scene to discover that an aggressive mother bear had charged at the boys, aged 12 and 13, twice, prompting one of them to run into a tree branch and suffering a minor injury. Wildlife officials, along with officers of the Colorado Springs Police Department, then searched the area for the bear, estimated to be 150 pounds, and her two cubs. They were able to locate the sow quickly, who was being aggressive, and euthanized her. Bobcat on the loose: Animal attacks 2 children, 2 dogs in Georgia in separate incidents 'Tragic': Two people dead after grizzly bear attack in Canada's Banff National Park Wildlife officials in Colorado killed a black bear that had charged two young hikers near Colorado Springs. This file photo shows a black bear in North Carollina. Locating the cubs Authorities then launched a search for the two bear cubs, who were located after an hours-long search in the darkness and heavy brush. They were scared up a tree so they could be tranquilized. "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," said the wildlife department in their news release. Multiple tactics, including placing a trap above the spot where the bears were first encountered, were employed to capture the two cubs, according to the department. The two cubs were then taken to CPW offices, where they were tagged for release and given a drug to reverse the tranquilizer. However, one of the cubs never recovered. 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, CPW wildlife manager Tim Kroening said in a statement. There was no choice but to put it down after it repeatedly charged people." Kroening added that the death of the cub was a "sad reminder" of why CPW is reluctant to tranquilize wildlife. "There are many risks involved when tranquilizing wildlife," said the officer. 2nd bear in 3 months: University of Colorado campus closed What to do if you spot a bear The National Park Service suggests keeping a few things in mind in case of an encounter: Talk in a low, steady voice and do not scream or otherwise act suddenly. Make yourself appear as large as possible. Travel in groups and pick up small children upon sighting a bear. If you encounter a bear in your own yard, do not leave the house. Ensure everyone is secure inside before banging pots or making other loud noises to scare the bear away. If you see cubs, be extra cautious. Mother bears are very protective of their young. Do not approach, touch or interact with cubs. 'Surprise encounter': Hunter shoots, kills grizzly bear in self-defense in Idaho 'Chilling': A Florida black bear was caught on video hanging out at Naples yacht club Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado black bear killed after charging young hikers; cub dead International aid groups in Afghanistan are scrambling to send help to survivors of an earthquake which has left more than 2,000 people dead and many more injured in a war-ravaged nation already stricken by an economic crisis. The 6.3 magnitude quake struck on Saturday 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Herat city in the western Herat province the third largest in Afghanistan. Its one of the deadliest quakes to hit Afghanistan in recent years last June, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in the eastern Paktika and Khost provinces bordering Pakistan, killed more than a thousand people. Images shared by aid and rescue teams on the ground showed massive heaps of debris and rubble after buildings collapsed. People could be seen digging in the rubble to try to find survivors as others gathered in the streets to avoid being hit by debris during aftershocks. The situation is worse than we imagined with people in devastated villages still desperately trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble with their bare hands, said Thamindri de Silva, national director at World Vision Afghanistan. Reinforcement teams from the capital Kabul had arrived to help but there was only one hospital and it was at full stretch with serious cases being transferred to other private facilities. We are responding with everything we have. People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe, de Silva added. Mark Calder, World Vision Afghanistans advocacy lead, told CNN that the latest earthquake was yet another devastating episode for Afghans following decades of conflict, successive droughts and a collapsed economy. Funding from the international community, Calder added, has been inadequate. Organizations like ours are able to provide relief and help recovery but without commitment from international governments and donors, more will fall into humanitarian need, displacement will increase and lives will be lost, he said. The world must not look away from Afghanistan now. A badly destroyed house, one of thousands across Herat province in western Afghanistan. - MUHAMMAD BALABULUKI/AFP/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images A crisis on top of a crisis Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Sunday put the number killed at 2,053 people, with more 1,240 people hurt and 1,320 houses completely or partially destroyed. But there are fears the toll could rise further. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed solidarity and called on the international community to come together and support Afghans impacted by the earthquake many of whom were already in need before this crisis, he added. UN agencies and partners have stepped up support and emergency operations following the earthquake on Saturday deploying more teams on the ground to join ongoing humanitarian efforts. We are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance, said spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. UNICEF, the UNs childrens fund, has dispatched 10,000 hygiene kits, 5,000 family kits, 1,500 sets of winter clothes and blankets, 1,000 tarpaulins, and basic household items to ongoing humanitarian efforts. Teams are also conducting additional assessments on the ground and are providing emergency drugs and tents for overburdened health clinics. This is by far the worst earthquake Afghanistan has endured in many years, Siddig Ibrahim, UNICEF Afghanistans Chief of Field Office, told CNN. Lack of water is also a serious challenge, Ibrahim added, with women and children being the most disproportionately affected. Afghanistan is home to one of the worlds worst humanitarian and child rights crises, he said. The international community should not, and cannot, look away from children in Afghanistan, especially now, when help is needed most. Save the Children said the scale of the damage in Herat was horrific and anticipates the death toll will rise as bodies are pulled from the rubble. This is a crisis on top of a crisis, said Save the Childrens Afghanistan director Arshad Malik. Even before this disaster, Afghan children were already suffering from a devastating lack of food. Weve been scaling up our response to support the increasing number of children in need, delivering health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, and food security and livelihoods support but (international) donors must provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance. Without an urgent injection of money, existing humanitarian programs will be impacted as already overstretched funding is strained further. UNICEF teams on the ground are calling for more urgent action and aid for families devastated by the latest earthquake. - UNICEF Afghanistan has long been one of Asias poorest countries and has been ravaged by conflict for decades. The Taliban seized power in August 2021, 20 years after their ouster by US troops an event that saw many major aid groups and NGOs pull out and crucial aid programs halted. The Talibans takeover further isolated Afghanistan from the rest of the world and led to Washington and allies cutting off international funding crippling an economy already heavily dependent on aid. Last week the World Bank warned that two thirds of Afghan families currently faced significant challenges in maintaining their livelihoods making it harder for Afghans to recover from earthquakes. International aid groups have said their ability to respond to calls during major disasters has been heavily impacted by the Talibans takeover and called for more urgent global aid but so far only a handful of countries have publicly offered support. Even before this earthquake, with recent floods and instability within the country, over 29 million people in Afghanistan were in need of humanitarian assistance, said IRC director Salma Ben Assia. The earthquake has further exacerbated the situation of already vulnerable communities and upcoming harsh winter conditions spell disaster for the welfare of those that have become displaced, especially for women and children who are most at risk of exploitation and abuse in their displacement. Thousands are now without homes or shelter they have lost everything, added Arshad Malik from Save the Children. The international community cannot turn its backs on children and families in Herat who need urgent help. With previous reporting by Masoud Popalzai. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Ukraines Air Defence Forces will actively use their efforts this winter to protect the energy sector, strategic state facilities and critical infrastructure facilities. Source: Yurii Ihnat , Spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, during the national joint 24/7 newscast; Ukrainian media outlet NV Details: The same tactics were used last winter. Ihnat emphasised that there is a list of facilities that could be potential targets for the Russians. Ihnat also said it should be taken into account that the food sector should be included in the list of critical infrastructure facilities, as it is one of the targets for potential Russian attacks. Ihnat noted that Ukraine still lacks appropriate defence systems, so it uses all available means to down air targets. 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! Russia has launched several waves of attack drones toward Ukraine this evening, a group of which are headed in the direction of Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts, Ukraine's Air Force reported on Telegram on Oct. 9. The drones were launched from the Black Sea and may change direction, the Air Force warned at around 10:15 p.m. local time. An hour later, the Air Force reported that another group of drones was headed towards Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. On Oct. 8, the Air Force's spokesperson Yuri Ihnat said that Russia will likely launch a record number of Shahed kamikaze drones against Ukraine in the coming fall and winter months. The official pointed out that in September alone, Russian forces launched over 500 Shahed-type drones in attacks against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials warned that Russia is likely to escalate its attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the coming months in order to cripple the country's power grid. Moscow attempted such a strategy during the fall and winter of 2022-2023, which led to frequent blackouts and a lack of heating across the country. Read also: Investigative Stories from Ukraine: Russian drone downed by Ukraine is full of Western components Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BRENTWOOD, Calif. (KTLA) Its sometimes said that uninvited guests are most welcome when they leave, but one California resident wouldnt know from personal experience. Sascha Jovanovic said a one-time Airbnb tenant has remained on his Brentwood property for over a year, refusing to either leave or pay. He told the Los Angeles Times that Elizabeth Hirschhorn didnt move out when her stay ended in April 2022. Not only has she been living there rent-free, Jovanovic also claims Hirschhorn wants him to pay her a relocation fee of $100,000. This is like a nightmare, to be honest, Jovanovic told News 2s sister station, KTLA. This is extortion. This is like manipulation. Nobody should go through this. Shreks Swamp now an Airbnb stay in Scotland Hirschhorns attorney told the Times that she was not required to pay rent because the city had never approved the unit for occupancy and that its shower was constructed without a permit. Because of those code violations, the city determined that Jovanovic couldnt evict Hirschhorn, whom he claims wont let him into the unit to bring it up to code. Jovanovic and his lawyer have disputed the occupancy permit allegations and are trying to evict the woman. She is a smart person who knows how to manipulate the system, and it is dangerous that people like this are allowed to do this, Jovanovic said. She is obviously trying to extort a community member and she has done this before. Jovanovic was referring to a Daily Mail article that claimed Hirschorn was kicked out of a $2.6 million Oakland rental home after refusing to leave. This allegedly happened just two months before she moved into Jovanovics Brentwood home. Bedbugs are making France anxious ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics Both Jovanovic and Hirschorn have since filed lawsuits against each other. I am not going to settle, Jovanovic said. This cannot be right and people like this have to be stopped. As the standoff between both parties continues and the case works its way through the courts, Jovanovic has some advice for Airbnb owners. If you go on Airbnb, do not rent out your place for more than 30 days, he said. Thats number one. Number two, do a background check. This is an important warning to all homeowners out there, Triessl added. If you do not have a certificate of occupancy, you cannot rent out your place or you may very well be in the same situation this homeowner is currently in. KTLA has made numerous attempts to contact Hirschhorn and her attorney but has yet to receive a response. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. (KTLA) Its sometimes said that uninvited guests are most welcome when they leave, but one California resident wouldnt know from personal experience. Sascha Jovanovic said a one-time Airbnb tenant has remained on his Brentwood property for over a year, refusing to either leave or pay. He told the Los Angeles Times that Elizabeth Hirschhorn didnt move out when her stay ended in April 2022. Employee stabbed in attempted robbery at Overland Park U-Haul Not only has she been living there rent-free, Jovanovic also claims Hirschhorn wants him to pay her a relocation fee of $100,000. This is like a nightmare, to be honest, Jovanovic told KTLA. This is extortion. This is like manipulation. Nobody should go through this. Hirschhorns attorney told the Times that she was not required to pay rent because the city had never approved the unit for occupancy and that its shower was constructed without a permit. Because of those code violations, the city determined that Jovanovic couldnt evict Hirschhorn, whom he claims wont let him into the unit to bring it up to code. Jovanovic and his lawyer have disputed the occupancy permit allegations and are trying to evict the woman. She is a smart person who knows how to manipulate the system, and it is dangerous that people like this are allowed to do this, Jovanovic said. She is obviously trying to extort a community member and she has done this before. Jovanovic was referring to a Daily Mail article that claimed Hirschorn was kicked out of a $2.6 million Oakland rental home after refusing to leave. This allegedly happened just two months before she moved into Jovanovics Brentwood home. Kansas City man killed in business near downtown, police report Both Jovanovic and Hirschorn have since filed lawsuits against each other. I am not going to settle, Jovanovic said. This cannot be right and people like this have to be stopped. As the standoff between both parties continues and the case works its way through the courts, Jovanovic has some advice for Airbnb owners. If you go on Airbnb, do not rent out your place for more than 30 days, he said. Thats number one. Number two, do a background check. This is an important warning to all homeowners out there, Triessl added. If you do not have a certificate of occupancy, you cannot rent out your place or you may very well be in the same situation this homeowner is currently in. KTLA has made numerous attempts to contact Hirschhorn and her attorney but has not yet received a response. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Air travel is never particularly glamorous, but nowadayswith long lines, cramped seats, and the larger prospect of flight cancellationsit feels less appealing than ever. A recent survey by the travel site Expedia found that 55 percent of Americans find commercial flight "more daunting than filing taxes or visiting the dentist." One smaller airline is thriving by giving customers a better experience at a price comparable to the major carriers'. Naturally, the larger companies are petitioning the federal government to shut it down. Rather than big commercial jets flying out of major airports, the regional airline JSX flies smaller planes that look like private jets out of smaller private terminals. Most flights, like its popular Burbank to Las Vegas route, last only a couple of hours, though it also offers a flight from Miami to New York. At the smaller terminals, passengers walk right out onto the tarmac to board the plane and don't have to go through Transportation Security Agency (TSA) checkpoints. In fact, JSX checks passengers against the TSA pre-check database ahead of time and brags that travelers can show up as little as 20 minutes before departure. This saves more than just time: Passengers on flights that require TSA checkpoints pay for them with a per-ticket fee. JSX fares run from $300 to $800, roughly equivalent to a commercial flight and cheaper than a first-class ticket. JSX gets away with this by taking advantage of a loophole in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations: Flights with 30 or fewer passenger seats can be classified as "public charters" and therefore aren't subject to the same rules. The carrier won FAA approval to operate as a public charter in 2016; its original fleet consisted of 37-seat passenger jets from which it removed seven seats, meeting the FAA maximum and giving passengers extra legroom. Ticket prices include drinks, snacks, WiFi, and checked bags. Passengers are thrilled: Last year, JSX was the only regional airliner in the world to win a five-star rating from the American Passenger Experience Association, winning top honors for the third year in a row. A Forbes contributor called JSX flights a "new, simple, and wonderful solution" to air travel woes. But not everybody is pleased. In May, American Airlines asked the Department of Transportation (DOT) to "provide regulatory clarity," charging that JSX's business model "degrades our nation's aviation system and distorts competition." Southwest Airlines said that "there needs to be one level of safety for anyone flying on a scheduled passenger carrier." The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the world's largest pilot union, accused JSX of "abusing a loophole that should be closed in the best interest of safety." In August, the FAA announced that it would consider changing the regulations that let JSX operate, declaring that it "intends to initiate a rulemaking to address the safety risks." The major carriers' complaints are not persuasive. American may claim that JSX "distorts competition," but there's nothing stopping Americanor any other airlinefrom doing the same thing, offering short-hop flights on smaller planes that passengers can get to and from quickly. Yet the company prefers to complain that an upstart has found a way to eat into its market share without spending as much money as would be required to operate as a major carrier. ALPA doesn't like that JSX is exempted from regulations like the "1,500 hour rule," which says pilots and co-pilots must have at least that many hours of flight experience before they can fly commercially, plus regulations on how much downtime a pilot must have between flights. But Gary Leff of George Mason University's Mercatus Center points out that JSX has "30,000 hour captains mentoring sub-1,500 hour co-pilots." And since they are "largely one and two hour flights," the company's "pilots mostly sleep in their own bedsfar better for fatigue than at nearly all" major carriers. In an email seen by Reason, JSX CEO Alex Wilcox asked customers to submit public comments to the FAA opposing new regulations. Wilcox called the effort "a brazen attempt to regulate JSX out of business" and said that "JSX has a flawless safety record and far exceeds applicable safety, security, and regulatory standards." He has also told The Dallas Morning News that "not once in our nine-year operating history has anyone at TSA, FAA or DOT ever raised any concern with the way in which we operate." In his email to customers, Wilcox notes that in Dallas, where American, Southwest, and JSX are all headquartered, "American has an 86% market share at [Dallas Fort Worth International Airport] and Southwest has a stunning 96% market share" at Dallas Love Field Airport. He accuses American and Southwest of operating a "de facto duopoly in Dallas that they surely want to preserve. That they'd stoop to trying to convince regulators and lawmakers that safety is in jeopardy, in order to maintain their duopoly, is shameful." The post Airlines Ask FAA To Regulate Competitor Out of Business appeared first on Reason.com. SAN DIEGO Airlines have started to cancel flights from San Diego International Airport to Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict in Israel. United has suspended operations from the Israeli capital until conditions allow them to resume, the airlines confirmed in a statement to FOX 5. Meanwhile, Delta has also canceled all flights to Tel Aviv into this week, an airline spokesperson said. The airline added that they will be monitoring the situation and make adjustments accordingly. Customers impacted by canceled flights or who want to change their TLV ticket should check their Delta app, visit Delta.com or call Delta reservations to make adjustments, the company continued in their statement. FOX 5 has reached out to other airlines with scheduled flights from San Diego International Airport to Tel Aviv and is waiting to hear back. Over the last day, several airlines have also worked with the U.S. government to bring back travelers to the U.S. after the attack began, including one that landed in Los Angeles from Tel Aviv Sunday morning. According to a spokesperson, United did operate two flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday after the onset of the conflict. The flight accommodated customers, crews and employee travelers who were at the airport, the airline added. The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority, United added. Live updates | Israel says it is at war after surprise Hamas attack At this time, it is unknown if any direct or connecting flights from Tel Aviv will be landing in San Diego over the next day. The attack on Israel was launched by militants with the group Hamas a Palestinian Suni-Islamic fundamentalist group that contests Israels claim to 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 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel as of 3:50 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes pound the territory. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday morning, the White House said, and told the Israeli prime minister that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on the way to Israel. That includes one of the U.S.s most advanced aircraft carriers, which the Pentagon placed on alert to assist from its current position in the Mediterranean. Throughout Sunday, pro-Palestinian groups took to cities across the country to call on the U.S. to withdraw this support for Israel, citing that aid would help continue the governments decades-long military occupation that some United Nations experts have argued teeters on an apartheid system. Elected officials and Jewish advocacy groups, however, continue to express devastation from the attack many of whom saying that the violence was an example of anti-Semitism. Its a very sad day, Fabienne Perlov, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, told FOX 5 Saturday. Along with many Jewish advocates in San Diego, she says she is currently mourning the attack and calling for peace, adding that we cannot tolerate this type of activities from Hamas. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. A number of airlines have suspended flights to Israel in the wake of the ongoing attacks between the country and Palestinian militant group Hamas that have left hundreds dead and thousands injured. United Airlines said it operated two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday, but it has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until conditions allow them to resume. United Airlines issued a travel alert for Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv from Oct. 7-14. Those impacted who fall under certain criteria can reschedule their trip with waived fees and fare differences, the airline said. Air Canada announced it is temporarily suspending flights to Israel as of Sunday, impacting flights scheduled for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday between Tel Aviv and Toronto and Montreal. Those who choose to change their flight to another date between Sunday and Oct. 21 can do so free of charge, while those who cancel entirely will receive a full refund the airline said. American Airlines also issued a travel alert on Sunday for those traveling to, through and from Tel Aviv, allowing passengers with flights scheduled between Oct. 7-21 to change their flights for a waived fee under certain conditions. Delta Airlines said it canceled flights to Tel Aviv through this week and will continue to make schedule adjustments as needed. In a travel alert online, the airline said it would issue travel waivers for rebooked flights traveling on or before Oct. 21. If passengers cannot rebook on or before Oct. 21, Delta said they can cancel their reservation and use the credit for a new ticket that is valid for one year from the original ticket date. The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Gaza, urging people not to travel to the region due to terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict. The State Department said passengers should exercise increased caution when traveling to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest. In an update Sunday, the State Department said the situation remains dynamic while warning of mortar or rocket fire taking place without warning. The series of cancellations comes after a series of surprise attacks from Hamas, the militant and political group that rules Gaza, on Saturday. Israels military has escalated its retaliatory attacks over the past two days, launching airstrikes into Gaza. The death toll surpassed 1,100 individuals on both sides Sunday, with thousands more Israelis and Palestinians wounded. Ben Gurion International Airport remained open as of Sunday night, with flight tracker FlightAware showing arrivals and departures at the airport. The State Department said Sunday that U.S. citizens in Gaza looking to leave and can safely do so should check the status of the Rafah Crossing, the sole crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A childrens book has been flagged for censorship by Alabama officials because the authors surname is Gay. The book, Read Me a Story Stella by Marie-Louise Gay , was placed under review at the Harris County Public Library due to its sexually explicit nature, Al.com reported. But the story has no sexual content, and is in fact about a brother called Sam and sister called Stella reading books together as they spend the day building a fort. Harris County Public Library executive director, Cindy Hewitt, said that the book was incorrectly put on its list of books under review because the authors name Gay triggered a keyword in the facilitys system. Obviously, were not going to touch that book for any reason, Ms Hewitt said. Kristen Brassard, Ms Gays publicist at Groundwork Books, branded the saga laughable. Although it is obviously laughable that our picture book shows up on their list of censored books simply because the authors last name is Gay, the ridiculousness of that fact should not detract from the seriousness of the situation, she said in a statement. Ms Gays book was one of hundreds of titles put under review after 233 books at the library were flagged by the HCPL for containing the words sexuality, gender, sex, and dating. Other books placed on the list include A quick & easy guide to they/them pronouns, A quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, a book depicting the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager at the hands of police. The review was based on a list of 102 books compiled by Clean Up Alabama of books containing what it claims to be sexually explicit material in libraries around the state, Ms Hewitt said. However, Read Me a Story, Stella was not on that list. Following criticism that the list targeted the LGBT+ community, the review process was halted. We wanted to be proactive and allow our library staff to look at our collection and make decisions about moving material to an older age group and not have someone from outside dictating that for us, Ms Hewitt said. An Alabama childrens book was flagged for censorship because the authors surname is Gay (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Librarians have now moved some of the books to the adult section, while some have not been re-catalogued. Ms Hewitt insisted that the HCPL was never eliminating any book but Ms Brassard said the review process was designed to send a message to children that some ideas are not worthy of consideration. This proves, as always, that censorship is never about limiting access to this book or that one. It is about sending the message to children that certain ideas or even certain people are not worthy of discussion or acknowledgement or consideration, she said. It comes as a new wave of book bans is sweeping across the United States. A GOP-backed sensitive materials law was passed two years ago requiring school districts to create new pathways for residents to challenge sensitive materials. Since then, libraries and schools in states across the country have seen books banned for their sexually explicit material. In April, Republican lawmakers in Missouri threatened to defund public libraries in retaliation for the ACLU filing a lawsuit against a recent ban on educators providing sexually explicit material. Similarly, Florida recently began removing pornographic, violent or inappropriate books from classrooms after sweeping laws passed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. One such law, passed by Mr DeSantis in March last year, requires a certified media specialist to evaluate all books available in classrooms and libraries and punishes teachers with felony charges if non-sanctioned books are present in classrooms. That has led to teachers stripping their classroom shelves of books in fear of being prosecuted. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the Age Appropriate Materials Act mandates schools to catalogue all titles in their classroom lest they include any inappropriate content. There were at least 1,477 attempts to ban 874 individual book titles within the first half of the 2022-2023 school year, according to PEN America. The figures mark a nearly 30 per cent spike from book challenges over the previous year. Fitchburg State University is boosting police patrols after a student reported being sexually assaulted in the campus library, the schools president said Monday. In a statement, Fitchburg State University President Richard Lapidus called the reported assault profoundly disturbing. The assault reported in our campus library was profoundly disturbing. Please know a comprehensive investigation remains very active, with our University Police working in close collaboration with other public safety agencies, Lapidus said. Although there are details we cannot share with the public out of concern for compromising that investigation, be assured that all avenues are being pursued. We are also attending to the well-being of the student who made this report, to whom I am grateful for stepping forward. The reported assault occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The student described her assailant as a thin male, approximately 19 years old, standing 5-foot-5-inches tall, and who spoke with an unknown accent. She said the male had approached her in the library and began a conversation before sexually assaulting her. Other female students have reported being approached at other campus locations by a suspicious male, with a physical description similar to the suspected assailant from the library incident. While this alarming incident has raised understandable concerns, it is important to remember how rare such instances are, Lapidus said in his statement, pointing to the schools annual security report. In light of recent incidents, however, I want to assure members of the campus that they will see a heightened police presence in the coming days, and I ask our community members to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings, Lapidus said. As we have indicated in our safety notices, the University Police website includes valuable information on staying safe on (and off) campus. We will also work with our campus partners on other ways we may support each other during this challenging time, including Counseling Services, who will be sharing information with the campus. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A "few" maritime burglars suspected of raiding houseboats and yachts in San Francisco Bay were nabbed by the Coast Guard and turned over to Oakland police, a spokesperson for the Coast Guard told Fox News Digital. At least one suspect was charged with possession of stolen property as investigators look to build a federal case against him, Oakland police spokesperson Paul Chambers said. Months worth of thefts in the Oakland-Alameda Estuary are believed to be connected, with two individuals committing most of the crimes, Chambers told Fox News Digital in an email. "There has been an increase in crime on the waterway, and it's likely due to a few new anchor-out persons that have recently acquired a sailboat and anchored in the Oakland Estuary," he wrote. SAN FRANCISCO BAY BOATERS FORCED TO FIGHT OFF PIRATES WHO ARE STEALING SHIPS A sailing school in Alameda is on the cusp of closing after half their safety boats were stolen by pirates, the owner said. Detectives on the case said they're "actively attempting" to contact victims and local harbor masters to further investigate each incident, and they ask anyone with information to call the Oakland Police Department Marine Unit at 510-777-8670. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP It's a major step forward after residents in the 800-foot-wide waterway, which includes multiple marinas with about 3,000 boat slips, endured months of thefts by so-called bay "pirates" who use small boats to board large ships and steal anything of value. SEABOUND BANDITS TERRORIZE SAN FRANCISCO BAY; SOME RESIDENTS BLAME SURGE OF NEARBY HOMELESS CAMPS When they're done, they either sink the ships or dump whatever is left of the boats miles away in the harbor or along its shorelines. "The Oakland Police Department is aware of an uptick in the theft of boats and in some occasions, the boat motor, which have occurred in recent weeks," police said in an emailed statement on Friday. WATCH: SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE OF SUSPECTED HARBOR BANDITS Suspected pirates use a small boat to board large ships and yachts in Oakland Harbor. The Coast Guard spokesperson and the Oakland and Alameda police departments couldn't say how many incidents there have been in total, but all three agencies said they're working together to curtail the issue. Alameda police Chief Nishant Joshi called it a "regional approach" to protect the waterway. PIRATES IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY SINKING SAILING SCHOOL FOR KIDS: OWNER "In the waterways, it's very difficult to draw a line," Joshi told Fox News Digital in an interview last week. "There are no roadways or fence lines, so we all have a shared interest, much like crime as a whole, to deal with this as a regional approach." Joshi's comments were echoed by the Coast Guard spokesperson, who said, "It's a federal and state problem, and we're all working to protect the best interests of everyone in the estuary." WATCH: YACHT OWNER CHASES PIRATES Here are examples of stolen items from one of the pirate's "hits" on a boat in the Oakland-Alameda Estuary. Oakland police recently received a $166,000 California state grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways and are in the process of creating a 90-day cleanup project plan, Chambers said. "[We] expect to remove most of the abandoned and nuisance vessels from the Oakland Estuary by December of this year," he said. "I believe this will mitigate most, if not all, of the crime occurring on the waterways of the Oakland Estuary." CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS The news comes after months of table-pounding at municipal meetings, letters and calls to officials, residents said. During a Sept. 25 municipal meeting, several residents shared alleged personal anecdotes of physical confrontations with what many have called "pirates" to show dire the situation is. "Multiple vessels have been stolen and ransacked. Victims have had to resort to personally confronting the criminals to recover their property without the benefit of police support. Is this appropriate activity for a 79-year-old senior?" former harbor master Brock de Lappe said. Another woman said she rescued a man whose sailboat drifted into the bay without a motor or any way to get back to shore after one of the "pirates," which is what the resident called the burglars, cut his boat line during an argument. Original article source: Alleged seafaring bandits nabbed on San Francisco Bay after series of boat raids Facing an upcoming court hearing after being charged with rape nearly a year ago, former Kentucky lawmaker John Tilley is now being sued by the alleged victim in the case. A civil lawsuit was filed in February against 55-year-old Tilley, of Prospect, by the alleged victim. The Lexington Marriott City Center, which is where the incident occurred, Joseph Weidner and a John Doe are also being sued, according to court documents. The victims attorney, Julie Anderson, did not respond to request for comment as of Monday morning. The Herald-Leader does not identify alleged victims of sexual assault. The civil complaint accuses Tilley of common law sexual assault, assault, battery and negligence per se. The lawsuit is separate from the criminal case against Tilley, who was indicted on a rape charge in October 2022. The lawsuit alleges on April 15, 2022, Tilley, Weidner and another man purchased the victim an alcoholic drink causing her to become physically helpless and sexually assaulted her inside the City Center. Tilleys sexual abuse and assault of the plaintiff constituted a harmful or offensive touching of the plaintiff, to which the plaintiff could not consent because she was unconscious, the suit says. Tilleys civil attorney, Licah Farah Jr., was not immediately available for comment Monday morning. In court documents, Tilley denied any and all allegations listed in the victims complaint. The plaintiff is suing the hotel for negligence, negligence per se, premises liability, negligent hiring, training and supervision, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The City Center was complicit in the assault by secluding the physically helpless plaintiff in a guest room, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims the hotel failed to uphold its duty to protect its guests, maintain a safe environment and supervise guests on the property when it is foreseeable that sexual assault is imminent. Marriott breached that duty and was negligent and indifferent to the rights of the plaintiff in that its conduct among other things, failed to properly supervise the premises in allowing Defendants Tilley and the John Doe to escort the physically helpless Plaintiff onto the premises and into a private room wherein she was then sexually abused, court documents say. The hotels attorney, Bradley Moore of Lexington, said he couldnt comment due to pending litigation. The City Centers answer to the complaint denies culpability in the incident. Moore has made attempts for evidence discovery, a process in which information on evidence is made available to all parties. The victim and her lawyer have attempted to stop that effort, according to court documents. Fayette Circuit Judge Thomas Travis allowed discovery to move forward for Moores client, as it would have no effect on the outcome of Tilleys criminal proceedings. Travis wrote in a court order that claims against the Marriott and Weider are distinct from the claims against Tilley. Thus, some limited discovery on these allegations can move forward without compromising the integrity of the criminal action against Tilley, Travis wrote in his order. Weidner and the John Doe an unidentified third person who the victim believes was involved are being sued for assault and battery, negligence, and negligence per se. The suit alleges Weidner constituted harmful and offensive touching, failed to intervene on the assault and aided Tilley in secluding the victim. According to an answer filed in court documents, Weidner denied all claims made by the alleged victim in the case. The document alleges that all damages alleged by the victim were caused and brought about by the plaintiffs own negligence or voluntary acts. Weidner denied claims the alleged victim was physically helpless or unconscious at anytime observed by him. Mr. Weidner has denied any improper actions and he will continue to deny it, said Larry Deener, Weidners attorney. The victim is seeking punitive and exemplary damages, according to the lawsuit. This suit cannot be settled until the criminal charges against Tilley are resolved, according to court documents. Tilley was arrested in August 2022, several months after the alleged rape. The victim told police she blacked out after she was given an alcoholic drink and she woke up unclothed at the hotel with no memory of how she arrived there, according to court documents filled out by Lexington police. Police said the hotel staff identified Tilley as one of three men seen on video leaving the pavilion area with the woman. Police said he was identified leaving the hotel elevator with the victim, leaving the other two men behind. Tilley, an attorney, represented Christian and Trigg counties as a Democratic state representative from 2007 to 2015, when he was appointed secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet by former Gov. Matt Bevin. The former lawmaker has been out on bond since August 2022, shortly after he was arrested. He is scheduled to appear for a status hearing for the criminal charges on Oct. 27. Tilley is scheduled to appear in a pretrial conference for the civil matter on Thursday. The legal saga of Colorado-based web designer Lorie Smith, who declined to make wedding websites for same-sex couples, has ignited a fierce debate between religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights advocates. Represented by the Christian legal advocacy group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Smiths case recently garnered Supreme Court approval, bolstering religious liberty proponents while alarming LGBTQ+ rights supporters. But what is ADF? This pivotal case is a piece of a larger legal tapestry woven by ADF, which has tirelessly advocated for several wedding vendors challenging local anti-discrimination ordinances in defense of their First Amendment rights. Each victory brought ADF closer to establishing a legal precedent, with Smiths case marking a significant milestone. However, an in-depth investigation by The Washington Post into court records and company documents discovered that two of the three vendors mentioned in ADFs 2021 petition had ceased wedding-related operations, with the third vendor not engaging in any wedding photography for two years. Three additional vendors represented by ADF in similar suits also significantly reduced or ceased their wedding-related businesses post-litigation. This pattern led to skepticism from opposing lawyers and a judge, wondering if the claims were genuine or strategically crafted to challenge anti-discrimination laws on a national scale. Related: Woman Who Brought Anti-LGBTQ+ SCOTUS Case Did Make a Wedding Website: Report The Post's investigation also revealed ADFs role in formally establishing some of the companies for its clients, aiding in drafting company policies that later formed the backbone of the lawsuits. Promotional materials for some of these lawsuits showcased staged events with ADF employees, which further fueled suspicions regarding the authenticity of these cases. In an interview with the paper, Jonathan Scruggs, ADF senior counsel, claimed their clients genuine interests in the wedding industry. These are real companies, real businesses, people who are trying to live their lives, Scruggs said. Despite some clients exiting the wedding industry, Scruggs argued that such transitions did not undermine their claims, attributing these changes to the natural progression of businesses. Unfortunately, sometimes in the natural progression of peoples businesses, they happen to close, Scruggs explained. The rightward shift of the federal judiciary under former president Donald Trump significantly favored ADFs cause. Following the Supreme Courts acceptance of ADFs case with the Colorado web designer, Lorie Smith, numerous organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Republican senators and House members led by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, filed supportive briefs. The Post spotlighted ADFs proactive role in initiating lawsuits by assisting in company formation, drafting policies, and even staging promotional events to challenge laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation. This aggressive approach reflects ADFs long-term strategy to overturn these laws, a mission significantly boosted by the shifting judiciary landscape. Related: After the Supreme Court's 303 Creative Ruling, What Happens to LGBTQ+ Rights? Ruling, What Happens to LGBTQ+ Rights? The report's scrutiny extended to examining contracts in eight lawsuits spearheaded by ADF, which bore similar verbiage regarding the vendors right to decline projects that conveyed messages conflicting with their religious or artistic values. The uniformity in language caught the attention of seasoned civil rights attorney Stephen F. Rohde, affiliated with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, who labeled the strategy as unconventional and manipulative, underlining the proactive stance of ADF in these legal engagements. On the flip side, Hiram Sasser, the chief legal officer at First Liberty Institute a conservative-oriented legal nonprofit stood in defense of ADFs approach, brushing off the tactics as nothing beyond standard legal practice while shedding light on the competitive spirit inherent in legal advocacy. He said it was "just lawyering." The inquiry also brought to light promotional materials portraying wedding photographer plaintiffs, engaged in photographing women clad in bridal attire, who were, in reality, part of ADFs staff. Emilee Carpenter, a New York-based plaintiff represented by ADF, conveyed that her legal challenge, along with others, stemmed from a genuine desire to secure legal safeguards for operating businesses aligned with religious convictions. Confronted with a query regarding the authenticity of these cases, Carpenter strongly refuted any insinuations of fabrication, affirming the sincerity of their legal endeavors from a clients perspective. I feel what you are asking is, are these cases fabricated, so to speak? And Im directing that as a client, the answer is no, she told the Post.Lead image above shows the Colorado plaintiff, Lorie Smith. Amazon's Alexa has been falsely claiming the 2020 election was stolen. The voice assistant cited Rumble and Substack for its claims, The Washington Post reported. Amazon told the publication the issue was "quickly fixed when brought to our attention." Amazon's Alexa has made false claims about the 2020 presidential election. The Washington Post reported that the voice assistant cited Rumble, a YouTube alternative popular with rightwing commentators, to claim the 2020 election was "stolen by a massive amount of election fraud." President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the November 2020 presidential election with 306 electoral college votes. At the time, Trump baselessly said widespread fraud in the election system had led to the result. The false statements culminated in a violent revolt on January 6, 2021. Alexa also told users the 2020 election was "notorious for many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud taking place in major metro centers," the Post reported, adding that Alexa had cited newsletter service Substack. A spokesperson for Amazon told Insider: "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," the spokesperson added. After The Post approached Amazon for comment, Alexa began to decline to answer if the 2020 election had been stolen, the publication said. The new report is likely to bolster concerns about technology's role in the spread of misinformation, something officials have been increasingly worried about ahead of the 2024 election. Social-media platforms and generative AI technology have been accused of proliferating misinformation. The rise of sophisticated generative AI has been seen as a potential threat to democracy because of its potential to create convincing deepfakes and spread false information at scale. Read the original article on Business Insider Hamas launched unprecedented surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday, killing at least 800 people. LGBTQ+ activist Rachael Fried and her wife were visiting Israel during the attacks. They left Israel on a flight through Dubai, where being gay is a crime. As an American LGBTQ+ activist, Rachael Fried never thought she would feel a sense of relief upon landing in Dubai, where homosexuality is a crime. But when Hamas launched large-scale surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday, it became the best option. Fried, who works as the executive director of the nonprofit Jewish Queer Youth, flew to Israel with her wife to visit family and friends for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which began on September 29. The couple took an Emirates flight from New York to Israel with a stopover in Dubai, where same-sex sexual acts can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years, according to Human Dignity Trust. LGBTQ+ issues in Israel are more nuanced. LGBTQ+ identities are not criminalized, and Tel Aviv is known as the "gay capital of the Middle East" with a pride parade that attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees ever year. At the same time, same-sex marriage is not legal, though Israel retroactively recognizes same-sex marriages performed outside of the country, and homophobic attitudes are prevalent among more traditional communities, according to Keshet UK. "Whenever we travel to a new country or city, I always look up the situation for queer people in that place so that we can stay safe and act accordingly," Fried told Insider. "Before we landed in Dubai on our way to Israel, my research found that even a slight hand touch in a way that appeared to be vaguely gay was illegal and could be punishable by imprisonment. We were only in Dubai for two hours on the way there, but we were acutely aware of the way that we interacted with each other and I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders once we took off for Israel." Hamas launched 5,000 rockets at southern Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images On Saturday, as communities across Israel celebrated the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, Hamas militants broke through Israel's security fences on the Gaza border and launched coordinated surprise attacks that killed at least 800 people and wounded thousands more. Hundreds of civilians and military personnel were also taken captive. Fried woke up in Jerusalem to the sound of sirens indicating incoming rockets from Gaza. She and her wife took cover in a bomb shelter at their hotel. "It was shocking and scary and no one knew what would be or if we would be able to get home after the holiday was over," she said. Fried and her wife were able to board their original Emirates flight home through Dubai on Sunday night, along with other travelers who had booked last-minute tickets in frantic efforts to leave the country. As the plane landed in Dubai, Fried was struck by the irony of feeling safer there. "While we were on the tarmac in Tel Aviv, there was news of [the city's] Ben Gurion airport being the next target and rumors of the airport shutting down imminently," she said. "I felt a huge sense of relief and safety landing in Dubai, and an immediate heavy sadness that I felt more comfortable being in a place where I was committing a crime for existing with my spouse than I felt being in Israel." Israel has formally declared war on Hamas following the deadliest terror attack in the country's history, responding with missile strikes in Gaza that have killed more than 550 people as of Monday, the Gaza Ministry of Health said. Read the original article on Business Insider BEIJING (AP) American mountaineer Anna Gutu and a Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa were confirmed Sunday 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 (about 25,000 ft) and 8,000 meters (about 26,000 ft) 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 (about 26,000 feet) high in July this year. He wanted to become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice. Shishapangma is the 14th-highest mountain in the world, at over 8,027 meters (26,335 ft) above sea level. Shishapangma is the 14th-highest mountain in the world, at over 8,027 meters (26,335 ft) above sea level. 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 (26,335 ft) 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. (AP) Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks against Israel 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. Hamas surprise attack stuns Israel, leaves hundreds dead in fighting, retaliation Earlier on Sunday, Israels minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer , said American citizens are also among those who were taken captive. But he gave no details about them or those possibly 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. The Israeli government has formally declared war and given the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack over the weekend. The death toll has surpassed 1,100, and thousands were wounded on both sides. 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. JERUSALEM (AP) 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. At least 11 U.S. citizens have been confirmed dead in the surprise Hamas attacks, U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday. 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. In the wars third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. State Department: 9 Americans killed in Israel The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. But Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, 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) The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. Sen. Cory Booker forced to shelter in place in Jerusalem Already, civilians on both sides have suffered a terrible toll. Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, according to media. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. A major question remains whether Israel will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory, a move that in the past has brought even greater casualties. The last ground assault was in 2014. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive, and both sides talk of shattering with violence a years-long Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 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/Erik Marmor) Israel has been stunned by a surprise attack and death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That is fomenting calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject any Palestinians statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy. I ask you to stand firm because we are going to change the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told authorities from the south Monday. I know you have been through terrible and difficult things. What Hamas will go through will be difficult and terrible we have only just begun. In the early evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Monday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Gallant said Israel was at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanizing language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza of varying strictness since Hamas seized power in 2007. In recent years Israel has provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and some consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because lack of energy, electricity, and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. The Israeli seal will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food, and other deliveries, but the question of allowing in fuel was not yet decided. Egypt expressed fears of a possible exodus of Gazans onto its soil. The state-owned Al-Qahera news channel, which is close to security agencies, quoted an anonymous high-level official warning against pushing Palestinians toward the Egyptian border. Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israeli bombardment was moving from district to district to destroy houses and buildings Israel says are being used by Hamas. Israel is planning to hit thousands of targets, he said. He said hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours. His claims of the numbers and his characterization of the dead as Hamas could not be confirmed. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Barhoum said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The U.N. said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. 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. Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Hagari said the military has control of its border communities in southern Israel. He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP over the phone that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The armed wing of Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli airstrikes. That could not be independently confirmed. Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Several United States citizens are among the dead in Hamas' attack on Israel and ongoing hostilities since yesterday, a National Security Council spokesperson said today. We can confirm the deaths of several U.S. citizens, the spokesperson said in a statement. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. The exact number of dead, and a number for injured Americans, were unavailable. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities, the NSC spokesperson said. U.S. citizens in Israel can find travel advice and other advisories via the U.S. State Department. Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials, the department said in an update today. Earlier on Oct. 8, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said 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 civilian 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 on "Meet the Press." 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 on 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, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog indicated that there are Americans among the hostages taken by Hamas. I understand there are, but I dont have details, Herzog said Sunday when asked whether Americans are among the hostages. Herzog, however, said he couldnt provide numbers on the number of American hostages. 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 Irans long relationship with Hamas, but said the Biden administration does not have any evidence of the countrys involvement. 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 attack on Israel comes amid talks between 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? Welker 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 2024 presidential candidates have blamed the Biden administration for the attacks Hamas waged against Israel, with several arguing, without evidence, that the U.S. funded the attacks as a result of a prisoner exchange with Iran, which has a history of funding Hamas. The deal issued 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 that the deal the Biden administration recently made with Iran funded the attacks on Israel, 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? Iran has unfortunately always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like 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. Blinken reiterated that the funds the administration released to Iran were were made available to the country for humanitarian purposes: The Trump administration set up a very similar mechanism to enable Iran to use these these kinds of assets for humanitarian purposes. Weve done the same thing. The secretary of state also called on both chambers of Congress to clearly show and express their support for Israel on a bipartisan basis amid the ongoing conflict. And so thats something we want to see and we hope that that happens quickly, he said. This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Three times in the past six years our pastor has acted out a small drama during his weekly sermon. This is not the church, hell say, crossing his arms over his chest. Then, unclenching and spreading his arms wide, This is the church. Each reenactment of this open and welcoming gesture strikes me as the kind of message people need to hear, outside as well as inside our stained glass windows. Yet record numbers of Americans have quit going to church. Studies and personal stories describe people either leaving churches or just drifting away for reasons like being too busy or disagreeing on social issues. The odd thing is that these former churchgoers seem to be searching for some kind of community, and affirmation that love and compassion are good things. Its odd because in my experience thats what church offers. And my experience is not a sugarcoating of reality. I attend a United Methodist Church in Kentucky, where over the past three years nearly half of the Methodist churches in the state left the denomination. Their reasons for disaffiliating were popularly described as based on objections to the ordination of gay clergy and to holding same-sex weddings in the church. But its more complicated than that. After all, while theres been a lot of internal debate over those issues, the United Methodist Church still does not allow gay weddings or clergy. Instead, the disaffiliations have more to do with the divisiveness and tribalism plaguing other parts of society. We no longer want to be around people who might be different from us. The blessing of the quilts takes place at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Louisville, KY in March of 2020. Members of the congregation sewed quilts for Project Linus, which provides handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or in need. Americans are dechurching in droves. What are they leaving behind? I attended the Kentucky United Methodist Annual Conference this year where disaffiliations were approved for the last wave of the more than 300 churches that left our conference. At the meeting I sensed the hundreds of remaining delegates going through the classic stages of grief, including depression and acceptance. Its a denomination figuring out how to navigate a new world, working hard at keeping hope alive. My home church in Louisville is on a parallel path. Attendance is trending back up after COVID. We now livestream Sunday services. The coffee shop where I volunteer is getting back to its lively self. Over the past few years I know of people who have left because our church is too liberal, others because its too conservative. Much of the current commentary on church attendance refers to the new book, The Great Dechurching by Jim Davis and Michael Graham. It takes a deep dive into surveys about why so many have stopped going to church. The studies found plenty of reasons, from wanting to sleep in after being kept awake by a new baby to attending brunch with friends. Other widely-reported reasons cut even deeper the widespread child abuse in the Catholic church, use of the Bible to score political points and the too-frequent requests for money. I believe in the American dream. But it won't be around for my kids to inherit. The reasons are understandable, relatable and even logical. But they dont take into account the unique combination of what a church can offer that addresses what a lot of people say theyre searching for: friends, and being a part of something larger than themselves. The U.S. Surgeon General issued a report this year on loneliness and isolation, comparing its health effects to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. He created the report, he says, after Americans repeatedly told him they feel invisible and insignificant. Thats a condition every church seeks to address, however imperfectly. We overlook defects in other parts of our lives. Who hasnt had a less-than-perfect experience at what is still their favorite restaurant? Or stayed loyal to their team despite a series of boneheaded plays? I deliberately chose to stay a United Methodist despite strongly disagreeing with its prohibition of gay ministers and same-sex church weddings. The God I worship loves everyone the same. Does religion benefit health? How attending worship can improve your physical and mental health. My conflict with Methodist Church has become an act of faith Remaining in the church for me was never a serious question. On the one hand there was this difference over a divisive issue. On the other was a wide-ranging mixture of reason and emotion. I grew up with the habit and tradition that Sunday mornings were for church. Each week I get to listen to choral and organ music I dont hear anywhere else. I see a group of friends who gather on a moments notice for family celebrations or tragedies, to bring food and just to be there. I get to know that Im part of a community that regularly helps build Habitat for Humanity houses. The childrens choir gave my daughter a strong music education from kindergarten through 12th grade. So I choose to stay because no person or institution is perfect. Because leaving a more diverse group of thinkers and believers for people who are closer to being exactly like me seems sad and even wrong because it would just contribute to todays tendency to listen only to ourselves. My disagreement with one of the churchs policies didnt drive me away the opposite happened. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Im not the sort to just paper over differences like LGBTQ+ rights. So I helped organize a group of church members to hold forums on the issue, to let people know that at next years United Methodist General Conference there could be a vote to change those policies. We also branched into environmental action, supporting the city councils renewable energy resolution. Our group has supported racial justice programs. My conflict has become an act of faith. A churchs hold on people doesnt come with the drama of watching a sport or offer a dinner menu. Its bigger than that. I cant help but feel that both the church and its former members are wandering around looking for each other. Maybe theyll meet again. Paul Wesslund Paul Wesslund is a writer based in Louisville, Kentucky, where he is a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. He is the author of Christianity at Work, a study guide companion to his book, Small Business, Big HeartHow One Family Redefined the Bottom Line. This column first published in the Louisville Courier-Journal. You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Methodist Church's stance on LGBTQ rights made me stay and fight By Greg Torode HONG KONG (Reuters) - A submarine arms race is intensifying as China embarks on production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines that for the first time are expected to pose a challenge to growing U.S. and allied efforts to track them. Analysts and regional defence attaches say evidence is mounting that China is on track to have its Type 096 ballistic missile submarine operational before the end of the decade, with breakthroughs in its quietness aided in part by Russian technology. Research discussed at a conference in May at the U.S. Naval War College and published in August by the college's China Maritime Studies Institute predicts the new vessels will be far harder to keep tabs on. That conclusion is credible, according to seven analysts and three Asia-based military attaches. "The Type 096s are going to be a nightmare," said retired submariner and naval technical intelligence analyst Christopher Carlson, one of the researchers. "They are going to be very, very hard to detect." The discreet effort to track China's nuclear-powered and -armed ballistic missile submarines, known as SSBNs, is one of the core drivers of increased deployments and contingency planning by the U.S. Navy and other militaries across the Indo-Pacific region. That drive is expected to intensify when Type 096s enter service. The Chinese navy is routinely staging fully armed nuclear deterrence patrols with its older Type 094 boats out of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, the Pentagon said in November, much like patrols operated for years by the United States, Britain, Russia and France. But the Type 094s, which carry China's most advanced submarine-launched JL-3 missile, are considered relatively noisy - a major handicap for military submarines. The paper notes that the Type 096 submarine will compare to state-of-the-art Russian submarines in terms of stealth, sensors and weapons. It said that jump in capabilities would have "profound" implications for the U.S. and its Indo-Pacific allies. Based partly on Chinese military journals, internal speeches by senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers and patent data, the paper charts more than 50 years of the PLA navy's often-glacial nuclear submarine development. It contains satellite imagery taken in November at China's new Huludao shipyard showing pressure hull sections for a large submarine being worked up. That puts construction on schedule to have the boats operational by 2030, the timeline stated in the Pentagon's annual reports on China's military. The research also details potential breakthroughs in specific areas, including pump-jet propulsion and internal quieting devices, based on "imitative innovation" of Russian technology. Neither the Russian nor the Chinese defence ministries responded to Reuters' requests for comment. The vessel is likely to be significantly larger than the Type 094, allowing it to contain an internal "raft" mounted on complex rubber supports to dampen engine noise and other sounds, similar to Russian designs. Carlson told Reuters he did not believe China had obtained Russia's "crown jewels" - its very latest technology - but would be producing a submarine stealthy enough to compare to Moscow's Improved Akula boats. "We have a hard time finding and tracking the Improved Akulas as it is," Carlson said. Singapore-based defence scholar Collin Koh said the research opened a window on discreet research projects to improve China's SSBNs as well as boosting its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. "They know they are behind the curve so they are trying to play catch-up in terms of quieting and propulsion," said Koh, of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Carlson said he believed China's strategists would, like Russia, keep SSBNs within protective "bastions" close to its coasts, utilising recently fortified holdings in the disputed South China Sea. ECHO OF THE COLD WAR The prospect of advanced SSBNs will significantly complicate an already intense subsurface surveillance battle. In an echo of the Cold War-era effort to hunt for Soviet "boomers", the tracking of Chinese submarines is increasingly an international effort, with the Japanese and Indian militaries assisting the United States, Australia and Britain, analysts and military attaches say. Anti-submarine warfare drills are increasing, as are deployments of sub-hunting P-8 Poseidon aircraft around Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. The United States, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Britain and New Zealand operate the advanced plane, which use sonobuoys and other more advanced techniques, such as scanning the ocean surface, to find submarines far below. The United States is also carrying out the biggest overhaul of its top-secret undersea surveillance network since the 1950s to combat China's growing presence, Reuters reported in September. The prospect of a quieter Chinese SSBN is driving, in part, the AUKUS deal among Australia, Britain and the U.S., which will see increased deployments of British and U.S. attack submarines to Western Australia. By the 2030s, Australia expects to launch its first nuclear-powered attack submarines with British technology. "We are at a fascinating point here," said Alexander Neill, a Singapore-based defence analyst. "China is on track with a new generation of submarine ahead of the first AUKUS boats - even if they are at parity in terms of capability, that is highly significant," said Neill, an adjunct fellow at Hawaii's Pacific Forum think-tank. Even if China's submarine force reaches technological parity, it will need to train aggressively and intensively over the next decade to match AUKUS capabilities, he added. Vasily Kashin, a Moscow-based Chinese military scholar at HSE University, said it was possible Chinese engineers had made the breakthroughs described in the report. Although China most likely obtained some key Russian technology in the 1990s after the break up of the Soviet Union, Kashin said, there was no known sharing agreement between Beijing and Moscow outside of a 2010 nuclear reactor agreement. He said China may have made progress via adaptations of Russian designs and through other sources, including espionage, but it is unlikely they have the newest-generation Russian systems. "China is not an adversary of Russia in the naval field," Kashin said. "It is not creating difficulties for us, it is creating problems for the U.S." (Reporting By Greg Torode; additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow; Editing by Gerry Doyle) FILE PHOTO: German, Polish and French leaders meet at the Elysee Palace in Paris By Michel Rose PARIS (Reuters) - The sight of French President Emmanuel Macron and his cabinet drinking beers on a boat with their German counterparts in Hamburg this week will project an image of the enduring Franco-German friendship. But the informal team-building exercise, a German government tradition called "Klausur", belies a power struggle between the European Union's two biggest powers and its impact on a raft of EU projects. From joint defence programmes to nuclear energy or relations with China, Paris and Berlin are at odds over a growing number of issues. In an August speech Macron made his frustration public, calling Germany's position on nuclear energy "a historic mistake". France is one of the most nuclear-powered countries in the world, typically producing over 70% of its electricity with its fleet of reactors. The rising tension between the capitals reveals not just a spat on technical matters but a break in trust between two governments fighting for major economic interests and different visions of the EU's future. "I have the impression the governments do not speak with one another about important topics and then when they do, only through the media and sometimes through indiscretions," said Detlef Seif, a leading German Christian Democratic Union lawmaker on EU affairs. That lack of communication is what prompted Berlin to suggest the more informal meeting this week, a French official said. ANTI-NUCLEAR POLICY The hardest-fought battle is over EU electricity reform. French officials are aggrieved by what they describe as a German attempt to sabotage the competitiveness of Frances nuclear industry, whose cheap electricity could give them a competitive edge while Germany struggles with high gas prices. "The starting point for all these disputes is Germany's anti-nuclear policy, which extends beyond its borders," said Marc-Antoine Eyl-Mazzega, head of Paris-based IFRI think-tank's energy centre. Germany decided to phase out nuclear energy after Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011, closing its last reactors in April. But with Germany's access to cheap Russian gas cut off following the invasion of Ukraine, its industry is struggling with soaring electricity costs. BASF, a bellwether of German industry, is cutting jobs in Europe and investing in China instead. "They shot themselves in the foot, and now they want to shoot in ours to get even," one French official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Germany and some other EU members are pushing for stricter rules on state-backed support of power prices. Berlin officials fear Paris will offer state-backed fixed-price contracts for nuclear power to its national energy champion EDF and spend the revenue this raises on supporting French industries. There is also concern in Germany that France could lure companies across the Rhine river with cheaper energy, an executive from a company with knowledge of the Franco-German negotiations said. It is unclear if France and Germany can hash out a deal in Hamburg ahead of a crucial EU energy meeting on Oct. 17, but analysts are doubtful. "France does not look like it is in the mood for compromise anymore," Wolfgang Munchau wrote in the EuroIntelligence newsletter. That hasn't escaped the notice of other European officials. One EU diplomat told Reuters the fracturing relationship will make it harder for the bloc to agree other big decisions such as the future shape of support for Ukraine. CHEMISTRY AND VISION Beyond a lack of chemistry between the French president and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the antagonism comes from two different visions of the world. Macron's concept of "strategic autonomy", which calls for Europe not to rely on outside powers in sectors which could give them political leverage, is rubbing against Germany's historical reliance on the American military umbrella. Berlin's decision to launch the "European Sky Shield" air-defence system with U.S. and Israeli hardware, and not a Franco-Italian one, prompted Paris to call off a joint Franco-German meeting last year. Germany has also long pushed for the concept of "Wandel durch Handel", or "Change through Trade", a belief that trade between countries could not only help prevent conflict, but also support democracy in hitherto autocratic regimes. Although the concept was criticised for having failed with Russia, German officials believe trade ties with a country like China could prevent conflict. France favours a more assertive approach. That was apparent when Brussels launched a probe into Chinese electric vehicles, which the French encouraged, but for which Germany has reservations, officials say. "Where the Germans are risk averse, due to their extensive investments in China, the French are willing to live with a world where retaliation from Beijing is a growing possibility," Noah Barkin, an analyst for GMF Asia said in a note. (Additional reporting by Sarah Marsh in Berlin and Kate Abnett in Brussels; Writing by Michel Rose; Editing by Rachel Armstrong and Elaine Hardcastle) FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of FDA headquarters in White Oak, Maryland (Reuters) -AnaptysBio Inc said on Monday its experimental drug to treat a type of rare skin disease met the main goal in a late-stage study. The drug helped in clearing pus-filled blisters in patients suffering with the condition, generalized pustular psoriasis, in four weeks. The drug developer plans to submit marketing application for the drug, imsidolimab, to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the third quarter of 2024. The drug also demonstrated a favourable safety in patients with no serious adverse events reported during the study, the company said. Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP) is a rare skin disease, in which pus-filled blisters often cover large areas of the body and typically cause fever, shivers, intense itching and joint pain. The company said it intends to license the drug and use the potential proceeds to strengthen the development of its autoimmune and inflammatory diseases portfolio. Shares of AnaptysBio were down after rising as much as 4% in early trading. (Reporting by Khushi Mandowara in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine closed the so-called "Rotterdam plus" case involving an allegedly unreasonable increase in energy prices between 2016-2019, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) reported on Oct. 9. The judges justified the decision by the "expiration of the pre-trial investigation period after the person was served with a notice of suspicion." SAPO's Prosecutor did not agree with the court's decision and will take the case to the Court of Appeals. The investigation, led by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), centered around the so-called "Rotterdam plus" formula, a method that Ukraine used to set electricity prices between 2016 and 2019. The formula was used to calculate market prices for electricity. According to the investigators, it included non-existent costs, namely the prices for transporting coal to Ukraine from the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support us In 2019, NABU investigators accused six people including officials of the state energy regulator and representatives of the DTEK energy company owned by wealthy businessman Rinat Akhmetov of overcharging electricity consumers by Hr 39 billion ($1 billion) throughout the period of the formula's operation. The case was closed several times as "illegal and unfounded" but was reopened again in September 2022, after which 15 more people were added to the list of suspects. NABU and SAPO sent the first case of six suspects in the "Rotterdam plus" case to court in March 2023. Read also: Rotterdam plus case reopened by top prosecutor Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The full moon rises behind the Acropolis hill and the ancient Parthenon temple, in Athens, Greece, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. | Petros Giannakouris, Associated Press While the ruins of the Parthenon appear plain white to the naked eye, a new app called Chronos from Greeces Culture Ministry allows tourists to see the ancient Greek site with bright colors. And, according to The Associated Press, this app is the resolution of one of the worlds most heated debates on cultural heritage. The Parthenon is located on the Acropolis in Athens. The temple housed a massive statue of Athena in the middle of it and in ancient times, people would travel to the temple to pay homage to the goddess. The aged marble of the Parthenon and loss of some artwork has created the cultural perception that the Parthenon (and other Greek ruins) were plain and without color, but the opposite is true. Ancient art would have been a riot of colour and glitzy decoration, Natalie Haynes wrote for BBC. The app restores the striking colors of the sculptures and artwork adorning the Parthenon, which some tourists have said improved their experience. I didnt know much about the (Acropolis), and I had to be convinced to come up here, London tourist Shriya Parsotam Chitnavis told The Associated Press. Seeing this has made it more interesting seeing it in color. Im more of a visual person, so this being interactive really helped me appreciate it. The Parthenon isnt the only structure reconstructed for this app. Tourists can also use the app to see other monuments at the Acropolis, The Associated Press reported. What is the Acropolis? On a craggy, limestone hill overlooking the bustling city of Athens, the Acropolis sits on elevated ground and is home to several ruins. Religious buildings and civic structures stood on the ground there, according to Britannica. A hill provides a natural place for defense, making it a useful spot. From both a religious and a military point of view, a hilltop site was highly desirable: militarily, because an acropolis had to be a citadel, the editors of Britannica wrote. Religiously, because a hill was imbued with natural mysteries caves, springs, copses, and glens that denoted the presence of gods. The Parthenon was one of the buildings located on the Acropolis. The ruins of it still exist. When was the Parthenon built? Work on the Parthenon started in 447 B.C.E. and continued until 432 B.C.E., according to Reed College. Who designed the Parthenon? The celebrated Greek statesman Pericles is credited with the ordering the design and construction of the Parthenon as a temple for Athena the goddess of wisdom, arts, literature and war, according to the History Channel website. He commissioned architects Ictinus and Callicrates along with the sculptor Phidias to construct the temple. Who was the Parthenon dedicated to? The Parthenon was dedicated to the goddess Athena. RESTON, Va. In the not-too-distant future, soldiers at the lowest tactical level might carry a single device into combat that allows them to navigate, see in thermal or standard night vision, receive orders, fly a microdrone, and provide targeting coordinates for a strike mission. As batches of the newest version of the Armys $22 billion Integrated Visual Augmentation System a combined augmented reality and night vision device arrive at units, a vast team of military and civilian scientists as well as researchers will continue to tweak, refine and improve a piece of gear that could radically alter the soldiers capabilities. The service has a lot to work with: The Army received 5,000 IVAS 1.0 devices over this past year. The service ordered 5,000 IVAS 1.1 devices in December 2022 and plans to begin fielding IVAS 1.1 by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, Program Executive Office Soldier told Army Times. Those 1.0 and 1.1 versions are mostly slated for training units and schoolhouses to further develop how soldiers will learn to use and employ the device, officials said. The 1.2 version is most likely to field for operational use and eventually combat. Twenty of the 1.2 versions arrived this past summer. Another 80 such devices are planned for delivery in FY24, with 200 more devices headed to soldiers for testing in the first quarter of FY25, which is when the service plans to begin fielding IVAS 1.2, officials said. PEO Soldier and Microsoft teams working on the IVAS program have made substantial changes to the device, some of which will continue to see improvements between the 1.0 and 1.1 versions as well as the 1.2 model. The HoloLens-based iteration of IVAS emerged in March 2019, followed by ruggedized, military versions through mid-2022. As teams developed the device, it transitioned from a helmet/no-helmet goggle option with a chest-mounted controller and thick cabling that proved cumbersome for soldiers in various field tests. That development pushed the boundaries of technological territory, especially with combing digital technology and night vision. Current night vision technology remains mostly analog, relying on nearly 70 years of research and development. Developers at PEO Soldier, along with Brig. Gen. Christopher Schneider, who runs the office, said the analog approach has reached its limits. Thats especially true for putting augmented reality, a digital technology, in the mix. Challenges emerged early, including a staticky display and a low-light sensor that couldnt provide acceptable night vision when compared to state-of-the-art analog systems that have advanced over decades of research. Other difficulties includes software and hardware reliability, eye strain, and nausea among a small subset of soldiers who used the device, and the form factor (or design of the device). Over the past two years, the team has resolved all those problems, leading to recent approval by senior Army acquisition leaders to approve the second phase of 1.2 development, said Lt. Col. Denny Dresch, IVAS product manager for PEO Soldier. IVAS 1.2, left, features a lower-profile heads-up display than IVAS 1.0, right, improving comfort and performance. (Jason Amadi and Courtney Bacon/Army) To fix display distortion and software glitches, teams recoded and revamped software, built a new display, and found a better low-light sensor. They also added new coatings to the display to resolve humidity problems in wetter, hot-weather environments, Microsoft officials said. Switching from a strap-on goggle that could be worn with or without a helmet to a more standard, helmet-mounted, flip-up visor version, much like existing night vision, added peripheral vision for the user and the ability to wear eye protection or eyeglasses while using the device, not previously an option with the goggle, Dresch said. Changes to the device also reduced the light escaping from it, but developers also added a gasket-seal option and a blackout shield to put over the viewer so that no light escapes when using it at night. Engineers moved the controller to a shoulder or rib cage mounting option, opening room on the chest. A slimmer, shorter cable connects the front heads-up display to the rear helmet-mounted computer, which now serves as a counterweight, much like those used by helicopter pilots wearing night vision. Cable management and ditching the goggle strap came out of soldier touchpoints, events that involved troops using the gear and sharing their observations. More recently, Dresch told Army Times, testing by 10th Mountain Division in August worked through more testing with both the low-light sensor and thermal vision, identifying targets at intervals between 50 meters and 500 meters. For eye strain, nausea and improved visual quality, the team has worked a series of efforts almost since the inception of the program. Software fixes allow the system to improve reprojection so that the eyes focal points are matched with the picture, reducing eye strain. The system also provides an artificial horizon, which reduces or eliminates nausea, much like how viewing the horizon aboard a ship can reduce seasickness. Improvements to color selection and brightness also reduced eye strain. A user-defined alignment tool now helps wearers adjust their visual alignment. The digital technology used by IVAS is still in its nascent stages but already competes with both fielded night vision devices. Developers have included night vision and thermal view options in the device, and a fused mode combines both technologies. The view pairs the Army-developed Family of Weapon Sights technology into the view. That allows a user to toggle between standard night vision, thermal and fused modes as well as select from traditional thermal view to a so-called outline thermal view. The outline view appears with nearly sketch-like lines of the object or person. Its clear enough of a view to identify key features on a person, such as uniform, rank and face shape. As recently as last year the team still had trouble creating training scenarios outdoors without using the interior walls of a building for reference points. But work over the past year has allowed users to place QR codes outdoors to achieve the same virtual shoot house or other scenarios as they would indoors. Soldiers with 10th Mountain Division conduct mission planning operations during the first phase of the IVAS 1.2 user assessment held by PEO Soldier on Fort Drum, N.Y., in August 2023. (Jason Amadi/Army) In a demonstration with HoloLens technology, Microsoft personnel showed media at the companys Reston, Virginia, office in September a scenario in which users created a terrain map of their objective using a combination of drone flight scans from a LiDAR-enabled drone for light detection and ranging; weather information from dedicated satellites; on-the-ground reconnaissance by the team; and information pulled from their own network as well as an offshore ship. They first viewed a 2D map that transformed into a full-color, 3D model complete with layers of data such as the length of roads, trails locations, the number of buildings in the area, contour and elevation lines, and buildings interior blueprints. Users were able to view the entire area and zoom into specific points for more detail. Visual detail was acute enough to view tire marks on dirt roads. In the fictional scenario, the team identified hostile targets while on patrol and later conducted a strike. Both PEO Soldier and Microsoft personnel pointed to evolving capabilities with the device through plug-ins and applications under development by engineers and soldiers. The Army has created Watchtower in recent years, a kind of app store for its Tactical Assault Kit. There are currently more than 100 applications available through the portal. Schneider, the commander of PEO Soldier, told Army Times that its from those apps a lot of unanticipated, creative solutions for IVAS users will come. How soldiers access many of the features will depend not on the devices technology but more on how the Army decides to equip units with tactical cloud access and how planners expect to use the network. IVAS is not just what youre wearing, Schneider said. A lot of the tools reside on IVAS already. A soldier can fly a soldier-borne sensor right now, take imagery of a target, send that to the tactical cloud package, which turns it into a 3D rendering. That capability allows dismounted soldiers to rehearse in near-real time actions on an objective moments before a mission, with a current view of what theyll face at that location. IVAS systems run as standalone devices, but capturing much of what a user sees, sharing information or downloading new apps in the field will come from the company-level computer system. The briefcase-sized device can be carried or mounted on a vehicle. It includes Microsofts Azure Stack Edge data transfer system, radio plug-ins and other slots for networking at a variety of levels. Ultimately, power and bandwidth considerations will drive much of whats available at what echelon for IVAS users. IVAS 1.2 will be the variant fielded to the close combat force. (Frederick Shear/Army) Currently, only team leaders and above use Nett Warrior, a smartphone-based Tactical Assault Kit system for route planning and other unit data needs. But with IVAS, each member of the squad will use the new device. That means a heavier power consumption and bandwidth burden for units. The device comes with three wearable, conformable batteries. The use strategy would have one battery on the device, a second charged battery in the ruck and a third battery charging for later use. Schneider envisions a host of future options for the devices use. The system is built so we can easily get input. Its easy to build an app to deliver the soldier something they want to do, Schneider said. A basic example might be fields of fire for a machine gunner preloaded onto the device for when that soldier reaches the fighting position. Developers could create an app that spits out a nine-line report for medical evacuations or an augmented reality option for medics to perform field surgery at the direction of a doctor at another location, he explained. Its a night vision fighting device first, but it allows you to do all your other tasks more effectively, more efficiently, he said. Scientists analyzed Atlantic puffin genes and found they had been interbreeding in recent history. They traced the first hybrid puffin back to 1910, after climate change had started to grip the globe. That suggests that the interbreeding was caused by climate change. They're small, they're cute, and they're evolving right before our eyes a hybrid species of Atlantic puffins that formed in the last century was recently discovered by scientists. The hybrid group formed when two of three subspecies of Atlantic puffins began mating six generations ago, around 1910, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances. It probably began happening when climate change affected one of the subspecies' habitats, sending them to mingle with another group, the study detailed. Different subspecies of Atlantic puffin look very similar. Annemarie Loof Atlantic puffins' evolution isn't necessarily for the better The authors also found that all three subspecies of puffin that live around the Atlantic Ocean have been losing genetic diversity over the past century. This could make them less fit to survive in the future, Oliver Kersten, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Oslo who led the research, told Insider. Decreased genetic diversity can harm sperm quality across a population, decrease birth rates, and make the organisms within a group more susceptible to disease and parasites, according to multiple studies. All of these factors can make a group less resilient to climate change, and more likely to face extinction. It's important to study the genetic changes happening in puffins right now so we can best plan for how to protect, "such an iconic species," Kersten said. A pair of puffins in the Farne Islands near Northumberland, UK. Evie Easterbrook/Wildlife Photographer of the Year A genetic map for Atlantic puffins Other species in the Arctic have hybridized, like the beluga whale and polar bear, but this is the first time that scientists have been able to track how an Arctic species' genes have changed over time because of hybridization, Kersten said. Without genetics, researchers might never know how puffins are changing in response to their unique environment since the different subspecies look very similar, Kersten said. But genes don't lie. When you compare the genetics of the two subspecies to their new offspring, you get a map of how the hybrid species formed, and how they're currently living. The Atlantic puffin was broken up into three distinct subspecies nearly 40,000 years ago. Annemarie Loof From 40,000 years ago to the 20th century What their analysis found is that the original three subspecies began diverging from one another roughly 40,000 years ago. That likely corresponds to the breakup of an ancient glacier over the Arctic, Kersten told Insider. The break up of the glacier put the different puffin populations onto different islands around the Atlantic, where they could evolve independently. One group settled the north of the Arctic (F. a. naumanni), one group landed on the coastlines of what would become the United Kingdom (F. a. grabae), and the other (F. a. arctica), picked the south of the Arctic. Fast forward to 1910, more than 100 years after the start of the Industrial Revolution, when humans began releasing greenhouse gases into the air at a never-before-seen rate. The scientists found that this is when some of the northern Arctic colonies moved south, meeting at Bear Island (Bjrnya) in Norway. Kersten and his colleagues hypothesize that this happened because climate change made the northern habitat unsuitable for puffins. It could've been a disruption to the food chain from overfishing, a change in water temperature, or any number of human-related effects on the Arctic, that made them want to leave. Studying these animals may help us understand how our actions may be affecting them, Kersten said. He hopes that his work makes people understand that their actions have effects for the Arctic in general, and for the puffin in specific. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Three years after an unprecedented wave of support saw Jacinda Ardern s Labour Party re-elected in a landslide, her party is on the brink of losing power. Most Read from Bloomberg New Zealanders head to the polls on Oct. 14 to choose between her replacement as prime minister, center-left Labour leader Chris Hipkins , or the center-right opposition leader, former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon . Theres a lot at stake: the nations five million people are struggling after a year of rapid interest-rate increases while cost-of-living pressures have sparked reports of a rise in crime. About 63% of New Zealanders think their country is on the wrong track, according to a September poll by Freshwater Strategy. Hipkins has promised to remove the goods and services tax on fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables to ease pressure on household budgets and provide free dental care for people aged under 30. Luxons National Party is promising to tackle crime and deliver tax cuts funded by a levy on foreigners buying property. Yet campaigning from both sides has struggled to spur anything like the energy of the Jacinda-mania elections of 2017 and 2020. Polls show neither Hipkins or Luxon have cut through with voters like Ardern did, leaving almost a third undecided. Retiree David Gillespie says the mood is far more subdued than back in 2017, when Ardern first won power. People were cheering her in the streets, Gillespie said on a recent afternoon in the center of Wellington. Amazing excitement, you could feel it, nationwide. She just had something. With a population slightly larger than the US state of Alabama, New Zealand has rarely registered in international politics. But during Arderns five years as prime minister, the young leader regularly made headlines around the world. Ardern was one of the first world leaders to govern a country while pregnant, taking maternity leave to give birth to her daughter Neve. She was featured on the front pages of Time and Vogue magazines, which referred to her as the anti-Trump. Her resignation at the start of the year made global news CNN wrote that Ardern like George Washington, knew when to quit. Other countries and other media from overseas were really looking for Ardern as this bastion of hope for left-wing politics, or this kind of quite cool young woman leader, said Lara Greaves, a political scientist at Victoria University of Wellington. But here, people were getting sick of her. Her popularity plunged rapidly in the wake of Covid-19, as economic problems began to hit home and political division grew over her governments pandemic response. Before her resignation in January 2023, her party was consistently polling below the National opposition, with a drop in support of more than 20 percentage points from its peak. Even Arderns successor Hipkins appears to be distancing himself from his former leader. When asked in the first election debate in September which of his predecessors he respected the most, Hipkins mentioned Ardern but also former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark, saying he respected many leaders. Retail worker Donna Forsman said while she was a supporter of Ardern and her government, there had been some in the country who loathed the former prime minister. It was shocking actually, Forsman said on her lunch break in Wellington, adding some people thought Ardern was too soft while others begrudged her shutting the country down during the pandemic. The hate that some people had for her was just amazing. Forsman said without Ardern, she was struggling to get excited about the upcoming election, or either candidate. Its very difficult to choose, she said, adding she was likely to vote for Labour again. Campaign Trail At a shopping center in northwest Auckland on Sept. 26, Luxon was greeted warmly if not overly enthusiastically by voters. One mother explained to her son that Luxon is hopefully our next prime minister, while 18-year-old trainee paramedic Kaitlyn Hunt said after meeting him in person she was impressed. Hunt said she was considering casting her first vote ever for Luxons National Party, saying crime was out of control. But some voters said that while Labour might still have lost government if Ardern had remained, she likely would have been more persuasive in arguing for another term than Hipkins. Some even said Arderns resignation had changed their vote. Uber driver Ramadeep Singh said he was leaning toward voting for the National Party due to his concerns over rising crime. Singh said two businesses owned by his friends and family had been robbed in the past year, one in a ram raid. But as he spoke about his six years living in New Zealand, Singh said he owed a lot to the former prime minister. I had a great loyalty to Jacinda, he said. If she was still prime minister I would have voted for Labour. --With assistance from Matthew Brockett, Ainsley Thomson, Tracy Withers and Michael Heath. (Updates with additional comments on Ardern.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The U.S. Army wants to help supply both its Ukrainian and Israeli allies with as many bombs and other equipment as they need in their separate wars. But it cant happen as long as Congress is in chaos. Pentagon leadership is still in the early stages of evaluating what Israel might need to battle Hamas militants, but an administration briefing to members of Congress laid out some early markers: air-to-ground bombs, and air defense systems. But whatever Israel needs, those requests will run headlong into the dysfunction and uncertainty enveloping Capitol Hill, as the House grapples with selecting a new leader and both chambers race to avoid a government shutdown just weeks away. Those priorities will also need to compete with rush orders for Ukraine, which is already straining the capacity of companies in the U.S. and Europe to send arms to Kyiv and resupply inventories back home. One thing that is really important in terms of the munitions in particular, and our ability to support both potentially the Israelis and the Ukrainians simultaneously, is additional funding from Congress to be able to increase our capacity, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told reporters at the Association of the United States Army conference in Washington Monday. Increasing the output from defense companies has been a priority for the Pentagon and the Army in particular as the U.S. raids its own warehouses to send millions of artillery rounds along with ground vehicles and guided bombs to Ukraine. In terms of our capacity to expand production and then to also pay for the munitions themselves, we need additional support from Congress. So I hope we'll see that soon," Wormuth said. Yet she acknowledged the uncertainty on Capitol Hill, noting that we're staring down the barrel of another potential government shutdown in just a few weeks. The lack of predictability around our budget is a huge problem, particularly in light of the incredibly challenging security environment where we're doing everything we're doing in Ukraine, we're working to keep up with the pacing challenge of China, and now we see what's happening in Israel, she said. Having predictable funding would help a lot. With Congress not in session this week, and without a speaker of the House, the budget remains in flux. The House is unable to pass legislation until it elects a replacement for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted last week. The crisis and the inability of the House to act until it picks a new speaker has even fueled some calls to reinstate McCarthy. He signaled Monday hes open to the idea. Ukraine aid, meanwhile, remains politically toxic among House Republicans as more GOP lawmakers turn against new funding. On the Senate side, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday endorsed speeding resources and intelligence support to Israel and several other strategic American allies. And he has generally aligned with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on ensuring that they have the resources and money needed to defend themselves. As we have seen in Ukraine, failure to act decisively can prolong the conflict and compound the costs of war, McConnell wrote in aWall Street Journal op-ed. There is still time to act. Congress has the opportunity this fall to provide emergency appropriations to the Defense Department so that it can assist partners like Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as invest in our own military capabilities. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has rushed munitions, rockets, drones, artillery, air defense and tanks to the fight, and is training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s. More equipment has been ordered, but the U.S. also needs to restock its shelves. In his column, McConnell underscored the importance of funding the expansion and modernization of weapons inventories alongside investing in the defense industrial base. While war is expensive, he wrote, failure costs more. Congress has left President Joe Biden's latest $24 billion request for Ukraine largely untouched since the administration sent it to Congress in August. Attempts to attach several billion dollars as part of a government funding patch in late September came up short. The massive proposal included $9.5 billion for the Pentagon to arm Ukraine and build back stocks of weapons and equipment that were sent to Ukraine, such as artillery shells and missiles, with $4.5 billion of that earmarked to replenish U.S. inventories. Bipartisan momentum to quickly provide funding and aid for Israel could be an opportunity to unjam at least part of Biden's request for Ukraine by pairing funding for the two crises. But it could also prove politically perilous because House Republicans increasingly oppose more money for Kyiv. Even if Congress approves more money for Israel, its still an open question whether the industrial base already straining from the effort to arm Ukraine can deliver for Tel Aviv over the long term. The countries need different types of weapons, for the most part. Israel is expected to rely heavily on precision air-to-ground munitions fired from F-16 and F-35 fighter jets and Apache helicopters, none of which is in the Ukrainian arsenal. The issue of 155mm artillery shells, which both countries desperately need, will likely loom large, however. Andrew Zhang contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Discipline works in mysterious ways. Hold on a second here, said Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer at the start of a Sept. 29 interview with Army Times. Im just going to touch up a little bit. An electric razors gentle buzz emanated through the phone, followed by hearty laughter. Army Times spoke with Weimer ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference, but the conversation was barely underway before the Armys top NCO poked fun at himself. The razor stunt was a reference to a Reddit users viral Beard Eraser game, which lets motivated player-warriors help Weimer, who woke up undisciplined today, get a fresh shave. The SMA described it as hilarious. Shaving the Sergeant Major of the Army? Theres an app for that. The conversation with Weimer covered his approach to garrison discipline his previous comments about which sparked the anxiety that led to Beard Eraser as well as training tempo. The below interview was edited for length and clarity. AT: Im glad you appreciated the shaving game soldiers do the craziest things. But that app grew out of a place of anxiety. Soldiers are desperate to hear more details from you about what you envision for the return to standards and discipline, which youve discussed in broad terms thus far. At a macro level, we are all in on the four focus areas that Gen. [Randy] George and I have been talking about [warfighting, delivering ready combat formations, undergoing continuous transformation, and strengthening the profession of arms]. Were gonna spend a lot of time talking about warfighting, because its the very reason we exist theres no other reason we exist. You really trace it all back to: how disciplined are you as an individual? How disciplined are you as an organization? Until you understand what the individuals discipline is, you really dont have the sum of the whole organization. Youre gonna see me spend a lot of time on the noncommissioned officer. Discipline is usually measured with clearly defined standards, right? If the standards arent clearly defined, and if the standards arent clearly modeled, and if the standards arent clearly upheld, then were not nearly as disciplined as we think. The more senior you get, it evolves, but you dont take anything off the plate. Its not like you become the sergeant major of the Army and all of the sudden haircuts dont matter and doing PT stops. If youre asking soldiers or NCOs to live and uphold the standard, they have got to be clear and not confusing. We can use technology that can help us clear up any confusion on what a standard is. AT: Creating a shared understanding across the force is challenging to achieve at scale. Where are you hoping to improve on messaging about standards and discipline in order to bring everybody on the same page? This is where I love technology, but what Ive learned over time is if we dont have governance with how were using technology the information space is a great example of this we actually can create more confusion. AT: There seems to be rising concern among the force that theres a pretty high training tempo and theres lots of time away from home. What are your thoughts about op tempo and the force right now what do you think is the right balance there? Im not going to disagree on the op tempo. Its a very squishy term, though. The [Army] Secretary and the Chief [of Staff], weve talked about how we should call it head-on-pillow-time. How many nights and days was my head not on my pillow at home? Because, I could never leave Fort Liberty and still not be home for two weeks because were in the field. Units are training really hard at home station now we should be training hard but theres a balance. I think thats what the soldiers are getting at. Were asking commanders to take a thorough look at all the exercises they are doing and making sure were assessing what really needs to be done. We acknowledge how much were asking our soldiers to do, and its having an impact in every theater were in, but the [overseas] demands arent going down. So were really taking a hard look at what were asking our soldiers to do and the stress that it can be putting on their families. I dont have a secret answer to roll out. Its going to have to be leadership starting at the [Forces Command] level at echelon to be ruthless with prioritizing what were doing. WASHINGTON Decisions on the way forward for one of the U.S. Armys top long-range fires priorities the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program wont come until a new conventional fires strategy is complete, the services acquisition chief said. It really becomes a fiscal year 2025 budget decision, if we were to go in a different direction, Doug Bush confirmed to Defense News in a recent interview. I think, though, that the requirement is still there. We still need longer range in a more affordable way, which is an important caveat. Of the 24 new Army systems slated to make it into the hands of soldiers by the end of 2023, only the Extended Range Cannon Artillery program might miss that goal, Bush said when the Army unveiled its fiscal 2024 budget request this year. The ERCA system uses a service-developed, 58-caliber gun tube mounted on the chassis of a BAE Systems-made Paladin Integrated Management howitzer. The Army was building 20 prototypes of the ERCA system: two for destructive testing, and the remaining 18 for a battalion. The Long Range Precision Fires Cross-Functional Team declined an interview request ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference, and did not respond to questions submitted in writing by press time. The operational evaluation of ERCA revealed engineering challenges, Bush said this year. Observations in early testing of prototypes showed excessive wear on the gun tube after firing a relatively low number of rounds. Army Futures Command leader Gen. James Rainey told Defense News this summer the service is working on a new conventional fires strategy expected by the end of the calendar year. The strategy will determine both capability and capacity of what exists and what the Army may need, Rainey said. The strategy will also consider new technology to enhance conventional fires on the battlefield, such as advances in propellant that make it possible for midrange cannons to shoot as far as longer-range systems. Depending on the artillery strategys conclusions, there are a variety of options the service could consider to fulfill the Armys requirement for an extended-range cannon, Bush said. Weve got Excalibur [munitions], weve got systems that can shoot that far, Bush said. I think an important goal for the ERCA program was to do it at scale and cost thats lower than exquisite precision munitions. Another option, Bush said, could involve a shorter, 52-caliber gun tube versus the 58-caliber one used in ERCA. The Army could, however, choose to continue the ERCA program with a 58-caliber gun tube but shift it into longer-term research and development instead of fielding it according to the previous plan. Different munitions in various stages of development within the science and technology community as well as research and development organizations could also extend the range of current cannon systems, according to Bush. Additionally, the service could reconsider how conventional fires capabilities are fielded to formations, such as giving wheeled or towed artillery to different units for different capabilities, he added. Several years ago, the service assessed readily available 155mm mobile howitzers in search of ones that might offer an improvement in range, rate of fire and mobility over the artillery systems used within Stryker brigade combat teams. The Army evaluated at least four foreign companies offerings in a shoot-off, but did not move forward with a new capability. The strategy was looking at various wheeled howitzers, Bush said, but I dont want to prejudge their conclusions. From an acquisition standpoint, if I get a requirement, weve got some options to go pretty fast if its acceptable, for example, to take a foreign system rather than building a new one from scratch. The Army is also looking at a variety of auto-loading technologies. Its a big menu, Bush said. Indigenous Peoples Day, celebrated in communities around the United States today, holds a wealth of meaning. For some, it is a day to celebrate the resilience of Native peoples; for others, it is a small step forward to reconciliation for the harms wrought by colonialism. Last week, we asked our social media followers to tell us what Indigenous Peoples Day means to them. Heres what they had to say. The following answers have been published as originally written. Rayvin Carlson We deserve more than just one day. We deserve the entire year and thats what we get. Every single day we are still here and thriving and thats what this day means. To show the rest of the world that wanted us dead so badly they didnt win. This day reminds them they will never win. We are here and stronger than ever. Honoring our ancestors that came before us, those who thought theyd be their last generations. Sharon Bradshaw Corn Time to honor the sacrifices made by those before us Irvin Morris Every day is Indigenous Peoples Day. Every time that the sun rises and we are still here, is cause for celebration. Ethan Thompson It is a day of peace and acknowledgement of myself and people like me, of indigenous blood and Tribal Nations. I love Indigenous Peoples Day. Berni SantaMaria No celebration is complete without returning our lands! and for federal government/Congress to abide by all treaties and agreements made in the past hundreds of years! Ravens Dotter It means society as a whole has taken a baby step toward acknowledging the first people of our land. EJ Forum That the climate solutions people note as novel and innovative are rooted in the Indigenous knowledge and practices that were for centuries. Richard E Giovanelli Doesnt get anywhere near the celebration and attention it deserves Bales Marie I love it! I think its our most celebrated time that bring awareness and allows Allies to join in and help acknowledge Indigenous Peoples existence and efforts. I have did a big part by bringing it to my Louisiana governors attention back in 2019 and marketed it and so our Indigenous community has definitely stepped up since then. Its time for our voices to be heard and this is an occasion to do so. Ric Ghahate I celebrate 365 24 7 for 64 year sWhats your problem 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 An appeals court has ordered a venture capital firm that provides grants to Black women entrepreneurs to pause grant applications after a federal judge shut down a request by an activist on a rampage against affirmative action. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, ordered the Fearless Fund to pause grant applications on Sept. 30 while the federal lawsuit filed by conservative activist Edward Blum is pending. Blum and his nonprofit American Alliance for Equal Rights claim that the Fearless Fund discriminates against white people. Fearless Fund founders Ayana Parsons (left) and Arian Simone (right). (Photo: @fearless.fund / Instagram) Blum claims in his lawsuit that the fund violates the Civil Rights Act of 1866 because it is only eligible for women of color. The Fearless Fund was created by Arian Simone, Ayana Parsons, and The Cosby Show actress Keshia Knight Pulliam and is the first venture capital fund for women of color by women of colorthe firm grants eligible women and business owners $20,000 in seed funding and growth financing. Trending Today: American Alliance for Equal Rights filed an emergency motion after U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash denied their request for an injunction to stop the grants on Sept. 26. A three-judge panel with the 11th Circuit overturned the ruling 2 to 1. The two judges who agreed with Blum called the Fearless Fund racially exclusionary. Another 11th Circuit panel will now rule on whether the injunction that blocks the grants will remain in place as the case is being litigated at the district court level. The case against the Fearless Fund's grant program was brought by a group run by Edward Blum, the conservative activist who also led the Supreme Court case to eradicate race-based admissions on college campuses. https://t.co/yLJrjyRewU NBC BLK (@NBCBLK) October 2, 2023 The plaintiffs have established an irreparable injury, read the ruling. The Fearless Fund released a statement following the 2-1 decision, noting they disagreed with the ruling. We strongly disagree with the decision and remain resolute in our mission and commitment to address the unacceptable disparities that exist for Black women and other women of color in the venture capital space, read the statement. One of the attorneys for the Fearless Fund, Alphonso David, also shared a statement following the ruling. We respectfully disagree with this courts decision, appreciate the important points raised by the dissent, and look forward to further appellate review, said David. We remain committed to defending the meaningful work of our clients. The Fearless Fund is also being represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. The firm provides grants for businesses that are at least 51 percent Black-owned with a mission to close the gap in venture capital funding for Black women and women of color. Less than one percent of total venture capital funding raised by companies in the United States in 2018 was allocated for businesses founded by women of color. Blum is also the founder of the group that filed a lawsuit opposing affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina, Students for Fair Admissions. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last June that race can no longer be considered in college admissions and ended affirmative action. The conservative is also behind a racial discrimination lawsuit against two law firms providing grants and career opportunities for Black and Hispanic people. Excluding students from these prestigious fellowships based on their race is unfair, polarizing, and illegal, said Blum. Venture capitalist attorney Von Bryant says that Blum and Alliance are failing to consider the systematic racism Black people experience and have experienced for generations. In the context of historically systemic racism, what the Fearless Fund grant is really trying to do is be a beacon for people who have historically and presently had an uphill battle for funding, Bryant told NPR. This program is trying to address that. Read the original story here. Atlanta police are looking for three suspects accused of robbing a gas station this past summer. Police said it happened just before 3 a.m. at the Texaco gas station on the 800 block of McDonough Boulevard SE on June 23. An employee told police that two unidentified men entered the business and started assaulting him before stealing money from the gaming machine and cash register. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police said the suspects fled the area immediately following the robbery. Police did not identify any of the suspects. Anyone with information on the case can submit a tip anonymously to the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online www.StopCrimeAtl.org or by texting CSA and the tip to CRIMES (274637). Tipsters do not have to give their name or any identifying information to be eligible for the reward of up to $2,000. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Criminologists have identified 49 citizens killed in a Russian missile attack on the village of Hroza, Kharkiv Oblast, as of 9 October. Source: Ihor Klymenko , Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, on Telegram Quote: "The 4th day of restless work by forensic experts of the police of the Kharkiv Oblast. 49 victims have already been identified. Specialists have conducted 168 DNA tests; another 63 are in progress." Details: Klymenko says that another 5 people are considered missing. "Colossal work is carried out by investigators, criminalists, detectives and many other police officers," he added. Background: On 5 October, Russians attacked a cafe in the village of Hroza, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast. A wake for a deceased soldier was taking place there. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said that the strike was so precise law enforcers suspected that the attack was guided by one of the local residents. As of 6 October, 52 people were reported dead. Among the dead are the widow and son of the soldier, who was commemorated after his reburial in his native village. The son of the reburied man was also a soldier, he was killed along with his wife. Russian forces struck a cafe in the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast, presumably thinking that Ukrainian soldiers could be there, but there were only civilians, mostly women, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported. A three-day mourning period was declared in Kharkiv Oblast on 6-8 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! By Andrew Gray and Sarah Marsh BRUSSELS/BERLIN (Reuters) -The European Union backtracked in disarray on Monday on an announcement that aid to Palestinians had been suspended in response to the attack on Israel by Hamas after EU countries complained the bloc's executive had overstepped the mark. The confusion began after Oliver Varhelyi, the top official for relations with the EU's neighbours, said the European Commission was putting all its development aid for Palestinians, worth 691 million euros ($729 million), under review. In a post on social media site X, Varhelyi - a Hungarian who is European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement - also said all payments were "immediately suspended". Varhelyi was nominated for his post by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The announcement prompted consternation among multiple governments, who had warned against cutting off aid to the detriment of Palestinian civilians and questioned whether the Commission had the authority to take such a decision. The move also came as a surprise as officials had said earlier in the day that aid to Palestinians would be discussed at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday. Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg and Ireland publicly voiced alarm while other countries did so behind the scenes, diplomats said. "Our understanding is that there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual Commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid," a spokesperson for Ireland's foreign ministry said. More than five hours after Varhelyi's social media post, the Commission issued a statement confirming it had started an urgent aid review but also declaring that "as there were no payments foreseen, there will be no suspension of payments". EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell then sowed further confusion when he said the EU would not suspend "due payments" - right after the Commission had said no payments were foreseen. The Commission declined to explain the discrepancy. But it clarified that humanitarian aid - which is separate to funds for development - would continue. It said it was carrying out the review to "ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organization to carry out attacks against Israel". Hamas militants killed some 900 Israelis and abducted dozens in the deadliest such incursion since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, prompting Israel to retaliate with its heaviest ever bombardment of Gaza, which has killed more than 680 people. LONGSTANDING DIVISIONS The EU's disarray reflected longstanding divisions within the 27-strong bloc over the Israel-Palestinian conflict, even as its members united to condemn Saturday's attack. Germany and Austria said earlier on Monday they were suspending their development aid to Palestinians, while others such as Italy said suspending their aid was not up for discussion. Europe is one of the main sources of aid to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories where the United Nations estimates that around 2.1 million people need humanitarian assistance, among them 1 million children. Total EU assistance earmarked for the Palestinian people under the 2022 budget allocation was 296 million euros. Neither the EU Commission, Germany or Austria differentiated between Gaza, the Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas, and the much larger West Bank run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah movement is a rival to Hamas. In Germany, Development Minister Svenja Schulze of the Social Democrats said no payments were currently being made for bilateral aid projects as Berlin re-examined its engagement with the Palestinian territories. "This is also an expression of our unbreakable solidarity with Israel," she told a news conference. Germany's development ministry has earmarked 250 million euros in development funds for bilateral projects in the Palestinian territories for this and next year. It did not say how much of that it had already disbursed this year. German politicians have in recent days emphasised their country's duty towards Israel and its security given the historic responsibility for the Holocaust. The Israeli flag was projected on Saturday night onto Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate. Still, some politicians have pushed back against the decision to suspend aid, saying Hamas but not all Palestinians were responsible for the attack. Moreover a spokesperson for the Greens-run foreign ministry said it would continue to disburse the 73 million euros it had earmarked for Palestinians - which were separate to the development ministry funds, and most of which had already been spent. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said the country was suspending development aid totalling around 19 million euros ($20 million) for a handful of projects. Neutral Austria's ruling conservatives have adopted one of the most pro-Israel stances in the European Union in recent years. The Israeli flag has been hoisted above the chancellor's office and the Foreign Ministry after the shock Hamas assault. (Reporting by Andrew Gray in Brussels, Francois Murphy in Vienna, Sarah Marsh and Markus Wacket in Berlin; Additional Reporting by Angela Amante in Rome and Kate Holton in London; Editing by Alison Williams, Nick Macfie and Grant McCool) Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat on Sunday said Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley s refusal to condemn Donald Trump s violent rhetoric showed America is living through real-time preparation for an authoritarian crackdown. Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told Kristen Welker of NBCs Meet the Press that Trumps floating of the idea of executing retired Gen. Mark Milley , the former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was irresponsible. But Haley claimed it wasnt enough to disqualify Trump from running for the White House again. Apparently the idea of executing Milley is now the Party Line, Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, commented on X, formerly Twitter. We are living through real-time preparation for an authoritarian crackdown, she continued. We are in a phase of getting the public used to the idea of violence. Having authoritative voices like Haley endorse violence is key, added the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. Apparently the idea of executing Milley is now the Party Line. We are living through real-time preparation for an authoritarian crackdown. We are in phase of "getting the public used to the idea of violence." Having authoritative voices like Haley endorse violence is key. https://t.co/aRFxYDcbVe Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) October 8, 2023 Trumps attack on Milley prompted the top military leader to take safety precautions for himself and his family. The comment drew sparse criticism from conservatives, however. Four-times-indicted Trump remains the 2024 Republican front-runner, polling at around 57%. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is in second with 12%, and Haley is in third with 7%. Haley has been suggested as a potential running mate for Trump, should he win the nomination. Other potential candidates for the role reportedly include far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). In June, Ben-Ghiat predicted Trump will never leave if he wins back the White House. Thats very clear, because like all authoritarians, he needs to get back into power because hes so corrupt and shut down all investigations, she wrote at the time, describing the GOP as an autocratic party operating in a democracy. Later, Ben-Ghiat warned Trump should be believed when he threatens to do things like obliterate the civil service and seize total control of government. Authoritarians always tell you what they are going to do as a kind of challenge and as a warning, and people dont listen until its too late, she said. Related... Workers in new jobs to attend national trade unions congress with proposals for improving working conditions 08:42, October 09, 2023 By Zhang Changyue ( Global Times A total of 104 elected delegates from Southwest China's Sichuan Province arrive at the Tianfu International Airport on October 7, 2023, to assemble for the 18th national congress of Chinese trade unions, which will be held in Beijing on October 9, 2023. Photo: Workers' Daily As Chinese trade unions are set to convene their 18th national congress in Beijing on Monday, more than one fifth of selected delegates are workers in new jobs, such as delivery men and car-hailing drivers. The representatives will introduce proposals to better protect the group's legal rights and interests. According to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), a total of 2,002 delegates from 35 delegations across the country will attend the congress, which is held every five years as required by the Constitution of the ACFTU. The congress will revise the Constitution of Trade Unions of the People's Republic of China and elect new leadership for the ACFTU. Among the delegates, grassroots and frontline workers account for 68.3 percent, a 3.2 increase compared with the 17th congress in 2018. The group representing workers from new economic and social organizations, or engaged in new forms of employment make up 22.4 percent, which experts say further enhances the diversity and representativeness of the participants. Zhu Jingtao is one of these delegates. As a delivery man from the city of Wuzhong in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Zhu visited more than 20 managers and employee representatives from several express delivery companies including Yuantong, Jitu and Shentong on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival to bring voices from frontline workers to the congress. Zhu plans to raise proposals including promoting unmanned 24-hour open service stations for outdoor workers, speeding up the establishment of a physical examination system for delivery workers, and setting up an aid platform for workers engaged in new forms of employment. "I feel great responsibility to represent online ride-hailing drivers at the congress. We have established the Guangzhou Online Ride-Hailing Industry Trade Union Federation and attracted about 20,000 of these drivers. I have submitted relevant proposals in the hopes of further safeguarding drivers' right to reasonable pay," said Fang Ou, a delegate from South China's Guangdong Province and chairman of the Guangzhou Online Ride-Hailing Industry Trade Union Federation. Besides the 2,002 delegates from provincial-level trade unions, trade unions from the railway, civil aviation and finance sectors, as well as the trade union federation of the central and state organs. A total of 60 specially invited delegates and 50 guests from the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao will also be present. Including workers engaged in new forms of employment into the congress delegates reflects Chinese trade unions' emphasis on better guaranteeing the new group's labor rights and interests, which will not only benefit workers, but also promote the compliant operation of platforms and enhance their competitiveness to boost the high-quality development of the Chinese economy, Liu Junhai, a law professor from Renmin University of China, who was invited to attend the congress, told the Global Times on Sunday. The ACFTU said in late March that 84 million workers are engaged in new forms of employment in China. They are mainly truck drivers, ride-hailing drivers, couriers and food delivery personnel, with a majority being young to middle-aged males. Liu said the ACFTU is working to extend and update its responsibilities to better serve and protect the majority of workers and reflect their reasonable demands to meet the needs of actual development, while also trying to unleash their enthusiasm, creativity, and positivity during work. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has refused to say whether Donald Trump should be disqualified for the GOPs 2024 nomination after his comments suggesting that the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff should be executed for treason. During NBCs Meet the Press on 8 October, Ms Haley, a former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration, called his comments irresponsible but did not say whether she believes his comments are disqualifying. I think any man or woman who served our country deserves our highest respect, she said. They sacrifice a lot. Their families sacrifice a lot. And we should honour them every chance we get. Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University said Ms Haleys refusal to outright condemn Mr Trumps increasingly violent rhetoric offers a grim warning of a growing tolerance for authoritarian violence. Apparently the idea of executing Milley is now the Party Line, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. We are living through real-time preparation for an authoritarian crackdown. We are in phase of getting the public used to the idea of violence. Having authoritative voices like Haley endorse violence is key. Ms Ben-Ghiat, an historian and author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, had recently warned against the former presidents endgame in cultivating as many individuals as possible and preparing them psychologically to be willing to persecute his enemies. Pointing to his rhetoric in campaign events, his calls for violence in the wake of his criminal indictments, and a recent appearance promoting a handgun, it is clearer than ever that inciting political violence is Trumps political project, and his campaign appearances and events must be seen in that light. Trump is a marketer, she wrote. Apparently the idea of executing Milley is now the Party Line. We are living through real-time preparation for an authoritarian crackdown. We are in phase of "getting the public used to the idea of violence." Having authoritative voices like Haley endorse violence is key. https://t.co/aRFxYDcbVe Ruth Ben-Ghiat (@ruthbenghiat) October 8, 2023 Mr Trumps comments about Gen Milley were amplified and more explicit among his supporters, including far-right US Rep Paul Gosar of Arizona, who wrote in a newsletter that in a better society, quislings like the strange sodomy-promoting General Milley would be hung. Mr Gosar also called the four-star general with more than four decades of military service a traitor. In response to Mr Trumps remarks during an interview with CBS News last month, Mr Milley said that as much as these comments are directed at me, its also directed at the institution of the military, and there is 2.1 million of us in uniform. And the American people can take it to the bank, that all of us, every single one of us, from private to general, are loyal to that Constitution and will never turn our back on it no matter what, he added. No matter what the threats, no matter what the humiliation, no matter what. The former presidents comments have also prompted Mr Milley and his family to take safety precautions, he said. Ms Haley, meanwhile, is in a tightening competition for the No 2 spot in the crowded field of Republican nominees alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, all still trailing Mr Trump in early polling. Her campaigns have reported raising more than $11m within the third quarter. AVON Nestled on a busy main road in Avon, a "hidden gem" serving authentic Brazilian barbeque and hearty sides awaits your arrival. Mainha, located at 160 Memorial Dr., Avon, has been proudly in business for 20 years. The restaurant opened in 2003 as a way for the owner, Sulamita Figueredo, to honor her mother and pass down the generational recipes from Brazil. Mainha, which means mommy in their language, was named to remember Figueredo's mom. "My mother taught me how to cook, and we made food in a wood fire oven in Brazil. I always dreamed of a better life in America and to be an entrepreneur," Figueredo said. From left, Valeria Santos, Walace Langame, Sulamita Figueredo, and Erica Santos at Mainha Brazilian Restaurant, 160 Memorial Drive, Avon, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. In Brazil, Figueredo worked as a police officer but yearned for more out of life, including wanting to chase her passions. Some of the most popular dishes in the restaurant are cooked from a wood fire grill, which includes steak, chicken, picanha, and other meats and seafood. Customers from left, Matilio Fernandes and dad Guedes Fernandes, enjoy lunch at Mainha Brazilian Restaurant, 160 Memorial Drive, Avon, on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. When you walk in as a customer, the dishes are already prepared. First, you grab a plate and fill it with your favorite sides: rice, salad, beans, fruit, or anything your heart desires, and then you move to the barbeque. New to Brockton? Here's a list of places to eat, drink and visit in the city Figueredo's husband, who works in the meat department, will ask you what type of meat and temperature you are looking for? The most popular temperature for the steak is medium well. Plates are priced per pound and are weighed at checkout. Mainha Brazilian Restaurant co-owner Heilo Figueredo cuts beef for customer Matilio Fernandes on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. "This place is Brazilian soul food. It's the type of food that reminds you of a homecooked meal. What I loved watching over the years is my family's business growing and seeing the excitement of my mom opening the restaurant every day," Valeria Santos, daughter of Figueredo, said. One customer's favorite part of the restaurant is the consistency of the food daily. Mainha Brazilian Restaurant co-owner Heilo Figueredo and Sulamita Figueredo on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. "I keep coming back for the consistency of the taste of the food. This flavor you can't get anywhere else. It reminds me of my Brazilian grandmother's cooking, and I love how Sulamita is always concerned about the well being of others," Walace Langame, a family friend, said. Figueredo got her passion for cooking at 10 years old. She would cook treats at home and bring them to school to sell. Classmates would purchase her food items, so she's always had an entrepreneurial mindset since she was a child.In the future, the owner plans to completely gut and revamp the restaurant with a full bar and function hall in the back. Currently, they have a wine and beer license Mainha Brazilian Restaurant co-owner Heilo Figueredo cuts chicken for a customer on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. The capacity right now is 48 but will double once the renovations are complete. The family recently purchased the building and is excited for the renovation. "Everything in the restaurant is made from scratch and lots of love," Figueredo said. Enterprise staff reporter Alisha Saint-Ciel can be reached by email at stciela@gannett.com You can follow her on X formally known as Twitter at @alishaspeakss and Instagram at Alishaatv . Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Mainha, a Brazilian BBQ restaurant, is a hidden gem in Avon Israeli evacuees from kibbutzim near the Gaza border receive clothing donations at a hotel in the Dead Sea area (GIL COHEN-MAGEN) Inbal Reich Alon has fled to safety after 15 hours locked down in a shelter as Hamas militants stormed her Gaza border community, killing and kidnapping dozens of Israelis. "We don't know whether we have somewhere to go back to," she told AFP on Monday at a Dead Sea hotel where she is now staying along with about 150 residents of Beeri, a kibbutz in Israel's south. Reich Alon, 58, said she heard explosions as Beeri was targeted when Palestinian militants launched a multi-pronged offensive on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, killing hundreds of people, many in areas near the border with the blockaded Gaza Strip. "I thought to myself that I didn't see a weather forecast saying it was going to rain. We thought it was thunder," she recalled. But within moments, she had realised that her small, tight-knit community had come under attack. As the family sheltered in a secure room -- meant to keep residents safe during rocket barrages -- their house was torched and burned down around them. "We had no idea what was happening" but could hear shouts in Arabic, Reich Alon said. For hours on end, her husband and children "didn't let go" of the doorknob, which typically does not lock in such shelters. Residents AFP interviewed estimated that dozens out of some 1,200 community members were killed or taken hostage in the attack. "We were lucky, that's all," Reich Alon said at the serene David hotel, sandwiched between the Dead Sea and the imposing Judean hills some 60 kilometres (37 miles) south of Jerusalem, where Beeri residents were temporarily housed. "We are a big kibbutz," she said, before immediately correcting herself, "or were, at least". As fighting at home continued, the fate of many others remained unclear. On Monday morning, army spokesman Daniel Hagari told Israeli media that "about 70 terrorists infiltrated Kibbutz Beeri overnight" and "most of them were killed following exchanges of fire". - 'Lowest point' - On the hotel's ground floor, heaps of clothes, toys, food items and hygiene products took up most of the space, all donations collected within hours. "Israel has an incredible civil society," Reich Alon said. People "brought medicine, clothes, cosmetics... We got here with what we had on us, some of us barefoot." Survivors who had lost most or all of their belongings in the attack were looking through the items as children were painting and playing nearby. Volunteer mental health professionals offered support. Outside, a woman in tears was walking her dog. "We're in the safest place," said historian Alon Pauker, as he looked over the Dead Sea, "the lowest point on Earth -- but also the lowest point for us as a nation." "This is a 9/11-type tragedy," Pauker, 57, told AFP. "The place I live in will never be the same." "We have to understand we no longer have the kibbutz we had and we no longer have the country we had. This is a tectonic shift," said Pauker, who works at Beit Berl College in central Israel. For him, Hamas militants who carried out the bloody assault are to blame, but he says much of the responsibility for the escalation lies with the Israeli leadership and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who "abandoned the country". "The defence forces did not defend citizens," he said, charging that the army was "busy doing other things" in the occupied West Bank due to the hard-right government's pro-settlement policies. "The army, for the first time, proved it doesn't know how to protect civilians." For years, Israel "dismissed" a potential Hamas threat, Reich Alon said. But the militants that attacked the kibbutz "knew what they were doing. We've encountered a really powerful enemy." - 'Murdered children' - Israel's kibbutz movement, which predates the state's establishment in 1948 and has its roots in socialist ideology, is traditionally aligned with the left. But now, Beeri residents told AFP they were forced to reexamine their ideas about a future peace with the Palestinians. Unthinkable for some just days ago, they found themselves backing a full-fledged war against Gaza to rid it of Hamas. "We face a terror organisation that... murdered children for the sake of murdering children," Pauker said. Israel has counted over 700 dead, while 560 people have been killed in retaliatory strikes on Gaza, including children on both sides. "Extremists (in both Israel and Gaza) feed off of each other, and both don't care about human lives," Pauker added. For Reich Alon, "we've always strove and still do to live in peace with our neighbours. We don't want these wars." "This is something I never thought I would say -- after they bring back the 100 hostages held there (in Gaza), I don't care what's left there." ami/jd/jsa WASHINGTON BAE Systems hopes a prototype redesign of its new armored vehicles turret could one day allow the U.S. Army to rapidly adapt it into an anti-drone weapon. BAE is now developing the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle for the Army as a replacement for the Vietnam-era M113 armored personnel carriers. The company has so far built more than 270 of the tracked, heavily-armored AMPVs, and hundreds more are on the way, according to BAEs vice president of business development for combat mission systems, Jim Miller. The business official spoke to Defense News on Oct. 9 at the Association of the U.S. Armys conference in Washington. The AMPV has five variants, including versions designed to fire mortars, a command-and-control vehicle, and medical vehicles for evacuating or treating troops wounded on the battlefield. But BAE thinks the AMPV can do more and that the Army will want it to carry out additional missions. The company created a prototype that essentially has its roof plate chopped and replaced with a version dubbed the External Mission Equipment Package, or ExMEP that has an adaptable turret on top. The ExMEP plate uses modular, open-systems architecture for quick adaptability, Miller said. BAE outfitted its prototype AMPV at AUSA with a counter-drone turret commonly used on the Armys Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or M-SHORAD, system to demonstrate what could be added to the vehicle without much difficulty or cost. The Army doesnt have to test all that stuff again, Miller said. All the pieces have [already] been tested. Miller compared the concept to a Picatinny rail system on a rifle that allows a soldier to quickly adapt a weapon with features such as a scope, targeting laser or grenade launcher. The M-SHORAD counter-drone system that was adapted into the AMPV is the Moog-made Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform turret. BAE adapted its AMPV with a 30mm gun, a 7.62mm machine gun, Stinger missiles, radar and other tracking systems. However, Miller said the Stingers could be replaced with Hellfire missiles. Miller said the work to adapt different systems onto an AMPV would likely happen in BAE facilities or depots, not in the field. One adaptation took place in a few days, he explained, but cautioned that not all might happen that quickly. The integration of command-and-control systems into the AMPV is complicated, he said but it can be done. We want to show the Army that this vehicle is completely adaptable, Miller said. It is [a] modular, open-systems [architecture], and should they want to do a rapid program development for something like [M-SHORAD], they could do something like were showing here. BAE started planning these AMPV adaptations at last years AUSA conference, he noted. But the firm isnt yet planning to start adapting its already in-construction AMPVs with the adaptable top, he said, and it will be up to the Army to decide if it wants this to be another official variant, or if it wants to adjust BAEs design. Our base planning idea is to keep this as low cost as possible so that the Army can do it at low risk and low cost, Miller said. GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) One of Appalachian Bear Rescues (ABR) bears died Friday after he appeared to develop a severe case of pneumonia, according to the rescue. Now, other bears who shared an enclosure with him have also developed a similar illness. ABR shared in a Facebook post on Saturday, Oct. 7 that Flapjack the bear died at the organizations facility from what appeared to be a severe case of pneumonia in both of his lungs. Flapjack was rescued in April, weighing just over 7 pounds, and got his name from where he was rescued: Flapjacks Pancake Cabin in Sevierville. On Tuesday, Oct. 3, one of the centers curators noticed that the bear seemed to be having difficulty breathing. The following day, Flapjack was isolated from the other bears and efforts were made to encourage him to enter an acclimation pen, but Flapjack would not leave the center of his enclosure. Bear cub recovering after getting pet feeder stuck on its head in East TN Then, on Friday, Oct. 6, curators and staff at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) decided that Flapjack would need to be sedated with a dart so he could receive treatment. After Flapjack was sedated, he was taken to ABRs Release Staging Building, and UTCVM doctors intubated him to give him oxygen and help with his breathing if it was needed. Doctors took X-rays and samples. Unfortunately, ABR said the x-rays revealed that the bear had severe pneumonia in both lungs, and the doctors gave him antibiotics. Flapjack was taken to a room in the Cub House to recover while doctors and ABR curators monitored him closely. ABR said that Flapjack stopped breathing, and despite doctors administering emergency medicine and compressions, the cub could not be resuscitated. Flapjack Bear (Courtesy: Appalachian Bear Rescue) In sharing the news, ABR officials said they were heartbroken to share the news of Flapjacks passing, but are grateful for the people who worked to save him. Were grateful to the team from UTCVM, Ranger Ryan, and our dedicated Curators for trying to save Flapjack. We are indebted to you, our partners in our mission, for helping us offer our little bears the best care possible. We love them from a distance, but we love them fiercely. Rest in peace, Flapjack, ABR wrote. Since doctors were concerned that Flapjacks illness might have been contagious, the other five bears that were in a pen with him were trapped, and four were taken one at a time to UTCVM for evaluation Saturday. The fifth bear, Thumper, escaped his carrier on Saturday and took off into an enclosure, so ABR said he was headed to UTVMC on Sunday, Oct. 8. VIDEO: Gatlinburg bear jumps over cabin deck gate during family vacation Of the bears that went to UTVMC on Saturday, all tested positive for severe pneumonia and ABR officials said they assumed Thumper would as well. Doctors determined from an emergency necropsy on Flapjack that there was a single colony bacterial infection, but they are not sure if the infection is primary or secondary to a viral or parasitic infection, ABR reported. Each of the bears was intubated and given oxygen. Doctors collected scat, urine, blood, mucus, and throat lesion samples from the cubs. Mucus was suctioned from their lungs, and each bear was given nebulizer treatments to help break up and dry out the remaining mucus. All were given IV antibiotics and have been taken back to ABR, where they are recovering in separate spaces under observation as they continue antibiotic treatment. According to ABR, only one of the bears, Betsy Ross, has only a single lung infected. Tamale was in the worst shape when he arrived at UTVMC, with a blood oxygen level of 65, and most of the cubs had lesions in their throats resembling strep throat, although ABR clarified that the bacteria may not be strep. Fat Bear Week 2023: Here are the heavyweight contenders Weve never encountered anything like this in the 27 years of ABRs existence. Weve had single sick cubs arrive, but to have an infection spread so quickly through a group of healthy cubs is the stuff of nightmares. We owe it to Flapjack and all the cubs who will come after him to find out what happened and how to avoid it happening again, ABR wrote. We thank Dr. Knafo, Dr. Swanepoel, and their team for devoting an entire day to helping our little bears. We are lucky to have access to such expertise. ABR shares daily updates about the bears in the organizations care on Facebook. Follow these links to learn more about ABR and how you can support its cause. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. India is preparing to say goodbye to its legendary MiG-21 fighters, the countrys first supersonic jets but also an increasingly controversial aircraft, with a spate of accidents in recent years. Indias Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari, announced last week that the final MiG-21s would be retired in 2025 and the type made its last-ever appearance at the annual Air Force Day parade, held yesterday. https://www.twitter.com/VivekSi85847001/status/1710909373520961718?s=20 Marking the 91st anniversary of the service, the Air Force Day celebrations took place yesterday in the Sangam area of Prayagraj, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The highlight of the event was an extensive flypast involving more than 120 aircraft operating from different bases. Toward the end of the display, a three-ship of MiG-21s ran in, flanked by a pair of multirole Dassault Rafales the Indian Air Forces newest fighters before the MiGs pulled up into a climb and the Rafales accelerated out straight and level. The three MiG-21 Bison jets involved in the flypast marking the 91st anniversary of the Indian Air Force yesterday in the Sangam area of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Angad Singh For the thousands of spectators thronged along the banks of the three rivers that dominate Prayagraj, it was a fitting farewell to the Soviet-designed MiG-21. https://www.twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1710514793738825795?s=20 https://www.twitter.com/ReviewVayu/status/1710978477342572953?s=20 https://www.twitter.com/CAC_CPRO/status/1711326626368327843?s=20 Today, MiG-21s in upgraded Bison form remain operational with three Indian Air Force squadrons, all located in the northern state of Rajasthan. These are No. 3 Squadron Cobras at Nal/Bikaner Air Force Station, No. 4 Squadron Oorials at Uttarlai Air Force Station, and No. 23 Squadron Panthers at Suratgarh Air Force Station. Speaking on October 3, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari confirmed that the draw-down of the MiG-21 fleet was now entering its final stages, with the last aircraft to be retired by 2025. Its not clear, at this point, whether withdrawal will come at the end or the beginning of the year or whether the air force chief was referring to the fiscal or calendar year. An Indian MiG-21 Bison climbs with afterburner engaged. Angad Singh What is clear is that the MiG-21s days are numbered and that its retirement will end a remarkable period of service, punctuated by several major combat operations, in Indian Air Force hands. After gaining independence in 1947, India relied primarily upon the United Kingdom and France to supply its fighter equipment. The decision to procure the MiG-21 as the Indian Air Forces first supersonic fighter kicked off a relationship with the Soviet Union, which saw that country become Indias preeminent arms supplier. While the United Kingdom and France continued to provide aircraft, New Delhi went on to procure successive generations of MiG-21s as well as a variety of other Soviet- and Russian-designed fighter equipment. Just from the Mikoyan-Gurevich stable, after the MiG-21, India acquired the MiG-23, MiG-25, MiG-27, and MiG-29, the last of which also remains in service . Entering service with the Indian Air Force in 1963, the initial MiG-21F-13 was a very austere point-defense interceptor, although an agreement had already been signed for Indias Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to produce an improved MiG-21FL version, offering expanded capabilities. The last of the long-serving MiG-21FLs were only retired in 2013. An Indian MiG-21FL takes off from Kalikunda Air Force Station in September 2011. DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images Indias second-generation MiG-21s included the Soviet-supplied MiG-21MF, acquired in the early 1970s, and the MiG-21M which was also built by HAL in India. There followed a third generation of these fighters, with the Indian Air Force receiving MiG-21bis fighters from the Soviet Union, joined from 1977 by locally produced versions of the same type, the last of which were received in 1984. With no successor in sight, a total of 125 MiG-21bis aircraft were subsequently upgraded to Bison configuration, with a new radar and active radar-guided air-to-air missiles, among other changes. An Indian MiG-21 Bison strikes ground targets with unguided rockets during an exercise. Angad Singh In all, India received 874 MiG-21s, of which 657 were license-produced by HAL. Major combat operations in which Indian MiG-21s were involved include the 1971 war with Pakistan, and the 1999 Kargil conflict fought against the same country. MiG-21 Bisons were also at the forefront of the aerial clashes with the Pakistan Air Force in 2019, after the Balakot airstrike . An Indian MiG-21 shot down by Pakistan Army anti-aircraft fire in December 1971. Pakistan Army While there has been some wartime attrition, including the Bison that fell to a Pakistani F-16 in 2019, altogether around 490 MiG-21s had been involved in accidents or crashes by 2023. In the process, over 170 pilots have been killed and the aircrafts reputation somewhat tarnished. Indian Air Force personnel stand by the wreckage of a MiG-21 Bison that crashed in a field in Rajgarh, in Patiala district, in the northern state of Punjab, on September 6, 2011. STR/AFP via Getty Images On the other hand, the Bison made its mark with its startling performance in the 2004 Cope India exercise. Carrying Israeli-made Elbit EL/L8222 self-escort jamming pods, the jets were repeatedly able to get the better of U.S. Air Force F-15C/Ds, springing a major upset. The Indian pilots also exploited their jets small radar cross-section and helmet-mounted sights to fire high-off-boresight short-range infrared-seeking dogfighting missiles at the most opportune times. The replacement of the MiG-21 has been made more difficult by the many delays suffered by the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program, which became the types designated successor. Currently, the Indian Air Force still has only two operational LCA Tejas Mk 1 squadrons. Deliveries of the improved LCA Tejas Mk 1A are planned to start in February next year, allowing the service to finally dispose of its last MiG-21s. This LCA Tejas Mk 1 was one of the first examples delivered to the Indian Air Force. Photo by Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari added that there are currently 83 Tejas Mk 1A multirole fighters under contract, with plans to supplement this with another 97 aircraft, for a total of 180 Mk 1As. While Indias path to fielding a homegrown multirole fighter has been tortuous, in the meantime, the country has moved progressively away from its reliance on Moscow to meet its fighter requirements. Most dramatically, this saw India abandon its involvement in the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft program, or FGFA, which would have provided the the Indian Air Force with a version of the Su-57 Felon . You can read more about that development here . As well as slowly introducing the Tejas, New Delhi has increasingly bought new military aircraft from the United States. This was readily apparent in the Air Force Day parade, which this year involved examples of the CH-47 Chinook, AH-64 Apache, C-130 Hercules, P-8 Poseidon, and C-17 Globemaster III. So far at least, India has not bought fighters from the United States, with its most recent purchase involving French-made Rafales (which are also now being bought for the Indian Navy ). https://www.twitter.com/IAF_MCC/status/1710849095106011379?s=20 As it stands, the Tejas may be the Indian Air Forces official MiG-21 replacement, but there will very likely be more fighters to come, with New Delhi having stated a requirement for 114 new fighters as it seeks to rebuild its combat squadrons, depleted in recent years through the retirement of the MiG-21 and other types. The 114-aircraft requirement was previously billed as being specifically for single-engine types, although the competition now appears to be wide open , with the F-15EX , for example, now also being offered to India, and with the Rafale and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet also in the running. If India decides to procure another single-engine fighter, after all, the Indian-specific F-21 configuration of the F-16 is also a viable candidate. An Indian Air Force Rafale and a Tejas. IAF There could also be a lot more at stake in this upcoming fighter competition, with an expectation that the winning bidder could also become a strategic partner for the countrys future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. Although at a very early stage, this is a fifth-generation fighter program comparable to the South Korean KF-21 Boramae or Turkeys TF-X Kaan . A model of the AMCA next-generation fighter. FlyingDaggers45SQUADRON/Wikimedia Commons With that in mind, the continuing retirement of the MiG-21 in India is providing a fascinating insight into the development of the Indian Air Force as well as the countrys capacity to build and field homegrown fighters. Takeoff by an Indian MiG-21 Bison. Angad Singh While the Tejas may be the pride of the Indian Air Force, the fact remains that the program was launched way back in the early 1980s, and a full 32 years passed before deliveries commenced, and then involved aircraft in an interim configuration. Ever since the LCA program was launched, India has struggled with how best to replace its MiG-21s. With the procurement of other fighters still on the agenda, it looks as if the Tejas may well turn out to be only part of the solution to that longstanding problem. Author's note: A big thanks to Angad Singh for his support in preparing this article. Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com The Art on the Square board was concerned enough about a couple of issues that it called a series of private meetings with Belleville City Council members at a local church. Board members wanted to let aldermen know that rumors about the annual art fair moving out of downtown Belleville were false, according to Co-Director Carol Bartle. They also asked for continued funding and expanded support related to use of buildings, including City Hall. A lot of the buildings have been utilized already, Bartle said. Were starting early this year because last year it was up to the week of the show that we got a place for hospitality. Most residents who want to provide information to all 16 aldermen send letters or emails or speak at City Council meetings. In this case, Art on the Square board members called aldermen individually and asked to meet with them last Tuesday afternoon at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Belleville. They scheduled one meeting every half hour to accommodate three aldermen at a time. This is sometimes referred to as serial, rolling or chain meetings. The Illinois Open Meetings Act requires meetings of public bodies to be advertised and open to the public and press if theyre attended by a majority of a quorum to discuss public business. That would be five for Belleville City Council, according to Don Craven, president and CEO of the Illinois Press Association and an attorney who specializes in media law. (A meeting of three is) not violating the letter of the law, but its taking advantage of an opportunity to keep information from the public, Craven said. Bartle said the Art on the Square board wasnt trying to hide anything and made sure to go by the book when determining how many aldermen to gather at a time. The board isnt bound by the Illinois Open Meetings Act, only public bodies such as the City Council. Bartle noted that City Council meetings arent conducive to discussion because outside speakers are limited to three minutes. Bartle said the meetings on Tuesday included great questions from aldermen and discussion that will help the nationally known art fair, which has been operating since 2002, continue to thrive. This was not something that had to be public information, she said. There was a rumor on the street that we were moving (to Southwestern Illinois College), and that is not true. So we had to let the aldermen know. The BND requested a comment from Mayor Patty Gregory, who served as Art on the Squares founding director for 20 years before she was elected mayor in 2021. That prompted an email response from Kathy Kaiser, the citys director of PR and communications. Mayor Gregory was not asked to be a part of these meetings, so she really does not have a comment, since she was not in attendance, Kaiser wrote. Gregory wasnt involved in the meetings because they were geared toward aldermen who vote on city funding and policy issues, according to Bartle. She said 13 of the 16 attended. The BND reached out to all 16 aldermen via email and invited them to comment on the meetings. Ward 3 Alderman Scott Ferguson and Ward 5 Alderwoman Shelly Schaefer speculated that Art on the Square board members set up the meeting schedule the way they did so that aldermen would avoid violating the OMA (Illinois Open Meetings Act). It was very uneventful, Ferguson added. Ward 7 Alderman Phil Elmore similarly pointed out that meetings of three or fewer aldermen are legal under Illinois law. He described what happened on Tuesday as much (ado) about nothing. Ward 2 Alderwoman Jamie Eros chose not to attend a meeting. I felt it an odd request and a little inappropriate and unprofessional, she wrote. No other aldermen responded to the email. Ward 1 Alderwoman Lillian Schneider told the BND in an interview that it was weird to get a call on Sunday from someone asking her to attend an Art on the Square meeting on a Tuesday afternoon at a church, where only three aldermen could show up at a time. Schneider posted on Facebook before going to St. Paul. Is this a joke or a prank? she wrote. What is wrong? You may have to come looking (for) me! I am not going down with out a standing up (for) my self. Art on the Square is a juried art fair that features about 100 artists who display and sell their work for a weekend, usually in May. Its considered Bellevilles biggest tourist attraction, drawing tens of thousands of people from throughout the region. Its operated by a nonprofit foundation. As a sponsor, the city provides $24,000 in funding and a 20% discount on overtime costs related to set-up, security and clean-up each year, according to Jamie Maitret, finance director. A former dean from Vermont State University died after being shot in the head while on a hike near the campus where she worked. The shooter is still at large. Honoree Fleming, 77, a retired dean of education, was found dead on Thursday on the rail trail after hiking about a mile from the Castleton campus, police said in a statement on Saturday. Her husband, award-winning author Ron Powers, said that the rail trail was one of her favourite walks. Ms Fleming started on the hike at around 4pm from the pavilion area at the college campus and was walking south towards Poultney, just a few miles from the New York state border. The retired dean was then found dead at 4.30pm, with the Chief Medical Examiner concluding her cause of death was from a gunshot wound to her head in the manner of a homicide. 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, Mr Powers posted online Friday. Police detectives said they have been interviewing numerous witnesses and residents in the area where the death took place and are looking at surveillance footage from the area in order to try and identify the suspected killer. Witnesses described a white male with short red hair, approximately 510, last seen wearing a dark grey t-shirt and carrying a black backpack, said police. There is an area-wide dragnet out for her killer, Mr Powers wrote. Police believe that it was random, but all possibilities remain open. The Vermont State University Castleton Campus wrote a statement on Facebook which said in part: Our hearts go out to the members of our community who taught with Honoree and had her as a beloved teacher during their time at Castleton. Our deepest sympathies go to her husband, Ron, family, and friends. Honoree Fleming was married to Pulitzer Prize-winning Ron Powers (Ron Powers/Facebook) Before becoming a dean of education at VSU, Ms Fleming had also been a faculty member at Trinity College, Middlebury College, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the college explaied. This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University, it continued. Honoree will be deeply missed. The University announced that Castleton campus students and staff are excused from classes on Monday, but the campus remained open in the morning for people to come together in support of one another. Extra police coverage has been introduced onto the campus throughout the week. Ms Fleming was married to the Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times best-selling author Ron Powers, who co-authored Flags Of Our Fathers. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973 for criticism as a television-radio columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. Ms Fleming died just a few days before the couple was due to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary. The Independent has contacted the Vermont State Police for further information. The reception the Vietnam veterans received Sunday in Shreve was far more welcoming than the one they received upon their return home from action more than 50 years ago. "This was a complete turnaround from the way it was," said U.S. Army veteran Steve Watts. "I was drafted, so I didn't have a choice in the matter of going. When I came home from Vietnam, there were actually some people who blamed me for what was going on. It wasn't something I had a choice in. "This reception here is amazing," Watts continued. "Whenever I wear my Vietnam veteran's hat, young and old people alike come up and shake my hand and thank me for my service. That brings a lump in my throat that people really mean it." U.S. Army veteran Leonard Bilek greets friends and family along with the other 22 veterans who took the honor trip to Washington, D.C., during a welcome home ceremony held Sunday in Shreve. Watts was among 22 local veterans along with a guardian who took a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. as part of the Community Honor Trip sponsored by Holmes-Wayne Electric and the Shreve American Legion. Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative CEO Glenn Miller welcomed the veterans and thanked the crowd of people who turned out in the CVS Parking lot in downtown Shreve for the Sunday evening ceremony. The event was scheduled for last Sunday when they were originally scheduled to return home, but their bus was delayed and they didn't arrive back in Wayne County until after midnight. "This is just fantastic. I didn't know Shreve was this crowded," Leonard Bile joked. "What a night." The color guard from the Shreve American Legion Post were among the crowd to welcome the veterans home from their honor trip to Washington, D.C. The welcome home parade and ceremony was postponed until Sunday, Oct. 8. "Thank you all for coming and showing your support to our veterans," Miller said. "I know they all had a memorable experience last weekend. This trip is truly a group effort." Shreve Mayor Yvonne Hendershott thanked the veterans for their service to our country and defending our rights. State Representative Darrell Kick was honored to be among the speakers. State Rep. Darrell Kick shared a heart-felt welcome to the veterans who took part in the 2023 honor trip to Washington, D.C. "When I stand before you and see those faces, I'm reminded how great America is because of men and women like you all," Kick said. "Thank you dearly, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for letting me be here." A representative from Congressman Troy Balderson's office provided accommodations to the veterans. Trip highlights Friends and family were among the throng of people along state Route 226 in Shreve to welcome the veterans home from their honor trip to Washington D.C. Sunday evening. "Going to Arlington Cemetery and getting to talk to one of the Honor Guards afterward was a real highlight of the trip for me," Dick McCune said. Among the other stops the tour made was the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Air Force Memorial and the Pentagon-911 Memorial, as well as the Army Museum. "It was a pretty eventful trip," McCune said. "We got to see a lot of places." The point of view of some guardians Kenny Depriest and his wife, Tammy, served as guardians on the trip. Kenny escorted Curt Sheely and Tammy guided Sam Strausbaugh. Members of Rolling Thunder motorcycle group escorted the veterans into Shreve from Triway High School for a welcome home ceremony Sunday evening. "My biggest appreciation was learning more about what our veterans went through during their time in the service," Kenny Depriest said. "You read about it, and you learn about it in history books, but until you're with a veteran, you don't really know what happened there. It was good to spend time with a veteran. I've known Curt Sheely for years, but I never really knew him until I went with him on this trip." Tammy Depriest said she was honored to be part of the trip as a guardian. "It was such an honor to hear them talk about what it meant for them to be together and to finally be shown the respect they deserve," she said. "It was wonderful going to different monuments and hearing them talk about them." This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Shreve Vietnam veterans welcomed home with parade after Honor Trip In the aftermath of a shocking attack on Israeli civilian, police and military targets, war has consumed the Palestinian territory of the Gaza Strip. Thousands of miles away in Washington DC, the blame game has already begun. Images of the violence have enraged supporters of Israel and Palestine alike across America, and with the 2024 presidential election looming in the background, efforts to politicise the conflict have begun in earnest. That was clear over the weekend as every Republican candidate in the race blamed Joe Biden and his administration for the outbreak in violence a result, they say, of the Biden administrations softened approach towards Iran. The Iranian governments involvement in the conflict has been hotly debated, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)s support for Hamas well known but no clear evidence yet pointing to Iranian tactical or military support for the militants involved in the fight today. A Wall Street Journal report directly linked Irans government to the weekend attacks on Israel, citing senior Hamas and Hezbollah members, but has since been contradicted by statements from US officials. Even Israels government seems conflicted over whether Iran is directly involved in the renewed fighting. Iran is a major player but we cant yet say if it was involved in the planning or training, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said this week. So the question becomes: are Republican claims that the Biden administrations recent dollars-for-prisoners deal with Tehran is behind the attack on Israel supported by the facts? And the answer seems to be a simple, unequivocal, no. In mid-September, the Biden administration announced what at the time was seen as the first major thawing of Washington-Tehran relations since the end of the Trump administration, and for many months before that. In exchange for a waiver for international banks to transfer $6bn in frozen oil revenue from South Korea to Qatar without triggering Treasury Department sanctions, Iran would release five American citizens that the US government says were wrongly detained or done so with political motivations. The following accusations, being spread primarily by the neocon wing of the 2024 GOP primary and wider GOP (Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, et cetera), are simple: that the money being released by the Biden administration to Iran is funding the violence. The refutation, then, is equally simplistic: none of that money is in Iranian hands yet. Sure, there can be a debate over how restricted those funds can really be. Theres definitely an argument to be considered, at least, over the idea that Iran could simply divert funding from other areas of government to fund militant groups across the region no matter how the US Treasury constricts that specific $6bn oil money with requirements, such as that it be managed by private groups or used strictly for humanitarian purposes. But those arguments are irrelevant, at least for now. The money has not been released. Every penny is still in the bank. And realistically, any Iranian funding for development or training of Hamas militants for an attack on Israel would have had to happen months ago, long before the Biden administration struck its latest agreement with Tehran. More than anything else, the accusations being flung by the lower-performing Republican neocon contingent within the packed presidential primary field are actually a road map explaining how the GOP ended up with Donald Trump at the helm. Ms Haley and Mr Scott appear to be involved in a one-upping battle, where each seeks to make the most outrageous and attention-grabbing headline blaming Joe Biden for the violence. These so-called moderate Republicans, whom Mr Biden has waxed poetically about once being able to work with, have spent the past few days accusing him of being complicit in the attacks themselves. Such language used to be frowned upon in Republican circles. The embrace of that rhetoric by not just the Magasphere but by Ms Haley, Mr Scott and their contemporaries is emblematic of how the Republican Party has shifted further away from any ability to be collegial with their political rivals, the Democrats, as well as an embrace of the fact-free reality of the most hardcore GOP voters. Contrast Mr Scotts tweet calling Mr Biden complicit in the deaths of Israeli civilians with John McCains defence of Barack Obama as a good, family man in 2008. Its just not the same party any more. And consider this: they are still losing. Neither one appears close to a breakout within the Republican primary, or even as of yet achieving a second-place finish in a major contest. Even with all the huffing and puffing and Trumpifiying of their campaigns, the GOPs hawkish establishment wing appears no closer to unseating the isolationist (by Republican standards) Donald Trump, who commands the majority of the voter base. One commentator recently described the campaigns of Ms Haley and Ms Scott as running pre-Trump campaigns, or at the very least the kind of Republican campaign one saw in 2015, back when Donald Trump was a known factor but his total dominance of the GOP was not yet understood. At the very least, the two appear to have developed an understanding of the anger that now defines their voter base as its primary characteristic. But their ability to harness that anger and direct it against their enemies remains woefully inferior to Mr Trumps own. As DCs response to the conflict takes shape over the next week, its important to remember that it is all taking place in the context of a Republican presidential primary one defined, more than anything else, by the desperation and resentment harboured by its lower-performing participants. White House national security spokesman John Kirby choked up in a Monday interview with CNN while discussing horrific images of the attacks against Israel by the militant group Hamas. Yeah, I, it, sorry its very, excuse me, very difficult to look at these images, Jake, and the human cost. And these are human beings, theyre family members, theyre friends, theyre loved ones, cousins, brothers, sisters. Yeah, its difficult and I apologize, Kirby said when asked about images of children kidnapped and women abducted and raped in Israel. Nothing to say sorry for, CNNs Jake Tapper replied. More than 1,000 people have died since Hamas, which controls Gaza, launched attacks against Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said Israel is at war with Hamas. President Biden and Netanyahu have spoken several times since the attacks began. Biden on Monday announced 11 Americans have been killed in the attacks against Israel and warned American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas. Earlier on Monday, Biden met with his national security team and the president has vowed to assist Israel as it deals with the fallout of the attacks. The State Department is providing consular assistance to Americans who are currently in Israel and urged those in the area to follow the guidance of local authorities. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the attacks in Israel in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington on Saturday following the eruption of violence in the Middle East. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Leaders of the West's major superpowers united in condemning the attacks by Hamas militants that killed hundreds of Israelis over the weekend and ignited a new Middle East war that entered its third day Monday. President Joe Biden issued a statement from the White House, saying he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the onslaught erupted Saturday morning and offered his immediate support. "The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza," Biden said. "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 joined a chorus of voices in the international community who took to social media in recent days to call for immediate diplomatic talks to defuse the crisis. But they also agree that Israel had every right to defend itself after being blindsided in the attack, with its military launching retaliatory strikes in the Gaza Strip that have killed hundreds of Palestinians while wounding thousands more. "Israel has a right to defend itself and its people," Biden wrote. "The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation." World leaders said they had been in contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the war between Israel and Hamas. File Photo by Chaim Goldberg/UPI Monday afternoon, ABC News said that Biden will address the attacks from the White House at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, citing a White House official. Later Monday, joining Biden in issuing a joint statement in support of Israel were the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The unified message was made, they said, to "express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism." "All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike," the statement read. "But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed." Earlier, world leaders had issued their own individual comments, too. French President Emmanuel Macron was among the leaders who blasted the attacks on Twitter, saying he called Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog after the first rockets were fired Saturday. "France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves," he said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also weighed in, saying "the scenes we have seen in Israel over the last 36 hours are truly horrifying." In the same post, Sunak said he also spoke with Netanyahu "to assure him of the U.K.'s steadfast support as Israel defends itself against these attacks," he said, adding that "terrorism will not prevail." Previously, British foreign minister James Cleverly said Britain backed "Israel's right to defend itself," while Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for restraint on both sides. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country condemned the "terrorist attacks against Israel." "These acts of violence are completely unacceptable," he wrote. "We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a short video in which he condemned the violence and compared the attacks on Israel by Hamas to the attacks on Ukraine by Russia. "In the face of such a terrorist strike, everyone who values life must stand in solidarity," he said, while suggesting that rogue nations were involved in the planning of such a massive and coordinated surprise attack on Israel. "Our position is crystal clear," he said. "Anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable." Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decried the ongoing violence in the region while blaming "Hamas and other Palestinian militants" for sparking the crisis. In another social media post, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the conflict as "terrifying," saying "Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands by Israel." Previously, the Council of the European Union issued a statement saying it stands with Israel while denouncing "in the strongest possible terms the indiscriminate attacks across Israel by Hamas and deeply deplores the loss of lives." Other voices continued to decry the massive loss of life among civilians as 1,100 have been killed on both sides -- including several Americans -- as the death toll was expected to rise. The attacks occurred as Israel was seeking to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia after establishing diplomacy with the United Arab Emirates two years ago, which sparked anger throughout the Arab world. On the morning of the attack, Qatar's foreign ministry issued a statement saying it holds Israel "solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people." Back in Washington, Biden expressed his "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israel's security, while adding he and Netanyahu would remain in close contact throughout the conflict. On Sunday, Biden ordered Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to deploy several warships to the Eastern Mediterranean to beef up the U.S. military presence around Israel in an effort to deter further bloodshed. Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the dead and wounded and their families. Meanwhile, Egyptian officials said previously they were consulting with regional partners, including Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi, in a continuing effort to de-escalate the crisis. However, there was little sign the violence would subside anytime soon. The latest eruption in the Middle East comes after decades of enduring hostilities between Israel and Palestine, which is recognized as a sovereign nation by most countries worldwide and has observer status in the United Nations. Tensions in the region have surged in recent months as the Israeli military launched thousands of anti-terror raids in the Palestinian territory, which led to numerous deadly reprisals against Jewish soldiers and settlers on Palestinian lands. During the U.N. General Assembly in New York last month, Biden put pressure on Netanyahu to embrace a long-sought two-state peace plan, which envisions the creation of two separate and independent states, one for Israelis and one for Palestinians, living side by side in peace and security. But hardliners in the ruling Israeli government are deeply opposed to any concessions or perceived steps toward Palestinian statehood. Israel and Palestine established distinct borders in 1968, just 20 years after the war that established Israel's independence. However, a comprehensive peace agreement remains elusive, leaving conflicts to continue in the region with no end in sight. The Biden administration has pledged $3 billion in funding to help communities build resilience to climate change and extreme weather events. The funding is much needed, as communities across the United States have been devastated recently by extreme weather events caused by human-driven pollution, including the recent Maui wildfires, heat waves, tropical storms, floods, and many more such climate disasters. The money will come from the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that was signed into law in 2021, and it will be distributed through two grant programs managed by FEMA. The bill was touted by Axios at the time as being the biggest public-works bill since former President Eisenhower created the interstate highway system in 1956. Now, government officials have determined that there is a pressing need to focus those infrastructure works on projects that make communities more resilient to the effects of the extreme weather events caused in large part by burning dirty energy sources such as gas and oil. From Hawaii to Maine, communities across the country are experiencing more frequent and intense severe weather events, resulting in devastating impacts to their homes, businesses and families. Though FEMA will always help communities respond to and recover from these disasters, it is also paramount to build resilience before disasters strike, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said in a statement. Of the total funding, $1.8 billion will be allocated for critical resilience projects, while another $642 million will go toward community flood mitigation projects. By investing today in strengthening our critical infrastructure, particularly for the most marginalized and vulnerable communities, President Bidens Investing in America agenda is going to keep Americans and their communities safer and more resilient, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in a statement. The increased FEMA funding allows the agency to attempt to prepare communities for impending climate disasters. However, the agencys disaster relief fund, which is separate from the grants, is in danger of falling into a deficit if Congress and the Biden administration fail to pass a new funding bill or a continuing resolution. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Biden says at least 11 Americans among those killed in Israel, warns of hostages President Biden on Monday announced that the number of Americans killed in terrorist attacks against Israel had risen to 11, and he warned that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by the militant group Hamas. As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy, Biden said in a statement. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed many of whom made a second home in Israel. U.S. officials are still working to confirm whether Americans are among those being held by Hamas, but said it is likely that is the case. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, Biden said. John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security issues, told reporters on a call later Monday that the administration cant confirm Hamas is holding Americans hostage, but that there are still many Americans who are unaccounted for. So I cant say definitely that we know Americans are being held hostage, Kirby said. That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that some are. The State Department is providing consular assistance to Americans who are currently in Israel and urged those in the area to follow the guidance of local authorities. More than 1,000 people have died since Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza, launched attacks against Israel, triggering a response by Israeli forces. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is at war with Hamas following the initial attacks. Biden has spoken multiple times with Netanyahu since the attacks first unfolded, and he met earlier Monday with his national security team. The president has vowed to assist Israel as it deals with the fallout of the attacks, and the U.S. has already repositioned military assets in the region and sent some munitions to Israel. In Mondays statement, Biden called the U.S. and Israel inseparable partners. This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people, Biden said in Mondays statement. In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel. Updated at 6:09 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden on Monday said the US government is aware of at least 11 Americans who have been killed in attacks on Israel by Hamas and warned that an as-yet unknown number of US citizens may have been taken as hostages by the terrorist group. In a statement, Mr Biden said the updated toll of American fatalities was part of efforts to continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered and stressed that the immense scale and reach of this tragedy is only now being understood. We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts, he said, adding that his top priority as president is the safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroad. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas, Mr Biden continued. He also said he has directed his national security team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts. Mr Biden stressed that US citizens still in Israel can make use of consular assistance and security alerts from the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and noted that commercial air transportation and ground routes out of the country are still available for those who wish to leave. He also cautioned that Americans in the country should take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities. The presidents statement comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli Defence Forces counterassault against the terrorist group including air strikes against targets in Gaza was just the start of a larger offensive. In a televised statement, Mr Netanyahu said Israelis military forces have only started striking Hamas and warned that the enormity of the response to the surprise Hamas attack will reverberate with them for generations. A Hamas spokesperson known by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida said the group would execute one hostage each time Israeli forces target civilians without prior warning. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen cautioned that such retaliations which would be considered war crimes will not be forgiven. Earlier in the day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a complete siege on Gaza, including cuts to the territorys supply of electricity and a blockade on food and fuel shipments. The horrendous terrorist attack against Israel this weekend by Hamas terrorists underscores the vital need for strong leaders in the United States who will stand by our allies. That is all the more important given the presidential election next year. Who will lead the United States matters more than ever given the turmoil around the world. This is Israels equivalent of our 9/11 (and is even more devastating given Israels much smaller population), with more than 700 killed and thousands injured. At least 11 Americans were killed in the Hamas attack. If you havent watched some of the many awful videos of these terrorists wreaking havoc on civilians, including women, children and the elderly, you should. More than 100 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage, and who knows what their fate will be. Its easy to say stand with Israel, but theres good reason to question what many of our politicians actually mean by saying these words. Hamas' heinous attack on Israel: Hamas took advantage of divisions in Israel to start a horrific war targeting civilians Democrats equivocate on condemnation of Hamas attack For instance, President Joe Biden erred in his initial response to the attack. The Biden administrations Office of Palestinian Affairs called on Israel to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. It later deleted that post. And rather than issue the first statement himself, Bidens National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated: The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism. People try to extinguish a fire after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Saturday in Ashkelon, Israel. Biden later expressed his support for Israel, but it should have come from him right away. The president is already getting serious backlash given the timing of this attack, for good reason. It was just weeks ago that the Biden administration unfroze $6 billion in Iranian assets in exchange for American hostages. The White House claims that the money can go only toward humanitarian means. That's hogwash. All money is fungible. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran is behind these attacks, as a hater of Israel and a backer of Hamas. Hamas terrorists have outright credited Iran for its assistance. Does GOP want to win? 2024 should be cakewalk for Republicans, but they're determined to give failing Dems a win Other Democrats, like Michigan's U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (who has never been a friend to Israel), issued statements equating losses in Palestine with those in Israel. Others such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York have called for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation, indicating they dont support Israels justified efforts in rooting out the terrorists from Gaza. Then theres responses like the one from my governor in Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, who issued this embarrassingly wishy-washy statement that managed to say nothing: I have been in touch with communities impacted by whats happening in the region. It is abhorrent. My heart is with all those impacted. We need peace in this region. I have been in touch with communities impacted by whats happening in the region. It is abhorrent. My heart is with all those impacted. We need peace in this region. Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) October 7, 2023 Hours later, when the polling probably started to look bad, she followed up with a more direct post. Republicans can't let our allies down This attack happened just after Republicans created unnecessary chaos by ousting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. The House is effectively without a GOP leader in charge, at a time when leadership is a must. Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, in organizing the coup, has essentially turned the House over to the Democratic minority leader, whose caucus is full of folks who dont fully support Israel. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Americans also should pay close attention to how Republican presidential candidates handle their response. As some in the GOP are bowing to populist demands that America isolate itself from involvement in Ukraine, it's of utmost importance that Republicans nominate a candidate who understands what's at stake in Israel. Nikki Haley beats Biden in polls. Voters want someone else in 2024. Why not Nikki Haley? Over the weekend, both former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, also a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, came out strongly against the Hamas terrorists. Haley is absolutely correct in saying the United States should see the attack as not just against Israel, but also against American interests. There was no equivocation in her response to the terrorists, in telling Israel to finish them. In a very important part of Trumps speech today, he asks the audience if they know about hummus. pic.twitter.com/t21dZcfEtY MIA (@_Mama_Mia10) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump reacted in part by calling out hummus at a campaign event. Its true that America faces many of its own challenges now, including a border that is way too open, even to those who might wish us harm. That is not an excuse to abandon our allies when they need us most. If the United States shows weakness or careless disregard or elects officials who do it will be to our countrys peril. USA TODAY columnist Ingrid Jacques Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hamas terrorism in Israel demands stronger response from Biden, Trump The supermarket will be across from the courthouse. UXBRIDGE A Big Y grocery store with a 55,000-square-foot blueprint is set to be built along South Main Street. The supermarket is set to take shape on 12.86 acres next to the location of the former Cocke n Kettle restaurant, across the street from the Uxbridge District Court, plans show. To make space for the project, Big Y plans to raze a 10-bedroom single-family home at 262 Millville Road, according to plans. The project will cost $23 million, according to the state Executive Office of Economic Development. While a date has not been yet set for when the building will start to take shape, representatives at brokerage company Horvath & Tremblay that is managing the property for Big Y, said the project has gotten town approval to kick off construction. Big Y is known for its wide range of shopping options including meat and fish products, pet services, a flower shop, a toy section and alcohol options. Based in Springfield, the company was founded in 1936 and has 69 supermarkets in Massachusetts and Connecticut. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Springfield-based Big Y planning supermarket in Uxbridge Topekans demanding to know more about what the Kansas Department for Children and Families did with reports about Zoey Felix could already have a summary of that information if the Legislature had passed a bill proposed by DCF two years ago. But lawmakers didn't pass the bill, and a concerned community is left wondering what the state's child welfare system knew before the 5-year-old homeless girl was raped and killed. What did DCF do with reports about Zoey Felix? Kansas Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard told legislators she is legally prohibited from sharing information on Zoey Felix's death at this time. But if a 2021 bill requested by DCF had passed the Legislature, that information would already be public. Neighbors have said that Zoey became homeless after her mother kicked her out of the house, and that she had been living in a homeless camp. Mickel Cherry, a homeless man who was acquaintances with Zoey, has been charged with rape and capital murder. The neighbors have said they reported Zoey's situation to DCF but alleged that the agency did nothing to help the girl. Topeka police said it also filed a report with DCF after a welfare check discovered the girl's home was without utilities, and Topeka Public Schools indicated its social workers also may have filed a DCF report. It isn't publicly known how DCF responded to those reports. Answers will come eventually, but it is unclear how long the public will have to wait to gain access to public records. Kansas public records law on DCF reports involving child deaths Under current law, DCF must release limited records to the public within seven business days of a Kansas Open Records Act request. The Topeka Capital-Journal has filed a KORA request in Zoey's case. The information DCF must release are: age and sex of the child, date of death, a summary of previous reports to DCF of abuse or neglect of the child, plus findings of such reports, and department-recommended services provided to the child. However, before DCF can release the information, an agency investigation must first determined the child's death was the result of abuse or neglect. Such a finding can take time and delay the release of public records, as has been the case in Zoey's death. DCF has not released summary of Zoey Felix reports DCF secretary Laura Howard told legislators last week that she is legally barred at this point in time from publicly releasing information on the agency's interactions with Zoey. That's because DCF has not yet determined the child's death was the result of abuse or neglect. "I know it sounds technical, but it's the law," she told the Joint Committee on Child Welfare System Oversight. Howard has tried to change the law in the past. Had she been successful, she could now talk about certain aspects of the case. Under DCF bill, public could already have Zoey Felix's information In January 2021, DCF requested House Bill 2127. The bill would have required DCF to publicly release certain information on a child fatality once criminal charges are filed. Natalie Scott, an assistant reviser of statutes, explained that the bill would allow DCF to release information sooner in some situations. "Right now, the only trigger for that happening is when the department determines that the fatality was as a result of abuse or neglect," Scott said at a February 2021 hearing. "But this would allow, even if maybe DCF hasn't finished their investigation of that, if criminal charges are filed, then that information could be released." Howard told lawmakers at that 2021 meeting that the bill was designed to address an incident that happened in 2020. "Our clear intention," Howard said, "is to make sure that there aren't situations, such as the incident last summer, where we're not able to release information when criminal charges have already been filed and we don't have this really undue delay in making sure what I think is important summary information being available to the public." Now, the agency is in a similar situation because the bill didn't become law. The bill did get a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee. It had the backing of the Children's Alliance of Kansas and FosterAdopt Connect. There was no opposition testimony. An amended version passed the committee. But legislative leadership never brought it up for a vote on the House floor. Past child deaths inspired transparency changes Howard told the House Judiciary Committee at that meeting that she requested the bill because it would improve transparency, accountability and public trust in the child welfare system. "Child fatalities or serious incidents that communities grapple with, and it's important that the public has access to this information," she said. DCF didn't always have to release summary information following a child's death. The Legislature wrote the law mandating that DCF release summaries following the 2015 murder of Adrian Jones amid frustrations at the lack of publicly available information, Howard said. In 2021, she thought the law could be improved. More: Kansas DCF secretary says she legally can't talk about slain Topeka child's situation "The current statute is sometimes very confusing to the media and the public," Howard said. "It requires that DCF complete its investigation before it can release even this summary information to the public. So we're asking that the statute be amended to add language that would allow actually require us to release that summary information upon the filing of criminal charges against an alleged perpetrator in the event of a child fatality due to abuse or neglect, even if we as an agency have not concluded our investigation." Sometimes, Howard said, the DCF investigation and the criminal investigation are in sync. Other times, not so much. "In some circumstances, criminal charges could be filed before DCF has actually through its social workers and investigators made its own finding of abuse or neglect," Howard said. "So current law, even if criminal charges have been filed, would not allow us to release this summary." Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita, said at the time that Howard's bill fixed a problem and made the statute match its original intent. "So I appreciate you coming to us today with a proactive proposal to try to accomplish what, frankly, I thought we'd done several years ago," he said. Howard said her legislative request was inspired by the 2020 death of Olivia Jansen. She said DCF stepped back, while law enforcement and prosecutors moved quickly, and the agency had "quite a bit of work to do" with interviews and reviewing records before it could make its own findings. "The perception from the media and the public was that we were trying to hide something," Howard said. "Nothing could have been further from the truth. I desired nothing more than to release this summary of information about the agency involvement." 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: DCF could have shared Zoey Felix summary if lawmakers OK'd 2021 bill Unless youre under a rock right now, you know that a deadly war has erupted in the Middle East this weekend. Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, marking one of the most violent battles in recent years. It brought the longstanding and persistent issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the forefront, a conflict that has plagued the Middle East for decades. Images after Hamas militants breached Israeli checkpoint locations along the border with Gaza. (Photo: YouTube/WSJ) Trending Today: While the conflict has flooded national and international headlines, Black folks have taken to social media to voice their opinions. Some have taken sides as the Americans have often done amid the persistent warfare in the Gaza Strip, but many think we should sit this one out. Here are a few of the top reactions: Israel hates black people so bad it's insane so I'm not sure why they're supporting them professional Gregg hater (@heismybabygirl) October 8, 2023 Afro Palestinians in Israel and Palestine. And they suffer racism in both side. pic.twitter.com/11zOKpTpyh Don Salmon (@dijoni) October 8, 2023 In order for Netanyahu to declare war, hed have to acknowledge Palestine is a sovereign nation. And if thats the case, he & Israel have been invading a sovereign nation & every single semblance of violence in Palestinian territory has been by definition an act of terror. Joe Biden Hates Black People (@realnikohouse) October 8, 2023 Heres the latest: The casualty count has now surpassed 1,000 people, with Israeli media reporting at least 700 Israeli fatalities and the local health ministry in Palestine confirming 560 Palestinian casualties. Among the victims are nine American citizens, as well as other foreign nationals, according to U.S. officials and world leaders. The Israel Defense Forces report that several Israeli soldiers, civilians, and possibly foreign nationals have been taken as captives, and Israeli media indicates that over 100 people are currently missing. The weekend conflict began when Hamas militants breached the border barrier between Gaza and Israel. They seized control of Israeli villages and towns near the border, leading U.S. leaders to categorize the attack as terrorism. Jamaicas Prime Minister faced backlash for his statement in response to the war in the Middle East. Holness said in a thread of remarks on the social media platform X that the island nations government condemns in strongest terms the attack by the Hamas group on Israel. (1/3) The Government of Jamaica condemns in strongest terms the attack by the Hamas group on Israel, resulting in the deaths, injury and abduction of Israeli civilians. We convey our sympathies to the Government and people of Israel and to the families of all those affected. Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) October 7, 2023 (3/3) We call for a cessation of hostilities, a return to peace within internationally agreed guidelines and the pursuit of diplomatic solutions. Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) October 7, 2023 Jamaica firmly believes that the use of violence and terror has no place in international relations and should never be used against innocent civilians, Holness wrote. Many locals and regional citizens took to social media to call him a disgrace. Never has the region seen, past or present, a CARICOM PM as disgraceful as you, wrote Jairo Rodrigues, Guyanese senior gender affairs officer. Rodrigues took his criticism of Holness further by tagging the prime minister of Jamaica in reply to a statement by Belizean Foreign Minister Eamon Courtenay. Dear @AndrewHolnessJM, THIS is a statement from a people, a REGION that has traditionally stood for justice. Your statement is embarrassing. Jairo Juergen (@JairoJuergen) October 8, 2023 Jamaican activist and self-proclaimed socialist Kiggon-Kristov DeKarav referenced a news article about Israels prime minister calling for the mass deportation of Africans about a month ago in response to Holness. Any thoughts on this? I dont remember you condemning it in the strongest terms, DeKarav quipped. Yeah, they were quiet as [a] church mouse when that was going on! wrote California-based author Anita Wills. According to PBS News Hour, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the immediate deportation of Eritrean migrants involved in a violent clash in Tel Aviv and has initiated a plan to remove all African migrants from the country on Sept. 3. Reports show Eritreans on opposing political sides engaged in a confrontation using construction lumber, metal pieces, and rocks, resulting in the vandalism of shop windows and police cars. Israeli police responded by firing tear gas, stun grenades, and live rounds. We want harsh measures against the rioters, including the immediate deportation of those who took part, Netanyahu said, according to several reports. He then requested that the ministers present him with plans for the removal of all the other illegal infiltrators. According to Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, the international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, Hamas successfully captured a significant number of Israeli citizens. In response, Israel has initiated a series of airstrikes, with Netanyahu declaring that the enemy will face an unparalleled cost. The mobilization of hundreds of thousands of reservists is currently underway. Netanyahu issued a warning to Palestinian residents, urging them to evacuate areas where militants are present and emphasizing Israels intention to dismantle all Hamas hideouts. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker says that he was out for a jog in Israel when the chaos started, forcing him to seek cover. Watch Booker talk about what happened here. Warner Bros. Filming for the live-action Blade Runner series will no longer be shooting in Northern Ireland. Blade Runner 2099 was scheduled to begin filming in Belfast, however, following a series of delays due to the ongoing actors strike, the BBC has now reported that production will no longer go-ahead in the city. "We are conscious that these difficult decisions do happen in the screen industry, particularly with the most expensive projects which carry the greatest expectations," Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen said in a statement. Warner Bros. Related: Harrison Ford's Blade Runner gets new 4K boxset He continued: "This obviously leaves a gap in Northern Ireland's production schedule and Northern Ireland Screen will do everything it can to plug that gap as quickly as possible, mindful that many freelance crew and supply chain companies were relying on this project for work." The BBC added that NI Screen had awarded 4.1m for the project, with the money now set to be returned. It is also understood that just over 1.5m had been spent on preparations for filming in Belfast. Last year it was confirmed that Amazon Studios had given the go-ahead for a 10-part series, which would see Ridley Scott return to the franchise. Twitter/@bladerunner - Warner Bros. Related: Ridley Scott regrets directing Alien: Covenant over Blade Runner 2049 Blade Runner 2099 is set to be a continuation of the two films. Harrison Ford starred in the 1982 original as Rick Deckard, who was tasked with tracking down and "retiring" human-like robots called replicants. Ford later reprised his role for Denis Villeneuve's 2017 sequel Blade Runner 2049 alongside Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto and Robin Wright. The franchise also saw the release of an animated spin-off series titled Blade Runner: Black Lotus in 2021, which takes place in-between the events of the two films. You Might Also Like A 76-year-old Blaine man is accused of using a shotgun from his porch to shoot and kill his neighbor, whom he had previously repeatedly threatened, while the neighbor was standing in his own driveway. The Whatcom County Sheriffs Office arrested Wayne Harold Mahar Sr. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, on suspicion of first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of 67-year-old Vincent Reames, of Blaine. Formal charges were expected to be filed in Whatcom County Superior Court against Mahar on Monday, Oct. 9. The Bellingham Herald has reached out to the Whatcom County Medical Examiners Office for the time, cause and manner of death for Reames, who was killed on Oct. 4. Mahar is currently incarcerated in the Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail, which was set at his first court appearance on Thursday. If Mahar is released from custody, he will not be allowed to possess weapons or consume any intoxicants, The Herald previously reported. His arraignment is set for Friday, Oct. 13. The shooting At around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, Whatcom sheriffs deputies were called to the Maple Leaf Mobile Home Park in the 4600 block of East Street in Blaine for a report of a shooting. A 911 caller reported that Mahar had shot his neighbor, later identified as Reames, with a shotgun. The caller said Reames was face down on the ground and wasnt moving, according to court records. Mahar was last seen going into his trailer, so a sheriffs deputy called Mahars wife. The deputy had spoken with Mahars wife earlier in the day for an unrelated issue, according to court records and Whatcom County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Deb Slater. Mahars wife told the deputy she took the shotgun away from Mahar and agreed to come outside onto the front porch with him. Mahar was then arrested without incident. Reames, who was lying outside on the ground in front of his trailer, was determined to be dead, the court records state. Neighbor interviews In an interview with detectives, Mahars wife said she had arrived home just prior to the shooting. She said she did not witness the shooting, but Mahar told her that Reames had come onto the Mahars porch and threatened to kill him, according to court records. Mahar allegedly told his wife that he shot Reames in self-defense, court documents state. Mahars wife told detectives that Mahar kept a shotgun in the kitchen. but kept the ammunition in a bandolier hanging in their bedroom. She told the detective that Reames was crazy and had been harassing and threatening them for several years, the records state. Detectives also spoke with several neighbors of the Mahars. One woman told detectives she had spoken with Mahar the day prior to the shooting. Mahar was upset that their landlord had raised their rent, and he threatened to shoot the landlords girlfriend during the conversation, the woman said. The woman told detectives Mahar also told her that he was going to shoot and kill Reames. Mahar told the woman Reames was threatening him and throwing rocks at his house. The woman told detectives that she had never seen Reames threaten or harass Mahar or his wife, the court records state. Another neighbor told detectives that she heard a shot Wednesday afternoon and came outside. The woman said she saw Mahar standing on his front porch cradling a long gun, and then saw Reames lying face down on the ground in front of his trailer moaning. The woman asked Mahar if he had shot Reames, to which Mahar responded Yeah. When the woman asked Mahar why he shot Reames, Mahar allegedly told her it was because Reames was an (expletive), court documents state. Hed had enough In an interview with detectives, Mahar said he had been sitting on his deck when Reames began verbally and physically harassing and threatening him. When asked for details about the verbal and physical threats and harassment, Mahar could not and did not provide any details, the records state. Mahar then told detectives that Reames did not physically assault him, but that Reames was an (expletive) who deserved to be dead, according to court records. Mahar told detectives he went into his house, grabbed his shotgun and loaded it. He then admitted that he shot Reames once from his deck while Reames was standing by his vehicle. Mahar also told detectives that he keeps his ammunition in his bedroom and the shotgun unloaded in a different part of the house. Throughout the interview with detectives, Mahar was allegedly unable to explain or provide detailed information regarding threats or harassment he had received from Reames. Mahar did not describe being in any imminent fear or danger from Reames, and could not tell detectives what had put him in fear for his life, the court documents stated. Mahar also admitted to wanting to kill Reames prior to Oct. 4, and said that hed had enough. Mahar told detectives that he was a Vietnam War veteran and a former police officer and bragged about being in gunfights and called the shooting incident with his neighbor a gunfight. Mahar allegedly bragged that he was able to physically fight despite his age, and allegedly told the detective that he could beat him up. When the detective asked Mahar why he didnt just fight Reames instead of shooting him, since Mahar was physically able to fight, Mahar did not provide an explanation, the court records state. Mahar admitted to detectives that he had one shot of alcohol prior to the shooting. Previous threats During their investigation, detectives learned Mahar made a noise complaint against Reames on Nov. 17, 2022. In the complaint, Mahar told deputies that Reames was making lots of noise and was upset over it. Mahar allegedly told the deputy that he wished he could just kill Reames. The deputy did not hear any noise coming from Reames trailer when he arrived, and cautioned Mahar about making threats to kill. Mahar was told to call 911 and let the sheriffs office handle any issues, according to court records. In addition to the November 2022 complaint, there have been at least four additional reports since November 2021 involving Mahar and Reames, Slater with the sheriffs office told The Herald. No criminal activity is alleged to have occurred during any of those incidents, Slater said. A shotgun believed to have been used in the killing was recovered and put into evidence. No additional firearms were found at the Mahars residence, Slater said. Mahar had made threats to kill [Reames] the previous day. He went into his home, grabbed his empty shotgun, went into his bedroom to get a shotgun shell, and loaded it. [Mahar] stepped onto his porch and with intent purposefully shot Vincent Reames in the chest from his porch at approximately 30 feet. At the time Reames was shot, he was on his own property and did not have any weapons, court documents state. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he doesn't believe Hamas' attack on Israel was an attempt to take advantage of the West's focus on Ukraine, adding that the motivations of the extremist organization are still unclear. "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 it would really change the prospects of the entire region far into the future," Blinken said in an Oct. 8 interview with CBS. "Now, who's opposed to that? Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran. So, I think that speaks volumes." Iran-backed militant group Hamas, which currently holds power in Gaza, 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. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas. 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. Read also: Zelensky: Over 100 Ukrainians seek assistance at embassy in Israel When asked if the U.S. requested Israel not to strike Iran, which reportedly played a pivotal role in planning and authorizing the Hamas' offensive, Blinken replied that "the only things we've said to Israel" was assuring it in Washington's support. At the same time, Blinken added that he and other U.S. officials talked to counterparts from Mideast countries and Europe "to make sure people had heard very clearly what the President said about others in other places not taking advantage of the situation." Iran's mission to the United Nations denied Tehran's involvement in the largest incursion into Israel in decades, which has reportedly killed more than 700 Israelis and 430 residents of Gaza. "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," the mission said in a statement cited by Reuters on Oct. 9. "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," reads the statement. On Oct. 8, Washington announced sending an aircraft carrier group to the Eastern Mediterranean and pledged to provide its close ally Israel with additional military aid, including ammunition. Read also: UN Security Council holds emergency meeting following attack on Israel Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Oct. 8 he believes the Hamas' attack on Israel would aid Russia in its war against Ukraine as it draws away attention from the conflict. The U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also suggested that Russia would 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 said. 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. Name: Bob Menzel Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 68 Campaign website or social media page: bobmenzel.com Occupation: Retired Business Owner Education: B/A Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland (1977) Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held) Salisbury MD City Council, Wicomico Republican State Central Committee Please list your highlights of civic involvement Past President of a local chapter of the National Kidney Foundation (I am also a donorto my father) Admissions Liaison Officer for the United States Air Force Academy (15 years and current) Board Member (Peninsula Property Owners Association School Board Member (SouthLake Christian Academy), two (2) terms Steering Committee Member (Third Millenium Ministries, Casselberry FL) Elder, Presbyterian Church in America (multiple missions trips to Central and South America as well as Appalachia) What are, in your view, the most important issues facing Cornelius, and what would your approach be to handling them if elected? For most Cornelius citizens, the most important issue facing the town is traffic congestion. The Mayor has appointed a task force to recommend solutions necessary to expedite road improvements and expansions. In addition, I would work with our town professionals and NCDOT to evaluate the newest smart traffic technology and, based on successful testing, deploy these next generation technologies to reduce congestion. A second important issue is affordable housing. Currently, approximately 80% of the people who live in Cornelius do not work in Cornelius and 80% of the people who work in Cornelius do not (and often cannot) live in Cornelius. As a commissioner, I would work with and support local non-profits such as LKN CDC and The C.A.R.E. Center to provide affordable housing so more people who work in Cornelius can live in Cornelius. Finally, and no less importantly, I would work to build consensus for revitalizing while preserving our Smithville community. One of our campaign themes is One Cornelius with a foundational commitment to serve and support every citizen of our town. Communities across Mecklenburg County have seen growth and development as well as a hot real estate market in recent years. How should Cornelius approach development and housing issues? This is another important issue because it affects the issues mentioned above, specifically traffic congestion and affordable housing. Cornelius must take a measured approach to development and the inherent housing issues that are inevitably linked together. Our website publishes a perspective weekly that addresses topics before our town. A recent perspective looks at development. One goal will be to bring greater transparency and accountability between town government and developers to ensure our residents understand any impacts from development and, ultimately, the development is built to expectations aligned with original plans. What separates you from your opponent(s)? Experience launching a business with zero sales and growing to manufacture packaging products designed to address a long-term market concern. As the founder and CEO of KODIAKOOLER, a national manufacturer and distributor based in the Lake Norman region, our team pioneered the development of sustainable (recyclable, reusable, biodegradable) packaging materials to protect temperature-sensitive products. KODIAKOTTON was designed to replace foam coolers (aka Styrofoam) that typically ended up in landfills consuming significant disposal space with no chance of biodegradation. Recognized as an environmentally and economically sustainable alternative to foam coolers, KODIAKOTTON insulated shipping containers were adopted across the medical and food industries, including some of the largest mail-order pharmacies in the U.S., thereby removing millions of foam coolers from municipal disposal streams. As a commissioner, environmental sustainability will be a first-level priority. As a business owner and entrepreneur, our team worked every day with customers and vendors, not just talking about problems, but solving them. And those solutions had to be responsible and achievable solutions that met our customers expectations and got delivered. If elected, each and every Cornelius citizen will be a customer to be valued and served. What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of? Building a company with three manufacturing plants in Nevada, Tennessee, and North Carolina along with two distribution centers in Arizona and Pennsylvania; we were able to provide employment and advancement opportunities to 100s of employees. Three associates who come to mind all joined our company as receptionists and went on to work in sales management, as a logistics coordinator, and as a procurement manager. One associate who began as a temporary joined our company and ultimately was promoted to general manager of our plant in Nevada. Providing stable employment (we never laid off an employee) and opportunities for individuals to use and develop their God given gifts was wonderful and rewarding! The daughter and son-in-law of a Boston college professor died saving their sons life during attacks by militant group Hamas in Israel. Ilan Troen, professor of Israel studies at Brandeis University, told WBZ-TV that his daughter Deborah Matias, 50, and her husband Shlomi were among the more than 700 people killed in Israel over the weekend. He said that his 16-year-old grandson Roten witnessed his own parents murders after Hamas militants broke into the familys home. My grandson has witnessed the murder of his mother by people who rehearsed what they were doing, Professor Troen said. The terrorists came into their place, broke through the doors, shot them. Deborah threw her body on top of her son to protect him as the Hamas militants shot at the family, he said. They made sure to fall on him and thereby saved his life. Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved, he said. Professor Troen, who was in Israel at the time of the attacks, rushed to hospital to be with his grandson, but the boys parents could not be saved. [Deborah and Shlomi] loved music, life, each other, their kids. I would ask him to think of the joy that they sought and had in their lives rather than the focus on that day, Professor Troen said of Roten. Ilan Troen, professor at Brandeiss, daughter Deborah Shahar Troen Matias and her husband Shlomi Matias (Sourced) Brandeis University released a statement following the attacks, saying they were deeply saddened by the death of Professor Troens daughter and son-in-law. The university said it condemned in the strongest way terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians. The statement read: 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. Ilan Troen (centre), Brandeis University professor, with daughter Deborah Shahar Troen Matias and her husband Shlomi Matias (Sourced) Hamas militants stormed into Israel early on Saturday morning, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border. Israel has said that more than 700 people have so far been killed by Hamas militants, with at least nine Americans among the dead. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war over the weekend and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers. On Monday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Sirens were sounded in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Monday, with witnesses in the latter city hearing explosions that may have been from rocket impacts or from mid-air interceptions. A Brandeis professor said his daughter and son-in-law were killed by gunfire from Hamas militants. Ilan Troen said his daughter and son-in-law were shielding his grandson from the bullets. "Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved," Troen told WBZ-TV. A Brandeis professor said his daughter and son-in-law lost their lives after shielding their teenage son from Hamas gunfire. "The terrorists came into their place, broke through the doors, shot them," Ilan Troen, an Israel studies professor at Brandeis University, told Boston television station WBZ-TV in a story published on Sunday. Troen told WBZ-TV that his daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Shlomi Matias, were killed by militants from Hamas, a Palestinian political and military group, when they attacked Israel on Saturday. Troen told the television station that he was also in Israel during the attacks. "They made sure to fall on him and thereby saved his life," Troen said of his grandson. "Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved." Troen told WBZ-TV that he has seen his 16-year-old grandson Roten, who is now recovering from his injuries at a hospital in Southern Israel. "My grandson Rotem is recovering and will probably be on his feet today," Troen told Insider. "The bullet did not go deeply into the abdomen because it probably passed through his mother first." Troen also told Insider he thinks Hamas' actions "was not a 'mere' attack," but a pogrom a violent attack on Jewish people. "That is this well-rehearsed and planned act of unbridled violence was not the consequence of an individual's madness or evil but the product of a government that some give public recognition," Troen said of Hamas. A Brandeis University spokesperson said in a statement to WBZ-TV that they were "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," the statement continued."We condemn in the strongest way terrorism such as we have seen today perpetrated against innocent civilians." On Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza. Palestinian militants infiltrated Israeli territory by land and sea. Some even used motorized paragliders as the attacks continued. Israel declared a "state of war" on Sunday, with officials saying their goal was to eliminate Hamas and take complete control of Gaza. The US said it would deploy one of its carrier strike groups to Israel's coast on the same day. The last major war between Israel and Hamas occurred in 2014. That conflict left 2,200 Gaza residents dead. Representatives for Brandeis University did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours. Editor's note: October 9, 2023 This story has been updated with comments from Troen. Read the original article on Business Insider Adnan Jama was arrested on New Years Day 2021 for possession with intent to supply class A drugs - South Yorkshire Police A convicted Dutch drug dealer has avoided deportation because he was found to have come into possession of class A drugs just hours before the Brexit transition period ended, allowing him to be protected by EU law. Adnan Jama, 28, who had a string of convictions for drug offences, was arrested on New Years Day 2021 for possession with intent to supply class A drugs. He was later jailed for five years and seven months. The Home Office sought to deport Jama, who claimed to have come to Britain aged six, to the Netherlands, but he said this would breach his free movement rights and human rights. Last May an immigration judge ruled in his favour. The Home Office has now lost its appeal over the decision. Jama was arrested early on New Years Day 2021, but an immigration judge ruled he came into possession of the drugs several hours before 11pm on Dec 31 2020, when the Brexit transition period ended. The new post-Brexit rules began on Jan 1 2021. The judge ruled that because a significant part of the conduct which underlies the criminality relied upon by the respondent occurred prior to 11pm on 31 December 2020, Jama had the benefit of the highest level of EU law protection. Dismissing the appeal by the Government, Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Skinner said: Notwithstanding my reservations, this appeal must be decided on the basis that, as the judge found, Mr Jama was entitled to top tier protection. He added regarding the previous decision: I struggle with the judges logic. Date of offence of central relevance The judge was required to focus on the offence for which Jama was convicted. The count was possession with intent to supply on Jan 1 2021. He said: It seems to me that the date of the offence as set out in the counts on the indictment was of central relevance to assessing which regime applies. But the Home Office had accepted the earlier judges view in drawing up the appeal, which meant the decision to allow him to stay in the UK could not be overturned on legal grounds. Judge Skinner said: The nature of the appellants offending background shows that he has not been deterred from engaging in the supply of class A drugs even when on licence or under police investigation for like offending. He added: I accept that he has taken some steps to address his offending behaviour while in a custodial setting and has not tested positive for unlawful drugs during his current period of imprisonment. However, it would be overly optimistic to emphatically conclude on the evidence that he has turned a corner and will not return to a life of drug dealing upon release into the community. 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 Indonesian court has sentenced Lina Lutfiawati, known on social media as Lina Mukherjee, to two years in prison under that nation's blasphemy law, for "spreading information aimed at inciting hatred against religious individuals and specific groups." Lutfiawati, a Muslim, was convicted after sharing a video on TikTok in which she recited an Islamic prayer before eating a dish that contained pork while visiting Bali. The court also ordered her to pay a $16,245 fine. The annual per capita wage in Indonesia is about $4,300. If she does not pay the fine, three months would be added to her prison sentence. The post Brickbat: What's Their Beef? appeared first on Reason.com. A large emergency services operation took place at Heathrow Airport yesterday in response to reports of passengers feeling unwell due to fumes detected on a British Airways plane. Ambulances and firefighters raced to the scene, and pictures shared on social media by affected travellers show staff in white hazmat suits outside the aircraft, which had arrived from Barcelona, Spain. Metropolitan Police have confirmed that they were called to the aviation hub at 4.15pm after being told there were passengers taken unwell on a flight. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson told The Independent that it sent a number of resources to the scene, including three medics in fast-response cars, two advanced paramedics, two ambulance crews, two incident response officers and members of the hazardous area response team After assessing multiple people at the scene, we treated three patients and discharged them, they said. Nothing like being locked on a plane with a potential contagion for an hour and half with no explanation or information. @britishairways @HeathrowAirport pic.twitter.com/xw8YzfEOUF Martin Hill (@MartinHill25) October 8, 2023 The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority, said a spokesperson for British Airways, adding that this aircraft landed normally at Heathrow following reports of a technical issue. Customers disembarked the aircraft safely via steps, and weve apologised to them for the delay and inconvenience caused to their journey, the spokesperson said. London Fire Brigade confirmed that it were called to the airport following reports of fumes on the aircraft. Crews used specialist equipment to carry out a systematic sweep of the aircraft to check for elevated readings of chemical substances. No elevated readings were found. Martin Hill, one of the passengers caught up in the incident, wrote on X/Twitter: Nothing like being locked on a plane with a potential contagion for an hour and half with no explanation or information. Almost two hours later Mr Hill shared that authorities finally let us go and that there was no contagion in the end. Another traveller, James Cheadle, also posted, writing: No information other than smoke/fumes were detected in the cockpit and some cabin crew have been told to strip after falling ill. He added that passengers were herded into some departure gates. In July, a British Airways flight was forced to make a U-turn after only 35 minutes in the air after a burning smell reportedly filled the cabin. The plane had departed Johannesburg, South Africa, and was bound for London Heathrow before it turned around in what was described as a fume event. Britain's Supreme Court began hearing an appeal Monday by the government which is seeking to overturn an Appeal Court ruling that its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful. Photo courtesy The Supreme Court Oct. 9 (UPI) -- An appeal by the British government seeking to overturn a ruling that its policy of sending asylum seekers who arrive in the country without permission to Rwanda was illegal began in the Supreme Court on Monday. The Home Office is challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal in June that the plan to send people to have their claims assessed in Rwanda was not legal because it had not provided sufficient guarantees to prove it was a "safe third country." The three-day hearing before a bench of the country's top five judges will listen to arguments over whether the 2-1 ruling by the lower court was correct that there was a "real risk" asylum seekers with strong claims could be sent back to the country they were fleeing in the first place to face persecution or other abuses. "The appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state -- Rwanda," said the barrister for the Home Office, Sir James Eadie KC. The was a "strong public interest" in trying to discourage people from embarking on dangerous journeys to reach Britain, he told the bench. Eadie added the government had attached "considerable importance" to its Rwanda deportation policy because there was an urgent need for "effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel, from a safe country". The Court of Appeal, in turn, had overturned an earlier ruling by the High Court that the government could proceed with the deal struck with Rwanda in April 2022 by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to tackle people smuggling and reduce the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats. In June 2022, refugee advocacy groups sought an emergency injunction in the High Court ahead of the first removal flight but a judge threw out the challenge clearing the way for the flights to Kigali to begin. But the decision that led to the issue being embroiled in the courts for the past 16 months was taken in Strasbourg as the first flight was on the tarmac ready for take-off with seven asylum seekers aboard June 14, 2022, by the European Court of Human Rights. The court used the 1951 Refugee Convention, of which Britain is a signatory, to place a block on the flights, ruling that British judges had to be granted more time to properly evaluate the policy. If the Supreme Court upholds the Appeal Court's ruling, the Rwanda policy will be at the end of the road. However, if it finds for the appellant, it could clear the way for the first deportation flights to begin within weeks. BROCKTON A Brockton man charged with dragging a state trooper while fleeing a traffic strop has been held without bail after being found dangerous at his dangerousness hearing Friday, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said in a written statement. Derek Lobo, 31, was arraigned on Sept. 15 in Brockton District Court, on charges of one count each of trafficking in fentanyl, more than 10 grams; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; assault and battery on a police officer; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; negligent operation of a motor vehicle; failure to stop for police; driving while, not in possession of a license; number plate violation; non-transparent window obstruction; speeding; and no inspection sticker, Cruz's office said in the written statement. Lobo was held without bail pending the outcome of a dangerousness hearing which was held on Friday, Oct. 6, in Brockton District Court when Judge Michelle Fentress "found Lobo to be dangerousness and he is being held without bail," according to the DA's office. A Brockton man was charged with dragging a state trooper during this traffic stop on Montello Street in Brockton on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. What happened at the traffic stop? The charges stem from an incident at approximately 5:56 p.m. on Sept. 13 in Brockton. State troopers were on patrol on Montello Street when they saw a Mercedes sedan pass by with no front license plate and windows obstructed by non-transparent tint, the DA's office said. A computerized Criminal Justice Information Services inquiry said the vehicle had an expired inspection sticker. Troopers activated their emergency lights and pulled the car over, according to the DA's office said. The driver of the Mercedes, Lobo, stopped the car and the troopers approached, one on each side of the vehicle. One of the troopers returned to their cruiser to run a further computer check, while the other trooper remained with Lobo on the drivers side. Dreaming of buying a home in Brockton? 10 steps every first-time buyer should know The record check found that Lobos license was expired and non-renewable, the DA's office saidf. The trooper headed back to Lobo and the other trooper. Lobo, who was wearing a black designer cross body style bag, was informed of the motor vehicle violations and asked by the trooper to exit the vehicle but refused, the DA's office said. The trooper attempted to remove Lobo from the Mercedes and Lobo accelerated at a high rate of speed with the trooper hanging onto the open door of the Mercedes, according to the DA's office. It is estimated the trooper was dragged a city block, as Lobo weaved toward oncoming traffic. The trooper separated from the moving vehicle and was flung into the opposite lane of travel towards oncoming traffic. Due to the high rate of speed, the troopers uniform was shredded and he was injured, the DA's office said. The entire exchange was captured on dashboard camera video and the troopers' body-worn cameras. Both troopers went back to their cruiser and attempted to follow Lobo, who was traveling at an estimated 80 m.p.h. through busy downtown Brockton, but the pursuit was terminated, the DA's office said. Authentic Brazilian BBQ restaurant Avon's Mainha is a 'hidden gem' When was the suspect arrested? Shortly thereafter, members of the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section responded to 79 Brentwood Ave., the address Lobo gave troopers, the DA's office said. Lobo was not at the home, but troopers saw the same black Mercedes parked in the driveway. Inside the motor vehicle, troopers located the black designer cross body bag Lobo had been wearing during the motor vehicle stop. Inside the bag, troopers found 10.8 grams of suspected fentanyl, the DA's office said. The drugs were secured and troopers sought and obtained an arrest warrant for Lobo. He was later located at a residence on Union Street and taken into custody. When is the suspect's next court appearance? Lobo is next scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Oct. 31. Assistant District Attorney Sean B. Kennedy handled the dangerousness hearing for the state. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton man who dragged state trooper with Mercedes held without bail The 31st edition of the Maralal International Camel Derby concluded on Sunday in Kenya's northern county of Samburu, with senior officials reaffirming their commitment to promoting cultural tourism growth. John Chirchir, the chief executive officer of the Kenya Tourism Board, announced that the marketing body would leverage the country's rich cultural diversity to promote Kenya both domestically and internationally. He said that such cultural events play a crucial role in boosting tourism in the country. "Culture provides a creative opportunity to showcase our daily life. Through partnerships with travel agencies, hotels and marketing agencies, we have the chance to present Kenya as an attractive destination for both local and international tourists," said Chirchir. The three-day event attracted thousands of visitors, including both locals and tourists from foreign nations. Chirchir also highlighted that camel racing, triathlons and the revival of traditional song and dance, which had resumed after pandemic-related interruptions, offer opportunities to market Kenya as an ideal tourist destination. Maralal boasts rich wildlife and cultural aspects, including Samburu weddings, which are a part of the camel derby activities, the Maralal Game Sanctuary, and the Samburu Night of music, dance and cuisine. During the event, various indigenous nomadic communities such as Samburu, Turkana and Somali showcased their culture, including beadwork and traditional attire. Local officials noted that the vast northern Kenyan frontier, home to rare wildlife species such as the reticulated giraffe, Grevy's zebra, the beisa oryx, the gerenuk and the Somali ostrich, has the potential to become the next tourism hub. A Nelson County judge has denied Brooks Houcks request to lower his bond from $10 million after he was charged in the murder of Crystal Rogers, but Houcks attorney has filed a notice to appeal the ruling. Houcks attorney had argued that the $10 million bond was oppressive, and well beyond what a murder defendant in Kentucky would typically be ordered to pay to be released before trial. Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III agreed that the bond was high but still ruled it wouldnt be appropriate to lower it. Houck, 41, was arrested Sept. 27 after an indictment was handed down by a Nelson County grand jury charging him with murder and evidence tampering in the disappearance of Rogers, his former girlfriend. Houcks lawyer, Brian Butler of Louisville, later filed a motion to drop Houcks bond to $500,000, a 95% reduction. Butler and special prosecutor Shane Young argued in court Thursday about whether the bond should be lowered. Simms issued his order Monday denying Butlers motion for a lower bond. In the order, Simms said Houck has access to significant financial resources, including millions of dollars in property, leading to concern that he would easily post the bond if it were lowered. Simms also expressed concern that Houcks family had already aided him in interfering with the murder investigation and said he feared for the safety of cooperating witnesses. Attorney for Brooks Houck calls $10 million bond excessive, asks for it to be $500,000 Brooks Houck, main suspect in Crystal Rogers murder, pleads not guilty in court appearance This judge believes that the $10,000,000 bond is reasonable to assure Brooks (Houck) appearance, to adequately protect cooperating witness(es) and other individuals associated with this case, and to better assure the integrity of the proceeding, Simms wrote in his order. Simms also ordered the Nelson County clerk to seal an audio recording and the FBI transcript of an audio recording between Houck and his sister, Rhonda McIlvoy, before the grand jury proceeding that led to Houcks indictment. The recording allegedly indicates that Houck had gotten his family to record grand jury proceedings, which are supposed to be held in secret. Butler filed a notice of appeal that same day regarding the judges order to deny bond, according to court documents. The appeal will go to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The appeals notice cites Kentucky Criminal Procedure 4.40, which entitles a defendant to file a written motion for a change in their conditions of release anytime before their trial. The defendants motion must be done in good faith, according to the statute. Money, concern for safety: Why judge kept $10M bond Simms gave four reasons why he decided to keep Houcks bond at $10 million. One of the reasons was for protecting cooperating witnesses. Simms references accusations from the prosecution that Nick Houck may have had the gun that was used to kill Tommy Ballard and investigators have since obtained it. Nick Houck is Brooks Houcks brother, and Tommy Ballard was Rogers father. Brother of Brooks Houck reportedly sold gun used to kill Crystal Rogers father It appears that the Commonwealth may have obtained from Nick the firearm that was used to kill another person associated with this case, Simms wrote in his order. Although the defense contends that Brooks is not responsible for Nicks behavior, it is apparent that Nick has provided ongoing assistance to his brother. Simms also cited evidence that Nick Houck and other Houck family members recorded grand jury proceedings. Simms said five members of the Houck family were subpoenaed to testify in front of a grand jury, and an audio recording and transcript indicate at least one of them used a recording device. Simms said he didnt want to speculate on Ballards death, but said it was alarming that Nick Houck allegedly sold the same caliber gun used in the killing of Ballard and he is gravely concerned for any witnesses connected to the case. Whos involved in the Crystal Rogers case? 12 people to know and how theyre connected Another reason was related to Houcks financial status, which suggests Houck would be able to easily post a $500,000 bond if that was an option. Houck is the sole member of three separate construction companies which own 83 properties in Nelson County, according to court documents. The tax assessment for 66 of those properties totals about $8.5 million, and Simms said sales of real estate often exceed the tax assessment. Simms said that a pretrial assessment indicates Houck is unlikely to flee the region and is unlikely to get arrested again if he is released on bond, but there was still concern about the severity of the allegations against him. Although this court routinely relies on pretrial assessments for lower level felonies, it certainly believes that most healthy defendants are a flight risk when they are facing severe penalties like twenty (20) to fifty (50) years, or life, in prison, Simms wrote in his order. In addition, parole eligibility is much harsher if a defendant is convicted of murder. The final reason was Simms desire for a fair and impartial trial. He referenced the Houck family allegedly recording the grand jury proceedings and how the family seems to have intentionally engaged in misconduct, based on evidence obtained by prosecutors. The integrity of the entire proceeding is at stake when someone deliberately violates the rules of criminal procedure, Simms wrote in his order. Judge: Evidence shows Houcks recorded grand jury Simms order shed more light on the allegations that Houcks family members recorded grand jury proceedings. Young, the prosecutor, made the accusation in court when Houck was arraigned Thursday, saying Brooks Houcks mother, sister, brother and brother-in-law recorded the hearings that led to his indictment. Grand jury proceedings are done in secret, and consist of 12 citizens selected to serve at random. During the proceedings, evidence is presented by a commonwealths attorney who can call witnesses that often consist of law enforcement officials. Brooks Houck was indicted for murder by a Kentucky grand jury. Heres how they operate. Five members of the Houck family were called to testify before the grand jury and evidence obtained by the commonwealth indicates they recorded each of their testimonies. One specific recording was taken by Brooks Houcks sister, Rhonda McIlvoy, which depicts a conversation thought to be between her and Brooks, according to the order issued by Simms Monday. A man, believed to be Brooks Houck, starts the equipment and can be heard saying Nicholas can find it. While the woman is waiting to testify, she expresses concern as to if the battery would start beeping. The man reassures her, stating its got brand new batteries in it, according to court documents. The woman then goes on to say you are keeping it. Keep it out here, according to court documents. The man then responds, No, we need to hear it. Simms wrote in his order that the we refers to Brooks and Nick Houck. Nick Houck was previously terminated from his position as a Bardstown police officer for interfering into the polices investigation, according to Simms order. Recording grand jury proceedings can result in a contempt of court charge. A person who is found to be in violation could be fined between $500 and 1,000 and could be imprisoned for 6 to 12 months, according to state law. In this case, the Houck family intentionally engaged in misconduct when they secretly recorded the grand jury proceeding, Simms wrote in his order. In fact, Rhonda even expressed second thoughts about using the recording device, but the male voice responded with, no, we need to hear it. In addition, any former police officer in Nicks position should have known that it is inappropriate for him and his family to secretly record any grand jury testimony. This is a developing story and may be updated. Kyrylo Budanov Last year, Ukraines military leadership made concerted efforts to liberate Enerhodar and the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), senior figures from Ukraines Main Directorate of Intelligence or HUR have revealed in the latest issue of NV magazine. An article titled Operations in the name of HUR. Crimea, Enerhodar, Hvyntokryl published in NV magazine issue No. 4 reveals details of Ukraines boldest intelligence missions as told by HUR Commander Kyrylo Budanov and his colleagues. The first operation took place in August 2022 when HUR special forces crossed the then-full Kakhovka Reservoir on the Dnipro River, near Enerhodar, in small boats. Their objective, as explained by a participant of the operation, Volodymyr, commander of a HUR special unit referred to as Shaman, was to establish a foothold on the left bank suitable for the future liberation of the city and the adjacent ZNPP. Read also: Behind the scenes: How Ukraine's SBU executed the Crimean Bridge attack Russian forces intended to connect this power plant to their energy grid, thereby supplying electricity to the occupied south of Ukraine, including Crimea. This move would have solidified Moscows presence in the region. In August 2022, dozens of fighters navigated the river waters on civilian high-speed boats, as the HUR did not yet possess specialized military watercraft at the time. The fighters disembarked near Enerhodar but couldnt secure their position. After half a day on the left bank of the Dnipro, they were forced to retreat due to overwhelming enemy forces. For the guys, it was psychologically challenging (to carry out this operation), says Volodymyr. Youre sailing on waves at night, the water is flooding the boats, you have to bail it out, switch to other watercraft all while under enemy fire. Read also: Budanov shares memorable Explosive Cake greeting on Military Intelligence Day video Later, the HUR forces made two more attempts to land on the left bank of the Dnipro, with several hundred participants in the final attempt. Budanov admits that both managerial and executive shortcomings hindered the success of the three Enerhodar operations. Nevertheless, they achieved their objective: the Russians never dared to connect the ZNPP to their energy system. Additionally, the Enerhodar operation played another role: it provided practical skills for everyone, from the command staff to the fighters, on how to operate on the water, he said. This experience is currently being put to very good use, for example, during landings in Crimea. 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 Dar San Ye, who once helped capture a North Korean bomber, is now 87 years old (Sai Aung MAIN) Forty years ago, Myanmar barmaid Dar San Ye stood in a river running through Yangon, squaring up to a North Korean agent gripping a live grenade. Hours earlier on October 9, 1983, a huge explosion had shattered the peace of the capital city as a Pyongyang hit team detonated bombs to try to assassinate visiting South Korean president Chun Doo-Hwan. Seventeen Korean officials, including the foreign minister, and four Burmese nationals died when the blast ripped through a mausoleum housing the remains of Myanmar's founding father and independence hero Aung San . President Chun himself was not there, however, having been delayed at a previous engagement. The bombers fled the scene, with Yangon plunged into chaos. Now 87 years old, she spoke to AFP in her home on the outskirts of the city, recalling her role in the drama as she puffed on a cigar. "I heard the Martyrs' Mausoleum had been blown up by some foreigners," she said. Customers in her bar on the banks of the Pazundaung River could talk of little else, she said. "I asked people if they (the attackers) had been captured... They said no," she recalled. "I told them the bombers will be captured later because we are Buddhist Myanmar and our good spirits will guard us." Little did she know she would be the one to do it. - 'I punched him' - Dar San Ye finished her shift and returned home as evening began to fall, with the city still on edge and a hunt for the perpetrators under way. Suddenly, she heard shouts that there was a thief in the river. She rushed out and saw a crowd of around a hundred people gathered on the bank. Pausing only to hitch up her nightdress, she waded in, not quite sure who the man in the water was. "The guy was standing waist-deep in water," she said. "I called him: 'Come here! Come here!'" "He just stared at me. I realised he wouldn't understand Burmese. I remembered an English phrase that I used to use to make fun of English people. "I asked him: 'Are you my friend?'" Desperate for sympathy as he found himself surrounded, he replied: "Yes, yes! Are you Chinese?" The barmaid recalled that he then reached out to try to shake her hand. But when three men from the crowd joined in to help Dar San Ye, he began to fight back, pushing her and the others away and running to the end of a pier. There he took out a grenade and pulled the pin, but it failed to detonate fully. "His left hand was blown off. On his right hand, four fingers were blown off and only the thumb remained," she said. "After that, he jumped into the water again and I also jumped in... When he appeared above the water again, I punched him in the neck." - Hanged after trial - The agent, Kim Jin-su, was one of the three-man hit team. Thanks to Dar San Ye, he was captured by authorities. He refused to cooperate with interrogators and was hanged after a trial. The two other assassins, Shin Ki-chol and Kang Min-chol, were tracked down by security forces just outside Yangon. Shin died in the ensuing firefight but Kang was captured alive and sentenced to life in prison after confessing. He died there after almost 25 years behind bars. A CIA report said there was "very strong circumstantial evidence" linking Pyongyang to the mausoleum bombing. It said alleged North Korean agents had used similar radio-detonated explosives in a 1970 plot to kill then-president Park Chung Hee as he visited a cemetery in Seoul. A delegation from Pyongyang had also visited the mausoleum less than two months before -- "an excellent opportunity to survey the scene and plan an operation". A North Korean ship unloading aid equipment in Yangon port two weeks earlier "would be consistent with the dispatch of an agent team," it said. A court in Myanmar -- then called Burma -- ruled that the attack was "the work of saboteurs acting under instructions of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." Its then junta cut off diplomatic ties with Pyongyang that were not restored until more than 20 years later. - Well-known figure - Shortly after the bombing Dar San Ye and the three men who helped her were feted at a government ceremony and given clothes and money in compensation. "Since then, they have never come to see me," she said, with a copy of a faded and creased "Record of Honour" certificate all she has left to link her to the day. Myanmar re-established ties with North Korea in 2007, when both countries were under a slew of Western sanctions and branded "outposts of tyranny" by the United States. Under the current junta, the rebuilt Martyr's Mausoleum is all but closed off -- barring select diplomats invited to pay their respects to Myanmar's independence hero. Dar San Ye is a well-known figure in Yangon, and has been the subject of several documentaries and feature articles in Myanmar media. But with most of her family dead and little other support she lives off donations from charitable neighbours that come to around 30,000-40,000 kyat ($15-19) per day. She has no regrets about the risk she took in the river that day. "I tried to catch him just for my country. Once, our General Aung San was assassinated. Then his grave was destroyed again. So I went down to catch him." "I can't let them insult my country." lmg-rma/pdw/ser The Powerball jackpot is now up to $1.55 billion and its been just a few days since a lottery player took home a $360 million winning Mega Millions ticket in San Angelo, Texas. Were still waiting on a Powerball winner, but the Texas Lottery provides billions in funding for public education and veterans services. Heres where revenues from the Texas Lottery go. The lottery has generated more than $37 billion in revenue for education, veterans services and other state programs since 1992, according to the Texas Lottery Commission. Almost a quarter of the money, or $1.97 billion, in fiscal year 2022 went to education. Heres how the percentages broke down: 67.5% prizes paid 23.8% Texas education (Foundation School Fund) 5.3% retailer compensation 3.1% lottery administration 0.3% Fund for Veterans Assistance and other state programs Nearly a quarter of revenue from the Texas Lottery helps fund public education, according to data from fiscal year 2022. In fiscal year 2023, the lottery generated nearly $2.2 billion for public education and veterans services a record. The record revenue transfer to the state confirms the Texas Lotterys unwavering commitment to its mission and pivotal role of supporting its beneficiaries, Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery, said in a news release. That $2.2 billion is a fraction of public education spending in Texas where K-12 schools spend $74.3 billion annually, according to statistics from Education Data Initiative. The Texas Lottery started in 1992. Revenue initially was allocated to the General Revenue Fund to benefit all state programs, according to the Texas Lottery Commission. Since 1997, the lottery has provided $31.8 billion to the Foundation School Fund to support public education. Legislation passed in 2009 directed the Texas Lottery to add the first scratch ticket game to benefit the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans Assistance. Since then, its generated $221 million for veterans services. What is The Sum? The Sum is your friendly guide to personal finance and economic news. Were a team of McClatchy journalists cutting through the financial jargon so you know how these issues impact your life. We verify information from diverse sources and keep the facts front-and-center, making finance and economic news add up for you. Ready to take the first step to getting your finances under control? You can sign up for our five-week budgeting newsletter at thesum.news. WASHINGTON A CACI International team will spend the coming months refining software and concentrating on signals of interest after winning a $1.5 million electronic warfare contract from the U.S. Army. The service last month tapped CACI-owned Mastodon Design to develop the Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team Manpack. The award followed a half year of whitepaper submissions and technical evaluations. The TLS-BCT Manpack is meant to provide soldiers a mobile means of jamming and collecting signals intelligence. It is a smaller, portable offshoot of the TLS-BCT, to be installed aboard Stryker and Armored Multi-Purpose vehicles, and the heftier TLS-Echelons Above Brigade, envisioned for use by divisions and corps amid preparations for conflict with Russia and China. We spent years and years and years in a permissive environment, in Afghanistan, in the counterinsurgency-type of fight. When youre going into a more sophisticated peer environment, you need more sophisticated kit, Todd Probert, president of national security and innovative solutions at CACI, told C4ISRNET at the Association of the U.S. Army convention in Washington. This is a pathfinder, working through the signals of interest and the threat information that the Army needs to go work through, he added. For US Armys future command posts, one size will not fit all The Army is reinvesting in electronic warfare and the mastery of the electromagnetic spectrum after years of atrophy. CACIs Manpack is designed on a foundation of existing tech, including its Kraken and Beast offerings. Our philosophy, be it in our hardware, be it in our software, is to build something that addresses todays threat with todays technology, but fundamentally has the ability to grow as the threat grows, Probert said. Contracts for the TLS line have so far totaled tens of millions of dollars. CACI is also involved with TLS-EAB, alongside Lockheed Martin. The manpack variant is expected to move from prototype to production in fiscal 2024, according to the Army. New York-based Mastodon Design was purchased by CACI in 2019 for $225 million. Probert said the deal was part of the companys long journey of best-in-class acquisitions. CACI in 2022 earned $4.3 billion in defense-related revenue, clinching the No. 27 spot on Defense News Top 100 list of the worlds largest defense contractors. Community college students in California are now eligible to receive financial assistance to complete their studies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). On September 30, the states Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1400, which offers a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to community college students who transfer to regionally accredited HBCUs. The bill, which was introduced by Assembly majority leader Isaac Bryan (D), reallocates money generated by the College Access Tax Credit, which provided incentives to taxpayers who contributed to Cal Grant B, a program which provides non-tuition assistance to students from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds. After a tax overhaul significantly reduced the pool of money available, lawmakers believe AB 1400 is the best way to provide more support to a targeted population. Read more More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. SAN DIEGO (KSWB) A bill that would make it easier for outdoor enthusiasts to reserve a campsite in California state parks was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom Sunday night. Assembly Bill 618, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), proposed amendments to the states campsite reservation system to deter no-shows and cancellations, freeing up spots for campers that would otherwise go unused. The bill was sent to Newsoms desk for signature about three weeks ago after it passed through the legislature with unanimous support. Californias public parks and beaches are treasures that should be enjoyed by all Californians and demand for them has increased greatly, Bauer-Kahan said in a release on Monday. California says no to magic mushrooms for now Unfortunately, our current outdated reservation system has led to a situation where many campsites are left empty, she continued. By promoting responsible reservation practices, we can increase access to these vital resources. California has the most state park land in the country, with nearly 280 individual parks that boast over 15,000 campsites and other lodging options. These sites host upwards of seven million campers per year for outdoor stays. Despite the expansive network of parks, more than half of campers across the country have expressed difficulty finding a campsite to book, according to a survey conducted by the camping website The Dyrt. Amid high demand, campers either have to make their reservations months in advance or make the limited 8 a.m. window opening on the Reserve California website in order to snag a spot. Existing state guidelines around booking a campsite exacerbate these inaccessibility issues, particularly given that there were no penalties for reserving a spot that later goes unused whether because of a last-minute cancellation or a no-show. AB 618 will change that. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, the new law would give those who cancel their reservation at least seven days before the start of their booking a credit that can be used for another reservation within five years. Meanwhile, those who do not show up after the first day will forfeit the remainder of the booking. While it is great many of State Parks camping and lodging sites are extremely popular, this popularity limits access to overnight stays at many of Californias most beautiful locations, the California State Parks Foundation wrote in support of the bill. (This bill) proposes changes to the reservation system that incentivize early cancellations, which in turn should make more campsites available to everyone. Those who book lodging in a park will receive at least two reminder emails prior to the booking start date to remind the reservation holder of the upcoming stay, as well as cancellation and refund or credit options. The law will also free up spots at campsites by capping the number of days that people can stay at the same campsite per year at 30, as well as limit the length of reservations during peak seasons to seven consecutive nights. These provisions would apply to all state parks, including the 150 parks that do not use the Reserve California booking system. Airbnb guest wont leave after staying at rental for over a year without paying, homeowner says Meanwhile, AB 618 also directs the State Parks department to implement a lottery system for five of the most coveted state park campsites. The sites used in the lottery system, which is required to be implemented before 2025, will be determined by the department based on booking interest six months in advance of a reservation date. Aside from booking policies, the measure also implements a 25% discount to low-income park visitors who hold an annual pass to state parks called the Golden Bear pass. CalWORKs and supplemental security income recipients are eligible to get this pass, as well as households that have an income that fall below a certain income level. I am committed to ensuring that all Californians have equal access to our states natural resources, and AB 618 is an important step towards achieving that goal, Bauer-Kahan added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert! AS KIDS ONLINE SAFETY ACT GAINS SUPPORT, HOW DOES CALIFORNIAS DELEGATION STAND? Californias U.S. Senate delegation has yet to take a position on a bill that critics say would empower conservative attorneys general to target online LGBTQ content for removal. The Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, was co-authored by Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn . The bill is intended to address the crisis of teenage mental health in America, specifically social medias role in contributing to it. KOSA provides families with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to protect against threats to childrens health and well-being online, according to a one-page document provided by Blumenthal and Blackburns office. The bill has the endorsement of several organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Internet Accountability Project and Common Sense Media. It also has 45 co-sponsors, including 23 other Republicans and 22 Democrats. Senators as ideologically diverse as Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, and Josh Hawley, R-MO, have signed on. So whats the controversy? Simply put, KOSA as currently written would allow (Texas Attorney General) Ken Paxton and other red-state attorney generals to bring frivolous lawsuits against any content they believe is harmful to kids which includes LGBTQIA+ content in their view. The states are already passing state laws to censor the internet, but a federal law would give them much more leeway, said writer and commentator Charlie Jane Anders in an email interview with The Bee. And the current text of KOSA imposes guardrails made of tissue paper against malicious or bigoted lawsuits by state AGs the law is written to give them maximum scope of action, with no oversight, Anders said. Anders and others in the LGBTQ community have led the charge in rallying opposition against the bill, on the grounds that it will be used to erase, or demonetize and delist, queer content online. Anders believes a simple fix is to remove the authority in the bill from the attorneys general and place it in the hands of the Federal Trade Commission. Anders said that the same people who are banning books and going after teachers are looking for tools to censor the internet, and that KOSA would be an ideal tool for them to use. As a trans woman, but also as someone who has found community and fellowship in many ways online, I am desperate to protect the internet from the new wave of repression that KOSA would bring, Anders said. And its not just the LGBTQ advocates that believes this bill can and will be used to target that community. The hard right Heritage Foundation believes it as well, tweeting in May that keeping trans content away from children is protecting kids. Blackburn herself intends this use if it becomes law, saying in an interview that the bill is intended to protect children from the transgender in this culture. Its unclear what position new Sen. Laphonza Butler, herself a lesbian, will take on the bill. The Bee was unable to reach the senators office. As for Sen. Alex Padilla, a spokeswoman for his office told The Bee that he is closely monitoring the legislation, but has not taken a position as of yet. Given that this bill is still in committee in a sharply divided Congress it may be a while before it makes it to the floor for a vote. That means Reps. Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee and Katie Porter the frontrunners to be the next senator from California could be in office before it goes for a vote. But none of the three candidates responded to a Bee inquiry by deadline Friday. WILL HE OR WONT HE RESIGN Via Gillian Brassil... Ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will stick around Congress, his office said Friday, after reports that he considered resigning circulated online. McCarthy is not resigning, Brittany Martinez, a spokeswoman for McCarthy, told The Bee. McCarthy, 58, was the first speaker of the House to be removed by a vote from his colleagues. The Bakersfield Republican struggled to win the gavel in January and continued to have troubles with his far right flank throughout his nine months. If he were to resign, McCarthy would not be the first speaker in recent times to leave before his term was up. In 1989, Speaker Jim Wright, a Texas Democrat, resigned the office after ethical questions were raised about what opponents considered excessive speaking fees and a deal involving copies of his book. It took Democrats a week to name Washingtons Tom Foley as a successor. A few weeks later, Wright resigned his congressional seat. In 2015, Republican John Boehner resigned as speaker and as a member of Congress, exhausted after battling conservatives in his own party over budget cuts. McCarthy, a fourth-generation resident of Kern County, has had far less trouble in his Bakersfield district. He hasnt had a close congressional election since he joined the House in 2007, and wouldnt if he ran in 2024. McCarthy still has supporters who want him to run again for the speaker job, including Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove. Thursday, McClintock railed against the decision to depose his friend and leave the House without a speaker, saying in a statement that the only workable outcome is to restore Kevin McCarthy as Speaker under party rules that respect and enforce the right of the majority party to elect him. Eight Republicans who helped cause his downfall would have to back off. Restoring McCarthy to the job depends entirely on several of the dissidents to disenthrall themselves from their decision and to repair the damage before it is too late. I appeal to them to act while there is still time, McClintock said. QUOTE OF THE DAY The current Republican Party has changed from the old conservative coalition of economic, military, and social conservatives of the Reagan era to a mix of these old style conservatives interested in policy plus a new generation that includes performance artists worried more about the attention and money they can get from social media buzz. - Cal State Fullerton Professor Stephen Stambough, in a statement responding to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthys ouster. Best of The Bee: Saying they are ashamed and embarrassed by the ouster of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, four California GOP lawmakers joined 41 other House Republicans to strongly urge changes in how a speaker is selected and retained, via David Lightman . More than 75,000 health care workers ended a three-day strike against Kaiser Permanente in seven states at 6 a.m. Saturday. Company and union negotiators will resume bargaining this week, via Cathie Anderson . A week after a scathing audit of Capital Public Radios finances was released, more than half of its board of directors resigned Wednesday night over what they said was a failure by Sacramento State leadership to engage with the board in good faith, via Sam Stanton . Some California workers are in line to earn more sick days starting in January, as Gov. Gavin Newsom handed labor advocates another victory, via Maya Miller. [Source] California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark bill that aimed to outlaw caste-based discrimination in the state. Newsom cites existing laws: On Saturday, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 403, a measure that would have made California the first state in the nation to explicitly recognize and prohibit caste-based discrimination within its civil rights code. In his veto message, Gov. Newsom deemed the bill "unnecessary," asserting that current laws in the state already encompass protections against caste discrimination. Originating in India over 3,000 years ago, the caste system divides Hindu society into rigid hierarchical groups based on birth and ancestry, allowing privileges for upper castes while repressing lower castes. Disappointment for advocates: Newsoms decision has drawn criticism from those who believe that the explicit inclusion of caste in the state's civil rights code was essential to combat ongoing discrimination within South Asian communities, even in the diaspora. More from NextShark: Burglar pulls off $250,000 Pokemon heist of Minnesota shop after smashing through a wall Advocates for the bill, which included Dalits, members of Indigenous communities and the Ravidassia community, had been pushing for its passage through rallies and hunger strikes, arguing that existing anti-discrimination laws were insufficient to address the deeply ingrained biases stemming from the caste system. The clamor for such legislation has resulted in Seattle and Fresno passing similar bans on caste discrimination in recent months. Against the bill: Some Hindu Americans have opposed the bill, expressing concerns that it unfairly targeted their community. California Republican Senators Brian Jones and Shannon Grove had also urged Newsom to veto the bill, citing potential threats to the state's innovation. More from NextShark: 58-year-old Filipino domestic worker becomes entrepreneur after employer pays for her business classes Struggles against caste discrimination: Discrimination rooted in the caste system persists, even among the diaspora, as illustrated by a lawsuit against Cisco Systems in 2020. The California State University system took action in 2022, adding caste to its anti-discrimination policy and acknowledging the need for explicit measures to counter discrimination. Despite the veto, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, executive director of Dalit rights group Equality Labs, told AP News she still views the veto as a win for victims of caste oppression. We made history conducting the first advocacy days, caravans, and hunger strike for caste equity. We made the world aware that caste exists in the U.S. and our people need a remedy from this violence. A testament to our organizing is in Newsoms veto where he acknowledges that caste is currently covered. So while we wipe our tears and grieve, know that we are not defeated. More from NextShark: Indonesian Man Gets Scammed With Hand-Drawn Money While Selling Phone Newsom signs more legislation: In addition to vetoing the caste discrimination bill, Governor Newsom also signed several significant bills into law on Saturday. These include mandates for large businesses to disclose emissions, a ban on certain chemicals in food products and the approval of unionization for legislative staffers. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Survey: 2 in 3 AAPI in Los Angeles County worry about being victimized by racial attack California is looking to hire employees in Fresno County, some of which positions are entry level. State jobs are known for offering competitive benefits and enrollment in the nations largest state public pension plan. Each position has specific requirements, which are linked. Want to stand out when applying for California state jobs? Your guide to these departments Here are five jobs posted on CalCareers, the states jobs website, that are in Stanislaus County. The positions were posted in the last seven days, as of Oct. 9. Administrative law judge | Permanent full-time Work location: 2550 Mariposa Mall, Ste. 4078, Fresno Department: Industrial Relations Salary: $10,280 to $13,569 per month The administrative law judge is assigned to hear and decide judicial matters relating to workers compensation. There is one position available. The application closes Oct. 26. Criminalist | Permanent full-time Work location: Bureau of Forensic Services, Fresno Laboratory Department: Justice Salary: $4,281 to $9,010 per month The criminalist is an entry level position for someone who performs routine laboratory examinations. There is one position available. The application closes Oct. 18. Junior safety engineer | Permanent full-time Work location: 2550 Mariposa Street, Rm. 4000, Fresno Department: Industrial Relations Salary: $6,175 to $7,363 per month The junior safety engineer performs safety activities for Cal/OSHA in a training capacity. There is one position available. The application closes Nov. 3. Key accounts specialist | Permanent full-time Work location: Fresno County Department: CA State Lottery Salary: $5,518 to $6,907 per month The key accounts specialist recruits and maintains accounts to secure participation as lottery retailers. There is one position available. The application closes Oct. 19. Truck driver | Permanent full-time Work location: Coalinga State Hospital Department: State Hospitals Salary: $3,875 to $4,450 per month The truck driver operates, loads and unloads trucks for transportation of laundry, food, furniture and other materials at Coalinga State Hospital. There is one position available. The application closes Oct. 23. What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com. 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) 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) California is one of the most committed regions in the United States when it comes to striving for a sustainable future. The state is seeking to provide 100% renewable energy to residents and businesses by 2045, and it has seen billions of dollars of investment in clean energy technologies. Now, it is taking on the oil industry, with the state of California filing a lawsuit against industry giants like ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP, as well as lobbying body the American Petroleum Institute. NPR reported the suit was filed in the San Francisco Superior Court, and the focus is on claims the big players in the oil industry have been misleading the public about the dangers of dirty energy. California is suing these big polluters to hold them accountable for their decades of deception, cover-up, and billions of dollars in harm done to our state, the office of California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement. The Governors office added the lies pushed by Big Oil over the course of decades have contributed to global heating, resulting in extreme weather events such as superstorms, wildfires, extreme heat, extreme drought, and flooding. It has been decades of damage and deception, Governor Newsom continued. Wildfires wiping out entire communities, toxic smoke clogging our air, deadly heat waves, record-breaking droughts parching our wells. California taxpayers shouldnt have to foot the bill. California is taking action to hold big polluters accountable. If the state is successful, it is calling on oil companies to compensate the state and its residents for the industrys impact on the environment and to help bring protection initiatives to mitigate against future damage that rising temperatures bring. It is also hoping to stop oil companies from engaging in further pollution and to cease misinformation campaigns. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is also leading the lawsuit. Oil and gas companies have privately known the truth for decades that the burning of fossil fuels leads to climate change but have fed us lies and mistruths to further their record-breaking profits at the expense of our environment, he said. Enough is enough. According to Cal Fire, there have been 5,741 wildfire incidents in the state in 2023 alone, with over 305,000 acres burned. As California Local observed, Southern California saw its first tropical storm since 1939 in August, leading to record quantities of rainfall in Palm Springs, San Diego, and downtown Los Angeles. The state also saw its hottest recorded month in history in July, and 12 major rainstorms were recorded earlier in the year. Its clear, then, that California is bearing a significant burden when it comes to the impact of global heating, and the lawsuit will leave Big Oil with a lot to answer for. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. The Apple logo in front of the company's flag ship store in New York on a rainy day. Major companies like Apple now have to disclose carbon emissions under a new California law. Major corporations like Apple and Disney will be forced to disclose their carbon emissions under a new Californian law approved on Monday. Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill - passed by the state legislature - requiring companies with more than $1bn (817m) in annual revenue to report greenhouse gas emissions. Similar efforts are moving slowly at the federal level. Mr Newsom praised the law's aims, but questioned how it will be carried out. "This important policy, once again, demonstrates California's continued leadership with bold responses to the climate crisis," Mr Newsom wrote in a signing statement. "However, the implementation deadlines in this bill are likely infeasible." He added that he is "concerned about the overall financial impact of this bill on businesses". The California Air Resources Board must put a system in place for reporting emissions by January 1, 2025, a little more than a year from now, under the law. As the need to address climate change grows more urgent, pressure is mounting on large corporations to come clean about how much they emit gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, both directly through operations and indirectly, such as purchasing electricity. California, which has a record of enacting cutting-edge environmental laws, is home to many multibillion dollar companies. Chevron, Meta, Wells Fargo, Intel, and HP are all headquartered in the state and all pull in more than $50bn (40bn) a year. The state also recently passed a law requiring companies with more than $500m (408m) in annual revenues to report their climate-related financial risks, which Mr Newsom said would encourage companies to work to avoid those risks. But, again, he raised concerns in a signing statement about the costs to businesses. The US regulator for stocks and markets - the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) - has been working on similar federal requirements for companies to report emissions and climate-related risks for more than a year. Supporters of the commission's proposed rule, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, say it would prevent "greenwashing", when a company exaggerates its actions on the environment in its marketing, and that it would help investors understand different companies' vulnerabilities. The Chamber of Commerce, the country's largest business group, though, says the rule could be costly for companies and difficult to follow. The group has also raised questions about whether emissions and risk reports are material to investment decisions and if a markets regulator should be carrying out environmental policies. It is not clear when the commission will approve a final version of the rule. A man has been arrested and charged with murder after DNA linked him to a woman who was brutally beaten and left to die in a northern California park four decades ago. DNA evidence linked Alfredo Carretero Jr, 65, of Lakeport, California, to the murder of 37-year-old Noelle Russo, according to Sonoma County District Attorneys Office. Mr Carretero Jr was named a person of interest early on but was not charged in Russos case until now. Russo, who was named Miss Burlingame in 1962 in a beauty pageant in San Mateo County, was last seen on 24 June 1983. Friends of the former beauty queen said that she had been fighting with her boyfriend, according to SFGate, and that she had gone to stay with a friend in Santa Rosa. The friend reportedly drove her to Courthouse Square so she could catch a bus back to her apartment in Rohnert Park. She was never heard from again. On 27 June, a seven-year-old boy reportedly discovered Russos naked and battered body behind a real estate office in an unincorporated area of Rohnert Park, a small city about 50 miles north of San Francisco. She had been beaten to death with lumber from a stack of wood nearby, it was reported. The Violent Crime Investigations Unit launched a probe into the killing at the time. While a significant amount of evidence was collected over the years which led to persons of interest, no arrests were made, according to Sonoma County Sheriffs Office. The case went cold for decades until in 2010, when detectives began submitting items of evidence for DNA analysis to the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and the Serological Research Institute. Mr Carretero Jr was one of the original persons of interest in the case, the sheriffs office said. DNA and other evidence have now identified him as the suspect, the office added. The 65-year-old was booked into Sonoma County adult detention facility and is being held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for 18 October. Its not clear if he knew the victim. Detectives believed Russo may have encountered someone while waiting for the bus to Rohnert Park, SFGate reported. Russo grew up in San Mateo County and was a student at Burlingame High School. In 1962, she was named Miss Burlingame, according to The Press Democrat. She was just 16 years old at the time and told the San Mateo Times that her dream was to become a model. She also said her favorite sport was dancing the twist. I couldnt have been more surprised, she said. I never in the world thought Id win. I just entered to please mother. Russo had been married and divorced twice, and had a son. She worked in Colorado as a forest ranger trainee then later returned home to California. She had been taking classes at Santa Rosa Junior College when she was killed. One friend described her as a real chatterbox, according to the Press Democrat. Other friends said they worried for her safety because she was known to hitchhike and was too trusting of strangers. Dominique Espinosa, the daughter of one of Russos best friends Laura Servin, shared her late mothers memories with KGO-TV. They kind of liked to bar hop a little bit and just like anybody in the area have a little bit of fun, and thats what they were doing the night that she went missing, Ms Espinosa told the TV station. They split up, she said Noelle may have been talking to an ex-boyfriend, but she didnt think it was him that she went off with but somehow they got separated at night, and she couldnt get ahold of her the whole next day and then they, of course, found her. Ms Espinosa said Russos murder remained with her mother for years. I think her eyes twinkled when she looked at her, Ms Espinosa said. She was just a beautiful person, and that is one thing that shined through in my moms writing that this was somebody she really cared about, and it just devastated her that she lost her. North Miami will have nearly $4 million more a year to spend on its economic-development arm after striking a deal with Miami-Dade County to loosen a cap on how much property tax the agency can keep. The deal, approved earlier this month, means a significant cash boost for the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), which city commissioners control. The agency spent about $12 million last year on projects aimed at boosting economic growth within its boundaries, and is funded with a mix of city and county property taxes that would otherwise go to police, parks and other services. While the CRA is allowed to keep a portion of city and county property taxes generated within its boundaries, Miami-Dade capped the county portion at $1 million. The new agreement eliminates that cap, and city officials say theyre planning investments in the Northwest 7th Avenue Corridor. North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme said the $1 million cap limited what the city could do financially. The cap was there and we fought it, he said, adding the CRA was told in 2016 either they take what theyre given or they would be eliminated. READ MORE: North Miami swears in first Haitian American woman police chief Under the new agreement, the CRA will retain 75% of property tax. Additionally, the agency was also authorized to take about a $60 million loan for redevelopment of the citys CRA district. The new agreement requires at least 35% of the funds will go toward upgrades to the citys Northwest 7th Avenue Corridor, including mixed-use developments, septic to sewer conversions, street and swale beautification, and updating business exteriors. Were investing in a disinvested community, were seeing a historic investment to make up for past wrongs, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said during a press conference Friday announcing the new agreement, which was passed by commissioners at an Oct. 3 meeting. The CRA had a fiscal 2022-2023 budget of $21.5 million, but about $5.1 million had to go to the county, according to an amended budget. READ MORE: CRA official approved grant for her mothers home. Now shes out of a job, mom owes $20K North Miami CRA Executive Director Anna-Bo Emmanuel said the increased funds will help with operating expenses and infrastructure obligations, such as the Rucks Park project, an affordable housing project expected to break ground next year. We are also in that interlocal (agreement) able to go and seek debt financing for up to $60 million which will also increase our capacity with the work that were able to do, she said. When you think about what North Miami lost, when we think about that Interlocal that was in place since 2016, were talking about over $20 million that our city could have received but did not receive, North Miami Commissioner Kassandra Timothe said. The clerk's office at the Buncombe County Courthouse, where court records and documents are kept. ASHEVILLE - The case of a man charged with multiple child sex crimes after allegedly abducting a 13-year-old from Maryland might go to federal court. Oscar Yobani Solis-Berduo, 22, was arrested by Asheville police April 26 and charged with abduction of children, statutory rape of a child under 15 years of age and human trafficking of a child victim. Solis-Berduo was charged during the recovery of a missing juvenile from Maryland, an APD news release from April said. But according to his defense attorney, Ehsan Akhavi, Solis-Berduo was acting under the belief that he was in a relationship with the victim. I have no reason to believe he took the victim against her will, Akhavi said during a court hearing Oct. 6, adding that the victim stayed with Solis-Berduo's family for a week. Solis-Berduo and the victim met on Facebook, and his impression was that she was his girlfriend. More crime reporting: Candler man sentenced to 25 years for child sex crimes dating back to 2018 Akhavi said he spoke with Solis-Berduos dad, who said the victim was so tall that he thought she was 17 or 18. In Buncombe County District Court Oct. 6, Akhavi asked Judge J. Calvin Hill to address Solis-Berduos bond, which Judge Julie Kepple had previously decreased from $600,000 to $150,000. He mentioned the initiation of a house arrest, saying he doesnt believe Solis-Berduo to be a flight risk or to have the proclivity for further crime. Pervious reporting: Man charged by Asheville police with child sex crime, trafficking Akhavi also said he spoke to the state attorney, and they are speaking with the federal attorney to see if they should proceed federally, but its been a couple months now without a meaningful decision one way or the other. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Harrold said he disagrees with (Akhavis) characterizing of (Solis-Berduo) as not a flight risk. Harrold said the defendant lied to police officers on the phone when they were investigating, telling them he was in Charlotte when he was hiding in a chicken coop in the backyard of the house. He said the defendant bought an Uber to New York for the 13-year-old victim from Maryland, who was then brought to Asheville. More: Adult victim wins $1M against child sex abuser, coach at former Asheville Christian school Akhavi said his client, who just turned 22, grew up in Guatemala, never received a meaningful education and had a dad who abandoned him when he was a 1-year-old. His dad agreed to bring him to Asheville a year ago, and Solis-Berduo has been helping him with construction. Hill decided to keep the bond as is, and a new court date was set for Dec. 1. Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. News tips? Email Ryley at rober@gannett.com. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Man charged with abducting child from Maryland may go to federal court Chef Michael Chiarello in 2014 at the Far Niente winery in Oakville, Calif. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) Chef and former Food Network host Michael Chiarello died Friday at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa after suffering from an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, a statement confirmed Saturday. He was 61. Chiarello was known not only for developing restaurants in California and elsewhere but also for his time on television. His Food Network Emmy-winning series, "Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello," launched in 2003, and he appeared on Bravo's " Top Chef " and " Top Chef Masters ." He also wrote several cookbooks. He was born in Red Bluff, Calif., and raised in the Central Valley community of Turlock. His culinary passion started in his mother's kitchen, where he learned cooking traditions that were part of his southern Italian heritage; his parents were both from Calabria. I always knew I would be a chef," Chiarello told The Times in 1988. "Thats all I ever wanted to do. I also knew I needed to have more knowledge at every turn. Chiarello started apprenticing in restaurants at only 14 and then attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York, where he graduated in 1982 and went on to study and work in restaurants in Florida. Read more: FOOD : Big Little Pizza Bread : Innovative Italian-American Food From a Napa Valley Chef He opened Tobys Bar and Grill in south Miami at 22, the Mercury News reported. "That was the launch in finding out where I wanted my food to go," Chiarello told The Times in 1988. "Tobys was very American and progressive for that market." In 1986, he moved to Napa Valley to open Tra Vigne, as one of its founding chefs. It was "one of Napa's most legendary restaurants" and had a guest list that included Robert Redford, Robert Mondavi, Danny DeVito and Francis Ford Coppola, according to a 2015 Sonoma Magazine article. Even Julia Child stopped by. He was named chef of the year in 1985 by Food and Wine Magazine while at Toby's and in 1995 by his alma mater the Culinary Institute of America. There was some controversy amid the success. In 2016, Chiarello was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Napa County. The arrest came days after he reached a settlement with two former servers at his San Francisco restaurant, Coqueta, who said they were sexually harassed and forced to endure a hostile, sexually charged work environment at the restaurant, according to the lawsuit. He denied the charges. At the time of his arrest, his spokesman told The Times in a statement that Chiarello was embarrassed and apologized to people close to him, and that he intended to fight the DUI charges. Chiarello developed more than 10 restaurants and served as chef in his Spanish restaurant Coqueta in San Francisco and Yountville, as well as Tra Vigne and Italian restaurants Bottega and Ottimo in Yountville, until the time of his death. Read more: New Orleans drummer Russell Batiste Jr., who kept the city's funky beat, dies at 57 Chiarello's family said in a statement that they mourned the loss of their beloved patriarch, whose "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," his family said. "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. Funeral arrangements will remain private, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Meals on Wheels. 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. ORLANDO, Fla. - A large crowd gathered at Shalom Orlando to pray, sing and talk together following the news that Israel is officially at war with Hamas. Many came together to show support for one another. "We have to all be together, we have to support one another and be here for the community because its absolutely awful whats going on, but we have to be here for Israel," Talia Kosstrin, a community member at the event, said. As of Sunday night, more than 700 people have died and the death toll continues to rise. Children and families have been taken hostage. Hamas militants have killed 260 people at a music festival in Israel. The news is weighing on Orlando's Jewish community. A large crowd gathered at Shalom Orlando to pray, sing and talk together following the news that Israel is officially at war with Hamas. Many came together to show support for one another. "Can you imagine how horrible it is to be part of something happy and then running away for your life because missiles are about you and people shooting at you?" Idit Lotringer, the Regional Director with the Israeli-American Council, said. "All of the world needs to look at us and say Israel we are with you." RELATED HEADLINES: Harrison Shames, like so many others, is worried about his loved ones in Israel but is looking to see how he can now help."My in-laws are there, my brother-in-law is in the army and cousins. We think about them all day," he said. "Theres strength in unity and when you need a shoulder, someone to lean on, cry with thats what were here for. Were here to support each other." Florida Highway Patrol troopers, Maitland police officers and other security surrounded the building during the event to make sure everyone was safe. It's something that's not only happening in Orange County but Volusia County as well. A large crowd gathered at Shalom Orlando to pray, sing and talk together following the news that Israel is officially at war with Hamas. Many came together to show support for one another. Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a statement: "With the recent attacks on Israel, we are stepping up our patrols around Jewish places of worship, neighborhoods and schools. The recent terroristic activities in Israel have been described as their 9/11. We need to remember the fear that attack instilled on our Nation." There were several lawmakers at the gathering on Sunday including Democratic Congressman Maxwell Frost who called for peace and spoke out against anti-Semitism."It is not lost on me that just over the last several weeks Neo-Nazis have been marching up and down the streets of Orlando and just yesterday it happened. This is a problem thats global and we have to fight against it," he said. Kyiv authorities began to turn on heating in social infrastructure facilities, such as hospitals, schools, and kindergartens, at the request of their management, Vitali Klitschko , the capital's mayor, said on Oct. 9. Klitschko also said that the heating in residential buildings would be turned on depending on the weather conditions. When the average daily temperature drops below eight degrees Celsius for three consecutive days with a forecast for further cooling, the heating will be turned on in residential buildings as well, the mayor clarified. Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia would likely escalate its attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the coming fall and winter months. On Sept. 21, Ukraine's state energy operator Ukrenergo reported the first mass strike on the country's energy infrastructure in six months. Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Moscow has attempted such a strategy already in the fall and winter of 2022-2023, causing regular blackouts amid freezing temperatures. As of Aug. 13, the Ukrainian government said it had repaired 80% of the main power grids and high-voltage stations damaged by Russian attacks to their pre-war condition and that 62% of the planned repair work on power units had been completed at the country's thermal power stations. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal then announced on Sept. 12 that over 80% of heating networks, 78% of central heating stations, and more than 80% of residential buildings, 86% of schools, kindergartens, and hospitals were ready for winter, adding that "it should be 100% in a month." Read also: With winter approaching, is Ukraines energy system ready for renewed Russian attacks? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Gladys Martinez knew since she was a child that she wanted to be her own boss. The Fresno State graduate and daughter of Mexican immigrants is a foodpreneur, or food entrepreneur. In 2018, she started a food truck that sold coconut-based snacks, but when the pandemic hit, the business went south. While figuring out her next steps, a light bulb went off: She had a great Michoacan-style family birria recipe that she could sell. After all, birria a regional Mexican dish of beef or goat simmering in chiles and spices and served as a stew or tacos has exploded in popularity in recent years, fueled in large part by social media. Martinez, 38, connected with a food scientist friend and together they perfected the recipe for jarred adobo sauce that serves as the base for preparing birria. In 2021, Nelias Birria was born. Entrepreneur Gladys Martinez has created Nelias Birria, authentic birria sauce in a jar, being offered for sale at just a few locations in the area including Valley Foods Grocery. Photographed Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 in Fresno. Nelias Birria sauce is currently sold online as well as in a growing number of Fresno grocers such as Valley Foods on Fulton Avenue and Divisadero Street, The Meat Market on Alluvial Avenue and the Ventura Supermarket on Cesar Chavez Avenue. Martinez hopes her sauce will one day be a staple in pantries nationwide just like another famous, decades-old Mexican mole sauce. I want to be like the Dona Maria in the sauce world with my birria sauce, she said. La Abeja, a newsletter written for and by California Latinos Sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter centered around Latino issues in California. For decades, Central Valley Latinos have been creating successful businesses and food brands, such as Mexican frozen food manufacturer Ruiz Foods, La Tapatia Tortilleria and Mexican candy and snack manufacturer Candies Tolteca. Now, a new generation of Latinas like Martinez are creating innovative food businesses rooted in culture. Nationwide, Latinos make up a growing number of the countrys business owners, creating jobs and generating significant economic activity for the nations economy. Latinos, who make up about 20% of the countrys population, own roughly 5 million out of 33 million small businesses nationwide, or around 14%. Latino-owned businesses are outpacing the revenue and growth rates of White-owned businesses and American businesses, in general, according to a report this year from Stanford Graduate School of Business about the state of Latino businesses. Between 2007 and 2019, Latino-owned businesses nationwide grew by 34%, while the number of White-owned businesses dropped by 7%, the report found. In Fresno County, Latinos make up 55% of the population and own a greater share of the regions businesses compared to nationwide data. According to a July 2023 analysis from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Latinos own 30% of the 70,902 small businesses in Fresno County. Meanwhile, women of all backgrounds own roughly half, or 40.8% percent, according to the SBA. Statewide, Latinos make up nearly 40% of the population and own 23.4% of Californias 4.2 million small businesses. Entrepreneur Gladys Martinez has created Nellas Birria, jarred birria sauce being offered for sale at just a few locations in the area including Valley Foods Grocery. Photographed Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023 in Fresno. Martinez is currently working on a gallon-sized jug version of the birria sauce for commercial restaurants as well as on collaborations with other local food businesses, such as vegan-friendly Mexican food truck, La Jacka Mobile, and locally-owned tortilla company, La Tapatia Tortilleria. For Martinez, it makes sense that the Central Valley is home to a number of unique Latino-owned food businesses and brands, especially given that many Latinos come from parents and grandparents who worked in the local agricultural fields. How could we not be producing food products, if were the major agricultural hub in the world? Martinez said. Cher invests in Forbes-recognized Latina aguas frescas entrepreneur Hanford-resident Kayla Castaneda, 31, got the idea to create Agua Bonita, her line of canned aguas frescas, during the pandemic when her Mexican mother-in-law would make fresh aguas frescas for the family everyday. Aguas frescas are refreshing, sweet drinks made from fruits, cereals, seeds, sugar and water. The ritual her mother-in-law followed reminded Castaneda of her childhood when her grandfather, a farmworker in the Central Valley agricultural fields, would bring fresh fruit and either eat it with chile sprinkled on top or prepare fresh aguas frescas for the family. I was just like, Oh, I wish that I could have just like a healthier version of this. And then I was like, I bet you a lot of other people feel that way too, Castaneda told The Bee. Kayla Castaneda, founder of Agua Bonita, a line of canned aguas frescas, drew business inspiration from her familys farmworking roots in the Central Valley. With a decade of experience in the beverage industry working for Coca-Cola and as an independent consultant, Castaneda knew how to build a beverage brand. She focused on creating healthy, unique aguas frescas flavors, such as pineapple-cucumber, mango-habanero and watermelon-chile. Agua Bonita drinks are made with significantly less sugar than the typical agua fresca. Agua Bonita boasts investors such as superstar Cher and global spirits producer Pernod-Ricard. Castaneda was featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Food & Drink in 2022 and is the first Latina-owned business in her industry to raise $1 million within her first year. Agua Bonita is now sold at major chains like Target and Whole Foods, both nationwide and in Fresno. Castaneda credits her brands success to her cultural heritage. Our cultural experiences have really been our superpower, Castaneda said. I think now is the time where bringing that perspective to a brand is really important and valuable. Fresnos very own Mexican Willy Wonka Kayla Delgado, 24, the creator of Highly Addictive Candy, started selling candies to her peers while a student at Kerman High School as a way to support herself. Not everyone supported her budding entrepreneurial spirit at school, though. The unauthorized candy business nearly got Delgado suspended. Years later, while studying education at Fresno State, she continued to sell candy to help pay for her college tuition, buying products in bulk and adding Mexican flavors such as chamoy a sweet, tangy sauce common in Mexican treats to candy like peach rings. She slowly started building her clientele by promoting her treats to fellow Fresno State students through Facebook groups and by selling at pop-up markets. Soon, candy covered all the available space in Delgados 900 square-foot apartment. I couldnt even sit down on my couch, she said. One day, her cousin paid her a visit and laughed in disbelief when he saw her candy-filled home. Thats when he gave her the nickname The Mexican Willy Wonka, Mexican because she puts chamoy on everything, she said with a laugh. This embedded content is not available in your region. Today, Delgado sells at pop-ups like the River Park Farmers Market, Manchester Center Farmers Markets, and other Valley-wide events. In addition to her candies, she sells fresh fruit like watermelon and cucumber covered in Fruit Roll-Ups, chamoy, and her crack powder a spicy mango-flavored chile powder akin to Tajin. Her treats have recently gone viral on TikTok. Eventually, she hopes to produce her own candies here in the Central Valley such as a Frankenstein-shaped gummy or a Gobbstopper-inspired hard candy. But for now, shes focused on opening her brick-and-mortar storefront after recently securing a place on Gettysburg and Blackstone avenues in Fresno. When Delgado wakes up with back pain from standing for long hours during her pop-up sales, she is reminded of why she loves being an entrepreneur. I would rather have my back hurt for my business, than my back hurt for somebody elses business, she said, a nod to her agricultural roots. Im in pain, but I wake up happy. For anyone interested in starting their own food business, on Oct. 20, Fresno-based nonprofits Cultiva La Salud and Fresno Metro Ministry are hosting a Fresno Food Academy workshop designed to support the regions food entrepreneurs and the local food entrepreneurship ecosystem. On Oct 20. You can find more details on Cultiva La Saluds Facebook page. WASHINGTON Expensive, massive tanks destroyed by small and cheap loitering munitions. Drones helping artillery locate targets. A battlefield so flooded with sensors that its impossible to stay hidden for long. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Army has carefully taken note of these trends. Now those changes are reshaping the services plans from acquisition to how to approach formations to reimagining logistics. Already, the Army has rethought its plans to modernize tanks and altering its strategies with drones. The character of war is changing, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. Its changed more in the last couple of years because of the war in Ukraine. And I think it will continue to change at a very rapid pace and we have to have the mindset to change with it. Gen. James Rainey, who leads Army Futures Command, the services organization in charge of modernizing the force, said the service needs to adapt its artillery strategy based on both whats happening in Ukraine as well as what U.S. Army Pacific requires from conventional fires. Everything were seeing in Ukraine [is] about the relevance of precision fires, all the emerging technology, but the big killer on the battlefield is conventional artillery, high-explosive artillery, he said. The U.S. Army plans to issue a new conventional fires strategy by the end of the year, he added. Ukraine and Russia are locked in daily heavy artillery battles. The U.S. and its partners and allies have sent a wide variety of artillery weapons, including the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, and millions of rounds of ammunition to counter Russias firepower. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has credited HIMARS with making a huge difference in liberating critical areas of the country under Russian occupation. The war in Ukraine has also made clear artillery is still critical, said retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who previously led U.S. Army Europe. A layered approach to artillery in formations meaning using towed or mobile systems with different types of munitions that achieve different ranges is required, he said. A man walks on top of a damaged Russian tank in Dmytrivka, Ukraine. (Karl Ritter/AP) The new artillery strategy will determine both the existing capability and capacity while also detailing future needs, Rainey said. The strategy will also consider new technology to enhance conventional fires on the battlefield, such as advances in propellant allowing midrange cannons to shoot as far as longer-range systems. The document will also address the role of robotics, such as autoloaders for munitions. The Army has experimented with technology like autoloaders, which take a burden off of artillery operators and improve firing rates. Army acquisition chief Doug Bush told Defense News in September the fires strategy will drive key decisions within his portfolio, including how to pursue the Extended Range Cannon Artillery requirement. The strategy is looking at a combination of factors, Bush said. Where do you need towed artillery versus perhaps tracked versus perhaps wheeled? What can you do with munitions to get range versus building new cannons? The Army is developing an Extended Range Cannon Artillery system that uses a service-built 58-caliber gun tube mounted on the chassis of a BAE Systems-made Paladin Integrated Management howitzer. But the service in 2020 also assessed available 155mm mobile howitzers seeking improvements in range, rate of fire, and mobility over the artillery systems used within Stryker brigade combat teams. The Army evaluated at least four foreign companies offerings in a shoot-off, but ultimately did not move forward with a new capability. A new artillery strategy could renew the push for rapid procurement of a field-proven 155mm mobile howitzer. Some of our NATO allies have some really good kit [and] capability that were interested in, Rainey noted. Bush recently visited 18th Airborne Corps, which consist of very light units and they still value towed artillery, because they can move it around with helicopters. ... But other parts of the Army might want something different, he said. Taking a new look at an off-the-shelf mobile howitzer is a part of the strategys purview, he noted. From an acquisition standpoint, if I get a requirement, weve got some options to go pretty fast, if it is acceptable, for example, to take a foreign system rather than building a new one from scratch, Bush said. The broad lesson is that you still need artillery. It is the No. 1 killer on the battlefield, still in this conflict [in Ukraine], he said. A fresh take on tanks The Army in September, after watching loitering munitions destroy tanks in Ukraine and observing both sides struggle to maneuver tanks on the battlefield, opted to scrap its upgrade plan for the M1 Abrams tank and instead pursue a new variant: the M1E3. The Abrams tank can no longer grow its capabilities without adding weight, and we need to reduce its logistical footprint, Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, the Armys program executive officer for ground combat systems, said in a statement at the time. The war in Ukraine has highlighted a critical need for integrated protection for soldiers, built from within instead of adding on. The Abrams tank with all its hood ornaments is already too heavy, Hodges told Defense News. Getting heavier is not the answer. Part of the new effort will take weight off the tank, increasing its mobility and sustainability. Today, if a tank breaks or gets hit in combat, it requires two recovery vehicles to pull it out of the fight. Reducing the tanks weight would help, Dean said. The new design is also intended to integrate active protection capability, including protection from attacks to the roof from loitering munitions and drones. A Ukrainian soldier equips a drone with grenades in the Donetsk region on March 15, 2023. (Roman Chop/AP) Dean told Defense News in a recent interview the new design will consider how to reduce the supply chain and make it easier to maintain the vehicle while on the battlefield. It will also improve reliability. Ukraine has begun to receive its 31 M1 Abrams tanks from the U.S. military, and the U.S. Army is likely to soon learn more about how the tank holds up against the Russians, Dean said. The tank remains very, very relevant, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said at a recent think tank event. The claims that were seeing the end of the value of tanks were a little bit premature. According to reports, in the first two months of the war, Russia lost well over 400 tanks, spurring a debate over whether tanks were too cumbersome for the modern battlefield. Wormuth acknowledged munitions that can hit the top of armored vehicles and tanks remain a challenge and said we are working to develop capabilities to defend against that. Dean, noting he could not discuss details, said the Army is working extensively on how to protect tanks and combat vehicles from loitering munitions. Loitering munitions regularly destroy tanks and combat vehicles on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides. We have got to get better at top-attack inbound defeat, Rainey said at the AUSA Warfighter Summit in July. Its solvable. While the service has long focused on protecting combat vehicles from the side and has integrated Rafaels Trophy active protection system on the M1 Abrams tank, the protection has decreased the tanks mobility. The same problem applies to the APS kits, which provide protection from anti-tank weapons. The service has yet to field APS on either the Stryker combat vehicle or the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. Moving in minutes The Army has long set up elaborate command posts on the battlefield, putting up climate-controlled tents equipped with generators. The service has said these tactical operations centers must get smaller, both in size and in electromagnetic signature. But the war in Ukraine has put more pressure on the service to act. Gone are the days where youre setting up a whole [tactical operations center]. And two hours is too much time, George said. We need to be able to move in minutes. We need to be able to command and control on the move. He noted the war has also proven the need for open architecture that is mobile and can be rapidly updated. The Army has to fix what it has and then pivot to what the C2 architecture is going to be in the future, George added. He told Defense News he was struck recently by watching a unit going through a large exercise and only relying on five Stryker combat vehicles and 35 people to provide command-and-control for the entire brigade combat team. The Strykers, equipped with commercial, off-the-shelf laptops, tablets and radios, never had to be together physically as they were connected through a network operating as one node, George said. Wormuth also recalled a similar visit to a training rotation at Fort Johnson where a unit had designed its TOC to be much more mobile and could break down and set up within two hours. Thats definitely something that were going to be spending time on, developing the capabilities to do that, she said. Ukraine has taught the Army it is going to have to learn how to fight under constant observation of commercially available space, the electromagnetic spectrum, social media, Rainey said. We are going to have to figure out how to fight when the enemys going to know where we are or prevent him; so concealment, deception, camouflage, constantly good tactics. Wormuth also noted the Army must be able to operate even if command posts are cut off due to failed signals or enemy jamming. The Army is experimenting in this type of environment regularly during events like Project Convergence, a large exercise focused on developing a modernized force. Remote logistics The U.S. quickly faced a challenge early in the war in Ukraine. It was sending complex equipment to Ukraine but without the experienced maintainers to fix it. From a parking lot in Poland just months after the war began, the U.S. Army started answering the call for help, offering remote maintenance support. Army maintainers virtually demonstrated maintenance to their Ukrainian counterparts. Since then, the Army has expanded its use of remote maintenance support to nearly every platform sent to Ukraine, including those of allies and partners. The service built a facility and a repair parts warehouse in Poland and began offering expertise through text message, prerecorded video or live stream. This effort is now providing a road map for future logistics. George said at a recent event Ukraine is changing how the service is looking at things on the logistics side, citing virtual maintenance and 3D printing of parts. U.S. soldiers offload M1A1 Abrams tanks needed for training Ukrainian forces at Grafenwoehr, Germany, on May 14, 2023. (Spc. Christian Carrillo/U.S. Army) The Army now weighing how to apply tele-maintenance to the Indo-Pacific region, George told Defense News. Additionally, the Army, watching Ukraine, is preparing for what it calls contested logistics, meaning its logistical efforts would be under constant attack. Theres been a theoretical recognition that logistics were going to be contested, but the Ukraine conflict, I think, has really made that very real to all of us, Wormuth said at a recent event. The Army has established a new cross-functional team for contested logistics under Army Futures Command focused on this challenge. Preparing for the future The war in Ukraine has, according to service leaders, validated many of the Armys modernization priorities, laid out a little over five years ago. The Army was already focused on countering unmanned aircraft systems because of operations in the Middle East and had set up a joint office at the Pentagon. The use of drones on the battlefield in Ukraine has accelerated efforts to come up with a layered approach to defeating the systems, both big and small. The scale of [drones on the battlefield] has been sort of astonishing and it has reinvigorated this focus on the lowest sort of short-range air defenses that would be needed for that, Stacie Pettyjohn, a defense analyst at the Center for a New American Security, told Defense News. Ukrainian servicemen fly a drone on the outskirts of Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on Dec. 30, 2022. (Sameer al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images) And not all technology used to defeat drones needs to be exquisite. While the Army is working on directed-energy and high power microwave capabilities to defend against drone swarms, youre seeing that the Ukrainians need things like a smart shooter, a sight that they can put on a rifle that allows them to use [artificial intelligence]. Its still pretty advanced, but its this tech that improves existing guns and allow them to take out some of the smallest quadcopters, Pettyjohn said. Formations may also need to change, Wormuth said. The Army need[s] to probably have organic air defense with our fires in our maneuver units so that they can protect against drones. Air and missile defense for threats beyond drones is also receiving new attention. Russia has shown it will use multimillion dollar rockets and missiles against apartment buildings, Hodges said. Wormuth said the Army is beginning to grow the air and missile defense force. The service is in the process of building an additional Patriot battalion, but its not dedicated to a specific combatant command yet. The Army also wants to grow additional Indirect Fire Protection Capability units as well, she noted. These new units will be able to defend against cruise missiles and drones along with rockets, artillery and mortars at fixed and semi-fixed sites. The Army is still developing prototypes. Having the ability to see or sense as much as possible at all times, is another way the Army is changing because of Ukraine. Theres a lot of interest in drones to be able to provide us with [persistent sensing], Wormuth told Defense News. But were going to have a layered approach to that ... were investing in the [High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System], fixed-wing platform. ... I think youll see aerostats. Drawing from Ukraine, theres no shortage of observations that we should think about, Rainey said. And the Army is committed to turning those observations genuinely into lessons learned. 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. Ramzan Kadyrov , head of the Chechen Republic and the Kremlins close ally, has called for the end of the war between Israel and Hamas and said that he was prepared to head a peacekeeping mission to Palestine. Source: Ramzan Kadyrov on Telegram Quote: "We fully support Palestines actions. Because Israel took their land and is now keeping them isolated. They have no freedom of speech. Today I oppose the war and am calling on everyone to end this war, to prevent it from spreading across the world. This war wont end that easily." Details: Kadyrov confirmed that a Hamas rocket fell near a mosque he erected in honour of his father in an Israeli settlement not far from Jerusalem, damaging it. He asked both sides to refrain from attacks on the mosque. Quote: "Im once again urging all Muslims, all citizens, and our state to support the truth and put an end to this war. Or send us there on a peacekeeping mission. We will decide whos right and whos wrong. We will stop those who continue fighting." 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! CHICAGO - Police are warning South Side businesses about a string of robberies that occurred in September and October. In each incident, an unknown offender gained access to a business by kicking in or prying open a door or window, police said. The offender then took property from within. The burglaries occurred at the following locations and times: 6700 block of South Indiana Avenue on Sept. 26 between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. 7000 block of South Indiana Avenue on Sept. 30 at 10:45 a.m. 200 block of East 69th Street on Oct. 4 between midnight and 6:45 a.m. 200 block of East 69th Street on Oct. 4 at 8:34 p.m. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Bureau of Detectives Area One at (312) 747-8384. The kids picture book Read Me a Story, Stella was added to a list of books that could contain sexually explicit material by a public library due to the authors last name. Really. The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library in Madison, Ala., put the book by Marie-Louise Gay on a list of books to be removed from the childrens section, according to local outlet AL.com. Gays publicist at books publisher Groundwood Books, Kirsten Brassard, told the outlet that this was a first for Gays book. Although it is obviously laughable that our picture book shows up on their list of censored books simply because the authors last name is Gay, the ridiculousness of that fact should not detract from the seriousness of the situation, Brassard said in a statement to AL.com. She also pointed to other books that didnt have LGBTQ+ themes such as Angie Thomass The Hate U Give, which is about the shooting of an unarmed young Black teen by police. This proves, as always, that censorship is never about limiting access to this book or that one. It is about sending the message to children that certain ideasor even certain peopleare not worthy of discussion or acknowledgement or consideration, Brassard continued. This is a hateful message in a place like a public library, where all children are meant to feel safe, and where their curiosity about the world is meant to be nurtured. There were 1,269 demands to censor library books and resources in the U.S. in 2022, according to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom. Thats up from 729 in 2021 and the most since the group began keeping track more than 20 years ago. 2023 is on track to exceed 2022. The majority of the books targeted for removal are either by or about LGBTQ+ people or people of color. Of the 13 most challenged books of 2022 (the ALA usually lists 10, but last year four tied for 10th place), seven had LGBTQ+ content, and several of the others dealt with people of color or were deemed by the challengers to be sexually explicit. Related: How to Fight Book Bans, According to the American Library Association's Queer President The librarys executive director confirmed the book was listed because of the word gay. Obviously, were not going to touch that book for any reason, Cindy Hewitt said. She told AL.com that shed also read The Hate U Give and praised it. Hewitt explained they were not targeting LGBTQ-related books, but were trying to be proactive instead of reactive. We wanted to be proactive and allow our library staff to look at our collection and make decisions about moving material to an older age group and not have someone from outside dictating that for us, Hewitt said, adding that the list they were using to do so was pulled from a group called Clean Up Alabama. Read Me a Story, Stella is not on that list. Related: There's Been a 33% Increase In Book Bans Across the U.S., Says PEN America In its investigation, AL.com reports that a review of the list for the library found that more than 90 percent of the 233 books listed had titles that included the words lesbian, gay, transgender, gender identity, or gender non-conforming in the subject header. A circulation manager at the library called the news cosmically ironic that this situation happened during Banned Books Week. Alyx Kim-Yohn, who is queer, said they were upset because the library was ordered to move the books, not simply review them. The decision had been made, Kim-Yohn said. There was no debate. Theres no conversation. This is what was happening. They did not take part in moving the books, citing professional ethics. Why are we just unilaterally moving all of this before anyones even complained about these books yet? Kim-Yohn asked. If youre mad, what we need you to do is to come check these books out, come to story times, put in purchase requests for books that you want to see, Kim-Yohn explained. We need you to keep supporting the library. BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China on Monday extended an investigation into what it calls Taiwan's trade barriers against it by three months to the eve of the island's presidential election, prompting Taipei to accuse Beijing of attempting to interfere in the vote. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, frequently accuses Beijing of seeking to exert pressure, whether military or economic, to sway the outcome of its elections to ensure an outcome favourable to the Chinese government. China's Commerce Ministry originally announced the probe into what it says are Taiwan's trade barriers in April, but has now extended the investigation period to Jan. 12, one day before Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary elections. The Taiwanese government's Office of Trade Negotiations said the extension of the probe "once again proves that China's so-called trade investigation is politically motivated and an attempt to interfere with our elections with economic coercion". Extending the date to Jan. 12, just before the election, "highlights the political motivations" behind the decision, it added. It also violated the norms of the World Trade Organization, the office said, of which both Taiwan and China are members. "We have said many times that any bilateral trade issues should be resolved through consultation between the two sides in accordance with WTO mechanisms. We also once again call on China to return to the right track and not to repeatedly manipulate trade issues politically." The brief statement from China's Commerce Ministry into the extension gave no details or explanation for why they made the decision. Taiwan has denounced what it calls Chinese economic coercion before, including China's punishment of Lithuania with trade measures after the European Union member allowed Taipei to open a de facto embassy in Vilnius. China's government has refused to speak to the government of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who it accuses of being a separatist. She has repeatedly offered talks with China, but says only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Tsai's deputy, Vice President William Lai, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president, according to opinion polls. He has also offered to talk to China, thought it also calls him a separatist. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard; Editing by Kim Coghill and Christian Schmollinger) BEIJING (Reuters) - China is very concerned about the recent escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and is opposed to violence and attacks, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday. "China opposes actions that escalate conflicts and undermine regional stability. We hope to see an early ceasefire, cessation of war and restoration of peace," spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing in a response to a query. 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. "The international community should effectively play its role and work together to cool down the situation," Mao said. "The only way out of the recurring Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to resume peace talks, implement the two-state solution, push for a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestinian issue through political means at an early date, and address the legitimate concerns of all parties." Separately, the foreign ministry said it was saddened by civilian casualties, and urged Chinese citizens travelling to the area to pay close attention to the local security situation and avoid going out. The ministry said it had immediately activated the consular protection emergency response to help Chinese citizens and institutions in the Palestinian territories and Israel. (Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Miral Fahmy) In an unusual move, Chinese President Xi Jinping strengthened Chinas statement condemning the attacks in Israel and the Gaza Strip after coming under pressure from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday. China, in an updated statement through a foreign ministry spokesperson, condemned all violence and attacks on civilians and said the most urgent task now is to reach a ceasefire and restore peace. The stronger statement after Schumer expressed his disappointment with an earlier statement from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs that merely called for restraint. I raised with President Xi the unfolding atrocities carried out against Israel and the need for the world community to stand together against terrorism and with the Israeli people, and pointedly requested from President Xi that the Chinese Foreign Minister strengthen their statement; they did, Schumer said in a Monday statement. Chinas foreign ministry on Sunday said: 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. Schumer said that statement didnt go far enough. He told Xi on Monday he was very disappointed that Chinas government had not condemned the attacks on 22 Israeli towns by Hamas militants in stronger terms. The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific, Schumer told Xi in a meeting. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks. He criticized Chinas foreign ministrys initial statement as showing no sympathy or support for Israel during these troubled times. Schumer met with Xi for 80 minutes in Beijing on Monday as part of a delegation of six senators. The Democratic leader also told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi he was not satisfied with Chinas initial statement responding to the attacks on Israeli civilians. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson later said China is deeply saddened by civilian casualties caused by the conflict between Palestine and Israel. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Whether you call it Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day, one thing is for surethe holiday churns up a sea of debate that could capsize even the Santa Maria. While many schoolbooks present Christopher Columbus as the famous explorer who discovered America, history has painted a much more complicated picture. Was the man from Genoa a brave explorer or greedy invader? A gifted navigator or reckless adventurer? Here are some facts to consider the next time you hear someone recite, In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue... Columbus never discovered America but his voyage was no less courageous Even if you were to overlook the not-so-minor fact that millions of people were already living in the Americas in 1492, the fact is that Columbus never set foot on the shores of North America. In fact, October 12 marks the day of his arrival to the Bahamas. While he did reach the coasts of what today are Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic, as well as explore the Central and South American coasts, he never unfurled a Spanish flag in North America. (Leif Eriksson is the first European believed to have sailed to North America, having reached Canada 500 years before Columbus set sail to the west.) He didnt reached Asia as planned, but you cant discount the transparent will required to make his journey. Beginning at the age of 41, he defied naysayers across Europe and led four voyages across an uncharted ocean in wooden sailing ships that werent designed to take on the punishing waters of the Atlantic. Many already believed the world was round By 1492, most educated Europeans already believed the earth was round. In fact, it was an idea that had been established by the ancient Greeks in the 5th century BCE. Contrary to the popular myth, Columbus didnt set out to prove that the world was round, but rather that it was possible to sail around it, a voyage the explorer drastically underestimated. He had struck a lucrative deal with the Spanish Columbus stood to gain significant wealth and power from his voyage, terms he negotiated with King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain. His contract with the monarchs, called The Capitulations of Santa Fe, named Columbus the admiral, viceroy, and governor of any land he discovered. It also stated that Columbus could keep 10 percent of any merchandise, whether pearls, precious stones, gold, silver, spices, and other objects that he acquired within the new territory. Columbus might indeed have had noble intentions when he sailed west, but his agreement with Spain suggests his intentions were far from selfless. He enslaved and mutilated Indigenous peoples When Columbus first set foot on Hispaniola (what is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic), he encountered a population of Indigenous peoples called the Taino. A friendly group, they willingly traded jewelry, animals, and supplies with the sailors. They were very well built, with very handsome bodies and very good faces, Columbus wrote in his diary. They do not carry arms or know them... They should be good servants. The Indigenous peoples were soon forced into slavery and punished with the loss of a limb or death if they didnt collect enough gold. Between the Europeans brutal treatment and their infectious diseases, within decades, the Taino population was decimated. He was arrested by the Spanish Government In 1499, the Spanish monarchs got wind of the mistreatment of Spanish colonists in Hispaniola, including the flogging and executions without trial. Columbus, who was governor of the territory, was arrested, chained up, and brought back to Spain. Although some of the charges might have been manufactured by his political enemies, Columbus admitted to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella that many of the accusations were true. Columbus was stripped of his title as governor. The people you know. The stories you dont. Subscribe to our free newsletter for more from Biography.com Several European countries had rejected Columbus For nearly a decade, Columbus lobbied European monarchs to bankroll his expensive quest to discover a western sea route to Asia. In 1484, he tried unsuccessfully to get support from King John II of Portugal, whose experts believed Columbus had underestimated how far he would need to sail. Three years later, he appealed to King Henry VII of England and King Charles VIII of France but was once again turned down. He was even initially rejected by Spain in 1486, but the Spanish monarchs changed their mind and eventually agreed to fund his trip. Good or bad, Columbus created a bridge between the old and new world In what has become known as the Columbian Exchange, Columbus voyages enabled the exchange of plants, animals, cultures, ideas, and, yes, disease between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Once the Europeans were able to reach nearly all parts of the globe, a new modern age would begin, transforming the world forever. You Might Also Like Chuck Feeney achieved his goal of giving his fortune away The Irish-American entrepreneur and philanthropist Chuck Feeney has died at the age of 92. Mr Feeney, through his private foundation the Atlantic Philanthropies, donated more than $8bn (6.5bn) to causes on five continents. The foundation gave $570m (465m) to causes in Northern Ireland over four decades. Its main areas of interest have been health, education, reconciliation and human rights. Mr Feeney dissolved the foundation in 2020, but by then it had made more than $8 billion (6.5bn) in grants, mainly in the United States, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Vietnam, Bermuda, and Cuba. Charles F Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 1931, during the Great Depression, to Irish-American parents. His mother worked as a hospital nurse and his father was an insurance underwriter. The philanthropist traced his family history back to County Fermanagh, where his grandmother was brought up close to the village of Kinawley. The entrepreneur made his money selling luxury duty free goods to travellers across the world, but he rejected the trappings of wealth himself. He went on to found the Atlantic Philanthropies in 1982, an international organisation set up to distribute his fortune to good causes and projects that he supported around the world. The entrepreneur made his money selling luxury duty free goods to travellers across the world For the first 15 years of his philanthropic mission, Mr Feeney donated money in secret leading to him being dubbed the James Bond of philanthropy, only emerging from anonymity in 1997. He had a particular interest in supporting universities on both sides of the Irish border, donating hundreds of millions of US dollars. In 2012, at Dublin Castle, Mr Feeney received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the universities on the island of Ireland. Support for peace The Tanaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheal Martin said in a statement that he "was deeply saddened" by the news. He said Mr Feeney had "extraordinary generosity", and his donations had "transformed the lives of people on the island of Ireland, north and south, young and old". Mr Martin said he had worked directly with Mr Feeney and paid "particular tribute to Chuck's sustained support for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland over many years". Queen's University Belfast was one of the biggest beneficiaries of Mr Feeney's grants from 1993 to 2015, being gifted a total of $132m (107m). It also received the single biggest donation from the Atlantic Philanthropies, when it was gifted $24m (19m) in 2012. It was for the university's Institute of Health Sciences Centre for Experimental Medicine. Another cornerstone of Mr Feeney's philanthropy in Northern Ireland was the promotion of integrated education in the pursuit of reconciliation and peace building. Down through the decades, it is understood about 8m was gifted to the Integrated Education Fund for various projects and the area is listed as the first sector funded in Northern Ireland by the Atlantic Philanthropies back in 1991. Atlantic Philanthropies quoted Mr Feeney, who said: "I had one idea that never changed in my mindthat you should use your wealth to help people." US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer told Chinas foreign minister he was "very disappointed" with Beijing's reaction to the Hamas attack on Israel. Mr Schumer was in China co-leading a bipartisan Congress delegation when the Palestinian militant group fired over 3,000 missiles at Israel on Saturday, prompting prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare his country was at "war". Israel retaliated by bombarding over 1,000 alleged Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip, that killed more than 400 people. On the Israeli side, at least 700 people have been reportedly killed, while thousands have sustained injuries. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 Israeli civilians and soldiers captive in Gaza. "I was very disappointed, to be honest, by the foreign ministrys statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times, Mr Schumer said during a meeting with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Monday. "The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific," he said. Mr Schumer urged the Chinese diplomat and "Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks". A Chinese foreign ministry statement on Sunday urged both sides to exercise restraint and immediately end hostilities to protect civilians, without mentioning Hamas. China suggests that "the fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine". Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (AP) Beijing has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology, and diplomacy. President Joe Biden has moved ships and warplanes closer to Israel as he vowed to provide "rock solid" support to the country. He spoke to Mr Netanyahu and "conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defence Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days," the White House said in a statement. The bipartisan congressional delegation to Asia, which includes stops in South Korea and Japan, aims to advance US economic and national security interests. The delegation hopes to meet Chinese president Xi Jinping. Mr Wang said China hoped that this visit can help the US understand China in a more precise and objective manner while managing existing contradictions more reasonably. Mr Schumer reiterated that the main objective of the trip was to seek economic reciprocity and the creation of a level playing field for US businesses in China, and assured that Washington was not seeking conflict with Beijing. China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans, including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now, he added. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Clarksville Police Department is asking for the publics help finding a woman who hasnt been seen by her family for over a month. Wanda Mosley, 64, is originally from Alabama but moved to Tennessee back in August, police said. She had been staying in Pleasant View but stopped at a shelter in Clarksville on Aug. 13. Two dozen Clarksville cold cases still under investigation Wanda Mosley (Courtesy: Clarksville Police Department) Her family members said they havent spoken to Mosley since that day. She is 5-feet, 1-inch tall, weighs about 170 pounds, and has red hair and green eyes. She may also be wearing glasses. Anyone who sees Mosley or knows her whereabouts is asked to call 911 so officers can check on her welfare. Additional video footage or information can also be provided by contacting Detective Dilsaver at 931-648-0656, ext. 5225. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has been formally put forward at a two-day national meeting on the work of public communication and culture, which was held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday. Since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, historic achievements have been made in the fields of public communication and culture, according to the meeting, attributing the achievements to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The new ideas and judgments about cultural development in the new era put forward by Xi have enriched and developed Marxist cultural theories and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the meeting noted. A recent instruction by Xi was conveyed at the meeting. In the instruction, Xi stressed building stronger cultural confidence, following the approach of openness and inclusiveness, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground to provide a strong ideological guarantee, spiritual strength and favorable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Noting that the work of public communication and culture is extremely important, Xi said in the instruction that since the 18th CPC National Congress the Party Central Committee has made systematic planning and arrangements in this regard from an overall and strategic perspective, securing historic achievements in the cause. Xi noted the overarching and fundamental changes that had taken place in the country's ideological landscape, adding that there is a notably stronger sense of cultural confidence and a higher level of morale throughout the Party and the nation. Xi said in the instruction that momentous changes not seen in a century are accelerating across the world, and the work of public communication and culture is facing new circumstances and new missions. Related work should be done with a focus on the new cultural mission, which is to further advance cultural prosperity, to build a leading country in culture and to foster the modern Chinese civilization at a new historical starting point, Xi said. Xi stressed solid efforts on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of public communication and culture, developing a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people, and cultivating and applying core socialist values, among others. He called for efforts to continuously consolidate the common intellectual foundation for the whole Party and all Chinese people to strive in unity, and grow China's cultural soft power and the appeal of Chinese culture. The winner of the 2023 Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel American economist Claudia Goldin is seen on a display during a press conference at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 9, 2023. The Nobel Economics Prize was awarded to American economist Claudia Goldin for helping understand women's opportunities in the labour market. (Jonathan NACKSTRAND) Claudia Goldin has long thought of herself as a kind of detective within economics, employing tools across academic disciplines in a quest to examine how women fit into the workforce. On Monday, Goldin, the first woman to be tenured at Harvard University's economics department, attained the "dismal science" most exalted honour: the Nobel Prize for Economics. Reached by telephone, Goldin told AFP the Nobel is a "very important prize, not just for me, but for the many people who work in this field and who are trying to understand why there is so much change, but there are still large differences" in pay. In her sleuthing, Goldin, 77, has sought to reveal the reasons for the long-standing gender pay gap, including the challenges women have encountered in balancing family and professional responsibilities since the early twentieth century. Goldin has focused on five periods: the 1900-1920 period when the few women who garnered college degrees had to choose between work and family, followed by the 1920-1940 phase when women left the workforce and started families during the Great Depression. In the years after World War II through to about 1960, women were discouraged from entering the workforce instead of raising families. But their daughters, raised in the 1970s and 1980s, benefited from the birth control pill, with more women choosing careers and more than a quarter not having children. The most recent generation of women is still navigating these dynamics, benefiting from evolving technology that has permitted greater flexibility on when to have children, but still confronting a grinding pay gap. In her 2021 book, "Career and family: women's century-long journey towards equity," Goldin explored the effect of what she termed "greedy work" -- jobs with inflexible or unpredictable schedules that pay better. Through her research, Goldin determined that women were more likely to abandon such jobs, while men are more likely to be enticed by the higher pay. "Under these conditions, women will shift to a firm with less demanding hours or leave the workforce," Goldin said in a 2021 interview with Harvard Business Review. - 'Neglected' subject - Goldin described her unorthodox approach in an autobiographical essay for a 1998 book on economists at work. "There has often been no agenda or program, no particular theory that must be followed," she wrote. "Yet the subconscious produces nagging questions." In the years after graduate school, Goldin focused initially on the economic history of the South after the Civil War. But around 1980, Goldin began to "realise that something was missing" from the study of economics: the wife and mother. "I neglected her because the sources had. "Women were in the data when young and single and often when widowed," she wrote. "But their stories were faintly heard after they married, for they were often not producing goods and services in sectors that were, or would be, part of (gross national product)." Goldin's pioneering approach included launching in 2014 undergraduate women in economics program, an initiative to encourage more female economics major. Born in the Bronx, New York in 1946, Goldin was initially fascinated by archeology and the mummies at the New York's Museum of Natural History. When she entered Cornell University, Goldin planned to study microbiology, but soon shifted ground after taking a course on industrial organisation with economist Alfred Kahn. Goldin is married to fellow Harvard economist Larry Katz, with the two sharing a passion for bird watching and Pika, a 13-year-old Golden Retriever whose exploits are chronicled on her web page at Harvard. Goldin told AFP she still thinks of herself as a detective, someone who when faced with a problem, knows "I just have to find the facts, figure it out and I'll solve the problem." ber-jmb/cw For Cleotrapa, creativity has always been part of who she is. Dancing, singing, writing rhymes, sketching clothes and modeling have been mainstay activities since she was a child. The Staten Island native is getting ready to release her debut EP, which she said should be released before the winter. Although the official title is still under wraps, fans can expect to discover five to six songs about the rapper coming into her own. Im 25 now, just experiencing life, whether its relationships, whether it is fake sh*t, whether it is people thinking they can come in your life and leave and come back because sh*t is going sweet. Its all of that, she told Blavity about the project. Cleotrapa is also featured in the official soundtrack for the upcoming season 2 of Rap Sh!t, Maxs popular comedy series created by Issa Rae. To promote the project, she participated in an episode of Red Bull Rap IQ, where she answered rap trivia questions opposite KaMillion and with guest appearances from NLE Choppa and Duke Deuce. Cleopatra said shooting the episode was a fun experience. The show itself is a Miami type of vibe, so we tried to make Miami turnup music, she said. We were all in the studio writing from scratch. I had to get out of my element. It was really fun. Cleopatra has two songs featured on the official soundtrack of Rap Sh!t, which were exclusively written for the new season. I learned that I could be in the studio with a lot of people and catch a vibe from everybody else, she said, noting that she had been used to recording in the studio on her own. Cleopatra is part of a new generation of female rappers leaving their mark on the industry. She has collaborated with artists such as Liana Banks and Lola Brooke in the past, attesting to what many regard as a current sisterhood in rap. Were all women at the end of the day, we got each other, she said, adding that women should be able to carve their own space in the industry. These niggas dont know what the fuck we be going through, especially in music. They had their sh*t, so why cant we have our shit? The rapper believes everyone can be in the spotlight and that female rappers can coexist. Everybody wants to be on top, she added. You could be on top and somebody else could be on top at the very same time. I feel like that is possible and some people will have us feeling like we have to go against each other. Cleotrapa points to Nicki Minaj, JT and Doja Cat as dream collaborators, as well as up and coming female rappers. The artist has a remix to one of her songs and an accompanying music video coming out with Asian Doll, whom she refers to as her friend. Cleotrapa has also been supportive of another friends rap career. She recently participated in the music videos for Ice Spices Deli and In Ha Mood. It was crazy but as long as she got her shit done, she liked her video and it came out good, Im happy for her, Cleotrapa said about the crowd of fans that gathered for both events. She shoots outside so the public can get involved. Behind the scenes, you just never know whats going on. This embedded content is not available in your region. Cleotrapa and Ice Spice went viral after appearing in one of Kai Cenats livestreams, where he taught them how to get sturdy and they answered fan questions. The rapper is open to all forms of content creation and artistry, whether it is by sharing humorous takes on everyday life situations on TikTok, or collaborating with top fashion brands. Im very into fashion. When I started coming out of social media during the pandemic and even before the pandemic, people started realizing how much people like me are important for their brand, she said. A lot of brands started reaching out to me. Youve got to get the it-girls who people are looking at. Social media itself has put people like me to the forefront because people are running to their phones very quickly to see sh*t. Cleotrapa has been collaborating with brands such as Timberland and Milk Makeup on social media. She has also been working with Telfar Clemens since 2020, which she refers to as a a full circle moment for being a fan of the brand since the designers beginnings. I didnt know that a few years later I would be on set with him doing a show, Cleotrapa said. I love him. Hes super humble and hes Liberian so us West Africans got to stick together. We could have grown up together if we were in the same era. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cleotrapa Not Cleopatra (@iamcleotrapa) Before becoming a regular at New York Fashion Week, Cleotrapa always had fashion embedded in her DNA as an artist. I dont follow trends. I set the trends, she said. My style has always been edgy, y2k. I love the fact that everybodys doing it now. The mini skirts, the chain belt, the low rise jeans all of that has been my vibe. Ive always stitched everything together. I was always in a skirt and some ripped stockings and Doc Martens. That was my brand. Cleotrapa remembers wearing Jeffrey Campbell platform sneakers in the ninth grade and gatekeeping the websites she would shop from. The artist also points to New York rap being deeply intertwined with fashion. Whenever you think of rap, the first thing you are going to think of is New York, she said. Youre going to think about gold chains, bamboo earrings. Youre going to think about door knockers. Youre going to think about bangles, long nails We really started this sh*t. CNN reporter Nic Robertson choked up during a live report from Israel on Sunday as he spoke about the prospects of rescuing hostages held in Gaza. Hamas launched a shocking attack on Israel over the weekend, prompting the Israeli government to declare war and retaliate. Israeli authorities have said that dozens of captives are being held hostage in Gaza, but exact numbers have not been confirmed. Hamas claimed Sunday it was holding more than 100 hostages. Robertson, CNNs international diplomatic editor, reported in to anchor Abby Phillips from Sderot, a town in western Israel near the Gaza strip. He was recounting a conversation with an Israeli military spokesperson when he grew emotional as he recalled asking the major, How are you going to get these hostages back? Robertson momentarily paused his report as he regained his composure. Im sorry, Abby, he said, continuing: He told me that they were going to do everything in their power to get them back. No one would be left behind, he said. But I think I picked up from him the extreme difficulty that is presented here. Because Hamas wont give them up. And where theyre scattered, where theyre being held, underground tunnels, bunkers scattered across Gaza it is an almost impossible task. Im sorry Abby. CNN correspondent Nic Robertson chokes up discussing likelihood of rescuing the hostages taken by Hamas. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/CP4n2cQiXZ Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 9, 2023 The conflicts death toll has surpassed 1,000 already, with more than 700 reported dead in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza. Civilians, including elderly women and children, are among the hostages captured, according to Israeli authorities. Hamas has said it seeks to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in exchange for the captives, The Associated Press reported. There are more than 4,500 Palestinians behind bars in Israel, according to Israeli rights group BTselem. Related... The coin hoard was found at a site associated with the MacDonalds of Glencoe Coins found under a fireplace may have been hidden there by a victim of the infamous Massacre of Glencoe, according to archaeologists. Almost 40 members of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed in February 1692 after soldiers were ordered to attack them. A student discovered the money at the site of a house linked to the clan's chief. Lucy Ankers was on her first dig when she made the find. The 36 coins were inside a pot which had a small round pebble as a lid and had been placed beneath a hearth stone slab in the fireplace. The discovery was made in August during an excavation at the site of the ruined house, led by archaeologists from the University of Glasgow. The property was associated with clan chief Alasdair Ruadh "MacIain" MacDonald of Glencoe. He was among the estimated 38 people killed in the massacre. Lucy Ankers found the coins inside a pot with a pebble lid Ms Ankers said: "As a first experience of a dig, Glencoe was amazing. "The two weeks I spent digging solidified that I want to pursue a career within archaeology." She added: "I wasn't expecting such an exciting find as one of my firsts, and I don't think I will ever beat the feeling of seeing the coins peeking out of the dirt in the pot." University of Glasgow excavations director Eddie Stewart with one of the coins The MacDonalds were targeted because of their support for the exiled King James VII of Scotland and II of England. The clan backed the restoration of the Stuart dynasty to the British throne and had taken part in the first Jacobite Rising of 1689. Historians say they were late delivering an oath of allegiance to the Protestant King William III, and had been branded as rebels by the Secretary of Scotland, Sir John Dalrymple. The coins have been identified by archaeologists from the University of Glasgow In late January 1692, about 120 soldiers from the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot arrived in Glencoe from Invergarry led by Capt Robert Campbell of Glen Lyon. The troops were billeted with members of the clan, before turning on their hosts on 13 February. Some people tried to escape in a snow blizzard to nearby glens, including Gleann Leac-na-muidhe, where the coin hoard was found. The University of Glasgow has suggested a number of reasons why the money could be connected to the massacre. The pot contained 36 coins None of the coins were minted after the 1680s, which has led archaeologists to suggest they were most likely deposited under the fireplace either just before or during the killings for safekeeping. The archaeologists also said whoever buried the coins did not return for them, possibly indicating they were among the victims of the massacre. The coins are dated from the late 1500s through to the 1680s, and include pieces from the reigns of Elizabeth I, James VI and I, Charles I, the Cromwellian Commonwealth, and Charles II. There were also coins from France and the Spanish Netherlands, as well as one coin which appears to have originated in the Papal States. Dr Michael Given, a co-director of the archaeological project in Glencoe, said: "These exciting finds give us a rare glimpse of a single, dramatic event. "Here's what seems an ordinary rural house, but it has a grand fireplace, impressive floor slabs, and exotic pottery imported from the Netherlands and Germany. "And they've gathered up an amazing collection of coins in a little pot and buried them under the fireplace. "It's a real privilege, as archaeologists, to hold in our hands these objects that were so much part of people's lives in the past." University of Glasgow excavations director Edward Stewart added: "The excavation of MacIain's Summerhouse allows us to better understand the importance of these uplands to local elites. "The scale of this structure and the wealth of artefacts uncovered within suggest this was a place where the MacDonald chiefs could entertain with feasting, gambling, hunting and libations. "The discovery of this coin hoard within the structure adds an exciting dimension to this story. "However, ordinary and everyday finds within this structure such as spindle whorls for making thread, a pitch fork and a dress pin, speak to the everyday lives of those who lived here, worked the land and minded the cattle." A memorial to the massacre in Glencoe Do you have an idea for a story we could cover? Email our local reporters: inverness.news@bbc.co.uk LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Comedian, actor, producer, writer, and film director Marlon Wayans announced he will be taking the stage at Virgin Hotels for a one-night only performance in January 2024. Marlon Wayans Live will come to The Theater at Virgin Hotels on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Wayans hit a career milestone with his first-ever stand-up comedy special Woke-ish, which premiered on Netflix in 2018. Marlon Wayans: God Loves Me, his third comedy special for HBO Max, premiered in March 2023. Wayans is most commonly recognized for his role as Marcus Copeland in the hit comedy White Chicks. He also starred in the horror comedy spoofs Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2. Guaranteed to fill the room with endless laughs, Wayans performance will be a must-watch for the new year. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at 10 a.m. PST on the AXS website. The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is offering an expansive VIP service, including open bar packages, private expedited entry, dedicated hosts, merchandise delivery, custom swag, and access to luxury suites and VIP lounges. To learn more about the venues VIP service or to book, email TheTheaterVIP@aegpresents.com. For more information on this performance or for news from The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, visit Virgin Hotels website. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas also offers complimentary self-parking. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. All commercial airlines except one have canceled flights to Israel from the New York-New Jersey area amid the attacks and retaliatory strikes in the area of the Gaza Strip. United, Delta, American and Air Canada canceled at least 20 flights from Saturday through Monday at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty airports, including connections in other cities to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, said FlightAware, a flight tracking and data platform. A United Airlines spokesman said any customer on a canceled flight is eligible for a flight credit or refund. More information is available on its website. Story continues below photo gallery. The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority. We operated two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday and accommodated our customers, crews and employee travelers who were at the airport, the spokesman said in a statement. Tel Aviv flights will remain suspended until conditions allow them to resume. A spokesperson for Air Canada said it will assist customers who have had to make flight changes to Israel, including providing refunds. "Given the evolving situation in Israel, Air Canada temporarily cancelled flights to Tel Aviv as of Sun, Oct. 8. We are monitoring this dynamic situation closely and we will adjust these plans as required. Air Canada will resume operations to Tel Aviv as soon as the situation stabilizes," the spokesperson said in an email. Delta announced it will cancel all flights to Israel for the rest of October, according to media reports. El Al, the national airline of Israel, is the only carrier with scheduled flights to Israel from New York and New Jersey, though some were delayed. For more than two decades, El Al has equipped its aircraft with defense systems to protect against surface-to-air missiles, among other security measures, making it one of the safest airlines in the world. El Al is increasing the number of flights to Israel as it transports reservists who are being called up to return as fighting increases, a Reuters report said. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Flights to Israel canceled from Newark Airport, NYC, except by El Al Family, friends, and supporters of a late Butler County woman celebrated her life Saturday afternoon, our media partners in Cincinnati, WCPO report. >>RELATED: Katelyn Markhams fiance arrested, charged with murder Katelyn Markham went missing from her Fairfield Township home in 2011. Two years later, her remains were found in Indiana. Her case went cold until earlier this year, when police charged her fiance John Carter, with her murder in March, the station said. Carter posted his $1 million bond, but the trial is set to begin in June 2024. Some level of justice is going to happen, even if its just a trial, Tina Barrett, an event organizer said. At Harbin Park, attendees enjoyed chalk, balloons, pumpkin painting, art raffle giveaways, and snacks, all in Markhams honor. Markham was an art student, and the purpose of this gathering was to determine how the community can continue to further her legacy, the station said. She loved life. She loved art, she loved color, and we want to carry that forward. This is about forwarding her message that you should get together, make some art and have some fun, Barrett said. The proceeds from the event will go to domestic violence, but Barrett hopes to host the event annually. >>RELATED: He stole a lot; Katelyn Markhams father reacts to her fiance's arrest, murder charge If the event continues, Barrett hopes to donate the proceeds to young artists, like Markham was. Markham went missing a week before her twenty-second birthday. Her father, Dave, wants to help other people create art in Markhams memory. In fact, one of her art teachers attended the event. He was just saying that she just blossomed, and he called her a maverick in the art world, Dave said. Any media: pencils, oils, paints, she was into. She always had a sketchbook in her hand. In Nury Martinez's first interview since a leaked audio that prompted her resignation from City Hall, the former Los Angeles City Council president said that her comments were not intended to be racist, and that the scandal has left her and her family "completely destroyed." During the interview with LAist, Martinez said that on the day the audio became public, she had already accepted that the scandal was so huge she would need to step down and that there was nothing she could say or do to undo the damage. "I knew that there was gonna be consequences, that I needed to pay for this," Martinez said. LAist journalist Antonia Cereijido, as part of an extensive podcast on Martinez's life, asked her about her use of the phrase parece changuito, which means like a little monkey." In the leaked audio, Martinez is heard recounting a story of being with other moms and uses the term to describe the young Black son of then-Councilmember Mike Bonin. "The way I grew up with that word, 'parece changuito.' It has nothing to do with skin color. It has more to do with behavior. Youre sort of just playing around," Martinez said, according to a transcript provided to The Times by LAist. "Youre horsing around. Another word that we use in Spanish, es travieso [mischievous], you cant stay put. Its a conversation I should not have repeated. And I think thats an example of a bunch of moms sitting around, you know, being critical of little boys behavior. That was my mistake. It was insensitive. It was mean. I never meant to hurt Jacob, and Im going to have to live with that for the rest of my life, you know?" Martinez said. "I think in Spanish, then I speak in English," Martinez said. "And so my vocabulary comes from me being an English learner. And I think for me, those words are not meant to hurt anybody, or to sound racist at all. I think its just words that I grew up with." Martinez resigned a year ago from the City Council amid a furor over her remarks in a private meeting with then-Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera, and City Councilmembers Kevin De Leon and Gil Cedillo. Martinez took a central role in the conversation and made offensive comments about Black people, Indigenous Oaxacans and others. Read more: Kevin de Leon says he deserves another chance. Critics say hes gaslighting L.A. In the interview with LAist, Martinez expressed regret for saying "tan feos," or "they're ugly," when talking about Oaxacan people who live in Koreatown. "Oh my goodness. Thats another thing that I will never forgive myself for," Martinez said. "That was just a horrible, insensitive thing to say. I certainly dont have anything against the Oaxacan community. I feel horrible for having insulted the community." She also addressed what she said about Dist. Atty. George Gascon: "F that guy. Im telling you now, hes with the Blacks." "You know, I walked in there really angry and frustrated and it was, it was a mean and insensitive thing to say, and I didn't mean anything by it," Martinez said. Martinez added that she had "absolutely no relationship" with Gascon at the time and suggested the comment reflected her own anger. Protesters were targeting her home over the city's handling of homelessness and its vaccine mandate. Her relationship with Bonin, a onetime ally, was strained. "Over the 2 years that I was council president, I just grew more frustrated and angry and pissed off at everything. And thats what you saw. Thats it," Martinez said. Martinez also criticized the media. "I have always felt that as a Latina, I have never really been given a fair shake by the media. The coverage of these tapes in and of itself says it all. I think there was a deliberate concerted effort to take snippets of the conversation and put them out to the general public," she said. Today, she isnt working, according to LAist, and is trying to manage her household finances. She said her husband is also not working. What this has done to me and my family has completely destroyed us," she said. On Friday, De Leon and Cedillo filed separate lawsuits in Los Angeles County Superior Court saying the recording did permanent harm to their reputations and careers. Both lawsuits allege invasion of privacy and negligence and seek damages. Cedillos lawsuit targets the Federation of Labor and two onetime labor staffers. De Leons lawsuit names only the staffers. Read more: 'Ain't a damn thing changed.' Black L.A. skeptical a year after racist audio leak that roiled City Hall The leaked audio scandal marked a stunning downfall for Martinez, the daughter of immigrants from the Mexican state of Zacatecas who joined the council in 2013 after a come-from-behind victory. In the interview published Monday, she describes staying in bed for days. She credits her mother and her church with helping her. Martinez said she had several conversations with then-mayoral candidate Karen Bass in the first 24 hours after news of the secret recording broke. Bass, who was elected mayor weeks later, guessed the scandal would "blow over in about one or two days," Martinez said. Bonin, reached Monday for comment about Martinezs interview, said he thought she was essentially saying, I didnt mean it, I was having a bad day, or I didnt do anything wrong. I thought she might have gone deeper and more reflective, Bonin said. Bonin said he hopes that the anniversary of the leaked audio sheds light on societys treatment of Black children and studies showing that young Black children are subject to more and harsher discipline. A day earlier, the former councilman posted an essay in which he talked about Martinezs comments about his sons behavior at a parade. In the leaked audio, Martinez is heard saying the boy needs a "beatdown." She was doing what society does to Black children subjecting them to a different standard, viewing them and treating them as older than they are. It is a widespread phenomenon, Bonin wrote. I dont think she meant to play into that narrative, Bonin said Monday. But I hope people can pay attention to how that narrative is used to endanger Black children. 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. Ransomware attacks are more advanced and targeting schools, hospitals, financial services, and even local governments. Now federal lawmakers are exploring ways to try to prevent these attacks. The ransom note stated that all data on all devices and servers was encrypted including our backup systems, said Dr. Lacey Gosch, assistant superintendent of technology for Judson Independent School District in Texas. Dr. Gosch leads the technology department for a school district in Texas. During a recent congressional hearing, she told lawmakers that a 2021 cyberattack on the district cost them $547,000 in ransom. She added the breach also affected more than 400,000 people. Now shes urging Congress to provide more support to help school systems facing these same threats. We learned that the calvary does not come and must rely on our own resources. No state or federal agency ever visited or offered recovery assistance to us, said Dr. Gosch. Insurance coverage was helpful but those go predominately to attorney fees, data mining and identity protection. It doesnt cover ransom payments or costs for upgrades to mitigate that damage. ALSO READ: AI programs like ChatGPT forcing change in schools Cybersecurity experts warn ransomware attacks are also becoming more expensive. Thats because they say hackers are demanding money in exchange for agreeing to not sell or share the stolen information. The actors have increased access to technical capabilities, anonymous payment systems, and safe havens from which to operate, said Grant Schneider, senior director of cybersecurity services at Venable, LLP. Some democrats believe investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help make a difference. Providing more than a billion dollars in vital investment to help both private and public entities who fall victim to cyberattacks, said Rep. Gerald Connolly, (D) Virginia. While some Republicans want to develop better ways for federal law enforcement agencies to collect and share information about these hackers and their attacks. The bottom line is its too easy today for malicious actors to do too much damage and make too much money with too few consequences said Rep. Nancy Mace, (R) South Carolina. Some school leaders also want Congress to establish new standards for protecting social security numbers in all systems. VIDEO: AI programs like ChatGPT forcing change in schools FILE - Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga., a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, speaks to reporters following a closed-door meeting of the House Republican Conference, at the Capitol in Washington, July 18, 2023. To Collins, China is a bigger threat to the United States than Russia. So the Georgia Republican has voted against providing military aid to Ukraine as he advocates for doing more to arm Taiwan, the self-governed island thats at risk of military aggression from Beijing. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON (AP) To Rep. Mike Collins, China is a bigger threat to the United States than Russia. So the Georgia Republican has voted against providing military aid to Ukraine as he advocates for doing more to arm Taiwan, the self-governed island thats at risk of military aggression from Beijing. For Collins and other Republican lawmakers, Taiwan and Ukraine are effectively rivals for a limited pool of U.S. military assistance. But thats not necessarily how Taiwan and many of its supporters see it. They view Taiwans fate as closely linked to that of Ukraine as it struggles to push back a Russian invasion. They say China is watching closely to see if the United States has the political stamina to support an ally in a prolonged, costly war. The U.S. aid to Ukraine also has led to weapons manufacturers stepping up production something that could benefit Taiwan in a clash with China. Ukraines survival is Taiwans survival. Ukraines success is Taiwans success, Taiwans diplomat in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-Khim, said in May at the Sedona Forum hosted by the McCain Institute. Still, Taiwan has been careful not to weigh in on the U.S. debate about continued funding for Ukraine, which has become a divisive political issue after initially having strong bipartisan support. Asked about Congress removing Ukraine funding from a temporary spending measure that prevented a U.S. government shutdown on Oct. 1, Taiwans diplomatic office responded with discretion. Taiwan is grateful to have strong bipartisan support from the U.S. We will continue to work with the U.S. to maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. But Congress refusal to include the aid raises alarm bells in Taiwan. said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund. She noted that the Taiwanese government has argued that Ukraines victory is existential for Taiwan., These worries exist even though most Republicans who seek to end U.S. support for Ukraine are still very pro-Taiwan and willing to do more to help defend Taiwan, she said. Taiwan is the thorniest issue in the frayed U.S.-China relationship. Beijing claims sovereignty over the island, which lies roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the mainlands southeastern coast, and vows to seize it, by force if necessary, to achieve national reunification. The United States wants a peaceful resolution and has a security pact with the island, supplying it with military hardware and technologies to prevent any forced takeover by Beijing. China's military actions near the island have fueled concerns over armed attacks. President Joe Biden has said he would send troops to defend Taiwan in case of war, while Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded the U.S. respect his country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Collins traveled to Taiwan on his first overseas trip as a congressman. When he returned, he called for timely weapon deliveries to the island, especially since as much as $19 billion worth of weapons sold to Taiwan have been delayed. These delays are primarily a result of a U.S. manufacturing backlog and a distracted Biden administration with weapons deliveries to Ukraine taking preference over Taiwan, Collin said. We must get serious about offering support to our ally Taiwan because ultimately when it comes to countering China, our interests align. Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center of Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, disagrees with that logic. It's not a zero-sum game, he said. Taiwan supports the U.S. aid to Ukraine. They understand that the deterrence message works. And on a practical level, Bowman said, the aid for Ukraine is helping the U.S. expand its weapons production, which will both benefit Taiwan and enhance U.S. military readiness. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who in April led a congressional delegation to Taiwan as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said support for the island has not diminished on the Hill. Throughout the conversations about aid to Ukraine, I have not heard a single person take a swipe at Taiwan," McCaul said at a recent National Day celebration hosted by Taiwans representative office in Washington. Glaser said the Chinese leadership is unlikely to discount the U.S. support for Taiwan, even when U.S. support for Ukraine is waning, but it is likely to exploit any failure to fund Ukraine in a disinformation campaign to sow doubts among the Taiwanese people about the U.S. commitment to their defense. In a social media post, Hu Xijin, a retired chief editor of the Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper and now a political commentator, said this month that most U.S. overseas military interventions have rotted if the U.S. fails to cinch a rapid victory. Members of China's 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition team conduct a sampling operation aboard China's polar icebreaker Xuelong 2, Aug. 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) developed by a Chinese university team has obtained abundant data during the country's latest Arctic expedition, revealing various features beneath the North Pole. The red, fish-shaped robot called "XH1000" was made by researchers from Harbin Engineering University. During the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition, which concluded in late September, it completed under-ice environment detection operations near the Chukchi Sea and relayed a torrent of data, including ocean water temperature, salinity and pH levels. Equipped with domestically developed detection sonars, the polar-observing AUV explored an area of 7,000 square meters beneath the Arctic ice. Operation team leader Zhu Zhongben, who is an associate professor at the university, said the information gathered will help scientists improve their understanding of the changing process of sea-ice and ocean currents in this region, providing data support for effectively coping with the impact of global climate change on China. According to Zhu, the expedition has verified several technologies, including underwater navigation at high latitudes in the polar region, and generated valuable experience for robotic submersible to work in the high-risk polar areas and extreme harsh environments. Chinese scientists set off for the 13th Arctic Ocean scientific expedition on July 12 aboard the polar icebreaker Xuelong 2. They traveled 15,000 nautical miles before returning to Shanghai on Sept. 27. Xuelong 2 reached the North Pole on Sept. 5, filling the gap in the country's scientific research on the polar region, the university noted. The wife of U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson forcibly jammed medicine into her 98-year-old mothers mouth with a fork and then flooded her mouth with water until she was choking, according to a Lexington County Sheriffs Department incident report. The Sept. 29 incident, which the report described as an assault, was witnessed by two medical technicians at the Columbia Presbyterian Community care center on Davega Drive in Lexington County, according to the report. The State Media Co. had asked to see a copy of the sheriffs report early last week. But an initial copy of the report, apparently written by Deputy W.C. Aiken, was not released until Monday afternoon. A letter from the sheriffs department accompanying the report indicated a more detailed report may be forthcoming. In addition to being the longtime wife of Joe Wilson, Roxanne Wilson is the mother of S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson. The report said that on the afternoon of Sept. 29, facility director Cindy Robbins told a deputy that two medical technicians had witnessed an assault by Roxanne Wilson on her mother, Martha Dusenbury. One medical technician who witnessed the incident said that when Roxanne Wilson arrived at the facility, staff told her that Dusenbury did not take her medicine and kept spitting it out, the report said. At that point, Roxanne got the medicine and Martha kept stating she did not want to take it. Roxanne then told Martha, Your (sic) going to take this damn medicine and forced it into her mouth with a fork, the report said. Then Roxanne...began forcing water into Marthas mouth until she was choking....at that point, Roxanne then turned around and stated, See there she took it, the report said. The deputy then attempted to speak to Martha but I was told that Martha has dementia. I asked Martha if any of this was true, to which she stated no, the deputy wrote in the report. The deputy then said he told Roxanne Wilson that there was an alleged assault to where she forcibl(y) put medicine and water into her mothers mouth. Roxanne stated that she never did such thing and stated, I aint going there. I then advised Roxanne that the facility wanted her placed on trespass after the alleged assault. Roxanne stated that she wasnt going to play this game and continued making several phone calls and that she would stay in the facility until the caregiver arrived, the incident report said. The report also said, Roxanne ultimately left the facility without incident and said the deputys body camera was activated. Spokespersons for Joe Wilson and Alan Wilson had no immediate comment. Jake Moore, Roxanne Wilsons lawyer, had no immediate comment. Franklin Fant, CEO of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, declined comment Monday afternoon on the sheriffs report. As a health care provider, federal HIPPA privacy rules prohibit us from sharing health care information regarding our residents, he said. HIPPA stands for a federal law called Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Reports filed by the facility with the the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control characterized a Sept. 29 incident as neglect or exploitation, suspected or confirmed abuse. Under state law, providers are required to report such incidents to DHEC. Reporter Ted Clifford contributed. Construction exec torched his truck with 'HIDEIT' plates in elaborate scheme to fake death: lawsuit A Texas construction executive allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme to fake his own death after bilking millions of dollars from investors to live a life of luxury, according to a $1 million lawsuit. Brett Detamore made news over the summer after he was found alive nearly a week after his wife reported him missing and police found his truck "severely burned." He allegedly stole investors' money, which was supposed to be used to build homes, to buy expensive sports tickets to Super Bowls, World Series games, meet-and-greets with athletes and "other high-dollar" amounts, according to the lawsuit. "Brett Detamore jet-setted around and stayed in luxurious hotels and resorts," the lawsuits alleges. "Additionally, he bought and drove an expensive Dodge Ram TRX truck (worth $100,000), Cadillac Escalade and had a second home in Galveston [Texas] worth over $1 million." TEXAS POLICE INVESTIGATING HOUSTON EXEC'S PRE-PLANNED DISAPPEARANCE He even had a custom Texas license plate, "HIDEIT," according to the 10-count civil lawsuit, which was filed in Harris County, Texas, court on Oct. 4. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Police found the burning $100,000 truck shortly after he left his home on June 21. "Detamore then disappeared, abandoning his responsibility for constructing the homes," the lawsuit says. FORMER UNIVERSITY DEAN'S HUSBAND PENS HEARTBREAKING POST ABOUT HER MURDER It was part of an alleged scheme to fake his own death and disappear, according to police. But a witness told detectives they saw a man walking away from the burning truck that morning, West University Place Police Department Chief Ken Walker said during a press conference in June. Five days later, June 26, Detamore was spotted at a San Antonio bus stop. "His scheme was burned down and exposed," the lawsuit says. CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS The Houston Fire Department said they believe the fire was deliberately set, and arson investigators shared their findings with the Harris County District Attorney's Office. No criminal charges were filed, but a West University Police Department spokesperson confirmed to ABC 13 that there is an active investigation into Detamore's alleged fraudulent activities. The West University Place Police Department in Texas said Brett Detamore was reported missing around 9 a.m. on June 21 by his wife, according to FOX 26. Detamore was also sued in Kings County, New York, for similar accusations a few days before his disappearance. Christian Ellis, a lawyer for Detamore, said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital that the allegations in both lawsuits were being reviewed. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The events of the last few months have been tragic and unfortunately the subject of much public speculation and rumor; many false allegations have been made, and the Detamore family, including their young children, have suffered as a result," Ellis said in the statement. "Mr. Detamore is getting the help he needs, and the entire Detamore family requests privacy at this time." Original article source: Construction exec torched his truck with 'HIDEIT' plates in elaborate scheme to fake death: lawsuit Israels consulate to the Southeastern United States is located here in Atlanta and the consul-general says shes receiving messages of support. Consul-General Anat Sultan-Dadon called the attacks on Israel murder and promised the military would move into action to neutralize Hamas. I think that any Israeli is in pain today, Sultan-Dadon said. Sultan-Dadon told Channel 2s Richard Elliot that she mourns for the hundreds of soldiers and civilians killed in Hamas surprise attack on her country -- but shes also angry. This is terror. This is the ugly face of terror the likes of which we havent seen in the Middle East since ISIS, Sultan-Dadon said. The consul-general said since the attack, shes received messages of support from the Jewish community and from elected officials across Georgia. RELATED NEWS: Over the weekend, dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested outside the consulate in midtown, insisting Hamas attack on Israel was only in response to years of abuse by the Israeli government. We are here to say that Palestine will be free, one protester said. In a time of unprecedented events that we have witnessed this weekend, unprecedented, we see how fallible the Israeli occupation truly is. The consul-general rejects any claims of justification by Hamas and its supporters and insists the Israeli military will act soon to neutralize that organization. We are determined to protect our country. We are determined to protect our people, and we are determined for the IDF to act so that never again will we see the images that we will see now, Sultan-Dadon said. The consul general said she also got a message of support from Gov. Brian Kemp. She accompanied Kemp to Israel this past summer on an economic mission. RELATED NEWS: A convicted terrorist financier with Charlotte ties is asking the federal government to give him his personal photos and videos back. ALSO READ: Hezbollah bombards Israeli positions in disputed area along border with Syria's Golan Heights Federal officials say Mohamad Youssef Hammoud was living in Charlotte when he provided material support to Hezbollah from 1995 to 2000. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison but was released last year after the court granted a compassionate release. He has since been deported and now lives in Lebanon. Court documents claim the personal photos and videos were taken in 2001 from his east Charlotte home on Donnefield Drive, off Lawyers Road. He claims they arent contraband or evidence. The federal government has not responded to the civil suit. Monday marks the start of Fire Prevention Week (FPW). The Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal is partnering with the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) to promote safe cooking. >> Local sheriffs office to host Trunk or Treat event this week Cooking is the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the U.S., according to NFPA. NFPA says unattended cooking is the leading cause of cooking fires and deaths. The Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal encourages all residents to embrace the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, Cooking safety starts with YOU. A cooking fire can grow quickly, the state fire marshal said. I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented. >>Voter registration deadline Novembers election in Ohio approaching Year after year, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires by far, accounting for half (49 percent) of all U.S. home fires, said Lorraine Carli, vice president of outreach and advocacy at NFPA. The Ohio Division of State Fire Marshall is offering the following key safety tips to reduce the risk of cooking fire: Always keep a close eye on what you are cooking. Set a timer to remind you that you are cooking. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Always keep a lid nearby when cooking. If a small grease fire starts, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Have a kid- and pet-free zone of at least 3 feet (1 meter) around the stove or grill and anywhere else hot food or drink is prepared or carried. To find out more about FPW programs and activities in your area, contact your local fire department. For more information, click here. The parents of a 9-year-old boy say excessive force was used when a police officer handcuffed their son at a Florida elementary school in February. Now theyre suing over the incident captured on police body camera footage. The boy, who the parents say was in fourth grade when an Oviedo police officer handcuffed him in the mailroom of Stenstrom Elementary School on Feb. 2, had a behavior intervention plan in place for when he showed physical aggression, a complaint filed Sept. 27 says. When he displayed such aggression including hitting, kicking, pushing, throwing items and property destruction school staff were supposed to not engage in any conversation other than having (the boy) complete a task he was engaged in and to limit the level of attention directed to him as part of the plan, according to the complaint. On Feb. 2, after the child became aggressive, staff took him to the schools mailroom, where school resource officer Yashira Moncada arrived and turned on her body camera, the complaint says. According to a police report, the boy was cursing, screaming and throwing things, WSVN reported. This is why I cant be an SRO, Moncada says, asking the boy if he wants to go to jail before calling officer Scott Moseley for backup, according to body camera footage cited in the complaint. After Moseley arrives, he says I am going to handcuff him, after a school counselor advised Moncada against doing so, the complaint says. You can do that, I cant, Moncada tells Moseley, then Moseley handcuffs the boy behind his back, according to the complaint. While handcuffed, the officers tell the boy to settle down, WSVN reported, citing the body cam video. When the child asks to go home with his hands behind his back, Moncada tells him youre not going to go home, so do you want to go to jail? the complaint says. After about 13 minutes, the handcuffs were removed, WESH reported. The boys parents are suing the city of Oviedo, Moncada and Moseley on several causes of action, including excessive force and battery/unnecessary force, the complaint shows. They are seeking at least $75,000 in damages. Nine-year-old children with special needs should not be handcuffed by police officers at school, attorney Drew Moss, of Miami-based law firm Kutner, Rubinoff & Moss LLP, who is representing the family, said in a statement to McClatchy News on Oct. 9. The city of Oviedo declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on Oct. 9 due to the pending litigation. McClatchy News also contacted the Oviedo Police Department for comment on Oct. 9 and didnt receive an immediate response. Stenstrom Elementary School is a part of Seminole County Public Schools, which declined a request for comment from McClatchy News on Oct. 9 as it is not involved in the litigation. Moss said the city failed to reach out to the family and make any effort whatsoever to address this unfortunate situation. It was not my clients preference to initiate litigation, but the citys failure to investigate this incident and the officers involved left them no alternative, Moss said. Parents demand a jury trial After the boy was put in handcuffs, his parents met with school staff and Moncada, according to the complaint. During this meeting, Moncada is accused of telling the parents theyre lucky that she did not arrest their son and that this is why I dont want to be a school resource officer, the complaint says. As a result of the incident, the child has suffered physical and emotional abuse and injury, mental anguish, violation of (his) right, humiliation, discomfort, embarrassment, loss of dignity, aggravation of an existing disease or mental defect, and medical expenses, the complaint says. The city and Seminole County school board has a school resource officer agreement banning the use of handcuffs on disabled students through fifth grade, according to the complaint. The lawsuit also cites an Oviedo Police Department general order, which, according to the complaint, says: Juveniles less than 12 years of age are NOT placed in handcuffs or other restraints unless they pose a risk or danger to themselves, the officer, or others. The parents are demanding a trial by jury, the complaint shows. Their lawsuit was filed more than a week after an amended complaint was filed over the 2019 arrest of 6-year-old Kaia Rolle, whose wrists were bound with zip ties by police officers at an Orlando charter school, McClatchy News previously reported. Kaias family filed their lawsuit against the city of Orlando over her cruel, senseless and terrorizing arrest, according to the amended complaint. Nearly two years after her arrest, the Kaia Rolle Act went into effect in Florida prohibiting children younger than 7 from being arrested in the state. Oviedo is about 20 miles northeast of Orlando. Innocent man accused of murder was jailed forcing family into homelessness, suit says Cops downplayed familys fears about missing daughter, suit says. She was found dead Cops bound 6-year-olds wrists with zip ties as she begged not to be arrested, suit says Student with autism went to get lunch. Then school officer handcuffed him, SC suit says Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said he was shaken and angered following Hamass attacks on Israel this weekend, where the lawmaker had traveled to give a speech. I was in Israel when the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas started on Saturday, the Democrat wrote on Twitter. 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. I was in Israel when the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas started on Saturday. 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 pic.twitter.com/E4BgEZxSTC Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 8, 2023 Booker was one of at least two members of Congress in Israel this weekend when Hamas launched a shocking attack on Israel, prompting a declaration of war from the Israeli government. The country quickly began a counterattack against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and more than 1,100 people have been killed. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) was also in Israel for a bar mitzvah with his wife and three of his children. Both Goldman and Booker have since been able to safely leave the region. At a minimum, Congress must replenish and expand the Iron Dome as soon as possible. I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself. Rep. Dan Goldman (@RepDanGoldman) October 8, 2023 Booker described the moment Hamass attack on Israel began, saying he was out for a run in Jerusalems Old City when an aide called and told him to return to his hotel. There were thousands of rockets being launched, the senator said, noting he sheltered in the hotels bomb shelter in a stairwell. He said he saw frightened faces. There were children and elderly families, many Americans. There was a sense of fear and worry and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at that time. The senator wrote he hoped the United States and his colleagues in Congress would work to ensure stability in the region and a long-term peace process. We, who believe in peace and freedom and human rights for Palestinians and Israelis for all of humankind, must reject those who use terror as their weapon, he added. Related... Sen. Cory Booker was in Israel when Hamas began attacking the Jewish nation on Saturday. Booker recounted his experience sheltering in his hotel's bomb shelter and stairwells in an X post. A spokesperson told Fox News that Booker and his staff left Israel safely on Sunday. Sen. Cory Booker said he had to hide in his hotel in Israel when Hamas started firing missiles at the Jewish nation on Saturday. The Democratic senator from New Jersey arrived in Israel on Friday, where he was scheduled to attend meetings, site visits, and an economic summit, per a statement to Fox News from Maya Krishna-Rogers, a spokesperson for Booker. Booker recounted his experience fleeing to his hotel for shelter in a post on X, previously known as Twitter, on Sunday. "About this time yesterday, I was jogging behind me in the Old City when I got an urgent call from my chief of staff, telling me to get back to the hotel as quickly as I could, that Israel was under attack," Booker said in his video, adding that "thousands of rockets" were being launched by Hamas. "When I got back to the hotel, I joined others in the bomb shelter or the stairwells of the hotel," Booker continued. "Frightened faces. There were children, elderly, families, and many Americans." I was in Israel when the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas started on Saturday. 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 pic.twitter.com/E4BgEZxSTC Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 8, 2023 Krishna-Rogers told Fox News that Booker and his staff were able to depart Israel safely on Sunday. Booker had earlier issued a statement about the attack on Israel by Hamas on Saturday. "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 his statement. "I stand with the people of Israel and the families of those who have lost loved ones." Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, firing thousands of rockets from Gaza. On Sunday, Israel declared a "state of war," with officials saying their goal was to eliminate Hamas and take complete control of Gaza. The US said that it would deploy one of its carrier strike groups to Israel's coast. A representative for Booker did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider WWII, Korean and Vietnam War veteran John McCrary was surprised with a drive-by parade on his 95th birthday in October 2023. Mount Dora resident John Papa John McCrary, a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, was surprised on his 95th birthday last week with a community drive-by parade, a flyover and a special gift that brought him to tears. McCrary said his return from the Vietnam War was a thankless homecoming, which is why during this celebration he was presented with an official Vietnam Veteran welcome home lapel pin. I have the honor to be the first to welcome you home, Master Chief, Veteran Liaison Jeremy Caldwell said. We are all so grateful for your service to your country. McCrary, who usually has sharp quips at the ready and a big smile on his face, broke into tears and unbelief that all this was happening for him. A Mount Dora police officer greets veteran John McCrary on his 95th birthday. Oh, wow, McCrary said. I really appreciate you all. I dont know what else to say but thank you. Members of the Mount Dora Police Department, Lake County Sheriff's Office and Lake County Fire Rescue led the drive-by parade in front of his home, followed by people in the community who honked and waved signs, some even handing him gifts. Tavares resident Robin Heddinger heard about the event and created a Quilt of Valor, which she presented to McCrary. Thank you for my freedom, Heddinger said as she gave it to McCrary. A woman from The Mason Jar brings John McCrary his favorite meal on this 95th birthday. Born in the midst of the Great Depression, McCrary joined the Navy at 17 and faced many challenges. He first became a Seabee, and later was stationed in the Philippines, Korea and Guam. Throughout his 27 years of service, he was a part of the Underwater Demolition Team Six, a precursor to the infamous Seal Team Six, and was tasked with testing nuclear bombs, exposing him to significant radiation, but earned him the title of Master Blaster. At 95, McCrary recalled his life and had one piece of advice for those who celebrated with him. Look who's coming: 'American Pickers' to dash for Floridian stash this January Listen to the man thats in charge, McCrary said as he pointed up. You really dont think about how old you are until you get there. With friends like you guys, who could ask for anything else? This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 95th birthday celebration is special for Mount Dora veteran Cruise lines are adjusting operations amid the Israel-Hamas war in some cases suspending calls altogether. Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and other brands have notified guests of itinerary changes for sailings in the region amid other disruptions to travel, including flights. Airlines have issued waivers to passengers and the U.S. State Department has advisories in place for the region, encouraging travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting Israel and the West Bank and warning against travel to Gaza. Heres what cruise passengers should know. How are cruises affected by the violence in Israel? Celebrity Cruises: The line's Celebrity Apex ship is replacing visits to Israel and Egypt with stops in Santorini, Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece and Bodrum, Turkey, on its Oct. 6 and Oct. 16 sailings, a spokesperson for parent company Royal Caribbean Group said. The 10-day cruises sail round-trip from Piraeus, according to CruiseMapper. Holland America Line: The lines Nieuw Statendam will replace a planned visit to Ashdod, Israel, with Alanya, Turkey. A spokesperson for the line said the ship would arrive early to planned stops in Limassol, Cyprus on Tuesday and Rhodes, Greece, on Wednesday, giving guests more time to explore. The ships 28-day cruise from Rome to Athens had featured the lines last stop in Israel for the year. MSC Cruises: MSC Musica will skip its scheduled stop in Haifa on Oct. 12, instead visiting Antalya, Turkey. The ship sailed to Limassol on Tuesday, bypassing a planned visit to Kusadasi, a spokesperson said. The vessel is currently on a round-trip, week-long sailing from Athens, according to CruiseMapper. Musica will also cancel its planned visits to Haifa on Oct. 19 and 26, replacing them with Rhodes, and a Nov. 2 stop, visiting Marmaris instead. MSC Sinfonia's Oct. 16 visit to the Israeli city will be replaced with Bodrum. "Future calls are being reviewed and we will update guests accordingly," the spokesperson said. "The safety of our guests and crew is always our upmost (sic) priority and in an evolving situation such as this we will modify our itineraries as needed." Princess Cruises: Princess is not stopping in Israel at this time, and its Island Princess ship "will no longer call to Jerusalem/Bethlehem or to Nazareth/Galilee" during its "Mediterranean and Israel" itineraries in November, according to a spokesperson. The stops will be replaced by Santorini and Crete. Norwegian Cruise Line: The lines Norwegian Gem ship skipped a planned visit to Ashdod on Sunday, spending the day at sea instead, according to a spokesperson for the line. The ship continued to Limassol as scheduled Monday. The vessel is on an 11-day sailing from Rome to Istanbul, according to CruiseMapper. Norwegian Jade replaced planned visits to Ashdod and Haifa on Wednesday and Thursday with stops in Bodrum on Tuesday and Marmaris on Wednesday. The ship, which is on a weeklong round-trip sailing from Athens, will spend a day at sea Thursday. We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel, the spokesperson said. As always, the safety and security of our guests, crew and communities we visit is our top priority. We have strict safety protocols in place and cooperate with local authorities regarding security matters at the destinations our ships visit. Oceania Cruises: The line's Nautica ship left Israel on Saturday, one day ahead of schedule. All guests and crew members were safe and accounted for, a spokesperson for the line said. The line's Sirena vessel's planned stops in Haifa and Ashdod during its Oct. 14 voyage from Piraeus to Istanbul will be replaced by Santorini, Heraklion and Mykonos in Greece. The line is also "in the process of reviewing itinerary options" for its Marina ship's Nov. 1 cruise, which is set to spend two days in Israel, the spokesperson said. Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Due to the current escalated situation, we have decided the most prudent course of action is to amend Seven Seas Voyagers October 3 and October 15, 2023, itineraries and replace the previously scheduled calls to Israel, a spokesperson for the line said in an email. The ship will skip its planned stop in Haifa on Oct. 14 and 15, instead sailing to Istanbul. The Oct. 15 sailing will begin in Istanbul rather than Haifa and sail directly to Cairo. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cruise lines cancel stops amid conflict in Israel, Palestinians This photo taken on May 26, 2023 shows a full-size humanoid bionic robot displayed at the exhibition center of Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/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. A Taunton man is being charged with armed robbery for allegedly stealing over $1,000 over Venmo while holding a victim at knifepoint. According to the Suffolk Country District Attorneys Office, Joshua Alves, 22 was charged with masked and armed robbery. On January 29, the victim walked into a Boston police station to report an armed robbery at Cleveland Place in the North End. The victim told police he arranged to meet shortly after midnight that day with a woman he met on a dating app, seeking.com, and agreed to pay $400. When the victim arrived at Margaret Street, he saw two men in ski masks. The victim continued to walk down the street toward Cleveland Place when the two men approached him from behind, one of them brandishing a knife. One of the men yelled at the victim that the woman from the dating site was his sister, who was a minor, the DA said. The men forced the victim against a wall and ordered him to hand over his money and the victim handed him $60. According to authorities, the men said Thats not good enough. They then searched the victims pockets and asked him how he would have given the woman $400 if he didnt have any more money on him. The victim said he planned to pay via Venmo. The men then ordered him to unlock his phone and transfer $1,000 from the victims account. Alves appeared in Boston court on Thursday and was charged with masked and armed robbery (knife) and released on personal recognizance. A judge ordered him to stay away from the victim and the location of the offense. This is a good example of the caution one should exercise whenever meeting someone for the first time, whether from this dating site or any other site, DA Hayden said. Technology is continually advancing, and the methods of bad actors are advancing right along with it. This was a very digital-aged crime in that it contained elements of two online entitiesa dating site and a Venmo account. Im grateful there were no injuries and that the victim reported everything to the police, Hayden added. Alves is due back in court on December 4. 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 TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A woman who is serving a life sentence in prison for a child abuse death involving an adopted child has been denied parole again, according to the Tulare County District Attorneys office. DA: Parole denied for woman convicted of abusing, murdering her adopted children During a virtual hearing on Friday, October 6, prosecutors secured the denial of parole for 64-year-old Angela Thompson, in the 2000 child abuse death of her adopted daughter. Officials say the denial is for five years. In October 2001, a jury convicted Thompson of second-degree murder, assault on a child likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and child abuse. The court sentenced her to 25 years to life in prison. On September 7, 2000, officials say Thompson was at an urgent care appointment when one of the twelve children came in from the family car saying that the victim, a five-year-old girl, was not breathing. A staff member from the clinic rushed the girl to Sierra View Hospital in Porterville where doctors were unable to revive her. At the hospital, officials say the victim had a 105-degree temperature and exhibited multiple signs of extreme child abuse including scarring consistent with restraining devices, burn scarring from hot liquid, multiple bone fractures, and physical signs of severe sexual abuse. Initially reluctant to cooperate with law enforcement out of fear of Thompson, two of the children came forward with information regarding rampant abuse. Officials say the children reported that on the day of the crime, Thompson ordered a 17-year-old to sit on the victims back during a four to five-hour car ride from Travis Air Force Base to Porterville, where the victim screamed and cried during the entirety of the trip and was denied water by Thompson. According to officials the childrens statements and medical evidence led doctors to declare the cause of death as positional asphyxiation, and officials say that further investigation revealed a harrowing pattern of abuse perpetrated by Thompson against her adopted children, some acts of which were given names. Crying meant putting a plastic bag over the childs face. Gurgled meant force-feeding in which Thompson would put on rubber gloves and force food down the childrens throats. Officials say Thompson would do this when the children were not eating fast enough. Plunging meant putting the children in the bathtub with their faces under a running faucet. Poking involved being poked on the hands, feet, underarms, mouth, gums, ear, or lips with a needle or safety pin. Officials say much of the abuse consisted of spankings with belts or spoons or hitting the kneecaps with a rod. Prior to the crime in late 1999, officials say the victim was hospitalized for a skull fracture after an alleged fall from a bunk bed, but in a later review, a neurosurgeon determined the injury had a high probability of infliction. Officials say at the childs pre-adoption physical in 1999, no injuries were observed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. A father was driving with his wife and two young boys when someone began shooting at the familys SUV, authorities in Texas said. Officers with the Houston Police Department were called to the shooting in southeast Houston at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, according to a news conference recorded by KHOU. The arriving officers found a 28-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his left leg, Lt. Ignacio Izaguirre said during the recorded news conference. He was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive. Thank God that the kids were not injured, Izaguirre said in the news conference. There were several rounds that entered in the back passenger seat. So the mom and the two kids are OK. Authorities said the dad was driving southbound in a white Cadillac SUV with his wife and two children, ages 4 and 9, when someone in what appeared to be a white Camaro began shooting at the SUV. The man continued driving south before making an abrupt turn westbound into a construction zone, police said. He then crashed into a ditch, KTRK reported. Police said the other driver fled the area. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Police are unsure if road rage prompted the shooting. The man who was shot said he didnt know the shooters, according to police. Trucker accused of killing car passenger in highway road rage shooting, Texas cops say Mom fatally shot while driving with her 3-year-old child in the back, Texas cops say Masked attackers open fire on van on highway, causing fiery crash, Colorado cops say Name: Danielle A. Moore Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 45 Campaign website or social media page: vote4moore.com Occupation: Claims Consultant Education: Psychology, B.A./ Public Policy-Minor Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held) No Please list your highlights of civic involvement I am currently the vice president of the Carolina Crossing HOA (Pineville, NC). I actively serve on the Volunteering and Networking Committee of the Charlotte African-American Business Resource Group of Lincoln Financial Group. What are, in your view, the most important issues facing Pineville, and what would your approach be to handling them if elected? Some of the most important issues facing Pineville at this time are: 1. At certain times of the day, a high level of traffic congestion through/near Main Street. I would ensure smart choices are made regarding the safety of our residents who walk, drive and bike. 2. The ability of businesses to sustain economically. I have met a large amount of people who frequent our small and larger businesses downtown Pineville and surrounding, who do not live in Pineville. I will continue to engage with our Pineville residents to encourage them to support their local businesses. 3. More dining options that attract business as well as wonderful opportunities for Pineville and surrounding citizens to enjoy a variety of cuisines and also to make Pineville a place where people want to come dine, instead of driving to other areas of Charlotte. Communities across Mecklenburg County have seen growth and development as well as a hot real estate market in recent years. How should Pineville approach development and housing issues? Pineville as a town offers a small-town charm coupled with gorgeous neighborhoods, access to the Sugar Creek Greenway, a phenomenal Parks & Recreation department, its very own police department, and all the best of not living in a large city. Our town has done well with offering varied housing options that include apartment complexes, townhome communities and single-family homes with beautiful amenities. The town should continue to approach development of housing with a careful analyses of our traffic patterns, parking, walkability and ensure the influx of housing opportunities is steady versus swift. What separates you from your opponent(s)? What separates me from my opponents is i have lived in Pineville for a little over 13 years, I am a North Carolina native and I have an extremely diverse set of associates, friends, neighbors and colleagues, and this allows me to be able to see different perspectives, to be open-minded, fair, and approachable. I also have over 20 years professional experience with varied industries ranging from insurance to finance, and this experience provides me with the business acumen and interpersonal skills needed to be a Council member. What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of? I am happy to be able to run for Town Council- Pineville to bring diversity to our Town Government and am so appreciative of the support for my candidacy. Denmark is working to "expand and deepen" the "fighter jet coalition" of countries willing to provide Ukraine with F-16 aircraft, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Oct. 9, Reuters reported. The prime minister also appealed to other NATO nations to expand the coalition of countries supplying the jets and providing the necessary training to the Ukrainian Air Force, The Guardian said. In her address at the the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session in Copenhagen, Frederiksen warned against the war fatigue supposedly growing among Kyiv's allies. Read also: This Week in Ukraine: F-16s and the irrational politics of military aid on Apple Podcasts The unity of the pro-Ukrainian alliance has recently encountered several challenges, as populist political forces are rising in Europe and the Ukraine aid is being contested in U.S. Congress. "As long as the Ukrainians are ready to fight this war for our freedom, let us decide that war fatigue will not take place in our transatlantic community," Frederiksen said. The prime minister called on NATO and the EU to improve their coordination of weapons and ammunition supplies to Ukraine within their respective frameworks. Denmark and the Netherlands are leading the allied efforts to provide Ukraine with the fourth-generation F-16 jets. Copenhagen pledged to provide 19 of its aircraft to bolster the Ukrainian Air Force. Norway also promised to send some of its F-16 jets to Ukraine. The "fighter jet coalition" to provide training for Ukrainian pilots and technical staff was officially established in July by 11 founding allied countries. Since then, other nations, such as the U.S., Greece, or Bulgaria, have also pledged to assist with the training efforts. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. This embedded content is not available in your region. When the Awhazov family walked back to their house on Saturday morning after being called away to an air raid shelter they assumed the worst was over. But shortly afterwards someone rang the doorbell of their home, in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. George Awhazov looked at the intercom screen and was confronted by two men in camouflage: one of them tugged at the door handle, the other, with a rocket launcher on his shoulder, looked around cautiously. I heard some noise outside and went to the intercom when I heard the doorbell. I looked at it and saw a guy with an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade launcher). The only time I ever saw an RPG was in computer games. The 23-year old, wisely, did not open the door. He had come within a whisker of being kidnapped. Over a dozen towns and villages in southern Israel were overrun by Hamas fighters on Saturday as they shot residents in the streets and grabbed others to take them to Gaza. George Awhazov outside his home in the southern Israeli town of Ofakim Mr Awhazovs father, Yuri, who immigrated to Israel three decades earlier as he fled the war in Chechnya had only recently has the intercom installed when he renovated the entire one-storey house. I got it installed about a year ago and my relatives kept making fun of me, Mr Awhazov Snr told the The Telegraph. They kept asking: Why would you need this fancy intercom? I just love technology and I decided to have one. We were so lucky: If it wasnt for that intercom, I would have come to the gate and opened it. There was constant gunfire outside, and bullets kept piercing the metal gate although the concrete wall remained intact. One bullet went through the gate into the yard and ricocheted into the Awhazovs home, hitting the glass door. It was terrifying, Mr Awhazov Snr said. The terrorists were going house-to-house simply to kill as many people as possible. They had no other purpose. Street bears scars of fighting About 36 hours after the unprecedented breach, the idyllic community of Ofakim, with low-storey houses and eucalyptus trees lining the streets, still bore visible scars of street fighting. A charred SUV on Sunday afternoon sat on the side of the road behind a white pick-up truck with Palestinian number plates. Its doors were flung open, and all upholstery was ripped off: Israeli forces had apparently checked it for explosives. On HaTamar street in the centre of Ofakim, population 29,000, every other car had had its windows smashed or featured bullet holes in the windscreen. The pavement was littered with empty plastic water bottles, discarded by the Israeli troops and first responders. Israeli soldiers eventually regained control in Ofakim - AP/Ilan Assayag A two-storey cottage near a car park had all of its windows smashed, and the window upstairs was pock-marked with bullet holes. A couple holed up there for hours before police came to their rescue. On Sunday afternoon, a group of plainclothes policemen showed up at the fence of the house where the pavement was still splashed with blood. One of the officers lit a candle and put it on the ground near the blood stain. Other officers put on their police caps and took a moment for a Jewish prayer. I thought it was a gang fight Mr Awhazov stood outside the bullet-ridden metal gate of his house on Sunday afternoon as neighbours were out in the street for the first time after a day-long siege that had only ended at 1am. Sirens first rang out in Ofakim, which sits 20 kilometres east of the Gaza border, at 3.30am on Saturday, and Mr Awhazovs parents and sister went to an air raid shelter in the street, a concrete cubicle sitting on the pavement. After a second air raid siren, the family went back home and stayed in their kitchen. There was no expectation of a threat on their doorstep. Then, gunshots were heard in the streets. I thought it was a gang fight or something, Mr Awhazov told the Telegraph. As Israel has seen an uptick in gang violence in recent months, this was not a wild guess. The Israeli army finally entered the town at about 4.30pm on Saturday and managed to extract the hostages from the house across the road. Choppers hovered in the air, telling residents via loudspeakers not to leave their homes. Mr Awhazov Snr, a father of two who fled to Israel when Russian federal troops invaded his native Grozny in 1994, said he was aware that Israel was not the safest place in the world but never thought a Hamas invasion was on the cards. I never thought Id see something like this in my lifetime, he said. This was always such a quiet town. Everyone knew each other. Out in the street where his sons grey Honda sat on Saturday morning with its tyres pierced and side window smashed, Mr Awhazov Snr pointed to a building across the road where a neighbour, a popular handyman, was killed by Hamas. Next door, a young neighbour was shot dead as he tried to run to his parents house. Mr Awhazov wants the family to leave the area temporarily, fearing that a possible IDF operation in Gaza could be devastating for the area around. But his father is sceptical after seeing large swathes of the country, from south to the centre, come under rocket fire on Saturday. Where do we go? he said. Nowhere in this country is safe. 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. Former Secretary of the Interior, James Watt, wearing a cowboy hat, smiles and waves at the Santa Barbara Airport on boarding an airliner on October 16, 1983, to leave after a week and a half stay at a private ranch near here. During his stay, on October 9, Watt resigned as secretary of the interior. File Photo by Mike Hill/UPI Oct. 9 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1888, 40 years after construction began, the Washington Monument opens to the public. Work on the obelisk was halted from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, internal squabbling within the Washington National Monument Society, and the American Civil War. In 1919, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series defeating the Chicago White Sox. Eight members of the White Sox would be accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money from gamblers in what would become known as the Black Sox Scandal. The players were later found not guilty, though all were banned from the sport for life. In 1931, gangster Al Capone's Florida spending told at tax evasion trial. The government's contention was that if Mr. Capone was "rich enough to be a moviesque Florida Play-boy, then he certainly must have an income worthy of taxation." File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI On October 9, 2012, Malala Yousafzai , an advocate for girls' education in Pakistan, survived being shot three times as she attempted to board a bus to school. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI In 1931, the Japanese government endorsed military action against Manchuria. The invasion was one of a series of battles and skirmishes which took place in the run-up to the Second Sino-Japanese War. In 1934, King Alexander of Yugoslavia was assassinated by a Croatian terrorist during a state visit to France. On October 9, 1919, the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series defeating the Chicago White Sox. Eight members of the White Sox, including Charles Gandil, pictured, would be accused of intentionally losing games in exchange for money from gamblers in what would become known as the Black Sox Scandal. File Photo courtesy of Wikimedia In 1967, one day after being captured in the jungles of Bolivia where he was waging a guerrilla war, Marxist revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara , a leading figure in the 1959 Cuban revolution, is executed by the Bolivian military. In 1974, Oskar Schindler, the German businessman credited with saving 1,200 Jews from the Holocaust, died at the age of 66. Ernesto "Che" Guevara's body is prepared for public display following his capture and execution by Bolivian troops in 1967. File Photo by Freddy Alborta/UPI In 1975, Andrei Sakharov, father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb, became the first Soviet citizen to win the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1983, James Watt, facing U.S. Senate condemnation for a racially insensitive remark, resigned as U.S. President Ronald Reagan's interior secretary. On October 9, 1888, 40 years after construction began, the Washington Monument opens to the public. File Photo by Pat Benic/UPI In 1992, NASA announced that the unmanned Pioneer spacecraft was apparently lost after orbiting Venus for 14 years. File Image courtesy of NASA U.S. President Barack Obama makes a statement after he was announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on October 9, 2009. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI In 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." In 2012, Malala Yousafzai, an advocate for girls' education in Pakistan and future Nobel Peace Prize winner, survived being shot three times as she attempted to board a bus to school. In 2020, the United Nations' World Food Program won the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to fight hunger and bring peace to parts of the world affected by violence. In 2021, the Czech Republic's billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis lost his grip on power in an election against center-right leader Petr Fiala. File Photo by Martin Divisek/EPA-EFE NESKUCHNE, DONETSK OBLAST Vitalii Ivanov stepped gingerly across the messy floor through the kitchen to what was once the living room of his family home. Scattered across the floor and countertops were the iconic markers of a space that was once occupied by Russian soldiers. Cardboard military ready meals complete with unopened packs of tasteless crackers, a torn jacket with the deep green sludge of Russian pixel camouflague, and general filth throughout the room. It wasnt Ivanovs first time back since his village of Neskuchne was liberated by Ukrainian forces in the first days of the summer counteroffenisive. What was once his proud family home, a comfortable brick two-story, now boasts a great open wound from a direct shell or rocket hit. Everytime I came here, I had to leave early because of shelling, Ivanov, 36, told the Kyiv Independent outside. The Russians watch everything from drones and this area remained in artillery range until recently. The first time Ivanov was able to visit, he found two mines left deliberately by Russian troops near the entrance of his home: one anti-personnel mine, and one anti-tank mine rigged with a tripwire. Soldiers helped Ivanov remove the mines, but more may still lurk deeper in the house. He watches every step carefully. Not only was this part of western Donetsk Oblast chosen as one of the main axes of the summer counteroffensive by the Ukrainian command, it was here that Ukrainian forces found the most initial success, taking village after village along the Mokri Yaly River in quick succession over June. Driving through the empty streets of Neskuchne, liberation does seem like a strange word to use. The settlements retaken by Ukrainian forces this summer look nothing like those from the counteroffensive successes last year: no celebrating civilians, no testimonies of war crimes; almost nothing, and nobody, at all. No civilians are living in the village, according to Ivanov, who works to provide other civilians in the nearby areas with humanitarian aid as well as support with medicine, building materials, and evacuation. Intact houses in Neskuchne? said Ivanov, I havent seen any. Worse than the outside destruction, the village remains loaded with Russian landmines, rigged throughout the houses, streets and fields of the area in anticipation of a Ukrainian advance. Neskuchne, Storozheve, Blahodatne, Makarivka, Staromaiorske, and finally Urozhaine: each of these Ukrainian villages represented a small triumph for Ukrianian forces advancing in summer along the banks of the Mokri Yaly. But the village names are also additions to the grim list of Ukrainian settlements whose population has been reduced by Russias war to zero. By mid-July, local authorities had announced that the handful of remaining residents of the liberated villages in the Velyka Novosilka area had all been evacuated. With winter approaching and the front line moving less and less over recent weeks, it has become clear that a quick victory in the south is beyond realistic. In the meantime, the scars left by the old front line threaten to remain for much longer after liberation. Read also: As counteroffensive presses forward in southeast, every meter costs a life A village no more Invading Ukraine from three directions in February 2022, it was in the south where Russia had the most success taking territory, as Ukrainian forces defense buckled in the face of the same Russian blitzkrieg tactics that failed around Kyiv and Kharkiv. In this sector of the front line, the story of Russias advance was one of a chaotic Ukrainian retreat through the open fields of the south, finally regrouping and digging in when reinforcements arrived. In this sector, it was just outside Velyka Novosilka where Ukrainian forces held the line. Its a good thing they stopped here, they could have gone further, said Ivanov, who had joined a local civil defense militia at the onset of the full-scale war, helping with policing and humanitarian duties as Russian forces approached his home. The house was home not only for Ivanov but for much of his extended family. He and his brother Artem, a firefighter, are well-known in the area for their constant efforts to help locals, but not all of the family made it out before Russian troops arrived. Artems mother-in-law stayed at first, only later leaving to live in occupied Donetsk. Halyna, 84, photographed by her damaged windows in a residential building that was shelled the previous night in Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 11, 2023. (Anastasia Vlasova / The Kyiv Independent) Halyna, an 84-year-old native of Neskuchne who declined to give her last name, had left her home in January 2022 in an attempt to take her sick husband to the hospital. Declared unfit for transport, the husband died just a few weeks before the full-scale invasion, while Halyna remained in Velyka Novosilka, now living in the basement of a three-story apartment. For over a year, while Ukraine found success in counteroffensives in Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts and Russia threw itself upon Bakhmut, the southern front line barely moved, with Russian forces laying dense minefields and digging multi-layered defensive lines. In June, after months of anticipation, Ukraine finally hit back. Liberated on June 10, Neskuchne was the first in a string of settlements which saw the Ukrainian flag once again flying this summer. Despite living just a few kilometers away, Halyna hasnt yet been able to even see what is left of her home. The house is ruined. The roof is gone, the windows are goneright? she said, looking at Ivanov, who had been able to check for her. With the front line still only nine kilometers away, the only demining in Neskuchne has been done by the military, strictly to clear roads and other areas for Ukrainian forces immediate use. If the situation improves, demining efforts by the State Emergency Service and other non-government groups could commence. But with the density of mines and other unexploded ordnance in the area, resurrecting the village from the dead is not an immediate priority compared to other parts of Ukraine where life has returned. My mood? Everything is bad, said Halyna. I came here with my sick husband, in January I buried him, and in February the war began. My soul is just empty. Read also: Two sisters capture the beauty of Ukraines villages before its gone Hope for return On a map, there is no clear distinction between Neskuchne and the next settlement to the north, with houses lining the road along the kilometer-long stretch of road to the village of Vremivka. On the ground, that short stretch of road means a world of difference. For over a year between Russias capture of Neskuchne and its liberation, the front line ran right across this road. Even four months after Russian forces were pushed out of this area, the scars left by where the old front line once ran make a world of difference. In Vremivka, which was never occupied by Russian forces, life of 14 civilians to be precise has clung on against all odds. In the early autumn sunshine, the yard of Liubov Bezverkhas village house looks almost untouched by war, decorated with flowers, grapevines, and a small, carefree dog. This is no coincidence or stroke of luck: the house, garage, have been consistently repaired after any damage, a tribute to its residents fierce resolve to stay and survive. Liubov, 65, and her husband Mykhailo, 71, who recently celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary together, were in a cheerful mood as they spoke to the Kyiv Independent. When there was a M777 (U.S.-made howitzer) nearby here, it was very loud. said Mykhailo. Now, it's quiet, but they are just still shooting. At first it was boom boom boom here, then boom boom boom a little further away, and then further still, added Liubov. Now, most of what we hear is going in their (Russian) direction. Outside the house on the street, a wooden cross marks the grave of Liubovs mother, who died in their home last summer after stress from the constant shelling induced a stroke. Liubov is determined to make it through to a life without war. I want to die of my own death, not from a bullet or shrapnel. Further north, the remaining population in the town of Velyka Novosilka, once home to 5,000 people, is finally given a chance to exhale after 14 months on the front line. The courtyard of the towns School No. 2 is a hive of activity. One elderly resident dismantles window for firewood, another tends a tomato plant, while two others sit on a bench with cats on their laps. Facing north, the courtyard is well-protected from Russian shelling by the school building, which has suffered a couple of direct hits since the counteroffensive began. We live as we have so far, we try to survive, try to help each other, said 46-year-old music teacher Iryna Babkina. The front line moved away a little but it's still loud around here. Lined with mattresses resting on classroom chairs, the schools basement system once housed over 100 people at the onset of the full-scale war, but now just over 20 remain. All the children have long been taken by their families to safer areas. The inhabitants of the school are adamant to stay over winter, now that the worst seems to be behind them, preparing for another season of wood-burning stoves, generators, and a dependence on volunteers for food and fuel. We will spend winter the same way we did last time, we have done this already, said Babkina. A lot of the people here just simply have nowhere else to go; their houses are destroyed. Iryna Babkina, 46, photographed in a corridor of a school shelter in Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast, on Sept. 11, 2023. (Anastasia Vlasova / The Kyiv Independent) As hard as life may remain here, Russian troops never managed to enter Velyka Novosilka and mine it like they did just down the road in Neskuchne. There is hope, even a lot of locals that know from here are now thinking of coming back, said Babkina, but we tell them not to, it's still early. When the time comes, Babkina holds out the school pianos that she once taught on will be played once more. They are just very out of tune, the shockwaves have knocked them about a fair bit, but everything can be fixed, she said. Read also: Every family affected: Devastated village copes with aftermath of Russian strike on funeral Wait and see Halyna is also prepared for the winter, pointing proudly to the little gas heater in her basement room. She still hopes one day to be able to return to Neskuchne, where she moved with her husband 20 years ago specifically for its picturesque setting. It was so beautiful, you had the river, the children's summer camps, the pine trees, and the people were good. Halyna, 84, photographed in the basement of her residential building in Velyka Novosilka, Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 11, 2023. (Anastasia Vlasova / The Kyiv Independent) Looking around at his mangled house in his dead village, the usually upbeat Ivanov cant help but get a little sentimental. I want to bring it (home) back to life and fix it up, but there is a problem, he said. How can you create a family here when you are always watching that nobody takes a wrong step to the left or the right? You can't go to the forest or the river, who knows what will remain there? Going forward, Ivanov said, the chance of life returning to villages like Neskuchne depends greatly on the future movement of the front line. If the line moves at least beyond Krasna Poliana (35 kilometers southeast of Neskuchne), then people will start returning to Vremivka and Novosilka, he said, but so long as regular rocket artillery is still hitting these places, probably not. Vitalii Ivanov drives through Neskuchne, Donetsk Oblast, on Sept. 11, 2023. (Anastasia Vlasova / The Kyiv Independent) The day after speaking to the Kyiv Independent, Ivanov went, as earlier planned, to enlist at his local recruiting office. For someone who spent over a year helping locals in any way possible as Russian soldiers lived in his home just a stones throw away, this is the logical next step, he said. I didn't ever see myself in life as a soldier, he said, but I see what is going on at the front line and there are less and less people wanting to go... but someone has to. The Kyiv Independent is grateful to our members and donors. This story wouldn't have been possible without a donation from The Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust. Note from the author: Hi, this is Francis Farrell, cheers for reading this article. I grew up on the other side of the world, but in Ukraine I have found a home unlike any other. Just like with so many of our readers, I understand that you don't have to be from near here to realize how important Ukraine's struggle is for freedom and human rights all over the world. The Kyiv Independent's mission is to lead the way in continuing to bring the best homegrown, English-language coverage of this war, even if the rest of the world's attention starts to fade. Please consider supporting our reporting. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Israel deployed soldiers to deal with a suspected infiltration from Lebanon on Monday morning, hours after announcing it had retaken control of all towns along the southern Gaza border. Isolated fighting continued two days after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack which left hundreds of civilians dead and provoked a major military backlash against Gaza. As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) finally wrested back control in the south, they said they were responding to a new threat in the north. A report was received regarding the infiltration of a number of suspects into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory. IDF soldiers are deployed in the area, an IDF statement said. The IDF has yet to provide further details about the suspected incursion, but a reporter with the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV station shared a video online purportedly capturing the sound of gunfire and explosions in the southern Lebanon town of Dhayra close to the Israeli border. Israeli troops supported by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the border, the military said. A Hezbollah official said the group had not launched any attack in Isreal, according to Reuters. On Monday, a National Security Council spokesperson confirmed that nine Americans were among those killed in the Hamas attacks. The spokesperson also said there are U.S. citizens unaccounted for, when asked about American hostages. We are closely monitoring information about hostages taken by Hamas, the official said, according to the New York Times. An IDF spokesperson said in a televised briefing earlier Monday that the death toll from this weekends attacks in Israel had reached at least 700 people, while the Palestinian health ministry said 493 people had died and 2,751 had been wounded in retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said in a Twitter video that the attack this weekend was by far the worst day in Israeli history. If you are Americans and want to compare this to something in American history, then this could be a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbor wrapped into one, he said. Deborah Lipstads, the U.S. special antisemitism envoy, separately described Saturday as the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency said the claim that this was the most deadly day of attacks on the Jewish community since the end of World War Two appears to be accurate. They reported that no other conflict in Israeli history had seen this many civilians murdered in a single day. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, he said. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly. Israel controls the airspace over Gaza, its shoreline, and decides what goods can enter and exit the region at its border crossings. The extreme measure came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to act immediately to destroy Hamas capabilities. We will cripple them mercilessly and avenge this black day they have brought upon Israel and its citizens, he said on Saturday. Survivors Share Horror Movie Accounts of Israeli Music Fest Massacre An IDF spokesman said the Israeli military is still focused on the first stage of protecting communities close to Gaza as well as securing areas in which Hamas fighters entered Israel. He said there are seven or eight places near the border where we have still warriors fighting terrorists as well as an active hostage situation in a southern kibbutz. After formally declaring a state of war over the weekend, the Israeli government said over 100 people are also being held captive in Gaza, though information on their condition or precise whereabouts remains unclear. The IDF also indicated that preparations for an Israeli invasion of Gaza could be underway, though no plans for such an operation have been formally confirmed. Hagari said 300,000 reservists had been drafted into the armed forces since the Hamas attack began on Saturday. We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale, he said, adding: We are going on the offensive. Precisely what action Jerusalem will take next is uncertain, but Israel has already launched a massive bombing campaign against Gaza. One Gaza resident told Al Jazeera that the bombardment was unrelenting overnight. The night was unprecedented, Refaat al-Areer said. We barely slept. The situation was terrifying. I think this is just going to be the beginning because the bombs have not stopped for 10 hours, not even for a minute. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that U.S. military assets including an aircraft carrier, fighter jets, and ships would be moved close to Israel in the eastern Mediterranean. President Joe Biden has publicly expressed his support to Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists. The U.S. will continue to stand with the people of Israel, he said Sunday. 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. FILE PHOTO: The Wider Image: In hottest city on Earth, mothers bear brunt of climate change FILE PHOTO: The Wider Image: In hottest city on Earth, mothers bear brunt of climate change By Gloria Dickie LONDON (Reuters) - Billions of people could struggle to survive in periods of deadly, humid heat within this century as temperatures rise, particularly in some of the world's largest cities, from Delhi to Shanghai, according to research published on Monday. Towards the higher end of warming scenarios, potentially lethal combinations of heat and humidity could spread further including into areas such as the U.S. Midwest, the authors of the report said. "It's very disturbing," study co-author Matthew Huber of Purdue University in the U.S. state of Indiana told Reuters. "It's going to send a lot of people to emergency medical care." The study built on past research by Huber, George Mason University climatologist Daniel Vecellio and other scientists on the point at which heat and humidity combine to push the human body beyond its limits without shade or help from technologies such as air conditioning. It found that around 750 million people could experience one week per year of potentially deadly humid heat if temperatures rise 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels. At 3C (5.4F) of warming, more than 1.5 billion people would face such a threat, according to the paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The world is on track for 2.8C (5F) of warming by the year 2100 under current policies, according to the 2022 United Nations Emissions Gap report. While India, Pakistan and the Gulf already have briefly touched dangerous humid heat in recent years, the study found it will afflict major cities from Lagos, Nigeria, to Chicago, Illinois if the world keeps heating up. "It's coming up in places that we didn't think about before," said Vecellio, highlighting rising risk in South America and Australia. At 4C of warming, Hodeidah, Yemen, would see around 300 days per year of potentially unsurvivable humid heat. WET-BULB THRESHOLD To track such moist heat, scientists use a measurement known as "wet-bulb" temperature. This is taken by covering a thermometer with a water-soaked cloth. The process of water evaporating from the cloth mirrors how the human body cools down with sweat. In a landmark 2010 study, Huber proposed that a wet-bulb temperature of 35C (95F) persisting for six or more hours could be the conservative limit for the human body. Beyond this, people were likely to succumb to heat stress if they could not find a way to cool down. A decade later, a group of American scientists co-led by Vecellio put Huber's theory to the test by placing young, healthy adults in environmental chambers with high wet-bulb temperatures. They found the limit was lower at between 30C (86F) and 31C (88F). Huber and Vecellio joined forces for Monday's study to apply this lower limit to the world under various future climate warming scenarios, ranging between 1.5C and 4C (2.7F and 7.2F). "This will be a critical benchmark for future studies," said atmospheric scientist Jane Baldwin of University of California Irvine who was not involved in the research. "Unfortunately, it's a somewhat grimmer picture than you would have gotten with the 35C limit," she said. Monday's research adds to a growing body of concern about dangerous wet-bulb temperatures. Another study published last month in Sciences Advances used Vecellio's threshold alongside weather station data and climate models to reach a similar conclusion: that the geographic range and frequency of dangerous humid heat will increase rapidly under even moderate global warming. (Reporting by Gloria Dickie in London; Editing by Andrew Heavens) You are here: China The State Council Information Office of China will release a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" at 10 a.m. Tuesday and hold a press conference. The death toll from flash floods unleashed by a glacial lake bursting its banks in Indias Himalayas climbed to 74 on Monday with 101 people still missing days after the calamity struck, according to provincial officials. Following days of torrential rain in the northeastern state of Sikkim, torrents of water swept down narrow river valleys from Lohnak Lake, in the northern part of the state, damaging a dam and wreaking destruction in villages and Rangpo town, about 50 km (30 miles) south of state capital Gangtok. Rescuers have found 25 bodies in the state and bodies of eight army personnel were found in the neighboring downstream state of West Bengal, Sikkims chief secretary Vijay Bhushan Pathak told Reuters. He said 101 people were still missing in the latest of a series of natural disasters caused by extreme weather events in the Himalayas. Fourteen army personnel were among the missing, a defense ministry statement said. The search for survivors was hampered by damaged roads, poor communications and bad weather, and residents were struggling to clear sludge and debris in the wake of one of the worst disasters in the remote region in more than 50 years. Members of Indian Army try to recover buried trucks in Sikkim on October 5, 2023. - Indian Army/Handout/Reuters A vehicle lies on top of a submerged building after flash floods triggered by a sudden heavy rainfall swamped the Rangpo town in Sikkim, India, Oct. 5, 2023. - Prakash Adhikari/AP Parveen Shama, the top district official of Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, said 41 bodies were found in the district. Sikkim, a Buddhist state of 650,000 people wedged in the mountains between Nepal, Bhutan and China, received 101 millimeters (four inches) of rain in the first five days of October, more than double normal levels. Lhonak Lake is a large glacial bullet-shaped water body that sits at the foot of a melting glacier. An analysis of the images shows more than 60% of the water held in the lake drained out after the extreme rainstorm triggered a glacial lake outburst. This phenomenon happens when a glacial lake rises too high or the surrounding land or ice gives way and the lake bursts, sending water and debris rushing down mountains. Scientists have long studied Lhonak Lake, identifying it as one of the fastest swelling glacial lakes in the region with a high risk for a potential glacial outburst, according to multiple studies. A woman holds a child inside a relief shelter after flash floods, caused by a lake burst in Singtam, Sikkim, India, October 8, 2023. - Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters A man walks next to a vehicle buried in mud due to floods, in Teesta Bazaar, Kalimpong District, West Bengal, India October 7, 2023. - Birat Rai/Reuters Mukesh Kumar, a 43-year-old migrant worker in Rangpo, described how he and his neighbors had barely 10 minutes to escape before the flash flood hit. Had we not left for another two minutes, we might have drowned, said Kumar, staring at the sludge and debris covering his lodgings. Residents told Reuters that many people whose dwellings were on the ground floor could not have survived. Baiju Sharma, 45, who ran a furniture business, surveyed the aftermath of the disaster. Where you are standing is 15 feet (4.5 meters) higher than earlier. You are standing on his house, Sharma said, pointing towards his neighbor. Government officials said about 2,000 tourists stuck in cut off areas of northern Sikkim were reported to be safe, and state authorities and the army had provided them with food and communication facilities to contact their families. Known as the rooftop of the world, the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region is prone to flash floods and landslides, and flooding is not unusual in Sikkim. But scientists are clear that extreme weather is becoming more frequent and more intense as the human-caused climate crisis accelerates. CNNs Helen Regan, Akanksha Sharma and Sania Farooqui contributed reporting For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com As of 9 October, the number of casualties of Hamas attacks on Israel has risen to 800, with more than 2,500 people wounded and dozens in critical condition. Source: The Times of Israel Details: Some Israeli media reported that, as per unconfirmed messages, the death toll from the Hamas attack and subsequent fighting has risen to 800. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health reported that as of 9 October, 2,506 wounded have been taken to hospitals, 23 of whom are in critical condition and 353 have suffered injuries of moderate severity. Background: 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! Massacre in Israel: Over the weekend, the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired thousands of rockets at Israel and breached the border wall, catching Israeli forces off guard on a holiday. Video has circulated on social media of atrocities committed by the invaders, including several of Hamas going door-to-door in southern Israel, entering people's homes, and slaughtering innocent people, including children, as family members are forced to watch. One viral video shows a 25-year-old Israeli woman, Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped by Hamas while attending a music festival. At that same music festivalNova, at Kibbutz Re'im in southern Israelrockets began appearing in the sky around 6:30 a.m., prompting a mass evacuation. But then "four pickup trucks filled with armed militants and gunmen on motorcycles encircled the road leading out of the event venue, which was bottlenecked with cars attempting to flee the area," per The New Yorker's Ruth Margalit. "These were executions," one source who was in attendance told Margalit. "We were like ducks in a firing range." More than 260 people were killed at the music festival massacre, with many more abducted, according to ZAKA, an Israeli organization conducting search and rescue. One man, named Shoam Gueta, said he escaped the festival "with a group of 20 people and hid in the bushes for nearly six hours as the onslaught unfolded around them," per NBC. "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." (More eyewitness accounts here.) More than 700 Israelis have died so far. Israel has responded by striking Gazaincluding hospitals, and residential buildings that the military claims are occupied by members of Hamaskilling almost 500 Palestinians. (Background on Gaza here.) "We are at war," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address, declaring that the army would be mobilized and reservists called up. Schools will close, and most international airlines that service Tel Aviv have ceased operations there for now. BREAKING: IDF spokesperson confirms there will be an incursion into Gaza utilizing 100,000 Israeli troops with the goal of dismantling all Hamas military capabilities. Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) October 8, 2023 "The Pentagon on Sunday announced it was sending additional munitions to Israel and moving more Navy warships, including an aircraft carrier, and combat aircraft closer to Israel in a show of support," according to The New York Times. New this morning: At least 9 Americans were killed in Israel, an NSC spox tells @CBSNews @BoKnowsNews. Weijia Jiang (@weijia) October 9, 2023 The invasion started on Simchat Torah, a normally joyful Jewish holiday that follows Sukkot and marks the end of a cycle of Torah readings. It also happened 50 years and one day after the Yom Kippur War of 1973, another conflict in which Israel was attacked on a holiday. One likely reason for the attack: the negotiations between the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia, which had been getting close to "full diplomatic normalization of Israeli-Saudi diplomatic relations," writes Responsible Statecraft's Paul R. Pillar. "From the general Palestinian perspective, any such three-way diplomatic deal would be a step backwards for Palestinian self-determination, because an Israeli objective is to enjoy such fruit without making peace with the Palestinians," notes Pillar. "From Hamas's perspective, it sees the rival Palestinian Authority taking a remarkably complacent posture toward the prospect of upgraded Saudi-Israeli ties, seemingly content to remain in its role of an auxiliary to the Israeli occupation. That leaves it to Hamas to actively oppose this backward step." Another possible reason: The ongoing expansion of the Israeli settlements, marked by "vigilante" attacks on Palestinians, has led many observers to fear another intifada would soon break out in the West Bank. Hamas, which has long been at odds with other Palestinian factions, may have wanted to seize the initiative, thus positioning itself in front of the movement. While much of the reaction to this weekend's violence has been thoughtful and informative, there have also been two other categories. Extremely Online insanity what did y'all think decolonization meant? vibes? papers? essays? losers. Najma Sharif (@overdramatique) October 7, 2023 and vapid warmongering: This will not be a fleeting conflict in the Israeli-Palestinian saga. This looks like it will be the war to end all wars. It's different this time, and it needs to be clear to Hamas and the Iranian Ayatollah - and all their other proxies - that this was a severe miscalculation. Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) October 8, 2023 The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Iran helped plot the attacks, though this has sparked some skepticism; we'll see what more comes out. Eli Lake asks whether "the bulldozer that Hamas used to demolish a border fence between Israel and Gaza" was "paid for in part with U.S. development aid" here. The Associated Press offers photos that "show fear, death and destruction in battle scenes from Israel and the Gaza Strip" here. Michael Eisenberg has a Twitter thread discussing the on-the-ground organizing in Israel that's happening outside of government. Scenes from New York: Today at the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America) rally people cheered when a speaker spoke approvingly of Hamas killing and kidnapping "hipsters" at a rave. They cheered this at Times Square. Believe them. Progressive New Yorkers need to stop voting for these people. https://t.co/UI0Avj1L6A Peter Moskos (@PeterMoskos) October 9, 2023 QUICK HITS Though still on strike, the "United Auto Workers won a landmark concession from General Motors Co. to bring battery plant workers into the union's fold," which sets the stage for unionized electric vehicle plants. Watch Reason 's Matt Welch on Real Time with Bill Maher if you know what's good for you. Pivot toLinkedIn? Fascinating voter demographic changes: so in 2022, 40% of native americans voted republican - a number that's been increasing since 2018. this makes them the most conservative voting group among U.S. people of color - even more than latinos, whose rightward shift has gained much attentionhttps://t.co/ARH5M9GD7m spencer sunshine (@transform6789) October 5, 2023 Against safetyism, tech edition: By obstructing technological progress, safetyism has an extremely high civilizational opportunity cost. If there would have been a moratorium and ethics committee for every emerging technology, we most likely would have killed any progress in its larval stage. pic.twitter.com/XzRTlnjxZw Pirate Wires (@PirateWires) April 17, 2023 Such a dumb strain of anti-AI sentiment (of course image generators can be used to make things you find offensive): We also asked @NintendoAmerica if it knew Bing is generating images of Kirby doing 9/11. https://t.co/fk5JkBButs pic.twitter.com/LQgldZrfQL Emanuel Maiberg (@emanuelmaiberg) October 4, 2023 Amazon goes to space. "Any retaliation against Tehranamid reports that it helped to plan the [Hamas] attackscould endanger the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit that transports much of the world's crude [oil] and which the Iranian government previously has threatened to close," reports Bloomberg. "Iran denied on Monday that it was involved in the assault." How does the Iron Dome work? The post Death Toll Passes 1,100 appeared first on Reason.com. Tel Aviv Air raid sirens blared in Israel's largest city, Tel Aviv, again Monday morning as Palestinian militants fired more missiles at the Jewish state and the death toll on both sides soared to over 1,500, with at least 11 Americans among the dead. Explosions rang out as Israel's Iron Dome air defense system brought down some of the rockets, but there was no immediate word on how many might have slipped through. The latest salvo of rockets, claimed by Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades military unit, came after Israel said it had struck hundreds of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight and as four Israeli combat divisions were deployed to the country's south. Some 100,000 Israeli reservists were called up to fight as battles with Hamas militants continued. People inspect the damage to a building in the southern city of Ashkelon, Israel, on Oct. 9, 2023, after it was hit during the night by a rocket from the Gaza Strip. / Credit: MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said "fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip" Sunday night and Monday morning, claiming to have destroyed tunnels and at least seven "Hamas command centers" in the blockaded Palestinian territory. The IDF said it also struck a command center used by Islamic Jihad, another Iran-backed terror group based in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. U.S. leaders vow support for Israel after deadly Hamas attack "It's taking more time than we expected to get things back into a defensive security posture," Israeli military spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told journalists Monday morning, acknowledging the ongoing battles in southern Israel three days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on the Jewish state. Death toll mounts as Israel bolsters Gaza blockade An Israeli embassy spokesperson said Monday the death toll has risen to at least 900 Israelis. Most were civilians. Another 2,500 were reported wounded, and IDF spokesperson told CBS News on Monday. More than 250 of the dead were people who had been attending a music festival near the border with Gaza when gunmen attacked. At least 11 U.S. nationals were among the dead, President Biden said in a statement Monday afternoon. "It's heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence," Mr. Biden said. An undetermined number of Americans remained missing. Israel made it clear that it wants vengeance, and in the Gaza Strip, retribution was falling from the sky. The airstrikes had killed more than 687 people as of Monday, including at least 140 children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. It said another 3,700 more were wounded in the strikes. Palestinians inspect destruction in a neighborhood heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City's Shati refugee camp, early on Oct. 9, 2023. / Credit: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty In the coming days, Israel is expected to launch a ground incursion into Gaza, a small, densely packed region sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea to the west and Israel to the north and east. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that he'd ordered a tightening of the Gaza blockade: "Nothing is allowed in or out. There will be no fuel, electricity or food supplies," he said in a statement. "We fight animals in human form and proceed accordingly." CBS News' Marwan al-Ghoul reported from Gaza City that the Israeli airstrikes had been relentless since Saturday. While Israel insists it is targeting Hamas and other terror groups, it has long accused those militants of positioning both fighters and weapons in or near civilian infrastructure. Houses, apartment buildings and mosques were all among the targets hit overnight, most of them without prior warning, al-Ghoul said. Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque, destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in the al-Shati refugee camp just outside Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. / Credit: Adel Hana/AP "I could not sleep last night as the planes bombed the mosque nearby, causing casualties and breaking the windows of my house," Samar Alyan, who lives in the sprawling al-Shati refugee camp just west of Gaza City, told CBS News. "We do not know what fate has in store for us," she said. "Israel retaliates on civilians." The camp is home to some 150,000 refugees. In the center of Gaza City, schools run by the U.N.'s humanitarian agency in the Palestinian territories, UNRWA, were full of displaced people looking for any safety they could find. Israeli infrastructure minister Israel Katz said in a tweet that he had "ordered to immediately cut off the water supply from Israel to Gaza," adding that "electricity and fuel were cut off yesterday" to the Palestinian territory, which is home to some 2 million people. / Credit: AP Israel has been locked in a cycle of violence with Palestinian militant groups for decades, but what happened on Saturday was unprecedented. Hundreds of Hamas militants broke through the steel and concrete barrier that Israel has used for decades to contain Palestinians inside Gaza. They stormed into Israel by land, sea and even on paragliders as waves of rockets more than 3,000 of them were unleashed on Israeli towns and cities. The gunmen from the group, which has long been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and Israel, went on a rampage, slaughtering civilians in the streets, engaging Israeli security forces with deadly effect, and kidnapping hostages including women, children and the elderly. Some of them were paraded through the streets of Gaza human trophies that Hamas knows it can use as leverage against its enemy. Israeli general says Hamas crossed "point of no return" with kidnappings One of the captives is Noa Argamani, a university student who was hauled away on the back of a motorcycle as she screamed for help. "She is an amazing person, a sweet child," her father Yaacov told CBS News. "I cannot believe it." The shocked father said he wanted the Israeli government to rescue his daughter, but "only by peaceful measures." "We need to act with sensitivity," he said. "They [Palestinians] also have mothers who are crying, the same as it is for us." "Seems like Israel had no clue" For many in Israel, the question burning Monday morning was how the country's intelligence agencies could have failed to detect and disrupt planning for such a significant Hamas assault. "It seems like Israel had no clue," former Israeli intelligence officer Gonen Ben Itzhak, who used to recruit spies to infiltrate Hamas, told CBS News. He said Israel distracted by simmering violence in the other Palestinian territory, the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where it's been protecting Israeli settlers let down its guard in Gaza. "I won't be surprised if they will start to even kill some of the hostages on camera," he said, predicting that Hamas would try to force the Israeli government to negotiate. But Israeli leaders and military officials weren't discussing any negotiations Monday morning. With some people calling the attack Israel's 9/11, military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the objective was "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." CBS News' Erin Lyall and Duarte Dias contributed to this report. Sly Stone's new memoir Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America Lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , announced his third-party candidacy for president on Monday at Independence Mall in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) In a move that could shift the landscape of the 2024 presidential election, lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Monday that he has quit the Democratic primary and will run for president as a third-party candidate. During a 48-minute speech in Philadelphia, Kennedy painted a dark picture of a country torn apart by corrupt elites, saying he had "declared independence" from the Democratic Party because voters deserve better than "two candidates anointed by shadowy institutions." "The country is sitting atop a powder keg," Kennedy said. "Americans are angry at being left out, left behind, swindled, cheated and belittled by a smug elite that has rigged the system in its favor." Kennedy's announcement caps months of friction with the Democratic National Committee, which has not scheduled any primary debates where Kennedy or self-help author Marianne Williamson, another presidential hopeful, could reach a wider audience. Read more: Letters to the Editor: Should RFK Jr. be taken seriously, on or off the debate stage? Polling released after Kennedy launched his campaign in April showed support from as many as 1 in 5 Democratic voters, though those numbers later sagged. Some Democrats still fear that Kennedy's candidacy, and the allure of his family name, could cloud Biden's path to reelection. Kennedy's popularity remains higher with Republicans than with Democrats, according to recent polls, sparking concern among some Republican operatives that he could also be a "spoiler" for President Trump. "The truth is, theyre both right," Kennedy said on Monday. "My intention is to spoil it for both of them." Kennedy, known as Bobby or RFK Jr., is the nephew of President John F. Kennedy and the son of Robert K. Kennedy, who both were assassinated in the 1960s. He worked as an environmental lawyer for years, fighting to clean up polluted waterways, and then founded the anti-vaccine organization Children's Health Defense. Read more: How a Kennedy built an anti-vaccine juggernaut amid COVID-19 Kennedy lives part time in Los Angeles with his wife, the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" actress Cheryl Hines, who introduced him on Monday morning. Kennedy, 69, has tried to paint himself as a unifying force while leaning heavily on divisive and conspiratorial language, telling voters that government agencies, the media, major corporations and other institutions are lying to them. He described himself Monday as "merely the bowsprit of a ship that is going to cut through the armada of corruption, of secrecy, of lies." During Kennedy's speech, four of his siblings released a statement denouncing his third-party candidacy, which they said is "dangerous to our country." "Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment," said Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy , Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and former Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II. The Republican National Committee on Monday called Kennedy "just another far-left Democrat" who endorsed Hillary Clinton, donated to Democrats for decades and wants to end hydraulic fracturing, the controversial oil extraction method commonly known as fracking. Read more: RFK Jr. defends himself against complaints of racist and antisemitic online misinformation The committee also highlighted recent media appearances in which Kennedy has pushed conspiratorial views, including his assertion on an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast that WiFi radiation "opens up your blood-brain barrier" and can cause cancer. A vocal critic of mainstream media, Kennedy has relied heavily on alternative media to publicize his campaign, including podcasts hosted by Dr. Mark Hyman and the actor Russell Brand. Kennedy has zeroed in on issues as wide-ranging as cryptocurrency, large pharmaceutical companies, agriculture and corrupt corporations, all in an effort to reach people who are already frustrated with American institutions, said Derek Beres, a co-host of the "Conspirituality" podcast, which tracks the marriage of conspiracy theories and spiritualism. "He's picking off all the fringe communities and speaking directly to them," Beres said in a recent interview. "He's an opportunist, and where he sees he can pick off a different part of the electorate, he's going to go for it." Read more: Column: The tech elite's embrace of RFK Jr. is a grim omen for Silicon Valley's future Beres, a Democrat, said his chief concerns were that Kennedy would siphon enough votes from Biden to help Trump get reelected in 2024 and that his rhetoric could make some Americans "so disaffected with the process that they end up not voting." That mix of voters was on display at a Kennedy campaign event in August at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, where elderly women in turquoise jewelry and tie-dyed T-shirts mingled with middle-aged men in tailored blazers and 20-somethings in Bitcoin T-shirts. They'd come to hear Kennedy debut a brief documentary about his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Yuma, Ariz. Though border security was the topic of the day, most of the crowd was there for other reasons. Los Angeles resident Carlene Brown, an 82-year-old practitioner of holistic medicine, said she had admired Kennedy for years because of his work with Children's Health Defense and his vocal advocacy for holistic doctors and other anti-establishment healthcare professionals who have been "censored and silenced." Brown said she was raised as an evangelical Christian but left the church as an adult because she thought religion was bleeding too much into the American public school system. She still doesn't agree with evangelical churches on much, but she allied herself with them again during the COVID-19 pandemic because "they were the ones that stood against the vaccine mandates." That's just one example, Brown said, of how Kennedy "is bringing people together." Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A deer fitted with a collar and marked as a pet was recently spotted in rural Missouri, raising eyebrows among residents and concerning wildlife officials. The buck was seen near the town of De Soto, roughly 35 miles southwest of St. Louis, the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said in an Oct. 8 Facebook post, sharing a photo of the animal. It appears someone placed a collar on the bucks neck and then painted the word pet on its side in bold letters, the photo shows. The sheriffs office used the opportunity as a teachable moment, an example of what not to do and how not to treat wildlife. Some echoed that sentiment, calling the situation unbelievable!! Wait till some kids see this, walk up and think its ok to pet this fella, a comment said. Then yall gonna have a whole other problem. But many were quick to disagree. Now the government is telling us what animals we can save and pets to have, one commenter wrote. Though the deer turned into a constitutional debate for some, most defenders simply felt that whoever attempted to tame the deer wasnt hurting anything. They just dont want their friend shot, a comment said, referring to the graffiti on the deers side. At least it has a collar on, read another. Half the dogs around [Jefferson County] dont even have that! I dont care what anyone says, if you can put the word pet on the side of a deer(its) your pet, a commenter argued. Their intentions may have been pure, but whoever is responsible has done this deer no favors, Missouri Department of Conservation Captain Scott Corley told McClatchy News in a phone interview. Somebody most likely took that deer out of the wild as a fawn and tried to keep it as a pet and put a collar on it, Corley said, adding that it has definitely lost its fear of humans. A conservation agent responded to the area on Sept. 27 after receiving a call from a concerned landowner, Corley said. The deer was gone by the time the agent arrived and its whereabouts are unknown. Were concerned with the health of the deer, Corley said. And nowadays since we have issues with chronic wasting disease and other disease issues, [interaction] is not safe for humans and its not in the best interest of the animals welfare. The deers age is unclear, but it appears to be a young buck about 2 years old, give or take a few months, Corley said. Obviously they thought they were keeping it safe. Maybe going into hunting season they thought painting pet on it, somebody wont shoot it if it comes by, he said. Thats just not a good idea by any means. Deer hunting season coincides with mating season, when male deer are at their most dangerous, Corley said. The deer may have been friendly in dealing with people before, but a buck in mating mode is aggressive. Aggression and a lack of fear toward humans is a bad combination. When they took him out of the wild his first year he didnt have all those hormones running through him, he said. Now he can be aggressive and it can cause problems. If the department captures the deer, agents could remove its collar then try to harass it to move it back into the wild. Ultimately, it might be best to euthanize the deer. Were going to protect the people and if this deer is aggressive toward people theres a possibility that would be an option, he said. The last thing we want to happen is for somebody to get gored with an antler. That wouldnt be much of a risk if the deer had been left alone in the first place. It ends in a bad situation for the deer by taking them out of the wild. They have a lot better chance if you leave them where theyre at and dont touch them, he said. Neglected husky puppies tossed over shelters fence, group says. Now they have a home Couple killed by grizzly bear took the proper precautions. Why didnt it save them? Adorable spotted kitten sold in parking lot leads to Texas couples arrest, feds say Mountain lion disrupts golf tournament, is killed after 2-day hunt, NE officials say Rustem Umierov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, had a phone conversation with his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren on 9 October. Source: European Pravda with reference to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine The Defence Ministers have discussed urgent necessities of Ukraine, mainly air defence systems, long-range missiles and artillery. They separately discussed the Dutch experience in procurement and supply. Umierov has thanked his Dutch counterpart for leadership in the F-16 fighter jets coalition, training on fighter jets, readiness to provide the jets and the plans to create training centers for the pilots. "I am looking forward to the meeting with Ms. Ollongren at the Ramstein-16 meeting and inviting her to Ukraine," Umierov added. Commenting on the phone conversation on Twitter (X), Ollongren stressed the readiness of the Netherlands to develop close partnership with Ukraine. "Ukraine can count on our full-fledged support," she stated. Earlier, the Ministry of Defence of the US announced the sixteenth meeting of the Contact Group for the Defence of Ukraine (Ramstein format) set to be held in Brussels on 10 October in an online format. 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 trial date has yet to be set in the Hertel & Brown federal fraud case, but a judge has made clear that the largest-ever white-collar criminal prosecution in Erie will indeed go forward. U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter has denied a defense request that she dismiss the indictment against about half of the 21 defendants in the case, including the Erie-based Hertel & Brown Physical & Aquatic Therapy as a corporation and the practice's co-founders and owners, Aaron W. Hertel and Michael R. Brown. In a 22-page opinion filed in U.S. District Court in Erie on Friday, Baxter rejected the defense's argument that she throw out the case due to the prosecutor's disclosure, in a July 17 court filing, of summaries of statements that the U.S. Attorney's Office said two of the defendants made to the FBI. The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Trabold, has characterized the statements as incriminating. The two defendants physical therapists Jacqueline Renee Exley and Julie Ann Johnson are denying that they told the FBI what the agents said they did. Exley and Johnson claimed the Erie Times-News' coverage of the disclosures, in an article on July 19, prejudiced the potential jury pool against them to such an extent that Baxter should toss the indictment. Exley and Johnson also argued that Trabold's disclosures of the summaries of the statements was so improper that a dismissal of the indictment was warranted. Baxter disagreed. "The Court has determined that the relevant pretrial publicity, particularly the July 19, 2023, Erie Times-News article, does not provide grounds for a presumption of prejudice," Baxter said in her ruling. "The Court also finds the prosecution's disclosures do not rise to the level of outrageous conduct as would necessitate the dismissal of the instant criminal charges as a matter of due process." Disputed statements still subject of suppression hearing The defendants are accused of conspiring to overbill Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers a total of $22 million over 14 years, starting shortly after Hertel & Brown launched in January 2007 and ending in October 2021. A federal grand jury in Erie indicted the 21 defendants in November 2021 and issued a superseding indictment against them in May 2022. Exley and Johnson, according to Trabold's July 17 filing, told FBI agents that they and other employees at Hertel & Brown regularly overbilled for services at the direction of the business' owners, Hertel and Brown. Also according to what Trabold said in the filing, Exley and Johnson told the FBI that Hertel and Brown told the employees how to bill for services in the improper manner. Johnson also told the FBI "that at Hertel & Brown that is the way it has always been done and we turned a blind eye," according to the filing. Exley and Johnson want the statements tossed, and Baxter has scheduled a suppression hearing on Oct. 19. That hearing remains on schedule following Baxter's refusal to dismiss the indictment. Baxter has not set a trial date while she deals with the suppression request and other pretrial matters. Exley and Johnson filed their suppression motion on May 15. Trabold on July 17 filed his response, in which he disclosed the summaries of the disputed statements. Trabold said the disclosures were necessary to counter Exley and Johnson's claims that the FBI violated their rights by taking statements from them when agents searched Hertel & Brown's offices on Feb. 23, 2021. The interviews were not recorded. They are citing, in part, their Miranda rights, about warnings that interview subjects must receive when they are in custody. Whether the two were ever in custody is a major issue in their suppression fight. Two of the defendants in the Hertel & Brown fraud case are challenging the statements that the FBI said the two gave two agents when the FBI searched Hertel & Brown's offices on Feb. 23, 2021, when a number of law enforcement vehicles parked outside what was then the main office in the West Erie Plaza in Millcreek Township. Exley and Johnson argued that Trabold's disclosures were unnecessary and damaging to their cases. As Baxter said in her ruling, "The Government has maintained that both Exley and Johnson made incriminating statements..., an allegation which Exley and Johnson strenuously deny." She also said that Exley and Johnson "insist that the Government's disclosure was particularly prejudicial in this case because it concerns alleged confessions which they deny making and which may ultimately prove to be inadmissible at trial." The lawyer for Exley is Jennifer Bouriat, and the lawyers for Johnson are Efrem Grail and Julia Gitelman, all of Pittsburgh. Baxter did not discount their arguments outright. "This Court can certainly appreciate the Defendants' concerns about the content of the July 19, 2023, news article" on disclosures, she said in her ruling. "The central issue before this Court is whether the defendants can receive a fair trial notwithstanding any news accounts that have been published concerning this case or whether, on the contrary, the trial atmosphere has been 'utterly corrupted' by press coverage." Baxter found that the defendants could still get a fair trial, especially from a jury that would be would be drawn from seven counties in northwestern Pennsylvania a 520,000-person area that makes up the Erie Division of the Pittsburgh-based federal Western District of Pennsylvania. Baxter also said the July 19 news article did not create an undue prejudice. She said it was "not salacious" and that it reported the positions of the prosecution and defense, including that Exley and Johnson had denied making the statements that the FBI attributed to them. "On balance," Baxter said, "the article is factual in the sense that it reports on information obtained from the parties' filings and/ore court proceedings." Judge sides with prosecutor, but urges 'greater caution' Baxter also evaluated Trabold's reasoning for making the disclosures in the July 17 filing. "In defending its disclosures, the Government insists that Exley and Johnson's joint suppression motion fairly brought the substance of their challenged statements into play," Baxter said in her ruling. "The Government further posits that the contents of their statements is relevant to the Court's analysis of whether they were subject to custodial interrogations. U.S. District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter rejected a defense request to dismiss the indictment in the Hertel & Brown fraud case. "This is not manifestly obvious, as it is possible the Court may be able to resolve the disputed Miranda issues without either side weighing in on what was actually said during the alleged interrogations. Moreover, to the extent that consideration of the statements themselves is necessary, the Government could have exercised greater caution by seeking to place that information under seal. "But even if the prosecution can be faulted for its disclosures, it does not follow that dismissal of the Superseding Indictment is warranted." Start of trial in Hertel & Brown case still 'months away' Eight defendants joined Exley and Johson in the failed dismissal request. They are in addition to Hertel & Brown as a corporation and the two owners Patricia Berchtold, Austin Dudenhoefer, Jeremy R. Bowes, Marissa Sue Hull and Jessica Jeanne Morphy. Berchtold was a billing specialist at Hertel & Brown who typically worked remotely from Florida, according to court records. Dudenhoefer and Morphy are physical therapists and Bowes and Hull are physical therapy assistants. Trabold's July 17 filing focused on the disputed statements of Exley and Johnson alone, and the number and names of other defendants who gave statements to the FBI have not been disclosed in court records. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Trabold is prosecuting the Hertel & Brown fraud case. But the other defendants who wanted the indictment dismissed argued Trabold's inclusion of the summaries of the statements also harmed them. The other defendants focused on Johnson's purported statements that Hertel and Brown told the employees how to bill for services in the improper manner and "that at Hertel & Brown that is the way it has always been done and we turned a blind eye." Baxter also decided against the eight other defendants. But she also said that "she will revisit any concerns about pretrial publicity, to the extent necessary, to a later stage of these proceedings." And she ordered Trabold to place his July 17 filing under seal, "in an abundance of caution," and to submit a redacted version of the filing that omits "any reference to the content of Exley's or Johnson's alleged confessions." The indictment in the Hertel & Brown case charges all the defendants with one count each of the felonies of health care fraud and criminal conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud. All the defendants have pleaded not guilty and are free on unsecured bonds. Hertel & Brown remains in business, but is down to one office from five. Its main office had been at the West Erie Plaza in Millcreek Township. Its remaining office is in what had been the Iron Oxygen fitness center in the plaza on the east side of Pittsburgh Avenue at West 12th Street, just southeast of the West Erie Plaza. The Oct. 19 suppression hearing is one of several pretrial hearings that Baxter is expected to hold ahead of a trial. Though her decision on the disclosures ended a major dispute, Baxter will have to clear up other matters before she sets a trial date. "A definitive trial date has not yet been established due to ongoing motions ... and various impending pretrial rulings," Baxter said in Friday's ruling. "The commencement of trial is likely to be months away." Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Judge refuses to toss charges in Erie-based Hertel & Brown fraud case PHILADELPHIA - The death toll keeps rising in Israel and so many people around the world and here, in the Delaware Valley, say they feel helpless watching the terrible images come in. But, some local Jewish leaders say they are helping and invite and you can, too. "A terrorist crossing into Israel, slaughtering innocent people. It was horrific," said Jeffrey Lasday, with Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. When reports first came out that Hamas had attacked Israel, Lasday says the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia jumped into action. "People are feeling sad. Theyre feeling angry. Theyre feeling devastated." RELATED COVERAGE: Empire State Building lights up blue and white for Israel Lasday has children and grandchildren living in Tel Aviv and knows so many people want to do something, because whats happening in Israel does not just affect that small corner of the world. "This was an attack against the Jewish people and the Jewish people are a family," Lasday continued. "They all have loved ones. Its personal. Its not hearing about strangers that its happening to, its happening to loved ones." With so many dead and with a war that could rage on, the federation has an emergency fund set up to help Israel and will also hold a Stand with Israel Monday night. MORE RELATED COVERAGE: "Its just heartbreaking and there is no other word for it. Its just complete terrorism," Marcia Bronstein, Regional Director for the American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, said. American Jewish Committee Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey is an organization that fights anti-Semitism around the world. Bronstein was also horrified at the images coming out of Israel and knows many people in the country. "You know, theyre the heroes. They are standing on the lines and making sure that Israel is safe and secure and were doing whatever we can to support them and to support Israel." "What if that was your grandmother that was kidnapped and taken hostage? It was a dastardly deed. All people can relate and all people can support Israel in this, because they know what it would be if it was their family that this is happening to," Lasday explained. Bronstein added, "Its really important that we stand together and that we support Israel as a democracy, as a beacon of hope and peace in the Middle East." The Stand with Israel rally begins at 6 p.m. at the Kaiserman JCC in Wynnewood. Theyre asking people of all faiths to come out and to wear blue and white to show their support for Israel. For those who wish to donate to the Jewish Federations emergency fund, can find more information on their website, here. Delta Airlines will cancel flights into Tel Aviv through the rest of October in the wake of the fighting between Israel forces and Hamas, the airline announced Monday. A spokesperson for Delta confirmed to The Hill that all flights to Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv have been cancelled through Oct. 31. Our hearts are with those who are impacted as our people work to find safe alternatives for customers trying to depart TLV, a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. The cancellation extends Deltas previous travel alert, which suspended flights to Tel Aviv through this week. In its most recent travel alert on its website, Delta said it will issue travel waivers for rebooked flights traveling on or before Nov. 30, 2023. If passengers cannot rebook for a flight on or before Nov. 30, Delta said they can cancel their reservation and use the credit for a new ticket within one year of the original travel date. Delta said it will continue to explore options with available seats on its partner airlines for those looking to safely exit Tel Aviv. The spokesperson told The Hill that Delta plans to work with the U.S. government as needed to help with the return of U.S. citizens looking to return home. The announcement follows a series of temporary flight suspensions to Tel Aviv from several airlines, including United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada, among others. The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Gaza, urging people not to travel to the region due to terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict. Passengers are also being advised to exercise increased caution when traveling to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest, the State Department said. In an update Sunday, the State Department said the situation remains dynamic while warning of mortar or rocket fire taking place without warning. Israel and Hamas members entered their third day of fighting Monday, following an onslaught of surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday. Hamas is the governing authority in Gaza, and it is recognized as a terrorist group by the United States government. It does not recognize Israels right to exist as a state and has taken out attacks on civilians, as it did Saturday. It has also taken hostages. At least 900 people in Israel, including both soldiers and civilians, have died, and the death toll is expected to rise, according to The Associated Press. An additional 680 people have been killed in Gaza so far as Israel continues to ramp up its counteroffensive against Hamas, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. This story was updated at 6:39 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. China offers to support Afghanistan's disaster relief in light of its needs Global Times) 08:43, October 09, 2023 Afghan residents clear debris from a damaged house after an earthquake occurred in Herat province in western Afghanistan on October 8, 2023. The quake has killed more than 2,000, according to official update. Photo: Xinhua China on Sunday offered to support Afghanistan's disaster relief efforts after a magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck Herat province in western Afghanistan on Saturday, causing more than 2,000 fatalities and close to 10,000 injuries. Chinese analysts called on the international community to assist the Afghan people to prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country. The death toll stands at 2,053 people, with 9,240 injured and 1,320 houses damaged or destroyed due to the powerful quake, which struck around 11 am local time on Saturday, Reuters reported. There have been at least three strong aftershocks. Janan Sayeeq, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Disasters of the Taliban government was cited by media as saying that 10 rescue teams were in the area, which borders Iran. "We deeply mourn for the victims and offer our 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," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Sunday. No Chinese nationals were affected by the earthquakes, according to the release. The spokesman for the Chinese International Development Cooperation Agency, Xu Wei, said Sunday that we extend our condolences for the severe casualties and property losses caused by the earthquake in Afghanistan, and we are willing to provide emergency humanitarian assistance according to the needs of the affected people. Due to the inadequate resistance to earthquakes of buildings, especially in urban areas of Afghanistan, and the difficulties of rescue, the death toll may increase in the coming days. The recent earthquakes may worsen the humanitarian catastrophe and delay Afghanistan's economic recovery because the country has not yet recovered from last year's earthquakes and previous crises, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times. The Taliban government may also have obstacles in receiving international assistance due to the lack of ties with many nations. What's worse is that other global crises, such as the Israel-Gaza conflict and the Russia-Ukraine crisis, may deflect attention, making it more challenging for the people of Afghanistan to get additional aid, said Zhu, calling for the international community to pay more attention to the Afghan people and help with the humanitarian assistance in the country. According to information from the UN, humanitarian partners have initiated relief efforts, deploying medical and trauma support to regional hospitals alongside emergency shelter, food, supplies, and assistance to people in affected areas. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Delta customers who weren't given refunds after their flights were canceled during the pandemic are getting a settlement payout. The airline is making a $27 million settlement payout to customers who received credit instead of refunds. Delta said that it denied "each and every allegation of liability, wrongdoing, and damage." Delta Air Lines customers who said the airline canceled their flights at the start of the pandemic and wouldn't refund them are getting a share of a $27 million settlement payout. Under the settlement, the airline will make cash payments with 7% interest for the amount of unused credit customers have whose flights were canceled and who requested refunds but instead received credit. Customers also have the option to keep the credit as it is, but also get the 7% interest payment in credit. The available refunds plus interest total $27.3 million. The settlement covers US citizens who had purchased non-refundable tickets for Delta flights scheduled to depart between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021. CNN reported that 14,000 members of the class had submitted their claims by the September 15 deadline. Delta breached its contractual obligation to issue refunds for the canceled flights, the lawsuit claimed. It also understaffed its call centers and made it "impossible" to request refunds online, the lawsuit alleged. In a draft of the settlement agreement, Delta said that it denied "each and every allegation of liability, wrongdoing, and damage" but that it was settling the lawsuit "to avoid the substantial expense, inconvenience, burden, and disruption of continued litigation." US District Judge Eleanor L. Ross approved the settlement on Thursday. Delta will also pay attorneys' fees totalling $2.285 million for the class members, an estimated $246,465 for settlement administration costs, $51,300 for litigation costs, and a $3,000 service award to the person who filed the lawsuit. According to Ross' judgment, any residual funds left over from the $27 million pot will be given to charity, and split between Public Justice, a legal advocacy non-profit, and United Way of Greater Atlanta, a children's charity in Atlanta, where Delta is headquartered. Angela Dusko, the plaintiff, said in her lawsuit, originally filed in April 2020, that she had spent $2,783 on four roundtrip tickets for her family to travel from Helena, Montana, to Cancun, Mexico. She said that after Delta canceled their initial outbound flight, it rescheduled the family for another one but that she asked for a refund instead, which the airline refused to grant. Only after filing her lawsuit did Delta finally grant her request for a refund, she wrote in an amended version of the lawsuit. "Since the beginning of 2020, Delta refunded over 11 million tickets totaling $6 billion, of which 20% took place in 2022," a spokesperson for the airline told Insider. "In the settlement agreement from May 2023, Delta does not admit or acknowledge it failed to follow its contract of carriage or that it failed to provide refunds in accordance with its contract of carriage." Insider has approached the plaintiff's attorneys for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Representative Ritchie Torres has slammed some of his fellow Democrats over their comments about the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas militants. Following the surprise invasion on Saturday morning, Rep Rashida Tlaib, a member of the so-called Squad of progressive lawmakers, called for the US to stop funding Israel, which she called an apartheid system. I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity, she wrote in her statement. The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. Ms Tlaib, who is the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, also criticised the US for providing billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government. While that support continues, she wrote that this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue. The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other, she added. Meanwhile, fellow Squad member Rep Cori Bush also called for the US to halt funding to Israel. I am 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, she wrote. Members of the Squad (Getty Images) Ms Bush said she strongly condemns the targeting of civilians and called for an immediate ceasefire. 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, she added. 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. Their comments come after Hamas militants stormed into Israel early on Saturday morning, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border. Israel has said that more than 700 people have so far been killed by Hamas militants, with at least four Americans among the dead. Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. Ritchie Torres condemned his fellow Democrats (AP) Mr Torres slammed the members of his own party, describing Ms Bush and Ms Tlaibs comments reprehensible and repulsive. US aid to Israel is and should be unconditional, and never more so than in this moment of critical need, he said in a statement to the Jewish Insider. Congress must act decisively to provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself in the face of unprecedented terrorism. Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. It is reprehensible and repulsive, he added. He called for the US to provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself from the attacks. Other members of the Squad including Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ilhan Omar also called for a ceasefire and de-escalation in the Middle East as the violence continues. President Joe Biden issued a statement hours after the conflict began, calling the attack appalling and vowing to stand by Israel as an ally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers. On Monday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Meanwhile, sirens have sounded in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with witnesses in the latter city hearing explosions that may have been from rocket impacts or from mid-air interceptions. A coalition of mostly House and Senate Democrats penned a letter to President Biden on Friday urging him to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist convicted in the 1970s of fatally shooting two FBI agents at point-blank range. The Democrats led by House Natural Resources Committee ranking member Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., and joined by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal , D-Wash., Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. cast doubt on the circumstances under which Peltier was found guilty in 1977 of killing the two agents two years prior. The letter was sent ahead of Indigenous People's Day on Oct. 9. One House Republican has also signed on to the letter. "As Members of Congress, we sign this letter with a deep commitment to the crucial role we play in upholding justice for all Americans and to also hold our government accountable when we see a case of injustice, as demonstrated by the long incarceration of Leonard Peltier," the lawmakers wrote to Biden. " We stand with the Tribal Nations of the United States, Indigenous voices worldwide, and leading voices on human rights and criminal justice around the globe in support of Mr. Peltiers release." "Over the course of his incarceration, particularly in recent years, key figures involved in Mr. Peltiers prosecution have stepped forward to underscore the constitutional violations and prosecutorial misconduct that took place during the investigation and trial that led to his conviction," the letter continued. NEW YORK DEM'S CAPITOL HILL FIRE ALARM INCIDENT REFERRED TO FEDS FOR CHARGES SIMILAR TO JAN. 6 RIOTERS Rep. Raul Grijalva led a coalition of 33 lawmakers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in sending the letter to President Biden on Friday. The Democratic lawmakers also noted in their letter to President Biden that Peltier is 79 years old, is suffering from numerous health issues, has been imprisoned for nearly five decades, and is currently being held in a high-security prison in Florida. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In 1977, after a 25-day trial, Peltier was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences of murdering FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams during a shootout in June 1975 at Jumping Bull Ranch located on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. CONSERVATIVES CHEER BIDEN OMB DIRECTOR WARNING GOP CUTS COULD PURGE THOUSANDS OF FBI, ATF AGENTS: 'GOOD START' The two agents entered the reservation to arrest an individual wanted for burglary before they engaged in the shootout with several individuals, including Peltier. The agents were wounded by gunfire before they were ultimately murdered, the court found, by Peltier at point-blank range. Peltier fled after the shooting to Canada, where he was captured and extradited back to America to stand trial. While he, Democrats and various activist organizations have repeatedly claimed the trial was marked by lack of sufficient evidence proving he killed the agents, Peltier's conviction has been upheld several times on appeal, even after making its way to the U.S. Supreme Court on two occasions, in 1979 and 2004. The U.S. Parole Commission rejected Peltier's request for parole in 2009. Leonard Peltier is led across the Oakalla prison exercise yard to a waiting helicopter after being deported from Canada to face charges of murdering two FBI agents. "We in the Federal Bureau of Investigation vehemently oppose granting Mr. Peltier parole," former FBI Executive Assistant Director Thomas Harrington remarked in a statement during the parole proceedings. "The intentional and vicious attack by Mr. Peltier was not simply a blatant attack on two FBI special agents; it was an attack on law enforcement as a whole an attack on the rule of law," Harrington said. "The inevitable haziness brought on by the passage of time does not diminish the brutality of the crimes or the lifelong torment to the surviving families." And the FBI Agents Association (FBIAA), a professional association that mainly represents active FBI special agents, has repeatedly argued against granting Peltier clemency. As part of that effort, the group penned a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland in late 2021, stating the facts of the case and expressing concern that advocates are "working to mislead the public, the Department of Justice, and the White House." "The FBI Agents Association strongly opposed executive clemency for Leonard Peltier," FBIAA President Natalie Bara told Fox News Digital in a statement Friday. "Activists sympathetic to Peltier continue to mislead elected officials and the public in order to secure an early release for this unremorseful murderer of FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams." "FBIAA will continue to counter these efforts, and we stand with the entire FBI family in our determination to ensure that Peltier serves his full sentence." In addition to Grijalva, Jayapal, Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Ted Lieu, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar also signed the letter. A single Republican, Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, has also signed the letter. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Original article source: Democrats call on Biden to release Leonard Peltier, activist who fatally shot two FBI agents Sacramento County sheriffs deputies are investigating a homicide after a man was found dead Sunday afternoon, the Sheriffs Office said. The victim was found by a pedestrian under a bridge crossing Elder Creek in the 8200 block of Gerber Road, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office said. The overcrossing is a block east of Power Inn Center and Vineyard Square. Deputies responded to the scene at 4 p.m. and found that the man had suffered a gunshot wound and died. Homicide detectives canvassed the scene for evidence. No other details were released. The identity of the victim is expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office. A massive storm will be a major weathermaker across the entire country this week, and AccuWeather forecasters say that it will unleash a range of impacts including drenching rain, potent thunderstorms and even some snow. "The coast-to-coast storm will bring rain to parts of the Northwest through Tuesday night, then reorganize over the High Plains Wednesday night and Thursday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg explained. Across the Rocky Mountains, a dramatic temperature drop can occur into midweek as this feature enters the region. Cities such as Denver will experience a temperature roller coaster throughout the week. Following a high of 80 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday afternoon, daytime temperatures may be no better than the lower 50s on Thursday and Friday. Many locations across Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana will feel the brunt of the tumbling temperatures from early to late week. Some locations can observe high temperatures plunging from the 70s and 80s into the 40s and 50s over the course of a few days, with a slight rebound likely for most areas of the interior West by the weekend. Residents in Casper, Wyoming, are forecast to experience some of the most dramatic swings in the weather. After highs in the mid-70s for the region early this week, clouds will move in Wednesday and temperatures will begin a downward spiral, resulting in the potential for a slushy snowfall across the area. Daytime highs by Thursday may only creep up into the lower 40s. "Rain is going to change to snow in the higher elevations in Wyoming and northern Colorado Wednesday night; this snow will continue to mix with rain throughout the day as the storm strengthens across the central Plains on Thursday," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tyler Roys said. "This snow and rain mixture will expand across southern Wyoming and into western Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota late Thursday into Thursday night." GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Forecasters say that any accumulation that occurs across the Western states will mainly be on non-paved surfaces, especially outside of the higher terrain. From Wednesday to Thursday, this feature will emerge into the Plains, spreading rain and thunderstorms across the center of the country. Severe weather can even fire up as early as Wednesday night across southeastern South Dakota, central and eastern Nebraska and southern Iowa as the storm advances eastward, with the primary threats being gusty winds and hail. Wet conditions will expand from northeastern Colorado, Nebraska and South Dakota into southern Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan on Thursday. As the core of the storm's energy transfers into the central Plains, another zone of severe storms can erupt over eastern Nebraska and Kansas, southern Iowa and northern Missouri from Thursday to Thursday evening, with the potential for storms to extend as far south as northeastern Oklahoma. Thursday's main severe weather concerns will be large hail, flooding downpours and localized damaging wind gusts. However, forecasters warn that a rogue tornado or two cannot yet be ruled out given the energetic setup. "This event is going to bring a soaking rain for areas that really need the rain across central and eastern Nebraska into Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin Thursday into Friday," Roys said. While the rain will benefit areas facing severe to extreme drought, it could create some short-term issues for farmers who are harvesting their crops. The heavy rain and storms developing across the Plains may cause localized urban-style flooding issues, particularly across Minnesota and Wisconsin, especially where leaves clog storm drains. On the other hand, it may leave more to be desired regarding alleviating low water conditions on the Lower Mississippi River. The ground will absorb some of the rain that falls, but some rain will work into the upper portion of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "There should be a short-term, probably minor, positive response with river levels over the next week or two that will gradually work downstream. Much more rain is needed on a regular basis to ease the drought and to get navigation back to average pace on the Mississippi, Sosnowski added. By Friday, the storm is expected to transition over parts of the Midwest and bring disruptions from areas of Minnesota to Indiana. Motorists and airline passengers traveling through metro areas like Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit may experience slowdowns through Friday night as downpours spread across the region. Forecasters warn that at least the first half of the weekend is likely to be damp, yet again, across parts of the Northeast. Residents across parts of the mid-Atlantic states and New England haven't been able to catch a break recently concerning dreary and damp weekends, and unfortunately, conditions this weekend may not break the ongoing streak. "The incoming rain this weekend would mark the sixth consecutive weekend with some measurable rain in the New York City area," Lundberg said. On the heels of the cross-country storm, there can be a shot of cool air to follow behind it across the Plains. That cooler flow of air is likely to push southward and eastward later this weekend into early next week. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered flags in Ohio to be lowered in response to the Israel-Hamas war. Flags will be half-staff from sunrise Oct. 10 until sunset Oct. 12, a spokesperson for DeWines office said in a media release. >> RELATED: Ohio lawmakers react to deadly Hamas attack on Israel Israel formally declared war Sunday, greenlighting significant military steps against Hamas. Currently, Over 1,550 people are dead and thousands more are wounded. In a statement released Saturday morning, Gov. Mike DeWine said he and Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine were extending their deepest sympathies to the victims and their families of the unprovoked attack on Israel. Questions are circling in one Orlando community over a Black womans death that family members say police are reducing to suicide when they believe something more is at work. Yolna Lubrin, also known as Yo-Yo, was found hanging from a tree in a strangers backyard on Sept. 28. When police were called, they cut her down from the tree and tried to administer lifesaving aid but pronounced her dead at the scene. Yolna Lubrin (Photos: Twitter/Curtis McCloud) Her death investigation is ongoing, but police have stated that so far, all signs point to suicide and not foul play. The final cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner. Trending Today: However, the family isnt buying the story. They say she was found partially nude and say there are many factors that arent adding up, including the fact that Lubrin had no connection to the neighborhood where her body was discovered. They also claimed that Lubrins car was found severely vandalized with all the doors open and allege theres a strong possibility she was assaulted or sexually assaulted, according to co-founder of Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc. Pastor Carl Soto. Today, we are calling out Chief Eric Smith, and we are urging him to have his department immediately rescind this allegation of suicide and thoroughly investigate all aspects of Mrs. Lubrins death, Soto said. Lubrins family believes more investigative measures need to be taken before concluding that suicide was the cause of death. Overall, they have not done their due diligence in providing more insight, Yo-Yos sister Naomi Lubrin said of police efforts to USA TODAY. I feel like they messed up horribly. However, police point to a documented history of mental illness, witness statements, and phone communications that reveal Lubrin showed suicidal inclinations, according to WESH 2 News. In a statement, the Orlando Police Department said: While all death investigations are predicated upon the existence of trauma to the body in order to determine a criminal act, our investigation has thus far not revealed any physical injuries other than the ligature marks on the neck caused by the hanging. Yolna Lubrin would have turned 32 on Oct. 13. Her sister said she was a brilliant, amazing woman with a wonderful sense of humor. My sister was loving, she was cared for and she was my mothers caretaker, Naomi Lubrin said. I want everyone to know that she was a comedian, and she would brighten up the scene, she would brighten up the room that she walks in, and that her life should not be so dark as it is today. People on social media are posting Justice for Yolna to support the family as they urge investigators to look deeper for answers. People who live in the Orlando community where Lubrins body was found are pointing out similarities between her death and the death of Nevan Baker, an Orlando Black man who was found hanging from a tree near Camping World Stadium. Authorities also ruled his death a suicide. This is not the first time or the first time in a while this has happened in Orlando, just in 2020 we were asking the same questions about Nevan Baker who was found hanging in a tree in a very suspicious way for it to be a suicide, activist Miles Mulrain Jr. wrote on Facebook. Although many reports surfaced saying Bakers body was brutalized and his hands were bound when he was hanged, investigators dispelled those rumors in the course of the death investigation. Read the original story here. Two lawsuits filed by service members challenging the Defense Departments now-defunct COVID-19 vaccine mandate have ended in a settlement, according to an agreement filed Tuesday in a Florida federal court. A judge awarded Liberty Counsel, the firm representing plaintiffs in Navy SEALs 1-26 v. Biden and Colonel Financial Management Officer, et al. v. Austin, $1.8 million to cover legal fees incurred during the cases, which were filed following Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin s fall 2021 announcement that the COVID-19 vaccine would become mandatory for all troops. The military COVID shot mandate is dead, Mat Staver, Liberty Counsels chairman, said in a statement. Our heroic service members can no longer be forced to take this experimental jab that conflicts with their religious convictions. Several lawsuits popped up in the wake of the new mandate, many arguing that troops were unfairly denied religious exemptions to the vaccine and therefore faced involuntary separation from service. Religious vaccine exemptions have been historically rare throughout the services, with medical or administrative exceptions much more common, but still in small numbers. Several hundred religious waivers were granted while the mandate was in effect. The fallout of the militarys COVID-19 vaccine mandate Of 17,000 service members who refused the vaccine, according to data provided to Military Times in early 2023, more than 8,000 were discharged and another 1,000 received exemptions before the mandates recision in January left the rest off the hook for punishment. The Department will continue to promote and encourage COVID-19 vaccination for all service members, Austin wrote in the memo repealing the mandate. The Department has made COVID-19 vaccination as easy and convenient as possible, resulting in vaccines administered to over two million service members and 96 percent of the force Active and Reserve being fully vaccinated. Involuntarily separated troops, who mostly received general discharges, are able to upgrade their discharges by filing with their services board for correction of records. Those troops are also able to rejoin the military. Dark Rain Thom sits near a stairway in her home that holds a collection of traditional Native American items. Dark Rain said she is a Native American, descended from the Shawnee, who tried to help get recognition for the United Remnant Band of Shawnee, which is based in Ohio. The tribe is unrecognized federally but successfully sought some validation from the state legislature in Ohio. In the rolling hills of Bloomington, Indiana, lives a woman who has spent her 81 years collecting artifacts and artwork about the people from whom her grandparents told her she came. Dark Rain Thom identifies as a descendant of the Shawnee, a group of Native Americans that were largely forced to relocate from Ohio to Oklahoma nearly two centuries ago. Thom has represented the Shawnee in national speaking engagements, was honored with an award by at least one of three Shawnee tribes, and she researched and wrote books about the group's history in her native Ohio. But the tribe of Shawnee that Thom belongs to has never been recognized by her own people or the U.S. government. Thom sees it as a slight that could have serious implications as the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is to vote this fall on whether to limit the power of tribes like Thoms. For Thom a former clan mother of the Bellefontaine-based United Remnant Band of Shawnee the move can be boiled down to one word: stupid. Im not hurt, Im mad, Thom said about the possible changes at NCAI. I have good feelings about most Indians. But my experience with some was: You're not tribal, youre bull----. That's not true and it's not nice. While Thom sees the move as an affront, the leaders of some federally recognized tribes disagree. If the proposed changes at NCAI are approved later this year, it will mean that non-federally recognized tribes will lose voting power for the first time in the governing bodys 80-year history. The changes would still allow potentially hundreds of non-federally recognized tribes to remain associate members of NCAI, said Ben Barnes, chief of the Shawnee Tribe in Oklahoma , and one of a few leaders proposing the constitutional amendments for NCAI. An explanation from a letter proposing changes to the constitution of the National Congress of American Indians. The Congress, set to meet in November. The change, Barnes said, is needed because self-declared tribes and state-recognized ones have sown confusion among the public and blurred the line between legitimate Native American tribes and social clubs or nonprofit groups. In fact, Barnes said state recognition is sometimes a disservice to the Native American community by providing an aura of legitimacy to groups that dont always deserve it. I don't even like the term (state-recognized) because they're not, Barnes said. They are a collage. They are a collage of individuals misrepresenting themselves as a tribal nation because a nation is something wholly, distinctly different. Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Chief Ben Barnes leads a nation of more than 3,100 people. A federal dataset recorded the population of the Miami-based tribe as zero, leading to the minimum CARES Act relief payment and spurring a federal lawsuit. Because we are asking for it Although Thom now calls an Indiana cabin her home, she spent much of her life in southern Ohio. She became active in the United Remnant Band (URB) in the 1970s, and said she helped push for state recognition. Starting in 1979, Ohios legislature began hearings on HJR-8, a resolution written to provide recognition to the group. The hearings stretched into 1980, with legislators asking questions about bloodlines and why they should provide some form of designation to the United Remnant Band. Partial state records obtained by The Dispatch show that members of the URB testified before the legislature, although Thom doesnt appear to have been one of them. A witness by the name of Tukemas told legislators that the band had about 200 members and met four times annually. When one lawmaker asked why the state should recognize the tribe, Tukemas responded simply: Because we are asking for it. The legislature passed a resolution in 1980 recognizing the URB. Notes from a February 1979 Ohio legislative hearing about the United Remnant Band of the Shawnee Nation. The band never achieved federal recognition, though in 1996, after forming a nonprofit group, the URB raised money and purchased a cave system in Bellefontaine and named it the Zane Shawnee Caverns, according to the Ohio History Connection. The group also established a campground at Southwind Park, which is part of the cavern property. Leaders of the nonprofit group, which still owns the caverns and campgrounds, did not return repeated calls and emails seeking comment. The URB was at one time one of more than 400 non-federally recognized tribes nationwide, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released in 2012, the most recent year for which data is available. Its unclear how many remain active today. To become federally recognized, tribes must apply through the Bureau of Indian Affairs or be named one through an act of the United States Congress a presidential executive order, federal administrative action, or through federal court decisions, according to the bureau. Providing proof of a treaty with the U.S. or another country is typically the easiest path to federal recognition. Nationwide, there are 574 federally recognized tribes, none of which call Ohio home, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. If it werent for what seem to be 50 varying degrees for how groups can be identified as Native American tribes, Barnes said the changes NCAI is considering wouldnt be necessary. His amendment, he said, will make sure that only fully recognized tribes have a seat at the table for decisions with national impact. There has to be some sort of rigor, some sort of history, Barnes said. When the story of the tribe lies in fabricated family stories or mythologies or I heard my grandma say, thats not the same as we had a treaty with Spain. Those are very different things. A beaded piece that represents the United Remnant Band of Shawnee Nation. Owned by Dark Rain Thom, who says she's a Shawnee descendant and who tried to gain federal tribal recognition for the group, which is based in Ohio. The tribe is unrecognized federally but successfully sought some validation from the state legislature in Ohio. Decisions that affect peoples lives The discord that sprung from the debate over tribal recognition goes beyond implications of history or cultural appropriation. Tribes have governments and power. As such, they hold elections, put defendants on trial in courts and make child custody decisions, among other things. Chiefs are also able to interact with the U.S. government and other countries. Barnes himself has testified before the United Nations as the leader of a sovereign nation. That kind of power is too massive to offer to any and all groups that insist they are tribes, Barnes said. The home of Dark Rain Thom, who says she's a Shawnee descendant and who tried to gain federal tribal recognition for the group, which is based in Ohio. The tribe is unrecognized federally but successfully sought some validation from the state legislature in Ohio. Her home is in Bloomington, Indiana. These are decisions that affect people's lives. We can't be giving out these type of things willy-nilly to self-claimants of identity. And this is not us being racial cops, or making determinations if someone is Indian enough, he said. These are real governments and we have groups masquerading as us. On top of the power federally recognized tribes hold, they compete with each other for limited resources. Some non-federally recognized tribes may seek some form of recognition for the wrong reasons, such as the ability to establish a casino, said Glenna Wallace, chief of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Wallace also fears that tribes without national recognition could be awarded federal funds that would otherwise go to legitimate tribes that need them to serve their people. Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma Chief Glenna Wallace at the 2022 Tribal Nations Conference, hosted by the Ohio History Connection during a visit to the Great Circle Earthworks in Newark. If they would be eligible for grants and programs, they are in competition with federally recognized tribes who are struggling to survive and struggling to advance, Wallace said. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office shows Wallace may be right to worry. From fiscal year 2007 through fiscal year 2010, the GAO found that at least $100 million in federal funding was awarded to tribes without national recognition. Most of the funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, though some also came from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, the GAO found. Its an expense every American taxpayer is paying for, Barnes said. Theyre taking away housing dollars from every underprivileged community across the United States." How the process sometimes gets it wrong Although Barnes considers federal recognition to be the gold standard for tribes, he admitted that the process sometimes makes the wrong decision. For example, Barnes said the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana was denied status by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2009 because it was missing evidence that it had been a Native American tribe continuously since 1900; that it had a distinct community and social relationships; and that it kept political influence over its members. It was a denial that many disagreed with, and it caused an uproar until Congress granted the tribe federal recognition in 2019. All of us rose up in unison and said: No, you got this one wrong, Barnes said of the denial. We know who these people are, and we know they have treaties. Just because they're lacking in this one little, tiny data point doesn't mean they're not a people. Its rare for tribes to get the federal governments stamp of approval anymore. In the last 10 years, just eight have gained federal recognition, seven of which were through acts of Congress, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Five tribes have pending petitions for recognition before the bureau, and four were denied in that same time period. Like the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa, the Michigan-based Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi fought for decades for federal recognition, said John Low, an associate professor who studies Native American history at Ohio State Universitys Newark campus. Low himself is a member of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi. John Low, at the Great Circle in Newark, is an associate professor of American Indian studies at Ohio State's Newark campus and a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. He also serves as director of the Newark Earthworks Center. The tribe, Low said, signed a treaty with the federal government in the 1830s. But during the Great Depression, the federal government passed an act known as the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, which curtailed lands allotted to tribes. The Potawatomi applied for recognition after the law passed, but were denied by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It wasnt until an act of Congress in 1994 that the Potawatomi finally gained its sovereign status that comes with federal recognition. And despite his own tribes decades-long fight for federal recognition, Low said the process sets a necessary standard to preserve legitimate Native American tribes and heritage. It is difficult to meet that approval, Low said. Its not a perfect system, but its important that we do keep a boundary between social clubs and hobbyists and re-enactors and legitimate sovereign nations. Differentiating between the indigenous and the pretendians Tribes that lack federal recognition also raise questions of genealogy and identity. Some members of self-declared or state-recognized tribes have little to no Native American ancestry, both Barnes and Low said. Several prominent figures who have been outed for claiming false indigenous heritage show Low and Barnes may have good reason for concern. It happens so often that it's a joke in Indian country, Barnes said. It's so constant that someone has a Cherokee princess grandma, that it's become comic. Its not uncommon for people to claim Native American ancestry when they actually have none, said Jacqueline Keeler, a writer who has extensively researched and studied the topic. Theyre known as pretendians, said Keeler, who is herself a member of the Navajo Nation. Its unclear how pretending to be Native American became popular, Keeler said. Its likely that some people make up their ancestry for their own benefit, while, for others, it starts off as a family story that never gets fact-checked, Keeler said. Even U.S. Census data should be looked at with some skepticism, Keeler said, as it shows a dramatic rise in the number of Americans who claim to be indigenous. The number of Americans who identified as being at least partly native grew by around 86% from roughly 5.2 million people in 2010 to 9.7 million in 2020, Census data shows. Regardless of how or why the number of so-called fakers is growing, Keeler said theyve popped up in every facet of life. Several prominent figures, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and the famed actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeather, have been outed for claiming false indigenous heritage." Pretending to be Native American, Keeler said, should be considered practicing red face. They're monetizing our trauma and building their careers on it, Keeler said. An honor without recognition Dark Rain Thom displays an eagle feather given to her in recognition of the work that she and her late husband, James A. Thom, have done in support of Shawnee Culture, created by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. On the wall of Thoms wooden cabin hangs a framed eagle feather. Next to the feather is an inscription, dated 1994, that recognizes Thom and her late husband, James, for their efforts in preserving and promoting the Shawnee Culture. The distinction is from then-Chief George Buck Captain of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Yet despite this honor, Thom herself has been questioned about her genealogy. Barnes told The Dispatch he hasnt seen clear evidence of Thoms Shawnee ancestry while Keeler, who researches so-called "pretendians," said she hadn't heard of Thom. Thom has denied such accusations. She now considers herself to be a tribal elder with the East of the River Shawnee, a non-federally recognized group that broke off from the United Remnant Band of Shawnee years ago. To questions of her heritage, she said she has Native American blood on both sides of her family, from her maternal and paternal grandfathers. She said she found her family members' names on the Dawes Rolls, which are U.S. government lists of individuals who proved tribal membership in the late 1800s. Thank God its not based on belief, she said of her ancestry. It makes me feel sorry that (some are) so undereducated about telling who is an Indian from who is not. Dark Rain Thom displays an eagle feather given to her in recognition of the work that she and her late husband, James A. Thom, have done in support of Shawnee Culture, given to her by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. Thoms home itself has become something of an homage to Native American culture and history. Along with the eagle feather, her cabin is filled with what she said are Native American heirlooms; her closet is packed with ceremonial skirts, and a living room table is covered in books on the Shawnee. The items, many of which were gifted to Thom over the years, are a reminder of a philosophy she abided by as a member of the United Remnant Band of Shawnee: to support one another and welcome each other in. Instead of fighting over resources and identity, she wishes todays tribes were more focused on bringing people into their circles to help them relearn what (they) should have been taught long ago, she said. Were supposed to be caring about each other, helping each other if we can." mfilby@dispatch.com @MaxFilby dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is Ohio home to any Native American tribes? The answer is complicated Washington Special counsel Jack Smith and his team of prosecutors accused lawyers for former President Donald Trump of making "distorted and exaggerated" claims about their access to classified information as part of their bid to delay the scheduled May 2024 trial in the federal case involving the former president's handling of sensitive government records after leaving office. In a new filing submitted Monday, the special counsel urged U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon , who is overseeing the case brought in South Florida, to deny Trump's request to delay the trial until after the November 2024 presidential election, arguing his lawyers failed to provide a "credible justification" for doing so. "Their unfounded claims of Government noncompliance with discovery obligations do not support their request," federal prosecutors working with Smith wrote. "Their claims about their inability to review classified information are distorted and exaggerated." Justice Department lawyers said the "vast majority" of classified material collected during the course of the government's investigation is available to Trump and his two co-defendants, aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. Smith and his team also argued that the defense's claims about the unclassified information collected during the probe are "inaccurate." "The defendants have repeatedly distorted the comprehensive, organized, and timely unclassified discovery that the Government has produced, in service of an attack on the promptness and thoroughness of the productions and an allegation that the Government is in 'ongoing non-compliance,'" prosecutors wrote. "The facts prove otherwise." Trump's lawyers asked Cannon last week to delay the trial, currently set to begin May 20, until after the Nov. 5, 2024, election, citing the status of discovery, a lack of necessary secure facilities, and litigation under the Classified Information Procedures Act, which governs how classified information can be being used in the case. Trump is currently the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. He has pleaded not guilty to 40 charges stemming from his alleged mishandling of sensitive records recovered from his South Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, after leaving office in January 2021. In their filing opposing Trump's request, Justice Department lawyers noted that they have turned over more than 1.1 million pages of unclassified documents and all surveillance footage from Mar-a-Lago obtained before May. The latest batch of information was turned over Friday, the special counsel said. With that production, prosecutors said they had provided Trump's lawyers with "all unclassified discovery of which it is aware," aside from certain agents' emails and text messages. "The Government's production of unclassified discovery has been prompt, comprehensive, thorough, and organized," the special counsel's office argued. "The defense has complete access to it today, more than seven months before trial." Federal prosecutors also rebutted claims from Trump's lawyers about their access to classified material collected during the investigation, calling them "inaccurate" and "misleading." While acknowledging that Trump is entitled to classified discovery in order to challenge the Justice Department's allegation that the documents retained at Mar-a-Lago contained national defense information, Smith argued the "great majority of the allegations" turn on unclassified evidence. "That the classified materials at issue in this case were taken from the White House and retained at Mar-a-Lago is not in dispute; what is in dispute is how that occurred, why it occurred, what Trump knew, and what Trump intended in retaining them all issues that the Government will prove at trial primarily with unclassified evidence," prosecutors wrote. In arguing for a change to the current schedule leading up to the trial, Trump's lawyers told Cannon last week that it is "unworkable" in part because secure facilities where they can handle classified information have not yet been established. One member of the defense team, Chris Kise, has also not yet been fully cleared to review certain classified materials, the defense attorneys argued. But prosecutors wrote that Kise received an interim security clearance in July and has been authorized to view roughly 2,100 pages of classified discovery since September 13, when the material was turned over. That information includes 16 of the 32 documents giving rise to the charges of unlawful retention of national defense information that Trump is facing, Smith's team said. Justice Department lawyers wrote that aside from Kise, four lawyers and one legal analyst working on the case for Trump have received final security clearances needed to review all 32 documents that led to charges. Though prosecutors said they have provided all classified discovery as of Friday, they noted that a "small collection" of documents recovered from Mar-a-Lago are "so sensitive that they require special measures including enhanced security protocols for their transport, review, discussion, and storage." The special counsel said it made a facility in Washington, D.C, available to Trump and his lawyers where they can review all evidence in the case, including the so-called special measures documents, and secure facilities in South Florida where the defense team can review and discuss all classified information in the case, including the highly sensitive documents, will be available by the end of the week. In their filing, prosecutors also pushed back on a claim by Trump's lawyers that they lack access to an approved computer to prepare classified discovery requests and other filings, calling it "misleading." They argued that aside from the small subset of highly sensitive records, the defense team has had access to a classified laptop to address the remaining classified material. "The defendants' allegations regarding clearances and secure facilities vastly overstate the impact on their access to classified discovery and their ability to prepare for trial, and do not justify a continuance," Smith and lawyers on his team wrote. Nauta and De Oliveira joined Trump's request to push back the trial date. Prosecutors charged Nauta with eight counts and De Oliveira with three counts for allegedly engaging in obstructive schemes to block the Justice Department's investigation. The two pleaded not guilty. 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 President Donald Trump said Sunday there was zero chance! that Hamas attack on Israel would have happened on his watch. The four-times-indicted Republican front-runner for president in 2024 also took the lead in using the incursion to boast. THE HORRIBLE ATTACK ON ISRAEL, MUCH LIKE THE ATTACK ON UKRAINE, WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE PRESIDENT - ZERO CHANCE!, he wrote in all-caps on Truth Social. The surprise invasion by Hamas fighters, who have killed more than 700 Israelis and reportedly kidnapped dozens into Gaza, prompted Israel to declare war and retaliate. The counterattack in Gaza has left more than 400 Palestinians dead and more than 100,000 displaced, according to the United Nations. Trump has cast himself as the wise statesman in tense times like this before. The former president said he could end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours if he were in charge but has yet to offer specifics. Trump also reshared an article by his former aide Sebastian Gorka titled, Biden V. Trump War V. Peace. At a rally in Iowa on Saturday, Trump accused President Joe Biden of exhibiting weakness that encouraged adversaries. Related... A plan to extend the regions commuter rail to Orlando International Airport projects to have strong ridership, and a hefty price tag, Florida Department of Transportation officials said Monday. Three DOT representatives briefed Orlando City Commissioners Monday on the status of the SunRail train as well as the proposed Sunshine Corridor, which would extend a rail line from Orlando International Airport to near the Orange County Convention Center and onto the southern portion of International Drive near Disney Springs, connecting with the existing north-south route. Early estimates show the 11-mile east-west line could run about $2 billion to construct, with funding expected to come from various sources, including federal and state grants, local governments and private entities like Universal Orlando and Brightline. This is a very expensive infrastructure project. It should deliver incredible results for this community, but its expensive, said John Tyler, the DOT secretary for District 5, which covers east Central Florida. DOT is still studying the plan, which would achieve a long-held goal of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to connect SunRail to the airport. The briefing comes a day ahead of consideration by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners to form a special taxing district encompassing land around Universal Orlandos under-construction Epic Universe theme park. County leaders Tuesday will consider forming a Community Development District, or a CDD, to raise money toward $174 million in public infrastructure, including a train station and tracks. In all the proposed district takes in 719 acres, which primarily includes land for Epic Universe. The money would be raised from tax-exempt bonds and special property assessments within the district, where Universal is one of two landowners, along with Hilton. The CDD would also fund improvements to a county-owned wastewater plant and $8 million in improvements to Epic Boulevard, a road serving as the main entrance to the park. Dyer told reporters Monday he suspects federal money would cover around half of the costs. Local governments along the line will also soon be on the hook for further transit costs, with DOT expected to turn over operations of SunRail to Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties, as well as the city of Winter Park. Tyler said DOT expects to finish northern expansion of the SunRail line to DeLand next May, and would then operate it for an additional six months before the local governments take over at the end of the year. Orlando, where the highest number of SunRail riders exit trains at Lynx Central Station and at Church Street, would face the highest operating costs. If the city were to operate the train in the same manner as the state, its share would run about $22 million annually, a spokesperson said. The commuter rails stagnant ridership, averaging 4,100 per day in August, drew concerns from commissioners wondering if marketing the train was strong enough, or if it needed to expand hours to nights and weekends to grow. A lot of things have changed since the pandemic, Tyler said. Peoples commute patterns have changed; peoples work habits have changed. Dyer said that its unlikely weekend hours or other expansions of service will happen until SunRail stretches to the airport. When we go to the airport, its going to be an absolute necessity that we go seven days per week and more frequent service, he said. rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com The Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office has charged a Modesto driver, Ervin Gordon Wyatt, with murder in a Sept. 28 collision on Maze Boulevard/Highway 132 that killed three women. The crash west of Modesto claimed the lives of two sisters, Marianne Clemons, 67, of Patterson and Pamela Cross, 64, of Modesto. The third woman was Wyatts passenger, Modesto resident Rosa Clavel, 44. Prosecutors also have charged Wyatt, 49, with three counts of felony manslaughter with gross negligence and three felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing injury. Wyatt has pleaded not guilty to all charges. He remains in the Public Safety Center, with his bail set at $600,000. Wyatts attorney, Kendall Simsarian, said the evidence does not support the charges against his client. Simsarian also questions the validity of the tests used to determine that Wyatt was driving under the influence. Simsarian said Wyatt had not been drinking and was driving home from working a graveyard shift to pick up his son and take him to school. He said the evidence hes seen so far supports a charge of misdemeanor manslaughter with ordinary negligence. Hell admit to wrongdoing to the extent that the evidence shows it, Simsarian said about Wyatt. He sincerely regrets his role in the accident. Deputy District Attorney Wendell Emerson said prosecutors will need to prove implied malice for the murder charge. Emerson said in an email that the definition of implied malice is when someone intentionally committed the act; the natural and probable consequences of the act were dangerous to human life; at the time he acted he knew his act was dangerous to human life, and he deliberately acted with conscious disregard for human life. The evidence that came out during Wyatts bail hearing includes a witness stating Wyatt was driving 90 mph, Emerson said. He said a breathalyzer test given by the California Highway Patrol indicated alcohol in Wyatts system, as did blood drawn at the hospital. The CHP has said Wyatt sustained minor injuries. We look forward to the remainder of the evidence coming out at (Wyatts) preliminary hearing, Emerson said. The hearing is set for Nov. 28. The collision occurred west of Gates and Paradise roads. Wyatt was driving east in a 2010 Lexus sedan. Clemons was driving west in a 2015 Hyundai sedan. Cross was her passenger. The CHP has said Wyatt drifted onto the the right shoulder, then veered to the left, causing the Lexus to drive into the westbound lane and into the path of Clemons and Cross. Simsarian said his client drove onto the shoulder because the sun was in his eyes, then overcorrected and ended up in the oncoming traffic lane. He said Wyatt and Clavel were co-workers, lived together as a couple and were coming home from work. The two worked in Fremont. We recognize that this is an unfortunate, tragic accident and are sympathetic to all three victims, Simsarian said. Clemons and Cross were sisters, according to a GoFundMe account. We are raising money to lay our mother Pamela Cross to rest, states the GoFundMe account organized by Katrina Price. Tragically and suddenly on September 28th our mother was taken from us along with our Aunt due to a drunk driver. We are devastated during this time. Words cant describe the pain we feel. All donations will be going towards her cremation and end of Life services. There also is a GoFundMe for Clavel, who one donor called an amazing hard working woman that will forever be in our hearts. The driver of a stolen Chevrolet truck struck an Ottawa, Kansas, police patrol vehicle and led officers on a chase into rural Johnson County before evading police Sunday afternoon, a police spokesman said. Officers responded about 3:10 p.m. Sunday to the area of 23rd and South Princeton streets to investigate a reported stolen vehicle, Capt. J.W. Hawkins with the Ottawa Police Department said in a release. Arriving officers spotted the stolen truck in a business parking lot before it fled. Then, the driver in the truck allegedly struck a patrol car before heading north on Interstate 35. Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriffs Office and officers with the Wellsville, Kansas, Police Department assisted in the pursuit as the truck left Franklin County. Soon after, law enforcement officers lost sight of the truck and the pursuit was terminated in rural Johnson County. Police continue to investigate the incident and assess damages to vehicles. No officers were injured, Hawkins said. Anyone with information about the stolen vehicle and chase is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Department at 785-242-1700 or send emails to opdtips@ottawaks.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the police department via TIP411 at citizenobserver.com. The custody image of Naki Aslan, who was sentenced to 23 years in prison - Met Police / SWNS/Met Police / SWNS More than 1,200 organised criminals, including drug kingpins, have been jailed after detectives infiltrated a secret phone network used by gangsters. Police have revealed that previously respectable business people doing the school run were among hundreds of organised criminals taken down after targeting the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. EncroChat had 60,000 users worldwide, with 10,000 in the United Kingdom, and was accessed using a secure password on Android phones, with each user of the platform given a unique handle made up of a noun and an adjective. It was infiltrated by French and Dutch police in 2020 and shared with police around Europe, and since then has prompted an arrest almost every two days in the UK. The Met Police has now revealed that since March 2020 it has made 942 arrests in Operation Eternal so far, with 784 charged. Courtney Freckleton, who was jailed in 2021 - Metropolitan Police/PA Archive./Metropolitan Police/PA Archive. The force said 426 people had been jailed for a total of 3,722 years behind bars in the investigation. The breakthrough has led to the seizure of 19 million in cash, three tonnes of class A and B drugs, 49 firearms and 755 pieces of ammunition. Officers were assisted by the National Crime Agency and its own Operation Venetic to solve murders and tackle the drug trade, with more than 1,200 people jailed nationally for a total of nearly 8,000 years. In the UK-wide operation, 3,100 suspects were arrested and 1,867 charged, with 7,000 mobile devices collected and around 18 million messages logged. In some cases, officers were able to stop murder plots as they unfolded and police said that users of the network included well known people and those who were seen as being iconic in the criminal underworld. Among those convicted following the breakthrough was London rapper Nines, real name Courtney Freckleton, was jailed in 2021 for importing 28 kilos of cannabis into the UK from Spain and Poland. The custody image of Frankie Sinclair, who was among those jailed - Met Police / SWNS/Met Police / SWNS Others jailed included Frankie Sinclair. Police were able to confirm his identity using a picture of a fry-up breakfast with a French bulldog in the background. When they raided his home, the same dog was found at the address and he was found guilty over conspiracy to murder a gang rival with a gun he described in messages as a James Bond ting. Naki Aslan, a high-ranking member of the Hackney Turks gang who called himself JungleCookie on the network, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to import in excess of 20 kilos of heroin and cocaine as part of the operation. Messages were found showing Aslan attempted to source a Makarov pistol to shoot a business associate in May 2020. Commander Paul Brogden, head of specialist crime at the Met, said that the investigation into criminals using Encrochat was the most significant operation targeting organised crime figures in the Mets history. Expensive handsets The handsets, which cost 1,500, could only communicate with other EncroChat devices and could have all their data wiped if handed over to the authorities. Brogden added: 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 weve never seen before. It was a significant leap forward. The platform messaged users urging them to get rid of their handsets after realising it 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 the kingpins of organised crime networks in London, adding: They look like very, very significant people within organisations. These are people who might be known to police and law enforcement, but to all intentions and purposes [sic] to their neighbours they are wealthy business people. 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. Last week, a graduate student at Duke and two teenagers were shot and killed in three separate instances. The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun now list the Triangles most recent homicides online on Mondays in this new weekly roundup. An interactive map, a searchable database, and links to our stories provide details on each death and the status of the investigation. We are reassessing how we report homicides and violent crime. We want to rely less, especially on initial stories, on official sources alone. We want to emphasize trends and tell more about those killed and those affected by loss and violence in their communities. We want to create time in our reporters schedules to go deeper in search of better stories. To do this, we may forgo separate stories on deaths when there is little information and sometimes not even a victims name. The new homicide tracker, however, will include all violent deaths. (See below.) With the map, you can hover on a dot, learn the basic details and see the location of all homicides. With the database, you will be able to search for incidents by name. Know that as you do this, we are working to learn more about each case, about the victim and the ripples their death has in the community. If you know one of the victims of the homicides listed below and would like to tell their story, please contact reporters Colleen Hammond at chammond@newsobserver.com or Aaron Sanchez-Guerra at asanchezguerra@newsobserver.com These are the homicides in the Triangle from Oct. 2 - 8. Raleigh homicides Date: Oct. 2 Victim: Unnamed juvenile male Age: 17 Location: 5100 block of North New Hope Road Arrest: David Otu-Tetteh Addy, 23 What we know: A 17-year-old male was shot on the 5100 block of North New Hope Road in Raleigh. He was transported to the hospital where he later died of his injuries. Police have arrested 23-year-old David Otu-Tetteh Addy and charged him with murder in the juveniles death. Read more: A teenager died after being shot in Raleigh. Now someone has been charged with his murder. Durham homicides Date: Oct. 2 Victim: Angela Marina Risi Age: 30 Location: 1000 block of Worth Street Arrest: Stephon Dubose, 30, of Durham What we know: Two women were shot on the 1000 block of Worth Street in Durham on the morning of Oct. 2. Police said both women were taken to the hospital where one died from her injuries. The woman who died was identified as Angela Marina Risi, a graduate student at Duke University. Read more: Man charged with murder in shooting that killed Duke grad student, wounded another Date: Oct. 4 Victim: Unnamed male juvenile Age: 17 Location: 1100 block of Ridgeway Ave. Arrest: None What we know: A 17-year-old male was shot and killed on the 1100 block of Ridgeway Ave. in Durham. Police said initial information led them to believe a woman had also been shot in this incident, but it was later determined her injuries were not from gunshot wounds. Police have not yet made an arrest. Due to the victims age, his name has not been released. Wake County homicides No new homicides were reported in Wake County between Oct. 2-8. Orange County homicides No new homicides were reported in Orange County between Oct. 2-8. Database editor David Raynor contributed to this report. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday said China had fulfilled a request he made to President Xi Jinping asking to show greater sympathy for the Israeli people after Hamas launched a widespread attack over the weekend. I raised with President Xi the unfolding atrocities carried out against Israel and the need for the world community to stand together against terrorism and with the Israeli people, and pointedly requested from President Xi that the Chinese Foreign Minister strengthen their statement; they did, Schumer said in a statement. On Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had said that the country was deeply concerned over the violence between Palestinians and Israel, urging calm and calling for a two-state solution. Schumer, in his meeting with Xi the next day, said he was disappointed with that response and China appeared to get the message. During a news conference later on Monday, the ministry went a little further after reporters asked a flurry of questions, several referencing the New York senator, about Chinas position on the erupting violence. Were deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians, said spokesperson Mao Ning, who also expressed that Chinas position remained consistent. We oppose moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hope fighting will stop and peace will return soon. Schumer was accompanied on his weekend trip to China by five other U.S. senators, and the delegation follows several high-profile American politicians visits to the country amid troubled relations. It is the first visit of American lawmakers to China since 2019. The senators meeting with Xi and other politicians from the top echelon of Chinas ruling political class represents the summit of their trip, which was overtly planned as a way for U.S. leaders to raise concerns about Chinas treatment of American businesses, as well as its role in the fentanyl crisis. The senators also plan to visit South Korea and Japan, whose leaders recently signed a trilateral compact with the U.S. in a clear response to Chinas influence in the Pacific. But the erupting violence in the Middle East came unexpectedly while the senators were abroad, and the spiraling violence has the potential to add further complexity between the two countries relations that have been battling for influence on the world stage. China in recent years has sought to become a bigger diplomatic player in the region, and it maintains close ties to several key players notably Saudi Arabia and Iran. A bunch of us made the request that China use its influence in Iran to not allow the conflagration to spread, Schumer said at a news conference later on Monday in Beijing, while also noting that China had rectified his ask around Israel. Schumer said the senators also warned Chinese leaders about holding close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. China maintains official relations with Israel and has deep ties with the Palestinians. It has refrained from labeling Hamas as a terrorist group. Xi met with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, back in June, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously said he would travel to China later this year. Burgess Everett contributed to this report. The Duval GOP is blasting Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan for serving as Grand Marshal of the River City Pride Parade this weekend after a conservative news outlet claimed condoms were distributed to parade-goers. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Duval GOP Chairman Dean Black took aim at Mayor Donna Deegan in an official statement arguing her participation in the pride parade was beneath the dignity of the office. The statement came in response to videos and photos published by Floridas Voice, a conservative news outlet, that captured images of the River City Pride Parade Sunday. WATCH: Condoms thrown at kids during Jacksonville Pride Parade where mayor Donna Deegan is the Grand Marshal pic.twitter.com/9irDEPylLh Floridas Voice (@FLVoiceNews) October 8, 2023 The article claims condoms and sexual aides were given to parade-goers, and one vendor was allegedly offering free sex toys to attendees who followed their social media page. It was billed as a family-friendly event, said Black in an interview with Action News Jax Monday. While it is not certain whether any children were given the listed items, Black stated that there were reportedly children in attendance. To have our mayor participate in an event that was sexualizing children is wrong, said Black. But State Representative Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) argued theres nothing controversial about handing out free contraception. She pointed out that other types of events like health fairs regularly do so. Any type of access to free contraceptives and barrier methods of contraceptives like condoms is really designed as a public health tool, said Eskamani. In a statement, Deegans staff claimed the mayor did not witness any of the items at the center of the controversy. Mayor Deegan attended the River City Pride Parade to show her support for our LGBTQ+ community and commitment to diversity and inclusion. During her participation, she did not see any of the items that were alleged to have been present. What she did witness is people and families coming together to celebrate the beautiful mosaic that is Jacksonville, said Deegans Chief Communications Officer Philip Perry. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] And while Mayor Deegans team billed her participation in the Pride Parade as a historic first, Eskamani pointed out that in other communities like her district, elected officials participating in pride events is nothing new. And for years Republicans would go to Pride events with no issue, said Eskamani. State Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) argued the GOP criticism is nothing more than a political attack on the mayor, and an effort by Republicans to stigmatize the LGBTQ+ community. Theres an all-out attack on members of the LGBTQ+ community, said Nixon. Black argued his issue isnt with the LGBTQ+ community and is calling for city leaders to pass legislation to address his concerns. This has to do with public obscenity in front of children, said Black. Late Monday afternoon, City Councilmember Kevin Carrico (R-District 4) responded to that call. I am deeply troubled by this. For explicit materials to be distributed at an event promoted as family friendly is beyond disturbing. My office is looking into whether any taxpayer dollars were used to support this event and how to prevent situations like this from happening again in our city, said Carrico in a statement. Action News Jax reached out to parade officials, but has not yet obtained any official statements. [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. Afghan men search for victims after an earthquake in Zenda Jan district in Herat province, of western Afghanistan, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Powerful earthquakes killed at least 2,000 people in western Afghanistan, a Taliban government spokesman said Sunday. Its one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. | Omid Haqjoo, Associated Press On Saturday morning, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Herat and surrounding villages in western Afghanistan. More than 2,400 people were killed, thousands were injured and many are still trapped, reports The Washington Post. Several villages have completely perished, said Janan Saiq, a spokesman for the Taliban-run Ministry of Disaster Management, to the Post. The earthquakes epicenter was in two districts south of Herat, where mud brick houses collapsed within seconds. First responders compared the destruction to the damage caused by the 5.9-magnitude quake that struck eastern Afghanistan last year, which killed more than 1,000 people. Desperate rescue attempts Men dug through collapsed houses with shovels and their bare hands on Sunday, in desperate attempts to find survivors, reports The Associated Press and The Washington Post. Among the first volunteers to arrive was 32-year-old Ghulam Mehboob, who rushed to one of the devastated villages within hours of the first earthquake, hoping to be able to rescue people trapped under the rubble, reports the Washington Post. The article noted that Mehboob and others dug out dozens of bodies without finding a survivor. He returned to Herat on Sunday. A journalist with Amu Television, an Afghan news stations, posted on X that he asked a friend who visited Nayeb Rafi village at the epicenter what survivors needed. His friend responded that he couldnt find any villager who survived, apart from some shepherds who had not been in the village at the time of the quake. I asked a friend who visited Nayeb Rafi village -- the epicentre of Herat earthquake -- on what the survivors needed most. He said he couldn't find any villager who had survived, apart from a few shepherds who were not in their village during the earthquake. 2k plus lives lost. Lotfullah Najafizada (@LNajafizada) October 8, 2023 International aid on the way Theres not much disaster management capacity and what there is cant cover people on the ground, said Salma Ben Aissa, the International Rescue Committees country director for Afghanistan, to The Associated Press. The numbers (of dead) are increasing hour by hour, the article said. Doctors Without Borders has set up five medical tents at Herat General Hospital, the World Health Organization in Afghanistan has sent 12 ambulances to the area and the Afghan Red Crescent Society told the AP that seven teams were helping with rescue efforts. The U.N. is also working with Taliban authorities to bring relief. The United Nations and our partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance, United Nations Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. The UNICEF team deployed more teams to help, and its also providing 10,000 hygiene kits, 5,000 family kits, 1,500 sets of winter clothes, blankets, 1,000 tarps, and basic household items, according to a U.N. press release. Providing assistance is complicated by the Talibans severe crackdown on women, including prohibiting them from working with international aid organizations. In August, Samira Sayed Rahman, International Rescue Committee Afghanistan director of advocacy, said Increasing hunger, natural disasters, unemployment, a banking and liquidity crisis, rights-violating restrictions on women and girls, and the lack of a functioning economy mean Afghans are facing a multitude of simultaneous crises. Before the earthquakes, staggering poverty was already impacting more than 90% of the nations population, with 91% of an average household income being spent only on food. The World Food Program in Afghanistan began distributing food and is preparing to reach up to 70,000 earthquake-affected people. They also posted on X that This terrible earthquake comes at a time of immense humanitarian needs when 15 million people do not know where their next meal will come from. #Afghanistan: This terrible earthquake comes at a time of immense humanitarian needs when 15 million people do not know where their next meal will come from. More about the #AfghanistanEarthquake: https://t.co/ouwPNSQwNi pic.twitter.com/t9GSvHknFt World Food Programme in Afghanistan (@WFP_Afghanistan) October 8, 2023 Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy Police union members in East St. Louis say they are tired of waiting for the city to give them the back pay and interest they won in arbitration, and they have filed a petition asking a St. Clair County judge to settle a contract dispute that dates to 2015. City leaders say they have been willing to settle with the Police Benevolent & Protective Association, but the union members are not willing to accept a settlement made by an official of their previous union, the Fraternal Order of Police. The city attempted to cut a deal with the (Fraternal Order of Police) attorney, but the East St. Louis members rejected it, said David Amerson, the unions current attorney with the Police Benevolent & Protective Association. The Police Benevolent & Protective Association says the city owes $1.6 million to police officers as well as retirees and spouses of retirees while the unions attorney reports that the city says it owes the officers $148,000. Amerson said the city has never given the union the paperwork showing how the city arrived at the $148,000 amount, which is about $1.4 million below the unions figure. Because the parties havent resolved the issue, Amerson filed a petition in St. Clair County court in July to confirm the arbitration awarded to the union on Aug. 2, 2021, by Jacalyn Zimmerman. City responds to police union City Attorney C.J. Baricevic was asked for comment on the petition filed by the union. Heres his response: The city is proud to be represented by the officers in its department and has had great experience working side by side with their union. Although it is unfortunate that the union has decided to take what we considered a resolved matter to court, the city looks forward to satisfying its agreement with the union as soon as the union permits it. Baricevic added, The city looks forward to continued cooperation with the police union and all its other fantastic employees. The petition, which names East St. Louis Mayor Charles Powell III and the city of East St. Louis as respondents, states that the city and the union members were unable to reach an agreement over a collective bargaining agreement covering years 2015 to 2019 so they went to arbitration with a mutually selected arbitrator. The officers won their back pay for those years in the 2021 ruling by Zimmerman. The arbitration ruling did not indicate how much the retroactive pay would total. The singular issue submitted to the arbitrator was the question of wage increases in which the arbitrator ordered a 2% wage increase in each year of the contract, the petition states. No party has submitted a written request for modification of the arbitrators award, the petition also says. More than 90 days has passed since the arbitrators award was given to union members and the city has not filed a motion to vacate or modify the award. In lieu of this, the East St. Louis police union is seeking to have the arbitrators award confirmed. The petition says the city has persistently not cooperated with union members in providing the required information that they have requested, including information relating to the precise calculation of damages, nor have they provided any reason why they have not done what is their legal duty to do. In their petition, union members are asking for the amount they are owed and reasonable attorney fees incurred in this proceeding. Also the union wants the city to provide itemized accounting of how much money is owed to each impacted police officer. Union members frustrated Tia Mitchell, the union president, said the members are frustrated that city leaders have not done the right thing by them and forced the officers to seek relief in the court system. Union members are only asking for our just due, Mitchell said. Were not asking for anything that is not owed to us. Were not asking for any handouts. We dont understand why its so hard to do right by us. We are continually servicing the citizens and will continue to do that. But, it is disheartening to know that the city is failing us. They said the money the city has offered is less than that they won in arbitration and does not include retired police officers, or their spouses. Name: Edward Samaha Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 71 Campaign website or social media page: samaha4pineville.com Occupation: Retired - Global Operations Executive Education: MBA, University of Connecticut; BS in marketing, Northeastern University Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held) Currently serving Town Council Pineville, NC. Formerly in 1980s, on Danbury, Connecticut, Town Council Please list your highlights of civic involvement Member of two Town Councils, Mecklenburg Education Advisory Board, Primary Schools Reading Assistance Program, Pineville Neighbors Place What are, in your view, the most important issues facing Pineville, and what would your approach be to handling them if elected? Public safety, ensuring police and fire departments have the personnel, facilities, equipment and training to meet the Towns needs. Voted for new firehouse ($16M), 2 new fire trucks ($2M), 14 new police officers as well as replacing/upgrading safety gear. Traffic is an ongoing challenge. Voted to approve two major town road projects to improve traffic flow. Worked on making stronger connections to state officials who control the major roads through Pineville. Having success in developing connections with county commissioner, U.S. congressman, state senator, NCDOT board members and officials for considering a number of considerations for Route 51 that runs from one end of Pineville to the other right through our downtown and main commercial areas. Focused on several new developments for Pineville. Some are approved, some in final stages of approvals and a few starting up. Committed to understanding impact to Pineville, the residents, businesses and the developers. The town has flourished in the past ten years from good decisions made. Want to ensure we continue building on that strong foundation while maintaining a healthy financial balance sheet. Communities across Mecklenburg County have seen growth and development as well as a hot real estate market in recent years. How should Pineville approach development and housing issues? Pineville has grown from 2,000 people in the year 2000 to more than 10,500 today. Pineville is an exceptional place to live. The town consists of attractive, mature, established neighborhoods as well as newer subdivisions. We currently have three new developments approved with two more major ones in discussions. My focus is to find the blend that maintains Pinevilles charms, helps families find that home they love to live in, and work improvements to the traffic issues. Three of these new developments will enhance the walkability of downtown with near residences and additional retail and restaurants. What separates you from your opponent(s)? I have an extensive 35-year background in the high tech industry as a problem solver/leader for companies that needed to scale and or were dysfunctional. I had proven expertise at drilling into ambiguous situations, to identify root problems, set strategy with concise goals/objectives and action plans. I was sought out by CEOs, presidents of not only my company, but customers like Intel, Samsung, Apple, Hitachi, IBM to lead their mission critical teams. I was never the smartest person in the room, but I was a good listener and could get teams to pull together for mutual success. What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of? I have several accomplishments I am proud of, but the thing I am most proud of is the two accomplished daughters, my wife and I raised, who are exceptional professional women, wives and mothers. I will acknowledge most of the credit goes to my wife Linda, but I had my thumb on that scale. As for professional, I will name a couple, completing a $3B factory for Apple under budget and schedule. Working with Hitachi over 26 weeks to increase their production of iPod chips without any new equipment, having Intel and IBM consider my service organizations the best they had on their sites. For Pineville, helping to approve a number of impactful decisions including new firehouse, 14 police officers, 2 road improvements, development projects that will enhance the downtown and a new town owned public parking lot for 100+ cars downtown that will be paid for by a developer. Mayor Karen Bass , right, chats in February with Jawonna Smith, 33, who lived in a tent on a sidewalk behind the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures before she was moved to a motel under the "Inside Safe" program. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) There are many ways for local governments to reduce homelessness primarily building new housing, providing mental health or substance use services and adopting policies that prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place. Citing and arresting homeless people camped on sidewalks, however, is not one of them. Nor is whining to the Supreme Court that judges wont let cities cite or arrest homeless people. Yet Gov. Gavin Newsom, officials from several cities including L.A. City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto community groups and various jurisdictions across the West have filed briefs asking the Supreme Court to overturn appellate court rulings that they say either limit their ability to enforce anti-camping regulations or dont offer enough guidance on how to do it. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, in 2018 and 2019, mostly overturned a federal court decision in Martin vs. City of Boise and ruled that its a violation of 8th Amendment rights prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment to criminalize people for sleeping outside anywhere or without the availability of an alternative such as an adequate shelter bed or other interim housing. The 9th Circuits 2023 decision in the case of the City of Grants Pass, Oregon vs. Gloria Johnson extended the reach of the Boise decision to civil citations that can escalate with repeated offenses into criminal penalties. In both these decisions, there are exceptions: Cities can declare some areas off-limits to camping, just not all areas. And they can enforce those rules if adequate shelter is available for the people living in the targeted encampments. Youd think that the 9th Circuit had told cities they had to keep homeless camps on sidewalks permanently. City and state officials complained that their hands are tied in their efforts to keep their streets clean and implored the Supreme Court to hear the case. (The amicus briefs are in support of a petition by the city of Grants Pass requesting the Supreme Court take up the case.) They claim to be confused and in need of clarification: For example, does allowing people to sleep on sidewalks because they have nowhere else to go extend to urination and defecation in public or open flame cooking in public? asked Feldstein Soto in her brief. (In fact, the city of L.A. has already said it wont enforce ordinances against public urination against homeless people.) Even as Newsom and Feldstein Soto in their separate briefs said they supported the underlying decision against criminalizing homelessness, they worry that if the high court lets the decision stand, it could increase public safety risks. Feldstein Soto warned in her briefing that if the high court let the decisions stand, a real risk of lawlessness, illness, and threats to public health and safety exists, to the detriment of unhoused and housed residents alike. Feldstein Soto decided to file that brief on her own, but that does not necessarily reflect the opinion of other city officials. (The City Council never took a vote on whether to weigh in on the decision.) Mayor Karen Bass, who has smartly focused her attention on getting homeless people off sidewalks by offering them housing, is unequivocally opposed, saying in a statement: I do not support the Supreme Court hearing an appeal of the Grants Pass decision to potentially issue a ruling that could embolden those who wish to criminalize unhoused Angelenos. And that is precisely the risk if the Supreme Court takes this case and overturns both of these important decisions. The court is not going to take this opportunity to do a Q and A on whether cooking over an open flame is permitted. Thats not the level of nuance the court will get into. It's a bad idea to invite the Supreme Court to weigh in on homelessness policy, and it isn't even necessary. Current rulings do not stop city and state officials from getting homeless people out of encampments, or from providing the temporary and permanent housing and services that are the only way to reduce homelessness. They also don't block limited enforcement as long as there are some places that homeless people can sleep outside or some available shelter for at least some homeless people. In Los Angeles, homeless people already are barred from camping in front of schools, day-care centers, parks and other areas designated by council members. They are prohibited from sleeping in vehicles overnight on some streets. Instead of complaining about not having enough ways to force homeless people off sidewalks, officials should be concentrating on finding more housing and offering more services. 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. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Native News Onlines editorial staff is dedicated to providing accurate and important news about the Indigenous peoples year round. Their commitment to telling accurate stories about the history and contemporary stories of Indigenous peoples provides an important voice to the descendants of the original people on this continent. As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, we asked some of our editorial team to write what it means to be a writer on Indigenous issues for Native News Online. Elyse Wild - Senior Editor At Native News Online, our job is to elevate the long-ignored and intentionally hidden truth of what Indigenous people have suffered for generations at the hands of the U.S. government. The very existence of Native News Online challenges the status quo of dismissing Indigenous voices and experiences. As a journalist who writes about Indigenous issues, it's important for me to shine a light on the dark disparities Native people experience in almost every measure and highlight the Native-led solutions, immense contributions and knowledge of Native peoples. Photo taken at the 2023 Potawatomi Gathering at the Pine Creek Indian Reservation in Athens, Mich. (Photo/Levi Rickert) This looks like not just bringing attention to the disproportionately high opioid overdose rate in Indian Country but showcasing innovative Indigenous harm reduction strategies and Native-led initiatives that are saving lives. It means demanding answers for the systemic apathy that drives the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic and amplifying the voices of the Native communities searching for their loved ones by pooling their resources to form networks, collecting data, and supporting each other. Kristen Lilya (Bois Forte Band of Chippewa) - Producer - Native Bidaske/Marketing & Sponsorship Representative I am a proud Gen Z mixed Native American, Indigenous to this land and not to be confused with being from India. Growing up on the Bois Forte Reservation, I've seen challenges like drug addiction, which took friends and loved ones. I resonate deeply with Native News Online and am passionate about supporting its mission, as it reflects many of my values. Our journalism aims to educate our readers on tribal issues. 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. Boarding schools tried to erase our culture, but I'm actively working to preserve it for future generations. I found my passion for marketing in college and later realized my knack for sales, which now occupies my two jobs. I value the team as they get the essence of who I am without needing a "Native 101" introduction. Being a girl from a small reservation, Working at Native News Online has Opened my eyes to ALL of Indian Country and it increased my knowledge of native communities across Turtle Island. Jenna Kunze - Senior Reporter Centering Indigenous stories for Native News Online means re-framing our nation's history from the long-absent Native perspective. It means holding up truths that have been lived and understood by Indigenous communities for centuries, but have been intentionally absent or miscontexualized by U.S. history books. In my work, elevating the Native perspective has also meant holding power to account. It has meant bringing attention to the ivy-covered institutions throughout the country that have long profited off of the non-consensual study of Native American human remains, despite a 30 year old federal law that required their return. It has meant holding the U.S. Army's feet to the fire to respect tribal sovereignty and human rights as they undertake the disinterment and return of the more than 200 children who died while attending the nation's flagship boarding school, Carlisle Indian Industrial School. It has meant shining light on solution stories of Indigenous-led efforts to clean toxic waterways with kelp farming in the Hamptons, or reduce maternal mortality rates with Indigenous doulas Indigenous doulas in Seattle. Our work at Native News Online is underscored and reinforced by author Chinua Achebe's quote in his novel, Things Fall Apart: Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter. Until Indigenous Peoples are given the power platform to tell their own stories, every story will glorify the United States government. Native News Online gives Indigenous Peoples that audience. Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) - Reporter Indigenous Peoples Day is the continuation of a movement led by America's Indigenous peoples to demonstrate to a society that we are still here and proud to celebrate our culture. Now, more than ever before, families and communities throughout the country are joining the movement to celebrate Indigenous people and culture as a statement to replace the celebration of Columbus Day, which is the second Monday of October. Documenting the shift in society comes with triumph and disappointment, and it is vital to include Indigenous voices and perspective when discussing "narrative" in mainstream media. Society has repeatedly tried to dispossess and dehumanize Indigenous people of their culture, families, and lands to justify massive land grabbing and genocide; any efforts to celebrate their culture are largely misunderstood and aggressively opposed in, sometimes, violent ways. The mere expression of Indigenous culture on their own lands is still seen as a threat to some, and until that spirit is gone, it will be crucial to document Indigenous people, voices, and causes. No one can tell an Indigenous story better than the people themselves. Levi Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) - Editor When I founded Native News Online almost 13 years ago, I knew then it was time to celebrate Indigenous voices. So often Indigenous voices have been underrepresented in mainstream media. The University of North Carolinas Hussman School of Journalism defines a news desert as a community, either rural or urban, with limited access to the sort of credible and comprehensive news and information that feeds democracy at the grassroots level. At Native News Online, we celebrate Indigenous Peoples every day, year round by working hard to help fill that void in mainstream media so that Indian Country does not become a news desert. I am more convinced today its time to celebrate Indigenous voices. 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 Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has been in close contact with Israel and Hamas to try to prevent further escalation in fighting between them and ensure the protection of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants, two Egyptian security sources said on Monday. Egypt had urged Israel to exercise restraint and Hamas to hold its captives in good condition to keep open the possibility of de-escalation soon, although successive Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip made mediation difficult, said the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity. Palestinian fighters took dozens of hostages in an attack launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, 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. Israeli fighter jets, helicopters and artillery have been pounding the Gaza Strip as Israel battled to clear out Palestinian fighters who crossed from Gaza. Egypt's Sinai Peninsula shares a border with the Gaza Strip and with Israel, and Cairo has acted as a mediator between Israel and Palestinian groups in previous conflicts. Some 7,000 Israeli tourists have returned from Sinai to Israel since the fighting erupted, the Egyptian security sources said. The Red Crescent has also delivered some medical aid to Gaza from Sinai through the Rafah crossing, they added. On Sunday, two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian guide were shot dead at an archaeological site in the northern Egyptian city of Alexandria. The Egyptian policeman accused of carrying out the killing has been referred to a military court, one of the security sources said. EgyptAir flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv have been suspended indefinitely, while flights from South Sinai's Sharm el-Shiekh to Tel Aviv were continuing to operate on Monday, allowing Israeli tourists to return home, Egyptian airport sources said. (Reporting by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan and Abdelnasser Aboelfadl in Cairo; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Angus MacSwan) An Egyptian intelligence official said the Israeli government was warned about "something big" before the Hamas attacks. "We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon," the official told the AP. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the claim "absolutely false." Before the Palestinian militant organization Hamas launched its unprecedented, large-scale attacks on Israel over the weekend, the Israeli government was repeatedly warned that "something big" was brewing from the group that controls the Gaza Strip, an Egyptian intelligence official told The Associated Press. Yet Israeli officials downplayed the threat from Gaza and instead focused on the occupied West Bank, the anonymous Egyptian intelligence official claimed, the news outlet reported on Monday. "We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings," the Egyptian official told the AP. The Egyptian official said that Egypt, which has historically acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, told Israel repeatedly that "something big" was being planned. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Insider on Monday, but his office, in a statement on social media, called the report that a warning had been given from Egypt "absolutely false." "The report to the effect that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a message in advance from Egypt is absolutely false," the prime minister's office said in a tweet. Netanyahu's office added, "No message in advance has arrived from Egypt and the Prime Minister has neither spoken, nor met, with the head of Egyptian intelligence since the formation of the government, neither directly nor indirectly. This is totally fake news." Israel's intelligence agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Insider on Monday and a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment when asked about the AP report. Early on Saturday, Hamas unleashed its surprise assault on Israel the deadliest attack there in decades at the end of the Jewish Sukkot holiday. At least 700 Israelis have been killed in the attacks and dozens more, including women, children, and seniors, have been taken hostage by Hamas into Gaza. In the aftermath of the attacks, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza. The death toll there was over 400 as of Monday, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu, called it a "major failure" that Israel was so blindsided by the Hamas attack in an interview with the AP. "This operation actually proves that the [intelligence] abilities in Gaza were no good," Amidror told the news outlet. Read the original article on Business Insider Eight restaurants and kitchens in South Mississippi scored a C for critical violations since Sept. 22, some with bugs, rodents or animals on the premises. Restaurants and other food service establishments in Mississippi are rated A if they pass the health department inspection, B if violations are corrected during the inspection, and C if the violations are critical. Those that failed their inspection with a C: Arbys, 342 U.S. 90, Waveland, was inspected Oct 5 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: No certified manager. Corrected during the inspection were: Adequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible Food separated and protected Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized Toxic substance properly identified, stored and used Insects, rodents or animals present This was the only C dating back to 2022. IHOP, 500 South Loftin, Picayune, was inspected Oct. 5 following a complaint. It was cited for: No certified manager Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized Insects, rodents or animals present Sewage wastewater not properly disposed of A follow-up inspection on Oct. 6 showed all issues cleared, and the restaurant got a B. This was the second C since 2021. Petersons Quick Stop, 30285 Mississippi 603, Perkinston, was inspected Sept. 11 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized Insects, rodents or animals present Corrected during the inspection was hands clean and properly washed. This is the only C dating back to 2008. McDonalds, 110 Eisenhower Dr., Biloxi, was inspected Sept. 30 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible. Corrected during the inspection was: Food separated and protected This was the first C dating back to 2013. Lakeview Catfish Restaurant, 9701 U.S. 90, Moss Point, was inspected Sept. 29 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: Improper cold holding temperatures. This was the second C since 2020. Keiths Superstore, 102 E. Beach Blvd., Pass Christian, was inspected Sept. 24 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized. This was the first C dating back to 2014. Jazz Quarters, 1816 30th Ave., Gulfport, was inspected Oct. 2 for a permit. It was cited for no certified manager. This is the first C dating back to 2013. Dominos Pizza, 7100 Mississippi 63, Moss Point, was inspected Sept. 25 for a permit renewal. It was cited for: No certified manager. This was the only C dating back to 2020. Since Sept. 22, Mississippi State Department of Health inspectors have given 132 restaurants in South Mississippi an A for no violations and 18 a B when violations were corrected during the inspection. MILWAUKEE - Loved ones of Luis Lorenzo on Sunday gathered in protest outside the grocery store on Milwaukee's south side where he was shot and killed in 2022. Ivy Rodriguez, Lorenzo's sister, said the protest was planned to raise awareness about the case and call for justice. "I want to remind everyone that El Rey has the blood of my brother on their hands, and we just want justice," she said. "I don't want this situation to be forgotten." SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Lorenzo and two security guards, Anthony Nolden and Enoch Wilson, were involved in the shooting outside El Rey on Cesar Chavez Drive. The Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office last year determined no charges would be issued. The district attorney said the security guard who shot Lorenzo acted in self-defense, and the report said it all started when Lorenzo walked into the store with a shoulder bag, which was not allowed. The report from the district attorney's office said Nolden tried to stop Lorenzo from walking in, and the two began to argue. Nolden then called Wilson. Lorenzo "squared up" to fight, the district attorney said. Nolden then pepper-sprayed Lorenzo, Lorenzo shot Nolden, killing him, and then fired at Wilson. Wilson then shot and killed Lorenzo, an act of self-defense according to the district attorney's report. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. Lorenzo's family, though, has argued he was profiled and was also defending himself. A prior conviction prevented Lorenzo from carrying a gun, and he was wanted at the time of the shooting for failing to appear on felony drug dealing charges. Elon Musk recommended two accounts known for spreading misinformation to his X followers. The billionaire suggested the accounts for following the war in Israel in "real-time." He deleted the post after 3 hours, but not before it was viewed by 11 million users, per the Post. Elon Musk pointed X followers looking for updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict toward two accounts known for peddling misinformation. In a post to X, formerly Twitter, the billionaire suggested @WarMonitors and @sentdefender "for following the war in real-time." Both accounts spread a false claim that there had been an explosion near the White House in May. Musk deleted the post after three hours, but not before it was viewed by 11 million users and several news outlets. Musk appeared to take issue with a post by the War Monitor account that referred to Gaza fighters as "martyrs." Replying to the post, Musk said: "Martyrs" is not an objective or accurate word, nor is "murdered". The former implies dying for a cause in battle and the latter implies a deliberate attempt to kill those specific people. While reporting both sides is fair, please use maximally accurate words or I must withdraw my recommendation to follow your account." The War Monitor account has used the word "jew" in a derogatory way, The Washington Post reported, citing a June X post that has since been deleted. Musk has spent the last few weeks fighting allegations of antisemitism after a fallout with the Anti-Defamation League over the spread of antisemitic content on X. Experts have expressed concerns that the platform could be leveraged to spread misinformation about the Israel conflict. X has already faced allegations that it has the highest proportion of Russian disinformation of any major social network. Representatives for X did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, made outside normal working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." It's Friday, and some of us are truly struggling to change out of sweats, but if you're looking to get dressed this weekend and need some inspiration, get ready to be obsessed with Emily Ratajkowski's Fall outfit. Gotham - Getty Images Gotham - Getty Images EmRata stepped out in New York City wearing a long-sleeved camel-colored t-shirt dress, which she paired with sunglasses from Hailey Bieber x Vogue Eyewear, knee-high black boots, and a pair of bright red headphones. Honestly, the headphones completed the look, and I'm going to need a pair. If you're right there with me: Shop Now Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones amazon.com $129.99 FYI, Emily is back in New York after spending some time being chic at Paris Fashion Week, where she attended the #BoF500 Gala. Pascal Le Segretain - Getty Images Had some street style moments: Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images Attended the Coperni show: Pierre Suu - Getty Images And hit up the Loewe show: Pascal Le Segretain - Getty Images She also recently made headlines for showing support for women getting divorced in their 20s (amid Sophie Turner's split from Joe Jonas), saying on TikTok, "So, it seems that a lot of young ladies are getting divorced before they turn 30. And as someone who got married at 26, and has been separated for a little over a year, 32, I have to tell you: I dont think theres anything better. If being in your 20s is the trenches, there is nothing better than being in your 30s, still being hot, maybe having a little bit of your own money, figuring out what you want to do with your life, everything, and having tried that married fantasy and realizing that its maybe not all its cracked up to be." She added, "And then youve got your whole life still ahead of you. So for all those people who are stressed or feeling stressed about thatabout being divorcedits good. Congratulations. Congratulations." Never loved EmRata more tbh. You Might Also Like A Rome, Georgia man was recently arrested after deputies say he convinced three children to join him in shooting two children with Orbeez toy guns. On Sunday, October 1 at about 9 p.m., Jyrine Amarion Griffin, 19, was arrested for battery, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and reckless conduct. Deputies with the Floyd County Sheriffs Office say Griffin was a participant of a group that fired gel beads from the toy gun at victims, causing visible bodily harm to them. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] While deputies spoke with Griffin, they discovered he had two stolen guns in his possession. He was also charged with two felony counts of theft by receiving stolen property. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: FILE - EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi speaks during a press conference in Tirana, Albania, on Oct. 6, 2023. Varhelyi said Monday Oct. 9, 2023 the bloc is suspending all payments immediately to the Palestinians because of what he called the scale of terror and brutality during the attacks of Hamas against Israel. (AP Photo/Franc Zhurda, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) BRUSSELS (AP) The European Union late Monday reversed an earlier announcement by an EU commissioner that the bloc was immediately suspending development aid for Palestinian authorities and instead said it would urgently review such assistance in the wake of the attacks on Israel by Hamas to make sure no money was misused. 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. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals postponed until further notice. No immediate explanation for the reversal was given. A full European Commission statement always trumps a statement from an EU commissioner, but 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. Since Saturday, support of the 27-nation bloc for Israel had been steadfast, including that the country had now every right within international law to defend itself in the war with Hamas. The surprise announcement by Varhelyi on development aid came just hours after EU officials stressed that no EU money whatsoever was going to Hamas in the first place and that contacts had been frozen for 16 years. The EU considers Hamas a terror group. After hours of uncertainty over how deep the measures would reach and whether they would possibly also affect aid to those in immediate need, the European Commission said there was no suspension for now, but said it started an urgent review of the EU's assistance for Palestine. The objective of this review is to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organization to carry out attacks against Israel, the statement said. The EU says it already has very strict rules in place to screen and vet beneficiaries and to make sure no such funds are made available to terrorists. The statement said that the European Commission would equally review if, in light of the changed circumstances on the ground, its support (programs) to the Palestinian population and to the Palestinian Authority need to be adjusted. And EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also criticized Varhelyi, insisting that the suspension of the payments punishing all the Palestinian people would have damaged the EU interests in the region and would have only further emboldened terrorists. The EU says it's the biggest donor to the Palestinian people and has been advocating for years for the two-state approach that has guided international diplomacy since the 1993 Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. Some of its programs though have been dogged by allegations that funds could be siphoned off for unintended use. EU foreign ministers are slated to meet in Muscat, Oman, and by videoconference on Tuesday to discuss the situation and determine what actions should be taken. The foundations for peace, tolerance and coexistence must now be addressed. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many, Varhelyi wrote. During an earlier briefing Monday, the European Commission sought to draw a clear line between Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, and the Palestinian people, who are in need of humanitarian aid. The commission said that humanitarian aid wouldn't be affected by the review. According to the bloc, it has provided humanitarian aid to help meet Palestinians basic needs since 2000 through the European Commissions humanitarian aid department (ECHO) and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since 2000, ECHO has provided 700 million euros of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The EUs most populous member, Germany, and its neighbor Austria, said they were suspending development aid for the Palestinian areas for the moment. The Development Ministry in Berlin said there was no direct German financing of the Palestinian Authority, but a total of 250 million euros ($265 million) is currently pledged in German aid half of that for bilateral projects via Germanys overseas aid agency and development bank and the other half for the U.N. agency for the Palestinians, UNRWA. Like the European Commission, Development Minister Svenja Schulze said in a statement that Germany took great care that its aid for Palestinians serves peace and not the terrorists. But these attacks on Israel are a terrible watershed, so we will review our whole commitment to the Palestinian areas, she added. Schulze said that Germany wants above all to discuss with Israel how we can best serve peace in the region and security for Israel with our development projects. She noted that Israel also has an interest in Palestinians being able to live in long-term stability, and said Germany will also coordinate with its international partners. Germany isn't suspending the humanitarian aid it provides separately via international nongovernmental organizations and the U.N., the Foreign Ministry said. Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner said Monday that much of the 72 million euros pledged this year has been paid out, and payments will continue because they support life-saving work. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio on Monday that all development aid payments will be put on ice for now. He put the funds affected at about 19 million euros. He said that Austria will review all projects with the Palestinian areas and consult with its international partners on further steps. ___ Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, and Geir Moulson in Berlin, contributed to this report. By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union foreign ministers will meet in an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Israel and the region, the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. They will meet to consider the responses and next steps for the EU, including reviewing aspects of development aid. The EU Commission also said on Monday that it is reviewing the consequences for its development assistance. "The Commission is currently assessing how the recent tragic events might affect our current and our future development assistance," an EU Commission spokesperson told reporters on Monday. "EU funding supports most essential services for the Palestinian population and contributes direct financing also to the Palestinian authority." EU ministers will meet in Muscat, Oman where a meeting of EU and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers was already scheduled to take place. (Reporting by Marine Strauss, Benoit Van Overstraeten; editing by Jason Neely, Charlotte Van Campenhout) Josep Borrell , High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has announced that an emergency meeting of foreign ministers will be held on 10 October in connection with the Hamas attack on Israel. Source: European Pravda, citing Josep Borrell on X Quote: "I am convening tomorrow an emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to address the situation in Israel and in the region." I am convening tomorrow an emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to address the situation in #Israel and in the region. Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 9, 2023 Details: European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said at a briefing in Brussels that the ministers will discuss the consequences of what has been happening in Israel since Saturday. "They will consider the European Unions response and next steps," Stano said, answering a question about a potential halt in EU aid to the Palestinians. The European Commission emphasised that the EU does not provide any direct support to Hamas. Background: On 7 October, the European Union issued a statement in connection with the unprecedented attack by Hamas against Israel, expressing support for the Israeli side. Several European states have announced increased police protection for Jewish communities following the attack on Israel by the terrorist group Hamas and the subsequent escalation of the conflict. 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! Getsafe, a German-based digital insurtech startup, has acquired the German portfolio of Luko, a French insurtech startup that recently neared insolvency before agreeing to be acquired by British insurer Admiral Group in a transaction that didn't include its German or Spanish operations. Getsafe is now present in four countries since its expansion into France. Luko's own expansion into Germany dates back to 2022 when it acquired German startup Coya, and it's in large part its former customer base that Getsafe is now taking over. "Roughly 90% of German Luko customers are former Coya customers," Getsafe CEO and founder Christian Wiens told TechCrunch. Asked whether Getsafe had also tried to acquire Coya at the time, Wiens said that the two companies only had "loose discussions" that "never materialized." Luko was more serious in its interest, because it would obtain an insurer license from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) by acquiring Coya; Getsafe didn't need that, since it had already obtained its insurer license from BaFin in 2021. The takeover announced today, which, according to Getsafe was approved by BaFin late last month, has nothing to do with licenses and a lot to do with Getsafe's growth goals. After the acquisition of Luko's German portfolio of 50,000 policies, including liability, pet and home contents insurance, Getsafe now has 550,000 customers across Europe, up from 400,000 before the French expansion in January of this year. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, so we don't know much it will help Luko clear its debts. But it gives a new home to a German customer base that Admiral wasn't interested in taking over. The British group, we learned over the summer, was mostly looking into accelerating and diversifying its growth in France, where its subsidiary L'Olivier made its name with car insurance. Operating profitability When I talked to LOlivier CEO Pascal Gonzalvez last July, he mentioned that Luko's track record of speedily launching new products had been key in the deal with Admiral, since it showed that future launches and integrations would be fast. It also helped in Germany, it seems: "The post-merger integration took us only a few weeks. From a technical perspective, integrating Luko Insurances customer base was as easy for us as launching a new product," Wiens said in a canned statement. Talking to TechCrunch, Wiens provided more details on what facilitated what is typically a long process. "A portfolio transfer would take incumbent insurers several months (in most cases years) due to IT system incongruencies. [] We learned from the mistakes of the old economy and built our proprietary platform in a modular way so that we can easily scale and adapt our infrastructure as we grow," he said. Another big difference between incumbents and Getsafe is that it sells its insurance products directly to its customers (DTC) -- mostly a younger demographic -- and with a mobile-first strategy. According to the company, 35% of its customers use its app every month. Wiens said that "10% of usage is for filing a claim and 90% of usage is to explore further insurance options or get more educated about protection." The ability to sell more products to the same customer may be what Luko was missing -- for a long time, it only offered home insurance. "Luko was focusing for too long on a single product (mono-line) strategy," Wiens said. "Especially in a direct online market, it is difficult to amortize customer acquisition costs if you fail to become the holistic insurance partner for your customers." Getsafe's multi-product and DTC strategy seems to be paying off; while it didn't disclose numbers, the company said it "again doubled revenue after a fivefold increase in the previous year and achieved operating profitability in its core markets." It also added that its revenue per customer "has been doubling every year since Getsafe's inception." Wiens pointed out Getsafe's DTC strategy as resulting in higher margins, and remains bullish about it. "[DTC] is the only way to fundamentally disrupt insurance," Wiens told TechCrunch. Not everyone agrees; German rival Wefox relies on distribution partners, and Wefoxs first-party insurance business has been deprioritized compared to the distribution business. With 32 million in losses in 2022 (around $33.8 million), Wefox reshuffled its executive team a few days ago by appointing a new CFO "as we focus on driving profitable growth while expanding our international footprint through acquisitions," CEO Julian Teicke said in a statement. In May, Wefox secured $55 million in a revolving credit facility from JP Morgan and Barclays at a flat valuation of $4.5 billion -- the same as in its $400 million Series D round in July 2022. Getsafe raised a much lower amount of funding to date 120 million, around $127 million, including a Series B round extension in 2021 and it will be interesting to see which strategy pays off the most: More or less funding? DTC or not? We'll explore the latter shortly with additional insights from insurtech insiders. Riley Childrens Health, in partnership with local organizations, will screen the film "Racing to Respond" for the first time in Evansville on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. Content warning: This article contains discussions of suicide and self harm. EVANSVILLE Evansville on Tuesday will host the statewide premiere of "Racing to Respond," a documentary film produced by Riley Children's Health that aims to bolster awareness of Indiana's youth mental health crisis and efforts to combat it. Gil Peri, president of Riley Children's Health, told the Courier & Press that 300 people had already reserved spots to attend the premiere, which will be at Bally's Riverfront Center in Downtown Evansville. Adults can register for a free ticket at rileykids.org The event will commence with a 5 p.m. reception, during which Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch is expected to deliver remarks, then "Racing to Respond" will premiere at 6 p.m. The documentary follows two families' journeys through mental health crises, detailing the trauma and loss associated with suicide and the long path to recovery from depression and anxiety. The film features interviews from Evansville locals, including Mayor Lloyd Winnecke, USI faculty and its president, Ron Roschon, and faculty from the University of Evansville. After the screening, Indiana University child psychiatrist Dr. Julianne M. Giust, Winnecke and members of the Eugenio family who appear in the film will participate in a panel discussion. "Racing to Respond's" premiere comes at a critical juncture: Death by suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among young Hoosiers, and mental health diagnoses in children are on the rise too, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2021, the CDC reported that 1 in 5 students seriously contemplated attempting suicide. Indiana's youth suicide rate has topped the national average every year since 1999. "The goal of the documentary is twofold," Peri said. "One is to make sure that the entire state understands the gravity of this youth mental health crisis. The second goal is to create a call to action to work together as a community to implement evidence-based interventions." After the film's Evansville premiere, "Racing to Respond" will be shown in Bloomington, West Lafayette, Fort Wayne, South Bend and Indianapolis. But the film is just one component of a broader, statewide initiative. Indiana faced with longterm increase in deaths by suicide among teens, young adults Riley Children's Health, with input from more than 200 clinicians, educators, families and other stakeholders, crafted Indiana's Pediatric Mental Health Strategic Plan, which aims to expand access to a range of evidence-based treatments and interventions for children with mental health disorders. "Our vision is to create a future where Indiana youth can receive the right care, at the right time and in the right place for their mental health and substance use disorder needs," the document states. "While this plan informs Riley Children Healths strategy, it is designed to advise on a path forward for youth across the state." Thirty percent of Indiana high schoolers said their mental health was "not good" either "most of the time" or "all the time" in 2021 a worrying statistic that experts said illustrates the urgent need to adopt a coordinated and collaborative approach to treating youth mental health disorders. Between 2007 and 2018, Indiana experienced one of the largest increases in suicides among 10- to 24-year-olds nationwide. In its strategic plan, Riley Children's Health identified chronic underinvestment in the mental healthcare system as one factor contributing to downward trends in young Hoosier's mental health. "We must act with urgency," planners wrote. "Addressing this public health emergency will require all of us working together state and local governments, healthcare systems, schools, the business community, nonprofits, and donors." Riley Children's Hospital and its partners will host mental health-focused events on a region-by-region basis to further implement the statewide strategic plan. Local steering groups, including one Evansville, work off of four fundamental strategies: Expand early intervention and prevention resources Increase awareness of outpatient services Ensure safe interventions for kids in crisis Ensure the right type and distribution of inpatient services Peri said no single factor is responsible for long-term increases in the number of youths experiencing mental health disorders, though he said pandemic-imposed isolation and social media use could contribute to the "multifactorial" problem. Advocates hope 'Racing to Respond' can be part of the solution: The film's premiere and panel discussion will educate families, advocates, community leaders and other stakeholders in Evansville about the need to fund local, evidence-based interventions. "That's one of the themes in the film," Peri said. "Even if we do have access to care, you want to make sure that healthcare professionals are using evidenced-based measures that can really make an impact on the situation." Houston Harwood can be contacted at houston.harwood@courierpress.com. This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 'Racing to Respond' documentary to premiere in Evansville. How do I attend? A picture allegedly showing a stolen Mercedes-Benz that belonged to then-Metro Corrections officer Yasmany Leyva. The picture was sent to an associate of Leyva's by a man trying to sell it. Yasmany Leyva knew a few things about shoplifting. As a Louisville Metro Department of Corrections officer who worked off-duty retail security, he arrested at least 20 people between 2018-21 for the offense. Most of the arrests came at a South End Kroger, where hed sometimes end up chasing suspects on foot and bringing them to the ground after they walked out of the supermarket without paying for merchandise. But now, Leyva is on the other side of the equation. On Sept. 25, he was charged with misdemeanor- and felony-level shoplifting offenses, with Louisville Metro Police accusing him of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from area Lowes Home Improvement stores, according to court records. If convicted of the felony charge, he faces between one and five years in prison. But when Leyva is arraigned later this month, it will not be the former jail guards first brush with the law. The 36-year-old was fired from Metro Corrections last year over a 2020 plot in which authorities say he pulled a gun on a man in the parking garage of the Caesars Southern Indiana casino before handcuffing him and transporting him to Louisville during a sting he set up to recover his stolen Mercedes-Benz. That incident, which occurred when he was off the clock in civilian clothes, would lead to Leyva's arrest a year later, after Indiana authorities filed a charge of kidnapping with a deadly weapon against him. He was taken into custody while entering the country at Miami International Airport. The criminal prosecution of that case failed when the key witness stopped cooperating, but Metro Corrections eventually terminated him after an administrative investigation. Contacted by phone, Leyva declined to comment on the incidents, except to point out the charges in Indiana were dismissed. The attorney who represented Leyva in his Indiana case was not available for comment. Leyva is one of more than a dozen Metro Corrections employees who were terminated or resigned in lieu of termination since the start of 2022, after being investigated for misconduct. Those terminations came amid what a jail expert hired by the city called a disturbing tolerance of misconduct at Metro Corrections, which has seen 15 in-custody deaths since late 2021. But unlike many of those other cases, Leyvas misconduct occurred away from the troubled downtown jail, as he allegedly engaged in extrajudicial, vigilante action instead of turning to fellow sworn law enforcement officers. This story is based off of court records and documents obtained under open records laws: A stolen car in J-town On July 25, 2020, the owner of a used car dealership in the Louisville suburb of Jeffersontown called police to report a Mercedes-Benz stolen from his lot. The vehicle belonged to Leyva, who was trying to sell it. Surveillance footage that later surfaced showed a masked man going into a room at the dealership and grabbing Leyvas keys after returning from test-driving a Porsche. Three days after the theft, an acquaintance of Leyvas reached out to him, saying someone had come by his Preston Highway car dealership the night before trying to sell a vehicle that matched Leyvas. Together, Leyva and his acquaintance set up a plan to meet the man later that day, and ultimately agreed to purchase the vehicle from him for $10,000, according to Leyva. The man later presented himself to investigators as a fixer with street smarts who helps car dealerships find stolen vehicles and avoid going through costly insurance claims. Ive got my ear to the street basically, he explained to Louisville police investigators. If theres a car thats gone missing on these car lotstheyll say hey, man, were missing a car.' You know? 'Keep your eye open for it.' Ill go around and tell people theres a reward for it. They aint going to be paying no reward. Theyre going to get their car back. You know what I mean? Leyva said he told Jeffersontown Police about the meeting, but did not want to wait on them and also feared the fixer would flee if he saw a police presence. Either you all come with me or Im going to do it my own way, Leyva recalled saying while speaking to investigators later. Im like if I show up with PD, hes going to run. So I set it up myself. Caesars Southern Indiana casino, where former Louisville Metro Department of Corrections officer Yasmany Leyva allegedly detained a man at gunpoint in a sting operation he set up to recover his stolen Mercedes-Benz. The acquaintance and the fixer agreed to meet at a New Albany, Indiana, gas station. From there, Leyva and the acquaintance followed the fixers car eight miles to the garage of Caesars Southern Indiana casino, where the missing Mercedes-Benz was waiting. The fixer parked and had a bad feeling. Then he opened his door. I didnt even make it out of my car before he was drawing on me, he told investigators. As Leyva aimed his gun at him, the fixer said, the corrections officer shouted LMPD, freeze, get your hands up. Get your hands up. Im going to shoot you. Conflicting stories at South End gas station After pulling a gun on the man, Leyva handcuffed him and told him to get into the Mercedes before driving him to Louisville. He kept threatening me saying look, man. Youve got to tell me whos involved in this or Im going to kill you or tell me or Im going to hurt your mom and dad and all this other s---, the fixer told investigators. In an affidavit, a Harrison County Police Department officer wrote that the fixer said Leyva had his gun out while driving back to Louisville. They ended up at a South End gas station. At some point, Leyva called dispatch, requesting Louisville police to meet them. According to a LMDCs review of body camera footage, Leyva consistently gave responding officers the impression he met the fixer in Louisville and arrested him there. My girl brought me over. She had to go back to Corrections and work, Leyva told a Louisville Metro Police officer, pointing to a gas station when mentioning being dropped off. Obviously, I got him at gunpoint, 'cause I didnt know if he got anything on him. I got him out, cuffed him up. Told her you good. Go on. Thats when I called 911. The fixer, meanwhile, spoke up and told police he was taken in Indiana. Later, an LMPD officer confronted Leyva after seeing him arrive in the same vehicle as the fixer in surveillance footage. Leyva then said they had met nearby and gone on a test drive before he arrested him. Asked where he detained him, Leyva pointed down Taylor Boulevard, saying I cuffed him up over there, according to LMDCs review of body camera footage. With conflicting stories, LMPD did not file charges against the fixer. The fixer later insinuated he knew who stole the car, but maintained he had nothing to do with it. I never drove the car, never was in the car, he told investigators. I was only in the passenger seat at gunpoint from him. The Courier Journal filed an open records request for body camera footage of the incident in August, but Louisville Metro Government said the request would take up to six months to process. An arrest at Miamis airport At about 2:15 a.m. on Aug. 3, 2021 just over a year after the incident at the casino parking garage Leyva was arrested in the customs area of Miami International Airport as he returned to the United States from a vacation in Mexico. Harrison County prosecutors had built a case against Leyva, ultimately charging him with kidnapping while armed with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony in Indiana punishable by a sentence of between three and 16 years. Less than a week after the arrest, Leyva was placed on administrative suspension without pay by then-LMDC Director Dwayne Clark. In a statement to The Courier Journal, Capt. Jason Logsdon, an LMDC spokesperson, said Leyva was on suspension until his ultimate termination in November 2022 and had his peace officer powers suspended during that time as well. Despite the suspension, Louisville Metro Government's publicly available employee database showed he received salary in 2022. A jury trial was set for July 2022, but in May, prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case. The case was ultimately dismissed because the alleged victim would not show up for depositions and was not cooperating with the prosecution in this case, Harrison County Prosecutor Otto Schalk wrote in an email to The Courier Journal. To that extent, without the victims cooperation, a dismissal was the only viable resolution on this case. LMPDs Public Integrity Unit, which investigates potential criminal activity by local law enforcement and other Metro Government employees, then picked up the case. LMPD reached out to the Jefferson County Attorneys Office about potential charges, but in a June 2022 email, the office said while Leyva could have faced misdemeanor-level unlawful imprisonment charge, the one-year statute of limitations had passed. Fired from Louisville's jail The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections in downtown Louisville, Ky. on April 1, 2020. After the criminal case stalled, LMDCs Professional Standards Unit, which investigates breaches of department policy, opened a probe into Leyvas actions. Interviewed by investigators, Leyvas story changed, and he claimed he told responding LMPD officers from the start that hed arrested the fixer in Indiana. I told them [LMPD] exactly what I just told you, he said. They said good job, man. You caught your thief. You did some good work. He also denied he told LMPD his girlfriend had dropped him off at the South End gas station or that he had met with the fixer to go on a test drive in Louisville. Leyva had similarly told LMPD investigators in 2020 that he told officers on the scene he had picked up the fixer in Indiana even when an investigator told him they had body camera footage to the contrary. LMDC concluded Leyva willfully lied to police. Officer Leyva fabricated the story of how he intercepted [the man] in an attempt to mask the criminal act of abducting [him] in Indiana and bringing him back to Louisville, Kentucky before contacting police, an LMDC investigator wrote. Officer Leyva was aware he does not have arrest powers in Indiana. Officer Leyva attempted to use his sworn peace officer status in Kentucky to his advantage in hopes LMPD would believe his version of events, without question, over [the man]. Leyva was found to have violated multiple LMDC policies in the incident. He was terminated in November 2022 after being employed by Metro Corrections for over seven years. Speaking to investigators, Leyva said his mistake was not calling police from the casino. As soon as I put him in cuffs, I should have called Indiana PD right there, which I made a mistake, he said. A Facebook post and a tip Last month, LMPD turned to Facebook to help find suspects they accused of stealing hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from Louisville area Lowes stores in recent months. Police on Sept. 22 shared several photos of suspects, including one in a red T-shirt and another of a pickup truck with temporary plates. The guy in the red shirt is Yasmany Leyva, commented one woman, who identified herself on social media as a Metro Corrections officer and former partner of Leyvas, within hours of the post. The Silverado belongs to him. Days later, LMPD posted an update to say Leyva had been identified as the result of tips. They added he had come into court with an attorney in response to outstanding warrants. He is set to be arraigned on Oct. 25 across the street from Louisvilles jail. Reach reporter Josh Wood at jwood@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JWoodJourno This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Vigilantism to shoplifting: Ex-Louisville jail guard facing charges LONDON (AP) Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I won his London court battle Friday with an ex-lover who had sought 126 million pounds ($153 million) in damages for allegedly being harassed and spied on by him after their breakup. Danish socialite and businessperson Corinna Larsen, also known as Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, said the former monarch caused her great mental pain by orchestrating threats and ordering unlawful covert and overt surveillance of her. Larsen was Juan Carlos mistress from 2004 to 2009, the court said. Juan Carlos, 85, who abdicated in 2014, denied wrongdoing and disputed the allegations, arguing that an English court didnt have jurisdiction to hear the case because he doesnt live in Britain. He has a home in Spain but currently lives in Abu Dhabi. Corinna Larsen said in a statement that she was disappointed with the outcome and was considering her options. Corinna Larsen said in a statement that she was disappointed with the outcome and was considering her options. High Court Justice Rowena Collins Rice threw out the lawsuit after agreeing with the king. She added that Larsen, who owns homes in England, had not adequately shown that the harassment occurred in Britain, which could have provided an exception to the jurisdiction legal principle. A statement issued on behalf of the king said that while he regretted the expense and time spent over three years, he welcomed the decision. It claimed the ruling unsurprisingly confirmed his innocence. But the judge specifically said she had not considered the substance of Larsens claims because she was only concerned with whether the king could be forced to face trial in England. The claimant has an account she wishes to give of her personal and financial history with the defendant, and about the harm he has caused her peace of mind and personal wellbeing, and her business, social and family life, Collins Rice said in the 92-page decision. I take no view about that account as such. Larsen said in a statement that she was disappointed with the outcome and was considering her options. It is disheartening to see that victims of harassment often struggle to find justice in our legal system, she said. Juan Carlos has deployed his full armory to grind me down and the reach of his power is immense. Juan Carlos was once one of Spains most respected public figures for his role in the countrys return to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. Juan Carlos was once one of Spains most respected public figures for his role in the countrys return to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. The ruling comes 10 months after a U.K. appeals court panel tossed out part of the lawsuit on the grounds that some of the alleged harassment took place before Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 and therefore he had immunity as a former head of state. Fridays ruling dealt a blow to the remaining elements of the lawsuit. Juan Carlos was once one of Spains most respected public figures for his role in the countrys return to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. But scandals involving Spains royal family began to mount in the later years of his reign, leading him to step down in favor of his son, King Felipe VI. The statement issued for Juan Carlos suggested that after refraining from public comment during the case, he would now be free to make public appearances. Ciaran Giles in Madrid contributed. Attorneys for two of the five former Memphis Police Department officers who are under a federal criminal indictment for violating Tyre Nichols' civil rights when beating him in January alleged in court filings Thursday that Nichols had a hallucinogenic substance, along with stolen debit and credit cards, in his car the night he was pulled over and beaten. The filings come at a time when the two defense attorneys Michael Stengel, who represents Demetrius Haley, and Martin Zummach, who represents Justin Smith are attempting to get access to files downloaded from Nichols' phone by investigators. It is still unclear why Nichols was stopped by the five former officers on the night of Jan. 7. MPD initially said the stop was due to Nichols driving recklessly, but Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis later said there was no evidence he was driving recklessly. In the motions filed by Stengel and Zummach, the two attorneys say that the alleged hallucinogens and stolen cards were not known to attorneys and the officers until later, through what they say were findings from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's catalog of Nichols' car. Prosecutors and law enforcement have not mentioned psychedelic substances or stolen credit cards being found in Nichols's car in open court, or in their court filings. Defense attorneys, however, have alluded to and outright alleged Nichols was on a hallucinogen when beaten by the officers. Thursday's court filing, however, is the most firm allegation of this type made against Nichols. Stengel filed the initial motion to compel the U.S. Department of Justice to turn over a "dump" of cell phone records, saying they are "material to the preparation of Mr. Haley's defense," on Oct. 5. In that motion, there was no mention of hallucinogens in Nichols' car, nor was there mention of stolen debit or credit cards. It was Zummach's motion, also filed Thursday, to join Stengel's motion for the cell phone records that alleged Nichols had those items in his car at the time he was stopped by the now-former MPD officers. "Only by happenstance did the defendants learn that Nichols had Schedule I hallucinogenic narcotics in his vehicle on the night in question," Zummach wrote. "Psilocybin, commonly referred to as magic mushrooms, are a Schedule I hallucinogenic. By reviewing the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's inventory of Nichols' car, it was determined that almost two grams of the substance were found. However, because the narrative of the government's prosecution does not include Nichols' state of mind, or addled mind, at the time of the traffic stop, the government obviously did not request toxicology testing for psilocybin or its metabolite." Nichols' autopsy report, and toxicology reports within it, show that Nichols had a blood-alcohol level of .049%, well below the Tennessee legal limit of .08%. The reports also show Nichols had a trace amount of marijuana in his system. Psilocybin was not listed in that report. Zummach also alleged that Nichols had stolen credit cards, debit cards and photograph IDs in his car. "On another issue, the defendants, by chance, learned that stolen credit cards, stolen debit cards and stolen photograph IDs were also found in Nichols' vehicle," he wrote in the filing. "How these credit cards, debit cards and photo IDs came into the possession of Nichols is, in fact, important when examining the state of mind of Nichols when he ran from the police." TBI, when asked for comment about the contents of Nichols' car and the allegations levied against Nichols in the filings, said "the information previously released as part of our investigation is the extent of what we are able to provide," and referred The Commercial Appeal to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office. Both the DA's office and the U.S. Attorney's Office to comment on the filings and allegations. The joinder, which is the formal method of joining with a co-defendant in a motion, appears to be using those allegations to bolster the argument that the federal prosecutors are taking a position that "is disingenuous and intellectually dishonest." The paragraphs follow similar formatting, noting that "only by happenstance" did the former officers find out about these things, which starts by saying the defense attorneys only learned about the cell phone files in passing conversation with the U.S. Attorney's Office. "Only by happenstance did the defendants even learn that the government had downloaded the contents of Tyre Nichols' cellular phone," Zummach wrote. "It was not like the government volunteered to the defendants that they had that information. Once it was discovered by the defendants that the government had the information, did the government quite boldly said in their opinion, the contents were not relevant to the crimes charged [sic]. The government actually asserted the irrelevance before they even reviewed the contents of the phone that they took the time to dump." DOJ says 'the court should deny' cell phone access The federal prosecutors, in their response to the motion to compel, said they oppose releasing the contents of the cell phone to defense attorneys for a litany of reasons, including that the attorneys did not cite a law that would permit the release of the files and that the phone's contents are not relevant to the criminal case since the officers could not have known what was on it when they arrested him. "Defendant Haley does not assert that he or any defendant knew any facts about what was in the victim's phone at the time they assaulted him," Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Gilbert wrote in the DOJ's response. "As a matter of law, any facts unknown to the defendants at the time they used force against Mr. Nichols are irrelevant and inadmissible." Gilbert went on to write that the information on the cell phone appears to be an attempt to attack Nichols' character in court, which she said is not allowed since he is dead and cannot provide a statement to a jury. "The fact that the defendant now seeks to rifle through the deceased victim's personal effects for new information suggests that he intends to attack the character of the victim at trial and, in so doing, ask the jury to improperly nullify the criminal charges," she wrote in a motion filed Friday. "The court should deny the defendant's motion to compel the government to investigate the deceased victim and, further, it should emphasize that efforts at jury nullification are not permitted in federal court." Gilbert's response did not acknowledge the allegations in Zummach's joinder notice. Notable civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family of Nichols in civil litigation, also decided not to comment on the allegations made against Nichols in Zummach's court filing. More: Ex-Memphis police officers to be tried together in state Tyre Nichols criminal case, judge rules The five former MPD officers Haley, Smith, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills and Tadarrius Bean were indicted in federal court on Sept. 12 and each face four counts. They face one count of excessive force, deliberate indifference, tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice. If convicted, they could face up to life in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. The federal indictment came months after the same five officers were indicted on the state level and face second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression charges. A $550 million civil lawsuit was also filed against those officers, former Officer Preston Hemphill, former Lt. DeWayne Smith, the City of Memphis, Davis and three Memphis Fire Department personnel. Following the federal indictment, a stay was issued in that civil case for the five criminally indicted officers. The other parties in the lawsuit will continue the discovery process. Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Attorneys for ex-Memphis police officers seek Tyre Nichols phone records 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 YourCentralValley.com. WASHINGTON Army Secretary Christine Wormuth knows she and the Army cant control everything in life. The Army cant control childhood obesity rates. The Army cant control the falling rate of applicants medically or legally eligible to enlist. Nor can the service stop seismic shifts in the labor market, or control the falling percentage of veterans, who are traditionally the most influential and trusted advocates for military service among the U.S. population. But Wormuth, who announced sweeping recruiting reforms last week, is focused on what the Army can control. Some of the organizational moves can occur almost immediately with a stroke of her pen: Recruiting Command, led by Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, will now directly report to Army headquarters, instead of Training and Doctrine Command. The Army Enterprise Marketing Office, headed by Brig. Gen. Antoinette Gant, will now directly report to Recruiting Command. Other changes will take years, though Army headquarters will soon issue orders detailing how the effort will unfold, Wormuth said. Some of those reforms include: focusing on recruiting Americans who have attended some college; creating experimental recruiting units to try new approaches without having to meet a quota; abolishing involuntary recruiting assignments in favor of a specialized recruiting MOS; or even bringing in those without prior service, but with relevant experience, to serve as recruiters. I see these transformations as us taking charge of our own destiny, said Wormuth in an exclusive Sept. 28 interview with Army Times ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual meeting. The Armys top civilian provided an inside account of why and how the service, facing a shortage of new recruits and potential structure cuts, rethought and reformed its recruiting and marketing structure. The far-reaching reforms will combine to largely align the Armys recruiting practices with those of the private sector, Wormuth said. Early efforts didnt go far enough When the Armys top leaders realized in early 2022 that its recruiting efforts had collapsed, they rapidly rolled out a series of initiatives to avoid falling short of required troop levels. Army Times detailed the services in-progress efforts in June 2022. Some of the efforts succeeded more than leaders anticipated. The Future Soldier Prep Course, initially a pilot program, became permanent and has helped more than 10,000 recruits meet Army body fat or academic standards before renegotiating their contracts and shipping to basic training. A new referral program established ribbons and accelerated promotions for enlisted troops who pointed willing friends to recruiters. Members of the Future Soldier Prep Course play a game of football in August 2022 at Fort Jackson, S.C. (Davis Winkie/Staff) Other programs fell flat or died on the vine. Juicing recruiting bonuses didnt fix the problem. Offering merit-based education waivers to non-GED high school dropouts created a political firestorm, and leaders ended the program. Despite the scramble, the Army still ended fiscal year 2022 short nearly 20,000 soldiers. Thats when Wormuth and now-retired Gen. James McConville, the Armys then-chief of staff, launched a special task force to review the Armys hiring enterprise and tear it down to the studs and see whats out there, as Lt. Gen. Doug Stitt, the services top personnel officer, characterized the effort during a September 2022 congressional hearing. An end strength crisis is here for the Army The task forces director, Maj. Gen. Deborah Kotulich, quickly realized the services recruiting structures had been built in the Industrial Age for the Industrial Age, she said in Army Sustainment magazine. Her team eventually compiled a rather exhaustive list of the policies, incentives, and processes needing revamping or transformation. But many of the ideas were rooted within the structure of recruiting as the Army has known it, where nearly every trick has been tried once. Nothing was new to our recruiters, especially those sergeants major and master sergeants with 20 or 30 years of experience, said Kotulich, a Reserve officer who previously was the Naming Commissions chief of staff. By early spring, the writing was on the wall, Wormuth said. Doing more of what we were doing already sort of trying to do it harder was just not going to get us the returns that we needed. How to find the right answers So Wormuth, McConville and Gen. Randy George began assembling a study group in May to redesign Army recruiting from a clean slate. Earlier that month, the secretary told lawmakers that the Army was going to miss its recruiting goals again in fiscal year 2023. She warned of substantial potential force structure reductions if things didnt improve. In addition to the crisis rising urgency, Wormuth said her decision and guidance to the study group was motivated by an analysis of internal marketing data shed read by West Points Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis, as well as work by students from professional military education courses in recent years. Although Recruiting Command and its parent headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command, were involved in the process to provide feedback along the way and feed data to the study group, the Army did not have them lead the study. Wormuth said she made the move because its really hard to ask the person responsible for managing the present to think about howwe create the future. Wormuth and George ultimately tapped Stitt, the Army G-1 and a career human resources officer, as the study teams leader taking a page from the private sectors playbook where many companies associate recruiting with HR. Then-Brig. Gen. Douglas Stitt (left), is greeted by Maj. Korneliya S. Waters, (middle), brigade personnel management officer, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division on Fort Carson, Colorado, November 15, 2018. (Sgt. James Geelen/Army) Stitts office was supported by OEMA, Kotulichs recruiting task force and the Army Enterprise Marketing Office, among others. The secretary noted that retired Lt. Gen. Tom Bostick advised Stitt. The retired three-star turned around Recruiting Command in 2005 after one of the worst annual performances in its history through a series of tactical and structural changes and with the help of slightly relaxed entry standards. Bostick, who also served as the Army G-1 and holds a Ph.D. in systems engineering, has worked as an organizational consultant since his 2016 retirement. With the study team selected, Wormuth said she asked them to consider questions such as: Do we have our recruiting enterprise aligned properly to the labor market? Do we have the Armys recruiting force designed, selected, trained and geographically distributed to generate maximum success in todays labor market? Are we giving recruiters the right resources at the right levels? Does Recruiting Command have the right command and control or authority over the recruiting enterprise? Is Recruiting Command the right organizational approach for Army accessions? If not, how should it be restructured? How can the Army make its marketing approach more effective? Stitt and his team had the summer to answer them, and they did. Diagnosing the recruiting problem Perhaps the groups most important contribution, Wormuth said, was to diagnose the problems and give us the opportunity to make sure that across the Army, we allsee the problem in the same way. Stitts team focused on factors that the Army could influence. In recent years, Army and Defense Department data has shown that fewer young Americans can see themselves in uniform, recruiters are increasingly less productive, the academic quality and fitness of applicants has declined, and the Armys once numerous soldiers-in-waiting have dried up. One of the major causes Stitts team identified: the U.S. labor market has evolved in recent decades, but the Armys accessions structures had not, Wormuth said. The trends run deeper than recent phenomena such as high employment. Staff Sgt. William Barnett, a combat medic specialist working as a recruiter in York, Pennsylvania, shows students in teacher Rick Guinan's applied sports medicine class at Central York High School how to use pressure to control bleeding as part of the The labor market has changedin some very fundamental ways, and the Army has not changed how we recruit...whereas our competitors to a significant degree have, the secretary explained. She highlighted how the Army has traditionally focused on recruiting recent high school graduates. In 1973, the year the draft was abolished, only 46.6% of recent high school graduates were enrolled in college, according to federal government figures. That quickly changed. By 1990, more than 60% of recent grads were going to college, and the rate peaked around 70% in 2016 before the COVID-19 pandemic reduced college enrollments. People with only a high school education represent 15 to 20% of todays labor market, Wormuth said. But the Army kept going after high school seniors. The bulk of the labor market has more than a high school degree, whereas 50% of our Army contracts are high school seniors or high school graduates, Wormuth said. So were not focusing on a significant population ofthe people who are thinking about employment. The study also identified that Recruiting Command lacked incentives to experiment with new tactics that could counter changes in the labor market taking recruiters off the line risked not meeting current year targets. The command has also lacked the resources to accurately assess whether the changes it does make are having an impact. We dont have a very good way of knowing whether the new things were actually trying are actually successful, Wormuth confessed. This year, for example, we tried so many things all at once and frankly, we needed to do that. But sometimes it was hard to tell which things were really giving us bang for the buck. Another major systemic defect, Wormuth said, was the Armys over-reliance on a generalist approach to recruiting. The service has long used involuntary tours for mid-career noncommissioned officers to fill the recruiting ranks, and they could volunteer to become career recruiters under the legacy recruiting occupational specialty. The training they get is shorter than most of the training we give to other [fields] during [occupation-specific training], the secretary said. The study team looked at the private sector and talked to Fortune 500 companies. What they found was almost all major companies have a specialized recruiting workforce they do not take people from all over their company and say, Hey, youre going to spend a year or two doing recruiting. The study group confirmed that the accessions enterprises structural instability may have impacted its performance. All of its elements, including marketing, were centralized under Accessions Command in 2002, then scattered to the winds when the command was inactivated in January 2012. Army marketing was lost in the woods until its 2019 reorganization, but the Army Enterprise Marketing Office reports to an assistant Army secretary, several layers of bureaucracy removed from recruiters. How embracing Be all you can be resurrected Army marketing What will unfold, and when Wormuth believes that the reforms will address the problems that the study group highlighted, and she described them in detail. First and foremost, she said, the Army is going to adjust its targets and techniques for prospecting in order to increase its share of new recruits who have attended college, including those who may have left school. The goal is to increase the proportion of enlisted accessions who have at least some college credits from its current 20% share of recruits to around 33% by fiscal 2028, she said. Instead of a table in a high school cafeteria staffed by a handful of recruiters, Wormuth envisions an approach that integrates digital job boards and modern private sector recruiting techniques like showing up in force to career fairs in major cities. A Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps student from Shoemaker High School, takes a photo of the M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle during a Career Fair hosted by the 1st Cavalry Division, on Fort Cavazos, Texas, March 29, 2023. (Pfc. David Dumas/Army) She knows that wont be enough, though, so Recruiting Command will also appoint a deputy commanding general to oversee experimentation units without contract quotas tasked with developing and testing new techniques, and the command will receive analytic support to track new initiatives successes and failures. Wormuth emphasized the importance of not requiring experimental units to meet recruiting targets. Because some of those things will fail, she acknowledged, but the fear of failure cant deter trying new techniques. The reforms also will eliminate one of the Armys longstanding ironies: using involuntarily selected recruiters to find new troops for an all-volunteer force. People who have chosen to be in a certain profession or industry tend to be better performers in that field, Wormuth noted. Doing so will abolish the legacy recruiting field, which the Army will replace with a new 42T recruiting track aligned with its human resources specialties, allowing it to tap into existing channels for civilian HR certifications, professional development and private industry fellowships. The Army will also create recruiting warrant officers. The first 42Ts will be todays top-performing recruiters, Wormuth said. Internal recruiters will fan out across the Army to find promising candidates much like in-service special operations recruiting currently occurs, with the help of a specialized aptitude test. The service may also accept non-prior service recruits for recruiting roles. When it comes to commissioned officers, Wormuth said the service isnt yet certain how theyll fit into this new version of Recruiting Command, but she wants them to be specialized to a reasonable extent as well. Currently, most recruiting officer roles are open to all types of officers. The secretary also explained why she chose to bring Recruiting Command under her offices control, elevate it to a three-star billet with a four-year command tour, and reassign the Army Enterprise Marketing Office to be under Recruiting Command. We need to have as flat a structure as possible to[ensure were] giving all of the resources and authorities to [it], Wormuth said. When your [commanders] tenure is only a couple of years on average, its hard to get up to speed, put new initiatives in place, see whether those initiatives are working, and make adjustments. Wormuth said those changes will ensure the Armys recruiting and marketing efforts also mirror best practices in the private sector, where you have [employment] marketing reporting to the same person who has responsibility for talent acquisition and talent management. Ultimately, the recruiting reforms emerged from a place of necessity for the Army, Wormuth said. The Armys recruiting mission is an existential issue, she said. I traveled to Europe for the first time this fall, visiting three countries in 10 days. Jet lag became a serious obstacle once I reached Scotland and continued into Belgium. I used a Navy SEALs power nap hack to get over the exhaustion to positive results. I felt like a zombie as soon as I touched down in Belgium. It was the third and final stop on my first trip to Europe, and my body was definitely feeling it. In late September, I left New York City for a 10-day European girls' trip that kicked off in London before landing in Scotland and Belgium. Although I've traveled across different time zones in the US, I never experienced jet lag like in Europe. A photo of Grand-Place in Brussels, Belgium. Lauren Edmonds/Insider During the early leg of my trip, I accidentally dozed off in Uber rides and constantly yawned while sightseeing. By Belgium, I was over it. That's when I remembered a sleep hack I saw on TikTok. A former Navy SEAL commander swears by power naps with an added twist In April 2022, retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink shared his power nap hack on Mikhaila Peterson's self-titled podcast. He suggested laying on the ground, elevating your feet above your heart using a couch or another surface, and taking an eight-to-ten-minute power nap. This embedded content is not available in your region. "Set your alarm clock for 10 minutes, and if you're really tired, you'll fall asleep really quickly," Willink said. "And when you wake up, you'll feel like you just slept for six hours." In an act of desperation, I put the sleep hack to the test in my hotel room in Belgium. After 10 minutes, I felt refreshed and more coherent The nap hack made me feel more coherent. Lauren Edmonds/Insider I laid on the ground, elevated my feet on my hotel bed, and promptly passed out. Ten minutes came too soon, but I felt more aware and cognizant than before trying the hack. I began incorporating my 10-minute naps into my vacation schedule, choosing specific times in the day when I knew I'd need a breather. It's not a cure-all solution and can't replace regular REM sleep, but I'll use this trick again whenever I'm in a pinch. Read the original article on Insider Getty Images "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." c. 1451-1506 [table-of-contents] stripped Who Was Christopher Columbus ? Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. In 1492, he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain in the Santa Maria, with the Pinta and the Nina ships alongside, hoping to find a new route to Asia. Instead, he and his crew landed on an island in present-day Bahamasclaiming it for Spain and mistakenly discovering the Americas. Between 1493 and 1504, he made three more voyages to the Caribbean and South America, believing until his death that he had found a shorter route to Asia. Columbus has been creditedand blamedfor opening up the Americas to European colonization. Quick Facts FULL NAME: Cristoforo Colombo BORN: c. 1451 DIED: May 20, 1506 BIRTHPLACE: Genoa, Italy SPOUSE: Filipa Perestrelo (c. 1479-1484) CHILDREN: Diego and Fernando Where Was Columbus Born? Christopher Columbus, whose real name was Cristoforo Colombo, was born in 1451 in the Republic of Genoa, part of what is now Italy. He is believed to have been the son of Dominico Colombo and Susanna Fontanarossa and had four siblings: brothers Bartholomew, Giovanni, and Giacomo, and a sister named Bianchinetta. He was an apprentice in his fathers wool weaving business and studied sailing and mapmaking. In his 20s, Columbus moved to Lisbon, Portugal, and later resettled in Spain, which remained his home base for the duration of his life. First Voyages Columbus first went to sea as a teenager, participating in several trading voyages in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. One such voyage, to the island of Khios, in modern-day Greece, brought him the closest he would ever come to Asia. His first voyage into the Atlantic Ocean in 1476 nearly cost him his life, as the commercial fleet he was sailing with was attacked by French privateers off the coast of Portugal. His ship was burned, and Columbus had to swim to the Portuguese shore. He made his way to Lisbon, where he eventually settled and married Filipa Perestrelo. The couple had one son, Diego, around 1480. His wife died when Diego was a young boy, and Columbus moved to Spain. He had a second son, Fernando, who was born out of wedlock in 1488 with Beatriz Enriquez de Arana. After participating in several other expeditions to Africa, Columbus learned about the Atlantic currents that flow east and west from the Canary Islands. Columbus 1492 Route and Ships The Asian islands near China and India were fabled for their spices and gold, making them an attractive destination for Europeansbut Muslim domination of the trade routes through the Middle East made travel eastward difficult. Columbus devised a route to sail west across the Atlantic to reach Asia, believing it would be quicker and safer. He estimated the earth to be a sphere and the distance between the Canary Islands and Japan to be about 2,300 miles. Many of Columbus contemporary nautical experts disagreed. They adhered to the (now known to be accurate) second-century BCE estimate of the Earths circumference at 25,000 miles, which made the actual distance between the Canary Islands and Japan about 12,200 statute miles. Despite their disagreement with Columbus on matters of distance, they concurred that a westward voyage from Europe would be an uninterrupted water route. Columbus proposed a three-ship voyage of discovery across the Atlantic first to the Portuguese king, then to Genoa, and finally to Venice. He was rejected each time. In 1486, he went to the Spanish monarchy of Queen Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Their focus was on a war with the Muslims, and their nautical experts were skeptical, so they initially rejected Columbus. The idea, however, must have intrigued the monarchs, because they kept Columbus on a retainer. Columbus continued to lobby the royal court, and soon, the Spanish army captured the last Muslim stronghold in Granada in January 1492. Shortly thereafter, the monarchs agreed to finance his expedition. In late August 1492, Columbus left Spain from the port of Palos de la Frontera. He was sailing with three ships: Columbus in the larger Santa Maria (a type of ship known as a carrack), with the Pinta and the Nina (both Portuguese-style caravels) alongside. Where Did Columbus Land in 1492? Getty Images On October 12, 1492, after 36 days of sailing westward across the Atlantic, Columbus and several crewmen set foot on an island in present-day Bahamas, claiming it for Spain. There, his crew encountered a timid but friendly group of natives who were open to trade with the sailors. They exchanged glass beads, cotton balls, parrots, and spears. The Europeans also noticed bits of gold the natives wore for adornment. Columbus and his men continued their journey, visiting the islands of Cuba (which he thought was mainland China) and Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which Columbus thought might be Japan) and meeting with the leaders of the native population. During this time, the Santa Maria was wrecked on a reef off the coast of Hispaniola. With the help of some islanders, Columbus men salvaged what they could and built the settlement Villa de la Navidad (Christmas Town) with lumber from the ship. Thirty-nine men stayed behind to occupy the settlement. Convinced his exploration had reached Asia, he set sail for home with the two remaining ships. Returning to Spain in 1493, Columbus gave a glowing but somewhat exaggerated report and was warmly received by the royal court. Later Voyages Across the Atlantic In 1493, Columbus took to the seas on his second expedition and explored more islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Upon arrival at Hispaniola, Columbus and his crew discovered the Navidad settlement had been destroyed with all the sailors massacred. Spurning the wishes of the local queen, Columbus established a forced labor policy upon the native population to rebuild the settlement and explore for gold, believing it would be profitable. His efforts produced small amounts of gold and great hatred among the native population. Before returning to Spain, Columbus left his brothers Bartholomew and Giacomo to govern the settlement on Hispaniola and sailed briefly around the larger Caribbean islands, further convincing himself he had discovered the outer islands of China. It wasnt until his third voyage that Columbus actually reached the South American mainland, exploring the Orinoco River in present-day Venezuela. By this time, conditions at the Hispaniola settlement had deteriorated to the point of near-mutiny, with settlers claiming they had been misled by Columbus claims of riches and complaining about the poor management of his brothers. The Spanish Crown sent a royal official who arrested Columbus and stripped him of his authority. He returned to Spain in chains to face the royal court. The charges were later dropped, but Columbus lost his titles as governor of the Indies and, for a time, much of the riches made during his voyages. After convincing King Ferdinand that one more voyage would bring the abundant riches promised, Columbus went on his fourth and final voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1502. This time he traveled along the eastern coast of Central America in an unsuccessful search for a route to the Indian Ocean. A storm wrecked one of his ships, stranding the captain and his sailors on the island of Cuba. During this time, local islanders, tired of the Spaniards poor treatment and obsession with gold, refused to give them food. In a spark of inspiration, Columbus consulted an almanac and devised a plan to punish the islanders by taking away the moon. On February 29, 1504, a lunar eclipse alarmed the natives enough to re-establish trade with the Spaniards. A rescue party finally arrived, sent by the royal governor of Hispaniola in July, and Columbus and his men were taken back to Spain in November 1504. In the two remaining years of his life, Columbus struggled to recover his reputation. Although he did regain some of his riches in May 1505, his titles were never returned. How Did Columbus Die? Columbus probably died of severe arthritis following an infection on May 20, 1506, in Valladolid, Spain. At the time of his death, he still believed he had discovered a shorter route to Asia. There are questions about the location of his burial site. According to the BBC, Columbus remains moved at least three or four times over the course of 400 yearsincluding from Valladolid to Seville, Spain, in 1509; then to Santo Domingo, in what is now the Dominican Republic, in 1537; then to Havana, Cuba, in 1795; and back to Seville in 1898. As a result, Seville and Santo Domingo have both laid claim to being Columbus true burial site. It is also possible his bones were mixed up with another persons amid all of their travels. Santa Maria Discovery Claim In May 2014, Columbus made headlines as news broke that a team of archaeologists might have found the Santa Maria off the north coast of Haiti. Barry Clifford, the leader of this expedition, told the Independent newspaper that all geographical, underwater topography and archaeological evidence strongly suggests this wreck is Columbus famous flagship the Santa Maria. After a thorough investigation by the U.N. agency UNESCO, it was determined the wreck dates from a later period and was located too far from shore to be the famed ship. Columbian Exchange: A Complex Legacy Columbus has been credited for opening up the Americas to European colonizationas well as blamed for the destruction of the native peoples of the islands he explored. Ultimately, he failed to find that what he set out for: a new route to Asia and the riches it promised. In what is known as the Columbian Exchange, Columbus expeditions set in motion the widespread transfer of people, plants, animals, diseases, and cultures that greatly affected nearly every society on the planet. The horse from Europe allowed Native American tribes in the Great Plains of North America to shift from a nomadic to a hunting lifestyle. Wheat from the Old World fast became a main food source for people in the Americas. Coffee from Africa and sugar cane from Asia became major cash crops for Latin American countries. And foods from the Americas, such as potatoes, tomatoes and corn, became staples for Europeans and helped increase their populations. The Columbian Exchange also brought new diseases to both hemispheres, though the effects were greatest in the Americas. Smallpox from the Old World killed millions, decimating the Native American populations to mere fractions of their original numbers. This more than any other factor allowed for European domination of the Americas. The overwhelming benefits of the Columbian Exchange went to the Europeans initially and eventually to the rest of the world. The Americas were forever altered, and the once vibrant cultures of the Indigenous civilizations were changed and lost, denying the world any complete understanding of their existence. Columbus Day: An Evolving Holiday Getty Images As more Italians began to immigrate to the United States and settle in major cities during the 19th century, they were subject to religious and ethnic discrimination. This included a mass lynching of 11 Sicilian immigrants in 1891 in New Orleans. Just one year after this horrific event, President Benjamin Harrison called for the first national observance of Columbus Day on October 12, 1892, to mark the 400th anniversary of his arrival in the Americas. Italian-Americans saw this honorary act for Columbus as a way of gaining acceptance. Colorado became the first state to officially observe Columbus Day in 1906 and, within five years, 14 other states followed. Thanks to a joint resolution of Congress, the day officially became a federal holiday in 1934 during the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1970, Congress declared the holiday would fall on the second Monday in October each year. But as Columbus legacyspecifically, his explorations impacts on Indigenous civilizationsbegan to draw more criticism, more people chose not to take part. As of 2023, approximately 29 states no longer celebrate Columbus Day, and around 195 cities have renamed it or replaced with the alternative Indigenous Peoples Day. The latter isnt an official holiday, but the federal government recognized its observance in 2022 and 2023. President Joe Biden called it a day in honor of our diverse history and the Indigenous peoples who contribute to shaping this nation. One of the most notable cities to move away from celebrating Columbus Day in recent years is the state capital of Columbus, Ohio, which is named after the explorer. In 2018, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced the city would remain open on Columbus Day and instead celebrate a holiday on Veterans Day. In July 2020, the city also removed a 20-plus-foot metal statue of Columbus from the front of City Hall. Quotes I went to sea from the most tender age and have continued in a sea life to this day. Whoever gives himself up to this art wants to know the secrets of Nature here below. It is more than forty years that I have been thus engaged. Wherever any one has sailed, there I have sailed. Speaking of myself, little profit had I won from twenty years of service, during which I have served with so great labors and perils, for today I have no roof over my head in Castile; if I wish to sleep or eat, I have no place to which to go, save an inn or tavern, and most often, I lack the wherewithal to pay the score. They say that there is in that land an infinite amount of gold; and that the people wear corals on their heads and very large bracelets of coral on their feet and arms; and that with coral they adorn and inlay chairs and chests and tables. This island and all the others are very fertile to a limitless degree, and this island is extremely so. In it there are many harbors on the coast of the sea, beyond comparison with others that I know in Christendom, and many rivers, good and large, which is marvelous. Our Almighty God has shown me the highest favor, which, since David, he has not shown to anybody. Already the road is opened to gold and pearls, and it may surely be hoped that precious stones, spices, and a thousand other things, will also be found. I have now seen so much irregularity, that I have come to another conclusion respecting the earth, namely, that it is not round as they describe, but of the form of a pear. In all the countries visited by your Highnesses ships, I have caused a high cross to be fixed upon every headland and have proclaimed, to every nation that I have discovered, the lofty estate of your Highnesses and of your court in Spain. I ought to be judged as a captain sent from Spain to the Indies, to conquer a nation numerous and warlike, with customs and religions altogether different to ours. Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us! You Might Also Like WHITE COUNTY, Ga. - On Oct. 8 at approximately 8:30 pm, White County E911 Communications received reports of an explosion and residential fire in the vicinity of Gunn Circle. First responders arrived promptly on the scene where they encountered three individuals who had managed to escape the blaze. All three individuals were swiftly assessed and transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by White County Emergency Medical Services. It has been confirmed that no occupants were left inside the affected residence. The response team, comprising White County Fire Services with support from the Cleveland Fire Department, acted quickly to contain the fire and prevent its spread to nearby structures. Fire personnel achieved a successful knockdown of the blaze, and the surrounding homes were subsequently examined for damage resulting from the explosion. Throughout the night, fire personnel remained at the scene, diligently addressing hot spots to prevent any potential reignition. Firefighter Cody Smith and Kevin Kochis In addition to the local response teams, White County Emergency Management's UAS1 (drone) was deployed to survey the area and provide overwatch for fire personnel. White County EMA's Community Emergency Response Team also joined the effort, offering assistance to firefighters in their recovery from the arduous battle against the fire. The exact cause of the explosion and subsequent fire remains under investigation by the Georgia State Fire Marshals Office. Shift Captain Jody Holland Residents living within a two-mile radius who have incurred property damage due to the explosion are urged to report such damages to White County E911 Communications. They can do so by contacting 706-865-0911. Russian forces deployed Shahed drones to launch an attack on Odesa Oblast on the night of 9-10 October. Source: Dumskaya, an Odesa-based news outlet Details: Dumskaya reported that Ukrainian air defence forces have been activated. Local residents can hear the sounds of drones, missiles, and explosions. There is no information about the consequences of the attack. Earlier Ukraines Air Force reported a threat of Russian forces launching drone attacks on southern Ukraine on the evening of Monday 9 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! PRINCE GEORGE Counselors were on hand Monday morning to help students deal with their emotions following the shooting death of a 16-year-old over the weekend. County school superintendent Dr. Lisa Pennycuff said in an email to The Progress-Index that members of the systems student services team will also be at Prince George High School. Parents were being encouraged to contact the high school counseling office if they feel their child may benefit from additional support, Pennycuff said. The juvenile victim was killed Oct. 6 at a playground in the Pine Ridge mobile-home community. Two people, including a 16-year-old juvenile, are being held in connection with the murder. Our division extends its condolences to the family of this student, their family, friends, and teachers, Pennycuff said in the email. It is heartbreaking to see senseless violence enter our community and end a young teenagers life. This is a developing story. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Extra counselors are at P.G. High School following weekend murder A senior vice president at oil giant ExxonMobil has been charged with sexual assault, police said. David Scott, 49, who manages Exxons shale oil and gas production dealings, was arrested last Thursday at a budget hotel in Magnolia, Texas, according to the Montgomery Sheriffs Office. Mr Scott was staying in a $120-a-night hotel room at the La Quinta Inn & Suites with two women, according to Reuters. The hotel is close to Exxons headquarters in Spring, Texas. One of the women left the room and went to the lobby where she called 911, a worker who saw a security video told the news agency. Mr Scott was arrested at the hotel and later charged with second-degree felony assault. He is being held on $30,000 bond, according to Texas jail records. Second-degree felony assault carries a sentence of up to 20 years in jail. The Independent has contacted ExxonMobil for comment. Emily Mir, an Exxon spokesperson previously told Reuters that the company was aware of the allegations but cannot comment on a personal matter. The La Quinta hotel where David Scott was arrested in Magnolia, Texas (Google Maps) We can say that this individual will not continue work responsibilities as the investigation proceeds," she 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." Mr Scott has worked at ExxonMobil for over 26 years. He started out as a facilities engineer in Melbourne, Australia in 1997 and worked his way up to become senior vice president, according to his LinkedIn page. The head of ExxonMobils shale oil and gas business was arrested at a Texas budget hotel on a sexual assault charge last week, authorities said. David Scott, 49, was taken into custody early Thursday at a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, the Montgomery Sheriffs Office said. Online jail records show that Scott faces a second-degree felony assault charge and is being held on a $30,000 bond. In a statement, Exxon said it was aware of the allegations but could not publicly comment on a personal matter, according to the Financial Times. 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, the statement added. Read it at Financial Times Read more at The Daily Beast. Then-California Democratic candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom , takes a selfie with Laphonza Butler , president of SEIU Local 2015, before speaking at Greater Zion Church Family in Compton in 2018. (Los Angeles Times) The death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein last month left a California U.S. Senate seat vacant and, seemingly, put Gov. Gavin Newsom in a no-win situation of his own making. But Newsom didn't see it that way. "Everybody else said, 'Well, he's painted himself in a corner,'" Newsom told reporters in San Francisco last week. "I found that a little offensive. I didn't paint myself in a corner. Quite the contrary. I think we just provided ... ample evidence of one of the most extraordinary, outstanding young leaders." Last month Newsom repeated his pledge that if Feinstein left office due to her failing health, he would appoint a Black woman to fill her seat in the interim until her term ends next year. He said he would not appoint any of the candidates currently vying in the 2024 contest for the seat, including the top Black woman in the race, Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland, because he didn't want to tip the scale of the election. After Feinstein's death, Newsom appeared to face a choice: Appoint a caretaker until November and face scorn for only symbolically supporting Black representation, or appoint Lee and suffer the wrath of the other powerful Democrats vying for the seat. Instead, Newsom chose an option that avoided both. He appointed Laphonza Butler, who has a fighting chance to retain the seat next year if she chooses to run, and will let her make that decision without his influence. Newsom's decision to tap Butler, an advocate for women's reproductive rights and a former labor leader, as California's next senator elicited mixed reactions: praise from those who know her, questions from those who don't and criticism that the former Californian lived in Maryland until last week. As Californians wait for her decision on whether to run in the 2024 Senate race, the rebukes many anticipated to come Newsom's way from within the Democratic Party, particularly from Lee's supporters, have been muted. "The important thing was that he made a choice that's someone who looks like an immensely qualified senator, who's going be a formidable candidate if she decides to run," said Thad Kousser, a professor of political science at UC San Diego. "So how you make the choice and the media narrative that week is much less important than the choice that you make and what that means for California's representation in the Senate going forward." Read more: California's incoming senator, Laphonza Butler, describes her whirlwind trip into history Newsom had been under near-constant pressure to address a potential replacement for Feinstein since last year, when questions about her age and mental capacity and, later, her health began to swirl. Speculation about his possible choice intensified after an interview with Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press" last month. Newsom told Todd he would make an "interim appointment" to the seat if Feinstein stepped down. With powerful California Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine and Lee running for the seat in 2024, all jumping into the race after Feinstein announced she would not seek another term, Newsom also said he didn't "want to get involved in the primary." "It would be completely unfair to the Democrats that have worked their tail off," Newsom said in response to a question of whether he would appoint someone who is already running. "That primary is just a matter of months away. I don't want to tip the balance of that." Newsom hoped he wouldn't have to fill the seat at all, but he stood by his pledge to appoint a Black woman to the Senate if a vacancy opened. The Democratic governor's comments faced immediate backlash. Among those voices, Lee's was the loudest: The idea that a Black woman should be appointed only as a caretaker to simply check a box is insulting to countless Black women across this country who have carried the Democratic Party to victory election after election. Up until news of Feinstein's death spread on that Friday morning, Newsom's team had only discussed a long list of potential names and not held any serious deliberations, an aide to the governor said. The governor's thoughts on an appointment remained tightly held. Because most of Newsom's political advisors have ties to the candidates in the 2024 Senate race, they were excluded from discussions. With a potential federal government shutdown looming and a slim majority of Democrats in the Senate adding a sense of urgency to the appointment, Feinstein's death set in motion a frenetic 48-hour period to pick and announce a successor. "So this thing was a hypothetical on a hypothetical a few weeks ago, and then all of a sudden it came crashing down in a call first thing in the morning," Newsom said, adding that he did not anticipate the turn of events. An aide in the governor's office said Newsom's primary focus was to first find the right person for the job who was not already in the race. The question of whether that person would decide to run or not after being appointed was secondary, the aide said. Butler's name came up in a conversation on Sept. 30, the day after Feinstein's death. Newsom said he remembered being grilled by Butler years earlier about his vision to care for California's aging population, which forced him to step up his candidacy for governor. "That was an audition of sorts when I look back. I sort of stacked those moments, those memories, and it led to a moment where I'm like, wait a second, what about Laphonza?" he said. "Do you have her new number?" Read more: Barbara Lee to Newsom: Choosing a Black woman for short-term appointment is 'insulting' Newsom's history with Butler goes deeper than that one encounter. Butler said they first met over lunch in Sacramento when he was lieutenant governor and have stayed in touch over the years. The pair reconnected when he was running for governor and sought the endorsement of the state council of Service Employees International Union, which Butler led. Butler later joined Newsom's political consultants at SCRB Strategies, which is now called Bearstar Strategies. The firm is run by the governors veteran strategists Ace Smith, Sean Clegg and Juan Rodriguez. Butler is also close with Vice President Kamala Harris and worked on her presidential campaign. Newsom said he couldn't have imagined a better person for the Senate appointment. "She had something that was self-evident to anyone that knew her: She had moral authority," Newsom said. "She was formerly the head of one of the largest labor unions in the country, but there was a passion and it distinguished her leadership, and that always marked a consciousness with me." Newsom's chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who worked with Butler during the "Fight for $15" minimum wage campaign at the state Capitol in 2016, first reached out to Butler late on the day after Feinstein's death. Butler said she had a few conversations with Williamson and the governor to understand what was being asked. "What he was talking about was the critical nature of our democracy, the critical point of inflection for women's reproductive rights, the fact that there was an opportunity here to really serve the state and to be able to step up into leadership in this moment where there was so much at stake," Butler said. At one point, Newsom described a feeling of anxiety when Butler said she would call them back. "Like what does that mean? I don't have a lot of time," Newsom said. Then the call came in saying she was interested. Even before the appointment was made official, Newsom's aides on Oct. 1 worked to fend off possible criticism by disputing that the governor ever said he intended to appoint just a temporary "caretaker." Theres a lot of difference between interim and caretaker," said Anthony York, a spokesperson for Newsom. "All along, his job was to fill the appointment for the rest of the term. What happens after that is entirely up to Sen. Butler, and it was not part of their conversation. There were never any conditions. Newsom and Butler said the question of whether she would enter the race was never asked during their conversations. "This is the first thing I said: 'I just want to let you know I have responsibility to make an appointment. This term expires based upon the existing term of Dianne Feinstein and you do what you think is best for you and the state of California, and you make that judgment completely independent of any expectations from me or conditions,'" Newsom said. Whether Butler decides to run or not remains a key question to candidates in the 2024 race and the groups supporting them. Read more: Will she run or won't she? Laphonza Butler's appointment could scramble California Senate race Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, whose political action committee endorsed Lee, tried to project unity, holding a gathering for Butler, which Lee attended, after her swearing-in Tuesday. A senior Democratic aide in the House who is familiar with the thinking of Congressional Black Caucus officials said there wasn't much disagreement in public or private at that point. There was frustration that Lee didnt get the appointment, given her years in the House, leadership of the Black caucus and previous unsuccessful attempts to win jobs in Democratic leadership. Its less about Laphonza doing anything wrong," the aide said. "She didnt." It is unlikely the caucus would urge Butler to stay out of the race. And if she does run, there will then have to be a family conversation about how best to proceed. We are not going to pit two Black women against each other. Lee is incredibly popular with lawmakers. But Butler has her own relationships. As head of Emilys List, she helped get Democrats elected. If Butler doesn't run, Kousser said, Newsom could still face ill feelings for not appointing someone who could help further the cause of Black representation. If she does, she could have a shot at winning and Newsom would have a powerful ally in the U.S. Senate. Kousser doubted that any criticism over Newsom's handling of the appointment would affect the governor's political career. Origin stories for politicians, he said, matter far less to voters than what they accomplish in office. "An appointment is a power and a conundrum," Kousser said. "You have this challenge, which is that you will make one person happy and many others mad. But there's the opportunity, which is that one person is going to be very happy with you and that's going to cement your relationship with them because they know that their appointment was a big part of why they came to power." Times staff writers Noah Bierman and Hannah Wiley 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. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Palestinian group Hamas's surprise assault on Israel Saturday and Israel's retaliation have killed more than 1,100 people and focused attention on the Iran-backed Islamist group. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September. Blinken also said he had "not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but theres certainly a long relationship." WHAT WAS THE IRAN PRISONER SWAP DEAL? In August, details were made public of a complicated agreement that President Joe Biden approved. Five U.S. citizens detained by Tehran were allowed to leave the country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds that had been frozen in South Korea. At the same time, five Iranians held in the United States were allowed to leave. WHAT WAS THE $6 BILLION? The $6 billion was Iranian money that had been frozen in South Korean banks. After Washington, under former President Donald Trump, placed a total ban on Irans oil exports and sanctions on its banking sector in 2019, these Iranian oil revenues were blocked in Seoul. WHERE IS THE $6 BILLION NOW? The funds were not dispersed to Iran. Qatar's central bank is overseeing the funds, which are still in Doha. "The facts are these no U.S. taxpayer dollars were involved," Blinken told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "These were Iranian resources that Iran had accumulated from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank in South Korea." Under the terms of the Iran prisoner deal, the money can only be used for humanitarian-related purposes, including purchasing food or other goods outside Iran for import, U.S. officials said. The U.S. Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and finance, Brian Nelson, 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. Not a penny has been spent. 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." Because of due diligence requirements related to the swap, "It will take many months for Iran to spend down this money," a State Department spokesperson said. "And, as we've said many times, it can only be used to purchase food, medicine, medical devices, and agricultural products for the people of Iran." WHAT ARE CRITICS OF THE DEAL SAYING? Most of the Republicans vying to be the party's 2024 presidential nominee tried to link Biden's Iran deal to the attacks, with some alleging, incorrectly, that he or U.S. taxpayers funded the attacks on Israel. Allowing Iran access to those funds under any circumstances improves its budget situation, freeing up money that would be used to use elsewhere, Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, said. "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 said. (Reporting by Reuters bureas; Editing by Heather Timmons, Idrees Ali and Lisa Shumaker) ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The United Nations and several countries are lining up aid for Afghanistan after a devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake in the northwest killed more than 2,000 people. Below are some facts about the pledges so far, as U.N. agencies try to assess the damage and casualties in Herat province in northwestern Afghanistan. - The U.N. humanitarian coordinator has approved a $5 million emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF). It said its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will launch and fully process the allocation within 24 hours, with eligible partners able to utilize their grants effective from Oct. 9. The AHF allocations will be depend on receiving additional donor resources, it said, adding that the U.N. partners will also develop an emergency appeal which will be a subset of the existing 2023 humanitarian response plan. - Pakistan, Iran and China have pledged to send in food, blankets, medicines, tents and funds. Pakistan's Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar said that Kabul had specifically asked for medical teams, field hospitals, tents and blankets, adding that all the requested items were being dispatched on Monday afternoon, with more relief goods to follow. Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian promised humanitarian aid and expressed his readiness to cooperate with Afghanistan, according to a statement. The Chinese Red Cross Society has pledged $200,000 in aid which will go to the Afghan Red Crescent, according to Chinese state run news agency Xinhua. - Turkey's foreign office said in a statement it was ready to provide support for the recovery efforts in the affected areas. (Compiled by Asif Shahzad; editing by Miral Fahmy) (Reuters) -Most U.S. presidential contenders have thrown their support behind Israel over the surprise attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas while Republican frontrunner Donald Trump accused Israel of being unprepared. Here is what the candidates have said: PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking a second term in the November 2024 election, said U.S. support for Israel remained "rock solid." He said Israel had a right to defend itself and called the Hamas attack "an act of sheer evil." His administration pushed back against Republican criticism of a deal with Iran by which five detained U.S. citizens were allowed to leave that country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds for humanitarian-related purposes. White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said that "these funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks" and added that this was "not the time to spread disinformation." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September. DONALD TRUMP Former U.S. President Trump drew criticism from Israel and the White House after he accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not being prepared for the attack and for calling the Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah militant group "very smart". Trump has touted his own record supporting Israel and blamed Biden for the assault, the worst breach in Israel's defenses since Arab armies waged war in 1973. "Joe Biden betrayed Israel," Trump said at a campaign event in the early primary voting state of New Hampshire on Monday. In a statement Trump falsely stated that "American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks." The $6 billion was Iranian money that had been frozen in South Korean banks. It was earmarked for humanitarian needs and has yet to be spent by Iran. RON DESANTIS Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a distant second to Trump in national polls for the Republican nomination, also assailed Biden over the attack. "Israel, with the full support of the United States, should kill Hamas members and extinguish their entire infrastructure," DeSantis said on social media site X, formerly Twitter Speaking at a campaign event in Iowa, DeSantis pushed back on the fact the funds had yet to be transferred to Iran. "You take Biden's $6 billion to plug that hole and you can free up other money for terrorism." DeSantis also condemned Trump for criticizing Israel and praising Hezbollah. "It is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel, much less praise Hezbollah," DeSantis wrote on X. NIKKI HALEY Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, a Republican foreign policy hawk, urged Netanyahu to "finish them" in an apparent reference to Hamas. "They should have hell to pay for what they've just done." She described the attack on Israel as an attack on America. She also condemned the Iran deal. VIVEK RAMASWAMY Biotech entrepreneur and Republican contender Vivek Ramaswamy, who has faced criticism by supporters of Israel for previously suggesting a phase-out of aid after 2028, criticized what he called "barbaric and medieval Hamas attacks." But he criticized Haley for saying the Hamas attack was an attack on America, and warned against the risk of a broader war in the Middle East. MIKE PENCE Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, a long-shot Republican presidential candidate who has made support for Ukraine against Russia a plank of his campaign, took aim at some of his Republican rivals, including Trump, suggesting that their more isolationist positions on the war in Ukraine had signaled a weaker United States on the world stage. "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," he said on CNN. Pence also called for U.S. special forces to be prepared to mobilize with the Israeli military to rescue American hostages. "Hamas gives em up, or we go get em," Pence wrote on X. TIM SCOTT Like Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott said in a speech on Tuesday that the U.S. should be prepared to send special forces into Gaza to rescue American hostages there. Scott has joined fellow Republican presidential contenders in criticizing Biden, tweeting that "America's weakness is blood in the water for bad actors." ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist who is running for the White House as a long-shot independent, condemned the "barbaric attacks." "We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself - now," he tweeted. (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer and Tim Reid. Additional reporting by James Oliphant, Costas Pitas and Nathan Layne; Editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller) FAIRVIEW The relationship between the Fairview School Board and its superintendent is showing signs of fraying ahead of a critical board vote that will set the terms of the superintendent's departure from the post he has held for 14 years. The dispute centers on public comments by the superintendent, Erik Kincade, who announced on Oct. 3 that he will retire as superintendent on Oct. 31. He said he had asked the School Board to waive a clause in his current five-year contract that requires him to give the school directors six months of notice that he is retiring. Kincade's announcement came the day after the School Board met for two hours and 30 minutes in a private executive session on Oct. 2 to discuss what the board, in the legal advertisement for the meeting, said was a "personnel issue involving the superintendent." As the School Board prepares to vote on Monday night on a possible separation agreement with Kincade, the board president is taking issue with what Kincade said in an interview with the Erie Times-News in an article that was posted online on GoErie.com on Oct. 3. Erik Kincade, the superintendent of the Fairview School District since 2009, said he is retiring on Oct. 31. He announced his departure a day after the Fairview School Board met in a closed session for two hours and 30 minutes to discuss a personnel issue involving him. The president, Jim Lyons, told the Erie Times-News on Friday that Kincade never told him that he intended to retire at the end of the current academic year. In the interview with the Erie Times-News, Kincade said he previously planned to retire at the end of this school year and informed the board president of that decision this past summer. Kincade, who has a doctorate, said he plans to take a job outside the education field. In his Oct. 3 statement to the school staff, Kincade, who turns 51 in December, said "it was always a dream of mine to retire from public education at age 50. With some opportunities ahead of me, I am able to make that dream a reality." On Friday, Lyons was asked whether Kincade ever told him that he planned to retire at the end of the current school year. "No," Lyons said. "Dr. Kincade had always told me that he planned to fulfill his contract, which was through June 2025," Lyons said. Board president says school directors discussed 'personnel issue' Lyons said he is limited in his comments because the School Board had discussed Kincade's situation in an executive session on Oct. 2, and that those discussions are required to remain confidential. The Pennsylvania Sunshine Act allows school directors to meet in executive sessions to discuss certain matters, such as personnel issues and litigation strategy. The directors can only vote at public meetings. The Fairview School Board is scheduled to meet on Monday night to vote on a proposed separation agreement for schools Superintendent Erik Kincade, who is retiring on Oct. 31. Lyons was asked about Kincade's comment to the Erie Times-News that the board met in executive session to discuss the clause in his contract that requires him to give the board the six months of notice that he is retiring. Kincade told the Erie Times-News that he asked the board to waive the clause so that he could retire with just one month's notice without losing benefits earned. The benefits include accrued vacation time and six days, according to his contract. Lyons said the nine-member board discussed a personnel issue involving Kincade as the legal ad stated and not just the notification clause over the course of the two hours and 30 minutes of conversation in the closed meeting. The school district's solicitor, George Joseph, attended the meeting, and he and Lyons declined to comment immediately afterward, citing confidentiality requirements related to personnel issues. Lyons on Friday said the confidentiality requirements prevented him from commenting further. But Lyons expressed frustration about the comments Kincade made about his departure to the Erie Times-News including his remark about telling Lyons about his retirement and frustration that Kincade commented before Monday's vote on any separation agreement. "The board was surprised by the article that was published on Oct. 3, as the board has not yet voted on this and this agreement is not officially accepted by the board of directors," Lyons said. "We need to vote on it in a public meeting." Lyons said the board is scheduled to vote at its meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Fairview High School, 7460 McCray Road. The board scheduled the meeting for its committees to convene work sessions, but the board can also hold a regular voting meeting on Monday. The proposed separation agreement for Kincade is on the agenda for that regular meeting. The proposed deal is not attached to the agenda. That deal would become a public record if the board passes it. The agreement could include language about Kincade's request for a waiver of the six-month retirement notice. Board president says directors will comment at meeting Lyons said he appreciates that parents and others connected to the 1,888-student Fairview School District want to hear from the School Board on the situation with Kincade. He said the board first must vote on the separation agreement on Monday. "At that time, if the vote carries, we plan to issue a statement to our community, our administrators and staff," Lyons said. Kincade did not respond to requests for comment on Friday for this story. Kincade's early retirement has ramifications for him, district Kincade's departure from the $178,967-a-year superintendent's job creates a number of issues. He is leaving the school district he has led since 2009 one of the most affluent school districts in the region with no immediate succession plan in place, and he is leaving at the beginning of an academic year. "I can assure the community that board, along with attorney George Joseph, have been working very hard on these issues this entire week," Lyons said on Friday. "We are already establishing a solid plan for the future of the Fairview School District moving forward if Dr. Kincade does indeed separate from the district." In leaving early, Kincade is also bringing an early end to the five-year contract he signed with the school district in July 2019. That deal extended Kincade's contract from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025. In addition, Kincade faces a financial hit on his pension by retiring from public education at age 50. If he draws on his pension immediately upon his retirement, he would be subject to costly penalties because he has not reached normal retirement age under the rules of the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System. The system defines normal retirement age the age when a fully vested employee is entitled to full pension benefits as at least 62 or at age 60 with 30 years of service. A fully vested employee with 35 years of service can also retire with full benefits regardless of age, according to PSERS. Kincade could refrain from drawing from his pension until he reaches 62. But he would not have access to his PSERS pension during that period of time. Kincade says 'other opportunities have emerged' Kincade, a Fairview resident, has been at the Fairview School District since July 2006. He was the district's director of curriculum development, instruction and assessment for three years before the School Board appointed him to succeed Superintendent Larry Kessler, who retired in 2009 at 56. Kincade's first five-year term as superintendent started on Sept. 24, 2009. Under the leadership of schools Superintendent Erik Kincade, the growing Fairview School District completed the $45.1 million expansion of Fairview High School in August. He said the completion of the project was among the reasons that led him to considering retiring early. Kincade started his career in education as an English teacher at Bradford Area High School. He was the middle and high school principal for the Oswayo Valley School District in Potter County before he took the curriculum job at the Fairview School District. Kincade earned a doctorate in organizational learning and leadership from Gannon University in 2013. In the interview with the Erie Times-News on Oct. 3, Kincade said the COVID-19 pandemic "took a toll on me and I've been ready for a career change ever since." He said he also was looking to move now that the school district completed its $45.1 million renovation and expansion of Fairview High School and other projects. The renovations to the high school were done in August. With those projects over, KIncade said on Oct. 3, "other opportunities have emerged that made me want to move up that date" for retirement. "I know that there is always speculation when someone decides to retire early, but for me it's all about timing and opportunity," Kincade said on Oct. 3. "I have a chance to do something outside of K-12 education that I've always wanted to do, and I need to take that leap of faith." Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Tensions rise as Fairview schools superintendent prepares to leave About 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated according to a Pew Research study, either identifying as an atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular. But while atheists and agnostics may fit into the other category with religious studies, theyre different identities and systems of belief entirely. This was what University of Toronto researchers set out to accomplish in the study To Believe or Not to Believe: Stereotypes About Agnostics, which looks at how agnostics and atheists are stereotyped differently. Heres a glimpse at what being agnostic means. What does agnostic mean? The Merriam-Webster dictionary definition of agnostic is a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (such as God) is unknown and probably unknowable, or one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or nonexistence of God or a god. Agnosticism is a belief in the unknown; an identity rooted in the notion that there may be a higher meaning to human life but that humans will never be able to access that meaning, says Brandan Robertson, an author and theologian. For Kimberly Stover, a support group leader with Recovering from Religion, agnosticism means being curious (and) open-minded while using logic and being rational. Stover, who grew up Christian, is now a member of the deconstruction community and began her journey of agnosticism after studying the Bible from a scholarly lens. I saw mythology, I saw stories, folklore being passed on and through oral tradition, I didnt see a holy sacred, literal truth anymore, Stover says. Hailed as the TikTok Pastor, Robertson uses his platform to discuss Christian agnosticism, among other teachings. After studying the Bible in college, Robertson said he left college knowing less about God than he did before he got there. What came next was a journey of awe and mystery, a path from wander to wonder, he says. I discovered that I actually think thats the point, Robertson says. As finite human beings, we can never know with any objective certainty anything about God or the universe, and thats not a scary thing. Even though nonreligious affiliation is on the rise, agnosticism is not a new belief. The word was first used in 1869 by British biologist and Darwinist T.H. Huxley who used it in opposition to churches. The Christian agnosticism that Robertson ascribes to is also not new theologian Leslie D. Weatherheads 1965 book The Christian Agnostic proposes following the teachings of Jesus outside of the doctrines of modern Christianity. Changing religion: More young adults are not religious, but Christianity still dominates Does an agnostic believe in God? As with any identity, specific beliefs depend on the individual. Theres a notion that any belief in a god would be contradictory to agnosticism, but its a bit more complicated than that. Veronica Bergstrom, one of the researchers in the University of Toronto study, proposes that agnosticism exists as a four-quadrant model rather than a two-dimensional one. On one side is agnosticism opposite Gnosticism, or the knowing of a God, and on the other is atheism and theism the disbelief and belief in a God. Someone could be either an agnostic atheist saying I dont believe in God but I dont know whether He exists, or be an agnostic theist saying I believe in God but I dont actually know whether He exists, Bergstrom told USA TODAY. It comes down to belief vs. knowing, which arent mutually exclusive, Bergstrom says. Thats precisely the case for Robertson, who says his agnosticism doesnt undermine or overshadow Christianity. Hes experienced what (he) knows to be God, but he uses that hope while also holding to scientific evidence of human existence. Im still very committed to the Christian expression of spirituality and I can talk Christian and Im very interested in studying the Christian tradition, he says. But at the end of the day, my faith comes down to a humble admission that I dont know and I dont think any of us can know. Brandan Robertson, a self-identifying Christian agnostic, uses a wonder of the unknown in his teachings. But it differs for everyone Stover says one of the biggest myths shes seen about agnostics is that theyre still searching (and prime for conversion), which she herself believed when she was a Christian. The University of Toronto study showed participants stereotyped agnostics as confused, faithless, indecisive and even cowardly. Im not wondering if the evangelical God exists, Stover says. When Im saying Im agnostic, Im open to a higher power, a higher consciousness, but Ive already rejected the idea of an evangelical God. What are the beliefs of an agnostic? Just as values differ across Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and more religions, the core beliefs of an agnostic are individual. Theres no reason to feel that you need to land anywhere or be any certain label, Stover says, of deconstructing religion. Your journey is unique. One consistency across many agnostics, however, is the rejection that one sect of religion has got it right. The teachings of Jesus that Robertson clings to are ones that embrace people of all cultures and religious perspectives. That humility lets Robertson and other agnostics consider curiosity outside of institutional tradition. Christian agnosticism has been a way for Robertson to connect with jaded Christians, especially LGBTQ individuals who have felt rejected by the church, to help queer your religion while holding onto hymns, traditions or teachings that still resonate. These words are public forum, theyre open for people to choose if they resonate with them or not, Robertson says. I think agnostic is a beautiful word for the spiritual paths that a lot of people are coming to these days beyond institutional religion but still interested in questions of spirit and purpose and consciousness and meaning. The universe is calling...: All 12 Astrological signs and what yours says about you Just Curious for more? We've got you covered USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How many people are born a day?" to "Who was Rasputin?" to "What does the Q in LGBTQ mean?" we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What does agnostic mean? How it relates to atheism, religion Of all of the revelations to emerge from the federal prosecution of Rep. George Santos treasurer, the most outrageous is the existence of a $500,000 loan that did not in fact exist. The fictional loan goes to the heart of one of the most vexing questions surrounding Santos, R-N.Y., since he was elected to Congress last year: How did a man of seemingly modest means suddenly accrue enough money to lend his campaign a half-million dollars? The answer, it turns out, is simple: He did not. And that fact could have serious ramifications for his case. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times In May, Santos was charged with 13 felonies in three unrelated financial schemes, to which he has pleaded not guilty. On Thursday, his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy related to her oversight of Santos finances. It is clear that prosecutors see a link between Marks criminal activity and Santos. The same team of U.S. attorneys handled their cases; the proceedings share the same court docket number and were overseen by the same judge, Joanna Seybert. Santos has not been charged with falsifying the loan or with other campaign finance violations, and Marks lawyer has said she is not cooperating with prosecutors. But Santos proximity to the criminal activity admitted by Marks would seem to leave him vulnerable to additional charges. In Marks charging papers, prosecutors laid out a scheme centered on Santos desire to qualify for a Republican campaign committee program that offered candidates logistical, political and financial support. In order to be considered, candidates needed to raise $250,000 in donations in a single quarter. In court papers filed Thursday against Marks, prosecutors portrayed Santos, who was described as co-conspirator #1, as lost and desperate at the end of 2021. Having failed to raise the necessary $250,000 by the end of 2021, they say he resorted to a familiar strategy: He bent the truth. Citing text messages and emails, prosecutors said Santos and Marks agreed to file reports that said the campaign had raised the money it needed to after all, by including fake contributions from relatives who had never actually donated. These are the donations we spoke about last night before we went to sleep, reads a text from Santos to Marks that included a list of relatives and donation amounts. Three days later, Marks texted Santos, court records say, seeking the list of donors your family. Santos sent it along once more, this time with the family members addresses and occupations. The false donations, over $50,000 in all, allowed Santos to be selected for the program. Three months later, in March 2022, prosecutors say Santos campaign sought additional support of the national party committee and again turned to lies to make their case. In a presentation the Santos campaign made to the national party, court records say, the campaign reported that a key factor of Santos success was the [p]ersonal and political capital that will allow for a fully funded operation. Here, prosecutors say, is where the $500,000 loan came in. In its April 2022 quarterly report, Santos campaign filings said that he loaned the campaign half a million dollars that prosecutors said was never deposited and that Marks acknowledged last week was a fiction. Even so, it bolstered his image as a wealthy, self-funding candidate and helped the campaign appear more robust and well-funded than it was dissuading would-be primary challengers. The loan had another potential benefit. As a member of Congress running for reelection, Santos would have been able to continue to fundraise. If he raised enough, he could repay himself the fictional loan potentially pocketing $500,000 in contributions. The loans Santos made to his campaign have long drawn scrutiny. In his initial House run in 2020, he reported having loaned himself $80,000, though his financial disclosure said his annual salary was just $55,000, and he had no savings account. But in 2022, he reported a startling turn in fortune. He claimed to have made $750,000 in salary plus more than $1 million each year in dividends from his company, the Devolder Organization even though the company had no visible footprint or website. Nathan Reilly, a former prosecutor with the Eastern District of New Yorks public integrity section, said that if Santos is not able or willing to negotiate a plea, prosecutors might bring additional charges. Santos has remained quiet about Marks conviction. His lawyer, Joseph Murray, declined to answer reporters questions in Central Islip, New York, on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, Santos used social media to thank his supporters while striking a defiant tone. Ive never run from tough questions, and I never intend to do so, he said. I dare anyone to find an elected who engages with the people more than I do. He is due back in court Oct. 27. c.2023 The New York Times Company The United States has pledged support to Israel after some 1,000 militants with the Palestinian group Hamas launched an unprecedented, multi-pronged attack on the country, plunging the region into war. But a supposed White House document allocating $8 billion in military assistance is fake; the image circulating online appears to show a doctored version of a July 2023 memo announcing $400 million in aid to Ukraine. "Joe Biden approved the allocation of $8 billion in military aid to Israel. Ukrainian now have a significant competitor and the situation is now becoming significantly more complicated for them," says an October 7, 2023 post from an anonymous account called "Sprinter," which has previously shared disinformation under slightly different aliases. The post is one of several on X, formerly known as Twitter, spreading what appears to be an authentic White House statement. Screenshot from X taken October 9, 2023 Similar posts circulated on other sites, including Facebook and TikTok, after Hamas militants on October 7 launched a surprise attack on Israel. Publications such as the Indian news site Firstpost published headlines repeating the claim. Hamas carried out a massive rocket barrage and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took more than 100 hostages, including Americans and other foreigners. Israel officially declared war on Hamas the following day, and its army later said it struck 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad sites in the Gaza Strip overnight. The Hamas offensive killed at least 800 people and wounded more than 2,600, the Israeli government said October 9. The death toll in the Gaza Strip has also surpassed 680 since Israel launched its air strikes, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said the same day. The supposed White House memo, dated October 7, 2023, appears to show US President Joe Biden directing "the drawdown of up to $8 billion in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Israel." But the message is fabricated. No such authorization appears on the White House's official website or in government documents published by the Federal Register. A keyword search for the text of the memo suggests the fake is a manipulated version of Biden's July 25, 2023 designation of $400 million for Ukraine (archived here). "This is fake," a representative for the White House National Security Council told AFP in an October 9 email. Screenshot from X taken October 9, 2023 Screenshot from whitehouse.gov taken October 9, 2023 The White House also told US outlets including NBC News (archived here) the missive circulating across social media is inauthentic. Biden has vowed "rock solid and unwavering" support for Israel. The president directed "additional support" for the key ally on October 8, the White House said in a statement, and he ordered US ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel in a sign of solidarity. "The United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the same day. The US also led calls at the United Nations Security Council for condemnation of the Hamas assault. AFP has debunked other false claims about the Israel-Hamas conflict here. Its time for the season of cooler weather, changing leaves and, of course, fun fall activities. There are plenty of things to do, places to go and activities to add to your fall bucket list for those who want to embrace the new season. From pumpkin picking and corn mazes to hiking and haunted houses, heres a list of popular fall activities and things to do around Charlotte this time of year: Go apple picking Location: 2075 Pleasant Hill Ave., Morganton NC, 28655 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: $3 per person. Free for children 2 and under. Picking prices vary. Apple Hill Orchard & Cider Mill has 22 varieties of apples planted with 18 available for picking through early November. Make sure to purchase a picking pass in advance online if youd like to go. Location: 8741 NC-16, Moravian Falls, NC 28654 Hours: Saturday- Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $2 per person. Free for children 2 and under. Picking prices vary. Perry Lowe Orchards has several sweet and tart apples available to pick this season. The family-friendly farm does require reservations in advance, which can be made online. Perry Lowe Orchards in Moravian Falls offers apple picking by reservation. Location: 1193 Pinnacle Mountain Rd, Flat Rock, NC 28731 Hours: Monday-Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Cost: Free admission. Picking prices vary. Sky Top Orchard is a family-friendly and dog-friendly farm that is open for apple picking everyday. Apple picking season is open through mid-November. Sky Top Orchard offers apple picking tours, hayrides and more. [READ NEXT: 11 places to go apple picking this fall near Charlotte.] Stroll through a corn maze Location: 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 Cost: $9+ Stroll and weave your way through the corn field maze at Rural Hill farm in Huntersville through Oct. 29. During the Amazing Maize Maze season, you can explore the maze during the day on Fridays-Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9 p.m. Sign up and get tickets online. Rural Hills Amazing Maize Maze is one of the largest corn mazes in the Southeast. Location: 1922 Oakdale Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730 Cost: $10 Take a weekend trip to Cherry Place Farm to explore through the 2 acre corn maze. The local farm, open on Saturdays and Sundays, also has a pumpkin patch, hayrides and barnyard games for children. Location: 416 Joe Lee Helms Road, Indian Trail, NC 28079 Cost: $8 Country Days Corn Maze, about 20 miles outside of Charlotte, has two corn mazes you can explore through the first weekend in November. The family-friendly spot is home to the Big Ears Maze, designed in honor of country star Reba McEntire, and the Little Ears Maze for those 10 and under. [READ NEXT: Ultimate fall festival guide to events in the Charlotte area to check out.] Visit a pumpkin patch Location: 1650 Filbert Hwy, York, SC 29745 Cost: Picking prices vary Plan a trip to pick out the perfect pumpkin Bush-N-Vine Farm, open every day except Sundays. Select your favorite pumpkin, then grab a bite at the farms kitchen, which offers donuts, ice cream, hot dogs, apple cider slushies and other sweet treats. Location: 1261 Oakridge Farm Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28115 Cost: $15+ Take a tractor-drawn hayride and pick out the perfect pumpkin from the Carrigan Farms. All through October, you can book a reservation to visit the pumpkin patch. If youre up for a scare, you can also visit the 275 acre farm transformed into Scarrigan Farms on select nights, with haunted trails filled with monsters, zombies and more. Pumpkin season at Carrigan Farms is from October 1-31. Location: 3780 Rocky River Rd., Charlotte, NC 28215 Cost: Free admission. Picking prices vary. Hodges Family Farm, about 10 miles outside of uptown, has a wide variety of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes. Visit the farm to stroll through the pumpkin patch, take a hayride or picnic on the property. [READ NEXT: Go big or gourd home! 10 best pumpkin patches in and around Charlotte.] Plan a mountain getaway to go hiking and leaf peeping Location: Crowders Mountain State Park, 522 Park Office Ln, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 Located about 30 miles outside of Charlotte, Crowders Mountain is a popular spot for those who dont want to venture too far to take in sky high views. Visit Crowders Mountain State Park to go hiking, padding, fishing, picnicking, rock climbing or bouldering. Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain, N.C., on Tuesday, October 25, 2022. Location: Grandfather Mountain State Park, 9872 Highway 105 South, Banner Elk, NC 28604 Take a road trip to Banner Elk and take in the views of the fall foliage at Grandfather Mountain. Check out the Mile High Swinging Bridge or explore through Grandfather Mountain State Park, which is between the Grandfather Mountain attraction and Blue Ridge Parkway trails. Photographers crowd a rock above the Linn Cove Viaduct to shoot the fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Grandfather Mountain. Location: Mount Mitchell State Park, 2388 NC-128, Burnsville, NC 28714 Mount Mitchell, about 30 miles outside of Asheville, is a popular spot for hikers in North Carolina, especially during the fall. Take in the views on a hike or a picnic from the highest point east of the Mississippi River. [READ NEXT: The best NC destinations to admire fall foliage. When and where to go in 2023.] Venture through a haunted house or trail Location: 3718 Plyler Mill Rd, Monroe, NC 28112 Cost: $25+ The 13th Acre is an outdoor walking trail with three different Halloween-themed attractions. Brace yourself for a night of terror through the Coffin Creek, The Forbidden Acre and Reapers Row trails nestled in the woods. The 13th Acre is a haunted trail in Monroe, filled with creepy characters. Location: 4064 Mountain View St, Gastonia, NC 28056 Cost: $20 Hickory Grove Haunted Trail is one of the oldest haunted attractions around Charlotte. Expect a night of suspense and scares as you make your way through the haunted trail near South Fork River. Location: Carowinds, 14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273 Cost: $44.99+ Get in the spooky spirit as Carowinds transforms into SCarowinds ahead of Halloween with haunted mazes, scare zones and live shows youll be in for a night of thrills on and off the roller coasters. Venture through the haunted park on every Friday and Saturday night in October. Carowinds visitors in a haunted maze, part of the Scarowinds event. Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello died after receiving treatment for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, his company, Gruppo Chiarello, said in a release Oct. 7. He was 61. Chiarello was being treated for the past week at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, where he was surrounded by family and friends at the time of his death, according to his company. Anaphylactic shock occurs when the immune system, in response to an allergic reaction, causes blood pressure to drop and airways to narrow. "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," his family said in a statement. Michael Chiarello and Al (TODAY) Chiarello was born in Red Bluff, California, where his love of cooking began in his mother's kitchen. The chef graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1982 and was named Food & Wine magazine's Chef of the Year three years later. By 1987, he opened his critically acclaimed restaurant Tra Vigne in Napa Valley, securing his culinary ties to his native state. His love of cooking didn't stop at food the chef also started businesses focusing on olive oil and winemaking. After his business success, Chiarello became a staple on the Food Network. His show "Easy Entertaining" began winning Emmy Awards in 2005, and Chiarello was a runner-up on Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" in 2009. In 2011, the Culinary Institute of America named him Alumni of the Year, and he finished in third place on "The Next Iron Chef." Chef Michael Chiarello and Hoda (TODAY) Chiarello made several appearances in the TODAY kitchen, showing his signature Napa style twist on Italian cuisine with TODAY's Al Roker and Hoda Kotb. Chiarello faced controversy in 2017, when he settled a lawsuit brought by two women, his former employees, accusing him of sexual harassment. Now, Chiarello is being remembered for his "incredible impact" on the food world. "Chef Michael Chiarellos passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and our hearts," his partners in Gruppo Chiarello said in a statement. "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." This article was originally published on TODAY.com FIRST ON FOX, JERUSALEM As attempts to save the hostages continue, a possible ray of light for the families: Fox News Digital has learned from sources that Qatar is involved in brokering negotiations to free the innocent Israelis abducted by the terrorists. Even as the death toll in Israel continued to rise past 700 people on Monday, hundreds of Israeli families were still desperately searching for loved ones who have been missing since the multipronged terrorist attack carried out Saturday along Israels border with Gaza by Palestinian terrorists. Most of those interviewed by Fox News Digital said they believed their relatives mothers, fathers, children and cousins were being held by the terrorist group Hamas inside the Gaza Strip. Many of them based their suspicions on photographs and videos uploaded to social media by the Islamist group and all of them said they had heard nothing from Israeli authorities or international groups about the whereabouts of their family members. They all appealed for the help from groups such as United Nations, the International Red Cross and others to offer them some information about their fate. Israels military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told Fox News Digital that he could not give an exact number of Israelis who had been kidnapped or were being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave, saying only that there are "dozens." Israeli media reported that the number was anywhere between 70 and 100. VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS Here are some of their stories [these interviews have been edited for clarity]. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Mayan Zin's daughter Dafna seen here. Zin says there is video footage of her two daughters, ex-husband, his partner and her son being held by Hamas. There is video footage of my two daughters, my ex-husband, his partner and her son being held by Hamas terrorists in their home on Kibbutz Nahal Oz. In the video you can see that he has been shot in his leg, he is hurt and really bleeding, the terrorists help him stand up and lead him away. He can barely walk. The girls live on Nahal Oz with their father, I lived there until recently but moved to the center of Israel. Then there are photos of my daughters, Dafna, 15, and Ela, 8, in Gaza and Dafna has on different clothes. On the photo, in Arabic, it says that they made her change her clothes and put on ones that were suitable for Muslim prayer. I am going through hell right now. No one official in Israel has been in touch with me, and I have no more information about them other than the photos. I got in touch with the police and sent them the videos, but they have no information at all. I spoke to the teachers and the counselor at their school, but they could do nothing to help me other than tell me to stay strong. But I dont think they are alive, it's just a feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach. I want to send a message to my daughters, I want to tell them and Noam, my ex-husband and Dikla, his partner, and Tomer, her son, that I love them all and the whole family is waiting here for them to come home. I want them to do everything that they are told to do by those who are keeping them. I want the world to know what we are going through. EYEWITNESS TO HAMAS TERROR INVASION: THIS IS WORSE THAN MY NIGHTMARE SCENARIO' We believe that all of them have been kidnapped to Gaza. We have a short video of Shir with the two children surrounded by Hamas terrorists, but we dont know what happened to Margit, Yossi and Yarden, we just know they are not on their kibbutz, Nir Oz. We are really worried about them, especially Margit who has Parkinsons Disease and without her medicine will die. The little children have nothing, no food and no diapers. The only one that is left is Shirs sister, who managed to leave the kibbutz after 30 hours. When the rockets started on Saturday, I started looking on telegram to see if I could find some information about what was going on, and then I saw the photograph of Shir with the two babies and I could not believe it. I cant even describe what I felt when I saw the picture of them, then we started getting information from other people on the kibbutz. We just cant comprehend the size of this thing right now. I am just sitting here going through photographs and videos that Hamas have uploaded hoping that I will find some information about them. My family is broken, we just dont know what happened to them. I want to say that these people [Hamas] are animals, but even animals would not behave like this. Israel is not Syria, and this was not supposed to happen here. I have so many questions but I not asking them right now because I want to show support for the army and our brave soldiers. It is Israel, it is not Syria, it was not supposed to happen. I have so many questions, but I am not asking right now because I want to stand with the army and our brave soldiers, but everyone we know is effected by this we are getting information from friends who have lost family members, or who are missing or who have been called up to serve in the army. ISRAELI WOMAN RECOUNTS DEFENDING FAMILY AGAINST HAMAS TERRORISTS TRYING TO BREAK INTO 'SAFE ROOM' If I had a message for Hamas, I would say to them that they should keep these people safe and alive. It will be better for them if they look after them like we look after our prisoners. I also want to say to people in Europe and the U.S. who judge Israel for defending itself, there are radical movements in your countries too, and it is only a matter of time before they knock on your door, and then you will know what we are feeling right now. Galit Dan's mother, Carmela her daughter Noya, nephew Erez, niece Sachar brother-in-law, Ofir were all taken from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz. My mother, Carmela, 80, daughter, Noya, 13, my nephew, niece and my brother-in-law were all taken from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz. I lived on the kibbutz until about two weeks ago and my daughter went back to spend the Sabbath with my mother. I now live on Kibbutz Kissufim, which is nearby and was also under fire on Saturday. We were also hiding in our bomb shelters and my mother was texting me telling me that there were people inside her house and my daughter sent me a message saying that she heard loud voices outside the door of their shelter. The doors of the shelter do not lock and that is one of the problems. In my shelter, we managed to lock the door, and we stopped the terrorists from opening it, which saved our lives. I dont know where they are, I have no information about them at all, I only know that they are missing. Once the fighting stopped, my sister, who lives on the kibbutz, went to my mothers house and found no one there. I dont even want to think about what happened to them. I am fighting a psychological war in my mind because I do not want to think about it. All I can do right now is talk to the media and tell the whole world that this happened and ask for help. ISRAELI AMBASSADOR CALLS HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL TRULY UNPRECEDENTED: THIS IS OUR 9/11 I want someone from the U.N. to go to Gaza and find out where they are. They took innocent people, elderly people, children, they have no weapons. I have lived on this kibbutz all my life and I trusted that the army would watch out for us, but they did not watch out for us. It is just totally unbelievable. The only thing I can compare it to is Ukraine but maybe it's different, I dont know. I just hope someone is taking care of them, giving them food and blankets but only God knows. Hamas was very, very organized with this attack. They were very professional, they knew exactly what they were doing and arrived very prepared and fully armed. Adi Meisel's mother has not heard from her since Saturday morning. My daughter, Adi, 21, went to the party in Kibbutz Reim with a good friend of hers and the last time we spoke to her was on Saturday morning at 7:40am. She called me hysterical, telling me it was chaos and there were people shooting. Then the line got disconnected, and we have no idea what happened to her. We dont know if she is dead or alive, hurt or kidnapped. In one film we saw her car, and we saw her friend lying on the floor next to the car. We know that those who tried to escape from there were shot at zero range, but it's now almost three days, and we still dont know. The more time that passes, the less chance there is of finding her. Adi is an amazing child. She is only 21 and already runs her own business. She is very responsible and independent, and I know that if she could contact us, she would. I am just trying to speak to as many people as possible to see if there is any information about her. I am now getting many calls on Whatsapp from Arabic speakers telling me that Hamas is holding her and I can hear screams in the background. I know they are calling other parents too, how can they be so inhumane? I am ashamed of the human race. I am trying to deal with this situation, but my brain just cant register it. I dont understand why they [the terrorists] would do this to people who are not even involved in this war. It will not give them anything and now Israel will attack them and more mothers like me will end up losing their children. Original article source: Families of Israelis feared kidnapped by Hamas terrorists speak out: 'Were at home waiting to hug you' My family of four had dinner at the chain Buffalo Wild Wings for the first time. Our $77 meal included an appetizer, four entrees, fries, and two beers. Our appetizer seemed like it could use more time in the oven, but we enjoyed most of our food. Although I'm not a huge fan of traditional bone-in wings, boneless wings and other bar food like burgers, fries, and mozzarella sticks are among my great loves. My husband and I have never been much on visiting chain restaurants, so we tend to find a local dive bar to enjoy these all-American delights at. But since my teens have started asking to try different chain restaurants, we recently decided to grab dinner at our closest Buffalo Wild Wings. My family of four piled into a booth at Buffalo Wild Wings right when my husband and I finished our work days, ready for wings, burgers, and a sports-bar atmosphere. Here's how it went. Buffalo Wild Wings opened in the 1980s. Terri Peters undefinedundefined We started our meal with a round of drinks. My hard cider came in a huge glass. Terri Peters I started my meal by ordering a 22-ounce "tall" glass of Angry Orchard cider, which the restaurant had on tap. My drink was $8.25 and, since I went with a tall pour, it took me the entire meal to finish. My husband also chose a tall beer, a Samuel Adams Octoberfest, which cost $6. He never needed to order a second glass due to its generous size. My kids, who usually are all about drinking a soda with their meal, both opted for waters, which were free of charge. For an appetizer, we shared mozzarella sticks. I think the mozzarella sticks should've been cooked for longer so they'd be crispier. Terri Peters Our $8.50 mozzarella sticks were one of the only disappointing parts of our meal at Buffalo Wild Wings. Although the size of the appetizer (six pieces) and the marinara dipping sauce were great, the mozzarella sticks seemed like they could use more time in the oven or fryer. There was no golden-brown color to the outside of the sticks and no cheese pull when we bit into them, a sign to me that the cheese just wasn't quite hot enough. Still, for under $9, they were a reasonably-priced option to split over a family of four. The traditional wings were spicy and flavorful. Buffalo Wild Wings had solid bone-in wings. Terri Peters When we order traditional, bone-in wings, we prefer to try the standard hot Buffalo-style sauce at any restaurant. At Buffalo Wild Wings, we ordered six wings ($10) tossed in standard hot sauce and were impressed with the spice level. Because the wings weren't a breaded style, they were saucy and messy in the best possible way. We got them with two cups of blue-cheese dressing, though we could've also chosen ranch. The boneless wings were a highlight for me. The Asian Zing sauce had a nice flavor. Terri Peters My husband and I also shared an order of 10 boneless wings ($12.50) sauced with Buffalo Wild Wings' Asian Zing sauce. The sauce wasn't incredibly spicy, but it was extremely flavorful with chili, pepper, soy, and ginger notes. The breading on each wing was crispy and delicious and the meat inside each bite was moist and well-cooked. This was a dish I would absolutely order again if I returned to Buffalo Wild Wings. For me, it was a true highlight of the meal. My daughter ordered a crispy chicken wrap. The chicken wrap at Buffalo Wild Wings came with fries. Terri Peters My teenage daughter ordered a classic chicken wrap filled with crispy chicken, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce for $11. The wrap came with fries and, altogether, it was a great meal for her. The portion size wasn't too huge and she said it was incredibly flavorful. She ate the entire wrap and said she'd definitely order it again if she returned to Buffalo Wild Wings. My son ordered a cheeseburger, My son probably wouldn't get the cheeseburger at Buffalo Wild Wings again. Terri Peters My 15-year-old son's standard order at any restaurant is a plain cheeseburger, and Buffalo Wild Wings was no exception. At $11.50, Buffalo Wild Wings' all-American burger was affordable and came with a side of fries. Unfortunately, it ranked pretty low on his ranking of burgers he's gotten at chain restaurants, but I told him that's probably what he gets for ordering a burger at a chicken chain. We also ordered a side of fries for the table. Fries can help balance out spicy wing sauces. Terri Peters Whenever we eat spicy chicken wings, my husband and I like to order a side of fries as something to snack on when we need to take a break from the flavors and heat. A side of fries at Buffalo Wild Wings was $4, and my kids enjoyed the fries at this restaurant so much that they finished their own and started munching on ours. Our $77 dinner was pretty good. We enjoyed the food we got at Buffalo Wild Wings. Terri Peters Overall, we enjoyed the food at Buffalo Wild Wings and would consider returning. Although the cheeseburger and mozzarella sticks weren't hits, we found the chain had really good wings, perfectly chilled drinks, and fries that really satisfied our cravings. The Asian Zing sauce on the wings was especially tasty, and I'd also be excited to taste more of Buffalo Wild Wings' 20+ sauces next time we go. Read the original article on Insider In normal times, choosing a candidate to fill a voluntary mosquito control position on a local government board would not attract much attention. But these are not normal times in Shasta County, a rural northern California county whose Board of Supervisors is in the grip of a far-right majority determined to radically change local politics. Since gaining the balance of power, three far-right board members, who are linked to local ultraconservative groups, including a secessionist movement and a militia, have approved a set of proposals aimed at shaking off state control and making Shasta County a blueprint for ultraconservative values. This mostly rural county, home to 182,000 people, long a red bastion in a blue state, has now become a focal point for burgeoning right-wing movements across the country that aim to take back control of local government. On Sept. 26, the three far-right supervisors, Patrick Jones, Kevin Crye, and Chris Kelstrom made their latest move: appointing a local radical activist and hydroponics store owner to the countys mosquito board, over an epidemiologist who was previously the countys public health director. The appointment of Jon Knight, known for his involvement with local ultraconservative media and his attendance at the Jan. 6 insurrection, over Donell Ewert, a trained epidemiologist, grabbed national headlines, as did Knights conspiratorial comments. Far-right Board of Supervisors in Shasta County #California puts far-right extremist Jon Knight on county mosquito and vector control board. Knight says the Japanese have weaponized mosquitos into "flying syringes" that will "mass vaccinate" the population. pic.twitter.com/TX82gWBZKU Shawn Schwaller (@madprofes) September 30, 2023 I know a lot about this stuff. I know a lot about some of these Bill Gates programs. This is not conspiracy, this is a fact. Theres Japanese scientists who have created flying syringes that will mass-vaccinate the populations, Knight told the board during public comment on his appointment, warning of the dangers of genetically-modified mosquitoes. I would put my health in Jon Knights hands over Donnell Ewerts any day of the week, board chair Jones said from behind the dais. Jones, who owns a gun store, was approached for comment in July by a reporter from SFGate, who asked about a controversial resolution the board passed declaring the county would not abide by any order, provision, law, or agency initiative that violates [...] the Second Amendment. Drop dead, Jones replied. Jones did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast. Mary Rickert, one of two supervisors who frequently votes against Jones, Kelstrom and Crye, told The Daily Beast she was adamantly opposed to Knights appointment. Its almost laughable that you would disregard the application from probably the most qualified person in this county, and basically try to appoint someone who got his education about mosquitos on the internet, Rickert said during the board meeting. Do you know how that makes us look as a county? It makes us look like idiots. Downright idiots. Nonetheless, the three far-right supervisors voted to appoint Knight to the position. Mosquitos do indeed pose an ongoing threat in Shasta County. The vector control district has found West Nile virus in 152 mosquito samples this year, more than a 200 percent increase from the previous high of 45 in 2015. The countys first human case was recorded on Aug. 23, after a local man was hospitalized. A photo illustration showing Jon Knight on January 6th at the Capitol. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty Images and Courtesy of Jon Knight. Ewert told the LA Times that its sad our county is not being governed now by a majority that believe in mainstream science. He said that misinformation in Shasta County led to fewer people getting vaccinated and more people dying from COVID-19 than in the rest of California. In Oct. 2021, the death rate from COVID in Shasta County was more than six times higher than in the rest of the state, according to KRCR. A spokesperson for the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency (HHHSA) told the outlet that Of the people who have died in Shasta County from COVID-19, fewer than 10 percent have been fully vaccinated. They believed they would be at a higher risk of getting vaccinated than getting the virus. I think thats a shame, a tragedy, and, quite frankly, an outrage, Ewert told the LA Times, which this week also reported on the battle within the board of supervisors. For his part, Jon Knight seems bemused about the amount of attention his appointment to the mosquito board has drawn. He didnt even particularly want to run for the role, he told The Daily Beast on Thursday, but multiple people in the community said the position needed to be filled, and so he stepped up. Knight described the political situation in Shasta County as very hot, and said that although Ewert had put himself forward for the position, A lot of people in the community did not want him. Knight says hes been selling pesticides in Shasta County for 18 years, and has a deep understanding of mosquitos, different kinds of mosquitos and the diseases they carry. I have a lot of deep research on the subject, Knight said. The day after he was appointed to the mosquito board, an inspector from the Agricultural Department walked into his shop, Knight says. The timing, he believes, cannot be a coincidence. Mary sent you, huh? he said to the inspector, referring to Rickert. Jon Knight. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty Images and Courtesy of Jon Knight. On Oct. 4, two more inspectors turned up, Knight says, going through everything like never before. They found five or six products that he was not licensed to sell, and pulled them from the shelves, he said. Knight shrugs it offhe is already in the process of filling out the necessary paperwork to continue selling the products, he says, and believes the investigation is nothing more than harassment engineered by Rickert. Im under the impression that it was retaliation from her, he said. Rick Gurolla, the agricultural commissioner, told The Daily Beast he ordered the inspection after Knights comments at the Sept. 26 meeting, where he talked about selling pesticides. We had no record of this business ever being licensed, Gurolla told The Daily Beast. The investigation is still ongoing, Gurolla says, though he hopes to have it wrapped up by the end of the month. As agricultural commissioner he is able to issue warnings to businesses, or suspend their licenses if they are found to be in violation. In extreme cases, he says, he is able to refer matters to criminal prosecution to the District Attorney. Rickert sees Knights appointment as emblematic of the wider dysfunction in Shasta County. In a conversation with The Daily Beast, Rickert described herself as a conservative Republican who has found herself in a war to prevent the three far-right supervisors from wreaking havoc in Shasta County. We are the guinea pig. Ive said this from the very beginning. We are the poster child for a takeover of local government, she said. This is methodical, planned, orchestrated to overthrow and take complete control of Shasta county and sever themselves from the thumb of Sacramento. Doni Chamberlain, a veteran local reporter who has covered Shasta County for decades and now runs A News Cafe, where she and a small team of journalists report on every board of supervisors meeting in detail, says she affectionately describes the ongoing political strife as the Shasta County shitshow. She has had to contend with a steady stream of death threats and attacks for her work. In July, Chamberlain was covering a militia meeting where she says she was physically attacked, leaving her with a concussion and whiplash. She told The Daily Beast she is now in physical therapy while she weighs her legal options. In 30 years as a local reporter, she says shes never experienced anything like the current level of threats just for doing her job. Chamberlain coined the term Shastaliban to describe the coalition of forces gathered behind the hard-right local government officials, a phrase some far-right activists have co-opted, even getting t-shirts printed with the phrase. While the situation in Shasta may look like similar far-right takeovers of local government in other areas of the country, like Ottawa County, Michigan, Chamberlain says theres one key difference. Theres money backing up these guys, she says. Chamberlains site has covered the shadowy influence of Reverge Anselmo, a Connecticut-based billionaire who donated $100,000 to Jones election campaign, provided funding to local conservative media outlet Red, White and Blueprint, and backed a recall against former board supervisor Leonard Moty. Anselmo appears to be motivated by a personal vendetta against the countryhe was sanctioned for building a Catholic chapel on his Shasta vineyard without permits. Shawn Schwaller, who teaches history at Chico State and writes for A News Cafe, said the far-right supervisors are backed not only by Anselmo, but an alliance of groups that are working together to build a kind of far-right identity politics. Shasta County has long been conservative, but the pandemic created new political alliances, Schwaller told The Daily Beast, and he thinks people got more radical, more quickly. It was very traumatic, Schwaller says. I think a lot of people went off the rails. Many locals in Shasta were enraged by state-mandated COVID measures enacted by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which they felt infringed on their personal liberties. Carlos Zapata, a local bar owner and far-right activist, went viral in August 2020, when he railed against COVID restrictions at a board meeting, warning that citizens would be willing to take up arms to fight back. Carlos Piccata, who says he is a combat vet, to the Shasta, CA county commission: Its not going to be peaceful much longer. Were building, were organizing. You wont stop us when the time comes. This is a warning for whats coming. Theres a million people just like me. pic.twitter.com/EF8fjqGb1z Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) August 14, 2021 In an appearance on Alex Jones Infowars that October, Zapata said the ongoing mandates would push people to a point of violence and could lead to blood in the streets. The far-right movement in Shasta gained momentum as the pandemic continued, with alliances formed between anti-vaxx activists, the secessionist State of Jefferson movement, and the local, heavily-armed, Cottonwood militia. Knight himself was executive producer of The Red, White and Blueprint, a documentary series looking at the recall campaign of previous board supervisor Moty, who was ousted by a far-right coalition backed by Jones in Feb. 2022. Moty, a Republican and former police chief, was targeted because of this support for pandemic-era precautions like masking. Jeff Gorder, who is now leading a recall campaign against Crye, one the far-right supervisors, says some in the community are outraged by the huge swing to the right local politics has taken and are looking for avenues to unseat the supervisors. Carlos Zapata & his Red, White, and Blueprint (RW&B) pro-#Shasta Co. #recall posse of anti-intellectuals talk Juneteenth, #CriticalRaceTheory, liberals, & More! RW&B executive producer Jon Knight attended the #insurrection in Washington D.C. More here: https://t.co/iAcnsUAGwd pic.twitter.com/svC6tAgKwD A News Cafe (@anewscafe2007) June 30, 2021 It is this effort to try and proceed at a county level and appoint like-minded individuals to all these committees and school boards, Gorder says. They want to be the tip of the spear, the vanguard of a right-wing extremist movement across California and around the country. Now, the supervisors are gearing up for a new fight. In May, they voted to end the countys contract with Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of a swirl of conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, in favor of moving to a hand-counting system. They were supported behind-the-scenes by the My Pillow CEO and high-profile election denier, Mike Lindell, who promised to foot the bill for any potential legal fees. The controversial move led to Gov. Gavin Newom signing a new bill on Oct. 4, that comes into effect immediately and limits local governments ability to hand-count votes. Board chair Jones said Shasta County will go ahead with their plans regardless, setting up the possibility of a legal battle between the supervisors and the state. As far as I'm concerned, we push forward. The state may want to sue us, Jones told the Record Searchlight. Rickert said she fears the outcome of the board continuing down the path theyve chosen, especially in regards to manually tallying. I would not be surprised if the Governor has to call in the national guard in this county at some point, she 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. A father and son are dead after a shooting took place at a home in northeast Phoenix over the weekend, Phoenix Police said. Between late Saturday and early Sunday, police said they responded to a shooting call at a home near 40th Street and Sweetwater Avenue. The caller told the dispatcher that her husband, later identified as Preston Windus, 54, was shot inside her home. She said she believed he was shot by her son, according to police. When officers arrived, they found a man, later identified as 19-year-old Daniel Windus, dead inside a vehicle that was parked in the driveway. The woman who called 911 came outside and confirmed to police that her husband was shot and unresponsive inside the home, police said. Officers from the Tactical Support Bureau responded and confirmed that Windus was dead, police said. After homicide detectives took over the investigation, preliminary information suggested that Preston Windus was shot and killed by his son, Daniel Windus, police said. Daniel Windus then walked outside and into the vehicle where he turned the gun onto himself, according to police. Police said the investigation remained active as detectives continued to go through evidence and wait for results from the medical examiner's office. Suicide, crisis hotlines for Arizonans Services for Arizonans in crisis include: Dial 2-1-1 at any time to reach the free 2-1-1 Arizona information and referral service and connect with free resources available locally throughout the state. Solari Crisis & Human Services offers a free, statewide crisis line 24/7/365 dial 844-534-HOPE (4673). Help is also available 24/7/365 via text by texting hope to 4HOPE (4673). Dial 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available in English and Spanish. It's free and confidential for those in distress who need prevention or crisis resources for themselves or loved ones. La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center's crisis line serves Maricopa and Pinal counties 24/7 at 480-784-1500. Teen Lifelines 24/7 crisis line serves teens at 602-248-8336 for Maricopa County and 1-800-248-8336 statewide. The Trevor Project Lifeline serves LGBTQ youth at 866-488-7386 or by texting START to 678-678. Domestic violence resources for Arizonans Resources for Arizonans experiencing domestic violence include: This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Father, son dead after shooting in northeast Phoenix The church of Saint Gregory in Baku is currently closed to the public, an AFP reporter saw (Emmanuel DUNAND) Most ethnic Armenians have fled the breakaway enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh since last month's lightning offensive by Azerbaijan, and some fear that the territory's culture is under threat. Azerbaijan took control of the mountainous region, considered by Armenia to be its people's ancestral home, in September after a one-day offensive that sparked a mass exodus of the ethnic Armenian population. It was part of Muslim-majority Azerbaijan since the end of the Russian Empire, but it is dotted with several hundred churches, monasteries and tombstones, some dating back to the 11th century. Its ethnic Armenian Christian inhabitants attempted to break away after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 -- making a unilateral declaration of independence that failed to achieve international recognition. Some of the religious sites have unique features and are carved with armed knights dating back to the Mongol Empire of the 13th and 14th century, said Patrick Donabedian of the Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archeology in the Mediterranean in France. Key figures who have lived in Karabakh and left during years of dispute include priests from the Armenian Apostolic Church. They include the clergy of the Dadivank monastery, which is said to have been founded by Saint Dadi at the birth of Christianity. Some fear their departure has left the region's Armenian cultural sites vulnerable. "These sites will suffer the same fate as symbolic Armenian sites elsewhere," predicted Hovhannes Gevorgyan, Karabakh's representative in France. He pointed to the destruction of Armenian historical sites elsewhere in Azerbaijan and in parts of the Karabakh region that were retaken by Baku in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the territory in 2020. - 'Complete destruction' - The Armenian church of Saint Gregory in Baku -- listed on the Azerbaijani register of national historic monuments -- is currently closed to the public. Its gates are locked and one of the entrance doors is blocked shut by the terrace of a nearby restaurant, an AFP journalist observed. In Karabakh itself, the Saint Saviour cathedral in Shusha -- a city Azerbaijan sees as its cultural capital -- is hidden behind a wall of scaffolding. Other Armenian monuments languish under tarpaulin. Since the Azerbaijani offensive in September, "the risks... today take many forms", said Lori Khatchadourian, an archaeologist at Cornell University in the United States. "There's the risk of damage. There's the risk of outright destruction, the risk of erasing of inscriptions," she told AFP. Rather than famous monuments, it is historic cemeteries and churches in small villages that are the most under threat, she added. Khatchadourian is co-founder of Caucasus Heritage Watch, which, she said, used high-resolution satellite imagery to document the fate of the Armenian cultural sites in Karabakh and the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan. In Nakhchivan, located near the Iranian border, the group's research shows "the complete destruction of 108 mediaeval and early modern Armenian monasteries, churches and cemeteries between 1997 and 2011". "This figure represents 98 percent of the Armenian cultural sites we were able to locate," she said. In the Nakhchivan city of Julfa, formerly Jugha, she said there was a slow-moving methodical process of erosion over a period of 10 years. This data is impossible to verify from the ground because access to the sites is strictly controlled by Azerbaijani authorities. Baku has said that mosques and other Islamic sites under Armenian control have been desecrated or damaged. - Intangible heritage - Armenian heritage could also be threatened, some say, by the fact that some of the 700,000 Azerbaijanis displaced in the 1980s and 1990s from Armenia, Karabakh and surrounding areas could now choose to move into the enclave. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said repeatedly in recent years that Armenians have no ancestral claim to the region. Its mosques and churches are Azerbaijanis' historic treasures, he has said. In December 2021, the International Court of Justice reminded Baku it had a legally binding duty to prevent the vandalism and desecration of Armenian cultural sites -- including monuments, cemeteries and places of worship. Azerbaijan's culture ministry did not immediately respond when contacted by AFP. Since its lightning military seizure of Karabakh, Baku has pledged to afford equal rights to everyone in the territory, whatever their ethnic, religious or linguistic origins. But Armenian intangible heritage is also "inevitably" at risk, Gevorgyan said. Armenian folk dances and songs, other traditions and even the dialects spoken in Karabakh "risk vanishing over time". "The natural guardians of places whose culture and traditions they have passed on down the generations might, once they have physically left be able to pass them on to the next generation," he said. "But what happens after that?" al/alf/gil/trc/rox Uganda's health ministry ordered health providers to ensure no one is discriminated against or denied medical services (Manjunath Kiran) At a mostly empty clinic catering to HIV patients, staff monitor CCTV footage for potential spies, reflecting the fear among Ugandan health workers following the adoption of a controversial anti-gay law. "People have to trust their healthcare workers, the health workers have to trust their clients but under the current circumstances, it has created a situation where everyone is scared of each other," said the clinic's founder, Brian. During the three hours spent by AFP inside the clinic, no patients walked in -- a worrying sign of the law's impact on efforts to combat HIV in the East African nation, said Brian, who asked not to share his last name, citing safety concerns. The legislation adopted in May contains provisions making "aggravated homosexuality" a capital offence and imposes penalties for consensual same-sex relations of up to life in prison. It has also sparked fears that patients or healthcare providers could be reported to police, with anyone who "knowingly promotes homosexuality" facing up to 20 years in jail, while organisations found guilty of encouraging same-sex activity could be banned for a decade. When parliament began debating the legislation in March -- a discussion laced with homophobic slurs -- "we had a lot of calls from people pleading (that) we delete them from our systems," said Brian. Attendance has been falling ever since. Around 35 percent of people accessing HIV prevention services have stopped visiting his facility, while another 10 percent of those requiring antiretroviral medication have also cut off contact, he said. "We have lost three health workers who said they can't work in such kind of environment for their own safety, career and families," slashing their staff capacity by more than a quarter, he added. Furthermore, as patients stop taking antiretroviral drugs, their viral load spikes, raising the risk of them transmitting HIV to others, he said. - 'Fear and paranoia' - Uganda's health ministry has ordered health providers to ensure that no one is discriminated against or denied medical services, but the advisory has done little to reassure those working on the ground. "We have seen people being arrested if they are found with lubricants or condoms," said Richard Lusimbo, director general of Uganda Key Populations Consortium, which works on healthcare advocacy. Even as the law was being debated, police arrested six men in the eastern city of Jinja in March after finding 192 sachets of lubricants, a rainbow flag, T-shirts and pamphlets about the LGBTQ community in their possession. All six were released on bail after spending more than three months behind bars and face multiple charges including "recruiting male adults into gay practices". "The law has created... a lot of fear and paranoia," Lusimbo told AFP. "There is no clarity on how you are speaking about (HIV) prevention without being looked at as one who is promoting LGBTQ," he said. "If nothing is done to annul the law, we are going to see an increase in HIV infections." UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have warned that Uganda's progress in fighting HIV "is now in grave jeopardy" because of the anti-gay law. But Uganda's director general of health services, Henry Mwebesa, told AFP that the country was "on course to ending AIDS as a public health challenge by 2030". "Contrary to some exaggerated allegations, services are being provided without discrimination to those seeking them," he said, dismissing concerns that the law threatened to reverse the gains made by Uganda. - 'Expect the worst' - At his third-floor clinic, Brian and other staff are searching for ways to reach patients without compromising their safety. Telemedicine consultations and delivery services -- which took off during the Covid-19 pandemic -- have proved a boon, he said. "We have introduced a WhatsApp line, gone on social media so that we reach the clients directly (to) close up the gaps," he said. Packages are not labelled to avoid the risk of recipients being identified and targeted. Yet these stopgap measures do little to ease the anxiety felt by him and his coworkers. "When we come to work, we expect the worst to happen," he said. The implications for his patients are even more devastating. "Even if this law is struck down, our people have been radicalised," he said, adding that the legislation had "heightened homophobia". "It will take us many years to undo the damage because people who have been lost to healthcare (will) not just come back," he said. "It will take a lot of time to rebuild the trust." gm/amu/txw/rox A federal prison blocked an incarcerated Reason subscriber from receiving one of our recent issues. It's the one whose cover story showed how the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) allowed a cadre of guards to sexually assault female inmates with impunityand allowed them to escape legal consequences after they confessed. Reason received a notice last week that FMC Devens, a federal men's prison in Massachusetts, rejected the October 2023 issue of the magazine. The cover story details how at least a dozen women were abused by corrupt correctional officers at FCC Coleman, a federal prison complex in Florida. A Senate investigation later revealed that those officers had admitted in sworn interviews with internal affairs investigators that they had repeatedly raped women under their control, yet they were allowed to retire without ever being prosecuted by the Justice Department. The rejection notice from FMC Devens says the issue "is being rejected due to the nature of its content. The magainze [sic] contains an article about Bureau of Prisons staff at FCC Coleman including the names of Correctional Officers and victims. Such material jeopardizes the good order and security of the institution." Page 1 of prison reject ltr-Oct Contributed to DocumentCloud by CJ Ciaramella (cjciaramella (Individual)) View document or read text Of course, all the correctional officers named in the story are now retired. And the women all went on the record with their names when they filed a lawsuit, which the U.S. government eventually settled for about $1.5 million. This is far from the first time Reason has had a run-in with prison censors. Issues of Reason have been impounded by Florida and Arizona prison officials. The latter found a on the deplorable conditions inside the Washington, D.C., jail "detrimental to the safe, secure, and orderly operation of the institution." (Reason) Prison censorship is pervasive across the country. A Marshall Project database published earlier this year of books banned in state prison systems lists more than 50,000 titles. Prisons and jails also restrict nonprofit groups and loved ones from sending incarcerated people used books, a policy that several groups around the country are challenging on First Amendment grounds. The BOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reason is appealing the rejection. There are plenty of things jeopardizing the good order of the BOPendemic corruption, chronic staff shortages, horrific medical neglectbut a magazine article about the agency's documented failure to hold its employees accountable isn't one of them. The post Federal Prison Censors Reason Issue About How Federal Prison Employed Serial Rapists appeared first on Reason.com. Leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party Kaczynski speaks during an election convention In Jasionka Leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) ruling party Kaczynski speaks during an election convention In Jasionka By Alan Charlish WARSAW (Reuters) - For the leader of Poland's largest opposition grouping, there was no doubt who he wanted to come face-to-face with in a televised debate ahead of a closely fought Oct. 15 parliamentary election. "Jarek, where are you?" Donald Tusk called out during a recent campaign rally. "Where are you hiding?" The Civic Coalition (KO) leader was addressing Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the ruling nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party. Kaczynski opted not to take part in Monday night's debate; the government sent Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki instead. While on paper, Morawiecki may outrank the 74-year-old deputy prime minister, most people regard the twin brother of late president Lech Kaczynski as the man who really holds power in Poland, a European Union and NATO member. The rivalry between Tusk, 66, and Kaczynski has been at the heart of Polish public life for a generation, while the split between the pro-European liberalism of the KO and the conservative social values and left-leaning economics of PiS has come to define Poland's polarised political landscape. Kaczynski, who launched PiS in 2001 with his brother, and Tusk, a former European Council president, last met in a public debate in 2007. Many political observers have said that encounter was a turning point which cost PiS that election. But with the two leaders advancing in years, the 2023 campaign is likely to mark their final showdown. "There will no longer be such a battle between such camps, because regardless of the election result, this arrangement is over," said Anna Materska-Sosnowska, a political scientist at Warsaw University. TRADING ACCUSATIONS OF 'EVIL' Tusk and Kaczynski have known each other since the 1980s and were once on the same side in Poland's anti-communist opposition of that time, but their relationship is now marked by deep animosity. "Tusk is the personification of evil in Poland," Kaczynski told supporters at an election rally in August. "Evil rules in Poland," Tusk, a former prime minister, told supporters upon his return to Polish politics in 2021 after almost seven years away from domestic politics. Polls show that PiS is likely to remain the largest party in parliament in the Oct. 15 election but may have to rely on the far-right Confederation party to form a government. This would be the latest challenge for Kaczynski in a career that has seen him hold together many of the often fractious elements of Poland's religious conservative right. For PiS lawmaker Marek Suski, without Kaczynski's presence, the right would face an uncertain future. "If he retired, there could be some clear cracks here, which would be bad for the right wing and for Poland," he said. Tusk is also seen by his supporters as a man who can bring Poland's diverse opposition parties together. "At the moment he is not the bearer of one ideology, he is the leader of the entire opposition which cannot be confined to one ideology," said Bogdan Borusewicz, the deputy speaker of Poland's upper house of parliament. INTELLIGENTSIA Kaczynski and his twin brother, who served as president from 2005 until his death in an air disaster in 2010, grew up in Zoliborz, a Warsaw neighbourhood synonymous with Poland's educated elite. "He is a first-rate intellectual of the old style but he has a narrow world view because he doesn't know the world," says a childhood friend who declined to be named. Kaczynski is a childless bachelor who rarely travels abroad. Kaczynski holds Tusk responsible for his brother's death in the air crash in Smolensk, Russia, which he says was an attack facilitated by his opponent's efforts to normalise relations with Russia when he was prime minister. Opposition supporters reject this as a conspiracy theory. For his critics, Kaczynski has spearheaded an erosion of democratic standards that brought Poland into conflict with the EU, while demonising minorities such as immigrants or the LGBT community. However, his supporters regard him as a defender of Catholic traditions and poorer Poles. "Jaroslaw Kaczynski has always talked about justice, that Poland should take care of all citizens fairly, and what is fair is supporting those who have limitations for various reasons, whether for health reasons or for social, economic... reasons," said Suski. BRUSSELS Tusk viewed the changes made in Poland by the PiS government elected in 2015 from Brussels. In his memoir of his time as European Council president, he writes of his doubts as to whether he had done the right thing by stepping away from the domestic scene. "A persistent thought comes back and gnaws at the inside of my brain: Did I do the right thing by leaving," he said in the diary entry for the day in 2015 that PiS took power. Since returning to Polish politics in 2021, Tusk has been subjected to intense attacks from state media portraying him as a German puppet representing the interests of an arrogant urban elite. Critics say state TV has been turned from a public service broadcaster into an outlet for government propaganda. "He is withstanding this attack ... He is in good shape, but he is the main opponent at the moment of all the propaganda of the PiS government," said Borusewicz. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, additional reporting by Malgorzata Wojtunik and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; editing by Mark Heinrich) FITCHBURG Fitchburg State University police are searching for a person who reportedly sexually assaulted a female student at the campus library last week. The student described the assailant as a male, approximately 19 years old and 5-feet 5-inches tall, with an accent of undetermined origin. She said he approached her in the library Wednesday and began a conversation before he made physical contact that escalated into sexual assault. A university statement said that a subsequent investigation yielded reports from other female students who said they had been approached recently around campus by a male who fit the same description. The safety of the campus community is paramount, and the university is working with public safety partners to locate the individual described in the reported assault on campus, and our community members will see a heightened police presence around these public locations while this investigation continues, the school said. Police will continue to investigate, the statement said, and additional patrols will be conducted in the areas of the reported encounters. Fitchburg State President Richard S. Lapidus released a statement Monday afternoon, calling the incident "profoundly disturbing," and stating that a "comprehensive investigation remains very active," with the campus police collaborating with other public agencies. The statement also said that while there have been concerns raised about public access to the campus following the incident, its resources were "always meant to be accessible to members of the wider community." He said it was important to remember the rarity of such instances, and provided a link to a copy of the campus's annual security report. "Although there are details we cannot share with the public out of concern for compromising that investigation, be assured that all avenues are being pursued," Lapidus's statement said. "We are also attending to the well-being of the student who made this report, to whom I am grateful for stepping forward." This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Fitchburg State University student reports sexual assault in library A safety notice has been issued to students at Fitchburg State University after a female student reported to university police on Sunday that she had been sexually assaulted in the campus library. The incident that was told to police this weekend reportedly took place between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on October 4. The student described her assailant as a thin male, approximately 19 years old, 5-foot-5-inches tall, who spoke with an unknown accent. She said the male had approached her in the library and began a conversation before initiating physical contact that escalated into sexual assault. Subsequent investigation yielded reports from additional female students who said they had recently been approached at other campus locations by a suspicious male, with a similar physical description from the allegations in the library. The safety of the campus community is paramount, and the university is working with public safety partners to locate the individual described in the reported assault on campus, and our community members will see a heightened police presence around these public locations while this investigation continues, the university said in a statement. There will be a heightened police presence on campus as police continue searching for the suspect. University Police ask that anyone with information about this individual or potentially similar interactions contact them at 978.665.3111. Additional information about on- and off-campus safety may be found on the police website. 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 LUNA PIER The driver of a suspected stolen car who fled from police was eventually located inside a hotel bathroom. The Monroe County Sheriffs Office reported the incident occurred in the early morning hours Saturday. Shortly before 2 a.m., Monroe County Central Dispatch received a call from Washington Township, Ohio, police that their officers were pursuing a vehicle northbound on I-75 for a traffic-related offense, a news release said. The chase continued into Michigan, but the suspect crashed near Erie Road. The driver fled the crash scene on foot and was last seen running into the thick brush line along the east side of the highway. Sheriffs deputies converged on the area and set up a perimeter. Sgt. Ryan Sottile began an aerial search with the sheriffs office's drone while Michigan State Police were called to assist with a K9 search of the area. Prior to Trooper Jack Taeff arriving on scene with his tracking dog, Deputies Jacob Llewellyn and Samantha Pitzen located the driver hiding in a bathroom at the Pier Inn in Luna Pier. The 22-year-old suspect, a Redford resident, was transported to a Toledo-area hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the crash as he fled. An 18-year-old passenger from Detroit was immediately detained, but was later released from custody. It is believed the vehicle the suspect was driving had been recently stolen out of Putnam County, Ohio. Deputy Sheriff Melissa Henderson was working on locating the vehicle owner to confirm the theft. The suspects names are not being released at this time. The case remains under investigation by Henderson as well as Washington Township police. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 734-240-7571. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Fleeing suspect found in Luna Pier hotel bathroom Once again, the numbers are inauspicious for Florida Democrats. The latest figures show Republicans now have 588,930 more registered voters than Democrats, continuing a trend that makes the notion of election victories ever more elusive for the states No. 2 political party. Statewide, Republican registrations make up 37.4% of the states 13.9 million voters. Democratic registration stands at 33.2% and no party affiliation/independents are at 27.2%. Every month, consistently, we are just adding, Florida Republican Chairman Christian Ziegler said shortly after the state posted the latest tallies. Weve just added about another 20,000 to our lead. Floridas headed in the right direction. We feel good, as we do every month when these reports come out. The numbers, released Oct. 3 by the state Division of Elections are one more data point in a significant, long-term shift. Just a decade ago, immediately after President Barack Obama won Florida in 2012 on his way to a second term and then-U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson won reelection, Democrats had 558,272 more registered voters than the Republicans. They were No. 1, at 40%. Five years ago, just after Gov. Ron DeSantis narrowly won his first term, the Democrats still had an advantage though it was smaller: 257,175 more voters than Republicans and 37.1% of the total. Two years ago, in October 2021, the state flipped, and the number of registered Republicans surpassed the number of registered Democrats. Democrats say theyre attempting to turn around the trend. Florida Democrats are fully focused on registering new voters, state Democratic Chair Nikki Fried said during a National Voter Registration Day event last month in Tallahassee. We feel that the energy that weve been putting on the ground is starting to move the needle forward. There is excitement, there is energy and we are excited for 2024 because I truly believe we will see the pendulum swing back a whole lot faster than was originally anticipated. Covid, and more Democrats domination of Florida registered voters has declined steadily. Even when they had more registered voters than the Republicans, Democrats were winning fewer and fewer major elections. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated long-term trends. Two things happened during the pandemic. Gov. Ron DeSantis, after initially supporting COVID restrictions, became a prominent champion of letting everyday people rather than public health experts decide what precautions they wanted to take, and touted Florida as a bastion of freedom. That helped attract like-minded people to Florida, and when they fled Democratic-dominated states and moved to Florida and registered to vote the Republican Party was more appealing for many. Theres a heck of a lot of new people moving here, and they happen to be conservatives moving here for freedom, Ziegler said. During COVID, there were about 600,000 newly registered voters in Florida, said Richard DeNapoli, Browards elected Republican state committeeman and former county party chairman who extensively analyzes political data. Two out of three of those registered as Republicans. Florida kind of encouraged that because it was a state that opened quicker than elsewhere. You just had a huge influx of people and largely they were conservatives that didnt like the atmosphere in the more liberal states. And because people could work from home, they became more mobile, DeNapoli said. Mindy Koch, chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party, acknowledged that newcomers to Florida are a challenge for Democrats. We are having a lot of people moving to Florida, she said at a news conference last month, because they like the political climate here. Florida has long been a mecca for people from other states. But the recent trends mark a shift from a previous generation, when waves of northeasterners retired to the Century Villages and other vast condominium communities in Broward and Palm Beach counties and formed such a large base of Democratic voters that they were often courted by candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and president. Even before COVID, there was a shift. The Villages, the central Florida retirement megalopolis home to many Republicans, was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the country from 2010 to 2020, Census data show. Meanwhile, with Democrats largely more cautious than Republicans during the early stages of the pandemic coinciding with the 2020 election season both parties made fateful decisions. Republicans continued with their in-person organizing, including registering voters. Democrats largely eschewed in-person voter contact. COVID isnt the only reason for the switch, to be sure. Republicans have long had better-funded voter mobilization efforts than Democrats. Related Articles In conservative, often rural areas of the state, there are residents who had registered as Democrats long ago, sometimes because it was the thing everyone had done for generations. Voting patterns started shifting with the emergence of Reagan Democrats in 1980, when Republican Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter for the presidency. More recently, some of those Democrats who had been voting for Republicans have formally switched their registrations. It is the continuation of the trend of many northern Florida Democrats moving toward the Republican Party, which is a better fit for their more conservative views, said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist at Florida Atlantic University. Ziegler said the trend toward the Republicans has been on fire since Donald Trump announced his 2016 presidential candidacy. He said 25 of Floridas 67 counties have flipped from Democrat to Republican since January 2016. Democrats and Republicans agree on whats been happening. Many of the shifts, Fried said, are from people who havent been voting as Democrats. In many cases, DeNapoli said, Their voting pattern was already Republican. If you see Liberty County or Jefferson County flipping, if you look at the voting history, the voter registration flipping is basically reaffirmation of how theyve already been voting. Rise of independents Republicans and Democrats still dominate, but registering with no party affiliation is proving far more inviting for people who dont want to identify publicly, at least with one of the two major parties. Wagner said a huge number of people (are) choosing no party affiliation, a trend thats taking place nationwide. Florida now has 3.8 million no party affiliation/independent voters, making up 27.2% of registered voters in the state. No party affiliation/independents are by far the fastest-growing share of the electorate. Floridas population growth in the last 15 years has put 2.5 million more people on the voter rolls, an increase of 21.9%. There are 1.6 million more NPA voters in Florida than 15 years ago an increase of 76.8%, far outpacing the Republican growth of 1.1 million, which is an increase of 26.8%. Democrats, by contrast, have 183,046 fewer registered voters than in 2008, a decrease of 3.8%. South Florida South Florida is still solidly Democratic, though not as much as it once was. Broward County: For more than a decade, no party affiliation/independents have been the No. 2 party identification in Broward, with Republicans in third place. The number of registered Democrats and Republicans has gone up in Broward County during the last two decades and the number of registered Republicans has declined. NPA/independent affiliations have soared. Browards 1.3 million registered voters were 46.6% Democratic, 30.2% NPA/independent, and 21.4% Republican at the end of August. Miami-Dade County: The county still has a Democratic advantage, but its declined significantly. It has fewer Democrats than 15 years ago, more Republicans and many more NPA/independents. The countys 1.5 million registered voters were 36.2% Democratic as of Aug. 31, and 29.7% Republican and 32.3% NPA/independent on Aug. 31 Palm Beach County: The number of Democrats has slipped in Palm Beach County since 2008 by about 20,000 and the county has about 35,000 more Republicans. It has about 104,000 more NPA/independent voters. The countys registered voters are currently 38.5% Democratic, 29.8% Republican, and 29.3% NPA/independent. With the exception of a slight increase in the number of registered NPA voters in Broward, all three counties currently have fewer registered voters across the board than at the end of 2022, the same thing that shows up in the statewide numbers. Supervisors of Elections Offices perform extensive list maintenance in odd numbered years after major elections, with names of people registered moved to inactive status. During the past eight odd-numbered years, the number of registered Florida voters has decreased in six. Fried said current list maintenance is especially hurting Democrats, an argument her predecessor offered after Republicans took the lead in registrations in 2021. Minor parties There are multiple minor parties, in Florida, such as the Libertarians or Greens, that attract some voters. Their numbers have bounced around in the last 15 years, but in total arent significant. As of Aug. 31, there were 297,405 people registered in minor parties, 2.1% of the states total. In 2008, minor party registrations were 3.2% of the total; in 2013, 2.9%; and in 2018, 0.9%. Comeback attempt The summer of 2023 was, according to Democrats, going to begin to reverse the trend. At a big Florida Democratic Party gala in Miami Beach in July, Fried proclaimed it was a new era, with Democrats finally having the resolve to compete with the Republican registration juggernaut. Fried, who as state agriculture commissioner was the only statewide elected Democrat from 2019 to 2023, was chosen by party leaders to take over in February. At the July event, Fried announced the first round of voting for county-level efforts, involving data-driven targeting of potential voters. We cannot just be standing outside of Publixes and hope that we get voter registrations, she declared. Less than three weeks later, state Democrats announced they were devoting $1 million to voter registration efforts through the end of 2023, part of an effort to stem the growing Republican advantage that has contributed to widespread Democratic defeats and a diminished presence even in the partys longtime strongholds in Florida. Fried then embarked on a statewide tour aimed at mobilizing Democratic activists to aid the partys efforts, and generate publicity for Democratic priorities and attack Republicans and the party hired a voter registration director. Broadly speaking, the efforts are aimed at the November 2024 elections, and beyond. Our goal is to reduce the Republican advantage by 35% by the 2024 election. Your Florida Democratic Party and your Florida Democrats are fired up, out in force, and ready to do the work on the ground, she said in mid-September. We are already seeing that energy come to fruition on voter registration. Still, from the end of July through the end of August, the Republican advantage over the Democrats continued to grow. Republicans grew their advantage over the Democrats by 20,879 voters from July 31 to Aug. 31, registration numbers released this week showed. Ziegler mocked the Democrats efforts as fraud on the partys donors. They did a whole bus tour, a statewide tour, for voter registration. It doesnt look like its having any impact. The trendlines arent a new phenomenon, and Democrats have vowed to change them before. In February 2022, then-state Democratic Chairman Manny Diaz acknowledged the partys voter registration efforts lagged. We have let our guard down, especially during off years, he said. Thats not going to happen anymore. Were changing the paradigm. Party leaders promised a $2.5 million voyager registration effort they said would be better-funded and more far reaching than anything theyd ever done before. In 2019, the state Democratic Party chairwoman announced a similar effort that didnt produce results. In 2019, Terrie Rizzo, then the state Democratic Party chairwoman, announced a monumental investment of $2 million on technology, data, and hiring field organizers to register voters. COVID hit the year after, and the effort didnt produce results. Importance The number of registered voters isnt the only factor in which party wins and loses. Efforts to energize and turn out voters make a difference. But as the nation has grown more polarized, DeNapoli, Ziegler and Wagner said voter registration is a better indicator of how people vote than it once was. In other words, registered Democrats are less likely to occasionally vote for Republicans, and Republicans are less likely to vote for Democrats. The party that we identify with, that we pick on our registration, is a significant predictor of our vote choice, Wagner said. Identity politics has become increasingly significant. And so you see less willingness of people to consider politicians and politics outside their party identity. You also see a certain amount of self selection as to who people socialize with, the kinds of media they consume, and even where they choose to live. The result, Ziegler said: more of each partys registered voters are more likely to go straight down the Republican or Democratic column, so the signups are important. The voter registration for us is a head start. Its like a race, he said. Challenges Democrats face multiple challenges in attempting to pull themselves back into contention. Voter registration and other programs to mobilize people are expensive. Without evidence that the efforts pay off by increasing the chances for election victories, its harder to convince donors to spend money in Florida instead of in states where it might have more impact. Its a chicken-and-egg situation: Without the money, its harder to do the organizing work that will produce the results that will generate more contributions. Koch, the Palm Beach County Democratic chair, said the party would try to register as many voters as it can until the deadline a month before the November 2024 election. This is so important, Koch said. Were going to be moving forward and registering as many people as we can between now and next Oct. 4. We have lots of time to catch up but we shouldnt be in a catch-up phase. Another challenge: Its more difficult to register voters than it once was. State Sen. Bobby Powell, a Palm Beach County Democrat, said at a National Voter Registration Day news conference that new registration rules and new rules for vote-by-mail ballots enacted by the Republican Legislature and DeSantis are repressive and supressive policies of preventing people from voting. 100% of their changes are aimed at preventing Democrats from registering and voters. Joel Davidson, a former Tamarac resident who currently lives west of Delray Beach, has long been active in the Democratic Party, including voter-registration efforts. He said his current effort, which puts him at a table outside the Hagen Ranch Road Library in Palm Beach County two, and sometimes three, days a week is less effective than past pushes. Davidson supplies voter-registration forms to people who say they arent registered but unlike the old system, he doesnt help people complete them, and doesnt collect them. Instead, he tells people they can fill out the forms and turn them in to a library employee inside. He also provides people information on how to renew their vote-by-mail requests; all mail ballot requests were canceled by the state after last years election. That means voters who dont take steps to sign up again wont get mail ballots for any of the 2024 contests: presidential primaries, later primaries for state and local offices, or the November presidential election. Davidson said he thinks providing that information will ultimately prove more helpful to the Democratic Party. Davidson said he encourages people to register, even though once theyre out of sight he doesnt know what they do. I give them the form, Davidson said. Maybe they mail it in. Maybe they take it home and throw it in the trash. Sun Sentinel data journalist Danica Jefferies contributed to this report. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Facebook, Threads.net and Post.news. A Florida preacher has been accused of running an organised crime ring centred on selling stolen Home Depot items online. Robert Dell, from Pinellas County near Tampa, faces charges including racketeering and dealing in stolen property. Mr Dell allegedly used his roles as a pastor at The Rock Church and director of a halfway house for recovering drug addicts to force people to steal for him. The operation resulted in the pastor and four co-conspirators stealing merchandise worth more than $1.4 million from stores in several counties. Co-conspirators, Daniel Mace and Jessica Wild, stole the majority of the merchandise and, on average, victimized stores five to six times a day, according to a statement from Floridas Attorney General office. The co-conspirators then delivered the merchandise to Pastor Dells house to be sold under the eBay store name: Anointed Liquidator. Pastor Dell has allegedly sold $3m in stolen items online since 2016. He demanded the crimes be carried out by threatening abuse and used his positions to manipulate vulnerable people into the scheme, according to the investigation. Home Depot suspects he operated this scheme for more than 10 years, resulting in the loss of more than $5m. The stores vice president of asset protection Scott Glenn told The Wall Street Journal on Saturday that the number of thefts in Tampa had dropped since Mr Dell was charged. Somebody else will rise up and probably start doing this in the absence of this group that was busted, he said. Dells wife Jaclyn and mother Karen have also been named as alleged co-conspirators, assisting in the collection, shipment and payment of the stolen goods. Jaclyn Dell faces a charge of conspiracy and Karen Dell has been charged with dealing in stolen property. A Florida man and his three adult sons will serve multiple years in prison after selling a toxic, industrial bleach as a miracle treatment and cure for COVID-19, a federal judge ruled Friday. Mark Grenon, 66, and his son, Joseph Grenon, 36, were sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the government. They will both also have three years of supervised release, court records show. The two remaining sons, Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, were sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for defrauding the government and contempt of court. Their sentences also include three years of supervised release. The men peddled tens of thousands of bottles of their homemade sodium chlorite product called Miracle Mineral Solution, or MMS, while falsely claiming that drinking it could cure numerous, serious ailments, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida said in a statement Friday. The substance becomes chlorine dioxide when ingested and can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure and death. Hospitalizations, life-threatening conditions and death have been reported after drinking it, the Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly warned. Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) does not cure #COVID19 and has not been approved by the FDA for any use. The solution, when mixed, develops into a dangerous bleach which has caused serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. Learn more: https://t.co/z8jU8OHTbD. pic.twitter.com/bBfG0cYJpB FDA Drug Information (@FDA_Drug_Info) February 18, 2020 Despite there being no supporting medical evidence for consuming the solution, the family raked in more than $1 million by selling the product that was made in Jonathan Grenons backyard in Bradenton, south of Tampa, and sold nationwide through the so-called Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, prosecutors said. This organization is billed online as a non-religious church where people can obtain MMS through financial donations. It operated this way to avoid government regulation and potential criminal prosecution, prosecutors said, while citing past admissions made by Mark Grenon about the familys money-making scheme. The men identified themselves as bishops of the church, and in a letter sent to U.S. prosecutors in early 2020, they defended their business dealings as protected under its first amendment religious rights as a sovereign free church. Prosecutors said dozens of blue chemical drums containing nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder, thousands of bottles of MMS, and other items used in the manufacture and distribution of MMS were found in Jonathan Grenons backyard. Prosecutors said dozens of blue chemical drums containing nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder, thousands of bottles of MMS, and other items used in the manufacture and distribution of MMS were found in Jonathan Grenons backyard. They were criminally charged by prosecutors in Florida four months later, and Mark Grenon and Joseph Grenon were arrested in Colombia shortly after. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Genesis church, which was founded by MMSs alleged discoverer Jim Humble, also pushed MMS as a cure for cancer, Alzheimers, diabetes, autism, malaria, hepatitis, Parkinsons, herpes, HIV/AIDS, and other serious medical conditions. An investigation by NBC in 2019 found that parents were force-feeding their children the toxic liquid as a hopeful autism cure. Parents described their children as gasping, spitting and screaming in response to having to drink it. Books on how to use the bleach solution to cure autism were later removed for purchase from Amazon. Humble, a former Scientologist and self-appointed archbishop of the Genesis church who claimed to have discovered MMS while mining gold in South America, was last tracked down as living in Mexico by ABC News. His website announced last month that he died at the age of 90. The Grenon family was listed as representing themselves in court, without an attorney, at the time of their sentencing. Related... PALM COAST, Fla. - A Matanzas High School student was arrested after she allegedly bit a school employee who was trying to break up a fight last week, according to deputies. The 16-year-old girl was taken into custody on a charge of battery of a school official Friday afternoon and was later transferred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Flagler Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Authorities said she and another female student got into a fight in the school's courtyard. When a staff member tried to separate the teenagers, one of the students bit the employee on the forearm multiple times, causing an injury. FOX 35 News is not naming the student due to her age. MORE HEADLINES: "This lack of respect for teachers and staff will not be tolerated in our schools," Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement. "School staff and teachers are here to teach you. Dont fight in school. It takes a bigger person to walk away from a fight and de-escalate the situation than to engage in a fight or attack a faculty member." Staly also urged parents to talk and teach their students how to handle disagreements without fighting resulting to violence. "Otherwise, if you dont do your job as a parent, we will do our job and arrest your child, which we dont want to do, but we will not tolerate this kind of behavior in our schools," Staly said. Earlier this year, another Matanzas High student was arrested after deputies said he violently attacked and knocked a teacher's aide unconscious. That incident was caught on the school's surveillance camera. A judge in Florida has sided with a Miami-Dade County middle school teacher who was fired after she misgendered a trans student because of her religious beliefs. Judge John Van Laningham said the county erred when it fired Yojary E. Mundaray following an incident that took place in December 2019 at the Jose de Diego Middle School in Miami, as reported by the News Service of Florida. A commission found she had violated district policies when she misgendered a trans youth and was subsequently fired. Judge Van Laningham recommended the states Education Practices Commission, which is responsible for disciplining teachers, should exonerate Mundaray, noting the science teacher would be protected for such speech under the current dont say gay laws enacted under Gov. Ron DeSantis. Van Langingham wrote in his decision the case was not about proselytizing but about transgender ideology. He misgendered the student and used the pseudonym Pat where elsewhere in court documents the student, who identifies as male, was referred to as S.S. In a footnote, Van Laningham further disparaged the trans community. Advocates of transgenderism can be as doctrinaire as religious zealots these days, Van Laningham wrote. As this case demonstrates, adhering to the traditional view that gender is biologically determined can get a person excommunicated, from a job in this instance. According to court records, Mundaray used the students biological name and female pronouns while disciplining him for what the judge described as routine classroom horseplay. The student told Mundaray he now identified as a boy and requested she use male pronouns when addressing him. Mundaray declined, citing her Christian beliefs. I think God made a mistake, Van Laningham wrote the student said during the incident. Im a Christian, Mundaray reportedly responded, and my God made no mistakes. An official investigation at the time found that Mundaray had imposed her personal religious views on S.S., a sixth-grade student and caused S.S. to become upset and/or cry. The investigation determined that probable cause existed that she had violated existing policies. She was terminated from her position in June 2020. The case now goes back to the Education Practices Commission to review Van Langinghams decision and weigh whether or not to reinstate Mundaray. Bob Benyo said he received hundreds of tips thanks to his banner. Courtesy of Bob Benyo A Florida man said his wife's 2016 Rolls Royce was stolen out of their garage. Bob Benyo said he used a sky banner to solicit tips in exchange for a reward. After hundreds of calls and texts to Benyo, a "nice" woman found the car outside her Airbnb. The Twilight Purple 2016 Rolls Royce Wraith Florida resident Bob Benyo gave his wife a rare one he estimates about six of them are in the country. "It stands out. I mean, it's kind of hard to miss," Benyo told Insider. So when two people followed his wife to their home and stole the car on September 21, he knew he had to get it back. "I can't replace that car. Even though it's not brand new it's a 2016 it's special. It was an anniversary gift," Benyo told Insider. Benyo said he worked with law enforcement, combed through surveillance footage, and reached out to Rolls Royce for assistance. However, his most useful tool in recovering the car was his very own business: a sky banner company. 'My wife and kids were literally one room away' Benyo told Insider that the incident occurred on a Thursday afternoon when his wife drove home with their two kids, seven and nine. A car followed her home without her knowledge and parked across the street in front of their neighbor's home in a silver Mercedes in their Miami neighborhood. Benyo said surveillance video captured from outside his home shows the two suspects hop out of their car as soon as one of the three garage doors closed on his house. Benyo said police with the North Miami Police Department believe they used a remote device to open the garage door. After rummaging through the garage, Benyo said the thieves were able to find the keys to the Rolls Royce on a side counter. He said that his mother-in-law pulled into the driveway while the robbery was taking place and wondered why the garage door was open, but did not see the suspects. Benyo said he believed they were also trying to steal his Aston Martin . He later learned from police the suspects were armed: "My wife and kids were literally one room away with one door in between them," Benyo said. He contacted local law enforcement and called Rolls Royce, asking to use their tracking system to locate the car. This was just the beginning of Benyo's journey to return the luxury car back to his wife. He said "immediately after" speaking with police, he decided to take some matters into his own hands. 'Stolen Purple Rolls-Royce Reward' Benyo said he's known for using his company, Aerial Banners, to send unusual messages. He once used a banner to ask a business to pay him money he said he was owed. He used one of his planes to tow a sign asking the citizens of Miami-Dade County if they'd seen the regal dark purple automobile worth over $200,000. "Stolen Purple Rolls-Royce Reward" the aerial sign read, with a phone number attached. He offered a $5,000 reward. And it worked: Soon, the tips came in. Benyo told Insider he received 310 calls and messages in total, some of which included people wishing him luck. He said about 100 calls were legitimate tips, with people telling him they had seen the car. "There was only one or two that were somewhat negative," Benyo said. "Like 'your car's ugly' or 'I hope you don't find your car.'" It took days of searching, haggling with the people who stole it who Benyo said were already being pursued by police for other crimes and combing through tips until a call from a generous woman named Fay helped get the car back in his garage. 'Next time you should think about stealing a black one' Eventually, Benyo got his first good lead: Someone was offering the Rolls Royce for rent on Telegram. "I thought, 'Wow, that's really ballsy,'" Benyo said. Benyo said he worked with private investigators and the person who sent the tip throughout that Saturday to infiltrate the chat and try to convince the thief to rent the car to him. Eventually, Benyo, using the tipster's Telegram account, let the person offering the car for rent know that he was the owner trying to get his car back. "I said 'I'm not trying to have the police meet you. Just park the car and walk away from it. I just want to get it back.'" Benyo told Insider. The suspect kept pushing back, he said, telling Benyo that they knew it was a set-up, and refused. Benyo said he told the suspect that they would eventually be caught. "I said 'next time you should think about maybe stealing a black one that blends in' making jokes trying to make light of it and trying to get him to give it up. And I wasn't getting anywhere." Then, right before midnight, Benyo said he got another tip. A woman renting an Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale said she saw the car parked outside her window in a neighborhood with a maze of streets difficult to maneuver. "They found a great spot to park it," Benyo said. Benyo said the woman who only wanted to be identified as Fay got the reward after police determined she wasn't involved with the people who took the Rolls Royce. "It's getting a window replaced and some dings and scratches fixed and that's pretty much it," Benyo told Insider. "New keys of course being made. They're hot on the trail of the suspects. They told me they know who they are. So it's just a matter of time before they make the arrests." Benyo said his family is relieved to have the car back but is taking extra precautions to secure their valuables, like storing their keys in a locked box and setting their alarms. Despite the negative experience, he said the entire incident had a silver lining. "I think the most unique thing is the amount of people across Miami-Dade County, Fort Lauderdale, and across the country that took their time to reach out to me to just say 'Hey, man, I'm so sorry, I hope you get your car back.' And I thought that that was really, really unique to this day, I still get random messages." North Miami Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. The Miami-Dade Police Department referred Insider to the NMPD. Read the original article on Insider (WJW) Celebrity chef and former Food Network star Michael Chiarello has died. PEOPLE reports Chiarello died at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, where he had been treated for the past week for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock. He was 61. Kelce mom on meeting Taylor Swift: It was We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael, his company announced in a statement to PEOPLE. His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. Chiarellos family was with him at the time of his death, the company said. As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts, the family added. What are those huge mounds growing in NE Ohio yards? Chiarellos funeral arrangements will be private, and in lieu of flowers, his family is asking donations instead be made to Meals on Wheels. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A Ukrainian child injured during Hamas' offensive against Israel was evacuated from the city of Sderot, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko reported on Oct. 9. The ministry is also verifying information about the deaths of two Ukrainians in Israel and another in the Gaza Strip. The rescued Ukrainian boy received medical and psychological assistance and is currently under the care of the Ukrainian embassy in Israel, according to Nikolenko. Ukraine also managed to get in touch with five citizens who were considered missing in southern Israel, the official said on Facebook. Read also: Zelensky, foreign leaders call Netanyahu over war, back Israels right of self-defense The Foreign Ministry's operative headquarters has processed over 200 appeals from Ukrainians affected by the renewed fighting in Israel and the Gaza Strip. According to the latest estimates by local authorities, more than 700 Israelis and 430 residents of Gaza have been killed following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. "We are looking for a solution to help our people leave the country working out potential evacuation routes," added Nikolenko. On Oct. 8, the Ukrainian embassy in Israel said that two Ukrainian citizens had been killed in Israel after extremist organization Hamas launched rocket and ground attacks from the Gaza Strip. 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. Nikolenko said that there are currently 14,000 Ukrainian citizens listed on the consular register of Ukraine's embassy in Israel. Read also: Zelensky, Netanyahus meeting in New York highlights their differences Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Andrii Koboliev, former CEO of Naftogaz, Ukraines national oil and gas company, who is currently under investigation in Ukraine, is consulting the government of the Republic of Moldova on energy issues without, however, officially serving as the adviser to Moldovas president. Source: European Pravda, with reference to the Administration of the President of Moldova Maia Sandu Details: The Administration of the President of Moldova told European Pravda that Koboliev "provided free consultations to the Chisinau authorities during the energy crisis of 2021-22" before the criminal case was opened against him on the recommendation of the European Commission. "Koboliev currently continues to advise Moldovas Ministry of Energy on the audit of Moldovagazs debt [Moldovagaz is a Moldovan oil and gas company owned by the Russian energy corporation Gazprom ed.], drawing on his experience of Naftogazs legal victory over Russian giant Gazprom in the Stockholm Arbitration Court, thanks to which Ukraine recovered US$4.6 billion," the Sandu administration said. The administration stressed that Koboliev is not an official adviser to the Moldovan president. Background: Ekonomichna Pravda earlier reported that Koboliev said he had become an adviser to Maia Sandu and was helping Moldova "complete the audit of its debts to Gazprom" during a meeting of the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine, which considered the extension of Kobolievs preventive measure. Andrii Koboliev was the CEO of Naftogaz from 2014 to 2021. In February 2022, he was suspected of giving himself a bonus of 229.3 million hryvnias (approximately US$6.3 million) for winning the Stockholm arbitration case against Russias Gazprom. In January 2023, the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine notified Koboliev of suspicion of abuse of 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 former public works employee in Georgia was arrested last month, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI arrested and charged 53-year-old Mark Harris after he allegedly bought personal items with the City of Rossvilles credit card. He was charged with one count of theft by taking and one count of false statements and writings. Lookout Mountain District Attorney Clay Fuller requested the GBI to investigate him on Sept. 14. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Harris was also the former fire department captain. The GBI searched Harris home on Oct. 4 The GBI found the following items: DeWalt standing spotlight DeWalt utility table, DeWalt 4000 Psi gas pressure washer DeWalt angle grinder and jigsaw Midea window air conditioning unit DeWalt turbo leaf blower Milwaukee angle reciprocating saw Gorilla brand 4 ft stationary step ladder and numerous other tools and materials. TRENDING STORIES: All the fraudulently purchased items were returned to the City of Rossville Public Works Department, according to the GBI. Harris was booked into the Walker County Jail where he made bond and was released. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: A former Plymouth County sheriff's deputy who faced up to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple drug-related burglaries was granted a new trial. A motion was filed Sept. 7 waiving Aaron Leusink's previous guilty pleas, with the court considering them "withdrawn or otherwise not accepted." Leusink successfully sued for postconviction relief for ineffective counsel and for receiving a longer sentence than what's granted under law. Aaron Leusink, who also was a Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer, was transferred to the custody of the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office and granted a bond amount of $30,000, which he posted. Leusink's 11 charges include felonious misconduct in office, burglary and theft. More: Plymouth deputy, a DARE officer, sentenced to 40 years for prescription drug thefts According to court filings, investigators reviewing body camera footage in an unrelated investigation of a possible "on the job inappropriate relationship" in 2020 instead found footage of Leusink burglarizing a home and stealing prescription drugs. Further investigation found more than 1,600 prescription pills in Leusink's home, many of which appeared to have come from Plymouth County Sheriff's Office evidence lockers, and linked Leusink to five unsolved pharmacy burglaries dating back to 2017. Leusink's body camera showed him stealing items while executing several search warrants, including one in which he failed to list items seized pills and a 1964 Playboy magazine on the official search warrant documentation. A new court date has not yet been set. Biong M. Biong is a reporting intern for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at bbiong@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Iowa deputy granted new trial over drug theft convictions It has now been more than 24 hours since Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded areas of southern Israel , killing hundreds and wounding thousands, and two former presidents have been silent. As of midday Sunday, no social media account, presidential library or foundation associated with Democratic former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama had commented on the conflict taking place in Israel. The Clinton Foundation, though it has posted online since the conflict intensified over the weekend, has also yet to say anything about the situation. Similarly, the social media accounts belonging to Clinton did not comment on the attacks against Israel. Despite former President Clinton's silence, former first lady Hillary Clinton released a statement Sunday evening, saying "My prayers are with everyone affected by the horrific attacks by Hamas in Israel. The United States stands in strong support of our ally, today and every day." ISRAEL DECLARES WAR AFTER HAMAS SURPRISE ATTACK, LAUNCHES RETALIATORY AIRSTRIKES IN GAZA Former Presidents Bill Clinton, left, and Barack Obama. Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have also been silent about the attacks. No statement, thus far, has been issued by the Obama Foundation and the social media accounts for both Obamas have not commented on the matter. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Not one word from Obama, and why is that? Is he too busy? Or simply indifferent? Or could it be that, having given millions to Iran, he is privately celebrating his role in taking Israel down a notch," conservative author Dinesh D'Souza questioned in a post to X. Despite the silence from the Obamas and former President Clinton, former Presidents Donald Trump and George W. Bush both issued statements either through their own means or entities associated with them condemning the attacks on Saturday. Trump, who maintained a good relationship with Israel during his tenure in the White House, called the attacks a "disgrace" and insisted that Israel should defend itself with "overwhelming force." Former President Donald Trump called the attacks from Hamas a "disgrace" and insisted that Israel should defend itself with "overwhelming force." GOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES DECLARE SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AFTER HAMAS ASSAULT: 'JOE BIDEN FUNDED THESE ATTACKS' "These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration," Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social. "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. Here we go again," he added. The George W. Bush Presidential Center also issued a statement on the matter and "strongly" condemned the "heinous terrorist attacks on Israel that claimed scores of innocent civilians. "We urge the United States and our allies to stand unequivocally with Israel, its government and people, and support Israels right to defend itself against these threats," the center added. "Attacks on free and democratic states anywhere are attacks on all of us, whether in Israel, Ukraine, or elsewhere." The George W. Bush Presidential Center "strongly" condemned the "heinous terrorist attacks on Israel that claimed scores of innocent civilians." The Carter Center released a statement on the matter late Sunday evening, saying it "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 center continued. "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 center also called on "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," the center added. "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." Israel's security cabinet officially declared war Saturday night after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise barrage of thousands of rockets into southern Israel, killing hundreds and wounding thousands, according to Israeli media. Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel a day after Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists invaded the area and launched rockets from the Gaza Strip, killing at least 600 Israelis and wounding at least 2,000 others. Israeli forces launched retaliatory strikes against Hamas terrorists in Gaza on Sunday, while also trading fire with Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in the north. Original article source: Former Presidents Clinton, Obama silent as Israel defends itself from Hamas Valentyna Simonenko Former Ukrainian Supreme Court judge Valentina Simonenko has been issued with a Russian passport, RFE/RL reported on Oct. 9. Read also: Serbian court orders former SBU general to prison report Citing data from Russias passport registry, the journalists determined that Simonenko became a Russian citizen on April 10, 2003. She acquired citizenship according to a law that allows a person whose spouse or parents hold Russian citizenship to obtain a Russian passport. At that time, she was already working as a judge in the Sevastopol Appeals Court in Crimea. Currently, Simonenko's passport is listed as "invalid due to expiration." The passport was issued by local authorities in Russias Rostov Oblast, with records indicating she was registered there in 2015 and 2017. Read also: Russian oligarch Fridman left London for Moscow report This may indicate that Valentina Simonenko did not renounce her Russian citizenship, as according to the decree of the Russian president from Nov. 14, 2002, it is necessary to submit a document about deregistration from the place of residence, the journalists write. Read also: Russian fleet retreating from Crimea, Ukraine advancing on two fronts ISW Which the judge, according to extracts from Russian databases, probably did not do. Read also: Top official Tatarovs case against NABU returns to court In her comment, Simonenko denied ever receiving Russian citizenship. However, she acknowledged that she traveled to Rostov Oblast, where her husband's parents lived at the time. She resigned from the Supreme Court in March 2023, after previous media reports suggested Simonenko made unlawful trips to Russia-occupied Crimea and had alleged ties with local occupation authorities. 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 Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd suspended his Republican presidential bid Monday, abandoning a brief campaign built on criticizing Donald Trump at a time when his party seems even more determined to embrace the former president. Hurd said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he was endorsing Nikki Haley for the GOP nomination. Hurd was the last major candidate to join the already crowded Republican primary field when he announced his run in late July. He leaves the race after failing to gain traction as pragmatic moderate who pledged to lead the party away from Trumps Make America Great Again movement. Hurd failed to qualify for both the first GOP debate in Milwaukee in August and the second debate the following month in Simi Valley, California. Hurd ending his campaign follows another Republican candidate, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who became the first presidential hopeful to suspend his campaign shortly after failing to make the first debate stage. A former US general took to Twitter on Sunday to remind Republicans laying blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades that Donald Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Iran-allied Russia when he was president. Retired army general Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations the former president told top Russian officials that Israel had successfully hacked Isis computers in order to gain intelligence about bomb plots against the West in a meeting at the White House in 2017. At the time, the former presidents actions reportedly ignited fears by Israel that Russia could have passed the information to its ally Iran, which has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. Mr Trump reportedly leaked the information in a meeting in the Oval Office in May 2017 with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and the then-Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak . Amid uproar over the revelation, Mr Trump insisted he had every right to give Russia the information. He tweeted: As president, I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against Isis and terrorism." General Hertlings reminder of the incident comes after Republican presidential contenders accused the Biden administration of helping to fund the attacks in Israel, which saw more than 700 killed, after a deal was struck to free up $6bn in previously frozen assets to assist humanitarian causes in Iran. The complex deal was announced by the Biden administration in September as part of the agreement to release five US citizens detained in Iran. A Russian foreign ministry photo showing Donald Trump with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and then-Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during their meeting in the White House in May 2017 (EPA) As part of the deal, roughly $6bn in frozen Iranian assets that were being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar. Administration officials have insisted the money has not yet been spent and is now being held in a restricted account in Doha but in the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend, Republicans including Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott and JD Vance have claimed the money may have been linked to the attacks. In response to Biden administration claims the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes, conservatives have responded that the money is fungible, meaning Iran could take advantage of the $6bn by reallocating or moving around other funds. For all those focused on fungible perhaps this is something to be considered, General Hertling, the former commander of US troops in Europe and an outspoken critic of Mr Trump, tweeted. Far all those focused on fungible perhaps this is something to be considered. https://t.co/zzByPUtMQu MarkHertling (@MarkHertling) October 8, 2023 Iran provides some $100m a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, according to the US State Department. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused Joe Biden of policies that have gone easy on Iran and have helped to fill their coffers. In a video statement, he said: Israel is now paying the price for those policies. Were going to stand with the State of Israel, they need to root out Hamas and we need to stand up to Iran. Meanwhile, South Carolina Senator and GOP presidential hopeful Tim Scott alleged the attack was the Biden $6bn ransom payment at work. We didnt just invite this aggression, we paid for it, he said in a statement. Ron DeSantis accused the Biden administration of helping to fund the attacks in Israel (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Mr Trump also accused the Biden administration of funding the Hamas attack on Israel, falsely stating American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks. Senior Biden administration officials have stressed $6bn is not taxpayer money, and comes from payments made by South Korea to Iran to buy oil in recent years. Mr Trump also argued that, under president Biden, the US is perceived as being weak and ineffective on the global stage, thereby opening the door to hostility. They didnt have that level of aggression with me. They didnt have it. This would have never happened with me either, Mr Trump claimed, adding later in Cedar Rapids that Mr Biden had betrayed Israel with the deal. The White House insists the money is ringfenced for humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine for Iranians and handled by what the administration described as vetted non-Iranian vendors. 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 on 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. Over the weekend, Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border. More than 700 people were killed, with at least nine Americans among the dead. Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers. On Monday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Meanwhile, sirens have sounded in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with witnesses in the latter city hearing explosions that may have been from rocket impacts or from mid-air interceptions. Heather Post celebrates after being sworn in for her second term on the Volusia County Council on Jan. 7, 2021. The Florida Ethics Commission has reached a preliminary agreement with former Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post to pay $1,000 for failing to file her financial disclosure form on time. Post was required to file the report by July 1, 2022. She didn't file it until Feb. 8, 2023. She paid a fine of $1,500. But that was not the end of it. A DeLand resident, Phyllis Stauffenberg, filed an ethics complaint against Post on Oct. 12, 2022, prior to Post filing the paperwork. The Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Post violated the Florida Constitution and Florida statutes by failing to file the form. Where do they make their money? The Volusia County Council includes three millionaires The agreement, signed by Post, says she admits to the late filing and has agreed to public censure and a reprimand as well as paying an additional civil penalty of $1,000. "Respondent enters into this joint stipulation with the understanding of the seriousness of the allegations and gives her assurance that this proceeding has affected the manner in which she will conduct herself in any future public office in a positive way," the agreement says. The Florida Commission on Ethics will decide on Oct. 20 whether to accept the agreement. Gov. Ron DeSantis makes the final decision on whether to impose penalties against public officers, so the recommendation will be forwarded to him. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ethics commission, former Volusia Councilwoman agree to $1K charge (Bloomberg) -- The normally bustling streets of Tel Aviv are empty, schools shut, flights canceled and a major gas field closed. Men of all ages are getting called to their reserve units, hundreds of thousands throwing on uniforms. Most Read from Bloomberg Israel is preparing to destroy the Hamas military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip after the horrific attack that killed hundreds of Israelis, most of them civilians. Political divisions, which have driven anti-government protesters into the streets for nine months, have vanished in the face of Hamass slaughter at the weekend and fears the conflict could spread to Lebanon. The opposition is talking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about forming an emergency war government. The protest movement opposing the governments efforts to weaken the Supreme Court has shifted its focus to raising money and helping families and soldiers in the south, working with authorities they disdained. Yet how long the country remains galvanized behind what promises to be a grinding campaign lasting months remains in question. While Netanyahu will stay in power, the intelligence and security failures have also shocked the nation. Hes likely to end up paying the political price for it just as Golda Meir did in the 1973 war when Syria and Egypt surprised Israel. She stepped down in disgrace months later. Political differences are set aside in times of war, but Netanyahu might be on borrowed time because of the lapse, according to Yoel Esteron , founder and publisher of Israeli business daily Calcalist and a former media and politics lecturer in Tel Aviv. Protests brought Meir down, but only after the war, Esteron said on Monday. I think this will happen here. There is a good chance for an emergency unity government. But will it last after the war? I dont think so. Given the nature of the challenges ahead the campaign against Hamas has started by air but is likely to lead to a ground war Israelis are focused less now on what went wrong and more on how to proceed. The investigation into why it wasnt prevented will follow. International scrutiny of Israels response is already under way. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he was concerned by Israeli plans for a retaliatory siege of Gaza, with electricity, fuel and food supplies severed. As of Tuesday, the UN said that some 180,000 people in Gaza were displaced, many of them sheltering in the organizations facilities. One reason talk of unity has grown is the fear that the surprise from Hamas will be followed by a similar assault from Hezbollah in Lebanon. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are heavily supported by Iran, Israels main enemy, and both have thousands of missiles in underground launchers, some long enough range to reach Tel Aviv. There is a growing concern that if Israel goes all in to Gaza, Hezbollah will take the opportunity to attack from the north. The Biden administration has sent the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and accompanying war vessels to the Mediterranean to thwart any such possibilities. Understanding the Shadow War Between Israel and Iran The sheer scale and brutality of the attack has unified the entire nation, said Joshua Hantman, a former government official and now a public relations executive and protest activist. I have spent the last two days watching videos of kids being kidnapped and of summary executions on the streets of Israel. You dont forget that in a hurry. The attack came on Saturday, the Sabbath and a Jewish holiday. As 2,000 rockets and missiles flew into Israeli cities, setting cars and houses alight, 1,000 fighters from the militant Palestinian group Hamas cut through the border fence, crossed into Israel via paragliders, motorbikes and boats. Footage showed the scale of the slaughter, including several hundred young people at an outdoor music festival. Those they didnt kill were grabbed as hostages, according to eyewitnesses speaking to Israeli media. They went from house to house, Danny Fuchs of Kibbutz Beeri, just east of Gaza, told Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Monday. They went into the bomb shelters and either kidnapped people or killed them. Sometimes they killed everyone. Sometimes they took the children and killed the parents, or the other way around. We have an attic in our home and shut ourselves inside. Two days after the attack, there were still a few families marooned inside their homes in southern Israel with Hamas fighters preventing them from leaving. Talk in Tel Aviv is of Hamas fighters finding their way north and hiding in the city. There are some 100 Israelis, from toddlers to elderly women, whove been taken into Gaza as hostages. One group, Islamic Jihad, says its holding 30 of them until their prisoners held by Israel are released. Israel has a long history of protecting its soldiers and civilians when held in enemy hands and returning many prisoners to get them home. But the fury seems so great just now that military analysts say the hostages could become victims of the attack. We should say no to negotiations, said General Yaakov Amidror, a former National Security Adviser to Netanyahu. Israel cannot negotiate about them. A senior Israeli official said on Monday that there were no such discussions under way. Late Monday, a Hamas spokesman said on broadcaster Al Jazeera that if Israel struck civilian buildings without warning, the group would kill Israeli hostages. Impoverished Gaza has long been a flashpoint of conflict. Unlike the West Bank, which is overseen by the Palestinian Authority that has negotiated with Israel over a two-state solution, Gaza is run by Hamas, which rejects Israels right to exist and is designated a terrorist group by the US government and European Union. That caused difficulty with nations seeking to send aid. During the 16 years of its control, Hamas initially established a network of charities to tackle poverty and build infrastructure with the backing of countries such as Qatar. It also fought half a dozen major confrontations with Israel, firing thousands of rockets at its towns while the Israeli military has repeatedly bombed the strip and killed thousands. The plans for taking out the Hamas infrastructure are being presented as ending the possibility the group could ever attack Israel. The crowded Gaza Strip will be bombarded; civilian casualties will be extensive. Already, some 560 Palestinians have been killed. Israel is hitting buildings in populated areas, making it hard for residents to find safety. Gaza will be under complete closure, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops on Monday. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, declined to say if there would be alerts to residents in Gaza before bombing. Responding to a question at a briefing on Monday, he said this is war and Hamas militants who entered Israel on Saturday felt no need to offer a warning. Until Saturday, the 73-year-old Netanyahu although comfortably in power with a ruling majority made up of religious and right-wing parties was in political trouble for his populist policies, causing the street demonstrations. But he also seemed on the way to possible political redemption, sealing a complex deal with the US and Saudi Arabia for Saudi normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for US security guarantees for Riyadh. Those talks will be on hold as Israel puts all its efforts into the military campaign. Whether they will then be revived with or without Netanyahu is hard to say. Both the US and Saudi Arabia want the deal to proceed. But when the area is aflame in combat, it cant. There will be countervailing pressures from the war with Hamas. If it drags on and many people die, Arab public opinion will make it hard for the Saudi leadership to return to the talks. But if Israel wins relatively quickly, some analysts think that will ultimately help the deal proceed. Domestically, the government is taking fierce criticism for claiming that it was doing a better job than others at keeping the country safe. Some have said that Netanyahus focus on protecting and promoting Jewish settlements in the West Bank led it to base more troops there and not enough near Gaza. Like the 1973 war, the failure to anticipate the attack is also viewed as a conceptual one the widespread belief that the enemy was too timid or deterred to dare attack. In the case of Hamas, its leadership spent the past couple of years giving the impression of seeking to be more of a governing body in Gaza and less of a fighting force. It stayed out of several recent skirmishes between Israel and Islamic Jihad, focusing on job opportunities in Israel for Gazans. With now a fresh war in the Middle East, it isnt clear whether Hamas was planning all along to carry out the attack. It may have been inspired only recently to try and block the Saudi deal which might have left the Palestinians in the cold and take advantage of internal Israeli divisions. Its also not clear how strong an influence Iran had. The Islamic Republic leads the anti-American and anti-Israeli forces in the Middle East and has recently decided to invest effort in supporting the Palestinians, according to Amos Yadlin, a former director of Israeli military intelligence. Iran finances Hezbollah with $1 billion a year and Hamas with $100 million, said Yadlin. Within Israel, the attack has effectively ended the protest movement for now. Lee Moser, a venture capitalist who volunteers to help run Brothers and Sisters in Arms, an organization with more than 1 million members that led demonstrations, said her group has switched to helping the war effort. Moser said she raised $10 million in five hours for equipment and supplies, and has many millions more being offered. We are working with the government and the army, she said. Everyone understands that to win this, we need to stick together. Politicians across the spectrum are also weighing in. Opposition leader Benny Gantz said on Monday it was time to unite and emerge victorious. Netanyahu, who has run Israel for longer than any other prime minister and is now in his sixth government, hasnt yet announced a unity deal. On Tuesday, his coalition partners said theyd agreed to form an emergency administration with the opposition and authorized Netanyahu to do so. The betting is that some version of one will emerge. And equally, that this will be his last. --With assistance from Galit Altstein, Adrian Leung, Jin Wu, Christopher Udemans and Samuel Dodge. (Updates with people displaced in Gaza in eighth paragraph. An earlier version corrected a reference to hostages being killed every hour and a number in the chart.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. France established the short-lived Fort Caroline in the 16th century along the St. John's river, in what is now the US city of Jacksonville (ROBERT SULLIVAN) More than 450 years ago, a three-masted ship sank in a hurricane off the coast of Florida, taking with it France's hopes of colonizing the peninsula. Since the wreckage of "La Trinite" was discovered in 2016, it has been at the center of an epic legal battle between an American treasure hunter and the French government, with Paris recently claiming a decisive victory -- or so officials hope. A 24-page judgment, delivered on September 29 by US Magistrate Judge Allen Winsor in Tallahassee, delved into the distant and largely forgotten era of "French Florida," when a colony was established there by French Huguenots in the mid-16th century. The colony's short existence, and Florida's longtime history under Spanish rule, may have been the direct result of the sinking of La Trinite and the squadron of ships commanded by Captain Jean Ribault , sent by Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, leader of the French Protestant group. The wreck of La Trinite lies at a depth of less than 10 meters (33 feet), a stone's throw from a beach on Cape Canaveral. It was discovered in 2016 by a private underwater research company, Global Marine Exploration (GME), led by American Robert Pritchett. - Fleur-de-lis cannon - Among the objects identified underwater are three bronze cannons decorated with a traditional French fleur-de-lis symbol, as well as a prized marble column bearing the coat of arms of the Kingdom of France, which Ribault was supposed to install on land to mark French sovereignty. For seven years, GME and Pritchett have been waging a legal battle over who can claim the wreck, which likely contains other riches. Standing in the way of GME is the Sunken Military Craft Act (SMCA), a law signed by then-president George W. Bush in 2004 which recognizes the sovereignty of a country over its former warships. In June 2018, a federal court ruled that La Trinite was indeed Captain Ribault's flagship, and thus a French naval vessel. But GME then argued that the ship, when it sank, had been carrying goods and settlers to the New World and was not engaged in a military conflict. France and Spain were not even at war at the time, the company argued. However, French authorities, through their American lawyer Jim Goold, offered evidence that the ship was still considered a military vessel at the time. "A lot of people, a very excellent team did research in the (French) Bibliotheque Nationale where there are a spectacular collection of records from the 16th century," Goold told AFP. The library's "records show everything that was on La Trinite, that it was a Navy ship, that it had every specific details about the cannons and the gunpowder," he said. The ship was also engaged in conflict as part of an ongoing dispute between French Protestants and the Catholic Crown of Spain, Goold said. He explained that upon leaving Fort Caroline -- the French colony in Florida where the US city of Jacksonville now lies -- Ribault "informed the French commander of the fort that he was going to attack the Spanish." Goold convinced the court. "France has presented sufficient uncontested evidence to establish La Trinite sank while on military noncommercial service, meaning La Trinite is a 'sunken military craft,'" Judge Winsor ruled. - "New France?" - As a last resort, GME argued that France had benefited unduly from the US company's work to locate, photograph and search the wreck. But Winsor shot that claim down, finding that France could not be held responsible for services it had not ordered. "This decision is a relief, and we hope that this legal saga will now stop, so that we can concentrate on the preservation of these elements of cultural heritage," Florence Hermite, a legal attache at the French embassy, told AFP. Will the world now finally be able to focus in on what La Trinite holds? Goold certainly hopes so. "I think it is quite appropriate to say that this is the single most historically important shipwreck in North America," said the lawyer, whose work for Spain in 2012 led to the reclaiming of $500 million worth of treasures found in a Spanish galleon shipwreck. "When Captain Ribault arrived, France had commanding military strength in Florida -- more ships, more soldiers, more cannons than the Spanish," he said. "But the loss of La Trinite and the hundreds of French soldiers and sailors and colonists resulted in the King of France deciding to focus on Canada instead." "If there had not been this hurricane, who knows?" he wondered, positing that maybe even "Washington would be the capital of New France." seb/jh/des/mdl/caw Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the Israeli military would attack Hamas with a force like never before, as the militant group threatened to kill civilian hostages if airstrikes target Gaza without warning. Following Hamas devastating surprise attack in Israeli territory over the weekend, Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant on Monday also ordered a complete siege of Gaza, and said he would halt the supply of electricity, food, water and fuel to the Palestinian enclave. I have given an order Gaza will be under complete siege, the minister said. We are fighting barbarians and will respond accordingly. Israel has been pounding what it describes as strategic Hamas locations in Gaza with airstrikes since the Hamas attack. Hours later, a spokesperson for Hamas armed wing said it would begin killing civilian hostages and broadcasting the act if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning. We declare that we will respond to any targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without warning, with the execution of our civilian hostages, and we will broadcast it with audio and video, Abu Obaida said in a statement on the Al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel. Hamas launched its unprecedented surprise assault early Saturday, firing thousands of rockets and sending armed fighters into Israel. The attack has killed at least 900 people in Israel and injured thousands, Israels Army Radio reported Monday. In response, Israel on Sunday formally declared war on Hamas. Israeli jets continued to bombard Gaza with deadly airstrikes Monday as the violence continued into a third day. The strikes have killed at least 687 people, including dozens of children and women, and left thousands injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Attacks on suspected Hamas strongholds in Gaza is just the beginning, Netanyahu warned during a televised speech on Monday. I said that every place from which Hamas operates will turn into ruins. It is already happening today, it will happen even more in the future, he said. We are fighting for our home and for our existence, he also said. A CNN team on the ground saw dust billowing over the sky on Monday, as rockets launched from Gaza were intercepted by the Israeli air defense system in Ashdod. Hamas said it fired 120 rockets toward the coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon on Monday in response to Israeli airstrikes. Israels military has already retaken control of Israeli communities that were stormed by the militant groups gunmen over the weekend, and there is no ongoing fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants inside Israel, it said. At least 11 US citizens have been confirmed killed in Israel, US President Joe Biden said Monday. It is also likely that Americans are among those being held hostage, Biden said, adding that his administration is working with Israeli officials on every aspect of the hostage crisis. Pleas for hostages safe return Hamas militants claimed late Sunday to be holding more than 100 hostages in Gaza, including high-ranking Israeli army officers, according to Mousa Abu Marzouk, chief deputy of Hamas political bureau. Videos on social media showed militants capturing multiple civilians, including children, as Israeli families across the nation made anxious pleas for the safe return of their loved ones. In addition to Israeli captives, other nationalities are also believed to have been taken hostage, including American, Mexican, Brazilian and Thai nationals further complicating Israels response to the Hamas attack. At least nine citizens from Peru, Paraguay, Brazil and Mexico are missing, according to their respective authorities. Qatar has been in talks with Hamas about the hostages the terror group is holding inside Gaza, and the US has been coordinating with the Qataris as they play a key mediating role with Hamas, a senior US official and another person familiar with the discussions told CNN. CNN has reached out to the governments of Qatar and Israel for comment. Abu Obaida, the Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson, said Hamas will not negotiate on the issue of hostages while under Israeli fire. It has become clear that the enemys hostages are at risk to the same extent as our people in light of the aggression against the Gaza Strip, Abu Obaida said in a statement. We affirm that we will not deliberate or negotiate on the issue of hostages under fire, in light of aggression, or in light of battle. Earlier, IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht was asked whether it had stopped warning civilians before it bombs a building, known as the knock on the roof. Hecht responded that Hamas did not provide any warning. When they came in and threw grenades at our ambulances they did not knock on the roof. This is war. The scale is different, Hecht said. Massacre in Gaza Airstrikes have been Israels primary retaliation measure within Gaza itself, with jets repeatedly pounding the heavily populated 140 square mile coastal strip, turning multiple buildings to rubble, displacing tens of thousands of people and sending waves of injured Palestinians to overwhelmed hospitals. An IDF spokesman said it had been hitting Hamas, destroying around 800 targets and killing hundreds of fighters, wounding thousands and capturing scores of others. Most of those arriving at hospitals in Gaza have sustained second- and third-degree burns and amputations, a spokesperson for the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza told Palestinian news outlet Shihab Agency on Monday. Many have also sustained shrapnel injuries, Ashraf al-Qidra said. Those seeking hospital care are mainly women and children, al-Qidra said, adding that this is a result of Israelis directly targeting residential houses and buildings. Smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on October 9. - Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Palestinians carry a dead body after Israeli airstrikes hit al-Susi Mosque in Gaza on Monday. - Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Access to medical care has been complicated by Israel cutting power to the territory, threatening the lives of hundreds of those injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said. The ministry said later that all services at the only functioning hospital in Gazas Beit Hanoun neighborhood were suspended due to continuous Israeli airstrikes, blocking medical teams ability to enter or exit the building. Nine ambulances have been targeted since Saturday, the ministry added. Israeli airstrikes targeted the Shati and Jabalia refugee camps in Gaza on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said, describing the assault as a massacre against the entire neighborhood. The ministry said bodies were still being recovered after the strikes killed a large number of people. No death toll has been provided. Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kaila urged the international community to stop the aggression against medical facilities and teams in Gaza. At least 13 family members, including four toddlers, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday, according to journalist Hassan Eslayeh and a family relative. 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 Sounds of battle While it remains unclear what the full scale of the Israeli response will be, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday predicted a long and difficult war and vowed mighty vengeance on Hamas. Hecht said Sunday that the IDFs priority for the coming hours and days was to control the entire enclave and kill all the terrorists in our territory. Israels declaration of war set the stage for a major military operation in Gaza, and tanks and personnel carriers could be seen on the move near the Israel-Gaza border on Sunday. Thousands of Israeli reservists have been called up and the IDF announced that several communities close to the Gaza security fence are being evacuated. An Israeli military official and a United States defense official said Israel is requesting precision guided bombs and additional interceptors for its Iron Dome missile system from the US, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs a kit that turns an unguided dumb bomb into a precision smart weapon. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US would provide security assistance to Israel imminently. The US said it was also sending a Navy carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, including guided missile destroyers and guided missile cruisers. Horror on the ground Many Israelis have spent much of the past two days in bomb shelters and saferooms. Throughout the bloody weekend, Hamas rockets made 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. The assault has left Israel reeling and impacted families far beyond its borders. Twelve Thai citizens, 10 Nepalis, two Ukrainians, two French nationals and one British citizen are among those killed in Israel. Rescue volunteers recovered at least 107 bodies, many of whom are local civilians, from the kibbutz of Beeri in southern Israel, Israeli rescue service Zaka told CNN. Photos released by the Israeli foreign ministry showed dozens of bodies in the aftermath of Hamas gunmens attack on a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border, which emergency responders said left at least 260 dead. 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 The father of an Israeli woman who was reportedly taken hostage at the festival told CNN that he didnt want to believe it when he saw his daughter being hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle by Hamas assailants in a video circulating on social media. One couldnt describe it with words. Its impossible It was a very difficult moment, Yakov Argamani said, describing the moment he saw the video of his 25-year-old daughter Noa for the first time. Videos obtained and geolocated by CNN show at least four civilians in the kibbutz of Beeri were killed while in the custody of Hamas, just feet from where armed militants had been escorting them. The IDF said early Monday that Beeri was very badly hit. 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 Regional concerns of escalation Questions remain over how the Israeli military and intelligence apparatus appeared to be caught off guard in one of the countrys worst security failures. Fighting between the two sides has surged in the past 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. UN peacekeepers urged restraint after the conflict flared out into the wider region on Monday, when the IDF said it killed armed individuals who infiltrated Israel from Lebanon after the Lebanese group Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in Shebaa Farms, which Lebanon considers Israeli-occupied. The Iran-backed group told CNN later on Monday that three of its members have died during an Israeli air raid in southern Lebanon. In retaliation, groups of the Islamic Resistance fired guided missiles onto Israel, targeting the Israeli armys Pranit Barracks and Avivim Barracks, Hezbollah said in a statement. On Sunday, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting but no action was taken afterward. European Union foreign ministers are expected to meet Tuesday to address the situation in Israel. CNNs Mostafa Salem, Amir Tal, Shirin Zia Faqiri, Paul P. Murphy, Lauren Iszo, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Abeer Salman, Celine Alkhaldi, Kareem Khadder, Richard Allen Greene, Yong Xiong, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Nic Robertson, Muhammad Darwish, John Torigoe, Niamh Kennedy, Elliott Gotkine, James Frater, Eve Brennan, Claudia Rebaza, Elis Barreto, Lucas Mendes, Mia Alberti, Sanie Lopez Garelli, Josh Berlinger and Xiaofei Xu contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Fresno County Sheriffs sergeant who was arrested earlier this year has retired, an agency spokesperson confirmed Monday. Thomas Grilione, 52, retired Sept. 28 after 21 years with the sheriffs office, spokesperson Tony Botti said. Grilione was arrested May 28 in Clovis for being drunk in public and possessing a controlled substance, which included cocaine, at a business near Nees and Fowler avenues, Clovis police said. His attorney on Monday did not immediately return a call asking for comment. Grilione pleaded not guilty in August. Grilione was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, a drug, a controlled substance, toluene, according to the criminal complaint. Both of the alleged crimes were misdemeanors and Grilione was held for about two hours before being released from jail with a citation, the sheriffs office said earlier this year. Grilione had been a sergeant since 2016, according to a sheriffs office Facebook post following a badge ceremony. He was ordered to appear at his next hearing on Dec. 6, according to court records. He was not required to appear along with his attorney at the previous hearings. Israels defence minister has ordered a total siege on Gaza that would sever all power and water supplies, as well as blocking food and fuel, a move Palestinian medics warn will be catastrophic for the embattled civilian population. Israel has turned the full might of its army onto pounding the 42-km long territory in retaliation for a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas at the weekend which has killed 900 Israelis. The military told The Independent its troops were still battling militants across six different locations in the south of Israel. As part of the surprise attacks, Hamas militants blew open border fences, infiltrated towns, killed civilians and soldiers and took over 100 hostages. In quick retaliation, Israels defence minister then announced a total closure of Gaza, which is home to two million people, and was already subject to a crippling Israeli and Egyptian blockade. A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike (AFP via Getty Images) I ordered a full siege on the Gaza Strip, Yoav Gallant said in a terse statement shared on social media. No power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, signalling a bloodiest battle is ahead after the unprecedented assault by Hamas. In the early hours of Saturday morning as many as a 1,000 Hamas militants stormed Israel by land, sea and air, killing hundreds of civilians and seizing hostages. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and the elderly, British and American citizens. Senior Israeli military officials told The Independent that due to the unprecedented nature of the attack, all options are on the table including possible ground assault into Gaza a move not seen since 2005. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of a long and difficult war ahead and vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group, which is deeply rooted in Gaza . On the ground, Nizar, a father-of-five who lives in Beit Lahia in the north of Gaza and asked not to be fully named, said a ground invasion would be our worst nightmare for families. Israeli army soldiers are positioned with their Merkava tanks near the border with the Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images) We have no shelter, no safe place to go. My house is already hosting two other families of relatives who fled from the border regions, he said in desperation. We lost two children in the 2008 war, and have been displaced multiple times. Bombing is taking place every minute. Palestinian hospitals meanwhile said they were already struggling to treat the wounded from the relentless Israeli attacks because of pre-existing shortages of medical supplies. Gaza, which is one of the most densely populated places on earth, has been subject to 16-year blockade by Israel and Egypt, ever since Hamas violently seized control of the strip in 2007. This sparked a humanitarian crisis even before this latest war erupted. Mahmoud Shalabi, acting director of UK based Medical Aid for Palestinians charity, said the current restrictions already means nearly half the essential drug list is missing. The Gaza health ministry said on Monday that at least 680 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since Saturday, including dozens in airstrikes on Jabalia refugee camp. A full siege would be a catastrophic we already only have three or four hours of electricity a day, water comes every once every 3 days, we lack antibiotics, saline even disposable medical gloves, Mr Shalabi told The Independent from Gaza City. Israeli military tries to strengthen borders with Gaza as battle enters third day (EPA) Now we add this unparalleled escalation. We have never seen this level of violence in the initial days, so we dont know what is going to happen. He said medics at al-Shifa hospital , the largest medical centre in the strip, likened the influx of wounded from Israeli strikes to a slaughterhouse. Another problem is the lack of electricity in Gaza, he added, which relies on Israel for a large part of its power supplies. No electricity in a hospital means death. Already hospitals are having to turn off generators and they are running out of fuel. The list goes on. Maha Hussaini, a Palestinian human rights advocate also in Gaza City, said the complete siege announced by the Israeli defence minister would cut Gaza off from the outside world entirely. There will be a total blackout as without electricity areas are already struggling with internet connections. People will be in total black out, being killed and wiped out in silence, she added. So far Israel says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in Gaza, and has levelled much of Beit Hanon in the northeast of the country where it says Hamas has been staging attacks. Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip (AFP via Getty Images) Across the border in southern Israel, tanks and drones are guarding the half-destroyed openings in the border fence. Israeli military spokesperson Major Nir Dinar said the IDF was trying to wrestle back control of at least six areas, after militants had blown open border fences in as many as 30 places. We are striking hard and will continue to strike hard, he said, saying Hamas was worse than Isis. Throughout the day, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens as far north and east as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show plumes of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. Back in Gaza, civilians showed The Independent text messages they had been sent by the Israeli military, urging them to evacuate to different parts of the strip or risk being hit in further bombardments. A member of the Palestinian civil defence carries a wounded boy rescued from rubble (AFP via Getty Images) Literally there is nowhere to go, said Ms Hussain, adding that tens of thousands of Palestianins have already been displaced, after receiving text messages telling them to leave their homes. There is no safe place here, every place is targeted and can be targeted at any given moment. There are no shelters. Even the United Nations schools, which have received 74,000 people, can be hit. Yesterday an Unrwa school came under direct fire. Egypts state media reported that Cairo is trying to mediate an initial deal in which would see Hamas release captive women in exchange for Israel freeing female Palestinian prisoners. It said that if both sides agree, there would be a temporary cease-fire to facilitate the exchange. Democratic Representative Ritchie Torres called out his Democratic colleagues Reps. Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib for their statement on the recent attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants, who have killed more than 700 people in total over the past two days. Tlaib, a member of the so-called Squad of progressive lawmakers, first issued a statement on the attacks that called Israel an apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. Tlaib also called for the U.S. to stop its funding for Israel, saying that as long as the U.S. provides unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue. Bush also called for the U.S. to halt funding to Israel. Torres called both statements reprehensible and repulsive. He also called for the U.S. to provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself from the attacks. .@RepRitchie responds to comments from Reps. Bush and Tlaib on the situation in Israel. "Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. It is reprehensible and repulsive." Full statement: pic.twitter.com/KP0L1eAnNU Marc Rod (@marcrod97) October 8, 2023 Read it at Mediaite Read more at The Daily Beast. Phoenix supermarket magnate Eddie Basha loved his Native and Western art collection. After amassing an impressive collection of more than 2,000 pieces, he built a gallery to house it all and welcomed the public to see it free of charge. Now that gallery is closing, and two metro Phoenix art museums will assume stewardship of the Eddie Basha Collection of American Indian and Western American fine art. The Heard Museum will accept the Indigenous art, and Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West will give Basha's Western art collection a new home and a new wing to display it. The donation will be formalized Monday at the Basha Gallery, located at the Bashas' Support Center in South Chandler. Basha began collecting art in 1971 after his aunt suggested he get a hobby. Nadine Basha, Eddie's widow, said his love of Western art came after becoming friends with painter John Clymer. "Eddie would stay at John's home in Wyoming," Nadine said. "John sparked his collection of Western art." 'Every piece had a story' Paintings, sculptures, pottery, kachina dolls, jewelry, and baskets of the American West fill the walls of the Eddie Basha Collection gallery in Chandler, Ariz., on Oct. 5, 2023. The final day of viewing for the public will be Nov. 30, 2023, before the collection is moved to the Heard Museum and Scottsdale's Museum of the West. Eddie Basha, who had a bachelor's degree in history from Stanford, was particularly interested in the history behind each painting, kachina doll, basket or pot, Nadine Basha said. "Every piece had a story," she said. Basha also sought to know the stories of the artists who created the art. Although some pieces, like baskets, came to the collection with no artists' names noted, Basha still loved every piece, as does Nadine. Eventually, the collection grew to include art that spans three centuries, including rare and important examples of paintings, sculpture, jewelry, pottery, kachina dolls and basketry from the Akimel Oodham, Tohono Oodham, Yavapai, Apache, Hopi and Navajo tribes, members of the Cowboy Artists of America and many other artists. Basha forged relationships with several artists, including Clymer and Hopi carver Cecil Calnimptewa, Nadine said. Basha also wanted the public to enjoy his collection and built the gallery to house his growing treasure trove of art. The gallery was always free to the public. Basha even managed to keep the collection intact through the company's 2009-2011 Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Basha died in 2013 at 75. Art collection needed to move after company sale Paintings, sculptures, pottery, kachina dolls, jewelry, and baskets of the American West fill the walls of the Eddie Basha Collection gallery in Chandler, Ariz., on Oct. 5, 2023. The final day of viewing for the public will be Nov. 30, 2023, before the collection is moved to the Heard Museum and Scottsdale's Museum of the West. In 2021, the Basha family sold the 113-store chain, which includes supermarkets in several tribal communities, to California-based Raley's Holding Company. When the family learned the building would no longer be occupied, Nadine Basha said they had to make a decision. "What do you do with 2,000 pieces of art?" she said. Soon, the Museum of the West approached the Bashas with an offer to house the Western art in a new home. The Heard followed suit. The offer appealed to the family since the collection would still be intact and remain in Arizona. "It's what Eddie would have wanted," Nadine Basha said. Heard Museum CEO David M. Roche said the Basha family's "extraordinary gift" would enhance its collection and help tell the story of a towering Arizona figure, Eddie Basha." Every work in the collection tells a story of the community the art came from and showcases the contributions Native artists have made to the arts and culture of Arizona, he said. "We look forward to sharing these works of Indigenous creation from the Basha Collection with visitors to the Heard Museum, in perpetuity," Roche said, "and hope that the Arizona community will share in the pride we feel as stewards of these precious works of art." Todd Bankofier, CEO of the Scottsdale museum, cited Eddie Basha's vision that "art is meant to be shared." "We are honored to be a custodian of that vision by exhibiting his collection as well as his legacy in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale," Bankofier said. Basha's first purchase, a miniature bronze of a cowboy by sculptor Don Polland, remains in the collection and continues to remind Basha of his love for the West. Eddies collection was founded upon advice from his Aunt Zelma, collect what you love,'" Bankofier said. Nadine Basha said the two museums would work together on exhibits. Though she knows the collection will have new homes and still be enjoyed by visitors, Nadine Basha said the move to donate the collection was bittersweet. But, she said, "It's the right thing to do." The gallery will be open through Nov. 30. Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @debkrol. Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation. My articles are free to read, but your subscriptions support more such great reporting. Please consider subscribing today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Basha Gallery closing, the art split between Heard, Museum of the West Just a year after Russia invaded Ukraine a war that set gas prices soaring the attack on Israel by Hamas militants could set off a similar spike in oil costs in the U.S. The Russian invasion pushed global crude markets to raise prices in early 2022, which in turn inflated gas prices everywhere. At its highest point in 2022, some gas stations in Fort Worth were charging nearly $5 a gallon before the market stabilized to around normal levels by years end. Now, the conflict in the Middle East could upend prices at a time of the year in Texas when gas prices begin to drop off. Analysts fear the instability could wreak havoc with the oil markets. For now, the average gasoline price in Fort Worth has fallen 21.8 cents in the last week, averaging $3.10 a gallon, according to GasBuddy, a website that tracks gas prices in the U.S. Average gas prices are lower in the past month as well, hovering around 27 cents down. In addition, the average gas price now compared to a year ago is 10.7 cents lower, according to GasBuddy. Even the price of diesel has seen downward pressure with oil prices plummeting last week on fears that the Fed will be forced to continue raising rates, eating into demand growth, leading a barrel of crude to drop into the mid-$80s, but we remain concerned about a potentially destabilized Middle East and the potential impact to oil prices should the region see violence escalate, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy in a statement. Palestinian militants attack Israel over weekend Over the weekend, Israel declared war on Hamas, a militant Palestinian group that controls the Gaza Strip, after waves of Hamas fighters crossed north into Israel attacking towns and taking hostages. Hamas rockets rained on the Israeli cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. As of Monday, over 1,110 people have been killed in the war, according to the Associated Press. Though the exact number killed in the fighting 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, Netanyahu said in a statement Saturday. He added that Israels military had begun the offensive phase, which will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. Prime Minister Netanyahu concluded the discussion: "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack. The first stage is ending at this time by the destruction of the vast majority of the enemy forces that infiltrated our territory. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 8, 2023 A prolonged war will certainly affect oil prices in the U.S. energy experts say. During early trading on Monday, global oil prices jumped slightly but only by a few percent, according to Reuters. As the war rages on, oil experts will have a better grasp on how or if it will affect global costs. Back stateside, however, gas prices are actually dropping and analysts hope the trend will continue into November despite the overseas conflict. Even with oil prices rising as a reaction to the attacks, I remain optimistic the national average could decline another 25-45 cents by late November, with prices falling potentially nearly triple that in California, De Haan said.. The cheapest gas station in Fort Worth had prices at $2.85 a gallon on Sunday, while the most expense was $3.70. 10 CHEAPEST GAS STATIONS IN FORT WORTH $2.89: Walmart, 5336 Golden Triangle Blvd. $2.89: Walmart, 4550 Heritage Trace Parkway $2.93: Murphy Express, 841 W Rendon Crowley Road $2.94: Murphy Express, 2228 Jacksboro Highway $2.94: Buc-ees, 15901 North Freeway $2.95: Costco, 8900 Tehama Ridge Parkway $2.95: Exxon, 2441 Heritage Trace Parkway $2.95: QuikTrip, 3201 Golden Triangle Blvd. $2.95: QuikTrip, 12345 South Freeway $2.95: QuikTrip, 3436 N Tarrant Parkway Of all the worlds intolerable noises, none can match the shriek of a gas-powered leaf blower the unholy contraption that interrupts autumn with its daylong caterwaul. Even from two blocks away, this torture-chamber machine creates a ruckus so shrill, so persistent, so sonically offensive that Ive considered taking to the roof with a catapult full of horse manure and launching it at the neighbor with the neatest lawn. The scourge has only grown worse post-pandemic, with so many former commuters working at home and discovering what their neighborhoods sound like during the day. Leaf-blowers are the angry car horns of the Zoom generation. Which is why Raleigh should ban them at least the gas-driven kind. Id like to dynamite them, said my neighbor on Bloodworth Street. But that wouldnt be politically correct. Should Raleigh restrict gas-powered leaf blowers? Before we go any further, understand that nobody in City Hall is considering this ban, nor do I seriously expect that they will. Raleigh outlawed garbage disposals way back in 2008, and that eco-driven law lasted only a month thanks at least partially to outrage from the Big Disposal lobby. Raleigh already has noise regulations, but lawn-care equipment gets a specific exception. So you could report me for playing Beethovens 9th higher than 55 decibels, but Im cool to rock a Ryobi until 11 p.m. daytime hours, as defined by the city code. But Washington, D.C., barred both the use and the sale of gas-powered blowers starting last year, and the noise-makers are either limited or banned in California, Vancouver and parts of Vermont, according to USA Today. Such talk is circulating in Denver. The outrage over this archaic lawn tool goes far beyond afternoon naps spoiled by diligent landscaping. Bad for air Heres the more globally conscious gripe: a two-stroke leaf-blower engine churns out more air pollution than a Ford Raptor a three-ton pickup. In a 2011 study, the car-review company Edmunds measured carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions, and they concluded a half-hours yard work on an Echo two-stoke gas-powered leaf blower was equal to the Ford truck driving from North Texas to Alaska. Bad for health While were piling on, heres another fault to consider: gas-powered leaf blowers cause serious health risks. The nonprofit Respiratory Health Association in Chicago points to their engines creating chemicals and particulate pollution that lead to asthma, cardiovascular disease and COPD even after short-term exposure. Even if the engines were burning clean, they whip enough dirt, leaves and mold to aggravate all of the above ailments, not to mention allergies. Id rant even further about leaf blowers destroying critter habitat and natural fertilizer, but Im confining this harangue to gas-powered models. All Im really asking is for a switch to electric leaf-blowing models, which are both quieter and cleaner. I own one myself. I am not in the pocket of Big Rake. Of course, the cost Im sure an avalanche of economic impact anger is heading my way, particularly from landscaping companies that employ large crews of workers toting the gas-powered leaf blowers I propose to ban. I understand. But should Raleigh carry on with on a practice with obvious harms involved, and decline to push for any kind of improvements, noise and pollution be damned, because it provides jobs? You tell me. (Ducking.) In San Mateo, Calif., homeowners can get a 50% rebate on electric leaf blowers with payback up to $100. Commercial landscapers can get 75%, maxing out at $500. How long before that upfront expense pays off in gas savings? Again, you tell me. But its not impossible. Personally, I think weve got an unhealthy obsession with lawn care. Ive got neighbors with a weekly landscaping contract, and the blower patrol shows up even with three leaves on the ground. Theyre going at it as we speak, and I count maybe a dozen leaves underneath my eight backyard hardwoods. Let them pile up a little. And if you really feel the need to whisk that pile into the street, take a flying leap in it instead. LONDON (Reuters) - The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will give $40 million, including to a Belgian biotech company and two leading African vaccine manufacturers, in a bid to boost access to mRNA vaccines for protection against various diseases in Africa. Nivelles-based Quantoom Biosciences will get $20 million to advance work on its mRNA manufacturing platform, while the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal and Biovac in South Africa will get $5 million each to buy the technology. A further $10 million is available for other vaccine manufacturers who want to use the platform. Vaccines made using mRNA revolutionised the world's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but access was drastically inequitable. A number of initiatives have since been set up to tackle this and try to use the new technology for existing threats that disproportionately affect lower-income countries, such as malaria and tuberculosis. The World Health Organization launched its mRNA vaccine technology hub in Cape Town in April this year. One member, Afrigen Biologics, has already made Africas first-ever mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 in the lab. But mRNA vaccines remain expensive to produce, particularly at the scale needed to test and roll out safe and effective vaccines. Quantooms platform, called Ntensify, allows batches of mRNA to be produced more cheaply and efficiently at scale, a Gates Foundation spokeswoman told Reuters ahead of an announcement at its 2023 Grand Challenges Annual Meeting in Dakar on Monday. (This) is an important and necessary step towards vaccine self-reliance in the region, said Dr Amadou Sall, chief executive of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar. Ntensify was first developed using Gates funding to Quantooms parent company, Univercells, given in 2016. Afrigen is already using the platform, including for the development of Rift Valley fever and gonorrhea vaccines. Gates and Afrigen said it could cut the costs of developing a vaccine by half compared to traditional mRNA technology. "The second generation (of mRNA) is to reduce the cost," said Petro Terblanche, Afrigen's chief executive, on a phone call from Dakar on Sunday. (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby and Wendell Roelf; Editing by Bernadette Baum) By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) -The conflict in Gaza cast a shadow on Monday over a major conference on the Vatican and the Holocaust, with one participant calling the carnage the worst slaughter of civilian Jews in one day since then. The conference was organised after the opening in 2020 of Vatican archives of the pontificate of Pius XII, which led to the discovery of a letter showing that he knew details about the Nazi attempt to exterminate Jews in the Holocaust as early as 1942. Cardinal Pietro Parolin , the Vatican secretary of state, changed his prepared opening comments to mention the "terrible and despicable attack" against "Israeli brothers and sisters". Parolin said: "Unfortunately, violence, terrorism, barbarism and extremism undermine the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis." Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, said: "My thoughts are more there than here." Two speakers from Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center cancelled their appearances at the three-day conference, which is bringing together historians and theologians to address Jewish-Christian relations after the opening of the archives. Professor Deborah E. Lipstadt, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, and who won a landmark case in London against Holocaust denier David Irving in 1996, sat in the front row. "It's the greatest number of Jews killed in one day since the Holocaust," she told Reuters during a break in the conference, saying the previous record of civilians killed was a bombing of a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 and injured hundreds in 1994. "They (the Hamas gunmen) yelled 'Jahud, Jahud', (Arabic for Jew). They didn't say 'Israeli'. The overt anti-Semitism that we hear from supporters is significant, mind boggling and just dumbfounding," she said. Israel's Kan TV said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 800. Meanwhile, Israel pressed on with retaliatory strikes, which have killed more than 500 people since Saturday. Parolin also mentioned displaced and wounded Palestinians, saying "our closeness and prayers also go to their families, and all civilians, totally innocent". Pope Francis had on Sunday called for an end to attacks and violence in Israel and Gaza, saying "war is defeat" that would not solve any problems, but only bring further suffering to innocent people. Israel's ambassador to the Vatican, Raphael Schutz, told Reuters on the sidelines of the conference: "I understand the Vatican wants peace. We all want peace. But I would like to hear stronger words about Israel's right to defend itself." The conference was jointly organised by the Vatican, Yad Vashem, the U.S. State Department, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and a number of Jewish groups. Supporters of Pius say he worked behind the scenes to help Jews and did not speak out in order to prevent worsening the situation for Catholics in Nazi-occupied Europe. His detractors say he lacked the courage to speak out on information he had despite pleas from Allied powers fighting Germany. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alison Williams) The author of this story is anonymous for their safety. GAZA CITYGaza residents suffering wave after wave of Israeli bombing on Monday reacted with horror, as Hamas threatened to start executing Israeli hostages on camera each time a civilian is killed in an airstrike without warning. Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, made the blood-chilling threat after a day of heavy bombing across the Gaza Strip in response to the militants raid on Israel over the weekend, which killed at least 700 people and resulted in scores more being taken as hostages. From this moment on, we announce that every targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without prior warning will be met with regret by the execution of one or our enemys civilian hostages and we will broadcast this with sound and video, Ubaida said. The brutality of the threat appalled Gaza residents, who have been forced to live under the rule of Hamas, whether they want to or not. This is wrong, said Nema Yousef, 61, from Gaza City. You should not do the wrong thing, just because the Israelis are doing the wrong thing. Many Gazans heard echoes of the so-called Islamic State, which attempted to glorify its acts of terror in slickly produced videos of its brutality, but succeeded only in turning both the Islamic world and the West against them. If they do this, they will be like ISIS, who damaged the image of Islam, Yousef told The Daily Beast. The Day Israel Changed Forever Speaking in between Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, Hiba Mohammed, 41, said, This is totally wrong. Hamas started the fight for a swap deal not for killing and this also does not fit with our Islamic principles. Though the Israeli army is killing civilians and destroying more buildings they should pressure with the alive Israelis and their numbers and nationalities. Not everyone agrees. Rana Ibrahim, 36, in Gaza City, said she thought this kind of threat was the only way to stop the attacks. I agree that this should be done because no one in the world is caring for us, she said. If Hamas kept the hostages safe this makes no difference, so I agree they should pressure the Israeli government to stop this war. The threat came after a day of relentless airstrikes on Gaza, which have killed hundreds and damaged homes, roads, mosques, and amenities all across the besieged territory. This followed the worst attack on Israel in 50 years launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants. At 11:30 a.m. on Monday, an Israeli missile hit the busiest shopping street in Gazas largest refugee camp. Two houses that were likely targeted by the strike were obliterated but the brutal impact of the blast was felt much wider with flames ripping through the bustling area. An eyewitness told The Daily Beast that the street was strewn with bodies and burning vehicles. The Ministry of Health reported that 50 people were confirmed dead, while many others were still missing. Muhammad Musa, 33, a young resident of Jabalia, survived the blast, which hit Trans Street at around 1 p.m. The entire area was engulfed in flames, with taxis catching fire, and we discovered lifeless bodies and severely injured individuals scattered about, he told The Daily Beast. Some victims remained trapped under the collapsed structure of one of the targeted houses, while bulldozers worked feverishly to rescue survivors and retrieve the bodies of those still inside. The blast targeted two adjacent houses, reducing them to rubble in a matter of seconds, added Musa. Across from these houses, a large bakery and commercial center went up in flames, along with an electricity generator that supplied power to the stores. Mains electricity supply has become increasingly scarce. On Monday, Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said he was orchestrating a total siege on Gaza, which is home to more than two million people. I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel, everything is closed, Gallant announced. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly. Many of the residents that hastily evacuated their homes due to urgent demands from the Israeli armyreceived either through mobile phone notifications or direct callsescaped to this very refugee camp. The lucky ones were sheltering inside the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) schools when the Jabalia strike hit. The apparent lack of warning before the blast could indicate that Israel believed one of the houses may have harbored individuals associated with the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, who had taken part in recent operations against Israel. Hapless Netanyahu Was Totally Unprepared for Attack Ubaida said Monday that Israels nightmare scenario of accidentally blowing up their own hostages during their extensive bombing campaign had come to pass. He claimed that four Israeli hostages were killed along with their captors. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced, later Monday, that the death toll from the military operation against Gaza had risen to 560 dead and 2,900 wounded. Salma Ibrahim, 22, thought she would be relatively safe living near the universities compound in Gaza City which is situated close to UNRWA HQ. She was wrong. The Israeli army published a map that highlighted in red the risk areas for the Israeli army operations, and it marked the UNRWA compound as a red flag area that we have to leave, she told The Daily Beast. We are tired of leaving our home in each war. We have left to go to our uncles home in Gaza City, but we are still afraid it is not safe. Today the Israeli strikes are more intensified, and we are worried of more escalation in the coming days with food and fuel cut off in addition to the current water and internet cuts, Ibrahim said. Soon after Ibrahim left got out of the neighborhood, Israeli airstrikes began targeting the streets around the UNRWA compound. These caused huge damage to the UNSCO centre, which is a main supplier for humanitarian services for refugees in Gaza. 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. Gazans say nowhere to go as they prepare for Israeli assault after Hamas raid By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinians in Gaza are preparing for an Israeli offensive of unprecedented scale after Saturday's deadly Hamas raid, with more than 130,000 fleeing their homes and stockpiling supplies as air strikes pound the crowded enclave with 560 already dead. Amid an intensified Israeli siege cutting off water, food and power, and a sudden new assault, conditions look worse than at any point since Palestinian refugees flocked there during the 1948 fighting when Israel was founded. Israeli military phone messages have warned people to leave some areas, indicating a new ground attack that could eclipse previous bouts of destructive warfare in the dense concrete townships that grew up in Gaza's original tented refugee camps. "Where should we go? Where should we go?" asked 55-year-old Mohammad Brais. He had fled his home near a possible front line to shelter at his shop - only for that to get hit in one of the hundreds of air and artillery strikes already pounding Gaza. The surprise Hamas attack on Saturday caused Israel its bloodiest day, as fighters smashed through border defences and marauded through towns, killing more than 800 people and dragging more than 100 into captivity in Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that the price Gaza would pay "will change reality for generations" and Israel was imposing a total blockade with a ban on food and fuel imports as part of a battle against "human animals". At the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, men clambered on a pancaked building to pull an infant's tiny body from the rubble, carrying it down through the crowd below amid still-smouldering remains of bombed buildings. That air strike left dozens killed and injured, according to the territory's health ministry. As ambulances arrived at a hospital, workers ran out to haul in stretchers bearing the injured. Inside, a man lay next to the shrouded body of his nephew, hysterical with grief, alternately striking the floor and embracing the corpse as he screamed. Funeral processions wound down Gaza streets. In Rafah, in the south, men strode behind a body being carried on a bier, Palestinian and Hamas flags raised behind. At the cemetery a family buried Saad Lubbad, a small boy killed in air strikes. His body, wrapped in white, was passed down to be laid on a patterned cloth before burial. FOOD AND FUEL The densely populated enclave's 2.3 million residents have endured repeated bouts of war and air strikes before. They expect this one to be worse. "It doesn't need much thinking about. Israel suffered the biggest loss in its history so you can imagine what it is going to do," said a resident of Beit Hanoun on Gaza's northeastern border with Israel. "I took my family out at sunrise and dozens of other families did the same. Many of us got phone calls, audio messages from Israeli security officers telling us to leave because they will operate there," he said. Families began stockpiling food as soon as Saturday's attack began but fear that despite Hamas assurances supplies will run low. With Israel cutting off electricity supplies into Gaza, a looming fuel shortage means private generators as well as the enclave's own power station, which is still providing about four hours of energy a day, will struggle to function. Electricity shortages mean residents cannot recharge phones, so are cut off from news of each other and from events, and are unable to pump water into rooftop tanks. At night the enclave is plunged into total darkness, punctuated by the blasts of air strikes. Gaza health ministry officials said hospitals were expected to run out of fuel, needed to power lifesaving equipment, in two weeks. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said 137,000 people were sheltering in U.N. schools and other facilities. At one in Gaza City, 13-year-old Israa al-Qishawi pointed to the corner of a classroom where she lays her mattress each night alongside 30 other people. Fear makes her want the toilet every few minutes, she said, but there is no water. "It is disgusting," she said. Dressed in green and playing with a hula hoop, she said: "The war came suddenly and we are afraid of it". BOMBARDMENT Air strikes have damaged and blocked streets, making it harder for ambulances and rescue vehicles to reach bomb sites, according to residents and medics. The civil defence said it could not cope with so many bomb sites, and asked for foreign rescue teams to help it save survivors trapped under rubble. The Beit Hanoun resident said the bombardment of streets seemed like preparation for another Israeli ground offensive, like ones he watched rolling into Gaza from the roof of his house in 2008 and 2014. Recorded phone messages and social media posts issued by Israel's military warning residents to quit some Gaza areas added to residents' fears. Despite the danger, the 45-year-old was pleased by Hamas' raid into Israel, he said, requesting anonymity for fear of Israeli reprisals. "We are afraid but still we are proud like never before," he said, adding: "Hamas wiped out entire Israeli army battalions. It crushed them like biscuits". Standing outside his ruined shop, near wrecked houses where three entire families were killed, Brais said he just hoped for an end to Gaza's endless cycle of destruction. "Enough. We had enough. I am 55-years-old and I spent those years going from one war into another. My house has been destroyed twice," said Brais. "Everything is gone," he said, looking at the wreckage of his shop. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Angus MacSwan and Mark Potter) Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the timeline of General Atomics testing of the Eagle Eye radar. The correct time frame is available below. WASHINGTON A new multidomain surveillance radar from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, dubbed Eagle Eye, aims to increase the U.S. Armys ability to track and shoot down even small drones. Mike Shortsleeve, vice president of Defense Department strategic development at the firm, said in a Monday interview at the Association of the U.S. Armys conference in Washington that Gray Eagle 25M drones are now in production with Eagle Eye, a synthetic aperture radar. A fact sheet from General Atomics said Eagle Eyes synthetic aperture radar can spot targets up to 50 miles away at high resolution, or up to 125 miles when conducting maritime surveillance. Recent conflicts, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the days-old fighting between Israel and Hamas, show the growing importance of small drones in war, Shortsleeve said. Hamas in part used small, explosive-laden drones to take the Israeli military by surprise, Forbes reported. The threat from drones is likely to increase, according to Shortsleeve, as technical advancements such as artificial intelligence and machine learning increase their capabilities and as the costs of such systems come down. That is where General Atomics sees its Eagle Eye-equipped Gray Eagles working hand-in-hand with other systems that could do the actual shooting down of enemy drones benefiting the Army, Shortsleeve said. For example, he added, it would be prohibitively expensive for a Gray Eagle to track and shoot down a small enemy drone with a multimillion-dollar missile. But the Gray Eagle can identify the target, track it and hand that target off to another counter-drone platform that could down an enemy UAV with a less expensive weapon, such as a cannon or directed-energy weapon. In a May test, he said, the Eagle Eye was able to detect and track a small fixed-wing drone made out of balsa wood much smaller than forces in the field would likely encounter from an enemy. An earlier test in late 2022 used the radar to shoot down a drone, General Atomics said. Shortsleeve said Eagle Eye would be able to spot targets in the air, at sea and on the ground. General Atomics expects to deliver the first tranche of 12 Eagle Eye-equipped Gray Eagle 25Ms to the Army National Guard in the second half of 2026, Shortsleeve said. Another six to 12 will follow for the active duty Army, he said. General Atomics plans to continue producing Gray Eagles with the new radars until the service decides to stop buying them or wants to put a different radar on the new Gray Eagle drones, he added. The 25M variant of the Gray Eagle also includes open-architecture aircraft and ground systems, a better engine, advanced data links, and improved range, the company said. General Atomics has been evolving the technology at the core of Eagle Eye for years, but work on the program dramatically accelerated in the last five years, Shortsleeve said. And loitering munitions of the kind that have gotten considerable use in Ukraine could also be targeted by the Eagle Eye radar, he said. Some foreign nations have expressed interest in Eagle Eye-equipped drones, Shortsleeve noted, but he declined to identify the countries. It would be possible to adapt this radar to other platforms besides the Gray Eagle, he said. But in years to come, he added, the Army is only going to need more capabilities to counter small drones in combat. The proliferation [of small drones] in combat operations is growing exponentially, Shortsleeve said. In the future, its going to be undeniable that [unmanned aerial systems] are going to be all over the battlespace, in any large-scale combat operations. A two-year undercover investigation has ended up with nearly 60 people in jail and a massive amount of drugs off the streets. The investigation called Operation No Loyalty seized dozens of guns, nine vehicles, and even two houses, along with hundreds of pounds of marijuana and 35 pounds of cocaine. The Richmond County Sheriffs Office told WRDW-TV that detectives seized a total of about 15 pounds of fentanyl, which they said was enough to kill roughly 3.5 million people. A two-year undercover investigation has ended up with nearly 60 people in jail and a massive amount of drugs off the streets. The investigation called Operation No Loyalty seized dozens of guns, nine vehicles, and even two houses, along with hundreds of pounds of marijuana and 35 pounds of cocaine. 38 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon. (WANTED) 42 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (x2), Possession of a Machine Gun (WANTED) 36 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Fentanyl, Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Alprazolam with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon (x2), Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Crime (x2), Forgery in the Third Degree, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer 39 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Cocaine 43 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Cocaine 43 years of age from Lithonia Springs Georgia, Charges: Trafficking Cocaine, Possession of Firearm or Knife During the Commission or Attempt to Commit Certain Felonies, Vehicles with False or Secret Compartment 56 years of age from Norcross Georgia, Charges: Trafficking Cocaine, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Illegal drugs (Fentanyl), Felony Possession of Marijuana 34 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm During the Commission of a Crime, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of MDMA with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Oxycodone with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer, Driving While Unlicensed, Failure to Maintain Lane 34 years of age of Augusta, Charges: Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Oxycodone with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm During Commission of Crime, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Multiple Traffic Charges 41 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm or Knife during Commission of a Crime 43 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute 28 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm during Commission of a Crime, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute 46 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm during Commission of a Crime, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer 44 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Firearm during Commission of a Crime 38 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Oxycodone 27 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer, Felony Fleeing, Possession of Oxycodone, Possession of Marijuana, Suspended Registration, Driving Without a License 36 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm During Commission of Crime, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Improper Lane Change 19 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm During Commission of Crime, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property 21 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Firearm During Commission of Crime, No Seatbelt 20 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Firearm During Commission of Crime 37 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm During Commission of Crime 45 years of age of Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine 24 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Felony Fleeing, Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Marijuana 19 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm During Commission of a Crime, Possession of Marijuana, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer 46 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm during the Commission of a Crime, Possession of Cocaine 34 years of age from Augusta, Pending Charges (NOT ARRESTED): Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 56 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon 60 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon 20 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of a Machine Gun, Possession of Firearm by First Offender 22 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer 23 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute 40 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute 24 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 31 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Marijuana, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Fentanyl, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property 21 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Felony Fleeing, Possession of Firearm by First Offender (x7), Possession of an Illegal Weapon, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property (x2), Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer 37 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute 31 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer 30 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Aggravated Assault, Theft by Taking, Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon 23 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 29 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Felony Order to Show Cause 22 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Hallucinogens, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 20 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Hallucinogens, Possession of Cocaine 22 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Aggravated Assault Upon a Police Officer (x5), Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Hallucinogens 22 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Illegal Weapon 23 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Obstruction of Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Illegal Weapon 23 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon 29 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property 30 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Marijuana, Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 23 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 36 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon 33 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine 34 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine, Giving False Name and Date of Birth to Officer 34 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Felony Order to Show Cause 28 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Fentanyl, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 21 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute 20 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute 22 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 24 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Firearm during Commission of Crime 33 years of age from Augusta, Charges: Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Oxycodone, Felony Order to Show Cause They told the TV station that the drugs they confiscated were as lethal as weapons of mass destruction. The arrests stem around members of the gang known as Trap Money, especially two kingpins that the sheriffs office identified as Joshua Brady McDaniel, 38, of Augusta, and Ellis McDaniel, 42, of Augusta. PHOTOS OF THE NEARLY 60 PEOPLE CHARGED These individuals have not only been responsible for narcotics offenses in our community but have also been involved in several violent crimes within the CSRA, the Richmond County Sheriffs Office told WRDW. Also among the nearly 60 arrested, were two people from metro Atlanta: Lucino Estrada Casa, 56, from Norcross, and Mary Cisneros-Gonzalez, 43, of Lithia Springs. So far, there have been two phases of the operation, with a third in progress. TRENDING STORIES: During phase one, investigators executed 16 search warrants that led to the seizure of the following: 16 kilograms of cocaine 7 kilograms of fentanyl 1 pound of methamphetamine 29 pounds of marijuana 34 firearms $319,909 in cash Six vehicles Two houses During phase two, investigators served 25 search warrants, and seized the following: Approximately 248.7 pounds of marijuana 44.8 grams of fentanyl 90.1 grams of methamphetamine 22.5 grams of cocaine 28 firearms $143,824 in cash Three vehicles Deputies said they expect additional arrests, charges, and state and federal indictments. To read more about this story, CLICK HERE. IN OTHER NEWS: To avoid a new Middle East war, Israeli-Palestinian issue can't be delayed 08:44, October 09, 2023 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 7, 2023. Photo: Xinhua Many people say that this round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted quite suddenly, and on the surface, it does seem so. Hamas launched a surprise attack on the Israel's military, catching them off guard and resulting in significant casualties that have shocked the world. Israel's retaliatory actions are bound to lead to more bloodshed and escalation of violence. Even though none of us want to see this happen, it is difficult to prevent it from occurring. International peace efforts are far from strong enough in the face of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is an unavoidable fact and requires a more powerful collective effort from the international community to change it. From a deeper perspective, this conflict is not sudden and has a certain inevitability. It once again announces to the world, through bloodshed and loss of life, that if fundamental solutions are not implemented for the Palestinian issue, and if the peace process is not promoted, bloodshed and conflict will recur. This is actually quite evident, but it has long been ignored by Western countries that bear the primary responsibility and influence in the Palestinian issue. For many years, China has repeatedly called on the international community to prioritize the Palestinian issue on the international agenda on major multilateral occasions such as the United Nations. It has emphasized the need to advance the "two-state solution" with a stronger sense of urgency. Not long ago before the outbreak of this conflict, Permanent Mission of China to the UN was still stressing this point. Now, the necessity and urgency have been elevated to another level, given the high cost paid by Palestine, Israel, and the entire Middle East. It's necessary to recognize that the Israeli-Palestinian issue is a complex conglomerate of problems, and external interference is one of the main reasons why this problem has not been resolved and even intensifies hatred. The bias and interference by Western countries, led by the US, in the Israeli-Palestinian issue have been evident for a long time, and historical Middle East conflicts have often had US involvement behind the scenes. And after the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the quick decision of the US and some Western countries to take sides not only does not help solve the problem but also adds fuel to the fire. Considering the large number of innocent civilians killed and injured in the conflict over the past two days, the immediate priority of the international community should be to urge both sides to cease fire quickly in order to prevent further humanitarian disasters. A report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows that the prolonged closure and military operations carried out by Israel during the occupation of Gaza from 2007 to 2018 have pushed Gaza's economy to the brink of collapse. Today, it has become one of the poorest and most volatile areas in the world. It can be said that this large-scale armed conflict between Palestine and Israel once again proves that the means of seeking absolute security, under the guise of peace by the US and the West, cannot achieve true peace and tranquility. It also exposes the essence of the US new Middle East strategy. We urge the US and other Western countries to stop this practice and truly participate in the Middle East peace process. Middle East peace is by no means a road without a future. The key is to start walking the right path from now on, rather than taking the wrong path or even going back. According to media reports, this round of conflict between Palestine and Israel has already caused nearly 1,000 deaths and thousands of injuries on both sides. Moreover, the war may also spread to other countries. The latest development is that Israel and the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon have engaged in a firefight. Many people worry whether this event will eventually lead to the "Sixth Middle East War." At this moment, the international community should take urgent action. The United Nations issued a statement on October 7, calling it a "dangerous precipice," strongly condemning the attacks on civilians, and calling for an end to violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged "all diplomatic efforts to avoid a wider conflagration." The UN Security Council plans to hold a closed-door meeting on the current situation between Palestine and Israel Sunday afternoon local time in New York to discuss solutions. Fundamentally, all parties involved in the Middle East peace process, including Palestine and Israel, must work toward creating conditions for the realization of the "two-state solution." It has been 50 years since the Fourth Arab-Israeli War (also known as the Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War, October War) and 30 years since the signing of the Oslo Accords. War or peace? The Middle East is once again at a historical crossroads. The international community must take decisive and effective diplomatic actions to urge both sides to stop violence as soon as possible, exercise maximum restraint, and especially prevent the window of opportunity for peace from being closed by conflicts. China has always supported the convening of a larger-scale, more authoritative, and influential international peace conference to create conditions for the resumption of negotiations. This proposal is now more necessary and urgent. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A Columbus man is being charged with fatally shooting a 71-year-old man in the head after the victim was picked up at the Atlanta airport, according to Troup County sheriffs investigators. JonThomas Cloud, 29, is accused of shooting Andrew Stankiewicz as Stankiewicz sat in the front passenger seat of a Cadillac Escalade on the trip back to Columbus, authorities said. Also in the vehicle was Stankiewiczs wife, who lives in Columbus, investigators said. They said Stankiewicz was living in Texas. Deputies were called at 12:36 p.m. Sunday to reports of someone shot at Well Star West Georgia Medical Center in LaGrange. A LaGrange police sergeant at the hospital told deputies that a man was dead in the emergency room and evidence was in a vehicle parked in the hospitals ambulance bay. The sheriffs criminal investigations division was notified and examined the Escalade, finding blood in the front passengers seat and bullet holes in the seat and in the front window. They questioned Cloud and Stankiewiczs wife, who had been driving the Cadillac, and learned Cloud had been sitting in the back seat behind Stankiewicz, investigators said. They said Cloud and the wife had left Columbus to get Stankiewicz at Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and started back. At some point during their ride to Columbus on Interstate 85, Cloud shot Stankiewicz in the back of his head, the sheriffs office said Monday in a news release. The driver then proceeded to West Georgia Medical and on their arrival 911 was notified. The precise circumstances leading to the shooting were still being investigated, said Sgt. Stewart Smith, the sheriffs public information officer. Cloud is charged with murder and using a firearm to commit a felony, he said. ATLANTA - A member of the Georgia Senate is currently on a trip to Israel with his mother, according to posts on social media. Sen. Russ Goodman, who represents District 8 in south Georgia, posted a video of an America flag being raised on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. Goodman says that his mom asked him several months back if he would go with her on a trip to the "holy land." He shared a photo of himself standing on top of Mount Precipice with Nazareth in the background. He also shared of photo of himself and his mom standing on top of Mount Caramel. Goodman says in his post that he has received numerous texts from friends and family in south Georgia and he wanted to let everyone know that he and his mother are safe and "being well taken care of." He also said that the Israeli government and their people love America and while he's always felt a close kinship with our Israeli brothers and sisters, the last two days have reinforced that feeling. He also said that representatives from the state and federal level as well as the Israeli government have been in contact with him and he is grateful for their concern for their safety and everything they have done to ensure it. He closed by saying that he hopes God grants a swift victory to the Israeli Defense Forces. It is now being reported that at least 9 American citizens were killed in the weekend attack by Hamas on Israel. The attack has left more than 1,000 dead and thousands more injured on both sides. OTHER STORIES Goodman, who is a Republican, has been a member of the Georgia senate since January 2021. District 8 includes Milledgeville, Cochran, Fitzgerald, Tifton and Valdosta. Former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera ripped former President Donald Trump for claiming that undocumented immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country. Rivera also slammed a Trump spokespersons claim that the phrase is used in everyday life as absolute bulls**t. I think its vile. I think its disgusting. Its very disappointing, Rivera told CNNs Abby Phillip about Trumps comment in a video shared online by Mediaite. To sink to that level, its for me a personal embarrassment that we were friends for so long, he continued. This language is racist, it is really disgusting, and, you know, some things cannot abide. We cannot abide certain things and he has crossed the line. I beseech his followers to listen to what he said about poison blood. The Nazis used similar poisonous rhetoric, Rivera noted. I hate to use Nazi or Hitler references, but it is impossible to miss the obvious parallels, he said. Poison blood, it was a direct reference. He made a direct reference that the migrants, the immigrants, mostly Latinos now, may I say, are poisoning, polluting the blood of real Americans. It is intolerable. I mean its absolutely beyond the pale. A spokesperson for Trump downplayed the comment, claiming it was a normal phrase that is used in everyday life. Rivera told Phillip: Excuse me, I apologize to you and your audience, but I have to say that the spokesmans excuse was absolute bullshit. It is lowdown and dirty, he added. Give me a break. Related... By Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) - France and Germany's governments kick off an unprecedented two-day retreat in Hamburg on Monday in a bid to re-set relations between the European Union's two biggest powers amid a host of disagreements on energy, industry and defence policy. The French-German motor that has driven EU policy for decades has proven rusty of late although it is more necessary than ever given the multitude of crises the bloc faces, say analysts and lawmakers. Europe is grappling with surging irregular migration, the transition to a carbon neutral economy, the Ukraine war, a shift in the relationship with top trade partner China and now also conflict in the Middle East. "The Franco-German relationship, and as a result Europe, is not living up to the challenges we are currently facing," said Jacob Ross at the German Council on Foreign Relations. One of the problems is that French President Emmanuel Macron sees himself as the natural successor to former Chancellor Angela Merkel as leader of Europe, and has adopted strong stances in Brussels, some contrary to German interests, he said. On the German side, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led Berlin to focus more on its transatlantic alliance with its top security partner, the United States - possibly at the cost of its relationship with France. A lack of chemistry between the charismatic Macron and tight-lipped German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also made it more difficult also for both governments to hammer out their differences, say lawmakers and diplomats. "Macron and Scholz are simply very different personalities," Anton Hofreiter, chair of the German parliament's Committee on European Union Affairs and member of the Greens. The two countries' current major point of contention is EU electricity reform, with Germany and some other EU states pushing for stricter rules on state-backed support of power prices that would hurt French industry. Both governments play down their differences in public. "Ultimately the point of bilateral relations is to overcome differences- that is the core of the EU," a French cabinet member said, on condition of anonymity. The two-day retreat in the northern port city of Hamburg, where Scholz was mayor from 2011 to 2018, aims to put the relationship on a new footing rather than to yield concrete policy initiatives. The informal team-building exercise is in keeping with the German tradition of holding cabinet "Klausur" or retreats. The stakes are high, said Detlef Seif, a leading German Christian Democratic Union lawmaker on EU affairs. "If both decide to just pursue their own interests, then not only will both lose out but so will the EU, which is not as strong and stable as it should be," he told Reuters. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke in Berlin; Additional Reporting by Michel Rose in Paris; Editing by Ros Russell) Close watchers of the MAGA movement have been chronicling the alarming escalation of both violent intimidation and overt white supremacy in recent weeks. Donald Trump , of course, now begs his followers on a nearly daily basis to murder his perceived enemies. But the rhetoric is spiraling, with people like Fox News host Greg Gutfeld openly calling for civil war. Meanwhile, Christopher Rufo a right hand man for Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. recently hosted a forum that pushed establishment Republicans to build a bridge to the so-called "dissident right," including some open white nationalists. He may get his wish, as one of the top contenders for Speaker of the House, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., described himself as "David Duke without the baggage." The radicalism of the right is growing as the GOP careens swiftly towards nominating Trump as their presidential candidate, despite his 91 felony indictments in four jurisdictions. But, as anyone who has studied cults can tell you, they never limit their escalations to violence or hateful ideologies. There's almost always a weird sexual component, as cult leaders come up with ever stranger rules and regulations to control the sexual expression of their followers. The MAGA movement is no different. The cult-like following of Trump always had an unsettling mix of incel-inflected misogyny, coupled with a homophobia that is somehow also homoerotic. But it's been rapidly getting worse in recent months. Even more frightening is how determined they are to inflict their sexual hang-ups on the rest of the country. Gutfeld, who claims to be a "comedian," has long positioned himself on Fox News as an everyman character. He's meant to make audiences feel that normal people can be Republicans, and not just Bible-hugging weirdoes or camo-clad militia nuts. But, as his civil war rant makes clear, lately he's been channeling a more David Koresh-esque vibe, and invariably that comes with some sexual weirdness. Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only. Last week, Gutfeld hosted a far-right figure named Hotep Jesus, who is known primarily for being an apologist for white supremacists and anti-semites. Hotep Jesus, whose real name is Bryan Sharpe, was on the show to promote a "dating" blog that is, in actuality, propaganda for domestic abuse. As Media Matters chronicled, Sharpe regards it as a form of adultery if women are "allowed" to work or vote. "Imagine guts, sweat, and tears shed only to watch your woman get dolled up only to prance around another mans office while he gives her marching orders," Sharpe writes, claiming, "Women WANT to give up control of their life," and that they only vote, work, or otherwise make decisions because of "the pressure of modern society." This wasn't a one-off, either. Gutfeld recently joined the chorus of right wing voices defending Russell Brand, after the British "comedian" was accused by multiple women of sexual violence and rape. Gutfeld applauded a teacher who got arrested for having sex with a 16-year-old student. And he claimed men only cry because of "substances in the water that reduce testosterone." The jokey tone of some of this is there to insulate it from criticism, but Gutfeld isn't joking. The party of Donald "Grab 'Em By The Pussy" Trump shows no limits in normalizing extremely toxic masculinity and sexual violence. That much is evident in new court filings in the first big test case for the abortion "bounty hunter" law in Texas. The author of the law, former Texas solicitor general Jonathan Mitchell, has so far shown no shame that his client who is suing his ex-wife's friends for helping her abort a pregnancy displays a long history of abusive, controlling behavior. Mitchell shrugged off reports that his client, Marcus Silva, tried to prevent his wife from working and called her names like "slut" and "whore" in front of her coworkers. So it's unlikely that Mitchell will mind a new filing providing evidence that Silva threatened to upload sexually explicit videos of his ex-wife, unless she returned home to clean and do laundry for him. Or that he used blackmail methods in an attempt to rape her, saying he would drop the lawsuit if she had sex with him. The document had a transcript of Silva, this latest "hero" of the anti-abortion movement, telling his ex, "Youre just gonna have your f*cking life destroyed in every f*cking way that you can imagine to where you want to blow your f*cking brains out." It's not surprising that Mitchell would be fine with this treatment of women. As he argued to the Supreme Court in 2021, women have it coming by not "refraining from sexual intercourse." But now, of course, Mitchell is working for a man whose goal is to force his ex-wife to have sex with him. One would think, after the political backlash to the overturn of Roe v. Wade, Republicans would not be so eager to advertise how the anti-choice movement is about controlling women and not "life." But, as David Kirkpatrick of the New Yorker writes, the head of Alliance Defending Freedom, the biggest conservative legal group in the country, was open about how the goal is to destroy access to contraception. "It may be that the day will come when people say the birth-control pill was a mistake," Alan Sears explained. The president of the most powerful conservative legal group in the country says banning birth control is at the top of his wishlist: We are on a winning trajectory...It may be that the day will come when people say the birth-control pill was a mistake.https://t.co/9PNU0MVAI1 Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) October 4, 2023 Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only. What's notable is this extremism isn't just relegated to the world of fundamentalist Christianity. The more secular and more proudly fascist right which is increasingly cossetted and promoted by the tech billionaire world of Elon Musk and his buddies has been aggressively promoting pseudo-scientific arguments in favor of extreme curtailing of sexual freedom. The most prominent example is Costin Alamariu, a self-declared fascist who has become an "intellectual" darling on the right for putting a faux-intellectual gloss on some of the most evil impulses of the MAGA movement. He's been blogging for a long time under the name "Bronze Age Pervert," which makes him sound fun, but of course, he's anything but. His book, "Selective Breeding and the Birth of Philosophy," has become an Amazon bestseller because he's promoted by the grossest people on the internet. He proposes strict control over human "breeding" on the facetious grounds that it's necessary for the betterment of humanity, which he mostly understands in extremely racist terms. In his newsletter, John Ganz quotes Alamariu's writing: I make the case in this introduction that this same matter of selective breeding, whether sexual selection, or various societies' management of marriage and reproduction, constitutes the most important part of morality, legislation, or of the "lawgiver's art," and that a sharp awareness of this reality is what led, again, to the discovery of the standard of nature and the subsequent birth of philosophy. As Graeme Wood at the Atlantic pointed out, on his blog, Alamariu dispenses with the faux-academic language for an earthier version of the same arguments. "He considers American cities a 'wasteland' run by Jews and Black people, though the words he uses to denote these groups are considerably less genteel than these," he writes. Christopher Rufo has publicly praised Alamariu. The sexual weirdness of the MAGA movement is deeply intertwined with the racism and the violence. Alamariu's writings are just saying the quiet part out loud: Sexual control, especially of women, is largely fueled by notions about "breeding" future generations, especially to look a certain way that racists want them to. Normalizing violence against women is part of that scheme, since, as fascists long have understood, women often don't go along voluntarily. Because this is so weird, it's tempting to ignore it as the chattering of a fringe group of men are still mad they didn't get laid in college. But that would be a mistake, and not just because some of those men have become wildly powerful: Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2022 As the Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court shows, Republicans are never content to keep their massive sexual issues to themselves. They are determined to make everyone else suffer, not only by rolling back reproductive rights but by aggressively normalizing sexual and domestic violence. The throughline here is a belief that women aren't full human beings, but a sexual resource to be put under male control, by violence if necessary. It's a view they're getting increasingly less coy about publicly sharing. While drivers in downtown Myrtle Beach are surprised to see a man holding a provocative some might say lewd sign on a busy downtown Myrtle Beach street corner, this is an everyday activity for John Benton. Since last weekend, Horry County residents have spotted the man at the intersection of North Kings Highway and 10th Avenue North and near the North Myrtle Beach Walmart. My girlfriend wants new toys. I want a new girlfriend, Bentons cheeky sign reads. On Thursday evening, the Palm Bay, Florida resident held his provocative plastic sign in front of the downtown Myrtle Beach Family Dollar. While some in the Myrtle Vegas Facebook group said Benton was advertising the nearby Badd Kitty lingerie shop, both Benton and a Badd Kitty employee said no. Benton said he can get two laughs from each friendly car: People laugh when they initially see the sign. Wait for it, says Benton. Then he removes velcro kiddy guard, revealing the word boobs, and another wave of laughter. The man, who said hes rounding 70, fuels his sign-holding exploits with frozen bottles of Gatorade and Bon Jovi on his white corded earbuds. While in Myrtle Beach, Benton said he averaged 5 to 6 hours out on the street with his sign and little pink and blue pinwheel. The laughter keeps Benton coming out with his sign. It makes me feel good. How can it not be contagious? Benton said. I dont have anything else I care to do. Benton has been doing this for up to 12 hours a day up and down the southeastern coast, from Richmond, Virginia, to Melbourne, Florida. John Benton poses with his sign and an admirer in Cocoa Beach, F.L. this September The Florida man held a sign outside of the downtown Myrtle Beach Family Dollar on Oct. 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of John Benton. The text on the sign comes from something Bentons ex-girlfriend said. He hasnt yet found a girlfriend from his street corner escapades, but he still has hope. Myrtle Beach has probably been the best place that Ive done it, Benton said. On Wednesday, he said a couple of female bikers got a kick out of the sign and flashed him from the road. Benton counted 100 pictures and thumbs up at the intersection on Thursday, while only three people flipped him off. Sometimes they wont laugh until the people next to him do it. Its contagious, Benton said. The man said he doesnt accept money, to avoid panhandling restrictions. He moved from his North Myrtle Beach post because police ran him off, but hes come to enjoy the downtown Myrtle Beach traffic. I like this corner. I like the shade under Circle K in the morning, Benton said. Benton is staying in his truck in his birthplace of Myrtle Beach. This is where his 80-year-old sister lives and his mother is buried. When not holding the sign, Benton said he likes to go to the truck, clean it up, wash my windows, get something to eat, take a break. On Sunday, Benton said he planned on staying in Myrtle Beach for a few more days before making his way to the west coast by way of Georgia. Several countries in the Global South and Middle East have aligned themselves with Palestinians after Hamass surprise attack against Israel, highlighting the long-running causes behind the violence, striking a different tone to others nations focusing on condemning the militant group that runs the Gaza Strip. Indonesias foreign affairs ministry said that 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 UN. The Qatari foreign ministry echoed the sentiment, saying that it holds Israel solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people. The chairperson of the African Union said the "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," in a communique released Saturday. In March, a draft declaration on Palestine and the Middle East expressed full support for Palestinians. But, as Kenyan writer Patrick Gathara noted at the time, the stance of the AU and individual members has fluctuated. "While Israels actions towards its neighbours have been a major irritant, they are far from the only consideration for African nations," he wrote. "And in the last 21 years, the AU has tended to be more principled while its member nations have been more pragmatic." India, which has recently angled itself as a leader of the Global South, has echoed Western sentiments and thrown its support behind Israel. The difference in position shows that India is out of step with its neighbors, one political scientist told Indian news outlet ThePrint in a recent interview. That is in part because of New Delhi's anti-terrorism agenda: The "terror dimension in this conflict makes it almost impossible for India to ignore, especially since its always been active in putting the issue of terrorism on the global agenda," Harsh Pant, vice president of Studies and Foreign Policy at Observer Research Foundation, told the outlet. Iran's support of Palestine has ignited speculation that Tehran funded Hamas's attack. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Iran helped Hamas plan the attack, but U.S. officials have so far said that there is no definitive proof that Iran was involved. Experts believe that Tehran may be attempting to scupper a crucial peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. But that is likely to backfire, said Kirsten Fontenrose, a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. "Israel will lock down Gaza with an unprecedented presence and suffocating restrictions. That will be the new baseline from which Riyadh will now have to negotiate the 'path forward' for Palestinians that theyve insisted on during talks with Israel. Hamas has done a disservice to all Palestinians." Palestinians evacuate an area in Gaza City on Monday after an Israeli airstrike as Israel continued to battle Hamas fighters after Hamas' surprise attack on Israel Saturday. (Mahmud Hams / AFP/ Getty Images) For the record: 6:12 p.m. Oct. 9, 2023: An earlier version of this column mentioned rape in the attacks, but such reports have not been substantiated. Within hours of the slaughter in Israel, the question of Israels massive intelligence failure as many have called it came to dominate a lot of the media coverage and conversation. On one level, this is entirely defensible. Israeli officials acknowledge the obvious fact that it was, with the arguable exception of the surprise invasion that launched the Yom Kippur War, the worst intelligence breakdown in Israeli history. Israeli citizens are talking about it openly, including those Ive spoken with. Read more: Israel calls for complete siege of Gaza, and Hamas threatens to execute hostages But there is something about the way some people talk about Israels inability to detect or prevent these attacks that is deeply troubling and speaks to the moment were in. It resides in the gray area between they should have known and it serves them right. In other words, talking about intelligence failures can be a way of blaming Israel: Of course Hamas wants to send monsters to slaughter parents in front of their children, assault women, abduct grandparents and parade them as trophies. Its the geopolitical equivalent of figuratively (and possibly literally) blaming rape victims for not being careful enough. For the intelligence-failure obsessives, writes John Podhoretz, the editor of the Jewish American journal Commentary, its as though Israel somehow summoned this evil upon itself and therefore what we should talk about is what Israel did wrong. Read more: Opinion: The Hamas attack tore off Israel's veneer of invincibility. Is there a sustainable path forward? Again, Israels leaders did fail here and there is no doubt that Israeli politics, and Israeli society, will be grappling with that fact for decades to come. But what about the other side of the equation? The assumption that Israel must always be on guard against this sort of organized barbarity suggests that the barbarians have no agency. This is just what they do. They are like bad weather or wild animals, so it is pointless to get angry or assign blame. Cant blame them for being what they are. This dehumanizing refusal to accept the role of human agency and pure moral choice is a common affliction. We see it on full display in the debates over Russias invasion of Ukraine. Of course, Russia did this, the realists and apologists argued. Ukraine is their sphere of influence, part of the historic Russian empire. Ukraine or NATO provoked Russia, insist an ideologically diverse coalition of victim-blamers. The idea that Putin had no choice but to launch an illegal and barbaric invasion of Ukraine is a perverted form of Western arrogance and myopia. Putin had a choice and he made it. Read more: News Analysis: U.S. struggles with how to help restore calm in Middle East in wake of deadly Hamas attack Over the weekend, particularly, some anti-anti-Hamas commentators on MSNBC insisted that Hamas barbarity is what Israel should expect from its policies in Gaza. This was a prison break, according to countless Israel critics. Therefore, voices as diverse as the governments of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar and anti-Israel students of Harvard insist Israel is solely to blame for Hamas crimes. It is fine to criticize various Israeli policies. But this prison break talking point is deeply problematic. If Gaza is a prison, its in part because it is run by a prison gang in the form of Hamas, which brutalizes and exploits Palestinian inmates. Also, if the moment inmates escape from a prison they go on a murder and kidnapping spree, many reasonable people might assume the prison exists for good reason. But again, however brutal you might think Israels Gaza policy might be, the murderers still chose to murder, the kidnappers chose to kidnap. If you deny them that agency, youre the one calling them unthinking animals. The Wall Street Journal reports that Iran helped fund and orchestrate the Hamas attack. The Biden administration is pushing back, claiming theres no direct evidence of that yet. And, of course, Iran denies it. Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive But lets make the tiny leap of the imagination and assume its true that Hamas Iranian patrons were involved. Iran is not Gaza or a cage of Israels design. Israel has not occupied Iran. In other words, this was a choice made by human beings. Similarly, Qatar, where the Hamas leader behind these attacks has a comfortable office and ample resources, is not some impoverished Palestinian ghetto. Its the fifth richest country per capita in the world. The arrogant solipsism that assumes Israelis, Americans or the West in general has all of the agency and power to work their will and therefore deserves all the blame when bad things happen is a form of moral corruption. It is also profoundly dangerous. Such thinking closes avenues of action diplomatic, economic and military because it assumes that the bad actors in the world are forces of nature that cannot be deterred or reasoned with, only appeased. @JonahDispatch 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. As the mental health of trans and gender diverse youth continues to alarm specialists across Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that medical experts warn will have disastrous outcomes for adolescents and families across the state. The bill, "Help Not Harm," would bar health care providers from conducting or making referrals for certain medical practices for youth under 18 "if done for the purpose of changing the minor's body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor's biological sex," according to a summary from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau. RELATED: Republican bill bans gender-transition treatment for minors On Oct. 4, it generated heated public testimonies at the state Capitol. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is expected to veto the Republican bill if it passes committee and reaches the floor, but the bill's introduction, perhaps ironically, does harm in and of itself, said Stephanie Budge, an associate professor in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Research shows there's a psychological impact of these anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Even before we consider if it passes, there's so much harm, because it's dehumanizing," Budge said. Gender-affirming care encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral and medical interventions, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Contrary to many popular assumptions, gender-affirming care is not defined solely by medical interventions like surgery. Medical experts across the state and nation have resoundingly supported gender-affirming care for young people. The American Academy of Pediatrics, representing about 67,000 pediatricians, reaffirmed its support for gender-affirming care in August, maintaining that a comprehensive affirmative care model results in fewer mental health concerns for young people. It also noted the harm of "reparative" approaches, which serve to prevent children and adolescents from identifying as transgender or exhibiting gender-diverse expressions, and have publicly denounced bills like "Help Not Harm." Additionally, the Wisconsin Medical Society identified transgender individuals as being among the highest risk groups for suicide in the state. According to its policy compendium, the society opposes legislative restrictions on gender-affirming care and supports increased access to gender-affirming care for transgender and gender-diverse youth. Research overwhelmingly supports gender-affirming care for young people experiencing gender dysphoria, said Budge. The American Academy of Pediatrics defines gender dysphoria as a clinical symptom characterized by "a sense of alienation to some or all of the physical characteristics or social roles of ones assigned gender." It's also recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the guide used by mental health professionals in the United States. "When I have worked with clients who are trans or nonbinary and they have experienced medical gender-affirming care, it has been life-saving and life-changing for youth. There's no other way for me to say that," Budge said. "And if I was seeing something different, it wouldn't be ethical for me to continue to do this work." Gender-affirming care is proven to improve the mental health More than any other group, LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites are struggling with the highest levels of anxiety, depression and self-harm, according to the 2021 state Youth Risk Behavior Survey. They're also more than twice as likely to be bullied than heterosexual students, no matter if the location is on school property or online. LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites also struggle much more with suicidal ideation than heterosexual students in the state. Nearly half of all LGBTQ+ youth in Wisconsin have considered suicide, nearly 40% made a plan and nearly a quarter of all LGBTQ+ youth have attempted suicide over the course of 12 months. According to the Wisconsin Transgender Youth Community Needs Assessment, which partnered with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Transgender Youth Resource Network and the Wisconsin Transgender Health Coalition, a little more than 80% of transgender and gender-diverse youth don't have a health care provider who is competent and knowledgeable about their health needs. One in four youths have traveled outside their communities in an attempt to find appropriate medical support, according to the study. Of those who travel within Wisconsin, they spent an average of about an hour en route to a clinic. For those traveling beyond state lines, the average was closer to 175 minutes. In contrast, data from more than a dozen studies on more than 30,000 transgender and gender diverse adolescents consistently show that gender-affirming medical care "results in favorable mental health outcomes," according to a Psychology Today article by Dr. Jack Turban, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Standford University who specifically studies the mental health of transgender and gender diverse youth. "Gender-affirming care is suicide prevention. And it goes beyond the health care providers office," said Mel Freitag, an educator and advocate of LGBTQ+ health. "You're validating someone's identity, which encompasses everything from how they see their pronouns to their anatomy. That improves trust in the patient-provider relationship and, in the end, prevents harm." Adolescents, usually in the age range of 14 to 16, who receive hormone replacement therapy report having less depression, anxiety, suicidality, self-harm, and engagement with substance use, said Budge. "One of the things we, as clinical researchers, talk about is: Does the person's gender dysphoria decrease after engaging in gender-affirming care? And the answer from the research is yes, that is an outcome of gender-affirming care," Budge said. Here's what to know about gender-affirming care for adolescents Most clinicians rely on guidance from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which breaks gender-affirming medical care into three categories: Fully reversible puberty-delaying blockers as soon as puberty has started; Partially reversible hormone therapy for adolescents aged 16 and older; Irreversible surgeries at age 18 or older, with the exception of chest masculinizing mastectomies or top surgeries, which carry an age minimum of 16. WPATH recommends that health care professionals assess whether a patient has had a persistent childhood history of gender dysphoria, especially emerging at the onset of puberty, to determine whether gender-affirming care is appropriate. Any course of action, according to WPATH, must include a team of health care professionals, mental health and medical professionals, to reach the best decision. Health care providers require parental consent before gender-affirming care can proceed for children under the age of 18, and gender-affirming surgery for minors, especially genital surgery, is rare, Budge said. When she has made referrals for mastectomies, they were in alignment with WPATH's standards of care guidelines, and the patients she referred for that procedure were at least 17 years old. "If you look at the experts who work with the children who identify as trans and nonbinary, they might just have therapy for a couple of years before they even think about hormones, if at all," Freitag said, adding that hormones would come far before any conversation about surgeries. "There's no such thing as an immediate medical intervention. That's such a linear mindset." Health care providers such as the Pediatric and Adolescent Transgender Health, or PATH, in Madison, don't perform genital surgeries, and only do top surgeries for patients under 18 following multidisciplinary evaluation, a letter of support from their mental health provider and with informed consent from all legal guardians. UW Health is committed to providing gender-affirming care that is evidence-based, patient-centered, and that focuses on the health and well-being of patients seeking the bright future they deserve," said UW Health CEO Dr. Alan Kaplan. On average, more than 200 adolescents per year between the ages of 13 and 17 receive mastectomies in the United States, according to a special report on gender transitions by Reuters. More common treatments are pubertal suppression, also known as puberty blockers, and hormone replacement therapy. Studies also demonstrate that an overwhelming majority of trans youth, at 98%, who started gender-affirming medical treatment continued to use hormone replacement therapy when they reached adulthood. Medical providers also take seriously the possibility of regret associated with gender-affirming medical care. The rates of reported regret, however, are low, according to WPATH. And detransitioning, a term often applied to transgender youth who reverse their gender identification, is rare. Even among the small pool of patients who do end up detransitioning, research suggests that youth don't regret initiating treatment, as it helped them better understand their gender-related care needs. "Our job is to support a youth through understanding their identity, and adolescence is a time of identity exploration. A lot of adolescents are exploring identity and what that looks like for them," Budge said. "In my experience, the adolescents who are in more of the exploratory phases are the ones who are not undergoing any type of medical care." Fundamentalist Christian ministries are behind bills like 'Help Not Harm' The 2020 Republican platform emphasizes that the patient-physician relationship must be built on "mutual trust, informed consent and confidentiality." It also supports "the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children. And yet, as it approaches the 2024 presidential election, the party in state after state has attempted to enact legislation that is absolute in determining their is no gray area in gender. In Wisconsin, the Help Not Harm bill would ban gender-affirming care for minors and would target health care providers for "engaging in, causing the engagement in, or making certain referrals for these medical interventions." The bill sets up a dangerous precedent for the right to medical privacy, said Freitag, and it misses that gender-affirming care is a years-long process, not a single major decision made in a vacuum. Someone else's religious beliefs, Freitag said, shouldn't impact another individual's right to medical decisions. Help Not Harm is one of many efforts drafted and lobbied for by Family Policy Alliance and Family Policy Alliance Foundation, fundamentalist Christian ministries that mobilize Republican lawmakers to propose laws informed by their understanding of the Bible and version of Christianity. Family Policy Alliance opposes efforts to raise LGBTQ+ citizens to protected-class citizens, create non-discrimination laws for LGBTQ+ citizens, and allow transgender individuals to serve in the military, among other efforts to galvanize constituents against LGBTQ+ and specifically trans people. So far, 20 states have passed Help Not Harm bills, including Florida and Texas. In four states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, South Carolina and Kentucky, the governors' vetoes' were overridden, although a federal judge blocked Arkansas' law banning gender-affirming care for minors in June. That's relevant in Wisconsin, since Evers has already vowed to veto any bills targeting LGBTQ+ youth. This is not the first time Republican lawmakers have attempted to ban elements of gender-affirming care. In July, Evers vetoed a provision in the state budget that would have blocked Wisconsinites from getting Medicaid coverage for certain gender-affirming services. A federal judge had struck down a state policy excluding adults from getting gender-affirming services through Medicaid coverage in 2019. "If the bill (banning gender-affirming medical care) passes, it will be harmful. Trans youth won't be able to access medically necessary care," Budge said. "And we know that that will increase suicide attempts and suicide completions in trans youth." RELATED: Even though acceptance of LGBTQ community is high, incidents of harassment, intimidation keep getting worse RELATED: N.E.W. Pride remains source of joy, power for Green Bay-area LGBTQ+ community. What to know if you go. Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her Twitter profile at @natalie_eilbert. If you or someone you know is dealing with suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text "Hopeline" to the National Crisis Text Line at 741-741. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Republican bill in Wisconsin ignores medical community recommendations House Republicans remain badly divided over their two choices for speaker in the aftermath of the ouster of Kevin McCarthy from the speakership and are bracing for the possibility that neither House Majority Leader Steve Scalise nor House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan can get the 217 votes needed to be elected speaker. The deep uncertainty has heightened talk in GOP circles that a dark-horse candidate could emerge, as McCarthy himself refused on Monday to rule out a return to the speakership if Scalise or Jordan fail to win the votes to assume the most powerful position in Congress. Im going to allow the conference to do their work, McCarthy said repeatedly at a Monday news conference, refusing to publicly endorse Scalise or Jordan for the job. The comments and the 11th-hour talk of a McCarthy comeback, which is still seen as a long-shot underscore the deep turmoil that exists this week as Republicans struggle to coalesce behind a speaker following last weeks unprecedented events when eight Republicans joined with Democrats to remove McCarthy from the speakership. Moreover, Republicans are in active talks to raise the threshold needed for the number of votes to win the conferences nomination for the speakership a key issue that could hobble Jordans or Scalises bid and could end with a new candidate altogether. The internal talks come as emotions remain raw after McCarthy was ousted following a right-wing revolt after the California Republican relied on Democrats to help advance a short-term spending bill to keep the government open. On Monday, McCarthy had choice words for the eight GOP members, saying they love the cameras and were interested in pettiness a sentiment echoed by many of his allies within the conference. Many will refuse to support who the eight traitors coalesce around because they dont want the 96% to give into the 4%, one House GOP member told CNN. Many refuse to reward the 4%. Rep. Mike Lawler, a freshman New York Republican, said that McCarthy is the right person to lead, and questioned whether anyone else can secure enough votes to win the speakership. Who can? Does anybody have the votes? he asked as he walked into McCarthys office. Some of the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy are making clear they wont back down as the California Republican leaves the door open to returning to the speakership, further underscoring the uncertainty inside the conference. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told CNN, Were arent relenting. Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina sent CNN a poll showing the majority of Americans and even Republicans support McCarthys ouster. And Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida compared McCarthys comments at his Monday news conference to a death rattle. He also tweeted math is real and time to move forward. Mace and Gaetz have both already thrown their support behind Jordan. The most popular thing Congress has done since Kevin McCarthy became speaker was vacate him, Mace told CNN. Some centrist Republicans are now calling to restore McCarthy as speaker after the attacks on Israel, expressing concern the House remains paralyzed without a speaker and worried they wont be able to coalesce around a new candidate quickly. Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, DC, October 9, 2023. - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters When asked if its feasible for McCarthy to return, another GOP lawmaker and McCarthy ally said its a possibility but said a lot will depend on how Mondays House GOP conference meeting shakes out. Others speculated McCarthy would have to cut a deal with Democrats in order to prevail, which he refused to do last week. If no one can get 217 votes to be elected speaker, it remains to be seen whether another candidate will emerge and several Republicans are suggesting that remains a distinct possibility. Among the names floated in addition to McCarthy: Reps. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, interim House Speaker Patrick McHenry of North Carolina and House Rules Chairman Tom Cole, also of Oklahoma. The GOP conference is meeting Monday evening for the first time since last week. Then, there will be a candidate forum on Tuesday and an internal leadership election on Wednesday. What could change the dynamics in the conference: Whether House Republicans adopt new rules to achieve the needed votes to become speaker. Indeed, House Republicans are expected to debate Monday evening whether to make it harder for candidates to win their conferences nomination for speaker in an effort to avoid a protracted floor fight like the one that occurred after McCarthy won the gavel after 15 ballots in January. The idea is to make sure that the internal squabbling happens out of public view and behind closed doors, so the candidate can emerge from the conference with enough votes to be elected speaker on the first ballot. The proposal is being pushed by Reps. Chip Roy of Texas and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania two members who represent opposite wings of the conference and they are suggesting Republicans raise the threshold to win the nomination from a simple majority of the conference, which is 111 members, to a majority of the House currently 217 with vacancies. Last week, 94 members sent a letter asking for that change to be formalized in the rules. The strategy would prevent the conference from moving forward to the floor without enough consensus to actually elect a speaker. The thinking behind these tactics is that they could avoid the optics of round after round of televised failed House floor votes. That means the candidate could only afford to lose four GOP votes before winning the conference nomination. But if neither Scalise nor Jordan can get the 217 votes internally, some say thats when another candidate could emerge. Allies to Jordan and Scalise are divided over a proposal to the change, which would have major implications for who would be able to prevail. Jordan and many of his supporters are backing the proposal. I think its real important that we go to the floor with 217 votes, 218 votes, Jordan told CNN. But Scalise allies, who believe the Louisiana Republican can secure a majority of the conference but acknowledge he wont get 217 votes on the first ballot, are against the move. Said Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas: We dont need to be going about changing the rules in the middle of an election. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD displays vehicles at the International Motor Show IAA MOBILITY in Munich on Sep. 4, 2023. [Photo/VCG] After the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's announcement on Sept. 13 to launch an anti-subsidy investigation on imports of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the EU officially began its investigation into the imports of new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China on Oct. 4. This is not the first time the EU has investigated imports from China. Since 2008, the Commission has launched 431 anti-subsidy investigations against imports from all third countries, with 342 of these investigations targeting imports from China. However, this new investigation into BEV imports from China seems more motivated by political rather than economic reasons, setting it apart from previous investigations. Normally, the European Commission starts an anti-subsidy investigation based on a written complaint from an EU industry, which provides enough evidence to warrant such a probe. However, the current BEV investigation was launched on the Commission's own accord, according to Article 10(8) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1037 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 8, 2016, without any industry complaints. This is known as an "ex-officio" investigation. Ex-officio investigations are usually reserved for situations where the suppliers of the products under investigation might circumvent existing penalties. One common instance is when the Commission becomes aware of practices that bypass current anti-dumping measures via its monitoring. In such circumstances, the Commission may initiate an ex-officio anti-circumvention investigation without waiting for a formal request from EU producers. However, ex-officio investigations regarding subsidies and dumping are rare, as the Commission isn't typically responsible for monitoring industry development. The investigation was initiated due to pressure from the French government, which has been pushing to strengthen Europe's industrial defenses against the rapidly expanding Chinese electric vehicle industry. As mandated by EU and WTO rules, pre-initiation consultations with the Chinese government should precede the publication of the Notice of Initiation. Yet, the time the EU allocated for these consultations was notably brief, and they didn't provide comprehensive consultation materials. Ironically, while lobbying for an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles, France announced that consumer bonuses for EV purchases will be redirected towards European-made vehicles from next year. The product under investigation is the new battery electric vehicle (BEV), primarily designed to transport nine or fewer people, including the driver, powered exclusively by one or more electric motors. The Commission claims these cars are flooding the EU markets at low prices. However, these competitively priced EVs from China are not a result of subsidies, but rather technological innovation, economies of scale, and the comparative advantages built up in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, it is worth noting that American and European car manufacturers and Chinese carmakers focus differently on the EV markets. The latter has built its competitiveness by focusing on developing smaller and more affordable models ahead of their international counterparts. American and European car manufacturers have mostly focused on larger or more luxurious models to date, thus offering few options affordable for mass-market consumers, who are more likely served by EVs from China. In addition to cutting costs following years of tough domestic competition, Chinese carmakers' success in developing small and inexpensive EVs has been attributed to the vertical integration of battery and EV supply chains, from mineral processing to battery and EV manufacturing, as well as cheaper labor. From an economic perspective, the EV supply chain is globally connected, and the EV markets are globally integrated. Therefore, the investigation will hurt not only Chinese brands but also American and European brands. With huge demand in its domestic market, China's EV companies are rapidly emerging as global competitors, thanks to both long-standing innovative engineering and the effects of economies of scale. At the same time, European and American carmakers are increasingly using China as an EV manufacturing platform due to its massive manufacturing capacity, favorable policies, and cost-effective production capabilities. American and European car manufacturers have large production plants in China, and a significant share of the electric cars exported from China bear American and European brand names. BYD, one of the top BEV producers from China, manufactures its EVs in China, and 99% are sold domestically. At the same time, Tesla, the No. 1 BEV giant, exports 12% of the EVs assembled in the United States and 36% of EVs assembled in China. Data from ev-volumes.com shows that only 11% of China's EV production was exported during the first half of 2023, mostly BEVs, of which two-thirds were non-Chinese brands, such as Tesla, Volvo-Polestar, and Renault. The EU recognizes the potential of the EV market, as Ursula von der Leyen pointed out in her speech, The electric vehicle sector holds huge potential for Europe's future competitiveness and green industrial leadership. However, EU domestic carmakers are not leading the way. To support its BEV producers, the Commission seeks less competition from outside the EU, regardless of the benefits of imported BEVs to consumers. Therefore, the investigation aims to protect its own industry under the guise of fair competition, and it is driven more by political than economic considerations. He Shuquan is a professor at the School of Economics, Shanghai University. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. A series of public forums for Republican presidential hopefuls will be held in Exeter, New Hampshire this week giving voters the space to help them decide who deserves their vote in the 2024 election. Presented by USA TODAY, the USA TODAY Network and Seacoastonline, the forums will take place at the historic Exeter Town Hall, where many former presidents from Barack Obama to Donald Trump have campaigned. Voters who attend will have a chance to directly ask candidates the questions on their mind and receive in-depth responses. How to watch the Exeter Town Hall forums The town hall forums will be streamed on USA TODAY and on USA TODAY Network outlets including Seacoastonline.com, Portsmouth Herald, Hampton Union, Foster's Daily Democrat and Exeter News-Letter. How do the Exeter Town Hall forums work? The forums are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. At the start of the forums, candidates make their brief opening remarks before proceeding to answer questions from the audience and engage in a meaningful dialogue about various issues. Here are the candidates scheduled to participate in forums at Exeter Town Hall: Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's fall banquet, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson's forum will be held on Tuesday evening. Hutchinson, the 72-year-old who served two terms as Arkansas governor from 2015 to 2023, bas been one of the few GOP presidential hopefuls who called on Trump to drop out of the 2024 race. Under Ronald Reagan, he served as a U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and joined the U.S. House where he would serve three terms. President George W. Bush appointed him director of the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2001 and he managed border security in 2003 as an undersecretary at the Department of Homeland Security. Nikki Haley on Thursday, Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m. Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley during the FOX Business Republican primary candidates debate at Simi Valley, Calif. on Sep 27, 2023. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will address attendees on Thursday night. Haley, 51, trails GOP frontrunner Trump in her home state with 17% of Republicans supporting her nomination, according to the latest Winthrop poll. From 2011 to 2017, Haley served as governor before stepping down and becoming the United Nations ambassador during the Trump administration. She announced her presidential campaign in February, citing her record of economic growth as governor and deep knowledge of world affairs garnered during her time as UN ambassador. Noting that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections, Haley declared: That has to change. Joe Bidens record is abysmal. But that shouldnt come as a surprise. The Washington establishment has failed us over and over and over again. Doug Burgum on Friday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. North Dakota governor Doug Burgum during the FOX Business Republican primary candidates debate at Simi Valley, Calif. on Sep 27, 2023. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will meet with voters on the morning of Friday, Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. Elected governor in 2016 with little political experience, Burgum, 67, won his second term in a 40-point landslide in 2020. On the campaign trail, Burgum talks about his small-town roots and values and the challenges his family faced when his father died when Burgum was a freshman in high school. Burgum mortgaged the family farm to start a software company he later sold to Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion. Mike Pence on Friday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. Republican presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence speaks during an Associated Press 2024 GOP Presidential Candidates Conversations on National Security and Foreign Policy event, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, held in partnership with Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service, at Georgetown University in Washington. On the campaign trail, former Vice President Mike Pence, 64, has acknowledged hes known well but not well known. Hell do his best to change that when he meets with voters on Friday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. Before being elected the 48th vice president of the United States in 2016, Pence was a lawyer, a radio talk show host and a six-term conservative member of the U.S. House. In 2013, he became governor of Indiana. When announcing his run for president, Pence stated: I know we can bring this country back. We can defend our nation and secure our borders, we can revive our economy and put our nation back on a path to a balanced federal budget. We can defend our liberties and give America a new beginning for life. Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy during the FOX Business Republican primary candidates debate at Simi Valley, CA on Sep 27, 2023. Businessman and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy of Ohio will bring his campaign to Exeter Town Hall on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 10 a.m. In his first run for political office, Ramaswamy has gained traction with Republican primary voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and across the nation. On the campaign trail Ramaswamy points to 10 Truths: God is real; there are two genders; human flourishing requires fossil fuels; reverse racism is racism; an open border is no border; parents determine the education of their children; the nuclear family is the greatest form of governance known to mankind; capitalism lifts people up from poverty; there are three branches of the U.S. government, not four; the U.S. Constitution is the strongest guarantor of freedoms in history. Ramaswamy graduated from Harvard with a degree in biology, and has a law degree from Yale. At 38 years old, Ramaswamy made his fortune starting the biotech company Roivant Sciences, which developed five therapies that gained FDA approval. After leaving Roivant, he launched the asset management firm Strive in 2022. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to watch presidential forums in Exeter Town Hall this week RFK Jr. is now running for president as an independent, and Republicans view him as a threat. The RNC issued a memo listing 23 different reasons why Republicans shouldn't support him. The 23rd point: he denied the validity of two presidential elections. Robert F. Kennedy is now running for president as an independent, and the Republican National Committee (RNC) is offering 23 different reasons why Republicans shouldn't support him. Among those reasons: Kennedy's an election denier. "He called the 2000 presidential election stolen 'under a cloud of dirty tricks' and said Republicans 'fix[ed]' the 2004 presidential election," reads a memo released by the RNC on Monday. Other reasons include Kennedy's support for basic aspects of the Democratic Party's agenda, including combatting climate change and supporting abortion rights. It's true that Kennedy, who has a history of making unfounded and conspiratorial claims, has indeed questioned both the 2000 and 2004 elections. "For the second election in a row, the president of the United States was selected not by the uncontested will of the people but under a cloud of dirty tricks," Kennedy wrote in 2006. "Given the scope of the GOP machinations, we simply cannot be certain that the right man now occupies the Oval Office." Yet former President Donald Trump and even the RNC itself engaged in the most egregious and widespread denial of the validity of an election in recent American memory. The RNC's involvement in promoting Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 election is also well-documented. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel and staffers at the committee helped organize slates of alternate, pro-Trump electors across several battleground states after the election had been certified by the Electoral College. Some of those electors are now facing prosecution in their respective states. The anti-RFK Jr. memo comes as Republicans seek to dampen the former Democrat's appeal among Republicans, fearing he could siphon votes away from the GOP nominee and make it more likely that President Joe Biden gets re-elected. His skepticism of COVID vaccines, opposition to aiding Ukraine, and position on LGBTQ issues has appealed more to Republicans than Democrats so far. His candidacy has also drawn significant financial backing from the right. Kennedy has acknowledged as much himself, recently saying he takes "more votes" from Trump than Biden. Read the original article on Business Insider Gov. Greg Abbott appointed a former Burkburnett volunteer fire chief to help oversee retirement funds for emergency workers. Rodney Alan Ryalls, a federal fire marshal who also served on the Sheppard Air Force Base Fire Department, was reappointed to serve on the Texas Emergency Services Retirement Board of Trustees, according to a media release Monday afternoon from the Governor's Office. Rodney Ryalls His new term expires Sept. 1, 2029. The board is in charge of overseeing and governing a dedicated retirement fund for volunteer firefighters and emergency services workers in Texas. Ryalls was appointed to the same state board in 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is member of the Burkburnett Fire Department and a deputy regional fire marshal for the National Park Service, according to the Governor's Office. He is treasurer of Red River Valley Wildfire Inc. and a committee member of the State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals' Association of Texas. Ryalls is also former president of the Red River District of the SFFMA and the Burkburnett Rotary Club. More: Woman killed in Young County crash He served 21 years in the Air Force, worked in fire protection as an active-duty member and retired in 2004. Ryalls worked 18 years in civil service in fire protection. He served as fire chief of the Burkburnett Volunteer Fire Department for over 22 years. Ryalls earned a bachelor's of science in fire and emergency management from Kaplan University. He also holds professional designations as chief fire officer from the commission on Professional Credentialing and fire service chief executive officer from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. More: Man convicted for deadly bicycle crash in Wichita Falls Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Read her recent work here. Her X handle is @Trishapedia. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Gov. Abbott appoints Burkburnett firefighter to state board. The government has allocated Hr 1.8 billion ($50 million) in grant funding for the restoration of Ukraine's critical transport infrastructure, the Infrastructure Ministry announced on Oct. 9. The funds are allocated within the framework of the Repairing Essential Logistics Infrastructure and Network Connectivity (RELINC) Project. The Infrastructure Ministry will receive Hr 912 million ($25 million) for the restoration of railway networks and Hr 916 million ($25 million) for the restoration of roads. "Restoring critical infrastructure is one of our key priorities, on the same level as the restoration of housing, social infrastructure, and job market," Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said. "The ability to quickly rebuild rail and road infrastructure in the situation of closed skies and blocked sea lanes is extremely important," the minister noted, adding that rail and road transport plays a crucial role in both civilian and military needs. Ukraine signed the agreement on the RELINC project with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development on Feb. 10. The total cost of the project is almost $600 million. According to the World Bank's assessment from March, Ukraine needs at least $411 billion for reconstruction and recovery as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion. Read also: Kenneth Rogoff: Europe must lead Ukraines reconstruction Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. GRAFTON When the Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapter of Make-A-Wish first emailed Julio Varella and his family about helping make one of his dreams come true following his cancer diagnosis, he feared it was spam or a phishing email. But the email seemed real enough, so the family reached out to learn more, not realizing at the time that it would bring Varella, 18, a step closer to his dream of studying theater in college without the burden of student loan debt. I feel very grateful, Varella said. Make-A-Wish is really there to help work through any sort of trauma from a critical or chronic illness. Varella was born in Brazil; his family came to the United States in 2011, settling in Westborough. He graduated from Westborough High School where he found his passion for theater and specifically theater tech. I like listening to people's stories because, in a way, we all create stories of our experiences, Varella, who moved to Grafton with his family a year ago, said. It's a very good coping mechanism for dealing with trauma We're all pretty much storytellers in that sense and I feel like I sort of have good stories to tell as well. At age 16, Varella received the terrifying news that he had a form of testicular cancer. He began traveling to Boston Childrens Hospital and the Jimmy Fund Clinic to receive treatment. The experience was difficult for Varella and for his father, Rodrigo, who was the one most often taking Julio to his appointments. I was always trying to figure out a way to better support him, Rodrigo said. We, as parents, also feel that burden. While Julio was receiving treatment, his oncologist referred him to Make-A-Wish, which reached out asking for Varellas top three wishes. The first, he said, was to be able to go backstage at a Broadway performance. But because of restrictions still in place from the COVID-19 pandemic, that wish wasnt possible. His second wish was tuition assistance to help pay for college. There are people who go into their late 40s and they're still having to pay off loans, and that kind of thing scares me, Varella said. Being aware of that, I wanted to take as much pressure off my parents as well to pay for college, so it felt right. Although it did not specify the amount, Make-A-Wish said the tuition assistance went toward Varellas first year at UMass Amherst, where he is currently studying theater, focusing on theater tech. I've always had so much appreciation for storytelling and it just sort of developed that in school. You can't really go out and try to make movies, but you could definitely do theater, Varella said. That felt much more approachable and realistic to me in middle school, in high school and I felt that theater tech would be the route to go to instead of filmmaking. Since arriving at UMass, Varella has immersed himself into the campus and theater activities. He has gotten involved with the deck crew, which handles props and scene transitions, and also auditioned for a devised theater project, a more improvisational form of playwriting and performing. Varella said he hopes to do anything involving theater after graduating. His dream is to write his own play and have it performed somewhere. He pointed to In the Heights playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes as one of his inspirations. The tuition assistance would not have been possible if not for Bill Murphy, a Grafton resident, mortgage business-owner and author who has been long-involved with the organization. It's such an experience to watch. I really believe that it helps get them through their illness and get through to the other side, Murphy said. Some of these kids are thriving in life after being Wish-kids. Murphy, who is on the board of directors for the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Make-A-Wish chapter, said he has helped raise or personally donate over $525,000 since becoming involved with the organization in 2006. His ongoing efforts have helped build a Hobbit house into the ground for one child, a wheelchair-accessible swing set for another and also a treehouse that was the 10,000th wish provided by the Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapter of Make-A-Wish. Varellas tuition assistance wish was interesting, Murphy said, because it showed he was not only thinking of himself, but his parents as well. He is a very, very intelligent, smart, mindful, conscientious kid, who really puts a lot of people in front of his own needs, Murphy said. Typically, Murphy travels around the state to meet kids involved with Make-A-Wish, but Varella lived just two miles down the road, which Murphy said made for a cool experience. He said he hopes to eventually travel to UMass and see one of the productions Varella works on. Im wishing him the best and a great college life, and a clean bill of health, happiness and prosperity, and lots of fun, Murphy said. Every college kid deserves to have an experience and be away at school. Rodrigo Varella said he and his wife made sure not to influence his son's wish decision. This is a unique opportunity that Make-A-Wish gives to kids that need to undergo suffering at such a young age, Rodrigo said. We wanted him to be free to pick what he really wanted. We would be happy with whatever he chose. When Julio was still undergoing treatment, Rodrigo said, he found some comfort thanks to Make-A-Wish. He said he hopes other families going through similar experiences will get in contact with the organization. Julio said its important to dispel the misconception that Make-A-Wish is only for children with terminal or incurable diagnoses. He pointed to his own cancer diagnosis, which he would not wish on anyone, but had a very low likelihood of being fatal. It'd be really good for a lot of families, Varella said. Its an opportunity here to do something spectacular and turn this horrible experience into having a sort of happy ending in a way or some sort of happy memory in between. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Make-A-Wish helps Grafton teen with cancer attend UMass Amherst Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called on President Biden on Monday to light up the White House with the Israeli flag, arguing it was important to do so after that attack on Israel by Hamas. Im urging the world to condemn Iran. Im urging the Biden administration to cloak the White House tonight in the Israeli flag. You did it for Pride Month. I want to see the Israeli flag over the White House, Graham said in an appearance on Fox Newss America Reports. Graham pointed to other notable landmarks that have been lit up with the colors of the Israeli flag, like the Sydney Opera House, 10 Downing Street in London and the Brandenburg Gate in Germany. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State building in New York City and a giant screen in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv also all showed reflections of the Israeli flag in support of the nation. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is backed by Iran, launched a surprise attack on Israel just one day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Hundreds of people have been killed on both sides as Israel ramps up a major counteroffensive on the Gaza Strip, which is home to the Hamas group and more than 2 million Palestinians. The U.S. government recognizes Hamas as a terrorist group. Israel formally declared war with Hamas on Sunday after the attacks, which led to hundreds of deaths. Graham said that that if Hamas kills one American Israeli hostage, the U.S. should blow up Irans oil refineries and put them out of business. I dont want war, but I dont want to live like this either, he said. This is hell on earth. This is barbaric. What they did to these Israelis should be severely condemned by all the Arab world. He said that if the U.S. does not work to aid Israel in stopping the Hamas group and does not continue to aid Ukraine, it could lead to more destabilization worldwide. We have a chance to reset the world here, he said. Defeat Putin in the Ukraine, dismantle Hamas now and tell Iranians if you escalate any more attacks coming from Iran, were coming after you. Anything short of that is gonna lead to an invasion of Taiwan by China. We live in very dangerous times. The Biden administrations approach to Iran is about as successful as their border policy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Monday suggested the U.S. should threaten Iranian oil infrastructure if the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas continues to escalate. If there is an escalation in this conflict, if hostages start getting killed, if Hezbollah in the north attacks Israel in strength, we should tell the Ayatollah we will destroy your oil refineries and your oil infrastructure, Graham said Monday in an interview on NewsNations The Hill. We will put you out of business. Without money coming from Iran and weapons coming from the Iranians, Hamas will be nothing. Hezbollah will be nothing, Graham said. When pressed over who should take the action against Irans oil fields, Graham said it should be a joint-move from both Israel and the United States. We have a chance to reset here, Graham said. This is an Israeli 9/11, it couldnt have happened without a lot of money and technology and weapons. So its time to hold them accountable. The escalation of the conflict should result in a joint attack on the Iranian oil infrastructure to put them out of business. Hamas, which is backed by Iran, launched a multi-pronged surprise attack against Israel over the weekend, invading multiple Israel towns by land, sea and air, as well as an onslaught of rocket strikes out of Gaza. A day after Hamass incursion early Saturday, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah a terrorist group with ties to Irans government said it fired off guided rockets and artillery at multiple disputed areas in Israel. The militant groups attack has raised questions over the role Iran or Hezbollah played in the incursion. U.S. deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said on Monday Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attacks, pointing to the countrys efforts to train and provide the group with arms. Meanwhile, a senior Hamas official on Monday told The Associated Press that only about a half dozen Hamas commanders in Gaza were aware of the planned incursion and denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack or approved the incursion at a meeting last week in Beirut. Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership, told The AP that Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation, while noting Hamas has produced its own rockets and trained its own members since the 2014 Gaza war. The death toll in Israel on Monday rose to at least 900 individuals, including both soldiers and civilians, from both sides, according to The Associated Press. An additional 680 people have been killed in Gaza so far as Israel continues to ramp up its offensive against Hamas, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Monday. At least 11 Americans are among the casualties, President Biden said Monday. Graham said the U.S. policy should hold the Ayatollah accountable for the deaths of Americans. Over 100 individuals have also reportedly been taken hostage by Hamas, some of which may be American citizens, Biden said Monday. When asked if the potential killing of hostages should be a red line for Biden, Graham called the Biden administrations view towards Iran naive as hell. They [Iran] are religious Nazis, Graham said. Listen to the language coming from the Ayatollah and his henchmen. They want to purify Islam in their own image. Saudi Arabia is at risk here. They want to destroy the Jewish state. They want to kill all of the Jews and come after us. Graham said if he were the Biden administration, he would tell Iranians any escalation at all [means] were coming after you. Graham also touched upon Secretary of State Antony Blinkens claim that the $6 billion in unfrozen funds in the U.S. prisoner swap with Iran have remained unspent, pushing back against suggestions the Biden administrations deal last month may have contributed to the attacks. Graham said while Iran has not spent the funds, the U.S. granting clemency on the $6 billion reinforces the narrative that the U.S. does not see Iran as bad actors. The Biden administration needs to reset, Graham said. The idea there is no link, I think its silly. There is a direct link, but its been going on for a long time. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A belligerent bull elk crashes into a passing Nissan at Jasper National Park in Canada, an Instagram video shows. I had just finished telling the guests on my bus about the local bulls charging cars, and then it happened!, Kendra Neef, the tour guide who shot the video, said in the caption. Keep your distance, folks, she warned, noting that she took the elk vs. Nissan video from inside a vehicle. It was posted to Instagram on Sunday, Oct. 1. The bull elk stands beside the road, then turns and rams the slow-moving Nissan, rocking it and causing the headlights to jump, the video shows. The Nissan stops briefly as the bull elk looks around and prepares for another charge, then swiftly speeds away. Rooting for the elk every time, read one comment on the Instagram post. Have to respect their power, read another comment. Its not clear from the video whether the car was damaged. Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, Parks Canada said. Its about 200 miles northwest of Calgary in Alberta. The national park warns visitors to stay away from elk, especially during rutting and calving seasons. During rutting season, never stand or park your car between a male and the females, you may be attacked, park officials said. Wolf pack chases hundreds of elk in Yellowstone. Overhead video shows intense moment Aggressive bobcat attacks children, prompting public warning, Georgia officials say Dangerous bear killed after charging boys in woods, Colorado officials say NEW ORLEANS A developing storm system over the Gulf of Mexico, and moisture from Hurricane Lidia and former Tropical Storm Max in the eastern Pacific, will combine over the coming days to lead to heavy downpours along the U.S. Gulf Coast, a parched region in desperate need of rain. The Hurricane Hunters investigated the disturbance on Tuesday, which was dubbed 93LL but found no signs of significant organization, leading the National Hurricane Center to drop chances of formation. Despite the lack of development into tropical cyclone, the forecast doesn't change with heavy rainfall that is expected to continue along the Gulf Coast through the workweek. WHAT IS AN INVEST DURING HURRICANE SEASON? The heavy rainfall is good news for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend that have been drought plaqued. Southern Mississippi and nearly 60% of Louisiana are under exceptional drought, the most severe on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale. The FOX Forecast Center is predicting between 3 and 5 inches of rain will fall from New Orleans to Tampa, Florida, over the rest of the workweek. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER The drought in Louisiana is contributing to the saltwater intrusion happening in Plaquemines Parish and is forecast to impact parishes farther upriver in late October and into November. The low flow levels in the Mississippi River, because of drought, are not enough to keep the Gulf of Mexico seawater from moving upriver. As the saltwater wedge continues north, it has impacted at least two drinking water treatment facilities and is expected to cause problems farther upriver. Areas including New Orleans, Galliano and Port Sulphur in southeastern Louisiana could see 1 to 3 inches of rain throughout the week. This includes the communities along the Mississippi River preparing for drinking-water impacts as the Gulf of Mexico salt water intrudes farther upriver. However, much of the rain that helps keep the Mississippi River flowing enough to keep the Gulf of Mexico at bay comes from the Midwest, which is also facing moderate to exceptional drought. Normally, the Mississippi River holds off the Gulf of Mexico with a flow of about 300,000 cubic feet per second. The flow has been almost half that due to drought, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Memphis said preliminary data shows the Mississippi River in the city hit an all-time record low stage of -11.01 feet. Residents in Louisiana received good news last week as officials said the forecast had improved on the lower Mississippi River, delaying the salt water from the Gulf of Mexico moving farther upriver. SALT WATER NOT EXPECTED TO REACH NEW ORLEANS UNTIL LATE NOVEMBER WITH IMPROVED MISSISSIPPI RIVER FORECAST Saltwater intrusion timeline as of Oct. 5. Original article source: Moisture from Pacific tropical cyclones, frontal boundary to soak drought-stricken Gulf Coast 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. At the time of writing, the papers website still appeared down. The Jerusalem Post is currently experiencing downtime due to a series of cyberattacks initiated against us since yesterday morning. We are actively addressing the situation and will be back soon, continuing to serve as your top source of information on Operation Swords of pic.twitter.com/896sWH07kH The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 9, 2023 https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, reportedly said at a conference on Monday that there have been denial of service (DDoS) attacks and defacements of websites, without attributing the cyberattacks to particular groups. But were not yet seeing real [nation] state malicious actors, Joyce reportedly said. It is common for hacktivist groups to launch cyberattacks during armed conflict, similar to what happened in Ukraine. These hackers are often not affiliated with any governments but rather a decentralized group of politically motivated hackers. Their activities can disrupt websites and services, but are far more limited compared to the activities of nation-state hacking groups. Researchers and government agencies like the NSA say they have only seen activity by hacktivists so far in this Hamas-Israel conflict. The NSA and the Israel's Consulate General in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Contact Us Do you have more information about the market for zero-days? Wed love to hear from you. You can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase, and Wire @lorenzofb, or email lorenzo@techcrunch.com. You can also contact TechCrunch via SecureDrop. Joyces remarks appear to confirm findings of security researcher Will Thomas, who told TechCrunch that he has seen more than 60 websites taken down with DDoS attacks, and more than five websites that were defaced as of Monday. The thing that has surprised me about the hacktivism surrounding this conflict is the amount of international groups involved, such as those allegedly from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Morocco all also targeting Israel in support of Palestine. We also seen long-time threat actors returning who have participated in attacks and spread them using the hashtag #OpIsrael for years, Thomas said in an online chat. Thomas, who is a cyber threat intelligence researcher at the Equinix Threat Analysis Center, wrote on X, previously Twitter, that pro-Palestinian hacktivists have targeted government websites, civil services, news sites, financial institutions and telecommunications and energy companies. According to Thomas, hacktivist groups are not the only ones active in the conflict. I have seen several posts of cybercriminal service operators such as DDoS-for-Hire or Initial Access Brokers offering their services to those wanting to target Israel or Palestine, he said. Initial access brokers are groups that have breached websites and networks, and offer access to other hackers in exchange for payment. These kinds of cyberattacks can have a narrow impact on the armed conflict, according to Lukasz Olejnik, an independent researcher and consultant. Such hacktivist groups have limited practical ability to conduct any measurable cyber-activities. The effects would be quite low, and considering all that's happening the impact would be limited, or none even. In other words, a distraction (or an information influence), Olejnik told TechCrunch. The cyberattacks in the Israel-Hamas war come less than a week after the International Committee of the Red Cross published a list of rules that it said should govern the activities of hacktivists in military conflicts. One of them is that these groups should not hit civilian targets. Following the ICRCs announcement, hacktivists defaced the website of Russias Red Cross. On Saturday, Palestinian militants associated with Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza, a small Palestinian enclave inside Israel. Hamas militants bulldozed barricades, infiltrating bordering Israeli towns, and killing more than 700 people. In response to the attacks, which are considered the worst in 50 years, the Israeli government formally declared war and retaliated by bombarding Gaza, leaving more than 400 people dead, according to The Associated Press. Since 2007, Gaza has been blockaded by Egypt and Israel, preventing imports of some goods and isolating the territory. Gaza sits on the Mediterranean Sea and borders Egypt. Around two million people live in the territory, which is slightly bigger than Washington, D.C., according to the CIA World Factbook. Since 2007, Hamas and Israel have been involved in several conflicts. Tourists take photos at Wat Arun, one of Bangkok's most famous Buddhist temples, on June 16, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] In the restaurants and cafes of Chiang Mai, the fourth-largest city in Thailand and a popular tourist destination, you hear Mandarin often. And while this has been the case for many years, proving that Thailand has long been a popular destination for Chinese tourists and immigrants, it is about to become even more popular. In September, Thailand removed visa requirements for Chinese and Kazakhstani citizens visiting Thailand. Thai visas ordinarily cost about 2,000 Thai Baht, or over $60. Prospective travelers also have to apply in advance, which limits their ability to plan a casual trip on short notice. Now, Chinese can buy a ticket to Bangkok or Chiang Mai at a moment's notice and stay for 30 days (with the possibility of extension). Lifting the visa requirement is meant to encourage tourism to the Land of Smiles. Thailand hopes to attract over 4 million Chinese tourists this calendar year. The policy is temporary for now and is due to end on Feb. 29, 2024, but it might be extended. Chinese citizens join a list of countries that includes Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, the U.S., South Korea, and about five other entities whose citizens can visit Thailand visa-free for 30 days or longer. Thailand isn't the only country welcoming Chinese tourists. South Korea has waived the visa processing fee of $14 for all visa applications. Visas are still required to visit the Korean mainland (but not for Jeju Island). China has also resumed group tours to South Korea after a six-year ban. Representatives of the Thai government welcomed arriving passengers on the first flight from Shanghai since the new policy was implemented. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was at the airport and posed for selfies with passengers. A traditional dance and drum troupe performed for the tourists. Tourism is integral to Thailand's economy, but it still has not recovered since the pandemic. In 2019, Thailand earned about $62 billion from tourism-related industries. That's about 3% of Thailand's total GDP, which makes Thailand the 30th-most tourism-dependent country in the world. But tourism has not rebounded quickly enough to return to 2019 levels. In 2019, 11 million Chinese people visited. That was more than one-fourth of all travelers. In the first six months of 2023, 1.4 million Chinese visited. The visa-free policy is expected to increase the number in the remainder of the year. If it works as planned, it will bring more money not just to tour providers but also to restaurants, handicraft makers, and retailers. So if you visit Thailand, go out of your way to explore and try new things. Thai food is among the tastiest in the world. The curries of Northern Thailand have deep flavor thanks to fresh ingredients. You can't eat authentic Thai food in any other country. Let me give you some other brief advice about the country I currently call home. Thailand's different regions all offer something different and interesting. Chiang Mai, where I live, is in the northwestern mountainous region where there are beautiful temples with astounding views, rice fields, and coffee fields. It is more relaxing than crowded Bangkok, and there are other rustic small towns and cities that can be accessed, like Pai, Mae Hong Son, and Chiang Rai. Bangkok, the capital, while busy, is worth visiting for its historic sights, grand temples like Wat Pho and Wat Arun, with its 80-meter-tall prang (Buddhist spire), and high-dining and drinking establishments. Phuket and its surrounding islands offer pristine beaches and awe-inspiring rock and island scenery. However, Phuket has also become extremely crowded in recent years. If you crave the sound of waves crashing against your feet undisturbed by music or other tourists, you might have to venture farther than Phi Phi Island. Phi Phi is fun if you enjoy staying up late and watching fire performances on the beach at night. Finally, the Northeastern Isan region, known for its delicious, spicy food, has not been overrun with tourists yet. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. DEVER (KDVR) You might not be as creative as you think when it comes to your choice of Halloween getup. Google Frightgeist pulled the top 500 costume searches from Google Trends to determine the most popular Halloween costumes for 2023. Americans are spending more than ever on Halloween If you want to wear a trending costume, one of these top 10 costumes is your best bet. If youre looking for something unique, you may have to try harder. Here are the costumes you will probably see the most this year. Most popular costumes nationally Witch Spider-Man Dinosaur Stranger Things Fairy Pirate Rabbit Cheerleader Cowboy Harley Quinn Surprisingly, the most searched costumes arent all that basic. While a witch is a classic costume, there arent as many dinosaurs and Stranger Things characters roaming the street on Oct. 31. These Halloween pop-up bars are open in Denver The national list goes on to the top 100 costumes. If you need more ideas, or if youre looking for something thats not on the list, check out all the costumes on the website. Google shows costume searches across the country, including specific areas. Based on your location, the website tracks the most common searches near you. There is also a list of the No. 1 most searched costume in specific areas across counties. Where to dispose of fallen leaves in the Denver metro area For example, New York Citys most popular costume is a fairy, while Los Angeles most searched costume is Spider-Man. So before you order your costume, you might want to see just how many people may be twinning with you. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman bemoan the atrocities committed by the militant group Hamas over the weekend in Israel and discuss the removal of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (RCalif.) from his role as speaker of the House. 0:19: A massacre in Israel 23:29: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy ousted 37:22: Weekly Listener Question 50:23: This week's cultural recommendations Mentioned in this podcast: "Death Toll Passes 1,100," by Liz Wolfe "Does America Need To Be Involved in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?" by Matthew Petti "Biden's Foreign Policy Is Adrift," by Bonnie Kristian "Bitcoin: A Weapon for Peace in the Israel-Palestine Conflict," by Noor Greene "A Surly Showdown for Speaker," by Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, Peter Suderman, and Matt Welch "Why Justin Amash Should Be the Next Speaker of the House," by Matt Welch "CPAC Confidential: Because Small-Government Conservatives Think the Gov't Should Be Big Enough To Hate on the Gays," by Nick Gillespie "Steve Scalise's Legislative Record Is a Bigger Problem Than His Past Speaking Gigs," by Nick Gillespie Kevin McCarthy as Comet Kohoutek, tweet by Nick Gillespie A Postcard from Earth and Sphere robots, by Sarah Rose Siskind "Love Is All Around," by Nick Gillespie "TV's Dysfunctional Family Affair," by Charles Oliver Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name. Today's Sponsor: Do you ever find that just as you're trying to fall asleep, your brain suddenly won't stop talking? Do your thoughts start racing right before bed or at other inopportune moments? It turns out, one great way to make those racing thoughts go away is to talk them through. Therapy gives you a place to do that, so you can get out of your negative thought cycles and find some mental (and emotional) peace. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Get a break from your thoughts, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month. Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty. Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve The post After Hamas Attack, There Are No Good Options in the Middle East appeared first on Reason.com. (Bloomberg) -- As Israel focused on forging ties with Saudi Arabia to create a new Middle East of free trade and high-tech innovation, it sought to keep Palestinian influence to a minimum. Most Read from Bloomberg Managing longstanding tensions had become sort of a check box, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Bloomberg TV earlier this year. Yet the weekends unprecedented attack by the militant group Hamas on Israeli civilians has quickly upended that notion. The deadly incursion from the Gaza Strip may even be an attempt by the group and perhaps that of its sponsor Iran to stop the Saudi deal in its tracks. It also shows that the old Middle East will not disappear so easily. Read More: Israel Latest: Hundreds Dead as Fighting Persists, US Weighs Aid Nearly all of our preconceptions collapsed yesterday, analyst Ben Caspit wrote in Israelis Maariv newspaper on Sunday. The idea that the Palestinian problem can be swept under the golden robes of the oil princes from the Persian Gulf went kaput. The conflict has left hundreds dead on both sides in just two days, while Hamas has abducted dozens of Israeli civilians to be taken into Gaza as hostages. Israel has 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. The US is sending a group of warships to the eastern Mediterranean and considering Israeli requests for additional military aid. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was also looking into reports that Americans were killed or taken hostage and into whether Iran may have been directly involved. In one fell swoop, Hamas has reordered Israeli priorities for the foreseeable future, while dealing a major setback to ambitious plans by US President Joe Biden and the Saudi leadership to form a complex three-way alliance. Little diplomatic progress on a new regional order can take place while Israel carries out a major military operation. Read More: A Saudi-Israeli Peace Deal? Who Wants What and Why: QuickTake Irans Role This may well be what Iran wanted. Although theres yet no evidence that the Islamic Republic played a role in the attack, it has been increasingly vocal in its support for Hamas and warned Saudi Arabia and other Arab states not to engage with Israel. Iran has also stepped up aid and arms for Palestinian militants in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria. Israel has often called attention to that Iranian role, yet may have grown complacent about the prospect of a major Hamas assault because every previous attempt has resulted in terrible losses for the attackers. Authorities had started to embrace the idea that Hamas was changing from a violence-focused organization to one that was growing into its role as ruler of Gaza, content with outside financial aid and the availability of job opportunities in Israel. We made a huge mistake and I am including myself by believing that a terror organization can change its DNA, General Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu, told reporters on Sunday. We heard from everyone that it was more responsible. And we began to believe it. Full Force Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel must now use full force to end Hamass military capabilities. Fifteen years ago, as Head of Southern Command, I came close to breaking the neck of Hamas, he said in a statement issued by his office. I was stopped by the political echelon. This phenomenon will not continue. We will change reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years. What was before, will be no more. We will operate at full force. Many Israeli analysts said the Saudi deal would be put on hold rather than scrapped completely, to allow Israel time to focus on its goal to destroy Hamas. Should it succeed, talks could restart. Hamas came out and butchered and murdered people, said Miri Eisen, a former military intelligence officer who runs a counter-terrorism program at Reichman University in Israel. This scares the Egyptians and Saudis just as much as it does us. Hamas called on Palestinians everywhere to join them, and in Israel and Jerusalem, they didnt. Soul Searching The unprecedented failure of Israels intelligence over the weekend, along with the humiliation and pain of seeing children and the elderly taken hostage, has triggered a lot of soul searching in Israel. Some are asking whether Netanyahus divisive domestic policies such as attempts to reduce the power of the courts led the military to be less prepared because some officers have taken part in pro-democracy protests. Others suggest the divisions inspired Hamas to launch the attack in the belief that Israel was weaker than before. Yet the national mood is broadly united on one thing: Israel must apply the full force of its military to driving Hamas operatives from the south and crippling the organization inside Gaza. Hamas is preparing for the grand battle, said Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Gazas Al-Azhar University. There were clear indications that Hamas was going toward a truce, and now its clear that it was a big trick. What happened is beyond imagination. (Updates with US response in seventh paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Hamas has claimed to have launched a "major missile attack with 100 rockets" on the city of Ashkelon in southern Israel on the night of 8-9 October. Source: CNN Details: The rockets were fired at the coastal city in response to the Israeli Defence Forces targeting Hamas safe houses, according to the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group. Ashkelon is located near the border with the Gaza Strip. In addition, loud explosions could be heard on the evening of 8 October in central Israel and the suburbs of Tel Aviv. Hamas claims to be targeting Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport. Background: On Sunday, 8 October, the White House said that US President Joe Biden had ordered "additional support" to Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas, but no details were given. The Pentagon also confirmed that it was beginning to redeploy the US Navy's aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. As of Sunday evening, more than 700 Israelis had been killed and more than 2,200 injured in the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The US media reported that the United States was planning to redeploy US Navy vessels and aircraft closer to 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! Hamas duped Israel into thinking it cared more about economic stability than a war, Reuters said. Meanwhile, it was practicing for an attack in plain sight, the report said. Hamas trained its fighters on a mock Israeli settlement, learning how to storm it, Reuters added. The Palestinian militant group Hamas built a mock Israeli town in Gaza and practiced attacking in plain sight but Israel didn't react, Reuters reported on Sunday. Hamas militants launched a surprise offensive on Israel on Saturday, in what has been described as the worst breach in Israel's defenses in decades. The attack followed a careful campaign of deception by Hamas that ensured Israel was caught off guard over the weekend, an unnamed source, with connections to the group, told Reuters. Despite convincing Israel that they had no interest in war, Hamas militants were practicing for the offensive in plain sight by setting up a mock Israeli settlement in Gaza to train its fighters. Gaza is a narrow strip of land wedged between Israel and Egypt, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2006. The Hamas militants used the town to practice a military landing and train how to storm it, the report said. As per the source, they even made videos of the maneuvers to study them. "Israel surely saw [the videos], but they were convinced that Hamas wasn't keen on getting into a confrontation," the source told Reuters. "Hamas was able to build a whole image that it was not ready for a military adventure against Israel," they added. It is unclear whether Israel was aware of the settlement at all. A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. In the years leading up to the attack, Hamas fighters wanted to give the impression that they were war-weary and more concerned about ensuring that workers in Gaza had access to jobs in Israel. "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 told Reuters. Since the attacks over the weekend, Israel conceded that it was duped by Hamas. Major Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces said over the weekend: "This is our 9/11. They got us." "They surprised us and they came fast from many spots both from the air and the ground and the sea," he added. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its attacks. Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said he had ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip: "No electricity, no food, no fuel." Read the original article on Business Insider Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on Saturday, seemingly catching it off guard. A retired US general called it a "classic failure of technology," given Israel's surveillance apparatus. He said Hamas likely used no modern technology to communicate, and Israel missed the signs. The latest attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas was a failure of Israel's huge surveillance and defense systems, a retired US general told CNN. Retired US Air Force Colonel Cedric Leighton called the deadly attacks a ''classic failure of technology," given the strength of Israel's defenses. Speaking to CNN on Saturday, Leighton highlighted the surveillance techniques that Israel uses in Gaza, including cameras and monitoring radio and telephone communications. But Leighton said Hamas found ways around those systems. "What Hamas did, what their leadership did, was apparently they moved off of the normal modern communications links that we take for granted every day, and went back to what you did in the 19th century: face-to-face meetings, they went and used couriers instead of going in and using the telephone or the cell phone," he said. Israel also uses surveillance drones and an intelligence network in Gaza, and has some of the world's most advanced defense systems, like its Iron Dome anti-missile system. But Leighton said that Hamas launched missiles with a short, lower trajectory, making them harder for Israel to shoot down. In a separate CNN interview, Leighton said it doesn't make sense that this attack could happen, given Israel's vast intelligence apparatus. "I can understand that it would be possible to miss the fact that they are getting together, a specific group at specific a time, and perhaps who those people are, as a specific piece of intelligence," he said. "But every time there is a meeting of people like Hamas would have had to have had they would be talking to people, they would be movements in the streets, there would be certain things that would be going on, even if they are not broadcast or not talked about on a cell phone or on a radio or something like that," he added. Even so, he said it's possible that there was "a failure to connect the dots like we so famously had with 9/11." Another possible reason, he said, is that Israel likely had a lot of "false alarms" before, and sometimes false alarms "breed a degree of complacency and that complacency, of course, can be fatal, as we're seeing right now." Another retired US military official, Lt Col. Alexander Vindman, said it was "kind of shocking" that Israel missed the planning of the attacks, while the former head of the Israeli Navy, Eli Maron, called it a "colossal" intelligence failure. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said Israel was busy fighting, but "I'm sure there will be a lot of discussions about the intelligence down the road." Read the original article on Business Insider Palestinian group Hamas has launched its largest-ever attack on Israel, with militants launching thousands of rockets and storming through the Gaza border in an unprecedented assault. In the deadliest assault Israel has suffered in generations, hundreds of soldiers and civilians living in settlements close to the border have been killed or abducted, after Hamas blew up observation posts and other fortifications and broke out of beseiged Gaza on motorbikes, speedboats and paragliders. Two days after the shock incursion, Israel is still engaged in gunfights with Hamas fighters lodged within eight locations on its territory, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to root out every last militant and fire on all those hiding in Gaza one of the worlds most densely-populated regions. With Israel reporting at least 260 fatalities at a trance music festival in the Negev desert raided by Hamas militants armed with assault rifles and grenades, the groups actions have been widely condemned internationally, with the United States sending military assistance. Here, The Independent takes a brief look at the groups history and aims: What is Hamas? The Hamas movement was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, shortly after the first of the intifada uprisings by Palestinians against Israel. An acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, which also means zeal in Arabic, Hamas was created on the three pillars of religion, charity and the fight against Israel also establishing a military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, named after the militant Syrian preacher first active in the 1920s. A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on the third day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel (AFP via Getty Images) Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since winning the most recent elections in 2006, held a year after Israels withdrawal from the enclave, since which time its borders and airspace have been strictly controlled by Israel and Egypt. While much of Gazas young population was born under Hamas rule, some older Palestinians who voted them in many in frustation with corruption in the rival Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) have expressed regret over years of fatal repression from Israel partly stoked by Hamas militance. What are Hamass aims? Unlike the PLO, which has been the internationally recognised Palestinian leadership since its acceptance of Israels right to exist peacefully in 1993 led to the Oslo Accords, Hamas does not recognise the state of Israel. Instead, Hamas advocates for a Palestinian state stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River based on its historical borders. However, since 2017, Hamas has said it accepts a Palestinian state shaped around the borders of 1967, which existed prior to the war in which Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip after it was invaded in a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria, echoed nearly 50 years to the day later by Saturdays incursion. A Palestinian demonstrator throws rocks towards Israeli soldiers during clashes in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images) What has Hamas said about the new attack? Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, has 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 provocations including at Al-Aqsa mosque which have brought tensions to fever pitch. Weve decided to say enough is enough, said Mr Deif, announcing the launch of the attack on Saturday, adding: This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth. Ismail Haniyeh, the exiled political leader of Hamas, said on Saturday that the group was engaged in these historic moments in a heroic operation to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Ismail Haniyeh said the incursion was a heroic operation as hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) He claimed the assault would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem, adding: This was the morning of defeat and humiliation upon our enemy, its soldiers and its settlers. What happened reveals the greatness of our preparation. What happened today reveals the weakness of the enemy. How is Hamas received internationally? Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Egypt, United States, Canada and Japan. However it has long been provided with funding and weapons by Iran, and has the support of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which on Sunday exchanged rocket and artillery fire with Israel amid fears the conflict could spread. The shock Hamas incursion into Israel was of a scale and sophistication that was previously considered unthinkable. Hamas attackers came by land, sea and air, overwhelming Israeli defenses, and killing more than 900 people in the country, both troops and citizens. The level of planning that would have been required for such an assault prompted questions about whether Hamas could have done it alone and if it had help, whether that could have come from its longtime backer in the region, Iran. Tehran, which has commended the operation, has denied involvement. Irans mission to the United Nations issued a statement calling the attack fiercely autonomous and unwaveringly aligned with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people. Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer reiterated Monday that the United States believes Iran is broadly complicit in Hamas attacks in Israel, but said the US does not have direct information linking these attacks to Iran at this time. What we can be quite clear about is that Iran is broadly complicit in these attacks for having supporting Hamas going back decades, Finer said during an appearance on ABCs Good Morning America, pointing to weapons, training and other financial support. He continued, What we dont have is direct information that shows Iranian involvement in ordering or planning of the attacks that took place over the last couple of days. Its something that were going to keep looking at closely. Yet Irans evolving relationship with Hamas and its Palestinian militant partners, the Islamic Jihad, is well documented. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad a Gaza-based militant group which is smaller than Hamas but a significant fighting force in the coastal enclave has enjoyed a long and public alliance with Tehran. Hamas, on the other hand, has had a more ambiguous relationship with Iran, turning against it for several years over its support for Syrias dictator President Bashar al-Assad during the countrys civil war. Ultimately it returned to Tehrans orbit, and has been openly communicating with Iran and its paramilitary allies about its militant goals. Israel says Iran supports Hamas to the tune of some $100 million dollars a year. The US State Department in 2021 said that the group receives funding, weapons, and training from Iran, as well as some funds that are raised in Gulf Arab countries. Irans paramilitary allies in the region namely Lebanons Shia armed group Hezbollah have repeatedly boasted about an ironclad security coordination with Palestinian Islamist groups. (Much of the Western world and some Arab countries consider Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad to be terrorist groups.) Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Tel Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), says he believes that Iran aims to create a reality of war in order to exhaust Israeli society, in order to exhaust the Israel Defense Forces. Here is the common denominator between the Iran strategy and the Hamas strategy. Therefore Iran is an asset for Hamas and Hamas is an asset for Iran, Michael said. Just over a month before the surprise attack, the deputy head of the Hamas politburo, Saleh Al-Arouri and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhalah were pictured in Beirut alongside Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah . In April, Hamas senior political leader Ismail Haniyeh visited the Lebanese capital for meetings with Nasrallah. How Haniyeh, who is based in the blockaded Gaza Strip, was able to travel to Lebanon is still unclear. Ismail Haniyeh, center, chairman of the Hamas political bureau, flashes a victory sign, flanked by bodyguards and senior Palestinian officials during a rally at the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon. - Marwan Naamani/picture alliance/Getty Images In his recent televised speeches, Nasrallah said that there was no daylight between his groups strategic goals and those of his Palestinian militant partners. He has also repeatedly alluded to broadening the groups rules of engagement with Israel to reflect the growing alliance. Lebanon and Israel are technically in a state of war. Hezbollah has a stronghold in the south of the country which borders Israel. In 2006, an international war broke out between the two countries that led to over 1,100 dead in Lebanon and over 200 dead in Israel. Since then, exchanges of fire between the warring parties have been extremely rare, with Hezbollah repeatedly threatening to strike Israel with its growing arsenal of missiles and rockets only if Israel were to strike Lebanese territory. Yet in recent months, Nasrallah has changed his tune, vowing to intervene on behalf of the Palestinians in case Israeli troops attacked Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. Hezbollah is believed by the US and Israel to possess precision guided missiles. In recent years, Nasrallah has said that his militant group could call upon 100,000 reservists in a potential war. An evolving alliance Hamas and Iran have not always seen eye to eye. The Syrian civil war pitted Assad and his allies, mostly members of the minority Alawite and Shia branch of Islam, against an opposition movement comprised mainly of Sunni Muslims the dominant Muslim branch. Hamas is a Sunni organization, whereas Irans so-called resistance axis is largely Shia. The rift persisted for several years but began to end as Syria started to normalize relations with powerful Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in recent years. With the drawdown of the nearly decade-long Shia-Sunni proxy wars that washed over Iraq, Yemen and Syria, Irans elite force, the Revolutionary Guards, has since then shifted its focus to Israel. Tehrans alliances with Palestinian Islamist actors appear to be a centerpiece of the Revolutionary Guards strategy, though the details remain murky. The question everyones asking is, what role did Iran play? We dont know, said Khaled Elgindy, senior fellow at the DC-based Middle East Institute where he directs the program on Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian Affairs. Iran has clearly been a supporter of Hamas financially, materially and politically. But we dont know the extent to which Iran was involved in the logistical operational part of this training, or what kind of logistical support (it offered the October 7 operation). I dont think anyone knows that. Every (countrys) intelligence was caught completely unaware of this, including and especially the Israelis, Elgindy added. Whether or not Iran was involved in the operation may have consequences for the future of the war that began on Saturday. If Iran and its Lebanese paramilitary partners helped concoct the plan, then that could portend an expanded involvement by Iran as the conflict carries on. Yet it is clear that the Palestinian militant-Iranian axis has gone from strength to strength, and that could be enough to put the region on edge. As the war progresses in and around Gaza in the south, where more than 550 Palestinians have been killed by Israels bombing campaign, Israel has also reinforced troops on its northern border where Irans most powerful partner, Hezbollah, could enter this war to dramatic effect. CNNs Betsy Klein, MJ Lee, Jim Sciutto and Pamela Brown contributed reporting For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The US says nine of the country's citizens have been killed A number of those killed during the assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel are from overseas. Here's what we know about the victims so far: United States Nine US citizens were killed, a spokesperson for the country's National Security Council has said. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery," they said. "We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities." The identities of those killed have not yet been confirmed, while a number are also known to be missing. Among them is Hersh Golberg-Polin, an American-Israeli dual citizen who has not been heard from since Saturday morning. According to the Jerusalem Post, he moved from California to Israel with his family at the age of seven and had finished his mandatory service in the army this April. Speaking to CBS, Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, said he understood Americans were among the hostages taken, although there is not a clear number for how many. Canada Global Affairs Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, has said it is aware of reports of one Canadian having been killed and two others missing. Ben Mizrachi, from British Columbia, is among them, CTV News reported. Mr Mizrachi graduated from Vancouver's King David High School five years ago and had been attending an event in southern Israel, the school said. The agency said there are 1,419 registered Canadians in Israel, and 492 in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip - but noted this registration was voluntary and likely an incomplete number of its citizens. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his "deep condolences". Canada has encouraged its citizens to register with Global Affairs Canada and has an emergency contact number available. United Kingdom An official has told the BBC that more than 10 British citizens are feared dead or missing. Nathanel Young, a British man serving in Israeli military, has been confirmed as having been killed. Two other British citizens - Jake Marlowe and Dan Darlington - are confirmed missing. Mr Marlowe was providing security at the music festival in the south of the country. He has been reported missing. Bernard Cowan, from Glasgow, has also been identified by family members on social media as having been killed in the attack. He grew up in the Glasgow area, and settled in Israel where he lived with his wife and three children. The north London school attended by Mr Young, who was 20, is "devastated" by his death, its headteacher has said. He went to the same school - North London's JFS Jewish School - as 26-year-old Mr Marlowe. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he had assured his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu of the UK's "steadfast support as Israel defends itself". France A French woman and another French citizen were killed in the Hamas attacks, according to the French foreign ministry, and another 14 are missing. An MP representing French nationals overseas, Meyer Habib, has said that one of the hostages taken by Hamas is thought to be a 26-year-old man from Bordeaux who was at the Supernova festival in southern Israel. He said the man's father had told him his son Avidan was being held hostage by Hamas. Thailand Thailand said 20 of its citizens had been killed, according to the latest available figures. Some 14 Thai nationals had been taken hostage, the foreign ministry said. Thailand's first repatriation flight will bring back 15 workers and is set to arrive in Bangkok on Thursday. There are some 30,000 Thais in Israel working in agriculture, many near the Gaza border. The foreign ministry says 3,226 want to be repatriated from Israel. Nepal Nepal said 10 of its citizens had been killed. The country confirmed on Sunday that they were students who had gone to Israel to work and acquire skills in an agricultural firm. An additional 265 Nepali students are also working on various farms, with another 4,500 Nepalis working as caregivers. Philippines Two Filipinos were killed on Saturday when Hamas gunmen launched their attack on Israel, the Philippines government said. They were identified as a 33-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man killed during an assault on a kibbutz not far from the border with the Gaza Strip. Three Filipinos remain missing, while 26 were rescued by Israeli security forces, officials said. About 30,000 Filipinos live in Israel, while about 150 are in Gaza, the Philippine Star reported. Germany German-Israeli woman Shani Louk is believed to have been taken from the Supernova festival, and it is not clear if she is alive. "My daughter, Shani Nicole Luke, a German citizen, was kidnapped along with a group of tourists," said her mother Ricarda Louk, in a video following the incident. Germany's Foreign Ministry also said it had to assume that Germans were among those kidnapped by Hamas, and that it believed those people were also Israeli citizens. Austria Austria's foreign ministry says three Austrian Israelis who were in southern Israel may have been taken hostage by Hamas but the situation is still unclear and there is no confirmation. Italy An Italian couple who were living on Kibbutz Be'eri are among the missing in southern Israel, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said. The husband and wife, who are dual citizens, have not answered their family's phone calls, he told Italian TV. "We hope to find them but at the moment we have no more news. They have probably been taken hostage," he said. Cambodia The country's Prime Minister, Hun Manet, has confirmed one student has been killed. China A Beijing-born Chinese Israeli woman called Noa Argamani is among those taken from the Supernova festival, according to the Israeli Embassy in China. The embassy has published a video of what it claims to be the abduction. Brazil Three people are missing and one injured. The country's foreign ministry said on Sunday that three dual Brazilian-Israeli nationals were missing after attending the music festival and a fourth was being treated in hospital. Paraguay The country's government said two of its nationals are missing, without giving further details. There are reports in its national media that a couple has been killed. Mexico Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena wrote on social media that two Mexicans have been taken hostage, but did not give further details. Ireland Kim Danti, a 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman, is unaccounted for. RTE, the country's national broadcaster, reports that she was last seen at the music festival. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Irish Embassy in the country was dealing with it. There is an Irish emergency response team and citizens are encouraged to contact the embassy in Tel Aviv. Tanzania Tanzania's embassy in Israel is trying to trace two Tanzanian students who were on a business studies internship. Ambassador Alex Kallua said his mission had been been in contact with approximately 350 Tanzanians around the country, most of them students. People drive past an anti-Israel billboard with the chequerred keffiye covering the Star of David in Tehran's central Vali-Asr square (-) Through quiet diplomacy with Iran, US President Joe Biden 's administration had strived to keep a lid on Middle East troubles. That bet came crashing down with Saturday's massive offensive by Hamas against Israel. Iran's clerical leadership openly supports the Islamist militants, who control the blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip, and hailed the sneak attack that inflicted the deadliest blow on Israel in decades. The Biden administration has engaged in cautious talks with Iranian officials, mostly taking place out of public view in Gulf Arab states, and reached an agreement last month that freed five Americans. While making limited headway on the key issue of Iran's nuclear program, US officials have alluded to tacit understandings with Tehran to turn down the temperature. Jake Sullivan , Biden's national security advisor, told a September 27 event that Iranian-backed attacks in Iraq have stopped "for now" and pointed to a de facto truce in war-ravaged Yemen, where Tehran backs Huthi rebels. "The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades," Sullivan said, while cautioning that the situation could change and listing Iran's nuclear program and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as festering issues. Less than two weeks later, Hamas launched its surprise attack against Israel, leaving US diplomats scrambling to try and contain the outbreak of violence from spreading in the region. The rival Republican Party has gone on the attack against Biden over the violence, pointing to the deal to free prisoners, which required the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea to an account in Qatar. There is no evidence the money went to Hamas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "not a single dollar" has been dispensed and that the funds are restricted to humanitarian purchases. But beyond the money, some experts said the offensive showed the limitations of Biden's approach with Iran. "The deal with Iran was not just about prisoner release, but establishing some kind of a process that could potentially de-escalate the conflict between the two states," said Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. "I have to say, I see no indications that Iranians are actually interested in de-escalating," he said. - How much support? - Blinken, speaking to NBC News, said the United States did not have "anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out." But he added Hamas "wouldn't be Hamas without the support it's had for many years from Iran." Neomi Neumann, the former head of research for Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet, said the offensive could have been timed in part due to Iran's hopes of scuttling momentum to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia -- a Sunni kingdom and rival of Tehran's Shiite clerics. Recognition by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islam's two holiest sites, would be a major coup for Israel. "It is reasonable to assume that Hamas trained for many months for this attack, but it is not inconceivable that the current timing is the result of Iranian influence and even pressure," said Neumann, now a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She also pointed to threats by Hezbollah, Iran's Shiite allies in Lebanon, to launch a second front if Israeli forces enter the Gaza Strip. While the United States historically has prioritized containing Iran's contested nuclear program, Neumann said it would be a mistake to reach any agreement that "fails to address demands to end subversion in the region and support for terrorist groups." "It seems that this view is shared by Sunni governments in the region, who see the Iranian threat in the same way," she said. - Riskier to escalate? - Iran's rulers have seen Israel and the United States as arch-enemies since taking power in the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the Western-oriented shah, who was Israel's main regional ally. Israel, while embarrassed by the intelligence failure to prevent Saturday's assault, has made little secret of its ability to strike inside Iran, including through killings of nuclear scientists and cyberattacks. Ali Vaez, who follows Iran at the International Crisis Group, which promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts, said that the de-escalation between Iran and the United States was never comprehensive. "It did not cover Iran's tensions with Israel, which are never far from the surface," he said. "But the US has very little to gain by escalating against Iran amid this Israeli-Palestinian conflict," he said. "That would only add a perilous nuclear crisis to the existing tragic turmoil in Ukraine and the Levant as US presidential elections draw closer." sct/des Flash Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. The Israeli army continued its extensive airstrikes on targets in Gaza on Sunday as Hamas militants are fighting with Israeli soldiers on Israeli territories. Hamas militants remained in control of several communities in southern Israel on Sunday evening, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers engaged in gunfights with them, the IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Zaka, an Israeli rescue service, said in a statement that it has collected the remains of about 260 young women and men who were partying at the Nova festival, an outdoor music event in a rural farmland area near the Gaza-Israel fence. Many festival attendees were still missing on Sunday night. Social media was flooded with people trying to locate their relatives and friends after Hamas militants raided the festival and other locations in the area as part of the massive surprise attack on Israel that included the firing of thousands of rockets. More violence The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a militant group that operates in Palestinian territories, has also joined Hamas and launched attacks on Israel. In a televised speech on Sunday, Ziad al-Nakhalah, the Secretary-General of the PIJ, stated that the group had taken custody of 30 Israelis and declared that they would not be released unless Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli jails. Outside Gaza, Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia engaged on Sunday in artillery and rocket exchanges. Hezbollah expressed solidarity with Hamas and claimed responsibility for a rocket attack from southeastern Lebanon into Israeli-occupied territories. In Egypt's northern province of Alexandria, two Israeli citizens and their local Egyptian guide were killed when they were on a tourist group tour when local security personnel opened fire on them. In a show of support for Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday multiple military ships and aircraft would be sent closer to Israel. Israelis blame intelligence failure An editorial in Ha'aretz newspaper on Sunday criticized the Israeli security forces for what it deemed an "intelligence and military failure." The editorial also blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for forming a far-right government which has pro-settler ministers that neglected Palestinians' rights and contributed to mounting anger and frustration, factors that played a role in the recent attack. Israeli analysts believe that Hamas has carefully planned the military operation. Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies, told Xinhua that Hamas' preparation for the military operations "is estimated to have taken several months." Additionally, Israel has been observing various Jewish festivals, including Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, since mid-September. The recent attack occurred amid Israeli holiday season, a time when Israel's vigilance tends to decrease, according to Eyal Pinko, a senior researcher at Israel's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. Israeli military analyst Avi Benayahu has observed that the current round of conflict differs significantly from those in past decades due to the fact that Gaza-based militants currently hold a substantial number of Israeli civilians and troops as hostages, potentially influencing the scale of Israel's response. (Reuters) - A senior Hamas official said the group is open to discussions over a possible truce with Israel, having "achieved its targets." Moussa Abu Marzouk told Al Jazeera in a phone interview that Hamas was open to "something of that sort" and "all political dialogues" when asked whether the Islamist group is willing to discuss a possible ceasefire. (Reporting by Hatem Maher; Editing by Chris Reese) A rocket fell in Abu Gosh near a mosque named after Akhmat Kadyrov, the first president of the Republic of Chechnya, during Hamas militants attacks on Jerusalem and nearby settlements. Source: Israels Foreign Ministry; Russian media outlets; Haaretz, an Israeli media outlet Details: Israels Foreign Ministry shared a photo of the mosque with smoke rising just behind it. A rocket recently fell near a mosque in Israel. Hamas terrorists are targeting and trying to murder as many innocents as possible. They must be held responsible for their war crimes. pic.twitter.com/UTev5F5CWo Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 9, 2023 Chechnyas current leader, Ramzan Kadyrov , the Kremlins close ally, has not yet issued an official response to the incident. Haaretz reported that at least one person was injured in the rocket strike on Abu Gosh. Background: The population of the town of Abu Gosh, located 10 kilometres west of Jerusalem, predominantly comprises Israeli Arabs. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov opened a mosque named after his father Akhmat Kadyrov in 2014. There is a theory that the residents of the area are descendants of Chechens, natives of the North Caucasus, who moved to the territory of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Abu Ghosh officials have said that about US$10 million were spent on the construction of the mosque, US$6 million of which came from the Chechen government. 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! By Dan Williams, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM/GAZA/KFER AZA (Reuters) -Israeli air strikes hammered Gaza on Tuesday, razing entire districts and filling morgues with dead Palestinians as Israel took revenge for the Hamas assaults that have triggered some of the worst blood-letting in 75 years of conflict. Across the barrier wall enclosing the coastal enclave, Israeli soldiers collected the last of Israel's dead four days after Hamas gunmen rampaged through towns, killing hundreds of people in the deadliest Palestinian militant attack in Israel's history. Hamas militants holding Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage had threatened to execute a captive for each home in Gaza hit, but as night fell on Tuesday there was no indication they had done so. But Israel's defence minister said its forces were gearing up for a ground offensive. And on Israel's northern border, a salvo of rockets was fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel, prompting Israeli shelling in return, three security sources said. The exchange signalled the prospect that the violence could lead to a wider war. Israel's embassy in Washington said the death toll from the weekend Hamas attacks had surpassed 1,000. The victims were overwhelmingly civilians, gunned down in homes, on streets or at an outdoor dance party. Scores of Israelis and some foreigners were captured and taken to Gaza as hostages, some paraded through the streets. Gaza's health ministry said Israel's retaliatory air strikes had killed at least 830 people and wounded 4,250 up to Tuesday. The strikes intensified on Tuesday night, shaking the ground and sending columns of smoke and flames into the sky. The United Nations said more than 180,000 Gazans had been made homeless, many huddling on streets or in schools. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, speaking to soldiers near the Gaza fence, said: "Hamas wanted a change and it will get one. What was in Gaza will no longer be." "We started the offensive from the air, later on we will also come from the ground. We've been controlling the area since Day 2 and we are on the offensive. It will only intensify." At the morgue in Gaza's Khan Younis hospital, bodies were laid on the ground on stretchers with names written on their bellies. Medics called for relatives to pick up bodies quickly because there was no more space for the dead. A municipal building was hit while being used as an emergency shelter. Survivors there spoke of many dead. "No place is safe in Gaza, as you see they hit everywhere," said Ala Abu Tair, 35, who had sought shelter there with his family after fleeing Abassan Al-Kabira near the border. Radwan Abu al-Kass, a boxing instructor and father of three, said he evacuated his five-storey building in the Al Rimal district when a missile hit the building. It was destroyed by a bigger strike after he got out. "The whole district was just erased," he said. Two members of Hamas' political office, Jawad Abu Shammala and Zakaria Abu Maamar, were killed in an air strike in Khan Younis, a Hamas official said. They were the first senior Hamas members killed since Israel began pounding the enclave. Israel said Abu Shammala had led a number of operations targeting Israeli civilians. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Israeli strikes had since Saturday destroyed more than 22,600 residential units and 10 health facilities and damaged 48 schools. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, who denounced the Hamas attacks, said civilians had been harmed in Israeli strikes on tower blocks, schools and U.N. buildings. "International humanitarian law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks," he said. TRAIL OF BLOOD In Israel, there has still been no complete official count of the dead and missing from Saturday's attacks. In the southern town of Be'eri, where more than 100 bodies have been retrieved, volunteers in yellow vests and face masks carried the dead out of homes on stretchers. A long, wide trail of blood wound along the floor of a house where bodies had been dragged out by militants into the street from a bloodsoaked kitchen strewn with overturned furniture. "The thing I want the most is to wake up from this nightmare," said Elad Hakim, a survivor from the outdoor music festival where Hamas had killed 260 partygoers at dawn. Amid the burned-out houses of the Kfar Aza kibbutz, bodies of Israeli residents and Hamas militants lay on the ground beside scattered furniture and torched cars. Israeli soldiers went from house to house to take away the dead. The stench of corpses hung heavy in the air. "You see the babies, the mothers, the fathers, in their bedrooms, in their protection rooms and how the terrorist kills them. It's not a war, it's not a battlefield. It's a massacre," Israeli Major General Itai Veruv said at the scene. "It's something we used to imagine from our grandfathers, grandmothers in the pogrom in Europe and other places." Soldiers were still securing the paths of the kibbutz as bursts of gunfire and explosions could be heard in the distance. Jets roared above and sirens warned of incoming rockets intercepted overhead. Israel's next move could be a ground offensive into Gaza, territory it left in 2005 after 38 years of occupation, and has kept under blockade since Hamas seized power there in 2007. The siege it announced on Monday would keep out even food and fuel. Israeli leaders now must decide whether to constrain their retaliation to safeguard the hostages now hidden in Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Abu Ubaida issued a threat on Monday that one Israeli captive would be killed for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning. (Reporting by Dan Williams, Emily Rose, Henriette Chacar and Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Maayan Lubell in Kfar AzaWriting by Peter Graff and Angus MacSwanEditing by Alexander Smith, Andrew Cawthorne, Mark Heinrich and Nick Macfie) Hamas has vowed to kill an Israeli hostage any time Israeli armed forces target civilians in Gaza without prior warning. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida made the remarks in an audio message released Monday night. The militant group, which governs Gaza and has been declared a terrorist group by the United States government, launched a series of coordinated attacks on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds and also taking hostages back to the Gaza Strip. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned the group that if it harmed captured Israeli civilians, this war crime will not be forgiven. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Gaza in response to the Saturday attacks, strikes that have have also killed hundreds of people. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have hit more than 1,200 targets in Gaza between Saturday and Monday, noting that it doubled that number. The @IAFsite is conducting one of the largest air strikes ever against Hamas in Gaza to degrade and destroy their ability to terrorize the people of Israel, the IDF said in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. Hamas launched a war. We will restore security to our country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that forces from his country will exact a huge price against Hamas for the attack. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. [Source] A holiday commemorating the creation of the Korean alphabet, Hangul, is being observed Monday, Oct. 9. A linguistic milestone: Hangul Day, also known as Korean Alphabet Day, is an annual celebration of the Korean alphabet's invention and proclamation. Introduced in 1446 by King Sejong, the groundbreaking script was designed to address the complex nature of writing in Korean, previously reliant on Chinese characters. Now composed of 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels), Hangul has earned international recognition for its logical and phonetic structure. Historical resilience: Despite its profound impact, Hangul faced adversity throughout its history. The Choson dynasty saw elites favoring Chinese characters, leading to a temporary ban on Hangul. However, it experienced a resurgence in the 19th century and played a pivotal role in Korean nationalism during the Japanese occupation. By the 1970s, the use of Chinese characters declined, solidifying Hangul as the predominant writing system in Korea. More from NextShark: Lessons from my North Korean Appa The evolution of Hangul Day: Since its initial establishment in 1926, the date for Hangul Day has shifted. In 1945, South Korea officially designated October 9 as Hangul Day, aligning it with the proclamation of Hangul. However, from 1991 to 2012, this status was revoked due to pressures from employers to increase workdays. On Nov. 1, 2012, it was reinstated as a national day. Today, celebrations for Hangul Day vary among Koreans. While many use the holiday to spend time with loved ones, others choose to visit the King Sejong Museum in Seoul. In North Korea, Hangul Day is known as Chosun-gul Day and is celebrated on Jan. 15. More from NextShark: Stephanie Hsu lucky and grateful to be nominated for Oscar alongside Michelle Yeoh L.A. resolution: On Oct. 6, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution recognizing Oct. 9 as Hangul Day. The resolution was introduced by Korean American Councilmember John Lee (12th District) and was followed by a special proclamation ceremony to honor Hangul Day. The ceremony saw the participation of more than 300 individuals, including Councilmember Heather Hutt, Chairman of the Imperial Cultural Foundation Lee Seok, Consul General Youngwan Kim, LA Korean Education Center Director Jeonhoon Kang, President Monica Ryoo of the Foundation for Korean Language & Culture in the U.S.A. as well as Korean language class students from Chatsworth High School. Google's tribute: This year, Hangul Day also received a global nod as Google featured a special Doodle to celebrate. The Doodle highlights the significance of Hangul not only as a cultural milestone but also as a symbol of empowerment through literacy. More from NextShark: 107-year-old Japanese Tea Garden Pagoda unveiled in San Francisco after 2-year, $1.1 million restoration Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! South Korean milestone as married lesbian couple welcomes first child via IVF The suspect in a deadly shooting at Fort Fisher appeared in court Tuesday, Oct. 10. A man accused of shooting and killing another man at the Fort Fisher State Historic Site on Monday will remain in jail without bond, District Court Judge Jeffrey Noecker ruled Tuesday. Adrian Maurice Hall Jr. has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Christopher Fenti, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office. During his first appearance in court Tuesday morning, Hall was asked if he wanted an attorney. "If I was allowed to get out, I think I could hire a lawyer," he said. "I'm going to be honest, I don't think a court-appointed lawyer or a public defender would be interested in getting the facts of my case right." Nonetheless, the judge ordered that Hall be assigned an attorney and held without bond after initially assigning a bond of $15 million. Hall told the judge that he was in the Wilmington area for an appointment at the U.S. Veterans Affairs Department, which Hall said "shows it wasn't pre-meditated." Calling it "an egregious case," District Attorney Ben David said Fenti was shot five or six times and that an innocent bystander was also struck. As of Monday, Kenneth King was in critical condition at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. David said the two victims did not know each other "as far as we can tell" and that King was likely "in the wrong place at the wrong time." The sheriff's office said Fenti was sitting in his vehicle near the historic Fort Fisher Civil War battlefield when Hall approached and fired into the vehicle. Hall has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and two charges of discharging a firearm into occupied property. David said it's too soon to determine whether the DA's office will pursue the death penalty. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office is investigating a homicide at Fort Fisher Historic Park. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover County Sheriff's Office investigating homicide at Fort Fisher Washington is trying to regulate TikTok again. Earlier this year, banning the Chinese-owned video sharing app was a rare point of bipartisan agreement. TikTok's CEO faced a bipartisan grilling on Capitol Hill. President Joe Biden had just signed a bipartisan law prohibiting the app on federal government phones, many state governments did the same and lawmakers across the spectrum were calling for broader bans on the app warning of national security risks stemming from the Chinese governments ability to access American user data. Fast forward to the fall and little has changed. Bidens national security review of the app is still frozen by legal concerns and Congress headline TikTok bill the RESTRICT Act is stuck in the mud despite backing from senior members of both parties. In an effort to break the logjam, the administration is now throwing its support behind alternative legislation that has yet to be released. The impasse highlights a core dilemma for Biden on China: How much to separate the U.S. from Chinese tech companies that are deeply intertwined into American lifestyles but are under the likely control of an increasingly authoritarian and adversarial government. The debate over TikTok is now leaking into the presidential campaign, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley mocking her rival Vivek Ramaswamy on the debate stage last month over his support for the app. Its a tough issue for any administration because there are real national security risks associated with TikTok but its also an app 150 million Americans use, said Peter Harrell, who served on Bidens National Security Council until last fall. The current legal tools the administration has to deal with the security threats are quite limited and frankly not adequate to deal with the threat. Thats why you see the need for new legislation. Despite the outcry, TikTok has barely come up on Capitol Hill in recent months amid the turmoil over government funding and the House speakership until Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo went to the Senate last Wednesday. There, she announced her support for a new bill being written by Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) the Guard Act. The hope is that legislation still unreleased will give her agency broader authority to ban TikTok and other foreign based apps, without the First Amendment concerns that stalled the RESTRICT Act. I am very supportive of the Guard Act proposal, Raimondo said, saying it would give her agency a statutory set of tools to have a comprehensive approach to these apps. TikTok declined to comment on the legislation but argued there is no evidence to support assertions it is controlled by the Chinese government. Raimondos statement was an admission of how stuck the TikTok issue is. For over a year, the administration has run a national security review of the app at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which includes representatives from national security and economic agencies. That review ran aground when defense officials, who wanted an outright ban of the app, clashed with economic officials who backed a compromise with TikTok. That process remains frozen amid legal concerns that any potential ban would face stiff legal challenges due to a 30-year-old federal law protecting informational material from adversarial nations. Cognizant of those issues, the administration turned to Congress earlier this year, publicly endorsing the RESTRICT Act, a bill that would give the executive branch broader powers to regulate or ban not just TikTok, but an array of foreign apps. That legislation initially appeared promising. Written by the Democratic leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Mark Warner, it attracted support from the No. 2 Senate Republican, John Thune, and a bipartisan group of 10 other senators. But it soon faced headwinds. The ACLU and other free speech groups came out hard against the bill, saying that it was written so broadly that even individual TikTok users could face criminal prosecution if they violated a potential ban. Amid an ensuing social media firestorm some of it ironically on TikTok Warner backtracked, saying it was never meant to hit everyday app users. But the momentum had slowed, and now the Virginia lawmaker is publicly grousing that support for his bill is softening in the Senate. Im somewhat concerned, are we going to get there? Warner said this month at a Fortune Magazine event. The administration has also signaled it is ready to move on. Despite giving RESTRICT public support, multiple administration agencies in recent months have helped Cantwells office craft her alternative bill behind the scenes, hoping to avoid the speech concerns that bedeviled Warners bill. Though she declined to comment on RESTRICT after the Senate hearing on Wednesday, Raimondos public backing of alternative legislation was taken by many in Washington as a sign that the administration is looking for a new legislative avenue. They need more tools to act and RESTRICT basically seems like it's on life support, said Clete Willems, a former economics adviser to former President Donald Trump now at Akin Gump. So if they have another option, great. But the path forward for Cantwells bill remains unclear. A Commerce Committee staffer said on Thursday that they hope to release the legislation after the October congressional recess, and they are working to address concerns that the RESTRICT Act would have given the president too much authority to ban apps. Such concerns animated conservative opposition to the bill in the House and Senate in recent months. [Cantwells] goal is to have limits on executive authority because the intent is that [the law] is lasting and it's durable the aide said, because we dont know whos going to be president, not only for this next term, but going forward. Whether they can do that remains to be seen. Willems, who has been following the legislation from K Street, said that previous drafts he has seen of the legislation may not win favor with conservative Republicans. I'm not yet convinced, based on what I know about the Act, that it's going to address the conservative concerns that had led to the demise of the RESTRICT Act, he said. At least 10 employees at a Hardees restaurant in Indiana are accused of taking part in a scheme to bail out jail inmates using money stolen from customers. Authorities launched an investigation after noticing suspicious irregularities with the jail accounts of certain inmates, with large amounts of money being put into them from outside the jail, the La Porte County Sheriffs Office said in an Oct. 7 news release. The same inmates were bonding out of the jail almost immediately, the sheriffs office said. McClatchy News reached out to Hardees for comment but the company didnt immediately respond. Investigators began monitoring the accounts and eventually tracked the money back to its source, the release said. The investigation uncovered a complex fraudulent scheme involving certain employees of the Hardees fast-food restaurant in Michigan City, the sheriffs office said, adding that some non-employees were involved as well. Through August and September, investigators say workers targeted drive-thru customers, snapping photos of their debit and credit card information as they paid for their meals. Money was then taken from those accounts and deposited into the jail accounts of inmates, which they used to pay bail, according to the release. Once released, those inmates would visit ATMs and withdraw whatever funds still remained on their jail account, the sheriffs office said. In total, investigators say $14,700 was stolen from customers. The victims, who originally went to purchase food at the drive-thru of the Hardees, are working with their financial institutions to have the funds returned to them, officials said. Authorities arrested 10 employees at the Hardees location in Michigan City, according to the release. Three are facing charges of fraud, while the rest are accused of conspiracy to commit fraud, the sheriffs office said. All 10 employees are charged with criminal organizational activity. Michigan City is roughly 100 miles northwest of Fort Wayne. While investigators didnt provide the location of the Hardees, only one location is listed in Michigan City at 5223 Franklin St. Brothers working as McDonalds managers steal $22,302 from restaurant, PA police say Adorable spotted kitten sold in parking lot leads to Texas couples arrest, feds say Grocery store employee fatally shot while petting customers dog, Texas cops say Hero Chick-fil-A worker saves the day when young girl starts choking in parking lot Organizers and supporters on Sept. 28 celebrate Rio Arriba Countys postponement of putting back a statue of the war criminal and Spanish colonizer Juan de Onate that officials removed in 2020. Jacob Johns (Hopi, Akimel O'odham). the environmental activist who was later shot, stands in the middle. (Photo by Anna Padilla for Source NM) Hopi/Akimel Oodham man who was shot last week said the violence highlights the lengthy history of injustices Indigenous people face This article was originally published in Source New Mexico, an independent, nonprofit news organization that shines a light on governments, policies and public officials. Before an extremist shot Jacob Johns (Hopi, Akimel Oodham) in Espanola on Sept. 28, community members spent the morning together for a sunrise prayer ceremony and the afternoon together for a celebration of sorts. They expressed relief as Rio Arriba County officials indefinitely postponed the reinstallation of a statue of violent war criminal Juan de Onate, someone who tried to eradicate Pueblo culture by killing and enslaving hundreds of Native Americans in the 1600s. Native activists had been sleeping outside Rio Arriba County buildings for days last week, trying to prevent the reinstallation. Officials decided to postpone it Sept. 27, the day before they had planned to put it back up, in the interest of public safety. Native activists and other community members never want to see the statue back up at all. Its unclear how long the statues postponement will last or if the reinstallation will be canceled altogether. A county commission meeting on Oct. 5 does not have discussions about the statue on its agenda. Malaya Peixinho is a 23-year-old community member who came to the event to support her aunties and grandmothers. She looked down the barrel of a gun pulled by a Donald Trump supporter who came to the peaceful gathering last week. Before that, she was celebrating the delay. We came together, and we prayed, and we celebrated as a family that we were able to postpone this statue, Peixinho told Democracy Now! on Tuesday. Instead of spending over $100,000 to put the statue back up, community members asked officials to refocus the investment. I didnt feel it was right for our community money, that could be spent on resources and support and our healing of our community, to be spent on this statue, Peixinho said. Indigenous activists present on Sept. 28 also asked officials to change the name of Onate Street, preferably to Tewa Valley Road. Justine Teba (Santa Clara, Tesuque, Acoma) said last week there needs to be more respect for tribal sovereignty, accessible housing, compassionate health care treatment and counseling. Teba, a member of The Red Nation, also called for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives crisis to end, along with hetero-patriarchal violence and border town violence. Jennifer Marley, another Red Nation member, said this is also connected to the environment. Marley (San Ildefonso) said Native people should have access to clean water and air and soil so we can plant. How come we are still suffering the same ills we have since colonization started on these lands? she said. The violence on Sept. 28 was just a continuation of generations of harm, death and systemic oppression faced by Indigenous peoples, said Johns, the Indigenous activist who was shot. As of Wednesday, he was recovering in the hospital, in critical but stable condition. This draws attention to the lengthy history of injustices against Indigenous peoples by dehumanizing systems and divisive ideologies the community was protesting, Johns said in a written statement by his family on Tuesday. Johns mother LaVerne McGrath said she hopes the tragedy can lead to systemic changes in which Indigenous peoples and other historically oppressed peoples are not downplayed. Celina Montoya-Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh) told Source NM last week community embraced those who opposed the statue going back up, bringing food and water and prayers. She said organizers invited them to set their intentions on the altar they had set up on and around the slab. Weve definitely felt very loved by this, by the community, she said. Montoya-Garcia said she invited people who showed up with aggressive intent to pray with them as well, but that didnt happen. People taking part of a prayer circle on the morning of Sept. 28 had to repeat requests to one woman who walked up to stop recording. Before Thursday, Montoya-Garcia said no conflicts had escalated. Weve been doing our best, despite our trigger responses as peoples are on the front lines all the time, to remain calm and grounded, she said. The main intention is knowing no aggression whatsoever. As she spoke to Source NM, those there in opposition of the statue tore up and threw away signs at least one person who declined to speak with Source NM when asked had put up that morning advocating for the Onate statue. During Montoya-Garcias speech to everyone, she said shes tired of repeating the same things. She said she was there so her children and others could feel safe as Indigenous people, despite those coming into the area and disrespecting them. Our prayers are louder than your hate, she said. Maurus Chino said theres an obsession in New Mexico with the violent and brutal past, like with the Onate statue, and it reflects the high violence rates in the state. Chino (Acoma) said people dont have to celebrate history, and they should acknowledge the dark past. I will say this with all my heart: I despise your celebrations. I despise what you believe in, he said. We have a right to be here. This is our land. Its not yours. It wasnt yours to begin with. It was stolen. Chino said he started taking social action in 1994 when he first heard the Onate statue was going to go up. He wrote a letter to the then-Secretary of Interior, but it didnt make a difference. The statue went up anyway because it was already funded, he said. Theres been corruption since the day Onate crossed the Rio Grande to come into New Mexico, he said. It has never ended. As important as it is to recognize Onates violence, Peixinho said its more important to recognize the pain and suffering in the community today. I see how some funds for the missing and murdered Indigenous women, some funds for our alarming rates of overdoses, our housing crisis, that feels more important than funding a statue being resurrected, she said. Dr. Christina Castro said Indigenous people did the work to get the statue removed in 2020, and now they have to do it all over again. Castro (Taos, Jemez) said its a way to constantly keep Native people in defense mode. The state still continues to protect these monuments in spite of knowing that they cause harm, she said. And so this is a direct attack on Indigenous people. She pointed to the disparities in Rio Arriba County a community whos largely Hispanic and Indigenous with high violence and poverty rates and the 2018 Yazzie-Martinez court decision which found education for Native students and others in New Mexico to be constitutionally inadequate. I understand the frustration people feel about these symbols in their community that theyve maybe been seeing their whole life, but these symbols cause harm to the minds and identities of young people, Castro said. Castro said working to prevent the Onate statue from coming back up is lightwork compared to what her ancestors endured in the colonial times. Indigenous people have a story of resistance, she said, and this is carrying on what their ancestors did. Everything that we have in the system weve had to fight for, and sometimes give our lives for, she said. Mohammed el-Kurd, a Palestinian writer and poet, said as someone who was born and raised in occupied Palestine, he identifies with Indigenous peoples struggle for sovereignty. He said hes disgusted by those who have nothing better to do than to celebrate the legacy of a murderous war criminal. You can build a much better legacy, he said. You can wash your hands of this blood. Gary Goddard was at the protest in 2020 with his son when officials removed the statue. He compared the Onate statue to the Confederate scope of statues in the Southern U.S. of people who were fighting for slavery. Onate is a symbol, he said. He represents nihilism. He said Rio Arriba County Commissioner Alex Naranjo is trying to make his own decision to put a sculpture up that his relative Emilio Naranjo was instrumental in first erecting, instead of engaging in community dialogue. It needs to be part of a community discussion, not just forced upon the community, Goddard said. About the Author: "Elyse Wild is senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. " Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com More than 30 student groups at Harvard issued a joint statement over the weekend declaring that the Israeli government was entirely responsible for the crisis unfolding in the country and in Gaza. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years, wrote the groups, which included the Harvard Prison Divest Coalition, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Students Association, several Muslim and Arab affinity groups, and other organizations. From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden. Gaza Horrified by Hamas ISIS-Style Threat to Kill Hostages on Camera The hard-line tone of the letter quickly stirred controversy. Former university president Lawrence Summers blasted the letter as morally unconscionable, adding, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today. The silence from Harvards leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel, he wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. To be clear nothing is wrong with criticizing Israeli policy past, present or future. I have been sharply critical of PM Netanyahu. But that is very different from lack of clarity regarding terrorism. On Saturday, militants from Hamas stormed into Israel, killing or abducting over 200 people at a music festival in the desert and clashing with civilians and Israeli forces at multiple locations. Israel subsequently executed intense strikes on targets in Gaza, leveling entire buildings and leaving scores of people dead; officials have said they will bar all electricity, food, water, and fuel from entering the territory. At least 700 Israelis have already been reported dead, along with more than 400 Palestinians. In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today. Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) October 9, 2023 Hamas has now threatened to execute hostages on camera if Israels air attacks kill Palestinian civilians. Those threats notwithstanding, the Harvard groups argued that Hamas bore no responsibility for the ongoing violence. Todays events did not occur in a vacuum, their letter reads. For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison. Israeli officials promise to open the gates of hell, and the massacres in Gaza have already commenced... In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israels violence. 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. Flash In an era of unprecedented changes in global power dynamics, Diplomacy Talk hosts Professor Xie Tao from Beijing Foreign Studies University to explore the evolving relationship between China and the U.S. He sheds light on the complex tapestry of cultural, political, and historical factors influencing the West's wary view of China's rise. Yet, despite these complexities, he emphasizes that both China and the U.S. have pivotal roles in crafting a collaborative future while honoring their distinct responsibilities. The following is a transcript of the interview. Diplomacy Talk: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind. Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a speech at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in March 2013, during which he presented the concept. How would you describe the world under such a vision? Xie Tao: When the concept was first put forward 10 years ago, few at home or abroad fully grasped President Xi's lofty idea for developing human society as a whole. Then, over the past 10 years, people have gradually realized how President Xi has taken a forward-looking approach to promoting human society's peace and development and building a community with a shared future based on China's wisdom and strength from the perspective of global governance and the overall development of human society. In fact, if you look at all the concepts and initiatives President Xi has put forward over the past 10 years, including the Belt and Road Initiative, you will find all these focus on building a community with a shared future for mankind. So why does China promote this? Because in the era of globalization, human beings are increasingly connected in all aspects. Anything that happens in a remote corner may affect China or other countries. So human destiny is linked as never before. This requires us to consider our own interests and the common interests of other countries and the international community when dealing with international relations. China is one of the biggest beneficiaries of globalization. Such being the case, China, as a major responsible country, should put forward concepts and make its own contribution to the common and peaceful development of human society. On the 10th anniversary this year, many observers and political leaders around the world are reconsidering and responding to the significant contributions that the Chinese government has made over the past 10 years to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Diplomacy Talk: How does the international community see the concept, in your opinion? Xie Tao: In developing countries, referred to as the Global South, the concept has received a wide range of positive responses. However, the West tends to view China with prejudice. Diplomacy Talk: They also exaggerate what China has done. Xie Tao: Yes, that happens, as you said. First, they deliberately exaggerate the difficulties and challenges China faces, which all countries may face during their development. Western nations faced similar situations when they developed, but they no longer examine themselves through that lens. The second is ideological prejudice. China has a different political system, so when President Xi put forward the concept, Western observers were generally skeptical about what China wanted to do, aimed at, and intended to challenge. Diplomacy Talk: Some people in the West think that the concept is a means for China to strengthen its influence and position and replace the international order and values established by the West. What do you think? Xie Tao: Since the Opium War in 1840, the West has stubbornly perceived China as poor, backward, and vulnerable. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, and particularly since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the Chinese government has played an instrumental role in the international arena. That includes the Belt and Road Initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. President Xi's initiatives on global development, global security and global civilization signify to some people in the West that while they have enjoyed dominance for the past 100 years or so, there is now another country that has caught up and introduced a new set of values that has garnered positive responses from many developing countries. For example, President Xi proposed the common values of humanitypeace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom. These, different from the so-called "universal values" advocated by the West, have made them uncomfortable and feel threatened. The West assumes that everything China does is to challenge the so-called "rules-based international order" they've established. Actually, from China's point of view, China's development will drive other countries' development. The Chinese government is actively proposing various initiatives on almost all significant issues of global governance. Therefore, while the West perceives China as a challenger, I think that for China, growing stronger entails shouldering more responsibilities for the international community and human society. As one of the largest countries in the world, if China fails to provide global public goods, whom else can we rely on? Now, Western countries are facing various internal and external challenges. So at this time, if China does not step up to make a difference, and contribute its strength to global peace and development, human development may face an even greater crisis. I believe that the West, accustomed to its dominance for over 100 years, is unwilling to face a powerful China. Now they must face a strong and dynamic China who has a different political system. This is something they cannot accept and they are reluctant to change their mindset. I believe this is the primary issue the West needs to reflect upon. Diplomacy Talk: As you just said, China wants to make more contributions to the world with its improved strength. In fact, it is aligned with our ancient saying: "When successful, one should help the world." Xie Tao: A philosophical principle in traditional Chinese culture suggests that as you become stronger, you should care for your neighbors and friends, near or far. Chinese Confucian culture emphasizes benevolence and fraternity, encapsulated in the concept of a harmonious world. This idea may be difficult for Western countries to understand, as Western culture places a higher value on competition between individuals and between nations. In their view, international and interpersonal relations are seen more as a zero-sum game than a win-win relationship. Diplomacy Talk: China and the U.S. play very important roles in the world. The population of the U.S. is more than 300 million, and China's is more than 1.4 billion. The combined population of the two countries accounts for more than one-fifth of the world's total. Their combined GDP exceeds 40% of global GDP. However, escalating tensions between the two countries in recent years could hinder the progress of building a community with a shared future for mankind. How do you see it? Xie Tao: Yes, without a doubt. If China and the U.S. maintain a fraught relationship, world peace will be unattainable. Conversely, a good China-U.S. relationship will be conducive to global stability. In my opinion, the key to building a community with a shared future for mankind hinges on whether China and the U.S. can genuinely establish a new model of major-country relations based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. This explains why Chinese leaders have been actively working to improve China-U.S. relations over the past four years or so. However, due to the political climate in the U.S., some politicians extreme anti-China politicians driven by electoral political ideology keep attacking China. Consequently, relations between the two countries are now at their lowest point since then-U.S. president Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972. Diplomacy Talk: Some people believe that the ultimate manifestation of the competition between China and the U.S. lies in the clash between the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the notion of global hegemony. Do you agree? Xie Tao: Americans don't discuss a community with a shared future for mankind. Instead, they prefer to talk about the so-called "rules-based international order." Upon closer inspection, this is nothing more than an international system with the U.S. at its hegemonic center. If you don't follow this system of rules, you're perceived as an international rule breaker, a challenger. However, we all understand that any set of rules reflects the particular circumstances and interests of a specific era. The world has changed dramatically. This set of rules needs to evolve, as China, and especially as the Global South in general develops. First, it needs to become fairer. For instance, China, as the world's second-largest economy, should have a greater say in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other important financial institutions. However, for nearly two decades, the U.S. has prevented China from playing a more active role in these crucial financial systems. Faced with such unfairness, the Chinese government has repeatedly called for reforms which has been echoed by many developing countires, and some developed countries have also acknowledged the unfairness. The American perception that China is challenging its position reveals its unwillingness to let go of its hegemonic mindset. The China-proposed concept of a community with a shared future for mankind seeks to abandon the zero-sum game and hegemonic mentality. All countries, regardless of their size or political system, are equal and should coexist peacefully. Diplomacy Talk: Professor Xie, many countries worldwide, such as China and the U.S., have different social systems, ideologies, and levels of economic development. How do you think we can build a community with a shared future for mankind amidst such differences? Xie Tao: As we all know, due to its special founding history, the U.S. always likes to impose its own set of values and political systems on other countries, especially developing countries. Americans consistently believe that their system is the best in the world, so they expect not only admiration for it, but also adherence to it. The world is diverse, and this means that, first, each country has its own political system, and second, we must learn to respect their differences. Unfortunately, if you look at the history of the U.S. over the past century or so, there were many periods when the U.S. tried to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries through its economic and military hegemony, resulting in regional instability. Many countries, for instance, have been plagued with refugee crises, internal political instability, military coups, and economic depressions. In my opinion, to prevent global turbulence, we should first abandon the notion that our political system is so superior that we must impose it on other countries. Diplomacy Talk: Professor Xie, do you think people with different religious beliefs, as well as those without a religious faith, can relate to the vision of a community with a shared future? Xie Tao: If you are asking whether people of different religious beliefs can coexist peacefully, then the answer is yes. At least in China, we have accomplished this. However, in international relations, if you talk to some people in the West, they might dispute it, citing Huntington's clash of civilizations theory. They argue that Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity cannot coexist peacefully. Yet, in reality, throughout the human history of more than 5,000 years, Islam and Buddhism have coexisted peacefully for a substantial period, as have Christianity and Buddhism, including in China and other countries. So why are there some problems now? I believe the root of the issue lies in the fact that some Western politicians continually exploit differences in civilizations and religions to incite conflict. They are unwilling to respect the differences in other religious beliefs or cultures. They only pay lip service to respecting diversity. Actually, they always attempt to impose their own values on others and do not respect other people's religions or cultures. Diplomacy Talk: A community with a shared future for mankind requires the joint efforts and cooperation of all parties around the world, and it's undeniably a long-term process. What responsibilities, in your opinion, should countries around the world, especially China and the U.S., assume in this process? Xie Tao: As the two largest economies in the world, China and the U.S. should first respect each other. Second, it's about common but differentiated responsibilities. There may be some areas where China outperforms the U.S. In such instances, China should actively take the lead, and Western countries should also encourage China to do so. They should not stand in the way when China tries to make these contributions. Let me give you a simple example: China's poverty alleviation efforts are clearly visible for all to see. No one can deny such an objective fact. This signifies that China has extensive experience in this area, and thus, China should be allowed to take the lead. Diplomacy Talk: Some people say that China is biting off more than it can chew when giving international assistance. Do you agree? Xie Tao: Whether in China or the U.S., there will be some voices questioning their foreign aid policies at certain stages. When a country develops to a certain point, the international community is actually expecting its help. This means that the stronger the country, the greater the responsibility. When others are in trouble, we should actively offer help. I don't think China is failing to manage its domestic affairs or biting more than it can chew. Rather, China, as an important member of the community with a shared future, is providing its own public goods and doing its part to contribute to the international community's development. Diplomacy Talk: The international situation is undergoing both transformation and upheaval. We've seen the Ukraine crisis dragging on and NATO's attempts to expand eastward into the Asia-Pacific region. In this context, how do you view the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind? Xie Tao: Now the future of mankind is increasingly intertwined. The more connected we become, the more we require global governance, necessitating countries like China and the U.S. to step up and shoulder the responsibility of global governance. Unfortunately, in the past decade, some Western countries led by the U.S. have not made significant contributions to global governance. Instead, they have often obstructed global governance and created hurdles for countries from the Global South, such as China, to participate in global governance. I think the past decade has actually witnessed China's important contributions to the community with a shared future for mankind. Looking ahead, we may encounter more challenges. However, I believe that with the wisdom of Chinese leaders, and China's sense of responsibility and willingness to bear global responsibilities, I am confident that the prospects of building a community with a shared future for mankind will get better and better. Presenter: Wang Xiaohui Producer: Li Xiaohua Production supervisor: Zhang Liying Editors: Zhang Ruomeng, Qi Yibin, Lyu Yiyi, Zhang Heling Produced by "China's Diplomacy in the New Era" Website chinadiplomacy.org.cn More than 30 Harvard University student organizations released a joint statement saying they hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, after Hamas attacked Israeli citizens over the weekend. Hamas launched a surprise attack on 22 Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip on Saturday. At least 700 Israelis and 413 Palestinians have been reported killed, according to The New York Times. So far, nine Americans have also been counted among the dead. Israels government launched a counterattack and has declared war. Saturdays attack on Israel by Hamas has escalated the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The death toll has exceeded 1,300 people total and more than 100 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas, CNBC reported. Related In the early 1900s, tensions between Jews and Palestinian Arabs in then British-controlled Palestine rose until 1948 when Jewish leaders declared the state of Israel, according to PBS. Fighting broke out, resulting in the displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians and Israel taking control over several parts of the area. Since then, there has been fighting and skirmishes over who should control what part of the area. The Harvard students statement references the decadeslong conflict and said for the past 75 years, From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden, the statement read. The former president of Harvard and U.S. politicians have reacted to the statement on social media. In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today. The silence from Harvard leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel, former president of Harvard University Lawrence H. Summers wrote in a thread on X. I very much hope appropriate statements from the University and College condemning those who launched terrorist attacks and standing in solidarity with its victims will soon be forthcoming, he said. Israel is the victim of a terrorist attack. Hamas is the perpetrator. Its as simple as that. There are no both sides, Rep. Ritchie John Torres, D-N.Y., wrote on X. Yet here you have 30+ student organizations from Harvard University, blaming the victims, Israelis, for their own murder, rape, and abduction, rather than blaming the perpetrator, Hamas, for murdering, raping, and abducting them. Related It is abhorrent and heinous that Harvard student groups are blaming Israel for Hamas barbaric terrorist attacks that have killed over 700 Israelis, Harvard alumna and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, wrote on X. Harvard University president Claudine Gay issued a statement on Tuesday saying she condemned the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas. Let me also state, on this matter as on others, that while our students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group not even 30 student groups speaks for Harvard University or its leadership, Gay said in her statement. A group of Harvard faculty signed an open letter to the Harvard Community where they said, In contrast, while terrorists were still killing Israelis in their homes, 35 Harvard student organizations wrote that they hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence, with not a single word denouncing the horrific acts by Hamas. In the context of the unfolding events, this statement can be seen as nothing less than condoning the mass murder of civilians based only on their nationality. The letter also said about Harvard administrations statement, While justly denouncing Hamas, it still contributed to the false equivalency between attacks on noncombatants and self-defense against those atrocities. Furthermore, the statement failed to condemn the justifications for violence that come from our own campus, nor to make it clear to the world that the statement endorsed by these organizations does not represent the values of the Harvard community. The statement issued by the student organizations isnt the only way that Harvard students reacted to the attack. More than 100 people affiliated with the university attended a Harvard Hillel gathering on Saturday afternoon to mourn those who were killed in Hamas attack on Israel, The Harvard Crimson reported. The gathering began with a religious service led by rabbis from Hillel and Chabad, followed by remarks by students who shared stories of family members and friends in Israel affected by the attacks, Joyce E. Kim wrote for The Harvard Crimson. At Columbia University, 16 student groups circulated a statement that said, The weight of responsibility for the war and casualties undeniably lies with the Israeli extremist government and other Western governments, including the U.S. government, which fund and staunchly support Israeli aggression, apartheid, and settler-colonization, as first reported by The National Review. This isnt the first time that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in conflict on Ivy League college campuses. The Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee hosts an annual Israeli Apartheid Week which has attracted speakers like Noam Chomsky. Related Rabbi Jonah C. Steinberg, executive director of Harvard Hillel has criticized the annual event, calling the artwork associated with the event a huge anti-Israel display ... beneath the intelligence and the truth-seeking inquisitiveness one expects of Harvard students. The Harvard Crimson itself issued a statement in April 2022 supporting the Harvard College Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement. Harvard faculty with diverse perspectives ... on issues of Israeli policy issued a statement in response to the Crimsons editorial position. We urge the Crimson Editorial Board to reach out to Jewish peers so that they can begin to repair the damage caused by writing such a divisive staff editorial, adding insult to injury by thoughtlessly publishing it the day after Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day. U.S. Rep. Alma Adams , D-N.C., told theGrio she plans to work on efforts on Capitol Hill to secure increased funding for security on HBCU campuses. Safety on HBCU campuses, which are woefully underfunded, has been a long-standing concern for administrators and elected officials. That concern escalated over the last few years due to a string of bomb threats, rising hate-fueled violence, and, most recently, shootings on campuses of these historic institutions of higher learning. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND OCTOBER 04: A sign for Morgan State University on October 04, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. Police are still looking for a suspect who opened fire on the campus of the historically black college as students were attending a homecoming week event, injuring five people. This is the third year in a row where gun violence has marred the Universitys homecoming festivities. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Last week, a shooting occurred on the campus of Morgan State University in Maryland during homecoming week. Five people were injured, and no arrest has been made. A week prior, a shooting at a student housing complex at Tuskegee University in Alabama left four injured. On Saturday night, a shooting at Bowie State University, another HBCU campus in Maryland, left two people hospitalized. Similar to the Morgan State incident, the shooting occurred during Bowie States homecoming festivities. Leaders in Congress and education are now reigniting calls for more security for HBCUs through increased funding to protect against gun-related incidents and other types of violence, including preventive measures. U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., believes there needs to be a safety net for HBCUs. The founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus told theGrio she plans to work on efforts on Capitol Hill to secure increased funding for security on campuses. Congresswoman Adams called for establishing an alert system to make students aware of emergency events like what happened at Morgan State, Bowie, and Tuskegee. As for other ideas on how to keep HBCUs more secure, she told theGrio, I am sure the universities have some idea about what they need. Adams said she has talked to FBI officials about her security concerns for HBCU campuses. UNITED STATES MAY 9: Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., attends a House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment hearing in Rayburn Building titled The Cost of Non-Completion: Improving Student Outcomes in Higher Education, on Thursday, May 9, 2019. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) News reports indicated many Morgan State students on lockdown after the shooting were unaware of what happened. After seeing national headlines, some were informed by loved ones who called them frantically. Glenda Glover, president of Tennessee State University and vice chair of the White House Board of Advisors on HBCUs, told theGrio this moment shows how important infrastructure funding is needed on HBCU campuses that includes funding for security. Glover said such funding would be used for campus police protection, campus security guards, and local law enforcement. The outgoing university president also lamented about such shootings happening during one of the most sacred times at an HBCU. Homecoming is a time to celebrate and not for criminal aspects to manifest, said Glover. When asked about calls for increased security funding for HBCUs during a press briefing last week, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre told theGrio, I havent seen that request, so I cant speak to that directly. WASHINGTON, DC OCTOBER 04: White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on October 04, 2023 in Washington, DC. Jean-Pierre spoke on Speaker McCarthy and the House Republicans and the debate over military aid for Ukraine (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) However, the Biden spokesperson acknowledged the newly created White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention was established to work on solutions to incidents like what occurred at Morgan State. Jean-Pierre added, This is a president that has given more than any other president as it relates to HBCUs more than $7 billion. You see his commitment to HBCUs. On the issue of security, those familiar with homecoming time at Morgan State say Maryland State Police typically patrol the campus. According to sources, homecoming police presence typically is low but usually ramps up by the end of the week of culminating events. Part of the problem for HBCUs, which are epicenters of culture and pride for Black communities, is that their campuses are often open to all. Amid incidents of violence, leaders have mulled over ways to keep dangerous elements out. But the overall issue of rising crime that most recently extended to Morgan State has Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott reiterating this is more of an issue about guns. If it could happen that close to the police, then the issue is not police, Scott told theGrio. This was a basic human conflict that led to a gunfight. Scott said the Morgan State incident occurred about 100 feet away from a Baltimore City Police precinct. In the aftermath of last weeks shooting, Morgan State canceled its homecoming activities. Sources close to the HBCU told theGrio the university did not want to take the risk of another incident occurring on the campus, where shootings have marred past homecomings in recent years. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post HBCU security becomes major concern after string of shootings appeared first on TheGrio. The head of the statue and the tip of a spear were acquired by Tony Pedley The head of a statue of a Zulu warrior which used to stand at a zoo's entrance will be put on public display after it was bought by an antiques dealer. The 35ft (10.7m) monument was seen by visitors at Coventry Zoo until the attraction closed in 1980. Most of it was crushed apart from the statue's head and the tip of the spear and was bought this month by Tony Pedley. "It's such an iconic piece of Coventry history," he said. Mr Pedley found out about the pieces of the statue when he said a friend had called him about a man he had known who "had it in his loft for 30 years". He runs The 888 Emporium in Coventry, a shop for antiques, collectables and memorabilia. When the statue and spear tip are delivered to him later this week, he said they would go on a wall at the shop "in pride of place" but did not want to reveal how much he had paid for them. Coventry Zoo opened in 1966 and closed 14 years later, according to the Coventry Society, a local civic society. Many people will remember the large Zulu that dominated the entrance, it added. Hear on BBC Sounds how Tony Pedley acquired the statue's head and spear tip The figure was considered controversial for its portrayal of African people, according to 1973 Live, an account on X which documents 1970s history. The remains of the statue were a mystery until 2011 when two brothers said they had the head, the Coventry Telegraph reported in 2011. The paper said they found it lying in a scrapyard in the early 1980s. "The crown's broken so I've got a guy making me a bit of a new crown and we just need to give it a bit of TLC," Mr Pedley said. "I just want to keep part of it for history." Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk The family of an American man has revealed his final heartbreaking text messages as Hamas militants launched an attack on a music festival in the Israeli desert. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since early Saturday morning when he was partying with hundreds of other ravers at the Supernova festival in northern Negev. During the celebrations, Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack, killing and kidnapping dozens of people from the site. The Israeli rescue service Zaka said on Sunday that more than 260 bodies had since been found at the music festival site, with the death toll likely to climb higher. Mr Golberg-Polins father Jonathon Polin told The Jerusalem Post that his son was among those partying at the rave. The 23-year-olds birthday was just days earlier and he was also celebrating his release from Army service at the end of April, he said. At around 8am local time on Saturday morning, the 23-year-old sent a couple of ominous messages to his parents. I love you, one of the messages read. Im sorry, read another. No one has seen or heard from him since, with the family now desperately trying to find out what happened to him. We just want him home and safe, Jonathon Polin told the outlet. We love you. Come home to us, he said in a direct appeal to his son. Jonathon Polin said that there were two locations Yishuv Saad and Ofakim that they thought he could have fled to, but he was nowhere to be found there. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since Saturday (The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook) He wasnt at any of those places, he said. The desperate father is now holding onto hopes that he could still be in hiding in the area around the festival. [Officials] 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, he said. Mr Golberg-Polin was born in Berkley, California, and moved with his family to Jerusalem when he was a small child. He went on to join the Army, training as a medic and tank driver in the 7th Armored Brigade. On completion of his Army service, Jonathon Polin said his son got a job as a waiter and was saving up for his lifelong dream of travelling to India. Now, he is one of many missing after the attack. Terrifying footage circulating on social media showed dozens of festivalgoers running from Hamas attackers, while some were seen being bundled onto vehicles and taken hostage. As of Monday morning, Israel said that at least 700 people have been killed marking the deadliest attack on the nation in decades. Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. At least four Americans are among those confirmed to have been killed, with many more believed to be missing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that he had been informed about the US fatalies in an unclassified briefing by Acting Deputy Secretary of State Toria Nuland and Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker on Sunday. Israel music festival attendees flee as Hamas fighters descend (Telegram) 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. President Joe Biden has vowed that the US stands with Israel and has spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to offer support. PORTSMOUTH The Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath has been named as the new executive director of Seacoast Outright, the Portsmouth-based LGBTQ+ youth advocacy organization founded in 1993. Heath is stepping down from her current role as the executive director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches. At Seacoast Outright, she will replace outgoing leader Hershey Hirschkop, the groups executive director since 2019 who has been chosen as the inaugural director of housing for Fair Tide in Kittery, Maine. The Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath has been selected as the new executive director of LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group Seacoast Outright. Heath will replace current Seacoast Outright executive director Hershey Hirschkop. As somebody who came out when I was 18, I know the essential value of peers and adults who can support you and love you and help you shine your lightest light to the world, Heath said. Heaths last day with the New Hampshire Council of Churches, which has not yet selected a new executive director, was Wednesday, Oct. 4. Her tenure at Seacoast Outright will begin Oct. 16. LFGBTQ+ equality has been part of my life for over 20 years and part of my professional life for almost as long, she said. A real thread of my professional work, both in and inside of the LGBTQ+ arena, has been helping people to claim their truest selves. More: Hershey Hirschkop leaving Seacoast Outright after years helping LGBTQ+ kids: What's next Seacoast Outrights board of directors announced Heaths appointment Oct. 2. "We are thrilled to welcome Heidi on board, said Michael Haley, chairperson of the organizations board of directors, in a prepared statement. Seacoast Outright has made enormous strides in the past few years. We are confident that Heidis experience and passion will solidify the progress we have made and propel us into our organizations next chapter. At the New Hampshire Statehouse, one failed bill would have required school officials to reveal to parents whether their child was using a different name or using different pronouns, while another killed bill from 2021 would have legally listed gender-affirming surgery as child abuse in the state of New Hampshire. Such votes have taken place as young LGBTQ+ people have seen their mental health suffer. The Trevor Projects 2023 national survey of LGBTQ+ mental health included hearing from 28,000-plus LGBTQ+ Americans between 13 and 24 years old, 41% of whom seriously considered attempting suicide in the year prior. There has been a toll with all those public conversations, whether (the legislation) passes or not, Heath said. Seacoast Outrights work to continue offering programming and offering support and care that allows LGBTQ+ youth and their families to thrive is essential. The 30-year-old organization has an annual budget of approximately $280,000, coordinates the annual Pride parade in Portsmouth and has programming for LGBTQ+ youth throughout the Seacoast and southern Maine. Heath aims to build off Hirschkops work and hold conversations about opening an LGBTQ+ youth center in the region. Were at a really critical time for LGBTQ+ youth and their families and allies, she said. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Heidi Carrington Heath to lead Seacoast Outright The fight bell is ringing in the House Republican Conference this week, as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio battle for the speaker's gavel. Scalise and Jordan are two House GOP powerhouses who are jockeying for the lower chamber's top spot after now-former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from the job. The backdrop to the race became more complex over the weekend, with the Iran-backed Hamas' deadly surprise terrorist attack and invasion of Israel. UNMITIGATED S---SHOW: HOUSE REPUBLICANS FUME OVER SPEAKER VACANCY AMID ISRAEL CRISIS The fight bell is ringing in the House Republican Conference this week as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, left, and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan battle for the speaker's gavel. Here is what to expect while awaiting a speaker's vote this week. MONDAY READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP House Republicans are expected to first meet on Monday, Columbus Day, to begin full conference discussions on the GOP nominee for the speaker's gavel. There will likely be sparks as the two candidates' camps push for their guy to take the reins of the House and relieve interim Speaker Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., but full attendance is unlikely. With Monday being a federal holiday after an eventful and historic week, the most likely attendees will be the lawmakers who are vocally behind one of the two candidates. Reps. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan are two House GOP powerhouses jockeying for the lower chamber's top spot after now-former Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the job. TUESDAY Tuesday is when the volleys are expected to fly as the House GOP conference meets again to continue their discussions on who to put up for the speaker's gavel on the House floor. House Democrats are also expected to convene on Tuesday to throw their support behind a nominee for speaker most likely House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries , D-N.Y. It is incredibly unlikely that Jeffries would be elected as speaker with the House GOP majority but the slim numbers could become a bargaining chip for lawmakers who want something from the new speaker. The best-case scenario for House Republicans is if they are able to reach a consensus behind either Jordan or Scalise and cruise into Wednesday for a quick conference vote. House Democrats are also expected to convene on Tuesday to throw their support behind a nominee for speaker most likely House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. WEDNESDAY Wednesday marks the day the House Republicans are expected to vote on their nominee for speaker. In the best-case scenario, the GOP will coalesce behind either Jordan or Scalise without many fireworks and potentially even schedule a floor vote for the new speaker that afternoon. The worst-case scenario for the GOP is that the conference is unable to choose a candidate they want to throw their hats behind, leading to a prolonged discussion. If there is a prolonged discussion, the earliest we could see a floor vote is Thursday morning. MOTION TO VACATE MEASURE BECOMES A LIGHTNING ROD IN STORMY HOUSE SPEAKER'S RACE THURSDAY Should Republicans not be able to push a floor vote for speaker on Wednesday, Thursday becomes the live option to settle the gavel battle. The floor vote will prove to be the biggest obstacle for the GOP nominee, especially if there is disagreement in the caucus on who should be on the ballot. The nominee requires the majority of the House membership to ascend to the speakership. Republicans can only afford to lose four votes in the proceedings something that became a major bargaining chip in January and may become one again. Should Republicans not be able to push a floor vote for speaker on Wednesday, Thursday becomes the live option to settle the gavel battle. DARK HORSE MCCARTHY Do not sleep on McCarthy in the speaker mix, either several House Republicans are calling for the now-former top dog to resume his role after his historic ouster. McCarthy has not ruled out retaking the gavel, either, should the conference ask him to do so. A House Republican called for bipartisan efforts to reinstate McCarthy as House speaker amid growing concerns that a vacant speakership could result in roadblocks to aiding Israel. "There is no greater friend of Israel than Kevin McCarthy and, in terms of American government this last year, Kevin McCarthy, the speaker of the House, has been the adult in the room. We've been passing the appropriations bills.," Rep. John Duarte, R-Calif., told "FOX & Friends" Monday. "We did pass H.R. 1 to make sure America had its own energy supply. And Kevin McCarthy has been engaged in world affairs. We need Kevin McCarthy back in the speakership right now. We need to get that vote done this week." ISRAEL The newest addition to the fray, the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas, has complicated the speaker's race. Some Republicans have called for the House GOP conference to expedite the speaker's vote proceedings in the wake of the war. With Congress crippled at the moment, aid for Israel has skyrocketed into a critical position as the death toll continues to rise after the surprise terrorist attack by Hamas. Hundreds of Israelis, both soldiers and civilians, were killed over the weekend in an unprecedented attack within the countrys borders by Hamas militants. Israel has responded with force in the Gaza Strip after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy sites associated with Hamas. It has underscored the political crisis within the House of Representatives, with Congress nearly paralyzed until the lower chamber picks a new leader. Lawmakers are navigating uncharted territory. Before last week, the U.S. Congress had never removed a House speaker. McHenry is serving as interim speaker, but the scope of his power is still up for debate. According to several interpretations, the role serves to facilitate the election of a new speaker and nothing else. Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this reporting. Original article source: Here's what to expect during this week's House speaker battle Former President Donald Trump on Monday accused Forbes magazine of colluding with New York Attorney General Letitia James after he fell off the outlets list of 400 wealthiest Americans. China owned (China Investment Corp, the Countrys Sovereign wealth Fund!), and very badly failing, Forbes Magazine, which lost most of its relevance long ago, and which knows less about me than Stormy Daniels (who doesnt know me at all!) or Rosie ODonnell, took me off their Fake Forbes 400 list, just by a whisker, even though they know that I should be high up on that now very dated and discredited antique, Trump wrote on Truth Social. They are working with the Racist and highly incompetent, job killing Attorney General of New York, Letitia Peekaboo James, who has allowed Murder and Violent Crime in the State to hit epidemic levels, he continued. China owned Forbes is a participant in the Election Interference Scam, and after what I have done to China, with hundreds of billions of dollars being paid to the USA, who can blame them? For years Forbes has attacked me with really dumb writers assigned to hit me hard, and I am now up 60 Points on the Republicans, and beating Crooked Joe by a lot. So much for Forbes! The magazine last week announced that Trump, whose net worth the outlet estimated at $2.6 billion, is no longer rich enough to make the list, missing it by about $300 million. Trumps net worth fell more than $600 million, in large part due to the failure of Truth Social. His stake in the platforms parent company fell from $730 million in value to less than $100 million. His office buildings are also down about $170 million, the outlet reported. (FOX40.COM) Driving through U.S Highway 50 while its under construction has been a nightmare for many commuters and some want to know when the project will finally be finished. Its horrific. I live in Rancho and have no choice but to take 50 since I work at UC Davis Med Center, said local resident Nicki Fairbanks. People are too busy rushing to merge appropriately, and there are far more accidents. Its taking too long. The estimated $471.2 million reconstruction of Highway 50 is known as the Fix50 Highway Enhancement Project, and kicked off in November of 2020. Construction began on Highway 50 near Interstate 5 and is expected to end .08 miles east of Watt Avenue, according to official project plans released by the California Department of Transportation (DOT). Although it began nearly three years ago, DOT reported that as of October 2023, the project is 76% completed. Construction includes new high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes (carpool lanes) in each direction on US-50 from the Interstate 5 interchange to Watt Avenue, widening connector ramps, increasing vertical clearance at overcrossings, replacing freeway pavement with continuously reinforced concrete pavement, and more. Positive changes are expected to come to Highway 50 but some commuters worry about a negative impact on driver safety as roads close or become split during the construction. I pray each time I approach 50. I take it when traveling to the Bay Area said Sacramento resident Sheila Proctor. The lane change and split causes confusion and oftentimes cars will abruptly cut you off trying to correct themselves. I dont take my eyes off the road, not even if my phone rings. A second or two from looking away can cause a mishap. Once I get on 80, I can breathe. Some residents say they have gotten into accidents since the start of the Fix50 Highway Enhancement Project. I lived in Sacramento for years and I can honestly say 50 is probably one of the worst highways to drive, said Rick Perez. Ive had a lot of close calls and now with all the construction, it makes it a lot worse. Perez said that in July 2023 he was run off Highway 50 with his fiance, and three-year-old son in the vehicle. It was his first and only accident. Its a hot mess, said Miranda Timmons who commutes regularly on the highway. It used to be a 10-15 min drive. Now its taking 30-45. The speed limit in the construction work zone on Highway 50 is 55 MPH and the California Highway Patrol monitors the area 24 hours a day, seven days a week according to the Fix50 Highway Enhancement Project website. The general work schedule (subject to change) is from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. for day work and from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m. for night work. Some commuters say they stopped using Highway 50 altogether. I hate 50 enough that I moved from Rancho to Natomas so I wouldnt have to deal with the commute and traffic nightmare anymore, said Sacramento resident Sara Sterner. She said that she received two huge cracks in her windshield while commuting. I was commuting from 50 and Mather to Natomas every day, Sterner said. I got both cracks from the phases of the resurfacing, the first crack came a couple of days after they started roughing up the road at Bradshaw, and the second came a week later near the 65th exit. The construction of Highway 50 has reportedly caused some challenges for commuters, but some are still hopeful. Its easy to complain about it. Im not going to do that. I am thankful for the workers doing their jobs the best they can, said Sacramento resident Mike Roberts. Yes, it gets congested and frustrating. Im on it 8 to 10 times a day, from Elk Grove to the port. My complaint is to the inconsiderate drivers. You put the lives of these workers at risk. Also everyone around you. For you workers, thank you. I believe they are doing the best they can. According to the Fix50 Highway Enhancement Project website, completion of the project is expected to be in the summer of 2025. For real-time highway conditions visit dot.ca.gov. For more information visit fix50.com. Complaints about noises or work can be sent to dennis.keaton@dot.ca.gov. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. Italy's Path of the Gods on the Amalfi Coast is one of the most breathtaking hikes in the world. Getting to the trail's starting point can be challenging (and expensive). If you plan to hike, bring plenty of water and bug spray and be ready for a lot of stairs. The Path of the Gods on Italy's Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world, but it's also really difficult to get to. Known as Sentiero degli Dei in Italian, the path starts in a small village high in the mountains and takes you down to the coastal town of Positano. On a 25-day trip through Italy, my husband and I prioritized this epic yet difficult-to-coordinate hike. Here's how I recommend preparing for the trip. Study the hike beforehand The Path of the Gods is a point-to-point hike, which means you'll end at a different location than you started. Because the hike is all about the stunning views below and we didn't want to be utterly exhausted on our relaxing Amalfi Coast trip we started at the top of the trail in Bomerano and hiked down the mountainside to Nocelle. After reaching Nocelle, we walked down to Positano, one of the most popular towns on the Amalfi Coast. I recommend starting at the top of the hike in Bomerano. Timothy Moore In theory, you can hike the other way, but it's much more strenuous. Plus, it leaves you with your back toward the best views. Arrange transportation to the hike ahead of time A sign with directions to Sentiero degli Dei, Colle Serra, and Positano. There were plenty of signs to point us in the right direction.Timothy Moore Arranging transportation to the start of the hike is stressful. Most people stay along the coast, far from the starting point, and don't have a car. Depending on the time of year, driving on the Amalfi Coast is highly discouraged for tourists. One option is a SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano, but these buses are often unreliable and if you're not staying in Amalfi proper, you first have to take a ferry or bus to the town. Plus, relying on a bus means you can't start the hike on your own, and starting early (and on time) is crucial. Friends of ours waited several hours for the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano, but it never showed, so they couldn't complete the hike. A view of a coastal town from out a car window Hiring a private driver was pricey but worth it.Timothy Moore Instead of gambling on a bus, we hired a private driver from our hotel in Sorrento, who dropped us off in Bomerano. It was admittedly expensive (about $200) but stress-free and convenient. Our driver was fantastic. He showed up early, had great food recommendations for Positano and Sorrento, and got us to the hike quickly and safely despite the treacherous winding roads. If you're doing the Path of the Gods as the full point-to-point hike, it also means you'll need to arrange additional transportation at the end of the hike. Stop at cafes to grab a snack and an espresso before getting started After grabbing some coffee, we made our way to the trail. Timothy Moore Getting picked up at 6 a.m. didn't leave any room for coffee, and by the time our driver dropped us off in Bomerano to start the hike, we were ready to go back to sleep. Luckily, the village of Bomerano has a few cafes to grab an espresso or two and use the restroom if needed. From the cafes, we walked 10 to 15 minutes to the start of the trail. Get there early to beat the heat (and the crowds) An early-morning wake-up call isn't consistent with a relaxing vacation on the Amalfi Coast, but it's ideal when doing the Path of the Gods. When hiking early, you get gorgeous views of the sun rising over the mountains, and the temperature is much cooler. By midday, especially in the summer, temps can reach 80 or 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and there are large stretches of path without any trees. Because we started early, we got to see the sunrise over the mountains. Timothy Moore Plus, the Path of the Gods is mostly crowd-free when you go early in the morning. We started the hike with three other people, but 1/2 mile in, my husband and I were going at our own pace. From that point, the only person we saw was a goat farmer herding his goats down the path. We came across some goats on our hike. Timothy Moore Ensure your packing list includes water, bug spray, and sunscreen Packing right and light for the Path of the Gods is crucial. It's a few hours of hiking, so we brought a nice backpack with enough water to last most of the trip. My hiking backpack was large enough to fit all of the essentials. Timothy Moore There are water-fill spots in the town of Nocelle (before you hike the never-ending stairs to Positano), as well as some refuges where you can grab snacks and drinks. But Nocelle is about two hours into the hike. We found a refreshment point during the hike. Timothy Moore In addition to water, you'll want to bring bug spray (the mosquitoes were relentless) and sunscreen. I also recommend bringing an emergency roll of toilet paper, just in case. Wear high-quality hiking boots and use hiking poles if you have them. We only traveled with carry-ons, so we left our poles at home and my knees really missed their support. You'll also want to pack a swimsuit and towel if you plan to swim in Positano, and a change of clothes if you hope to grab a fancy lunch or dinner. Our clothes were soaked in sweat by the end of the hike. Although the hike is downhill, prepare for plenty of elevation gains Descriptions of the Path of the Gods can be misleading. Sure, it really is a trek from a mountaintop village to a town down by the sea, but despite the descent, there are several stretches where you climb up. A lot. The overall downhill hike is anything but easy. It's a good family hike, but you need good balance, stamina, and leg strength. The path has loose rocks and steep cliffs, so hike at your own risk. Don't forget to take in the stunning views along the coast The view from above of the coastal town of Positano. The hike offered breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast.Timothy Moore All the effort the physical hiking and the coordination is worth it for the sweeping views of the Amalfi Coast. Along the way, you'll see the massive mountains, the sparkling water, and towns like Praiano and Positano below. Appreciate the surprises along the way Don't just look up at the mountains and down at the water. The path-level views are also stunning. You'll find medieval farm ruins, tall trees for occasional shade, and, if you're lucky, a parade of goats being led along the trail by a whistling farmer and his dog. We came across the ruins of a medieval farm. Timothy Moore Speaking of dogs, six dogs including a few puppies eagerly greeted us when we arrived in Nocelle. Getting in a few pets from the playful pups was a welcome break before continuing the hike. Finding a pack of dogs in Nocelle was a nice surprise. Timothy Moore Be prepared for lots of steps Technically, the Path of the Gods connects Bomerano and Nocelle. But Nocelle is a small village that's still pretty high up the mountainside, which means you've got to walk down farther to get to Positano. Two signs pointing to the right. The bottom sign reads, in both Italian and English, "Nocelle, 15 minutes (public toilets)" and "Positano 50 minutes by steps." Although Nocelle is located at the end of the path, we still had more walking to do to reach Positano.Timothy Moore At that point, it's not a hiking trail anymore, it's roughly 1,700 steps that seem to go on forever. Our legs were rubber about halfway down. We were greeted by roughly 1,700 stairs to Positano. Timothy Moore Hug the side of the busy road while walking into town After the steps (about a 20-minute descent), the path drops you off on a winding road full of motorcycles, taxis, and buses taking on turns on the coastal roads like NASCAR drivers. We hugged the side of the road as tight as we could and enjoyed the ocean views on the 10-minute walk to Positano. We hugged the side of the road as we walked. Timothy Moore Remember to coordinate return transportation Positano is a beautiful city (but surprise it's full of more stairs). Plan to spend time here shopping, dining, sipping Limoncello, and enjoying the beach. If Positano is where your lodging is, you can grab a shower and change your clothes. If not, you'll also need to have a plan to get back to wherever you're staying. We took shelter when a thunderstorm rolled in. Timothy Moore We planned to take a ferry from Positano to Sorrento, but a storm rolled in quite quickly, and the ferries were suspended for the day. Instead, we were soaking wet and packed in tight on a (more reliable) SITA bus connecting Positano and Sorrento. The Path of the Gods is 100% worth the effort Planning and getting to the Path of the Gods was challenging and expensive, but it was one of the highlights of our nearly month-long trip to Italy. If you plan on vacationing on the Amalfi Coast and want to add a little adventure to your relaxation, I suggest finding a way to make this hike happen. Read the original article on Insider The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel this weekend. Israel has since retaliated with force, reigniting a decade-long conflict. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented sea, air, and ground offensive on Israel. It marked the most devastating attack on the country for decades. Thousands of rockets were fired by the group's militants toward southern and central Israel, striking major cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israeli Defense Forces said Monday that more than 700 people were killed, including people who were attending a music festival near the Gaza Strip the Palestinian exclave which has been controlled by Hamas since 2006. Scores more were taken hostage. Israel has since retaliated with full force, drafting a record 300,000 reservists and attacking housing blocks, a mosque, and other buildings in Gaza with its own missiles. At least 830 people in Gaza have been killed as of Tuesday, the Gaza Ministry of Health said. Rockets are fired by Palestinian militants from Gaza into Israel. Mohammed Salem/REUTERS The attack has been a "historic failure" for the Israeli intelligence service, which used to be seen as one of the most capable in the world, David Khalfa of the North Africa and Middle East Observatory at French think tank the Fondation Jean-Jaures, told France24. Rising tensions between Israel and Hamas Though it caught Israel by surprise, the Hamas attack comes after months of worsening tensions between the two sides. Last month, Israeli police carried out a raid on the al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem one of the three holiest sites in Islam. A spokesperson for Hamas told Al Jazeera it launched the attack partly because of "atrocities in Gaza, against Palestinian people, our holy sites like Al-Aqsa." Meanwhile, there have also been terror attacks in Israel, including when a Palestinian gunman shot seven people dead near a synagogue in January. Palestinians clean the Al Aqsa mosque after clashes with Israeli police on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City November 5, 2014 Ammar Awad/Reuters The blockade of Gaza The Gaza Strip has been at the heart of the tensions. Gaza is a narrow strip of land wedged between Israel and Egypt, which has been controlled by Hamas since 2007. After Hamas took over Gaza, its more than 2 million residents endured a border blockade enforced to varying degrees by Israel and Egypt. The blockade included Israeli authorities intensifying their border controls and movement restrictions in the area in general. Officials prohibited Palestinians from entering or leaving the area except in extremely rare cases and closed land-border crossings from Gaza into Israel except for one which is open only to Palestinians with Israeli-approved permits. This has led Human Rights Watch to liken the conditions in Gaza to "an open-air prison." Egypt has also closed its land border from time to time, which is often the only way people in Gaza can gain access to the rest of the world. Israelis have also curtailed the flow of goods into the area, particularly construction materials, medical supplies, and food. It said the blockade was necessary to protect Israelis from Hamas. "The current conflict didn't begin just two days ago; it began when Israel decided to treat Palestinians as less than equal human beings and forcibly displaced them from their ancestral lands and towns, the same lands they yearn to return to today," wrote Mohammed Mhawish in The Nation. On Monday, Netanyahu's office declared they would stop sending food, fuel, and electricity from entering the disputed territory. "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, according to The Times of Israel. Disrupting negotiations Former U.S. intelligence and military officers told NBC News that they believed the timing of the Hamas attack was primarily aimed at disrupting a transformative three-way deal between Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. The agreement would have seen Israel and Saudi formally recognize each other within a security, defense, and economic partnership with the US. However, the attack has now derailed that possibility at least in the near term, Western analysts said. "There was a palpable frustration among the Palestinians at seeing the Saudis and Israelis moving closer," retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis, a former commander of NATO, told NBC News. Saudi Arabia has since publicly blamed Israel for the Hamas invasion, jeopardizing the peace deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018. AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov, Pool Israel dealing with domestic division For months, Israel's government has been in turmoil over plans to change the way the judicial system works, the BBC reported. Earlier this year, Netanyahu announced plans to remove the power of the Supreme Court so that it cannot scrutinize and overrule the government. Thousands of people against the proposal took to the streets in cities across the country. The protesters, who were backed by Netanyahu's political rivals and some military officials, also called for his resignation. Khalfa told France24 that Hamas launched its attack now "to capitalize on Israel's vulnerability." "This terrorist operation comes at a time when Israel is facing an unprecedented political and institutional crisis," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider While the Writers Guild of America has signed a new contract, the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is still on strike over pay and other conditions (VALERIE MACON) Hollywood writers overwhelmingly voted to approve a hard-fought new deal with studios, their union said Monday, officially ending one of the industry's longest ever strikes. "99 percent of WGA members have voted in favor of ratifying" the contract, allowing them to return to work on improved terms, said the Writers Guild of America on social media. Approval by the union's 11,500-odd members had been widely seen as a near-certainty. Last month, after 148 days on strike, WGA negotiators reached a deal with the likes of Netflix and Disney, achieving better pay, greater protections from artificial intelligence, minimum staffing levels and more. Most writers returned to work nearly two weeks ago, in anticipation of the deal being ratified. Still, film and television productions in Hollywood are yet to resume in earnest, as the far larger Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) representing 160,000 performers remains on strike. Talks between the studios and SAG-AFTRA, which went on strike in July, finally began last week, and were scheduled to resume Monday. SAG-AFTRA's demands over pay, and limits to the future use of AI, go further than those of the writers. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represented the industry's biggest studios in talks with the WGA, praised the outcome of the writers' vote. "The AMPTP member companies congratulate the WGA on the ratification of its new contract, which represents meaningful gains and protections for writers," it said in a statement. "It is important progress for our industry that writers are back to work." amz/hg/sst Secretary of State Antony Blinken said one of the people forcibly taken after Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel over the weekend is a Holocaust survivor who uses a wheelchair. Blinken on Sunday explained to ABCs George Stephanopoulos that the attack on Israel is the worst since the violent conflict known as the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. This is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as weve seen so graphically, literally dragging people across the the border with Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children, Blinken said. So, you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel. And the world should be revolted at what its seen," he added. The death toll among Israelis and Palestinians has risen above 1,200 as of Monday afternoon, including at least nine Americans. Militant groups have claimed to have more than 100 kidnapped people from Israel, and Hamas has said four hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes. Hamas militants have said they will kill an Israeli hostage each time Israel bombs civilian targets in the Gaza Strip without any warnings. The devastating violence in the region isnt expected to end anytime soon. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a complete siege on Gaza, a narrow strip of land bordering Israel and Egypt thats largely home to Palestinians. The current violence began on Saturday after rockets fired from the area hit parts of southern and central Israel. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Monday that Gaza has seen "massacres taking place and entire families wiped out," as well as over 100,000 displaced people. The prime minister blamed Israel for the war, claiming years of "occupation and aggression." Blinken on Sunday appeared to cast doubt on negotiations in the scope of the war, telling ABC 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. Contributing: USA TODAY Staff; Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Holocaust survivor using wheelchair dragged into Gaza, Blinken says In 2005, Ann and Steve Curlee packed their belongings tightly in their mobile home to move to a new park 15 miles away. The grounds they had lived on since the late 1980s in Morrisville were being sold, and the families who had settled there had been asked to leave. Now in their 70s, the Curlees may have to start packing again if their home in Carys Chatham Estates Mobile Home Park is sold. It could cost tens of thousands of dollars to uproot and move their mobile home, which was built in the early 2000s. It stinks, said Steve, a 74-year-old Vietnam veteran who works part-time at Food Lion. The couple, married in 1976, raised their son, Ricky, in Morrisville and Cary. Ann, 71, held back tears, saying, I thought this would be the last move that we had to make. A bulletin board at Chatham Estates advertises spaces at a mobile home park in Winston-Salem, about a two-hour drive from Cary. The couple is looking for lots nearby since Ann works in the cafeteria at Meredith College in Raleigh. Built in 1965, Chatham Estates is nestled beneath tall oaks off SE Maynard Road behind the towns Division of Motor Vehicles office. The property shares nearly 38 acres with the Chatham Square shopping center less than a mile from downtown Cary. Since March, many of the parks 700 residents, including over 200 families, have been worried about the park being sold to developers. Chatham Estates, one of the few affordable places left to live in the fast-growing town of over 174,000 residents. and Chatham Square were put on the market in March for $50 million by Lee & Associates. The company is working with property owner Curtis Westbrook Sr., who is in his 80s and has said his age and heart problems are forcing him to sell. As of October, there is no buyer. Local nonprofits, like Durham-based ONE Wake, have been working to help residents organize. Those who can vote say they are taking the matter to the ballot box in Tuesdays town election to hold candidates to their promises of making Cary a place where all people can live. Edith Liborio busses tables in her restaurant the Esmeralda Grill on Friday, September 15, 2023 in Cary, N.C. Liborio also lives behind her business in the Chatham Estates mobile home park. Liborio is concerned about the loss of affordable housing, and her business space as her landlord who owns both is considering selling the properties. Were here If you ask many North Carolinians, the town of Cary has a reputation. The former farm town has become the second-largest city in Wake County, the site of science and technology companies and, soon, a campus for Apple. Known by some as the Containment Area for Relocated Yankees, Cary is often viewed as wealthy and white. But this isnt the full picture, and for many low-income residents, this incomplete narrative hides communities like Chatham Estates in plain sight. Were here, said Javier Zuniga, 21. I went to Cary High, and I remember telling my friends where I lived, and they didnt know where I was talking about. Zuniga is one of the many young people born and raised in Chatham Estates. Its been a safe space for him and other children from working-class families. Not all Chatham Estates residents are Latino, but more than half are from Mexico, Central or South America. Theyve made a living in Cary working in restaurants, construction or landscaping. We knew it was going to happen sooner or later with the deteriorating health of Mr. Westbrook, Javiers mother, Angelina Zuniga, said in Spanish, with her son interpreting. But it was frustrating for us because it was going to affect us. Weve lived here our whole lives. The family moved into Chatham Estates in 1988. Since March, Angelina Zuniga said she has battled depression, and her husband often cant sleep at night. They dont know what they will do if the property is sold. The little ones talk when they are waiting for the (school) bus, and our young son is affected by that, she said. We have to take him to a doctor because he is anxious. The family also has a neighbor who is Moroccan, doesnt speak English and lives alone. Her sons visit every now and then, Javier Zuniga said. But with her being by herself, its worrying knowing that theyre selling the place. Where will she go? The Zunigas are among a number of residents in Chatham Estates seeking some compensation if they must move. The relationship between owner and tenants In 2019, North Carolina had 4.7 million homes, with about 12% of them mobile homes, according to the U.S. Census. About two-thirds of the mobile homes were owner-occupied and served mostly working-class, older people, and immigrant families. Wake County has fewer than 11,000 mobile homes in towns like Garner, Raleigh and Wake Forest. Near Chatham Estates, residents in the 42-acre Mobile Estates mobile home park, also known as Las Americas, fought to get the titles of their mobile homes from the property owner. Katia Roebuck, an organizer for ONE Wake, said the organization recently spoke to residents of Las Americas, warning them to learn their rights and organize in case the property is ever sold. Over 300 families live there. I told them, this is whats happening to your neighbors. Whatever happens here will set the precedent of what could happen to you, Roebuck said. We must continue organizing in order to be able to get something done. Edith Liborio has been outspoken about the risk of displacement since learning about the situation at Chatham Estates. She moved to the community in 2001 from Mexico, speaking no English, and recalls carrying a small pot of tamales on one hip and her infant daughter on the other, selling to neighbors in order to make a living. Sometimes I would sleep for an hour or two, Liborio said in Spanish. I worked to be able to save to open my own restaurant. Ive been working for 10 years here. After years of pushing a food cart around town, in 2016, Liborio opened Esmeralda Grill in Chatham Square. She said Westbrook helped her apply for permits for the restaurant. We love and care for Mr. Westbrook, Liborio said. When my husband and I first opened, he offered to help. I just want to make sure that everybody knows that he is a good person. Without his support, maybe we couldnt open this business. One Christmas, when money was tight, Liborio remembered, Westbrook gave all the kids in the Chatham Estates community $5. (Westbrook) told us that if he was in good health, he would not sell, Liborio said. Because thats his life too. I believe he sacrificed a lot to have all of this. Its been a long relationship. Westbrook did not respond to an email for comment from The News & Observer. In March, he told The N&O that while he loved his residents, he didnt have any control over it. Its purely up to who buys it. It would make no sense for me to put conditions on the sale. Residents have considered buying the property from Westbrook, Roebuck said. But the process can be complex, she said. The measure of affordable housing On Sept. 18, ONE Wake held a candidate forum featuring five of the nine people running for Cary Town Council. The focus of the forum was the displacement of Chatham Estates residents and business owners. Displacement is a growing concern in towns like Cary and around the Triangle. Working-class families and essential workers like teachers, first responders, and construction and domestic workers are unable to afford to live in Cary. Since 2010, Cary has added about 20,000 jobs in those occupations but has lost about 4,000 housing units that cost under $1,000 a month to rent, according to the Cary Housing Plan, which was approved by the town council in 2021. The plan helps families buy and rent homes in the town. Each of the candidates committed to backing community-led efforts for affordable housing and continuing town initiatives like the designated $5 million of its American Rescue Plan Act money to support affordable housing services, including financial support to nonprofits and emergency utility assistance. We are concerned about the potential loss of a large community of affordable housing, said Danna Widmar, the towns assistant manager. Cary has also utilized town-owner property to develop affordable housing, notable the 921 SE Maynard site. The new housing development will be completed by 2025 and will have 126 units of mixed-income housing, Widmar said. Residents who make 30% of the areas median income could afford a unit there. Still, residents say rents, even in some affordable housing developments, are still high. In Cary, on average, renters spend about $1,300 or more for an apartment. Chatham Estates is about a six-minute drive from Carys new mixed-use development Fenton. The Allison at Fenton, a luxury apartment complex, has one-bedroom units for $1,700. ONE Wake and residents have questioned how the town measures housing affordability as the town grows with new developments that could price out established and new residents. Roebuck highlights the struggles many non-English speaking families face with trying to get approved for apartments and advocate for themselves once they are new in places. Some people have told me they have been given apartments that werent ready. Theres dirty carpet, dirty walls, the stove isnt clean. These are apartments in Cary where they charge $1,400 and up, Roebuck said. Many of them dont speak English, many are undocumented, which is not a crime, its a reality. So, they just agree to stay and accept what is there, hoping and believing people will change things. Roebuck hopes the residents will soon have a chance to meet with Westbrook. Shek and ONE Wake have not been able to meet with him in person to express their appreciation and concerns. What better source can we have to answer questions other than Mr. Westbrook? Roebuck asked. We dont want to put pressure on him. Were not going to ask him for money. We just want to meet with him for them. They want to say thank you, and we want him to hear that the organizing efforts are to ensure these working families are fairly compensated. The House this week will look to pick its next leader following former Speaker Kevin McCarthy s (R-Calif.) shocking ouster, which left the chamber without a top lawmaker and brought legislative business to a screeching halt. The fight for the gavel comes on the backdrop of a war in Israel, which broke out over the weekend when Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, launched a surprise attack on Israel. The conflict has already led to more than 1,000 deaths, and Hamas is said to be holding more than 100 hostages. The clash in the Middle East is upping the pressure on lawmakers to elect a new Speaker this week, with questions looming about what if anything the House can do to aid and support Israel without a Speaker in place. The Senate is out of session this week. Speakerless House looks to address war in Israel The House this week will look to address the situation in Israel, a prospect that is being complicated by the fact that the chamber is currently without a Speaker. It remains unclear what authority the House has to conduct business in support of Israel if it can at all without a permanent Speaker in place. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is serving as Speaker pro tempore, but his authority is extremely limited. Administration officials told top lawmakers Sunday night that four Americans were killed in the Israel attacks over the weekend, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Hill. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) emphasized the need to elect a Speaker this week so the chamber can support Israel. He said he and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the committee, are working on a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas for actions over the weekend. 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 Meeks and I have been working on, bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas for what they have done to Israel, McCaul told CNNs State of the Union in an interview. 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, he added. Asked if lawmakers are able to provide more Congressional aid to Israel without a Speaker, McCaul said its not ideal. It wasnt my idea to oust the Speaker; I thought it was dangerous, he added. You know, I look at the world and all of the threats that are out there, and what kind of message are we sending to our adversaries when we cant govern? When were dysfunctional? We dont even have a Speaker of the House. Questions are also looming regarding whether or not McHenry can be briefed as part of the Gang of Eight. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told CNN in an interview Sunday morning that the Gang of Eight had not yet been briefed on the situation because leaders have been scattered throughout the country. House GOP candidate forum House Republicans are set to meet behind closed doors Monday evening, then again Tuesday for their candidate forum. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) are vying for the gavel, setting the scene for an intense battle between two GOP heavyweights. The two men have spoken to different factions within the House GOP conference and have picked up endorsements from more than 20 lawmakers apiece. They both think they are the right person to unite the conference after last weeks stunning vote to oust McCarthy as Speaker. I think Im the one candidate who can unite our conference and then go tell the American people what were doing and why it matters to them, why its important to their family, to their community, to their small business, why its important what were doing for our country, Jordan told Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. Scalise voiced a similar message during an interview with Fox & Friends on Friday. The problems that we have internally, they dont go away with the new Speaker. But the real question the members have is, how do we get things back on track? And the reason Ive been able to build such a strong base of support over these last few days thats been growing is that Ive got a long proven record and somebody who knows how to unify Republicans to fight on the battles that matter for the families who gave us this majority, Scalise said. House GOP internal election If all goes according to plan, the House GOP conference will vote on a Speaker nominee Wednesday, then take the candidacy to the floor. That timeline, however, could be pushed back. A group of 94 House Republicans signed a letter to McHenry and House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) last week asking that the conferences internal rules be changed to temporarily raise the threshold needed to nominate a Speaker candidate, a move that would help avoid another drawn-out Speakers race like the one that took place in January. Members are looking to increase the threshold to win the Speakers nomination from a simple majority of the conference to a majority of the House, according to sources familiar with the letter, which would help fast-track the election on the House floor. While that change would help avoid another multi-ballot election on the House floor, it could drag out the conferences internal process, especially as a handful of Republicans lay down various demands. Some lawmakers, for example, have said they want to change the rules to increase the threshold needed to force a vote on ousting the Speaker to avoid another situation like the one the House found itself in last week, when eight Republicans and all present House Democrats joined forces to boot McCarthy from the top spot. And Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) who voted to oust McCarthy last week for example, said Sunday that he will not support a Speaker candidate until the conference figures out spending. Jordan, for his part, said the House needs to install a Speaker as soon as possible amid the fighting in Israel. And Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who is supporting Jordan, said the House is going to get through this Speaker of the House vote pretty quickly this week in light of the situation in Israel. Democrats are scheduled to huddle for an organizational meeting Tuesday night where they will nominate House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for Speaker, according to a dear colleague letter from House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.). Floor fight Once Republicans pick a nominee for Speaker, lawmakers will head to the House floor to decide who wields the gavel moving forward. The floor vote for Speaker could take several ballots as was the case in January or, if Republicans coalesce around a single candidate, the process could move quickly. Which possibility will become reality remains an open question. In a sign of a potential speedy process, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) who led the effort to topple McCarthy as Speaker said he will support whichever man get[s] the most support in the conference. In January, Gaetz withheld his support from McCarthy throughout all 15 ballots. Democrats, for their part, have made a pitch for a coalition government as a way of moving forward, considering recent events in the House the ousting of McCarthy and a near shutdown and economic default coupled with the slim majority Republicans have. The chances of that bipartisanship coming to fruition, however, are extremely low. Clark last week told House Democrats that their attendance during the floor vote for Speaker is vital in order for the caucus can throw its support behind Jeffries. Each member of our caucus must be physically present on the Floor for next weeks proceedings, Clark wrote. The contrast between House Democrats principled unity and the House GOPs dysfunction and disarray has never been more stark, she later added. The country will be watching the Speaker election. Our unity in voting for Speaker Hakeem Jeffries will be a powerful demonstration of our commitment to democracy, equality, and justice, and to restoring integrity and good governance in the Peoples House. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. House Republicans are urging their colleagues to end the "civil war" that has erupted since the ousting of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Congressman Mike McCaul, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs committee, urged his party to unify as "we have got to move quickly, we cannot paralyse democracy, especially when we have hotspots all over the world," likely a reference to the erupting violence in Israel and the West Bank. "I'm just worried about the messaging this sends," he said, during an interview with CNN. Last week eight hard-right Republicans, led by Congressman Matt Gaetz, managed to oust Mr McCarthy from the Speakership. The move was largely seen as a punishment for his decision to work with Democrats to avert a government shutdown. Mr McCaul told CNN's State of the Union that it was imperative that the House choose a speaker to ensure legislation makes it back to the floor. Such legislation could include a bipartisan condemnation of Hamas following its attack on Israel, as well as action helping in Israel's defence and siege of the West Bank. Its too dangerous a time right now to be playing games with national security, he said. Mr McCaul expressed concerns that Israel's response could escalate the violence in the region at a time when the House is in disarray. 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 Speaking to NBCs Meet the Press, Mr Gaetz insisted that the shakeup in the House would not hinder the USs ability to assist Israel, saying there was no need in Israel that were not going to be able to meet based on the funding that weve already approved for Israel. He went on to express some confidence that the House Republicans were ready to "unify around one speaker and not have this civil war." Congressmen Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise have both voiced their intention to run for House speaker, while Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has insisted that Donald Trump who has backed Mr Jordan for the spot should take the spot. Despite his optimism, Mr McCaul noted during the interview that he was not a supporter of the move to oust Mr McCarthy. It was not my idea to oust the speaker, I thought it was dangerous[considering] all the threats that are out there, he told CNN. He said the move sent the message to America's "adversaries" that the House "cannot govern" and is "dysfunctional." "I mean how does Chairman Xi of China look at that when he says democracy doesnt work, how does the Ayatollah look at this, knowing that we cannot function properly? he asked. In a rare show of bipartisan agreement, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries shared similar sentiments to CNN's State of the Union, saying it was "time for the GOP to end the Republican civil war," citing the need to get back to normal legislative sessions. In the meantime, House Republicans are mulling over whether or not to nix the "motion to vacate" rule allowing one individual to move to remove a Speaker. Over a fifth of the House Republicans signed an open letter calling for a change to the rule. It is our responsibility to identify the right person at this moment to lead us into the future to achieve the conservative policy objectives that we and the American people all share, the members wrote. We cannot allow our majority to be dictated to by the alliance between the chaos caucus and the minority party that will do nothing more than guarantee the failure of our next Speaker. Residents of Port Royal are turning up the volume in their criticism of a plan to repurpose and beautify an ugly industrial waterfront in Port Royal a project initially marketed as one of the preeminent residential, commercial and deep water marina ports on the entire East Coast. Meanwhile, the Town Council is consulting with its attorney to see if the plan continues to be in accordance with with the development agreement. Safe Harbor Marinas, the worlds largest marina owner and operator, bought some 2 miles of Port of Port Royal waterfront almost 2 years ago for $20 million with plans to build what company officials described as a world-class marina and waterfront housing that they said would jibe with the towns existing neighborhoods. Residents could hardly wait. Now theyre questioning Safe Harbor plans for all-rental housing in the northern sections of the development. And they are irked by massive cranes scarring the skyline over Battery Creek. Those cranes are working in the areas slated to become the boatyard and marina, but they are assembling docks that have nothing to do with the redevelopment of the former South Carolina Ports Authority property. There is no escaping the sight of them, Tricia Fidrych, a Port Royal resident, said of the cranes. No matter where you are, you see gargantuan metal industrial structures. Port Royal residents say large cranes at the port property are marring the views. The cranes are being used to assemble dock materials for use at other properties owned or operated by the Safe Harbor Marinas. Karl Puckett/kapuckett@islandpacket.com She says the town needs to hold Safe Harbors feet to the fire and that the developer needs to be more transparent with its plans, a view that other residents have shared in recent weeks. To be sure, Safe Harbor, which did not respond to a request for comment, has done a considerable amount of site preparation, including demolition of old concrete structures that had littered the property and refurbishing some buildings as office space. The developer has also applied for permits for the marina and released a preliminary housing plan. But no physical work has begun yet on the housing or marina or a promenade along the waterfront, a key feature of the project that will give residents access to views along Battery Creek. The marina and housing are planned on 50 acres of 317 acres Safe Harbor bought in November 2021 from Grey Ghost Properties. At the time of the purchase, Jason Hogg, chief investment officer for Safe Harbor, promised a world class boating destination. This, said Fidrych, the resident who complained at two recent Town Council meetings, is not looking like a world class boating destination. Heres the status of the multiple features of the project and why residents are raising concerns: Marina and boatyard Safe Harbor Marina is proposing a full-service marina to provide berthing space for seasonal and transient recreational boaters in the Port Royal area and those traversing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. The commercial marina would have 151 dedicated wet slips, 3,284 linear feet of side-tie dockage, 40 floating jet docks and marine utilities, according to information on file with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and state Department of Environmental Health and Control. A floating harbormasters office will be located on the floating docks. The dock plan for the marina has been submitted to the DHEC and the Army Corps of Engineers, Scheaffer Watt, a project manager for Watt Inc., a construction management company working for Safe Harbor, told the Town Council during a meeting in August. Safe Harbor is now awaiting approval of the dock configuration before proceeding with construction, Watt said. This portion of the redevelopment work at the port property in Port Royal shows the boat yard and marina operations. Safe Harbor Marinas Meanwhile, huge cranes have been working for months in the boatyard and marina area assembling docks. What bothers residents is that those docks are not for use in the new marina planned in Port Royal. Rather, Safe Harbor Marinas is using the Port Royal property, for now, as a staging area to assemble docks that are shipped for use at other locations under its management. A subcontractor called Harbor Masters that is handling the work has set up an office on Paris Avenue. Thats not really what we envisioned looking at indefinitely, Councilman Darryl Owens said. Mayor Joe DeVito pressed Watt, the construction manager, for an answer in August on when the marina work would begin and how much longer the work putting together docks for use at other sites would go on in Port Royal. Watt said as soon as the permits are approved, we will begin to construct those docks for the Port Royal project. Safe Harbor Marinas has a temporary use permit from the town to do the work putting together docks, DeVito said. But it has no timeline on how long the work can continue. Boat storage Safe Harbor is planning to significantly increase the amount of dry stack boat storage and related services needed to service boats. Unlike traditional wet storage at a marina, dry stack storage involves storing your boats out of the water on racks, which allow them to be stacked on top of each other. A dry stack building with a 150-boat capacity already exists with docks. Additional outdoor dry stack rack storage is planned that would accommodate another 150 boats. Works continues in the dismantling of the former S.C. State Ports Authority Dock 21 by Safe Harbor on Monday, July 10, 2023 along Battery Creek in the Town of Port Royal. Drew Martin/dmartin@islandpacket.com Safe Harbor has torn down the landmark 48,000-square-foot single-story concrete building on the waterfront that once was the centerpiece of the South Carolina Ports Authority property. It saved the 102,000 square-foot over-water concrete wharf. A hotel is not going in on that terminal slab, said Watt, the construction manager, responding to rumors. Rather, that space will be used as maneuvering space for the marine forklifts that support launching and retrieval of the boats. A lean-to has been built on the edge of the current dry stack building. That will be divided into 11 spaces for tradesmen that work on boats. For example, a boat could be pulled in and placed on a rack and have detail work done. Housing property The first phase of the housing plans call for around 200 townhouses and some 30 single-family homes on the north end of the site. Charleston-based The Beach Company, which is overseeing the housing portion of the project, said it decided to build rentals because of the unanticipated high cost of preparing the site, which has a steep grade and needs cleanup because of pollution along an old rail line. The units, even though they would be rented, would fit the fabric of Port Royal, company officials have, because they would maintain the communitys high architectural standards. They would be rented with annual leases. Residents and council members are not buying the argument that build-to-rent units are necessary because of the contamination issues. And a project entirely made up of rental units would not fit the fabric of the town, they add. If you literally cannot put down roots because of soil contamination and metaphorically you cannot put down roots because we are hoping for at least a years lease how does that fit the fabric of Port Royal?, said Fidrych, the Port Royal resident, calling the housing a wall of townhouses. Legal questions At the close of a work session last Wednesday, the five-member Town Council voted to close the doors to the public. The stated purpose was to get legal advice related to Port of Port Royal Development Agreement and PUD (Planned Unit Development). We had our attorney go through the development agreement and say where they (Safe Harbor Marinas) are in relationship to the development agreement, said Mayor DeVito, adding he could not share details of what was said. The development agreement between Port Royal and Safe Harbor says construction on the marina, Bluff neighborhood and promenade should commence between 2021 and 2023, with the entire development anticipated to take place over 5 to 7 years. Housing demand and the economy could affect the schedule, the agreement says. The development agreement is a master conceptual plan of what the property should look like, with timelines, and a guiding master plan for the developer, said DeVito. A planned unit development, another document, is guiding the specifics of each of the different areas within the property, DeVito said. Those development areas are Ribaut and Bluff villages, where the residential housing is planned; Marina Village, which includes the marina and boatyard; Port Village, which allows mixed uses including a hotel and restaurants; and civic open space. The concerns are being raised as an election for mayor looms Nov. 7. Councilman Kevin Phillips, who is running against DeVito for mayor, said the town needs to use the tools in the development agreement and the PUD to hold Safe Harbor accountable. We just need to be tougher on them, he says. Safe Harbor, he says, is trying to bamboozle us on the rental housing, and taking advantage of the town by using the port to build marina docks for others. That work, he says, should be stopped until Safe Harbor and the town sit down and have a conversation on how to move forward. For his part, DeVito said town officials and legal council continue to review the situation. Were doing our annual review and making sure they are following and meeting all of the deadlines that are required and we will continue collaborative negotiations to obtain the development that fits the fabric of Port Royal, DeVito said. Safe Harbors purchase of the property from Grey Ghost Properties in December 2021 was welcomed initially, DeVito said, because it had deeper pockets. But its been almost 2 years since the sale and the town is concerned about how long it is taking for some of the components of the development to get going, particularly the residential, DeVito added. It just seems to take a little longer than we all would like, DeVito said. Nothing can be built on the property until specific master plans are submitted to the town for each of the multiple sections of the property, which carry different uses and requirements, DeVito said. New shrimp docks The town recently removed its crumbling old shrimp docks with plans to replace the docks with a new configuration. After talking with shrimpers, the town is looking at floating docks with a fender system rather than a fixed pier, said Van Willis, the towns manager. The dock also will be positioned farther out into the channel giving the boats more maneuverability. It will be more suitable for the use, Councilman Jerry Ashmore said. More than 200 people gathered on Sunday in Hillsborough County for a demonstration in support of the people of Palestine after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war following attacks from the militant group Hamas that killed hundreds of people. Law enforcement officers from the Florida Highway Patrol, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, the USF Police Department, the Temple Terrace Police Department and the Tampa Police Department responded to monitor the large number of people who gathered at the intersection of 56th Street and Fowler Avenue on Sunday afternoon. Demonstrators said they stood in support of the people of Palestine and against U.S. support of Israel. Hassan Shibly, an attorney with Muslim Legal, said the conditions in Gaza amount to an open air prison with a lack of access to clean drinking water or the ability to freely enter and exit. Theyre suffering, he said. Many of them feel like theyre on the brink of death because of Israeli policies. Theyve been pushed to the brink of death, and its unjust and they need immense humanitarian aid and the U.S. government (to) stop blindly supporting Israeli policies that have caused tremendous loss of innocent life of the Palestinians. Aida Mackic, an organizer of the demonstration, said the war declaration called for resistance. Whats really audacious is to tell people to go and leave, she said. Go where? Into the sea? Is Egypt opening its border? Are they creating a corridor, a human corridor, so that people can leave? This is genocidal intent. Imam Abdullah Jaber, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Florida, led a prayer. The U.S. has continued to enable them to denigrate, humiliate, kill, murder, destroy Palestinian lives, he said in an interview. This is not a Muslim issue or a Jewish issue. Its a human rights issue. But it is not the first time that the U.S has sided with the occupier. Weve done it before. Our legislators would not today give their support to Jim Crow laws, but will support an apartheid state of Israel. Thats segregation. Outside a Taco Bell across the street, a small group gathered in response, holding flags of Israel. The group was escorted by law enforcement officers back to their cars. Gov. Ron DeSantis on social media characterized the rally and one like it that occurred in Fort Lauderdale as supporting Hamas. He said the rallies are abhorrent. Florida stands with Israel as it faces one of its greatest challenges, he wrote. Shibly, the attorney, said he ultimately hoped for peace. Be they Jewish, Christian, Muslim, our hearts ache when we see any child, any woman in tears, who are injured, or even worse, killed, he said. It tears our hearts apart, and we know there cannot be peace if the U.S. continues to support Israeli aggression, where the U.S. government is sending billions of dollars in aid that is assisting the oppression of Palestinian people. We want an end to that so there can be peace. Times photojournalist Luis Santana contributed to this report. They gathered from all over the country this weekend -- military families with a terrible, complicated thing in common: a service member lost to suicide. T.A.P.S. (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) held its annual suicide loss meeting at the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers. The organization, founded in 1994 by Bonnie Carroll, assists military families with losses of every kind -- but suicide assistance has become a major focus of its work. Tragically, suicide is a significant issue in the military, said Carroll, who lost her husband not to suicide, but in an Army plane crash. We have over 26,000 families in T.A.P.S. who have lost a loved one (to suicide). Suicides sometimes happen during active duty -- but Carroll said that military service can also offer a protective barrier against suicide, with its emphasis on camaraderie, security and a sense of belonging and purpose. Veterans who take their own lives may also be dealing with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress or even undiagnosed CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). Whatever the reason for suicide, whats left in their wake is almost always the same: family members who question what they could have done and should have done to prevent death from happening. :Suicide loss is so complicated, Carroll said. You will never know the answer to most of the questions. T.A.P.S. doesnt focus on the unanswerable questions. Carroll suggested that Ret. Lt. Gen Bill Troy, former director of Army staff, said it best: We are not about judging the moment and manner of a death, she said. We are about honoring the years and the life of service of someone who stepped forward to put on the cloth of their nation and serve their country in defense of democracy. One of those Troy could be referring to is Bill BJ Tusing, an Iraq veteran who was lost to suicide three years ago. Adalie, age ten, is one of five children he left behind. She attended the T.A.P.S. meeting with her mother, Amanda, and three siblings. After her fathers death, Adalie paired up with Army Staff Sergeant Tanner Hagerty, a mentor with T.A.P.S. and a military chaplain. Seeing Tanner just makes me happy all the time, Adalie said. I just feel I can be myself. I dont have to hide from saying stuff. And he knows my family well, so I can talk about whatever. Last Memorial Day, Hagerty accompanied Adalie as she visited her fathers final resting place for the first time, at Arlington National Cemetery. He got cremated and he used to have his box in the living room and it still feels like its there, Adalie said. When you go to Arlington and you see his name youre just surprised. Oh my god, its actually there. Hagerty said it was an emotional day. It was a powerful moment just to sit there, he said. Adalie and I. And thats all we did. We just sat there together. I think we both cried multiple gallons of tears that day but it brought us closer together. It was special. Around her neck, Adalie wears a button with a picture of her father. This weekend, she added a sticker that says HERO. Why does Adalie think he deserves that designation? Because he served for our freedom, she said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Chuck Todd speaks one on one with former Texas congressman Will Hurd about his race for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 23, 2023. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd, announced Monday he was suspending his longshot 2024 presidential campaign and endorsing Nikki Haley . While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden, Hurd said in a statement. Hurd added that Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was the best alternative to Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy. Hurds announcement came less than four months after the Bexar County Republican launched his campaign, promising to take on Trump in a primary where many candidates were pulling punches. A former CIA officer and unapologetic moderate, Hurd represented Texas 23rd Congressional District from 2015-2021. Hurd stood out for his willingness to explicitly criticize Trump on the campaign trail. During one memorable moment, Hurd was booed at an Iowa GOP dinner in July after declaring Trump is running for president to stay out of prison. But Hurd could not build nearly enough support in a GOP primary that Trump has only increasingly dominated. He rarely got more than 1% in polling and failed to qualify for the two debates that have been held so far. Part of that was due to the fact he refused to sign a pledge to support the eventual nominee, saying he would never back Trump. Hurd nonetheless was a go-to Trump critic on cable news, especially as the former president racked up indictments over the summer. Hurd also became critical of another primary opponent, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, suggesting he wanted to kiss the butt of Vladimir Putin over his opposition to additional Ukraine aid. Hurd further sought to distinguish himself last month by releasing an artificial intelligence policy platform, the first in the primary. But in his statement Monday, he acknowledged he had not gathered enough support to continue the race. He urged Republicans to coalesce behind one alternative to Trump, warning that if they do not, we will repeat the same errors as in 2016 when Trump capitalized on fractured opposition. He said he was especially confident in Haleys abilities in national security, a focus of his own political career. Haley has been working to usurp Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the main GOP alternative to Trump. She has been a major draw from some of the top GOP donors in Texas, and she visited the state last week for fundraising. Haley thanked Hurd for his support in a tweet. We have a country to save! she said. Hurd had been the only Texan in the primary with elected experience. The states politicians have had a far more prominent role in the past two presidential races, with Republicans Rick Perry and Ted Cruz running in 2016 and Democrats Julian Castro and Beto ORourke running in 2020. Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd has dropped out of the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, throwing his support to former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in an attempt to derail former President Donald Trump . Hurd, a former CIA agent, reaffirmed his opposition to Trump, the current frontrunner, by urging other Republican candidates to consolidate around one candidate to defeat Trump and President Joe Biden in the 2024 election. In his announcement on social media Monday evening, Hurd said he believes Haley "is the best person in this race to do that." "Ambassador Haley has shown a willingness to articulate a different vision for the country than Donald Trump and has an unmatched grasp on the complexities of our foreign policy," Hurd wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I wholeheartedly endorse Ambassador Haley and look forward to supporting her for the remainder of this race." When I first entered the Republican presidential primary field in June, I knew I was a dark horse candidate with a path to victory that would contain many obstacles. But as I traveled across the country, I met so many Americans who believed in my campaigns message of unity and Will Hurd (@WillHurd) October 9, 2023 Haley thanked Hurd for his endorsement over social media Monday evening, stating "we have a country to save." "America is at a crossroads, and it's time to come together and make Joe Biden a one-term president," Haley wrote. Hurd did not qualify for either of the Republican primary debates and failed to make major strides in national polling. Still, Hurd, who sat at a mere 1% in a September Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, has openly criticized Trump during his 14 weeks on the campaign trail. During the Republican Party of Iowas annual Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines in July, Hurd told the crowd Trump was running for president not to represent voters, but to "stay out of prison." He was roundly booed. He doubled down on that criticism during a visit to the Iowa State Fair this past August, arguing that the Republican party needed to grow its voting base to defeat Biden. Donald Trump lost the house in 2018. He lost the Senate and the White House in 2020. And he prevented a red wave from happening in 2022," Hurd said at the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox. "The lesson from the 2020 election was real simple: don't be a jerk, and don't be a socialist. 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: Will Hurd quits GOP presidential race, throws support to Nikki Haley It was Yoni Ashers phone that confirmed his worst fears. Tracking his wife Dorons mobile, he watched helplessly as he saw it pop up in southern Gaza, miles from where she was supposed to be with their daughters Raz, five, and Aviv, aged three. They had been taken hostage, along with scores of others, by Hamas militants in their devastating weekend attack. I saw she had been taken into Kfar Younis which is deep inside Gaza, Yoni told The Independent, his voice blank with grief. The GPS even showed us the route the terrorists took. Moments earlier, the real estate agent had seen a viral video showing terrified Israeli women and children crammed in the back of a jeep being driven into Gaza, as Palestinian militants shouted God is great! Among them was 34-year-old Doron, doing her best to protect their children. I saw her with her head covered with a cloth by Hamas and my daughters on some kind of cart, said the distraught father. I recognised that area and my kids. Alongside his wife was his mother-in-law Efrat, believed to be part of 130 hostages the Palestinian militants claim to be holding. Speaking from their family home in central Israel, Yoni is interrupted by the red alert signalling rocket sirens a pertinent reminder of the background to this mess. But once it was safe to leave the shelter he explains what happened that day. I am speaking because I just want the world to take a good hard look at my family photos and realise that these two women and my two baby girls are now this moment being held by terrorists, he said. You cannot imagine what a parent could be thinking right now and what is going through my mind. The nightmare unfolded on Saturday when Doron took their girls to visit her mother at a kibbutz at Nir Oz, just a few kilometres from Gaza during the Jewish holiday marking the end of Sukkot. On Saturday morning I received a call from my wife visiting her mother Efrat and her partner Gadi in the kibbutz, he said. I was at home in central Israel and we got news that the Palestinians were firing rockets over there and there was an invasion. My wife was whispering. The family did not know but as many as 1,000 Palestinian militants, loyal to Hamas, had breached the border fences and were targeting Israel from land, air and sea. They stormed a music festival killing over 250 people and taking multiple hostages, according to witnesses and families of the missing who spoke to The Independent. Yoni Ashers mother-in-law Efrat, with her partner (Supplied) They also went around local communities, attacking homes. They came to Nir Oz and surrounded the house. Doron, her mother and the two girls barricaded themselves inside the family bomb shelter. Apparently Gadi had tried to negotiate with them, maybe offer himself up in exchange for the children but they took him. I hung up as I didnt want to put them in danger, that was the last I ever heard from them. Later he was sent the TikTok clip of his wife, which confirmed his worst fears. Yoni says he and a neighbour were able to track his wifes phone on her laptop via Google. I am 100 per cent sure with the phone and that video that they are kidnapped, he said. We were living in an illusion. We were never as safe as we thought we were, but I do trust our leadership to make things right. I am waiting for their homecoming. Another beloved San Luis Obispo institution shut its doors suddenly this week. A sign posted on the window of Big Sky Cafe, located downtown at 1121 Broad St., announced the restaurant would officially close on Sunday, ending almost three decades serving market-fresh cuisine to customers. To our beloved customers, it is with a heavy heart that we have made the difficult decision to close our beloved restaurant, Big Sky Cafe, today, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, the sign read. We want to thank all of our wonderful guests and employees for supporting us over these past years. We could not have done it without you. The restaurant was known for a menu of farm-to-table dishes that was ahead of its time when it opened in San Luis Obispo in 1994. Founder Charles Myers at the time said the business specialized in modern food meaning food made from fresh ingredients, with little or no fat and prices that dont wreck a budget. A sign posted on the window of Big Sky Cafe in downtown San Luis Obispo announced the sudden closure of the business on Oct. 8, 2023. Its current owners, Greg and Mirjam Holt, bought the business from Myers for an undisclosed amount in 2015. Greg Holt had been the restaurants longtime chef. Its been a lifelong dream of mine to own and operate my own restaurant, Holt told The Tribune at the time. Charles and I have worked together here at the cafe for close to 14 years and together have created a real San Luis Obispo landmark. Its my hope to continue on with the successful formula of personal service, healthy local foods and the best wines of our region. The Holts did not respond to a request for comment from The Tribune on why the business was closing. After 29 years in business in downtown San Luis Obispo, Big Sky Cafe on Broad Street has closed as of Oct. 8, 2023. Big Sky Cafe building is up for sale According to a listing on LoopNet.com, the Broad Street building that housed the restaurant was for sale for approximately $2.1 million as of Oct. 4. The listing noted that the building was home to Big Sky Cafe, which had two years left on its lease and was currently for sale. This is the latest in a string of business closures or moves in the same downtown block. After 29 years in business in downtown San Luis Obispo, Big Sky Cafe on Broad Street has closed as of Oct. 8, 2023. Highwater, an upscale cocktail bar located two doors down from Big Sky, closed in May after a little more than a year in the space. Meanwhile, Monikas Macarons moved from its spot between Highwater and Big Sky to a new location on Chorro Street in June. The closure announcement is the second for a longtime San Luis Obispo restaurant in a matter of days. Last week, Splash Cafe announced it was shutting its location on Monterey Street after 18 years. Big Sky Cafe opens in SLO, April 1994 Big Sky Cafe opens in SLO, April 1994 07 Apr 1994, Thu The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California) Newspapers.com Idaho is facing a labor shortage. This shortage is especially acute in the healthcare, manufacturing, and technology industries. With the states unemployment rate at 3%, there is an urgent need to solve this growing crisis in the short term and into the future. For most companies, the talent pipeline focus has been at the collegiate and training program level. That will no longer suffice to bring in the qualified workers necessary in most industries. That is why Idaho businesses must not overlook the importance of the Idaho LAUNCH program as part of their recruitment strategy. The Idaho LAUNCH program is a new initiative designed to address this issue by providing grants that will cover 80% of the cost of an in-state program that leads to an in-demand career, up to $8,000. This could be anything from a CDL program to a nursing program to a computer science degree. Idaho LAUNCH is a win-win for both students and businesses. For students, it makes college more affordable and allows them to pursue their dream careers. For businesses, it creates a skilled talent pool of eligible employees ready to fill in-demand jobs. Idaho LAUNCH allows industries to cultivate the next generation of employees beginning at high school graduation. Idaho businesses must support and get involved with the Idaho LAUNCH program. Here are a few examples of how: Share information about the Idaho LAUNCH program with employees, many of whom are related to and/or know eligible students who can benefit from this program. Offer financial assistance to students interested in fields related to your business. While LAUNCH covers 80% of the cost (up to $8,000), businesses can incentivize students to work for them after graduation by offering funds for the remaining 20%. Partner with local schools and colleges that offer Idaho LAUNCH-eligible programs. This could involve developing new programs and/or making existing programs more accessible to Idaho LAUNCH students. Idaho LAUNCH is a game-changer for Idaho businesses in the face of the current labor market. By investing in the future of Idahos workforce, companies can ensure that they have the skilled workers needed to succeed. Get involved in the Idaho LAUNCH program today and start building a brighter future for Idahos businesses and Idahos students. Alex LaBeau is president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry. LAKE COUNTY, Ill. - An Illinois man allegedly showed up to a family member's home covered in blood after severely beating another family member in Lake County Saturday morning, police said. Sanjuan Reyes, 36, of Round Lake Beach, has been charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery, striking a police animal and resisting arrest. Early Saturday morning, Reyes, covered in blood and intoxicated, allegedly drove to a relative's home in Joliet. He left the Joliet home shortly after arriving and his family was concerned that he may have killed a different family member that he lives with in Round Lake Beach, police said. The family called Joliet police who then notified Round Lake Beach police. Police responded to Reyes' residence, but did not find anyone. After receiving information that Reyes might be in the area of Route 83 and Rollins road, they went to the area, where they found Reyes' vehicle in a parking lot. Inside the vehicle, police allegedly found a significant amount of blood. Police then determined that Reyes battered the family member he lives with at a location in Waukegan before driving to another family member's home in Joliet. The victim, a 39-year-old woman, sustained several injuries in the battery, including broken bones. She was admitted to an area hospital. Meanwhile, Lake County Sheriff's K9 Dax responded to the area where Reyes' vehicle was found and conducted a track. K9 Dax located Reyes hiding in a thick bush line in the area. Reyes allegedly refused to surrender and K9 Dax bit him. Reyes then struck K9 Dax during apprehension, however, he was uninjured. Reyes was arrested and charged accordingly. Per protocol, K9 Dax was evaluated by his veterinarian. Reyes appeared in court Sunday, where a Lake County Judge ordered him held for a detention hearing. My son was born with four major congenital malformations and a condition I have never heard of. VACTERL association is so rare that I have only met one other child who has it. He is now 5 years old and he has taught me so much already. I was laying on the table at my OB/GYN for my 20 week ultrasound appointment when the chatty tech suddenly became quiet. She slipped out of the room muttering some excuse, and brought in the doctor. I knew something wasn't right. I looked at my husband with my eyes wide and questioning. But there was nothing he could do but just stare back at me, equally as scared. The doctor finally spoke. There was something off about our son's heart, but she couldn't tell exactly what. We went to see a pediatric cardiologist the next day, who confirmed our worst fears there was something wrong, but the extent of how wrong would have to be monitored as he grew. So, we monitored. Every scan with him in my belly and then after he was born seemed to make our own hearts pause as we waited for the results. But the news kept being "'OK for now, let's just keep an eye on it" for every appointment. We thought maybe we got lucky. Maybe we could avoid surgery, and move on from this tiny blip of a nightmare. And then we got his diagnosis. We noticed his body was crooked At 6-months-old, my drooling, adorable squishy dude began to sit up and we realized he was extremely crooked. We went to orthopedics, and the doctor ordered him to have an MRI. At the hospital I handed over my baby in a tiny hospital gown and grippy socks to a nurse, and bawled my eyes out. He went under full anesthesia, and I sat in the waiting room numb until I could hold him again. The results were not good. We learned that in addition to his heart defect, he had four and a half extra vertebrates, a tethered spinal cord, and pretty intense kidney reflux. All things likely would have to be fixed by surgery. He has VACTERL association We were told he had something called VACTERL association we had never heard of it before. It is basically a group of conditions that happen together, affecting the vertebrea, anus, cardiac anormalities, trachea, esophagus, renal anormalities, and limbs. Only about one in 10,000 to 40,000 children a year are born with VACTERL according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. So with that, my husband and I leaned even harder into what we slowly were already becoming: medical parents. We assembled his team of specialists a neurosurgeon, orthopedic surgeon, geneticist, urologist, otolaryngologist and began tackling all his sweet malformations one by one. Year after year we would walk our child through seemingly endless tests and procedures, major surgeries and hospital stays. And truthfully, it has broken our parents hearts again again. But we keep getting back up, we keep fighting, we keep learning, and we keep getting stronger. He is now 5 and so brave and we have learned so much My son is now 5 years old. If you saw him, you wouldn't know anything was different about him unless you saw the sweet little scars on his spine and hips from his surgeries. But he is different. His resilience, strength and bravery had to be honed, all before he even started kindergarten. And if you saw my husband and I, at classroom parties or roaming the halls of Target with our wild kids begging for toys, you also wouldn't think anything was different about us, but we are. Having a child with medical needs changes you. It forces you to grow stronger even if you do so kicking and screaming because the only other option is to sink. And we can't do that when we are keeping a whole darn family afloat. It doesn't get easier emotionally, but we have (mostly) gotten used to the waiting, worry, long treks to the hospital, and regular scans. As parents, we have learned so much We have learned tricks like micro-grieving, like giving yourself a whole day to just be really sad after bad news or a hard procedure, ordering pizza, and family snuggles. We have learned there is power in community, and prayer. And some days, that might be the only thing getting you through, but it can be enough. Connecting with other families who "get it," or reaching out to our people to pray for us has been so important. We have learned that no matter what big scary difficult season you have to walk through, you can still fight for tiny pockets of joy, if only grabbed onto through the tiny cracks of life. Late night kitchen dance parties or getting out of doge for a day to explore a new city and just be a normal, happy family. It might not look like big grand trips to Disney or exciting Instagram-worthy moments, but you can fight for the little bits of joy. They are there. We are in a calm season now, medically, and I thank God for that. I know at any moment my son's sweet little body could give us another surprise. My parent heart will always be on guard for that. But for now, I will savor every moment of having a 5-year-old child whose only job is to be just that a child. Katie Schnack is the author of " Everything is (NOT) Fine: Finding Strength When Life Gets Annoyingly Difficult ." Find more at www.katieschnack.com and on social @katieschnack. Read the original article on Insider (Bloomberg) -- Pakistans jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan will be formally charged for leaking state secrets on Oct. 17 after the Federal Investigation Agency submitted the result of a probe to the court. Most Read from Bloomberg The judge of a special court Abual Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain, who held a hearing against Khan on Monday, will start the trial after his indictment, Khans lawyer Shoaib Shaheen said by phone. Shah Mahmood Qureshi , who was Khans foreign minister when the cable was leaked, will also be indicted in the same case, the lawyer said. Both deny the charges. If found guilty, the accused may be sentenced up to 14 years in prison, Shaheen said. Khan is already in jail after a separate court found him guilty of hiding assets he obtained from selling gifts he received from foreign leaders when he was the prime minister. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Indigenous land acknowledgments are everywhere. After taking hold on college campuses, they are recited with growing frequency at schools, sporting events and church services. They are added as signatures at the end of emails. They are being posted on the websites of museums, libraries, and other institutions as the era of racial reckoning and social justice that has followed the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement and the killing of George Floyd continues to evolve. They are even yelled at concerts, as reggae artist Nattali Rize did during a recent show in Phoenix, drawing loud applause. Some of the statements are as brief as a single sentence. "I acknowledge that ASU sits on the ancestral homelands of those American Indian tribes that have inhabited this land for centuries, including the Akimel O'odham (Pima) and Pee Posh (Maricopa) peoples," reads one typical example from an Arizona State University employee email. Others go on for paragraphs or pages. Some Indigenous land acknowledgments are uploaded to YouTube. A land acknowledgment video by ASU features tranquil flute music and scenes of flowing rivers and majestic mountains. National parks: National Park Service calls for more shared stewardship with Indigenous communities They have gained popularity not just in Arizona, home to 22 tribes and more than 310,000 Native Americans, among the largest Native populations in the U.S. The land acknowledgment movement is spreading throughout the U.S., and Native leaders in Arizona are increasingly inundated with calls seeking advice. Indigenous land acknowledgments are everywhere because everywhere is Indigenous land. Alexander Soto poses for a photo inside Hayden Library in Tempe on Aug. 15, 2023. But what exactly are Indigenous land acknowledgments? What do they accomplish? And what do Native people think about them? In short, Indigenous land acknowledgments are statements that recognize an event or institution is on the pre-colonial homelands of Indigenous people and where Native people continue to live. They are intended to raise awareness, spark conversation, and encourage people mostly non-Native people to learn and reflect upon how they came to be there and acknowledge Indigenous peoples' ongoing claims to colonized lands. They are also aimed at inspiring people to take action to support the betterment of Indigenous communities, experts say. Are Indigenous land acknowledgments a fad? Some Native people have mixed feelings about Indigenous land acknowledgments and their recent proliferation. They are concerned that Indigenous land acknowledgments have turned into a fad and worry they are often scripted, superficial and hollow statements that have more to do with jumping on the "diversity, equity and inclusion" bandwagon than helping Indigenous people regain what was lost through colonialism, conquest, disease, broken treaties, forced assimilation, forced removal and outright theft. "Most Indigenous people, while appreciative that the general public is learning our names and whose land they are on, are nonetheless skeptical that these statements will progress beyond being performative," wrote David Martinez, a professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University, in an email. "What most Indigenous nations want is their land back, period," said Martinez, who is of the Akimel O'odham and Hia Ced O'odham peoples. "What most institutions that make these statements are willing to offer is far less than that." An Indigenous land acknowledgment plaque on Arizona State University's downtown Phoenix campus. The sign is near a pedestrian walkway between the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. To be meaningful, land acknowledgments must be tied to action; otherwise, they become perfunctory, said Jacob Moore, a vice president and special advisor to the president on American Indian affairs at ASU. What is Indigenous Peoples Day? Is it offensive to celebrate Columbus Day? Everything to know. "It's one thing to acknowledge, but it's another to do something about it if, in fact, we are tying land acknowledgments to a past that hasn't been fully told," said Moore, who is Lakota/Dakota on his mother's side, and Akimel O'odham/Tohono O'odham on his father's side. Academic: Some acknowledgments sound like obituaries Alexander Soto, director of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center at Arizona State University Library, frequently fields calls from institutions in other states asking for help writing Indigenous land acknowledgments. The first question Soto asks: What will you do beyond recognizing you are on Native land? "The proof is in the pudding," said Soto, of the Tohono O'odham Nation. Without spelling out the steps an institution plans to take to support Native people, land statements descend into the "whole politics of just recognizing." Soto said he wants to hear, "How do we now further make visible the people that we have made invisible the past 500-plus years? What are the action steps?" Indigenous land acknowledgments go wrong when they sound like "obituaries," Soto said. "You're referring to us in the past tense, you're referring to us like we're long gone, extinct. ... 'We acknowledge the land of these people who used to be here,'" Soto said of problematic acknowledgments. Land acknowledgments also fall short when they are written from a Google search and are full of inaccuracies obvious to Native people, Soto said. Expert: Stop romanticizing, acknowledge 'today' Indigenous land acknowledgments should be crafted with the input of Indigenous communities, not formulated in a vacuum, said Kyle Mitchell, a Dine storyteller and coordinator for the American Indian Intercultural Center at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix. He worries that without the input of Indigenous communities and an understanding of their modern-day challenges rooted in colonialism, land statements risk promoting a romanticized view of Native people. For Mitchell, land acknowledgments must avoid perpetuating myths about pre-colonial Indigenous people like that there were never conflicts between tribes and recognize the damaging legacy of colonialism. Racism, health disparities and poverty are all linked to post-colonial policies and practices. "What action is going to show the tribe and the community that you're dedicated to today?" Mitchell said. "By doing that, we're dismantling the romanticizing of Indigenous people. It's no longer like, 'Oh, it's these giant mountains with running water and fish all day.' No, that's where we were. After colonization and assimilation, this is where we are, and we want to be seen as who we are today and respected as who we were and where we came from." Alexander Soto poses for a photo in front of the Indigenous Welcome Wall inside Hayden Library in Tempe on Aug. 15, 2023. Although he remains skeptical, Martinez, the ASU professor, acknowledged that Indigenous land acknowledgments may serve as conversation starters that could result in change that benefits Native people. He helped the Heard Museum, a world-renowned institute for Native American art in Phoenix, write its Indigenous land acknowledgment and consulted with the Children's Museum of Phoenix on its statement. "Insofar as institutions like the Heard are willing to acknowledge that it sits on ancestral Akimel O'odham land complete with installing this recognition in its Home gallery then that might be leverage, which people like me can use to create more substantial change over time," Martinez said in an email. "Indigenous people are patient. We are not going anywhere." Why one Arizona school developed an Indigenous land acknowledgment Darlene Leslie teaches first, second and third grades at the Sirrine Montessori Center, a pre-K-6 elementary school in Chandler that is part of the Mesa Public Schools in Arizona. Leslie, who is Hopi and Apache, helped craft and lead a land acknowledgment included in meet-the-teacher night activities for students and parents in August. The land acknowledgment was intended to raise awareness that the school is located on the homelands of Indigenous people, Leslie said. But it was also aimed at helping make Native American students feel welcome at the school, she said. The land acknowledgment, she pointed out, also meshes with the Montessori philosophy of emphasizing the interconnectedness between humanity and the land. "As a Hopi, when we are born, we are taught that we're stewards of the land. We are always protectors of our land, no matter what," Leslie said. Although not explicitly mentioned during the land acknowledgment, she noted that the struggle by Native Americans to protect ancestral lands is ongoing, something she hopes her students and parents will realize. "If you look at the (San Carlos) Apache tribe, they are still trying to fight for Oak Flats, which is a sacred ceremonial space they want to make into a copper mine," Leslie said. Whose land is Phoenix on? There is a 1,000-year-old platform mound near 44th Street and Washington Street east of downtown Phoenix where the Indigenous Huhugam lived for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The Huhugam, archeological evidence indicates, lived in the Phoenix area for 10,000 to 12,000 years, but people may have been living here even longer, said Laurene Montero, the archaeologist for Phoenix. "They were the ancestors of the O'odham," who say their ancestors have lived in what is now Arizona since time immemorial, Montero said. The Phoenix area is also the ancestral homeland of the Pee Posh people, who migrated to the region later than the O'odham people, Montero said. The Labriola National American Indian Data Center inside Hayden Library in Tempe on Aug. 15, 2023. The Gila River Indian Community, south of Phoenix, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, east of Scottsdale and north of Mesa, comprise people from both the O'odham and Pee Posh tribes. Although their cultures are different, they were put together by the federal government, Montero said. The pre-colonial Indigenous communities of central Arizona are known for the hundreds of miles of canals they built without metal tools only wood and stone and without oxen, Montero said. Despite living in a desert, they were sophisticated farmers, Montero said. "They built this huge irrigation system that watered tens of thousands of acres," Montero said. "They grew corn, cotton, beans and squash. They also wove cotton." They also engaged in extensive trade with tribes deep into what is now Mexico, she said. A museum near the platform mound just east of downtown Phoenix recently adopted its own Indigenous land acknowledgment, Montero said. She said she hopes the acknowledgment will help keep the museum accountable to the O'odham and other Indigenous people of the region. Once land acknowledgments "are developed and become part of the culture of the agency, I think we kind of have a commitment that we have to stand by. And I think that's not necessarily going to happen until you have that statement," Montero said. Earlier this year, Montero noted, the city's Parks and Recreation Board voted to change the museum's name from Pueblo Grande to S'edav Va'aki based on recommendations from O'odham cultural leaders. S'edav Va'aki means central platform mound. Indigenous land acknowledgments started in Canada Indigenous land acknowledgments began in Canada as part of that country's movement to atone for colonialism's decimation of Indigenous people, said Moore, the ASU vice president. The statements then spread south to the U.S. "There's been more of a concerted effort from the Canadian government to go through a process of reconciliation," Moore said. The movement for racial justice in recent years and the inequities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including Native Americans' lack of access to health care and high infection rates, have helped fuel an interest in Indigenous land acknowledgments in the U.S., Moore said. He credited ASU President Michael Crow with being ahead of the curve when he issued a land acknowledgment letter in 2015, several years before the murder of George Floyd and the pandemic. Crow's letter makes a commitment to connect with the state's tribal communities and enable the success of Native American students. "We reaffirm the university's commitment to these goals and acknowledge that everyone, the entire ASU community, is responsible for their achievement," Crow's letter states. Colleges and universities have long been criticized for failing to recruit and retain Native American students. ASU has shown some improvement, data shows. In 2020, the total enrollment of Native American students at ASU was 3,878, according to data Moore shared. That was up nearly 50% from the 2,619 total Native American student enrollment in 2015 when Crow issued the Indigenous land acknowledgment statement. Despite the gains, Native American students still only made up about 1% of undergraduate students at ASU in 2022 and 1% of graduate students, data shows. That is far below the 5% Native Americans make up of Arizona's population. There are also now more than 60 Native American faculty at ASU, Moore said. In June, Crow appointed Moore to the new position of special advisor to the president on American Indian Affairs. The role is intended to improve the recruitment and retention of Native American students. A tangible example of action at ASU Soto was appointed director of the Labriola National American Indian Data Center in 2021. He is the first Native American to lead the center, created in 1993 as a national repository of Native American documents and materials that can be accessed through computer databases. The center is now staffed by four full-time tenured librarians, including Soto, all Native Americans. The center on the second floor of the Hayden Library in the middle of ASU's sprawling campus in Tempe is filled with shelves lined with books by Native American authors and scholars. It also features a 25-foot table made of blue fiberglass resin. During a recent tour, Soto flipped a switch, illuminating from below spectacular curving bands designed to evoke the ancient canals of central Arizona. The table was co-designed by architect Selina Martinez, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and ASU architecture professor Claudio Vekstein, based on sketches by Jeffrey Fulwilder, a member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The center is going through an expansion. It serves as a tangible example of ASU's growing commitment to Native Americans stemming from land acknowledgment statements, Soto said. Soto walked through rooms under renovation that will create 5,500 square feet of new study areas, offices for research consultation, space to exhibit the work of local Indigenous artists, and a high-tech stage for poetry readings, talks, musical performances and other live events. When he attends library conferences around the country, Soto said, librarians from other institutions "are amazed that we have that much support." Daniel Gonzalez covers race, equity and opportunity. Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8312. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Indigenous land acknowledgments: What are they supposed to accomplish? Third March of Indigenous Women in defence of women's rights, local indigenous people and the environment, in Brasilia By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's first Indigenous cabinet minister is urging President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to veto a bill pushed through Congress by the farm lobby that she and Indigenous leaders warn would undermine ancestral land rights and threaten their way of life. The bill, which passed in the Senate late last month and now awaits Lula's signature to become law, would restrict Indigenous reservations to land they lived on in 1988, a deadline that the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional. Lula has until Oct. 20 to veto the legislation, which would pit him against the powerful agribusiness lobby in the world's top exporter of soy, corn and other farm goods. Indigenous Affairs Minister Sonia Guajajara told Reuters she is pushing the president not to sign the bill. The largest umbrella organization of Brazil's Indigenous People (APIB) is campaigning on social media urging Lula to veto the whole bill. "We still do not know whether he will veto the whole bill or just parts of it, but there will be some form of veto," Guajajara said in an interview. Farmers have said the bill will ensure greater legal security of their land ownership, curtailing land conflicts as Brazil's agricultural frontier advances into the Amazon region. Brazil's Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro, from the centrist Social Democratic Party in Lula's minority government coalition, is hoping for a negotiated solution. "The Supreme Court and the Senate are playing their part. We have to reach a much-needed balance," he told Reuters. Lula's government had planned to veto the whole bill, but is now studying ways to preserve part of the legislation to avoid fueling a growing rift between Congress and the Supreme Court, according to people familiar with deliberations. "For sure the core of the bill, the 1988 cut-off date, will have to be vetoed because it is unconstitutional," a source in the president's office said. "If not, the Supreme Court will overturn it and the conflict will worsen." Minister Guajajara said advocates for farmers, cattle ranchers, miners and other influential sectors in Congress had rushed the bill through, allowing no room for debate. "They want the 1988 deadline so that traditional Indigenous lands that have been invaded or occupied will remain private property of the farmers," she said. Lawmakers appended other anti-Indigenous proposals, she said, so the bill allows commercial mining and farming on reservations, including the use of genetically modified crops, and leasing land to non-Indigenous farmers, which is now banned. If the legislation becomes law, it would limit the creation of new reservations and the expansion of existing ones. "It also would allow for the expropriation of reservation land if their inhabitants lost their physical and cultural Indigenous traits, which is racist," Guajajara told Reuters. Kleber Karipuna, APIB's executive coordinator, said the "totally unconstitutional" bill was a threat to the existence of Brazil's 1.6 million Indigenous people and his organization will ask the Supreme Court to revoke it if it becomes law. "We have asked for a meeting with Lula and are waiting for a reply," he said in an interview. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle and Lisandra Paraguassu in Brasilia; Editing by Brad Haynes, Kirsten Donovan) A long line of commercial trucks that were headed south on Highway 2 are stranded near Santa Cruz Mulua, Guatemala on Oct. 8, 2023. MAZATENANGO, Guatemala Thousands of Guatemalans are blockading highways to protest government attempts to reverse a democratic presidential election, leaving roadways open for only the most determined travelers: migrants trekking on foot to the Mexican border. Protestors, led by indigenous groups, have been demonstrating peacefully for eight straight days and calling for the government to respect Bernardo Arevalo's landslide win as the country plunges deeper into a political crisis that could threaten U.S. interests in slowing migration through the region. The Biden administration has said it "stands with those seeking to safeguard democracy and rule of law in Guatemala" and decried "anti-democratic behavior" after the Guatemalan government raided election offices and suspended the president-elect's political party, Movimiento Semilla. The administration is counting on Arevalo to be a key partner in addressing the root causes of migration through the region. Indigenous women from San Sebastian perform a ritual on the Castillo de Armas bridge where a blockade was set as part of a national protest in Guatemala on Oct. 8, 2023. Thousands are arriving at the Texas border, seeking asylum despite the Biden administration's attempts to encourage migrants to make appointments via the CBP One app. In El Paso, Border Patrol has processed and released between 8,000 and 9,000 migrants each of the past four weeks, according to El Paso's migrant situational awareness dashboard. "Ever since Arevalo won, the government has dedicated itself to find a way to delegitimize the election," said Byron Manuel Molina, a community leader at a blockade three miles from the Mexican border on Sunday. "We're upset," he said. "What should they expect? We've exhausted all our avenues asking for the government to respect the results. We're protesting because they're not listening." Migration continues unabated by Guatemala political crisis An unprecedented number of people are crossing through Central America in 2023, as political and economic conditions in Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba and other nations in the hemisphere continue to push people to migrate. Guatemala's Highway 2 is a key route for those trekking toward the U.S. Migrants from Venezuela head north from Mazetenango, Guatemala on a private truck on Highway 2 that offered them a ride after a blockade prevented public transportation from heading north on Oct. 8, 2023. Migrants from Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador and other countries trod past tents set up in the road, over stone-and-tire barriers and across a bridge where indigenous women held a ceremony. They walked in families and small groups, not as a caravan but as if carried by a tide, headed for a U.S. shore. A Venezuelan mother nursed her 3-month-old baby and held her 5-year-old daughter's hand as she walked past in pink plastic sandals. A 27-year-old Haitian man, rail-thin and with perfect command of English, walked with a pair of red Air Jordan sneakers slung over his shoulder, keeping them off the muddy road. Between blockades, migrants negotiated short, overpriced rides on motorcycles or in three-wheel mototaxis, with 58 miles left to cover between the small city of Mazatenango near Guatemala's southwestern coast and the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman. Political crisis in Guatemala worsens For eight days, protestors have cut off routes into and out of Guatemala City, and between the country's borders, leaving grocery store shelves empty and gas stations without fuel. Schools and universities canceled classes and some businesses stayed closed. McDonald's on Monday announced the temporary closure of its stores in Guatemala. Along Guatemala's Highway 2, truck drivers slept in hammocks strung beneath their chassis, as traffic stood still along miles of two-lane road flanked by tropical forest, small towns and corn fields. Protestors allow a police vehicle to cross north on Highway 2 at a blockade on Oct. 8, 2023. Emergency vehicles were also given permission to cross the blockades by the protestors. "We're demanding that the government respect the popular vote and allow Bernardo Arevalo to take office," said Omar Quiroa, a 28-year-old teacher who joined a blockade Sunday along Highway 2 to Mexico. Biden administration condemns 'anti-democratic' actions The U.S. State Department has repeatedly condemned "anti-democratic actions" in Guatemala and warned it will impose visa restrictions on anyone who attempts to undermine democracy, including current and former members of Guatemala's congress and judiciary. A protestor holds up a sign at the Attorney General's building in Guatemala City on Oct. 5, 2023. The protestors have been calling for the attorney general Consuelo Porras to step down. The U.S. "is gravely concerned with continued efforts to undermine Guatemala's peaceful transition of power," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement earlier this month, after the country's Public Ministry seized electoral materials from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and raided the offices of nonpartisan electoral officials. Arevalo won over 60% of the vote in a presidential runoff election on Aug. 20. The 64-year-old son of a former Guatemalan president ran on an anti-corruption platform. He surged in popularity after the government of President Alejandro Giammattei eliminated several other candidates from the ballot who were viewed as unfavorable to the political establishment, widely viewed in Guatemala as deeply corrupt. Then-presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo, at center, takes photos with indigenous leaders during a private event held in Santa Cruz del Quiche, Guatemala, on Aug.11, 2023. Arevalo's win came out of left field and the political establishment has scrambled ever since to tighten its hold on power. During a Monday morning radio program, Arevalo asked protestors to remain peaceful and called for "the immediate resignation" of Consuelo Porras, head of the Public Ministry. "We must maintain the pacific and citizen-led character of the protests," he said. In a public statement on Monday, Porras called the protests "illegal actions that gravely violate the rights of all Guatemalans and the legal mandate of our institution." "Peaceful demonstration is a right; the blockades are a crime," she said, according to Guatemala's Prensa Libre newspaper. Indigenous people lead Guatemalan protests Indigenous communities are leading the protests in the capital and throughout the countryside. More than half of Guatemala's 15 million people self-identify as indigenous, according to U.S. AID, yet, the country's diverse Mayan communities face subpar access to education, health care and economic development and high rates of malnutrition and extreme poverty. For them, the protests are about more than the 2023 election, said Anita Isaacs, a professor of political science at Haverford College. Protestors allow an ambulance to cross south at one of the blockades on Highway 2 on Oct. 8, 2023. "They've had enough," Isaacs said. "They have been resisting as so many have told me for 500 years. They're not just protesting for free and fair elections or transition of power to Semilla. This is about demanding real democracy." Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@elpasotimes.com, @laurenvillagran on X and @fronteravillagran on Instagram. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Guatemalans block highway transit as migrants trek to U.S. on foot Editors Note: This story was originally published in October 2022. For centuries, the US celebrated Christopher Columbus as the intrepid explorer who discovered the Americas a symbol of the American ideals of entrepreneurship and innovation. The story of the Italian navigator taught to generations of schoolchildren is shrouded in mythology. But for the Indigenous peoples who inhabited the Americas long before Columbus ever arrived, Columbus and his namesake holiday represent something much more sinister: the violent colonization of their lands and the brutal treatment of their people. The movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day has been decades in the making. As a result of advocacy by Native American activists, many states and localities now observe the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day instead of or in addition to Columbus Day. That shift has since reached the federal level in 2021, President Joe Biden became the first president to formally acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day. Its long overdue, David Weeden, tribal historic preservation officer for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, told CNN. When you look back on all that weve endured and sacrificed, all the systemic oppression at the hands of various levels of governments and agencies and programs and everything else, the fact that we are still here is amazing. Heres the history behind Indigenous Peoples Day, and what some Native Americans say the holiday means for them. Indigenous Peoples Day came about as an alternative to Columbus Day To understand the history of Indigenous Peoples Day, its important to understand how Columbus Day came about. Columbus had been celebrated unofficially around the US since the late 1700s. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation commemorating the 400th anniversary of his landing. As waves of Italian immigrants arrived in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, they faced prejudice and discrimination. To combat negative perceptions, a group of Italian American elites took up the cause of Columbus Day, arguing that the contributions of Italian immigrants had helped make America the nation it was. In 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated Columbus Day a national holiday. A demonstrator is detained and carried by members of the US Secret Service and US Park Police during an Indigenous Peoples' Day protest in Washington on October 11, 2021. - Sarah Silbiger/Reuters The narrative around Columbus Day helped uphold the new racial order that would emerge in the US in the 20th century, one in which the descendants of diverse ethnic European immigrants became White Americans, historian Malinda Maynor Lowery wrote in a 2019 article for The Conversation. Eventually, Native Americans began to challenge the history behind it. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, Native American activists in the late 1960s formed the Red Power Movement, built on principles of self-determination and cultural pride. At a 1977 United Nations conference in Geneva, Indigenous delegates from around the world resolved to observe October 12, the day of so-called discovery of America, as an International Day of Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. It would be longer before their calls were adopted. South Dakota became the first to officially celebrate the day (calling it Native American Day) in 1990. The city of Berkeley, California, embraced Indigenous Peoples Day in 1992 as a protest to the 500th anniversary of Columbus arrival. Now, numerous states and more than 130 cities observe the holiday. Its a day to reflect on how the US has treated Native Americans For some, Indigenous Peoples Day is an occasion to consider the history of the US and how it has treated Native people. Its a time to reflect on all that weve been through as a people: How much we endured, how much weve persevered and how much we still have to continue to fight for for ourselves, for generations before us and for generations that will come after us, Weeden said. Kitcki Carroll, an enrolled citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and executive director of United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., sees the day as an opportunity to tell a different story about the US. Indigenous people have often been erased from the countrys historical record a survey from the National Congress of American Indians found that 87% of state history standards dont mention Native American history after 1900, while 27 states dont mention Native Americans in their K-12 curriculum. Military veterans march through blizzard conditions to support "water protectors" at the Oceti Sakowin Camp on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on December 5, 2016. - Scott Olson/Getty Images Yet Native people continue to have a presence here, while the lands and natural resources that were taken from them became foundational to this country, Carroll said. The United States has evolved over time become the most powerful and wealthy nation the world has ever known, he said. It has Indian Country to thank for that. For others, Indigenous Peoples Day is about reclaiming power and celebrating progress. Crystal Echo Hawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and CEO of the social justice organization IllumiNative, points to the gains that Indigenous people have made in recent years, from political representation to media visibility. For too long, Native peoples have been rendered invisible or misrepresented in popular culture and media, but Native peoples are no longer tolerating or settling for erasure, she wrote in an email to CNN. Indigenous Peoples Day serves as a reminder of the diversity and depth of Native peoples, and how hard weve had to work for recognition and visibility. Some use the day to spotlight issues important to Indigenous communities For all of its emphasis on commemorating Indigenous history and culture, Indigenous Peoples Day is also a time to move forward and look to the future. Some Indigenous leaders use the holiday as an opportunity to draw attention to issues that continue to affect Native Americans today, including climate change, tribal sovereignty and land rights. Carroll noted that the Biden administration has been taking steps in the right direction when it comes to the countrys relationships with tribal nations in Bidens 2021 proclamation, he committed the US to honoring the Federal Governments trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. Having Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary also strengthened those efforts, Carroll said. Weeden said he hoped that Indigenous Peoples Day might ignite discussions on reparations and how the US might better empower tribal nations to be more self-sufficient. We deserve a right to remain in our ancestral homes, he said. We deserve to be able to eat from the waters and the lands that have sustained us for thousands of years. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Monday marks the holiday traditionally known as Columbus Day in honor of Christopher Columbus voyage to the Americas, which put the Western Hemisphere on the map for Europeans. However, this day has increasingly been marked instead as Indigenous Peoples Day, a celebration of Native Americans who inhabited the land and endured hardships and early deaths following Columbus arrival. Here are five reasons for this shift: Columbus did not discover America. The most obvious criticism of Columbus Day is that it celebrates something that didnt happen. Columbus did not discover the Americas, two continents upon which millions lived. Nor did he initially think he had found something new, believing instead he had reached the East Indies, as Europeans called much of Asia. Thus, Columbus called the people he encountered Indians, a misnomer that stuck. And even among non-Indigenous people, Columbus was possibly not the first to reach the Americas, as Norse traveler Leif Erikson may have done so 500 years earlier, and voyagers from the ancient Phoenician civilization may have done so well before that. Columbus implicated in slavery and sex trafficking Christopher Columbus reputation has taken a hit in recent years, with widespread reports he actively led the murder and enslavement of Indigenous people on the lands he and his crew reached. Many of these reports focus on words recorded in Columbus journal and writings left by those who came to the Americas with him. Some of these documents are disputed; for example, Columbus journal only survives in copies that have potentially been mistranslated or misinterpreted over time. However, multiple historical sources confirm enslavement and sex trafficking conducted by Europeans under Columbus command, as he was indifferent to these acts at best. Columbus discovery led to mass killing. Regardless of Columbus intentions, his arrival led to the mass deaths of Indigenous people, a process that some have called genocide. The population of the Americas dropped from around 60 million people in 1492 to only 6 million a century later, a staggering 90% decline. These deaths resulted from both violence conducted by Europeans and the arrival of European diseases like influenza, measles and smallpox, which killed Indigenous Americans who had no natural immunity to these viruses. Hostilities against Italian Americans have died down. Although Columbus sailed on behalf of Spain, he was an Italian, and Columbus Day has been a significant celebration for Italian Americans. The holiday was primarily designed to combat anti-Italian prejudice and even violence in America. According to the Italian Cultural Society of Sacramento, President Benjamin Harrison declared Columbus Day a holiday in 1892. Although the date marked the 400th anniversary of Columbus first voyage to America, it was also one year after 11 Italian Americans were lynched in New Orleans; at the time, Italian Americans were the second largest ethnic group to be lynched in the United States. Columbus Day was implemented as a holiday to promote positive images and sentiments toward Italian immigrants and their descendants. Today, anti-Italian prejudice has largely subsided in the U.S., and the continued celebration of Italian American heritage on Columbus Day is weighed alongside recognition of Indigenous Americans who have faced violence, prejudice and exclusion. Activism by Indigenous Americans and supporters Indigenous Peoples Day came about after decades of activism by Native American rights advocates, who, in the 1960s, formed the Red Power Movement with inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power. Furthermore, a 1977 United Nations conference recommended an International Day of Solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas. South Dakota first celebrated Native American Day in 1990, and the city of Berkely first observed Indigenous Peoples Day two years later. Indigenous Peoples Day is not a federal holiday but is celebrated in 17 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. In 2021, Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a declaration celebrating the holiday. With awareness of the history of Americas first inhabitants and Indigenous Peoples Days gaining popularity, acknowledgment of the holiday is expected to grow over time. Though it may not replace Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day seems set to join that holiday as the full impact of Columbus voyages is finally recognized. WASHINGTON The Army and industry teams have hit new distance records in recent tests as part of an effort to develop advanced projectiles for artillery weapon systems, according to company announcements at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. BAE Systems, which partnered with the Armys Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center, shot the XM1155-SC guided projectile from an M109 Paladin howitzer the farthest distance any guided projectile has been fired from the system, the company announced in an Oct. 9 statement. The projectile also hit its target area at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, using GPS, the firm added. In addition, a Boeing and Norwegian-based Nammo team recently set a new record for the longest indirect fire test of a ramjet-powered 155mm artillery projectile from the Armys Extended Range Cannon Artillery prototype, also at Yuma Proving Ground, the team said in an Oct. 9 statement. The efforts come ahead of an artillery strategy the Army expects to complete by the end of the year that will guide the services plans for its artillery formations as it modernizes. The Army has been developing the ERCA system for nearly five years, which takes the BAE-manufactured M109A7 Paladin Integrated Management howitzer chassis and replaces its 39-caliber gun tube with an Army-developed 58-caliber gun tube. The Army dramatically boosted artillery ranges out to 70 kilometers (44 miles) with the ERCA cannon, which combines a 30-foot gun tube with RTX-made Excalibur munitions and an XM1113 projectile using supercharged propellant. Meet the XM1155-SC BAE Systems grew the XM1115-SC out of its Hypervelocity Projectile to get after and defeat a fixed or moving target in a GPS-degraded or -denied environment, Jim Miller, the companys senior director of business development for combat mission systems, told Defense News in an interview. BAE fired the projectile from the ERCA cannon in December 2022 and, at the time, had shot farther than anybody else has ever shot that gun, Miller said. The ERCA test occurred 14 months after BAE received an initial $14.8 million prototype development award in October 2021, the company said in a statement. While Miller couldnt discuss exact ranges, this recent test broke the record for distance from a Paladin, showing the fielded howitzer can achieve ERCA ranges, Miller said. The Hypervelocity Projectile round has a releasable range of 110 kilometers when fired from artillery, according to Miller. That gives us some hope, some kind of a reality, that we can probably go farther than that, he added. Ramjet munition The Boeing-Nammo team a year ago broke the range record for an indirect Ramjet 155mm munition. During the June 28 test at the Andya Test Center in Norway, the Ramjet 155mm munition was fired from an L39 cannon and its engine successfully ignited, Boeing said at the time. The engine draws in air to bolster the forward motion of the projectile. Our objective was to demonstrate the ability to safely operate from the ERCA system and validate our performance. Both objectives were met, Gil Griffin, executive director of Boeings Phantom Works division, said in an Oct. 9 statement. According to a Boeing spokesman, despite the physical range limitations on the test, the team was able to beat by more than a third the previous record, set during last years Ramjet 155mm munition test, which was from a legacy 39-caliber towed artillery cannon with no range restraints. The Army awarded a contract in July 2019 to the team under its XM1155 program, an effort to further develop extended-range artillery munitions. The duo was awarded a Phase II technology contract nearly two years later. Following the most recent test, this program now has a thoroughly tested propulsion system that guarantees enormous range increases for all artillery cannons, Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzg said in the statement. We believe the major development hurdles have now been cleared and production is viable within a relatively short timeframe. The companies will also soon test the integration of a Joint Direct Attack Munition mission computer onto the Ramjet 155mm munition, the statement noted. The demonstration will evaluate the systems maturity and effectiveness against stationary and moving targets, and readiness to transition into the next phase of development, according to the statement. The Fort Worth Independent School District is inching closer to opening its first early childhood learning space two years after voters approved a bond that sets aside about $13.8 million for four centers across the city. The design phase for Morningside Elementary Schools early childhood center is almost 20% complete with plans to finish construction next summer and open next school year, according to Mike Naughton, the districts executive director of facilities planning. Pfluger Architects was selected as the architect a year ago and Morales Construction Services was selected as the contractor in August. Our goal is to have construction substantially completed by the end of July, so in the summer of 2024, which should allow us to go and open the facility for the start of the 2024 school year, Naughton said. The $6.8-million project will consist of five classrooms focused on infants and toddlers up to age 3, but it remains to be seen how many children will be accommodated and whether an outside organization will operate the center. The construction will consist of renovating an existing annex building at Morningside, built in the 1970s, that is slated to be 9,217 square feet once its finished, Naughton said. We see this as being an opportunity to make sure that were providing students high-quality instruction and high-quality child care from the very beginning, Olayinka Moore-Ojo, Fort Worth ISDs executive director of early learning, told the Star-Telegram in early 2022. Fort Worth ISD is following the lead of neighboring Crowley ISD, which has an early childhood center at its Hargrave Elementary School campus thats operated by Child Care Associates, one of the largest child development organizations in North Texas. The federally funded Early Head Start program provides early learning and support at the center for infants and toddlers from low-income families. Fort Worth ISD officials are looking at areas that are considered child care deserts, which have minimal to no access to high-quality, affordable child care. Morningside Elementary is located just north of the 76115 ZIP code, which has a maximum of five child care seats per 100 children of working parents, according to data from advocacy organization Children At Risk. Students who attend high-quality early childhood education programs are less likely to be placed in special education classes or held back a grade in their academic career; theyre also more likely to graduate from high school, research shows. In an animal shelter near Athens, veterinarian Kleopatra Gkika gently smears soothing cream on the leg of a tortoise, one of hundreds singed in Greece's devastating summer wildfires. The healing process is going well, the vet noted. The burnt skin has fallen off and the tortoise can soon be released back into its natural habitat. Even though, there may not be much of that habitat left, Gkika mused. In July and August, Greece was affected by a series of successive wildfires around the country that left at least 26 people dead. The area around the shelter in Kalyvia Thorikou, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens, was among the first to be hit. A few weeks later, the pristine forest of Dadia in northeastern Greece, which contains a natural park, went up in flames. The fires eventually engulfed nearly 94,000 hectares of the forest in the largest blaze ever recorded on European soil. Deflecting criticism, the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis -- which won re-election in June by a landslide -- has blamed the disaster on climate change. Some 400 tortoises overall were rescued from blaze sites surrounding Athens and on the nearby island of Evia. - 'Nothing left' - They were brought to Anima, a non-profit first aid centre for wildlife, and to a zoo near the capital. "Some tortoises had burns on their legs or on their shell. Others had breathing difficulties because of smoke inhalation," said Vassilis Sfakianopoulos, the founder of "Save your hood", a volunteer group that normally cleans up litter. This summer, the group rescued the tortoises as well as snakes, cats and other animals trapped in the inferno. "The intensity of the fires was such that there was nothing left. Shrubs turned to charcoal," added Celine Sissler-Bienvenu of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) charity, which carried out a mission to Greece. With thousands of people in Greece forced to flee for their safety from the fires, the wildlife was largely forgotten, she said. But tortoises are resilient animals. "Tortoises will reduce their metabolism. They can go without eating for several weeks," Sissler-Bienvenu noted. "And at the first rain, they will come out to eat." At the Kalyvia shelter, the first thing an injured tortoise requires is immersion in a water basin for rehydration. When an injury is not immediately apparent, vets attempt to detect possible internal injury through smell, Gkika said. - Racing against time - Tortoises ready to be released into the wild have a blue chalk cross mark on their shell. Around a hundred were already relocated in September. The team know they are racing against the clock to release them from captivity as soon as possible, said Sissler-Bienvnu. For animals such as these, which are wild and not social at all, placing them together in an enclosure constitutes additional stress," she told AFP. In particular, males will continuously seek to mate and need to be kept apart from the females lest they injure -- or even kill them. Tortoises are also extremely attached to their home area, where they are familiar with hiding places and water sources, and may stop eating if moved elsewhere, Sissler-Bienvenu said. A 38-year-old engineer, Sfakianopoulos said he is enraged at the sight of the suffering reptiles. "I find it extremely unfair that no-one in Greece has been taking care of wildlife since the financial crisis," he said, referring to the decade-long crunch that brought the country to its knees. But in confronting disaster, "you find hope", he said. "It makes you grow and change and you have a real impact on the environment." yap/jph/pvh/gil The United States Department of Justice has requested the 2022 beating of Dalvin Gadson by Colorado cops to be looked into as a criminal investigation, his attorney announced on Monday. It comes one year after several officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department pulled over Gadson, a Black veteran who was living in his car at the time, for improperly displaying his license plate last October. Body camera footage shows an officer instructing him to get out of his vehicle and said he was being detained because he was under investigation for a DUI. Dalvin Gadson had two black eyes and a ruptured eardrum after he was beaten by Colorado Springs police officers on Oct. 9, 2022. (Photos: Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels) The officers ordered him to stand up as he was sitting in the car, and after he refused, a tussle ensued. In the video, officers struck Gadson multiple times as they attempted to restrain and handcuff him. During the incident, Gadson repeatedly asked why he was being taken into custody. One video shows his bloody face as he is lying on the concrete. Trending Today: A federal lawsuit was filed against the officers, accusing them of violating Gadsons civil rights when they used excessive force during his arrest. His attorney, Harry Daniels, previously told Atlanta Black Star that his client was beaten, brutalized and left bloodied at the hands of the cops. The officers talked casually and joked after the assault. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE. In addition to his physical injuries, Gadsons defense team also said the incident intensified his post-traumatic stress disorder. He faced multiple charges, including driving under the influence, obstructing a peace officer, second-degree assault, resisting arrest, and driving without a license plate, but they were dismissed earlier this year. He only ended up paying a $15 fine for the improper placement of his license plate, KUSA reported. In August, the department concluded its internal investigation, which said the three officers, Matthew Anderson, Colby Hickman, and Christopher Hummel, were justified in their actions. On Monday, the Director of the DOJs Office of Civil Rights, Michael L. Alston, sent a letter to a top office in the divisions criminal section asking them to review the case following the nature of the law enforcement misconduct allegation, according to documents. One year later, Chief Vasquez still refuses to hold his officers accountable after they beat and bloodied an unarmed man over a license tag infraction, Daniels said in a statement. Today, we are confident that the Department of Justice will begin to correct that injustice and do what he wont. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, in this file photo, he acted "quickly and decisively" after his team found that Deputy Nico Irizarry set up an illegal arrest and lied on the arrest report. The sheriff and three other employees are facing a lawsuit linked to the arrest, filed Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. A former Lee County deputy convicted of contributing to a wrongful arrest plot last year violated policy, an internal affairs investigation concluded. An internal affairs investigation found Niko Irizarry, 26, violated policy when he falsified an arrest report. He was first placed on administrative leave with pay, but terminated following his conviction. Irizarry, of Cape Coral, pleaded no contest on Feb. 20 to one count of official misconduct and was sentenced May 16 to 364 days in jail with credit for time served, followed by 36 months of probation. Irizarry arrested a person for drug trafficking on Dec. 15, 2021, related to fentanyl. In early January, the sheriff's office received information the arrest wasn't lawful, and authorities launched a probe with the sheriff's office's Major Crimes Task Force. The investigation found the drugs were planted in the suspect's car. The suspect wasn't aware of the conspiracy. As authorities questioned him, Irizarry confessed to lying during a sworn statement, according to his arrest affidavit, and said he was offered a reward by one of the co-conspirators if he arrested the suspect. Irizarry worked for the sheriff's correction bureau in 2018 before returning in 2020. He was a patrol deputy assigned to the sheriff's office's west district. He had no previous disciplinary action, records indicate. Court records indicate that Lee Circuit Judge Frank Porter on Aug. 28 denied a motion seeking to reduce Irizarry's sentence filed July 14 by Michael Raheb, who's represented the former deputy. His accomplice was found guilty in trial days prior. The motion filed on Irizarry's behalf alleged the former deputy suffers from five conditions, including abnormal liver functions, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; and hypertensive disorder. In his response, the victim, a real estate agent, represented by Yale Freeman, said Irizarry failed to present evidence that the conditions can't be dealt with at the jail, and that the conditions don't set forth a basis for the modification. Since Irizarry's arrest, at least three other Lee County deputies have been arrested on different charges. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee County Sheriff: Deputy violated policy in false arrest plot A Sleepy Hollow police lieutenant disciplined two years ago for unauthorized use of a police car after drinking alcohol has been under investigation in recent months after the wife of a colleague accused him of groping her in 2017. The full scope of the investigation of Lt. Stephen Dougherty is unclear. But a village response to a Freedom of Information request by The Journal News/lohud last month suggests it also involves an allegation that Dougherty was seen engaging in sexual activity with a woman in a police car while on duty in the spring of 2020. Sleepy Hollow officials met late last month with a lawyer conducting the investigation, who presented them with a report that the village has declined to release. Sleepy Hollow police Lt. Stephen Dougherty being sworn in by then-Mayor Ken Wray after his promotion from sergeant on Jan. 21, 2020, as Chief Anthony Bueti looks on The village's FOIL response initially did not provide how much has been spent on the probe so far. But on Friday, Village Clerk Paula McCarthy Tompkins said in an email that it was $54,502 for a "comprehensive investigation regarding numerous complaints within the Police Department." "Each and every complaint is being investigated including those that arose during the course of the investigation," she wrote. In May, Joan Morrison wrote to the mayor, trustees and village administrator accusing Dougherty of squeezing her buttock as she said goodbye to him following a family get-together at Doughertys home six years ago. Morrison had never previously disclosed the incident publicly. She said she only told her husband, police Officer Clifford Morrison, about it in 2020 and that police Chief Anthony Bueti learned about it shortly after that but never reached out to her to follow up. Dougherty is a 14-year veteran of the department who was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant in 2020. He did not respond to phone and email messages. Stephen Dougherty was disciplined in 2021 Dougherty was investigated in 2021 after an incident in which he took an unmarked car assigned to the Greenburgh Drug and Alcohol Task Force while off duty. According to a report by the investigator, James Coverdale of Center for Workplace Solutions, Dougherty had brought the car to a promotion ceremony at a village firehouse on April 8, 2021. The lieutenant told Coverdale he had two beers at the ceremony and then left with an off-duty female officer who asked for a ride to her home nearby. The heavily redacted 13-page report was provided to The Journal News/lohud in response to a Freedom of Information request. The identity of the female officer, who was also interviewed, was redacted. She told Coverdale that she asked Dougherty to drive her home so she could pick up some vodka and ice. He then drove her back to the firehouse. Dougherty, a member of the task force, claimed that he was working a wire-tap case and might have gotten a call that required him to drive somewhere. Coverdale found that Dougherty had violated department policy. According to records provided by the village last month, Bueti then brought a disciplinary charge against Dougherty on May 25 accusing him of unauthorized use of a vehicle, allowing an alcoholic beverage to be brought into a police car, consuming alcohol before driving a police car and acting in a manner that does not reflect favorably on the Department. Dougherty was suspended without pay and initially denied the charges. But rather than face a hearing, he admitted to the violations, agreeing to an unpaid suspension through June 8 and the forfeiture of 10 vacation days. In a letter of reprimand, then-Mayor Ken Wray wrote that Doughertys behavior marked a serious lapse in judgment and that as a lieutenant he had to set a better example for those under his command. Investigation includes allegation of groping police colleague's wife Morrison said that her husband and Dougherty became close friends and their families frequently socialized after her husband transferred from Mount Vernon a decade ago. They were together at Doughertys home for a party in the spring of 2017. When her husband rounded up their sons and took them to the car, she wrote in her letter, she went around making their farewells. When she gave Dougherty a hug goodbye, Morrison wrote, he reached behind her and grabbed her left buttock. She said she pulled away in shock and he was smiling. Morrison said she didnt tell her husband after that because she feared if he confronted Dougherty there could be trouble at work for him. So against my better judgement I didnt tell him what Doc did to me, she wrote in her letter. Morrison said that changed in June 2020 after her husband who was the PBA president at the time got a call from a colleague who said he observed Dougherty in a police car cheating on his wife, possibly with another officer, at the Kendal-on-Hudson garage while on duty. When he saw she was upset and asked what was wrong, she told him what Dougherty had done to her. Morrison told The Journal News/lohud that she has tried to avoid Dougherty but there are police functions she has had to attend with her husband. Hes always acted like nothing ever happened, she said in the interview. He would make it a point as soon as my husband walked away from me, to make me uncomfortable, to come over and try to talk to me, overwhelm me with compliments on how great I looked and am I working out. I would try to get away from the conversation and get away from him as quick as I could. Morrison said she knows Dougherty has called her a liar about the groping incident. I wouldnt make up something like that, Morrison said. It makes me upset. But Im not surprised he would (say) that. She said she sent the letter this year because her husband had asked her permission to reference the incident in a complaint he made about Dougherty's treatment of him after Morrison documented an incident of insubordination by Officer Angela Martello. Clifford Morrison and officers involved in the 2020 and 2021 allegations against Dougherty declined to comment, citing rules prohibiting members of the department from speaking with the media. Bueti and Mayor Martin Rutyna said they could not discuss any details of the ongoing investigation or even the scope of the probe. But the chief did say that he believed the allegation involving the sexual activity in the car was part of the new investigation. He said he thought it had been covered in the Coverdale investigation and determined to be "unfounded." With all the redactions in the copy provided by the village, it could not be determined to what extent Coverdale addressed that issue, if at all. The FOIL request sought information about that incident. In her answer, McCarthy said there were responsive documents to that and other requests including Clifford Morrison's complaint but "they will not be disclosed because they are part of an ongoing internal agency investigation." The village provided CWS invoices related to two Coverdale investigations. An unrelated 2022 probe cost $4,700 and the 2021 investigation cost $5,700. The current investigation has been conducted by lawyers from the villages labor counsel, Bond Schoeneck & King, and has involved numerous interviews of police officers. Morrison said she was interviewed in June and expressed concern recently that her allegation was not being taken seriously. She appeared at the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 26. Without going into detail about her claim, she addressed the board briefly. I know to some that this might be an allegation and a he-said, she-said thing, she said, according to a video of the meeting. But to me its not an allegation, it really happened. And I hope you all will do the right thing. Morrison told The Journal News/lohud she felt bad for Doughertys wife and kids but wanted him held accountable. I do think he should be fired, she said. He lacks integrity, he has shown he has poor judgment and he clearly has abused authority. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Sleepy Hollow cop probed over allegation he groped colleague's wife U.S. deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said early Monday that Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, citing Tehrans efforts to train and provide the Palestinian militant group with arms. Finer said Iran without a doubt is indirectly responsible for backing and training Hamas, but he said it is not clear whether Tehran was directly involved in the attack. In terms of broad complicity, we are very clear about a role for Iran, Finer told CBS. What we have not seen yet at this moment, although we are continuing to look at it very closely, is any sort of direct involvement in the immediate attacks. Hamas, the Palestinian military and political group that rules the Gaza Strip, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel one day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, which saw a coalition of Arab forces led by Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack against the Israeli people. The Hamas invasion was the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War and has killed hundreds of people in Israel. Fighting has been ongoing since Saturday, and Israel is now launching a major counterattack on Gaza. Its unclear how a much smaller coalition of Palestinian armed forces amassed the ability to launch such a devastating attack on Israel, leading some to speculate a greater Iranian involvement. Iran, which has long funded Hamas, gave the green light to Palestinian forces last Monday, just days before the Saturday attack, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Journal also reported that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps helped train Hamas on the operation since at least August and helped prepare and coordinate the invasion. U.S. officials have yet to confirm that Iran had a direct role in the operation. Iran has been an enemy of Israel, a major U.S. ally, since the creation of the Israeli state in 1948, and Tehran has long accused Israeli forces of oppressing the Palestinian people. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Iran's mission to the United Nations has claimed that Tehran was not involved in one of the bloodiest attacks on Israel in history, during which the Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and kidnapped dozens more. Source: Reuters, citing a statement by Iran's mission to the UN Quote from the statement: "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. 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." Details: The news agency notes that Iran makes no secret of its support for Hamas, or that it finances and arms the group, as well as another Palestinian militant organisation, Islamic Jihad. Iran's mission to the UN stated that the "success" of the Hamas operation was due to its unexpectedness, adding that this led to the "biggest failure" of the Israeli security services. Quote: "They are attempting to justify their failure and attribute it to Iran's intelligence power and operational planning. They (Israel) find it very difficult to accept that in the intelligence community, it is being narrated that they were defeated by a Palestinian group." Background: The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Iranian security officials had helped plan Hamas's surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the attack at a meeting in Beirut last Monday. The newspaper noted that officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been working with Hamas since August to develop an air, ground and sea invasion plan. On the morning of 7 October, missiles were launched en masse from the Gaza Strip into Israel by Hamas militants and fires surged through Israeli cities. As of 8 October, the number of people killed in the Hamas attack on Israel had exceeded 700, and more than 2,200 people had been injured. 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! Senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah have said that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the attack at a meeting in Beirut last Monday. Source: The Wall Street Journal Details: Officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been working with Hamas since August to develop an air, ground and sea invasion plan. The details of the operation were finalised during several meetings in Beirut, attended by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers and representatives of four Iranian-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group and political party. US officials say they have seen no evidence of Tehran's involvement. In an interview with CNN that aired Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship." "We dont have any information at this time to corroborate this account," said a US official of the meetings. However, a European official and an adviser to the Syrian government provided the same information about Iran's involvement in the preparation of the attack as the senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. The Iranian delegation to the UN in New York did not respond to a request for comment. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , Iran's supreme leader, praised the attacks, saying in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that "the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region." A direct role for Iran would bring Tehran's long-running conflict with Israel out of obscurity, increasing the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Senior Israeli security officials have vowed to strike at Iran's leadership if Tehran is found responsible for the murder of Israelis. A broader plan of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is to create a multi-front threat that could suffocate Israel from all sides Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the north and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel has accused Iran of being behind the attacks, albeit indirectly. The ability of Palestinian and Lebanese armed groups to coordinate with Iran will be tested in the coming days. Background: On Sunday, 8 October, the White House said that US President Joe Biden had ordered "additional support" to Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas, but no details were given. The Pentagon also confirmed that it was beginning to redeploy the US Navy's aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. As of Sunday evening, more than 700 Israelis had been killed and more than 2,200 injured in the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The US media has reported that the United States plans to redeploy US Navy vessels and aircraft closer to 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! Iranians express solidarity with Palestinians at a rally in Tehran after Hamas militants attacked Israel (-) Iran took the lead in celebrations following the surprise attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Tehran's arch-enemy Israel, even as it rejected accusations of direct involvement. The Islamic republic's backing was made manifest by billboards installed in Tehran's major plazas, including Palestine Square. "The great liberation has begun," proclaimed one while a second showed the black and white chequerboard of the Palestinian keffiyeh gradually subsuming the white and blue flag of Israel. The enormous images went on display just hours after Hamas launched its deadly and unexpected assault, dubbed "Al-Aqsa Flood", on Saturday. Iran has made support for the Palestinian cause a centrepiece of its foreign policy and much is at stake for Tehran in the war between Israel and Hamas. - Denials - Despite its vocal support, Tehran on Monday rejected allegations it had a direct role in organising the assault. "The accusations of an Iranian role... are based on political motives," foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said at his first weekly news conference since the attack. Kanani said the Islamic republic does not intervene "in the decision-making of other countries, including Palestine" and threatened Israel with a "devastating response" if it were to attack Iran. Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations also denied allegations of the country's involvement, in a statement issued overnight. During a visit to Lebanon in early September, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian met with officials from the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, reaffirming Iran's strong support for "resistance". A report at the weekend in the Wall Street Journal said that "Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday", citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah. A senior White House official reacted cautiously to the claims, stating on Sunday that it was "too early to say" if Iran was "directly involved" in the attack. But the official acknowledged there had been "no doubt" that Hamas was "financed, equipped, and armed", among other things, by Tehran. Ahmad Zeidabadi, a political scientist, said it appeared the Islamic republic was unwilling to get directly involved but that they "expect Hamas to be able to change the situation on its own". However, he said, Tehran "might be interested at some point" in having its other "aligned groups" such as Hezbollah in Lebanon "reduce the pressure on Gaza by opening a new front" on Israel's northern border. A strengthened Hamas would be a major boon for Iran, said Zeidabadi, but it would be "a debacle for the Islamic republic" if Hamas were to have "all its political, economic and military infrastructure destroyed". Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi reacted on Sunday to the attack by saying his country "supports the legitimate defence of the Palestinian nation," after phone talks with Palestinian militant leaders. "Coordination with the axis of resistance continues," Ismail Sindawi, Islamic Jihad's representative in Syria said on Monday, referring to the alliance of political parties and militant groups that stretches from Lebanon to Afghanistan. - Stopping normalisation - The surprise attack came with the backdrop of efforts by the United States to push for a deal normalising diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. That would follow on from historic treaties with Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others. Iran has been highly critical of these efforts and on Sunday, the chief of staff for Iran's armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri, called normalisation "desperate efforts" that will not "slow down" Israel's "collapse". Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last week labelled them a losing gamble. For Tehran, normalisation adds extra importance to Hamas's survival and success, said Zeidabadi, the political scientist. "If Hamas is completely defeated, the path to normalisation of relations will open up because there is no other practical alternative to Israel," Zeidabadi said. "But if Hamas wins, this agreement will be postponed for some time." rkh-ap/dcp/dv Regardless of whether Iran plotted and ordered the massive Hamas attack against Israel over the weekend, Tehrans backing and support for the Palestinian militant group sends a clear and defiant message to Washington. The U.S. has yet to confirm a direct involvement from Tehran in the operation, but officials acknowledge Iranians are indirectly complicit in training, funding and supporting Hamas. The Hamas invasion, the worst attack on Israel in 50 years, shows Tehran is increasingly willing to damage U.S. allies and, in effect, try to weaken American influence through proxy groups. It comes as Irans influence as a regional power appears on the rise. Jonathan Spyer, the director of research at the Middle East Forum, said Iran seeks to defeat Israel with a strategy of death by a thousand cuts. They intend to reduce the morale of Israelis, to cause Israelis to lose faith in their institutions, to cause Israelis to quit Israel, said Spyer. Thats the reason why theyre backing Hamas. Thats the reason why they created Hezbollah. They intend to try to surround Israel with what we would call hybrid military forces. 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 12:30 Report newsletter Iran has denied any role in the brutal surprise attack by Hamas but has welcomed the news, reportedly with celebrations of what Iranians are calling a Palestinian victory. Both Hamas and Iran have publicly acknowledged a strategic partnership. They hold separate goals in the decades-long conflict with Jerusalem, but those aims appear to have aligned during the early Saturday attack, which has left hundreds dead in Israel and fighting still flaring up in the south near Gaza. Iran has for years been fighting a shadow war against Israel through proxy groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas and others. Tehran considers Israel an American client state, hostile to Muslims. The weekend attack also came as Iran seeks to scuttle Israeli standing in the Middle East and restrict American influence by separating its most prominent allies: Israel and Saudi Arabia. As Israel and Saudi Arabia have worked to normalize relations, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in early October leveled a sharp warning. The position of the Islamic Republic is that countries that make the gamble of normalization with Israel will lose, he said, according to Iranian state media. They are betting on a losing horse. Khamenei also said in those remarks that, Today, the Palestinian movement is more active than ever. Efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, which had already been difficult, will likely face a major setback after the violence, said Asher Kaufman, associate professor of history and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. I dont think Saudi Arabia is able to work on normalizing relations with Israel so long as the war in Gaza takes place, he said. It might repair [relations] and resume this possibility after this war is over, but not now. I dont see it happening now. Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, has suffered from corruption and domestic turmoil as relations with Israel have worsened with the far-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which has expanded settlements into the Israeli-occupied West Bank and cracked down against militant groups. But over the past two years, Hamas largely fell under the radar, with speculation that it was focusing on the economy, while other Palestinian groups, such as the Islamic Jihad, have battled Israel with rocket attacks. The surprise invasion, which saw Palestinians paragliding over a usually secure Israeli border and rolling through with bulldozers and motorcycles, came as Israel has been divided internally over Netanyahus political reforms. Amid Israels domestic strife, Hamas wanted to display strength and put the Palestinian movement back on the international stage, said Matthew Levitt, the director of counterterrorism and intelligence at the Washington Institute for Far East Policy. They saw an Israel they believed was weak, and they wanted to do something that would demonstrate that Israel is not 10 feet tall, he said. It was showing that it could happen, that Israel is not invincible and that you cant ignore Hamas. Hamas could not have accomplished any of last weekends attacks without Iran, a nation to which it has historic ties. That relationship actually fell apart amid tensions in Syria but has strengthened again in the past few years, and Iranian officials have provided militants with significant training and resources. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Iranian security officials plotted out the invasion and gave Hamas the thumbs up to attack. Both the U.S. and Israel have yet to make that declaration and have signaled there is no evidence to make the claim, while analysts have said it remains an open question. Still, the attack underscores how deeply the U.S. has failed to rein in Iran, despite attempts to reach a mutual agreement through the revival of a deal to restrict Iranian nuclear ambitions. And just last month, the U.S. approved a deal to unfreeze $6 billion of funds in South Korea from Iranian oil sales for the release of five American prisoners. On Capitol Hill and the campaign trail, Republican lawmakers are hammering the Biden administration for releasing the funds just weeks before the Hamas attack, despite no established link between the two events. 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, said former Vice President Mike Pence, who is running for the White House in 2024. No White House has found the right formula for dealing with Iran. Sanam Vakil, a professor at Johns Hopkins University and the director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House, said Iran has been a destabilizing actor in the region for decades now. No U.S. president has developed a policy to manage and contain Irans regional role, she said. A whole new approach, a whole new Iran strategy is urgently needed. Following the attack, the West is increasingly concerned with whether Americas longtime influence in the Middle East is waning. Alarm bells rang earlier this year when China helped restore diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia a deal in which the U.S. played no part. Regional nations like Iran see the U.S. as losing power in the Middle East, and if Israel were to be weakened by the conflict, that could threaten Washingtons influence even more. Spyer, from the Middle East Forum, said Tehran is demonstrating that Iranian power is on the way up. They regard themselves as the rising power, he said, and view the United States as the setting sun, the power which is declining and departing the Middle East. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Wall Street Journal reported that Iranian officials co-created plans for Hamas' attack on Israel. Israeli authorities say 700 people have been killed and 1,500 wounded by Hamas strikes this weekend. Iran denied involvement in the attacks, but said it had "unflinching support of Palestine." Iranian security officials partnered with Hamas for weeks to plan this weekend's land, sea, and air strikes against Israel, a report said. It led to Israel's declaration of war on Hamas and the most severe fighting in Israel for decades. The Wall Street Journal reported that officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had partnered with Hamas since August to prepare for the breach of Israel's borders. The outlet cited unnamed senior members of Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah as saying the IRGC during a meeting last Monday in Beirut "gave the green light" for the attack. While the US has not publicly tied the IRGC directly to the attacks, CNN quoted one unnamed official as saying "of course Iran is in the picture" more generally, adding that "they've provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah." Iran on Sunday denied involvement in the attacks. "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," Iran's UN mission said, according to Reuters' translation. Representatives for the Israel Defense Forces did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider; Hamas has also not addressed the claim. Iran has long supported international militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, providing them with financial assistance and military hardware. They have long vowed to fight for Israel's destruction. Israeli authorities said at least 700 people were killed and 1,500 wounded by Hamas strikes since October 7, with some taken hostage. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported 313 dead and 2,000 injured by Israeli counter-strikes In response to the surprise Saturday attacks by Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Gaza would "pay a price" it "has never known," vowing to wipe the ability of Hamas to function. The Washington Post reported US officials said Sunday they expected Israel to launch a full-scale ground invasion in the next 24 to 48 hours. Correction: October 9, 2023 An earlier version of this story misattributed the sourcing of the claim that Iran helped plan Saturday's attacks in Israel. It was made to The Wall Street Journal by unnamed Hamas and Hezbollah sources; the Journal didn't attribute the mention of a meeting last Monday to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The story also imprecisely paraphrased quotes from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to make Hamas, which controls Gaza, "pay an unprecedented price." Read the original article on Business Insider Smoke billows following Israeli artillery bombing on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese border village of Aita al-Shaab (Mahmoud ZAYYAT) Three Hezbollah members were killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon Monday, the Iran-backed group said, as tensions surged after Palestinian militants tried to infiltrate into Israel from Lebanon. Israel's army said its soldiers had "killed a number of armed suspects" who had crossed the frontier from Lebanon and that its helicopters were striking the area. The escalation on Israel's northern border with Lebanon comes two days after Hamas militants launched a massive attack on Israel's southern flank from the blockaded Gaza Strip. Hezbollah issued three separate statements confirming the death of its members, all of them "martyred as a result of the Zionist aggression on south Lebanon Monday afternoon", the group said. A Hezbollah source had earlier told AFP a member was killed "in an Israeli strike on a watchtower in south Lebanon" near Aita al-Shaab village, with a spokesperson for the group confirming the death. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group's armed wing, which claims to be fighting Israel alongside Hamas, said earlier it was behind a thwarted bid to infiltrate Israel from Lebanon. "The Al-Quds Brigades claim responsibility for the afternoon operation on the south Lebanon border," the group said in a statement. The mayor of the Lebanese border village of Dhayra said Israel was shelling the area. "Fields on the outskirts of the village were subjected to intense Israeli artillery shelling, preceded by intermittent gunfire," the mayor, Abdullah al-Gharib, told AFP. - 'Utmost caution' - Hezbollah, whose arch-foe is Israel, had earlier denied any involvement in the border clashes. An AFP photographer at the scene said he saw dozens of Lebanese and Syrian families fleeing as the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab village came under heavy bombardment. The Lebanese army in a statement said the periphery of "Dhayra, Aita al-Shaab and other border areas were subjected to air and artillery bombardment by the Israeli enemy". It urged citizens "to take the utmost caution" and avoid border areas. Andrea Tenenti, the spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which acts as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel, said UNIFIL commander Aroldo Lazaro was "in contact with the involved parties". He said Lazaro had urged them to exercise "maximum restraint" to prevent "further escalation and loss of life". Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Israel had expanded bombardment on the same border area with "enemy warplanes intensifying their flights and launching incendiary bombs". The clash comes a day after Hezbollah said it had fired artillery shells and guided missiles at Israel, "in solidarity" with attacks launched from Gaza by its ally Hamas. Israel's army said it hit back on Sunday with artillery into 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. The two countries remain technically at war. Israel has warned Hezbollah against involvement in the war with Gaza. At least 800 people in Israel and 560 in Gaza have been killed since the conflict erupted on Saturday, according to tolls from officials on both sides. aya-rh-jos/jsa Israel's defense minister announced a "complete siege" of Gaza on Monday, per the Times of Israel. Gazans will have no outside access to electricity, food, or fuel during the siege, he said. The announcement comes after Israel formally declared war on Hamas on Sunday. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Monday that he has ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza strip, according to the Times of Israel. "There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed," he was reported as telling commanders at the Israel Defense Forces' Southern Command. "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly," he added, per the paper's translation of his remarks. Gallant's remarks were followed by an order from Israel's Energy Minister Israel Katz to cut off water to Gaza, per the Times of Israel. Electricity and fuel were halted two days ago, he is reported to have added. The announcement comes a day after the Israeli government formally declared war on Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that launched a devastating wave of surprise attacks on Saturday. The announcement came with the stated goal of wresting full control of Gaza from Hamas and eliminating the group. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, as well as more than 400 in Gaza, since the escalation of hostilities began. Civilian deaths have been reported on both sides. Israel began bombarding the territory in retaliation on Saturday. Israel already exerted considerable control over Gaza through a 16-year blockade it maintained, along with Egypt, to restrict the flow of goods and the movement of people ever since Hamas took control over the sliver of territory. In July, the UN's special rapporteur said Israel's level of control over occupied Palestinian territory constituted an "open-air prison." Read the original article on Business Insider Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Monday that he had ordered a complete siege" on Gaza, two days after Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in decades. Gallant said that Hamas-run Gaza would be totally blockaded: No electricity, food, or fuel will be allowed to enter the area. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly, he said. Later, Energy Minister Israel Katz ordered water supplies to be cut off. Approximately 2.1 million Palestinians live in Gaza, and another 2.6 million Palestinians live in the occupied West Bank. Gaza has already been under a 16-year blockade imposed by Israel and enforced by Egypt. The blockade restricts the passage of goods into the region and prevents many from leaving the area. The result is a nearly 50% unemployment rate, as well as deteriorating health and living conditions. In recent weeks, youth in Gaza have staged protests which Israeli sources have linked to the region's economic hardships. Around half of the population of the West Bank live below the poverty line. The blockade has been compared to an "open-air prison," and Palestinians who live in the Gaza Strip must seek permission if they want to leave the area. Approval to leave is rare, and often reserved for serious medical concerns or a small list of merchants. The blockade over Gaza was first imposed in 2007 following Hamas' takeover of the region but its continued implementation may be further emboldening Hamas. "Unless the root causes are dismantled the siege lifted, the apartheid system and occupation ended violence will continue to tragically haunt Palestinians and Israelis for years to come," Palestinian writer Seraj Assi wrote for Jacobin Sunday. A report from Save the Children published last year found that mental health was rapidly deteriorating amongst Palestinian youth. More than half of surveyed children living in the Gaza strip told the not-for-profit that they had experienced suicidal ideations. The densely populated region comprises a large number of children: According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 38% of the Palestinian population were aged 14 or younger as of mid-2022. Thai workers in southern Israel were killed by Hamas militants, while some others were taken prisoner Twelve Thais have been killed and another 11 kidnapped by Palestinian Hamas militants who launched a mass assault from Gaza on Israel. Another eight Thai nationals have been injured in the violence since Saturday, said Thailand's foreign ministry. It said air force planes were on standby to fly its citizens home. There are some 30,000 Thais in Israel working in agriculture, many near the Gaza border. Nepal said 10 of its citizens had been killed. Other countries which have reported citizens killed, abducted or missing in the violence in Israel include the US, UK and Germany. Thailand's labour minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told AFP news agency that some 5,000 Thai labourers work in the zone where fighting has been taking place, but that Israeli forces had begun moving them to safety. He added that 1,099 workers have registered to return home. Workers at a farm in Mivtahim, a town near the Gaza Strip, described Hamas militants storming their farm after rockets were fired in the early hours of Saturday. "The Hamas militants fired a rocket first, then they stormed our farm. I had to run and hide in my bedroom," Udomporn Champahom told the BBC. Mr Udomporn was later rescued by Israeli soldiers. He said that a fellow Thai who was with him at the time is recovering from a gunshot wound "as big as a bottle cap" on his leg. Another Thai worker told the BBC: "I was running and crawling underneath a truck then the Hamas pulled me out and pointed the gun at me at point blank before firing to the ground." The worker, who declined to be named, later managed to escape. Wanida Maarsa told BBC Thai that her husband Anucha Angkaew - who had been working on an avocado farm for almost two years - was one of those taken captive by the militants. He appeared in a video Hamas put out over the weekend. "[The man in the video] is absolutely him," she said. "I have not been able to contact him since 02:00 Bangkok time [19:00 GMT on Friday]. I talked to him just before our daughter went to sleep," Ms Wanida added. More than 50 countries are thought to have citizens working inside Israel. Nepal confirmed on Sunday that the 10 students who were killed had gone to Israel to work and acquire skills in an agricultural firm. One of the victims was 27-year-old Rajesh Kumar Swarnakar, whose family are in mourning in their village Madhuwan in eastern Sunsari district. Rajesh was a final year agriculture student who hoped to go to Australia, his brother Mukesh told BBC Nepali. "I was not in favour of sending my brother to Israel. He insisted to us that he had received a scholarship and told us that he would save some money to apply for Australia after finishing the programme in Israel." Their father Raj Kumar Swarnakar felt the Israeli authorities had been negligent in sending his son for training in an area prone to conflict. In total Nepal says 265 of its students are working on various Israeli farms. Seventeen students from Nepal's Far Western University were attacked by Hamas gunmen near Gaza. As well as the 10 killed, four are being treated at local hospitals and two have been rescued to Tel Aviv. One is still missing. The Nepali embassy in Israel has said more than 200 Nepalese have filled out forms expressing a willingness to return home. In addition to those working in agriculture, another 4,500 Nepalis are reported to be working as caregivers in Israel. Separately, India said that it is working "actively" to bring back its nationals in Israel. According to media reports, there are around 18,000 Indians living and working in the country. Additional reporting by Phanindra Dahal in Nepal Israel appears to be gearing up for a ground invasion of Gaza after Hamas staged a brutal attack. But attention is also being directed to Israel's border with Lebanon, where fighting has broken out. The violence has raised fears the fighting could spiral into a regional conflict. As Israeli forces mass near the Gaza Strip ahead of what many say is an imminent ground invasion, dangerous fighting in the north threatens to turn the war with Hamas into a larger conflict. Israel officially declared war against Hamas on Sunday, a day after the militant group carried out a multi-front surprise attack across the country that has killed at least 800 people mostly civilians and some foreign nationals and wounded thousands more. In response to the massacre, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fighter jets immediately began a widespread bombing campaign of what it said were Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip. The ongoing operation, known as Swords of Iron, has all the markings of a looming ground invasion, as Israeli forces and firepower gather near the border with Gaza, a densely populated sliver of land that's home to roughly 2 million people. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Joe Biden on Sunday that his military has no choice but to invade Gaza and that there will be no negotiations with Hamas, Axios reported. "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," an IDF spokesperson said on Sunday. "And in addition to that, we are also to make sure that Hamas will not be able to govern the Gaza Strip." The IDF announced on Monday that more than 300,000 reserve troops have been mobilized. This "is more than we have ever done before in such a short period of time. And that should indicate the severity of the situation from our perspective," an IDF spokesperson said, adding that troops have been dispatched to southern and northern Israel. Yoav Gallant, Israel's defense minister, also said on Monday that he ordered a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off electricity, food, fuel, and water. Heavy armor like tanks was also spotted en route to Gaza. But as a potential ground invasion appears to be on the horizon, Israel has also been forced to divert some attention to its northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah an Iran-backed group that, like Hamas, is designated as a terrorist organization by the US State Department has been exchanging fire with the IDF. On Sunday, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), a decades-old peacekeeping mission, said it detected several rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel, which then responded with artillery strikes. The following day, UNIFIL said it detected explosions in southwestern Lebanon, while the IDF said its forces killed several "militants" who crossed into Israel from Lebanon and its helicopters attacked Lebanese territory in response. "While we are working to gather more information, UNIFIL Head & Force Commander Maj Gen Lazaro is in contact with the involved parties, urging them to exercise maximum restraint & utilize UNIFIL's liaison and coordination mechanisms to prevent further escalation and loss of life," the peacekeeping mission said on Monday. The recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah which is allied with Hamas has stoked fears that the war could turn into a wider regional conflict if a second front opens up in the north. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, Hezbollah is the "world's most heavily armed non-state actor," outfitted with a massive stockpile of artillery rockets, ballistic missiles, anti-tank missiles, and anti-ship missiles. Anti-ship missiles in particular could pose a headache for the Pentagon, which has dispatched its most advanced aircraft carrier and its heavily armed strike group to Israel's coast. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group which consists of several warships able to launch guided missiles comes alongside the transfer of weaponry to Israel, and the movement of additional fighter jets to the area. Hezbollah has already threatened that US assets will become targets if Washington directly intervenes. "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." Meanwhile, as Israel gathers its ground forces, IDF fighter jets continue to bombard the Gaza Strip for a third consecutive day, striking what the military said are thousands of Hamas targets. Gaza's Ministry of Health said as of Monday afternoon that over 500 Palestinians were killed and nearly 3,000 more injured. Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 9, 2023 It remains to be seen how an invasion might play out, should the IDF carry one out, although it is likely to be a costly campaign in brutal environment with intense urban combat. Israel also has to contend with the issue that there are dozens of hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas during Saturday's surprise attack and are believed to be held captive within Gaza, which could complicate operations. Read the original article on Business Insider Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here. The brazen attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel that began on Saturday will be seen as a turning point in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with far-reaching repercussions, analysts say. The multi-pronged attack saw as many as 1,000 assailants infiltrate Israeli territory, kill hundreds of soldiers and civilians, and take dozens of hostages back into Gaza. It was like nothing Israel had seen since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Israel pledged revenge, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing mighty vengeance. Hamas said it was prepared for all scenarios. Things will change forever, said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) in Tel Aviv. There is nothing in Israeli history that compares to this attack, he said. Hamas will no longer be Hamas that we knew years ago, Michael, who previously served as the deputy director general and head of the Palestinian desk at Israels Ministry for Strategic Affairs, told CNN. Hamas said the attack was retribution for what it described as attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza. Heres what we know about the group: What is Hamas? An Islamist organization with a military wing, Hamas first came into being in 1987. It was an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist group that was founded in the late 1920s in Egypt. The word Hamas is itself an acronym for Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamiyya Arabic for Islamic Resistance Movement. The group, like most Palestinian factions and political parties, insists that Israel is an occupying power and that it is trying to liberate the Palestinian territories. It considers Israel an illegitimate state. Unlike some other Palestinian factions, Hamas refuses to engage with Israel. In 1993, it opposed the Oslo Accords, a peace pact between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that saw the PLO give up armed resistance against Israel in return for promises of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Accords also established the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Palestinian Hamas militants attend the funeral of their comrade in the southern Gaza Strip in August 2017. - Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters Hamas presents itself as an alternative to the PA, which has recognized Israel and has engaged in multiple failed peace initiatives with it. The PA, whose credibility among Palestinians has suffered over the years, is led by President Mahmoud Abbas. The group has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, and Israel. The US State Department in 2021 said that Hamas receives funding, weapons, and training from Iran, as well as some funds that are raised in Gulf Arab countries. The group also receives donations from some Palestinians, other expatriates and its own charity organizations, it said. In April, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suggested that Iran provides Hamas with some $100 million annually. What was Hamas strategy in carrying out the attacks? By undertaking such a devastating strike, the groups primary goal would have been to dramatically shake up the status quo, experts say: Israel maintains a tight siege on Gaza and continues to occupy the West Bank, and the goal of an independent Palestinian state is nowhere in sight. One objective would be to put the Palestinian issue back on the regional and international agenda, said Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and director of its Program on Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian Affairs. People had moved on (from the Palestinian issue), Elgindy told CNN. The new game in town is Saudi-Israel normalization, and this new regional integration. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month publicly acknowledged for the first time that negotiations were underway with Washington to possibly establish ties with Israel, saying normalization is getting closer every day. Saudi-Israel normalization could be a landmark moment for Israels regional legitimacy as it might prompt other Muslim countries to follow suit. Saudi Arabia had previously pledged not to recognize Israel until it grants independence to the Palestinians. Elgindy said that, to some extent, Hamas has succeeded in its aim of bringing attention back to the Palestinian cause. The group may also be trying to shatter any conceptions about its military capabilities, analysts say. Hamas had delivered a blow to Israel beyond what it is used to, and was also putting its capabilities on display, said Omar Rahman, a fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs who focuses on Palestinian affairs. Its shock tactics are a declaration that it must be taken more seriously, Rahman said. The Israeli military said Monday that Hamas had taken dozens of hostages and Hamas has said it has abducted more than 100 people. The number of hostages taken, and the fact that many are civilians, shows that Hamas is looking for much more than a prisoner swap, the experts said. In a previous kidnapping situation, Israel traded more than 1,000 prisoners for one Israeli hostage. The large number of hostages ensures that this is not a short-lived military tit-for-tat that will die down and be forgotten, Rahman said, but that it has longer-term political implications. As part of its campaign against Israel, Hamas produced slick propaganda videos documenting its assault on Israel step-by-step. In some videos, its fighters wore bodycams to film the operations as they broke through Israeli fortifications and were seen dressed in commando-style uniforms. Thats key to the groups propaganda war, analysts say, which serves a number of objectives. On the one hand, it is to instill fear among the Israeli public and imply that their leaders cant keep them safe, Elgindy said. That is going to come as a shock because Israelis take enormous pride in their military and their intelligence capabilities. On the other hand, it is also for domestic Palestinian consumption. Hamas has been long caught in a political war with the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank and engages in security coordination with Israel. This is meant to show Palestinians that while over there, Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president) is basically asleep at the wheel, we are the true resistance, (and) are actually doing something, Elgindy told CNN of Hamas. Hamas' political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks during a rally in Qatar's capital Doha, in May 2021. - Mahmoud Hefnawy/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Can Hamas survive Israels response? Hamas large-scale offensive shows that the group knows that the coming war may be an existential one, experts say. Michael, of the INSS, speculates that Hamas may have been trying to provoke an all-out war with Israel, and may have been promised regional backing by its allies should it take place. Hamas has had a very clear strategy which is based on the organizing rationale of a multi-front conflict, Michael told CNN, adding that Hamas sees Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Arab citizens of Israel who support Hamas, and southern Lebanon as potentially supporting its campaign. A senior Hamas official, Saleh al-Arouri, over the weekend said the militant group was ready for the worst-case scenario, including a ground invasion. He said that the ground invasion would be the best for us to decide the ending of this battle. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The historic powder keg of the Middle East has ignited again, as Israel and Hamas are at war with each other following an unprecedented surprise attack from the latter. Hundreds of people on both sides of the conflict have died, and the combatants appear primed to fight for the long haul if necessary. How did the conflict start? Fighting broke out following a full-scale assault by Hamas, described by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence as a Palestinian terrorist group that has "conducted many anti-Israel attacks in both Israel and the Palestinian territories." Hamas launched its attack from the Gaza Strip, a strip of land along Israel's western border that makes up a portion of the partially recognized State of Palestine. The attack began around 6:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, when Hamas launched a barrage of rockets toward Israel. Insurgents then began entering Israel and engaging soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). At least 2,200 rockets were fired into Israel over this single day, and "raids were carried out into the country from land, with paragliders and from the sea," according to an IDF press release. To put that in perspective, 4,000 total rockets were "fired from Gaza into Israel during the 50-day war between the two sides in 2014," CNN reported. Israel responded by launching "Operation Swords of Iron," a counterassault initiative "to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack," the IDF said. Israel has fired hundreds of its own rockets back at the Gaza Strip, and dozens of IDF fighter jets "struck a number of targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization." How much violence has occurred? While the exact totals are hard to quantify, hundreds of people have been killed both in Israel and the Gaza Strip. Israeli media has put their death toll at around 600 people with another 1,800 injured, NPR reported. This includes women and children. Palestinian officials put their own death toll around 300, per NPR, and 2,000 reportedly injured, including women and children. The war has caused massive destruction on both sides of the border. Videos posted online showed Israeli counterstrikes destroying entire building blocks via a barrage of rockets, as well as open conflict between the IDF and Hamas in Israeli streets. After the fighting began, Hamas reportedly began going town-to-town taking hostages, and one video obtained by The New York Times "appears to show several Israelis being taken hostage by Hamas militants." By Sunday morning, IDF soldiers were still trying to clear Hamas insurgents, and while The Times of Israel reported that all hostage situations in Israel itself "were resolved overnight," dozens of people, including American citizens, were brought to the Gaza Strip after being kidnapped. Why didn't Israel see this coming? Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, is widely considered to be one of the best on the planet, with an annual budget of nearly $3 billion. However, the Hamas attack appeared to come out of the blue and likely represents "one of the biggest failures by Israeli intelligence since the Yom Kippur war of 1973," Bloomberg reported. The wide-scale assault, involving land, sea and air attacks, "involves the kind of planning and coordination that intelligence agencies are supposed to pick up on," the outlet added. Israel has recently warned that Palestinian insurgents were prepping for violence but nothing of this magnitude was on their radar. Marc Polymeropoulos, a former Middle East counterterrorism expert for the CIA, told NBC News that the attack was "Israel's 9/11," describing the event as a "catastrophic intelligence failure." Polymeropoulos added that it was "almost inconceivable how [Israel] missed this" and also raised questions as to why other intelligence communities, particularly the U.S., didn't sound alarms. Despite this, the main intelligence failure "falls squarely on the Israelis," Colin Clarke, a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center, told NBC. What has the global response been? Many Western countries are standing behind Israel. President Biden said in a statement that the U.S. "unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel." He added that the U.S. was "ready to offer all appropriate means of support" to Israel and has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about rendering aid. Similar sentiments were expressed by other Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others. While the Western world has largely backed Israel, most Middle Eastern countries have expressed support for Hamas. This includes the nations of Iran, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The latter two countries chastised Israeli aggression and released statements "blaming Israel for the Hamas invasion," Time reported. Last fall, the White Houses National Security Strategy made clear that a reduced role for the U.S. military in the Middle East was in store. De-escalation, partnerships and an avoidance of grand designs would guide military and diplomatic policy as the Pentagon continued its years-long pivot toward countering China and continuing the Wests proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, moves that inevitably require pulling military resources from elsewhere. But defense analysts say the U.S. may face challenges in extracting American forces from the region in the wake of Saturdays unprecedented attack inside Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Following the attack, Israel has vowed to invade and seize the restive Gaza Strip from the Iranian-backed militants. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials say U.S. Navy and Air Force assets are being buttressed in the region to dissuade Iran or other regional actors from further aiding Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union. So, while U.S. officials may want to put conflict in the Middle East behind them, as laid out in last years national security strategy, analysts say the realities there render such an aspiration easier said than done. In terms of the Middle East, its hard as we try to make the famous pivot to the Pacific, events have a way of pulling us back in, retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander in Europe, told Military Times. Stavridis added that while Israel has far more firepower than Hamas, the conflict is at risk of turning into a broader regional war if the organizations backers in Iran seek to enter the fray. A senior Hamas official denied reports that Iranian security officials planned the attack or gave the go-ahead during a meeting in Beirut last week, The Associated Press reported Monday. US military to move a carrier strike group in support of Israel The Biden administration had hoped to cut back on global commitments in order to focus on the Pacific, said Mark Cancian, a retired Marine Corps colonel and current senior advisor with the Center for Strategic and International Studies international security program. However, Russia, Hamas, and Iran have different ideas, he added. The enemy gets a vote. Just a day after Saturdays attack by Hamas, which killed hundreds of Israelis and at least nine U.S. citizens, leading to retaliatory attacks that have killed hundreds of Palestinians, U.S. military posture in the region is already evolving to deter a broader conflict. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Sunday that the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, which has been on station in the Mediterranean Sea this year to deter Russia, will now pull double deterrence duty and steam to the eastern end of the Mediterranean near Israel and Gaza. At least 9 US citizens killed in Hamas attacks on Israel Austin also announced that Air Force fighter squadrons in the region would be augmented, and that the department would be sending munitions and additional resources to the Israeli military, a longtime ally. A senior defense official who was granted anonymity to speak candidly said Monday that any regional adversary should think twice before entering the fray. Fords aircraft will be conducting operations in the region and will be ready to respond to any contingencies and minimize the risk of a widespread conflict that would threaten stability, according to the official. These posture increases were intended to serve as an unequivocal demonstration in deed, and not only in word, of U.S. support for Israels defense, and serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah and any other proxies across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict, the official added. Army secretary says Congress must boost aid to Israel Developments in recent days follow news this year that Marines would soon embed on merchant ships in the economically vital Straits of Hormuz, a move meant to deter a rash of attacks and seizures of ships by Iranian forces and another nod to the idea that the U.S. military must still play an active role in the Middle East. This summer, a Navy amphibious ready group arrived in CENTCOM waters to deter such attacks, with the command alleging that Iran has attacked or seized about 20 merchant vessels since 2021. The U.S. militarys presence in the Middle East ebbed in recent years following the conclusions of large scale operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the carrier-based air support those boots on the ground required. While at least one carrier was always on station in the Middle Eastern waters of U.S. Central Command during those wars, a carrier has not operated in that combatant commands territory since the summer of 2021, when the war in Afghanistan ended. Why aircraft carriers are no longer a constant in the Middle East Navy aircraft carriers have long been critical to providing a presence in the region, as Ford is slated to do, but the fleet continues to suffer readiness issues and finite numbers, said Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute think tank who focuses on defense issues and military readiness. Leaders may desire to restore a more regular carrier presence to the region after this weekends war against Israel, but it is not cost-free, Eaglen said. As the carrier fleet shrinks over the next decade to somewhere between nine and 10 on any given day depending on schedules, presence will be increasingly a zero-sum proposition. While Israels war with Hamas will undoubtedly shift some U.S. attention back to the Middle East, Cancian said he suspects the fighting there is likely to be over in a few weeks. Dominating the longer term, however, will be Iran, which clearly had a major role here, he said. Countering Iran will take attention and forces. Israel hit with 'huge rocket barrage' as warning sirens blare across country Israel continues to face attacks from Gaza, including the southern Israeli city of Ashdod being struck Monday with a "huge rocket barrage," according to Fox News Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst. "We saw multiple impacts across this heavily populated area," Yingst said, while reporting from the scene. "We took cover next to a building, but you could see the rockets coming off the Gaza Strip and slamming into buildings in this community." The Israel Defense Forces also said in a tweet that "Sirens [are] sounding in Jerusalem and across Israel." Images emerging out of Ashdod showed several cars completely destroyed and debris covering roads. Rockets also appear to have struck the city of Ashkelon. Israeli emergency responders inspect the site of a rocket attack in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod on Oct. 9, 2023. LIVE UPDATES: AT LEAST 1,100 DEAD, ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES 'WAR' AFTER HAMAS ATTACK "A huge rocket barrage just targeted the city of Ashdod," Yingst said in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP There were no immediate reports of casualties. Around 120 rockets were fired on Ashdod and Ashkelon by Hamas, according to Al Arabiya. The reported attack comes as Israeli forces recaptured areas near the Gaza Strip that had been overrun in a Hamas mass-infiltration over the weekend, according to Reuters. The war, which began early Saturday morning, has left at least 800 Israelis dead, Israeli media is reporting Monday. Israeli emergency responders cordon off the site of a rocket attack in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod on Oct. 9, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video on Saturday that Israel is "at war" and called for a massive military response. Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this report. Original article source: Israel hit with 'huge rocket barrage' as warning sirens blare across country A plume of fire and smoke rises in the southern Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike on Monday. The combined death toll in the conflict rose past 1,500 on Monday. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Oct. 9 (UPI) -- The combined death toll in the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas surpassed 1,500 on Monday as the conflict neared the end of its third day, according to estimates on both sides. At least 900 people in Israel have been killed in the unprecedented air and ground attacks launched by Hamas, according to an official update issued to Israeli media on Monday evening. Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry stated at least 687 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in the enclave and 3,726 others wounded. The Palestinian officials said those killed in Gaza included 40 children and 105 women. The grim casualty figures were updated as confirmation came that more than 260 of the Israeli victims were young people who were slain at an outdoor music festival being held in southern Israel. Smoke rises above buildings in the southern Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike on Monday. Israel launched its war against Hamas after the militant group conducted a surprise, multi-pronged attack from Gaza. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Palestinian gunmen attacked the all-night Supernova event in Re'im, Israel, near the Gaza Strip, early on Saturday, mowing down festival-goers in chaotic scenes of massacre, eyewitnesses and people who escaped told Israel's Channel 12. One survivor, Gili Yoskovich, told the BBC he escaped death by hiding in an orchard. Relatives carry the bodies of children killed in Israeli strikes on the Palestinian city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, during their funeral on Sunday. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI "They were going tree by tree and shooting," he said. "I saw people were dying all around. I was very quiet. I didn't cry, I didn't do anything." The Israeli search and rescue service service Zaka confirmed to media outlets that 260 bodies were recovered from the event site. An Israeli reconnaissance unmanned aerial drone flies over Gaza Strip on on Monday. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the carnage inflicted on civilians by Hamas' surprise attack and its taking of hostages in a video statement issued late Monday. "Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day," he said. "And not since the Holocaust have we witnessed scenes of Jewish women and children, grandparents and even Holocaust survivors being herded into trucks and taken into captivity." Smoke rises above buildings in the southern Gaza Strip after an Israeli strike on Monday. The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight strikes. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Hamas, he declared, had "imported, adopted and replicated the savagery of ISIS, entering civilian homes on a Holy Day, murdering in cold blood whole families." IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said late Sunday in a Facebook Live update that "for the first time in our history" dozens of Israelis have been taken hostage in Gaza. Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Monday. At least 900 people in Israel have been killed in the unprecedented air and ground attacks launched by Hamas, according to officials. Meanwhile, the Gaza health ministry stated at least 687 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in the enclave. Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI Meanwhile, the conflict showed further signs of spreading to Israel's northern border as Israeli Defense Forces and Lebanon-based militants from Hezbollah exchanged fire late on Monday. "In response to the launches detected a short time ago from Lebanese territory towards Israeli territory, the IDF forces are now responding with artillery fire," the IDF said in a social media post. The IDF said there were no casualties from the initial artillery fire from Lebanon. Earlier. the Israeli military said a combat helicopter and aircraft were dispatched to the Lebanese border after a "number of terrorists" were identified who had crossed into Israeli territory. The forces "exchanged fire with them, during which they killed two of them," the IDF said. One of them escaped back to Lebanese territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a call for the formation of an emergency unity government to deal with the crisis. "The people are united and now the leadership needs to unite," he said in a statement. "We haven't seen atrocities of the kind Hamas is committing since the atrocities of the Islamic State. We always knew who Hamas was. Hamas is the Islamic State." "Airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza are just the beginning," the prime minister said, adding, "We will do everything for Israelis held captive in Gaza." Israeli forces said they had hit more than 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza overnight Sunday into Monday morning. Seven Hamas operational headquarters and one operated by Islamic Jihad were among the targets destroyed overnight, they said, adding several high-rise buildings were razed and tunnels were obliterated. "The IDF will continue to attack with force the Gaza Strip and deal fatal damage to the terrorist organizations," the Israeli military said in a statement. Israel launched its war against Hamas after the militant group conducted a surprise, multi-pronged attack from Gaza, a Palestinian enclave that borders Israel to the east and north, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and Egypt to the south. Hamas has been the de facto government of Gaza since ousting the Palestinian Authority in 2007, and Israel holds it responsible for all aggression originating from the strip of territory. Israeli officials said Hamas began its attack at about 6:30 a.m. local time Saturday with a barrage of some 2,000 rockets launched from Gaza at Israel followed by militants infiltrating northwards and eastwards killing civilians and military personnel and taking hostages. Mohammad Deif, commander of Hamas' military wing, said in a recorded statement that the attack was to end Israel's "rampaging without accountability." Deif said it was in response to Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and recent Israeli police raids on Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In response to the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were at war, with the first phase of destroying "enemy forces that infiltrated our territory" nearing its end on Sunday and a second offensive phase having begun. The United States confirmed Monday that at least nine Americans have been killed in a statement to media outlets. U.S. officials said there are reports Americans are among those kidnapped. The Israeli Air Force said early Monday its warplanes had hit approximately 1,200 targets, including 21 high-rise buildings. It said that the IDF estimates "there are over 400 terrorists killed in the Gaza Strip, and hundreds more terrorists killed in the territory of the state of Israel." "This is alongside [taking] dozens of prisoners," it said, while warning that "the IDF will continue to carry out more intense and significant attacks throughout the Gaza Strip." Relatives mourn people killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) JERUSALEM (AP) Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the war's death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the war's third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israel's aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy. Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house. In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp. Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries. Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed. New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N. ___ Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. Israeli aircraft conducted further strikes on the Gaza Strip on the night of 8-9 October to "devastate the capabilities of the Hamas terror group". The soldiers have bombed not only the homes of commanders but also the houses of all militants. Source: The Times of Israel; Israeli Defence Forces officer Yigal Levin on Telegram Details: The targets hit on the night of 9 October included: several command posts; a building housing Hamas militants; a command centre used by a senior Hamas naval official; an "operational asset used by Hamas" located in a mosque in Jabaliya; assets used by the terrorist group for intelligence purposes. Meanwhile, Levin said one of the militants' commanders, Rifat Abu-Hilal, aka Abu al-Abad, had been killed. The officer pointed out that reports from the Gaza Strip indicate that Israel is targeting not only the houses belonging to commanders (as it did before) but also the houses of all militants, even the rank and file. Residents of Gaza say that the Israeli army is no longer following the "knock on the roof" warning protocol but rather is destroying houses one by one. Background: The US media reported that the United States was planning to move US Navy ships and warplanes closer to Israel. Senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah say Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the attack during a meeting in Beirut last Monday. The Israeli Defence Forces reported that the Navy's Shayetet 13 unit had detained Muhammad Abu Ghali, Deputy Commander of the Hamas Southern Naval Unit in Gaza. On the night of 8-9 October, Hamas claimed to have launched a "major rocket attack with 100 rockets" on the city of Ashkelon in Israel's south. 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 forces say they launched one of the largest air strike operations ever against Hamas in the city of Gaza, claiming to have struck hundreds of targets with fighter jets on Monday alone as troops seek to destroy Palestinian militants for launching a massive attack on Israel over the weekend. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its air force hit 1,200 targets in Gaza between Saturday and Monday, but forces doubled that number Monday. Israel said it is targeting weapons storage units, manufacturing sites, and command and control centers operated by Hamas and other Palestinian militants. The [air force] is conducting one of the largest air strikes ever against Hamas in Gaza to degrade and destroy their ability to terrorize the people of Israel, the IDF wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Hamas launched a war. We will restore security to our country. The Israeli Air Force said targets have been struck in Beit Hanoun, Sajaiya, El-Furqan and Rimal in the Gaza Strip. Videos shared by the Air Force on X show buildings completely decimated by rocket strikes. Close to 500 people have died inside of Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel has mostly regained control of communities on the border of Gaza in southern Israel, where scores of Hamas militants invaded Saturday in an unprecedented attack that left at least 700 dead in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war shortly after the attack and formally declared war Sunday at a security cabinet meeting. Netanyahu on Monday said forces will begin a major counteroffensive to clear out Hamas and Palestinian militants to exact a huge price against them for the attack. Thats expected to include a ground operation inside Gaza, after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Gaza will be under complete siege and has ordered electricity, fuel and food to be cut off in the city. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israeli soldiers ride on a transport vehicle near Re'im, Israel, on Tuesday. Last week, Israel was caught by surprise after Hamas cross Israeli border and launched a multi-pronged attack which led to the deadliest bout of violence to hit Israel in 50 years that has taken more than a thousand lives on both sides. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Israel battled Hamas infiltrators for a third day Monday, massing tens of thousands of troops near the Gaza Strip and making moves toward a full siege of the seaside territory, which Palestinian militants used as a springboard for the biggest attack in decades on Israeli soil. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called for a "complete closure of the Mediterranean enclave, telling army commanders in southern Israel that "no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel would be allowed into Gaza, which is home to about 2.3 million people. Israel has long controlled all formal points of access to the Gaza Strip, except for a tiny border with Egypt that is also blocked. Israel already cut off the territory's power supply soon after Hamas' surprise cross-border attack on Saturday by land, sea and air a devastating strike whose scope, complexity and loss of life had military historians reaching back half a century for comparisons. Stunned Israelis were referring to the assault as the country's 9/11 and raising angry questions as to how the nation's vaunted security establishment could have been caught so off guard. We have hard days coming, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday night in a nationally televised address. Urging national unity, he repeated his vow that Hamas bases of operations would be completely destroyed. An Israeli land invasion of Gaza looked increasingly possible as the combined death toll on both sides surpassed 1,500, including at least 11 Americans. From the air, Israeli warplanes, helicopters and artillery pummeled Gaza for a second consecutive night, striking more than 500 targets that the Israeli military said were linked to Hamas and to Islamic Jihad, a smaller extremist group. Hamas in turn launched volleys of bombardment at Israeli cities, with rockets hitting the southern city of Ashkelon. Israel has mounted an aerial barrage of the Gaza Strip since Hamas fighters crossed the border in a surprise attack. (Fatima Shbair / Associated Press) Gaza residents described terrifying scenes amid thunderous airstrikes, particularly in areas close to targeted high-rise buildings, which collapsed in thick clouds of dust and debris. The streets emptied of vehicles, and throngs of people fled the center of Gaza City on foot, many with only the clothes they were wearing or a few possessions they managed to snatch up. Some said they had received messages from the Israeli army warning them to leave a neighborhood in Gaza City's center. The prospect of a siege and an invasion came as Israel struggled to regain full control of a string of small southern communities that came under a highly coordinated, multipronged attack from Gaza-based militants before dawn Saturday, a military spokesman told reporters. By late Monday morning, the Israeli military said that the fighting had dwindled to "isolated" clashes but that some of the infiltrators might still be in the area. Read more: News Analysis: U.S. struggles with how to help restore calm in Middle East in wake of deadly Hamas attack "It's taking more time than we expected to get things back into a defensive security posture," said Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the military spokesman. "We thought by yesterday we would have full control. I hope we will by the end of the day." Hecht added that more militants could still be crossing into Israel from Gaza, because not all the breaches in the border fence surrounding the enclave had been blocked. Across Israel, daily life was upended as reservists reported for duty, harrowing news bulletins filled the airwaves, and flights into the main international airport were curtailed. Volunteers rushed to donate blood, and most schools remained closed. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the top military spokesman, said Israel had mobilized 300,000 reservists in 48 hours an unprecedentedly rapid call-up. Bodies of Hamas fighters are left out to decompose on the side of the road after Israeli forces secure areas around Re'im, Israel, on Tuesday. Last week, Israel was caught by surprise after Hamas cross Israeli border and launched a multi-pronged attack which led to the deadliest bout of violence to hit Israel in 50 years that has taken more than a thousand lives on both sides. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Troops massed in fields about five miles north of the Gaza border alongside tanks, towed artillery, Humvees and other military vehicles. Late Monday afternoon, one group of soldiers quickly exited a bus and sought the safety of a roadside berm as Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system kicked into gear, launching a rapid stream of rockets into the sky to intercept incoming Hamas fire in a furious puff of smoke. Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive Another soldier nearby, a 20-year-old second lieutenant who identified himself only as Sar for reasons of privacy, marveled at the head-spinning nature of the last 48 hours. "I never thought this would happen. On Saturday, I was sitting at home. Then my commander calls me to come to the base. Next thing I'm here," he said. "I expect this will be hard on Gaza. My only hope is that my soldiers go home safe." Smoke and fire from an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8, 2023. (Fatima Shbair / Associated Press) The death toll in Israel rose to at least 900, according to the military, but the figure was clouded by chaotic conditions in some of the areas that were overrun in the surprise attack, which saw Israeli civilians gunned down at bus stops and on highways, or fleeing into barricaded rooms in their homes. President Biden said that at least 11 Americans were among the dead and that others are still unaccounted for. "While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas," he said. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts." At least 150 Israelis, including elderly people and entire families with children, were believed to remain captive in Gaza, with many of them seized and dragged into the enclave in the early hours of the attack. Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, said on the group's Telegram messaging app channel that four "enemy prisoners" and their captors were killed in the Israeli strikes overnight and Monday morning. Later, amid escalating fears about the hostages safety, Abu Ubaida threatened to execute civilian captives if the airstrikes continued, Hamas-affiliated media outlets reported. In the deadliest single episode of Saturday's wide-ranging attack, and one of the worst mass killings of civilians in Israel's modern history, Palestinian gunmen struck an all-night outdoor dance party in the desert a short distance from the Israel-Gaza border fence. Traumatized survivors reported militants methodically hunting down those who tried to flee in their cars or hide in nearby wooded areas. Read more: Ex-Israeli soccer player Lior Asulin among more than 260 killed by Hamas at rave Israels rescue service Zaka said Monday that paramedics had recovered at least 260 bodies. The festival scene was cordoned off Monday by police and soldiers, and those who tried to approach were told there was ongoing fighting and the zone remained dangerous. Dozens remained unaccounted for, and social media platforms were flooded with frantic appeals from relatives trying to locate loved ones who were at the festival, some of them last seen in exuberant TikTok videos from early Saturday, shortly before the strike. On the highway from Jerusalem to southern Israel, Adir Oanunu stood looking at a patch of blood on the divider, which he said had come from a Hamas fighter killed two days ago. "He came on this bike and stood in the highway shooting at cars," said Oanunu, 34, pointing to one bullet-riddled vehicle. "The police got him." As evening fell, more checkpoints sprouted along the highway, with visibly nervous soldiers training machine guns on any passing vehicle while others came forward to question the occupants. Read more: Opinion: The Hamas attack tore off Israel's veneer of invincibility. Is there a sustainable path forward? In Gaza, the Israeli strikes targeted several multistory buildings, including the residence of Rawhi Mustafa, a member of Hamas' political leadership, which the Israeli military said was being used as a command center. Palestinian officials said the death toll in Gaza had mounted by Monday evening to more than 680, with more than 3,700 people injured. Residents of Ashkelon, Israel, seek cover in a shelter as a siren warns of incoming rocket fire. (Ohad Zwigenberg / Associated Press) The plight of the people held by Hamas will complicate any Israeli land invasion of the crowded coastal strip and also any political or diplomatic moves by Israel's far-right government once the fighting stops. When that will happen, no one knows. Netanyahu warned his compatriots Sunday of a protracted conflict as Israel tries to exact retribution and inflict a decisive defeat on Hamas, which has held sway in Gaza for more than 15 years. Signs of the country's shift to a war footing were inescapable on a road south from Jerusalem. Near one military base, hundreds of reservists assembled to join the mobilization for the "difficult war" that Netanyahu warned lay ahead. Farther on, long lines of cars waited at a checkpoint, with police inspecting every vehicle for Hamas militants. Read more: News Analysis: Sudden war in Israel and Gaza upends region's diplomatic, political calculations Israels air force said in a statement that targets inside Gaza have included rocket launchers, a mosque being used as an operating base by militants and 21 high-rise buildings in which militant activity took place. Hamas, in a statement, accused Israel of hitting homes inhabited by women and children, mosques and schools. Underscoring the fears about continued incursions from Gaza, officials in Sderot, a small Israeli city about eight miles from the Gaza frontier, called on residents to barricade themselves at home. Lock doors and windows, and do not open to any stranger," the Sderot municipality told residents in a bulletin. A mosque in Gaza City was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike. (Majdi Fathi / NurPhoto) Humanitarian conditions in Gaza, already dramatically desperate, worsened with the strife. The United Nations humanitarian agency said nearly 125,000 people in the impoverished enclave had been displaced since the outbreak of hostilities Saturday. Underscoring the potential for the conflict to spiral into a regional conflagration, a quartet of gunmen slipped through the Lebanese border into northern Israel, according to the Israeli military. It said that Israeli soldiers killed "armed suspects" and that its helicopters were conducting strikes in the area. The Reuters news agency later quoted a source from Hezbollah, the anti-Israel Lebanese Shiite militant group, as saying that it had not conducted any operations on Israeli soil Monday. On Sunday, the group had said it launched artillery and guided rockets on the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon in solidarity with Palestinians. Bulos reported from Jerusalem and King from Toulouse, France. Times staff writers Tracy Wilkinson and Courtney Subramanian in Washington 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. Rescuing hostages from Hamas would require a "massive" ground attack, said Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey . Israel has to punch into the dense Gaza strip with tanks and troops, and conduct searches, he said. The rescue effort would be a "bloody mess" and "catastrophic" to Palestinian civilians, he warned. Israel must launch a fierce ground assault in the Gaza strip with armor and infantry if it hopes to recover dozens of hostages held by Hamas, retired four-star US Army Gen. Barry McCaffrey said. "It's an almost impossible task," McCaffrey said on Sunday on MSNBC's "American Voices with Alicia Menendez." Israeli forces would have to seize control of the ground level in Gaza and conduct house-to-house searches, he said. "Armor, infantry force, supported by fighter aircraft, dominate the scene and then try to find them in basements and tunnels," said McCaffrey, who served in the Gulf War and led the US Southern Command from 1994 to 1996. Women, children, and seniors are believed to be among those captured from Israel in an unprecedented wave of surprise attacks by Hamas on Saturday. Israeli TV channels reported that 600 people are believed to have been killed so far in the series of attacks and rocket barrages, per the BBC. Meanwhile, at least 400 Palestinians have been killed by retaliatory Israeli strikes, Reuters reported, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry. While officials haven't said exactly how many people were forcibly brought into Gaza, Israel's ambassador to the UK estimated on Sunday that 100 people have been taken hostage. Resolving the hostage situation is Israel's "absolute key dilemma," McCaffrey said in separate remarks on Sunday evening on MSNBC's "Weekends with Alex Witt." A mass rescue effort would see Israeli forces punching into a 140-square-mile region filled with 2 million people, while meticulously searching house, basements, and cellars, McCaffrey said. Both Palestinian and Israeli casualties would soar, he warned. "This is going to be a bloody mess. Catastrophic for the civilian population of the Palestinians as well as the IDF fighting their way in," McCaffrey said. Tweeting about the hostage situation on Sunday, McCaffrey assessed "there will be no good tactical solutions for the IDF." He linked another MSNBC appearance from Saturday in his post, in which he separately warned of immense risk and violence in such a rescue effort. "It looks like a long, bloody fight, in which the advantages of the Israelis will be partially neutralized by fighting in urban warfare," he said. "I don't know how they're going to solve this without massive casualties in their own forces, never mind catastrophic damage in the Gaza strip," McCaffrey added. In response to queries on a potential ground invasion of Gaza, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson told Insider on Monday: "The IDF is prepared for any military action and will act in accordance with the guidance of the political echelon." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced an official siege of Gaza, while Axios reported, citing three Israeli and White House sources, that he told President Joe Biden that Israel would "have to go in" to rescue Israeli hostages. The Israeli military on Monday also announced the mobilization of 300,000 reservists. October 10, 2023: This story was updated to reflect comment from the IDF, as well as Monday announcements by the Israeli military and Netanyahu. Read the original article on Business Insider The Israeli military's effort to hunt down militants intensified Monday, and Israel's prime minister promised to "defeat them forcefully" as the death toll on both sides from the three-day war rose to about 1,600, including at least 11 Americans. Tuesday's live updates: Israel regains control of Gaza border; Iran warns of 'heavier slap' New Tuesday: Is Iran behind Hamas terrorist attacks? What it would mean for US and Middle East security Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, pledging to cut electricity and cut off food and fuel into the impoverished home to more than 2 million Palestinians. The Israeli military, which called up 300,000 reservists, pounded Gaza with an aerial assault aimed at halting Hamas rockets toward Israel's border towns. In response, Hamas threatened to kill hostages if attacks targeted civilians without warning. In a short evening address to the nation in Hebrew, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the retaliatory strikes in Gaza were merely a starting point. What will be done to our enemies in the coming days will resonate with them for generations,'' he said, according to a CNN translation. "At the end of the campaign, all our enemies will know it was a terrible mistake to attack Israel. Netanyahu also visited towns bordering Gaza, where thousands of Israelis were evacuated, and pledged the government's help to local leaders. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, in a social media post Monday, said there were "massacres taking place and entire families wiped out" in Gaza, and more than 100,000 have been displaced. He again blamed Israel for the war, claiming years of "occupation and aggression." Emerging reports indicate Iran, a longtime Hamas backer, was behind the attacks, but a White House adviser said the administration has no "direct information'' about such involvement. More than 123K displaced in Gaza: US sending warships, ammunition to Israel Developments: Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the military has taken full control of communities bordering Gaza and that only sporadic fighting was ongoing. The death toll includes about 900 in Israel and more than 680 in Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. Hamas claimed four hostages it kidnapped were killed by Israeli airstrikes, which the Health Ministry in Gaza said have injured more than 3,700. Israel has reported more than 2,500 injured. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the farming village of Beeri about 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen east of the Gaza Strip. The White House said President Joe Biden is having his team coordinate with Israel "on all aspects of the crisis and to continue their work with regional partners to warn anyone who might seek to take advantage in this situation.'' The Biden administration said the White House will be illuminated in the blue and white of the Israeli flag Monday night "as a symbol of the United States 75-year relationship'' with Israel and the American support in the wake of the attacks. Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on Oct. 9, 2023. 11 Americans killed in Israel, others may be hostages The known U.S. death toll has been rising. Biden said in a statement Monday afternoon that the total is up to 11. "Its heart-wrenching,'' he said. "These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence.'' The president also said some U.S. citizens remain unaccounted for, and "it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas,'' adding his administration is working with Israeli officials to free the hostages. It's not clear how many Americans may have been kidnapped. Hamas and other militants claim to have more than 130 hostages, and Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas armed wing, said a captive Israeli civilian will be killed any time Israel targets civilians in their Gaza homes without prior warning. In a conference call with reporters, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was asked if the administration would involve U.S. troops in a war between Israel and Hamas, especially if Iran or the militant group Hezbollah were found responsible for the attacks. "There's no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground,'' Kirby said, adding that the president would do whatever is necessary to protect the nation's security. FBI searching for Americans impacted by attack The FBI announced late Monday that it had personnel on the ground in Israel to investigate, locate, and identify Americans impacted by the conflict. There is no specific or credible threat to the United States related to the Hamas attack on Israel, the agency said in the statement. The FBI said it is closely monitoring the conflict overseas and will communicate information to local enforcement. "Reports of deceased, injured, or missing Americans are being treated with the utmost urgency and aggressively investigated," the FBI said in a statement on X. "The FBI's Victim Services Division is coordinating with the Department of State to assist, necessary, with family engagement." White House lacks 'direct information' of Iran involvement Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer said Monday that the Biden administration is investigating reports that Iran played a role in the deadly attacks and abductions by Hamas but that it lacks direct information linking Tehran to the assault. Finer was asked on ABCs Good Morning America about Irans potential role and about a Wall Street Journal report regarding Iran's participation in a meeting last week where the decision to attack was made. So taking a step back, I think what we can be quite clear about is that Iran is broadly complicit in these attacks, for having supported Hamas going back decades, for having provided financial support, for having provided training, for having provided weapons to Hamas, Finer said. What we don't have is direct information that shows Iranian involvement in ordering or planning the attacks that took place over the last couple of days. It's something that we're going to keep looking at closely, and by the way, this is what the Israeli government has said as well, Finer said. What I can tell you is we have no direct information to confirm that report. We've obviously seen it. We're looking into it, but we do not have the ability to corroborate it at this time. Josh Meyer Maps and graphics show how Hamas militants' deadly raid unfolded and how fighting will get worse Israel requests weapons from US In his speech, Netanyahu thanked the Biden administration for its support, and privately his government has asked the Pentagon for a number of weapons, including missile interceptors for its Iron Dome system and artillery rounds. The White House has already responded by saying that the first installment of weapons is on the way. Israel is also requesting precision-guided arms, which typically use satellite or lasers to direct explosives to the target to minimize harm to civilians and infrastructure. The weapons include missiles, multiple-launched rockets and bombs that can be fired form aircraft, ships or on through artillery or rocket launchers. The anticipated request from the White House for supplemental funding faces uncertainty in Congress, where the House lacks a permanent speaker after Republican Kevin McCarthy was deposed last week. Tom Vanden Brook US and European allies back Israel, condemn Hamas The U.S. and four of its European allies the U.K., Germany, France and Italy issued a statement supporting Israel and denouncing Hamas' "appalling acts of terrorism.'' "In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages,'' the statement said. It went on to acknowledge the Palestinians' aspirations and the equal right for them and Israelis to pursue freedom and justice, adding, "Make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.'' The statement, which also pledged help for Israel in defending itself, did not qualify as coming from the G7 nations because it lacked the signatures of Japan and Canada, though both countries have condemned the attacks. On Sunday evening, the White House lit up in blue and white in "enduring support and solidarity" with Israel. Israel says it is not conducting hostage negotiations Hamas has said militants are holding about 130 hostages but said an update on the number would be released soon. Hamas has demanded that all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons be released. Hossam Badran, a Hamas official, told Agence France-Presse the militants won't negotiate a prisoner exchange while the "military operation is still continuing." Israel said it was not involved in negotiations aimed at securing the release of any hostages. The Egyptian news website Al-Ahram, citing "informed sources," said Egyptian authorities were trying to arrange a deal to secure the release of Palestinian women and children prisoners held in Israeli custody in exchange for Hamas releasing Israeli "civilian women" who were taken captive since the violence began Saturday. The Egyptian government is presently awaiting responses from both parties regarding the proposed prisoners exchange and a temporary cease-fire, Al-Ahram said. A Palestinian protester aims flares at Israeli troops amid clashes in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Oct. 9, 2023. Gaza takes a beating from Israeli retaliation, 187,000 displaced The Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing estimated hundreds of housing units have been destroyed and more than 1,200 severely damaged. The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said 137,000 people are being sheltered in over 70 U.N. schools in Gaza after fleeing homes "mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction." UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai said the agency can house 150,000 people, adding that fuel in Gaza could last for up to 10 days. UN officials said more than 187,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, and that number is expected to increase. Its estimated that about 3,000 Palestinians are displaced in the region from previous conflicts. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said Israeli strikes have targeted houses and apartment buildings in Gaza, sometimes without warning for residents to evacuate. Four large residential towers with multiple floors in Gaza city were destroyed. Israeli forces reportedly provided prior warnings in these cases, the agency said, and there were no fatalities reported. Damage to infrastructure from Israeli airstrikes has undermined the provision of water, sanitation and other services to more than 400,000 people, the agency said. Since the conflict began, four schools and eight healthcare facilities in Gaza have been damaged, according to the UN report. More than 900 Israelis were killed and at least 2,616 were injured in the conflict, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cited local media in its latest report. The UN, citing the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said at least 687 Palestinians were killed and about 3,800 injured. At least 50 civilians and military personnel have been taken captive, according to the Ministry of Health in Israel. Palestinian sources reported capturing more than 150 people, according to the UN. US airlines suspend flights; State Department issues travel warning U.S. airlines have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have also issued travel waivers allowing passengers scheduled to fly to and from Israel to rebook. Uniteds waiver also covers flights to and from Amman, Jordan. The State Department issued travel advisories for the region, urging increased caution for American citizens headed to Israel and the West Bank, and suggesting not to travel to Gaza. Terrorist groups, lone-wolf terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza," an advisory says. "Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities." Read more here. Zach Wichter Scottish leader has family trapped in Gaza Scotland's head of state, First Minister Humza Yousaf, said his parents in-law are trapped in Gaza. Yousaf, whose wife, Nadia El-Nakla, is Palestinian, told Scottish media they have been unable find safe passage after visiting his father-in-law's 92-year-old mother. He said his in-laws, who live in Scotland, "have nothing to do as most Gazans dont with Hamas or with any terror attack." Yousaf also condemned the attack, The Scotsman reported. Its horrific to see innocent lives lost, whether those innocent lives are Israeli or the innocent lives of Palestinians being lost," Yousaf told reporters. "It is heartbreaking to see." Newest US aircraft carrier sent to scene The Pentagon has sent its newest aircraft carrier steaming toward the troubled waters of the Middle East in a show of force that is meant to reassure Israel and other U.S. allies and to deter adversaries such as Iran from seeking to take advantage of the conflict, according to two U.S. government sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. The U.S.S. Gerald Ford, commissioned in 2017, stands more than 13 stories tall, stretches the length of almost four football fields and is powered by two nuclear reactors. The Ford, on its first combat deployment, leads a strike group that includes several destroyers and cruisers staffed by 6,000 sailors. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statement Sunday that the commitment of forces shows the U.S. "stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict." Read more here. Tom Vanden Brook What is Hamas? Hamas was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. The groups charter calls for establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state that would replace the current state of Israel. The militant organization is committed to the destruction of Israel and has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU and various nations. The political wing of Hamas has controlled Gaza since winning elections in 2007. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters crashed across the Israeli border Saturday, igniting a rampage that included shooting hundreds of civilians and kidnapping people who were transported back to Gaza. Hamas, the largest Palestinian militant group, also has fired rockets from Gaza that have riddled Israeli cities. Timeline of conflict: Why the 2023 Israeli-Palestinian fighting is among the most brutal in years Clash dates to ancient times The dispute is rooted in pre-biblical times. Though its borders have shifted over the years, Palestinian territories used to be what is now Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs history, culture and identity are linked to the Palestinian territories. Jewish migration from eastern and central Europe surged from 1922 to 1947 as Jews fled persecution and the destruction of their communities, most notably during World War II. As the number of Jewish immigrants increased, many Palestinians were displaced. They began pushing back and violence resulted. In 1948, the Jewish People's Council met in Tel Aviv and established the State of Israel. The U.S. officially recognized the new nation later that day; the USSR acknowledges it three days later. Read more here. George Petras, Janet Loehrke and Kim Hjelmgaard Sen. Cory Booker was jogging in Israel when war began Sen. Cory Booker was jogging Saturday in Jerusalem when the attacks began. As Hamas militants moved into Israel and thousands of rockets were launched, the New Jersey Democrat was advised by his chief of staff to get back to his hotel, Booker said in a video Saturday evening on X, formerly Twitter. He took cover in a hotel bomb shelter with others, including "many Americans." "Frightened faces, there were children and elderly, families, many Americans," Booker said in the video. "There was a sense of fear and worry and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at that time." Read more here. Candy Woodall 'The same evil': Zelenskyy compares Hamas to Russia Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy compared Hamas to Russian leaders, calling their terrorism "the same evil." Zelenskyy, addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said the only difference was Israel's attacker is a terrorist organization while Ukraine was attacked by a "terrorist state." "The intentions declared are different, but the essence is the same," he said. "You see the same blood on the streets. You see the same civilian cars shot up. You see the same bodies of people who have been tortured." Zelenskyy also took aim at Iran, saying it can't deny responsibility for bloodshed in Ukraine when it sells armed drones to Russia. And Iran cant deny responsibility in Israel when its officials support the attacks. Israel, Palestinian backers rally in US: 'This is a moment to not be alone' Israelis, Palestinians protest across USA Israel and Palestinian supporters gathered in cities across the U.S. on Sunday as the world watched in shock and horror at the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East. A skirmish broke out between opposing demonstrators near the United Nations compound in New York City after a large group of Palestinian supporters rallied in Times Square. Meanwhile, Palestinian Americans protested outside the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago. The incursion left many Jewish communities and organizations in disbelief drawing widespread condemnation as it coincided with Simchat Torah celebrations, a major Jewish holiday. Read more here. Jorge L. Ortiz and Thao Nguyen Journalists killed, sheltering in Gaza CNN crewmembers on the ground in Israel Monday reported hearing explosions and loud bangs, which appeared to indicate new attacks. Reporters in Sderot and Ashkelon said fighter jets were also heard flying overhead near the border. An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed two Palestinian journalists early Tuesday, the Associated Press reported citing the Palestinian news agency Wafa. Wafa identified the journalists as editor Saeed Al-Taweel and photographer Mohammed Sobih. The airstrike occurred in an area housing several media offices, AP reported. Bombing resumed in Gaza beginning at about 3 a.m., according to Al Jazeera. Staffers took shelter and suspended their live broadcast due to bombardment near the Al Jazeera office, the outlet reported. Israeli authorities instructed residents in dozens of towns near the Gaza Strip to evacuate, according to the AP. Three Palestinian journalists were killed, one was injured and two were missing as of Monday, according to the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists. The total number of killed or injured journalists in the conflict is unknown. On Saturday, two Palestinian journalists were shot dead while out reporting Ain Media photographer Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi and Smart Media reporter Mohammad Jarghoun, according to the organization. Freelance journalist Mohammad El-Salhi was reportedly shot dead Saturday in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinian photographers, channel Al-Najahs Nidal Al-Wahidi and Ain Medias Haitham Abdelwahid, have been reported missing since Saturday, the organization added. In 2021, an 11-story building containing the Al Jazeera office and an AP bureau were destroyed in an Israeli air raid attack, according to Al Jazeera. Contributing: Francesca Chambers, Josh Meyer, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas live updates: At least 11 Americans dead; 'siege' of Gaza Israel and Palestinian militants are in an all-out war, and the death toll is rising. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is switching up his affiliation in the 2024 race for the White House. And what does California's "Skittles ban" actually ban? Hello! Laura Davis here. Its time for Mondays news. But first: How risky is that sip? Along with self-serve drinks, fast-food soda fountains have been found to also be serving up some high levels of bacteria. The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here. Israel vows to punish Gaza after Hamas attack The Israeli military's backlash against Palestinian militants intensified Monday. As the death toll on both sides from the three-day war rose to about 1,400, including at least nine Americans. Whats going on now: Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, pledging to cut off electricity, food and fuel to the impoverished home to more than 2 million Palestinians. The Israeli military, which called up 300,000 reservists, pounded Gaza with an aerial assault aimed at halting Hamas rockets targeting Israel's border towns. Follow our live updates. A Palestinian protester aims flares at Israeli troops amid clashes in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Monday. Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces, leaving 15 Palestinians dead since Saturday, as fighting raged between Israel and Hamas around the Gaza Strip. How did we get here? Israel and Palestinian militants are in an all-out war after stunning and deadly surprise attacks over the weekend by Hamas in one of the most significant attacks on Israel in decades. Why is Hamas attacking Israel? Mohammed Deif, the leader of Hamas military wing, said that the start of what he called Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, was in connection to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, an important holy site for both Muslims and Jews that has long been a flashpoint. Israeli security services routinely raid the compound. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have been killed , and thousands more on both sides injured. Perhaps dozens of Israelis have been kidnapped in a dramatic and unprecedented move. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on social media Monday there were "massacres taking place and entire families wiped out" in Gaza, and more than 100,000 have been displaced. 'We are at war': Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of a long war ahead and the Pentagon is rushing warships, warplanes, and ammunition to the Middle East and to Israel. Keep reading: This timeline explains why the fighting is among the most brutal in years. And Sen. Cory Booker says he is shaken, angered and heartbroken after taking cover in a bomb shelter in Israel. What everyone's talking about The Short List is free, but several stories we link to are subscriber-only. Consider supporting our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today. RFK Jr.'s declaration of independence Just call him Mr. Independent. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he's dropping his Democratic bid for president and reentering the 2024 race as an independent. Kennedy, an heir to the storied political family, on Monday criticized swaths of the economy and American political system, saying his campaign would declare independence from corporations, Wall Street, technology and pharmaceutical companies, military contractors and the "mercenary media." He also called the traditional two-party system in the United States "rigged." Here's what we know. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign event on Monday in Philadelphia. What California's food additive ban will do Bye-bye, red dye. California became the first state to ban the use of four food additives commonly found in thousands of products, including cereals, sodas and candies. Over the weekend, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill misleadingly known as the "Skittles ban" into law, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, or distribution of brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and Red Dye 3. The four chemicals are used in as many as 12,000 food products despite never having been approved for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration. Advocates have long expressed concerns about potential health problems caused by the additives, which other countries have already outlawed. What you need to know. A break from the news Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com.This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel-Hamas war, RFK Jr., California's 'Skittle ban': Monday's news At least 370 Palestinians, 600 Israelis killed as conflict enters 2nd day Xinhua) 09:00, October 09, 2023 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) As Canadian landmarks were lit up in Israeli colours and flags on Parliament Hill flown at half-mast as a display of solidarity in the wake of the deadly Hamas terror attacks against Israel, some social media users are reacting with mixed opinions. Monday saw Israel enter it's third day of conflict with Gaza in what is now being declared as a full-blown war, with hundreds of Israeli and Palestinians dead, and thousands more injured. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , who was quick to publicly condemn the surprise attack by the Hamas, posted on social media on Sunday that the Peace Tower in Ottawa would be lit up blue and white, and flags at the Peace Tower, Prime Minister's Office, and across Parliament Hill would be lowered. "Canada stands with Israel," the prime minister's statement reads. Sunday evening, the City of Vancouver also announced that they would be decking the city hall in Israeli colours as a show of solidarity. Tonight, City Hall will light up in blue and white in support of Israel. pic.twitter.com/Aadd3VqttB City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) October 9, 2023 Prime minister's unwavering Israel support draws mixed reactions Reaction from Canadian social media users to Trudeau's response to the attacks range from supportive to calls for more support for the Palestinian community. As Thanksgiving Day sees flights grounded in Tel Aviv and the Canadian embassy shuttered, many are calling for more efforts to help Canadians on the ground in Israel. Thats nice and all, but we need to help get these people to safety wherever that may be (any safe country) . Personally as a flight attendant I'd volunteer my time to fly into these places to get these innocent people out of Israel and to a safe zone. Victoria Searle Rangers (@vafsearle) October 9, 2023 Others point to the performative appearance of lighting of landmarks, and saying more should be done to bring peace to the region. Literally, the least you can do. Seems standard for this regime. Doing nothing. Tracey Wilson (@TWilsonOttawa) October 9, 2023 Lighting the Peace Tower and lowering flags to support Israel is a nice gesture, but peace is the best way to solve conflicts. SHIVANI VERMA (@ShivaniV2901) October 9, 2023 These social media users raise the point on how innocent blood is being shed on both sides as the conflict wages on. That's nice and all, but maybe Canada should also stand with the innocent lives being lost on both sides of the conflict. True peace means solidarity for everyone involved. #PeaceForAll SocialNinja24 (@SocialNinja24) October 9, 2023 Lighting the Peace Tower and lowering flags to support Israel is a nice gesture, but peace is the best way to solve conflicts. tiguy (@tiguytiguy49044) October 8, 2023 Others pondered if Canada would show support for lives of Palestinians lost during the long-standing conflict between Israel and Gaza. What about the people from the Gaza Strip excluding Hamas? Are you going to honour their lives that were cut short? Are you going to light the peace tower green, black, red and white as well? I have questions. Watching The Life Of Donda (@WatchingTLOD) October 9, 2023 Some social media users say the lighting of landmarks in Israeli colours only continues to uphold and legitimize apartheid. You are siding with oppression and this just signals that you don't know history. You are upholding and legitimizing apartheid. justinne ramirez she/her/siya (@katarungann) October 9, 2023 Never honoured the Palestinian who have died everyday for decades. I had respect for you, Had. Shame on you! Maham Amjad (@MahamAmjadd93) October 9, 2023 Others just offered up a simple thanks for taking a strong stance on an act of terror. Thank you, Prime Minister. Moshe Appel (@MoAppel) October 9, 2023 (Reuters) -The Israeli military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attack by Hamas gunmen. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday. ISRAEL TARGETS GAZA * After hours of intense bombardment by Israeli jets, Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls Gaza, said it would execute an Israeli captive for every civilian house bombed without warning. * The spokesman of Hamas' armed wing said the group will not negotiate over Israeli captives "under fire". The spokesman, Abu Ubaida, said in a video speech that Israel should be ready to "pay the price" in return for the captives' freedom. * Inside Israel, Hamas fighters were still holed up in several locations two days after they killed hundreds of Israelis and seized dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. * The United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. * In a further sign of Israel's rapid shift onto a war footing, a cabinet member from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party said it could set up a national unity government joined by opposition leaders within hours. * Qatari mediators have held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters. An Israeli official said no negotiations were under way. * Israel and Western countries said nothing justified the intentional mass killing of civilians. * The European Commission said it was putting all of its development aid for Palestinians, worth 691 million euros ($729 million), under review and immediately suspending all payments following Hamas' attack on Israel. * Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets onto northern Israel on Monday in response to at least four of its members being killed in Israeli shelling on Lebanon, two security sources told Reuters. AMERICANS, BRITONS DEAD OR MISSING * The United States said nine Americans were killed in Israel and other U.S. citizens were missing. * More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing in Israel, the BBC reported, citing an official source, although foreign minister James Cleverly said he would not speculate on the number of British or dual nationals in the area. INSIGHT, ANALYSIS * Hamas carried out a careful campaign of deception to pull of its stunning attack, accounts from Hamas and Israeli sources show. * U.S. President Joe Biden and Netanyahu, uncomfortable allies in the best of times, will put their uneasy relationship to a further test with Israel preparing a possible ground assault on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. GLOBAL MARKETS ROILED, FLIGHTS SUSPENDED * Fears of a widening conflict threatened more volatility for investors, adding to uncertainty ahead of corporate earnings season and crucial U.S. inflation data later in the week. * Oil prices jumped more than 4%, gold gained and the U.S. dollar edged up against the euro as military clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas fueled some worry that the conflict could spread beyond Gaza. * Tech companies operating in Israel were expected to fortify security as they could face disruptions, said investors and analysts. * Major international air carriers suspended or reined in flight services to or from Tel Aviv, saying they were waiting for safety conditions to improve. * Several U.S. banks have told their staff in Israel to work from home for the near future as the country goes on war footing and mobilises reserve troops. (Editing by Howard Goller) For 16 years, a blockade has throttled the Gaza Strip, worsening a humanitarian crisis in this overcrowded, impoverished enclave that Human Rights Watch calls an open air prison. On Monday, in response to the large-scale deadly attacks by Hamas, Israel announced this blockade would become what they call a full-scale siege allowing no food, water, electricity or fuel to its 2.3 million residents, half of them children. Israel has also started intensively bombing Gaza. Laila el-Haddad, 45, an author and Palestinian rights activist who has lived in Gaza and is currently based near Baltimore, said the siege is tantamount to calling for the collective punishment of over 2 million citizens, describing it as morally repugnant and just frankly unbelievable. The Geneva Convention prohibits collective punishment. Civilians and aid workers say daily life is already dire and Israels siege coupled with devastating airstrikes will make things even worse. As Palestinians, we always ask ourselves this question: How much worse can it get? el-Haddad said. Were seeing now that it can definitely get worse, she said. Israel announced the complete siege two days after it came under a surprise attack from Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza and is classified as a terrorist organization by dozens of countries, including the United States. More than 900 people in Israel have been killed, according to the military, while the Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 687 had been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the West Bank. No electricity, no food, no water, no gas its all closed, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video statement, adding that his military was fighting against human animals. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a destroyed house, following an Israeli airstrike on Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Oct. 9, 2023. (Yousef Mohammad / AP) In a telephone interview with NBC News, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Doron Spielman clarified that animals referred to Hamas fighters rather than the civilians being ruled by them in Gaza. However, he acknowledged that the airstrikes, as well as cutting off basic supplies, could harm nonmilitants. Already, some 75,500 people were sheltering in 64 schools built by UNRWA, the U.N. relief agency for Palestinian refugees, the agency said in a rolling update as of 1:30 p.m. ET Monday. Most of these schools are designated shelters, but 19 are not, and one was hit in an airstrike, it said. We are at war with Hamas, with the knowledge that if we dont destroy them they seek to destroy us, Spielman said. Sadly, there may be innocents that may be hurt or killed. The Gaza Strip is a tiny, quotation mark-shaped spit of land twice the size of Washington, D.C., and is one of the most densely populated places in the world. Some 80% of its people are refugees; half are children. Meanwhile, less than 4% of its water is drinkable, and its unemployment rate of 46% is the worst in the world, according to UNICEF. Since 2007, when Hamas took control, it has been under a land, sea and air blockade by Israel, with which it shares a 32-mile border, and Egypt, which shares a 7-mile border to the south. Power lines from Israel provide most of Gazas electricity. Everything it does generate itself comes via its only power plant thats fed with Israeli diesel. In addition, Israel heavily restricts any import materials it considers dual use covering building materials, agricultural equipment and medicine that Gazans say would be essential to rebuilding their lives. Israel does this because it says these goods and people could be used to assist Hamas violent insurgency. A similar rationale has been given to the full-scale siege announced Monday. Meanwhile, the number of people allowed in and out has been reduced to a trickle, although last year Israel did grant 20,000 permits for Gazans to cross the border for work. I think nobody in sound mind would think that Israel should be supplying electricity and fuel to Gaza at this time, when it would simply be used by their savages to plan attacks on Israel, Spielman, the IDF spokesman, said, again clarifying savages referred to Hamas, rather than Gazans as a whole. Palestinians living in Gaza say they have no doubt this will deteriorate their already dire situation. How many days will the Gazans and international humanitarian organizations be able to bear the collapse of these services? asked Adnan Abu Hasna, who lives in the Gaza Strip and works as a media adviser with UNRWA. He and others were dismayed when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Gazans to leave areas that might house Hamas militants, warning his air force would turn them to rubble. Theres literally nowhere to seek refuge because we are completely shut off from the outside world, el-Haddad said, which is why it was such a farcical comment. But for many people in Gaza, the material impoverishment is secondary to the emotional turmoil they feel themselves locked in. There is no tomorrow in Gaza, Hasna said. You cannot predict whats going to happen. You cannot dream. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com All of Israel is under the control of the Israeli military, Fox News learned Monday morning. Israeli forces recaptured areas near the Gaza Strip that had been overrun in a Hamas mass-infiltration over the weekend, Reuters reported. The Israeli Defense Force re-established control of communities but isolated clashes remain throughout the country, a military spokesperson said on Monday. Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, a former senior advisor to David Friedman, spoke to Fox News Monday morning from a bomb shelter, where he confirmed the IDF had recaptured the occupied areas. LIVE UPDATES: AT LEAST 1,100 DEAD, ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES 'WAR' AFTER HAMAS ATTACK On Monday, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the strikes and as fighting continues. "I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip," Gallant said at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba. "There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said Monday his country would immediately cut off the water supply from Israel to Gaza. Gallant added: "We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly." The defense minister's comments echo the sentiments of Ambassador Gilad Erdan , who represents Israel at the United Nations, condemning the "savagery" of Hamas' forces kidnapping children and separating families. "These are war crimes, blatant documented war crimes," he told reporters Sunday. "The era of reasoning with these savages is over. Now is the time to obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure, to completely erase it, so that such horrors are never committed again." Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the strikes. "Try to digest ruthless inhumanity seen images forever seared in my brain seeing blatant war crimes ... no words to describe such savagery," he added, waving graphic photos of Israeli residents. "These animal-like terrorists gathered innocents into rooms .... as if stomping on insect(sic), among them who endured the Nazis, survived the holocaust were taken into Gaza," Erdan continued. And, "This is Israel's 9/11 ... and Israel will do everything to bring our sons and daughters back home." He also called to "obliterate Hamas terror infrastructure." Also on Monday, sirens could be heard ringing out in Jerusalem and across Israel. A large rocket barrage was also reported coming from the Gaza Strip into Israel, impacting Tel Aviv and other cities. CORY BOOKER, STAFF SAFE AFTER SHELTERING IN PLACE IN JERUSALEM WHEN HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL: SPOKESPERSON Fighting between Israeli soldiers and Islamist Hamas militants continues in the border area with Gaza. The war, which began early Saturday morning on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, has killed at least 1,100 people and left more than 2,000 wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video on Saturday that Israel is "at war" and called for a massive military response. On Saturday, Hamas led a massive operation that included thousands of Hamas and Islamic jihad militants using hang gliders and trucks to cross the Israeli border. The organized attack included the forces targeting five points at the border, before crossing into Israel. They then swarmed homes as people were sleeping inside. They beheaded those inside or dragged occupants back across the border into the Gaza Strip, where they are being held hostage, Israeli officials said. The militants indiscriminately killed Israeli soldiers, men, women and children, officials added. Hamas officials claim their forces have captured approximately 200 Israeli residents. The major assault has also included Hamas militants firing approximately 1,500 rockets into Israel. Hamas attacks on Israel have impacted cities near the Gaza Strip including Netiv Haasara, Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, Sderot, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ofakim, Kissufim, Kerem Shalom and others. Israel continued to battle Hamas fighters on Oct. 9 and massed tens of thousands of troops and heavy armour around the Gaza Strip after vowing a massive blow over the Palestinian militants' surprise attack. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Original article source: Israel recaptures areas near the Gaza Strip overrun by Hamas Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, has said that Israeli forces have regained control over all settlements on the border with Gaza. Source: The Times of Israel Details: Hagari says that sporadic clashes still occur between Israeli forces and Hamas militants who have invaded Israel. At the same time, he does not rule out that there are still terrorists in the area. Hagari said that the breakthroughs of the border barrier in Gaza would be physically protected by tanks, which would be supported by combat helicopters and drones. Hagari said the army has evacuated 15 out of 24 border towns and will continue to evacuate others during the next day. The Israeli army spokesman also said that the city of Sderot will not be evacuated at this stage. He added that since the start of hostilities on Saturday morning, about 4,400 rockets have been fired on Israel. Regarding the draft of reservists, he said that the Tzahal "has never mobilized so many reservists so quickly 300,000 reservists in 48 hours". Background: 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! Israel reveals scope of overnight siege on Gaza Strip, says more than 500 targets struck More than 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihad targets have been struck overnight as part of a massive blitz on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Air Force announced Monday. In a series of social media posts, the Israeli Air Force provided some details, including saying that one of the numerous multi-story buildings that was hit was the "residence of Ruhi Mashtaa, secretary of the Hamas and part of the organization's decision-making group," which "contained a Hamas terror command center, from which he helped direct the infiltration into Israel." "Seven Hamas command centers and an Islamic Jihad command center were struck," the Israeli Air Force said. "A building that was operationally used by a senior operative of the Hamas terrorist organization's naval forces was also targeted." "Two Hamas operational assets were struck by an aircraft, one of them was located inside a mosque," they added. "An Islamic Jihad asset located in a building in which terrorists operate and live was also targeted." ISRAEL HIT WITH HUGE ROCKET BARRAGE AS WARNING SIRENS BLARE ACROSS COUNTRY Overall, "IAF fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip," the Israeli Air Force said, adding that "We will not stop until quiet is achieved for all residents of the State of Israel." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Hours later, fresh rocket attacks were reported in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod. "We saw multiple impacts across this heavily populated area," Fox News Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst said, while reporting from the scene. "We took cover next to a building, but you could see the rockets coming off the Gaza Strip and slamming into buildings in this community." It was not immediately clear whether the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the overnight siege on the Gaza Strip. LIVE UPDATES: ISRAEL AT WAR WITH HAMAS AFTER SURPRISE ATTACKS, AT LEAST 800 ISRAELIS DEAD At least 800 people have been killed so far after Hamas started launching attacks on Israel since Saturday morning, Israeli media is reporting Monday. Israel's response has also been to cut resources to the Gaza Strip. Israeli Energy and Infrastructure Minister Israel Katz ordered that water be cut off from the Gaza Strip Monday, two days after Israel halted the flow of electricity and fuel to the area. Fox News Peter Aitken,Chris Pandolfo and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report. Original article source: Israel reveals scope of overnight siege on Gaza Strip, says more than 500 targets struck WASHINGTON The Israeli government has asked the Pentagon for missile interceptors, precision-guided weapons and artillery rounds following the deadly attacks by Hamas militants, a U.S. official said Monday. The attacks by Hamas in Israel have been unprecedented in scope and intensity, a senior Defense official said separately late Monday. "This is ISIS-level savagery," according to the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. The Hamas attacks included murdering children in front of their parents, burning occupied houses and mass shooting of civilians at a music festival, the official said. The Pentagon is working with defense contractors to expedite some of the orders, according to the U.S. official who was not authorized to speak about the issue. Israeli defense forces do not seem to have a shortage of weapons, but attacks on Israel are continuing and an Israeli offensive into Gaza is expected in coming days. Continued military support for Israel could be combined with aid packages for Ukraine, Taiwan and funding for domestic natural disasters, the official said. The White House has about $100 million remaining in Presidential Drawdown Authority, the fund that has been regularly tapped for the more than $40 billion in military aid for Ukraine. The anticipated request from the White House for supplemental funding faces uncertainty in Congress, where the House does not have a speaker after Kevin McCarthy was deposed last week. More immediately, Israel has requested interceptors for the Iron Dome system, which Israel developed in response to rocket attacks from Gaza and southern Lebanon. It is jointly built by U.S. and Israel and has been used successfully more than 2,500 times to knock down short-range missiles fired into Israel. The system uses artificial intelligence to determine if interceptors and rocket debris could endanger people or buildings and can recommend against firing. Precision-guided weapons generally use satellite or lasers to guide explosives to the target to minimize harm to civilians and infrastructure. The weapons include missiles, multiple-launched rockets and bombs that can be fired from aircraft, ships or through artillery or rocket launchers. The guidance systems can steer a weapon to within 10 feet of its target, according to the Congressional Research Service. The Pentagon also stockpiles ammuniton in Israel for conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, including Ukraine's defense against Russian invaders. Israel, with permission from the United States, can tap that arsenal if needed. On Sunday, the Pentagon announced the deployment to the eastern Mediterranean of its newest aircraft carrier and its armada of destroyers in response to the attack by Hamas. In addition, squadrons of warplanes in the Middle East will be bolstered to reassure Israel and other U.S. allies and to deter adversaries, especially Iran and Hezbollah, according to U.S officials. Iran has backed militant groups in the region. The Ford and its associated warships should reach the region very soon, the Defense official said. They have a wide range of capabilities including intelligence collection, maritime dominance and long-range strike. Their presence is pointed warning to Iran, Hezbollah and others not to open a second front in the conflict, the official said. Those adversaries should "think twice," the official said. Dig deeper: Is Iran behind Hamas terrorist attacks? What it would mean for US and Middle East security This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel seeks Iron Dome missiles, guided weapons after attack by Hamas As the latest war between Israel and Hamas enters its third day, Israeli artillery and helicopters are striking targets in Lebanon after an incursion into northern Israel by a number of armed terrorists, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Though it is unclear who was involved in the incursion, any combat along the Lebanese border raises great concerns about the potential involvement of Hezbollah. Lebanon's Hezbollah has deep backing from Iran, a large ground force, and a massive arsenal of missiles, long-range rockets, and suicide drones that could strike across Israel and totally flood the country's already overwhelmed air defenses. Opening up a second front would also pull resources away from the Gaza operation and see Israel fighting in the north and the south. With Hezbollah operating in Syria, as well, and its deep ties to the Iranian regime, such circumstances drastically increase the chances of the conflict expanding well beyond Israel and southern Lebanon. 21 May 2023, Lebanon, Aramta: Pro-Iranian Hezbollah fighters take the oath during a staged military exercise in a camp in the Lebanese southern village of Aramta. The show came ahead of the 23rd "Liberation Day", the annual celebration of the withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon on May 25, 2000. Photo: Marwan Naamani/dpa (Photo by Marwan Naamani/picture alliance via Getty Images) IDF soldiers killed a number of armed suspects that infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory, the IDF said Monday on its Telegram channel. The soldiers are continuing to search the area. Additionally, IDF helicopters are currently striking in the area. Details to follow. https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1711365628433399825?s=20 https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1711363694909604163?s=20 https://twitter.com/Faytuks/status/1711373452404261238 https://twitter.com/jackryan212/status/1711365709823914395?s=20 In addition to the incursion, the IDF said there were at least two mortar rounds launched toward northern Israel from Lebanon. One fell into Lebanese territory and no injuries were reported, according to the IDF. There are also media reports of Israeli artillery fire into southern Lebanon and of Israel destroying a Hezbollah observation point at the border inside Lebanon. https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1711377291987542281?s=20 The IDF Homefront Command instructs Israeli civilians in towns near the Lebanese border to remain in their homes, it warned on Twitter. Today's incident on the Lebanese-Israeli border follows a puzzling incident yesterday when short-range artillery was fired from a school inside Lebanon at a mountaintop Israeli border installation radar and listening station. As with today's situation, it was unclear who was behind that, but that would be a prime target ahead of any Hezbollah missile, rocket, and drone barrage into Israel. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1710881390395281721?s=20 Just two days ago, Hezbollah said it would not go to war with Israel and effectively enter the conflict unless the IDF entered Gaza in force. Such an operation is absolutely being readied, one that will go much farther than those in the past. Now it appears the group's messaging on when and why it would attack is changing. According to Israels I24 News, Hezbollah officials have told Lebanese officials that they are not going to get involved in the conflict unless they are harassed or provoked by Israel, according to I24. However, Hezbollah is also warning the U.S. that if it gets involved in the conflict, it will need to as well, according to I24 News. https://twitter.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/1711370974828839091?s=20 Thats a response to a move yesterday by the U.S. to send the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean as well as to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required. Hezbollah, as we noted yesterday, has a tremendous array of long-range weapons at its disposal. From our report: "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/1710839298495483911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1710839886016860473%7Ctwgr%5E729a780fc78a3797788e161c1934a24d2b734edc%7Ctwcon%5Es2_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Fisrael-declares-state-of-war-u-s-navy-carrier-group-redirected Then there is the aforementioned concern of fighting on two fronts and the possibility that a war in southern Lebanon spills out into a larger conflict. This is primarily due to Iran, the direct benefactor of Hezbollah, which supplies it with increasingly advanced weaponry. Those weapons would rain down on Israeli cities, potentially causing great destruction in addition to casualties on the ground in Lebanon as Israel fights Hezbollah there. A major aerial interdiction campaign would be needed to try to destroy any of Hezbollah's arsenal so-called 'left of launch' before they are sent on their one-way journeys. This is extremely hard to do and very resource-intensive, but will be necessary in order to thin the effects of those weapons and the potential of Hezbollah's arsenal to sustain bombardment over the long haul. Hezbollah is highly active in Syria as well, which could see the conflict spill into that war-torn country, one that is already a maelstrom of foreign and domestic groups operating militarily to achieve their own goals. Beyond that, Iran would be seen as largely responsible for Hezbollah's activities, which points to a larger simmering showdown between Iran and Israel. A picture taken on July 3, 2022, shows a pro-Hezbollah placard which reads "Our votes and our rockets are accurate" on the Lebanese side of the border with Israel near the Israeli Kibbutz of Shtula. - The Israeli army said on July 2, that it had intercepted three drones launched by Hezbollah that were headed towards an offshore gas field in the Mediterranean, amid rising tension between Israel and Lebanon. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in a statement confirmed it had launched drones towards the offshore area. (Photo by JALAA MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images) Hopefully none of this will come to pass, but it is widely understood that another fight with Hezbollah would look nothing like the ones before. At a time when Israel is preparing for an unprecedented ground operation in Gaza and struggling to defend against rocket barrages emanating from there, taking on Hezbollah throughout region would be a massive resource drain that is full of many variables that Israel cannot control. This is why closely watching activities on Israel's northern border is critical at this time. UPDATE: 2:37 PM EST New statement from IDF on situation in the north: "Earlier today, following exchanges of fire near the Lebanese border, armed terrorists were identified infiltrating Israeli territory. IDF soldiers were immediately dispatched to the area following the identification, exchanges of fire ensued during which two of the armed terrorists were killed. During the exchanges of fire, one of the terrorists escaped back into Lebanese territory. The incident has concluded and there is no fear of an additional security incident. During the exchanges of fire, IDF aircraft struck three military posts belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization. Two of the military posts were observation posts, and third was a post used by Hezbollah forces during emergency. Additionally, artillery fire was carried out by the IDF. The IDF is prepared for all scenarios in all areas, and will continue to operate in order to protect the residents of the state of Israel." Meanwhile, Hezbollah is announcing the deaths of its foot soldiers in today's exchange: https://twitter.com/AuroraIntel/status/1711441129835540611?s=20 UPDATE: 2:50 PM EST Hezbollah says four of its fighters were killed in today's exchange and there are indication that a new round of reprisal attacks is underway. We are trying to confirm if this is indeed the case. https://twitter.com/GebeilyM/status/1711448003691622808?s=20 https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/1711451594221392195?s=20 Editor's note: The video of Hezbollah threatening Israel was from May, so we removed it from the post. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com and tyler@thedrive.com After hundreds of its citizens were killed in a sudden assault from Gaza, Israel has declared war on Hamas. Fighting is continuing within Israel, and the prime minister has pledged mighty violence and threatened to reduce Gaza to rubble. Israel, long popular with tourists, is still accessible by air but hundreds of flights have been cancelled and cruise ship itineraries have been changed. Over the first 24 hours following the start of the attack, many flights were diverted or returned to their departure airport including a United Airlines flight from San Francisco that went on a 13-hour flight to nowhere. These are the key questions and answers. What does the Foreign Office say? Late on Sunday the Foreign Office strengthened its warning to read: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories [OPTs]. This has the effect of requiring holiday companies with clients in Israel to be brought back as soon as possible, and prevents mainstream tour operators from sending out further groups until the advice against travel is withdrawn. The Foreign Office also says: If you are a British national in Israel or the OPTs, please register your presence which includes recording your up-to-date contact information. Your registration will allow us to share any updates to this travel advice. Anyone who is in Israel continues to be protected by their travel insurance until they leave by the swiftest safe means; conversely, standard travel insurance policies are not valid for people who choose to travel to Israel while the no-go warning is in force. What do the Israeli authorities say? The Israel Ministry of Tourism has issued a statement to The Independent about provisions for UK travellers to Israel: We are deeply shocked and saddened by the events that have taken place in Israel over the weekend. We offer our condolences to those who have been affected by the current situation. We are monitoring the situation and are committed to ensuring that all tourists visiting Israel are safe and informed. Israels Ministry of Tourism will provide all necessary assistance to those who need it and is operating a tourist hotline via WhatsApp for tourists to stay informed on the situation as it evolves. We appreciate the support of the UK and fellow nations in a difficult time for the Israeli nation. The Ministry of Tourism is operating a virtual office contactable by WhatsApp (+972 55 972 6931) or email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il). Travellers currently in Israel can dial 104 for information and advice in several languages or contact Home Front Command on WhatsApp or SMS on +972 52 910 4104. Are Israel flights continuing? Yes. Ben Gurion International Airport, south of Tel Aviv, remains open and operational as does Eilat Ramon airport, outside Eilat in the far south of Israel. These are the key policies of the main airlines from the UK to Israel. British Airways The usual daily BA167 service, departing just after 5pm from London Heathrow and arriving in Tel Aviv shortly before midnight, has been changed to a much earlier departure: scheduled to leave at 8.15am and arrive at 3.05pm. The inbound service, which is normally an early morning flight, is now timed to depart at 4.35pm and arrive back at Heathrow at 8.10pm. This allows the crew to return immediately rather than night-stopping in Israel. Passengers booked to travel to or from Tel Aviv imminently are able to postpone their trip without penalty. EasyJet A spokesperson said: Due to the evolving situation in Israel, easyJet has taken the decision to temporarily pause operations to and from Tel Aviv on Monday 9 October. As a result two flights from London Luton and one from Manchester and their return flight today will no longer operate. Any customers affected by cancellations are eligible for a refund, voucher, or a free of charge transfer to a new flight. Due to the situation we understand that some customers travelling in the coming days may no longer wish to travel. Any passengers due to fly to Tel Aviv who would like to change their plans can contact our customer service team for assistance with their options. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJets highest priority. El Al The carrier is telling passengers: El Al Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces. Our flights are operated as scheduled. Passengers who are booked but who no longer want to travel can cancel for a credit voucher. Those who are booked to travel up to 21 October and who want to return early can do so at no extra charge. A dedicated emergency line for those who wish to change the date of their flights due to the situation has been set up on +972 3 940 4040 for phones and +972 3 977 1111 for WhatsApp. Virgin Atlantic The airline says: Due to the ongoing situation in Israel, some of our flights to and from Tel Aviv may face delays or cancellations. We would advise anyone booked to travel to check their flight status on the website before travelling to the airport. Virgin Atlantic cancelled one daily round-trip on each of Saturday 7 to Tuesday 10 October, though the second service will be flying as planned on all those dates. The airline is offering a range of options for passengers booked to travel up to and including 15 October who wish to rebook or request a refund. Wizz Air A Wizz Air spokesperson said: Due to the situation in Israel, we have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and are in touch with the relevant authorities. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and all affected passengers will be contacted via email or text. What are the risks to passenger aircraft? Virgin Atlantic says: The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review. The fact that Virgin Atlantic, as well as El Al and British Airways, are continuing to fly to and from Tel Aviv indicates these extremely professional airlines are confident their passengers and crew will be safe. But a flight operations organisation, Ops Group, has issued a warning about the risk of civilian aircraft being shot down following the attacks on Israel. The group warns: Lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied. The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk anti-aircraft missile that belonged to the Russian army. All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack. Ops Group, a membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff, added: The ultimate sentiment from MH17 still echoes: What were they doing flying over a war zone? We truly hope the same question doesnt need to be asked in Tel Aviv airspace this week. Going nowhere: Flightpath of United Airlines UA954 from San Francisco, which turned back halfway to Tel Aviv (Flightradar24) What if I have booked a package holiday to Israel? Travellers who have booked packages to Israel and are due to travel imminently can cancel without penalty for a full refund because of the no-go warning from the Foreign Office. This applies equally to customers of British Airways Holidays and easyJet Holidays. A spokesperson for Abta, the travel association, said: We are liaising closely with the Foreign Office and our members to offer help and advice to customers, both those currently on holiday in Israel and those that are due to travel there imminently. Anyone due to travel to Israel imminently should speak to their travel company for the latest advice and monitor updates from the Foreign Office. Are cruise ships to Israel affected? Yes. A cruise ship that was due to arrive at Haifa in Israel in the early hours of Sunday morning changed course to sail to Limassol instead. Celebrity Apex had just begun a Holy Land cruise from Athens to Israel and Egypt. The subsequent departure with the same ship, on 16 October, appears to have been changed so that the two days at Israeli ports will instead be spent at sea. A spokesperson for Celebrity said: Our global security team is closely watching the evolving situation in Israel. For the safety and security of our guests, were adjusting several itineraries in the area. Impacted guests will be notified directly. While the war continues, all cruise ships are likely to avoid Israel. The now three-day-old Israel-Hamas war is descending deeper into the abyss as strikes by both sides rage-on unabated. Israel is preparing for what it vows will be a complete siege of Gaza. Meanwhile Hamas says it will begin live broadcasts of executions of its Israeli hostages if strikes on what it calls civilian targets continue. I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday, according to the Times of Israel . "There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly." https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1711382405964075219?s=20 Asked whether it thought such an action were "appropriate," the Pentagon on Monday declined to comment, deferring questions that action to Israeli authorities. Human Rights Watch called those comments "a call to commit a war crime." https://twitter.com/hrw/status/1711424885908791505?s=12 Gallants comments came after an assessment of the situation at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba. The move would cut off vital supplies to Gaza's more than two million people. Preparing for an imminent, large-scale ground assault into the small, densely populated strip of land on the Mediterranean Sea, Israel has massed troops and equipment and called up 300,000 reservists. https://twitter.com/TreyYingst/status/1711014014958878830?s=20 Meanwhile, as both sides bombard each other, Hamas says it will execute one Israeli civilian hostage for every time a home in Gaza is struck without warning. The Israeli strikes have killed at least 560 people, including dozens of children, and left 2,900 injured, according to claims made by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, CNN reported Monday . An initial promise to protect those hostages under Islamic law was negated by those airstrikes, Hamas said. In the past hours, we have experienced pain over what happened to many families throughout the Gaza Strip of barbaric fascist Zionist crime by bombing homes on the heads of their residents, Hamas said Monday on its Telegram channel. Therefore, we have decided to put an end to this. As of this hour, we announce that every targeting of our people who are safe in their homes without prior warning will be met with regret by the execution of one of our enemys civilian hostages, and we will urgently broadcast this with audio and video, and as we announce this decision, we will hold the Zionist enemy and its leadership responsible for this decision before the world, for the ball is in its court, now. https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1711440314781577420 The Hamas statement is in reaction to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes that are part of what Jerusalem calls Operation Iron Swords. "Throughout the last day, Air Force planes have been carrying out extensive attacks along the length and breadth of the Gaza Strip, wreaking havoc on Hamas terrorists," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Twitter. "In just the last three hours, about 130 targets were attacked using dozens of planes. The focus of the attack: Beit Hanon, Sajaya, Al Furkan and Rimal." Rimal serves as a hub for the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, from which many attacks against Israel were launched, the IDF added. https://twitter.com/idfonline/status/1711386733047062987 https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1711404248427102488 https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1711368185646043641?s=20 https://twitter.com/Heroiam_Slava/status/1711298303831236611?s=20 https://twitter.com/no_itsmyturn/status/1711401806775947273 "IDF aircraft have attacked many targets of the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip since the morning hours," said IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. "Among other things, the aircraft attacked a building used by the terrorist organization Hamas in investigations and an operational infrastructure used by the terrorist organization located inside a mosque." https://twitter.com/IDFSpokesperson/status/1711481102064332904 The IDF also said it is mopping up any remnants of Hamas on the ground in Israel. "After a difficult start, we are shaping the contact line," Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halev, told Israeli troops and commanders in the field, according to the IDF Telegram channel. "We targeted a lot of terrorists - whoever gets close, gets killed. We will finish neutralizing the terrorists in the area, so that we will not have terrorists here in Israel, and we are at the same time already striking on offense. We have many more tasks, we need to be strong. It started badly, and will end very badly on the other side. In addition to attacks by land, the IDF is also staging maritime strikes as well. "Israel Naval Forces are currently striking terror targets belonging to the Hamas terrorist organiztion on the coast of the Gaza Strip," the IDF said on its Telegram channel. https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1711479457595240914?s=12 The attacks by Hamas killed more than 700 people and wounded another 2,300, the largest number of casualties ever inflicted on that nation's civilians, the IDF said. That number is likely to grow over time, possibly significantly. https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1711438415588213236?s=20 U.S. President Joe Biden said today that "we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed" during the Hamas attacks "many of whom made a second home in Israel." Biden also said that for U.S. citizens who are currently in Israel, "the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts. For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available. Please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities." Hamas, meanwhile, is continuing what it calls Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, with rocket barrages into Israel. Before announcing its plan to broadcast Israeli civilian hostage executions, Hamas on its Telegram channel said it launched a massive attack on the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, a city is about seven miles north of the Gaza border. Those strikes were in response to Israeli strikes in Gaza they say hit civilian homes, Hamas said. In response to the bombing of civilian homes, Al-Qassam Brigades launches a missile strike with 80 missiles on the occupied city of Ashkelon, Hamas said Monday on its Telegram channel. https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1711338173068882396 https://twitter.com/astraiaintel/status/1711334363281945050 https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1711325358539120995 https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1711357145286090922 Hamas rocket barrages are also aimed near Jerusalem as well as across other areas of Israel. Qassam rockets hit several settler cars and caused a number of casualties in the Beitar Illit settlement near occupied Jerusalem, Hamas also reported. https://twitter.com/IsraelWarRoom/status/1711386784712556570 https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1711391211645264287 On the political front, U.S. officials say they continue to try and broker normalization efforts between Israel and Saudi Arabia, however a very challenging task is made even more difficult by the ongoing fighting. The Hamas attack was very likely timed to derail that. A Biden administration senior official on Saturday told reporters , including from The War Zone, that these actions would not, but that remains to be seen. https://twitter.com/miqazi/status/1711445440355311713 A senior Pentagon official on Monday, meanwhile said while Iran "is in the picture," the Biden administration has "no information corroborating the specifics" of a story published by The Wall Street Journal story. That story claimed Iran "helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday." The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that the U.S. is "surging" the delivery of air defense ammunition, but would not specify what kind. Israel has reportedly requested additional munitions for its Iron Dome air defense system which the U.S. has a limited inventory of. "The bottom line is we are working as fast as possible to provide critically needed munitions of various types and other equipment are also contacting us industry to gain expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders of military equipment." Asked if the U.S. could rush new supplies to Israel and continue to support Ukraine's defense against Russia, the official said "we are able to continue our support both to Ukraine, Israel and maintain our own global readiness." The Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group is being deployed to the eastern Mediterranean "to serve as a deterrent signal to Iran, Lebanese Hezbollah, and any other proxy across the region who might be considering exploiting the current situation to escalate conflict." Lebanese pro-Iranian Hezbollah supporters take part in a rally in Beirut's southern suburbs to praise the unexpected attack by Hamas militants against Israeli towns and settlements near the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Marwan Naamani/picture alliance via Getty Images) As for concerns about the civilian casualties Hamas says Israel is creating during its attacks on Gaza, the official said that "engagement on mitigating collateral damage and civilian casualties is always part of the conversation with all of our allies and partners. It's no different with Israel. But I want to be very clear about this moment in time. And I want to underscore a comment I made up front. This is ISIS level savagery. And we back Israel and its right to respond to ensure that its own citizens and its territory or state from Hamas terror, and recognize that there's going to need to be a response for Israel to restore deterrence." Palestinian citizens inspect the damage to the Al-Sussi Mosque and their homes following Israeli air strikes in the Al-Shati Palestinian refugee camp. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images) Meanwhile, as both sides exchange fire, the northern border is heating up. Israeli attacked with helicopters and artillery in response to a ground incursion from Lebanon. There are reports that Hezbollah, claiming that four of its fighters were killed in that bombardment, opened fire again into northern Israel. You can read more about this in our story here . https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel/status/1711450340548370510 Israel faces an extremely tough challenge in any major incursion into Gaza, where Hamas has prepared its network of tunnels and other defenses anticipating an IDF ground attack. That's in addition to the presence of millions of civilians who live in that packed strip of land that is now effectively a battlefield. Hamas grabbing so many hostages, including what are believed to be some U.S. citizens and other non-Israelis, greatly complicates matters. Hostage rescues are among the most difficult military operations in the best of circumstances, but during a ground invasion into a highly dense and extremely hostile environment crawling with a prepared enemy force makes that far more difficult. The Hamas promise to begin live executions only raises the urgency. UPDATE: 5:36 PM EST Video purports to show Israel shutting off water pipelines into Gaza. We could not verify that is what is happening here, but it would fit with Israel's openly stated goals. https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1711469791892918433?s=20 New video is emerging of a running gun battle with Hamas militants that infiltrated into Israel, with one police officer firing on them with his pistol while chasing them on his bike. In another video, the police face the heavily armed gunmen with just pistols. https://twitter.com/Global_Mil_Info/status/1711457772011733180?s=20 https://twitter.com/LostWeapons/status/1711266463737356653?s=20 Additional harrowing footage from the doomed music festival that turned into a killing spree for Hamas gunmen has emerged. Hundreds of people were murdered at this event. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1711358362128904602?s=20 Hamas is claiming they have built a homegrown air defense system. By the video posted, it uses remote tube launchers, although how it works, if at all, is unclear. There appears to be no seeker so it's possible these are artillery rockets that can have their fuzes programmed to detonate at specific altitudes. https://twitter.com/Alfaiomi/status/1711300065262764316?s=20 Hamas having actually proven anti-air weaponry is a concern, but mainly this has centered around shoulder-fired heat-seeking missiles that are smuggled in to Gaza. They do pose a threat to Israeli aircraft operating below 15,000 feet, although just how prevalent they are is not known publicly. https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1711292915450798325?s=20 Update: 7:22 PM EST - In a Monday evening press briefing with reporters, including from The War Zone, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby addressed several issues about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Here are some key takeaways. Though the U.S. has bolstered its presence in the region by sending the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and additional aviation assets, there is no intention to put U.S. boots on the ground. That saidthe president will always make sure that we are protecting and defending our national security interests wherever those interests are, including, particularly, that part of the world. The U.S. cant confirm that Hamas is holding American hostages. That said we have to accept the grim possibility that some are and I don't want to say that we're assuming it but we have to accept that possibility. So we're going to keep at this. We're going to stay in touch with Israeli officials as closely as we can to get as much information as we can about all the Americans and particularly those that that we know are not accounted for because they have family members that can't reach them. On whether the U.S. would use force to recover any Americans determined to be hostages. Even if we did have specific information that can confirm Americans are being held hostage, we are very, very careful about talking publicly about our efforts to try to recover those Americans. We just don't typically talk about that in any way that might jeopardize their safety and our ability to get them home with their families. On normaliztion talks with Saudi Arabia. I think it's too soon to say that we hit the brakes on this. Understandably, it isn't the main area of focus right now. On the story published by The Wall Street Journal claiming Iran "helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday," Kirby said: We cannot corroborate the reporting in The Wall Street Journal. We are obviously looking at this. Our Israeli counterparts are looking at it and they too have said publicly that they cannot point to specific Iranian involvement in these sets of attacks over the weekend. So again, you know, we'll just keep at it. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Editors Note: A version of this story appears in CNNs Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the regions biggest stories. Sign up here. The Israeli military has told all civilians in Gaza City to evacuate southwards as it maintains its bombardment of the coastal enclave in response to last weekends Hamas attacks that killed more than 1,400 people. Evacuating would involve moving more than 1.1 million people from the north to the south of the besieged enclave, amid constant airstrikes a task that the United Nations says is dangerous and unfeasible. Israeli war planes have been pounding Gaza for a week, leveling entire neighborhoods, including schools and mosques. Israel says it strikes Hamas targets and that the group has used civilians as human shields. Israels assault has killed at least 2,670 people in Gaza, and injured more than 9,600 others. Nearly 1 million Palestinians in Gaza have been forced from their homes, the UN has said. Heres what we know so far. What happened? Militants from Gaza fired thousands of rockets towards Israeli towns on October 7, before breaking through the heavily fortified border fence with Israel and sending militants deep into Israeli territory. There, Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,400 people, including civilians and soldiers, and took up to 150 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. The attacks were unprecedented in tactics and scale as Israel has not faced its adversaries in street battles on its own territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It has also never faced a terror attack of this magnitude that has taken the lives of so many civilians. While Hamas has kidnapped Israelis before, it has never before taken dozens of hostages at once, including children and the elderly. A senior Hamas official in Lebanon told a Russian state-backed channel that the group had been preparing for the attack for two years. Hamas called the operation Al-Aqsa Storm and said that it was a response to what it described as Israeli attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza. They said the bodies of some 1,500 Hamas fighters had been recovered inside Israel since Saturdays assault. How has Israel responded? In response to the attack, Israel has declared war and launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking what it says are Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. It has also blocked supply lines of basic necessities to the Gaza population, including fuel and water. Between October 7 and 12, Israel dropped 6,000 bombs on the densely inhabited territory thats equivalent to the total number of airstrikes on Gaza during the entire 2014 Gaza-Israel conflict, which lasted 50 days. Children make up between 30% and 40% of the wounded in Israels airstrikes on Gaza, British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu-Sittah told CNNs Christiane Amanpour on Thursday. The IDF has told civilians in Gaza to leave their residential areas immediately for their safety, but some say there is nowhere safe to go. All crossings out of Gaza have been shut. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said on Monday that he had ordered a complete siege on Gaza, blocking delivery of electricity, food, fuel and water. Energy Minister Israel Katz has said supplies will remain cut off until hostages being held by Hamas are freed. Israel on Wednesday formed an emergency government and war management cabinet. On Friday, Israels military told the 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes immediately. CNN has geolocated and authenticated five videos from the scene of a large explosion along one of the evacuation routes for civilians south of Gaza City. The videos show many dead bodies amid a scene of extensive destruction. Some of those bodies are on a flat-bed trailer that appears to have been used to carry people away from Gaza City. They include several children. There are also a number of badly burned and damaged cars. Its unclear what caused the widespread devastation; the explosion occurred on Salah al-Deen Street on Friday afternoon. IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told CNN in an interview on Sunday that the Israeli military did not strike the convoy on Salah Al-Deen street. Whats the situation in Gaza now? A humanitarian crisis in Gaza is rapidly spiraling amid warnings that peosple are at risk of starvation as Israel tightens its chokehold on the territory. The Gaza Strip is one of most densely populated places on earth, with some 2 million people crammed in 140-square-mile territory. The enclave lies on Egypts western border and has been under blockade since Hamas seized control in 2007. The Israeli air, naval and land blockade on the territory, as well as the Egyptian land blockade, continue today. The enclaves only power station stopped working on Wednesday. Hospitals are expected to run out of fuel, leading to catastrophic conditions, the Palestinian Health Ministry warned. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that hospitals are at breaking point. On Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues as they lose power. Airstrikes have hit at least 88 education facilities and killed 12 UN personnel, according to the UN. The Palestine Red Crescent has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe as there are no safe areas to evacuate civilians to, after Israel told half the population to migrate south. It described the Israeli evacuation call as shocking and beyond belief. Human rights groups have meanwhile warned of possible war crimes being committed by Israel in Gaza. Amnesty International on Friday urged Israel to immediately lift its blockade on the enclave, saying the collective punishment of civilians for Hamas terrorist atrocities amounts to a war crime. Since Israel shut its two crossings with Gaza, the only corridor through which Palestinians or aid can pass in and out of the territory is the Rafah Crossing, which connects the south of the enclave to Egypt. But its unclear whether that crossing is open. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Saturday that the crossing is open but aerial bombardment has rendered the roads on the Gaza side inoperable. Aid flights from Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the World Health Organization, and the Red Cross have arrived in Egypt, but the supplies have not yet made it through the crossing. Shoukry said Egypt has tried to ship humanitarian aid to Gaza but has not received the proper authorization to do so. Hamas said on Friday that 13 Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been killed by random Israeli bombings on the enclave over the past 24 hours. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it could not confirm or deny the claim. Hamas also called on Gazans not to leave their homes, accusing Israel of engaging in psychological warfare by sending messages telling Palestinian civilians and employees of international organizations to evacuate to the south. Displacement and exile are not for us, Hamas said. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Friday said it had relocated its central operations center and international staff in Gaza to the south of the besieged enclave. What is Hamas? Hamas is an Islamist organization 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. The group, like most Palestinian factions and political parties, insists that Israel is an occupying power and that it is trying to liberate the Palestinian territories. It considers Israel an illegitimate state and has called for its downfall. Unlike some other Palestinian factions, Hamas refuses to engage with Israel. In 1993, it opposed the Oslo Accords, a peace pact between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) that saw the PLO give up armed resistance against Israel in return for promises of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. The Accords also established the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas presents itself as an alternative to the PA, which has recognized Israel and has engaged in multiple failed peace initiatives with it. The PA, whose credibility among Palestinians has suffered over the years, is today led by President Mahmoud Abbas. It has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel. Israel accuses its archenemy Iran of backing the group. Hamas rules Gaza, the small strip of land bordering Israel and Egypt that has changed hands several times over the past 70 years. The vast majority of its population are descendants of refugees who were either expelled or forced to flee their homes in 1948 in what is now Israel. How did the two sides get here? Tensions between Israelis and the Palestinians have existed since before Israels founding in 1948. Thousands of people on both sides have been killed and many more injured over decades. Violence has been particularly acute this year. The number of Palestinians militants and civilians killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces since the year began is the highest in nearly two decades. The same is true of Israelis and foreigners most of them civilians killed in Palestinian attacks. Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in the 1967 war, then withdrew its troops and settlers in 2005. The territory, home to some 2 million Palestinians, fell under Hamas control in 2007 after a brief civil war with Fatah, a rival Palestinian faction that is the backbone of the Palestinian Authority. After Hamas seized control, Israel and Egypt imposed a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing. Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza. Human Rights Watch has called the territory an open-air prison. More than half of its population lives in poverty and is food insecure, and nearly 80% of its population relies on humanitarian assistance. Hamas and Israel have fought several wars. Before Saturdays operation, the last war between the two was in 2021, which lasted for 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel. Saturdays assault occurred 50 years almost to the day since the 1973 war, when Israels Arab neighbors launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 6, 1973. What happens next? Israel is now on a war footing and has amassed more than 300,000 reservists along the Gaza border for a potential ground operation. It has said that it will exact a heavy price on Hamas for its attack and plans to retrieve Israeli hostages from the territory. Israel has dealt with hostage situations before, but never at this scale. In the past, militants have mostly demanded the release of prisoners held in Israeli jails in exchange for captured Israelis. In 2011, Israel traded 1,027 Palestinians for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and in 2004, it released more than two dozen Lebanese and Arab prisoners including two senior Hezbollah officials for Elhanan Tannenbaum, an Israeli businessman and army reserve colonel, as well as the bodies of three IDF soldiers. In 2008, Israel released five Palestinian prisoners, five Lebanese prisoners and returned the bodies of nearly 200 Arab fighters in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers. Hamas has captured at least 150 hostages. Their presence in Gaza will undoubtedly complicate any Israeli military operation there. The militant groups armed wing said Monday it would begin killing civilian hostages and broadcasting the act if Israel targets people in Gaza without warning. It isnt clear if it has acted on those threats yet. The IDF has said that it plans to take control of the Gaza Strip. Its spokesperson, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, said the aim is to end the Gaza enclave and control the entire enclave. When asked whether it had stopped the knock on the roof, which is the Israeli militarys warning for civilians before it bombs a building. Hecht responded that Hamas did not knock on the roof. When they came in and threw grenades at our ambulances they did not knock on the roof. This is war. The scale is different, Hecht said. Senior Hamas member Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera Arabic on Saturday that Hamas is ready for all options, including a war and an escalation on all levels. We are ready for the worst-case scenario, including a ground invasion, which will be the best for us to decide the ending of this battle, al-Arouri said. Could this lead to a wider regional conflict? Hamas operation was carried out in a sophisticated and coordinated manner and would have taken a significant amount of planning. Speculation has been rife that the group may have received assistance from abroad, which, if proven, could raise the specter of a wider regional war. Israel says Iran supports Hamas to the tune of some $100 million dollars a year. The US State Department in 2021 said that the group receives funding, weapons, and training from Iran, as well as some funds that are raised in Gulf Arab countries. Of course Iran is in the picture, one US official told CNN. Theyve provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah.A senior Biden administration official said on Saturday that it was too early to say whether Iran was directly involved in the attack, but that Washington will be tracking the matter very closely. But President Joe Biden on Wednesday issued a stark warning to Iran to be careful around its actions in the region. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi spoke to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by phone last Sunday and later congratulated the Palestinian people for their victory over Israel. On Monday, however, Irans mission to the United Nations said the Islamic Republic was not involved in Palestines response, referring to the Hamas attack. It is taken solely by Palestine itself, it said. On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in Beirut that Lebanons security is Irans security, in an apparent warning to Israel not to strike Lebanon or the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group that operates there. He said that Western officials had asked him if new fronts could open against Israel, adding that its probable that members of the resistance against Israel could enter the war with the continuation of Israeli war crimes. The warning came a day after the Iran-allied Syrian regime said that Israel struck Damascus and Aleppo airports, rendering them non-operational. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has meanwhile been shuttling around the region, visiting Israel, the occupied West Bank and Jordan. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also arrived in Israel on Friday. The US has ordered two carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Austin said on Saturday. A US official told CNN that the US is also sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to deter any Iranian potential aggression or an expansion of the fighting beyond Israels borders. Israel may also face the threat of new fronts opening in the war. Of its immediate neighbors, it is only at peace with Jordan and Egypt, and is officially in a state of war with Lebanon and Syria. Israel has said it is ready in case there are attacks from those two countries. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has praised Hamas attack and said it is in contact with Palestinian militant groups at home and abroad, its Al Manar channel said. The group claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery. The area is considered by Lebanon as Israeli-occupied. Israel responded by firing artillery. On Monday, the IDF said it killed a number of armed suspects who infiltrated into Israel from Lebanon and that soldiers were searching the area. Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati said on Monday that his country doesnt want to be drawn into the conflict. The IDF said Wednesday a report was received regarding a suspected infiltration from Lebanon into Israeli air space. It did not provide further details and it was unclear whether the infiltration involved aircraft, drones, gliders, balloons or people. Contributions by CNNs Hadas Gold, Richard Allen Greene, Amir Tal, Ibrahim Dahman, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khaddar, Mostafa Salem, Hamdi Alkhshali, Mia Alberti, Elliott Gotkine, Oren Liebermann, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Eyad Kourdi, Celine Alkhaldi For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the counteroffensive against Hamas militants was just getting started and pledged to defeat them forcefully. Netanyahu spoke to leaders of border towns and cities near Gaza on Monday and praised their leadership after Hamas militants killed and abducted hundreds of Israeli civilians in an attack that began Saturday. We are in the midst of a campaign. I know that you have undergone a difficult and terrible ordeal. What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible, Netanyahu told local officials. We are already in the campaign, and we are just getting started. Your leadership has been very strong in these difficult days. The state will leave no stone unturned to help all of you. I ask that you stand steadfast because we are going to change the Middle East. I embrace you and the residents. We are all with you and we will defeat them forcefully, Netanyahu added, according to a press release. Netanyahus comments come as Israels death toll surpassed 700, a number that is expected to grow. The New York Times, citing authorities in Gaza, reported that at least 560 Palestinians have been killed as Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on Gaza since the attack. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called upon about 300,000 reservists as Israel prepared for the next steps. On Monday, Israel and Hamas have exchanged missile fire, with Israel hitting more than 1,000 targets in Gaza. Hamas aimed missiles at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, causing residents to seek shelter as air raid sirens sounded. This story was updated at 12 p.m. EDT For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An Israeli father is now missing after attempting to rescue his daughter from a music festival-turned-massacre near the countrys border with Gaza. The brutal attack was carried out by Hamas terrorists over the weekend, shocking onlookers around the world. Speaking to the New York Post, the family of Mark Peretz said the 51-year-old has not been seen or heard from since he rushed to save his 20-year-old daughter Maya on Saturday, speeding away from his Rishon LeZion home. [He] dropped everything and drove there, Peretzs daughter-in-law, Jessica Cohen, told the Post. The newspaper reports Maya was dodging through fields and sharp bushes to escape the Hamas militants as her dad drove towards the festival. Along with 12 others she managed to flee and hide in a police station for three hours. Peretz was about 20 minutes from the station when he called homebut was suddenly cut off. We were on the phone with him and we heard gunshots, and dont know exactly sure what happened, Cohen said. We sent his friends to the area. They said they saw the car, but they dont see anybody in it. Maya eventually made it home and the family say they are attempting to track Peretz on his phone, but it has been zig-zagging across the country in ways that dont make sense, according to the Post. Read it at New York Post Read more at The Daily Beast. On Monday, 9 October, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it had attacked 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets overnight. Source: CNN; The Times of Israel; Israeli Defence Forces officer Yigal Levin on Telegram Quote CNN: "Videos and images on social media show mosques and residential buildings flattened in Gaza, as the death toll in the territory rose to at least 436 people on Monday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday it attacked 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets overnight. The Palestinian interior ministry said most of the targets were "towers, residential buildings, civil and service facilities, and many mosques." Details: The IDF asserted that it had struck two Hamas operational targets inside a mosque in Gaza. It claimed to have hit numerous apartment buildings, including the residence of Hamas secretary Ruhi Mashtaa, seven additional Hamas command centres, an Islamic Jihad command centre, and more. According to Hamas, they were not using the targeted structures, claiming that unannounced attacks were made by Israels forces on residential homes. Israeli Defence Forces officer Yigal Levin posted on Telegram photos and videos of allegedly hit objects. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), approximately 74,000 people in Gaza were displaced and seeking refuge in their schools. Background: 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 defense minister on Monday announced a complete siege of Gaza, describing the Palestinian fighters who attacked Israel over the weekend as human animals. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called for more destruction on top of the massive number of airstrikes Israel has launched into the Hamas-ruled territory of 2.3 million people, in retaliation for Hamas surprise attack this weekend that left more than 700 people in Israel dead. Israel formally declared war on the Hamas militant group on Sunday, pointing to the large military mobilization that has already killed nearly 500 people in Gaza, including women and children. Hamas claims it has taken about 100 captives from the attacks. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly, Gallant said. While it appears that Gallant was specifically referring to Hamas fighters in that comment, the rest of the ministers remarks called for further oppression of all people in Gaza by denying them basic human needs. We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza, Gallant said. There will be no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed. It is not uncommon for oppressive regimes to use language that dehumanizes the oppressed population in order to justify inflicting violence on them. In the case of Israels apartheid, Gallants comments contribute to an atmosphere where its easier for anti-Palestinian individuals and politicians including Israels current far-right government to regard people in Gaza as less than human, and therefore undeserving of water, food, electricity or a way to escape violence. Defense Minister Gallants statements are abhorrent, Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at the rights group Human Rights Watch, said in a statement Monday. Depriving the population in an occupied territory of food and electricity is collective punishment, which is a war crime, as is using starvation as a weapon of war, Shakir continued. The International Criminal Court should take note of this call to commit a war crime. According to the United Nations, more than 123,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in Gaza, where families were already struggling under a 15-year Israeli blockade. Human rights groups like HRW have long considered Gaza to be, effectively, an open-air prison. Hamas claims it launched its attack in response to the decades of violence and apartheid Palestinians have faced from the Israeli government. Experts on the region and Palestinian people themselves have noted that this weekends bloodshed exists in a context of years worth of occupation, displacement and death, particularly in Gaza, Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. An Israeli military well-supported by Western nations like the U.S. has long participated in the violence and dehumanization of Palestinian civilians. This summer, two powerful GOP lawmakers withheld $75 million in American aid from the poorest Palestinians. Its unclear if Gallants call to block Gazans access to basic needs will have any effect on Western sympathy or the promises of aid Israel has received in response to Hamas attack. Related... Israels defense minister on Monday ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip as retaliatory action ramps up against the Palestinian militants who launched a deadly surprise attack over the weekend. The militant group Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to formally declare war Sunday. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant then vowed to halt the supply of food, electricity and water to Gaza, saying in a video message posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the nation is at war with human animals. Hamas fighters have also taken hostages, including women and children, in its multipronged attack against Israel. The Israeli army called up about 300,000 reservists a signal that more fighting lays ahead against Hamas, which is largely rooted in Gaza. Israel has already hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza as the death toll on both sides continues to grow. About 700 people have been killed so far in Israel, and nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza, which is home to about 2.3 million Palestinians. U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed that about 1,000 Palestinian militants led the incursion into Israel on Saturday, In a Sunday update, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Jonathan Conricus said Israel is still hunting down the last terrorists that are still inside Israeli territory. President Biden reiterated the U.S.s full support of Israel over the weekend, telling Netanyahu the U.S. is prepared to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel. The White House said Sunday that Biden informed Netanyahu that additional assistance was on its way to the IDF and should arrive in the coming days. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Family photos show Yoni Ashers wife Doron Asher Katz, top; and daughters Aviv, lower left, and Raz. (Yoni Asher via The New York Times) JERUSALEM Yoni Ashers nightmare began early Saturday morning during a phone call with his wife, Doron Asher Katz. Whispering down the phone line, Asher Katz, 34, said that she, her mother and their two small daughters were trapped inside her mothers safe room in a village near the Gaza border. She told me, There are terrorists inside the house, Asher said in an interview. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Then came worse news: Asher Katzs mothers life partner, Gadi Moses, had left the safe room to reason with the intruders. She said they left and they took him with them, Asher said. Asher, 37, hoped that his spouse and children were safe, at least. But then the phone lines went dead. It was the last time Asher heard from his wife. Tracking her phone remotely, he saw that the device was taken Saturday to Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, suggesting that she, too, had been kidnapped. Then a video circulated on social media of abducted Israelis being driven through the territory, bundled into the back of a pickup truck. In the video, a gunman attempts to spread a kind of blindfold over a womans head. Asher recognized the woman. It was Doron. He said his daughters, Raz and Aviv, 5 and 3, and his mother-in-law, Efrat Katz, 67, were squashed alongside her. They are now among an estimated 150 hostages inside the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli authorities, most of them captured from small Israeli border towns Saturday morning. His family intended to return home to central Israel on Saturday evening, after a short visit to their grandmothers village. Instead, it isnt clear when, or if, hell see them again. I cant sleep Im living outside my own body, Asher said. I have two little babies, two little girls, he added. These little babies should not be held or kept by terrorists. c.2023 The New York Times Company Israeli helicopters are striking territory in Lebanon in the wake of the Palestinian militant group Hamass attack over the weekend. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a brief statement Monday that its helicopters were in the process of striking Lebanese territory. While it did not provide any other details about the strikes, the IDF Homefront Command has instructed Israeli civilians in towns near the Lebanese border to remain in their homes. Earlier Monday, the IDF said it had neutralized a number of terrorist infiltrators who crossed from Lebanon into Israel in a post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. It added that it is defending our country and stand ready on all borders. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said Sunday that it detected several rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory, which was met with return fire from Israel. The Lebanese group Hezbollah said that it fired off guided rockets and artillery Sunday to show it stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel just one day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Hundreds of people have been killed on both sides as Israel ramps up a major counteroffensive on the Gaza Strip, which is home to the Hamas group and more than 2 million Palestinians. Israel formally declared war with Hamas on Sunday as the group of about 1,000 militants went door to door in Israel, killing civilians and taking some as hostages, officials said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamass military and governing capabilities and called up about 300,000 reservists as soldiers hunted for any remaining militants in the country. Israels Defense Ministry also vowed to impose a complete siege on Gaza on Monday, cutting off food and fuel supplies as well as electricity. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israels Iron Dome missile defense system fires interceptors at rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Thursday, May 11, 2023. | Tsafrir Abayov, Associated Press Israel has an Iron Dome defense system that acts as a shield intercepting and destroying short-range rockets and missiles. The militant group Hamas achieved a complete tactical surprise in attacks on Israelis, resulting in the deaths of at least 700 Israelis, most of them civilians, The New York Times reported. The Iron Dome is capable of handling multiple rockets at a time, The Hill reported. The system was created to defend the Israeli state from threats from Gaza and southern Lebanon. But the attacks on Saturday overwhelmed the system at the beginning of the offensive, per the Times. Authorities are still searching for answers to address what happened to the system that day. Related Hamas has challenged the very fundamental concept of Israeli deterrence, Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., a retired Marine Corps general and former top American commander in the Middle East, told the Times. It can only be re-established with the application of overwhelming, shocking violence. And it is only getting started. In the past, The system has successfully prevented countless rockets from hitting Israeli communities, Israels Ministry of Defense wrote online, per The Hill. It has rebuffed and destroyed rockets from Hamas militants and Palestinian forces since it was first deployed in 2011, according to Fox News. The Iron Dome can protect against missiles that range between 2.5 miles and around 43 miles. It uses radar to track an incoming threat, like a missile or artillery shell, and relays the data and target coordinates firing unit, per Fox News. An interceptor is then fired at the threatening projectile to eliminate the threat. Its success rate was 90% effective at intercepting missiles until Saturday, per Fox News. The system was initially overwhelmed and slow to send warnings or responses at the start of the attacks on Saturday. Related The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has reported that the Navy's Shayetet 13 unit has detained Mohammed Abu Ghali, Deputy Commander of the Hamas Southern Naval Unit in Gaza. Source: The Times of Israel Details: The suspect is being held in custody and interrogated by the Israeli Defence Ministry. No details are available on how Abu Ghali was captured. Background: On Sunday, 8 October, the White House reported that US President Joe Biden had authorised "additional support" to Israel "in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas", but no details were specified. The Pentagon also confirmed that it is beginning to move the US Navy's aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East. As of Sunday evening (8 October), over 700 Israelis had been killed and over 2,200 injured in the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The US media reported that the United States was planning to move US Navy ships and warplanes closer to 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! SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. Israel and Palestinian supporters gathered in cities across the U.S. on Sunday as the world watched in shock and horror at the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East. A skirmish broke out between opposing demonstrators near the United Nations compound in New York City after a large group of Palestinian supporters rallied in Times Square. Meanwhile, Palestinian Americans protested outside the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago. The incursion left many Jewish communities and organizations in disbelief drawing widespread condemnation as it coincided with Simchat Torah celebrations, a major Jewish holiday. In San Francisco, a Jewish community gathered at the Congregation Sherith Israel, one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. Some students from Israels Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, 25 miles from Gaza, were visiting San Francisco for a week as part of a delegation from the Hillel organization. They expressed their eagerness to return home and help out in any way they could. Yuval Appleboim, 26, told USA TODAY that his family lives less than 20 miles from Gaza. "My sister and my nephews are in a bunker right now. Sometimes they have the electricity cut off. My uncle had a rocket land just two houses away," Appleboim said. "Its really hard to be so far away from your friends at this time. I have a friend who left his 9-day-old daughter to go serve with the reserves." Appleboim, who is also a reservist in the Israeli military, said his unit had been called to action and he wants to get back as soon as possible to help. "Im pro-Palestinian, I think many Israelis are pro-Palestinian in the fact that they want a better future with the Palestinian people, they want peace," Appleboim added. "But this is the tragedy: The terror organization attacking Israel is not only killing thousands of Israelis but its causing the death of so many Palestinians and doesnt care about their own lives." Timeline of conflict: Why the 2023 Israeli-Palestinian fighting is among the most brutal in years 'This is a moment to not be alone' Yael Shafrir, 28, shared the same sentiments during the gathering in San Francisco. While it was difficult to attend the gathering on Sunday, Shafrir said the community felt support from the world. It was difficult to come (to the temple today) but for us this is a moment to not be alone, feeling like the community around the world is hugging us and supporting us.," Shafrir said. "We really need that." Shafrir also noted the complexity of the conflict, signaling the people caught in the crosshairs. We do not want to fight against Palestinians. Our intention is not to harm anybody, any resident of the Gaza Strip," Shafrir said. "Eventually theyre fighting a terror organization, not the people. Thats what the army is working really hard to do, to not harm innocent people." Pro-Israel demonstrators opposed the pro-Palestinian protest near the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023,. Supporters of Israel and Palestinian cause gathered in several U.S. cities Sunday over the attacks that have killed hundreds and injured thousands in the Middle East. Palestinians 'capable of fighting back' Hatem Abudayyeh, co-founder and national chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), said his organization was concerned over the death toll and injuries but noted that people were "inspired by the unified Palestinian Resistance." The USPCN, according to Abudayyeh, is a community-based institution that helps strengthen grass-roots organizing in Palestinian and Arab communities across the United States. Abudayyeh said in an email to USA TODAY that there is a "rich" history of resistance among Palestinians and it was not a surprise that attacks happened. "Our people are still capable of fighting back and defending their homes and land, it makes us want to organize even harder to support them from the 'belly of the beast,'" Abudayyeh said. Abudayyeh, who is based in Chicago, added the USPCN coordinating with all of its chapters to provide resources for organizing in their communities. He said thousands of people have gathered on Sunday to protest outside Israeli consulates on Sunday, including 2,000 in Chicago and 1,000 in San Francisco. Unrest in the Middle East Could the Israel-Hamas war mean $5-a-gallon gas prices at the pump? 'Liberation is at stake' Separated by a line of police officers wearing helmets and carrying batons, pro-Israel demonstrators and Palestinian supporters chanted slogans, waved flags and signs, and yelled at each other in front of the San Francisco Israeli Consulate on Sunday afternoon. While one side chanted "Free, free, free Palestine," the other responded with, "Shame, shame" the day after the Hamas massacre on Israeli soil. Rami Abdelkarim, 23, a U.S.-born Palestinian with extended family in the motherland, denounced what he called an Israeli occupation and said the Hamas attack was the escalation of decades of resistance, this one prompted by an increase in Israeli settlements. Asked if he was concerned about an Israeli reprisal, Abdelkarim said: "Absolutely. Israel is the biggest recipient of United States military funding." But Abdelkarim, an organizer for the Palestinian Youth Movement, added that for Palestinians back home, "when their livelihoods and their liberation is at stake, Israel does not scare them. Read more here. Yasin Ayesh, 29, a Bay Area resident draped in a Palestinian flag, said he attended the rally to advocate for an end to the occupation and for Palestinians to get the same human rights as Israelis. Born in California, he visited relatives in the West Bank most recently in 2019 and said there were no big problems then but the city where his family lives, Jenin, is under military occupation with checkpoints, and water and electricity are hard to come by in some areas. "The people there dont have real medical care, they dont have what they need when it comes to food, the children dont have any education because of apartheid," Ayesh said. "They have every right as every human being." Ayesh said he doesnt advocate any loss of life, but accounts of the attack require context. We have to first look at what happened before the attack. That was a history of people being mistreated for 45 years. Thats what led to the attacks, to the resistance." Lack of optimism Shai Elnekave, 49, an Israeli-Australian who attended the temple rally Sunday, worried for loved ones. Elnekave said its a small country and most people know someone affected. They have crossed a line that I think is going to be very hard to go back from. This is only the beginning and now theres going to be a huge wave of Israeli counterattack and retaliation, and theres a war in place. I really wish we could find with U.S. intervention, with world intervention some sort of treaty that will resolve this. I wish. But sadly, I am not optimistic, because there are extremists on both ends, and its important to mention that. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israeli and Palestinian supporters divided after deadly Hamas attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that Israel is "at war" with Hamas and he has ordered "an extensive mobilization of reserves." "It affects everybody and it affects everybody immediately." said UC Berkeley Israel studies Professor Ron Hassner, "I know five different people who either came close to being harmed during the attack, are being called up now, or have a family member being called up now, and I know dozens of people who have spent the last few hours in shelters. It touches each and every person." Early Saturday morning during a major Jewish holiday, Palestinian terror organization Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, with Hamas gunmen invading as many as 22 towns and communities across the Gaza border. Saturday morning, "I woke to sirens and in a daze," explained Shor Masori, an American Israeli visiting family just a few miles from Tel Aviv. "The closest rockets fell about one and a half miles away from us, which was very hard to process." Masori went on to say it was "like I was in a bad dream and couldnt wake up." US NAVY MOVING WARSHIPS, AIRCRAFT CLOSER TO ISRAEL AMID HAMAS WAR A barrage of rockets fired by Hamas into Israel. The death toll in Israel is currently at least 800 with more than 2,000 Israelis injured. In Gaza, there are at least 313 Palestinians dead and nearly 2,000 wounded. Hassner said, "All Hamas has going for it is hostages, perhaps more than 50 hostages. Very few of those are soldiers, they are women, children, the elderly, some sick people in wheelchairs." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Life has completely been put on hold" said Jordyn Cummings, a fellow at social change organization Yahel in Northern Haifa. "Some people in the group are considering leaving the country if they can go. I know people who are fleeing right now. I plan on staying for now." Sunday morning, another terrorist group, Hezbollah, fired dozens of rockets across Israels northern border from Lebanon, just 70 miles northeast of Haifa. Cummings said, "Where Im located, were close to the Lebanese border, and we dont know whats going to happen there." BIDEN BLASTED FOR 'APPEASING IRAN' AHEAD OF DEVASTATING ATTACK ON ISRAEL: END THE 'ONE-SIDED CONCESSIONS' Palestinian demonstrators throw rocks at Israeli soldiers. For those who want to leave or travel farther away from the center of the conflict, "finding cabs has been really difficult." said Cummings. Regarding flights, Cummings added, "the difficulty is knowing whether to go or not because we dont know if leaving now will be the last opportunity." While the situation remains somber, "people are really coming together," Cummings said. "The attacks have just been entirely abhorrent and barbaric," but "I do feel a sense of community. Weve all been coming together to support each other." "You can feel the collective pain in the air," said Masori. "The worst part is hearing stories of death and pain from my family about their friends and loved ones." Many in Masoris community still dont know if their loved ones are safe, injured, dead or kidnapped. VIDEOS OF HAMAS BRUTALITY TOWARD ISRAELIS EERILY REMINISCENT OF ISIS TACTICS A police station is destroyed by Palestinian rockets in Sderot, Israel, on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. "So many soldiers from reserves rose to action that many havent had anything to eat in the last 24 hours." Masori said. Those who werent called are helping out in whatever ways they can. Masori and his family spent Sunday volunteering at a restaurant in Tel Aviv, making boxed meals for soldiers and those affected by the conflict. The restaurant received so many donations, Masori said, "it seemed as though every restaurant in Tel Aviv responded." Israelis are facing a horrific conflict and much is still unknown, but the people have made a resounding effort to come together and support their military and government during the crisis. Original article source: Israelis band together amid most deadly attack since Yom Kippur War The boom of Israeli defenses knocking down missiles from Gaza echo in the sky above a sterile glass police building near Israels Ben Gurion Airport, where terrified people are desperate to find out anything about their missing loved ones. They plead for information about friends and family who disappeared in southern Israel and fear they have been killed or taken captive in Saturdays unprecedented attack led by Hamas that has stunned a nation. Subverting Israels vast surveillance system to break through the fence sealing in Gaza in at least 20 locations while firing thousands of rockets into Israel, Hamas took over the fortress like Erez crossing checkpoint and invaded Israeli communities for the first time. Armed combat between Palestinian fighters from Gaza and Israeli troops is still ongoing in Israeli communities adjacent to Gaza, two days after the Palestinian Islamic Nationalist movement launched a surprise attack. In its bloody assault, at least 700 Israeli civilians and soldiers have been killed three quarters of casualties Israel experienced during the five years of the Second Intifada in just the past two days, and nearly 2,400 people have been wounded. Despite being caught up in continuous fighting inside Israel, the Israeli military has retaliated with a wide and punishing aerial assault on Gaza. Knocking out the power and plunging one of the worlds most populated places into darkness; towers, apartments blocks, and neighborhoods are being reduced to rubble from the sky. With nowhere to flee and no shelters to run to, the Gaza health ministry says that Israeli bombardment has killed 493 and wounded 2,751 people so far. Of Israels dead, 260 are young people killed by Palestinian fighters while partying at an outdoor rave near Kibbutz Reim by the Gaza border. Their bodies were discovered on the dusty coastal flatlands on Sunday, and dozens more are missing and believed to be hostages in Gaza. An estimated 130 civilians and soldiers have been taken captive a turn of events previously believed to be unthinkable. While the Israeli government and military promise a long and devastating war, relatives of the missing are just desperate to find or free their loved ones and outraged at the government and security establishment for not seeing and preventing this. How could we be so weak and play like we are so good, says Dima Markachenko, 31, with anger and despair. Standing outside the police station dedicated to finding the missing, Markachenko came from his home in northern Israel to find out anything he could about his brother Steve, 34, and his brothers girlfriend, Alicia Lavin, 25, who were at the rave. He says they were last in contact with Lavins brother at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday, just prior to the attack. Tracking their car, he believes they tried to escape but has no idea what happened after their phones went off and says no one has been able to reach their car. Along a stretch of highway between farmers fields and next to Gaza, abandoned cars and motorbikes are scattered while Israeli army units scour the area hunting for remaining pockets of Gaza fighters. Cars riddled with bullet holes and open doors with clothes strewn around tell a grim story of fear and death. Many of those killed were initially left in their cars until Israeli forces regained some control the next day. Markachenko holds Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government he heads responsible for not preventing the carnage despite its technological ability to see, listen, and attack any part of the coastal strip it besieged from air, land, and sea since 2007. A former soldier in Israels conscript military and veteran of the 2008 and 2012 Gaza wars, he feels cheated, neglected, and paying the price for a government that led him to believe that technological and military dominance of Gaza could prevent this. For him the only solution is a devastating retaking of Gaza, an increasingly popular Israeli opinion. Now we are in battle rhythm, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht said during a press briefing to avoid answering questions about intelligence failures. Its not a position that phases Hamas representative Basem Naim, who believes the attack will transform the Palestinian struggle and make Israel realize there is a cost to its unending rule over Palestinians. He acknowledges the massive cost that Palestinians will pay in response to its ongoing assault and emphasizes Israeli military casualties while minimizing civilian casualties. However, he points to the 16 years of unending blockade of Gaza unchecked, an intensifying military occupation that feels like West Bank annexation and most right wing government in Israeli history promoting settlement expansion. He cites Israeli cabinet ministers who support further Palestinian dispossession and have been defending widespread settler attacks on Palestinians while the international community fails to contain or pressure Israel. You could say we have nothing left to lose, he said. Neither Israels government nor its military is keen to discuss the intelligence failure that has left the country feeling blindsided by its deadliest attack. Visiting the site of a grizzly attack in the southern Israeli city of Ofakim on Sunday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with residents and security forces that retook a neighborhood from fighters who went door to door and shot residents in the street. A question was shouted at Gallant, about whether the attack hours earlier was the result of an intelligence failure. He stopped, turned around, and walked in the opposite direction. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images Some are likening Saturday's attack on Israel by Hamas to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US. The scale of the attacks from land, sea, and air is unlike anything Israel has faced before. Israelis told Insider how the crisis could remake their country's future. Reut Aisenberg woke with a start on Saturday morning to the sound of air raid sirens slicing through the otherwise tranquil Tel Aviv air. At about 6 a.m., Aisenberg, 36, scrambled into the reinforced concrete safe room inside the flat she shares with her 40-year-old husband and their two young children. Together, in their pajamas, they huddled in the darkness as the first of thousands of missiles rained down over their city, the opening act of a brazen strike by Hamas that some in Israel are calling the country's "9/11 moment." It was far from how the family thought the day would unfold, having planned to mark the annual Simchat Torah holiday at a local park. The timing of the attack on Saturday morning "was a shock," Aisenberg told Insider on Sunday night from her home. "No one saw it coming," she said, adding: "This is going to be a trauma that Israel is going to carry with it from now until the end of time." "It's a very small country and everybody knows someone who is either in the military or someone who lives in one of those communities that were hijacked by terrorists," Aisenberg said. Within Israel's borders, where the clash has already claimed more than 700 lives , people have begun drawing parallels between the onslaught and the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Multiple Israelis spoke to Insider throughout the weekend about what they'd witnessed and the attack's impact, which they say will long burn in their nation's collective memory. 'You have rockets raining from the sky' Like 9/11, which changed the United States and its identity for years to come remaking its national security and intelligence-gathering apparatus, triggering a protracted military campaign in the Middle East, and fueling a sense of patriotism unseen in years Aisenberg and others agreed that the events of the past 48 hours would also fundamentally reshape Israel from cultural, security, and political perspectives. Despite the long-term ramifications, for now, Aisenberg is just hoping to ride out the conflict wherever it leads. She feels relatively secure in Tel Aviv since the sirens typically provide about 60 seconds' worth of warning before the impact of incoming missiles from Gaza. Compared to the 15 seconds she previously had while serving as a member of the Israeli armed forces in Sderot, a city close to the Gaza border, a full minute feels like a relative luxury ample time to seek shelter in a stairwell or another location before an explosion. With 15 seconds, the only option is to run into someone's house if the door is open, she said, or lay on the ground and "pray to God" that you don't die. "I'm not freaking out. I'm still in control," Aisenberg said. "I can make decisions, I can function. But clearly, it's not easy. You have rockets raining from the sky." Although Israelis are both "shocked" and "very sad," she said they are resolved not to give in. "We are going to win this." Historical parallels Israel is not a country unaccustomed to violent clashes with its neighbors. But the scale of these attacks which saw Hamas fighters take hostages back over the Gaza border and mount offensives across the land, sea, and air from motorized paragliders are of a different magnitude than the country has witnessed before. "This is Israel's 9/11," Ian Bremmer, a political scientist and founder of the Eurasia Group, a risk research and consulting firm, wrote on X , the platform formerly known as Twitter. But, by the sheer volume of casualties, he said, the stakes for Israel are even higher. Several other posts on the social networking site also likened the attacks to 9/11 or Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attack on an American naval base in Hawaii that drew the United States into the Second World War in 1941. Jessica Cohen, a 25-year-old American from Long Island, New York, who has called Israel home for the past seven years, was just 3 years old on 9/11 but still remembers how "distraught" her family was that day. "I can imagine," she told Insider by phone from her home, about 20 minutes south of Tel Aviv, that this attack on Israel is very much "that same nightmare, that same fear but 10 times worse." Hamas leaders have claimed their incursion was a response to Israeli escalations against Palestinians, including the "desecration" of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Tensions have been exacerbated between Israelis and Palestinians this year as the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has supported an increase in the number of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Security experts have said Israel quietly let down its guard amid rising unrest, political infighting, and pushback against Netanyahu's government. Some have speculated that Hamas sought to exploit the breach to jettison diplomatic efforts between Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the US that might have resulted in Riyadh extending diplomatic recognition to Israel. Iran, too, appears to have been eager to take advantage of the instability. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Tehran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had coordinated the strike with Hamas since August. As was the case with the United States after that attack 22 years ago which led to a prolonged military campaign in Afghanistan Israel is already mounting a widespread retaliatory effort called Operation Swords of Iron. Netanyahu has vowed to exact "an unprecedented price" and a response "on a scale and intensity that the enemy has so far not experienced." Israeli jets have struck buildings in Gaza , while ground forces have mobilized heavy artillery like tanks and engaged in skirmishes with Hamas fighters. US officials have reportedly predicted that a mass ground invasion is imminent, and more than 400 Palestinians have already died, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Kenneth Quinn, a 57-year-old American high school English teacher who's lived in Israel for more than three decades, drew other comparisons between this conflict and 9/11 mainly because both national tragedies claimed high numbers of civilian lives. "It had never happened in New York," he explained by phone from Israel. "Something like this had never happened here. In those two ways, it's similar." Up and down the country, Israelis were angered by the lapses that enabled Hamas to evade the eyes of Jerusalem's military and intelligence services, Quinn added, calling the failures "incomprehensible." He predicted they could ultimately spell ruin for the political fortunes of the country's deeply divided coalition government. Loved ones lost Some Israelis who spoke to Insider worried that the country might not have expelled all of the Hamas fighters that crossed over from Gaza, which could lead to further violence. Those fears may have been magnified by the unrest in communities near the border region just hours after the attack got underway. There, close to the Gaza border, Aisenberg's mother- and father-in-law spent much of Saturday afternoon hiding in their home as Hamas fighters infiltrated their small town and wreaked havoc. Aisenberg said they would relocate to her sister-in-law's house by way of special armored transports she believed local officials were organizing. In the central city of Be'er Sheva, Quinn said he'd spent part of Sunday at Soroka Hospital, where wounded Israelis were receiving medical attention. He recounted meeting a woman who had attended the Tribe of Nova festival, where hundreds descended on a site near the Gaza border to revel in a night of music and dance. The woman a single mother of several children who did not attend the festival sustained multiple gunshot wounds after Hamas fighters transformed the event into an early staging ground for their campaign, claiming more than 250 casualties and seizing numerous hostages, according to media reports. At the hospital, the woman told Quinn that she was separated from her friend during the chaos and had spent hours lying on the ground, pretending to be dead in a bid to survive. She was later discovered alive and is expected to recover from her injuries. One of Quinn's former colleagues, a high school teacher who taught physics, also attended the same festival, he came to find out. Unlike the woman who was taken to the hospital, however, the teacher is unaccounted for and, as of Sunday evening, Quinn said it was unclear whether he had been killed or taken hostage. Cohen, the American woman living south of Tel Aviv, is facing a nightmare of her own: She and her husband, Gilad Peretz, have been unsuccessfully trying to track down Peretz's 51-year-old father, Mark, who disappeared Saturday morning after racing to pick up his daughter from the music festival. While his daughter survived, Mark's whereabouts remain a mystery, Cohen and her husband told Insider. They believe his cellphone is dead, and they say they spotted his white Audi A4 sedan on a newscast not far from where he vanished after the fighting broke out. 'We cannot afford to be divided' As the fighting continues, Aisenberg said Israelis are determined to prevail against Hamas and Hezbollah. The second militant group began to provoke additional violence along the northern border that Israel shares with Lebanon following the attacks from Gaza. Though officially founded after the conclusion of World War II, Israel has faced "so many terrible wars" from "biblical times" through the Holocaust to more recent clashes, Aisenberg said. She hopes that this one will unite the international community behind the embattled Jewish state but, given its many adversaries on the world stage, it's unclear whether that hope will be realized. "I hope this is going to be an incentive for everybody to come together," she said. "We cannot afford to be divided." At the very least, whether or not her sentiments extend to Israel's allies or her country, whose political organs are racked by painful schisms, Aisenberg and her family are vowing to stick together. As a professional tour guide, her job is to introduce visitors to Israel's ancient sites, but there's little need to give tours during a war. Instead, she'll spend the coming days with her children and her husband, a software engineer who works from home. Together, they're ready to ride out whatever comes. And they'll wait with bated breath, just a few steps from their safe room, until the inevitable din of air raid sirens rings out again. Are you affected by the crisis in Israel and Gaza, or do you know someone who is and is willing to share their story? Reed Alexander can be reached via email at ralexander@insider.com or SMS/the encrypted app Signal at +1 561 247 5758. Read the original article on Business Insider The main branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, at 800 Vine St., will complete a $39.8 million renovation next year. What is Issue 20? This ballot measure seeks to renew and increase a Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library tax levy for a 10-year period What does the library system want? The library system's board of trustees voted July 18 to ask voters to renew and add to a 2013 levy. If passed, Hamilton County homeowners would pay $43 a year for each $100,000 of their home value. Added to a 2018 library levy that runs through 2028, homeowners would be paying $74 per $100,000 in home value to support county-wide libraries. If Issue 20 passes, the 2013 levy would be going up 68%. Trustees considered but rejected keeping the levy at the same level for another 10 years, or asking for a 116% increase. Here's the overall breakdown: Paula Brehm-Heeger is the top administrator of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Libraries, as the Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director. How much would the higher levy raise for libraries? The ballot measure would generate $30.9 million a year for the library system, up from $19.6 million under the current levy. In 2022, local libraries got $50.5 million of their total funds from the state of Ohio's Public Library Fund. Another $40 million came from its two levies. What happens if the levy fails? If Issue 20 fails, the libraries annual levy income would fall by half, with about $20 million continuing to flow from the 2018 levy. That could jeopardize completion of an in-progress 2019 master plan for library buildings. Under the Next Generation program, administrators are spending $350 million for improvements at all 41 of its branches. Here's the latest on those projects: What does Issue 20 actually say? Voters will see this language on their ballots: A renewal of one (1) mill and an increase of one half mills constituting a tax for the benefit of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library for the purpose of PROVIDING FUNDS FOR OPERATING EXPENSES AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, that the county auditor estimates will collect $30,878,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding one and one half mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $43.00 for each $100,000 of the county auditor's appraised value, for (10) years commencing in January of 2024. Who supports the library levy? Citizens for Your Library's Future, the group raising money for the libraries levy, had a bit more than $339,000 in hand on July 31, according to its filing with the Hamilton County Board of Elections. It collected $195,000 of that in April and May: The Library Foundation of Cincinnati and Hamilton County gave $20,000 on April 20 and $155,000 on May 20. The foundation, with $9.3 million in assets and 30 board members representing well-known local employers, gave the library system just more than $927,000 in the year ended June 30, 2022, its latest filing with the Internal Revenue Service shows. That was awarded as grants and program support. Friends of the Public Library gave $20,000 on April 15. Friends, with assets of about $1 million and a board of 13, supports the library system by selling used books and other materials from its Hartwell warehouse. Who opposes the measure? The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce is against Issue 20. In a statement, the chamber applauded the library system's work to encourage literacy and assist library users in other ways, but said it opted not to support its call for higher property taxes. The chamber is supporting ballot issues to sell the Cincinnati Southern Railway and renew a levy for the Cincinnati Zoo. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Issue 20: What is the Cincinnati & Hamilton County library levy? Russian forces are intensifying efforts to mine the area along the previously cleared Robotyne-Verbove area in Zaporizhzhia, the Institute for the Study of War reported in their daily assessment on Oct. 8. According to ISW, Russian milbloggers claim that Russia's military are devoting more resources to remining the area as a way to "achieve tactical surprise." The mines have reportedly disrupted the transfer of Ukrainian cargo and equipment in recent days. Earlier this week, Ukrainian military sources announced that Kyiv forces advanced towards a tree line between Robotyne and Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, about six kilometers southeast of Robotyne The remaining areas of Zaporizhzhia also continue to face attacks. Russian forces launched a cluster bomb attack on southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Oct. 7, killing a woman and wounding two people. At around 8 a.m., the Russians fired rockets containing cluster bombs using a multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS), according to regional governor Yurii Malashko, citing the preliminary data. The village of Bilenke, located across the Dnipro River from Russian-occupied territories and about 40 kilometers south of Zaporizhzhia, came under attack. 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. In the midst of one of the deadliest days in decades in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, a Jacksonville man currently in Israel has shared his perspective on the violence. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Action News Jaxs Nick Gibson spoke with Amir Lavi, who is currently in Israel, who expressed the devastating impact of the recent events in Israel. Amir Lavi, a Jacksonville resident, had been in Israel for two weeks, visiting family to celebrate a Jewish holiday. Lavi described the situation as unprecedented, stating, Weve never had something like this. Lavi and his family had never anticipated being caught in the middle of a war when they initially traveled to Israel. Lavi likened the situation to the Israeli equivalent of 9/11, highlighting the severity of the events unfolding in the region. Israel has declared war against the militant terrorist group Hamas, which is responsible for hundreds of Israeli casualties following a surprise attack on Saturday, marking the latest incident in a series of conflicts between Arabs and Israelis over the past 75 years since modern-day Israels formation. READ: Hamas attack: A historical timeline of conflict between Israel, Arabs Although Lavi and his family are currently located a few hours north of Gaza, they had been in the vicinity just days before the conflict escalated. Lavi recalled, Weve been traveling in the desert two days ago, just before this started, with all the family and kids. We were pretty close to that area. Lavi noted So to be honest all of Israel is kind of in a lockdown. First off the morale is very down. People dont want to go to work. They dont want to do things that you need to do. Marian Feist, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Northeast Florida, also shared her thoughts on the situation, stating Its going to be a short answer, I think its going to be a long-term and we will see how it plays out. Despite the challenges, Feist highlighted the resilience of the Jewish and Israeli communities, emphasizing their determination to stand strong during these trying times. 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. [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. Janet Planet is a journey to a rural Western Massachusetts world of affectation, all twee decorations, eccentric knick-knacks, self-conscious silences and pauses, and torpid nostalgic drama. The directorial debut of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Annie Baker, the filmshowing at this years New York Film Festivaloperates in a single, precious sub-Kelly Reichardt register, its every second marked by studied images, sounds, and performances. Gently quirky to the point of exasperation, it gazes daintily at yesteryear, yet the only past it makes one pine for are the two hours prior to its commencement. Late at night at sleepaway camp, adolescent Lacy (Zoe Ziegler) sneaks out of her bunk to a payphone to call her mother Janet (Julianne Nicholson), announcing, Im going to kill myselfif you dont come get me. This is brazen manipulation and Janet knows it, but she complies and picks up her daughter, telling her This is a bad pattern. Upon seeing that her mom has arrived with her latest boyfriend Wayne (Will Patton), a stoic and unfriendly creep, Lacy considers, albeit to no avail. The remainder of her summer break will now be spent at her woodlands home, attending piano lessons at an older neighbors house, going for walks with her mom, and carefully arranging and staring at the many figurinesnow including a Troll doll given to her by a camp friendthat shes positioned on a bookshelf thats been retrofitted to resemble a stage, replete with opening and closing curtains. There isnt much momentous action in Janet Planet; Baker casts her premiere feature as a languorous memory piece thats heavy on early 90s atmosphere. Be it Lacy sitting on a couch playing a keyboard on her lap while a fan rotates on a side table, or the girl and her mother strolling down the areas tree-lined roads, the mood is quiet and precise in a deliberately mannered style. Bakers compositions often position Lacy at the bottom of the frame to highlight her low-to-the-ground perspective, and they also assume her obstructed POV as she stares at adults through windows and around corners and car seats. Everything is perfectly poised and arranged in italicized fashion, and so too are its many audio elements, from the clickety-clack of a cassette tape popping into a car deck and the incessantly chirping and buzzing insects outside the characters abode, to the twinkly tunes of a puppet master-themed music box thats ultimately recalled, thematically speaking, by a late poem read to Janet on a romantic picnic. Baker habitually cuts to sightsa teacup ride at the mall; a tick being burned by a match and flushed down the toilet; a reversible Little Red Riding Hood dollthat are meant to evoke a very particular sense of time and place. Such gestures, however, have a look-at-me sort of delicacy. Her dialogue is even more stilted, with characters generally speaking no more than one sentence at a time (and slowly), and responses arriving multiple seconds later. The effect of this halting conversational cadence is to make everyone seem like theyre thinking (and feeling!) really, really hard about what they want to say, although nothing of substance or interest comes out of their mouths, turning every exchange into an exercise in teeth-gritting patience. Anatomy of a Fall Thrillingly Perfects the Courtroom Drama Formula When not sleeping with Janet, cradling her head with the clingy weirdness of a child unreasonably tethered to her parent, Lacy does very little, and Janet, who runs an acupuncture business out of their house, doesnt do much more. Janet Planet is dramatically simple but its real problem is pretentiousness, and the only person who emerges (relatively) unscathed is Ziegler, who radiates believable confusion, curiosity and concern over her station in life. Baker splits her tale into chapters that have to do with the people who glide in and out of the duos life, starting with Wayne and followed by Janets old friend Regina (Sophie Okonedo)whom she hasnt seen in years and reconnects with at a hippie-dippy childrens costume performance at a farmand, afterwards, Reginas cult-leader ex Avi (Elias Koteas). That structure, epitomized by title cards announcing their beginning and end, is another in an unyielding series of cutesy flourishes that call attention to the directors hand. Nicholson is luminous as Janet despite Janet Planet leaving her intentionally opaque. Her protagonist comes across as a woman in search of herself, direction, and fulfillment, and consequently, Lacys tale is one of trying to understand life and herself through the prism of a beloved mother whos similarly searching for answers. Janet and Lacys rapport is at once immensely tight and yet also detached; a scene in which Lacy watches her mother at a country dance, spinning round and round with a bevy of partners, suggests the chasm between them, and between Lacy and a grown-up world she hasnt fully entered and wants to comprehend. Like virtually every other aspect of her film, however, Bakers close-ups strain hard to convey depths of emotion, in the process interfering with the very sentimentality she seeks. Lacys occasionally blunt pronouncements are all that passes for humor in Janet Planet, which primarily opts for a very tranquil tone defined by an audioscape of calm environmental noises, and character movements that are minimal and mechanical; even the way Lacy turns the pages of her sheet music is performed with the absolute lightest of touches. None of the directors soft-and-placid formal and narrative embellishments would be objectionable on their own. Together, though, they transform the proceedings into a stiflingly theatrical affair in which nothing resonates as natural and, consequently, scant meaningful engagement with Janet and Lacys individual and joint plights is engendered. All of Us Strangers: Andrew Scott Is Devastatingly Good in Fiery, Gay Knockout What are we even talking about? asks Regina during one late-night chat with Janet, and the question applies to virtually every back-and-forth in Janet Planet, where whats said is superficially banal but meant to linger in the airduring all those pauses between every uttered wordwith weighty significance. Awash in labored discussions and aesthetic devices, and infused with kitschy fondness for its early 90s era, its the type of film whose tremendous, transparent effort at making us feel what the filmmaker feels is inversely proportional to its effect. Liked this review? Sign up to get our weekly See Skip newsletter every Tuesday and find out what new shows and movies are worth watching, and which arent. 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 group of more than a dozen state Senate Republicans in New Jersey is urging the upper chamber's president to permit investigatory and subpoena powers to the judiciary committee to probe whether officials in the New Jersey Office of Attorney General were compromised by Sen. Bob Menendez 's federal bribery scheme, as the indictment alleges. The lawmakers, led by Republican leader Sen. Anthony Bucco on the judiciary committee, wrote that "while much attention has been paid to the allegations that Sen. Menendez pressured officials to make criminal cases go away, a close reading of the indictment also raises serious concerns about whether officials at the New Jersey Office of Attorney General were in fact compromised by that pressure, potentially complicit in the senators alleged crimes, or operating under inadequate or nonexistent protocols for safeguarding against public corruption." Lawmakers also want to hire a special counsel to launch the independent probe. TIMELINE OF SEN BOB MENENDEZ'S INDICTMENT WITH WIFE ALLEGES YEARSLONG CORRUPTION According to the federal indictment against Menendez, his wife and three New Jersey businessmen, Jose Uribe one of the businessmen accused bought a new Mercedes-Benz convertible worth over $60,000 for Menendez and his wife after she fatally struck and killed a pedestrian. In exchange, the indictment alleges Menendez sought to interfere in the New Jersey attorney generals investigation of Uribe for a previous charge alleging he obtained loans under false pretenses. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP DEMOCRAT SEN MENENDEZ'S WIFE HIT, KILLED PEDESTRIAN WHILE DRIVING IN 2018: REPORTS Sen. Bob Menendez holds a press conference as he rejects accusations of corruption on Sept. 25, 2023. The full state Senate would have to approve giving subpoena power to the judiciary committee, and New Jersey Senate President Nicholas Scutari, a Democrat, and the judiciary committee chairman, Brian Stack, also a Democrat, would have to approve the effort before it's sent to the Senate. State Senate Republicans said they have "no desire or intention to interfere" with the federal investigation, but allegations involving the state's attorney general office "fall squarely within the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Legislature and its constitutional duty to investigate and enact any reforms that may prove necessary." MSNBC'S ALICIA MENENDEZ ADDRESSES FATHER'S INDICTMENT: COLLEAGUES HAVE 'AGGRESSIVELY' COVERED "Among other allegations, the indictment asserts that Sen. Menendez sought to interfere in a New Jersey state criminal prosecution of an individual who was an associate of one of the businessmen accused of having paid bribes to the senator. Subsequently, the senator allegedly sought to interfere in the state criminal investigation of a second individual, who was an employee and relative of that same businessman," lawmakers wrote. In June 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Menendez and his wife's New Jersey home, where federal agents discovered cash, gold, a luxury convertible and home furnishings. Prosecutors say $480,000 in cash, much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe, was discovered in the home, as well as more than $70,000 in cash in Nadine's safe-deposit box. Some of the envelopes contained the fingerprints of businessman Fred Daibes, another figure in the alleged bribery scheme, or his driver, according to the indictment. Fox News Digital has reached out to Scutari and Stack for comment. Original article source: New Jersey state Republicans want to launch independent probe of allegations in Menendez indictment The Jewish Community Center in Charlotte held a vigil Monday night in response to the Israel-Hamas War. The community was invited as the JCC stands in solidarity with the people of Israel. Hamas attack: Music festival in Israel transformed into night of terror More than 900 people have died and 2,500 injured in Israel since Saturdays surprise attacks from Hamas. At least 11 Americans are among those killed, officials said Monday. The outpour of support from the greater community, that they showed up to share our pain and share our fear is, it means a lot, said Tair Giudice. Giudice is an officer with the Jewish Federation of Charlotte and is an Israeli native with family members caught in the conflict zone. Hamas attack: A historical timeline of conflict between Israel, Arabs Theyre OK, Giudice said. They have, since Saturday morning, been in bomb shelters. The vigil in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Arts in Shalom Park was a moment to pause and pray. Ten candles represented lives lost since Saturday. We pray for the civilians and soldiers who have been taken hostage, said a community member at the vigil. We pray for a speedy return to safety and to their loving families. To put things into perspective, that is the largest number of Jews murdered since the Holocaust in one day, Giudice said. So, this is extremely traumatic for all of us. I also know that Israel had to launch an attack to protect its citizens and that attack also takes a toll. But, I really want to make sure that people know, it is heartbreaking the condition of Palestinians in Gaza. That said, I blame Hamas for creating those conditions and creating this humanitarian crisis on both sides. Linda Barghouthi and Randa El Darini are with the Palestine Childrens Relief Fund branch in Charlotte. The children are the ones that suffer the most, Barghouth later told Channel 9. The nonprofit raises money for children injured during warfare. When we bring them here, its at minimal cost by putting them with a host family and having a doctor that will treat them pro bono, El Darini said. And, unfortunately, with children having houses demolished upon them, prosthetics will be an issue, Barghouthi said. We are sad and were grieving over the loss of life on both sides, El Darini said. RELATED VIDEO: CMPD monitoring synagogues and mosques amid conflict in Israel Many in the Los Angeles Jewish community, along with some local leaders, came together Sunday night at Stephen Wise Temple in Bel Air to pray for peace after the deadly surprise attack in Israel by Hamas fighters that wounded thousands and led to the deaths of more than 1,100 people, including United States citizens. Were gathering for support, were gathering to raise funds and were gathering to demand the rest of the world show solidarity with the people in the state of Israel, Rabbi Noah Farks, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, told KTLAs Carlos Saucedo. Israeli supporters gather to pray and raise funds after surprise attack on Israel by Hamas Israel formally declared war and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas on Sunday, prompting those at the temple this evening to pray for the lives already lost and for those held captive in a war that is likely to drag out. Exasperated, shaken travelers arrive at LAX from Tel Aviv Im not Jewish, but Im here in support of Israel. Im a pro-Israel activist and Im devastated and heartbroken and it was important for me to be here tonight, Wendy Bruget said. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the department has increased its patrols and presence at religious sites around the county. Were out here, were paying attention. Were going to have a lot of visible presence around other Jewish facilities and mosques as well. Were looking at all sites, he said. We dont want any violence. Earlier Sunday, many Israeli supporters gathered outside the federal building in Westwood to let their voices be heard. I would like Hamas to be destroyed completely, a man who attended that gathering told KTLA. More than a half million Jewish people live in L.A., many with close ties to friends and family dealing with the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Friends of ours have been murdered, a friend was murdered by a grenade with his kids next to him, a woman outside the federal building said. I mean, its really hard to describe whats going on there. Here in Los Angeles, many in the Jewish community are holding fundraisers to help with the humanitarian efforts on the ground. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Sadiq Khan has said there is no tolerance for hate in London after a kosher restaurant was vandalised in Golders Green and Free Palestine graffiti was daubed on two nearby bridges in the wake of Hamass attacks on Israel. The glass entrance of the Jewish-run restaurant Pita was smashed on Monday morning in what residents suspect was an anti-Semitic attack, with the cash register also reported stolen. Police said they had reviewed CCTV footage and the incident was not being treated as a hate crime at this stage. It is understood there have been similar burglaries in the area in recent weeks. However, Jewish residents and business owners, as well as a local MP, say the attack was unlikely to be a coincidence. Mr Khan, the Mayor of London, posted on Twitter following the break-in at the shop in a bid to reassure worried communities. He said: There is no tolerance for hate in our city. I remain in close contact with the Met Police. Whoever did this will face the full force of the law. I stand with Jewish Londoners, today and always. One of the owners of the damaged restaurant. He has asked not to be named - Nigel Howard Media Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, has written to all 43 police chiefs in England and Wales, urging them to step up patrols and use all available powers to prevent disorder and distress within Jewish communities in the wake of the attacks on Israel She said officers must crack down immediately on criminality and adopt a zero-tolerance approach to illegal support for Hamas, a proscribed organisation in the UK. She added: Sadly, we have seen in recent years how events in the Middle East are used as an excuse to stir up hatred against British Jewish communities. There is no place for demonstrations, convoys, or flag-waving on British streets that glorifies terrorism or harasses the Jewish community. Writing in The Telegraph, below, Chris Philp , the policing minister, said he was working closely with police to ensure the safety of Jews and Jewish sites across the UK. He said British Jews felt frightened and unnerved, warning that harassment and intimidation would not be tolerated. He added: Our message is clear: we are here for them. We will do what needs to be done to ensure they are safe. And anyone who threatens their safety should expect to face the full force of the law. Residents of Golders Green, which has a large Jewish community, pointed out that on Sunday abuse was hurled from cars at Jewish people in the area. Claudia Mendoza, the co-chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: We wouldnt want to contradict what the police are saying but the timing of the attack, juxtaposed with the graffiti and whats going on in Israel, has left a feeling in the community that this [attack] is directed at them. 'Free Palestine' was graffitied on two bridges near the restaurant that was vandalised Her comments were echoed by the manager of another kosher restaurant in Golders Green, which was not attacked. The man, who is in his 20s but did not want to be named, said of the horrific attack: Well, the bridge [has been graffitied with] Free Palestine, is that not a hate crime also? Its a big coincidence. Melvyn Smallman, a local resident, said: This must be the result of what happened over the weekend, theres no question. Weve got Free Palestine [graffitied] up here. I cant see that being a drug addict. On Monday, Tom Tugendhat , the security minister, visited Pita to offer reassurance to those left shaken by the incident. Mr Tugendhat was seen speaking to a crowd of Hasidic Jewish teenagers, some of whom told the minister of their dismay at the attack. Mike Freer, the MP for Finchley and Golders Green, told The Telegraph that the local Jewish community were fearful and very worried because of the increased hostility, adding: Whenever there are flares in Israel we always see a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in Golders Green. Police said that they had made no arrests in their investigation. However, Mr Freer said: Given whats happening in Israel, I think its more than coincidental and that it couldnt be anything other than anti-Semitic. Police said that the incident is currently not being treated as a hate crime - Ruth Murphy It comes as the headmaster of the Jewish Free School in Kenton, North London, told his pupils they did not have to wear blazers carrying their school logo as the most important thing is to ensure the safe passage of students between home and school. A Met spokesman said policing patrols outside Jewish schools had been increased in the wake of the massacre in Israel. Robert Caplan, 43, a financial planner, from East Finchley, said that his daughter started crying saying she was scared when she was told about the blazer policy, and that his younger children saw that. Mr Caplan, who has three children at Jewish schools, said it had taken a toll on him to see the impact it has on them, as a father getting them to have those conversations, to get them understand why they are being told not to wear their blazer. Safety of our Jewish communities is a priority By Chris Philp The attack in Israel over the weekend was an act of pure evil. A loss of innocent life on this scale is unthinkable. Families deliberately slaughtered in their homes. Children killed in front of their parents. Hundreds killed at a music festival. Dozens more kidnapped. This was an outrage with heart-breaking consequences. There can be no equivocation or excuse-making. We have to call this what it was: a brutal terrorist attack, aimed at civilians, perpetrated by Hamas. The UK Government has been clear that we stand with Israel in the face of this outrage. And as Jewish families across the country wait anxiously for news of their friends and family in Israel We are also clear that we will not stand for this atrocity being celebrated and glorified. I know that British Jews feel frightened and unnerved. But our message is clear: we are here for them. Intimidation will not be tolerated and anyone who does this should expect to feel the full force of the law. We are working closely with the police and the Community Security Trust (CST) to provide reassurance on the safety and security of Jews and Jewish sites across the UK. Another vandalised bridge in the Golders Green area - Getty /Carl Court Over the weekend, the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, security minister and I were all briefed by senior policing figures and we are being kept regularly updated. I am grateful to the police for the proactive steps they have already taken to provide reassurance for the Jewish community. The Home Secretary is writing to police chiefs urging them to step up patrols and use all available powers to prevent disorder and distress to our communities. We have also emphasised to police forces that Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. This means that anyone who belongs to, or invites support for Hamas is committing a criminal offence. It is also an offence to wear clothing or carry articles in public which arouse reasonable suspicion that an individual is a member or supporter of Hamas, or publish an image of an article such as a flag or logo in the same circumstances. The security and safety of Jewish communities are a major priority for the Government. That is why we have increased the amount of funding available under the Jewish Community Protective Security grant by 1 million to 15 million for the current financial year. And it is why we have established a new taskforce bringing together ministers, policing leaders, the CST and other key partners to enhance our understanding of and response to threats against Jewish communities. We stand with Israel in the face of Hamas terrorist attack. We stand with the Jewish community here in the UK, and around the world. And we stand defiantly against the evils of anti-Semitism and terrorism. 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. Mr Wallace was defence secretary when Mr Mercer wrote to him concerned that SAS units may have broken the law - Ben Birchall/PA The Veterans Minister raised concerns with Ben Wallace on the decisions to shut down an investigation into UK special forces and war crimes in Afghanistan. Johnny Mercer wrote to Mr Wallace, who was the defence secretary at the time, in 2019 about fears that there were credible allegations British forces had been involved. As an independent inquiry into the actions of special forces began on Monday, the BBC reported that Mr Mercer, a former British army officer, was concerned that SAS units may have broken the law during operations. However, Mr Mercer publicly backed the closure of Operation Northmoor, the investigation into claims that special forces killed unarmed Afghans. On the inquirys opening day, the hearing was told that special forces allegedly had a policy of executing males of fighting age in Afghanistan in circumstances where they posed no threat. The central allegation of the inquiry, which will focus on alleged illegal activity in the war-torn nation between 2010 and 2013, is that special forces abused night raids to carry out the policy. Oliver Glasgow KC, counsel to the inquiry, said that there were also claims that Afghan partner units refused to serve with UK special forces due to their behaviour. In his opening submissions, he said: Let there be no misunderstanding for those who have something to hide the inquiry will use all its powers to make sure that if there is credible information of wrongdoing ... no matter how senior their position, they are referred to the relevant authorities. The inquiry was told that special forces allegedly had a policy of executing males of 'fighting age' in Afghanistan - Heathcliff O'Malley for the Telegraph The Government set up Operation Northmoor in 2014 to investigate a total of 675 allegations of wrongdoing by British Armed Forces in Afghanistan. They included allegations that the SAS had murdered dozens of unarmed men, detainees and civilians in raids during the conflict. However, the investigation, which was being conducted by the Royal Military Police, was shut down in 2019 and no charges were made. Speaking to the Telegraph in 2020, Mr Mercer said that no British troops would be prosecuted for alleged crimes in Afghanistan. He said it was another significant moment as we retake ground ceded over the years to those who seek to rewrite history and line their own pockets with no regard at all for the damage they have done to some of our nations finest people. In a debate in the House of Commons he also insisted troops were innocent, telling Parliament that the allegation that our Armed Forces operated so-called death squads in Afghanistan was simply not true. However, privately he is said to have warned that the Government could suffer reputational damage in the long run if it did not seriously investigate alleged British war crimes and prosecute if necessary. Mr Mercer publicly backed the closure of the Operation Northmoor investigation - Toby Melville/Reuters Families of some of the alleged victims took legal action against the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and an email disclosed during the legal battle suggested Mr Mercer believed that the Government should publicly acknowledge that things went wrong on such operations in Afghanistan. Writing in 2019, the deputy head of the MoDs legal department recounted dissuading the Veterans Minister that such a statement should be made, so that it did not prejudice a review of Operation Northmoor being considered by a High Court judge. Mr Mercer, who served in Afghanistan, and the MoD said it would be inappropriate for them to comment while the inquiry was ongoing. The inquiry was announced last year after a BBC Panorama investigation claimed that one SAS squadron had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances in one six-month tour of Afghanistan. Rash of curtain-shootings During Mondays evidence, the inquiry heard how special forces officers raised concerns of questionable behaviour by certain units in Afghanistan, describing alleged unlawful killings as massacres. In email exchanges read to the inquiry, some officers feared being dragged down with the units carrying out the killings when the next WikiLeaks occurs. One officer, who like all others had their identity hidden in the interests of national security, questioned a rash of curtain-shootings, which involved UK special forces taking suspected insurgents back into compounds before they then returned with a weapon from behind a curtain. In an email chain concerning a night raid on Feb 9 2011, in which eight people were killed, one special forces officer said there appeared to be a casual disregard for life, after another officer said the spate of curtain-shootings were as if they were setting the conditions for their execution. The inquiry continues. 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 dog was rescued from a horrible situation and now hes looking for another new home, a North Carolina animal rescue said. Joker was part of a litter of puppies that escaped danger in 2022. Someone threatened the pups before they were taken to Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue and found safe places to live, the organization wrote on Facebook. But then, Jokers new owner became sick, and the treatments made it impossible for the adoptive family to keep him. He returned to the rescue in June 2023, about a year after he was adopted, according to the rescue in Rutherford County. Now, the dog is looking for another place to live, officials wrote Oct. 4 in a social media post. Joker is described as a 100-pound pup who loves cuddling and cant get enough of playing outside. He wags his whole back end when he is happy, which is always, Heart of the Foothills wrote. Joker is up for adoption a second time after the puppies in his litter reportedly had their lives on the line. A photo showed one of his siblings being held up terrified as a show of what would happen if they hadnt been saved, the rescue said. After Jokers last owner had to bring him back, he went through a trial adoption. But that didnt work out because he didnt get along with the familys male dog, Heart of the Foothills told McClatchy News in an email. He doesnt like male dogs. Thats OK, we dont always like everyone we meet, the rescue wrote, adding that anyone interested in adopting Joker can apply at heartofthefoothills.org/adopt. The rescues adoption center is in Rutherfordton, roughly 70 miles west of Charlotte. Tied up dog is helpless as floodwaters rise then cop runs to rescue, NC video shows Skittish floppy-eared pup was on the loose in NC town. Then came a tearful reunion (Bloomberg) -- Wall Streets biggest banks have told staff in Israel to work from home after an unprecedented invasion of the country by Hamas militants set off a war. Most Read from Bloomberg JPMorgan Chase & Co. which has about 200 employees in Israel, and Morgan Stanley have asked their workers not to come to the office, people familiar with the plans said. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Bank of America Corp. also asked staff to stay home. Bank of America closed its office in Tel Aviv as it continues to monitor the situation, it said in a memo to staff. We remain in close, ongoing touch with our team in Israel, Bank of Americas president of international, Bernie Mensah, said in the memo. They are safe, and we are ensuring they have support and resources as needed. A spokesman for Goldman confirmed its decision, while representatives for JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley declined to comment. A spokesman for Bank of America confirmed the contents of the memo. At Citigroup Inc., staff in Israel can work from home or in the office. We are monitoring the situation in Israel carefully, a spokeswoman for the bank said. The safety of our colleagues is our highest priority and at the same time we remain focused on serving our clients. Israel Latest: Army Stops Lebanon Incursion, Calls Up 300,000 The attack by the Gaza-based militant group Hamas, which started Saturday, has killed more than 700 Israelis, mostly civilians. Some 500 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory strikes, Palestinian authorities said. Israels military said it killed a number of infiltrators who crossed into its territory from Lebanon as it tackles threats on multiple fronts and announced its largest ever mobilization. (Updates with details on Bank of America in second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The judge presiding over the Charlie Adelson case ruled that a secretly recorded conversation between him and a former girlfriend already convicted in the murder plot to kill law professor Dan Markel can come into evidence in his upcoming murder trial. Leon Circuit Judge Stephen Everett sided with prosecutors on that issue during a hearing Monday at the County Courthouse. However, he granted a defense request to bar jurors from seeing a transcript of the FBI recording. The rulings were not exactly a surprise. During the 2022 murder trial of Katherine Magbanua, who dated Adelson and was on the payroll of his dental office, Leon Circuit Judge Robert Wheeler allowed the recording in but not the transcript. Leon County Circuit Judge Stephen Everett listens to arguments during a hearing for Charlie Adelson Charlie Adelson, Dan Markels former brother-in-law, who is accused of orchestrating and financing the shooting of Markel, on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. The recording proved powerful evidence for the jury, which found Magbanua guilty for murder and other crimes. The conversation, which occurred in 2016 at the Dolce Vita restaurant in Miami, happened not long after an FBI agent posing as a blackmailer approached Adelsons mother, Donna Adelson, in an operation dubbed the bump that was designed to get suspects talking. At the restaurant, Charlie Adelson, who attended Monday's hearing, told Magbanua that the suspected agent who went up to his mom was either a blackmailer or a cop. The man gave her a newspaper article about Markel with $5,000 written on it and a phone number to call. See the evidence: Dan Markel murder: Read the transcript and watch the video that prompted charges against Charlie Adelson Charlie Adelson Charlie Adelson, Dan Markels former brother-in-law, who is accused of orchestrating and financing the shooting of Markel, appears in court for a hearing ahead of his trial set to begin at the end of the month, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. During the recording, Adelson allegedly suggested making a one-time charity payment to the so-called blackmailer or, as prosecutors said in the 2022 trial, killing him. Daniel Rashbaum, a Miami attorney representing Charlie Adelson, argued that the recording shouldnt be allowed in because one side of the conversation what Magbanuas said was largely inaudible. Youre hearing half a conversation here, Rashbaum said. However, Assistant State Attorney Rachel Jankowski said that the audio, which was clarified by sound experts, was in fact audible. After Ms. Magbanuas trial, jurors ... actually approached the state and told us that not only was it audible, but it was compelling evidence," Jankowski said. Everett said he would allow the recording, including a comment that Adelson made early in the conversation that If they had any evidence here, wed be at the airport. Adelson's lawyers argued that comment was prejudicial. I am going to permit the recording to be played for the jurors, Everett said. I do agree with the state context can be derived from the portion that is audible. Markel, a law professor at Florida State University, was shot at close range and killed in his Betton Hills garage in 2014 in a professional hit that prosecutors say Charlie Adelson arranged. The murder happened amid a bitter custody battle between his sister, Wendi Adelson, and Markel over their two sons. The Adelson family has long denied involvement. The hit men, Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, along with Magbanua, were earlier convicted in his murder. FSU professor Dan Markel's killing: Everything to know about the murder-for-hire case Over the objections of the defense, Everett also ruled Monday that voluminous court filings in the divorce can come in that either show a motive for Charlie Adelson or a "multi-tiered motive" among members of the family. "Those can be presented as evidence of motive," the judge said. However, Everett said he was leaning toward excluding a statement that Donna Adelson made shortly after the bump that she thought Dan Markel was "haunting (her) from the grave." He indicated he would rule on that and other evidence the defense is seeking to keep out later. Everett also ruled against a defense request to use a questionnaire during jury selection to see whether potential jurors have knowledge or opinions about the case. Kathryn Meyers, co-counsel for the defense, said she was "very concerned" that intense media coverage "may have provisioned the jury pool." Everett said the court would conduct individual jury selection instead. In other developments, a hearing on a state motion to hold Charlie Adelsons parents, Donna and Harvey Adelson, in contempt of court was rescheduled for Thursday. Prosecutors last week said the couple failed to comply with an investigative subpoena to appear for an interview. Donna and Harvey Adelsons lawyer, Marissel Descalzo of Miami, signaled in court filings that they would assert their 5th Amendment rights at any interview. Descalzo, in a subsequent motion, said that the interview had been rescheduled for Oct. 17 in case the court compels their testimony. The trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 23. The Tallahassee Democrat will livestream the trial on its YouTube and Facebook pages. Contact Jeff Burlew at jburlew@tallahassee.com or 850-599-2180. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Dan Markel murder: Judge allows Dolce Vita recording in Charlie Adelson trial Brooks Houck's $10 million bond will remain after Nelson County Circuit Court Judge Nelson Simms III denied a request to reduce it. Houck is charged with murder "by intentionally or under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life wantonly causing the death of Crystal Rogers," along with tampering with physical evidence. Houck has pleaded not guilty. In denying the bond motion, Simms' order on Monday cited the need to "adequately protect cooperating witness(es) and other individuals associated with this case." "The Court is gravely concerned for the safety of any such witness(es) and any other individuals connected to this case," the order stated. A composite of images from the arraignment of Brooks Houck in Nelson County Circuit Court the investigation into the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Houck appeared via video in the arraignment. During a hearing last week, prosecutor Shane Young said Houck had family members record secret grand jury proceedings in 2015. Young also said investigators had recovered a gun sold by Houck's brother under an assumed name that could be a match with the weapon in the killing of Rogers' father, Tommy Ballard. Ballard was killed 16 months after Rogers' disappearance as he prepared for a hunting trip with his 12-year-old grandson on family property next to Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown. An unknown person fired one shot and hit Ballard in the chest, instantly killing him, according to the FBI. Young noted that Ballard's death is still under investigation. No one has been charged in his death. Hardin County Prosecutor Shane Young argued for the bond to stay the same on Brooks Houck. Oct 5, 2023 Houck was Rogers' boyfriend around the time she went missing from Bardstown in 2015. He previously told officers he'd last seen Rogers alive when they visited his family's farm the night before she disappeared. Rogers, 35, was a mother to five children who is presumed dead though her body has never been recovered. Houck is the father of her youngest child. Houck was arrested at a job site by the FBI in September. In October 2015, then-Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly named Houck as "the sole suspect in her disappearance," as reported by the Nelson County Gazette. The investigation was initially handled by the Nelson County Sheriffs Office and Kentucky State Police before the FBI took over the lead investigative role in 2020. In his motion to have Houck's bond reduced, attorney Butler had argued $10 million is "excessive, punitive, and serves no purpose other than to punish Mr. Houck by keeping him incarcerated while this matter is pending." If Houck were to continue to be incarcerated until a jury reaches a verdict in the case, Brian Butler said Houck's business will likely fail and his absence will maximize trauma to his son. It would also hinder Houck's ability to assist his legal counsel in his defense, he said. Houck's next court appearance is slated for Feb. 8 in a pre-trial conference. No trial date has been set. Reach reporter Rachel Smith at rksmith@courierjournal.com or @RachelSmithNews on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Crystal Rogers case: Brooks Houck's bond reduction request denied WOODLAND PARK, N.J. In a case that could have momentous consequences for the states 674 school districts, a superior court judge ruled that the state of New Jersey has systematically failed to address the problem of racial segregation that exists in its public schools. Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy agreed with plaintiff 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 that the next step is for the case to go to trial or into settlement decisions. The "pre-trial" 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. The plaintiffs noted 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. How to teach about climate change? Education in many US schools is lacking, students claim Path forward on a remedy Latino Action Network welcomed the much-anticipated ruling in the case, which it had brought in 2018 against the state, along with some children and parents from Paterson, Newark, Elizabeth, Hoboken and other urban districts, as well as the NAACP, Latino Coalition, the United Methodist Church of Greater New Jersey, 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 that 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. A spokesperson for the Office of the State Attorney General, 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 Brown v. Board of Education, (a 1954 court case that began the process of ending segregation in schools), no court at any levelhas concluded that an entire states educational system is unconstitutionally segregated, Judge 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 that 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." But he did not throw the case out as requested by the state, saying that 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 that 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 socio-economic segregation, which refers to unequal treatment of students resulting from living in a high-poverty district compared to 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 socio-economic 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 was "inevitable," the ruling said. In its argument, the state tried to show that the number of white students enrolled in schools was decreasing and would 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 LAN and the other plaintiffs could not prove that any constitutional violation had occurred and "that 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 had 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 LAN said that 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 School 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: New Jersey has failed to address persistent segregation in schools A South Carolina lawmaker says hell block the election of any judges in the state as long as drug traffickers attorneys are allowed to pick judges. State Sen. Wes Climer, R-York, has vowed to filibuster judicial elections during the 2024 legislative session until the makeup of the state Judicial Merit Selection Commission changes, namely the removal of state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland. As long as theres a system that allows drug traffickers attorneys to pick our judges, we will not have judicial elections, Climer said, referring to Rutherford, a member of the body responsible for determining whether judges are qualified to serve. Climer cited several cases where Rutherford, an attorney, represented criminal defendants who were convicted of drug trafficking, including one in which a man was sentenced more than 20 years in prison for conspiracy to possess 500 grams or more of cocaine, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and a quantity of heroin. Rutherford dismissed Climers assertion that hes unfit to serve on the JMSC based on his clientele and argued that, as a criminal defense lawyer, its his job to represent criminal defendants and that everyone, regardless of the crime, is entitled to adequate legal representation. What you have is a system by which there are people with a gripe and they are trying to air that gripe against individuals on JMSC, which I am one, to say that we have to change the entire system, even though they cant point to a single problem, Rutherford said. Climers vow to filibuster is the latest move in a brewing judicial storm, as state officials call for major reforms to the way judges are selected in the state, with numerous leaders saying the current system lacks transparency and fairness. State Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a Richland County Democrat who has proposed a bill that, among other things, would disqualify a legislators close relative from seeking a judgeship, said the problem with judicial selection in South Carolina is the publics perception of a small number of people improperly wielding significant influence over the way judges are selected. The past two Judiciary committee chairmens wives are now circuit judges, Harpootlian said. Thats not to say theyre not qualified, but when the public see something like that, they question the integrity of the process. And theres a perception that a very small group of very powerful lawyer-legislators are picking the judges and they have undue influence on those judges. Its a sentiment echoed by S.C. House Speaker Murrell Smith , R-Sumter, who recently announced the formation of a judicial reform study committee, asking certain members to thoroughly review how the state can improve its judicial selection process. It is a process we must ensure is carried out in the best way possible so that the public can have confidence that its judges are fair, and that the selection process reflects the best judgment of the people, Smith said in a letter to committee members. In South Carolina, candidates for judicial office must first apply to the Judicial Merit Selection Commission. Following a review of a candidates background, the commission then forwards a report to the General Assembly, detailing whether the candidate is fit to serve. Legislators then decide which candidate theyll recommend to Gov. Henry McMaster for appointment. Other changes included in Harpootlians proposal would eliminate the current narrowing of nominees to three, allowing for a larger pool of candidates for any judicial seat to be considered by the General Assembly. It would also require that all comments and complaints against a candidate would be made public rather than the anonymous process used now. While the issue of judicial reform has been long debated with, some say, little to no progress this time reform looks promising considering, in part, that Climer isnt alone in his pledge to block all judicial nominations until reforms are made. With the exception of S.C. Supreme Court Justice John Kittridge, whos slated to become the courts next chief justice, state Sens. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg and Harpootlian say theyll support Climer in a filibuster. And while state Sen. Michael Johnson, R-York, wouldnt say whether hed do the same, he said he supports Climers efforts to highlight judicial reform and the need to make changes to our current system. I can tell you just from talking with people that there are very few people who truly believe that we dont need to make any changes to the system, Johnson said. Now, theres a host of how far those changes should go, but I think that we have to reform the JMSC. Johnson said he also has filed a judicial reform bill that would prohibit any legislator from serving on the JMSC, lawyer or otherwise. Still, Rutherford maintains that until one of his colleagues points to a problem with the current judicial selection process, hes opposed to any type of reform. Show me the judge that has been indicted, show me the judge has been taking bribes, Rutherford said. You look around the country at all the other states that have problems with judges that are being indicted and charged with crimes and removed from the bench. We dont have that problem here in South Carolina. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has released its upland game bird hunting forecast for 2023. The forecast is available online and will soon be in printed form, according to a news release. The forecast is compiled from data collected during spring calling surveys for pheasants, quail, and prairie chickens, as well as late-summer roadside surveys for pheasants and quail. You can find the forecast at ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/Upland-Birds and at most KDWP offices. Heres an overview: Quail Kansas continues to support above-average quail populations with spring densities similar to last year, including significant increases in portions of the western regions of the state this spring. Rains through much of the nesting season greatly improved habitat conditions across the state, the release said. Harvest will again be among the highest in the country, according to the release. The best opportunities will be in the central regions of the state into the Flint Hills. Pheasants Intense drought conditions throughout 2022 reduced pheasant populations and the available nesting cover for 2023. The western third of the state saw some areas of improvement but remain low after sharp declines in 2022. The north-central Smoky Hills region remained good last year in spite of the drought but dropped to levels similar to the remaining pheasant regions. While hunting opportunities still exist where habitat was maintained, hunters will find challenging conditions and should be prepared to work for birds. Prairie chickens Greater prairie chickens are found primarily in the tallgrass and mixed-grass prairies that occur in the eastern third and northern half of the state. Greater prairie chickens have recently expanded in numbers and range in the northwestern portion of the state while declining in the eastern regions. Hunting opportunities will be best in the Smoky Hills regions this fall where populations have been stable and public access is more abundant. The Southwest Prairie Chicken Unit, where lesser prairie chickens are found, will remain closed to hunting this year. Pheasant, quail and greater prairie chicken seasons run through Jan. 31, 2024, in Kansas. Sign up for our new free hunting newsletter Join Eagle reporters and avid bowhunters Chance Swaim and Michael Stavola as they hunt in Kansas, beginning with the white-tailed deer season. Sign up to receive Open Season by email here. When it comes to voting rights, Michiganders like to take matters into their own hands. As Republicans in the state peddled election conspiracy theories last year, voters and advocacy groups gathered more than a half-million signatures, proposed a constitutional amendment to expand voting access on the ballot and passed it with 62% support. Early voting, a permanent absentee voting list and other rights became part of the state constitution overnight, a seismic shift applauded by advocates and Democrats. But now, local election officials have to do the hard work of making these changes a reality in a presidential election year, no less. County, city and township clerks across the state are scrambling to make the necessary preparations for early voting, which will require them to deploy new poll workers, new processes and new software they havent yet seen. And while officials said they were mostly confident that they would be able to make the changes, they're acutely aware they're being forced to do so in a political environment and a state where even routine election administration is at times misconstrued as fraud. Its been a real struggle, because we dont have the software developed, we dont have the people developed, and you are being thrown into a situation where this nine days of early voting has not been tested before, said Anthony Forlini, a Republican clerk for Macomb County, which is part of the northern Metro Detroit area. To test-drive this system for the 2024 election it keeps me up at night. Its a pretty steep learning curve, said Chris Swope, the Democratic clerk in Michigans capital city, Lansing. Im confident well get there, its just right now it feels like theres more questions than answers. The 2022 constitutional amendment included the right to nine days of early voting and to be placed on a permanent absentee voting list, receiving ballots at home for every election. It also said voters could use photo ID or sign an affidavit to vote, and must be given access to drop boxes, paid ballot postage and ballot tracking. Implementation legislation followed this summer, with the state putting aside approximately $46 million to make election changes. The amendment was pushed by a coalition of groups and individuals known as Promote the Vote, which had successfully written no-excuse mail voting and same-day voter registration into the constitution in 2018. Lisa Posthumus Lyons, a Republican clerk for Kent County, which includes part of Grand Rapids, said that she and her fellow clerks were "really just now finalizing and being able to implement" the changes from 2018, let alone the new ones from 2022. Its just been for election administrators so much change to implement, she said. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, said her office was doubling staff to help support clerks, helping to recruit poll workers, and working with clerks to make sure they have enough funding to make the changes. They're also readying grants and educational materials, she added. "I have every confidence that they'll be ready to meet the moment in 2024," she said. Thousands of clerks and untested software Rolling out new election rules is often challenging, but it's especially so in Michigan. Michigan is the largest state that administers its elections at the local level, with 1,240 township clerks, 280 city clerks and 83 county clerks running the state's democracy. Those officials expect to tap thousands of poll workers many of whom will be new recruits to cover the nine days of early voting. Michael Siegrist, the Democratic clerk for Canton Township, said the state's decentralized election a hyper local, "Norman Rockwell-style form of voting" makes this system overhaul tough. "Most election officials in Michigan are either part time or there's one full-time employee in their office, and now they're having to orchestrate a very, very complex system," he said. "It's a challenge." The Democratic-led Legislature changed a significant amount of the election code to enact the amendment, Siegrist added, and the state's election manuals all need to be rewritten. "We have to get every single different entity that works in elections on the same page, said Kathleen Zanotti, the Democratic county clerk for Bay County. "I have to retrain my board of canvassers, I have to retrain my election inspectors, I have to recruit new election inspectors, I have to learn the material myself, and then our local clerks will have to learn it too. There's a lot of different people involved in the process who have to learn an entirely new thing." The state is in the process of developing software for online poll books needed for early voting, but it's not yet done. Some clerks urged the state to buy software thats been tested and vetted in the field in other states. According to Angela Benander, a spokesperson for Benson, the state was forced to develop its own software due to the existing election code. State lawmakers passed legislation that will allow them to buy software in the future, but it wont go into effect until 90 days after the Legislature adjourns which could be after the primaries. That's little comfort to clerks. Deploying new software in a major election is crazy Forlini said. I think its absolutely ludicrous. "I'm a little nervous," Siegrist added. A handful of areas, including the city of Lansing, plan to offer early voting this November, but the state hasnt yet delivered the software, Swope said. He scheduled his poll worker training later than usual in hope of having time to learn the software before he has to teach it to them. I hope it works, he said of the program. The Legislature gave clerks options on how they implement early voting; cities and towns can run their own early voting, or team up with other areas to do so. Counties can run their own early voting, as well. Still, some clerks said they fear that voters won't embrace the change. Were real rural, so this nine days of early voting is going to be kind of a challenge for us, said Carol Bronzyk, the county clerk in Dickinson County, a county on the border of Wisconsin with approximately 25,000 residents. Dickinson plans to offer one early voting site for the county, and all told, the changes will cost taxpayers approximately $60,000, Bronzyk said. Are we going to be spending all this money for five voters? she wondered. 'The voters have spoken' Citizen ballot initiatives empower voters to force policy changes by sidestepping the state Legislature. At the time of the latest amendment, the Michigan Legislature was Republican-controlled and interested in restricting not expanding voting access. But in interviews, clerks said they felt the ballot measure process sidestepped their expertise, too. Posthumus Lyons, a former state legislator, said she publicly opposed the ballot measure but didnt feel like her voice could compete with a statewide campaign directed at voters and advocating for its passage. In the Legislature, she said, its easier for election officials to be heard. In a committee hearing, theres undivided attention, theres people who its their job to focus on these policies and this feedback and their input, she said. Khalilah Spencer, president of Promote the Vote, said pro-voter clerks were among those consulted when crafting the constitutional amendment. Its going to take an effort to move to systems that work and are efficient, but I dont know if I would even call it bumpy as of yet because we have elections this year that will show us what changes need to be made in terms of statutes and legislation, she said. People are resistant to change, but the voters have spoken. She said that the amendment was necessary to enshrine certain rights so that they could not be changed by the state Legislature. Clerks have had more than a year to prepare for the election changes, she added. State Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Democrat and chair of the Michigan Senate Elections Committee, said the Republican-controlled Legislature in past years refused to embrace such voting rights expansions, leaving advocates without legislative options. Democrats took control of the Legislature this year, after a citizens redistricting committee, created by a 2018 constitutional amendment, drew new redistricting line in 2021. Moss said lawmakers spent months working with clerks and others to write implementing legislation for the 2022 constitutional amendment. They hosted two months of weekly Zoom meetings, where they went over the legislation line by line. But since the constitutional changes went into immediate effect, the legislation was unable to offer the one change many election officials said they wanted: more time. "The off year the odd-numbered years those are the years where we like to think outside the box," said Justin Roebuck, the Republican clerk for Ottawa County, which is near Grand Rapids. "We're finding ourselves facing unique challenges in the sense that this is a watershed moment in our election process that we have to have up and ready and running in a very big year already." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , center, walks back to his seat after speaking privately with defense attorney Dan Cogdell before starting the ninth day of his impeachment trial in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Austin. Credit: Sam Owens/Pool via San Antonio Express-News Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Monday he plans to file criminal complaints against the group of state representatives who led the impeachment against him for releasing his personal information. The impeachment managers clearly have a desire to threaten me with harm when they released this information last week, he said in a statement. I'm imploring their local prosecutors in each individual district to investigate the criminal offenses that have been committed. The 12 House representatives being targeted by Paxton led the impeachment trial in the Senate after the House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Paxton in May. Last month the Senate acquitted Paxton of 16 articles of impeachment that alleged corruption and bribery. In a statement Monday, Paxton accused the House impeachment managers of violating a new state law with an Oct. 2 release of documents related to the case. The new legislation cited by Paxton prohibits posting an individuals personal information such as a home address or telephone number with the intent to cause harm to that individual or their family. Paxton said he plans to file the criminal complaints in each of the counties represented by the dozen impeachment managers. It is not clear which address is in question. Several of Paxton's addresses are available through already-published public records, often found online from any location through local municipalities' appraisal district databases. House lawyer Rusty Hardin, who prosecuted Paxton, said Monday that the documents released last week contained the same information that was included in other documents that had already been filed or were admitted into the impeachment trial without objection. He also said that the information about Paxton's residence is available through public records, and has been for years. Further, he said the release of documents was not conducted with an intent to cause harm to Paxton as he alleged it was "simply a repeat of public information to anyone that wants to look into it." If Paxton makes good on his pledge to file the criminal complaints, Hardin said his Houston law firm will consider countering with a criminal complaint against Paxton for making a false report to police. "This is the exact kind of bullying, uninformed vengeful act that we predicted if the attorney general was not impeached," Hardin said. "He's trying to misuse the criminal justice system to cower and punish people who sought to impeach him under the law. It's just one more outrageous, vengeful act by a man who has no business being attorney general." House impeachment manager Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, said in a statement that Paxton's attack was a form of retaliation against people he deems his enemies. He suggested Paxton should "stop trying to harass legislators" and instead focus on the attorney general's office. Growing up on a ranch, I was taught to keep the manure on the outside of my boots. Mr. Paxtons baseless threats about filing criminal complaints are horse manure, and they are filling his boots full," he said. District attorneys or their representatives in three counties home to impeachment managers Brazoria, Harris and Tarrant said they had not received any such complaints as of Monday afternoon from Paxton. A spokesperson for the attorney general's office did not immediately respond to an inquiry seeking clarification. Neither did the other district attorney's offices who are home to other impeachment managers. Paxton's threat of criminal prosecution against the impeachment managers may still cause alarm. "I have no position one way or another on the impeachment itself, but it was presumably conducted in accordance with Texas law," said David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, a nonprofit committed to freedom of speech. "It raises serious questions of abuse of power and improper retaliation from the attorney general to turn around and try to prosecute the people who prosecuted the impeachment." Members of the Kennedy family are denouncing 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s decision on Monday to abandon his Democratic campaign and instead run as an independent candidate. The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third-party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country, read a statement signed by four of Kennedys siblings former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (D), former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II (D-Mass.), Rory Kennedy and Kerry Kennedy . Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Todays announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country, the statement continued. RFK Jr. announced Monday his decision to abandon his Democratic primary challenge to President Biden and enter the general election. A recent poll showed in a hypothetical three-way race between Biden, former President Trump and Kennedy, he would get 14 percent of the vote, Biden would get 31 percent of the vote and Trump would get 33 percent. In a hypothetical two-way race between Trump and Biden, 35 percent would support each candidate. Another 11 percent would support some other candidate, according to the same poll. Kennedys campaign has focused much of its criticism on the wealth disparity in the country, advocating for livable wages and a system that works for the poor. He also, however, has emerged as a prominent skeptic of vaccines and has at times come under fire for antisemitic comments. Much of his family has challenged him publicly in the past and has made clear that they do not support his candidacy. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 09, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. Almost 500 people have died in Gaza after Israel launched sustained retaliatory air strikes after Saturday's attack by Hamas. (Photo by Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty Images) KENOSHA, Wis. - The Archdiocese of Milwaukee says there are currently 33 people from two Kenosha Catholic parishes in the Middle East. This, as a war between Israel and Hamas unfolds. The archdiocese says the group, which includes two pastors, "are in the area on pilgrimages to the Holy Land." The pastors are Fr. Roman Stikel, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church and Fr. Carlos Florez of St. Marks Parish. Fr. Roman Stikel said Monday morning that the group made it out of Israel safely and that they were in Jordan. Archbishop Jerome Listecki is asking for prayers for an end to the violence in Israel. "Im asking all Catholics and people of goodwill to join me in praying for an end to the violence in Israel, for the souls of all those who have been killed, and for their families. We are also praying for the safe return of those who are in the area on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, including some from Archdiocese of Milwaukee parishes," said Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The Israeli government promised Monday to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack killed more than 700 people in Israel. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News The Associated Press Contributed to this report. The highest court in Kenya has blocked the deployment of security forces to Haiti to help the volatile Caribbean nation disarm dangerous gangs, issuing a temporary halt until it can hear an objection that the mission is unconstitutional. Mondays decision by the tribunal, the equivalent of the countrys supreme court, prevents Kenya from deploying any of its police or military to Haiti until Oct. 24 to give the court time to look at a petition filed by Ekuru Aukot, a former presidential candidate and expert on Kenyas constitution. Aukot claims the decision by President William Ruto to come to Haitis aide violates Kenyas constitution. Aukot posted the courts decision on social media. In a tweet on X, the former Twitter, Aukot said: We must protect our constitution. We cannot allow to be used and abused by whatever foreign powers. The United States, which supports Kenyas deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti, had hoped for a smoother transition between last weeks U.N. Security Council vote authorizing the mission and its actual arrival in Haiti. Though reluctant to discuss the politics in Kenya, the U.S. State Department routinely noted that Rutos party controlled his countrys parliament. Security Council meeting Maintenance of international peace and security Vote UN Photo/Kim Haughton Ruto has always said that Kenyas leadership of the mission was contingent on several factors: an assessment of the crisis by his security experts; that at least 2,000 personnel are ready to be deployed by different countries; that the U.N. Security Council approve the mission, and that Kenya lawmakers green light the effort. All but one has already taken place. Since last week, opposition lawmakers in Kenya have questioned why the plan was not brought before them before the U.N. resolution authorizing it. Lawmakers have also said given the security needs in Kenya and in the region, the country cannot afford to send security forces to another country. The U.S. has pledged $200 million to fund the mission, which will also be paid with voluntary contributions. Although the mission has received U.N. approval, it is not technically a U.N. deployment. That approach has provoked debate in Kenya. Ruto has not said when the forces would be deployed. However, former Foreign Minister Alfred Mutua, who lost his job last week in a cabinet reshuffle, had said they could arrive in Haiti by January if not sooner. Supporters of a mission to Haiti point out that the situation in the Caribbean nation remains critical. On Sunday, 15 armed men, some dressed as police special forces, invaded a church during a service in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood in an attempt to kidnap its pastor. At least one person was kidnapped, the Rev. Julio Volcy told the Miami Herald. More than 2,500 people have died so far this year at the hands of gangs, according to the U.N., and at least 970 Haitians have been kidnapped. Thousands of others have been forced from their homes by gangs that have emptied out entire neighborhoods. A Key West woman was killed in a boat crash in the Lower Florida Keys, according to state fish and wildlife police investigating the accident. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the woman as 46-year-old Misty Dawn Wildmon. Wildmon was among seven people on board a 22-foot center console boat that struck a channel marker Friday while on the way back to a marina on Stock Island, according to police. She was ejected from the boat when the boat hit the marker. The woman was removed from the water and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead, police said. Fish and wildlife police did not provide details of the crash, including what time it happened, if anyone else was injured and whether investigators believe alcohol was a contributing factor. According to a GoFundMe page set up for Wildmons family, she is survived by three children and a grandchild. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey launched her campaign for reelection Oct. 8. The Republican from Knoxville seeks to hold onto the seat she's been in since 2011. In three previous elections, Massey hasn't had a primary challenger and has won the general by a large margin. In 2016, she was unopposed in the general. "We all have different skill sets to help people," she told supporters. "I'm trying to use mine to make a difference for people in Tennessee." In the state Senate, Massey serves on the Health and Welfare Committee and chairs the Transportation and Safety Committee. She's received legislative awards from the Rural Health Association, TN Primary Care Association, Tennessee Disability Coalition, the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and more. David Morgan came out to support Massey after working with her through his think tank, the Reason Foundation. "I feel really fortunate because she's a pragmatist, she's solutions-oriented," he said. "Any time you're able to work with public policy makers who ... look at issues from a standpoint of 'what's possible, what's practical,' (that's what I) see in Sen. Massey." David Morgan in attendance at Sen. Becky Duncan's Massey announcement to run for reelection on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Lakeshore Park. There was no shortage of elected officials attending her announcement event in support of Massey. State Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville, Municipal Judge John Rosson, Knox County Clerk Sherry Witt, state Rep. Justin Lafferty, R-Knoxville, Knox County District 5 Commissioner John Schoonmaker and more made the trip out to West Knoxville. "I've known Becky for a long time and she's always been supportive of county officials," Schoonmaker said. "You can sit down with her and explain whatever (the problem) is, and she'll listen to you." Massey reaffirmed that commitment to listen to constituents. "I promise (you that) you're not always going to agree with me ... but I promise you respect," she said. "You can always come and visit with me." Sen. Becky Duncan Massey on stage with granddaughter Bailey after announcing her run for reelection during an event on Sunday, October 8, 2023 at Lakeshore Park. Before she was elected to the Senate, Massey was the director of the Sertoma Center, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for people with disabilities to achieve their fullest potential through residential experiences, interactions, employment and job skills training, according to its website. Massey has a legacy of family involvement in politics. Her father, John Duncan, served as the mayor of Knoxville from 1959-1964, and was a U.S. congressman from 1964-1988. Her brother, John J. "Jimmy" Duncan, was a U.S. congressman from 1988-2019. For voters attending her announcement, that family legacy and familiarity made her an attractive candidate. "She's done a great job in the state senate, and we want to keep her there," voter Bob Griffitts said. Candidates have until noon April 4 to file qualifying documents ahead of the Aug. 1 primary election. Allie Feinberg covers politics for Knox News. She can be reached at allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com or on X: @alliefeinberg. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey seeks to keep representing Knoxville Dmitry Peskov , the spokesman for Russian president, said that the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine would "inevitably" decrease due to the Hamas attack on Israel, as "possibilities have their limits". Source: Russian BBC service Quote: "As for the jealous statements that started [to sound] from Kyiv, we have repeatedly said that the process of pumping the Kyiv regime with weapons from a factual, emotional, financial and technological point of view will enter a downward trend." Details: He is convinced that this will inevitably happen, as opportunities seem to have their limits, and money tends to run out. "New needs arise, emotional fatigue and justified questions about what exactly the money of foreign taxpayers is spent on are increasingly on the agenda," Peskov said. Previously: The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said that the Russian occupiers handed over to Hamas militants trophy weapons made in the US and EU that were captured during the fighting in Ukraine. The Defence Intelligence stated that Russia is preparing to discredit Ukraine in order to influence the attitude of its allies and the provision of Western weapons. Background: Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin believes Russia's presidential and parliamentary elections should be held on schedule irrespective of the "special military operation" in Ukraine, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted on Monday as saying. "We proceed from President ( Vladimir ) Putin's statement... (where he) emphasised the need to comply with all the requirements of democracy, the constitution and, accordingly, to hold these elections," Interfax news agency quoted Peskov as saying. Peskov was responding to comments by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, a close Putin ally who was quoted on Saturday as saying that Russia should either postpone the presidential election due to the war in Ukraine or allow only one candidate - Putin. Russia is scheduled to hold the next presidential election in 2024 and the next parliamentary election in 2026. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones) By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia condemned violence against both Jews and Palestinians in Israel and the Palestinian Territories on Monday, but criticised the United States for what it said was its destructive approach which had ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state. Israeli troops were battling Hamas gunmen on Monday, more than two days after the militants burst across the fence from Gaza on a deadly rampage. The army said it would soon go on the offensive after the biggest mobilisation in Israeli history. The Kremlin called for a return to peace and said it was "extremely concerned" that the violence could escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East. Russia, which has relationships with Arab countries, Iran and Hamas as well as with Israel, said the West had ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned the violence but said the West was shortsighted if it believed it could simply condemn attacks against Israel and then hope for an Israeli victory without solving the cause of instability - the Palestinian problem itself. "I cannot but fail to mention the destructive policy of the United States which thwarts collective efforts within the framework of the Quartet of international mediators," Lavrov told reporters after talks in Moscow with Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The United States, Lavrov said, had sought to "monopolise" dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis and move away from the creation of a Palestinian state in favour to talks about easing the social-economic problems of Palestinians. The Palestinians want a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital - all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. The Quartet, set up in 2002, consists of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia. Its mandate was to help mediate peace and support Palestinians in preparation for eventual statehood. Israel said on Monday it had called up 300,000 reservists and warned residents of parts of Gaza to leave, signs it could be planning a ground assault to defeat Hamas. "This situation is potentially fraught with the danger of spillover, and therefore, of course, it is a subject of our special concern these days," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. At talks in Moscow, Aboul Gheit told Lavrov that he agreed about the need for the violence to stop but said such events would continue as long as the Palestinian problem remained unresolved. "We completely reject violence, but on both sides," said Aboul Gheit, who served as Egypts foreign minister during the final seven years of Hosni Mubaraks rule. "The Palestinian problem cannot be postponed any longer, and the U.N. decisions must be implemented." Russia's ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov said one "young man" who held both Russian and Israeli citizenships was killed in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict over the weekend, Russian media reported on Monday. (Editing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones; Editing by Angus MacSwan) The Kremlin's propaganda machine will likely use the situation in Israel to undermine the West's support for Ukraine: ISW Getty Images Russian propagandists are capitalizing on the Israel conflict, per the Institute for the Study of War. The ISW says Kremlin narratives are now targeting "western audiences" to undermine aid to Ukraine. These "information operations" aim to reduce Western support for the Ukraine war, per the ISW. The Institute for the Study of War says Russia's propaganda machine will likely use the conflict in Israel to erode the West's support for Ukraine. "The Kremlin is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks in Israel to advance several information operations intended to reduce US and Western support and attention to Ukraine," wrote the Washington-based think tank on Saturday. The ISW wrote in its report that after the Hamas attacks on Saturday, the Kremlin amplified information campaigns that accused the West of ignoring Middle East conflicts to support Ukraine. These campaigns also pushed the message that global attention in particular, resources from the West would shift from Ukraine to the Middle East. The institute cited examples like Russian TV host Sergey Mardan stating in his Telegram channel that the West "will take its mind off Ukraine for a while and get busy once again putting out the eternal fire in the Middle East." Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, also posted similar messages on X formerly Twitter on Saturday. Medvedev claimed that "instead of actively working at Palestinian-Israeli settlement," the US and its allies are once again trying to "incite conflicts all over the planet." "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," wrote the ISW. Ukraine was indeed left out of a stopgap funding measure passed by Congress on September 30, which averted a US government shutdown until mid November. The temporary suspension of aid to Ukraine came a week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited US lawmakers on Capitol Hill, asking for more US aid. Putin's war in Ukraine is fast approaching the 600 day mark. The Russian leader claimed on Friday that financial and military assistance from the West to Ukraine gets cut off, the country will be able to "live for only a week." Read the original article on Business Insider ALLEN COUNTY, Ky. (WKRN) An investigation is underway into an officer-involved shooting that left a man dead and a deputy injured in Allen County, according to Kentucky State Police (KSP). Officials said the KSP Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was asked to investigate the deputy-involved shooting, which took place at approximately 5:10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 on New Buck Creek Road in Allen County. 3 killed in fiery single-vehicle crash on I-24 in Davidson County KSP reported law enforcement officers were trying to find a person who was involved in a vehicle pursuit around 12:30 a.m. that day in Simpson County. The Allen County coroner pronounced a man dead at the scene of the shooting, authorities said. However, there is no word on his identity or the circumstances surrounding his death. According to KSP, a deputy from the Simpson County Sheriffs Office was brought to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but as of Sunday, Oct. 8, he is in stable condition. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the Commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSPs standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case. Kentucky State Police Police have not shared any additional details about the shooting or the pursuit that preceded it. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia's war against Ukraine is "existential for Europe," adding that Europeans "can't afford not to win along with Ukraine." "Europeans understand - it is about them too It will be the end of Europe if Ukraine loses," Kuleba told Forbes Ukraine in an interview published on Oct. 9. When asked how the European Union has reacted to the war dragging on longer than expected, Kuleba said that the narrative that currently prevails in the EU calls for supporting Ukraine as long as necessary for its victory. "This was voiced by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell , and by ministers," the official added. Read also: Opinion: Slovak election results threaten Europes united front Kuleba's statement comes amid reports that the EU was preparing to open membership talks with Ukraine, with a formal announcement expected as early as December. In the interview, Ukraine's Foreign Minister also spoke about the prospect of Kyiv-Moscow negotiations, saying that only the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine would mean that the Kremlin is ready for diplomacy. "But this will not mean Ukraine's automatic consent to negotiations. Russia has fooled us, the Europeans and the Americans too often to believe it from the first word or step," Kuleba told the Ukrainian media outlet. "Until Ukrainian border guards return to the last border post in the east of Ukraine or on the island of Tuzla, my message to those who dare to offer any territorial concessions is to not even think about it." Read also: Why Ukraine chooses to negotiate on the battlefield, not at peace talks Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Jeremy Hunt has accused Rachel Reeves of peddling fairy tale economics after Labours shadow chancellor set out her stall to voters in her conference speech. Ms Reeves used her address in Liverpool to insist she would stick to a set of strict fiscal rules, double down on her plan to impose VAT on private school fees and promise a new era of economic security. But Mr Hunt, the Chancellor, noted the speech did not include a single mention of inflation, which has been his and Rishi Sunaks top political priority as they aim to halve the rate of inflation to around 5.3 per cent by the end of the year. It is extraordinary that inflation wasnt mentioned once by Rachel Reeves when it is the biggest challenge facing the British economy, he said. Instead, Reeves made it clear Labour will increase borrowing by 28 billion every year which is a fairy tale for the British economy with no happy ending - just higher inflation, higher mortgages, higher debt and lower growth. Borrowing more doesnt solve problems, it creates them - the worst kind of short-termism when instead we should be taking long-term decisions that will actually tackle inflation and unleash growth. Earlier today, Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, formally endorsed Rachel Reeves to be the next chancellor. 07:04 PM BST That's all for today... Thank you for joining us on another busy at the Labour Partys annual conference in Liverpool. My colleague Jack Maidment will be back tomorrow to guide you through the penultimate day. 07:04 PM BST Wes Streeting: Labour would offer doctors pay they deserve Labour would offer doctors the pay they deserve to end the bitter workforce dispute, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has said. The politician said he was much more sympathetic to the demands of junior doctors - who are demanding increases of 35 per cent - than to those of better paid hospital consultants. In a series of fringe events at Labour conference, Mr Streeting was asked how a Labour government would respond to pay demands by the British Medical Association, with medics threatening to strike until the next general election and beyond. The Government has said the current award - of 8.8 per cent for junior doctors and 6 per cent for consultants - is a final offer. Mr Streeting has repeatedly refused to say what Labour would pay, insisting he will not get into shadow negotiations. However, sharing a fringe meeting with BMA consultants chairman Prof Phil Banfield, Mr Streeting on Monday said: I dont see a way to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the NHS, and in social care, which doesnt involve giving people the respect, the conditions and the pay they deserve. 06:10 PM BST Labour members rail against Starmer on HS2 Labour members have defied Sir Keir Starmer as they passed a motion which backs HS2 being built in full. The text urged the party to commit to completing the high-speed rail project to Manchester and Leeds, despite the northern leg of the project being cancelled by Rishi Sunak in favour of his new Network North project. The motion, which is non-binding and so will not change the partys position, said: Conference reaffirms the Labour Partys commitment to: a publicly owned railway; the delivery of infrastructure projects including HS2 in full in its original scope and Northern Powerhouse Rail; a rolling programme of electrification; making sure freight is part of the ongoing conversation about rail. 06:02 PM BST Shadow minister apologises over Palestine stall picture A shadow Labour minister has apologised after he was photographed posing at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign stall at the partys annual conference. Afzal Khan, the shadow exports minister, was pictured in front of a sign which read Justice for Palestine - End Apartheid Now in the wake of attacks by Hamas which left hundreds of Israeli civilians dead. Mr Khan wrote on X: I want to apologise for any offence caused by stopping by the PSC stall at this time. I unequivocally condemn the terrorist actions of Hamas and support Israels right to defend itself. 05:58 PM BST 'That he is a socialist supporter fits in with his Europhile and green propagandising' Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg has given short shrift to Mark Carneys endorsement of Rachel Reeves, writes Ben Riley-Smith, our Political Editor. Sir Jacob, the former Tory business secretary, told The Telegraph: This is no surprise, Carney was a highly partisan governor of the Bank of England who presided over a period of unsuccessful monetary policy that led to high inflation. That he is a socialist supporter fits in with his Europhile and green propagandising. 05:50 PM BST David Lammy: We stand by Israel's right to defend itself Important to travel back from Liverpool to Westminster this afternoon to attend the Vigil for Israel. We mourn the victims of Hamas appalling attack. We stand by Israels right to defend itself, rescue hostages and protect its citizens. pic.twitter.com/m9tmp6boW5 David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 9, 2023 05:49 PM BST Voters will have to change their habits in net zero push Kerry McCarthy, shadow minister for climate change, is telling the net zero event that increasing the capacity of the National Grid is necessary but is getting bogged down in planning disputes, writes Gordon Rayner, The Telegraphs Associate Editor. She says that grid connections for new car plants, particularly where solar or wind power is proposed, take years to be approved. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, makes a different point, saying people are going to have to change their habits when it comes to refuelling - or rather recharging - their cars in future, with people charging up while they go shopping or go for lunch at a country pub. But she says it costs 250,000 for a small country pub to install electric vehicle charging points and become a net zero carbon emitter, which shows how much will need to be spent to complete the electric vehicle revolution. 05:28 PM BST Labour sets out to show it stands with industry One of the most striking things about this Labour conference is the extent to which Labour frontbenchers are trying to show they are on the side of industry by taking part in joint events with business people, writes The Telegraphs associate editor Gordon Rayner. Having won the backing of the former Bank of England Mark Carney earlier in the day, Labour wants to ram home the idea that it is a party that wants to work with big business rather than punish big business, as Jeremy Corbyns Labour wanted to do. And one of the constant themes that comes up is a plea from businesses to give them planning permission for expansion and invest in infrastructure, even if it means paying more tax. Jonathan Brenton, director of public affairs for Pernod Ricard, is making this exact point at a fringe event organised by the New Statesman magazine titled: Reaching net zero: how can industry and government work together to realise its ambition? He wants a future government to provide cheap, clean energy to the whisky industry in Scotland and he says his firm is willing to pay their fair share of tax to achieve it. 05:27 PM BST Labour holds minute's silence for Israel dead The shadow cabinet have led Labours annual conference in a minute silence for the 10 Britons who have been killed in the onslaught by Hamas and more than 1,000 others who have since died in violence in the region. Shadow cabinet silence 05:09 PM BST Sunak's Q&A clashing with conference shows he is 'desperate', says Rachel Reeves Rachel Reevess spokesman has branded Rishi Sunak desperate after the Prime Minister broke with convention to hold his own question-and-answer session during Labour conference. Mr Sunak visited a Currys repair and customer service centre in Newark, Nottinghamshire this morningfor one of his PM Connect events in which he fields questions from business employees. Rachel Reeves was applauded by her fellow shadow cabinet ministers - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire However a spokesman for Ms Reeves, the shadow chancellor whose keynote speech was the main event at Labour conference today, accused the Prime Minister of playing politics. 04:49 PM BST Rishi Sunak: HS2 alternative will mean improvements 'sooner' I'm investing 36 billion into hundreds of transport projects in the North, Midlands, and across the country. For people like those here in Newark, it means you'll see local transport improvements starting sooner and finishing faster. pic.twitter.com/rtQ7hBkZnx Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 9, 2023 04:33 PM BST Nandy: UK should review Palestine aid Lisa Nandy has appeared to contradict a fellow Labour frontbencher Mr David by suggesting the UK should follow Europe in reviewing its current aid commitments to Palestine. Wayne David, the shadow Middle East minister, called on the Government to increase funding to the territory this morning as fighting continued to rage between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists. But Ms Nandy, the shadow international development minister, told a fringe event in the past hour: In light of current events, its right that the UK considers how British money is being spent, and whether that British money is being used appropriately or whether its being used to support acts of terrorism. 04:26 PM BST Hunt: Reeves ignoring inflation and offering 'fairy tale' solutions Jeremy Hunt has accused Rachel Reeves of peddling fairy tale economics after Labours shadow chancellor set out her stall to voters in her conference speech. Ms Reeves used her address in Liverpool to insist she would stick to a set of strict fiscal rules, double down on her plan to impose VAT on private school fees and promise a new era of economic security. But Mr Hunt, the Chancellor, noted the speech did not include a single mention of inflation, which has been his and Rishi Sunaks top political priority as they aim to halve the rate of inflation to around 5.3 per cent by the end of the year. Jeremy Hunt, pictured in Manchester last week, was highly critical of his opposite number's speech - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg It is extraordinary that inflation wasnt mentioned once by Rachel Reeves when it is the biggest challenge facing the British economy, he said. Instead, Reeves made it clear Labour will increase borrowing by 28 billion every year which is a fairy tale for the British economy with no happy ending - just higher inflation, higher mortgages, higher debt and lower growth. Borrowing more doesnt solve problems, it creates them - the worst kind of short-termism when instead we should be taking long-term decisions that will actually tackle inflation and unleash growth. 04:17 PM BST Good afternoon Dominic Penna here, The Telegraphs Political Correspondent, guiding you through the rest of today. Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, has formally endorsed Rachel Reeves to be the next chancellor. In a video message played immediately after Ms Reeves speech in Liverpool this afternoon, Mr Carney said: Rachel Reeves is a serious economist. She began her career at the Bank of England, so she understands the big picture. But, crucially she also understands the economics of work, of place and of family. It is beyond time to put her ideas and energy into action. The endorsement of Ms Reeves by Mr Carney, who served as the Banks governor from 2013 to 2020, will be viewed by the Labour Party as a major win as it seeks to persuade voters that it can be trusted more than the Tories on the economy. 04:04 PM BST Miliband tells Tories to 'bring it on' Ed Miliband struggled to confine himself to his shadow energy brief as he made his speech to the conference hall, delivering what sounded more like a leaders speech as he urged the Tories to bring it on!, writes associate editor Gordon Rayner. The former Labour leader told delegates: There is a mood for change in the air but a mood is not enough to guarantee victory...if these Tories want a fight about who can tackle the cost-of-living crisis, we say - bring it on. If these Tories want a fight about who can ensure energy independence for our country, we say - bring it on. If these Tories want a fight about who can stand up for working people, we say - bring it on. And if, after 13 years of failure and five prime ministers, these Tories dare to have a fight about who can really change Britain, we say bring it on! 03:48 PM BST Energy policy will be 'tool for economic justice', says Miliband A Labour government would use its energy policy as a tool for economic justice, Ed Miliband said this afternoon. The Labour frontbencher told activists in Liverpool: Under Labour I will tell you very plainly we will use our energy policy as a tool of economic justice. Why should only the wealthy have solar panels when they provide cheap clean energy and cut bills? So GB Energy will invest 1billion a year to develop local renewable power, owned by local people, thousands of projects across Britain, cutting bills, tackling fuel poverty and creating profits. Not for energy giants but for local communities. That is the new Britain we can build together. 03:38 PM BST Miliband accuses Tories of waging 'climate culture war' Ed Miliband accused the Tories of waging a climate culture war as he criticised Rishi Sunak for watering down some of the Governments net zero measures. The shadow climate change and net zero secretary said: The Tories climate culture war is not just anti-planet, it is anti-security, anti-prosperity, anti-worker, anti-business, anti-jobs, anti-future, anti-young people and it is anti-Britain and we are not going to let these Tories cancel our countrys future. 03:34 PM BST Ed Miliband: 'There is a spirit of change in the air' Ed Miliband is now addressing Labour conference in Liverpool. The shadow climate change and net zero secretary told activists: We meet here with confidence that there is a spirit of change in the air. We meet here with the conviction that we Labour are on the side of the British people once again and we meet here with the belief that we can bring the long dark night of Tory rule to an end. 03:21 PM BST 'Tectonic plates have shifted' in Scotland, says Anas Sarwar Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, said the political tectonic plates have shifted in Scotland after the partys success at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election last week. Addressing Labour activists in the main hall at conference in Liverpool, Mr Sarwar said: On Thursday night we made history. And we changed the face of Scottish politics. The tectonic plates have shifted because the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have spoken for all of Scotland and sent a message to two failing governments. They want an end to the incompetence, an end to the chaos, an end to the dividiason, an end to the politics which pitched community against community, pitched Scot against Scot, and puts the status quo before change. They voted for change and they voted for a party that will give Scotland its future back. 03:06 PM BST Labour vows to reinstate 2030 ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars Labour will reinstate the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars if it wins the next election, the shadow business secretary has said. Jonathan Reynolds said vehicle manufacturers want the earlier deadline and opposed Rishi Sunaks plan to delay it by five years. Last month the Prime Minister announced he was pushing back the plan by five years as part of a more pragmatic approach to net zero. You can read the full story here. 02:49 PM BST Labour poll lead over Tories narrows from 18 to 15 points Labours lead over the Tories has narrowed to 15 points, according to a new survey conducted by Deltapoll. The poll, conducted between October 5-6, put Labour on 43 per cent of the vote and the Tories on 28 per cent. Labour were down by one point and the Tories were up by two points when compared to the previous poll conducted between October 5-6. New Voting Intention Labour lead has narrowed to fifteen percentage points in the latest results from Deltapoll. Con 28% (+2) Lab 43% (-1) Lib Dem 12% (-) Other 17% (-1) Fieldwork: 5th-6th October 2023 Sample: 1,517 GB adults (Changes from 29th September-2nd October 2023) pic.twitter.com/glsDJUo1kY Deltapoll (@DeltapollUK) October 9, 2023 02:30 PM BST 'The biggest cause of inflation has been the Governments mishandling of the economy' A spokesman for Rachel Reeves said the Governments mishandling of the economy was the biggest cause of inflation in the UK after Jeremy Hunt criticised the shadow chancellor for failing to mention inflation during her speech today (see the post below at 13.26). The spokesman told reporters: She [Ms Reeves] spoke a lot in the speech about the current cost-of-living crisis, about how our food prices are going up, our mortgages have gone up, and so she is very aware of the cost-of-living crisis. She also spoke to the windfall tax that we would introduce on oil and gas giants, and it remains our position we think the Government should introduce a proper windfall tax and use that money to help people with the cost of living. He added: The biggest cause of inflation has been the Governments mishandling of the economy. I think weve got the highest inflation, that shows structural weaknesses in our economy. 02:24 PM BST Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and wife Victoria walk outside the conference centre in Liverpool Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria are pictured outside the conference centre in Liverpool today - Joel Goodman /Londom News Pictures Ltd 02:13 PM BST 'I worry well go backwards' Angela Rayner has praised quota measures like all-women shortlists as she argued working class people face unconscious bias in their daily lives, writes Dominic Penna. Speaking at a fringe event on the second full day of her partys annual conference in Liverpool, the deputy Labour leader revealed she had changed her mind about the use of positive discrimination measures. Ms Rayner said: I used to not be a fan of all-women shortlists. I thought I dont need to be a quota or a number but the fact is without them we wouldnt have got to where we got to. I certainly wouldnt have got to where I was without those hard targets. Making sure weve got the measures, making sure weve got the targets and making sure we deliver on them and hold ourselves to account for them is incredibly important. She added: The Labour Party has over 50 per cent females now in Parliament. Thats not a job done, I worry well go backwards. You have to continually challenge yourself and challenge society to do better. 02:03 PM BST Labour still committed to 28bn green plan despite absence from Reeves' speech Labour remains committed to its pledge to eventually spend 28 billion a year on green investment despite the figure not appearing in Rachel Reeves conference speech, a spokesman has said. Asked whether the absence of the 28 billion figure meant the plan had fallen down the list of Ms Reeves priorities, a spokesman for the shadow chancellor said: The programme of investment is still very much part of the package. He added: There is a comprehensive package, Ed Miliband will be talking later about the green investment programme too. 01:26 PM BST Hunt blasts Labour's 'fairy tale for the British economy' Jeremy Hunt said Labours spending plans amounted to a fair tale for the British economy with no happy ending as he responded to Rachel Reeves speech. The Chancellor said: It is extraordinary that inflation wasnt mentioned once by Rachel Reeves when it is the biggest challenge facing the British economy. Instead, Reeves made it clear Labour will increase borrowing by 28 billion every year which is a fairy tale for the British economy with no happy ending just higher inflation, higher mortgages, higher debt and lower growth. Borrowing more doesnt solve problems, it creates them the worst kind of short-termism when instead we should be taking long-term decisions that will actually tackle inflation and unleash growth. 01:20 PM BST Starmer hails 'incredible' speech by Reeves Incredible speech by Rachel. With her as Chancellor, Labour will bring growth back to Britain and make working people better off. https://t.co/rT7VzFzz2N Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 9, 2023 01:06 PM BST Shadow chancellor on taxes: 'I want them to be lower' One more thing from Rachel Reeves speech: The shadow chancellor said that she wanted to lower taxes on working people but did not give any detail on when it could happen or what could be cut. She told Labour activists in Liverpool: I didnt come into politics to raise taxes on working people. Indeed, I want them to be lower. But the Tories have piled twenty-five tax rises on the shoulders of working people and businesses, while allowing the wealthiest to avoid taxes, keeping loopholes open, and letting government waste spiral. Taxpayers money should be spent with the same care with which we spend our own money. 12:49 PM BST Mark Carney endorses Rachel Reeves to be next chancellor Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, has formally endorsed Rachel Reeves to be the next chancellor. In a video message played immediately after Ms Reeves speech, Mr Carney said: Rachel Reeves is a serious economist. She began her career at the Bank of England, so she understands the big picture. But, crucially she also understands the economics of work, of place and of family. It is beyond time to put her ideas and energy into action. 12:46 PM BST 'Labour will fight next election on the economy', says Reeves Rachel Reeves said a Labour government would make the next great strides towards ending the gender pay gap once and for all. The shadow chancellor said that we have changed this party so we may have the chance to change our country. Labour will fight this next election on the economy, she said. Concluding her speech, Ms Reeves said: We are here: Ready to serve. Ready to lead. And together, we can and we will rebuild Britain. 12:37 PM BST Labour would hike stamp duty surcharge on overseas buyers Turning to housing, Rachel Reeves announced that a Labour government would raise the stamp duty surcharge on overseas buyers. She said this was needed because a house should be first a home and not an asset. 12:33 PM BST Reeves accuses Tories of turning UK into 'sick man of Europe' on new infrastructure Rachel Reeves said that Labour will make the long term decisions and invest in British industry, driving down bills and creating new jobs. The shadow chancellor said that reviving growth will require getting Britain building again. She claimed that the single biggest obstacle to economic growth in the UK is the Conservative Party itself... just look at the fate of HS2... another promise broken. Ms Reeves said: With this Government it has become a pattern. When it comes to getting things built and projects delivered, Britain has become the sick man of Europe, with HS2 coming in at ten times the cost of the French equivalent. That is why our shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh will commission an independent expert inquiry into HS2 to learn the lessons for the future. Because many more major government capital projects are running over time, over budget and are in danger of going undelivered. It is incumbent on government to make sure major projects are delivered on time and on budget. I will not tolerate taxpayers money being treated with the disrespect we have seen over recent years. Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, addresses Labour conference in Liverpool today - Stefan Rousseau/PA 12:24 PM BST Reeves tells Sunak 'bring it on' over private school fees row Rachel Reeves said that she will impose VAT on private school fees in her first Budget as chancellor as she challenged Rishi Sunak to bring it on if he wanted a battle over aspiration. The shadow chancellor said: And conference, we will put that money into helping the 93 per cent of our children who are in our state schools. And I tell you, if Rishi Sunak wants a fight on this, if the party that has herded our children into portakabins while our school roofs crumble, wants a fight about who has the most aspiration for our children then I say: Bring it on. Ms Reeves said Labour is ready to serve, ready to lead and ready to rebuild Britain. 12:19 PM BST Labour government would not 'waver from iron clad fiscal rules' Rachel Reeves said a Labour government would not waver from iron clad fiscal rules. She said she would introduce a new rule to require all major government tax and spend decisions to be accompanied by an independent forecast from the Office for Budget responsibility. Never again will a prime minister or chancellor be allowed to rush through plans that are un-costed, un-scrutinised and wholly detached from economic reality, she said. 12:15 PM BST UK must make more things domestically to protect against global shocks, says Reeves The UK is now in a new age of insecurity and it is no longer enough for government, if it ever was, to turn a blind eye to where things are made or who is making them, Rachel Reeves said. The shadow chancellor said a new approach was needed, an approach which she dubbed securonomics. A key part of that will be ensuring that the UK makes more of the things it needs domestically, rather than importing them, so that we are less exposed to global shocks. 12:11 PM BST 'You can never trust the Tories with our economy ever again' Referring to last years mini-Budget, Rachel Reeves told Labour activists: That is why you can never trust the Tories with our economy ever again. The shadow chancellor said that Tory conference last week had demonstrated that the Conservatives are so ready for opposition that they are behaving like they are already there. She also said that Liz Truss might be out of Downing Street but she is still leading the Conservative Party. 12:08 PM BST Labour would usher in 'new era of economic security', says Reeves Rachel Reeves said Labour wanted to usher in a new era of economic security. The shadow chancellor said that families cannot dream big if they cannot sleep in peace at night. Ms Reeves said Labour would deliver stability, investment and economic security so that working people are better off. 12:06 PM BST Rachel Reeves vows to 'restore UK's economic credibility' Rachel Reeves is now on stage in Liverpool to deliver her speech setting out her vision for the UK economy. The shadow chancellor was given a standing ovation by Labour activists before she said a single word. Ms Reeves started her address by pledging that out of the wreckage of Tory misrule Labour will restore our economic credibility. She vowed to get Britain its future back. 11:46 AM BST Sunak denies visit to Red Wall during Labour conference is sign of 'desperation' Rishi Sunak has denied that he targeted a so-called Red Wall region during the Labour Party conference because he was worried about the Conservatives chances at the next election. The Prime Minister spent this morning visiting a Currys repair and customer service centre in Newark, Nottinghamshire, for one of his PM Connect events with business employees. Taking media questions during the event, Mr Sunak was asked by a reporter whether his decision to take the unusual step of making a public visit during the Labour conference was a sign of desperation. The Conservative Party leader rejected the suggestion. He said: No, I think that kind of approach to everything is incredibly political. Im here to talk about the plans that weve announced. Just over the past few weeks, weve announced some pretty big things that are going to impact all of you, whether that is on net zero, on HS2, on support for towns like Mansfield, like Newark. 11:27 AM BST Labour government will ensure 'everyone who can work, does' Labours top priority will be ensuring everyone who can work, does, the shadow work and pensions secretary said this morning. Speaking from the main stage of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Liz Kendall said: Our top priority will be ensuring everyone who can work, does. Because we believe the benefits of work go beyond a payslip and in the dignity and self-respect good work brings. She added: Our new deal for working people will cut poverty, increase wages and improve workers rights. And well make sweeping changes to job centres, so they dont just help people get work but get on in their work. This is our contract with the British people. Real opportunities matched by the responsibility to take them up. 11:15 AM BST Rachel Reeves to deliver conference speech at noon The main event on day two of Labour Party conference in Liverpool is Rachel Reeves speech. The shadow chancellor is due to set out her vision for the UK economy at noon. 11:10 AM BST Greg Hands claims Labour would take the 'easy way out' on borrowing Greg Hands, the chairman of the Conservative Party, claimed Labour would take the easy way out and increase borrowing as he responded to Rachel Reeves broadcast round this morning (see the post below at 08.09). He tweeted: Take it up and take us back to the same old failed politics. Only the Conservatives are committed to taking the immediate action to help families by halving inflation, growing the economy and reducing debt, and the long-term action needed to build a brighter future.#LPC23 Greg Hands (@GregHands) October 9, 2023 10:50 AM BST Starmer faces union revolt over future of HS2 Sir Keir Starmer is facing an HS2 revolt at Labour conference today as unions push for a commitment to build the high speed railway line in full. The Labour leader signalled last week that he would not revive the second phase of HS2 if he wins the next general election after Rishi Sunak scrapped the Birmingham to Manchester leg. But the Unite and Aslef unions are moving a motion at Labour conference this morning which calls on the partys leadership to reaffirm the pledge that HS2 must be built in full not only to Manchester but also the Eastern leg to Leeds as part of a publicly-run rail network. The result of the vote, expected at some point this afternoon, will not be binding on Sir Keir but should the motion be agreed it would pile the pressure on the Labour leader to reconsider his stance on the future of the infrastructure project. 10:36 AM BST Sunak defends decision to scrap northern leg of HS2 Rishi Sunak defended the decision to cut HS2 north of Birmingham as he took part in a a business event in Nottinghamshire this morning. The Prime Minister said: Were going to take every penny of that 36 billion and were going to spend it on transport across the country on bus, on road, on rail, on all the forms of transport that you use every day. Were going to deliver it far quicker so that you can see the benefits faster. Were going to see it across more parts of our country. I think that is the right thing to do for the long term. Again, not an easy decision. And, as you can see, people have criticised me for it, but Im always going to do what I think is right for all of you. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to a business in Nottinghamshire, before hosting a PM Connect event - Joe Giddens/PA 10:22 AM BST Rishi Sunak to chair Cobra meeting on Israel situation Rishi Sunak said this morning that he will hold a Cobra meeting later today on the situation in Israel. Speaking to businesses at an event in Nottinghamshire, the Prime Minister said: We already have a very longstanding relationship with Israel, were one of their strongest allies. Weve provided in the past the kinds of equipment that theyve used to defend themselves over the past couple of days. And as I said to the Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu], we will continue to provide whether thats diplomatic, intelligence or security support as they need. Im chairing a Cobra with my ministerial colleagues this afternoon, when well continue to discuss the situation, but were in close dialogue with our Israeli counterparts. 10:20 AM BST Government on a 'go slow' on rearming UK amid Ukraine war, claims shadow defence secretary John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, claimed the Government is on a go slow when it comes to replenishing the UKs arms stockpile amid the Ukraine war. He said a Labour government would accelerate the rearming process. Speaking on the main stage at Labour conference in Liverpool this morning, Mr Healey said: I am proud of the UK leadership on Ukraine. I want to be proud still in six months. But just when Britain should be accelerating support and rebuilding our stockpiles, the Government is on a go slow. It took 287 days after Putin invaded for ministers to sign a new contract for vital anti-tank weapons, 503 days for ministers to agree a new contract for ammunition, and still seven months after announcing 2billion to replenish stockpiles ministers have still not spent a single penny of this money or signed a single contract. So I can announce today Labour in government will accelerate this 2billion spend to rearm Britain, resupply Ukraine and boost British industry. John Healey, the shadow defence secretary, addresses Labour Party conference in Liverpool this morning - Christopher Furlong /Getty Images Europe 09:59 AM BST Labour would secure 'much better' Brexit deal with EU, says Lammy David Lammy said a Labour government would secure a much better Brexit deal with the EU than the one currently in place. The shadow foreign secretary told Labour conference in Liverpool this morning: With Labour there will be no return to the single market or the customs union. But Keir Starmer is committed to improving our relations with Europe, delivering Britain a much better deal than we have got and seeking a new security pact to keep our country safe. David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, is pictured addressing Labour conference in Liverpool this morning - Christopher Furlong /Getty Images Europe 09:44 AM BST Tories will 'go low' during general election, claims Starmer Sir Keir Starmer said he expected the Tories to go low at the next general election. He told a business forum this morning: In terms of how it will be run, I think it will unfortunately descend into a place which isnt about big politics. I think it will go low from the Governments point of view. My worry is, this is net zero, and there are other examples of this, that instead of making decisions in the long-term interest of the UK, the Government is in danger of making decisions in the short-term interest of opening up divides for the purpose of an election. When a government gets into that place, whatever political party it is, thats a bad place for the country. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, is pictured attending a business forum in Liverpool this morning - Leon Neal/Getty Images Europe 09:29 AM BST Starmer: Labour preparing for general election as soon as May Sir Keir Starmer has said he is primed for a general election as soon as May next year. Speaking to company bosses this morning at a business forum at the Labour conference in Liverpool, the party leader said: Im not going to predict the outcome of the general election, nor when it will be. Though obviously it will either be May or October, and our team is ready for May because I dont think anybody would rule out May. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, addresses a business forum event at conference in Liverpool this morning - Peter Byrne /PA 09:25 AM BST Starmer promises 'partnership' with business if Labour win election Sir Keir Starmer has told a gathering of company bosses in Liverpool this morning that if we do come into government, you will be coming into government with us as he stressed the need for a partnership with business. Discussing how to achieve growth at a business forum at the Labour Party conference, the party leader said: We are not going to suck it up into the centre, were not going to run it from Westminster and Whitehall, trying to run things through government. I dont think government can do your job better than you can, and I dont think we should try, I think thats a big mistake. Equally if the government just sits it out and says well we made our mission clear, the markets usually react, business knows what to do, we just sit back now, I dont think thats going to work because you dont have a driving sense of purpose. Therefore its got to be a partnership. Its got to be a partnership between business, between you and an incoming government. Therefore if we do come into government, you will be coming into government with us. 09:20 AM BST Labour would like lower taxes - but won't play 'fast and loose' with public finances Rachel Reeves said she would like to cut taxes for working people but she could not play fast and loose with the public finances. The shadow chancellor told ITVs Good Morning Britain programme: I dont want to see working people pay any more in taxes, the tax burden is already at a 70-year high. And thats why the number one mission of an incoming Labour government is to grow the economy, to have the highest sustained growth in the G7 with good jobs and rising productivity. She added: Im not going to make any un-costed and unfunded spending commitments. Ive said that well tax the non-doms properly, that we will put that money into our NHS. I would like taxes on working people to be lower but Im not going to play fast and loose with the public finances and make any promises that I wont be able to keep. 09:14 AM BST Labour government would face 'hard choices', says Reeves Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said her role as chancellor would involve discipline, determination and hard choices. Asked about suggestions the party is not being bold enough, she told BBC Breakfast: Im under no illusions about the scale of the task that I will face if I become chancellor of the exchequer next year. The public finances are in a dire state, growth is on the floor, public services are on their knees. It is going to require discipline, determination and hard choices. But they will be Labour choices based on our values. Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, is pictured this morning in Liverpool on the second day of Labour's annual conference - Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Europe 08:59 AM BST High level of national debt big constraint on Labour spending plans High levels of national debt are likely to be the big constraint on both Labour and Tory spending plans, according to Paul Johnson. The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank was asked if a Labour government could be in a position to borrow more than the Tories. He told the BBC: Well, the markets might well allow some more borrowing. One thing that the markets are really keen on is seeing a stable government. I think on both sides we have seen more stability in recent years. But they have also said, Labour have also said, they want debt to be falling over the period of the parliament. That is actually the big constraint here. Debt is not really on course to fall over the next five years or so. Thats what really tied Jeremy Hunts hands back in March and will probably tie his hands again in November. And if the Labour Party stick to that same rule, that will also tie their hands. 08:54 AM BST 'Very hard indeed' for Labour to improve public services without hiking taxes It would be very hard indeed for a Labour government to improve public services without putting up some taxes, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said. Paul Johnson told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that the medium term forecast for the public finances indicated that there will have to be extremely tight spending plans whichever party is in power. Asked if Labour could stick to its spending plans without hiking taxes, Mr Johnson said: I have to say I am not convinced that either a Labour or a Conservative government could do that. The most recent Budget red book suggests extremely tight spending plans after the next election, even though taxes are at a very high level. That is partly because we have got very high interest payments, partly because we have got very low growth, it is partly because we are spending a lot on pensions, the NHS and so on. And that old chestnut, cutting defence spending which we have done for decades, is no longer on the cards. So I think it is going to be tough for either party. But clearly ones presumption is that Labour is more inclined to want to do something to improve public services and possibly the welfare system and that is going to be very hard indeed, I think, without some tax rises, at least in the short run until and unless growth really does change. 08:41 AM BST Measures to boost economic growth can take 'awfully long time' to work, says IFS chief Action to boost economic growth does not have an immediate impact and it can take five to 10 years for results to be seen, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank has said as Rachel Reeves prepares to unveil Labours plan for the economy later today. Paul Johnson told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Growth is certainly something that we want and growth is certainly something that would help a lot and one or two of the things we have heard might help. So certainly liberalising planning policy would be one of many steps required. The problems are first that growth takes quite a long time to come through. Governments can do something but this is a five to 10 year programme, not something that happens over a year or two and secondly, of course, it is very uncertain. You can do all the right things and it can take an awfully long time with a great deal of uncertainty as to what actually happens in the end. 08:37 AM BST Pictured: Rachel Reeves takes part in media interviews on day two of Labour conference Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, is interviewed on day two of the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool - Adam Vaughan /Shutterstock 08:35 AM BST No place for Hamas sympathisers in Labour, suggests Reeves There is no place for Hamas sympathisers in the Labour Party, Rachel Reeves suggested this morning. The shadow chancellor was asked if it was the case that if people want to be a Labour member they have to say Hamas are terrorists and Israel has a right to defend itself. She told Times Radio: Well yes. Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel has a right to exist. Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens. I am one of the vice chairs of Labour Friends of Israel, I am deeply concerned by the scenes that we have seen over the last few days. Women and children, young babies, being kidnapped by terrorists. It is appalling and Israel has every right to protect itself in these circumstances. Ms Reeves was asked if people cheering the Palestinian cause at Labour conference in Liverpool were welcome in the party and she said: I have got no time for that. 08:11 AM BST Reeves: Labour government would inherit 'dire' economic situation Labour will inherit a dire economic situation if it wins the next general election, Rachel Reeves said this morning. The shadow chancellor was asked about Labours decision to rule out nationalising the UKs energy sector and she told Times Radio: We are not going to nationalise energy and let me tell you why, because when energy bills were at their peak, we looked at what impact it would have if you nationalised the industries. It would cost tens of billions of pounds and it wouldnt reduce the cost of the energy that is traded on international markets so we did not feel that was the right approach. At the time we said we wanted to have a windfall tax on the huge profits that were being generated and we would use that money to cut peoples bills. That was the right approach. Now, we have also committed to creating GB Energy, wholly owned by the taxpayer, to invest in the generation of new, low carbon industries but a wholesale nationalisation would cost tens of billions of pounds and would not reduce anyones bills by a penny. The economic inheritance that I will face if I become chancellor of the exchequer next year will be dire. We have got public services on their knees, growth on the floor and a huge cost of living crisis. I am going to ensure that we spend every pound of taxpayers money wisely. 08:09 AM BST Labour would borrow to invest, admits Rachel Reeves Rachel Reeves said a Labour government would be prepared to borrow money to invest in the UK economy as she prepares to deliver her keynote speech on the second day of the partys annual conference in Liverpool. However, the shadow chancellor said borrowing would only go ahead if overall levels of national debt were falling. She said she intended to stick to her fiscal rules with iron discipline, namely that Labour would pay for day-to-day expenditure using tax receipts and that we will get debt down as a share of our economy And then only subject to that will we invest in things that are going to grow our economy, she told Times Radio. Asked if Labours position was that it would only borrow if debt was falling, Ms Reeves said: We will only borrow if it is consistent with those fiscal rules which includes getting debt down as a share of our national economy. Asked the question again, Ms Reeves said: If the debt is coming down by the end of the parliament. That is the only circumstances. 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. I-77 north bound traffic slowly advances at a crawl during the 5:00 PM commute on Oct. 02,2014, photo taken from the Gilead Road bridge at exit 23 in Huntersville. (Observer file photo) Does Huntersvilles solution to traffic and growth woes lie in a $50 million measure on Novembers ballot, an already approved plan or money the town is generating from taxes? Huntersville mayoral candidates offered a series of solutions to fix two prominent issues in the northern Mecklenburg town thats boomed in population. In 2010, the population was 46,773, according to the Census. When that number topped 63,000 in the most recent Census numbers, it was a reflection of the new development and the car traffic that came with it. The traffic in the Lake Norman area has grown so frustrating that towns in the area debated or implemented moratoriums on development. As Huntersvilles population grows, a number of critical road projects, including a project to widen N.C. 73 from Huntersville to Denver, remain on hold by the N.C. Department of Transportation. Three people running to be Huntersvilles mayor and chief problem solver Christy Clark, Derek Partee and Dan Boone offered different solutions to solving traffic woes. Current Mayor Melinda Bales is not running for reelection instead seeking northern Mecklenburg Countys seat in the N.C. House. Using town money to boost state projects Boone, a current Huntersville Town Board member, told the Observer he would continue to use the towns fund balance to move up transportation projects on the Charlotte Regional Transportation Organization (CRTPO) list. The CRTPO is the federally designated metropolitan planning organization= in charge of road projects for the Charlotte area. The CRTPO Comprehensive Transportation Plan Report, released in 2020, includes more than 80 road projects for Huntersville, with estimated start dates between 2025 and 2045. To move their projects up the list, towns can use money from their fund balances, which act partially as a savings account, to contribute to road projects, resulting in lower costs for the state, but higher costs for taxpayers, Boone said. If you have a million-dollar project, to move the needle, you have to put in a minimum of 25%, or $250,000, Boone explained. But with $250,000, our project might jump ahead of something in Matthews, Pineville or Troutman to get our roads in better shape before somebody else has an opportunity to get their roads done. In June 2022, Huntersville reported a combined fund balance of just over $77 million, a 3.1% decrease from the previous year, according to the towns most recent yearly audit. Of that amount, the portion considered unassigned in the general fund was about $20.27 million. The audit for the most recent fiscal year, which ended in June of this year, hasnt been published. The decease was attributed to funding multiple transportation, public improvement, park and greenway projects, according to the report. While Boones plan involves using town taxpayer dollars to fund road projects, Partee and Clark pointed to a plan the town created in 2020 to manage growth. Controlling growth and development Partee, a current Huntersville Town board member, blamed Huntersvilles traffic issues on the tremendous uptick in development. Since 2020, city officials have approved more than 1,600 single-family homes and 1,200 multi-family units, according to the Huntersville Planning Deparments project map. Partee and Clark, who offered similar solutions, said Huntersville should control growth using its 2040 Community Plan, a blueprint on how to manage its growing population. According to the plan, Huntersvilles population is expected to increase by 74% between 2018 and 2040 to 106,567 people, impacting demand for housing and services. The plan includes 25 major road improvements that will require funding from the state, including: Widening N.C. 73 from N.C. 16 Business in Lincoln County to Beatties Ford Road Widening U.S. 21 from Gilead Road to Holly Point Drive Improvements to the intersection of Gilead Road and U.S. 21 Widening Poplar Tent Road from Derita Road to N.C. 73 Widening Gilead Road from McCoy Road to Wynfield Creek Parkway The 2040 plan is the guiding principle of our growth, not a mere suggestion, Partee said, adding that he would create a citizens architectural review committee to advise on how the design character can fit into the surrounding environment and be consistent with the 2040 plan. Clark, who served as a state representative for N.C. House District 98 in Huntersville from 2019-2020, said the plan gives direction as to how development should grow, and that the town government should follow closely to this plan in order to manage growth responsibly. Clark also said she supports the towns transportation bond, which would fund $50 million worth of road improvements. Both the transportation bond and the mayoral candidates will appear on ballots for the Nov. 7 general election. Early voting starts Oct. 19. Hi, friends! Its Tamia, happy Monday! Hey college students! Looking to take your career to the next level? The Charlotte Observer is now accepting applications for spring and summer 2024 internships. The application deadline is Nov. 3, 2023. To apply and for more information about internships at The Charlotte Observer, click here. I-77 north bound traffic slowly advances at a crawl during the 5:00 PM commute on Oct. 02,2014, photo taken from the Gilead Road bridge at exit 23 in Huntersville. You spend hours stuck in traffic. We asked candidates on Novembers ballot whether they have a solution. Three people running to be Huntersvilles mayor and chief problem solver Christy Clark, Derek Partee and Dan Boone offered different solutions to solving traffic woes. Current Mayor Melinda Bales is not running for reelection instead seeking northern Mecklenburg Countys seat in the N.C. House. Evan Moore has more on traffic solutions. Graffiti is faintly visible on the left and right panels of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., monument on Cabarrus Avenue in Concord, NC on Monday, October 9, 2023. Over the weekend the monument was vandalized. The Concord Police Department is currently investigating and city crews worked to restore the monument. Vandals spray painted the Martin Luther King Jr. monument in Concord this weekend. The citys Buildings and Grounds Department worked overnight to clean the spray paint, wrote Concords spokeswoman, Lindsay Manson. The city did not say what the vandals spray painted. Julia Coin has more on the monument. Carolina Panthers guard Chandler Zavala is tended to after being injured in the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) The Carolina Panthers lineman from N.C. State sustained a neck injury Sunday that caused him to lay motionless for several minutes on field in Detroit. Reich said it was to early to know how long Zavala would be out of action, but didnt rule out the possibility of Zavala playing as early as Sunday at Miami. Zavala wasnt immediately made available to reporters Monday afternoon. Scott Fowler shares more. Charlotte Hornets rookie forward/guard Brandon Miller lines up a jump shot during practice on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC. As Charlotte Hornets set to open preseason in Miami following training camp practice, unmistakable aura surrounding them thats hard to not notice. The Hornets hope they are at even better point following their four-game preseason schedule, which also includes a stop in Washington against the Wizards on Thursday before wrapping up with home dates against Oklahoma City and Boston. Roderick Boone has more. 5. Some more stories to read --- Thats it for now. Thanks for reading! If you dont already, subscribe to the Charlotte Observer here. If youre already a subscriber (thanks!), download our iOS or Android app to stay connected. Find more updates at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok to see more from us. Enjoy your day! Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can sign up here. Author card [Source] BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple constructed outside India in modern times, opened its doors on Sunday in Robbinsville, New Jersey. A sacred dedication: Devotees conducted a nine-day celebration commencing on Sept. 30 and culminating in the grand dedication ceremony on Oct. 8, under the guidance of Mahant Swami Maharaj . During the ceremony, Swami Maharaj conducted the "Pran Prathistha," a sacred ritual that sanctified the temple amid traditional ceremonies and rituals. The temple will be accessible to the public starting from Oct. 18. More from NextShark: 12-Year-Old Wins $25,000 Science Prize for Research on 'Imaginary Colors' Monument of spiritual significance: Ahead of the grand dedication ceremony, India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj led a delegation of ambassadors and UN representatives to the temple. During the event, Dilip Chauhan, deputy commissioner at the New York City Mayors Office for International Affairs, hailed the temple as a "dream come true" for devotees, volunteers and followers across the U.S. He highlighted that the temple serves as a cultural complex that unites communities and fosters diversity. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY, 6) emphasized the significance of the temple by dedicating Oct. 8 as "Akshardham Day" in New York City's 6th Congressional District. More from NextShark: Activists Call Out 'Virtually the Entire Apparel Industry' for Ties to Uyghur Forced Labor Camps in China Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the importance of the occasion, stating, "It is an occasion of profound spiritual significance for the vast legion of devotees worldwide." About the temple: The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, which sits on a vast 126-acre property, is part of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a global religious and civic organization affiliated with the Swaminarayan sect. The organization, approaching its 50th anniversary in North America, oversees a vast network of more than 1,200 temples and 3,850 centers across the globe. This temple marks the third Akshardham established by the organization, following those in New Delhi and Gujarat. A feat of architecture and artistry: The temple's construction, which took approximately 12 years, required over 12,500 skilled artisans and devoted volunteers to build and meticulously hand-carve about 2 million cubic feet of stone. Materials including four distinct types of marble from Italy and limestone from Bulgaria traveled over 8,000 miles from India to New Jersey. More from NextShark: USDA issues public health alert for canned Spam The Israeli government formally declared war against Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday following the groups surprise onslaught of attacks Saturday that have left hundreds of people dead and thousands more injured. In the 24 hours that followed Hamass unprecedented attacks early Saturday, both Israel and Gaza saw rising death tolls as Israeli forces attempted to fend off Hamas militants while launching a counteroffensive against Gaza. Hamass unprecedented offensive Saturday marked the largest attack on Israel in decades as militant forces invaded multiple Israeli towns by land, sea and air, while launching a barrage of rocket strikes out of Gaza. As the fighting rages on, heres the latest on what we know: The rising death toll As of Sunday afternoon, the death toll surpassed 1,100 individuals on both sides, with thousands more Israelis and Palestinians wounded. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, according to The Times of Israel, an Israeli media outlet, which cited officials. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said more than 2,150 Israelis have been injured so far. In Gaza, an estimated 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory in the wake of Israeli strikes, The Times of Israel reported Sunday afternoon, citing the Gaza Health Ministry. Another 2,300 were reportedly wounded by the strikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Around 260 bodies recovered from music festival near Gaza Hamas militants also gunned down or captured civilians along highways and at a techno musical festival in the desert near Gaza that attracted thousands of attendees, The Associated Press (AP) reported. The AP said around 260 bodies were recovered from that festival, with the number expected to rise. More than 130 captured in Gaza by Hamas, Islamic Jihad Hamas and Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad have also reportedly captured a total of more than 130 individuals, including Israeli soldiers and civilians. Mousa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, told Arabic language news outlet al-Ghad the militant group has captured more than 100 people, per the AP. This is in addition to the more than 30 people claimed to be held by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad, according to Reuters. In a statement shared by Reuters, Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala said the captives will not be repatriated till all our prisoners are released, in reference to thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Netanyahu warns of long war with Hamas Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to declare the state of Israel was at war with the Palestinian militants shortly after the multipronged attacks began Saturday morning, warning of a long and difficult war. Israel later launched airstrikes in Gaza as retaliation, with Netanyahu vowing to destroy the militant group and forcefully avenge the attacks. All of the places which Hamas is deployed, hiding and operating in, that wicked city, we will turn them into rubble, Netanyahu wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I say to the residents of Gaza: Leave now because we will operate forcefully everywhere. Fighting continued after nightfall Saturday and before daybreak Sunday, as militants fired more rockets from Gaza, according to The Associated Press. Israels military escalated retaliatory attacks against Palestinians, claiming to have hit an estimated 653 targets. Israels counteroffensives have prompted evacuations in at least five towns close to Gaza, the AP reported. Americans killed, taken as hostages The National Security Council (NSC) confirmed on Sunday several U.S. citizens were killed in the attacks, but did not provide a specific number. Earlier Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNNs State of the Union the agency has received reports that several Americans were killed and some were kidnapped. Blinken said the agency is working overtime to verify these reports. The NSC said there are American citizens that remain unaccounted for, adding it is closely monitoring information about the hostages taken by Hamas. Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday there are scores of hostages, noting American hostages are part of this number. He did not disclose a specific number. When asked about the death toll of Americans, the State Department directed The Hill to Blinkens comments made on Sundays news shows. U.S. government vows unwavering support to Israel President Biden quickly offered his unwavering support to Israel in the hours following Hamass attacks, telling Netanyahu the U.S. is prepared to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday confirmed a U.S. carrier strike group will be moved closer to Israel in response to the attacks. The Ford carrier strike group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford the U.S. Navys most advanced aircraft carrier as well as multiple missile cruisers and missile destroyers, will be moved closer to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster regional deterrence efforts, Austin said. The White House said Sunday Biden informed Netanyahu that additional assistance was on its way to the IDF and should arrive in the coming days. Biden also expressed his sympathy for the Israeli people, according to a readout from the White House, and committed to remaining in close contact with Netanyahu. The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday night, where the U.S. demanded all 15 members strongly condemn Hamass attacks, but the council did not take any immediate action, according to The AP. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood told reporters after the meeting that a good number of countries, but not all council members condemned the attack, per The AP. U.S. lawmakers forced to shelter in place while visiting Israel At least two U.S. lawmakers were forced to shelter in place Saturday when Hamas launched its attacks during their trips to Israel. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) and his family were visiting family Saturday when Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks. Goldman along with his wife and three kids sheltered in a stairwell inside of a hotel until early Sunday morning, when they departed for New York, according to his office. Separately, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also took refuge in a bomb shelter at his hotel 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. Booker recounted his experience Sunday, saying he and his staff are still shaken from the attacks. Updated at 10:16 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Heres a look at how Pennsylvanias members of Congress voted over the previous week. HOUSE FIRST CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS BILL: The House has rejected the Continuing Appropriations and Border Security Enhancement Act (H.R. 5525), sponsored by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla. The bill would have provided funding for the federal government through October, and required federal agencies to take various actions to improve immigration enforcement and border security, including resumption of construction of the wall at the border with Mexico. Donalds said: This is the time to secure the border of our nation and to cut wasteless spending in our government. An opponent, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., called the bill hardline, rightwing garbage that guts the heart and soul of our social safety net. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 198 yeas to 232 nays. YEAS: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick R-Bucks; Mike Kelly, R-Butler; Scott Perry, R-York; Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster; John Joyce, R-Blair; Guy Reschenthaler, R-Washington; Glenn Thompson, R-Howard; Dan Meuser, R-Luzerne NAYS: Reps. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Chester; Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery; Brendan Boyle, D-Philadelphia; Matt Cartwright, D-Lackawanna; Susan Wild, D-Lehigh; Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Delaware; Summer Lee, D-Allegheny; Chris Deluzio, D-Allegheny CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The House has passed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 5860), sponsored by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, to fund government programs until mid-November, and increase disaster relief funding in fiscal 2024 by $16 billion. Granger said the continuing resolution prevents a harmful government shutdown, gives us more time to pass the appropriations bills on the floor of the House, and allows us to start negotiations on final, full-year bills with the Senate. The vote, on Sept. 30, was 335 yeas to 91 nays. YEAS: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Reschenthaler, Thompson, Meuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio NAYS: Perry NOT VOTING: Joyce CYBERSECURITY STAFFING: The House has passed the Modernizing the Acquisition of Cybersecurity Experts Act (H.R. 4502), sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., to remove minimum educational requirements for applicants for cybersecurity jobs in the federal government. Mace said current college degree requirements for the jobs meant that we are missing out on a tremendous amount of talent potential from non-graduates with the skills to secure technology systems and hack into enemy countries systems. The vote, on Oct. 2, was 394 yeas to 1 nay. YEAS: Fitzpatrick, Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Perry, Boyle, Cartwright, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, Thompson, Meuser, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio NOT VOTING: Kelly REMOVING HOUSE SPEAKER: The House has approved a resolution (H. Res. 757), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to vacate the role of Speaker held by Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was appointed as the temporary Speaker in McCarthys place. Gaetz criticized McCarthy for failing to keep an agreement to fulfill certain commitments to make the Houses work on the federal budget an open and honest process when he was elected Speaker, including appropriations bills to fund separate government departments. A resolution opponent, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said: If this motion carries, the House will be paralyzed. We can expect week after week of fruitless ballots while no other business can be conducted. The vote to vacate the Speakership, on Oct. 3, was 216 yeas to 210 nays. NAYS: Fitzpatrick, Kelly, Perry, Smucker, Joyce, Reschenthaler, Thompson, Meuser YEAS: Evans, Houlahan, Dean, Boyle, Cartwright, Wild, Scanlon, Lee, Deluzio SENATE MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Todd Gee to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi for a four-year term. Gee, an official in the Justice Departments public integrity program since 2018, has also been a lawyer on the House Homeland Security Committee and an assistant U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 82 yeas to 8 nays. YEAS: Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa.; John Fetterman, D-Pa. CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Tara McGrath to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. An assistant U.S. attorney for the District from 2008 to 2019, McGrath has also been a judge advocate and a lawyer in the Marines. The vote, on Sept. 29, was 52 yeas to 37 nays. YEAS: Casey, Fetterman CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS: The Senate has passed the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act (H.R. 5860), sponsored by Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, to fund government programs until mid-November, and increase disaster relief funding in fiscal 2024 by $16 billion. A supporter, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the funding extension will allow us to return our attention to making headway on full-year appropriations our colleagues have been working on, literally, for months. The vote, on Sept. 30, was 88 yeas to 9 nays. YEAS: Casey, Fetterman 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Some of Harvard Universitys most prominent political alumni are criticizing the school for not condemning a student-led statement that blamed Israel for the surprise Hamas attack over the weekend. The silence from Harvards leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel, Lawrence Summers, a former Harvard president and longtime Washington economic policy hand, wrote on X , the platform formerly known as Twitter. Summers, a Democrat who served as Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton, added: I am sickened. I cannot fathom the Administrations failure to disassociate the University and condemn this statement. In their comments, prominent figures who studied at the university many of them Republicans blasted the school for not standing up for Israel. The story made the rounds on Sunday and Monday across a plethora of mostly conservative news sites, picking up the attention of Washington figures like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) What the hell is wrong with Harvard? Cruz, who attended Harvard Law School, wrote Monday on X . Stefanik, the House Republican Conference Chair, wrote Sunday night on X : It is abhorrent and heinous that Harvard student groups are blaming Israel for Hamas barbaric terrorist attacks that have killed over 700 Israelis. Following much of the backlash, Harvard's leadership released a statement Monday night that did not directly address the student organizations but instead focused on the school's commitment to fostering open dialogue. "We have no illusion that Harvard alone can readily bridge the widely different views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but we are hopeful that, as a community devoted to learning, we can take steps that will draw on our common humanity and shared values in order to modulate rather than amplify the deep-seated divisions and animosities so distressingly evident in the wider world," the school's leadership said. The students originally wrote in a Saturday statement that the Hamas-led attack did not occur in a vacuum and that Israel was entirely responsible for all unfolding violence. In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israels violence, the students wrote. A review of the statement shows that most of the 35 student organizations signing the letter are identity-based groups or caucuses and several of them, in name, expressly support the rights of Palestinian people. Activist student groups that support Palestinians are common across the country, and they often lead demonstrations and protests critical of Israel on campuses. The development could represent an early challenge for Claudine Gay, who recently became Harvards president this summer. The university has often been the target of conservative criticism that higher education panders to elites and teaches liberal viewpoints, and it was the main target of the Supreme Court case that toppled affirmative action in June. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attends the 911 Commemoration Ceremony at the National September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York City on September 11. On Monday, it was announced that his administration has agreed to release COVID-19 public records as part of a settlement stemming from a lawsuit regarding infection rates and other health data. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI Oct. 9 (UPI) -- After the settlement of a lawsuit filed in 2021, Florida will again release COVID-19 data. The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis has agreed to release COVID-19 related public records as part of a settlement stemming from a lawsuit regarding infection rates and other health data. Carlos Guillermo Smith , a former state representative, sued the Florida Department of Health and Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the Florida surgeon general, in 2021 when they stopped sharing daily COVID-19 data on a public dashboard, as per DeSantis' orders. Smith said in the lawsuit that Floridians, and more specifically families of school-age children, required up-to-date virus spread information to better understand how the disease was spreading and how it might affect the start of classes. Although neither party admitted fault in the settlement, The Orlando Sentinel reports The Florida Department of Health will provide $152,250 to cover Smith's the legal fees and be required to publish comprehensive COVID-19 data on their website for the next 36 months. FILE: Republican presidential candidate Mike Pence (L) Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis (C) and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R) stand at their positions during the first Republican presidential candidate debate of the 2024 presidential race at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 23. Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI That data reportedly will include weekly figures for cases and deaths by county, age group, gender and race. "After a 2-year battle, the DeSantis administration has agreed to settle my public records lawsuit against them for illegally hiding COVID health data while the Delta variant ripped thru Florida killing 23,000 people," posted Smith on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We persisted. We prevailed. We held them accountable." FILE: Member of the U.S. Navy prepare Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in Jacksonville, Florida on March 22, 2021. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI. The governor's office referred requests for comments to the Department of Health. Press Secretary James A. Williams tells Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel that it was agreed upon that this was a mutual win by both petitioners and that the court did not mandate the department to show the data, emphasizing that it had always been accessible. FILE: Leonida Lipshy, RN in the COVID unit at the Broward Health Medical Center, Imperial Point, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, displays a bottle of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on December 23, 2020. Broward Health was one of the first facilities that started vaccinating primary healthcare workers with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI The most recent report from the Florida Department of Health on Sept. 28 indicates that 91,178 residents of Florida died because of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Steve Scalise (C) and Jim Jordan, pictured in 2021, are the only declared candidates in the race to be the next speaker of the US House of Representatives (Kevin Dietsch) Republicans in the US House of Representatives began the search for a new leader Monday as the crisis in Israel injected fresh urgency into their struggle to heal the party's bitter internal divisions. Kevin McCarthy was dismissed as House speaker in a stunning mutiny last week orchestrated by the far right, leaving efforts to avert a looming government shutdown in a tailspin. The ouster also raised serious questions over the future of US military aid to Ukraine and, more immediately, over Congress' ability to respond quickly to a crisis like the weekend attack on Israel by Hamas militants. Bracing for more of the disarray that marked McCarthy's exit, House Republicans are due to hold a meeting Monday and a "candidate forum" Tuesday to pick their new standard-bearer, followed by a vote behind closed doors Wednesday. The speaker must be approved by a majority of the 433-member full House, however -- with both Democrats and Republicans voting -- and there is no timeline for a floor vote, leaving the lower chamber in limbo. Two declared candidates -- McCarthy's longtime deputy Steve Scalise and firebrand Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan -- have been furiously working to lock in support, but a clear frontrunner is yet to emerge. And the attack by Hamas that left at least 700 Israelis dead has prompted speculation about whether a leaderless Congress is able to react to an emergency. If neither Jordan nor Scalise can get the support of 217 Republicans, the lower chamber could temporarily approve full speaker powers for Patrick McHenry, who has the job on a caretaker basis but is so far restricted to ceremonial duties. Some lawmakers want to reelect McCarthy, who did not rule out returning to the post during a lengthy news conference on Monday. - 'I'm not a candidate' - "That's a decision by the conference, I'll allow the conference to make whatever decision," McCarthy said, deflecting further questions about whom he would support if it wasn't him. However, none of the eight conservative lawmakers who joined Democrats to oust McCarthy last week has indicated that they would reconsider their objections to his leadership. And many of McCarthy's closest allies have already pledged support for Scalise or Jordan. "No, I'm not a candidate," McCarthy told NBC later, adding: "Whoever the conference picks, I'm going to support." Jordan's quest to secure the gavel won the coveted endorsement of former president and 2024 election candidate Donald Trump, who added to the sense of chaos surrounding proceedings by saying he'd be open to a short-term role as caretaker speaker as the race plays out. His offer is not seen as a serious possibility, however, and there has been no broad show of support from Republicans for the ex-reality TV star -- who is facing multiple criminal prosecutions -- to take the helm. There would have to be a change in the Republican-drafted rules in any case, as anyone indicted for a felony is barred from leadership positions. Jordan, a far-right populist, told Fox News his priority would be codifying language that says "no money can be used to process or release into this country any new migrants." But his reticence over sending Ukraine more aid could hurt him with centrists, analysts say. With the House paralyzed by the leadership drama and the Senate in recess for another week, the November 17 deadline for passing a 2024 budget to avoid the government shutting down is beginning to worry lawmakers. ft/caw Four Americans have been killed in the terror attacks on Israel, and the death toll is expected to rise. Source: CNN, referring to an anonymous source who was at a briefing of key House committees on Sunday evening Details: Members of Congress have reported that four Americans have been killed in attacks in Israel near the Gaza border. The number of dead US citizens is expected to rise. Background: More than 250 dead bodies were found at the site of a music festival in southern Israel, which was attacked by Hamas terrorists on Saturday. 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! We now know at least nine Americans are among the hundreds dead following the surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. The nation of Israel has declared war, following the terror attack by Hamas. A bicycle was targeted and two young Palestinian militants were killed near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. A general view of damage caused by Israeli air strikes on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. A paramedic helps an injured man near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. Palestinian citizens stand near an Israeli enclave seized from the Israeli occupation near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023, in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. A young man carries an injured man on his bicycle near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel on October 7, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a missile attack on Israel today, with fighters simultaneously crossing the border from Gaza. Israel has declared a state of war. Palestinians celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis on 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. Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, 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. A rocket from the Gaza Strip struck a street in Ashkelon, 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. Palestinians wave their national flag and 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. Palestinian militants drive back to the Gaza Strip with the body of an Israeli soldier on 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. Palestinians wave their national flag and 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. Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, 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. Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, 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. A column of smoke rises from the south of 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. Residents look at damage after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, 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. Cars are on fire after they were hit by rockets from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, 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. Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. The rockets were fired as Hamas announced a new operation against Israel. A column of smoke rises from the south of 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. Israeli soldiers head south near Ashkelon, Israel, 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. A building was damaged after being hit by a rocket fired from Gaza strip on Saturday in Tel Aviv. Israeli security forces work at the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building on Saturday in Tel Aviv. A man passes the scene where a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit a building in Tel Aviv. Smoke and flames rise on the Gaza Strip after being attacked by Israeli forces on Sunday. Palestinians fire rockets in response to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces strike targets in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on October 08, 2023 in Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble. Israeli rescue members work at a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, 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. Rockets were fired towards Israel on October 8, 2023 at Gaza City, Gaza. After the attack launched by Hamas on Israel yesterday, which surprised them, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Palestinians to leave Gaza, and warned that the army would turn Hamas positions into rubble. Israeli rescue members work at a police station that was destroyed after a battle between Israeli troops and Hamas militants on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, 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. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday in Gaza City, Gaza. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes after Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Sunday in Gaza City, Gaza. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes and business after Sunday's airstrikes by Israel in the Gaza Strip. Israeli airstrikes caused extensive damage in Gaza City on Sunday. Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday. A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Sunday. In Central Florida, the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler counties will host a vigil and memorial for Israel at 6 p.m. in Ormond Beach. The event will be held at the Temple Beth El at 579 North Nova Road in Ormond Beach. Read: Israel declares war, vows retaliation; death toll continues to rise President Joe Biden has pledged his full support to Israel and said a U.S. carrier strike group is on its way to the Middle East and the Pentagon is sending weapons and ammunition. He also announced the u-s is moving warships and fighter jets to the region. More than 700 are dead in Israel and thousands are injured. Read: Hamas attack: Israeli, Palestinian backers hold rallies across US Palestinian health officials report more than 400 were killed, and more than 2,000 injured, as clashes continue in the region. An Israeli official has confirmed Americans are also among the dozens taken hostage in Gaza. Israeli forces are unleashing relentless air strikes Monday morning targeting the Gaza Strip. Read: World reacts to Hamas attack on Israel Officials said this is retaliation for whats being called the worst attack on Israel in 50 years. Central Florida leaders are responding to the attacks and increasing security for local Jewish communities. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said they have increased their presence and patrols in the areas of synagogues and Jewish facilities in the county. Sheriffs in Flagler and Volusia counties said their agencies are also increasing patrols. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. TechCrunch Apple has warned over a half dozen Indian lawmakers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's main opposition of their iPhones being targets of state-sponsored attacks, these people said Tuesday, in a serious digital espionage charge just months ahead of next year's general elections. Rahul Gandhi, Indian opposition leader, said in a media briefing Tuesday that his team had received the said alert from Apple. Shashi Tharoor, a key figure from the Congress party; Akhilesh Yadav, the head of the Samajwadi Party; Mahua Moitra, a national representative from the All India Trinamool Congress; and Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena, a party with notable influence in Maharashtra reported that they too had been notified by Apple regarding a potential security attack on their iPhones. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A local nonprofit will be recognized this week by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to a press release. Located in Lenexa, the Heart to Heart International (HHI) team has a mission to improve access to healthcare for people across the globe. Their website illustrates a fulfilling history dating back to 1992 when their first deployment was to be medical assistance in Russian hospitals. 4 The People: Plazas future, history on Capitol Hill Since then, they have continued helping in disasters all over the planet in places like Vietnam in 1995, India in 1996 and Haiti in 2010. They also assisted a lot during the COVID-19 pandemic when they teamed up with WHO. Thanks to Heart to Hearts efforts, the group will be recognized Wednesday as an official Emergency Medical Team (EMT), the WHOs highest classification. They are just the fourth organization in the U.S. to claim this, according to the release. Heart to Hearts Disaster Response Team went through a verification that required high standards and took years to come to fruition. With this new classification, WHO requires them to provide several services, including trauma stabilization and community-based primary care. FOX4 newsletters: Get the latest news delivered to your inbox Theyll now have the ability to move across many locations during deployments and will be listed on WHOs registry as being certified and deployable across the world. Heart to Heart is instructed to build a self-sufficient outpatient mobile health facility thats ready to operate within two days of a disaster, which is one of the key requirements for WHO certification. There will be a presentation next week where Heart to Heart will demonstrate how the full-service mobile health facility gets setup to treat a minimum of 50 daily patients. It will feature all things needed to be self-sufficient following a disaster including medical tents, water purification systems, patient treatment spaces, pharmacies and more. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip on Sunday. (Fatima Shbair / Associated Press) To the editor: How tone deaf can the Los Angeles Times be? ("Israel and Hamas continue to battle, with at least 1,100 dead and warnings of a long war," Oct. 8) Early in the morning of the Jewish Sabbath, which coincided with a Jewish holiday, Hamas infiltrates multiple Israeli towns, kibbutzim, military installations, a police station and a dance festival full of young people in the desert. Hamas executes at least 260 young people at the dance festival, according to an Israeli rescue agency. It takes hostages, kills some 800 people in total (mostly civilians) and wounds thousands of Jewish Israelis. For its visual representation of this, the L.A. Times chooses a front-page picture of a Hamas police officer carrying a wounded girl to a hospital? Really? A front-page picture is an important piece of news. This is not balanced reporting of this war. Mona Deutsch Miller, Los Angeles .. To the editor: I opened the paper on Monday to see a Hamas "police officer" carrying a wounded child on the front page. Hamas is a terrorist organization. It attacked Israel. It has taken children, women, teenagers and even reportedly a Holocaust survivor as hostages. Where is your sense of justice? You should be ashamed, and you should apologize to the Jewish community. I am ready to cancel my subscription of decades. Judith Braun, Woodland Hills .. To the editor: About 25,000 people killed adjusted for population, that's the scale of death in Israel (population 9.6 million) if the attack happened in the U.S. (population 330 million). If the Mexicans or Canadians killed 25,000 Americans in a single attack, forget "proportionality." Americans would want revenge. Carpet-bombing, invasion, occupation any and all would be on the table. Dont expect Israelis to behave any differently. And Hamas not Israel, not the Israeli Defense Forces, not the Israeli Air Force is responsible. We should all remember that truth as news of atrocities begins rolling in. Max Plithides, Irvine .. To the editor: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's prayers have been answered. His shaky hold on his government has been strengthened and his country can now unite with a single purpose: defeat Hamas. As dramatic as it appears, it is but a short-term fix for a floundering prime minister. It is heresy, of course, to accuse Israel of anything but the highest moral and political intentions, but its treatment of the Palestinians has been ferociously constant and most uncivil since 1949. It has condemned and acquired Palestinians' land by changing laws, restricting travel, continuously forcing Palestinians to pass through checkpoints even in their own land and providing their IDs at a moment's notice. Now, Israel is refusing to consider a two-state compromise. Somehow, all this sounds familiar to anyone past the age of 75 or, in my case, 91. Carleton Cronin, West Hollywood .. To the editor: I see three incontestable truths from this weekends carnage. First, Hamas is an off-the-rails terrorist organization deserving universal condemnation if not annihilation. Second, the current Israeli governments obsession with decapitating its supreme court and extending illegal settlements contributed to the security failing that permitted Hamas' incursion. Finally, those on both sides who prefer apocalypse to any sort of compromise just scored a huge victory. Claude Goldenberg, Seal Beach .. To the editor: I am wondering what has prevented Israel from understanding that if you keep your foot on the neck of a person for more than 70 years, they will use all means to remove the boot. The Palestinians have been militarily occupied since 1948 and have the right to resist under international law. Israel has ignored countless United Nations resolutions which have condemned the occupation. The Israeli government's outrage over the attack could have been avoided by simply allowing the Palestinians to live like human beings. Joseph Tillotson, Redondo Beach This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A dog waits to be adopted at the Chesterfield Square Animal Services Center in Los Angeles in 2022. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Along with dogs adopted during the pandemic that are now being returned to shelters, the proliferation of French bulldogs has become a problem. "Frenchies" are all the rage, but have many serious breathing issues. They cannot even give birth safely without human intervention. ("L.A. council committee backs moratorium on dog breeding licenses," Oct. 4) So by all means, pause dog breeding. Do it for at least five years, because it may take that long for Los Angeles shelters to get their act together. We simply have too many dogs, cats and other animals. Shelter staffing is inadequate. People who sign up to volunteer aren't often even contacted I know two people who applied to walk dogs a few years ago. A friend and I regularly drop off towels, blankets and newspapers at the West L.A. shelter, and the sound of the dogs barking is horrific and heartbreaking. So, yes, pause dog breeding licenses. Carole Shelton, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Finally, I read something that gives me hope about ending our inhumane treatment of animals. My own dog is with me now because of The Times' reporting on animal shelters that are so crowded that some dogs go months without being walked. After reading about that, I drove through tears to a shelter to walk a dog and, well, you know the rest. Because we have so many animals in shelters, we do the easiest and most egregiously arrogant thing we can as humans: We kill these loving and loyal creatures who didn't ask to be here. I have begun a petition to declare California a kill-free state. Yes, there are allegedly no-kill shelters, but this initiative would ban the killing of animals just to make space. If any state could pull it off, it is ours, which stood against the production of foie gras and the abuse of animals by circuses. We have an unfortunate problem. Let us end it without killing innocent creatures who only want to lick our hand. Disallowing backyard breeding is a great start. Louis Cimino, Beverly Hills This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rep. Kevin McCarthy , who represents Bakersfield, was removed from the House speakership last week. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Not everyone here in Bakersfield is upset by Rep. Kevin McCarthy's fall from grace. Many of us believe that the Bakersfield Republican and former House speaker has never done much for his constituents, as he has long been focused on raising money for other Republicans to get elected. What many Kern County residents bemoan is his lack of backbone. He has chosen for years to go along rather than lead. For one brief moment, he stood up to Donald Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, but then he quickly made that infamous trip to Mar-a-Lago to make up with the former president. "Spineless" is often heard to describe his character. McCarthy made so many promises to so many people, and the inevitable finally happened. Still, it amazes me that the votes of eight Republicans could oust him from the speakership. Who will lead the House after McCarthy is a real worry for our government, for Ukraine aid and, indeed, for democracy itself. Governing according to the whims of a few unhinged members of the House is not exactly democracy in action. Debra Matheney, Bakersfield .. To the editor: In McCarthy, at least the Democrats had a speaker who worked to prevent a government shutdown. They should have voted to save his speakership. How unsavvy of them not to recognize the strategic advantage they would have gained from keeping McCarthy in power. Now, instead of being in a position of leverage, the Democrats are left to deal with the whims of a new Republican speaker, over whom they have no sway whatsoever. David Ehler, Santa Barbara .. To the editor: I was glad to read that Bakersfield Republicans were lashing out at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for ousting their local representative as speaker of the House. I agree with everything they said about Gaetz. But then I realized most of these same Republicans will probably vote for Donald Trump to be president. Trump is an accused serial criminal who reportedly refused to be seen next to war heroes because they were amputees. He makes Gaetz look like a choirboy. I grew up in rural America in the 1950s. Most adults around me were conservative, but they weren't stupid. What happened? Roger Geisler, Rancho Cucamonga .. To the editor: I wonder how many Republicans would be elected if they, when running for office, were to tell their constituents that if elected, they would shut the government down and try to wield absolute power. Anastacio Vigil, Santa Monica .. To the editor: Columnist Jonah Goldberg's "modest solution" to choose the House speaker by secret ballot surprises me, as it is posed by a conservative pundit. How about combining that fix with a not-so-modest solution, one that would eliminate the secrecy that has proven far more devastating to our democracy? To wit: Eliminate the secrecy accorded deep-pocket donors who fund pliant money-grubbing politicians that do their bidding. Depriving unprincipled politicians of the dark-money support that keeps them under billionaires' thumbs should be a top priority. M. Edward Alston, Santa Monica This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. As the only shelter for unhoused teens and young adults in Fayette County, Arbor Youth Services has seen a surge in the number of people needing its services over the past several years. But moving teens off the streets, out of the shelter and into permanent housing is more difficult than ever, said Lori Clemons, executive director of Arbor Youth. I had one kid who was in shelter for a year, Clemons said. The teen had a federal housing voucher, called Housing Choice, formerly known as Section 8, but Arbor Youth could not find a landlord who would take the voucher or the teen. We are offering up double deposits to get landlords to rent to some of our clients, Clemons said. In addition to Housing Choice or Section 8, Arbor Youth has other grant money it can use to pay for rents. But landlords are still weary. Other homeless providers agree. Christy Shuffett, executive director of New Beginnings, which helps find services and housing for people with severe mental illness, said the group has lost more than 20 landlords who used to take third-party payments over the past three years. Its creating a bottleneck in the homeless service provider system. Because people cant find housing using vouchers, they are staying in shelters or on the street longer. I have a waiting list of 57 people, Shuffett said. Of those, 26 are homeless. They are living on the street. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council is set to debate banning source of income for landlords. The ban would prevent landlords from discriminating against someone with a housing voucher or other third-party payments such as other federal funding or even alimony for rental payments. The councils Social Services and Public Safety Committee will discuss the ban at an Oct. 10 meeting. Many landlords strongly oppose the ban, alleging it could lead to a rise in rents. Landlords who dont want to accept vouchers will increase rents so the property wont qualify for vouchers, they argue. Others say inspections, which are required in the Housing Choice program, can cause havoc and headaches for landlords and delays in leasing and payment. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority, which oversees federal housing vouchers, also does not support the ban. District 10 Councilman David Sevigny, one of the sponsors of the source of income ban, said its an issue of fairness and discrimination. There is no reason why tenant As $1,000 check should be viewed any differently than tenant Bs $1,000 voucher, Sevigny said. None at all. That is why Ive agreed to take this up. Finally, to say that all voucher users are the same, is just like saying that every individual in a class, gender, ethnicity, religion, race are all the same. They just arent. To me, that is the definition of discrimination. Program has been very successful The Lexington Housing Authority manages more than 3,500 vouchers that people with low incomes can use to pay rent. The vast majority of those vouchers 2,628 are moving to work vouchers, or vouchers for people under the age of 62 with low incomes. The remaining vouchers the authority oversees are connected to certain types of programs, including housing homeless veterans or domestic abuse survivors. Of the 2,628 vouchers, 2,622 of those are currently under lease which means people have a 99% success rate in finding housing using those vouchers, said Austin Simms, the executive director of the housing authority. There are currently 800 landlords in Fayette County that accept federal housing vouchers, Simms said. The program has also been able to use federal funding to pay landlords $1,000 sign-on bonuses. It can also pay for deposits, which had kept people from being housed in prior years. It has paid out $220,000 in bonuses. We think the program has been very successful, Simms said. Yet, there are people who have had to return vouchers, Lexington Housing Authority data shows. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Housing Authority central office on New Circle Road. Of the 215 vouchers issued between Jan. 1 and July 1, 39 expired, meaning the tenant could not find housing. That means roughly 18% of voucher holders returned the voucher over a six-month period. Returning a voucher doesnt mean someone cant find a place that will take them, Simms said. Some ultimately opt not to use a voucher for a variety of reasons. The housing authority also provided the Herald-Leader with a map, broken down by zip code, of where those vouchers are used. The map showed voucher use throughout the city. However, there are large concentrations of voucher users in the north and east sides of Lexington. In the 40511, 40508 and 40505 zip codes, there are nearly 1,330 vouchers used. Landlords push back In a letter to the council, Brenda Wells of the Central Kentucky Apartment Association, which includes Fayette County, said many landlords who have participated in the voucher program no longer do so. Nearly 70% of those who dont participate in the Section 8 program have participated in the past. They no longer participate because their experience was not positive, the letter said. LDG Development held a ribbon cutting Tuesday, June 20, 2023, to officially open its 201-unit affordable housing complex off Russell Cave Road in Lexington, Ky., The voucher program also costs too much for landlords to administer, the letter said. The inspection process alone can cause delays, leading to loss of income. Jim Burton has more than 100 apartment units in Lexington and Louisville. He used to take vouchers but no longer does because of the administrative headaches of the program, he said. Burton said the housing authoritys inspection process is haphazard. One inspector can find a problem that means instant repairs while another inspector can see the same issue and not order repairs. If a unit needs repairs or changes, the voucher program does not pay rent for that month. Theres no way for the landlord to recoup that cost, he said. If you dont have an efficient inspection program, then you have losses, Burton said. The only way to offset losses is to raise rents and that hurts everybody. Simms said the housing authority has worked to make the inspection process more efficient. The housing authority responds within three days of receiving paperwork from the landlord and the tenant. There can be delays because the unit is not ready for inspection, he said. Simms also countered the authoritys inspectors follow the same guidelines. We have three inspectors and certainly there are times, since this is not a science, that ones evaluation would differ from another but never can their personal opinion override or deviate from (the guidelines), Simms said. Rock Daniels owns multiple rental units. He likes the voucher program and still participates. However, he also understands why some landlords cant do it. The math sometimes doesnt work. All our costs are also going up, Daniels said. Property taxes are going up, and Daniels said his insurance costs went up by more than 30% percent. Meanwhile, those vouchers have not kept up with the increases. The biggest problem with Section 8 is it does not keep up with market rate, Daniels said. Its not landlords not wanting to accept it. Joe Marcum had 13 homes in the voucher program years ago, but left the program because of problems with the administration, he said. I currently have zero properties because over time I found the program incredibly poorly run, the hassles with administrating it costly and time consuming, and (fair market rents) are now below market rents, Marcum said. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sets the amount of those vouchers by a process called fair market rent, which looks at rents in a certain areas. For example, one-bedroom rentals in Lexington are much higher than similar properties in rural Kentucky counties. The Alcove at Russell is one of the largest new affordable housing complexes built in Lexington in recent years. Stuck in shelters and the streets The number of landlords willing to work with service providers who have housing vouchers or other third-party payment has shrunk since the coronavirus pandemic, multiple service providers said. New Beginnings has a program where the organization leases apartments for homeless and severely mentally ill people. Since New Beginnings is on the lease, landlords can go to organization if the rent is late. We are now down to only two landlords who will work with us, Shuffett said. Many larger apartment complexes have been sold to out-of-state companies with different property managers. Many of those complexes that used to take vouchers no longer do so, Shuffet and other service providers said. Our goal is to have someone housed in 60 days. Now its taking four to six months, Shuffett said. Clemons agreed. The amount of time it takes for teens and young adults to find housing and to get out of the shelter has doubled since the coronavirus pandemic. Thats even with Arbor Youth offering to pay twice the deposit amount, she said. Dylan Schell, regional director of housing and community services for New Vista, said his clients have also experienced delays in finding landlords that will take vouchers or other types of third-party payments. New Vista also helps people with mental illness find housing and provides case management for clients. It limits where we can place our clients, Schell said. When asked if he had clients able to find rental units on the citys south side willing to take vouchers, Schell paused. In my career? Yes. Lately, no, Schell said. Clemons said she, too, has not been able to find landlords on the citys south side who are willing to take third-party payments. That may be because rents there are higher and therefore dont qualify for vouchers. The length of time people stay in Lexingtons homeless system from the point of entry, such as emergency shelter, to when they exit to housing has increased 266% from 2018 to the end of June 2023, according to data provided by the city. The average length of stay in the homeless system was 27 days for the 2019 fiscal year, or July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. The average length of stay was 131 days for the fiscal year that ended June 30. Lexingtons Homeless Prevention and Intervention Director Jeff Herron said delays getting people into permanent housing arent solely due to problems finding landlords that take third-party payments. There are other factors such as an overall lack of affordable housing in Fayette County, he said. The data serves to reinforce the anecdotal evidence coming from providers who are seeing fewer landlords/properties participate in programs and the increasing challenges we face even when rental assistance or other subsidies are available, Herron said. Rents dont climb due to source of income bans As Lexington takes up the issue, there appears to be movement in Frankfort to stop cities from enacting local or county bans on discrimination of source of income. Louisville is the only city in Kentucky with a source of income ban. Florida passed a similar statewide ban. Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, posted Sept. 27 on Facebook he has pre-filed a bill in Frankfort to do away with local source of income bans. Dotson said the bill would safeguard our citizens from being forced to lease their properties to the government for those on assistance programs, unless the property owner chooses to. We need to stop this NOW before it escalates into a mess that we cant control, according to his Facebook post. Beau Revlett, an organizer with the Kentucky Tenants Union, said theres no evidence rents will go up if the city bans landlords from discriminating against those who use vouchers or other third-party payments. The union has pushed the council to ban discrimination based on source of income. Louisville passed a ban on source of income discrimination in December 2020, Revlett said. Since then, Louisvilles rent increases have been either less than or barely higher than increases both across the country and in Lexington, depending on the time frames you consider. Revlett said studies that looked at states with source of income bans also found no correlation between rent hikes and bans. Seventeen states have passed similar statewide bans. Data on rents is more readily available for nine of those states. The big takeaway: There is no relationship between whether a state passed a ban on source of income discrimination and whether, compared to national average rent increases, rents increased faster, slower or at roughly the same rate in the years following its passage, Revlett said. Emma Anderson, another organizer for the Kentucky Tenants Union, also said studies show cities and states that ban source of income see the number of landlords and places that take vouchers increase as much as 12 percentage points, Anderson said, referring to a 2018 study. Lakin Dillingham, also a member of the tenants union, said her mother struggled to find a home using a voucher when Dillingham was a child in Knox County. Dillignham and her siblings stayed with grandparents while her mother struggled to find a place to live. Other people dont have that luxury. Dillingham said later in life she struggled to maintain housing while in college, sometimes living in her car or occasionally sleeping on someones couch. Dillingham, Anderson and several others urged the council to pass the ban on source of income discrimination at a recent council meeting. It shouldnt be left to the poor to take care of the poor, Dillingham said. With Halloween roughly three weeks away, it's time to get cracking on a costume idea if you haven't already. Fashion experts at Boohoo held a study to examine the most popular pop culture-inspired and traditional costumes that each state is searching for ahead of Halloween 2023. Boohoo said they have analyzed Google Trends data to establish the most searched Halloween costumes in each state over the past month. Florida's results matched other states, seeing a love for classic costume ideas and 2023 Netflix hits. Wanting to join in on the fun and grab the hottest costume? Or want to get a look at what others will be wearing and come up with something else to make or grab at a costume shop? Here's what fellow Floridians will be wearing on All Hallows' Eve. Spooky season in Florida: The ultimate guide to Halloween in Florida: HHN, movies, costumes, haunted houses and more What will be the most popular Halloween costumes in 2023? According to Boohoo experts, the most popular costumes in Florida will be skeletons and Wednesday Addams from Netflix's hit show "Wednesday." What should I be for Halloween? How about a skeleton Dyson Duffy, 5, poses next to a skeleton that mirrors his own costume Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, during Alliance City Parks' Fall Festival at Silver Park. Sometimes you got to stick with the classics. Skeletons are the most popular traditional costume this Halloween with 14 states searching for skeleton costumes to break out for parties or while hunting for treats. Over the years, Boohoo shares that celebrities have dressed up as skeletons for Halloween, with reality star Kourtney Kardashian recently posting a photo posing in a skeleton-themed onesie with matching earrings. What exactly is the Wednesday Addams look? How popular is it? Wednesday Addams costumes and accessories have their own spot in a Spirit Halloween in Oviedo, Florida, Sept. 10, 2023.. Get ready to don your darkest clothing and dance to the Goo Goo Dolls. Wednesday Addams is the second most searched-for costume this year with 12 states searching for a costume more than any other pop culture costume or character. Jenna Ortega's iteration of the goth girl has a variety of different looks to replicate, from her signature black dresses to her sought-after dance dress. For those wanting to join their fellow Floridians, you can nab an identical Wednesday outfit at most retailers selling Halloween outfits. Target, Hot Topic and Spirit Halloween all have their own versions of the look. What is the most popular pop culture Halloween costume people dress up as? The findings revealed that Barbie is the most popular character to dress up as this upcoming Halloween. Margot Robbie's version of the beloved doll is the most searched-for pop culture costume in 14 states, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and California. These findings provide an exciting insight into what are the biggest costume trends of the year, predicting that we can expect to see plenty of Barbies and a load of skeletons this spooky season," Boohoo wrote on its findings. "With many states choosing to dress up as Barbie, it proves that one of Margot Robbie's biggest films to date is continuing to take over and dominate the fashion world." What are the top pop culture costumes for Halloween? Yeah, Barbie is there Barbie from "Barbie" - 14 states Wednesday Addams from "Wednesday" - 12 states Princess Peach from "Super Mario Bros" - 9 states Harley Quinn and Weird Barbie from "Barbie" - 4 states Cruella Di Vil from "101 Dalmatians" and Wonder Woman - 2 states Catwoman, Gwen Stacey from "Into the Spiderverse" and Poison Ivy - 1 state What are the top traditional costumes for Halloween? Skeleton - 14 states Ghost - 9 states Vampire and Zombie - 6 states Witch - 4 states Dog and Pirate - 3 states Cat, Clown, Angel and Scarecrow - 1 state This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Halloween costume ideas 2023: 'Wednesday' among Florida's top searched A Pittsburgh law firm donated more than $30,000 to the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh as part of their partnership with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since 2015, Bordas & Bordas has been a partner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. This year, for every game the Pirates won, the firm donated $400 to the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh. The Pirates took home 76 wins, so Bordas & Bordas officials presented a $30,400 check to the rescue. This is the second year that we have been able to give back to the Pittsburgh community in a fun way through this partnership, said managing partner Jamie Bordas. We have had the opportunity to tour the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh facility and visit some of the animals there within the last year. Giving support to the domestic and wild animals in need there is important to us. The Humane Animal Rescue provides support to domestic and wild animals, as well as the people who care for them. Their mission is one that takes a village, says Dr. Ariella Samson, Humane Animal Rescue Executive Director. For the second consecutive year, Bordas & Bordas has played a major role in helping to find over 4,500 dogs & cats their forever homes in the Pittsburgh community....and we could not be more thankful, Samson said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Indiana County mass shooting: 1 killed, at least 8 hurt during party at community center Israel-Hamas war: Israel orders complete siege of Gaza (Live updates) $1K a week for life winning lottery ticket sold at local Sheetz VIDEO: Indiana County community stunned following mass shooting at typically peaceful community center DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts After more than four decades of hard work, Hickory Regional Airport Manager Terry Clark announced his retirement. Clark has worked for the city of Hickory since April of 1981 and has managed the airport for more than 15 years. It has been a blessing and an honor over the last 42 years to have served with the City of Hickory Regional Airport, said Clark. Thanks to all my staff and my City of Hickory coworkers. I have worked with so many amazing and supportive city managers, councilmen, and women throughout the years. I would like to give a special thank you to Harold Whitener, former airport manager, who hired me and gave me the opportunity to be a part of this organization. He was a wonderful mentor and is a great friend. While working at the airport, Clark was at the center of many notable projects that helped to update the airport. A high point in his career was taking over all fixed-based operator (FBO) services in 2011, something that has never been done in the history of Hickorys airport. Before this change, all aviation services were managed and provided through a contracted, third-party company. ALSO READ: County accidentally paid out millions in benefits to dependents of retirees Clark also oversaw the construction of a new 32,000-square-foot hangar and was able to partner with Burke County to build a 12,000-square-foot hangar in 2022. Terry has been an essential part of a transformation at the airport since the day he started working for the city over 42 years ago. His work has laid the foundation for future growth and development in and around Hickory Regional Airport, City Manager Warren Wood said. Clark was also an active member of the North Carolina Airport Managers Association and spent time serving on the board of the Hickory Aviation Museum. In 2020, he was given the Patriot Award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for his support of an employee serving in the National Guard. On Sept. 29, Clark was given the Aviation Safety Award to recognize his support of the FAA Safety Teams goals by participating in safety activities during his career. The airport has been such a big part of my life for over four decades, and I wish for the continued success of the airport and the City of Hickory, Clark said. Clark and his wife live on his familys farm in Hudson, and he plans to spend his retirement tending to the farm. (WATCH BELOW: Controlling Your Costs: Tips for building your retirement) LUS Fiber is making a significant investment in South Louisiana Community Colleges Fiber Optic Technician program to ensure the region has the workforce to support expanding broadband internet access. LUS Fiber, one of the nations largest municipal fiber-to-home networks, is donating $40,000 to support SLCCs 20-week program that trains fiber optic technicians. The program covers multiple areas of the fiber optic technology field, ranging from construction to in-home fiber installation. "This collaboration with LUS Fiber represents a significant milestone for SLCC, said Steven Matthews, the vice president of workforce and economic development at SLCC. We believe that education is the cornerstone of a prosperous community, and LUS Fibers donation will enable us to equip our students with the knowledge and expertise required to excel in the fiber optic industry. Together, we are contributing to the growth and economic development of Lafayette and the entire region." Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory said in a release that SLCCs program provides the foundation workers need for a career at LUS Fiber. The program incorporates multiple industry credentials that are needed for the rapidly changing broadband industry, according to SLCC. Guillory also called the partnership a testament to the power of collaboration, and will work to reinforce the connection between education investments and workforce development. "LUS Fiber is proud to invest in workforce development and successful pathways for keeping students here in Acadiana following their graduation, said Ryan Meche, director of LUS Fiber. We commend SLCC for launching the Fiber Optic Technician Program so that our community is empowering students with the resources and skills they need for successful careers and also providing a highly trained workforce for the future of broadband. CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support journalists like William Taylor Potter This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LUS Fiber donating $40,000 to SLCC for fiber optic technician program FILE - Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel arrives for the third EU-CELAC summit that brings together leaders of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Polling stations for parliamentary elections in Luxembourg closed on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023 and officials started counting results that will determine the fate of the three-party coalition led by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Ten years ago, Bettel succeeded Jean-Claude Juncker, the Christian Democrat who had been Europes longest serving democratically elected leader at the time. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Luxembourg's three-party coalition led by liberal Prime Minister Xavier Bettel lost its decade-long hold on power in tight parliamentary elections, mostly because of a poor showing by the Green party, according to election results early Monday. Bettels DP liberal party surged from 12 to 14 seats in the 60-seat house in Sunday's elections and the socialist LSAP also added a seat to reach 11. But the fall of the Greens from nine to four seats meant that the coalition falls just short of the numbers needed for a continued five-year stint in government. The Christian Democrat CSV remains the biggest single party in parliament with 21 seats and will be the power broker to form the next government. Ten years ago, Bettel succeeded Jean-Claude Juncker, the Christian Democrat who had been Europes longest serving democratically elected leader at the time. The CSV Christian Democrats have been left uncharacteristically on the sidelines for the past 10 years, despite being the single biggest party. In the last elections, Bettels coalition controlled 31 of the 60 seats in the Luxembourg parliament. Coalition talks might take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Luxembourg is the European Unions second-smallest country, with a population of 650,000 people, and is its richest per capita. A Massachusetts native who graduated from Bentley University in May and moved to Israel less than a month ago is describing the uncertainty there. Israel declares war, vows retaliation; death toll continues to rise Shira Vilvovsky was born in Israel and moved to the U.S. when she was four. She spent most of her life in Massachusetts and attended Belmont High School. Shes now living in Tel Aviv and staying in regular communication with her parents and relatives in the Boston area after Saturdays unprecedented surprise attack. An Israel music festival was among the locations hit by the most sustained and coordinated assault inside Israel ever carried out by Hamas militants. The death toll in Israel now sits at more than 700. Thousands of people are injured and dozens of hostage victims have been ripped from their homes. Its hard to shake feeling like Im scared, said Vilvovsky. But were under the feeling that I shouldnt go back to America. We shouldnt let terrorists win. Vilvovsky describes the current situation in Tel Aviv as relatively calm compared to communities south, closer to the Gaza border. She told Boston 25 News that grandparents live about 30 minutes away from there and have been going back and forth to a bomb shelter on their property. These sirens are probably happening every hour, every 20 minutes. At some point, how often are you going to go back and forth?, she questioned. Its horrifying. The casualties of the on-going violence include the daughter and son-in-law of Brandeis professor Ilan Troen. Northeastern University confirms that three of its students are in Israel on co-op but are safe. A Northeastern spokesperson told Boston 25 News that the schools global security operation is helping those students evacuate the country. If you could compare it to a small Massachusetts town, its as if the whole town has been massacred, Meron Reuben, Consul General of Israel to New England. Reuben, whos located in Boston, has been helping Israel passport holders in New England who have already been requested to return for reserve duty. Some people have already flown to Israel, those people who are Israeli citizens and have been called to the reserves, he explained. I would say worse than our worse nightmares. A multi-faith solidarity gathering will be happening Monday at noon at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. Governor Maura Healey and other elected officials are expected to speak. 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 Mack Chase, an icon of New Mexicos oil and gas industry and renowned philanthropist in his hometown Artesia, died last week at 92. His death sparked mourning from throughout the region and state, and within the industry for which Chase was a figurehead for most of his life. He was born in April 29, 1931, the fourth of eight siblings, and raised in Artesia, an oil town known as one of the main cities in southeast New Mexicos Permian Basin region. Mack Chase Today, decades after Chase entered the industry, the Permian in New Mexico and West Texas is the busiest oilfield in the country producing almost half of the nations total output. Drive by the profits of multiple companies Chase ran through his life, most recently including Mack Energy Corporation, he was listed as the richest man in New Mexico at one time with an estimated fortune of $700 million, according to Forbes. More: The richest person in every state But it all started when Chase was 14 and he got in the industry working on a pulling unit, according to a timeline provided by Mack Energy. He continued that work upon graduating from high school in 1950 at the operator Nash, Winfor and Brown, and then serving in the U.S. Army as a mechanic from 1951 to 1953. Upon returning home that year, he married his wife Marilyn. Chase started Chase Well Service between 1954 and 1956, working with his brother George Chase from 1960 to 1968. That year, he started Mack Chase Inc., operating 18-21 drilling rigs, then formed oil and gas production company Marbob Energy Corporation with John R. Gray in 1979. More: Former NM Sen. Carroll Leavell dies at 86 Mack Energy was formed in 1990, and Chase formed Deer Horn Aviation, a charter air service out of Midland, Texas, in 1996. Mack Energy expanded to offices in Midland and Fort Worth, Texas from 2000 to 2002. The company was sold to Concho Resources in 2006, and Chase founded Silver Oak Drilling that year, followed by Par Five Energy Services in 2010. He was inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame the next year, also founding Elite Well Service in 2011 along with LCH Well Servicing and Bullseye Construction in 2012. More: Permian Basin oil production dips although projections show growth in coming years Chase Energy Services was found in 2017, the same year Chase was named the 2016 Top Hand by the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. He was also given a Lifetime Achievement awards by the Artesia Chamber of Commerce and Public Schools, along with the New Mexico Public Education Lifetime Achievement Award and an Honoree Doctorate Degree from the University of New Mexico. Throughout his more than half a century in oil and gas, Chase became a legend in the industry, said Joe Vigil, spokesman for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. More: $1.2 billion in Permian Basin oil and gas assets sold to Vital Energy as region leads US Vigil also pointed to Chases legacy as a philanthropist, offering scholarships to many Artesia High School students to attend college through the years. Along with his wife, Chase started the Chase Foundation in 2006, funding scholarships for 2,000 students during its lifetime. Flowers adorned "The Partnership" statue in downtown Artesia on Oct. 6, 2023. The statue honors the Marbob Energy company formed in 1972 by the late Johnny Gray and Mack Chase. Chase passed away Oct. 2, 2023. It is with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Mack Chase, a true legend and pioneer of the oil and gas industry here in New Mexico, Vigil said. Mr. Chase was not only known for his remarkable business acumen, but also for his generous heart when it came to his philanthropic work in our communities. More: Dallas-based LM Energy shifts focus to Permian Basin natural gas amid regional growth Chase was instrumental in stimulating the economies of Artesia and Carlsbad in southeast New Mexico, Vigil said, communities today leading in oil production nationwide and providing record-breaking revenue to the state. Mr. Chases contributions to New Mexicos oil and gas industry have left an indelible mark on our industry, Vigil said. "His dedication, innovation and commitment to excellence have been an inspiration to many. His perseverance truly transformed Artesia, Eddy County, and ultimately the state. Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway said Chase was a leader in oil and gas and public service, but also other industries in the region like pecan farming. Mack defined the role of a businessman genuinely invested in community and philanthropy. When it comes to giving, nobody could compete with Mack, Janway said. He was a legend in New Mexico's oil and gas history in so many different ways, including pecan farming and other business ventures. He was an outstanding individual and a true gentleman. Steven Pearce, chair of the New Mexico Republican Party, a frequent supporter of oil and gas, said that Chase supported Republican candidates through donations throughout the years. Mack Chase was a leader in New Mexico oil and gas, remaining in Artesia long after launching his successful business and was a strong supporter of Republicans during his lifetime, Pearce said in a statement issued the day of Chases death. Mack's life and work went beyond oil and gas, and he was known for his generosity and love of helping others. That sentiment was shared by southeast New Mexicos legislators in the New Mexico House of Representatives, with Reps. Cathrynn Brown (R-55), Jim Townsend (R-54) and Jimmy Mason (R-66) penning a joint statement on Monday. It is with deepest condolences that we mourn the passing of Mack Chase, read the statement. We express our condolences to the Chase family, Mack Energy employees, and the community who will no doubt feel the loss of Mack, who championed our communities and oil and gas industry in New Mexico. 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: Mack Chase, a 'legend' in New Mexico oil and gas, dies at 92 Over 4,000 United Auto Workers (UAW) at Mack Trucks are on strike after rejecting a tentative contract deal. The workers walked out at 7 a.m. after 73% of UAWs Mack Truck members voted against the contract Sunday. That tentative agreement had been reached on Oct. 1. In a letter to Macks parent company Volvo Trucks notifying them of the strike, Union President Shawn Fain said that for the last three months, theyve met with company representatives to meet demands from union members. Some of the issues Fain cites include wage increases, job security, wage progression, benefits and schedules. Im inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it, said UAW President Shawn Fain on X, formerly known as Twitter. NEW: As of 7am this morning, 4,000 UAW members at Mack Trucks are ON STRIKE. https://t.co/gJf6tgSR8u UAW (@UAW) October 9, 2023 In a statement obtained by the Associated Press, Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said he was surprised and disappointed at the unions choice to strike. We trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers, the statement said. UAW Region 8 and 9 represent workers at Mack Trucks in Pennsylvania. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Indiana County mass shooting: 1 killed, at least 8 hurt during party at community center Israel-Hamas war: Israel orders complete siege of Gaza (Live updates) $1K a week for life winning lottery ticket sold at local Sheetz VIDEO: Indiana County community stunned following mass shooting at typically peaceful community center DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts An online clothing store opened its new storefront in Macon with the goal of having something for everybody. The Vintage Thread opened its storefront at 3003 Vineville Ave. on Sept. 29. Abigail Johnson, owner, said the grand opening Friday and Saturday were a big hit. Theres something for everyone. I try to be as inclusive as possible with just body style and shape and the color of things and the patterns and just being funky, a little funky but still having the staple pieces, she said. The boutique offers a variety of womens clothing with some mens clothes and vintage items. Most of the stores vintage pieces are graphic t-shirts, but Johnson, a Macon native, said she is working to expand their selection. The mens clothing section is limited to mostly mens street wear, but Johnson said she plans to expand that as well. Its just something Macon doesnt offer, and men have nowhere to shop in Macon, bless their hearts, at least for like mens streetwear. Theres just not a lot of places in Macon to shop. So I just kind of wanted to put that out there, give Macon something they dont have, she said. The Vintage Thread is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. Opening a business at 23 Johnson, 23, attended Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia, and majored in business and psychology. While attending college, she worked at The Kinnebrew Co. in Americus. That was a really big inspiration and that kind of struck my drive to do it, she said about developing her interest in selling clothes. During her senior year at college, Johnson launched an online store to start selling clothes she would like to buy. After college, she maintained the online store while working as a server at Orleans on Carroll Street in Perry. She saved and waited for the day she would be able to open a storefront. She came across the location on Vineville Avenue and fell in love with it. Creating a store for Macon Johnson likes to support local business and doesnt like to shop at large department stores, but she has always struggled finding a store for her in Macon. Theres just no places I really like to shop, she said. If you asked my favorite place to shop in Macon, I couldnt tell you. The location on Vineville Avenue was the former Bike Tech Macon location located between Layers, a bakery, and Magnolia Wynne Boutique, a childrens clothing store. I feel like its a good cohesive mix and just trying to like bring up small business on Vineville, Johnson said. The Vintage Thread has decent prices with a very good price margin as well as a wide range of trendy, fun clothes, Johnson said. Every time they shop, they support my dream, Johnson said about customers coming to her store. My goal is eventually to outgrow this building, and well see how it goes. For years, I made the mistake of traveling by plane with a duffel bag as my carry-on luggage. So I recently spent less than $100 on a hard-shell suitcase from Target's Made By Design brand. I was surprised by how many clothes I could fit in the bag, and it solved my biggest airport issue. When I started traveling by plane regularly about two years ago, I constantly made a big mistake: using a duffel bag as my carry-on. Throughout my childhood, teenage years, and early adult life, I'd only ever traveled by car and duffels are perfect for road trips. You can fill them to the brim, throw them in the backseat, and only carry them when arriving at and leaving your lodgings. But carrying them through the airport is a whole different story. I quickly learned that there's nothing worse than lugging a heavy bag on your back through security and to your gate, which can be a very long walk depending on the airport. And that's not to mention how vulnerable your belongings can be in a duffel. On multiple occasions, I've watched other passengers struggle to fit their hard-shell suitcases into the overhead bins until they spot my bag. It's soft and flexible, so why not shove it to the side and crush everything inside in the process? So ahead of my most recent vacation, I knew it was time to invest in a hard-shell roller bag. And to my surprise, I found the perfect one at Target for under $100. For $80, I solved my biggest travel problem with this suitcase. Amanda Krause/Insider Admittedly, I wasn't too picky when I chose my new suitcase. My only qualifications were that it had to roll, cost around $100 or less, and be available at a store like Target or TJ Maxx (I had limited shopping time before my trip). I found all of the above in a suitcase from Target's Made By Design Brand. The hard-shell luggage is currently sold in seven colors a few shades are sold out online and retails for $89.99. Though I was initially drawn to the light-pink shade of the one I chose, I quickly realized that it also did everything I needed it to do. It seemed big enough to fit most of my travel items, but small enough to tuck into overhead compartments. It also had spinning wheels that made it easy to transport, expandable sides, a zippered pocket, and multiple handles. Plus, it was on sale and cost $80 when I purchased it. This specific suitcase is sold in a variety of colors. Target So I bought the suitcase and immediately tested it out on vacation a few days later. Now, I'm happy to report that it worked perfectly for my trip (a flight to Florida and a short cruise to the Bahamas). In the small suitcase, I was able to pack multiple pairs of jeans, at least 10 tops, a pair of shoes, a curling iron, and other necessities. The zippered pocket made packing especially easy, since I could store clothes on one side and other items on the opposite. And even when full, it was still light enough to lift into an overhead bin, where it fit snugly against other suitcases. It also rolled smoothly and quickly through the airport and my hotel, though it struggled a little on carpet. I was able to fit a decent amount of clothes into the suitcase. Amanda Krause/Insider I'm not sure how well the suitcase will hold up over time, and I'll have to see if it's useful on longer vacations in the future. But for now, one thing is certain: I'll never travel by plane with a duffel bag as my carry-on again. Read the original article on Insider A 71-year-old Alton man died in a house fire, the Madison County Coroners Office said. James R. Tanner was pronounced deceased on the scene on Wednesday night, according to a news release from Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn. Tanners body was discovered in the home after Alton firefighters arrived shortly after 9 p.m. at the home in the 2300 block of Sunset Avenue. Results of an autopsy show the preliminary cause of death was from smoke inhalation, Nonn said. The cause of the fire was not announced. The case remains under investigation by the Alton Police Department, the Illinois State Fire Marshals Office, Illinois State Police and the Madison County Coroners Office. Tanner was formerly employed as a mechanic, according to his obituary posted by the Pitchford Funeral Home. He was a member of the Alton Moose Lodge #951, he enjoyed fishing and hanging out on his front porch, the obituary states. Madonna, Gal Gadot, Natalie Portman, and Mark Hamill are among the Hollywood celebrities reacting to the deadly conflict triggered by Palestinian group Hamass shock attack on Israel. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war one day after Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israeli territory that left at least 700 civilians dead the worst loss of Israeli lives in years. The death toll is still rising. Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk said the group was holding at least 100 Israeli citizens and soldiers hostage, in a statement to the al-Ghad news outlet on Sunday (8 October), with fears growing for their safety. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was holding more than 30 hostages. Israels retaliatory airstrikes on cities in the Gaza strip have killed at least 493 people, with the death toll expected to rise as fighting continues. Madonna said the situation in Israel is devastating in a statement posted on Instagram, adding that conflicts can never be resolved with violence and her heart goes out to Israel. Alongside a graphic video from Israel, she wrote: Watching all of these families and especially children being herded, assaulted and murdered in the streets is Heartbreaking. Imagine if this was happening to you?? Its Un-fathomable. Conflicts can never be resolved with violence. Unfortunately Humanity does not understand this Universal truth. Has Never Understood it. We live in a World Ravaged by Hate. My heart goes out to Israel. To Families and Homes that have been destroyed. To children who are lost. To Innocent Victims who have Been Killed. To All who are Suffering or who will suffer from this conflict. Im Praying For you. I am aware that this is the work of Hamas and there are many innocent people in Palestine who do not support this terrorist organization. This Tragic attack will only cause more suffering for everyone. Let us all Pray. For Israel. For Peace. For The World [sic]. Gadot, who served the two mandatory years in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) before launching her Hollywood career, shared several social media posts in support of Israel over the weekend. I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening! she captioned one of her posts. Several of her followers responded to Gadots message with comments pledging support for Palestine. For the last 50 years, Israels occupation of the West Bank, including East Jersusalem and Gaza, has resulted in systematic human rights violations against Palestinians living there, Amnesty International documented. Black Swan star Portman said, My heart is pounding with love and prayer for the families of all affected, in a statement shared to Instagram. The full message read: My heart is shattered for the people of Israel. Children, women and the elderly have been murdered and abducted from their own homes. I am in horror at these barbaric acts and my heart is pounding with love and prayer for the families of all affected. Jamie Lee Curtis posted a photograph of the Israeli flag on her Instagram feed but did not caption her post. Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman reshared an Instagram post by attorney and activist Mandana Dayani, which said: Never in my years as an activist, have I seen other activists, upon seeing footage of little girls being killed and dragged threough streets, immediately find the burning need to go on the internet and justify their deaths. Oh, here [are] all the reasons that girl was burned alive! For complete clarity, the only reason you do this, is because you have been made to believe that the killing of Jews can even be justified. Becaise every civilization has taught that the life of a Jew is less valuable than your own. Its the Hitler playbook. Your antisemitism is not unconscious. It is so deeply rooted in your bones and you are so comfortable with it, you are not even able to consider its impact on your friends. The post divided Silvermans followers, with several people criticising her for selective outrage as well as a lack of context of the bloody Israel-Palestinian conflict, while Schumer turned comments off on her own post. One person wrote: Sarah I hope you rethink this one. The death of any child is inexcusable, including the many Palestinians that have died under Jewish occupation. If every Israeli behavior is free of scrutiny then we have a much more serious problem. Silverman also shared a separate statement, writing that this world breaks my f***ing heart, on X. My sister and nieces and nephews are there. Theyve been protesting BIBI for months. Fight for a two state solution. Israelis are Jews and Arabs and all colors. There is so much complexity to this. But make NO MISTAKE Hamas is a terror organization whos mission statement is kill https://t.co/RzfeXk13Vr Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) October 7, 2023 New Girl actor Max Greenfield wrote on Instagram: Unimaginable scene in Israel right now. As a Jew, I am with you. As a human, I am with you. Star Wars star Mark Hamill shared a picture of the American and Israeli flags on his social media accounts and captioned it: America stands with Israel #ALWAYS. Mark Ruffalo quoted Jerusalem-based American author Nathan Thrall, in response to the horror [that] is unfolding between the Israeli Government and Hamas today on X. I received a note today from @NathanThrall, journalist and author of A Day In The Life of Abed Salama that resonated deeply with me. I wanted to share his words as we all watch in horror what is unfolding between the Israeli Government and Hamas today. It is horrific to Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 7, 2023 I received a note today from Nathan Thrall, journalist and author of A Day In The Life of Abed Salama that resonated deeply with me, the Hulk actor wrote. I wanted to share his words as we all watch in horror what is unfolding between the Israeli Government and Hamas today. It is horrific to see innocent civilians killed and held hostage, and there is no justification for it. We pray for their safety, as we pray for the safety of the innocent people of Gaza who are being bombarded and besieged. Major airlines have canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared a state of war. Major airlines around the world have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Saturday and fired thousands of rockets into central and southern Israel, resulting in hundreds of casualties. American Airlines, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air, EasyJet, Korean Air, and Cathay Pacific are among those who have canceled flights to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv Israel's only international airport. Over the weekend, a United Airlines flight from San Francisco to Ben Gurion Airport was sent back to the US after spending 14 hours in the air, per FlightAware . In a statement shared with Insider, the FAA said it "urged airlines and pilots to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace." Hamas launched barrages of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip early Saturday morning, and its fighters infiltrated Israeli territory by land, sea, and some even on motorized paragliders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared a state of war, and Israel has launched retaliatory attacks on Hamas. As of Monday afternoon local time, 17% of all flights in and out of Ben Gurion had been canceled for that day, per FlightAware. A spokesperson for British Airways told Insider that it is continuing to operate flights in this area and is monitoring the situation closely. Israel's national carrier, El Al, also said in an update on its website on Monday that its flights are still running. "EL AL Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces," it said. The Israel Defence Forces say that 700 Israelis have died and over 1,500 have been wounded in the attacks. The following airlines have confirmed online or in statements to Insider that they have suspended flights to Tel Aviv: Read the original article on Business Insider MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man is facing multiple charges for allegedly robbing people while on a bicycle in Hickory Hill on Saturday, according to Memphis Police. Police were looking for a suspect in multiple robberies in the area when they spotted a man matching the description pedal up to a Mobil gas station on Mount Moriah. The suspect, later identified as Donte Davis, 21, started pedaling faster, and eventually ditched the mountain bike, causing a foot chase. He allegedly stopped running and was taken into custody. Police found a black Glock handgun with a switch inside a dumpster that Davis ran behind. One of the victims identified Davis as the man who robbed him. Reports state that Davis pleaded guilty and was convicted of Theft of Property $10,000-$60,000 in August of 2022. He was placed on three-year probation. 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. Donte Davis is now charged with Aggravated Robbery, being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Handgun, Evading Arrest, Possession of Firearm/Dangerous Felony and Possession of Prohibited Weapon. He is set to appear in court Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Police found a man dead from an accidental gunshot wound in his car in west Macon early Monday morning, according to Bibb County coroner Leon Jones. Deputies responded to a call about a person shot and found the man dead at the wheel just after 6 a.m. at the corner of Mercer University Drive and Log Cabin Drive, Jones said. Jones said the man shot himself on accident. His name was not yet available Monday morning and the scene was still under investigation. This is a developing story. The Telegraph will add details as they become available. Indiana State Police arrested the driver of a northbound Jeep on suspicion of drunk driving resulting in death after a 3:30 a.m. Sunday crash on Interstate 65 about two miles south of the South Street exit. LAFAYETTE, Ind. A man is dead after a fiery crash on Interstate 65 about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Indiana State Police and Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello. The man died from blunt force injuries and burns, according to preliminary autopsy results, Costello said. The man's manner of death is still pending, as is the toxicology report. More problematic is that the man did not have any identification on him, and Costello has no idea who the man is or how to reach his family. The man's fingerprint has been sent through a database in hopes of learning who he is, Costello said. The man had many tattoos, and Costello described three of them in hopes that someone might recognize them. On the man's upper chest, he had a cursive "L" tattooed, Costello said. On his right upper arm, he had a cross tattoo. On the cross' vertical post is the name Louis, and on its horizontal post is the name Laura, Costello said. On his left ring finger, is the word "Stef," Costello said. If people recognize those tattoos and believe they might know the man, call the coroner's office at 765-420-7607. The crash and arrest The man was a passenger in a northbound Jeep when the driver, Max Obando Vanegas, drifted off the eastside of the highway, according to Indiana State Police. Vanegas overcorrected, crossed the lanes, hit the guardrail in the median and came to rest facing northbound on the inside shoulder of the southbound lanes, police said. Then the Jeep caught fire. Vanegas ran from the scene of the crash as his passenger lie dead or dying inside the Jeep, according to police. Police found Vanegas hiding along the interstate and arrested him, police said. Troopers jailed Vanegas, 35, of Indianapolis, on suspicion of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, drunk driving resulting in death, drunk driving with endangerment and drunk driving. He remained incarcerated at the Tippecanoe County Jail on Monday morning in lieu of bond. Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Coroner hopes details of tattoos help identify man killed in crash PHOENIX - Police are investigating after a man was shot and killed near 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road on Saturday night. The shooting happened at a business in the area sometime after 11 p.m. Three people reportedly called police to say they were involved in the incident. All of them were detained, but they were later released. Police did not say why no arrests were made. The case will be sent to the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for review. Where it happened: A man pleaded guilty Friday to mounting a sword attack during the annual Sikh festival and parade in Yuba City which left a man with 23 stitches to his face and later beating up a witness to the assault, according to the Sutter County District Attorneys Office. Parmvir Singh Gosal, 44, of Tracy pleaded guilty to attempted murder and mayhem for inflicting injuries at the November 2018 parade known as Nagar Kirtan, a news release from the D.A.s Office said. Manpreet Singh, a second man arrested in connection with the incident, pleaded no contest to attempted murder in August and was sentenced to eight years in prison concurrent with time he was serving in two other separate cases, prosecutors said. The Yuba City victim needed 23 stitches to his face and had an orbital fracture below his left eye after Gosal and three other suspects attacked him with swords and brass knuckles, according to the Marysville Appeal-Democrat. Gosal also pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery, assault producing great bodily injury and dissuading a witness. He, and a group of others, beat a witness unconscious at a Target in Lathrop on June 8, prosecutors said. Gosal is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29, the DAs office said. He faces up to 17 years and eight months in prison. A 13-year-old girl who was secretly recorded while in the lobby of a Starbucks store in Illinois was one of many young girls who were inappropriately taped, authorities said. Now, Matthew Morgan has been charged with one count of unauthorized video recording victim under 18 and two counts of unauthorized video recording no consent, authorities said. The felony charges were filed after the 36-year-old Downers Grove man was accused of recording females at Goodwill and Starbucks, according to an Oct. 6 news release from the DuPage County States Attorney. No defense attorney is listed for Morgan. An investigation into the man began on Sept. 23, when officers with the Downers Grove Police Department were called to a local Goodwill Store & Donation Center. Someone reported a man had photographed a woman who was changing in a fitting room. Following an investigation into the matter, it is alleged that while the woman was in the fitting room, a male, later identified as Morgan, placed his phone in record mode and then put the phone under the changing room stall door, authorities said. As part of the investigation, the agency learned that Morgan also recorded a 13-year-old girl in a Hinsdale Starbucks lobby on Sept. 8, according to the release. He pressed record on his phone, then put the phone under the teens dress while pretending to tie his shoelaces, authorities said. The day after the Starbucks incident, authorities said Morgan pretended to shop at a Goodwill store with his teenage daughter when he began recording on his phone and then placed the phone underneath a changing room door. The allegations that Mr. Morgan secretly videotaped innocent females in an inappropriate manner, two while they were in a changing room and one thirteen-year-old girl at a Starbucks are extremely disturbing, DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. In executing a search warrant, investigators said they found about 260 videos of young girls being secretly recorded at various places, including Goodwill, Starbucks and Target. Morgan first appeared in court Friday, Oct. 6, according to the release. The judge ordered several pre-trial release conditions, including home confinement, weapons surrender, electronic device monitoring and no contact with any children who are not his own kids. His next court date is scheduled for Oct. 30. McClatchy News requested comment from Starbucks, Goodwill and Target on Oct. 9. Downers Grove is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Son of Buc-ees co-founder secretly recorded people in dads bathroom, Texas reports say Hidden cameras found in Starbucks bathrooms in NC tourist town, cops say. Man arrested Man hid camera in employee restroom, Louisiana cops say. His sister-in-law found it Patient finds camera recording her in chiropractors exam room, Colorado police say As deputies investigated a burglary at a Florida business, their drone was shot down by a man armed with a rifle at a neighboring home, federal prosecutors said. The Lake County Sheriffs Office drone was destroyed by the gunfire, which caused it to descend out of control and crash into the roof of a nearby building on July 11, 2021, in Mount Dora, according to court documents. When deputies confronted Wendell Doyle Goney, 52, who is accused of shooting the drone from his property, Goney said the drone was harassing him, his plea agreement says. The DJI Matrice M300 drone, worth nearly $30,000, was being used to search for potential burglary suspects before Goney blasted it out of the sky, according to the plea agreement. During the confrontation with Goney, deputies learned hes not allowed to legally own any firearm, including his .22 caliber rifle, because of his 29 prior felony convictions in Florida, prosecutors said. Now, Goney, of Mount Dora, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida. McClatchy News contacted federal public defenders representing Goney for comment on Oct. 9 and didnt receive an immediate response. Goneys prior felony convictions date back to 1995 and include burglary, grand theft, battery and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, according to his plea agreement, which says hes served multiple state prison sentences. After pleading guilty to the federal charge against him, Goney is facing up to 10 years in prison, prosecutors said. Under federal law, convicted felons are also barred from possessing ammunition, in addition to firearms, according to the release. Mount Dora is about 35 miles northwest of Orlando Man used 3D printers to make part turning guns into machine guns in AL, feds say Woman opens fire in police station lobby, but bulletproof glass intervenes, cops say Fugitive jumps in pond to hide, Rhode Island cops say. Then troopers bring out drone A 42-year-old man was fatally shot Saturday in north Phoenix, according to the Phoenix Police Department. On Saturday, Phoenix police responded to reports of a shooting near 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road. When authorities arrived, they found David Phillips with a gunshot wound. Phillips was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead, police said in a news release. Later that evening, police received reports that three people were involved in the shooting. The three people were then detained and spoke with investigators, before later being released pending the conclusion of the investigation, police said. As of Monday morning, the investigation remained active and the case will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for any charges, police said in the release. Phoenix shootings: Homeowner fatally shoots man breaking into home, police say This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man shot and killed in Phoenix near 19th Avenue and Deer Valley Road LANSING A man who was shot Sunday afternoon on the city's north side has died, police said Monday, becoming the ninth homicide victim in the city this year. Theodore Lawson, 63, of Lansing, died at a hospital after being shot in the 1100 block of North Jenison Avenue, Lansing police Public Information Director Jordan Gulkis said in a Monday morning news release. Officers were called to the area at about 3 p.m. and found Lawson with a gunshot wound. Lansing Fire Department medics treated him at the scene and took him to a hospital. Sunday, police said Lawson was in critical condition, but he later died, Gulkis said Monday. The shooting was the second in Lansing in as many days. A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries Saturday night in a shooting in the 1800 block of Coleman Avenue, on the city's south side, police said. Sunday's shooting was Lansing's ninth homicide of the year and the 12th in the tri-county area. Police were still trying to determine the sequence of events leading up to Lawson's shooting, Gulkis said. Anyone with information is asked to call Lansing police at 517-483-4600 and choose option 5. They can also call Detective Kristi Pratl at 517-483-6835 or send a private message through the department's Facebook page. Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing police say shooting victim has died, city's ninth homicide of year FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A man was rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds Sunday morning, and authorities are actively searching for the suspect, Fresno Police say. Investigators received several 9-1-1 calls around 9:17 a.m. with reports of a man in an alleyway near El Monte Way and Backer Avenue, who was hit by gunfire. Officers arrived to find a Hispanic man in his 30s suffering from several gunshot wounds to his lower extremities. They also say the first officers on scene acted quickly and applied a tourniquet to the victims wounds before he was transported to an area hospital. Police say at last check he was listed in critical condition and was undergoing surgery. They also say they arent sure where the actual shooting occurred, nor do they dont know if the incident was gang-related. Investigators say two people were seen leaving the area around the time of the shooting but they dont yet know if they are involved in the crime. The Street Violence Bureaus Felony Assault Unit has taken over the investigation. If you have any information on this case you are asked to call the Fresno Police Departments non-emergency line at 559-621-7000. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. SANFORD, Fla. - Police are looking to identify a man accused of stealing three bottles of vodka from a Sanford restaurant after forcing himself inside the business and shutting off the power. The incident reportedly happened on Oct. 2 at the Mel's Diner located at 3221 S. Orlando Drive. Authorities shared three photos of a man and a woman, who were observed on the restaurant's surveillance camera, on social media in hopes someone would recognize the pair and come forward. Officers said the man pictured in the photo somehow forced his way into the business through the front door, walked to the back room where the breakers are located and shut off the power before taking off with the alcohol. The restaurant learned the vodka, valued at $100, had been stolen after an inventory was completed. Anyone who recognizes either person or has any information to provide is asked to contact the Sanford Police Department. A Florida man who started out his day looking for work ended up behind bars, authorities say. According to an arrest report from the Polk County Sheriffs Office, the 23-year-old went to a Pilot Travel Center in Lake Wales for a job interview, but is now accused of stealing a vehicle from outside the business. At around 4:30 p.m. Friday, deputies responded to the convenience store and spoke with the manager who said it was unclear how the suspect arrived for the appointment. He said he advised the potential employee that no one was there to conduct the interview and was told to come back on Monday. Deputies also spoke with the victim whose white 2022 Cadillac XT4 SUV was taken. He said he was driving from West Palm Beach to Trinity in Pasco County for a weekend getaway and stopped at the Pilot to grab snacks, including chocolate. After purchasing the items and exiting the store, he remembered that he needed to check some lottery tickets. He put the snacks in his vehicle, and turned the engine on because he did not want the chocolate to melt, says the affidavit. The victim believed that he had locked the car but when he returned, saw someone inside. He shouted at the suspect, and stood in front of the hood, pleading with him to get out. The man ignored the request, shifted into drive and attempted to strike the owner, who escaped being hit. The SUV then took off, but because it was outfitted with remote OnStar technology, its every move was tracked, the report says. Deputies chased after the Winter Haven resident, who was headed toward Interstate 4 at speeds of up to 100 mph in the right-hand emergency lane, says the report. After about 20 minutes, OnStar switched off the engine, near Davenport, about 20 miles away. The driver almost immediately lost control and crashed into a guard rail, causing the SUV to flip over multiple times, landing upside down. The man, only slightly injured, was able to get out of the car and began running into the woods, but was detained after a brief struggle. He was booked on various charges, including grand theft auto and resisting arrest. Deputies also recovered a handgun in the car, so he was also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. No bail was set. The exterior of the Manitowoc County Courthouse as seen, Friday, June 11, 2021, in Manitowoc, Wis. MANITOWOC Joshua I. Walcott, 21, has been found guilty by a jury of first-degree intentional homicide for the 2021 murder of 17-year-old Malachi Moore. The jury also found Walcott guilty of felony bail jumping, felony possession of a firearm by a felon and two felony counts of sexual assault of a child. Life in prison is the sentence for first-degree intentional homicide. Walcott is expected to appear for a sentencing hearing Dec. 11 at Manitowoc County Courthouse. Walcott has been held at Manitowoc County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond since he was arrested in May 2021. According to the criminal complaint, Walcott and Moore were arguing inside a Two Rivers residence before Moore was shot. Walcott told police he saw a gun on the floor while they were arguing and picked it up. In interviews with police, Walcott said, "I guess I pulled the trigger. ... It just went off." Police responded to the residence when a caller reported a weapon was involved and a person had been shot. Police arrived to find Moore with a gunshot wound. Officers attempted life-saving measures, but Moore died at the scene. Attempted child abduction: Ohio man sentenced to probation on charges stemming from 2021 attempted abduction of Valders girl Walcott's trial began Oct. 2 and ran through Oct. 6 with closing arguments from both the prosecutor and the defense. Dozens of witnesses were called including people who were at the Two Rivers residence at the time of the incident and local law enforcement and investigators. Walcott was also called to testify during the trial. Five other men were arrested as a result of the 2021 investigation: Malik R. Thomson, 23 : Thomson was charged with felony possession of THC with intent to deliver and misdemeanor carry a concealed weapon. He appeared Sept. 12 for a plea/sentencing hearing during which his sentence was withheld and he was given two years of probation. Todd P. Mueller, 48 : Mueller was charged with two felony counts of chronic neglect of a child. On June 21, 2022, he was convicted of both charges, but his sentence was withheld and he was instead placed on probation for two years. Rodney Anderson, 22 : Anderson was charged with felony harboring or aiding a felon and six counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. On Jan. 4, he was convicted of the felony charge and his sentence was withheld. Instead, he was placed on three years of probation. The six bail jumping charges were dismissed. Kaden Jones, 21 : Jones was charged with misdemeanor bail jumping, but those charges were dismissed. William Lowe, 22: Lowe was held at Manitowoc County Jail on a probation hold, but no charges were filed. Fulfilling our obligation: This report is part of the Herald Times Reporter's mission to follow criminal cases from arrest to their conclusion. Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Joshua Walcott guilty of killing Malachi Moore, Manitowoc jury finds FILE - An aerial view of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is seen Aug. 10, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. How much is Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago worth? That's been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property's value when he said it's worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File) FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) How much is Donald Trump 's Mar-a-Lago worth? That's been a point of contention after a New York judge ruled that the former president exaggerated the Florida property's value when he said it's worth at least $420 million and perhaps $1.5 billion. Siding with New York's attorney general in a lawsuit accusing Trump of grossly overvaluing his assets, Judge Arthur Engoron found that Trump consistently exaggerated Mar-a-Lago's worth. He noted that one Trump estimate of the club's value was 2,300% times the Palm Beach County tax appraiser's valuations, which ranged from $18 million to $37 million. But Palm Beach real estate agents who specialize in high-end properties scoffed at the idea that the estate could be worth that little, in the unlikely event Trump ever sold. Ludicrous, agent Liza Pulitzer said about the judge citing the countys tax appraisal as a benchmark. Homes a tenth the size of Mar-a-Lago on tiny inland lots sell for that in the Town of Palm Beach, a wealthy island enclave. The entire real estate community felt it was a joke when they saw that figure, said Pulitzer, who works for the firm Brown Harris Stevens. That thing would get snapped up for hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, said Rob Thomson, owner of Waterfront Properties and a Mar-a-Lago member. There is zero chance that its going to sell for $40 million or $50 million. In the ongoing trial over the lawsuit, though, what a private buyer might pay for a place like Mar-a-Lago isn't the only factor in determining whether Trump is liable for fraud. WHAT IS MAR-A-LAGO? The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot (5,810-square-meter) mansion is Trumps primary home. It is also a club, private beach resort, historical artifact and banquet hall with a ballroom that features gold leaf. It is where Trump stored government documents federal prosecutors say he took illegally after leaving office in 2021. While Trump has long admitted using truthful hyperbole in his business dealings, he is not exaggerating when he calls Mar-a-Lago unique. Built in 1927 by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post and her second husband, financier E.F. Hutton, she gave the property its name Spanish for sea-to-lake because its 17 acres (7 hectares) stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway. Post kept the mansion after the couple's divorce, using it to host opulent galas. In 1969, Mar-a-Lago was designated a National Historic Landmark. Post, who died in 1973, bequeathed the property to the U.S. government as a winter get-away for presidents, but Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter never used it. The government, citing the high upkeep costs, returned it to Post's foundation in 1981. The property fell into disrepair. Trump bought it in 1985 for about $10 million, the equivalent of $30 million today. He invested heavily in its refurbishment. By the early 1990s, however, Trump was in financial distress after several of his businesses flopped. He told Palm Beach town officials he couldn't afford the $3 million annual upkeep, and proposed subdividing the property and building mansions. The town rejected the plan. Negotiations continued and in 1993 the town agreed he could turn the estate into a private club, giving him cash flow he could use for maintenance. He built the ballroom, but signed away development rights. The agreement limits the club to 500 members the initiation fee is $500,000 with annual dues of $20,000. Trump typically lives at Mar-a-Lago from October to May before summering in New Jersey. SO WHAT IS MAR-A-LAGO WORTH? That's hard to say. The biggest problem is there are no comparable properties. No one builds mansions in Palm Beach like Mar-a-Lago anymore and those that did exist were demolished long ago, broken up or turned into a museum. Trump, in an April deposition, justified his belief that Mar-a-Lago could be worth $1 billion by comparing it to the price the Mona Lisa or a painting by Renoir would command the ultra-wealthy will pay a premium to buy something that's one-of-a-kind. Eli Beracha, chair of Florida International University's Hollo School of Real Estate, agreed it's difficult to assess the value of any unique property. The fact that Trump owned Mar-a-Lago would likely increase its sale price. Some people are going to argue that not everyone likes Trump some people would actually pay less because of that. ... But the high bidder is probably going to be a person who buys it because it belonged to Trump, Beracha said. Pulitzer said the rock-bottom price for Mar-a-Lago would be $300 million. Thomson said at least $600 million. If uber-billionaires got into a bidding war, they said, a sale of a billion dollars or more would be possible. The much smaller Palm Beach compound once owned by the Kennedy political dynasty sold for $70 million three years ago. SO HOW DID PALM BEACH COUNTY COME UP WITH SUCH A LOW TAX ASSESSMENT? The county gives Mar-a-Lago its current value for taxation of $37 million based on its annual net operating income as a club and not on its resale value as a home or its reconstruction cost. It is one of nine private clubs in the county taxed that way. Becky Robinson, the tax assessor's spokesperson, said that method is used because private clubs are so rarely sold or built, making it impossible to set their tax rates by comparing them to similar properties. Mar-a-Lago's property tax bill will be $602,000 this year, county records show. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a South Florida Democrat, wrote the county saying if Trump claims Mar-a-Lago is worth $1 billion, he should be taxed accordingly. If Mar-a-Lago had a $1 billion assessed value, its property tax bill would be approximately $18 million. Robinson said the county bases its assessments on the law and its formulas, not the value owners claim. WHY IT MATTERS In her lawsuit against Trump, New York Attorney General Letitia James argued that Mar-a-Lago was one of multiple assets Trump overvalued in financial statements given to banks and others. On those statements, Trump valued Mar-a-Lago as high as $739 million a figure James said ignored deed restrictions requiring the property to be used as a social club not a private home. Her lawyers have argued that in his financial statements, Trump should have valued Mar-a-Lago the same way the county does, based on its club status. Trump's financial statements, the New York lawyers wrote, valued the club based on the false and misleading premise that it was an unrestricted residential plot of land that could be sold and used as a private home, which was clearly not the case. Trump's lawyers have said no trickery was involved, and that banks probably didn't rely on his financial statements anyway when determining whether to lend him money. Two 19-year-old men were injured in a shooting at Bowie State University, a historically black university in Maryland, as state police said they think more than one shooter was involved. The teens were transported to the hospital after being found with gunshot wounds, according to Maryland State Police Superintendent Col Roland Butler. The incident happened during the schools homecoming weekend, although neither of the 19-year-olds were Bowie State students. One weapon has been recovered, and investigators are pursuing more leads as they believe multiple shooters were involved. According to a statement from the school, the university police received a report of shots fired around 11.45pm near the Center for Business and Graduate Studies. Prince Georges County police are investigating the incident, the statement added. The schools president, Aminta Breaux, addressed the school community in a statement: The Bowie State University community is saddened today by the reports of shots fired on the campus last night. After a week of joyous, safe Homecoming celebrations, individuals intent on perpetrating acts of violence shattered the peaceful activities which are the tradition here at BSU. She added that, according to police, there are no further threats to the campus or community. It is exceedingly disturbing that gun violence is increasingly finding its way into the safe havens of our university campuses. While the significant increase of police and security officers throughout the Bowie State campus this weekend enabled a quick response to the scene, the fact that individuals brazenly discharged a weapon is disheartening, the university president added. The Bowie State shooting comes less than a week after a shooting at Morgan State University, a nearby historically black university that was also celebrating its homecoming events when shots were fired. The shooting at Morgan State left five injured. Despite the short timeline between the two incidents, police said they do not believe there is a connection between the two shootings. Its unfortunate that were here to address another act of violence on a college campus, during one of the most celebrated weekends of the year for the staff, the students and the alumni on an HBCU campus, Col Butler said Sunday. Maryland State Police told The Independent on Monday that the investigation is active and ongoing. Maryland recorded its first travel-related death from a rare tickborne virus called Powassan, the Maryland Department of Health announced on Friday. The individual first contracted the illness in Canada and then returned to Maryland, officials said. Officials first confirmed the presence of the infected tick bite on Sept. 22. The illness is rare and is spread through the bite of an infected tick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is not transmittable through person-to-person contact, and officials said they do not believe the rare disease poses a threat of local transmission. We are very saddened to report the first death due to the Powassan virus in our state, said Maryland Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Nilesh Kalyanaraman said in the announcement. Powassan is very rare, and this is the first-ever case recorded in Maryland. The individual contracted the virus in Canada and returned to Maryland afterward. We do not believe that Powassan poses any threat of local transmission in Maryland. As always, we urge everyone to practice good habits when in areas that could have ticks or avoid those areas altogether, Kalyanaraman said. The CDC reported that while reported cases are rare, they have increased in recent years. So far in 2023, the CDC reported nine other states with confirmed cases of the illness, for a total of 28 confirmed cases this year, as of Oct. 3. The case in Maryland was not yet included in the CDC data. New York had six, Massachusetts had five, Maine and Connecticut each had four, Minnesota had three, Wisconsin and New Hampshire each had two cases, while Rhode Island and Pennsylvania each had one case recorded. In all of 2022, the CDC reported 44 cases, up from 24 cases in 2021. Since 2016, there have been more than 20 cases reported each year. In the decade prior, the number of cases each year remained mostly in the single-digits, but never exceeded 16 cases. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 8th Nicosia Book Fest further enhances China-Cyprus cultural exchanges Xinhua) 09:03, October 09, 2023 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." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Sharpsburg-area man received an active 35-year sentence Friday in Washington County Circuit Court for three instances in which he rammed his truck into an occupied vehicle. Because 35 years were for two crimes of violence related to a 2022 incident in which James Russell Anderson rammed his truck into two occupied vehicles on a neighboring property, he must serve at least half of that time, 17.5 years, before he can be considered for parole. Anderson, 48, was sentenced Friday for the March 1, 2022, incident in which he was convicted by a jury in July for second-degree attempted murder for repeatedly ramming his F-350 pickup into a Tesla sedan occupied by real estate agent Cynthia Sullivan. Judge Andrew F. Wilkinson sentenced Anderson to 30 years, suspending all but 25 years on the attempted murder charge alone. "There was nothing accidental about what happened on March 1," Wilkinson said. He cited the "brutality of the attack," and that afterward Anderson changed his appearance and reported his truck stolen in attempt to "get away with it." Wilkinson said the first time he saw pictures of Sullivan's damaged Tesla, he thought Sullivan might only be alive today because of the "engineering quality" of her car. Police say Cynthia Sullivan's Tesla was rammed and demolished by a truck allegedly driven by a man charged with assaulting her. Her voice shaking, Sullivan told the judge she has a broken neck and lives with neck and back pain. She told Anderson she forgave him, "because I know God wants me to forgive you." Sullivan said she won't ever forget that "horrific day." She said she can't sleep through the night and panics and sometimes cries if a pickup comes near her while she's driving. Addressing the judge, Paul Sullivan said he found it "amazing" that Anderson didn't even look in his wife's direction or his while they addressed the court about the impact the events that March day had on them. In addition to the physical pain and ongoing emotional distress Cynthia Sullivan has experienced, Paul Sullivan said they are still having issues with insurance because they have not been able to get information about what insurance, if any, Anderson had at the time of the attack. Anderson, standing with his arms folded in front of him and scratching his right elbow, paused for several seconds before turning toward the Sullivans and apologizing to them for "what happened." "I cannot undo what's been done," Anderson said. He assured them he would never do "anything like that again" and if he was ever presented with a situation he would contact authorities and wait rather than "take matters into my own hands." Anderson rammed Sullivan's Tesla five times and hit another woman's Audi after responding to his neighbor's property. His girlfriend and co-defendant, Rebecca Anne Finkelman, and the female neighbor told Anderson on the phone that there were people at the neighbor's home that should not be there and were in the house removing furniture. Anderson testified at his trial that both women told him they needed help, with Finkelman saying "right away." Witnesses described Anderson's pickup speeding up the neighbor's lane and smashing Sullivan's Tesla, then repeatedly backing up and hitting the car again. Finkelman's trial is scheduled for February. She is facing charges that include assault and accessory after the fact. Anderson's mother spoke at length Friday about the man her son used to be and the change in his personality after a head injury in a 2019 accident. Defense attorney Brian Hutchison also mentioned the head injury and that Anderson still suffers, including from a mood disorder and post-traumatic stress. Before sentencing Anderson for the March 2022 crimes, Wilkinson said motions had been filed regarding an "unfair trial" and much had been written about Anderson's mental status not being taken into account. The judge said Anderson sought a not criminally responsible finding when the case started and he was examined through the Maryland Department of Health, which did one of the "most comprehensive reports I've seen." Wilkinson said the health department determined the not criminally responsible claim was not appropriate and that Anderson's mental health status and prior injury did not prevent Anderson from knowing right from wrong or following the law. Cynthia Sullivan, after the sentencing hearing, said, "In a situation like that, nobody's going to win. I feel bad for all of us." Washington County States Attorney Gina Cirincion, after the hearings, said, "We are appreciative of the extremely good work by the sheriff's department and we appreciate the bravery of the witnesses" in the Sullivan case. Sentencing and plea deal for James Russell Anderson The jury, in July, also convicted Anderson on several other charges including first-degree assault against Linda Adele West, the owner of the Churchey Road property that Sullivan was there to appraise for sale. An eviction noticed had been issued for the tenants and the female tenant screamed at West, Sullivan and other visitors while they were at the property, according to trial testimony. Wilkinson sentenced Anderson to 25 years with all suspended except for 10 years for the assault on West, whose Audi Anderson rammed. Anderson has 655 days, or almost two years, credit for time served. The assault sentence is consecutive to the attempted murder sentence. Wilkinson suspended separate 60-day sentences for two convictions for malicious destruction of property for damage to Sullivan's Tesla and West's Audi. Before the sentencing, there was a hearing during which Anderson pleaded guilty to second-degree assault for an Oct. 3, 2020, road rage incident in which Anderson's truck twice hit a purple Pontiac GTO after the driver cut into traffic south of Hagerstown. Anderson also punched the driver, Benjamin Lee, in the head, Cirincion said. In that case, Wilkinson sentenced Anderson to five years, but suspended all but 18 months to be served concurrent to the sentences in the case involving Sullivan and West. Once Anderson is released from prison, he will be on supervised probation for five years. He is not to have contact with Sullivan, West, their families, or Lee. In both sentencings, Wilkinson ordered Anderson to submit and comply with alcohol and drug testing and treatment, to abstain from alcohol and illegal substances, and to submit to an evaluation and complete any mental health treatment his probation agent recommends. Wilkinson also ordered Anderson to get anger management counseling as directed by his probation agent. Anderson did not comment to the judge during the sentencing portion of the hearing in the Lee case. Cirincion said Lee did not attend the plea hearing, but submitted a victim impact statement and asked for Anderson to get anger management counseling and perform community service. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Maryland man sentenced in attempted murder, road-rage incidents Mass shooting in Pennsylvania leaves one dead and eight injured (WJAC) One person was killed and eight injured during a mass shooting at a party at a Pennsylvania community centre. Police say that a 22-year-old man died after gunfire broke out early on Sunday at the venue in Indiana County. Jamar Montae Porterfield Herriot Jr of Homestead, Pennsylvania, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Three women and five men, between the ages of 19 and 23, were found with gunshot wounds and were taken to hospitals for treatment. An 18-year-old man from Chicago was in critical condition, while one victim was from Flordia and the other six from Pennsylvania. At this time, the incident is under active investigation and no suspects are in custody, state police said. Officials have not said what they think led to the shooting. Lt Col George Bivens said that troopers were first called to the scene for a noise disturbance around midnight and a mounted unit was moved into the area out of precaution. Upon arrival, members of the mounted unit heard multiple gunshots originating from within the facility. A request for backup was made, and additional gunshots were heard, along with observing a large number of people exiting the building through doors and windows. Members rendered immediate aid to obviously injured individuals collapsing outside the building while simultaneously, other members made entry into the building. Other victims were located, and the building was secured. The incident was at least the 540th mass shooting in the US in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. A 16-year-old student at Matanzas High School was arrested after the teen got in a fight with another student and bit a school employee trying to break up the fight, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office. The incident happened about 1 p.m. Friday in the school's courtyard. A school employee was trying to separate two female students who were fighting. The staff member placed their arm around the 16-year-old student who bit the staff member several times in the forearm until she broke the skin, causing a minor injury, according to the sheriff's office. The 16-year-old student was charged with battery on a school official and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility for processing before being transferred to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The News-Journal is not publishing the student's name because she has not been charged as an adult. Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly asked parents to talk to their children about resolving conflicts without fights. This lack of respect for teachers and staff will not be tolerated in our schools, Staly stated in the release. School staff and teachers are here to teach you. Dont fight in school. It takes a bigger person to walk away from a fight and de-escalate the situation than to engage in a fight or attack a faculty member. "Parents, talk and teach your students how to handle disagreements and that fighting is not the solution," Staly continued. "This will help them for a lifetime. Otherwise, if you dont do your job as a parent, we will do our job and arrest your child, which we dont want to do, but we will not tolerate this kind of behavior in our schools. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida high school student, 16, bit staff member, arrested Hello and welcome back to Max Q! In this issue: Meet Castelion News from Amazon and more One builds weapons in the hope that they are not used. Thus goes the central premise of deterrence theory, which says it is the credible threat of aggression not the use of aggression that will ensure states avoid war. This theory has dominated much of Americas strategic thinking over the past 50-plus years, but new technologies and new adversaries threaten to upend the status quo. For the first time, China has started to outpace the U.S. in critical weapons programs the country developed a new type of weapon called a hypersonic glide vehicle as early as 2014, which can strike Taipei and the Taiwan Strait in about 20 minutes from its strategic bases in the South China Sea. Americas comparative sluggishness to develop such tech could result in the U.S. falling catastrophically behind its adversaries. The founders of Castelion, a startup that emerged from stealth this week, cut straight to the point: Simply put this cannot be allowed to happen. Castelion Image Credits: Castelion More news from across TC United Launch Alliance Image Credits: United Launch Alliance Max Q is brought to you by me, Aria Alamalhodaei. If you enjoy reading Max Q, consider forwarding it to a friend. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has issued a public plea for the safe return of an American news reporter stranded in Israel. Former PIX11 News reporter Rebecca Solomon was visiting family in the city of Rishon LeZion for the Jewish holidays with her husband and infant child when the Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, News 12 reports. Rishon LeZion is roughly forty miles from the Gaza Strip. Israel has ordered a complete siege on Gaza in retaliation to Hamas attack. According to local media reports, 900 people have been killed in Israel and 500 others in Gaza, while US officials confirmed at least nine American fatalities in the ongoing conflict. Ms Solomon, who worked as a correspondent for PIX11 until last month, told the network about her desperate attempts to escape the war. Several airlines have cancelled flights and US authorities have yet to announce any plans to evacuate American citizens stranded in the war-torn country. When the sun goes down, and it gets dark again, I get scared. Im scared for whats to come at night. And thats just in this area. We already know in the south near Gaza its a war zone, Ms Solomon told PIX 11. Ms Solomon also told Mediaite that she was sheltering in place in her in-laws apartment, which has a bomb shelter. The veteran news reporter said that although the airport was a short 20-minute drive from her in-laws, she was scared her family would encounter danger while trying to escape the violence. Everything has come to a halt. You have some people who are scared and rightfully so, children who have to stay in the bomb shelters and sleep, and its scary, Ms Solomon told Mediaite, adding that she was hoping to find a way to safely leave Israel by Thursday. She continued: And then you have people who are no longer active military, theyre in the reserves or what have you, and they are like put me in. Im ready to fight. I want to serve my country. Yes, its scary but theres a lot of strength as well. Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement on Monday pleading for Ms Solomons safe return. It comes just a day after the mayor condemned pro-Hamas protesters after one of them was seen brandishing a swastika during a protest in Times Square. Join us in keeping Rebecca Solomon, the @Pix11news family, and all those affected by this weekends terrorist attacks in our thoughts today, the mayor tweeted. The bond between New York City and Israel is so strong. These tragic days are felt deeply in the five boroughs. Mr Adams addressed the Saturday attacks and the subsequent protest held in Manhattan. Supporters of Israel were separated via a police barricade from backers of the Palestinian cause one of whom was spotted on the front line holding up a swastika. Throughout the day, Ive been monitoring the protest that started in Times Square and that moved through our streets to outside the Israeli Consulate Generals Office in New York, Mr Adams said in a statement. 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. On Saturday, Hamas militants broke through the border from Gaza and launched the deadliest attack the country has experienced in recent history. Israel has since ordered a complete siege of Gaza and cut off supplies of electricity, food and fuel to the Palestinian enclave. The White House confirmed on Monday that at least nine Americans have been confirmed dead as a result of the ongoing conflict. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine US citizens, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts. Americans who are stranded in Israel can request assistance from the US Embassy here. Ymele Guy's child was among those killed by the disaster At least 30 people have been killed in landslides caused by heavy rains in Cameroon's capital Yaounde, the emergency services have said. A local radio station put the death toll at 40, saying that many people are still missing. Rescue efforts were hampered by floods, forcing locals to pull bodies out of the debris with their bare hands. Heavy rainfall caused the Mefou River to burst its banks on Sunday, submerging several neighbourhoods. The impoverished neighbourhood of Mbankolo, where many houses were built precariously on a hillside, was worst affected. Local resident Ymele Guy told the BBC his child was killed by the flooding. "I saw the disaster and just when I was informing my wife that things were bad, in a fraction of a second, my children and I were being submerged," he said. "I saved my wife and at least three children. The rain took along the fourth... the rain snatched that child away." Jouego Catherine said her pregnant sister remained buried under the debris. "I've still not found my sister. She got married in April. Together with her in-laws, all seven died here. Five corpses have already been recovered, it's remaining two my sister and a young girl." Landslides are frequent during the rainy season in Yaounde - last year a soil embankment collapsed and killed at least 14 funeral attendees. During Sunday's disaster, dozens of houses were swept away by the raging floods. One home had been reduced to a mere passageway - a shortcut for emergency responders and grief-stricken residents. People from outside the neighbourhood turned up on Monday to witness the devastation, such was the scale of the disaster. Interior Minister Paul Atanga Nji urged people, including residents, to evacuate the area "because the soil is unstable". Many local people remain in the neighbourhood, however, as temporary accommodation is still being set up. "We are organising rescue efforts, mattresses, blankets and all that," he said, adding that a three-month-old baby was among those who had been rescued. Poverty and poor infrastructure make communities such as Mbankolo more vulnerable to extreme weather such as heavy rain, which is becoming more frequent and intense in Africa due to climate change, according to United Nations climate experts. The landslide led to 25 homes collapsing On Saturday, authorities in neighbouring Nigeria warned residents to expect floods in nine states as Cameroon began releasing water from its Lagdo Dam. It is expected to do this until the end of this month, Nigeria's National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) said, adding that Cameroon's dam was expected to spill water until the end of October. Cameroon says the release of water is necessary due to heavy rains in the country's north. The release would be kept to a minimum, officials added. Last year, the release of water from the dam caused flooding and fatalities in Nigeria, especially in Benue state, on the border with Cameroon. The landslide flattened many houses McCarthy does not rule out returning as Speaker if GOP deadlocked Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) did not rule out returning to the post if the House Republican Conference cannot decide on a replacement. Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt asked McCarthy who lost the gavel last week after eight House Republicans joined with Democrats to oust him on Monday whether he would serve again as Speaker if Republicans are deadlocked on a replacement. Look, the conference has to make that decision. Im still a member. Im going to continue to fight and act, McCarthy said. Pressed again on whether he would take the job again if the eight GOP members who opposed him retreated, McCarthy remained open to the possibility. Look, whatever the conference wants, I will do, McCarthy said. I think we need to be strong. I think we need to be united. The eight, in my view, dont look to be it was a personal thing. More from The Hill: He expressed frustration with the Republicans who voted against a GOP-only stopgap proposal. The partys repeated failure to pass a temporary funding bill that included spending cuts and policy provisions prompted McCarthy to pass a clean stopgap to avoid a government shutdown, infuriating the hard-line GOP members who then voted to oust him. McCarthy defended the decision, pointing to the war breaking out in Israel. Theyre the ones who wanted a government shutdown, McCarthy said. We wouldnt be paying our troops while were putting out a carrier strike fighter there 30,000 American men and women in our armed services in the Middle East wouldnt be being paid right now? I mean, what weakness would we be at? Some Republicans, such as Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), have argued that McCarthy should be reinstated as Speaker, particularly in light of the new war in Israel. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) are running to replace McCarthy as Speaker. The House GOP is set to have a candidate forum Tuesday and an internal conference election Wednesday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) kept the door open to a comeback bid for the Speakership on Monday, outlining steps he believes the U.S. should take to respond to the crisis in Israel during a lengthy press conference a presentation that was reminiscent of when he held the gavel just a week before. The California Republican did not directly answer if he envisions a scenario in which he could be a candidate for Speaker; if he would accept a colleague nominating him for Speaker; or if he thinks he is the right person to lead the House in the current moment, considering his pro-Israel background. Thats a decision by the conference, McCarthy said, relaying iterations of that multiple times. He similarly deflected when asked if he would endorse either of the candidates running to replace him: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). But McCarthy, who hours after being ousted as Speaker said he would not run for the post again, was not shy about reminding reporters that the vast majority of the House GOP conference voted to keep him in the top spot last week. The only thing I would ask my conference, you have 96 percent of the conference in one place and youre allowing 4 percent, with the Democrats playing politics, that now have putting the doubt inside this body, McCarthy said. That is wrong. McCarthys apparent openness to returning to the Speakership which he also indicated earlier in the morning to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt is just the latest curveball in the race to pick a new Speaker after his unprecedented ouster. And for the former Speaker who gained control of the gavel in January after a four-day, 15-ballot floor election saga it would be his biggest comeback yet. His openness, though, marks a reversal. Hours after being ousted from the Speakership, McCarthy took himself out of the running. I will not run for Speaker again. Ill have the conference pick somebody else, McCarthy said in a press conference last week. House Republicans are scheduled to have a closed-door meeting Monday night, a candidate forum Tuesday and an internal vote on a nominee Wednesday. The conference would then take that nomination to the floor to put up against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). But lawmakers returned to Washington with increased urgency to elect a new Speaker on Monday after war broke out in Israel over the weekend. Hamas, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, which has already led to more than 1,000 deaths and more than 100 hostages being held by Hamas. Several House GOP lawmakers including Reps. John Duarte (R-Calif.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) have suggested that McCarthy return as Speaker, and the outbreak of war in Israel has further fueled those calls. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), who attended McCarthys press conference, echoed that. I believe hes the right person to lead. I said yesterday on CNN that he should be reinstated as Speaker. I believe that, Lawler said. Several lawmakers have said that neither Scalise nor Jordan have the support necessary to become Speaker, prompting fears of a drawn-out process and a deadlock and perhaps giving an opening for McCarthy. Both men have racked up endorsements, but neither have emerged as a front-runner. Does anybody have the votes? No, Lawler said of the Speakership race. It is unclear, though, how McCarthy could secure enough support from House Republicans to take hold of the gavel again given the opposition from the eight GOP lawmakers who joined with Democrats to oust him last week. Any Speaker will have to earn the support of a majority of GOP lawmakers on the House floor currently a threshold of 217 members, assuming all members of the House are present and voting. Without a Speaker, the House is unable to conduct any legislative business in support of Israel, one of the U.S.s closest allies a reality that is putting pressure on lawmakers to elect a top lawmaker as quickly as possible. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is currently serving as Speaker pro tempore, but the general consensus is that his authority in the role is limited. House Democrats argue that McHenry can do little else but oversee the election of a new Speaker. Unfortunately, the House can do nothing without a Speaker, McCarthy told reporters when asked about what action the House can take with the Speakership vacant. I could be upset with eight, but I could be upset with every single Democrat as well, he continued. They both made the same decision, a political decision, instead of putting America first. But McCarthy argued that McHenry may be able to oversee passage of a House resolution even before there is a newly elected Speaker. I dont understand why the [Speaker pro tempore] couldnt lead as well. We should have a resolution on the floor condemning whats taking place so the rest of the world understands, McCarthy said. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday said he is working with Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the panels ranking member, on a resolution condemning Hamas for its actions over the weekend. McCarthy pointed to his pro-Israel credentials during Mondays press conference: He addressed Israels Knesset in May, becoming just the second Speaker ever to deliver a speech before the legislative body, and he welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Capitol in July. On Monday, he presented a framework for the U.S. to support Israel amid the current conflict, which includes rescuing American hostages, refreezing the $6 billion in Iranian funds the White House unfroze earlier this year and demanding the leader of Hamass extradition. McCaul emphasized the importance of getting a Speaker elected so the House can conduct business in support of Israel. 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 Meeks and I have been working on, [a] bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas for what they have done to Israel, he told CNNs State of the Union in an interview. 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, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), until recently the speaker of the House, told reporters Monday what the United States needs to do to help Israel after the militant group Hamas killed hundreds of people there in a surprise attack over the weekend. But McCarthys target audience for his remarks may have been less the American public and more his colleagues in the House Republican conference. When McCarthy, now just one among the 433 representatives currently in office after his historic ouster as speaker last week, appeared in the same room where hed often met with reporters as speaker, it seemed like one of his aims was to send a message to his fellow House Republicans: Im still around, if youre having second thoughts. McCarthy, who last week had brushed off the idea of being drafted to return to the speakers chair, saying This job was never about me, signaled a different stance Tuesday. The conference can decide, McCarthy said when asked if he would accept being nominated for the post, which would make him the third official candidate in addition to Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Former House speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks during a news conference at the Capitol on Monday. McCarthy laid out a five-point plan to support Israel in the conflict that erupted over the weekend. Former House speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks during a news conference at the Capitol on Monday. McCarthy laid out a five-point plan to support Israel in the conflict that erupted over the weekend. Asked if he believed he was the right person to be speaker, McCarthy replied: Thats not my decision. Thats the conference. But he noted that without a speaker in place, the House is limited in what it can do to respond legislatively to the attack on Israel. The legislative language establishing the interim speaker pro tem position held now by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is subject to various interpretations, but one interpretation is that the interim speaker can only exercise powers that help get a new speaker elected, and little else. Unfortunately, the House can do nothing without a speaker, McCarthy said. McCarthy was ousted because eight members of his party, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and angry at his support for a stopgap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown, voted with Democrats to provide the winning margin. The experience has left a bad taste in the mouths of many House Republicans, who accuse Democrats of hurting the institution of the House and the GOP dissidents of embarrassing the party. Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) said the attack on Israel changes the dynamic and highlights the need for McCarthys return. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), another GOP moderate, told reporters: A lot of people believe Kevin McCarthy is the right person to lead us. McCarthy certainly had his talking points down on who to blame for his ouster. Its not himself, even though the most obvious reason he got ejected is because of the many, many concessions he made to his far-right flank to become speaker in the first place. Rather, McCarthy has specifically been going after two Republicans as the real culprits: Gaetz and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.). Asked in Mondays press conference if he could imagine being speaker again, McCarthy scoffed at the idea of the Republicans who pushed him out trying to navigate a congressional response to war breaking out between Israel and Hamas militants. Could you imagine if we were sitting here and we listened further to a Gaetz and Mace, that we were in a shutdown? he said. That, as we asked our 30,000 men and women in the military in the Middle East to defend us, without being paid? He also name-checked them in a Monday interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. The Democrats made the same political decision that Matt Gaetz and Mace did. This is a Gaetz-Mace-Hakeem-Pelosi decision, McCarthy told Hewitt, referring to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). They think, Take Kevin off the playing field, so they could try to win a majority instead of wondering what the rest of the worlds going to look at, and wondering whether their government should stay funded, McCarthy said. Time to move on.Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) Hewitt noted that McCarthy helped Mace get elected in the first place, and asked why shed turned on him. McCarthy said he didnt know, but then took a shot at Mace, saying she simply loves the limelight. If McCarthy did become speaker again, its not clear whether or how he might retaliate against the eight Republicans who voted to throw him out. But in his press conference, he intimated vaguely that there could be consequences for their behavior. Its not just electing somebody thats new its whether you want to be a conservative who will govern, McCarthy said. Thats the question the conference has to realize. For the idea you allow eight people to continue to do that with no consequences, no ones going to be successful. In his remarks, McCarthy said the U.S. needs to rescue American hostages in the Hamas-Israel conflict, resupply Israels air defense weaponry, confront Iran, examine why U.S. intelligence failed to discover the attack, and renew efforts to secure the U.S., especially the southern border. Its unclear if McCarthys remarks will affect House Republicans deliberations on who should be speaker. The conference began a meeting Monday night to discuss the issue, with an eye toward voting later in the week. But Gaetz signaled he would still oppose a McCarthy return. Math is real, Gaetz posted on social media, referring to the numbers of the vote to remove McCarthy. Time to move on. Related... (Bloomberg) -- Representative Kevin McCarthy said hes willing to return as US House speaker, calling out extreme members of both parties for focusing on petty politics while Israel is under attack. Most Read from Bloomberg Sounding like he still had the job he lost last week, McCarthy called for swift action to aid Israel. He also tied the attack to President Joe Bidens policies on Iran and used it as fodder to call for conservative priorities like securing the US southern border and scrutinizing aid to Ukraine. This is about a moment in time. This is about what America is going to do, McCarthy told reporters Monday. Ill allow the conference to make whatever decision, McCarthy added. I can lead in any position it is. McCarthy took aim at the eight Republicans who joined with Democrats to oust a speaker for the first time in US history. Several of those hardliners said they voted to remove McCarthy because of his deals with Democrats to avoid a breach of the debt ceiling and avert an Oct. 1 government shutdown. What if government wasnt open? How weak would we be then? McCarthy said. The pettiness has got to stop. McCarthy was careful not to announce his candidacy for the speakership but implored lawmakers to do what is best for the country. He stressed he had the support of 96% of House Republicans and that it is wrong that 4% of the GOP worked with Democrats to remove him. The House is unable to approve any new aid to Israel or conduct any other business until a new speaker is in place. McCarthy also called for fresh sanctions to block Irans oil exports, which he said had boomed under Biden and fueled terrorism, and replacing Irans oil with greater US production instead. This is a colossal failure, McCarthy said of Bidens priorities. The No. 2 House Republican, Steve Scalise, and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who has Donald Trumps backing, are locked in a battle to succeed McCarthy ahead of a planned election on Wednesday. The process could take several days if Republicans, who hold a very narrow majority, cant unite around a candidate. McCarthy was elected as speaker in January following an extraordinary 15 rounds of voting. Eight Republican dissidents joined all Democrats to vote him out of office. Read More: Firebrand Jordan, Steady Scalise Face Off in House Speaker Race Some Republicans have called for reinstating McCarthy, who has the support of most GOP lawmakers. Uncertainty and chaos in the U.S. breeds vulnerability around the world. The House should immediately reinstate McCarthy and stop screwing around, New York Republican Mike Lawler posted Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. A House With No Speaker? What This Means for US: QuickTake We wouldnt be paying our troops, including tens of thousands serving in the Middle East, had the government shuttered, McCarthy earlier Monday told radio host Hugh Hewitt. If he were still speaker, McCarthy said, he wouldve set a vote today today on a resolution showing support for Israel. McCarthy said he would also act to ensure Israel has high-tech munitions, look at new sanctions against Iran, push more domestic energy production and counter anti-antisemitism on college campuses and in Congress. Hamas has to be destroyed, but this is not just Hamas. This is directly tied to Iran, he told Hewitt. (Updates with additional McCarthy comments about conflict in Israel) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is calling for new severe sanctions against Iran in response to attacks carried out by Hamas fighters against Israeli civilians over the weekend. U.S. deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said early Monday that Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, and a spokesman for Hamas told the BBC Monday that Hamas had received support from Iran to conduct the attacks, which caught Israel Defense Forces off guard. McConnell, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday afternoon, called on Western allies to reimpose extensive multilateral sanctions on Tehran. Specifically, he called on the United States and allies to deny Iranian planes the right to fly over their territory and to impound the shipping vessels Iran uses to circumvent sanctions. He also urged the United States and its allies to close Iranian banks with access to the West and cease the Iranian operations of European businesses. The call for harsh new sanctions was one of four steps McConnell urged in response to the terror attacks outside the Gaza Strip that have claimed the lives of hundreds of Israelis. McConnell said the Biden administration and members of Congress need to call out Hamas and its supporters directly and stay away from neutral language urging both sides to de-escalate the situation. And he said the administration needs to move quickly to provide military aid and intelligence to Israels defense forces to target and destroy Hamas militants, whom he denounced as savages responsible for killing women, children and the elderly. He said the administration should stop trying to cut the defense budget and urged Congress to pass an emergency defense spending supplemental to assist Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. And he said the United States should put more focus on the threat posed by Iran, which he called the worlds most active state sponsor of terror. The world has once again seen the face of evil. Those blessed to live in the democratic West must understand that this barbarism, like that we have witnessed in Russias war against Ukraine, threatens all of us. And the civilized world must offer Israel more than rhetorical solidarity, he wrote in the op-ed published Monday afternoon. He argued that political leaders and policymakers should distinguish between the aggressor and the victim and warned against calls for both sides to de-escalate. Israel deserves the time and space to defend itself, he wrote. The Republican leader repeated his call for Congress to pass an emergency spending package, which House Republicans stripped out of a government funding stopgap last month. Congress has the opportunity this fall to provide emergency appropriations to the Defense Department so that it can assist partners like Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, as well as invest in our own military capabilities, he wrote. He said such a package should include significant replenishment funding, which allows the United States to expand and modernize its own weapons inventories and provide funding to expand the production of artillery munitions, missiles and other essential defense technologies. On the subject of Iran, McConnell argued that policymakers need to do more to recognize the deepening partnership between Tehran and Moscow, noting the armed drones Iran shipped to Russia to attack Ukraine. The West should reimpose extensive multilateral sanctions on Tehran and deny Iranian planes overflight rights. Impound the shipping vessels Iran uses to circumvent sanctions. Close Iranian banks with access to the West, and cease the Iranian operations of European businesses, he wrote. Treat Iranian officials like pariahs and sink Iranian naval boats that threaten international shipping, the GOP leader added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A man is in custody after a woman died due to injuries sustained in Merced Saturday evening, according to the Merced Police Department. Police say around 4:15 p.m. they responded to the 1100 block of D Street after a woman called asking for assistance. Upon arrival, responding officers reported a woman suffering from injuries and despite life-saving measures, she succumbed to her injuries. Authorities say one man is in custody. Detectives are actively investigating the scene and more information will be released as it becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. DeKalb County plans to spend $10 million to decrease overcrowding in its animal shelter. The county said its comprehensive strategy includes reducing the number of pets released into the community or brought to the animal shelter. Residents who lack the financial resources to properly care for their pets are fueling the overcrowding crisis at our animal shelter, CEO Michael Thurmond said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Part of the countys plan includes helping families keep pets in their homes and encourage the spaying and neutering of pets. DeKalb commissioners approved in September to allocate $1.6 million for an overflow facility for the animal shelter and $600,000 toward the Lifeline Animal Project for staffing. They also approved $200,000 toward programs to encourage more foster homes for animals, $144,000 for a mobile veterinarian clinic and $25,000 for community outreach for the shelter expansion. The county strategy also includes a $7.5 million proposed allocation that would be funded by a special purpose local option sales tax. Voters would have to approve the SPLOST in November. TRENDING STORIES: Channel 2 Action News has reported for years on the overcrowding issues at the countys animal shelter. Channel 2s Courtney Francisco obtained records last month that show inspectors have been to the DeKalb County shelter 56 times since Jan. 2022. Officials from the Georgia Department of Agriculture and DeKalb County met for a compliance conference in Feb. 2023. By March, DeKalb County sent a letter to the department outlining steps the DeKalb County Animal Services would take to improve shelter conditions. Part of the plan included solutions for better intake management to eliminate issues due to overcrowding. In July, the shelter announced a crisis. Officials said that kennels were so crowded that staff had decided to start euthanizing healthy dogs for the first time in a decade. If you are interested in adopting or fostering an animal, more information can be found here. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By Valentine Hilaire and Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -The Mexican army is carrying out humanitarian flights aimed at bringing home nationals from Israel amid the attack on the country by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the government said on Monday. An unknown number of hostages were taken by Hamas after it launched a surprise attack in Israel on Saturday. Two Mexicans are believed to have been among those taken by the group, Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said on Sunday. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday said in a press conference that Mexico would not take sides in the conflict and the United Nations should convene all member countries to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict. "More than condemnation, what is required is a search for peaceful solutions, that there is dialogue and that further confrontation and violence is avoided," Lopez Obrador said. Some 5,000 Mexican nationals are in Israel and some 300 have asked to leave, according to Lopez Obrador. A plane leaving on Monday morning has a capacity of about 170 passengers, the defense ministry said. A second plane was to leave later in the day. Blajaith Aguilar, the head of the Mexican national gymnast team, told Reuters that she and five athletes alongside a physiotherapist were in Israel waiting to see if they would be on the next government-issued flight home. "We were in our training camp when this whole situation broke out on Saturday," she told Reuters. Elsewhere in Latin America, Peru's foreign ministry said two citizens have been reported missing, while one Panamanian citizen is also among those missing, according to local authorities. Two Paraguayan citizens have been reported missing, the country's foreign ministry said. (Reporting by Valentine Hilaire, Lizbeth Diaz, Raul Cortes Fernandez, and Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Angus MacSwan, Christina Fincher and Michael Perry) MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum has a commanding lead over her nearest rival in the contest to win Mexico's presidential election next year, opinion polls showed on Monday. A Sept. 30-Oct. 5 survey of 800 voters by polling firm Parametria showed Sheinbaum, candidate of the ruling leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), backed by more than half the electorate in two match-ups with possible rivals. The first showed Sheinbaum with 55% support, and Xochitl Galvez, candidate of the main right-left opposition alliance, with 20%, in a scenario with ex-foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard running for Citizens Movement (MC), another opposition party. Ebrard, who finished runner-up to Sheinbaum in the race to secure the MORENA candidacy and denounced the selection process as unfair, has not declared himself for the center-left MC. In that theoretical configuration he was seen winning 12% support. If either Sheinbaum or Galvez are victorious in the June 2, 2024 vote, they would be the first female president in Mexico's history. Sheinbaum, 61, has the firm backing of popular President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who cannot run again because Mexican law restricts the president to a single six-year term. In a separate match-up in which Samuel Garcia, governor of northern Nuevo Leon state was posited as MC's presidential candidate, Sheinbaum was seen winning 60% support, compared to 17% for Galvez. Garcia garnered the backing of 9%. MC has said it will announce its candidate in January. The survey also showed Sheinbaum was better known, being recognized by 69% of voters, compared to 51% for Galvez. Parametria said its poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. A separate Sept. 29-Oct 1 survey of 1,600 voters by polling firm Consulta Mitofsky showed Sheinbaum winning 47.7% support for the presidency, Galvez with 27% and MC's Garcia with 9.7%. (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Barbara Hochman, a retired physical therapist, decided she wanted to become a substitute teacher. After applying for the position, submitting her college transcript and completing the necessary training, she started working in Miami-Dade County Public Schools about a year and a half ago. Over the summer, Hochman received an email from the district alerting her that all hiring and management of substitutes, also known as temporary teachers, would be outsourced to a company called Kelly Education. Soon after, as she began seeing ads on Facebook from the company for open positions, she noticed something odd: the requirements to be a substitute teacher had changed. Now, candidates needed only a high school diploma to apply, rather than the 30 college credits one year of college that had been required just a week before. What Hochman didnt know was that in the face of a persistent teacher shortage, Miami-Dade County Public Schools had quietly lowered the requirements for substitute teachers for the second time in six years. Historically, the district had required subs to have completed at least 60 hours of college credit approximately equivalent to an associates degree and be at least 19 years old. In 2017, the district lowered the college requirements to 30 hours of credit and the age to 18 for K-8 positions, and 19 for high school positions. In August, the district loosened requirements once again: now, anyone who meets the age requirements and has a traditional high school diploma or has passed the GED exam is eligible to apply. Hochman said she was appalled by the change both as an educator and as a grandparent of elementary school students in the district. Im horrified to think that someone who barely graduated high school can now sub for my grandchildren, she said. Hochman understands the district is struggling to hire substitute teachers, but she believes the solution is to raise the pay to attract more qualified candidates. With todays pay, she said, even if you subbed every day thats available, youd be at the poverty level. A Miami-Dade substitute teacher with a bachelors degree or higher makes $117.72 a day; those without a degree make about $4 less. Those who fill in for special education teachers or teach at an alternative education site are paid an additional $17 per day. (A substitute teacher who worked all 180 school days would make just over $21,000 annually, about $2,000 below the federal poverty level for a family of three.) They needed to raise the rate to attract people not drop the requirements, Hochman said. A Kelly Education sign encouraging people to sign up to become substitute teachers hangs outside of Glades Middle School on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Miami, Fla. Broward requires college credits In making this change, Miami-Dade County joins six of the 10 largest school districts in Florida that require a high school diploma as the minimum level of education for short-term substitute teachers. (This meets Florida state requirements.) Only Broward, Orange and Duval counties of the 10 largest districts require 60 college credits. To be a long-term substitute teacher in Miami-Dade such as filling in when a teacher is on maternity leave full teacher certification, including a bachelors degree and demonstrated mastery of subject area knowledge, is still required. A Broward County Public Schools spokesperson said the district has still been able to maintain a pool of qualified substitute teachers to meet the needs of our schools. The two largest school districts in the country, New York City and Los Angeles Unified, respectively, require short-term substitute teachers to be four-year college graduates. In New York City, substitutes make about $200 a day, as of May 2021. Miami-Dade is the third-largest school district in the nation; Broward is the sixth-largest. Miami-Dade is not alone, though, in loosening minimum qualifications. Nationwide, we are seeing changes to both teacher and substitute teacher credentialing requirements to combat the ongoing teacher shortage, said Danielle Nixon, director of public relations for Kelly Education. There were approximately 200 teacher vacancies in Miami-Dade as of last week, according to the district. Miami-Dade Schools: Opportunity for recent grads Were not seeing this as a lowering of the standards, said Dawn Baglos, chief human capital officer at Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Instead, she argued, the change in standards was to allow recent high school graduates of the district to quickly return to the classroom as educators. When asked why the district had failed to announce the change, Elmo Lugo, media relations director for the district, said any announcement would have come from Kelly Education, because the district had already signed the contract with the company once the decision was made. (The Herald submitted a public records request to the district asking for the Kelly contract, but the district had not provided it as of Friday afternoon.) Kelly Education, though, does not have ownership over the districts website which, as of Thursday, still had not been updated to reflect the new minimum qualifications that went into effect two months ago. Diego Fernandez, 40, goes through the procedures to become a Miami-Dade Schools substitute teacher at the Kelly Education offices on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Miami, Fla. Our children deserve better than this The lowering of standards is part of a larger trend, said Chonika Coleman-King, assistant professor of education at the University of Florida, citing the recent statewide bill that would allow veterans to receive a 5-year temporary teaching certificate, even if they had not completed a bachelors degree. (The Military Veterans Certification Pathway was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in June 2022.) There are lots of ways that we could go about trying to fill slots in schools with highly qualified people if thats something we were invested in doing right, Coleman-King said. We know that teacher salaries are generally low. We know that substitute pay is generally low. If we wanted to incentivize highly qualified people to fill these spaces, we could devote resources to these positions. And hiring inexperienced teachers as substitutes can impact a student, she noted. Research says that having a highly qualified teacher is the single most important thing that affects a childs performance in an academic year, she said. And so when we lower the qualifications for teachers and for substitutes, inevitably, we resign certain kids to a poor education and that means that their future prospects are also affected by those decisions. The notion that anybody, regardless of education or training, can be a substitute teacher is a false one, she added. Anybody can do it, but not everybody can do it well, Coleman-King said. If we actually care about children and if we actually think education is the cornerstone to a successful life and being able to contribute to society then we need to recognize that we need highly qualified teachers in classrooms, whether they are substitute teachers or full-time classroom teachers. Hochman, the substitute teacher, agrees: Our children deserve better than this. How did we get here? Returning from the pandemic, Miami-Dade Countys substitute teacher fill rate was just 35%, meaning for every 100 needed subs on a given day, the district was only able to find about 35. The result: Full-time teachers were pulled from their prep periods to cover or classes were canceled and combined. Some schools had auditoriums filled with students because they didnt have enough subs to cover classes, said Karla Hernandez-Mats, president of United Teachers of Dade, the teachers union. Not only was that negligent obviously to the students who arent getting the education that they need but it was also a huge pressure on teachers. The district acknowledges the substitute teacher shortage. By 2022, the shortage in Miami-Dade was so acute that the union negotiated a deal with the district. If no short-term sub were available to cover a class, and a full-time teacher had to step in, they were guaranteed compensation for the extra work. In January, the Miami-Dade School Board established a task force to study best practices for recruiting and maintaining substitute teachers. It included principals, substitute recruiters and teachers. Adriana Ponce, 61, right, goes through the procedures to become a Miami-Dade Schools substitute teacher at the Kelly Education offices on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Miami, Fla. A few months later, they presented their findings, including a recommendation to contract with an outside organization and to provide benefits. Historically, the district had allowed subs only to work eight out of every 10 days to avoid providing them with full-time benefits. District signs contract with Kelly By July 26, the district signed a contract with Kelly Education, which will become the employer for all Miami-Dade County substitute teachers on Oct. 16. The Miami Herald requested the Kelly Education contract through a public records request; as of Friday, the district had not given the Herald the contract. Once Kelly takes over, substitute teachers will be able to work five days a week, but will no longer be eligible to join the teachers union, said Hernandez-Mats, since the district will no longer be their employer. Although some teachers expressed hesitancy about the partnership with Kelly Education, Hernandez-Mats described the arrangement as much more efficient than the districts former archaic substitute platform. Daijah Lee, an onboarding specialist with Kelly Education, prepares to take a badge photo of Luca Danglade, 32, as he goes through the procedures to become a Miami-Dade Schools substitute teacher at the Kelly Education offices on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Miami, Fla. Its a win for the district because theyre going to be staffed, said Hernandez-Mats. Its a win for teachers. Its a win for students. And obviously having a workforce that can work five days a week is a win for them, too, she said. Kelly Education Kelly Education, a division of the parent company Kelly Services, got its start in 1997 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Their mission was to place teachers in classrooms. Twenty five years later, they have a footprint in 42 states. The company works with 10 districts in Florida, including Broward and Orange counties. During the 2022-23 school year, the company filled more than 846,000 absences in Florida and annually it fills 4 million absences nationwide, according to Nixon, Kellys spokeswoman. One of their goals, said President Nicola Soares, is to bring in qualified substitute teachers, who can eventually transition into full-time roles. Broward County was able to hire 108 Kelly-employed substitute teachers into their full-time ranks, according to Soares. All substitute teachers who work for Miami-Dade can be rehired by Kelly Education, pending a background check. The goal is to eventually hire 6,000 substitute teachers, said Kathie Martin, senior implementation manager at the company. Currently, there are about 2,400 substitute teachers who are active in the district and of those, about 1,600 have come over to Kelly so far. Once new substitute teachers are hired, they have to complete a six-hour training, either in person or virtually, and then take an exam. The training was developed with the school district and includes modules on classroom management and ethics. About 60% of substitute teachers in Miami-Dade hold a bachelors degree or higher, according to Baglos, the chief human capital officer at the district. And only 14 subs are younger than 20. Martin said that concerns around lowering the minimum requirements for substitute teachers are valid but that hiring personnel at the company know what to watch out for. One prospective substitute teacher, 31-year-old Shekaria Williams, said its a good thing to offer the opportunity to people who have a passion for children but perhaps cant afford to pursue a higher education. With the training, I feel like it should put everyone where they need to be so they can effectively be a sub or a paraprofessional, she said. Williams wants to become a substitute teacher as a test run to make sure she enjoys being in the classroom before pursuing her masters degree. Other educators, though, insist that instead of lowering the standards the district should pay teachers more. (A representative from the district said that within the last few years they have boosted compensation by 8%.) Millie Perez, a former banker working as a substitute teacher in Miami-Dade, said she doesnt understand how someone with no formal training or higher education could deal with the issues that arise in a classroom. Marta Zayas, a 28-year teacher in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, echoed this point. Right now, it almost feels as if its a toss of the dice: Maybe youll get somebody who is prepared and who can actually teach a class. Students at Miami University may no longer be able to major in some humanities programs, such as American studies, religion or health communication. Miami is considering consolidating 18 of its major programs. Like schools across the county, the state school in Oxford, Ohio is facing lower enrollment. "It's tragic. I feel very sympathetic to the faculty I myself am a humanities professor," said Elizabeth Mullenix, the university provost who is leading the reorganization. "I want to be really clear that the humanities are not going away. Just because a major is small doesn't mean that that discipline cannot exist in a robust way in other forms." Department chairs for the low enrollment programs will give the provost their potential plans by December. Students already enrolled in these programs will be able to graduate with the major they chose. For a full list of the programs affected, see the end of this story. Students walk to and from class along sidewalks in front of Upham Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, at Miami University campus in Oxford, Ohio. Why is Miami considering this? The university is facing a budget deficit of $36 million, according to reporting from the Miami Student. The university had to lay off some faculty and staff earlier this year, Mullenix said. Mullenix said Miami's revenue is affected by multiple factors: a shrinking pool of college-aged people, competition among Ohio universities, fewer international students coming to the United States, increased price sensitivity after the pandemic and a lack of faith in higher education. Nathan French, the lead advisor of the Department of Comparative Religion, said students and their families are increasingly thinking about the return on the investment in a college education. They're focusing more on career preparation and training when it comes to their major. "As a professor of the humanities, the challenge for us is always to show that the humanities as a field of study are not only an important part of the creativity and innovation required for any future career path, but they're also a part of basic human flourishing," he said. Mullenix said 72% of Miami students cluster in 30 majors, out of the university's 130 total majors. In thinking about how to reorganize staff and resources, the university started by looking at the major programs with fewer than 35 students over four years. She said it's hard to estimate potential savings from consolidating programs because the university isn't sure exactly what the curriculum will look like, but there could be savings from keeping fewer temporary faculty members for the low enrollment programs. Irvin Hall on Miami Universitys campus houses the Interactive Resource Center and more on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, at Miami University campus in Oxford, Ohio. What could happen to the majors? French is part of the Humanities Futures steering committee at Miami, which was formed to think about how the university should structure humanities programs. He said the group is thinking about reorganizing majors and academic departments and possibly creating new institutes or centers for specific areas of study. Mullenix said Miami is looking for ways to infuse humanities and social sciences throughout its curriculum, possibly through initiatives like certificates in the general education program and partnerships with the Honors College. Olivia Gallo, a sophomore majoring in social justice and organizational leadership from Colorado, said she was drawn to Miami because of the university's commitment to the liberal arts. She said she hoped with the university taking more progressive steps in recent years, specifically when it comes to supporting the Myaamia Tribe, Miami would support the humanities programs that involve diversity, equity and inclusion. "I feel like I've learned more in these (social justice) classes than in any of my other classes at Miami so personally I think it's going to be an unbelievable loss to Miami if these programs are cut," she said. Is this about politics? Higher education has become a hot topic in recent years as state lawmakers across the country introduce legislation restricting how universities approach diversity and teaching history. In Ohio, legislators introduced Senate Bill 83, which includes a list of required readings for American government courses and would restrict diversity and inclusion training. Mullenix said the decision was "absolutely not" about potential legislation but purely based on how to match resources to the areas more students are gravitating toward. Rodney Coates, a critical race and ethnic studies professor at Miami, said attacks on academia are often cyclical, referencing the Scopes trial in 1925 and the panic over communists taking over universities during the Red Scare in the 1950s. He said that critical race studies and the liberal arts broadly are about telling not just one version of events but digging into multiple different perspectives. Telling these different stories gives us a much more layered and robust understanding of who we are as a people. That's why it's important and that's why I'm not concerned," he said. "Regardless of what happens, we're still going to be writing, researching, and yes, teaching about these layers of differences that make us the great country that we are, the great people that we are. What does the future of liberal arts education look like? Miami isn't the only college to reckon with lower enrollment in certain majors. Ohio Wesleyan University cut 18 majors in 2020. The University of West Virginia cut 28 majors and 143 faculty positions last month, according to the Associated Press. Mullenix said she hopes Miami can model how to take a holistic new approach to the liberal arts. French said studying religion along with majors like political science or accounting, for example, can set students apart from their peers to employers and graduate schools. "If a student is an engineer here in Ohio, the odds are the trade flows that their career depends upon go to the Middle East. So for a student to be able to be fluent in that region, culturally, politically, economically, socially, religiously, is an essential part of being a contributor to the global economy," he said Coates said if students learn to research, think critically, write and compute, "there is not a graduate program that you cannot get into." Mullenix said declining enrollments in the humanities does not mean the humanities are not necessary. "The world is full of wicked problems that require a well-rounded, well-educated mind, which I think can only happen at a liberal arts institution," she said. Which majors are facing consolidation? American Studies. Art History. Classical Studies. Critical Race and Ethnic Studies. French. French Education. German. German Education. Health Communication. Health Information Technology. Italian Studies. Latin American Studies. Latin Education. Religion. Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. Spanish Education. Social Justice Studies. Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. About Miami University Founded: 1809. Enrollment: 18,700 students. Mascot: Swoop the RedHawk. Famous alumni: Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Paul Ryan, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Paul Brown, founder of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. Brian Niccol, CEO of Chipotle. Erin Glynn is the watchdog reporter through the Report For America program. Send her a note at eglynn@enquirer.com and follow her on Twitter at @ee_glynn. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Miami University to 'reinvent' 18 majors with low enrollment in Ohio A Macomb County nursing assistant is accused of falsifying records and patient neglect that led to a patient's death at a Richmond nursing home. Jessica Struhar, 26, was arraigned on one count each of second-degree vulnerable adult abuse and intentionally placing false information in a medical record, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday. While she was working as a certified nursing assistant at Medilodge of Richmond in 2021, Struhar ignored a 58-year-old resident's mealtime plan of care routine and this led to a choking incident that resulted in his death, the Department of Attorney General alleges. The overwhelming majority of those who provide long-term care in Michigan do so with integrity and respect for their important role, said Nessel. But when there is a serious breach in the responsibility entrusted to them, there are criminal consequences, and my office will seek accountability. John Carlisle: Dog repeatedly escapes Up North shelter, sneaks into nursing home Nessel's office also alleges that Struhar entered several false medical records about the resident's care while he was receiving life-saving action from emergency responders and hospital personnel. Each count that Struhar is facing is a four-year felony. Struhar is due in court for a probable cause hearing on Oct. 17. mmarini@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: AG: Nursing assistant neglect led to Macomb County nursing home death Grand Ventures today announced its second fund to invest in early-stage companies. The Grand Rapids, Michigan firm tells TechCrunch that it aims to lead seed-stage investments in startups solving problems facing the fintech, DevOps and supply chain sectors. The $50 million Fund II is managed by general partners Tim Streit, Camila Noordeloos and Nathan Owen. This new fund brings the total amount of assets under management to $80 million. Streit says he's thrilled to sign on new limited partners interested in venture capital firms and tech companies based outside of Silicon Valley. With a keen focus on supporting entrepreneurs in their nascent stages, Grand Ventures is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of emerging industries, particularly throughout the Midwest, central Canada and beyond. The $50 million Fund II received significant support from the firm's existing investor base. Streit smiles as he explains a good founder fit for Grand Ventures. He's from Michigan and thinks his Midwest roots play a role in the types of founders who work best with Grand Ventures. He likes working with scrappy founders who can get their hands dirty and have multidisciplinary skill sets. He says two-person founding teams are ideal, and he wants someone with domain expertise and enough technical aptitude to build on their own. He's interested in embedded finance right now, saying it's a compelling intersection of vertical SaaS and embedded payments. And these sorts of companies are popping up everywhere. "There are great founders all across the country developing vertical SaaS solutions laying fintech into those opportunities," Streit said. "You might have a great operator that's based out of Tulsa or Ohio where they built software for their operations. And now they realize they want to offer B2B vendor payments, and they want to work with capital solutions." He's bullish on building great tech companies outside of San Francisco's Bay Area, in part from the success of past investments. Grand Venture's first fund saw some timely investments, including TealBook, out of Toronto; InvestNext, out of Detroit; Chain.io, out of Philadelphia; and Astronomer, based in Cincinnati. "We were an early investor in Astronomer," he said. "This was in the early days of big data, and Astronomer was a pioneer and happened to be based in Cincinnati... They realized that someone has to build an enterprise-grade version of Apache Airflow -- to build that company from humble roots in Cincinnati is super cool. And if you look at the co-investors, it's the who's who of venture capital." The firm already deployed some of the capital in Fund II, investing in iink Payments, Payload CMS and Terminal 49. Large parts of the world, including China and the Midwest US, are on track to become too hot for humans to handle as accelerating global temperatures expose billions to heat and humidity so extreme their bodies will no longer be able to cope, according to a new study. Researchers used temperature and humidity data along with climate models to analyze humanitys exposure to potentially lethal heat as the world warms, looking at a range of temperature increases from 1.5 degrees Celsius to 4 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. They found that above 2 degrees Celsius of warming, a significant portion of the worlds population will be vulnerable to moist heat stress with devastating consequences for human health, according to the study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The world has already warmed around 1.2 degrees Celsius. Moist heat stress is a particularly challenging problem, because it affects the human body directly, and causes morbidity and mortality, said Matthew Huber, co-author of the study and a professor of Earths atmospheric and planetary sciences at Purdue University. When levels of heat and humidity are high, sweat evaporates much more slowly than usual meaning its cooling effect is lost and the body can become unable to regulate its temperature. This can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can cause heart attacks and organ failure. The old, the very young and those with pre-existing health conditions are most vulnerable to heat illness. Temperatures that surpass human tolerance have been breached only a few times in human history, and for a few hours at a time in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, according to the report. But as temperatures continue to rise, many more will be exposed and for much longer periods, the study found. While countries have committed to limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, with the aim of 1.5 degrees Celsius, they are way off track. Even if global climate pledges are met which the world is not currently on course to do temperatures are expected to rise between 2.1 and 2.9 degrees Celsius, according to a recent UN report. Climate change made the extreme temperatures that baked northwest India and Pakistan in April and May over 100 times more likely and also increased the chances that such heat waves will occur more frequently by the end of the century. - Asim Hafeez/Bloomberg/Getty Images Above 2 degrees of warming, 2.2 billion people who live in Pakistan and the Indus River Valley in India, 1 billion people in China and 800 million people in sub-Saharan Africa will experience many hours of heat and humidity a year that exceed human tolerance levels. People in these regions will be even more vulnerable as many lack access to air conditioning or other ways to cool down, the report noted. At 3 degrees which the study authors say is the most likely level of warming by 2100 if no action is taken there is a sharp increase in people exposed to life-threatening heat and humidity. Its really incredibly disturbing, Huber told CNN. Humid heat waves will affect swaths of the world not used to such extreme conditions. The Midwest US will become a moist heat stress hotspot at 3 degrees of warming, according to the report. The Midwest is susceptible to this kind of heat stress in part because its climate walks the line between dry and humid, Huber explained, allowing the regions heat to push into the danger zone on very humid days. Another factor that makes the region vulnerable is its agriculture and the phenomenon called corn sweat, Huber said. The plants that we eat are sweating through evapotranspiration, and that may be adding to the humidity above what would normally be there, he said. So-called hot hours times where heat and humidity are especially life-threatening will be concentrated in the Missouri and Mississippi River valleys but also elsewhere in US including the Gulf of Mexico coast and the Atlantic seaboard, according to the study. A man cools off in a mister at Kauffman Stadium as temperatures approach 100 degrees fahrenheit before a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Cleveland Guardians on June 28, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. - Charlie Riedel/AP At 4 degrees of warming, the studys worst-case scenario, researchers found that 1.5 billion people around the world would face a month of moist heat stress each year, and roughly 2.7 billion people will experience at least a week of these extreme conditions. Parts of Yemen could experience heat and humidity that exceeds human tolerance for more than 300 days a year, making it virtually uninhabitable. Around the world, official strategies for adapting to the weather focus on temperature only, Qinqin Kong of Purdue University and a study co-author, said in a statement. But this research shows that humid heat is going to be a much bigger threat than dry heat. Keeping warming below 2 degrees Celsius by cutting planet heating pollution will sharply reduce global exposure to life-threatening heat and humidity, the report found. Every tenth of a degree or anything like that afterwards plays a role, and we want to reduce warming as fast as we can, Daniel Vecellio, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at George Mason University, told CNN. If we get to these emissions reductions faster, heres all the people we can save, heres all the lifestyles that dont have to be changed. Kim Cobb, climate scientist at Brown University who was not involved with the study but was a lead author on the most recent UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, said the studys conclusions are compelling but not surprising. Extreme heat is already responsible for countless deaths worldwide every year, Cobb told CNN. Its important to underscore, as this study does, that heat is not an equal opportunity killer. It disproportionately kills people in lower income communities, often communities of color. This is as true here in the US as it is around the globe. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Ukraine was responsible for a missile strike on Russian-occupied Crimea on Oct. 7, military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on live television on Oct. 9. The strike hit a Russian military target near Dzhankoi in northern Crimea and resulted in casualties amongst Russian forces, Yusov said. He did not specify further details. On Oct. 7, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed there had been a rocket attack on the peninsula at around 6 p.m. local time. The ministry later reported a second attack at 10 p.m. local time. Both attacks were carried out with converted S-200 anti-aircraft missiles, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Reports emerged on social media that an explosion was heard near Dzhankoi and the trail of the missile was visible in the sky, according to Ukrainska Pravda. Since the summer, there have been increasingly damaging attacks on Russian military targets across the peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014. One key target has been the Black Sea Fleet, which is currently based in occupied Crimea. The fleet has suffered a series of major attacks over the past weeks, including strikes on a command post on Sept. 20 and on its headquarters on Sept. 22. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia has transferred Western-made weapons captured in Ukraine to the extremist organization Hamas fighting against Israel in an effort to discredit Kyiv, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Oct. 9. Moscow plans to falsely accuse the Ukrainian military of selling weaponry provided by the U.S. and EU to Hamas, according to HUR. "As part of the Kremlin's disinformation campaign, these fakes should form the basis of a number of 'revealing articles' and 'investigations' in Western media," the HUR wrote. According to the intelligence agency, Russian special services plan to use Ruslan Syrovyi, a senior lieutenant from the Ukrainian Border Service who has committed treason and fled to Moscow, as a "source" for this campaign. "Another provocation by the enemy aims to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine and make Western partners cease military aid to our country," HUR said. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Kremlin aims to exploit Hamas' offensive against Israel to divert Western support and attention away from Ukraine. 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. Read also: Blinken: Hamas attack on Israel not attempt to take advantage of Wests focus on Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Correction: A previous version of this story misstated Brig. Gen. Hubers title. She is the assistant adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard. WASHINGTON A West African union is considering diplomatic options in response to the July coup in Niger that ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum , the head of Ghanas Army Staff told Defense News on Monday. But Maj. Gen. Thomas Oppong-Peprah also noted a military assessment is underway to examine a possible armed intervention in Niger, a prospect the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, first floated in August after the blocs defense chiefs met in Ghana. What the regional body is doing is to explore diplomatic avenues to solve the problem, Oppong-Peprah said at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. Concurrently, the military is also doing some military assessment. And I believe that the regional body will succeed in the diplomatic effort so we dont go to war. ECOWAS expelled Niger from the bloc shortly after Bazoums ouster and threatened military intervention unless the military junta released the deposed president. The ECOWAS threats failed to sway the junta in Niger, which instead said it would prosecute Bazoum on charges of high treason. Niger is the latest country in West Africa to succumb to a spate of military coups in recent years, a trend that has posed questions about the future of U.S. military cooperation and counterterrorism objectives in the area. The problem poses a particular challenge for U.S. counterterrorism operations in Niger. U.S. Africa Command in September repositioned assets and personnel away from the capital Niamey to Agadez, which is roughly 570 miles away. Weve been activated twice this year already as a joint task force, Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, the commander of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa said at the AUSA conference. The first time was in April in response to the instability in Sudan, and we are currently activated as a joint task force in response to the coup that occurred in Niger. Wasmund told Defense News the joint task force was created to protect U.S. citizens and interests in Niger following Bazoums ouster, noting that we worked with the junta in order to facilitate conditions that lead to stability. And we hope that it leads to us being able to continue or to resume our activities together in order to achieve stability, security and our shared interests, he said. Wasmund said U.S. security cooperation will always be reevaluated when we have an extra-constitutional change of government but added the Army remains committed to conducting counterterrorism activities because its in the interest of the United States. In the meantime, the Army continues collaborating with its democratic African partners as well. Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, the assistant adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, noted that the state has had a military partnership exchange program with Ghana for nearly 20 years. For instance, the North Dakota National Guard simulated an earthquake response with Ghanian forces last year, and it helps develop Ghanas noncommissioned officer corps. Presently we are engaged in six peacekeeping operations, Oppong-Peprah said. So the help that we get from North Dakota is really immense and beneficial to us. Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer raised serious concerns in government in 2019 over the decision to close an investigation into UK special forces. The BBC understands that Mr Mercer wrote to then-defence secretary Ben Wallace to warn against the closure. The veterans minister, a former British army officer, was privately concerned that there were credible war crimes allegations against British forces. When the closure was later announced, Mr Mercer publicly backed the decision. The investigation, known as Operation Northmoor, had set out in 2014 to look into a total of 675 allegations of wrongdoing by UK armed forces in Afghanistan. They included allegations that the nation's elite special forces regiment, the SAS, had murdered dozens of unarmed men, detainees, and civilians during raids. But Operation Northmoor, which was being conducted by the Royal Military Police, was shut down in 2019 with no charges. In 2022, the government announced a public inquiry into the allegations, after BBC One's Panorama revealed that one SAS squadron had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances in one six-month tour of Afghanistan. The decision to wind down and then close Operation Northmoor with no charges caused consternation among some members of the government and civil service. The BBC understands that Mr Mercer, who served as an Army officer in Afghanistan and had worked alongside UK special forces there, was concerned SAS units may have broken the law during operations, shooting dead unarmed people and planted weapons beside their bodies to justify the killings. There is no suggestion that Mr Mercer had been a direct witness to or had first-hand knowledge of war crimes. The veterans minister warned colleagues that the government could suffer more reputational damage in the long run if it did not seriously investigate alleged British war crimes and prosecute if necessary. An internal email disclosed as part of a subsequent legal case against the Ministry of Defence suggests that Mr Mercer believed the government should publicly acknowledge that "things went wrong on such operations in Afghanistan". In the email, the deputy head of the MoD's legal department, writing in late 2019, recounts dissuading the veterans minister that such a statement should be made, on the basis that it could prejudice a review of Operation Northmoor that was being considered by a High Court judge. As a serving government minister, Mr Mercer publicly backed the decision to close both Operation Northmoor and a similar investigation into operations in Iraq, known as IHAT. The closures of both investigations followed allegations that a lawyer, who had taken more than 1,000 cases to IHAT, had paid local intermediaries in Iraq to find claimants. 'Flawed' investigations Mr Mercer told the Sunday Telegraph that the closure of Northmoor was "another significant moment as we retake ground ceded over the years to those who seek to rewrite history and line their own pockets with no regard at all for the damage they have done to some of our nation's finest people". Speaking during a debate in Parliament a few months earlier, he told the House of Commons that "the allegation that our armed forces operated so-called death squads in Afghanistan" was "simply not true". Speaking more broadly about UK operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, in the same parliamentary debate, Mr Mercer said it was a "matter of deep personal regret that original RMP investigations were flawed and that opportunities to hold those responsible to account may now have been lost". "For this, I unreservedly apologise to those who suffered treatment at the hands of UK forces that was simply unacceptable," he said. When approached for comment, Mr Mercer told the BBC: "Given the ongoing Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan it would be inappropriate to comment on this matter." Operation Northmoor has faced criticism in the years since it was closed over an apparent failure to interview key witnesses or secure vital evidence relating to allegations of extra-judicial killings. Officers from the Royal Military Police, which was responsible for the investigation, told Panorama they were blocked by senior military figures from interviewing special forces officers and accessing forensic evidence. They said Operation Northmoor was closed before military police could complete their investigation. An MoD spokesperson told the BBC that it was not appropriate for them to comment on allegations which may fall into the scope of the public inquiry. The public inquiry will begin hearing evidence on Monday. Bottom line for Get in touch request Do you have information about this story that you want to share? Get in touch using SecureDrop, a highly anonymous and secure way of whistleblowing to the BBC which uses the TOR network. Or by using the Signal messaging app, an end-to-end encrypted message service designed to protect your data. SecureDrop: http://kt2bqe753wj6dgarak2ryj4d6a5tccrivbvod5ab3uxhug5fi624vsqd.onion/ Signal: 07714 956 936 Please note that the SecureDrop link will only work in a Tor browser. For information on keeping secure and anonymous, here's some advice on how to use SecureDrop. Bottom line for Get in touch request News Daily banner Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. Ukraine expects a new batch of equipment for the restoration of the country's energy grid from Azerbaijan by the end of 2023, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said on Oct. 9. The announcement came following a meeting between Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko and Azerbaijani Ambassador Seymur Mardaliyev. "We highly value our cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector, and we sincerely hope that this cooperation grows stronger," Halushchenko said. According to the Ukrainian Energy Ministry, Baku already provided Ukraine with 10 shipments of humanitarian aid for the energy sector since the start of the full-scale invasion. This included 50 reserve power stations and 45 power transformers. During the meeting, Halushchenko reportedly thanked Mardaliyev for Azerbaijan's assistance in maintaining Ukraine's energy system throughout the previous winter. The ministry's press statement said that the meeting of the two officials also addressed deepening cooperation in the oil and gas industry between the countries. Read also: With winter approaching, is Ukraines energy system ready for renewed Russian attacks? Ukrainian officials have warned that Russia would likely escalate its attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the coming fall and winter months. On Sept. 21, Ukraine's state energy operator Ukrenergo reported the first mass strike on the country's energy infrastructure in six months. Moscow has attempted such a strategy already in the fall and winter of 2022-2023, causing regular blackouts amid freezing temperatures. As of Aug. 13, the Ukrainian government said it had repaired 80% of the main power grids and high-voltage stations damaged by Russian attacks to their pre-war condition and that 62% of the planned repair work on power units had been completed at the country's thermal power stations. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal then announced on Sept. 12 that over 80% of heating networks, 78% of central heating stations, and more than 80% of residential buildings, 86% of schools, kindergartens, and hospitals were ready for winter, adding that "it should be 100% in a month." Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KFOR) An Oklahoma man that has been missing since June was found in Texas on Sunday, October 8. Missing flyer for Andrew Griffin. Image courtesy Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office. Officials say Andrew Griffin was last seen in Shawnee on Friday, June 30, 2023, when he was traveling from Pottawatomie County to Odessa, Texas, for work. His boss said he never showed up and hadnt been seen since. RELATED NEWS: Search continues for missing man last seen in Pottawatomie County After several months, the Pottawatomie County Sheriffs Office says Griffin was found in Harris County, Texas, on Sunday and taken into custody for outstanding warrants out of Le Flore and Oklahoma Counties. We would like to thank the many law enforcement partners both local and federal for all the assistance offered to help bring this missing person case to an end. said the Pottawatomie Co. Sheriffs Office. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis s party was set to win gubernatorial races in more than half of Greeces 13 regions, following New Democracys victory in parliamentary elections in June. Most Read from Bloomberg New Democracy-backed candidates were leading Sunday night in at least seven regions with some 70% of ballots counted. Other regions, where no candidate was polling more than 43%, were headed toward runoff elections on next Sunday. Mayoral elections also were held. Mitsotakis approval rating has slipped amid criticism of his handling of summer wildfires and devastating floods in September. He set a high bar by saying his partys goal is to win in all regions and in Greeces three biggest municipalities. Citizens reaffirmed their trust in New Democracy and the choices it made, the premier said Sunday night. Regional leaders will be called on to handle $8 billion in European Union funds in the next few years, adding to Mitsotakis incentives for victory. That will require good cooperation with the central government in Athens, he told Alpha TV last week. The Greek economy is forecast to grow by 2.3% this year and expand by 3% in 2024. Next years budget envisages a primary surplus of 1.1% of gross domestic product in 2023, increasing to 2.1% in 2024. Three rating firms Japans Rating and Investment Information Inc., Germanys Scope Ratings and Canadas DBRS Morningstar have already placed Greeces sovereign credit rating into investment grade. Moodys Investors Service recently upgraded Greece by two notches to one step away from exiting junk status. S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings are due to give updates on Oct. 20 and Dec. 1 respectively. Both have Greece one notch below investment grade. Read more: Mitsotakis Says Greek Tourism Can Benefit From Climate Change Center-right New Democracy won all but one region in 2019, just before Mitsotakis took office for the first time. Syriza, the main opposition party, was headed for defeat in all regional governor races. That follows its slump in support in the national election despite electing a new president in September. The socialist Pasok party managed to win one region, the island of Crete, where its candidate was also backed by New Democracy. Almost half of the voters didnt show up at the polls. In Athens, turnout for the municipal vote was slightly less than 32%. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. This is the first of two stories focused on climate change impacts affecting Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts. The first is about changes in the Tuolumne River watershed, and the next is about impacts on hydropower generation and electric services. As they try to adapt to climate change, the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts have closely watched the changes in hydrology in the Tuolumne River watershed, which is a vital source of water for farms and cities in Stanislaus County. The districts today cope with volatility in the massive watershed, characterized by atmospheric river storms in wet years and droughts that are getting drier and lasting longer. TID officials said five of the most severe droughts on record occurred in the last 35 years. But the most abundant water year for the region and the third wettest on record occurred in the last seven years. Studies conclude the average maximum daily temperature will increase 4 to 5 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley by 2050, raising temperatures above 105 degrees more than 20 days in some years, serving to increase demand for everything from farm irrigation water to energy consumption. With climate change, more precipitation is expected to fall as rain in the Sierra Mountains and less as snow. While theres much agreement over temperature projections in the coming decades, dramatic changes in average precipitation in California are less certain and may not happen until the second half of the century, according to a consultants study for Stanislaus County, Modesto and four other cities. Don Pedro Reservoir in 2022. The Sierra snowpack is expected to shrink by 30% between 2070 and 2099, according to one scenario, and a worst-case model suggests 80% snowpack loss by 2100, if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are trapping heat in the earths atmosphere. The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed climate studies that are informing decision-making in California, concluding in 2020: The top ten climate models used by the state government agree there will be nearly complete snowpack loss at lower elevations statewide by the end of the century, if heat-trapping emissions continue to rise as currently expected. One study completed for TID and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, looking at simulations for 2040, 2070 and 2100, projected less snow accumulation in the Sierra and also predicted Tuolumne River runoff occurring earlier in the spring. The river flows are expected to decline in spring and summer, when demand for irrigation water on 210,000 acres of farmland is higher. The study predicted marginal to significant decreases in total annual runoff under the climate scenarios. Michael Frantz, a board member for TID, said the district is most concerned about managing the violent swings between dry periods and especially wet years, which is a challenge for a water and power utility. The big thing that jumps out with climate change is the potential to make our water supplies less reliable, Frantz said. The TID has tracked precipitation for almost 140 years, and our records indicate that average rainfall from year to year is still about the same. But the swings are much more violent. Wes Monier, chief hydrologist for TID, said its a fair statement that the TID and MID water storage system was not designed for the changes in hydrology. The design for the new Don Pedro Dam, completed in 1971 with capacity to store 2,030,000 acre feet of water, was based on precipitation and runoff patterns before 1960, Monier said. Soon after the reservoir was filled, the districts began seeing volatility in the Tuolumne watershed: It had the lowest natural flow in 1977, a record wet year in 1983 and a punishing drought from 1987 to 1992. Monier said the irrigation district didnt understand what we had with the 1997 Pineapple Express rain storms, which caused Don Pedro to spill, sending a record 65,000 cubic feet of water per second through Modesto and flooding a vast area in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. The volatility has continued, as 2012 to 2015 were the driest years on record. In a bold attempt to adapt to climate change, TID and MID jointly applied in January 2022 for 2.7 million acre feet in flood water rights. The plan includes proposals to capture and store more river water in especially wet years before it flows out to the ocean. Folded into the application are proposed storage projects such as raising the Don Pedro spillway, smaller offstream reservoirs and underground storage and groundwater recharge basins, said Josh Weimer, a spokesman for TID. The plan would improve the reliability of irrigation and drinking water supplies during the longer dry spells in this century. The Turlock Irrigation District completed a small reservoir that helps manage canal flows near Keyes, California, in August 2023. No response yet from the state The State Water Resources Control Board has not yet responded to the districts application, which faces a multi-year approval process. The state water board has actually tried to reduce diversions by MID and TID to keep more water in the river for environmental purposes. In terms of coping with climate change, a lot is riding on the water rights application. The ramifications (if the proposals are rejected) are that we are not able to adapt as well as we could to the changes, Monier said. If we cant do this, then in all probability other (water agencies) in the state will not be able to do this. The districts are asking the state for permission to divert additional water from Nov. 1 to June 14 when the Tuolumne River is not fully appropriated to current water right holders. The irrigation districts contend that extra water, averaging 840,000 acre feet annually, was available for diversions in about half the years since 1998. The new rights would be inferior to the historic Tuolumne River rights held by San Francisco and MID and TID, dating to the 1880s. Climate change, caused by greenhouse gas emissions in Earths atmosphere, is projected to raise temperatures in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, serving to increase evaporation and boost demand for agricultural irrigation water. A UC Berkeley study in 2014 suggested the reliability of surface water for irrigation in MID will decrease 75% or more under temperature-rise scenarios of 3.6 to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit. MIDs Agricultural Water Management Plan update in 2020 cited a projection that warming temperatures will decrease streamflow by 4.6% to 12% and cause snowmelt flows to arrive up to 21 days earlier, as water demands increase up to 6%. New technology monitors the watershed Since the 1997 flood, TID has invested in technology for storm forecasts and monitoring of the Tuolumne watershed to better manage the storage system for flood control, hydroelectric generation and water supply reliability. The TID participates in an Airborne Snow Observatory program and partners with Cornell University and the state Department of Water Resources to understand the systems vulnerabilities to climate change. Monier said watershed-specific data during atmospheric river storms this past winter and in 2017, allowed for starting Don Pedro releases before the reservoir reached the level for mandatory flood control releases. Water managers were able to safely draw down the reservoir earlier, but also had information the snowpack was sufficient to meet customers needs later in the year. While theres uncertainty about the rate of climate change and the magnitude of the impacts, the irrigation districts say they will monitor the indicators and keep using technology to adapt. We are using technology to compensate for volatility, Monier said. I am optimistic that TID can deal with (climate changes) as well as anyone else. The Turlock Irrigation District spillway, pictured here on Thursday (02-16-17) is just off Bonds Flat Road east of Modesto. Many still refer to Monroe as the Floral City, and it prompted my curiosity as to where the phrase originated. Having written about the Greening Nursery Co. and its competitor the Ilgenfritz Nursery Co. in the past, Monroes role as a major flower and nursery producer seemed like a logical choice. However, a story in the "Pageant of Historic Monroe" offers a logical explanations as to the origins of the Floral City phrase as well as a glimpse into the history associated with David A. Noble Monroe mayor, Michigan representative and recipient of a street name on which I have traveled many times in the city. The showroom of the first flagship Floral City Furniture store is pictured circa 1930. In 1927, cousins Edwin Shoemaker and Edward Knabusch established a successful local furniture company, which later became a worldwide leader in the furniture manufacturing and retailing industry La-Z-Boy. In 1852, the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad extended its line from Monroe to the Monroe Piers as a means of benefiting from the commercial and passenger steamboat activity that had emerged bringing goods and people across Lake Erie from Buffalo and Cleveland to the lakes western basin. The Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad was in direct competition with the Michigan Central Railroad also taking advantage of Lake Erie steamboat traffic docking in Detroit. Both railroads wanted to win valuable transport contracts taking goods and people west to Chicago. This photo recognizes the history of the Monroe Piers at Sterling State Park. In 1852, the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad extended its line from Monroe to the Monroe Piers as a means of benefiting from the commercial and passenger steamboat activity that had emerged bringing goods and people across Lake Erie. An event that year also christened Monroe as the Floral City. Both companies also operated their own steamboats. The Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad ran the Northern Indiana steamer (whose captain was A.D. Perkins of Monroe), and Michigan Central operated its Mayflower vessel. These boats were primed to serve the commercial and passenger needs of transport routes from the East Coast. One of the prime contracts along this route was to transport mail as a contractor for the U.S. Postal Service. Both companies decided to promote their efforts to win the contract and promote it in newspapers across the country. The Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad brought the Northern Indiana in dock at the Monroe Piers and commissioned one of its best locomotives to travel with great fanfare from the lakes edge across the marshes to the Lake House Hotel (also operated by the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad) where Daniel Dunning was the longtime proprietor. After that brief stop, the train headed to Monroes Public Square where it was met with great fanfare by 50 young girls dressed in white and carrying baskets of beautiful summer flowers. Nearby was a large banner emblazoned with the words, The Floral City Welcomes You. This part of the celebration was the brainchild of Sarah A. Noble wife of Monroes mayor. This is the marker for David Addison Noble at Monroes Woodland Cemetery. Noble was Monroes mayor in 1852 and also served as prosecuting attorney and probate judge in Monroe and as a Michigan and U.S. representative. His wife is said to have coined the phrase Floral City for an 1852 event sponsored by the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad. Not only was David A. Noble Monroes mayor in 1852, he served as prosecuting attorney and probate judge in Monroe after receiving his law credentials in New York in 1831 and arriving in Monroe shortly thereafter. Noble went on to become Monroes alderman and city recorder. A stint as a Michigan state representative from 1847 to 1848 predated his term as mayor. Noble then served as a U.S. representative from Michigan from 1853 to 1855. His career then took him to manage another railroad the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Railroad into the 1860s. Sarah Nobles phrase was quickly adopted by Monroes business and political communities and certainly leveraged by growers and landscapers I.E. Ilgenfritz, who founded his nursery operations in 1847, and J.C.W. Greening, who started his company in 1850. The phrase also reinforced and paid homage to Monroe Countys claim as the Lotus Capital of the World a distinction it still holds today. It also was the key part of the decision to christen the Floral City Furniture Co. today known worldwide as La-Z-Boy Inc. Today, Floral City Images and Photography carries on the tradition of honoring the areas traditions via the use of Floral City in its name. Proprietors Dave and Sue Grassley operate their successful business from a historic downtown Monroe location on South Monroe Street. (Courtesy of Incidentally, the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad eventually won the U.S. Mail contract. Tom Adamich is president of Visiting Librarian Service, a firm he has operated since 1993. He also is project archivist for the Greening Nursery Co. and Family Archives and the electric vehicle awareness coordinator at Monroe County Community College. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: History: 1850s railroad rivalry led to Monroe's 'Floral City' nickname William Justin Gore, a 41-year-old from Florida, was killed in a crash on I-95 near Ridgeland when his moped was struck by a Jeep, according to the Jasper County Coroners Office. The collision took place around 12:30 a.m. Thursday as both vehicles were traveling north on the interstate around mile marker 15, about two miles south of Ridgeland. The 2016 Jeep struck the moped from behind, according to Lance Cpl. Brittany Glover of the SC Highway Patrol (SCHP). Gore was pronounced dead at the scene, said Jasper County Coroner Willie P. Aiken III. Funeral arrangements will take place in his hometown in Florida. State law prohibits mopeds on roadways with a speed limit greater than 55 mph, as most models cannot surpass 30 mph. I-95 has a speed limit of 70 mph through Ridgeland. SCHP is investigating the crash. A spokesperson could not immediately offer information about whether the driver of the Jeep will be charged in the incident. Thursdays crash marked the 12th traffic fatality in Jasper County this year, according to data from the SC Department of Public Safety. Dozens of airlines canceled flights to and from Israel after Hamas militants invaded from Gaza. North American carriers have suspended flights to Tel Aviv until further notice. Some European, Asian, and African airlines were still flying to Israel as of Monday. After decades of conflict, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday. Dozens of international airlines have since canceled flights to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv the nation's only international hub amid the deadly invasion. According to data from the aviation-analytics firm Cirium and shared with Insider, more than 40 carriers canceled hundreds of flights to and from Israel on Saturday and Sunday. At the time of writing, 131 flights or 44% of all scheduled service to and from Tel Aviv had been canceled on Tuesday, according to data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Among those that have halted service to Tel Aviv until further notice are the US carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration told Insider on Monday that it had "urged airlines and pilots to use caution when flying in Israeli airspace." Airlines like Air France, Lufthansa, easyJet, and Royal Jordanian Airlines have also paused flying to Israel, according to Cirium. The British carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways, however, confirmed to Insider on Monday that they were continuing to operate some frequencies to Tel Aviv the latter saying its "flights are currently planned to operate over the coming days with adjusted departure times." Each told Insider it was offering a flexible booking policy and was closely monitoring the situation in Israel but warned customers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport. The Israeli flag carrier El Al said on its website that it was also continuing to serve its home nation. About half of its scheduled flights to Tel Aviv on Monday have been delayed, with none canceled. Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia are actually upping service to Tel Aviv to help mobilize a record 300,000 reservists who were called back in response to the Hamas attack. Other carriers such as Air Seychelles, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, India's IndiGo, and Turkish Airlines were also still flying passenger planes to Tel Aviv as of Monday, according to FlightAware data. While some airlines continue to serve Israel, international carriers are expected to continue to alter flight schedules during the fighting. Here's the list of airlines that have canceled flights to or from Tel Aviv since Saturday as of the time of writing, but most of this information is subject to change. Africa Egyptair: canceled flights from Cairo Sunday and Monday, scheduled for Tuesday Royal Air Maroc: canceled flights Saturday and Sunday, flight from Casablanca scheduled for Monday night Asia Cathay Pacific: flights from Hong Kong Tuesday and Thursday are canceled so far Hainan Airlines: flights from Hong Kong were canceled Monday, and service is resuming as scheduled, per its website Korean Air: flights from Seoul canceled Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with its Tuesday flight listed as delayed on FlightAware Royal Jordanian: flights canceled from Amman through Tuesday SunExpress: flights canceled between Turkey and Tel Aviv through Wednesday morning Europe Aegean Airlines: flights canceled from Greece through Thursday Air Europe: flights from Madrid were canceled over the weekend, and operations have since resumed Air France: flights suspended until further notice Air Malta: flights canceled Monday and Wednesday Blue Bird Airways: canceled one flight from Athens on Sunday, but is now flying daily Bulgaria Air: one roundtrip flight canceled, scheduled to operate again Thursday easyJet: flights suspended through Tuesday Finnair: flights canceled through Saturday Iberia: some flights canceled from Madrid on Sunday and Monday, still serving Tel Aviv ITA Airways: flight suspended through Thursday KLM: flights canceled from Saturday and up to Sunday LOT Polish Airlines: flights canceled through Tuesday, the airline said more scheduled service could be delayed or canceled Lufthansa Group: flights suspended through Saturday (includes its subsidiaries Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Airlines, and Brussels Airlines) Norwegian Air: flights canceled from Copenhagen and Stockholm through Sunday Ryanair: flights suspended through Wednesday TAP Air Portugal: flights suspended until further notice Transavia: flights from Amsterdam canceled through Wednesday Turkish Airlines: canceled about 35% of flights between Turkey and Tel Aviv over the weekend, and about 25% were canceled Monday Vueling: canceled flights over the weekend, resuming flights Monday Wizz Air: flights canceled until further notice Middle East Gulf Air: flights from Bahrain canceled through Wednesday Etihad Airways: flights from Abu Dhabi canceled through Tuesday, scheduled for Wednesday North America American Airlines: flights suspended Delta Air Lines: flights suspended until at least the end of this month United Airlines: flights suspended until at least Saturday Air Canada: flights suspended Read the original article on Insider KABUL (Reuters) - Women and children make up two-thirds of the victims of the recent earthquakes in Afghanistan who were hospitalized with severe injuries, the head of the World Health Organization's emergency response in the country said on Monday. The Taliban administration said at least 2,400 people were killed and over 2,000 injured in Saturday's quakes which were among the world's deadliest this year, after temblors in Turkey and Syria in which an estimated 50,000 people were killed. "The earthquake happened around 11 in the morning, when men were out of the houses, so majority of those who are injured and died are women and children who were inside the houses at the time," WHO's Dr Alaa AbouZeid told Reuters in a video interview. "Two-thirds of those with severe injuries who are admitted in the hospital I have seen yesterday are children and women," he said, referring to his time in Herat following the quake. He also warned that financing the humanitarian operations remained critical, with global attention and funding shifting away from Afghanistan. That could be attributed to competing or emerging crises around the world, such in the Middle East and Ukraine, and amid concerns over Taliban restrictions on women, diplomats and aid officials say. AbouZeid said it was "devastating" to see the number of children in hospital in critical condition. "I have seen a child like 3-4 months old with head trauma, due to the earthquake," he said. Head trauma can cause long-lasting debilitating effects or disabilities, AbouZeid said. The WHO's response teams were taking the matter seriously, given the impact of such injuries on the victim and their families who would need to support them in the long run, he said. While the response teams saved many lives, hospitals need to be better equipped to deal with further casualties and similar situations in future, he said. Afghanistan's healthcare system, largely reliant on foreign aid, has faced crippling cuts in the two years since the Taliban took over and much international assistance, forming the backbone of the economy, was halted. The U.N.'s humanitarian office has announced $5 million worth of assistance for the quake response, but immediate material support has come from a limited few countries. "The news diverted to what's going on in the Middle East over the past two days and there was very little attention" towards the existing crisis in Afghanistan, he said. (Reporting by Gibran Peshimam; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Are full-body MRIs worth the hefty price tag? Experts have concerns. Are full-body MRIs worth the hefty price tag? Experts have concerns. Full-body MRIs, or magnetic resonance imaging, are having a moment. The scans, which take about an hour to conduct, take detailed pictures of the inside of your body with the intention of detecting all kinds of medical conditions, including cancer, neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, liver diseases, and muscle or joint injuries. As the New York Times recently reported, full-body MRIs have become somewhat of a status symbol. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Jenna Dewan have vouched for the scans on Instagram. And in May, Maria Menounos said a full-body scan revealed a 3.9-centimeter malignant mass on her pancreas an abnormality that wasnt detected via traditional diagnostic tools, the journalist told Today. Dr. Ilana Richman, an internal medicine physician with Yale Medicine, said full-body MRIs are appealing because they provide a clear snapshot of our organs. Maybe you could find something early and treat it before it becomes a problem, Richman told HuffPost. But the scans arent accessible or even beneficial for many people.A scan at Prenuvo, a leading provider, will cost you roughly$2,500, for example. Thats entirely out of pocket, as they arent reimbursed by health insurance. We also dont have strong scientific data suggesting routine full-body MRIs improve the length or quality of peoples lives, Richman said. And theres always the risk they could pick up an abnormality that may lead to unnecessary follow-up testing and health anxiety. If youre curious about your health but cant afford a full-body MRI, there are cheaper, more accessible tests you can do instead. Here are a handful of them. Annual Physical The single most impactful step you can take is to get an annual health examination with a primary care physician. Doing so helps you establish a relationship with a doctor you trust in the event you develop a health problem in the future, said Dr. Bryant Lin, a primary care physician with Stanford Health Care. The annual physical is a great time to evaluate your basic vitals, such as blood pressure, body temperature and pulse, along with your weight, height and respiratory function, said Dr. Kathy Nguyen, a family medicine physician with Memorial Hermann. Your physician will also review your medical history and recent health concerns to determine if you may need to undergo additional testing. If, for example, you have a higher risk of heart disease or cancer, your physician can make recommendations for specific tests. The physical is a great place to kick off your health care journey. Annual exams allow the physician to individualize the screening for their patients, Nguyen said. Routine Cancer Screenings We routinely screen for the most common cancers among adults: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer. People often get full-body MRIs to screen for cancer, and these other screenings fill the same purpose, Lin said. One of the most common screenings for women is a mammogram, which uses an X-ray of the breast to look for signs of breast cancer, largely for women over 40. Another is a pap test, a procedure to test for cervical cancer, every three years starting at age 21. Men between the ages of 55 and 69 may choose to start prostate cancer screening. Prostate screenings, a type of blood test, can help reduce the risk of death from prostate cancer; however, these tests can pick up false positives and require additional testing or a biopsy. People with a history of smoking can get a low-dose computed tomography scan,whichscreens for lung cancer. These scans are a reasonable way of reducing mortality from lung cancer because you can detect nodules early, Lin said. All adults should be screened for colorectal cancer starting at age 45. Its the key to preventing and finding it early, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are a few different ways to go about this, such as a colonoscopy, stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy and CT colonography. The recommendations for these cancer screenings fluctuate based on your age, family history, underlying health issues and risk factors. Go to your doctor and make sure you get your updated age-appropriate screening and risk-appropriate screening, Lin said. Regular appointments can help you stay on top of your health. Regular appointments can help you stay on top of your health. Regular Bloodwork A simple blood test can reveal a lot about your health, and most insurance providers cover them under preventative care. If the lab work reveals any irregularities, people often change their behavior theyll exercise more or eat healthier to lower their risk for future disease, Lin added. Around age 45, everyone should be screened for diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. Men who havent had their cholesterol checked should start at age 35, and women should start getting screened for cholesterol at age 45. Lin encourages all of his patients to get a cholesterol and sugar screening. It does impact behavior and awareness of a healthy lifestyle, he said. Spot-Specific MRIs Instead of getting a full-body MRI, consider a spot-specific MRI instead. Localized MRIs are more affordable, as theyre often covered by health insurance. Plus, theyre really all thats needed to investigate whats causing a specific set of symptoms, Richman said. The scan will be taken in the location where you have pain, uncomfortable symptoms or a known injury. For example, if somebody has a knee injury and theyre worried about a ruptured ligament, a spot-specific MRI is a great test that will give you a really careful picture of a joint, Richman explained. We really try to target using it to what the person is reporting, what their symptoms are, what their physical exam is like and what their risk factors are, Richman said. Genetic Testing A number of health conditions are inherited, from some types of cancer to sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis. For people with a strong family history of certain diseases, it may be worth undergoing genetic testing, which is typically done via a blood test or saliva sample, to see if theyre a carrier of a variant that increases their risk of disease. If youre concerned about your genetic risk of disease, talk to a primary care doctor. They can refer you to a genetic counselor who can look at your medical background and make specific recommendations for testing. Counselors can help you interpret the findings, which is a necessary part of the process, Richman said. It can have implications for your current health, your future health and your family and its really important to be prepared for what that information means and what you do with it, she said. The recommendations for most tests are extremely personalized and largely influenced by your medical history and risk factors. For example, depending on your symptoms and family history, it may be worth having your kidney and liver function checked along with your thyroid or blood count. We really try to target the screening to people who are at high risk for whatever reason, Richman said. You dont need to spend a few grand to get a snapshot of your health. Stay up to date with these routine screenings, and, when in doubt, talk to your doctor about any health concerns theres a lot we can do to catch and treat diseases before they become a problem. The mother of a suspect in a Richland murder helped her son evade authorities, and now shes also headed to jail. But attorneys disagreed on how much Rosalina Guzman, 38, aided her son, Felipe Manjares, following the New Years Eve killing of of Michael Castoreno, 21, outside of the Columbia Park Apartments in Richland. Guzman pleaded guilty to first-degree rendering criminal assistance in connection with the gang-related shooting. Prosecutors said she kept her son away from investigators starting shortly after Castorenos murder, while her defense attorney said police and prosecutors only charged her son weeks before their arrest in Oklahoma. Judge Diana Ruff said she was reluctant, but she agreed with the joint recommendation and sentenced Guzman to seven months in jail. Manjares and two of his brothers have ties to a Sunnyside-area gang and several members of their family were tied to gang-related shootings during 2022, according to court documents. But Guzman doesnt have any felony history and faced between six months to a year in jail after her plea. Deputy Prosecutor Tyler Grandgeorge said Guzman helped her son get away shortly after Castoreno was shot. She continued to keep police away from her son and even went as far as moving from Washington to Kingfisher, Okla. According to court documents, Guzman knew about her sons involvement in the murder as soon as the day after the killing. But defense attorney Brian Hultgrenn said his client was only trying to live her life in the more than four months before her son was charged in the killing. Shes not responsible for this horrible murder, he said. She is not being punished for that murder. While Guzman didnt speak at her sentencing at the recommendation of her attorney, Hultgrenn said she had wanted to tell Michael Castorenos family that she was sorry for their suffering. Manjares, 19, and another teen accused in the killing, Rafael Topete Torres, 17, continue to face first-degree murder charges. New Years Eve shooting Richland police had been searching for a group of teens who confronted Castoreno in the middle of the apartment complex about 8 p.m. on New Years Eve. The group allegedly asked what his gang affiliations were, and when Castoreno answered, one teen pulled a gun out and began firing, according to court documents. Michael Castoreno was shot and killed in a Richland apartment complex on New Years Eve. His family was collecting donations to help with his burial. He was shot four times and left to die as the group ran. A police dog search led police to an apartment that had been tied to a separate investigation into recent robberies in the area. Manjares and several others involved in the shooting were identified through a photo posted on Instagram from the night of the shooting, in which they were wearing the same clothing as seen on security cameras in the area. Manjares was allegedly referred to by the nickname Shooter. Police said they were also were able to tie shell casings found at the scene to a series of shootings in Mabton, Sunnyside and Yakima County. At least one of those shootings was tied to a group of brothers, one of them being Manjares, a known gang member. About half an hour after the shooting, a witness said Guzman arrived in the passengers seat of a car at the convenience store across from the apartment complex. Her boyfriend, Valentin Sanchez, was driving, according to court documents. Security video shows Manjares along with two other teens get into the car. After identifying the vehicle they were in, investigators tried to contact Sanchez. He allegedly referred investigators to his attorney, who told them they were headed to Caldwell, Idaho. The vehicle was found at his fathers home in Caldwell. The shooting ended a violent year for Benton County, which had a record 19 homicides. The mother of a woman taken from an Israeli music festival during the weekend attack by Hamas militants spoke to CNN on Monday about the incomprehensible ordeal. 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, Ricarda Louk told Anderson Cooper in an interview. She said she continues to search for more videos and news that may help them to find her. Shani Louk, a German-Israeli tattoo artist, was among thousands of attendees partying at the Supernova festival early Saturday morning when Hamas militants stormed the event several miles from the Gaza border. After she stopped responding to messages, her family members said they saw videos on social media that appeared to show her motionless body on the back of a pickup truck full of chanting militants. CNN reported it had authenticated the video and confirmed Louks identity. She was also identified by German officials, according to the Wall Street Journal. She was recognizable due to her distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks, her cousin, Tom Weintraub Louk, told The Washington Post. Ricarda Louk told CNN she last spoke with her daughter after rocket strikes from Gaza started early on Saturday morning. She was panicked a little bit and she said shes going to take the car now and go to a safe location. And then we stopped talking and since then I didnt hear anything from her anymore, she said. Ricarda Louk said someone had later attempted to use her daughters credit card multiple times in the Gaza strip. Shani was such a loving and peace-loving person, she told CNN. She was at a music festival. She likes to travel. Shes an artist. She traveled a lot in the world. Ricarda Louk said that living in Israel, she had grown accustomed to rocket strikes, but nothing could have prepared her for this weekends events. I dont understand really how such a brutal thing can just happen in the middle of the day and it was a complete surprise, she said. She had not yet received any news from Israeli officials, she said. At least 260 bodies have been recovered from the festival site, with many more people missing, Israeli authorities said Sunday. Videos showed festivalgoers fleeing through the desert, hiding and playing dead, and being taken away by militants. The event was supposed to be a celebration of unity and love, according to its website. More than 1,100 people have been reported dead around 700 in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza including many civilians, since Hamas launched the surprise incursion. Israel formally declared war on Hamas Sunday and continues its retaliatory strikes. Israeli authorities report that dozens of hostages have been taken to Gaza; Hamas said the figure is upwards of 100. Watch Ricarda Louks interview on CNN below. (Warning: The video contains disturbing images.) Related... MOUNT LAUREL A firm that runs an apartment complex here has agreed to pay about $61,600 to resolve claims that it demanded illegal fees from tenants in the military. JAG Management Co. LLC allegedly required the payments from at least nine servicemembers who had to break leases at the Jefferson Mount Laurel complex when they were assigned to new posts. The termination fees ran as high as $2,750 per servicemember, the Justice Department said in announcing settlement of a lawsuit against JAG. Company left Mount Laurel base in 2022 Freedom Mortgage pays to settle allegations of consumer-protection violations It said a federal law, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), protects military personnel who must terminate leases after receiving qualifying military orders. "Servicemembers should not have to pay any fees much less exorbitant fees to landlords when they are simply complying with their military orders and protecting our country, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in a statement. JAG oversees a 490-unit complex in Mount Laurel, and has at least 20 similar properties in other states, according to a consent order resolving the dispute. The company denied the government's claims, and said the suit was settled to "avoid costly and protracted litigation." Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects tenants in the military U.S. District Judge Renee Marie Bumb approved the settlement on Wednesday, Oct. 4, in Camden federal court. Under the settlement, JAG is to pay $41,581 in damages to nine servicemembers and a $20,000 civil penalty to the government. The agreement requires JAG to observe the law, to train its employees in its requirements, and to inform military personnel about SCRA when they're entering into a lease. According to the Justice Department's lawsuit, a Coast Guard lieutenant was told two months after leaving Jefferson Mount Laurel for a new post in Connecticut to repay a $2,100 rent concession to the South Jersey complex. The Coast Guard member, Daniel Pereira, informed JAG about the federal law and cited prior Justice Department cases on similar issues. But JAG reported the debt to credit agencies and Pereiras credit score was downgraded, the government's complaint said. It alleged JAG also charged illegal fees to members of the Army, Air Force, and Air National Guard. Since 2011, the Justice Department said, it has obtained more than $481 million for more than 146,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the law. Jim Walsh is a senior reporter at the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Jefferson Mount Laurel sued over termination fees for servicemembers As conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant movement Hamas reached a violent head over the weekend, local religious leaders in the Bradenton area are wishing for peace. A surprise attack by Hamas on civilians Saturday left at least 900 people dead and prompted Israel to declare war on the group, according to the Associated Press. Hamas cited Israels occupation of the West Bank, continued conflict over the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the treatment of Palestinians held in Israeli jails in its explanation of the attack, the New York Times reported. Israel has initiated retaliatory airstrikes that have killed more than 600 people, according to the Associated Press. Human rights organizations including Amnesty International have accused Israel of maintaining a system of apartheid in occupied Palestinian territories. Israel has denied those accusations, but concerns over human rights violations in the region led the United Nations to form a commission to investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian law. In a statement on Tuesday, the UN commission condemned the actions of both sides of the conflict. Reports that armed groups from Gaza have gunned down hundreds of unarmed civilians are abhorrent and cannot be tolerated. Taking civilian hostages and using civilians as human shields are war crimes, the statement said. The Commission is gravely concerned with Israels latest attack on Gaza and Israels announcement of a complete siege on Gaza involving the withholding of water, food, electricity and fuel which will undoubtfully cost civilian lives and constitutes collective punishment, it continued. The Hamas attack on Israel came on the day of the Simchat Torah in the United States, a celebration of the beginning of a new annual cycle of Torah readings. The U.S. Department of State has labeled Hamas as a terrorist organization. Since 2007, the group has governed the Gaza Strip, CNBC reports. Since early Saturday morning, we have witnessed the most horrific terrorist attacks in Israels history, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee said in a Facebook post. In heartbreaking times like these, we must come together and send a clear message against these crimes against humanity. The federation is holding a solidarity gathering on Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Were looking at probably filling the entire auditorium, said the federations marketing director, Ellen Biddle. The response has been really heartening. Bradentons Jewish community calls for kindness During Saturday services at Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch, Rabbi Mendy Bukiet talked to his congregation about the attacks, coming 50 years after the Yom Kippur War of 1973. We spoke about whatever we can do to bring light to the world, to add positivity and goodness to the world to counter evil and barbarity, Bukiet said. Its hard to imagine this type of behavior from human beings. Starting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Chabad will be having half-hour sessions on Torah, prayer and charity. Hopefully, we can rock the heavens, Bukiet said. This is not a Jewish thing its a world thing when we allow antisemitism and hate to fester and to have people spew hate. There is right and wrong and good and evil. We have to respond with positivity and good. Rabbi Zev Steinmetz of the Chabad of West Bradenton offered a similar response. Obviously the updates from Israel are deeply distressing. Our message to the local Jewish community is to focus on adding in more goodness and kindness, he said in an email. We have joined Jews around the world with a mitzvah (good deed) campaign at OneMitzvah.org/israel to pledge 1 million new good deeds to strengthen our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, Steinmetz said. Temple Beth El Bradenton/Lakewood Ranch, posted on its Facebook page its support for Israel and announced that it was offering situational awareness training Tuesday evening. Temple Beth El was also hiring private security and had launched a donation campaign to provide Israel with funds for medical supplies and services. The Manatee County Sheriffs Office said extra patrols are being provided at area synagogues this week, especially during worship times. At this point, we have no information to believe these places are unsafe, sheriffs office spokesman Randy Warren said. He said intelligence detectives are also monitoring the situation statewide. Local scholar: Middle East history offers hope History gives us a hopeful message, said Liat Alon, the federations Chief Learning and Engagement Officer and a scholar of Middle Eastern history. For centuries, Jews and Muslims lived together in conviviality. They shared customs and traditions, and theres no reason for us not to be able to do that again. But it cant happen like this. Alon will speak at Monday nights event, where she said the message will be clear: We stand united as humans in the face of barbarism, Alon said. Alon said most of her family members are in Israel, where the horrors of the weekends attacks and plunging into war are still unfolding. I think its important to bring the Jewish community together because we want to draw strength from one another in light of these atrocious attacks, Alon said. At the same time, I think its critical to bring the general community together because it affects everybody. This is not something any human being can tolerate. SEATTLE - Local leaders are speaking out against the Hamas attack on Israel this weekend, which has now escalated into war. The Israeli government officially declared war against Hamas on Sunday, a Palestinian militant group recognized by several countries as a terrorist organization. The organization launched a surprise attack in Gaza on Saturday, gunning down and taking hostage hundreds of civilians, according to the Associated Press. READ MORE: Hamas attacks Israel; Netanyahu says country 'at war' Following initial reports of the attack, local leaders condemned the actions of Hamas. "This is a massacre that is a genocidal anti-Semitic massacre in the south of Israel. And it is absolutely unacceptable in our world today. There is nobody on earth who can see this and not stand up and say thats it. Enough is enough. We cannot allow this kind of inhumanity to plague our civilization," said Elan Carr, CEO of the Israeli American Council. U.S. Senator Patty Murray issued the following statement: "I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks against Israel. Israel has the right to defend itself and the United States will ensure they have the support to do so. Im thinking of all those hurt by this horrific violence and will continue to monitor the situation closely." U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell echoed these sentiments and urged U.S. support: "We must stand in solidarity with Israel in repelling this brutal attack on civilians and their towns. My heart goes out to all the victims of these terrorist attacks and I am praying for civilians caught up in the fighting. We must ensure full U.S. support for Israel to defend itself and work to avoid further escalation and a wider war." Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued the following statement: "Washingtonians are horrified by the unspeakable violence in Israel. I condemn this attack by Hamas. There is no excuse for targeting and killing civilians. We hope for the swift recovery of the injured, the safe release of those taken hostage, and a halt to this violence." Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell shared a statement from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which reads: "The nations mayors condemn todays deadly and horrific attack by Hamas militants on innocent Israeli civilians. Terrorism has no place in society, and we will continue to stand in solidarity with Israel as we have done since 1948. "For more than 40 years, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has worked with Jewish organizations to send delegations of U.S. mayors to Israel. These meetings began in partnership with Jerusalems visionary and legendary Mayor Teddy Kollek, and they have brought U.S. mayors together with their counterparts and top government officials in Israel. The bonds between U.S. and Israeli mayors have long been productive and remain strong to this day. "Just last March, a delegation of U.S. mayors visited several of the kibbutzim and villages that were invaded today. The mayors had the privilege of meeting with Mayor Ofir Liebstein of Shaar Hanegev, San Diegos sister city. We are devastated that he was killed earlier today defending his town against this terrorist attack. "As we hope for eventual peace, we recognize Israels right to defend itself, and we extend our deepest condolences for the lives lost. May their memory be a blessing." RELATED: Israel declares war: US sending strike team to Eastern Mediterranean As of Sunday afternoon, the death toll has reached 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides, including Americans. President Joe Biden has ordered a U.S. strike team be sent to support to the Eastern Mediterranean to assist. "We as a people of any faith, any nationality, any race we need to understand that while the conflict is complicated, were taking about human lives that are being lost here. These are human beings," said Nancy Greer, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. CAIR Washington is a Seattle-based civil rights and advocacy organization serving the Muslim community. In a statement, CAIR Washington wrote, "Every human life has value, whether it is Palestinian or Israeli. The central cause of recent violence in the Middle East is Israels decades-long illegal occupation of Palestinian land and the denial of Palestinian human rights. The only way to permanently stop the violence is to end the occupation, which kills hundreds of Palestinian civilians every year and subjects millions more men, women and children to systemic, racist oppression." Authorities still hope to identify a body of a 15- to 19-year-old male found 26 years ago in a canyon, California officials reported. The remains were found in a wilderness east of Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon in December 1996, the Orange County Sheriffs Department said in an Oct. 2 news release. Investigators estimate the body had been in the canyon for up to two years before being found, officials said. Experts estimate the male was around 15-19 years old, approximately 52 to 58 with a medium build, the sheriffs office said. DNA testing shows he may have been from a remote or rural part of Latin America. A scan of the skull was used to create facial reconstructions in 2020 and 2021. Authorities ask that anyone with information contact the Orange County Coroner Division at 714-647-7400 or coroner@OCSheriff.gov, referencing case number 96-07901-MU. Trabuco Canyon is about 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Abandoned car spurs search for man shot, taken from Walmart parking lot, TX cops say Ex-boyfriend dismembers 33-year-old woman, then burns her body, California police say Mom searched for son for 5 months as body was discarded at California morgue, she says EXCLUSIVE The Department of Justice (DOJ) was slated to roll out the welcome mat in October for an Iraqi judge who issued an arrest warrant for former President Donald Trump because he ordered the assassination of a global Iranian terrorist responsible for the murders of more than 600 American military personnel, according to the U.S. government. Fox News Digital exclusively learned last week through a source with first-hand knowledge of his travels that the alleged pro-Iran regime jurist, Faiq Zidan, was set to visit the DOJ. Yet after a flurry of Fox News Digital press queries to the DOJ within a 24-hour period, the DOJ ostensibly and dramatically backtracked on its invitation to Zidan. A source familiar with the situation told Fox News on Thursday, "Zidan will not be meeting with any DOJ officials." When asked about the visit prior to cancellation, a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital in a statement on Wednesday, "The Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan is going to be hosted by the Department of Justice so we defer to the DoJ to discuss their meetings. We engage with a wide range of counterparts in Iraq and we value engaging the Iraqi judiciary. The DOJ meets regularly with foreign judicial leaders." IRAQ SEVERS DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH SWEDEN OVER ANTI-QURAN DEMONSTRATION AS PROTESTERS STORM BAGHDAD EMBASSY READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP According to a separate source familiar with the Zidans invitation to the DOJ, the judge told many U.S. officials the DOJ invited him to Washington, D.C. The appearance of working at cross-purposes between the State Department and DOJ suggests there may have been tension over the invitation to Zidan due to his pro-Iranian regime rhetoric and conduct. In January, Zidan said that Iraqs Supreme Judicial Council filed an arrest warrant for Trump with regard to the targeted killing of Iranian Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the head of the pro-Iran Kata'ib Hezbollah militia in 2020. Iranian regime-controlled outlets and other news organizations quoted Zidan, who declared that Trump confessed to his "crime" with respect to the assassination of the "Leaders of Victory." According to the U.S. government, terrorists loyal to the IRGCs Soleimani murdered more than 600 American military personnel in the Middle East. The U.S. and European Union designated Soleimani a terrorist. Congressional letters sent to President Biden in 2023 expressed alarm about Zidan. Just last month, three influential congressmen wrote Biden: "We urge you to make every effort to end the unacceptable treatment of Iraqi Kurds and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) by Iran-aligned elements in Iraq." The letter noted, "You are well aware of the role the U.S. played in supporting the Iraqi people as they developed a constitution in 2005 that established the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has served as one of the United States most reliable partners in the Middle East, yet is being economically strangled, politically and legally pressured, including reportedly by Faiq Zidan, President of the Supreme Judicial Council in Iraq, and militarily threatened by Iran and Iran-backed elements in Baghdad." IRAN OFFICIAL ADMITS COUNTRYS ROLE IN TERROR BOMBING THAT KILLED 241 US MILITARY MEMBERS There are various anglicized spellings of Zidans name, including Zaydan. The KRG is widely considered the only free region of Iraq and the most important ally of America in modern Iraq. Congressional letters have been sent to President Biden in 2023 expressing alarm about Zidan. The letter was signed by congressional representatives Michael Waltz, R-Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Joe Wilson, R-S.C. Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department about the September letter. Another letter in February sent by Waltz asked Biden, "Have the State or Treasury Departments has determined whether Faiq Zaydan, the President of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, meets the criteria for sanctions for gross human rights, acting as a foreign agent, corruption, and material support as defined by the Global Magnitsky Act and E.O. 13818." The Magnitsky Act allows the U.S. government to sanction foreign officials engaged in severe human rights abuses. Executive Order 13818 freezes the property of individuals who have committed serious human rights violations. IRAQ OPENS INVESTIGATION INTO KIDNAPPING OF ISRAELI-RUSSIAN CITIZEN WHO HAS BEEN MISSING FOR MONTHS Naz Durakoglu, assistant secretary for the Bureau of Legislative Affairs, answered the February letter on behalf of the White House in a letter dated March 22. Durakoglu, whose office is part of the State Department, wrote, without naming the judge, "The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to vigorously implementing our visa restrictions and sanctions programs, including those related to Iran and those related to corruption. The State Department and Department of the Treasury actively review cases and apply these authorities to designate persons and entities globally. We do not comment on potential future visa restrictions or sanctions." A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital they do not comment on correspondence between congressional representatives and the State Department. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the National Security Council for a comment. The NSC referred Fox News Digital to the DOJ. Prior to the Thursday's disclosure that the DOJ pulled the plug on its meeting with Zidan, a number of Iraq experts weighed in on the planned DOJ meeting with Zidan. Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser for the Washington, D.C.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital, "The Justice Department should be focused on protecting Americans targeted by IRGC assassinations and kidnapping plots, not hosting the IRGCs man in Baghdad who wants to prosecute Americans for killing terrorists. Zidan should not be allowed in America." Michael Knights, a fellow of the Washington Institute who has written about Zidan, told Fox News Digital that "Zidan issued one order after another that has disadvantaged opponents of Iranian militias." Knights said that after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, Soleimani and al-Muhandis "were the architects of moving Zidan up through the judicial system. He was running counter-terrorism courts so that none of Irans friends got prosecuted under Iraqi law." The lack of modern judicial norms in Iraq was noted by Knights who said Zidan "is a supreme court judge who can hire and fire other judges. Iraq has one supreme court judge. He is as powerful as the prime minister of Iraq. He is unelected, installed by Iran and has no term limit." LAWMAKER DEMANDS ANSWERS AFTER BIDEN OFFICIAL IMPLICATED IN IRANIAN INFLUENCE SCHEME: 'UNBELIEVABLE!' Knights pointed to an example of Zidans alleged human rights violations involving the case of an American citizen who was detained last year in Iraq because he was investigating Zidan's reported misconduct. He said that "Zidan broke numerous Iraqi laws by detaining the U.S. citizen" who was tortured physically and mentally. The American was incarcerated for 11 weeks before Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell helped secure their release. Knights said the U.S. government should "absolutely" sanction Zidan for human rights abuses. And he noted, "What it [DOJ] should not be doing is inviting him to the country to congratulate him on the great job he is doing." Such a visit to the DOJ would have only empowered Zidan and his pro-Iran regime activities in Iraq, Knights added. Entifadh Qanbar, the president of the Kurdish Protection Action Committee (KPAC) in the U.S., told Fox News Digital that Zidan is a "dangerous person." Qanbar, who worked as a civil engineer in Iraq, said, "It is a disaster" that the DOJ invited Zidan because "he has no morals and sold himself to the Iranians. Whatever the Iranians tell him to do, he does. He issued an arrest warrant against Trump." After a flurry of Fox News Digital press queries to the DOJ within a 24-hour period, the DOJ ostensibly and dramatically backtracked on its invitation to Zidan. Qanbar said that after Iranian-backed militias killed 800 Iraqis in 2019, Zidan did not convict any of the killers and that Iranian militias bragged about it. Fox News Digital spoke to Zidan's representative on the telephone, and she asked for a written WhatsApp press query. Zidan did not respond to the Fox News Digital WhatsApp media query. Fox News Digital also sent press queries to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Washington. Original article source: Mystery surrounds visit to DC of Iran-backed Iraqi judge who issued warrant for Trumps arrest A Naples woman who worked as a receptionist at an assisted living center pleaded not guilty to spending more than $750 on the facility's company credit card during Walmart shopping sprees for a second time. Louidenie Catil, 22, was arrested July 11 and faced charges including grand theft more than $5,000, criminal use of personal identification information and fraudulent use of a credit card. All of which she pleaded not guilty to Aug. 1. However, the arrest charges aren't always the same as the filed charge, State Attorney's Office spokesperson said. The State Attorney's Office filed two third-degree felony charges. Catil pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday. She worked at Elite Assisted Living Facility of North Naples and was arrested July 11 after surveillance videos showed her making unauthorized purchases between April 30 and June 1 on the company's credit card. The executive director of Elite, Leah Caputo, reported she discovered fraudulent credit card charges on the company's Chase Visa during a routine credit card audit on June 20, according to an arrest report. The arrest: Naples employee charges over $5,000 to assisted living's credit card at Walmarts Elite conducted an internal investigation, in which Catil was confronted and fired for using the company credit card without authorization, the report states. Caputo reported the credit card was used at three Walmart locations between April 30 and June 11. Charges totaled $5,161.40, according to the arrest report. Her next court date is Dec. 14. Emma Behrmann is a breaking news reporter for Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You may contact her at emma.behrmann@naplesnews.com. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples worker pleads not guilty to using company card at Walmart Through the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project, NASA and Boeing have joined forces to create the X-66A, a next-generation aircraft that will streamline energy usage. The X-66A could ultimately result in 30% less fuel use compared to current aircraft models, drastically reducing pollution, according to NASA. The aircraft is intentionally designed to help the United States eventually reach its goal of achieving net-zero pollution in aviation by the year 2050. The X-66A will be a single-aisle passenger aircraft modified from an MD-90 aircraft. Designers will replace the planes wings and engines, shorten the fuselage, and add longer, thinner wings with supportive aerodynamic trusses. Reducing planet-warming pollution created by air travel is an essential step toward a greener planet. Our World in Data found that aviation generates around 2.5% of all carbon pollution worldwide. Additionally, according to the BBC, domestic flights create about six times more harmful pollution than driving the equivalent distance and about 42 times more than taking the train the equivalent distance. At NASA, our eyes are not just focused on stars but also fixated on the sky. The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator builds on NASAs world-leading efforts in aeronautics as well climate, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. The X-66A will help shape the future of aviation, a new era where aircraft are greener, cleaner, and quieter, and create new possibilities for the flying public and American industry alike. To reach our goal of net zero aviation emissions by 2050, we need transformative aircraft concepts like the ones were flying on the X-66A, said Bob Pearce, the associate administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA. With this experimental aircraft, were aiming high to demonstrate the kinds of energy-saving, emissions-reducing technologies the aviation industry needs. NASA isnt the only entity making advances in the flight industry for the betterment of the planet. One company recently completed a flight of the worlds biggest zero-pollution plane, while a Swiss companys electric seaplanes are gaining popularity. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Mette Frederiksen , Prime Minister of Denmark, has called on the North Atlantic Alliance not to succumb to fatigue from the war in Ukraine. Source: Frederiksen, speaking at the NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen, quoted by The Guardian, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "Brave Ukrainian men and women are fighting on the battlefield. They are the face of right against wrong, of good against evil. This [invasion] is a threat to the ideas our alliance is built on freedom, democracy, the rule of law," said Frederiksen. She noted that "we must be with Ukraine to the bitter end". "None of us can claim war fatigue while Ukraine continues its tireless fight. Let us decide that war fatigue will not take place in our transatlantic community," she said. In her speech, Frederiksen asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin miscalculated, thinking that the words of NATO's support for Ukraine "remain just that, words". "Ukrainian soldiers are fighting with our weapons, our tanks, our missiles, and soon Ukraine will also fly our F-16s," she said. Frederiksen also called on representatives of other NATO countries to expand the coalition that supplies fighters and conducts the necessary training for Ukrainian pilots. Background: Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine is of existential importance for Europe, so Europeans cannot afford not to win it together with Ukraine. In addition, Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, believes that the allies should stand the test of time in the matter of helping Ukraine because now the Kremlin is counting on "war fatigue". The Lithuanian Foreign Minister recently emphasised that the world cannot afford to get tired of the war. 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! Former UN Ambassador and GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has joined a chorus of Republicans accusing Iran of funding a terror attack against Israel despite there being no evidence to support their claims. Republicans have been pushing the narrative as a way to tie the attack in Israel to Joe Biden. Their claim goes like this: Joe Biden gave Iran $6bn to facilitate a prisoner exchange; Iran then used that money to fund Hamas's Saturday attack on Israel that left hundreds dead and wounded. NBC News' Kristen Welker challenged that narrative during an interview on Sunday with Ms Haley on Meet the Press. Earlier in the show, Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured the public that the money given to Iran in the prisoner swap was frozen, and has remained frozen, until Iran withdraws it for use in humanitarian endeavors. Ms Welker asked Ms Haley if she thought it was irresponsible for her primary rivals to push the theory that Mr Biden and the US taxpayers indirectly funded the attack based on nothing more than a vague feeling that it might have happened. Ms Haley said Mr Blinken's earlier comments were irresponsible, not her colleagues' speculation. I actually think it was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that the $6 billion doesnt weigh in here, Ms Haley answered. 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 It doesnt go to the Iranian people, it goes to terrorist attacks. And Secretary Blinkens just wrong to imply that this money is not being moved around as we speak to hurt those that love freedom. Ms Welker pushed back, reminding her there was no evidence that any money was being moved around to fund attacks. And yet, theres just no proof of that yet, the reporter said. This is just the hours after that immediate attack. Is it irresponsible to level that charge when you really dont have any evidence of that at this point in time? The former UN ambassador then advised Ms Welker to "look at what the Iranian people" not Tehran, but the people "have done to freedom-loving people around the world." Look at what the Iranian people, the Iranian regime has done to threaten Israel over the years. To think that theyre not moving money around, it is irresponsible to say that to the American people," Ms Haley said. "They are moving money around to threaten those they hate. Mr Blinken said Sunday that the account holding the $6bn was monitored by US agencies. 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, he said. Thats what this is about. ASHEVILLE A state labor department report absolved the Biltmore Estate of blame in the death of an employee, who was crushed by a falling tree during a windy day. Jerrilyn Musachia, who worked as a guest relations interpreter and host for Biltmore Estate, was walking to the parking lot after finishing her shift April 1. A few steps after she walked through the pedestrian gate, she was struck by the top section of an uprooted 50-year-old hemlock tree, according to a report from the North Carolina Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Division, obtained by the Citizen Times through a public records request. Musachia died that day. She was 66. The tree that killed Musachia was 82 feet tall and weighed between 5,000 and 7,000 pounds, according to the report, which referred to information from a tree care organization. Local meteorological reports on the day projected sustained 20 mph winds with gusts between 40 and 50 mph. Trees are not expected to be uprooted until wind speeds reach between 55 and 63 mph, according to the report. A picture of police tape at Biltmore from the North Carolina Department of Labor's investigation into the death of Jerrilyn Musachia. Trees on the estate are inspected, evaluated, tagged, and removed or pruned as needed, according to the report. The hemlock tree had been treated with two insecticides a week before it fell on Musachia, according to the report. The Citizen Times reached out to Musachias daughter about this story. Ultimately, the report found that Biltmore did not violate North Carolina occupational and safety health standards. Biltmore received no citations. Due to the age and health of the hemlock tree involved along with the current treatment and regular inspections/evaluations of all trees across the estate as well as the inability to predict the effects, locations and severity of wind gusts at the time of the incident, the employer could not have known of the existence of the hazardous conditions contributing to the fatality, the report read. Trees cut down at the location of the investigation of Jerrilyn Musachia's death at the Biltmore Estate. The investigation began the day Musachia died and was closed July 18, according to the report. This was a tragic and very sad event, LeeAnn Donnelly, a spokesperson for Biltmore, told the Citizen Times in an email. Biltmore continues to offer support to Ms. Musachias family during this difficult time. In response to a Citizen Times question about policy changes Biltmore has made to prevent future tree-fall-related deaths, Dennis Martin Jr., an Asheville-based attorney representing Biltmore, wrote in a statement that the employer "routinely reviews its policies to ensure the safety of its guests and employees." Not the estate's first tree fall death Included in the report are summary statistics of injuries and illnesses among Biltmore employees. From 2020 to some point before the report closed in 2023, the company reported 75 injuries and illnesses among its employees. The Citizen Times reached out to the state to clarify if those injuries were sustained at the estate. Musachia was the only employee who died at the company during that time. The officer in charge of the report noted trends with hand injuries, falls and strains/sprains. Biltmore provided a lengthy response, mentioning a risk assessment team to analyze employee hazards and a process for analyzing what causes injuries. Included in the report are letters to Musachias family expressing condolences and giving updates on the investigation. More: Wrongful death lawsuit: Widow of FDNY firefighter killed by Biltmore Estate tree sues More: Update: Biltmore Estate continues trails shutdown, adds closures after high winds, deaths Musachias death was the second fatality by tree fall at Biltmore in a year. Casey Skudin, a New York City firefighter visiting with his family to celebrate Fathers Day and his upcoming birthday, died June 17, 2022, when a tree fell on the car he was driving along the entrance road. He was 45. His widow, Angela Skudin, filed a wrongful death suit against Biltmore in July 2022, alleging Biltmore was grossly negligent because the company knew the tree that killed her husband was rotten and did not remove it, instead supporting it with cables. That case has progressed to the discovery phase, according to court documents. Mitchell Black covers Buncombe County and health care for the Citizen Times. Email him at mblack@citizentimes.com or follow him on Twitter @MitchABlack. Please help support local journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Biltmore Estate employee tree fall death investigation completed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told President Biden that a ground operation in the Gaza Strip is necessary after Hamas launched deadly strikes on his country. The remark, made in a phone call between the two leaders, came as Biden raised concerns about Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip if a ground operation should commence, three Israeli and U.S. sources briefed on the call told Axios. "We have to go in. We can't negotiate now," Netanyahu told the president, according to the outlet. Netanyahu told Biden that Israel has no choice but to respond with force since a country cannot display weakness in the volatile Middle East, Axios also reported, citing the sources. FAMILIES OF ISRAELIS FEARED KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS SPEAK OUT Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told President Biden that his country has no choice but to carry out a ground operation in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas terror group, which controls the area, has attacked Israeli civilians. "We need to restore deterrence," Netanyahu reportedly said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. LIVE UPDATES: HAMAS ATTACKS ON ISRAEL The State Department said nine Americans have been killed so far in the attacks by Hamas, which began on Saturday. Israeli media is reporting Monday that 800 Israelis have been killed, while the Palestinian Ministry of Health is reporting more than 550 deaths in the Gaza Strip. Original article source: Netanyahu tells Biden 'we have to go in' to Gaza following Hamas attacks: report California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday signed a bill into law that would hold Facebook-owned Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms liable for failing to combat the spread of child sexual abuse materials. Under the new law, Assembly Bill 1394, social media platforms will be barred starting in January 2025 from knowingly facilitating, aiding, or abetting commercial sexual exploitation." A court would be required to award damages between $1 million and $4 million for each act of exploitation that a social media platform facilitated, aided, or abetted. The platforms could avoid lawsuits by conducting biannual audits to detect potentially harmful designs, algorithms and features and fix any problems. Read more: California lawmakers want to make social media safer for young people. Can they finally succeed? AB 1394 also requires social media platforms to give California users a way to report child sexual abuse material theyre depicted in and respond to the report within 36 hours. If they failed to meet certain requirements such as permanently blocking the material from being viewed, they would also be liable for damages. The bill's signing is a victory for child safety advocates who pushed for the legislation amid stiff opposition from tech groups that urged lawmakers to delay its passage for another year. Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the bill's author, and child safety advocates applauded Newsom for signing the legislation. This law underscores our state's dedication to defending the most vulnerable among us, and sends a resounding message to other states and tech platforms that using the internet to exploit children will no longer go unchecked," Wicks said in a statement Monday. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that advocates for online child safety, said in a statement that the "inadequate self-policing" of child sexual abuse materials by social media companies has harmed young people and their families. We have more work to do to hold social media platforms accountable for harms they cause to kids and teens and their families, but today's signing into of AB 1394 is a major step in the right direction," said Jim Steyer, founder and chief executive of Common Sense Media, which co-sponsored the bill. Industry advocacy groups NetChoice and TechNet opposed the legislation, stating that it would have a chilling effect on free speech because tech platforms could end up pulling down more lawful content or disabling features popular among teens. The groups havent said if they planned to sue over AB 1394, but signaled to lawmakers that legal challenges could be coming. NetChoice and Technet didn't respond to a request for comment sent on Sunday night. California is already facing lawsuits over legislation targeting online platforms. X, formerly known as Twitter, sued California over a law that would require social media companies to disclose their content moderation policies and provide a report to the California attorney general. A federal judge in September also temporarily blocked an online child safety bill after NetChoice, a group whose members include Facebook parent company Meta, Google and TikTok, filed a lawsuit against California. Child sexual abuse material has been an ongoing problem for online sites. Social media platforms take action against millions of pieces of child sexual exploitation content every quarter. They're required under federal law to report the content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. From April to June, Facebook took action against 7.2 million pieces of content that violated its rules against child sexual exploitation, according to data reported quarterly by the company. During that same period, Facebook-owned Instagram took action against 1.7 million pieces of child endangerment content. 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. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed off on a pair of rules that will require large corporations that do business in the Golden State to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risk. The two bills, which were among a laundry list of legislation approved this weekend, are the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, or SB-253, and the Climate-Related Financial Risk bill, or SB-261. SB-253 will require all public and private firms that operate in California and whose annual revenues surpass $1 billion to disclose both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. If companies fail to adhere to the demands of the law, they will face fines of up to $500,000 a year, according to the bill. This policy, once again, demonstrates Californias continued leadership with bold responses to the climate crisis, turning information transparency into climate action, Newsom wrote in a signing message distributed to the state Senate. The governor acknowledged, however, that the timeline set in the bill may not be feasible and that he would therefore direct his administration to work with the bills author and the Legislature to address this concern. SB-261, meanwhile, will require companies that generate more than $500 million in annual revenue to publish climate-related financial risk reports biennially, beginning in 2026. Failure to comply with SB-261 will result in administrative penalties of up to $50,000 in a reporting year. This policy will illustrate the real risks of climate change for businesses operating in California and will encourage them to adopt practices that seek to minimize and avoid these risks, Newsom said in another signing message. Similar to his instructions regarding SB-253, the governor said that he would be advising his administration to work on deadline issues associated with this bill as well. While the two bills have garnered widespread support among environmental organizations, industry leaders have opposed their enactment. California Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jennifer Barrera expressed her organizations disappointment in the bills signing in a Saturday statement released on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Barrera criticized the legislation for introducing major changes in climate policy, stressing that these shifts will add considerable obligations on affected businesses. We looked forward to working with the governors office on SB-253 clean-up legislation that will address some of the major conners of our members, particularly the impact on small business, she added. Californias new emissions law notably reaches beyond federal rules proposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Those regulations would require publicly traded companies to disclose both direct and indirect emissions, while the California legislation includes private corporations as well. Among the other climate-related laws signed this weekend were a bill requiring the owners of abandoned oil and gas wells to pay for their closure, legislation opening highways for solar power construction and plans to prepare Californias ports for offshore wind development. With todays action, Gov. Newsom cements Californias climate leadership, Laura Deehan, state director of Environment California, said in a statement. As one of the biggest economies in the world, what we do here matters beyond our borders, Deehan added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have given students at public high schools access to free condoms. (Los Angeles Times ) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday vetoed legislation that would have provided teenagers attending public high school with access to free condoms and prohibited retailers from refusing to sell them to youths. Newsom said that although he agreed that providing condoms are "important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health," the bill would have created an unfunded program that was not included in the state's annual budget. "With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure," Newsom said in his veto statement. The governor and state lawmakers this year were forced to address a $30-billion shortfall to avoid cutting essential state programs. Still, Newsom said, the state Legislature approved a batch of bills outside this budget process that, if all enacted, would add nearly $19 billion of unaccounted costs. Senate Bill 541 , written by Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-Panorama City), would have required all public schools to make condoms easily accessible to all students in an effort to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and curb teen pregnancy rates. As part of the law, retailers would have been prohibited from asking for proof of age or identification when minors buy condoms or nonprescription contraception. Menjivar called the veto a "set back" in the fight for sexual health equity. We spend millions of dollars on [sexually transmitted infection] health care every year when prevention costs far less than treatment, she said. This is a youth-led bill, and we need to meet high school students where they are to properly address the STI crisis in California. Read more: Newsom vetoes bill to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms' and other psychedelics in California When barriers remain, youth with low incomes are often left without the option to regularly utilize condoms to help protect their health and prevent an unintended pregnancy from occurring, the nonprofit organization California School-Based Health Alliance, a supporter of the bill, said. There are also risks of youths passing unwanted sexually transmitted diseases, according to the bills analysis, which cited that 5 in 10 chlamydia cases in California are young people, disproportionately affecting people of color. The bill raised some concerns for conservative groups, including the California Policy Council, that argued that handing out free condoms perpetuates a hook-up culture in which sex is meaningless and done for fun with multiple partners. Sex education in California schools has long stirred controversy, particularly in 2016 when lawmakers enacted the California Healthy Youth Act , creating comprehensive sexual education and HIV prevention education. The revamped curriculum was intended to be all-encompassing and to include the use of gender-inclusive language, as well as educational material on sex trafficking, HIV prevention nutrition, alcohol and skin care. Meanwhile, states across the U.S. have their own guidelines and approaches to sex education. Only half of adolescents will receive a school lesson about contraception before they first have sex, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health. Only 20 states require information on condoms or contraception. According to a 2018 report on teen pregnancy prevention, 27 states have curriculums that stress abstinence and 18 states require lessons that encourage students to engage in sexual activity only when married. 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. Proponents of the bill banning caste discrimination staged a hunger strike last month to push for the measure to be approved California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill banning caste discrimination. Advocates had argued the bill would protect people of South Asian descent who had been treated unfairly. Mr Newsom said the state already banned discrimination based on religion, origin and other characteristics. "Because discrimination based on caste is already prohibited under these existing categories, this bill is unnecessary," he said in a statement. The caste system in India, which dates back more than 3,000 years, divides Hindu society into rigid hierarchical groups. India banned caste discrimination more than 70 years ago, although biases persist, especially against the Dalits, once called "untouchables". California lawmakers voted 31-5 last month to approve the first state-wide bill explicitly banning caste discrimination. It was sponsored by Democratic state senator Aisha Wahab, who sought to add caste as a protected category in the state's anti-discrimination laws alongside gender, race, religion and disability. It came after Seattle became the first US city to ban caste discrimination in February. In California, home to one of the largest South Asian populations in the US, the caste bill had been met with both praise and backlash from some community members. Public hearings about the bill lasted hours and brought out hundreds of residents. The Hindu American Foundation called the measure a "divisive bill" that "implicitly singles out" South Asians. In a statement after the governor vetoed the bill, the foundation said Mr Newsom had "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". Several Republican lawmakers who opposed the bill had echoed those arguments, saying discrimination was already prohibited under state law and the latest measure would lead to racial profiling of South Asian Californians. The bill's supporters had included Dalit civil rights organisation Equality Labs, which launched a hunger strike last month to push for the bill to be passed. They said Dalits have faced harassment, biases and workplace discrimination in the US from upper-caste people. In 2020, the technology company Cisco was sued by the state after two high-caste Indian managers allegedly discriminated against a Dalit engineer, paying him a lower salary. The case was dismissed in April by order of the court. Bad news for Californians hoping to enjoy a joint with their coffee: a bill that would have allowed cannabis cafes has been vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. Assembly Bill 374 was written to allow Amsterdam-style lounges where cannabis products could be sold alongside food and drinks. While some similar businesses currently exist, they do so through a legal loophole, usually by having a technically separate business deliver food and drink products to consumption lounge customers. In a message announcing his veto, Newsom said he appreciate[s] the authors intent to provide cannabis retailers with increased business opportunities and an avenue to attract new customers. However, I am concerned this bill could undermine Californias long-standing smoke-free workplace protections, he wrote. Protecting the health and safety of workers is paramount. I encourage the author to address this concern in subsequent legislation. In response, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) posted to X, formerly Twitter, four sad face emojis. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. After Sen. Feinstein 's death in September, Gov. Newsom sprang into action to select a replacement. Newsom would eventually tap Laphonza Butler, a well-connected former union leader and ex-UC regent. The selection process was so swift that Butler's mother learned of the appointment from a news alert, per Politico. After the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein in late September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom sprang into action to find a suitable replacement a difficult dilemma as he was mourning a close friend and mentor while also juggling competing interests lobbying him over his eventual pick. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told Newsom that he needed to expedite his decision-making process in tapping a replacement, given the realities of the slim Democratic margin in the upper chamber and what was an impending government shutdown, according to Politico. While the shutdown was eventually averted, Newsom over the course of 48 hours weighed a number of options before eventually selecting Laphonza Butler, a well-connected former union organizer who was also a former regent of the University of California and until recently was the president of EMILY's List. The whirlwind selection process involved Feinstein's family signing off on the pick, Newsom's staff ensuring that they had the requisite forms needed to officiate the selection, and the governor's aides communicating with the office of California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, per the report. Politico first reported on October 1 that Newsom had tapped Butler to replace Feinstein. The Senate selection process had been so swift that Butler's mother found out about the appointment through a news alert, according to two individuals with knowledge of the timeline who spoke with the news outlet. On October 3, Butler was sworn in to office, joining her Golden State colleague, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla. Butler is the first Black woman to represent California in the US Senate and only the third Black woman in US history ever to serve in the upper chamber. While Newsom said before Feinstein's death that any potential appointed senator would be a caretaker who wouldn't be actively running for the seat, he reversed course before selecting Butler and said the eventual pick would be free to enter the Senate contest if they desired to do so. Butler has not yet announced if she'll seek a full Senate term in 2024. Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter, and Adam Schiff are the leading officeholders already in the race for the Senate seat. Read the original article on Business Insider Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) introduced legislation to expand protections for workers after layoffs swept the tech industry last year. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press) California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill Sunday that would have extended the notice period of impending layoffs that companies are required to give employees and expanded these rules to contract workers. Including contract labor under the California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act, "risks imposing liability" on employers who "cannot reasonably be expected to know whether their actions will cause job loss for employees of their subcontractors," Newsom said in his veto statement. The legislation was created by Assembly member Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) in response to the wave of layoffs that swept the tech industry last year, particularly Twitter, now known as X. The Elon Musk-acquired social media company reportedly laid off about 4,400 of its 5,500 contract workers without notice or severance, after already laying off about 3,700 of its full-time employees. The company is locked in a legal tussle over not cooperating in arbitration cases with former employees who say the company hasn't paid them severance. The large number of contract workers in the tech industry is expected to grow in the next few years, especially those working with artificial intelligence programs capable of creating images and other content. Read more: In the wake of massive layoffs, tech workers reconsider their future If we want to keep our work force here in California then we have to make sure that all workers from the software engineers to the janitors and cafeteria workers get sufficient notice when a company is downsizing instead of kicking them out overnight," Haney said in a news release. Samantha Gordon, chief program officer at TechEquity Collaborative, which sponsored the bill, called expanding protections to contract workers a "straightforward change that addresses the way that work happens today." Employers enter into contracts with agencies with a "rough idea," of the work they're paying for, Gordon said, and if contract workers are being laid off, it generally means the employer has told the agency that it can no longer afford to pay those workers. "Its reasonable that anyone employed by that company has the right to be informed of a potential job loss as a result of a mass layoff," Gordon said. The bill would have extended the WARN-required notice period of impending layoffs, closure or relocation which applies to companies of a certain size to 75 days from 60 days. For the rules to apply to employees of labor contractors, they would have been required to work at least six of the 12 months and at least 60 hours preceding the date on which a mass layoff notice is required. Employees of a labor contractor completing a temporary project with a defined end date would have been exempt. Newsom also questioned the bill's expansion of the kinds of companies that would be subject to the WARN Act to include chain businesses, even when such layoffs might be geographically far apart and unrelated. Read more: California housekeepers won't get work safety protections after another Newsom veto "It is not clear that this change is consistent with the purpose of [the WARN Act] to protect local communities and enable a rapid response to a potential shock to a local economy and workforce," Newsom said. Haney said he plans to reintroduce the bill next year and work with Newsom to address his concerns. The bill was sponsored by several union and labor groups in the state such as the California Labor Federation, National Employment Law Project, and Alphabet Workers Union, which represents Google employees. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gov. Roy Cooper announced Monday that he has appointed former Wake County Superintendent Catty Moore to serve on the State Board of Education. In his announcement, Cooper pointed to Moores 35 years of service in public education, including the last five as Wake County superintendent before she retired at the end of June. Moore will fill the at-large seat vacated by former Charlotte-Mecklenburg teacher James Ford, who resigned in September. Im glad to appoint more Hispanic and Latino leaders to my boards and commissions, including Dr. Catty Moore to the North Carolina State Board of Education and the new members of the Governors Advisory Council on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, Cooper, a Democrat, said in his announcement. Were going to continue to uplift diversity in all of our state agencies and departments. October is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Moores appointment is subject to confirmation by the Republican-controlled General Assembly. State lawmakers have steadily been removing power from the State Board of Education, which currently has a majority made up of Coopers appointees. This year alone, lawmakers stripped the state board of its powers to approve and renew charter schools and to oversee high school athletics. The state board still retains powers, though, such as adopting the academic standards used in each subject. Wakes first female and Latina superintendent Moore, 59, whose maiden name is Quiroz, was 2 years old when her family moved from Ecuador to the United States. She went for decades by the first name of Cathy before changing last year to go by her legal first name of Catty. Wake County Public Schools Superintendent Catty Moore chats with the Leesville Road High School staff and students as she lines up to enter their commencement on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, N.C. Moore went on to become the first member of her family to graduate from college. After initially planning to be an engineer, she opted for teaching and relocated to Wake in 1988 to teach French at Enloe High School in Raleigh. She rose through the ranks in Wake and was put in charge of overseeing academics as deputy superintendent in 2011. In 2018, Moore became Wake Countys first female and first Latina superintendent. Moore led North Carolinas largest school district and the 15th-largest district in the nation. Wake has more than 160,000 students and an annual operating budget of more than $2 billion. Moore led Wake during the pandemic while in-person instruction was limited. Cooper cited Moores multiple awards, including being named the Wake County Principal of the Year, the North Carolina Central Region Principal of the Year, the North Carolina PTA Superintendent of the Year and the Magnet Schools of America National Superintendent of the Year. But Moores critics cite how test scores are lower than when she first started and accused her of promoting a woke ideology in schools. Tonight's top stories include a report of a son allegedly killing his father before taking his own life in Phoenix, and several crashes overnight killing at least 2 and injuring more than five people. Here are the top stories for Oct. 8. 1. Phoenix Police investigating apparent murder-suicide involving a son and his father 2. Man killed in north Phoenix; 3 detained and later released 3. Israel declares war: US sending strike team to Eastern Mediterranean 4. Hamas attacks Israel: Jewish community ramps up security at Arizona synagogues 5. 3 Phoenix crashes overnight leave 2 dead, at least 6 injured No decisions have been made regarding the situation in the Middle East during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Source: CNN Details: Following the meeting, US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said many countries had condemned the attacks by Hamas: "Theyre obviously not all (condemning the attacks), and I dont really want to get into that. I think you can probably figure out one of them without me saying anything." Wood stated that the situation is still unstable and highly dangerous. The diplomat added that officials are working hard to prevent the conflict from spreading to the region. "Its important that the global community condemn, strongly condemn, this unprovoked invasion and the terrorist attacks and activities that have taken place and are taking place," Wood said. Asked about the plight of Palestinians in the region, Wood said: "We condemn civilians who are hurt or killed anywhere in the world. That goes without saying. Whats important now is that the international community to show its solidarity with 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! Two weeks ago, I stood with Armenian officials on a steep overlook near the border of Azerbaijan. Rugged hills surrounded us on all sides. The barren landscape was covered with harsh boulders and dirt paths, and military outposts dotted the terrain. A lone electrical tower sprang up a few feet away. It was eerily quiet the only sound came from the gravel beneath our boots. Through binoculars, we inspected a bridge down the hill. The paved passage and military tents seemed innocuous at first glance. But this nondescript road the Lachin corridor has become a weapon of the Azerbaijani government and the focal point of a deepening humanitarian crisis. That single bridge separates Nagorno-Karabakh an ethnic Armenian enclave of Azerbaijan from the rest of the world. Last December, the Azerbaijani government closed it down. Their purpose was clear: to eliminate the ethnic Armenian presence in the region. They are succeeding. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, visited the Armenian border last month. Peters says the U.S. must provide aid to embattled Armenians and levy consequences on Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans blockade, the subsequent military campaign, and the dissolution of the self-declared Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh are all part of a plan. Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh are facing an existential threat and we must come to their aid. Over several months, Azerbaijans blockade of the Lachin corridor deprived 120,000 residents of food, water, fuel and other essential supplies. Pregnant women were forced to walk miles to medical clinics. Fuel shortages shut down schools and sidelined emergency vehicles. People got sick from untreated water, then visited pharmacies with empty shelves. Starving citizens lined up for bread in the street, wondering how they would find their familys next meal. From our vantage point above the border, we could see a line of close to 20 trucks, filled with the supplies that Armenians so desperately needed, sitting idle on the side of the road. The Azerbaijani government had kept them from entering Nagorno-Karabakh for months. Our Armenian counterparts made it clear that the crisis is getting worse. Increased military aggression from Azerbaijan has already claimed hundreds of lives. In this chaos, dozens and possibly even hundreds more mainly civilians were killed or injured in an explosion at a gas station. They were getting fuel in order to flee just a few of more than 100,000 people who have left their homes to seek safety in Armenia over the last week. The cause of the explosion is still unknown but its deadly toll was a result of the Azerbaijani campaign to force Armenians out. Although these stories were deeply disturbing, so too was the lack of information. Until international observers are allowed unimpeded entry into Nagorno-Karabakh, we will be forced to speculate about the extent of these crimes. But almost the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh has already fled they would not do so unless it was their only choice. We cannot bear witness to these atrocities in silence. We cannot let these stories fall on deaf ears. The Armenians I met did not want to hear just words they wanted action, and we must come to their aid. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Michigan, traveled to the Armenian border last month. Peters visited the memorial to the Armenian Genocide. The U.S. must help ensure that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh receive the humanitarian assistance they desperately need. Critically given the history of this region we must do everything we can to bring in neutral observers to shine a light on the conditions that the Azerbaijani government has created. But there must also be consequences for this violence. We must halt all U.S. military assistance to Azerbaijan, and empower President Joe Biden to impose harsh sanctions. I am working to pass legislation that would hold Azerbaijan accountable and prevent taxpayer dollars from financing Azerbaijani aggression. There must be a price paid for these crimes against the Armenian people. The day after seeing the border, I paid my respects at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide. The monument is a reminder of a devastating history, and the deep resonance of genocide across generations of the Armenian people. But as I lay flowers near the eternal flame, I also saw it as a call to action, urging us to do everything in our power to stem the tide of ethnic violence. If we are to truly heed that call, we must stand firmly beside the Armenian people. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) has represented the state of Michigan in the United States Senate since 2014. He currently serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Armed Services Committee. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Biden, US must hold Azerbaijan accountable. Armenians depend on it Dmytro Kuleba , the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, considers it realistic to open negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union, if "there are no force majeure events." Source: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview with Forbes, as reported by European Pravda The minister believes that the Ukrainian parliament is capable of passing all the necessary draft laws to open negotiations with the EU, although this will become a "test" for the Rada [Ukrainian parliament - ed.]. Quote: "For this parliament, this is a test of patriotism. It must pass this test. So far, voting is in progress. There is a majority, the head of the Verkhovna Rada , Ruslan Stefanchuk, is leading this process through the reefs of Ukrainian parliamentarism," Kuleba said. Kuleba is convinced that it is quite possible to start negotiations with the EU by the end of this year. "If there are no force majeure events and no new demands or recommendations or sub-recommendations are put forward, I think we will open negotiations by the end of this year," Kuleba believes. The European Commission is expected to present its annual report on enlargement at the end of October. In it, the EC is expected to recommend starting official negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. The final "green light" for the start of accession negotiations will be given not by the European Commission, but by the member states who must agree to it unanimously. Background: Currently, Ukraine has not completed the implementation of the seven criteria and is persistently failing to implement one of the EU's recommendations, which several states consider to be key, concerning legislation on publicly significant persons or politically exposed persons. 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! Claudia Goldin poses in her home in Cambridge, Mass Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Goldin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. | Josh Reynolds, Assiocated Press The 2023 Nobel Prize in economics was awarded Monday to a Harvard professor whose research into women in the workforce led to a greater understanding of the gender pay gap. Claudia Goldin was recognized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for having advanced our understanding of womens labor market outcomes, according to a press release from the Nobel Foundation. Out of the 93 Nobel Memorial Prizes in Economic Sciences ever awarded, only three women, including Goldin have ever won the prize, The Associated Press reported. Who is Claudia Goldin? Goldin is the Henry Lee Professor of Economics at Harvard University and the co-director of the National Bureau of Economic Researchs Gender in the Economy group. Goldin provided the first comprehensive account of womens earnings and labor market participation through the centuries, according to the Nobel Foundation. Her research reveals the causes of change, as well as the main sources of the remaining gender gap. According to her research, much of the remaining gender gap today is between women and comes after the birth of the first child. Related Understanding womens role in the labor is important for society. Thanks to Claudia Goldins groundbreaking research we now know much more about the underlying factors and which barriers may need to be addressed in the future, Jakob Svensson, chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences, stated. 2023 Nobel Prize winners Goldin joins other winners of the 2023 Nobel Prizes that were announced last week. However, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences differs from the other prizes in that it is a memorial award established in memory of Alfred Nobel. Below is a list of the 2023 Nobel Prize winners: Nobel Prize in physics: Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne LHuillier for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter. Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine: Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. Nobel Prize in chemistry: Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. Nobel Prize in literature : Jon Fosse for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable. Nobel Peace Prize: Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. Even though there have been challenges in starting a housecleaning business just before the pandemic, Shellena Pittersons hard work is paying off, and shes being recognized for it. Pitterson and her business, Orchid Maids, based out of Foundry 66 in Norwich, is one of six businesses recognized this year by the Womens Business Development Council as a part of the 2023 Women Rising Gala and Awards Celebration. The event will take place on Oct. 27 at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich. The other honorees for this year are also business owners. They include Liz Ceppos of Cross Culture Kobucha in Danbury, Melissa-Sue John of Lauren-Simone Publishing in East Hartford, Emmanuella Lauture of Ma Maison Childcare, LLC in Stamford, Neisa Medina-Nunez of The Learning Barn Childcare Center and Preschool in Naugatuck, and Kristin Vece of Elevate Healing Arts in Cromwell, the announcement states. The honorees are the best and brightest of Womens Business Development Council clients, as determined by the staff, whove made the best use of the organizations advising, connections, classes, and grants, Marketing and Communications Director JoAnn Gulbin said. Theyve done hard work to get where theyre going, and the results speak for themselves, she said. This isnt the first honor that Pitterson has received for her business, as she was also given the Carlene B. Lee Woman Business Enterprise Award by the NAACP Norwich Branch in 2021, and spoke at the Connecticut Economic Development Summit last year, Pitterson said. Im always shocked that Im noticed, she said. Shellena Pitterson of Norwich will be recognized at this year's Women's Business Development Council's Women Rising Gala for her business, Orchid Maids. Current full-time job didn't satisfy Pitterson first got the idea for Orchid Maids in 2018, when she had an epiphany when she realized her current full-time job wasnt where she wanted to be. She had worked as an architectural drafter for The State of Connecticut for 17 years. She doesnt believe theres any opportunity for her to advance, and she doesnt want to be stuck working until shes 65 or 70, she said. I wanted to put myself in a position where I was working for me, she said. Pitterson reached out to a cousin who has two successful cleaning businesses in Hawaii, and learned from him, along with doing her own research. Orchid Maids opened in October 2019, and had to learn as she worked, she said. I like a challenge, and this definitely provides that for me, she said. Slow start and the pandemic The business had a slow start in 2019, with only a few clients. Pitterson was confident that 2020 would be her year. Then the pandemic happened, and the business was essentially dead for a time, in a similar position that many other businesses had gone through also, she said. No one wanted cleaners in their home, she said. However, she was able to take a negative, and turn it into a positive, honing her skills, communicating with and accommodating customers, learning software, keeping employees safe, and more, she said. It was at this time that Pitterson started working more with Womens Business Development Council, and working with Foundry 66. Pittersons office is based out of her home, but she has used resources to network and meet people, she said. What couldve been something that shut me down, it just made me stronger, and persevere harder to be successful, she said. Orchid Maids today While numbers fluctuate, Orchid Maids currently employs two people, and also works with an independent contractor. Pitterson said the business changed over time from something selfish to something selfless, and she wants to help the community through her business. Now Im providing jobs for my community. Now Im helping my community, she said. While most of Orchid Maids work was residential, the company is now starting to take on commercial clients, mainly small offices. She wants to continue stepping up my game, Pitterson said. The skys the limit, she said. Advice for entrepreneurs Budding entrepreneurs should listen to their passions, follow their path, and cant should never be in your vocabulary, Pitterson said. Sometimes people say theres no money in that. You cant make money off of that, she said. If youre passionate about something, the money will come. Having family and friends as a support system is also crucial for a work-life balance, Pitterson said This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Shellena Pitterson's Orchid Maids in Norwich to receive statewide honor Most Wake County students dont have classes on Monday, but its not to celebrate Columbus Day. The Wake County school system annually recognizes the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, and not as the federal holiday of Columbus Day. Students at most district schools have the day off as a teacher workday with no classes. Indigenous Peoples Day is a holiday that municipalities and cities throughout the United States celebrate to honor Native American peoples and commemorate their histories and cultures, Wake posted for last years holiday. The holiday recognizes the legacy and impact of colonialism on Native communities, and it also celebrates the cultures, contributions, and resilience of contemporary Native peoples. This years commemoration isnt as large as last year. But the school districts Office of Equity posted its recognition of the day on social media. District planners try to schedule Indigenous Peoples Day as a teacher workday each year for at least traditional-calendar schools. Indigenous Peoples Day Since 1892, Columbus Day has been recognized as a federal holiday in honor of Christopher Columbus arrival in the New World. But in 1977, the International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas said it should be celebrated instead as Indigenous Peoples Day. Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021. Former President Donald Trump charged that radical activists are trying to undermine Columbus legacy. In a 2022 presentation, Wake school administrators said Indigenous Peoples Day is meant to honor the accomplishments of indigenous people even as they faced assimilation, discrimination, and genocide spanning generations. The North Carolina Association of Educators and the the groups Wake County chapter posted about Indigenous Peoples Day. We live on the traditional lands served by the Tuscarora Nation, Wake NCAE posted Monday on X, formerly called Twitter. We honor Americas First People & all elders, past, present, & emerging. Were called on to learn & share about the tribal history, culture, & contributions that have been suppressed in telling the story of America. Native American population in NC North Carolina has the nations largest Native American population east of the Mississippi River. The state officially recognizes eight Native American tribes. According to state records, there were 15,865 Native American students enrolled in public schools last school year. Earlier this year, state lawmakers passed a law requiring public high schools to allow students who are members of a state or federally recognized Indian tribe to wear objects such as bird feathers and plumes at graduation ceremonies. (Bloomberg) -- The nuclear industry needs more financial support from governments to boost output as private markets have underestimated the long-term value of emissions-free atomic power, international officials said. Most Read from Bloomberg The International Atomic Energy Agency convened a quadrennial conference in Vienna on Monday, where industry executives and regulators are assessing what needs to be done for nuclear energy to play a larger role in tackling climate change. The IAEA says nuclear output needs to double over the next three decades for the world to mitigate catastrophic warming. The sectors focus has shifted to Asia, where state-led companies in China plan to build about eight new reactors a year through 2035, becoming the worlds top generator. Meanwhile, financing in the US and Europe has dried up as projects miss budgets and deadlines. The main challenge is financing, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said at the conference. Governments need to be in the driving seat because coordinating the necessary new capacity globally cannot be addressed by existing market instruments, he said. Development banks and financial institutions arent factoring in the lengthy lifetimes of reactors, which can run for more than a half century, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. Theres no level playing field when it comes to financing projects, he said. We need to think long term, Grossi said. Governments and investors need comprehensive science-based data. But they are working with a data hole. Nuclear energys contribution to global electricity supplies has fallen to about 9% over the last two decades, according to IAEA data. The agency predicts capacity will increase to between 458 and 890 gigawatts by 2050, from 371 gigawatts in 2022. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Sister Helen Prejean, the Catholic nun and anti-death penalty advocate, is accusing Louisianas board of pardons of breaking the states public meetings law to effectively delay clemency petitions for death row inmates. The action pits the 84-year-old sister, who came to prominence as the author of the book behind the 1995 film Dead Man Walking, against Louisianas far-right attorney general, Jeff Landry . Landry is part of a legal effort seeking to block the pardon board from hearing mass clemency petitions. In a victory last month at the Louisiana supreme court, Landry successfully defended the governors right to grant clemency at the recommendation of the pardon board, a body the governor appoints. But then Landry moved to block the governors powers to expedite petitions by 55 of the states 56 condemned prisoners. Related: Louisiana student punished by school for dancing at private party Landry himself is running for governor in Louisianas gubernatorial primary Saturday. He is seeking to succeed the states centrist Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards , who was barred from running for re-election because of term limits. In June, the capital inmates on Louisianas death row filed applications for clemency seeking to have their death sentences commuted to sentences of life in prison before Edwards, whose second term in office expires in January, steps down. But Landry, who seeks to replace Edwards and has argued for reintroducing the electric chair, hangings and firing squads, opposes the clemency hearings and faces accusations of trying to gut the operations of the pardon board. Those accusations follow Landrys decision to remove an independent counsel representing the states pardon board. As a replacement, Landry appointed a firm his office previously hired to defend the implementation of the states abortion laws. Now Prejean, 84, who has long campaigned on behalf of the states death row prisoners, has joined the latest round of legal maneuvers with her own lawsuit that accuses the board of violating state law by holding a hearing without public consultations. A settlement reached by the board of pardons and Landry, it claims, only called for administrative hearings on the clemency hearings on 13 October. Prejeans petition seeks to void the settlement that the board of pardons reached with Landry. The lawsuit also claims that the board ignored Edwardss directive to conduct hearings on the capital clemency applications and argues that the five-member pardon board had no discretion to deny the hearings. But Landry rejected Edwardss call to the board of pardons to set these cases for hearing in a manner least disruptive to the noncapital cases currently pending before the board as an effort to circumvent the established legal process. Prejean said in a statement that what the death row prisoners and their advocates want is for the governor to step in and reiterate his directive. A prayer vigil is scheduled for Tuesday outside the governors mansion in Baton Rouge at which Prejean and local bishop Michal Duca are expected to urge Edwards to force the board to hear the applications before he leaves office. Prejean warned last week: We have a rabidly rightwing attorney general, Jeff Landry, who wants to become governor, who if he wins will use his power to line people up and execute them. Support for the expeditated applications has also come from the Vatican. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Vaticans pontifical academy of life, said: The clearing of Louisianas death row would be a monumental step towards the abolition of the death penalty. Adding to the political intrigue of Prejeans lawsuit is her selection of attorney: Soren Gisleson, who represents numerous victims of a clerical molestation scandal that has roiled the archdiocese of nearby New Orleans for decades. Gisleson said in a statement on Monday that Prejeans move was prompted by Landrys maneuvering. Regardless of how someone feels about the death penalty, Landrys willingness to manipulate the system, ignore clear law, and install shill lawyers for an expedient political issue to assist in his election should give each of us pause, Gisleson said. If he will do this with one of the weightiest social issues, he will come for anyone, for any contrived reason, if he perceives a political point to be made. Edwardss office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Landry has not commented on his changing the boards counsel. Prejean remains one of Louisianas most prominent death penalty abolitionists. Over four decades of outspoken criticism of the practice, Prejean has been at the forefront of the abolitionist movement a calling that has included walking six men to the death chamber as their spiritual adviser. Louisiana has executed 28 people since 1976, when the US supreme court reinstated the death penalty. Prejean currently serves as spiritual adviser to Manuel Ortiz, an El Salvador native convicted in the 1992 murder-for-hire killing of his wife, Tracie Williams Ortiz, and another woman. Ortiz is among Louisianas 55 death row inmates requesting clemency. In an interview with New Orleanss Times-Picayune in June, Prejean said that granting clemency to death row inmates is what we have to do, adding that she believed in Ortizs innocence. Hes the seventh person Ive taken on death row, and hes the third innocent one, she said. Thats how broken this thing is. Dignity is not just for people who are innocent, she added. And to strap a person down to render them completely defenseless and kill them, what kind of dignity is in that? A registered nurse with a now-suspended nursing license was caught swapping out anxiety medication meant for patients medical procedures with saline in Connecticut, according to federal prosecutors. The nurse, 37, of Southbury, tampered with five vials of Lorazepam a benzodiazepine sometimes given to patients to reduce anxiety before procedures on Jan. 31, 2022, at his job, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. Its unclear where the nurse worked, as it wasnt specified by prosecutors or in court documents. After removing 2mg/ml of Lorazepam solution from each vial, he returned the adulterated (vials) to be used in medical procedures, an indictment filed in federal court on Oct. 3 says. The indictment charges the man with five counts of tampering with a consumer product, the attorneys office announced in an Oct. 6 news release. McClatchy News contacted the mans defense attorney for comment on Oct. 9 and didnt receive an immediate response. The nurse is accused of having a reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death and bodily injury when he replaced the vials of Lorazepam with saline, the indictment says. Tampering with a consumer product carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, according to prosecutors. The man pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Oct. 6 and was released on a $50,000 bond ahead of trial, prosecutors said. The nurses indictment was filed the same day another nurse, in Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to tampering with a surgical centers medication in Jacksonville, McClatchy News previously reported. Her guilty plea came after she was caught swapping four vials of injectable hydromorphone a pain medication meant for surgery patients with saline in October 2022, according to prosecutors. Southbury is about 45 miles southwest of Hartford. Nurse was caught swapping pain medicine meant for surgery patients with saline, feds say Nurse stole pain medicines for herself, forcing patients to go without, Iowa cops say Nurse swaps fentanyl with saline, then emergency patient gets tampered drug, feds say Pain management doctor unlawfully prescribed opioids to patients for years, feds say Protests continued Monday as groups took to the streets to support Palestinians and to condemn Israel over retaliatory airstrikes and military operations after a surprise deadly attack by Hamas against Israeli civilians over the weekend. Despite U.S. support for Israel, an important ally in the Middle East, in the wake of the deadly attacks, there has been a surge of support for Palestinians in several American cities. In New York City, supporters for Israel and the Palestinians gathered Monday as Israel battles Hamas terrorist fighters and targets Hamas in the Gaza Strip. 'SQUAD' DEMS FACE BACKLASH CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE AFTER ISRAEL ATTACKS: CANT MERELY CONDEMN TERRORISM' Demonstrators attend an "emergency rally for Gaza" outside of the Israeli Consulate in New York City, New York on Monday. Supporters of both Palestine and Israel clashed at the event as Israel remains at war with Hamas. "When Palestine is under attack. What do we do?" asked one demonstrator. "We fight back," a small crowd replied. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Shouting between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters could be heard on the street as police officers tried to prevent both sides from confronting each other. Several confrontations occurred, but authorities quickly broke them up. "We're going to liberate Palestine," one protester told a group of Israel supporters. "We already liberated parts of it already. So get ready to get barbecued." At one point, a pro-Palestinian demonstrator was seen with the Israeli flag wrappers around his shoes and another was seen ripping the flag to cheers from surrounding protestors. On Sunday, a protest in New York organized by the Democratic Socialists of America a group that boasts six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including members of "the Squad" took place in Times Square and then advanced down 42nd Street to Bryant Park, close to the Israeli Consulate. Demonstrators attend an "emergency rally for Gaza" outside the Israeli Consulate in New York City, New York on Monday. The DSA was almost universally condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike. The DSA laid the blame for the attack at Israels feet, posting on social media: "Todays events are a direct result of Israels apartheid regime a regime that receives billions in funding from the United States." Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and invaded towns along the Gaza border on Saturday, killing at least 700 people, a death toll not seen in Israel in decades, wounding thousands more and prompting Israel to declare war against the Iran-backed group. Hamas also took hostages, including young children, Israel has said. The number those killed in the conflict has surpassed 1,600 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. IRAN-LINKED TERRORISTS, GUERRILLAS SURROUND ISRAEL: HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM Demonstrators attend an "emergency rally for Gaza" outside the Israeli Consulate in New York City, New York on Monday. Palestinian supporters are urging Israel to halt the killing of civilians as several buildings have been brought down and destroyed during continuous airstrikes on Hamas positions in the densely populated Gaza Strip. Many Palestinian supporters have said the coverage of the conflict has been one-sided and claim their suffering is never amplified compared to that of their Israeli counterparts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told President Biden that a ground operation in the Gaza Strip is necessary after Hamas launched deadly strikes on his country. Demonstrators attend an "emergency rally for Gaza" outside the Israeli Consulate in New York City, New York on Monday. "Israel is at war. We didnt want this war," he said Monday. "It was forced upon us in the most brutal and savage way. But though Israel didnt start this war, Israel will finish it." He said Hamas has "made a mistake of historic proportions. We will exact a price that will be remembered by them and Israels other enemies for decades to come." Clashes between pro-Israel and Palestinian supporters in Florida erupted Sunday. Demonstrators gathered in Tampa to voice support and opposition to one another. Several fights broke out as police officers tried to separate both sides. In Kirkland, Washington, several skirmishes also occurred between both sides of the issue on Sunday as well. Fox News Digital's Peter Aitken contributed to this report. Original article source: NYC protest rally for Palestinians blames Israel for deadly Hamas attack amid retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza Former President Obama on Monday sharply condemned Hamass brazen terrorist attacks against Israel, which have left hundreds dead in recent days. All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians. We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those whove been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it dismantles Hamas, Obama said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. As we support Israels right to defend itself against terror, we must keep striving for a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike, the former president added. Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, launched attacks over the weekend against Israel, which prompted counterattack from Israeli forces. We are at war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address on Saturday. The death toll has climbed to more than 1,000 in Israel and Gaza as of Monday. President Biden, who previously served as vice president in the Obama administration, also condemned the attacks over the weekend and promised his administrations rock solid and unwavering support for Israels security amid the conflict. He announced on Monday that the number of Americans killed in the attacks against Israel had reached 11, and that more are still unaccounted for. Hamas reportedly captured Israeli citizens and soldiers in the attacks and is holding them hostage. Biden said American citizens may be among them. This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people, the president said on Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When New Mexico lawmakers passed the Energy Transition Act in the late winter of 2019, their action did more than set the state on a path toward greatly increasing its use of renewable energy it also assured the closure of one of the cornerstones of the San Juan County economy, leading to widespread worries about how the area would survive such a setback. The ETAs requirement that New Mexico generate 50% of its energy through renewable sources by the year 2030 meant that the San Juan Generating Station a coal-fired power plant in Waterflow owned primarily by the Public Service Co. of New Mexico, a long with various other shareholders, such as the city of Farmington would be shuttered many years before PNM originally had planned to retire it. That closure came a year ago last week. Over several years, as various elements of the plant were idled, that meant the loss of hundreds of good-paying jobs at the plant and at the accompanying Westmoreland San Juan Mine, which kept the plant supplied with the coal it needed to operate. When the 2022 closure of the plant was announced in 2019, many local observers predicted it would have a near-catastrophic effect on San Juan County. But with a year now having passed since the facility went dark, it has become increasingly clear that those fears largely were unfounded, as many of the countys economic indicators are strong, perhaps even robust. The closure of the San Juan Generating Station last year was feared to have a disastrous economic effect on San Juan County, but many observers say the county has managed to escape the worst of those impacts. The question is, how did San Juan County avoid that economic doomsday scenario? Government and academic officials who were interviewed for this article credit a number of factors for the countys relatively soft landing while still emphasizing that the shutdown of the station was far from painless especially for the hundreds of displaced workers who wound up in the unemployment line or the recent increase in electricity rates for consumers. The transition we thought would be pretty rough has been a little smoother than anticipated, said San Juan County Manager Mike Stark, though he added that the jury remains out on how the county will adapt to the closure over the long term and that some impacts could make themselves more apparent as time passes. "Ultimately, we need to see how the plane hits the runway," he said. More: PNM expects demolition of San Juan Generating Station to begin this spring Everyone helped shoulder the burden as coal plant closed in Waterflow Lorenzo Reyes, the vice president of workforce development at San Juan College, said he believes that it was those very fears of an economic apocalypse that may have allowed the county to escape the worst effects of the plants closure. A community-wide awareness of how challenging the situation would be provided for a quick mobilization of people and resources throughout San Juan County, and beyond, in 2019, he said. Lorenzo Reyes Just by getting everybody involved, you mitigate the impact of (the closure) considerably, Reyes said, explaining that he had previously worked in a community that went through a similar experience. People needed to be aware of the drastic impact if nothing was done. Everybody here worked together to mitigate that impact. Reyes said the involvement of key local stakeholders was critical to San Juan Countys response, including representatives of the countys municipalities, San Juan County officials, Navajo Nation officials, San Juan College officials, Four Corners Economic Development officials and representatives of the business community. The local effort was bolstered in no small part by the involvement of state officials through the provisions of the ETA, which mandated that each displaced worker from the plant and the mine, as well as their contractors, would be entitled to a one-time, taxable $20,000 payment from the state. That program is being administered by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Stacy Johnston, the communications and marketing director for the agency, said as of Sept. 29, 487 applications from displaced workers had been approved by state officials, and 445 checks had been delivered since May 23. That resulted in a total expenditure of approximately $9 million, she said. Most of that money wound up in San Juan County, as 96% of the displaced workers still reside here, Johnston said. More: San Juan County sees infusion of money from ETA payouts to displaced workers Sarita Nair, the New Mexico secretary of workforce solutions, said during a May 2 kickoff event for the check-application process at McGee Park that she expected between 400 and 600 displaced workers to apply for the funds, and that forecast has proven to be on the mark. Johnston said additional checks will continue to be distributed through October. Reyes said those funds did more than provide temporary relief to displaced workers. They also provided a significant boost to the retail sector, as much of that money likely has been spent on items large and small throughout San Juan County, he said, helping those businesses and inflating the gross tax receipts upon which local governments rely. Stark said those $20,000 payments were helpful. But he noted they were only short-term stimulus, and the impact of those payments will decline as time goes by. Perhaps more important, he said, are other provisions of the ETA that provide job training to those displaced workers, allowing them to re-enter the workforce in other positions. Johnston said the Department of Workforce Solutions created a bridge program that was designed to serve those workers between the time they were laid off and the next step in their career path. She said more than two dozen workers have started training using federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding. The next steps for the Department of Workforce Solutions, she said, are to develop a proposal for additional uses of ETA funds and hold an ETA Community Advisory Committee meeting. Other factors worked in favor of San Juan County following coal plant closure Warren Unsicker, the economic development director for the city of Farmington, said he believes that some of those laid-off workers may have benefited from some fortuitous timing. He said the oil and gas industry experienced a boom just as the plant closed, and some of those workers may have been able to land new but similar jobs in that field just as their employment at the plant or the mine was ending. Unsicker also said many of the displaced workers were old enough to retire, alleviating the impact of those layoffs on the local unemployment rate. Johnston cited figures confirming that assertion, indicating that 26% of those displaced workers have, in fact, retired. Another factor that contributed to the soft landing, Unsicker said, was the gradual shutdown of the plant and the mine, which meant the impacts of the closure were spread out over a period of several years, as opposed to all at once. Stark, the San Juan County manager, agreed with that assessment. Mike Stark That was helpful, no doubt about it, Stark said. Obviously, the Energy Transition Act was not something our county was in favor of. But we do appreciate that there was advance notice and that it provided funding to displaced workers. That years-long runway gave the county time to prepare for the significant change that was headed its way. By the time the plants closure was announced in 2019, government officials throughout San Juan County already had begun to make a concerted effort to diversify the local economy by emphasizing outdoor recreation opportunities in hopes of generating more tourism and hospitality spending. But as the closure date neared, those efforts seemed to take on an increased sense of urgency, and a significant number of additions to the countys inventory of outdoor attractions was made or planned. Part of that is being achieved with millions of dollars in lawsuit settlement money the state received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its role in the disastrous 2015 Gold King Mine spill. But other projects are being funded by a variety of other grant or bond sources, or foundation funding. More: Regional planners look for the next step as environmental activists laud SJGS demise A lot of that was low-hanging fruit, Unsicker said. Weve got all those beautiful, amazing things to do and places to go. We just needed to capitalize on it. Over the next few years alone, the county will see the addition of a major new mountain biking park at San Juan College, the construction of a standing wave on the Animas River suitable for surfing, hundreds of miles of new hiking, biking and four-wheeling trails, the opening of a next-generation all-abilities park in Farmington, new boat ramps on the San Juan and Animas rivers, and other attractions. All of those projects coming at a cumulative price tag of tens of millions of dollars are designed to enhance the countys standing as a premier outdoor recreation destination. It had to have an impact, Reyes said of the plants closure on the increased emphasis on the development of outdoor attractions. But Im not sure to what extent. Those efforts have kind of been running parallel to (efforts to keep the plant open) for many years. Still, as the reliance on fossil fuels industries begins to wane worldwide, Reyes said a growing awareness of that decline has led many folks in San Juan County to look elsewhere for answers. That got a lot of people thinking, What is the next thing to do? How do we promote the area? he said. For several years, San Juan County has tried to position itself on the leading edge of that curve, he said. While other local entities are focused on developing new outdoor recreation opportunities, the college is trying to help entrepreneurs interested in manufacturing outdoor recreation products. Thats where we can have a significant impact on our outdoor recreation economy, Reyes said. More: Several indicators reveal strength of San Juan County economy, local officials say The college is actively reaching out to those entrepreneurs, he said, and has received significant state and federal funding to support their efforts and provide them with training at its Enterprise Center, part of the San Juan College Quality Center for Business. The idea, he said, is to be able to walk alongside those new business owners from the time their product is merely a concept to when it rolls off the assembly line and is shipped to a purchaser. Stark said other industries throughout the county have helped fill the void left by the closure of the station, noting that two new solar projects will help supply the electricity that no longer is being generated at the plant. There has been a strong uptick in retail construction in recent years, he said, and the county is playing a major role in a hydrogen hub project that could turn into a significant economic multiplier. Finally, work continues on a collaboration between county officials, the Navajo Nation and other entities to build a railroad spur between Interstate 40 and San Juan County that would greatly enhance the countys attractiveness as a manufacturing center, he said. 'How do we fix this?' Perhaps the most profound lesson to emerge from the closing of the San Juan Generating Station relates to Reyes contention that folks throughout San Juan County didnt simply sit on their hands and despair when the ETA was passed in 2019. All the key stakeholders in the community continued to work together, he said, noting there was a strong effort made to identify the countys assets and determine how to leverage them to everyones advantage. None of us could have foreseen exactly how this would have played out, Unsicker said of the closure and its aftermath. More: San Juan Generating Station cleanup would have state oversight, if New Mexico bill passes But over the past four years, there has been a concerted effort to move San Juan County past the ebbs and flows of an energy-based economy to one that is more stable, reliable and sustainable. That has required, and received, buy-in from everyone, he said. We all work well together up here, Stark said. Whether youre talking about the cities, the county, the Navajo Nation, San Juan College or the state of New Mexico, we all work together to find solutions to problems. Were a pretty resilient community. If theres an issue or a problem, its not Woe is me, its How do we fix this? Thats something thats been strengthened through this experience. Mike Easterling can be reached at 505-564-4610 or measterling@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e. This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: Economy a concern 1 year after power plant closure in San Juan County A 24-year-old social worker in Ohio is charged with having sex with a 13-year-old boy she was assigned to counsel, according to local reports. Police say Payton Shires was arrested Friday which records show was her birthday without incident after admitting to the sexual relationship during a three-way call between Shires, the boys mother and police, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Shires was previously employed by the National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP), which provides counseling, social work and advocacy for families involved in the foster care system, the report said. It was unclear when Shires stopped working for the organization. The boy's mother called police on Sept. 27 after finding suspicious text messages on the 13-year-olds cellphone from Shires, the newspaper reported, citing court documents. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ACCUSED OF RAPING STUDENT IMPLIES SHE'S PREGNANT WITH HIS CHILD: REPORT Payton Shires, 24, is charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Police found a video on the phone of the teen and Shires engaged in sexual conduct, according to the court records. The teen reportedly told detectives he had sex with Shires multiple times in September at different locations in Columbus. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Shires was charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, WSYX-TV reported. She was being held on $500,000 bond. Online records show that her next court date is Oct. 16. The boy's mother alerted Columbus police detectives to suspicious text messages from Shires on his cellphone, according to local reports. DRUNK WOMAN WHO GROPED 13-YEAR-OLD VICTIM GIVEN SHOCKINGLY LIGHT PUNISHMENT BY COURT Shires had her social worker license issued in June. NYAP told the station in a statement that it is cooperating with the police investigation. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Protecting children is everyone's responsibility. 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," the statement said. "NYAP has reported the situation to Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) and is collaborating with them and the Columbus Police Department on this case." Original article source: Ohio social worker, 24, charged with having sex with 13-year-old client: reports The price of Brent crude jumped more than 5% at one stage to 89 US dollars a barrel (PA) (PA Archive) Oil prices have surged higher as Hamass attack on Israel deepened tensions across the Middle East and raised worries over crude supplies. Brent crude jumped more than 5% at one stage to $89 a barrel before edging back slightly to stand 3.3% higher at $87.27. Swissquote Banks markets expert said the attack sent a panic wave into financial markets, although Londons blue chip share index was boosted by gains from defence stocks and oil giants, with the FTSE 100 Index up 0.4% or 33.4 points at 75327.96 in mid-morning trading on Monday. While Israel is not an oil producer, there are concerns that the conflict could spark uncertainty across the entire Middle Eastern region and in particular affect major producers Iran and Saudi Arabia. There are fears over tougher sanctions on oil from Iran, which is said to have backed Hamass actions as self-defence, while the US has also sent warships to the region. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said: Fears of a potential retaliation against Iran threaten the passage of vessels carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz and flip the market rhetoric from a potentially slowing global oil demand to tight global supply. Fears of a potential retaliation against Iran threaten the passage of vessels carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz Ipek Ozkardeskaya With the threat of the US and Iran being pulled into the turmoil, she warned that escalation and prolongation of Mid-East tensions could be the final straw that could bring the world very close to the brink of recession. The conflict also threatens to derail efforts by the US Government to facilitate a deal with Saudi Arabia to normalise ties with Israel. Just last week, Saudi officials had reportedly told the US it was willing to increase output next year as part of the deal, which would have helped ease tight oil supplies after repeated cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia. Oil prices had recently eased back on hopes of a supply boost, having previously surged to the highest level in nearly a year and edging close to the $100 mark. On Londons FTSE 100, oil groups BP and Shell were higher on the rising price of crude, up 3% and 2% respectively on Monday morning. Defence giant BAE Systems was the biggest gainer, ahead 5%. But airlines were badly hit by the rising price of oil, which is set to send their fuel prices soaring, while a raft of major carriers have also halted services to Tel Aviv in Israel due to the conflict. EasyJet and Ryanair are among those pulling flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines was one of the biggest fallers on the FTSE 100, down 4%, while easyJet and European low-cost rival Wizz Air were more than 4% lower in the FTSE 250. The logo of the Organization of the Petroleoum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is seen outside of OPEC's headquarters in Vienna (AP) The worlds biggest oil-producing countries are calling for oil and gas to not be stigmatised in climate discussions just weeks before the UNs Cop28 summit will take place in UAE. Oil giants Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iraq tried to make a case for fossil fuels at the UN Climate Week taking place in Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday. The ministers of the three largest members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) made the comments at the event in which the chief of this years UN climate negotiations and the chief of major oil company Adnoc, Sultan Al Jaber, was also present. The Cop28 conference this time has been mired in controversy as climate activists and scientists have been raising concerns over the role of the UAE, an oil state, as the host of the climate negotiations. The choice of Mr Jaber to lead the summit also drew criticism from environmental campaigners and even by the Pope who called out the conflict of interest recently. The Opec leaders said the industry responsible for the majority of planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions should not be ignored or stigmatised in climate discussions and that the industry has a role to play in an orderly energy transition. There is a case for us to be in oil and gas, Saudi energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told the audience. The three of us here as major hydrocarbon producers also have a responsibility to the world to provide the transition with enough hydrocarbon resources to make sure we are transitioning at a responsibly priced manner, UAE energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said in a panel of the three countries. Responding to growing calls to halt investments in new oil projects, Opec secretary general Haitham Al Ghais said: We believe this can only lead to heightened volatility which will hinder economic development and exacerbate energy poverty. The UAE will host this years climate summit in Dubai between 30 November and 12 December. Mr Jaber, the upcoming Cop28 summits president, serves as the CEO of the state-run Abu Dhabi Oil Co, which has the capacity to pump 4 million barrels of crude oil a day and hopes to reach 5 million barrels a day. At the UN Climate Week event, Mr Jaber defended the UAEs position and vowed that the negotiations will bear a strong outcome. We have had 27 COPs, and you might be surprised to learn that 17 of them have been hosted in fossil fuel-producing nations, Mr Jaber said. The fact is, energy is fundamental to everyone, everywhere. Cop28 will deliver transformational outcomes for this region, and for the world, Mr Jaber said in his opening remarks on Sunday. He also argued for the involvement of oil companies at the climate negotiations. Last week, speaking at an annual oil and gas conference in UAE, he called on oil and gas companies to be central to the solution to fighting the climate crisis, even as the industry boosts its production to enjoy rising global energy prices. Cop28 will once again see global leaders gather to find ways to reduce planet-heating pollution and accelerate climate action as the world continues to face the accelerated impacts of increasing temperatures. This years summit is also crucial as it comes after months of record-breaking heat in the northern hemisphere marked by heatwaves, wildfires and drought. Reports so far show countries are way off track to meet the UN target to keep the rise in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C because of continued use of fossil fuels. Additional reporting by agencies In a show of support for Israel, Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered all American and Oklahoma flags on state property to be lowered to half-staff until Tuesday at sunset. The governor said he and his wife, Sarah, "join in prayer for the Israeli people as they defend themselves against a barrage of unprovoked acts of terror." More: Israeli retaliation to be felt 'for generations'; Hamas threatens hostages Oklahoma's governor ordered U.S. and state flags on state property to be flown at half-staff until sunset Tuesday in a show of support for Israel. By lowering our flags, Stitt said, "we send a clear signal that Oklahomans stand firmly with the people of Israel as they endure unimaginable hardships. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt orders flags at half-staff to support Israel Turnpike protesters hold signs Jan. 3 during a meeting of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation building. Opponents of the state's ACCESS Oklahoma plan have accused the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority of "political spying" by tracking what people say on social media about both the plan and the authority. Dave Moore and Randy Carter are two outspoken Norman residents who oppose the turnpike authority's current plan of building a new turnpike on the east side of the city. Moore and Carter say the clear intent of the surveillance is to suppress dissent and discourage protests against the authority plan. They also argue that authority and the public relations firm it hired may have violated both state and federal law by tracking social media posts that they and others made last year. The problem: OTA might know what you're saying online Based on public records they obtained, Moore and Carter released a report showing that a public relations firm was hired to support ACCESS Oklahoma by collecting, summarizing and distributing screenshots of social media posts made about the plan. Over the span of two months, Jones PR billed the turnpike authority $2,866 for what's known as "social listening." In an email to Public Eye, Moore, a member of the nonprofit opposition group Pike Off OTA, alleged that in its tracking of hundreds of social media posts, the PR firm and the turnpike authority may have violated privacy laws by compromising personally identifiable information. Dave Moore speaks to members of Pike Off OTA, a group opposed to the ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike expansion, at a protest in 2022. The authority argues that the posts were made on public social media accounts in a public forum and contained no sensitive personal information like Social Security numbers or financial records that would have broken the law. However, the authority would be able to tie a person's name with their public statements about a government project just as if they had been made during a public meeting. Moore also claimed that Jones PR was appropriating the commercial value of the personal information and selling it to the turnpike authority. The turnpike authority has come under lots of scrutiny as it has tried to push through its controversial $5 billion ACCESS plan. Last year emails revealed the agency used its general fund to quietly buy 23 internet domains that might have been used to oppose the ACCESS plan. The agency also used Jones PR to compile those domain names. The agency also paid Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle, $100,000 over the appraised value of her home that was on the proposed expansion route. Arguments against social media monitoring focus on free speech, privacy rights. In 2019, The Electronic Frontier Foundation issued comments after a U.S. Department of Homeland Security report revealed that Customs and Border Protection officials searched for and tracked social media posts. The foundation argued that this practice "endangers the free speech and privacy rights of Americans" by chilling free speech. Moore told Public Eye he believes the turnpike authority had no "duty-related official need" for the personal information it received from the PR firm's monitoring. The Brennan Center for Justice says of such monitoring: "Because social media can reveal a wealth of personal information including about political and religious views, personal and professional connections, and health and sexuality its use by the government is rife with risks for freedom of speech." "People are highly likely to censor themselves when they think they are being watched by the government," the center said. The American Civil Liberties Union also has taken a stance against social media monitoring, writing that individuals who post in public forums "do not expect the government to digitally archive their online activity without any suspicion, or to scrutinize their friends, contacts, and associations on social media platforms." Moore told Public Eye that he hasn't filed any lawsuits due to lack of funds, but did file a complaint with the Oklahoma attorney general. More: Public Eye investigates issues that impact you. This is what we've found so far What we found: 'Social listening' is a common practice Although it may come as a surprise to many, government entities often monitor what's said about them online. For example, the city of Oklahoma City employs staff who monitor the city's social media accounts and respond on behalf of the city. For large projects like MAPS, the city hired its own PR firm that attends meetings and interacts with the public. "That is actually standard industry practice for all public affairs at the government level, and actually for any organization at the private level, as well," said Jensen Moore, associate professor of public relations at the University of Oklahoma. Social listening is widely used across all levels of government Jensen Moore (no relation to Dave) said it's important for PR professionals to monitor the social media environment to avoid crises and simply be aware of what the public wants. "At an individual level, if you can identify what those problems are, you can maybe help alleviate some of the issues that people have," she said. "And at the very least, if you're seeing misinformation, you can correct the misinformation." Jensen Moore told Public Eye that social media monitoring, or what she calls environmental scanning, involves identifying the strongest public voices and arguments that drive conversation (or in this case, disagreement). "Often those public opinion leaders are the ones who are doing the most research on the topic, digesting information and then sharing it out to others in their network," she said. "So if we can identify who those public opinion leaders are, we can hopefully get them information that isn't misinformation, so that when they're sending it out to people in the network, they're not spreading things that are not factual." The Oklahoman's Public Eye investigative reporting project What's next: 'Social listening' will continue The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority told Public Eye that Jones PR still conducts social media monitoring, but that the information is shared only with upper management and the authority's board for internal use only. Moore and Carter found reports were regularly sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt and his staff and often contained posts with references to Stitt's political opponents during his reelection campaign. The governor's office did not respond to a request by Public Eye for comment on receiving the reports. In a statement, the turnpike authority disputed the claims of malfeasance. A small group of individuals, the authority said, have "gone to unseen-before lengths to spread misinformation" intentionally. "OTA routinely monitors legislation, debate, media reports as well as social media comments and posts relating to its projects and programs. This is a commonly used best practice by companies and government agencies nationally and in Oklahoma," the authority said. "It helps OTA and its board be fully aware of various viewpoints and input about the agency, its services and how it can be the most responsive to the safety and needs of the traveling public. This is simply good governance. A more serious reason to monitor these issues is the real threat to the security of our personnel and executives, as evidenced by incidents in 2022 that included death threats and doxxing." The authority was referring to claims made last year that some officials may have received threats, though Pike Off denied any involvement. This embedded content is not available in your region. Without more strict privacy laws, it's clear that the turnpike authority and other government entities will continue to monitor social media and track what the public is saying about their activities. While most of the online discourse about this topic focuses on national security or law enforcement-related surveillance rather than issue-based monitoring, Oklahomans will have to reckon with the fact that if you publicly comment about a public agency, someone inside that agency is likely to read it and perhaps tell their boss what you wrote. Have a problem with slow bureaucracy or a sketchy business? Let Public Eye help. Email us at publiceye@oklahoman.com. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What is social listening? How OTA might know what you're saying online Recent social media posts claimed that a video showed a mob attacking a United Nations vehicle in Senegal last year for allegedly conveying trafficked children. The claim is false: this is an older video from 2019 filmed in Zimbabwe and shows a bus belonging to a private security firm. At the time, local news outlets reported that one of the firms drivers was mistaken for a kidnapper. Moreover, the UN said the claim is fake news and that none of its agencies use the type of van seen in the video. On December 12, 2022 In Senegal, West Africa, a mob attacked a United Nations, vehicle early and discovered it carried kidnapped children for human trafficking and organ harvesting purposes before they freed them (sic), reads a post published on X (formerly Twitter) on September 27, 2023. A screenshot of the false post, taken on October 4, 2023 Reposted more than 13,000 times, the post features a two-minute clip showing an irate mob attacking a white vehicle. In the video, the crowd is seen forcing the door of the vehicle open to reveal children inside. Several other accounts on Facebook shared the same claim, including here. Child trafficking in West Africa The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a 2021 report that three out of four people trafficked in West Africa - where Senegal is located - were children (archived here). Out of 4,799 victims detected in 26 Sub-Saharan African countries, 3,336 were in West Africa including 2,553 children, the report noted. Many of the victims were trafficked within their countries, it said. However, the claim that the video shows a UN vehicle used for child trafficking is false. Old video from Zimbabwe Two seconds into the video, the word Sincere Security can be seen written on the van. At the seven-second mark, an address 33 Airdrie Road Eastlea and telephone number can also be seen on the side of the van. A keyword search for Sincere Security Airdrie Road Eastlea led to the contact page on the website of a private security company. One of the telephone numbers listed on the companys website also matches the number on the van. Screenshots showing the address and phone number written on the bus and on Sincere Securitys website are the same, taken on October 5, 2023 Sincere Security Services says on its website that it was established in 2006 and that it is a wholly Zimbabwean-owned entity (archived here). Another keyword search, this time for Sincere Security kidnapped children, led to a version of the video published by Zimbabwean news outlet ZimEye on April 19, 2019 (archived here). The caption explained that the van in the video belonged to Sincere Security Services. The outlet said in its report that the driver of the vehicle was driving his employers four children in Bulawayo, a city in southwest Zimbabwe when he was mistaken for a kidnapper (archived here). Another local news report published the previous day said that the driver, described as a security guard, was taking the children to their parents (archived here). Fake news A spokesperson for the UN office in Senegal, Cheikh Sakho, told AFP Fact Check that the claim that a UN vehicle was used for trafficking children was fake news. None of our agencies use this type of vehicle seen in the video, said Sakho. An Oregon man who fatally shot a sheriffs deputy in southwest Washington state has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility for parole. Guillermo Raya Leon, 28, was sentenced Thursday in the 2021 death of 46-year-old Clark County sheriffs Sgt. Jeremy Brown, The Columbian reported. He was a 15-year veteran of the office, according to a news release. A Clark County Superior Court jury found the Salem man guilty last week of aggravated first-degree murder, trafficking in stolen property, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and two counts of possession of a stolen firearm. The sentence followed emotional statements from Browns family and co-workers. Jill Brown in court said the sentencing doesnt give closure to her husbands death but she considered it an appropriate acknowledgement of what happened, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported. Brown was shot on July 23, 2021, as the detective was doing surveillance in his unmarked SUV at an east Vancouver apartment complex. Law enforcement officers from several agencies were investigating Raya Leon, his brother, and his brothers wife in a case described by prosecutors as a conspiracy to steal dozens of firearms and thousands of ammunition rounds from a storage unit and then sell them. Raya Leon claimed self-defense in the shooting and his lawyer during trial argued Raya Leon did not intend to shoot the detective, only to confirm Brown was watching them. Prosecutors said Raya Leon knew Brown was a deputy and took time to think things over before confronting the detective. They said Raya Leon sneaked up on Brown and shot him from behind. Raya Leons sister-in-law Misty Raya, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree burglary, one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and one count of theft of a firearm. She was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison. A jury convicted Raya Leons brother, Abran Raya Leon, of second-degree murder, possession of a stolen firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was the getaway driver in the shooting, and a judge in late August sentenced him to 27 years in prison. WASHINGTON The U.S. Marine Corps awarded Oshkosh Defense $39.6 million to begin production of its ROGUE Fires unmanned missile launcher, following the delivery of six prototypes earlier this year. The Sept. 27 award for the Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires system would allow Oshkosh to begin low-rate initial production of this unmanned ground vehicle thats based on the design of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The award does not have a number of vehicles associated with it, but Oshkosh program manager Chuck Bunton told Defense News at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference that the contract would allow the business to establish low-rate initial production alongside the existing JLTV assembly line. The ROGUE Fires design essentially removes the cab of the JLTV, replaces the manned controls with an autonomy package, and tacks on the missile launchers that can be remotely fired. The Marine Corps has paired the ROGUE Fires with the Naval Strike Missile to create the Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System, or NMESIS though Bunton said ROGUE Fires is payload agnostic and could launch several lethal options. The Corps has talked about eventually using a longer-range anti-ship missile as it seeks to support the Navy by conducting sea-control and sea-denial missions in the Pacific from islands and shorelines. A Navy/Marine Corps Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System launcher deploys into position aboard Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hawaii, on Aug. 16, 2021. The system and its Naval Strike Missiles participated in a live-fire drill as part of Large Scale Exercise 2021. (Maj. Nick Mannweiler/U.S. Marine Corps) The NMESIS system was first demonstrated in 2021, when Marines used it to help sink a decommissioned Navy ship during Large Scale Exercise 2021. Then-Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, who now is the commandant of the Marine Corps and in 2021 was deputy commandant for combat development and integration, said that a peer adversary has to respect a Naval Strike Missile that for $1.7 million can damage a warship of almost $2 billion and you cant find it because the ROGUE Fires launching system is so small and can move immediately after firing on its target. Bunton said Oshkosh and the Marine Corps have privately conducted a number of evaluations and demonstrations of the system between the 2021 launch and a second publicly announced one in June 2023. The Oshkosh team has focused on incorporating user feedback from Marines operating the system. Since the very beginning of the program to today, theres been constant iterations and developments to provide the Marine Corps the mature platform that you see today on contract for [low-rate initial production], Bunton said. Smith and other Marine Corps leaders have pointed to NMESIS as one example of a Force Design 2030 modernization effort thats going well and should be accelerated. In this case, they say prototypes proved themselves in the field but that they want to get production units out to deployed Marines as quick as industry can manage. Smith said at the 2023 Defense News Conference that NMESIS development was done. Now we just need to procure the ROGUE systems. Asked what Oshkosh is eyeing as a next step, with the low-rate initial production contract awarded, Bunton simply said: Production. As of 29 September 2023, 1,702 objects of cultural infrastructure were damaged in Ukraine due to the Russian aggression. Source: Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine "Club facilities make the largest group of objects of cultural infrastructure damaged or destroyed by the Russians, 49% from the total quantity of cultural infrastructure facilities that were damaged," the statement reads. The largest amount of damage and losses were registered in Donetsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. The following number of facilities was damaged by the Russians in Ukraine: 841 cultural centres; 601 libraries; 131 art education institutions; 99 museums and galleries; 30 theatres and philharmonics. The Culture Ministry of Ukraine remarked that it cannot accurately count the cultural facilities in the territories that are still Russia-occupied; this is almost the entire territory of Luhansk Oblast and large territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk Oblasts. THEATRE IN THE CITY OF CHERNIHIV WAS DAMAGED BY A 19 AUGUST RUSSIAN MISSILE ATTACK THEATRE IN THE CITY OF CHERNIHIV WAS DAMAGED BY A RUSSIAN MISSILE ATTACK ON 19 AUGUST PHOTO: CHERNIHIV OBLAST TARAS SHEVCHENKO ACADEMIC MUSIC AND DRAMA THEATRE ON FACEBOOK In January 2023, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy reported that due to the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, 1,189 objects of cultural infrastructure have been damaged. At the time, almost a third of them, 446 objects, were completely destroyed. As for the cultural heritage, according to the Ministry of Culture, from 24 February 2022 to 25 July 2023, 763 such objects were damaged or destroyed. 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! Hamas fire thousands of rockets at Israel Over 14,000 Ukrainians have registered with the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel, and the Foreign Ministry is currently compiling a list of citizens in need of help, ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko said on Ukrainian national television on Oct. 9. "In total, 14,000 Ukrainians are registered with the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel," Nikolenko said. But in fact, the number (of Ukrainians in Israel) is many times higher. We know that two Ukrainian women were killed in the fighting. We have confirmation of their deaths. A wounded Ukrainian boy who was rescued is in a safe place, said Nikolenko. There is no threat to his life and he is being provided with all the necessary support. Ukraine has received over 100 requests for assistance from Ukrainians who cannot leave Israel. Read also: Ukrainian diplomats evacuate wounded child from Israel, report possible deaths of three Ukrainians in Gaza "Amid the deteriorating security situation, airlines have begun to cancel flights to and from Israel en masse," Nikolenko said. Our citizens are unable to take off and get on the flights for which they had tickets. Our embassy is currently compiling a list of citizens in need of assistance, and at the same time we are working as the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to find solutions for other ways to leave Israel. Read also: Russia gives arms seized from Ukraine to Hamas, allegedly plotting large-scale ruse, Ukraines intel says Citizens who are already on the list should wait for instructions from the embassy, Nikolenko said. "We urge people who have problems but have not yet notified the embassy to get in touch with diplomats," he said. Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. Hamas has repeatedly targeted the country with rockets. Armed Palestinian militants invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages. As a result, nearly 700 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of them have been murdered. It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 250 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers. In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants. Read also: Zelenskyy holds emergency talk with Netanyahu Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging. He called on the Gazans to "get out immediately because he would bring the full force of the Israeli military against the Gaza Strip's Hamas." On Oct. 9, the IDF announced that it had regained control of all settlements bordering Gaza. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, including two Ukrainians. There is evidence of the possible death of three more. Also, according to media reports, several Americans have been killed. The U.S. military is moving a carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel, and will immediately begin supplying the state with ammunition and other military aid. 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 NEW YORK, NY - JULY 21: Carlos Watson speaks onstage during OZY FEST 2018 at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for Ozy Media) NEW YORK, NY - JULY 21: Carlos Watson speaks onstage during OZY FEST 2018 at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for Ozy Media) Being Black in America, you come to a fast realization that bias and racial discrimination exist all throughout society. That idea is even more true when it comes to the legal system. So when someone from the community wages allegations of inequity, it really isnt all that hard to believe especially when they are established and respected. For Carlos Watson, founder and CEO of Ozy Media, this is the exact scenario he never wanted to find himself in. Prior to launching Ozy in 2012, Watson carved a successful career as journalist and television host, contributing to major networks like CNN and MSNBC. Read more Watson issued a statement on social media following his arrest and said he was being unjustly targeted. This has been a lifes work and I am proud of what I, my family, and my team have been able to accomplish. Im not saying I havent made mistakes I have. But its fair to ask, why Ive been singled out, he wrote on Linkedin. In a subsequent post, Watson noted several instances of Black men on the ascent in their respective fields who were suddenly derailed by accusations of fraud. He mentioned Joseph Jett, a former securities trader at Kidder, Peabody & Co, who faced and was acquitted of fraud charges in 1998 by the SEC shortly after being named Man of the Year. Watson also pointed to Calvin Griggsby, co-founder of Grigsby Brandford & Co., a prestigious Black-owned investment firm, who was found not guilty of bribery charges in 1999, as further evidence of a targeted campaign against successful Black men. Sometimes people of color are warned not to think too big. That the color of your skin will limit what you hope to accomplish,Watson said. Our mistakes are being turned into crimes and were having people charge us in a gross and inappropriate way. The details of Watsons indictment included emails from a former Ozy CFO who outright called his moves felonious and refused to take part in impersonating a cable network company in order to secure a loan from a bank. That financial institution later reported the incident. On multiple occasions, when faced with questions from lenders or potential investors, Watson and his co-conspirators assumed the identities of and impersonated actual media company executives to cover up their prior fraudulent misrepresentations, the indictment read. Samir Rao, Ozys chief operating officer, and Suzee Han, Ozys chief of staff, have pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. Black, White, Green If theres one thing the United States government takes seriously, its money. Fraud indictments and convictions are all too common in the U.S. In January 2022, billionaire biotech engineer Elizabeth Holmes was found guilty on fraud charges and sentenced to 11 years in prison for deceiving investors about the capabilities of her companys blood analyzing technology. Shes also on the hook for $452 million in restitution. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump finds himself at the center of what could be the most contentious fraud case of our generation. Yet, Watsons assertion that the extent of his charges and the potential consequences are race-related carries a valid point. Despite facing a staggering fine of $250 million, if convicted, Trump, unlike Watson, is not facing nearly 40 years in prison for committing fraud in New York. In a time where spaces for Black voices, issues and achievement are few and far in between, the fall of Ozy Media is no doubt a tragic one. But the story remains unwritten and could very well continue if Watson is somehow able to overcome allegations waged by the U.S. government. And while Im not a martyr, I do care about the next generation. I do care that other young entrepreneurs like me, other young Black entrepreneurs like me dont continue to face the same crazy odds that I face. The same overcharging and selective prosecution that has hit so many of us, Watson said in the Linkedin post. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Hamas militants have taken over 100 people hostage during an attack on Israel, including high-ranking officials, and another 30 Israelis have been captured by militants from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. Source: Musa Abu Marzouk, Palestinian senior member of Hamas; Ziyad al-Nakhalah, leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group; Ynet Details: At the same time, Ziyad al-Nakhalah reported that his militants had taken about 30 Israelis hostage. The leader emphasised that the hostages will return home only if Palestinian prisoners are released from Israeli prisons. The Israeli government did not give precise estimates of the number of citizens captured by Hamas militants. It was believed that there may be 150 to 200 people in captivity. Media reports have said the hostages may include citizens of other countries, including the USA, Germany and Thailand. Background: Senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shiite Islamist political party and militant group, have said that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the attack at a meeting in Beirut last Monday. The United States wants to redeploy US Navy ships and aircraft closer to Israel. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has reported that the Shayetet 13 Navy unit detained Muhammad Abu Ghali, Deputy Commander of Hamas' southern naval force in Gaza. Hamas said that it had launched "a major rocket attack with 100 rockets 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! I was put in a boxy single hotel room at the end of a corridor, which I remember being cold and damp. A few days later I had bites in a line, in threes. A GP friend said thats bed bugs. Then I had an allergic reaction. It was horrible, and it took many weeks for the scars to disappear. The hotel in question was in London, not Paris but the experience literally scarred this traveller. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), says: Bedbugs, a problem worldwide, are resurging. Reports from Paris and elsewhere in France talk of an infestation by bedbugs. Some prospective visitors are seeking to cancel their trips and get their money back and there are concerns about the problem getting worse ahead of the Paris Olympics next summer. Whats going on with bedbugs? Cimex lectularius, as they are known medically, are small insects (around 5mm long) that are rarely happier than when feasting on human blood causing itchy bites that can be painful. The NHS warns bedbugs can hide on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures and under loose wallpaper. Reports from Paris and more widely in France talk about an infestation from bedbugs taking hold, with the parasites apparently increasingly resistant to insecticide. They can be transported inadvertently in travellers luggage. Paris is the capital of the worlds most visited country, so bedbugs have a fair chance of a trip to the city. For people booked to the City of Light, what are their options? It is difficult to know the extent by which social media may have exaggerated the current problem in Paris and beyond. But assuming there is genuinely a growing public health threat from the insects, I still cannot see any prospect of the UK government warning against travel to France as a result. Such a move is reserved for very serious health threats. The NHS says with the rare exception of a severe allergic reaction there is no reason to worry if you are bitten. Unlike mosquitoes, which also enjoy dining out on blood meals from humans, bedbugs do not transmit disease. Bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so, the official advice says. Isnt there anything people can do? Some fellow travellers say you should look for online reviews about your intended place to stay and see if bedbugs are mentioned. I am afraid that even if they are, and you are booked to go there, you will not be in a position to insist on a refund. All you can do is travel to the destination and, on arrival at your accommodation, inspect the room for any sign of the nasty creatures. I accept that is not a great way to begin your stay. Check in the fold of mattresses and sheets. Tell-tale signs, according to the CDC, include bedbugs exoskeletons after moulting and rustycoloured blood spots due to their blood-filled faecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture. That may not be the start of a much-needed holiday you were dreaming of. But if you can prove the room is infested with bedbugs, you can reasonably expect a refund or a rebooking elsewhere. Can anything be done to reduce the spread of bedbugs? Yes, according to the Australian Youth Hostels Association. It tells prospective guests: Sleeping bags are prohibited by Australian health regulations. Many hostels, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, specifically ban travellers from bringing their own sleeping bags for fear of importing an infestation. Youve stayed in a few unusual places. How often have you encountered bedbugs? Never, to my knowledge. Mosquitoes have always been the problem in terms of night bites and they are much more lethal than bedbugs because of the diseases they transmit. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A valet attendant at the Peabody Hotel was indicted for allegedly stealing guns out of customers vehicles, Memphis Police say. When he was identified on video, Marcus Ray allegedly told his manager he would return the stolen guns if they sent him his last paycheck. On July 4, 2022, officers responded to a theft at the Peabody Hotel garage. One victim told officers his BMW was broken into, and his 9mm gun worth $650 was stolen. MPD says a second victim told them someone went into his Chevrolet Colorado and took his gun, worth $500. There was no forced entry. An employee with Peabody security reviewed the footage and saw a valet attendant stealing the guns. Marcus Ray was identified and admitted to the crime. 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. Sunday, he was charged with two counts of Motor Vehicle Burglary and two counts of Theft of Property $1,000 or less. He is set to appear in court Monday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Kevin McCarthy was ousted last week in part because every Democrat voted to do so. Republicans have since argued that Democrats are complicit in creating "chaos" in the House. And years ago, Pelosi mulled saving then-Speaker John Boehner from a similar hard-right mutiny. When Kevin McCarthy was kicked out of the speakership last week, many Republicans immediately trained their ire on Democrats. After all, they had chosen to support the motion to vacate offered by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, and the effort would not have been successful without their involvement. House Republicans' campaign arm notably dubbed the Democrats the "Chaos Caucus" in a recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Democrats have argued that they had no obligation to help McCarthy out. McCarthy had done plenty to anger Democrats, including launching an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden without holding a vote on it, downplaying the Capitol riot and defying a subpoena from the January 6 committee, and even claiming just days before the vote that Democrats tried to shut the government down. But things weren't always this way. Back in 2015, then-Republican House Speaker John Boehner faced down a similar motion-to-vacate threat from rabble-rousing conservatives. He ultimately resigned in September of that year without the vote ever being called. Months later, Nancy Pelosi then the House Minority Leader told a group of reporters that she and Democrats were ready to take steps to protect Boehner from a right-wing mutiny. That plan wouldn't have required Democrats to vote for Boehner. Rather, some of them would simply be absent on the day of the vote, allowing Boehner to potentially win with just a plurality of support. "We would protect the institution," she told reporters, according to the Daily Beast. "We would not let a Speaker be overthrown." Of course, things have changed. For one, Pelosi is no longer in party leadership, and she herself missed the vote to oust McCarthy last week after flying back to California to attend the funeral of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Additionally, cross-aisle relationships in Congress have only deteriorated over the last eight years, owing in part to the ascent of Donald Trump and January 6. Still, the Pelosi pledge is notable if only because it lends credibility to an argument made by McCarthy in a press conference after his ouster on Tuesday. He said at the time that Pelosi had assured him that she would back him up in the event that a Republican called a motion to vacate on him. "I'll always back you up. I made the same offer to Boehner, and same thing to [former Speaker Paul Ryan] because I believe in the institution," McCarthy recounted Pelosi saying. But Pelosi herself argued after McCarthy's ouster that this time was different, saying McCarthy didn't respect the institution of the House of Representatives. "The integrity of the institution is something that's very important to me," she told Fox 11 Los Angeles. "But if you don't respect the institution, then don't expect us to bail you out." Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON The Pentagon sent its newest aircraft carrier steaming toward the troubled waters of the Middle East Sunday after attacks on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas, the Defense Department announced Sunday. The show of force is meant to reassure Israel and other U.S. allies in the region, and to deter adversaries such as Iran from seeking to take advantage of the conflict, according to two U.S. government sources who were not authorized to speak publicly. The U.S.S. Gerald Ford Strike Group, including its namesake aircraft carrier, as well as several destroyers and cruisers, have been sent to the eastern Mediterranean, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in a statement. In addition, squadrons of F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 warplanes in the region are being bolstered. The Pentagon will begin shipping equipment and ammunition to the Israeli Defense Forces starting Sunday. The Ford is on its first combat deployment. About 6,000 sailors are on the aircraft carrier and its associated ships, including destroyers with guided missiles. Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, said in a statment Sunday that the commitment of forces shows that the U.S. "stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict." The Pentagon flexes its muscles in the Middle East when tensions rise. In July, a Navy destroyer, F-35s and F-16s were dispatched to the Middle East after Iranian forces harrased shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Defense Department has also been tasked with evacuating U.S. citizens from the Middle East during conflicts. In 2006, the Pentagon evacuated 15,000 citizens after Hezbollah guerillas kidnapped to Israeli soldiers on teh border with Lebanon. Israel's military response, bombing Beirut's airport and blockading ports, resulted in the mass evacuation. Dig deeper: Is Iran behind Hamas terrorist attacks? What it would mean for US and Middle East security This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aircraft carrier, planes and more sent by Pentagon to Middle East One of Americas leading public intellectuals, a self-described atheistic Jewish gay man, is neither eager to see the flight from Christian churches, nor is he buying an all-too-convenient society is to blame explanation for this phenomenon. In a tour de force of intellectual courage and candor, senior Brookings Institution fellow Jonathan Rauch delivered three stunning lectures late last month at the University of Virginias Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Rauch warned that the deterioration of American Christianity threatens Americas pluralistic democracy. He also warned that our democracy is threatened by the reactive response of some American Christian thought leaders who blame our liberal democracy for the demise of their own church communities. Rauch argued that, unfortunately, contemporary Christianity in America (largely speaking here about evangelicalism) has become too thin and too sharp, i.e., too secularized, and not because of what pluralistic democracy has done to religion, but because of religions self-inflicted wounds of commercialization and politicization that deviate from its missions of helping to form community and providing for moral formation. As a counter to these trends, Rauch proposes alignment in contrast to alliance between democracy and religion in our constitutional order. Religionists should acknowledge, said Rauch, that pluralistic democracy brings vitally important social and material goods to society that religion cant provide by itself. That said, Rauch also suggested that secularists should recognize how the moral formation and the meaning, upon which our democratic institutions rely, come in large part from religion, and that the state cant provide meaningful substitutes in this realm. Although democratic and religious institutions may find themselves from time to time in tension, they should seek the well-being of one another. Related Jonathan Rauch, author of The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, speaks at the Braver Angels National Convention at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa., on Friday, July 7, 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Rauch therefore encouraged Christians in their public engagement to draw more self-consciously from the teachings and example of Jesus Christ to fear not, to imitate Jesus Christ more closely, and to forgive others. And he encouraged liberals and progressives to be more welcoming of religion. We should even, perhaps, cherish religion, said Rauch. And when we disagree with a faith tradition, he continued, we should do so respectfully and give it a second or even third hearing; and when we criticize faith, we should do so in a spirit of humility, recognizing that the great faith traditions have been around a lot longer than liberalism. Rauch used the bulk of his final lecture to shine a generous light upon what he calls the civic theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because he sees within the Latter-day Saint tradition a contemporary replicable model of a healthier and mutually supportive relationship between constitutional democracy and a self-sustaining Christian faith. Drawing from Latter-day Saint scripture on moral agency and several recent speeches by President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rauch presented the church as a contemporary successful example of a morally demanding, countercultural Christian tradition whose practice and doctrine embrace an ethic of patience, negotiation and mutual accommodation consistent with the Founders vision for our republican form of government. And although some observers might see the Latter-day Saint example of accommodation as a tactical and pragmatic response by a minority religion, Rauch methodically uncovers deep theological underpinnings for the churchs pluralistic teachings, such as President Oaks admonition that We should not expect or seek total dominance for our own positions. He does so by providing a very close reading of President Oaks recent speeches on constitutionalism and religious liberty to the worldwide church, to the University of Virginia and to a Notre Dame Law School religious liberty summit in Rome. Rauch describes President Oaks argument as a sophisticated case for an alignment between Gods moral constitution and Madisons political one. He sees patience, negotiation and compromise not as means to ends, to be jettisoned if the results seem unsatisfying, but as social and spiritual ends unto themselves. Combining President Oaks teachings with other Latter-day Saint scripture and teaching on moral agency, Rauch extrapolates the following civic commandment: If I impose my will politically to limit your agency, I have deprived you of a pathway toward godliness; and so, indeed, I have sinned. Thus, Rauch finds within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints something really quite impressive: a fully formed, coherent, and scriptural foundation for Madisonian pluralism. It is the polar antithesis of Christian nationalism and Christian dominionism. It provides an account of Christian citizenship which is not defensive, fearful, or self-isolating, but which embraces the messy, frustrating process of negotiation as bringing Americans closer to God. Rauch went on to note how this Latter-day Saint approach also rejects the radical version of progressivism which would impose secular law on all aspects of civic life, regardless of religious practices and objections. Instead, it supports a balanced, negotiated approach in which the two sides make room for each other. In that respect, it provides for accountability to both God and the Constitution. Rauch received formal feedback during the lectures from three University of Virginia professors sociologist James Davison Hunter, political theorist Danielle Charette and religious historian Kathleen Flake. They raised questions about whether Rauchs critique of contemporary Evangelical Christianity had been painted in too broad of strokes and whether his plea for traditional Christian traditions to embrace pluralism in ways analogous to the doctrines of the Latter-day Saints would be persuasive. But to a person, commentators and audience alike found the project important, timely and provocative. Hunter further noted that Rauchs achievement is all the more remarkable by virtue of the fact that he is an outsider to the traditions he is writing on and speaking about. Too often, the news emerging from our colleges and universities is about illiberalism and cancel culture. But by this observers witness, even the potentially volatile contemporary challenges at the intersection of religion and democracy can still be probed and debated with humility, intellectual curiosity, critical inquiry and open exchange. When Rauchs original thoughts on these issues finally emerge as a published book which they will our national discourse will be elevated by his keen observation and unique perspective. Paul S. Edwards is the director of the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University. One of Modestos most international retail plazas featuring food from China, Vietnam, India and Afghanistan has added another global contender for your taste buds. A new Peruvian restaurant has opened in Coffee Plaza, at the corner of Coffee Road and Floyd Avenue. Las Uvas Restaurant highlights the cuisine of the coastal South American country, from a chef who has spent the last two decades cooking specialties from the region. Chef and co-owner Abel Casillas opened his new Peruvian spot in the former space of longtime Mexican restaurant Guadalajara Taqueria, which had closed in the past year. While the cuisines of the two Latin American countries share a language, their flavor profiles are different and distinct. Since opening last month in the plaza, Casillas said customers have wandered in expecting the normal burritos and quesadillas. Instead, his menu introduces them to a whole new world of spices and influences. Chef and co-owner Abel Casillas prepares lomo saltado at Las Uvas Restaurant in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Casillas came from Mexico to the Bay Area about 25 years ago. During that time he was a longtime chef at the popular Bay Area Peruvian restaurant chain Limon, which has half a dozen locations. But this year he decided to take the plunge and open his own place celebrating the food he has specialized in for more than 20 years. He decided to move to Modesto to open his restaurant after frequent visits to see members of his wifes family, including her mother and sister, who live in the Central Valley. He also was excited to be the only Peruvian restaurant in the city. Modesto had a short-lived Peruvian restaurant, Evelyns Mexican and Peruvian Food, that closed in 1999. The closest current restaurants dedicated to the cuisine is one county over in Lathrop. After a five month renovation, which included installing all new kitchen equipment, Las Uvas (which means grapes in Spanish), opened for daily lunch and dinner. While the decor inside remains the same, Casillas and his co-owner Benny Virrueta, who is related by marriage, have transformed the menu. Some of the offerings may seem familiar, including ceviche and tacos, but the ingredients stand out. Instead of typical Mexican ceviche with its pico de gallo and cilantro, the Peruvian ceviche at Las Uvas has sweet potatoes and toasted cancha and boiled choclo (kinds of Peruvian corn) and is served with plantain or taro chips (which runs $14 to $18 depending on seafood type). And instead of serving typical street tacos with onions and cilantro, the Peruvian version has citrus cabbage on top. This is flavorful and comforting home-cooked food with different spices, Casillas said. To get those traditional Peruvian flavors, Casillas said he has to source some of his spices and produce from the Bay Area because they arent available through Central Valley distributors. With those ingredients he makes iconic Peruvian dishes from scratch that highlight the countrys cross-cultural influences, including lomo saltado. The dish is an example of chifa, Chinese-Peruvian fusion food inspired by the long history of Chinese migration that started in the mid 19th Century when laborers came to the Latin American country to work its plantations. Lomo saltado at Las Uvas Restaurant in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. The eatery on Coffee Road is the citys only restaurant featuring food from Peru. The lomo saltado at Las Uvas is made with juicy chunks of sirloin steak, quick stir fried in a wok with tomatoes and onions in a soy-ginger-garlic sauce and served over fries and rice (which runs $22). The eatery also offers pollo a la brasa, Perus signature blackened rotisserie chicken served whole, halved or quartered (from $14 to $23). While traditionally roasted over charcoal, the restaurant has a cabinet-sized open-flame gas rotisserie where you can see the birds slowly basting as they spin. Casillas also brews his own chicha morada, one of the national drinks of Peru. Made by boiling purple corn, pineapple, apple and cinnamon together, the result is a tasty, sweet purple concoction. Definitely order yourself a tall refreshing glass, or a pitcher, when you visit. Chef Abel Casillas with pollo a la brasa, Perus signature blackened rotisserie chicken at Las Uvas Restaurant in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. The restaurant is also in the process of getting its beer and wine license, and soon will be able to serve alcoholic beverages along with its chicha morada and other aguas frescas. Already he said residents with Peruvian backgrounds have started coming, and coming back, from across the valley. And he is excited for more people to experience the food. I hope the people here give us a try and get to know (Peruvian flavors), Casillas said. Las Uvas Restaurant, at 2400 Coffee Road Suite C in Modesto, is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information call 209-859-6021 or visit www.lasuvasrestaurant.com. Ceviche mixto at Las Uvas Restaurant in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Empanadas at Las Uvas Restaurant in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Hackers have stolen hundreds of gigabytes of data from PhilHealth, the national insurer of the Philippines (JAM STA ROSA) Hackers have stolen the personal data of potentially millions of people from the Philippines's national health insurer, which has urged members to change their passwords after the "staggering" cyberattack. The hackers have started releasing files including confidential memos from the stolen data to pressure the government into paying a $300,000 ransom. Here is what we know so far about the attack, which was discovered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on September 22: What did the hackers steal? PhilHealth and the government have yet to say exactly how many people have been impacted, but the insurer warned members in a notice that data such as addresses, phone numbers and insurance IDs was compromised. As of June 30, according to its website, PhilHealth had more than 59 million direct and indirect contributors -- more than half the population of the Philippines. PhilHealth asked members to monitor credit card transactions and change passwords, especially for financial services. Separately, employee information was also stolen from the targeted computers. The hackers released some of the data on the dark web, showing health memos and other information that a top government official described as confidential. An investigation into the scale of the attack is ongoing, but the National Privacy Commission has described the amount of data stolen as "staggering". Who are the hackers, and what do they want? The Philippine government has referred to the attackers as the Medusa group, who have demanded $300,000 to restore access to PhilHealth computers and delete the stolen data. MedusaLocker, first detected in late 2019, has been used to mainly target healthcare organisations and its creators took particular advantage of the emergency situation during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a US government report. The ransomware has been sold to criminal actors, and a US government cybersecurity advisory said its creator receives a cut of any ransom. It was not clear if the Medusa group identified by the Philippines government is the creator of or an entity that purchased MedusaLocker. How did they get the data? On September 22, PhilHealth staff were unable to access a number of computers, which displayed a message saying hackers had locked the machines and encrypted the data. The insurer shut down the affected systems to try and stop the attack from spreading, slowing or entirely shutting down some online services for days. The government has so far not said exactly how hackers got access to the computers. But in interviews with local media last week, senior PhilHealth official Israel Pargas said the insurer did not have an antivirus software at the time of the attack. How has the government responded? With a blunt 'No'. The Philippines does not pay ransom in any criminal cases, including cyberattacks, officials have said. However, with hackers releasing more data from the stolen files, calls have grown for the government to conduct an audit of its cyber defences. The National Privacy Commission said Saturday it has started an investigation into any potential lapses and data law violations by PhilHealth. The NPC said its analysis of 734 GB of stolen data revealed "sensitive personal data", and warned the public that anyone who downloads this information could face criminal charges. pam-qan/ssy A photographer captured moments of joy and revelry at the Nova Music Festival in Israel. Young people danced to electronic music all night, before Hamas militants attacked. At least 260 people were killed at the festival, and many more have died across Israel and Gaza. A photographer spent hours capturing photos of partiers laughing and dancing the night away at the Tribe of Nova music festival in Israel right up until the moment festival-goers took cover from a barrage of bullets as Hamas militants attacked the area, killing hundreds. Ido Derby, a 20-year-old photographer from Rishon LeTsiyon near Tel Aviv, told Insider he was part of the crew hired to capture the outdoor festival. About 3,500 people gathered to listen to electronic music at the all-night event over the weekend about 3 miles from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. He shared photos with Insider showing how joyous the festival was before Hamas militants attacked. A woman in the crowd smiles. Ido Derby, Liav Franko, @block_oclock/instagram "At the start of the festival, we were very excited," Derby told Insider, adding that he was taking photos for about six or seven hours. "It was a huge festival and a chance for us, photographers, to capture one of these days," Derby added. Festival attendees dancing to the music at Nova. Ido Derby, Liav Franko, @block_oclock/instagram "It was like the hugest festival to arrive in our country," Derby said. "We used to go out and celebrate. We loved the festival, the music, the people, the vibe." The photos Derby took before the attack show throngs of young people decked out in glitter and flowy festival outfits dancing and smiling under the neon lights to the trance music. A man twirls light sticks. Ido Derby, Liav Franko, @block_oclock/instagram In some photos, festival goers are giving personal light shows. In another, a woman is hula-hooping, and a man is juggling light-up sticks. In one photo, a couple shares a romantic kiss. Then, the explosions began. Derby said at first, he didn't think anything of the sounds because he was used to them in Israel. A festival-goer smiling with a hula hoop. Ido Derby, Liav Franko, @block_oclock/instagram "I couldn't realize that my life was in danger," Derby said. "When I hear sirens or hear missiles, I'm not panicked. When tourists come to our country and hear sirens, it's maybe traumatic for people, but for me, I see missiles, and it's very interesting." But soon, the music stopped, and a voice could be heard overheard warning of a "red alert," according to the Washington Post. Hamas militants from Gaza infiltrated the crowds, gunning down festival-goers and taking others captive as hundreds attempted to run or hide in trees and bushes, Insider previously reported. A couple kiss and hug at Nova. Ido Derby, Liav Franko, @block_oclock/instagram "It changed in a moment," Derby told Insider. "I was very upset that the festival ended because of terror." Before fleeing, Derby took one final photo, showing a person ducking for cover with his hands covering his head a stark contrast to the pictures of joy and revelry taken in the hours and minutes before. "That photo we took it at 6:30 a.m.," Derby said. "It was like five minutes after the first missiles started, shot above us." A festival-goer covers his head as he ducks for cover. Ido Derby, Liav Franko/@block_oclock/instagram Derby told Insider he was eventually able to escape in a car with friends, but as he looked through the rearview mirror, he saw bodies falling behind him. At least 260 people were killed at the festival, and some are still missing, according to the Associated Press. Israeli security forces are still clearing the area, and the death toll could rise, the AP reported. About 700 people have died in Israel and about 400 in Gaza, according to Reuters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally declared war on Gaza and announced he's cutting off the flow of fuel, supplies, and food to the 2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Read the original article on Business Insider A veteran pilot is dead following a helicopter crash in New Hampshire late Sunday night, local officials said. The helicopter crashed about 10:30 p.m. in a swampy area of Sullivan County, Croydon Fire Department Chief Jason Rook told USA TODAY. The aircraft, identified as a Bell 407 helicopter by a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson, went down in the town of Croydon, about 45 miles northwest of the state's capital city of Concord. A preliminary investigation revealed the helicopter took off from a private landing zone in Pembroke, New Hampshire about 7:40 p.m. and headed northeast for less than one mile before it disappeared from radar, Rook said. Wreckage found at 2 a.m. With assistance from New Hampshire Fish and Game, Rook said, crews searched the area where the aircraft was last spotted and found its wreckage in a wooded area about 2 a.m. The pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. An FAA spokesperson said the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft when it crashed and no one on the ground was injured. At least one person was killed in a helicopter crash in Croydon, New Hampshire on October 8, 2023. according to multiple media reports. Massive earthquake hits Middle East: Earthquakes kill over 2,000 in Afghanistan Mass shooting in PA: 1 dead, 8 injured in mass shooting at Pennsylvania community center Officials: 73-year-old pilot killed in crash In a statement obtained by USA TODAY Monday, New Hampshire Fish and Game identified the pilot as 73-year-old Carl Svenson, from Loudon, New Hampshire. The agency said Svenson was employed by JBI Helicopter Services and was headed to Rhode Island for work when the aircraft crashed, the outlet reported. "Mr. Svenson had been a pilot for approximately 50 years and started working for JBI Helicopter Services in the 1980s," the agency wrote in the statement. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pilot Carl Svenson killed in helicopter crash in Croydon New Hampshire The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is rolling the credits before the show could get started on its plan to establish a new cineplex showing mainstream movies on Sixth Street downtown. The organization announced Friday that it is dropping the cineplex plan slated for the former Ballys Total Fitness Club at 119 Sixth Street within the Cultural District. The reason is a familiar one given the challenges coming out of the pandemic: Cost. Read more on Pittsburgh Business Times Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Indiana County mass shooting: 1 killed, at least 8 hurt during party at community center Israel-Hamas war: Israel orders complete siege of Gaza (Live updates) $1K a week for life winning lottery ticket sold at local Sheetz VIDEO: Indiana County community stunned following mass shooting at typically peaceful community center DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A new pizza restaurant, with over 70 beers on tap, is coming to Fort Worth next spring. Parrys Pizzeria & Taphouse is opening at 2801 Heritage Trace Parkway in spring 2024. The new Fort Worth location will be near the Alliance Town Center shopping area. The pizza restaurant is known for, well its New York-style pizza, as well as having over 70 beers on tap that are rotated regularly. The restaurant also serves up burgers, wings, pasta, sandwiches, salads and calzones. While no concrete opening date has been set for Parrys, a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation seems to point to a spring 2024 opening. Renovations to the building will begin in December and finish in April 2024 at a cost of $1.1 million. The makeover includes an interior remodel and an addition of an exterior patio. Parrys future home was the former location of Rachels Mediterranean Grill, which closed earlier this summer for nonpayment of rent. The Fort Worth Parrys will join the companys other two North Texas locations in The Colony (5752 Grandscape Blvd. suite 140) and McKinney (3705 W University Drive suite 100). Parrys Pizzeria & Taphouse opened its first restaurant in 2007 in Denver. The restaurant chain now has locations in Texas, Arizona and Nevada. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma City Police Department has identified the victim in Fridays deadly shooting on the citys northwest side. Officers were called to the scene near NW 82nd and Western around 2:30 p.m. Friday. Police investigating deadly shooting in NW OKC According to OKCPD, someone called 911 after finding the victim with a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found 29-year-old Norris Wilson deceased inside a home. Currently, this is still an open investigation, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with any information should contact the Homicide Tip Line 405-297-1200. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Police stepped in to break up scuffles which broke out between groups of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters in Kirkland, Washington on Sunday. Videos of the clashes shared online appear to show the opposing demonstrators fighting over flags and getting into physical altercations the day after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel, prompting Tel Aviv to declare war. A few of the protesters on the Israeli side came up and spit on us, a protester told KIRO-TV. They ran into the middle of the crowd and started throwing punches... I got punched. Kirkland Police announced on Twitter that it was working with demonstrators from opposing views. Both parties are working peaceful with the police at this time, the agency said, adding that streets had been closed in the area. Pro #Israeli and pro palestinian protesters clashed in Kirkland, Washington. Some gas had makes participants cough pic.twitter.com/FxExYehHSR Natasha Mozgovaya (@mozgovaya) October 8, 2023 Read it at KIRO-TV Read more at The Daily Beast. One sheriffs deputy was seriously injured and another man was killed in a shooting in Allen County Saturday, according to Kentucky State Police. The injured deputy is Brad Harper, the chief deputy with the Simpson County Sheriffs Office, according to the sheriffs office. KSP said he suffered life-threatening injuries in the shooting but was in stable condition as of Sunday morning. Harper was shot while attempting to arrest a subject wanted for a charge of attempted murder, according to the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office said it appreciates the support from the community and that Kentucky State Police are handling the investigation. Prayers for Simpson County Chief Deputy Brad Harper, the Kentucky Sheriffs Association said in a Facebook post. He was shot in the line of duty last night. Mike Wilson, a state representative for the 32nd District which includes Simpson County, said hes praying for Harper, his family and the law enforcement community in a statement. Dedicated officers like Deputy Harper are the thin blue line standing between our communities and criminal dangers, Wilson said in the statement. He and others in law enforcement do so out of love for their fellow residents. I remain committed to supporting our law enforcement officers and ensuring their sacrifices are not taken for granted. The shooting happened around 5:10 p.m. on New Buck Creek Road in Adolphus, according to KSP. The shooting happened while officers were looking for a suspect that fled officers in a vehicle in Simpson County just after midnight on the same day. One man was pronounced dead at the the scene by the Allen County Coroners Office, KSP said. Officials havent confirmed more information, but the Allen County Sheriffs Office said Saturday on Facebook it was searching for a man named Jeremy Rollenhagen, 37. Rollenhagen was previously accused of shooting at a deputy without injuring them. As part of that search, the sheriffs office said it had a large presence on New Buck Creek Road, the same place where KSP said the shooting happened. The area of New Buck Creek Road has been contained and there is no further threat of danger to citizens, the Allen County Sheriffs Office said later Saturday on Facebook. Due to the ongoing investigation there will be no further details at this time. Officials havent confirmed if Rollenhagen was killed in the shooting. No other details about the shooting were made available by KSP. KSP said its standard operating procedure is to not release specific information until vital witnesses are interviewed and facts are gathered. Investigators were unavailable for additional comment Monday morning. The Allen County Coroners Office said it had identified the victim and notified family but isnt releasing the victims name at this time. More than a year after a Black man died at the hands of police outside a New Mexico gas station, the states attorney general announced charges against one of the police officers at the scene, calling his actions an unjustifiable use of force and yet another example of poor police tactics. Las Cruces Officer Brad Lunsford turned himself in to the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office October 3, his attorney, Luis Robles told CNN. He was charged with voluntary manslaughter with an additional count of firearm enhancement and released on his own recognizance, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said during a news conference the same day. On August 2 last year, Lunsford, who is White, allegedly shot Presley Eze, a Black man, outside a Chevron gas station after an employee called 911 to report Eze left the store with a beer he did not pay for, the attorney generals office said. Lunsford, the first officer to arrive at the scene, questioned Eze, and after he was unable to verify his identity, Lunsford and another officer forcibly removed Eze from the vehicle in order to detain him and a scuffle ensued where Eze wound up on the ground, on top of one of the responding officers, according to the attorney generals office. A second officer who was present during the shooting has not been charged with a crime, arrest warrant documents show. During the ongoing struggle Eze placed his hand on the second officers taser though it was not cycled or deployed against either officer, Torrezs office said, and in response Officer Lunsford drew his service weapon and shot Eze on the back, left side of his head at point-blank range. Officers had removed a closed pocketknife from Ezes possession before the incident turned physical, according to arrest warrant documents. Eze was unarmed when he was shot. Lunsford remained on active duty until the charges were filed and is now on paid administrative leave, CNN affiliate KOAT reported. The incident, which was captured both on police bodycam video and witness cell phone footage, is one of the latest examples of police across the country facing accusations of excessive force as encounters with Black Americans ended in deadly violence. Since 2005, 185 law enforcement officers have been arrested for murder or manslaughter resulting from an on-duty shooting in the US and only 59 have been convicted of a crime resulting from the shooting, according to data from Philip Matthew Stinson, a criminal justice expert at Bowling Green State University who has tracked the data for years. This was somebodys son, this is somebodys brother, and this is somebodys father, Torrez said during Tuesdays news conference. I think its important for people to understand who he was as a human being, and not to simply distill his life into seconds of a video captured on lapel or captured at a gas station. Eze, 37, was the oldest son of Nigerian immigrants who settled in West Hartford, Connecticut, a father to a 3-year-old son, a nursing supervisor at an elderly nursing home facility, a frequent churchgoer and a gentle giant, according to a family attorney and friend, John Sodipo. This was a very horrible situation, said Robles, Lunsfords attorney. If you kind of watch the video you sort of realize there really is no other place to shoot than where the shot was actually placed. At this time, there is no evidence of malice or racial motivation, Torrez said, however if circumstances change, the charging documents can be amended, he said. I was in the Army in Africa and I know what it means to handle a gun, Ezes father, Isaac Eze said during Tuesdays new conference. You shoot somebody on the head, you want him dead. Documents filed in 2019 show Lunsford was named in a complaint for his role during a domestic disturbance call in 2014. In the complaint, the plaintiff names Lunsford and other officers in an incident where they were shot and allege Lunsford exercised excessive use of force. The complaint was dismissed in 2022. CNN reached out to the Las Cruces Police Department, which deferred comment to Lunsfords attorney. Robles could not comment on any previous complaints but acknowledged their existence, he told CNN. The officers introduced violence at every level, a statement from the Eze family said. The family of Presley Eze trusts in the justice system and trusts that the death of Presley Eze will reveal once again that this country must reconcile its past use of slave patrols to terrorize Black bodies with the modern police use of deadly force to kill defenseless Black men. As part of the investigation into the incident, special agents with the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office consulted with use of force experts, who watched the available video footage, and concluded Lunsfords use of deadly force was not reasonable under the circumstances and there were other, less lethal avenues available to contain Eze, the attorney generals office said in an online statement. Robles said he had hoped the experts would have taken into account the officers eyewitness statements along with a review of the videos. The body worn camera videos cant and dont show much of anything, Robles said. And then there is a cell phone video, which shows some things but wouldnt you want to know from the officers point of view, what he was able to see with his own two eyes? Joe Kennedy, an attorney for the Eze family called for a reexamination of Las Cruces Police Department policies as it pertains to use of force. We dont want to miss any more opportunities to actually examine this activity, this police activity, this police detention from the moment if starts for areas where de-escalation can happen where it doesnt have to go into a struggle, Kennedy said during Tuesdays news conference. It doesnt have to go into an officer body slamming Presley Eze on the pavement and creating an extremely volatile dynamic situation that no one was in control of until a bullet was put in this mans head. Eze family attorney Shannon Kennedy said they plan to sue Lunsford as an individual. CNNs Virginia Langmaid and Taylor Romine contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com PHOENIX - Police are investigating what they believe is a murder-suicide involving a father and his son in a north Phoenix neighborhood Sunday afternoon. Police say they responded to a shooting call in the area just after 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 8. A large amount of police cars were seen lining a street near 40th Street and Captain Dreyfus Avenue, which is just north of Cactus Road. "The caller stated her husband was shot inside her home and told 911 operators she believed he was shot by her son. As officers arrived, they found a man deceased inside a vehicle, parked in the driveway. The woman came out to officers and confirmed her husband was shot and was unresponsive inside their home," said Phoenix Police Sgt. Phil Krynsky. The woman said there might be hazards inside the home, but police didn't detail exactly what she meant. Ultimately, no hazards were found and they were able to confirm her husband was dead inside the home. Detectives believe 19-year-old Daniel Windus shot his father, 54-year-old Preston Windus, inside the home, then went into a car where he took his own life. "The investigation remains active as detectives continue to sift through evidence and await the findings from the Office of the Medical Examiner," Sgt. Krynsky said. Location: Two 12-year-olds have been identified as the suspects who vandalized a local Catholic church recently, and brazenly set the altar cloth and a Bible on fire. No charges will be filed at this time, police said in a statement on Sunday. The names of the suspects, a boy and a girl, are not being released since they have not been charged and they are juveniles. On Friday afternoon, East Bridgewater Police and Fire responded to St. John the Evangelist Church at 210 Central St. for a report of vandalism. An initial investigation found that a fire had been set near the altar, which burned a Bible and the altar cloth. The State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshals Office responded to the scene to assist East Bridgewater Police and Fire. The investigation into this incident was all around great police work, East Bridgewater Police Chief Michael Jenkins said in a statement. Thank you to all who were involved, especially our School Resource Officer Tallitha Connor and Detective David Perrault, who was the lead investigator on this case. 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 On Sept. 18, a new law took effect that changed the dynamic of criminal detention. The Safe-T Act has changed the requirements for keeping suspected criminals in jail before trial. This new law was facing criticism from mostly Republican lawmakers and law enforcement agencies before it took effect, and those have not lightened up in the weeks since Sept. 18. State Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-105) This entire bill is just horrible, Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-105th) said in a recent interview with the Daily Leader. I've been very openly sounding that alarm ever since January 2021, when it went in, of what this was going to look like when we got to this point. It's been highly criticized, a number of groups have been concerned about it law enforcement, state's attorneys, Sen. Tom Bennett (R-53rd) remarked. It was forced through the legislature on the final day of the 2021 Lame Duck session. Although it's an omnibus piece of legislation, in a very basic description, the Safe-T Act looks at setting bail standards for those accused of a crime. Money bonds will no longer be used to make sure defendants return to court for trial and hearings, a practice criminal justice reform advocates argued penalized anyone who couldn't afford bail. Instead, only those defendants arrested for detainable offenses including Class 3 felonies and above can be held in jail until trial. Those accused of violent crimes, sex assaults, gun crimes and domestic battery among others are also considered detainable in jail before a trial. But to deny a defendant pretrial release, prosecutors must within 48 hours of their arrest show by clear and convincing evidence a defendant is a flight risk or a danger to specific people or the community. One of the lawmakers expressed concerns over the financial impact this will have on courts. Some of that money went to services for the courts, Bennett said. Some of that money was used for social services for some of the victims. For me, those were two of the biggest concerns. We're still trying to figure where we are with things. State Rep. Tom Bennett Another aspect of the Safe-T Act is how much affects other legislation. Tipsword said that more than 250 laws are touched by this legislation. There's no way that anybody can look at all the potential outcomes of this, with all of these changes and know exactly how this bill is going to change our criminal justice system, Tipsword said. One of the arguments for this law was how bail affected different people in society. Tipsword stated that there was an unfair bond issue in the criminal system. If we would have taken bond and bail and how it is determined and how it is set on a single-subject bill and had good discussion, I guarantee we would have had bi-partisan support on something that would have truly fixed that. But when you throw 250-plus law changes at the wall, and you do it in a bill like the Safe-T Act, you are just creating havoc. You are not fixing anything, Tipsword added. Rep. Jason Bunting This is not working out the way that I think a lot of folks are wanting, Rep. Jason Bunting (R-106th) said. Tipsword said he hopes changes can be made in the future to the Safe-T Act. I truly believe you are innocent until you're proven guilty. I'm OK with putting people who are not a danger back home, not in jail. I'm not trying to fill a jail up, I believe in our system of law, he added. But there are those folks who have proven they don't deserve to walk among us as free people. Those folks are the ones we have to keep in jail because all they do is create another path of victims until we get them back in jail. This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: End of cash bail in Illinois still receiving criticism from Pontiac-area lawmakers Across the country, coat drives are in full swing this month as more Americans than ever lack the winter clothing they need to stay warm. In Rochester, New York, registration has filled up for the Coats for Kids drive, which distributes 1,000 coats to children each year in late fall. In Western Pennsylvania, volunteers with the Bundle-up Initiative will take kids and older adults on shopping trips for new coats. But every year, many people are turned away from the program because a lack of money, the group says. Near Scranton, Pennsylvania, the Salvation Army had to add a fourth coat collection location this year. The need for coats coincides with new data from the U.S. Census Bureau showing the poverty rate shot up dramatically in 2022 for the first time in more than a decade. More Americans don't have enough resources to meet their basic need for food, clothing, shelter, utilities and internet access. This month, donated gently used coats for adults and children are needed to help close the gap millions of Americans face between what they need and what they can afford, said Beth Amodio, CEO of the national nonprofit One Warm Coat. "The clients our agencies are serving are really living paycheck to paycheck, and one small thing can cause them not to be able to meet their budget needs," she said. This year, One Warm Coat's hundreds of member agencies across the country reported demand for winter coats in their areas is more than 50% greater than the fall of 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's daunting to our agencies," Amodio said. "They are feeling overwhelmed. They're feeling anxious about being able to meet the needs of their clients." The high level of need can feel insurmountable, so it's valid that people who want to help may feel stuck or unsure of where to start, Amodio said. But giving to a local coat drive is always a concrete way to make a difference, she said "This is one very small way to take a step forward and do something very tangible," she said. "It's impossible to change the world. But it is possible to change one person's experience, one person at a time." Where is a winter coat drive near me? All kinds of local businesses and organizations may be running coat drives in your community this fall and winter. Demand usually spikes in November, so October is a great time to donate gently used coats, Amodio said. But there's no wrong time to give, she said, because the "need is unfortunately a constant." You can enter your ZIP code on One Warm Coat's national donation map to find a coat drive in your area. The map gives the address and donation collection hours of hundreds of coat drives throughout the winter. More coat drives will be added to the map beginning in October, Amodio said. Different member organizations serve different demographics, she said, including homeless LGBTQ+ young people, newly arrived immigrants and people who were recently incarcerated. People can also donate money if they don't have any gently used coats they can give away. Unhoused people particularly vulnerable to cold People who live outdoors, in tents or in vehicles are particularly vulnerable to freezing temperatures and wet winter weather. They also face more health dangers from the cold, said Margot Kushel, a physician and director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco. This winter, unhoused people may need to: Use more coats and blankets than the average person so they can stay warm outside, Kushel said. If their coat gets wet, they may need to replace it if they aren't able to dry it properly. People experiencing homelessness may try to start a fire to keep warm, but that poses additional risks, Kushel said. Unhoused people are also at much higher risk of life-threatening hypothermia and frostbite, Kushel said. "Once people are homeless, everything else falls apart. Being unable to protect oneself from the elements is another example of the horrors and dangers of homelessness." Everyone in need faces 'different circumstances,' Chicago mom says Lifelong Chicago native Larra Mattix is planning to soon get coats for her two children, ages 4 and 5, at a kids coat drive at a food bank. Her children outgrew their coats from last year, she said, and she has set herself a deadline of November to make sure they have what they need to stay warm this winter. "My first priority is just to make sure they're warm," said Mattix, 25. "It's important for all three of us to be warm, because Chicago weather is kind of iffy." Mattix and her family were unhoused this year, but they just secured a studio apartment in southwest Chicago, so staying warm inside won't be a concern, she said. Mattix also needs a new coat for herself. Her coat from last winter no longer fits because her weight changed drastically after she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease almost four months ago. "I never realized how life worked until I got diagnosed with this," Mattix said. "Even though I don't want to change, there's stuff I have to now that I'm diagnosed. It's like a whole new ball game." Men play football on a soccer field in Chicago's Lincoln Park Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. A major winter storm with millions of Americans in its path brought a mix of rain, freezing rain and snow to the middle section of the United States as airlines canceled hundreds of flights, governors urged residents to stay off roads and schools closed campuses. She said she can try to save up enough money these next couple of weeks from her jobs as an in-home caretaker and security guard to buy a new coat. But she recently had to cut her work hours to 26 a week because of her medical condition. If she can't save the money, she said, she hopes the staff at Lincoln Park Community Services can help connect her to more coat drives. The Chicago winter is going to feel worse when she's outside waiting on the train, the bus or an Uber, she said. "Standing out there is going to be a hazard, especially on the days when the snow actually hits," Mattix said. In addition to the elements, many families experiencing poverty may not be able to afford to heat their homes, or poorly insulated buildings may make it much harder to stay warm indoors, Amodio said. She said she has heard of some kids wearing their donated winter coats at all times during the winter, including inside, to keep warm. Mattix said she's grateful she's working two jobs, has strong support from her case worker and her best friend, and is blessed with two loving children. Other people in her position aren't nearly as lucky, she said. "All of the people here, we're in the same situation but with different circumstances," she said. "It's kind of an up-and-down roller coaster." Poverty rate in America is up in 2023 In 2023, more Americans are living in poverty after the poverty rate shot up dramatically in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Notably, the poverty rate for children in 2022 more than doubled from 2021. Experts caution the situation could get worse if government officials and politicians fail to fill in families' financial gaps with social safety net programs. Child tax credits, expanded unemployment benefits, Medicaid and food stamps caused poverty in America to drop to record lows in 2020 and 2021, said Zachary Parolin, a professor at Columbia University and author of the book "Poverty in the Pandemic: Lessons from COVID-19." But now the nation is headed back in the opposite direction, he said. "After three consecutive years of the lowest poverty rates on record, the streak is now broken," Parolin said. All the data confirms what Amodio's One Warm Coat has been hearing from local coat drive organizers across the country: People's financial situations appear to be getting worse as a result of longstanding inequities. "What we're seeing is that the impact of the last three years is really turning out to be long-lasting." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coat drive demand spikes as poverty levels rise: What you can do Today, Indigenous Peoples' Day is being celebrated across Indian Country. On Friday, the White House released a presidential proclamation for 2023 Indigenous Peoples Day. In the proclamation President Joe Biden says 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. Read the entire presidential proclamation below. Presidential Proclamation 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. 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. But throughout our Nation's history, Indigenous peoples have faced violence and devastation that has tested their limits. For generations, it was the shameful policy of our Nation to remove Indigenous peoples from their homelands; force them to assimilate; and ban them from speaking their own languages, passing down ancient traditions, and performing sacred ceremonies. Countless lives were lost, precious lands were taken, and their way of life was forever changed. In spite of unimaginable loss and seemingly insurmountable odds, Indigenous peoples have persisted. They survived. And they continue to be an integral part of the fabric of the United States. Today, Indigenous peoples are a beacon of resilience, strength, and perseverance as well as a source of incredible contributions. Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations continue to practice their cultures, remember their heritages, and pass down their histories from generation to generation. They steward this country's lands and waters and grow crops that feed all of us. They serve in the United States military at a higher rate than any other ethnic group. They challenge all of us to celebrate the good, confront the bad, and tell the whole truth of our history. And as innovators, educators, engineers, scientists, artists, and leaders in every sector of society, Indigenous peoples contribute to our shared prosperity. Their diverse cultures and communities today are a testament to the unshakable and unbreakable commitment of many generations to preserve their cultures, identities, and rights to self-governance. That is why, despite centuries of devastation and turmoil, Tribal Nations continue to thrive and lead in countless ways. When I came into office, I was determined to usher in a new era in the relationship between the Federal Government and Tribal Nations and to honor the solemn promises the United States made to fulfill our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. That work began by appointing Native Americans to lead on the frontlines of my Administration -- from the first Native American Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and dozens of Senate-confirmed Native American officials to the over 80 Native American appointees serving across my Administration and in the Federal courts. I restored the White House Council on Native American Affairs to improve interagency coordination and decision-making as well as the White House Tribal Nations Summit to bring together key members of my Administration and the leaders of hundreds of Tribal Nations. Last year, I signed a new Presidential Memorandum that creates uniform standards for consultation between the Federal Government and Tribal Nations. And together, we are making historic investments in Indian Country. That includes $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan, the largest one-time direct investment in Indian Country in American history; more than $13 billion to rebuild infrastructure, the single largest investment in Indian Country infrastructure in history; and the biggest investment ever to combat the existential threat of climate change, including $700 million dedicated to climate change response in Native communities. We are also working to improve public health and safety for Native Americans. That is why I signed an Executive Order that helps us respond more effectively to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. And when we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act last year, I was proud to include historic provisions that reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and restore Tribal jurisdiction. I have also requested a $9.1 billion infusion for Indian Health Services and asked the Congress to make that funding a mandatory part of the Federal budget for the first time in our history. My Administration will also continue using all the authority available to it, including the Antiquities Act, to protect sacred Tribal lands. We have already restored protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument in New England. I have declared new national monuments at the Camp Hale-Continental Divide in Colorado, Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni in Arizona to protect lands that are sacred to so many Tribes. My Administration has also signed at least 20 new co-stewardship agreements with Tribes, and we are working on many more. As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day, may we renew the enduring soul of our Nation-to-Nation relationships -- a spirit of friendship, stewardship, and respect. NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2023, as Indigenous Peoples' Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day in honor of our diverse history and the Indigenous peoples who contribute to shaping this Nation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thissixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. 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 President Joe Biden will deliver the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaigns annual National Dinner Saturday, October 14, and First Lady Jill Biden will also offer remarks. We are incredibly excited and humbled to welcome President Biden and the first lady to our National Dinner, HRC President Kelley Robinson said in a press release. The Biden administration has been exceptional advocates and change-makers for LGBTQ+ people across this country and the world. Despite the truly monumental steps the Biden administration have made for LGBTQ+ equality, like lifting the blanket ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood, enforcing nondiscrimination laws to protect LGBTQ+ people, and signing the Respect for Marriage Act into law, our community is living in a state of emergency full stop. It is up to all of us to combat this hate and show anti-LGBTQ+ extremists the growing power of our community. This will be Joe Bidens fourth time attending the HRC National Dinner. He gave the keynote address in 2013 and 2015, both when he was vice president, and 2018. Other sitting presidents who have addressed the dinner are Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. The president and first lady will join other well-known speakers, such as Robinson and the 2023 honorees. These honorees include and award-winning television writer and producer Shonda Rhimes , who will receive the National Equality Award, which recognizes the efforts of those who use their voice to publicly stand up for the LGBTQ+ community. Emmy-winning actor, writer, and producer Lena Waithe will receive the Visibility Award, which recognizes LGBTQ+ leaders who live openly and authentically. Golden Globe-winning television and film actor Matt Bomer will be honored with the Impact Award, which recognizes LGBTQ+ people who are dedicated to championing and advocating for the community. In addition, the four transgender young people, Grayson McFerrin, Libby Gonzales, Hobbes Chukumba, and Daniel Trujillo, who organized Trans Youth Prom will receive special recognition at the dinner for their roles as forces for transgender justice. The dinner will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. It is sold out, but those who dont have tickets can sign up for a waiting list here. Fighter jets leave for training China Military Online) 09:10, October 09, 2023 Two fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command taxi in close formation before takeoff for a real-combat training exercise on September 15, 2023. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Zhang Qiang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Israeli military drive on a road in the southern part of the country during operations against Hamas fighters The scope of Hamas's attack against Israel was unprecedented and the US response reflects that. It already supplies its Middle East ally with $3.8bn (3.1bn) of military aid every year. And it has always backed Israel's right to defend itself when conflicts with Hamas erupt, albeit intervening with ceasefire calls after a few days or weeks of Israeli air strikes. But this Hamas offensive will trigger a wide-ranging Israeli campaign and could lead to an escalation in other parts of the region. The US will be part of Israel's lengthy and punishing response. Warships are a show of force The Pentagon has quickly dispatched an aircraft carrier with guided-missile cruisers and destroyers to the waters near Israel. The fleet was already in the Mediterranean Sea, so didn't have far to go. It is not unusual for the US to deploy naval vessels in the region when there are flare-ups, a "classic American response to the unexpected in the Middle East," says Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and Middle East adviser to four presidents. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, shown here off the coast of Italy in 2018, is heading to waters near Israel It hasn't done so during previous battles between Hamas and Israel, which have been self-contained. But this isn't about Hamas. The Pentagon is worried the conflict may spread. A senior defence official said the warships and planes are meant to demonstrate a concrete commitment to Israel's defence, and to deter any country or militant group from joining the fight. Chiefly that means Iran, which backs Lebanon's powerful Hizbollah movement, as well as Hamas. The official said the fleet could do everything from gathering intelligence to launching long range strikes. But its deployment is essentially a show of force. Giving Israel extra firepower The Biden administration has ordered the Pentagon to send "additional equipment and resources" to Israel. That includes air defence and munitions. Much of this equipment is already in the pipeline from annual US military assistance to Israel, and will be fast tracked. Some of it could come from existing US stockpiles. But Israel's request for aid on the first day of the war signals how much firepower it expects to use in what it's signalling is going to be a long war. Further funding would require approval from Congress, which is currently paralysed by an internal battle over who will be the next Speaker of the House. And it might compete with US commitments to Ukraine. These already stand at more than $46bn (37.5bn) since the war there began - although the senior defence official said the US has the resources to support both. US officials say military aid to Israel won't compete with efforts to arm Ukraine The risks and calculations It's unlikely that deploying the aircraft carrier fleet will increase the risk of drawing the US directly into conflict, says Seth Jones, a security analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. But the urgent attention on Israel "may take some of the focus off of other theatres, like Ukraine," he says, at least in the short term. A big part of that will be the fate of dozens of hostages captured by Hamas, both in terms of how the conflict plays out on the ground and in US politics. President Biden has said it's likely American citizens are among them and plans to deploy experts and share intelligence to assist recovery efforts. More broadly, the war has upended the core of his Middle East policy - a new regional security alignment between Israel and Saudi Arabia that would have further isolated Iran. More on Hamas-Israel attacks That deal is now on pause, with a future that may grow even more uncertain if, as expected, Palestinian casualties mount in Gaza. "That will mean Arab states will have to criticise Israel very strongly," says Bruce Riedel, suggesting some who have already signed normalisation agreements with Israel may "flip". That concern was implicit in the Pentagon's characterisation of the attack as a new "Isis-level savagery" from Hamas. The Department of Defense is stressing that language because across the region "there's been an instinct to see this as the same kind of tensions or conflicts that we've seen between Palestinians and Israelis," said the defence official. "This is different." Where the US will draw the line A lot of Palestinians in Gaza will die if Israel carries out a lengthy and ferocious air and possibly ground campaign to dismantle Hamas. In previous battles between Israel and the militant group, which governs the densely populated enclave, the US has eventually drawn a line, urging Israel to accept a ceasefire. But the goalposts have changed. No Arab state has ever imposed this kind of civilian damage on Israel, says Mr Riedel. The surprise attack from Egypt and Syria in 1973 was just as much of a shock, but most of the casualties were soldiers. "Now they're fighting inside Israel proper," he says, with hundreds of civilians dead. According to the senior defence official, the US holds Israel to robust standards and monitoring procedures for the protection of civilians, applied to all who purchase US weapons. But, the official said, "that's absolutely something that Hamas did not do" and "we recognize that there's going to need to be a response for Israel to restore deterrence". Russian troops struck Kherson on the morning of Oct. 9, wounding a 55-year-old security guard of a local library, the regional prosecutors office reported. Later the same day, Russias military shelled a neighboring village, injuring a 63-year-old woman, the prosecutors wrote on Telegram. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated the southern city of Kherson and other regional settlements on the Dnipro Rivers west bank in November 2022. Russian forces were pushed to the river's east bank, from where they have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast on Oct. 8 killed one civilian and wounded 18 more, including two children, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin. 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. A former public works director is accused of going on a personal spending spree using the citys credit card, Georgia investigators say. Mark Harris, 53, of Rossville, was arrested and charged with theft by taking, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Hes also charged with making false statements. In September, the GBI began investigating accusations that Harris, ex-director of the Rossville Public Works Department, was stealing from the citys financial accounts and charging personal items to its credit card. A search of his home on Oct. 4 turned up several items allegedly bought on the citys dime, including a Toro brand lawnmower, according to investigators. Harris ended up returning several other items authorities said were bought with city funds: DeWalt standing spotlight DeWalt utility table DeWalt 4000 Psi gas pressure washer DeWalt angle grinder A window air conditioning unit Milwaukee angle reciprocating saw Turbo leaf blower Gorilla brand stationary step ladder Investigators didnt say if the alleged thefts occurred while Harris was still employed as the public works director. He was booked into the Walker County Jail and later released after he made bond, the GBI said. McClatchy News reached out to the City of Rossville for comment Oct. 9 and was awaiting a response. Rossville is near the Tennessee-Georgia border, less than 10 miles south of downtown Chattanooga. Woman used identities from stolen rental applications in $1.6 million scam, feds say Construction developer faked his disappearance as he stole from clients, TX suit says Masked suspects assault ATM worker and take off with $29,000, Nebraska police say The sound of "Amazing Grace" played by bagpipes and drums filled the Praise Assembly of God on Troy Avenue Monday as family, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers said goodbye to Christine Guerin Sandoval, a Pueblo native killed while attempting to serve a warrant on Sept. 28. Guerin Sandoval served for 12 years as a Pueblo County Sheriff's Office deputy before serving the last five as a parole officer for the Colorado Department of Corrections. On Sept. 28, Guerin Sandoval was killed while attempting to serve a felony warrant in Colorado Springs. 'Heart of gold': Guerin Sandoval's sister remembers her as loving sister, wife, and mother Christine Guerin During the funeral service, Guerin Sandoval's sister, Stacy Guerin, said Christine was a loving, caring person who loved her even when she couldn't love herself. "She loved me unconditionally for the last 25 years," Guerin said. "She was a loving sister, a wonderful wife, a mother, a daughter she had a heart of gold." Guerin remembered their daily talks and said she would miss her big sister dearly. "She always made sure her kids were OK, and that I was OK," she said. Guerin expressed that she "couldn't believe" that her sister was gone. "You took a piece of my heart with me," she said. Friend recalls Guerin Sandoval as 'the ultimate mama bear' Dassity Miller, a friend of Guerin Sandoval's from the PCSO, remembered her as a kind, loyal, strong woman, with a "gorgeous smile that would lighten a dark room." Guerin Sandoval was a loving sister to her three younger siblings, whom she protected fiercely, Miller said. She was married for 33 years to Rodney Sandoval, whom she met in high school. "She was a Centennial Bulldog and he was a Central Wildcat and not even the forces of nature could keep them apart," Miller said. "Rod once said to Christine, 'God knew what he was doing when he gave me you. Thank you for loving me and standing by me all these years, I love you infinity times infinity,'" Miller said. Miller also recounted the love Guerin Sandoval had for her two children, Rodney Jr. and Rihanna, whom Guerin Sandoval described as her "ultimate blessings and the best part of who she was." "She was the ultimate mama bear and protector of her babies, no matter how old they got. She loved them more than life itself, and she would move mountains for them." Along with being a caring, loving family member and a good friend, Miller described Guerin Sandoval as a respected law enforcement officer who went above and beyond the call of duty. "In the jail, inmates respected her and people she arrested would thank her," Miller said. "She responded once to a suicidal person, which is a scary situation to begin with, but Christine stepped up, took charge, and listened to this person ... she made them feel worthy and she ultimately saved this person's life by preventing them from taking her own." She continued to follow up with that person on her own time, and made sure that person knew their life meant something, Miller said. A 'badass' with a 'heartwarming laugh' A DOC honor guard escorts Christine Guerin Sandoval's casket out of Praise Assembly of God Church on Oct. 9, 2023, as seen on a livestream of the service. Danielle Martinez, Guerin Sandoval's partner in her parole position, said they became instant friends when they began working as partners. Martinez remembered Guerin Sandoval's "heartwarming laugh" and said he had "the biggest smile." "You were the best partner, I couldn't have asked for better," she said. "You were a badass, out tackling fugitives when you first started working for parole. "You were always willing to help anyone, and that's what you were doing the day you became an angel." Guerin Sandoval also made many connections inside and outside of the parole department, Martinez said. "From the polygraphers to the treatment providers to taskforce officers and probation, there wasn't a single agency or person who didn't reach out at losing you." Undersheriff highlights Guerin Sandoval's distinguished career While Pueblo County Undersheriff Steve Bryant recognized that nothing he said would do Guerin Sandoval justice, he said he believed that the number of law enforcement officers and community members who showed out to honor the fallen officer Monday was a testament to Guerin Sandoval, her family, and her profession. Bryant, who previously spoke to reporters on Oct. 2, noted her amazing work ethic and recounted how Guerin Sandoval worked long hours to ensure things were done correctly and that important shifts were covered. Bryant also noted her commendations for service, including earning detention officer of the year and law enforcement officer of the year in 2010 and 2018, respectively. "Not many in our department can say they've earned both," Bryant said. The undersheriff also recounted how once, Guerin Sandoval and two other officers took down three drive-by suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun, in a crowded convenience store. "These ladies safely took the suspects into custody in a very congested public place," he said. "The girls received accolades, and a female captain documented in her files, 'I just want to say I'm very proud of you for taking the suspects down (that day). That is girl power at its finest.'" "Christine was one of the most dependable and loyal deputies I have ever worked with," he said. "I have seen Christine demonstrate professionalism under the most trying of circumstances, and demonstrate humanity to those some might say deserve none. She has shown dedication to duty as the clock ticked long past her scheduled work day." Governor orders flags at half-mast to honor 'a Colorado hero' Gov. Jared Polis stated he ordered flags flown at half-mast all across Colorado Monday in honor of Guerin Sandoval's service. "This is one of the occasions that we wish that we weren't here, that Christine was still with us, as wife, mother, friend, colleague in blue, or public servant," Polis aid. "Nonetheless, we are here, and we don't take lightly the privilege and honor of celebrating the person she was, personally, professionally, or as a Colorado hero." The governor noted that Guerin Sandoval was someone who gave everything she had to what she did, both personally and professionally. "Christine served all of us in many different roles. What those roles had in common is her desire to give back to her community, to make her community safer, to make her community better," he said. During her career in law enforcement, several individuals wrote letters of gratitude about Christine, Polis said, with one citizen writing "you are fortunate to have such a superb deputy and employee, and we are grateful to have her patrolling our area." "Her work ethic, her kindness, her commitment to her job is something everyone was proud of," Polis said. Polis presented a folded flag, previously flown over the state capitol in her honor, to Guerin Sandoval's family, in recognition of her service to Colorado. Sandoval was also honored by a 21-gun salute, a "blue tipped rose" ceremony in which officers from many different agencies placed blue-tipped white roses in front of her casket to symbolize the solidarity of law enforcement when an officer falls; and a fallen comrade table, representing the grief of those losing an officer, friend, and family member and the hope of being reunited one day. Sandoval's casket was escorted out of the church by a full DOC honor guard. Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Fallen Pueblo peace officer remembered as 'a Colorado hero' A big, master-planned community is coming to Knightdale, near the southeastern edge of Raleigh. South Carolina-based Mungo Homes has closed on the final piece of a 500 acre-plus assemblage, paying $10 million for 354 acres at 2916 Hodge Road and 7000 Poole Road, according to Wake County deed records. Added to adjacent parcels on Hodge Road previously purchased, the developer said it can now push ahead with plans for up to 1,850 homes after securing rezoning and annexation approvals in September. Called Banks 20, the project calls for a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments along the Neuse River. Another 10,000 square feet of non-residential space is planned. Banks 20 is our largest master-planned neighborhood in any market, said Chris Simmering, vice president of land acquisition and development at Mungo Homes, an affiliate of Clayton Properties Group, in a release. The projects budget for amenities alone is upwards of $20 million, Simmering said. It includes a network of trails and sidewalks, a rooftop terrace and swimming pool, and access points to the Neuse River. The property is also less than one mile from a planned interchange at Poole Road as part of the ongoing Interstate 540 extension. Once complete in 2029, it will provide residents with shorter commute times to downtown Raleigh, Simmering said. Its set to offer something for everyone, he said. A parcel of land for a future city of Raleigh fire station has also been reserved. Home prices will vary based on product types and include rental options, the company said. Construction is slated to begin in 2025, with the first units delivered in 2026. Knightdales rise Between the regions growing housing shortage and high home prices, buyers are increasingly moving to smaller, outlying towns like Knightdale to afford homes. In August, Knightdale home prices were down 15% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $370,00, Redfin data shows. Compare that to Raleigh, where the median price stood at $411,560 in August, a 2.1% year-over-year jump. As of 2022, Knightdale had a population of 19,703, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That was up from 11,401 in 2010. Builders are rushing to meet surging demand. DRB Homes is planning a 146-home development with 15,000 square feet of commercial space in northern Knightdale, the Triangle Business Journal reported. Atlas Stark is also proposing over 50,000 square feet of commercial space for the Knightdale Station community. On the Market Keep up with the latest Triangle real estate news by subscribing to On the Market, The News & Observer's free weekly real estate newsletter. Look for it in your inbox every Thursday morning. Sign up here. By Andrew Mills and Nidal al-Mughrabi DOHA/GAZA (Reuters) - Qatari mediators have held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters. Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed to Reuters its involvement in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials, including over a possible prisoner swap. The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are "moving positively" said the source, who has been briefed on them. "We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover," foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told Reuters, without elaborating. When asked to respond to the Reuters report, an Israeli official told Reuters only: "There are no negotiations under way." But there are no signs of breakthroughs as both sides dig in. Qatar has been in touch with Hamas officials in Doha and Gaza, the source said, after the Islamist group assaulted Israel from Gaza on Saturday, storming into towns, killing more than 700 Israelis, and escaping with dozens of hostages. More than 500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza. The exact number of Israeli women and children hostages Hamas is offering in the potential exchange of 36 Palestinian women and children prisoners the Islamist group identified is not clear, the source said. Details about negotiations focusing on the release of 36 Palestinians from Israeli jails have not previously been reported. The number of Israeli hostages held in Gaza also remains unclear, but it is widely believed that Hamas seized women, children, elderly people and soldiers on Saturday. A Palestinian official, familiar with mediation efforts with Hamas and Israel in the past, told Reuters that Qatar and Egypt have been in contact with the group but the intensity of the fighting cast shadows over any potential breakthrough. In Hamas-controlled Gaza, Israel has carried out its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, killing more than 500 people since Saturday. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel's blockade would be tightened to prevent food and fuel from being brought into the strip, home to 2.3 million people. Egypt has been in close contact with Israel and Hamas to try to prevent further escalation in fighting between them and to ensure the protection of the Israeli hostages, two Egyptian security sources said. Egypt had urged Israel to exercise restraint and Hamas to hold its captives in good condition to keep open the possibility of de-escalation soon, although Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip made mediation difficult, the Egyptian sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source who had been briefed on the Qatar-led talks, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: "There has been no agreement on logistics or a mechanism for the release." Asked about Washington's coordination with Qatar on a potential swap, the U.S. State Department referenced a Saturday phone call between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Qatar's Prime Minister in which the two agreed to "remain closely coordinated". There was no response to a request for comment sent to Hamas. Israel's prime minister's office said it did not wish to comment. Eran Lerman, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser, said no Israeli would concede to conditions of the hostage takers, citing the brutality of the attack. "We should have to see how long they are going to hold the hostages when over the next few days there is no water, no electricity, no food, no medicine for the entire Gaza population". Israelis are reeling from the assault and by images of captured fellow citizens being bundled into Gaza. Israel has said it will act to free the hostages, adhering to a longstanding principle of leaving no prisoner behind. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's options for hitting Hamas over its 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. Qatar, a tiny but wealthy energy and investment powerhouse that holds ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas. Qatari envoys have previously helped mediate truces between the Islamist group and Israel. Doha has recently been under the global diplomacy spotlight, after hosting more than a year of talks between the United States and Iran, which led to prisoner exchanges and fund releases. While Hamas' power base is in Gaza, some leaders are based in Qatar as well as other Middle Eastern countries. (This story has been refiled to add the dropped word 'killed' in paragraph 8) (Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza with additional reporting by James Mackenzie and Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Alexander Cornwell in Dubai and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan in Cairo; Writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Michael Georgy and Angus MacSwan) One item not on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott s special session agenda: Pay raises for Texas teachers. The items absence has gotten some attention as lawmakers prepare to head back to Austin Monday for their third special session. The call includes border security, banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and education savings accounts, a voucher-like program that would let public funds be used for private education. The Texas State Teachers Association opposes vouchers and wants to see the agenda reworked to prioritize public education and public educators, said spokesperson Clay Robison. Leave vouchers off and put more funding for public schools and for pay raises for teachers and support staff, he said. Ahead of the special session, including in recent days, lawmakers from both political parties have expressed interest in giving Texas teachers a pay bump. The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to discuss legislation that includes teacher compensation and funding for public schools on Monday, even though the items are not on the governors call. The education committee takes up education savings accounts Tuesday. Abbott sets what topics are considered during special sessions. A spokesperson for the governor did not return a request for comments by Monday morning. Requests for comment to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, who head the Senate and House, were also not returned. Education savings accounts have been a top priority for Abbott. Together, we will chart a brighter future for all Texas children by empowering parents to choose the best education option for their child, he said in a Oct. 5 statement, announcing the special session agenda. In the final days of the legislative session, leaders in the House and Senate said they expected to take up teacher pay in the fall. The remarks came after the regular session ended in May with no raises after the issue was entangled with the push for school choice. The House has previously rejected using state dollars for vouchers and other similar programs. The possibility of a one time stipend was brought up over the summer as lawmakers debated property tax relief, but the measure wasnt included in the final compromise bill that passed and went to Abbott. Legislators want to give teachers a pay bump, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in July, as lawmakers wrapped up an earlier special session. Of course the teachers expect a permanent raise, and we will have time in the fall I believe to give them a permanent raise and not just a one time raise, he said. Rep. Craig Goldman, a Fort Worth Republican who chairs the Texas House Republican Caucus, also said he thought there would be time, likely in October, where they could take up teacher pay raises. Everyone has talked about, lets get there in October and see what we can come up with, with a plan that will give sustainable teacher pay raises to the teachers across the state of Texas, he said in July. Robison with the Texas State Teachers Association was hopeful teacher pay raises would be included on the sessions agenda and remains hopeful it will be addressed. He doesnt want to see the pay bumps tied to vouchers. Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar on Thursday updated lawmakers on available funds as they prepare to head back to Austin. Lawmakers will end the 2024-2025 budget cycle with $18.3 billion, he said in a news release. Not a penny of that should go to private schools, but a good portion of that should go to public schools, Robison said. But educators are not interested in negotiating away the future of public schools for their current and future students in exchange a raise, said Monty Exter, governmental relations director for the Association of Texas Professional Educators. There are no trades for vouchers, Exter said. The association would like to see standalone legislation for teacher pay raises, but recognizes that creating laws is a team effort and without the support of the governor or lieutenant governor, a bill isnt going to pass. Teachers deserve a pay raise, Exter said. Students deserve better resourced schools. But ultimately, it is not in a current special session that we are likely to be able to get those things, particularly not without a voucher, privatization attached. We understand thats going to be an issue where parents and teachers across the state are going to have to go to the polls during upcoming elections and prioritize those issues in their vote, in their candidates election. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy talked to a packed ballroom in Rock Hill Monday about a pro-American Movement. He said he would abolish federal agencies like the Department of Education. He also said he favors an end to affirmative action. Ramaswamy also focused his discussion on what he described as Chinas threat to American economy. Ramaswamy, a son of immigrants and an entrepreneur, said progressive agendas -- often labeled woke -- are not working for the country. He called the fight a war with a fringe minority. Ramaswamy spoke at a town hall on the campus of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. The Richardson Ballroom tables were filled -- and with spectators standing -- with people who wanted to hear Ramaswamy talk about economics, the country, and his younger generations vision for America. Our greatest asset is our moral standing on the global stage, Ramaswamy said early in his speech. And an hour later, at the end, after talking about the China economic threat, dangers of progressive policies and other topics, Ramaswamy remained optimistic. Ramaswamy, 38, from Ohio, said the country is still a nation in ascent that has a limitless future. Our nations best days will still be ahead of us, Ramaswamy said. A crowded field of Republicans Ramaswamy is one of several candidates seeking the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election. Others include former President Donald Trump, former Vice-President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, and current South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott. Desantis and Haley have made stops in York and Lancaster counties in recent months. South Carolinas 2024 primary, on Feb. 24, will be the first in the South. The outcome of South Carolinas primary will be important in determining which candidate emerges as the partys presidential nominee. Abolishing federal bureaus, border threat Ramaswamy said government over-reach has gotten to the point where agencies such as the Department of Education need to be abolished. If elected, Ramaswamy vowed a streamlined government that strips what he called the managerial class from power. We are going to get in there and shut them down, Ramaswamy said. Ramaswamy said the borders of the country must be secured, and vowed to use the military to get the job done. Chinas threat to America Ramaswamy spent a good part of of his speech, which lasted about an hour, saying that Americas dependence on Chinese products is perilous for the countrys future. We have to declare economic independence from China, Rasawamy. He said the climate change agenda is a hoax because it has nothing to do with the planet, but has everything to do with economics that favor China. Ramswamy used the phrase: abandon the climate cult. Ramaswamy said China and its economy are a main danger facing the American economy and the American people. Ramswamy said drilling for fossil fuels, fracking, coal and nuclear power are important for the American economy to thrive. Youth and vision Ramaswamy said the country needs a leader from a new generation. The country needs, a revival of national pride in the United States of America, he said. Ramswamy said younger people are hungry for a cause and seeking identity. He talked of faith, patriotism, family, and hard work as the American values that are germane to the country and key to its success. Ramaswamy said what is needed is a pro-American movement in the country that sheds Affirmative Action and rewards achievers. Meritocracy, thats what it means to be an American, Ramaswamy said. Boeing has offered the best look to date of its 155mm artillery shell with a ramjet engine actually being sent down range. The company also says a recent test of this design, which it is developing in cooperation with Norway's Nammo, broke the existing range record for a ramjet-powered artillery round. However, the exact distance the shell flew is unknown. A press release that Boeing put out earlier today included the picture of the Ramjet 155 round seen at the top of this story, along with details about the milestone test and other future plans for this munition. Nammo first unveiled the 155mm ramjet-powered shell design back in 2018 . The two companies are developing the round now as part of the U.S. Army's Extended Range Artillery Munitions Suite (ERAMS) program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vIPNElDkns Boeing and Nammo also announced last year that they had carried out a test of the Ramjet 155 that had set the previous range record for a round of this type. The two companies declined to say how far it traveled in that instance, as well. A picture Boeing and Nammo released after the 2022 test of the Ramjet 155 shell, which took place at the Andya Test Center in Norway. Boeing Boeing has said in the past that the goal is for the Ramjet 155 to be able to hit targets more than 70 kilometers (~43.5 miles) away. Nammo has said that the ramjet-powered round could eventually be able to fly out to 150 kilometers (just over 93 miles), depending on the weapon from which it is fired. Typical 155mm artillery shells are fired using separate propelling charges. Extended-range types that incorporate a small rocket booster into the round's base also exist and are in service around the world now. A Nammo graphic showing the comparative maximum ranges offered by various types of existing and in-development 155mm ammunition, including advanced rocket-assisted types and the Ramjet 155. Nammo The Ramjet 155 incorporates an air-breathing ramjet engine. Detailed specifics about the design are limited. The general concept, which companies around the world have been experimenting with for decades now , involves extending range through a combination of sustained supersonic flight and the fact that the engine is actively pulling the projectile through the air. The guidance package on the Ramjet 155 will also include the same "mission computer" component that is found on Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision-guided air-dropped bombs. This points to a GPS-assisted method of guidance suitable for striking static targets. There remains to the possibility that some kind of seeker or combination of seekers could be integrated in the future to enable it to hit moving targets. Boeing and Nammo hope to demonstrate the Ramjet 155's precision-guidance capabilities in another test soon. Even if the initial design is capable only of striking specific fixed target coordinates, the Ramjet 155 could offer a significant capability leap for existing 155mm howitzers. The ramjet-powered round has an expected range that is historically more in line with that of large-caliber artillery rockets . A US Army graphic from 2018 showing the ranges of various existing ground-based artillery and missile systems, as well as those of planned future developments, compared to those of Russian threat systems. US Army As an example, the latest A6 and A7 versions of the venerable M109 self-propelled 155mm howitzer now in U.S. Army service can hit targets 22 kilometers (~13.6 miles) and 30 kilometers (~18.6 miles) away using existing unpowered and rocket-assisted ammunition. With Ramjet 155, the range of those howitzers would at least double, if not extended even further. An M109A7 155mm self-propelled howitzer. US Army That added range also gives 155mm howitzer batteries dramatically increased flexibility. With a range of 30 kilometers, one of these weapons can hit anything within a circular area covering some 2,827 square kilometers (nearly 1,092 square miles). If their range is extended out to 70 kilometers or 150 kilometers, the space in which they can hold targets at risk without having to redeploy grows to 15,394 square kilometers (5,944 square miles) and 70,686 square kilometers (27,292 square miles), respectively. Howitzers already have an inherent ability to readily shift focus from one target area that is within their range to another in response to new developments on the battlefield. Still, whether or not the U.S. Army, or any other world military, ultimately acquires stocks of the Boeing/Nammo Ramjet 155, or any other ramjet-powered 155mm shell design, remains to be seen. Boeing and Nammo are just one team working on an advanced 155mm round as part of ERAMS. The Army is already also referring to whichever one of these rounds it ultimately decides to acquire as the XM1155. Teams led by Raytheon and BAE Systems are also working on competing designs. Raytheon's round is another ramjet-powered type , which it is developing in cooperation with the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, also known by its Dutch acronym TNO. BAE Systems' shell is a so-called saboted concept that involves releasing a smaller projectile after launch that then flies at a very high velocity. The expected maximum range for this design is at least 110 kilometers (just over 68 miles). It is derived from the ammunition the company developed for the U.S. Navy's abortive electromagnetic railgun project . BAE says its XM1155-SC (the SC standing for subcaliber) round holds the current record for the longest precision-guided shot from an Army M109-series howitzer, which is another one of the company's products, using any kind of ammunition. A now-dated slide from a briefing on the US Navy's railgun program showing other potential applications of the core High Velocity Projectile (HVP), including a round for 155mm howitzers. USN A previously released picture of BAE Systems' XM1155-SC round being test-fired. BAE Systems For the U.S. Army specifically, a new ramjet-powered or other long-range 155mm shell is just one part of a much larger initiative to extend the reach of its units tactically and strategically. This includes a host of other programs dealing with the development of new ground-based cruise and ballistic missiles , drones , loitering munitions , and more. A graphic depicting various roles and missions for future US Army air-launched drones and loitering munitions, including operating in cooperation with long-range artillery. US Army At the same time, the Army's future artillery strategy, especially when it comes to advanced 155mm howitzers and their ammunition, looks to now be in a period of flux. For some time now, the service has been pursuing a new tracked self-propelled 155mm howitzer called the XM1299 that is designed to make the most of the ERAMS ammunition and has improvements, including an auto-loader . A briefing slide showing various elements of the US Army's Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA) artillery initiative, including the XM1155 ERAMS round and the XM1299 self-propelled howitzer. US Army However, senior Army officials have now raised questions about whether this is necessarily the most cost-effective option and if other options available on the open market now might offer similar capability sooner. It really becomes a Fiscal Year 2025 budget decision, if we were to go in a different direction, Doug Bush, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, recently told Defense News . I think, though, that the requirement is still there. We still need longer range in a more affordable way, which is an important caveat. Another issue is that the heavily armored XM1299 is not really suitable for lighter forces, such as Army airborne and airmobile units, who might be better served by lighter howitzer designs . In 2021, the service tested a number of wheeled self-propelled 155mm howitzers designs, including multiple foreign types , but did not pursue any of them. The Archer, from BAE Systems Bofors in Sweden, seen in the video below, was one of the foreign wheeled self-propelled 155mm howitzers the US Army previously tested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8x8ITwd4Vg The [Army artillery] strategy is looking at a combination of factors, Bush also told Defense News back in September. Where do you need towed artillery versus perhaps tracked versus perhaps wheeled? What can you do with munitions to get range versus building new cannons? No matter, the broad lesson is that you still need artillery," he added at that time. "It is the No. 1 killer on the battlefield, still in this conflict [in Ukraine]." Altogether, it is clear that the Army still sees extending the range of its artillery units as a critical focus area. Boeing and Nammo's ramjet-powered artillery round, or one of other ERAMS shell designs, looks set to be a key part of achieving that capability. Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com When researchers trekked through a tiger reserve in India, it wasnt the big, striped cats that piqued their interest. Instead, it was a handful of small toads hidden in rock crevices that grabbed their attention. The amphibians, they learned, belonged to a never-before-documented species of rock toad, one that is likely critically endangered, according to a study published in September in the journal Biodiversitas. The creatures are likely critically endangered, the study said. Researchers discovered three specimens, two males and one female, taking refuge in streambed rock formations within the Dampa Tiger Reserve, a sprawling jungle reserve located in the far eastern Indian state of Mizoram. After photographing the toads, researchers euthanized and deposited them at a herpetological collection for further analysis. DNA extracted from the specimens revealed the creatures belonged to the genus Bufoides, a family of small toads endemic to India currently known to include only two species. The newfound species was given the name bufoides bhupathyi in honor of noted herpetologist Subramanian Bhupathy. The bhupathyi toads are distinguished by their black and yellow skin, golden irises and subtle differences in interdigital webbing and skin texture, according to researchers affiliated with various research institutions in India and the United Kingdom. The toads were found in crevices in an Indian jungle, according to the study. The toads, about an inch in length, are covered in black, medium-sized tubercles, or warts. Because their range is likely restricted to the tiger reserve, the toads likely meet the International Union for Conservation of Natures (IUCN) standard for being labeled as critically endangered, researchers said. Amphibian species currently make up 41% of the 42,000 animals on the IUCNs list of threatened species. Charismatic creature heard laughing in backyards of Australia. Its a new species Spiky-tailed creature with butterfly marking found on boulder. See new species US tourist smashes ancient Roman statues in Jerusalem museum, cops say. Hes arrested WASHINGTON The Supreme Court is being asked to weigh a ban on conversion therapy the practice of trying to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity in an appeal that tests the court's appetite for engaging this term in the legal battle between religion and LGBTQ+ rights. Long discredited and already banned for minors in about half of U.S. states, the practice of using ''treatment'' to make a gay or lesbian person straight has reemerged as the Supreme Court has become more conservative and receptive to appeals dealing with religious freedom. Opponents say the practice can involve electrical shocks and nausea-inducing drugs as well as psychoanalysis and counseling. Brian Tingley, a licensed family counselor in Washington state, is challenging the state's ban on the practice for people under 18, claiming it violates his free speech and religious rights. The law, he told the Supreme Court this year, "forbids him from speaking, treating his professional license as a license for government censorship." Preview: The Supreme Court gets back to work. Here are the cases to watch. Opponents of the practice say states have banned it for minors because it increases the risk of depression and suicide for LGBTQ+ young people. Washington's law doesn't apply to churches or religious groups, only to therapists who are licensed and regulated by the state. "This is a dangerous practice," said Laurel Stine, chief policy officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "The Supreme Court has not taken up any of these challenges before, and we are confident that, if they do, we will win." The justices were set to discuss the case privately Friday and could announce as soon as Tuesday whether they will decide it or allow a lower court ruling against Tingley to stand. The court has declined to hear similar challenges in the past, leaving other state bans in place. But those challenging the bans note that the Supreme Court also recently handed down a decision that appeared to strengthen First Amendment speech protections in the workplace. Can the government regulate 'professional speech'? As the Supreme Court has become more conservative in recent years, it has taken a keen interest in cases involving religious freedom. Tingley argues that a 2018 decision by the Supreme Court involving anti-abortion pregnancy centers should weigh in his favor. In that case, a 5-4 majority of the courts conservatives said a California law that required the pregnancy centers to notify clients about publicly funded abortion and contraception services likely violated the First Amendment. More: Supreme Court backs web developer who didn't want to create same-sex wedding sites While California argued its law regulated "professional speech," such as what a therapist might say to a client during a session, the Supreme Court ruled it had never carved out a separate category of workplace speech subject to different First Amendment protections. Then in 2020, a federal court of appeals in Atlanta relied on that Supreme Court decision to block enforcement of similar "conversion therapy" bans in parts of Florida. Tingley is represented by the religious rights group Alliance Defending Freedom, which has filed several successful religious appeals at the Supreme Court in recent years. John Bursch, the groups senior counsel, said he fears governments could try to label other speech professional conduct in an effort to engage in widespread censorship. Joseph Fons holding a Pride Flag, stands in front of the Supreme Court in 2020 after the court ruled that LGBTQ+ people cannot be disciplined or fired based on their sexual orientation. "Bottom line: The government cannot censor a counselors speech," Bursch said. "Washington's counseling censorship law violates freedom of speech and harms counselors and their clients." A U.S. District court in Washington dismissed Tingleys case in 2021. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit sided against him last year. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat, did not respond to a request for comment. The case is Tingley v. Ferguson. Religious groups are on a winning streak Religious groups and individuals have collected significant wins at the Supreme Court in recent years, expanding religious protections in the workplace, knocking down anti-discrimination laws intended to protect LGBTQ+ people, and opening the door for taxpayer money for schools that offer religious instruction. In one high-profile case last year, the Supreme Court sided with a web designer who wants to decline to create websites for same-sex weddings because of her religious beliefs. The designer, Lorie Smith, who was also represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, successfully argued that Colorado's anti-discrimination law compelled her to make speech she disagreed with. "Laws along these lines have done much to secure the civil rights of all Americans," Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote for a 6-3 majority. "But in this particular case Colorado does not just seek to ensure the sale of goods or services on equal terms. It seeks to use its law to compel an individual to create speech she does not believe." Tingley's attorneys suggested in court filings that the decision for Smith works so strongly in his favor that the Supreme Court could decide the case without hearing arguments. But so far this term, the court has yet to grant a religious-freedom case. Critics say they believe the law and the science is on their side when it comes to "conversion therapy" bans. The American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association for Social Workers and other leading medical groups have all repudiated the practice. Casey Pick, director of law and policy for The Trevor Project, which focuses on suicide prevention among LGBTQ+ young people, said every court that has considered a statewide ban has upheld it. "There is no reason the (Supreme) Court should not do the same here," she said, "and ensure that LGBTQ young people across the country continue to be protected from unprofessional, unscientific and deeply harmful practices." If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 any time day or night, or chat online. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court asked to end 'conversion therapy' bans for LGBTQ+ youth New York Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat, was visiting Israel over the weekend when he and his family were forced to shelter in a hotel from rocket fire launched by Hamas terrorists as part of a surprise attack on the country. The congressman was in Israel with his wife and three youngest children for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas' began launching attacks early Saturday, Goldman's spokesman Simone Kanter said in a statement, adding that the attacks came on Shabbat and Simchat Torah, one of the holiest Jewish holidays. Goldman and his family sheltered from rocket fire in the interior stairwell of their hotel until they were able to safely depart for New York early Sunday morning. Kanter said Goldman is "grateful for the assistance of the State Department and Israeli authorities, and he hopes all Americans can come together to support Israel's right to defend herself from terrorism and war crimes." CORY BOOKER, STAFF SAFE AFTER SHELTERING IN PLACE IN JERUSALEM WHEN HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL: SPOKESPERSON Rep. Goldman was in Israel with his wife and three youngest children for a family Bar Mitzvah when Hamas' barrage of attacks began early Saturday. At least 1,100 people have been killed in the terrorist attack thus far, and thousands more were wounded, according to Israel's National Rescue Service. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Hamas continues to attack Israel by launching rockets through the sky and having militants fight on the ground. Israel has responded to the attacks by launching retaliatory strikes toward Gaza. Goldman called on Congress Sunday morning to replenish and expand the Iron Dome, Israel's air missile defense system capable of defending against short-range rockets and intercepting them in the air. WHAT ISRAEL'S FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE, THE IRON DOME? "I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The congressman was referring to the upcoming race for House speaker after eight Republicans joined all House Democrats to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., from the speakership last week. Rep. Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in the interior stairwell of their hotel until they were able to safely depart for New York early Sunday morning. The New York representative was not the only member of Congress in Israel over the weekend as Hamas launched its largest attack on the country in decades. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and his staff also had to shelter in place while they were in Israel. Booker and his staff cut their trip short and departed safely from Israel on Sunday, according to his office. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The New Jersey senator arrived in Israel on Friday and had planned to stay for several days of meetings ahead of an Abraham Accords-focused N7 summit on regional economic integration in Tel Aviv, which he was scheduled to speak at on 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," Booker's spokeswoman Maya Krishna-Rogers said in a statement. "We are grateful that Senator Booker and our colleagues were able to safely depart Israel earlier today." Original article source: Rep. Goldman and family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire while in Israel for Bar Mitzvah Rep. Rashida Tlaib released a statement mourning the loss of lives in Gaza and Israel. The Palestinian-American Congresswoman also asked for an end to "the occupation" of Palestine. Hundreds of people in Israel and Palestine have died as of Sunday. Amid an escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine , Representative Rashida Tlaib the only Palestinian-American member of Congress called for an end to US support for Israel. Tlaib a vocal critic of Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territory posted a statement on Instagram grieving the "Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day." Tlaib's statement struck a different tone than those of fellow Congressional Progressive Caucus members like Bernie Sanders by referring to the current human rights situation in the Palestinian territories. Organizations, including the United Nations, have signaled for years that Israel's actions in the area including forced evictions and police killings amount to war crimes . "The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance," Tlaib wrote in her statement. Tlaib continued: "The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence." Since being elected in 2018, Tlaib has used her platform to highlight Palestinian issues and rally support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions or BDS movement against Israel. On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Palestinian militant group Hamas following a surprise attack on Saturday from Gaza. Israel responded to the attack by bombarding the strip with airstrikes and cutting power to the area. The Israeli government also declared its intention to take control of Gaza. Israeli authorities say at least 700 people have been killed and 1,500 wounded by Hamas' strikes this weekend, with some taken hostage . The Palestinian Health Ministry reports 313 people have been killed and 2,000 injured by Israeli counter-strikes. Representatives for Tlaib did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) on Sunday scolded fellow Democrat Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) for what he deemed reprehensible and repulsive comments after Hamas attacked Israel. Torres accused Tlaib, the Houses only Palestinian American, of mischaracterizing the invasion as resistance. And he took issue with Tlaib and Missouri Democrat Cori Bushs apparent plea for the United States to cease funding for Israel. Other lawmakers such as Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) joined Tlaib and Bush in expressing sorrow for the cycle of violence in the region. Bowman also criticized the blockade of Gaza, but Tlaib and Bushs pleas for the U.S. to withhold its traditional backing of Israel struck a nerve. U.S. aid to Israel is and should be unconditional, and never more so than in this moment of critical need, Torres added in a statement. Congress must act decisively to provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself in the face of unprecedented terrorism. Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, Torres added. It is reprehensible and repulsive. .@RepRitchie responds to comments from Reps. Bush and Tlaib on the situation in Israel. "Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. It is reprehensible and repulsive." Full statement: pic.twitter.com/KP0L1eAnNU Marc Rod (@marcrod97) October 8, 2023 The latest violence in the region erupted when Hamas fighters launched a surprise incursion into Israel, targeting civilians among the 700 Israelis killed and reportedly kidnapping dozens back to Gaza. Israeli retaliation in Gaza has left more than 400 Palestinians dead and more than 100,000 displaced, according to the UN. I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day, Tlaib said in a statement earlier. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity. The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. ... As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue. According to Capitol Hill reporter Marc Rod, who shared Torres statement, his reply was also intended for Bush, who called for the end of U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid. My statement on the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel pic.twitter.com/NIt9G7aLMI Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 8, 2023 Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), another member of the so-called Squad of progressive House lawmakers who has been critical of Israels treatment of Palestinians, struck a more measured tone. 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, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Such senseless violence will only repeat the back and forth cycle weve seen, which we cannot allow to continue. We need to call for deescalation and ceasefire. I will keep advocating for peace and justice throughout the Middle East. 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 Whatever Congress decides to do, it will be hampered by a House of Representatives currently without a permanent speaker. Last week, a faction of breakaway Republicans enabled the ousting of Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the post. Related... Republican presidential candidates are laying blame on the Biden administration after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel over the weekend. Many of the GOP White House contenders are linking the deadly attack with a recent prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Iran, a historical supporter of Hamas, which resulted in the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Joe Biden s ineptitude, weakness, and incompetence has led to this horrible attack on Israel, and it will only get worse, former President Trump, the front-runner of the GOP presidential field, said in a post on Truth Social. On Saturday, Hamas the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza launched its deadliest attack on Israel in decades. Hamas forces invaded Israeli towns, set off missile strikes and reportedly captured Israeli soldiers and civilians. The death toll has reportedly reached 700 in Israel and 500 in Gaza as of Monday, with hundreds more wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on against the Palestinian militants after the attack, and Israel has launched retaliatory strikes, intensifying the violence. A U.S. deputy national security adviser said on Monday that Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attack, but that its not clear whether there was direct involvement in the incident over the weekend. President Biden on Saturday condemned the attacks and promised his administrations rock solid and unwavering support for Israels security amid the conflict. But former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a 2024 presidential candidate, argued that Biden invited this war against Israel by appeasing Israels enemies. This terrorism is funded by Bidens idiotic release of $6 billion to the Iranians, Christie said. The Biden administration recently agreed to a prisoner exchange with Iran to secure the release of five Americans who had been detained by Tehran. In return, the White House granted clemency to five Iranians who had been convicted or charged with nonviolent offenses. As part of the deal, the U.S. also transferred $6 billion in frozen Iran oil proceeds, blocked in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions, to a Qatari bank, making the money available to Iran for a very limited category of humanitarian transactions, a senior administration official said when the deal was announced. The move was met with blowback from both sides of the aisle. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said after the deal that Iran will spend the money wherever we need it, though the Biden administration underscored that the funds are subject to U.S. oversight and restricted in their possible use. Since Saturdays attack, the White House has batted back claims that the prisoner exchange deal and the funds transfer are linked to Hamass recent move, and administration officials have said no money has been spent from that account. Lets be clear: the deal to bring U.S. citizens home from Iran has nothing to do with the horrific attack on Israel. 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, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a Saturday statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday underscored on CNNs State of the Union that as of now, not a single dollar has been spent from that account. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson and others have been emphasizing the same. 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, said Brian Nelson, the Treasurys undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. On NBCs Meet the Press, Blinken stressed that the funds were not U.S. taxpayer dollars, and they were moved so Iran could access them more easily for those limited humanitarian purposes. 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. Despite the administrations pushback, GOP presidential candidates have sought to seize on the incident to knock the Biden administration over foreign policy as they condemn the deadly attack. Former Vice President Mike Pence said the administrations policies which he described as Bidens kowtowing have set the conditions for the Hamas attacks. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley knocked Blinken as irresponsible for his insistence that the $6 billion doesnt weigh in here, appearing on-air Sunday after Blinken on Meet the Press. 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 said. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said of the attacks that this is the Biden $6 billion ransom payment at work. 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, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stressed that the U.S. must remember who pays for this terrorism: Iran. An Iran that is billions of dollars wealthier thanks to Joe Biden. The knocks against Biden from the GOP field come as the 2024 cycle heats up. Biden and Trump are the clear front-runners of the race, setting the stage for a possible rematch of their 2020 contest. Trump boasts a significant lead over his fellow Republican contenders, leaving them to scramble to stand out from the crowd and battle to narrow the former presidents edge. Some of the GOP White House hopefuls who made the partys first and second debates in recent months with the exception of Trump, who skipped both events sparred among themselves over foreign policy as they stood onstage together. The events unfolding in Israel are a reminder that foreign policy credentials, experience dont matter until they do, said GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak. And when they matter, they matter a lot. The moment highlights that a U.S. president has to be ready to handle any crisis at any time, Mackowiak said, and candidates with more foreign policy experience like Haley and Pence might have an advantage in the discourse. Passing the commander in chief test is a bit theoretical until you are commander in chief. But these kinds of moments can reveal the base of knowledge the candidates have, the real experience they have, the relationships they may have in a given region around the world, their own judgment, Mackowiak said. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel argued over the weekend that the Hamas attack is a great opportunity for GOP presidential candidates to highlight their foreign policy differences with the Biden administration. 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, McDaniel told Fox News. She also drew a connection between the attack and the $6 billion in funds. White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates blasted McDaniels remarks, underscoring the casualties of the conflict. While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a great opportunity, most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy, Bates said. No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senate Republicans are turning up the heat on the Biden administrations $6 billion Iran deal in exchange for American prisoners, which they say may have helped fund Hamas surprise attack on Israel that has killed at least 700 people and injured 2,000 others. The deal, which was reached last month, allowed the transfer of Iran's frozen assets held in a South Korean bank to accounts in Qatar. The administration said the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes and the U.S. will have oversight as to how and when the funds are used. There is no evidence that any of that $6 billion has left the Qatari account. However, Hamas spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told the BBC that they had Irans support for the attacks, which began Saturday. A Wall Street Journal report Sunday said Hamas and Hezbollah helped Iran plan the attack. "If the funds have not been released to Iran, President Biden should immediately void the agreement and freeze the $6 billion ransom payment," Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday. TIME OF THE ESSENCE TO RETRIEVE HOSTAGES: COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERT ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER ISRAEL WAR Thousands of rockets were launched into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip as Hamas terrorists announced "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm" and called on Palestinians from Jerusalem to Israel to attack Israelis. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "There can be no tolerance for calls of de-escalation. Israel is at war and I pray that its forces destroy every last terrorist thug responsible for these atrocities," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., posted to X on Sunday. "The United States will stand strongly with Israel as it defends its citizens and homeland." Progressive "Squad" members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. vocal critics of Israel called for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas on Saturday and condemned the attacks. LIVE UPDATES: 300 DEAD, ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES WAR AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK Hamas' armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, hold a Palestinian flag on an Israeli tank in Gaza City on Oct. 7, 2023. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., shot back at the group on X, saying, "Hamas exists for one reason alone, to wipe out the Jewish state of Israel. "So Israel has only one option in response to yesterdays barbaric attack, the permanent elimination of Hamas," he continued. "Anyone demanding Israel not escalate or calling for a cease-fire is either out of touch with this unfortunate reality or sympathizes with Hamas." Israel formally declared war on Hamas after the attack. Biden affirmed Israels right to defend itself as the Pentagon catapulted assistance to Israel Defense Forces over the weekend. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., who sits on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, posted to X Saturday: "Irans leaders call for death to Israel & death to America. Money is FUNGIBLE. 2+ yrs of lax sanctions enforcement & waivers enabled Iran to bankroll terrorist proxies who seek to murder Israeli civilians & U.S. personnel. Today we saw the results." Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said on X that the U.S. must continue to support Israel's "absolute right to self-defense." SCOTT SAYS US MUST STAND SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER WITH ISRAEL AFTER HAMAS TERROR ATTACK: NEVER BACK DOWN President Biden speaks on the terrorist attacks in Israel alongside Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House on Oct. 7, 2023. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, also chimed in and wrote on X: "Make no mistake: Hamas is funded and supported by Iran. America must never appease this ruthless regime and its terror proxies who seek to kill our allies and friends." Fox News' Adam Shaw and Gabriele Regalbuto contributed to this report. Original article source: Republican Senators bash Biden's $6B Iran deal in push to support Israel Most Republicans have moved on after Kevin McCarthy's ouster, but not all of them. Several Republicans are calling for his reinstatement, with some citing the violence in Israel. He's leaving the door open to it, saying it's up to his colleagues to decide. Most House Republicans have moved on from last week's sudden removal of Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House. But not all of them. A handful of Republicans are arguing not that their colleagues should choose Rep. Jim Jordan or Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the two candidates currently vying for the job, but that they should try to re-instate McCarthy. "The only workable outcome is to restore Kevin McCarthy," said Rep. Tom McClintock , a California Republican, in a statement last Thursday. McClintock called on the Republicans who ousted McCarthy to "disenthrall themselves from their decision and to repair the damage before it is too late." For a while, McClintock was the only person making this argument. Then Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist organization that governs Gaza, launched an unprecedented invasion of Israel on Saturday morning. "The House should immediately reinstate McCarthy and stop screwing around," Rep. Mike Lawler of New York wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, pointed to the situation in Israel. Lawler was later joined by Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida, who called on McCarthy to "reconsider his decision" to not seek the speakership again. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 8, 2023 According to POLITICO, several Republicans lawmakers are discussing the effort amongst one another. "A short window is all we need in the House to reinstate Kevin McCarthy," Rep. John Duarte of California told POLITICO. Asked by reporters about the prospect at a press conference on Monday, McCarthy repeatedly said he would leave the decision up to the House GOP conference not exactly closing the door. "That's a decision by the conference," said McCarthy. Read the original article on Business Insider Republicans take on FCC over proposal to add Wi-Fi to school buses A growing partisan fight is emerging over a push to expand internet access on public school buses. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, is proposing to clarify a rule to state that the buses are eligible for E-Rate funding, a program that gives schools discounted Wi-Fi access, in an effort she says would help close the homework gap. Now that the FCC has a full board with the confirmation of Anna Gomez in September, after a two-year holdup over a prior nominee, the FCCs Democratic majority is positioned to follow through with the chairwomans plans. But top Republicans in House and Senate Commerce committees have criticized the proposal, trying to base their opposition on the argument that it would increase childrens access to risky and detrimental social media apps in a situation with limited supervision. The GOP lawmakers also say they dont support the expansion because they dont think it falls under the scope of the program. Supporters of the expansion, however, said the GOP opposition falls short on proving either point. Youve got to ask yourself the question, what is a school? And the school is where learning takes place. If that learning is in a classroom, or a study hall, or a school bus, the school is where learning takes place. And you want to facilitate that learning using technology. And thats the purpose of the E-Rate program, said Tom Wheeler, a former FCC chairman in the Obama administration. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and House Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) sent a letter last week to Gomez, the newly confirmed FCC commissioner, urging her to reject Rosenworcels plan. It followed one the Republicans sent the chairwoman in July with similar opposition. The FCC is scheduled to consider the proposal during its upcoming Oct. 19 meeting. A growing need for Wi-Fi for students The issue of Wi-Fi on school buses is relatively new as homework and other assignments for K-12 students have increasingly shifted online, especially since the pandemic. Because the average school bus ride for students is around 40 minutes long, according to Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking, having internet on the buses can make a big difference. Krueger said his daughter takes a more than hourlong bus ride to a magnet school and uses her school-issued Chromebook to get her work done while in transit. Without internet access on the bus, she cant do that work during that hour each way, he said. Krueger pushed back on concerns that adding Wi-Fi to buses would be wasteful spending, calling E-Rate one of the best programs in the federal government for minimizing waste, fraud and abuse. Because it only gives schools a discount, he argues districts with short bus rides likely wont take advantage of it, but rural schools with rides of an hour or longer. Advocates argue school bus Wi-Fi would also benefit student-athletes who sometimes dont get back from their events until 10 or 11 p.m. Concerns around access to social media Along with the letter to Gomez last month, Cruz and McMorris Rodgers released a joint press statement saying the plan raises concerns about subsidizing childrens unsupervised internet access to social media sites like TikTok and Instagram on their bus rides to and from school. Wheeler said by following that logic one also has to ask, Is that a problem when students are connected to desks inside their school? A Republican Senate aide said the lack of supervision on a school bus, compared to a classroom, poses additional concerns. Even if preventative measures are put in place, the aide pointed out that kids are savvy at finding ways around blocks. Others say the GOP members have a point on concerns about social media on school buses, but the problem has already been mitigated. We have the data that shows if you take a regular filter, like the filter the schools use in the classroom, and you put that same internet filter on the bus, it does not work, said Ben Weintraub, CEO of Kajeet, a company that puts and monitors Wi-Fi on school buses. [Cruz] is exactly right, so what we do is we lock the filter down way tighter than the school would normally lock down in the classroom. No TikTok, no Facebook, none of that stuff, Weintraub said. A customer of Kajeet, Billy Huish, who is transportation director for the Farmington Municipal Schools in New Mexico, says last year on school bus Wi-Fi, students collectively spent more than 63,000 hours visiting homework sites, and the filter was able to block every attempt to get on platforms that were banned. TikTok, it was trying to be accessed 27 percent of those hours, denied. Snapchat, denied. iCloud denied. Facebook, denied, Huish said. Farmington Municipal Schools started with school bus Wi-Fi around five years ago, starting out with a few test buses before quickly adding it to all of them months later. I started out slow. If I had to do it again, I probably wouldnt have lost that extra three months or so that it took me to put it on every bus, Huish said. He said he bought the equipment while the Title I office at his school has been paying for the renewed service each year. The cost for this service is relatively low, according to Weintraub, who says it takes only a small portion of a schools transportation budget. I mean, it varies depending on what the school wants and any equipment they buy, but the service cost can be anywhere in the neighborhood of, I think, $35 to $50 a month. Its not in the hundreds by any means, Weintraub said. Along with the benefits of allowing students to get their homework done, supporters argue Wi-Fi on buses also helps mitigate behavioral issues. Since COVID-19, educators have raised alarms about student misbehavior in classrooms and on buses, but Huish said since adding Wi-Fi, hes seen a decrease in the number of fights on buses and an increase in the roster of drivers for routes. Huish said he believes in internet on school buses so much that he doesnt have any intention of using the E-Rate program if it expands to bus Wi-Fi, so he doesnt take away funds from others to get it. I would rather somebody that does not have Wi-Fi on their buses apply for that money and get that money because I dont want to take that money away from somebody else that could have this. I think it is that important. I think this tool is great, he said. What could Congress do? Within the FCC, there is also GOP opposition. GOP Commissioner Nathan Simington responded to the Republicans July letter agreeing with them that the E-Rate programs scope should not extend beyond classrooms. Simington said a school bus is neither a school classroom nor a library and the proposal would eviscerate Congresss restrictions on E-Rate and make a mockery of the law. But with the Democratic majority, the commission is poised to be able to put the extension in place. Congressional Republicans may not be able to stop the vote from happening, but the Senate GOP aide said they could look to other options in terms of responding. For example, through the Congressional Review Act, lawmakers can seek to overturn rules issued by federal agencies. Any action Congress tries to take in response, however, will face an uphill battle based on Democratic support. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) in a statement said the FCCs proposal is a much-needed effort to avoid a system that created two-tiered access to technology for wealthy students versus those in low-income or underserved communities. There is also a chance that Republicans could roll back any expansion if the GOP gains control of the administration in 2024. But unlike some of the other Obama-era FCC laws, such as net neutrality rules, which were peeled back under the Trump administration, updates to the E-Rate program were kept in place, Wheeler said. That is emblematic of the programs support and need, he said, to benefit the most important national asset our youth and their education. We need to make sure we are using every piece of technology available to use to facilitate that education process. And to think that school is a little red school house is to ignore what the reality of learning is today, Wheeler said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A group of Republicans are calling for the Biden administration to allow the public additional time to voice concerns with a proposal to release grizzly bear populations in a federally managed forest area in northern Washington. Led by Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse , R-Wash., the six GOP lawmakers asked Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Martha Williams and National Park Service (NPS) Director Charles Sams in a letter Friday to extend the public comment period on the proposal to 180 days. They also requested the agencies host additional in-person meetings with community members that would be impacted by the proposal. "Time and again, northern Washingtonians have expressed their deep concerns about the introduction of grizzlies into the North Cascades, as they are a danger to the safety of their communities," Newhouse said in a statement. "Despite this opposition, the Biden administration is set on moving forward with the introduction of these apex predators against the will of locals," the Washington lawmaker continued. "Thats why Im joining with my colleagues to demand an extension of the public comment period on this proposed relocation of bears so that the Washingtonians impacted by this have adequate time to review and respond." WHITE HOUSE CONFIRMS BIDEN WILL SIGN BIPARTISAN BILL REVERSING HIS OWN ADMIN'S CRACKDOWN ON HUNTING Rep. Dan Newhouse in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1, 2021. Late last month, the FWS and NPS unveiled a joint proposal to reintroduce grizzly bears throughout North Cascades National Park in Washington near the U.S.-Canada border. The proposal included three options, two that would involve actively restoring populations of the threatened apex predator species and one "no action" alternative that would maintain current management practices. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP As part of the proposal, the federal government would release up to seven grizzly bears annually into the North Cascades ecosystem over the course of the next five to 10 years. The administration's goal would be to establish a population of roughly 200 bears in the coming decades. BIDEN'S WAR ON HUNTING FACES BLOWBACK FROM REPUBLICANS, SPORTSMEN GROUPS According to NPS, grizzly bears occupied the North Cascades and served as an "essential part of the ecosystem" for thousands of years. However, in the 20th century, as a result of aggressive hunting practices, the species was driven into near extinction and the last confirmed sighting of a grizzly bear in the North Cascades ecosystem was in 1996. "If this part of our natural heritage is restored, it should be done in a way that ensures communities, property, and the animals can all coexist peacefully," Hugh Morrison, the regional FWS director, said in a statement on Sept. 28. A grizzly bear grazes in the grass in Moran, Wyoming. In their letter Friday, the GOP lawmakers said the federal government is "once again circumventing state law and attempting to move forward with the introduction of grizzlies." Plans to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades dates back to the Obama administration. Then, after significant state opposition led by Newhouse, the Trump administration concluded that grizzly bears would not be restored in the ecosystem. BIDEN ADMIN IS RUSHING TO INDUSTRIALIZE US OCEANS TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE: 'ENVIRONMENTAL WRECKING BALL' Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt noted in July 2020 that grizzly bears are not in danger of extinction and that his agency could manage populations across their existing range. But late last year, following extensive litigation from environmental groups, the Biden administration announced it would again review whether to move forward with restoration, a process that led to the proposal last month. North Cascades National Park in Washington state is pictured on June 22, 2020. "We have previously provided extensive comments opposing grizzly bear reintroduction into our local communities," the commissioners of Chelan County, Washington, which is located near North Cascades, wrote to the NPS in December. "We continue to oppose grizzly bear reintroduction given the likely negative impacts to public safety, economic development, recreation opportunities and the overall livelihood of our rural communities." "The federal agencies leading this effort have generally failed to address these concerns and have failed to engage in any meaningful way Chelan County and other neighboring counties in the proposed grizzly bear restoration area," they added in their letter. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee; Russ Fulcher of Idaho; Cliff Bentz of Oregon; Harriet Hageman of Wyoming; and Matt Rosendale of Montana joined the letter. The NPS and FWS didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Original article source: Republicans urge Biden not to release deadly apex predator near rural community The fate of Bessman Okafor is in the hands of jurors once again. This comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis removed the unanimous decision requirement in death penalty cases. Its been over ten years since Okafor was first convicted of killing 19-year-old Alex Zaldivar. The high-profile death penalty case started after the teenager was supposed to testify against Okafor for breaking into his Ocoee home in 2012. Read: Man dies after shooting in Orange County, deputies say Prosecutors said Okafor went to the home wearing an ankle monitor while out on bond and shot Zaldivar. Two years after his original sentencing, the state supreme court overturned the death sentence, giving Okafor a chance at life. The teens father has appeared at every hearing for Okafor, hoping for what he considers justice for his son. Read: Armed and dangerous suspect in Deltona shooting taken into custody And now, that question of justice will be redecided, this time with the only requirement of eight out of 12 jurors. The trial starts at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning, and Channel 9 will have updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A Nashville, Tennessee, teacher told a second grader wearing sorority paraphernalia to change, and now the principal is apologizing to the childs family. This latest situation comes after a substitute teacher was criticized on social media for wearing AKA paraphernalia despite warnings from students not to do so. The T-shirt was worn by 7-year-old Peyton Tiger, a McGavock Elementary School student, and had AKA 1908 on it, WTVF reported. The shirt had pink and green rhinestones the colors worn by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. members. A Tennessee teacher instructed a second grader to change AKA T-Shirt. (Photos: Pinterest) The organization, the first Black women sorority, was founded in 1908 at Howard University, one of the nations Historically Black Colleges and Universities, located in Washington, D.C. Trending Today: The students mother, Chloe Smith, said one of her friends passed the shirt down to Peyton. Her daughter liked the shirt because the colors matched her pants, Smith told the news station. The outlet noted that both Smith and Peyton are white. The teacher emailed Smith, explained why she took the shirt and gave Peyton a replacement. Today, I noticed Peyton wearing an AKA shirt. I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), which is a service organization for college-trained and educated women, the teacher said, per WTVF-TV. AKA branded items are trademarked and reserved for members only. Thus, I had to give her a new shirt and take the AKA shirt. The new shirt she received is clean, and there is no need to give it back. The school district issued a statement, saying that the incident was investigated by the principal, who ultimately took the shirt, returned it to the students family, and issued an apology, per the report. While the shirt was not in accordance with the schools dress code due to having writing, the appropriate course of action would have been to refer the matter to the school administration and not take the shirt from the student, the statement added. There is no policy or dress code specific to sorority branded clothing. People online had mixed reactions to the teachers decision, and one said she should have handled it differently. However, I can only be frustrated with my fellow D9 members in this situation and those similar. We have an extremely strict protocol of destroying paraphernalia if it is no longer of use, the commenter added. There is no hand-me-down unless the receiver is a fellow member. So, the little girl or her mom are not to blame; its the member of the org who disposed of it carelessly. Another person added: A call to the parents would have been necessary before the t-shirt switch but to allow that child to wear that shirt was disrespectful af. Click here for updates on this story. The Texas Department of Transportation has received federal approval for a controversial plan to expand Interstate 35 through Austin, over the objections of local citizens and advocacy groups who say the project will have massive negative impacts on the environment and quality of life in the city. What is happening? The $4.5 billion highway expansion will add two lanes in each direction in certain sections and widen other areas, which officials say will reduce traffic. This project will bring congestion relief to Central Texas, Texas Transportation Commission chairman J. Bruce Bugg Jr. said, per KVUE. However, critics of the highway expansion disagree with that assertion. What are the downsides of highway expansion? One downside of expanding a highway to relieve traffic is that it doesnt actually work. Studies have shown that increasing the size of highways does nothing to ease congestion and instead actually increases traffic while also increasing car and noise pollution and displacing residents. It is, in effect, a lose-lose-lose. For evidence, look at Houston, Texas, where the worlds largest freeway weighs in at a gargantuan 26 lanes, and the result is standstill traffic. Similar results have occurred after other highway expansions around the world, from Egypt to California. Advocacy group Rethink35 had harsh words for the plan to expand I-35 through Austin. As a heat dome scorches Central Texas in record temperatures, there could be no greater insult than TxDOT announcing its decision to massively expand I-35 through Austin, Rethink35s board president Adam Greenfield said in a press release posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. [Its] a project that would divide our city with a heat-trapping asphalt chasm and worsen climate change, making future heat domes hotter and longer. All this without any evidence it will actually lessen traffic. What is being done about it? Unfortunately, it seems the highway expansion is imminently moving forward despite the objections of thousands of citizens. But ReThink35 isnt giving up the fight. Its time to unite and defend our city, region, and planet, Greenfield said in the press release. Everyone needs to get involved. TxDOT can be stopped. The group is now circulating a petition to amp up the public pressure on the Texas Department of Transportation and force it to study alternatives to the plan. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. A vote could come soon to approve Charlottes first-ever social district where people could drink in public. City council members heard from the public Monday night on adding one in Plaza Midwood. There was much support for the endeavor. RELATED: Pineville to get social district while Charlotteans wait for theirs The proposed district is along Central Avenue from Louise Avenue to Morningside Drive. If you want to barhop while day drinking in Plaza Midwood now, you must finish your drink before you leave the bar. PREVIOUS STORIES: When we are ready to go, we are having to finish our drink, chug the whole thing, and walk through the neighborhood. So it is forcing us to drink more than having this in place, said Yazan Humaideh, owner of Sip City. There are already more than 30 social districts in North Carolina. There is some precedence for this, and those social districts are doing well, said Councilman Dante Anderson, District 1. The social district would be 1.3 miles and run throughout all of Plaza Midwood. Signs will be posted throughout the boundaries to tell people where and when they cannot openly drink. All the beverages will be served in reusable stainless-steel cups. Local business owners say it has been a long process, but all of the hard work will be worth it when the district is finally approved. A lot of these districts have definitely helped these business sectors and communities thrive, said Jason Michel, a business owner. It is about more than beer, said resident Bernie Petite. It is about creating an environment where residents are supportive of businesses. No one spoke Monday night in opposition to the proposal. Other areas in Charlotte that have expressed interest in creating a social district include NoDa, South End, and Ballantyne. However, those neighborhoods are not as far along in the process. Charlotte is being more meticulous about the process than other cities. There is a 15-step process that is tailored to each neighborhood. The biggest hurdle is that half of the businesses in any given neighborhood must submit a letter showing their support for the city council to consider a social district there. (WATCH RELATED: Neighborhood in Lower South End applies to become social district) Seven landslips led to 9,500 tonnes of debris crashing onto the A83 in Argyll and Bute over the weekend. Road management operator Bear Scotland said new hillside catch pits trapped a further 2,500 tonnes of rock and mud. A month's worth of rainfall - about 160mm (6in) - fell over 36 hours, forcing the road to be closed at the Rest and Be Thankful. Ten people had to be airlifted from their vehicles at the height of the bad weather. Bear Scotland said work was now "well under way" to clear the affected sections of the A83. However, road closures will remain in place between Inveraray and Tarbet due to landslips on both sides of Dunoon junction. The hard closure point is at Ardgarten, with road closure signs placed at Tarbet. The diversion via A819/A85/A82 at A85 Dalmally is open. The Old Military Road is unaffected, but access on the local road network is restricted. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has warned people to stay safe as flooding concerns remain around the country. The Met Office has also issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in the west of Scotland between 06:00 and 21:00 on Tuesday. Bear Scotland's Ian Stewart said: "The scale of the operation to clear the A83 is considerable, but the teams on site are working hard and for as long as they can safely do so. "We're working with partners to assess current conditions and continue the clean up in advance of further rain forecast on Tuesday. "We want to thank local residents in the area for their patience. Our priority is to get the road open again as soon as possible, while ensuring the safety of those on site." Transport Scotland announced in June that a mile-long tunnel costing 470m is to be built to protect vehicles from landslips on the A83. The 100-mile stretch of road, which connects the Mull of Kintyre and southern Argyll to the shores of Loch Lomond, has regularly been closed by falling rocks and debris in recent years. The closures can leave motorists facing long detours while the route is cleared. An earlier version of this story reported that there were 13 landslips on the A83. The correct figure has since been confirmed by Bear Scotland. A retired university dean was found shot in the head on a hiking trail near the Vermont State University Castleton Campus where shed worked, and authorities are searching for clues to help lead them to whoever killed the beloved educator. Honoree Fleming, a retired dean of education at the university and wife of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Powers, is believed to have entered the trail near campus around 4 p.m. Thursday and was found dead less than an hour later, Vermont State Police said. A medical examiner determined Fleming, 77, was killed by the gunshot wound, police said. As of Monday, no one had been arrested, and police say they dont have a motive in the killing, adding its unknown whether it was random or targeted. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous, Vermont State Police said. The public is urged to remain vigilant and alert for suspicious person(s) and activities and to report anything suspicious to the Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101. Tips also may be submitted anonymously online. Police are looking for a person of interest, described as a male with short red hair, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall. He was last seen wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack. Investigators are asking local businesses and members of the public to review their surveillance footage for possible information. At a Monday news conference, Vermont State Polices Dan Trudeau said the department has received more than 200 tips in Flemings killing. Every tip is better than no tip, he said. He added search and rescue teams were combing the trail area for evidence. This type of case is gonna be probably a blend of old-fashioned detective work, along with new age technology-based detective work, he said. Trudeau also said the public should be vigilant and maintain some self-awareness. We dont really know yet if the community is in any further danger, he said. The universitys Castleton Campus opened Monday to provide a supportive environment for those who wish to come together, but students were excused from class. Regular class will resume Tuesday. Our hearts go out to the members of our community who taught with Honoree and had her as a beloved teacher during their time at Castleton, the school said in a statement posted on Facebook. Scores of students benefited from Dr. Flemings teachings and research. Before she joined Castleton, she was also a faculty member at Trinity College, Middlebury College, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Honoree lived in Castleton with her husband, Ron Powers, a Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Times bestselling author, the school said. Powers was co-author of the book Flags of Our Fathers, a New York Times best seller about the men involved in the famous flag-raising during the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. He also won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973. Our deepest sympathies go to her husband, Ron, family, and friends. This is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State University, the school said. Honoree will be deeply missed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. | Matt Rourke, Associated Press Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is ditching his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president and is instead launching an independent campaign, he announced Monday morning. In a speech in Philadelphia, Kennedy decried the two-party system and offered a populist rallying call for his supporters, slamming Wall Street and the cynical elites. Ive come here today to declare our independence from the journey of corruption which robs us of affordable lives, our belief in the future and our respect for each other, Kennedy said. Kennedy, who spoke from Independence Square, called for the creation of a new declaration of independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government; from Wall Street, Big Tech and Big Pharma; from the mercenary media; and from the two-party system. We declare independence from these corrupting powers because theyre incompatible with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Kennedy said. A former environmental lawyer, Kennedys populist message has garnered support from both the political right and left. He has been accused of pushing disinformation related to vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health. Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy , had earlier announced his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination in April. I havent made this decision lightly. Its very painful for me to let go of the party of my uncles, my father, my grandfather, and both of my great-grandfathers, Kennedy said. But my sacrifice is nothing compared to the risk our Founding Fathers took when they signed the Declaration of Independence 247 years ago. Kennedy has accused the Democratic National Committee of rigging the presidential race, saying it has worked to keep him off Democratic ballots. He has hinted at an independent candidacy for months. Related Republicans, meanwhile, have been working to distance themselves from Kennedy, portraying him as a far-left activist who supports affirmative action and the Green New Deal. On Monday morning, minutes before Kennedys announcement, the Republican National Committee released 23 Reasons to Oppose RFK Jr., claiming there is very little daylight between RFK Jr. and a typical Democrat politician. And the Trump campaign is working on a series of targeted attacks against Kennedy, Semafor reported. Make no mistake a Democrat in independents clothing is still a Democrat, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement Monday. But not all conservatives are wary of his candidacy. The hard-right Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, announced that Kennedy would be speaking at their Investor Summit to Save America in Las Vegas later this month. Other speakers include Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, strategist Steve Bannon, and Utah Republicans Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Burgess Owens. And one of Kennedys largest donors is a former Trump backer and longtime Republican supporter. Trump held a campaign event in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, at the same time as Kennedys speech. In July, Kennedy met with Libertarian Party Chairwoman Angela McArdle, CNN reported. McArdle said she has not heard anything official or unofficial about his potential candidacy on her partys ticket since. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll last week, about 1 in 7 U.S. voters say theyd vote for Kennedy. In a hypothetical three-way matchup between Kennedy, Biden and Trump, Kennedy garnered 14% support, with Trump at 31% and Biden at 35%. A previous poll, commissioned by a pro-RFK Jr. super PAC, showed Kennedy at 19% and Biden and Trump tied at 38%. During his Monday speech, Kennedy insisted that an independent candidate could win the general election, saying that a majority of Americans want a candidate who is not beholden to either party. You can be pro-choice, and not think that pro-lifers are women-hating zealots, he said. You can support the Second Amendment and not think that Gun Control Act advocates are totalitarians who hate freedom. This is what I mean: Independence is more than being independent of two existing parties. Its also independence from tribal thinking, he continued. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is running for president as an independent, he announced on Monday. "I'm here to declare myself an independent candidate for president of the United States," Kennedy told supporters at a rally in Philadelphia. "I'm here to join you in making a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation." Kennedy had previously challenged President Joe Biden from within the Democratic Party; his exit means that Marianne Williamson is now Biden's sole primary Democratic contender. RFK Jr.'s declaration is notable for another reason: It ends speculation that he might seek the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination. Kennedy is not a libertarian and historically has held positions on a variety of issues that are fairly anathema to libertarianism, including his views on environmental regulation, affirmative action, and until recently, gun control. But he is an outspoken opponent of COVID-19 mandatesas well as the COVID-19 vaccinesand a critic of American foreign policy with respect to the Ukraine-Russia war. These last two stances have endeared him to some in the Libertarian Party (L.P.), who hoped that he was moving in a libertarian direction on a variety of issues. RFK Jr. attended both PorcFest and FreedomFest, two yearly libertarian festivals, and seemed to be sincerely courting independent voters of both populist and libertarian bents. He also fielded questions from Reason and others about his evolving views. Back in June, I asked L.P. Chair Angela McArdle about RFK Jr.'s candidacy. She told me that it was exciting to see him reconsidering some of his previous views. "The lockdowns and mandates seem to have stirred an awakening within him, causing him to reconsider many of his other political stances," she said at the time. Kennedy's announcement of an independent run was received cordially by the L.P.; his declaration of support for unlimited aid to Israel, not so much. Following the horrific attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians over the weekend, RFK Jr. said the U.S. should provide Israel with"whatever it needs to defend itself." This ignominious, unprovoked, and barbaric attack on Israel must be met with world condemnation and unequivocal support for the Jewish state's right to self-defense. We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself now. As President, I'll make sure that our policy Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) October 7, 2023 This political position was rightly criticized by McArdle and the L.P. as profoundly un-libertarian: U.S. taxpayers should not be forced to pay for the defenses of other countries. We are the only ones who are actually anti-war in every context. Not just when it's convenient. All of the disenfranchised anti-war supporters of @RobertKennedyJr are welcome in the Libertarian Party. https://t.co/h4YVAnvE4q Libertarian Party (@LPNational) October 7, 2023 Unfortunately, RFK Jr. is hardly the only political figure to make such a declaration; both Democratic and Republican leaders have committed to providing military aid to Israel, and the Pentagon is already deploying warships to the area. Many Americans are understandably moved by images and videos of appalling violence being committed against Israeli civilians. But there is little reason to think that providing even more money and weapons to the government of Israel will help create peaceful living conditions for either the Israelis or the Palestinians. We can have compassion for people who are suffering around the world, but we must also have humility about U.S. foreign policy and the likely results of interventionism. If RFK Jr. hasn't quite learned that yetdespite some encouraging signsthe Libertarian Party probably isn't the right home for him at present. The post RFK Jr. Dumps Democrats, Libertarian Party Blasts RFK Jr.'s Stance on Israel appeared first on Reason.com. Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced he will end his run for the White House as a Democrat and instead become an independent 2024 presidential candidate. Im here to declare myself an independent candidate for President of the United States, the anti-vaxxer scion of Americas most famous political family said on Monday. But thats not all, Im here to join you and make a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation, Mr Kennedy added. We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government. Mr Kennedy originally positioned himself to run against Joe Biden , but the Democratic National Committee is not holding debates and is fully supporting the presidents run for a second term in the Oval Office. Mr Kennedy made the official announcement at Philadelphias Independence Mall, with campaign signs reading Declare your Independence. Following his announcement, Mr Kenedys sister, Kerry Kennedy , issued a statement condemning his presidential run as dangerous and perilous for our country. In recent months via campaign emails and videos he has criticised the DNC and its decision not to host debates between Mr Biden and other candidates, among other things. If they jam me, Im going to look at every option, he said in September at a New Hampshire barbecue held by Republican former Senator Scott Brown. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP) Mr Kennedy, who is the son of the late US Senator Robert F Kennedy, previously filed candidacy papers for the Democratic nomination with the FEC in April, though allies of president Joe Biden had dismissed his campaign as unserious. While frequently invoking his father and uncle president John F Kennedy on the campaign trail, the 69-year-old has ties to the former president and 2024 Republican hopeful Donald Trump, and some of his biggest supporters are on the right. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP) Polls show far more Republicans than Democrats have a favourable opinion of Kennedy, according to AP. It is unclear how his shift to an independent would affect the campaigns of both Mr Trump and Mr Biden going into the general election. Despite his strong Democratic forbears, Mr Kennedy has built close relationships with several far-right figures in recent years, having appeared on a channel run by the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Cheryl Hines, wife of Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event for him at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP) He also headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn. In 2017, Mr Kennedy was tapped by then-president-elect Trump to oversee a presidential panel to review vaccine safety and science - despite having repeatedly expressed scepticism about vaccines. He continued pushing those beliefs through the coronavirus pandemic. PHILADELPHIA (AP) Republicans attacked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday as the longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist launched an independent bid for the White House, reflecting growing concerns on the right that the former Democrat now threatens to take votes from former President Donald Trump in 2024. The Republican National Committee and Trump's campaign both took aim at Kennedy's liberal background while national Democrats stayed silent as Kennedy insisted in a speech in Philadelphia that he was leaving both political parties behind. Voters should not be deceived by anyone who pretends to have conservative values, said Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung in a statement. He labeled Kennedy's campaign nothing more than a vanity project for a liberal Kennedy looking to cash in on his familys name. The fiery response exposes the unknowns that lie in Kennedy's long-anticipated decision to run as an independent. The move is likely to impact the 2024 race, which appears to be heading toward a rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden, but it's still unclear exactly how. Kennedy, a member of one of the most famous families in Democratic politics, was running a long-shot primary bid and holds better favorability ratings among Republicans than Democrats. Even Trump just two weeks ago said of Kennedy, I like him a lot. Ive known him for a long time. Allies of both Biden and Trump have at times questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against their candidate. The truth is, theyre both right, Kennedy said onstage Monday to roaring applause. My intention is to spoil it for both of them. Speaking Monday from Philadelphia's Independence Mall, where Americas founding documents were adopted, Kennedy made it clear he didnt want to be affiliated with either party. He referenced a rising tide of discontent in the country. He said he wants to make a new declaration of independence from corporations, the media and the two major political parties. Hundreds of supporters who gathered for Kennedys remarks, holding signs that read Declare your independence and at times chanting RFK, all the way! were upbeat about his decision. An eclectic mix of disillusioned Democrats, Trump voters looking for a change, and political outsiders who say their ideas dont square with any one party, they insisted that Kennedy could unify them all. Hes going to win, said Peter Pantazis, a 40-year-old business owner from Lewes, Delaware. Ive been praying that hes going to decentralize the campaign, get away from the party system and actually be the candidate of the people for the people. And thats what he announced today. The last couple years Ive been noticing the Republican Partys been going a way I didnt like, said Brent Snyder, a disabled veteran from south Philadelphia. Not that I agree with everything thats happening to Trump, but I think right now he has more baggage than his country needs. The division right now is just terrible. We need someone to bring both sides together to make us work. Joy, hope and the faint smell of marijuana hovered above the crowd as Kennedy spoke of John Adams' unwavering support for his country and George Washington's prescient warning that partisan politics would result in corruption. Yet Kennedy's upstart campaign has a long way to go to compete with the funding, support and experience that the Trump and Biden campaigns enjoy. His announcement Monday was delayed briefly when he arrived onstage only to find his speech was loaded upside-down in the teleprompter. Mondays announcement comes less than a week after the progressive activist Cornel West abandoned his Green Party bid in favor of an independent White House run. Meanwhile, the centrist group No Labels is actively securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named candidate. Aware of the risk that Kennedy could pull votes away from Republicans, Trump allies have begun circulating opposition research against Kennedy designed to damage his standing among would-be conservative supporters. The Republican National Committee published a fact sheet before Kennedys speech titled Radical DEMOCRAT RFK Jr. that lists times he supported liberal politicians or ideas. The document also listed times he supported conspiracy theories about COVID-19 or stolen-election claims related to the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections that Democrats lost to President George W. Bush. Trump continues to promote the disproved theory that his loss to Biden was the result of a stolen election. Bidens allies so far have dismissed Kennedys primary campaign as unserious. Asked for comment ahead of the announcement, a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded with an eye roll emoji. The DNC declined to comment Monday. Four of Kennedy's eight surviving siblings put out a joint statement denouncing his candidacy and saying his announcement saddened them. The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country, it read. Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Tony Lyons, co-founder and co-chairman of American Values 2024, the super PAC supporting Kennedy, dismissed those comments as part of a strategy to discredit him. At his family dinner tables they would disagree about everything, and that's what democracy looks like," Lyons said. Families are allowed to disagree. While Kennedy has long identified as a Democrat and frequently invokes his late father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle President John F. Kennedy on the campaign trail, he has built close relationships with far-right figures in recent years. He appeared on a channel run by the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Polls show far more Republicans than Democrats have a favorable opinion of Kennedy. He also has gained support from some far-right conservatives for his fringe views, including his vocal distrust of COVID-19 vaccines, which studies have shown are safe and effective against severe disease and death. Kennedys anti-vaccine organization, Childrens Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Michelle Smith, and Will Weissert contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that he was switching from a Democrat to an independent as he looks to give new momentum to his long-shot White House bid. Im here to declare myself an independent candidate, Kennedy told a crowd of supporters in Philadelphia. I must declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic Party, he said to loud cheers. And from all other political parties. A lawyer and proud vaccine skeptic, Kennedy has formally rivaled President Biden from within the party since the spring, but he has not made a dent against the White House incumbent. With just more than a year until Election Day, running as an independent positions him to challenge Biden and former President Trump, the current front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, while leaning on his anti-establishment platform and bypassing both parties primary rules. Best deals of Prime Big Deal Days BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. The 69-year-old candidate has run whats looked like an outsider campaign for months, freely introducing conspiracy theories that mainstream Democrats and some traditional Republicans disavow, especially around vaccines, aspects of American political history, and the neutrality of the current presidential primary process. His switch theoretically puts him closer to voters who are unhappy with both political parties, hyper-partisan politics, and want an alternative to the expected Biden-Trump options next November. People suspect that the divisions are deliberately orchestrated, he said. Theyre fed up with being fooled and theyre ready to take back power. While Kennedy hails from a well-known liberal family, hes distanced himself from that brand, attracting considerably more praise and funding from conservatives than those typically aligned with Democrats. Kennedy has been a frequent critic of the Democratic National Committee and has regularly lamented its decision not to hold debates with Biden as the presumptive nominee, throwing around claims that the party is rigging things in the presidents favor. As that discontentment grew, his campaign floated a potential party change leading up to the Pennsylvania event, but he had declined to say officially whether he would become an independent. Democrats have started to express concerns that his campaign could be helpful to Trump if he convinces enough swing voters to back him over Biden, without winning on his own. And now, Republicans, too, have started to wonder the same thing, fearful that he could take enough votes away from Trump to help Biden in the fall. The news of Kennedys party change follows another candidate, progressive professor Cornel West, who said last week that he is now running as an independent. West was running with the Green Party, ideologically to the left of Kennedy, but has also raised similar concerns about what his bid could do to Bidens prospects if matched against Trump. Some polling shows theres more of an interest in Kennedy than other independent or third-party names this cycle, earning double digit support. A new Reuters/Ipsos poll placed Kennedy with 14 percent of support among likely voters, a sizable portion compared to Trumps 40 percent and Bidens 38 percent. People like yourselves are finally fed up. Something is stirring in us that says it doesnt have to be this way. Kennedy sees an opportunity amid Bidens lack of popularity and Trumps multiple indictments. Bidens polling has consistently shown him in poor standing with voters, and Trumps legal problems make him a shaky front-runner for the GOP. Kennedy mentioned he is freeing himself from taking sides, a principle that has guided his insurgent campaign. Outside of the two-party system, he said, theres a new path to victory. This time, the independent is going to win, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PROVIDENCE Their stories are the stuff of nightmares. Years spent in prison for crimes they did not commit or, in some cases, convictions the state was forced to dismiss in light of new evidence, despite prosecutors' doubts about their actual innocence. In the last two years, the state paid $1,284,487 (including $38,561 for attorney fees) to five "wrongfully convicted" people who, between them, spent more than 30 years behind bars in Rhode Island. Im sure youve all been accused of something you didnt do, like cheating on a test or taking something that wasnt yours, former Warwick police Detective Jeffrey Scott Hornoff said to a packed audience in 2018. Now just imagine being accused of murdering someone. More: She was wrongfully convicted of killing her toddler daughter. Now, she wants RI to pay her Rhode Island has a law for compensating the wrongfully convicted The payments were made under the auspices of a 2021 law sparked by Hornoff's high-profile case that provides a redress of up to $50,000 for each year spent in prison by someone who was wrongfully convicted. Earlier this year, the state paid Hornoff $319,452.05 (and the Dimitri Law firm another $7,969.12) for the six years, four months and 18 days he spent in prison for a murder to which another man confessed while Hornoff was behind bars. Hornoff was one of 11 people who petitioned the state for compensation. Former Warwick police Detective Jeffrey Scott Hornoff. Not all have been successful. Two bids for the money were rejected. The state is fighting the payment of any compensation to Kimberly Mawson, whose murder conviction for the death of her 19-month-old daughter, Jade, was tossed. The five who won compensation for being wrongfully convicted were: Paul Courteau Jeffrey Scott Hornoff Dionisio Polanco Christopher Moran Emil Carsetti Who has been compensated in Rhode Island for wrongful convictions? Some of their names are better known than others among Rhode Island crime followers. Jeffrey Scott Hornoff: Time spent in prison: 6+ years Amount compensated: $319,452 (plus $7,969 in attorney fees) A co-worker found Victoria Cushman, 29, bludgeoned to death in her apartment. Police then found a letter she previously wrote, but did not send, to the married Hornoff about wanting to continue their relationship. Hornoff's initial lies about his relationship with Cushman made him the top suspect. A jury convicted him of first-degree murder in 1996. Six years later another man, Todd Barry, who'd been Cushman's sometime boyfriend, confessed to killing her, and Hornoff was released from prison. Hornoff sued the City of Warwick and the state in federal court, alleging errors in the murder investigation. He subsequently withdrew his lawsuit against the state police. The City of Warwick agreed to pay Hornoff $600,000 and give him a disability pension, which currently pays him $72,096.72 a year, according to the city. Paul Courteau Time spent in prison: 13 years Amount compensated: $557,945 (plus $6,435 in attorney fees) A jury convicted Courteau in 1981 of participating in the armed robbery of a North Providence jewelry showroom the previous year. One of the owners identified Courteau from a photo lineup on the third attempt. Paul Courteau outside court. Courteau served 13 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions until John Burke, a convicted murderer and habitual bank robber about to enter the federal witness protection program, admitted to a lifetime of crimes, including, with another accomplice, the North Providence jewelry robbery that had sent Courteau to prison. Courteau was exonerated in 1999. On the day Presiding Justice Alice Gibney approved his petition for compensation, Courteau told assembled reporters: Im grateful now, but for the years I suffered and my family suffered, and all the other people who have been wrongfully convicted, its just horrific that things like that can happen in life. Emil Carsetti Time spent in prison: 1 year, 11 months Amount compensated: $99,762 (plus $4,950 in attorney fees) Carsetti, now 80 years old, was convicted a half century ago of setting a 1969 fire that did extensive damage to the north wing of the Adult Correctional Institutions while he was doing time for an unrelated breaking and entering. He served part of his 15-year sentence for the fire between May 1971 and August 1973. Along the way, one of the other defendants, Gennaro D'Amico, signed an affidavit dated March 12, 1970, "inculpating himself and exculpating the other two defendants," according to an Aug. 2, 1973, Rhode Island Supreme Court opinion. The high court vacated Carsetti's conviction. In the 50 years since, Carsetti has had numerous other run-ins with the law and was in and out of prison leaving the ACI for the last time in July 2012. He currently faces an assault charge. Dionisio Polanco Time spent in prison: about 2 years, 9 months Amount compensated: $138,493 (plus $15,000 in attorney fees) Polanco was convicted in the Aug. 13, 2005, beating of 32-year-old Fernando Fernandez with a pool cue at the Mi Sueno nightclub in Providence. Fernandez could not identify his attacker. A waitress identified 38-year-old Polanco as the man who hit Fernandez. Polanco was convicted of felony assault on July 30, 2008, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In September 2010, Polanco sought a new trial after two new witnesses came forward. They didnt identify the man who hit Fernandez, but they said it wasnt Polanco. Inexplicably, the witnesses said they had given statements to this effect to police "in the immediate aftermath of the assault." Polanco was released from prison in April 2011. In June of that year, a judge vacated his conviction. Christopher Moran Time served in prison: about 2 years, 8 months Amount compensated: $130,273 (plus $4,207 in attorney fees) Moran, his brother a former Central Falls police officer and a cousin were indicted for an April 1992 robbery described this way in a court summary: "Two armed, masked men shattered the usual early morning quiet at Rick's Pub (Rick's) in Central Falls when they burst into the bar; ordered the manager, her husband, and another pub employee to the floor; and threatened to kill anyone who looked at them." The robbers made off with $25 and then holed up in an apartment, where they held more than 70 police officers at bay for four hours until surrendering. Then-Judge John P. Bourcier, renowned for his stiff sentences, handed down staggering penalties, including a 68-year sentence for Chris Moran, who ended up serving a part of the sentence between Dec. 16, 1994, and July 25, 1997. His conviction was reversed by the Rhode Island Supreme Court in an opinion dated July 25, 1997. Among the Supreme Court's conclusions: The state failed to produce any witnesses who could identify Chris as one of the holdup men responsible for the Rick's Pub robbery. "A witness did pick Chris's photo out of an array as one matching a general description of the robber he saw. But he told the police (and later the jury) that he could not positively identify Chris as one of the two bar thieves. And Chris's presence during the apartment standoff does not prove that he was present during the pub's pilfering or in the getaway car. " Whose wrongful conviction petitions have been denied? Two petitions for money were denied. Four are pending, including that of Kimberly Mawson. The state has vigorously objected to Mawsons bid to be compensated for the two years and 190 days she served behind bars for what she argues was her wrongful conviction in her toddlers December 2002 death. She is seeking $133,527 in compensation and legal fees. Mawson insists she isnt responsible for the death of her only child, citing statements allegedly made by her ex-boyfriends lawyer as her proof. More specifically, lawyer Richard Corley told the Supreme Court's disciplinary counsel in 2010 of a conversation he'd had with Mawson's ex-boyfriend, Daniel Fusco, in December 2002 in which Fusco allegedly told him that he had squeezed the baby until she stopped breathing and was responsible for her death. Fusco subsequently denied having made that statement, but it led the state to dismiss the charges against Mawson. In fighting her bid for compensation, the state argues the law is intended to assist innocent persons who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes through no fault of their own." In this case, the state contends, it was Mawsons own lies and inconsistencies that led to her conviction. Mawson's lawyer, Kevin Bristow, told The Journal earlier this year: "The Wrongful Conviction and Imprisonment Act was designed to help compensate individuals like Kim Mawson who had years of their life taken away for a crime that they did not commit." "It is difficult to imagine a greater injustice than being imprisoned after being wrongfully convicted of murdering your own child. When he gets his chance in front of the judge, Bristow has what amounts to a trunkload of arguments about the manner in which Mawson was "lured" into a grand jury more than two years after Jade's death; statements Fusco's father made to the Warwick police and others about what his son allegedly told him; and a deal prosecutors made with Fusco to absolve him of other possible crimes. "There's information that would come out at a full hearing before the judge that can refute everything that they say," Bristow said last week. He provided a "to whom it may concern" letter from Mawson after the attorney general's office asked if she "wished" to be heard by a grand jury. "After great consideration, I can only say this I have more questions than answers, and grieve her loss every minute of every day. Jade was my miracle baby, and filled my life with more joy than I ever thought possible ... If the jury is interested in my input, please read them this and show them her picture; For this I would be most grateful." Only two bids for wrongful conviction compensation have been rejected so far by Superior Court Presiding Justice Alice Gibney. In 2017, Hasim Munir was sentenced to 35 years, with 23 years to serve, for first-degree child molestation after being found guilty by a jury of molesting a 13-year-old girl in 2015. He appealed and lost and has since tried to rescind his confession, saying he had an alibi and only confessed to protect someone else. But Gibney ruled Munir cannot use after-the-fact arguments" to win wrongful conviction compensation, while he is still "convicted of and incarcerated." Boghos "Paul" Terzian's case is not as straightforward. In 2007, Terzian was charged and subsequently convicted of three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony count of carrying a handgun without a license. Sentenced to up to eight years in prison, he was incarcerated from May 28, 2008, to Nov. 26, 2008, before being paroled. The Supreme Court vacated his conviction on the grounds that the trial judge should have suppressed some of the evidence including the firearm evidence. In lieu of a retrial, Terzian opted to plead no contest to a reduced charge of simple assault, for which he received a one year filing." He later argued that was not a conviction. In her decision on his bid for money, Gibney said his no contest plea to simple assault was "fatal to any claim that he 'did not commit any of the crimes charged' as required to get wrongful conviction compensation. ,: This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island has paid thousands to the wrongfully convicted The Richland County Domestic Violence Shelter kicked off Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a luncheon at Dan Lew Exchange in the Kobacker Room on the square. This year's theme is, "We Are All Connected. Every1KnowsSome1." "Everyone knows someone and a lot of times we don't think that it's going to touch our lives and a lot of times survivors don't talk about it," said Jill Donnenwirth, director of community-based services at the Richland County Domestic Violence Shelter. "We don't talk about domestic violence in our community and we need to start. Numbers are not going down." Donnenwirth said the shelter has been full. Jill Donnenwirth This year to date the domestic violence shelter has sheltered 65 women, 1 man and 51 children, she said. "We have provided 5,250 days of care," Donnenwirth said. Domestic Violence Shelter in need of canned goods, bath towels, more The domestic violence shelter, which does not publicize its address, is in need of canned goods for its pantry, as well as pillows, towels, cleaning supplies, paper products, gift cards, gas cards, and clothing, she said. Anyone wishing to donate items may contact the shelter at 419-774-5840. The shelter cannot take furniture as there is no place to store it in the donation room. "Anything you use in your home on a daily routine we're in need of," she said. "Bath towels disappear on us." "When someone leaves, someone comes in," she said. "We have 14 rooms and 11 of those are full." Sgt. Amber Alfrey of the Richland County Sheriff's Office was the keynote speaker at Thursday's kickoff event. Candlelight vigil set for 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at OSU-M The domestic violence will also hold a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at Ohio State University at Mansfield's Riedl Hall. This event aims to shed light on domestic violence, honor the survivors, remember those who lost their lives and encourage community involvement in combatting abuse. The public is invited. The Domestic Violence Shelter's 24/7 Crisis Line is 419-774-5840. lwhitmir@gannett.com 419-521-7223 Twitter: @LWhitmir This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: This year to date the shelter cared for 65 women, 1 man & 51 children, Five years ago, Matthew McQuin walked into a Richland grocery store, put a gun to the head of a woman he didnt know and pulled the trigger twice. The now 50-year-old thought the stranger a veterinarian who stopped at the store looked guilty of trying to poison him. Miraculously she survived. McQuin, whod suffered from schizophrenia for years was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity. The verdict could have left him in a Washington state psychiatric hospital for the rest of his life. Instead, after three years of therapy and medications, state mental health officials believe its safe for McQuin to start making his first unsupervised trips out of Eastern State Hospital. Psychologists say McQuin has successfully managed his mental illness during trips outside with staff. Now, officials believe he can use those skills for solo ventures from the hospital to get treatment at other Spokane-area facilities. His day trips could be the first steps before going to a group home and eventually his full release. Benton County Superior Court Commissioner Bronson Brown signed off recently on allowing McQuin to make the trips outside the facility. His decision was based on a 23-page Eastern Hospital report obtained by the Herald. Conditional release Tyler Hemstreet with the Department of Health and Human Services said he isnt able to speak specifically about McQuins case but explained that state hospitals cant keep patients in custody based just on what they did. The law protects persons with mental illness by requiring that the person be released when they no longer meet the commitment criteria, he told the Herald. This means they must be released when they have reached a level of stability where they are able to meet their health and safety needs, have cognitive and volitional control, and can remain safe toward others at the current level of stability, he said. Benton County Deputy Prosecutor Terry Bloor told the Herald that any release from a Washington state mental hospital tends to follow a series of steps. Normally, it starts with escorted trips around the grounds of the facility. Then they can be by themselves on the hospital grounds. Eventually, patients can take escorted trips into the community, then unsupervised ventures into a community. Finally, they move into monitored settings, like group homes. This is normally the last step before full release. A judge must sign off on each level and requires a full report by the state, including recommendations by state hospital psychologists. All steps are reviewed by a board of professional staff, called the Risk Review Board, to determine whether the patient can safely transition to the next step, Hemstreet said. Before WinCo Before his attack at WinCo, McQuin had suffered from schizophrenia for years. He was prescribed an anti-psychotic medication and a mood stabilizer by the Walla Walla Veterans Affairs facility, according to a 2019 report from R. Cory Fanto. But McQuin believed his condition had improved and hed stopped taking his medication for about six months. He later told evaluators he was fine until two days before the shooting. Thats when he saw a criminal woman that he had been set up with at a Walmart. He couldnt sleep that night and the next day kept hearing rocks hitting the side of his trailer in Hermiston. He felt that he was breathing in some type of chemical administered by his persecutors, he told the evaluator. He knew he had been exposed to a chemical because he was tired and anxious. He drove to the Tri-Cities and stayed in a Motel 6 because he was nervous, but found he wasnt able to sleep. He told the evaluator that he continued to notice others messing with me, by making noises or walking past his hotel door. He went back home the next morning and straight to the Hermiston police station, and told them that something was wrong and then returned home. His paranoia continued. He later told the evaluator he saw the same car twice, saying he knows those people. He saw another persecutor on a motorcycle. He was splashed by a car in Umatilla, guessing he may have been splashed with something to calm me down. He wrote 911 on his body in case he was found dead. After staying at home for a while, he returned to the Tri-Cities to spend another night. That time he stopped by the Richland Police Department and told them he had been poisoned. He was told to go to a hospital, but didnt go into Kadlec Regional Medical Center because he believed he saw the man with the motorcycle from earlier. Thats when he went to the WinCo store a mile from the police station to be around other people. WinCo shooting Jenna Kline didnt know McQuin, when she went to the Richland grocery store. The veterinarian had just returned home from a business trip, when she went shopping on the evening of July 30, 2018. She wandered around the store for about 15 minutes before McQuin came in, according to security video from the store. He walked around without a shopping cart or anything in his hands. He stopped just once in the liquor section. The two cross paths a couple of times, but neither of them pay attention to the other one. After a few minutes, he leaves without buying anything. He pauses in front of the store, then walks back inside seconds later, according to the video. This time they cross paths as she walks by the bakery tables, and McQuin focuses on her. She didnt seem to notice him when he stopped. He told state psychologists that once he was inside the store he was hit with more chemicals and could hardly stand up. At that point, he looked at Kline and said, You look guilty. He tried to shoot her once, but the gun didnt work. His second attempt worked but then the gun jammed on the third shot. Kline escaped the shooting in miraculous fashion, according to doctors at the time. The bulled wedged between her skin and skull. According to public records, she stayed in the Tri-Cities following the shooting. Managing his illness After years of treatment, McQuin is learning how to control his delusions of persecution, according to the Eastern State Hospital report. The Risk Review Board found that the daily outings would not present a danger to him or the community. He still believes he has been persecuted in the past, but they arent impacting his ability to function, according the Eastern State Hospital Report. He doesnt seem to be creating new delusions. The risk for McQuin is that he might not recognize his paranoid or delusional thinking. He also might be afraid that admitting to those beliefs might signal a setback. The report calls on treatment staff to monitor him closely, and question him about his thoughts and feelings. A mitigating strategy for risk will be to allow contact with the community in a gradual and step-wise fashion, the report said. The recurrence of psychosis remains of concern as Mr. McQuin gains increased privileges and returns to the community. As part of his treatment, hes gone on trips out of the facility while accompanied by staff. On those trips, hes dealt with people who could potentially cause him stress and to relapse into delusions. Hes been able to recognize that and address it, according to the report. The state psychologists have also said McQuin needs to expand his social support. According to plans hes developed with the help of Eastern State Hospital staff, he wants to attend substance use treatment at a Spokane facility, explore going to therapy groups offered through Veterans Affairs and take part in some recreational activities. McQuin is an army veteran, but his mental illness has not been considered service related. Safeguards While McQuin is being allowed to make unaccompanied trips out of the facility, there are a lot of requirements he needs to meet, according to the court order authorizing the day trips. He has to fully participate in treatment, as well as come up with a written form explaining what he will be doing once he leaves the hospital. Hospital staff need to sign off on them. Police agencies will be alerted to him leaving the hospital 30 days before any of the trips. In addition, his treatment team and charge nurse will assess him three days before any of the trips. He also cant have any alcohol or drugs, go into a bar, leave the state or drive a car. In addition, if the prosecutor, secretary of social and health services or a judge feels that he is not following the terms, a hearing can be scheduled to revoke the permission to leave. RICHMOND, Ind. A Richmond father has received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to neglect of a dependent. Raul Robles-Casiano, 40, had pleaded guilty to a Level 6 felony carrying up to 30 months in prison. The charge stemmed from a car crash on May 19, 2022 at Chester Boulevard and North H Street that left Robles-Casiano's four-year-old son with two broken legs and an injury over his right eye, The child and his father who was also injured were taken to Reid Hospital, and the boy was later transferred to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Robles-Casiano told police the child had not been properly restrained in a booster seat because the car he was driving at the time of the crash, a Ford Aspire, wasn't the vehicle he routinely drove. More: Richmond mother draws prison term for neglect conviction That vehicle, which was being repaired at the time, contained his son's car seat, which is why the child was only wearing a lap belt when the crash occurred. Robles-Casiano also said the Aspire did not have functioning brakes. Last week, in Wayne Superior Court 2, Judge Gregory Horn imposed a 30-month sentence, which was suspended. In other court news: Drug sentence: A Connersville woman last week received a three-year sentence for a Wayne County drug-related conviction. Kea Meyer, 32, had pleaded guilty to possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison. Wayne Circuit Court Judge April Drake imposed the three-year sentence, to be served consecutively with any sentences Meyer receives as a result of a pair of pending drug-related cases pending in Fayette County courts. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Richmond father sentenced for neglect in car crash that injured son This article originally appeared at The Hartmann Report. "Thirty years ago," Damon Linker told The Guardian, "if I told you that a bunch of billionaires and intellectuals on the right are waiting in the wings to impose a dictatorship on the United States, you would have said that I was insane." Now, however, the senior lecturer at Penn State's Department of Political Science and author of the Notes From the Middleground Substack newsletter has reconsidered. "But it's no longer insane," Linker writes. "It's now real. There are those people out there." And, Linker notes, "The question is: will they get their chance." The simple reality is that they already have had their chance in multiple red states, and when we watch what they're doing with it we see that step by step, day by day, Republicans are inching towards full-blown fascism. Now they're calling to end democracy and replace our president with a "Red Caesar." They no longer believe in elections, because the American people are rejecting their vision of more tax cuts for billionaires, hating on racial and gender minorities, and more fossil-fuel pollution to destroy our planet. So instead of trying to get elected by presenting honest differences in policy from Democrats, Republicans have resorted to massive gerrymandering, purging voting rolls of millions of Americans who live in blue cities within red states and dark-money TV carpet-bombing campaigns often filled with lies and half-truths. But that's just the beginning. Wisconsin voters elected a Democratic justice to the state Supreme Court, Janet Protasiewicz, and Republicans are trying to impeach her before she's heard a single case because they believe (probably correctly) that she will vote to declare their gerrymandered legislative map which overwhelmingly favors Republicans, out of proportion to their strength in the state unconstitutional. North Carolina is so gerrymandered that the majority of the state's residents vote for Democrats (which is why the governor is a Democrat) but, as in Wisconsin, Republicans hold a solid majority in the state House, the state Senate and the congressional delegation. So I guess it shouldn't surprise us that a committee co-chaired by Republican state Senate President Phil Berger and Republican state House Speaker Tim Moore just gave itself Gestapo-like powers. The Republican-controlled Joint Legislative Committee on Government Operations or, as Judd Legum notes at Popular.info, Gov Ops for short now has the power to break into the home or office of anybody in the state who has worked for or with state government and go through their files and even personal phones and computers. As Legum writes at his Substack newsletter: The rule applies to contractors, subcontractors, and any other non-state entity "receiving, directly and indirectly, public funds," including charities and state universities. Moreover, Gov Ops staff will be authorized to enter "any building or facility" owned or leased by a state or non-state entity without a judicial warrant. This includes the private residences of subcontractors and contractors who run businesses out of their homes, lawmakers say. Alarmingly, public employees under investigation will be required to keep all communication and requests "confidential." They cannot alert their supervisor of the investigation nor consult with legal counsel. Violating this rule "shall be grounds for disciplinary action, including dismissal," the law reads. Those who refuse to cooperate face jail time and fines of up to $1,000. In the event that Gov Ops searches a person's home, these rules mean that the person 1) must keep the entry a secret, 2) cannot seek outside help (unless necessary for fulfilling the request, the law says), and 3) could face criminal charges if Gov Ops deems them uncooperative. Meanwhile, down in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has created two new armed organizations answerable to himself: a new "state guard" militia and a police agency that is supposed to provide for "election integrity" (GOP code for preventing Black people in blue cities from voting). As former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist (now a Democrat) said of DeSantis' new armed officers: "No governor should have his own handpicked secret police." Across the country, Republicans are threatening and intimidating teachers and librarians into stripping from their collections any books that positively portray Black or queer people. Armed fascist militias supportive of those efforts show up at school board and other meetings with assault rifles strapped across their backs to heckle and threaten elected officials. Dozens of white supremacist militia groups nationwide modern versions of the old Ku Klux Klan openly embrace Republican politicians while parading with Nazi and Confederate flags. Donald Trump , the American fascist movement's current standard-bearer, has said that if he again gains the White House he will immediately lock up and then prosecute high-profile Democrats and the judges and prosecutors who have tried to hold him to account for his decades of criminal activity. When last in office he tried to stop and then to overturn an election; should he get elected again it will almost certainly be the last free and fair election in the nation. Trump uses racial slurs calling the Black prosecutors who have gone after him "Riggers" and "racists" to crank his white supremacist base into stochastic terror violence. He has also said that like Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban he will investigate for "treason" and then presumably shut down network television news outlets that don't echo his talking points and unquestioningly broadcast his lies. Not a single Republican of national stature has stood up to condemn any of this rhetoric. The entire party is terrified of this 77-year-old who recently told an audience that he'd beaten Barack Obama in the 2016 election and he was worried that Democrats might "start World War II." Our corporate media, of course, buried those stories while obsessing on concerns that President Biden is too old for his job. It's almost as if the network executives are already looking forward to another tax cut when Trump gets back in. Increasingly, Republican politicians and elite thinkers are calling for a "Red Caesar" a strongman dictator who can take control of America and whip us into shape to replace our elected office of president. In order to do this they would first have to "terminate" our Constitution and create a "post-constitutional" new political order, as Trump proposed doing toward the end of his single presidential term. One of the leading Republican thinkers on the topic, Kevin Slack of Hillsdale College, put it simply: The "New Right now often discusses a Red Caesar, by which it means a leader whose post-Constitutional rule will restore the strength of his people." Reporter Jason Wilson, at The Guardian, quotes wealthy industrialist GOP supporter Charles Haywood as saying: "I like, if not love, the idea of Red Caesar" since "Caesarism, and its time-legitimated successor, monarchy, is a natural, realism-based system, under which a civilization can flourish." Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Monarchy, in fact, seems to be exactly what the GOP wants to move America into. Republican politicians in red states, including Arkansas, Florida and North Carolina, are successfully shutting down citizen and press access to information about Republican efforts to restrict citizens' rights. And nationwide, a group of powerful American oligarchs have, for years, been funding an effort to rewrite our Constitution from scratch. They call it the "Convention of States" and have held an annual dress rehearsal in Washington for over a decade. They're just six states away from pulling it off, Common Cause points out. As former Labor Secretary Robert Reich notes, Trump's GOP has gone way beyond authoritarianism and fully embraced a modern form of Mussolini's fascism. It's elements include a rejection of the rule of law and elections; rage against the college-educated and artists; white supremacy and Christian supremacy; embracing violence to achieve political goals; and hate and control directed against women and queer people. Reich lays it out explicitly: "They are not the elements of authoritarianism. They are the essential elements of fascism." Meanwhile, Trump and his acolytes like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., are calling Democrats "fascists" in an apparent attempt to dilute the term or render it meaningless. Just last month, for example, Trump posted on his actual-Nazi-infested social media site that the "Biden Crime Family" was "reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the 1930s." For most of the 20 years I've been doing a talk radio show, my right-wing colleagues have been working hard to convince their listeners that Hitler's Nazis were lefties. "Just look at the word 'Socialism' in the name of the National Socialists," they say. Apparently, as Joseph Goebbels famously said, if you repeat a lie often enough it will become, to the people listening, a truth. Today, as University of Oklahoma sociology professor Samuel L. Perry writes for Time magazine: In our survey, 76% of Republicans place fascists on the left side of the spectrum, and 44% rate them at 1, as far left as possible. And we see similar numbers for Nazis. Over 68% of Republicans think Nazis are left-of-center and about 43% say Nazis are the pinnacle of leftism. Democrats, of course, know that Nazis are as far to the right as one can possibly go. But they haven't been paying attention to decades of right-wing propaganda via outlets like Fox News and right-wing hate radio on 1,500 stations nationwide. The Biden White House gets it. When President Biden said that Republicans were "semi-fascist," his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, bluntly told reporters: I was very clear when laying out and defining what MAGA Republicans have done and you look at the definition of fascism and you think about what they're doing in attacking our democracy. ... That is what that is. It is very clear. And political violence like we've seen on Jan. 6, 2021, and in dozens of politically-motivated murders over the past few years is at the heart of every fascist movement in history. From Trump gloating about 83-year-old Paul Pelosi being beaten in the head with a hammer by a MAGA follower to his calls for violence against the FBI and our judiciary to Jan. 6, today's GOP is now steeped in and reveling in political violence. From calls to bomb Mexico to defunding the FBI to open appeals to racism, homophobia and misogyny, today's Republican Party would be a shock to Dwight Eisenhower and probably even Richard Nixon. Will the GOP ever repudiate the fascist element that's been buried deep within it since it embraced Confederate values following the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964? It's going to be hard for them, so long as so many of the billionaires funding the party a form of bribery legalized by five corrupt Republicans on the Supreme Court are openly fascist themselves. The Republican Party was set on this path when Richard Nixon embraced his "Southern strategy" of using race against Democrats back in 1968. They doubled down when Reagan gutted America's unions and savagely stripped working-class families of $50 trillion, moving that cash into the money bins of the top one percent. They lost their souls when George W. Bush lied us into two unnecessary wars to seal his 2004 re-election and then started illegal black-site torture chambers, a crime for which he has yet to apologize, much less make atonement. And the path was completed when Donald Trump, a man whose former wife said he slept with a collection of Hitler's speeches on his bedside table for years, was put in the White House because of naked interventions in our 2016 election by his role model and owner, Vladimir Putin. Either the GOP will be crushed to near irrelevance in the 2024 elections, or they will win enough power to end the American experiment. In either case, we must do everything we can to hold this country together and fight for the values we've proclaimed since our nation's founding. Over 1.2 million Americans have died fighting in wars to preserve our democracy. Although Donald Trump calls them "losers" and "suckers," we know most were heroes and we can't let them and our children and grandchildren down now. The chair of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, is facing criticism after she appeared on Fox News to comment on the response of the Republican presidential candidates to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Ms McDaniel said that its a great opportunity for our candidates to contrast where Republicans have stood with Israel time and time again and Joe Biden has been weak. She quickly faced criticism following her comments on Saturday. She carries the water for Trump who fuels Jew hatred every day. And now says the murder of hundreds [of] Jews is a great opportunity for her fellow low travelers. What a reprehensible person, attorney Daniel Miller wrote on X. An RNC spokesperson told The Independent in a statement: The RNC and Chairman McDaniel have long been fierce advocates for Israel, its people, and condemned the attacks immediately. Its despicable that the media is twisting Chairman McDaniels words and providing cover for Democrats that have repeatedly attacked Israels right to exist. The RNC emphasised that Ms McDaniels comments were not in response to the attack on Israel by Hamas militants, noting that Fox News host Griff Jenkins began the segment with the chairwoman by saying: Many of the [Republican presidential] candidates are putting the onus on Joe Biden, on President Biden and the White House ... in an RNC statement you put out you say you blame Joe Biden for unfreezing six billion for Iran and reiterated youre standing behind Israel, can you expand on your thoughts there? McDaniel: I think this is a great opportunity for our candidates to pic.twitter.com/y739WmV2sY Acyn (@Acyn) October 7, 2023 One user of the platform X wrote: How thoughtful of Israel to be attacked by Hamas so Republican candidates for POTUS can uselessly attack President Biden for political points. This is all you need to know about how much Republicans really care about Israel, Janet Johnson wrote. Mike Schoemer, a communications specialist, said Ms McDaniels comments revealed, whats wrong with politics in a nutshell. Rally to protect human life? Nah. This is an opportunity. Disgusting. Ray Wert, a former staffer for ex-Michigan governor and current Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and head of the content sales department at Gawker Media, added: Shame on @GOPChairwoman for cravenly trying to turn more than 200 dead Israelis into a great opportunity for @GOP candidates. This comes as at least nine Americans have been killed following the attacks on Israel by Hamas, prompting a full siege and blockade of the Gaza Strip. At this time, we can confirm the death of nine US citizens, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said on Monday. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities. Regarding Americans being taken hostage by militants, the spokesperson said that there are US citizens unaccounted for. We are closely monitoring information about hostages taken by Hamas, according to The New York Times. Three days into the attack, Israel has said that its border with the Gaza Strip has not yet been fully secured, but added that Israeli forces have taken control of the communities targeted by Hamas, according to the BBC. Hamas fighters shot civilians on sight. The Israeli military has said that some militants may still be entering the country. At least 700 Israelis and 500 Palestinians have been killed so far. Ten British citizens are dead or missing. Hamas is holding dozens of people hostage, mostly situated in Gaza. A spokesperson for Hamas said that four hostages had been killed by airstrikes from Israel, but this information is yet to be confirmed. The militants claimed to be holding more than 130 Israeli civilians and soldiers captive in Gaza. This story has been updated with additional context and a statement from the RNC Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced he will run for the US presidency as an independent (Jessica Kourkounis) Robert F. Kennedy Jr said Monday he was quitting the race for the Democratic US presidential nomination to run as an independent -- a move that could shake up a tight election by siphoning votes from the main candidates. A rematch between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump is by far the most likely scenario in 2024, and a third-party hopeful taking even a few votes from Biden in swing states could spell disaster for the Democrat. Many analysts however believe that Kennedy , a long-time anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and a darling of the right-wing US media, would harm Trump more than Biden. "I've come here today to declare our independence from the tyranny of corruption which robs us of affordable lives, our belief in the future and our respect for each other," the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy told supporters in Philadelphia. "But to do that, I must first declare my own independence: Independence from the Democratic Party, from all other political parties." The 69-year-old former environmental lawyer has long identified as a Democrat, and invoked his assassinated father in an anecdote about the 1968 campaign trail. "I haven't made this decision lightly. It's very painful for me to let go of the party of my uncles, my father, my grandfather and both of my great-grandfathers," he added. Kennedy was introduced by his wife of nine years, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Cheryl Hines, who said her husband was ready to make the country better for all Americans and "bring them together." But he has proved more popular among Republicans than Democrats in opinion polling -- he is languishing on an average of less than 15 percent in major primary polls, 47 points behind Biden. Embraced by conspiracy theorists on the far right such as Alex Jones and Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Kennedy has claimed that AIDS might not be caused by HIV and that wifi causes cancer and "leaky brain." He has blamed antidepressants for school shootings and said chemicals in tap water could make children become transgender. He ignited a firestorm of criticism in July over claims that Covid-19 was "ethnically targeted" at Caucasians and Black people, while Ashkenazi Jews and the Chinese were spared. Last week, liberal academic Cornel West ended his Green Party candidacy in favor of an independent run. Many Biden allies see the 70-year-old African American philosopher as a bigger threat than Kennedy. Four of Kennedy's siblings nevertheless released a statement calling his announcement "dangerous" and "deeply saddening." "Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment," they said. Republicans called Kennedy a "Democrat in Independent's clothing." "He is your typical elitist liberal and voters won't be fooled," Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. ft/sst Three hundred and forty-six days after a Rochester man submitted a complaint of police misconduct to the Rochester Police Accountability Board, the agency issued its ruling: Not sustained. That isn't to say the misconduct did not occur just that there was not enough evidence for investigators to verify the accusations or fully absolve the officer at the center of the complaint. And so, the case was closed, according to an annual report released by the PAB this week. That complaint was one of four cases the PAB has closed since it started investigating police misconduct last year. Two other cases were also deemed "not sustained." The fourth case was ruled "unfounded," meaning investigators determined the claim was false and did not occur. The city's charter expects the PAB to resolve complaints within 90 days. Of the four cases, the shortest took 121 days to complete; the longest, 346 days. All four alleged "abuse of authority" by a Rochester police officer, according to the annual report. Little else about the complaints, or how PAB investigators came to their findings, has been made public. The PAB declined to elaborate and city officials denied a Democrat and Chronicle public records request for investigation materials and findings related to the four cases. "While we understand there is public interest, our main priority is to protect the privacy of everyone involved in these cases," a spokesperson said. "Additionally, the City's Charter does not require the agency to provide this type of information, and we feel it would be premature to do so without legal consultation." National expert: Lack of information on PAB cases not unusual The PAB was designed to increase transparency and accountability by independently probing community complaints of misconduct against the Rochester Police Department. The watchdog agency got off to a slow start, stifled by staff conflicts, budget cuts and challenges accessing information from RPD. The state Court of Appeals is set this month to hear arguments on whether the agency should have the disciplinary powers granted by its charter. Until then, the police chief has the final say over any follow-up action at the conclusion of all investigations. HOW DO I FILE A REPORT WITH THE PAB?: Learn more about what constitutes as police misconduct and how to file a complaint at https://www.rocpab.org/file-a-report/. Cameron McEllhiney, executive director of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, said it is not unusual for oversight agencies like the PAB to withhold some information about cases, despite their commitment to transparency. Most times, McEllhiney said, state statutes or collective bargaining agreements limit what these oversight agencies are allowed to share, especially when findings are inconclusive. WON'T RELEASE DOCUMENTS: Outside of the PAB, the City of Rochester has denied public records requests for unsubstantiated complaints of police misconduct, arguing that those records are not covered by the state's repeal of Section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law, which opened up police disciplinary records to the public in 2020. A regional appellate court ordered the city to release such records last year, but the city appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals, which has yet to issue a ruling on the case. WOULD IT AFFECT CASES? While it's unclear how that decision might impact the PAB's ability to release information on cases ruled not sustained, McEllhiney said it might be more important for oversight agencies and police departments to have an internal system to track such complaints. MURKY CATEGORY: "One of the problems, as you'll see as more investigations are done in Rochester, is that one of the most frustrating pieces for both community and law enforcement is that many of the complaints are almost completely unable to be proved or disproved," she said. "So they end up in this not sustained category. And it's because a lot of interaction happens where it is one officer and one member of the community." McEllhiney said oversight agencies and police departments need to monitor whether these types of complaints continue to stack up for a single officer so they can address the issue. "I think it goes beyond just whether information is shared publicly or not," she said. More: What would police discipline from the PAB look like? The PAB released its first annual report. What else does it say? Between June 2022 and 2023, the PAB received 360 reports from the community . Of those, 277 reports contained information about conduct both good and bad by Rochester police officers; 150 reports are being investigated further. The agency closed another 72 cases that were outside of its jurisdiction, involved commendations of policework, or were otherwise "non-investigable." The PAB has launched two oversight investigations looking at the Rochester Police Department's policies around use of force on juveniles and use of beanbag guns. The agency also submitted recommendations to RPD on how the department can increase data transparency. The PAB participated in over 120 community outreach events throughout the city to raise awareness of its work and seek feedback for proposals. Kayla Canne reports on community justice and safety efforts for the Democrat and Chronicle. Get in touch at kcanne@gannett.com or on Twitter @kaylacanne. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: PAB closes first investigations into police misconduct in Rochester NY 1 arrested after allegedly waving knife The Ventura Police Department arrested a woman Sunday in connection with waving a knife and making threats in downtown Ventura. Ventura police received several calls around 4:05 p.m. about the woman with a knife in the area of California and Santa Clara streets, according to a news release. The 33-year-old woman, described as pregnant and homeless, picked up a knife from an outside table at Finneys Crafthouse on Main Street and began throwing the knife in the air near patrons, including a small child, said police Cmdr. Ryan Weeks. No one was injured, he said. A patron confronted the woman and she waved the knife at the person before she left the area. When officers responded, the woman was gone but was followed by a Downtown Ventura park ambassador. Officers found the woman a few blocks away and took her to the Ventura County Medical Center to be medically cleared before she was booked into the Ventura County jail, according to a news release. She was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor brandishing a weapon and felony criminal threats and booked at Ventura County jail. She remains in Ventura County jail as of midday Monday with bail set at $30,000. She is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Ventura County Superior Court. Break-ins lead to arrest The Ventura Police Department arrested a 57-year-old man Monday morning on suspicion of breaking into a Ventura business and apartment complex and vandalizing them. Ventura police received a 911 call from a security guard around 4:20 a.m. about a burglary in progress at the 700 block of East Main Street, according to a news release. Officers responded and found someone broke through the front door of the business and left. About an hour later, police received another call about a person breaking a glass front door and trying to open apartment doors in the 500 block of East Santa Clara Street, at a neighboring property to the first call. Officers responded and found the man outside of the apartment complex in a common area of the complex with property from the burglary on East Main Street. The man, described as homeless, was arrested on suspicion of felony commercial burglary and felony vandalism. He remained in Ventura County jail as of midday Monday with bail set at $110,000, jail records show. He is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court. Police seek help for arrest in 2019 murder With four years passing since the shooting death of a 32-year-old Oxnard man, police issued a new call last week for community members with information about the incident to notify them. Richard Madera was standing in the front yard of a residence in the 3000 block of Merced Place on Oct. 5, 2019, when he was shot multiple times, according to the Oxnard Police Department. He was survived by his family, including three young children. Witnesses who saw or heard anything are asked to contact Detective Adam Aguilar at 805-385-7680. Information also can be reported by visiting the Oxnard Police Departments website at www.oxnardpd.org and clicking on the tab marked Report Suspicious Activity. Another option is to call Ventura Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. Individuals may visit www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email. Oxnard officials offer a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any individuals responsible for committing homicides within the city. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 1 nabbed after waving knife; Oxnard police seek cold case help, more Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Monday that Israel has no choice but to completely eradicate Hamas in Gaza after it carried out the worst attack on Israel in its history. Israel has no choice but to seek the complete eradication of Hamas in Gaza, Rubio wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. There simply is no diplomatic solution or measured response available. Rubio, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, acknowledged that such action will come at a horrifying price. Israel has already launched hundreds of rocket attacks on Gaza in response to the attacks by Hamas, which left at least 800 people in Israel dead. But Rubio argued it was necessary given what he described as the savagery of Hamas, a political group that has been elected to govern Gaza but has also been designated by both the United States and European Union as a terrorist group. The Hamas attacks on Israel on Saturday included targeted attacks on civilians, such as people who had been attending a music festival. This tragically necessary effort will come at a horrifying price, Rubio added. But the price of failing to permanently eliminate this group of sadistic savages is even more horrifying. The remarks by Rubio likely reflect the kind of pressure GOP lawmakers also will be imposing on the Biden administration to firmly support Israel. President Biden, who has pledged continued support for Israel, announced Monday that 11 Americans had been killed in the attacks, and he warned that American citizens are likely to be among those held hostage by Hamas. As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy, Biden said in a statement Monday. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed many of whom made a second home in Israel. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have hit more than 1,200 targets in Gaza between Saturday and Monday, noting that it has since doubled that number. Those strikes have killed hundreds of people in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that forces from his country will exact a huge price against Hamas for the attack. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Israeli soldiers patrol the area after a Hamas attack Russian intelligence services are conducting a campaign to discredit Ukraine in the Middle East and want to use the Islamist Hamas movement's attack on Israel as a large-scale provocation, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence service or HUR said on Oct. 9. Read also: Russians disseminate fake news about supposed Ukrainian weapons in Hamas CCD Russias GRU military intelligence agency has already handed over to Hamas terrorists trophy weapons captured during the fighting in Ukraine that were made in the United States and the European Union, Ukrainian military intelligence said. Further, the Kremlin wants to spread fakes accusing the Ukrainian military of allegedly selling Western weapons to militants on a regular basis. As part of this campaign, they are to become the basis for a series of "exposes" and "investigations" in the Western media, HUR writes. To appear more convincing, the Russian special services want to use some statements of the traitor from the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, Senior Lieutenant Ruslan Syrovyi, who recently fled to Moscow. "Another provocation of the enemy is aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the complete cessation of military assistance to our country from Western partners," HUR concluded. The war in Israel What is known Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. Hamas has repeatedly targeted the country with rockets. Armed Palestinian militants invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages. As a result, nearly 700 people have lost their lives in Israel. Over 100 have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of them have been murdered. It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 240 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers. In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants. Read also: Zelenskyy holds emergency talk with Netanyahu Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging. He called on the Gazans to "get out immediately because he would bring the full force of the Israeli military against the Gaza Strip's Hamas." On Oct. 9, the IDF announced that it had regained control of all settlements bordering Gaza. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, including two Ukrainians. There is evidence of the possible death of three more. Also, according to media reports, several Americans have been killed. The U.S. military is moving a carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel, and will immediately begin supplying the state with ammunition and other military aid. 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 Volodymyr Zelenskyy Moscow is convinced its interest would be served by further instigating conflict in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address on Oct. 9. Read also: Wagner mercenaries involved in training Hamas militants for operations against Israel, Ukrainian military say The president added he was briefed on the volatile situation in Israel and the Middle East in general by Ukraines diplomats and intelligence services. Zelenskyy said Kyiv has very clear intelligence reports that suggest Moscow is actively working to destabilize the region. We see Russian propagandists gleefully stoking the flames, the president said. We see Moscow's Iranian allies openly backing those who are attacking Israel. All this poses a far greater threat than the world currently perceives. Past world wars have been sparked by local conflicts. Read also: Iran ignores Ukraines compensation claims for 2020 aircraft downing incident Kyiv Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. Hamas has repeatedly targeted the country with rockets. Armed Palestinian militants invaded southern Israel, killing people, and taking hostages. Read also: Zelenskyy draws parallels between Ukraine and Israel in address to NATO More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, including two Ukrainians. Over 100 have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of them have been murdered. Read also: Russians disseminate fake news about supposed Ukrainian weapons in Hamas CCD In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging. 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 Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) launched a high treason case against Illia Novikov, former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko 's lawyer, the Russian state news agency TASS reported on Oct. 9. The FSB claims that the Moscow-born Russian and Ukrainian lawyer "joined the ranks of the Territorial Defence Forces of Ukraine and has been participating in their activities to date." According to the Russian security service, the lawyer "underwent military training in Ukraine and is participating in combat tasks and propaganda work." Novikov, an outspoken Kremlin critic, has been involved in a number of high-profile cases in Russia. He has served as a defense lawyer of Ukrainian pilot Nadiia Savchenko and Russian human rights activist Oyub Titiev. In 2019, he became a defense counsel of Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine's fifth president and the current leader of the European Solidarity Party. Novikov, who has denounced Russian aggression in Ukraine, has been residing in Kyiv since 2021. The Russian Interior Ministry put the lawyer on the country's wanted list in November 2022, and he was stripped of his license to practice law in Russia this June. In March 2023, Novikov said he joined the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine as a volunteer. 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's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a criminal case for high treason against Ilya Novikov, the lawyer of Ukraine's fifth president, Petro Poroshenko . Source: FSB Quote from the FSB: "The involvement of Ilya Novikov, a former lawyer of the Moscow Bar Association, in committing high treason in the form of defecting to the enemy has been documented. A criminal case has been opened against him. The investigation is underway." Details: The FSB reported that Novikov, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "voluntarily left the territory of Russia, joined the ranks of the Territorial Defence Forces of Ukraine and has been participating in their activities to date." According to the FSB, Novikov in particular "underwent military training in Ukraine, is participating in combat actions, and is engaged in propaganda work". Previously: In December 2022, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs put well-known Russian lawyer Ilya Novikov on the federal wanted list. Novikov has been living in Kyiv since 2021. He has participated in a number of high-profile trials in Russia and Ukraine. He was also a defence lawyer in the trials against Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation and Memorial and represented the interests of pilot Nadiia Savchenko and film director Oleh Sentsov. In Ukraine, he is the defence counsel for Petro Poroshenko, the leader of the European Solidarity party. 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! Russia, expelled from the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2022, seeks to rejoin the Geneva-based body, defying Western nations efforts to isolate the country over its invasion of Ukraine. Several U.N. diplomats and analysts suggest that Russia aims to leverage its control over wartime grain shipments and arms and energy sales to gain support in a secret vote scheduled for Oct. 10. Alongside Russia, Albania and Bulgaria are competing for two seats representing eastern Europe. Hillel Neuer , the executive director of U.N. Watch, a nonprofit organization monitoring the U.N., said in a comment to the Wall Street Journal that while some countries might hesitate to publicly vote for Russia, the promise of grain, arms, and oil could influence their decision. Russian diplomats, on the other hand, accuse the United States of unfairly backing Albania and assert that the U.S. is exerting pressure in Africa to secure votes for the Balkan nation. Alexander Pchelyakov, a spokesperson for the Russian mission in Geneva, dismisses allegations that Russia is using weapons and grain sales as leverage in the vote, describing them as a "feeble attempt at propaganda aimed at discrediting Russia among left-wing readers." 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. FILE - This undated photo provided by Roscosmos shows the International Space Station. On Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, the Russian space agency said there was a leak in a backup coolant line for a new science lab at the station, but the crew and station aren't in danger. (Roscosmos State Space Corporation via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MOSCOW (AP) Coolant leaked from a backup line at the International Space Station, Russian officials said Monday, adding that there was no risk to the crew or the outpost. Russian space agency Roscosmos said that coolant leaked from an external backup radiator for Russia's new science lab. The lab's main thermal control system was working normally, the agency emphasized. The crew and the station arent in any danger, Roscosmos said. NASA confirmed that there is no threat to the stations crew of seven and that operations are continuing as usual. Roscosmos said engineers were investigating the cause of the leak. The incident follows recent coolant leaks from Russian spacecraft parked at the station. Those leaks were blamed on tiny meteoroids. The lab named Nauku, which means science arrived at the space station in July 2021. Last December, coolant leaked from a Soyuz crew capsule docked to the station, and another similar leak from a Progress supply ship was discovered in February. A Russian investigation concluded that those leaks likely resulted from hits by tiny meteoroids, not manufacturing flaws. The Soyuz leak resulted in an extended stay for NASA astronaut Frank Rubio and his two Russian crewmates, Sergey Prokopyev and Dmitri Petelin, who spent 371 days in orbit instead of six months. A replacement capsule was sent to the station for their ride home. The space station, which has served as a symbol of post-Cold War international cooperation, is now one of the last remaining areas of cooperation between Russia and the West amid the tensions over Moscows military action in Ukraine. NASA and its partners hope to continue operating the orbiting outpost until 2030. Current residents are: NASAs astronauts Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral OHara, the European Space Agencys Andreas Mogensen, Russian cosmonauts Konstantin Borisov, Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub and Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa. The Kremlin on Monday reacted to the movement of an American carrier strike group closer to Israel, telling Russian state media it sees a high risk of a third party entering the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. The risk is high that third parties will get involved in the conflict. Its crucial to find ways to move toward negotiations as soon as possible in order to ease tensions and move away from attempts to resolve the issue by military means, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state-run news agency TASS. The Middle East has always been a place where the interests of a number of countries are intertwined, and these countries havent always had a positive impact on the situation in the region, Peskov said, per TASS. There is a very complicated balance of interests, as well as a balance between the rights of nations that need to be respected and their security that needs to be ensured. Peskov told reporters the Kremlin is keeping a close eye on the conflict in Israel, adding the situation is heading towards further escalation. Peskovs comments come on the heels of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins announcement Sunday that the U.S.s Ford carrier strike group will be moved closer to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster regional deterrence efforts. 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 Pentagon 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. Israel and Hamas members entered their third day of fighting Monday, following a series of surprise attacks from Hamas last Saturday. The death toll in Israel on Monday rose to at least 900 individuals, including both soldiers and civilians, from both sides, according to The Associated Press. An additional 680 people have been killed in Gaza so far as Israel continues to ramp up its offensive against Hamas, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Monday its air force launched one of the largest air strike operations ever against Hamas in Gaza and claimed to have hit 1,200 targets in Gaza between Saturday and Monday, with forces doubling that number Monday. The U.S. government was quick to offer its support to Israel, with President Biden telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the U.S. is prepared to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel. In a call on Sunday, the White House said Biden informed Netanyahu that additional assistance was on its way to support the IDF, while expressing sympathy with the Israeli people. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Russian attacks against Ukraine in the past day killed two civilians and wounded another 22, including two children, regional authorities reported on Oct. 9. A total of eight Ukrainian oblasts were targeted Sumy, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson. Casualties were reported in the last three regions. Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 53 times on Oct. 8, firing 288 projectiles from various weapons, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. One person was killed, and 18 more were injured, including two children, according to Prokudin. The attacks reportedly hit residential areas, a parking lot, a critical infrastructure facility, and a church in Kherson Oblast. Russian troops attacked over 15 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast, using artillery, mortars, and other weapons, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia deploys reserves north of Bakhmut, launches over 700 strikes in Kupiansk-Lyman direction In Vovchansk, Russian shelling killed a 65-year-old woman and damaged at least five houses in Vovchansk, Syniehubov reported. A Russian missile strike against Donetsk Oblasts Kostiantynivka injured four residents and damaged 19 houses, 10 apartment buildings, and energy infrastructure, acting Governor Ihor Moroz said on Facebook. Russian attacks in other regional settlements damaged an agricultural business and a house, according to Moroz. The Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration said on Oct. 9 that it had received 11 reports about damages to houses and infrastructure due to Russian attacks. Russia hit 16 regional settlements using artillery, aviation, and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to the administration. No casualties were 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. By Roman Churikov TUMANYAN, Armenia (Reuters) - A disused Armenian textile factory has become a sanctuary for artists and other emigres from Russia, Iran and Ukraine whose lives have been turned upside down by war or political turmoil. Abandoned workshops that once produced Soviet knitwear have been turned into a creative space for painters, puppet-makers and photographers in a venture that is helping to revitalise a town in decline. Launched in 2022, the project is called Abastan - "shelter" in Armenian - and is open to participants and guests from around the world. Polina Ivanova, a co-founder of Abastan, said locals in the northern Armenian town of Tumanyan were at first bemused by the strangers in their midst. "I think that for many people this was really incomprehensible: who are those people? Why are they here?... "And slowly, sometimes through public events like theatre performances, sometimes through personal relationships, we get to know the people and people get to know us." Arghavan Majd, a painter from Iran, said she found the atmosphere "more free" in Abastan and it was easier to make personal connections. Since Majd left Iran, the country has been convulsed by protests over the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody, and she said she had no intention of going back. ESCAPING 'BAD NEWS' Torfeh Ekhlasi, a puppet maker also from Iran, said she had felt "completely paralysed by bad news" there, "but here all the people are so alive". Danil, a software engineer from the Russian city of Perm, said he left after President Vladimir Putin called up 300,000 men last year to fight in the war in Ukraine. "I simply didn't agree with the political agenda in the country and thought that it was dangerous to stay in Russia given my views," he said. Abastan was established as a charity with funds from an American-Armenian philanthropist who has chosen to remain anonymous. When Reuters journalists visited last month, there were a couple of dozen people in residence - three Iranians, two Ukrainians, an Armenian, a Georgian and the rest from Russia. Some live on savings or money from relatives, others sell their art or work online - though one Russian said that source of income had dried up. "At first I worked remotely. And then my company was told that it was undesirable for staff to work from abroad, so they rehired me as a freelancer. Since then I haven't received any salary yet," Danil said. Timofey Moskovkin, a Russian now working in a cafe funded by the charity, said local people in Tumanyan, a town of about 1,000 people, had treated him warmly. "In spite of the general context of what's happening in the world, and with Russia, people here are still very welcoming," he said. "I feel good here." Ararat, a local Armenian man who declined to give his last name, said the arts venture had brought joy to a place that had seen factory closures, unemployment and emigration since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. One evening, he and his wife were walking past the factory. "We looked and saw the lights were on, it was beautiful, there was music and young people dancing," he said. (Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Gareth Jones) The ISS is one of the few areas of cooperation still ongoing between Moscow and Washington (HO) The Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) sprung its third coolant leak in under a year Monday, raising new questions about the reliability of the country's space program even as officials said crew members were not in danger. Flakes of frozen coolant spraying into space were seen in an official live feed of the orbital lab provided by NASA around 1:30 pm Eastern Time (1730 GMT), and confirmed in radio chatter between US mission control and astronauts. "The Nauka module of the Russian segment of the ISS has suffered a coolant leak from the external (backup) radiator circuit, which was delivered to the station in 2012," Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Telegram, adding temperatures remained normal in the affected unit. "Nothing is threatening the crew and the station," added the statement. Nauka, which means "science" in Russian and is also known as the Multipurpose Laboratory Module-Upgrade (MLM), launched in 2021. US mission control in Houston could be heard asking astronauts on the American side to investigate. "Hi, we're seeing flakes outside, we need a crew to go to the cupola, we think windows five or six, and confirm any visual flakes," an official said to the astronauts. "There's a leak coming from the radiator on MLM," NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli replied a little later. NASA later confirmed the events in a statement Monday, saying that "the crew aboard (the) station was never in any danger," and that the leak was coming from Nauka's backup radiator. "The primary radiator on Nauka is working normally, providing full cooling to the module with no impacts to the crew or to space station operations," NASA said, adding that the crew "was asked to close the shutters on US segment windows as a precaution against contamination." - 'Something systematic' - This is the third coolant leak to hit the Russian side of the ISS in less than a year. On December 15, 2022, dramatic NASA TV images showed white particles resembling snowflakes streaming out of the rear of a docked Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft for several hours. Speculation about the cause centered on an unlucky strike by a tiny space rock, or micro meteorite. That spaceship returned to Earth uncrewed, and then another uncrewed Soyuz was sent to replace it a few months later. Two Russians and an American crew had to stay for a year-long mission as a result, returning home only last month. A similar leak in mid-February also affected the Russian Progress MS-21 cargo ship, which had been docked to the ISS since October 2022. The succession of leaks lowers the probability they were caused by meteorites. Space analyst Jonathan McDowell told AFP: "You've got three coolant systems leaking -- there's a common thread there. One is whatever, two is a coincidence, three is something systematic," he said, speculating that a subcontractor company may be at fault. "It really just emphasises the degrading reliability of Russian space systems. When you add it to the context of their failed Moon probe in August, they're not looking great." The Russian space sector, which has historically been the pride of the country, has been facing difficulties for years, between lack of funding, failures and corruption scandals. The ISS is one of the few areas of cooperation still ongoing between Moscow and Washington since the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine and the international sanctions that followed. bur/ia/caw/lb Sanctioned Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman has left the UK and moved to Israel. He is in Moscow at the moment. Source: RBK with reference to sources close to the oligarch According to a source, Fridman is in Moscow at the moment. This information has been confirmed by the Alpha-Group, a Russian privately owned investment group founded by Fridman, which added that "the businessman is in Moscow at the moment and plans to visit Russia regularly [in the near future]". Fridman was one of the first Russian oligarchs to be sanctioned after the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On 28 February, sanctions were imposed by the EU, and in March 2022 the UK did the same. The US imposed sanctions against Fridman in August 2023. The sanctions were imposed against other co-owners of the Alpha-Group, Piotr Aven and German Khan, as well. One of the reasons for the sanctions was Avens participation in the meeting between businessmen with Russian President Putin in the Kremin on 24 February 2022, on the day of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Fridman stayed in the UK he claimed that life under sanctions can be compared with home arrest, and the blockage of cards does not let him make even small payments, e.g. for cleaning services. Fridman has an Israeli passport but no property in this country, and no means to buy accommodation somewhere else besides London. Background: The Ukrainian court seized all corporate rights of sanctioned Russian oligarchs Fridman, Aven and Kosogov who are closely connected to Vladimir Putin and are known to have financed the Russian aggression. According to the sources of Ekonomichna Pravda, among the seized assets there are 100% of the Kyivstar mobile operator (controlled by these oligarchs through a Dutch company VEON Ltd.), as well as shares in other companies Kyivstar holds, mainly Ltd Helsi Ukraine. The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) stopped the investigation of Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridmans probable sanctions after a search was conducted in his London mansion in December 2022. Earlier, Fridman in London refused to respond to the questions of Ukrainska Pravda reporters, including whether he considers Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal, justifying it with the fact that "lawyers banned him from doing it". 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 forces shelled the village of Antonivka, a northeastern suburb of Kherson, killing a 50-year-old man, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported on Oct. 8. That same day Governor Prokudin reported that a Russian attack on the village of Kindyika in Kherson Oblast injured an 11-year-old girl. 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, 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: 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. Russian forces have intensified the laying of mines in the area of the settlements of Robotyne-Verbove and are trying to hold Ukrainian forces back in areas of the frontline away from the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Details: Russian military bloggers claimed that Russian troops have begun to lay mines in previously cleared areas on the Robotyne-Verbove line (10 kilometres south to 18 kilometres southeast of the town of Orikhiv) to achieve tactical surprise. A well-known Kremlin-aligned blogger claimed that Russian forces had intensified tactical offensives in several frontline areas outside Zaporizhzhia Oblast to stretch Ukrainian defences and distract the Ukrainians. Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, Spokesman for the Tavriia Group of Ukrainian Forces, said the Russians were trying to freeze the Ukrainian army in the areas of the settlements of Avdiivka and Marinka and prevent them from moving their reserves to the Zaporizhzhia front. In addition, Ukrainian forces pursued counteroffensive operations near the city of Bakhmut and made minor advances in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 8 October. Geolocation footage posted on 8 October indicated that Ukrainian troops had made limited gains north of the settlement of Novoprokopivka (14 kilometres south of Orikhiv), while a Russian milblogger claimed that Ukrainian forces had also advanced near the village of Kopani (10 kilometres southwest of Orikhiv). The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces had achieved partial success northeast of the settlement of Andriivka (7 kilometres southwest of Bakhmut). In contrast, Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian troops further pursued their attacks near the settlements of Andriivka and Kurdiumivka (11 kilometres southwest of Bakhmut). Russian and Ukrainian sources also reported that the deteriorating weather conditions were affecting both Russian and Ukrainian operations. Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, Spokesman for the Tavriia Group of Ukrainian Forces, said the activity of Russian drones and aircraft has decreased in recent days due to the bad weather. Russian milbloggers have claimed that the deteriorating weather conditions on the Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia fronts were affecting Ukraine's offensive operations, as well as Russian aerial reconnaissance efforts. Captain Illia Yevlash, spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, echoed the view that bad weather might affect the activities of drones and aircraft but would not stop Ukraine's counteroffensive. To quote ISWs Takeaways for 8 October: Russia advanced legal mechanisms to form the Leningrad Military District as part of ongoing large-scale military reforms. Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and marginally advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast on 8 October. Russian forces are intensifying mining efforts in the Robotyne-Verbove area and seek to fix Ukrainian forces on areas of the front away from western Zaporizhia Oblast. Russian sources are highlighting apparent fault lines between regular Russian forces and irregular formations of the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DNR). Ukrainian Air Force Spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat expressed concern over an anticipated Russian Shahed 131/136 drone strike campaign against Ukraine this winter. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) observed satellite imagery showing that rail traffic between North Korea and Russia "dramatically" increased since Russian President Vladimir Putin met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un on 12-17 September. The Russian federal government continues to disenfranchise certain ethnic minority federal subjects (regions) while selectively empowering others. Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, western Donetsk Oblast, and on the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast administrative border on 8 October and reportedly advanced in some areas. Prague-based Russian-language outlet Current Time reported on 8 October that the number of desertion cases within the Russian military has 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! Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya implied Russia's responsibility for strike on the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast on Oct. 5, while speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Oct. 9. Nebenzya claimed during the session that at the time of the strike, "there was a funeral being held for a high-ranking Ukrainian nationalist," and that when soldiers are concentrated in any given place, "they become a legitimate target." The strike on a cafe in Hroza killed 52 people, including a six-year-old boy, according to the local authorities. "The majority of the bodies were men of conscription age," Nebeznya noted, without claiming directly that these men were soldiers. All of the victims were local civilians, who had gathered in a cafe for a memorial service for a fallen soldier who was being reburied in the village. The attack wiped out over half of the village's population in what became the single deadliest Russian attack against civilians in 2023. The attack occurred at around 1 p.m. local time, and the rescue operation lasted seven hours. The recovery operation to find bodies, many of which could only be identified from DNA samples, lasted into the following afternoon. Nebenzya repeated a Russian propaganda claim that Russia does not target civilians, claiming that "our high precision weapons" are only used to destroy Ukraine's military capacity. "Placing heavy weaponry and missile defenses in residential areas is a serious violation [of international humanitarian law] and leads to the type of tragedy we have talked about today," he added, adding to the heavily-implied admission that Russia carried out the strike on Hroza. 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. Vasily Nebenzya , the Russian Federations Permanent Representative to the UN, said at a meeting of the Security Council on Monday, 9 October that the funeral of a "high-ranking Ukrainian nationalist" was being held in the village of Hroza in Kharkiv Oblast when the Russian missile strike that killed 52 people was launched. Source: Nebenzya at a UN Security Council meeting initiated by Ukraine after the Russian missile strike on the village of Hroza, broadcast by Suspilne Details: In his speech, the Russian permanent representative "noted" that the tragedy in Hroza occurred at the exact moment when Zelenskyy was trying to convince the European Union to provide additional support for Ukraine at the EU summit in Spain. He also "justified" the strike by claiming that Nazi collaborators were present at the wake in the cafe at the time of the attack. Quote: "It is known that the funeral of a high-ranking Ukrainian nationalist was going on at the time of the attack. Many Nazi collaborators were there. That is why there are men of draft age in the pictures published after the strike. We have heard this repeatedly when the Kyiv regime has accused us of hitting shops, hotels and so on. And many obituaries have later appeared, including some [of people] with foreign surnames. Perhaps it will be the same with Hroza." Background: On 5 October, the Russians attacked a cafe in the village of Hroza, Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast, as a wake for a fallen soldier was taking place there. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the strike was so precise that it is suspected that the attack was guided by a local resident. As of 6 October, 52 people were reported dead. Among the dead are the widow and son of the soldier for whom the wake was being held after his reburial in his home village. The reburied mans son, also a soldier, was killed together with his wife. Russian forces may have struck the Hroza cafe thinking that Ukrainian soldiers were there, but those present were all civilians, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office noted. 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 major who was captured Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade has managed to capture the commander of the Alga Volunteer Battalion of the Russian Armed Forces, the Ukrainian unit said in a Telegram post on Oct. 9. The brigade clarified that the Russian officer was captured during an operation near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Ukrainian Armed Forces continue operations on the Melitopol and Bakhmut fronts, 60+ engagements in last day Now he is another member of enemy senior officer staff in the [POW] exchange fund, the message said. Read also: Ukraine forming joint medical commissions to exchange POWs with Russia The message also quoted the enemy officer reportedly commenting on the state of his unit: A f**k ton [of our troops] have fallen here. 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 On Monday morning, Russian troops struck an area near a library in the city of Kherson, injuring a guard. Another person was injured in the afternoon as a result of an attack on a village in the outskirts of Kherson. Source: press service of the Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office Details: At about 10:30, the Russians shelled an area near a local library in Kherson. A 55-year-old security guard was injured. Then, at 13:10, the Russians shelled a village on the city's outskirts with artillery. A 63-year-old woman was taken to hospital in a moderate condition. 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 occupiers provided Hamas militants with US- and EU-manufactured trophy weapons that they captured during the hostilities in Ukraine. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine says Russia is preparing to discredit Ukraine in order to affect the allies attitude and impact on the supply of Western weapons. Source: Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Quote: "The aggressor state, Russia, is using the attack by Hamas terrorists on the state of Israel for a large-scale provocation against Ukraine. Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is aware that Russian intelligence has already delivered trophy weapons manufactured in the US and EU and captured during the hostilities in Ukraine to Hamas militants. The next step in the Russians' plan should be false accusations against the Ukrainian military of allegedly selling Western weapons to terrorists on a regular basis." Details: Defence Intelligence believes that the Russian occupiers intend this fake news to form the basis of a series of "revelations" and "investigations" in the Western media. Ukrainian intelligence also notes that the Russian secret services intend to use relevant comments made by Senior Lieutenant Ruslan Syrovyi, a traitor from the Ukrainian Border Service who recently fled to Moscow, to lend credibility to the allegations. The aim of the Russian provocation is to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine and bring the flow of military aid to Ukraine from Western partners to a complete stop. Update: Later, Dmitry Medvedev , Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, stated that the weapons the West had been supplying to Ukraine "are actively being used in Israel": "Then, these weapons, just like the weapons American runaways left in Afghanistan, will be uncontrollably used in all hot spots." As usual, Medvedev did not post any proof of his words, not even fake ones. Background: 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! Aborted flight: The plane that was stopped from flying to Rwanda with asylum seekers on board in June 2022 The UK Supreme Court case will consider the fate of the government's controversial plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. The outcome is far from certain - and the full story is far more complex than headlines suggest. Let's go back to the beginning. The UK is a member of the Refugee Convention - the international law that says it will consider the cases of people who arrive in the country seeking asylum. It's very difficult to seek asylum in the UK - so people have increasingly arrived with the help of smugglers. The government says that these people who could have claimed asylum in France, or elsewhere in the EU, should not be coming to the UK at all. So three prime ministers ago in April last year, the government struck a deal with Rwanda in which the African nation agreed to take some of these asylum applicants off the UK's hands. It's been paid 140m so far to do so - and it remains totally unclear how many it would ever take, even if the scheme ever gets to operate. Back in 2022, the then Home Secretary Priti Patel ordered that 47 English Channel-crossing migrants could be put on the first flight. That fell to just seven by the planned departure date of 14 June. But lawyers acting for the migrants asked the High Court to stop the flight ahead of a full legal challenge to the Rwanda plan. A judge refused to stop it, saying the flight should be allowed to leave before the scheme was considered - and more senior judges ruled there was nothing wrong with his decision. But as the plane was being prepared, a judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg blocked the take-off. It said British judges must be allowed time to fully assess the policy - and that's what has been happening ever since. What do we know about the asylum seekers? The Supreme Court justices aren't considering the merits of the ten individual cases - but each of them have very different stories to tell. Three of the men fled Syria to avoid conscription into armed forces in the continuing chaos since its awful civil war. One of them left five years ago and came to the UK after living for a while in Turkey because other members of his family have come here. Another man is from Iran and says he was shot at by police for being part of a political campaign against the regime. Court papers show that one of the men, from Iraq, left fearing for his life after discovering his wife in bed with the bodyguard of a powerful intelligence chief. One man, known only as HTN, is from Vietnam. Papers show he came to Europe after a financial debt led to death threats. He first went to Ukraine - only to be caught up in war - and then came to the UK. Another Iranian man in the case told British officials that he had been granted asylum protection in Greece two years earlier. But he and his son left, applied again in Germany, and only then came to the UK. Whatever your thoughts about the merits of those cases, the High Court ruled that none of the men had been given a chance to put their case before they were put on the list for Rwanda. So while the court decided last December that the Rwanda scheme was lawful, the home secretary had, by that point, nobody to send anyway. The case then moved to the Court of Appeal - and that's where things got trickier for the government. In late June, it ruled by a majority of two judges to one that there were so many problems with Rwanda's asylum system that asylum seekers sent there could be forced back to the country they had originally fled from. If that happened, the UK will have broken the international ban on putting people at risk of torture - part of the European Convention on Human Rights. The single judge who disagreed - the then Lord Chief Justice - said the risk wasn't realistic. What happens now? The main task for the Supreme Court is to consider who is right over the legal tests for assessing Rwanda's asylum system and that risk of torture. If the Supreme Court agrees with the Court of Appeal, then the Rwanda plan, in its current form, is dead. Such a judgment could, in specific circumstances, have implications for any alternative later deals to send people to different countries. But what happens if the government wins? In theory, ministers need just 12 days notice to send a flight to Rwanda. In practice it could take longer - a lot longer. Individuals in this case - or newly identified passengers - who are given a ticket could have a shot of getting their case into the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Migrants coming ashore in Kent Would it be prepared to intervene again? The Strasbourg court's very specifically intervened last year because of a complaint that British judges had not had proper time to look at the scheme. Any attempt to take a case to the court would have to show that UK judges have somehow failed to consider all the human rights issues, despite 16 months of arguments in court. But what if Strasbourg tried to stop a flight again? The home secretary could have another card to play. She has a new untested power, thanks to the recently-passed Illegal Migration Act, to ignore an interim order from the ECtHR. But guess what? An attempt to use that could lead to new attempted challenges. News Daily banner Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox. In June 2022, a plane was stopped from flying to Rwanda with asylum seekers on board Rwanda can be trusted to treat humanely any asylum seekers sent to the country, lawyers for the home secretary have told the Supreme Court. Opening their case, the lawyers said the Court of Appeal had been wrong to block the UK government's plan to remove some asylum seekers to Rwanda amid fears about its record. They urged the highest court in the UK to let the scheme go ahead. The scheme has been in limbo since it was stopped 16 months ago. Under the policy, anyone who comes to the UK without authorisation from a safe country and seeks asylum - in practice meaning people crossing the English Channel in small boats from France - can be blocked from making a claim for protection and sent to Rwanda instead. Ministers say this would deter criminal people-smuggling gangs - although that's disputed and officials estimate the scheme could be more expensive than dealing with the migrants in the UK. In June 2022, the European Court of Human Rights blocked the departure of the first flight, saying that British judges needed time to fully consider whether the plan was legal. That battle has now reached the Supreme Court, where five of the UK's most senior lawyers will decide the scheme's fate. Supreme Court: Five justices hearing the government's appeal The government's lawyers have said that in June the Court of Appeal was wrong to conclude that Rwanda's asylum system was so flawed it could send migrants back to their home countries, where they could be mistreated. Extensive monitoring Sir James Eadie KC, for the home secretary, told the Supreme Court there was "every reason to conclude" that Rwanda would want the arrangements to work. He said the country had every reputational and financial incentive to treat asylum seekers well - and that even if there were genuine concerns, extensive monitoring had been put in place. A government official would be permanently stationed in Kigali to make the deal work and also to flag concerns. There would also be further independent monitoring of what happened to each migrant, he said. These arrangements, alongside the detailed written commitments given to the UK under the 140m scheme, meant there was no legal reason to interfere with the plan, the government argued. Rwanda: The story so far April 2022: Government announces plan to send some migrants to Rwanda May 2022: Then Home Secretary Priti Patel identifies 47 migrants to be sent 14 June 2022: Flight with seven migrants stopped by late order from European Court of Human Rights December 2022: High Court rules plan is lawful but individual migrants treated unlawfully June 2023: Court of Appeal rules entire scheme is unlawful October 2023: Supreme Court appeal from the government Human rights safeguards Sir James said that while critics of the Rwanda plan had warned about the country's human rights record, past incidents were not legally relevant. He continued that the scheme ensured that both the UK government and Rwanda's treatment of the migrants would comply with legal safeguards under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. "At the heart of all of this lies compliance with the assurances and the judgments that have to be made about that," he said. "There is no challenge at all to the good faith or the intent of Rwanda to comply with the commitments that they have given to the United Kingdom." Plan 'failed to tread line' Opening the rebuttal for the migrants, Raza Husain KC said the home secretary's plan had failed to tread a difficult line. On the one hand, she needed Rwanda to be sufficiently unattractive so that it would deter migrants from coming to the UK - but on the other its treatment of them mustn't break the law. Mr Husain said the "authoritarian one-party state" had an acutely unfair asylum system - and the government's plan ignored these facts. Lawyers for the 10 migrants resisting the plan will continue submissions on Tuesday before the court hears from the United Nations' refugee agency. Its lawyers are expected to reiterate criticisms of the scheme which, so far, have been the crucial element of the case. Marcus Attwood Jr. and Jaxsen Duncan were at home on their skateboards. On Saturday, the two teenage skaters were riding at their usual park, doing flip tricks to grinds and board slides, clearing a mock stairway with spins and landing with their eyes on their next maneuver. They both conferred with their familiar skating buddies in the shady, southeastern corner of the skate park between runs. Its just like a regular day at the skate park, Duncan said. But it wasnt a normal day at Mather Skatepark in Rancho Cordova. The Bones Love Milk Gravity Tour was in town, putting on an exhibition and hosting a contest on Duncan and Attwoods home turf. It was the tours first event in Northern California, and it was sponsored by the California Milk Processor Board, using skateboarding to spread the message about milk being good for strong bones. It was also sponsored by SkateMD, a local nonprofit that works with children with physical and developmental disabilities by helping them learn to skateboard. Christian Hosoi, a legend in the industry who first starting winning competitions in the 1980s, was on the microphone emceeing the event, calling out Attwood and Duncan as they impressed the hundreds in attendance watching the locals skate. The event was judged by a handful of professional skaters, with Christopher Hiett, Zach Doeling, Dalton and Kanaan Dern and Reggie Kelly listed in attendance. Even to a skateboarding layperson, the 14-year-old Attwood stood out. He was one of the smallest skaters, in stature, in the 14-and-under heat. But the respect he had from his peers was considerable. Not that he seemed to care. Attwoods attitude was of someone who had nothing to prove. Skateboarding is all about self expression, and Attwood seemed to express that skateboarding was the most important thing on his mind. He took countless practice laps before the competition, honing his footwork and timing, particularly while flipping his board to a slide on a descending rail. And while some skateboarders were efforting to make fashion statements, Attwoods attire was a tank top for the 94-degree heat, jean shorts, scrunched black socks and black Nike SBs. When the eyeballs were on him and it was time to throw down, Attwood did just that, winning first place in his group in convincing fashion and receiving a rare skateboard deck for his troubles, handed to him by Hosoi. This guy right here has been getting first or second place since Ive met him, Duncan said. Duncan is from nearby Rancho Cordova while Attwood makes the trip to Mather Skatepark from Del Paso Heights. Both said they try to skate every day amid their busy teenage lives. Duncan fared well in his own right. The 17-year-old took home first place in the 16-and-up competition, which included a crowded and competitive final round. Im pretty hyped on him, Attwood said of his friend for winning in the older group. Duncan is taller and the more talkative of the two. He had the appearance of the unofficial leader of the skating group made up of locals in Sacramento and with others coming from as far as Grass Valley. He wore a sweat-through camouflage hat with a white shirt, shorts, tube socks and Adidas skate shoes that look like theyve been worn through many sessions. Attwood and Duncan say theyre both hoping to become pro skaters. Their friend group films videos together skating throughout Sacramento. Duncan has local sponsors, while Attwood appears on his way. Attwood later in October will be traveling to Tampa Bay, Florida to participate in his third Tampa Am, considered one of the countrys biggest amateur skating competitions. He said he finished in the 60s among the hundreds of competitors there last year. People come from all around the world to come skate at this competition, Attwood said. So its pretty big for me. A jury has found Alicia Kincheloe, 30, guilty of one count of aggravated animal cruelty and one count of tampering with evidence, while concluding she intentionally tortured or tormented a raccoon by setting it on fire in a waste bin, according to a news release from State Attorney Ed Brodsky's office. According to the release, Kincheloe posted a video of a raccoon that was trapped in a waste bin. The evidence presented during the trial showed she posted a second video moments later after the raccoon was set ablaze. At trial, Kincheloe stated she did not know how the fire started, and she attempted to save the animal by pouringthe contents of a gas canister which she thought was filled with water. Within a few hours, a separate surveillance system revealed Kincheloe taking the burned raccoon from the and disposing of it, Brodsky's office said.. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrested Alicia Kincheloe and her father Roddy Kinchloe, 63, in late August after connecting the woman to a viral Snapchat video that allegedly showed the woman piercing a raccoon with a pitchfork and setting it on fire in a the waste bin on Aug. 11. In case you missed it: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrest father-daughter duo that set raccoon on fire, deputies say More: Sarasota County Sheriff's Office arrest father-daughter duo that set raccoon on fire Surveillance video showed Alicia Kincheloe reaching into the dumpster with a pitchfork and piercing the dead raccoon to remove it. Video surveillance also showed a woman arriving just after the animal was removed from the dumpster. The woman told deputies that Alicia Kincheloe said her father initially used a pitchfork to stab the animal. Alicia Kincehelo is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 19 and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years of incarceration. Sarasota Animal Cruelty Prosecutor Andrew Van Sickle attributed the success of the prosecution to the community and the work of the Sarasota County Sheriffs Agriculture Unit. The Sheriffs Office tracked down surveillance and cellular phone data that helped disprove Kincheloes account, the news release said. Unfortunately, we were not able to save this animal from a horrific death," he said. "However, I am delighted that the jury agreed that all animals, whether domesticated or wild, should be treated humanely and with respect. A simple phone call to Animal Services or FWC would have averted this entire tragedy." This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Woman who burned raccoon found guilty of aggravated animal cruelty An aerial picture shows the abandoned site of the Supernova Festival, following an attack by Hamas militants, in the Negev desert in southern Israel, on Oct. 10, 2023. Credit - Jack GuezAFP/Getty Images Arbel Ashkenazy attended the Supernova festival on Friday night, a desert rave that coincided with the start of the week-long Jewish holiday of Sukkot, which celebrates the fall harvest and commemorates the Old Testament story of the Jewish people wandering in the desert for 40 years after escaping slavery in Egypt. The festival featured Brazilian psy trance music and focused on free love, spirit, and environmental preservation. But in the early hours of Saturday morning, Hamas militants paraglided into the outdoor festival and began shooting indiscriminately at partygoers. At the same time, Hamas also launched thousands of rockets from Gaza into Israel and sent fighters to other border towns in the south of the country. Hamas says that they have taken over 100 Israeli hostages so far. Over 700 hundred Israelis were killed, with the death toll soaring over 1,200 on both sides on Monday. The Supernova festival had one of the highest concentrations of casualties. More than 260 bodies have been found from the festival so far. Below is Arbel's account of the events that unfolded at the festival. More From TIME Read More: Pres. Isaac Herzog: Israel Needs Support We arrived at the party Friday night, and at around 6 in the morning on Saturday they stopped the music and sirens started to sound. We heard the sound of rockets over our heads in huge numbers. During this time we werent that stressed, we just stayed put at the party and lied down on the floor. Slowly, slowly we started to see many people leave and head to their cars despite the fact that we were supposed to stay. During this time, I started looking for my friend Eden. Even though we didnt arrive at the party together, she is my best friend so I immediately started to look for her. Me and my friend found her and we left and started heading for the direction of the cars at around 7 a.m. At this point, we were getting more stressed but we still didnt totally understand exactly what was happening. There also wasnt any reporting on it in the news or internet yet. We started to leave the party and get into vehicles, but because everyone was leaving at the same timethere were 3,000 people at the partythere was a crazy amount of traffic in the street. We ended up making a left turn and we immediately saw all these cars with shattered windows from the gunshots. We heard a lot of people screaming that they needed an ambulance. We didnt know what to do so we stayed in our vehicles. By that time, I had lost contact with my friend Eden, because she was in a different car and hid there when the gunshots started. Then, we heard somebody screaming, get out of the cars, so we left the cars, and just started running. There was an area with an empty field since it was a nature party. It was very bare with no trees or anything and we started to run toward it. At that same time, we also started to hear gunshots from every direction and voices shouting Allahu Akbar. While we were running in that open field, we could see in the distance some of the Hamas people. They were wearing all black with black masks and had these huge guns. For some time, we hid in these bushes before we started to run further east. But as we started running east, we saw other people from the party running toward us and they told us, run to the other side because there are terrorists on this side. They had just circled all around us from every direction. We kept running when suddenly I saw a personan angelthat had a big white van. He picked up a bunch of people into the van and me and my friend climbed onto the van. It was a miracle that even though he was driving in this open field, and there were gunshots all over the place, we were able to get to a police station in the city of Netivot at around 10:30 a.m. We stayed there until the evening until things calmed down, if you can even say calmed down, because it didnt really calm down. In our area, they captured some of the perpetrators. I heard that my friend Eden, who had hidden in the car during the gunshots, was on the phone the entire time with her mother for four hours straight. At some point she made it to the bushes as well, but then suddenly, four hours into the phone call, they heard her say on the phone, they caught me. You can hear for a moment in the recording the voices of the Hamas people and then the phone disconnects. We have been looking for her but have not heard from her since. The hardest part is to see all the bodies of young kids our age with blood laid out on the floor. We were in an environment of pure chaos. I was saved by a miracle and was left in peace, but many of my friends including my best friend Eden are still there and I just want everyone to return safely and in peace. I just want this horrible story to end because it doesnt feel real. Its not normal, in any country, any place, nobody should have to go through something like this. It didnt make any sense. We ran like crazy people in the middle of an open field while they were shooting at us, there was no place to run, no place to hide. Im grateful to be alive but I just want Eden back. Contact us at letters@time.com. FTX invested $500 million in Anthropic, the AI startup, last year. Anthropic looks set to be valued at $30 billion as it is in talks with Google for further investment. Prosecutors argue that the investment can't be used as evidence in Bankman-Fried's favor. Prosecutors have asked the judge overseeing Sam Bankman-Fried's trial to stop the FTX founder's lawyers from referencing his $500 million investment in Anthropic. In Sunday's letter to US District Judge Lewis Kaplan, US Attorney Damian Williams said "the defense may seek to elicit evidence about the current value of the defendant's investment in Anthropic." The AI startup was founded in 2021 but has seen an influx of investments since the sector has boomed over the last year. In June, Anthropic was valued at $4.6 billion and FTX's stake was worth nine-figures, according to Semafor. It has only increased in value since then. After Amazon agreed to invest $4 billion, Anthropic is in discussions with Google and other firms for further investments that could see it valued at $30 billion, according to The Information. That means Bankman-Fried's investment could be a major help in reimbursing the thousands of FTX customers who lost their money as the crypto exchange imploded last November. But prosecutors in Bankman-Fried's trial argue that this shouldn't be used as evidence in his favor. They referenced an earlier judgement in the case that "it is immaterial as a matter of law whether the defendant intended to repay the misappropriated funds." "Such evidence would therefore be wholly irrelevant, and present a substantial danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, and waste of time," Williams wrote in Sunday's letter. Bankman-Fried has pleaded not guilty to seven charges including wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Gary Wang, the FTX cofounder, testified last Friday that the company's sister hedge fund, Alameda, had a $65 billion line of credit with the crypto exchange. That would mean it could spend huge amounts by drawing on customers' deposits. Michael Lewis, who interviewed Bankman-Fried more than 100 times for his biography, wrote that other FTX executives didn't approve of the Anthropic investment. Ramnik Arora, the FTX head of product, told Lewis: "I said to Sam after he did it: 'We don't know a fucking thing about this company.'" According to Lewis, Bankman-Fried spent $5 billion on 300 separate investments over three years. Bankman-Fried's spokesperson did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment, sent outside US working hours. Read the original article on Business Insider The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) detained a businessman in Kyiv Oblast for allegedly transferring over $400,000 to Russian proxy forces in Donetsk Oblast, the SBU announced on Oct. 9. The suspect is the director of a foundry in the occupied city of Makiivka in Donetsk Oblast. According to the investigators, the businessman continued to conduct business in the city even after its capture by Russian forces in 2014. The plant reportedly sold goods to Ukraine through other front companies registered in the country. This allegedly allowed the suspect to bypass state-imposed restrictions on conducting business with companies in the occupied territories. A large part of the received profits were allegedly transferred to the Russian occupation authorities in Ukraine as "taxes." These transactions were carried out through sanctioned banks in Russia and the occupied Donbas region, the SBU reported. Shortly before the start of the full-scale war, the businessman allegedly transferred more than $400,000 to the budget of the occupation authorities. These funds were then used by those authorities for military purposes, the investigators said. During the search of the suspect's offices and residences, the law enforcement agents uncovered documents and electronic devices containing evidence of the scheme. The SBU said it had also exposed the factory director's accomplices in Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia. All suspects face up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property. Read also: Ukrainian aerospace company allegedly supplied military helicopter parts to Russia during war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. An investigation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered the identity of a Ukrainian collaborator responsible for the kidnapping and torture of civilians in Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast, the SBU announced on Oct. 9. Serhii Berozin has collaborated with Russia since 2014, when he joined the so-called "Internal Ministry" of the Russian proxy authorities in his hometown of Donetsk, according to the SBU. After the full-scale Russian invasion and occupation of most of Kherson Oblast, he became the head of a district of the Russian-controlled police department of Kakhovka, a port city on the Dnipro River which is still occupied today. In this role, he gives orders to kidnap and interrogate local residents in Russian torture camps, the SBU suspects. "People are subjected to brutal torture," the SBU said, as Russian forces "try to break their resistance and make them cooperate." Although Berozin is currently located in an area of Ukraine that has not yet been liberated from Russian control, "comprehensive measures are being taken to bring him to justice," the SBU said. Read also: SBU detains factory director for allegedly transferring $400,000 to Russian proxy forces Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Previous conflicts between Hamas and Israel have ended through mediation by powers with a keen interest in Middle East peace but the unprecedented nature of the assault by the Palestinian militant group could make any diplomatic efforts fruitless for now, analysts say. Egypt, which has a peace treaty with Israel and also borders the Gaza Strip, a Hamas stronghold, has in the past repeatedly been called upon to act as mediator, with Cairo also happy to add to its diplomatic prestige. Gulf Arab states, notably Qatar, could also be interested in brokering peace while Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sought to warm ties with Israel even as it keeps up contacts with Hamas. But the casualties on both sides -- with Hamas killing hundreds of Israelis as well as taking hostages and Israel hitting back with deadly force -- complicate any mediation. "I doubt that we can enter into mediation now given how the events have evolved," said Denis Bauchard, advisor for the Middle East at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI). With the offensive revealing the failures of the Israeli security and intelligence services, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will certainly want "for internal political reasons, to appear as the strong man" who will "win the war before diplomacy can start", he said. "The unprecedented nature of this conflict will certainly require mediation and intervention different from all previous mediations," added Hasni Abidi, director of the Geneva-based Center for Studies and Research on the Arab World and the Mediterranean. Agnes Levallois, vice-president of the Institute for Mediterranean Middle East Research and Studies (IREMMO), said the composition of Netanyahu's coalition government, which includes radical nationalists, "also complicates the situation". Israel would hardly accept mediation at the moment, she said, adding it was also possible that Hamas would be reluctant as it currently "feels so strong". - Hamas 'needs a way out' - But she noted with Israel already exacting revenge through relentless air strikes, threatening a full-scale siege and with a ground offensive also possible "there is a moment when Hamas will need to find a way out, including for the sake of its own population who will pay the highest price." And the presence of Israeli civilian hostages could also later encourage "humanitarian-type mediation rather than political mediation", said Bauchard. Should a moment arise when diplomacy does become a possibility then eyes will turn first to Egypt, which has traditionally played the role of mediator through its discreet intelligence services. For Levallois, "Egypt will do everything to play this role because it is essential for it to appear as a regional power." "It is a role that it can carry out in association with other countries" such as the United States or EU states including France, which have "strong" relations with Egypt, Levallois said. Qatar, which provides the Gaza Strip with crucial financial aid, could also have a role. "Qatar has the means to influence Hamas," said Levallois. Egypt could also work in tandem with Gulf powers as the landscape changes due to the US-backed Abraham Accords, which saw the UAE normalise relations with Israel in 2020. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, agreeing to "intensify discussions and diplomatic efforts to stop military escalation", Sisi's spokesman said. - 'Only blows' - Into this mix comes Turkey, with Erdogan always keen to shine on the global stage and present a friendlier face to the world after winning a new term in power this year by improving relations with both Israel and Egypt. The role of regional kingpin Saudi Arabia remains hugely sensitive, with some analysts suggesting moves to normalise the kingdom's own relationship with Israel could have been one of the motivations for the attack by Hamas. The United States is seen less as a potential solution, with the prickly relations between Netanyahu and the administration of President Joe Biden presenting an immediate problem. After energetic diplomatic efforts in the past came to nought, the US will also be wary of investing in any peace drive as the US presidential elections approach. "Some will undoubtedly call for American mediation," Levallois said. "But it's another thing to take the step." Given Biden could face Donald Trump, who had more cordial relations with Netanyahu while in power, "there are only blows to be taken." dt-sjw/tgb/ach The brutal Israel-Gaza conflict that erupted on Saturday coincided with a uniquely tumultuous period in Congress, arriving just days after Republican infighting left the House without a speaker and the government at a standstill. Broad bipartisan swaths of the legislature reaffirmed their support for Israel as the conflict dragged on, but with the Houses top job still vacant lawmakers also voiced worries over how substantial and rapid a response the U.S. will ultimately be able to muster. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) voiced his desire for a robust U.S. response that he hopes will ensure Israel gets whatever it needs to defend itself, he said in an interview with The Daily Beast on Sunday. I'm sure theyre rapidly going through the Iron Dome defenses and we need to make sure that their systems are replenished, Schiff said. Of similar importance to the California lawmaker are the U.S. intelligence-sharing capabilities. The breach of Israeli compounds and military outposts by Hamas militants caught officials off guard and raised questions as to what led to the widespread security failures. It is really chilling that an attack this massive, this coordinated, could take place and if I were still on the Intelligence Committee, I would want to know: what did we know? When did we know it? And really make sure that that intelligence cooperation is seamless, Schiff said. House turmoil raised concerns for Schiff and other lawmakers as they weigh what steps to take next. Republicans are set to wage a contentious battle for the speakership later this week following Kevin McCarthys ouster. Until then, the chamber remains leaderless, and it is unclear what actions lawmakers may be able to take before any consensus is reached. Right now we have a problemtheres nobody in the Speakers chair, but even when there is someone in the Speakers chair, they have to allow important things to come to the forefront. And I am concerned with the level of dysfunction and what that might mean, Schiff said. The sentiment has been shared among other representatives across both sides of the aisle. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) called McCarthys removal idiotic in the wake of the conflict in Israel, writing on X that Uncertainty and chaos in the U.S. breeds vulnerability around the world. The House should immediately reinstate McCarthy and stop screwing around. Schiff, also a candidate for the California Senate seat once held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, defended the decision by Democrats to not come to McCarthys aid during a campaign stop Saturday, citing a deep distrust for his fellow California lawmaker that dates back over a decade. Speaking to prospective voters in the back room of Elijahs Restaurant in San Diego, Schiff recalled a flight he took with McCarthy in 2010 where the pair discussed the impending midterm elections, each predicting their respective parties would ultimately triumph. Then, unbeknownst to me, he went off and did a briefing, and he told the press Republicans were definitely going to win the midterms. In fact, he said he sat next to Adam Schiff on the plane, and even Adam Schiff said Republicans were going to win them, Schiff said. After McCarthys version of events made its way into the press, Schiff confronted him on the floor of the House. I said, Kevin, first of all, we were having a private conversation on the plane. I would have thought it was a private conversation, but if it wasnt, you know, you told the press the exact opposite of what I said. And he looks at me and he says, Yeah, I know Adam, but you know how it goes, Schiff said. So when folks asked why didnt Democrats come to the rescue of Kevin McCarthy? Its because none of us trust him, he continued. Schiff suggested that should House Republicans fail to find consensus in the upcoming speaker election there is a remote possibility for Democrats to work with the party to find a compromise speaker. Speaking with the Daily Beast, Schiff declined to say who hed root for if that ends up the case, but said that there are any number of people that I think could be candidates whoeven if their ideology was very differentat least were people where their word meant something, which would be a sharp contrast to what we have in McCarthy. 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. (Bloomberg) -- The three parties in Germanys fractious ruling coalition struggled to present a united front after their drubbing in key regional votes, stoking concerns about the ability of Chancellor Olaf Scholz s alliance to govern effectively for the remaining two years of its term. Most Read from Bloomberg It was a particularly bruising night for Finance Minister Christian Lindner s Free Democrats, who crashed out of the parliament in Bavaria and were teetering on the 5% threshold required to retain their representation in Hesse, according to preliminary results. The business-friendly FDP has been the most troublesome member of Scholzs alliance, publicly undermining the Greens efforts to push their climate agenda and portraying itself as a force of restraint looking to protect ordinary citizens from excessive government interference. On Monday, a grim-faced Lindner blamed the partys woeful performance on the constraints of coalition government, which he said had hindered the partys efforts to get its message across on issues including the economy, migration, climate and energy policy, and the question of social freedom versus bureaucracy. The coalition parties are not being assessed individually, but rather people are judging the coalition as a whole, he told a news conference. Its clear that there must be critical reflection on the governments work with each other to better meet the expectations of citizens. While he broadly agreed with calls from his Social Democrat and Greens partners for more unity and less public bickering, he lashed out at them when asked by a reporter what contribution the FDP could make to coalition harmony. Those who have voiced such appeals have already made demands in terms of content, Lindner said. A planned Oct. 20 meeting of senior officials in the ruling alliance would be the appropriate forum to discuss whats next, he added. Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, said Scholzs coalition had taken an enormous blow that threatened to bring government business to a halt. Opposition parties are benefiting from voters expressing their dissatisfaction with the government and not necessarily from offering more effective policies, he said Monday in a note, identifying two scenarios. In the first, the federal government takes these election results as a signal to speed up reforms and investments, and to improve teamwork, he said. The second is that every coalition party will only focus on itself and on how to reach the best possible outcome at the next federal elections, which could basically mean a reform standstill. In Hesse, where the SPD lost almost 5 percentage points compared with the previous vote in 2018, the result hit close to home for Scholz as his interior minister in Berlin, Nancy Faeser, was the partys lead candidate. At a news conference Monday alongside Saskia Esken, an SPD co-leader, Faeser made another appeal for coalition unity. The most important thing is that people see that we are improving things in their interest, she told reporters. We are seeing that there is currently a lot of uncertainty, and they must all have the feeling that we stand together as a coalition. The far-right Alternative for Germany party continued its surge, rising to second place in Hesse home of financial capital Frankfurt and third in Bavaria, a development that Esken said was catastrophic for Germany. The conservative CDU/CSU bloc retained power as expected in the two regions, which account for about a fifth of the German electorate. Noisy Alliance Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, said he expects the ruling alliance to soldier on until the next election due in 2025 but that it may remain noisy. The three parties may feel a need to sharpen their profile by publicly objecting to policy proposals from their coalition partners ahead of finding compromises in the end, he added. Whether or not the AfD can continue its uptrend may depend decisively on how Berlin handles migration and economic issues in the meantime. --With assistance from Kamil Kowalcze. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A substitute teacher is accused of bringing a loaded gun into a Maryland high school. The 45-year-old man was charged with a weapons violation after the handgun was found in his backpack, the Anne Arundel County Police Department said in an Oct. 9 news release. The bag was left unattended on Oct. 6 in a Glen Burnie High School classroom, police said. Administrators alerted a school resource officer, who secured the backpack in an office, the release said. The gun, a 9mm Taurus handgun, was also seized. Additional information wasnt released. McClatchy News reached out to Anne Arundel County Public Schools for comment Oct. 9 and was awaiting a response. The substitute teacher remained in custody at the Anne Arundel County jail without bond as of Oct. 9, online records show. Glen Burnie is about 15 miles south of downtown Baltimore. Woman opens fire in police station lobby, but bulletproof glass intervenes, cops say Loaded handgun found in mans carry-on bag then he blames his wife, TSA says Man fatally shot by police during investigation of gunfire near uptown, CMPD says PADCASTER President Jon Goldberg, left, and CEO Josh Apter, demonstrate their Padcaster Studio for remote and virtual learning, at EDTECHWEEK 2023, in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. As soon as the federal pandemic relief started arriving at America's schools, tech companies by the dozens wanted a chance to prove that their software or equipment was exactly what schools needed. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) WASHINGTON (AP) As soon as the federal pandemic relief started arriving at Americas schools, so did the relentless calls. Tech companies by the dozens wanted a chance to prove their software was what schools needed. Best of all, they often added, it wouldn't take a dime from district budgets: Schools could use their new federal money. They did, and at a tremendous scale. An Associated Press analysis of public records found many of the largest school systems spent tens of millions of dollars in pandemic money on software and services from tech companies, including licenses for apps, games and tutoring websites. Schools, however, have little or no evidence the programs helped students. Some of the new software was rarely used. The full scope of spending is unknown because the aid came with few reporting requirements. Congress gave schools a record $190 billion but didnt require them to publicly report individual purchases. The AP asked the nations 30 largest school districts for contracts funded by federal pandemic aid. About half provided records illuminating an array of software and technology, collectively called edtech. Others didn't respond or demanded fees for producing the records totaling thousands of dollars. Clark County schools in the Las Vegas area, for one, signed contracts worth at least $70 million over two years with 12 education technology consultants and companies. They include Achieve3000 (for a suite of learning apps), Age of Learning (for math and reading acceleration), Paper (for virtual tutoring) and Renaissance Learning (for learning apps Freckle and MyON). The pandemic sparked a boom for tech companies as schools went online. Revenue skyrocketed and investors poured billions into startups. At the same time, new marketing technology made it easier for companies to get school officials' attention, said Chris Ryan, who left a career in edtech to help districts use technology effectively. Equipped with automated sales tools, marketers bombarded teachers and school leaders with calls, emails and targeted ads. Its probably predatory, but at the same time, schools were looking for solutions, so the doors were open," Ryan said. At the school offices in rural Nekoosa, Wisconsin, the calls and emails made their way to business manager Lynn Knight. I understand that they have a job to do, but when money is available, its like a vampire smelling blood," she said. "Its unbelievable how many calls we got. The spending fed an industry in which research and evidence are scarce. That money went to a wide variety of products and services, but it was not distributed on the basis of merit or equity or evidence, said Bart Epstein, founder and former CEO of EdTech Evidence Exchange, a nonprofit that helps schools make the most of their technology. It was distributed almost entirely on the strength of marketing, branding and relationships. Many schools bought software to communicate with parents and teach students remotely. But some of the biggest contracts went to companies that promised to help kids catch up on learning. Clark County schools spent more than $7 million on Achieve3000 apps. Some were widely used, such as literacy app Smarty Ants for young students. Others were not. Less than half of elementary school students used Freckle, a math app that cost the district $2 million. When they did use it, sessions averaged less than five minutes. The district declined an interview request. Some Las Vegas parents say software shouldn't be a priority in a district with issues including aging buildings and more than 1,100 teacher vacancies. Whats the point of having all this software in place when you dont even have a teacher to teach the class? It doesnt make sense, said Lorena Rojas, who has two teens in the district. Education technology accounts for a relatively small piece of pandemic spending. Tech contracts released by Clark County amount to about 6% of its $1.2 billion in federal relief money. But nearly all schools spent some money on technology. As districts spend the last of their pandemic aid, there is no consensus on how well the investments paid off. The company Edmentum says Clark County students who used one of its programs did better on standardized tests. But a study of a ThinkCERCA literacy program found it had no impact on scores. A team of international researchers reported in September that edtech has generally failed to live up to its potential. With little regulation, companies have few incentives to prove their products work, according to the researchers at Harvard and universities in Norway and Germany. The federal government has done little to intervene. The Education Department urges schools to use technology with a proven track record and offers a rating system to assess a product's evidence. The lowest tier is a relatively easy target: Companies must demonstrate a rationale for the product, with plans to study its effectiveness. Yet studies find the vast majority of popular products fail to hit even that mark. There has never been anything close to a proper accounting of what has been spent on or how it was deployed, Epstein said. You can call it mismanagement, you can call it a lack of oversight, you can call it a crisis. There was a lot of it. Epstein has called for more federal regulation. Some companies sold hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars in products that they could see were barely ever being used, the nonprofit CEO said. In Louisville, Kentucky, education technology contracts totaled more than $30 million. The Jefferson County district signed contracts with online tutoring companies Paper and FEV for a combined $7.7 million. Millions more went to companies such as Edmentum and ThinkCERCA for software to supplement classroom teaching. Jefferson County declined an interview request, saying most of the contracts were approved by officials who have left. Asked for records evaluating the use and effectiveness of the purchases, the district said it had none. The district said it is using this year as a fresh start. We will be compiling baseline data and the new academic leadership team will be analyzing it to determine the impact these programs are having on student learning, a district statement said. In Marylands Prince Georges County, curriculum director Kia McDaniel spent hours sifting through pitches. Her team tried to focus on software backed by independent research, but for many products that doesnt exist. Often, she said, we really did depend on the results that the sales team or the research team said that the product could deliver. Students made gains using some apps, but others didnt catch on. The district paid $1.4 million for learning support from IXL Learning, but few students used it. Another contract for online tutoring also failed to generate student interest. The district plans to pull back contracts that didnt work and expand those that did. Even before the pandemic, there was evidence that schools struggled to manage technology. A 2019 study by education technology company Glimpse K 12 found, on average, schools let 67% of their educational software licenses go unused. Ryan, the former edtech marketer, said that at the end of the day, no technology can guarantee results. Its like the Wild West, figuring this out, he said. And if you take a huge step back, what really works is direct instruction with a kid. ___ AP data reporter Sharon Lurye contributed from New Orleans. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) late Sunday described the Hamas attack on Israel as heart wrenching. The viciousness and brutality of this unprecedented attack from Hamas targeting innocent civilians children, families, seniors is overwhelming and heart wrenching, Schumer, who is in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping , wrote in a statement. Schumer said he received a briefing Sunday evening by senior national security and State Department officials. He also said Defense Department officials told him they are giving Israel everything they need and are surging support. I asked them if they have denied any requests that Israel has made, and they said no, Schumer said. 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. Schumer also said he was working to arrange a classified briefing for senators in their respective states. And he confirmed at least four American deaths, saying, The Administration told us that they know of four thus far, but, sadly, we know the toll will rise. 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, he said. 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. Schumers remarks came after Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel by sea, air, and on the ground, resulting in at least 700 Israeli deaths. Hamas also took Israeli hostages into Gaza. Israels defense minister on Monday ordered a complete siege on the densely populated Gaza Strip. The announcement came as Israel scoured the south looking for Hamas fighters. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf on Monday said his wife's parents have been caught up in the aftermath of Hamas's weekend attack on Israel. Yousaf's wife Nadia El-Nakla is Palestinian and her parents, who live in Dundee, northeast Scotland, were visiting family in Gaza. "They've been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, I'm afraid," he told reporters. Yousaf, who in March became the first Muslim leader of a government in western Europe, said the Israeli authorities had told his parents-in-law to leave but not guaranteed safe passage. "I'm in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we don't know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law, who have nothing to do, as most Gazans don't, with Hamas or with any terror attack... will make it through the night or not," he said. He added: "We cannot sleep. We are constantly watching our phones." Yousaf condemned the Hamas attack and said his concerns would be mirrored by Scotland's Jewish community and their worries for family. "Innocent civilians" on both sides "are paying the price", he added. phz/jj/ach Anne Quarm and her husband, William, who was wrongly convicted in 2010 of misappropriating cash from the Post Office A victim of the Post Office Horizon scandal died a broken man after he was wrongly convicted of embezzling thousands of pounds, his wife has revealed. William Quarm was convicted in 2010 of misappropriating cash from the Post Office he ran on North Uist and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He died in 2012 just weeks before his 70th birthday. Last month, his wife Anne, 72, succeeded in a gruelling effort to have the conviction quashed. The Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh confirmed he was one of hundreds of people wrongly prosecuted as a result of faulty computer software. The glitch in the IT system, called Horizon, has been blamed for what has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history, with 93 convictions so far overturned. Mr Quarm and Susan Sinclair, who is still alive, last month became the first Horizon victims in Scotland to have their convictions quashed, following dozens of cases south of the border. Mrs Quarm said that the courts decision had been a joy beyond measure for us as she had promised her husband she would do all she could to clear his name. My husband pleaded guilty because he was told he was going to jail if he didnt, she told The Daily Record. He was a broken man and very upset and not well, as it later turned out. I promised him I would try my very best to clear his name and asked for him to forgive anyone who had done him wrong and to go in peace. He agreed to do that and that was a blessing. Devastating and degrading Mr Quarm had been a postmaster for 14 years. His wife said he had been baffled and devastated when police arrived one day and claimed money had gone missing. He was charged with embezzlement and ordered to appear at North Uists Lochmaddy Sheriff Court, where he pled guilty because he was told he would face jail if he denied the charge and was convicted. He was forced to carry out unpaid work and to give up his business. It was devastating for him and very degrading, Mrs Quarm said. The community service was not as bad as having to attend court every time and take his bag with him in case he wasnt returning. The look of fear and pain in his face was so hard to take. We lost the business because of the Post Office. We had to vacate our home and move to a much smaller house. Mr Quarms case was among six referred to the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, after an investigation confirmed they had potentially been wrongly convicted. 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 injured man spent 24 hours trapped on a rock near a New Hampshire waterfall, rescuers said. His calls for help saved him. At about 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, a person heard someone screaming across the river at Livermore Falls in Campton, the Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue said in a Facebook post. Rescuers rushed to the area and found a man trapped on a rock with a leg injury. Fire officials said he had been picking up trash along the river when he fell and crawled up the rock. He was there for 24 hours. Fire crews used a roping system to reach him and evaluate his injuries, officials said. Then they helped him down to a boat and took him to a hospital. Livermore Falls is a 25-foot waterfall with whitewater currents at the Pemigewasset River within Livermore Falls Recreation Area. Visitors can walk less than a half-mile to see the falls. The area has a beach and picnic spot. Campton is about 50 miles north of Concord. iPhone alert saves woman and dog after theyre swept 200 feet down canyon, rescuers say Hiker stumbles across forgotten land mine in forest, Colorado sheriff says Missing 73-year-old found after spending 5 days in Colorado wilderness, officials say Afghan men search for victims after an earthquake in Zenda Jan district in Herat province, western Afghanistan, on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Powerful earthquakes killed at least 2,000 people in western Afghanistan, a Taliban government spokesman said Sunday. Its one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. | Benyamin Barez, Associated Press Desperate rescuers have been digging through rubble by hand, trying to find survivors of Saturdays earthquake in Afghanistan, but the outlook is grim. Already, more bodies are being pulled from collapsed buildings than survivors, CBS reports. What happened By all accounts, the day began as any other day in the Zenda Jan district in western Afghanistan. Village men headed to their sheds and fields, while village women worked in their mud brick homes, with their children playing nearby. Hours later, around 11 a.m. local time, entire villages were flattened in seconds by a 6.3 earthquake no one expected. Related This region of Afghanistan is not earthquake-prone, at least not compared to other areas of the country. Reshma Azmi, an aid worker with CARE Afghanistan, said nobody was prepared. Another volunteer, Abdulhay, was among the first to arrive at the epicenter, reports The Washington Post. He said that the victims he pulled out of the rubble had died within inches of their doors. The first reports of this weekends earthquake had focused on toppled cans in supermarkets and cracks in high-rises in the nearby provincial capital of Herat. It took hours for local authorities and rescuers to realize that the worst damage and loss of life had occurred (and will continue to occur) in the surrounding remote and hard-to-reach areas. The area is one where communities are made up of people displaced by war and drought, making it difficult for de facto government officials to know how many people lived and died there, reports the BBC. International aid On Monday, several aftershocks, including one that measured 5.1, continued to hit the region, hampering efforts to find survivors. The Taliban said on Monday that a Saudi charity had provided $2 million worth of humanitarian food and other material through the Afghan Red Crescent Society. The head of the U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan, which operates out of Qatar, applauded the United Nations for approving the funds to support emergency relief efforts. My heart goes out to the Afghan people following the earthquakes in Herat province on Saturday and today. U.S. partners have already started to distribute hygiene kits, food, safe drinking water, and medical supplies to affected families in Afghanistan, charge daffaires Karen Decker said on X, formerly Twitter. My heart goes out to the Afghan people following the earthquakes in Herat province on Saturday and today. U.S. partners have already started to distribute hygiene kits, food, safe drinking water, and medical supplies to affected families in #Afghanistan. Charge dAffaires Karen Decker (@USAmbKabul) October 9, 2023 In a statement Monday, Amnesty International urged Taliban authorities to guarantee safe and unrestricted access to the quake-hit regions for humanitarian agencies. People in Afghanistan are already suffering from the impacts of the acute economic crisis and several years of conflict, said Zaman Sultani, the global watchdogs regional researcher for South Asia. With the winter months ahead, Amnesty International calls on the de facto authorities and the international community to immediately mobilize resources to support access to housing, adequate food, potable water, safe sanitation, and health care as thousands of families face an uncertain future with their homes destroyed by the earthquake, Sultani said. Afghanistans health care system has been decimated since the Taliban took over two years ago and the de facto government placed bans on Afghan women for the United Nations and other international nongovernmental organizations. The earthquake also damaged infrastructure in the area, including bridges, making the arrival of assistance even more difficult. Holly Richardson is the editor of Utah Policy. Rory Lee and Nicole Perry stumbled into their professions by accident. Lee realized she belonged in the world of makeup while helping out friends and family, and Perry discovered intimacy coordination while doing choreography for a high school play. On the other hand, Chris Herman and Francisco Aguila knew what they were getting into. Herman bought a commercial agency with his father, and Aguila had practiced photography for years before deciding to buy a cinema robot. Explore four different aspects of the production scene in Miami from makeup to intimacy coordination and commercials to theater. This photo story shows just a taste of what the industry looks like in South Florida. The Face is Her Canvas Rory Lee always loved art and creative expression, from macrame and tie dye to jewelry-making and papier-mache. I realized that I had a gift to also create art on faces and just started with doing it as a favor to a friend or family, Lee said. Now, she owns her own company, MakeupByRoryLee, with a team of wardrobe stylists, estheticians and hairstylists, and a makeup line. Lee, who has lived in Miami full time for almost 30 years, loves all of the places she has discovered while on the clock. Some of her favorites include Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, the Redland, the Everglades, as well as several places along the coast. Years ago, whenever Lee would have model shoots on South Beach, she would go to Pizza Rustica afterwards to treat herself to a slice. I just think Miami is a cool place, Lee said. Such a cool vibe. Lee sets up her ring light before laying out her makeup on a table inside NOMA Beach at Redfish before a long commercial shoot for the Herman Agency on July 11, 2023. Lees gigs can have a great range in length she has been on set for five minutes for breaking news shoots and has had shoots last as long as 14 hours. Lee always keeps a kit prepared and ready to go, just in case. She has different sets of brushes for each model or actor on set. It takes away having to get ready if you always stay ready, Lee said. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Lee touches up actor Lee Dahlbergs eyebrows before he goes on set. One of Lees priorities while on the job is to make her subjects feel comfortable and able to relax and focus on doing their job. Being able to do what I do and help others its a blessing. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Lees makeup table, pictured before she had the chance to organize the makeup by actor. She took bites of her bagel with cream cheese in between doing actors makeup, making sure to sanitize her hands before touching the makeup and the actors. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Lee touches up actress Patricia Gonzalezs face. Its just been amazing the journey, Lee said. The journey and just the love and the passion for still the science of skin and taking care of my clients. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Cars and Commercials Chris Herman, president and CEO, has run the Herman Agency for over 17 years after buying out a small automotive advertising agency and renaming it with his late father. Herman, who has been in Miami for 17 years, loves to focus on the South Florida lifestyle in the agencys commercials. Its such a great place [for video production] just because theres so many stunning backdrops and interesting people, Herman said. There are a lot of steps from idea creation to delivering the final product and more planning than Herman thinks people realize, including storyboarding, location scouting, getting permits to shoot in certain areas, contacting talent agencies, coordinating schedules and more. Alex Bailey (left), director of photography, and Antonio Tony Tur (right), drone pilot/operator, look back at the footage on the Atomos video monitor in Coral Gables, Fla., on July 11, 2023. Herman says they usually have a shot list and general plan of what they want to accomplish, but sometimes plans do not go accordingly on set. But then you get out there and its sort of like a live performance that is modifying and adapting throughout the day, he said. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com The crew films a scene outside NOMA Beach at Redfish. When putting together his crew, Herman looked for a group of people that have fun when theyre working together, theyre friendly, and theyre helpful, he said. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Alex Bailey sweats as he watches and films the actors performing a scene outside. [The heat] can make for a draining day, but its just part of living down here, Herman said. So, you get used to it. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com The crew films a family outing scene. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Herman (right) and Ali Cabala (left), b camera operator, high five after finishing up a 12-hour shoot day. The best part is delivering something that you are a part of creating to the client, and theyre excited about it, and they feel like it represents their business in a really nice way, Herman said. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Speaking Body Language Nicole Perry moved to Miami from Pennsylvania in 2012 to work at a theater. She discovered intimacy coordination while she was choreographing a musical at a high school. A student came to her, nervous about a kiss in the musical because the director did not give specific instructions, like they do for most actions on stage, and it was their first kiss ever. Were so specific about things in theater, but we werent specific about [intimacy], Perry said. So I was like, there has to be a way to do this better. She started researching and discovered intimacy coordination certification programs. She started the certification process in 2018 and has since worked on plays and musicals as well as independent and feature films in Miami. Perry says there are three parts to intimacy coordination: actor advocacy, communication and choreography. She fosters conversations between and with the actors about boundaries and communicates those to the director. Then, they combine that with the directors vision to choreograph the scene in a way that honors the actors and tells a story. Most of Perrys intimacy coordination work is in theater, and Perry says working on films in Miami is difficult because work in the city is usually more on the commercial side. However, she likes that South Florida has so many film programs at University of Miami, Florida International University, and Miami Dade College. I get excited, too, about working on student films because student films are usually a little edgier and are telling stories that are not mainstream stories, Perry said. Nicole Perry (middle), intimacy coordinator, instructs actors Samuel Krogh (left) and Noelle Nicholas (right) to maintain eye contact while choreographing a first kiss scene in the play XOXOLOLA by Rachel Greene put on by LakehouseRanchDotPNG on Aug. 9, 2023, at Graham Center on FIU campus. The play ran from September 22 through October 1 this year. I call them flavors, Perry said. I am always saying to the director like What flavor is this kiss? Whats the story that were trying to tell here? And thats what we do really with the bodies and the shapes and the time that were together with that choreography. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Samuel Krogh moves his hand up Noelle Nicholas thigh as they work to choreograph the first kiss scene with Perrys help. We worry about the big movement first, Perry said. Your hand goes here; your body makes this shape so that we really see the story. And then the kiss comes in the last part. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Perry watches the beginning of the scene before the kiss happens as Noelle Nicholas dances with Samuel Krogh. The kiss is part of the whole story, Perry said. I need to know how we get to this moment and how we get out of this moment. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Robots and Oranges Francisco Aguila founded Miami Cinema Robot in 2021 after being interested in a type of photography that captures fast-moving objects for a while. The company mainly focuses on food and beverage clients because they often need the precise movements of a robot for their campaigns. I was always intrigued how you can capture a splash of water or a sauce or stuff flying in the air, Aguila said. After learning how to do that in still photography, he wanted to figure out how to capture that on video. His research led him to robots. Aguila chose the Mark Roberts Motion Control Bolt Jr+, which costs around $100,000, because he believes the robot is way ahead of the [other] companies in terms of software, he said. The robot uses a target-tracking software called Flair, which works as a spreadsheet with inputs for a timeline and the robots position at certain points on the timeline as well as the position of the subject you are capturing. Aguila likes working in Florida because were in an up-and-coming market. After the pandemic, a lot of people have moved to our state, so there are more people here. There is more demand for products. There is more demand for advertising. The following photos are from a demonstration of how the camera works. See Aguilas Instagram to check out the finished product. The Bolt Jr.+ seen in Aguilas studio on Aug. 9, 2023. The robot moves precisely based on inputs in the software, Flair. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Aguila covers the robot with a sheet to protect it from water during a demonstration of how the robot works. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Aguila used a launcher to throw the oranges into the air and a catapult to toss the water at the airborne oranges. It took several takes to get the moment captured just right. We start with the movement of the robot that is going to be always constant, and then were going to start [adjusting] the other variables in the shot, Aguila said. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com Ania Moussawel (left) watches as Luis Corchon (right) and Aguila throw oranges to each other right in front of the backdrop to see if adding depth to the video would make it look better. Lauren Witte/lwitte@miamiherald.com The cosmos will align Saturday to create a solar eclipse that can be viewed from nearly all of North America and South America, the first of two solar eclipses that will be visible in the United States in a span of 177 days. The primary viewing zone for the annular solar eclipse in the U.S. will be across a narrow corridor from southern Oregon to southern Texas where the moon will cover the sun's center in a phenomenon nicknamed a "ring of fire." However, the remainder of the country will be able to witness a partial solar eclipse, for some, the first since 2017. Eye protection is paramount, as looking at the sun without a solar filter or eclipse glasses can cause serious, potentially long-lasting, eye damage. A girl looks through special glasses during a partial solar eclipse in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) With time running out to order a pair of specially designed eclipse glasses, people may need to rely on other methods to view a solar eclipse -- some of which require only a few items commonly found around the house. One of the easiest eclipse experiments involves a pasta strainer that has plenty of small, circular holes. As the moon blocks out part of the sun, hold the strainer out so that sunlight shines through the holes of the colander. Instead of circles of light appearing in the shadow, the light will be in the shape of crescents. A member of the White House kitchen staff brings out a colander to view the solar eclipse at the White House in Washington, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) A similar effect can be replicated by poking holes in a sheet of paper or by using any item that has small circular holes. A pinhole projector is a simple project that is easy to make with kids, and all it takes are a few items that most people already have in their homes. During a solar eclipse, a projector can show how much of the sun is being blocked out by the moon. An empty cereal box, scissors, a piece of aluminum foil, tape and a pin are all that will be needed to make a homemade pinhole projector. Watch the video below to learn how to assemble the projector: A pinhole projector can also be made with a sheet of paper by following these step-by-step instructions from NASA. Fall foliage is in full swing across the northern tier of the U.S., but on Saturday, instead of looking up at the colorful leaves, eclipse onlookers should glance down at the shadows cast by trees. As the moon blocks out part of the sun, light that shines through the trees' foliage will create crescent shapes. The more of the sun that is blocked out, the more prominent the crescents will be. Shadows from a near total solar eclipse are projected on a sidewalk as a pedestrian passes in midtown Atlanta, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Some people may miss out on this phenomenon during the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, as some trees may not have leaves yet following the winter months. If cloudy conditions prevail Saturday, people can still enjoy the eclipse online. NASA will broadcast the event live on its YouTube channel with views of the eclipse across the country and commentary from experts. Millions of people used eclipse glasses in 2017 to view the Great American Eclipse, which was visible from coast to coast. Anyone who safely stowed away their glasses should be able to reuse them this weekend, as well as next April, as long as they have "ISO 12312-2" printed on them. This ISO label is the international standard for eclipse glasses and solar filters. According to the American Astronomical Society (AAS), any solar filter that has the proper label can be reused indefinitely as long as they are not scratched. "Some glasses/viewers are printed with warnings stating that you shouldn't look through them for more than 3 minutes at a time and that you should discard them if they are more than 3 years old. Such warnings are outdated and do not apply to eclipse viewers compliant with the ISO 12312-2 standard and in excellent condition," the AAS explained on its website. A woman looks through a special glass during a solar eclipse, partially seen in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, July 2, 2019. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun and scores a bulls-eye by completely blocking out the sunlight. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) Welding glasses that are shade 14 can also be used to look at the sun safely. "A solar eclipse is one of nature's grandest spectacles," the AAS said. "By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime." The weather could prove to be problematic for viewing Saturday's eclipse across roughly half of the United States. Since the eclipse happens over the course of several hours, only a few breaks in the clouds are needed to catch a glimpse of the event. Cloudy conditions are in the forecast across most of the West Coast, as well as large sections of the Northeast, Midwest and northern Plains. Enough breaks in the clouds are likely to see at least part of the eclipse elsewhere in the eastern U.S., as well as across the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains. The best viewing conditions are expected over the Gulf Coast states and most of Texas, as well as over most of the Southwest. This includes some of the most-populated areas where the "ring of fire" will be visible. 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. SEMCO Energy Gas Company is warning customers of a new scam in which people falsely pose as SEMCO employees. "SEMCO customers have made several reports to the company of unknown door-to-door solicitors claiming to be SEMCO employees and asking for copies of the customers gas bill and banking information," the company wrote in a news release. Some of the solicitors have reportedly also told customers they can get lower rates on their energy bill. SEMCO pointed out in the news release that its rates are regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission and that its rates can be confirmed on its website. The company is advising its customers to not share their account information with anyone going door-to-door, saying it's unlikely they work for SEMCO. "SEMCO does not solicit customers door-to-door and does not ask for customer account numbers or to see copies of bills," the news release said. Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: SEMCO warns of scammers posing as its employees WASHINGTONSen. Cory Booker was jogging Saturday in Jerusalem when the attacks began. As Hamas militants moved into Israel, as thousands of rockets were launched, the New Jersey Democrat was advised by his chief of staff to get back to his hotel, Booker said in a video Saturday evening on X, formerly Twitter. He took cover in a hotel bomb shelter with others, including "many Americans." "Frightened faces, there were children and elderly, families, many Americans," Booker said in the video. "There was a sense of fear and worry and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at that time." FILE - Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., listens during a Senate hearing on Capitol Hill, March 16, 2023 in Washington. Booker was in Jerusalem as Hamas militants attacked Israel. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Booker, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, arrived in Israel Friday ahead of the Abraham Accords summit in Tel Aviv, where he was scheduled to speak Tuesday. His office confirmed earlier Sunday he would be leaving the country early because of the war. He mourned the hundreds who have been killed and the thousands who have been wounded in attacks he described as "staggering." Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier Sunday his department is working overtime to verify reports that "several" Americans have died or been taken hostage. "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," Booker said on X. "After this experience, more than ever, I am committed to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue supporting Israels security and ensuring stability in the region and I hope one day soon, a long-term and just peace in the region." The Senate is on recess this week and will reconvene Monday, Oct. 16. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cory Booker shares video after being in Israel bomb shelter in attack The message has a logical appeal: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is an independent, and her campaign recently pitched potential donors on a path to victory that includes her winning at least 60% of Arizona voters next year who are also not Democrats or Republicans. But some Arizona political observers see the path sketched out in a pie chart in a two-page memo as potentially unrealistic and certainly untested. Sinemas campaign declined to comment or share data supporting her plan, which they havent even acknowledged. The scant publicly available polling in the race suggests she is persistently trailing Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and often shows up last in a still-fluid three-way race. In at least the first six months of the year, Sinemas usually stellar fundraising lagged Gallegos, though she maintained her lead in available cash, largely because of his much higher campaign expenses. The U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on the national opioid crisis in 2018. From left are U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema and U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego. And the bedrock of the Sinema plan that she can win most independent voters, as well as significant slices of Democrats and Republicans stands as perhaps the most significant question, in part because of recent election history and the unprecedented nature of her still-undeclared bid for a second term. I would love to see her polling, said Fred Solop, a politics professor emeritus at Northern Arizona University who has overseen polling in Arizona. It doesnt sound very plausible. Shes correct in saying theres a huge pool of independents out there, and we know that independents are the fastest-growing party identification in Arizona, he continued. But when we push further, we know that most independents have a partisan allegiance. They like to say theyre independent, but their voting behavior speaks otherwise. I dont see a viable path to be honest with you, said Samara Klar, a government professor at the University of Arizona. Its a really, really tough journey for an independent to win, especially in a state where most voters do prefer one of the major parties. I dont know if (Sinemas path) comes from polling data or if shes just mapping out mathematically the percentages she would need to win, Klar said. More on Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: Sinema touts cash edge in Arizona's Senate race but provides few details Sinema can point to a centrist political record and significant legislative achievements in a time of general gridlock in Washington. She can claim a leading hand, for example, in the trillion-dollar infrastructure law and a gun-safety law intended to slow weapons purchases for younger adults and provide new funding for mental health care. She is an incumbent with a still-sizable campaign war chest that figures to keep her afloat in a way few third-party candidates have had. Barrett Marson, a Republican campaign consultant not working with any Senate candidates, said Sinemas ability to siphon support from all three buckets of voters shouldnt be underestimated. Kyrsten Sinema is really going to put to the test the notion that voters want their elected leaders to work across party lines, he said. Independents have left both parties. Kyrsten Sinema probably appeals to a lot of independents and the moderate voters of each party. It may be a little high but its certainly in the ballpark. And we havent seen her spend nickel one yet. At some point she will start spending a significant amount of money talking about how she has worked across the aisle, with Democrats and Republicans to get things done for Arizona. Largest group of Arizona voters don't belong to political parties Sinema needs to break a left-right partisan dynamic that has dominated national politics for a generation. Carrying an independent label may not be enough to win over a plurality next year. Arizonas voter registration is constantly shifting, but in July voters who didnt belong to any of the states recognized parties were the largest single group, nearly 1.5 million people, or about 35%. Republicans nearly matched that group, with 1.4 million registrants. Democrats had about 1.3 million. The Libertarian and No Labels parties had a combined 42,000 voters. Klar said the states registration figures look enticing for an independent run, but that ignores how voters behave. When you look at numbers like that, it can give the impression that an independent candidate would have a really good chance in Arizona, she said. The truth is that the vast majority of independents are not moderates. They do identify as liberal or as conservative, so its not a cohesive voting bloc. Its actually two very different groups. Klar estimates that 75% or more of independent voters nationally consistently vote for the same major party each time they vote. The suspense isnt over which side they will support, she said. Most independents do have a party that they prefer. The challenge is getting them to vote for that party, Klar said. If theyre not going to vote for that party, theyre probably not going to vote at all. Thats what weve seen lately with conservative independents. Solop said Arizona Republicans likely have a small edge in conservative-leaning independents historically, and the share of truly independent voters is very small. Austin Stumpf, a Democratic consultant, points to voter turnout data and exit polling that shows independents consistently showing up in notably smaller numbers than Democrats or Republicans. Heading into the general election in 2016, independents represented about 34% of registered Arizona voters, placing them just behind Republicans as the states biggest bloc. But less than 30% actually voted, which put them about 2.5 percentage points behind even the Democrats as a share of overall voters. That dynamic has only grown more true, Stumpfs figures show. In 2022, independents represented about 26% of overall voters in Arizona, which placed them nearly 7 percentage points behind Democrats. Republican shares of the electorate are consistently the largest and have grown, but so, too, have the partys evident defections at the ballot box. What it means is that Sinema expects to fare best with a group that is notably smaller than the major-party voter bases. Stumpf said exit polling showed Republican Blake Masters won 39% of self-identified independents in last years Senate contest, and Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick got about 41% in her 2016 loss to Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Even in totally different races that were lopsided for different reasons, youre still seeing a really high floor of what I call partisan independents, he said. What is perhaps most unique about Sinemas expected run, Stumpf said, is that she is not running as an alternative for one party; shes running completely outside the parties in name and style. Often in these kinds of races, the goal ends up being to supplant one of the major-party candidates, not to run parallel to them, he said. In 2006, Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut lost the Democratic primary, then ran and won as an independent over the Democratic nominee. In 2010, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska lost the Republican primary, then won a write-in campaign over the GOP nominee. More on the Senate race: Kari Lake, prominent Trump supporter and election denier, to announce run for US Senate How many Democrats can Sinema count on for support? The Sinema memo suggested she can pull 10% to 20% of Democrats. Solop said next years presidential race will further fuel the hyper-partisan atmosphere in Arizona and the nation. With Arizona receiving outsized attention as one of the nations few swing states, that should help Democrats close ranks around Gallego and boost turnout favorable to him, he said. I would expect that 95% of Democrats are going to vote for Joe Biden in this state and thats going to have down ticket implications, so I think Ruben Gallego is going to do quite well with Democrats, Solop said. I dont think Kyrstens very well positioned right now to have substantial inroads to the Democratic Party. Even so, Solop said he does think she could pull 10 to 15% of Democratic voters. Marson said the partys liberal base has had it with Kyrsten Sinema, but more moderate Democrats could add up to double-digit support for her on the left. Gallego is running less as a centrist or independent than Sinema or Kelly did in their successful runs. How many Republicans will vote for Sinema's reelection? The Sinema campaign memo estimated she can win over 25% to 35% of GOP voters. Kari Lake, a Republican scheduled to formally announce her long-expected Senate run on Tuesday, brings Trump-style rhetoric and fire that plays well with the GOP base but could spur the kind of defections that led to her gubernatorial loss last year. Most of those lost votes wont come from Republican voters, Solop predicted. If Kari Lake is the nominee, Republicans will vote for her. They will close ranks behind their partys candidate, Solop said. Thats what it means to be in a hyper-partisan situation. Ideology will not play as well as party identification. Marson, however, disagrees. If Kari Lake is the nominee, I think you could see a higher number of Republicans vote for Kyrsten Sinema, he said. Pinal County Sheriff and GOP candidate Mark Lamb would probably keep more Republicans in his column. But Lake, who has a penchant for annoying Republicans just as much as she does Democrats, would probably lose a substantial amount of Republican voters, Marson said. Not necessarily moderate Republican voters conservative Republican voters as well. Solop said there are other significant drags on an independent run beyond winning voter loyalties. The political system itself the legal mechanisms, the culture around voting does not benefit independents in this country, he said. The major parties can pour sizable sums into helping their nominees in a way that an independent cant. But Solop warned against judging the race as over. One caveat with this, he said. Its still early. Theres a lifetime to go between now and the election, so things could change. Reach the reporter at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Kyrsten Sinema expects to win big with independents. Should she? Sen. Tommy Tuberville , R-Ala., left, speaks with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., during a Senate Armed Services Committee nominations hearing of Gen. David Allvin for reappointment to be U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, on Sept. 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. | Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will continue his seven-monthslong blockade of military promotions amid Hamas attack on Israel, claiming he will not let up until the Pentagon ends it policy funding abortion-related travel for service members and their families. In a statement to NBC, Tuberville spokesperson Steve Stafford said, The Pentagon clearly thinks forcing taxpayers to facilitate abortion is more important than confirming their top nominees without a vote. They could end this situation today by dropping their illegal and immoral policy and get everyone confirmed rapidly, but they refuse. If the Biden administration wants their nominees confirmed then Senate Democrats can do what (Tuberville) just did in September and file a cloture petition to force a vote. Related On Saturday, Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin mentioned Tuberville and the blockade when discussing how the U.S.s weapons cache in Israel will be used. She said, Referring to that $2 billion in weapons that the U.S. stores in Israel, I would expect to see some of those weapons being released, some of that ammunition to replenish the stockpiles of Israel in the coming days and weeks. The U.S. Navy, I will point out, still does not have a confirmed chief of naval operations because of the hold placed on her by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, which, Pentagon officials say continues impact their operations. Related Tuberville responded to Griffins statement on X, and said, Forcing tax payers to fund elective, late term abortions or unanimous consent of 300 senior military promotions...the Biden Administration is showing us exactly what they care about. Its not our national defense. Its killing babies. Two members of the US Congress were stuck in Israel but managed to escape unharmed as Hamas militants stormed the country over the weekend, their office said. Senator Cory Booker , who was scheduled to speak on Tuesday in Israel, was in the country for planned meetings, site visits, and an economic summit, his office said on Sunday. He and accompanying staffers were in Jerusalem when the attacks began. They were sheltered in place for their safety, his spokesperson said. The senator was able to safely depart Israel on Sunday. Mr Booker took to social media to detail how he learned that Israel was under attack. The senator said he was jogging in Jerusalems Old City when he received an urgent call from my chief of staff telling me to get back to the hotel as quickly as I could that Israel was under attack. There were thousands of rockets being launched. When I got back to the hotel I joined others in the bomb shelter or the stairwells, he said, adding that there were frightened faces. There were children and elderly, families, many Americans. There was a sense of fear and worry, and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on, he said in the video. Democrat leader Daniel Goldman, his wife, and their three youngest children were also in Israel for a Bar Mitzvah on Sunday when the missile attacks and bombing rocked the middle-eastern country, his spokesperson said in a statement. 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, his spokesperson said. The Democratic lawmaker managed to get out of the country with help from the State Department and Israeli authorities, the statement added. The Israeli government on Sunday formally declared war and approved significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military laboured into Monday to crush fighters 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 123,000 people have become displaced in the Gaza Strip, the UN said on Monday. Over 40 hours after the Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations. 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. People cross Montgomery Street as they walk towards the entrance of the J. Tom Coleman Courthouse on Tuesday. This column is part of a weekly round-up of notable grand jury indictments and court decisions, following through on cases reported by Savannah Morning News public safety and courts reporter Drew Favakeh. If there are cases you're curious about, email Drew at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com. Judge denies motion to quash murder indictment On Oct. 5, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Michael Karpf denied a motion to quash and bifurcate a new indictment filed by the defense attorney for Rashaun Padgett. On Sept. 20, a Chatham County grand jury indicted Rashaun Padgett for the Feb. 8, 2020, murder of Alexis Devoe, aged 17 at the time of her death. Padgett faces charges of malice murder, three counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. On Sept. 27, Padgetts attorney, public defender Kaitlyn Walker, filed the motion to quash and dismiss the felony murder charge. At the hearing held on the matter on Oct. 4, Padgett argued that his conduct on Feb. 8 was not inherently dangerous, and as a result, his conduct cannot serve as a predicate for felony murder. Padgett cited Ford v. State, 1992. In that case, a convicted felon accidentally discharged a bullet through the floor and into a basement striking and killing the victim. The facts in this case, as proffered by the State during the hearing, are substantially different, Karpf wrote in the order, in which he revealed previously unreported details about the Feb. 8 shooting. According to the order, Padgett and Jamontay Williams had been involved in a long-running dispute. On Feb. 8, Williams arrived at a convenience store in Savannah with a car full of people. As Williams approached the store, he saw Padgett inside. Williams retreated to his vehicle, saw Padgett, then went back to the store. Padgett then confronted Williams near his vehicle. After words were exchanged, Padgett fired multiple shots. The front seat passenger, Alexis Devoe, received a fatal wound while seated with her 5-month-old son. Two other people were also a hit, and a bullet narrowly missed the infant, according to the order. Padgett intentionally initiated contact with a person with whom he was engaged in [an] ongoing dispute; pointed a loaded handgun and discharged it in the direction of an occupied vehicle adjacent to a busy street. Unlike the defendant in Ford, his possession of the weapon cannot be construed as innocent. The states evidence would also tend to show that he had the weapon when he entered the store and certainly when he confronted Williams. This is a far cry from mishandling a weapon while alone in an apartment. Under these circumstances, the court has no difficulty in concluding that [the] defendants conduct in possessing the gun while being a convicted felon was inherently dangerous. The jury trial is scheduled to start Oct. 9. Few people show up to court to pay fire fees Of the 150 people scheduled to appear in Chatham County Recorder's Court on Oct. 3, only four people showed up to pay for their fire fees. As of the March 31 due date, about 75% unincorporated Chatham residents had paid the fire protection fee. In June, county government officials announced legal action against 12% of property owners covered by Chatham Fire. In July, 5,000 property owners in unincorporated Chatham County were summoned to court for nonpayment. In a text message, Assistant Chatham County Attorney Andre Pretorius said that as of Oct. 5, the county has collected 96% of fire fees out of the total $13.5 million. Around 3,500 residents have not paid the fire fee, said Pretorius. About 2,700 residents have not been to Recorders Court yet. Pretorius added that about half to 65% of the people pay their fee prior to coming to court. Of the remaining people who did not pay, Pretorius said, less than 20% show up to court. Around 150 fire fee cases, Pretorius noted, are getting bound up from Recorders Court to Magistrate Court. The cases are bound up to Magistrate Court when residents havent shown up twice to recorders court to pay their fire fee. Every Monday and Tuesday since July 24, Chatham County Recorders Court schedules 300 total court cases related to unpaid fire fees per day, said Pretorius. At the Oct. 3 hearing, one woman said she had lived in unincorporated Chatham County when she was issued the fee but had since moved to Pooler. One man said he thought the notice was a scam when he received it. The woman said she would pay the fee. The man had already paid the fee before he came to the courthouse. Drew Favakeh is the public safety and courts reporter for Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at AFavakeh@savannahnow.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: chatham county court updates for week of october 9 2023 Shani Louk's mother found out that her daughter was missing because of a social media video. Shani Louk was at the festival in the south of Israel where Hamas killed at least 260 people. Ricarda Louk is holding onto hope that her daughter is still alive: "We try to believe." Ricarda Louk didn't know her daughter, Shani Louk, was kidnapped by Hamas militants in Israel until she saw a video of the attack on social media, she told CNN's Anderson Cooper. The video, now widely circulated on social media and across news outlets, shows Shani Louk being paraded through the streets in Gaza in the back of a pickup truck while the men who took her hostage shout "God is great." Ricarda Louk said on CNN that Saturday started with "rockets early in the morning around 6 o'clock." She immediately started calling her daughter to see if she was near a "secure location," she said, only to learn that Shani Louk was at the festival in the south where it was later confirmed that at least 260 people were killed. She said her daughter was "panicked a little bit" and added that she was going to get to her car to drive to a safe location. But that was the last Ricarda Louk heard from her daughter. "We stopped talking, and since then I didn't hear anything from her anymore and then she wasn't responding on her phone," Ricarda Louk told Cooper. It wasn't until a few hours later that Ricarda Louk saw her daughter in a disturbing video online. "We got a video from a friend through social media, and we identified our daughter on a pickup truck in the back lying on the floor with militant men around her and pushing her down and armed, and they were driving into the Gaza Strip with her, and so we saw they were in the Gaza Strip already," Ricarda Louk said on CNN. It remains unclear whether Shani Louk is alive and where she currently is. "It's the last we have seen [of her]," Ricarda Louk told Cooper. "We are always looking for more videos, more news, something that shows her in some other places, and we cannot really see anything yet. We saw that somebody tried to use her credit card in the Gaza Strip multiple times. That's all we have. No other clue." She said that after seeing videos of festival-goers running for their lives without shelter while being shot at by Hamas, she learned that people who were in the crowds saw Shani Louk trying to get to her car. They told her that the militants were blocking the vehicles and shooting so people couldn't reach their cars and escape. "That's when they took her," Ricarda Louk said on CNN. But Ricarda Louk is holding onto hope that her daughter is still alive, although based on the video, "there's not much sign of that," Cooper said. "The video is, as you know, it looks very bad, but I still have hope. I hope that they don't take bodies for negotiations," Ricarda Louk told Cooper. "I hope that she is still alive somewhere. We don't have anything else to hope for so we try to believe." Read the original article on Business Insider A woman weeps over the corpse of her nephew, who was shot and killed in the southern Israeli city of Sderot on Oct. 7, 2023. (Baz Ratner / AFP/Getty Images) It began as a pleasant Saturday morning. Leeor Katz, a 37-year-old dental hygienist, was visiting her husband's family in central Israel for the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah. Then she started receiving texts from the Nir Oz kibbutz where she lived, just two miles from the Gaza Strip border: Fighters from the Palestinian militant group Hamas had entered the property and were burning down houses. "They were walking freely inside Israel, in a kibbutz inside Israeli borders," Katz said. "We never thought it would happen." The text chain, on a messaging group for kibbutz residents, said people inside safe rooms were struggling to breathe because of smoke from the fires. Katz did not realize that the attack was part of a sophisticated, multipronged assault by Hamas that saw its fighters kidnap an estimated 150 people and take them back to Gaza, precipitating a war with Israel. Read more: Israel calls for complete siege of Gaza, and Hamas threatens to execute hostages At 8 a.m., Katz called her sister, 34-year-old Doron Asher, who whispered that she and her two children 2-year-old Raz and 4-year-old Aviv were in a safe room with their mother, 67-year-old Efrat. Their brother, 51-year-old Ravid, part of an armed watch group on the kibbutz, had left to confront the attackers. His girlfriend and their 4-month-old baby stayed with a neighbor for a while before managing to escape the kibbutz. Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive After a frantic few hours of messaging and trying to understand what was happening in her home, Katz called her mother. Her mother's boyfriend, Gadi Moses, had left to go reason with the militants and had yet to return, her mother explained. Everybody else was still in the safe room. That was the last contact Katz had with any of them. She kept calling, but nobody answered. Read more: News Analysis: U.S. struggles with how to help restore calm in Middle East in wake of deadly Hamas attack It wasn't until hours later that Katz finally learned what happened, after a brother-in-law saw a video on social media of militants driving hostages including her relatives in pickups inside Gaza. "I couldn't watch," Katz said. "It was too hard for me." Nir Oz has since been evacuated, as Israeli troops gather in villages near the border with Gaza in what appears to be preparation for a land incursion into the enclave. On Monday, after an hours-long barrage of strikes on Gaza, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing announced "any targeting of civilian homes without advanced warning will be met regrettably with the execution of one of the enemy civilian hostages we hold." Israel targeted Gaza City with airstrikes on Oct. 9, 2023. (Sameh Rahmi / NurPhoto via Getty Images) Katz said she was "trying not to believe everything I hear." Waiting for any information about her family her mother, sister, brother and nieces she said, "I'm scared, but I'm trying to have hope. "We've gotten no word from anyone. Not the army. Not the police. Not the government." 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. Joshua and Sandra Greenberg do not believe their daughter died by suicide, and theyve spent nearly 13 years trying to prove she didnt stab herself over 20 times. Our daughter did not commit suicide we know that. She was murdered, Mr Greenberg told The Independent. They [the courts] have blatantly said the investigation was faulty on the part of the police, on the part of the medical examiner, on the part of the district attorney. After losing a recent court ruling in their attempt to have her cause of death changed, the Greenbergs are now preparing to take their fight to the Pennsylvania supreme court. We may have lost this battle, but were going to win the war, Mr Greenberg said. On 26 January 2011, Ellen Greenberg was found dead by her fiance, Samuel Goldberg, in the kitchen of the apartment they shared in Manayunk, Philadelphia. She was slumped against the cabinets, her legs splayed out in front of her. The 27-year-old elementary school teacher had at least 20 stab wounds, many to the back of her head and neck. A 10-inch knife was lodged in her chest. Her death was initially ruled a homicide by the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office but after police publicly disputed the findings, it was switched to suicide. According the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office investigation report obtained by Philly.com, Greenbergs death was treated as a suicide because the apartment door was locked from the inside and there were no signs of an intruder. Her fiance, Mr Goldberg, had come home from the gym during a blizzard to discover that he was locked out of the apartment, and was unable to use his keys because the doors swing bar lock was engaged from the inside, the report claimed. When he finally forced open the door, he found Greenbergs body on the kitchen floor and placed a panicked 911 call around 6:30pm. (Justice for Ellen Facebook page) Responding Philadelphia officers treated Greenbergs death as a suicide, and the apartment was not sealed off as a crime scene. The very next day, following an autopsy, Philadelphia pathologist Dr. Marlon Osbourne of the Philadelphia Medical Examiners office ruled her death a homicide, citing multiple stab wounds by an unknown person. But by that time, her apartment had been cleaned and sanitized. It was 28 January before detectives and a forensics team returned with a search warrant as part of their investigation. With little evidence to go on, the case stalled. Months later, on 11 April, the pathologist who performed the initial autopsy amended Greenbergs death certificate, changing the manner of death to suicide. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the medical examiner was told that police were leaning toward suicide and looking at mental issues Greenberg might have had. Records show Greenberg was being treated for anxiety at the time, but the familys experts hired over the years have found its unlikely her medications contributed to suicidal thoughts. Sandra Sandee Greenberg said she spoke to her daughter on the phone the morning of her death and said everything seemed fine. She was brutally murdered, stabbed once, twice, 20 times, Ms Greenberg said of their only child. Thats rage. She did not do that to herself. Through the years, the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania couple have fought to change the ruling, by enlisting in their team of experts and conducting an investigation that disputed the suicide finding, and say it was changed at the insistence of the police. The way the authorities and the politicians are handling her case is a disgrace, Ms Greenberg told The Independent. I want her name cleared. What I really want people to know is Ellen was our daughter, but she could be your daughter. She could be your mother, sister, friend. Think about what you would do. (Change.org) For more than a decade now, the Greenbergs have been fighting to have her manner of death changed from suicide back to either homicide or undetermined manner of death, alleging in civil lawsuits that it was reversed after a closed-door meeting with city police. In 2019, they filed a civil lawsuit against the Medical Examiners Office and pathologist Marlon Osbourne, seeking to have the manner of their daughters death changed. But in a 2-1 decision last month, a Pennsylvania appellate court ruled that the Greensbergs do not have standing to sue the city of Philadelphia over the investigation into her death. The Commonwealth court did not rule on whether the manner of death could or should be changed, and criticised the investigation into Ellens death. The panel said that while they were acutely aware of the deeply flawed investigation of the victims death by the City of Philadelphia Police Department detectives, the City of Philadelphia District Attorneys Office, and the Medical Examiners Office, we have no choice under the law, and instead sent it back to the lower courts for further action. A computerized rendering shows several of Ellen Greenbergs stab wounds (Tom Brennan, Greenberg family) Even so, in the interests of justice, we believe that providing a detailed review of the Victims death and the ensuing investigation is clearly warranted with hopes that equity may one day prevail for the Victim and her loved ones, wrote Judge Elaine Ceisler in the 13 September ruling. The deeply flawed investigation included a crime scene cleanup that happened before the forensics team arrived and sealed it off, according to appellate court documents. But the Greenbergs say theyre not giving up. Now, they are taking their fight to the state supreme court. Their attorney Joseph Podraza told The Independent hes optimistic that they will get justice for Ellen. We believe the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will accept the case and ultimately will reverse the decision based on the reason in the Dissenting Opinion, he added. As I read all of the opinions, the majority and the dissenting, everyone seems to agree that theres a homicide here. It is very distressing when you hear a court say there is nothing that can be done about it. (Justice for Ellen Facebook page) The case was previously with the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office but due to conflicts of interest was switched to the Chester County District Attorney. In a statement to CBS News, The City of Philadelphia said they are pleased the court agreed with them. If Mr. and Mrs. Greenberg have new evidence about their daughters death, we urge them to present it to the investigators in Chester County, as they have the authority to reopen the investigation in this case. The Greenbergs have also filed suit against the city to force the release of surveillance video from the public hallways in the apartment that was collected by the police. We used to lie awake wondering why this happened to us, to our only child, Ms Greenberg said. Now we ask how did we end up here, in this situation, 13 years later, still asking for justice, still asking someone to care. Four Shelby County Commissioners traveled Monday to Nashville along with officials from Shelby County General Sessions and Shelby County Corrections to tour the Davidson County Residential Drug Court and Davidson County Behavioral Care Center. The hope, according to Commissioner Erika Sugarmon, is that Shelby County can build a facility to house The Shelby County Public Health, Safety and Justice Center. The facility would house an array of services that seek to address aspects of public safety and well-being, according to Sugarmon. "Hopefully what it means is that once we get to Davidson County and look at their facilities, we can garner some of their support, as well as some ideas and bring it back home to Shelby County," Sugarmon said before Monday's trip. "Because you know, public health and safety and all these things, mental health are huge issues here. But we don't have a facility to encompass all of these things under one roof, and so that's the idea." Several Shelby County officials visited the Davidson County Behavioral Care Center in Nashville on Monday. They hope to open a similar facility in Shelby County. Mayor Lee Harris told The Commercial Appeal in April that about $2.7 million has already been set aside for the project, but said it could be as much as $5 million set aside, "depending on how you count." Chairwoman Miska Clay Bibbs, Commissioners Charlie Caswell and Britney Thornton and multiple other staff members from Shelby County Government went on the trip to Nashville along with Finance and Budget Director Michael Thompson. Danielle Mitchell, General Sessions Civil Judge and board member of the Shelby County Drug Court, also went on the trip and said she was curious to see the partnership between the court and drug rehabilitation facilities. Mitchell said that having services and support all in one place is "extremely helpful." "It's just like when you go to the doctor, like do you want to go to the chiropractor and the rheumatologist and, you know, it's easier if you can have all your specialties in one place," Mitchell said. The facility would have a Mental Health Court, a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab satellite office, offices for state probation officers, state attorney generals, county public defenders, rehabilitation programs, and other public safety initiatives. While the location is not picked out yet, and funding has not been allocated to it yet, Sugarmon said she hopes the former Commercial Appeal building at 495 Union Ave. could be an option. "It's cheaper to fix something up as opposed to build from the ground up. However, we do have a Plan B and Plan C, but this (The former Commercial Appeal building) is an ideal location for what we envision," Sugarmon said. Shelby County officials think the former Commercial Appeal building at 495 Union Ave. would be a good spot to house The Shelby County Public Health, Safety and Justice Center. The former Commercial Appeal Building has been subdivided into the office space and the warehouse space. Both spaces are still currently for sale, but Sugarmon said that a portion of the building is currently under contract. The Davidson County Residential Drug Court and Davidson County Behavioral Care Center opened its doors in 2020 in an effort to decriminalize mental health "upon arrival" at the Nashville Downtown Detention Center. People who are arrested and accepted into the 30-day program spend their time in a facility that is separate from the jail and is only connected through a single hallway. The people behind the program say those who complete it integrate into life better than those who are normally incarcerated, and they can have their charges dropped. In the programs first two years being active, from September 2020 until September 2022, the Behavioral Care Center brought in 711 people. Of those residents, 509 were successfully discharged and 171 were deemed unsuccessful, including those who returned to the jail or bonded out of jail. The charges those people were facing were about a 50/50 split between misdemeanors and felonies. Data from the Behavioral Care Center's first two years returned a 29% recidivism rate, which is 17% lower than the Tennessee average of 46%. But Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall and Behavioral Care Center Mental Health Technician Serita Gaines both told The Commercial Appeal they would prefer residents return to the center than end up in jail or prison. Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at 901-484-6225, Brooke.Muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X @BrookeMuckerman. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County eyes a new public safety, health facility: What to know You have likely seen the data flowing out of recent studies one right after another from universities, institutes, think tanks and health agencies who keep delivering the sobering news that the mental health of Gen Z is in shambles. Mounting evidence of increasing anxiety, depression, body-shaming, bullying and suicide among youth and adults under 30 is, to say the least, sobering. At the same time, weve seen one study after another confirm that an increasing number of people say they have no religious affiliation or, for that matter, any interest in having one. Just last week, a new AP-NORC poll reported that the rise of nonbelievers and people with no religious affiliation is diminishing (religions) influence. Related This report added that the shift away from religion is even starker among younger adults, with 43% of 18- to 29-year-old Americans responding none, when asked which religion they follow. Thats a dramatic increase of nones as compared with those over 60, of which fewer than 20% reported no religious attachment. Hmm. I am not a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker or mental health professional. But like you, I am watching what is happening around me in society. And you dont have to be a rocket scientist to wonder if there is a correlation between decreasing faith in our youth and the dramatic increase in the numbers of those experiencing mental health challenges. I am not in any way suggesting that faith and prayer and religion solve all mental health problems. But I have experienced enough anxiety myself to know firsthand how sweet the balm of faith in God can be during times of stress. Thankfully, this question was explored on Oct. 9 at the Wellbeing Forum in London. Hosted at the international headquarters of Gallup, the Diplomatic Courier, Gallup and the company I work for, Deseret Management Corp., partnered in producing two new sets of data. One was a first-of-its-kind study by Gallup that shows a direct corollary between spiritual practice and more positive mental health. The second analyzed Generation Zs online spiritual practices. Here are a few tidbits from the studies discussed at the Wellbeing Forum: Gen Z embraces mental health, and though many in that generation say they have no interest in religion, they do acknowledge that spiritual self-care should be part of their daily routine. Those who included prayer and other spiritual activities in their lives reported better sleep and lower anxiety scores. More than half of Gen Z participating in these studies said they were actually looking for spiritual content, especially online. While it was encouraging to see people at Londons Wellbeing Forum take on these issues, it is just the beginning. These issues are too important to be ignored. Anything that can help alleviate suffering of a generation should be on the table including ways to help them reach religion and vice versa. The linkage between religion, faith and mental health for youth and young adults merits serious and thoughtful exploration. The media, educators, technology companies and religious communities alike should jump into this discussion with full force. Related For followers of Jesus Christ, as I am, this linkage seems crystal clear. The Saviors words uttered more than two thousand years ago have never been more timely: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, He said. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Those of us who have experienced the power of the Saviors words for ourselves need to speak up about it. I cant imagine attempting to negotiate the emotional rigors of life without knowing there is a God and that I can talk to Him through prayer. I cant imagine not being able to ask Him for help, for courage, and for strength greater than my own. But too many of our youth dont know that these very spiritual privileges even exist. And because many of their families have moved away from organized religion, some of them dont even know where to look for it. It seems to me that it is up to those of us who have gone before them, and who have experienced for ourselves the peace and strength that faith and religion can bring, to help turn this tide. Earlier this spring, several of my colleagues and I had the privilege of participating with media, business and humanitarian leaders at a gathering hosted by the Pontifical Academy at the Vatican in Rome. All participants were people of faith, most of them Catholics. Though my colleagues and I are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we had no problem finding common ground and lots of it with our Catholic hosts. It was easy for each of us to speak openly about the crucial, undergirding role that faith plays in our lives. If those of us who believe in Gods power and His willingness to help us dont speak up about it, who will? How will younger generations realize that they, too, can cultivate a relationship with the Divine? How will Gen Z come to realize that the Ultimate Influencer isnt a celebrity or a political candidate but God Himself, who cares deeply about His children and stands ready to help each of us? It is time to energetically encourage an entire generation to explore the power of a spiritual connection with heaven. Not only could it help them feel better about themselves and their lives, but it might build a stronger foundation for the mental health of generations to come. Sheri Dew is the executive vice president and chief content officer of Deseret Management Corp., the parent company of the Deseret News. Though the conflict is thousands of miles away, many Kentuckians are worrying for loved ones who are concerningly close to the war in Israel that broke out over the weekend. The congregation at Lexingtons Ohavay Zion Synagogue were in the midst of services Saturday when they started to receive news of the deadly attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, said Rabbi Shani Abramowitz. Israel has formally declared war and announced plans to besiege Gaza. Hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians are already dead, the Associated Press reported. With commercial flights largely grounded, multiple Kentucky church groups were also stuck in the country Monday. It was a shock, Abramowitz said. It was devastating and really hard to hear. Being together they were celebrating a bar mitzvah and the conclusion of the Jewish High Holiday season certainly helped. Many in the congregation have friends or family in Israel. Abramowitz said her brother lives there. Abramowitz has visited many times and studied for rabbinical school in Israel. I am fortunate that in my lifetime, the state of Israel has always been something I felt deeply connected to, and, again have family and really dear friends there, Abramowitz said. The same is true of the congregation at Temple Adath Israel, Rabbi David Wirtschafter said. He has an uncle, cousins and other family that live in Israel. One congregant had a daughter in a high school program there. Were very concerned for their safety, said Wirtschafter, who added theyve been able to confirm that everyone is safe. Some of them have been in and out of bomb shelters. Theyre praying for the plight of the hostages reportedly taken into Gaza, Wirtschafter said, as well as for peace. The most important thing that we can do is to convey to our leaders, our elected officials, here in the United States, and to the leaders of all parties in this conflict, that our expectation is that they do the difficult work of sitting down and negotiating a ceasefire and stopping the violence as quickly as possible, Wirtschafter said. Rabbi David Wirtschafter of Temple Adath Israel; Jewish foods often have specific cultural references, he said. Abramowitz said theyre mourning with Israelis and Jewish people globally but also the intractable nature of this conflict. Feeling for Palestinians and civilians, innocent civilians on both sides who are being, again, caught in the crosshairs and who are unfortunately falling victim, Abramowitz said. So were thinking about everyone really. For those outside of the Jewish community hoping to show support, Abramowitz suggested checking in with coworkers, neighbors and friends who are Jewish. Just a quick text or phone call, just to say, Were thinking about you, and to ask how theyre doing goes a really, really long way, Abramowitz said. She noted that viewpoints and reactions among Jewish people could vary. A pro-Palestinian demonstration took place in downtown Lexington Sunday, LEX18 reported. One protester, Laila Abu Taha, said she has family in Palestine and was worried about them. The more united we are as people, the closer we are to peace and freedom, Taha told the TV station. We just want freedom for the Palestinians back home. What theyre going through is not easy, and they deserve that freedom. Church groups stranded in Israel Other groups of Kentuckians have been stuck in Israel and have made attempts at getting home, news reports and videos posted to social media show. Flights out of the country are canceled. Groups from Glasgows River Lake Church and Bowling Greens Broadway United Methodist Church were stuck in the country, WBKO reported. Were stuck in Israel right now but were safe and that really is the most important thing, said Nic Smith, the pastor at River Lake Church, in a video he posted online Monday. A group of Nelson County residents, who were on a Holy Land tour when fighting broke out, were initially stranded in Israel but were able to safely leave, state Sen. Jimmy Higdon wrote in a Facebook post Monday. I received an update from a reliable source that the Bardstown residents who were stranded in Israel are safely out of the country and will arrive back in the United States on Wednesday, Higdon wrote. Alan Dodson, a former Kentucky Baptist pastor and Kentucky Baptist Convention regional consultant, was unable to leave Israel, Kentucky Today reported. In a video posted to Facebook early Sunday morning, Dodson said he and the group he was with are in a safe place and awaiting more clarity on a potential flight home. If you were with me today you couldnt tell that much was going on other than the heavy aircraft presence and then every now and then youll hear the Iron Dome in action protecting the country of Israel here, Dodson said. Palestinians search through the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) (REUTERS) SINGAPORE Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has strongly urged Singaporeans to refrain from travelling to certain areas in the Middle East. Specifically, they are advised against all travel to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and regions of Israel that share borders with the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria. Due to the ongoing conflict in the area, MFA recommended in a travel advisory on Sunday (8 October) that Singaporeans should also avoid non-essential travel to Israel. The advisory is in response to the continuous exchange of rocket fire between Israel and the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a significant attack on Israel, resulting in casualties on both sides and escalating violence that poses a substantial threat to regional stability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is "at war" and called for mobilising army reserves. Singapore issues travel guidelines amid attacks Singapore has expressed strong condemnation for the rocket attacks and acts of terror originating from Gaza and has called for an immediate cessation of violence. MFA's advisory said that Singaporeans in, or travelling to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, should exercise vigilance and closely monitor local developments. They should avoid areas prone to public disturbances and large gatherings, particularly the Old City and East Jerusalem, including Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. The ministry also advised that all necessary precautions for personal safety should be taken, including purchasing comprehensive travel and medical insurance. Singaporeans are also encouraged to register with the MFA electronically, enabling the ministry to contact them if necessary. MFA added, "Singaporeans are also advised to stay in touch with your family and friends so that they know you are safe." For those in need of consular assistance while in Israel or the Palestinian Territories, they can reach out to the Singapore Embassy in Tel Aviv or contact the MFA Duty Office, which operates 24 hours a day: Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Israel (Tel Aviv) Address: 28 HaArbaa Street, South Tower (19th floor), Tel Aviv 6473926, Israel Tel: +972-3-7289334 Fax: +972-3-7289340 Email: singemb_tlv@mfa.sg Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hours) Tel: +65-63798800/8855 Fax: +65-64767302 Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg Israeli security stand in position on a road following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, near Sderot in southern Israel October 8, 2023. (PHOTO:REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) (REUTERS) Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. Yahoo Singapore Telegram The European Commission has stated that the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not lead to a decrease in support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Source: European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer during a briefing in Brussels on Monday, 9 October Quote: "I dont think anything will in any way influence the support that the European Union provides to Ukraine. That is beyond the shadow of a doubt," Mamer said when asked how the situation in the Middle East might alter the EU's support for Ukraine. "If you listen to the President [Ursula von der Leyen]s speech in Bordeaux on Saturday, she reiterated once again that we stand by the Ukrainian people as long as it takes in their conflict against Russia," Mamer added. Details: Peter Stano, Spokesman for the EU External Action Service, commented separately on whether a possible link between events in Ukraine and those in Israel, and possible attempts by Russia to use the situation to its advantage, would be discussed at an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers on Tuesday. "Every time ministers are meeting, they are discussing Ukraine as a self-standing issue because of its very importance. So the discussion tomorrow is an urgent emergency meeting to discuss what happened [in Israel ed.] and what the response of the European Union should be in this respect," Stano said. "But, of course, regardless of this, of course, Russia is trying to use or misuse anything that is going on in the international domain, either to fuel instability or to take advantage of it to increase its campaign against Ukraine. But again, this will not mean that the attention of the European Union will be defocused or refocused away from Ukraine," Stano added. Background: On 10 October, the EU will hold an emergency meeting of foreign ministers in response to the Hamas attack on Israel, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell has announced. The European Commission also commented on Israel's decision to impose a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, noting that Israel has the right to defend itself. 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! TITUSVILLE A skydiver found dead on the front lawn of an east central Florida home Sunday has been identified, police said. The skydiver, Frederick C. Morello, 69, of Ormond Beach, was discovered wearing parachuting gear by a resident in Titusville, a coastal city about 35 miles east of Orlando. Emergency responders arrived at the scene just before 12:30 p.m. in response to a "solo parachuting" incident, police said. It was not immediately known if Morello's gear properly deployed. A skydiver, not pictured, was found dead after landing in the front yard of a Titusville home, police reported. (File photo) A medical helicopter also was called but was canceled, Titusville Fire Department officials reported. Paramedics attempted to revive the parachutist before pronouncing him dead at the scene. Police did not release details of any flight arrangements or the name of the company that conducted the skydiving excursion. Morello's body was turned over to the Brevard County Medical Examiners Office for further investigation. More: Titusville police investigating skydiving incident that critically injured two men Skydiving remains a popular pastime in Brevard and nationwide, with flight centers in Titusville and Melbourne Beach and further to the south in Sebastian, according to the United States Parachute Association, which reported 20 fatalities nationwide for 2022. In 2020, Titusville police were called to investigate after two parachutists were critically injured after plunging into a tree from several hundred feet in the air after jumping from a plane. The two men spun wildly in mid-air before both slammed into an oak tree in the front yard of a one-story home in the 900 block of Tennessee Street, reports show. The area, with Arthur Dunn Airport less than a mile away from the site of the fatal landing, is a frequent site for skydivers. Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 69-year-old man identified in Florida skydiving death The woman behind the ballot recount for the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors District 2 election continues to fight the cost of the process, despite a court ruling ordering her to pay. As the recount requester, San Miguel resident Darcia Stebbens is required by state law to pay the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorders Office a total of $53,346 for the costs it incurred during the recount. In May, County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano sued Stebbens in small claims court when she refused to pay the remaining $4,448.21 of her bill. After two days of testimony at the Superior Courts Grover Beach branch, Commissioner Leslie Kraut ordered Stebbens to pay the bill as well as Canos $90 court costs. On Sept. 14, Stebbens filed an appeal for Krauts decision with the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court with the hope that she wont have to pay the remaining bill and even be issued a refund for part of what she already paid, she told The Tribune. The case will return to court on Dec 4., according to court documents. Recount requester disputes three charges State law requires the recount requester to pay all costs created by the recount, Kraut wrote in her decision. California code also empowers Cano, as the countys elections official, to determine what is necessary to conduct the recount, including, but not limited to additional supervision, administrative costs, and legal costs, Kraut wrote in her decision. (Cano) has proven all costs listed were incurred as a direct result of the defendants request for a recount, Kraut wrote. There is nothing unreasonable or untoward about the listed costs for copies and materials, or for the entire labor costs incurred. Stebbens, however, does not agree that state law gives the countys head elections official final say in the total cost of the recount, she told The Tribune but she did not cite any law that supports this point of view. Stebbens disputes three charges: county counsel hours, benefits packages for staff who worked on the recount, and printed recount guidelines distributed to staff and observers. She said the County Clerk-Recorders Office overcharged for the recount, and made the process cost prohibitive for the average citizen. This is supposed to be a way for citizen taxpayers to come forward and have some transparency in the elections process, Stebbens told The Tribune. I believe that what she charged and how she charged would make it so that no one in their right mind would do this. During the appeal process, Stebbens hopes to reverse Krauts ruling and potentially recover more funds though she didnt share which other charges she disagrees with. Thats going to have to come out in court, she said. Cano, however, told The Tribune that she supports Krauts ruling which states that Cano has final say over how to manage and charge for the recount within the boundaries of state law. I have followed all laws and regulations, Cano wrote in an email. All costs, again as stated in the regulations, are borne by the requester. The requester must pay the cost of the recount as these costs would not have been incurred but for the requesters particular recount request. At a pro-Hamas rally on Sunday in the heart of New York City, speaker after speaker praised the slaughter of civilians that had taken place in Israel the day before, after the militant group overwhelmed Israeli defenses in an audacious, unexpected raid. And as you might have seen, there was some sort of rave or desert party where they were having a great time, until the resistance came in electrified hang gliders and took at least several dozen hipsters, one speaker joked about the Hamas assault on a desert rave, where horrific scenes of murder and rape took place. It was a bracing spectacle that countered the grief pouring in from most civic leaders, from Brooklyn to Berlin. But it was also evidence of a split within the Democratic Party, with many younger activists, forged in the Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter movements, viscerally identifying with the Palestinian cause. Israels founding story, as a quasi-socialist refuge for Holocaust survivors and other landless Jews, resonates less and less, especially as younger generations show little knowledge about the murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis. The controversial rally in Times Square was hosted by the Democratic Socialists of America, a far-left organization that includes several prominent House members in its ranks, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, both of New York; Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who is the first Palestinian woman in Congress; and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, an outspoken critic of Israel. In a widely criticized statement, Tlaib seemed to blame Israel for provoking the attack with its occupation regime in Gaza and the West Bank. The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer, she said. Recommended reading Fox News: Pro-Palestinian protesters blame Israel for Hamas terror attack in 'repugnant' demonstrations Politico: How big is this going to get? What to watch for in the Israel-Hamas battle. Variety: Gal Gadot, Madonna, Natalie Portman and more Hollywood stars support Israel amid deadly Hamas attacks The rally Jeenah Moon/Reuters (REUTERS) Billed as All Out for Palestine, the event symbolized fractures in a Democratic establishment that was once solidly behind Israel. But as Israels own government has moved steadily rightward, pulled along by religious fundamentalists and West Bank settlers, the American left has embraced liberation struggles including the fight for Palestinian statehood with a newfound zeal, imbuing their message with the jargon of social justice. Palestines struggle is our struggle, one Black Lives Matter activist said in 2021. Jewish activism was central to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, but more than a half-century later, the bonds between American Blacks and Jews have largely been severed. Sundays rally appeared to conflate the terrorist group Hamas with the entire Palestinian people, who over the years have grown as exasperated with the extremists in their own midst as with the Israeli occupiers of the West Bank and Gaza, who have killed thousands of Palestinians, including many civilians throughout the years in antiterror operations. In fact, the Hamas incursions appear to have triggered a massive Israeli military reprisal that is likely to kill hundreds if not thousands of innocent Palestinians while achieving none of the liberation that progressives tout on social media. As the crowd marched through midtown Manhattan and coalesced around a stage in Times Square, attendees called for an intifada revolution. Others mocked the murder of Israeli civilians. Another popular chant was From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, an implicit call for the elimination of Israel. Recommended reading Reuters: World Bank urges cooling of Israel-Gaza conflict as annual meetings start Sky News: How the Hamas attack on Israel's Supernova festival unfolded The Telegraph: How Israel's ground invasion of Gaza could play out Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in New York City on the second day of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Oct. 8. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters) (REUTERS) Among the pro-Palestinian side, the mood was celebratory and spiteful. Demonstrators chanted '700,' apparently referring to the confirmed number of Israeli fatalities in the attack so far, reported the Times of Israel, and held up the number seven on their hands while making throat-slitting gestures. Others flashed victory signs with their hands while shouting insults. Ahead of the rally, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned the planned event, calling it abhorrent and morally repugnant. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a rising New York progressive, stood up for Israel as well. Demonizing Israel to the point of denying the humanity of Israeli victims and the inhumanity of their perpetrators is moral confusion masquerading as moral clarity, Torres said. But none of the DSA-affiliated members of Congress, including the two from New York, appeared to express a similar concern. They are likely to face pressure from peers, journalists and constituents as they return to Capitol Hill for what was already expected to be a chaotic week in Washington. Saturdays violence puts progressives in a bind: They want to show their solidarity with the Palestinian cause without endorsing the murder of innocents. So far, they have not found a way to do so. Get ready for the last big transport of space shuttle equipment to the California Science Center, a two-day spectacle that will traverse seven freeways from the Mojave Desert to South Los Angeles, to be eventually installed at a grand 20-story museum exhibit. This will be the final large piece of equipment needed as the California Science Center constructs the $400-million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the final museum home of the space shuttle Endeavour, which is being assembled as if it's being prepared for launch. The new museum wing has been anticipated since 2011 when NASA chose the science center as one of just three museums nationwide to permanently feature the trio of surviving shuttles that have seen spaceflight. When the final exhibit is fully built, Endeavour will be the only space shuttle that will be exhibited as if it is being launched. Endeavour will be moved from its temporary hangar and hoisted from a horizontal to a vertical position no earlier than the last week of January. The journey of the space shuttle equipment this week will take three hours Tuesday morning and six hours Wednesday morning. The move involves twin solid rocket motors, which form most of the white solid rocket boosters. The solid rocket boosters produced more than 80% of the lift during takeoff. The rocket motors will traverse about 160 miles from their current home at the Mojave Air and Space Port to the California Science Center. A rendering of the space shuttle Endeavour as it's expected to appear in the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center when it's completed. (Ron McPherson / California Science Center Foundation) Donated by Northrup Grumman, each solid rocket motor is large 12 feet, 2 inches in diameter, and 116 feet in length. Each solid rocket motor weighs 104,000 pounds, and each will be transported on its own truck. "They're big rockets," said Jeffrey Rudolph, president of the California Science Center. "And they're about the diameter of a [Boeing] 757 fuselage, and pretty close to the same length. So that's why they're pretty big to move down the streets. "This is really the last big part of the 'lift-to-vertical' that the public can come out and see and participate in." This week's move, he said, is the "last chance to see a big part of the shuttle moving through the city." The solid rocket motors are wide enough that they'll take more than one lane of traffic. But the diameter of the rocket motors is small enough that, when carried on a low truck bed, they'll be able to fit underneath freeway underpasses along the designated route. That means the journey of this equipment will occur far more easily and faster than the transport of the Endeavour orbiter in 2012 and the orange external tank in 2016. On the freeways, road closures are not required for the journey; instead, the plan is for the solid rocket motors to be surrounded by escort vehicles and California Highway Patrol cars. The speed of the rocket motors will generally be 45 mph on the freeways. The solid rocket boosters the twin white rockets underneath Endeavour's wings provided most of the lift to bring the space shuttle into orbit. (NASA) The rocket motors will begin departing the Mojave Air and Space Port at 9 a.m. Tuesday, exiting south on Airport Road, then east on Mojave-Barstow Highway, and then continuing to Route 58. Then the rocket motors will head south on U.S. 395, then south on Interstate 15 through the Cajon Pass. Once in Rancho Cucamonga, the rocket motors will head west on the 210 Freeway and head toward Irwindale, where they'll head south on the 605 Freeway and arrive at some location around noon Tuesday. The rocket motors will remain in place at a location beside the freeway for about 15 hours; they will not be blocking traffic and the exact location wasn't disclosed. Then Wednesday at 3 a.m., the journey will resume. The rocket motors will head south on the 605 Freeway. After arriving in Norwalk, the rockets will head west on the 105. They'll then turn north on the 110 Freeway, and about 5 a.m., exit at Gage Avenue, heading east before heading north on Broadway. The rocket motors will then take a left on Slauson Avenue, going underneath the 110 Freeway, before making a right on Figueroa Street. At 7:30 a.m., the rocket motors are expected to head north on Figueroa Street, starting at West 43rd Place, and continue on for about two miles before arriving at the California Science Center. The rocket motors are expected to pause at 8 a.m. at Figueroa Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. At 8:45 a.m., they're expected to pass through a ceremonial finish line at Figueroa and 39th streets, and at 9 a.m., will turn left onto State Drive and finally arrive at the California Science Center. "People can come out and be on the sidewalks and watch," Rudolph said; the museum said the public is invited to gather along Figueroa Street from West 43rd Place to 39th Street. The California Science Center will also open its doors an hour early on Wednesday, at 9 a.m., so that spectators can come in as soon as the solid rocket motors arrive. The closest Metro rail stop to the California Science Center is at the Expo Park/USC station along the "E" light rail line, previously known as the Expo Line. Parking will also be available in the museum's Blue parking structure, but motorists should enter through the entrance at Hoover Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. There will be rolling road closures on city streets once the rocket motors exit the 110 Freeway. After Endeavour's arrival in 2012, the orbiter has been on display in the temporary Samuel Oschin Pavilion, essentially a warehouse where it has been viewed over the last decade, and where it will be shown until Dec. 31. After that date, it could be years before Endeavour will again be available for up-close viewing by museum guests. In mid-2022, the California Science Center broke ground on the new permanent museum, and three months ago, construction crews began installing the base of the shuttle's full stack. They installed the bottom section of the solid rocket boosters, known as the aft skirts which are 9 feet long that will support the solid rocket motors being transported across Southern California this week. Once the solid rocket motors are installed, the tip of the rockets the 27-foot "forward assembly," which includes the nose cone and the forward skirt will be installed next. When the solid rocket boosters are fully assembled, they will be roughly 149 feet in length, and each will weigh about 130,000 pounds. That will set the stage for the installation of the orange external tank, no earlier than early January, followed by the installation of Endeavour. 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. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels in for this year's third special session on Oct. 9, 2023. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune Passing school vouchers, the top legislative priority of Gov. Greg Abbott in the new special session, was always going to require a delicately assembled coalition of Republicans. It would need to include compromise between the more conservative Senate and a faction of rural House members that have long joined with Democrats to block the idea. But as the special session began Monday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan were at each others throats, hardly a signal of a productive lawmaking environment. And Phelan indicated his desire that any voucher program be paired with more public school funding, which could prove to be another complicating factor in the negotiations. [Conservative PAC leaders meeting with white supremacist Nick Fuentes leads to condemnations, escalates GOP infighting] Patrick called on Phelan to resign because the speaker demanded he return $3 million to a major backer, the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, after The Texas Tribune reported its leader had met with a white supremacist and antisemitic activist. Patrick accused Phelan of using this weekends Hamas attack on Israel for political gain. I didnt think even Dade Phelan would stoop this low, Patrick said in a statement. He has now absolutely hit rock bottom. His latest stunt is disgusting, despicable and disingenuous. Phelan pushed back, reiterating his claim that the group was responsible for political rot within the Texas Republican Party. I didnt take $3 million from a PAC that associates itself with Nazis and Nazi sympathizers. Thats not my problem, Phelan said. My House members dont take money from this PAC. We dont associate ourselves with sexual deviants, misfits, and people who associate themselves with Holocaust deniers. Abbotts office did not respond to a request for comment on the Tribune report, and he did not speak out Monday on the Phelan-Patrick fight. He is scheduled to speak at a pro-Israel gathering Monday evening in Austin. Against that backdrop, the House gaveled in and out in less than half an hour. It unanimously passed a resolution supporting Israel after the country was attacked by Hamas militants over the weekend and adjourned until Thursday. The Senate also passed a pro-Israel resolution by a unanimous vote but then got down to work. The Senate Finance Committee held a late afternoon hearing where it began considering legislation to pump new money into public schools, an item that is not on Abbotts special session agenda but is an important prerequisite for many lawmakers if they are going to pass school vouchers. [Vouchers return this special session and school funding might be left out. Heres what you need to know.] The bills author, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, said during the hearing that vouchers are for a different day and not connected to his school funding bill, which would include teacher pay raises and additional funding for school safety upgrades. Vouchers have nothing to do with today, Creighton said. Our public school funding initiatives are in and of themselves a lift for our public schools and our public school teachers. Separate from that, he added, we have what will be a fraction of a fraction of the budget as a new allocation for vouchers. While public school funding is not on Abbotts agenda for the special session, the Senate also got started Monday on a few items that are. The chamber referred bills to committee that would ban COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers, increase human smuggling penalties and create a state criminal offense for illegal entry from a foreign country. Phelan predicted the dispute between Patrick and him would have no impact on the special session. He said the House would pass its priorities and negotiate with the Senate to reconcile differences in legislation, as it always does. My members are great people. Theyre here for the right reasons, Phelan said. We will be immune to the outside noise, as we always are. Democrats show united front The Democratic caucuses in both chambers held news conferences Monday vowing to fight voucher proposals, even if it comes at the expense of teacher pay raises and additional public school funding. Senate Democrats stand united in our opposition to any [voucher] legislation, regardless of what its tied to, including teacher pay raises and allotment, said Sen. Carol Alvarado of Houston, chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. An hour before the beginning of the third special session, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, joined by members of the House Democratic Caucus, speaks at a press conference at the state Capitol on Monday. Credit: Bob Daemmerich for The Texas Tribune Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, told reporters his group is very clear: no vouchers and no deals. A voucher scam is a poison pill that will end up taking more out of our public schools than it puts in, said Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin. Meanwhile, Creighton's $5.2 billion school funding bill, Senate Bill 2, would help school officials with the rising costs of running a district, provide teacher raises and direct more funding for school safety. The future of Texas begins in the classroom, and it is incumbent on lawmakers to unleash the potential of education for the 6 million students we serve, Creighton said in a statement. For now, it is unclear whether the bill could pass this special session as Abbott did not include public school funding or teacher raises on the agenda. His call only included passing education savings accounts, a school voucher program that would give families access to state funds to pay for their childrens private schooling. The state constitution says lawmakers can only pass bills related to the governor's agenda items during special sessions. The governor can at any time modify the agenda. Creighton said he intends to file a school voucher program Monday evening. New school funding proposal SB 2 would raise the basic allotment the base amount of money schools get per student from $6,160 to $6,235. This money is used to pay for the day-to-day operations of a district and can be used to increase teacher salaries. The bill also includes a one-time pay bonus for teachers. Those in districts with less than 5,000 students would receive a $10,000 payment while those in districts with more than 5,000 students would receive a $3,000 payment. This provision is similar to legislation that Creighton tried to pass during the regular session. Creighton said he wanted to give teachers in small districts more because they are usually paid less. A Texas Tribune analysis shows that teachers in major suburban and urban school districts get paid an average of about $61,432, almost $10,000 more than those teaching in rural areas. However, teachers and unions have criticized the use of districts student enrollment to decide which educators get the bigger bonus, saying its a less-than-ideal way to determine who needs the money the most. Costs of living are usually higher in larger metropolitan areas. [Watch an Oct. 18 conversation about public education and a special session of the Texas Legislature] SB 2 would also expand and increase funding to the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program that promises to pay teachers up to six-figure salaries if they meet certain performance requirements. About 13,000 teachers, or about 4% of the states educators, are currently part of the program. And finally, the bill increases funding that goes to school for safety upgrades. Under House Bill 3, the flagship school safety law passed in May, schools received $15,000 per campus for security upgrades and an additional $10 per student attendance. SB 2 would amend those amounts and instead give schools $30,000 per campus and $20 per student attendance. Monty Exter, governmental relations director for the Association of Texas Professional Educators, said Texas needs a sensible, adequate, transparent and stable approach to teacher raises and not just one-time bonuses, adding that his group would be opposed to the bill if it is contingent on passing school vouchers. Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, said Senate Democrats will not support the bill if it means that school vouchers will pass and are ready to give up funding for teacher raises and other public school funding to put a stop to vouchers this session. Maia Pandey contributed to this story. Disclosure: Association of Texas Professional Educators has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. District 4 in Ho Chi Minh City was once a no-go area, in part because of the mobster Nam Cam. It's now a safe and storied neighborhood with plenty to see and a Michelin-listed restaurant. The travel writer Joshua Zukas spent a day there and recommends it for intrepid urban explorers. Two decades back, one of Vietnam's notorious mafia bosses was executed by a firing squad. Truong Van Cam, more commonly known as Nam Cam, or Vietnam's "Godfather," oversaw a vast criminal network that controlled much of Ho Chi Minh City's District 4. It was the ideal place for him to base his criminal activities: It's centrally located, buffered by waterways, and chock-full of clandestine networks of alleyways. This is a period the government would rather forget, which is perhaps why evidence of District 4's criminal history is hard to come by. "There's really no documentation about District 4 in that era," Tim Doling, a historian in Ho Chi Minh City who's the author of "Saigon-Cho Lon: Vanishing Heritage of Ho Chi Minh City," told me when I asked about the district. "It's all down to the personal reminiscences of those who lived there." Ho Chi Minh City, designated a future megacity by the United Nations, is divided into 24 districts, half of which are numbered and half of which are named. The airport sits in Tan Binh District, but most visitors end up dividing their time between districts 1, 3, and 5, which contain the bulk of the city's heritage buildings and museums. Some also venture into Thao Dien, an expat enclave in District 2. As a travel writer who primarily covers Vietnam, I make regular trips to Ho Chi Minh City, and I've found that some of the most interesting spots including District 4 are outside the popular tourist hubs. At a little over 1.5 square miles in size, District 4 is the smallest district in Vietnam's most populous city; it's densely populated, though, with nearly 200,000 residents, by one count, as of 2019. With the district having shrugged off its reputation for crime, many characteristics that made it a handy criminal hub the waterways, alleyways, and proximity to District 1 now make it ripe for urban exploration. On my most recent visit to Ho Chi Minh City, in September, I spent a day exploring some fresh spots in District 4 and found it worth including in visitors' travel itineraries. Highlands Coffee, Vietnam's answer to Starbucks, recently renovated an old shophouse that overlooks Ben Nghe Canal. A renovated old shophouse houses Highlands Coffee. Joshua Zukas A century ago some streets in District 4 were lined with heritage houses, but most have been lost to redevelopment. Highlands Coffee, one of Vietnam's most popular cafe chains, renovated one of the few remaining old shophouses for its branch on 182 Ben Van Don, and I decided this would be the right place to start the day. Highlands Coffee isn't my go-to spot, even though it's wildly popular with locals. It does, however, significantly outperform Starbucks, according to VNExpress, and in Vietnam it has over four times as many branches. I ordered ca phe sua da, a Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk, which was decent. But they served it in a single-use plastic cup even though I was drinking in, which I didn't appreciate. San Art, a grassroots arts organization, chose an unlikely location for its creative hub: the sixth floor of a multistory residential block. An art gallery on the sixth floor of a multistory residential block. San Art Founded in 2007, San Art is based in the Millennium Masteri building at 132 Ben Van Don Street, a few minutes by foot from Highlands Coffee. A champion of contemporary creativity in Vietnam, San Art organizes exhibitions, an international artist residency program, and the LabMobile San Art's critique initiative, where "artists, curators, and cultural workers gather for in-depth conversations about a specific exhibition or body of work," the website explains. Unfortunately, it was closed when I visited as they were preparing for an exhibition. I moved on to another gallery. Jack Clayton, a British woodcut printmaker and illustrator, set up his gallery in District 4. Clayton's gallery is in a convenient location close to the heart of the city. Jack Clayton "I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City in 2012, and back then District 4 still had a bad reputation," Clayton told me in his gallery. "But now it's the perfect place to be, really." Clayton crafts creative interpretations of street life in Vietnam, which he displays in his whitewashed, light-bathed gallery. Attracted to District 4's street life, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, and convenient location close to the heart of the city, Clayton said he moved his gallery there in 2021. Clayton's first gallery was also in District 4, nestled within the alleyways that fan out from Vinh Khanh Street. I didn't visit Vinh Khanh Street this time, but it's one of the city's most vibrant street-food areas, especially in the evening. District 4 is made up of low-rise terraced housing. A view of the street life in Ho Chi Minh City's District 4, showing a mix of greenery and low-rise buildings. Joshua Zukas In District 4's low-rise neighborhoods, communities were clustered around small public spaces, like the grassy squares close to Clayton's gallery. I decided this was the perfect place to take a breather and down an iced fresh orange juice. Surrounded by teenagers nattering over smartphones, I watched as noodle stands and banh mi carts prepared cheap eats for local families. Twenty years ago, the scene must have been quite different. "I had to stay in at night," Thanh Huong, Clayton's wife, who spent some of her childhood in District 4, had told me in the gallery. "I was even robbed a few times." District 4 has its share of heritage, mostly architectural remnants from the French colonial period. Xom Chieu Parish Church in Ho Chi Minh City's District 4 is an architectural remnant from the French colonial period. Joshua Zukas I was keen to explore the other side of District 4, so I delved into the tight alleyways that led to the Xom Chieu Parish Church, passing a couple of design cafes on my way. This ecclesiastical compound was established in 1856, according to the sign out front, though some of the buildings had clearly been built more recently. It was an interesting place to visit, with some handsome colonial architecture and a welcoming community that chatted in the leafy courtyards. The area around the church was another intriguing neighborhood to get lost in, particularly the Cho 200, or 200 Market, with some tempting street food. I managed to resist, as I had another idea for dinner. I had passed other better-known heritage buildings earlier that day. Dragon House Wharf, enshrined in history as the place where Ho Chi Minh, the city's eponym, boarded a ship to France in 1911, is now a history museum. Nearby is the 1882 Rainbow Bridge, formerly the Pont des Messageries Maritimes, built by Gustave Eiffel the engineer who built the Eiffel Tower. District 4 even has a restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide, which launched in Vietnam earlier this year. The author had grilled snails recommended by the waiter at Oc Ba Co Loc Coc, a Michelin-listed eatery. Joshua Zukas With a garish neon sign, a security guard napping on the front table, and dated Western pop tunes playing on a loop, Oc Ba Co Loc Coc at 222 Khanh Hoi Street didn't scream Michelin. But the spread of seafood and snails on offer drew me in. I was eating alone and went for the seafood fried rice and grilled snails recommended by the waiter. He told me the restaurant had become about 50% busier since being featured in the Michelin Guide. Full-bellied and satisfied, I ordered a motorbike taxi back to my accommodation in District 1. Snaking through the busy streets of District 4, I started to think about the district's future. Twenty years ago, many locals would have said District 4 was a no-go area. Where will the district be in another 20 years? Nothing is inevitable in Vietnam, but if the Michelin listing, art hubs, design cafes, and street life are anything to go by, perhaps the district will have reinvented itself once again. Read the original article on Insider The wave of American churches leaving the United Methodist Church continues to surge on, but the splintering overseas has proved less predictable so far. The circumstances are more precarious for churches outside the U.S. wrestling with deciding to stay in the UMC or leave for a more conservative, breakaway denomination called the Global Methodist Church. Very few churches in those regions have left, but some leaders have recently declared their intentions. This summer, lay leaders in the Philippines urged their bishops to support immediate autonomy from the UMC, while 11 African bishops issued a statement expressing their desire to stay in the denomination. The outcome will largely depend on the UMC General Conference, which is the denominations international legislative body, in April and the legislation that delegates approve. United Methodist leaders hope to keep its global footprint intact with a proposal giving regional authorities in other countries more autonomy, one of several policies that traditionalist opponents are protesting they say is delaying the inevitable. If theres a mechanism, we anticipate there will be more clergy, churches and lay members outside the United States in the Global Methodist Church than there will be in the United Methodist Church, the Rev. Keith Boyette, the Global Methodist Churchs top officer and chief executive, said in an interview. The Global Methodist Church launched in May 2022 following disagreements over theology and church policy, including dealing with LGBTQ rights. The launch accelerated an exodus of U.S.-based churches, which is now at 6,200-plus and more are expected before end of year. The UMC, of which many of its general agencies are based in Nashville, is the largest mainline Protestant denomination in the U.S. Outside the U.S., it claims more than 6.4 million members and 12,800-plus churches, according to 2018 data from the UMC General Council on Finance and Administration. Since its launch, the Global Methodist Church has emphasized its conservative appeal to churches outside the U.S, though UMC leaders have been more skeptical. Bold proclamations are not unexpected but when the dust settles, its interesting to see what the actual numbers become, Bishop Thomas Bickerton , president of the UMC Council of Bishops, said in an interview. Bickerton, who also leads the denominations New York Conference, recently visited UMC leaders in South Korea and in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the African bishops gathered and approved their statement expressing their intent to stay. From Bickertons observation, a lot remains up in the air. Heres what that overseas landscape looks like right now and how it could change. What has happened so far outside of the U.S. The question of whether churches outside the U.S. will stay in the UMC has been just as much a source of anxiety as the splintering in America, though the UMC hasnt recognized a single churchs departure outside the U.S. The main policy U.S.-based churches are using to leave the UMC, a process known as disaffiliation and that is outlined in the UMC Book of Discipline paragraph 2553, isnt applicable to regional authorities outside the U.S., which are called central conferences. A gathering of traditionalist Methodists in May 2022 near Indianapolis, just days after the more conservative Global Methodist Church launched. Thousands of churches in the U.S. have left the UMC for the new, breakaway denomination, though fewer churches outside the U.S. have due to difference in policy. There are seven total central conferences three in Africa, three in Europe and one in the Philippines which are more directly beholden to the UMC General Conference. For example, the only policy available to churches in central conferences to leave the UMC, as outlined in the UMC Book of Discipline paragraph 572, requires final approval from the UMC General Conference, which meets every four years. I think it has been more difficult for churches (outside the U.S.) to get out, but the desire is as intense as it was a 1.5 years ago, Boyette said. Much of the focus internationally has been on Africa and the Philippines, where there are large numbers of United Methodists, who are by-and-large more conservative than the American church. Smaller regional authorities, called annual conferences, in Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Estonia and the Czech Republic have declared their intention to leave the UMC through formal votes await approval by the UMC General Conference. What is happening now with the UMC overseas Some havent waited for permission. The Global Methodist Church has received into its membership churches and clergy from Croatia, England, Germany, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Zambia, Panama, and the Philippines, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Spain, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, according to Boyette. Often, clusters of churches have voted as individual congregations to leave the UMC and change the legal status of their denominational affiliation. The UMC could go after these churches and try to seize their property by enforcing a trust clause. But the law is not necessarily favorable in some other countries for a denomination to try to unwillingly keep people in the denomination through control of property, Boyette said. Rev. Keith Boyette, who now serves as the top officer and chief executive for the Global Methodist Church, at May 2022 event in Indianapolis, just days after the more conservative, breakaway denomination launched amid a splintering in the UMC. Traditionalists are better organized in some regions, such as the African Initiative, an organization that advocates for churches to leave the UMC and join the Global Methodist Church. As a countermeasure to the recent statement from the 11 African bishops about staying in the UMC, the Africa Initiative issued its own statement to deter rank-and-file clergy and laity. What will happen next in the global debate The most significant decisions about the future of the UMC globally have yet to happen and will largely depend on the UMC General Conference in April. The General Conference is set to take up a proposed constitutional change that would effectively elevate the status and autonomy of central conferences to that of U.S.-based regional authorities. The proposal, known as regionalization, allows for variation in the adoption and enforcement of certain policies across different regions. For example, bishops in Africa can enforce a policy against LGBTQ ordination with less leniency than U.S. bishops. Its safe to say regionalization is the hot topic going into General Conference, Bickerton said. It intimately involves our relationship with our central conferences with leadership, discipline, and roll and function, so much so that it will be the dominant feature of the General Conference. The regionalization legislation proposed for the UMC General Conference is based on a 2019 declaration called The Christmas Covenant, which Bickerton said was largely intended for churches in the Philippines. But the recent statement from the 11 African bishops also celebrated the proposal. UMC splinter explainer Why defectors have resorted to lawsuits against UMC officials Aside from the debates over sexuality and gender, regionalization is responsive to a relationship between the U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based church rooted in colonialism. Still, conservatives have decried regionalization as a Hail Mary attempt to appease both American progressives and traditionalists outside the U.S. There might also be proposed legislation at the UMC General Conference that would make it easier for churches outside the U.S. to leave the UMC. Despite heightened media attention on the U.S. dynamics of the UMCs splintering, debate at the UMC General Conference will be just as focused on the global church. Theres a strong chance is that it will be unprecedented, Bickerton said. Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on Twitter @liamsadams. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: United Methodist Church split: Will churches outside the U.S. leave? The city of Sacramento has temporarily shut down a large cannabis manufacturing facility, swiftly prompting an explosive council meeting and a lawsuit. Officials on Oct. 2 ordered the closure of Natura, located on Elder Creek Road near Power Inn Road, citing fire code violations that make the Morrison Creek district buildings unsafe for its 450 employees. The decision prompted over 40 workers to come to last Tuesdays City Council meeting. Several were near tears as they begged for the council to overrule the building inspectors decision so they could pay their rent and feed their families. I believe my company is wrongfully under assault, Michael Hicks, an employee, told the council. My job and the job of hundreds of others are in jeopardy right now. Workers tend to cannabis plants inside one of Naturas 22 buildings on its Elder Creek Road campus in 2022. The city shut down the operations at its 11.5-acre Morrison Creek campus over code violations. Mayor Darrell Steinberg urged CEO and co-founder Ori Bytton to urgently spend money for construction, citing a Wall Street Journal article that said Bytton had recently listed his Los Angeles home for $38 million. I dont begrudge anybodys wealth, Steinberg said. But I would suggest to you that you hire people to do double, triple, quadruple overtime to get this work done in collaboration with the building inspector and fire inspector and get these folks back to work as quickly as possible and/or pay you employees while this work gets done. The comment prompted Bytton to jump from his chair and shout from the audience, causing the council to adjourn the meeting early as dozens of employees filed out disappointed. A temporary closure could result in the facility closing for good, said Craig Powell, a co-founder of the firm and its senior vice president. There are tens of millions of dollars of plant and product that will rot and decay, to the demise of our company, Powell said. Naturas facilities at 8280 Elder Creek Road in the citys Morrison Creek district are seen in a 2021 photo. The company is working with the city to bring 22 buildings on its 11.5-acre site into code compliance. Lawsuit filed to keep Natura open The company Thursday sued the city in Sacramento Superior Court claiming the city violated the companys constitutional rights. It asks for a judge to order the city to let the business stay open. Loss of employment resulting from the citys outrageous misconduct will be devastating to these Natura employees and could potentially render many of them homeless in a city that already has a significant homelessness problem, the lawsuit stated. The case was assigned to Judge Christopher J. Kruger, then reassigned to Judge Richard K. Sueyoshi at Naturas request. The city is in the process of evaluating the lawsuit, said city spokesman Tim Swanson. When Natura opened in 2020, the city repeatedly extended the amount of time allowed to complete construction, taking the COVID-19 pandemic into account, according to Tom Pace, the citys development director, who spoke before the council. The citys interim chief building official, Bob Latz, in consultation with city Fire Marshal Jason Lee, made the decision to stop granting extensions, Pace said. Lee said fire suppression and protection equipment was missing in multiple buildings on the campus. He was not specific, but typically that equipment can include sprinkler systems. Naturas facilities at 8280 Elder Creek Road in the citys Morrison Creek district are seen in a 2020 photo. The company is working with the city to bring 22 buildings on its 11.5-acre site into code compliance. Natura is also a cannabis grower, manufacturer and distributor. Naturaofficials say the complex has a 200,000-square-foot facility to grow cannabis, as well as a processing, manufacturing and distribution center, and an immersive showroom. Natura manufactures its own cannabis brands and also serves as a contract manufacturer for other companies. Privately owned Naturadoesnt disclose financial figures. The cannabis industry generally has been under financial pressure because too much marijuana is grown relative to the demand in Californias legalized marketplace. Lee at the meeting said that the buildings on the 11-acre campus could be reopened on a case-by-case basis as violations are corrected. The campus has 22 structures. The company told city officials in the past that the required work would take at least until the end of December, said Assistant City Manager Leyne Milstein. You know we have rent right? one woman yelled out. Employees were not working in the facility when a reporter visited Friday. It was unclear whether they were being paid during the shutdown. In an interview Thursday night, Powell said the company was in negotiations with the city to reopen. At this point, the City Attorneys Office and our legal counsel are engaged in some very productive dialogue, the company vice president said. With that said, we look forward to resuming operations and returning 450 people to their employment very, very soon. Swanson confirmed the city has been meeting with the company since Tuesdays meeting. The city has been actively meeting with Naturas leadership this week to assist them in the development of a plan to achieve compliance with the existing building, fire and life-safety code violations and finish the permitting process for the buildings on their campus, Swanson said in a statement. Natura has had several years to address these issues and has been granted numerous extensions. The city understands the urgency with which Natura would now like to accomplish the required remedies, and we share concerns about how Naturas employees may be affected. However, ensuring the health and safety of the people working in Naturas building and the surrounding community remains the citys top priority. China's action on and contribution to building global community of shared future 10:09, October 09, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily China is not only advocating but also acting on the vision of building a global community of shared future. Over the past decade, from promoting high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to proposing and implementing the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), China, with firm beliefs and solid actions, has worked with all relevant parties to consolidate greater efforts for lasting peace, create a favorable environment for common security, inject stronger confidence into common development, provide important impetus for cultural exchanges, and take more actions for ecological protection. China has continuously contributed to the building of a global community of shared future. The BRI is a vivid example of building a global community of shared future, a public good and a cooperation platform provided by China and welcomed by the international community. By July 2023, more than three-quarters of countries in the world and over 30 international organizations had signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation with China. Over the past decade, China has laid the groundwork and set up the frameworks of BRI cooperation, delivering tangible results and achieving sustainable progress. Together, participants in the initiative have jointly advanced "hard connectivity" of infrastructure, "soft connectivity" of rules and standards and "people-to-people connectivity" among partner countries. This has effectively promoted the development of participating countries, constantly giving local people of BRI countries a stronger sense of fulfillment and happiness. Flagship projects of the BRI, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, have lent strong impetus to local economic and social development. The China-Europe freight trains have made 77,000 trips in the past ten years, carrying 7.31 million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods and becoming an important bridge for international economic and trade cooperation. Luban workshops have helped young people in more than 20 Belt and Road countries acquire vocational skills. The BRI aims to help China and the rest of the world share opportunities and seek common development. Development serves as the material foundation for security and civilization. Through the GDI, China has made its contribution to resolving challenges to development and advancing global development. The fundamental aim of the initiative is to accelerate the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its core requirement is a people-centered approach, its foremost philosophy is united, equal, balanced, and inclusive global development partnerships, and its pivotal measure entails results-oriented actions to bolster stronger, greener, and healthier global development and jointly build a global community of development. China has hosted the High-level Dialogue on Global Development and presented 32 important measures to implement the initiative. So far, half of these measures have been implemented or achieved early fruits. The library of the GDI projects is expanding, with over 200 projects achieving good results. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed noted that strengthening cooperation within the framework of the GDI is key to achieving the common objectives for people and the planet. Security acts as the fundamental prerequisite for development and civilization. Through the GSI, China has boosted confidence for maintaining and realizing common security and universal security. The initiative calls for adapting to profound changes in the international landscape through solidarity, addressing traditional and non-traditional security risks and challenges with a win-win mindset, and creating a new path to security that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance and win-win over zero-sum. Over the past three decades and more, China has sent more than 50,000 personnel to UN peacekeeping operations in over 20 countries and region. China has been calling for the resolution of conflicts and working tirelessly to promote peace. It has facilitated the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and has been actively involved in resolving international and regional hotspot issues. China is actively committed to international cooperation in various fields, including counter-terrorism, public health, digital governance, bio-security, and climate change. China's actions fully demonstrate its role as a responsible major country in safeguarding world peace and stability. International personages pointed out that the GSI fills the void of a viable global security architecture, and China's successful implementation of this initiative fully proves that China is a defender of global peace and security. Civilization provides the cultural-ethical support for development and security. Through the GCI, China has injected impetus into promoting mutual learning and building an open and inclusive world. The initiative calls for jointly advocating respect for the diversity of civilizations, jointly advocating the common values of humanity, jointly advocating the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and jointly advocating robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. It makes a sincere call for the world to enhance inter-civilization exchanges and dialogue, and promote human progress with inclusiveness and mutual learning. China has hosted gatherings including the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting, the CPC and World Political Parties Summit, and the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations. It has promoted diverse forms of civil diplomacy, city diplomacy, and public diplomacy. It has also celebrated splendid cultural and tourism "years" and festivals. China actively promotes the establishment of a global network for dialogue and cooperation on civilizations, strengthens international cultural exchanges and cooperation, and promotes mutual understanding and friendship among peoples of all countries, offering cultural-ethical support for the building of a global community of shared future. The future of humanity is bright, but it will not come without effort. To build a global community of shared future, confidence and determination are of foremost importance; a broad mind and a global vision are central; a sense of responsibility and a will to act hold the key. China will continue to work with all parties, hold high the banner of building a global community of shared future, and build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) ST. PETERSBURG The pirate Jose Gaspar is widely thought to be a myth, yet a South Florida woman claims to be his great-great-great-granddaughter. A Sarasota treasure hunter has led a team on the search for his booty for the past decade. And since September, a St. Petersburg jewelry shop has been selling coins that were allegedly stashed in one of Gaspars buried chests. So, wait, was the patron saint of Tampa Bay revelry and namesake for the areas largest annual parade real? The answer could lie with those coins and a man known as Uncle Vern, who might be able to authenticate the currency as pirate. But its unclear if he would be willing to talk or is even alive. If Uncle Vern comes forward, jeweler Gene DeLuigi said, my coins rewrite Florida history. The coins Locked inside a glass case in his corner of Boggs Jewelers at 3609 49th St. N in St. Petersburg, salesman DeLuigi has dozens of coins that range in price from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the condition, and date to the 1400s through 1700s. DeLuigi claims to have bought the coins from a stranger a decade ago and has since learned that they came from a treasure chest that Gaspar buried along the Peace River in Charlotte County. Certain the tale is true, DeLuigi recently donated a handful to the St. Petersburg Museum of History. So, are the coins authentic? Yes and no, said Rui Farias, executive director of the museum. The coins are likely of Spanish origin and from the era when eye-patch-wearing pirates sailed the seven seas. Boggs Jewelers also had them authenticated by David Reynolds Jewelers on Central Avenue, Farias said. Theyre an incredibly reputable company. And the story that they belonged to Gaspar? Its widely believed that the Gaspar story was first published in the early 1900s to help promote the railroad near Charlotte Harbor and was later made famous by Tampas Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Gaspar is an entirely fictional character created to lure tourists, according to a 1980 article in the Tampa Bay History publication. I would love to prove that he was real but that would be a little harder, said Farias whose middle name is, we are not pulling your peg leg, Gaspar. I like to joke that were related. Were not, but it would be fun if we were. The descendant? In a story that many would consider unbelievable, perhaps the most astounding part is that Chanoce Gomez claims to have learned of the Gasparilla Parade just a few years ago. I live in LaBelle, the 52-year-old said. It just wasnt something I knew about. But she had always known about Gaspar, a man she says was her thrice great-grandfather. According to legend, after decades of plundering and pillaging throughout the Caribbean, the U.S. military finally caught up with Gaspar in 1821 and sunk his ship near the mouth of Charlotte Harbor. Rather than be captured, Gaspar is said to have died by tying a chain around his neck and jumping into the gulf. Some of his men, including Juan Gomez, escaped. Juan Gomez, believed to be a real person whom historians say frequented the Tampa Bay area, was known for entertaining people with stories of Gaspar and other tall tales of his days as a pirate, selling hand-drawn treasure maps that led to nothing. My mother was Paullet Gomez Lovett, Gomez said. Her father was Tim Gomez, whose father was Charlie Gomez, whose father was Francisco Gomez, whose father was Juan Gomez. She claims that, according to family history, Juan Gomez was not telling stories about his pirate boss Gaspar. He was telling stories about himself, she said. Jose Gaspar was his alias. And, while some of his maps might have been bogus, some were real, one of which is said to have led to treasure along the Peace River. The purchase In 2013, an unidentified old man brought a few hundred of what he said was a collection of thousands of coins to Boggs Jewelers to be authenticated, DeLuigi said. He said, and this is important, A man named Vern sent me up here but said nothing else of the man. The coins, DeLuigi said, are a mixture of nickel, silver and traces of copper and known as pieces of eight because they are the size of a U.S. silver dollar but can also be divided into eight fragments. Boggs Jewelers authenticated the coins and DeLuigi bought 120. He gave away 15 as gifts. Remember, I still wasnt told of a connection to Juan Gomez, he said. I just thought it was cool to give people pirate coins. A little over a year ago, he was showing off a few of the coins while having lunch at the Nav-A-Gator Bar & Grill in Arcadia. A waiter suggested that DeLuigi meet his friend Michael Gattuso, who had been searching for similar coins. They got together two days later and, when DeLuigi retold the story of the old man and mentioned the name Vern, Gattuso asked, You mean Uncle Vern? The treasure hunter As the story goes, Juan Gomez escaped his sinking ship and came ashore on land owned by the Boggess family near the Peace River. The matriarch, Lady Boggess, made a deal with the pirate. She would let him hide there in exchange for a portion of the treasure. He later hid most of it throughout that area. That tale is what inspired Gattuso and his team, known as The Real Treasure Hunters, to search for Gaspars riches, relying on lure, maps that might have been drawn by Juan Gomez and stories passed on by old-timers, one of whom was Uncle Vern. Uncle Vern is Vern Collins, Gattuso said. He is part of the Boggess family. According to genealogy records, Vernon Merle Collins mother was Vera Lily Boggess. In a video from 2013 on The Real Treasure Hunters website, Vern says that he once had a metal map that led to Juan Gomezs treasure. Verns ace is hard to make out in the video, and that was done at his request, Gattuso said. Not recorded is that the map led to three treasure chests buried along the Peace River, Gattuso said, but Vern claimed that two old men had just recently found two. Then recently, I learn Boggs Jewelers have a similar story that took place at the same time, Gattuso said. It adds up. And the third is still out there Uncle Vern could tell us if the link is real. But its been eight years since he last spoke to Vern. I dont know if he is alive, Gattuso said. The Tampa Bay Times could not find an obituary for Vernon Collins. Public records show he would be 90 and list his most recent address as a post office box in Fort Ogden. The Times left a voicemail on a number listed for Vernon Merle Collins in Fort Ogden but did not hear back. Uncle Vern wont talk, Gattuso said. We got him to talk a couple of times and that was it. Now what? Since putting the coins up for sale in September, DeLuigi said, he has sold six. Because the Peace River is a state waterway, nothing considered to be an artifact can be taken without the states permission. So, before the museum accepted the donated coins, they first had to ask the states Division of Historical Resources if the treasure was legal to possess. We sent them photographs of the coins and information on them, Farias said. They felt comfortable saying they were authentic pieces of eight, but probably did not come from the Peace River or an archaeological site. They said the coins likely came from a shipwreck in the Atlantic or the gulf, where tens of thousands of these coins have been found. The state is right, Gattuso said. They did come from a shipwreck, but the treasure was then taken to land. Soon, the coins will help promote local lore. In January, the history museum is co-producing Gaspar! The Musical at The Palladium in St. Petersburg. The coins will be on display at the venue because the story behind them is fascinating, even if it might not be true. What do they want, a video of Juan Gomez coming up with a ship and the cannons blaring? DeLuigi said when told of the museums hesitance to accept the story as fact. This is truly buried pirate treasure. How cool is that? Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified the ancestors of Chanoce Gomez. The story has been updated. The leaders of Stallings-based SteelPoint, Micheal Mick and Deborah Edwards say theyre proud to be in the Union County town and theyll keep it that way with a little help. The manufacturer of heavy-duty trailers has been in Union County for 13 years. An $822,500 incentive grant over five years from the Monroe-Union County Economic Development Commission will ensure theyll stay even longer. SteelPoint is using the money to add a 100,000 square-foot production facility by the existing building on Beltway Boulevard near U.S. 74. by the end of 2024. Officials noted that an investment up to $35 million is anticipated with the project. About 90 people are employed at the facility, and the expansion project will bring another 25 jobs paying an average of $25 per hour. In a town like Stallings, its very important to make sure you get industrial places in this location, said Mick Edwards whose official title is chief executive officer. Its not just about putting up apartment buildings. Its good for the local community that you have a company that helps with progress. It wasnt always a certainty Steelpoint would stay put. With the help of an incentive grant, SteelPoint is working on adding new jobs after expanding operations. The Edwardses looked at vacant properties and existing buildings around Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston and York counties. They started looking for land before the pandemic, which would eventually delay their search and result in higher prices. While our company is growing, it seems like all of those prices are going up faster than what we can catch up to, said Deborah, senior vice president and chief administrative officer. Union County was committed to keeping us here and this helps do that. They purchased a piece of property adjacent to the current location at 200 Beltway Blvd. in Stallings for the expansion. Union County commissioners Vice Chair Melissa Merrell, who supported giving the incentives during a September vote, said the company has provided strong career opportunities since 2010. Their decision to grow here proves Union County has one of the best business environments in North Carolina and we are proud to provide our support through the economic development incentive grant, Merrell said in a news release. The companys modern history dates back to 2010, when Mick Edwards sold his rental and equipment service business and purchased one of its small vendors as a turnaround opportunity, the companys website says. He brought his vision of turning SteelPoint, which was formerly named MMDi, into a high-end trailer manufacturer. After retiring from her career, Deborah Edwards joined Mick in 2016. The Edwardses have lived in the area for about 40 years and met in graduate school at Wake Forest University. SteelPoint was recently approved with an economic incentive grant to help with expansion in Union County. Union Countys economic development work Members of the countys economic development team began working with SteelPoint more than a year ago. Chris Plate, executive director of the economic development commission, said the organization provide companies help with matters such as workforce training and being the liaison for permit processes with state and municipal government officials. We provide a lot of help to save them time and money so they can get back to what theyre doing making products and hiring people, Plate said. Since July 2022, there have been seven expansion projects in Union County totaling $157.65 million. Along with SteelPoint, the companies are AquaLogic, Coca-Cola Bottling, ATI Special Materials American Wick Drain, Charlotte Pipe and Foundry - Plastics Division and Pilgrims. Big or small, bringing companies to Union County is big for business, Plate said. Industrial recruitment provides high-paying jobs locally and offsets the demands associated with residential development, so Union County can provide superior K-12 schools and other government services to our residents while retaining an affordable tax rate, he said. And for local businesses like SteelPoint, its meaningful when officials who control the publics pocketbook commit to give incentives.. Its great to go out and recruit companies, but sometimes you have diamonds already existing that you need to help nurture, Mick Edwards said. And thats what theyve done. RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas (Border Report) Starr County Judge Eloy Vera borrowed a reporters phone and tried to decipher a U.S. Customs and Border Protection map showing where about 20 miles of new federal border wall is to be built in this rural county in the Rio Grande Valley. Vera says federal officials did not tell him they were waiving 26 environmental laws last week in order to expedite construction of border barrier in Starr County. New border wall Biden OKd for Starr County has residents up in arms Im sure the federal government has very qualified engineers to design this wall. But it certainly would be nice if we would be shown what is being proposed and the footings and the foundations, and how theyre going to be working in this area of which we havent seen anything, Vera told Border Report from his Rio Grande City offices. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera on Oct. 5, 2023, tries to decipher a map by U.S. Customs and Border Protection indicating where 20 miles of new border wall will be built in this rural South Texas county. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) This is the first time the Biden administration has waived environmental regulations in order to build new barrier on the Southwest border with Mexico. Some of the waived laws include: the Endangered Species Act; the Clean Air Act; the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. An announcement in the Federal Register on Wednesday by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the wall is needed in Starr County because there is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas. Since learning of the new border wall, several residents and regional leaders also have tried to navigate the black lines in the CBP graphic to decipher where the new 18-foot-tall border wall will be built. Seven segments of black lines indicate proposed new federal border wall to be built in Starr County, Texas. (CBP Graphic) But over the weekend the maps were taken offline and not available to the public without a special password. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar , D-TX (Cuellar Photo) U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat who represents Starr County, helped to intervene and got government officials to restore the CBP maps online for everyone to see on Monday. The public needs to know, Cuellar told Border Report on Monday. On Friday, Cuellar said he spoke with Starr County officials and walked them through the border wall plans. Cuellar is the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, and as such is privy to sensitive information from DHS because all agency funding must go through his subcommittee. He says there are 17 miles of new border wall to be built in seven sections spread out throughout the county of just 65,000. Funding for the border wall was approved by Congress in Fiscal Year 2019 and can only be rescinded by Congress. Scott Nicol, an environmentalist who is on the board of Friends of the Wildlife Corridor, told Border Report that there is about $195 million in funding out of the original $1.375 billion originally appropriated. Jim Chapman, president of the board of Friends of the Wildlife Corridor, says building a metal wall will prevent wildlife from going to and from the Rio Grande for water. And noise and pollution from construction could affect habitats and the migration of birds. Biden administration waiving 26 federal laws to allow border wall construction in Texas The Rio Grande Valley is one of the premiere birding locations in North America. The wall is to be built from the western edge of the county one mile south of Falcon Dam. That segment is to be two miles long. But it will stop short of the Salineno Wildlife Preserve, a world-renowned migratory bird sanctuary, Debralee Rodriguez, executive director of the Valley Land Fund, which owns the preserve, told Border Report. The Salineno Birding Preserve is to be exempt from the border wall to be built in Starr County, Texas. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) But several other wildlife tracts will be affected by border wall construction. According to the Federal Register, the wall is slated to be built: Starting at the southeast boundary of the Arroyo Morteros Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and extending southeast for approximately one mile. Starting at the northernmost boundary of the Las Ruinas Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and extending north for approximately one mile. Starting at the eastern boundary of the Arroyo Ramirez Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and extending east for approximately half mile. Starting half mile south of the intersection of Perez Road and U.S. Highway 83 and generally following the Rio Grande River to a quarter mile south and east of the intersection of Leos Road and U.S. Highway 83. Starting approximately three-quarters of a mile southeast of the intersection of North Redwoods Street and U.S. Highway 83 and extending southeast to the northwest boundary of the Los Velas West Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Starting approximately one-tenth of a mile south of the intersection of Trophy Street and Moonbeam Street and extending east to approximately one mile south of the intersection of Los Olmitos Road and Farm to Market Road 1430. Starting approximately one mile south of the intersection of Los Olmitos Road and Farm to Market Road 1430 and extending southeast to the northwest boundary of the La Casita East Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Starting approximately one mile south of the intersection of Mission Street and Old Military Highway and extending southeast for 1.75 miles. Starting at the northeast boundary of the Villareales Banco Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and extending east to the western boundary of the Cuevitas Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. The race for Brevard and Seminole County State Attorney is down to one for now. Christopher Cusmano, the Republican former assistant state attorney who filed to run in August, confirmed Friday he is dropping out of the race due to a conflict with his service in the U.S. Army Reserve. That leaves his opponent, Republican Assistant State Attorney Will Scheiner State Attorney Phil Archer's chief trial lawyer in Brevard unopposed. Archer is supporting Scheiner for the position, but has not yet made an official endorsement. Potential candidates have another six months to qualify, however, meaning the race may not be over just yet. Archer, who has been the 18th Judicial Circuit's chief prosecutor since 2013, is not running for reelection. He declined to comment on the news of Cusmano's decision Friday, but said through a spokesperson he was planning to retire and would make a formal announcement in the coming months. More: Torres: Prosecutor pleads guilty to misconduct and is suspended for two years "Mr. Archer did want to confirm that after 40 years of public service as a prosecutor, and now State Attorney, he has decided to retire and enjoy more time with his wife Stephanie, and their adult children," Todd Brown, a state attorney's office spokesman, said in an email. Cusmano drops out, citing Army Reserve deployment Cusmano confirmed Friday he was withdrawing from the race, telling FLORIDA TODAY he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve with a tentative unit deployment window of 440 days. Federal directives prohibit reservists from running for office if they are called to active duty for more than 270 consecutive days, unless they are granted special permission from the U.S. Secretary of Defense. Cusmano said he wasn't planning on seeking that permission. "That's not a viable option," Cusmano said by phone Friday, from the road to Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Clay County. From there, he said, he will deploy to Texas for southern border operations with the Florida Army National Guard. "It's an open-and-shut case," he said. "I also think, based on the nature of the mission, it would be pretty hard to run a campaign back here. At the same time, I don't think it's really fair to do so." Christopher Cusmano Prior to joining Archer's office as an assistant state attorney in 2019, Cusmano was an officer and attorney for eight years in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. He left the office in October last year over Archer's handling of Assistant State Attorney Bryon Aven, who kept his job despite admitting to submitting false testimony while prosecuting a 2022 battery case. Cusmano worked with Aven on the case and helped to expose the misconduct. Aven was suspended by the Florida Bar for two years and removed from the courtroom, but was allowed to continue working in the intake division, where he helped decide what cases go to prosecution. Cusmano said he wished Scheiner well in the race. "I'm curious to see what happens," he said. "I really appreciate the support and encouragement that I've received from the community." Scheiner banking on trial experience, victims' rights Scheiner said the news caught him by surprise Friday. "Obviously, any candidate is happy to not have an opponent, but that's why we have this process, so that people have options," Scheiner said. He added: "Chris is a nice guy. He's serving our country and I respect the hell out of that." Scheiner filed to run for state attorney in May. He began at the State Attorney's Office in 2008, less than a year after graduating from Florida Coastal School of Law, starting in misdemeanors and later the felony division under former State Attorney Norman Wolfinger. He earned a series of strong performance reviews under Archer and became Brevard's top prosecutor, accepting a promotion to chief trial attorney this past July, his personnel file shows. Scheiner is staking his bid on his 15 years of trial experience and deep knowledge of the administration and expectations of the office. "I've been in every division this office has. I've seen the inner workings of all those things, how they work and how they should work," he said. He also has cited what he said was a deep appreciation for victims' rights, a result of his own experience as a victim of a 2001 attempted robbery/kidnapping in Titusville that ended with him wounded in the crossfire between his assailant and a responding police officer. Scheiner: 'I would have handled things differently' with Aven If he is elected, voters would likely not see seismic changes in the public-facing part of the office, he said; outwardly, it would run much as it has under Archer, with a few key changes. Scheiner said he aims to increase the size of the office to reflect the growth in the county, with a focus on growing the number of units that focus on specialized areas of crime, including reviving its elder services and economic crimes units. He would also focus on beefing up its range of victims' services, he said. William Scheiner That did not include a dedicated convictions integrity unit tasked with reviewing cases for prosecutorial misconduct, however, an idea Cusmano promoted during his brief run after his experience with Aven. "This is hard to say given what's happened in the last 18 months in a courtroom here in Brevard County, but I have faith that the process is going to work, and that prosecutors and people in the court are going to do what they are supposed to be doing," Scheiner said. He went on: "It saddens me that the default position is we did it wrong. I can't say I would never institute (a convictions integrity unity), because that is a concern to me that that is the default position, but if I were to win, that would not be a top priority to start with." Scheiner said integrity would nevertheless be North Star principle for his office. He said he is currently leading an effort to review of a piece of evidence in a controversial, high-profile local conviction, though he declined to say more. More: Torres: Former assistant state attorney shows integrity by quitting He would have handled things differently with Aven, he said. "The point where he put pen to paper and entered into a plea deal with the bar, there was to my mind no justification for keeping him in the office," Scheiner said. "I became the chief trial attorney on July 2 of this year, and I asked for his dismissal. It did not happen." Above all, Scheiner said, he was motivated by making sure the strongest cases make it to trial and by making sure that cases live and die on the strength of their own evidence. "My motivation is justice for everybody. Not just the families (of victims) and police, but defendants too," he said. "They get their day in court and they get their fair trial. And we need people that are trial lawyers and litigators that can do that, and I think I'm that guy." Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or esrogers@floridatoday.com. Follow him on X: @EricRogersFT. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Race for Brevard State Attorney down to one candidate for now Nine Americans have been killed in Israel as the nation reels from the deadly attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas over the weekend, a State Department spokesperson confirmed Monday. Yes, I can confirm that nine Americans unfortunately have lost their lives as a result of these horrific attacks in the region, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on CNN. We are in close contact with the government of Israel as they continue to conduct security operations to locate missing US citizens, missing Israeli citizens. And we are of course in close contact with the families of these nine deceased Americans and offering them any consular assistance that we can provide, he added. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, prompting Israel to declare war on the group and order retaliatory action. The death toll continues to climb, with about 700 people dead in Israel and nearly 500 fatalities in Gaza. Its unclear how many Americans are in Israel at this time, with Miller on Monday morning noting that its very hard to say how many U.S. citizens are unaccounted for as the fighting continues in the region. Weve continued to work. Some of them will be located, we suspect some of them may unfortunately turn out to be deceased, but we will work on that with the Government of Israel in the coming days, Miller said. Lawmakers said they are working to bring their constituents home, with Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) saying Sunday that he was is in touch with constituents 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. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) also said Sunday that he has been notified by 53 of his own constituents, adding on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures that they are panicked and trying to find their way to get back to America At least two lawmakers were also in Israel as Hamas launched its surprise attack Saturday and were forced to shelter in place. Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), along with his wife and three children, sheltered in a stairwell inside of a hotel in Tel Aviv until early Sunday morning, when they departed for New York, according to his office. Separately, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) took refuge in a bomb shelter at his hotel in Jerusalem on Saturday with his staff before safely departing for the U.S. on Sunday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Local officials usually welcome money from the state, but recent grants to Chicago suburbs to address an influx of migrants met with some backlash, highlighting how controversial the issue has become. In Joliet, news that the local township would get nearly $9 million to handle incoming migrants prompted immediate opposition from city officials and some residents. Mayor Terry DArcy asked township officials to withdraw the grant application. If the township accepts this grant and individuals arrive in our city, the mayor said, it will be a tremendous strain, overtaxing our existing infrastructure, impacting our Joliet school system social services, public and private health resources, and public safety. State officials recently gave $11 million in grants to five suburban and downstate governments to help accommodate arriving migrants and $30 million for Chicago. Debate over the grants reflects mixed feelings over how to handle the issue. Some 17,000 people have arrived by bus in Chicago over the past year, straining social services and prompting protests from some residents over spending tax dollars for food, shelter and other aid for newcomers. Suburbs have not faced any migration on that scale, but officials there say they have seen a marked increase in arrivals that needs to be addressed. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said that migrants wont be sent anywhere unless local officials agree to have them come. But both Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have called for more help from the federal government, with the governor saying the current situation is untenable. In response to such criticisms, President Joe Bidens administration announced Thursday that, with increasing numbers of migrants coming across the Mexican border, it will resume deporting migrants from Venezuela. The administration recently increased protected status for Venezuelans who arrived to the U.S. before July 31. In Joliet Township, Supervisor Angel Contreras, who applied for the immigration aid money, said he understood peoples concerns. There are no plans, he said, for mass migration, new shelters or housing. This isnt invitation money, its stabilization money, so our social service agencies dont get overloaded, he said. We need to do what we can for now and hopefully the federal government steps up. As proposed, Contreras said, the Joliet Township funding would go to the Spanish Community Center, which reported serving 2,200 people since August of last year, and the Will Grundy Medical Clinic. But money could also flow to other agencies in the region, with services to be provided first and reimbursed by the state afterward. In Lake County, social service agencies reported serving nearly 2,000 asylum-seekers in the last year. State grants of $1 million were to go to three local immigrant aid agencies. Theyre already here, they are coming to the suburbs, Mano a Mano Executive Director Dulce Ortiz said. Thats why were so grateful for this funding, because theyre already here and we are meeting their needs. Few migrants have come to stay in Oak Park, but a church there has opened its doors to give them a hot shower, new clothes and blankets, and a kitchen to make their own food. Thirty to 40 migrants come twice a week from a crowded police station nearby in Chicagos Austin neighborhood to St. Catherine-St. Lucy-St. Giles parish for a break from sleeping on the floor or in tents on the sidewalk. A hearty breakfast is served and the migrants are supplied with soap, towels, shampoo, combs, razors and deodorant. Donated clothes and shoes are on display for the migrants to select. Children get donated toys and participate in card games and art projects. Social workers from Family Focus register the migrants for benefits. The Police Station Response Team, an interfaith group that includes Christian and Jewish volunteers, also provides a weekly meal and other services at the police station. The village was awarded $150,000 to help coordinate such efforts. But not everybody in the village is happy with the groups efforts. Thats why when the group recently opened a building to store donations, it didnt make its address public. Its the work of the Holy Spirit, volunteer Celine Woznica said. They cook, theyre laughing. They say, Oh no, in my area we do it this way. Theyre able to cook their traditional foods and be proactive, rather than waiting for (handouts). Its the most wonderful life-giving thing. The Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of the merged St. Catherine-St. Lucy-St. Giles parish, acknowledged there are many long-term issues to be resolved, and the community reaction is mixed, but he said this is an emergency response. There are those whove expressed the concern that were helping these people and theyre not paying taxes, what are they giving back? he said. My answer is always, this is a moral issue, in terms of caring for those in need. We have a responsibility to care for hungry and homeless people. Were not looking at all the political aspects. Were living the Gospel message. In Elgin, which was awarded $1.27 million, Mayor David Kaptain said some residents have raised similar concerns. For about a year, he said, there has been a steady trickle of migrants from Venezuela and elsewhere who are helped by local social service agencies. It got to the point where its a financial burden, he said. Theyre running short of food, they need more money. Thats why the grant was applied for. Ive been getting calls from people concerned youre going to bring busloads of immigrants here, he said. Thats not whats happening here. He compared the situation to that during COVID-19, when people lost their jobs and the city gave money to local food pantries that were running out of food. Dianha Ortega-Ehreth, executive director of the Centro de Informacion in Elgin, said her group has been helping a rising number of immigrants. The number of clients who entered the U.S. in the past year quadrupled to almost 300 in the past fiscal year, she said. Were seeing a lot of new arrivals, Ortega-Ehreth said. The goal is to get everybody into permanent housing and make them self-sustainable. But that takes time. Our mission is to help the immigrant community fully integrate into the community. rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com On Saturday the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) announced it has launched an internal investigation following a fatal officer-involved shooting in Cut Bank on Friday. Saturdays news release said a 54-year-old man from Cut Bank was shot and died from his wounds after exiting his vehicle and confronting Cut Bank Police officers with a rifle. According to the release, the conflict began when Cut Bank Police were called to the 200 block of 5th Ave. SW for a report of a violation of an order for protection. An Order of Protection is a court order, signed by a judge, that orders an abuser or stalker to cease from threatening or to come within 1,500-feet of their victim. Protection order filings refer to as the accused abuser as the respondent. As officers arrived on scene, the respondent of the protection order exited his vehicle and confronted officers with a rifle, the DCI release states. An officer fired his duty weapon, striking the suspect. The suspect, a 54-year-old male from Cut Bank, died from his wounds. The release adds the officer involved in the shooting was not physically injured during the exchange and has been placed on administrative leave while DCIs investigation proceeds. Neither the identity of the officer nor the decedent have been released. Launching an internal investigation following any police involved shooting is standard police procedure. According to Montana Department of Justice procedural rules, it does not imply suspicion the officer involved is guilty of a criminal act or any wrongdoing. Upon (Cut Bank Police Chief Michael Schultzs) request, we immediately sent agents to Cut Bank to begin the investigation, DCI administrator Bryan Lockerby said. Every investigation into an officer-involved shooting takes considerable time for us to process the scene and follow up with interviews, ballistics, and toxicology. We will be responsive, intentional, and thorough. DCIs release said no additional details of the incident will be released while their investigation remains in its early stages. Once DCIs investigation is complete the Glacier County Sheriffs Office will conduct a coroners inquest. A coroners inquest is a public hearing where a jury determines the cause of the death and examines the circumstances surrounding it. It is different from proceedings in other courts because there are no formal criminal allegations or accusations, and the court has no power to blame anyone directly for the death. The Cut Bank Police Department is conducting its own internal investigation to ensure policy and use of force guidelines were followed. As the Chief in Cut Bank, I have seen the impact incidents like this can have in a small community, Schulz said. I also know how well small towns come together and support each other in a crisis. I ask that you please keep those involved, as well as their families, in your thoughts and prayers. If you or someone you know is a victim of threats, stalking or abuse a victim advocate in your community may be available to assist them with seeking a protection order, safety planning, and other issues. Find an advocate in your area by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or check Montana Victim Services by Region, from the Montana Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Cut Bank, Montana man killed during armed conflict with city police This has been a record-setting year, with the U.S. tallying up 23 billion-dollar disasters. WalletHub looked back to 1980 to see which states suffered the most loss and which are at more risk. The Gulf Coast takes the four top spots. TOP 5 COSTLIEST HURRICANES IN US HISTORY File: Boat are partially submerged at a marina in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022. "A lot of these states at the top, I don't think will be too surprising. Mississippi sees a lot of floods, a lot of hurricanes. Louisiana, especially still with Katrina, which was billions of dollars in one event," Senior Analyst at WalletHub Jill Gonzalez, told FOX Weather. "Texas, especially as of late, we've seen a lot of flooding. We've seen all of these things that take out the entire electricity grid. So that's obviously very costly as a whole and on the individual level," she continued. "Florida, 40% of hurricanes that hit in America are going to hit Florida." 2023 CLAIMS ALL-TIME HIGHEST NUMBER OF BILLION-DOLLAR DISASTERS, NOAA SAYS States in Tornado Alley, that have also suffered drought recently, came in six to eight. California, often stricken by costly wildfires, came in at 33. Just five spots behind was Hawaii, where the deadliest wildfire in more than a century led to almost $6 billion in losses. Gonzales said that in recent years, states like Hawaii that were considered relatively safe from natural disasters have been creeping up the list. "I think a lot of people were surprised. Hawaii ranks pretty far down the list. And we look back to 1967; this is the second-worst type of natural disaster that they've ever had there," Gonzales said. "So it really is safe from a lot of these things. But more and more, we're seeing this affect states where it was not a problem before." HEAT KILLS MORE AMERICANS THAN FLOODING, TORNADOES, HURRICANES OR LIGHTNING File: Aerial View of Lahaina on the Coast of Maui before and after the deadly wildfire. She hopes that people will take notice of the changes year-over-year and take precautions by hardening homes and businesses and reviewing insurance options. "We're looking at these things year after year. Are there huge changes? No, not typically," she said. "And that really is starting to change now. We're seeing states drastically move up and down these lists that we just were not used to before," she continued. "So it's important to look to other states to see what they're doing, what their protections are legally and financially. And then it's important, no matter where you live, to understand that this could be affecting you." The study weighted the number of disasters costing at least a billion dollars in damage equally with the loss amount per capita from those disasters. They used data from the U.S. Census, National Centers for Environmental Information and the County of Maui. HOW TO WATCH FOX WEATHER File: Heavy rains and pounding waves undermined a road and boardwalk in Santa Cruz, California. The year is not over yet, but it has already won a horrifying distinction: The all-time record holder for the highest number of weather and climate disaster events with losses of over $1 billion. Across the country, 23 disasters struck, and we are still counting. The number is almost three times higher than the yearly average. NOAA calculated that the U.S. has suffered an average of 8.1 billion dollar disasters annually since 1980. On average, weather and climate losses total $59.5 billion and cost 366 people their lives each year. Numbers have been steadily increasing, though. In the past five years, there have been an average of 18.0 disasters yearly. The cost totaled an average of $124.8 billion and 350 lives each year. The past three years saw an average of 20 disasters a year. Since 1980, the U.S. suffered 371 billion dollar events costing $2.6 trillion and taking 16,111 lives. Original article source: Which states are most vulnerable to natural disasters? Why are you running to serve on the School Committee? Since the advent of the World Wide Web, it connected the planet, making it more effortless for individuals to acquire knowledge, share, and express opinions. It is only a matter of time before Gardner students become inundated with woke ideology. In a journal article by Erika Sanzi, Monster is in the Classroom, her research showed that in Lexington, Massachusetts, fourth graders are becoming indoctrinated in woke ideology. The Fairport Educational Alliance introduced an article by Thomas Sowell, who asked, what is wokeism? Included in the journal, Sowell gave his readers a breakdown of terms relevant to this ideology. My answer for the community at large who have children in Gardner's school system. I am prepared to speak up and uphold Gardners educational and ethical values. I purpose in building relationships with Gardner's school administrators in helping students to succeed, becoming creative, dynamic, energetic, inventive, prolific, vigorous, advantageous, constructive, and valuable future leaders for the Commonwealth without adding progressive wokeism to our existing scholastic make-up. What do you see as the main challenge facing the district, and what is your plan to address it? Yearly school budget increases, coupled with Gardner's K-12 overall ranking within the Commonwealth. My passion is to join a dedicated group of Gardner's school council public servants. I desire to be a productive team member to help support educators in the Multi-tiered System of Support, Tiered Focus Monitoring, and international migration of newly arrived immigrants. One remedy that may help, during the SC focus group discussion, is that we investigate adopting academic ideologies from effective school districts in the US and abroad to address needs that plague our school system. What should the SC do to get more parents involved in the districts decision-making process? Positive parent engagement is, hands down, the great solution for many of education's troubles. If we are not actively working to keep parents engaged in their childs education, we may be missing the biggest influence on student success without parent involvement. Research shows that student success is most dependent on something that occurs mostly outside our building, amongst the community at large. If one has not been adopted, Gardners school district should create a school communications planning guide, The School Communications Planning Guide is a resource for engaging our school community. As communications channels expand and evolve, its important that a schools communications plan keeps up one that aligns our district with modern communication practices and parent communication preferences. From the crisis to the lunch menu, schools need to be prepared to connect with accurate and timely content. Parents need to be equipped to connect with what matters most to them. How will you measure the success of your tenure if elected? The City of Gardner appears to be one of the high-achieving school districts. As I see it, a good school committee is more likely to engage in goal setting and monitoring their progress. Gardner's school committee appears data-driven, identifying student needs and justifying decisions based on raw data. I would measure my success as a school committee member by possessing detailed knowledge of Gardner's school district. As a school board member, it benefits me to craft a working relationship with our superintendent, teachers, and administrators based on mutual respect, coupled with a joint commitment to enhance our K-12 student success. What is your pitch to voters on why they should elect you? As President John F. Kennedy said, Children are the worlds most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. Education, not indoctrination. Schools are for education, not indoctrination. We must reform our curriculum if necessary and get our students to return to the basics of learning. Working in public schools, I know students arrive with different needs. Some have experienced trauma, others are learning English for the first time, and still others may be reading below grade level. Our students will need different things to thrive to meet their full potential. My focus is to treat our students the way we would want our children to be treated. As a member of the school committee, I acknowledge students differences and must give them what they need to be successful. It also means staying focused on outcomes, both academic and developmental. If elected to the school committee, I know as a team member, we are heading in the right direction when kids backgrounds no longer predict their outcomes. This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner School Committee election: Stephen Sandoval When Dr. Apryl Lewis arrived in Fresno to begin her job in May 2021 as an English professor at Fresno City College, she happened to pass by the Tower District and noticed a Pride flag fluttering in the breeze. I didnt know the cultural significance of the Tower; I just got here, said Lewis. But seeing that flag was so powerful for me. As someone who has had to hide who I am, who wasnt comfortable coming out to hardly anybody aside from myself, I saw that flag and asked the person who was driving me around Is this normal? Its not June (Pride Month) yet. The response: We know. Dr. Apryl Lewis participates in the third panel discussion at the Stop The Hate Townhall, held Thursday evening, Sept. 28, 2023 at Fresno City Colleges Old Administration Building theater in Fresno. The forum featured three separate panel discussions addressing the impact of hate crimes in the Fresno LGBTQ+ community. The visual gave the Texas transplant who identifies as LGBTQ+ a welcoming embrace. I have felt welcomed since Ive been here, said Lewis. That welcome does not paint a complete picture of how welcoming the LGBTQ+ community is in the heart of one of the most conservative regions of California, nor does it mark complete progress, according to comments heard at the Stop the Hate: How to Keep the LGBTQ+ Community Safe forum. The forum, hosted Sept. 28 by Fresno City College in its historic auditorium, capped months of reporting by Vida en el Valle and Fresno Bee reporters on how the increase of hate crimes and hate speech have affected segments of the local population. The 2-hour forum focused on the LGBTQ+ community. Jen Cruz, Fresno EOC LGBTQ+ Resource Center Manager, speaks on the first panel at the Stop The Hate Townhall, held Thursday evening, Sept. 28, 2023 at Fresno City Colleges Old Administration Building theater in Fresno. The forum featured three separate panel discussions addressing the impact of hate crimes in the Fresno LGBTQ+ community. I came from (Mexico), which is supposed to be a Third World country where we have a lot of issues, said transgender activist Rubi Juarez, one of nine panelists. But I came here. It seems like this is not the America, the California they promised me. Juarez, a student at Clovis Community College, unretired from activism because I dont see activists, Latino activists. Yes, progress has been made, they say. But much more needs to be addressed and done beyond getting ones pronouns correct. In May, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a website CAvsHate.org, or the hotline (833) 8-NO-HATE for people to connect with resources and report acts of hate, part of a $110 million investment in anti-hate programs. Yet, needs like mental health services, housing and health insurance are lacking, especially in the transgender community. Attorney General Rob Bonta, in releasing the 2022 hate crime report that indicated a 16.6% increase in hate crime incidents from 2021 to 2022, launched the Racial Justice Bureau to help local law enforcement agencies in combating hate and bias. However, Fresno police and other local elected officials admit that most hate crimes go unreported. Advocates say victims are either reluctant to file a report, dont trust law enforcement or dont believe a complaint will be investigated. Mexican Consul Adriana Gonzalez Carrillo smiles as participates in the second panel discussion at the Stop The Hate Townhall, held Thursday evening, Sept. 28, 2023 at Fresno City Colleges Old Administration Building theater in Fresno. The forum featured three separate panel discussions addressing the impact of hate crimes in the Fresno LGBTQ+ community. When Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer accepted the raising of the Pride Flag at City Hall in 2021, it was seen by the LGBTQ+ community as a symbolic statement that it was being recognized at a time when Fresno County officials restricted flags at county facilities to be limited to the U.S. and California flags. Even then, national anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric has seeped into the area as evidenced by hate speech, harassment by the Proud Boys and efforts by some school board members to limit use of school facilities or to have a say over what books are displayed in school libraries. Its time now to gather our troops and prepare because this whole rhetoric is not new, said Juarez. Its an uprising because of the political environment. Worse things are on the way, and we need to be prepared to face them as our brothers and sisters faced them before. Dr. Peter Robertson, Rainbow Alumnx and Allies founder speaks on the first panel at the Stop The Hate Townhall, held Thursday evening, Sept. 28, 2023 at Fresno City Colleges Old Administration Building theater in Fresno. The forum featured three separate panel discussions addressing the impact of hate crimes in the Fresno LGBTQ+ community. The tone for unity, to go on the offense, to consider Spanish speakers, to demand more of their allies than just words, and to remember it took decades of advocacy to gain recognition for a thriving LGBTQ+ community was a common thread at the forum. Jennifer Cruz, who directs the LGBTQ+ Resource Center for the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, noted that progress is happening but perhaps not fast enough. Weve started to communicate more, said Cruz, and there will be regular meetings of the leaders of the LGBTQ organizations because well have a liaison who can take our concerns right to city leaders. Reverand Nelson Serrano Poveda answers a question in the second panel discussion at the Stop The Hate Townhall, held Thursday evening, Sept. 28, 2023 at Fresno City Colleges Old Administration Building theater in Fresno. The forum featured three separate panel discussions addressing the impact of hate crimes in the Fresno LGBTQ+ community. Cruz was referring to last weeks appointment of longtime LGBTQ+ advocate Robin McGeehee as the first liaison for the LGBTQ+ community within Dyers Office of Community Relations. My role is to work with the mayor to uplift the City of Fresno in becoming a more inclusive place for all citizens, including our members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, McGeehee, an instructor at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, told The Fresno Bee. The beautiful cultural fabric of Fresno is interwoven with threads representing the LGBTQ+ rainbow community and allies. Fresno City Council Vice President Annalisa Perea, the first self-identified LGBTQ+ member of the council, asked allies to get more involved with more than just words. My family always verbally supported me, but it really didnt turn their allyship to more an an action-oriented support until I really started to be intentional with engaging them in LGBTQ things in the community, said Perea. Its one thing to say youre an ally, but, like, how do you show that? This is the final part of a series on Stop The Hate, a project funded by the California State Library. Sumy Mayor Oleksandr Lysenko has been removed from his position until Dec. 9, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court ruled on Oct. 9. On Oct. 2, Lysenko and Oleksandr Zhurba, the head of the city's infrastructure department, were detained for allegedly accepting a bribe of Hr 1.4 million ($38,000), and detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine). The money was the last tranche of a Hr 2.13 million ($58,000) bribe that a local garbage collection company had to pay in order to avoid "artificial obstacles in conducting business," the SBU said. The suspects received the bribe in tranches from November 2022 to October 2023, investigators believe. If convicted, the officials could face up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property. On Oct. 4, the court chose a preventative measure against Lysenko in the form of pretrial detention with a bail of Hr 3 million ($82,000). The following day, he was released on bail. Following the court's decision that he will be removed as mayor of Sumy for the next two months, Lysenko and his lawyer told Suspilne, Ukraine's national public broadcaster, that they plan to appeal the decision. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Conflict continues in the Middle East after Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns during an unprecedented attack over the weekend. Since then, thousands on both sides have been wounded or killed, including at least nine American citizens. The U.S. State Department said an undetermined number of U.S. citizens are still unaccounted for, so its not clear if those missing are dead, in hiding or being held hostage, Associated Press reported. On Sunday, the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier strike group to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. Many national and local organizations in Charlotte are also stepping up to provide aid and support for those affected by the attacks. Palestinians sit by the rubble Abu Helal family in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. The strike killed dozens of people.(AP Photo/Hatem Ali) Gather in solidarity. Donate. Learn. In this critical moment, the Charlotte Jewish community stands in solidarity with the State of Israel and with Jewish communities worldwide, a recent letter from Temple Beth El, Temple Israel and the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte says. Our hearts go out to our fellow community members who have family and friends directly affected by these events. We unite in prayer for the safety of all in Israel, pledging our unwavering support. On Monday, Oct. 9, there was a vigil in the Sam Lerner Center for Cultural Art in Shalom Park for those who wanted to gather in solidarity and support those affected by the attacks. Many in our community are deeply connected to Israel. A lot of people, including myself, have family and friends there who are deeply impacted, Noah Goldman, Israel & Global Jewry Associate for the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte, told The Charlotte Observer. This is an opportunity to have the community come together and support one another. Many national and local organizations are stepping up to provide aid and support for those affected by the attacks on Israel. How to help people in Israel But for those that could not attend the community vigil, there are several organizations you can support to help victims during this time: Jewish Federations of North America launched an emergency fundraising effort to support victims affected by the war. The organization is working with their core partners to help rebuild damaged infrastructure and address trauma caused by the attacks. Donations can be made online. The International Committee of the Red Cross is accepting online donations to provide support to those in Israel and the occupied territories. Members from the organization visit detainees in Israeli and Palestinian places of detention and work to improve access to essential services. Donations can be made online. Save the Children, which provides aid to children affected by violence and disaster around the world, is accepting donations to provide food and shelter to children impacted by the conflict. Donations to the Childrens Emergency Fund can be made online. Providing public funds to private schools is the issue that no one is talking about during the 2023 gubernatorial campaign even though it could be a hot topic during the next four years. The issue is not talked about much if any on the campaign trail by Republican incumbent Gov. Tate Reeves nor Democratic challenger Brandon Presley . But Reeves has a record. During his eight years as lieutenant governor and four as governor, Reeves, who is seeking reelection this November, has been a staunch supporter of providing vouchers for students to attend private schools.There is no bigger illustration of Reeves support for vouchers than the unusual lengths he went to at the end of the 2019 session to ensure passage of a voucher bill. In 2019, then-Lt. Gov. Reeves led a secretive effort to increase funding for a program that provides $6,500 vouchers to allow a small number of special education students to attend private schools. The program, which at the time provided funding for about 750 students, did nothing to help the about 60,000 other students with special education designations. During the 2019 session, many legislators made it clear that they did not want to expand the program that had been cited for various shortcomings, including for a lack of accountability, in a report by a legislative watchdog group. After the House Education Committee refused to expand the program, legislative leaders, led by Reeves, in the waning hours of the session inserted money for the expanded voucher program in a bill funding about 70 primarily local construction projects across the state. The bill sent the funds for those projects to the Department of Finance and Administration. Legislators said when they voted on the bill, they did not know the special education voucher program was tucked away in a bill dealing with construction projects. Who would have thought money for that was in a DFA budget bill? asked Rep. Robert Johnson, D-Natchez, soon after the secretive project was discovered. At the time, Reeves said the program needed the extra funds to help special needs students who were on a waiting list to garner the vouchers. He defended sneaking the program through the legislative process for the special needs children. I dont know if pushing for this is good for me politically, Reeves said in 2019. But quite frankly, I dont care. I got elected to do what is right. There are other examples of Reeves devotion to school choice, including his Senate passing a voucher program in 2018 that was killed in the House. Despite Reeves school choice allegiance, he seldom talks about it on the campaign trail. He also seldom broached the subject in his successful 2019 gubernatorial campaign. A recent Reeves campaign commercial highlights public education. The campaign commercial touts the historic pay raise provided to public school teachers in the 2022 legislative session, and highlights the gains public school students in the lower grades have made on reading and math tests in recent years. But the commercials offer not a word on the governors steadfast support for diverting public funds to private funds. Presley also has not spoken often of the voucher issue on the campaign trail. But when asked about the issue, Presley said, As a proud product of Nettleton public schools, I believe we need to invest more in public education, not siphon off taxpayer dollars to wealthy private schools at the expense of Mississippi children. I do not support public money for wealthy private schools. In the 2022 session, legislators approved and Reeves signed into law a bill that provided $10 million (in federal COVID-19 relief funds) to private schools. A lawsuit was filed by public school supporters challenging that appropriation based on language in the Mississippi Constitution that appears to plainly prohibit public funds from being expended in private schools. Section 208 of the Mississippi Constitution reads, No religious or other sect or sects shall ever control any part of the school or other educational funds of this state; nor shall any funds be appropriated toward the support of any sectarian school, or to any school that at the time of receiving such appropriation is not conducted as a free school. Despite that language, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, presumably with the blessing of the governor, is fighting the lawsuit. The case is pending before the Mississippi Supreme Court. It is not known whether that case will be decided before the Nov. 7 general election. No doubt, if Reeves wins and the Supreme Court says providing public funds to private schools is constitutional despite what the state Constitution says, school choice will be one of Mississippis biggest issues. This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter. A Rock Hill man has been arrested in connection with a September bank robbery, police said. Wesley Todd McCracken, 53, of Rock Hill, was taken into custody Monday by York County Sheriffs Office deputies at a motel in Fort Mill near Carowinds Boulevard, the Rock Hill Police Department said in a written statement. McCracken was served an an arrest warrant at the Rock Hill Law Center charging him with strong arm robbery in connection with the incident at the TD Bank branch off Celanese Road in Rock Hill, police said in the statement. No one was hurt in the Sept. 19 incident, Rock Hill police Lt. Michael Chavis said. A Michigan homicide suspect was arrested in Griffin on Friday, according to police. On Sept. 29, Michigan police contacted the Grifin Police Department in reference to a homicide that happened in Grand Rapids. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Michigan officials believed that the suspect, 33-year-old Marquez Jones was believed to be staying in Griffin at a home on the 1700 block of Carrington Drive. Early Friday, Griffin police executed a search warrant on the address and found Jones who was arrested. The Michigan State Police contacted the Griffin Police Department in reference to a homicide that previously occurred in Grand Rapids, Michigan. TRENDING STORIES: Investigators also collected additional evidence that could potentially be used against Jones in the Michigan homicide investigation. Jones is awaiting extradition, according to police. Police said there is no threat to the community at this time. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The suspect in a Saturday fatal shooting in Phenix City, Alabama, has been captured in Columbus, authorities said. Phenix City police said officers were called at 1:57 a.m. Saturday to reports of someone shot at 501 16th Ave., and found Brakevious Williams with multiple gunshot wounds. The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, investigators said. The departments criminal investigations division determined the primary suspect in Williams death was Michael James Mayberry Jr., also 20, according to a news release. Muscogee County Sheriffs deputies and the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested Mayberry in Columbus, where he was booked into the Muscogee County Jail as a fugitive from justice, according to police and the Muscogee County sheriff. He will face a murder charge when extradited back to Alabama, police said. SWAT units were called to Mount Oliver after a home invasion. Allegheny County dispatchers say police were called to Jacobs Street at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Police said a man broke into a house and assaulted the woman who lived inside. She received injuries on her face but investigators say she will be okay. When emergency crews arrived the woman was unsure if the burglar was still in the house, prompting the response from SWAT. Police secured a perimeter around the house while medics treated the woman for her injuries. No arrests have been made at this time. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Indiana County mass shooting: 1 killed, at least 8 hurt during party at community center Report: Steelers OC Matt Canada on hot seat 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 OLNEY, Md. - A 57-year-old Georgia man is dead following a domestic-related shooting in Olney and his son is now in custody. At 8:24 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received a call about a shooting in the 4500 block of Mount Olney Lane. Officers responded to the home where they learned that the suspect, 25-year-old Nicholas Marquis Stull, was possibly armed inside of the home where he lived with his grandparents. Police discovered that the victim in the shooting was the suspects father, Michael Wayne Stull, who was also inside the house. The Montgomery County Police Department SWAT team was called in and entered the home, where Nicholas Stull was taken into custody. His father was pronounced dead at the scene. Nicholas Stull has been charged with first-degree murder, first and second-degree assault and use of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. Stull had a non-life-threatening, self-inflicted gunshot wound and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. He has been charged with first-degree murder. South Florida beaches seem like places you can do just about everything. Throw down a towel and the world is yours. Not quite. There are rules to follow. They involve nudity, cooking, drinking and spending the night. And over the past year, local governments have banned cigarettes at the beach in an effort to cut the smoke and litter. Not to ruin your fun, but heres what to know about what you can and cant do on the beach in South Florida: Smoking Cigarette butts are left behind as litter on Crandon Park Beach on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the day the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking on county beaches. Miami-Dade law: Miami-Dade County approved an ordinance in June 2023 that bans smoking at county parks and beaches. Unfiltered cigars are still allowed. The law applies to: Haulover Park Beach Crandon Park Beach Rickenbacker Causeway beaches Atoll pools at Matheson Hammock Park Homestead Bayfront Park Larry and Penny Thompson Park Beach Amelia Earhart Park Beach The county cites health consequences of secondhand smoke exposure and cigarette butts some smokers leave behind that could affect the environment. Violators are subject to a civil citation and face a fine of up to $100 for their first offense. A second offense will carry a fine of $200, and third and subsequent offenses will carry a fine of $300. Miami Beach law: A smoking ban on city beaches and public parks went into effect in January 2023. Violating the law could lead to fines $100 for a first offense and $200 for a second offense within a 12-month period or even arrests at the discretion of Miami Beach police with a penalty of up to 60 days in jail. A third offense within 12 months would automatically trigger a criminal violation. Florida Keys law: Monroe County approved a smoking ban in August 2022. The ban affects county-owned beaches and parks. Vaping and smoking medical marijuana are still allowed. The law carries a fine of up to $100 for a first violation. The city of Key West still allows smoking on its beaches, including Smathers. And Key Wests popular Fort Zachary Historic State Park, controlled by the state of Florida, allows smoking outdoors. BEACH GUIDE: Where are the secret hangouts in the Florida Keys? Nudity A man sits at the concession stand on a stretch of Haulover Beach open to nude bathers. Nude beach: You cant take it all off, except at one Miami-Dade County beach. The northernmost stretch of Hauolver in Northeast Miami-Dade, just south of Sunny Isles Beach, has been clothing-optional for more than 30 years. Some hotels in South Beach and Key West welcome topless sunbathing on their private property. Background: The Florida Legislature outlawed full nudity at beaches, and the state then tried closing Haulovers nude beach in 1994. But Miami-Dade commissioners successfully argued that its public beaches fall under home rule and the county took on regulating Haulover. So the nude beach continues and thrives. Night visits Hours: Miami Beach closes its beaches from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Leaders cite the environment and crime. Beaches in Sunny Isles Beach are open sunrise to sunset. Beaches in several cities, including Hollywood and Key Biscayne, are open around the clock, although lifeguards have daytime hours. Sleeping: It is illegal to sleep overnight or camp out on public beaches in Florida unless you are at a designated campsite with a permit. Camping spots include Bahia Honda and Long Key state parks in the Florida Keys. What you cant bring to the beach Beachgoers sunbathe at Las Olas Beach in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, May 30, 2020. In addition to smoking, Miami Beach bans: Narcotics and marijuana Large tents, tables or similar structures Loud music Large coolers Glass containers Styrofoam and plastic straws Can you drink alcohol on the beach? A police horse on the beach in Key West. Public laws: Miami Beach and other cities have laws against drinking in public, and the beach is as public as you can get. Several beaches in Central and North Florida permit alcohol on the sand. Are pets allowed on the beach? Dog Beach along the Rickenbacker Causeway. Dog-friendly beaches: Pets are allowed at designated beaches in Miami-Dade County. They include: Hobie Beach along the Ricknebacker Causeway near Key Biscayne Haulover Park in Northeast Miami-Dade North Beach Oceanside Park in Miami Beach, known as Bark Beach, 80th to 81st streets. Fort Lauderdale beach. Miami Beach is the perfect place to soak up some sun and sand By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan needs to work hard to "control its own destiny" and is determined to protect itself with its own defence programme, President Tsai Ing-wen will say in a major speech on Tuesday. Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its own territory, has come under increasing military and political pressure from Beijing, including two sets of Chinese war games near the island since August of last year. According to an outline of her national day speech on Tuesday, as described to Reuters by an official briefed on its contents, Tsai will emphasise that since taking office in 2016, her government has "always kept its promises and maintained the status quo" with China, not provoking, not taking risks, and not succumbing under pressure. Tsai, who leaves office next year as she cannot stand again for president after two terms in power, has overseen a major military modernisation programme, including domestically-developed submarines, the first of which was unveiled last month. In her speech, outside the presidential office in central Taipei, where there will also be a military parade, Tsai will say that the submarines have demonstrated Taiwan's determination to protect itself and decide its own future and destiny. "We must continue to move forward in the face of challenges, and if we don't move forward, we will go backwards; if we don't work hard, we won't be able to control our own future and destiny," she will say. China's Taiwan Affairs Office, which routinely condemns Tsai as a dangerous separatist, did not answer calls seeking comment outside of office hours. Tsai has said only Taiwan's people can decide their future, rejecting China's offer of peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan under a "one country, two systems" model of autonomy. All mainstream Taiwanese political parties have rejected that proposal and it has almost no public support, according to opinion polls. China has also never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Tsai's speech will come less than 100 days before Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections in January. Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, which traditionally favours close relations with Beijing, has lambasted Tsai for taking Taiwan to the brink of war by being deliberately provocative with China. Tsai's deputy, Vice President William Lai, is the frontrunner to win the presidential election, according to polls. Lai has pledged to follow Tsai's China and defence policies. Despite the rise in Chinese military drills around Taiwan, no shots have been fired in anger, and Tsai has repeatedly stressed her steady hand in dealing with the actions of Beijing, which has rebuffed multiple offers of talks from her. (Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard, Editing by Angus MacSwan) 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 In the weeks leading up to the start of his $250 million civil fraud trial in New York, Donald Trump and his attorneys privately discussed how they believed defeat in this trial was preordained. Their best chance and it wasnt much, according to two sources familiar with the matter and another two people briefed on internal deliberations would be to fight the case on appeal. This belief led to the development of an approach to the case that centers around chaos and cacophony, rather than any attempt to win it on the merits. One person close to Trump describes it as the Fyre Festival strategies. That approach lets just do it and be legends, in the words of the festivals founder famously turned Fyre Fest into a scandal-riddled disaster. But Trump and his lawyers are hoping that their legal strategy in their ongoing courtroom suicide mission will score some political and public-relations points for Trump, kick up as much dirt as possible, enrage the judge, gratuitously trash some of the witnesses, and turn the process into a media circus. The aggressive approach is likely to appeal to the former presidents notable taste for the jugular. But the client-pleasing strategy also risks undermining the longer term legal work of defending the Trump business empire that propelled him to fame and the presidency as its future hangs in doubt. Judge Arthur Engoron has already fined Trumps attorneys $7,500 each for repeatedly bringing up legal arguments he had already barred. But in recent weeks, Trump has privately suggested that his lawyers should not worry for now about getting further sanctions by the court for their planned procedural antics, the sources tell Rolling Stone. Instructed to ignore such concerns, his attorneys have crafted a courtroom game plan that leans on heavy-handed tactics such as deeply personal, at times (in the phrasing of a Trump adviser) below the belt attacks on witnesses, prosecutors, and the judge, and also planned threats of retaliatory lawsuits against some of those same people. Trump and his lawyers who include Chris Kise, Alina Habba, and Jesus Suarez for this trial have also long settled on a roster of delay tactics that are almost guaranteed to antagonize Judge Engoron. This includes going into trial, which could last months, with the intention of grilling witnesses with lengthy, meandering questions and repeating again and again arguments that the judge has already deemed frivolous, the sources say. A lot of this is just begging for sanctions, says one attorney whos known Trump for years. It is not how Id do it, but maybe thats a reason Im not on the [legal] team. In the weeks prior to the start of the trial, Trump had specifically discussed with some of his legal and political advisers how much he was looking forward to his attorneys making Michael Cohen cry on the stand, a person familiar with the situation says. Trumps former lawyer and fixer is now a listed witness for New York State Attorney General Letitia James office, and the ex-president constantly has revenge on his mind. Trump hopes that this will be achieved by relentlessly attacking his ex-fixers character, intelligence, professional acumen, federal criminal charges, and even personal life. The former president has encouraged his legal team to fight rough and fight dirty, if you got to with Cohen and others during the trial, a person close to Trump says, paraphrasing the ex-president. This source has spoken repeatedly to Trump about this case, and adds the former president gets especially animated or agitated when Cohen comes up. Cohen, however, insists hes not worried. I have provided a hundred hours of testimony before members of Congress, law enforcement agencies, and committees whose, on behalf of Donald, primary goal was to denigrate me, discredit me, and harass me. None of it has worked, and it wont work now when I take the stand in the [New York attorney generals] case, the former Trump attorney tells Rolling Stone. I am certain Judge Engoron will not allow Donalds legal team to make a mockery of his court and allow these antics to occur. If the team sticks to their, and their clients, plans, Engorons interventions wont stop them from trying many times. Suarez, in particular, has already earned Engorons ire with a lengthy questioning of Trumps former accountant, Donald Bender. As the Trump attorney tried to walk Bender through a lengthy series of repetitive questions concerning nearly a dozen years worth of Trump financial filings, Engoron blew up at what he called a ridiculous line of inquiry that would waste time. At one point Suarez even asked Bender if he had any mental health reasons [he] cant testify today, prompting an objection from the attorney generals office. It is a bombastic, quintessentially Trumpian legal strategy thats less geared toward impressing a judge who Trump openly despises, and more a PR blitz aimed at the Fox News set, one of the sources briefed on the plans characterizes. And its a strategy that Engoron appears to be aware of. Who are you talking to me, the press, or the audience? he barked at Trumps lawyers on Tuesday. Still, among Trumps many attorneys and different legal teams, this approach is not without its detractors. Trumps legal teams, including ones now tasked with handling the high-stakes civil and criminal cases against him, are routinely fraught with infighting, backstabbing, power grabs, and turnover. There are some Trump legal counselors who believe this strategy could easily backfire, result in too many expensive sanctions, and ultimately make an appeal harder, not easier, people with knowledge of the matter say. There are also some Trump attorneys who are convinced that if the current strategy fails to deliver for the ex-president, he will harshly blame and scream at his legal team, even though the mudslinging was his own preferred strategy in the first place. There are scant signs of imminent shakeup for this particular Trump legal crew. But that doesnt mean the former president isnt keen on keeping his options open. In the past two weeks, Trump has discussed with some of his longtime associates the names of other defense attorneys he has considered asking to join the New York legal team, two sources with knowledge of the matter say. Some of the names that Trump recently floated were lawyers who didnt even have a background in the kind of laws at the center of this trial. The civil trial currently playing out in a New York courtroom represents the culmination of a yearslong investigation by James into allegations of fraud against the Trump Organization, the heart of the 45th U.S. presidents business empire. James initiated the investigation in 2019 and brought a suit against the former presidents company in 2022, claiming that the organization had engaged in fraud by dramatically overvaluing its assets to the tune of many millions of dollars. In late September, Engoron ruled that Trump and his sons were liable for fraud alleged in the suit, revoking their business licenses and putting the financial stability of Trumps family business at risk. That helped prompt Trump, who has often preferred to skip legal proceedings, to make a rare and voluntary public appearance in court last week. He has used the occasion to bask in the publicity surrounding the case and call for presiding judge Engoron to be disbarred, in turn floating baseless conspiracy theories about the court clerk on social media and earning himself a gag order for the attack on court staff. Sources who have spoken to the former president say that Trump has repeatedly stressed that his visits to the courthouse were motivated by a desire to publicly defend his long-curated reputation as a talented businessman, his net worth, and claims about the value of his assets all of which have come into question as a result of the case. The sources say that the former president is uniquely sensitive to allegations that he and his business inflated their value and has long attached a strong emotional weight to his status on the Forbes magazine list of richest Americans. In an apparent sign of how much the case has rattled Trump, a person with direct knowledge of the matter tells Rolling Stone that in the past month, the former president has repeatedly interjected comments, entirely unprompted, about his wealth in the middle of unrelated conversations. In these sudden outbursts, Trump complains that people are lying about his personal and corporate net worth and the value of his Florida club, Mar-a-Lago, the source adds. Furthermore, Trump has signaled he wants to testify in the case. At the appropriate time I will be, he told reporters on Tuesday in New York. James, too, has indicated a desire to put the former president, sons Don Jr. and Eric, and daughter Ivanka on the stand. As The Daily Beast first reported, the New York attorney general listed all four Trumps in a proposed witness list. The former president is famous for delivering public bluster about how much hed relish testifying for an investigation or during an official proceeding, only to later have his attorneys deploy delay tactic after delay tactic. This is in part due to his legal teams recurring fears through the years about just how much he would uncontrollably lie or possibly incriminate himself under oath. Of course that remains an issue, as always, says a source familiar with the Trump teams internal discussions on this. But, this person predicts, we have a while to go before he would even [possibly] take the stand. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. WASHINGTON, D.C. From a fledgling interactive barracks to data-centric stress shooting drills and a rapidly advanced targeting system for immediate deployments, soldiers with the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, North Carolina are seeing a lot of tech in their lives today. Each piece of it is aimed at one goal making those immediate response force units more ready for whatever they face at home or overseas. Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue talked with Army Times on Monday at the annual Association of the U.S. Army Meeting and Exposition about developments for the corps that includes the 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 101st Airborne Division and 10th Mountain Division among other support and enabling brigades. A centerpiece effort that the corps has been improving in recent years is a real-world experiment focused on rapidly improving the fusion of targeting, data and intelligence collection for units such as the 82nd, which has a global response force mission that might send its units to any spot on the globe on very short notice. That experiment is the Scarlet Dragon program, which serves as a kind of testbed for the Joint All Domain Command and Control work the Army has pursued in recent years. Tech developments from Army Futures Command paired with Army Forces Command priorities in various combatant command theaters merge when XVIII Airborne Corps units arrive there. As we watch conflicts across the globe, what are we learning from that? Donahue asked. The three-star couldnt share specifics of the targeting experimentation due to the classified nature of some aspects of the program. But for soldiers at the small unit level, it means the ability to arrive in theater and immediately pass information all the way up, from the company level on to a joint task force that includes other military services and partners. I would say previous deployments were on version 1.0 and I would say were now on version 12.0, Donahue said. With each iteration, we are continuously adding in more capability and making it faster. Army Times has written about previous versions of Scarlet Dragon. A 2021 experiment used artificial intelligence and massive data sets to scan nearly 4,500 miles of area across four states on the U.S. eastern seaboard to identify simulated targets the size of a 10-square-foot box. That one mission used 20 separate platforms and multiple units from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps to conduct live fire strikes. More recent iterations are actually in theater. Combatant commanders are bringing real-world targeting or communications problems to the corps for them to work on. The corps units work closely with each of the three multi-domain task forces now in operation across the Army. Two are dedicated to the Indo-Pacific Theater while another focuses on U.S. Army Europe-Africa Command. And those missions align exactly with what the response force faces going anywhere theyre needed on short notice and establishing a joint task force. At the core level, that is our driving training standard, Donahue said. Thats our focus every day. That real-world mission, Donahue said, helps keep soldiers focused. Wherever I go soldiers always ask me when are we going to deploy? Where are we going to deploy next? Donahue said. He tells them not to worry about that. Focus on are you really ready and how are you keeping yourself ready every day so that when you do get the call, and its going to come, youre ready, Donahue said. And that part can come down to the smallest tasks. Jock Padgett, chief technology officer for the XVIII Airborne Corps, told Army Times in the same interview that theyre using more data analytics to examine movement patterns among soldiers. With better scanning and sensors they can triage 200 soldiers movement patterns in a fraction of the time as using pen and paper checklists. That triage then helps them identify poor movement that could lead to injury. At the same time, theyve established data analysis based on the standard Warrior Skills Program that infantry and paratrooper soldiers go through when they arrive at the unit and throughout their time in training. Specifically on the stress shoot live fire portion, Padgett said. Now, with data, trainers have a baseline to measure a soldiers performance and see if theyre improving or if they have weak spots to address. And while combat tasks drive much of a soldiers life, thats not the whole story. At the XVIII Airborne Corps home on Fort Liberty, some barracks have been outfitted with QR codes that serve as check-in points for soldiers on duty. In Donahues example, leaders could put a requirement that a soldier on duty check in at a QR code at 2 a.m., documenting their checks. That same check-in also serves up 10 questions related to the soldier and their quality of life. The data is processed immediately and then put on display so that soldiers can see trends in reports from the barracks, complaints or concerns that leaders can then address. An industry group representing several major U.S. tech companies has opposed the Indian government's proposal against dark patterns, which are used to deceive online users, and said the move would adversely affect the state promise of enabling "ease of doing business" in the economy and bring "regulatory overlap" with existing laws. New Delhi released the draft guidelines (PDF) to prevent and regulate dark patterns for public consultation last month for 30 days until Thursday, October 5, to get feedback on the proposed rules to mitigate deceptive practices by online companies to deceive or manipulate consumers using unethical designs or patterns in their online interface. Asia Internet Coalition, which represents tech giants including Apple, Google, Meta, Amazon and X (formerly Twitter), has suggested that the proposed rules "may stagnate the growth" of the country's digital economy and urged the Indian government to consider the current self-regulatory framework as the primary measure to restrict the use of dark patterns. The industry group also said online platforms are already regulated in the country under various existing laws. "Any attempt to introduce a separate regulatory framework would cause unnecessary regulatory overlap. This overlap will result in divergence across applicable legal frameworks leading to uncertainty in terms of compliance requirements," the group said in its detailed note sent to the consumer affairs department that released the draft guidelines. A copy of the note was also published on the group's website. The group stated that while online platforms in India qualify as online intermediaries and are regulated under the Informational Technology Act 2000, e-commerce platforms are governed by the Consumer Protection Act 2019 rules. Similarly, it said sector-agnostic obligations are under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, released in August. In June, the consumer affairs department consulted stakeholders, including e-commerce platforms and law firms on dark patterns. The department said the meeting reached a general consensus that dark patterns were causing concern and required proactive handling. Subsequently, the government formed a task force that comprised representatives from industry associations, e-commerce platforms and companies in the online business, including Google, Flipkart, Reliance Industries, Amazon, Go-MMT, Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Tata CLiQ, Facebook, Meta and Shiprocket, that led to the release of the draft guidelines. Asia Internet Coalition recommended the Indian government consider adopting the approach taken by the European Union, which is also working on regulating the practice of using dark patterns. It also suggested that if the consumer affairs department wants to introduce a separate framework, the regulation should be sector and medium-agnostic and apply to both offline and online content and advertisements not specifically to the latter. The group also said the department should provide a "sufficient buffer period between the publication and implementation" of the proposed rules and should not be enforced upon publication. Further, it requested to protect safe harbor protections available in the IT Act and online intermediary platforms, including that e-commerce marketplaces "should not be held responsible for the dark patterns that may be present in third-party content and advertisements hosted by them." "At present, the Draft Dark Pattern Guidelines provide for a blanket provision requiring that no person including platforms should engage in any dark pattern. However, such a blanket provision would raise serious concerns for online intermediaries," the group said. It also has requested the consumer affairs department to define the term "endorser" in the rules to "adequately address" the instances of dark patterns' presence through disguised advertisements, including endorsements from influencers and celebrities. The government noted false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription trap, interface interference, bait and switch and drip pricing as some of the recognized dark patterns. The group said the practices suggested by these patterns are already considered "unfair" under existing laws, including the Consumer Protection Act, and internal policies of platforms and digital service providers. India, the world's second-largest base of internet users after China, is a crucial market for global online platforms. However, with the increasing online population, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is implementing more regulations on the market. The government is looking to replace its more than two-decade-old IT law with a new regulation called the Digital India Act, which is expected to be introduced for public consultation soon. The upcoming law will likely address some of the concerns on dark patterns, alongside new rules on cybersecurity and data management, as well as emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway after a 13-year-old was wounded in a shooting in Clarksville Sunday night. The shooting happened just after 8 p.m. in the Summit Heights housing area. Clarksville police reported officers heard shots being fired and met with witnesses who said groups of juveniles between the ages of 12 and 16 got into a fight. Have breaking come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts After the fight was over, someone fired several shots from down the street, according to Clarksville police. Clarksville police was soon notified by Tennova Healthcare that a 13-year-old girl had arrived at the hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her upper leg. She was transported to Nashville by ambulance for additional treatment. This does not appear to be a random act since most of the individuals involved are familiar with one another, Clarksville police reported. Anyone with information or additional video footage is asked to please contact Detective Kurtich at 931-648-0656, ext. 5556 or the call Clarksville Montgomery County Crime Stoppers Tipsline 931-645-8477, or go online and submit a tip at P3tips.com/591. The investigation is ongoing. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Just a week after police and protesters clashed in Boyle Heights during a rally against a proposed 9% rent increase in rent-controlled apartments in Los Angeles that injured at least one police officer, demonstrators were back on the streets again this Sunday. So far, one arrest has been made in connection with the Oct. 1 march in which the Los Angeles Police Department said several members of the group were engaging in criminal activities prompting officers to intervene. As Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck officers attempted to initiate the arrest for the criminal activity, several members of the crowd engaged in a violent altercation with officers attempting to free the individual under arrest, LAPD said in news release last week. However, Union de Vecinos, the Eastside Local of the Los Angeles Tenant Union, disputes the departments report of the incident. Man arrested after protestors clash with police As a speaker was talking, without warning, armed policemen rushed the crowd from behind, Union de Vecinos said in a Friday news release. Hundreds of families, elderly people, and young children were present. No warning was given by the LAPD, no order to disperse was given. The police attacked an exercise of civil rights without provocation. At this Sundays demonstration, outside LAPDs Hollenbeck Station at 2111 E. 1st Street, people gathered to give their testimonies on what they referred to as polices reckless attack on tenants last week and to continue to bring attention to proposed rent hikes, evictions, harassment and unsafe living conditions. Tenants return to streets after clash with police last week in Boyle Heights Im really disappointed by this, one of the speakers at Sundays demonstration said at the podium. We deserve dignified housing because there are cockroaches and rates where we live, and we want to live in peace, and we want dignified homes. The Los Angeles Housing Department said it has yet to vote on the 9% rent increase and that the city council has requested a report on costs by an outside consultant, which is supposed to be provided by the end of the year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Talk of Tennessee rejecting $1.8 billion in federal education funding has stirred intense controversy this year. Gov. Bill Lee said he supports the legislature's effort to study the issue and cited excessive overreach by the federal government. A 10-member panel was appointed on Sept. 25 to determine if the state can legally reject the money and to recommend a strategy before the 2024 legislative session, which is set to kick off Jan. 9. Among the areas supported by the $1.8 billion in federal funds are programs for low-income students, students with disabilities and school lunch, among others. The panel will also explore if the state can cover those programs on its own. The chief proponent of the move, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said Tennessee could make up the difference with state dollars. If lawmakers act on the potential plan, it would be a move unprecedented in United States history. Tennessee's reliance on federal education funding ballooned during the pandemic, driving up total funds received and the percentage of district budgets dependent on those dollars. In the 2021-22 fiscal year, around $2.5 billion flowed into Tennessee's public schools up from $1.2 billion in 2018-19, before the pandemic started. A bus arrives at West Elementary School in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., for the first day of school on Aug. 1. $1.8 billion: Legislative panel to explore rejecting Tennessee's share of federal education money That $2.6 billion includes nearly $1 billion in federal COVID-19 relief from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, also known as ESSER. Those funds were released in three installments, starting in March 2020. The final round expires next year. Education funding data for the 2022-23 fiscal year, which includes the last of the ESSER funds, is not yet available. While some pieces of the puzzle are still missing, the question remains: How much do school districts really rely on federal money? The Tennessean analyzed how much federal funding schools received statewide last year and in the year before the pandemic. Here's what we learned. 'Excessive overreach': Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee open to rejecting $1.8B in federal school funding The 30,000-foot view of federal education funding in Tennessee Federal funding for public schools in Tennessee rose from 11% of the total budget in the 2018-19 fiscal year to nearly 20% in 2021-22. Districts of all sizes also increased their reliance on federal dollars, driven in part by the infusion of ESSER funds. In 2018-19, district budgets were anywhere from less than 1% to up to 20% federal money. Those amounts increased last year, with districts drawing anywhere from 1%-34% of their budgets from federal funds. Notably, Shelby County Schools was among the districts that drew the most federal dollars in both 2018-19 and last year. Federal money also made up a large share of its overall budget. Large districts like Metro Nashville Public Schools, Knox County Schools, Hamilton County Schools and the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System also drew the most federal dollars in both 2018-19 and last year. However, the share of their budgets made up by federal money remained relatively low compared to Shelby County Schools and others. Here are how federal funding percentages looked in the 2018-19 fiscal year statewide: Federal funding in Tennessee school districts for 2018-2019 A comparison to 2021-22 numbers shows a sharp increase in how much districts relied on federal funding: Federal funding in Tennessee school districts for 2021-2022 Here's a look at the county, special and city school districts that relied most on federal funds both before and after the pandemic. Pre-pandemic federal funding for Tennessee public schools State data for the 2018-19 fiscal year includes funding for the state's Achievement School District and schools run by the State Board of Education. Based on that information, here are the five districts that drew the most federal funding in 2018-19: Shelby County Schools: $223,523,113 / 16.22% of total budget Metro Nashville Public Schools: $127,516,724 / 10.54% of total budget Knox County Schools: $54,688,044 / 9.75% of total budget Hamilton County Schools: $53,569,962 / 11.34% of total budget Clarksville-Montgomery County School System: $35,593,461 / 10.85% of total budget While those districts tend to draw the highest amounts due to their large size, a different picture emerges when analyzing the percentage of federal funds in each district's overall budget. Here are the 10 districts that relied the most on federal funding in 2018-19: Humboldt City School District (Gibson County): $2,644,580 / 20.05% of total budget Campbell County Schools: $9,602,785 / 18.39% of total budget Grundy County Schools: $3,683,404 / 17.73% of total budget Etowah City Schools (McMinn County): $653,129 / 16.81% of total budget Newport City Schools (Cocke County): $1,230,497 / 16.43% of total budget State Board of Education: $1,056,651 / 16.37% of total budget Shelby County Schools: $223,523,113 / 16.22% of total budget Haywood County Schools: $4,794,804 / 16.18% of total budget Anderson County Schools: $11,826,591 / 16.17% of total budget Fentress County Schools: $3,410,441 / 16.09% of total budget Federal funding for Tennessee public schools in 2021-22 In the 2021-22 fiscal year, the same large districts topped the list for most federal funds drawn, which accounted for anywhere from roughly 15-30% of their total budgets. State data listed the Achievement School District and schools run by the State Board of Education as receiving $0 for state, local and federal funding. It was not immediately clear why. Here are the five districts that drew the most federal funding in 2021-22: Shelby County Schools: $465,894,658 / 28.64% of total budget Metro Nashville Public Schools: $258,854,403 / 14.95% of total budget Hamilton County Schools: $130,317,751 / 21.62% of total budget Knox County Schools: $105,251,967 / 15.08% of total budget Clarksville-Montgomery County School System: $83,678,580 / 19.74% of total budget The list reshuffles again when it comes to districts that relied most heavily on federal funding, but several remained in the top 10 including Shelby County Schools. Here are the 10 districts that relied the most on federal funding in 2021-22: Etowah City Schools (McMinn County): $1,710,662 / 34.15% of total budget Newport City Schools (Cocke County): $3,426,719 / 33.74% of total budget Hancock County Schools: $4,617,712 / 31.37% of total budget Campbell County Schools: $19,118,165 / 30.58% of total budget Benton County Schools: $9,101,087 / 29.87% of total budget Morgan County Schools: $10,028,159 / 28.79% of total budget Shelby County Schools: $465,894,658 / 28.64% of total budget Lexington City Schools (Henderson County): $3,354,447/ 28.62% of total budget Haywood County Schools: $10,419,648 / 28.38% of total budget Wayne County Schools: $7,870,601 / 28.19% of total budget Areena Arora contributed to this story. Reach reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or find her on Twitter at twitter.com/rachelannwegner. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: See how much federal funding your Tennessee school district spends Ukrainian officials have managed to take out a wounded Ukrainian boy from the Israeli city of Sderot. The Foreign Ministry is currently establishing information about the death of two Ukrainians in Israel and the death of another in the Gaza Strip. Source: Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, on Facebook Quote: "Ukrainian diplomats conducted a successful rescue operation, taking out a Ukrainian boy from the city of Sderot, after he was injured during an attack by militants. He is now in a safe place under the care of the embassy. He has received medical and psychological assistance." Details: In addition, the officials managed to find five citizens who were considered missing in southern Israel. At the same time, the Foreign Ministry reported that there was information about the possible death of two more Ukrainians near the Gaza Strip. This information is currently being verified. In total, over the past day, the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have processed over 200 appeals from citizens. A mass cancellation of flights has been recorded. The Foreign Ministry is looking for a solution to help Ukrainians leave the country. The ministry has also received information about the possible death of a Ukrainian citizen in the Gaza Strip. It is waiting for official confirmation. Background: 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! DALLAS - Texas Senator Ted Cruz is one of the most polarizing members of Congress. FOX 4s Steven Dial sat down with him to talk about the House, the southern border, and his race in 2024. Dial: "Lets go with the elephant in the room, the drama in Congress, specifically in the House. What are your thoughts on what has happened in the last few days?" Cruz: "I dont like seeing chaos in the Republican House. I think they are doing a lot of good, but thats a mess. That being said, it looks like we are going to get a new speaker and I hope its someone who is a principled conservative, who is a strong conservative leader." Dial: "Do you think that rule is acceptable, about one member of Congress being able to call up a vote. Do you think a small number of Republicans should be able to basically kick out the Republican speaker?" Cruz: "Look, I think the House will figure out its rules. One of the things, I am staying out of the House leadership fights. I got enough fights on the other side of the Capitol in the Senate. I dont need to be in the middle of that." Cruz: "The House should have impeached Alejandro Mayorkas. Mayorkas is the Secretary of Homeland Security. He has presided over the worst crisis at our southern border in history. Its never been this bad. I think the House should have impeached him and send it over to the Senate for a trial. I hope the new speaker does that." Dial: "Mayorkas just made recent comments about saying there is a threat, and the Biden administration is calling for some type of structure to be built." Cruz: "[Mayorkas] is and it is ironic for them to be saying, build the wall. It is a little jarring. To be honest with you, I dont believe it." Dial: "You dont think they will build anything?" Cruz: "They may build a little bit for the TV cameras, but this administration does not want to stop what is happening. This is happening because Joe Biden and the Democrats want it to happen and the fundamental problem is not wall or no wall. The fundamental problem is when people are apprehended the Biden administration lets them go its catch and releaseAs you know, I was not a fan of Barack Obama. But I got to say, on immigration, he by and large followed the law. Other than DACA, which is a very limited population, Obama followed the law. When he apprehended people, Obama deported millions of people. Remember the left got mad at Obama and called him the deporter in chief. What Biden and Kamala Harris are doing, no president has ever done." Dial: "Former President Trump has not been at any debate. Hes leading in the polls. Is it time for candidates to get out of the way?" Cruz: "I think weve got a real primary. I am good friends with all of the candidates running. I think it is mostly a two-man race with Trump and DeSantis, and I think the voters are going to decide. I think we are going to see a race shake out." Dial: "2024 also is going to be a big year for you. You are possibly going to run against Dallas Congressman Colin Allred or San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez. Who threatens you more?" Cruz: "There are a bunch of Democrats running, I guess I should take that as a compliment. I dont care who wins. Whoever wins, the Democrats have targeted Texas. Chuck Schumer has made clear that I am his number one target in the country, so frankly, the Democrats can nominate a ham sandwhich and they are going to raise $100 million to next year to try to beat me. I dont think they are going to succeed because what we are doing in Texas is workingColin Allred, you mentioned him, his first four years, he voted with Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time." Dial: "Do you think Colin Allred will be your opponent?" Cruz: "I dont know, but it doesnt matter because any of the Democrats, they all follow orders, they just obey, they vote as a block. Whatever Democrat it will be, they will vote with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. They will vote for higher taxes, theyll vote to destroy energy, oil and gas in the state of Texas." House Speaker Dade Phelan rubs his hands shortly before adjourning Sine Die after only one day of the first special session in the House at the Capitol on Tuesday May 30, 2023. House Speaker Dade Phelan strongly condemned a major Republican donor and demanded that elected officials return money they received from the group, one day after The Texas Tribune reported that it had recently hosted well-known white supremacist Nick Fuentes . This not just a casual misstep, Phelan said in a statement. Its indicative of the moral, political rot that has been festering in a certain segment of our party for far too long. Anti-Semitism, bigotry and Hitler apologists should find no sanctuary in the Republican party. Period. We cannot and must not tolerate the tacit endorsement of such vile ideologies. Phelan is the most high-profile official to respond publicly to the Tribunes reporting that Jonathan Stickland, the leader of Defend Texas Liberty PAC and a related consulting firm, Pale Horse Strategies, hosted Fuentes in southwest Tarrant County for nearly seven hours on Friday. Fuentes is an avowed admirer of Adolf Hitler, has called for holy war against Jews and said that all I want is revenge against my enemies and a total Aryan victory. Stickland is a former state representative from Bedford. Defend Texas Liberty is funded by two West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks who are also Attorney General Ken Paxtons biggest donors. Earlier this year, the group made headlines after it gave $3 million in loans and donations to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick ahead of Paxtons impeachment trial in the Texas Senate, over which Patrick presided. Phelan who has long been at odds with Patrick over policy and political disagreements directly called out Patrick in his statement, and demanded that any elected official who has received money from Defend Texas Liberty of its affiliated organizations to immediately redirect every single cent of those contributions to a charitable organization of his or her choice. Phelan also called out Republican Party of Texas Chair Matt Rinaldi who was also seen at the office building that hosted Fuentes but denied meeting with him or knowing he was there to donate funds from Defend Texas Liberty even if doing so would take the party into the red. Furthermore, I call upon elected officials and candidates to state unequivocally that they will not accept further contributions, including in-kind contributions, from the Defend Texas Liberty PAC, Phelan said. Recently, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick took $3 million from this organization. I expect him to lead the way in redirecting these funds. Phelan continued, drawing a direct line between Fuentes visit to Texas and the violence that broke out in Israel over the weekend. The Republican Party, at its core, champions freedom, democracy, and shared values with nations like Israel, he said. ...Every single elected official or candidate who has received funding from the Defend Texas Liberty PAC must publicly disavow their toxic affiliation. Patrick and Paxton could not be immediately reached for comment. Since 2021, Defend Texas Liberty has given nearly $15 million to ultraconservative candidates as it tries to unseat fellow Republicans, including Phelan, who it argues are not conservative enough. The group is a key part of a network of nonprofits, media companies, campaigns and institutions that Dunn and the Wilks brothers have given more than $100 million to push their ultraconservative religious and anti-LGBTQ+ views. Phelan meanwhile is at least the second Republican to call on others to return donations. On Sunday, Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, said his fellow conservatives should publicly donate funds from Defend Texas Liberty or their astroturf groups to an Israel-supporting charity. Unfortunately, this isnt unbelievable, he said in response to the Tribunes reporting. Four months after they failed to reach a deal, Texas lawmakers will return to Austin this week to try a second time to pass a statewide school voucher program. Monday marks the beginning of the states third special legislative session of the year. Lawmakers are expected to take up legislation creating an education savings account system, a school voucher-like plan that would give parents taxpayer money to put toward private school tuition or other education-related expenses. But amid growing tensions between the Texas Senate and the House and overt hostility between the two men who lead them its unclear whether the result will be any different this time around. School vouchers, border security top special session agenda Education savings accounts are one of four issues lawmakers will discuss during the special session, according to an agenda the governors office released Thursday. Lawmakers are also expected to consider measures related to border security, COVID-19 vaccine requirements and Colony Ridge, a Houston-area community that has been the subject of unsubstantiated claims that its a magnet for undocumented immigrants. Notably, the agenda doesnt mention school funding or teacher pay raises, both of which were priorities during the regular session. Gov. Greg Abbott has made a top priority of legislation creating an education savings account plan. Ahead of the regular legislative session, the governor pledged to sign an education savings account program into law, and called on lawmakers to bring a proposal to his desk. During a visit to Fort Worths Nolan Catholic High School in April, Abbott argued that the state has a duty to help families who feel trapped in schools that arent a good fit for their kids. At the beginning of the year, Abbott also pledged to use a portion of the states $32.7 billion budget surplus to boost funding for local school districts, helping them raise teacher pay and keep up with rising operating costs. In the end, neither of those things happened. Lawmakers failed to reach a compromise on school funding and education savings account proposals before the session ended in May. That left local school districts in a difficult position: Many school boards, including several in the Fort Worth area, approved deficit budgets with the expectation that lawmakers would make good on promises to increase school funding. Without that extra money, many districts have had to dip into their emergency savings to cover those costs. During a town hall conference call last month, Abbott seemed to acknowledge that it could be difficult to get lawmakers to come up with a deal. But if they dont, Abbott warned Republicans who oppose vouchers that he could back their challengers in next years primary elections. If we do not win in that first special session, we will have another special special session and well come back again, he said. And then if we dont win that time, I think its time to send this to the voters themselves. Education savings accounts remain unpopular in rural Texas But that threat may not be as potent as the governor hopes, said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University. Republican lawmakers from rural parts of the state who oppose the plan are taking a position thats relatively popular among their constituents, he said. In rural communities, where private schools are much less common and traditional school districts are often the only option, many voters see education savings accounts as a plan that would only benefit wealthy people in big cities and suburbs, he said. Complicating matters further is the fact that in many small towns, the local school district is one of the biggest employers, making it difficult for lawmakers to take sides against school leaders, he said. So while those lawmakers might prefer not to have the governor raising money for a primary challenger, the threat may not be big enough to change their votes, he said. A bigger factor affecting the proposals future is most likely the division between the two houses of the legislature, Riddlesperger said. Several lawmakers in both houses proposed various school choice plans during the regular session, but none gained traction because House and Senate Republicans couldnt reach a compromise. During the regular session, the mutual animosity between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan was palpable, he said, and the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton only escalated matters. In that climate, it could be difficult for lawmakers to reach a deal on anything, he said. School leaders push back on Gov. Abbotts voucher plan School voucher critics argue that they drain money from school districts and give it to private schools that dont have to abide by the same transparency and accountability rules as public schools. Critics also point out that private schools dont have to take all students, and can legally decline to accept students with disabilities or LGBTQ+ students. In a statement released Thursday, Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, called the plan yet another Republican scheme to dismantle and discredit our public school system. No one wants Abbotts voucher plan, Turner said. What Texans want is to fund public schools, pay our teachers better and fix our flawed accountability system. Texas school district leaders have also pushed back against a school voucher proposal. During a press conference at a recent Texas Association of School Administrators convention in Dallas, superintendents from several districts sought to present a unified message: Funding public schools, not school vouchers, should be lawmakers top priority. Christopher Moran, superintendent of the Whitehouse Independent School District and vice president of the superintendents association, said school leaders are in a position of no compromise. Were not interested in compromising for vouchers to gain school funding, he said. This is a hill that were willing to die on. Voucher backers want flexibility in education savings account bill Greg Sindelar, CEO of the conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation, said he is optimistic that a voucher plan will get through the legislature sometime this year. He acknowledged that the proposal has faced headwinds in Texas in the past, but said its become more of a mainstream idea among Republican voters and lawmakers over the past few years. Sindelar said the foundation, which has been one of the biggest players in pushing for the bill, hopes to see a plan that includes flexibility to allow parents and students to tailor their schooling to their specific needs. For some students, that might not mean withdrawing from public schools entirely, he said. For example, if a high school student wants to study diesel mechanics but goes to a school that doesnt have a program for it, Sindelar said hed like to see a voucher program that would allow that student to attend high school part-time, then use a voucher to enroll in a nearby community college to get a professional certification. We believe that the importance of this is opening up options and flexibility for parents to educate their kids in the way that they see fit, he said. A majority of Texas voters would support some kind of school choice program, potentially including vouchers and education savings accounts, recent polling shows. In a survey released in August by the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, 52% of respondents said they either strongly or somewhat supported establishing a voucher, educational savings account (ESA) or other school choice program in Texas. But the issue isnt a high priority for most voters, polling shows. In the same survey, 26% of respondents said the issue was extremely important, the lowest percentage of any education-related issue included in the poll. By comparison, 60% of respondents named school safety as an extremely important priority, and 45% said teacher pay and retention were extremely important. If an education savings account program passes into law, Texas would be far from the first state to enact a voucher-like program. This year alone, lawmakers from seven states have created new programs, and nine others have expanded existing plans. Research into long-standing voucher programs educational benefits shows mixed results. In studies looking at voucher programs in Indiana and Louisiana, researchers found moderate to large declines in academic performance among students who transfer to a private school using vouchers. In most cases, those declines lasted for years. Researchers surmised that students who underperformed in public schools struggled to keep up with higher expectations and more rigorous workloads when they transferred to private schools. But research into a voucher program in Washington, D.C., suggested that students math test scores declined for two years after they transferred, then rebounded in the third year. Students who used a voucher were also less likely to miss an excessive number of school days. Reducing excessive absences could be a big benefit because students who miss too many days are more likely to drop out of high school and less likely to read proficiently by third grade. Vouchers introduce instability in education system, researcher says Joshua Cowen, a professor of education policy in the College of Education at Michigan State University, said when states introduce voucher programs, it can often have a destabilizing effect on their education systems. States that enact voucher plans often see a large number of new private schools pop up overnight, said Cowen, who studies the effects of school voucher programs nationwide. Often, those new schools are affiliated with churches that either had never had a school, or hadnt had one in years, but see an opportunity to turn the voucher program into a revenue stream, he said. But those schools often close just as quickly as they open, he said, because the churches operating them quickly get overwhelmed with the complexity of hiring and retaining teachers, buying curriculum and maintaining school facilities. Its hard and its expensive to educate children, he said. Even at schools that remain open, large numbers of voucher students tend to come and go each year, Cowen said. Cowen and a team of researchers looked at a voucher program in Milwaukee and found that about one in five students who accepted a voucher left the program and transferred back to public schools each year. Research in other states has shown similar results: About 25-30% of students who accepted a voucher end up transferring back to public schools each year. Although record-keeping for students exiting voucher programs isnt as robust as it is for students coming in, students of color, low-income students and students who perform poorly on state tests appear to make up a disproportionate number of the students leaving those programs, he said. Those high exit rates, combined with the large number of private schools that pop up and then close quickly, add up to a worrisome level of instability, Cowen said. In the business world, frequent openings and closings and a certain degree of customer turnover could be a healthy thing, he said, or at least not a cause for concern. But that isnt true in education, he said. This aint McDonalds. Its not a mom and pop shop that food poisoned its customers and lost business because of it, he said. Its really, incredibly destabilizing to children to have them moving from school to school. In the long term, voucher plans can also lead to funding cuts for school districts, Cowen said. When lawmakers propose a school voucher plan, they often include a clause that protects school districts from funding cuts for a specified number of years, Cowen said. One version of the plan Texas lawmakers considered during the regular session included such a provision for smaller districts. That clause is usually included as a way to make plans more palatable to lawmakers from rural areas, Cowen said. The problem is that, as voucher programs grow, that provision means states are left paying for two parallel education systems, one public and one private, Cowen said. No state can afford to do that forever, he said, so when the required number of years passes, lawmakers generally have to cut funding to local school districts to make ends meet. Thats whats going on in Arizona right now, and thats whats going on in Florida right now, he said. So well see what happens in Texas. Are DUI checkpoints legal in South Carolina? You bet your license they are. Just google the term and up comes a slew of answers to that question, most from defense attorneys who defend people charged with DUI. South Carolina law says you cant drive if your faculties to drive are materially and appreciably impaired. And checkpoints are one way to flush out those who do it anyway. The U.S. Supreme Court in 1990 ruled that sobriety checkpoints do not violate the 4th amendment of the Constitution, the right to not be subjected to unreasonable search and seizure. Checkpoints must be nothing more than a slight intrusion, be run according to a plan that limits officers discretion and be for the purpose of getting drunk drivers off the road. The police do not have the authority to set up DUI checkpoints at random. However, for example, if a specific area has experienced more than its fair share of dangerous drunk driving accidents, a DUI checkpoint may be a valid response, the law firm Bannister, Wyatt and Stalvey in Greenville says on its website. Here are some of the other rules: The checkpoint must be publicized. Officers cannot stop vehicles randomly. The stops must have warning lights and the area be well lit. There must be a sign saying whether it is a license and registration checkpoint or a DUI checkpoint. But what happens if you see a checkpoint ahead? Can you turn around to avoid it? Heres what Lexington attorney James R. Snell Jr. says: Fortunately, turning down another road or otherwise making a legal driving maneuver to avoid the checkpoint is not against the law. However, if you violate a traffic law in order to bypass a checkpoint, a police officer has the right to pull you over. In other words, turning into a street is fine, but no u-turns, no crossing a solid line or median, no running a light or driving the wrong way. And always, always use your turn signal. Heres something to think about: an officer might see you doing that and follow you to see if you show signs of impairment. The Bannister firm offers these suggestions if you are stopped at a checkpoint. Remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement without saying anything that might incriminate you (you have the right to remain silent in the face of questions put to you by the police) and get out of your car if youre asked to do so. In a candid post on social media, the actress addresses narratives being made without her consent. Dating may be complicated, but thats hardly any reason to return to something that no longer serves you. At least, thats Tia Mowry s approach. In a recent Instagram post, the Sister Sister alum addresses currently swirling rumors that she is returning to her relationship with ex-husband Cory Hardrict. Mowry also gives more insight into how shes navigating this new chapter in her life. Tia Mowry attends Varietys Power of Women Presented by Lifetime at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 30, 2021, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Variety) Just because the dating life is complicated doesnt mean Im going to go back to something that no longer served me, she wrote in the posts caption. In the accompanying photo, Mowry strikes a strong pose in a black tank top with army green shorts, black heels, and her hair in long braids as she stares directly into the lens. Mowry added that returning to something that no longer served her would be like saying if I dont book an audition or a part as an actor right away, Im going to give up on my dreams. She urged anyone thinking any differently to, Please just stop. I aint that weak! Please move on because I have. Thank you, next. The post comes a year after the actress split from Hardrict after 14 years of marriage. The two married in 2008 and share two children, a son, Cree, 11, and a daughter, Cairo, 4. At the time of filing, Mowry cited irreconcilable differences, according to court documents. In the caption of an Instagram post announcing the split, she said, These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children. Mowry added, 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. A month later, Mowry was in better spirits, divulging self-love as another reason for the split and a new focus on self-care. During an appearance on the Today Show in November 2022, Mowry said, I knew when I really started to focus on my happiness. She continued, I feel like women, we tend to focus on everybody elses happiness, making sure that everybody else is OK meaning our children, our friends, our family but at the end of the day, its about self-love. Speaking with People magazine around the same time, Mowry said, I really feel like where I am in my life right now, Ive realized that life is beautiful, its amazing, its a gift, but its also very short, and we all have to chase our joy and chase being happy. Thats really important. Since the pair announced their split in October 2022, this is not the first time rumors have been debunked. Shortly after announcing their divorce, Hardrict was the subject of infidelity rumors. He denied the allegations, replying to an accusatory comment, Lies. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post Tia Mowry is not going back to what doesnt serve her appeared first on TheGrio. This fall, Lexington city council has an opportunity to significantly expand housing access for low-income renters when a proposed ban on source of income discrimination is considered by the Social Services and Public Safety Committee. This proposal would ensure renters with housing vouchers (for example, Section 8) have legal protection from discrimination on the housing market. Currently, renters who use vouchers face significant hurdles, since many landlords refuse to rent to anyone with a voucher. A 2018 study indicated 77% of landlords discriminate against voucher holders when no anti-discrimination measures are in place, while that number drops to 35% once such measures are passed. As the legislative process takes its course, landlord groups and their allies have attempted to stop this measure. My aim is to meet some of their talking points head on and make the case for why we would all benefit from a ban on source of income discrimination in Lexington. One popular talking point that local landlord groups have said is that rents will rise as an outcome of this legislation. When looking at data from other places that have passed anti-discrimination measures, it is clear that there is no causal relationship between a ban on source of income discrimination and rents rising higher than the national average. Data from nine states who have passed a ban on source of income discrimination since 2013 shows that rents have largely risen at a similar rate to the national average, and in some instances rents have actually increased at lower rates than the national average after anti-discrimination measures have been passed, for example, in Maryland, Virginia, and Illinois. Considering data from Louisville, which passed a source of income discrimination ban in 2020, their median fair market rent rose 20.6% between 2020-2023, slightly higher than the national average of 18.9%, but it is worth noting that Lexingtons rose at 19.5% during the same period, which suggests that other factors likely play a more defining role in determining average rents. Ive never found a study providing evidence for a causal relationship between the passage of anti-discrimination measures and rents rising above the national average anywhere in the United States. This means that landlords are being speculative in their claims, with the hopes of fear mongering the legislation into not passing. A second talking point that landlord groups have forwarded relates to the concern that they will be forced to go through inspections as a result of this legislation. It is true that some, but not all, voucher programs require that basic standards need to be met in housing provided to voucher holders, including for example that the unit has running water and that there is an absence of mold. The Housing Authority provides these inspections proactively at no cost to the landlord and they ensure that housing provided to low-income renters meets an adequate standard. If landlords cannot pass them, they are attempting to provide substandard housing and they have no business renting out units. In favor of the proposed legislation, there is data that shows that a ban on source of income discrimination significantly helps low income renters secure housing at a faster rate than if there was no legislation in place. Government services thus become more efficient and can provide housing to more people because renters are being placed into housing quicker, meaning that our taxes go towards housing more of our neighbors. Data also suggests that anti-discrimination measures combat racial segregation. Voucher holders are disproportionately people of color, and because of source of income discrimination they can often only access certain neighborhoods, deepening patterns of segregation. The proposed legislation would ensure a greater freedom of movement for voucher holders that would allow them more options in moving closer to services and networks of support. Furthermore, the Lexington Continuum of Care, a network of nonprofits and businesses dedicated to ensuring affordable housing needs are met, vocally supports this measure. They, alongside the LFUGCs Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board, have sent two letters to council members making the case for why our community needs this legislation. City council has a choice to make. They can offer an important measure of security to low-income renters. They can listen to the demands of renters who make up 41% of Lexingtons population and homeless service providers or they can buy into the speculative claims of landlords. Its time we pass a ban on source of income discrimination, so all renters in Lexington can find safe, stable, and affordable housing. Lukas Bullock is an organizer for KY Tenants, and a PhD Candidate in Gender & Womens Studies at the University of Kentucky. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Cori Bush (D-Mo.) are facing criticism from fellow Democrats over weekend statements in which they each labeled Israel as an apartheid state and called for the U.S. to end funding to the nation, amid a surprise attack by Hamas that killed hundreds. Tlaib said she continues to grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day, before calling for dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance. She has previously criticized the Israeli government and had denounced a House resolution supporting Israel in a floor speech in July. Tlaib, who is of Palestinian heritage, also called for lifting the blockade of the Gaza Strip and for ending the occupation in her lengthy statement. The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other, she said. As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue, she continued. Bush also issued similar comments in a statement Saturday, in which she condemned the targeting of civilians and said she was heartbroken by the violence. She also called for the end of U.S. support for Israel. As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid, she said. Tlaibs and Bushs remarks were quickly met with pushback from both the right and the left, including two Democrat lawmakers. In comments to Jewish Insider, Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) condemned the lawmakers statements. U.S. aid to Israel is and should be unconditional, and never more so than in this moment of critical need, Torres said in a statement to Jewish Insider. Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. It is reprehensible and repulsive. Two of my colleagues called for America to end assistance to Israel, despite the countless images of Israeli children, women, men, and elderly, including Americans, murdered by radical Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists, Gottheimer said in a statement obtained by The Hill. It sickens me that while Israelis clean the blood of their family members shot in their homes, they believe Congress should strip U.S. funding to our democratic ally and allow innocent civilians to suffer. The ambassador of Israel to the U.S. also took aim at Tlaibs statement. How much more blood needs to be spilled for you to overcome your prejudice and unequivocally condemn Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror organization? Michael Herzog said in response to Tlaibs statement on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. Hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians massacred in cold blood on a holy day. Babies kidnapped from their mothers arms and taken to Gaza. An 85-year-old woman in a wheelchair and a Holocaust survivor taken hostage. Is that not enough, @RashidaTlaib? he continued. The Hill has reached out to the offices of Tlaib, Bush and Torres for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Chuck Schumer is the latest high-level American official to go to China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing (Andy Wong) Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China-US ties would impact the "destiny of mankind", as he met with a group of American senators in Beijing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is the latest high-level US official to go to China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, leading a six-person delegation. "How China and the United States get along with each other in the face of a world of change and turmoil will determine the future and destiny of mankind," Xi said as he met with Schumer at Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "I have said many times, including to several presidents, that we have 1,000 reasons to improve China-US relations, but not one reason to ruin them," Xi said, adding China-US ties are "the most important bilateral relationship in the world". Schumer, in turn, told Xi that "our countries, together, will shape this century". "That is why we must manage our relationship responsibly and respectfully," he said. Schumer later told reporters the meeting with Xi lasted 80 minutes, double the alotted time. Earlier China's top diplomat Wang Yi said he hoped Washington and Beijing could manage their differences "more rationally". Meeting with Schumer at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Foreign Minister Wang told the senate delegation he hoped their visit would help the two sides "manage existing differences more rationally, helping the relationship between the two countries return to the track of healthy development". Wang also said he hoped they would "more accurately understand China" after the trip, which he said comes as the world is in a "turbulent period of change". "The crisis in Ukraine has not yet subsided, and warfare has reemerged in the Middle East," he said. "All these various challenges need to be addressed by the international community, and China and the United States should play their due roles," Wang said. Schumer, in turn, thanked the Chinese delegation for their hospitality, noting there were several issues of "great concern" he was seeking to raise during his visit. He said "a level playing field for American business and workers" was his delegation's "number one goal". "Holding accountable China-based companies supplying deadly chemicals fuelling the fentanyl crisis in America" was another objective, he told Wang, as was "ensuring China does not support Russia's immoral war against Ukraine". "Advancing human rights" was an additional priority, Schumer said. Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China, described the meetings as a "step forward". "I felt that the Chinese leadership prepared very carefully for these meetings. They were ready for these detailed discussions. There was a level of energy on both sides, and I think a commitment to extend those conversations," he said at a press conference. - 'Troubled times' - Schumer had said he was "very disappointed" by a Sunday statement from Beijing's foreign ministry on the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Beijing called Sunday for all sides to show "calm" and "cease fire immediately", without explicitly condemning a Palestinian attack that has left hundreds in Israel dead. China instead urged the establishment of a two-state solution to end the violence. "I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks," Schumer told Wang. He reiterated his call for Beijing to support Israel in his with meeting Xi, urging the Chinese leader to "stand with the Israeli people". At a press conference after the meeting, he said China had "rectified" its initial statement. "A bunch of us made the request that China use its influence on Iran," Schumer said at a press conference. "We said they have influence with Iran in many different ways, and we've asked them to do everything they could to not have Iran spread this conflagration. "They said they would deliver the message" - Senior meetings - On Monday, Schumer also met with Zhao Leji, the head of the standing committee of China's rubber-stamp National People's Congress. "As the two great powers it is natural we find ourselves in competition in areas like trade, technology, diplomacy, and more," Schumer told Zhao. "We welcome this competition," Schumer stressed. "We do not seek conflict." Schumer is the latest high-level US official to visit China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, which have flared in recent years over everything from trade to human rights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury and Commerce Secretaries Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo, as well as climate envoy John Kerry, have all visited China this year. And President Joe Biden on Friday said he may meet Xi in San Francisco in November, but added that nothing has been scheduled yet. Wang is expected to visit Washington ahead of the November APEC summit in San Francisco. bur-pfc-oho/je/ssy/bfm House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik slammed her alma mater, Harvard, after student organizations at the Ivy League university said Israel was "entirely responsible" for "unfolding violence" against the country by Iranian-backed Hamas soldiers. More than two dozen Harvard student groups blasted Israel and supported Palestinians in Gaza after Hamas launched deadly attacks across southern Israel. Stefanik called on Harvard leadership to condemn the "anti-Semitic" statements. "It is abhorrent and heinous that Harvard student groups are blaming Israel for Hamas barbaric terrorist attacks that have killed over 700 Israelis," Stefanik wrote Sunday night on X, formerly Twitter. "Any voice that excuses the slaughter of innocent women and children has chosen the side of evil and terrorism." 9 AMERICANS KILLED IN HAMAS' STRIKES ON ISRAEL: STATE DEPARTMENT The Harvard student organizations' statement, released on the day of the Hamas attacks, said the events did not occur "in a vacuum." The groups who signed the letter included the Harvard Islamic Society, the Harvard Jews for Liberation, the Society of Arab Students and the Harvard Divinity School Muslim Association. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence," the message says. "For the last two decades, millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison," the statement said. "Israeli officials promise to 'open the gates of hell,' and the massacres in Gaza have already commenced. Palestinians in Gaza have no shelters for refuge and nowhere to escape. In the coming days, Palestinians will be forced to bear the full brunt of Israel's violence." The statement also attacked Israel's "apartheid regime" that they say forced Palestinians into "colonial retaliation." ISRAEL HIT WITH HUGE ROCKET BARRAGE AS WARNING SIRENS BLARE ACROSS COUNTRY House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik. "The apartheid regime is the only one to blame," the statement says. "Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years. From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden." Hamas soldiers launched the attacks across southern Israel, which has since ignited a war, leaving 1,100 people dead, including nine Americans, and thousands more injured. The number of Israeli civilians and soldiers Hamas took hostage is still unknown. Harvard did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. Original article source: Top Republican slams alma mater Harvard after student groups blame Israel for Hamas attack US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (C) and US Senate Mike Crapo (L) meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing (Andy Wong) US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his delegation met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday, agency pool video showed. Wang greeted Schumer and his delegation at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse before going into a meeting. In opening remarks, the Chinese foreign minister said he hoped the visit would "help the United States to more accurately understand China". He also said he hoped the trip would help the two sides "manage existing differences more rationally, helping the relationship between the two countries return to the track of healthy development". Schumer, in turn, thanked Wang for "welcoming us". "To demonstrate our willingness to undertake frank but productive communication, I am leading this bipartisan delegation," he said. "We very much appreciate the time you're taking to meet with us," he added. But he also told the top Chinese diplomat he was "very disappointed" by a Sunday statement from Beijing's foreign ministry on the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians. "The foreign ministry's statement... showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times," Schumer said. Beijing called Sunday for all sides to show "calm" and "cease fire immediately". But it did not explicitly condemn a Palestinian attacks that have left hundreds in Israel dead, instead urging the establishment of a two-state solution to end the violence. Schumer is the latest high-level American official to visit China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing. He met Saturday with Chen Jining, the ruling Chinese Communist Party's chief official in Shanghai, according to a pool report, stressing the United States "does not want to decouple our economies". He also raised the issue of Chinese firms' role in the fentanyl drug addiction crisis in the United States. "This is not the government but this is Chinese companies," he stressed. "They are fuelling the fentanyl crisis that is poisoning communities across the United States." Bloomberg has reported his delegation is seeking a meeting with President Xi Jinping. bur-oho/je/mca An Israeli couple has killed seven Hamas militants to save their children after the Hamas fighters came to their home. The woman and her husband were killed too. Oleh Vyshniakov, Israels consul in Ukraines Western Region, shared the couples story. On his Facebook page. Adar and Itay Berdychivsky from the Kfar Aza kibbutz both served in the Israeli army as officers and kept weapons at home. When the militants approached their house, the couple hid their 10-months-old twins in mammad, a reinforced security room required in all new buildings by Israeli law, and returned to wait for the militants in the main house to distract their attention from their children. Adar and Itay Berdychivsky. Photo: Oleh Vyshniakov on Facebook Adar and Itay killed seven militants, but were then killed themselves. Their children remained in the hiding place by themselves for 13 hours, before their uncle and grandfather found them there. "Theyre safe now, theyre surrounded by love and care. Itays brother and Adars father, who fought the militants for hours and saved dozens of people though couldnt reach their own relatives in time [to save them], found them," Vyshniakov says. Hamas militants launched a large number of missiles from the Gaza Strip into Israel, and breached Israels borders, on the morning of 7 October. On 9 October, Israel said that it regained control over all borders and border-adjacent areas near the Gaza Strip. As of now, the death toll in Israel stands at around 800 people, with another 2,500 Israeli citizens injured. 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! JaQualen Dupree, 18, was heading out the door to go pick up his two younger brothers from school on Monday Oct. 2. His mother, Kenyette Miles, recalls the exchange of words before he left. Safe travels, mom, JaQualen told his mom as a farewell. Safe travels, son Miles said back. That was the last time Miles spoke with her son. Shortly after that, police came knocking at the door. The shooting Miles said JaQualen left their north Wichita home at 3:05 p.m. to pick up his siblings, Jayce and Jamier at Gordon Parks K-8 Academy. Both of the boys got out of school at 3:10 p.m. Acquaintances of JaQualen asked him to give them a ride somewhere before picking up his brothers. One of the friends, Tyshon Jacques, had been staying over at the familys house for the past couple of days, Miles told an Eagle reporter. They was just watching TV, playing the PlayStation, Miles said. You know, talking, rapping, vibing. School officials called Miles at 3:30 p.m. asking if her boys had a ride home. No one had come to pick them up. I did the find my iPhone and his [JaQualen] phone was live by the YMCA for like 10 minutes, Miles said. Five minutes later, the school called back and said theyll just take them home for me. Meanwhile, Wichita police responded at 3:16 p.m. to a shooting downtown in the 400 block of North Broadway, near the Robert D. Love YMCA. They found JaQualen, who had been shot inside his Dodge Charger, which then hit a pole. Final moments Danielle Sellers and Marticia Vaughn of Wichita drove by, saw the car hit the curb and saw people running. Sellers said she originally thought someone had a seizure. They ran up and found JaQualen slumped over. They immediately noticed he had been shot and used a piece of clothing to apply pressure to the wound on his head, Sellers said. He was responding to what they said as they used oxygen from the nearby YMCA. Sellers told him it was going to be OK and that help was on the way. Tears ran down his face, Sellers said. Im thankful we were there to give some type of comfort, Sellers said. That he was not alone at that time. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Who was JaQualen Dupree? Miles said her son was heavily involved with his family and got along with everyone he met. He was the second oldest of four children. He was what one might say a mamas boy, Miles said. He would always say Mom, Im always going to live with you. ... were never going to be apart. An aspiring artist, JaQualen had a wide vocabulary at the age of 9 and enjoyed reading, his mother said. He was planning to enroll at Simon Youth Academy, an alternative high school program inside Towne East Square. Afterward, the family was looking to move to Seattle, Washington to pursue JaQualens music interests, Miles said. They have the House of Blues there and a lot of different [music] agents, managers and different stuff to soak up, Miles said. He really liked music. That was his number one passion. Friends and family members gathered near the intersection of Broadway and Third Street on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil. People loved him and he was a handsome, intelligent and caring kid, Miles said. He treated everybody right and had friends from all walks of life. A GoFundMe has been created to help pay for JaQualens funeral arrangements. An arrest At the time of the shooting, witnesses described a car coming to a slow stop, with several people exiting and running in different directions. Police later said they contacted five people. One was identified as the shooter and was apprehended after a foot chase around Kellogg Drive and Topeka Street, police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said in a news release. Tyshon Jacques, 18, of Wichita has been charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the shooting, according to Rebolledo. Miles said JaQualen and Tyshon had been longtime friends. It was his friend that he grew up with and trusted him, Miles said. My son, as caring as he was, didnt deserve it at all. Contributing: Michael Stavola of The Wichita Eagle 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 Angeles Basin and beyond and were 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. After 50+ cruises, I booked my first sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line using a "Free at Sea" promo. The promo promised everything from free bar drinks to included internet, specialty dining, and more. Some of the perks advertised fell short, but it saved my family a lot of money on our vacation. As a frequent cruiser, I've often seen ads for Norwegian Cruise Line's (NCL) "Free at Sea" promotions, which promise a variety of complimentary perks, including specialty dining, bar packages, internet, shore excursions, and more. So, when booking a recent sailing to the Norwegian fjords I decided to try NCL and see if its "Free at Sea" package lived up to the hype. Ultimately, my family of three enjoyed the benefits this offering provided during our 10-night sailing on the Norwegian Prima. However, a few things surprised me. Here are the main things you should know if you're considering booking the package yourself. The number of included perks can vary based on the length of the cruise and the level of stateroom you purchase, so read the fine print. I booked an ocean-view stateroom for my sailing but would have received additional benefits had I booked a balcony or suite. Amanda Adler NCL's "Free at Sea" promotion comes with various perks, but the exact benefits available vary based on several factors, including the length of the sailing, what type of stateroom you choose, and more. For example, I booked an ocean-view stateroom for my sailing, which entitled me and my husband to one complimentary meal in the specialty dining restaurant of our choice. However, guests who opted for a pricier balcony or suite room received additional dining credits. Before booking, it's important to research and read all the fine to better understand what's included with your sailing. The complimentary beverage package was the best deal, but it came with a few caveats. Having unlimited beverages on my sailing was a nice perk, allowing me to try a variety of new-to-me drinks risk-free. Amanda Adler Of the included perks, the unlimited bar package was a hit for me and my husband. Although I generally don't opt for unlimited drink packages on cruises as I don't order enough to justify the hefty price tag, having beverages included on this sailing was a carefree addition to my vacation. We did have to pay for the gratuities for this package, which amounted to $218 per person for our 10-night sailing, but we felt this was a relatively small price to pay for the convenience of not paying per drink. Plus, it was still a great deal because the unlimited drink package usually costs over $100 per person per day. However, unlike drink packages offered by competitors such as Royal Caribbean, NCL's did not include bottled water or specialty coffees. These items still required an upcharge, as did premium alcoholic drinks costing more than $15. The included internet was also a great value for those looking to do a small amount of browsing while at sea. Internet browsing was great for the grown-ups, but my son sought entertainment in the ship's virtual-reality arcade. Amanda Adler With the promo, my husband and I also each received a 150-minute internet package for use during our sailing. This was an amazing addition to our cruise as it gave us enough time to check in with the "real world" without feeling glued to our devices. Like many other included benefits, this package was only provided to the first two people on the booking. So, my 10-year-old son did not receive an internet package of his own. As an avid gamer, he was disappointed especially since onboard gaming options at the ship's virtual-reality arcade, Galaxy Pavilion, were limited. However, as a parent, I was happy to see him (mostly) unplugged for a change. Saving on excursions was a nice perk, but I don't like that they were listed on the NCL website as being "free." Using the "Free at Sea" promotion, I saved $50 on a shore excursion in Alesund, Norway. Amanda Adler In my opinion, the most misleading part of the "Free at Sea" offer had to be the "Free Excursions" listed on the NCL website. Just next to that offer, the site reads that each stateroom is actually only entitled to $50 off per tour for the first guest on the booking. A $50 excursion could be free with this promo, but all of the ones on my cruise cost well over $50. For example, the Land of the Trolls excursion in Alesund, Norway, cost my family of three $577, or $527 after the $50 credit was applied. Saving money on excursions is always welcome, but I wish the language of the promotion had been more straightforward. Representatives for Norwegian Cruise Line didn't respond to a request for comment from Insider. We loved the complimentary dining voucher for two, but our son had limited options. An upscale Mexican eatery, Los Lobos, was one of eight specialty dining options on board. Amanda Adler With eight specialty restaurants on the Norwegian Prima, the complimentary dining voucher from the "Free at Sea" promo was a clear winner. The restaurants, which are not included in the cost of the cruise, have seafood, steak, sushi, tapas, and more. My husband and I loved getting one free specialty dining meal and we only had to pay $10 per person in gratuities. Again, this benefit was only for the first two people booked in my stateroom, so my son did not get complimentary dining unless he ordered from the standard kid's menu. This menu, which included generic kiddie fare such as chicken nuggets, was the same every night of the cruise, making it a less-than-exciting option for my budding 10-year-old foodie. As such, we allowed him to order off the adult menu while dining with us at the ship's Italian eatery, Onda by Scarpetta, which cost us an additional $44.35. Although NCL's "Free at Sea" promotion was not as comprehensive as I had hoped, it saved my family money and is a good value for budget-conscious travelers. Overall, I thought the "Free at Sea" promo was a good value for the money. Amanda Adler Norwegian Cruise Line's "Free at Sea" promo sometimes includes other perks, such as discounted flights, and it often can be combined with other ongoing deals that provide additional savings. It's this combo of compelling offers that helps make NCL a great choice for anyone looking to get a lot of bang for their buck. Not only did my family save hundreds of dollars on drinks, dining, and shore excursions, but also we enjoyed things we likely would not have splurged on otherwise, such as the internet package. So, although I was a little underwhelmed with some of the savings advertised, I believe the "Free at Sea" promotion offers good value for travelers, and it greatly enhanced my family's vacation experience. Read the original article on Insider Former President Donald Trump blamed President Joe Biden for this weekend's Hamas assault on Israel during Monday remarks to a crowd in the resort town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The war, in which Israel is now laying siege to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, "happened for three reasons," Trump said: Iran reaping oil revenue from relaxed sanctions enforcement, "our country's perceived weakness" during Biden's term, and the U.S. freeing up $6 billion in Iranian funds for humanitarian efforts as part of a prisoner swap. Saying that Biden is "laughed at all over the world," Trump pointed to his own sanctions enforcement and unilateral withdrawal from the multination Iran nuclear deal as evidence that he would be tougher on Iran if Americans elect him instead of Biden in 2024. At the same time, he portrayed Biden and his administration as being out of touch, noting that national security adviser Jake Sullivan said less than two weeks ago that the Middle East is "quieter today than it has been in two decades." Biden administration officials and Democrats have said that Iran accelerated its development of a nuclear weapon after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal. Trumps imposition of sanctions also failed to curb Irans development of its nuclear capability. And that none of the $6 billion in funds, which are payments for oil purchases that belong to Iran, have been released. Sen. Tammy Duckworth , D-Ill., a national co-chair of Biden's re-election campaign pushed back on Trump. "With each and every lie, Donald Trump further proves he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage," Duckworth, who is a veteran and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement released by the Biden campaign. "The generals and other military leaders who served under Trump those in a position to know have repeatedly said he made our country less safe, not more," she said. "Day in and day out, he continuously disrespects the Veterans and servicemembers who committed their lives to protecting our fellow Americans, and we shouldnt take his disgusting and transparently self serving comments as anything more than what they are: lies. The favorite for the Republican presidential nomination, Trump's rhetoric aligns with that of most of the GOP candidates for president, who have been quick to lay responsibility at Biden's feet. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said on Fox News this weekend that the war presents a "great opportunity" for GOP candidates to draw a contrast with Biden. The multipronged attack was carried out primarily by Hamas, a group that the U.S. has designated a terrorist organization and which gained control of the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip after winning elections there in 2006. Hamas is a longtime recipient of support from Iran, and former U.S. officials say the attack bears hallmarks of an Iranian-backed mission. The Biden administration condemned the attack, maintains sanctions against Hamas and has promised to provide aid to Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Pentagon is moving an aircraft carrier strike group and warplanes closer to Israel to show support for the American ally. U.S. officials told NBC News on Monday that the deployment of those forces was also intended to send an explicit message to Iran to stand down specifically when it comes to any considerations by Tehran of unleashing the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against northern Israel. During his remarks Monday, Trump repeatedly portrayed Biden as the central actor in a "crooked" family criminal enterprise despite a lack of evidence that Biden has committed any crime and, conversely, as "mentally incapacitated," "dumb as a rock" and a puppet of former President Barack Obama. Emphasizing Obama's middle name, Trump said the problems underlying the war in Israel were "caused in my opinion by his boss, Barack HUSSEIN Obama." Both in his speech and on his Truth Social account, Trump wondered about the possibility that terrorist attacks could be launched on U.S. soil. The same people that raided Israel are pouring into our once beautiful USA, through our TOTALLY OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, at Record Numbers, he wrote. Are they planning an attack within our Country? Crooked Joe Biden and his BOSS, Barack Hussein Obama, did this to us! A senior U.S. official who is familiar with this area said this claim was false. While the exact number of people crossing the U.S. southern border who may have ties to Hamas remains classified, the official said the idea that Hamas is pouring across the border or has increased in numbers recently is demonstrably false. Trump made little secret of his broader disdain for Biden, accusing the president again without evidence of marshaling prosecutions against him. Trump, who faces four separate trials in federal and state courts, said explicitly that his situation would justify him using the power of the presidency to go after political adversaries. "That means I could do that if I win," he said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WOLFEBORO, N.H. Former President Donald Trump on Monday took aim at his successor in the White House, blaming President Biden for this weekend's deadly attack by Hamas on Israel. Trump, in a speech in the crucial early voting state of New Hampshire, claimed that "the atrocities we are witnessing in Israel would never have happened if I was president." And the former president, who is running for the White House a third straight time, charged in a campaign trail appearance that "Joe Biden betrayed Israel." Trump and many of his rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination have been blasting Biden and his administration since Hamas militants, supported by Iran, on Saturday launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades. Hamas surprise early morning assault on Israel during a major Jewish holiday resulted in over 800 Israelis dead and over a hundred, including the elderly, women and children, abducted and taken back to Palestinian-controlled Gaza as hostages. CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS COVERAGE OF ISRAEL'S WAR WITH HAMAS President Biden has repeatedly decried what he calls the "unconscionable" attack by Hamas and has pledged that the U.S. will make sure Israel has "what it needs to defend itself." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The president on Saturday emphasized that the U.S. "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. Theres never a justification for terrorist attacks and my administrations support for Israelis security is rock solid and unwavering. But the Republican criticism of the president centers on a recent $6 billion transfer to Iran, a complex deal announced by the Biden administration in September to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran. Roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets that were being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar, as part of the deal to free the hostages. AT LEAST NINE AMERICANS KILLED IN HAMAS DEADLY ASSAULT ON ISRAEL: STATE DEPARTMENT The Biden administration has pushed back on GOP criticism by insisting that none of the funds transferred have been spent to date. But Republicans claim that the deal and the funds helped fuel the Hamas assault on Israel. Trump, in his nearly hour-and-a-half-long speech, reiterated points he first made at a campaign event in Iowa on Saturday in slamming Biden. He repeatedly charged that Biden is an "incompetent president." And he argued that "less than four years ago, we had peace in the Middle East with the historic Abraham Accords. Today we have an all-out war in Israel, and it's going to spread very quickly. What a difference a president makes." Israeli forces establish heavily armed control points along the border as Israel tightens measures by the army, police and other security forces after Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in Sderot, Israel on Sunday. In blaming Biden for the Iranian-supported attack by Hamas on Israel, Trump touted that as president he "reduced the Iranian economy" and "withdrew from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, imposed the toughest ever sanctions on the regime, and imposed a strict travel ban to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country." "Now they're pouring into our country. They're pouring into our country. Joe Biden undid it. He ended it all and gave billions and billions of dollars to the world's top sponsor of terror, tossing Israel to the bloodthirsty terrorists and jihadists," Trump argued. LIVE UPDATES: AT LEAST 800 ISRAELIS DEAD IN HAMAS ATTACKS And he vowed that "as president, I will once again stand strongly with the state of Israel, and we will cut off the money to the terrorists on day one." Biden-Harris 2024 Campaign National Co-Chair and military veteran Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois fired back against Trump's remarks. "With each and every lie, Donald Trump further proves he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage. The generals and other military leaders who served under Trumpthose in a position to knowhave repeatedly said he made out country less safe, not more," Duckworth said in a statement on behalf of the Biden campaign Monday. "This is the same man who refers to our men and women in uniform as suckers and losers and refused to visit the final resting place of the brave Americans who served our nation." She added: "Day in and day out, he continuously disrespects the Veterans and servicemembers who committed their lives to protecting our fellow Americans, and we shouldnt take his disgusting and transparently self serving comments as anything more than what they are: lies." The former president addressed supporters at an event in a theater in Wolfeboro, in New Hampshire's Lakes Region. It was Trump's first visit in two months to the state that holds the first primary and second overall contest in the Republican presidential nominating calendar. Former President Donald Trump criticizes President Biden over the Hamas attack on Israel, as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate addresses supporters at a campaign event in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, on Monday. The former president was last in New Hampshire on August 8, when he headlined an event at Windhams high school. Trump, who is the commanding front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, hasnt spent nearly as much time in the Granite State compared to his rivals for the GOP nomination. But Trump retains a large double-digit lead over his Republican rivals in New Hampshire, as well as in Iowa, which leads off the Republican nominating calendar, and South Carolina, the first Southern contest in the primary and caucus schedule. WHERE TRUMP STANDS IN THE LATEST POLLS IN THIS KEY PRIMARY STATE When it comes to the all-important ground game efforts in New Hampshire, Trump's campaign touts that "we are miles ahead of everyone else." "Weve been just hammering it as far as grassroots is concerned," Steve Stepanek, the Trump campaigns senior adviser in New Hampshire, told Fox News. The Trump campaign announced its New Hampshire grassroots leadership team in late June. It included 10 county chairs, four city chairs, and over 200 town chairs. "Weve been doing a ton of door knocking, a ton of phone calls," said Stepanek, who is a former state representative and 2016 Trump campaign co-chair in New Hampshire who went on to chair the state GOP until early this year. "Getting a huge response, especially on the doors." The Trump campaign would be expected to brag about efforts in the state that gave the then-first-time candidate his initial victory in the 2016 cycle, boosting him toward the GOP presidential nomination and eventually the White House. But even a neutral observer sees strength in Trump's ground game. Greg Moore, a veteran conservative activist in New Hampshire and longtime state director for Americans for Prosperity, tells Fox News that "theres no question that Donald Trump has a robust organization here in New Hampshire." Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub. Original article source: Trump claims 'atrocities we are witnessing in Israel' would have never happened if he was still president Trump is angry that Forbes kicked him off of its list of wealthiest Americans. Forbes says Trump just isn't worth enough money, especially because his social media play fizzled. The former president claimed Forbes "lost most of its relevance long ago." Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at Forbes after the financial publication recently dropped the former president from its list of the 400 wealthiest Americans that includes the likes of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffett. Trump said the publication "lost most of its relevance long ago" and "knows less about me than Stormy Daniels (who doesn't know me at all!) or Rosie O'Donnell," a reference to the adult film star who claimed she had an affair with him and the actress and TV host that Trump with which a long-running feud. The former president also repeatedly claimed Forbes was "China-owned" and referenced China's sovereign wealth fund that was involved in an abandoned deal to take the publication public. "For years Forbes has attacked me with really dumb writers assigned to hit me hard, and I am now up 60 Points on the Republicans, and beating Crooked Joe by a lot. So much for Forbes!" Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth. Forbes said that the former president failed to make the influential list for the second time in three years, because some of his portfolio has failed to live up to the hype. One of the main reasons was that Truth Social, the very social media platform where Trump lashed out at Forbes, has lost significant value. "Trump once envisioned a significant percentage of the country logging onto the platform. But that never happened," Forbes' Dan Alexander wrote of the decision. "Roughly 6.5 million have signed up so far, about 1% of the total on X (ne Twitter). Trump's 90% stake in Truth Social's parent company has plummeted in value from an estimated $730 million to less than $100 million." As Forbes alluded to in explaining its decision, Trump's net worth is in the news for far more than vanity. New York Attorney General Letitia James has argued Trump exaggerated his net worth by billions. New York Supreme Court Justice issued a surprise order that was effectively viewed as a "corporate death penalty" after finding that Trump committed fraud for years. The former president's legal team quickly appealed the decision, which another judge put on hold for the time being. Trump's claims about Forbes' China ties are outdated and extremely misleading. Despite his claims, China's sovereign wealth fund does not own Forbes. In May, Forbes announced that Austin Russell, an automotive tech tycoon, had acquired an 82% stake in the parent company of the magazine. The Hong-Kong based Integrated Whale Media Investments now holds only a minority stake in the company. Trump's lengthy rant did not refer to Whale Media Investments, but he mentioned the China Investment Corp, the nation's sovereign wealth fund. The fund, per the South China Morning Post, owned just over a $11 million stake in a company that was going to take Forbes public. As The New York Times later reported, the agreement to take Forbes public through a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) was abandoned. This is not to say that there have not been concerns about Forbes' ownership. A Washington Post contributor pointed out in 2017 examples of potential "editorial meddling," including the publication cutting ties with a long-time Communist Party critic. A spokesperson for Forbes pointed Insider to the publication's own story, which included a statement that defended Forbes' view of Trump's net worth. "Twice a year, we publish a detailed breakdown of our work, offering a far more accurate portrayal of Trump's personal balance sheet than the fictitious documents the Trump Organization has created over the years," the publication said. Read the original article on Business Insider Donald Trump is reportedly planning to be back in court in New York next week to watch his former lawyer Michael Cohen testify in the civil fraud trial against him. Judge Aileen Cannon chastises federal prosecutors for wasting the courts time while postponing a conflict-of-interest hearing for Walt Nauta , Trumps valet and co-defendant in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. New York financial Fraud Trump plans to watch former lawyer Michael Cohens testimony Key players: Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, New York Attorney General Letitia James Trump is planning to return to the New York City courtroom where he and his company are being tried for fraud to watch the testimony of his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, according to NBC News and the Associated Press . Cohen is slated to take the stand on Tuesday, and his testimony is expected to last two days, during which time his former boss is expected to be watching from the audience. In testimony given before Congress in 2019, Cohen alleged that, as a businessman, Trump "inflated his total assets when it served his purposes and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes. In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for what a federal judge called a veritable smorgasbord of criminal activity at the former presidents behest, including lying to Congress about Trumps business dealings with Russia and making secret payments to women who said theyd had affairs with Trump. Cohen is also expected to be a key witness in the criminal case brought against Trump by the Manhattan district attorneys office for hush-money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Why it matters: James has said that Cohens 2019 congressional testimony is what prompted the investigation resulting in the $250 million lawsuit against Trump and his business. Cohen, once Trumps loyal foot soldier, told NBC News that its been five years since he has seen his former boss. It is set to be a dramatic moment. Classified documents Judge chastises prosecutors for wasting the courts time before postponing conflict-of-interest hearing Key players: Judge Aileen Cannon, special counsel Jack Smith, Trump valet Walt Nauta, Nauta lawyer Stanley Woodward, Mar-a-Lago IT worker Yuscil Taveras Cannon, a Trump appointee, reprimanded prosecutors on Smiths team for wasting the courts time Thursday by raising new questions without first submitting them in filings ahead of the hearing, Politico reported. The judge had been set to hear federal prosecutors conflict-of-interest claim against Woodward, who had previously represented seven of the witnesses in the investigation, including three who are expected to testify. Thursdays hearing was intended to help Nauta understand the potential conflicts that could emerge for his attorney during the trial and decide whether he still wants Woodward to represent him. Nauta faces felony charges of conspiring with Trump to obstruct the investigation into the former presidents handling of classified documents and deleting surveillance footage sought by authorities. Cannon reportedly became angry when an attorney on Smiths team asked her to consider prohibiting Woodward from cross-examining Mar-a-Lago IT worker Yuscil Taveras, referred to by prosecutors as Trump Employee 4, a former client of Woodwards. According to prosecutors, Taveras had told a grand jury in Washington, D.C., that he didnt know of any effort to delete security footage at Mar-a-Lago. Taveras later recanted this earlier testimony after switching his attorney from Woodward to a public defender. Woodward argued that the prosecutors should have raised their additional concerns in court filings prior to the hearing so he could discuss them with his client Nauta. Cannon agreed and ultimately decided to postpone the conflict-of-interest hearing. Why it matters: Postponing the hearing could mean the documents trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on May 20, 2024, could be further delayed. This would be good news for Trump, whose attorneys have sought to push back the trial date until after the 2024 election. Read more: Associated Press: Executive at Donald Trumps company says 'presidential premium' was floated to boost bottom line CBS News: Trump's GOP opponents bristle at his response to Hamas's assault on Israel Time: In 10th day without a speaker, House Republicans see no end in sight _____________________ Thursday, Oct. 12 _____________________ Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Alex Kent/Bloomberg via Getty Images, Win McNamee/Getty Images, Christian Monterrosa/AFP via Getty Images, Getty Images (3). Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis offers another harsh rebuke of House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, who has launched an investigation into her indictment of former President Donald Trump, and Judge Aileen Cannon hears arguments to decide conflict of interest claims for the lawyers representing Trumps co-defendants in the classified documents case. Georgia election interference Willis to Jordan: You are abusing your authority Key players: Fulton County DA Fani Willis, House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jim Jordan In a scathing response to Jordans request for documents detailing her investigation and indictment of Trump, Willis reiterated her reasons for refusing to do so, the Daily Beast reported. A charitable explanation of your correspondence is that you are ignorant of the United States and Georgia Constitutions and codes, Willis wrote. A more troubling explanation is that you are abusing your authority as Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary to attempt to obstruct and interfere with a Georgia criminal prosecution. In a letter to Willis requesting documents, Jordan accused her of targeting federal officials for political reasons. Jordan is a close political ally of Trump, who last week endorsed him to become the next speaker of the House. The House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation into Willis in August on the same day Trump was booked at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta for 13 felony counts stemming from his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Why it matters: As Judiciary Committee chairman, Jordan has launched investigations of all those who have investigated and brought criminal charges against Trump. Willis contends Jordan has no legal authority to compel her cooperation. Classified documents Judge hears arguments on conflict of interest claim for lawyers of Trump co-defendants Key players: Judge Aileen Cannon, special counsel Jack Smith, Trump valet Walt Nauta, Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira, Nauta lawyer Stanley Woodward, De Oliveira lawyers John Irving and Donnie Murrell Cannon heard arguments Thursday on potential conflict of interest claims brought by lawyers on Smiths team, USA Today reported. Prosecutors have charged Trump, Nauta and De Olivera with mishandling classified documents and attempting to obstruct the recovery of them by the federal government. In a previous filing to Cannon, Smith lawyers said that Woodward and Irving represented several witnesses who may testify during the trial, putting them in the position of cross-examining past or current clients. Woodward, who represented seven of the people questioned in the investigation, including three who will be called to testify, told prosecutors that he had alerted his clients to potential conflicts of interest, but did not think there were any. Murrell also denied that Irvings past representation of those questioned by Smiths team presented a conflict. Here, the Government seeks a hearing based on only what it believes is a potential for a conflict, and not any actual conflict, he wrote in a filing. Why it matters: Lawyers on Smiths team want to make sure that confidential information lawyers for Nauta and De Oliveira may have learned from other Trump employees is not used in a way to obscure the truth during the trial. If she rules there are conflicts, the defendants could need to find new lawyers. _____________________ Wednesday, Oct. 11 _____________________ Judge Arthur Engoron. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images, Getty Images) Judge Arthur Engoron explains in court why Donald Trump isnt entitled to a jury trial in his $250 million New York civil lawsuit. And a lawyer for right-wing media personality Alex Jones says the notorious conspiracy theorist will plead the Fifth if he is forced to testify in the Georgia election interference case. New York financial fraud Judge clarifies why Trump did not get a jury trial Key players: Judge Arthur Engoron, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Trump lawyer Alina Habba On the seventh day of Trumps $250 million civil trial to decide what punishment he, his adult sons and family business must pay after being found liable for years of financial fraud, Engoron addressed a persistent rumor that there was no jury in the case because Trump's lawyers forgot to check a box on a form requesting one, ABC News reported. "We are having a non-jury trial because we are hearing a non-jury case," Engoron said, adding, "It would have not helped to make a motion. Nobody forgot to check off a box." But Engoron also noted that James had requested the trial be decided by him, and that Trump's lawyers did not request a jury. "The AG checked off non-jury, and there was no motion for a jury," the judge said, adding that if Trump's lawyers had made a request for one, he would have rejected it anyway because James sought "equitable relief," the return of profits illegally obtained, that, under New York's constitution, precludes a jury trial. Trump has often complained in social media posts that Engoron, who ruled Trump was liable for fraud, is biased against him, adding that he was denied a jury trial. After Engoron clarified why Trump was not entitled to a jury, Habba said, "I would like to say thank you, your honor." Why it matters: Trump's lawyers have appealed Engoron's rulings, sought to have him recuse himself and have unsuccessfully tried to delay the trial and have it dismissed outright. Whatever the judge's final ruling on penalties, Trump's lawyers are certain to appeal it and could try to challenge Engoron's assertion that a jury trial was not required. Georgia election interference Alex Jones to fight being called as witness Key players: Far-right media personality Alex Jones, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, pro-Trump lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, Jones lawyer Norm Pattis In response to a court filing Tuesday from Willis saying Jones would be called as a witness in the trial of Chesebro and Sidney Powell the first of 19 defendants to be tried for their attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia Joness lawyer said he would plead the Fifth Amendment if forced to testify, Politico reported. "We're not going to help Fani's fantasy life come true any more than we did that of the J6 committee," Pattis said. In her filing, Willis said Chesebro, who is credited with helping craft Trump's legal strategy for contesting the election, had contact with Jones that is relevant to the plot to overturn the election. "[Jones] possesses unique knowledge concerning communications between himself and Kenneth Chesebro and other known and unknown individuals involved in the multi-state, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 3, 2020, election in Georgia and elsewhere," Willis wrote. On Jan. 6, 2021, Chesebro was captured on video walking with Jones in a restricted area on the Capitol grounds. In 2022, Jones was ordered to pay $956 million to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre, which Jones falsely claimed had been staged. Why it matters: Even if Jones pleads the Fifth, establishing a conspiracy theorist's ties to Chesebro could make an impression on the jury. Recommended reading The Palm Beach Post: Trump didnt make cut for new Forbes 400; more than 30 other Palm Beach billionaires did Sun Sentinel: Donald Trump and ally Matt Gaetz to speak tonight at event in West Palm Beach _________________ Tuesday, Oct. 10 _________________ Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images, Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images(2), Getty Images (2). Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization, testifies that the former president gave false information on bank and insurance forms about the size of his Manhattan penthouse apartment. Lawyers on Jack Smiths team ask the judge in the election interference case to make Trump reveal his defense strategy and seek to keep the identity of jurors secret. New York financial fraud Weisselberg concedes Trump inflated size of his Trump Tower penthouse on financial forms Key players: Former Trump Org. chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, Judge Arthur Engoron, New York Attorney General Letitia James Weisselberg took the stand Tuesday in day six of the $250 million financial fraud trial of Trump, his adult sons and their family business and testified that Trump had grossly exaggerated the size of his penthouse apartment on financial statements made to banks and insurers, the Associated Press reported. In October of 1994, Trump signed a document certifying the triplex apartment was 10,996 square feet. In 2012, however, he listed the apartment at 30,000 square feet, prosecutors said. I never even thought about the apartment, Weisselberg testified, adding, It was not something that was that important to me when looking at a $6 billion, $5 billion net worth. But after being admonished by Engoron, Weisselberg, who served 100 days in prison on tax evasion charges from his time working for Trump, eventually conceded that the actual square footage of the triplex was 10,996. Why it matters: Engoron has already ruled Trump is liable for years of financial fraud carried out in New York. In court, James is building her case that that fraud was systemic and calculated. The case will decide the amount of money the defendants will have to pay as punishment, as well as the limits to their ability to conduct future business in the state. Jan. 6 election interference Prosecutors ask judge to compel Trump to reveal his defense strategy in Jan. 6 case Key players: DOJ special counsel Jack Smith, Judge Tanya Chutkan, Trump lawyer John Lauro Lawyers on Smiths team submitted a 14-page court filing Tuesday requesting Chutkan require Trump to declare whether he intends to put forth an advice-of-counsel defense when the case goes to trial, Politico reported. That defense states that Trump was simply acting on the advice of his lawyers when he sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. In the filing, prosecutors said that if Trump uses that defense at trial, it would allow them to seek additional testimony from 25 witnesses including members of Trumps family who withheld information, communications, and documents based on assertions of attorney-client privilege with Trump. Using that defense would invalidate claims of attorney-client privilege, according to the prosecutions filing. Smiths team asked Chutkan to issue a ruling so that Trumps lawyers would be forced to file notice of their intent to use the advice-of-counsel defense by Dec. 18, allowing them time to conduct further investigations without delaying the March 4 start of the trial. Why it matters: Lauro has indicated several times that Trump will mount a defense that states the former president was guided by the advice of his lawyers when contesting the 2020 election results. Smith is intent on keeping the trial on schedule. Trump has asked the judge to dismiss the case altogether. Smiths team asks judge to keep identity of jurors secret Key players: special counsel Jack Smith, Judge Tanya Chutkan, Judge Arthur Engoron In a separate court filing Tuesday, lawyers on Smiths team asked Chutkan to conceal the identity of prospective jurors in Trumps forthcoming trial stemming from his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, the Hill reported. In the filing prosecutors cited the defendants record of using social media to attack others, such as his recent attack on social media of Engorons clerk in the New York civil fraud case. The parties should also be precluded from any form of investigation whether online or otherwise that could reasonably be perceived as vexatious or harassing, prosecutors added. Lawyers on Smiths team have already requested that Chutkan issue a gag order on Trump to block him from attacking prosecutors, potential witnesses and others involved in the case. Chutkan will hear arguments on that matter on Oct. 16. In their new filing, prosecutors are seeking to keep Trump and his lawyers from following or making contact with potential jurors on social media. Why it matters: In his post attacking Engorons clerk, Trump posted a picture of her along with false information about her relationship with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to his 6 million followers on Truth Social. Keeping the prospective jurors anonymous in the case would deprive Trump of the opportunity to call their motives into question. _________________ Monday, Oct. 9 _________________ Photo Illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Scott Olson/Getty Images, Getty Images (4). Special counsel Jack Smiths team submits a filing saying former President Donald Trumps lawyers used distorted and exaggerated claims in their motion to delay the classified documents trial until after the 2024 election. In Trumps financial fraud civil trial, debate continues to rage over a tax appraisers valuation of Mar-a-Lago. Classified documents DOJ prosecutors: No reason to delay Trump documents case Key players: Special counsel Jack Smith, Judge Aileen Cannon, Trump lawyer Christopher Kise In a court filing submitted Monday, Department of Justice lawyers told Cannon that Trumps lawyers had made distorted and exaggerated claims in their request to delay the start of the classified documents trial until after the 2024 presidential election, CBS News reported. Their unfounded claims of Government noncompliance with discovery obligations do not support their request, prosecutors in Smiths office wrote. In a filing last week, Kise argued that the trials May 20 start date should be moved back because lawyers had not been able to review all of the classified documents at issue. On Friday, Cannon paused the deadlines for the review of classified documents in the case, potentially pushing the trial schedule back. She has yet to rule on whether to reschedule opening arguments. Kise, who was hired by Trump in late August, has yet to receive the security clearance required to view 32 of the sensitive classified documents in the case, but prosecution lawyers noted in their filing Monday that four Trump lawyers and one legal analyst for the defense had already received clearances. Why it matters: If Cannon grants a delay in the start of the trial, that would free up Trump to continue his presidential campaign rather than sit in court on 32 felony counts of willfully retaining defense information in violation of the Espionage Act and eight counts of obstructing the efforts to recover classified documents. Financial fraud How much is Mar-a-Lago worth, exactly? Key players: Judge Arthur Engoron, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Trump lawyer Alina Habba A contentious issue in the civil trial to determine the penalties Trump, his adult sons and his family business must pay for overinflating the value of their assets is the value of the former presidents Mar-a-Lago home and private club, the Associated Press reported Monday. Engoron relied upon a valuation done by the Palm Beach County tax appraiser's office, which put the amount between $18 and $37 million for the club Trump purchased in 1985 for $10 million. In court, Habba has repeated Trumps claim that the property would sell for $1 billion or more if put on the market, earning a rebuke for Engoron. Real estate professionals told the AP that the actual value is likely between $300 million and $600 million. A private club, Mar-a-Lago charges a $500,000 initiation fee for members and annual dues of $20,000. Mar-a-Lagos tax bill is $602,000 this year, according to records, and Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat from Florida, is asking officials in Palm Beach County to examine Trumps claim that the property should be valued at $1 billion, which would result in much higher annual property taxes. Why it matters: Engoron has already ruled that the defendants are guilty of having inflated their assets. But the punishment in the $250 million suit brought by James will depend on an understanding of the amount Trump benefited from doing so. Former President Trump will not travel to Capitol Hill this week as House Republicans scramble to determine the next Speaker, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill. Sources previously told The Hill that Trump and his team were discussing a possible trip to Capitol Hill amid the debate over the next Speaker, but that no such visit was ever finalized and it may not ultimately happen. Fox News had reported Trump was expected to visit Capitol Hill, but it reported Monday that would no longer happen. Reports about a potential Trump visit surfaced shortly after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was ousted following a motion brought by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Eight Republicans and every Democrat in the House voted last week to officially remove McCarthy from the job. In the days that followed, a small number of Republicans floated Trumps name for Speaker. While Trump did not entirely dismiss the idea and said hed be willing to help the party however he could, the former president said he was focused on his 2024 presidential campaign. Although the Speaker is not required to be a member of the House, it was extremely unlikely Trump would be able to secure the votes necessary to become Speaker. Instead, Trump publicly endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker in a Thursday social media post. Jordan is a longtime Trump ally and one of his staunchest defenders in the House. Multiple sources suggested Trump and his team may have been forced to go public with an endorsement of Jordan before theyd planned after Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) posted on social media that the former president was backing the Ohio Republican. Jordan is not the only Republican seeking the gavel, however, and his path to the speakership is far from assured. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) is also pursuing the gavel, and McCarthy on Monday did not rule out the possibility of returning as Speaker to settle the turmoil in the House and deal with violence taking place in Israel. House Republicans are scheduled to hold a candidate forum Tuesday for those in the running to be Speaker. An internal vote by the conference is expected Wednesday. Trump spent Monday campaigning in New Hampshire, and he is scheduled to hold campaign events next Monday in Iowa. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump on Monday questioned Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats and hammered President Bidens foreign policy amid unfolding violence in Israel. Trump, in remarks to supporters in New Hampshire, claimed Biden betrayed Israel and cited the terrorist attacks in Israel and ensuing fighting in Gaza as the latest example of a foreign conflict bubbling up during the Biden administration. I cant imagine how anybody whos Jewish or anybody who loves Israel and frankly, the evangelicals just love Israel I cant imagine anybody voting Democrat, let alone for this man, whos totally he was shot 30 years ago. Hes more shot now. But the problem was all caused by crooked Joe Biden, Trump said. Trump spoke to supporters in Wolfeboro, days after the militant terrorist group Hamas launched an attack against Israel. More than 1,000 people total have died amid the fighting in Israel and Gaza. The State Department confirmed at least nine Americans were among those killed. Less than four years ago, we had peace in the Middle East with the historic Abraham Accords. Today we have all-out war in Israel, and its going to spread very quickly Trump said. What a difference a president makes. The former president said that upon retaking office, he would cut off any money going to Palestinians and would reimpose and expand a travel ban that targeted several majority-Muslim countries. Trump has repeatedly positioned himself as deeply supportive of Israel, citing his recognition of the Golan Heights territory, his relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and his administrations signing of the Abraham Accords to normalize relations among countries in the Middle East. But he has also drawn backlash for frequently suggesting Jews who do not support him politically or who are not supportive of Israel are disloyal. Trump in September shared an image on social media telling liberal Jews to make better choices amid celebrations of the Jewish New Year. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday declared Israel was at war with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization and militant group that controls Gaza, after it launched a barrage of rockets and invaded Israeli towns. Biden has vowed the U.S. will stand with Israel, describing the alliance as rock solid and unwavering. The Biden administration has already repositioned military assets in the region and begun sending munitions and other resources to Israel as it seeks assistance from the U.S. Trump and 2024 presidential candidates have pointed to the unfreezing of $6 billion in Iranian oil funds as part of a deal with Iran completed last month to release five Americans who had been detained. Biden administration officials have pushed back strongly against any suggestion the $6 billion in funds were somehow connected to Hamas attack on Israel. They noted the money did not come from U.S. taxpayers and was instead Iranian funds that had been unfrozen. They cited restrictions that the money could only be used for humanitarian purposes and highlighted that none of the money has been spent. Trump, who is comfortably leading his rivals in GOP primary polls at the state and national level, also pointed to the war in Ukraine and the chaotic U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan as other instances of Bidens foreign policy leading to instability globally. When Im in the White House, the entire world will know that America is strong, America is safe, and that we are going to take care of our people, Trump said. We will take care of the men and women of our country, were not going to worry about the rest of the world. Well do that where necessary. Trump has expressed skepticism about providing aid to Ukraine, which the Biden administration has steadfastly supported. The former president has claimed he would bring the Ukraine-Russia conflict to an end within hours of taking office, though he has not provided any specifics about how he would do so. On Afghanistan, Biden administration officials have argued they were boxed in strategically by the Trump administrations agreement with the Taliban and a drawdown of troops before leaving office. With each and every lie, Donald Trump further proves he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), co-chair of the Biden reelection campaign, said in a statement. The generals and other military leaders who served under Trumpthose in a position to knowhave repeatedly said he made our country less safe, not more. Updated at 3:46 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Twice as many Ukrainians say they want Kyiv to keep fighting the war against Russias invasion, rather than negotiate to end the war sooner, according to a Gallup poll published Monday. The survey, conducted July 27Aug. 3, shows 60 percent of Ukrainian residents said Ukraine should continue fighting until it wins the war, compared to 31 percent who said the country should seek to negotiate an ending to the war as soon as possible, and 7 percent who said they dont know. The results represent a slight dip from support measured last year, in September 2022, when 70 percent said Ukraine should keep fighting, 26 percent said Ukraine should negotiate an end as soon as possible and 3 percent said they didnt know. Still, Ukraine residents remain committed to the cause, which is critical as Ukraine continues its counteroffensive against Russia, nearly 20 months after Russia first rolled tanks across the border. Support in the United States has also been declining across the political aisle, according to recent polls. An anti-Ukraine-aid faction of the GOP conference has also emerged in the House, posing a challenge to lawmakers as they work to approve new funding requests from President Biden to aid Ukraine. According to the Gallup poll, however, Ukrainians are united in their support for their military, with 95 percent of respondents saying they have confidence in their military, similar to the 94 percent who said they had confidence in the military in 2022. That number was up from 66 percent in 2021 and 64 percent in 2020. Ukrainians are also united in what they view as a victory in the war. The vast majority 91 percent of Ukrainians said victory includes regaining all territory lost since 2014, including Crimea. Just 3 percent said victory means regaining territory lost since February 2022. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. EAST BRIDGEWATER The East Bridgewater Police Department will be charging the two 12-year-olds allegedly involved in the vandalism of a local church, Police Chief Michael Jenkins said in a written statement Tuesday. East Bridgewater police and fire responded to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, at 210 Central St., on Friday afternoon, Oct. 6, for a report of vandalism, officials said. On Sunday, police said they had identified the two 12-year-olds who are believed to be responsible for the vandalism of the church where an altar cloth and a Bible were set on fire. But they were not yet being charged at that time. But on Tuesday officials said in a written statement that the pair will face multiple charges, including a felony. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in East Bridgewater was vandalized on Friday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2023, by two 12-year-olds, according to a written statement from the police and fire departments Sunday. This copy of the Bible that was on the altar's lectern was damaged, officials said. What are the charges? The two 12-year-olds a boy and a girl will each be charged with breaking and entering a building in the daytime (a felony), destruction of property over $1,200, larceny from a building and burning of a building. They will be arraigned in Brockton District Juvenile Court at a later date. Their names will not be released due to their ages. East Bridgewater employee cracks $200K Here are the town's top 10 highest paid St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in East Bridgewater was vandalized on Friday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2023, by two 12-year-olds, according to a written statement from the police and fire departments Sunday. Yellow fire retardant powder stains were found on the cloth covering the altar, officials said. How was the church vandalized? According to officials, East Bridgewater police and fire were dispatched to the church at about 3:40 p.m. Friday and learned that the parish pastor had smelled smoke at about 3:30 p.m. and went inside, according to a written statement from the police and fire departments Friday. Investigators observed that the fire around the altar had been put out with a fire extinguisher, based on the "yellow, difficult-to-remove powder" seen throughout the front of the church, the statement said. Investigators discovered that a water jug was removed from the water dispenser in the adjacent sacristy, the statement said. Investigators believe the suspects attempted to douse the fire with the water, then used the fire extinguisher when that failed. The suspects lit the votive candles at the front of the church and left used matches littered nearby, the statement said. The suspects took items from the food pantry, dropping some items as they exited through the rear entrance. 'That's what I want to remember' Five generations of love passed down in this East Bridgewater, Brockton family St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in East Bridgewater was vandalized on Friday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2023, by two 12-year-olds, according to a written statement from the police and fire departments Sunday. Used matches were left behind by the suspects, who entered the church and lit the votive candles, officials said. Police said they believe the incident happened between 3 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. because an employee was at the food pantry at 2 p.m. and did not notice any damage or smoke, Police said after a subsequent investigation, which included a reporting witness and video footage, they identified the suspects as the two 12-year-olds. The investigation was conducted by the East Bridgewater police and fire departments, with assistance from the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit attached to the State Fire Marshals Office. "The investigation into this incident was all around great police work," Police Chief Michael Jenkins said Sunday. "Thank you to all who were involved, especially our School Resource Officer Tallitha Connor and Detective David Perrault, who was the lead investigator on this case." 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: East Bridgewater: Children charged in St. John's church vandalism PLEASANT HILL, Mo. Two more Cass County towns are asking voters to approve a local sales tax on recreational marijuana. In the Nov. 7 election, Pleasant Hill and Drexel ask if the two cities can impose a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales. Empty building now, cannabis microbusiness later? Missouri awards first licenses Three percent is the highest local sales tax a jurisdiction is allowed to collect under Missouris Amendment 3, which legalized recreational marijuana use for those 21 and older. The state will also charge an additional 6% sales tax on all recreational marijuana purchases, and the regular sales tax for each jurisdiction still applies. The 3% local tax, if Pleasant Hill and Drexel voters approve, will not apply to medical marijuana purchases, and the state has a 4% tax rate for anyone with a medical marijuana card. State records show there are not currently any recreational marijuana dispensaries in either town. Kansas City to use marijuana tax revenue to combat violence Earlier this year, over 30 cities and counties in the metro including Cass County and neighboring cities like Harrisonville, Peculiar and Raymore already voted on a local marijuana tax. Voters in all of those cities and counties approved a marijuana tax back in April. Pleasant Hill and Drexel arent the only cities voting on a local marijuana tax this November. Up in the Northland, Parkville leaders are also asking voters to approve a 3% tax on recreational marijuana sales. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. As the conflict in Israel unfolds, Florida leaders are lending their voice in support of the Jewish State and highlighting the many steps Florida has taken in recent years to strengthen ties with country. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< For Florida lawmakers like State Representative Randy Fine( R-Palm Bay), who is Jewish, the attack carried out against Israel this weekend, which has claimed an estimated 700 Israeli lives, is personal. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The world changed two days ago. You know, it fundamentally changed in the way it changed after 9/11, Fine said. Fine emphasized the close ties between Florida and the Jewish State. Its a relationship that has been growing deeper in recent years. Were two groups of people who believe in freedom, safety, intelligence, education, technology, Fine said. In 2019, Fine was among a coalition of lawmakers who joined Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida cabinet on a trade mission to Israel. Related Story: Israel-Hamas war: Israel orders complete siege of Gaza (Live updates) On that trip, Israeli and Florida leaders exchanged ideas regarding agriculture, school safety, technology and more. A lot of technology exchanges. A lot of exchanges between our universities and theirs, Fine said. As of 2022 annual bilateral trade between Florida and Israel topped $650 million according to Enterprise Florida. Enterprise Florida also reports Israel is the 19th largest investor in the Sunshine State, with Israeli-owned companies supporting more than 2,500 Florida jobs. Fine said the support goes beyond the economy though. He pointed out after the Surfside Condominium Collapse in 2021, Israeli search and rescue teams helped comb through the rubble. To help save Floridians, Fine said. Related Story: Army chief says Congress must boost aid to Israel as the US death toll rises to 9 in Hamas attacks Fine also highlighted recent legislation passed this year, aimed at combating antisemitic displays that plagued the state last winter. Additionally, legislation passed in 2019 required antisemitism on college campuses to be treated the same as racism. Its about the importance of Florida recognizing that a reasonable percentage of our population is Jewish, and that Jews need to be protected here in the State of Florida, Fine said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Fine warned if anti-Israel demonstrations get out of hand in the midst of the conflict, those new protections could be put into action. 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. Lynn Mazurkiewicz hugs and chats briefly with Lushone Siplin after she arrived. The two women were there for the trial of Kelvin Vickers Jr. who is accused of fatally shooting Mazurkiewicz's husband, Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, and Siplin's son, Richard Collinge, as well as another man, MyJel Rand in a two day span. In court they sit side by side, sisters in grief. There are moments when the testimony about death and violence pauses, and they chat with each other, sharing something that prompts a smile. There are moments too many of these of sadness, when they each mourn what they have lost. "We're bonding for life behind this whole ordeal," Lushone "Nikki" Siplin said of Lynn Mazurkiewicz. The two have been present each day for the trial of Kelvin Vickers Jr., accused of killing Siplin's son, Richard Collinge, and Mazurkiewicz's husband, Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz. The friendship began on the trial's first day, when Mazurkiewicz approached Siplin with both empathy and apology empathy for their shared loss, apology for the heavier media focus on the homicide of a police officer. "She literally just came up to me and gave me a hug," Siplin said. Mazurkiewicz "felt bad" that the victims were not receiving the same attention, Siplin said, since each family was struggling with similar heartbreak, similar sorrow. "It's still the same," Siplin said. "The loss has been tremendous on both of our sides." Connected by a string of nights of violence and terrible news Richard Collinge The world at large speaks of "closure" and "justice," but those words are hollow for those who have lost loved ones to crime, she said. This is what she understands. This is what she believes Lynn Mazurkiewicz understands. In a moment captured and reported on by Jackie Napier of WHAM-13, Rochester Locust Club police union President Mike Mazzeo last week gave Siplin a "guardian angel" pin blessed by a police chaplain. She has since worn it to court. Siplin's son was fatally shot on North Clinton Avenue in the early morning hours of July 20, 2022, along with MyJel Rand. Siplin said her son was waiting for an Uber to go to a studio where he sometimes recorded rap music under the name Huncho2gz. He was a skilled rapper. In a "Popout" performance on Youtube from March 2022, "Thunder and Rain," Collinge rapped in an orange balaclava, hoodie and puff jacket in a convenience store with a hanging mic. In front of the "Cold Beverages" and two of his crew, Huncho2gz smoothly delivered lyrics about coping with the pressure of life, including: "Why do y'all wait til it's too late to love somebody / Can you love me while I'm still alive? Comments on YouTube were grateful and sad. "LONG LIVE MY F---ING BROTHER HUNCHO FOREVER" "RIP. This song will live in my head rent free. You was a funny guy. Gone way too soon." He has other videos online. This one has racked up tens of thousands of views. Attack on police? Shooting in Rochester NY ends with fatal gunfire The trial started in September. Its initial days focused on a war between rival drug gangs that led to a gunfire battle on July 19, 2022, and the homicides of Collinge and MyJel Rand in the early morning hours of July 20. Officer Mazurkiewicz was killed on July 21 during police response to the spree of violence. His widow has asked the media not to interview her during the trial. TRAGEDY IN PUBLIC: Isabelle Rosso, director of the Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders Laboratory at McLean Hospital in Massachusetts, said it's important for journalists to respect the wishes when possible of the family of people lost to violence. "Understand that these relatives are feeling a loss of control following the tragic event that happened in their personal life," she said of general situations similar to the Vickers trial. "On top of that, this very personal and devastating event is being covered in the media, which means that they also may not have control over what is portrayed to the public." "We gotta stand with each other because we're all invovled," says Nikki Siplin, mother to the late Ricky Collinge. Nikki shared her profound experience of forging an unexpected bond with the Rochester Police Department and the Mazurkiewicz family in the aftermath of her son's https://t.co/emSo6iHHiR pic.twitter.com/L4x7DSvPMF Jackie Napier (@TheJackieNapier) September 29, 2023 Grief can be a powerful force that brings survivors together Parents can understand each other, often, through shared experiences. That factor is even more at play in this situation. Nikki Siplin and Lynn Mazurkiewicz have been pulled together by trauma, spectators in a high-profile courtroom proceeding for Rochester. Experts talk about the reasons this often happens. Bill Hoy is a clinical professor of medical humanities at Baylor University. Hes widely regarded as an authority on the role of social support in death, dying and grief. "The general public believes grief is something from which we recover like a bad bruise or a broken arm," Hoy said on Friday. "Death is more of an amputation. We dont recover. We adapt." He said this kind of grief is primarily a social process more so than a neurological one; we seek comfort from people who are like us and share our stories. It's the reason why bereaved parent-led support groups are the only ones that work, Hoy said, not ones led by a counselor. Grief is primarily a social process more so than a neurological one; we seek comfort from people who are like us and share our stories. Sara Hodges is a professor and head of the psychology department at the University of Oregon. "There is an expectation that people who are similar to us will understand us better," she said. "Similar experience gives you insight." With gun violence, it may be hard for the general public neighbors, friends to comprehend the dynamics of grief for surviving parents, Hodges said. As humans, we're wired to assume that someone inside a connected tragedy might relate to us better, whether that is true or not. Joanne Cacciatore is a professor of social work at Arizona State University. She studied what happened after the Sandy Hook elementary school mass shooting in December 2012. Also, she is involved in the Apple TV+ release of The Me You Cant See, a mental-health documentary produced by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry. Our American response to grieving survivors remains inadequate, she said. Cacciatore said there is new, strong guidance in the literature about how to help family members and other countries are adopting it, but the United States is not. Above all, we should center the needs of the people who are primary to the tragedy, even if the wider network is grieving vicariously. "People in the extended community tend to center their own feelings" instead, Cacciatore said. Difficult testimony in the Vickers trial in Rochester Rochester Police Chief David Smith hugs Lynn Mazurkiewicz in the hallway before the start of the trial of Kelvin Vickers Jr. who is accused of fatally shooting her husband, Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, and two other men, Richard Collinge and MyJel Rand in a two day span. In the trial's early days, Siplin and Lynn Mazurkiewicz were in court as there was testimony of the multiple gunshot wounds suffered by Collinge. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A different day was weighted with testimony about the fatal shooting of Mazurkiewicz as he and Seng conducted the plainclothes surveillance on Bauman Street in an unmarked van. Officer after officer told of the final minutes of Mazurkiewicz. Many in the court quietly wept, as did those testifying from the stand. Sitting next to Lynn Mazurkiewicz, Siplin also cried. "Tears were streaming down my face," Siplin said. "I felt her pain." Gary Craig is a veteran reporter with the Democrat and Chronicle, covering courts and crime and more. You can reach Craig at gcraig@rocheste.gannett.com. He is the author of two books, including "Seven Million: A Cop, a Priest, a Soldier for the IRA, and the Still-Unsolved Rochester Brink's Heist." William Ramsey contributed reporting for this article. He is an editor with the USA TODAY Network-New York, focusing on enterprise projects and climate journalism. Reach him at wramseyiii@gannett.com. BACKGROUND: Police and prosecutors say an ongoing turf war sparked several nights of violence, in which at least three other people, including Mazurkiewicz's partner, Sino Seng, were wounded by gunfire. When ambushed on July 21, Mazurkiewicz and Seng were part of a large plainclothes and uniformed police detail assigned to the neighborhood around Laser and Bauman streets that was the center of much of the violence and gunfire. Vickers, Deadrick Fulwiley, and Raheim Robinson are accused ofmurder and attempted murder, along with other crimes, in the killings of Collinge and Rand. Vickers is being tried separately. His trial is scheduled to resume Monday. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Parent, wife bond over shared tragedy during Kelvin Vickers trial FILE PHOTO: Secretary of the U.S. Army Christine E. Wormuth testifies on the Army 2022 budget in Washington By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army on Monday said it would need Congress to approve additional funding to ensure the Pentagon's munitions production and acquisition plans can simultaneously meet the needs of both Israel and Ukraine. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth made the comments as the U.S. House of Representatives is effectively paralyzed as Republicans work to select a new speaker. Israel, America's closest ally in the Middle East, has declared war after an unprecedented, surprise attack on Saturday by Hamas fighters left hundreds dead. The spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East. Washington has promised aid to Israel in the wake of the Hamas attacks, including by sending munitions, with the first shipment of security assistance expected to arrive in days. "One thing that is really important in terms of the munitions in particular and our ability to support both potentially the Israelis and the Ukrainians simultaneously is additional funding from Congress to be able to increase our capacity, in terms of our capacity to expand production and then to also pay for the munitions themselves," Wormuth told reporters at an Army event. "We need additional support from Congress. So I hope we'll see that soon." Wormuth said the Army was still in "early stages" of reviewing Israel's requests for support, including whether providing such assistance would affect U.S. military readiness. The U.S. has carried out similar reviews weighing Ukrainian requests for assistance. "But I would argue, that just as we lean forward with Ukraine, I think the intent is to lean forward in support of Israel," she said. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George also expressed optimism, saying: "I am confident that we'll be able to provide them what they've asked for." Neither George or Wormuth gave specifics. On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. will send the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean, closer to Israel. The force includes the nuclear-powered carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers. Austin also said the U.S. had taken steps to augment Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; editing by Grant McCool) American mountaineer Anna Gutu and a Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa were confirmed Sunday dead after avalanches struck the slopes of a Tibetan mountain, while two others remained missing, according to tour companies and Chinese media reports. Mount Shishapangma, one of the highest mountains in the world, peaks at 26,335 feet above sea level and is entirely located within Chinese territory. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon "at an altitude of between 7,600 and 8,000 meters", China's state news agency Xinhua said, citing the Tibet Sports Bureau, which confirmed the toll. Anna Gutu / Credit: Instagram Mingma David Sherpa of Elite Exped, which was handling the expedition, told AFP that Anna Gutu, an American mountaineer, had been killed. "We have received reports that Anna and her guide were hit by the avalanche yesterday, their bodies have been recovered," he said. "There are other climbers missing as well and rescue efforts are underway," he said. Those efforts were complicated by the fact that "helicopters cannot be used" on the mountain due to Chinese restrictions, he added. Tashi Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks identified the missing as American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and her guide Tenjin "Lama" Sherpa. "Two avalanches hit the mountain yesterday, impacting several climbers. Some were injured and two, American climber (Gina Marie Rzucidlo) and our guide Tenjin, are missing," he said. "Search efforts are underway." 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, according to state-owned Xinhua News Agency. 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. All mountaineering activities have been suspended on Mount Shishapangma, Xinhua said. Tenjin became the toast of the mountaineering community this year after setting the record for the fastest summit of all 14 of the world's 26,000-foot mountains alongside Norway's Kristin Harila. The pair finished the feat in 92 days when they reached the peak of Pakistan's K2 in July. A statement posted on Harila's Instagram said she was headed to Nepal to "help in any way she can." "Our thoughts and prayers are with Lama and his family," it added. The two women on Shishapangma were in a race to become the first American woman to summit all 14 peaks, according to Nepali newspaper The Himalayan Times. Gutu had been chronicling her mountaineering feats on Instagram. Last month, she wrote that she had made it to the summit of Dhaulagiri and also posted dramatic video of her making it to the summit of Manaslu. In a June Instagram post, Gutu wrote that she had summited Mount Kanchenjunga "I became another step closer to my big dream," she wrote next to a photo of her atop the summit. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sly Stone's new memoir Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors Sunday, with the United States demanding all 15 members strongly condemn these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas, but they took no immediate action. U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood said afterward that a good number of countries did condemn the Hamas attack but not all council members. He told reporters they could probably figure out one of them. Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told The Associated Press the Americans tried to say during the meeting that Russia isnt condemning the attacks, but thats untrue. It was in my comments, he said. We condemn all the attacks on civilians. Nebenzia said Russias message is: Its important to stop the fighting immediately, to go to a cease-fire and to meaningful negotiations, which were stalled for decades. Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun voiced a similar position earlier, as he headed into the meeting. He said Beijing condemns all attacks on civilians, though he did not mention Hamas. Whats really important is to prevent the further escalation of the situation and further casualties of civilians, Zhang said. Whats also important is really to come back to the two-state solution. Wood made clear the U.S. is focused on condemning Hamas for this unprovoked invasion and the terrorist attacks, and said Hamas must end its violent terrorist activity against the Israeli people. Asked if it wasnt important to restart talks on a two-state solution and end the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he replied: Therell be time for that. The time right now is weve got to deal with the hostage taking, the violence that is going on thats being perpetrated by Hamas. and weve got to deal with first things first. Chinas ambassador said it is important the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, have its voice heard. But Russias Nebenzia said no country put forward a statement for the councils consideration. That could happen in the coming days, if differences over condemning Hamas and condemning civilian deaths can be bridged, along with agreement on possible language on ending the violence and resuming negotiations. Maltas U.N. ambassador, Vanessa Frazier, who called for the meeting, said she didnt know if the council would adopt a statement, but added that any condemnation must be mostly against Hamas. Palestinian civilians are also victims in this and Hamas put them in this position, she said. Council members were briefed virtually by U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland. Nebenzia said Wennesland told the council that the situation was precarious and awful and that people are scared on both sides. The University of Idaho had a laundry list of things to consider as it moved through initial negotiations with the University of Phoenix. The Moscow school would need to create a nonprofit organization to buy the for-profit University of Phoenix, and itd need to hire a slew of financial advisers and lawyers to look at the multimillion-dollar deal from every possible angle. Those advisers would also be contracted to perform due diligence and risk analysis. President Scott Green told the Idaho Statesman that the university has studied all the potential risks of buying the University of Phoenix and is confident that the U of Is deal mitigates any risk to the university from Phoenix students citing fraud as they demand relief from student-loan debt. The Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Education say the school misled vulnerable students a decade ago about their prospects for employment after earning Phoenix degrees. U of I president: I knew what had to happen When the U of I announced in May that it planned to buy the online school for $550 million, it said it was first approached about the acquisition in March. Now, the university says preliminary discussions began after it was contacted regarding the possible opportunity on or about Feb. 1. We were first approached in early February 2023, and while there were preliminary discussions with the seller and the sellers representatives to understand the opportunity and determine if it was something we would be interested in, we entered into negotiations and due diligence in earnest mid-March, the U of Is FAQ page now says. The university held three closed meetings with the State Board of Education, on March 22, April 25 and May 15, to discuss the acquisition. The State Boards decision to approve the deal came less than a month after University of Arkansas system board members narrowly voted to reject a similar measure. Green said in an interview that his experience with high-dollar transactions and the universitys public-private partnership with its utility another complicated transaction, he says may have helped the U of I stand out as a compatible buyer. The U of I signed a 50-year deal with Sacyr Plenary Utility Partners Idaho and McKinstry in 2020 to operate electric, water and other utilities across the Moscow campus. After graduating with an accounting degree from the U of I, Green attended Harvard Business School and spent the better part of the last two decades in various C-suite roles. Fortunately, Ive done this kind of work before, Green said. So I knew exactly what had to happen, and I was able to get the right team on it. He said the University of Arkansas wasnt able to strike a deal with Phoenix after two years of negotiations because of political issues. Green said the U of I has kept State Board members apprised of its intentions from the start, which has helped them feel more secure about the transaction. We got to a place where were very comfortable, where our boards very comfortable, Green said. It was unanimous. U of I administrator signed confidentiality agreement Emails obtained by the Statesman under the Idaho Public Records Act show that Brian Foisy, vice president of the division of finance and administration at the U of I, was working with Tyton Partners, an education advisory firm headquartered in New York, as early as March to submit a nonbinding indication of interest for the potential acquisition. The indication of interest would cover three main areas: proposed valuation, intended structure and timeline. It was submitted March 23. Tyton Partners is providing financial advisory services for the sale on behalf of the University of Phoenix. Records show that Foisy signed a confidentiality agreement with the firm dated Feb. 2. Tyton Partners reminded him of the agreement while corresponding a month later. You may not contact any present or past employee, corporate partner or student of the university unless specifically authorized in advance, the confidentiality agreement said. The agreement was also signed by others involved in the initial meetings. What about Phoenix students alleging fraud? As the U of I worked through the initial stages of its plans to buy, it hired Boise law firm Hawley Troxell to provide legal advice on the corporate structure of the newly formed nonprofit and its proposed bond financing. The nonprofit is named Four Three Education after Idahos status as the 43rd state in the union. The U of I set up the nonprofit to limit its own liability in purchasing the online, for-profit school. The U of I plans to finance the deal with nontaxable and taxable bonds that are separate from the money used to fund the universitys budgets. The purchase price of the University of Phoenix is $550 million, but the seller would provide $200 million in cash that would transfer to the nonprofit once the transaction is complete, reducing the net cost to $350 million. The U of I says the cash transfer mitigates the risk of potential borrow defense claims. Borrow defense claims allow students who were defrauded to seek debt relief for their loans. The school could be on the hook to the federal government for the University of Phoenixs potential discharged federal student loans, according to a letter sent to Green from three Democratic U.S. senators. That includes 38,210 pending claims and 34,940 others that are eligible for relief as of Aug. 9, according to information provided by Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, through a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by the Higher Education Inquirer, a blog run by New Jersey resident Dahn Shaulis about higher education. That happened to the University of Arizona when it acquired the online, for-profit Ashford University in 2020. In a July memo, Hawley Troxell penned a legal opinion that said the transaction poses no financial risks to the state because the liabilities would be incurred by the nonprofit, not the U of I. Green also said in a letter to the three senators, provided to the Statesman by a spokesperson for the university, that the U of I is well prepared for any potential liabilities that may accompany the transaction. Student loan debt is certainly something we pay attention to at U of I, Green wrote. It is a conversation we have had with the new management of University of Phoenix and was considered as part of our due diligence. Regardless of its due diligence, which Green says was performed by the best minds in the country, the university doesnt seem to have an exact number that quantifies all the potential risk involved in the deal. While the University of Phoenixs management believes the U of Is exposure is about $1.5 million, he said, other consultants have estimated that its more like $7 million. The U of I does have a liability insurance policy that would cover up to $25 million and is looking at quotes for catastrophic risk insurance. We want to be protected, he said. We believe we can manage that risk. However, should Four Three Education miss payments on debt related to the transaction, the U of I has agreed to fork over $10 million a year toward bond repayment. Green says all risks are quantified and mitigated The U of Is FAQ page about the deal addresses the potential for more claims. If University of Phoenix were to face a (borrow defense claim) recoupment demand based on a large-scale loan forgiveness action similar to Ashfords, the University of Phoenix is prepared to vigorously challenge such action on appropriate grounds, the FAQ page says. The U of I also worked with Hogan Lovells, a global law firm with expertise in higher education law, to get a better understanding of income tax laws that apply to the nonprofit. It then hired Ernst & Young, a prominent national accounting firm, to conduct financial due diligence. The due diligence includes a full analysis of the University of Phoenixs earnings and valuation, as well as an analysis of the legality of forming the nonprofit and the proposed bond financing. Weve done an awful lot of due diligence, Green said. The due diligence packet is probably an inch thick. Weve got all the risks that might be there identified, quantified and mitigated. Green said that at any point along the way, the State Board couldve put up a red light, but it didnt. They understand the value of this deal to the state, he said. Weve done all the right work to get this done and to ensure that this is the right decision for the University of Idaho. Editor Chadd Cripe contributed. Meritless: Idaho board wants AG Labradors lawsuit over University of Phoenix dismissed The whole thing just smells bad: U of I faculty, taxpayers respond to Phoenix acquisition The Idaho Way: Why the Arkansas deal with University of Phoenix fell apart U.S. and Israeli officials say they remain unsure whether Iran was definitively involved in Hamas surprise weekend attack on Israel, which has spiraled into one of the regions worst spells of violence in decades. We have no evidence or proof that Iran was behind it, but Israel also didnt have intelligence to see the attack coming, Maj. Nir Dinar, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, told POLITICO on Monday. We are 100 percent sure that the Iranians were not surprised. Just because you dont have that evidence doesnt necessarily mean Iran isnt behind it, he added. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, has long received extensive backing and aid from Iran and allied governments in the region a relationship that quickly led some to point fingers at Tehran in the eruption of warfare on Saturday. Compounding the questions in Washington and beyond about potential Iranian involvement was a Wall Street Journal report from Sunday evening, citing unidentified Hamas and Hezbollah members, that said top Iranian security officials had planned with Hamas for weeks to launch the attack. Underscored in comments from Israeli and American officials is the lack of intelligence regarding the possibility of Tehrans involvement to conclusively link it to Hamas. Iran, for its part, has given a full-throated endorsement of Hamas attack, and a spokesperson has insisted that the country has not been involved. In this specific instance, we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday on CNN. Deputy national security advisor Jon Finer backed up Blinkens comments on Monday on ABCs Good Morning America, saying that the U.S. did not have direct evidence of Iranian involvement in the recent attack and could not confirm the Wall Street Journal report. Were looking into it, but we do not have the ability to corroborate it at this time, he said. Looming large over Iran in the region before the weekend attack was an American-driven effort for Saudi Arabia and Israel to reach a peace deal. Such an alliance could potentially disrupt Irans stature in the Middle East, as a longtime rival of Saudi Arabia and enemy of its potential future partner. One senior Biden administration official, reacting to the Wall Street Journal article, which cited Hamas and Hezbollah members as implicating Iran, said: Hamas and Hezbollah have an interest in getting Iran involved, so you cant necessarily take what theyre saying at face value. The Journal also reported the comments of a senior Hamas official who said that the group planned the attacks on its own. The death toll on both sides has already topped 1,100, with thousands more injured, according to a recent report from The Associated Press. Nine Americans have been killed in the Hamas attacks, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Top United Nations trade official Rebeca Grynspan met with Russian officials in Moscow on Monday for talks aimed at enabling the "unimpeded access" to global markets for grain and fertilizer from Russia and Ukraine, a U.N. spokesperson said. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths also attended the meetings virtually, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "continues in his determination to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation," Dujarric said. He added that Grynspan and Griffiths' consultations with Russia "are taking place with this goal in mind." The United Nations has blamed Russia's war in Ukraine for worsening a global food crisis. Ukraine and Russia are both major grain exporters and Moscow is also a big supplier of fertilizer to the world. U.N. officials are working to try and revive a deal that had allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain. Russia quit the pact in July - a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey - complaining that its own food and fertilizer exports faced obstacles and that not enough Ukrainian grain was going to countries in need. While Russian exports of food and fertilizer are not subject to Western sanctions imposed after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has said restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance have hindered shipments. To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea deal last year, U.N. officials said they would help facilitate Russian exports. Guterres sent Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a letter in August outlining measures that the United Nations could help to improve Russia's grain and fertilizer exports in a bid to convince Moscow to return to a deal. Lavrov said late last month that Russia has not rejected the U.N. proposals, but described them as "simply not realistic." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Costas Pitas and Grant McCool) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government has no intention of putting military on the ground following the attacks on Israel by Islamist militant group Hamas, but it will protect U.S. interests in the region, a White House spokesperson said on Monday. White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby said there was "no question that there's a degree of complicity" by Iran in supporting Hamas but President Joe Biden 's administration has not seen tangible evidence Iran was directly involved in plotting the current attack. Kirby told reporters the White House expects additional security requests from Israel and will try to fulfill those needs as quickly as possible. He also said that "it's too soon to say we've hit the brakes on" efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel but that such diplomacy should still be encouraged. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Leslie Adler and David Gregorio) By Phil Stewart and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military is "surging" fresh supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance to Israel to help it respond to an unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas, a senior U.S. defense official said on Monday. "Planes have already taken off," the U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to Pentagon reporters. "We are surging support to Israel... We remain in constant ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine and then support their most urgent requirements." The United States has not yet detailed the extent of Israel's requests for security assistance. But the U.S. defense official said Washington was contacting the defense industry to expedite pending Israeli orders, and looking at the U.S. military's own stockpiles to help fill Israeli gaps. The official also appeared to dismiss concerns that the United States might struggle to supply Israel at the same time that it funnels weaponry to Ukraine. "We are able to continue our support both to Ukraine, to Israel, and maintain our own global readiness," the official said.Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. The attack led Israel to declare war, and the spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East. The senior U.S. official compared the attack by Hamas to "ISIS-level savagery," a characterization echoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also said on Monday that Hamas' attack mirrored those carried out by the jihadist group Islamic State. U.S. President Joe Biden said at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel and added U.S. citizens were likely among the Hamas hostages. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. The senior U.S. defense official said there was not yet any evidence seen by the United States of Iran being behind the attack in Israel, following a report by the Wall Street Journal alleging Iranian security officials helped plan it. "Of course, Iran is in the picture. Iran has provided support for years to the Hamas and Hezbollah. But we have no information corroborating the specifics of the Wall Street Journal story at this time," the official said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Rosalba O'Brien) Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew speaks during a panel entitled "Reforming the Euro Area: Views from Inside and Outside of Europe" during IMF spring meetings in Washington WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate could confirm President Joe Biden 's nominee to be ambassador to Israel, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew , as soon as next week, Senate aides said on Monday, as Washington responded to a devastating weekend attack on the Jewish state by Hamas gunmen. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced that it would hold Lew's confirmation hearing on Oct. 18. The aides said Democrats, who hold a slim majority in the chamber, hoped to vote to confirm Lew as soon as Thursday, Oct. 19. Biden nominated Lew for the position in September, a move that won immediate praise from his fellow Democrats. Because he served as a cabinet secretary, Lew has undergone Senate confirmation before. In addition to serving as Treasury secretary, Lew under former Democratic President Barack Obama was a White House chief of staff and deputy secretary of state for management and resources. The position has been vacant since July, when Tom Nides left the post. (This story has been refiled to clarify the date in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by David Gregorio) A group of roughly 4,000 United Auto Workers union members rejected a tentative contract agreement with Mack Trucks Sunday, setting them up to go on strike starting Monday morning. Its the second major strike undertaken by the union in recent months, after some 25,000 UAW members went on strike at Detroits Big Three auto manufacturers last month. The agreement rejected Sunday would have given workers at Mack Trucks a 20% increase in wages over the next five yearsand no increases in health insurance premiumsthough the proposal fell well short of what union members were asking for. Im inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it, UAW president Shawn Fain said Sunday in a statement. Read it at CNBC Read more at The Daily Beast. By David Shepardson (Reuters) -Union workers at Volvo Group-owned Mack Trucks went on strike on Monday after overwhelmingly rejecting a proposed five-year contract, the United Auto Workers said, the latest tentative labor agreement in the U.S. to be voted down. About 73% of the unit's 4,000 workers in Pennsylvania, Florida and Maryland voted against the deal that included a 19% pay raise, said the UAW, which is in the midst of contract talks with Detroit's Big Three automakers. Ford Motor in those talks has offered a 23% wage hike. The proposed Mack deal had also included a $3,500 ratification bonus, improved retirement benefits, additional vacation for some employees and a reduction in the time needed to get to top pay. In online forums, some Mack workers complained the raise was too small to keep up with inflation. We don't see ourselves as disconnected from the struggle of the Big Three," said Will Lehman, a material technician who works at Mack's Lehigh Valley facility in Pennsylvania. He added that he was displeased that the UAW endorsed a "phony" tentative agreement to be voted on. The cost of living had gone up more than the 19% Mack offer, Lehman said. UAW President Shawn Fain, who had backed the Mack deal, said late on Sunday: "I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it." Mack President Stephen Roy said the company was "surprised and disappointed" by the strike. Mack "clearly demonstrated our commitment to good-faith bargaining by arriving at a tentative agreement that was endorsed by both the International UAW and the UAW Mack Truck Council," Roy added. Mack, which was bought by Volvo in 2000, is one of North America's largest makers of medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. The UAW said it would contact Mack to set dates to resume bargaining. "UAW members and workers across the economy are mobilizing to demand their fair share," the UAW said in a letter to Mack. "The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but clearly we are not there yet." US LABOR UNREST Unions negotiating new contracts in the auto, shipping and healthcare industries have used labor actions to keep employers off-balance this year. Polls have shown most Americans broadly support the unions' demands. In the last 12 months, freight rail workers and employees at shipping company FedEx have rejected tentative agreements between union negotiators and companies before eventually reaching deals. The UAW has been on a targeted strike against facilities of the Detroit Three automakers since Sept. 15. About 25,000 of the 146,000 UAW employees at General Motors, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis are on strike. Fain said on Friday the union would not expand the strikes, citing progress in talks. Canadian workers at GM also face a contract talk deadline at midnight on Monday (0400 GMT on Tuesday) that could lead to another strike. Stellantis said on Monday it was furloughing another 570 workers in Michigan and Indiana, bringing the total to 640, citing the impacts of the UAW strike, specifically storage constraints. GM said it was boosting its layoffs by about 200 to 2,300, while Ford said it was furloughing another 70 employees in Michigan as a result of the strike, raising the total to 1,865. GM's revised offer did not match the 23% pay raise proposed by Ford. On Friday, the UAW said GM agreed that workers at joint venture battery plants could be covered by union contracts, but GM offered no details on Monday. On Monday, Deutsche Bank estimated GM has lost 34,176 vehicles of production during the strike, Ford 21,296 vehicles and Stellantis 18,893 vehicles, reducing total Detroit Three earnings by $946 million to date. Mexico's auto parts industry is expected to register a $412 million hit to production by Friday, a trade group said on Monday. Anderson Economic Group estimates a total economic loss of $5.5 billion through the third full week of the strike, including in lost wages, $2.68 billion in automaker losses, $1.6 billion for suppliers and $1.26 billion in dealer and customer losses. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Additional reporting by Abhijith Ganapavaram in Bengaluru, Bianca Flowers in Chicago; Editing by Matthew Lewis, David Gregorio and Jamie Freed) (Bloomberg) -- UK envoys are due in New Delhi this week as the two countries seek to bring almost two years of trade negotiations to a conclusion, people familiar with the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg A team of 30 UK officials including Director General for trade negotiations Amanda Brooks will head to the Indian capital to thrash out remaining issues as part of their 13th round of talks, officials from the UK and India said, requesting anonymity because a deal isnt yet sealed. At stake is a commercial agreement between two of the worlds largest economies that would represent a landmark for both. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would be able to hold the deal up as a benefit of Brexit, and for India, it would be a boost for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he gears up for an election next year. Earlier in the year, the two nations softened positions on most of their points of contention. Indian officials said that they had agreed to slash tariffs on British cars and scotch whisky, with Britain prepared to relax some visa rules for Indian professionals. Sunak and Modi must now make a political call on pending issues, one person said. With almost all outstanding sensitive issues resolved, Modi was due Monday to meet his own team to take a call on concluding a deal, the person said. The Indian premier will decide the position on a handful of critical issues for the South Asian nation, they said without providing further details. The window of opportunity for finalizing the trade deal Indias biggest and most ambitious to date is small given next years national polls. Two UK officials said significant progress has been made, with the majority of chapters closed, but that some issues are still being resolved. Sunak is regularly taking stock of progress, and hes preparing to visit India to announce the deal before the end of the year, one of them said. An India trade ministry spokesperson did not respond to an email outside business hours. The UK Department for Business and Trade said in a statement that it wouldnt comment on the details of live negotiations, but added that the government continues to actively engage with India. We will only sign a deal that is fair, balanced and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the economy, the department said. Modi and Sunak are pushing to double bilateral trade by 2030 through a pact that slashes tariffs and increases market access. The deal would bolster Indias ambition to become a manufacturing powerhouse while helping the UK to highlight the benefits of Brexit. It is also expected to act as a springboard for India to clinch similar deals with other developed nations including the European Union. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. UK Defence Intelligence has stated that international isolation has forced Russia to refocus its foreign policy efforts on previously less desirable partnerships, including with Iran, for diplomatic, economic and military support. Source: UK Defence Intelligence review on Twitter (X) dated 9 October, as reported by European Pravda Details: The review indicates that Iran's military assistance to the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine includes not only hundreds of attack drones and artillery ammunition but also an agreement that includes the assembly and production of these UAVs under licence in Russia. UK Defence Intelligence says that Russian-Iranian diplomatic and economic ties have also intensified. In particular, Iran recently announced that Russia will invest US$2.76 billion in Iran in 2022-2023. Russia's interaction with Iran will almost certainly increase after Iran's recent admission to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its invitation to join BRICS, the ministry says. Quote: "Economic ties are highly likely to deepen as Russia seeks to mitigate sanctions," the review states. Background: Earlier, the UK Defence Ministry stated that Iran had actually admitted to violating UN non-proliferation resolutions when it showed its missiles during a visit by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. Prior to that, the US imposed sanctions against a network that facilitates the production of Shahed drones in Iran. 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! LONDON (Reuters) - Britain supports Israel's right to take proportionate action that is within international law to bring an end to violence, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 's spokesman said on Monday, following Israeli retaliation to a shock attack by Hamas militants. "We support Israel exercising its right to self defence and to taking proportionate action to bring an end to the violence," the spokesman told reporters. "In situations like this they can take proportionate action ... acting within international laws." The spokesman said there were no plans to redeploy British military assets to the region, but noted there was already a British warship in the Mediterranean carrying out NATO duties and Britain has an air force base in Cyprus. Fighters from the Islamist group killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens in Saturday's attacks, the deadliest such incursion in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Britain's Foreign Office is working urgently with Israeli authorities to establish the status of its nationals in the area, Sunak's spokesman said. The government estimates there are around 50,000-60,000 Britons, including dual nationals, in Israel or Gaza. Asked whether Britain planned to follow Austria in suspending its aid to Palestinians, Sunak's spokesman said Britain had previously provided aid to Palestinian refugees via the United Nations. "I'm not aware of any plans to change our aid approach, but obviously this is a fast moving situation," he said. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan, Writing by William James; Editing by Kate Holton) By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's plan to deport migrants to Rwanda reached the UK's top court on Monday, as the government argued there was a need to deter Channel crossings while asylum seekers and the United Nations' refugee agency said Rwanda was unsafe. Government lawyers asked the Supreme Court to overturn a ruling by a lower court in June that the scheme to send thousands of asylum seekers more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) to East Africa was unlawful, as Rwanda was not a safe third country. Under recent legislation, the vast majority of those who arrive in Britain by small boat across the Channel from France would have their asylum claims made inadmissible and be subject to deportation. London's Court of Appeal had ruled those sent to Rwanda would be at risk of being sent home where they could face persecution, making the policy unlawful under Britain's Human Rights Act, which made the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) part of British law. That decision dealt a massive blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 's pledge to stop thousands of migrants from arriving in small boats on the English south coast. On Monday, the government's lawyer James Eadie told the UK's top court there was "a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey" across the Channel. Raza Husain, a lawyer representing eight of the asylum seekers involved in the case, countered that people sent to Rwanda were at risk of being returned to their home countries in breach of international law. He said Rwanda was "an authoritarian, one-party state" and that its regime "repeatedly imprisons, tortures and murders those it considers to be its opponents". The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) has intervened in the appeal to argue it is not safe to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. The agency "maintains its unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda", its lawyers said in court filings. Legal teams representing migrants from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam and Sudan also want the court to conclude the scheme is unlawful because asylum seekers face inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda. The Rwandan government has said it will offer migrants deported from Britain the opportunity to build a new, safe life. HIGH STAKES The political stakes are high and the outcome, with a final ruling likely by year-end, could have far-reaching consequences. Sunak, whose Conservatives are trailing by about 20 points in opinion polls ahead of an election expected next year, has made a vow to "stop the boats" one of his five priorities as he seeks to turn around his party's fortunes. Surveys show that immigration, a key factor in the 2016 referendum vote for Britain to leave the European Union, remains a major concern for voters, and that a majority of the public think the government is handling the issue badly. The government's first planned Rwanda deportation flight had been due to leave in June last year, but was blocked at the last minute by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights until all the UK legal action had been concluded. Some in Sunak's party want Britain to pull out of the ECHR to prevent any repeat. "Know this; I will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats," Sunak told the Conservative conference. The court case comes as governments around the world wrestle with how to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war zones or seeking better lives in the West. In the United States, President Joe Biden's administration said it would add sections to a border wall to stave off record crossings from Mexico, while in Europe, governments are grappling with how to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. (Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tobin; editing by Mark Heinrich, Christina Fincher and Toby Chopra) Richard Day, 97, right, a British army veteran who survived the Burma Campaign, one of the harshest battles in the World War II, talks to Yukihiro Torikai, left, a Tokai University humanities professor whose late grandfather also fought in the campaign, during a memorial at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. The memorial was attended by military officials from the embassies of several former allied nations, including Australia, Britain, New Zealand and the U.S. at the cemetery for the unknown Japanese who died overseas during the war. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi) TOKYO (AP) A British army veteran who fought and survived one of his country's harshest battles known as the Burma Campaign against the Japanese during World War II traveled to Japan to lay flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at a memorial ceremony on Monday to stress the importance of reconciliation. Richard Day, 97, who survived the decisive 1944 Battle of Kohima in northeast India where Japan fought to capture the then British-controlled territory stood up from a wheelchair, placed a wreath of red flowers on a table and saluted the souls of the unknown Japanese soldiers at Tokyo's Cihdorigafuchi National Cemetery. It was very moving, but it brought back some terrible memories, Day said after the ceremony. When he was laying flowers, he said, I was remembering the screams of people ... they were crying out after their mothers. He shook hands at the memorial and later conversed with relatives of the Japanese veterans who also attended the event. You cant carry hate," Day said. (Otherwise) You are not hating each other, you are hurting yourself. Day was in his late teens when he was sent to the notoriously severe battle, where he also faced harsh conditions, including contracting malaria and dysentery simultaneously while fighting the Japanese. About 160,000 Japanese were killed during the battle, many from starvation and illnesses due to insufficient supplies and planning. Some 50,000 British and Commonwealth troops were also killed, nearly half of whom perished in brutal prison camps. Hard feelings toward Japans brutal treatment of prisoners of war remained in Britain years after the fighting ended. Yukihiko Torikai, a Tokai University professor of humanities and culture came on behalf of his grandfather Tsuneo Torikai who returned from the campaign alive after his supervisor ordered a withdrawal. The university professor shook hands with Day, expressing his appreciation of the British veterans trip to Japan. He later said he is aware not everyone is ready for reconciliation and that it would have been even better if a Japanese veteran who survived the battle could come. As we foster friendship, it is important to remember the past, not just putting it behind, Torikai said. Military officials from the embassies in Tokyo of former allied countries, including the United States, New Zealand and Australia attended the ceremony. Event organizer Akiko Macdonald, the daughter of a Japanese veteran who also survived the Battle of Kohima and now heads the London-based Burma Campaign Society, said the joint memorial in Japan for those lost in the battles of Kohima and Imphal was especially meaningful. Day was also set to visit and pray at Yokohama War Cemetary, where many of the buried were POWs, as well as Yamagata, Hiroshima. He also wanted to visit Kyoto to find the hotel where he stayed while on postwar duties to thank them for their hospitality. Dzhankoi, October 7 Ukrainian forces have carried out a missile strike on Russian military assets in occupied Dzhankoi, Crimea, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov told Ukrainian broadcaster Channel 24 on Oct. 9. Yusov noted that there were casualties among Russian troops, however, he did not specify the numbers or any other details about the attack. Read also: Mystery sounds reported explosions in Mykoliav Oblast, origin unknown On Oct. 7, a loud explosion was heard in several areas of occupied Crimea; thick smoke was seen rising in Dzhankoi. The Russian Defense Ministry then reported that its air defense has neutralized several incoming cruise missiles. Read also: Russian-occupied Dzhankoy rocked by explosion, occupiers claim it was a Ukrainian Hrim-2 missile Later, the ministry claimed that a Russian anti-aircraft system shot down a converted S-200 missile launched by Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine is of existential importance for Europe, so Europeans cannot afford not to win it together with Ukraine. Source: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in an interview with Forbes, as reported by European Pravda Kuleba said that the narrative of long-term support for Ukraine "as long as necessary" for victory prevails in Europe. "This was said both by Josep Borrell , the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and by the ministers. For Europe, this is an existential war. The Europeans understand it is about them too. They cannot afford not to win together with Ukraine in this war. This will be the end of Europe if Ukraine loses," Kuleba believes. Background: Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, believes that the allies should stand the test of time in the matter of helping Ukraine because now the Kremlin is counting on "war fatigue". Gabrielius Landsbergis, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, has also recently emphasised that the world cannot afford to be "tired" of the war. This was also emphasised by ordis Kolbrun R. Gylfadottir, Icelands Minister for Foreign Affairs, who also expressed the opinion that under the current circumstances, it is natural and logical to admit Ukraine to NATO. 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! Recent weeks in the United States were a mixed bag for those who support Ukraine in its war against Russian neocolonialism. On the one hand, it looks like Kyiv secured its first commitment from Washington, D.C., for short-range ballistic missiles; on the other, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was denied an opportunity to address a joint session of Congress by now former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and fringe isolationists in the Republican Party. Then, funding for Ukraine was removed from the latest continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown. However, one area where the trip to the United States was a resounding success, with bipartisan support, was its focus on accountability for war crimes and atrocities. Andrey Kostin , prosecutor general of Ukraine, addressed the United Nations, spoke at West Point and met with Department of Justice officials successfully conveying that Russian impunity on war crimes cannot stand, and that accountability for these crimes helps to restore a rules-based order. It's an order that has provided stability and predictability for U.S. economic prosperity while preventing major power wars, benefitting America enormously in the nearly 80 years since World War II ended. Ukraine working to document Russia's war crimes Kostin's latest visit follows consistent engagement by the Ukrainians over the past 18 months. This summer, another delegation of war crimes prosecutors and investigators visited Washington to meet with the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, the State Department and the FBI. They, like Kostin, were on a mission to ensure that Russian war criminals are held accountable. Funding Ukraine is national security: America's billions in aid to Ukraine isn't charity, but it can't be wasted Recognizing the enormous scope of Russias criminality, the Inter-institutional Working Group hopes to increase Ukraines domestic capacity to investigate and prosecute war crimes and other atrocities. For more than a year, the group has been working quietly in nondescript buildings in Kyiv and on the front lines at sites of Russian atrocities, including Bucha and Izyum, to compile evidence, share information and conduct analysis for war crimes prosecutions. They come to Washington to interact with seasoned war crimes experts, build the foundation for future cooperation between U.S. and Ukrainian authorities, and chart out next steps in the long-term pursuit of justice. The working group operates under the auspices of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group an innovative initiative launched by the United States, United Kingdom and European Union to deploy international war crimes experts, military analysts, investigators and prosecutors to Ukraine. In a photo released Aug. 14, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, third from right, visits the main command post of the operational-tactical group "Soledar" in the Donetsk region. These international experts work closely with their Ukrainian counterparts as they build cases and pursue accountability for the more than 90,000 suspected war crimes already identified. The work is just getting started. Efforts to bring accountability and restore a rules-based order will be a monumental task. The Ukrainian government is rising to the challenge by passing legislation to expand the capacity for domestic prosecution, developing a new organizational strategy to prosecute war crimes with input from international experts, and actively collaborating with the International Criminal Court and other international justice mechanisms. Chasing war criminals is a decades-long process. German authorities were still prosecuting World War II atrocities as late as last year. In the Balkans, war crimes trials are still ongoing three decades after the atrocities were committed. The same will be true for Ukraine. To be successful in the long term, a strong foundation must be built on organization, marshaling of resources, prioritization, coordination and good investigative work. The work of the Inter-institutional Working Group will be crucial in the years and decades to come. That is where the U.S. government and its partners must focus their efforts. Support Ukraine's capacity for pursuing justice on war crimes, ensure that the investigations have sufficient resources and build international consensus on accountability. The recent decision to share intelligence with the International Criminal Court demonstrates a commitment to combat impunity. Ukraine victory requires US support: Victory in Ukraine is crucial for America and the world. Biden must do more. Accountability for the atrocities committed in Ukraine is an essential priority for the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people, and an area where U.S. support is playing a crucial role. Ukrainians desire for accountability stems not from a wish for retribution but rather from the value they place on the lives lost or permanently altered by Russian atrocities. It is a desire for justice that will benefit the entire international community, a desire nations committed to international justice are obliged to support. Zelenskyy says Russia has attacked Ukraine with chemical weapons In his speech to the United Nations, Zelenskyy highlighted the globally destabilizing activities Russia has continually engaged in. Specifically, he discussed Russian use of chemical weapons, kidnapping, torture, genocide and aggression against its neighbors and others around the world all without facing significant consequences. Each unchecked transgression emboldens Russia and other bad actors to continue such obscene behavior. The United States and the entire world have an interest in ensuring that such brazen, lawless aggression and criminality do not remain unchallenged. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. What happens in Ukraine will directly affect U.S. interests worldwide. Ignoring events in what seems like a far-off conflict in Ukraine disregards how interconnected the world is today. This war has already affected oil and food prices. It will undoubtedly affect geopolitics, including prospects for a war in Asia. Action and inaction have consequences that can reverberate in ways that might not be clear now but in hindsight are obvious dominoes in a chain. It is now obvious that previous passes on Russias aggression have allowed it to believe that it can engage in atrocities. Had the United States and the West challenged Russia earlier, our current dilemma might have been avoided. We must learn from and not repeat our mistakes. Yevgeny "Eugene" Vindman is a former colonel in the U.S. Army. Yevgeny "Eugene" Vindman is a former colonel in the U.S. Army and a foreign policy and international law expert. Follow him on X ( formerly Twitter): @YVindman You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine needs continued US help in fight against Russian war crimes Destruction in Gaza after Israeli strikes Anticipating an imminent IDF military operation following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Ukrainian government is making final arrangements for an urgent evacuation of its citizens from the Gaza Strip, Ukraines ambassador to Israel, Yevgen Korniychuk, told broadcaster WeUkraine on Oct. 9. The evacuation is currently planned to conclude by Oct. 12, according to Korniychuk. Read also: Ukrainian diplomats evacuate wounded child from Israel, report possible deaths of three Ukrainians in Gaza Currently, the embassy is making a list of Ukrainians wishing to leave Gaza through the only open border crossing into Egypt, where Ukrainian diplomats will meet them. As Korniychuk emphasized, even expired or damaged documents will not hinder their departure. Read also: How Kyiv-born Golda Meir helped establish modern Israel Korniychuk explained that in the event of an Israeli ground operation in Gaza, Israel would shut all border crossings, and then the embassy would be unable to assist Ukrainians even in traveling to Egypt. "It's a matter of hours, and we're working [on it] 24/7," Korniychuk added. Read also: Over 14,000 Ukrainians registered with Ukrainian embassy in Israel, Foreign ministry makes list of those needing aid Meanwhile, Ukrainians can freely leave Israel via the Ben Gurion airport, which remains operational despite many international airlines canceling flights and ticket prices rising, the ambassador said. Ukrainian citizens who have contacted the embassy have received assistance. According to Korniychuk, a chartered flight to Moldova will evacuate them from Israel by the end of the week. The Ukrainian embassy in Israel has a record of 14,000 Ukrainians currently in the country, although the actual number is believed to be much higher, as reported by the Foreign Ministry earlier on Oct. 9. 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 (Bloomberg) -- Rustem Umerov, appointed in September as Ukraines defense minister, made his first announced visit to troops and top field commanders on the eastern front, according to posts on X, formerly Twitter. Most Read from Bloomberg Russia shelled residential buildings and other civilian targets in Kherson overnight, wounding several people including an infant, local officials said. The incident follows the car-bombing death on Saturday of an official from President Vladimir Putins United Russia Party in the Kherson region city of Nova Kakhovka. Vladimir Malov died in hospital after what occupation officials termed a terrorist attack. Ukraine hasnt commented. Russia will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks in Israel to advance several information operations intended to reduce US and Western support and attention to Ukraine, US-based military analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said in a research note. The Kremlin amplified several information operations following Hamas attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, primarily blaming the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was among a handful of world leaders to speak Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Latest Coverage Zelenskiy Aide Says Ukraine Needs More Air Defense Before Winter Russian Attacks Are Edging Closer and Closer to NATO Territory Russian Court Drops Case Against Billionaire Melnichenko North Korea-Russia Rail Traffic Jumped After Summit Coming Up Zelenskiy may visit Romanias capital early this week Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov meets Monday with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, head of the Arab League Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. As winter draws closer, Ukraine is preparing for an even fiercer Russian drone offensive than that which was launched against its cities and infrastructure last year. The Russian drone attacks, which make particularly heavy use of Iranian-designed Shahed-series drones , have already stepped up considerably in recent weeks, Ukrainian officials say. According to Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, attacks by Russian suicide drones are expected to reach a record number this winter. Ihnat was speaking on Ukrainian national television, his remarks subsequently being reported by Reuters. The countrys energy infrastructure is, once again, expected to be the main target of drone strikes, repeating Russian tactics from last winter, which left millions of Ukrainians without power. Repairs to the energy infrastructure are still ongoing as of now, and grid operators have been imposing regular rolling power cuts and rationing of hot water. Fragments of an Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone (named Geran-2 by Russia), displayed as a symbol of war in the center of Kyiv. Photo by Aleksandr Gusev/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Looking at data for September, Ihnat said more than 500 drones were launched against Ukraine in that month, a new record in itself. By comparison, Russia used around 1,000 Shahed drones across a sixth-month period last winter. Ukraine is preparing for the new offensive having received new Western-made air defense equipment, but still has nowhere near enough hardware of this kind to ensure coverage of all potential energy targets. At the same time, there is a demand for certain ground-based air defense systems to be used to protect Ukrainian troops taking part in the counteroffensive in the east and south of the country, putting a further strain on these critical weapons and forcing the use of emergency solutions against drone strikes, including small-arms fire. https://www.twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1709300267303223759?s=20 F-16 fighters promised by Ukraines allies have still not arrived, and the jets currently operated by the Ukrainian Air Force are hardly well-suited to the job of intercepting low-level, slow-flying drones, as we have reported about in the past . It is no surprise, therefore, that air defense systems were stated as Kyivs priority during the visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month . Todays intelligence briefing from the U.K. Ministry of Defense also reflected on the ongoing drone war and, in particular, Russias increasing reliance on Iran in this regard. The U.K. Ministry of Defense claims that international isolation has forced Russia to redirect its foreign policy efforts towards previously less-desirable partnerships to gain diplomatic, economic, and military support, before noting that Russia is now producing Iranian-designed drones under license. https://www.twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1711257812360118707?s=20 Before we head into the latest from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here . The Latest While Russia continues its drone war against Ukraine, Kyiv meanwhile appears to be continuing its campaign against targets in Russia-occupied Crimea. This complex campaign has involved a wide range of weapons and tactics, including drones, long-range missiles, unmanned surface vessels, and sabotage teams. Among the more unusual weapons employed against Crimea are adapted Cold War-era S-200 long-range surface-to-air missiles, known to NATO as SA-5 Gammon. According to Russian accounts, two such missiles, modified to attack static ground targets, were successfully intercepted by air defenses in Crimea over the weekend. https://www.twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1710761617388933482?s=20 The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that its air defense systems detected and destroyed two Ukrainian S-200s that were fired against Crimea in a space of four hours on Saturday. On the Telegram messaging app, the defense ministry posted near-identical statements at around 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Moscow time. These claimed that Kyiv attempted a terrorist attack and that the S-200 missile was in each case destroyed in the air. While these claims cannot be independently confirmed, Ukraines national public broadcaster, Suspilne, quoted a resident of Yevtaporiya in the west of Crimea as saying that two explosions were heard around 10:25 p.m. Moscow time. There were also photos showing a column of smoke rising over Dzhankoi, home of a Russian military base in the north of Crimea, and further reports of explosions being heard there. https://www.twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1708892201584095506?s=20 In the last few weeks, Ukrainian strikes against Crimea have targeted high-profile objectives such as the dry dock at the naval port of Sevastopol that contained a submarine and amphibious landing ship as well as S-400 air defense systems , also on the peninsula. On the battlefield, Ukraine claims that its armed forces repelled a Russian attack in Novoprokopivkain the Zaporizhzhia region in the south of the country, while also stating that its troops had partial success in nearby Verbove. These claims were reported by Suspilne, quoting the general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. https://www.twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1711207353553698938?s=20 While the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive has faced criticism for its slow progress against entrenched Russian positions in the east and south of the country, a recent intelligence briefing from the U.K. Ministry of Defense claims that Ukraine almost certainly liberated at least 125 square kilometers [ square miles] of territory in one eastern area of the country. The area in question is the Velyka Novosilka sector west of the town of Vuhledar in Donetsk oblast. As a result, the area has become relatively quiet over the last four weeks the U.K. Ministry of Defense added. https://www.twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1710893366387310836?s=20 From Russia, meanwhile, there have been claims that five separate attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been successfully thwarted. The claims originated from the media officer responsible for Russias Central Group of Troops, located in occupied Luhansk. The Ukrainian attacks are said to have been defeated near Lyman and Torske, with 50 Ukrainian troops being killed in the process. These claims have not been independently verified. Ukraine has removed the commander of its Territorial Defense Forces, Gen. Ihor Tantsyura, for reasons that remain unclear. In a presidential order today, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy announced the appointment of Maj. Gen. Anatoliy Barhylevych as the new commander of the Territorial Defense Forces. Gen. Tantsyura had been in the post since May 2022, presiding over the Territorial Defense Forces as they played an important role in repelling the Russian invasion. Battle-hardened Barhylevych comes to the job having previously served as the chief of staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the east of the country, which has seen most of the heaviest fighting. https://www.twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1711341471872295192?s=20 While primarily the military reserve component of the armed forces, the Territorial Defense Forces also have other more specialized functions, alongside defense of critical infrastructure, force protection, and security. For example, their units are also trained to combat Russian sabotage trams and intelligence forces that might be operating on Ukrainian territory. The changeover at the top of the Territorial Defense Forces comes a month after Zelenskiy appointed a new defense minister. Rustem Umerov took over from Oleksii Reznikov, who was fired as his ministry came under fire from corruption allegations. Servicemen of the 128th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces apply first aid skills as they practice storming enemy positions during a tactical drill in the Zaporizhzhia direction, southeastern Ukraine. Dmytro Smolienko / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images More new variations of extemporized anti-drone measures have appeared on Ukrainian and Russian tanks of late, as the two tweets below indicate. First up is the news, reported by the press service of Metinvest, that the Ukrainian company is now supplying Ukrainian units with bespoke metal structures for protection against Russian attack drones. According to a statement, the company is undertaking serial production, making up to five units per week, with 32 sets of these protective structures already having been handed over to the military. Based on the supplied photos and artwork, these extensive coverings are intended to protect the vehicles when stationary or in dug-in combat positions, when they are at their most vulnerable. https://www.twitter.com/mil_in_ua/status/1711377354084290591?s=20 Next up, however, is a similar-looking protective cope cage that was seen on a Russian tank in recently emerged footage. Like the Ukrainian structure, it is an enormous structure that covers the entire tank, constructed from a combination of metal grids and netting, although its clearly designed for protecting a tank on the move. https://www.twitter.com/AndreiBtvt/status/1710965294158475646?s=20 Reflecting the growing strategic importance of Romania in the conflict, Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has announced that this NATO country will host his next visit. Zelenskiy is due in Romania tomorrow. On the agenda will surely be the issue of grain exports via Romania. Since Russia pulled out of a deal that ensured safe passage of Ukrainian grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, Romania has become vitally important to Kyivs economy. Now, the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta has become Kyivs main alternative export route for grain. In the process, this has brought the war closer to Romania, with Russia targeting Ukrainian ports on the Danube River, from where grain is transported to Romania for onward shipment. On several occasions, fragments of Russian drones have landed on Romanian territory, to the alarm of local officials. In response, the Romanian military has increased patrols and observation posts and has expanded a no-fly zone along part of its border with Ukraine. Romanian Army soldiers ride in a military truck after building a bomb shelter in the village of Plauru, Danube Delta, Romania, on September 12, 2023. Photo by MIHAI BARBU/AFP via Getty Images In an interesting development in Sweden, a Russian-Swedish citizen is now awaiting trial, accused of conducting unlawful intelligence activities on behalf of Moscow. A court in Stockholm will make a verdict in the case of Sergei Skvortsov later this month. He is accused of passing Western technology to Russia and has been released from custody, awaiting his trial. Skvortsov was arrested at his Stockholm home in November last year. If found guilty, Skvortsov could be imprisoned for up to five years. https://www.twitter.com/RFERL/status/1698587195337040080?s=20 While the 60-year-old is accused of having conducted his activities against Sweden and the United States over a 10-year period, the issue of intelligence activities directed by or on behalf of Russia, against the West, has taken on a greater significance since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sanctions imposed on Russia have, in particular, restricted the countrys ability to resupply its forces, especially with high-tech weapons and equipment incorporating Western electronics and other advanced items. Skvortsov is now alleged to have been a procurement agent for a vast Russian intelligence network that was tasked with acquiring technology that had become off-limits to Moscow due to sanctions. As fighting rages in the latest outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, as you can read about here , Ukraines President Zelensky has drawn a comparison between the situation in Israel and in his country. Speaking via a video link at the NATO parliamentary assembly, Zelensky described Russia as a terrorist state, likening it to the terrorist organization Hamas and saying that they employed similar tactics. Zelensky provided the following set of definitions of terrorism: Do not rape women. Do not kill. Do not consider children as trophies. Do not fill villages and towns with blood. Do not shoot civilians in cars. https://www.twitter.com/RFERL/status/1711368511866499112?s=20 This is not the time to withdraw from the international arena into internal disputes. This is not the time to stay silent, Zelensky continued, in words that were very likely aimed at Republicans in the U.S. Congress who are threatening to block additional aid packages for Ukraine. Zelensky also drew a parallel between the two conflicts in regard to Iranian involvement. Iran cant say it has nothing to do with what is going in Ukraine if it sells Shahed drones to Russia, Zelensky argued. At the same time, Tehran cannot claim it has nothing to do with what is going in Israel if its own officials claim to support Hamas. Thats it for now. Well update this story when theres more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: Thomas@thedrive.com Key developments on Oct. 9: Military intelligence: Russia gives Hamas weapons captured in Ukraine to discredit Kyiv Military intelligence confirms missile attack on targets in Russian-occupied Crimea Kuleba: 'If Ukraine loses the war, it will be end of Europe' Shmyhal: 6 million people threatened by mines in Ukraine Russia has transferred Western-made weapons captured in Ukraine to Hamas extremists fighting against Israel, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on Oct. 9. Moscow plans to falsely accuse the Ukrainian military of selling weaponry provided by the U.S. and EU to Hamas, according to the military intelligence. "As part of the Kremlin's disinformation campaign, these fakes should form the basis of a number of 'revealing articles' and 'investigations' in Western media," the military intelligence wrote. According to the intelligence agency, Russian special services plan to use Ruslan Syrovyi, a senior lieutenant from the Ukrainian Border Service who has committed treason and fled to Moscow, as a "source" for this campaign. The military intelligence alleges that Russia "aims to discredit the Armed Forces of Ukraine and make Western partners cease military aid" to Ukraine. According to the Institute for the Study of War, the Kremlin aims to exploit Hamas' offensive against Israel to divert Western support and attention away from Ukraine. Following Hamas' large-scale attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, Russian voices amplified messages blaming Western countries for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine. Read also: I want to go home: Inside a Russian prisoner of war camp in Ukraine Military intelligence confirms missile attack on targets in Russian-occupied Crimea Ukraine was responsible for a missile strike on Russian-occupied Crimea on Oct. 7, military intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov said on live television on Oct. 9. The strike hit a Russian military target near Dzhankoi in northern Crimea and resulted in casualties amongst Russian forces, Yusov said. He did not specify further details. On Oct. 7, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed there had been a missile attack against the Russian-occupied peninsula at around 6 p.m. local time. The ministry later reported a second attack at 10 p.m. local time. Both attacks were carried out with converted S-200 anti-aircraft missiles, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Reports emerged on social media that an explosion was heard near Dzhankoi and the trail of the missile was visible in the sky, according to Ukrainska Pravda news outlet. Since the summer, there have been increasingly damaging attacks against Russian military targets across the peninsula, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014. One key target has been the Black Sea Fleet, which is currently based in occupied Crimea. The fleet has suffered a series of major attacks over the past weeks, including strikes on a command post on Sept. 20 and on its headquarters on Sept. 22. Read also: Uncertain Triumph: Ukraine picks apart Russias best air defenses in Crimea Kuleba: 'If Ukraine loses the war, it will be end of Europe' Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia's war against Ukraine is "existential for Europe," adding that Europeans "can't afford not to win along with Ukraine." "Europeans understand - it is about them too It will be the end of Europe if Ukraine loses," Kuleba told Forbes Ukraine in an interview published on Oct. 9. When asked how the European Union has reacted to the war dragging on longer than expected, Kuleba said that the narrative that currently prevails in the EU calls for supporting Ukraine as long as necessary for its victory. "This was voiced by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and by ministers," the official added. Kuleba's statement comes amid reports that the EU was preparing to open membership talks with Ukraine, with a formal announcement expected as early as December. In the interview, the foreign minister also spoke about the prospect of Kyiv-Moscow negotiations, saying that only the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine would mean that the Kremlin is ready for diplomacy. "But this will not mean Ukraine's automatic consent to negotiations. Russia has fooled us, the Europeans and the Americans too often to believe it from the first word or step," Kuleba told the Ukrainian media outlet. "Until Ukrainian border guards return to the last border post in the east of Ukraine or on the island of Tuzla (near Crimea), my message to those who dare to offer any territorial concessions is to not even think about it." Read also: Ukrainian wine and beer make a splash in Denmark with help of local entrepreneur PM Shmyhal: 6 million people threatened by mines in Ukraine Around 6 million people are threatened by mines in Ukraine and thousands may be killed or injured unless appropriate steps are taken, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said, Ukrinform reported on Oct. 9. "So far, around 250 people have been killed by landmines in Ukraine, and over 500 have been injured or maimed," the prime minister said during the opening ceremony of 15 mobile safety classes for children. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on March 1 that nearly one-third of Ukraine's territory had been mined since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukraine's Education Ministry announced in August that it would introduce mine safety courses for Ukrainian schoolchildren as a mandatory part of the curriculum. Read also: Russia is covering Ukraine with landmines. Clearing them will be extremely difficult Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines Air Force reported a threat of Russian forces launching drone attacks on southern Ukraine on the evening of Monday 9 October. Source: Air Force on Telegram Quote: "[We recorded ed.] the movement of enemy UAVs from the Black Sea in the direction of Odesa Oblast and Mykolaiv Oblast (the direction may change)! Head for shelter if the air-raid warning is announced!" Details: The air-raid warning was issued in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts. Ukrainska Pravda is the place where you will find the most up-to-date information about everything related to the war in Ukraine. Follow us on Twitter, support us, or become our patron! Dmytro Kuleba There is no narrative in the West about Ukraine being a supper corrupt state, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in an interview with Forbes on Oct. 9. "The Ukrainian state is changing itself for the better," Kuleba said. Do we need to do more? Yes, we do. No one denies this. But there is no narrative in the West that we have 'super corruption' here and were not doing anything about it. During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, the tabling in parliament of the law on the special anti-corruption prosecutor and the decision on the selection of judges for the Constitutional Court were praised by Kyivs U.S. partners, Kuleba noted. Read also: Ukraine receives first warning from Washington A number of Western media reported on Oct. 2 that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden was much more concerned about corruption in Ukraine than it publicly acknowledged, as stated in a confidential document with a list of reforms Washington wants to see in Ukraine. On Oct. 3, the U.S. State Department said that Ukraine had taken "aggressive" steps to fight corruption over the past few weeks and called for continued efforts in this direction. According to media reports, Washington sent a note to Kyiv calling on it to step up its fight against graft in order to continue receiving financial aid. 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 National Guard conducted an internal audit and began to pay off its debts to military personnel downing Russian drones over the critical infrastructure of Kyiv Oblast who had complained of being underpaid. Source: National Guard at the request of Ukrainska Pravda Details: On 2 August 2023, Ukrainska Pravda wrote about the complaint of soldiers from the 3101 military division, stating that they did not receive additional payments for their combat mission. On 4 August, a group of officers of the Main Directorate of the National Guard began carrying out checks. Those were conducted in regards to the combat missions of the 3101 division, when they defended the airspace over critical infrastructure, as well as payments for said missions. After that, it was decided to conduct a full internal performance check during combat missions. To pay the debts for February-May 2023, additional funding was allocated to the units. Now orders for additional payments "are in the process of implementation". The National Guard promises to issue funds to the servicemen during October 2023. The soldiers have been paid additional funds for June-August already. This was confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda by one of the soldiers of the 3101 military division. Background: On 2 August, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the soldiers of the National Guard, who, as part of a company group, shoot down Russian drones over the critical infrastructure of Kyiv Oblast, complained that they did not receive a surcharge. The soldiers assured that they were performing combat missions on a separate order. Namely, they cover the airspace of critical infrastructure facilities and repel Russian attacks. For this, the fighters should receive additional UAH 30,000 (about US$821). At the same time, the servicemen claimed that since February 2023 they had stopped receiving additional funds and were paid just the basic salary of UAH 20,000 (about US$547). The commander of the military division, as well as the press service of the National Guard, did not provide any comments at the request of Ukrainska Pravda. 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! KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has replaced the commander of Ukraine's Territorial Defence Forces, which have played an important role in helping defend the country since Russia's invasion. A presidential order published on Monday announced the appointment of Major General Anatoliy Barhylevych as the new commander. A separate order announced the removal of General Ihor Tantsyura, who had been in the post since May 2022. No reason was given for the decisions. Barhylevych, 54, had since last year been serving as chief of staff of troops in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has been heavy since Russia sent in tens of thousands of soldiers in February 2022. Part of the armed forces, the Territorial Defence Forces' roles include protection of critical facilities, combating sabotage and enemy intelligence forces, and maintaining security in Ukraine. They must also ensure defence while the full deployment of the main armed forces is underway. Zelenskiy named a new defence minister, Rustem Umerov, last month. Umerov has said his priorities include making the ministry the main institution for coordinating Ukrainian defence forces, enhancing the value attached to individual soldiers, developing Ukraine's military industry and fighting corruption. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa, Editing by Timothy Heritage) COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday linked the assault by Hamas on Israel with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and criticised Iran over both conflicts. Israel was caught off guard on Saturday when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a devastating attack. "The only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine. The intentions declared are different, but the essence is the same," Zelenskiy told NATO's Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen via video link. Iran has denied it has supplied Russia with Shahed kamikaze drones for use in Ukraine and has said it is not involved in the weekend's attacks on Israel. Ukraine said about 1,000 Iranian-designed Shahed drone were used by Russia over the past six months. "Iran can't say it has nothing to do with what is going on in Ukraine if it sells Shaheds (drones) to Russia. Iran can't say it has nothing to do with what is going on in Israel, if its officials claim the support of what is going on in Israel," Zelenskiy said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said there was no evidence Iran was behind the latest attacks on Israel but he said there are long standing ties between Tehran and Hamas. Zelenskiy urged Western unity in the face of global events. "This is not the time to withdraw from the international arena into internal disputes. This is not the time to isolate ourselves. This is not the time to remain silent or pretend that the terror on one continent does not affect global affairs," Zelenskiy said. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Philippa Fletcher) BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday. On October 7, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that China's claim of "indisputable sovereignty" over "West Philippine Sea" is disputable. China's "unfounded" claim and its actions in the "West Philippine Sea" is irresponsible, he added. When asked for comments, Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that recently the Philippines has taken a series of steps at Ren'ai Jiao that seriously violate China's territorial sovereignty. China has made serious demarches to the Philippines on multiple occasions. The spokesperson reiterated the following points. First, Ren'ai Jiao has been China's territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of China's Nansha Qundao geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. This was developed and established throughout the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter. Second, Ren'ai Jiao has never been the Philippines' territory. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, is completely beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Ren'ai Jiao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory. Third, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is illegal, null and void. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines directly concerns the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS. Besides, in 2006, pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS, China excluded issues relating to sea boundary delimitations from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal. By unilaterally initiating the South China Sea arbitration, the Philippines contravened the stipulations of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law. Such an award is illegal, null and void, and completely invalid. It is legally untenable for the Philippines to claim that Ren'ai Jiao is part of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the above-mentioned award. Fourth, by "grounding" a military vessel at Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines gravely violated China's territorial sovereignty. In May 1999, the Philippines "grounded" a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious demarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the vessel at once. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible. However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines' acts of going back on its words again and again and violating China's territorial sovereignty. The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the "grounded" military vessel. Fifth, the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely lies with the Philippines. For some time, the Philippines, ignoring China's goodwill and sincerity, has kept sending official vessels and warships to forcibly intrude into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to send construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the "grounded" military vessel on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren'ai Jiao. These actions seriously violated China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, contravened international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and disrupted peace and stability in the region. "China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously China's concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region," the spokesperson said. China will continue to, in accordance with our domestic laws and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, said the spokesperson. Ukrainian Defence Forces have seen partial success west of Verbove, on the Melitopol front. Source: Oleksandr Tarnavskyi , Commander of the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces, on Telegram Quote: "Ukrainian Defence Forces continue offensive operations on the Melitopol front. We have partial success west of Verbove." Details: Tarnavskyi said that the Russians carried out eight airstrikes. There were 18 combat engagements between Ukrainian defenders and the Russians. Russian occupiers fired 455 artillery rounds over the past day. Rocket and Artillery units of the Tavriia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces carried out 795 fire missions over the last day. Total Russian losses amounted to 147 people. Ukrainian defenders destroyed six units of Russian military equipment: two tanks, three armoured combat vehicles and one artillery system. Three Russian ammunition storage points were also blown up. 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 Russian occupiers tried to attack on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Marinka, and Zaporizhzhia fronts, where 35 combat engagements took place during the past day, but Ukraines Defence Forces repelled all Russian attacks. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 9 October Quote from General Staff: "Thirty-seven combat engagements took place over the past day. In total, the enemy launched six airstrikes and carried out 29 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems, both on the positions of Ukrainian troops and on civilian targets in Ukraine. Airstrikes were inflicted upon the settlements of Hrabovske in Sumy Oblast; Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast; Novodanylivka, Robotyne and Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast; and Beryslav in Kherson Oblast." Details: In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attacks near Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Lyman front, Ukraines Defence Forces repelled four Russian attacks near Makiivka in Luhansk Oblast. On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian defenders repelled Russian attacks north of Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and Andriivka. In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka and Marinka fronts, Russian forces conducted about 15 unsuccessful attacks near Avdiivka, Marinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian defenders repelled a Russian attack in the area north of Novoprokopivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukraines Defence Forces continue their offensive operation on the Melitopol front, gaining partial success in the areas west of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian soldiers are also conducting offensive operations on the Bakhmut front, with partial success near Klishchiivka and Andriivka. Ukrainian soldiers are inflicting losses on the Russian forces in terms of manpower and equipment, continuing to consolidate their positions and to 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. Russian forces did not conduct any offensive actions on the Shakhtarsk front. In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) Operational Strategic Group on the Volyn and Polissia fronts, no significant change in the operational situation was recorded. On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, Russian forces are maintaining a 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. Over the past day, the Ukrainian Air Force inflicted three attacks on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment. Ukrainian Rocket Forces and Artillery units struck three artillery pieces, two radar stations, two clusters of Russian military personnel and two ammunition storage points. 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! Palestinians near Israeli military equipment Ukrainian diplomats have successfully evacuated a Ukrainian boy wounded during a Hamas attack in Israel from the city of Sderot, and the Foreign Ministry is currently checking reports of the possible deaths of three Ukrainian citizens in the Gaza Strip. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko confirmed in a Facebook post that the injured boy is now in a secure location under the care of the Ukrainian embassy, with medical and psychological assistance provided. Read also: Two Ukrainian citizens confirmed dead in Israel, says Foreign Ministry Diplomats were also able to locate five Ukrainian citizens who were previously considered missing in southern Israel. Nikolenko said that unconfirmed reports have surfaced regarding the possible deaths of two other Ukrainians in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip, with investigations ongoing. Over the past 24 hours, the operational headquarters of Ukraines Foreign Ministry processed more than 200 requests from citizens. Nikolenko noted that the ministry is closely monitoring the widespread cancellation of flights and is actively seeking solutions to facilitate the departure of Ukrainians from Israel. Read also: Veteran explains war in Israel impact on Ukraines international support Regarding unverified information concerning the potential death of a Ukrainian citizen in the Gaza Strip, Nikolenko said that there is currently no official confirmation. The diplomatic mission in Ramallah maintains continuous communication with the Ukrainian community, and we are actively exploring potential evacuation routes, Nikolenko said. Nikolenko reported on Oct. 8 the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens who had resided in Israel for an extended period. Ukrainian diplomats also located one Ukrainian citizen who had gone missing in southern Israel. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel, alongside Ukrainian diplomats and intelligence agencies, was operating around the clock to provide assistance to Ukrainian citizens in the country. 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 a large-scale attack on Israel. Read also: At least 350 killed and nearly 2,000 injured in deadly Hamas attack on 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. Some 700 people in Israel, civilians and soldiers, are currently reported to have been killed in the attacks. Another 100 Israelis are thought to have been kidnapped by Hamas and are now being held in Gaza. Video evidence shows some of the hostages have been murdered. Shortly after the start of the Hamas attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and added, we will prevail. The Israeli government initiated Operation Swords of Iron as a military response to the incursion, regaining control of some of the 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 Ukrainian military near Zaporizhzhia, August 19, 2023 Ukrainian forces have seen partial success in areas west of Verbove in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, as well as Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka near Bakhmut, the Ukrainian militarys General Staff said in its morning Facebook update on Oct. 9. Read also: 580 Russian invaders eliminated in last 24 hours; toll now exceeds 282,000 Highlights from the summary are as follows: The Ukrainian military continues to conduct defense operations in eastern and southern Ukraine, as well as offensive operations on the Melitopol and Bakhmut sections of the front. There were 37 combat engagements over the past day. The Russian military carried out six air strikes and fired 29 times from multiple launch rocket systems at Ukrainian positions and populated areas. On the Siverskyi and Slobozhanskyi sections of the front in the north and east of Ukraine, the aggressor state maintains a military presence in the border areas and is actively engaged in sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to areas under threat. Near Kupyansk in the east of Ukraine, Ukrainian forces repelled three enemy attacks near the towns of Synkivka and Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Lyman section of the front in the east, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repulsed four enemy attacks near Makiyivka, Luhansk Oblast. Near Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian troops repelled Russian attacks north of Bohdanivka, Klishchiyivka, and Andriyivka. On the Avdiyivka and Maryinka sections of the front in Donetsk Oblast, Russian occupation forces carried out about 15 failed attacks in the areas of Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast. On the Zaporizhzhya section of the front in the south, Ukrainian troops repelled an enemy attack in the area north of Novoprokopivka, Zaporizhzhya Oblast. On the Kherson section of the front in the south, Ukrainian forces are engaged in counter-battery combat, destroying warehouses and successfully hitting the enemy's rear. Over the past day, Ukrainian aviation conducted three strikes on concentrations of Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment. Missile troops hit three artillery pieces, two radar stations, two concentrations of personnel, and two enemy ammunition depots. Earlier, Ukraines General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces had achieved partial success around Robotyne in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, as well as at Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka near Bakhmut. Read also: Ukrainian Armed Forces continue operations on the Melitopol and Bakhmut fronts, 60+ engagements in last day The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, noted that the Russian military had rotated their forces in the Orikhiv area in southern Ukraine, resumed their offensive on the Kupyansk-Lyman section of the front in the east, and moved some of their training to the occupied territories of Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces are advancing between Robotyne and Verbove. Former UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said on Oct. 1 that Ukraine's counter-offensive was succeeding. 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 Russian Federation continues to suffer colossal losses in the war against Ukraine Russias total losses in Ukraine passed a bloody milestone on Oct. 9, passing 282,000 military personnel since the onset of Russias full-scale invasion according to the count kept by the Ukrainian militarys General Staff. Ukrainian forces eliminated 350 Russian invaders in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian General Staff said. Read also: Russias mobilization plans point to mass conscription of up to 700,000 reservists General Staff As of Oct. 9, the losses sustained by Russia are as follows: Personnel: 282,630 (+350) individuals eliminated Tanks: 4,823 (+2) units Combat armored vehicles: 9,126 (+3) units Artillery systems: 6,706 (+1) units Multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 808 (+0) units Anti-aircraft missile systems: 543 (+1) units Aircraft: 315 (+0) units Helicopters: 316 (+0) units Tactical UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles): 5,190 (+0) units Cruise missiles: 1,530 (+0) units Ships/boats: 20 (+0) units Submarines: 1 (+0) unit Automotive equipment and tankers: 9,113 (+2) units Specialized equipment: 959 (+0) units. Read also: Ukrainian forces repel Russian attacks on five fronts Previously, the Russian independent publication Vazhnyi Istoriyi, in collaboration with CIT, published research on losses among mobilized Russians in Ukraine. The research revealed that during a year of partial mobilization in Russia, in the war initiated against Ukraine, thousands of Russians have perished. Shockingly, nearly every fifth individual survived less than two months after receiving their draft notice. Read also: General Staff releases detailed update on Ukraines counteroffensive 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 Donald Trump is a fucking asshole, said Anatolii, a soldier in the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces. The leaves are changing, and its a chilly fall day in Bilopillya, a village in the Sumy region where you can see Russia a few kilometers away. Thats what I think of him. His brigade defends flat farmland that wouldnt be out of place in a Tolstoy novelexcept the endless, rolling scene, laced with crops and thickets of trees, is heavily mined and pockmarked with artillery blasts. The question of who will become U.S. president in 2024 is far from his mind. Anatolii is one of a few soldiers in his brigade, made up of other locals, who defend the Ukrainian border with Russia. On any given day, he deals with barrages of artillery, Grad rockets, the pings of gunfire, and the occasional missile, one of which took out a local school in March. The problem is, they never give us enough weapons, he told me in an almost exasperated tone about U.S. and NATO arms transfers. If he comes back and what? Give us none again? Many in the Ukrainian military and government already feel that they are not receiving enough military aid. The stakes of the nascent Republican primary, which has been defined by isolationist rhetoric, are potentially dire. Back in Kyiv, sitting in a hipster bistro near the banks of the Dnipro River, I find it tough to remember that, less than 48 hours ago, a swarm of Iranian-designed Shahed drones were shot down overhead, the debris landing near baroque architecture and cobblestoned streets. Im in a casual conversation with a Ukrainian official in the upper brass of Kyivs military effort. The war, he and his colleagues believe, is far from over. The need for continued support from the West is vital. For now, its going to be the same, then up and down, he said to me, referring to the kinetic energy of a conflict that has grinded to mostly a standstill as Ukraines counteroffensive crawls on in the east. But in Donbas, there is always going to be crazy shelling and missiles all day long. Spilling in and out of the American news cycle, the war in Ukraine has settled into its moodier, teenage era: One moment you might be sipping coffee on a sunny, cloudless day in the picturesque capital city, safely sitting on a cushioned seat; the next, it could be raining missiles in the distance, with air sirens singing for you to get into a shelter. The consensus among Ukrainians is that the duration of the fight is indefinite, with no peace deal in sight. Stateside, the question of what to do about a war that has settled into a stalemate has become one of the most divisive issues in the ongoing Republican primary. Trump, the front-runner, has long complained that the war is too expensive, and that he could simply end it if reelected; his copycats, Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis, have largely followed his lead. The partys establishment wing, all languishing in the single digits, has backed continued financial and tactical support for the war effort. Whatever path the immediate future of the war takes, recent chatter from the GOP primary has U.S. and, especially, Ukrainian intelligence and military figures theorizing about what the future of the conflict might be should Republicans retake the presidency. The main concern? The $44 billion worth of weaponry (and counting) that has been essential to Ukrainians ability to stall Russian advances and carry out some of their own. There isnt yet any level of overt panic about what the future holds. But there is a sense of vigilance and preparation for the worst-case scenario. One American ex-Marine, a foreign volunteer who trains Ukrainian soldiers in combat, told me that the Ukrainian officers he schools in places like the Donetsk region are well aware of what a Republican president could mean for the war effort. Anyone on the front lines who reads English-language media and follows either U.S. elections or news around the funding is aware that Republicans potentially want to pull the plug, he said, keeping his anonymity in order to protect against possible Russian reprisals. They know that 2024 is potentially a big, big problem, and they have objectives to hit in the counteroffensive to make sure theyre comfortable in case Trump wins, then stops the weapons transfers. But, oppositely, the same Ukrainian official at the bistro shares the uncanny confidence in American resolve that his president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, expressed to The Economist in September. Shrugging off a question about the possible consequences of Trump returning to power, Zelenskiy insisted that a President Trump would never take an action supporting Vladimir Putin: That isnt what strong Americans do. I think Trump would keep giving us the weapons, the Ukrainian official told me flatly, explaining that the consequences of withdrawing support would be so profound that they make it unlikely for any leadereven one as vociferously isolationist as Trumpto fully pull out. They have already given so much money and weapons for our war, if [the Republicans] take over and Ukraine turns into a disaster, they would be responsible for that, just like [ President Joe Biden was] in Afghanistan, he said, referencing Americas disastrous summer 2021 withdrawal, which started the current presidents slide in the polls. So far, the Department of Defense has unleashed a torrent of weapons transfers to Ukraine that have proved essential in the fight against a Kremlin war machine that is vastly better armed and manned. Everything from Javelin anti-tank missile systems, to the infamous Stingers used by the mujahedin during the Afghan-Soviet war, to F-16 fighter jets and M1 Abrams tanks has been promised in increasingly bolder Pentagon and allied packages. It isnt just national Republicans who have begun to question the scale of support for the warskepticism is growing in other NATO countries as well. Everywhere some politicians are using Ukraine to make support for their cause, said one senior Ukrainian officer with knowledge of war planning. The American people must know it is much cheaper for us to fight than for you to fight. To him, the conflict is already a quagmire for Russia on par with that of the Afghan-Soviet war. But ending aid could quickly reverse that. The same soldier, almost doubting himself, was frank and saw the pitfalls of a Republican win. Of course, our fighting costs a lot of money, and we know there are no security guarantees if Trump wins. It is possible, however, that opinion on Ukraine will shift as the Republican primary progresses and the candidates continue to appear at monthly debatesespecially since Trump, the most prominent voice against U.S. support for Ukraine, has thus far declined to participate. Still, Trumps prominence and level of support could draw even more Republicans to question the war. A growing number of Republican voters oppose further aid to Ukraine, and theres good reason to believe that figure will rise as the primary process and the accompanying debates drag on. Perhaps the most extremist take on Ukraine in the primary comes from the oft-arrogant Ramaswamy, who has made the outlandish demand not only for the dismantling of the FBI, but also for granting Russia Ukrainian territory. The pharma-businessman has gone so far as to label the Biden administrations current posture disastrous and has declared that military resources for Ukraine should be redirected to prevent the invasion of our own southern border with Mexico. But a Republican president might not be catastrophic for the Ukrainian war effort. Lucas Webber, cofounder of the Militant Wire research network, concurred. It is unlikely, even if Trump truly means what he says, that he would be able to shift Americas Ukraine policy in any meaningful way, Webber told The New Republic over email. The U.S. political elite and security establishment consensus on Ukraine will leave Trump very little room to maneuver, as seen during his first term. Moreover, it is also highly improbable that either Ukraine or Russia would accept anything remotely resembling the territorial status quo on the battlefield. There have been efforts to push back, however. Former Vice President Mike Pence has made support for Ukraine a major campaign issue that hes used to hammer his rivals, particularly DeSantis, whom he has attacked for minimizing the conflict. I know that some in this debate have called the war in Ukraine a territorial dispute, said Pence, directly quoting comments the Florida governor made in March 2023. Its not; it was a Russian invasion, an unprovoked Russian invasion. And I believe the United States of America needs to continue to provide the courageous soldiers in Ukraine with the resources they need to repel that Russian invasion and restore their territorial integrity. Even if the Republicans commit to a total withdrawal of aid to Ukraine, it is possible that contingencies will be put in place should Biden know his presidency will be coming to an end. If Biden loses in 2024, weapons could be sent over right before the Republicans take the White House. Whatever position on the war the eventual Republican presidential candidate takes, there is no denying one simple fact: If Ukraine loses to the despotic Putin regime, it not only would bolster autocrats around the world (or perhaps even herald the renormalization of imperial conquest) but also would undoubtedly weaken the West. But if Biden can hold out, perhaps all the fears surrounding an end to the arms flow to Ukraine will be for naught. NATO and the EU want to continue thinking of themselves as global leaders, both militarily and economically. The loss of Ukraine after so much was spent to save it would be the crack in their castle that countries like China and its allies will see as a further sign of the decline of the West. Trump is not coming back, Anatolii said to me at the end of a long week manning checkpoints. I dont think so. For the fate of Ukraine, hed better hope hes right. Grieving relatives await as coffins carrying victims of the the strike on Groza are made ready for collection following forensic examination in Kharkiv (SERGEY BOBOK) Grieving families buried their loved ones on Monday in the eastern Ukraine village of Groza, which was targetted by Russian missiles in an attack that killed more than 50 people. Some 30 graves have already been dug for burial at the cemetery in the small village which now numbers around 330 inhabitants, down from 500 when the conflict began. Four of the victims were laid to rest on Monday, following three burials over the weekend. Last Thursday the village -- which survived Russian occupation between February and September 2022 -- endured one of the deadliest strikes of the war. After the deadly attack, rescue workers recovered several dismembered or decapitated bodies, bearing witness to the force of the explosion of the missile. According to a police source in Kharkiv, a city further north where the remains were transported for the investigation, three bodies remain unidentified. The death toll stands at 52, including a six-year-old child. Irina, aged 57, and her brother Oleksandre, 59, were buried on Monday in a religious ceremony with songs and prayers, in the presence of an Orthodox priest. Before being placed in the graves, the two coffins were laid side by side during the ceremony. Two other women were buried in Groza in separate short ceremonies, with a few relatives in attendance. Other victims have been buried in nearby villages, as the remains of their loved ones have been gradually returned to the families. Thursday's strike by the Russian Iskander missile, according to the Ukrainian authorities, reduced to rubble a shop and a cafe in a building where around sixty people had gathered for the funeral of a soldier in the middle of the day. After the tragedy, police in the Kharkiv region said an investigation was focusing in particular on "identifying people who may have been involved" in the bombing. Groza residents said it was possible that someone gave the Russians information about the place and time of the gathering for the soldier's funeral. Located 35 kilometres from the front-line fighting, the village was occupied from the early days of the Russian invasion in February 2022. epe/pop/mr/pvh/cw Britain's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves with party leader Keir Starmer after making her keynote speech during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, England, Monday Oct. 9, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP) LIVERPOOL, England (AP) Britains main opposition Labour Party said Monday that it will focus on economic growth rather than higher taxes to rebuild the country after more than a decade of Conservative rule. Labour economy spokeswoman Rachel Reeves told delegates at the party's annual conference that Labour will tax fairly and spend wisely. But I must tell you, you cannot tax and spend your way to economic growth, she said. "The lifeblood of a growing economy is business investment." Reeves was making her pitch to British voters and businesses at the four-day conference in Liverpool, where Labour is trying to cement its front-runner status in opinion polls before an election due in 2024. The party is running 15 or more points ahead of the governing Conservatives in multiple opinion polls, as Britain endures a sluggish economy and a cost-of-living crisis driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and economic disruption following the U.K.s exit from the European Union. Labour is trying to show it can provide an alternative to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, who have been in power since 2010. But the opposition party is wary of promising big public spending increases that would require tax hikes. The social democratic party also wants to convince corporate Britain that it is on the side of business. For years, businesses were wary of the party, which has its roots in the trade union movement, and tended to favor the Conservatives. But recent economic and political upheavals have made many think again. Reeves said a Labour government would get the economy growing faster to fund public services and boost investment through a new national wealth fund. She pledged to build 1.5 million homes to ease Britains chronic housing crisis, reform an antiquated planning system Labour says is holding back infrastructure improvements, and repair the creaking, overburdened state-funded National Health Service. Money for health and education will come from abolishing non-domiciled tax status, which allows some wealthy individuals to avoid paying U.K. tax, and ending private schools tax-free status, she said. Reeves said Labour also will strengthen workers' rights and abolish zero hours contracts that do not guarantee employees a minimum number of hours a week. The speech was broadly welcomed by both business and workers' groups no mean feat. Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry, said businesses would be encouraged to hear Labour speak so ambitiously about driving up business investment and committing to tackle some of the key blockers. Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB trade union, said Reeves speech gave a far-sighted vision of a better U.K. Reeves also said a Labour government would appoint a COVID corruption commissioner to try to recoup some of the billions lost to fraud and waste during the pandemic. Reeves said the commissioner would bring together tax officials, fraud investigators and law enforcement officers to track down an estimated 7.2 billion pounds ($8.8 billion) in lost public money spent on grants and contracts related to COVID-19, and get back every penny of taxpayers money that they can. Like many countries, the U.K. was forced to sidestep usual rules as it rushed to procure essential supplies and prop up peoples livelihoods during the coronavirus pandemic. A multi-year public inquiry is examining Britains handling of the pandemic, which left more than 200,000 people in the country dead. Leader Keir Starmer has steered Labour back toward the political middle ground after the divisive tenure of predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, a staunch socialist who advocated nationalization of key industries and infrastructure. Corbyn resigned after Labour suffered its worst election defeat in almost a century in 2019. The brutal, shocking attack by Hamas militants on Israel, and Israels military response, overshadowed the gathering of a party that has spent several years confronting allegations that antisemitism was allowed to fester under Corbyn, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause. After being elected leader in 2020, Starmer apologized and vowed to restore relations between Labour and the Jewish community. Corbyn was expelled from the party. The conference schedule includes several meetings by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups, including one on Monday organized by Labour Friends of Palestine that opened with 30 seconds of silence to reflect on the horrors of recent days. In a speech to delegates, party foreign affairs spokesman David Lammy said that Labour utterly condemns Hamass appalling attack on Israel. There is never a justification for terrorism, he said. Labour stands firmly in support of Israels right to defend itself, rescue hostages and protect its citizens. He reiterated Labours support for a two-state solution that now seems a distant prospect. There will not be a just and lasting peace until Israel is secure, Palestine is a sovereign state and both Israelis and Palestinians enjoy security, dignity and human rights, Lammy said. By Jasper Ward and Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was "deeply distressed" by an announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas over the weekend. "I am deeply distressed by today's announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in no electricity, food, or fuel," Guterres said. The Israeli military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas attacks that killed hundreds of Israelis and prompted retaliatory Israeli air strikes. Guterres said the situation in Gaza was "extremely dire" before the surprise assault by the militant group, adding that it will "only deteriorate exponentially." While noting that medical equipment, food and other humanitarian supplies and personnel are needed, Guterres said that relief and entry of essential supplies into the area must be facilitated. "I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip," he said while appealing to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support. Hamas gunmen burst across the fence from Gaza on Saturday, killing Israeli soldiers and civilians and taking dozens of hostages back to the coastal enclave. Israel responded with its heaviest bombardment of Gaza and could be contemplating a ground assault on the territory it withdrew from nearly two decades ago after 38 years of occupation. The "abhorrent attacks" by Hamas have left 800 Israelis dead and more than 2,500 injured, according to Guterres, who noted alarming reports of more than 500 Palestinians killed and over 3,000 injured as a result of Israeli air strikes. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Michelle Nichols; Editing by Paul Simao) FILE PHOTO: Anastasiia holds her daughter Valeriia and son Maksym, who were taken to Russia, after they returned via the Ukraine-Belarus border, in Kyiv GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations rights office said on Monday it was concerned there was no system to return Ukrainian children taken to Russia since Moscow's invasion of the country last year and that some of those who did come back reported mistreatment. Ukrainian authorities say they have identified and verified almost 20,000 children who have been taken to Russia during the war. Ukraine has repatriated more than 400 children so far and does not know exactly how many more there are because it does not have access to Russia or swathes of occupied territory in the south and east. "The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) remains gravely concerned that there is no established system to return Ukrainian children who were transferred to other regions in Russian-occupied territory or to the Russian Federation," Nada Al-Nashif, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. "Among the children who reunited with their family after relatives travelled to the Russian Federation to retrieve them, some described experiencing or witnessing psychological or physical violence by educational staff there." Moscow has repeatedly denied forcibly taking Ukrainian children, saying it moved children found in orphanages or without parental care to Russia for their own safety and placed as many of as possible with relatives there. The International Criminal Court has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of the war crime of illegally deporting Ukrainian children. Ukraine's human rights commissioner has called for more international pressure on Moscow to help Kyiv bring the children home. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Philippa Fletcher) ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- More than 150 "terrorists" were killed in the comprehensive cross-border operations in the north of Iraq and Syria since Oct. 1, Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Monday. The Turkish forces carried out comprehensive air operations, using fire support vehicles, against "terrorist" targets in the north of Iraq on Oct. 1 and 3-4, and in the north of Syria on Oct. 5-6 and 8, Guler said at the National Defense University's new-year opening ceremony. "Many targets, as well as sources of income and facilities used by the terrorist organization, were destroyed with full accuracy," he added. The Turkish military has carried out several airstrikes against the targets of the Syrian Kurdish Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq since a suicidal bomb attack in the capital earlier this month. The PKK claimed responsibility for the attack in front of the Turkish Interior Ministry, in which one assailant blew himself up and another was killed in a shootout with police. Two police officers were injured in the attack. Turkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the PKK. 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. FILE PHOTO: Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, walk during a visit at the the CMP Anthropological Laboratory in the buffer zone of Nicosia airport NICOSIA (Reuters) - The United Nations has reached an "understanding" to defuse a standoff in ethnically split Cyprus which triggered scuffles involving peacekeepers in August, its mission said on Monday. Turkish Cypriot attempts to construct a road traversing United Nations-controlled territory in the south-east of the island had been a source of dispute. "An understanding has been reached on arrangements that will resolve the ongoing situation on the Pyla/Pile plateau," the Cyprus U.N. mission, known as Unficyp, said in a statement, referring to a community where both Greek and Turkish Cypriots live and which is under U.N. jurisdiction. Turkish Cypriot authorities want to build a road leading directly from the area they control to the village, seeking to allow Turkish Cypriots to circumvent a patchwork of jurisdictions, including sovereign British bases. Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 following a brief Greece-inspired coup. A U.N. buffer zone separating opposing Greek and Turkish Cypriots is about 180 km (112 miles)long east to west. The U.N. mission said a few modalities were still being discussed but that the framework understanding would come into effect on Monday. People close to the matter said the compromise in return for the road involved a swathe of the area being designated for civilian use and opened as a residential area for Greek and Turkish Cypriots -- hitherto restricted under buffer zone rules -- and a checkpoint manned by the U.N. in the vicinity. Turkish Cypriot authorities had said the road was essential to improve transportation for people living in the community. At present, people from the area wanting to travel to north Cyprus have to cross a checkpoint in the British bases, then another checkpoint controlled by Turkish Cypriot authorities. (Reporting By Michele Kambas; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -The U.N. refugee agency is facing one of the most difficult moments in its more than 70-year history as record displacements coincide with funding shortfalls and a "short-sighted" focus on border controls, its chief said on Monday. Conflicts from Ukraine to Sudan have contributed to the displacement of some 110 million people around the globe at a time when many governments, including once welcoming ones like Germany, are under pressure to get tougher on asylum seekers as the far-right gains ground. Some countries like Slovakia have tightened border controls while U.S. President Joe Biden plans to add sections to a border wall to stave off migrant crossings, carrying forward a policy of former president Donald Trump. In an address to the governing body of the agency, known as UNHCR, High Commissioner Filippo Grandi urged countries to respect the rights of those fleeing conflict or persecution guaranteed under the 1951 Refugee Convention the body was created to oversee. "I'm asking quite solemnly that you focus at least on the areas on which we can agree, and especially that people forced to flee their homes due to conflict or persecution have rights as human beings and as refugees and displaced," he told the Executive Committee which meets annually and is made up of 108 member countries. "The task with which you have entrusted UNHCR is at one of its most difficult moments in our history," he said. "The world is increasingly divided, fragmented and inward-looking." He called this weekend's attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel "appalling" and said the clashes risk "bringing grave instability", without giving displacement projections. The organisation faces a $650 million funding shortfall this year and the 2024 outlook is "even more worrying", he added. UNHCR's top donors are the United States and Germany. Insufficient aid is driving some refugees -- like those who fled Sudan's conflict -- to make dangerous onwards journeys to Tunisia and Italy, he said, comparing the situation with the 2015 EU migration crisis. "This reminds us, sadly, of the situation in 2015, when thousands of Syrian and other refugees moved from the Middle East to Europe as assistance started declining," said Grandi, who comes from Italy. With fatalities high on two of world's most dangerous migration routes, the Darien Gap and the Mediterranean sea crossing to Europe, Grandi called for new "whole of route" solutions. He said countries had a right to implement border controls but described it as "both impractical and short-sighted" to focus only on those controls. He did not name countries. In a possible allusion to a British government plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which heads to Britain's top court this week, Grandi said the organisation "will not accept externalising or outsourcing asylum obligations". (Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Matthias Williams, Angus MacSwan and Christina Fincher) WASHINGTON The Army installed an active protection system on the M1 Abrams tank and fielded it in Europe, but the fate of other plans to equip similar defense measures on the services combat vehicles remains unclear. In 2016, the Army determined it needed an interim solution to protect the Abrams, Stryker combat vehicle and Bradley fighting vehicle. The service decided to rapidly assess off-the-shelf active protection systems to fulfill the urgent operational need. Ultimately the Army fielded the Trophy APS, made by Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, in a short period of time to Europe. The APS-equipped tanks have operated there over the last three years. But even the Trophy on Abrams tanks has been challenging. While the Army is very happy with what it brings to us in terms of performance, its a little bit of a challenge to operate and really deploy and sustain it because installation on tanks is a little bit of a burden, Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean, the Armys program executive officer for ground combat systems, told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference in Washington. Finding the right APS for Bradley and Stryker vehicles has been exponentially more challenging than putting the Trophy on Abrams. Efforts to install systems to protect both of those combat vehicles have come in fits and starts. Iron Curtain was the first system considered a candidate for the Stryker. The APS is developed by Virginia-based company Artis. Army leaders decided in 2018, after working to characterize the system on the Stryker, that while Iron Curtain generally worked in concept, it would take too much time and money to mature the system. The Army spent several years looking at other candidates for combat vehicles, such as a lighter version of Trophy. According to Dean, the service recently wrapped up an assessment of Unified Business Technologies StrikeShield, a product from the Michigan-based company partnered with German firm Rheinmetall. Testers are still analyzing data from the assessment, conducted with an eye toward Stryker, but not solely Stryker, Dean said. Well see what weve learned from that. He noted the Army is also watching some other APS efforts by the Marine Corps, as well as science and technology work within the Armys Combat Capabilities Development Command. Dean declined to further discuss the commands efforts. The Army has long held that Iron Fist, an APS capability from Israeli firm Elbit Systems, is right for the Bradley vehicle, but technical and fiscal hurdles have prevented its fielding. The Army said in January 2023 that following a redesign of Iron Fist, now called Iron Fist Light Decoupled, it is now ready to field the capability to a full brigade. Iron Fist Light Decoupled, that is essentially ready for production, Dean said, and when allocated funds to produce, we will go into production. But there isnt yet planned funding, and Dean would not speculate when money might become available. In the meantime, he said, the Army is continuing to work with Elbit on electronic upgrades in preparation for possible production approval and funding. The service wants active protection that not only defends the sides of a vehicle but also the top, which would address threats like loitering munitions and drones. The service is working continuously on our ability to defeat hemispheric threats all around the vehicle against a range of threats with a range of technical approaches. So not looking for one system that is one-size-fits-all and does everything, but beyond that Im not going to go into any more detail, Dean said, noting the information is classified. Additionally, the Armys newest Abrams variant, the M1E3, will include APS that is integrated from the beginning of development. The service announced in September it would pursue an entirely new variant while scrapping its latest SEPv4 upgrade plans. And the services pursuit of a vehicle currently referred to as the XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle to replace the Bradley by 2030 will use a similar strategy to integrate protection systems into the design from the beginning. Two companies General Dynamics Land Systems and American Rheinmetall Vehicles are competing to design vehicle prototypes. A Mobile gas station, located at 521 S. Commercial St. in Neenah, was the scene of a fatal police shooting on Aug. 2, 2023. SHEBOYGAN Investigators are still not sharing the name of a man who was killed by undercover law enforcement officers at a Neenah gas station two months ago. Sheboygan County Sheriff Cory Roeseler said his office, which is in charge of conducting the external investigation, is also not yet releasing the name of the two officers who shot the man on Aug. 2. The officers were members of the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, a group of narcotics investigators from sheriff's offices and police departments in Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Fond du Lac counties, as well as the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. The officers are employed by the Appleton Police Department and the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office. The Appleton officer is 42 years old and a five-year veteran of the department with 10 years of other law enforcement experience. The Outagamie County sheriff's deputy is 31 years old and has been with the county for six years. The man killed was 37 years old with a last known address in the Oshkosh area, according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office. What we know about the police shooting On Aug, 2, the drug unit officers were "involved in an undercover operation" at the Mobil Gas Station at 521 S. Commercial St., where they tried to arrest the man, according to a news release from the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office. At about 4:49 p.m., several officers confronted the man. A preliminary investigation found the man showed a weapon and two officers "used deadly force," according to the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office. The man was transported to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah, where he died. The two officers were each put on administrative leave following the shooting, according to their departments' protocols. The Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office statement said the officers' names would not be released at the time, but that all involved officers were cooperating with the investigation. Assisting the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office in the investigation is the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office, the Sheboygan Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. Currently, the investigation is being reviewed by Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski, who met with investigators from the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 28 and will "make a final decision regarding the shooting very soon," he said in an email Sept. 29. After making his decision regarding the shooting, Urmanski will meet with victim family members and notify the law enforcement agencies involved. Law enforcement cites constitutional amendment for victims as reason to withhold names Roeseler cited Marsy's Law as a reason for the withholding of the names of the police officers and the person who was killed. "I think you will see more issues with Marcy's Law (sic) as we move further into the future when it comes to these types of investigations," Roeseler said in an email. Marsy's Law was implemented as an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution in 2020. It updated Wisconsin's 1993 victim's rights constitutional amendment to further specify rights for victims and definitions of who qualifies as a victim. First created by billionaire tech CEO Henry Nicholas III in 2009, Marsy's Law is named for Nicholas' sister, Marsy Nicholas, who in 1983, at 21 years old, was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. Her killer confronted the Nicholas family a week after she died, when the family was unaware he had been released on bail. Marsy's Law "seeks to give crime victims meaningful and enforceable constitutional rights equal to the rights of the accused," according to the Marsy's Law website. Those rights include "reasonable and timely" notification of court proceedings upon request and the ability "to be heard in any proceeding during which a right of the victim is implicated," the amendment states. But it's not entirely clear in all cases exactly how these rights will be implemented. A memo from the Wisconsin Supreme Court sent to courts across the state in May 2020 offers guidance for adapting to Marsy's Law. "It is important to note there are a lot of unanswered questions with Marsys law given the vague language in the amendment, including a lack of specificity for who is responsible for guaranteeing these rights," the memo reads. Since 2009, versions of Marsy's Law have been implemented in over a dozen states. However, as more states are adopting Marsy's Law, there is a growing trend around the country of police citing the law to prevent the release of names of victims as well as officers involved in use-of-force incidents. Michael O'Hear, a Marquette University Law School professor, said that while none of the wording in Marsy's Law specifically applies to law enforcement, the amendment generally reinforces state constitutional protections for victim privacy. So a law enforcement agency may choose to withhold names of everyone involved in a shooting until the investigation is completed to "not take any chances" at violating Marsy's Law, O'Hear said. "Oftentimes, when law enforcement officers are involved in a shooting, it's because they are in what they perceive to be a self-defense situation. And so a law enforcement officer who was facing a threat from another person could at least arguably be regarded as a victim," O'Hear said. "So in these situations, you have some ambiguity sometimes about who the victim is." The Wisconsin Justice Initiative has been critical of Marsy's Law, and worked to challenge the constitutional amendment on grounds that voters were not accurately informed about the implications of the amendment when they passed it with an overwhelming 75% majority. But the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied this, ruling in May that the amendment was properly enacted into law. According to an advisory from Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul published in May 2021, Marsy's Law does not "create an absolute denial of access to information about victims contained in records," but in some instances strengthens policies that favor limiting access. Records custodians must weigh whether certain factors make the public's right to information a priority over a victim's right to privacy. O'Hear said that until Marsy's Law faces more challenges in court, there are not clear guidelines for what the amendment means for access to public records in Wisconsin. "I have gotten sense from talking with lawyers around the state that there remains some confusion and inconsistency from county to county in terms of how Marsy's Law is being interpreted and implemented," O'Hear said. " ... Marsy's Law is still fairly new, and there are a number of other bodies of law that it is in a certain amount of tension with, and ultimately will be up to the courts to figure out how to resolve these tensions." More: Oshkosh police cite Marsys Law to withhold names of officers who shot suspects RELATED: Wisconsin Supreme Court rules Marsy's Law was properly enacted into law Police departments vary on release of names since Marsy's Law After a police officer shot and wounded a 34-year-old Oshkosh man in June, authorities released the name of the man who was shot but withheld the name of the officer who fired their gun even after the investigation was completed and the Winnebago County District Attorney cleared the officer of any wrongdoing. The Oshkosh man, Benson Thao, was charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety for pointing a loaded rifle at officers during the incident. He remains in Winnebago County Jail. But this isn't a standard across all departments in the area. In September 2022, the Outagamie County District Attorney's Office released the names of two Appleton police officers who fatally shot 33-year-old Daniel Pesavento during a welfare check that August. The district attorney reviewed the Wisconsin Department of Justice's investigation and determined the officers' shooting was justified. In August, the Outagamie County Sheriff's Office released the name of a Grand Chute police officer who shot a man holding a fake gun within a day of the incident. Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli. Thanks to our subscribers for making this coverage possible. Your support helps local journalism. This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Names of people involved in fatal shooting in Neenah still withheld Around 4,000 union workers at Mack Trucks facilities went on strike Monday morning after rejecting a tentative contract Sunday evening. Striking Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida are represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, which is also actively engaged in separate negotiations with three major Detroit automakers. Nearly three-quarters 73 percent of workers voted against the tentative deal, UAW President Shawn Fain said in a letter sent Sunday to the director of employee relations at Volvo, which owns Mack. Mack workers walked out at 7 a.m., according to the union, upping the pressure on the automotive industry. More than 30,000 UAW workers across 22 states are now on the picket line, the UAW said in a statement released Monday. Im inspired to see UAW members at Mack Trucks holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it, Fain said in the statement. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement with Mack on Oct. 1 that included a 10 percent wage increase in the first year, a compounded 20 percent wage increase over the five-year contract, a $3,500 bonus upon contract ratification and a guarantee that health insurance premiums would not increase. But the union and the company remain at odds on issues including wage increases, cost of living allowances (COLA), job security, wage progression, skilled trades, shift premium, holiday schedules, work schedules, health and safety, seniority, pension, 401(k), healthcare and prescription drug coverage, and overtime, Fain wrote in the letter. A Mack Trucks spokesperson pointed The Hill to a Sunday statement in which Mack President Stephen Roy said the company was surprised and disappointed by the unions decision to strike, a decision it called unnecessary. The statement also emphasized that the UAW had called the tentative agreement a record for the heavy truck industry. The members have the final say, and its their solidarity and organization that will win a fair contract at Mack, Fain said. The UAW did not return The Hills request for comment. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) voiced his support for the striking workers in his district. I stand with UAW 171 today as they begin a strike in Hagerstown. Union workers built this country to what it is today, and I have and will always fight to ensure American workers and their families have the benefits they so rightly earned. We support you every step of the way, Trone said on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. The UAW has set expectations high in its bargaining with Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, the three major Detroit automakers against which the UAW launched targeted strikes at selected facilities Sept. 15. The initial strikes targeted one assembly plant for each automaker. The union later expanded strikes to include 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses and two additional Ford and GM assembly plants. The UAW announced Friday that it would not expand the strikes after GM agreed to bring electric vehicle facilities into the UAW contract, unionizing roles around which there had been significant uncertainty, and progress with all three automakers. Updated at 12:44 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. United Airlines passengers endured a 14-hour "flight to nowhere" after their plane turned around. The flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, was rerouted after Hamas launched attacks on Israel from Gaza on Saturday. Many airlines are canceling flights to Israel. United Airlines passengers en route from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, Israel, endured a 14-hour "flight to nowhere" after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched surprise attacks on Israel from Gaza on Saturday. Data from the flight-tracking website FlightAware indicates the Boeing 777 aircraft left California at 8:26 p.m. Friday for the nearly 7,500-mile journey. The flight had originally been scheduled to land in Tel Aviv at 8 p.m. local time Saturday. About halfway through the flight, as Hamas attacked, the plane made a U-turn over Greenland and headed back to San Francisco, landing at 10:23 a.m. local time Saturday. A screenshot of United's October 6 flight to Tel Aviv that had to U-turn over Greenland. FlightAware "The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority," a United spokesperson told Insider on Monday. "We operated two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday and accommodated our customers, crews, and employee travelers who were at the airport." The two other flights were from the airline's Washington, DC, and Newark, New Jersey, hubs both completing their journeys to Tel Aviv and departing back to the US late Saturday and early Sunday. "Our Tel Aviv flights will remain suspended until conditions allow them to resume," United told Insider. Dozens of airlines have canceled flights to Israel as the fighting continues, suggested by data from the aviation-analytics company Cirium that was shared with Insider. Among the bunch are carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air France. According to a Monday update on its website, the Israeli flag carrier, El Al, said it was still operating flights as scheduled, explaining it "operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces." The British carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, however, both told Insider on Monday they were continuing to serve Israel. Each said it was closely monitoring the situation and had instated a flexible booking policy. "The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying program to Israel remains under constant review," Virgin told Insider. "We would advise anyone booked to travel to check their flight status on the website before traveling to the airport." United's unexpected detour is not the first time a plane had to turn back to its origin due to unforeseen circumstances. In January, heavy rain and flooding in New Zealand forced an Auckland-bound Emirates jet to U-turn mid-flight and return to Dubai. The entire journey lasted about 13 hours. A month later, passengers on an Air New Zealand flight spent 16 hours in the sky after an electrical fire broke out at New York's JFK International Airport, forcing the plane to turn back to Auckland. Read the original article on Insider FILE - Cars and trucks move in a traffic jam. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The University of Minnesota conducted a nationwide study on commuting patterns and access to jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Office job commutes were substantially changed during the pandemic due to telework, economic change and other factors due to COVID-19, according to new research at the Universitys Accessibility Observatory. While the immediate effects of telework like less road congestion and lower transit ridership have been well documented, this study dove deeper to look at the impacts on three modes of transportation: auto, transit and biking. The auto analysis in the study found limits to job access due to traffic congestion during peak morning travel were almost entirely eliminated. Researchers measured the number of jobs a typical worker traveling by auto, transit or bike can reach in 30 minutes or fewer on average. The study found during the pandemic, the top 50 most populus cities in the U.S. saw significant increases to access to jobs by driving during the morning peak. Compared to pre-pandemic travel patterns a typical worker in 2021 could have access to 42% more jobs in Minneapolis, with the largest increase of job accessibility being in Atlanta with an 82% increase. "These are huge changes to which opportunities people could access with a car without any big infrastructure or land use changes," said senior researcher Andrew Owen, lead author of the reports. "Underlying the accessibility increases is a drop in peak drivership that has softened but is not going away if we can take advantage of this and provide real alternatives to driving alone, we are hopeful that during our lifetimes we can create solutions for congestion without freeway expansion." Despite recent efforts by sea urchin harvesters to reduce protections for southern sea otters under the Endangered Species Act, the species is still at risk, federal officials say. The fuzzy marine mammals, often seen swimming around San Luis Obispo County coastal areas such as Morro Bay and Avila Beach, will remain classified as threatened, according to a species status assessment report published on Sept. 19 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Were very pleased with the decision, said Gena Bentall, director and senior scientist for Central Coast-based nonprofit organization Sea Otter Savvy. Were keenly aware of the threats that the southern sea otter population faces in its current status, so Im certainly pleased, but not surprised. Southern sea otters used to populate the coast from Oregon to Baja California in Mexico. However, the maritime fur trade during the 18th and 19th centuries decimated the species. Now, fewer than 3,000 otters, according to the most recent count in 2019, occupy the California coast from around Pigeon Point near San Jose to Gaviota State Beach in Santa Barbara County. The current population likely all descended from about 50 sea otters that survived the fur trade near Bixby Creek in Monterey County, according to Fish and Wildlife. A sea otter and her pup rest in a kelp bed in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. Sea Otter Savvy staff and volunteers counted roughly 50 otters calling the Morro Bay estuary home in recent weeks, according to Bentall. Fish and Wildlife has estimated California could host more than 17,000 southern sea otters, provided there is enough food for the creatures. The southern sea otter was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1977. Although there have been dedicated efforts in the decades since to restore the species population, those efforts have been met with several challenges. Threats from diseases, parasites and shark bites hinder southern sea otters from repopulating to historical numbers, especially along the Central Coast, according to the Fish and Wildlife assessment. Sea otters rest in a kelp bed in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. Petition to delist southern sea otters filed by sea urchin harvesters In their March 2021 petition to delist the southern sea otter from the federal Endangered Species Act, the California Sea Urchin Commission and Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara argued that disease and shark predation do not threaten the sea otter with extinction in the foreseeable future but are, at most, natural checks on the species continued expansion. The growth of the southern sea otter population along the Central Coast has created issues for the sea urchin harvesters, the petition added. Sea otters voraciously consume sea urchins, depleting the stock and frustrating sustainable harvest efforts, the petition said. Regulations resulting from the sea otters listing also interfere with sustainable harvest (of sea urchins) by exposing urchin divers to the threat of significant criminal and civil penalties should their activities disturb an otter. The petitioners noted that, while they want the southern sea otter population to recover, they hope that Fish and Wildlife will implement legal protections for fishermen to reduce their risk of liability for disturbing otters while harvesting sea urchins. Tailoring disturbance regulations designed to protect the southern sea otter would have conservation benefits by creating the goodwill needed for further recovery action, the petition said. A sea otter rests in a kelp bed in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. Shark bites one of largest contributors to sea otter deaths The number of southern sea otters bitten by great white sharks appears to have increased in the past two to three decades, leading to more of the marine mammals dying, according to the Fish and Wildlife assessment. White sharks dont eat sea otters, said Mike Harris, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Rather, they make exploratory bites that can be harmful enough to be deadly, Harris said. Roughly half of the sea otter carcasses found along the Central Coast exhibit shark bites, Harris added. Shark bites have likely contributed to the southern sea otters inability to repopulate its historical range, according to the assessment. Sea otters rest in a kelp bed in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. White sharks and sea otters have likely always coexisted, Harris noted. But were seeing a noticeable shift in white shark habitat that may be a result of climate change and warming oceans, he said. Their habitats may be overlapping more now than ever. Warming ocean waters may be pushing white shark habitat north. Excess atmospheric heat is mostly absorbed by the ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. As more greenhouse gasses are emitted from human activities, heat radiated from the Earths surface is trapped in the atmosphere. That has caused the upper levels of the ocean to heat up significantly over the past few decades, NOAA says. Harris said hes seen a definite increase in the number of sea otters killed by white shark bites. Its one source of mortality we know were not going to be able to manage, he said. So, it puts more emphasis on our ability to manage the protozoal infections were seeing come from our waterways. Sea otters rest in a kelp bed in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. Polluted waterways put sea otters at risk Sea otters have been killed by infections that stem from polluted streams and creeks that flow into their habitat. For example, three sea otters one in San Simeon in 2020 and two in Cayucos in 2022 were found to have died from an unusual parasite shed from cat feces called Toxoplasma gondii, according to Fish and Wildlife. Sarcocystis neurona, a parasite shed from the feces of non-native Virginia opossums, has also historically killed sea otters along the Central Coast, according to Harris. Sea otters are susceptible to pollutants in the water particularly because they live near the shoreline where stormwater carrying toxins and parasites rushes out. Additionally, the otters eat a large amount of filter-feeders, such as oysters, mussels and clams. Toxins and parasites can concentrate in the marine invertebrates and lead to infection in the sea otters. Sea otters rest in a kelp bed in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. How you can help southern sea otters survive Beyond ensuring waterways are kept as clean as possible by restoring natural vegetation and eliminating invasive species, there is one simple action humans can take to help southern sea otters recover: keep a safe distance. Sea otters live paycheck to paycheck in terms of the amount of energy they use, Bentall said. Their survival is based on whether or not theyre able to consume enough food each day, she added. So when humans recreating in the ocean such as on kayaks, paddleboards or boats get too close to otters, the wild animals must use some of their energy to get away and find safety, Bentall said. Sea Otter Savvy advises people to stay at least five kayak lengths, or roughly 60 feet, away from sea otters at all times. If the sea otters are looking at you while youre observing them, youre likely too close, Bentall said. Its really hard sometimes just watching the news every day ... (and wondering) what impact you can make positively in the world, she said. Giving wildlife wherever you are extra space to do what they need to do to survive is a powerful act. A sea otter rolls in the water in the Morro Bay Harbor near Morro Rock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that southern sea otters remain a threatened species. U.S. airlines have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have also issued travel waivers allowing passengers scheduled to fly to and from Israel to rebook. Uniteds waiver also covers flights to and from Amman, Jordan. We continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed, American said in a statement. Delta said it is suspending operations to and from Israel through Oct. 31. "Our hearts are with those who are impacted as our people work to find safe alternatives for customers trying to depart TLV," a statement from the airline said. "Delta will continue to explore options for customers to safely exit TLV via seats that become available on our partner airlines." Delta noted that flights to and from Tel Aviv on partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic should remain available and bookable on its website. It also noted some flights through Oct. 17 may inaccurately show up as operating on some platforms but emphasized that those flights are canceled. United Airlines said its flights will remain suspended "until conditions allow them to resume." If your flight was canceled by a U.S. airline, you are entitled to a full refund even if you bought a nonrefundable ticket, according to Department of Transportation regulations. The State Department has also issued travel advisories for the region, urging increased caution for American citizens headed to Israel and the West Bank, and suggesting not to travel to Gaza. Terrorist groups, lone-wolf terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities, the advisory says. Violence can occur in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza without warning. There has been a marked increase in demonstrations throughout Israel, some with little or no warning. The Federal Aviation Administration posted a notice to pilots in the region. "Due to the ongoing conflict situation between Israel and Gaza, operators are advised to exercise extreme caution when operating within the Tel Aviv flight information region," the notice to air missions (NOTAM) issued Saturday said. "Flight crews should remain in contact with air traffic control at all times while operating within the (region)." International airlines' response Many European and Asian airlines also suspended service to Tel Aviv. Israels national carrier, El Al, continues operating flights. Air France said it suspended services to Tel Aviv until further notice after coordinating with French and Israeli authorities. Germanys Lufthansa, which suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday, said Monday that the decision regarding its planes and those of its subsidiaries was made due to the still unclear developing security situation in Israel and after an intensive analysis of the situation. The Lufthansa Group includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines as well as Lufthansa itself. Hong Kongs main carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, said that in view of the latest situation in Israel, it was canceling its Tel Aviv flights scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. Virgin Atlantic canceled its service between Londons Heathrow Airport to Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday, as well as the return flight from Tel Aviv to London on Wednesday. Budget airline Wizz Air, which flies to Israel from Abu Dhabi and more than two dozen European airports, said it was canceling all flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. The U.K. discount carrier easyJet said that due to the evolving situation in Israel, it has decided to temporarily pause operations its flights from London Luton and Manchester airports to Tel Aviv. British Airways said its planning to continue operating flights to Israel over the coming days with adjusted departure times. Dutch carrier KLM said its scrubbing flights to Tel Aviv until and including Wednesday. Contributing: AP Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American, Delta and United suspend Israel flights and issue waivers WASHINGTON The U.S. Armys newest cross-functional team will focus on sustaining the force in real time, reducing logistics demands, improving supply distribution and providing power effectively on the battlefield, according to a top service official. Russias invasion of Ukraine has reminded the Army it can no longer rely on uncontested sustainment and logistics. The service is acknowledging it must adapt its approach to logistics to prepare for an adversary such as China and operate in one of the most challenging places on Earth. When the Army published its Multi-Domain Operations doctrine last year, it included a nine-page annex focused on the challenge of contested logistics. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth appointed Army Materiel Command to lead service efforts to determine how to deploy troops with weapons and equipment in an environment where they cannot expect to travel freely. In the spring, Army Futures Command stood up the Contested Logistics Cross-Functional Team to address the issue. Willie Nelson, a deputy to the commands chief, told Defense News the team already declared initial operational capability and hopes to reach full operational capability by the end of the year. The team, based at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, has named its first director, Col. Shane Upton. The service has started examining how it would design its logistics tail in a contested environment; experimenting with hybrid power, autonomous aircraft, watercraft and vehicles; and developing, in real time, systems that help provide more precise estimates of sustainment needs on a modern battlefield. But its now pursuing four lines of effort to approach contested logistics problem sets, Nelson said. Looking to data One of Army Materiel Commands top priorities is determining how to precisely track what is used on the battlefield so the service can better estimate how much equipment, spare parts, munitions, fuel and batteries troops need, Gen. Charles Hamilton, the commands chief, told Defense News in an interview. Hamilton said AMC has developed a predictive analysis suite that allows the service to predict prognostic and preventive maintenance. Data coming in, Hamilton explained, has allowed us to get left of a lot things that normally we wait for something to break or something runs out before we act. The monitoring capabilities in Ukraine also changed the Armys thought process on sustainment. What we clearly saw from this tool is, we used to say, factory to foxhole that was always a big thing. Now were saying foxhole to factory. We are are letting the requirements at the tactical level, the foxhole level, drive the industrial base and drive the organic industrial base, Hamilton said. Much of the work AMC is already doing in this area will feed into the cross-functional teams efforts to accelerate them. For example, the CFT will seek to advance more rapidly an automated preventative maintenance capability, which has been in prototyping for years, according to Nelson. The CFT will look at applications using artificial intelligence and machine learning to be able to provide precision sustainment, Nelson said. Think of a situation where youre having an ability to understand how rapid[ly] youre firing weapons, that is providing feedback directly to not only the commander and the warfighters, but your logisticians who are then providing just-in-time resupply or resupply at the rate of fire, Nelson said. Those are nirvana types of scenarios, but generally speaking the data and our ability to move data is making us get closer and closer to that type of reality. Demand reduction The Army wants to ensure it can lighten the logistics tail and is pursuing ways to reduce battlefield demand when it comes to parts, fuel, batteries and water, Nelson noted, but one way to gain efficiencies is through hybrid energy technology and pursuing alternatives to fossil fuels. Incorporating hybrid technology would reduce demand for gas and also give vehicles the ability to travel farther for longer periods of time, Nelson said. Making vehicles like Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles hybrid also has a significant warfighting benefit, Nelson noted, because they could run sensors and systems with the engine off, avoiding a heat signature for the enemy to detect while also saving gas. The Army has already done a great deal of work examining the possibility of making tactical wheeled vehicles and combat vehicles in hybrid versions, and could convert some platforms in the coming years. As a means to tackle demand reduction, as the CFT is calling the line of effort, it is pursuing ways to reduce the weight of tanks and other vehicles, according to Nelson. However, the Army will not sacrifice protection, Nelson noted, so the service is looking at technologies, such as additive manufacturing using nonmetal or ceramic materials. Special delivery The CFT will also tackle improving supply distribution to the battlefield. In particular, Nelson said, the Army is interested in pursuing autonomous resupply capability. While the service has looked at a variety of capabilities and experimented in this area, this capability is not ready for prime time. Autonomous resupply would reduce operating expenses, costs and manpower, Nelson said. The service will look at a wide variety of options from manned-unmanned teaming to semi-autonomous ground-, air- and water-based platforms. How do we get stuff from the point of origin to the point of need in a most expeditious way? How do we bring autonomy into that? Nelson wondered. Troops are hoisted up by a UH-60 Black Hawk flown by Nebraska National Guardsmen during a drill used to practice evacuation in a contested environment. (Sgt. Dustin Stewart/U.S. Army National Guard) While plenty of development work remains, he added, there is some technology thats ready for the CFT to pursue when it comes to water or air resupply. Some could be drawn from industries like oil and gas, he noted. At previous iterations of the large-scale exercise Project Convergence, the Army demonstrated autonomous resupply using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Is it perfect? No, Nelson said, but it starts to open up other ideas. Could you do [casualty evacuation]? Could you do medical evacuation? AMCs Hamilton said autonomous resupply will be huge. I am all in, he added. The commander also said he recently tasked the Contested Logistics CFT to not just think about autonomous resupply in a defensive posture but from an offensive perspective as well, including the idea of using autonomous resupply decoys with explosives to deter the enemy. If you pick the wrong one, you may get blown up. It may look like a sustainment convoy, but it might be something else, he said. Charged up The Army needs to determine how it can use advanced power on the battlefield, according to Nelson, and it has already started this effort, including considering technology that manufactures water out of air. But one of the more mundane issues is addressing the rechargeable batteries in the field. The CFT will work with the acquisition branch to achieve a level of standardization around batteries. Were at some unbelievable number of different types of batteries across the force, be it with a dismounted soldier that powers a radio or powers another thing, all the way up to vehicle batteries, Nelson said. While vehicle batteries are becoming more standardized, its more difficult to develop a standard for small, light, rechargeable batteries, he added. Recharging batteries is another challenge. Using gas-filled generators works to charge batteries (as well as power command posts, for example), but the Army wont want to drag a bunch of generators to the battlefield in the future, Nelson said. AMCs Hamilton agreed the Army needs alternatives to generators. Weve got to get rid of the generator. Ive got to get to batteries. Theyre quieter, they are lighter, he said. U.S. sending warships, fighters to Israel: Pentagon chief Xinhua) 10:10, October 09, 2023 WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that the Pentagon is sending warships and fighter jets to the Eastern Mediterranean region in a show of support for Israel amid escalating conflicts between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters. Austin said in a statement that he had directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which consists of an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Pentagon 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," the defense chief said. He added that the U.S. government "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions." The first round of U.S. security assistance to Israel "will begin moving" on Sunday "and arriving in the coming days," Austin said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, take refuge at a school in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA/JERUSALEM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. The Israeli army continued its extensive airstrikes on targets in Gaza on Sunday as Hamas militants are fighting with Israeli soldiers on Israeli territories. Hamas militants remained in control of several communities in southern Israel on Sunday evening, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers engaged in gunfights with them, the IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Zaka, an Israeli rescue service, said in a statement that it has collected the remains of about 260 young women and men who were partying at the Nova festival, an outdoor music event in a rural farmland area near the Gaza-Israel fence. Many festival attendees were still missing on Sunday night. Social media was flooded with people trying to locate their relatives and friends after Hamas militants raided the festival and other locations in the area as part of the massive surprise attack on Israel that included the firing of thousands of rockets. - - - - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that the Pentagon is sending warships and fighter jets to the Eastern Mediterranean region in a show of support for Israel amid escalating conflicts between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters. Austin said in a statement that he had directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which consists of an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Pentagon 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," the defense chief said. He added that the U.S. government "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions." - - - - The Security Council on Sunday held emergency consultations behind closed doors following massive attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants in occupied Gaza. The council did not come up with any document after the consultations. Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the United Nations, said before the consultations that Israel's impunity and international inaction are to blame for the current situation. "Regrettably, history, for some media and politicians, starts when Israelis are killed," he said in a statement. "This is not a time to let Israel double down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed." - - - - Bangladesh has denounced the ongoing armed conflict between Israel and Palestine and deplored the resultant loss of innocent civilian lives and the injury of victims, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. In a statement, it said Bangladesh underlines that escalation of conflicts and violence benefits no party. "We urge both Israeli and Palestinians to exercise maximum restraint and calls for immediate ceasefire to avoid further loss of innocent lives from both sides," said the statement. It said Bangladesh holds that living under the Israeli occupation and forced settlements in Palestinian territory will not bring peace in the region. "Therefore, Bangladesh supports a two-state solution, Palestine and Israel, living side by side as independent states free of occupation following UN (Security Council) Resolutions No. 242 and 338, which could bring lasting peace and stability in the region," the statement added. Palestinian children who fled their homes due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, are seen playing as they take refuge at a school in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian children who fled their homes due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, take refuge at a school in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, take refuge at a school in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian children who fled their homes due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, are seen playing as they take refuge at a school in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air and artillery strikes, take refuge at a school in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) WASHINGTON The U.S. Army is expecting a positive progress report toward achieving a clean audit for fiscal 2023, the services comptroller told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. While the final reports wont be released until November, we are really hopeful that this will be the first year for the Army that we will actually be able to close some of our material weaknesses, which means that we have been able to prove to the auditors in a couple of different areas that we have our documentation and we know what we are doing, Caral Spangler said. If the Army can get closure on some of those weaknesses, Spangler added, it would be the first time. The Pentagon has gone through a formal audit cycle for five years and has not yet passed an audit. The auditor for the Army issued a disclaimer of opinion in FY22, meaning there were improvements toward a successful audit but still work to be done to provide enough evidence to support transactions and other things in order to render an opinion. In FY22, the Army transitioned its older transactions system to a modern platform that includes all existing reconciliations and provides users with improved data analytics capabilities that help them accomplish key audit and financial management activities, according to last years audit report. The Army also successfully addressed roughly $1.2 billion in annual payments related to the Federal Employees Compensation Act, the report noted. The service also fixed roughly 50% of the FY21 finding and recommendations dealing with information technology general controls across 20 systems, which also helps the Armys ability to secure decision-making data, the report added. Spangler noted the Army retired one accounting system and received a good opinion on the other accounting systems as well as its munitions process, which benefits the entire Defense Department because it relies on the Army for that work. The Army isnt required to pass a full audit until FY27, Spangler added. However, the service is required to pass an audit of its working capital fund in FY26, then an audit of its general fund the following fiscal year. The Army is working through roughly 13 weaknesses cited in the general fund and 14 in the working capital fund. We have to work through them methodically and try and close them one by one as we get toward that day when we hope well get a favorable opinion, Spangler said. One area where the Army made improvements, she explained, is how the service balances its checkbook or fund balance with the U.S. Treasury. Weve been able to show that we have reduced our undistributed balances to really small numbers so that the auditors arent worried about them anymore, she said. They have better confidence that the numbers that are going into that fund balance item on our balance sheet are documented, and our reconciliations between our different kinds of systems the supply systems and the accounting systems and the logistics systems that that data is passing better with more accuracy. So its really improving our data reliability and making our numbers that are on the balance sheet more reliable. WASHINGTON The Army is hoping progress made at Talisman Sabre, the joint U.S.-Australian exercise this summer, could open doors for it to position more equipment in the Indo-Pacific region. The service sees expanding its pre-positioned equipment in the area as part of its contribution to deterring China. And the Army made headway this summer when it was permitted to permanently keep three company sets of equipment in Australia following Talisman Sabre, Gen. Charles Hamilton, Army Materiel Command commander, told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. The sets are considered pre-positioned stock, which means they consist of equipment kept at a high readiness level so they are ready to go for exercises or operations, he said. I would suspect that in the future, as we get more resources, we can get more equipment. That will become something that we can do with other great allies and partners as well, Hamilton added. The Army is still using exercises throughout the region to learn more about where it might make sense to leave equipment and what types and how much equipment should be included, he said. Maj. Gen. Jered Helwig, the Armys 8th Theater Sustainment Command commander, in an interview during the Talisman Sabre exercise said it the Army was granted approval to leave equipment in Australia around the time the exercise began. Pre-positioning the equipment there, Helwig said, will help us develop into Pathways exercises, really look at how you set up the ability to hold that equipment in places like Australia, [including] the maintenance and supply transactions that need to happen, so we can export those lessons learned to other exercises. Operation Pathways is a large exercise meant to assess Army capability in the Indo-Pacific region and the services connectivity to joint forces and allies and partners. Talisman Sabre included 13 participating countries and over 35,000 service members, Helwig said. He said it was an unprecedented opportunity to assess large-scale logistics and sustainment capabilities for the U.S. Army. The exercise included a joint logistics over-the-shore exercise where the Army took 17 M1 Abrams tanks off its Army Pre-positioned Stock Afloat ship and onto watercraft as well as 400 pieces of rolling stock, which had never been exercised at that size in the theater. And the service built a 3-mile pipeline from the shore to an airfield in less than 48 hours. Setting the conditions to build took about two weeks, Helwig said. The Army pumped water through the system due to Australias environmental concerns, but normally in an operation the pipeline would be used to transfer fuel. Talisman Sabre gave us an opportunity to see how a joint force works in real time, how they order supplies, how they issue to the different services, etc., Hamilton said. But the process was working very well for the Australian joint force. WASHINGTON The U.S. Army has adjusted its pursuit of three robotic combat vehicles of different sizes, instead moving forward with a single size that fits the mission needs and can keep up with crewed combat vehicles, according to the services program executive officer for ground combat systems. We dont really need a light or a medium [RCV] as a standalone. What we need is a platform that, depending on the mission payloads you choose, would fill a role or another. So its really now about payload, Maj. Gen. Glenn Dean told Defense News in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. That was something that came out of our experimentation at Fort Cavazos [formerly Fort Hood, Texas], with the 1st Cavalry Division last year, he said. The Army had decided the heavy capability would be deferred because operating a large-caliber, direct-fire weapon remotely was a very, very difficult problem, he noted. The Army did evaluate a heavy capability using old M1113 vehicles. The service entered the experiment with surrogate light and medium robotic combat vehicles, thinking the RCV light, medium and heavy were distinct mission roles with distinct platforms, Dean said. But the outcome of the experiment [found] we really need a modular platform that kind of falls in between the two [light and medium], he added. It can be a little bit bigger than we were allowing the light to be, but it doesnt need to be as big as we were expecting the medium to be because what we found is the available options for payloads that exist in the defense industry right now could fit on that smaller platform. Dirty work: Robots take on complex obstacles in US Army exercise The size of the platform allows the RCV to be sling-loaded from a helicopter and transported using palletized load systems. There is also an objective requirement to fit inside a CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopter, Dean noted. In September, the Army chose four companies to design and build prototypes for the new RCV: McQ, Textron Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems and Oshkosh Defense. The companies have until August 2024 to build the prototypes and deliver them to the Army for testing and evaluation with soldiers. This marks the first phase of a competition planned to eventually become a program of record. The companies will first focus on reconnaissance payloads, Dean said. The Army wants each design to incorporate the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station-Javelin as well as a tethered drone of each companys choice. The Army is expected to choose a single winner in the second phase of the competition in fiscal 2025 to deliver up to nine prototypes the following year. The service has a production decision slated for FY27; fielding to the first unit is set for FY28. The Army will eventually choose more payloads, Dean added. Some other capabilities include smoke to provide screening; electronic warfare technology; counter-drone systems; and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear sensor detection. Imagine the RCV is a robot with a deck, and then what we put on the deck defines what it does, Dean said. Of course its not just the robot: Its the communication system, its what we call the warrior-machine interface. Thats how the soldiers operate it remotely. And then thats got to be packaged inside a control vehicle. The Army has learned a great deal from QinetiQ-built surrogate RCV-Light systems that went through two National Training Center rotations at Fort Irwin, California, Dean said. The surrogates were used by the opposing force the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, nicknamed Black Horse at the center. Black Horse has prove[d] tremendously adaptive in how they have employed the robots, Dean said. They had robots leading flank attacks with smoke and electronic warfare all employed at the same time. Theyve used them for an economy of force, and we had two robots holding off an entire U.S. infantry company and performing very successfully. Lessons from the experimentation are helping the service map out how it might use its robotic capability, and that ultimately may adjust some of the concepts and some of the requirements that we pursue, Dean added. Simultaneously, the Armys Combat Capabilities Development Command is experimenting on payload options using the services Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport robotic vehicle. While the Army is pursuing the RCV for heavy maneuver forces, that Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport vehicle could still be the robot of choice for lighter formations, Dean said. The robotic combat vehicle can keep up with Strykers and Bradleys, whereas the transport vehicle might struggle in the upper speed and range required for those formations. Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport is a very capable, small platform, and were seeing a lot of value with experimentation, Dean noted. WASHINGTON The U.S. Army is ready to pursue a prototyping program for an electric light reconnaissance vehicle beginning in fiscal 2024, pending funding approval from Congress, the services program executive officer for combat support and combat services support told Defense News. Were ready to get working on that program, Brig. Gen. Luke Peterson said in an interview ahead of the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. Itll be a prototyping effort, and we will learn from that to help inform a fully developed capabilities development document. The Army already approved an abbreviated capabilities development document for the eLRV, and Petersons office has partnered with the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore, Georgia, to develop requirements. Using some funding in FY22 to get started, the program office conducted market research that included purchasing some commercial electric vehicles in order to test them against an operational mission profile, Peterson explained. We took these platforms up to Grayling, Michigan, where we have test facilities, and we put them through their paces, he said. The intent of that was to identify what are going to be the operational and/or technical gaps that we need to think about as we solidify this requirement and initiate this program. The Army evaluated General Motors Hummer EV, a Canoo platform and a Lordstown Motors truck, Peterson explained, describing them as three disparate vehicles offering different technical solutions. The evaluation team is now in the process of preparing a test report, which will feed into the prototyping effort, Peterson added. At this point, vehicle solutions that could be chosen for the prototyping effort might include both hybrid and all-electric options. I think we all believe that full electric and todays battlefield is probably a stretch given the charging capabilities that would be required, Peterson said, but we want to see what industry can do. Should the Army choose an all-electric platform, the eLRV would likely be the first to enter the force with that capability. As part of the Armys climate strategy it released in February 2022, the service has a goal to modernize its current platforms by adding mature electrification technologies, and field purpose-built, hybrid-drive tactical vehicles by 2035, then move to fully electric tactical vehicles by 2050 to include a charging capability to meet the all-electric fleets needs. Meanwhile, the Army is waiting for an FY24 budget in order to initiate efforts to work on converting some Humvees and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to hybrid power. The presidents budget request reflected funding in order to initiate those efforts, Peterson said. From a requirements perspective, our analysis shows that getting after increased fuel efficiency fits within the threshold and objective of the requirements for both of those platforms. The Army is engaged in prototyping efforts to hybridize both the Humvee and JLTV through its Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, or RCCTO. Those vehicles are in an integration phase right now, Peterson added. We hope to get those into testing here sometime next year. Those tests will help inform what could be the final potential design for converting the vehicles, according to Peterson. Beyond that we are looking at different acquisition strategies, leveraging what were going to learn from RCCTO, he said, plus how it could be matured to a manufacturing readiness level in order to cut hybrid capability into the production line of the vehicles. Converting the vehicles, Peterson acknowledged, will take significant investment up front. JLTV and Humvee, as they stand today, were not purpose-built to be hybrid vehicles. So when youre adding on capability, how do you integrate that effectively without taking away any of the capabilities for the warfighter? That is the analysis that we are learning from the RCCTO, he said. Were very excited for our soldiers to get some of those capabilities that will only help increase their operational warfighting capability, their force protection, he said, but at the same time we have to make sure they have the power when they need it, so we think a hybrid approach at this phase is probably the right level of maturity to be going after. WASHINGTON U.S. Army commanders overseeing forces in the Indo-Pacific outlined on Monday their work with allies and partners in the region to sustain the supply lines that allow the service to maintain forces throughout the broad, diffuse area. This mesh network of friends, partners and allies helps us to accomplish the things that the Army needs to have done, Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, who commands the Armys I Corps, said at the Association of the U.S. Armys annual conference. One of those things is weve got to build interior lines. Brunson oversees Operation Pathways, which focuses on collaborating with regional partners like Japan, South Korea and Australia to expand and sustain the U.S. Armys role in the Pacific through a series of military exercises. He noted I Corps spends eight to 10 months of the year in the Pacific campaigning a term that describes the ongoing rotation of forces throughout the region to maintain readiness in the event of a conflict. The Biden administration in recent years has focused on bolstering U.S. force posture throughout the Pacific with the aim of deterring China via a series of exercises and basing agreements with countries such as the Philippines. I would say Operation Pathways this year was unique from a logistics perspective, said Maj. Gen. Jered Helwig, the head of the Armys 8th Theater Sustainment Command, based out of Hawaii. When you take all of those exercise[s] and look at it holistically from a logistics and sustainment perspective, then your sustainment as a warfighting function, your logistics as a warfighting function, is able to actualize and pull on all those threads that are required to really get after the learning objectives, Helwig added. The two-star noted that keeping Army equipment in places like Australia allows the force to maintain a presence in the Pacific. The country would serve as a useful starting point if a conflict were to erupt in the region. As logisticians, we need to be successful and to understand the theater and to really set conditions for those joint interior lines, Helwig said, and build out that architecture that we know that, if we dont rehearse in competition, will be very difficult to execute in crisis. The multilateral military cooperation also extends to other readiness areas, such as blood sharing. Weve got a range, a range of things that were doing with blood, from research and development with blood products, to blood sharing agreements with our partners, said Maj. Gen. Paula Lodi, the head of the Armys 18th Medical Command. WASHINGTON The U.S. Army, focused on meeting ambitious climate-related goals, is going to fall short of some of its objectives, including failing to field an all-electric, non-tactical vehicle fleet in the near term. However, the service is making progress in other areas, including rapidly expanding the use of microgrids at installations. The service in February 2022 released a climate strategy detailing a wide range of goals, from installing microgrids on all installations by 2035 to fielding fully electric tactical vehicles by 2050. More and more Americans and people all around the world, of course, are experiencing the effects of climate change, Rachel Jacobson, the assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy and the environment, told Defense News. Our military installations are not immune from that in terms of the damage caused by the effects of climate change. But it goes beyond that it interferes with our training. Over the past year, the world has seen a multitude of climate disasters. A fire, for instance, devastated the Hawaiian island of Maui, while Canadian wildfires raged for months over the summer, polluting the air over large swaths of the U.S. and confining many indoors for days at a time. We have to pay attention to this, Jacobson said. If we ignore it, we compromise our readiness. The services climate strategy seeks to address not only how forces would operate in a climate-altered world, but how the Army can mitigate its own greenhouse gases to reduce the effects of climate change. Today, more than a year after the strategys release, the Army says its seeing advances in many areas. Nearly half of the Armys installation electricity, for instance, is coming from renewable sources like wind and solar, and the service is readying to implement a new policy that will guide it in affordably constructing energy-efficient and sustainable buildings. But there have been holdups in other areas, such as electric vehicles. The strategys implementation plan is intended to be a dynamic document, Jacobson noted. Its supposed to be updated every five years, and then were also going to do midcourse reviews to see if anything has to be tweaked or changed there. Were constantly going to be adapting based on conditions. Smart cities The Army has started establishing installation climate resilience plans tailored to specific vulnerabilities based on climate assessments for the region, Jacobson said. That way, threats of climate change can be incorporated holistically because youre not going to have the same situation in Alaska as you have in Florida or Georgia, she explained. So far, the service has completed six plans across the U.S., including for Fort Carson, Colorado; Anniston Army Depot, Alabama; U.S. Army Garrison Alaska, which includes Fort Wainwright; and Fort Bliss and Fort Cavazos in Texas; as well as Fort Stewart, Georgia. The Army is currently working on a plan for Fort Liberty, North Carolina. The service is close to publishing a new resilient building policy, Jacobson said, which is focused on assessing building projects to decide what sustainable materials and technology for energy efficiency should be used. It would allow for assessing how the higher costs of these materials might be balanced against efficiencies realized. A vehicle charges its battery at a solar-powered charging station at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., built as part of the Armys transition to a fully electric vehicle fleet. (Chris Putman/U.S. Defense Department) These installations are going to be the smart cities of the future. They need to be resilient and sustainable, Jacobson said. Already underway, in the planning stage, are three sustainable building projects: two at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state to begin over the next two years using either low-carbon concrete or mass timber, and a decarbonized barracks project at Fort Liberty. The Army also wants to install microgrids on all installations by 2035. For Jacobson, that effort has been enormously successful. There are already 28 operational microgrids at installations, with another nine under construction and 26 in the design phase, she said. These are typically done in partnership with a third party such as an energy or utility company. The Army, for example, last year executed a 30-year lease with Bright Canyon Energy for the company to use about 100 acres to establish a 26-megawatt microgrid at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos in California that will sustain the base for 14 days in the event of a grid outage. The company that privately funds and owns the microgrid will be able to take power off the grid and sell it to San Diego Gas and Electric, Jacobson said. Its a win-win situation for the partners that weve engaged with so far at some of these projects, she added. At Fort Liberty, the Army set up a floating solar array with accompanying battery storage capacity. Establishing the microgrids has become relatively easy, Jacobson said, because the Army has a lot of secure land to use for sites and there are many willing partners in the energy sector. In fiscal 2023, 45% of the Armys installation electricity was carbon-free, meaning the energy came from renewable sources like wind and solar that produce no carbon emissions. About 40% was purchased from a utility and about 5% from outside sources, Jacobson said. The plan remains to have all Army installations reach 100% carbon pollution-free electricity use by 2030. The service is also on a path to find an appropriate site for a small modular reactor essentially a small nuclear fission reactor on an Army base, according to Jacobson. Were looking at what the best combination would be, whether its Army-owned, Army-operated, whether its contractor-owned and contractor-operated, all of those different things, looking at what installations would be the best candidates, what companies are out there for when we are ready for a [request for proposals], she added. Jacobson said her goal is to release an RFP within the next year to begin the process. Struggling to go electric The Army had aimed to field an all-electric, light-duty, non-tactical vehicle fleet on all installations by 2027 as well as an all-electric, non-tactical vehicle fleet by 2035. The one place where, as youll see everywhere, not just our Army, where we might not meet aggressive targets is with electric vehicles, Jacobson said. No. 1, the auto manufacturers arent keeping up because theyve got such demand for these cars. For our purposes, they havent been able to keep up with the amounts that weve wished to procure. Additionally, the Army is struggling to build the charging infrastructure needed for the cars. Weve got to tackle that problem in advance of going too much further in expanding our fleet because theres no use having a parking lot full of [electric vehicles] without charging capacity, she said. The Army had planned to invest in more than 470 charging stations in 2022, according to the strategy. GM Defense is building the Army's Infantry Squad Vehicle, which is already being fielded to Army units. It has taken an ISV and turned it into an all-electric concept vehicle to show the Army the realm of the possible. (Courtesy of GM Defense) The service is working toward meeting its longer-term goal of bringing hybrid and electric tactical wheeled vehicles into the force along with a charging infrastructure. It is also partnering with companies as well as the Department of Energy and the Army Corps of Engineers to create a hydrogen-running rescue vehicle that creates its own power. One of the earliest efforts to develop an all-electric tactical vehicle the Electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle will begin prototyping in FY24. Four companies will supply eight commercial off-the-shelf prototypes. A second phase will require 12 prototypes for soldiers to evaluate and modify in the field. Additionally, the Army is weighing procuring three electric versions of the GM Defense-made Infantry Squad Vehicle along with charging stations that will be tested at Fort Irwin, California, in FY26 at the National Training Center. A climate-resilient force The Army has focused a great deal on preparing soldiers coming into the force to be resilient and to understand the effects of climate change. Jacobson pointed to a new consortium at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. Cadets have already come up with a project transforming food waste into energy use, which the Army will deploy at the school, as well as a computer model to address the carbon-free energy needs of each installation, she said. The Army wants to grow by 2035 the number of soldiers and civilians serving in strategic headquarters that have advanced credentials on climate change issues, the strategy said. By 2028, all Army operational and strategic exercises and simulations will incorporate climate change risks and threat considerations. The Army faces a more immediate challenge keeping up with training needs as climate change gets more extreme. With more hot or polluted days in 2023, efforts to avoid canceling training due to hazardous climate conditions continue; Jacobson said commanders are working on solutions. Additionally, because of climate-triggered disasters like wildfires, National Guard training days are diverted to responding to fight wildfires. In FY18, Guardsmen lost the equivalent of roughly 18,000 personnel days firefighting; by 2021, the most recent data available, they spent approximately 172,000 personnel days. You multiply that all over the place; hurricanes and floods and other sort of disasters, the National Guard is just being stretched thin, Jacobson said. The Army should be vigilant in collecting data on statistics so that we can remind Congress of the toll its taking. A US Navy carrier strike group is heading for Israel after the deadly Hamas attacks on Saturday. These ships which include the Navy's most advanced carrier are heavily defended and well armed. But they may be sailing into dangerous waters as Lebanon's Hezbollah becomes more involved. The US Navy dispatched a carrier strike group to waters near Israel after brutal attacks over the weekend by the Hamas militant group. The warships are well armed, but they may be entering a hostile environment, dangerous waters with foes who possess anti-ship missiles. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday announced the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean. This collection of ships includes the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the guided missile cruiser USS Normandy, and the guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt. Additionally, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the military has "taken steps to augment US Air Force F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region." It said "the US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this posture if required." The retasking of US firepower came a day after Hamas launched surprise attacks against Israel, killing at least 800 people mostly civilians and injuring thousands more. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded with a massive aerial bombarding campaign against what it says are Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, and has mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops, as well as heavy armor, in what appears to be preparations for a major ground invasion of the densely populated enclave. USS Gerald R. Ford, which is leading the strike group, is the Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier powerful ships that have long been used as a show of military might, often for the purpose of deterrence. The Ford, which carries a powerful air wing, is complemented by a collection of warships able to not only launch guided missiles but also engage incoming threats to the strike group. USS Gerald R. Ford sails in the Oslo fjord alongside Norwegian military vessels and aircraft on May 24, 2023. Norwegian Armed Forces/Onar Diggers Aase "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 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." It is unclear, exactly, where the strike group is headed, but an IDF spokesperson said on Monday that the American message behind its military movement toward Israel's shores is that any other militant group that might be planning to attack should reconsider its efforts. "What they're saying," the spokesperson said, "and these are not my words, is, to all of the other terrorist organizations in the region and their puppeteers in Tehran, their Iranian masters if you think that this is a good time to join in the fight and attack Israel from other fronts, think again. That is the American message, and that is a message that we totally approve." His comments come amid sporadic exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group that's allied with Hamas and likewise backed by Iran. Bouts of fighting on Sunday and Monday have raised concerns that a Hezbollah may become more involved and open up second front amid Israel's war against Hamas, sending the crisis spiraling into a deadly regional conflict and possibly drawing US forces into the mix. F-18 jet fighters are seen on the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford, on November 17, 2022 in Gosport, England. Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images A Hezbollah spokesperson already threatened the US, warning that if Washington intervenes directly then all of its assets will become targets. Hezbollah is considered to be the "world's most heavily armed non-state actor," according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank. It possesses a massive arsenal of ballistic, anti-tank, and anti-ship missiles, as well as a huge stockpile of unguided artillery rockets. Altogether, CSIS says Hezbollah's rocket arsenal may be as large as 130,000 munitions. But the fact that Hezbollah has anti-ship capabilities in particular means that the US forces inbound to the eastern Mediterranean may not be sailing through uncontested waters, as heavily defended and advanced as these warships are. According to CSIS, one such capability is the C-802 medium-range anti-ship cruise missile, which was developed by China decades ago and sold to Iran, which later developed its own variant. It has a range of nearly 75 miles and a warhead that weighs nearly 365 pounds. Another missile is the Russian-developed Yakhont, which has a range of over 186 miles and a warhead that weights 440 pounds. Hezbollah has fired anti-ship missiles at Israeli forces in the past. Firing on a US carrier strike group would be a major escalation, but forces in the Middle East, like the Houthis in Yemen, have taken shots at US warships, though not without punishment. Still, these capabilities are threats US crews will need to factor into any operations within range. Meanwhile, as tensions flare around Israel's border with Lebanon, the IDF is massing forces and heavy armor in what appears to be preparations for a major ground invasion. A spokesperson said on Monday that more than 300,000 reserve troops have been mobilized to northern and southern Israel, as fighter jets continue to bombard Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians and injuring several thousand more. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Monday said nine Americans were killed in Israel and other U.S. citizens were missing, following Saturday's unprecedented Hamas attack that killed 700 Israelis. "At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine U.S. citizens," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts," he added. A National Security spokesperson also confirmed the death of nine American citizens. The Americans killed in the conflict that began over the weekend have yet to be identified by officials in the United States. 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. Israel responded by pounding Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland and Katharine Jackson, editing by Ed Osmond) The US will probably go to war in Israel if other countries get involved, a retired general said. Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey said the US was keeping a close eye on countries such as Iran and Syria. The US on Sunday said it was sending an aircraft-carrier strike group to patrol waters near Israel. The US is likely to directly intervene with air and naval strikes if Israel's existence is threatened, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey said. Speaking on Sunday on MSNBC's "Weekends With Alex Witt," the retired four-star US Army general said such an escalation would likely occur only if Israel's Middle Eastern neighbors became heavily involved. "The other shoe we're waiting to see if it drops is, will Hezbollah intervene out of Lebanon with their 100,000 some odd rockets? Will the West Bank ignite? And what will the Syrians and the Egyptians do?" McCaffrey said. "I would suggest to you our support of Israel will be absolute, and if we see Syrian military intervention, active Iranian military intervention, we'll go to war," McCaffrey added. Hamas militants launched a series of surprise attacks and rocket barrages against Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds and capturing dozens of hostages along the border of the Gaza Strip. Israel has declared war in response. The Israel Defense Forces says 700 Israelis have been confirmed dead, while another 1,500 were wounded. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Health Ministry said at least 400 Palestinians had been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes, Reuters reported. The US announced Sunday that it's sending an aircraft-carrier strike group, including F-35s and F-16s, to patrol the Eastern Mediterranean and deter all-out war involving Israel's neighbors. "They're there for more than a show of force or a potential noncombatant evacuation," McCaffrey, who served in the Gulf War and led the US Southern Command from 1994 to 1996, told MSNBC. McCaffrey added that this was his own assessment of the conflict and that there "is absolutely no way" that any US official would concur publicly that America could go to war in Israel. "What I am saying is that if the existence of the state of Israel is at stake, if the Syrian military intervene, if Hezbollah started overwhelming the Israelis, in my judgment, at that point, we would consider actively intervening with air power and naval power," he said. It's unlikely that the US would send troops into Israel, given the Israel Defense Forces' ground capabilities, McCaffrey added. When asked whether other US and Israel allies would also step in, McCaffrey said it was too early to discuss such a question with just Hamas directly involved. "I think the deterrence factor is what the Biden administration is after right now. They want to make sure that the Syrian military and Hezbollah don't enter this fray," he said. "If they do, it's going to be a lethal threat to the existence of Israel." The US State Department and Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment sent outside regular business hours. Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, said Sunday that it had fired rockets into the Golan Heights, which Israel annexed from Syria in 1981. The shelling was in solidarity with the "Palestinian resistance," the group said. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Iranian officials had partnered with Hamas since August to prepare for the incursions into Israel, citing people within both Hamas and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said US officials "have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack" but noted the long-standing relationship between Hamas and Iran, the Journal reported. Meanwhile, Egypt's Foreign Affairs Ministry on Saturday warned Israel of "grave consequences" and "serious repercussions" from escalating tensions with the Palestinians. It called for both sides to exercise restraint and avoid civilian casualties, Reuters reported. Read the original article on Business Insider NEW YORK U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres is slamming critics of Israel for both siding the conflict that erupted when Hamas launched an audacious sneak attack on the Jewish state. Bolstering his place as one of the most outspoken congressional supporters of Israel, the Bronx lawmaker blasted a group of Harvard University students and Democratic Socialists of America activists for pointing to the Israeli occupation as a root cause of the brutal violence. Israel is the victim of a terrorist attack. Hamas is the perpetrator. Its as simple as that, Torres tweeted Monday. There are no both sides.' Torres district covers a swath of the Bronxs Riverdale neighborhood, the northwest Bronx community thats heavily Jewish. Torres posted a statement issued by a coalition of pro-Palestinian student groups that said they hold the Israeli regime responsible for all the unfolding violence. He lashed out at the Harvard student groups as hateful and expressed concern that they are destined to be leaders in society. Demonizing Israelto the point of denying the humanity of Israeli victims and the inhumanity of their perpetratorsis moral confusion masquerading as moral clarity, Torres said. Torres has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, a position that sets him apart from fellow progressive Democrats. He has in turn won healthy contributions from pro-Israel donors and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He denounced as repulsive statements by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the only lawmaker of Palestinian descent, and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Missouri, that criticized Israel. The Hamas attack on Israel, and the unfolding fierce retaliation by Israel, has put a sharp focus on Democrats split on unquestioned support the Jewish state. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denounced the Hamas attack in the strongest possible terms. But she also called for ceasefire and deescalation as the Israeli response ramps up. This violence will not solve the ongoing oppression and occupation in the region, the firebrand Queens/Bronx lawmaker said. 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) Academic exchange is an important way to promote academic development and cultural exchange between the two countries. Its implications are abroad and far-reaching. by Yuer Lin, Yang Shilong, Kuma Long NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (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." 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) 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. 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) 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. The US is sending squadrons of advanced fighter jets to prevent the war in Israel from escalating. US Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 jets will deploy in the region in a "deterrence posture." The US is also sending an advanced carrier and heavily armed strike group to Israel's coast. On Sunday, US military officials said they will send advanced fighter jets, including F-35s and F-15s, to patrol the Eastern Mediterranean region to deter the war in Israel from spreading beyond the country's borders. The deployment is a show of support toward one of the US's closest allies after Israel declared war on Hamas following a weekend of lethal fighting that the Israeli Defense Forces say has left 700 Israelis dead and 1,500 wounded by the Palestinian militant group. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports at least 313 people have been killed and 2,000 injured on the West Bank by Israeli counter-strikes. The jets will be deployed in addition to the US sending its most advanced aircraft carrier and heavily armed strike group to Israel's coast. "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," Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement released Sunday. "The US maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required." An unnamed official told CNN that about 20-25 fighters will head to the region, though the Department of Defense has not yet released an official number. The squadrons will be tasked with deterring the expansion of the war and preventing any potential Iranian aggression in the fighting. Insider previously reported that officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps partnered with Hamas since August to prepare for the breach of Israel's borders. Iran has long supported international militant groups, including Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, providing the groups with financial assistance and military hardware though there have been no widespread reports of involvement by the IRGC in this weekend's conflict in Israel outside helping to plan the attack by Hamas forces. Secretary Austin indicated that the American military maneuvers were made to strengthen the US's defensive posture and bolster regional deterrence efforts. He added that additional equipment and resources, "including munitions," will arrive in Israel in the coming days. Representatives for the Department of Defense declined to answer additional questions from Insider confirming how many jets are being deployed and when they will arrive at their destination, instead referencing the public statement made Sunday by Secretary Austin. Read the original article on Business Insider As the U.S. military moves an aircraft carrier and a strike group closer to Israel, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott said having American special forces available will be helpful during the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza. The U.S. Department of Defense ordered assets into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, as Israel on Sunday declared war on Hamas in response to a bloody attack on Israelis. On Saturday, Scott, a Republican candidate for president, had called on President Joe Biden to deploy the U.S. Navys Sixth Fleet to assist Israel. Im glad that we did; that was a show of force, number one, Scott said Monday, speaking to reporters at a South Carolina campaign stop. Number two, it puts us in the best position for humanitarian assistance. And number three, as it relates to the American hostages, I think having our special operations forces prepared to be of assistance is going to be helpful. We should also recognize, though, that Israel does have the resources and the manpower to deal with this conflict themselves. Hamas militants on Saturday attacked Israel. Some 1,500 Israelis and Palestinians, and at least nine Americans, have been killed in the ensuing violence. Hamas also has taken hostages, including Americans. Scott, speaking to reporters in Greenville outside of Staxs Original Restaurant, placed blame for the attack on Biden, saying Biden showed weakness and is complicit in the attack on Israel. Scott pointed to a disputed but widely circulating claim that a Biden administration prisoner swap deal that freed up $6 billion in assets for Iran facilitated the attack, as Iran has been known to support the Hamas militant group. The Biden administration has said Iran can only use that money for humanitarian-related purposes and that the country has not yet used any of the funds that were recently made available. This is going to be a long process, without any question, Scott said. We should make sure that there is no daylight whatsoever between the United States of America and Israel, and the way to do that is to stand firm and strong and also be thankful for the $30 billion of military assistance that we have sent to Israel over the last 10 years. Hamas's attack on Israel has not been an attempt to take advantage of the West's focus on Ukraine. Source: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on CBS's Face the Nation programme; US Department of State Quote from Blinken: "No, I dont see that. I think look, we dont well have to see, as we learn more, what the motivations were and what they are. But heres one thing thats clear: Weve been actively working on trying to help Israel and Saudi Arabia normalise their relations, as well as Israel broadening its relationships with many other countries in the region and beyond." Details: Blinken said the US Department of State has received reports indicating that US citizens have been killed and taken hostage and is currently verifying this information. The latest escalation raises concerns that the conflict could spread to neighbouring countries or spark a direct conflict between Israel and Iran, which finances and supplies Hamas with weapons. When the journalist asked Blinken whether the United States had asked not to strike Iran, he answered, "We the only things weve said to Israel are that were here; weve got your back; we want to make sure that you have the support that you need." Blinken said Israel is focused entirely on the city of Gaza and on protecting its 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! The Biden administration has yet to find a smoking gun linking Iran directly to planning and executing the attack on Israel this weekend, US officials told CNN on Sunday. However, theres no denying Irans history of aiding Hamas, officials said. Of course Iran is in the picture, one US official told CNN. Theyve provided support for years to Hamas and Hezbollah. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, senior US officials maintained that it was too early to determine whether Iran had any direct role in planning and supporting Hamas attack. It is early and a matter of direct interest to determine, one senior official said. Iran on Monday denied involvement. But officials are beginning to go as far as to say that Irans well-established connections to Hamas would mean it is likely Iran helped train and finance efforts that led to this weekends attack. Irans close ties to Hamas and financial and operational support make it likely they had a role in this, one Democratic senator, who was expected to receive a classified briefing on Monday, told CNN. But for now, US officials say there is no intelligence making the direct connection. Asked during a briefing with House leadership Sunday evening whether there was any indication that Iran had direct involvement, acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said: We have not found that connection, but that doesnt mean we wont. According to a person familiar with the call, Nuland noted that Iran has historically provided weapons to Hamas but US officials are looking for a more specific connection. One congressional source said that given the sophistication of the attack, Iran would have had a role, since Hamas does not have the ability to buy weapons at this scale. The question now: To what extent Iran played a role. Another key question is how Hamas coordinated and amassed the people and weaponry to execute the operation and did so undetected by key Middle Eastern and Western intelligence operations, including the Israelis. In this specific instance, we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. On NBCs Meet the Press he added, Thats something were looking at very carefully, and weve got to see where the facts lead. Iran said it is not involved in Hamas attacks on Israel. We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine; however, we are not involved in Palestines response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself, Irans mission said in a statement to CNN. While the administration has rejected the criticism that a recent deal unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian funds was connected to the attack, Blinken was more circumspect about whether the deal freed up Iran to spend other money, noting that Iran has long underwritten terrorism. 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, he said on Meet the Press. This story has been updated with additional reporting. Evan Perez and Alex Marquardt contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A history professor who sued the University of Texas in 2020 for wrongful retaliation after he brought up issues of discrimination will be able to move forward with his case because of a decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week. An appeals court ruled last week that a Hispanic history professor's lawsuit against the University of Texas, arguing that he was wrongly retaliated against for claiming discrimination, can proceed after a judge initially ruled in favor of UT last December. Alberto Martinez, a tenured history professor at UT, filed the lawsuit in 2020, alleging that the then-chair of the history department and the university retaliated against him for his efforts to address systemic patterns of inequity and pay disparity that harmed Hispanic and Black professors. Judge David Ezra of the Western District Court of Texas granted UT a summary judgment in December, stating that Martinez had "failed to establish" enough evidence to support a case that he was wrongly retaliated against under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which protects employees who bring forward instances of discrimination. The appeal, granted by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, now means Martinez will be able to move forward with the case and take the lawsuit before a jury to determine the outcome. More: Professor sues UT alleging retaliation, discrimination over work on equity What's the backstory? Martinez, who represented himself during the appeals process, first brought up issues of disparity among Hispanic history professors in the spring of 2018, the American-Statesman previously reported. That prompted Jacqueline Jones, then the head of the history department, to appoint him to head an equity committee to research issues of inequity in the department. Martinez released a report to some of his colleagues in October 2018 saying the committee found that Hispanic and Black history professors were unlikely to be promoted to leadership positions, despite some instances of having more credentials than their counterparts. The report also showed trends of pay disparity for those professors. According to court documents, after the release of this report, Martinez said Jones retaliated in numerous ways, including by accusing him of having an inappropriate relationship with a graduate student, making antisemitic remarks and making "denigrating" and "disparaging" comments about women. Additionally, he said Jones lessened his powers as head of the equity committee by creating multiple subcommittees and later removed Martinez as head of the committee. The U.S. Western District Court threw out other accusations in its December ruling because the incidents were alleged to have happened beyond the statute of limitations. Additionally, the brief submitted to the appeals court by Martinez in April said the accusations against him were disproved after investigations by UT. What did the appeals court rule? The appeals court agreed that many of the accusations could not be considered because they fell outside of the statute of limitations. However, the three-person panel disagreed with the district court that the salary report produced by Martinez was not a "protected activity," which is essentially what caused the case to be thrown out. To prove that retaliation against an employee occurred, three conditions must be met: The employee was engaged in "protected activity" under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which includes bringing forth discrimination complaints. The employee suffered "adverse action" because of whatever protected action was brought forward. There's a "causal connection" between the protected activity and the adverse action. When the district court awarded a summary judgment to UT, the judge said the report Martinez created did not count as a protected activity, but his emails from spring 2018 that first alleged inequity in the department were a protected activity. In doing this, the court ruled that some of the alleged retaliatory actions and the emails were more than a year apart and determined there was no "causal connection" between the emails and the alleged actions. However, the appeals court ruled that Martinez's report was a protected action and that a jury could find there was a causal connection between the alleged retaliatory actions he faced and the dissemination of the report. What are the parties saying about the decision? Neither Jones nor UT responded to requests for comment Sunday. Martinez said he's happy he'll have his day in court but "astonished" that it took this long to get the case to trial. He said his hope is to create a more transparent and fair internal investigation process at UT. He said the investigations of him were largely shrouded in secrecy, as he received either late or vague warnings about the investigations or no notification at all. "A lot of people at UT are afraid of speaking their mind," Martinez told the Statesman. "They're afraid of saying things openly in meetings or in writing. I'm not part of that. I think that culture of silence and secrecy has to end because this is a public institution." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Appeals court says Hispanic UT professor's bias lawsuit can proceed Hayim Katsman, Ph.D., a former University of Washington (UW) graduate, was one of the Americans found dead after Hamas attacked Beeri in Southern Israel on October 7. Katsman, 32, was found dead in his apartment. On Monday KIRO 7 spoke with his uncle, Abe Katsman, who said his nephew was helping his neighbor and her children before being killed. He was helping a neighbor, a very frightened neighbor woman, who I believe was in charge of two other neighbor children, I think one was just four months old and one was about three years old, said Abe Katsman. Abe Katsman said his nephew was trying to hide the woman when terrorists entered the room. The alarms had gone off already, the rockets were flying overhead, and in Israel when that happens, people go into their reinforced rooms, safe rooms, that are supposed to be pretty protective if the rockets hit nearby, you know a direct hit is one thing but if they hit nearby it should be able to withstand the shock and the shrapnel, he said. These rooms are not necessarily designed to keep people out so when the terrorists were going house to house and room to room looking for people to kill, his neighbor had called him over, this woman had called him over, he went in and he tried, he was trying to hide her, and within the safe room they hid in a closet. But the attackers found them. The terrorists blew open the door and found them in the closet but apparently, he was, I think, lying on top of her, protecting her, they opened fire, he was killed, she survived and they decided they were taking her to Gaza, said Abe Katsman. According to Abe Katsman, his nephew died selflessly protecting others. In a way, theres a tiny bit of comfort here knowing that, thats the way he went out which is very consistent with the way he, you know, lived. You talk about a selfless act, it doesnt get much more than that, he said. He added that the entire situation is terrifying. Its all horrifying and the barbarity of the people acting on the other side, again this isnt a military operation this is outright terror looking to kill and maim, he said. Its awful no matter which story, it all ends the same way. The death toll on both sides soared to around 1,500, with 11 Americans among the dead, according to CBS News. Saturday was the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, said Abe Katsman. Burying a child is bad enough, under these circumstances, this is just, just awful. Katsmans mother, Hannah Katsman, said he received his Ph.D. from the UWs Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies in 2021. Hayims mother told ABC News he was born in the U.S. and had been living on a kibbutz in Israel doing research. Katsmans research focused on the interrelations of religion and politics in the Middle East, focusing on Israel/Palestine, according to UWs website. Hannah Katsman said she initially thought her son had been taken captive, according to ABC News, but she later learned he was killed when Hamas militants burst into his home and found him hiding with his neighbors in his closet. She learned one of the neighbors was released, while her son and a female neighbor were immediately shot and killed. Ive been getting so many messages from people who worked with Hayim or who knew him, or who met him during their travels and how warm he was, how open, Hannah Katsman told ABC News. He was a very accepting person and a very loyal friend. He had a good sense of humor. He took things in stride. , , , ... Posted by on Monday, October 9, 2023 Abe Katsman had similar things to say about his nephew. He was a good kid and a very decent human being and a very caring person, said Abe Katsman. One of the things that he did was he gained the respect of people on the opposite side. Along with getting his doctorate, Abe Katsman said his nephew was also a skilled auto mechanic, a more than adequate musician, and a horticulturist. In 2020, Katsman won the Baruch Kimmerling prize for best graduate paper, Association for Israel Studies, according to the UW. The attack was launched on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kipper War that pitted Israel against Egypt and Syria. After the attack occurred in the early hours of the morning, where an estimated 2,200 rockets were fired toward southern and central Israel, Mohammed Deif, commander in chief of the Hamas military arm Al Qassam Brigades, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack. The Zionist colonial occupation occupied our Palestinian homeland and displaced our people, destroyed our towns and villages, committed hundreds of massacres against our people, killing children, women and elderly people and demolishing homes with their inhabitants inside in violation of all international norms, laws and human rights conventions, Mohammed Deif said in a translation from the video. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated fighter jets and helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip Sunday night and Monday morning in a retaliatory attack, according to CBS News. Israel formally declared war on Sunday. We here have known what Hamas is for a long time and now the rest of the world gets to see it and I hope the rest of the world pays attention because this is just so unfair, said Abe Katsman. mynorthwest.com HAMPTON, Va. - Virginia State Police are continuing to investigate what led up to a deadly early morning crash involving a safety service patroller. At 1:17 a.m. on Oct. 8, 2023, State Police Communications Center received a call about a two-vehicle crash on I-64 East at the Big Bethel overpass in the city of Hampton. The caller said the crash involved a Virginia Department of Transportation safety service patrol (SSP) car and another vehicle. Police say the preliminary investigation revealed that a 2020 Ford F250, pulled over onto the right shoulder to help a disabled vehicle. The service vehicle was on the right shoulder with its arrow board lit up and the safety service patroller, identified as 52-year-old Craig Boone, was outside the car helping with the disabled vehicle. Shortly after, the driver of a 2020 Jeep Latitude was headed east when it ran off the road, crossed over the fog line and went into the right shoulder, sideswiping the Ford truck and hitting Boone. He was immediately killed in the crash. The driver of the Jeep, 27-year-old Alana F. Diomande, was found to be under the influence and was taken from the scene for a blood test after refusing to comply with police at the scene. Diomande was taken to Hampton City Jail where she was charged with driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, obstruction, curse and abuse. The Virginia State Police Crash Reconstruction Team was called out to the scene to further investigate the crash. Boones family was notified of his death and the case remains an ongoing criminal investigation. No further information has been provided at this time. The cruel Hamas onslaught against Israel this weekend drew expressions of sympathy and solidarity from across the American political spectrum, including from some precincts of the left where Israel is regarded with suspicion or worse. For a moment, the debate about Israel that has periodically convulsed the Democratic Party pitting pro-Israel traditionalists like Joe Biden against Israel-skeptic forces further to the left seemed to be on pause. It is not likely to stay that way for long, as Israel girds for a drawn-out battle directed by the most right-wing government in the countrys history. There is already anxiety churning on the American left about how Israel might respond and the possibility that a terrorist rampage could escalate into a much broader war. To understand how progressive foreign policy thinkers are processing these events, POLITICO Magazine spoke with Matt Duss, executive vice president of the Center for International Policy. A former top foreign policy aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Duss has been an outspoken critic of many traditional Democratic Party security policies, including those governing the U.S.-Israel relationship. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Alex Burns: How does an event like this ripple in the world of left foreign policy? What do your text messages look like in a moment like this? Matt Duss: First, it's just staggering: the amount of killing, the hostage-taking. There are messages that I'm getting from my Israeli friends, my Palestinian friends grief, fear for where all this leads. We all see right now its not going to lead anywhere good. I think people are still trying to get their heads around the gravity of this and what this means. Others have commented on it, but I will as well: This is something on the scale of the Yom Kippur war in terms of people's perceptions. This will be seen as, I think, a pivotal moment in the region and for the U.S. relationship with the region. Burns: Do you feel like the reaction in your circle a circle of like-minded policy thinkers is distinct in important ways from the reaction that we would see from the White House and the conversation thats happening there? Duss: Certainly. On the progressive left, you have a recognition and a respect for the rights of all people to live in security and dignity. That includes Israelis and Palestinians. I think the statements you see from most U.S. officials, including from the White House, are overwhelmingly focused on one side. It is of course quite true that Israel has the right to defend itself. Its people have a right to live in peace and security. The Palestinians have that right as well. The Center for International Policy put out a statement responding to the events of the last few days, making this point that what Hamas has done is awful. We condemn it unequivocally. We also note that Palestinians have continued to suffer under an occupation and blockade that is decades old. That is absolutely necessary context. That does not excuse what Hamas has done. There is no excuse for that. But there is an important context of understanding where this violence grows from. Burns: How is it possible that the national security establishment, the intelligence establishment, did not see this coming? Duss: I mean, that's a great question. Thats a question for Israeli intelligence as well as U.S. intelligence. I think many in our system, unfortunately, have talked themselves into this idea that the Palestinian issue just doesnt matter. No matter how many times this conflict has a way of reasserting itself on the regional and global agenda, people always try to put it back in the corner and focus on other and bigger and, as they see it, more important things. The big shiny thing over the past few months has been this so-called normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, in my view, which is really just a U.S.-Saudi defense pact, which is being packaged as normalization that's been the focus and one of the premises of that deal is that the Palestinians could just be kind of shunted aside and offered some crumbs here and there to keep them quiet. I think those of us who engage with this region and its peoples understand that is a fantasy. And I think yesterday and over the past day, we've all seen how dangerous and tragic a fantasy that is. Burns: You've been a critic of what you called the so-called normalization deal. Do you buy the idea that this attack was aimed at sabotaging that deal? Duss: I don't think so. Just looking at the scale of this, I think we can say this has been in the works for a very, very long time. I think the drivers of this the anger, the grievance, the suffering and the strategy I think, is far deeper than just the Saudi-Israeli deal. Was that a consideration? Maybe. But I think it's far too simple to just to just pretend that it was all aimed at that. Burns: You just mentioned the painful reality check on the way the foreign policy establishment tends to think about the Palestinian issue. Do you think there's a larger credibility issue at stake here for what's considered establishment foreign policy thinking the notion that the last few years have been movement in the direction of stability and, in terms of American interests, progress in the neighborhood? Duss: It has destroyed this whole premise that we can just bottle up the Palestinians and it won't matter. It has destroyed the premise, once again and it's not the first time that we've been shaken out of this fantasy that we can invest in repression, we can invest in relationships with governments that imprison their own people and deliver security and stability. It may work for a little while. But it will not work forever and when it erupts, its extremely dangerous and tragic. And that is what we've seen here. Burns: How would you like to see the Biden administration handle the Netanyahu government right now? Duss: Certainly, we need to make clear that we support keeping Israelis safe. But I think the challenge is, weve often supported that with very little concern for how that is done. We've kind of given a green light or, in the best cases, a kind of yellow light for keeping Israelis safe by exporting massive suffering and destructions onto Palestinians. And I think what we want to see ultimately from the Biden administration is an acknowledgment that Palestinian lives matter. Israeli lives matter. All these peoples lives matter. They have a right to keep their families safe, to live in safe communities and to have a hopeful future. And I think years of U.S. policy have not pointed us in that direction. Burns: What would you like to see as the boundaries of an Israeli response? Duss: Israel and the U.S. should be bound by international law with regard to the protection of civilian populations. There is a body of law relating to the conduct of war. The United States and Israel have both steadily eroded those boundaries over the last 20-plus years of the global war on terror. But if we really believe in a rules-based order, as the Biden administration continues to say, we need to recognize that that the response here is bound up with legal concepts relating to proportionality, relating to civilian harm. Supporting and observing those rules is going to keep us all safer. If we simply say that those rules can be ignored by countries we like or countries we have a special relationship with, we're not really creating a rule-based order at all. Were creating an order of might makes right. Burns: The statements that weve seen in the last 30 hours or so from people like Senator Sanders or leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have been emphatically about solidarity with Israel. How much do you think there's a different conversation happening, kind of off the record, thats more in line with the concerns youre expressing? Duss: Just to stay with Senator Sanders for a minute: Everyone knows his views on this topic. He has spoken more than, probably, most members of Congress on these issues. He has spoken out in support of Palestinian rights, the right of Palestinians to peace and security and dignity in their own homes and communities. He's called for an end to the occupation. However, I think his statement reflects the gravity and the absolute heinousness of the Hamas attacks. And I think thats appropriate. I think CIPs statement reflects that as well. Burns: I guess I wonder how quickly you think we will hear moving away from Senator Sanders individually how soon we will hear progressive elected leaders speaking to the concern for Palestinians that you're articulating in this conversation. Duss: I would expect soon. The reason we have more progressive leaders that are acknowledging these issues is that we have a progressive movement that is asking them and supporting them to say these things. Burns: Youve been really articulate in talking about the Ukraine war in the context of discourse about anti-imperialism and calling out people on the left who make excuses for the Russians through that lens. I wonder what your reaction is over the last day as you see some pretty similar voices talking about this attack in terms of resistance to empire in a way that clearly makes excuses for it. Duss: I think that is disgusting and I condemn it completely. There is no justification for attacking civilians, for slaughtering civilians, for kidnapping elderly people in wheelchairs, for killing people at a rave. This is just this is disgusting. If we believe in human dignity, if we believe in international law, I think we need to condemn that unequivocally. That does not mean we cant have a deeper conversation about the context of the situation, Israel-Palestine. We have to have that conversation. But I think the way into that conversation has to be very clear about principles of civilian protection and very clear on how disgusting this violence is. Burns: Is it fair to paraphrase that youre saying there are principles more fundamental than anti-imperialism? Duss: Yes. True anti-imperialism supports a world of rules and not might makes right. And one of those rules is the protection of civilians. By Marianna Parraga, Diego Ore and Mayela Armas HOUSTON/MEXICO CITY/CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's government is set to approve a return to Mexico-based negotiations with the country's political opposition, almost a year after the last meeting, six sources with knowledge of the matter said in recent days. The talks between President Nicolas Maduro's government and the opposition are meant to find solutions to Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis. They come at a time when the U.S. is increasing pressure for progress towards a free and fair presidential election. The opposition will repeat its long-standing petition for release of political prisoners and guarantees for an election slated for 2024, two sources close to preparations for the talks said. Envoys from Caracas and Washington have met several times in Doha since last year in separate conversations, according to other sources with knowledge of those talks, but Venezuela's opposition did not directly participate. The U.S. State Department and Venezuela's Foreign Affairs ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Topics on the agenda in Qatar included the possibility of relief from U.S. oil sanctions - via authorizations that would allow foreign energy firms to take Venezuelan crude for debt repayment - and possible efforts to deal with the influx of Venezuelan migrants to the United States, the sources said. Reuters could not immediately verify whether further sanctions-easing by the U.S. could directly follow a return to the Mexico negotiations. "Should Venezuela take concrete actions toward restoring democracy, leading to free and fair elections, we are prepared to provide corresponding sanctions relief," a White House spokesperson said last week. "At this time, Venezuela has not taken the necessary steps, and our sanctions remain in effect." One source said the Venezuelan government had broadly discussed electoral issues at the Qatar talks, but had not entered into detail about guarantees. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on social media that she was in Qatar on Monday to meet with the ruling emir. The emir's office confirmed the meeting in a statement, providing no further details. The United States announced on Thursday it will restart deportations of Venezuelans who cross the U.S.-Mexico border unlawfully, an agreement two of the sources said was achieved during the Doha talks. Three candidates in an opposition nominating contest scheduled for this month are all banned from holding office, including Henrique Capriles, who on Sunday said he would stand down and leave his replacement up to his party. The opposition said last week it would move forward with the primary despite a request by the national electoral council for a delay. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga in Houston, Diego Ore in Mexico City, Vivian Sequera in Caracas, Matt Spetalnick in Washinghton and Andrew Mills in Doha, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan opposition leader and candidate for the presidential primary Henrique Capriles addresses the audience, in Caracas CARACAS (Reuters) - Two-time former Venezuelan presidential candidate Henrique Capriles placed the future of his candidacy in limbo on Sunday, saying he would let his party decide if it wanted to replace him because of his political disqualification. Capriles is one of three candidates running in the Oct. 22 primary who is barred by the Venezuelan government from holding public office. "The reality is that I keep facing political disqualification that makes me decide that I can't continue with this electoral race," Capriles said in a statement on social media platforms Instagram and X. It will be up to the "bases that elected me in my party" to decide the future of his candidacy, he added. It was unclear if his Justice First party will choose another candidate to replace him, or if it can decide to continue with his candidacy. A possible withdrawal by Capriles, a 51-year-old lawyer, had been anticipated in some local media for weeks, in part because his campaign was not taking off in the polls and his political star seems to have waned following previous attempts to become president. Capriles has repeatedly said opposition unity is the only way to defeat President Nicolas Maduro in the 2024 presidential elections. The head of state has not yet formalized his candidacy, but it is widely believed he will seek reelection. Capriles did not express support for any other candidate on Sunday, but reiterated his call for unity. "Unity is our biggest strength and together we are capable of overcoming whatever obstacle appears in our path," Capriles said. Maria Corina Machado, a 57-year-old industrial engineer, leads the primary polls with more than 40%, while her closest rivals barely touch 10%. Machado, like Capriles, is prohibited from seeking elected office under a decision by the Controller General, seen by critics as an arm of Maduro's government. The opposition has not said how it will proceed if the winner of the primary is barred from holding office. (Reporting by Vivian Sequera, Deisy Buitrago and Anna-Catherine Brigida; Editing by Lincoln Feast) This photo taken on Oct. 6, 2023 shows the exhibition area of China at the 8th Nicosia Book Fest in Nicosia, Cyprus. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) 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 (2nd, R, front), speaker of the Cypriot House of Parliament, and Zhang Jianchun (1st, R), vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visit the Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings exhibition in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct. 5, 2023. (Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua) 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. This photo taken on Oct. 6. 2023 shows a scene of the China-Cyprus Civilization Exchange Forum in Nicosia, Cyprus. On the sidelines of the Nicosia Book Fest, the capital of Cyprus hosted the China-Cyprus Civilization Exchange Forum on Friday. (Xinhua/Wen Xinnian) "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." The Venice Commission has prepared an opinion on the draft law limiting the participation of persons who were members of political parties banned in Ukraine, such as the OPZZH (Opposition Platform For Life) and the Party of Sharii, in political life. Source: European Pravda Details: The Venice Commission prepared the opinion together with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as the issue concerns elections, among other things. Draft Law No. 9081 provides for a restriction on the participation in political life of members of political parties whose activities were banned in Ukraine shortly after the start of a full-scale war. The ban will remain active for 10 years after the end of martial law in Ukraine. "Given the exceptional historical situation in which Ukraine now finds itself, the Venice Commission and the ODIHR believe that the draft law is legitimately aimed at protecting, among other things, state independence, the democratic system and national security. However, it is automatically applied on the sole basis of party membership and that the person held an elected office, and indiscriminately, without distinguishing between party members who are actively involved in illegal actions attributed to the political party, and therefore, if elected, would pose a threat to the democratic order and national security, as well as those who performed 'neutral' functions," the conclusion states. The Venice Commission and the ODIHR note that the restrictions concern a large group of individuals and impose collective responsibility on them for the illegal actions of the party that they belonged to, without considering each case separately, which "contradicts the principle of proportionality and may lead to arbitrary decisions." The authors of the conclusion recommend that Ukraine: introduce "relevant criteria and effective individual assessment", on the basis of which restrictions on the right to be elected will be applied only to those party representatives who, by their actions and statements, created a threat to national security and democracy and actively contributed to the illegal goals of banned parties and therefore pose a threat in the event of re-election ; (after the abolition of martial law) reduce the period of validity of restrictions to the "shortest possible period" and ensure that a longer period of restrictions will be applied only to persons who are the most serious threat to national security and the democratic order, and based on the decisions of the relevant courts about their personal responsibility; provide persons subject to restrictions with access to procedural safeguards in the assessment process and the opportunity to challenge the restriction of their rights and request a judicial review of the decision to deprive them of the right to be elected. "Implementation of these recommendations is important to avoid a negative balance between the legitimate goal of protecting the democratic order and national security of the state and the need to ensure equal conditions for political competition, without disproportionate impact on the vital role played by all participants in political life in ensuring pluralism, and without threats to representative nature of the legislative power," the conclusion states. Reminder: In September, Ukraines Parliament adopted the law On National Minorities, which included partial consideration of the recommendations of the Venice Commission. 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 Venice Commission published an opinion on Oct. 9 criticizing a Ukrainian draft law that sets to block members of banned pro-Russian parties from participating in future elections. The Venice Commission, a body of the Council of Europe that advises Ukraine on steps toward integration with the European Union, evaluated the law together with the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The draft law envisages that those who were members of now-banned parties at the time of the launch of the full-scale invasion will not be able to be elected to local and parliamentary elections in Ukraine for ten years following the end of martial law. In May 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law that banned 11 pro-Russian political parties. The Venice Commission believes that although "almost all democratic systems recognize and regulate some form of ban of the parties that are perceived as a threat to the democratic system," the time frame of the draft law is too long. Emergency measures are appropriate during an "exceptional situation, but must be "terminated once the exceptional situation is over," the commission believes. Moreover, the "individuals affected by the draft law have not been convicted of any criminal offense," according to the commission. The published opinion also highlighted that the draft law, if passed, would be in direct contradiction to the universal human right of being able to participate in public affairs. The Venice Commission and ODIHR recommended that the draft law therefore be adapted to ensure "adequate criteria and an effective individual assessment," should Ukraine wish to ban certain persons from running for elections. The organizations also recommend Ukraine limits the time frame of restrictions "to the shortest possible period of time," ensuring that any ban is maintained "only for individuals presenting the most serious threat to the democratic order and national security." Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Vermont State Police are asking for the public's help tracking down an unidentified red-headed man suspected of fatally shooting a 77-year-old retired university official on a hiking trail within walking distance of the campus where she had been a fixture for years. The initial suspect description has been updated after tips poured in over the weekend, authorities said. The suspect is now described as a White male with "short red hair," according to the latest description authorities shared over the weekend. Earlier in the investigation, they said they were looking for someone with dark hair. He appears to be in his late 20s and stands about 5 feet, 10 inches tall. Wearing a dark gray T-shirt and carrying a black backpack, he was headed north along the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail, toward the Vermont State University Castleton Campus. Honoree Fleming, shown with her husband Ron Powers, was fatally shot Friday night during her walk. VERMONT STATE POLICE SEARCHING FOR ARMED AND DANGEROUS SUSPECT IN SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF WOMAN ON TRAIL Anyone who was on or near the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail on Oct. 5 who may have seen the suspect is asked to call state police. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Police are also urging local hunters to check their game cameras and for residents and business owners to check their home and commercial security footage for potential signs of evidence recorded. "Some of these tips are gonna pay off," Vermont State Police Major Daniel Trudeau told reporters Friday. "Some of the sightings are gonna pay off." CLICK HERE FOR MORE TRUE CRIME FROM FOX NEWS Vermont State Police released this undated photo of Honoree Fleming, a 77-year-old retired Vermont State University Castleton Campus dean who they discovered shot to death on the popular Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail Thursday. They are also asking for information from anyone who may have seen the victim that day. Honoree Fleming, who was found dead around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, entered the 20-mile mixed use trail about 30 minutes earlier at the pavilion area at VSU Castleton. She was wearing a white and blue striped shirt, black pants and black sneakers. The state medical examiner conducted an autopsy last week and found her manner and cause of death to be a homicide with a gunshot wound to the head. Fleming, a former dean of education at the school, had also worked at Trinity and Middlebury colleges and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, VSU said in a statement. Her husband is an Emmy and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist named Ron Powers, who co-wrote "Flags of Our Fathers" and assisted the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy with his memoir, "True Compass." "Those of you who knew her know that she was beautifully named," he wrote of Fleming in a Facebook post over the weekend. "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." VERMONT WOMAN ESCAPES KIDNAPPERS BY DRIVING OFF IN THEIR TRUCK WITH HANDS BOUND, FACE COVERED, POLICE SAY Honoree Fleming and her husband Ron Powers According to the Castleton Spartan, a school newspaper, he too became a fixture at the school after his wife began working there. The university canceled classes on the main campus Monday as police continue the search for the suspect. Police have stepped up patrols in the area. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Anyone with information on the case or who wishes to report anything suspicious is asked to call Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101. There is also a website to submit tips anonymously here. Original article source: Vermont police release new profile of suspect in retiree's murder on popular hiking trail WORCESTER Very bad and very depressing. That is Hod Porat's assessment of the conflict raging between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip. Porat spent a few weeks years ago in Worcester and today she lives in Israel, where she can hear blasts overhead from Israel's Iron Dome air defense system as it takes out rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Were so worried, said Porat by phone Monday from Kfar Vitkin in central Israel, after her country declared war against Hamas after Saturdays attack by militants that reportedly killed more than 900 Israelis. More than 600 Palestinians have been killed, according to authorities, as Israel pounds Gaza with retaliatory air strikes. More: Israel orders 'complete siege' of Gaza; was Iran involved in Hamas attacks? Live updates Porat worked at a summer camp at the Worcester Jewish Community Center in 1992, an experience arranged by the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts. Now, Porat is thankful her home is many miles from the Israel/Gaza border, but she recognizes that peace is elusive. Palestinians inspect the rubble of the West mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike Monday at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) There is no hope in the near future for something peaceful, she said, adding that her two older children, both born in the U.S., work as intelligence officials in the Israeli army. Im concerned for them, especially now, she said. Her 14-year-old daughter, Gali, has no school because classes are on hold while the conflict grips the region. But as a sign of resilience, her daughter and friends are packing up items to send to troops and families living on the Gaza border. "No family has been unaffected from what is happening, said Porat. Were trying our best to keep morale. ... We're in a bad situation and we dont know where its going. Palestinian rights & two-state solution Yasir Najjar, a former president and board member at the Worcester Islamic Center, condemned the violence and death of innocent civilians, called for its immediate end and said the root cause of the conflict is the "ignorance of the rights of Palestinians for living in peace and dignity in their own homeland." A two-state solution must be imposed by the world community, said Najjar. "As a Muslim community with many people of Palestinian heritage our hearts are with those innocent people under occupation and under severe blockade since 2007," said Najjar's statement. "Let the people live in dignity. We pray to God to give them relief from the occupation, oppression and humiliation they suffer everyday as a result of the occupation." The statement continued: "Loss of life and property everywhere is regretted and should be avoided as much as possible but the root cause of the violence is the occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people. We call on our Government both State and Federal to be fair in their handling of the situation and take the leadership to resolve the Palestinian problem once and for all. It is time for the free world to support the human rights for all the world population; especially the oppressed ones." 'Exceptionally dark day' Steven Schimmel of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts called the outbreak of conflict an exceptionally dark day." Its unprecedented in our lifetime," he said. "In fact, there were more Jews killed in a single day [Saturday] than any other time since the end of the Holocaust. Priority number one, according to Schimmel, is to rescue the hostages taken by Gaza militants: "All of us have friends and family in Israel. Its similar to 9-11 or Pearl Harbor. The severity cant be stressed enough. All of us feel personally impacted. As for next steps, Schimmel believes its impossible for Hamas to continue its control of Gaza if there is ever to be peace in the region. He noted the Hamas charter that calls for the elimination of Israel and the targeting of Jews worldwide. "That organization makes peace unlikely, basically impossible. ... We want to see a future where the Middle East is a region of peace and prosperity. This weekends events are a stark reminder that we are far away from that. Be cautious: Too soon for answers As with any regional conflict, it's important to be cautious about what is known and what isn't, said Ora Szekely, associate professor of political science at Clark University. Szekely has conducted research across the Middle East, and stressed that, "There are a lot moving parts. It's important to really be extremely cautious until you have good evidence for the complicated internal dynamics in the region." As Szekely sees it, we don't yet know the level of Iran's involvement and there is a lack of solid information about internal conversations within Hamas. Its political leadership is largely outside Gaza, while its armed wing is based inside the Gaza strip, she said. Some political wing of Hamas must have known in advance about Saturday's attack, said Szekely, but it's unclear who planned it. Going forward, the conflict hinges on what conversations inside Hamas will look like, but that won't be easy because Szekely called it an "opaque" organization. Another difficulty is divisions within the Israeli government. As for possible outcomes, Szekely said civilian casualties in Gaza will increase and so will the humanitarian crisis. On the Israel side, she said, "Obviously, the consequences have been pretty terrible," but the division within the country's political system makes it hard to predict which way the country will go. Despite the complexities, Szekely remains optimistic the sides can work out their differences. "One the one hand, this recent eruption is one in a long-running conflict. It's true that narratives on both sides have a long history of conflict. But this conflict is not fundamentally any more mysterious or impossible to resolve than any other conflict in the world. "Remember these are human beings like anywhere else in the world and remember that maybe gives us a better chance to understand the perspectives of anybody involved." News from Israel: 'Horrifying' Devastating is the word Rabbi Valerie Cohen at Worcesters Temple Emanuel Sinai used to describe the developments unfolding in the Middle East. The loss of life, the terror brought into Israel, the disregard for life. The stories coming out of Israel are horrifying, she said. Israel's minister of defense ordered the complete siege of Gaza. Electricity, food and water are cut off to the region. Cohen believes Israel's response should mirror how the U.S. military would respond if U.S. citizens were attacked on American soil. Israel should react the same way the U.S. would to protect its citizens. Im lucky I dont have to make that decision. Its up to those who live in Israel and run the country. Worcester resident Lewis Lasky is concerned about friends and extended family living in Israel. Lasky has lived in Worcester for more than 50 years and said what Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and others want is to "wipe the Jewish state off the map." "Israel is not the aggressor," said Lasky. "Our backs are against the wall. We have suffered murder, rape, abduction, torture. Eventually it's time to say to the one doing it, 'Enough, I'm going to fight back.'" Rabbi Mendel Fogelman of Chabad Lubavitch of Central Massachusetts said, Were not looking for peace today. No cease fires. Fogelman's organization plans to hold a prayer vigil for Israel at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Chabad's Worcester location at 22 Newton Ave. Chabad is also taking contributions to help Israeli victims and soldiers. Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Local Jewish community reacts to conflict raging in Israel Vietnamese government agents apparently targeted several U.S. lawmakers and journalists with spyware using public posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, according to an investigation by Amnesty International and a consortium of media outlets. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) were all tagged in posts earlier this year that featured malicious links to install Predator, a spyware similar to Pegasus, the investigation found. McCaul, who serves as the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was allegedly targeted in a reply to a tweet from Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Hoeven was allegedly targeted in a reply to a post from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen about the senators visit. Peters, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were both tagged in a reply to a tweet from an Albanian politician about their visit to the Balkan nation. CNN, its chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto and two other reporters based in Taiwan were also targeted with malicious links to install the Predator spyware, the investigation found. Most of the posts on X came from the account @Joseph_Gordon16, which has since disappeared from the social media platform, and often included links that mimicked news sites. The Washington Post reported that none of the targeted individuals it reached out to said their devices had been infected with the spyware. The Post was part of the consortium of outlets participating in the investigation. Amnesty International said its findings suggest that agents of the Vietnamese authorities, or persons acting on their behalf, may be behind the spyware campaign. The group said Vietnams Ministry of Public Security had signed a deal with a company tied to Predators developers through what researchers dubbed the Intellexa alliance and appeared to receive technology shipments through its intermediaries. The combination of technical research and evidence of Intellexa alliance sales to Viet Nam, suggests that the operator of the account had close links to Viet Nam and may have been acting on behalf of Vietnamese authorities or interest groups, Amnesty International said in its report. The Post reported that the Vietnamese government declined to comment. The Hill has reached out to Vietnams Embassy in Washington for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A number of US officials including members of Congress were targeted by hackers working for Vietnams government during negotiations that led to the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, according to an analysis from several major news organisations. A report published on Monday by The Washington Post which was jointly conducted with reporters from Mediapart and Der Spiegel detailed a wide-ranging phishing scheme carried out on the platform Twitter/X against targets including the Republican and Democratic chairs of the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, respectively, as well as a handful of reporters at CNN and a number of east Asia policy experts at Washington-based think tanks. The scheme appeared to be engineered towards information-gathering as Vietnams government was involved in talks with the US that would later result in an agreement to strengthen economic ties between the US and Vietnam aimed at weakening Chinas influence in the region. US companies are increasingly looking at Vietnam as an alternative manufacturing partner to China. Theres no evidence that any of the individuals targeted by the malicious links, which would direct a user to a webpage upon which their device would begin downloading a sophisticated spyware program, actually fell victim to the attack. Targeted individuals were spammed with the links in replies to tweets on the platform, but none of those identified by the Post and other media organisations even reported seeing the links at all. Twitters own internal software hides suspicious replies to some extent, though journalists investigating the anonymous account behind the postings were able to find them easily enough. Experts at Google first noticed the malicious link campaign, according to the Post, and contacted the University of Toronto-based digital threat researchers at Citizen Lab in response. Upon examining the hack attempts, those researchers determined that the campaign was likely being carried out by an inexperienced hacking group. The US State Department did not confirm knowledge of the hack to the Post, but somewhat cryptically noted that the agreement signed by President Joe Biden with Vietnams government would provide a forum to raise such issues. US officials have been subject to more sophisticated hack attacks before, including in 2021 when the New York City subway system was hit by a cyberattack that affected some systems but appeared unable to breach crucial areas. That attack was linked by experts to the Chinese government. Flag of the mercenaries of the so-called Wagner PMC Wagner Group mercenaries who left Belarus for Africa were involved in training and transferring combat experience to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the Ukrainian Defense Ministrys National Resistance Center has claimed. The key areas of training for Hamas units were assault training and the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles to drop explosives. Only the Russians, among Hamas's allies, have experience in the use of drones with drop mechanisms, and it was the Wagner mercenaries who handed them over to Hamas militants during exercises in Africa, the NRC alleged. The war in Israel What is known Large-scale hostilities in Israel began on Oct. 7. Hamas targeted the country with thousands of rockets. Armed Palestinian militants invaded southern Israel, killing people and taking hostages. As a result, nearly 700 Israelis have lost their lives. Over 100 have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants, and video evidence shows some of them have been murdered. It was revealed on Oct. 8 that Palestinian militants on Oct. 7 may have killed approximately 250 people at an electronic music festival near the Kibbutz Reim, 30 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. Efforts are currently underway to identify the bodies of the murdered festival goers. Read also: Russia gives arms seized from Ukraine to Hamas, allegedly plotting large-scale ruse, Ukraines intel says In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking the Gaza Strip. During the night of Oct. 8, Israel announced the restoration of control over the majority of the populated areas that had been penetrated by Palestinian militants. Israels Cabinet declared a state of war for the first time since 1973, and the countrys prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned that the war would be long and challenging. He called on the Gazans to "get out immediately because he would bring the full force of the Israeli military against the Gaza Strip's Hamas." On Oct. 9, the IDF announced that it had regained control of all settlements bordering Gaza. Among the dead in Israel are two Ukrainians, and there is evidence of the possible death of three more. Also, according to media reports, several Americans have been killed. The U.S. military is moving a carrier strike group and military aircraft closer to Israel, and will immediately begin supplying the state with ammunition and other military aid. Read also: Ukrainian diplomats evacuate wounded child from Israel, report possible deaths of three Ukrainians in Gaza Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Oct. 9 that the Israeli military had regained control of all settlements on the border with the Gaza Strip, but that Hamas militants could still remain there. 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 Pharmacists and other employees at Walgreens locations around the country are walking off the job this week to draw attention to deteriorating working conditions, burnout and understaffing, CNN reported Monday. Its a movement some pharmacists and supporters are calling Operation Spotlight, and it has already led to store closures in Washington, Massachusetts and Oregon. Some pharmacists have taken to social media to advertise the labor action, indicating on Facebook and Reddit that workers plan to be absent from work Oct. 9, 10 and 11. To find out how the situation is playing out locally, The Star called 20 Walgreens locations within a 10-mile radius of downtown Kansas City. None of the 20 pharmacies contacted were closed Monday but that doesnt mean none of them were impacted. One Midtown location indicated that several employees were on strike, leaving the store short-staffed. And a Kansas location declined to comment on whether employees were not at work. Six more Walgreens locations in the metro didnt answer their phones after hold times of at least 10 minutes when The Star reached out Monday morning. The remaining 12 pharmacies were open for business as usual, saying that none of their staff were out on strike. When reached for comment, Walgreens corporate spokesperson Kris Lathan said that the company is listening to pharmacists concerns. 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, she said. We are making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract (and) retain talent. A post on the nationwide pharmacist support group page The Accidental Pharmacist indicated that employees will be using sick days and paid time off to call out of work without risking their jobs. This is a similar tactic to Kansas Citys recent CVS pharmacist walkout. Around a dozen CVS pharmacies in the Kansas City area closed on Sept. 21, with some remaining closed the following day in a locally-coordinated labor action. The effort continued the following week, although two local pharmacists said the pharmacy chain brought in temporary workers to many locations to keep them from closing again. Currently, there is no nationwide or regional union that represents all pharmacists, or all the employees of chain stores like CVS or Walgreens. That makes Operation Spotlight a coordinated labor action rather than an official union strike. In a viral Reddit post announcing the movement two weeks ago, organizers called on employees to contact their state pharmacy boards about Walgreens working conditions. The Missouri Pharmacy Board and the Kansas Board of Pharmacy did not respond to requests for comment Monday. The Stars David Hudnall contributed. Are you a Walgreens employee willing to share your story? Is your Walgreens pharmacy closed or short-staffed today in Kansas City? Let the Service Journalism team know at kcq@kcstar.com. The Air Force has revamped its strength test for new recruits for the first time in more than 20 years as it tries to diversify a host of traditionally male career fields. Prospective airmen are now judged on their ability to perform a series of increasingly heavy deadlifts, rather than the power clean-and-press motion that was used for decades, the Air Force confirmed in an Oct. 4 email. How much weight a person can lift determines whether they can join the Air Force and what jobs they are qualified to do in uniform. Air Force Recruiting Service spokesperson Maj. Genieve White told Air Force Times the change was implemented in January. Gen. David Allvin, the services acting chief of staff, publicly noted the decision in written testimony submitted to the Senate in September. We updated Strength Aptitude Test requirements to better reflect the actual demands of the career fields, thus expanding career field opportunities, especially for our female recruits, Allvin said. Recruits are evaluated at Military Entrance Processing Stations to prove they are physically strong enough to join the Air Force and to handle the daily tasks of a military job. Airmen may also take the test when they change careers. Also known as the X Factor test, the assessment pits people against what the military calls an incremental lifting machine a set of weighted handlebars that move up and down on a track. Now applicants must deadlift at least 40 pounds to qualify to join the Air Force. The minimum weight needed to pass the test has not changed. Then the weight increases in 10-pound increments until the recruit decides to stop, or when they lift the maximum allowed weight of 110 pounds. The most weight required by any Air Force job is 100 pounds. The Air Force argues that the Strength Aptitude Test helps reduce the likelihood that airmen will be injured on the job, which helps the service save money on retraining troops into new jobs and keeps airmen from leaving the military. In addition to more accurately vetting what airmen may be asked to do on the job like picking heavy objects off the ground deadlifts are seen as a safer movement for beginners. And because deadlifts rely on larger muscles than those used in overhead presses, its easier to lift more weight earlier on. The lifting techniques in the Air Force are now more in line with [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance for lifting, which suggests a neutral position (when the hands are directly in front of the body and there is minimal twisting at the legs, torso or shoulders), which promotes safe techniques while affording individuals an opportunity to lift more weight compared to a traditional clean-and-press movement, White said. Most jobs in the Air Force require airmen to be able to lift at least 50 pounds, according to a 2018 study by the federally funded think tank Rand Corp. Some recruiters encourage prospective airmen to try to lift at least 70 pounds, which is the prerequisite for about one-third of the services career fields. Rand looked at applicants who took the strength test between 2000 and 2012 and found that most men could lift as much as 100 pounds. About half of the male recruits who tried to lift 110 pounds succeeded. But women typically struggled as the weight increased. While female applicants typically had no problem lifting 40 or 50 pounds, their success rate plummeted from 87% who could lift 60 pounds to 7% at 100 pounds. Fewer than 5% could hoist 110 pounds. That has disproportionately disqualified women from jobs that require more physical strength, like munitions management (a 60-pound minimum), security forces (70 pounds) and firefighting (100 pounds), Rand data showed. Rand called on the Air Force to create minimum strength requirements for all career fields and to supplement the basic test with other exercises that could better demonstrate how a recruit would fare in a particular field. White said that moving from overhead presses to deadlifts has allowed more women to enter professions with higher strength requirements, which typically skew male, but did not provide specific numbers. It has increased our applicant pool, but the most significant impact has been to the job specialty qualifications, which are now more gender-diverse, White said. The revision is one of several that Air Force officials have shepherded through in an effort to grow the Air Forces pool of prospective candidates and diversify its workforce amid a historic recruiting downturn. Other changes to the physical standards that potential airmen must meet such as body composition requirements and tattoo restrictions have allowed more than 1,000 Americans who would otherwise be ineligible for service to join the Air Force since January. We have maintained the focus on quality and will follow up long-term to ensure that any changes made thus far have not had a negative impact on readiness or fitness of the force, Allvin said. War erupted in Israel on Saturday as Hamas forces launched an all-out attack on Israeli citizens. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's office said he still has no plans to halt his block on military promotions. Tuberville's block stems from the Pentagon reimbursing service members for abortion services. GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville has no plans to back down on his ongoing block of military promotions, despite a new war breaking out in Israel. A Tuberville spokesperson confirmed to Politico on Sunday that the senator's efforts to halt military promotions remain unchanged: until the Pentagon's abortion policy is altered, he'll continue on. The Pentagon's decision in 2022 to adjust its policies to allow service members to get reimbursed for traveling out of state for abortion services upset Tuberville, leading him to begin his block on mass military promotions in February 2023. The process for confirming military promotions is typically straightforward: the Senate majority leader would bring a vote to the floor with a detailed list of proposed promotions. Traditionally, the promotions would be voted on all at once and passed with the unanimous consent needed. With Tuberville promising to give a "nay" on any vote to mass-promote service members, more than 300 nominees are still awaiting to be confirmed. For now, if the Senate wants to promote a service member, the upper chamber is forced to vote on individual people, severely slowing down the process. The Senate used this process to promote three generals in late September, though hundreds of nominees remain unpromoted, including several who would lead US troops in the Middle East. The vacancies of positions relating to US forces in the Middle East have drawn specific concern in recent days after Hamas fighters launched an all-out attack on Israel on Saturday, leaving hundreds dead and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare, "We are at war." In a statement on Sunday, Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed highlighted Tuberville's "foolishness." "The severity of the crisis in Israel underscores the foolishness of Senator Tuberville's blockade," Reed said. "The United States needs seamless military leadership in place to handle dangerous situations like this and Senator Tuberville is denying it." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is leading a bipartisan group of senators on a trip to China this week as the chamber is in recess, meaning it's highly unlikely the Senate will convene in the coming days to one-by-one promote any service members needed to assist with the ongoing turmoil in Israel. Read the original article on Business Insider Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) GAZA/JERUSALEM/CAIRO/WINDHOEK, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday, the third day of fighting. Citing government officials, Kan TV news reported that the number of fatalities in Saturday's attack reached 800. In Hamas' combined attack, Hamas militants broke through the security fence and stormed nearby communities while barrages of thousands of rockets hit southern and central Israel. The number of injuries received by hospitals climbed to 2,506, including 23 in critical condition, the Israeli Health Ministry updated. According to militant groups in Gaza, about 130 hostages were held in the Palestinian enclave. - - - - At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. The dead include 91 children and 61 women, who were killed in Israeli airstrikes hitting their residential houses in various governorates in Gaza, the ministry said in a statement sent to Xinhua. Among the injuries, 244 were children and 151 were women, the ministry said. - - - - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered "a complete siege" on the Gaza Strip on Monday in response to the deadly attack on Israel by the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas, the ruler of the Strip. "We are putting a complete siege on Gaza," Gallant said in a video statement when assessing the situation with top Israeli military officials. "There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel ... it's all closed," Gallant warned. - - - - Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday discussed the recent developments in Palestine amid the current rising tensions in the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. In a phone call, the two leaders also discussed efforts to stop the ongoing military escalation. "They agreed on intensifying consultations and pushing forward diplomatic efforts to alleviate violence and escalation to protect civilians and prevent bloodshed, and to initiate a path for achieving comprehensive and just peace to guarantee regional stability and security," the statement added. - - - - Namibia on Monday expressed grave concern over the escalating violence between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, Penda Naanda, executive director of the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, called on Israel to immediately cease its attacks and refrain from engaging in provocative acts against the Palestinian people. Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Palestinian people who fled their homes due to Israeli air strikes and artillery shelling take refuge at a school in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Monday. At least 800 people have been killed in the mass assault launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Israel, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of stories looking at the growth and development in Washington County over the past few years, answering the question "Why now?" Since becoming Washington County's business development director about a year ago, Jonathan Horowitz has fielded his share of complaints about the number of warehouses that have sprouted up near Interstates 81 and 70. But Horowitz told The Herald-Mail that nearly half of the county is still agricultural, and that most of the open land that was zoned for commercial/industrial development has been spoken for. His office, therefore, is turning its attention to "adaptive re-use" of existing facilities for new business. That's already happening in some of the county's municipalities and communities. Hagerstown has had rehabilitation incentives in place for several years, and redevelopment by the women of Port 44 in Williamsport has already resulted in several new businesses in the town's core. Similarly, Ritchie Revival has brought about a dozen businesses to the former U.S. Army installation in Cascade. In fact, many of the development projects now underway involve the rehabilitation of older buildings. As Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Director Sarah Hall discussed plans to convert the former Bock Oil buildings on Key Street into an arts education campus, she quipped that trustee Roger Fairbourn had familiarized her with the term "industrial chic." She told The Herald-Mail last spring that discussions of expanding the museum, put on hold during the pandemic, had quickly resurfaced because of "the sort of renaissance that's happening in Hagerstown." That renaissance can be traced, perhaps, to the decision to put a University System of Maryland center in downtown Hagerstown. The first two floors of the Masonic Temple, purchased and rehabilitated by local developer Don Bowman, have been finished. The state purchased the vacant Baldwin House on West Washington Street in 2001 and renovated it for the Hagerstown campus. Two years later, the late Vincent Groh donated the former Henry's Theater on South Potomac Street to the Washington County Board of Education for an arts school. The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown opened in 2005, and at about that time, local businessman and developer Don Bowman put his faith and some pretty serious investment in some South Potomac Street properties that needed attention. Bowman's project was designed to clean up and renovate these structures even though downtown Hagerstown was a target of derision for many. Bowman told The Herald-Mail then that he was helping to rehabilitate that block because the community had been good to him, and he wanted to give something back. Bowman Development hoped those projects would be a catalyst for further revitalization efforts, as did other developers with interests downtown. But the economic downturn in 2008 dampened those prospects, even as the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts opened across the street in 2009. But there are no regrets, according to Bowman Development President Rob Ferree. Since then, the company has added to its downtown holdings and recently completed renovation of the Masonic Temple building in the same block. There's still space available for tenants, Ferree said, and for now, the company is waiting for those spaces to fill and to see how other projects now in the works downtown proceed before moving ahead with new projects of its own. They might not have to wait long. Because post-recession and post-pandemic, it's become hip to invest in downtown Hagerstown. "To me, this town was the land of opportunity, because everything was so inexpensive compared to where I came from," said Lloyd Thoburn, a Montgomery County-based developer who's been rehabilitating buildings here for about 20 years. "A person who wasn't rich could buy buildings and fix them up and lease them. That's kind of my schtick, is buying and fixing them up." Something old, something new Adapting older buildings for new uses has benefits in terms of preserving historic architecture and taking advantage, in many cases, of existing infrastructure. Tax credits are often available for renovating older buildings as well. "The two biggest things would be, one, you can get those buildings for much less money and then buy them for much less money, and then renovate them for less than building something new," said Aaron Peteranecz, a developer and architect who, with his father, renovated Mulberry Lofts and is involved in a number of other Hagerstown projects. "And Hagerstown has enough buildings that are of a substantial size that it's worth doing so adaptive reuse is cost effective in Hagerstown." And while Peteranecz said he doesn't take advantage of them much, "there are tax incentives and grant programs and all sorts of things that allow for those numbers to look even better." There are hurdles as well, notes Port 44 CEO Selena Wilkes. There are permits to secure from different local government agencies that are "not on the same timeframe; that takes time," she said. "Some of the buildings require structural work," she added, and completing a project for renting to other businesses means "working with each individual tenant and what their needs are." Port 44's buildings "are ready for the actual build-out," she said. "We're just waiting on one of those components. And all of them are different. "From my end of it, it can be very frustrating. But I've learned that you can't let it get to you." Peteranecz agreed. "You have to work within the confines of whatever that building is," he said, "and so if you're starting with a factory that was built in the early 1900s, and you want to have, you know, doctors offices, you can't just start with a blank slate an create doctors offices. "You have to find a way to make make the existing building work with the use. You're dealing with existing structure, and that has code implications you have to sprinkler it, are you changing structure, you're adding electric and plumbing to things that are all old it is a much different process than new construction. To do it well, you have to sort of have practiced," he said. In 2015, Ewing Oil CEO Howard "Blackie" Bowen and his son, Realtor Taylor Bowen, renovated the former Patterson Hotel at North Potomac and East Franklin streets to apartments for USMH students. "When we dealt with the renovation for where the student housing is, we thought we were gonna have a challenge," Blackie Bowen said. "And it turned out to be even more of a challenge than we thought." He said the interior was stripped all the way to the brick walls. "Basically, we started from scratch," he recalled. "Now oftentimes, you don't have to go that far." But in renovating the Port 44 buildings, Wilkes sometimes did. "It's not really a problem, it's just an added step," she said before describing the challenges of renovating buildings to which additions were made in different time periods. Previous improvements often had to be removed, but beneath them was historic handiwork waiting to be rediscovered. Some of the older Port 44 buildings had large beams with lines of bricks between them. "We repointed those bricks because that's the way it was, whether it was technically correct or not," she said. It's visible in several of the buildings, she added, because "we had to open it all up because of the fire regulations. But we're able to display small sections of it so people can actually see it." How long will these opportunities be available? According figures provided by Hagerstown Director of Community Development Jill Thompson, recently completed or planned development of residential units downtown accounts for more than $64.5 million in investments in 18 different projects. These include the renovation of the Nicodemus Building at 170 W. Washington St. to include nine student housing units, the nearly completed development of 21 market-rate apartments in the Updegraff Building at 51-53 W. Washington, and the planned 43 units in the Holly Building at 72 W. Washington. All of these projects include commercial space on the first floor. With the added amenities of the new stadium under construction downtown, the planned field house on the former Municipal Stadium site on Memorial Boulevard and the planned Meritus Osteopathic School of Medicine, however, some developers say the building bargains are beginning to dwindle. "I think that there are now people coming in that are interested in investing in Hagerstown and so as Hagerstown becomes more of a target for development, we tend to migrate away," Peteranecz said. "What happened with Frederick, that's why we're in Hagerstown because Frederick became too cumbersome for our model." Not that he's finished with Hagerstown. Peteranecz's companies have the former Post Office on Summit Avenue, where a new cocktail lounge recently opened, and the former Moller Organ building and the former Beachley Furniture building on North Prospect, as well as others. After its opening in March 2020, Hub City Vinyl quickly became Maryland's largest record store. Now it's expanding to include a performance venue. Thoburn also has several holdings in Hagerstown, including 28 E. Baltimore St. home of Hub City Vinyl, the record store run by his wife, which has been a runaway success. Now the building is being renovated to include two performance venues, the smaller of which is opening this month. "I've learned a lot doing buildings in this town," he said during an interview in the Hub City office, "and it's expensive. But like this building, when we first did it, we spent about a million bucks. So now with the venue, you know, we're gonna have a couple million dollars invested here, which on Baltimore Street is still I am still a pioneer. "But when we did the record store, we had no idea the stadium was going to come in. So that certainly helped." While there still are buildings that can be renovated, "the deals in this town have dried up," he added. "There were so many cheap buildings. I'm ambitious, but I wish I'd been more ambitious. Because the opportunities just were incredible." But Wilkes has some advice for those still wishing to cash in. The redevelopment in Hagerstown "I think is wonderful," she said. "But my point was let's not forget the towns . Hagerstown has always been the Hub City; it's the hub for a reason. I think today, the way things work with different tourist areas and all, every town has their thing." Next week: How will Washington County manage the challenges that come with growth? Previously: Have you noticed all the new development in Washington County? There's a reason for it Starting at the core: How one big venture reflected a sea change for downtown Hagerstown New factory, med school and stadium: Why are these projects 'game-changers' in Hagerstown? Port 44 and Ritchie Revival: Can targeted determination help rejuvenate communities? This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: How entrepreneurs are rejuvenating old structures in Washington County Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Colorado teamed up with local residents to rescue a horse that wandered into a bog and started to sink. Front Range Fire Rescue said in a Facebook post that crews responded to a rural property in Weld County and called for help from the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority's Large Animal Rescue Team after assessing the horse's situation. "Crews worked together for three and a half hours to extricate the horse. Area neighbors also assisted first responders in the operation," the post said. The horse was freed from its predicament and assessed by a Colorado State University veterinarian. Nearly two years after Waymo and Geely struck a deal to develop robotaxis for the U.S. market, we are seeing concrete progress in the collaboration. According to a job post on LinkedIn, Zeekr, the young electric car brand started by Chinese auto giant Geely, is hiring a logistics manager in the U.S. A spokesperson for Zeekr confirmed to TechCrunch that the candidate will work on "the Waymo project and among other things." Not long ago, Zeekr was also hiring a manager to oversee service operations and repair planning in the U.S. The robotaxi project is "proceeding as scheduled," said the spokesperson, adding that Zeekr will be "sharing with Waymo the first vehicles for testing" in the U.S. by the end of this year. In December 2021, Alphabet's autonomous driving arm Waymo announced plans to build an all-electric robotaxi with Zeekr. Last November, the pair teased a prototype of the model featuring Waymo's self-driving system and Zeekr-built hardware. As my colleague Kirsten described her impression at the time: The vehicle isnt quite a present-day minivan nor is it a sci-fi vehicle. Its somewhere in-between with some interesting details, a wisp of Swedish-inspired design thanks to partner CEVT and features meant to make it more accessible. There's no specific timeline for when Waymo-Zeekr robotaxis will start commercial operations, though the recruitment move provides some reassurance that the project is moving forward amid a challenging time. Escalating U.S.-China tensions have disrupted other high-profile partnerships between companies from the two superpowers, including Ford's $3.5 billion plan to build a factory with Chinese battery giant CATL in Michigan. The logistics manager will report to Zeekr's U.S. general manager Ron Oppat, who worked at Ford for two decades before joining the Chinese automaker. The role, which will ideally be based around the San Francisco or San Jose areas, is "responsible for leading a team that will develop Zeekr's finished vehicles and spare parts distribution network" and "develop logistics processes, systems, partnerships, and supply strategies to enable efficient operations and help Zeekr achieve the lowest vehicle repair downtimes." The Zeekr spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that its plan in the U.S. is to reach a headcount of around eight-10 people this year and around 25 next year, not including third-party technicians. FILE - Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on 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 Ali, File) TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) For Palestinians in Gaza, Israels eyes are never very far away. Surveillance drones buzz constantly from the skies. The highly-secured border is awash with security cameras and soldiers on guard. Intelligence agencies work sources and cyber capabilities to draw out a bevy of information. But Israels eyes appeared to have been closed in the lead-up to an unprecedented onslaught by the militant Hamas group, which broke down Israeli border barriers and sent hundreds of militants into Israel to carry out a brazen attack that has killed hundreds and pushed the region toward conflict. Israels intelligence agencies have gained an aura of invincibility over the decades because of a string of achievements. Israel has foiled plots seeded in the West Bank, allegedly hunted down Hamas operatives in Dubai and has been accused of killing Iranian nuclear scientists in the heart of Iran. Even when their efforts have stumbled, agencies like the Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence have maintained their mystique. But the weekends assault, which caught Israel off guard on a major Jewish holiday, plunges that reputation into doubt and raises questions about the countrys readiness in the face of a weaker but determined foe. Over 48 hours later, Hamas militants continued to battle Israeli forces inside Israeli territory, and dozens of Israelis were in Hamas captivity in Gaza. This is a major failure, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This operation actually proves that the (intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good. Amidror declined to offer an explanation for the failure, saying lessons must be learned when the dust settles. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, acknowledged the army owes the public an explanation. But he said now is not the time. First, we fight, then we investigate, he said. Some say it is too early to pin the blame solely on an intelligence fault. They point to a wave of low-level violence in the West Bank that shifted some military resources there and the political chaos roiling Israel over steps by Netanyahu's far-right government to overhaul the judiciary. The controversial plan has threatened the cohesion of the country's powerful military. But the apparent lack of prior knowledge of Hamas' plot will likely be seen as a prime culprit in the chain of events that led to the deadliest attack against Israelis in decades. Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, stripping it of a close handle on the happenings in the territory. But even after Hamas overran Gaza in 2007, Israel appeared to maintain its edge, using technological and human intelligence. It claimed to know the precise locations of Hamas leadership and appeared to prove it through the assassinations of militant leaders in surgical strikes, sometimes while they slept in their bedrooms. Israel has known where to strike underground tunnels used by Hamas to ferry around fighters and arms, destroying miles (kilometers) of the concealed passageways. Despite those abilities, Hamas was able to keep its plan under wraps. The ferocious attack, which likely took months of planning and meticulous training and involved coordination among multiple militant groups, appeared to have gone under Israel's intelligence radar. Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general, said that without a foothold inside Gaza, Israel's security services have come to rely increasingly on technological means to gain intelligence. He said militants in Gaza have found ways to evade that technological intelligence gathering, giving Israel an incomplete picture of their intentions. The other side learned to deal with our technological dominance and they stopped using technology that could expose it, said Avivi, who served as a conduit for intelligence materials under a former military chief of staff. Avivi is president and founder of Israel Defense and Security Forum, a hawkish group of former military commanders. They've gone back to the Stone Age, he said, explaining that militants weren't using phones or computers and were conducting their sensitive business in rooms specially guarded from technological espionage or going underground. But Avivi said the failure extends beyond just intelligence gathering and Israel's security services failed to put together an accurate picture from the intelligence they were receiving, based on what he said was a misconception surrounding Hamas' intentions. Israel's security establishment has in recent years increasingly seen Hamas as an actor interested in governing, seeking to develop Gaza's economy and improving the standard of living of Gaza's 2.3 million people. Avivi and others say the truth is that Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, still sees that aim as its priority. Israel in recent years has allowed up to 18,000 Palestinian laborers from Gaza to work in Israel, where they can earn a salary about 10 times higher than in the impoverished coastal enclave. The security establishment saw that carrot as a way to maintain relative calm. In practice, hundreds if not thousands of Hamas men were preparing for a surprise attack for months, without that having leaked, wrote Amos Harel, a defense commentator, in the daily Haaretz. The results are catastrophic. Allies who share intelligence with Israel said security agencies were misreading reality. An Egyptian intelligence official said Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had spoken repeatedly with the Israelis about something big, without elaborating. He said Israeli officials were focused on the West Bank and played down the threat from Gaza. Netanyahu's government is made up of supporters of Jewish West Bank settlers who have demanded a security crackdown in the face of a rising tide of violence there over the last 18 months. We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the content of sensitive intelligence discussions with the media. Israel has also been preoccupied and torn apart by Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu had received repeated warnings by his defense chiefs, as well as several former leaders of the country's intelligence agencies, that the divisive plan was chipping away at the cohesion of the country's security services. Martin Indyk, who served as a special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during the Obama administration, said internal divisions over the legal changes was an aggravating factor that contributed to the Israelis being caught off guard. "That roiled the IDF in a way that was, I think, we discovered was a huge distraction, he said. ___ Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. The White House condemned the chair of the RNC for comments she made about the attacks on Israel. Ronna McDaniel said on Saturday that the attacks presented a "great opportunity" for GOP candidates. On Monday, the White House called out McDaniel in a statement for her "hideous behavior." The White House condemned the chair of the Republican National Committee on Monday after she said on television that the recent attacks in Israel were a "great opportunity" for GOP candidates. Answering a question from Fox News' Griff Jenkins on Saturday about how candidates were responding to the warfare, Ronna McDaniel said that Hamas' all-out attack on Israel over the weekend presented a key chance for Republicans vying to become the next president to make their case about why a Republican president should lead the country next. "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," McDaniel said. "And when America is weak, the world is less safe. We're seeing this not just with the war in Ukraine and with an emboldened China, but now with an attack on Israel." Two days after McDaniel's comments, White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said, "No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide the country when we need to be united." "At least nine Americans have lost their lives in these brutal terrorist attacks against the State of Israel," Bates said in a statement. "Hundreds of additional innocent people are dead. While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a 'great opportunity,' most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy. As the administration provides assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, this is a moment in which all Americans, regardless of political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder with one of our closest allies. " Responding to the White House's comments about McDaniel, RNC Spokesperson Emma Vaughn told Insider it's "despicable that the media is twisting Chairman McDaniel's words and providing cover for Democrats that have repeatedly attacked Israel's right to exist." "The RNC and Chairman McDaniel have long been fierce advocates for Israel, its people, and condemned the attacks immediately," Vaughn added. Two members of Congress, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Rep. Dan Goldman of New York, were in Israel when the attacks began on Saturday but have since returned safely to the US. While the Biden administration is reportedly planning on sending military and financial aid to Israel, the House is currently without a full-fledged speaker and the Senate is on recess this week, potentially hampering the US's ability to provide assistance quickly. Read the original article on Business Insider The White House lit up in blue and white to show support for Israel, an action that comes after a call by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) following the attacks by Hamas on Israel that left as many as 800 people dead. The move symbolizes the ironclad support and solidarity of the American people with the people of Israel in the wake of the barbaric terrorist attacks committed by Hamas, according to the White House, which noted that Israel and the U.S. has a 75-year long relationship. White House in White and Blue tonight. We stand with Israel, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, posted with a photograph of the lights. National security spokesman John Kirby told reporters earlier on Monday that the White House would be lit up in the colors of the Israeli flag after sundown, which was just before 7 p.m. ET. Graham had called on Biden to light up 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in the Israeli flag colors, saying that the president displayed colors for Pride Month and should do it for Israel. Other notable landmarks have been lit up with the colors of the Israeli flag since the attacks, including the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Empire State building in New York City and a giant screen in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Additionally, the Sydney Opera House, 10 Downing St. in London and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin have also been lit up to show support for Israel. Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Saturday, targeting civilians in towns and a music festival taking place near the Gaza Strip. Israel has since launched hundreds of rockets into Gaza. President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken several times since the attacks began. The president announced Monday that 11 Americans have been killed in the attacks against Israel and warned American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, a governing authority recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S. government. Updated at 8:52 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON The White House has been working urgently in the past 24 hours to get a Senate confirmation process in motion for President Joe Biden s nominee to be U.S. ambassador to Israel, according to two White House officials. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is now expected to hold a confirmation hearing for Jack Lew , a former Treasury secretary and White House chief of staff during the Obama administration, as early as Oct. 18, according to three people familiar with the plans. Biden nominated Lew more than a month ago. The Senate is not in session this week. But the White House officials said they hope lawmakers in both parties will agree with the president on the need to quickly confirm Lew amid the war between Israel and Hamas. Everyone understands the importance behind it, one White House official said. More than 1,200 people have been killed in the fighting so far, with at least 700 dead in Israel, according to the military, and more than 570 dead in Gaza and the West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The Biden administration said Monday that nine Americans have been killed in the conflict and more are believed to be missing. Tom Nides, Bidens former ambassador to Israel, told NBC News in an interview that the Senate needs to confirm his successor immediately upon return. They need to get the committee hearing done. He needs to be on the ground. Hell be a phenomenal ambassador and he needs to be there, Nides said. Ambassadors are always important. In crises, theyre even more important. Some Democratic senators agree. Now is not the time for politics. The Senate should confirm those awaiting votes the day we are back in session, and immediately schedule committee hearings to expedite confirmation of the remainder, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Sunday in a statement. Democrats and Republicans must work together to support our ally Israel. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., noted the U.S. is without an ambassador in multiple countries in the region and said partisan wrangling that leads to such vacancies sends a dangerous signal and encourages adventurism by our adversaries. The Senate should move the confirmation through the committee and the floor quickly, said Coons. The nominees for U.S. ambassador to Oman, Kuwait and the State Departments Coordinator for Counterterrorism all await a vote on the Senate floor. The nominees for U.S. Ambassadors to Israel and Egypt and the assistant administrator for the Middle East at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) await committee hearings. Beyond that, there hasnt been a confirmed top USAID official for the Middle East for nearly three years and no State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism for nearly two years Senate Republicans will have influence over how long it could take to confirm Lew, and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who has been holding up several Middle East nominations, has raised concerns about Lew specifically. Sen. Cruz has not yet interviewed Mr. Lew, let alone had the opportunity to question him in the context of testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee," a Cruz spokesperson said. "Sen. Cruz has said since the summer that it was becoming impossible to expeditiously advance Biden administration nominees because those nominees keep lying to Congress and the American people, testifying publicly that they are committed to countering Iran and deepening the U.S.-Israel relationship then implementing the opposite policies in secret once confirmed. He will evaluate Lews nomination against the backdrop of those concerns. Still, White House officials said they believe the Senate should be able to proceed more normally and work quickly on a hearing for Lew. The Senate is scheduled to return to Washington early next week. One official said Lew is eager to get to work, and the White House hopes he is confirmed with bipartisan support. Lew served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Bill Clinton. In that position, he helped develop the memorandum of understanding at OMB on multiyear funding for Israel and worked to sustain it during the Obama administration and, on several occasions, per a White House official, Lew worked to provide crucial funding for Israeli missile defense systems to protect citizens from attacks. Lew also worked as the deputy secretary of state for management and resources and played a key role in supporting Israels effort to join the Organization for Economic Operation and Development, a White House official said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The White House on Monday slammed Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel after she called the terrorist attacks in Israel over the weekend a great opportunity for Republican candidates to contrast their agenda with the Biden administration. At least nine Americans have lost their lives in these brutal terrorist attacks against the State of Israel. Hundreds of additional innocent people are dead. While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a great opportunity, most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy, deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in a statement. As the administration provides assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, this is a moment in which all Americans, regardless of political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder with one of our closest allies, Bates continued. No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united. Batess statement came after McDaniel appeared Saturday on Fox News in the aftermath of the attacks in Israel launched by the militant terrorist group Hamas. In the interview, a Fox anchor asked McDaniel about the response of several Republican presidential candidates who were quick to blame Bidens foreign policy for the violence unfolding in the Middle East and call for support for Israel. 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, McDaniel said. McDaniel had previously posted multiple times on social media condemning the terrorist attacks against Israel. The RNC and Chairman McDaniel have long been fierce advocates for Israel, its people, and condemned the attacks immediately. Its despicable that the media is twisting Chairman McDaniels words and providing cover for Democrats that have repeatedly attacked Israels right to exist, RNC Spokesperson Emma Vaughn said in a statement Monday. More than 1,000 people have died in recent days following the attacks in Israel and amid fighting in Gaza. The State Department confirmed that at least nine Americans are among those killed. Biden has spoken multiple times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent days and vowed to provide support for Israel. The president vowed Saturday that U.S. support for Israel would be rock solid and unwavering and warned Israels enemies against exploiting the situation for their own gain. The Defense Department announced Sunday it was relocating military assets to the region to assist and that the U.S. would be providing munitions and other resources to Israel. Updated at 1:09 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Hamas launched its deadliest-ever attack on Israel over the weekend. Militants entered Israel using paragliders and through security fences, killing and capturing civilians. Analysts say the terror group was trying to exploit regional instability. As Israel reels from the worst terror attack in its history, focus is turning to the timing of the invasion by militant group Hamas. The attacks started early Saturday, when militants used paragliders and broke through security fences on Israel's border with Gaza, killing more than 700 people and taking hundreds of civilians and military personnel captive. US officials told NBC News the attacks were likely a bid to derail high-stakes negotiations, backed by the US, that were underway to normalize Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has historically refused to recognize Israel's legitimacy, and hostilities between the states date back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. But Saudi Arabia's ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, is keen to exploit the economic benefits of potentially normalizing ties with Israel, and there were hopes that other Arab states would follow suit. Iran, Hamas' main backer, has long opposed attempts to normalize relations between Israel and its regional neighbors. The Financial Times reported on Sunday that US officials were trying to establish if there was any involvement in the Israel attacks by Iran, with conflicting reports emerging over the weekend on whether Iran was involved. The success of Israeli-Saudi talks now appears to be remote, with the concessions Riyadh requested in how Israel treats Palestinians even less likely to be agreed on in the wake of the attack, and Israel's declaration of war on Hamas. Hamas itself has said the attacks were a response to Israeli settlers entering the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam and a long-standing flash point. But a Hamas official also told Reuters that the operation had been years in the making, meaning the group is likely seeking to exploit Muslim grievance over recent events at the site and the wider diplomatic situation is the real motive for the attack. "The reality is that while Hamas has dressed up the attack as a response to Israeli incursions around the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, it chose to trigger this conflict at this time and in the way it did as a way to impose itself in that wider diplomacy," wrote The Guardian's Middle East correspondent Peter Beaumont. Another factor likely behind the timing of the attack is recent political turmoil in Israel, say analysts. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been seeking to curtail the authority of Israel's Supreme Court in the wake of probes into corruption allegations against him, sparking mass protests. "There is a sense among Israel's adversaries that it "has never been more divided, never been weaker, never been more torn apart," James Stavridis, a former commander of NATO, told NBC News. Read the original article on Business Insider Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why are there prisons? Andrew H., age 8 When people are found guilty of committing a crime, a judge will decide how they should be punished. Sometimes they are allowed to live in their own homes and they have to pay a fine or serve their communities, but sometimes they are incarcerated, which means they are ordered to live in a jail or a prison. During this time, they cannot leave and they have to follow the rules of the facility. Jails and prisons are called correctional facilities because they are meant to help correct the persons behavior so that person does not commit any more crimes. But as a criminologist someone who studies crime and prisons I often wonder how people decided that incarceration was a good way to correct people. There is a long history of using jails and prisons as punishment for breaking the law, and to keep communities safe. But there is also debate about how well those systems work, how fair they are and how to improve them. Jail vs. prison Although jails and prisons are similar, they usually have different purposes. Most of the people living in jail have not been convicted of a crime yet and are waiting for the court to decide if they are guilty. A person who is found guilty can be sent to live in the jail as punishment, but they typically stay for less than one year. If the judge sentences someone to be incarcerated for a longer period of time, that person is normally sent to a prison in another part of the state. Sometimes the prison is far away from their home, and it can be difficult for their families to visit. Sometimes people visiting loved ones in prison must talk on a phone, with a piece of glass separating them. South_agency/E+ via Getty Images Prison then vs. prison now In the past, people were not sent to jails and prisons as a legal punishment. Instead, these places were used to contain people who were suspected of a crime, to keep them from escaping before their punishment was decided. If they were found guilty, sometimes they were punished with physical pain, such as being whipped. Sometimes they were forced to work without pay or for very low wages. Others might be sent far away from their communities and not allowed to come back. The most serious punishment was execution, and many people were killed for their crimes. Over time, most countries decided that these types of punishment were cruel or ineffective, so they started using jails and prisons as places where people could be punished by losing their freedom for a specific amount of time. Judges could give some people longer sentences if their crimes were more serious, and shorter sentences if their crimes did not deserve a long punishment. Stocks were an old-fashioned form of punishment where someone had to sit with their legs sticking through the holes for a while. Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images People expected that some prisoners would learn a lesson from their prison experience. If they were scared of going back to prison, hopefully they would be less likely to break the law in the future. Some prisons tried to rehabilitate people by giving them an education, job training or therapy that might help them prepare to return home. Longer sentences In the 1970s, there was an increase in the number of crimes reported in the United States, and many people were scared. They thought that society would be safer if more people were sent to prison. The size of the prison population increased from around 200,000 people in the 1970s to around 2 million people in recent years. People started spending very long periods of time in prison, and more people were given life sentences, meaning that they could never return home. Before, those punishments had been reserved for very serious crimes, but new laws passed during this time made them more common. Prisons became overcrowded, which spread resources more thinly, including programs to help prisoners prepare to return to society. More people wound up committing crimes again after they returned home. Improving prisons People who study correctional facilities, like me, have found many problems to fix. Some have to do with the large number of people in prisons. Many nondangerous people wind up serving time there, when they could serve a different punishment and receive therapy in their communities instead. Prisoners in France wait to receive computers they will be allowed to keep in their cells to do schoolwork. Olivier Chassignole/AFP via Getty Images Another major problem is racial discrimination. Many researchers have found that Black, Hispanic and Native American people are more likely to be sent to prison than people from other racial and ethnic groups, even if they were convicted of the same crimes. This can cause a lot of serious problems for their families and communities. Societies might always need to incarcerate some people who have committed serious crimes or who pose a danger to others. Perhaps the system can become safer, fairer and more successful in punishing crimes while rehabilitating. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question youd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit adults, let us know what youre wondering, too. We wont be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. 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: Joshua Long, UMass Lowell. Read more: Joshua Long 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. BEIRUT, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday emphasized the importance of maintaining stability and security in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel. In a statement released by the Council of Ministers, Mikati urged to "stop the ongoing Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty by air and sea," and demanded Israel "withdraw from the Lebanese territories that are still occupied." Mikati reiterated that fortifying Lebanon against "stormy developments" requires accelerating the election of a new president and ending existing political tensions. The prime minister also called on the international community to assume its responsibilities by pressuring Israel to return to the Arab Peace Initiative. The Lebanon-Israel border has witnessed heavy exchange of fire since early Sunday morning after the firing of dozens of missiles by the Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in support of a massive Hamas attack a day earlier, prompting the Israeli forces to respond with heavy artillery targeting areas in southern Lebanon. Whats 10 undersized snappers? For a lot of people, its nothing. For us, its everything. That was state Rep. Jim Mooney speaking Sunday at a rally at a Cuban restaurant in Key Largo. The Florida Keys Republican is against a proposal to merge judicial circuits statewide that, if approved by the Legislature, would mean Monroe and Miami-Dade counties would consolidate judges, prosecutors and public defenders under one umbrella. Although neighbors, each county has distinct legal issues and focus. Or, as Mooney referenced, getting caught with undersized fish may not get you in much trouble on the mainland. But in the Keys, theres a good chance youll spend time in county jail. Thats because the fish and other natural resources in the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico surrounding the archipelago are at the heart of Monroe Countys tourist economy. You can rape three women in Miami-Dade and not spend a day in jail. You catch the wrong fish here, youre screwed, said Elena Vigil-Farinas, a fiery defense attorney who made national headlines in 2015 as co-counsel representing Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, the first couple to obtain a same-sex marriage license in the Florida Keys. Florida Keys defense attorney Elena Vigil-Farinas speaks during a rally outside a Cuban restaurant in Key Largo protesting against a proposal to merge Florida judicial districts. Vigil-Farinas was among about 100 people who gathered in the parking lot of La Casa de los Jugos to speak out against the proposal, initiated by Republican Florida House Speaker Paul Renner. He sent a letter in June asking the Florida Supreme Court to study combining several circuits. Theres too little of us just to talk, Vigil-Farinas said. We need to shout. As a defense attorney, Vigil-Farinas is often at odds with Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward. But on this issue to keep Keys courts independent within the island chain she has enthusiastically joined forces with him. He really, really cares. You can argue or disagree with him, but he really does care, she said. Do you really think youre going to get a state attorney who gives a s--- from Miami? she asked. Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said through a spokeswoman that shes completely opposed to consolidating the judicial circuits and believes each circuit should be preserved. In August, Fernandez Rundle sent a letter to the committee studying the proposal stating that consolidating the Monroe and Miami-Dade judicial circuits would be very disruptive to our law enforcement and our criminal justice systems. Like education, law enforcement is, and should be, local and reflect common values; judicial consolidation would serve neither of those two ideals, Fernandez Rundle wrote. Monroe Public Defender Robert Lockwood also is usually at odds with Ward. Lockwood said that a likely outcome of merging the Keys court system with Miami-Dades would be someone with either a criminal or civil case who lives in Key West having to drive more than four hours to downtown Miami for hearings and other proceedings. Robert Lockwood, Monroe County public defender, speaks at a rally held Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, protesting against a proposal to merge Florida judicial circuits. He said thats the equivalent of merging Miami-Dades circuit with Orlandos. He also emphasized the Keys have unique legal issues that judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys working in Miami-Dade may not fully grasp. Everything is different, Lockwood said. We run things different. And, we are different. Letter to Supreme Court In his June 15 letter to the Florida Supreme Court, Renner said that the issue of consolidation needs to be studied because the same boundaries of the 20 judicial circuits have been in place since 1969 despite a huge increase in the states population. I believe that the consolidation of circuits might lead to greater efficiencies and uniformity in the judicial process, thereby increasing public trust and confidence, Renner said. I also believe that the consolidation of circuits would result in improved economies of scale in the judiciarys back-office operations, leading to substantial cost savings for Floridas taxpayers. Lawn signs are displayed on a table behind people seated during a rally in the parking lot of a Key Largo Cuban restaurant Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, protesting against a proposal to merge state judicial districts. Although the proposal would include merging other counties, Renner singled out Miami-Dade and Monroe with populations of 2.7 million people and 80,000. But Mooney said the population size of the counties is irrelevant in terms of their respective judiciaries, considering cases circulating through Monroes court system include the millions of tourists who visit the Keys every year. Jim Mooney, District 120 state representative, speaks during a rally against a proposal to consolidate Florida judicial circuits Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. Theyre actually taking care of five million people who roll through here, Mooney said of Ward and Lockwood. Politics at play in Florida? Ward, a Republican, said something more political is at play behind Renners proposal specifically, Gov. Ron DeSantis fight with two Democratic state attorneys he removed from office. In August 2022, DeSantis removed Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren, and a year later, he fired Monique Worrell, who was state attorney of Floridas Ninth District, which includes Orange and Osceola counties. Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward speaks during a rally outside a Key Largo Cuban restaurant Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, against a proposal to merge state judicial circuits. Ward accused DeSantis of trying to reconfigure those and other circuits as a way to prevent Warren and Worrell from being able to win re-election. DeSantis, a Republican candidate for president, said the reason he sacked Warren was because he said he refused to prosecute abortion cases, and Worrell because she wasnt tough enough on crime in the Orlando area. Of course, these are good talking points when youre running for president, Ward said. Ward said the push to consolidate circuits doesnt make sense otherwise in light of DeSantis boast of leading the state to a 50-year reduction in crime. Were one of the top three circuits that are leading the league in putting people in state prison. Its our policies down here, said the Keys prosecutor. And, my policy is to make this place as safe as it can be and make sure that we protect our natural resources. DeSantis office did not respond to questions asking about Wards comments, and he supports Renners proposal. People urged to speak Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos G. Muniz assembled a 14-member panel made up of attorneys and judges to study the merits of consolidating the judicial circuits. So far, the more than 100 letters sent to the panel from attorneys, sheriffs offices, guardian ad litems and other stakeholders have overwhelmingly been against the proposal. Nevertheless, depending on the panels recommendation, the issue could be decided when the state Legislature meets beginning in January. Monroe County Commissioner Holly Raschein speaks at a rally outside a Key Largo restaurant Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, protesting against a proposal to merge Florida judicial circuits. Holly Raschein is a Monroe County commissioner who termed out as the Keys state representative before Mooney took the seat. She urged county residents to contact the Judicial Circuit Assessment Committee ahead of a public hearing Friday to make their voices heard against the proposal. This is something that unites our community, Raschein said. Whether youre a Democrat or Republican or no-party affiliation, this is important. Coffee milk is one of those things that only Rhode Islanders get. You leave the state, and suddenly the idea of mixing coffee syrup with a tall glass of milk makes people look at you like you have two heads. And just forget about it if you try to order a cabinet. The weird part is that the drinks are objectively delicious and deserve to be known, which brings us to our What and Why RI question this week. "Why is coffee milk virtually unknown elsewhere? a reader wrote in to ask. They continued to ask why RI calls a coffee milkshake a coffee cabinet? Those are tough questions to definitively answer, but heres what we found out. What is coffee milk? Coffee milk was invented in Rhode Island in the 1930s. For those who didnt grow up drinking coffee milk from cartons in elementary school, coffee milk is exactly what it sounds like: milk mixed with a sweet coffee syrup. The drink was invented in Rhode Island, sometime in the 1930s. The story goes that sometime back in the 1930s a soda jerk at a pharmacy fountain was experimenting with different drinks to offer the kids, Dave Lanning, the owner of Daves Coffee which makes a coffee syrup, said in an email. The kids were getting bored with the typical drinks and wanted to feel like 'grown-ups' that would usually be drinking coffee. He concocted a mixture of strong coffee and a whole bunch of sugar, he continued. He mixed this into a tall glass of cold milk and ... coffee milk was born! Word spread quickly, and soon every soda fountain in Rhode Island was offering coffee milk as a special drink to their young customers. What and Why RI: Rhode Islanders are in the minority that say grinder. Here's the story behind the sandwich There are likely layers to this story. Chef T.J. Delle Donne, the associate dean in the College of Food Innovation & Technology at Johnson & Wales University, said coffee milk was created by Italian Americans to help stretch their coffee supplies. The grounds from coffee couldnt be used to make another cup, but they could be used to make syrup for coffee milk. (As an aside: Dave's Syrup is not made with leftover brew, but with their high-end, locally roasted coffees. This bit has evolved.) Coffee milk then made it to the diners, which served coffee milk much like the chocolate and vanilla cola he said. The concept of the diner, he added, originated in Rhode Island. Why is coffee milk a big deal in Rhode Island and not the rest of the country? Beyond being invented in Rhode Island, coffee milk has strong roots in the state. As coffee milk established itself as a fixture, companies took notice. 'People have had a hankering for it': Council president brings back a New Bedford favorite The first commercially produced coffee syrup actually was based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1932 by the company Silmo Packing Company. Then Warwick-based Eclipse started creating its own product in 1938. Autocrat Coffee didnt enter the market until the 1940s, though in the '90s they would buy Eclipse. What and Why RI: Why do Rhode Islanders say bubbler when most people don't? Here's what we found out As coffee milk went mainstream and was offered with school lunches, it became beloved in Rhode Island. In my opinion, it isn't so much that coffee milk didn't catch on as it is that Rhode Islanders hold what's dear to them close to the heart, Lanning said. Like clam cakes and Del's, we love our local fare, and it's one of the things that we associate with home. Coffee milk is part of our heritage and is one of the many things that makes our little state special and sets us apart from the others. Another way of looking at that is Rhode Island went out of its way to make coffee milk a thing, supporting a home-grown invention, folding it into the states culture and making it a local drink. Because of the emphasis on it being a Rhode Island thing, its possible there just wasnt a lot of interest in turning it into a national beverage. If you look at Google Trends, a platform that analyses popular search queries, Rhode Island is firmly the state with the most interest in coffee milk, with a little interest in Massachusetts. Hawaii also has some search interest in coffee milk, but those searches are most likely looking for a canned drink called Hawaii Kona Coffee Blend with milk. How did coffee milk become the state drink? In Lil Rhody, though, there was a lot of interest in codifying the states love for coffee milk. In 1993, Autocrat, which is now owned by the British company Finlays, asked the legislature to submit a bill declaring coffee milk the official state drink of Rhode Island. Thus began what The Providence Journal called The Great State House Drink Battle of 1993. What and Why RI: Why did RI choose a chicken as the state bird? The history of the Rhode Island Red What seemed like a simple bill turned into a heated debate on whether Dels Lemonade or coffee milk was worthy of the title. Drinks were given to legislators. Barbs were exchanged in the General Assembly. Ethics were questioned. The whole affair drew national attention. But coffee milk won in the end, cementing it as iconic in Rhode Island to this day, even if it is disappearing from school lunches (too sugary). Why is a coffee milkshake called a cabinet? You can enjoy a coffee cabinet at Delekta Pharmacy in Warren. The story that is often told is that the coffee syrup or the machine to make the coffee milkshake was kept in a cabinet, and as the drink became more popular customers started asking for the syrup from the cabinet. Eventually, the drink just became known as a coffee cabinet. What and Why RI: The Awful Awful is a classic Rhode Island treat. Here's how it got its name. Delle Donne has another theory. My thought is that the early versions of the cabinet had the trappings of a coffee-flavored egg cream drink, he said. Egg creams were once referred to as royal cabinets, so Im sticking with that. What and Why RI is a weekly feature by The Providence Journal to explore our readers' curiosity. If you have a question about Rhode Island, big or small, email it to klandeck@gannett.com. She loves a good question. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: What is coffee milk and why do only RIers know about it? Ade Rogers-Wright wants to save for an early retirement and get onto the property ladder while doing so - Paul Grover Married couple Ade and Rachel Rogers-Wright, 37 and 32, have managed to build up a pot of savings and investments but a rethink in strategy is needed if they want to retire early. The couple rent in Woolwich, south London. Mr Rogers-Wright is a train driver and his wife an executive assistant. They earn a combined pre-tax salary of 110,000. They hope to amass a combined pension pot of around 1m by the time they plan to retire at age 55 roughly 20 years from now. Mr Rogers-Wright has a final salary pension that should pay him about 30,000 a year at 65. His wife has a private pension worth 11,000 with investment house Vanguard and a 15,000 pot with another pensions company, as well as a workplace pension worth 6,000 invested with Legal & General into which she and her employer contribute 500 a month. She also has 20,000 in shares given to her by a previous employer. The couple have 4,000 invested in Premium Bonds, some cryptocurrency and 15,000 in two stocks and share Isas, which are invested in a Vanguard ETF fund and a global smaller companies fund. With their combined salary, pensions and investments, this is a positive start to their retirement journey. What complicates their ambition is a potential house purchase in a few years: the couple would like to buy a 350,000 property in the area around Gravesend in Kent. James Marston, a financial planner at Quilter: Mr Rogers-Wright has 18 years until his planned retirement at age 55 and his wife has 23 years. This does not allow a long time frame for investment growth. Their strategy should be to spend little and to save as much as possible into their workplace pensions and Isas. Their total investable assets today are 80,000. If they make monthly contributions of 2,200 and that money grows at 6pc a year for 18 years, they will end up with a pot of 1.1m. Mr Rogers-Wrights income after tax is 46,430 and his wifes 34,996. Their pension contributions will cost 26,400 a year, giving them 55,026 a year to live on, which is achievable. Although they have a combined income of 110,000, they have few assets and dont own their home. If they buy a home in five years, Mr Rogers-Wright will be 42. Assuming they take out a 25-year mortgage and he does retires at 55, he will continue to pay the mortgage for another 12 years, so he will be meeting monthly living costs including mortgage repayments while depending 100pc on his retirement savings. But his pension wont begin payment until age 65, leaving 10 years to self-fund retirement. In addition, if he retires at 55 and stops paying into the pension it may end up not being worth 30,000 a year. He could increase his contributions to 14,460 a year, which would mean his income was below the higher-rate tax threshold of 50,000 and he would not pay 40pc income tax. To save for a home deposit the couple could use Lifetime Isas. The Government will give them a 25pc bonus of up to 1,000 a year as long as they use the funds to buy their first house. If they both save 4,000 into the Lisa the Government will top this up to 5,000. They have invested in stock market funds from all over the world. This should give them the best chance of growth over the next 18 years; the US market has averaged 11pc growth over the past 72 years. They should find a tax-efficient home for the 20,000 of shares. This could be a stocks and shares Isa or a pension. The Premium Bonds are fine as an emergency savings vehicle but there are fixed-rate savings accounts that pay more than 6pc a year. Emma Deuchars, investment manager at Bestinvest: While the couples aims centre on retirement, their emergency fund of 4,000 in Premium Bonds seems low we recommend a cash fund for unexpected expenses of six to 12 months expenditure. The sooner the couple add money to their retirement funds, within their tax-free Isa allowances, the longer they will have to benefit from compound interest from their investments. As the gap between the couples retirement goal and their existing funds is large, it is especially important that they benefit from long-term compound interest to the full. I suggest they increase diversification within their funds. While the largest holdings in their existing portfolio are in the stock market, I would consider reducing their weightings as both are heavily skewed towards large American stocks and therefore will behave very similarly. Instead, they could add geographically specific funds to ensure a wider spread of investments, for example some European, UK, Japanese or Asia-Pacific stock market funds. Having actively managed funds within a portfolio alongside the existing passive holdings would give the potential for long-term gains ahead of the market and some protection against stock market falls. Their retirement time-horizon may be around 20 years, but any funds invested to provide the house deposit in five to six years should be made for the medium term. Bond holdings should be present to provide a lower-risk element and I would use tracker funds that hold government bonds. Government bonds are not subject to the risks that corporate bonds face in the uncertain economic climate. Recommended How to buy your first home and what it will really cost you Read more 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. Over the past 15 years, Zach Mann has taught people from ages 4 to 80 how to use assistive technology. But despite his love for IT, he has struggled to find consistent work in his chosen field. Ariela Luna, 20, is taking classes to become a medical assistant. Her education at Milwaukee Area Technical College is being paid for through Wisconsin's Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, a state program intended to assist people with disabilities in finding jobs. Through an ongoing grant program, the state DVR will pay full tuition, among other costs, for people who choose careers in certain high-demand career fields: healthcare, IT, manufacturing or construction. Luna grew up in Milwaukee, and said she is excited to work with people. Hes not surprised that employers often reject his job applications. The unemployment rate for people who are blind or visually impaired, like he is, is disproportionately high: only 44% for working-age people with blindness or visual impairments have jobs, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. Nationally, federal data show the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is about double that of other workers. "I don't get replies, or answers back, or second interviews or anything. It's a single interview, and that's it," said Mann, 31, who lives in West Allis and grew up in Wisconsin. This summer, Mann decided to get an associate's degree in cybersecurity and IT networking to open up his job prospects; he hopes to someday start his own IT business. Also taking classes this fall is 20-year-old Ariela Luna from Milwaukee, who says she wants to work with people in doctor's offices as a medical assistant. While Mann and Luna don't know each other, they are both participants in a state grant program that covers costs like tuition, living expenses, transportation and assistive technology for people with disabilities who want to work in specific high-demand fields. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the state agency that assists people with disabilities in searching for work, said it typically caps per-person spending for education and training at $6,000 annually. But an ongoing grant, which received additional funds last month, removes the funding cap for people pursuing jobs in healthcare, IT, manufacturing or construction. Mann started working toward his degree at Waukesha County Technical College in June, and Luna is a first-year student at Milwaukee Area Technical College this fall. Mann said because he lives on a limited income, the idea of figuring out how to pay for a degree didn't make financial sense before. But neither did living with the mental stress that comes from being willing and able to work, yet repeatedly denied the opportunity. I told my DVR counselor, 'Look, Im tired of applying for jobs left and right and getting nowhere. Ive been doing it for the past five years, and Im tired of sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Im going back to school,'" Mann said. State wants to use 'underutilized' talent pools to fill jobs Getting more workers into high-demand jobs is the goal of Wisconsin's Career Pathways Advancement Initiative. The program launched in 2021 with $14 million in federal funds and a goal of enrolling a total of 500 people in five years. The state met that goal in two years, Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek said in an interview. The careers program received an additional $6.4 million in federal dollars last month to open another 300 spots and avoid waitlists. Pechacek said the program fits with broader efforts by the state to use workers from "underutilized talent pools" to fill holes in the labor force. We know, and you know, and we all hear it from all of our businesses around the state: We cannot fill our vacancies. Currently, theres about two open positions for every one job seeker. And thats due to decades-long trends in the making," Pechacek said. She referenced trends that are leaving jobs unfilled: low birth rates in Wisconsin, baby boomers aging out of the workforce and more people moving out of the state than moving in. Those demographic shifts motivated the state to apply for federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration and begin the grant program. The DWD chose to target the funds at healthcare, manufacturing, IT and construction because of those industries' current demands for workers and projected job growth. About 53% of the people enrolled in the careers program so far work in healthcare. The state projects that annually, 32,000 Wisconsin healthcare jobs will go unfilled through 2030. "That is why it is so critical we bring everyone along with us in this type of economy and this type of labor force, because it not only helps individuals and their families but it helps our business and our economy as a whole," Pechacek said. One main issue for disability rights advocates: the right to be considered for competitive jobs Disability rights advocates commonly cite the need to expand access to jobs that pay competitive wages, alongside coworkers without disabilities. It's known as investing in "community integrated employment." The Arc, a national advocate for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, outlines several barriers to expanding access the workforce: K-12 schools inadequately preparing students for jobs; adult services failing to work as intended; the use of "disability-only" workshops that pay subminimum wages. The organization also said that "low societal expectations" about the ability of people with disabilities to work leads to job discrimination. In Wisconsin, 26,040 people used state DVR job services in the 2022 fiscal year. Of that total, 3,446 people, or about 13%, remained employed within a 90-day window when the state tracked their data. Those workers most often took jobs in office and administrative support, food service or production and manufacturing. They worked an average of 25 hours a week for $15.08 an hour, the report found. This summer, various Wisconsin agencies released a plan to increase access to competitive-integrated employment across the state. It lists three main goals: increasing public awareness that work is possible for people with disabilities; strengthening state and local groups' ability to make those opportunities happen; and increasing career-focused services for K-12 students with disabilities. Mann has used the DVR's job placement program since 2009, and for most of the time, worked with the same counselor. They still keep in touch, even after she was transferred to a different position. While Mann said he's had a positive experience, he knows that's not the case for everyone. He wishes it were. Mann is in his second go at college. He's seen lots of improvements in accessibility to taking college classes for people with disabilities since he took classes a decade ago, he said, but can still point to issues like high price tags for assistive technology and access to transportation. "I'm still having struggles, but I'm feeling a lot better about school and different things this time around," he said. How do I apply for the program? The DVR asks those looking for job placement services to call 608-261-0050 or visit https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dvrreferral/ Disability Rights Wisconsin is a nonprofit advocacy organization for people with disabilities. Its Client Assistant Program is designed to assist people who are struggling with the state's DVR job placement services or independent living centers. It can be reached at 800-362-1290. Cleo Krejci covers higher education, vocational training and retraining as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. Support her work with a tax-deductible donation atbit.ly/RFADonation This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: To fix labor shortages, WI pays tuition for workers with disabilities LOUDONVILLE The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum kicks off its next Speaker Series by welcoming back historian and author Mark S. Jordan to discuss his new book, "The Witch of Mansfield: The Tetched Life of Phebe Wise." The program is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in the lecture hall of the Cleo Redd Fisher Museum, 203 E. Main St., Loudonville. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The frontier town of Mansfield already had had its share of eccentrics, including mystic/businessman Johnny Appleseed and the incoherently rambling fiddler Orrin Pharris. But little did they know the queen of quirkiness had been born when Phebe Wise arrived in 1848. Or 1846. Or 1852. It's complicated. The daughter of one of Mansfield's founding fathers, Phebe had a fraught relationship with her father, and it began twisting her natural brilliance. Inheriting her parents' property, Phebe became the target for robbers and an obsessed stalker, situations which culminated in startling acts of violence, from which Phebe emerged, a survivor. It was her strange, hypnotic impact on a young cousin of hers named Louis Bromfield that launched his trajectory toward becoming a world-famous writer who often revisited Phebe in his works. Mark Sebastian Jordan Jordan examines the curious life and legend of Phebe Wise, including historical photos and reports of eyewitness accounts of her life. Copies of Jordan's new book about Phebe Wise will be available for purchase and signing. Jordan is an award-winning writer and author of several books including "The Ceely Rose Murders at Malabar Farm." He has received grants from the Ohio Arts Council, the Richland County Foundation, and more. He writes the History Knox local history column for Knox Pages, music criticism for Seen & Heard International, and does music appreciation talks and notes for the Cleveland Orchestra, the Mansfield Symphony, the Knox County Symphony and Mid Ohio Civic Opera. Pictured is Phebe Wise, the topic of the next Speaker Series at the The Cleo Redd Fisher Museum. For more information on the museum and activities, call 419 994-4050 or visit www.crfmuseum.com. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: CRFM kicks off speaker series Historian Mark Sebastian Jordan As New York City pushes in court to suspend its unique 42-year-old right to shelter, citing the strain of the migrant crisis as the leading driver, concerns are growing about the possible effects such a shift would have on the citys swelling homeless population, with some seeing other cities as cautionary tales. Experts and advocates are anxiously eyeing outcomes in cities including Los Angeles and Washington where there is no right to shelter and street homelessness can be far more visible and warning that New York could soon find itself in similar straits. Its unclear what exact effects a suspension of the right to shelter would have on New York, the only large American city that guarantees shelter to anyone who asks for it. Countless factors could play into the outcome, including how the city would change its policies, how long the suspension would last and how migrants would respond. But advocates paint a bleak picture. Without a right to shelter, tent cities and encampments that have cropped up in many American cities over the last 40 years could grow in numbers in New York, they said. The homeless people will not disappear, said Christine Quinn, the Democratic former City Council speaker who leads the city-supported Win shelter network. Look at Los Angeles. New York and Los Angeles each have homeless populations numbering in the tens of thousands. But Americas two largest cities have starkly different shelter outcomes, said Eric Tars, senior policy director at the National Homelessness Law Center, a nonprofit. The majority of New Yorks are sheltered. The majority of Los Angeles are unsheltered, Tars said. If you weaken or remove that right to shelter altogether then what we can expect to see is encampments on the scale of Skid Row in Los Angeles emerging in New York. For decades, Los Angeles has had a notorious 50-block Skid Row, where a patchwork of tents, cardboard boxes and other makeshift homes sprawl over urine-coated sidewalks in the shadow of the citys downtown. The area is a magnet for addicts. The city has at times attempted sweeps of the district. In Chicago, where homelessness rates increased during the pandemic, tent encampments are common sights in parks and under trains and highways. In housing-crunched San Francisco, the squalid, tent-filled Tenderloin and SoMa districts are intersections of colliding crises of homelessness and drug addiction, with overdose deaths piling up at alarming rates. Perhaps the closest modern example of a U.S. city lifting broad shelter protections came in Washington, D.C., which in 1990 gave up on a short-lived experiment aimed at securing shelter for the citys estimated 5,000 homeless people. Convinced that a citywide overnight shelter provision was cutting too deeply into municipal coffers, the Washington City Council curtailed the rule. When advocates for the homeless pushed to put the issue to the public, Mayor Marion Barry campaigned hard against the policy in a referendum. Washington voters rejected the shelter rule, which they had overwhelmingly supported six years earlier. In the decades since, the capital city has struggled to help its homeless population off the streets. After Washington repealed its overnight shelter rule, life for homeless Washingtonians worsened, said Maria Foscarinis, a Columbia University Law School lecturer who founded the National Homelessness Law Center in Washington in 1989. There were more people on the street, Foscarinis recalled. The city almost immediately began closing shelters. The change did not appear to have material effects on the overall size of Washingtons homeless population, according to estimates and contemporaneous news reporting. Today, Washington has a smaller per capita homeless population than New York, based on government estimates. But its homeless population is far more visible. The city often removes tent camps, only to see them reappear. New York City, overwhelmed by the needs of tens of thousands of asylum seekers who had arrived in its shelters over the previous year, went to court in May to ask for modifications to its right-to-shelter rule, which was established by a 1981 consent decree. The city signed the agreement after a Manhattan Supreme Court justice, in a case called Callahan v. Carey, found a right to shelter in the New York State Constitution. That finding has never been affirmed by the states highest court, but the question could arrive there during the current round of litigation. Mayor Adams administration offered significant new details on its suspension request in a court filing Tuesday, declaring that it wants the right to shelter suspended for single adults. Not all advocates see the right to shelter as a smart way to attack homelessness, fretting that it can send people into permanent cycles of warehousing, and arguing that cities should instead focus on access to permanent housing. New York City said a suspension of its right to shelter would give it more flexibility to handle a migrant challenge projected to cost the city $12 billion in three years. The Adams administration has asked for a temporary pause. In a statement, the mayor said the consent decree was never intended to apply to the extraordinary circumstances our city faces today. More than 63,000 migrants are in the citys care, according to the government, and the shelter population doubled in a year. In December 1979, when Justice Andrew Tyler of the State Supreme Court ruled in Callahan that homeless men have a right to shelter, an estimated 10,000 homeless men lived in New York City, Newsday reported at the time. Today, the city shelter system alone serves more than 116,000 people a night, according to a city tally. Susie Sinclair-Smith, a longtime homeless services provider who was leading the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless when the capital clipped its shelter rule in 1990, said she believes a right to shelter is no replacement for other homeless services and the creation of affordable homes. I wouldnt want to emphatically say every place should have a right to shelter if that means that they dont place a commitment on housing and other resources, Sinclair-Smith said. Still, she added that she would be careful about pausing the right. If a right to shelter helps focus a system to address homelessness, she said, I think it should remain. At the same time that New York City is working to freeze its right to shelter, officials in San Francisco have sought to secure sweeping shelter protections for the northern California citys estimated 8,000 homeless people. Last year, the city approved an ordinance aimed at providing universal shelter. But the passage of the measure, sponsored by Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, has not been followed by budgetary action to implement a functional right to shelter. Mandelman said he believes his city has made a mistake by prioritizing housing creation over a mass expansion of emergency shelter space. Even as New York moves to freeze its right to shelter, Mandelman described the mandate with envy. Right to shelter has been a great benefit to the housed and unhoused residents of New York, Mandelman said. As we look at whats gone wrong in California, I think a lot of people are identifying the fact that there is not an immediate exit from the streets for people as a big part of the problem here. SANTEE, Calif. An elderly woman was killed in a fire that broke out in a Santee home Sunday afternoon, authorities said. Around 2 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriffs Office was alerted of the fire at a house in the 10000 block of Ashdale Lane. According to authorities, a neighbor first reported seeing flames coming from the backyard and a dark plume of smoke coming from the home. Crews from the Santee Fire Department were dispatched to the scene, along with deputies from the Santee Sheriffs Station. Upon arriving minutes later, first responders found the home fully engulfed in flames and a man living in the home was standing outside. According to SDSO, the man advised crews that his 80-year-old wife was still in the home. Firefighters were able to rescue the woman and began administering CPR. Annual Dumpathon brushes away fire risks in San Diego neighborhood She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead by medical personnel, authorities said. The cause of death is not known at this time. No other injuries were reported to civilians. One firefighter was moderately injured while responding to the incident, Santee Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Hernandez said. Detectives from the Sheriffs Bomb/Arson Unit were dispatched to the scene to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. While cause remains undetermined, investigators say the fire erupted in the garage, SDSO said. At this time, the fire was not believed to be caused by suspicious circumstances. One neighboring structure to the north of the home did sustain some heat damage as a result of the incident, Hernandez said. It is unknown exactly how much damage the home itself sustained in the incident. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. A woman is accused of stealing cash from a wedding ceremony on September 30. NazariyKarkhut/Getty Images Authorities arrested Sandra Lynn Henson on September 30 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, NBC News reports. Henson is accused of crashing a wedding, stealing $200, and eating a piece of cake. Authorities said she's been arrested in three states and accused of crashing weddings. Mississippi authorities arrested a woman who a newlywed couple said arrived at their wedding unannounced, NBC News reports. The Pontotoc County Sheriff's Department said in an October 2 Facebook post that Sandra Lynn Henson, 57, was arrested by authorities on September 30 at the wedding of Lexi Bolden and Brady Butler. "Apparently Miss Henson has been arrested in Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi for crashing weddings and stealing money and cards from purses," the post reads. According to the department, Henson was charged with petit larceny, trespassing, and disturbing the peace. NBC News reported that Henson is out on bond. Newlyweds Lexi and Brady told NBC News they discovered the uninvited guest at their ceremony when Lexi's sister Sandra spotted Henson in the bridal room. "When Sandra turned around in the bridal room, she was eating a piece of my cake," Lexi told the outlet. Lexi told NBC News that Henson initially said she knew the bride. The wedding coordinator reportedly said $200 was also missing from her purse. Henson initially denied that she stole the money, but later handed over the cash when family members threatened to call the police, according to the outlet. "From what we understand, she's been charged with [wedding crashing] several times," Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask told NBC News. One such incident occurred in August 2019 when Henson was arrested in connection to related crimes in Alabama, according to AL.com. She was charged with one misdemeanor count of theft and one felony theft charge after police in Florence, Alabama, asked the public to help identify Henson because she was accused of stealing wedding gifts. NBC News reported that Henson was also accused of stealing wedding gifts, cash, and gift cards totaling more than $1,000 in Mississippi in 2021. Court records viewed by NBC showed that Henson pleaded guilty to a grand larceny charge and was sentenced to five years probation. The bride said the uninvited guest ate some of her wedding cake. BassittART/Getty Images Online records on the Mississippi Department of Corrections website show Henson is on parole until January 2025 for grand larceny and a burglary charge. The Pontotoc Sheriff's Department, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and the Florence Police Department did not respond to Insider's request for comment. Insider was unable to locate contact information for the Butlers before publication. Lexi's other sister, Kristian Joshlin, told NBC News the family is surprised Henson arrived at the ceremony. "We were in complete shock to find out that she was a serial wedding crasher and had even been dubbed the Mid-South Wedding Crasher," Joshlin said. "We are all still in a state of disbelief that this happened to us." Read the original article on Insider An Israeli woman who fled Hamas' attack said she doesn't know if she has somewhere to return to. Danielle Biton, who lives on Kibbutz Karmita near the Gaza Strip in Israel, described her escape. She described her journey to safety and freedom as "chaos." A young Israeli woman who fled her kibbutz as Hamas launched attacks on it described her journey to safety and said she is unsure if she will have a home to return to. Danielle Biton, who lives on Kibbutz Karmita near the Gaza Strip in Israel, fled her home on the kibbutz on Saturday after Hamas began its deadly attack against Israel over the weekend. She described her experience getting to safety in a conversation on Instagram Live Monday with I24 News journalist Natasha Raquel Kirtchuk Gutman. Biton described hearing Iron Dome bomb sirens starting around 5:00 a.m. that lasted about an hour. Biton said Israelis are "used to" hearing these alarms and said she didn't grow too concerned until she stepped outside and heard shots from automatic weapons around her an unfamiliar noise on both sides, she said on the Live. "The noises were right next to us, so I told my friend that we have to leave because the M-16 guns are something we are not used to," she told Kirtchuk Gutman. Biton said she and her friend grabbed what they could and decided to flee in their car, even if that meant fleeing to their death. When they were on the run, they saw other civilians doing the same, some armed with guns, Biton said. "It was chaos," Biton said of the escape on Instagram. "Nobody knew who are the terrorists because some of them didn't wear terrorist clothes, some of them didn't have the stripe on their hands or something like that, so we couldn't identify them. A lot of people stopped on the way out because they thought it was the IDF kind of stops, but it was terrorists who just killed everyone who stopped at the way out." After two to three hours, they finally got out, but they couldn't reach Biton's friend's parents back at the kibbutz as the electricity and cell service were out. But Biton said she and her friend decided to go back to their kibbutz to try to rescue his parents. "When we went back the things we saw on the way were horrifying," Biton said on the Instagram Live. "When we tried to come back in the beginning the military didn't want to give us this option because they said this is a closed territory and that our forces wouldn't know how to recognize us so they might shoot us from our own side and we didn't care we told them we have to go back." On their way back in, Biton said they "saw a lot of dead people on the way, a lot of bodies in different stages," which, at first, "didn't seem real, and I didn't want to believe that," she said. Another obstacle arrived when they returned home: The members of their kibbutz who stayed put wouldn't let the pair in as they weren't sure if it was actual kibbutz members trying to enter, fearful of Hamas militants trying to invade their home. Biton said she and her friend had to open their windows and shout that it was them to get someone to open the gate. Finally, they were able to grab more supplies money, checks, and credit cards as well as Biton's friend's parents. She said they took "whatever we had in our home because we didn't know we still don't know if we will have somewhere to go back to." Read the original article on Business Insider A woman said her grandmother, 85, was abducted by Hamas on Saturday. Photos published by the AP show an elderly woman driven in a buggy by gun-toting militants. Dozens of people were taken hostage by Hamas on Saturday in a wave of surprise attacks. A woman has been asking social media for information after seeing a photo of her 85-year-old grandmother being driven away by Hamas fighters. In a Sunday Facebook post, Adva Adar wrote in Hebrew that her grandmother, Yaffa Adar, was an Israeli civilian spotted being escorted by Hamas fighters in a buggy. The photos show an elderly woman wrapped in floral garb sitting in the vehicle, as a militant behind her totes a rifle. Other militants trail the buggy, including at least one fighter on a motorcycle wielding a rifle. The elderly woman is seen being driven down a road. Hatem Ali/Associated Press Notes from the Associated Press said the woman was a captured civilian from the Kfar Azza community being brought into the Gaza strip. "My grandmother established the kibbutz with her own hands, believed in Zionism, in this country that has abandoned her, a hostage," wrote Adar, according to a translation by the Times of Israel. "She is apparently thrown somewhere, suffering from severe pain, without medication, without food and without water, dying of fear, alone." Adar asked for information and urged the Israeli government to recover her grandmother. While Israeli authorities have not released an official tally of how many people were abducted by Hamas, Israel's ambassador to the UK estimated on Sunday that 100 people have been taken hostage. Hamas fighters from the Gaza strip launched a wave of surprise attacks on Israel on Saturday, capturing dozens of hostages and killing around 700 people under cover of rocket barrages, Israeli authorities said. Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has declared war in response. At least 400 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory Israeli strikes, Reuters reported. The US military has moved an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean as a deterrence measure, amid fears that Middle Eastern nations surrounding Israel, such as Syria and Lebanon, may consider military action as well. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said on Sunday that the US is working to verify reports of Americans being among those killed or taken hostage by Hamas. Adar did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours. A message to the Hamas organization was also not returned. Read the original article on Business Insider JAKARTA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Foreign affairs ministers of Indonesia and Brazil, Retno Marsudi and Mauro Vieira, met on Monday in Jakarta to discuss enhancing their countries' economic and food cooperation as well as bolstering the voices of the Global South. In a joint press conference broadcasted via Indonesian foreign affairs ministry's official YouTube channel, Marsudi encouraged cooperation between the two nations in the areas of science, technology, and renewable energy, particularly to assist food and energy security. Marsudi emphasized the necessity of beginning negotiations with the Indonesia-MERCOSUR Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to eliminate all tariffs with the South American trade bloc of Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Brazil. Collaboration between Indonesia and Brazil will contribute positively to facing world uncertainty and provide voices from the Global South, which includes emerging and least-developed nations in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania. Brazil's leadership in the Group of 20 next year is a momentum to strengthen the voices of the countries of the Global South and become a positive force for promoting stability, solidarity, and equality, Marsudi added. Vieira said that his nation was committed to ensuring Indonesia's food security and noted that both sides had decided to reactivate their strategic alliance for the following three years, from 2023 to 2026. Trade and investment, renewable energy, sustainable development, and health science and technology will all be major areas of concentration for the cooperation. Brazil is Indonesia's largest trading partner and investor in Latin America. The Indonesian Trade Ministry reports that total trade between the two nations reached 5.38 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, with imports of iron ore, soybeans, and tobacco supplementing exports of rubber, polyester, cocoa, and auto components. ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington police said a man was shot while helping pick up his girlfriend's child Saturday night. The shooting happened at about 9:45 p.m., at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Waterdance Circle, near Pioneer Parkway and Center Street. Police said the 34-year-old victim and his girlfriend went to the apartment to pick up her child from her ex-boyfriend. While at the apartment, investigators said the girlfriend and the suspect, 27-year-old Axel Velazquez-Mejia, got into an argument. The victim then stepped in, and thats when police said Velazquez-Mejia shot him. He then left the area. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Officers later spoke with Velazquez-Mejia on the phone and he agreed to come back to the apartment. As he drove up, officers tried to pull him over, but he reportedly continued to drive. He later stopped and was arrested. He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest. He also had warrants out of Mesquite and Dallas. Emma Lutz, at left in the foreground, and Rabbi Ken Chasen, on guitar, are among those at a vigil Sunday at Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) When Sharon Farber turned her phone back on after seeing a play with her daughter Saturday, frantic WhatsApp messages poured in from the other side of the world. Her sister in Israel told her that she and other relatives were hiding in bomb shelters because the country was under attack. Terrified and unable to work or sleep, Farber spent the day and night on the phone, calling and texting family and friends, and scrolling through the news. Here, youre so far away, said Farber, a film composer and the music director for Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts. Theres nothing you can do, except for lose your mind from worry. Those feelings of fear and helplessness were echoed by many Sunday in Los Angeles' Jewish community, which was reeling from the deadliest attack in Israel in decades during what was supposed to be a holiday weekend of celebration. Attendees embrace at a vigil Sunday at Stephen Wise Temple amid the violence in Israel and Gaza. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) By Sunday afternoon, more than 1,100 Israelis and Palestinians were reported dead as Israel mounted a relentless counterattack to the surprise assault by Hamas militants, raising the specter of a protracted war. Among the dead, Farber had learned, was the son of a longtime friend. With a death toll so large in an area so small, "you will know someone who's no longer with us," wounded or kidnapped, Farber said. "The lack of power to do something to help is really hard," she said. Read more: Israel and Hamas continue to battle, with at least 1,100 dead and warnings of a long war The Los Angeles area, Mayor Karen Bass noted, is home to the second-largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Streets in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood would normally be shut down this weekend for parties in honor of Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday marking the completion of the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah. But this year, the mood was somber as police stepped up security in Jewish and Muslim communities alike. It will forever be a day of memorial and sadness, said Rebecca Wizman, standing outside a Pico Boulevard synagogue. Its supposed to be the happiest day of the year. She and three others were discussing who they knew preparing to fly to Israel to fight. Batsheva Pinto said many people from her congregation were headed there. So was her brother-in-law. For two days, Wizman said, everyone she knew had been operating in an information vacuum. Because of the holidays, they hadnt been able to check their phones since Friday night. Read more: Photos: Israel bombards Gaza after Hamas attack, prepares for major offensive Wizman said she was dreading Sunday evening, when she would once again be able to go online and read the latest headlines. She assumed the death toll had mounted; she was scared to learn by how much. Were not looking forward to it, she said. We want to know our people are OK, but we know theyre not. Theyre telling us no matter what you do, dont watch the videos, said another member of the group, David Abezis. For Rabbi David Baron of Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts, watching the attacks unfold reminded him of 9/11. As the hours continued, we got to understand more and more of the scope of what had happened, he said. It became clear this was not just simple, one-off act of terrorism, but a coordinated and organized invasion and attack. Over the weekend, he spoke with his cousins in Jerusalem, friends in Tel Aviv, and others he'd seen when he visited Israel twice this summer for two weddings and four bar mitzvahs. They all emphasized how the scale and scope of this attack was just massive and bold, said Baron, 72. No mercy shown to anyone. One of Barons friends had taken his two young daughters to Cyprus for the holiday, while his wife stayed behind to care for her mom. He said she was staying close to where missiles struck. She said to her husband, Im very glad you took the girls, they would be so traumatized by this, he said. With flights into the country halted, Baron said, they cant yet travel back to Israel. Yossie Ziff walked down Pico Boulevard on Sunday, still teary-eyed from the morning service at the synagogue down the road. Two years ago, Ziff said, he moved from Pico-Robertson to the Israeli city of Modi'in. He was back in Los Angeles last week visiting his grandchildren and was just stepping into the synagogue Saturday morning when he heard about the attacks. Everyone hes spoken with back home is physically OK, he said, but reeling from the same emotions as him. Pain. Sadness. Concern about friends, he said. The country is in shock. Ziff said the congregation was clearly in mourning. He was not the only one who sat through the service with tears in his eyes, but he said they were determined to make it the kind of holiday it was supposed to be: one of jubilation. I went and celebrated with joy, in spite of the sadness of what has happened, he said. Not everyone could stomach celebrating. "Its hard. Its our duty to celebrate, said Nathan Pazooky, 29. "But I dont know how." Across the street, a group holding a Torah had just broken out in jubilant chanting. Many probably did not yet know the scope of the carnage. Theres a lot of people, bless their hearts, a lot of them dont know the extent of whats happening, Pazooky said. Read more: Shock and stepped-up security in Southern California as Israel-Gaza battle rages In Anaheim's Little Arabia neighborhood, much of the fear and uncertainty that gripped Pico-Robertson was just as evident. Aref Mohammad, owner of Al Baraka restaurant, said Saturday that he was calling his siblings in Gaza nearly every hour to make sure they were safe. At a nearby table, a Palestinian man named Nazeeh said the Israeli and U.S. governments were partly to blame for the tragedy after failing to find a peaceable solution to the long-running conflict. People in the Gaza Strip live in a big prison, said Nazeeh, who asked to withhold his last name for fear that his businesses could face retaliation. Its a human tragedy on both sides. Killing children is a tragedy. Innocent people are getting crushed. Sitting on a ledge Sunday outside Chabad Persian Youth Center in Pico-Robertson, Jay Israel said his heart broke for the hundreds of innocent Israelis and Palestinians who would die as a result of the latest bout of fighting. The leaders are safe, the civilians are getting killed, he said. "When they drop the bombs, the missiles, both sides get hurt. Any war is the worst thing, he said. Times staff writer James Queally and staff photographer Irfan Khan 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. Extreme weather has dealt major blows to the sugar industry worldwide this year, which could cost you more cash to fill up the trick-or-treat bags. "This has been a very tough year for global sugar. If you look at the top ten producing countries this year, six of them have had extreme weather," Chief Meteorologist at Everstream Analytics, John Davis, told FOX Weather. "And the ramification of that is higher prices for anything that you use sugar for, including candy." He points to drought in Thailand, the fourth-largest producer, cutting production by almost a quarter. India, the U.S. and Europe suffered flooding, representing the second, sixth and third top producers. Everstream said that extreme weather is expected to decrease the global sugar supply by 10% to 15% over the 2023/24 growing season. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates global production for the season to be 187.9 million tons. EXTREME RAIN, DROUGHT DECREASES WORLD'S SUGAR SUPPLY Pakistan and Mexico have also been dealing with drought. China had devastating rainfall. "And, of course, all of the extreme weather that we've had on a global basis, it has come at the wrong time," Davis said. "If you get heavy rains during harvest, that interferes with the harvest activity and damages the crop overall. But it all comes back to the amount and frequency of extreme weather that we've had on a global basis." In the past year, sugar prices increased by 42%. Sugar prices are at a 12-year-high of 31.54 cents per pound, according to the International Sugar Organization. File: Sugarcane farm in Louisiana. "Sugar prices are the subject of conversation, but we are not in a scarcity situation with sugar supply, and we dont anticipate any disruptions," Todd Scott, senior communications manager at The Hershey Company, told FOX Weather in July. "Similarly, the price of sugar does not have an impact on our Halloween." And it is not just Halloween candy and baked goods seeing a price hike. Sugar can be used to make ethanol fuel. It is a food staple and a preservative used in almost every food and drink category. It is used in medicine, wound care, cosmetics, pest control, bioplastic, building materials, paper products, herbicides, cement and adhesives, livestock feed and detergents. "Other sectors that use sugar, we talk quite a bit about energy, ethanol, things like that," said Davis. "So many different sectors out there have sugar as a key component." THINK GAS PRICES ARE HIGH NOW? IF ETHANOL DIDN'T EXIST, YOU'D PAY EVEN MORE File: Ethanol is a gas alternative. Sugar subsidies kept the price artificially low, so farmers replanted with higher-earning crops after the new turn of this century. Then Europe slashed sugar subsidies in the mid-2000s. "2008/2009 saw the biggest ever decline in global sugar production," stated financial firm Vikingen.se. "World production fell by almost 20 million tons." In mid-2009, an El Nino event formed, and the world leader in sugarcane production was hit hard. "The Brazilian sugar cane crush in July, August and September was affected by wet weather, resulting in the world losing 1.5 million tons of sugar production," stated Vikingen. "This sugar was urgently needed in India and elsewhere. As a direct result, the price of raw sugar rose to 30 cents per pound in February 2010." The Northern Hemisphere's sugar producers were plagued with dry weather. HALLOWEEN CANDY SHORTAGE? CHOCOLATE MAKER CREATES SCARE File: Halloween candy. "Aging sugarcane and drought until mid-2010 resulted in low agricultural harvests. About 560 million tons of sugarcane were harvested, down from initial hopes of 590 million tons. In Australia, heavy rains forced growers to leave almost 20 percent of the sugarcane crop in the ground," wrote Vikingen. "The EU harvest was disrupted by early winter conditions that left some beets unharvested while the Russian harvest was destroyed by drought and extreme heat during the summer." Sugar hit around 36 cents per pound in 2011. With a strong El Nino forecast through winter, analysts expect the sugar shortage to continue into 2024. "It's going to be something that's going to take a long time to rectify," Davis said. Original article source: World sugar shortage due to extreme weather threatening Halloween candy prices In a recent development, senior members of both Hamas and Hezbollah, Iran-backed militant groups, have claimed that Iranian security officials played a pivotal role in planning and authorizing Hamas' surprise attack on Israel. According to these sources, the Wall Street Journal reports, officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) collaborated closely with Hamas for several months, beginning in August, to strategize and coordinate air, land, and sea incursions into Israeli territory a significant breach not witnessed since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. These alleged details emerged from meetings held in Beirut, where IRGC officers reportedly met with representatives of four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas currently holds power in Gaza, while Hezbollah is a prominent Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon. The U.S. officials have yet to find concrete evidence supporting these claims of Iranian involvement. In a recent interview with CNN, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship." 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. Police are requesting anyone to step forward with information about this case that has stumped them for years (New York State Police) A new appeal for any information about a nine-year-old cold case of the quadruple homicide of a family of four from Albany, New York, has been made by police. State Police continue to investigate the murder of the Chen family 9 years after the tragedy, the New York State Police wrote on X. The NYSP are focused on solving this crime and are asking for assistance. So, what happened in to this family and why is this cold case so significant? The tragic murder of this family of four is well documented in articles from the time as the Capital Districts first quadruple homicide in recent memory. On 8 October 2014, police found Hai Yan Li, 39, and Jin Feng Chen, 37, along with their two sons Anthony Chen, 10, and Eddy Chen, 7, brutally murdered at their home on Western Avenue in Guilderland, New York, police wrote on Facebook. The family were believed to be from the Fujian province on the southeast coast of China before they moved to the US. Police at the time believed that the parents and two young boys were killed between 3.30am and 6.30am, yet were not discovered until 1pm when a co-worker found their bodies. The co-workers English was apparently not advanced, so he had to go find someone else to call 911 for him, local newspaper Times Union said. It is unclear how the family died or what evidence was collected at the scene. At the time, State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt Scott Coburn only described finding the four bodies as really horrific, the local outlet said. No firm answer of what weapon used to kill the family has been identified throughout the years; police said they have thought of the possibility that hammers or knives could have been used, said CBS. According to the local paper, Mr Chen was allegedly involved in handling large amounts of off-the-books cash distributed to undocumented workers at Chinese restaurants. Major Robert Patnaude, who commanded Troop G of the State Police in 2018 said, according to the Times Union, a possibility of organised crime in the homicide "has never been confirmed. Its certainly a theory." A case shrouded in mystery remains unsolved nine years later (New York State Police) Only 600 leads were established from interviewing dozens of potential witnesses, which is a low number for a crime as large as this one. Police had assistance from local and county investigators, the New York Police Department, the FBI, Homeland Security as well as other agencies, but despite so many authorities looking into the case, authorities remained stumped and the murder stayed unsolved, said the Times Union. Its always shocking to the system when there are children involved, David Soares, the district attorney in Albany County, said at the time to The New York Times. But, on the other hand, it also motivates, I think, every person in the room right now to make sure we do everything we can to find out who did this. Mr Soares even went as far as offering immunity from deportation for any person who could come forth with information. This was offered as the family was surrounded by a community of undocumented Chinese workers who could have been in the US illegally, the Times Union states. However, the offer of immunity was never taken in exchange for any knowledge about the murder. Mr Soares said back in 2015 that it could have been the slow start the the investigation immediately after the bodies were found that could have hindered solving the case. "There were so many cultural impediments, language barriers and an overwhelming sense of fear," Soares said, according to Times Union, also noting that police were allegedly not able to access the phone records of the deceased parents, as well as having no surveillance footage near the familys property to refer to. Mr Coburn also said that DNA evidence gathered at the scene did not help the investigation answer anything. A reward of $5,000 from a local pastor back in 2019 was offered throughout the years for any information whatsoever on this horrific case, according to CBS. The case has no suspect, no motive, no causes of death and no murder weapon, yet New York State Police are determined to keep investigating this cold case. The NYSP is asking people to call 518-457-6811 if they have any information on the murder nine years ago. The Independent has contacted the New York State Police for further information. Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories has prompted New York officials to bolster security measures and deploy additional police resources across the state. In addition to locating and working actively to get New Yorkers in Israel safely back to the U.S., Gov. Hochul promised her office is also focusing on whats going on here at home, she said at Temple Israel of Albany over the weekend. Immediately we deployed our state police to be activated, to protect not just the usual places synagogues and yeshivas, Hochul said Saturday. Not just in New York City either, in places like this all across New York to have heightened security, but also cultural institutions and museums and places that we view as vulnerable sites. Mayor Eric Adams said the city has resources on the ground in Israel to gather intelligence and monitor any potential threat to New Yorkers. While there is no credible threat to New York City at this time, our administration is in touch with Jewish leaders across the five boroughs and we have directed the NYPD to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe, he said Sunday. The NYPD will continue to monitor for any further developments or threats to the city, a police spokesperson said. The spokesperson did not indicate if or where additional resources would be deployed. In Times Square on Sunday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded Times Square in a protest Adams deemed disgusting. 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 in a statement. I reject this. New York City rejects this. Do not use our streets to spread your hate. The states ramped up security comes after Hamas bombarded the Gaza Strip over the weekend in an unprecedented attack that has left hundreds dead and thousands more wounded. On Sunday, the Israeli government formally declared war and launched counterattacks against Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other countries. At least three Americans have been killed in the attacks in Israel, CNN reported. _____ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make a planned visit to Bucharest on Oct. 10, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis announced via a press release on Oct. 9. Zelensky will be visiting Romania upon Iohannis' invitation, according to the press release. The official visit confirms the "special nature of the bilateral relationship between Romania and Ukraine, its potential and the need to discuss, at the highest level, projects and themes common interest," the press release added. On Oct. 2, Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu attended a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Kyiv, where she said Romania will continue to assist Ukraine with military aid, grain transit, and accession to the EU. "Romania and some of the other (EU) members with the longest borders with Ukraine understand well the consequences of the war in Ukraine," Odobescu said, and referred to the discovery of debris from Russian drones on Romanian soil multiple times in September. Romania introduced new security measures to protect the civilian population near the Danube River after the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure spilled over into its territory. Debris from Russian attack drones have now been found in Romania at least three times. While the attacks are not intentionally targeting Romania, the situation is still "unacceptable," Iohannis said on Sept. 21. Read also: Could an election and historys ghosts upend Ukrainian-Polish alliance? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Ihor Tantsiura from the position of commander of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, replacing him with Anatolii Barhylevych. The new commander, Major General Barhylevych, was the deputy chief of staff of the Ground Forces Command. Tantsiura had been appointed as Territorial Defense Forces commander in 2022, following his service as the chief of staff of the Anti-Terrorist Operation and later the Joint Forces Operation in the Donbas and as the deputy commander of the Land Forces. According to Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources in military circles, Russia has tried twice to kill Tantsiura, with the latest attempt having occurred on May 2. The Territorial Defense is a military reserve force originating in the informal volunteer battalions created in response to Russia's 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine. In January 2022, just before Russia's full-scale invasion, the reformed Territorial Defense Forces were officially included in the structure of Ukraine's Armed Forces, becoming a critical component of the country's defense against Russian aggression. Though the differences have been blurred over the timeline of the full-scale war, the Territorial Defense Forces are usually the light infantry of the Ukrainian army, sometimes backed by armored vehicles and heavy artillery of other brigades, but without their own. Read also: Trained in the heat of battle: The journey of Kharkiv Oblasts Territorial Defense Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that Russia is interested in inciting a war in the Middle East to weaken global unity. Source: Zelenskyy in the evening address Quote: "I held a meeting with the heads of our intelligence, Main Intelligence Directorate and Foreign Intelligence Service, as well as with our diplomats on the situation in and around Israel and on the overall situation in the Middle East. According to the available information a very clear one Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe. We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives. The world wars of the past started with local aggressions." Details: At the same time, Zelenskyy added that "we know how to counteract this threat" and "we are preparing appropriate steps". 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. On Sunday 8 October, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 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! Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a speech at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly via video link on Oct. 9, drew parallels between the strategies employed by Hamas militants in their attacks on Israel and the tactics used by Russia in its full-scale war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy called for international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, emphasizing the need for a common understanding of what constitutes terrorism, UK newspaper The Guardian reported. Read also: At least 350 killed and nearly 2,000 injured in deadly Hamas attack on Israel During his speech, Zelenskyy outlined the possibility of reaching a global consensus on the definition of terrorism. Do not violate women. Do not commit murder. Do not treat children as trophies. Do not bring bloodshed to villages and cities. Do not target peaceful civilians in vehicles these should be our foundational principles, Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader also highlighted the similarities between the tactics employed by Hamas militants and Russian invasion forces. Read also: Two Ukrainian citizens confirmed dead in Israel, says Foreign Ministry Zelenskyy also linked Iran to the invasion of Ukraine and the attack on Israel. He argued that Tehran could not disassociate itself from the events in Ukraine when it was supplying Shahed kamikaze drones to Moscow. Similarly, Iran could not deny any involvement in the situation in Israel when its official representatives expressed support for Hamas. Following the recent attack by Palestinian Islamist militants, Ukraine expressed its support for Israels right to self-defense. President Zelenskyy reaffirmed that every nation had the inherent right to defend itself and held phone talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Oct. 8. Read also: Ukrainian diplomats evacuate wounded child from Israel, report possible deaths of three Ukrainians in Gaza 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, in a large-scale attack against the country. 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. Some 700 Israelis, civilians and soldiers, are currently reported to have been killed in the attacks. Another 100 Israelis are thought to have been kidnapped by Hamas and are now being held in Gaza. Video evidence shows some of the hostages have been murdered. Shortly after the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war and added, we will prevail. The Israeli government initiated Operation Swords of Iron as a military response to the Hamas attack, regaining control of some of the 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 has 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 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 DHAKA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government has approved the import of another 50 million eggs amid a huge public outcry due to skyrocketing prices of the eggs in the country. Bangladesh's Ministry of Commerce gave approval to five firms to import the eggs. With the latest decision of the ministry announced on Sunday, a total of 15 companies so far got approval for bringing 150 million eggs from abroad. In recent days, Bangladeshi people reportedly cut short consumption of eggs as prices soared to 160-170 taka a dozen over the last week in capital Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Bangladesh has a daily demand for 40 million eggs, according to the ministry's estimate. (1 U.S. dollar equals about 110 taka). Volodymyr Zelenskyy , President of Ukraine, will visit Romania for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 10 October. Source: administration of Klaus Iohannis , President of Romania, as reported by European Pravda Iohannis will welcome Zelenskyy in the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest. The Ukrainian president plans to visit Romania on the countrys invitation. "The visit confirms constant unconditional support of Ukraine by Romania in the context of the illegal Russian war against Ukraine, as well as the special nature of bilateral relations between Romania and Ukraine, their potential and the necessity of discussion on the highest level of projects and issues with mutual interest," the statement reads. The Ukrainian and Romanian leaders will discuss the strengthening of support for Kyiv in its resistance against the Russian aggression, the security situation in the region and in the Black Sea and "the necessary steps for its regulation, as well as the development of the bilateral cooperation". The issue of "total respect for the rights of national minorities" was separately mentioned in the statement of the administration of the Romanian President. This is likely in reference to Bucharests complaints about the Ukrainian law on national minorities, as well as about its long-standing unwillingness to reject the artificial "Moldovan language". Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu previously said he would travel to Kyiv to conclude negotiations on further exports of Ukrainian grain to Romania. President Iohannis met with President Zelenskyy, the European Commission President and Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in the United States in September. At the time, Iohannis said that the problem with Ukrainian grain imports could be solved by creating a bilateral permit system. 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! Klaus Johannis and Volodymyr Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Romania on Oct. 10, The Guardian reported on Oct. 9, citing the office of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis . This trip to Romania will be Zelenskyy's first since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Read also: Zelenskyy draws parallels between Ukraine and Israel in address to NATO Citing its own sources, Romania Journal reported that Zelenskyy will meet with President Iohannis, Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu, and address the Romanian parliament. Read also: In Kyiv, NATO chief addresses claims of slow response to Russian drone crashes in Romania The official visit comes as Romania finds itself directly affected by Russias attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure near the Romanian border. Debris from presumably Russian drones, used in attacks against Ukraine, have been found several times on Romanian soil. Read also: Ukraine-Romania ferry crossing closed after Russian kamikaze drone attack On Sept. 30, Bucharest announced that Russian drones might have violated Romanian airspace. NATO does not believe the attacks were deliberate. Romania has since moved some of its air defense systems closer to the Ukrainian border. Warnings about potential dangers have started to circulate among residents of border towns who have seen the drone strikes firsthand and documented them on video. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine With only a few days left to decide on hundreds of bills, Gov. Gavin Newsom took action on more than 400 proposed laws over the weekend. He signed new measures to require businesses to disclose their carbon emissions, to ban the purchase of gas-powered school buses by 2035 and to hold social media platforms accountable for curbing the spread of child sexual abuse materials. In the same stroke, he vetoed legislation that would have limited the price of insulin, allowed for the creation of cannabis cafes in California and provided free condoms at high schools. Heres a look at a few of his high-profile signings and vetoes. Legislation signed by Gavin Newsom Social media: Platforms will be barred from knowingly facilitating, aiding, or abetting commercial sexual exploitation beginning in January 2025. They are also expected to permanently block any instance of reported material from their platforms. A court will be required to award damages of between $1 million and $4 million for any act of child sexual exploitation facilitated or aided by a social media platform. A company could fend off litigation by performing biannual audits to try to detect problematic features. Corporate emissions: The first-of-its-kind legislation will require large corporations to publicly disclose their carbon emissions and financial risks posed by climate change. Starting in 2026, companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue must disclose their emissions, including pollution estimates from their supply chain. School buses: By 2035, all newly purchased or contracted school buses must be zero-emission. School systems may request a one-time extension of up to five years if purchasing or acquiring such buses is not feasible due to route constraints. Newsom wrote in a signing message that the legislation demonstrates our states commitment to maintaining a healthy environment for our children through improved air quality. Food additives: California is joining dozens of countries across the world and prohibiting the use of certain chemicals in food. The measure will ban the sale, delivery of offering of any food products containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben or red dye No. 3. California bills vetoed by the governor Cannabis Cafes: Assembly Bill 374 could have brought Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes to the Golden State. The legislation would have allowed cannabis lounges to serve food or drinks and permitted customers to consumer cannabis on-site. The bills author, Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, likened his proposal to wine bars, where people pay a premium to drink in a social environment. In his veto message, Newsom said that he appreciated Haneys intent but was concerned the bill would undermine Californias long-standing smoke-free workplace protections. Condoms: Senate Bill 451 would have provided free condoms to all California teenagers who attend public high school. The governor said he agreed that condoms were important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health but cited fiscal restraints for rejecting the proposal. In his veto statement, he wrote that the bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process. Displaced workers: In a loss for labor, Newsom rejected Senate Bill 627, the Displaced Worker Transfer Rights Act. The legislation was meant to discourage corporate chain employers from using store closures in a discriminatory or retaliatory manner. It would have required businesses to notify workers 60 days in advance of closing their workplace and grant them transfer rights within the company. The governor said in his veto message that the bill would impose significant burdens on employers and he anticipated challenges with implementation and enforcement. Insulin: Senate Bill 90 called for capping the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 for a 30-day supply and prohibiting health plans from imposing a deductible on insulin prescription drugs. Newsom said the state is already actively working to bring down the cost. Earlier this year, California secured a $50 million contract with the nonprofit drug manufacturer Civica to sell insulin through the states generic drug label, CalRx, at just 10% of the typical cost for cash-paying patients. BEDFORD A special use permit for a private equine boarding facility in the Huddleston area of Bedford County received the county planning commissions recommendation of approval last week. Holly Adams, the applicant and property owner, seeks the permit to establish a commercial stable with eight stalls, storage areas, an office and lounge, and a riding area. The parcel is zoned planned commercial development (PCD) with an airport overlay district on Smith Mountain Parkway across from its intersection with Deer Trail Drive in Huddleston. The stable is proposed to locate across from the entrance to the Mariners Landing residential development. The request for a Special Use Permit to create an equine boarding facility will protect against overcrowding of land while simultaneously preserving both the agricultural history (hay fields) and natural environment (wooded areas) of the property, a staff report to the commission states. The boarding facility will also create several part and full time jobs. Finally, an equestrian facility would not encroach on or block the view of Smith Mountain from the neighboring house. The creation of an equine boarding facility should have minimal impact on the property other than two buildings and fencing, the application states. Adams said the commercial stable will have eight horses, two belonging to her, and will not hold parties, trail rides and horse shows. She described it as a small-scale, private stable. Its just so me and some friends can have a place to ride, Adams told the commission. It will preserve the agricultural history of the property, originally tobacco fields, and now hay fields, the application states. It will be good to see the property used for something other than a vacant parcel, Jeff Burdett, a commissioner, said. In another matter, the commission recommended approval of an automobile repair service with associated parking. The parcel is zoned agricultural/residential (AR) district and is located just west of Staunton River Middle School in Moneta. Shannon Simmons, the applicant, said the automobile shop is in a win-win situation. This lot is perfect for this automobile shop, Simmons said. Mickey Johnson, a member of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors, spoke in favor of the project during a public hearing the commission held Tuesday. Johnson said he drives by the property often and was not excited about an auction barn use on the property and potential traffic congestion from crowds. Im just tickled to death its a win-win-win, Johnson said. Were going to have a guy who can fix cars close to where I live. Two other nearby residents also spoke during the hearing, inquiring about business hours and expressing a desire for their properties not to be negatively affected. Burdett said the business will benefit the area of the county on Virginia 24 near the high school and keep them from having to drive to the town of Bedford, Vinton or Roanoke. Its definitely something thats needed in that area, Burdett said. The commission stopped short of setting a condition on setting business hours. Im going to trust him on that one, Burdett said, adding the neighborly thing is to keep noise from the operation from negatively affecting nearby residents. Both special use permit requests will go to the Bedford County Board of Supervisors for review and public hearings. HAMPTON When a mental distress flares up, a hospital emergency room can be a tough place to be: often overcrowded, with lights and sirens flashing and blaring and doctors racing from crisis to crisis. We want to provide the right help when it is needed, which is right now, Youngkin said Thursday, at the formal opening of Riversides new ER, which is attached to its inpatient psychiatric hospital and the health systems facilities for outpatient services. The new emergency room has specialized treatment spaces for children and adults, private rooms and community areas, equipped with recliners, if those are a more comfortable place to deal with a patients needs. It will be staffed 24 hours a day with behavioral health clinicians, able to help people in a crisis or individuals who may need changes in medication, said Ryan McQueen, director of psychiatric services at the Riverside campus. If talking with a clinician will help, that will be available too. Theyll get treatment here, case by case, he said. What really struck me is if you just need to come in and talk to someone for a little while, you can get that here, too, Youngkin said. Much of the first phases of Youngkins behavioral health reform focuses on crisis services, with calls for more mobile crisis teams, crisis receiving centers places where police bring individuals who might need to be assessed for urgent mental health care and crisis stabilization units, which focus on short-term acute treatments. This is really a crisis receiving center on steroids, said Secretary of Health and Human Resources John Littel. "There's nothing else like it." For people trying to deal with the onset of trouble for a family member or friend, If you dont know what else to do, this is a place you can come, Littel said. Newport News Sheriff Gabe Morgan, who has pushed for expanded behavioral health services for years, and who has launched programs to help inmates struggling with mental illnesses and addictions in the city jail, said the Riverside facility addresses an urgent issue of overcrowded hospital ERs in Hampton Roads. When we take people to an ER it can take two or three days to get someone what they need, he said. Thats way too long. The Riverside ER will be a model for facilities in other parts of Virginia, Youngkin said. It also signals a direction for behavioral health changes he wants to see, with expanded services to keep people from spiraling into a crisis, as well as for care after a crisis, he said. Hope will happen here, hope for healing care, compassionate care, professional care, loving care, Youngkin said, before cutting a ribbon to formally open the Riverside ER. Hope that comes with the welcome that says its OK. Midlands Humane Society is no exception when it is said that animal shelters and rescues in the United States are experiencing understaffing, increased intakes and a drop in the number of adoptions. Staff and volunteers are exhausted and the resources to care for the animals are stretched thin. Each day there are strays from the community brought in, and each day there are several calls from owners looking to relinquish their pets for a multitude of reasons. If you have been on the verge of adopting, we are all urging you to take the leap. In September of this year, Midlands Humane Society had approximately 215 animals come through its doors. This includes 42 kittens, 95 cats, 15 puppies and 58 dogs. MHS is partnered with Council Bluffs Animal Control and Pottawattamie Animal Control, so any animals the officers pick up on calls come to Midlands Humane Society to hopefully be claimed by their owners but unfortunately, that isnt always the case. When an animal remains unclaimed, MHS can legally begin adoption preparation within 72 hours. We urge anyone missing a pet to immediately check MHS as kennel space is low and we can not keep animals longer than necessary. At the same time, we understand that the cost of living is drastically increasing nationally, and adoption fees can sometimes be a hard pill to swallow when you can find an animal online for free. The reason for the adoption fees is due to the amount of manpower and medical care that is put towards the wellbeing of each individual pet during their stay at MHS. On top of administrative costs for staff to care for the 200-plus animals each day, all the available pets also go through many different medical evaluations and surgeries to prepare them for adoption. This includes spaying or neutering, age and species appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, flea/tick/heartworm preventative, deworming, FeLV testing for cats and heartworm testing for dogs. Dont forget about the other surgeries like dentals, amputations, enucleations, tumor removals and many other necessary surgeries performed each week. The price of the adoption fee is typically lower than what you would pay at a veterinary clinic to accomplish these things on a blank slate animal starting from scratch. We ask anyone needing to rehome their pet to try and rehome themselves before relinquishing to the shelter. There are several Facebook groups for rehoming pets locally, the Nebraska Humane Society has a rehoming site on their website to connect you with people looking to add a new animal to their home, or check in with your friends, family or coworkers to see if they may be interested. If it is a matter of lack of resources, please contact MHS to see if there is anything we can do to help you. Keeping an animal in their home with their family is the ideal situation for everyone. Long story short, please consider adopting. Not all of our dogs are small, pure bred, or have perfect manners. Not all our cats are declawed, and will stay off your counters and couches. However, they are all willing to be your most loyal companion, give you their whole hearts and be by your side for the rest of their lives. If you have considered adding a new furry friend, now is the time. We need you. They need you. Stop by Midlands Humane Society weekdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can view our adoptable pets online by visiting our website at midlandshumanesociety.org/adopt or by checking out our Facebook page. MHS Pets of the Week brought to you by R.W. Kirshenbaum: Stella is a 1.5-year-old spayed female Lab who is a ball of sunshine ready to brighten your days. She is your typical lab who is full of energy and love to give. She seems to get along with most everyone she meets and does join in on playgroup, so we think she would enjoy a doggy friend in her new home. She will need to be kept busy, so lots of walks and games of fetch will do her good. Evangeline is a 2-year-old spayed female German Shepherd who is very friendly and ready to be an amazing companion. She is outgoing and curious and is your typical intelligent GSD that likes to be kept busy. She enjoys playing with other dogs in play group so we think she would like to have a canine sibling at home. Tina is a 3-year-old spayed female Pit mix who came to MHS as a stray. She was timid and quiet girl upon arrival but has quickly turned into a staff favorite due to her friendly, loving personality. Tina even recently spent time getting attention from a local assisted living home. She is looking for an owner who will prioritize her weight loss and get her in tip top shape. She will need to be adopted to an area without a breed ban. Oso is a 5-year-old neutered male Rottweiler who is a sweet, treat motivated guy ready to find a home to call his own. Oso would benefit from a home that has Rottweiler experience as he is a very big, strong boy. He has been in playgroup with other dogs and seems to prefer a more laid-back companion to hang out with more than play with. 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 didn't 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 fund's 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 dividend's 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 fund's 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 fund's earnings to help pay for government services when they couldn't 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 state's bread-and-butter resource. Crabs are disappearing from the Bering Sea. Scientists are trying to learn why The citizen survey for the City of Norfolks parks and recreation master plan is now available to the public. The city is collaborating with PROS Consulting on the project, and the survey will help determine priorities for the citys park system. 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. The recent military coups in Gabon and Niger, and claims of a military takeover attempt in Congo Brazzaville, show that the contagion may continue to spread, not only undermining democratic governance but also threatening to dim the prospect of improved inter-continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). With military officers in Gabon and Niger, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and Sudan taking power on behalf of the people, closing the borders and dissolving all institutions in their respective countries, AfCFTA, now in its third year of implementation, is in grave danger of failing. The series of military takeovers threaten trade treaties and agreements, creating an environment of uncertainty for businesses and investors in the affected countries with a spillover effect on neighboring countries. In response to the coups, Western powers and ECOWAS applied heavy trade and financial sanctions on Niger and Gabon. Besides hampering inter-continental trade, recent data from the John Hopkins China-Africa Research Initiative have revealed that the Africas loss is other regions gain. For example, the bilateral trade deficit between Nigeria and Africa has particularly in the past five years continued to widen in favor of the rest of the world. While Chinas exports to Nigeria in 2022 stood at $23.9 billion and $164.16 billion for the whole of Africa, imports from Nigeria for the same time frame stood at just $1.6 billion, a deficit of over $22 million. But China is not the only beneficiary of the low trade volume among African countries, as a similar trend can be seen also, for example, in the case of the United Kingdom and the United States. Although Nigeria ratified the AfCFTA deal in 2020, its land borders have been mostly closed to neighboring countries since then, which is against the fundamental principle of the regional trade treaties that seek to simplify cross-border trade across Africa. This and many other reasons are a huge part of why trade within Africa remains very low while China continues to gain, experts have said. As a result, intra-African trade remains the lowest in world trade, standing at around 15% compared to approximately 66%, 44% and 63% intra-regional in the case of Europe, North America and Asia/Oceania respectively. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Inspired by its ties with the Filipino rock music community, the number 1 extra strong beer in the country Red Horse Beer launches its first-ever limited edition can "RakraCAN." Red Horse Beer is used to lighting up stages with top local rock acts but now, for a limited time only, it packs the same intensity into a can that is 100% fire! "RakraCAN" is also a testament to the brand's support to the progression of the local rock industry. The brand recently received recognition from Kantar BrandZ as one of Southeast Asia's Top 30 most valuable brands, and Red Horse Beer is the only Philippine brand that was awarded. Collect, enjoy, and rock out loud with Red Horse Beer's "RakraCAN" from select supermarkets, groceries, and convenience stores. You may also order through SMB Delivers via 8632-BEER (2337) or www.SMBDelivers.com. You can also get a chance to win "RakraCAN" 6-pack and other exclusive brand merchandise by subscribing to Red Horse Beer's Sarap Tama YouTube Channel and following their TikTok account. For more updates, follow Red Horse Beer on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Herimanana Razafimahefa, the Speaker of Madagascars Senate has cast doubt about November 2023 presidential elections arguing that the ongoing confrontations and protests that are making the buildup to the electoral campaign set to start on October 10, are conducive to free and transparent elections. Tensions have ramped up in recent weeks in the country and mostly in the capital Antananarivo where opposition figures and sympathizers of Andry Rajoelina have been clashing. President Rajoelina resigned in August 2023 per Constitution in view of running for a second term in office. The countrys top Court, Haute Cour Constitutionnelle (HCC), received in September 28 bids but vetted a dozen of them including those of Rajoelina and two other former Presidents, namely Marc Ravalomanana and Hery Martial Rajaonarimampianina. Ravalomanana and Rajaonarimampianina and several other candidates have formed a coalition against the 49-year old leader. Both sides have been holding demonstrations in the buildup to the campaign set to start tomorrow October 10. Razafimahefa, who refused to take over power per the Constitution after Rajoelina stepped down, has indicated that the tensions are not conducive to peaceful elections, local media Madagascar Tribune reports. Its difficult for us to go to the elections on schedule, given the ongoing demonstrations and clashes, he declared when asked by the press about the current political situation. For this head of institution, it is essential to take a step that opens the way to dialogue, he told reporters. We need to find a solution to move towards free and transparent elections. This is what the people are waiting for, he added. The first round is supposed to take place on Nov. 09. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings . The Moroccan King, government and people set an example of national solidarity following the devastating earthquake that killed 3000 in the Atlas Mountains. Few hours after the earthquake struck on Sept 8, the King gave his instructions to authorities to speed up rescue and relief and ensure the quake-stricken population had proper shelter. He then visited quake victims in a hospital in Marrakech and ordered the launch of a fund to rebuild the destroyed area as well as to ensure cash handouts and reconstruction aid to people whose homes were damaged or demolished. The difficult Atlas Mountains terrain and landslides were defied by Moroccan rescuers and civilians who took matters in their hand without foreign assistance. While the norm is to run away from quake-hit areas, Moroccan civilian aid caravans keep flowing to quake-hit areas to this day bringing food, blankets, tents and backing authorities in other relief areas. Moroccos social media is awash with civil society activities including building schools and delivering containers to villagers ahead of the snowy season. Some analysts say Morocco prioritized its own peoples solidarity to foreign assistance as it only accepted aid from four countries: Qatar, Spain, the UAE, and the UK, who sent their rescuers. Morocco however has said that foreign aid can contribute to the financial effort to rebuild the area. The country has set up a special fund that has so far gathered over 1 billion dollars in donations. Morocco plans to invest 12 billion dollars to develop the High Atlas area focusing on reconstruction and the upgrade of infrastructure. The wave of citizens solidarity and the efficient earthquake response by authorities despite the rugged roads and difficult terrain are once again showing traits inherent to the Moroccan people of solidarity in adversity, a spirit of solidarity, described by many, including by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, as exemplary. The Governor of Moroccos central bank, Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), Abdellatif Jouahri has said that the annual meetings of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will serve as an opportunity to display Rabats commitment to the development of the African continent. This meeting aims to highlight Moroccos commitment to African countries through the royal vision of South-South cooperation, Jouahri said at a press briefing at the start of the annual meetings in the Moroccan city of Marrakech this October 9 through 16. The event will allow BAM to emphasize the performance of the Moroccan banking system in Africa, which has been successfully expanding over the past two decades, Jouahri was quoted by Morocco World News Website as saying. The challenges facing Africa, including the issue of debt, food security, and climate change, will be at the center of discussions, Jouahri said. He also commended the selection of Morocco as the host of major events, stressing that this reflects the countrys commitment towards Africa. Jouahri stressed that the event demonstrates the trust Morocco enjoys with international institutions and financial markets, thanks to the reforms initiated under King Mohammed VIs vision. He pointed to the organization of the meetings only a few weeks following the devastating earthquake that struck central Morocco as prime evidence of this trust. The holding of these meetings, a few weeks after the earthquake that struck several provinces of Morocco, demonstrates the Kingdoms ability to face challenges and its potential as the host country for this major international event, Jouahri said, insisting that this venue reflects the trust the country enjoys as a regional leader on several levels. The BAM governor said that the event will serve as an opportunity to showcase Moroccos exemplary performance in structural reforms and governance. The Annual meetings features several panels on topical issues, including climate change, and the digital revolution, in an uncertain international context marked by crises like the Ukraine-Russia war and the post-pandemic upheavals. The debates will revolve around the need to rethink multilateralism and highlight global political and economic fragmentation, he said. A Moroccan girl, who was held with her mother in an Iraqi prison, was repatriated to Morocco this Monday on humanitarian grounds to enable the little girl to grow up in a healthy environment. The announcement was made by the Inter-ministerial Delegation for Human Rights (DIDH), a government body. The move comes in response to the requests made by the little girls family with her mothers consent. During her journey back home, the little girl was accompanied by her aunt and a social worker, said the DIDH thanking the Iraqi authorities for releasing the young Moroccan girl. The Moroccan authorities have taken all necessary measures to provide her with the necessary psychological, social, and educational support to ensure her reintegration into her new environment. Moroccos Quest for Stronger and Inclusive Growth is the title of a book edited by Roberto Cardarelli and Taline Koranchelian of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), offering a comprehensive overview of the progress scored by Moroccan economy over recent decades. The book, presented Monday at the start of the preparatory works of the WB/IMF Annual Meetings, taking place in Marrakech this October 9 through 15, also sheds light on the Kingdoms forthcoming economic modernization program. The presentation featured addresses by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, who moderated a debate with Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, and the Wali of Bank Al-Maghrib, Abdellatif Jouahri. The presentation, which was attended by a host of Moroccan and foreign personalities, including World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, provided an opportunity to shed light on the Moroccan experience, discuss its lessons for other countries, and highlight the Kingdoms potential for private sector involvement, a key pillar of the countrys New Development Model program. The book Moroccos quest for stronger and inclusive growth is part of the Road to Marrakech 2023 operation. It highlights the economic progress made by Morocco in recent decades, discusses the remaining challenges and the new structural reform agenda aimed at transforming the countrys development model, making it more inclusive and private sector-led. Aziz Akhannouch underlined in his address the ambitious and proactive reforms undertaken over the past twenty years, noting that these reforms have laid the foundations for a deep and lasting transformation of our economy, and have enabled the Kingdom to consolidate its resilience and preserve its macroeconomic balances. Stressing that Morocco stands at a decisive crossroads in its history, Akhannouch noted that this book illustrates the Kingdoms determination to achieve ambitious goals in terms of economic and social development and to implement the far-sighted strategic vision initiated by the King, which outlines the ambitions, development objectives and levers of change likely to unleash energies and accelerate the countrys march towards progress and prosperity. The Head of government who underlined the kingdoms resolve to build a society based on solidarity and fairness, recalled the various reforms launched as of 2021 to strengthen institutional cohesion and social protection systems. In this respect, he emphasized the importance of strengthening the healthcare system, improving the quality of the educational system and promoting scientific research and innovation, Morocco being convinced that growth must be inclusive, but also sustainable and respectful of the environment. Akhannouch pointed out that the Kingdom, which is a forerunner in the development of renewable energies, is aiming to triple its installed capacity in wind and solar power, while seeking to position itself as a key player in the green hydrogen sector. He also touched on the earthquake that hit central Morocco on September 8, pointing out that the emergency logistical and humanitarian measures put in place to address the disaster testify to the Kingdoms strong resilience in the face of multiple crises. He added that the reconstruction and economic and social development of the tremor-hit areas are structured within an ambitious, proactive, and integrated program aimed at rebuilding damaged homes, rehabilitating infrastructures, opening up territories, reducing social deficits and promoting local economic activity. The authors of the book underline that over the past three decades, Morocco has made remarkable progress in terms of economic stability and development. Moroccos story offers valuable lessons for many developing countries still striving to build the foundations of their macroeconomic stability. The series of reforms the Kingdom has begun to implement can also serve as an inspiration for all countries wishing to strengthen their growth and make it more inclusive, they point out. In the foreword, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva writes that this book explores the factors underlying Moroccos resilience and points to the many reforms launched decades ago. These reforms include opening the country to international trade, investing in essential infrastructure, reducing untargeted subsidies, strengthening the independence of the Central Bank (Bank Al-Maghrib/BAM), developing a sound financial supervisory framework, and modernizing governance in both the public and private sectors. For his part, the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, points out in the Preface that this book highlights the achievements already made under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, without ignoring the scale of the challenges still ahead. By putting the Kingdoms recent economic and social advances into perspective, this book bears witness to Africas rise to power, he stresses in the preface. MIAMI The ad sounds like something out of the GOP 2024 playbook, trumpeting a senator's work with Republicans to crack down on the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S., getting tough on Chinese interests helping smugglers, and noting how he "wrote a bill signed by Donald Trump to increase funding for Border Patrol." It's actually a commercial for Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat facing a tough reelection fight that will help decide control of the Senate. "Ohioans trust Sherrod Brown to keep us safe," says the narrator of the ad, sponsored by the Democrat-aligned Duty and Country PAC. His campaign declined to comment. The message is one more indication of the political and security challenges the U.S.-Mexico border presented for President Joe Biden. Some Democrats across the country are distancing themselves from the White House, and polls indicate widespread frustration with Biden's handling of immigration and the border, creating a major liability for the president's bid for reelection. The Biden administration this past week took actions seen by many as moving to the right on immigration. The Department of Homeland Security waived environmental and other reviews to construct new portions of a border wall in South Texas after Biden pledged during the 2020 campaign that he would build "not another foot" of wall. And U.S. officials said they would resume deportations to Venezuela not long after the administration increased protected status for thousands of people from the country. Both moves inflamed conservatives and liberals alike. Many Republicans accused Biden of being too late to adopt former President Donald Trump's ideas on a border wall, while liberals who oppose additional border restrictions accused the White House of betraying campaign pledges. "My frustration has been that we are not addressing immigration in a holistic way as a country. We are depending on the president alone," said Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas, a Democrat who represents the border city of El Paso and is a national co-chair of the Biden reelection campaign. "We are treating people from different nationalities in a different way. And the pathways that have been created are being challenged in court consistently." Biden said his administration moved forward with the border wall because it was required by Congress during the Trump administration, even though he considers it ineffective. His reelection campaign pointed to Trump's record at the border, including his administration's practice of separating immigrant families as a deterrence measure and the temporary detention of children in warehouses in chain-link cells. "MAGA Republicans are running on the legacy of Donald Trump's playbook of family separation, caging kids, and shouting 'border!' without any serious solutions," said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Biden's reelection campaign, referring to supporters of Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement. Border crossings hit two-decade highs under Trump but fell during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with immigration authorities expelling most border crossers using a public health rule known as Title 42. Upon taking office, Biden paused border wall construction and canceled the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program, but kept expelling many people under Title 42 until this past May. Still, border crossings are skyrocketing, which some observers blame on Biden's administration for creating the perception that the border is open. The White House counters that migration surged across the Western Hemisphere due to regional challenges out of the administration's control. Conservative media outlets often spotlight border crossings and blame Biden for creating what they say is a crisis. Biden also was criticized by many in his own party, including Democratic mayors and governors who want more help caring for newly arriving migrants. Republican-led border states started busing thousands of immigrants to Democratic-led cities across the country, creating in many places a shortage of space that's led to makeshift shelters and camps. In Chicago, O'Hare International Airport is housing hundreds of migrants from babies to the elderly at a shuttle bus center. They sleep on cardboard pads on the floor and share airport bathrooms. New York Mayor Eric Adams went to Mexico to implore would-be migrants not to come. He accused the Biden administration of not providing enough money or resources for the city to process migrants, telling reporters this summer, "The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue." Polling suggests Americans across the political spectrum even some people sympathetic to immigration are concerned. A Marquette Law School poll of registered voters conducted in late September gave Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, a 24-point advantage over Biden on handling immigration and border security issues 52% to 28%. Escobar said she is concerned that immigration could hurt the president's reelection efforts. "There is going to be a tendency to blame the White House when in fact this has been a failure on Congress," she said. The last major immigration reform approved by Congress was in 1990. When I saw the photos of Ayo Edebiri throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park, I immediately pinched and spread my fingers to zoom in on her dark-wash wide-leg jeans and white high-tops. The sneakers were classic Converse All Stars, but the jeans were a mystery to me. They are high-waisted and wide without looking like trousers or sailor pants. In fact, the legs are a bit twisty or barrel-like in shape. I dropped a link to her Instagram post in the Strategist teams Slack to see what everyone else thought. Senior editor Simone Kitchens said she was 100 percent certain they were from Uniqlo, specifically the sold-out dark-blue-wash curved jeans from the Uniqlo x Lemaire collection. She owned the same pair but sold them because the very high rise on her long torso wasnt that comfortable. She looked back at her resale pictures and confirmed, Theyre identical. Liza Corsillo House of Hounds Ordered to Pay $50,000 in Damages Following Whistleblower Retaliation The companys former owner allegedly dismissed the employees after COVID-19 concerns. Boise, Idaho-based dog daycare facility House of Hounds LLC and its former owner, Kayla Martin, have been ordered to pay $50,000 in damages to two former employees, as directed by a federal court, after they were dismissed for voicing concerns about COVID-19 safety measures. The consent judgment follows an OSHA investigation, prompted by the employees filing a whistleblower complaint. They alleged Martin terminated their employment because of their concerns about potential exposure to COVID-19 from a colleague awaiting test results. Now Martin and House of Hounds will pay each employee $25,000 in general and punitive damages. Our team works diligently to ensure the voices of employees who exercise their right to report alleged unsafe working conditions are heard, OSHA Regional Administrator Dorinda Hughes in Seattle said in a statement. This outcome serves as a reminder that retaliating against a worker who reports a safety and health concern will not be tolerated. The case revealed that Martin instructed the employees to complete their tasks and then leave the premises. Following this, their access to the companys social media platform was revoked, and they were excluded from the revised weekly work schedule, indicative of their termination. When they filed for unemployment insurance, House of Hounds contested their claims, erroneously asserting to the State of Idaho Department of Labor that the employees had quit. In addition to the monetary penalty, the court has ordered House of Hounds and Martinwho has since sold the companyto offer a neutral employment recommendation and erase any mention of the incident from the employees records. They are also mandated to extend a public apology via social media. The company must now provide OSHA-approved management and supervisory training and notify new as well as some former employees of their rights. R.M. Palmer Faces OSHA Citations After Fatal Gas Leak Explosion The candy manufacturer is under scrutiny following a March 2023 incident. R.M. Palmer Co., a renowned Pennsylvania-based candy manufacturer, is facing OSHA citations after a gas leak explosion resulted in the deaths of seven workers at its West Reading facility. According to a release dated Oct. 5, OSHA cited the company for failing to evacuate its workers after several of them reported smelling gas, a precursor to the devastating March 2023 incident. The investigation also uncovered other safety oversights, including unmarked emergency exit signs, improper use of flexible cords and recordkeeping violations. 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, OSHA Area Director Kevin T. Chambers in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 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. Established in 1948, R.M. Palmer Co. employs about 850 workers and produces, packages and ships over 500 types of chocolates, confections and other products throughout North America. The company now has 15 business days to respond to the OSHA citations, during which it can comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the agencys findings. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Officials said on Monday they are verifying reports that Hamas militants took a Filipino to their side, while two others were injured and seven are missing in Israel amid the full-blown war. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said a Filipino woman reached out to the Philippine embassy in Israel and said she recognized her husband in a video on social media. It shows a man held at gunpoint, and likely brought to the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory bordering Israel under Hamas control. Post urgently relayed this to the Israel military authorities. Post cannot independently verify his identity based on the video alone but considers the report of the wife as important. We are also working with community contacts on his case, the DFA said. Some news aggregators on Saturday posted photos and videos of men, among them supposedly Filipinos, held at gunpoint. Injured, missing Pinoys Officials said of the 29 missing Filipinos, 22 were rescued by Israeli security forces including two injured. Seven could not be accounted for. DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said the seven missing "cannot be contacted via their mobile number and social media accounts." "The embassy is working non-stop with Israeli security authorities and community contacts to ascertain their condition, the DFA said. OWWA data sent to CNN Philippines named five of the missing seven: Grace Cabrera, Shelly Morillo, Norilyn Babadilla, Gallenor Leandro Pacheco, and Loreta Alacre. Speaking to CNN Philippines New Day, Anthony Mandap, Philippine embassy deputy chief of mission, said a Filipino was shot during an Israeli defense force rescue operation from a shelter. Another was a case of suffocation after attackers burned the house of a Filipino and her employer. There could be more so we're still investigating this, he said, adding there are no reported deaths among the more than 30,000 Filipinos working and living in Israel. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Arnell Ignacio identified the shooting victim as Joey Pasolingan from San Carlos, Pangasinan. The official told CNN Philippines The Source that Pasolingan is recovering in a hospital. Mandap said the situation has subsided compared to the past days when it was raining rockets practically all day. But again, the situation is still tense, there is a lot of uncertainty, there could still be incidents of terrorism happening in public places, he added. Mandap said it would be better to stay indoors for now, and advised Filipinos to stay close to bomb shelters. The DFA said 25 Filipinos in Gaza want to be repatriated, while there are no requests yet from those in Israel. Ignacio said the government is ready to bring Filipinos home as soon as they get clearance from the Israeli side. In a separate statement, the Bureau of Immigration said it will work with the Foreign Affairs and Migrant Workers departments on the schedules of possible repatriation. Should they come in special flights, we will have a dedicated team process their documents immediately upon arrival, Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said. The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv resumed operations on Monday. People with urgent concerns may contact +972-54-4661188 / +972-50-911-4017. The Immigration Bureau said in a separate statement it is ready to provide assistance to Filipinos returning home from the conflict. Should they come in special flights, we will have a dedicated team process their documents immediately upon arrival, Tansingco said. OPEC has raised significantly its long-term oil demand outlook and now expects global oil demand at around 116 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2045, up by 6 million bpd compared to the previous assessment from last year, as energy consumption continues to grow and will need all forms of energy. In the annual World Oil Outlook released on Monday, OPEC expects global oil demand to increase by more than 16 million bpd between 2022 and 2045, rising from 99.6 million bpd in 2022 to 116 million bpd in 2045. By 2028, global oil demand is set to reach 110.2 million bpd, up by 10.6 million bpd compared to 2022, with non-OECD oil demand expected to increase by 10.1 million bpd, reaching 63.7 million bpd by 2028. India will be the driver of growth through 2045, expected to add 6.6 million bpd to oil demand over the forecast period. Other Asias oil demand is set to increase by 4.6 million bpd, Chinas by 4 million bpd, Africas by 3.8 million bpd, and the Middle Easts by 3.6 million bpd, OPEC said. In this years WOO, global energy demand is seen expanding by 23% in the period to 2045, or on average by around 3 million barrels of oil equivalent a day every year, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais wrote in a foreword to the report. Recent developments have led the OPEC team to reassess just what each energy can deliver, with a focus on pragmatic and realistic options and solutions. In this regard, our Reference Case sees oil demand reaching 116 million barrels a day (mb/d) by 2045, around 6 mb/d higher than in the WOO 2022, and with the potential to be even higher, Al Ghais said. The much higher demand forecast from OPEC for the next two decades is in stark contrast with the International Energy Agency (IEA), which sees fossil fuels peaking this decade. Last month, OPEC rebuked the IEA for claiming that oil and gas demand would peak this decade and for calling the beginning of the end of fossil fuels. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Both the U.S. and France are pushing for the production and use of more climate-friendly heat pumps, as they look to trade out existing furnace and air conditioning equipment. As governments around the world strive to decarbonize, many states and cities are introducing new construction measures to develop low-carbon buildings. Earlier this year, New York became the first U.S. city to ban gas stoves and furnaces in most new buildings, starting in 2029. Meanwhile, the province of British Columbia in Canada is bringing multiple stakeholders and cities together to introduce province-wide building energy codes. But now that changes are being implemented, cities around the world will need to offer low-carbon replacements for existing heating and cooling systems. Now, politicians in the U.S. and France are looking at how to best replace polluting systems with more eco-friendly alternatives. The U.S. is pushing for a switch from furnaces and air conditioners to heat pumps in support of the countrys green transition. The U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 25 state governments, stated at a Climate Week NYC event that it is aiming to install 20 million heat pumps by 2030, quadrupling the current figure. The Alliance aims for at least 40 percent of the heat pumps to go to disadvantaged communities. This is part of a bigger aim from the group to decarbonize buildings and ultimately achieve zero emissions in new construction. The co-chair of the Climate Alliance, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, stated We are in a climate emergency and the window to act is closing. U.S. Climate Alliance states get that. Thats why were taking bold, immediate action by quadrupling heat pump installations by 2030. He added, Heat pumps are available and affordable, not to mention better for the air we breathe. So our commitment today is good for our planet and for our people. The White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi explained of the move, Combined with President Bidens historic climate leadership, these bold commitments by governors to cut emissions from buildings will have a catalytic impact across America. It will clean up the air our children breathe, save hardworking families money on their monthly energy bills, strengthen Americas climate resilience, and create good-paying jobs in every corner of the country. At present, the direct and indirect emissions from buildings in the U.S. contribute over 30 percent of the countrys greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Alliance aims to decarbonize buildings across the U.S. by improving energy efficiency and electrification. This will not only support government climate pledges but it is also expected to improve indoor air quality and public health. Heat pumps are energy-efficient alternatives to fossil fuel-powered furnaces and air conditioning systems. They use technology similar to that in a refrigerator, using electricity to transfer heat from a source such as the surrounding air and then amplify and move the heat to wherever it is needed. They are more efficient and often cheaper to run than conventional heating technologies because most of the heat is transferred rather than generated. They can heat a building when it is cold outside or cool a building when it is hot. The U.S. is not the only country looking to this technology to support the decarbonization of its buildings, with Frances President Macron announcing this month that France will produce significantly more heat pumps in the coming years. Macron called heat pumps a fabulous lever for substitution, with much lower energy consumption and emissions, when speaking after a session of a council on climate held at the presidential palace. Macron said that France will produce one million heat pumps and train 30,000 people to install them by the end of his time in office in 2027. This is expected to help decarbonize buildings and supports Frances pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030, compared to its 1990 levels. The French Environment Minister, Christophe Bechu, echoed Macrons pledge stating, Fighting climate change means first and foremost exiting from the use of fossil fuels, therefore we should have no more fuel heaters and much fewer gas heaters. At present, France is subsidizing imported Polish or Chinese-made devices. This move by the government will help develop a national heat pump industry that will not only provide the equipment needed for new building construction but will create thousands of new jobs in the industry. Bechu believes that France can replace close to all of the nearly 3 million fuel heaters and about half of the 11 million gas heaters in France by 2030. However, France is not expected to introduce an all-out ban on fossil-fuel-fired heaters. Heat pumps are just one of the many technologies that governments are looking towards to help decarbonize buildings. Residential and commercial buildings continue to account for a significant proportion of carbon emissions and introducing new energy efficiency regulations, as well as installing low-carbon technologies, will help countries worldwide to decarbonize their infrastructure in support of a green transition. ADVERTISEMENT By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Azerbaijan and Turkey have broken ground on the construction of the long-planned gas pipeline linking Turkey's gas grid to the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan. Construction was formally launched at a ceremony in Nakhchivan on September 25 attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan which saw the signing of agreements on energy, transport and public housing. The new pipeline, which is being constructed under a memorandum of understanding signed between Azerbaijan and Turkey in December 2020, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, will run for 80km inside Turkey between Turkey's main transit pipeline at Igdir to the border, and then for a further 17.5km inside Nakhchivan. Once complete, the line will enable Azerbaijan to supply Nakhchivan with its own gas delivered via Turkey, ending the enclave's dependence on Iranian gas imported directly through a separate pipeline from Iran. Nakhchivan's annual gas demand is reported to be around 500 million cubic meters a year with President Aliyev's official website reporting that the pipeline being laid will have a capacity of around 2 million cubic meters a day, or around 730 million cubic meters a year which "can be more than doubled." Related: Israel Cuts Off Power Supply To Gaza That ultimate capacity of around 1.5 billion cubic meters a year appears to be borne out by documents relating to the construction tender for the Turkish section of the line which specify a pipeline with a diameter of 16 inches. If so, that would for the time being at least put to rest speculation that Baku is interested in laying a major gas export pipeline through its proposed "Zangezur corridor" that would connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan through Armenia. Speaking in March, Azerbaijan's energy minister Parviz Shahbazov suggested that the Zangezur corridor could be used as both a transport and energy corridor between Azerbaijan and Europe, but did not clarify further on whether this would include gas exports. The status of the corridor itself is equally unclear. The notion was born out of the Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement that ended the 2020 Second Karabakh War. The ninth point of the ceasefire stipulated that Armenia would "guarantee the security of transport connections" to Nakhchivan "in order to arrange unobstructed movement of persons, vehicles and cargo in both directions." Russian border guards would be responsible for "overseeing" the route. Related: Chevron Shuts Down Israeli Natural Gas Field After Hamas Attack But Baku and Yerevan remain at odds both over what that means - a simple re-establishing of transport links, or a full-on corridor through Armenian territory that is beyond Armenian sovereignty. That said, a major gas pipeline connecting Azerbaijan with Turkey through Armenia - as politically improbable as it seems now - could benefit Yerevan as well as Baku. As well as providing a new route for transiting Azerbaijani or other Caspian gas to Turkey and on to Europe, it could also provide Armenia with new sources of gas as competition for Russia's Gazprom, which currently enjoys monopoly control over Armenia's gas imports from both Russia and Iran. Transit and trading potential Whether or not the Turkey-Nakhchivan pipeline is extended further through a corridor to Azerbaijan, the modest pipeline under construction already offers some potential for regional gas trading which could potentially expand gas exports through Turkey to Europe. Although ostensibly designed to supply Azerbaijani gas to Nakhchivan in place of the Iranian gas the enclave currently uses, pipelines can be constructed to operate in two directions. The pipeline could also simply offer to supply Azerbaijani gas as competition for Iranian gas, encouraging Tehran to drop its prices in return for being allowed to transit its gas through Nakhchivan to Turkey. If Nakhchivan's gas demand remains unchanged at around 500 million cubic meters a year, and the Turkey-Nakhchivan pipeline is expanded to its full capacity of around 1.5 billion cubic meters a year, that would offer a potential capacity of around 1 billion cubic meters a year for transiting Iranian gas to Turkey. Turkey already imports Iranian gas under a long-term contract but is keen to find new sources of gas to be traded on Ankara's planned gas trading hub in northwestern Turkey, both for sale into the Turkish market and for transit via Turkey's existing transit grid to Europe. By David OByrne via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Azerbaijans late September military operation to retake the ethnic Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, the self-styled Republic of Artsakh, caused most of the residents to flee to Armenia and the government of breakaway region to announce it will dissolve by 1 January 2024. The likely end of conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia may unlock opportunities for more trade in the region. The leaders of Turkey and Azerbaijan have proposed the Zangezur corridor, which will give Azerbaijan free access to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, and a connection with Turkey. The corridor from Turkey in the West to the Central Asian republics in the East would connect all the Turkic states. This would be a big deal for Turkey which considers itself the big brother of all Turkic peoples, but Azerbaijan and the Central Asian republics will probably eschew the symbolic significance and see it mostly as a commercial opportunity. The Zangezur Corridor would be an addition to the U.S.-promoted Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which Washington wants the republics to use in lieu of the Northern Corridor (the Trans-Siberian Railway), and the Southern Corridor which would connect Europe to Asia via India and Pakistan and would rely on cordial India Pakistan relations, never a sure thing. The 2020 cease-fire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia says, The Republic of Armenia shall guarantee the security of transport connections between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic in order to arrange unobstructed movement of persons, vehicles and cargo in both directions. The agreement doesnt specify a route, but the shortest route is via Armenia's Syunik Province (Zangezur in Azerbaijan), which borders Iran. Related: Rio Tinto Bets Big On World's Largest Untapped Iron Ore Mine One idea for a Turkey-to-Azerbaijan route via the Zangezur corridor would require a 166- kilometer rail line (a rebuilt Soviet-era railway which parallels the Iranian border) from Horadiz in mainland Azerbaijan to Ordubad, Nakhichevan, then a 158- kilometer line from Ordubad to Velidag, also in Nakhichevan. The line would cross into Turkey at Dilucu, and connect there to the Kars- Nakhichevan railway. An Azeri government think tank suggests opening the Zangezur corridor will increase exports by over $700 million USD, and grow the non-oil sector GDP by 2 percent, increase employment and small business activity in Nakhichevan, and eliminate the need for natural gas swap deals with Iran to supply Nakhichevan. Armenias concern is that it will lose sovereignty over territory adjacent to its border with friendly Iran, which has opened a consulate in Syunik. And the Islamic Republic, which is annoyed when Azeris call the Iranian Azerbaijan region Southern Azerbaijan, will weigh in on the establishment of a corridor so close to its border, and Tehran doesnt want to lose the 15% cut it takes in the natural gas swaps with Azerbaijan. Bakus friendly relations with Israel add to the tension. The creation of a trans-Armenia rail corridor may eventually happen, but waiting for the stars to align may take a long time. What are other options? Iran road 16 is the East-West highway in the North of the country. It starts in Gilan province, which borders Azerbaijan, and hosts the border crossing at Astara, and will soon have a new bridge between the countries. The highway spans northern Iran and terminates at Esendere, Turkey. The highway cant match the freight capacity of a railroad, but Iran and Azerbaijan are poised to increase transport cooperation via a joint transport committee. Iran also has railway links from the border with Azerbaijan to Turkey and recent events may overshadow a railway through Armenia. In October 2023, Iran and Azerbaijan agreed on a protocol on construction of a new railway line and railway bridges between the Eastern Zangezur Economic Region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, passing through the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The downside of putting cargo on a line through Iran is that it gives Tehran the ability to throttle traffic between Europe and Central Asia. Israel has diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and Iran would object to allowing cargo to or from Israel. (Iran has a military cooperation agreement with Tajikistan.) Goods can still travel between the republics and Israel, but will have to go from Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, to Turkey and Georgia and onwards by sea or air to Israel. Then theres paying for the railway. The U.S. will probably veto funding by the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank due to Irans involvement, so Iran and Azerbaijan, and maybe Turkey, may create and fund a joint venture, or approach China, and suggest the railway be part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI has passed its lending peak but China may include the project under the IranChina 25-year Cooperation Program, under which China will invest $120 billion in upgrading Iran's transport and manufacturing infrastructure. Will the U.S. look on this project favorably? Probably not, but the U.S. wants Central Asia and the Caucasus to be less reliant on links to Russia and this may be the best option available. A high-capacity railway will relieve the region of the cost of being landlocked, which China is attempting with the BRI. The smart move for Washington is to ensure railways that connect Central Asia to the wider world have more than one financing option, that is, money at terms that compete with the loans from Chinas policy banks and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. This will be consistent with Washingtons Central Asia strategy that talks of promoting the sovereignty, independence, and territorial independence of the region. U.S. president Joe Biden recently met the presidents of the Central Asian republics. Now it is time to follow up on the frothy bonhomie of the leaders meeting by taking the wider view of the benefits to Central Asia and walking the talk about advancing [Central Asias] sovereignty and economic prosperity. By James Durso More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Following this weekends attack by Hamas on Israel, Chevron, the operator of the Tamar gas field offshore southern Israel, has shut down production at the field per instructions from the Israeli energy ministry. Chevron Mediterranean Limited was instructed by Israels Ministry of Energy to shut in production at the Tamar Production Platform, the local unit of the U.S. supermajor said in a statement carried by Reuters. Chevron Mediterranean Limited operates Tamar and has a 25% stake in the field, alongside Isramco (28.75%), Tamar Petroleum (16.75%), Mubadala Energy (11%), Tamar Investment 2 (11%), Dor Gas (4%), and Everest (3.5%). At Tamar, six production wells produce volumes of natural gas ranging from 7.1 to 8.5 million cubic meters per day each. Most of the natural gas processing takes place on the Tamar platform situated 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of Ashkelon. Tamar supplies 70% of Israel's energy consumption needs for electricity generation, Chevron says. Chevron has an interest in another gas field offshore Israel, the Leviathan gas field, the biggest energy project in Israel ever, after it bought Noble Energy. While Tamar was ordered shut after the Hamas attack on Israel, the giant Leviathan field continues to operate normally, Chevron said on Monday. After the shutdown of the Tamar field, Israel will seek alternative sources to meet its energy needs, the Israeli energy ministry said. Following the surprise attack on Saturday, Israel declared war on Hamas and began retaliation on the Gaza Strip, while cutting off power supply to the Palestinian territories. The weekend attack on Israel and the continued fighting between Hamas and Israel sent oil prices jumping by $4 a barrel early in Asian trade on Monday. The price surge follows the biggest attack on Israel in years, after in the early hours of Saturday Hamas fighters entered the country by land, sea, and even air, and attacked Israeli towns. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Despite the current softness in global copper prices and an expected market surplus next year, a lack of copper mines under development could undermine the pace of the energy transitions, according to top copper industry executives. Analysts say that increasing copper inventories signal weakening demand amid slowing global manufacturing, and are potentially anticipating recessions in developed economies. Due to the energy transition push, industry executives and analysts still expect high demand for copper in the medium and long term. But near-term demand and prices could continue to be weak amid an uncertain outlook for the global economy and copper market in China, the world's top commodity consumer. Weaker prices make the industry more hesitant to invest in new copper mining now, executives said at the FT Mining Summit. Even if copper prices spike in the future, they may not be enough to incentivize so much new supply to meet the demand in the energy transition, according to Kathleen Quirk, president of the biggest U.S. copper producer Freeport-McMoRan. Now its not just price. Its these other factors that really are going to limit how quickly we can develop supplies, Quirk told the Financial Times. In its Q2 2023 earnings presentation this summer, Freeport-McMoRan said that a looming gap in copper supply is expected by 2035, as low-carbon technologies would drive a massive growth in metals demand. Despite a short-term weakness which is set to result in a surplus of about 467,000 tons next year, up from 298,000 t previously predicted in April 2023 by the International Copper Study Group, the long-term prospects for copper demand continue to be bright. ADVERTISEMENT BHP, the world's largest miner by market capitalization, said in August that the long-term prospects for copper are promising as the decarbonization drive will boost demand. BHP added, We anticipate that the industry is likely to enter the final third of this decade with a low inventory buffer, and therefore elevated prices may endure throughout this period. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Israeli government has ordered its state-run electricity company to halt power supply to the Gaza Strip days after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country. The Israeli prime minister's office has revealed that the security cabinet has approved several steps to destroy military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad "for many years," including cutting fuel and electricity supplies as well as entry of goods into the Israel-occupied landlocked territory. "I have signed an order instructing (Israel) Electric Company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza," AFP quoted Energy Minister Israel Katz saying in a statement. Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has said that Israel has the right to defend itself and warned against hostile nations taking advantage of the latest attacks "This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching," Biden said on national television. A senior Biden administration has revealed that the United States is currently engrossed in intense talks with Israel about its particular needs, noting that Washington always shares timely intelligence. Israel has launched retaliatory attacks against Gaza and Lebanon after suffering its worst security and intelligence failure since the Yom Kippur war half a century ago. Both sides have suffered heavy casualties with 1,200 dead, including nine Americans, and many more injured. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group have claimed to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and brought them into Gaza. Its going to be interesting to see how the regions energy situation will unfold after this catastrophe. Back in August, French energy group TotalEnergies (NYSE:TTE) set the first drilling rig at its location in the Mediterranean Sea off Lebanons coast near Israels border with the country looking to commence operations in search for gas. The cash-strapped nation hopes that future gas sales could help the country pull out of its deep financial crisis that has seen the local currency lose more than 98% of its value. "The arrival of the equipment marks an important step in the preparation of the drilling of the exploration well in Block 9, which will begin towards the end of August 2023," TotalEnergies said in a statement. TotalEnergies leads a consortium of energy companies working on the offshore project, which includes Italian oil and gas giant Eni S.p.A.(NYSE:E) as well as state-owned QatarEnergy. The drilling operations come after a landmark U.S.-brokered agreement last year that saw Lebanon and Israel establish a maritime border for the first time ever. Back in May, Lebanons Energy Minister Walid Fayad said they hope to determine whether the exploratory block has recoverable gas reserves by the end of the current year. ADVERTISEMENT By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Crude oil prices jumped by more than $4 earlier today amid continued fighting between Hamas and Israel that began on Saturday. Brent crude was trading close to $88 per barrel in morning trade in Asia, and West Texas Intermediate was changing hands at over $86 per barrel, both up by over 3% from Fridays close. By the time of writing, prices had retreated modestly, with WTI slipping below $86 per barrel. The price surge follows the biggest attack on Israel in years, after in the early hours of Saturday Hamas fighters entered the country by land, sea, and even air, and attacked Israeli towns. Israel retaliated with a series of air strikes on Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war on Hamas, vowing a mighty vengeance on the group. To date, more than a thousand people have been killed in the latest flare-up of the conflict, with dozens of Israelis taken hostage to Gaza as well. Oil prices were quick to react to the deterioration in Middle Eastern security and will likely stay vulnerable to more wild swings as the situation develops. "Increasing geopolitical risk in the Middle East should support oil prices... higher volatility can be expected" ANZ Bank analysts said in a note quoted by Reuters. Goldman Sachs analysts, meanwhile, highlighted two more potential consequences of the latest clash between Israel and Hamas. First, they wrote, the latest events might delay the normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia that the two have been working on with U.S. involvement. Second, with Irans involvement in the Hamas attack, the future outlook for Iranian oil supply had changed for the worse, Bloomberg reported. On the other hand, per a Wall Street Journal report, Saudi Arabia had indicated it was willing to consider rolling back production cuts next year if prices went too high. The report cited Saudi and U.S. officials as saying this, noting it was a marked departure on the part of Ryiadh from its attitude to U.S. calls for more oil production last year. ADVERTISEMENT By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Douglas County health officials are warning residents to take precautions around animals they do not know after a stray kitten in the county was found to be infected with rabies. All 10 people who may have been exposed to the kitten have begun preventive treatment for rabies, according to the Douglas County Health Department. No history was available for the kitten, which is believed to have been 1 to 2 months old. The kitten tested positive for a raccoon variant of rabies that is not usually found west of Appalachia. The Health Department asks residents to immediately call the Nebraska Humane Society at 402-444-7800 extension 1 if they find any domestic or wild animals that are dead or that are alive but acting strangely. The Health Department and its partners in the community will conduct enhanced surveillance testing of potentially rabid animals to determine whether the raccoon variant of rabies has spread further in the community. Lindsay Huse, director of the Health Department, encouraged residents to make sure their pets are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Pet owners should check with their veterinarians if they have any questions about their pets status. Sixteen cases of rabies in animals have been reported in the state so far this year, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. All but two of those animals have been bats. Between 21 and 30 animals a year have tested positive for the disease in each of the preceding three years. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 MONDAY, Oct. 9, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have developed an antibody that can reduce Alzheimer's-like brain damage in lab mice inspired by the case of one woman with remarkable resistance to the disease. The work, by researchers at Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School in Boston, and elsewhere, began a few years ago, with the case of a woman in Colombia who had shown "extreme protection" from Alzheimer's disease. She was from a family with an unusually high genetic risk of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, and her genes seemed to have her on a course toward developing the disease by her 40s. Despite that, she withstood dementia until her 70s. After her death, it was found that her brain harbored large amounts of abnormal amyloid the protein that makes up the "plaques" seen in the Alzheimer's-affected brain. However, she had relatively little buildup of tau, the protein that comprises the "tangles" that also infiltrate the brain in Alzheimer's. Similarly, there was less brain cell degeneration than would be expected for someone her age. Essentially, the woman had a lot of toxic amyloid, but she'd somehow resisted the "next steps," said researcher Dr. Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, an associate scientist with Mass Eye and Ear in Boston. It all squares with the "amyloid cascade hypothesis" of Alzheimer's which Arboleda-Velasquez said he'd never warmed up to, until this case. That theory holds that the Alzheimer's process begins with the abnormal accumulation of amyloid plaques, followed by tau tangles, followed by brain cell damage and loss. The central question was: How had this woman resisted the pull of her family's genetics? They were carriers of a rare gene mutation that causes familial Alzheimer's, where people show symptoms well before old age sometimes as early as their 30s. In their prior work, Arboleda-Velasquez and his colleagues found what they believed was the answer: The woman carried two copies of another rare gene variant, known as Christchurch (for the city where researchers first identified it). That variant exists in the APOE gene, which is strongly linked to the risk of developing the common type of Alzheimer's that strikes in old age: Different forms of APOE are tied to reduced or increased risks of the disease. Arboleda-Velasquez's team theorized that the Christchurch variant was responsible for protecting the woman from accumulating large amounts of tau tangles and brain cell damage despite her substantial amyloid "burden." But they couldn't prove that based on her case alone, Arboleda-Velasquez said. The new study published online Oct. 4 in Alzheimer's & Dementia gives experimental evidence of what they'd suspected. The researchers developed a monoclonal (lab-engineered) antibody that essentially mimicked the actions of the Christchurch variant. They found that in lab mice created to have an Alzheimer's-like condition, the antibody reduced abnormal tau accumulation in the brain and eyes. Experts not involved in the study said that much more work remains to be done, including more focused on lab animals. But the basis for the experimental antibody is sound. "The scientists are using the genetics of familial Alzheimer's to inform our understanding of the underlying biology of the disease more generally, while also using it to discover novel approaches for therapy," said Heather Snyder, vice president of medical and scientific relations for the Alzheimer's Association. Tamar Gefen, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, studies "super-agers" a select group of elderly adults who stay sharp as a tack into their 80s and 90s. She and her colleagues have found that compared with their peers with average brain power for their age, super-agers have much less tau accumulation in their brains. And that's despite the fact that they have comparable amounts of amyloid buildup. Gefen said the new study "absolutely offers further support in our understanding of genetic resistance to tau aggregation during life." Historically, much of the research into Alzheimer's treatment has focused on amyloid. That eventually led to the development of two antibody therapies aducanumab and lecanemab that have become available in the past two years for slowing down early Alzheimer's. They help clear amyloid from the brain. But researchers are also working on tau-directed therapies. Regarding this latest work, Gefen said she's "thrilled to see positive empirical findings on disease-modifying therapies targeting tau." While the science behind the experimental monoclonal antibody might sound complex, Arboleda-Velasquez described it as straightforward: The researchers focused on what was going well for the Colombian woman in this case, rather than what was wrong then mimicked it. "It's looking at things from the 'genetics of health,' rather than the genetics of disease," Arboleda-Velasquez said. Ultimately, he said the hope is to develop a therapy that could potentially be given as a preventive or a treatment: From the prevention end, that could mean an antibody therapy for older people at increased Alzheimer's risk due to their APOE variant. Alzheimer's is, however, "an incredibly complex disease," Snyder said. Going forward, she said, researchers need to "energetically pursue" all of the mechanisms involved in the disease, to be able to tackle it from multiple fronts. More information The Alzheimer's Association has more on Alzheimer's treatments and research. SOURCES: Joseph Arboleda-Velasquez, MD, PhD, associate scientist, department of ophthalmology, Mass Eye and Ear, Mass General Brigham, Boston; Heather Snyder, PhD, vice president, medical and scientific relations, Alzheimer's Association, Chicago; Tamar Gefen, PhD, assistant professor, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Mesulam Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago; Alzheimer's & Dementia, Oct. 4, 2023, online 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. 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. After a decade of being trounced by Tesla, this was supposed to be the year that traditional automakers finally put up a fight for electric cars. General Motors was committing its biggest brands to a new line of electric models; Ford and Volkswagen were ramping up production of EVs designed for the masses. It was, many predicted, time for the automotive world order to reassert itself. Things havent turned out that way. Fords vaunted F-150 Lightning has been outsold by the R1T from Rivian, a startup that sold its first vehicle just two years ago. GMs lineup of new EVs has suffered crippling setbacks in battery manufacturing. In July, Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Thomas Schaefer succinctly summarized his own companys EV competitiveness: The roof is on fire. With just three months remaining, 2023 has been less a redemption story for legacy automakers than further evidence of their quagmire. In the U.S., Tesla has been expanding production about as fast as all of its competitors combined. The Austin, Texas-based EV maker accounts for 61% of fully electric cars ever sold in the U.S., making it more dominant in EVs than Apple is in smartphones. Tesla started the year with a dramatic salvo of price cuts that reset customer expectations across the industry. Before the changes, the cheapest version of Teslas Model Y SUV cost nearly $20,000 more than the average selling price of a new car in the U.S. By April, that differential had evaporated. The latest shot fired in Teslas price war came on Oct. 1, when it introduced a new Model Y variant that starts at $4,000 less than the average selling price of a new vehicle in the U.S. The Model Y is on track to be the best-selling car in the world for 2023 even after the price cuts, its doing so with higher profit margins than most automakers make on their gasoline vehicles. Ford was first to respond with dramatic price cuts of it its own. But even a reduction of up to $10,000 for the F-150 Lightning wasnt enough to keep Fords EV expansion plans on schedule. By July, CEO Jim Farley throttled back production targets through 2026, saying the company expects to lose about $4.5 billion on EVs this year. The pricing pressure has increased dramatically, Farley said. GM, the biggest U.S. automaker by vehicle sales, is also spinning its wheels. The companys hopes are pinned to new batteries made by its Ultium joint venture with Koreas LG Energy Solution, which are expected to reduce costs. But delays have put in limbo the availability of GMs new electric Chevy Blazer, Equinox and Silverado. Ford, GM and Stellantis, meanwhile, are now locked in contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers union, which may lead to higher labor costs during the cash-torching catch-up phase of the EV transition. (Stellantis doesnt plan to make its first electric Ram trucks and Wrangler Jeeps until the end of next year.) Theres only one company that competes at Teslas scale on electric vehicles: Chinas BYD. Its also the first example of an incumbent that successfully transitioned from selling gas-powered cars to profitable electric vehicles. BYDs history is itself unique. The company started off as a battery manufacturer, making tiny power packs for Nokia cell phones and Dell laptop computers in the 1990s. When it moved into autos in the 21st century, it did so with a battery-makers mindset. In 2009, while Tesla was gluing together batteries in Silicon Valley for its electric Roadsters, BYD was building electric buses in Hunan Province. Core to the problem for the incumbents is how theyve largely become assemblers of third-party components. It was easy to assume that just as transmissions and infotainment systems could be outsourced, so could the building blocks for EVs batteries, motors, software, charging infrastructure. But that hasnt been a winning strategy. BYD didnt become a dominant automaker in China until it decided in 2021 to stop making cars without plugs. The decision allowed the company to focus entirely on EVs and what was needed for their success. Within two years, it dethroned Volkswagen as the best-selling car brand in China; in the third quarter of this year, BYD came within a whisker of delivering more fully electric vehicles globally than even Tesla. BYDs dramatic rise shows that its possible for a traditional automaker to go electric, but it may require excising the very products and business practices that once made them successful. Few others have committed to doing the same even within a 10-year timeframe. Tesla started this consequential year in EVs with a bang, and it may end it with another. Two years behind schedule, the company is expected to finally start selling its first electric pickup, the Cybertruck, in coming weeks. A launch date hasnt been announced. The truck is an alien-looking mass of stainless steel and glass the most radical departure in both form and function that the pickup world has seen in generations. And while many in the industry have laughed it off, maybe they shouldnt. Pricey pickups account for a fraction of U.S. legacy auto sales but a majority of the industrys profits. If trucks start to go electric as quickly as cars and SUVs have, then the electrification of the F-150, Silverado and Ram will be of existential importance to Ford, GM and Stellantis. These are the top-selling used cars in the US These are the top-selling used cars in the US The 20 top-selling used cars in America DALLAS When Tha Cung looked over his sixth-grade class schedule, he took notice of the math block. He had been placed in an advanced class. I didnt know honors even existed, he said. Tha was little when his family immigrated from Myanmar and, for much of his time in Dallas schools, he took courses designed for children who were learning English. In fifth grade, his standardized test scores showed he was a strong math student someone who should be challenged with honors classes in middle school. Under the Dallas school system's policy, Thas parents didnt need to sign him up for advanced math. A teacher or counselor didnt have to recommend him, either. In many schools, those are the hoops a student must get through to join honors classes. But Tha was automatically placed in the advanced course because of his scores on Texas STAAR test. A version of this approach will soon be replicated statewide as part of an effort to remove barriers that can stand between bright students and rigorous courses. Instead of having families opt in to advanced math, they are instead given the choice to opt out. A new Texas law calls for every student who performs in the top 40% on a fifth-grade math assessment to be enrolled automatically in advanced math for sixth grade. The rollout could provide lessons for other states. Leaders across the country are confronting the need to prepare a new, diverse generation of workers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. Heightening the alarm: Students nationally have been struggling to bounce back from widespread learning loss in math. Before the pandemic, Black and Hispanic students in Texas were routinely left out of advanced classes even if they earned high test scores, according to research by the E3 Alliance, an Austin-based education collaborative that advocated for the law. Enrolling in advanced math in sixth grade clears the way for a student to take Algebra I in eighth grade. That leads to courses such as calculus and statistics during high school. And that can set a foundation for a STEM major in college and a high-paying career. Advocates for the new policy say its a workforce issue in addition to an equity issue. Especially in todays rapidly changing and technology-driven economy, math matters more than ever for individual students and for the larger Texas workforce to remain competitive, said Jonathan Feinstein, a state director at The Education Trust, a national nonprofit promoting equity. One recent morning at Sam Tasby Middle School, dozens of students in Room 304 were calculating the area of parallelograms and trapezoids. One of them, Alexis Grant, 11, thinks her year in sixth-grade honors math will pave the way for achieving one of her goals: studying at Harvard. I knew it would be challenging, Alexis said of her math class. We push each other to get the work done. More Dallas students have been enrolling in advanced math, and the classrooms have been more diverse. In 2018, prior to the opt-out policy, about 17% of Black students in sixth grade and one-third of Hispanic students were in honors math, compared to half of white students. Now, 43% of Black students are in honors math when they enter middle school and nearly six in 10 Hispanic students are. The percentage of white sixth graders in honors math has also gone up, to roughly 82%. Texas is home to more than 1,000 school districts, which means vastly different ways students could end up in advanced courses. The decisions were often subjective. Teacher recommendations are a big factor in some districts. But those decisions can be swayed by implicit biases around what an honors student looks or acts like, education advocates say. In other places, parents must request advanced classes for their children but that can leave out students whose parents may not be aware of the option. Some Central Texas districts also already have an opt-out policy. Those schools have seen far more Black and Hispanic students complete Algebra I in eighth grade, as well as jumps among children who are learning English. In the Hays school district, curriculum officer Derek McDaniel has seen the number of students in advanced math balloon over the past three years since implementing the new policy. As more districts move in this direction, McDaniel urges school administrators to prioritize parent communication. Explaining to families why their child is placed into honors math is critical, he said, adding that parents should know the benefit of this more challenging course load. Communication with teachers is also key, McDaniel said. Some honors-level teachers expect limited behavior problems and for students to always complete homework assignments on time. With an opt-out policy, he said, some students will be new to the advanced track and will not have developed uniform study skills. The easy solution is to give up, McDaniel said. Were gonna stick with the kid. A handful of other states have embraced opt-out or automatic enrollment policies. Texas strategy is unique in its focus on sixth-grade math as a gateway for more advanced courses. The Texas Education Agency has given administrators until the 2024 school year to comply with the law in recognition of potential challenges. Schools may need to hire more advanced math teachers. Administrators may also have to find more time for tutoring. Dallas chief academic officer Shannon Trejo said some students might begin middle school fuzzy on various math ideas. Or, because of the COVID-19 disruption, they may have some gaps in their understanding of foundational concepts. We need to be ready to build those little gaps and not make that be the cause for students to say, I dont think I want to do this anymore, she said. College majors that make the most money College majors that make the most money #25. Computer science and engineering #24. Marine engineering #23. Electrical and computer engineering #22. Computer systems engineering #21. Political economy #20. Actuarial science #19. Cognitive science #17. Building science #17. Chemical engineering #16. Aerospace studies #15. Pharmacy #14. Econometrics #13. Systems engineering #12. Aeronautics and astronautics #11. Information and computer science #10. Electrical power engineering #9. Actuarial mathematics #8. Business computing #7. Applied economics and management #6. Operations research #5. Public accounting #4. Interaction design #3. Electrical engineering and computer science #2. Operations research and industrial engineering #1. Petroleum engineering NEW YORK 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's 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. Yesterday was inevitable, said Anne Belocura, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. She said that the policies of Israel precipitated an inevitable counteroffensive by Palestinian resistance forces." 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 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. WASHINGTON The 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, and there were reports that Americans were among the dead. 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 be used only for humanitarian needs. Iran has historically maintained strong ties with both Palestinian Hamas and Hezbollah. Hamas wouldn't be around in the way that it is without the support that it's received from Iran over the years, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during interviews on the Sunday news shows, but he acknowledged that we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack. Biden spoke on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Israeli officials. In remarks at the White House on Saturday, 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 adds new complications as his 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 decadeslong Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The new conflict adds an enormous new roadblock to Bidens ambitions. Its no surprise that those opposed to the efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and more broadly to normalize Israels relations with countries throughout the region and beyond who opposes it? Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran, Blinken said. So to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes. 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. 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. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war Eclipse glasses come back in style Saturday. An annular solar eclipse known as the ring of fire will be visible in several western states Saturday. Although Nebraskans wont be able to see the ring, they will be treated to a partial solar eclipse during the event, weather permitting. The partial eclipse wont be as showy as the 2017 Great American Eclipse that plunged much of the state into darkness and bought the stars out at midday. During the partial eclipse, the moon will take a bite out of the sun, a fairly big bite. From the perspective of Omahans, the moon will cover about 60% of the sun. Such coverage wont produce a noticeable difference in brightness, said Todd Young, professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Fred G. Dale Planetarium at Wayne State College. Thats just a testament to how bright the sun really is, Young said. But if someone is wearing proper solar glasses or looking at the sun with a proper solar filter, it will be dramatic. Folks along the path through other states, however, will see the ring of fire effect. During an annular eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth. Because the moon is far from Earth in its elliptical orbit, the moon appears too small to completely block the sun. So instead of total darkness, the moon appears as a dark disk surrounded by a bright ring. The ring will be visible in the western United States on a path from Oregon to Texas. In Omaha, the partial eclipse will begin at 10:24 a.m. and end at 1:15 p.m. a duration of 2 hours and 51 minutes. The maximum eclipse will occur at 11:46 a.m. Down around Haigler, Nebraska, in the far southwestern corner of the state, the sun will be about 73% obscured. Nebraskans who want to see the ring will have to travel. The closest place to Nebraska would be in the vicinity of Santa Fe, Albuquerque or Roswell, New Mexico, about 700 miles away. So you could go see the solar eclipse and then check out the aliens, Young said. During an annular eclipse, the faint streams of light known as the suns corona are not visible. Those only appear during totality. At no time is it safe to directly view this eclipse without certified eclipse glasses or a solar filter to protect your eyes. Thats because there is no period of totality when the suns bright light is completely blocked. Regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, wont work. Safe eclipse glasses should indicate they meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. However, during the last eclipse some knock-off glasses that didnt meet the standard were being sold. The Prevent Blindness organization recommends purchasing glasses from a trusted source and checking the fit on children. According to the organization, exposing your eyes to the sun without proper eye protection during a solar eclipse can cause eclipse blindness or retinal burns, also known as solar retinopathy. This exposure to the light can cause damage or even destroy cells in the retina that transmit what you see to the brain, it says. This damage can be temporary or permanent and occurs with no pain. It can take a few hours to a few days after viewing the solar eclipse to realize the damage that has occurred. NASA says if youre using eclipse glasses from 2017, make sure to check them for scratches and punctures. But dont check them by looking at the sun. Look at a bright light, instead, and discard damaged glasses. If you dont have eclipse glasses, you can view the sun indirectly using a pinhole projector. Just poke a hole in an index card and hold it so that the image of the sun projects on a nearby surface. Do not look at the sun through the pinhole. Overlapping tree leaves can also create natural pin holes that project the image of the eclipsed sun onto sidewalks and walls. The annular eclipse is just a warm-up act for a big show next spring. The headliner takes the stage April 8, when another total solar eclipse occurs over the United States. The path of totality will run from Texas northeast through Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Maine. Everything that happened to us in 2017 will happen for other people in the United States next year, April 8, he said. During that eclipse, Nebraska will again see a partial eclipse. The maximum coverage will be about 80 percent. Nebraskans will have to travel to see totality. The closest location to view totality would be anywhere on a line from running northeast from Little Rock, Arkansas, up through Carbondale, Illinois and on to Indianapolis, Indiana. People should consider traveling to see that one, because after 2024, Americans will have to catch an airplane or boat to see one, he said. According to NASA, after the total solar eclipse on April 8, the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from the contiguous United States will be on Aug. 23, 2044. Young said that hotel reservations in the bigger cities for next springs eclipse are already hard to come by, and people may want to aim for smaller cities along the path of totality. Eclipses, he said, are a window to the universe. We get so used to the moon and sun being in the sky, but when they actually interact, it kind of brings it home that there is a universe out there doing its own thing. Every once in a while, they let us see it, and we need to take advantage of that. Young said he would be happy to speak to students or adults about the upcoming eclipses. He can be reached at toyoung1@wsc.edu. The Omaha Astronomical Society plans to hold two eclipse viewing events. One will be at the Durham Science Center at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and another on the Riverfront in partnership with the Luminarium. The Luminarium is located at 345 Riverfront Dr, Omaha. Members will make available some solar-safe telescopes for public viewing as well as some other viewing methods. The events will begin at 10 a.m. The society will have ISO compliant solar viewing glasses available for purchase for $1. For a deep dive into eclipses, some of the best resources were developed by French engineer Xavier Jubier. His interactive maps provide a wealth of data on eclipse dates, types, start and end times, azimuth, altitude, duration and other stats. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2023 SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. 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 press release on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums website, Riverside Discovery Center was one of two zoos that failed to get accreditation. The Scottsbluff zoo was among the stops featured in the Nebraska Passport program this year. 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 press 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 a rigorous process for zoos with multiple-day inspections of all parts of a zoos operations. Accreditation is one of the factors that allows the zoo to participate in the AZAs Species Survival Plan Program, through which some of the zoos most popular animals were acquired. Officials at Riverside Discovery Center attributed its loss of accreditation to financial woes, saying in a press release that there were no issues regarding safety and well-being of animals in the zoos care. The zoos staff plans to work toward accreditation again next year when the zoo is eligible. Its pretty much going to be a one- to two-year process; the good thing is a big chunk of the problems revolve around finance, Hayward said. In another press release, the Riverside Discovery Center said: 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 also is applying for accreditation under the Zoological Association of America. While it holds 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 press release that they are confident animals on loan would not be leaving their care. Zoo officials were uncertain about the future of the lions that were supposed to be delivered from Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium 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 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 the city has been advised that the zoo has applied for the AZAs 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 were in good standing still, he said, because they have applied for that program. According to the AZAs 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 zoos 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 zoos accreditation. City Council member Jordan Colwell, who serves as the councils 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 cant lose. How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region. 100 years ago Oct. 9, 1923: Roughly 1,200 people from across Logan County gathered at Latham Park in Lincoln for an all-day rally of the countys church forces. The meeting resulted in the formation of an organization known as the Christian Church of Logan County. Congregations that will comprise the organization are the Christian churches from Mount Pulaski, Latham, Lake Fork, Cornland, Copeland, Elkhart, Broadwell, Lincoln, Atlanta, Eminence, Bethel, Hartsburg and Emden. 75 years ago Oct. 9, 1948: The city council refrained at its most recent meeting from making any commitment regarding a request to place rubbish disposal cans on the streets in the business district. The aldermen seemed cool to the proposal made by Bob Shinn Sr. and P.A. Wills, who addressed the council informally on behalf of their project. Two experimental boxes have been in use downtown for several weeks. 50 years agoOct. 9, 1973: Sunday nights derailment on the Penn Central Railroad tracks at the south end of Bloomingtons business district prompted Mayor Walter Bittner to call for immediate action to make sure railroad tracks through the city are maintained in a safe condition. Near the conclusion of Monday nights council session, the mayor directed City Manager Richard Blodgett to contact railroad officials and Interstate Commerce Commission officials, if necessary. The tracks are so bad that the city is going to have to take some action, the mayor said. 25 years ago Oct. 9, 1998: Over two years ago, the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the United Workforce Development Board married their respective services under the same roof to create a one-stop shop career center. Now, the two agencies will open a new Illinois Employment and Training Center at 207 E. Hamilton Rd. on Nov. 2. The new center will include services now available at the 501-503 W. Washington St. location, where about 30 employees now work. CLINTON A Clinton museum is sharing stories of sorrow this Halloween season. The C.H. Moore Homestead and Dewitt County Museum, 219 E. Woodlawn St., Clinton, is furnished almost as if its namesake former resident Clifton Haswell Moore had died yesterday. Thats part of a special tour series running this month and titled Mourning Moore. Through Oct. 31, visitors to the 1870s-era mansion may either elect to be told the story of Moores life, or hear stories of services from his 1901 death as well as other Victorian-era funeral customs. Museum Director Joey Long said the goal for the new tours is to bring more people in with something different inside to see. She confirmed thats certainly been a success: One Oct. 14 timeslot for a candlelight tour is sold out, and as of Sunday, another on Oct. 27 was close to booking up. Tickets remain for both nights at a cost of $12. Regular tour passes are $5. While some visitors have shown up expecting to take a standard museum tour, Long said they always go for the Mourning Moore option upon learning its available. They get really excited, she said. Long explained that Moore, who was born in 1817, arrived to the Clinton area in 1841 as DeWitt Countys first resident attorney, and had a law partnership with Abraham Lincoln. She said Moore made a fortune from a land speculation partnership with Supreme Court Justice David Davis, who he became close friends with. Newspaper clippings collected by the museum noted Moores funeral was attended by Adlai E. Stevenson I and Judge T. Tipton. The clipping also stated his son, Arthur Moore, was traveling by train from Phoenix and didnt arrive at Clinton until that afternoon, delaying the interment. Per the clipping, Arthur Moore was reportedly unaware of his fathers death when he returned home. Veiled mirrors Enter the homestead for a Mourning Moore tour, and youll find the museum entirely transformed. Black ribbons are strewn across picture frames and railings, and mirrors are veiled over in dark-colored drapes. That latter practice, Long said, is an old superstition against seeing your reflection in a mirror while in mourning. It was bad luck to see your reflection in the mirror (if you did), you might be next, said Long. Long said every room of the mansion has been touched up for special tours. Taking centerpiece in one of the first-floor rooms is a casket provided by Calvert & Metzler Funeral Homes, to most accurately replicate the rosewood container Moore was laid to rest in. A chair is placed next to the casket. Long said it was a tradition to sit next to the departed, since there were documented cases of people who were presumed deceased but later awoke from a coma. Those were also the last moments one would spend with a lost family member, she added to that reasoning. On the homesteads second floor, genuine Victorian-era mourning dresses are laid out upon beds or fitted on mannequins. The widows were expected to be in mourning, or half mourning, much longer than the men, Long said. Dress colors were predominantly black, but Long said half-mourning dresses might have touches of white, or even shades of lavender or mauve. In the bi-level gallery library, displayed are documents from Moores services, like invitation copies. Actual flower cards from his own funeral are shown too. While the tour series isnt being billed as a spooky ghost tour of the museum, Long said its been fun bringing certain artifacts and other treasures out of storage during the Halloween season. She agreed that they also help teach people about funeral traditions that have continued to the present time. We still send flowers (today), she said. IF YOU GO WHAT: "Mourning Moore" tours at the C.H. Moore Homestead and DeWitt County Museum WHEN: Tours available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Ticketed candlelight tour options are planned 6-8 p.m. Oct 14 and Oct. 27. WHERE: 219 E. Woodlawn Ave., Clinton. TICKETS: Standard tour admission is $5 at the door. Candlelight tour tickets are $12; available in person at the museum or by calling 217-935-6066. (tncms-page-break)(tncms-asset)79151488-887f-51a3-bc4b-3598b7875024[8](/tncms-asset) History photos: Apple 'n Pork Festival Stew Sheep wool Art show Taking a ride Finding a spot Making brooms Crafty artisan Yum! Museum Carousel crafting Food tents Apple butter Corn-on-the-cob Thousands of visitors Bird's eye view Weaving skills Serving apple cider Eating an ear of corn Farming legends Fun at the festival 19th Century setting Juicy bite Bargain hunters Dulcimer Enjoying an apple Admiring pottery Militiamen The Y Players Chess players Woodworking Hnters and traders Parking Listening to jazz Shaving Art exhibit Painting pumpkins 1930 log cutter Suit of armor Ham and beans Apple 'n Pork fun Funnel cakes China succeeds significantly in chili pepper industry People's Daily Online) 11:04, October 09, 2023 China is the world's largest producer and consumer of chili peppers, according to reliable data recently released at a chili pepper industry development conference in the country. The annual planting area of chili peppers in China exceeds 30 million mu (2 million hectares). Statistics from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations showed that from 2000 to 2021, more than 30 percent of the world's chili peppers were grown in China. The output of chili peppers in China accounts for nearly half of the global total, making it the world's largest producer of peppers. Machines harvest chili peppers in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo/Li Huabei) "Since the introduction of chili peppers to China over 400 years ago when it was originally used for ornamental purposes, people have discovered the diverse values of the plant, including edible and medicinal properties, and the planting scale has expanded accordingly," said Lin Qiao, associate research fellow at the Agricultural Information Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS). Thanks to the spread of spicy food culture in recent years, over 500 million people in China eat spicy food, Lin said. China is also one of the major chili pepper exporting countries in the world, exporting both dried and fresh peppers. China's chili pepper exports reached $1.7 billion in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 11.6 percent, according to data from the website of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA). The country's exports of dried chili peppers stood at $1.56 billion, up 8.1 percent year on year, while that of fresh peppers surged 71.2 percent from the previous year to $140 million. The top three destinations of China's chili peppers were the United States, Japan and Spain. Southwest China's Guizhou Province, one of the earliest regions in the country to consume chili peppers, has kept the planting area of chili peppers per year above 5 million mu, which accounts for about one-sixth of the national total. It is the largest producer of chili peppers in China. In recent years, Guizhou has continued to keep its chili pepper planting area steady, enhanced infrastructure construction, and vigorously promoted green, high-quality and high-efficiency production technologies, said Bu Tao, deputy head of the department of agriculture and rural affairs of Guizhou. This year, the total planting area of chili peppers in Guizhou will reach 5.2 million mu, and the output of chili peppers is expected to reach 7.7 million tonnes, with the estimated output value of chili pepper planting and processing surpassing 30 billion yuan ($4.2 billion) and 16 billion yuan, respectively. The province's production and sales of chili peppers continue to rank first nationwide. Farmers dry chili peppers in Gaotai county, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Photo/Wang Jiang) Aside from Guizhou, provincial-level regions including Henan, Yunnan, Hunan, Sichuan and Inner Mongolia are also major chili pepper producers in China. Guizhou, Henan and Yunnan take the top three spots nationwide in terms of chili pepper planting area, with a total of more than 10 million mu, accounting for about one-third of the national total. Chili peppers have been planted in 28 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, said Wang Lihao, a scientist at the CAAS, adding that the planting area has grown by about 30 percent in the past decade and the chili pepper industry has continued to expand. The chili pepper industry has helped farmers fatten their wallets in quite a few places across China. "We have a great harvest this year, with a production of 3,000 kilograms each mu," said Tan Baohui, a chili pepper grower in Fuxing village, Kailu county, Tongliao city, Inner Mongolia. "The yield is high, and the selling price per kilogram this year is 0.2 yuan higher than last year. The net profit of each mu of chili pepper field exceeds 5,000 yuan," Tan added. Being the largest county in terms of the planting area of red chili peppers, Kailu county has kept its annual planting area of red chili peppers above 600,000 mu. The average annual output of red chili peppers in the county reaches 1.5 billion kilograms, according to an official with the county's agricultural and animal husbandry bureau. The county's thriving chili pepper industry has directly helped 60,000 farming households engage in the planting of red chili peppers, and over 50,000 people work in the whole industrial chain of the chili pepper sector, generating 360 million yuan in labor income every year. "The chili pepper industry is an important part of the agricultural economy. With the continuous extension of the industrial chain of the sector from planting and seed production, to primary processing and deep processing, the added value of chili pepper products continues to increase, further expanding the income channels for farmers," said Lin. Focusing on the chili pepper industry, over 70 villages and townships in China have been selected for the demonstration of the "one village, one product" project aimed at boosting local industrial development, Lin added. Lin said the chili pepper sector has played an active role in boosting local agricultural economic growth and consolidating the results of poverty alleviation. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Some confidential and intelligence funds of the Agriculture Department may be transferred to the Justice Department to boost the campaign against agricultural smugglers and hoarders, a senator proposed on Monday. Senator Raffy Tulfo at a hearing Monday suggested the intra-agency transfer at 50 million. "I'm proposing na medyo pumitas tayo doon sa budget ng DA sa confidential funds. I-transfer na lang sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation). Siguro i-distribute natin sa PNP (Philippine National Police), Immigration, I don't know. Nasa discretion niyo na po 'yun," Tulfo told the Senate committee on finance. [Translation: I'm proposing that we take a little from the DA's budget for confidential funds. Transfer it to the NBI. Maybe we will distribute it to the PNP, Immigration I don't know. That's at your discretion.] The senator said DA officials justified the CIF in line with the president's directive to go after agricultural smugglers and hoarders, but he added that this job could be done by other agencies. READ: Marcos certifies as urgent bill seeking heftier penalties vs agri economic sabotage "Kung to go after smugglers andiyan naman yung customs at PNP," Tulfo said. "Para sa 'kin kasi it really doesn't make sense na 'yung DA magkakaroon ng confidential funds," he added. [Translation: If you want to go after smugglers, Customs and the PNP are there. For me, it really doesn't make sense that the DA will have confidential funds] Meanwhile, the Senate finance committee said it has raised the proposed NBI budget. "Just for the record, we inserted over 500 million in the budget of the NBI, in addition to the help we gave the DOJ," committee chairperson Sonny Angara said. Bureau officials said the Budget Department cut the proposed fund for training new recruits, adding that at least 19 million is needed to train 199 agents. Tulfo backed the call for a higher training budget. "That is a very important part of their budget, para makapag-train ng mga bagong NBI. Napakababa ng recruitment nila," the senator said. "Mataas ang expectation sa NBI. Baka naman pag 'onti lang sila at hindi natin bigyan ng suporta, baka dahan-dahan mawalan ng tiwala. So kailangan more recruits," Tulfo added. [Translation: That is a very important part of their budget, to train new NBI personnel. Their recruitment is very low. Expectations are high on the NBI. If there are only a few of them and we don't give them support, they might slowly lose trust. So, more recruits are needed.] For his part, Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito said the NBI and its cybercrime units need more confidential funds. "The DOJ's confidential and intel funds are justifiable because it is being used for the witness protection program and other assets," Ejercito said. He said the total proposed confidential funds of DOJ amounting 471.296 million is not enough, noting that only 475,000 is allocated to the cybercrime division and 211.75 million to the Witness Protection Program. He said the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has 20 million, the NBI has 175.4 million, and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), 19.2 million. "Considering that other agencies, especially those civilian in nature, are asking for confidential and intel funds, I guess, these are the agencies that we really have to put confidential and intel funds," Ejercito said. Angara said the committee is set to endorse the DOJ budget to the plenary. They say the world isnt as big as we really think. There are plenty of stories of people going halfway around the world, only to run into someone they know. We travel to get away, but since many people we encounter are also traveling, getting away sometimes means running into the people from home. Our family took a land tour to a major European country this spring with a fairly well-known tour company. Getting to know our fellow travelers on the bus is part of the experience, usually an enjoyable diversion. If you have a good group of people on the tour, it can really accentuate the pleasure of the trip. Of course, on most trips there are that person or that couple. You know, the type of traveler you wouldnt want to be: the complainer, or the constant late-arriver who holds up the bus, or the know-it-all. One hopes the group you are going to spend a large amount of time in the following 10 to 16 days is a congenial group. You start to get to know people right away, and for people who have great memories, learning 30 or 44 names of new acquaintances can be a piece of cake. Then there are people like me. I still didnt know a third of the names by the time we ended the tour 13 days later. But I am not totally useless: My talent is remembering where people are from after hearing this information during the introductions. Thus, for the rest of the trip, when talking with my wife, I call the people the Pennsylvania people or the Tennessee couple or the Florida family. So when my wife starts talking about Bob and Barb, or Jane and Tom, I have no clue who she is talking about until she says where they are from, if she can remember. Unless they are that person or that couple, then I put names to faces quite quickly. Making connections over meals, we find out what one couple did/does for a living, and what do you know there is a common link. She worked in the bishops office and knew many people that we knew well. We were able to talk about many of the pastors in the region whom she knew, and we updated each other on their status: died, retired, moved, etc. It is a small world at times. My favorite small world story comes from our travels last year out to the state of Washington. We went there for a family event in the Seattle area, and while out there we had time to nose around and take in the sights. One day we were checking out the area and saw an antique shop. Since we flew, we really were very limited on what we could bring back, due to space issues. Translation: Our suitcases were almost bursting going out there, so anything purchased would have to be very small and compact. We normally dont look at things like coats in a place like that, but one bright red one caught our attention. It wasnt an antique, and it was a heavier winter jacket type, which stood out because Seattle is not known for hardy winter weather. Checking it out, we discovered that the front displayed the name of a business in embroidery, and it said Avantis along with the logo! We were slightly unsure if it was the same Avantis as is in Bloomington-Normal, but then we noticed a jacket in bright blue of the same style, and this coat had the name of a garage or business of that type, and noted it was in Gibson City, Illinois. That clinched it. We traveled all the way to the West Coast only to find something from home. No, we did not purchase the coats. We just brought home the memories and my craving a pizza burger or gondola for the rest of the trip. About 15 or 20 years ago our family was vacationing in the Southwest, heading to the Grand Canyon. We made a stop on the way at Mesa Verde in southern Colorado. While waiting for a shuttle, this couple started talking with me while I was standing with my wife and daughter. Turned out they were from up north like us, and they recognized me as someone who worked with their son. They had visited with him at the workplace once or twice and had seen me there. I, of course, did not recognize them at all, but it was interesting to chat with them for a few moments. It is one more example that it can be a small world out there, no matter where you go. Photos: Art fans flock to Sugar Creek Arts Fest SUGAR CREEK ARTS FESTIVAL 100223-blm-loc-2sugarcreek .JPG 100223-blm-loc-3sugarcreek .JPG 100223-blm-loc-4sugarcreek.JPG CHICAGO 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. 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. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 CHICAGO 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% less than 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 from 60% to 40% next July. The gap will shrink 8% each year after 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. 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. Photos: Illinois State Fair political days through the years 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2015 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2008 State Fair 2009 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2005 State Fair 2004 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2003 State Fair 2006 State Fair 2007 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2018 State Fair 2012 State Fair 2021 State Fair 2021 State Fair Governments quest to construct a new airport in Cape Coast is on course following the presentation of a feasibility study for the project. The proposed Cape Coast Airport, government has explained, is to enhance air travel in the central and western parts of the country in order to boost tourism, trade and domestic air connectivity. Aviation consultants, Ayeh & Ayeh, after being tasked by government to conduct a feasibility study, have presented their report to the government. The report, received by the Ministry of Transport, is set to be presented to Cabinet for ratification before the airport project commences. With both the Central and Western Regions attracting high number of tourist and business visits, many have suggested the proposed airport should be cited inbetween Cape Coast and Takoradi to make it easier for air travellers to access both strategic cities from the new airport. The feasibility studies, therefore, has proposed 4 centres for the airport including Cape Coast and Elmina - a city inbetween Cape Coast and Takoradi - but much closer to Cape Coast. The proposed airport with a 3400 metres runway is expected to be constructed in three phases. The Chief Executive Officer of Ayeh and Ayeh, Engineer Leslie Alex Ayeh, stressed the significance of the feasibility study, explaining that it offered advice on important areas such as geophysical, topographical, meteorological, environmental, social as well as engineering requirements for the airport. Apart from the airport, a dual-carriage access road would be constructed to link the main Cape Coast-Takoradi highway. The Akufo-Addo government has made tremendous strides in the aviation industry, having built the new and expanded Tamale International Airport as well as the Kumasi International Airport which is yet to be commissioned. The Sunyani and Wa airports have also received significant facelift. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Sunlodge Hotel was abuzz with enthusiasm and anticipation as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) inaugurated its National Youth Working Committee and Directorates. The ceremony brought together prominent party leaders, passionate youth activists, and student leaders, creating an atmosphere charged with determination and hope for the future. During his address, National Youth Organizer Lawyer George Opare Addo extended heartfelt congratulations to each appointee, acknowledging their industry and strengths that earned them their positions. He called upon them to approach their roles with unwavering commitment and expertise, recognizing that their ultimate mission is to secure victory for the NDC and the candidacy of HE John Dramani Mahama in the forthcoming 2024 elections. With passion and conviction in his voice, Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, emphasized the significance of upholding and safeguarding the party's interests and constitution. He underlined the pivotal role that the Youth will play in the upcoming general elections, urging the appointees to be fully prepared to lead the charge. Determination, focus, and dedicated service were identified as the keys to achieving the party's singular goal of victory in 2024. Representing the members of the National Youth Working Committee and Directors of the various directorates, Okai Mintah, Chairman of the Youth Working Committee, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Lawyer George Opare Addo and his esteemed deputies for their unwavering trust in their abilities to deliver on this critical mandate. He extended acknowledgment to the party's leadership for endorsing their nominations and granting them the authority to execute their mission. The ceremony also witnessed the solemn swearing-in of the appointed leaders of the different directorates and ad hoc committees within the Youth Wing. These directorates encompassed diverse sectors, including Operations, Communications and Press Relations, Student Affairs, Traders & Artisans Network, among others. Each appointed leader took an oath and expressed their commitment to carrying out their responsibilities diligently and effectively. The inauguration of the National Youth Working Committee and Directorates showcased the NDC's recognition of the vital role that the youth play in shaping the party's future and success. With their enthusiasm, energy, and fresh perspectives, the appointed youth leaders are now poised to contribute to the party's goals, strengthen its grassroots mobilization, engage with various demographics, and resonate with the aspirations of the Ghanaian youth. As the ceremony concluded, a sense of purpose and determination filled the air. The newly inaugurated National Youth Working Committee and Directorates, backed by the party's leadership, are now ready to embark on their respective journeys, collaborating towards a unified and resolute effort to secure victory for the NDC in the upcoming 2024 elections. Source: Peacefmonline 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 For decades, Carlos Allende (aka Carl Allen) was the sole "witness" of the allegedly supernatural events surrounding the 1943 Philadelphia Experiment. Carlos claimed to have been stationed on the SS Andrew Furuseth, a vessel docked in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard with a clear view of the Eldridge when it disappeared. Much later, after the release of the 1984 film "The Philadelphia Experiment," a man named Al Bielek came forward claiming to have personally taken part in the secret experiment, which he had been brainwashed to forget. Only after seeing the movie in 1988 did his repressed memories come flooding back [source: Vallee]. Advertisement Despite the insistent (and constantly evolving) claims of both men, it was the testimony of a third witness that ultimately shed some light on what may have really happened in Philadelphia during that wartime summer of 1943. In 1994, French-born astrophysicist and ufologist Jacques F. Vallee published an article in the Journal of Scientific Exploration titled "Anatomy of a Hoax: The Philadelphia Experiment Fifty Years Later." In writing a previous article about the Philadelphia Experiment, Vallee asked readers to contact him if they had further information about the alleged event. That's when Vallee received a letter from Edward Dudgeon, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. Dudgeon had served on the USS Engstrom, which was dry-docked in the Philadelphia Naval Yard during the summer of 1943 [source: Vallee]. Dudgeon was an electrician in the Navy and had full knowledge of the classified devices that were installed on both his ship and the Eldridge, which he said was there at the same time. Far from being teleportation engines designed by Einstein (or aliens), the devices enabled the ships to scramble their magnetic signature using a technique called degaussing. The ship were wrapped in large cables and zapped with high-voltage charges. A degaussed ship wouldn't be invisible to radar, but would be undetectable by the U-boats' magnetic torpedoes. Dudgeon was familiar with the wild rumors about disappearing ships and mangled crewmen, but credited the fabrications to loose sailor talk about "invisibility" to torpedoes and the peculiarity of the degaussing process. The "green glow" was probably due to an electric storm or St. Elmo's Fire. As for the Eldridge's mysterious appearance in Norfolk and sudden return to Philadelphia, Dudgeon explained that the Navy used inland canals off-limits to commercial vessels to make the trip in six hours rather than two days [source: Vallee]. In another turn of events, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported in 1999 on a reunion of sailors who served on the USS Eldridge in Atlantic City. The sailors said the ship never docked in Philadelphia. Indeed, it was in Brooklyn on its supposed date of disappearance. The ship's log confirmed this. Further, the captain said no experiments were ever conducted on the vessel. Despite the differing accounts, both Dudgeon and the Eldridge crew confirm that nothing otherworldly happened on the ship. Yet, people continue to believe otherwise. We'll look at some reasons why the hoax has endured for more than 70 years. The Fate of the USS Eldridge In 1951, the U.S. transferred the ship to Greece where it was renamed the HS Leon and used in joint exercises between the two countries during the Cold War. It was eventually sold for scrap in the 1990s. A very ignoble end [source: Veronese]. 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: Arabian Partridge in Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve, Saudi Arabia. Credit: Sulyman AlMyhoby Forming a land bridge between Asia, Europe and Africa, the Arabian Desert hosts a distinctive wildlife community adapted to extreme conditions. Many of the rare, threatened and endemic species inhabiting this region have received little study or conservation attention due to the challenges of conducting fieldwork in this region's harsh climate and topography. A poorly known Arabian desert endemic species, the Arabian Partridge (Alectoris melanocephala) has rarely been studied in the wild, and little is known about its conservation status. Fortunately, a population of this species was recently discovered ~100 km north of its previously known range, in the Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve, a recently declared UNESCO site in northwest Saudi Arabia. As published information about the population trends and conservation status of the Arabian Partridge was not available, we set out to estimate, for the first time, the population size of this species in the Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve. Likewise, no specific potential threats to Arabian Partridges had been quantified, so we assessed factors that might influence its distribution, such as landscape features, vegetation cover, livestock grazing, hunting and the presence of feral animals, such as donkeys and dogs, in the reserve. We predicted that partridge numbers would be higher in sites dominated by rocky outcrops and slopes, which provide cover and camouflage. We also predicted that disturbance due to livestock grazing and feral animals would adversely affect their numbers. Arabian Partridges thrive in rocky outcrops and hilly desert terrain Arabian Partridges are gregarious and typically found in coveys of 10 to 15 individuals, although group numbers as high as 27 have been reported. One of their many adaptations to desert life is that they do not require open water sources for drinking, as they are able to obtain their water requirements from food. They may be found at high altitudes of up to 2,800 m, where they feed on seeds, fresh leaves and invertebrates. We conducted field surveys between May and September 2022 on 73 line transects distributed across the reserve. We used these counts to estimate the current Arabian Partridge population at ~118 individuals, with an estimated overall density of 25.6 (6.16 SE) birds/km2. Partridge abundance positively associated with hillsides, which provide birds with cover from predators or hunters. Partridges observed were typically less than 10 meters from hillsides, indicating their importance. Birds typically fled for cover at the sight of people, indicating their fear and vigilance in response to potential threats. Study area in the Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve (inside circle) and the current distribution of the Arabian Partridge retrieved from IUCN (red areas), showing the transect locations (black dots) within the reserve boundary (black polygon). Credit: Alaaeldin Soultan Hunting and donkey grazing have significant negative effects on partridge abundance Hunting and livestock grazing are prohibited in the reserve, but we found evidence of hunting in almost 25% of sites surveyed and evidence of livestock grazing and the presence of feral donkeys in nearly 70% of surveyed sites. Our recent scientific publication in the journal Birds shows that feral donkeys, livestock grazing, and hunting negatively influence partridge abundance in the reserve. We found that moderate levels of disturbance from hunting, feral donkeys and livestock grazing resulted in a ~50% decline in partridge abundance compared to the sites with no disturbance. Although we found evidence in hunting in only ~ 25% of the area we covered, it appeared to have an adverse impact on partridges. Hunting is considered one of the main threats to wildlife in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, feral donkeys in the study area moved in herds averaging 10 animals. Although livestock grazing is not typically considered a major threat to birds, high grazing intensity may eliminate vegetation cover required by birds, and has been associated in other studies with decreased bird densities, nest abundance and recruitment. In this study, we found Arabian Partridge density was 23 times higher in sites without donkeys compared to sites with donkeys. Landscape in Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve, Saudi Arabia. Credit: Alaaeldin Soultan Feral donkeys grazing in Harrat Uwayrid Biosphere Reserve, Saudi Arabia Credit: Alaaeldin Soultan Arabian Partridge density was 23 times higher in sites without donkeys compared to sites with donkeys. Credit: Nico Arcilla First but not last Our study appears to be the first field-based attempt to estimate a population size and limiting factors for the Arabian Partridge, but we hope it is not the last. The recent discovery of this population appears to indicate a northward range shift of Arabian Partridges. This may be related to climate change, which is associated with northward range shifts in many other bird species. To protect Arabian Partridge populations in the reserve, we recommend ranger patrols to prevent prohibited activities such as hunting and livestock grazing, a control program to remove feral animals and other non-native animals, and a monitoring program to track changes in the partridge population in response to threats and conservation actions. Such actions would benefit not only Arabian Partridges but other rare and endemic Arabian desert species. This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about ScienceX Dialog and how to participate. More information: Alaaeldin Soultan et al, Arabian Partridge Abundance and Limiting Factors at the Northern Boundary of Its Range, Birds (2023). DOI: 10.3390/birds4020015 Alaaeldin Soultan, Moayyed Sher Shah, Ahmed Mohammed Almalki, and Stephen Browne are affiliated with The Royal Commission for AlUla, Al Safarat, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Moayyed Sher Shah and Ahmed Mohammed Almalki are also affiliated with King Salman Royal Nature Reserve, Olaya Towers, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Nico Arcilla is affiliated with the International Bird Conservation Partnership, Sweden, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. 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: Scientists collect water and sediment samples to study how the oceans and climate are changing. Credit: Eugene Bergh, Author provided Whether the water at your local beach is being roiled by nasty weather or is a perfectly calm expanse of blue, there's always a great deal going on under the surface. The ocean is composed of various currents and water masses; those currents flow around the world through what is called thermohaline circulation. This circulation drives the distribution of heat, salinity and nutrients throughout the world's oceans, ensuring that our whole planet is habitable for life. The Atlantic leg of this circulation is called the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The Atlantic Ocean is situated between the Americas, western Europe and the western margin of Africa. The AMOC distributes heat away from the tropics northward, ensuring that tropical regions are not overheated, which would cause an imbalance in climate. It, like other oceanographic systems, varies annually, over decades and centennially. Scientists study these oceanographic systems over a longer time period to understand how they work and to make predictions on how they will function in future and what their impact may be. In July 2023 two Danish academicsphysicist Peter Ditlevsen and his sister, the statistician Susanne Ditlevsenpublished a paper in which they stated that the AMOC was in decline and would likely shut down mid-century. That would bring dramatic consequences: rising sea levels, global heating, shifts in marine ecosystems, and seriously compromised food security. It could also seriously affect the upwelling marine ecosystem along the western margin of South Africa and Namibia, which is the most productive upwelling system in the Atlantic. In the Ditlevsens' scenario, Europe could see massive cooling of around 5 to 10 and the tropics could become overheated. Certain areas around the world would experience severe droughts and flooding. And the oceans would become more acidic. The paper has generated controversy in the scientific community. As a geologist whose research interests include oceanographic change, I don't find the article surprising. Research has shown that the AMOC has not been a stable feature of the ocean over millions of years and is sensitive to climate change. However, I agree with the general scientific consensus: the shutdown of the AMOC will not be as abrupt as the paper claims; it will instead be more gradual over the coming centuries. Constant shifts The Atlantic Ocean is not the only part of the ocean's thermohaline circulation that is experiencing shifts. In the South Indian Ocean, the Agulhas Current is also weakening due to changing distribution in heat and freshwater from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean is stratified with different water masses crucial to the functioning of the AMOC. And in the Pacific Ocean, west of the Americas, El Nino eventsthe warming of that specific oceanare intensifying. The Ditlevsens based their findings largely on sea surface temperatures. The paper does not consider other factors such as which carbon dioxide (CO) levels in the atmosphere (and take-up by the oceans), coupled with temperature changes, would be the tipping point for the AMOC to shut down, or the state of deep water generationwater of specific density, salinity and temperatureat the source regions in the North Atlantic for the functioning of the AMOC. The broad consensus among scientists is that, while the AMOC is weakening, the probability of it completely shutting down in this century is low. It's also important to point out that ocean currents and circulation change over time. The AMOC has strengthened and waned pre-human history over geological time, particularly in response to colder or warmer periods. For example, studies along the western margin of South Africa have found that the AMOC in the South Atlantic is sensitive to changes in the global climate cycle. Previous research has also indicated that the AMOC weakened or shut down before, thousands of years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum. That happened under different conditions than what we are experiencing today. During that time the climate was much colder and the ice sheets were at a maximum position, although a warming phase led to the retreat of ice sheets afterwards. Perspective This large body of evidence suggests that the AMOC will continue to weaken as currents fluctuate over time, driven by different environmental factors. But scientists have not yet accepted that a total shutdown of the system will occur over the next few years or couple of decades. However, the paper that's caused so much controversy shouldn't be dismissed entirely. For one thing, it's a good conversation starter on this very important topic. It also provides a timeline for when the AMOC could shut downanywhere between 2025 and 2095. While the consensus is that this isn't accurate, it's a useful starting point from which other scientists could generate scenarios and models for further study. In doing so, our collective understanding of the AMOC system will deepen, which should influence policy decision-making. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: American economist Claudia Goldin won the Nobel economics prize 'for having advanced our understanding of women's labor market outcomes' The Nobel prize in economics was on Monday awarded to American economist Claudia Goldin for research that has helped bring understanding to the role of women in the labor market. The 77-year-old Harvard professor, who is the third woman to be awarded the prestigious economics prize, was given the nod "for having advanced our understanding of women's labor market outcomes," the jury said. The Nobel is a "very important prize, not just for me, but for the many people who work in this field and who are trying to understand why there is so much change, but there are still large differences" in pay, Goldin told AFP in a telephone interview after the announcement. By studying the history of women in the United States workforce, Goldin demonstrated factors that have historically influenced, and in some cases still influence, the supply and demand for women in the labor force, the jury explained. "She has demonstrated that the sources of the gender gap change over time," Nobel committee member Randi Hjalmarsson told a press conference. Hjalmarsson added that while Goldin had not studied policy, her work had provided an "underlying foundation" that had different policy implications around the world. Globally, about 50 percent of women participate in the labor market compared to 80 percent of men, but women earn less and are less likely to reach the top of the career ladder, the prize committee noted. '200 years of data' The Nobel prize in economics has the fewest number of women laureates, with just two others since it was first awarded in 1969. They were Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019and Goldin is the first woman to receive the prize as the sole laureate. At a campus press conference, Goldin welcomed the rising number of top female economists such as Cecilia Rouse and Claudia Olivetti. But she said economics still struggles to shake off misperceptions about the field. Many young women students are turned off because they think economics "concerns finance," Goldin said, But "economics is about people. It's about inequality. It's about the female labor force. It's about health. It's about economic development." Goldin has "trawled the archives and collected over 200 years of data from the US," the jury said. "She studied something that many people, many historians, for instance, simply decided not to study before because they didn't think these data existed, Hjalmarsson said, calling Goldin "a detective". Goldin's research showed that female participation in the labor force had not always followed an upward trend but rather a "U-shaped curve", as participation actually decreased with the transition from an agrarian to industrial society. Participation then started to increase in the early 20th century with the growth of the service sector. Her research showed the trends were the result of both "structural change and evolving social norms." While much of the earnings gap historically could be explained by differences in education and occupational choices, Goldin "has shown that the bulk of this earnings difference is now between men and women in the same occupation". "It largely arises with the birth of the first child." The pill Goldin's work demonstrated access to the contraceptive pill played an important role in accelerating the increase in education levels during the 20th century, by "offering new opportunities for career planning," the Nobel committee said. The economist herself explained that women in the United States had gained significant ground in their education level. "But in many places their promotion and pay hasn't," and she attributed the gap largely to "the interaction between the market place and the home and the family." Born in the Bronx, New York, Goldin first planned to study microbiology when entering Cornell University, but soon shifted ground after taking a course on industrial organization with economist Alfred Kahn. The economics prize is the only Nobel not among the original five set out by the will of Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896, and was instead created through a donation from the Swedish central bank in 1968. The economics prize wraps up this year's Nobel season, which saw four women awarded the prestigious prizejust one shy of the record five from 2009. On Friday, the Peace Prize went to imprisoned Iranian women's rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi. Earlier in the week, Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse was rewarded in literature. The other science prizesin the fields of medicine, physics and chemistryhonored technology that paved the way for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, ultra-quick light flashes that enable the study of electrons inside atoms and molecules, and nanoparticles called quantum dots. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Oregon will provide the first gray wolves for Colorado's voter-mandated reintroduction of the species, wildlife officials announced Friday after a months-long search for a state willing to provide the canine before a Dec. 31 deadline. Up to 10 wolves will be supplied by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife over the winter. Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff between December and March will capture the wolves in northeastern Oregon using helicopters and spotter planes. Captured animals would be flown or trucked down to western Colorado for release as soon as possible. "We are deeply grateful for Oregon's partnership in this endeavor, and we are now one step closer to fulfilling the will of the voters in time," Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a news release. Colorado voters in 2020 narrowly approved the reintroduction of the species to Colorado. As state wildlife officials have made detailed plans to comply, just where to obtain the wolves has been a big challenge, with several states turning down requests. "Oregon has a long history of helping other states meet their conservation goals by providing animals for translocation efforts," Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Curt Melcher said in the release. "Some of our wildlife populations were also restored thanks to other states doing the same for us, including Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain goat." The wolf population in northeastern Oregon is resilient and will not suffer long-term impacts from the captures, according to the news release. State officials plan to release the wolves on Colorado Parks and Wildlife land between Glenwood Springs, Vail and the Roaring Fork Valley. Although Oregon wildlife officials will help by sharing information about wolf locations, the release says Colorado will be responsible for all costs of capturing and transporting the wolves. All captured wolves will be tested and treated for disease on-site in Oregon. Those with significant injuriessuch as missing eyes or mangewon't be transported to Colorado. The wolf reintroduction ballot measure drew heavy support from voters along the Front Range, but the wolves will be released west of the Continental Divide. Many ranchers across the state have opposed the reintroduction, saying wolves pose a threat to their livestock, domestic animals and families. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offered one bit of assurance, saying Friday that officials "will make efforts to transplant wolves that have not been involved in repeated depredations." Erin Karney, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, underlined that as a chief concern ranchers will be watching. The agency also needs to reach out to ranchers in the areas they have selected as possible release sites, she said. "CPW should be doing that proactively now so those producers can prepare," Karney said. Wolves were killed off in Colorado by 1940, though a few wolves have been recorded in the state since 2020. Colorado is the first state government to reintroduce gray wolves. "This is really a historic effort," said Michael Saul, Rockies and Plains field director for Defenders of Wildlife. "It's the first time a state has chosen to bring back this amazing and ecologically important carnivore, and all the biological and legal pieces seem to be coming together to get it done on time. We're keeping our fingers crossed to see paws on the ground by New Year's." But the work isn't over yet, Saul said. Colorado officials will need multiple sources of wolves to fulfill its plan of releasing between 30 and 50 wolves in the state over the next five years. In a plan finalized in May, wildlife officials had identified Idaho, Montana or Wyoming as ideal sources of wolves. But none of those states agreed to share their wolves, citing the complications of managing wolf packs in their states. The plan also identified Oregon and Washington as backup options for source populations. Washington State officials are open to providing wolves in the future but said they would not be able to do so this calendar year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials previously said. "This is a multi-year process and hopefully the start of what has the potential to be one of the great wildlife and ecological recovery successes of our time," Saul said. 2023 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Cebu (CNN Philippines, October 9) -- Cebu province will focus on improving health facilities and road networks in 2024, following the approval of its Annual Investment Plan (AIP). Around 3.5 billion of the 12 billion fund has been earmarked for the improvement and construction of hospitals and health facilities, as well as the acquisition of medical equipment for endemic and pandemic response programs. This is one of the biggest items in the 2024 AIP that was approved during the Provincial Development Council meeting held last Oct. 6. The AIP is at least 20% of the annual budget of the local government. Another 3.5 billion was set aside for the construction and improvement of roads and bridges in the province. The amount also includes the installation of solar street lights all over the island. The AIP also provides 3.3 billion for the Water System Development Program pushed by Gov. Gwen Garcia. Other items in the AIP include 500 million for the construction and improvement of buildings and other structures; 200 million for the construction of drainage and flood control projects; 150 million for the restoration of cultural heritage buildings, parks, and museums; 100 million for the acquisition of ambulance and emergency response vehicles; 350 million for the development of ports, seaports, and airports; and, 400 million for agricultural, veterinary, and environmental facilities. The 2023 annual budget of Cebu Province is 20.15 billion. Garcia has yet to propose the province's annual budget for 2024. The governor said her administration would prioritize health as well as road projects which would further spur development in the countryside. 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Battered by heat, washed out to a bleached, white hue and ravaged by disease, corals offshore of Key Largo, Florida, used what little energy they had left to spawn the next generation that could save their populations. These elkhorn and staghorn coralsrecognized by their iconic branching arms that provide habitat for hundreds of speciesare some of the most vulnerable among reefs. Just weeks after spawning season, more than 90% of those parent corals are dead. Elkhorn corals are already considered "functionally extinct" in the upper Keys, and other elkhorn and staghorn populations in the Florida Reef are following suit, according to Liv Williamson, an assistant scientist of marine biology and ecology at the University of Miami. That means there are a small number of individual corals left in the only living barrier reef in the continental United Statesthe world's third-largest. It stretches about 360 miles from Dry Tortugas National Park to the St. Lucie Inletbut they can't reproduce enough in the wild to support a viable population. Only a few hundred unique individuals of these corals are left in all of Florida: about 150 elkhorn and 300 staghorn, according to a July update from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Researchers have called this summer's record ocean temperatures the worst bleaching event in Florida's history, and they harvested corals from reefs in efforts to save them. Throughout the summer, scientists repeatedly warned that this loss of color could soon give way to loss of life. Now, the death toll is becoming evident. "We just see a lot of corals that are fully dead at this point," Williamson said. She returned to the same Key Largo reef every two weeks during the summer. She said she's watched the animals she studies bleach and die. The dying elkhorns and staghorns in Key Largo spawned in early August, providing new corals to rebuild reefs and a wave of hope among researchers. Still, Williamson said it's difficult to be optimistic about restoring these populations. "Those elkhorn and staghorn were the products of restoration efforts that had been really successful, and then this one summer just wiped them out," she said. "So what's to keep that from happening in the future?" Staghorn and elkhorn corals declined throughout Florida and the Caribbean for decades, Williamson said. In the 1980s, the staghorn and elkhorn coral populations declined by 97% due to white band disease, which kills the coral's tissues, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Where there were once "vast thickets" of these corals, populations now consist "mostly of isolated colonies or small groups of colonies," the agency said. Only off the coast of the U.S. Virgin Islands is there habitat where elkhorn populations are considered stable, though few in numbers. Climate change, fallout from coastal runoff and other human impacts were also to blame for both species' declines, Williamson said. "In fact, they are really the first iconic species that we started to lose in big numbers in the region," Williamson said. About 10 years ago, their dwindling population along the Florida Reef spurred intervention. A 2012 study showed elkhorn populations in the upper Keys dropped by 21% from 2004 to 2010. Since then, the Coral Restoration Foundationwhich helped restore Williamson's Key Largo reefhas planted more than 220,000 corals onto Florida's reef. But now they are nearly wiped outsetting back years of restoration efforts, Williamson said. She estimates only 10% of the elkhorn and 5% of the staghorn in Key Largo survived. In the lower Keys, where waters are even hotter, entire reefs have been wiped out. Coral Restoration Foundation teams visited Sombrero Reef in July and found "100% coral mortality," according to a news release. At the nonprofit's nursery in Looe Key, a popular dive spot, 5,600 staghorn and elkhorn corals had either bleached or died. If the elkhorn and staghorn corals on Florida's reefs die, Williamson said, there would be nothing left of the species in the region. "We are probably not there just yet, as I assume there will be a handful of elkhorn corals that survive this year, but we are teetering on the edge," she said. Williamson said heat stress and bleaching weren't the only factors in the die-off. She's seeing disease wreak havoc on corals already weakened by hot waters. "In some cases, the tissue actually still had a good amount of color, but there were these huge patches of tissue that were just sloughing off," she said. The relationship between bleaching and coral diseases isn't fully understood, Williamson said, but studies show that reefs may be less susceptible to disease when bleached. This is because when corals bleach, they expel the algae that helps them photosynthesize. Diseases attack the algae on corals, so if the algae have already left starving corals, they are not as much at risk of getting sick. While some coral diseases are spreading across Florida's hot waters, researchers will be bracing for another round of mortalities once waters cool this fall and winter and algae return to the surviving corals. "That's when I kind of worry about seeing disease take off moresort of after recovery," Williamson said. Researchers still don't quite know the exact toll heat and disease have already taken on Florida's corals this year. Williamson said it could be months before those numbers are crunched. There's one big reason: It's still hot. Surface water temperatures have returned to abnormally high levels after a brief cool-off brought by hurricane activity, according to Ian Enochs, who leads the coral program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab. There's no telling when the water temperatures will cool for the rest of the year. "There's not like a seasonal cutoff date," Enochs said. "It depends on climate. It depends on the weather patterns." Still, Enochs said he's seeing "signs of resilience," such as color returning to some corals and a better-than-expected spawning season. "That doesn't mean we're out of the woodsfar from it," he said. About 84,000 elkhorn coral larvae were spawned this summer at the Florida Aquarium, said Keri O'Neil, director of the aquarium's Coral Conservation Program. While that number doesn't break any records, it exceeded expectations for a population that has been under tremendous stress. "We are raising, you know, thousands of new coral offspring to hopefully start rebuilding the reef," O'Neil said. In addition to controlled spawning in coral labs, Williamson said spawning numbers in the wild are equally encouraging. She joined efforts to collect wild baby corals from dying elkhorns and staghorns in August. Williamson said the corals are holding up well in their new, controlled lab environment. "So far, we just don't see signs that these babies are impaired as a result of having had their parents be under so much stress," she said. "That's a huge relief." While elkhorn and staghorn corals saw the worst death tolls this summer, Williamson stressed that populations are holding strong across other species. For instance, heat-tolerant, hard corals living in reefs offshore of Miami and Broward County aren't taking nearly as heavy losses. Williamson said she has done as much as she can for the Key Largo reef; she spent the summer documenting which parent corals held up best against the heat, which could give a clearer picture of which baby corals have a better chance of survival if returned to open waters. "Unfortunately, now that everything is dead at our site, there's kind of not a big point in going there again," Williamson said. Instead, she said she'll start visiting other sites while searching for a way to restock reefs with more resilient corals. While the state of these coral populations is dire, Williamson said not all parts of the Florida Reef look as wounded as Key Largo. "Our coral reef is still here," she said. "It's just going to be significantly damaged." 2023 Tampa Bay Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Excavators found part of a structure formed by two overlapping logs. Credit: Barham et al. Nature (2023), Author provided To most people, complex technologies separate modern humans from their ancestors who lived in the Stone Age, thousands or hundreds of thousands of years ago. In today's fast changing world, older technologies, even those from a few years ago, are often described dismissively as "Stone Age." Such terms serve to disconnect us from our ancient relatives, who were much more sophisticated than we sometimes think they were. A team led by archaeologist Larry Barham at the University of Liverpool recently published robust and well dated evidence for the earliest known use of wood technology. The wooden structure, along with artifacts, date to 476,000 years ago and have been excavated from waterlogged deposits at Kalambo Falls, Zambia. This archaeological site is famous for producing traces of human cultural development dating to hundreds of thousands of years ago. The remarkably well preserved evidence found by Barham and colleagues include, among other things, a wedge (a type of wooden tool), a digging stick, a log cut with the help of tools and a branch with a notch cut into it. But why, in the age of AI and robotics, should wood technology from nearly half a million years ago generate so much interest from both scientists and the public? The evidence from Kalambo Falls demonstrates a remarkable ability by early hominins (ancient human relatives) to source wood and shape it with tools. They were able to produce, not only an assortment of other tools, but also sophisticated wooden structures. We don't know exactly what species made the structure, but Homo heidelbergensis or a species similar to Homo naledi might be candidates, among others. These results have far reaching implications for our understanding of how sustainable materials were used in the Early Stone Age. It also sheds light on the capabilities of early hominins. From speculation to fact Archaeology is the study of deep and recent history using the remains of things left by people who came before us. However, these histories are biased in favor of things that have either survived the passage of time or decayed but left traces. Humans lived in the era known as the Stone Age for nearly 99% of human history. The Early Stone Age is considered the earliest and perhaps longest "technological age," stretching from nearly four million years ago to 300,000 years ago. We know more about stone tools during this early phase of human development, in part because inorganic materials such as rocks are nearly indestructible compared to those made of perishable materials like wood. Indeed, wood is very scarce in deposits belonging to the Early Stone Age, requiring exceptional conditions of preservation to avoid decaying. It survives only in extremely dry environments such as deserts, or extremely wet conditionsas was the case at Kalambo Falls. Given the scarcity of evidence, direct proof of the intentional use of wood from more than 400,000 years ago sharply transforms our understanding of the antiquity of wood as a technologyand how long hominins have been interacting with this versatile material. They used it to make tools, to build shelters, to obtain food and perhaps even for fuel as they went about their daily lives. Although researchers had suspected that wood technology was widely used by early hominins, without hard, direct evidence, we could not accept that as fact. Archaeology is a discovery and evidence-based field of study - seeing is believing. The Kalambo Falls discovery transformed speculation into fact, changing our understanding of the history of technology. Benefiting the environment However, part of the challenge comes from concepts of human history which could be described as progressivist or linearthat envisage history as an inevitable advance towards modernity through scientific and technological achievement. In the past, some scientists considered the minds of early hominins to have been more limited compared to those of modern humans. They believed technology and culture improved in sophistication as human brain size increased, moving from a "simple" state to the complex, algorithm-dominated world we live in today. Despite the fact that brain sizes have increased over time, and that technology has changed, it is possible that those who came before us had an impressive understanding of the materials around them and cared for their surroundings. The intentionally-shaped wood construction from Kalambo Falls is an illustration of design, technology and creativityusing what in today's world we would call a green technology. Notions of "progress" are quite deeply embedded in culture. This can also be a proxy for the exceptionalism of modern humans (Homo sapiens)the belief that there is something unique or exemplary about our species compared with earlier hominins. If we put these notions aside, we can recognize that so called "backward technologies" can greatly benefit the environment and the planet. The fact that wood is perishable makes it a more sustainable material, unlike some modern construction materials that are nearly indestructible, and leave conspicuous ruins. Manufacturing these modern materials also emits greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Of course, there are risks associated with using wood as a construction material, such as fire and decay. But in appropriate situations, we should continue our long tradition of building in wood. Perhaps the ancients were not so backward, but more progressive than us when it came to looking after the planet through sound decision making. In summary, the Kalambo Falls evidence suggests that, at least sometimes, early hominins were able to take advantage of materials other than stone for their everyday needs, including tool-making and shelter. They might also have been able to use the resources in their environment for fuel and medicine. However, we need more direct evidence, going back to the beginnings of the Stone Age to demonstrate how those who came before us used and worked with wood. More discoveries like this might even lead us to rename the mighty Stone Age as the Wood Age. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When it comes to government contracts, diversity doesn't necessarily translate into equity, according to a University of Michigan study. Research by Benjamin Rosa, assistant professor of business economics and public policy at U-M's Ross School of Business, finds efforts abound to create a level playing field on which firms from disadvantaged backgrounds have an equal opportunity to compete for contractsbut buyers may still discriminate within the disadvantaged group. The key, according to Rosa's study, is network access: Government agencies and prime contractors favor working with known or established firms. An equally capable but unknown, disadvantaged firm might be overlooked, and affirmative action policies for disadvantaged firms may not reliably correct these inequities. For his research, Rosa focused on construction contracts issued by the state of New Mexico between January 2008 and January 2015 for the maintenance, construction and reconstruction of transportation systems. He said he chose this particular area because the state had a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program at the time that used race-conscious contract goals. The study finds in the majority of types of work, the contract awards are highly concentrated, implying that a few disadvantaged firms win most of the deals. In four categories (painting, signing, fencing and concrete), the top three firms that were part of the program won anywhere from about 70% to 98% of all awards. "This study made me question whether meeting contract award goals truly corresponds to equity in contracting," Rosa said. As in labor markets, the study notes government contracting has been subject to affirmative action policies for decades with an aim of fixing past and present forms of discrimination. However, it's competition between contractors that determines incentives to become qualified in contracting, as opposed to potential earnings differences that drive incentives in a labor market. Such competition, the study concludes, "creates several challenges for implementing corrective policies." Rosa advises government agencies to consider concentration within disadvantaged groups along with contract award goals when evaluating equity in contracting. The data analyzed in the research precedes this year's U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action. Although it was focused on school admissionsrace cannot be a factor in college and university admissions decisionsRosa says there has been an impact on government contracting programs. He cites a Small Business Administration program that provides training to socially and economically disadvantaged firms, which used to automatically equate race with social disadvantage. A judge recently struck down the provision, leaving minority-owned firms to prove they are at a social disadvantage to qualify for the program. As for the types of contracts used in his study, Rosa said he wouldn't be surprised if they are eventually challenged as a result of the high court's ruling. The study, "Diversity versus equity in government contracting," has been submitted for publication. More information: Study (PDF): Diversity versus Equity in Government Contracting: drive.google.com/file/d/1hmTlW 8tlkZquX6rDGxEt/view 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: Lady Elliot Goby (Tomiyamichthys elliotensis) underwater photograph taken at Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia. Credit: Dr Mark Erdmann At a time when marine life is disappearing from the world's oceans, researchers are celebrating the discovery of a new species of coral reef fish in the southern waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Named the Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby, the previously unknown fish was found as part of a University of the Sunshine Coast-led project that is mapping the changing biodiversity on and around Lady Elliot Island, a tiny coral cay at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. The research team is now tasked with the complicated process of confirming that up to seven other unidentified marine creatures they found during their underwater surveysincluding dwarf and pygmy gobies and damselfishare also new to science. "This is a significant, exciting discovery," says marine biologist and co-author Dr. Chris Dudgeon, one of the researchers working on the collaborative Leaf to Reef project, part of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation's Reef Islands Initiative that aims to protect critical habitats in the world's largest coral reef system. The Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby (Tomiyamichthys elliotensis) is described in a paper released today in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation. Small and white, with brown spots, yellow-orange bands and a large sail-like first dorsal fin, it was first sighted in a sand burrow that it shares with a pair of alpheid snapping shrimps. "It's been a while since a 'never recorded anywhere before' fish has been described from the Great Barrier Reef," Dr. Dudgeon said. "While the Great Barrier Reef is a much-studied ecosystem, the last completely new species to be described was a grouper found in the deep sea in 2019, which is where most new discoveries come from. To find a new fish species in the shallows on a reef, in plain sight is unique." The scientists believe the Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby is likely to be present throughout the Capricorn-Bunker reefs and potentially widespread throughout the whole Great Barrier Reef. More new fish to be uncovered The researchers say the discovery generates more questions and speculationincluding how many more new species are waiting to be uncovered. Fish taxonomist and Vice President of Conservation International's Asia-Pacific Marine Programs Dr. Mark Erdmann, who also co-authored the paper, said most of the potentially new species uncovered at Lady Elliot Island were gobiesfrequently overlooked by divers and marine scientists due to their small size and cryptic behaviors. "Nonetheless, a close look at these fishes reveals a subtle beauty in their color patterns which often rivals that of their more conspicuous cousins on the reef like butterflyfishes or parrotfishes," Dr. Erdmann said. "I'm delighted that the biodiversity research being conducted as part of the Leaf to Reef project is highlighting these 'cryptobenthic' species like the gobies, which besides comprising a significant proportion of the reef fish biodiversity on the Great Barrier Reef, are also vitally important as a significant source of food to larger reef fishes including wrasses, groupers and emperors." Safeguarding the reef UniSC Marine Biologist Associate Professor Kathy Townsend says the potential new discoveries highlight the importance of the Leaf to Reef project that she leads. "New species research is critical to identify ecosystems most in need of protection, so too is mapping how the island's biodiversity is changing due to species drift, allowing us to measure the impact of climate change and act to safeguard against it," she said. Since 2020, a team of scientists has been compiling a comprehensive baseline of all vertebrate speciesbirds, turtles, sharks, fish, reptiles and mammalsliving on or around Lady Elliot Island. Studies include tagging sea turtles and tracking manta rays, along with bird counts that have uncovered the world's oldest recorded red-tailed tropic bird and identified 14 new migrant species that can now be found on the island. "We have fish and birds appearing in places they haven't been found before which emphasizes the important role that Lady Elliot Island plays as a wildlife refuge and a shelter for northern tropical species moving south to escape warming oceans," said Dr. Townsend. "Another key part of our research is understanding connections within and between coral reef habitats and the species that live therefrom microscopic algae all the way up the food chain to sharks and manta raysand how human actions may be impacting these." Revealing new species Genetic comparisons can be an important part of the process when confirming discoveries as new species. Lead author Dr. Gerry Allen, who is considered one of Australia's prominent fish zoologists (ichthyologist), said it was a complicated and lengthy process and involved consultation with global experts, including Dr. David Greenfield of the California Academy. "The Lady Elliot Island collections contain several potential new species that are morphologically very similar to species from surrounding geographic regions," he said. "This includes several tiny gobies belonging to the genus Eviota and at least one of these appears to be undescribed." There are currently over 100 recognized species of shrimp gobies in the Indo-West Pacific, who often live in the same burrow as shrimps, with the goby acting as lookout to warn the shrimp of predators. In return the shrimp builds and maintains the burrow. Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden says Lady Elliot Island is a critical habitat and refuge for more than 1,200 species of marine life. "We're proud to have pioneered this important research through our Reef Islands Initiative which is establishing a network of climate change arks that will provide refuge for the Great Barrier Reef's marine life," she said. "This exciting discovery of the Lady Elliot Shrimp Goby further highlights the importance of protecting the ecosystems that provide a safe home for our Reef's amazing animals against the impacts of climate change." More information: Gerald R. Allen et al, Tomiyamichthys elliotensis, a new species of shrimpgoby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Lady Elliot Island, Queensland, Australia, Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation (2023). oceansciencefoundation.org/josf40e.html. On Zenodo: DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.8404548 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: Artist's depiction of the TRAPPIST-1 system. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltec Astrophysicists have used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to take a close look at a volatile star. In a new study, an international team of researchers has made a detailed investigation of four solar flares exploding from around the star TRAPPIST-1a small and active celestial body located about 40 light-years from Earth. The findings could help scientists search for far away planets, or "exoplanets," that resemble our own and may even support life. "Because of JWST, it is the first time in history that we've been able to look for planets around other stars that have the sorts of secondary atmospheres you could find around, say, Earth, Venus or Mars," said Ward Howard, lead author of the new research and a NASA Sagan Fellow in the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences at CU Boulder. That hunt, however, can get a little tricky. Howard explained that most of the small and rocky worlds that scientists are planning to explore with the Webb telescope orbit a class of stars called M-dwarfs, or red dwarfs. They are some of the most explosive stars in the galaxy. Take TRAPPIST-1, which hosts seven known planets. This star is barely bigger than Jupiter, but it shoots out large flares, or bright and powerful eruptions of energy, several times a day, spreading radiation far into space. Earth's sun, in contrast, experiences similarly sized flares only about once a month. As a result, viewing a planet around a red dwarf can be a bit like snapping a photo of a friend in a dance club with pulsing lights. In their new research, Howard and his colleagues think they've discovered a partial solution. Using the Webb telescope, the most advanced telescope ever launched into space, the team recorded a series of flares bursting from TRAPPIST-1 over roughly 27 hours. The researchers developed a mathematical method for separating the light coming from those flares from the star's normal radiation. It's a bit like using a filter to remove the glare from a smartphone photo. The result? Potentially clearer images of planets, and their atmospheres. "If we want to learn more about exoplanets ," Howard said, "it's really important to understand their stars." The study has been accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal and posted online on arXiv ahead of print. The observations used in the research were obtained in the telescope's first year of operation by Olivia Lim and David Lafreniere at the University of Montreal as part of an effort called the NEAT Collaboration. A major solar flare erupts from Earth's sun in September 2017. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory Precious planets Scientists have had their eyes on TRAPPIST-1 for a long time. This star, which isn't too far from Earth in galactic terms, is a planetary gold mine: It hosts three small and rocky worlds that rest in what researchers call the "habitable zone"a region around a star in which water could, theoretically, exist on the surface of a planet. Astrophysicists are using the Webb telescope to see if they can sniff out the traces of an atmosphere around these planets. (Lim led a recent study that didn't detect traces of atmosphere around one planet in the system called TRAPPIST-1 b). "There are only a handful of stellar systems where we have the opportunity to look for these sorts of atmospheres," Howard said. "Each one of these planets is truly precious." Howard noted that because exoplanets like TRAPPIST-1's seven worlds are so far away, astrophysicists can only observe them as they pass in front of their bright stars. But when a star is as chaotic as TRAPPIST-1, that becomes difficult. "If you don't account for flares, you could detect molecules in the atmosphere that aren't really there, or get the amount of material in the atmosphere wrong," he said. Sharper observations That's one reason why Howard and his colleagues wanted to take such a close look at TRAPPIST-1. Using the Webb telescope, the researchers observed flares from a distant star for the first time ever in certain wavelengths of infrared lighta type of radiation that the Webb telescope is especially attuned to see. The team's data capture the evolution of those four flares in exquisite detail as they evolved over several hours, growing brighter and brighter, then peaking and becoming dim again. The group was also able to tease apart the light coming from TRAPPIST-1's flares from the star's day-to-day glow. Drawing on that data, the team was able to remove about 80% of the light from the flares from their observations. Those numbers aren't perfect, Howard noted, but the team's results should help astrophysicists collect clearer and more accurate data on TRAPPIST-1's seven planets. And the researchers could apply their same approach to other similar star systems close to Earth. "With TRAPPIST-1, we have a really great opportunity to see what an Earth-sized planet around a red dwarf would look like," Howard said. More information: Ward S. Howard et al, Characterizing the Near-infrared Spectra of Flares from TRAPPIST-1 During JWST Transit Spectroscopy Observations, arXiv (2023). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2310.03792 Journal information: arXiv , Astrophysical Journal 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: Heavy rain clouds are seen over Hong Kong on October 8, 2023. 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 hourswhen the typhoon was closest to the citybefore 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 kilometers (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 Mondaythe 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 kilometers (72 miles) per hour. Koinu's were observed at 145 kilometers (90 miles) per hour. A woman and a child struggle with strong winds in Hong Kong on October 8, 2023 as typhoon Koinu skirted by. Flights canceled Around 90 flights were canceled Sunday and 130 others delayed throughout the day due to the storm, according to Hong Kong's Airport Authority. Daycare centers, cargo terminals, ferries and buses suspended operations Sunday, while schoolsalso closedwill 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 provincewhere Koinu is expected to sweep past en route to Hainanthe 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. Utility workers try to repair power lines downed by the high winds from Typhoon Koinu in Taiwan on October 5, 2023. 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 intensitybringing more rain and stronger gusts that lead to flash floods and coastal damage, experts say. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Schematic diagram explaining the land-atmosphere feedback and changes in monsoon rainfall in response to river-interlinking. The perturbations in the land water management leading from the inter-basin water transfer impact the spatial pattern of rainfall on the distant basins. The intra-basin land-to-atmosphere connection happens in the form of soil moisture contributing to the moisture content of the air through evapotranspiration (high evapotranspiration during high soil moisture (SM)) while also causing surface cooling. The supplied moisture by evapotranspiration can lead to recycled precipitation in the same basin or can get transported to faraway regions by the wind, which can then change the precipitation patterns of the region. Evaporative cooling changes the thermal contrast between ocean and land or in between different land regions changing wind patterns and, subsequently, the moisture transport and rainfall. Credit: Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41668-x A team of civil engineers and meteorologists at the Indian Institute of Technology, working with colleagues from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and the University of Hyderabad, has found, via modeling, that a plan to interlink rivers in India to capture rain runoff could inadvertently have a negative impact on the amount and location of monsoon rainfall. In their study, published in the journal Nature Communications, the group used a variety of modeling techniques to test the possibility of unintended changes to weather patterns in India as interlinking projects are undertaken. Officials in India have a clear problem on their handstheir country has a population of 1.4 billion people, the highest of any country in the world. And it is still growing. Such growth is presenting a host of problems, including how to feed so many people, sustain economic growth and manage water. This last problem has become direfor India to feed its people, it must grow more food and that will require more water. But water availability is decreasing. To meet the demand, scientists and government officials have proposed and instigated a plan that entails digging canals between rivers to interlink them, with the idea of capturing more rainfall. Instead of allowing most of its rainfall to run off into rivers and then to the sea, the country plans to divert some of that water into other rivers that can be shunted into drier areas, where it can be used for irrigation. But doing so, the researchers on this new effort insist, could have unintended and perhaps disastrous side effects. Prior research has shown that exchange of material such as aerosols into the atmosphere can lead to a land-atmospheric feedback system, resulting in cooling of temperatures in a region, and subsequent changes in rainfall amounts. Likewise, irrigation efforts have been found to instigate land-atmosphere feedback as water from such systems evaporates into the atmosphere. Such systems have been found to have an impact on local hydrological cycles, and in some cases, can impact monsoon rains. These findings convinced the team on this new effort to take a closer look at the possible impact of interlinking rivers. To estimate possible impacts, the team used causal delineation techniques along with general climate models that have been modified to focus specifically on India and its weather, and also a reanalysis of datasets built from land-atmosphere feedback systems that already exist in India. The researchers found that land-atmosphere feedbacks from interlinked rivers could generate causal pathways between river basins in Indiaas one example, they found incidences of decreased rainfall in September (during monsoon season) by up to 12% in parts of the country that are already experiencing water shortages. They also found evidence of some areas experiencing more dryness during El Nino years. They conclude that more study is required before approving new river linking efforts. More information: Tejasvi Chauhan et al, River interlinking alters land-atmosphere feedback and changes the Indian summer monsoon, Nature Communications (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41668-x Journal information: Nature Communications 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain At first, the dead floated downstream a few at a time. Then they came by the hundreds, and then the thousands. For mile after mile, the Klamath River was filled with tens of thousands of dead salmon. As Annelia Hillman paddled a canoe with a friend one September day 21 years ago, her heart sank when she saw the carcasses floating past. She and other members of the Yurok Tribe say they will never forget the stench of death. "It's like seeing your family perish in front of you," Hillman said. "I would compare it to a massacre, really, in terms of the emotions and the trauma that it has caused for us." The grief drove Hillman, then 27, to begin protesting to demand change. The mass fish kill of 2002, estimated at up to 70,000 salmon, became a defining event for a generation of young Native activistsa moment that showed the river ecosystem was gravely ill, and badly in need of rescuing. Water diversions for agriculture had dramatically shrunk river flows. And the Klamath's hydroelectric dams, which had long blocked salmon from reaching their spawning areas, had degraded the water quality, contributing to toxic algae blooms and disease outbreaks among the fish. At first, when Indigenous leaders demanded that dams be removed, their chances of success seemed remote at best. But after more than two decades of persistent efforts, including protests at company shareholder meetings, demonstrations on the river and complicated negotiations, the four dams along the California-Oregon border have finally started to be dismantled. One small dam has already been removed, and three more are slated to come down next year. For members of the Yurok, Karuk and other tribes who have been immersed in the struggle for much of their lives, the undamming of the Klamath represents an opportunity to heal the ecosystem and help fish populations recover by opening up hundreds of miles of spawning habitat. They say the coming changes hold promise for them to strengthen their ancestral connection to the river and keep their fishing traditions alive. "This river is our lifeline. It's our mother. It's what feeds us. It's the foundation to our people, for our culture," Hillman said. "Seeing the restoration of our river, our fisheries, I think is going to uplift us all." Work on the dam removal project began in June. The smallest dam, Copco No. 2, was torn down by crews using heavy machinery. The other three dams are set to be dismantled next year, starting with a drawdown of the reservoirs in January. "The scale of this is enormous," said Mark Bransom, CEO of the nonprofit Klamath River Renewal Corp., which is overseeing dam removal and river restoration efforts. "This is the largest dam removal project ever undertaken in the United States, and perhaps even the world." PacifiCorp, the Portland-based utilitypart of billionaire Warren Buffett's conglomerate Berkshire Hathawayagreed to remove the aging dams after determining it would be less expensive than trying to bring them up to current environmental standards. The dams were used purely for power generation, not to store water for cities or farms. "The reason that these dams are coming down is that they've reached the end of their useful life," Bransom said. "The power generated from these dams is really a trivial amount of power, something on the order of 2% of the electric utility that previously owned the dams." An additional $250 million came through Proposition 1, a bond measure passed by California voters in 2014 that included money for removing barriers blocking fish on rivers. Crews hired by the contractor Kiewet Corp. have been working on roads and bridges to prepare for the army of excavators and dump trucks. "We have thousands of tons of concrete and steel that make up these dams that we have to remove," Bransom said. "We'll probably end up with 400 to 500 workers at the peak of the work." During a visit in August, Bransom stood on a rocky bluff overlooking Iron Gate Dam, where crews were working on a water drainage tunnel. There won't be major dam-wrecking explosions, he said, but workers plan to blast open some dam tunnels to move out tons of accumulated sediment from the reservoirs. As the water is drained, crews working on boats will also spray fire hoses to wash away muddy silt and send it downstream. In addition to tearing down the dams, the project involves restoring about 2,200 acres of reservoir bottom to a natural state. In recent years, workers have collected nearly 1 billion seeds from native plants along the Klamath and sent seeds to farms to be planted and harvested. That has produced nearly 13 billion seeds26 tons in allwhich will be planted once the reservoirs are drained. The aim is for native vegetation to regrow across the watershed while fish begin to access 420 miles of spawning habitat in the river and its tributaries. "Nature knows what it wants to do. So what we're really trying to do here is work with Mother Nature to create conditions that will allow for river healing and for restoration of balance here," Bransom said. "We can offer a light touch to help nudge things in the right direction." Fed by Cascade Range snowmelt, the Klamath River takes shape among lakes and marshes along the California-Oregon border and winds through steep mountainous terrain before ending its journey among redwood forests on the Pacific Coast. For the Yurok, the fight to remove dams is the latest in a series of struggles over the river's management and the preservation of their way of life. Susan Masten, a leading advocate for tearing down the dams, recalls a time in 1978 that the Yurok call the "Salmon Wars," when federal agents descended on the reservation to enforce a ban on fishing. Just five years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had affirmed the tribe's fishing rights in a landmark case involving Masten's uncle, Raymond Mattz. But federal officials had ordered a halt to tribal fishing on the Klamath even as other fishing continued along the coast. The Yurok, who sought to defend their fishing rights and tribal sovereignty, faced off with officers in riot gear holding billy clubs and M-16 rifles. Many residents feared for their lives, Masten said. Masten recalled seeing officers drag a woman away by her hair as tribe members protested on a riverbank. Another time, she said, agents twisted her grandfather's arm behind his back. The tensions eventually subsided when the marshals left, and the Yurok successfully asserted their rights to continue fishing. But they saw other threats in the declining fish populationsand the four hydroelectric dams that were built without tribal consent between 1912 and the 1960s. Masten, who was the tribe's chairperson during the devastating fish kill of 2002, was ecstatic when federal regulators signed off on plans to demolish the dams. "I really didn't think that I would see dam removal in my lifetime," Masten said. Masten, who is 71, spoke while drifting across the estuary in a motorboat near the river's mouth. As the surf crashed against a barrier of sand, pelicans, cormorants and ospreys soared over the dark water. "Everything that's around here is connected to this river," Masten said. "And so for us to ensure the future for our children, we need to ensure that this river is here and that it's healthy, and that the ecosystem is healthy, because it's the heartbeat of our people. It's the lifeway of our people." Masten lives in her ancestral village of Rek-woi, or Requa, in a home on a bluff overlooking the river's mouth. Once the dams come down, she said, she expects to see the fish thrive and the entire ecosystem flourish. "The river has a way to heal itself, and it can heal itself very quickly if it's allowed to do so," Masten said. "I'm excited that my grandchildren will be able to benefit from it." Masten's niece, Amy Bowers Cordalis, is a lawyer for the tribe who focuses on the Klamath River and was involved in negotiating agreements involving California, Oregon and PacifiCorps to enable dam removal. "We kept pushing and pushing," Bowers Cordalis said. "We all came together and figured out a way to remove dams." She stood by a boat ramp that in August typically would be bustling with families hauling out their nets and fish. But the ramp was mostly deserted. The tribe's leaders took the rare step of canceling subsistence fishing this year to protect the dwindling salmon population, a decision that mirrored the shutdown of commercial fishing along the coast. Several years ago, Bowers Cordalis also worked on the Yurok Tribe's declaration of the river as a legal "person" under tribal law, a step intended to provide greater protections. One key problem, she said, is that the dams have allowed nutrient-filled agricultural runoff to fester in lakes, feeding algae blooms. When the river isn't safe for bathing, it prevents the tribe's members from carrying out ceremonies that involve entering the water. Tearing down the dams is a first step in "a new era of healing," Bowers Cordalis said. She said she hopes to eventually get back the flourishing river with abundant fish that her great grandmother saw a century ago. From the river behind her, a salmon flew into the air, its scales shimmering, and landed in the water with a plop. Then another salmon jumped. "A big run just went through!" a man called out from a boat. Bowers Cordalis said it was encouraging to see that some salmon, even with their population so low, were making it upstream to spawn. "We have so much hope that this river will restore itself," Bowers Cordalis said. "Dam removal is just the beginning. Dam removal is the end of colonization of this river." Not everyone is happy to see the dams go. In some areas, the removal project has generated heated opposition. In the community of Copco Lake, some residents live in waterfront homes with boats and docks. Their homes will be left high and dry when the reservoir is drained. Alan Marcillet, a resident who enjoys kayaking, said most people in the community aren't looking forward to the disruptive changes. "It's just going to be a mud pit," Marcillet said. "The community will just die. I would think of the hundred people that live up here, perhaps half of them won't return." "What is it going to do to the community?" German Diaz said. "Are we going to be going through sandstorms for a while?" The Klamath River Renewal Corp. has been accepting claims from landowners to pay for damages linked to dam removal. But Diaz said he doesn't plan to apply for that money. "We've already seen property values drop," Diaz said. "What can we do?" Other residents said they see the reservoir as beneficial because it attracts wildlife and serves as a water supply for firefighting helicopters. Geneve Spannaus Harder, an 80-year-old resident whose great grandfather once owned an apple orchard on lands now submerged by the reservoir, said she and many others strongly oppose draining the lake. "It's just going to change the whole scenario of the community," she said. "I don't think we know what we're going to get." This August, when the Yurok Tribe held its annual Klamath Salmon Festival, no salmon was served. Instead, there were tri-tip sandwiches and frybread, and the parade featured a skit about dam removal with participants holding large paper cutouts of fish. At one stand, people were asked to write a few words on cards about their hopes for the Klamath River's future. The cards were hung on strings. One read, "I wish for the salmon to recover and run free forever!" Nearby, T-shirts were being sold with an illustration depicting the undamming. It features a young woman, her eyes covered with ceremonial bluejay feathers, balancing two baskets like the scales of justice as water breaks through a dam and surges into the river. The artist, 23-year-old Tori McConnell, said the young woman represents both the people and the river in a state of transition. The tears running down her cheeks are like her prayers, McConnell said, "overflowing into the baskets of justice." McConnell, a Yurok Tribe member who is this year's Miss Indian World, said she is hopeful. "There's a lot of work to be done to restore the salmon population," McConnell said. "But I hope we will see that happen in our lifetime." Populations of chinook and coho salmon, as well as other fish, have declined more than 90% in the Klamath over the past century, said Barry McCovey Jr., the Yurok Tribe's fisheries director. The dams have been a big factor, he said, and "we have our eyes on righting that wrong." But fish populations have also been ravaged by other factors, including gold mining that scarred the watershed, and decades of logging that left denuded areas, releasing fish-harming sediment into the river. Additionally, fire suppression in forests over the last century and the lack of traditional burning by Indigenous people has left forests primed for catastrophic wildfires, unleashing tainted runoff that becomes "poison to the ecosystem," McCovey said. "You combine all that together, and then you layer on top of that climate change," he said. The Klamath's water is heavily used to serve agriculture, irrigating crops such as onions and hay. The Yurok Tribe is suing the federal government over decisions that they argue don't provide the minimum flows required for fish, including threatened coho salmon. The removal of dams is a pivotal milestone and it comes at a critical time for struggling salmon populations, McCovey said, but recovery isn't going to happen in a couple of years. "We have to accept that these things take time," McCovey said. "I don't think in my lifetime I'll ever see a fully recovered Klamath River ecosystem," he said. "And maybe no one will ever see that. But the goal is to move closer to that." McCovey said restoring balance to the ecosystem will take generations, and he is prepared to continue working toward that goal. In the meantime, he and others have been talking about what they will do once all the dams are gone. McCovey said he hopes to take a rafting trip, traveling for miles with the current as the river flows freely once again. 2023 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (CNN) 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. Though Israel is no stranger to terrorist attacks, Saturdays assault was unprecedented not least because of the lack of warning. Israels military on Saturday found itself caught off-guard, despite decades in which the country became a technology powerhouse that boasts one of the worlds most impressive armed forces and a premier intelligence agency. 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. How could a terror group from one of the worlds poorest enclaves manage to launch such a devastating attack? The entire system failed. Its not just one component. Its the entire defense architecture that evidently failed to provide the necessary defense for Israeli civilians, said Jonathan Conricus, a former international spokesman for the Israel Defense 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 Saturdays 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. Well talk about what happened intelligence-wise after, Hecht said. Obviously not adequately protected 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, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, in 1973. Yet the attacks still came as a surprise to Israel, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told CNNs Fareed Zakaria on Sunday. In military history there are always big surprises, Pearl Harbor, Barbarossa, (the) Yom Kippur war. At the end of the day intelligence can only go so far, Bennett said. 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 United States. Israel also spent hundreds of millions of dollars building a smart border system with sensors and subterranean walls that was, according to Reuters, completed at the end of 2021. 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. Aaron David Miller, a former State Department negotiator on Middle East issues, told CNNs Wolf Blitzer that Israeli communities near Gaza were obviously not adequately protected. I just dont think the Israelis saw this coming, Miller said. How Israel responds will likely involve more than just border reinforcements. The Israel Defense Forces have already begun airstrikes in Gaza targeting Hamas infrastructure, resulting in hundreds of dead and injured. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country will return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known, while the top official in charge of activities in the Palestinian territories, Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, said that Hamas had opened the gates of hell. Conricus, the former IDF spokesman, said Saturdays events will force Israel to back up that rhetoric and respond in a way that it has never responded before. From a press release: Thanks to a gift of $33,000 from Francine and Robert Nemer to the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation, Tower 6 the telemetry and neurosciences floor has a beautiful, renovated lounge that includes original artwork. The Nemers have been long-time supporters of Glens Falls Hospital. This latest gift includes original artwork by Bolton Landing artist Tim Gow. His work has been shown in galleries and at events both in New Jersey and New York and his paintings are held in private and corporate collections. Glens Falls Hospital is a vital asset to our regional community as an excellent community hospital, as the regions largest employer, and as an important part of our economy here in the North Country. We are proud to support them, the Nemers said in a statement. Glens Falls President and CEO Paul Scimeca praised and thanked the Nemer family for their generosity and continued support. Bob and Francine are amazing community citizens. This gift has transformed the family lounge here on Tower 6 and we are most grateful, Scimeca said. The new family lounge is to be dedicated on Monday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP The Coast Guard says it rescued three people without injury who were found clinging to the hull of a capsized vessel off the New Jersey coast. Officials said the operator of the 18-foot disabled vessel used a VHF-FM radio to contact the Coast Guard's Delaware Bay sector for help Saturday afternoon, saying the vessel was disabled and needed help getting to shore. The operator said three people were aboard and that his vessel was anchored in Great Bay in Little Egg Harbor Township less than a mile from the Great Bay Marina. Shortly after the initial call, the operator said his boat was going down because of inclement weather. Coast Guard officials said they rerouted an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter that was already in the air for routine training. A TowBoatUS commercial salvage team also heard the distress call and went to the scene, reporting to the Coast Guard that the vessel had capsized and its three occupants were clinging to the overturned hull. Officials said shallow water and weather conditions prevented them from direct aid, but they kept monitoring the situation and updating rescuers. When the Coast Guard helicopter arrived, a rescue swimmer entered the water and helped the crew hoist all three people to safety They were taken to the Coast Guard's Atlantic City air station, where they were met by emergency medical services personnel. No injuries were reported. CAPE MAY As the sun set Sunday night at the Cove, tensions rose at what was another strong showing for opponents of offshore wind farms. About 100 people gathered on a cold, windy evening at the southernmost point of New Jersey to keep up the fight against offshore wind companies with a cairn lighting. But one man spoke out after U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, rallied the crowd against windmills. Mark Heany asked everyone there whether they truly believed whales were dying as a result of offshore wind site preparation work. Heany, a city resident since 1995, was met with shouts of disapproval after he interrupted the lineup of speakers. A few people got in his face to argue. Four Cape May police officers, who were there to make sure things stayed peaceful, intervened as Heany and others argued just inches apart. Im asking questions, Heany told police, who allowed both sides to argue as long as nothing turned physical, which it didnt. Heany, who said he learned of the event earlier in the day, expected to be met with vitriol. Im not diplomatic about it. In fact, I dont give a (expletive) what other people think. If theyre wrong, Im gonna tell them theyre (expletive) wrong, said Heany, 52, who supports offshore wind. This one, for me, is a big one, because wind is the only clean alternative we have to our ever-increasing energy demands that we have. Cape May was one of 617 sites in 24 countries to hold a cairn lighting. A cairn is a human-made pile of stones raised for a cause and usually set on fire. Cape Mays lighting was a bit more symbolic than literal. Since fires are not allowed on the beaches in Cape May, a small rock and shell pile was created with electric tea lights. Closer to the waters edge was a giant whale tail carved into the sand and outlined with white Christmas lights. Each October, ocean advocates and industrial wind activists in Norway hold nasjonal vardetenning mot vindkraft, which translates to national cairn ignition against wind power, organizers from the group Save the East Coast said. The event stems from the Norwegians ritual of lighting cairns on hilltops to warn of dangers in the world. Today, these groups light cairns and bonfires to warn of what they say are the dangers of industrial wind power. This year marked Norways fifth anniversary celebrating this international event. Jamie Steiert, who organized the local cairn lighting, said its important that people who live along the East Coast learn from what those in Europe have been battling for years. The genesis of this event was an invitation from Norway, said Steiert, 53, of Cape May Court House. Norway and multiple other European countries are fighting the same fight. Incidentally, theyre fighting this because of their experience. rsted, a Danish energy company, plans to build the first offshore wind farm off New Jersey. The plan has been met with much opposition since it was announced in October 2017. Steiert felt Cape May has been a little too quiet over the past year, especially with the countys prominent fishing industry. Were just trying to bring awareness and also let the fishermen know we support them and that were gonna do everything we can to stop (offshore wind farms), she said. Wind industry lull calls for better plan, not paying more East Coast elected leaders should use the offshore wind delay to plan for ports and manufacturing facilities to serve the whole region. A few organizations were represented Sunday, including Save the East Coast and Protect Our Coast NJ. Both consist of residents, homeowners, business owners, fishermen and visitors who aim to stop the development of offshore wind energy off New Jersey. Several people spoke Sunday, including Van Drew; state Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cape May, Cumberland, Atlantic; and owners and representatives from fisheries. Not a lot of people really understand the magnitude of fisheries, said Wayne Reichle, one of the owners of Lunds Fisheries Inc. in Lower Township. Were not the only family. There are several families here, fishing families and fish processors that reside here in your backyard. In this case, its been ignored. Unfortunately, weve lost a lot of whales in the past year. Weve been fighting this issue for more than 10 years. Its unfortunate weve lost the whales we have, but thats what its taken to pull everybody together. Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association in New York, talked about whale necropsies and the recent history of marine mammal deaths, because thats what matters, she said. Heany, who was flanked by a couple of police officers for the rest of the speeches, interrupted Brady a couple times as she spoke. She offered to meet with him after the event to discuss their views. He appeared to leave right after the speaking portion ended, exchanging a few words with people on his way out. Heany, who works as a carpenter, said he became vocal about offshore wind when the deaths of whales last winter started being used as an excuse to oppose offshore wind. He said there is no scientific evidence linking whale deaths and wind turbines. When scientists are telling me, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the group that actually issued the UME (unusual mortality event), said there is no correlation, he said, and they give other evidence of things like shipping lanes increasing after the pandemic and things like this, that climate change weve seen a huge amount of change happening (like) glaciers melting causing whales to find new routes. We dont know. But whale strandings have been going on for thousands of years. (1992-93) was the last time we saw a UME similar to the one we saw in 2017. No connection to anything else. What are they gonna connect the 2,000 other sightings over the past thousand years to? One of the people who approached Heany to argue was Kathleen Herwig, who lives in Princeton but has a summer home in Ocean City. She took offense with Heany assuming those opposed to offshore wind farms are dumb and said she has has been frustrated with how often protests groups have been negatively represented in the media. Heany said there are political motives behind the anti-offshore wind movement. Herwig said money is what is driving the decisions to allow for offshore wind. I agree with (Heany), politicians lie. All of them do, Herwig said. This isnt politcal to me. Jeff Van Drew called me the other day (because) I wrote a very strongly worded letter (to him). I consider myself a libertarian. Its not a political thing for me. I resent the fact its being turned into a political thing because it shuts down dialogue. Herwig hopes more events like Sundays continue through the offseason. With the news at the end of August that rsted would delay the first offshore wind farm in New Jersey until 2026 due to supply chain issues, she and others hoped that didnt let people think the battle is over. Is there a fear of the inevitable if offshore wind farms do rise off the coast? Of course, Herwig said. I wouldnt be here if I didnt fear it. Im very fear-motivated. GALLERY: Anti-offshore wind cairn lighting in Cape May Jerusalem and Gaza (CNN) 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 Saturdays surprise assault by the Islamist militant group in which more than 600 Israelis were killed. 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 countrys worst security failures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed retaliation, warning his country would take mighty vengeance and was readying for a long and difficult war ahead. He urged Palestinians living in Gaza to leave now. 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. Dozens of dead bodies, killed by Hamas fighters that attacked a music festival just after 6.30 a.m. near the Israel-Gaza border, can be seen in new photos released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, giving a first glimpse of how many attendees were killed. 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. In Gaza, at least 370 Palestinians have died and another 2,200 have been wounded in the airstrikes, the Palestinian health ministry said. The toll included 20 dead and 121 wounded children, the ministry added. 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 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 significant number of Israeli nationals were taken by Hamas as hostages and are being held at locations across Gaza. People have been kidnapped into Gaza, not only soldiers but civilians, children, grandmothers, said 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. 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. On Sunday, Hecht said the IDF 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. We are probably going to try to evict certain communities in areas of Gaza, he added. 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. 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. 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. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Israel formally declares war against Hamas as it battles to push militants off its soil." 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. ROBBINSVILLE 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 2 million cubic feet of stone. The four varieties of marble from Italy and limestone from Bulgaria traveled first to India and then over 8,000 miles 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 was set to open to the public on 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 peoples 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. North American Bengali Conference coming to Atlantic City ATLANTIC CITY For the third time in its history, the North American Bengali Conference wil 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. 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. Other worshippers prostrated on the floor pressing their foreheads to the ground in reverence. As night fell, Nikita Patel meditated and lit an incense stick before the deity. All religions, all communities are welcome here, she said, And here, they will feel the peace. 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. You can see divinity radiating through it all. 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. Ganesh and Multicultural Festival brings community together at Bader Field ATLANTIC CITY Christmas is a religious holiday celebrated on one day, but people in the ar 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. As obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) becomes a global health burden, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in Indian adults has revealed that approximately 104 million (10.4 crore) Indians of working age may be suffering from the disease. According to the study done by researchers from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, about 11 per cent Indian adults suffer from OSA, with men at higher risk (13 per cent) compared to women (5 per cent). The study, published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, said OSA is a common sleep disorder associated with considerable morbidity. However, there is an underrepresentation of data from India and other developing countries in global reviews of OSA prevalence. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence of OSA in India, said the team of researchers led by Dr Anant Mohan, professor and head of pulmonology department at AIIMS. Other research team members from AIIMS New Delhi were Tejas Menon Suri, Tamoghna Ghosh, Saurabh Mittal, Vijay Hadda and Karan Madan. The team searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases for articles that reported the prevalence of OSA in the general Indian adult population using sleep studies. Eight studies were included, comprising 11,009 subjects with mean age ranging from 35.5 to 47.8 years and meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model. Based on these findings, the study showed that approximately 104 million Indians of working age suffer from OSA, of whom 47 million have moderate-to-severe OSA. This represents a major public health problem in India with important implications for the global burden of the disease, the authors noted. Considered a common yet serious medical condition, sleep apnea causes someone to stop breathing while asleep, which can result in disruptions in oxygen supply, lower sleep quality, and other health complications such as hypertension, cardiac disorder, stroke or cognitive disorder. IANS RESEARCHERS DISCOVER OVER 500 GENES ASSOCIATED WITH AUTISM A team of scientists have discovered the impact of a multitude of genes that are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, but whose effects on human brain development were previously unknown. Studies have implicated at least 500 genes in such disorders. But scientists have no idea exactly how defects in most of these genes impair brain function. The new findings, led by a team from the Stanford University in the US, are likely to accelerate drug development for neurodevelopmental disorders. There are two main classes of neurons in the cerebral cortex: excitatory and inhibitory. Excitatory neurons fire impulses that activate other neurons, while inhibitory neurons firing blocks other neurons from firing. Inhibitory and excitatory neurons integrate to form circuits, shaping signalling activity in the brain. In humans, as many as half of all cells in the cerebral cortex, the brains outermost and most recently evolved layer, are inhibitory. Scientists theorised that an imbalance in the number or function of inhibitory neurons compared with excitatory neurons might be at least partly responsible for autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy. If thats true, you could find ways to alter the functional balance of these cells in the cortex as a therapeutic approach for these disorders, said Sergiu Pasca, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the varsity. IANS Yesterday, on October 8, 2023, a sudden fire explosion happened in an open space near JSPM College in Tathawde. Four people have been charged for these explosions. Out of these four, three have been detained by the police. The names of the accused are Mahipal Chaudhary, Rahul Kumar Rajdevram, Mohammad Rashid Mohammad Naseem, and Chandrakant Mahadev Sapkal. Police Sub-Inspector Bharat Mane has filed a complaint in Wakad Police Station in this regard. According to the police, both accused, Mahipal Chaudhary and accused Rahul Kumar, illegally stole propylene gas in connivance with Mohammad Rasheed, driver of a gas tanker named Tirupati Carrier (GJ 16/AW 9045). The accused did this act knowing that there would be a massive fire and explosion while filling the gas cylinder legally. Meanwhile, a fire broke out while stealing gas. There was a big explosion. A school bus and other vehicles have been damaged in this. The owner of the place, Chandrakant Sapkal, regularly made his place available. In this regard, a case has been registered under Sections 379, 407, 285, 336, 427, 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 3, 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, and Sections 3, 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1908. The tanker driver has fled after the incident. Police have detained three others. Wakad police are investigating further. Rock Island, Henry and Mercer counties have completed tax deed proceedings on real estate properties that were delinquent for 2019 and mobile homes that were delinquent for 2020 and prior real estate taxes. The counties will now offer the real estate and mobile homes obtained for sale to the public. Rock Island County will have approximately 114 real estate items and 40 mobile home items available through a sealed bid auction. All sealed, written bids must be at the Rock Island County Treasurer's Office located on the First Floor of the Rock Island County Office Building, 1504 3rd Ave., Rock Island, no later than the close of business on Oct. 20, 2023. Henry County will offer approximately 21 real estate items and three mobile home items through a sealed bid auction sale. All sealed, written bids must be at the Henry County Treasurer's Office located in the Henry County Courthouse, 307 W. Center St., Cambridge, no later than the close of business on Oct. 20, 2023. Mercer County will have approximately 11 items available through a sealed bid auction sale. All sealed written bids must be in the Mercer County Treasurer's Office located in the Mercer County Courthouse, 100 SE 3rd St., Aledo, no later than the close of business on Oct. 20, 2023. Online bids for all three counties must be submitted via www.iltaxsalebids.com no later than the close of business on Oct. 20, 2023. For Rock Island County, the required minimum bid on real estate is $174.00 to $824.00, and on mobile homes it is $265.00 to $915.00. For Henry County, the required minimum bid on real estate is $808.00 and on mobile homes it is $915.00. The required minimum bid for Mercer County properties is $836.00 per item. All items will be sold to the highest sealed bid received on or before the deadline. Complete bidder's packets and sale catalogs are now available at each counties' treasurer's office or online at www.iltaxsale.com. For further information, contact the Auction Sale Department of the Tax Agent's Office. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Interested parties may also call 800-248-2850 or 618-656-5744 or visit www.iltaxsale.com for any of the counties. Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) will host a series of grand opening events for new facilities across its campuses in coming weeks. These various projects come to fruition after regional voters passed a $40 million bond referendum in March, 2021. On Thursday, Oct. 12., EICC will unveil Scott Community College's (SCC) newly-renovated health sciences center and student commons, located at 500 Belmont Rd. in Bettendorf. The new allied health addition at SCC features redesigned nursing, dental, surgical tech, medical assisting and CNA labs and classrooms. the facilities provide new technology and patient simulators for more hands-on learning. Funded separately from the bond, SCC's new student entrance, commons and services area brings a colorful, modern space for students to gather, work on homework or refuel. The new space also consolidates all student service offices, such as the business office and registrar. Muscatine Community College (MCC) will welcome its new Career Advancement Center on Tuesday, Oct. 17, located at 152 Colorado St., Muscatine. This $10 million facility will feature new, modern classrooms, fully-equipped labs and expanded commons areas. The new MCC center aims to fill skilled workforce positions throughout the region, with local employers and industry partners assisting in curriculum development. The center will also host partnering high school Career Academies, offering college credits and career training to juniors and seniors. On Thursday, Oct. 19, EICC will cut the ribbon on a new Career Advancement Center at 817 E. Industrial St., DeWitt. The 26,000 square-foot facility will feature two wings one housing classrooms and the other designed for industrial and agricultural programming. This site will be EICC's first physical presence in DeWitt. The SCC and MCC events will run from 4-6 p.m., and DeWitt's will run from 4-7 p.m. All three will have remarks at 4:30 p.m. A look at the renovations to Scott Community College 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. CEDAR RAPIDS Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blamed President Joe Biden and his administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack in decades on Israel, citing a $6 billion transfer to Iran that administration officials insisted had yet to be spent. DeSantis and Trump, who are running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, both stopped in Cedar Rapids over the weekend. Trump delivered a speech to about 2,000 people Saturday at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex in downtown Cedar Rapids. DeSantis spoke Sunday to a crowd of a few hundred supporters at Refuge City Church in Cedar Rapids as a guest for a meet-and-greet organized by Never Back Down, the super PAC backing him for the GOP nomination. Both criticized a deal announced by the Biden administration in August to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran in exchange for Tehran gaining access to roughly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets and the United States freeing several jailed Iranians. Although Hamas is a Sunni Muslim group, it has a militant wing that long has nurtured close ties with Iran, a source of funding and a Shiite powerhouse. Trump said that recent attacks on Israel by Hamas are a result of the United States unfreezing the Iranian assets in the prisoner swap, and a result of the nation being seen as "weak on the global stage. "I predicted war in Israel immediately after it was announced that Joe Biden gave $6 billion to Iran," Trump said Saturday. At this time, Israel and the United States need a very strong partnership and leadership, claiming Biden betrayed Israel by restoring hundreds of millions of dollars to the very corrupt Palestinian entities. The Biden administration says the $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets can be used only for humanitarian purposes, that the United States will have oversight and there is no evidence money has left the Qatari account. Trump did not specify how the administration was supporting corrupt Palestinian entities, but might have been alluding to Biden restarting humanitarian aid to Palestine, including $235 million primarily in aid to refugees, after Trump canceled the assistance program three years earlier. Trump also asserted his administration brought peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, a U.S.-mediated bilateral agreement signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates in September 2020 to recognize Israels sovereignty. Biden on Saturday decried the unconscionable assault and pledged to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself after the attack. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. DeSantis on Sunday said we need to stop this charade that we can be friends with a regime that wants this country's destruction, claiming the Biden administration and others have made deliberate efforts to coddle the Iranian regime. So stop with sanctions relief, turn the screws on the Iranians. We shouldn't want them getting any cash flowing into this regime, he said. DeSantis also highlighted the Biden administrations plan to release the frozen Iranian funds as part of the prisoner swap deal, saying while those exact funds were not used by Hamas, that the money is "fungible and frees up other Iranian resources to fund terrorism. Both he and Trump pledged strong support for the state of Israel. Israel is at war, and the United States has to support Israel, Trump said. DeSantis called the attacks barbaric. They have no place in a civilized world. And Israel not only has the right, they have the responsibility to defend themselves and their people, and we need to support that, DeSantis told the crowd at Refuge City Church. They can defend themselves, and they should defend themselves, and theres no moral equivalency between the Israelis and Hamas terrorists. If elected, he said the United States will have an ironclad relationship with Israel that will be good for our country and will be better for the Middle East. DeSantis was in Israel earlier this year, when he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a worldwide trip just before officially announcing his presidential campaign. And it's important that we as Americans say to terrorists all around the world, you do not harm one hair on the head of an American citizen, or else you will have hell to pay, DeSantis said. We are not going to sit down and let this happen. DeSantis on Sunday continued to slam Biden for having slept through the attacks, after the president, in a statement he made on Saturday, 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. If I were in the White House, I would have been up at 2 in the morning, and we would have been doing what we need to do to protect this country, DeSantis said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. DeSantis claims Florida's crime is at a 'record low.' But he's using incomplete data DeSantis claims Florida's crime is at a 'record low.' But he's using incomplete data 16 counties are missing from crime data Florida mirrors a national decline in crime Florida comes in last for reporting crime data to the FBI DES MOINES Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who has worked to strengthen ties between Iowa and Israel in recent years, ordered flags at half staff in Iowa on Monday to honor the lives lost in the deadly attack in Israel by Hamas militants over the weekend. Iowans mourn for the families of those killed by Hamas in Israel. Hamas brutality knows no bounds, with reports of Holocaust survivors, women, and children taken by Hamas militants from their homes as hostages or brutally murdered, Reynolds said in a statement Monday. Today and every day, Iowa stands in solidarity with Israel and their right to defend themselves. The conflict in Israel and Gaza unfolded after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. Israel has responded with rocket strikes in the blockaded Gaza Strip. More than 1,300 people had been killed as of Monday, including at least nine Americans, according to reports. Flags will be flown at half-staff on public buildings, and businesses and individuals are encouraged to fly flags at half-staff until Oct. 15. Reynolds has strengthened ties with Israel Reynolds has worked to nurture Iowas relationship with Israel dating back to before her time as governor. In 2016, she joined a Republican Lieutenant Governors Association delegation to the country with her counterparts from Texas, Florida and other states. Then in 2017, after assuming the role of governor, Reynolds led a trade mission to Israel to develop business opportunities for Israeli companies in Iowa. Reynolds went on another international trade mission in June of this year that included a visit to Israel and a discussion with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement at the time, Reynolds office said she and Netanyahu discussed strengthening economic ties between the two governments. Israels vigilant pursuit of freedom and security in a hostile world powerfully demonstrates the remarkable fortitude of the Israeli people," Reynolds said in a statement in June. "I believe there is great opportunity for further economic partnership in the fields of insurance and agriculture, industries in which Israel and Iowa both excel." Reynolds signed a proclamation of support for Israel on the 75th anniversary of its establishment as an independent nation and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. She also met with Israels minister of foreign affairs and minister of strategic affairs, her office said. Shortly after Reynolds visit this year, seven Israeli agriculture startups participated in a program through Americas Cultivation Corridor, sponsored by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, to prepare them to enter the American market. "This course led by food and ag industry and research leadership is a great opportunity to establish the right connections for businesses to scale into the U.S. system," Reynolds said in August. "From my recent travels to Israel, it is great to see the continuation of our conversations through programs like this and we look forward to companies continuing to build their connections here. Lawmakers strengthened anti-boycott laws Reynolds and Iowa lawmakers have also strengthened Iowas rejection of companies that boycott Israel over its occupation of Palestinian territories. In 2022, lawmakers extended a previously existing law barring the state from investing in companies that boycott Israel and take part in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. The original investment ban was signed in 2016 by then-Gov. Terry Branstad as several other states around the nation were enacting similar laws. The 2022 law changed the wording to also ban state investments in wholly-owned subsidiaries that boycott Israel. The legislation was seen by Democrats as specifically targeting the Ben & Jerrys ice cream company, a subsidiary of Unilever. Lawmakers paired that with a bill that defined antisemitism in Iowa law and encouraged the state to consider antisemitism when investigating a discriminatory act. "Today we express Iowas enduring support for the State of Israel and our categorical rejection of antisemitism, Reynolds said in a press release when she signed both bills into law. Together, these bills send an important message: Iowa continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with the State of Israel, one of Americas most important and reliable allies, while fighting all forms of religious and ethnic discrimination. The South Dakota Board of Regents announced last week a proposed addition to its academic curriculum: a comprehensive Civics Literacy Requirement aimed at equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become involved citizens. During their October meeting, the Regents discussed the importance of preparing students to be engaged and informed residents. As part of South Dakota's public universities' commitment to fostering active and responsible students, BOR is proud to announce the exploration of a civics literacy requirement for its graduates. "Most students who graduate from a South Dakota public university stay in state and establish their careers here," said BOR President Tim Rave. "We understand our role in preparing our state's workforce, and we want to take it a step further by cultivating civic engagement in future generations of lawmakers, city council representatives, school board members, and more." The BORs Fiscal Year 2025 System Center for Civic Engagement budget request serves as the cornerstone for the programming and engagement envisioned for the civics literacy requirement, allowing the BOR to enhance activity in this important area without passing the cost on to students. A strong civics literacy program will help prepare students to engage in their local communities through service-learning projects, internships, and partnerships with civic organizations, ultimately benefiting us all. Civics literacy is a non-partisan issue that includes enhancing both knowledge and practical application, said BOR Executive Director Nathan Lukkes. We need to provide a solid framework for our students to develop the necessary skills in critical thinking, civility and dispute resolution, while enhancing their understanding and engagement in issues of local, national and global importance. The BOR Civics Literacy Requirement hopes to empower students to participate in the democratic process and contribute to their communities and the state of South Dakota. More information concerning the details on the programming and associated requirements will be available in the coming months. Gaza and Jerusalem (CNN) As the conflict between Hamas and Israel entered its second day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its focus was on taking control of the Gaza Strip as fighting continued on the ground in Israel. The large-scale surprise attack by Gaza militants on Israel on Saturday has left hundreds of Israelis dead, prompting a a lethal volley of retaliatory Israeli airstrikes and a formal declaration of war on Sunday. Citizens of Israel, we are at war not in an operation, not in rounds at war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message shortly after the militant group Hamas, which controls the coastal enclave of Gaza, fired a barrage of rockets and sent gunmen into Israel on Saturday in a multi-pronged and unprecedented attack in the long-running conflict. At least 350 have been killed in Israel, while 313 Palestinians were killed as Israel retaliated with airstrikes. Still unknown are the fates of dozens of hostages, including Israeli soldiers, that Hamas says it captured. Israels military has confirmed that hostages were taken. Netanyahu late Saturday said his country is embarking on a long and difficult war, vowing mighty vengeance on Hamas and declaring that Israel is stopping the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza. Heres what we know so far. What happened? Around 6:30 a.m. local time on Saturday, when many Israelis were likely to have been asleep, sirens were heard as far as the Tel Aviv area as rockets flew over Israel. Militants from Gaza then entered Israel by land, sea and air, with some using paragliders, the IDF said. The IDF said around 2,200 rockets were fired at Israel. Hamas put the figure at 5,000. To put that in context, some 4,000 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel during the 50-day war between the two sides in 2014. 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. Hamas said it captured Israeli soldiers, posting videos of soldiers it allegedly captured on its social media accounts. Videos geolocated and authenticated by CNN suggested that at least one Israeli soldier was taken prisoner by the group. There are hostages and prisoners of war that Hamas took. There are also deaths among IDF soldiers. We dont have an exact number yet we are at war, said IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. Hamas said in a statement Sunday that its fighters were still present in southern Israeli cities, and that the group was supporting them with rocket fire in the cities of Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Aza, Beeri, Yated, and Kissufim. How has Israel responded? In response to the attack, Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron, striking a number of targets in the Gaza strip. Netanyahu said Israels response to the Hamas incursion will exact a huge price from the group. The IDF urged civilians in Gaza to leave their residential areas immediately for their safety as Israeli military operations continued to target Hamas. IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told CNN on Saturday that tens of thousands of Israeli reservists have also been called up to help. He said Israel is ready in the north in case there are attacks from Lebanon or Syria. Inside Gaza, the roar of Israeli warplanes could be heard followed by loud explosions and rising plumes of black smoke. By nightfall, Israeli airstrikes on the territory had killed hundreds and wounded thousands. At least 313 people were killed over 24 hours, including at least 20 children, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said Sunday. Another 1,990 were injured, it added. An Israeli official told CNN early Sunday morning that 350 people were killed in Israel. The IDF published the names of 44 soldiers it says were killed in the attack. On Sunday, the IDF said it struck 426 targets in Gaza, including 10 towers it said were used by Hamas. In the north, Lebanons Iran-backed Hezbollah group claimed responsibility for targeting three Israeli sites in an area known as Shebaa Farms using missiles and artillery. The area is considered by Lebanon as Israeli-occupied. Israel responded by firing artillery. And in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers on Saturday when clashes broke out after the Israeli army blocked West Bank cities, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. How did the two sides get here? Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians have existed since before the nations founding in 1948. Thousands of people on both sides have been killed and many more injured in the long-simmering conflict between the two sides over decades. Violence has been particularly heightened this year. The number of Palestinians militants and civilians killed in the occupied West Bank by Israeli forces is at its highest in nearly two decades. The same is true of Israelis and foreigners most of them civilians killed in Palestinian attacks. Israel and Hamas have been involved in armed conflict dating back as early as the 1987 First Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, against Israels occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Israel captured Gaza from Egypt in a 1967 war, then withdrew in 2005. The territory, home to some 2 million Palestinians, fell under Hamas control in 2007 after a brief civil war with Fatah, a rival Palestinian faction that is the backbone of the Palestinian Authority. After Hamas seized control of Gaza, Israel and Egypt imposed a strict siege on the territory, which is ongoing. Israel also maintains an air and naval blockade on Gaza. Before Saturdays operation, the last war between Hamas and Israel was in 2021, which lasted for 11 days and killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel. Saturdays assault occurred on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war, when Israels Arab neighbors launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 6, 1973. What is Hamas? Hamas is an Islamist organization 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. The word Hamas is itself an acronym for Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia Arabic for Islamic Resistance Movement. the group, like most Palestinian factions and political parties, insists that Israel is an occupying power and that it is trying to liberate the Palestinian territories. It considers Israel an illegitimate state. Its refusal to recognize Israel is one reason why it has rejected peace talks in the past. In 1993, it opposed the Oslo Accords, a peace pact between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The group presents itself as an alternative to the Palestinian Authority (PA), which has recognized Israel and has engaged in multiple failed peace initiatives with it. The PA is today led by Mahmoud Abbas and is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas has over the years claimed many attacks on Israel and has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel. Israel accuses its archenemy Iran of backing Hamas. What is al-Aqsa? The al-Aqsa compound is one of the most revered places in Islam and Judaism. The sacred grounds, known to Muslims as Al Haram Al Sharif (Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as Temple Mount have been a flashpoint of tensions between Israel and the Palestinians for decades. Hamas says it launched Saturdays Al-Aqsa Storm attack in part to defend the holy site. Only Muslims are allowed to pray in the compound under a status quo arrangement originally reached more than a century ago. Non-Muslim visitors are allowed visits at certain times and only to certain areas of the complex. But many in the Muslims world fear that the right to be the sole worshipers there has been eroded and that the sites themselves are being threatened by a growing far-right Jewish movement and Israels far-right government. Clashes have frequently broken out at the site between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces. Police raided the compound several times over the last year. The complex lies in East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state and which most of the international community considers to be occupied territory. Israel captured it from Jordan in its six-day war in 1967 and considers both East and West Jerusalem as its united, eternal capital. What are key regional players saying? Western states condemned the Hamas attack 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. 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, he said. 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. Israels adversaries welcomed the attack. Major General Rahim Safavi, an adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said: We congratulate the Palestinian fighters and will stand by their side until the liberation of Palestine and holy Jerusalem, state-run ISNA said. Hezbollah praised the assaults and said it is in contact with Palestinian militant groups at home and abroad, its Al Manar channel said. What happens next? The IDF is now focusing on taking control of the Gaza Strip. The significant thing that preoccupies us right now is the stabilization of control in the Gaza Strip, Hecht told a briefing Sunday. We have targets for the next 12 hours: to end the Gaza enclave. To control the entire enclave and kill all the terrorists in our territory, he said, adding that the IDF will try to evict certain communities in areas of Gaza. Israels Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has expanded the countrys special security situation to the entirety of Israels territory. This enables the IDF to provide security instructions to civilians and to close public sites as needed for security, the ministers office said. A special security situation area, within an 80-kilometer (48-mile) radius of the Gaza Strip, had been established earlier on Saturday. Hecht said the IDF plans to put several potential next steps before the Israeli cabinet, which is meeting Sunday. The government is likely to take a decision on Sunday or Monday, he said. Senior Hamas member Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera Arabic Saturday that Hamas is ready for all options, including a war and an escalation on all levels. We are ready for the worst-case scenario, including a ground invasion, which will be the best for us to decide the ending of this battle, al-Arouri said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Hamas has launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. Heres what to know." JERUSALEM The capture of dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians elderly women, children, entire families by Hamas militants has stirred Israeli emotions more viscerally than any crisis in the countrys recent memory and presented an impossible dilemma for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government. The Islamist militant groups 2006 seizure of a sole young conscript, Gilad Shalit, consumed Israeli society for years a national obsession that prompted Israel to heavily bombard the Gaza Strip and ultimately release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom had been convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis, in exchange for Shalits freedom. This time, Gazas Hamas rulers have abducted dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers as part of a multipronged, shock attack on Saturday. Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group smaller and more brazen than Hamas, said Sunday that it alone had seized 30 hostages. Their captivity raises the heat on Netanyahu and his hawkish, far-right allies, who are already under intense pressure to respond to the killing of hundreds of Israelis in the Hamas attack so far. Netanyahus vow to unleash the full force of the Israeli military on Hamas has raised fears for the safety of Israeli civilians spread in undisclosed locations across the densely populated Gaza Strip. It will limit the directions and areas that the IDF can be active, Michael Milstein, a former head of the Palestinian department in Israeli military intelligence, said of the hostage situation. It will make things much more complicated. Locating Israeli hostages in Gaza something Israeli intelligence agencies failed to do in the case of Shalit poses further challenges. Although Gaza is tiny, subject to constant aerial surveillance and surrounded by Israeli ground and naval forces, the territory just over an hour from Tel Aviv remains somewhat opaque to Israeli intelligence agencies, experts say. We dont know where Israelis are sheltered, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu. But this whole issue of captured Israelis will not stop Israel from bombing Gaza until Hamas is destroyed." Hamas already has said it seeks the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails some 4,500 detainees, according to Israeli rights group BTselem in exchange for the Israeli captives. The fate of prisoners for Palestinians is perhaps just as emotional as it is for Israelis. With an estimated 750,000 Palestinians having passed through Israel prisons since Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, most Palestinians have either spent time in Israeli jail or know someone who has. Israel sees them as terrorists, but Palestinians view detainees as heroes. The Palestinian Authority self-rule government, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, devotes some 8% of its budget to supporting them and their families. The release of any prisoners would be a huge deal for Hamas, said Khalil Shikaki, the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. It would cement Hamas position in the Palestinian street and further diminish the strength and legitimacy" of the Palestinian Authority. But Netanyahus government with its powerful far-right religious ministers, including West Bank settlers have fiercely opposed any gestures they view as capitulating to the Palestinians. There is absolutely no chance that the current government would agree to the release of Palestinian prisoners, said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The radicals and extremists in this government want to flatten Gaza, she said. Netanyahu on Saturday dismissed an offer by Yair Lapid, head of the opposition, to form an emergency national unity government. It was a clear sign that Netanyahu has not given up on his extremist nationalist government," she said. To win last years election while standing trial for corruption, Netanyahu relied on the surging popularity of his far-right allies who seized on perceived threats to Israels Jewish identity. Israel's powerful finance minister, settler leader Bezalel Smotrich, demanded at the Cabinet meeting late Saturday that the Israeli army hit Hamas brutally and not take the matter of the captives into significant consideration. "In war you have to be brutal, he was quoted as saying. We need to deal a blow that hasnt been seen in 50 years and take down Gaza." But the risk of Israeli civilians falling victim to relentless Israeli bombardment or languishing for years in Hamas captivity while Israel gets dragged into an open-ended campaign could also be politically ruinous for Netanyahu. This is a serious dilemma, said veteran Israeli political commentator Ehud Yaari. The fear is that if and when a ground operation kicks off, Hamas will threaten to execute hostages every hour, every two hours, and that will become a really heated debate." Israel's tumultuous history has revealed the extreme sensitivity of public opinion when it comes to hostages and therefore what a potent weapon abduction can be in a country where 18-year-olds are conscripted for military service, and the army prides itself on never abandoning its own. If we allow our people to be taken like this, we have no country, no government and no army, said 58-year-old Tali Levy in the southern city of Ashdod near the Gaza border, who has several friends missing. Families of Israelis missing after Saturday's Hamas attack held a news conference Sunday evening that was televised live during prime time. Shaken relatives, some of them holding back tears or weeping, called on the government to bring home the captives. WASHINGTON The white marble of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier shone bright at Arlington National Cemetery on the first day of October. It wasnt blinding, like how unblemished snow can reflect too much light. Instead, it caught your eye, the way the sun hit the stone. A crowd had gathered to watch the ceremonies that afternoon, but the group was unified in respectful silence. Many gathered on the nearby stairs that led to a museum commemorating the tomb, either in search of the best view or some respite from the beating sun. Still, the crowd was divided in two, with a swath cut down the middle. At the top of the stairs, in the middle of that pathway, stood Dave Liebig, of Bismarck, shoulder to shoulder with Robert Schulte. Flanked on his other side by a towering marble column, Liebeg scanned the crowd intently. Its been decades since he served in the Army, but the one-time minesweeper took in his surroundings with precision, his eyes partially obscured by the lenses of his thin-framed black glasses, which had darkened in the sun. The shape of his eyebrows made them seem perpetually furrowed, and his flushed skin was a contrast to the shock of white hair that sat atop his head. Eventually, Liebig fixed his gaze on the tomb directly in front of him. Its the reason he was at Arlington National Cemetery that day, donning khaki pants and a navy polo. Emblazoned on his shirt above his heart was the logo for the Western North Dakota Honor Flight, a local chapter of a national organization that brings veterans to Washington free of charge to see monuments to the wars they served in, among other historical sites. The Honor Flight Network was created in 2005 after the completion of the World War II Memorial, when co-founders Earl Morse and Jeff Miller realized many World War II veterans were unable to visit the monument. After some initial small-scale trips to Washington, they decided to formalize the networks existence, and its more than 120 chapters have served more than 270,000 veterans in the years since. The Western North Dakota Honor Flight was established just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and because of travel restrictions the group was forced to delay its inaugural visit until April 2022. Last Sunday, a group of 112 veterans took off from the Bismarck Airport on the organization's third flight, a two-day trip to Washington that included visits to war memorials and the Capitol. Sunday afternoon in Washington, as Liebig stood at the top of the stairs, he was one of four veterans who would be representing the group in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please. The voice of the attending soldier at the tomb, who had just completed a changing of the guard, echoed off the walls of the building. Attendees, many of whom were looking at Liebig, turned their heads at the sound. The ceremony that you are about to witness is an Army wreath-laying ceremony to be conducted by the Western North Dakota Honor Flight. Liebig straightened himself and looked out at the view behind the tomb. From his vantage point, he could see the dome of the Capitol and the Washington Monument, two of the most recognizable landmarks in America. It underscored the gravity of the moment. It is requested that everyone remain silent and standing. During this ceremony, all military personnel in uniform will render the hand salute, and it is appropriate for all others to place their right hand over their heart upon the command to present arms. Thank you. With that, the soldier, who was facing the crowd, turned to face the tomb. He clicked his heels once, saluted, turned to the left with precision and walked to the end of the plaza, where another soldier waited next to a wreath adorned in flowers in patriotic colors. Down the middle of the wreath, a ribbon reading Western North Dakota Honor Flight shimmered in the sun. Liebig and the other three honor flight attendees descended the stairs, took the wreath into their hands, placed it on a white stand in front of the tomb, and returned to stand with their fellow honor flight members. A soldier with a bugle began to play taps as Liebig saluted the tomb. The 24-note bugle call rang out across the plaza as Liebigs hand trembled slightly with emotion. After the last note, the silence was reverent. Liebig recessed, having joined the ranks of those who have participated in ceremonies at the monument to all American soldiers whose remains have not been found or identified. After the ceremony, Liebig walked around the side of the Memorial Amphitheater, and, out of earshot of the tomb, reflected. I was worried I was gonna drop it, Liebig said with a chuckle and the flash of a smile. Then, in a more somber tone that indicated he was clearly awestruck: That might have been the greatest honor of my entire life. A point of reflection When viewed from behind, its easy to miss the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Where many national sites such as the nearby Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial tower over visitors, the wall is instead a part of its surroundings. View it from the front, and its a mass of black granite that looks like its nestled in a slice taken out of the earth. On each end, the panels start small. They grow as they approach the center of the memorial, which at its tallest is just over 10 feet. And the wall is etched with over 50,000 names, representing the wars American losses. At the honor flights first stop in Washington, the Marine Corps War memorial, Liebig reflected on the stops to come. He said he was excited about the opportunity to lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but that he was most looking forward to his visit to the wall. Liebig didnt know anyone on the wall, but said it would be a point of reflection for the random and catastrophic nature of war. I had a first cousin that I used to run around with all the time, Liebig said as the American flag fluttered nearly 80 feet above. We were like brothers, and we quit school together, and we were told to get jobs, so we joined the Army. He went to Europe and died. I went to Vietnam and came home. As he walked the wall just hours after laying the wreath, his reverence was evident. Liebig made the journey alone, staying distant for most of the walls nearly 247 feet. His pace was slow as he paused for reflection. Around him, many honor flight attendees pressed pieces of paper up against the wall, taking graphite rubbings of the etchings. Friends, family members, colleagues -- its a way for visitors to leave the wall with a little piece of someone theyve lost. As he neared the end of the wall Liebig stopped again, this time stepping closer. He reached out, allowing his fingertips to brush the cool stone. He lingered for a moment before moving back and continuing on his walk, leaving the memorial behind. While many veterans decided to stay longer at the wall, Liebig opted to reflect from a distance. On a path near the exit, he stood in the shade of a towering tree and looked out at the memorial in its entirety, piecing his thoughts together. After a pause, he said being there reminded him of how hes paid homage to family members that served. Its nice to stop and say hello to an old friend, he said. Ive got uncles and cousins on the wall in Bismarck, so I go up there often just to check in. Welcome home The sounds of the reception planned for the honor flight at the Bismarck Airport could be heard from the jetway as the veterans disembarked the plane on Monday night upon returning home. Faint echoes of a band playing patriotic music were the first sign, with the dull roar of applause and cheers becoming clearer at the end of the jetway. At the gate, the noise became even louder. It was evident, even before a single member of the welcome party was visible, that there was a large crowd in attendance. This was a far cry from the reception Liebig received when he first returned from his service more than half a decade ago. Public sentiment soured over the course of the Vietnam War as the death toll grew and some people began to feel the war was unwinnable. At the time, it was the longest war in American history. Many veterans including Liebig received unfavorable welcomes, or no welcome party at all. But this welcome party was sprawling. Leading up to the security entrance, honor flight volunteers formed the beginning of a tunnel, all donning goldenrod shirts. They were the first of many waiting to congratulate the veterans. Liebig was already near tears before he shook the hand of the first volunteer. When he made it past the security entrance, tears started flowing as he was greeted by local members of AMVETS and the North Dakota National Guard. He gasped as he saw the size of the crowd in the airport -- hundreds of community members all there to celebrate the returning veterans, filling a large portion of the lobby near the baggage claim as they packed together. Liebig paused at the top of the escalator to look out at the crowd below. As he stood there taking it all in, there was a lull between songs. The crowd took that opportunity to start a chant: USA! USA! USA! At the bottom of the escalator, overwhelmed, Liebig collapsed into the arms of a nearby volunteer. He wasnt the first to do so, nor was he the last. As he held up the line for a few brief moments, sobs wracked his body while he prepared to receive the greetings he didnt get when he initially returned from his service. It was difficult for Liebig to make his way through the crowd -- people were all clamoring for the chance to shake hands with the veterans. He moved at a slow pace, interacting with all who wanted to thank him for his service, all while searching for his family. The gratitude and emotion were evident on his face. Liebig finally found his wife, and the two embraced. She kissed him before letting him go to hug his daughter-in-law. Reunited, the trio made their way through the crowd to allow other veterans to find their way. Standing later in a corner behind the baggage claim, amid the continued cheering of the crowd, Liebig described the experience with one word: Overwhelming. Liebig has had a tracheotomy, so he speaks with a rasp. And as tears welled up in his eyes, his voice became even more raw, emotion overcoming him. People, and young people, are starting to realize what freedom means, Liebig said. I think 50 years ago, the kids and their parents accepted everything and didnt think there was a price to pay for it. It feels like things have changed. 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. Guwahati: Expressing concern over the recent arrest and raids of media office and residences of journalists in New Delhi, an Assam based scribes body urges Delhi police to clarify the reason behind the actions against media personnel in the last few days. Journalists Forum Assam (JFA) stated that no scribe should be harassed for his/her credible journalism, but the profession should not allow anyone to gather funds from foreign countries (precisely the enemy nation) to propagate anti-national activities. Media reports from the national capital reveal that the Delhi police recently raided the office of NewsClick (later sealed it) as well as residences of many journalists & writers associated with the news website in different localities like Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. Its alleged that the management of NewsClick, founded in 2009, received a huge amount of money from China to support anti-India agendas. As many as 45 suspects were questioned and a large number of electronic devices from their custodies were also seized. Meanwhile, its founder Prabir Purkayastha along with its human resources department head Amit Chakravarty have been arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for purportedly spreading pro-China contents. It is assumed that they pursued the Chinese propaganda to exclude (or shown as disputed territories) both Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir from the map of India. Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, expresses concern over the recent arrest as well as raids of a media office in Indias capital city New Delhi, asserting that scribes should not be harassed for performing their duties. The police not only raided the office of NewsClick, a 2009 founded news site, but also sealed it later. They also raided the residences of many journalists & writers associated with it. As many as 45 suspects were questioned and a large number of electronic devices from their custodies were also seized by the investigating police personnel. The government authority alleges that the NewsClick management received a huge amount of money from China to support anti-India agendas. It is also stated that they pursued the Chinese propaganda to exclude Arunachal Pradesh and Kashmir (or shown as disputed territories) in the map of India. By now its founder Prabir Purkayastha along with Amit Chakravarty were arrested under the harsh law (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) for spreading pro-China contents. PEC supports each and every journalist across the globe who has been performing duties with all integrity & honesty. But as the Indian authority has accused the NewsClick family of indulging in anti-Bharat activities with the help of money supplied by the Chinese agencies in Beijing, it needs to be clarified (also verified). We urge New Delhi to release the media persons and give them ample scopes to defend themselves in the course of legal battles, said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (https://pressemblem.ch/pec-news.shtml). Virginia Repertory Theatre and Richmond Triangle Players were among the big winners at the 15th Richmond Theatre Community Circle Awards event, also known as the Artsies, held this past weekend. The awards recognize excellence in Richmond-area theater. Virginia Repertory Theatre won 12 Artsies, nine of which were for its presentation of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, which was also the production that won the most Artsies. The production won for Best Musical. Grey Garrett won Best Lead Performance in a Musical for Beautiful. Richmond Triangle Players took home seven awards, three of which went to The Inheritance. The production was named Best Play and earned an award for Best Lead Performance in a Play, which went to Deejay Gray. Two Artsies went to Firehouse Theatre for its production of Gabriel: The Musical, including Best Original Work and Best Lead Performance in a Musical, which went to Jerold Solomon. Swift Creek Mill Theatre also took away two Artsies for its production of Gaslight. The winners of the 2023 Legacy Award were the founders of the Firehouse Theatre Project: Bill Gordon, Anna Senechal Johnson, Harry Kollatz Jr., Carol Piersol and Janet Wilson. The company was founded 30 years ago, and the recently merged company, now called The New Theatre at Firehouse Theatre, named its main stage in honor of founding artistic director Piersol, who died earlier this year. The Artsies also serve as the primary fundraising event for the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond, which provides emergency financial assistance to theater artists who have experienced an exceptional financial need related to a specific crisis beyond their control. Since its inception, the Artsies have raised over $140,000. Best Musical: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Virginia Repertory Theatre Best Direction Musical: Rick Hammerly, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Best Lead Performance Musical: Grey Garrett, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Best Lead Performance Musical: Jerold Solomon, Gabriel: The Musical Best Supporting Performance Musical: Logan Foster, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Best Supporting Performance Musical: Shannon Schilstra, Head over Heels, Richmond Triangle Players Best Musical Direction: Jason Marks, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Best Choreography: Simeon Rawls, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Outstanding Costume Design Musical: Laura Vitale, Head over Heels Outstanding Lighting Design Musical: Joe Doran, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Outstanding Set Design Musical: Frank Foster, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Outstanding Sound Design Musical: Jacob Mishler, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Best Play: The Inheritance, Richmond Triangle Players Best Direction Play: Lucian Restivo, The Inheritance Best Lead Performance Play: Deejay Gray, The Inheritance Best Lead Performance Play: Lindsey Zelli, Gaslight, Swift Creek Mill Theatre Best Supporting Performance Play: Axle Burtness, Gaslight Best Supporting Performance Play: Dorothy Dee D. Miller, How Black Mothers Say I Love You, Richmond Triangle Players Outstanding Costume Design Play: Anna Bialkowski, Uncle Vanya, Richmond Shakespeare Outstanding Lighting Design Play: BJ Wilkinson, After December, Virginia Repertory Theatre Outstanding Set Design Play: Tennessee Dixon, After December Outstanding Sound Design Play: Joey Luck, After December 2023 Ernie McClintock Best Acting Ensemble Award: The cast members of the Richmond Triangle Players production of How Black Mothers Say I Love You: Zakiyyah Jackson, Dorothy Dee D. Miller, Bailey Robinson, Shalandis Wheeler Smith Breakout Performance: Lukas DErrico, The Inheritance/Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Virginia Rep)/Head over Heels Best Original Work: Gabriel: The Musical, Firehouse Theatre After parting ways with longtime managing director Phil Whiteway in late August, the Virginia Repertory Theatre board of directors has announced an interim managing director. Amy Wratchford, former managing director for the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, has been named interim managing director of Virginia Repertory Theatre. Wratchford spent more than a decade as managing director for the American Shakespeare Center, before leaving in 2021 to launch The Wratchford Group, an arts management consultancy with theater clients throughout Virginia as well as Florida, California and Chicago. Wratchford will join the leadership structure that includes Artistic Director of Community Desiree Roots, Artistic Director of Education Todd D. Norris and Artistic Director of Programming Rick Hammerly. Amy has been immersed in the Virginia theater scene for 13 years and has a history with Virginia Rep, having participated in several of our strategic planning processes, said Martha Quinn, Virginia Repertory Theatre board chair, in a statement. I have a deep respect for Virginia Reps roots in the community that can be traced to its founding organizations the Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV and I am incredibly excited to help set the organization up for success in this new, post-pandemic era of nonprofit theater, Wratchford said in a statement. In my 20-plus years managing nonprofit theaters, Ive handled multiple transitions, and delight in helping organizations and their staff joyfully and effectively fulfill their mission. Virginia Reps needs and my skills are a good match. Virginia Rep parts ways with longtime managing director Phil Whiteway Virginia Repertory Theatre has announced that the theater and Phil Whiteway, longtime managi I think shes a fantastic choice. Ive worked with her in the past. Shes smart, smart, smart, former managing director Whiteway said by phone. Whiteway had longtime roots with Virginia Rep, having worked with the theater for over 45 years. He co-founded Theatre IV with Bruce Miller in 1975 as Virginias first professional theater for young audiences, which eventually absorbed the operations of Barksdale Theatre. In 2012, Whiteway helped merge Theatre IV and Barksdale to form Virginia Repertory Theatre and served as managing director up until this past August. I want nothing but the best for Virginia Rep, Whiteway said. He declined to comment on the split between himself and Virginia Rep, instead referring all questions to his lawyer Harris Butler of the law firm Butler Curwood. Butler was not immediately available for comment on Monday. There is a dispute, Butler said in August, but he declined to comment further. Wratchford, who simultaneously is serving as interim managing director at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, will begin work with Virginia Repertory Theatre immediately, but will transition more fully into her role when Barter Theatre announces its new managing director in the coming months. Her position will be hybrid. She has an incredible passion for the arts, deep compassion for the people who make a theater run, and a keen understanding of the role we play within our community. Her expertise in interim theater leadership, financial analysis and organizational structure assessment and reorganization is precisely what we need right now as we chart an exciting future and launch a national search for our next managing director, Quinn added. Wratchford holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts and a Master in Fine Arts in performing arts management from Brooklyn College. Virginia Rep, which now boasts an annual operating budget of $5.7 million and interacts with roughly 500,000 patrons, performs at three main venues: the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre downtown at 114 W. Broad St.; Hanover Tavern on Hanover Courthouse Road; and the newly purchased Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education at 4204 Hermitage Road. FREDERICKSBURG On July 12, 1958, guitarist Link Wray and his band performed at the Fredericksburg Arena, a concert venue that used to sit at the corner of U.S. 1 and Fall Hill Avenue. The teens packing the hall yelled at him to play The Stroll, a song-and-dance hit that was sweeping the nation, but Wray didnt know it. Instead, he made up a progression of five chords, which he played into the vocal microphone stationed in front of his amplifier. The resulting distorted sound, bristling with fuzz and feedback, electrified the young crowd. Everybody liked it, John Lightner, a local resident who attended the show, told The Free LanceStar in 2019. We yelled for him to play it again, play it again. Those power chords and that primal sound, which Wray eventually recorded as the song Rumble, laid the foundation for the garage rock of the 1960s, the punk rock of the 1970s, the heavy metal of the 1980s and the grunge rock of the 1990s. Next month, Wray, who died in 2005, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Musical Influence Award. The award is given to artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock & roll and music impacting youth culture, according to the Hall of Fames website. Every young rebel who has donned a leather jacket and slashed away at an electric guitar with loud, distorted abandon owes a significant debt to Wray, the Hall of Fames page on Wray reads. Wray told Guitar Player magazine that when he went to record Rumble, he couldnt immediately recapture the sound that made those kids scream at the Fredericksburg show. Finally, he punched holes in his amplifiers two-inch speakers with a pencil to create the distortion the teens had responded to. Rumble reached No. 16 on the charts in 1958. It was banned by many radio stations because of fears that it would incite teen violence, but Wray told the magazine that the ban just made it sell more. Local resident Sonya Flowers is a fan of Wray, a friend of his children and the administrator of a Facebook group called RUMBLE the instrumental created in Fredericksburg, Va. She said words are not enough to adequately express what it means to see Wray inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Im glad as a fan, but moreover Im over the moon happy for his family, Flowers said. (Wrays daughter) Beth (Wray Webb) has worked tirelessly for many years to maintain and promote her fathers legacy, which for me has been a privilege to watch. Flowers said she was with Webb and her brothers, Link III and Link Elvis, for the dedication of a mural depicting Wray in his hometown of Dunn, North Carolina, on May 2 what would have been his 94th birthday. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2023 inductees the next day, May 3. It was quite the birthday surprise! Beth was ecstatic, and we all were very excited, Flowers said. I was in disbelief at first until I saw it in print. It was a special moment to witness, and be a part of it. Webb will be present at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 3 in New York. She said she is most excited about being there to thank everybody for helping me get Daddy the recognition he deserves. All his fans and musicians they have been the ones to help keep his legacy alive. I wouldnt have been able to do it without them, Webb said. Its them. Theyre the ones. Im just the daughter thats proud of her father. In July, Webb and Flowers went to visit Bobby Morris, a longtime friend of Wrays. Morris presented Webb with three objects that belonged to her father a red guitar pick, an unsealed album by Link Wray and the Wraymen and the pair of black-and-white shoes Wray wore in the album cover photo. The items will be on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year. Flowers and Webb said theyd like to work with the City of Fredericksburg to install a historical marker commemorating the creation of Rumble and its pioneering sound. Bobby Morris put it well ... when he said, Link Wrays achievements have caught up with him. I say, now its Fredericksburgs turn, Flowers said. Claudia Goldin, a Harvard University professor, was awarded the Nobel economics prize for research that helps explain why women around the world are less likely than men to work and to earn less money when they do. Fittingly, the announcement marked a small step toward closing a gender gap among Nobel laureates in economics: Out of 93 economics winners, Goldin is just the third woman to be awarded the prize and the first woman to be the sole winner in any year. Her award follows Nobel honors this year in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace that were announced last week. The chill that settled into Virginia on Sunday will be short-lived this week, although it will return early next week. While the official low on Monday morning in Richmond was 40 degrees, several suburban locations edged into the 30s, and it was the coldest morning since the last week of April. A moderation in temperatures continues the rest of the week, with afternoons more consistently in the 70s. Two storms are worth monitoring through this weekend, but for the moment, neither appears to bring its heaviest rain to Virginia. The first races northeastward from Alabama to North Carolina on Wednesday night and Thursday. A relatively small jog northward in that storm will bring rain into southern Virginia, but most data suggests it stays significantly south of Richmond. The second system comes together in a couple of parts, bringing metro Richmond a few rounds of showers on Saturday and early Sunday, but the steadier, soaking rain looks to hold north into Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Once that second system moves offshore, our winds will turn from the north, sending chilly air back into Virginia and holding the afternoons in the 60s for the start of next week. The clouds from this weekends system may interfere with viewing the partial solar eclipse this Saturday in Virginia. At 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, the moon will cover about 33% of the sun in the sky over Richmond. To be complete, Virginia will be on the outskirts of the annular solar eclipse that will be visible from Oregon to Texas on Saturday. An annular eclipse a special case of a partial eclipse happens when the moon is directly between Earth and the sun, but the moon is a little farther away from Earth in its orbit. Rather than the moon blocking out the sun entirely, it leaves a small ring of sunlight around it called an annulus also known as a ring of fire. Because an annular eclipse never entirely blocks out the sun, it is not safe to look at directly, as there is still ultraviolet light from the sun that can reach your eyes. In the sky over Virginia on Saturday, the moon will approach the sun from the top right, cover the lower right part of the sun, then move away to the lower left of the sun. The entire process will take about two-and-a-half hours, but with only 33% of the sun covered, you may not notice it at all especially if it remains cloudy. However, all it takes is a break in the clouds for a few minutes on Saturday afternoon, and you may catch a glimpse. But to emphasize, it is not safe to look directly at the sun, even during a partial or annular eclipse. To protect your eyes, use a pinhole camera to view what is going on. Punch a hole in the side of a shoebox and go outside with the sun at your back. Look inside the shoebox on the opposite interior side and you will be able to see what part of the sun is covered. The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States happens this spring, on April 8, 2024. But to see the moon block out the sun entirely, you will have to travel north or west from Virginia, as the path of totality will extend from Texas, through the Ohio Valley and into New England. In Richmond, 83% of the sun will be covered on that day. And we will have to wait much longer before a full solar eclipse is visible in Richmond Monday, Sept. 14, 2099. 31 photos from the Times-Dispatch archives (CNN) Shani Louk, a German-Israeli national, was among festivalgoers who had gathered in farmland near the Gaza-Israel border for what was supposed to be an all-night dance party celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Instead, in the early hours of Saturday morning, it was swarmed by Hamas fighters who gunned down revelers and took others hostage, as they launched an unprecedented assault on Israel. Louk was later pictured in a video, identified by her dreadlocks and tattoos, being paraded through Gaza as onlookers shouted Allahu Akbar. She is among a large number of Israeli nationals who have been taken hostage by Hamas militants and are now being held in locations across Gaza, complicating Israels response to the deadly attack. Israel is taking pains to establish the exact number of hostages that have been taken into Gaza, an isolated coastal enclave of almost 2 million people crammed into 140 square miles, one of the most densely populated places in the world. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the militarys international spokesperson, told CNN on Sunday that dozens had been captured and emphasized just how complex the situation was as the army launched air strikes on Gaza in retaliation. In an earlier briefing he had said civilians, children and grandmothers were among those being held captive. Hamas claims it has captured dozens of Israelis, including soldiers, and videos authenticated by CNN show some of the dramatic seizures. Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has warned attacks in the area could impact hostages, with its spokesman, Abu Obaida, saying in a recorded audio message Saturday that they were present in all axes in the Gaza Strip. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, told CNNs Wolf Blitzer that it is unprecedented in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organization. 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. Heres what we know about some of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. 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. 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. 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 later confirmed the identity of the woman as Louk. 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. 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. 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, aged 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. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Festivalgoers, soldiers: What we know about the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas." Correction: This story has been corrected. Del. Emily Brewer's doctor did not recommended that she have an abortion. Brewer, R-Suffolk, said during this year's March for Life that a fetal anomaly was detected 26 weeks into her pregnancy, but ultimately her daughter was born healthy. Brewer said at the time: There are people in this Capitol who thought her life should have ended at that moment. I cannot and will not accept that answer as long as I stay here, NEWPORT NEWS The General Assembly candidates on the stage at the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce forum spoke mainly about themselves except for former York-Poquoson Sheriff Danny Diggs, who is challenging state Sen. Monty Mason, D-Williamsburg. Their contest in District 24, based in Newport News and York County, is perhaps the hottest Senate race of all this year. With a blast at Mason for his support for the regional gas- and sales-tax surcharge that has funded work on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and Interstate 64, and charges that he is soft on crime, Diggs was the only one of nine candidates seeking to represent various portions of the Historic Triangle to directly round on his opponent. If Montys record matched his rhetoric, Virginia would be a better place, Diggs said. Mason said: What widened 64 was our sales tax, our gas tax, whats bringing a new tube to the HRBT is our sales tax, our gas tax. Telling people you can do this without a gas tax, without a sales tax, is just not real. Tidewater Virginia is a major battleground for control of the Virginia Senate as residents blasted by the ads of some of the biggest spenders in the 2023 legislative cycle can attest. The Mason-Diggs contest on the Virginia Peninsula is one clash. And though it is not attracting as much money, or broadcasting as many ads, so is the race in Senate District 17, a western Tidewater district carved out from what was a steadfast Democratic district, that now includes staunchly GOP counties. It pits Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, against Del. Clint Jenkins, D-Suffolk. Mason-Diggs The Mason-Diggs race is a key to control of the state Senate. Democrats currently hold 22 seats to Republicans 18. The GOP likely has to flip this district to flip control of the chamber. Mason and Diggs and their supporters have spent a combined $2.3 million on ads, mostly for TV; through the end of August, they had raised a combined total of $3.3 million so far. Redistricting new legislative boundaries that the state Supreme Court imposed in late 2021 brought into the district solidly Republican Poquoson. It also brought in 12 York County precincts that went Republican in the 2022 congressional elections and for Gov. Glenn Youngkin in 2021. Mason, who served in the House of Delegates from 2014 to 2016, was elected to the Senate with 58% of the vote in a 2016 special election and was unopposed in 2019. In the newly drawn district, he kept his Democratic Williamsburg home base and strongly Democratic northern Newport News. But six strongly Democratic Newport News precincts and three Hampton precincts that voted for Mason in 2016 and 2019 are now in another district. Diggs says Masons ads unfairly paint him as an extremist and misstate his views on abortion, while Mason says Diggs is misrepresenting his views on criminal justice legislation and is taking a Mason comment about parents rights out of context. Diggs says he supports what he terms Youngkins common sense proposal to allow abortion up to 15 weeks while leaving in exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. During an event at Christopher Newport University, Mason reportedly referred to Youngkins proposed amendment to a bill on age verification for porn sites as online parental garbage. Like other Senate Democrats, Mason felt Youngkin was playing politics when seeking to amend a bill the General Assembly had passed to prevent children from being exposed to online porn; Democrats argued that Youngkins additional restriction could raise conflicts over consumer data privacy and interstate commerce. Mason voted for the bill, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, but against Youngkins amendment. Public safety, taxes and schools focusing on what he called reading, writing and arithmetic are the big issues Diggs said hes hearing. Im the anti-tax guy, Diggs said at the two candidates only one-on-one debate at the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, where he called for rolling back the Hampton Roads regions sales and tax surcharges. Mason replied: Your commercials call me a tax-and-spend liberal, but that money was all transportation. It widened I-64 and is bringing new lanes to the tunnel thats going to be transformational for this region. Diggs, whose four decades in law enforcement include 23 years as sheriff for York County and Poquoson, said Mason voted to let violent criminals leave prison early by supporting increasing the good time credit the number of days a prison inmate can cut short time behind bars. Mason said he was one of five Democratic senators who insisted that the credit would not apply to violent felons. Both agree that the state needs to do more to help people with mental illness the district is home to Eastern State Hospital. Loading Mason, as a member of the General Assembly Behavioral Health Commission, said he sponsored a budget amendment for funds to relieve sheriffs offices from the challenge of holding people in crisis while mental health officials look for beds and then transporting them to often distant facilities Diggs said his deputies have had to take people from York County as far as Bristol. Mason said his top priorities include state funds for schools, including funding support staff. The schools are providing support staff, but the state isnt doing its part, he said. He said that on a recent visit to a Newport News kindergarten, he saw a class of 22, including five children with special needs. It included one classroom teacher, plus a special education teacher and an aide on hand. Mason, formerly a senior director of fraud prevention and risk management at VISA, said he is a pro-business Democrat, citing his work on legislation that clears the way for small businesses to form groups so they can get more affordable employee health plans that big businesses are able to nail down. Mason said he has been an effective legislator, with 17 of his bills enacted into law this year, including eight in which a Republican in the House teamed up with him. His multiyear push for changes in insurance law, to make it possible for small businesses to band together to win lower health insurance rates for employees, cleared the way for such plans to be launched this year. Mason has been the Senate point person on foster care issues and the state programs for older Virginians. As a legislator representing communities on the Chesapeake Bay, he is one of Virginias representatives on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. Reproductive health, thats the big thing I hear every day, Mason said. Thats the No. 1 issue for voters. Diggs said after the forum: Abortion, anecdotally, thats not what Im hearing, adding that as a pro-life candidate, the issue is important to him. People want to talk taxes, education, public safety. Mason says Youngkins public stance that barring most abortions after 15 weeks is not the compromise that the governor calls it. He says he does not want to change Virginias current law. You dont want extremes on either side, thats why we have to come together, Diggs said. This 15-week limit is the way. Brewer-Jenkins On the other side of the James River, Del. Emily Brewer, R-Suffolk, faces Del. Clint Jenkins, D-Suffolk, in what until lately was a quieter race. Brewer has launched a TV ad accusing Jenkins of being a domestic abuser. It refers to charges from 2004; one of domestic assault in which he was found to be not guilty, and a charge of assault by threat which a judge dismissed, according to a Suffolk News-Herald report at that time. In response, Jenkins aired an ad in which his daughter called Brewers ad a bold-faced lie. Their race pits two delegates from neighboring districts against each other. Brewer has been a lead speaker in the House for Youngkins proposed abortion limits. Jenkins has said: Its ridiculous and dangerous that some legislators think they have the right to tell women what kind of choices they can make about their health. Those decisions are only between women and their doctors. Brewer and Jenkins are seeking to represent an area where redistricting carved out most of the Portsmouth home base of state Sen. Louise Lucas, while adding conservative Dinwiddie County to what had been a Democratic-inclined district. The district voted 52% to 47% for Youngkin in 2021 but swung Democratic in the 2022 congressional election. Theres much less money and fewer ads in this race than in the Mason-Diggs contest: Brewer and Jenkins raised a combined $1.3 million through Aug. 31. Since then, however, Jenkins received $180,000 from the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus as Brewers ad aired and $30,000 from two other political action committees. She has spent $280,866 on ads to his $125,806, according to Federal Communications Commission data reported by the Virginia Public Access Project. Brewer, a featured speaker at the March for Life at the state Capitol this winter, said a fetal anomaly was detected 26 weeks into her pregnancy, but her daughter was eventually born healthy. There are people in this Capitol who thought her life should have ended at that moment. I cannot and will not accept that answer as long as I stay here, Brewer said at the time. She said in an interview that she isnt hearing much about abortion as she knocks on doors. The first time people tell me is theyre worried about the economy ... that the cost of everything keeps rising, she said. I tell people Jenkins is soft on crime, she added. Her view on abortion, like her focus on foster care and adoption, come from her life experience, since she was adopted as a baby. She successfully pushed legislation that expands Virginias lagging kinship care efforts foster care by a childs relatives to stepparents or other people related by marriage or adoption, and by expanding access to foster care funds for those providing kinship care. This year, she co-sponsored unsuccessful legislation to increase school choice in Virginia by creating Education Savings Accounts. She has backed bills to make health care more affordable, like Masons association health plans for small businesses, as well as unsuccessful proposals for catastrophic health plans. Brewer, who owns a small business, a wine and cheese shop in downtown Suffolk, was first elected to the House in 2017. She is married to an investigator with the Office of the Attorney General and over the years has introduced measures to make it easier for police and first responders to get workers compensation when they have cancer. She has also supported tax relief for farmers and cutting what she considers unnecessary regulations on farmers. But in tandem with Youngkins call to bar Chinese entities from buying Virginia farmland, her bill to bar state agencies from dealing with Chinese companies the bill said companies owned or operated by a foreign adversary and from accessing TikTok or WeChat on state-owned devices, died in the Senate Finance Committee. Jenkins won unanimous House and Senate support for his proposal to require reviews of corrections and juvenile justice department employees grievances, but Youngkin vetoed this measure, saying it would increase workloads and delays in resolving complaints. He was first elected to the House in 2019, defeating Del. Chris Jones, then-chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Jenkins is a property manager, operating a real estate firm with his daughter. He said he has pushed to make sure all Medicaid recipients had access to dental care. This measure died in the House Appropriations Committee, but a proposal to help small businesses during the pandemic by launching a grant fund for them was enacted. He has also voted for measures that have increased the minimum wage. Jenkins was one of the patrons of a bill calling for a work group to focus on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, which he noted affects Black women three times more often. Jenkins said he wants to defend Virginias current abortion law, focus on measures to reduce gun violence and look for ways to make health care prices more transparent. He said his interest in expanding access to broadband in rural Virginia would make access to affordable health care possible through telehealth services. The father of a boy injured on an amusement ride at the State Fair of Virginia in Caroline County says his son has returned to school this week, but still has a long road to a full recovery. Its a lot for an 8-year-old to go through, said Matt Nungent, 37, of Shenandoah County, whose son received a broken foot, a gash on his left leg that required surgical repair, abrasions and friction burns on his legs and back. Nungent told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that his son boarded the ride, called The Storm, on Sept. 29 after meeting the height requirements listed for the attraction. The boy was by himself, Nungent said, and the father was watching him from the other side of the fence. When it started up and (his cart) came around for the second time, his seat was empty, Nungent said. The little girl who was sitting across from him had a look on her face and her hand over her mouth. I knew something wasnt right. Nungent said he sprinted through the gate and up to the operator, yelling at him to stop the ride. He then went over the fence to find his son. I was expecting the worst, Nungent said. Nungent said his son had been ejected from his seat, struck by another cart and flung into a fence. He found the boy on the ground, bleeding from a deep laceration near his left knee. I have been in fire and rescue for the last 18 years, so Ive seen a lot of things. That was probably the most horrific thing Ive ever had to see, Nungent said. Your own son getting tossed around by a piece of equipment that large ... its hard to get that picture out of your mind. Nungent said he rode with his son in an ambulance to VCU Medical Center, where the boy underwent surgery to irrigate and close the wound on his leg. You just want to take (the pain) away, and you cant, he said. Report: There were no mechanical and/or operator errors David Silek, an attorney for the boys family, says the enforced height limits and the safety restraints on The Storm were insufficient to prevent the mishap. We ... believe ... the harness did not come down securely enough to keep him in the chair, and he was pulled out of the bottom of (the ride), Silek said. The piece that locks across the legs did not keep him in, and he was pulled down and out. ... Hes extremely lucky to be alive. Silek said the boy tried to pull himself back into the cart, but the momentum of the ride overwhelmed him. The attorney also said the height limits for boarding the ride changed a day after the incident. Deggeller Attractions operator Andy Deggeller cited the incident report compiled by Caroline County Building Inspector Kevin Wightman, which concluded that there were no mechanical and/or operator errors that did not comply with the manufacturers specifications or the governing code. Deggeller said the height limits in place on the day of the incident met the requirements established by the ride manufacturer. After the incident, Deggeller said he heard from eyewitnesses and consulted with inspectors, prompting him to make the voluntary decision to increase the height limit from 48 inches to 54 inches for unaccompanied minors. That step was above and beyond the requirements, Deggeller said. Were a family business, Deggeller said. I have three young children of my own. Anything like this, we take absolutely seriously. The manufacturer of the ride, identified as Wisdom Rides by Deggeller, could not be reached for comment. The Sept. 29 incident was not the only one involving a Deggeller Attractions ride at the State Fair this year. Two days later, on Oct. 1, multiple passengers were stranded after a miniature roller coaster malfunctioned while in operation. No one was injured in that incident, which representatives for the fair said lasted about 20 minutes. The emergency braking system (on the roller coaster) worked exactly as designed and intended, said Deggeller, adding that operators acted in accordance with their training to resolve the issue safely. Deggeller said his emphasis on safety is evident in the way he runs his company. He said county building inspectors and third-party private companies conducted independent inspections of his rides before the fair started. Then, Deggeller said, company employees inspected the rides every morning before the fair opened. He referred to this approach as doubl(ing) up. Deggeller said he would not speculate on what led to a passenger being injured on one of his rides, but said the incident report seems to indicate that his company was operating in compliance with regulations. That report refers to eyewitness accounts that the boy attempted to escape the ride as it was in motion. But Silek said the idea the boy would try to get off an active ride is not in the realm of possibility. He loves rides, Silek said. He did not maneuver out of his seat. It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault Silek said it is possible that eyewitnesses saw the boy struggling to remain in the cart and interpreted that struggle as an effort to exit the cart. He added that two little girls and a mother witnessed the boy fighting to stay onboard the ride. The fair, the ride manufacturer (and) the operator are responsible ... to make sure all rides, ages and heights are appropriate and to make sure a little boy cant be sucked out of a seat, Silek said. The Nungent family and their doctors are uncertain as to how long it will be until the boy is fully recovered as they continue to work out the extent of his injuries. Right now, Silek said, the top priority is getting him well. Follow-up medical appointments are scheduled for next week, Silek said, at which point it will be easier to determine liability and loss. Nungent said the family is focused on getting through the difficult healing process, which includes brutal dressing changes and learning to walk in a medical boot. In addition to helping his son recover, Nungent said he wants to get his story out there ... (to) keep other families from going through something like this. It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault, he said. From the Archives: Photos of the State Fair of Virginia 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 carrier strike group last week 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. Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Sunday ordered that U.S and Virginia flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds "to honor the lives lost in the horrific terror attack committed against Israel and to hold those injured and held hostage in our thoughts." American tourist dies from respiratory failure during Cancun catamaran tour Isla Mujeres, Q.R. A Cancun tourist sailing on a catamaran died Saturday in Isla Mujeres waters. The tourist, who is alleged to have died from respiratory failure, is reported to be a 48-year-old American woman from Texas. She was part of a day long catamaran snorkeling expedition and tour that had left the Cancun Hotel Zone that morning. Medical intervention was requested by the catamaran captain around 12:30 p.m. when the woman began to have breathing problems. The boat made an emergency detour to Isla Mujeres were it docked at Perla Negra. Personnel from Civil Protection met the vessel and tried to revive the woman who, according to local reports, was suffering from convulsions, however, she did not respond to their attempts. She was confirmed dead by medical personnel from a responding ambulance. Police cordoned off the scene and the Prosecutors Office was notified. An autopsy will confirm the official cause of death. Cancun residents subdue man accused of extorting area businesses Cancun, Q.R. A Cancun man residents accused of intimidating businesses for extortion payments was hogtied and left for police. Cancun police officers found the man laying facedown on a dirt street bound by hands and feet after being captured by angry area residents. A group of residents of SM 245 caught the man Saturday and subdued him after a report of attempted extortion with a gun. Things turned when residents realized the gun he used was a toy. He was hustled to the ground by a group of men, tied and left in the street. Area residents told responding police officers that he was known for his intimidation tactics against small area stores, demanding extortion-type payments from them. Medical evacuation of American boy from cruise ship by Mexican Navy Isla Mujeres, Q.R. Medical personnel from the Mexican Navy rushed a minor to a waiting ambulance from a cruise ship for transfer to Cancun hospital. The medical evacuation happened early Saturday morning from a cruise ship off the island of Isla Mujeres. According to a statement by the Secretaria de Marina, the Mexican Navy, acting as Coast Guard, reported that personnel belonging to the Ninth Naval Region carried out the emergency medical evacuation of a minor aboard cruise ship Carnival Breeze. The ship was met by Navy personnel three nautical miles (5.5 kilometers) northeast of Isla Mujeres. The ship was located three nautical miles from Isla Mujeres. The American boy was rushed to the mainland from the cruise ship. Photo: La Secretaria de Marina October 7, 2023. This action was carried out after receiving a call for help in the Command and Control Room of the Naval Command, in which support was requested for the transfer of a minor under 14 years of age of male sex and American nationality, who presented specific health problems that endangered his life, they reported. A Navy vessel from the Naval Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station (ENSAR) of Isla Mujeres was ordered with specialized rescue personnel, as well as Naval Health, who upon arriving at the point of emergency, carried out the examination and medical evacuation of the minor. The young boy was transferred to a waiting ambulance bound for a Cancun hospital. Photo: La Secretaria de Marina October 7, 2023. The patient was transferred to Puerto Juarez where he was handed over to medical personnel from a private ambulance to continue his treatment and specialized care at a local hospital, they explained. Due to the age of the boy, details surrounding his medical condition were not revealed. Suspect in 2012 Mexico City murder extradited from Spain Mexico City, Mexico The suspect in the 2012 murder of a Mexican man has been extradited from Spain. Over the weekend, Manual H was returned to Mexico and handed over to local authorities to face the charge. According to an FGR statement, the events occurred on June 20, 2012, when the victim, Juan Carlos N, 35 years old, left a bar with Manuel H in the El Yaqui neighborhood, in Cuajimalpa. According to their investigation, both men returned to the apartment of Manual H where an argument began that ended with the death of Juan Carlos, they said. The victim was murdered with a knife and his body was deposited in a cement drum, which was found in a warehouse of the housing complex, they explained. The legal autopsy carried out on the victims body established that he was deprived of life due to an injury caused by a knife to the neck, as well as various traumas, subsequently his body was deposited in the container and covered entirely with cement, Ulises Lara, spokesperson for the FGJCDMX said at the time of the discovery. In compliance with the Extradition Treaty signed between the United Mexican States and the Kingdom of Spain, a fugitive requested by the Fifty-Sixth Criminal Court of Mexico City was extradited to Mexico for his probable responsibility in the crime of qualified homicide. Subsequently, the fugitive Manual H was handed over to Mexican authorities at the Adolfo Suarez International Airport in Madrid Barajas, Spain, from where he was transferred on a commercial flight to Mexico City. Swerving Cancun driver killed after dozing at wheel Cancun, Q. R. One person was killed in a Cancun accident that left a private pickup destroyed. The two-vehicle accident happened behind the airport between a semi trailer and pickup truck during the early morning hours of Sunday. The driver of the semi reported the accident to emergency services. Members of National Guard were first on the scene followed by federal police who requested the support of an ambulance. Medical personnel from Cancun arrived to provide help to the man found trapped behind the wheel of his truck. However, he was pronouned dead at the scene. Cancun firemen were requested to help remove the trapped body. According to early information, the driver of the pickup truck was traveling from the Huayacan junction toward Highway 307 when he dozed at the wheel and swerved into the oncoming lane. His truck sideswiped the fast moving semi, sheering off the entire drivers side cab. A Virginia Tech senior who is a volunteer at Christiansburgs Agape Center NRV came up with an idea that is now a reality: shes leading a community health event on Oct. 21. Kayla Bernstein planned the event in conjunction with the New River Health District. In an email to The Roanoke Times, Bernstein wrote that her long-term career goal is to become a physician and that she cares deeply about the health of her community. I came up with the idea and have gotten wonderful support from the director of the New River Health District, Dr. Noelle Bissell, she wrote. The Oct. 21 event at the Agape Center in Christiansburg is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The centers address is 1175 Cambria St. NE. Free offerings will include: screenings, flu vaccinations, naloxone training, and health education. All are welcome and attendees are asked to bring proof of insurance if possible. Bernstein wrote that Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine medical students and Agape Center mentors and volunteers will be helping with the event. NRV Glean Team and other potential food sources may also be available to provide a nutritious takeaway for community members who come, she wrote. For more information, contact Bernstein at kaylamb@vt.edu. The Roanoke Times After years of struggling to manage calls for service while shorthanded, the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department expects to fill every one of its budgeted job positions by the end of 2023. Chief David Hoback told The Roanoke Times last week that while the department currently has nine vacancies in the field, it has nine recruits in training school. Once they graduate Dec. 15, the department will be fully-staffed. We just recently graduated 12, so we were down 21 vacancies in the field, which was a negative staffing profile that was resulting in overtime usage every day, Hoback said in a recent interview. In 2021, the city implemented a step pay plan to raise the minimum hourly wage for all of its employees with hopes of retaining new hires. Hoback said that in 2021, the starting annual salary for newly hired firefighters was $41,000. Now, in 2023, they make about $43,800. But that still might not be enough. The jurisdictions around us are paying substantially more than we are, Hoback said. To put it in perspective, right now, one of our most senior firefighters is making less than starting pay in Roanoke County and Salem. Were actually pulling people from up north, from Jersey, from New York, from Connecticut, Hoback said. Another thing that we saw very clearly is that our people internally were recruiting, and that they knew people that wanted to work in this profession, and they were mentoring or being an ambassador. The chief said that during the 2022-23 fiscal year, the Roanoke Valley Regional Fire-EMS Training Center hosted five classes of recruits. The next class will begin training in November and will graduate in March. After that, a class will begin in January. Hoback said the city also recently approved plans for an additional ambulance and six more crew members for the departments Station 14 on Mecca Street Northeast. The chief said that while those six positions arent included in vacancy numbers right now, they are positions he has to fill. The recruits that we start in November will be really focused on getting that ambulance up and operational by March 1, Hoback said. The recruits who start their training in January will be over hires, Hoback added, which will provide a buffer to account for vacancies created through attrition or retirement. The chief said that for the last couple of years, while the department is authorized to fill 12 extra positions, it has rarely been able to do so. This year, weve done a really good job with our marketing campaign, and getting the people in, and doing some things differently that we were able to fill our over hires, Hoback said. Going into this last recruit school, if everything holds true, all of our over hires will be filled as well, and that will help us with all that overtime cost. Hoback said the recruit class beginning its training in November is 50% diverse and may result in up to six female fires. Some of those women have worked with the department in part-time capacities, while others have not worked with the department at all. This will be the heaviest female recruit school that weve ever experienced, the chief said. We changed the way we do our physical abilities test, and I think that singly allowed us to be able to hire more females. Even thought the department is rapidly filling positions, Hoback said that the department will still accept applications. The chief said the regions fire and rescue agencies are anticipating a wave of vacancies in about three years. Because localities recently increased career members annual salaries, some people are choosing to retire later with more benefits. People who may have thought about retiring this year, theyre going to wait three years, Hoback said. Even though they were eligible, they think, Hey, I can make $500 more a month if I wait and end in three years. And, Hey, I enjoy coming to work. Why not do that? But after that, we dont know what thats going to look like, because right now we have over 50 people that can retire today. Hoback said people leave the department for a variety of reasons: Not always for money. Not always because they dont want to do the job anymore. Sometimes its family situations. Weve had people leave because their wives were traveling nurses and they want to be in different areas of our state so that they can make more money, Hoback explained. But for the most part, right now, our retention is holding its own. A recent assessment of the Roanoke Police Department found that its ability to retain recruits is challenged by a work environment made unpleasant by divided leadership. But Hoback said theres no such division at the fire department. I think we get along great, Hoback said. We lead the organization by the people that work for us, and we want them to have a say in how things move forward. And, so far, that has worked very well for us. But the chief said the department may ask for an assessment of the agency soon, because leaders want to hear from crew members. Were going to start doing that here in the future, going out and having those conversations, hearing what our people want, what they need, where we have gaps in either communications or training or leadership that they feel need to be stepped up, Hoback said. Were mindful of that. Hoback said the Roanoke Valley Regional Fire-EMS Training Center poses a big challenge. The center, which sits on Kessler Mill Road in the Hanging Rock area of Roanoke County, was designed in 1999 to train recruits from Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem. But Hoback said the center, which has since graduated 35 classes and over 400 students, also now trains recruits from Botetourt County. Weve outgrown this facility, because of the amount of training that goes on here, the required hours, both at the state and national level, to obtain certifications, and everything else we have to do, Hoback said. Were in the process of conditioning a study to determine what can be built on this property. That study is commissioned between Roanoke County, the city of Roanoke and the city of Salem. The chief said that talks about improvements to the training center began just before the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced a shift in regional fire and EMS priorities. But now that the pandemic has taken a back seat, training center discussions have resumed. Were three years behind the ball, and weve got to get something done, Hoback said. The department also now faces the challenges that come with employing young people. Hoback said he wants to provide recent graduates with opportunities to grow within the agency. Thats the biggest gap I see right now. Ive got to be able to infuse the opportunity for people to learn and grow, he said. Weve just got to take those young men and women that work for us and grow them into the mature firefighters and leaders of the organization that I know they can be. Even so, the chief said hes proud of what the Roanoke department has been able to accomplish in recent years, even during the worst of staffing times. But my job now is to ease that pressure, he said. I think weve accomplished that based on what our staffing profile is now versus where it was this time last year. Photos: Roanoke recruits go through fire training (CNN) The US 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 US House in uncharted legal territory regarding what it can do under acting US 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 US 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 US 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. US Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday that he had conversations with the White House and the US 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 US Congress and urged the administration to do so, adding that he expects it will provide whatever assistance it can. US 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 US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to launch their bids for the seat. Former US 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. US 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 was first published on CNN.com, "Pressure to fill House speaker vacancy builds as crisis unfolds in Israel" Palestinians search through the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 8, 2023. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) (REUTERS) SINGAPORE Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has strongly urged Singaporeans to refrain from travelling to certain areas in the Middle East. Specifically, they are advised against all travel to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and regions of Israel that share borders with the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria. Due to the ongoing conflict in the area, MFA recommended in a travel advisory on Sunday (8 October) that Singaporeans should also avoid non-essential travel to Israel. The advisory is in response to the continuous exchange of rocket fire between Israel and the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a significant attack on Israel, resulting in casualties on both sides and escalating violence that poses a substantial threat to regional stability. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is "at war" and called for mobilising army reserves. Singapore issues travel guidelines amid attacks Singapore has expressed strong condemnation for the rocket attacks and acts of terror originating from Gaza and has called for an immediate cessation of violence. MFA's advisory said that Singaporeans in, or travelling to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, should exercise vigilance and closely monitor local developments. They should avoid areas prone to public disturbances and large gatherings, particularly the Old City and East Jerusalem, including Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount. The ministry also advised that all necessary precautions for personal safety should be taken, including purchasing comprehensive travel and medical insurance. Singaporeans are also encouraged to register with the MFA electronically, enabling the ministry to contact them if necessary. MFA added, "Singaporeans are also advised to stay in touch with your family and friends so that they know you are safe." For those in need of consular assistance while in Israel or the Palestinian Territories, they can reach out to the Singapore Embassy in Tel Aviv or contact the MFA Duty Office, which operates 24 hours a day: Story continues Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Israel (Tel Aviv) Address: 28 HaArbaa Street, South Tower (19th floor), Tel Aviv 6473926, Israel Tel: +972-3-7289334 Fax: +972-3-7289340 Email: singemb_tlv@mfa.sg Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24 hours) Tel: +65-63798800/8855 Fax: +65-64767302 Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg Israeli security stand in position on a road following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, near Sderot in southern Israel October 8, 2023. (PHOTO:REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun) (REUTERS) Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. Singaporeans highlight mental health as top healthcare concern in Ipsos World Mental Health Day survey. (PHOTO: Getty Images) (Getty Images) SINGAPORE Mental health has emerged as the foremost healthcare concern for Singaporeans, according to the Ipsos World Mental Health Day survey released on Monday (9 October). The study, conducted between 21 July and 4 August as part of the market research firm's Global Advisor survey, highlights significant changes in the perception of mental health and its impact on daily life. It involved a nationally representative sample of approximately 1,000 Singaporean citizens aged 21 to 74. Singapore's changing health landscape Close to half (46 per cent) of Singaporeans now consider mental health as the most pressing health problem facing the nation, surpassing cancer (38 per cent) and stress (35 per cent). The shift sees mental health relegating COVID-19 from the top spot, a position the coronavirus held in the 2021 survey, while stress has risen from fourth place to become the third-most prominent concern. A significant finding from the survey reveals that nearly 8 in 10 Singaporeans (78 per cent) believe that their mental health is equally vital as their physical health. However, just over half (54 per cent) feel that Singapore's healthcare system treats mental and physical health equally, even though it marked an 11 per cent increase from 2021. The data further indicates that Singaporeans tend to prioritise their physical health, with 66 per cent stating that they often think about it, while only 52 per cent report the same for their mental well-being. Notably, women (56 per cent) and individuals below the age of 35 (64 per cent) show a more proactive approach to mental health, while 44 per cent admit to seldom or rarely considering their mental well-being. 46% of Singaporeans now view mental health as the nation's top health concern, overtaking cancer (38%) and stress (35%). (PHOTO: IPSOS) (IPSOS) Impact on daily lives and mental health The Ipsos survey unveils the profound impact of stress on Singaporeans' daily lives, with more than half reporting that stress has affected their daily routines at least once in the past year. Approximately a quarter of respondents claimed that stress had multiple impacts throughout the year. Furthermore, 23 per cent admitted to experiencing high stress levels that they felt incapable of coping with, and 39 per cent reported taking time off work due to stress in the last year. Story continues Alarmingly, close to half of Singaporeans revealed experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness for weeks at a time, with 20 per cent indicating multiple occurrences in the past year. Also of concern are 27 per cent of respondents who admitted to having seriously contemplated suicide or self-harm at least once in the last year. About 26 per cent of those under 35 disclosed such thoughts on one occasion, while 10 per cent confessed to multiple instances. Call to action for stronger support systems Melanie Ng, director of public affairs at Ipsos in Singapore, expressed concern over the findings. She said, "Our recent Ipsos Global Health Service Monitor finds mental health and stress occupying two of the top three places when it comes to the healthcare priorities facing Singapore. "This new World Mental Health Day research illustrates the impact stress is having on Singaporeans' day-to-day lives, with more than half saying they have experienced periods over the last year where they couldn't cope due to stress." While acknowledging the growing awareness of the importance of mental health, Ng pointed out the stark disconnect between Singaporeans' perception of its significance and their view of the healthcare system's response. She stressed the need for increased commitment from employers, governmental bodies and communities to enhance preventative mental health care. Melanie Ng, Ipsos Singapore's Director of Public Affairs, urges more commitment from employers, government, and communities for preventative mental healthcare. (PHOTO:Getty Images/iStockphoto) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. From court documents: "The defendant then got off of the victim and said to the victim, 'Do you want to die?'" the complaint stated. Then, he allegedly picked up the chainsaw and displayed it to the victim. SAC CITY, Iowa A criminal charge has been dropped against an Iowa legislator who was accused of refusing to obey a Sac County law enforcement officer's orders during RAGBRAI's swing through the county. Magistrate Joshua Walsh on Friday dismissed a simple misdemeanor charge of interference with official acts filed against State Sen. Adrian Dickey. Sac County Attorney Ben Smith had moved for dismissal, saying in his motion he did not believe there was enough evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt and that it was in the best interests of justice to dismiss the case. Dickey, 49, a Republican from Packwood who represents District 44 in southeast Iowa, was arrested July 24 near Carnarvon, where a big party had stopped in the middle of a road. According to a complaint filed by Sac County Sheriff's Sgt. Jonathan Meyer, he approached Dickey and asked the party to move so he could open the road. Meyer said Dickey refused to move and continued to argue with Meyer until he was arrested. Dickey pleaded not guilty to the charge and continued to maintain his innocence. "It was a total misunderstanding, and I was innocent," Dickey said in a news release. "It is typical of today's news outlets to pile on and assume someone's guilt without knowing all of the facts. ... I was not drinking, and I was not a part of the party that was taking place. I was only walking my bike on this short part of a gravel road attempting to get on the bike trail." Dickey was jailed briefly until posting bond. He said the incident does not change his attitude toward law enforcement. "In 50 years, I have never been arrested," he said "I appreciate the Sac County Attorney for correcting this and restoring my reputation. I have always been a huge supporter of law enforcement, and I continue to back the blue today. I look forward to championing the efforts of the men and women who protect our communities." SAC CITY, Iowa A Battle Creek, Iowa, man was sentenced Monday to 25 years in prison for sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl. Loren Wilson, 26, was found guilty at trial in August in Sac County District Court of second-degree sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child. He must serve 17.5 years of his sentence before hes eligible for parole. Wilson also must register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life and must serve a lifetime special sex offender sentence after he completes his prison sentence. If he were to violate terms of the special sentence, he could be sent back to prison. Wilson had sexual contact with the child on Dec. 26 in a Sac City home. Spencer man displayed chainsaw during domestic assault SPENCER, Iowa A Spencer man was arrested Sunday in connection with a domestic assault, during which he allegedly threatened a woman with a chainsaw. Challer Wadsley, 29, is facing charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony; domestic abuse assault impeding airflow, an aggravated misdemeanor; and interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor. The Spencer Police Department said in a statement that at 3:47 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to an unknown disturbance in the 800 block of Fisher Court. Wadsley was arguing with the victim when he allegedly put his arm around her neck from behind her. A criminal complaint filed in Clay County District Court stated that the victims neck was in the crease of Wadsleys elbow and he applied enough pressure to impede her airflow. The defendant then drug the victim, by her legs, to another room and sat on her while holding her hands. The defendant then got off of the victim and said to the victim, Do you want to die? the complaint stated. Then, Wadsley allegedly picked up the chainsaw and displayed it to the victim. The police department said in the statement that Wadsley became resistant while officers attempted to arrest him. Wadsley was eventually tased so that he could be taken into custody. SPENCER, Iowa A Spencer man was arrested Sunday in connection with a domestic assault, during which he allegedly threatened a woman with a chainsaw. Challer Wadsley, 29, is facing charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony; domestic abuse assault impeding airflow, an aggravated misdemeanor; and interference with official acts, a simple misdemeanor. The Spencer Police Department said in a statement that at 3:47 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to an unknown disturbance in the 800 block of Fisher Court. Wadsley was arguing with the victim when he allegedly put his arm around her neck from behind her. A criminal complaint filed in Clay County District Court stated that the victim's neck was in the crease of Wadsley's elbow and he applied enough pressure to impede her airflow. "The defendant then drug the victim, by her legs, to another room and sat on her while holding her hands. The defendant then got off of the victim and said to the victim, 'Do you want to die?'" the complaint stated. Then, Wadsley allegedly picked up the chainsaw and displayed it to the victim. The police department said in the statement that Wadsley became resistant while officers attempted to arrest him. Wadsley was eventually tased so that he could be taken into custody. SIOUX CITY -- A Milford, Iowa, man has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a gun. Jeffrey Krowiorz II, 35, pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He was sentenced Wednesday to 61 months in prison on the gun charge, plus an additional 24 months for revocation of his supervised release from a prior conviction. There is no parole in the federal system. Krowiorz possessed the gun, which had an altered or obliterated serial number, despite being prohibited from doing so because of previous felony convictions and because he was using methamphetamine. He was previously convicted of drug possession and distribution and possession of lithium and anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture meth. SPENCER, Iowa -- A South Dakota man has pleaded not guilty of sexually abusing a girl during a five-year period in Spencer. Candido Trejo-Gonzalez, 35, of Bridgewater, South Dakota, entered his written plea Thursday in Clay County District Court to four counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a child, two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of indecent contact with a child. According to court documents, Trejo-Gonzalez touched the girl and had sexual contact with her on numerous occasions in a Spencer home from approximately June 2017 to November 2022. The girl was under age 16 during that time. ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- An Akron, Iowa, man accused of having sexual contact with a young girl has been placed on probation. Kevin Jacobs, 67, had pleaded guilty in Sioux County District Court to one count of assault causing bodily injury or mental illness, no intent -- a serious misdemeanor. The charge was reduced from third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony, as part of a plea agreement. Following terms of the agreement, District Judge Patrick Tott suspended a one-year jail sentence and placed Jacobs on probation for two years and fined him $430. Jacobs also was ordered to have no contact with the victim for five years. A charge of second-degree sexual abuse was dismissed. Jacobs was charged with having sexual contact with the girl while camping at a Hawarden, Iowa, park sometime between May 20, 2016, and June 29, 2018. In his written plea, Jacobs said he did commit an assault. A jury in Plymouth County acquitted Jacobs in March of sexual abuse and lascivious acts with a child charges stemming from alleged contact with the same girl. The Clay County Sheriff's Office was called to the Spencer Municipal Hospital emergency room on Aug. 13 for a report of sexual abuse of the young child. According to court documents, Galvin Nelson is suspected of having sexual contact with the girl on at least two occasions, one in June in a Clay County park and the second in August at a residence. The girl made comments about the incident on Aug. 13 and was later interviewed by authorities. LE MARS, Iowa Florida Governor and GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis told a group of more than 150 people Monday morning that he stands with Israel following a weekend attack from Hamas. "Over the next week, the press, the state department and, maybe, even the U.N. will tell you that both sides are at fault and that is not true," he said in a packed room at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor, accusing Hamas of engaging in "barbaric attacks" and "terroristic actions." DeSantis on stage Florida Gov. and GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis discussed Israel and other hot topic issues during a campaign stop at the Blue Bunny Ic DeSantis criticized the Biden Administration for freeing up approximately $6 billion in frozen Iranian oil revenue funds in exchange for five American hostages held by Tehran, last summer. Reuters reported U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday "Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion in funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September." "I'm certain that the $6 billion was used to plug one hole," he said. "This gave them the money needed to attack Israel." In addition, DeSantis touted his one military record. "I am the only Presidential candidate to serve in the military," DeSantis said, citing the time he was deployed in Iraq in 2007 as a legal to the Navy SEALs. Previously, DeSantis was stationed at the Joint Force Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility in Cuba. DeSantis and family Florida Gov. and GOP Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis was joined by his wife Casey and their three children during a Monday morning campaign DeSantis was in Northwest Iowa for a campaign swing that would take him to a Buena Vista Pregnancy Resource Center in Storm Lake, early Monday afternoon. "I am also on my way to visiting all of Iowa's counties by the time of the Iowa caucuses," he said. According to a news release, DeSantis has made it to 74 of Iowa's 99 counties. During the more-than-an-hour-long campaign stop, DeSantis said he promised, if elected, his administration would not be filled with drama or chaos. Instead, he regularly referenced back to his record as Florida's Governor as an examples of kept promises and leadership abilities. DeSantis peppered his stop by talking about culture war issues like woke education, border issues and his response toward the COVID-19 pandemic. This didn't go unnoticed by Jacob Heithusen, a Morningside University political science senior. "In general, I liked what (DeSantis) was saying, but I don't know if he's ready for the national stage," Heithusen, a Carroll, Iowa native, explained. "I'd rather hear DeSantis talk about agriculture than what he did as Governor of Florida." SIOUX CITY -- During a Sunday evening town hall in Sioux City, former South Carolina Gov. and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said in no uncertain terms that she supports Israel, where over the weekend intense hostilities broke out with Palestine. "We have to stand with Israel against this evil," Haley said during a roughly hour-long campaign engagement at Morningside University. Israel declared war against Hamas fighters the same day Haley visited Sioux City; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has predicted the fighting will be long and costly. "Prayers for healing for our brothers and sisters in Israel, because I think that they're going to need it," she added. "But I have always said, and I strongly believe, you can't destroy what God has blessed. And God has blessed Israel. So they will come out of this." Her remarks drew rounds of applause from the standing-room only crowd. Haley, who is polling at somewhere between about 6 and 13 percent in Iowa (depending on the poll) on Sunday addressed a dozen or more topics -- including her experiences in South Carolina government, foreign relations and national security, immigration and the border, the national debt and the economy, education issues, energy issues, Congressional affairs, veterans' affairs and weaknesses in both the Republican and Democratic parties. "We've got to face some hard truths. Republicans have lost the last seven out of eight popular votes for president," Haley said. "That is nothing to be proud of. We should want to win the majority of Americans. But we have to focus on the fact that Democrats have shown us a lot of chaos." In contrast to the ascendant, isolationist wing of the Republican Party -- some prominent affiliates of which have advocated a more hands-off approach to the war in Ukraine -- Haley said sending war materiel to Ukraine is a good thing. (Sending cash, on the other hand, is not the best approach, she added.) And while she speculated that the war wouldn't have begun under the watch of former President Donald Trump, she said his stance on the matter is mistaken. "There's been a debate about whether we should be dealing with Ukraine. Whether we should be helping Ukraine. It's a legitimate debate. I think anybody that's questioning it -- it's OK to question it," Haley said. "But now let me give you some facts. Ukraine, at the UN -- we had no better ally than Ukraine. They voted with us on everything. At every single press conference, they showed up, whether I asked them to come or not. They are pro-American, freedom-loving people. "So here comes this thug, that invades their country. And what do they do? They go to the front lines, just like Israel's doing, to defend their country. Everybody gave them five days to survive. Look at what they've done. They have defeated 50 percent of the Russian forces, they've brought down 50 percent of their defense forces. Putin has now gone for a bailout from North Korea, he's getting drones from Iran, he's getting missiles from North Korea. They've now raised the draft age in Russia to 65," she added. "Russia knows they're in trouble. And Biden has missed time after time after time to end this war." Haley, who at 51 is among the younger candidates courting GOP voters in the Iowa Caucuses, reiterated her support of term limits. Concerns over aging senators, representatives and the president has flared up during this campaign cycle, following the illness and death of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, and the health issues of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 81. Age has been a recurrent theme among voters who are unenthusiastic about President Joe Biden, 80. Haley referred to the Senate as "the most privileged nursing home in the country." Still, she was careful to pay a compliment to the now-oldest senator, the 90-year-old Chuck Grassley of Iowa. "I strongly believe we need to have mental health, mental competency tests for anyone over the age of 75," she said, to a round of applause. "And let me make this clear, I'm not being disrespectful when I say that. We all know 75-year-olds who that can run circles around us, right? I mean, look at Sen. Grassley. I mean he, I don't know -- Sen. Grassley is kind of a freak of nature. He's amazing." SIOUX CITY -- Over the last few years, defective LED streetlights in Sioux City have been showing their true colors, casting a garish purple- or violet-ish hue over streets and sidewalks. Between about 2017 and 2020, MidAmerican Energy installed an unknown number of defective LED streetlights in Sioux City and elsewhere across the state; the lights started out bright white, as they were intended to be, but a manufacturing defect caused the light to shift from white to violet. The phenomenon has been reported nationwide and in Canada due to the vast scale of the manufacturing defect; the purveyor of the lights, American Electric Lighting, has offered free replacements and reimbursement for the labor-cost to install them. MidAmerican spokesman Geoff Greenwood said the utility company operates more than 6,000 streetlights in total in the Sioux City area. The violet-hue defect affected only 250-watt LED lamps, which are used to illuminate busier roadways. MidAmerican has about 950 of the 250-watt lamps in Sioux City, though the defective LEDs were not necessarily installed in every last one of these light-posts. Greenwood estimated that around 500 defective lamps have been replaced in Sioux City during the last few years. The exact number that remain in service in Sioux City not known; it is distinctly possible that some of them continue to give off a white light, or something close to it, and may not begin to change color for some time. "We intend to replace every purple streetlight," Greenwood said, adding: "We have no doubt there are lights that have yet to change to purple." The defective lamps should have lasted approximately 100,000 hours, or around 20 years of nighttime service, Greenwood said. In reality, their service-life was but a small fraction of that. MidAmerican, which has been aware of the violet LED issue for at least two years, aims to replace a faulty streetlight within about a week of receiving a report of it, Greenwood said -- but at times this can be delayed by inventory issues or other unforeseen impediments. "Unfortunately, there has been quite a backlog by the manufacturer, to provide us with replacement lights," Greenwood said. "Chances are we know about it, but it's entirely possible that we have not yet realized that it has changed over to purple," he added. "Once we learn of a purple streetlight, then we will add it to the list of lights that we need to replace." Anne Westra, communications and public engagement specialist with the City of Sioux City, said by email that the city has been aware of the violet streetlights for about two years; the city, she said, has directed citizens to report defective streetlights to MidAmerican. Some of the most prominent and intensely violet streetlamps still in service in the Sioux City area at the time of this writing are in the northbound lane of Interstate 29, near Exit 1 at Dakota Dunes, just north of the South Dakota border. Scott Rabern, a road design engineer with the South Dakota Department of Transportation -- which operates lights above interstates and state highways -- said in an email that the department is aware of roughly 100 defective LED lamps in the state. The South Dakota DOT first became aware of the issue in February, Rabern said. Rabern said the DOT does not have any estimate for when all the defective LEDs will be replaced, but the department is keeping tabs on the reported locations of defective lamps to get them replaced. "Anyone who views LED lights that appear purple may call any SDDOT office to provide the location information," Rabern said by email. The Iowa Department of Transportation's district office in Sioux City told The Journal there have been no known reports of violet LED lights in its district. (As is the case in South Dakota, the Iowa DOT is in charge of the streetlights over interstate highways, including I-29 in Sioux City.) LED streetlights have, gradually, been replacing the once-ubiquitous sodium vapor streetlights (the lamps that cast a familiar, intense orange glow); though a number of them are still in service and a few may remain in inventories, sodium-vapor lamps are no longer manufactured. In time, orange streetlights will go dark completely. The LED replacements -- at least, the ones that aren't defective -- have advantages over the old sodium vapor lamps, Greenwood said. "Those are the types of lights that we now install, are LEDs," Greenwood said. "LEDs are a superior product, they are more efficient." The violet color of the defective lamps is actually closer to the "natural" color of LED lighting. White light (or various shades thereof) in an LED lamp is achieved by the application of a special phosphor coating, which shifts the light from a blue-ish or violet-ish hue to white, Greenwood said. When the phosphor coating failed in the defective lamps, the LEDs reverted to their true color. "They are not operating as designed -- we ordered lights that should appear to be white, and that's how they start off, but then when they change to a purple hue -- that's not the product that we ordered," Greenwood said. HARTLEY, Iowa -- A Sanborn, Iowa, man was airlifted to a hospital after he was seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision Saturday in rural O'Brien County near Hartley. According to the Iowa State Patrol, Jeffrey Gerritson, 61, of Sanborn, was eastbound on 310th Street in a Dodge Ram pickup truck at about 10:42 a.m., when he failed to yield the right of way at the intersection with Tanager Avenue and collided with a northbound GMC pickup driven by Kevin Gonnerman. One big question, in pondering this new war in Israel, is how long it will last. The answer will not only shape the magnitude of its horrorsthe number of people killed and wounded, the level of destruction wreaked, the depth of insecurity implanted in everyday life. It could also, if the fighting goes on long enough, unleash immense chaos in the Middle East and beyond. The most obvious and bewildering aspect of Hamas multipronged attack Saturday morning is how they pulled it off with complete surprise. Some have speculated that the Israeli military has been focused on the territories in the West Bank, leaving the Gaza border to the south guarded by electronic sensors, which can be tricked or jammed. But thats a matter of tactical intelligencedetecting movements of troops. Israels gargantuan failure here was one of strategic intelligencegauging an adversarys intentions and plans. Israeli counterintelligence agencies have long been lauded for their vast resources and acute skills in surveillance, infiltration, and analysis. It turns out theyve been, at least in this instance, overestimated. The first question, which boards of inquiry will investigate when the fighting dies down: How did these agencies miss an attack that Hamas had to have been planningpossibly with Iranian assistancefor weeks, if not months? Advertisement But theres also a second question: Having pulled off such an attack so stealthily, might Hamas and other enemies of Israel assumecorrectly or notthat they can get away with bolder, riskier, and deadlier surprises? Israel has been able to stave off attacks such as these in part because its enemies have reasoned that they would be swiftly put down or preempted. Will the attacks proliferatewill the war widenif the enemies recalculate their odds? A widened war is a nightmare that Israel and its allies most fear. Sunday morning, Hezbollah militias in southern Lebanon fired a few artillery shells at Israeli military facilities to show solidarity with the Palestinian resistance. Israel retaliated with artillery shells. At least for now, fighting on the northern front didnt escalate further. Was Hezbollahs show of force merely symbolic? If it intensifies into something more purposeful, the onslaught could make the attacks by Hamas seem like pinpricks. Hamas has fired hundreds of rockets into Israeli towns. Hezbollah has amassed more than 100,000 rockets within range. Advertisement Advertisement Then there are armed Palestinians gathering from the east in Jordan. Footage of the mobilization suggests the numbers, so far, arent huge. But a three-front war could be perilous for Israel, especially as its army is still fighting Hamas militants who invadedand are now hunkered down insideIsraeli cities. (Monday morning, an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman told the BBC that most of the Hamas forces inside Israel have been killed or captured.) Advertisement Advertisement When President Joe Biden pledged his rock-solid support for Israel in his televised address on Saturday, he also warned Israels other enemies not to exploit these attacks to seek advantage, adding, The world is watching. Biden had Hezbollah foremost in mind, followed by Iran, which supports and supplies both Hamas and Hezbollah. Advertisement On Saturday, a spokesman for Hamas thanked Iran for providing his brigades with weapons, money, and other equipment, as well as missiles to destroy Zionist fortresses. (The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that agents from Irans Revolutionary Guard helped direct the assault, though Iran denies this claim and U.S. officials say they have found no smoking gun of a direct connection. Some have speculated that Russia helpedRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently met with Hamas emissariesthough no evidence of a Moscow connection has been uncovered.) Whatever Iranians involvement, the question now is whether they want to expand the war against Israeltheyve never before had their Zionist foe in such a vulnerable positionor whether they will step back from doing so, fearing that the Israelis, aided by the United States, would respond by escalating, taking direct action against Iran in a way theyve never seen. Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Washington and Tehran have held exploratory talks on various issues, including a possible reopening of the Iran nuclear deal. Iran freed five American prisoners in exchange for the release of $6 billion in Iranian assets. Unless Tehran actively clamps down on Hamas and Hezbollah, these glimmerings of renewed diplomacy will be snuffed out entirely. (Some Republican critics are simply wrong in claiming that Bidens talks, or the release of money, encouraged or funded Hamas attack. The money, which was transferred to foreign banks, is still in the bank; none of it has been released, nor can it be, except for humanitarian supplies.) Advertisement At least as critical is how Israels Arab neighbors, especially Saudi Arabia, will deal with the war. The Saudis and the United Arab Emirates have recently formed alliances with Israel, stemming from their common enmity toward Iranwhich includes a deep distrust of Hamas. In recent months, the Saudi rulers had been talking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Biden administration about creating an alliance in which Saudi would normalize diplomatic relations with Israel and the U.S. would provide security guarantees to Saudi Arabia. However, they also pay at least lip service to the Palestinian cause. Though Hamas doesnt represent all Palestinians (certainly not in the West Bank), it is the strongest power in Gaza. The New York Times reported Monday that people throughout the region have rallied in support of Hamas (though these reports are anecdotal)so these leaders risk alienating their own if they criticize Palestinians too strongly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It could be that Hamas timed the attackcoinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, which began with another multipronged surprise attack on Israelto disrupt these talks. The Saudis have demanded that, as part of any deal, Israel reopen talks with the Palestinians toward a two-state solution. The attack now makes this impossible: As long as Hamas is still in power, Israel cannot hold talks, much less sign a treaty, with the Palestinians. And as long as Israel is attacking Palestinian enclaves, which Hamas leaders knew it would do in response to their attack, the Saudis cant sign a deal with Israel. Or can they? In his Saturday address, Biden pretty much gave Netanyahu a green light to do whatever is necessary to defeat Hamas. The prime minister has been reluctant in the past to respond too strongly to the occasional skirmishes, and neither he nor any other politician has had any desire to reoccupy Gaza, which Israeli troops left in 2005. Now, however, that may be the only solution, at least for as long as it takes to crush Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Few Israelis would contest Netanyahus claim that he cant let Hamas attack stand. It has killed at least 700 Israelis, including 260 young people at a music festival, and wounded more than 1,000 more. At least 100 have been kidnapped, to be used as either bargaining chips or human shields. In response, Israel is mobilizing 300,000 reservists to the Gaza border, has mounted air strikes against Hamas installations, and on Monday announced an all-out siege of Gaza, cutting off all food, water, and electricity to its 2.2 million residents. Advertisement Reoccupying Gaza would be difficult on its own; it will be even more difficult to do so without killing many Palestinian civiliansand thus turning more of them into Hamas supporters, if not active fighters. (It is noteworthy that, before blowing up Hamas-occupied buildings, Israeli troops have warned the residents to evacuate. Still, mistakes happen and collateral damage is inevitable.) Then comes the challenge, afterward, of pacifying and rebuilding Gaza, preferably under the helm of the more moderate Palestinian Authority, without making the PA look like Israeli stoogesand without provoking the wider war with Hezbollah or Iran. Advertisement Finally, there is the rest of the world to consider. It was notable that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his support for Israel. No doubt he was sincere, being both Jewish and a victim of terrorism. But he was probably also hoping to push Netanyahu off his studied neutrality toward the Russia-Ukraine war. Biden will now face pressures to supply allies with arms on three fronts: Ukraine, against Russia; Taiwan, against possible Chinese aggression; and now, once again, Israel, against its enemies. If Hezbollah starts firing missiles from southern Lebanon, Israel will be in urgent need of air-defense weaponsforcing Biden to divert some of those weapons from the pipeline to Ukraine, which desperately needs them as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the longer run, Biden must be heaving a heavy sigh. Like a few presidents before him, Biden has hoped to pivot away from the ancient squabbles of the Middle East. For a moment, it looked like it was safe to do so: the U.S. was no longer dependent on the regions oil; Israel had struck deals with its once-hostile neighbors; tensions with Palestinians had calmed, and more than 15,000 Gaza residents had been given work permits to move in and out of Israel every day. Now the regions monstrous dynamics are pulling him back in again. Its a shame that the world is spinning out of control, that global power is so dispersed, and that the major powers are so racked in tension and conflict. It would be nice if Washington and some other big capital (Moscow or Beijing, for instance) could meet in some backroom and connive to pressure their respective allies to stop fighting. But though its possible neither Putin nor Chinese President Xi Jinping wants war in the Middle East, both would be happy to see Biden distractedand retracting resourcesfrom Ukraine, Taiwan, and the South China Sea. So theyre not eager to push for peace in Israel. Advertisement Meanwhile, Washington is doing what it can. Biden is talking with Netanyahu. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is burning up the phone lines to Riyadh, Cairo, Beirut, Amman, Abu Dhabi, Ramallah, and anyplace else where sympathetic leaders and factotums can ignite or help douse the flames. Egyptian and Jordanian diplomatswho have long-standing relations with Israelare also trying to dampen pressures for escalation among their Arab neighbors. These pressures could spark catastrophic reprisals and counter-reprisals for all the powers concernedor they could compel even the antagonists in the long-simmering conflict between Israel and the Palestinians to take a deep breath and step back. One thing is for sure: In the past few years, with the growing prominence of Sunni-Shiite tensions and the resulting emergence of a detente between the Sunnis and Israel, many in the region thought that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was largely behind them. The attack on Saturday showsand was meant to showthat their dismissal was premature. The cheapest way to advertise is social media ads and classified ads, generally speaking. These kinds of ads can be placed starting as little as $20. But in the realm of cheap advertising ideas, if you shop around for media outlets in smaller markets you maybe able to advertise inexpensively on radio, trade magazines, websites, local coupon books and even cable TV starting at a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Drive Traffic to Your Website Sell Your Business Advertise Your Business Here You may also be able to do Every Door Direct Mail campaigns through the U.S. postal service for a few thousand dollars. Pay-per-click ads can be cost effective if you know what youre doing and target carefully; otherwise, you can burn through your budget fast. These cheap advertising methods are important but there are other options. The cheapest way to advertise your small business depends on a number of factors. Factors include the kind of audience you are trying to reach, where you choose to reach them, the size of the audience, the design skills needed to create the ad and what you get for your money. Ad rates vary widely. Even the way rates are calculated varies by the type of media outlet or format. So always shop around Cheapest Way to Advertise Now lets look at benchmark costs and advertising cost ranges for a variety of types of advertising. These benchmarks are generalities you can find less expensive prices through careful shopping. You may also encounter more expensive prices. Small Business Deals Newspaper Display Ads Basis for Charging Newspapers traditionally have charged per column inch (PCI) for display ads. That means the bigger your ad, the more you will pay. For example, a half page horizontal ad might measure 6 columns by 10.5 inches a total of 63 column inches. Newspapers today are trying many different types of ad rates, including flat fees and combined deals for both print and online ads. To advertise you will need to contact your local newspaper and ask for their rate card. Typical Budget Range For example, the Cleveland Plain Dealer may charge $596.00 per column inch. If your ad requires 10 column inches, the price would be $5,960.00. If you wanted a half page ad using our example, it would be $37,548 for a half page ad (63 x $596.00). Dont be put off by a hefty example. Smaller papers and weekly papers charge substantially less. Dont assume advertising will be too expensive always inquire about rates. Newspaper Classified Ads Basis for Charging A relatively cheap advertising idea is newspaper classifieds. Newspapers typically charge for classifieds based on the size of the classified (in some cases the number of words), the number of days the ad runs, and the type of classified. Classifieds sections with more competition may cost more. Many newspapers today have self-serve online dashboards where you can compose your classified ad and pay with a credit card. Typical Budget Range Depending on the kind of business and the size of the newspaper readership, you might be able to place a classified ad starting for only a bit more than $5 a day. Or a classified can run $200 to $300 if it runs for 30 days in a popular section of the classifieds, such as autos, or in a midsize to larger newspaper. Radio Ads Basis for Charging Radio advertising can be considered one of the cheap ways to advertise, but you have to shop carefully. Radio advertising is often sold based on a 4-week total rate. You pay based on the size of the audience reached. Obviously that means youll pay more to have your ad spot run in a popular drive-time show than at 3 a.m. when fewer people are listening. This kind of billing is referred to as CPP which stands for cost per point or cost per rating point. CPP determines the ratings or popularity of the radio show where your ad appears. Typical Budget Range To reach a market with 1 million people, a typical radio show ad budget range might be $12,000. In a larger market of 5 million people, a 4-week total rate budget might be $60,000. The rate card from iHeartCommunications, formerly Clear Channel Communications, owner of 855 radio stations in the United States, gives a good overview. Television Ads Basis for Charging As with radio, advertising spots on television depend on the popularity of the time slot in which they appear, the market size, the length of the commercial and other factors. In local TV, figure to pay starting at around $5 for every 1,000 viewers in a medium-sized market, for a 30-second ad slot. According to Skyworks Marketing, thats a low-end rate. It could be higher. Typical Budget Range Television ads tend to be expensive. For a 30-second TV ad spot, a typical budget for a small business might be $5,000 to $20,000 to reach an audience of between 1,000,000 and 4,000,000 viewers as a low estimate. National TV ads cost much more and would be completely out of the reach of small businesses. For example, according to Ad Age, advertisers would have paid $400,000 for an ad on the AMC hit show The Walking Dead. With TV ads, also budget for the production cost. Producing a television ad for a small business might run you anywhere from $2,000 to $25,000, depending on how sophisticated the ad. Pay Per Click Ads Basis for Charging Pay per click ads (or PPC ads) are what they suggest you pay only when someone clicks the ad. Two common pay per click options are Google AdWords and Microsoft Bing Ads. Your ad is seen in Google or Bing searches and on other websites in their networks. You can also buy ads on a per-click basis on some social media and other sites. Typically you buy PPC ads on an auction basis, meaning you bid a certain amount you are willing to pay per click. You bid based on keywords or other factors. As a general rule, the more you bid, the better position on the page your ad gets. You set up a budget using the self-serve, online dashboard provided by the ad system. The technology will automatically keep your bids within your pre-set budget. Typical Budget Range For example, a keyword phrase like ways to promote a small business with an average of 10 to 100 searches a month might cost just $1.90 per click. Meanwhile a keyword phrase like advertise local business with an average of 100 to 1,000 searches per week might cost $12.78 per click. You can set a budget of say $3 a day and a total of $10 a week if you wish. However, if your budget is too low you may be disappointed with the results. Some experts suggest allocating at least $1,000 per month toward PPC ads to get an impact. According to Robert Brady, a Certified Google AdWords partner with Righteous Marketing, the trick to spending wisely in pay-per-click is conversion tracking. Set up conversion tracking before you spend any money on PPC. It takes some time and effort, but if you want the accountability, customer insights and persistence mentioned above you have to lay the foundation with correctly installed conversion tracking. And after its installed, make sure to test it. Then, and only then, do you turn on your ads. Not always a cheap advertising idea, but pay per click ads can drive good ROI if done right. Banner Ads Online Basis for Charging Banner ads or display ads are graphical ads that run on websites. These typically are charged on a cost per thousand impressions basis, or CPM. On smaller websites, display ads are sometimes charged on a flat fee basis, such as $X per week or month. Usually the larger the ad, the higher the rate. Also, ads above the fold (higher up on the website) usually cost more. Typical Budge Range Its quite possible to spend as little as $100 up to many thousands depending on how many times your banner ad is shown. A rate today might be $10 CPM, meaning youd pay $10 per every thousand impressions (i.e., number of times your ad is displayed). For example, if you purchase 500,000 impressions at a rate of $10 CPM, you would pay $5,000, calculated as follows: Divide 500,000 by 1,000 = 500. Then multiply 500 x 10 = $5,000. You also must factor in the cost of creating the banner ads. Simple banner ads can be created in common sizes for under $50 per ad, at Design Pax. Advanced ad formats, such as rich media ads or video ads, cost more to create. If you are using Google Adwords for display ads, theres also a built-in tool you can use to create simple ads with images. Retargeting Ads For many online ads, theres a powerful technique to consider. Thats called retargeting. On Google Adwords the term used for this technique is remarketing. With retargeting, you are able to have your ad shown to someone who has visited your site or browsed your product online even after they leave your site. Its a powerful way to turn an abandoned shopping cart into a sale, if the shopper sees the product several times again. But it can be used for other purposes too. You can set retargeted ads to show to those who visited your site and encourage them to come back and register or sign up for your newsletter. Retargeting dramatically increases the likelihood of getting more clicks on your ads and a click converting into action. According to Wordstream, previous site visitors are 2 to 3 times more likely to click on your ad. Retargeting or remarketing typically requires you to insert a small piece of software code into your website. Usually inserting this code takes just a few minutes for you or your webmaster. Social Media Ads Basis for Charging Social media ads are considered a cheap advertising idea. Social sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, offer affordable options, depending upon the audience you hope to reach. You can boost a social post or video youve created, by paying a few cents per view, for instance. Or you can create a true advertisement and run that. Social media ads are placed by going online to a self-serve advertising platform provided by the social site. Typical Budget Range For a budget as small as $30 you can reach an audience of several thousand depending on the specifics of gender, age, geographic location and interest you select when defining your audience. Social media ads can be very affordable. But be sure to have a clear plan of what you want to achieve with them and why. Are you looking to boost your channel engagement? Get traffic back to your website? Sell a product? Get newsletter subscribers? Something else? Boosting a post simply because Facebook suggests it has gotten more engagement than your other posts, doesnt make sense. Have a goal. Social media sites offer a new ability to understand your audience beyond simple demographics like age, gender and geography. Advertisers can now target based on factors like job title, purchase behavior and interests. As you track those clicks based on their targeting you can know how these highly focused groups are interacting with your content, how often they visit your site and how often they buy, says advertising expert Robert Brady of Righteous Marketing. Yellow Pages Basis for Charging A decade ago printed yellow pages books were a staple for local small businesses. Today, the majority of yellow page activity has moved online. Printed books are being drastically scaled down and phased out completely in some markets. With the move online, yellow pages ad solutions have evolved into online visibility packages. Packages may include business listings in places that consumers search, along with a website. You can also opt for search engine optimization services and related marketing services. Typical Budget Range Packages on YP.com, for example, start around $79 per month for a 5-page mobile-friendly web presence. At $79 per month you are looking at just under $1,000 a year. Additional services and add-on features would cost more. Keep in mind that if you stop paying, you lose your web presence. Youd have to rebuild on a different platform from scratch. Local Deals Basis for Charging Local deal sites like Groupon offer the ability to set up special discounts and deals for shoppers. Also, remember that you must also offer a discount. That means youll be getting less for your product or service offering, in the first place. Typical Budget Range There is no upfront cost to create a Groupon local deal. However, Groupon will take 50% of the sale once a consumer purchases (redeems) your Groupon offer. The thing to focus on with Groupon is not the upfront cost but the amount you end up with at the end. For example, your product normally costs $48. You create a Groupon local deal for $19.00 (offering roughly a 60 percent discount). Groupon takes $9.50 (50 percent of what you would otherwise receive on the discounted price). That leaves you with $9.50 on a product you typically charge $48.00 for! Native Ads Native ads are meant to resemble content rather than a traditional style of advertisement. Often these native ads promote informational content such as blog posts or videos, instead of products directly. Native ads are one of the most effective kinds of advertising because they captivate attention through intriguing the reader. They come across as less commercial Native Ads are a good complement to a content marketing campaign, because you can promote your content to give it wider reach. Theyre not as good for driving direct response sales. Basis for Charging The cost of native ads varies widely depending on the sites traffic, placement on the page and other variables. Native ads can be purchased on a cost per click basis, or a CPM basis like banner ads, or flat fee. You can purchase them directly on the website you want to appear. Or there are networks like Taboola and Outbrain even Google AdWords accommodates them. However, keep in mind that some networks have gotten a reputation for low-quality native ads. Your ad may appear next to an ad displaying the latest Kardashian wardrobe malfunction or another sensationalized image. Typical Budget Range For native ads sold on a cost per click basis, you set a maximum youre willing to pay per click say 75 cents per click. So $100 would get you 133 clicks to your content if you bid $0.75 per click. Magazine Ads Basis for Charging Magazine ads are typically charged based on the size and placement of your ad on a magazine page. Common sizes are full page, half page, third page and quarter page ads. There are also two-page spreads which cover two full pages. Some magazines sell the back cover, or inside the covers, as ad space. And there can be special advertorial pull outs, card inserts and other options. Usually magazine ads are sold on a flat fee per ad. Some magazines have a digital version and a print version, and ads typically apply to both. Typical Budget Range Ads in a national magazine like People can cost $375,000 for a full-page, 4-color ad for nearly 3.5 million subscribers. However, ads in a local city magazine or a trade magazine are considerably less. You might pay $3,000 $4,000 for a full-page color ad in a publication with 30,000 subscribers. Contact the magazine and ask to see its advertising rate card. Outdoor Advertising and Billboards Basis for Charging Outdoor advertising is no longer limited to billboards along roadsides. Today you also have digital sign options (the electronic signs you see on buildings, at conventions and sporting events). Outdoor billboard advertising is generally charged based on the size and by the amount of time your message remains up. Typical Budget Range Billboard ads by companies like Blue Line Media, which can offer bulletin board placement in 300 cities estimates ads will cost from $30,000 per location over a four week period for its largest placement to just $300 per location for four weeks for its smallest. Digital or LED bulletin boards are charged at a different rate and can cost businesses anywhere from $3,500 to $25,000 per location per four week period. However in this case, your message would be run in rotation as an 8 second spot during a 64 second loop. Direct Mail With the explosion of the internet, the volume direct mail has declined. However, its far from dead. Direct mail can take a number of forms, including mailing samples, letters, uniquely shaped mailers and catalogs. Basis for Charging For direct mail pieces, there are several cost components: designing the mailer printing mailers purchasing a mailing list postage costs The most common form of direct mail used by small businesses is postcards. Lets say you decide on 46 postcards, a cost effective size that qualifies for First Class postage rates. Typical Budget Range Its possible for a shoestring budget to do a direct mailing of 5,000 postcards for around $1,500. A custom design can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. One way to keep costs down is to go to work with a do-it-yourself free template to avoid incurring a large design cost. Or work with a print service that offers cost effective design services for a small fee. Printing costs vary based on the size, quantity and any special effects such as gloss coatings or double sided printing desired. Its possible to get 5,000 basic postcards printed for under $300 at an online print outlet. At a local print place like Staples the cost might be closer to $500 for 5,000 postcards or 10 cents apiece. However, at a place like Staples you might be able to get one day turn around. First class postage for a 46 postcard is currently 34 cents each. Mailing 5,000 pieces via first class mail will cost $1,700 if sent by first class mail to a list you have. Plus you may need to purchase a postage permit or use a vendor with one. Keep in mind, the post office has a number of different postage rates. The rules around rates, mailer sizes and other conditions can be complex. Some small businesses choose to go with a direct mail service in order to not have to deal with all the complexities. If you choose to go with a direct mail service provider, just be sure to compare prices and the services offered, to make an informed decision. Some services can charge hefty design fees, mailing list fees, and printing fees. Every Door Direct Mail An affordable direct mail option is the USPSs Every Door Direct program. This program allows you to avoid purchasing a mailing list. Every Door Direct has a mapping tool allowing you to map out and target mailings by neighborhood. You can even see demographic data for each neighborhood. In addition, Every Door Direct Mail offers much lower postage costs, with no permit required. Basis for Charging You incur the costs of designing and printing postcards which could be in the $300 to $500 range for 5,000 postcards typically. You can avoid a design fee by using a free template provided by some printers. You also pay for postage. Postage is roughly half the cost of the First Class rate, at $0.177 cents for a postcard. And you can send larger sized postcards compared with First Class. Typical budget range Mailing 5,000 postcards under Every Door Direct would run you $885 in postage at the rate of $0.177 each. No postage permit is required. Also, by using the mapping tool you would have no mailing list costs. Along with a few hundred dollars for printing the postcards, it is very possible to do an Every Door Direct campaign of 5,000 postcards for under $1,500. Advertising Method Basis for Charging Typical Budget Range Newspaper Display Ads Per column inch (PCI) Varies based on ad size and publication. Smaller papers can be substantially cheaper. Newspaper Classified Ads Based on size, duration, type Starting at $5 a day, up to $200-$300 for 30 days in popular sections. Radio Ads 4-week total rate (CPP) Varies based on audience size and show popularity. Could range from $12,000 to $60,000 for 1 million people market. Television Ads Slot popularity, market size, length, etc. Small business budget: $5,000-$20,000 for 30-second ad reaching 1-4 million viewers. National TV ads cost much more. Pay Per Click Ads Auction basis (PPC) Varies widely based on keywords and competition. A budget of at least $1,000 per month is suggested for impact. Banner Ads Online Cost per thousand impressions (CPM), flat fee Range from $100 to many thousands, depending on impressions and ad size. Retargeting Ads CPC, CPM, or flat fee Costs vary based on impressions and clicks. Social Media Ads Self-serve advertising platform Budgets as low as $30 can reach thousands based on audience targeting. Yellow Pages Online visibility packages Starting at $79 per month for basic packages, additional services cost more. Local Deals Discounts, percentage of sales No upfront cost, but Groupon takes 50% of sale. Native Ads CPC, CPM, flat fee Varies based on site traffic, placement, and ad type. Budgets can be set. Magazine Ads Flat fee based on ad size and placement Varies widely, from $3,000-$4,000 for local or trade magazines to $375,000+ for national publications. Outdoor Advertising Based on size, duration Billboards can range from $300 to $30,000+ for four weeks, depending on location and type. Direct Mail Design, printing, mailing list, postage Around $1,500 for 5,000 postcards, including design, printing, and postage. Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Design, printing, postage Under $1,500 for 5,000 postcards, including design, printing, and postage. Exploring Alternative Advertising Methods While the previously discussed advertising methods provide valuable insights into various options and their associated costs, its essential to explore alternative approaches to maximize your advertising efforts. Here are some additional strategies to consider: Influencer Marketing: Collaborating with social media influencers who align with your brand can be a cost-effective way to reach a broader audience. Influencers can create authentic content that resonates with their followers, potentially leading to increased brand awareness and sales. Collaborating with social media influencers who align with your brand can be a cost-effective way to reach a broader audience. Influencers can create authentic content that resonates with their followers, potentially leading to increased brand awareness and sales. Content Marketing: Invest in creating high-quality, valuable content that educates and engages your target audience. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and podcasts. Content marketing helps establish your brand as an authority in your industry and can drive organic traffic over time. Invest in creating high-quality, valuable content that educates and engages your target audience. This can include blog posts, videos, infographics, and podcasts. Content marketing helps establish your brand as an authority in your industry and can drive organic traffic over time. Email Marketing: Building an email list of interested customers and sending them targeted messages can be highly effective. Email marketing allows you to nurture leads, share promotions, and build a long-term relationship with your audience. Building an email list of interested customers and sending them targeted messages can be highly effective. Email marketing allows you to nurture leads, share promotions, and build a long-term relationship with your audience. Local Partnerships: Collaborate with other local businesses to cross-promote each other. This can include joint marketing efforts, co-hosting events, or offering special discounts to each others customers. Collaborate with other local businesses to cross-promote each other. This can include joint marketing efforts, co-hosting events, or offering special discounts to each others customers. Community Involvement: Active participation in your local community can generate goodwill and brand recognition. Sponsor local events, volunteer, or support charitable causes to show your commitment to the community. Active participation in your local community can generate goodwill and brand recognition. Sponsor local events, volunteer, or support charitable causes to show your commitment to the community. Guerrilla Marketing: Get creative with low-cost, unconventional marketing tactics that grab peoples attention. This could include street art, flash mobs, or eye-catching stunts that generate buzz and social media shares. Get creative with low-cost, unconventional marketing tactics that grab peoples attention. This could include street art, flash mobs, or eye-catching stunts that generate buzz and social media shares. Customer Referral Programs: Encourage your satisfied customers to refer friends and family to your business by offering incentives like discounts or rewards. Encourage your satisfied customers to refer friends and family to your business by offering incentives like discounts or rewards. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Invest in optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. Organic search traffic can provide a consistent stream of potential customers without ongoing advertising costs. Invest in optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results. Organic search traffic can provide a consistent stream of potential customers without ongoing advertising costs. Networking: Attend industry events, join business associations, and engage with potential customers and partners in person. Building relationships can lead to word-of-mouth referrals and collaborative opportunities. Attend industry events, join business associations, and engage with potential customers and partners in person. Building relationships can lead to word-of-mouth referrals and collaborative opportunities. Public Relations (PR): Crafting compelling press releases and reaching out to media outlets can help you gain free exposure through news stories and features. Crafting compelling press releases and reaching out to media outlets can help you gain free exposure through news stories and features. User-Generated Content: Encourage your customers to create and share content related to your products or services. User-generated content can provide authentic endorsements and expand your reach. Encourage your customers to create and share content related to your products or services. User-generated content can provide authentic endorsements and expand your reach. Social Responsibility Campaigns: Develop marketing campaigns around social or environmental causes that align with your brand values. Consumers are increasingly drawn to businesses that prioritize social responsibility. Advertising Method Description Influencer Marketing Collaborate with social media influencers to reach a broader audience through authentic content. Content Marketing Create valuable content such as blog posts, videos, infographics, and podcasts to engage your target audience. Email Marketing Build and maintain an email list for targeted messages, lead nurturing, and long-term relationship building. Local Partnerships Collaborate with local businesses for mutual promotions, events, and customer discounts. Community Involvement Sponsor local events, volunteer, or support charitable causes to boost brand recognition. Guerrilla Marketing Employ creative, attention-grabbing tactics like street art and stunts to generate buzz and social shares. Customer Referral Programs Incentivize satisfied customers to refer friends and family through discounts or rewards. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Optimize your website to rank higher in search engine results, attracting organic traffic. Networking Attend industry events, join associations, and build relationships for word-of-mouth referrals. Public Relations (PR) Craft compelling press releases and reach out to media outlets for free exposure through news stories. User-Generated Content Encourage customers to create and share content related to your products or services. Social Responsibility Campaigns Develop marketing campaigns around socially responsible causes aligned with your brand. Negotiating Discounts when Advertising Your Business No guide to small business advertising would be complete without discussing the topic of discounts. The secret to the cheapest way to advertise is to negotiate for discounts. Many traditional media such as print newspapers and magazines are struggling for ad dollars today. This increases the chances of you being able to negotiate a discount. On the other hand, if you place ads through a self-serve online method such as AdWords, your ability to negotiate discounts is nil. So remember, anytime you are dealing with a human being who is selling ads, rates are open for negotiation. Advertisers that advertise throughout the year should ask for frequency discounts. Or sometimes media run seasonal specials or other reasons for discounts. For example, in the wake of Hurricane Irma, at least one media outlet in Florida offered small businesses a hurricane discount on advertising. Always ask about discounts to get the cheapest way to advertise your small business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBG67MSPRRM&pp=ygUmV2hhdCBpcyB0aGUgQ2hlYXBlc3QgV2F5IHRvIEFkdmVydGlzZT8%3D Read the complete Small Business Advertising Guide: Are you a business owner who is in the process of hiring a new employee? If so, you may be wondering how to go about drafting a job offer letter. In this article, we will share five job offer letter template examples that you can use as a guide. We will also provide tips on how to make your offer letters more persuasive. Lets get started! What Is a Formal Job Offer Letter? A formal job offer letter acts as a pivotal document during the hiring phase, serving as a bridge between the initial interview process and final employment. Beyond merely an offer of employment, its a reflection of a companys professionalism and organizational standards. Sell Your Business Discover the Zoho Ecosystem Drive Traffic to Your Website Advertise Your Business Here This crucial letter delineates the core components of the job offer, spotlighting the salary, accompanying benefits, work hours, and other essential conditions. Acting as a reference point, it sets clear expectations for the potential employee. This document, bearing the signature of the hiring manager or an HR representative, solidifies the companys commitment and expectations. Key Points: Offer of employment Outlines terms of the position (salary, benefits, hours) Signed by hiring manager or HR representative READ MORE: Interview Rejection Letter Templates Small Business Deals How to Write a Job Offer Letter Writing an employment offer letter doesnt have to be hard. In fact, if you have all of the necessary information, it should be relatively easy. Here is a step-by-step guide on exactly how to write a job offer letter: Step 1: Job Title Step 2: Start Date Step 3: Job Responsibilities & Duties Step 4: Compensation Step 5: Signatures Step 1: Job Title Its imperative to commence the offer with clarity. Specify the job title the candidate is being considered for, and be sure to also mention the department or team theyll be joining. This removes any ambiguity and sets the scene for the roles context within the larger organization. Step 2: Start Date Avoid any potential misunderstandings by being explicit about when the candidate is expected to commence their duties. Whether its a fixed start date or a flexible range within which theyre expected to begin, clarity at this juncture ensures both parties are aligned from day one. Step 3: Job Responsibilities & Duties A comprehensive outline of what the role entails is paramount. This section should encapsulate the key functions, tasks, and expectations attached to the position, offering a roadmap of what the potential employees daily and overarching tasks would look like. Step 4: Compensation A transparent breakdown of the compensation structure is essential. Beyond just the basic salary, delve into details about any performance-related bonuses, stipulated vacation days, public holidays, and other fringe benefits that form part of the total compensation package. Step 5: Signatures The culmination of the job offer letter requires the assent of both parties. By affixing their signatures, the employer conveys the authenticity of the offer, while the potential employee acknowledges and agrees to the terms stipulated, forging the beginning of their professional journey together. READ MORE: 11 Best Executive Recruitment Lessons Professional Job Offer Example Below is an official job offer letter template example. Feel free to use this job offer letter sample as a guide when writing your own job offer letter: Dear _________, We are pleased to offer you the position of _________ with our company, _________. This offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screening. The start date for this position will be _________, and your job duties include _________. Your annual compensation package is as follows: Salary: _________ (first pay period is _________) Bonus: _________ Vacation/Holiday Paid Time: _________ Profit Sharing: _________ In addition, you will be eligible to participate in our company medical insurance which covers _________. Please sign below to indicate that you accept this job offer in accordance with the terms outlined herein. Sincerely, _________ Accepted By: _________ Date: _________ More Effective Job Offer Letter Example Options If the above formal letter job offers template does not fit your needs, there are several other effective examples to choose from. Consider these additional job offer letter sample options Job Offer Email Example This example can be used if the offer is being sent via email: Dear _________, We are pleased to inform you that we have decided to offer you employment with our company. Your position will be as _________ in the _________ department and your starting date will be _________. Your compensation package includes a salary of _________ and bonuses/profit sharing of _________, as well as vacation/holiday time of _________. You will also be eligible for our company medical insurance which covers _________. Please reply to this email to confirm that you accept the terms outlined in this job offer. If you would like to discuss any other details before accepting, please let us know. We look forward to having you as part of our team! Sincerely, _________ Full-time job offer letter template This template can be used to create a full-time job offer letter. Feel free to customize it according to your companys specific needs and culture. Dear _________, We are pleased to offer you a full-time position with our company, starting _________. You will be employed in the role of _________, and your job duties will include _________. Your starting salary will be _________, and you will be eligible for a yearly bonus of _________, based on performance. You will also receive _________, including _________. We are very excited to welcome you to our team and we look forward to your contributions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at _________. Sincerely, __________________ Name & Job Title Company Name & Address ___________________ Please sign and date below to accept this job offer. _______________________ {Applicant Name} Date: _________________ Part-time job offer template This template is designed to be used when making a part-time job offer. Feel free to customize it according to your companys needs. Dear _________, We are pleased to offer you a part-time position with our company, starting _________. You will be employed in the role of _________, working an average of _________ hours a week. Your duties and responsibilities will include _________. You will report directly to _________ and be expected to comply with all company policies, procedures, regulations, and guidelines. The position offers a competitive salary of $_______ per hour, payable biweekly on the ___th of each month. In addition, you will be eligible for _________. We invite you to accept this offer of employment and join our team. Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter within _________ days if you choose to accept. We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, ___________________ Name & Job Title Company Name & Address ___________________ Acceptance of Offer Letter I, _________, accept the offer of employment as outlined in the offer letter dated _________. I understand that this is a part-time position, and I agree to abide by all company policies. Signature: _______ Date: _________ Enclosed: Offer Letter, Employee Handbook. ___________________ Thank you for your time and consideration. We are excited to have you join the team! Internal job offer template Sometimes, companies will hire internally to fill a position. This template is designed to be used when making an internal job offer. Dear _________, We are pleased to offer you the position of _________ at our company. This position is a promotion from your current role as _________. Reporting directly to _________, you will take on increased responsibilities and be expected to contribute significantly to our teams success. Your salary for this new role will be an annual rate of _________, payable biweekly on the ___th of each month. In addition, you will receive benefits including _________. Please accept this offer by signing and returning the enclosed copy of this letter within _________ days. We look forward to working with you in your new role. Sincerely, ___________________ Name & Job Title Company Name & Address ___________________ Acceptance of Offer Letter I, _________, accept the offer of employment as outlined in the offer letter dated _________. I understand that this is an internal promotion and I agree to abide by all company policies. Signature: _______ Date: _________ Enclosed: Offer Letter, Employee Handbook. ___________________ Thank you for your dedication to our company and we are excited to have you join the leadership team! Job Offer Template Letters Compared Different situations require different templates for job offers. Heres a quick comparison of various templates to help you choose the most appropriate one based on your hiring needs. Template Type Purpose Key Components Professional Job Offer Formal job offer for various roles Salary, Bonus, Vacation, Profit Sharing Job Offer Email Example Offer sent via email Salary, Bonuses, Vacation time Full-time Job Offer Full-time position offer Role, Salary, Bonus, Benefits Part-time Job Offer Part-time position offer Hours per week, Role, Salary Internal Job Offer Promotion or position change within the company New role, Previous role, Salary, Benefits Job Offer Letter Tips In addition to being a contract indicating employment terms, a job offer letter can be a great marketing tool to entice candidates to join your team. Here are five tips for writing an effective job offer letter: Be clear and concise Make it personalized Include additional information Comply with applicable laws Include a deadline Be clear and concise Being clear and concise is of utmost importance when composing a job offer letter. Aim to present all essential details without overwhelming the candidate. Starting with an unambiguous description of the role, its duties, compensation package, and perks ensures theres no room for misinterpretation. The easier it is for a potential employee to grasp the specifics, the smoother the onboarding process becomes. Make it personalized While job offer letters are formal, they shouldnt feel cold or generic. Addressing the candidate by their name not only makes the letter more personable but also reinforces their value. Dive a bit deeper by expressing genuine enthusiasm for their potential contributions, highlighting what stood out about them during the selection process. Include additional information A job isnt just about tasks and pay; its about fitting into and contributing to a workplace culture. Give your potential hire a glimpse into the companys ethos, mission, and the team dynamics theyll be a part of. By sharing more about what makes your organization unique, you pave the way for a deeper connection right from the outset. Be sure to comply with applicable laws Navigating the legal landscape of employment can be intricate, but its non-negotiable. Ensure every facet of your job offer aligns with local, state, and federal regulations. This includes, but isnt limited to, stipulations surrounding minimum wage, overtime pay, and nondiscrimination. A compliant job offer not only safeguards the company but also reassures the candidate of your professionalism. Include a deadline Time is of the essence in the hiring process. By specifying a deadline for the candidates decision, you introduce a sense of urgency, helping them prioritize their decision-making. Moreover, it assists HR and hiring managers in streamlining their subsequent steps, be it initiating the onboarding process or extending offers to other candidates. READ MORE: 13 Recruiting Lessons to Remember When Hiring for a Senior Position What Does a Job Offer Look Like? Job offer letters, also known as employment offers, are formal documents that outline the terms and conditions of a position, including salary, benefits, hours, job duties, and other details. They typically include information about the company and its mission, as well as a description of the job duties and expectations. A job offer letter should also include a deadline for the candidate to accept or decline the offer. The letter may also contain additional information such as the name of their supervisor, start date, and other relevant details. The offer letter should be signed by both the employer and the employee. How Do You Write a Simple Offer Letter? When writing a simple job offer letter, start by introducing yourself and your company. Explain why you are interested in hiring the candidate and provide an overview of the role you are offering. Next, clearly outline all of the details related to the job, such as salary, hours, benefits, and any other expectations. Finally, thank the candidate for their interest and include a deadline by which they should accept or decline the offer. As the dust clears following the September 30 election, some startling facts emerge. Smer leader Robert Fico received more than 530,000 preference votes in this year's election. (Source: TASR/AP) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share First came the top-line numbers: the total number of votes, the calculations to see which parties had cleared the electoral threshold percentage, and the final distribution of parliaments 150 seats. Observers quickly calculated that the results would allow for three or fou r plausible coalitions. (At time of writing, the negotiations continue.) Some complaints about slow overnight reporting aside, the electoral authorities maintained their sterling record and the official results were published at around lunchtime on October 1. They are publicly available, in commendably clear English and granular detail, atvolbysr.sk. The stats reveal some fascinating details. More parties than you might think While the official results show that six parties and one coalition (comprising three parties) were elected, there will be rather more factions represented in parliament. Thats because it has now become commonplace for parties to offer places on their slates to candidates who are not members. This has a respectable heritage. Take Ondrej Dostal, one of parliaments more hard-working and effective MPs. A member of the Civic Conservative Party (OKS), a small free-market centre-right party, he was elected via preference votes from the party list of Most-Hid in 2010, and then, as a Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) candidate, in 2016, 2020 and again this year. This can happen because voters may circle up to four candidates on the list of the party they vote for. If a candidate receives preferences from more than 3 percent of the total number voting for their party, they get to jump the queue for seats that would otherwise be set by their order on the party list. Dostal was 15th on the SaS list, which won only 11 seats, but his 17,703 preference votes were enough to move him up to 9th on the list of SaS candidates elected, meaning he will be a member of the next National Council (as parliament is officially known). This preference voting system is a useful way of allowing voters to exercise some choice, rather than just accept the candidates offered to them by each partys hierarchy in the form of its election slate. It is revealing to see which partys voters choose to use that power, and how. SaS MP Ondrej Dostal. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco) Dude, wheres my party? The Slovak National Party (SNS), which claims descent from its nineteenth-century namesake, scraped into parliament with 5.62 percent just above the 5 percent minimum required for parties to win seats. Its 10 seats in parliament will likely give it a place in the new government. But of those 10 MPs only one its chairman, Andrej Danko is actually a member of the party. Polish writer on her love of Slovakia, temporary interruption of trains, and a tip for a challenging hike. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Good evening. Here is the Monday, October 9 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in fewer than five minutes. Interior ministry at centre of debates Hlas head Peter Pellegrini holds the trump card after the September 30 election. (Source: SITA) More than a week from the general election, the elected parties are still jockeying for position in their search to agree on a coalition. Progresivne Slovensko head Michal Simecka confirmed that he is ready to give up the role of prime minister in a potential PS-led government in favour of Hlas leader Peter Pellegrini, if that's what it takes to put together a coalition excluding Smer. In such an arrangement, the former would insist on having the post of the interior minister, he added. The ministry, which oversees the police, among other things, has become the pivotal point in talks between Smer and Hlas as well. This simple fact says everything about what's really at stake in Slovakias post-election reality, writes Michaela Terenzani in her Last Week in Slovakia column. MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE BUSINESS: The new executive director of AmCham in Slovakia understands its mission as being to create a good business environment. The new executive director of AmCham in Slovakia understands its mission as being to create a good business environment. UKRAINE: Slovak President Zuzana Caputova explains what happened last week in regards to news that she stopped military aid to Ukraine. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova explains what happened last week in regards to news that she stopped military aid to Ukraine. ELECTION: As the dust clears following the September 30 election, some startling facts emerge. As the dust clears following the September 30 election, some startling facts emerge. TRAVEL: Vychodna Vysoka peak is located in the heart of the High Tatras. On your way, you will see 'Eternal Rain' lakes. And get ready to climb. Vychodna Vysoka peak is located in the heart of the High Tatras. On your way, you will see 'Eternal Rain' lakes. And get ready to climb. TRAINS: Due to railway reconstruction on the Slovak-Czech border, the direct train lines from Budapest to Prague will be temporarily interrupted. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY Polish writes on her love of Slovakia Writer Weronika Gogola. (Source: Katarzyna Pietruska) What Polish writer Weronika Gogola hears most from her Polish acquaintances about Slovakia is that it's a backward country and that there are many Roma. However, Gogola likes Slovakia and says that she takes such reservations personally. She does not want to leave the country. In an interview, she talks about what made her stay, why Poles prefer the Czech Republic over Slovakia, and the negatives she sees. EVENT FOR THE WEEK Enjoy outstanding festival movies The Kino Mladost cinema in Bratislava is one of the places to screen movies from the Be2Can festival. (Source: SME - Marko Erd) The tenth anniversary edition of the Be2Can film festival will offer a diverse and refined selection of the most outstanding films from the Berlin, Venice and Cannes festivals. Taking place in Bratislava from October 11 to 18, it will showcase brand new filmmaking voices as well as the work of iconic directors. For more information, click here (in English). IN OTHER NEWS On Monday, the Council of the European Union appointed Slovak Katarina Kaszasova as a member of the European Court of Auditors . Set to replace Ladislav Balko, Kaszasova will serve from October 16, 2023 until October 15, 2029. Kaszasova is the countrys top auditor as the head of the Auditing Oversight Authority. Learn more about her by clicking here. (TASR) . Set to replace Ladislav Balko, Kaszasova will serve from October 16, 2023 until October 15, 2029. Kaszasova is the countrys top auditor as the head of the Auditing Oversight Authority. Learn more about her by clicking here. (TASR) Saturday's Hamas attack on Israel was strongly condemned by President Zuzana Caputova, MFA Miroslav Wlachovsky, Speaker of the Parliament Boris Kollar and PM Ludovit Odor . In Slovakia, the protection of places connected to the Jewish community has been increased. So far, no Slovak has been reported as injured or a victim of the attack. A special government aircraft will be dispatched to Israel on Wednesday to repatriate Slovak nationals in the country. The Foreign Affairs Ministry also advised the public think twice about travelling to Israel for the time being. (TASR) . In Slovakia, the protection of places connected to the Jewish community has been increased. So far, no Slovak has been reported as injured or a victim of the attack. A special government aircraft will be dispatched to Israel on Wednesday to repatriate Slovak nationals in the country. The Foreign Affairs Ministry also advised the public think twice about travelling to Israel for the time being. (TASR) Dusan Dedecek, who caused a tragic traffic accident last year that killed 5, received a 15-year non-conditional prison sentence on Monday. He was also banned from driving for seven years and ordered to pay damages to the victims. The decision is final. The unprecedented car accident happened last October. (TASR) He was also banned from driving for seven years and ordered to pay damages to the victims. The decision is final. The unprecedented car accident happened last October. (TASR) The amount of mixed waste in Bratislava decreases every year. On the contrary, the amount of sorted waste is growing, shows a new document discussed by the city council last week. The introduction of the deposit system for PET bottles and cans was helpful in this regard. The amount of landfilled waste has also been decreasing over the past three years. (TASR) WEATHER FOR TUESDAY Mostly cloudy. Occasional rain in western and northern Slovakia. Daily temperatures between 11 C to 16 C. Level 1 ground frost warning applies to northeastern Slovakia during night and early morning. (SHMU) Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, Instagram (@slovakspectator) and Twitter (@slovakspectator). The final decision on future military support should be made by the new government, President Zuzana Caputova thinks. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Slovak President Zuzana Caputova did not stop a new military aid package to Ukraine. According to her spokesperson Martin Strizinec, she supports the aid, but at the moment she is not giving her approval nor disapproval regarding its provision. "However, the president is of the same opinion as acting PM Ludovit Odor, that in this regard it's necessary to respect the results of the September election and wait for the ongoing negotiations on the formation of the new government to conclude," said Strizinec. The president actually does not have the power to stop it, that rests entirely upon the government. Smer, winner of the election, is against any military aid. Smer leader Robert Fico has said that his government, if formed, will only support humanitarian aid. Read also Read also How Ukrainians are helping us to leave the periphery Read more More than ammunition The president's spokesperson added that the decision to provide military equipment would be a precedent when the government is changing. "The president continues, as before, to support the provision of military aid to Ukraine within the capabilities of the armed forces," he said. Speaking on the Na Telo political programme aired by the private television channel Markiza on October 8, Caputova further clarified her position. "If it was only ammunition, that would be an entirely different question, entirely different subject matter," she said. However, the package is said to include some heavier equipment. Related article Related article Slovak arms companies boosted by war in Ukraine Read more Weapons prolong the war, most Slovaks say According to an August survey by the Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, the sense of solidarity fatigue towards Ukrainian refugees is increasing among Slovaks. The results show that almost half of Slovaks believe that Ukrainians have received too much help and that aid should be time-limited. The survey also showed that Slovaks are concerned that deliveries of arms to Ukraine only prolong the war, with almost 40 percent absolutely agreeing with the statement, 7 percent agreeing and almost 9 percent partially agreeing. Railway on the Slovak-Czech border is the reason. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Due to the reconstruction of the railway line on the Slovak-Czech border, trains will not be operating on the Kuty - Breclav section between October 13 to 25. Trains will be diverted through the Holic nad Moravou - Hodonin border crossing. However, the reconstruction will directly affect the interstate Euro City (EC) Metropolitan trains operating on the Budapest - Bratislava - Prague line and back as there will be no direct connection and they will stop in Breclav. Czech Inter City (IC) trains will operate in the section between Prague and Breclav. But there will be no connection to the EC Metropolitan trains to and from Bratislava and Budapest; except for EC 271, which is the only train that will go directly from Brno to Budapest via Breclav, and IC 583/EC 283. EC trains from Breclav to Budapest will depart earlier, and in the opposite direction they will arrive later than the Czech IC trains. So passengers will not have time to change. Slovak carrier ZSSK advises passengers to use the Railjet trains on the Prague - Breclav-Graz line, from which they can change in Breclav to the EC Metropolitan trains in the direction of Bratislava. Those travelling to Prague are also advised to board the Railjet line Graz Breclav Prague (except for EC 270) at the Breclav station. Trains with secured transfer during the announced interruption: at Breclav station, transfer between trains IC 583 and EC 283 in the direction of Budapest at the Hodonin station, transfer between trains EC 270 and IC 10270 in the direction of Prague When travelling from Bratislava to Prague and back, passengers only need one ticket, which will also be valid for the transfer train in Breclav (including Railjet). Deflections of long-distance interstate EC trains will also affect passenger trains on the Kuty - Skalica line in Slovakia. From October 13 to 25, passenger trains on this route will be replaced by bus services. The strongest earthquake recorded in Slovakia in 90 years, says Slovak seismologist. A 4.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in Slovakia on Monday evening, the Slovak Interior Ministry said on Facebook. (Source: EMSC) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share An earthquake registered a magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale struck eastern Slovakia on Monday evening. According to initial reports, it occurred at a depth of 10 km shortly before 20:30. Related article Related article When disaster strikes Read more The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre wrote on its website that the epicentre of the quake was 18 km northwest of Humenne, a Slovak town of 31,000. Seismologist Kristian Csicsay opined that the earthquake was a weaker one. "If the magnitude was around 5, then the last time we had an earthquake with an epicentre in the area with such a magnitude was about 80 years ago, he told the TASR news agency on October 9. By our standards, that's strong. Eastern Slovakia belongs to one of the most seismically active areas in the country, in addition to the Komarno area and the Small Carpathians in the west. According to the first manually processed data, the magnitude was between 4.8 and 5.1, said the Institute of Earth Sciences of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), as quoted by the news website Aktuality.sk on Monday night. The exact magnitude, epicentre, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours, noted Volcano Discovery. Initially, people have not reported any major damage. Aktuality.sk shared a video that captures the force of the earthquake. video //cdn.jwplayer.com/players/f2LTo0B5-59OQ4sBA.html The Interior Ministry wrote on Facebook that nuclear power plants are operating in the usual mode. The Domasa water dam in eastern Slovakia is not damaged. The map of the latest local earthquakes is available here. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m17!1m12!1m3!1d2613.4022320071595!2d21.76154477545406!3d49.07899628515774!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m2!1m1!2zNDnCsDA0JzQ0LjQiTiAyMcKwNDUnNTAuOCJF!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssk!4v1696926646488!5m2!1sen!2ssk Tremors felt in neighbouring countries According to The Kyiv Independent, tremors were also felt in western Ukraine. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy said that local residents reported minor tremors at around 21:35. Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki posted on the platform X that the earthquake was also felt in Poland. The Hungarian media also reported on the earthquake on Monday evening. In Hungary, the earthquake was felt in several Hungarian towns, including Miskolc, Vasarosnameny, Hajdunanas and Sarospatak. According to Hungary's Kovesligethy Rado Seismological Observatory, further aftershocks are expected in the region. Strongest earthquake in 90 years In 2022, SAV recorded 76 earthquakes with the epicentre in Slovakia. In 2020, there was an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4 near Michalovce, eastern Slovakia. There was an earthquake near Jasenov in the Humenne district, 20 years ago. It had a magnitude of 4.3, Csicsay told the Korzar website. The last strong earthquake in Slovakia was recorded in 1906 in Dobra Voda, western Slovakia. Its magnitude was measured at 5.7-5.9. "Yesterday's earthquake had a magnitude of 4.9," the seismologist said on October 10. "This was the strongest earthquake with an epicentre in Slovakia in the last 90 years." It occurred at a depth of 17.8 km, according to the latest information. The epicentre was to be located in the village of Dapalovce, Vranov nad Toplou district. The earthquake caused damage in several villages in eastern Slovakia, including Baskovce in the Humenne district. "Chimneys are damaged on almost every other house in the village of 100 houses. Roofs were damaged as a result. There was a case where a chimney fell on a car," Baskovce mayor Pavol Tamas told the TASR news agency on Tuesday. Emergency situations due to damaged houses were declared in the Vranov nad Toplou district and in the village of Kolbovce, Stropkov district, as well as in Presov Region. In Dapalovce, 44 people were evacuated and 15 family houses were closed. The last time there was a magnitude 5 earthquake with an epicentre in Slovakia was in 1930. According to Martin Galis from the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics of the Comenius University in Bratislava, a similar earthquake to the one from Monday occurred in 1914 near Giraltovce with an estimated magnitude of 4.8. The strongest earthquake on the territory of today's Slovakia occurred in Komarno, southern Slovakia, 260 years ago, on June 28, 1763, with a magnitude of 6.3. As a result of the earthquake, 91 percent of the houses in the town were more or less damaged. According to the latest studies, up to 300 died in the earthquake. Disinformation scene blames Americans The Slovak police already had to debunk the disinformation that the October 9 earthquake in the east of Slovakia was caused by the Americans. "Spreaders of disinformation have once again pointed the finger at HAARP (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program), which they also blamed for the earthquake in Turkey," police said. The project is often a subject of conspiracy theories that claim the USA is purposefully causing natural disasters around the world. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/ankara-hoping-negotiations-between-russia-un-on-grain-deal-to-be-productive-1114025629.html Ankara Hoping Negotiations Between Russia, UN on Grain Deal to Be Productive Ankara Hoping Negotiations Between Russia, UN on Grain Deal to Be Productive Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths will arrive in Moscow to discuss food security issues on Monday. 2023-10-09T03:45+0000 2023-10-09T03:45+0000 2023-10-09T03:45+0000 russia ankara turkiye moscow russia black sea grain deal /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/17/1112098007_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_996cde3875135c57b3c47bc84d694ed7.jpg On October 9, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan and UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths will arrive in Moscow to discuss food security issues, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said last week. ankara turkiye moscow 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 ankara, turkiye, moscow, russia, un, grain deal, black sea grain initiative, black sea grain deal https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/greece-bulgaria-romania-to-enhance-fuel-supply-for-natos-eastern-flank-1114047684.html Greece, Bulgaria, Romania to Enhance Fuel Supply for NATO's Eastern Flank Greece, Bulgaria, Romania to Enhance Fuel Supply for NATO's Eastern Flank Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov, and Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu have agreed to cooperate in strengthening fuel supplies for NATO's eastern flank, they said in a joint declaration on Monday. 2023-10-09T18:13+0000 2023-10-09T18:13+0000 2023-10-09T18:13+0000 world nato nato forces nato bases greece bulgaria romania trilateral summit energy security black sea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102322/48/1023224821_0:235:4509:2771_1920x0_80_0_0_517c45635903526ca4e73bf3af379de6.jpg A trilateral summit took place in the Bulgarian city of Varna earlier in the day where the three leaders discussed energy security, among other topics. The leaders of the three countries expressed support for a "continuous NATO focus and strong NATO presence in the Black Sea," which they see as key "for ensuring deterrence and prevention of conflicts in the Southeastern flank of the Alliance," according to the declaration. Regarding the rail connections between Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, the countries' leaders agreed to develop new routes and corridors on the North-South axis. They also intend to further promote the Vertical Gas Corridor, the declaration said. The prime ministers agreed to hold the next meeting in 2024, according to the statement. NATO has been boosting its eastern flank along the borders with Russia and Belarus since late 2021 by dispatching additional troops. In response to Moscow launching a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has further reinforced the flank by sending more ships, planes and ground troops to the region and putting them on high alert, as well as conducting regular military drills in the area. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230723/ex-us-admiral-proposes-attacking-russian-ships-in-black-sea-amid-grain-deal-spat-1112085294.html greece romania black sea 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 trilateral summit, nato countries, nato states, greece, bulgaria, romania, fuel supply, nato's eastern flank, energy security, nato presence in the black sea, eastern flank, nato forces, nato troops, energy crisis, fuel shortage, gas supply, fuel supply https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/iran-sudan-agree-to-resume-diplomatic-ties-reopen-embassies-1114049222.html Iran, Sudan Agree to Resume Diplomatic Ties, Reopen Embassies Iran, Sudan Agree to Resume Diplomatic Ties, Reopen Embassies Iran and Sudan have agreed to resume their diplomatic ties after a seven-year pause and intend to exchange embassies in the near future, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. 2023-10-09T18:35+0000 2023-10-09T18:35+0000 2023-10-09T18:35+0000 world sudan iran diplomatic relations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0b/0e/1081163985_0:0:3318:1867_1920x0_80_0_0_f53d164da59ea165e7b2f36ff1fa4a17.jpg "The Islamic Republic of Iran and Sudan, following contacts between high-ranking officials on both sides, have agreed to resume diplomatic relations," the ministry wrote on Telegram. The governments of both countries have also agreed to develop friendly bilateral relations based on respect for each other's sovereignty, equality, mutual interests and peaceful coexistence, the ministry added. Iran and Sudan have further agreed to take steps to reopen their embassies in each other's countries in the near future and exchange envoys to study ways of expanding partnership, the ministry also said. Sudan severed diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016 after Saudi Arabian diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. In early July, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Sudanese counterpart, Ali Al-Sadiq, held talks on the sidelines of a conference of representatives of the Non-Aligned Movement member states, meeting for the first time after diplomatic relations between the countries were severed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230501/iran-reopens-diplomatic-missions-in-saudi-arabia-1110006977.html sudan iran 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 iran, sudan, diplomatic relations, embassies exchange https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/lavrov-holds-meeting-on-gaza-crisis-with-arab-league-chief-1114026836.html Lavrov Holds Meeting on Gaza Crisis with Arab League Chief Lavrov Holds Meeting on Gaza Crisis with Arab League Chief Hostilities road in the Middle East for the third consecutive day and officials are looking for a possible negotiated solution of the conflict in order to stop bloodshed. 2023-10-09T09:13+0000 2023-10-09T09:13+0000 2023-10-09T09:13+0000 world palestine-israel conflict sergey lavrov ahmed aboul gheit arab league russia middle east israel palestine /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 Sputnik is bringing you a live broadcast from Moscow, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is currently engaged in an urgent meeting with Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Secretary General of the Arab League.According to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, given the dramatic escalation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, this issue will receive the utmost attention" during the meeting. The Arab League reported on October 8 that Aboul Gheit would travel to Moscow at Lavrov's invitation.*Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more. russia 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 Lavrov and Arab League chief Aboul Gheit hold protocol meeting in Moscow Lavrov and Arab League chief Aboul Gheit hold protocol meeting in Moscow 2023-10-09T09:13+0000 true PT1S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International middle east, palestine crisis, israel vs hamas, lavrov, lavrov aboul gheit, russia arab league https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/lufthansa-cancels-all-flights-to-from-israel-until-october-14-amid-hostilities-in-region-1114050458.html Lufthansa Cancels All Flights To, From Israel Until October 14 Amid Hostilities in Region Lufthansa Cancels All Flights To, From Israel Until October 14 Amid Hostilities in Region The airline also urges passengers to check current status of their flight before heading to the airport. The conflict has led other European air carriers to scrap flights to and from Israeli airports. 2023-10-09T20:07+0000 2023-10-09T20:07+0000 2023-10-09T20:08+0000 world palestine-israel conflict lufthansa israel flight flight flight cancellations /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/13/1100961899_0:0:3120:1756_1920x0_80_0_0_cb28b202bc4b100ddaa60a457d2c8e59.jpg The airline also urges passengers to check current status of their flight before heading to the airport. The conflict has led other European air carriers to scrap flights to and from Israeli airports. Scandinavias second-largest airline, Norwegian, said on social media it had canceled this weeks flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv. Belgiums flag-carrier Brussels Airlines said it had suspended regular flights to and from Tel Aviv through Saturday due to the still unclear situation in Israel. On Saturday morning, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government declared a state of war on Sunday, mobilizing reservists. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, with no food, gas, and electricity supplies. Both sides have reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the ongoing conflict. 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-hamas conflict, lufthansa, israel, airline, airline company, flight cancellations https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/malaysian-deputy-prime-minister-accuses-west-of-double-standards-on-world-conflicts-1114032022.html Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Accuses West of Double Standards on World Conflicts Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Accuses West of Double Standards on World Conflicts Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Monday accused Western countries of demonstrating hypocrisy and applying double standards by reacting differently to the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. 2023-10-09T09:00+0000 2023-10-09T09:00+0000 2023-10-09T09:00+0000 world palestine-israel conflict israel defense forces (idf) ahmad zahid hamidi /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/09/1114029293_0:160:3071:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_ec9d3528a152a8fc6e63d653b1bb4cbd.jpg "The Western powers quickly provided support in the Ukraine crisis. However, they disregarded Palestine completely. This happens despite recent events in Palestine that have been catastrophic, leading to significant loss of life on both sides, with thousands injured and extensive property damage," Ahmad Zahid was quoted by the local newspaper as saying during his address to the parliament. He also said that double standards applied to the situation questioned the fairness of international law enforcement, adding that the West turned a blind eye to violence during the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "May the ongoing conflict be resolved, and the world must collectively play its role and responsibility, regardless of any particular interests," Ahmad Zahid said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/whats-behind-new-gaza-war-and-how-could-it-affect-the-mideast-region-1114020869.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 middle east crisis, israel-hamas conflict, hamas crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/meeting-on-ukraine-in-turkiye-may-take-place-at-end-of-october-1114025869.html Meeting on Ukraine in Turkiye May Take Place at End of October Meeting on Ukraine in Turkiye May Take Place at End of October Last week, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that Turkiye is preparing to hold an international meeting on Ukraine in October. Moscow will not be invited to participate in the meeting. 2023-10-09T03:54+0000 2023-10-09T03:54+0000 2023-10-09T03:54+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine turkiye ukraine volodymyr zelensky russia /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104746/94/1047469492_0:111:2000:1236_1920x0_80_0_0_1217d122f3fe4ebdbddf95cc262ecb20.jpg Last week, Bloomberg reported, citing sources, that Turkiye is preparing to hold an international meeting on Ukraine in October. Moscow will not be invited to participate in the meeting. The participants of the meeting will discuss ways to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and implement the peace plan proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "There is no exact date yet, coordination is underway. Apparently, this will be the last ten days of October," the source said. turkiye ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International turkiye, ukraine, volodymyr zelensky, russia, meeting, international meeting https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/netanyahu-told-biden-israeli-ground-operation-in-gaza-strip-inevitable---reports-1114045438.html Netanyahu Told Biden Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza Strip Inevitable - Reports Netanyahu Told Biden Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza Strip Inevitable - Reports MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden over the weekend that Israel had to launch a ground offensive in the... 09.10.2023, Sputnik International 2023-10-09T17:24+0000 2023-10-09T17:24+0000 2023-10-09T17:24+0000 israeli-palestinian conflict benjamin netanyahu hamas gaza strip israel gaza joe biden middle east world palestine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/12/1082932181_0:0:3127:1759_1920x0_80_0_0_810bacd1956f65ef5d1ac88a9dbc2ca6.jpg "We have to go in. We can't negotiate now," Netanyahu was quoted as saying during a phone call with Biden on Sunday. Israel formally declared a state of war on Sunday, a day after Hamas, a Palestinian group that controls the exclave of Gaza, launched rocket strikes and sent its fighters into Israeli territory. Some 300,000 Israeli reservists have been called to arms as part of preparations for the offensive. Israeli and American sources familiar with the call told the media that Netanyahu wanted the offensive to "restore deterrence." He reportedly said that the Jewish state had no choice but to respond with force to avoid looking weak. The same sources said Biden did not try to press Netanyahu or convince him not to go through with this plan. He also raised the issue of Israeli hostages in Gaza and asked Netanyahu about the possibility of Israel opening a second front along the border with Lebanon. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/ukrainian-manpads-vs-us-destroyers-how-israel-hamas-war-may-spiral-into-broader-conflict-1114023266.html gaza strip israel gaza palestine lebanon 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, biden-netanyahu talks, netanyahu-biden talks, gaza strip crisis, gaza strip, middle east crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/palestines-al-quds-brigades-claim-responsibility-for-operation-in-southern-lebanon-1114050708.html Palestine's Al-Quds Brigades Claim Responsibility for Operation in Southern Lebanon Palestine's Al-Quds Brigades Claim Responsibility for Operation in Southern Lebanon Earlier in the day, the IDF said that it had eliminated several armed suspects who infiltrated Israel from the territory of Lebanon. 2023-10-09T20:34+0000 2023-10-09T20:34+0000 2023-10-10T04:25+0000 world palestine palestinian islamic jihad (pij) israel palestine-israel conflict lebanon /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105510/92/1055109241_0:300:5760:3540_1920x0_80_0_0_0cd77260df5a48ee2e402411cdb41a92.jpg Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces that it eliminated several armed suspects who infiltrated Israel from the territory of Lebanon. The Israeli military added that during clashes near the border with Lebanon, two people were killed by Israeli forces, and one returned back to Lebanon. On Saturday, Palestinian news outlet Quds reported, citing movement spokesman Abu Hamza, that Al-Quds Brigades had managed to capture several Israeli soldiers during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israeli forces. On Saturday morning, the Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government declared a state of war on Sunday, mobilizing reservists. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, with no food, gas, and electricity supplies. Both sides have reported hundreds of deaths and thousands of injured as a result of the ongoing conflict. palestine israel lebanon 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 palestine, lebanon, palestinian islamic jihad (pij), israel, israel-hamas conflict, al-quds brigades https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/pro-palestinian-solidarity-rally-canceled-in-berlin-1114048208.html Pro-Palestinian Solidarity Rally Canceled in Berlin Pro-Palestinian Solidarity Rally Canceled in Berlin A pro-Palestinian rally that was initially scheduled to take place near Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate on Wednesday has been canceled, according to the citys police website. 2023-10-09T18:11+0000 2023-10-09T18:11+0000 2023-10-09T18:11+0000 world israel europe palestine hamas berlin brandenburg gate palestinian authority germany rally /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/09/1114047871_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bbd976ec8579d8111cafbebd28c2fa1b.jpg The "Rally in Solidarity with the Palestinian Population of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Prisoners in Israel" was due to begin in Pariser Platz late in the afternoon. A German magazine reported that 100 participants signed up for the event before the registration was withdrawn. Berlin police website shows that another "Demonstration in Solidarity with Palestine" is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (14:00 GMT). Participants will gather in Richardplatz in Neukoelln district and march toward Kottbusser Tor square in central Kreuzberg district. No new rallies of solidarity with Israel have been registered. Thousands demonstrated in support of Israel on Sunday, a day after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict flared up anew. Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, prompting retaliation from Israel against the Palestinian exclave, home to more than 2 million. Israel's security cabinet officially declared a state of war on Sunday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/french-police-record-dozens-of-anti-semitic-acts-amid-israeli-palestinian-crisis-1114047272.html israel palestine berlin germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International israel, palestine, hamas, gaza strip, berlin, germany, rally in support https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/republicans-point-fingers-in-wake-of-crisis-in-israel-as-party-feuds-over-foreign-policy-1114024636.html Republicans Point Fingers in Wake of Crisis in Israel as Party Feuds Over Foreign Policy Republicans Point Fingers in Wake of Crisis in Israel as Party Feuds Over Foreign Policy Former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley appeared on US television to denounce the Biden Administrations diplomatic engagement with Iran, a common refrain among Republicans in the aftermath of Hamas attack on Israel Saturday. 2023-10-09T00:15+0000 2023-10-09T00:15+0000 2023-10-09T04:00+0000 americas nikki haley donald trump palestine-israel conflict israel gop gop republicans republicans party joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/0f/1107468548_0:0:2656:1495_1920x0_80_0_0_d16d916bff2d201793757564a95d3291.jpg Republicans intra-party feud over American foreign policy intensified Sunday with various candidates for the partys presidential nomination exchanging views about the countrys role in international affairs.Former US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley appeared on US television to denounce the Biden Administrations diplomatic engagement with Iran, a common refrain among Republicans in the aftermath of Hamas attack on Israel Saturday.You saw that when those planes full of cash sent by Obama to Iran What happened was those funds were sent to Hezbollah in Lebanon. They were sent to Hamas in Gaza. They were sent to the Houthis in Yemen. They go and spread terrorism every time they get a dollar.Republicans have criticized diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran since the Obama administration, when Joe Biden served as vice president. The US has sanctioned the Middle Eastern country since the hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979.More recently, the Biden administration released frozen Iranian funds in a prisoner swap deal with the country. The deal stipulated the $6 billion could only be used for humanitarian purposes. But Republicans have pointed out the fungible nature of the assets, arguing the deal frees up resources for Iran to fund terrorist groups.Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) echoed Haleys remarks on the X social media platform Sunday, claiming Bidens negotiation funded the attack.Meanwhile, former US Vice President Mike Pence joined Haley on the neoconservative wing of his party, finding fault with other Republicans calls for foreign policy restraint.Foreign policy has emerged as a major debate for Republicans as some leaders within the US political party have called for a return to the muscular approach of the George W. Bush administration.Former US president and 2024 contender Donald Trump became known as a critic of US foreign policy, famously calling the countrys invasion of Iraq a big, fat mistake. But the former Republican president has also advocated for improved relations with Russia and has claimed he has a good relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin.The United States devotes more money to defense spending than the next 10 countries combined while funding more than 700 military bases around the world. americas israel iran 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 biden administration, donald trump, israel, gop, us republican party, nikki haley, us foreign policy, joe biden, israel-hamas conflict, iran https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/russia-exposes-new-members-of-military-bio-programs-in-ukraine-1114033955.html Russia Exposes New Members of Military Bio Programs in Ukraine Russia Exposes New Members of Military Bio Programs in Ukraine Moscow has repeatedly said that it wants explanations from Kiev and Washington on their military bio laboratories across the Ukrainian territory. 2023-10-09T13:41+0000 2023-10-09T13:41+0000 2023-10-09T13:41+0000 world russia us ukraine military pentagon laboratory research /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107718/19/1077181976_0:107:1024:683_1920x0_80_0_0_bb46035158c287f1aba763acbb7dce6b.jpg The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has published a new list of representatives of government agencies and companies of the US and Ukraine involved in the implementation of the dual-use bioresearch, Commander of the Russian Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov said at a news briefing on Monday.He recalled that the MoD had previously cited participants in the American military-biological programs, among them US Department of Defense officials, biotechnology corporations and Pentagon contractors.Today we would like to supplement this list with representatives of government agencies and private companies in the US and Ukraine, the general said.Additionally, the list comprises Mikhail Usaty, deputy head of the sanitary and epidemiological department of the Ukrainian Armed Force (UAF), who has overseen the organization of work within the framework of DITRA projects in Ukraine since 2018.New participants also include Tatyana Kiryazova, the executive director of the Ukrainian Institute of Public Health Policy, who oversaw a Kiev-Washington study on pathogens in the Odessa-based Mechnikov Research Anti-Plague Institute.Kirillov stressed that the information about the organizers and participants in the US military-biological program will be handed to the Russian Investigative Committee.Article 5, in particular, stipulates that signatories must consult and cooperate with each other in resolving any questions that may arise in relation with the implementation of the provisions of the convention.According to Kirillov, the documents obtained by the Russian side confirm the activities of key Pentagon contractors on the African continent, namely, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa.According to Kirillov, refusing to work on a verification protocol under the Biological Weapons Convention, the US establishes administrative and technical structures that can be involved in the dual-use research, including for offensive purposes.The Russian MoD earlier revealed that the US had spent more than $200 million to establish biological laboratories in Ukraine, which participated in the American military program. According to Moscow, Rosemont Seneca, the investment fund of Hunter Biden, took part in the financing of the projects. With Washington vehemently denying the existence of any compounds, Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland told lawmakers last year that "biological research facilities" linked to the US were in fact operating in Ukraine.According to the document made public by the Russian military, the bio labs were engaged in various research projects, such as the possible proliferation of typhus and hepatitis in the region, and the possible use of wild migratory birds for the transmission of a highly pathogenic form of avian influenza. russia ukraine 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 moscow's publication of new list of us and ukrainian officials involved in bio military program, us-ukraine military bio program https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/scott-ritter-russia-throws-down-the-nuclear-gauntlet-1114043712.html Scott Ritter: Russia Throws Down the Nuclear Gauntlet Scott Ritter: Russia Throws Down the Nuclear Gauntlet In an appearance at the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club on October 5, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia had successfully tested the Burevestnik nuclear-powered global-range cruise missile." 2023-10-09T16:41+0000 2023-10-09T16:41+0000 2023-10-09T16:42+0000 burevestnik analysis russian weapons russia vladimir putin sergei karaganov russia updates its military doctrine cruise missile sarmat sarmat ballistic missile /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102494/55/1024945562_4:0:3311:1860_1920x0_80_0_0_6bb4a0273b91b3a20c2bf4c4dd67435c.jpg This effectively brought to fruition a journey he had announced back in a speech delivered on March 1, 2018 when he unveiled a series of new Russian strategic weapons designed as a response to Americas continued nullification of arms control agreements regarding missile defense. In his 2008 address, Putin outlined the efforts undertaken by Russia over the years to get the US to scale back missile defense programs Russia viewed as representing an existential threat to its survival. You didnt listen to our country then, Putin concluded. Listen to us now.Chief among Russias concerns was that continued US pursuit of missile defense capabilities, when coupled with an American nuclear posture that envisioned the possibility of pre-emptive nuclear war, could create the conditions in which US nuclear war planners could believe that an American first strike designed to neutralize Russias strategic nuclear capability, when combined with a missile defense shield the US believed could shoot down most, if not all, of any Russian missiles that might survive such an attack, might actually be viable.In the audience at the Valdai Discussion Club was Sergei Karaganov, a well-known Russian political scientist who, in an article titled A Difficult but Necessary Decision, published on June 13, 2023, in the journal Russia in Global Affairs, articulated in favor of Russia moving away from a nuclear posture based upon assured nuclear retaliation to one that favored pre-emption. We will have to make nuclear deterrence a convincing argument again, Karaganov wrote, by lowering the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons set unacceptably high, and by rapidly but prudently moving up the deterrence-escalation ladder.If such a madman did, in fact exist, then, Karaganov noted, we will have to hit a bunch of targets in a number of countries in order to bring those who have lost their mind to reason. Morally, this is a terrible choice as we will use Gods weapon, thus dooming ourselves to grave spiritual losses. But if we do not do this, not only Russia can die, but most likely the entire human civilization will cease to exist.President Putin, using the prerogative that is accrued through his position, called on Karaganov to ask a question. This was no accident, given the outcry that had followed the publication of Karaganovs article, which led to much speculation that Putin was considering adopting a nuclear posture along the lines proposed by Karaganov. The Russan academic did not disappoint, asking the Russian President whether it was not time for Russia to change its approach to nuclear arms and restore its deterrent strength in the eyes of Western elites who repeat endlessly that Russia is weak.It was a trap. I have read your article, Putin responded, before laying out a detailed answer that made it clear to all who listened that the Russian president did not agree with Karaganovs thesis. From the moment the launch of missiles is detected, Putin said, no matter where it comes fromfrom any point of the world ocean or from any territorysuch a number, so many hundreds of our missiles appear in the air in a retaliatory strike that there is no chance of survival there will be no single enemy left, and in several directions at once. Putin urged America to understand that any threats against Russia are absolutely unacceptable for any potential aggressor.In short, President Putin was reinvigorating the Cold War-era nuclear posture of mutually assured destruction as Russias go-to nuclear doctrine.Moreover, Putin noted, Russia would launch a nuclear attack against any country or countries that threaten its continued existence as a sovereign state, regardless of whether the threat posed is by nuclear arms or conventional arms. Since there is no such existential threat to Russia today, the Russian President concluded, there is no reason to threaten the use of nuclear arms.However, Putin said, there was one aspect of Russian nuclear policy that could, and indeed should, be changedRussias ratification of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The United States, Putin noted, had signed the treaty, but had never ratified it. Given Russias modernization of its nuclear arsenal, which included, in addition to the Burevestnik cruise missile, the Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile, the Poseidon nuclear torpedo, and hypersonic delivery vehicles, many in the Russian military were demanding that Russia resume nuclear testing to be sure that the new cutting-edge strategic weapons systems that constitute the heart of Russias strategic nuclear forces perform as intended.Putin observed that this very same question had been discussed in the United States by its military officials, who were, de jure, unrestrained by a treaty that had not been ratified, and as such never entered into force.Thus, the big news out of the Valdai Discussion Club isnt a new Russian missile or nuclear posture. The big news is that the Russian president will be sending a bill to the Russian Duma that would revoke Russias ratification of the test ban treaty. Russia wont be the first to resume testing of nuclear weapons. But if the United States were to go down that path, then Russia would respond immediately. The important point here is that any US testing would be done in support of either legacy nuclear weapons that are in dire need of being replaced, or future nuclear weapons which have yet to be developed and fielded.Russia, as Putin underscored, has already modernized its nuclear force. If the United States were to resume a nuclear arms race by returning to nuclear testing, Russia would begin such a race with an insurmountable lead in nuclear delivery systems.Game, set, matchRussia.Its high time that some sanity be interjected into the nuclear policies of the United States where the fundamentals of nuclear arms control and disarmament are re-embraced. By pushing back against Sergei Karaganovs proposal, Putin has proven to Russia and the entire world the rationality that governs his consideration of the life-and-death realities associated with nuclear weapons.America needs a leader capable of backing up against those who continue to articulate a nuclear posture born from the fantasy of continued American exceptionalism. But the only thing exceptional about such thinking is the depravity of moral consciousness that attends to any notion of legitimizing preemptive nuclear war. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231006/how-russian-stormbringer-nuclear-cruise-missile-can-help-bankrupt-us-war-machine-1113988401.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230528/why-nato-has-no-right-to-complain-about-russian-nukes-in-belarus-1110654526.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230730/blinken-says-nuclear-war-threat-no-worse-than-climate-change-1112268168.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230809/us-imperialism-pushing-new-nuclear-arms-race-1112485776.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.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 Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg ballistic missile, nuclear torpedo, intercontinental ballistic missile, russian nukes, russia-us war, us-russia war, third world war, 3d world war, ww3, vladimir putin, american exceptionalism, american hegemony https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/switzerland-offers-to-mediate-between-israel-hamas-1114050919.html Switzerland Offers to Mediate Between Israel, Hamas Switzerland Offers to Mediate Between Israel, Hamas Bern said it was convinced that only a two-state solution, negotiated by both parties in accordance with international law, could lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. 2023-10-09T20:57+0000 2023-10-09T20:57+0000 2023-10-09T20:57+0000 world switzerland palestine-israel conflict /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/09/1096164122_0:292:3071:2019_1920x0_80_0_0_6c208afc26677c5ac2ba7edd820c6b1d.jpg Bern said it was convinced that only a two-state solution, negotiated by both parties in accordance with international law, could lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis met on Monday with the Israeli ambassador and the representative of the Palestinian Authority in Bern to take stock of the situation. The alpine nation will set up a task force to deal with the legal, consular, humanitarian, security and communication issues resulting from the conflict. There are some 28,000 Swiss nationals and their family members in Israel and the Israel-occupied Palestinian territories. Switzerland criticized the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday. It called for the immediate release of hostages taken by Hamas and a prompt end to fighting, which is estimated to have killed hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians. switzerland 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 switzerland, israel-hamas conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/un-security-council-does-not-adopt-statement-on-israel-palestine-conflict-1114026130.html UN Security Council Does Not Adopt Statement on Israel-Palestine Conflict UN Security Council Does Not Adopt Statement on Israel-Palestine Conflict The UN Security Council did not adopt any statement on the recent escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told reporters on Sunday. 2023-10-09T04:49+0000 2023-10-09T04:49+0000 2023-10-09T04:49+0000 world middle east palestine-israel conflict israel palestine the united nations (un) un security council (unsc) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/08/11/1112670873_0:205:3071:1932_1920x0_80_0_0_f7ad48ccb4354b983ef171af0fad0f06.jpg Permanent Representative of Malta to the UN Vanessa Frazier, in turn, said that none of the states proposed a draft statement. At the same time, she noted that all members of the Security Council condemned the Hamas attack on Israel. UAE Permanent Representative to the UN Lana Zaki Nusseibeh added that UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland made a report on the situation in the conflict zone. 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. The Israeli government announced on Sunday that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country officially entered a state of war. Both sides report hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation of the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231008/whats-behind-new-gaza-war-and-how-could-it-affect-the-mideast-region-1114020869.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 united nations, middle east, middle east crisis, un secority council, israel vs hamas Hong Kong: Lam Sai-hung to visit Vietnam Secretary for Transport & Logistics Lam Sai-hung will lead a delegation of Hong Kong Logistics Development Council members on a visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam, tomorrow morning. Mr Lam and the delegation will visit various facilities, including airport cargo systems and an intelligent logistics park, to learn about logistics developments in the country. They will also meet representatives from Vietnams chambers of commerce and trade, with a view to promoting Hong Kongs advantages as an international logistics hub, and strengthening logistics ties between Vietnam and Hong Kong. In addition, Mr Lam will meet local government officials. Mr Lam will return to Hong Kong in the evening of October 13. During his absence, Under Secretary for Transport & Logistics Liu Chun-san will be Acting Secretary. This story has been published on: 2023-10-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Shanghai in the eyes of global executives: a vital innovation hub (People's Daily App) 14:20, October 09, 2023 Severin Schwan, the chief executive officer of Roche Group and vice chairman of the 34th IBLAC session, shares his story with Shanghai, praising it as an essential innovation hub and the gateway to the world. Based in Shanghai since 1926, his company has witnessed China's remarkable development and has experienced multiple instances of cross-cultural communication in the city. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun) https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/us-army-chief-says-need-support-from-congress-to-help-israel-ukraine-simultaneously-1114048502.html US Army Chief Says Need Support From Congress to Help Israel, Ukraine Simultaneously US Army Chief Says Need Support From Congress to Help Israel, Ukraine Simultaneously The US military will need additional support from Congress to be able to provide security assistance to Ukraine and Israel at the same time, US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Monday. 2023-10-09T18:16+0000 2023-10-09T18:16+0000 2023-10-09T18:16+0000 world israel ukraine christine wormuth congress us army iron dome palestine-israel conflict us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/1b/1083012600_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8ba424d7d823116f3869e64a4caed70a.jpg "One thing that is really important in terms of munitions in particular and our ability to support both potentially the Israelis and the Ukrainian simultaneously is additional funding from Congress to be able to increase our capacity [...] and then to also pay for the munitions themselves," Wormuth said during a press conference. The army chief expressed hope that they will soon get the backing needed from Congress. On Sunday, the United States announced it was providing Israel with security assistance that will begin arriving in the coming days. US lawmakers also hope to immediately approve legislation to provide further security assistance to Israel, including to replenish its Iron Dome air defense system, but there is concern that the lack of a House speaker may delay that process. The House of Representatives cannot engage in normal business until a new House speaker is elected. Last week, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was voted out of the job in a historic first. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/will-us-put-ukraine-on-back-burner-while-aiding-israel-1114045255.html israel ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us aid for ukraine, israel, hamas, palestine, gaza strip, israel-hamas conflict, iron domes, israel asks us for help https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/watch-russian-strike-hammer-ukrainian-fortification--1114031597.html Watch Russian Strike Hammer Ukrainian Fortification Watch Russian Strike Hammer Ukrainian Fortification After over four months of counteroffensive attempt, Ukraine failed to achieve any meaningful goals on the battlefield and suffered tremendous losses. 2023-10-09T10:52+0000 2023-10-09T10:52+0000 2023-10-10T07:44+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ukrainian counteroffensive attempt russian armed forces video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/09/1114030268_37:0:688:366_1920x0_80_0_0_1d9a2cabee234b583b9ebc62f78d5ef0.jpg Sputnik has obtained footage showing Russia's military decimating a building that served as a hub for Ukrainian militants outside Donetsk. The destruction of the foothold thwarted another counterattack by the enemy.The Kiev regime launched its counteroffensive more than four months ago. The effort was endlessly touted by Ukrainian politicians, who promised to turn the tide on the battlefield with the help of Western military equipment. Nonetheless, the ill-trained Ukrainian recruits came up against Russia's solid defenses and well-laid minefields, suffering tremendous losses in manpower and equipment. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russian forces thwart enemy's counterattack in Donetsk direction Russian forces thwart enemy's counterattack in Donetsk direction 2023-10-09T10:52+0000 true PT0M28S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sergey Lebedev ukrainian crisis, ukraine counteroffensive, ukraine losses, russia military ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/who-do-middle-eastern-countries-support-in--israel-hamas-conflict-1114044403.html Who Do Middle Eastern Countries Support in Israel-Hamas Conflict? Who Do Middle Eastern Countries Support in Israel-Hamas Conflict? Hostilities have been raging around the Gaza Strip after Hamas units invasion to surrounding lands. The current escalation is projected to become one of the largest in the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 2023-10-09T17:07+0000 2023-10-09T17:07+0000 2023-10-09T17:22+0000 hamas israel palestine-israel conflict israel-gaza conflict israeli-palestinian conflict hezbollah palestinians middle east antony blinken iran /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/09/1114028735_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a61a39351f89a0251a2b5d239d52d2a2.jpg Both Israel and the Gaza Strip have found themselves in the middle of a complex conflict, in which different countries support different sides. For his part, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reportedly spoken to several foreign ministers from Arab countries, asking them to condemn the Hamas actions. The majority of Arab countries, especially the monarchies of Persian Gulf, have close political and financial ties with the US. In September, Blinken and foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council agreed to strengthen ties in defense and security. The US and Gulf foreign ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to free navigation and maritime security in the Gulf region in a move against what Washington believes to be an "Iranian threat" in the region.Sputnik tracked how regional countries have reacted to the latest developments in Israel and Palestine, and whether this connects with its US relations.The UAE became the first Arab country to condemn Hamas' actions.The [Foreign] Ministry stressed that attacks by Hamas against Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza strip, including the firing of thousands of rockets at population centers, are a serious and grave escalation. The Ministry is appalled by reports that Israeli civilians have been abducted 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, wrote the official ministry press release.It also noted, The Ministry deeply mourns the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives as a result of the outbreak of violence, and calls on both parties to de-escalate and avoid an expansion of the heinous violence with tragic consequences affecting civilian lives and facilities."The statement was announced right after UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan's call with Blinken.An official statement made by Bahrain stressed the need for de-escalation between Palestinians and Israelis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain is supporting the peace process and establishing the Palestinian state according to the two-state solution and other international legitimacy resolutions."The Kingdom of Bahrain is closely following the developments taking place between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces, leading to an increase in violence and armed attacks that claimed the lives of a number of people and injured others, noted the Foreign Ministry.The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs through an official statement on Twitter calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, the protection of civilians, and restraint." Nevertheless, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reminded the deprivation of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights." But Saudi Arabia did not blame Israel for the escalation.On Saturday, in a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Blinken said the Kingdom should clearly condemn the attack, State Department officially said. Nevertheless, the Saudi Foreign Ministry did not include any criticism of the attack or of Hamas. So, Saudi officials appear to be taking a wait-and-see stance.The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially stated that Israel is solely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people." Doha also expressed deep concern over the developments in the region and called for de-escalation as quickly as possible.Earlier on Monday, Western outlets reported that Doha is mediating talks to swap Hamas-held hostages in coordination with the United States. But neither Israel, Qatar nor Palestine has confirmed this information. Later in the day, Hamas spokesman Husam Badran denied to Sputnik that any negotiations with Israel on prisoners exchange are taking place.Kuwait officially expressed its "grave concern" over developments between Israel and the Palestinians, blaming Israel for what it called its "blatant attacks."Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for the international community, especially the Security Council, to take responsibility and stop the ongoing violence, protect the Palestinian people and put an end to the provocative actions of the occupation authorities."Kuwait is one of the countries that strictly denies any contact with Israel.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman called on Palestinians and Israelis to exercise restraint. Oman also highlighted strategic necessity to find a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause on the basis of the two-state solution."The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Yemen officially blamed Israel for the current escalation. The ministry called for the protection of civilians and an end to the provocations of the Israeli occupation forces and their repeated attacks on the Palestinian people and their sanctities."Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed his full support for the Palestinian people to act against the aggressive actions of the Zionist regime during telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian on Sunday.However, the Foreign Ministry of Iraq has not issued any official statement yet. This may be connected with close ties with both the US and Iran at the same time.Syria's Foreign Ministry issued an official statement expressing support for the Palestinian people and the forces fighting against Zionist terrorism."Moreover, Damascus described Hamas' actions as honourable achievement that proves the only way for Palestinians to obtain their legitimate rights is resistance in all its forms."The Lebanon's Foreign Ministry issued no official statements on the Israeli-Hamas conflict. That said, Lebanon's Hezbollah, which operates on Southern Lebanon near the Israeli border, praised Hamas for its heroic operation in a statement. Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for shelling Israeli territory during the escalation.Jordan's King Abdullah said on Sunday there was a need to intensify diplomatic efforts to prevent escalating Israel-Palestinian violence with dangerous repercussions for the region's security.He also called for urgent international action to avoid an escalation and prevent the region from the consequences of a new round of violence."In turn, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned both Palestinian and Israeli sides of the volatility" of the escalation.Egypt warned of the severe dangers posed by current escalation between the Gaza Strip and Israel.Egypt calls for international actors involved in backing the efforts of resuming the peace process to intervene immediately to halt the ongoing escalation, Egypt's Foreign Ministry noted.Egypt has always been a peace process mediator between Israel and Hamas, working with the US. According to media outlets, both Western and local, Egypt tried to bring the parties to the negotiating table, but did not manage to do it.Iran's Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the usurping Zionist regime's attacks against civilian targets in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip." Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani also stated that Hamas' attacks showed increased confidence by the Palestinians against Israel.Iran regards both Israel and the US as its own enemy. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231009/1114027640.html israel iran egypt gaza strip gaza palestine jordan lebanon syria iraq yemen oman kuwait qatar saudi arabia bahrain uae Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Christina Malyk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113208579_137:0:1097:960_100x100_80_0_0_39342d3133a15b1549ec31c158221a34.jpg Christina Malyk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113208579_137:0:1097:960_100x100_80_0_0_39342d3133a15b1549ec31c158221a34.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 Christina Malyk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/08/1113208579_137:0:1097:960_100x100_80_0_0_39342d3133a15b1549ec31c158221a34.jpg israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, middle east crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes Bugaboo Lou became a thorn in the side of 1-9 favourite Confederate through a fast clip. And despite the hot fractions and the persistent pressure, Confederate pummelled his peers to post a 1:48.2 victory in the second of two divisions for the $236,000 Tattersalls Pace at The Red Mile on Sunday, Oct. 8. Starting from post nine, Confederate floated forward looking for seats unavailable, which forced Tim Tetrick to move for the lead after a :26.4 quarter. Bugaboo Lou led the field up the backstretch and refused to yield control to Confederate until Confederate overpowered him past a :53.3 half. To the far turn, Bugaboo Lou could not settle and bullheadedly slung outside to re-engage with Confederate, who with the keen yet weary challenger to the outside snagged a breather to three-quarters in 1:21.3. Through the wide journey in the breeze and the constant pressure, Confederate still shot away to dominate his rivals by two lengths at the line for his eighth straight victory. For Once Inmy Life, a 113-1 shot, snagged second from pocket-sitter Hungry Angel Boy in third with Ants Marching taking fourth. And the rematch waiting to be, was not, since Its My Show, placed second-over to the final turn, levelled off in the stretch and finished seventh. [Bugaboo Lou] was just really grabby, said Tetrick. We went a big half there, [:]53, for today especially. The track really hasnt been playing to the front until the last couple, but good horses overcome the struggles and the problems they come up with. And this horse just keeps proving it every day. My horse still felt really strong. I touched him once and he just came out of his skin. I freaking love him. Hes one of my favourite horses in the world. A colt by Sweet Lou, Confederate has now won 15 times from 18 tries and accrued more than $1.7 million for owner/breeder Diamond Creek Racing. The victory came after Confederate suffered a slight laceration on his knee, which required some stapling earlier in the week. We didnt have a great week, said trainer Brett Pelling. We had a little hiccup earlier in the week, and God bless him, he proved it to me. I raced him today because hes a great horse and great horses come through, and thats what he did. Im very proud of him. Confederate paid $2.32 to win. Diamond Creek took the other Tattersalls Pace division with Cannibal, who pounced but then clung to victory in 1:50. Driver Yannick Gingras settled Cannibal into fourth as Admiral Hill led the field to a :27.1 first quarter with Seven Colors ready to roll from the pocket. Seven Colors took over command up the backside and clicked by a :55.2 half with challenges awaiting to the far turn. Ken Hanover, the slight 8-5 favourite, edged first-over from third and supplied cover to Cannibal moving to three-quarters in 1:23.1. Seven Colors folded from the challenge as the field clumped into the lane with Ken Hanover grabbing a short lead. And then Cannibal kicked off cover to seize control in the closing strides, in which he nearly got usurped by El Rey firing through a seam to the inside. Cannibal kept fast-closing El Rey at bay by a neck while Combustion split through traffic to take third and Ken Hanover settled for fourth. Hes just a beautiful horse thats what makes him the horse he is, hes so handy, said Gingras. Ive left with him 10 weeks in a row and today I figured the strategy would be a little bit different. Hes just so easy going but his handiness is whats making him the horse he is. This guy, dont count him out he loves following speed and hell give you a run in the stretch. Im not saying he can go with Confederate, I dont know if many horses can, but this horse is a very nice horse, too. Cannibal collected his 14th win from 22 starts and has now earned $632,978. Nancy Takter trains the Sweet Lou colt. Cannibal paid $5.44 to win. Each division of the Tattersalls Pace was sponsored by Cameo Hills Farm. Last week, Sylvia Hanover one-upped Twin B Joe Fresh with a 1:48.1 effort in their Bluegrass Stakes matchup at The Red Mile. In separate $115,000 dashes for the Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday, Sylvia Hanover and Twin B Joe Fresh exercised their class to take their respective divisions. Sylvia Hanover steamrolled through the final turn and used a :25.4 final quarter to win the first division of the Glen Garnsey Memorial in 1:49.4 for driver Bob McClure and trainer Mark Steacy. Sent off as the 1-10 favourite, Sylvia Hanover settled into third through a :27.2 first quarter posted by McSeaside with 30-1 shot Sweet Amira sitting second. McSeaside attempted to ration her speed through a :56.2 half and accelerated through the final turn to three-quarters in 1:23.3 as Sylvia Hanover got moving off the pegs. McSeaside stood no match for Sylvia Hanovers charge turning for home, and the Steacy pupil scurried two lengths clear to the finish with Sweet Amira grabbing second. Always B Naughty closed for third and McSeaside held fourth. Shes just a very deep horse, a very fast horse and a very special horse, said McClure. Is there something she cant do? She doesnt want to blast through the mile and cut it that way, but she seems to like chasing horses and knows her job, loves her job and if she stays healthy, its going to be a fun ride. A daughter of Always B Miki, Sylvia Hanover has now won 17 times from 20 starts and has banked more than $1.4 million for Quebec-based owner Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. She takes care of herself and is pretty laid back to the point were kind of worried about it, said Steacy, who right before the race sprinted onto the track to grab a plastic bag blown onto the track by the wind. Shes so easy on herself that she keeps herself good. Sylvia Hanover paid $2.20 to win. Driver Dexter Dunn shut down Twin B Joe Fresh midway through the stretch as she gallivanted around the track to a 1:49.2 victory in the second Glen Garnsey Memorial division for trainer Chris Ryder. Strong Poison pushed for the lead to a :28.1 first quarter but yielded command to Twin B Joe Fresh moving up the backstretch. Strong Poison remained keen on Dunns helmet through a :55.4 half and 1:23.3 three-quarters, but Dunn gave Twin B Joe Fresh her cue to roll into the stretch and she spurted clear in a matter of strides. Building a sizeable cushion to the finish, Twin B Joe Fresh coasted home with Strong Poison cutting into the margin to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length. Hungry For Love finished third, another six lengths behind, and Beach Cowgirl grabbed fourth. I was waiting to see what was going to happen, Dunn said of his tactics in the race. Shes been pretty good out of a hole, so I was sort of aiming at that. Yannick [Gingras, driving Strong Poison] was heading towards the front, but he didnt want to be there so he kind of caught me into coming around. [Twin B Joe Fresh]s such a versatile filly that she gives me options. I was just going for flow and making my mind up as the race unfolded. A daughter of Roll With Joe, Twin B Joe Fresh tabbed her 17th win from 23 starts and now has earnings of nearly $1.3 million for owners Dunn, Ryder, Peter Trebotica and Barry Spak. Twin B Joe Fresh paid $2.14 to win. Each division of the Glen Garnsey Memorial was sponsored by the Downbytheseaside Syndicate and Diamond Creek Farm. (With files from The Red Mile; Photos by Amanda Stephens, clockwise from top left: Confederate, Cannibal, Twin B Joe Fresh and Sylvia Hanover) In a deja vu effort, Hambletonian champion Tactical Approach got locked at the pylons but had the red seas of clay open to the inside to give him room to dart and grab the lead in the closing strides of the $450,000 Kentucky Futurity, another Trotting Triple Crown event, on Sunday, Oct. 8 at The Red Mile. Driver Scott Zeron, unlike in his Hambletonian win earlier this year, sent Tactical Approach forward to a :27.2 first quarter, but soon got mired in a shuffle for the lead. Kilmister came first for the front from post 10 and cleared to the backstretch before yielding to stablemate Oh Well, who had stablemate Air Power on cover moving to a :55.1 half. Tactical Approach then found himself shuffled to sixth and locked inside to the far turn. Air Power took a bad step first-over and jumped stride, leaving Oh Well on the lead and French Wine uncovered. French Wine took his shot at Oh Well through three-quarters in 1:23.4 and forged to a two-length lead coming into the stretch. Oh Well and Kilmister angled off the pylons to take their shots, which paved the way for Tactical Approach to zip through the inside. French Wine trotted to the finish on fumes and drifted just enough to create the final opening for Zeron to sneak through and snag the prize by a head in 1:52 flat. Celebrity Bambino rallied off a shuffle from last to finish third and Kilmister took fourth. I was a little late to the car, which actually got him out on the right foot a lot quicker than I thought I would, putting me in an absolute horrible position, said Zeron afterwards. There was nothing really I could do. It hasnt been great on the front today, so those were the cards we were dealt. I was certainly out of position in the middle of the last turn and the horse overcame it. He made it quite thrilling. I was faithful until the end, winning trainer Nancy Takter said with a laugh when asked about Tactical Approachs eventful trip. The Hambletonian was really when he did start learning to race and Scott would agree that hes just getting better and better every start now. We were playing with the idea of going to Canada [for the Canadian Trotting Classic], but we vetoed that idea because we just wanted to keep him here and get him ready for the Kentucky Futurity. Now onto the Breeders Crown. Tactical Approach won his 10th race from 20 starts and has now entered millionaires row with $1,013,989 in the bank for owners John Fielding, Robert LeBlanc and Joe Sbrocco And JAF Racing. The colt by Tactical Landing won the last two legs of this years Trotting Triple Crown, having scored a similar pylon-skimming upset in the $1 million Hambletonian on Aug. 5. Sent off as the 3-5 favourite on Sunday, he paid $3.44 to win. Prince Of Honor won the photo in the $50,000 Kentucky Futurity Consolation earlier in the card for Filly Futurity-winning trainer Carter Pinske and driver Todd McCarthy. McCarthy launched the gelding into action after sitting fourth through the first three-quarters of a mile to put a neck in front of pocket-popper Djimon in 1:52.1 with Espresso rallying from near last for third. The son of Walner competes for owner Pinske Stables and David Hoese. He paid $4.16 to win. The 2023 Kentucky Futurity was presented by Hunterton Farms, Stoner Manor Inc. and Menhammer Stuteri AB. (With files from The Red Mile) Workinitonbroadway topped the trotters in Leamington Raceway's featured Preferred 4 for trainer/driver Donnie Rankin while Garrett Rooney dominated the drivers with a five-win performance on Sunday, Oct. 8. Workinitonbroadway popped the pocket off the final turn in the afternoon's $5,500 eighth race and glided to a three-length victory in 2:01 with Jooner closing off a three-hole trip to take the runner-up honours as pacesetter Ranger Rob (:28.1, :58, 1:29.2) settled for third. "The pace was good and he got to sit in a long time and he's a classy old horse, he knows what to do," said Rankin, who trains, drives and co-owns Workinitonbroadway with Chris Hadrian. Since arriving in Canada this summer, the trotter has not missed a cheque competing in the Preferred ranks on Ontario's B circuit. Workinitonbroadway, who won his only other start at the Leamington half-mile oval on Sept. 3, was the 2-5 favourite and paid $2.80 to win in his return. The seven-year-old Broadway Hall gelding now has 41 career wins and $345,748 in lifetime earnings. Rooney, Leamington's leading driver of the meet, swept half of Sunday's 10 races and now has a total of 28 wins for a 13-win lead in the local standings over Nick Steward. Rooney won with Livin Large ($3.50) to top a George Robinson trainee exacta in the third race and went right back out to take the next race with Cameron McQueen's back-to-back winner Rocket Girl ($2.60). His next victory was in an accident marred sixth race with Dirtiest Piglet ($12.30) unaffected on the lead for trainer Tom Bain. The accident occurred when the maiden three-year-old filly Acefortyfour Diva got steppy racing in the pocket spot and rolled off stride as the field passed the half-mile mark. Most of the pacers were able to get around the breaker, except for Backroad Boogie, who hooked wheels at the back of the pack into the turn, which caused Steward to be jostled from Acefortyfour Diva's sulky. Steward was back on his feet quickly after the incident and resumed driving. Rooney picked up another win in the seventh race with Century J Rock ($2.50), who completed a training double (two-for-two) for the Michael Carther stable after Rankin drove his Paparazzi Hanover ($7.70) to an earlier win. Rooney earned his final victory of the day -- and his 194th victory overall this year -- with Ernest Nussio's Faithfuls Nola in the ninth. To view Sunday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway. This weeks question was given to me verbally. The citizen was concerned that when she was west bound from Uptown Scottsbluff, formerly known as Monument Mall, approaching the intersection of East 24th Street and Circle Drive. At the intersection, there used to be a stop sign there for the west bound traffic. The citizen reported that the stop sign is no longer there and she wondered if she and other motorists were still required to stop before entering Circle Drive. The citizen noted that there is still a stop sign posted for east bound traffic on East 24th Street at Circle Drive. The answer to the question is yes, you still should stop, and here is why: First of all, the road located on the northwest side of Uptown Scottsbluff that connects the Uptown Scottsbluff parking lot to Circle Drive and East 24th Street is a private driveway, not a public street. Scottsbluff City Ordinance 22-2-3 says, The driver of a vehicle entering a street from an alley or a private driveway or road shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on such street, and shall not enter such street unless able to do so without slowing the speed of vehicles upon such street. This applies any time that you are on a private driveway and are entering a public street. This includes any private parking lot, and even your residential driveway. Just in case you are not in Scottsbluff and think that this law no longer applies Nebraska traffic law 60-6,149 is the same law and it applies statewide. I suspect that other states and cities have similar rules. This law also applies to bicycle riders. While we are on the subject of stopping even though there is not a stop sign. lets take a look at Scottsbluff City Ordinance 22-2-28: All vehicles, before crossing a sidewalk when emerging from any building, alley, filling station or other place, shall come to a complete stop, and after giving sufficient warning, may proceed slowly with extreme caution while crossing such sidewalk. The term slowly shall be construed to mean such rate of speed as is reasonable and proper under the circumstances and condition of the street and the traffic within the immediate vicinity. Most alleys and private driveways in Scottsbluff have a sidewalk crossing them, so the best practice is to stop anytime before entering a street. Something I have noticed on traffic stops recently: I have had several motorists not carrying their drivers licenses with them. Some of the motorists instead offer a picture of their license on their phone, saying that they heard it was OK to do that. Digital copies of drivers licenses are not allowed. You need to have the license with you, there should not be anyone holding your license for you. Same thing with the car registration, it needs to be in the vehicle. We do accept digital copies of your proof of insurance. Failing to have your license with you can result in a citation with a $25 fine and $49 court cost for a total of $74. I am in need of questions and interested in yours. If you have any police related questions, please submit them to policeinfo@scottsbluff.org. 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. McClelland's 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. She'll put the $235 she was spending on her car payment toward her student loan, but that still leaves another $270 or so she'll 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, I'm 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 doesn't know how he's going to come up with the $166 a month he'll owe starting in October. That's the estimated payment on his roughly $19,000 of loans from paying for college more than 10 years ago. "I'm already in a mountain of debt, and while I just got a raise at work, it doesn't go into effect until we're 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, I'd be ecstatic." The Supreme Court in July rejected a plan by President Joe Biden's 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 Reserve's 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. She's 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 it's still stressful," she said. "I have to find about $500 a month starting next month towards this payment that I haven't 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 Biden's original plan for forgiveness in July, the White House said it will use the Higher Education Act to bring cancellation to more borrowers. It's 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 didn't 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 didn't 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 you're 17 or 18 years old, you think, 'Oh, sure, I'll figure this out.' Then it's 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? One year ago, Cadence Mooresville installed a new camera system aimed at helping determine causes of falls and hopefully eliminate obstacles that caused the mishap. The camera system, from a company called SafelyYou, which has been installed in Cadences Memory Care Unit, has already paid dividends in terms of alerting staff to falls and giving the facility a recorded image to determine what caused that fall, said Amy Newman, Cadence director, said. In one case, she said, after the fall was detected, the camera footage was reviewed and it was determined that the resident was pushing a TV tray around and that caused him to slide down to the floor. That enabled the staff to remove the TV tray to prevent another fall. The camera system is optional for family members to have in a residents room, Newman said. George Netscher, CEO of SafelyYou, explained that the camera system is not a live feed but it sends an alert if a fall is detected and enables the staff to review the footage to determine what happened. We can look at it for 10 minutes prior and 10 minutes after and see what led up to the fall, Benjamin said. The camera can capture everything in the residents room except in the bathroom. Netscher said the product came about as a result of his familys experience with dementia and Alzheimers. I knew I wanted to find somehow to use AI (artificial intelligence) to help with Alzheimers or dementia, he said. He said he spent five years testing the camera system and initially installed it in one memory care unit. They had an 80 percent reduction in falls, he said. We took it out to 11 memory communities and saw a reduction in falls. From there the number of memory care units opting to install the system continued to grow. Now, in North Carolina alone, there are seven communities using the system, and nationwide the system is in use in 36 states. Its been incredible, he said. Its helping with about 10,000 falls a month. One of those falls that the system helped detect at Cadence happened to Diane Hennings father, who is 80. She said when her father was moved to Cadence her family was given the option of having the SafelyYou system installed. They let us know in the introductory package. As soon as we heard about it, we said yes. We thought it was a really good idea, she said. That decision turned out to be a wise one as her father fell. They were able to go back and review the camera and see where he hit his side. It was awesome. She said her father gets a little unstable on his feet and theyve been encouraging the use of a walker, but he doesnt always use the walker. He was standing at his dresser and got off balance and tilted back a little bit. The monitor went off and they were able to help him. He couldnt tell us what happened. The staff checked his vitals and he seemed OK, Henning said. It really gave me a sense of comfort. Its extra protection, she said. Newman said thats the reason the facility offers the system to residents. It lets us see what led up to the fall and the staff reaction. It can help prevent future falls, she said. If theres an obstacle in the way we can remove it. Because the residents in the memory care unit may slip to the floor and get up on their own, the staff might not know the person suffered a fall. Those falls or those when the resident is found in the floor are called silent falls, and without knowing what caused the fall, addressing the obstacle or reason for the fall is difficult, she said. She said 22 of the 24 residents in the memory care unit are being monitored by the system. She said the system has been a positive addition to the memory care unit, and theyre hoping to expand it at some point. Were hoping to get it in our assisted living unit, she said. Netscher commended those facilities that have decided to use SafelyYou. This is highlighting how good that community is. There are really good folks in this industry, he said. He said he believes this is just the beginning of what AI can do to help people. There are so many things we can do, he said. And, he added, its not just a product to him. This is such a responsibility, to help people that cant necessarily help themselves. Looking back in time, half-brothers Phillip Bucky Blevins and Shane Blevins both use the word mentor to describe Shanes role in Buckys life. On Nov. 18, 2016, Shane, a then retired U.S. Air Force major, swore Bucky in as a U.S. Air Force officer. However, in recent months, the men have become estranged and Shane Blevins has made public his allegations that Bucky Blevins forged medical records to enter military service. In July, Shane Blevins sent an email message to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares following his endorsement of Bucky Blevins campaign for Smyth County Commonwealths Attorney. Then, in August, Shane Blevins forwarded the materials to the News & Messenger. Shane Blevins wrote that Miyares endorsement of Bucky Blevins, running as a Republican, comes with significant risks. Shane Blevins went on to caution Miyares, a Republican: Quite simply, this could impact Virginias elections in the future with another liberal takeover. In the email, Shane Blevins wrote, He [Bucky Blevins] was disapproved for entry into the Air Force due to his use of prescription ADHD medication before and during law school. Air Force policy prohibits acceptance for service if such medications are used within one year. The email continued, In his application to join the Air Force JAG Corps he was required to submit medical records. These included notes from Dr. Robert Van Clampitt and pharmacy records from Greevers Drug. Upon his Air Force denial, he forged the medical records with Vans signature and resubmitted to gain approval to enter the Air Force. How do I know this? Shane Blevins wrote. He sent me copies via email which I have attached for you [sic] review. As you will see in the attachments Bucky acknowledged that he fixed the records. Additionally, during subsequent conversations he stated the same to me. Shane Blevins attached what he said are the forged records from Family Physicians of Marion, where Clampitt practices. Dated for late 2013, the alleged records say, in part: Patient concerned about performance on law school exams. Patient requested evaluation of ADD [Attention Deficit Disorder] for prescription. Patient given x10 placebo Advil for trial to r/o [rule out] ADD. A second alleged Family Physicians of Marion follow-up record, provided by Shane Blevins, read: Patient reported placebo drug to be effective. Patients concerns/condition was triggered by stress of taking a law school final exam. No further treatment prescribed. No dx [diagnosis] of ADD. Will recheck at patient request. Clampitt had not returned messages from the News & Messenger by press time nor had Miyares office answered a Sept. 9 email request for response. Bucky Blevins response to the allegations is unequivocal. In a written statement to the News & Messenger, he said, Claims that I falsified any aspect of my military or medical records are outlandish, untrue, and defamatory. I am embarrassed for my estranged half-brother, my opponent, and his supporters for stooping to this low level. Bucky Blevins, who currently serves as a deputy commonwealths attorney, went on to request his medical records from Family Physicians of Marion and provided a copy to the News & Messenger. The available records only went back to 2020. A Medication Flow Sheet indicated no prescription medications and one over-the-counter allergy drug. What appeared to be a medical history chart included no mention of ADD. Virginia law requires medical records, either original or accurate reproductions, shall be preserved for a minimum of five years following discharge of the patient. The News & Messenger reached out to Greevers Drug Store in Chilhowie. Brent Foster, of Greevers, said, HIPPA rules prevent him from confirming if an individual is even a patient or not at a particular pharmacy. Regardless, prescription records from the time of the alleged use would also likely not be available as Virginia law says, A hard copy prescription shall be placed on file for every initial prescription dispensed and be maintained for two years from the date of last refill. Foster confirmed the two-year requirement as well as a 10-year mandate for Medicare records. In response to the allegations, Bucky Blevins has retained the Kilgore Law Firm to represent him in potential civil litigation. When asked if he intends to file suit against Shane Blevins, Bucky Blevins said, Sufficient evidence exists to file suit against several individuals, including my estranged half-brother. I am incredibly disappointed and saddened at his actions. This is a decision I will not make emotionally or lightly. Bucky Blevins also alleged, My estranged half-brother has deployed fictitious social media accounts that have spread malicious lies about me in hopes of derailing my political campaign. He later said, An Internet Protocol address believed to be linked to my estranged half-brother recently sent two derogatory emails to my campaign. The first email demands [that] I bow out of the CWA race, and goes onto make highly offensive comments. The second email attacks my family on a personal level and is too foul and hurtful to share. Bucky Blevins attributes Shane Blevins actions to ill will stemming from our father having deeded the family farm to me and excluding my estranged half-brother from the conveyance. The Deed of Gift, recorded in Smyth County Circuit Court, is dated Feb. 1, 2022 between Phillip L. Blevins Sr. and Phillip L. Blevins Jr. for 97.5 acres in the Rye Valley District and on the Middle Fork of the Holston River. The deed reads, in part: That for no monetary consideration, as a gift of love and affection for the Grantors youngest son, the Grantor does hereby give, grant, and convey unto the said Grantee all the right, title, and interest to the following described property. In a phone interview, Shane Blevins said hed always believed that the farm would end up with Bucky or Buckys late mother. Saying their father didnt raise him, pay child support for him or attend any of his graduations, Shane Blevins said, That farm doesnt mean anything to me. Ive made my own way. He added that he and his wife are extremely blessed and arent wanting. In that same interview, Shane Blevins said he didnt really know Bucky Blevins as a child as Bucky was born the year he graduated from Chilhowie High School and, at the time, he didnt live with his father but with his grandparents. However, over the years, Shane Blevins said he did visit his father and when Bucky was a teenager he expressed an interest in Shanes military service and that he really tried to mentor him [Bucky]. The two men, according to Shane Blevins, had many conversations about the Air Force and Buckys interest in serving as a military attorney, or JAG officer. Bucky also visited with Shane and his family multiple times, according to the older man. When Bucky Blevins was preparing to join the Air Force, Shane Blevins said he attempted to guide him. At the time, the alleged use of Adderall for ADD became an issue, Shane Blevins said he talked to Bucky Blevins and urged him not to pursue altering documents to join the Air Force. In the interview, Shane Blevins said, He did anyway. Shane Blevins contended that Bucky Blevins should have disclosed his alleged use of Adderall when responding to an Air Force follow-up to his physical. During college and law school, Shane Blevins said, Bucky Blevins took it [Adderall] like candy. At one time, any diagnosis of ADD/ADHD would eliminate a candidate from U.S. Air Force service. However, in recent years, the Air Force adjusted its policy to say that an applicant with such a diagnosis must be able to show that theyve been stable and functioning well, professionally or academically, off medication for at least 15 months. Ongoing use or abuse of Adderall, a prescription amphetamine that is a central nervous system stimulant, can lead to dependence. While he has made many decisions in his Air Force service and subsequent career, Shane Blevins said, the decision to not act at the time has kept me awake at night. However, he said, its easier to make such judgment calls when they dont involve someone close or a relative. Shane Blevins did go on to administer the oath of service to Bucky Blevins. Over the years, Shane Blevins said he and Bucky stayed in touch. In December 2021, according to Shane Blevins, Bucky sent him a text saying he was going to leave full-time Air Force service and run for Smyth County Commonwealths Attorney as longtime incumbent Roy Evans was retiring at the end of his term. At the time, Shane Blevins said he told Bucky that he wasnt sure he should run. Everyone has skeletons in their closets, he said. He also said that he cautioned Bucky that he wasnt going to stand by and not make this issue known. With all hes seen and experienced in government service, Shane said, I didnt want to stand by and do nothing. After his retirement for the U.S. Air Force Reserves, Shane Blevins began a career as a civilian with the federal government. Shane Blevins went on to say that he possessed text messages, which would confirm the exchanges and upon request said he would provide them to the News & Messenger. He did not. In working to verify Shane Blevins role with the federal government, which he describes as a Federal Executive, the News & Messenger reached out to the U.S. Department of Energy, which would not confirm his employment. However, as emails were being exchanged with a DOE spokesperson, Shane Blevins texted this reporter, saying, I understand you have contacted the Federal Government seeking information on me. The information I provided you has nothing to do with my current or previous position. I recommend you cease this effort. The U.S. Air Force did confirm Shane Blevins service, noting his retirement rank as major with the Pentagon serving as his last active duty station and operations officer as his last title. The U.S. Air Force Reserves also confirmed Shane Blevins subsequent service, noting that his last duty station was Quantico and his last duty title was operations officer. He retired Jan. 1, 2015 with 23 years and six months of service. During his service, Shane Blevins received a number of decorations and awards, including Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 Service Star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Bucky Blevins continues his service with the Air Force Reserves and on Memorial Day was promoted to the rank of major. In his service with the Air Force and Reserves, Bucky Blevins has held positions in both prosecutorial and defense roles as well as in operations law, military justice, general and civil law, and adverse actions. His service included deployment to Afghanistan as a National Security Law Attorney, where he interpreted rules of engagement and international law for a joint operation. Bucky Blevins has also earned a number of awards and decorations, including the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air and Space Commendation Medal 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal 1 Service Star, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and NATO Medal. In his documents, Shane Blevins also said that Bucky Blevins didnt do well academically at Marion Senior High School and that he didnt pass the Virginia Bar exam on his first attempt. Bucky Blevins doesnt dispute either claim. Academically, he said, I blossomed in college and earned honors with each college degree. I hold degrees from Virginia Highlands Community College, The University of Virginias College at Wise, Appalachian School of Law, and University of Missouri Columbia School of Law, where he earned a masters degree in law. Today, Bucky Blevins said he is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the Supreme Courts of the states of Virginia, District of Columbia, New Jersey, and, most recently, Tennessee. The Virginia Bar also indicates that Bucky Blevins is in good standing. As for the relationship between Shane Blevins and Bucky Blevins opponent Paul Morrison, Shane Blevins acknowledged knowing of Morrison and reaching out to him some months ago with the information he sent to Miyares. In a Sept. 4 campaign Facebook post, Morrison wrote that he knew about Shane Blevins contentions in May. He wrote, In May, Bucky posted a horrible post trying to make it look like I was disparaging his military record and that I was somehow anti-police. Shane Blevins took issue with that post, and reached out to me with what happened 7 years ago when Bucky was trying to get his application approved into the Air Force JAG Corps. Morrison continued, I told Shane back in May, that I could not share the emails between himself and Bucky, and that this was his story, and if he wanted it told, then he would need to get it out there. He tried multiple times apparently, but no one would listen, not the government and not the media. And when he emailed the AG, and never heard back, thats when he decided that the emails should get onto FB. Are they true? I leave that for you to decide. I will say this, I have had 3 months to research Shane Blevins. He gave 25 years of service to our country in the Air Force and had an office in the Pentagon. He is now a Federal Executive. He is a man a character and integrity. If what the emails say is true, then it would disqualify Bucky Blevins from office, and it warrants some kind of investigation. I will leave it at that. In my opinion, Shane Blevins is a fine man, who is highly successful and has served our country well, and I trust him. In response to a News & Messenger question, Bucky Blevins wrote, I will let my opponents statements that he has been in possession of the records in question since May 2023 and that he has had an opportunity to research my estranged half-brother for over 3 months speak for themselves. Regarding any potential impact of Shane Blevins allegations on his campaign, Bucky Blevins said, I ask the voters to ignore it and evaluate me on my record of public service and sincere desire to serve them as their next Commonwealths Attorney. Local Blue Mountain School middle school students Ruby Class whispered with excitement as they unpack the delivery of new laptops in their classroom. The donation of nine laptops, mice, and computer cases from Red Rooster Coffee Roasters in Floyd will allow each of the eight students in the classroom to work simultaneously on typing and research projects. Haden Polseno-Hensley, co-owner of Red Rooster and a Blue Mountain alumni, believes technology is a critical part of education today and Red Rooster is excited to be able to help Blue Mountain students along their journey. Many students in the class expressed their excitement for simultaneous learning now that there are enough computers for all. When asked why this is so important for the students, Bailey Smith-Gardner, age 12, answered, to be able to learn typing and all be able to work at the same time instead of sharing a computer. Porter Alton, age 12 observed that technology opens up a world of possibilities for learning and education. With computers now in the classroom, Connor Hansen, age 12, stated that a computer, expands our range of education. Susan Cordell, the Rubys teacher also noted that, current technology for middle school students requires we empower our students to use technology to leverage active engagement. Also, due to much of the local and global economies, it is important that we teach our students to be responsible digital citizens. In addition, its imperative they learn to be global collaborators and learn how, using current technology, to make meaningful learning experiences for themselves. To further the connection with Blue Mountain School, on Sept. 8, the Ruby class took a field trip to visit the headquarters of Red Rooster. The students and teachers got to experience firsthand the roasting and production side of the company. Tiffany Virtue, Head of Customer Experience at Red Rooster and tour guide for the company expressed how wonderful it was to have the opportunity to hang out with the Blue Mountain School kiddos. I was impressed with all their insightful questions. The highlight of the tour was certainly the excitement over the green beans. The student had the opportunity to see and touch various types of green beans from different countries and learn about coffee origin and the roasting process. Red Rooster is a proud supporter of local schools and the children of Floyd County. During the 2022-2023 school year, Red Rooster launched a new annual scholarship opportunity for graduating seniors of Floyd County High School. In addition, they have supported the schools performing arts with a donation to The Pride of Floyd County Marching Band, as well as a monetary gift to the theater department, allowing them to replace the aging stage spotlight. Red Rooster has also participated in the Springhouse Community Schools internship program by hosting students and providing them hands-on experience. For many years on Teacher Appreciation Day, Red Rooster has donated coffee to local teachers throughout the county. Red Rooster is the only coffee roaster in the country with its own on-site daycare for employees children, aged six weeks to five years. To learn more about Blue Mountain Schools mission of providing a contemplative progressive education to the Floyd community, or to make a donation, visit the schools website at www.bluemountainschool.net. MIAMI The ad sounds like something out of the GOP 2024 playbook, trumpeting a senator's work with Republicans to crack down on the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S., getting tough on Chinese interests helping smugglers, and noting how he "wrote a bill signed by Donald Trump to increase funding for Border Patrol." It's actually a commercial for Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat facing a tough reelection fight that will help decide control of the Senate. "Ohioans trust Sherrod Brown to keep us safe," says the narrator of the ad, sponsored by the Democrat-aligned Duty and Country PAC. His campaign declined to comment. The message is one more indication of the political and security challenges the U.S.-Mexico border presented for President Joe Biden. Some Democrats across the country are distancing themselves from the White House, and polls indicate widespread frustration with Biden's handling of immigration and the border, creating a major liability for the president's bid for reelection. The Biden administration this past week took actions seen by many as moving to the right on immigration. The Department of Homeland Security waived environmental and other reviews to construct new portions of a border wall in South Texas after Biden pledged during the 2020 campaign that he would build "not another foot" of wall. And U.S. officials said they would resume deportations to Venezuela not long after the administration increased protected status for thousands of people from the country. Both moves inflamed conservatives and liberals alike. Many Republicans accused Biden of being too late to adopt former President Donald Trump's ideas on a border wall, while liberals who oppose additional border restrictions accused the White House of betraying campaign pledges. "My frustration has been that we are not addressing immigration in a holistic way as a country. We are depending on the president alone," said Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas, a Democrat who represents the border city of El Paso and is a national co-chair of the Biden reelection campaign. "We are treating people from different nationalities in a different way. And the pathways that have been created are being challenged in court consistently." Biden said his administration moved forward with the border wall because it was required by Congress during the Trump administration, even though he considers it ineffective. His reelection campaign pointed to Trump's record at the border, including his administration's practice of separating immigrant families as a deterrence measure and the temporary detention of children in warehouses in chain-link cells. "MAGA Republicans are running on the legacy of Donald Trump's playbook of family separation, caging kids, and shouting 'border!' without any serious solutions," said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Biden's reelection campaign, referring to supporters of Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement. Border crossings hit two-decade highs under Trump but fell during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with immigration authorities expelling most border crossers using a public health rule known as Title 42. Upon taking office, Biden paused border wall construction and canceled the Trump administration's "Remain in Mexico" program, but kept expelling many people under Title 42 until this past May. Still, border crossings are skyrocketing, which some observers blame on Biden's administration for creating the perception that the border is open. The White House counters that migration surged across the Western Hemisphere due to regional challenges out of the administration's control. Conservative media outlets often spotlight border crossings and blame Biden for creating what they say is a crisis. Biden also was criticized by many in his own party, including Democratic mayors and governors who want more help caring for newly arriving migrants. Republican-led border states started busing thousands of immigrants to Democratic-led cities across the country, creating in many places a shortage of space that's led to makeshift shelters and camps. In Chicago, O'Hare International Airport is housing hundreds of migrants from babies to the elderly at a shuttle bus center. They sleep on cardboard pads on the floor and share airport bathrooms. New York Mayor Eric Adams went to Mexico to implore would-be migrants not to come. He accused the Biden administration of not providing enough money or resources for the city to process migrants, telling reporters this summer, "The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue." Polling suggests Americans across the political spectrum even some people sympathetic to immigration are concerned. A Marquette Law School poll of registered voters conducted in late September gave Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, a 24-point advantage over Biden on handling immigration and border security issues 52% to 28%. Escobar said she is concerned that immigration could hurt the president's reelection efforts. "There is going to be a tendency to blame the White House when in fact this has been a failure on Congress," she said. The last major immigration reform approved by Congress was in 1990. Photos: Migrants rush across US border in final hours before pandemic rule expires The 2nd edition of the annual Indian Space Conclave organized by Indian Space Association kicked off in the capital today. The first day was dedicated to India-France collaboration in the space sector. The event was attended by representative of French and Indian space industry leaders, startups and government officials. The event witnessed signing of a significant MoU between ISpA and GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association which is aimed to enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of business opportunities in France and India. The collaboration will help foster sustainable growth, promote innovation and advocate adoption of new technologies in France and India space industries. The MoU will act as an extension to the already flourishing Indo-French relationship in the space sector and augment the individual and collective membership bases of the organizations through the benefit of greater international linkages for the members. As the interest towards space sector increases among students across the world, the partnership will also help facilitate academic and educational program exchanges between both organizations that encompass training at all levels. The conclave is followed by a 3-day exhibition put up by 24 exhibitors from leading space startups and academic institutions showcasing their products and offerings. The exhibition was inaugurated by Thierry Mathou, Ambassador-Designate of France in India & Governor Shekhar Dutt, SM (Retd), Former Defence Secretary and Governor of Chhatisgarh. In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. AK Bhatt (Retd.), Director General of Indian Space Association said, The dawn of a new era in space is upon us, where Indian private space industry will have a potential to play a pivotal role in every aspect of the space sector. This collaboration between public and private sectors promises to propel us to new heights, fostering innovation and driving progress like never before. In this journey, I must acknowledge the importance of our alliance with France, a crucial partner in our space exploration endeavors. France has been a steadfast friend, and todays MoU with GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association, reaffirms our commitment to strengthening industry collaboration between our two nations. Together, we shall continue to push the boundaries of space exploration and unlock the limitless possibilities that await us. Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, European Space Agency said, India is on the cusp of achieving the milestone of sending human beings to space through its Gaganyaan mission. The convergence of French and Indian leadership underscores the profound significance of space exploration. Space is playing a pivotal role in the battle against climate change, it is evident that our shared future lies among the stars. As rovers continue to pave the way for future interplanetary journeys, we find ourselves at the threshold of limitless possibilities. By embracing the vision of a future where private industries seamlessly intertwine with every facet of the space sector, we can forge a path towards a boundless cosmic frontier. In his video address, S Somanath, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, ISRO said, The integration of private industries into every facet of the space sector marks a significant milestone, opening new frontiers and sparking innovation. I applaud ISpA for fostering an ecosystem that nurtures space startups, driving the growth of our space industry. This conference, with the active participation of both public and private stakeholders, will be a crucible for thought leadership. As we engage in profound discussions on sustainable development, disaster management, business domains, and geospatial policy, we recognize the transformative potential that the space sector holds for the betterment of humanity. Additionally, the imminent release of FDI rules will further incentivize foreign investments, propelling us towards even greater heights in our cosmic endeavors. On the occasion of signing the MoU with ISpA, Cedric Post, Deputy Director International, European and Commercial Affairs, GIFAS As we embark on this exciting journey of collaboration between India and France in the realm of space exploration, we recognize the pivotal role that this partnership will play in shaping the future. The MoU signed with ISpA underscores our shared commitment to strengthening industry collaboration and fostering an environment of innovation, business development, and sound policy regulation. The convergence of public and private sectors is set to redefine the landscape of the space sector, and India and France are poised to lead this transformation. Private industries will soon permeate every aspect of space, unlocking new possibilities and driving progress like never before. Together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and charting a course for a brighter, more interconnected cosmic future. The Indo-French space collaboration has achieved significant milestones in recent years. Both nations have joined forces for Indias ambitious human spaceflight initiative named Gaganyaan, with France contributing to areas like space medicine and astronaut health as well as supplying CNES flight systems. Also, Frances participation in ISROs upcoming Venus mission in 2025 marks another significant leap, opening new avenues for international cooperation in space exploration. Both countries also pledged to enhance collaboration between their startup ecosystems, fostering innovation in the space sector. 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: Dominika Malkowska/University of Bristol Scientists at the University of Bristol have successfully used screws as connectors in bamboo without splitting the material. The study, recently published in the journal Construction and Building Materials, proposes a safe yet efficient prediction model for a simple connection method for bamboo, which is commonly used in wooden structures. Once bamboo is standardized, it can be carefully implemented in construction. Bamboo has green qualities, absorbing carbon at greater rates than other woods. Dominika Malkowska from Bristol's School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering explained, "Bamboo can help to fight climate change by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere. "Wood also does this but takes 30 years to mature for harvesting while bamboo only takes four-to-five years, so we can sequester carbon at a much faster rate if we use bamboo rather than timber." There are currently plantation trials in the south of Europe with the aim to establish which species can be grown in that climate. If these trials are successful, bamboo may be used as a construction material for houses in the U.K. in the future. Companies are already building bamboo houses in other parts of the world such as the Philippines where this research has a potential to be directly applied now. Malkowska carried out more than 200 experimental tests, testing various combinations of the parameters relevant to the connection: screw material, count, spacing, diameter of screw, wall thickness of bamboo, steel plate thickness. She explained, "The most interesting finding is that the screws are in fact good candidates for connectors in bamboo, as they do not cause splitting as it was widely thought, as long as the connection is well designed. "It also has several benefits over the conventionally used bolted connection with cement mortar infill to the inside of the bamboo pole, such as potential reduction in carbon footprint, easy disassembly on site and superior stiffness and ductility, to name a few. "Bamboo in general is susceptible to cracking due to its material characteristics, such as fibers running in one direction only, unlike in wood where fibers have the tendency to grow in a spiral around the tree trunk, so screws may not seem appropriate as there is no spiral fiber to stop the fracture from happening. But this study proved that this is not the case as long as the connection is well designed." The method can be implemented straight away in simple low-loaded connections. It can also be further developed to increase the number of screws as only a limited count of screws was tested resulting in low capacity, to validate it for higher loaded scenarios. Now Malkowska plans to investigate a higher number of screws per connection to match it to the typical capacity of the conventional bolted connection, and to investigate the behavior in an actual structure such as in shear walls. Malkowska concluded, "Bamboo connections do not need to be complex. Knowledge of timber has its use in bamboo." More information: Dominika Malkowska et al, Study of screwed bamboo connection loaded parallel to fibre, Construction and Building Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132532 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Vietnamese agents may be behind a global spyware campaign targeting officials, civil society and journalists around the world using EU-made malware, Amnesty International said Monday. The NGO detailed in a report how a Vietnam-linked account on Twitter, now X, tried to infect the phones of dozens of people and institutionsincluding overseas Vietnamese journalists, EU and US officials and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wenwith malware called Predator. Amnesty has worked with media outlets and cybersecurity experts to investigate the Predator software, which is marketed by an alliance of companies with French and Israeli connections and bases across Europe. The malware, like the Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO that caused a global scandal in 2021, takes control of the camera and microphone of an infected phone, turning it into a pocket spy. French news outlet Mediapart, which broke the initial story last week in a joint investigation with Germany's Spiegel magazine, said Predator had been sold to governments from Egypt to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. The malware was also found on the phones of an Egyptian activist and a Greek journalist as far back as 2021, according to the news reports. 'Mysterious and dangerous' Amnesty said such surveillance technology was fundamentally inconsistent with human rights. Amnesty advocacy officer Katia Roux told AFP the EU was "completely failing" to regulate this sector. "We call for a ban on this software and a moratorium on all other surveillance software," she said. The malware was sold to someone at the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in 2020 for 5.6 million euros ($5.9 million), according to Mediapart and Amnesty. The investigations "suggest that agents of the Vietnamese authorities, or persons acting on their behalf, may be behind the spyware campaign". It was unclear whether the campaign, which Amnesty said had targeted more than 50 individuals and institutions between February and June this year, had succeeded in infecting any targets. Predator was initially created by a North Macedonian firm called Cytrox, Amnesty said in its report released on Monday titled "The Predator Files: Caught in the Net". The tech was eventually marketed by the Intellexa group, described by Amnesty as a "complex, morphing group of interconnected companies" which was set up by a former Israeli soldier and incorporated in Ireland. Intellexa later formed an alliance with French umbrella group Nexa to market spyware in what Spiegel said was probably "one of the most mysterious and dangerous ventures in Europe". In July, the US blacklisted both Cytrox and Intellexa warning that their software was "threatening the privacy and security of individuals and organizations worldwide". 2023 AFP Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lessened its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report) by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,227 shares of the transportation companys stock after selling 1,668 shares during the quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Delta Air Lines were worth $490,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of DAL. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 15,283 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $534,000 after acquiring an additional 901 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Delta Air Lines by 8.2% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 962,574 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $29,966,000 after purchasing an additional 73,291 shares in the last quarter. PFG Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Delta Air Lines in the first quarter valued at about $431,000. KWB Wealth purchased a new stake in Delta Air Lines in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $221,000. Finally, Capital Analysts LLC increased its position in Delta Air Lines by 674.3% during the 1st quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 3,639 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 3,169 shares during the period. 71.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts recently weighed in on DAL shares. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on Delta Air Lines from $62.00 to $61.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $60.00 to $50.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $45.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on shares of Delta Air Lines from $47.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Delta Air Lines from $58.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Thursday. Thirteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $55.00. Insider Transactions at Delta Air Lines In related news, EVP Peter W. Carter sold 17,944 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total value of $807,480.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 166,192 shares in the company, valued at $7,478,640. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Michael P. Huerta sold 3,350 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.43, for a total transaction of $162,240.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 27,465 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,330,129.95. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Peter W. Carter sold 17,944 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.00, for a total transaction of $807,480.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 166,192 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,478,640. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 40,479 shares of company stock worth $1,839,353 over the last quarter. 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Delta Air Lines Stock Up 1.5 % DAL opened at $37.00 on Monday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $41.11 and its 200 day simple moving average is $39.70. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 52 week low of $28.21 and a 52 week high of $49.81. The firm has a market cap of $23.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.97, a PEG ratio of 0.19 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.24. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 13th. The transportation company reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $15.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.44 billion. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 5.36% and a return on equity of 59.56%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.44 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current fiscal year. Delta Air Lines Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.08%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 11th. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is presently 8.62%. About Delta Air Lines (Free Report) Delta Air Lines, Inc provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo in the United States and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Airline and Refinery. Its domestic network centered on core hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Detroit, and Salt Lake City, as well as coastal hub positions in Boston, Los Angeles, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, and Seattle; and international network centered on hubs and market presence in Amsterdam, Mexico City, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and Seoul-Incheon. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO Free Report) had its target price lifted by Jefferies Financial Group from $83.00 to $85.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. A number of other research firms have also weighed in on BRO. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Brown & Brown from $62.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $77.00 target price on shares of Brown & Brown in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $81.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and issued a $85.00 target price on shares of Brown & Brown in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Finally, Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $70.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $74.60. Get Brown & Brown alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BRO Brown & Brown Stock Performance Brown & Brown stock opened at $71.02 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 2.78 and a quick ratio of 2.78. Brown & Brown has a 1-year low of $52.82 and a 1-year high of $74.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.53 and a beta of 0.76. The companys 50-day moving average is $71.94 and its 200 day moving average is $66.89. Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.60 by $0.08. Brown & Brown had a net margin of 18.34% and a return on equity of 15.19%. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $997.51 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Brown & Brown will post 2.66 EPS for the current year. Brown & Brown Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, August 9th were paid a dividend of $0.115 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 8th. This represents a $0.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.65%. Brown & Browns dividend payout ratio is presently 17.83%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brown & Brown A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Group One Trading L.P. purchased a new position in Brown & Brown in the first quarter worth $201,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its stake in Brown & Brown by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 31,373 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,267,000 after buying an additional 1,950 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new position in Brown & Brown during the 1st quarter valued at about $354,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in Brown & Brown by 37.1% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 5,550 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $404,000 after buying an additional 1,502 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in Brown & Brown by 608.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 43,409 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,135,000 after acquiring an additional 37,278 shares in the last quarter. 70.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Brown & Brown Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brown & Brown, Inc markets and sells insurance products and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The Retail segment provides property and casualty, employee benefits insurance products, personal insurance products, specialties insurance products, risk management strategies, loss control survey and analysis, consultancy, and claims processing services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Brown & Brown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brown & Brown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE Free Report) had its price target decreased by BMO Capital Markets from $125.00 to $106.00 in a report released on Friday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. BMO Capital Markets currently has a market perform rating on the utilities providers stock. A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on DTE. Guggenheim decreased their price target on DTE Energy from $127.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on DTE Energy from $120.00 to $121.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on DTE Energy from $115.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. StockNews.com cut DTE Energy from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Finally, 888 reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of DTE Energy in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, DTE Energy presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $86.26. Get DTE Energy alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on DTE DTE Energy Stock Performance Shares of NYSE DTE opened at $95.16 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $19.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.77. DTE Energy has a 1-year low of $90.14 and a 1-year high of $122.40. The stocks 50-day moving average is $104.43 and its 200 day moving average is $108.89. DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $2.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.04 billion. DTE Energy had a return on equity of 10.44% and a net margin of 8.02%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.88 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that DTE Energy will post 6.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at DTE Energy In related news, SVP Joann Chavez sold 2,500 shares of DTE Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.53, for a total transaction of $283,825.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,107 shares in the company, valued at $1,374,507.71. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On DTE Energy Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC bought a new stake in shares of DTE Energy during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. boosted its position in shares of DTE Energy by 60.6% during the second quarter. Caldwell Sutter Capital Inc. now owns 265 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of DTE Energy during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of DTE Energy by 462.0% during the first quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 281 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in DTE Energy by 180.3% in the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 328 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. 74.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About DTE Energy (Get Free Report) DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to approximately 2.3 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through fossil-fuel, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and solar assets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for DTE Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DTE Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. cut its holdings in shares of Moodys Co. (NYSE:MCO Free Report) by 3.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,627 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 57 shares during the quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC.s holdings in Moodys were worth $566,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Summit Trail Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Moodys during the second quarter worth approximately $378,000. Monte Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Moodys by 2.3% during the second quarter. Monte Financial Group LLC now owns 2,934 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,020,000 after purchasing an additional 65 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its holdings in shares of Moodys by 105.1% during the second quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 32,058 shares of the business services providers stock worth $11,147,000 after purchasing an additional 16,424 shares during the period. Mayfair Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Moodys by 50.0% during the second quarter. Mayfair Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,050 shares of the business services providers stock worth $357,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares during the period. Finally, Values Added Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Moodys during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $260,000. 90.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Moody's alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Moodys in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Moodys from $300.00 to $350.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 26th. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Moodys from $345.00 to $332.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of Moodys from $328.00 to $362.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $404.00 price target on shares of Moodys in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Moodys presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $330.13. Insider Buying and Selling at Moodys In other Moodys news, CEO Robert Fauber sold 592 shares of Moodys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $354.25, for a total value of $209,716.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 65,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,323,111.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CFO Mark Kaye sold 15,158 shares of Moodys stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $340.97, for a total transaction of $5,168,423.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,447 shares in the company, valued at $1,516,293.59. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Robert Fauber sold 592 shares of Moodys stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $354.25, for a total transaction of $209,716.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 65,838 shares of the companys stock, valued at $23,323,111.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 29,157 shares of company stock valued at $9,909,430. Corporate insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock. Moodys Price Performance Shares of NYSE MCO opened at $317.11 on Monday. Moodys Co. has a twelve month low of $230.16 and a twelve month high of $363.19. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $333.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $326.55. The company has a market capitalization of $58.19 billion, a PE ratio of 40.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a quick ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09. Moodys (NYSE:MCO Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The business services provider reported $2.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.23 by $0.07. Moodys had a net margin of 25.81% and a return on equity of 55.98%. The firm had revenue of $1.49 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.22 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Moodys Co. will post 10.02 EPS for the current year. Moodys Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a $0.77 dividend. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 17th. Moodyss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.69%. About Moodys (Free Report) Moody's Corporation operates as an integrated risk assessment firm worldwide. It operates in two segments, Moody's Investors Service and Moody's Analytics. The Moody's Investors Service segment publishes credit ratings and provides assessment services on various debt obligations, programs and facilities, and entities that issue such obligations, such as various corporate, financial institution, and governmental obligations, as well as and structured finance securities. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Moodys Co. (NYSE:MCO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Moody's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Moody's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Free Report) had its price target upped by Jefferies Financial Group from $75.00 to $77.00 in a research note published on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. They set an equal weight rating and a $71.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup cut their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Barclays cut their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $87.00 to $83.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Piper Sandler cut their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $94.00 to $93.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on The Hartford Financial Services Group from $86.00 to $94.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $85.43. Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts: Get Our Latest Report on HIG The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Up 0.5 % HIG opened at $70.97 on Friday. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a one year low of $62.43 and a one year high of $79.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. The stocks fifty day moving average is $72.14 and its 200-day moving average is $71.18. The company has a market capitalization of $21.70 billion, a PE ratio of 11.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.85. The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.88 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.85 by $0.03. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 17.54% and a net margin of 8.53%. The company had revenue of $4.08 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.09 billion. On average, equities analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group will post 7.81 EPS for the current fiscal year. The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a dividend of $0.425 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.40%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is 27.33%. Insider Buying and Selling at The Hartford Financial Services Group In other The Hartford Financial Services Group news, EVP Stephanie C. Bush sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.40, for a total value of $253,400.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 15,063 shares in the company, valued at $1,090,561.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders have sold 4,172 shares of company stock worth $301,955 over the last 90 days. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Diversified Trust Co purchased a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the second quarter valued at about $785,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.5% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 482,904 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $33,654,000 after buying an additional 20,579 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.3% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 642,986 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $44,810,000 after buying an additional 8,514 shares during the last quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 5.4% in the first quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 38,013 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,649,000 after buying an additional 1,937 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 51.6% in the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 225,954 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $15,747,000 after buying an additional 76,931 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.81% of the companys stock. The Hartford Financial Services Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Jefferies Financial Group from $249.00 to $246.00 in a research report released on Friday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. RNR has been the subject of several other research reports. BMO Capital Markets upgraded RenaissanceRe from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the stock from $198.00 to $216.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on RenaissanceRe in a research note on Friday, September 8th. They set a buy rating and a $242.00 price target for the company. TheStreet cut RenaissanceRe from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, June 8th. Bank of America dropped their price objective on RenaissanceRe from $275.00 to $266.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, August 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on RenaissanceRe in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. They set an equal weight rating and a $222.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, RenaissanceRe currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $231.86. Get RenaissanceRe alerts: Read Our Latest Report on RNR RenaissanceRe Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of NYSE:RNR opened at $207.87 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.41 and a quick ratio of 1.41. The company has a market capitalization of $10.64 billion, a PE ratio of 25.98 and a beta of 0.39. RenaissanceRe has a 1 year low of $128.00 and a 1 year high of $223.80. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $192.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $195.80. RenaissanceRe (NYSE:RNR Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The insurance provider reported $8.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.58 by $1.21. The company had revenue of $2.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. RenaissanceRe had a return on equity of 14.22% and a net margin of 5.60%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 17.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.51 EPS. Analysts forecast that RenaissanceRe will post 26.8 earnings per share for the current year. RenaissanceRe Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.73%. RenaissanceRes payout ratio is currently 19.00%. Institutional Trading of RenaissanceRe Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of RNR. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. purchased a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Financial Management Professionals Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe in the 1st quarter valued at about $29,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of RenaissanceRe by 205.9% in the 2nd quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 156 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of RenaissanceRe in the 1st quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of RenaissanceRe by 73.4% during the 1st quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 163 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.84% of the companys stock. RenaissanceRe Company Profile (Get Free Report) RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Property, and Casualty and Specialty segments. The Property segment writes property catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance and excess of loss reinsurance to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes, including hurricanes, earthquakes, typhoons, and tsunamis, as well as winter storms, freezes, floods, fires, windstorms, tornadoes, explosions, and acts of terrorism; and other property class of products, such as proportional reinsurance, property per risk, property reinsurance, binding facilities, and regional U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for RenaissanceRe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RenaissanceRe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,886 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 640 shares during the quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $465,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 4th quarter valued at about $2,049,693,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 129,312.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,287,479 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,085,410,000 after acquiring an additional 26,267,166 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1,478.6% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 8,390,611 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $406,609,000 after acquiring an additional 7,859,100 shares during the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new position in Wells Fargo & Company in the first quarter valued at about $345,861,000. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich lifted its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 48,648.8% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 4,980,178 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $212,554,000 after buying an additional 4,969,962 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.47% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have commented on WFC. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $51.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Raymond James upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 3rd. Odeon Capital Group cut shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $43.75 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, July 17th. VNET Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Atlantic Securities upped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.50 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.02. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 1.0 % WFC stock opened at $39.69 on Monday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $42.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $41.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. Wells Fargo & Company has a fifty-two week low of $35.25 and a fifty-two week high of $48.84. The firm has a market capitalization 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 released its earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.11 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.74 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 20.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.84 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 4th were paid a $0.35 dividend. This is a positive change from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.53%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 3rd. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 35.00%. About Wells Fargo & Company (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. Featured 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. Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have been very busy this week, filing requests to dismiss two of his criminal cases and delay the trial in the classified documents case. And this comes as we're learning more about some shocking new evidence. Their record is uneven. They misfired in the past three presidential elections. Yet the prevalence of election polls is undiminished. Thirteen months before the 2024 election, polls are many -- and inescapable. Why is that? What explains pollings abiding appeal despite its performance record? The reasons go beyond analogies to weather forecasts in offering a fluid, if sometimes contradictory, sense of what lies ahead. As I noted in my 2020 book, Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections, the enduring appeal of polls rests in part in offering a sense of data-based certainty. This can be irresistible, especially to journalists who tend to value precision in a field awash with ambiguity. The Literary Digest, an American news magazine published weekly from 1890 to 1938, conducted massive mail-in polls early in the 20th century and built what was widely called an uncanny record for predicting presidential elections accurately -- until it failed utterly in 1936. The magazines poll that year was based on returns of more than 2.3 million postcard ballots and estimated an easy victory for Republican Alf Landon over incumbent President Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Democrat. The Literary Digest miscalled the election by nearly 20 percentage points. Landon won just two states in one of the most lopsided presidential elections in American history. Major news organizations these days figure prominently in election surveying. Notably, CNNs and the final pre-election survey conducted jointly for NBC News and The Wall Street Journal showed Joe Biden holding double-digit leads over Donald Trump in the run-up to the 2020 election. But the outcome was no rout. Biden won the election by 4.5 percentage points. Polls in key states in 2016 mostly failed to detect decisive, late-campaign shifts in Trumps favor. And in 2012, the venerable Gallup Poll erred in consistently giving Mitt Romney the advantage in pre-election matchups with President Barack Obama. Polling failures also occurred in 1936, 1948, 1952 and 1980. Yet polls remain a central feature of the theater of American politics. Their results help sharpen the competitive drama of national elections. A tightening race or a building landslide can be mildly suspenseful and diverting. Polls have become useful to Democrats and Republicans in winnowing bloated fields of presidential candidates, most of whom have no chance of being nominated. Both parties have imposed thresholds of polling support for candidates to qualify for party-sponsored debates early in the cycle. The 2024 presidential election campaign has offered a historically unusual reason to pay attention to the polls, even ones this early. Not since 1912, when Theodore Roosevelt split the Republican Party in a failed attempt to return to the White House four years after he had left the office, has a former president campaigned to reclaim the office. Trumps candidacy for reelection has encouraged lots of attention to the polls, especially as they have indicated he maintains enormous leads over rivals for the Republican nomination. Besides polling, no other reasonably accurate options exist in sampling the publics views and attitudes. Extensive interviewing by political journalists has occasionally been tried by news organizations seeking an alternative to reliance on polls. But such experiments have produced little success. Haynes Johnson, a political reporter for The Washington Post who died in 2013, asserted that polls represent no substitute for hard reporting." In the weeks before the 1980 election, when President Jimmy Carter sought a second term, Johnson wrote lengthy pre-election articles based on many hours of interviews with Americans in places as diverse as Boston, San Diego and Youngstown, Ohio. As the campaign neared its end, Johnson was asked who was positioned to win. I think somehow that Carter is going to slip through and be reelected, he replied. A few days later, Carter lost to Ronald Reagan in a landslide. So if you want clues to what the electorate is thinking in an election campaign, interviewing voters wont cut it. Odds produced by betting markets may be intriguing but arent consistently reliable. For want of a better alternative, society is stuck with sample surveys, a popular, familiar, but often-fallible way of estimating outcomes in high-stakes elections. Business environment in Vietnam looking up: EuroCham By Tri Duc Mon, October 9, 2023 | 10:52 am GTM+7 EuroChams Business Confidence Index (BCI) for Vietnam recovered to 45.1 in the third quarter of 2023, the first growth since Q1/2022. The index, an indicator of the business sentiment among European companies operating in Vietnam, fell from 73 in Q1/2022 to 68.6 in Q2/2022, 62.2 in Q3/2022, 48 in Q4/2022, 48 in Q1/2023, and 43.5 in Q2/2023. The latest recovery in Q3/2023, while it is still below the 50-point milestone for four quarters in a row, shows emerging positive economic momentum, EuroCham said. The BCI recovered in Q3/2023 after the previous recovery in the post-pandemic period. Photo courtesy of EuroCham. With 41% of businesses expressing optimism regarding economic stabilization and improvement in Q3/2023, up from 30% in Q2/2023, sentiment has moved to a more positive outlook, EuroCham noted. Meanwhile, the ratio of firms that thought the economy will deteriorate in the next quarter dropped from 37% to 32%, further reinforced this sentiment, EuroCham added. Regarding Vietnams foreign direct investment (FDI) outlook, the BCI showed that 63% of surveyed firms positioned Vietnam in their top 10 FDI destinations, 31% ranked Vietnam in the top three, and 16% viewed Vietnam as their foremost investment destination. In line with these figures, over half of the surveyed firms plan to increase their FDI in Vietnam by year-end. However, challenges remain with 59% of firms saying administrative difficulties are the main problem. Other issues are uncertainties in rules and regulations, hurdles in permit acquisition, and strict visa and work permit requirements for foreigners. To improve the FDI attractiveness, Vietnam should streamline its bureaucracy, according to 58% of survey respondents, enhance the regulatory environment (48%), upgrade transport infrastructure (33%), and ease visa and work permit requirements (22%). EuroCham released its quarterly Business Confidence Index (BCI) for the third quarter of 2023 on October 6, 2023. Photo courtesy of the government's news portal. Regarding the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), businesses said the pact has had a positive impact on Vietnams business landscape. Over 60% of firms called the deal beneficial, including tariff cuts, improved competitiveness, reduced trade barriers, strong partnerships with local firms, and better access to the Vietnamese market. However, there remain challenges of discrepancies in customs valuation, opaque and protracted customs clearance procedures, technical obstacles to trade, and others. Its clear: Team Europe stands firmly behind Vietnam, EuroCham chairman Gabor Fluit commented on the latest BCI. Nearly one-third of our members ranking Vietnam as a top-three investment location sends a powerful message about our faith in this partnership, he added. While we saw promising Q3 GDP and FDI growth, issues persist especially with exports and real estate, Fluit pointed out. To progress, addressing administrative burdens, unclear regulations, and permitting hurdles is crucial. We remain committed to open dialogue to effectively tackle these issues together, he said. Striking employees return to work at Taiwan-invested footwear firm in central Vietnam By Tri Duc Mon, October 9, 2023 | 3:34 pm GTM+7 All 7,000 employees of Taiwan-invested footwear maker Viet Glory Co. Ltd. in Nghe An province returned to work Monday morning, a week after striking work demanding better pay and working conditions. After the labor strike began on October 2, over 1,000 workers returned to work last Friday and another 1,500 the next day. They resumed work after the firm announced higher allowances and bonuses, as also contract termination for anyone not returning to work after a week. After a week-long strike, 7,000 workers of Viet Glory factory in Nghe An province, central Vietnam return to work by October 9, 2023. Photo courtesy of Nghe An newspaper. In particular, the firm increased workers monthly transportation allowance by 50%, from VND260,000 to VND390,000 ($16); and meal support by 20%, from VND20,000 to VND24,000 ($0.98) per head per meal. The firm also doubled bonuses for meeting output requirements. Last Friday, local police summoned several people for investigating alleged disinformation and manipulation of workers to instigate a strike. At a working session with provincial labor authorities last Wednesday, representatives of the firm said workers can make proposals to the company directly without resorting to making proposals via a labor strike. The company also admitted to its own weak communication with employees, especially in explaining policies, while clarifying that it had not received any complaints from workers prior to the strike. It is a great concern that workers solely use labor strikes to make demands, said Nguyen Chi Cong, deputy head of Nghe An provinces labor union. He said such strikes would negatively impact businesses, workers interests and the provinces investment environment. He called on employers and employees to cooperate better with each other with the help of the labor union. Vietnam needs to meet higher standards for market status upgrade: expert By Dr. Can Van Luc Mon, October 9, 2023 | 2:59 pm GTM+7 Vietnam, now classified as a frontier market by both the U.S.s Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) and the UKs FTSE Russell, needs to meet the higher standards of these organizations to get its status elevated to an emerging market, writes Can Van Luc, chief economist at Hanoi-based BIDV bank. The stock market, as a medium- and long-term capital and investment channel for businesses and investors, is becoming increasingly important in the Vietnamese financial system. Not only domestic capital, it also allows businesses to access funds from foreign investors and lenders. However, the ability to attract cash flow from these investors depends on their assessment of "liquidity, quality and efficiency" - the most important factors. To do this, international investors tend to rely on the evaluation of global rating organizations such as FTSE and MSCI to consider making investment decisions. If these organizations upgrade Vietnam's status to an emerging market, the most obvious impact is that the stock market will attract larger, more stable and more diverse capital flows from foreign investors. Normally, investment funds and fund management companies prioritize allocating a large proportion of investment to developed and emerging markets due to their high stability, diverse products, and large transaction scale compared to the frontier markets. Therefore, the upgrade to an emerging market will help Vietnam attract a large amount of medium- and long-term investment capital. Currently, passive investment funds such as Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) (usually focusing on emerging markets) will automatically allocate a portion of capital to upgraded markets, while only spending a maximum of 2-3% of capital on frontier markets, according to the Institute of Strategy under the Ministry of Finance. In addition, implementing the criteria for upgrading will help reform institutions, improve the market, and push businesses and financial markets to develop. The stock market must improve many conditions such as information transparency, institutional framework, mechanisms and trading conditions. In addition, the advice and support of ratings organizations will help regulators fix limitations, thereby promoting operational efficiency. The development of the stock market will help Vietnam's financial system develop more evenly. Businesses will have a capital mobilization channel, and investors will have a more reliable medium- and long-term investment channel, creating momentum for economic growth in general. The VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), rose 14.65 points, or 1.32%, to 1,128.54 on October 6, 2023. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu. Ability to meet upgrade criteria In its September 2023 ranking report, FTSE Russell, a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group, placed Vietnam on a watch list for a possible reclassification to secondary emerging market status. Vietnam has remained on this list since September 2018, and has not yet met the conditions to officially become an emerging market. According to the report, Vietnam has met seven of nine criteria to be upgraded. The country has yet to meet the Settlement Cycle (DvP) criterion, which is currently rated as Restricted due to the market practice of conducting a pre-trading check to ensure the availability of funds prior to trade execution. In addition, FTSE Russell stressed that Vietnam needs to improve the process for the registration of new accounts because the current process takes foreign investors a long time to open a stock trading account. Furthermore, Vietnam does not have an efficient mechanism to facilitate trading between non-domestic investors in securities that have reached, or are approaching, their foreign ownership limit. Basically, Vietnam meets most of the criteria for market status upgrade by FTSE Russell. Also in this report, FTSE Russell commented that although progress on the planned market reforms has remained slow, a recommitment to the work required has been made by senior levels of government, it said, adding the State Securities Commission (SSC) has demonstrated renewed energy in seeking a workable solution that would remove the need for pre-funding. Finalization of the required roles and responsibilities, within the settlement model, that are aligned to the new legislation remains a critical next step. FTSE Russell said it will continue to encourage the Vietnam market authorities to provide clearer guidance on the steps and timeframe for implementation. With such assessments, FTSE Russell will keep Vietnam on the watch list as a frontier market and reviewed for possible reclassification as a secondary emerging market within the FTSE Equity Country Classification scheme at the Interim Review in March 2024. This shows that the actions of the government and the SSC have had positive impacts. Previously, in its March 2023 report, FTSE Russell considered removing Vietnam from the watch list if there was no market reform roadmap before September 2023. During MSCI's June 2023 review, Vietnam's stock market was not included in the watch list for upgrading to emerging market status. MSCI took a less positive view, saying that the foreign ownership limit is affecting more than 10% of stocks in the Vietnamese market. It outlined nine criteria that Vietnam's stock market had not met, including the foreign ownership limit (FOL) level, foreign "room" level, equal rights for foreign investors, foreign exchange market liberalization level, information flow, clearing and settlement, possibility of off-exchange transactions, stock lending, and short selling. These nine criteria were also mentioned in its June 2021 and June 2022 reports, showing that Vietnam has not made any improvement to satisfy MSCI's requirements in the past two years. MSCI's report also pointed out two criteria that need improvement: registry and market regulations. Currently, investors are required to register transactions, and opening an account requires approval from the Securities Depository Center. Many legal documents related to the stock market do not have English versions to facilitate foreign investors access. Solution to market status upgrade To realize the government's goal of upgrading the stock market before 2025 under the project "Restructuring the stock market and insurance market to 2020 with orientation to 2025" approved by the Prime Minister on February 28, 2019, regulators need to address the issues mentioned above. Especially with the FTSE Russell's criteria, Vietnam may be removed from the watch list for a possible reclassification from frontier to secondary emerging market status if it fails to come up with market reform solutions. If this happens, it would be very regrettable, because the Vietnamese market has been on the watch list since September 2018, and currently there are only two criteria yet to be met. Therefore, in the last months of 2023 and 2024, Vietnam needs to focus on solving the pre-funding issue, most importantly removing the requirement that investors must have money available at the time of order placing in accordance with the Ministry of Finances Circular 120/2020/TT-BTC, and instead requiring money at the time of receiving shares (T+2) as in developed markets. This needs to be completed in 2024 (FTSE releases its reports in March and September each year). At that time, Vietnam could fulfill its market status upgrade goal. Meeting MSCI's upgrade criteria will be much more difficult, because Vietnam still has many criteria that need to be improved. In the short term, in addition to handling the pre-funding issue, a number of other solutions need to be taken early. Regulations and legal documents on the stock market need to be published in English so that foreign investors can easily access them. There should be regulations requiring listed enterprises to disclose information and financial reports in English. Listed enterprises must comply with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and the Ministry of Finance also needs to have specific instructions and roadmaps to meet them. Vietnam should develop clearing and settlement infrastructure; soon deploy overdraft and cash advance services; and improve transferability through reducing procedures with off-exchange transactions and in-kind transfers requiring prior approval from the State Securities Commission. It is necessary to research and early deploy products and services such as stock lending and short selling in the Vietnamese market. These solutions will partly satisfy the yet-to-be-met criteria. However, meeting those most concerned by MSCI such as FOL level, foreign 'room' level, and foreign exchange market liberalization level will face more difficulties because they relate to legal regulations and will create many changes in regulators macroeconomic management and integration perspectives. Therefore, realizing the goal of upgrading the stock market to "emerging" status will depend greatly on the determination of the Party, State and relevant ministries. Regarding FOL, under the governments Decree 155/2020/N-CP dated December 31, 2020, the FOL level in Vietnam is implemented in line with international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, the regulations of each specific industry, and regulations on the list of industries with limited market access for foreign investors. In case there is no specific regulation, the maximum FOL level in a listed company is 50% of charter capital. In other cases, the level is unlimited. In addition, in case the company operates in multiple industries and fields, and has different regulations on FOL, it will not exceed the lowest level in the regulations. It can be determined that the problem will lie in industries with FOL regulations and industries in the list of restricted market access, because in other cases, the level follows international practices or there are no restrictions. Therefore, to solve this problem, Vietnam will need to change regulations for each industry, as well as review the list of industries that limit foreign investors market access. As this is a sensitive issue, it will require impact assessment, as well as determination from authorities at all levels, especially the government and relevant ministries. Regarding the foreign exchange market liberalization, according to MSCI's assessments, this standard (as in developed markets) features a freely/fully convertible currency, which includes an active offshore currency market. These are factors that Vietnam has not met as VND is not a freely convertible currency because payment transactions and foreign currency transfers to, from or within Vietnam are all controlled. The exchange of VND for other currencies and vice versa is not easy and often made through a "third" foreign currency. As a result, payment arrangements and M&A transactions can be more complex than in countries with less foreign exchange controls. The lack of an offshore currency market also makes it difficult for foreign investors to convert from VND to other currencies. To solve these problems, Vietnam needs to streamline related legal documents, such as the Standing Committee of the 13th National Assemblys Ordinance No.06/2013/UBTVQH13 dated March 18, 2013 on foreign exchange and the governments Decree 70/2014/ND-CP dated July 17, 2014 detailing the implementation of several provisions of the Ordinance on Foreign Exchange, towards minimizing regulations and restrictions on foreign exchange transactions, and money transfers from/to Vietnam. Regarding the implementation roadmap, with the government's goal of a market status upgrade before 2025, the majority of the above solutions need to be completed in 2024 to serve MSCI's evaluation and ranking of the Vietnamese market (MSCI releases its annual ranking report in June). Finally, to do this will require the engagement, determination and companionship of authorities at all levels, especially the government and relevant ministries, along with the effective implementation of self-governing organizations, businesses and investors. Vietnam set to resume rapid economic growth in medium term: S&P Global By Anh Minh Mon, October 9, 2023 | 9:00 am GTM+7 Despite near-term headwinds to national economic growth, Vietnams export-driven economy is expected to resume rapid growth over the medium term, as shipments to major markets rebound, said Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Vietnam's exports are expected to rebound after a fall in the first eight months of 2023. Photo courtesy of VCCI. In a note late last week, Rajiv Biswas pointed out a number of key drivers that will continue to make Vietnam one of the fastest growing emerging markets in the Asian region. First, Vietnam will continue to benefit from its relatively lower manufacturing wage costs relative to coastal Chinese provinces. Second, the country has a relatively large, well-educated labor force compared to many other regional competitors in Southeast Asia, making it an attractive hub for manufacturing production by multinationals. Third, rapid growth in capital expenditure is expected, reflecting continued strong foreign direct investment by foreign multinationals as well as domestic infrastructure spending. Fourth, Vietnam is benefiting from the fallout of the U.S.-China trade war, as higher U.S. tariffs on a wide range of Chinese exports have driven manufacturers to switch production of manufacturing exports away from China towards alternative manufacturing hubs in Asia. Fifth, many multinationals have been diversifying their manufacturing supply chains during the past decade to reduce vulnerability to supply disruptions and geopolitical events. This trend has been further reinforced by the Covid-19 pandemic. A key beneficiary of the shift in global manufacturing supply chains will be the ASEAN region, with Vietnam expected to be one of the main winners. Vietnam is already one of the preferred destinations for South Korean and Japanese firms choosing to shift their production to the ASEAN region, the note said. The economist commented that Vietnams role as a low-cost manufacturing hub is also expected to continue to grow strongly, helped by the further expansion of existing major industry sectors, notably textiles and electronics, as well as the development of new industry sectors such as autos and petrochemicals. Vietnams total GDP is forecast to increase from $410 billion in 2022 to $500 billion by 2025, rising to $750 billion by 2030. This translates to very rapid growth in Vietnams per capita GDP, from $4,150 per year in 2022 to $5,000 per year by 2025 and $7,300 by 2030, resulting in substantial expansion in the size of Vietnam's domestic consumer market. MURPHYSBORO The Makers on the Move statewide bus tour of manufacturing centers, educational institutions and community centers stopped at the Factory at 17th Street on Friday. The tour is sponsored by the American Manufacturers Association and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. Owner Amy Mills gave a short tour of the factory, which is located just behind the coffee house and Faye Cafe. The factory produces 17th Street Barbecue Sauce products, as well as products for other businesses. This is the American dream, Mark Denzler, president and CEO of IMA said. We are celebrating the grand opening of The Factory at 17th Street, Mills said. The factory was built and opened in 2021, but they could not do a grand opening celebration because of the pandemic. Mills said her family has helped bring manufacturing back to their hometown, joining Penn Aluminum. The factory also brings another type of business to the 17th Street Barbecue family. 17th Street and barbecue always have meant fostering family and home, Mills said. The factory produces four flavors of 17th Street Barbecue Sauce as well as sauces for others. They also produce Magic Dust dry rub and will soon add their own Brisket Rub, according to Mills. We are growing brands for other people, Mills said. Denzler said Friday was the first day of the Makers on the Move bus tour. The tour is scheduled for eight days, making stops at 27 locations. The tour also kicked off Friday at The Boeing Company in Mascoutah. They also visited Southern Illinois University Research Park in Carbondale where they saw manufacturing of 40 Under Joe, a produce similar to Dippin Dots that is added to coffee. Embarking on this tour across our region, we dont just reminisce, we celebrate he enduring legacy, the dynamic present and the promising future of manufacturing, Dave Boulay, president of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, said. Illinois manufacturing industry generates between $580 billion and $611 billion in economic investment every year the largest share of any industry to the states gross domestic product. Manufacturing directly employs 662,298 workers and supports as many as 1,771,928 jobs. It also generates up to $150 billion in labor incomes for Illinois residents annually. Illinois manufacturing industry supports nearly 30% of all jobs in Illinois. The Makers on the Move tour was traveling in a fully wrapped, 56-foot bus. After the factory tour, visitors were asked to sign the bus. The event ended with a reception at 17th Street Barbecue. Guests were treated to a buffet that included pork ribs, chicken wings, and dips. The Factory at 17th Street competed in the IMA competition for the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois. They finished in the top four. For more information about 17th Street Barbecue and its family of businesses, visit 17bbq.com. Consumer interest in organically produced fruits and vegetables is growing and to help growers meet this demand, Clemson University scientists are studying watermelon production methods to develop strategies to improve productivity and profitability of organic vegetables. Organic-Watermelons Clemson University researchers have received a USDA grant to find new, unique ways to improve crop nutrient use efficiency and pest management The team is led by Bhupinder Jatana, a researcher at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, South Carolina, and assistant professor of vegetable crops in the universitys plant and environmental sciences department. Funding for the project is provided by a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to address challenges such as crop nutrition management and controlling diseases and weeds in organic vegetable production. Watermelon was selected as the crop for the study because it uses the same cultural and other management practices as other organic crops grown under plastic mulch, such as cucumbers, muskmelons, pumpkins and other cucurbits. Using plastic mulch is a common cultural practice in organic farming. Cultural practices are agricultural methods used to enhance crop productivity through conserving water and soil by reducing weeds, pests and diseases without the use of chemicals. Our long-term goal is to develop organic fertilizers and strategies for higher nutrient-use efficiency, as well as weed and soilborne pest management, Jatana said. Organic watermelon contributed to about 1.3% of the total watermelon sold in the United States in 2021. Even though the future of organic watermelon looks promising, its plagued by management challenges of nutrients, weeds and soilborne pests, Jatana said. During the study, the scientists will study crop nutrition. One of the difficulties in managing crop nutrition in organic production systems occurs because of a timing difference between the nutrient release rate of organic fertilizers and peak plant nutrient demand. For organic vegetable growers, this timing difference doesnt allow enough nutrients to support periods of rapid crop growth, which can result in yield loss or decreased crop quality. The scientists will develop new fertilizers using concentrated organic agricultural byproduct materials. Multiple organic agricultural byproduct materials will be tested. The scientists also will use various soil amendments to increase the retention of soil nutrients so that these nutrients are available for crop uptake for a longer period, allowing for higher nutrient-use efficiency. In addition to challenges with nutrient management, diseases and weeds also result in substantial losses of organic vegetable crops worldwide. As part of this study, the scientists will pair the new fertilizers with novel plastic mulch, or new plastic mulch materials coming to the market such as biodegradable materials and so on, for controlling weeds and soilborne pests. They will use organic carbon amendments and irrigation under the plastic mulch to create an anaerobic condition known as anaerobic soil disinfestation, or ASD. The ASD strategy is an alternative solution to use in place of chemical fumigation to control soilborne pests. It is a process of disinfesting the soil by creating anaerobic (oxygen-free) soil conditions using easily decomposable soil amendments, covering with plastic mulch and irrigating to saturate the soil. It has been proven effective against a wide range of pathogens in organically grown crops. The impacts of the new fertilizers and novel plastic mulch on crop nutrient-use efficiency, soil health, nutrient losses and weed and soilborne pest management will be evaluated. The scientists will also evaluate the economic feasibility of using the new fertilizers and novel plasticulture. In addition to Jatana, other Clemson researchers involved in this study are Matthew Cutulle, Brian Ward, Gilbert Miller and Anastasia Thayer. The researchers are also collaborating with Chandrasekar Kousik from the USDA Vegetable Laboratory in Charleston. Communication about the project, including information about new fertilizers and management practices, will be made public through the Cooperative Extension Service. Organic farming is becoming more popular. The latest figures from the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service for organic farming in the United States for 2021 show a 13%, or $1.28 billion, increase in total sales and a 5% increase in the number of farms from 2019. Calhoun County Council has given its final approval to an ordinance designed to reduce the impact of solar farms on neighboring property. The ordinance increases the minimum distance between solar equipment and neighboring property and outlines the liability coverage required of developers, among other things. The changes to the countys zoning ordinance apply to solar farms larger than one acre in size. Council unanimously approved the change. The countys ordinance goes above and beyond typical ordinances, Deputy County Administrator Richard Hall said. It was subject to much back and forth between the county and residents, who continued to push for stricter regulations. Council incorporated many of the residents demands, but did not require stricter pollution liability coverage for developers. Hall said the county attorney recommended against requiring the coverage. The new policy requires solar developers to have liability coverage for damage to properties adjacent to solar developments, which ordinances from other areas do not require, Hall said. Hall previously said working with Fort Motte residents had been great, and working with the concerned residents had led to more thorough codes. Fort Motte resident Helen Harvey Laffittee said she was concerned the countys rural character would be changed by encroaching solar developments and that the longstanding impacts of solar farms are unknown. This was a kind of a very systematic way of going about a grassroots effort, she said. I just feel like we did have some dialogue with Richard Hall, but it was a lot of deaf ears in a lot of situations. No residents spoke during the public hearing period for the solar ordinances matter. A moratorium on new solar developments passed by council in March is scheduled to expire in December. There are currently four solar energy developments in Calhoun County that are more than one acre in size, with a fifth under construction, Hall said previously. In other business, council appointed Josh Rabon and Josh Johnson to the County Planning Commission. Councilwoman Rebecca Bonnette spoke against appointing Rabon. Rabon served as a consultant on the Sandy Run Crossing project, a 170-home development in Sandy Run which did not proceed after council voted down a rezoning request made by the developer in July 2022. Bonnette said Rabon serving on the commission presented a conflict of interest, calling it unethical. I appreciate anyone's willingness to serve on any of these commissions, but Mr. Rabon has done business here in the county and he can do business again in the future, Bonnette said. Sandy Run people will not forget the development at Sandy Run Crossing. He was a paid consultant on that project that represented a developer requesting council to change the ordinance for a profit. Bonnette was part of a group of Sandy Run residents who protested the development in July 2022 before she was elected to council. Two residents echoed Bonnettes concerns at the meeting. Rabon, a managing partner at Civil Engineering of Columbia, said he understood his work with developers might make him a target for anti-development sentiment, which he said is not unique to Calhoun County. If a community isnt growing, its dying, Rabon said after the meeting. Unfortunately, growth has a negative connotation right now, and that will be hard to overcome, but growth can be achievable while maintaining the character of a community. My company works for developers in different site design projects. Therefore, Im guilty by association for sure, and I understand that. I also do work for municipalities and other government entities and see that side of the equation also. Rabon said the commission does not make decisions on its own, but makes recommendations to Calhoun County Council. He also pointed out that he will only be one member of the five-person commission. Council Chairman James Haigler made similar comments at the meeting. The planning commission has five different opinions, just like we have five different opinions up here. Hell just have one opinion, Haigler said. I dont even know the guy, but as hard of a time as we have getting decent people on these commissions Im not gonna just reject him, because somebody doesn't like him. Councilmember Ken Westbury, who nominated Rabon, said commission policy requires Rabon to recuse himself from any decisions that would involve a conflict of interest. To be truthful with you, theres nobody in a small county like this that does not stand a chance of coming up against something where there is a conflict of interest, Westbury said. Rabon was appointed to the commission with a vote of 3-2, with Bonnette and Cecil Thornton Jr. voting against. All I would ask is that they listen and respect both sides of any discussion, Rabon said. Johnson was appointed to the commission with a unanimous vote. He will represent District 1 and replace Bates Houck, who is retiring. Rabon will fill an empty seat representing District 2. Council approved a $1.7 million grant from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which will be used to build a new emergency operations center and training facility. The grant will join a local match of $556,000, coming from COVID-19 infrastructure funds and upcoming county budgets, County Administrator John McLauchlin said. Calhoun County is one of the few counties in the state that hasnt built an EOC recently, McLauchlin said. We've still got the original EOC and its troublesome. When we have issues and we need to get the agencies around the table in one location, there's just no room. McLauchlin thanked County Emergency Management Department Director David Chojnacki, Congressman Jim Clyburn and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham for making the grant possible. SANTEE The Town Council voted on Wednesday, Oct. 4, to offer the position of town administrator to Rodney S. Tucker of Hartsville. Tucker is an experienced municipal planner, consultant and former Town of Irmo assistant administrator. The next step is to negotiate a compensation package with Tucker, Mayor Donnie Hilliard said. Hilliard served as Orangeburg Countys finance director for 15 years and as the county administrator for 14 years before being elected mayor of Santee. Hilliard said during the council meeting that, back in 2010, Santee was on the verge of bankruptcy and had to trim its payroll. Among the employees let go was the town administrator. Hilliard then assumed the duties of town administrator as well as mayor. He said that serving in both of those roles for more than a decade saved the town more than $1 million. Last year, he made it known that he wants to lighten his workload and spend more time with his family, so the council budgeted money to hire a town administrator and posted a vacancy notice. Fifteen people applied for the job. Six of them were interviewed by the mayor. Four went on to be interviewed by the council last month. Hilliard said he expects to work alongside the new town administrator for a few months, but I will not be here (in his office at the town hall) every day in the future. Hilliard counseled that the town needs to continue to grow to avoid getting back into financial trouble. We cannot afford ourselves for 900 citizens, he said, adding that he expects the towns population to eventually top out at around 3,000. That would make Santee the second-most populous municipality in the county. Growth often requires adjustments. During public comment time, area resident Dave Giet said traffic lights and turn lanes need to be added on Old Number Six Highway near the Chapel Creek and Center Pointe residential developments. He said developer D.R. Horton should pay for the improvements. Hilliard replied that the South Carolina Department of Transportation, which regulates traffic devices, is already looking at traffic patterns in those areas. Growth also increases demand for sewer service, and Santee is working to renovate and expand the wastewater treatment facility near Interstate 95. That effort hit a snag, Hilliard said, when electric utilities objected to the construction of a retention lagoon underneath their power lines. Now the town will have to find the money to move the power lines about 60 feet. He also said there was nothing new to report about the long-standing problems with the sewer system in the Bradford Village residential subdivision, but we havent forgotten about you. The council adopted a resolution in honor of Ms. Louvicia Kate Boneparte Jackson upon her 100th birthday. She is an active member of Parlerdale AME Church. Santee Town Council is scheduled to hold its next regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. in council chambers at 192 Municipal Way, across the street from the town hall. Contact Town Clerk Willia Wright at 803-854-2152 for more information. FORMER finance minister, Winston Dookeran, is calling for a shift in the Caribbean integration model in order to forge wider convergence spaces for approaching production, the institutional framework and economic frontiers. Dookeran, an economist and former central bank governor, said the current integration model seems limited by size, design an inertia. 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. TEARS AND SORROW: Friends and family members weep as they say their final goodbyes to the four children, ten-year-old Faith Peterkin; 14-year-old Arianna Peterkin; 17-year-old Shain Peterkin, and 19-year-old Tiffany Peterkin, who were all killed when gunmen stormed their Arima home last week. The siblings funeral service was held yesterday at K Allen and Sons Funeral Home, Arima. Photo: Jermaine Cruickshank I really cant understand what the hype is about with respect to the President calling out t 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.'' An armed man and a police dog were shot and wounded Sunday night during a confrontation with officers at Gene C. Reid Park, Tucson police say. The incident started about 8:30 p.m. when police say they were called to the southern portion of the park at East 22nd St. and South Country Club Road for reports of an adult male in crisis, the department said Monday in a news release. The man told dispatchers he had a gun. Mental health professionals stayed on the phone trying to de-escalate the situation as patrol officers rushed to the park, the news release said. As officers arrived, more calls to 911 told police there was gunfire in the park, police said. Hostage negotiators tried to talk to the man while the park and surrounding area were evacuated, and the SWAT team arrived, the release said. A police dog was let loose when the man moved into an open area of the park. Both the gunman and police opened fire, and both he and the police dog were shot, the release said. The man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. The police dog was in stable condition at an animal hospital, the release said. The multi-agency Pima Regional Critical Incident Team is handling the criminal investigation. A separate internal probe into the handling of the incident also is being conducted. Both are standard procedure in shootings that involve officers. Since 1939's "Arizona," Old Tucson Studios west of the Tucson Mountains has hosted nearly 300 productions. Nearly 40-percent of the historic wooden buildings burned to the ground in a devastating fire in 1995. P.S. The Star has a Tucson history email newsletter! Sign up at tucson.com/timemachine. The article said "Rebuffing Arizonas Republican legislative leaders, a federal judge has signed an order to permanently require the state to pay for gender-affirming surgery for its own and university employees and retirees." I suppose this judge has failed to read the Constitution of the United States, as compared to the one in his pocket. There are three components in government and the judicial branch interprets the laws approved by the legislative branch and signed by the executive branch. In this case, the judge simply declared that he alone, without any help, can make changes to laws. Perhaps we should allow legislative branch to decide which laws they will obey - oh wait, kinda like Biden and enforcement of immigration laws. The time has come to begin prosecuting public officials for overstepping the limits of their oath of office, perhaps time in prison would help this judge to understand his position. Curtis Killman Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Curtis Killman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Osage County Sheriff Eddie Virden has sued District Attorney Mike Fisher in part due to allegations that Fisher interfered with the sheriffs investigation into the BTK serial killers possible involvement in the 1976 disappearance of a Pawhuska teenager. The lawsuit, filed in Osage County District Court, claims that Fisher made uninformed and ignorant comments regarding the sheriffs investigation into Dennis Rader during a Sept. 11 press conference. Fisher disparaged and denigrated the information and leads developed by (Virden) opining that he, Fisher, doesnt believe there is enough evidence to file charges and generally ridiculed the Plaintiffs work, according to the lawsuit. Virden says Rader is his chief suspect in the disappearance of Cynthia Dawn Kinney, 16, who vanished June 23, 1976, after getting into an occupied vehicle outside a coin-operated laundry where she worked. Rader is serving 10 consecutive no-parole life sentences after admitting in 2005 to 10 Wichita-area murders between 1974 and 2001. Fisher, the district attorney for Pawnee and Osage counties, told reporters that he was requesting that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation look into Virdens allegations regarding Rader, adding that he didnt believe there was enough evidence to link Rader to Kinneys disappearance. Fishers actions, according to the lawsuit, have caused the BTK investigation to be delayed, hampered and irreparably compromised, allowing Mr. Rader to escape justice and opened the door for Mr. Rader to initiate his own publicity campaign against the very person trying to bring him to justice. The sheriff also accuses Fisher in the lawsuit of libel, slander, abuse of power, political oppression, fraud and interfering with an official investigation. The political oppression allegations relate to a failed bid by Virden to land a contract for a reality television series with the working title The Force. The lawsuit alleges that Fisher advised the Osage County Commission to reject the contract, presumably because The Force would highlight Sheriff Virdens employees and administration, while at the same time publicly endorsing Virdens would-be primary opponent, Bart Perrier, in the 2024 election. Virden withdrew his contract request for the reality show, claiming outside forces had politicized the issue. The sheriff also knocks Fisher for his handling of the sale of a county building, claiming irregularities in the bid process. Fisher declined to comment on the lawsuit Monday other than to say he would respond at the appropriate time and that he was disappointed in Mr. Virdens behavior and actions. His conduct does nothing to further the publics trust in its elected officials, Fisher said. The lawsuit, meanwhile, claims that Fishers statements intentionally disparaged the motivation, integrity and reputation of Sheriff Virden and the Osage County Sheriffs Office at a time when public support for law enforcement is waning nationwide. The lawsuit seeks in excess of $10,000 in both compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit also seeks a judicial order vacating the 2023 auction of the public building. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Nomination season: The Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence is now accepting nominations for Academic All-State and the Medal of Excellence. To be considered for Academic All-State, a high school senior must attend a public school and meet any one of the following criteria: a composite ACT score of at least 30, a combined SAT evidence-based reading & writing and math score of at least 1370 or be selected as a National Merit Scholarship Program semi-finalist. The accolade comes with a $1,500 award. The Medal of Excellence recognizes public school educators for their passion and innovation, commitment to professional development, and extraordinary impact on student learning. Awards will be presented in each of the following categories: Elementary Teaching, Secondary Teaching, Elementary/Secondary Administration, Regional University/Community College Teaching, and Research University Teaching. Honorees also receive a $5,000 cash award. Medal of Excellence nominations close Nov. 3. Academic All-State nominations close at 5 p.m. Nov. 28. Get thee to the polls: Tuesday is Election Day for voters in the Catoosa and Pretty Water school districts. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Catoosa has a $9 million proposal that would add more classrooms to the elementary school that is currently under construction. Pretty Water has a two-part, $975,000 proposal. Proposition No. 1 would provide $850,000 for repairs and renovations to Building No. 1, which houses the districts kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms, cafeteria, gym and business office. Proposition No. 2. would provide $125,000 for a new bus. Hornets wanted: In honor of the 50th anniversary of the voluntary integration of Booker T. Washington High School, the schools Film Department and a community group, Hornets United, are recording interviews from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with alumni, former faculty members and others with ties to the north Tulsa school. For more information or to schedule an interview time, email info@hornetsunited.org. Community meeting: TPS board District 3 representative Jennettie Marshall will host a town hall meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. Monday at the North Star Academy gym, 525 E. 46th St. North. Interim Superintendent Ebony Johnson is scheduled to speak. Interpretation services will be provided. Schools within District 3 include Anderson, Burroughs, Celia Clinton, Felicitas Mendez International, Greenwood Leadership Academy, Hamilton, Hawthorne, John Hope Franklin, Project Accept and Whitman elementary schools; Central, Tulsa Met, TRAICE and Monroe Demonstration middle schools; Central, McLain, Tulsa Met and TRAICE high schools and North Star Academy. Drum beat: Tulsa Public Schools Indian Education is launching a traditional drum group for the districts Indigenous students. The first practice is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the library of the former Remington Elementary School, 2524 W. 53rd St. For more information, call 918-833-8365. Stay home days: Dove Charter Schools are not in session this week due to fall break. Monday is a distance-learning day for Liberty and Wagoner. Wednesday is a distance-learning day for Bartlesville Public Schools. Epic Charter Schools are not in session Wednesday through Friday due to fall break. Anderson is not in session Friday due to the start of fall break. School board calendar: The boards of education for Allen Bowden, Berryhill, Broken Arrow, Catoosa, Claremore, Collinsville, Glenpool, Jenks, Liberty, Mounds, Owasso, Prue, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Sperry, Union, Verdigris and Wagoner are scheduled to meet Monday. The Anderson school board is scheduled to meet Tuesday. The boards for Epic Charter Schools and Keystone are scheduled to meet Wednesday. The Bixby board is scheduled to meet Thursday. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. On this day in 2007, Tulsa County voters rejected a plan to build Arkansas River low-water dams, land acquisition and a connector system between the river and downtown. 52.5 percent of the voters opposed the $282 million proposal that would have raised sales taxes 0.4 percent over seven years. Much of the opposition vote in that election came from outside the city of Tulsa. Proponents of the plan called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that offered not just a steady flow of water in the river but the promise of new jobs, an expanded tax base and a better way of life for the entire region. Opponents argued that taxes already are too high and that an increase would only drain local communities of much-needed revenue to fix roads, hire police officers and provide other basic government services. They also questioned a central element of the river proposal -- funding for low-water dams in Sand Springs and Jenks -- saying those projects had been approved and paid for as part of the Vision 2025 proposal. The vote came about four years after Tulsa County residents approved the $885 million Vision 2025 package. 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 Seven years since it started, organizers behind Tulsas annual Native American Day took their cue from Mondays perfect weather to predict a sunny outlook for the event. We want to thank everyone for making this day a reality, said Matt Roberts, education chairman of the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, event host. In October of 2017, we had a small gathering at Guthrie Green, and since 2017 to today, it has grown by leaps and bounds. The event, two years removed from going virtual twice during the pandemic, was held for a second year at its new permanent home, Dream Keepers Park, 1875 S. Boulder Park Drive. Enjoying sunshine and temperatures in the 70s, big crowds came out for a daylong schedule of activities celebrating Native Americans, including a parade, cultural songs and dancing. This is a great day, said Chuck Hoskin Jr., Cherokee Nation principal chief. There is progress afoot as Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated across the United States. And because this event is getting better and better, there is progress in the great city of Tulsa, and I am proud to bear witness to it. Hoskin spoke to help kick off the day, along with Muscogee Nation Principal Chief David Hill and Osage Nation Assistant Chief R.J. Walker. Hoskin said any day dedicated to indigenous people in the U.S. must recognize the past both the injustice and oppression experienced by Natives as well as their triumph and resilience. Recognizing that history is something we have to do in this country, he added. If we dont do it, most likely folks will forget. And theres some people in this country that simply want to forget. But were not going to let them forget. Hill said: Today, we celebrate survival. We celebrate the generations that resisted genocide. We celebrate people who decided to rebuild after they were removed. (The Muscogee) story here in Tulsa began along the banks of the Arkansas River under the great Council Oak Tree. The past that we share isnt without conflict or complexity, but it also includes great accomplishment and progress. Both Hill and Hoskin referenced the recent hot topic of tribal sovereignty. Hill said: Tribal nations want to work together with our towns all across the reservation, not just joint projects and economic development ventures but working together making our reservations peaceful and safe, making sure citizens have an excellent quality of life. It must include respecting our jurisdiction and our sovereignty. Together, theres nothing we cant do, if were respectful and we communicate with one another. Added Hoskin: We can choose collaboration over conflict if we want to do it. We can choose to respect tribal sovereignty in this state and in this country. Respect for tribal sovereignty ought to be the norm in this country in the future, and it will be if we make it so. Native American Day is celebrated in Tulsa on the second Monday of every October. Tulsa City Councilor Laura Bellis, representing District Four, read aloud the original mayoral proclamation establishing the day. It is such a privilege to be here on sovereign nation land today, Bellis added. Our city would be absolutely nothing without sovereign nation leadership and without our tribal nations. Bellis praised the plans for the park. Im really excited with the support of tribal nation leaders, the city and the broader community about the work thats being done to improve this park and the dream that will soon be a reality to turn it into a cultural destination for all Native Americans, she said. The theme of this years Native American Day was Weaving a Legacy. This theme is especially important when you think about the spirit of this day, which celebrates and recognizes the culture, contributions and traditions of Native Americans in Tulsa, said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, who was traveling and provided prerecorded video remarks. At the city of Tulsa, we value our partnerships with the leaders of local tribal nations. Tulsa is home to approximately 30,000 Native Americans. Oklahoma has 39 federally recognized Native American tribes. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 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 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 Oklahoma high schools need more flexibility to build personalized curricula that do not compromise rigor, the Common Education Committee of the state House of Representatives heard Monday. The idea of flexibility is great, but flexibility without accountability and without training really means you have no rules, said Stephen Pruitt, president of the Southern Regional Education Board, a 75-year-old nonpartisan organization of southern states, including Oklahoma. The hard part is, how do you find a way to make sure that a kid is really getting the content they need but not by sacrificing (quality) because we want to give so much flexibility it doesnt actually come together, he said. Pruitts remarks came after nearly 90 minutes of testimony dealing largely with the need to reconfigure Oklahomas high school graduation rates to better meet the needs of students and employers. Ben Lepak of the State Chamber Research Foundation began the hearing with a presentation on labor shortages, which he said are partly the result of demographics and partly because the education system does not align with the job market. Lepak said only one of the 10 most popular Career Tech certifications is in one of the 10 highest-demand occupations. Robert Placido, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education vice chancellor of academic and student affairs, said some traditional curricula models, particularly for mathematics, are outdated. Placido said that while writing and foundational math skills remain the best indicators of college success, algebra up to calculus, the standard pathway, is not relevant to so many things. It has to be aligned and meaningful. Were not saying take easier math, he said. Were saying take rigorous math that will help you. Placido said the majority of Oklahoma high school students are taking assessments that are not appropriate for them, which results in misleading conclusions about both the students and the states public schools. Much of the discussion concerned efforts to connect the theoretical with the practical and on-the-job training. Bartlesville Public Schools Superintendent Chuck McCauley said his district plans to add a construction program with a goal of building one house a year. Jeff Anderson, senior director of engineering, mobility, surveillance and bombers for Boeings Oklahoma City operations, said his company has a series of internships beginning in high school and continuing through college intended to identify and develop engineers. Pruitt, a former high school science teacher, said he once persuaded an aspiring cosmetologist to stay in chemistry class by showing her the labels of hair care products. The woman is now a chemist for Maybelline, Pruitt said. But while there seemed to be general agreement that such approaches are desirable, the road to legislating them was a different story. The emphasis on graduation rates, Pruitt said, incentivizes temptation. Graduation requirements are a tricky business, Pruitt said. What we have found is that often whats written on a piece of paper is not as important as what is required at the school. When you think about graduation rates or graduation requirements, I will tell you that whatever you do on graduation requirements, somebody can find a way to get their (graduation) rates up without necessarily guaranteeing that the student is getting what they need to be successful. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. 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 OKLAHOMA CITY A divided state board voted Monday to contract with Catholic leaders in Oklahoma for the nations first religious charter school, St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board split 3-2, with members Brian Bobek, Nellie Sanders and Scott Strawn voting yes and board Chairman Robert Franklin and member Bill Pearson in the minority. Strawn, appointed to the board by Gov. Kevin Stitt in March, cast the deciding vote on the publicly funded religious school and then later informed the boards chairman that he was stepping down and that this was his last meeting. The Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office told the Tulsa World later Monday that Attorney General Gentner Drummond has consistently expressed his disapproval of forcing taxpayers to fund religious teachings. He will review the details of the approved contract and determine the appropriate next steps. A charter school contract is a legally binding administrative and performance agreement between a charter school, which is publicly funded, and its authorizing agency. It specifies the terms and conditions by which the school will operate, including performance expectations, and defines the rights and responsibilities of the school and its sponsor, including conditions for future renewal of the contract. The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board previously hired a private-practice attorney on the St. Isidore contract negotiations, Daniel Carsey with Hall Estill Attorneys at Law, because a majority of members went against the advice of the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office in approving Catholic leaders application for state sanctioning and funding of a school that they vowed would be a religious school. During Mondays meeting, Carsey handed board members a copy of the contract he said had been completed over the weekend, and he announced that by doing so, it was a public record. He recommended one small change to one sentence, and the boards 3-2 vote was for approval of the contract with that change made. Rebecca Wilkinson, executive director of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board, declined to provide news reporters or other members of the public who inquired a copy of the contract document that Carsey had provided her and each board member during the public meeting. Wilkinson also declined to allow a Tulsa World reporter the ability to inspect the document at the conclusion of the public meeting, saying all records requests concerning the St. Isidore contract needed to be sent to Carsey, the boards contracted private practice attorney. Around 3:15 p.m. Carsey emailed a copy of the requested contract. There are a few references to religion. Under Compliance with the Charter School Act is the statement: The Charter School agrees to comply with all Applicable Law. The parties acknowledge and agree that if the Charter School is a religious nonprofit organization, it has the right to freely exercise its religious beliefs and practices consistent with its Religious Protections. If, on the other hand, the Charter School is not a religious nonprofit organization entitled to the Religious Protections, it shall be nonsectarian in its programs, admission policies, employment practices, and all other operations. Under the Superseding law section, the contract terms state: In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Contract and Applicable Law, the terms of this Contract shall be deemed superseded by the conflicting Applicable Law; provided, however, that if the Charter School is a religious nonprofit organization, the Charter School shall be entitled to its Religious Protections even when in conflict with the Applicable Law. The deal is not necessarily a done one, according to St. Isidore proponents. Asked whether Catholic leaders were satisfied with the contract terms approved Monday by the schools would-be sponsor, Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Chancellor Michael Scaperlanda declined to comment because its in litigation. John Meiser with the Notre Dame Law School Religious Liberty Initiative Clinic, which has been advising Oklahoma Catholic leaders on the matter, said: Were very excited that its moving forward. And its a next step in the process. Now, we just have to consider it and consider if we think any tweaks or changes are needed. Before the vote, the statewide virtual school board was even divided about whether to discuss the St. Isidore matter behind closed doors in executive session before voting on the contract. During public comment, Sherri Brown, a board member of the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee, which has filed a taxpayer challenge in district court to try to block St. Isidore from receiving public charter school sanctioning and taxpayer funding, questioned the legality of holding an executive session on a proposed charter school contract. Bobek made the motion to go into executive session, and Sanders seconded, but Strawn joined with Franklin and Pearson in voting no, effectively keeping all discussion of the matter out in the open. Still lingering is the question of the eligibility of Bobek, an Oklahoma City businessman who signed his oath of office as a board member moments before the start of the June 5 board meeting, where he cast the deciding vote to go ahead with the St. Isidore application. A state Attorney Generals Office representative has said during a public meeting that the office believes that Bobek is ineligible to serve until November. House Speaker Charles McCall had appointed Bobek abruptly on June 2 one business day before the June 5 application vote to replace long-serving member Barry Beauchamp, a retired school superintendent from Lawton who had been allowed to continue serving after his term expired some months earlier. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. During the early morning count on Saturday, Aug. 26, state corrections officers found Vincent Willis dead in his cell at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy. The 59-year-old prisoner died overnight in his sleep, according to an offender death report obtained through the Oklahoma Open Records Act. The report lists natural causes as the suspected cause of death, which medical personnel generally cite when someone dies from a chronic health condition or illness. While Willis death was unexpected, the state medical examiner opted not to accept his body for an autopsy. Another older prisoner in the same housing unit died two days earlier. Jimmy Lanford, a 63-year-old man serving a life sentence for first-degree murder in Osage County, was taken to a Tulsa hospital on Aug. 17. He died a week later. The state medical examiner will rule on his cause of death. Tonya Wilson Peel, a former correctional case manager at Dick Conner who worked alongside Lanford during her employment at the prison, said he had a sharp sense of humor and loved his job making license plates for the State of Oklahoma. She said Lanford had complained of excessive heat for several weeks leading up to his death but declined to seek help because he didnt want money to be deducted from his commissary account for a medical visit. He had a heart attack that Im pretty sure was caused due to the heat, Wilson Peel said. He was just so hot. He had told me several times that he was taking a towel and dipping it in ice water and putting it around his neck because he felt like he just couldnt breathe. A Corrections Department employee who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of violating the agencys media policy said Lanford and Willis had pre-existing health concerns but lived in a general population unit and maintained jobs. On one particularly hot day, the temperature inside a cell at Dick Conner reached as high as 97 degrees Fahrenheit, the employee said. Dick Conner is one of several Oklahoma prisons that does not have universal air conditioning. Corrections Department policy does not mandate a temperature range in living areas, though it does state that prison officials should try to increase airflow during the summer months. The Oklahoma Department of Health requires pretrial facilities to maintain positive airflow if temperatures exceed 85. The two men died as an unrelenting heat wave gripped the southern U.S. From Aug. 20-26, the Tulsa International Airport station reported an average high of 100 degrees, with temperatures early in the week as high as 104. The Tulsa airport is about 50 miles southeast of Dick Conner. U.S. prisons and jails disproportionately house individuals susceptible to extreme heat, including those with chronic health conditions and those who take psychotropic medications. In a study published last year, Harvard University researchers found that death rates are significantly higher in Texas prisons that lack air conditioning than in those that are climate-controlled. Heat exposure is often under-identified in autopsies, according to a report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The stress of heat exposure can increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular or respiratory disease, which are more common than heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the report said. Corrections Department spokesperson Kay Thompson said the men were in poor health and that prison medical staff do not suspect that heat played a role in the deaths. She said Dick Conner and other facilities that lack air conditioning use portable chillers and fans to keep temperatures down during heat waves. Prisoners receive unlimited access to water and ice, and staff regularly gauge indoor temperatures during count times. Prisoner advocates argue that the deaths highlight a need for universal air conditioning within Oklahomas correctional system. Emily Shelton, founder of the Oklahoma prisoner advocacy group Hooked on Justice, said she has received dozens of complaints about excessive heat at Dick Conner. In messages shared with Oklahoma Watch, one prisoner complained of temperatures being so hot that he poured toilet water on himself to keep cool. Another inmate wrote that he was struggling to breathe in the stifling heat. Darrell Wiggins served 35 years in Oklahoma state prisons before being released on parole in February. The 55-year-old Tulsa resident, who served time at Dick Conner and several other state prisons, said he would intentionally cause trouble during the summer to get transferred to a cooler unit. I would go to segregation because I know theres air conditioning, Wiggins said. And then I would pray hard to God that he would send me to a place that has air conditioning or just isnt as hot. Its all steel and concrete in there. Theres no shade or trees or anywhere you can go. State Rep. Justin Humphrey, chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, said he has fielded several calls from corrections staff and family members of prisoners complaining of excessive heat. He said hed like the Oklahoma Department of Labor to complete a systemwide audit of state prison facilities. As for installing air conditioning in more prisons, Humphrey said the agency could use savings from incarcerating fewer prisoners to improve facility conditions. I remember some time ago we gave them quite a bit of money to fix the facilities and get those improvements done, said Humprey, R-Lane. Theyre not happening. Prisoner advocates across the U.S. have been pressing for laws requiring air conditioning in all prison facilities. At least 44 states dont have universal air conditioning, according to a USA Today analysis published in July 2022. The Texas House of Representatives passed a bill in April allotting $545 million over eight years to install air conditioning in every state prison, with supporters arguing that it would help the state fend off wrongful death and civil rights lawsuits and protect vulnerable prisoners and corrections staff. The measure ultimately failed in the Senate. Wiggins said expanding air conditioning in Oklahoma prisons could help cool tensions and take a burden off medical staff. Exposure to heat isnt supposed to be part of a prison sentence, he said. Youre not supposed to make the situation unbearable, Wiggins said. Were already away from our families and cant exercise certain rights; then you want to keep us there burning up. About Oklahoma Watch Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Vietnamese tax authorities collected taxes totaling VND9.28 trillion (US$379 million) from foreign cross-border service providers in Vietnam, such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple, through a portal 18 months after its launch, according to the General Department of Taxation. The portal was established in March last year, enabling foreign suppliers to declare and pay taxes online to Vietnam. In particular, some 30 foreign service providers settled some VND3.48 trillion ($142 million) in taxes from March 21 last year to the end of 2022. In the year to September 20, the countrys tax authorities had collected VND5.8 trillion ($237 million) from 67 foreign service providers. To tighten control over the tax payment by foreign suppliers, Vietnamese tax agencies have adopted multiple measures. The General Department of Taxation frequently reviews foreign service providers compliance with Vietnams law on e-commerce and online business, and urges them to register to declare and pay taxes through the portal. Tax authorities always create favorable conditions for foreign suppliers and domestic enterprises to do business and expand their reach in Vietnam, said the department. However, tax agencies will impose harsh sanctions on those who breach regulations on tax in the country, the department underlined. The department will keep prompting foreign service providers who have yet to pay taxes to complete tax registration, declaration, and payment from now until the end of 2023. Besides, the tax agencies will team up with relevant units to upgrade the portal to make it easier for foreign suppliers to pay taxes. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The perennial issue of transboundary haze has again sparked friction in Southeast Asia, with Malaysia's environment minister writing to the Indonesian government this week calling for a regional response to the toxic smoke drifting across his nation. The letter comes just weeks after countries in Southeast Asia committed to a haze-free region by 2030. What's going on? In recent weeks air quality in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia has spiked into the red, with indexes consistently showing readings above 150 - putting it in a bracket where people can experience health effects, and those with sensitive conditions could suffer more serious problems. On the Indonesian side of Borneo island visibility was reduced to less than 10 metres, while schools have been shut in both Indonesia and Malaysia to minimise the health impact on young children. Malaysia has blamed the haze on Indonesia, saying that smoke from forest fires drifts over the border. Every few years, during the dry season, smoke from "slash and burn" land clearing, largely to make way for oil palm, pulp and paper plantations, engulfs much of the region, posing a threat to public health, education and businesses such as tourism. How is the problem being addressed? Despite pleas by Malaysia this week not to "normalise" the haze, Indonesia has flatly denied any responsibility. Indonesia's environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said on Friday that forest fires had declined and no haze was detected moving toward any neighbouring country. Indonesia has been addressing the fires by water bombing via helicopters, she said. Indonesia has in the past taken legal action against companies suspected of illegal burning, but each year fires continue with varying degrees of severity. In 2015 and 2019 Indonesia was struck by catastrophic blazes that burned millions of hectares of land, causing record-breaking emissions and engulfing some places in toxic yellow smoke. Why does this keep happening? Under Indonesia law burning by small-scale local farmers is permitted provided it occurs on a maximum area of two hectares and necessary prevention measures are in place. All large-scale planters are obligated to comply with sustainable palm oil standards, which prohibit burning. The regulations mean that slash and burn techniques continue to be used by small-holder farmers who rely on the cheap land clearance method and for whom compliance to the standards is voluntary. Opaque supply chains, overlapping land claims and these regulatory loopholes mean that large companies, which are in some cases owned by firms based in countries such as Malaysia and Singapore, can sometimes avoid responsibility for illegal land clearance. How is the region responding? The Association of Southeast Asian Nations recently launched a coordinating centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACC THPC). Intended to help members prevent, mitigate and monitor transboundary haze, the centre is in line with ASEAN's commitment to achieve a haze-free region by 2030. This week ASEAN agriculture and forestry ministers also agreed to take collective action to minimise and eventually eliminate crop burning. Is climate change making it worse? Indonesia is home to the world's third largest rainforest area and the government needs to take more action, environmentalists say. The country is experiencing exacerbated dry conditions due to the El Nino weather pattern this year. Greenpeace Indonesia says climate warming is increasing the intensity and frequency of forest and land fires, which are in turn fuelling the climate crisis. Why palm oil? Global consumption of palm oil, used in a wide range of products such as cookies, candles and as a cooking oil, is growing rapidly. Palm oil is the world's most used edible oil, accounting for 60% of global vegetable oil exports. For Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, the product is one of the biggest export earners after coal. Export earnings from palm oil and its derivatives stood at $39.28 billion in 2022, according to the Indonesian Palm Oil Association. Relevant parties in the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas should restraint and negotiate to seek a way out of the ongoing hostilities that have killed over 1,100 people so far, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Sunday. Spokesperson of the foreign ministry Pham Thu Hang made the statement in reply to reporters questions regarding Vietnams response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that has caused a lot of casualties to civilians. We call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, not take actions that complicate the situation, and soon resume negotiations to resolve disagreements through peaceful means, based on international law and relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, thereby ensuring the safety and legitimate interests of civilians, the spokesperson stressed. The conflict between Israel and Hamas, the force controlling the Gaza Strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, broke out on the morning of October 7 (local time), not long after the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. The fighting has so far killed over 1,100 people from both sides, Reuters reported on Monday. The bloody conflict also showed signs of spreading when Hezbollah forces in Lebanon attacked northern Israel to show solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Israeli army responded to both Hamas and Hezbollah with air strikes, making the situation even worse. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all possible diplomatic efforts to be made to avoid a wider conflict, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stated. The Secretary General is deeply concerned for the civilian population and urges maximum restraint. Civilians must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law at all times, Reuters quoted Dujarric as saying. Faced with this situation, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel said it has assigned staff to maintain contact with representatives of Vietnamese communities in Israel and coordinated with local authorities to be ready for citizen protection when necessary. Vietnamese citizens should strictly follow regulations of the local authorities, limit travel, avoid conflict areas, and not gather in large groups, the embassy advised. The agency has also affirmed that Vietnamese citizens in Israel, including the local Vietnamese community, officials on business trips and travelers, have remained safe so far. They may contact the Vietnamese Embassy at 972-50-818-6116, 972-52-727-4248 and 972-50-994-0889, or call the Consular Departments citizen protection hotline at 84 981 84 84 84 for support when needed. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The fifth meeting of the Vietnam-United Arab Emirates (UAE) Inter-Governmental Committee was held in Hanoi on Sunday, under the co-chairmanship of Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and the UAEs Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Speaking at the meeting, Dien underlined the importance of the event, which coincided with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Given their good diplomatic and political relations, the two countries have witnessed their economic and trade ties grow over time and generate fruitful outcomes, Dien said. Ahmed Al Zeyoudi stated that the UAE government considers Vietnam an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region and hopes to tighten cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation in all fields. The UAE official suggested both sides continue adopting measures to beef up their friendship and multifaceted cooperation in the years ahead. Both sides at the meeting reviewed the outcomes of their bilateral cooperation since the fourth meeting held in 2019 as well as discussed issues of mutual concern and measures to boost their bilateral cooperation in various fields. Regarding their political and diplomatic ties over the past three decades, both sides have maintained close cooperation and supported each other at multilateral forums and international organizations. Bilateral trade has stayed at US$5 billion per year since 2019, allowing Vietnam to position itself among the UAEs top 10 largest trade partners and the UAE to rank among Vietnams biggest trade partners in the Middle East region. Also, there is much room left for both nations to expand cooperation, especially when they are actively promoting negotiations toward the signing of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. As of August this year, the UAE ranked 43rd among the 148 countries and territories pouring investment into Vietnam. Investors from the UAE have executed 38 projects in Vietnam, with a total pledged capital of over $71 million. Meanwhile, there are five active projects implemented by Vietnamese firms in the UAE, with a combined registered capital of more than $1.8 million. Their cooperation in other fields, such as security, logistics and transport, information and communications, education and training, human resources, culture, and tourism have witnessed positive outcomes as well. Both sides also discussed and agreed to facilitate the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, and continue supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organizations. They underlined the need to jointly review and complete the legal framework for cooperation such as the comprehensive economic agreement, the agreement on cooperation and mutual support in customs, the agreement on extradition, and the agreement on transfer of sentenced persons. Besides, they must also take into account investment and cooperation opportunities in such fields as chemical production, fertilizer, textiles and footwear, electronics and mechanics, automobiles, and energy. Furthermore, both sides will call on and create optimal conditions for investors from the two countries to establish cooperation in telecommunications, digital transformation, logistics, culture, and tourism. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A collision between a truck and a 16-seat passenger car in Dak Lak Province in Vietnams Central Highlands region on Sunday claimed the life of a person and injured 12 others, a local official confirmed the same day. The accident occurred at about 1:30 pm on a bypass in Buon Ho Town, Dak Lak Province. Prior to the accident, the two vehicles had been traveling in opposite directions. One victim died on the spot. Those injured were rushed to Thien Hanh Hospital in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak for emergency treatment. The injured victims are receiving treatment at a hospital in Dak Lak Province. Photo: N.C. / Tuoi Tre A hospital leader said a person was hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury and was in critical condition. The remaining 11 patients are under intensive care and their injuries are not life-threatening. The two vehicles were badly damaged after the accident. At 3:30 pm on Sunday, police in Buon Ho Town and neighboring Krong Buk District were still examining the scene and regulating traffic in the area. They are investigating the cause of the accident. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A man from Hai Phong City in northern Vietnam abruptly collapsed and subsequently passed away while attempting to scale Ta Chi Nhu peak, the seventh tallest mountain in Vietnam, on Sunday. Police in Tram Tau District of Yen Bai Province, where the peak is located, are investigating the cause of the death, a local official said on Sunday evening. The victim, 61-year-old N.T.T. from Hai Phong, and around ten other climbers began heading toward the top of the 2,979-meter tall Ta Chi Nhu mountain early Saturday morning. After spending the night at a campsite along the climbing route that evening, T. and his group resumed the hike on Monday morning. As they approached the mountains summit and paused to take photos, T. suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness. Despite receiving immediate first aid from those around him, he did not survive. T.s climb was recreational, the offical said. "He and his group hired porters to help guide and carry supplies. According to his companions, T. had a history of high blood pressure, and it is possible that the altitude and exertion contributed to this tragic incident. The victims body has been transported back to his hometown for funeral arrangements. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- Ho Chi Minh City recorded four new cases of monkeypox last Friday, bringing the total number of cases in the city to 13, the municipal health department said in a Sunday report. -- A cold front will influence the northern and north-central regions on Monday evening, resulting in chilly conditions during the nighttime and morning hours, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Particularly in high-altitude areas, temperatures may drop below 16 degrees Celsius in certain locations. -- The 30-meter-long railway landslide triggered by heavy rain in Yen Bai Province, located in northern Vietnam, had been repaired as of 9:00 pm on Sunday, reconnecting the Hanoi-Lao Cai railway line after a two-day disruption. -- While en route to scale the Ta Chi Nhu peak, which ranks as the seventh tallest mountain in Vietnam, a man from Hai Phong experienced an abrupt collapse and subsequently passed away on Saturday. -- Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday said that they had arrested and initiated legal proceedings against an airplane maintenance staff member working at Tan Son Nhat International Airport for smuggling iPhones into Vietnam. Lifestyle -- Vietnamese variety show Hanh Trinh Ky Thu (Lets Feast Vietnam) won the Best Reality & Variety award at the 2023 Asia Content Awards and Global OTT Awards of Busan International Film Festival on Sunday evening. -- Vietnam-based sales agent Skyline Media has unveiled five new titles for sales and distribution at the Asian Contents & Film Market that accompanies the Busan International Film Festival, according to American magazine Variety. Sports -- Chinas eastern city of Hangzhou rounded off the 19th Asian Games on Sunday with a colorful and joy-themed closing ceremony after hosting the continental sporting extravaganza which organizers hailed as one of the finest ever, Reuters reported. World News -- Japan issued a tsunami advisory for the Izu, Ogasawara island areas in the eastern part of the country on Monday, Reuters reported. --Hong Kong ordered people to stay indoors, shut schools and closed the stock exchange on Monday as the remnants of Typhoon Koinu caused floods a month after the city was paralyzed by record-breaking rainfall, Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Many women and children across northern Vietnam have chopped off their long locks of hair as part of a program to encourage pediatric patients having lost their hair while battling against cancer. The program, named Tram Toc Uoc Mo (Dream Hair Station), was held by the Network for Child Cancer Patients for the first time in October last year and was conducted again on Sunday. To date, nearly 3,100 women and children have donated their hair and over 150 newly-made hair pieces have been presented to child patients who had lost their hair after undergoing chemotherapy at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Vietnam National Children's Hospital, both in Hanoi. Nguyen Chi Nhat Anh, a nine-year-old who donated her hair, is one of the many children who showed up to support Tram Toc Uoc Mo. I want to help child cancer patients who lost their hair have new hair. I love them a lot, Nhat Anh said. Donated sets of hair are exchanged for smiles. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre Thirteen-year-old Nguyen Khanh Ngoc from Bac Ninh Province also participated in the Tram Toc Uoc Mo program, but for Ngoc, it was a particularly emotional event. Ngoc was first diagnosed with cancer when she was just 18 months old. Though she received treatment at the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital, her cancer returned several years later in 2016. She beat cancer for the second time, but during her battle she lost her hair. Now, years later, she felt honored to have an opportunity to donate her now-regrown hair to those fighting the same battle she overcame. Another hair donor at the event was Pham Thuy Ngan, a 24-year-old resident of Hoai Duc District in Hanoi. I hadnt cut my hair for nearly two years. I was sad to donate my hair because it carried so many memories, but the 40 centimeters they cut will help a child in need, Thuy said. The patients who received newly-made hairpieces were brimming with happiness and confidence. Nguyen Chi Nhat Anh, 9, is confident with her short hair after donating part of her hair. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre Pham Van Anh, a child cancer patient at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, immediately brightened up the moment she saw herself wearing a new hairpiece. Anh was diagnosed with leukemia on August 23, 2022. I knew I was diagnosed with cancer and would have to undergo chemotherapy. At the beginning, I was sad because I lost my hair," Anh said. Other [patients] are the same age as me and were able to [handle the treatment], so I will try to handle it so that I can eventually go back to school and be with my family, Anh said. Im happy to have new hair. I feel more confident and brave. I am inspired to fight this disease. The hair of Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, 13, from northern Bac Ninh Province, before and after the donation. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre According to Hoang Dieu Thuan, founder of the Network for Child Cancer Patients, giving hairpieces to pediatric cancer patients can help them to feel confident enough to return to school before their hair grows back. We are happy to receive gratitude and smiles. I want to tell [each child] that their hair will grow back, Thuan said. Child cancer patients also paint pictures and make bracelets and necklaces at the hair donation event. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre Hundreds of sets of hair are donated. Photo: Nguyen Hien / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday said that they had arrested and initiated legal proceedings against an airplane maintenance technician at Tan Son Nhat International Airport for his role in smuggling iPhones into Vietnam. The airplane maintenance technician is 43-year-old Le Van Ngoc, an employee of Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company Ltd. Another man, 33-year-old Nguyen Anh Tuan, faces the same smuggling charges and Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga, Tuans 29-year-old wife, was determined as his accomplice. Customs officers at Tan Son Nhat found that Tuan had transported 12 brand-new iPhone 14 Pro Max devices from Thailand to Vietnam without making the required declaration. The case was immediately reported the cases to local police, who subsequently conducted an investigation. Police uncovered that Tuan and Nga had smuggled over 600 iPhone 14 Pro Max devices, valued at nearly VND20 billion (US$821,000), from Thailand into Vietnam. Tuan and Nga collaborated with Ngoc to take advantage of Ngocs aircraft maintenance duties in order to facilitate the transportation of the iPhones on flights which corresponded to Ngocs maintenance schedule. Upon an aircrafts arrival at the apron, while passengers disembarked and Ngoc prepared to maintenance the plane, he would collect Tuans bag at the exit and conceal it within his tool box. After completing aircraft maintenance work, Ngoc would exit the airport through the domestic terminal in order to evade a customs inspection. He would then deliver the iPhones to Nga outside the airport. Ngoc received a payment of VND900,000 ($37) per smuggled iPhone. The investigation uncovered that Ngoc had received over VND500 million ($20,500) as payment for his role in smuggling the iPhones. The investigation is ongoing. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Paul Fenechs latest comedy sensation Darradong Council is coming to 7mate later this month. The 8 part series features a dodgy mayor who does sly deals with Chinese property developers. A Greens councillor who wants to boycott Saudi Arabia for its treatment of feral cats. And a lazy council worker who refuses to go to the toilet during his smoko break, holding it in so he can reduce the workday. In addition to Fenech the cast includes George Kapiniaris, Garry Who, Vince Sorrenti, Angry Anderson, Yvie Jones, Melissa Tkautz, Jordan Shanks and more. Its all about the corruption, lazy council workers, the stuff you see in the news all the time, Fenech tells Real Sydney News. A lot of it is straight out of the headlines. Councils are an easy source of material because you cant believe some of the stuff theyve actually done. In episode one Mayor Theo (Kapiniaris) asks Fox (Fenech) to steal lawn furniture for his ex wife, leading to a massive punch up with rivals at Moorefields Council. 9:30pm Thursday 26 October on 7mate. The Seattle skyline is gone from the credits, and Kelsey Grammer is given a vocal cheer from the audience when he first steps onto the set of the new Frasier, like The Fonz into Happy Days. Yes, its grand to see Grammer back in his inimitable role of the biting, erudite psychiatrist from one of televisions favourite sitcoms. Even in his 60s, the character still behaves as he did so many decades ago when, to be fair, he never acted hs age anyway. Also back are the multicam style and laugh track. To be clear, there is a studio audience according to press notes, but the canned laughs sweeten the soundtrack in ways that are unmistakable and free-flowing. For fans of shows like Big Bang Theory, Fuller House and their ilk, it will be music to their ears. En-route to Paris our hero visits Boston as a successful TV talk host (looking at you Dr. Phil), seeking to reunite with his estranged son, fireman Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), the offspring of Dr. Crane and Lilith. The ensemble is populated by an all-new cast including Frasiers old college pal Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst), nephew David (Anders Keith) who is the offspring of Niles & Daphne, Harvard Psychology Dept. Head Olivia (Toks Olagundoye) and Eve (Jess Salgueiro), roommate to Freddy. IMDb indicates Peri Gilpin will also make a single episode appearance. Following the death of his father (a nod to the late, great, John Mahoney), Frasiers efforts to bond with Freddy unannounced are rebuffed by his son. There are plenty of years of absence and judgement to mine for comic conflict, and were only just getting started. At the same time Olivia is hoping to convince the celebrity psychiatrist to join the Harvard academia. As a series set-up it is neat and effective. It also reworks the class abyss so brilliantly executed between Frasier and his late father into a new generation. Now, the blue collar class is his son, who doesnt see eye to eye with his fathers love of opera, cashmere and fine wine or his repugnancy at the idea of jeans on an expensive sofa. David, as son of Niles, also brings the nerd-factor to the series while elderly Alan provides the peer confidant to Frasier. That just leaves the apple of Frasiers romantic eye to be filled which, I presume, is where Olivia will likely step in? Frasier was first seen in Cheers, while the characters long run in his own sitcom from 1993 to 2004 was TV heaven thanks to the talents of the cast, the writing and directing. Legendary director James Burrows returns for the 2023 series which is encouraging indeed. He peppers the episodes with physical comedy, mistaken identity, mugging, expertly timed punchlines and the necessary sitcom moment of poignancy in the third act. And lets be honest, theres nothing better than hearing the melifluous tones of Kelsey Grammer spitting out consonant-heavy sentences from on high. There are definitely some good lines, such as Frasier reaching for a decanter: Sherry saw me. I cant say no to her. Yet can lightning really be recaptured in a bottle? While Will & Grace (also under the eye of Burrows) had a successful return, that was with all 4 original principals. Frasier has but one The ensemble cast has a lot to live up to. The experienced Nicholas Lyndhurst is the pick of the bunch here, though admittedly it is early days. But this style of comedy is also fading from screens. It asks us to suspend disbelief, accept the canned laughs, the theatrical performance style, the studio sets instead of actual locations -the opening airport set is the size of a butlers pantry, for instance. Perhaps these are reasons to cling to it too As much as I love Grammer in this role, it makes me yearn for what has passed. Its so easy to find a rerun of Frasier with a crack-team ensemble and a style that suited simpler times. Do I wallow in nostalgia or do I allow it to blow away the cob-webs? I appreciate the efforts the show has made to its heritage, complete with a newly-minted Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs theme. Perhaps as I get to know this new bunch Ill feel just as much at home in Boston as I did in Seattle? Frasier screens Friday October 13 on Paramount+. Updated. US celebrity chef Michael Chiarello, who has featured in SBS Food programming, has died aged 61. He died on Saturday in a Californian hospital where he was being treated for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock. We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael. 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, the Chiarello family shared in a statement. 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. His cooking show Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello ran for 10 seasons, and screens in Australia on SBS Food. In the USA he hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel for a decade, as well as appeared as a guest chef on the Today show and The View. Chiarello also served as a judge on Top Chef and Top Chef Masters and participated in the Next Iron Chef competition. Chiarello was named Chef of the Year from Food & Wine magazine in 1985, and received a Chef of the Year award in 1995. Source: Variety (Reuters) Citigroup (C) said on Monday it had agreed to sell its China consumer wealth portfolio, including clients, assets under management (AUM) and deposits, to Asia-focused HSBC Holdings (HSBC) (HSBA.L). The deal covers total deposits and investment AUMs of about $3.6 billion, and is expected to close in the first half of 2024. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. "Today's announcement progresses the wind-down of Citi's consumer banking business in China, which was announced in December 2022," the U.S.-headquartered bank said in a statement. Citi first announced its plan to exit China consumer banking in April 2021 as part of a global strategy revamp. The consumer banking business mainly served rich clients with deposit, fund and structured product offerings. Reuters first reported late last month that HSBC was set to acquire Citi's China consumer wealth business, in a major boost to the London-based bank's business in the world's second-largest economy. Citi's consumer banking business size in China is dwarfed by Chinese banks and foreign peers including Standard Chartered, all which have more retail branches handling wealth management. A branch of Citibank in Beijing, China. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (Kim Kyung Hoon / reuters) The acquisition of Citi's wealth portfolio will help HSBC expand its presence in China, one of its key markets as Europe's largest lender vows to exit less profitable geographies to focus on its key revenue generator, Asia. Based on the regulatory approvals it obtained in recent years, HSBC can now provide wealth management solutions and mobile fund and insurance solutions in mainland China, the bank said in a statement on Monday. HSBC made a strategic investment in Shanghai MediTrust Health Technology Co. Ltd., which was announced in January. HSBC recorded $27 billion in net new invested asset inflows in Asia for the first six months of 2023, up 21% year on year, and more than 35% of the value originates from outside Hong Kong, the statement said. Story continues The deal with HSBC does not include Citi's institutional businesses, the bank said, adding it would continue to serve the needs of affluent to ultra-high net worth Chinese clients via its regional wealth hubs in Singapore and Hong Kong. Since announcing its intention to exit consumer banking across 14 markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Mexico as part of its strategic revamp, Citi has now closed sales in eight markets, it said. Apart from the China consumer banking deal, Citi plans to complete the sale of its Indonesia consumer business later this year, the bank statement said. Previously announced wind-downs of Citi's consumer business in Korea and its overall presence in Russia are in progress. Citi has also announced it will pursue an IPO of its consumer, small business and middle market banking operations in Mexico. (Reporting by Aishwarya Nair in Bengaluru and Xie Yu in Hong Kong; Writing by Sumeet Chatterjee; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil and Jamie Freed and Miral Fahmy) CHANGSHA, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading global heavy machinery manufacturer SANY Group (SANY) recently exhibited at the Mining and Metals Central Asia & Kazcomak which was held from September 20 to 22 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. As one of the most significant mining machinery expos in Central Asia, over 10 industry giants gathered with around 40 thousand visitors in attendance and saw SANY winning intended orders of RMB21.4 million. At the exhibition, six units of SANY's latest flagship equipment, including the STC300V truck crane, 115S off-highway mining truck, and excavator, stole the show. SANY electrified the atmosphere with wonderful dancing, singing, and interactive performances and games, which all resonated with visitors. Mining and Metals Central Asia & Kazcomak (PRNewsfoto/SANY Group) As the earliest engineering machinery enterprise responding to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), SANY established its Central Asia Business Unit in 2014, injecting high-quality products that have been since facilitating the region's infrastructure construction. In 2018, ENTER, one of the largest engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies in Uzbekistan, established cooperative relations with SANY. Upon signing the contract, the company introduced 44 pieces of SANY cranes, and, to date, over 1700 units of SANY equipment owned by the company have been involved in various projects in the region, such as the construction of the first nuclear power station in Central Asia and a gas-to-liquids plant in Uzbekistan, which have powered the country's socioeconomic growth. SANY established cooperative relations with ENTER (PRNewsfoto/SANY Group) Additionally, catering to the global trend of low-carbon development, SANY has also been active in new energy projects in the region. In July of this year, SANY's 10 units of SANY wind turbines were delivered to Kazakhstan's Alkarek wind power project. Starting from August 12, SANY cranes completed the lifting work in just 52 days, much to the amazement of the customer. Once the project is put into use, it will provide 170 million kWh of clean electricity annually to locals, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 176,000 tons, contributing to Kazakhstan's clean energy transition and its carbon neutrality goals. Story continues Kazakhstans Alkarek wind power project (PRNewsfoto/SANY Group) SANY has become deeply rooted in the market during these years with its high-quality products and excellent after-sales service. By far, SANY wheeled cranes market share in Kazakhstan has grown to 61% and will continue to increase in the coming years. Yang Lei, General Manager of the SANY Central Asia Business Unit, commented that SANY will work together with local customers to continue to boost the development of the region. For more information about SANY Group, please visit www.sanyglobal.com or follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/sany-impresses-at-the-mining-and-metals-central-asia--kazcomak-boosting-development-in-region-301950484.html SOURCE SANY Group Scotland assistant John Carver oversees training at Lesser Hampden. (Photo: Alan Harvey - SNS Group) Carver was agitated by criticism from the likes of Manchester City midfielder Rodri after Scotland beat Spain 2-0 in March. But the former Newcastle interim manager believes his players will not be distracted by the issue ahead of Thursdays return fixture in Seville, in which Scotland can qualify for Euro 2024. Spain captain Rodri claimed the way Scotland played was rubbish as he accused them of wasting time, provoking his team-mates and falling over, while debutant David Garcia argued the Hampden grass was too long. Carver said: I have got to be honest, I didnt like it. I felt it was disrespectful. But it was their prerogative to say whatever they wanted to say. Whether they used that as an excuse, I dont know. As far I was concerned, it agitated me and Im sure it would have got to some of the players. But theres a long time gone since then and its about being professional and having a clear head going into this game. So I dont think it will be a distraction. Any win is sweet and you celebrate it for sure, but after what they said it would be nice to win. Spain have scored 16 goals in their subsequent three qualifiers and will be out to surpass Scotlands 2-0 win to give themselves the best chance of topping the group. Carver added: I think they will be out to prove a point. A lot has changed since then, they had just brought in a new manager, they had changed quite a bit of the team. They are now more settled and have had a couple of great results and scored some goals. Its a different type of game. They will have one eye on what happened at Hampden when we beat them, but they are professionals like we are and their minds will be on this game. Scotland have won all five of their Euro 2024 qualifiers and a point on Thursday would be enough to seal a place in next summers finals in Germany, while victory would secure top spot in the group. Even defeat could lead to qualification if Norway fail to beat Cyprus at the same time, or fail to beat Spain three days later in Oslo. Carver is just focused on getting as many points as possible rather than thinking about qualification. Story continues It would be great, but to be honest I am not even thinking about that, he said. We are in a great position, we still have three games left in this group. I want to get as many points as we can and keep this run going. You can say a point would be good enough, but I want to get nine points and, if not nine points, then seven points. Thats the attitude we have got to have because you know what its like going into tournaments if you eventually get there you want to go into it with confidence. Carver confirmed manager Steve Clarke was still considering whether to switch to a back four following Kieran Tierneys hamstring injury. We have had many, many hours of discussions on the telephone and continued that on Sunday, he said. Its something we are definitely thinking about, but I am not going to give too much away. Scotland have lost Ryan Jack after the midfielder missed Rangers last two matches with injury, with nobody called up in his place. - What Scotland need to qualify for Euro 2024 this week as Spain and Norway try to hunt them down Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald. Photo Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker (Photo: Colm Lenaghan) Irelands main opposition leader condemned the militants attack on Saturday, which saw Israeli civilians killed and taken hostage. The targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is to be condemned outright, she told RTEs News At One programme, adding that it was a breach of international law. Scenes where a lot of young people were out enjoying themselves and to meet with such a violent and traumatic death is just truly horrific, and I understand perfectly the sense of trauma thats been expressed. Asked whether she had met with the Hamas leadership, she said I have been to the West Bank and I have met with everybody. After confirming that this included Hamas, she said thats the correct way to approach this. We should know in Ireland, if you are serious about achieving a ceasefire, which is necessary, a path to peace and respect for international law in a conflict situation, you meet and talk to everybody. Thats the only way you can find a pathway forward. Ms McDonald visited the West Bank for several days in December 2018. FILE PHOTO: Logo of Swiss private bank Julius Baer is seen in Zurich ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss private bank Julius Baer announced an overhaul of its executive board on Monday, with executives from UBS among the new appointments. The changes, which include internal promotions, expand Julius Baer's executive board to 15 members from 10 at present. Sonia Goessi will join the Zurich-based bank in January, where she will lead Switzerland and Europe. Previously she was sector head of Wealth Management Europe International North at UBS. She replaces Yves Robert-Charrue, who has decided to leave the bank at the start of 2024. Also departing is Beatriz Sanchez, who is stepping down from Julius Baer's executive board to become its Chair of the Americas. Thomas Frauenlob, another former UBS executive, will become head of intermediaries and family offices at Julius Baer, effective April 1 2024, the bank said. "Our organisational structure and freshly composed leadership team, with its blend of in-house and new talent, will create the momentum and continuity needed to achieve our targets," said Chief Executive Philip Rickenbacher in a statement. Internal appointments made up the rest of the changes, with Carlos Recoder Miralles becoming head of Americas and Iberia, while Rahul Malhotra will shift from Julius Baer's India business to lead emerging markets. Current strategy head Sandra Niethen will become head of client strategy and experience. Guido Ruoss will take a executive board seat as Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Affairs. Christoph Hiestand will also take a board seat, continuing his role as Group General Counsel. Zuercher Kantonalbank was positive about the changes, saying the appointments would bring new impetus to Julius Baer. "However, we have mixed feelings about the expansion of the Executive Board to 15 members, as the size could slow down decision-making," said analyst Michael Klien. (Reporting by John Revill; editing by Christina Fincher) Kavala, 66, faced alternating charges that have ranged from espionage and financing the 2013 protests to taking part in a failed 2016 coup against Erdogan (Handout) The Council of Europe on Monday awarded its top rights prize to jailed Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala, who has come under repeated attack from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Kavala, 66, faced alternating charges that have ranged from espionage and financing the 2013 protests to taking part in a failed 2016 coup against Erdogan. He was arrested in October 2017 and sentenced to life in 2022 for allegedly trying to topple Erdogan's government. "I am very sad that he is not here with us to receive this prize. This prize is so important," his wife, Ayse Bugra Kavala, said, accepting the award from Tiny Kox, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe said Kavala had supported several civil society organisations since the 1990s and that the moves against him were aimed at gagging critics and stifling dissent. Turkey's refusal to abide by European Court of Human Rights rulings to immediately release Kavala have torn at Ankara's relations with Western allies. The Council of Europe has launched infringement proceedings against Turkey over its treatment of Kavala. That could potentially see Ankara expelled from the continent's leading human rights organisation. Critics say it also highlights the deterioration of Turkey's rights record in the second decade of Erdogan's rule. Turkey's supreme court last month upheld Kavala's conviction and life imprisonment on the charge of attempting to overthrow Erdogan's government during large-scale protests in 2013. Kavala is unable to appeal. He was detained six years ago and acquitted in February 2020 of involvement in the 2013 protests or the 2016 coup. But he was immediately detained and charged with espionage. The court then brought new charges that included ones he had already been cleared of in the first trial. - 'I will stay long' - Kavala said last month that the decision by the top appeals court that upheld his life sentence disregarded law and human life. Story continues European officials and human rights activists condemned the confirmation of Kavala's sentence. The decision "further increases the concerns of the European Union regarding the Turkish judiciary's adherence to international and European standards," Peter Stano, spokesman for the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell, said at the time. Enis Berberoglu, an opposition lawmaker who has served time in prison, visited Kavala after the ruling was issued. "(Kavala) told me he saw the court decision on television... while writing a letter," Berberoglu told AFP. "When he was writing 'if I had to stay here longer' ... he saw the flash on TV and wrote in the letter 'I think I will stay long'", the lawmaker said. Berberoglu said Kavala's reaction to the ruling was: "This decision is a result of an understanding that does not value law or human life". But the lawmaker noted: "I saw him in good morale." Turkey's opposition chief Kemal Kilicdaroglu paid his first visit to Kavala on Friday, saying he wanted "to make injustice more visible". "No one should be judged for their thoughts," Turkish media quoted Kilicdaroglu as saying outside Kavala's jail. Kavala was one of tens of thousands of Turks who were either jailed or fired from their jobs in purges that followed a bloody coup attempt against Erdogan when he was already president in 2016. Ankara has flouted a succession of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in recent years, notably concerning two anti-Erdogan figures: Kavala and Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas. bar/gw/ach An introduction to the thought of George Parkin Grant, thirty-five years since his passing (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski web posted October 9, 2023 The world of Canadian politics has been undergoing unusually dramatic shifts. In the 1980s, the Tories or Progressive Conservatives (P.C.'s), traditionally the party of Canadian nationalism, protectionism, etc., had become a liberal-capitalist party, pushing free-enterprise and free-trade. The Liberals, whose conventional policy had always been pro-U.S. continentalism (or, so-called "amalgamation") had, in the 1980s, become Canadian nationalists. The Liberals fought against the Free Trade Agreement in 1988 under the leadership of John Turner. Turner might have in fact been more substantively conservative than Brian Mulroney on many issues. The New Democrats (New Democratic Party NDP Canada's social democratic party) often described themselves as the most consistent Canadian nationalists in that decade. In the 1990s, however, it seemed that all of the parties in the federal Parliament had become liberal-capitalist, with greater or lesser degrees of fervour. There have remained though, large cultural industries and structures -- together commanding greater resources than some major political parties -- which appear to make the persistence of Canadian identity possible. These might suggest to some that Canadian nationalism is alive and well, and that Canada -- to put it in Grantian terms -- has some chance of resisting the Americans. However, it might be noted that the context of Canada today is entirely different from that of the Canada of the early 1960s when the struggle over the future of Canada between Diefenbaker and Pearson took place. According to Grant, the defeat of Diefenbaker in the 1963 election represented Canada's final integration into the American technological empire. Prime Minister Diefenbaker had refused to accept U.S. nuclear weapons on Canadian soil, with the result that virtually all of the media instrumentalities and pollster expertise of the North American managerial classes were turned against him, in the ensuing election of 1963. Despite his thoroughgoing pessimism, Grant expressed some hope for an alliance of the old conservative nationalist communitarianism (such as that represented by Sir John A. Macdonald and his National Policy), with the new nationalist collectivism of the Left, to fight for what remained of Canada -- against the dynamic, technological, liberal, individualist, and capitalist America. Today, Canadian nationalism has apparently been pushed into the position of a strong extra-parliamentary opposition. However, it should be examined closely what the messages being offered by such archetypically Canadian institutions as the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) actually consist of, in relation to Canadian nationalism. If one accepts George Grant's Loyalist thesis, this means that Canada was, in essence, a British-inspired society at the moment of its founding -- British North America. (The Act of Confederation, which received final approval from the British Parliament, was called in full the British North America Act.) It would seem logical that the spirit of Britishness was the only force which could have resisted Americanization. Yet, post-Pearson Canada is based on an explicit rejection of the British origins of Canada. Gad Horowitz himself has made an extraordinarily harsh critique of the current multiculturalism policies, and calls for the reassertion of English-Canadian nationalism, which he sees in political and not ethnic terms. Canada, if it is to be a country with a definable identity, can only be so as a British-inspired society, at least on the level of institutions and political culture. The denial of Britishness amounts to an embracing of Americanism, or so Gad Horowitz argues. And it is only in a British-inspired Canada that socialism can exist, because the essence of Americanism is individualist liberalism and capitalism. So, therefore, social democrats in English Canada must be English-Canadian nationalists. In relation to Quebec, Horowitz was astutely advocating the formal recognition of its "special status" as early as the 1970s. This recognition -- which might well have taken the wind out of the Quebec separatists' sails -- was rejected by "the rest of Canada" in 1990 and 1992. Both the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Agreements failed. Horowitz's argument does seem to look somewhat archaic, in the current-day context of English-speaking Canada. Like George Grant's definition of conservatism, Horowitz's definition of socialism is quite unusual. Today, the New Democratic Party is in the vanguard of multiculturalism -- and no other major party has criticized it (apart from some elements of the more conventionally right-wing Reform Party and its successor, the Canadian Alliance). Horowitz's definition of socialism is more akin to that of the old, pre-war British Labour Party, or that of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (C.C.F.) in Canada, from which the New Democratic Party had emerged (the name was changed in 1961). Eugene Forsey, a member of the old C.C.F., and a leading constitutional scholar, was someone who was conservative in regard to parliamentary institutions and Canada's political culture generally, while being social democratic in regard to economics. He was one of only a few figures prominent on the national scene who expressed reservations about the new 1982 Constitution because it weakened Parliament, and made Canada more like America, with a formal "bill of rights" (the Charter of Rights and Freedoms), subject to judicial review (or judicial fiat), as opposed to the British and Canadian tradition of the sovereignty of Parliament. Socialism, as Horowitz defines it, simply does not exist anymore. The New Democratic Party most enthusiastically supports multiculturalism. Ostensibly liberationist social issues are also massively promoted. At the same time, consumerism, commercialism, big corporations, etc., are becoming more and more powerful, and Canada seems to be slipping into "the new economy" (where corporations make ever-more massive profits, while ever-more working people are laid off), and into the usual neoconservative budget cutbacks. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home 12-year-old Sarah Griffin from Belfast in ICU after vaping caused a severe asthma attack and she had to be put in an induced coma Mary Griffin and her daughter Sarah, who is 12, understand the dangers associated with vaping all too well and are speaking out about their experiences in support of a new vaping awareness campaign by Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) amid concerns about the number of young people choosing to vape and the misconceptions often associated with vaping. Mary said: It was a Sunday night, Sarah was getting ready for bed and said she didnt feel great. She started coughing but because Sarah has asthma, we put that down to the change in weather as that has been a trigger for Sarahs asthma before. Her cough was no different from any other time and she used her inhaler and nebuliser throughout the Sunday night into Monday morning. That morning I was taking my other two children to school when Sarah rang and said, Come back mummy, I dont feel well, Im afraid. I got home, gave Sarah her inhaler and nebuliser again and she seemed to settle. A while later I popped out to the shop quickly and Sarah rang again, this time completely out of breath, barely able to string a sentence together, saying, I need a doctor or to go to hospital. Mary Griffin from Belfast and her 12-year-old daughter Sarah who ended up in ICU after vaping led to a severe asthma attack Her dad immediately took her to the Royal Victoria Hospital. The nurse did Sarahs vitals, and her oxygen levels were very low. The next thing I knew, Sarahs dad phoned me to say Sarah was in Resus. I went to the hospital, and Sarah was just in a blind panic, she was terrified. She was on oxygen and was linked up to all sorts of machines. There were medical staff all around her assessing her and they said she needed to go to ICU as she was deteriorating very quickly. Mary added: The doctor showed me an X-ray of Sarahs lungs and explained one had been badly injured. The other was therefore working overtime and aggravating her asthma. Sarah also had an infection, so everything combined had a massive impact on her body, extremely quickly. When we got to ICU the team worked on Sarah for four and a half hours before having to put her into an induced coma. There were tubes, wires, and machines everywhere- it was heart-breaking to see her like that. As her mum I just felt so helpless - it was a nightmare come true. Sarah has an older brother and two younger siblings and trying to explain to them what was happening was awful. They were asking if she was going to die, and I was saying, Of course not, but in my mind I was terrified that was a real possibility." Story continues Mary added: Sarah had machines breathing for her, doing everything for her, and she was very unstable. At first, we really didnt think Sarah would make it. The first time the team tried to bring Sarah out of the induced coma she was so agitated the doctors decided it was too early and they would have to induce her again. They then tried to bring Sarah out of the induced coma again the next day and started removing tubes, reducing her sedation, taking her off the ventilator and slowly brought her back round. At that stage I had some hope Sarah would be ok, but I was preparing myself that she might be in hospital for weeks or even months. Thankfully, that wasnt the case and Sarah got home after a few days. She is a fighter and was absolutely amazing through everything. With Sarah stabilised the doctors were able to explain to Mary what had happened and how at risk her daughter had been. Vaping had left her lungs very weak. The doctors said if Sarah had of got to hospital any later the outcome would have been entirely different. That is something I cant even think about." Thankfully Sarah is now recovering at home but the effects of what happened to her will unfortunately be long-term. Mary said: For the rest of her life Sarah will be classed as a high-risk patient if she is admitted to hospital because of the effect this has had on her physically. Sarah was discharged with steroids, new inhalers, and a new Personal Asthma Action Plan to help manage her asthma. She has also been transferred to the care of the Difficult to Control Asthma Clinic at The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, when previously her asthma was well controlled, and we just went to the GP about it. Sarah has been left very lethargic. The mental impact has been as big as the physical impact. She has been through such a trauma. She still has a long road ahead of her, but we are just so grateful to have her back home with us. Mary added: What Sarah has experienced could easily happen to other young people, and we dont want that which is why were sharing our story and supporting NICHSs vaping campaign. I have seen children as young as 7 and 8 years old vaping which is just horrendous. Fidelma Carter, head of Public Health at NICHS said: Through our campaign we want to dispel some of the myths around vaping, such as Its just flavoured air, and make people aware of the potential dangers associated with it. People may be surprised to learn for example that vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover and weed killer. Also, one 20mg disposable vape can have as much as 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine in it. The NICHS is also campaigning to increase the sale for vapes, as well as cigarettes, to 21 rather than 18 which is currently the case. For further information and support about vaping visit, https://nichs.org.uk/vaping Citigroup C announced that it has agreed to sell its China-based onshore consumer wealth portfolio to HSBC Holdings plc HSBC. The completion of the deal is expected in the first half of 2024. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As a result of the sale, C will transfer assets under management and deposits worth approximately $3.6 billion to HSBC Bank China. In December 2022, Citigroup announced that it would wind down its consumer banking business in China. This strategic move is in line with its broader strategic revamp to discontinue its consumer banking operations in 14 markets across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Mexico. Though Citigroup will exit its consumer wealth business in China, it will retain its institutional businesses where it has a preeminent position. It will continue to cater to the needs of ultra-high net worth clients of China via its regional wealth centers in Singapore and Hong Kong, through its International Personal Bank and Citigroups Private Bank operations. As of now, Citigroup has divested eight markets, namely Australia, Bahrain, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. C is ahead of its plan to sell its consumer banking business in Indonesia toward the end of 2023. Furthermore, its plan to exit consumer business in South Korea and its overall presence in Russia are in progress. It has also declared its intention to proceed with the initial public offering of its consumer, small business and mid-market banking operations in Mexico. Such exits will free up capital and help the company pursue investments in wealth management operations in Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE and London to stoke growth. In fact, the company anticipates the release of roughly $12 billion (in aggregate) of allocated tangible common equity over time from such market exits. These efforts will likely help augment its profitability and efficiency over the long term. Over the past six months, shares of C have declined 13.5% compared with the industrys fall of 0.1%. Story continues Zacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Citigroup currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Inorganic Efforts by Other Finance Firms Wells Fargo & Company WFC divested around $2 billion of private equity investments in certain funds to a group of leading investors. The move demonstrates the banks active investment portfolio management strategy. Particularly, WFC sold its investment in Norwest Equity Partners and Norwest Mezzanine Partners to a buyer group, including AlpInvest Partners, Atalaya Capital Management, Lexington Partners and Pantheon. WFC was the only institutional limited partner in these funds. Nonetheless, the company will continue its relationship and investments with venture capital and growth equity investment firm, Norwest Venture Partners. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Citigroup Inc. (C) : Free Stock Analysis Report HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland. It is a protected area of special scientific interest and the source of 40% of Northern Irelands drinking water. But its also the site of a severe environmental crisis and a public health emergency. Located about 20 miles west of Belfast, the lough has turned thick with toxic blue-green algae, resulting in the demise of both its own wildlife and peoples pets. This situation has brought about a sense of mourning among local people and activists who, in September 2023, held a wake to highlight their fears that the lough is dying. Lough Neaghs historic fishing industry, which is known for its use of sustainable and traditional methods, also faces the threat of collapse unless conditions improve. Multiple factors have made Lough Neagh particularly vulnerable to these perilous algal blooms, including rising water temperatures linked to global warming. However, the root causes of this crisis are decades of sand dredging and pollution stemming from agricultural runoff, sewage treatment and septic tanks. These activities have flooded the lough with nutrients on which the blue-green algae are thriving. This crisis is far from a freak accident. It is the consequence of political negligence and institutional mismanagement, driven by an economy that has long prioritised growth over all else. The same dynamic is responsible for the fragile state of nature throughout the rest of Northern Ireland. A recent report found that 12% of Northern Irelands wild species are now facing extinction. Any economy that presupposes the exploitation of finite natural resources to fuel the endless exponential growth it needs to function and survive cannot be sustained indefinitely. The crisis at Lough Neagh illustrates the grave consequences of attempting to do so. It has become a place for extracting resources and a dump site for the chemical byproducts of agricultural activities that seek to produce as much as possible at the lowest financial cost. Story continues Going for Growth Much of the groundwork for Northern Irelands current environmental crisis was laid in 2013 by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) landmark Going for Growth policy. The policy promotes more market-led innovation and sales growth in highly competitive international markets. As a result, it has spurred the greater use of phosphates, nitrogen and other inputs within Northern Irelands agricultural system. It has also provided farmers with an incentive to intensify their beef and dairy production. This has led to the increased production of slurry. When slurry leaks into the environment, it has the potential to pollute water catchments and waterways. The Going for Growth strategy was developed in the context of a general push for economic growth as part of Northern Irelands double transition, from war to peace and towards neoliberalism. Declared as open for business by political leaders, Northern Ireland has since become an attractive destination for various forms of socially and environmentally detrimental extractive economic activities. These activities include gold mining in the Sperrin Mountains. Dalradian, the company proposing the project, claims the mine could provide a 750 million boost to the Northern Ireland economy. Institutional mismanagement The environmental impact of the Going for Growth strategy has been compounded by a general lack of regulatory oversight, policing and punishment of the pollution that accompanies it. Still today, Northern Ireland does not have an independent environmental protection agency. The regulatory body it does have, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, is part of Daera, the very government department tasked with promoting growth within and through the agriculture and food manufacturing industry. The unfettered way in which growth is promoted and pursued shows how short-term economic interests have been prioritised to the detriment of the future viability of sustainable food production and ecological stability in Northern Ireland. There is an absence of suitable policies and initiatives to support rapid change towards a sustainable food system and a just transition for farmers. Powerful vested interests These failures of governance are further complicated at Lough Neagh by a messy network of stakeholders with vested interests in its economic, rather than social and ecological value. This includes a colonial legacy of ownership, through which the Earl of Shaftesbury enjoys the rights of an absentee landlord over the loughs bed and soil, even though its water is publicly owned. The earl profits from these business assets through royalties from sand dredging. However, he argues that the current state of the water in Lough Neagh is not his responsibility and wont relinquish his private ownership without significant compensation from public funds. In the past, the amount of compensation he would require has been estimated to stand at 6 million. This network of stakeholders also includes a politically powerful agricultural sector. The sector has been successful in lobbying for reduced government oversight and increased state financial support. Meanwhile, local people are disenfranchised in their ability to influence how the lough, the largest ecological commons on the island of Ireland, is managed and to whose benefit. Given the political, regulatory and powerful vested interests involved, alongside issues with mismanagement, perhaps the real question here is not how and who is responsible for killing Lough Neagh but rather why this decline did not happen sooner. Our only hope now is that this situation serves as a catalyst for Northern Ireland to rectify its practices and start on a path towards environmental restoration. Imagine weekly climate newsletter Dont have time to read about climate change as much as youd like? Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversations environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 20,000+ readers whove subscribed so far. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation John Barry receives funding from the ESRC. Founder of Love Our Lough, a collective set up to cherish, protect and celebrate the beautiful Lough Neagh. Calum McGeown does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Key Insights Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad's significant public companies ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public 60% of the business is held by the top 2 shareholders Institutions own 21% of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad Every investor in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:PANAMY) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 47% to be precise, is public companies. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Individual investors, on the other hand, account for 25% of the company's stockholders. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. See our latest analysis for Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad? 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. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. The company's largest shareholder is Panasonic Holdings Corporation, with ownership of 47%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 13% and 5.7% of the stock. Story continues After doing some more digging, we found that the top 2 shareholders collectively control more than half of the company's shares, implying that they have considerable power to influence the company's decisions. Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage. Insider Ownership Of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. 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 most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. In their own names, insiders own RM36m worth of stock in the RM1.1b company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership With a 25% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 3.5%, of the shares on issue. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 47% of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad stock. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad . 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. By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Syed Hassib HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) -Afghan rescue workers scrambled to pull survivors and bodies from beneath the rubble on Monday, two days after the deadliest earthquakes in years hit the northwestern city of Herat and surrounding villages. The Taliban administration said at least 2,400 people had been killed and many more injured in the quakes, which were among the world's deadliest this year after tremors in Turkey and Syria, in which an estimated 50,000 people were killed. Periodic aftershocks continued to shake the affected areas on Monday, officials said, forcing already scared people out of their homes. Neighbours Pakistan and Iran have offered to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid, while China's Red Cross Society offered cash relief. A technical team from Iran has arrived in the area, Mullah Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Ministry of Disaster Management, said during a press conference. "I ask all countries, to help us in this crucial time," said Sayeeq. He said people were trapped under rubble in two villages and teams were working to free them. The spokesman for Herat's governor, Nissar Ahmad Elyias, told Reuters that more than a dozen villages around Herat had been hit. Many buildings in Herat city were relatively unaffected, but the mediaeval minarets of its famous mosques sustained some damage, photographs on social media showed. 'UNDER THE RUBBLE' "Many of our family members have been martyred, including one of my sons, and my other son is also injured," Herat resident Mir Ahmed told Reuters at a hospital that was treating survivors. "Most of the people are under the rubble." 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. Story continues In a statement late on Sunday, the U.N. Humanitarian Office put the death toll from the quakes at 1,023, with an additional 1,663 people injured, and more than 500 missing. It said all the homes in the Zindajan district of Herat had been destroyed. Afghanistan's 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. NEED FOR SHELTER Sayeeq, the disaster management department spokesman, said that aside from those killed and injured, thousands had been affected with 20 villages - made up of over 1,900 houses of around 10,000 people - destroyed. Many survivors remained under the open sky as medical and food aid reached them. The World Health Organization's head of emergency response, Alaa AbouZeid, told Reuters in an interview that there was a huge need for shelter as temperatures drop. "We have cases who receive treatment and should go back home, but, unfortunately, they do not have (a home to go back to)," he said, adding that people were even afraid to enter partially damaged homes. A majority of the casualties were women and children, AbouZeid said, given that at the time of the quake, 11 in the morning, most men were away from home. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Syed Hassib in Herat; Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; editing by Miral Fahmy, Sharon Singleton and Nick Macfie) Weev, which is building Northern Irelands largest privately owned charging network, has installed four new charging points at the four-star hotel destination in Co Armagh available to residents and visitors alike (Photo: u) Belfast-based electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure firm Weev has partnered with Killeavy Castle Estate to deliver its first fast charging hub in the Newry area. Weev, which is building Northern Irelands largest privately owned charging network, has installed four new charging points at the four-star hotel destination in Co Armagh available to residents and visitors alike. With 24kw DC and 22kw AC chargers, motorists will be able to achieve around 100 miles worth of charge in as little as an hour. The new facilities added will further strengthen both Weev and Killeavy Castle Estates green agenda by supporting Irelands transition towards a greener, more sustainable motoring future. Thomas OHagan, chief commercial officer at Weev, said: We are pleased to welcome Killeavy Castle Estate to our rapidly expanding portfolio of location partners as we continue to support businesses reach and exceed their sustainability goals. Our aim is to bring first-class charging for EV drivers to the most convenient locations right across Ireland, and this new partnership with Killeavy allows us to do just that. The hospitality sector has been quick to embrace the possibilities of EV, providing an additional service in response to demand from their customers and driving new revenue streams in the process. More businesses are searching for ways to adopt green practices in day-to-day operations and with Killeavy offering energy-efficient rooms and the addition of Weevs chargers to the hotel, organisations can avail of a sustainable option for business meetings, events and much more. Similarly to Weev, Killeavy Castle Estate is passionate about driving sustainable change, working with and supporting local businesses and continuously striving to enhance its environmental practices. Matthew Hynds, general manager of Killeavy Castle Estate, added: Increasingly, our guests staying in our hotel or visiting to avail of our Restaurant, Bistro Bar or Spa facilities, are arriving in electric vehicles. Story continues Placing customers at the core of everything we do, we are delighted to provide new EV charging facilities, ensuring that when they come to us to power down, their vehicle will power up at the same time. Installing a Weev charging hub has allowed us to reduce our operational impact on the environment and add to our already impressive list of sustainable practices, which include waste management and eliminating single-use plastics. Killeavy Castle Estate boasts innovatively designed rooms that reduce the need for artificial lighting, heating and air conditioning, providing businesses with a sustainable choice for meetings and events that will support their own green agenda. Weev recently received a commitment from London-based Octopus Investments of up to 50 million to accelerate its plans to install thousands of charge points across Northern Ireland over the coming years. Arsenal defender William Saliba is confident that he will be fit for next weeks London derby against Chelsea after pulling out of the France squad. Saliba played the full 90 minutes on Sunday as Arsenal beat Manchester City 1-0, but he has been replaced in the France squad by Jean-Clair Todibo due to a toe injury. It is understood that Saliba did not pick up the issue against City and he has instead been managing it for a number of weeks. The defender has been able to cope with the pain, but he was left out of the squad against Brentford in the Carabao Cup last month. It is hoped that Saliba can recover further by having time off now during the international break instead of linking up with France. The 22-year-old is one of several Arsenal players who will be staying at the club during the break to recover from fitness issues. Leandro Trossard has pulled out of the Belgium squad after tweaking his hamstring against City on Sunday. Rest and recovery: Arsenal defender William Saliba will not join up with the France squad (Arsenal FC via Getty Images) He has been replaced by Antwerps Arthur Vermeeren, although there is optimism that Trossards injury is not serious and his withdrawal is more of a precaution. Gabriel Martinelli will also not be joining up with Brazil. The winger was not fit when the squad was announced last month, but he is back playing now. UPDATE: @LTrossard is not fit to join the squad at the Proximus Basecamp on Monday. He will be replaced by Arthur Vermeeren. Best of luck, Arthur! pic.twitter.com/4lCGOoH0U9 Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 9, 2023 Martinelli scored the winner on Sunday against City, but he only returned to training at the back end of last week and is still getting back up to full fitness. File photo dated 2/9/2022 of a Jet2 Boeing 737- passenger airliner comes in to land at Stansted Airport in Essex. Holiday group Jet2 has revealed a hit of around 13 million from "significant" disruption caused by the recent air traffic control failure and wildfires across popular destination Rhodes. But the firm said that, despite the impact of the extra costs and lost profit margin, it was on track to beat results forecasts for the year to the end of next March thanks to strong summer bookings. Issue date: Thursday September 7, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story CITY Jet2. Photo credit should read: Nicholas.T.Ansell/PA Wire A British man has tragically died whilst on board a Jet2 plane on Friday (6 October). According to local reports, the shocking incident took place at around midday as the plane was ready to head back to East Midlands Airport from Reus Airport in Costa Dorada, Spain. The man is believed to be 61 years old but it is not clear whether he was travelling alone or with family or friends. The Jet2 flight was due to head back to the East Midlands Airport but ended up leaving around seven hours after it was originally planned to fly out after the pilot put the planes departure on hold. The pilot radioed for medical assistance after the unnamed passenger reportedly lost consciousness. Emergency services raced to the scene but were unable to save the mans life and he was pronounced dead onboard. A post-mortem is already thought to have taken place but the results have not been made public - which is normal in Spain. They will be sent directly to an investigating judge in charge of a routine inquiry into the mans death. Police have not made any official comment on the mans death. However, one local report linked it to possible heart failure. It comes after a 73-year-old woman suddenly died on a BA flight from London. Passengers thought she was sleeping next to them but discovered she had actually died. The woman had boarded BA flight 348 from Heathrow to France on 21 September. Paramedics and firefighters were called to the plane after passengers began lining up to disembark and realised something was wrong, but there was nothing they could do to revive her. Reports at the time said she was believed to have suffered a heart attack in the air. Palestinian militants surround a truck reportedly carrying a captured Israeli woman, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 7, 2023 (-) The Israeli army said Monday it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight strikes, as the death toll from its war with Palestinian militants surged above 1,100. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had warned Israel to prepare for a "long and difficult" war after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise assault from Gaza on Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and sending a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. In retaliation, Israeli air strikes have hammered the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. "Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip," the military said in a statement. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as the strikes continued in the early hours of the morning, an AFP correspondent reported. IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus estimated around 1,000 Palestinian militants had participated in Hamas's assault on Saturday, which he called "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," he said. "This could be a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbour wrapped into one." Around 100,000 reserve troops have been deployed to the south as the IDF battles to expel Hamas fighters from Israeli territory, he said, adding that a "very large amount" of Israeli civilians and soldiers were being held inside Gaza. US President Joe Biden ordered "additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas". Story continues At least four US citizens were killed in the attack, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement after a briefing, adding that the toll was likely to rise. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions". Austin directed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and group of warships to the eastern Mediterranean, and said that Washington was augmenting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Hamas has said the US aid amounts to "aggression" against Palestinians. - Abducted to Gaza - Israel was stunned when Hamas launched its multi-pronged offensive on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, with at least 3,000 rockets raining down as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave where many revellers were shot dead. Panicked Israelis hiding in their homes told reporters that militants were going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. At least 100 citizens were captured by Hamas and abducted into Gaza, with images circulating on social media of bloodied hostages. Yifat Zailer, 37, said she was horrified to see video footage from Gaza that showed her cousin and the woman's children, aged nine months and three years. "That's the only confirmation we have," she told AFP, her voice breaking with emotion, and adding there was no information on her cousin's husband or her elderly parents. "After the army took control of the kibbutz, they weren't at home," she said. "We assume they were kidnapped ... We want to know what their condition is, we want them to return safe. They're innocent civilians." Israel also came under attack from the north when Lebanon's 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 UN-patrolled border. "We recommend Hezbollah not to come into this," said army spokesman Richard Hecht. "If they come, we are ready." - 'Situation is unbearable' - Netanyahu -- who leads a hard-right coalition government but has received pledges of support from political opponents -- has vowed to turn Hamas hideouts "to rubble" and urged Palestinians there to flee. Israeli attacks since then have levelled several Gaza residential towers and destroyed a mosque in Gaza's Khan Yunis, as well as hitting the central bank. More than 20,000 people in the Palestinian territory have been displaced due to fighting, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said. From a classroom shelter in Gaza City, 37-year-old Amal Al-Sarsawi told AFP she had been awake all night comforting her terrified children. "The situation is unbearable psychologically and economically," she said. - Global impact - Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which Washington and Brussels consider a terrorist group. The conflict has had global impact, with several other countries reporting nationals killed, abducted or missing, among them Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States. Oil prices soared more than four percent Monday, sparking concerns about possible supply shocks from the crude-rich region. Israel's foes have praised the assault, including Iran whose President Ebrahim Raisi voiced support when he spoke with the leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place in the United States, Iraq, Pakistan and other countries, while 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. - 'We will not give up' - Dubbing its attack "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", Hamas called on "resistance fighters in the West Bank" and "Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle. Its attack comes half a century after the 1973 invasion by Egyptian and Syrian forces, a conflict known in Israel as the Yom Kippur War, and has sparked bitter recriminations for what was widely seen as an 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." He recalled the terror in their town near Gaza. "I held a kitchen knife and a large screwdriver, and I told my wife that, if something happens, to make sure to read the Kaddish (prayer) over me, if you stay alive," he said. "And so we stayed close to each other at home, shut everything and turned off the lights." 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". An Israeli survivor of the attack on Sderot, Yitzhak, 67, said he now expected the army to "conquer Gaza house by house, clean the area there properly, and not leave Gaza until they get the very last rocket out of the ground." Many Gaza residents voiced defiance. "We will not give up, and we are here to stay," said Mohammed Saq Allah, 23. "This is our land, and we will not abandon our land." burs-rsc-jd/lb/aha (Photo : STAFF/AFP via Getty Images) This picture taken 26 December 2011 shows the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. The Pentagon, which is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense (DOD), is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft (600,000 m2), of which 3,700,000 sq ft (340,000 m2) are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. On Friday, a former US Army sergeant who allegedly lived in China for several years was detained on charges of retaining national defense information and attempting to share it with the Chinese government. According to court documents, Joseph Daniel Schmidt was an active-duty soldier in the US Army from 2015 to 2020, where he supervised the "collection operations and the production of intelligence reporting, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence products." Ex-Us Armey Sergeant Attempts to Sell Us Secrets to China Schmidt had access to classified intelligence and a top-secret security clearance in his position. According to a Justice Department news release, Schmidt will make his initial judicial appearance in a federal court in California on Friday. Schmidt faces two offenses, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted: attempting to transmit national defense information and retaining national defense information. Schmidt has no counsel listed on the public transcript. After transitioning to inactive duty in January 2020, Schmidt allegedly traveled to Beijing and Turkey and used Google to search for terms such as "turkey extradition military defection," "soldier defect," "chinese embassy," "iranian embassy," and "can you be extradited for treason." In February 2020, Schmidt sent an email to the public email address of the Chinese Consulate in Turkey, stating that he wanted to relocate to China and "share information I learned during my career as an interrogator with the Chinese government."Schmidt then created a document titled "Important Information to Share with Chinese Government," according to federal investigators, which contained classified national defense information, as determined by the US Army. Schmidt returned to China in March 2020 after spending a few days in the United States following his journey to Turkey. According to the Justice Department, he had not returned to the United States until Friday, when he was detained at an airport in San Francisco. The ex-army sergeant allegedly drew a hand-drawn diagram of an Army computer network as well as other documents describing US Army intelligence practices regarding training, intelligence collection, and interrogation techniques while in China, as per CNN. He predominantly worked in intelligence at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in western Washington and had access to Top Secret documents, the highest classification of classified information in the United States government. According to court filings, he allegedly made numerous documents and Google searches describing attempts to provide US national security secrets to China. Investigators said he researched online how to defect to China and offered his services as a "interrogator" to the Chinese consulate in Turkey and China's intelligence agency. Read Also: Colorado: Green Funeral Reeks After Improperly Storing Hundreds of Corpses; FBI Helps With Investigation Schmidt Arrested After Returning to US In one email to the Istanbul consulate, he allegedly wrote, "I have a current top secret clearance and would like to speak to someone from the government to share this information with you if that is possible." The accusation is that he created a Microsoft Word document titled "high-level secrets." The title of the 23-page document, according to prosecutors, was written in Chinese, but "almost all of it is written in English." After completing his military service, he relocated to Turkey for approximately one month before relocating to China. He did not return to the United States until Friday, when he landed in San Francisco. Tessa Gorman, the interim US attorney for the Western District of Washington, stated, "Members of our military take an oath to defend our country and the Constitution." Schmidt has been charged with attempting to transmit and retaining national defense information. If convicted, he faces decades of imprisonment. It is not known if he has hired a counsel who can comment on his behalf. Per BBC, this detention comes just two months after two active-duty US Navy personnel were apprehended in southern California for spying for China. Both individuals allegedly received thousands of dollars for ship blueprints, technical manuals, and radar system diagrams. Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SWNS A mum 'shunned by locals' in her tiny village because of her OnlyFans career says she's having the last laugh - as she has almost saved enough to leave. Laura Whyte, 30, previously claimed other women in Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire, had complained about her raunchy content - over fears their husbands might see. But Laura, a mum-of-two, refused to stop filming - and is now raking in more than 5,000-a-month, she says. She claims she is now in the top 1.5% of creators and fans have helped her save a deposit of nearly 60k in just two years, which she plans to use to leave Aberchirder. Laura hopes to build a property where she can house rescued animals - her dream - and build a studio she can rent out to other OnlyFans creators. She said: People say I have no money because Im still here, but thats not how it works I dont want to chuck away money. Weve got enough money for an extension on a two-bed but what we want is an acre of land as well and outbuildings as I'm planning on renovating one for a studio for myself. Id also rent it out to other OnlyFans creators, I think it would be quite different to offer a place to do content creation for a small fee And rescuing animals is what I want to do, its always been at the top of my list to do my wildlife courses and hopefully do wildlife rehabilitation and care for them if theyve been hurt. We're not in it for any fanciness or keeping up with Joneses or anything like that I've managed to add 30k to our deposit in just a year. Laura joined OnlyFans in September 2021 to boost her income. She says the money quickly started rolling in and now she has a dedicated following of subscribers who want to see her achieve her dream of owning a house. And she says big tippers have helped her get closer to her dream of owning a house. Despite neighbours in her village disapproving of her career choice - with some even allegedly threatening to phone the police - Laura says feels like shes providing for her family. She said: People assume because you're still here you're making nothing but thats not how you save money, youve got to build it up. Its just a less stressful life now, were not having to wake up worrying about how to get our next meal. When I was younger, we were living off 40-a-week. It was horrible. So now I have an appreciation for managing to achieve for my family. The most I've had tipped in a month was 1k from a man who just wanted to help me achieve the dream of owning a house. Ive got a fair few followers that have been there from when I first started, so I think they're excited as well." Pevensey artist and mental health advocate Graham Cullis is making waves across the United Kingdom and beyond by giving away his stunning artwork for free, all in the name of mental health awareness. Picture: Graham Cullis Cullis, has joined forces with his ever-supportive "mumager," Melita Cullis, to distribute over 5,000 prints of his creations across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Their mission is to use art as a therapeutic tool to combat mental health struggles and inspire positive change. Graham's artistic journey began during the challenging days of the pandemic, when he stumbled upon his latent talent for oil painting. Simultaneously, he discovered the immense healing power of creativity in his own battle with mental health. For the past three years, Graham has committed himself to helping individuals and communities worldwide explore holistic approaches to managing mental health challenges. Pevensey artist and mental health advocate Graham Cullis is making waves across the United Kingdom and beyond by giving away his stunning artwork for free, all in the name of mental health awareness. (Photo: Graham Cullis) One of Graham's most notable contributions to mental well-being is the Pevensey Plungers, a cold water therapy sea swimming group he founded. His viral video, filmed in Pevensey Bay in 2021, garnered 25,000 views in just four days. This grassroots movement has since grown to include hundreds of people joining to take the plunge from all over Sussex and further a field, changing countless lives with its mental and physical health benefits. Taking this success across the Atlantic, Graham launched the New York Dipper's Club (NYDC) at Rockaway Beach, gaining recognition from TV, radio, and even The New York Times. The pinnacle of the day was Graham's renowned "splatter art" performance, which he has previously staged in the UK through Youth Art Connect. Armed with 80 ketchup bottles filled with paint, Graham led the children in a rainbow-coloured frenzy. Now, Graham is inviting everyone in the UK to participate in his mission. By visiting www.grahamcullisart.com , you can claim a free print of his artwork, primarily inspired by the ocean. Each free print also comes with one of Graham's renowned Karma Club Calendar Cards, a unique calendar that allows you to send out a random letter of love every month of the year. Graham said: "I couldn't do all this without the support of all these legends; the Karma Club really is a team effort. I love you all so much." Scotland hope to qualify for Euro 2024 this week. (Photo: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group) Scotland are in Group A of the qualifiers alongside Cyprus, Georgia, Norway and Spain. Steve Clarkes team have an 100 per cent record after playing five games and will hope to secure their place in the finals next summer in Germany by the time this weekend is out. There are a few scenarios that can land Scotland their golden ticket and we will talk you through them here. Scotland play one qualifier this week, while the rest of the teams in Group A have two. Only Scotland, Spain and Norway can qualify, and the table looks like this going into the matches: 1 Scotland 15pts, +11, played 5 2 Spain 9pts, +13, played 4 3 Norway 7pts, -1, played 5 4 Georgia 4pts, -8, played 5 5 Cyprus 0pts, -15, played 5 The earliest Scotland can qualify is on Thursday night. The Scots are in Seville to face Spain, while at the same time Norway are in Larnaca to play Cyprus. If Scotland either win or draw at the Estadio de la Cartuja, they will secure qualification, while a defeat could be enough depending on what happens in Cyprus. If Norway fail to beat the Cypriots, then they cannot catch Scotland as they would remain on seven points with only six points available to them. As the deficit with Scotland is eight points, not even a draw is good enough for Erling Haaland and Co. A Spain-Scotland draw and a Norway win would make things slightly complicated in terms of arithmetic but the bottom line is that Scotland reaching 16 points is the magic number. There is a scenario incredibly far-fetched as it is whereby Scotland, Spain and Norway all finish on 16 points, with the teams in that trio having one superiority each in head-to-head results and goal difference. Should that utterly ridiculous scenario occur, then all three teams are put in a mini-league and the results between them used. Scotland would be on seven points (a win and draw against Spain, a win against Norway) and would therefore progress, as Spain would only be on four points (win against Norway, draw against Scotland) given they would have lost to Norway to get to this juncture in the first place. The Norwegians maximum haul in that breakout league would be six (wins against Scotland and Norway), so Scotland would progress as group winners. Story continues The Norwegians are warm favourites to defeat Cyprus, however, so the likelihood is that Scotland will need to get a positive result in Spain to get the job done. However, if they dont, there will be a second opportunity on Sunday, when Scotland are off the pitch, in France preparing for a friendly in Lille on October 17. Norway host Spain in Oslo on October 15 at 7.45pm and if they fail to win there, then Scotlands place at Euro 2024 is guaranteed. Should the worst happen and Norway win their two matches this week and Scotland lose in Spain, then Clarkes men would have to wait until the next international window in November to seal qualification, when they face Georgia away and Norway at home. Lets hope it doesnt come to that ... Teenager, 19, tragically dies after falling at Birmingham Airport. (Photo: Getty Images) A teenager has tragically died after falling from a car park at a UK airport on Friday (6 October). West Midlands Police and paramedics were alerted to the incident at Birmingham Airport just after 3pm. Despite the best efforts of medics, nothing could be done and the 19-year-old died from his injuries. The police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and they are not looking for anyone else. A force spokesman said: "We were called after a 19-year-old man fell from a car park at Birmingham Airport just after 3pm on Friday 6 October. Sadly, despite receiving treatment, nothing could done to save the man and he died from his injuries. There are no suspicious circumstances and a coroners report is being completed." A file has been prepared for Birmingham and Solihull Coroners Court. It comes after a 61-year-old man suddenly died on board a Jet2 flight as it was due to take off back to the UK from Spain. Emergency services raced to the scene but were unable to save the mans life and he was pronounced dead onboard. A post-mortem is already thought to have taken place but the results have not been made public - which is normal in Spain. They will be sent directly to an investigating judge in charge of a routine inquiry into the mans death. MADRID (Reuters) - Two Spaniards have been "affected" by the Hamas assault on Israel, Spain's acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday. Albares did not elaborate on the status of the Spaniards or give any further details. "We have information about two Spaniards who have been affected and we are in constant contact with their families. For security reasons and out of respect for their families, I will not give any more details," he told state broadcaster TVE. Fighters from the Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens in Saturday's attacks, which were the deadliest such incursion since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Albares said Hamas actions qualified as "terrorism". "Without a doubt, we are talking about terrorism and terrorist actions," he previously said in an interview with Spanish radio Onda Cero. He said the government would help Spanish nationals who are in Israel and wish to return to Spain. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, editing by Aislinn Laing and Ed Osmond) Alejandro Amenabars The Others instantly recalls Spanish gothic horror, so it should come as no surprise that the film was partially filmed in Spain to achieve that exact look. However, the histrionics and crazed plotting take a backseat in The Others, as it opts for a much more languid pace free of overly convoluted thriller plotting. Such an approach speaks to the films successes in atmosphere and failures in storytelling, but more on that later. The conceit of The Others is rather simple: Nicole Kidman lords over a capacious estate with secrets to hide. As the story progresses, Kidmans matriarch is slowly whittled down by the spooky happenings in her home, and it doesnt help that her two light-sensitive children are a bit creepy on their own. The haunted house machinations that The Others deals so heavily give Amenabar the opportunity to make something unique to most of Hollywood at the time of its release. This thriller deals in atmosphere and trusts that its story is only deepened by its beautifully rendered setting. The Others follows Grace Stewart (Kidman), a woman residing in a remote country house on an English Channel Island formerly occupied by Germans. Her two photosensitive children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley), start to see a young boy named Victor, his parents, and an elderly blind woman at random times in the house. Grace dismisses the happenings as outright falsehoods until the new servants make Grace privy to the dark history of the house. Its so funny to look back on the early 2000s and find a ton of dramas and thrillers all dealing with one very, very popular trope in Hollywood at the time: the twist ending. You look at something like M. Night Shyamalans The Village or Signs, or even Richard Kellys Donnie Darko, and you get stories that are supplanted and enriched by these left-field twists. In The Others, its not that the twist doesnt land, its that I think the storytelling is unfairly reserved and spare for what its trying to do. The opinion will naturally change depending on who you ask, but as someone who has watched plenty of gothic horror and thrillers that The Others apes from, I can confidently state that it doesnt do itself any favors by saddling Nicole Kidman with the deep, unspoken pain of the story that gets revealed later on. Her histrionics are just not aligned well with the rest of the production. That isnt to say that The Others isnt successful in being a spooky good time, because it is! But when you have a film of this sort that relies on a huge twist to give the proceedings the needed emotional heft, the spooky happenings can often just feel like window dressing instead of something thats reflective of the inner turmoil that Kidmans character is feeling at the time. If its a technical puzzle that the audience needs to solve, then it has a beginners difficult. That being said, Amenabars mastery of old-school horror movements -- reverse cuts, swift tracking shots, clanging cellos, etc. make for a very fun time. Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-rays The Others hits 4K Ultra HD with a two-disc (UHD100 for the 4K discs and BD50 for the standard Blu-ray) release from Criterion that comes in their standard Scanavo case with an attached essay booklet. Both discs boot up to standard menu screens with options to play the film, set up audio, select chapters and browse special features. Chinese mainland's probe into Taiwan trade restrictions extended: MOC Xinhua) 14:30, October 09, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced Monday that the mainland's probe into Taiwan trade restrictions will be extended for three months. The commerce ministry launched a trade barrier investigation into Taiwan's trade-restrictive measures against the mainland on April 12 this year, said the statement. Given the complexity of the case, the ministry decided to extend the probe to January 12, 2024, according to relevant regulations, it said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (Photo : MOHSEN KARIMI/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - Afghan residents clear debris from a damaged house after earthquake in Sarbuland village of Zendeh Jan district of Herat province on October 7,2023 According to a senior Taliban leader, the estimated death toll from the recent powerful earthquakes in western Afghanistan stands at 2,000. This makes it one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in the past two decades. The Taliban leader also expressed concern that the number of casualties may increase further. Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Spikes to Over 2,000 In a statement to Al Jazeera, Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban spokesperson stationed in Qatar, reported that numerous individuals were unaccounted for following a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Herat province. Shaheen revealed that rescue operations were currently underway to extricate those trapped under debris, emphasizing the urgent need to save lives in the aftermath of this natural disaster. In a statement, Shaheen emphasized the pressing requirement for tents, medical supplies, and food items in the regions affected by the calamity. He made a heartfelt plea to local businessmen and NGOs, urging them to step up and provide assistance to those in desperate need. According to Abdul Wahid Rayan, the spokesperson at the Ministry of Information and Culture, over 2,000 individuals have been reported as casualties in the earthquake and subsequent powerful aftershocks. In a distressing plea for assistance, an individual reported that approximately six villages have been decimated, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Tragically, the aftermath of this devastation has resulted in numerous civilians being trapped beneath the rubble. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated, as immediate aid is desperately needed to address this dire circumstance. According to the country's national disaster authority, approximately 100 individuals have been reported dead as a result of the earthquake. The United Nations has released a preliminary figure indicating a total of 320 deaths. In a recent development, it has been reported that the initially reported figure of casualties is currently under verification. The organization in question has stated that they are in the process of confirming the exact number. On the other hand, the Red Crescent has come forward with their own estimation, claiming that approximately 500 individuals have tragically lost their lives. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck approximately 40km (24 miles) northwest of Herat city at around 11am on Saturday (06:30 GMT). In the neighbouring Badghis and Farah provinces, strong aftershocks were reported to have been felt. In a statement from Herat city, resident Abdul Shakor Samadi reported that a powerful earthquake struck the area, followed by a series of five intense aftershocks around noon. According to the USGS, a series of seismic events occurred following the initial earthquake. These included three notable aftershocks measuring magnitudes 6.3, 5.9, and 5.5, along with additional, less intense tremors. Mohammad Abdullah Jan, spokesperson for Afghanistan's disaster management authority, said homes in four villages located in the Zendeh Jan district of Herat province have been damaged by the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks. In the Farah and Badghis provinces, reports have emerged regarding extensive damage to houses. The World Health Organization unit in Afghanistan has taken swift action by deploying a total of 12 ambulances to the area of Zendeh Jan. The primary objective of this deployment is to efficiently transport individuals who have sustained injuries to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. Read Also: Pakistan Forcing Undocumented Afghan Refugees to Leave Country by November WHO Shows Support for Afghanistan Amidst Tragic Incident The United Nations agency has reported ongoing updates on the increasing number of deaths and casualties resulting from the earthquake. The agency has also mentioned that teams are currently present in hospitals, providing aid in the form of medical treatment for the wounded and evaluating any additional requirements that may arise. In a show of support, ambulances backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) are currently in the process of transporting individuals impacted by the situation. Notably, the majority of those being transported are women and children. Abdul Ghani Baradar, the deputy prime minister for economic affairs appointed by the Taliban, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and those who were injured in the earthquake. In June 2022, a devastating earthquake rocked the rugged and mountainous terrain of eastern Afghanistan, resulting in the destruction of numerous stone and mud-brick residences. In a tragic event, Afghanistan experienced its deadliest earthquake in the past twenty years, resulting in a devastating loss of life. With a reported minimum death toll of 1,000 individuals, and approximately 1,500 people sustaining injuries, the earthquake has left a profound impact on the nation, Times of Israel. Related Article: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Palestinian Militants Bucher Civilians; US President Joe Biden Offers Support @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HA NOI After more than two years of implementation, the UK-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) has had positive effects on trade cooperation among the UK and Viet Nam's five central cities. These five cities are HCM City, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, a Nang and Can Tho. Last year, the trade turnover among the UK and the above-mentioned cities reached over US$2.63 million. Of which, exports hit $1.59 million, up 3.5 per cent year-on-year while imports saw a yearly decrease of 1.3 per cent to $1.04 million. The five cities' major export items to the UK included textiles and garments, footwear, bags, metalwork, minerals, and handicrafts. Meanwhile, these cities mainly imported metallurgy, animal feed and raw materials, electronic and computer components, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals from the UK. Reports from the five cities showed that the FTAs, including the UKFTA, have contributed to promoting the socio-economic development of these cities. In the future, the world situation will continue to evolve rapidly and unpredictablely. Sustainable development has become an overarching trend in the world. At the same time, digital economy, circular economy, and green growth are development models chosen by many countries. To exploit opportunities from the UKVFTA, the five cities said they will promote the dissemination of export market information and support exporting businesses. They will facilitate administrative reform in the fields of investment, construction, land, taxes, customs, and import-export in accordance with commitments to international economic integration. At the same time, they will also consider forming large raw material areas to meet production needs, limit imports of raw materials, and meet conditions of origin tracebility to take advantage of incentives. Speeding up trade promotion activities, supporting businesses to advertise their products, find partners, and seek export opportunities will be included. The five central cities will coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to closely monitor the export situation so that they can promptly support businesses to grasp new information about the market, import and export needs, and cooperation opportunities. The UKVFTA was signed on December 29, 2020, and temporarily came into effect on December 31, 2020, before officially starting on May 1, 2021. Negotiated based on the principles of inheriting commitments in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, the deal facilitates commercial flows between the two countries through its almost across-the-board tariff cuts. VNS HCM CITY Viet Nam's global investment appeal remains strong. A notable 63 per cent of surveyed businesses positioned Viet Nam within their top 10 FDI destinations. This information was released in the European Chamber of Commerce Viet Nam's (EuroCham) quarterly Business Confidence Index (BCI) on Monday. Even more striking, 31 per cent ranked Viet Nam among their top three, while an impressive 16 per cent hailed it as their foremost investment destination. Reflecting this confidence, over half of those surveyed plan to increase their foreign direct investment in Viet Nam by the end of the year. The report showed that the BCI has regained its upward trajectory in the third quarter of the year, offering a glimmer of hope for the Vietnamese business environment after a turbulent year. The BCI nudged up to 45.1 in Q3 2023, from 43.5 the previous quarter. While still below the 50-point threshold for four straight quarters, this small rise indicates emerging positive economic momentum. Business sentiment appears to be in flux. Between Q2 and Q3, there was a three percentage point drop in pessimism regarding the current situation, while positive and neutral perspectives increased by six and four percentage points, respectively. Furthermore, the Q3 survey revealed a shift in projections for the quarter to come. Compared to responses in the Q2 survey, there was an 11 percentage point rise in businesses anticipating economic stabilisation and growth for the upcoming quarter. On the other hand, businesses projecting a negative trend reduced by five percentage points. Approaching year-end, hope and caution persist. Though Viet Nam's Q3 GDP grew a promising 5.3 per cent year-on-year, companies continue to be cautious. Expectations regarding increased revenue or orders remained stable, with no change from the previous quarter. Just 22 per cent of companies plan to expand their teams in Q4. Only 16 per cent expect an increase in investments. Yet hurdles persist. A substantial 59 per cent cited administrative difficulties as their main challenge when operating in Viet Nam. Challenges such as uncertainties in rules and regulations, hurdles in permit acquisition, and strict visa and work permit requirements for foreign workers also stood out as prominent barriers. To improve the nation's FDI attraction, 58 per cent of respondents said streamlining bureaucracy is key, 48 per cent advocated for enhancing the regulatory environment, one-third called for upgrading transport infrastructure, and 22 per cent emphasised easing visa and work permit requirements for foreign experts. Sustainability is rising as a priority for European companies in Viet Nam, with 80 per cent citing ESG alignment as highly or moderately important. However, major obstacles remain when translating priorities into practice. Regulatory uncertainty, infrastructure gaps, and insufficient government support were cited as hindrances to implementing sustainability measures locally. Additionally, only 20 per cent of firms are proactively preparing for impending EU green regulations, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. Meanwhile, 38 per cent currently have no plans for alignment. This distinct lack of preparedness not only poses challenges domestically but can hinder international competitiveness, especially in the crucial EU market. The BCI, which is conducted by Decision Lab, has provided a periodic pulse check on Viet Nam's economy since 2011. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's national branded products have been introduced to German customers during a trade promotion event held recently in the European country. Hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)'s Trade Promotion Agency, the event had the objective of showcasing national branded products, fostering trade relationships between Vietnamese and German companies, especially those owned by Vietnamese entrepreneurs, and establishing a stronger connection between the domestic brand and the Vietnamese community in Germany. This event was organized as part of the Vietnam National Brand Programme in 2023, which aims to enhance the recognition of the Vietnam National Brand and promote products that have earned the Vietnam Brand title both domestically and internationally. According to MoIT, an increasing number of businesses with products holding the national brand title entered the list of the top 50 brands with the highest value in 2022. The number of companies owning national branded products in this list surged from 14 in 2018 to 21 in 2022. Notably, their percentage in Viet Nam's top 10 most valuable brands also rose from 20 per cent in 2018 to 60 per cent in 2022. These results showed the success of these businesses in aligning with the global trend of substantial investment in branding, contributing to the enhancement of the Vietnam National Brand, as stated by the ministry. Viet Nam enjoyed the fastest growth in the national brand in the 2020-22 period. A report by Brand Finance showed that the value of the Vietnam National Brand increased by 29.1 per cent in 2020 to reach US$319 billion, followed by a 21.6 per cent surge in 2021, reaching $388 billion, and a further 11.1 per cent increase in 2022, reaching $431 billion. VNS According to Dr Phan Xuan Dung, chairman of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), investing in talent was the most profitable investment, so it is critical to have a strategy for identifying, attracting, and nurturing talent. He spoke with the Vietnam News Agency about the contributions of the intellectual community in the past 15 years since the 10th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No.27-NQ/TW on building a strong intellectual community and proposed solutions to further strengthen the intellectual community in the future. How do you assess the current position and role of the intellectual community and the efforts to build this community for the sustainable development of the country? Resolution 27 was adopted at the 10th Party Central Committee on August 6, 2008, when Viet Nam was entering a period of industrialisation and modernisation with the Party and the State's principles of developing the country based on science and technology. The development of science and technology became a top national policy, playing a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the country. Over the past 15 years, under the leadership of the Party and State, based on Resolution 27, the National Assembly and the Government have issued many legal documents and laws that focus on fundamental solutions such as creating a working environment for intellectuals, valuing and honouring them, making essential changes in human resource training, and defining the roles and responsibilities of intellectuals. As a result, the stature of our country has been steadily elevated, as stated by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 13th Party Congress: "Our country has never had such resources, potential, international position, and prestige as it does today." What measures has VUSTA, as a Partys political and social organisation, implemented to leverage the role of intellectuals in consultation, criticism, social appraisal, and contributing to making science and technology a driving force for the country's development? In its role of uniting and gathering scientists and leading experts in their respective fields, VUSTA has focused on consultancy, criticism, and social appraisal activities, which are the core activities of VUSTA. In recent years, VUSTA has intensified its consultancy and criticism efforts, focusing on providing feedback on draft political reports, drafts of socio-economic development strategies, science and technology, education and training, environmental protection, healthcare, and some important draft laws and major investment projects, as well as addressing pressing issues requiring the involvement of scientific and technological experts. In addition, VUSTA at the local level has conducted research, proposals, consultancy, and criticism with departments and industries in various forms for local projects of socio-economic development, security and defence. Although VUSTA has achieved many positive results in consultancy, criticism, and social appraisal, it still faces some challenges in implementing its tasks, such as units not proactively requesting consultancy, criticism, and social appraisal due to the absence of a mandatory mechanism. Most of the projects that VUSTA conducts are proposed by VUSTA itself. The number of programmes and projects in which VUSTA has conducted in recent times has not been high, so the allocated budget for consultancy and criticism activities has not been fully utilised, and eventually refunded. I believe that to make consultancy, criticism, and social appraisal work effectively, the immediate solution is to create conditions for intellectuals activities. It is essential to determine the structure and fields for VUSTA to establish suitable organisations in line with the Party and State's guidelines. Furthermore, using appropriate methods to gather leading experts in various fields, both within and outside VUSTA's system and establishing a database of experts, and selecting and recommending experts with the necessary competence and qualifications for each consultancy, criticism, and social appraisal task are necessary. If these solutions are implemented effectively, VUSTA's consultancy, criticism, and social appraisal activities conducted by the intellectual community will increasingly meet the requirements of the Party and the State. How do you assess the challenges and requirements for the task of building an intellectual community in the near future? After 15 years of implementing Resolution 27, the Vietnamese intellectual community has made significant progress in terms of quantity and quality in all fields. However, alongside these achievements, there are some limitations and shortcomings in the activities of the scientific and technological intellectual community. The contributions of the scientific and technological intellectual community to the country's development have not met expectations. There is still a shortage of leading experts, and there is a gap in the succession of expertise. Meanwhile, the mechanisms and policies for attracting talent are still inadequate and lack coherence, with limited innovative elements. Scientists often receive low salaries that do not match their scientific and technological contributions. The incentives for the intellectual community and scientists to dedicate themselves to the nation are still lacking. Furthermore, investment in science and technology remains low and the creative capacity of scientists has not been fully realised. Preferential policies for leading scientists and those in charge of national-level missions do not adequately meet their demands. Scientists have not truly been honoured, affecting their self-esteem and passion for scientific work. Developing the intellectual community requires a concentrated investment in science and technology, as this is a top national policy and a driving force for the country's development and innovation. The Party and the State need to show even greater respect for intellectuals and leading scientists. The Party and State should have breakthrough policies regarding talent and the intellectual community. Investing in talent is the most profitable investment, so there should be a strategy for identifying, attracting, and nurturing talent. Strong incentive policies should be in place to encourage the intellectual community to dedicate their talents and enthusiasm to the nation's development and safeguarding the homeland in this new era of development. In your opinion, what should we do to further enhance the role of intellectuals? After more than 35 years of renewal, the Party has led the effective role of the worker-farmer-intellectual alliance in building and safeguarding the country. Every achievement of the country owes much to the workers, farmers, and the intellectual community. This alliance has been intertwined and mutually beneficial, fostering each other's development. The alliance needs mechanisms and policies to create a legal framework and ensure a harmonious balance of interests among all parties involved, especially the interests of businesses and farmers. To make the alliance more sustainable, it is essential to harmonise the fundamental interests of various classes, and the entire nation in all sectors. In the current context, specific measures are needed to attract investment in the field of science and technology for this alliance to grow and become even more cohesive. VNS HA NOI Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long has been recently authorised by the Prime Minister to submit a report to the National Assembly concerning mutual legal assistance activities in 2023. As outlined in the report, the Government and the Prime Minister have maintained their commitment to overseeing the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and have called upon the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuracy to closely collaborate in comprehensively executing key tasks across all four dimensions of mutual legal assistance: civil, criminal, extradition, and the transfer of individuals serving prison sentences. Within the realm of mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy has led successful negotiations for three bilateral agreements in partnership with various ministries and branches. Furthermore, in accordance with the President's authorisation, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy has signed five bilateral agreements. Regarding the field of extradition and the transfer of individuals serving prison sentences, the Ministry of Public Security has overseen and coordinated negotiations for ten bilateral agreements. With the President's authorisation, the Minister of Public Security has signed seven bilateral agreements, including three extradition agreements with Argentina, Iran, Italy, United Arab Emirates, and Laos, and four agreements for the transfer of individuals serving prison sentences with Argentina, Iran, Italy, and Kazakhstan. Additionally, negotiations have successfully concluded for three agreements. In terms of implementing judicial mandates, the Justice Minister stated that in 2023, Viet Nam has dispatched 2,385 civil legal mandates to foreign countries and received 1,830 responses. Foreign counterparts have submitted 1,033 legal mandates to Viet Nam and received 1,231 responses. In comparison to 2022, Vietnamese legal mandates sent abroad have increased by 245, while foreign legal mandates sent to Viet Nam have decreased by 29. The number of judicial mandate responses has risen to 184 and 148 documents, respectively, in both directions. For criminal cases, Viet Nam has dispatched 377 judicial mandates abroad and received 217 responses. Foreign countries have submitted 89 requests to Viet Nam and received 72 responses. This represents a 42.8 per cent increase in criminal justice mandates sent abroad by Viet Nam compared to 2022, with a corresponding increase in responses. Although the number of foreign legal mandates sent to Viet Nam has decreased, the response rate has increased by 12 per cent. Regarding the execution of extradition requests, data from the Ministry of Public Security reveals that in 2023, Viet Nam has sent 13 extradition requests to foreign countries. Currently, the Ministry of Public Security is in ongoing discussions with partners to fulfill any necessary document requirements. Furthermore, the Ministry of Public Security, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has facilitated the extradition of two individuals requesting extradition to the Russian Federation. In addition to the aforementioned activities, Viet Nam has received four requests to transfer individuals serving prison sentences from Viet Nam to foreign countries and has sent 40 transfer requests from abroad to Viet Nam. According to the minister, these requests are being processed in accordance with legal provisions, including nationality verification and related information. The Ministry of Public Security has already transferred one case to the competent court for consideration. With respect to cases of transfers from Viet Nam to foreign countries, the Ministry of Public Security has transferred two cases to competent courts, while ongoing discussions are underway for the remaining two cases with foreign counterparts. Furthermore, the police have coordinated with relevant authorities to repatriate three prisoners (one Korean national and two Australian nationals) for the continuation of their prison sentences in their home countries. To address limitations and deficiencies, the Government has articulated its intent to provide guidance and proposals for the development of the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters, the Law on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, the Law on Extradition, and the Law on Transfer of Individuals Serving Prison Sentences. These initiatives will be incorporated into the 2025 law and ordinance building programme. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on promoting research activities and proposing the signing of bilateral international treaties. VNS QUANG NINH The ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) convened its 43rd annual meeting in the northern city of Ha Long, Quang Ninh Province on Monday under the chair of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep. In his opening remarks, the deputy minister said that Viet Nam, holding the rotary chairmanship of the committee this year, will continue to commit to actively and responsibly participating in regional disaster management activities within ASEAN. He expressed confidence that with determination, scientific approaches, and the support of international partners and friends, ASEAN will build a strong and united community leading in global disaster management. The meeting discussed the implementation of decisions by relevant high-level leaders; updates on the results of the implementation progress of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Work Programme for 2021-2025; presenting the Ha Long Declaration on enhancing early action in ASEAN regional disaster management to the Ministers' Meeting for approval. The conference will also deliberate on the financial regulations of the ASEAN Disaster Management and Emergency Response Fund; the responsibilities and powers of the ASEAN Secretary-General in the role of Humanitarian Coordinator for ASEAN; cooperation content and agreements with partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, and updated results of implementing ASEAN regional disaster management activities. Previously, at the 42nd annual meeting of the committee held in June in a Nang City, practical results were achieved in disaster prevention and response, from assessment and monitoring, prevention, response, to risk reduction, and strengthening disaster resilience. The 42nd meeting amended the financial rules of the AADMER Fund to mobilise resources from the community and be ready for early action against disasters; organised emergency response exercises in the ASEAN region and implemented technical support activities, discussions, and coordinated Timor-Leste's participation in ACDM meetings and capacity-building activities. As part of the 43rd annual meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, several activities are planned, including bilateral meetings between the committee and countries such as China, Japan, South Korea; the 19th meeting of the AHA Centres Governing Board; the 4th ASEAN Disaster Resilience Platform; the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and AMMDM meetings with China, Japan, and South Korea. On October 13, an event to commemorate ASEAN Day on Disaster Management and International Day for Disaster Reduction in 2023 will be held at Bai Chay Primary and Secondary School. VNS Chi Bao, 25, said he often uses AI chatbots and social networks to find destination information and plan trips. Also read: Mlytics Unveils AI-Powered Conversational Chatbot, Revolutionizing Customer Experience What prompts education to change? Goldsun Focus Media (Vietnam) applies AI technology to management Before every trip, Chi Bao, a communications officer at a company in Ho Chi Minh City, said he opens Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok groups to read feedback from prior travellers before making travel arrangements. But since the beginning of the year, a series of information about ChatGPT made Bao curious, and since then, he "regularly uses artificial intelligence chatbot applications" combined with social networks to "find out destination information and plan itinerary" for the trip. Bao said his "approach to outings" differs greatly from previous generations. Bao frequently "did his research," claiming that actively looking for information from different sources helped him "understand the destination better", but his parents constantly sought assistance from advisors at travel agencies. Singapore travel itinerary suggested by Poe Ai based on user requests. Photo: Ha Thu According to the male media employee, the information from travel companies is "very useful and complete", but he always feels like they advertise well to get customers to close their tours quickly. "The schedule hasn't changed much over the years; for example, the 2019 Phoenix Ancient Town tour is the same as 2023; there's nothing new," Bao said. For him, "the phone contains every function, from renting a lodging to booking a ticket. I try new things and switch hotels every time I make a reservation. The Millennial generation (19802000) and Gen Z (born between 19972012) are referred to as "digital customers" by certain travel industry professionals. User behaviour research report on Klook, an e-commerce platform for experiences and travel, published on October 4, shows that 54% of Gen Z in the Asia-Pacific region and 69% of Gen Z in Vietnam use social networks as the first tool to find information, inspiration and plan a trip. 73% of Vietnamese Gen Z consider reviews and recommendations on social networks as "reliable" sources before deciding to book tickets or rooms. Not only the K.AI chatbot, but Vietnamese young people also have other options to search for information and build travel schedules like Poe AI chatbox. Ha Thu, a graphic artist from Ho Chi Minh City who is 27 years old, asked for a "quite detailed" schedule for a four-day, three-night vacation to Singapore for two individuals in October. Mr. CS Soong, deputy general director of market development of Klook, announced a report on the Vietnamese tourism market at a press conference on October 4. Photo: Bich Phuong Thu claimed that although this chatbot suggests "famous and familiar" locations, it provides quick and complete results. She rated the chatbot's suggested schedule only 6/10 points. Suppose you want the chatbot to provide more specific information. In that case, users must ask for detailed opening times, ticket prices, and eating places in each neighbourhood or street. "The tool is convenient but incomplete; visitors still need to learn more from other sources proactively," Thu said. According to a survey by travel market research company The Oubox, in the first quarter of 2023, 80% of Vietnamese tourists, mainly Gen Z and Millennial generations, choose to travel independently with family, friends or alone. In 2019, this index was about 60%. The proportion of Vietnamese tourists travelling independently in the second quarter increased by 4.2 percentage points compared to the first quarter. According to the poll, the tendency is influenced by how far information technology and tourism communication platforms have developed. Besides many opinions that Hanoi should not build a second airport, some experts believe there should be more airports for the country's Capital of 100 million people in addition to the current Noi Bai. Regarding the proposed location, the Hanoi Construction Planning Institute has added the city's second airport option, the North of the Northwest Expressway - National Highway 5, in 5 communes of Phu Xuyen and Ung Hoa districts. "Have to build a second airport in Hanoi." Speaking at the consultation conference on the orientation of the Hanoi Capital Master Plan to 2045, with a vision to 2065 at the end of September, experts said building a second airport for Hanoi is necessary. Chairman of Vietnam Association of Architects PhD, Architect. Phan Dang Son stated that constructing a second airport for Hanoi "needs to be done". The Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Architects noted that in the project, to adjust the general planning of the Capital, it is necessary to determine the exact location of the second airport specifically. Architect. Khuong Van Muoi - former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Architects, also agreed with the formation of a second airport in Hanoi Capital and said that along with the airport, it is necessary to form an airport urban area to satisfy all related needs. Also read: Hanoi is expected to spend more than 1.2 billion dong on planning to rebuild the Nghia Tan collective area Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com The Capital of a country with hundreds of millions of people needs more airports. The relevant agency has now selected the consulting unit to prepare and adjust the Capital's General Planning, the National Institute of Urban and Rural Planning, and the Ministry of Construction. According to Mr. Luu Quang Huy, Director of the Hanoi Institute of Construction Planning (the unit that organizes the adjustment of the Capital's General Planning), immediately after the Prime Minister approved the task of adjusting the Capital's General Planning. In June 2023, the Institute organized a bidding to select a consulting unit and was selected. Mr. Huy said that the basic main directions of the adjusted project are to form a second airport in the Southeast of the Capital, form two cities directly under the Capital, form 5 main landscape spatial axes of the Capital, develop the western urban area of Belt 4; Review satellite urban areas and eco-towns; infrastructure system, especially transportation infrastructure system. However, Mr. Chinh reiterated that building an airport with an area of up to 1,300-1,500 hectares must be planned to preserve the land because, in just 5 years, the city's southern area will no longer have land to build. The proposed location to build the second airport in Hanoi Regarding the proposed location, the Hanoi Construction Planning Institute added that the Capital's second airport option would be the North of the Northwest Expressway axis - National Highway 5, in 5 Phu Xuyen and Ung Hoa districts communes. Specifically, in addition to the two airport location options approved by the City People's Council in July 2023, the Hanoi Construction Planning Institute proposed a second airport option in the South. The previous option 1 proposed locations in Tan Uoc commune, Thanh Van (Thanh Oai) and Tien Phong commune, Tan Minh (Thuong Tin), with an area of about 1,300 hectares. The advantage of the plan is that the distance to the city centre is close, about 20-30 km, near Phap Van - Cau Gie expressway, National Highway 1A, National Highway 21B, and Ring Road 4. However, the minus point of this option is the need to clear land for about 5,000 people and more than 52 hectares of village land in Thanh Van commune (Thanh Oai). The planned location for the second airport, according to the Hanoi Institute of Construction Planning, is north of the Northwest Expressway - National Highway 5, in Tan Dan and Chuyen My communes (Phu Xuyen district) and Dong Tan, Minh Duc, Trung Tu, Ung Hoa district (option 2A). The land area estimated to be used for the second airport is around 1,700 hectares. Plan 2A has a location nearly identical to plan 2B (the location of the second airport expected in Dong Tan commune, Minh Duc, Tram Long, Kim Duong, Hoa Lam, Ung Hoa district) and was submitted to the City People's Council in advance. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. Accordingly, the locations according to options 2A or 2B are located on the southern spatial axis, helping to connect the central urban area; Phu Xuyen satellite urban link is an industrial urban area, a traffic hub and goods transhipment, creating a driving force for the development of the southern region. However, if built at the above location, the southern economic backbone of the highway must be upgraded to service the connection to the second airport, and an urban train from Ha Dong station to the airport (approximately 32km) must be added. Along with that, airport construction may have a noise impact on the Huong Son National Special Historical and Scenic Area complex (Perfume Pagoda). Hanoi wants to have a second airport. According to the master plan for the nationwide airport system with 30 ports by 2030 and 33 ports by 2050 announced in July. Hanoi Capital Region plans to add a second inland port to support Noi Bai airport when it reaches about 100 million passengers annually, meeting the goal of forming two regional international air transport hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. As Sputnik reported, last July, the Hanoi People's Committee submitted a report to the City People's Council on the orientation for spatial and urban infrastructure development, the project to adjust the General Planning for constructing the Capital until 2045, and the vision to 2065. Hanoi also identifies Noi Bai International Airport as the most important gateway in international exchanges between the North and Hanoi. The airport is forecasted to have a passenger throughput of 60 million passengers/year by 2030 (an area of about 1,500 hectares). After 2030, up to 100 million visitors/year (about 2,200 hectares, expanding to the South). According to the city, the second airport in the Hanoi capital region located in the south and southeast is a domestic port that ensures enough conditions to convert to serving an international airport when necessary. The second airport has a capacity of 30 - 50 million passengers/year, an area of 1,300 - 1,500 hectares, and will be deployed after 2030. Also read: Vietnam expects to have 28 airports by 2030 Vietnam News - Latest Updates and World Insights | Vietreader.com According to the plan, the overall adjustment project of the General Construction Planning of Hanoi Capital to 2045 and a vision to 2065 will be reported to the Government in December and submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and comments at the mid-term meeting 2024. The family of Cpl. Nathaniel Young, a 20-year-old British man serving in the Israel Defense Force (IDF), told reporters that he was killed in the Palestinian attacks on Saturday (October 7). Young's family explained that he was deployed on Israel's border with Gaza when Hamas launched its unprecedented attack that left him and hundreds of others killed or taken hostage. Young was a former student at the JFS Jewish School in Kenton, north of London, and had been living in the Bayit Shel Benji lone-soldier house in Raanana. Read Also: British Soldier Locked Up After Going AWOL to Fight in Ukraine A Brit Unaccounted For The Israeli embassy in London has also reported that a 26-year-old British national named Jake Marlowe, who attended the same school as Young, was among the missing after Hamas attacked a dance music festival close to the Israel-Gaza border. The embassy told The Independent they could not confirm whether Marlowe was taken hostage or killed. Marlowe's mother, Lisa, said her son was part of the security team at the party near Kibbutz Re'im when Palestinian rockets and missiles flew over the venue. Since then, Marlowe provided information about the situation on the ground. His final message to his mother read: "Signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you." Lisa could not contact her son since then. British Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper told Sky News the UK was closely working with the Israeli government about British citizens who might be in the region of concern but said he had no specific information on reports about Marlowe's disappearance. 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 demand for such facilities was substantially larger in the south, as reflected in figures in 2020 and 2021. However, leasable volume in North Vietnam started to catch up and surpassed southern numbers in the first half of 2023. Hieu Le - Senior director, CBRE Vietnam Having said that, leasable warehouse space in South Vietnam always accounts for a lions share of the total volume, which suggests that it remains the stronger hub for warehousing space. The demand in the north this year has been driven mainly by expansion from Chinese manufacturing investment, which often requests big-size single-story factories, ranging 10,000-20,000sq.m. The demand in Ho Chi Minh Citys greater area is more balanced, allocated among US, European, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese investors. While the market is still leaning towards single-story facilities, double-story facilities are still being promoted and leased out at a slightly more competitive rent to entice demand. Sizing in South Vietnam is smaller, ranging around 1,000-10,000sq.m. On the supply side, most factory and warehouse developers offer modern specification premises which are requested by their international occupiers. Manufacturing investment is increasing, and Vietnam is moving up the value chain and aiming to attract more advanced tech manufacturers from the United States and Europe. This has been featured recently by Apple suppliers production shipment to Vietnam, as well as reflected in the governments recent initiative to seek stronger ties with the US semiconductor supply chain. The modern specification, therefore, is a must-have provision. At this stage, selected developers chose to offer green facilities to position themselves distinctively from the rest and target manufacturing occupiers who place sustainability high in their business model. In the mid-term, sustainability/green-certified facilities are set to become a mandatory trend among industrial developers and logistics operators. E-commerce has increased rapidly and continues to fuel logistics growth. In fact, driven by high internet penetration, high smartphone usage ratio, and fuelled strongly during the pandemic restriction period, e-commerce has gained big traction in Vietnam and makes the country among the top five growth markets for e-commerce in Asia. We estimate that Vietnams e-commerce sales will increase from $16 billion in 2021 to $39 billion in 2025, which is creating a demand for more than two million sq.m of additional e-commerce dedicated logistics space. As logistics and labour costs increase, the value proposition for warehouse automation will become more attractive. Demand for higher-class warehouses that can support automation is expected to increase. Based on a CBRE 2021 Asia Pacific Logistics Occupier survey, traditional in-house technologies such as conveyor and sortation systems and goods-to-person picking have already seen relatively high adoption. Complex emerging technologies such as automated storage and retrieval systems and autonomous guided vehicles and robotics arms are gaining popularity. Robotics as a service is also being touted and likely to emerge as an option in the near future. At this stage, the multi-floor warehouse and factory are still in its infancy in Vietnam, but this type of facility has the potential to grow as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi start to have major land constraint issues that mirror much of the other locations in Asia-Pacific such as Hong Kong and Singapore, which went through a similar pattern. Logistics land value in Ho Chi Minh City and in prime locations in South Vietnam already surpassed $200/sq.m/month. This is a threshold that only makes multi-floor facilities viable as an investment vehicle for developers and industrial and logistics funds. Additionally, as occupiers seek to stay closer to the consumer, it gives them no choice but to pursue multi-floor warehouses in prime locations near the city centres. In terms of the cold chain, growing focus on food safety and increasing food exports are driving growth in cold chain logistics, with many companies entering this segment. Significant investment has been made in cold storage facilities up and down the country, and cold chain transport is gaining more attention. The likes of Ho Chi Minh City and Long An province, being the consumption hub and processing hub for commodities for export, continue to lead the market with regard to new supply and demand. Breakthroughs pinpointed for Vietnams logistics sector, Photo: Le Toan Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong noted at the summit, themed The Path Ahead, that Vietnam is considered to have plenty of potential and suitable advantages to promote the development of the logistics service industry in the years ahead. We are located at the gateway of international trade, and have a strategic position in the global supply chain. With a growing economy, a constantly improving infrastructure system, a population of 100 million people with a rapidly growing middle class, and strong development of e-commerce, we have absolute confidence that Vietnams logistics industry will continue to have breakthroughs in the near future, Dong said. As the economy at home and abroad recovers from a few tough years, production, business, and import and export activities will regain growth momentum and demand for logistics activities will increase strongly. The presence of foreign investors with large-scale projects in Vietnam not only helps to make an important contribution to increasing the capacity of the economy, but it also promotes trade in goods, thereby contributing to the development of the Vietnamese logistics industry as a whole, Dong added. According to consulting firm Agilitys assessment, Vietnam has the ability to draw in the most renowned businesses in the world, especially high-tech groups with plenty to offer. Talking with VIR, Winnie Lam, general secretary of HKBAV and COO of Asivon Young Vietnam, said that Vietnams time to shine is now. Vietnam stands to gain with the ongoing China+1 strategy and is well positioned in the region to leapfrog others, especially if more attention can be put into ensuring value added services instead of just trying for cheaper services, said Lam. She added that China+1 is taking on a new meaning as Vietnam is now not only the +1 for those invested in China, but also for Chinas own needs. Because Vietnam is up and coming, we should take advantage of adopting the newest technology whenever possible. The logistics sector in Vietnam has been experiencing growth in recent years, and is expected to continue to do so under the current economic situation, being the bright star in the region, she said. Vietnam has plenty of free trade agreements in place, the supply chain is becoming more mature, and Vietnam also benefits from its massive coastline. These all play a significant role in shaping Vietnams economy, Lam added. According to the 2023 Logistics Performance Index published by the World Bank, Vietnams score increased to 3.3 compared to 3.27 points in 2018, ranking it fifth in the ASEAN region - behind Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and sitting alongside the Philippines. According to Deputy Minister Dong, although Vietnams logistics sector has a rapid growth rate, in reality, there are still a number of problematic limitations. These include unsynchronised institutions and policies, limited transportation and logistics infrastructure capacity, and a lack of multi-modal transport corridors, all while the need for high-quality transshipment of goods continues to increase. Moreover, Vietnam still lacks centralised logistics zones with the most strategic locations, as well as strong connections with ports, airports, national highways, and production facilities. In addition, the operations of logistics enterprises still have many limitations in terms of scale of operation, capital, and especially the lack of talented logistics experts, he added. For some of the participants at the summit last week, the most difficult obstacle to overcome is infrastructure. Infrastructure planning can lack uniformity and regulation from state management agencies is one of the biggest bottlenecks in the industry. Besides that, some said, local infrastructure planning at the locality level can be too vague and not tailored to the condition and strength of each locality. What makes many businesses worried is that currently, transportation costs on Vietnams total logistics costs are at a very high level, up to more than 60 per cent and about twice as high as other countries. Vietnam currently has about 34,000 businesses in logistics services, but they are mainly small in size and with very limited ability to access international markets. Businesses like these have missed many opportunities to expand their markets and revenues. Elias Abraham, CEO of Zim Integrated Shipping Company, also assessed that goods to Vietnam only pass through central areas and main ports, so they must be transported over long distances and at high costs. Businesses have no other choice. Therefore, various ports in Long An, Phu Yen, and Quang Nam provinces need investment attention, said Abraham. Julien Brun, CEO of CEL Vietnam Company, added that in the competition with other countries and regions in foreign direct investment attraction and logistics services, a low price advantage is not enough. Vietnam needs to promote logistics as well as green transformation, which are the factors that the new generation of foreign capital flows towards. Vietnam has production costs about 4 per cent lower than India, labour costs are a tenth cheaper, and infrastructure is nearly equivalent, but logistics costs and delivery times are higher and longer, said Brun. Cambodia records second H5N1 death in 2023, Illustrative image (Photo source: AFP/VNA) Hanoi The Cambodian Ministry of Health has confirmed the second death from avian influenza H5N1 in the country this year. The victim, a 50-year-old man from Svay Rieng province, tested positive for the H5N1 virus on October 7, the ministry said in a news release on late October 8. Prior to his death, the man and other villagers had shared about 50 dead chickens owned by him and his neighbours, the ministry said. It added that health authorities are looking into the source of the infection and examining any suspected cases or people who have been in contact with the victim. The H5N1 influenza is a flu that normally spreads among sick poultry, but it can sometimes spread from poultry to humans, according to the World Health Organisation. The Cambodian ministry said avian influenza still poses a threat to people's health, especially children. It called on people not to eat ill or dead poultry, and cook poultry well before eating. Since 2003, Cambodia has recorded 58 human infections of H5N1, including 39 deaths, according to the ministry. Cambodian central bank to auction 50 million USD to stabilise riel The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) announced on September 6 that it has successfully auctioned 10 million USD in an effort to stabilise the Cambodian riel against the US dollar. Delegates at the Logistics Summit pored over the potential of the sector for Vietnam, Photo: Le Toan At VIRs Logistics Summit last week in Ho Chi Minh City, experts agreed that current development of logistics infrastructure will not be enough for the sector to reach its potential, thus partly contributing to lowering its competitiveness of Vietnams imports and exports. Pham Thi Bich Hue, founder and chairwoman of Western Pacific Group, said the development path of the local industry is promising as her business and others in the industry have seen good signals from the government, as well as the businesses themselves who recognise the role of logistics in economic development. However, Hue admitted that to enter a promising greener path that involves reducing logistics costs in the national GDP, there are still many hurdles ahead. Infrastructure bottlenecks have remained for years. Such development planning still lacks synchronisation and localisation appropriate to regional characteristics and actual customer needs. Regions lack planning for development of logistics centres, and they are yet to meet actual needs and local strengths, she added. Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Agency of Foreign Trade, added that suitable infrastructure is one of the most important components for logistics development, along with other factors such as legal frameworks, business capacity, and human resources, as well as technology. Hai elaborated that the country has been making efforts to strongly develop infrastructure, and the government has offered a clear direction in terms of plans to develop roads, airports, seaports, and railways. National transport infrastructure is managed by central-level government agencies, while local infrastructure for logistics centres and the like are managed and planned by municipal and provincial authorities. However, awareness about the importance of logistics differs from locality to locality. Some have advantages, but have low awareness. This is a barrier for businesses, he said. Over the past two years, many key infrastructure projects and roads to connect regions have been built, as part of the countrys goal to have 3,000km of expressways by 2025 and 5,000km by 2030. In addition, plans have been laid out for new coastal roads, connecting roads, airports, and seaports, contributing to increasing the competitiveness of the economy, as well as helping to reduce logistics costs for businesses. Since the beginning of the year, a series of logistics centres have been put into operation in provinces and cities. In particular, September saw three large logistics begin operations to meet the increasing demand for goods storage of businesses in Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, and Long An provinces. The interest in logistics centres has been growing all year. In early August, representatives of A.P Moller Maersk Group from Denmark visited Binh Duong to work with local authorities on the possibilities of investing in a large-scale logistics centre. Similarly, Warburg Pincus from the United States met with leaders of the same province to discuss investment plans for a cross-border e-commerce centre project. Experts at last weeks summit agreed that strong recent moves yet to fully reverse the fortunes of the sector. Road transport still accounts for over 70 per cent of the total freight transport market share, which makes logistics costs in Vietnam much higher than elsewhere in the region. Vietnams imports and exports now go to 200 markets around the world, but the logistics service only stops at the Vietnamese border. Few names can go abroad, and ministries and businesses must continue to work together to solve this challenge, Hai said. Vietnam has big advantages for import and export growth through trade deals and investment shifts. As new trends in the logistics sector now inch towards the green-digital transition, the country and businesses need to quickly change and improve to stand strong and to increase competitiveness, he added. 'Friend-shoring' takes centre stage at Vietnam Logistics Summit 2023 At the Vietnam Logistics Summit 2023 co-organised by SLP Vietnam and VIR on October 5 in Ho Chi Minh City, nearly 400 industry leaders and experts convened to discuss the evolving the logistics landscape in Vietnam. Deputy Minister highlights developments in Vietnam's logistics Speaking at the Logistics 2023 conference co-organised by SLP Vietnam and VIR on October 5, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong highlighted the strides Vietnam's government has made in recent years in refining the mechanisms, policies, and infrastructure to promote the logistics sector. Nestle Vietnam promotes sustainable supply chain and logistics Khuat Quang Hung, director of Corporate Affairs at Nestle Vietnam, at the Logistics Summit 2023, jointly organised by VIR and SLP Vietnam under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Ho Chi Minh City on October 5, shared about Nestle's approach to sustainability and sustainable logistics. Vietnam can glean insights from Malaysia's logistics journey: conference Experts shared their nations' experiences and the importance of a thoughtful approach to automation in the ever-evolving logistics sector, during a conference on logistics on October 5. Vietnamese government committed to boosting logistics infrastructure At the Vietnam Logistics Summit 2023 co-hosted by SPL Vietnam and VIR, representatives from the Vietnamese government reaffirmed the country's steadfast dedication to enhancing the nation's logistics infrastructure. Experts mull modern logistics trends Businesses shared their initiatives to keep abreast of the latest logistics trends at the second panel "Unlocking the Opportunities for Future Logistics," within the framework of the Logistics Summit 2023, jointly organised by VIR and SLP Vietnam. Tailored last-mile delivery services the latest challenge Last-mile delivery, in the backdrop of Vietnams booming e-commerce and on-demand services, is a make-or-break challenge that demands relentless efforts towards cost optimisation in the countrys logistics sector. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (Source: japannews.yomiuri.co.jp) Tokyo Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is planning to visit Brunei, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand from October 8 to October 13, according to a press release by the Foreign Ministry. During the visit, Minister Kamikawa will hold meetings with government officials of each country, including the second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Erywan bin Yusof, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara. She is expected to confirm that Japan will continue to work closely with each country to uphold and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, deepen bilateral relationships in a wide range of fields, respond to various regional and international challenges, as well as to successfully hold the Commemorative Summit for the 50th year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation in December this year. Industrial parks in Haiphong to receive $1.3 billion in investment On September 22, Haiphong Economic Zones Management Authority (HEZA) granted the investment registration certificates for a series of foreign-invested projects worth nearly $1.3 billion. Acecook Vietnam: 30 years of conquering tastebuds From the early days of operation, Acecook recognised that the companys high-quality food safety management foundation, technology, and extensive experience in instant noodle production in Japan is not enough it is also necessary to create products with flavours suitable for local people. Japanese VCs expand tranche of investment Despite headwinds in capital mobilisation, Japanese venture funds are doubling down on Vietnams startup ecosystem, underscoring the nations pivotal role in their quest to cultivate a vibrant Southeast Asian startup landscape. Viettel is looking to attain 17,000 data centre racks by 2025, at a cost of $415 million, Photo: Shutterstock At the Vietnam Real Estate Symposium co-organised by Knight Frank and the Australian Chamber of Commerce, Fred Fitzalan Howard, Knight Franks Asia-Pacific Data Centre Lead, said the country as it stands is unlikely to have the data centre capacity to meet the potential requirements and ramifications that a 2022 decree implies. Decree No.53/2022/ND-CP, in force for a year, requires companies storing Vietnamese data to host that data in the nation, with the sweeping reforms expected to drive demand for data centres nationwide. But as it stands, Vietnam only has fewer than 30 operational data centres. Vietnams large population and digital service requirements there are 100 million people on their smartphones generating new data constantly ensures prolonged future demand from people here, and the emergence of AI is a significant accelerator of this, Howard said. Howard also talked of hyperscaler companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon the latter of which visited Vietnam in March to announce its interest in data centres here. There remains a degree of uncertainty around leasing in the sector, Howard explained. Cloud service providers are currently taking a cautious approach and delay their market entry to ensure that suitable data centre capacity is constructed. A report released in June by the Authority of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Information and Communications said that Vietnams data centre sector is trailing behind the growth in demand. Among the 27 centres currently operational, 46 per cent are based in the south, 35 per cent in the north, and the remainder in the central region. The cloud computing market share is currently mainly in the hands of foreign businesses, while Vietnamese businesses only account for about one-fifth of the market. Currently, there are many technology and telecommunications investors from the Americas, India, Hong Kong, and Japan who want to rent land or buildings to develop international-standard data centres, with an area of 10,000-30,000sq.m around big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. Among those are the Hong Kongs Gaw Capital with a 18,000sq.m data centre and IT capacity of 20MW in Saigon Hi-Tech Park, which is set to be operated in 2024. During Amazons visit in March, it announced it would build 10 local data centres in Australia, India, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam in the coming years. Domestic tech enterprises such as Viettel have also planned to invest. Viettel wishes to pump an additional $415 million into Viettel Cloud to expand its scale to 17,000 racks by 2025. The Viettel Cloud ecosystem has the largest data centre infrastructure system in Vietnam with 13 centres, more than 9,000 racks, and over 60,000sq.m of floor space. At the Data Centre and Cloud Infrastructure Forum held in June, Hoang Van Ngoc, director of Viettel IDC, shared that Vietnam is still behind other countries in the region in terms of scale, floor area, and electricity consumption. Not only that, Vietnams data centres are mainly dispersed among customers, organisations, businesses, and even state agencies. This will create different models to protect all information and all data, Ngoc said. Decree 53 requires both international and foreign companies to store personal information on Vietnamese users, the data that they generate, and data on their relationships in various specified captured sectors, which include social media, e-commerce, and online gaming for a minimum of 24 months. Data centre appeal poised to expand Vietnams data centre sector is poised for substantial growth, although challenges surrounding regulations, construction, and mounting demand for energy efficiency need to be effectively navigated. Indonesia plans to build various national data centres The Ministry of Communication and Informatics of Indonesia is aiming to complete and inaugurate a national data centre in Bekasi district, West Java province, by October 2024. Prospects bright for data centre and cloud infrastructure development Vietnam now has nine data centre operators, 30 cloud centres, 571,000 servers, and 54.7 million physical cores. Viettel Group operates 13 data/cloud centres, VNPT seven, and the rest run by other businesses. Congratulations on Techcombank's important 30-year milestone. Looking back, how would you characterise the bank's present standing compared to its initial inception? Techcombank was founded with capital of VND20 billion ($850,000), a small operation, but with a forceful entrepreneurial spirit. Through the years, the bank has grown to around $5.3 billion in capital - one of the highest capitalised banks in the country. What has remained consistent from the very beginning is Techcombanks spirit and culture. As Vietnams economy grew and became more dynamic, Techcombank was a pioneer spearheading its development. The founding fathers of the bank came from engineering backgrounds and were not traditional bankers. Therefore, as an institution, Techcombank has consistently adopted technology as an enabler and has always done things a bit differently compared to other banks. Looking back, while we are now very different from when we started - much bigger, much stronger, and definitely much more profitable - some of the core elements of technology and entrepreneurship have remained. What have been some of the most significant challenges the bank has encountered on its 30-year journey? Around 2011 and 2013, the whole industry faced a stern challenge. Techcombank was probably the first to come out of that crisis, having cleaned up our credit book and having a healthy amount of capital. It was a very formative experience, and we now have strong risk management capabilities and are well-capitalised as a result. We are not the largest private sector bank in the country, and therefore, we need to be a bit more daring and break the mould regularly. If you worked with us, you would see that we are never content, persistently meeting the changing needs of our customers. It's part of our DNA and one of our biggest strengths. As you approach your fourth year at Techcombank, what do you regard as your most notable achievements? I would say one of the achievements which we accelerated over the last three years is our digital transformation. Numerous investments were made to transform the bank and its capabilities. At the same time, our customer growth has accelerated. Our aspiration is not just to be one of the largest private banks, but to shape the transformation of the Vietnamese banking industry and also to be one of the top banks in the region. To achieve this, we needed a different technology platform and to transform into an even more digitally enabled bank, with a focus on talent, data, and technology. Would you mind telling us about the distinctive architecture and design of Techcombank's new office buildings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City? While the buildings are beautiful from the outside, we put great effort into the interior. For many people, work is not just about money, but also the environment they work in. We gave this job to Fosters and Partners - one of the world's most renowned architectural firms who built the Apple headquarters in California, and the spectacular buildings you see now are the result. Our headquarters in Hanoi were designed with a fusion between the old and the new, with some elements inspired by the Old Quarter. We put a lot of thought into the architectural design, and it carries the message we want to convey. It's important for us to be, on the one hand, a Vietnamese bank that has inherited Vietnamese cultural values, but on the other hand, breaking through and doing something new and innovative. These buildings were very much about customer centricity, innovation, and collaboration, with all the working spaces built to accommodate agile ways of working. And while these buildings feature a great deal of digital enablement and digital tools, they are also built with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. As outlined in the 2023 AGM, Techcombank is focussing on its retail segment while seeking to lessen dependence on corporate clients. Has there been any change from this strategy? We have been clear about our intentions to do more retail and lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), however, as we operate a needs-based model and a customer-centricity approach, this may not hold up during certain periods. After a decade of delivering strong results, Techcombank has grown to become the number one private sector bank in Vietnam with a strong retail banking focus and best-in-market digital banking capabilities. In this environment, the big companies and corporates are usually the ones who fare better because they have much more diversified cash flow streams. So, as we were looking at where the needs are and where the risk-adjusted returns were better, it was on the corporate side. When you examine our financial data, you'll notice that some figures, particularly on the corporate side, represent short-term working capital financing. This flexibility allows us to transition relatively quickly to other segments and sectors. Our primary focus is still on retail. However, in the current circumstances, we might continue to emphasise corporate lending because it appears to be less risky. Nevertheless, as the market evolves, we will gradually shift our focus back to retail and SMEs. This is rather a timing issue than a strategy issue. The Techcombank chairman recently hinted that the bank may end its ten-year practice of not distributing cash dividends. Is there a possibility of a gift for shareholders in celebration of the bank's 30th anniversary? When we issued the policy 10 years ago, we were in a very different position. After a decade of delivering strong results, Techcombank has grown to become the number one private sector bank in Vietnam with a strong retail banking focus and best-in-market digital banking capabilities. Today, the bank generates over VND20 trillion ($844 million) profits annually, the highest among Vietnam's private sector banks. Now, as we look at the banks earnings potential and the changes in upcoming regulations, we believe that we can maintain that trajectory of 20 per cent earnings growth and 15 per cent capital adequacy ratio while still paying regular cash dividends to reward the banks shareholders. As we are analysing whether we can maintain such a policy for the following five to 10 years, it's important to note that we make our decision from a capital management perspective and not just do this as a birthday gift. When the board decides if there will be a change in our dividend policy, I am sure they will make the proper announcements. But from the current analysis, it seems that we clearly have options. Could you elaborate on Techcombank's sustainability and responsible banking strategy? When it comes to sustainability, many people interpret it only as green financing or carbon neutrality. While these are all important elements, for me, creating a sustainable business means building it on a solid foundation and making sure it can last through the natural boom-bust cycles of the economy. That principle has always run deep in our core. On the business side, we try to help our customers gain clarity on what and how they can build their own sustainable companies. With the help of organisations like USAID and the Asian Development Bank, we work to provide financing solutions and are committed to provide around $5 billion in financing for sustainable projects. Techcombank has built in-house capabilities to channel green financing to our customers, but there's still more work to be done. We should not think about sustainability as a 'feel-good' exercise. Rather, it needs to be rooted in good economic sense, and increasingly, people are starting to understand and internalise that concept. Key enterprises plug circular economy shift Company leaders have highlighted the need for a balanced approach of incentives and penalties as Vietnams business community explores a circular economy model. Shinhan Bank Vietnam celebrates 30 years in Vietnam South Korean financial conglomerate Shinhan Bank has marked 30 years of presence in Vietnam and is proud to be a trusted financial partner to millions of Vietnamese customers. Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party announced the partys 10,000-baht digital wallet policy at a campaign rally in April, 2023. (Photo source:bangkokpost.com) Bangkok Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confirmed that the countrys government will proceed with its plan to provide a 10,000 THB (280 USD) digital wallet to every Thai citizen aged 16 and older. In a recent meeting with residents in Yasothon's Kham Khuen Kaeo district, where he observed efforts to deal with flooding, the Prime Minister said the plan is important to people and the government will go ahead. Accordingly, the government is committed to implementing the digital wallet initiative for an estimated 56 million people, with a projected launch date of February 1, 2024. About 16 billion USD will be injected to the countrys economy. The plan is expected to run until 2024. If there are positive results, the plan will be expanded until 2025, injecting up to 57 billion USD into the country's economy, equivalent to 5 per cent of Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP). However, some economic experts warned that the government's plan will consume a large amount of the state budget. According to former Finance Minister Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, foreign investors believe the government will eventually have to seek loans to finance the plan which will adversely affect the country's financial situation and increase public debt. Thailand vows efforts to restore tourist confidence after mall shooting Thailand will restore confidence in its critical tourism sector, officials said on October 4, a day after a shooting spree at a luxury shopping mall killed two people and injured five others. Thailand finalises legal loopholes in assisting foreign tourists Thai authorities are considering accomplishing regulatory loopholes in supporting foreign tourists affected by incidents in Thailand, especially after the shooting at Siam Paragon Shopping Centre on October 3 which killed two people and injuring five. There are very high requirements for the MoT and localities, with some being assigned as the managing agency of expressway ventures for the first time to carry out procedures according to regulations, and to organise project management and construction to ensure schedules are met. By Le Dinh Tho - Deputy Minister of Transport Expressways are the highest level of technical project in the road system, with modern scale, large transport capacity, high speed, and safety are to contend with. However, not all localities have experience in implementing large initiatives, so sharing experience from units of the ministry with localities is necessary with the goal of ensuring progress, quality, and efficiency. From the actual implementation of such projects as well as recommendations from the states audit department, the Government Inspectorate, the Ministry of Public Security, and specialised inspection teams the MoT has compiled a handbook on implementing these projects with the goal of doing so on schedule and complying with legal regulations. The MoT is willing to share this handbook with localities so that governing agencies and investors of local expressways can have more experience in implementing them. Regarding site clearance and materials for development, there are many difficulties because road ventures, especially expressways, have giant clearance areas. To be more proactive in site clearance, the experience that the ministry has learnt from is in the pre-project step and with pre-feasibility. Route map documents should be immediately prepared, and investors and consultants must review site clearance documents at least two months in advance. If there are no problems, it should temporarily approve the site to immediately deploy demarcation of the site. Doing this helps to avoid errors during the site clearance process as well as the technical design step. This is the experience that Hanoi has applied when approving similar projects. Regarding material sources such as backfill soil, there are still many issues during the implementation of transport initiatives. Therefore, it is necessary to continue research to reduce licensing procedures, while ensuring resource exploitation and management in accordance with laws. In addition, the process of surveying and evaluating mines also needs to be carried out more efficiently in terms of quality, reserves, and prices. Through implementation of such projects, the MoT realised that it is necessary to regularly organise conferences to share and exchange practical experience in directing, preparing, and building them, as well as preparing investment and construction management. This helps to learn lessons and work out solutions to implement projects to ensure quality, progress, aesthetics, the environment, and security. Lessons include the involvement of the entire political system, promoting assignment and decentralisation to localities, assigning specific and detailed tasks to each unit to build feasible plans, and attaching responsibilities to review progress to the correct subjects. In addition, we must uphold the spirit of great political determination to find solutions even though works are complicated, we must not be discouraged and find every solution to overcome it. Along with that is the synchronous leadership and direction from the central to local levels to promptly resolve bottlenecks. There are also amendments to mechanisms to create a new, open, and favourable legal corridor when implementing projects; as well as innovation in direction and management, building plans, and clearly assigning responsibilities associated with regular inspection and supervision. Close attention should also be paid to choosing capable contractors with enough human resources, vehicles, and construction machinery to promptly meet the schedule. Experience from the North-South Expressways first phase shows that if the correct capable contractors are chosen, the management, progress, and quality of projects will be assured. Cambodia to start construction of expressway to Vietnam Cambodia is scheduled to start the construction of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway close to Vietnams Moc Bai international border gate in June 2023, said Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transport of Cambodia. Two sections of eastern North - South Expressway open to traffic Two sections of the eastern North - South Expressway, Mai Son - National Highway 45 and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay, were inaugurated on April 29. Four mega highway projects to kick off The construction of inter-regional highway projects and Ho Chi Minh Citys Ring Road No.3 will start in mid-June, according to the prime minister's plan. Transport ministry approves 36 rest stations along North-South Expressway The eastern wing of the North-South Expressway will have 36 rest stations as approved by Ministry of Transport on August 2. The three advanced security technologies are designed to maximise security for banks and financial organisations worldwide. They are the solution of OPSWAT, a cybersecurity company specialising in critical infrastructure security. OPSWAT introduced advanced cybersecurity technologies at Smart Banking 2023 The technologies are Deep Content Disarm and Reconstruction (Deep CDR), which is designed to prevent zero-day attacks by removing malicious content from files and reconstructing them into safe files. Another is Multiscanning for Malware Detection. By simultaneously utilising more than 30 leading malware detection programmes on the market, OPSWAT's Multiscanning rapidly detects over 99 per cent of malware through pattern recognition, analysis of virus behaviour, and machine learning. This technology significantly improves malware detection rates while minimising false positives. The third is Proactive Data Loss Prevention (Proactive DLP) that enables businesses to monitor and manage sensitive data and customer information. Proactive DLP scans and prevents sensitive content in over 70 common file types from being transferred in and out of an organisation's network, ensuring data is not leaked or stolen, providing comprehensive data protection against data breaches. Commercial banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies in Vietnam are continuously undergoing digital transformation to enhance operational efficiency and improve customer experiences. However, alongside the digital transformation trend come cybersecurity challenges, especially in the financial and banking sector, which cybercriminals favour. Typical cyberattacks include intrusion, data theft, data alteration, and disruption of business operations. The governments recent Decree No. 13/2023/ND-CP emphasises this and introduces new data protection standards. OPSWAT attended discussions at Smart Banking 2023 At the specialised discussion Cyber Security in The Digital Banking Landscape as part of Smart Banking 2023, cybersecurity OPSWAT experts demonstrated cyberattacks targeting the IT networks of banks worldwide and showed an effective cybersecurity defence system to thwart them. Talking to VIR at the event, Huynh Tan Phat, technical support engineer at OPSWAT said, Vietnam has huge potential for development. However, businesses in Vietnam yet to pay due attention to protecting their businesses. Usually, they focus on protecting Internet system, and access, but are yet to focus on training their manpower to protect themselves. Few companies use technologies to protect them from security problems. UOB empowers Vietnamese SMEs to harness digital technologies UOB FinLab, an innovation accelerator, announced its official launch in Vietnam today, granting small- and- medium- sized enterprises access to digitalisation and sustainability programmes, matching of business solutions providers, mentorship, and valuable resources. Embracing HVAC, Refrigeration, and Smart Building technologies at HVACR Vietnam 2023 Informa Markets a global trade show organiser is setting up the 15th International Trade Exhibition on HVAC, Refrigeration and Smart Building Technologies in Vietnam (HVACR Vietnam 2023) from July 25 to 27 at the International Exhibition Center in Hanoi. California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill that could make insulin cheaper. He vetoed the legislation on Saturday, Oct. 7. The specific bill that Newsom vetoed was Senate Bill 90, which Senator Scott Wiener introduced. Before it was rejected, the bill passed the Assembly 79-0 and the Senate 39-0. The question is, if Senate Bill 90 limits the price of insulin, then why did Newsom reject it? Here are the latest details. California Gov. Newsom Rejects Bill That Could Make Insulin Cheaper The Guardian reported that Senate Bill 90 was created to prevent insurance companies from charging consumers over $35 for insulin. If Newsom hadn't vetoed this legislation, it could have banned disability insurance policies and health plans from implementing any out-of-pocket expenses on insulin prescription drugs above $35 for a 30-day supply. These expenses include co-pays and deductibles. But, the California governor explained why he rejected Senate Bill 90. Recently, the Democratic official announced that California has a $50 million contract with Civica Rx, a non-profit pharmaceutical firm, to manufacture the CalRx insulin. Gavin added that they will sell a 10-milliliter vile of the medicine for just $30. "With CalRx, we are getting at the underlying cost, which is the true sustainable solution to high-cost pharmaceuticals," said Newsom. "With co-pay caps, however, the long-term costs are still passed down to consumers through higher premiums from health plans," he added. Read Also: Michigan: Ottawa County's Right-Wing Board Slashed Health Department's Budget by $2.1 Million Newsom's Bill Rejection Criticized The Associated Press reported that Wiener criticized the decision of Newsom to reject Senate Bill 90. The official said that what the governor did was a major setback. Scott Wiener explained that rejecting the legislation will only keep thousands of Californians with diabetes trapped in a terrible situation between "buying insulin and buying food." The senator further stated that the missed opportunity would force diabetic residents to wait years until medical care becomes affordable. Insulin is a drug hormone that can convert sugar into energy. It is used by diabetic people who can't naturally produce enough insulin. Health experts said insulin is necessary for Type 1 diabetic patients if they want to survive. However, getting insulin will now be difficult since Senate Bill 90 has been vetoed. Related Article: FDA Advisers Skeptical of Experimental ALS Treatment as Patient Advocates Push for Approval @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vietnam New Economy Forum 2023 attracts over 300 participants The event was organised by co-hosted by Vietnam Economic Times (VET) and the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM). Including addresses and discussions involving various stakeholders, the forum also provided opportunities for businesses to share information on current policies, exchange with domestic and international experts to promote business investment within new economic models. Nguyen Hoa Cuong, vice director of the CIEM under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, clarified new economic models contributing to sustainable growth and development, which combine the sharing economy, digital economy, and green or circular economy. The sharing economy model helps to save resources through increased productivity, promotes intra-sector competition, reduces transaction cost, and contributes to enhanced development and application of technology. In addition, it will expand markets, and generate employment and income, Cuong said. Digital economy currently contributes about 15 per cent GDP, expected to be 20 per cent in 2025 and 30 per cent in 2030. Meanwhile, according to Google & Temasek, the growth rate of 28 per cent is at the top ASEAN. The circular economy has been identified as a key model and needs to be promoted in many fields. Speaking at the address session, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung highlighted several discussion issues related to the new economic model. The issues were prioritising science and technology and developing high-quality human resources to effectively deploy new economic models; ensuring equality and human rights when implementing new economic models; close coordination between relevant parties, with the State leading and the business community playing a pioneering role; grasping progressive global trends and strengthening international cooperation; and calling on developed countries to provide financial support to developing countries to work towards common global goals. The discussion involved an exchange based on the practical implementation of new economic models and new business models. Participants evaluated the suitability and effectiveness of each model, as well as the simultaneous impact of new economic models and new business models in implementing growth and sustainable development goals. The session saw the participation of representatives of new economic models, including the FPT Group (the digital economy), VinFast (the digital economy and the green economy), Grab Vietnam (the sharing economy), MoMo (technology-based financial services), and Nam Cau Kien Eco-Industrial Park (the circular economy), as well as HSBC, a provider of green capital for new economic models that promote sustainable development, and Deloitte Vietnam. The event also announced the Top 10 and Top 50 Vietnamese Excellent Brands 2022-2023. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Vietnamese Excellent Brands programme, organised by the Vietnam Economic Times. The award combines six segments:The Top 10 Vietnamese Excellent Brands 2023; Top 10 Excellent Brands - Outstanding Business Performance;Top 10 Excellent Brands - Impressive Growth; Top 10 Excellent Brands - Pioneer of Innovation; Top 10 Excellent Brands - Green Growth; Top 10 Excellent Brands - Sustainable Development. EuroCham to host Green Economy Forum 2023 in November The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) will host the Green Economy Forum (GEF) 2023 on November 2 at the JW Marriott in Hanoi. UOB adjusts 2023 growth forecast for Vietnam UOB (United Overseas Bank) has adjusted its full-year growth forecast for Vietnam to 5 per cent from 5.2 per cent previously, with the assumption of further acceleration of real GDP growth in Q4 at 7 per cent on-year. METALEX Vietnam 2023 is the must-see event for metalworking industry The premium event for global technology suppliers and Vietnamese companies in the metalworking industry, METALEX Vietnam 2023, is scheduled for the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City from October 4-6. Hamas militants have fired nearly 3,000 rockets on Israel's territory. (Source: AFP/VNA) Tel Aviv Vietnamese citizens, including the Vietnamese community, officials on business trips and tourists to Israel, have remained safe amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas militants that caused hundreds of casualties in recent days, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has carried out an array of measures to protect the citizens, including posting announcements on the embassys official social network page, giving security and safety instructions to, and providing contact information for the citizens.Besides, the embassys officials have been deployed to maintain regular contact with the Vietnamese community, coordinate with the host country's relevant agencies and diplomatic corps to jointly carry out citizen protection measures, and build suitable citizen protection plans to ensure safety for the citizens. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Vietnamese citizens to temporarily avoid areas of conflict, keep a close watch on the situation, take the initiative in implementing necessary security and safety measures, strictly follow regulations of the local authorities, avoid gatherings and limit travel. They should contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel for support via 972-50-818-6116, 972-52-727-4248 and 972-50-994-0889, or call the citizen protection hotline of the Consular Department at 84 981 84 84 84. The security and safety situation in Israel is developing complicatedly after Hamas militants have fired nearly 3,000 rockets on Israel's territory, and made surprise attacks in border areas since early October 7. Register to vote Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 7 election. Application forms are available at mclennanvotes.com or at any post office, city library or city office, including the county elections office, 214 N. Fourth St., Suite 300, in the basement of the county records building. English and Spanish versions are available. Completed applications should be printed, signed and delivered in person or mailed to McLennan County Elections, P.O. Box 2450, Waco, TX 76703-2450. Anyone unsure of their registration status can check at votetexas.gov. For more information, call 254-757-5043. Bell ringers needed The Salvation Army needs volunteer bell ringers from Nov. 10 through Dec. 23. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays in Waco and surrounding areas at associated retail locations. The annual Red Kettle Campaign is one of the charitys primary fundraising efforts, supporting services and programs such as feeding the hungry, sheltering people experiencing homelessness, and providing toys to disadvantaged youth and after-school programs for children in need. Volunteers can register at https://www.registertoring.com. For more information, call 254-756-7271. Homespun Quilters Guild The Waco Homespun Quilters Guild will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at New Road Church of Christ, 3100 New Road. This months theme is College Night. Three members will present their expertise on how to construct Tiny Flying Geese, Applique and Prairie Points. The Quilters Guild will participate as a vendor at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market Oct. 14 and will have a selection of quilts for purchase. Free life-saving training The Waco-McLennan County Public Health District and American Medical Response will partner to provide free training Monday from 2-4 p.m. in the Health District Preparedness Training Room at the first floor of the health district office, 225 W. Waco Drive. The training will cover hands-only CPR training as well as Stop the Bleed and automated external defibrillator training. To register, go to waco-texas.com/Health. Medicare meeting A Medicare educational meeting will run from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Area Agency on Aging, 1514 S. New Road. The class is designed to teach people approaching Medicare eligibility all about the various aspects of the federal program. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 254-292-1843. Newcomers RSVP Waco Newcomers and Neighbors meets October 18 at The Baylor Club inside McLane Stadium, 1001 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Reservations are Oct. 9 by emailing reservationsnnn@gmail.com. Awareness, Personal Safety and Your Sixth Sense, will be presented by Walter J. Pearson. Luncheon cost is $25, payable by cash or credit card. Diabetes prevention Greater Waco YMCA begins its yearlong Diabetes Prevention Program Oct. 11 at Highland Baptist Church Medical Center, 2924 Trice Ave. The program designed to help those that have been diagnosed with prediabetes or who are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It focuses on nutrition, physical activity and behavior modification to help a person who is at high risk to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Registration is Oct. 11 at 9 a.m. and the program meets weekly at 9. Reach out to Crystal Hernandez at chrenandez@ymcactx.org or 254-776-6612 for more information or to find out if you qualify. Elm Mott Fire fundraiser Elm Mott Fire & Rescues annual fundraiser and auction will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Geneva Hall, 740 S. Connally Drive in Elm Mott. Admission is $16 for adults and $10 for children. The event will include fajita plates for drive thru or eat-in, a DJ, a silent auction starting at 11 a.m. and a live auction starting at 1 p.m. The volunteer fire department relies on tax-deductible donations from local individuals and businesses, not government funding, to maintain equipment, fund training and keep its operations going. Founded in 1955, the department serves a 36.7-square-mile area around Chalk Bluff and Elm Mott, including an 8.7-mile stretch of Interstate 35. The department responded to more than 400 calls and 98 fires in the last year. Dr Pepper supernatural The Dr Pepper Museum, 300 S. Fifth St., will hold a Junior Investigator Day from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, designed to introduce young people to the realm of the supernatural. Paranormal investigators will give hands-on instruction on types of paranormal activity and the equipment they use. The event will also include campfire ghost stories and ghost-themed carnival-style games. No admission is required. Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday released his agenda for the third legislative special session of the year, asking lawmakers to pass school choice and further crack down on illegal immigration. The special session starts at 1 p.m. Monday. Abbott also asked lawmakers to outlaw COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers. I am bringing the Texas Legislature back for Special Session #3 to continue building on the achievements we accomplished during the 88th Regular Legislative Session and two special sessions this summer, Abbott said in a statement. The special session has long been expected, but it comes at a tense time in Texas politics. Last month, the state Senate acquitted Attorney General Ken Paxton in his impeachment trial, ratcheting up tensions with the House that overwhelmingly voted to impeach him in May. And the special session starts about a month before candidate filing begins for the March primary, heightening implications for members reelection prospects. Abbott has been pushing all year for legislation that would allow parents to use taxpayer funds to help pay for private school tuition, home schooling expenses or private tutoring. He prioritized it during the regular session, but it did not advance out of the House, where Democrats and rural Republicans have long resisted it. Abbotts agenda specifically calls for education savings accounts for all Texas schoolchildren, or taxpayer-funded accounts that parents could use to subsidize alternative education costs. Together, we will chart a brighter future for all Texas children by empowering parents to choose the best education option for their child, Abbott said. Notably, Abbotts agenda does not include any other education issues. That is despite the fact that lawmakers also failed during the regular session to deliver teacher pay raises and an increase in per-student funding earlier this year. Those proposals did not make it across the finish line after getting tied to Abbotts push for education savings accounts. Democrats quickly responded to Abbotts call for education savings accounts. Today, there are schools in my district and all across Texas at risk of closure because the governor is holding public school funding hostage to pass his private school voucher scam, state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, said in a statement. Its clear Greg Abbott is more interested in doing the bidding of the billionaire mega donors pushing this scam than in serving the people of Texas. It had also become clear in recent weeks that Abbott would put border security on the call. His agenda revives some proposals that were unsuccessful during the regular session, like increasing human-smuggling penalties and creating a state criminal offense for illegal entry from a foreign country. But Abbott also included a fresher topic on the call: Colony Ridge, the massive residential settlement north of Houston that conservative media has portrayed as a haven for illegal immigration. The developer, a major GOP donor named Trey Harris, has fiercely pushed back on the allegations and invited all lawmakers to tour the community Thursday. It remains unclear what exactly Abbott wants lawmakers to do with regard to Colony Ridge, though. His agenda only calls for legislation concerning public safety, security, environmental quality, and property ownership in areas like Colony Ridge. As for the item on COVID-19 vaccine mandates, Abbott successfully sought a law earlier this year prohibiting such requirements by public entities, like school districts. But it did not extend to private employers, fueling some angst on the right. This is fantastic, Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi posted on X after Abbott announced his agenda. I did not expect vaccine mandates to be added to the call. The Senate quickly responded to Abbotts agenda by announcing two committee hearings early next week. The Senate Education Committee is set to meet Tuesday to consider legislation on education savings accounts, while the Finance Committee is scheduled to convene a day earlier to discuss teacher compensation and funding for public schools. While those topics are not on Abbotts agenda, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has insisted the Legislature has broad authority for what it can consider during a special session a flashpoint with the governor during the earlier special sessions. The first two special sessions immediately followed the regular session that ended in late May. Lawmakers spent those two special sessions trying to reach a deal on property tax relief, which they finally struck in mid-July. Along the way, though, Abbott aggressively used his veto pen to try to force a compromise between the House and Senate. He vetoed 76 bills from the regular session, the second highest tally in state history. In explaining many of the vetoes, he said the bills could be reconsidered at a future special session only after property tax relief is passed. The agenda Abbott released Thursday includes none of those bills. The absence of any items on teacher pay raises or school funding is also conspicuous. After the regular session, Abbott had suggested they would be linked again to education savings accounts in a future special session. Asked about teacher pay raises in August, Abbott told a reporter he is fully committed to such legislation but declined to commit to including it in this special session. PRESS RELEASE The Culpeper Regional Airport, located off routes 15/29 near Brandy Station, VA, will be the site of Fall Foliage Flights provided by the Commemorative Air Force Capital Wing. At the expected height of the fall foliage in Virginia, warbirds from the Capital Wing will fly rides offering unparalleled views of the Virginia countryside from the air. These Fall Foliage Flights will be available Saturday and Sunday, October 28 and 29 from 10:oo AM until 4:00 PM. Parking and attendance are free. The featured warbird will be a North American T-6 Texan, a WWII trainer, which taught American airmen the advanced tactics they would need to fly high-performance fighters in combat. The T-6 is powered by a 600hp Pratt and Whitney Wasp radial engine, providing a top speed of over 200mph with a cruise speed of 145mph. The North American T-6 is one of the most sought-after warbird rides and flights tend to sell out quickly. Flights (one passenger) in the T-6 are priced at $450. Two other WWII warbirds will be flying Fall Foliage Flights: a 1942 Boeing PT-17 Stearman open cockpit bi-plane for $315 (one passenger) and a Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder (two adults or one adult and two children) for $225. In addition, rides will be available in a Grumman AA-1B (one passenger) for $125. All Fall Foliage Flights can be booked in advance at https://www.capitalwingwarbirdrides.org/ and all rides not booked in advance will be available for sale at the Culpeper Airport the weekend of October 28 and 29. The Capital Wing has assembled a wide variety of attractions on the ground during the Fall Foliage Flights to interest everyone in the family including two rare warbirds on the hangar ramp: a French Alouette II, the worlds first jet-powered helicopter and a Japanese Fuji LM-1 aircraft, one of only three in the world. Everyone can walk on the wing of the TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the largest and heaviest single-engine bomber of WWII. The public can walk through the CAF hangar and see two WWII warbirds under maintenance: a Vultee BT-13 Valiant, and the very rare Stinson OY-1 which flew in actual combat during the June 1944 Battle of Saipan. Also on the Capital Wing ramp will be a 1943 WWII US Army T-16 light tank and WWII Jeep. Reenactors will set up an encampment and show what life was like for a US soldier during WWII. A unique Ural motorcycle with a sidecar will be available for rides. The Capital Wing PX (Post eXchange) trailer will have a variety of military aviation-themed items for sale including aircraft models and can make personalized dog tags on an original 1941 US Army dog tag machine. A B-26 bomber 50-caliber machine gun turret will be on display for kids (and small-sized adults!) to climb into and experience being a top gunner. For those looking for a unique gift or tabletop centerpiece, the Capital Wing will be selling a variety of authentic aircraft cockpit instruments. All aircraft flights are subject to weather, unanticipated maintenance, and pilot availability. For more information about the CAF Capital Wing and to book rides, visit www.capitalwingwarbirdrides.org CEDAR FALLS No longer able to provide gender-affirming care to minors, one medical clinic has partnered with out-of-state doctors offices to give patients the care they need. On Sept. 18, Senate File 538 forced the UnityPoint LGBTQ Clinic in Cedar Falls to stop providing puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries to treat gender dysphoria for those under 18. Health providers are still able to see LGBTQ children in their offices but cannot use these treatments. Medical professionals who violate the law could be subject to discipline from a state licensing board. Individuals can bring lawsuits against doctors who continue providing gender-affirming care. To still help patients seeking that care, Rachel Benson, a medical provider at the clinic, is referring children and their families to out-of-state clinics. Benson said she is thankful because 13 clinics in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois have stepped up to partner with her office. Nine of those clinics are through the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics, which are mostly near the Twin Cities about a three-hour drive from the Cedar Valley. We are very grateful for all of these clinics able and willing to help us, especially because care of the patient is the first and most important thing, Benson said. We want to make sure the patients get the care they need to help prevent detrimental outcomes when they cant seek gender-affirming care. The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that focuses on suicide prevention in the LGBTQ community, said transgender and nonbinary children are 2 to 2 times more likely to experience depressive symptoms, seriously consider suicide and attempt suicide compared with their cisgender peers. The organization also found that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including more than half of transgender and nonbinary children. Benson said before the law passed in March, Dr. Kyle Christiason who runs the clinic along with his wife, Jen prepared for changes by sending out feelers to other clinics and writing referrals for patients. I know Minnesota was marked a safe state, Benson said, referencing Gov. Tim Walz signing an executive order to protect rights to gender-affirming care. So we leaned into that because they would likely be able to have care and not have (the ban) happen to them. In the weeks since the law went into effect, Benson said, she has seen a stark decrease in the amount of pediatric patients at the clinic. I would hope its because of the work we did to help prepare patients to move (care) out of state, instead of them now being afraid to seek care, she said. WATERLOO The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa held its 2023 second cycle grant awards celebration at the Waterloo Center for the Arts on Thursday, announcing the distribution of 25 grants totaling $435,000 to organizations serving Black Hawk County. Nonprofits are the heart of our community, providing services to people to create vibrant places where everyone can thrive, Kaye Englin, CFNEIAs president and CEO, said in a new release. It is an honor to be part of their work and stories. We are proud to do this by carrying out the vision of generous people who love this place we call home. Grant recipient organization, what the grant will fund (if a specific area) and grant amount is listed below by funding area. Arts & Culture Grout Museum District, General Operating Support, $20,000. Waterloo Community Playhouse and Black Hawk Children's Theatre, General Operating Expenses for 2024 Season, $15,000. Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, Operational Support, $10,000. Youth Art Team, EXPAND, $10,000. Community Betterment 415 Walnut Collective Fund, Phase 1 Planning 415 Walnut St. Revitalization, $25,000. Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, Operations Funding Black Hawk County, $30,000. The River ARC, $5,000. Education & Youth Development Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley, Project Learn, $30,000. Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care Center, Building Bright Futures, $15,000. Growing Minds Early Learning Center (formerly Grin and Grow), Quality Child Care for the Working Poor and At-Risk Families, $25,000. Hawkeye Community College Foundation, Family Literacy Program, $10,000. Leader Valley Foundation, Leader Valley Leader in Me, $10,000. Little Knights Learning Center, La Porte City Campus, $35,000. RIYO (formerly EMBARC), community-based support for refugee and immigrant youths, $15,000. Health Allen College, Allen College Engagement Salvation Army Partnership (ACE-SAP) Free Clinic, $15,000. SuccessLink, $20,000. Human Service Exceptional Persons Inc., EPI's employment services, $15,000. Friends of the Family, Black Hawk County Housing Project, $15,000. House of Hope, $25,000. Iowa Food Bank Association, SNAP outreach, $5,000. Jesse Cosby Center, Amelioration of No One Without a Home (Operations Support), $25,000. Lutheran Services in Iowa, Healthy Families America-HOPES in Black Hawk County, $15,000. Riverview Center, crisis response program, $10,000. Waypoint Services, domestic violence victim services program, $5,000. YWCA of Black Hawk County, multicultural services, $30,000. Grants are awarded through CFNEIAs competitive grant process. Decisions on grant awards are determined by the grant distribution committee, which consists of volunteers from Black Hawk County. Committee members include: Nancy Beenblossom, Stacie Brass, Nadene Davidson, Kaye Englin, Susan Entriken, Andrew Finnegan, Chawne Paige, Jeff Seamans, Eashaan Vajpeyi, Sherman Wise and ReShonda Young. Grant applicants must be a 501(c)(3) designated organization or government entity serving Black Hawk County in order to be considered for funding. Requests can be made for operations, programming, materials, equipment and capital projects. Priority is given to funding requests that align with the foundations community initiatives of advancing racial equity, expanding child care, enhancing the arts, strengthening workforce readiness, and building nonprofit capacity. Priority is also given to requests that address the foundation's areas of focus including arts and culture, community betterment, education and youth development, environment and animal welfare, and health and human service. The 2024 Black Hawk County first grant cycle opens Nov. 15. The grant guidelines and application will be available when the cycle opens at www.cfneia.org/bhcgrants. For questions or to discuss a projects eligibility prior to submitting a proposal in Black Hawk County, contact Angie Widner, vice president of community impact, at (319) 243-1355 or awidner@cfneia.org. More information about CFNEIA can be found online at www.cfneia.org. (Photo : Robyn BECK / AFP) (ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images) A shooting at the Bowie State University left two individuals injured and prompted an investigation following a similar incident at the Morgan State University. Maryland officials believe that more than one shooter was involved in the incident, leaving two people injured, both 19-year-olds. The shooting occurred on Saturday night amid the Maryland school's homecoming weekend. The two injured individuals, identified as both men, were found with gunshot wounds at the historically Black university's Center for Business and Graduate Studies and were quickly transferred to a hospital. Bowie State University Shooting Officials revealed that neither of the teenagers were Bowie State students nor were they students of nearby Morgan State University. The latter is another historically Black college or university whose students were invited to Bowie State after their homecoming celebrations were interrupted by gunfire last week. The two shooting incidents both underscored the United States' ongoing epidemic of gun violence as the issue continues to spill into everyday venues of daily life. Bowie State University police initially received reports of shots fired at around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, as revealed by school officials in a Facebook post, as per CNN. On Sunday, the assistant bureau chief for the state police, Maj. Kenny Brown said that the shooting is believed to be an isolated event. Officers from the Prince George County Police Department were also working this homecoming weekend amid the issue. No suspects have been identified in the case so far, but law enforcement personnel are pursuing some leads, said Brown. He added that investigators preliminarily believe that more than one shooter was involved in the incident. Bowie State is based in Prince George's County and is known to have roughly 6,408 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester, as seen on the university's website. The shooting incident at the college comes only a few days after a similar incident occurred at Morgan State University, roughly 45 minutes away. During that incident, five people were shot during their homecoming week, and one student, Zakaria Smith, said that the shooting was overwhelming for many people. A junior at Bowie State University added that it was difficult to check what people were bringing onto campuses and that it was hard to regulate the types of people coming in, according to CBS News. Read Also: Man With Rifle Returns to Wisconsin Capitol to See Gov. Tony Evers the Night After Being Arrested for Bringing Hand Gun Gun Violence Cases The Morgan State University shooting prompted an hours-long lockdown of the university as students were forced to hunker down while waiting for police to go room to room checking for potential suspects. In a statement, Police Commissioner Richard Worley said that the five victims of the shooting were identified as four men and one woman, aged between 18 and 22. He noted during a Wednesday news conference that their injuries were not life-threatening. On the other hand, Morgan State Police Chief Lance Hatcher said that four of the victims were students at the college. Police did not release information about a potential suspect or suspects, and Worley noted that investigators are still in the dark about how many shooters were involved in the attack. The incident occurred shortly after the coronation of Mister & Miss Morgan State held at the Murphy Fine Arts Center, as students were heading to a campus ball. A sophomore from Baltimore, Konnor Crowder, said that he and his friends were waiting for the coronation to start when they suddenly saw people running away, according to the Associated Press. Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ELGIN An Elgin sex offender who attempted to travel to Canada has been arrested for allegedly having unapproved social media accounts and a phone he hadnt registered with authorities. Fayette County sheriffs deputies arrested Phillips Carl Statham, 49, on Wednesday for a parole violation and a new charge of failure to provide information to the state sex offender registry. Court records indicated Statham was sentenced to prison in 2007 on third-degree sexual abuse for incidents involving girls under age 14 in Chickasaw County. He was released on parole in August 2021. As part of his release, Statham was required to have a monitoring system on his cellphone. During an Oct. 3, 2023, appointment with his parole officer, authorities found a phone he hadnt declared on his registration and discovered TikTok, Facebook and SnapChat social media accounts that were registered. He had also searched for sexual content on the phone as well as information about fairs and carnivals near West Union in July and events in other communities. Officials also determined Statham had attempted to travel to Canada in April 2023 but was denied entry at the border. WATERLOO One person has been arrested in connection with a shooting that sent one person to the hospital last week. Waterloo police arrested Quatez Tyzaye Hill-Watson, 18, on Friday on two counts each of intimidation with a weapon and reckless use of a firearm causing damage and injury. The shooting happened at about 2 p.m. Oct. 3 near Falls Avenue. Witnesses said Hill-Watson was wearing a ski mask when he began shooting at someone from an alley. One of the bullets struck a vehicle parked at Metro Mart, 2332 Falls Ave., and debris hit the leg of a teenage girl inside the vehicle. Paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took her to a hospital for treatment. Investigator said she wasnt the intended target. Bullets also struck the Falls Plaza office building at 2315 Falls Ave., according to court records. Police found several spent shell casings and identified Hill-Watson through nearby surveillance videos. Officers with the departments Tactical Unit executed a search warrant on his home Friday. Court records show that Hill-Watson also awaits trial after a Jan. 6 search at his home at 724 Vinton St. were officers with the Violent Crime Apprehension Team found marijuana, a stolen 9 mm Glock handgun and a .223-caliber MCF Custom AR-15 pistol with a scratched-off serial number. Small cities and towns are getting safer, while violent crime in large cities is on the rise Small cities and towns are getting safer, while violent crime in large cities is on the rise 7 of the 10 safest small cities are in the Northeast Are small cities and towns safer than big cities? Briefing by Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov on the U.S. military-biological activity Full text Russian Defence Ministry *** Under the pretence of support to develop national healthcare systems efforts on countering bioterrorism and proliferation of biological weapon threats many states got in the sphere of U.S. military interests Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: As we pointed out before, under the pretence of support to develop national healthcare systems efforts on countering bioterrorism and proliferation of biological weapon threats many states got in the sphere of U.S. military interests. Moreover, the U.S. Department of State takes part in bioprogrammes at the territory of a number of states. The Russian Defence Ministry presented documents, which prove direct involvement of U.S. State Department in so-called Biosecurity Engagement Programm launched by ex U.S. president Barak Obama. In priorities of these programmes Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African states, as well as Ukraine, were listed among others. To cover up clients and goals of conducted research Washington involves third-party contractors. These include contractors and intermediary organisations (Metabiota, CH2M Hill, EcoHealth Alliance, and more than 20 companies). Non-profit and non-governmental organizations are used as a cover up to conceal U.S. Department of State involvement. According to acquired documents, in one year alone, sums were allocated to ensure the participation of at least eighty contractors. Russian Defence Ministry *** Foreign media react to information about U.S. biological-military activities Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: The documents published by the Russian Defence Ministry drew attention of foreign media. A number of news organisations highlighted the key role of Ukraine in Pentagons military biological programmes. Thus, in the publication of the Greek publication BankingNews it is noted that Ukraine occupies a central position and represents an area of special geographical interest in the bioprogramme of the U.S. State Department. Barack Obamas involvement in the promotion of U.S. military biological programmes abroad was reported by the Romanian information resource Flax-24. The publication noted that the U.S. president has been promoting the military biological programme at the stage of the State Departments involvement in this activity. A number of media outlets in the Middle East region (Lebanon, Yemen, Syria) published materials about the unjustified expansion of the network of U.S. biological laboratories abroad. At the same time, the Lebanese edition An-Nahar noted that the geographical priorities of the United States in the Middle East are Iraq, Yemen and Jordan, drawing attention to the clandestine nature of the United States military-biological activities. Chinese experts, commenting on the briefing on the discovery of a clandestine bio-lab in Ridley, California, noted that: the United States lacks proper control over the results of its dual-use research and development. Russian Defence Ministry *** U.S. launches an investigation into Prestige Biotech, a company whose data was made public by Russia Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: I would like to point out that following the publication by the Russian Federation of data on illegal biological experiments at the California laboratory, the United States administration initiated an investigation procedure. Three committees of the United States Congress at once began to examine the activities of Prestige Biotech, which had rented the premises where the federally prohibited research was carried out. The local administration attempted to place responsibility for the organisation of the bio-lab to China, but no conclusive evidence was provided. According to the information available to us, Prestige Biotech is registered in the State of Nevada, and allegedly by accident the bio-lab that was the subject of the investigation is located in close proximity to the U.S. Navy base in Kings County. Earlier we gave a scheme of organisation of military biological activities in the U.S., in which the Navy plays the role of one of the main clients and coordinators of research. According to available documents, Prestige Biotech purchased more than 20 titles of pathogenic microorganisms, laboratory equipment and animals for undeclared purposes. This is confirmed by the materials of an independent investigation conducted by the American human rights organisation Judicial Watch. The documents obtained by the aforementioned NGO prove the presence of dangerous biomaterials at the facility and their improper storage, as well as gross violation of sanitary norms in the handling of laboratory animals. The clandestine nature of the work is evidenced by the fact that the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services refused to provide information about the laboratorys activities, and representatives of these agencies were summoned to the U.S. Congress to provide confidential information. Russian Defence Ministry *** Pentagon intends to create a closed journal on biological defence Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: We have repeatedly emphasised the involvement of U.S. security agencies such as the FBI and the CIA in dual-use research and Washingtons desire to cover up the results of these efforts. Note the document on establishing a journal of classified publications on chemical and biological defence by Morgan Minyard of the U.S. Department of Defenses Directorate of Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). The Pentagon official proposes the establishment of an editorial committee that would clean up for publication of scientific papers of interest to the U.S. intelligence community, as well as classify dual-use papers that: could cause irreparable damage to national security and accumulate them in a separate repository with limited access. Examples of studies that will be recorded into the database include experiments to increase the lethality of mouse smallpox virus and the identification of the genetic sequence encoding a new type of botulinum toxin. It is noted that the use of the classified journal will allow the U.S. Government to maximise the deployment of chemical and biological research, and to engage with identified contractors and partners. Such censorship of publications indicates Washingtons willingness to avoid publicising results that contradict U.S. international obligations in the field of chemical and biological weapons. Russian Defence Ministry *** The Russian Defence Ministry has information about the creation of a secret U.S. Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: The Russian Defence Ministry has information about the development in the United States of a secret Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. The open (unclassified) part of the document was published on 27 September 2023. It specifies the provisions of the National Defence Strategy in the area of responding to WMD-related threats to national security. The Pentagon estimates that the Russian Federation, China, Iran, and the DPRK view weapons of mass destruction as a means of limiting the United States capability to achieve strategic objectives in wars and military conflicts. According to the Strategy, Russia is described as a source of acute threat to U.S. security in the medium to long term. The Peoples Republic of China is identified as a growing threat. It is stressed that Beijing has recently made significant progress in modernising its strategic nuclear forces. The DPRK and Iran are identified as persistent threats. According to the plan of the people involved, the priority areas of the U.S. Department of Defense activity are: ensuring the defence of the states territory against external aggression using WMD; unconditional deterrence of potential adversaries from using WMD against the U.S. and its allies; establishment of combined units capable of effectively fighting and winning in conditions of CBRN contamination. At the same time, the Strategy seeks to coordinate and increase efforts to develop means of defence against emerging chemical and biological threats. Thus, by abandoning work on a verification protocol within the BWC, the United States is creating administrative and technical bodies that can be involved in dual-use research, including for offensive purposes. Russian Defence Ministry *** Disease situation in areas where U.S. biosites are located is causing many African governments to take a different view of the need for and appropriateness of cooperation with U.S. Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: I would like to point out that Russian efforts to expose illegal U.S. military biological activities and the deteriorating epidemic situation near biosites in the European region have forced the U.S. Administration to withdraw dual-use research to countries in Africa. The documents at our disposal confirm the activities of key Pentagon contractors on the African continent in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Uganda and South Africa. Customers on the part of the U.S. Government are DTRA, the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of State. We previously spoke about unauthorised sample gathering by employees of Metabiota, a key Pentagon contractor, during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The companys nontransparent practices immediately raised questions from the World Health Organisation. As a result of the illegal export of samples, live samples of the Ebola virus ended up at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infections. Predictable deterioration of the disease situation near American biosites is forcing the governments of many African States to take another look at the necessity and expediency of co-operation with the United States. For example, in 2022, Metabiota operations in Africa were terminated because the companys illegal practices raised too many questions at the level of national governments. Russian Defence Ministry *** U.S. biocontrol activity is accompanied by substitution of BWC provisions Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: The U.S. activities to establish global biological control are accompanied by the substitution of the BWC provisions and other norms of international legislation with its own rules, which are developed in American interests, supported by the collective West and imposed on third countries for implementation. This can be traced in the work at specialised international platforms, when Western delegations pushed through decision-making only on issues of interest to them, without any regard for the priorities of other states. At the same time, attention is deliberately shifted to the consideration of secondary issues not directly related to the problems of non-proliferation of biological weapons, for example, such as the creation of all kinds of databases, ensuring gender equality, participation in BWC activities by youth organisations, etc. Let me remind you that the Russian Federation has proposed a number of initiatives to strengthen the biological weapons non-proliferation regime and to improve confidence-building measures within the framework of the Convention. Above all, that includes resumption of negotiations to develop a legally binding comprehensive protocol to the BWC with an effective verification mechanism involving lists of pathogens, toxins, specialised equipment. The second is the expansion of the confidence-building measures format by providing information on biological defence research and development performed outside national jurisdiction. The third is the establishment of the Scientific Advisory Committee to evaluate advances in science and technology with geographical representation and equal rights of participants. The fourth is the use of mobile bio-medical teams within the BWC. Practical implementation of our proposals will facilitate the increase the national biological programmes transparency and compliance with the requirements of the Convention by all States Parties without exception, including the USA. Russian Defence Ministry *** Number of questions about U.S. and Ukrainian bio-military activities grows Chief of Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov: The Russian Defence Ministry has already given the names of participants in U.S. military biological warfare programmes. They include officials from the biotechnology corporations and the Pentagon contractors related to U.S. Department of Defense. Today we would like to complete this list with representatives of U.S. and Ukrainian government agencies and private companies involved in the implementation of dual-use research. Thomas Wohl Vice President and official representative of Black & Veatch in Ukraine, supervised the implementation of the electronic PAX system for the management and control of biological agents and materials. Kevin Olival Vice President of Research for contractor EcoHealth Alliance and has been directly involved in the U.S. Department of Defense projects on zoonotic diseases transmitted by bats. Mikhail Usaty Deputy Head of Sanitary and Epidemiological Department of the AFU, since 2018 supervised the organisation of works within the framework of DTRA projects on the territory of Ukraine. Tatyana Kiryazova Executive Director of the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy. She supervised U.S. joint pathogen research at the Ukrainian Mechnikov Anti-Plague Research Institute in Odessa. The information provided on the people involved in military biological activities will be passed on to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Thus, questions to the U.S. and Ukraines biological-military activities remain unanswered and its number increases. Since the Russian side convened a consultative meeting on Article 5 of the BWC, the questions that could settle the situation still remain unanswered. We will continue to analyse incoming documents and keep you informed. Russian Defence Ministry *** WtR Chippewa County District 14 Supervisor Rob Teuteberg is using his Facebook page to call for the resignation of Chippewa County Sheriff Travis Hakes. Teuteberg represents Lake Hallie on the county board and is a former Chippewa Falls police officer. Teuteberg, who said he voted for Hakes in the November election that brought him to office, made the statement Saturday on his Facebook page. It was the second statement about Hakes that Teuteberg released on his Facebook page in the past week. In both posts, Teuteberg called for Hakes resignation. Teuteberg also denied claims from Hakes that the investigation is politically motivated. Teuteberg wrote that he was issuing a formal call for Sheriff Hakes to resign and save both himself and Chippewa County the financial and emotional distress of this difficult process. The countys investigation into Hakes began with allegations of sexual harassment of a subordinate in May. The investigation expanded as concerns about other unprofessional conduct came to light. According to an investigation report released last week, the Chippewa County Board is concerned about Hakes' honesty, leadership, competence, training compliance, absenteeism, handling of confidential information, conflicts of interest and impropriety on the job. Teuteberg said the investigation into Hakes is not criminal in nature. At no point has the Chippewa County Board of Supervisors accused sheriff Hakes of a crime. Just as we all do, sheriff Hakes benefits from the presumption of innocence and the information developed over the course of this investigation was referred (to) the Chippewa County District Attorney for review, Teuteberg said. "The district attorney alone has the final say as to whether or not his actions rise to the level of criminality." Teuteberg said the investigation was over violations of internal policies. "In these matters, should a complaint of this nature be brought to the administration, the employer is legally-bound to take action," he stated in the post. "There is no formal document presented to the person who is the focus of the complaint. There is no right to confront ones accuser. There is no right to an attorney. Teuteberg said that Hakes, a former administrator and chief of police, is aware of the difference between a criminal prosecution and an internal policy investigation. He is maliciously choosing to conflate these two processes in the hopes of confusing the people who may be unfamiliar with them, Teuteberg said. Hakes has said the issues between him and the board were politically motivated by some members of the county administration and its board. Teuteberg said the sheriff made the incendiary claim that the board of supervisors and Chippewa County administrators had acted with political motivation. And he continues to do so, with his near-daily social media statements and media interviews, Teuteberg said on Facebook. Sheriff Hakes has chosen to cloud the issue of his malfeasance with false claims of political motivation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hakes claimed he was not given a chance to defend himself in the investigatory process nor to see documentation about the initial complaint filed against him. Sheriff Hakes response to all of this has been not to deny his actions, but to fictitiously claim that the county board of supervisors and Chippewa County administration are politically motivated, Teuteberg said. I am asking that Sheriff Hakes cease his political grandstanding and the painting of this matter in a partisan light, unless he is able to produce factual information proving there is political motivation from any of the involved parties. Teuteberg, whose role as a county board supervisor is nonpartisan, also stated he has made his personal political leanings clear to voters, leanings which I share with the sheriff. Hakes ran as a Republican, beating out Democratic candidate Chris Kowalcyzk for the position in the November 2022 election. I voted for sheriff Hakes in the past election, Teuteberg said. Teuteberg criticized Hakes' responses to the investigation, saying that Hakes has not admitted to his actions and should know that they go against departmental and county policy. Hakes has said the claims made in the investigation report are unfounded and that the scope of the investigation exceeded the Chippewa County's Board's authority for oversight of an elected official. The Chippewa County Board will next discuss its investigation into Hakes at its meeting Tuesday. A 61-year-old Houston woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle she was a passenger in collided with a tractor Friday afternoon in the township of Houston. Lois Elaine Doty was a passenger in a 2000 Dodge Dakota that was traveling eastbound on Highway 16 at Redding Road at about 3:20 p.m. when the Dodge collided with a John Deere tractor also traveling eastbound, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Doty, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, was treated for injuries at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse. The driver of the Dodge, Douglas Alan Sanders, 61, of Houston, and the driver of the tractor, K-Larae Rose Christensen, 19, of Winona, were not injured in the crash. The road conditions were noted as wet at the time of the crash. The Houston County Sheriff's Office, Houston Police Department, Houston Fire Department and Houston ambulance assisted with the accident. As Michelle Francis leaned on a pillow off the side of a hospital bed, a doctor injected a new drug through a long needle into the fluid around her spine. I dont know if it will help me and my generation, said Francis, 52, a mother of two and grandmother of three who has a rare, hereditary form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. But Im sure its going to help other generations, she said. Theres been nothing like this before, to target this particular mutation in ALS. Francis, whose ALS has been traced back seven generations in her family over nearly 200 years, is the first person to get the drug tofersen, approved in April at UW Health. Its for the 2% of the roughly 30,000 people with ALS in the United States whose disease is associated with inherited mutations in a gene called SOD1. The drug is also available at Froedtert Hospital near Milwaukee. ALS, a nervous system disease that gradually weakens muscles and impedes breathing, typically strikes between age 40 and 70 and is fatal within two to five years. People with some SOD1 mutations often are diagnosed earlier and die sooner, according to the ALS Association. The Food and Drug Administration gave conditional approval to tofersen, marketed as Qalsody, even though the drug didnt significantly slow the progression of the disease in a clinical trial over 28 weeks. Patients taking the drug had a 55% reduction in neurofilament light, or NfL, a blood-based marker linked to nerve cell damage, compared with a 12% increase in those given a fake treatment. Levels of SOD1 protein dropped 35% in the spinal fluid of patients on the drug, compared with a 2% decrease in those on a placebo, said the drugs maker, Biogen. Only three other ALS medications are on the market, none of which have greatly slowed the disease or dramatically extended survival. The FDA fast-tracked tofersen as the first drug for familial ALS based on the drop in NfL. The findings are reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit in patients, the agency said. In late September, an FDA advisory panel voted 17-1 against another experimental treatment for ALS, citing insufficient evidence, despite some patients and family members saying the drug had helped. Dr. Collin Kreple, a UW Health neurologist who delivered Francis tofersen injection in September, said it may take longer than the short period of the drugs clinical trial to reveal its clinical effectiveness. Another study has started in people with SOD1 mutations who dont have symptoms yet. I wanted to provide hope for these people with this terrible illness, Kreple said. This may bring other treatments that are perhaps more effective. Cost of treatment Tofersen costs $14,230 a dose, a Biogen spokesperson said. After three initial doses every two weeks, it is given every four weeks. That makes it more expensive than the annual list price of $158,000 for Relyvrio, an ALS drug approved last year. The Boston-based Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, which studies the cost and benefits of medical treatments, said a reasonable annual price for Relyvrio would be $9,100 to $30,700. The nonprofit has not analyzed tofersen, a spokesperson said. Kreple, who was involved in the clinical trial of tofersen at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis before coming to UW Health last year, said its hard to assess the value of the drug. Hope is necessary for managing ALS and for studying it, he said. I have a hard time saying its not worth it. A familial disease Francis, of Rockford, Illinois, is on Medicare and said she hasnt seen a bill after getting seven injections of tofersen at UW Hospital since April. She was told she wont have to pay more than $6,000 a year out of pocket, and a grant she got from the Maryland-based HealthWell Foundation should cover that this year. As a child, Francis knew ALS ran in her family. Her grandfather died from it at age 49. When her mother developed ALS, Francis helped her father take care of her. Her mother died from the disease at 45, when Francis was 29. At least 65 members of her extended family have had ALS, including eight today, Francis said. Most including her mother and younger brother, her only sibling started showing symptoms in their early 30s. With a relatively slow-progressing mutation of SOD1, theyve typically lived eight to 10 years, though the duration has ranged from six months to 20 years. Francis knew she had a 50% chance of getting ALS but didnt get tested for the SOD1 gene, identified as a cause of ALS about 30 years ago. As she entered her mid-40s with no symptoms, I thought I was in the clear, she said. Then she developed muscle cramps in her legs, which she initially attributed to new shoes. Her doctor told her to walk a straight line, which she couldnt do. Soon, a nerve stimulation test led to a diagnosis of ALS in 2019, when she was 48. A genetic test confirmed the SOD1 mutation. 'There's something better' Francis thought of her children, a daughter who is 25 and a son who is 34 and has three children, including two in the family bloodline. What if I gave this to him, and he could give it to his kids? she said. That was the guilt. Her children, who each have a 50% chance of carrying the mutation, havent been tested. Her daughter has become her primary caregiver. Francis uses a wheelchair because of weakness in her legs, but her voice is unaffected and she can use her arms, though they sometimes develop cramps. Before going on disability in March 2022, she worked in communications for Rosecrance, a mental health and substance treatment provider in Rockford. She hopes the spinal taps she undergoes to receive tofersen stave off progression of the disease. She also hopes shes setting an example for her children and grandchildren, should they get ALS: Theres something you can do about it. Now, if my kids, or anyone, develops it, I can say, Theres something better, she said. I never thought there would be anything for our family. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley slammed Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his remarks related to the $6 billion released funds supporting the Hamas attack on Israel. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling him "irresponsible" for not laying the blame on Iran for the deadly Hamas terrorist attack in Israel that has left hundreds dead. The GOP lawmaker's remarks referenced the $6 billion in funds that were recently freed for Iran as part of a prisoner swap deal with the United States. The former South Carolina governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations made the comments during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press." Nikki Haley Criticizes Antony Blinken She responded to Blinken's previous comments that the $6 billion fund could not have contributed to terrorism and that the U.S. has "yet to see evidence" that Iran supported the assault on Israel. Haley said that both Hamas and Iran know that they are moving money around because they know for a fact that $6 billion is going to be released soon. Blinken previously said that it was very unfortunate that some people were playing politics during a time when so many lives have been lost amid continued attacks, as per Fox News. The secretary of state added that the billions of dollars in funds from that account could only be used for medical supplies, food, and medicine. However, Haley claimed that it was ignorant to believe that the money could not be moved around and used for other means. So far, the Hamas attacks have killed more than 600 Israelis and injured at least 2,000 others as fighters from both sides continue to battle on Sunday. The Republican presidential candidate also laid blame on United States President Joe Biden's administration and its foreign policy in the Middle East. She noted that it was wrong to go and have that "debacle in Afghanistan" and that it was a mistake to waive sanctions on Iran that gave them even more funding. Haley argued that money has continued to flow into Iran and that this was the problem because she claimed that when Iran gets money, it uses it for hate. Read Also: Readout of US Central Command's Press Release on the donation of Iran's seized weapons Hamas Attack on Israel On Saturday, candidates for the GOP's 2024 nomination started pointing fingers at the Biden administration for the deadly attack on Israel. Many of them have insinuated, without evidence, that the assault was funded by the $6 billion funds that the U.S. freed for Iran, according to NBC News. Haley also claimed that during her time as the U.S. ambassador to the UN, she went to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and heard that funds that the Obama administration authorized for Iran were sent to militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that the recent terrorism is being funded by Biden's release of the $6 billion fund to Iran. He added that the Hamas war against Israel is now the second war that has been started under the Demorcrat's failed presidency. Additionally, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that while the money cannot be used for terrorism, he said that money is fungible. He said that the funds empowered some "really, really bad people," said the New York Post. Related Article: The World in Shock: Global Leaders React to Gaza's Attack in Southern Israel @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he is grateful for a stronger statement from China condemning the deadly Hamas attack on Israel issued during his visit to Beijing that included a lengthy meeting with President Xi Jinping. Schumer had earlier said he was disappointed by Chinas failure to strongly condemn the attack. Schumer led a delegation of six senators to China this week for talks aimed at stabilizing ties following a sharp deterioration over trade and other issues. The delegation, which included three Democrats and three Republicans, was the first visit by U.S. lawmakers since 2019 and came at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijings rise as a global power. She hasnt been seen since Saturday when she left her home to go to the Greater Nevada Credit Union on Los Altos Parkway. Driving around after a hurricane with 10 dogs and 17 cats in the back of a rental van has its challenges, especially when youre the guy whos allergic to cats. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, my then-girlfriend, Susan, and I were doing hurricane rescue missions, transporting animals from an overwhelmed shelter in North Carolina to a humane society in Georgia. A mile from the shelter, a bridge was underwater, so we made a six-hour detour there and back, eventually arriving in Georgia at 5 in the morning. I didnt always rescue animals. When I got out of the Army, I started a cellphone company, which morphed into an internet company, and later I built mobile apps. You make money, you lose money, but at the end of the day, nobody cares. Somebody was always unhappy, and often it was me. I felt like I had to do something more important with my life, so in my early 50s, I started Florida Urgent Rescue, a nonprofit animal rescue. I figured wed help three or four shelter dogs a month that were on death row and find them foster homes. That turned into thousands of rescues, including some of the toughest cases. One example was a dog named Maverick, who came in from the Bahamas with three broken legs and a fractured hip. After surgery and countless rehab visits, hes recovered and adopted. I feel like this is the most important thing Ive done since I got out of the Army. AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now With our team of volunteers and foster families, F.U.R. has rescued animals in 13 natural disasters. Last year, we made three trips to Ukraine, working with partners around the world to save 96 dogs and 34 cats. We also reunited people with their pets and helped refugee families evacuating with pets. When the Russians invaded, most shelters and veterinary offices shut down. Some dogs we saw were locked up, with no food for weeks. One seriously injured older dog was in such bad shape I knew he wouldnt survive the trip, and, sadly, he didnt. But at least we fed him and made him comfortable in the end. F.U.R. hunting for pets in Turkey. Courtesy Michael Merrill Rescuing animals after the Turkey earthquake in February was a little different. Many people werent allowed back into their homes, so theyd post pictures of their missing pets on the Telegram app. Wed go through the crumbling buildings and trap the cats. I cant tell you how happy these folks were when we called to say, We got em. Susan and I got married in 2021. She knows how meaningful this work is for me. We actually got married twice: once in a big ceremony for family and friends and once with just us, our daughter and four of our dogs. Michael Merrill, 61, is a former U.S. Army captain and tech-company entrepreneur. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida. Perhaps its because your grandchildren are two generations behind you that they also seem to always be two giant steps behind financially. Theyre not. But that doesnt mean they dont need monetary help from grandma and grandpa every now and then. In the end, its up to you how much of your retirement savings is for them to use or not. But how to make those decisions? AARP Membership Join AARP for $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. Join Now Should you help pay for their college? For their new cars? For their new homes? And what about all their birthdays and holidays should you be parting with your money for those, too? What if your grandchild specifically asks you for money? Or what if they dont ever ask, but you see they could use it? AARP asked certified financial planners whats reasonable and whats not when it comes to your grandchildren and your money. One overarching response from all of them: Watch your own financial back before doling out money to your grandchildren. Grandparents should be very careful about giving away any money that will affect their ability to maintain their current lifestyle during retirement, says Mitchell Kraus, a certified financial planner in Santa Monica, California. Here are 10 of the most commonly asked questions that financial planners say they hear from grandparents about how to financially assist their grandchildren. Some of their answers might surprise you. 1. Should I offer to help pay for my grandkids college costs? In a word: Yes. In seven words: Only if you have the financial wherewithal. College costs are exorbitant and many students leave college with such enormous debt on their student loans that it stops them from taking other important steps into adulthood, such as purchasing a home, says Kraus. So, he suggests that helping to pay for their college expenses or to help pay down their student loans is one of the most impactful things a grandparent can do. Many grandparents do this by regularly contributing to college 529 plans. If you put the 529 in your own name it might give you more control, but if you put it in the grandkids name, it might simplify things a bit and give your own children better ability to keep track of it. For students seeking more financial aid, it can be advantageous for the 529 to be kept in the grandparents name, he says. 2. Should I offer to help pay for my grandchilds home loan? In a word: Maybe. If you do this, do so very carefully with your eyes wide open. For his part, Kraus discourages grandparents from making substantial contributions to their grandchildrens homes because it can get very expensive over time. You have to be prepared to treat all grandchildren the same as far as housing payments are concerned and most dont have enough to do this for all of their grandkids, says Kraus. Think twice, because your financial assistance may unintentionally be steering your grandchild to purchase more house than they can actually afford, warns Michael Whitty, a certified financial planner in Chicago. That said, most grandparents were raised to believe that owning a home is very important, so helping with a grandkids down payment or assisting with the home loan can be extremely satisfying, says Christopher Rand, a certified financial planner in San Diego. It reduces the probability theyll do something irresponsible with grandmas hard-earned money, like buying a Ferrari, he says. 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"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," a source told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre column. Kylie previously revealed that she was relocating to her native Australia and the chart-topping star "couldn't 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 couldn't 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, "It's not about being sexy, it's about being yourself. I'm not going down to Tesco's in thigh boots and a catsuit, but in Popland that is me. I don't 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." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Although the 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' alum quickly removed the controversial post from her Instagram Story, many people still attack her on X, formerly Twitter, with some of them thinking that 'she doesn't even know what's happening.' Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - Kylie Jenner has landed in hot water for showing support for Israel following a Hamas attack. "The Kardashians" star found herself being labeled "disgusting" by online users for sharing a pro-Israel post despite her best friends' years-long support for Palestine. Taking to Instagram Story on Saturday, October 7, the 26-year-old makeup mogul re-shared a post from the pro-Israel account @StandWithUs. It stated, "Now and always we stand with the people of Israel." The caption, meanwhile, read, "SHARE if you stand with the people of Israel as they face one of the most frightening situations in many years." Kylie has since been dragged by many people on both X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram. One in particular argued, "It's very obvious she doesn't even know what's happening. She. Just wants to join the trend." Another penned, "absolutely crazy to see kylie jenner supporting israle while her friend bella hadid has been advocating for palestine for YEARS like i'd be sick to my stomach." A third echoed the sentiment, "kylie posting this even tho her BESTFRIENDS bella & gigi hadid, haze, simi, & fai khadra are palestinians is truly disgusting." Catching wind of the backlash, Kylie quickly removed the post. Still, it doesn't stop people from attacking her on X. "Wtf @KylieJenner Everyone needs to unfollow #KylieJenner please !!!! #Palestine," one user fumed, while another raged, "It's actually way worse that Kylie Jenner just deleted the Israel post. It shows a lack of knowledge and care, she just posted it to be talked about." Contrary to Kylie, Gigi and Bella have called for a free Palestine over the years. The model sisters have been standing up for the country considering their Palestinian heritage on her father Mohamed Hadid's side. You can share this post! (Photo : Maja Hitij/Getty Images) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz' administration is facing mounting pressure as far-right parties in the country are making rapid gains in elections. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz' administration is facing mounting pressure as the country's far-right is making unprecedented gains in state elections. Elections in two states are seen as a bellwether of the national mood as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged as three parties that make up the nation's federal coalition government suffered significant losses. Germany Experiencing a Far-Right Surge In both the states of Bavaria and Hesse, conservative forces won clear victories against their rivals. In the former, the Christian Social Union (CSU), which is a sister party to the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is projected to win 36.6% of the vote. This is slightly lower than the party's result in the last state election that was held in 2018. However, the biggest winner of the elections was arguably the AfD, which is a party that has become increasingly extreme since it was founded in 2013. The party is projected to come in second place in both Bavaria and Hesse, which would mark a historic win for it, as per Politico. The strong performance of the far-right party outside of its traditional bastion in the states of the former East Germany suggests that it has successfully expanded its base of support. The latest development has already prompted a renewed flurry of soul-searching among German leaders of mainstream parties. In a statement on public television, a co-leader of the Greens, Ricarda Lang, said that the increased performance of the AfD will only lead to worry for every Democrat in the country. She said that she is hopeful that they can move away from finger-pointing and have every Democratic party consider what they can now do to make the election results look different in the future. The three parties that make up Scholz' ruling coalition in both Bavaria and Hesse, the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), all experienced a drop in support. Read Also: Ukraine Could Potentially Join the EU as Accession Negotiations May Start in December Olaf Scholz' Administration The recent elections followed a campaign marked by discontent with persistent squabbling in the national government as well as pressure to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the country. The national interior minister, Nancy Faeser, suffered a heavy defeat in a difficult bid to become governor of her home state, according to the Associated Press. There are roughly 9.4 million people who were eligible to vote for the new state legislature in Bavaria and less than half of that, 4.3 million, in neighboring Hesse. The latter is a region that includes Germany's financial capital, Frankfurt. Boris Rhein, Hesser's conservative governor, was challenged by both his current Green deputy and by the Social Democrats' candidate, Faeser. However, neither of the two came anywhere near loosening the CDU's 24-year-old hold on the position. Analysts argued that the situation would further stoke tensions in a coalition that has already struggled to find common ground. Scholz has previously faced accusations of failing to show the leadership that is needed in the country to impose order and tackle crises, including the war in Ukraine to the green transition, said Reuters. Related Article: Hungary, Poland Defy European Union's Planned Migration Reform, Threatens To Derail Granada Summit @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Instagram Celebrity The celebrity chef, who was known for hosting 'Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello' for 10 seasons since 2003, died at a California hospital after being treated for an acute allergic reaction for the past week. Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello has sadly passed away at the age of 61. The former star of Food Network died at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, where he had been treated for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock. Confirming Michael's death was his company, Gruppo Chiarello. "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael. His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being," it read. "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," the message added. "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." The California native was known for hosting "Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello" for 10 seasons since 2003. The Food Network series won three Emmys between 2003 and 2006. In addition, Michael appeared on other cooking series like "Top Chef", "Top Chef Masters", "The Next Iron Chef", "Iron Chef America" as well as "Supermarket Superstar". He also made appearances as a guest chef on "The Today Show", "Regis & Kathy", "The View" and "CBS Early Show". Graduated from the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York in 1982, Michael was named Food & Wine Magazine's Chef of the Year in 1985. He was also named Chef of the Year by his alma mater in 1995. Michael's first restaurant, Tra Vigne, was first opened in 1986 in Napa Valley. Throughout the years, the late chef had developed and opened more than 10 restaurants in the Northern California region. Michael had also written eight cookbooks since 1995. You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye's Vision Celebrity When opening up about her relationship, the '500 Days of Summer' leading lady says her and her fiance's 'personalities are so compatible' although they come 'from different worlds.' Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - Zooey Deschanel believes that Jonathan Scott is such a perfect partner for her. The "New Girl" alum, who recently got engaged to the Canadian TV personality, claimed that they're so "compatible." "Our personalities are so compatible," the 43-year-old brunette beauty told PEOPLE. "It's just that we're from different worlds. We identify as nerds, we'll have you know." Despite this, Zooey feared that Jonathan was ghosting her at one point in time. "We talked or texted every single day, I think, and still have every day since we've met, except for the [time] I went up on a packed trip up into the middle of the Rocky Mountains, where there was no cell service," he recalled. "She thought I was just blowing her off because I didn't respond for, what, three days or something." Zooey and Jonathan celebrated their first anniversary amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The actress took to social media in 2020 to hail the TV star, describing Jonathan as the most "kind, caring, hilarious, generous, creative, nerdy, handsome and all around incredible human." She said on Instagram at the time, "I am so grateful for every smile, kiss, hug, snuggle, laugh, scrabble game, escape room, breakfast, lunch and dinner we share together." She went on to rave, "Even during the weirdest year for humanity I want a million billion more with you." The loved-up couple is currently preparing for their wedding, and a source recently revealed that they "can't wait to spend the rest of their lives together." The insider explained to Us Weekly: "They've been inseparable since they started dating and they connect on so many levels." "Before they got engaged, they had discussed marriage in great lengths," the insider continued. "But as far as wedding planning, they haven't begun that phase yet. They're still celebrating their engagement and enjoying each moment as it comes." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The former 'Rob and Chyna' star takes to her Instagram account to share a video of her and her mom happily dancing together while celebrating Toni's milestone. Oct 9, 2023 AceShowbiz - Blac Chyna and her mom Tokyo Toni continue to show love for each other after they made amends. The former "Rob & Chyna" star took to her Instagram account to celebrate her mom's birthday together. In the Sunday, October 8 post, the mom of two shared a video of her and Tokyo dancing together at Toni's birthday bash. The clip started with the birthday lady coming down the stairs in a black gown. Chyna followed her behind, doing a little skip on her step. She then joined in her mom, dancing to the music while other guests were cheering for the mom and daughter duo. "I had to pop up on my mama @queen_tokyotoni Happy Birthday. I love you so much," the video vixen wrote in the caption. Upon watching the clip, fans were happy for them. "They go through it.. but they really, really love each other. It's tragic and beautiful at the same damn time," one Instagram user wrote in an Instagram comment. "Yesss keep showing up & supporting each other love to see it," someone else added. Another noted, "You can tell that all she ever wanted was a relationship with her momma." Someone also hoped that "this bond last forever." After feuding for years, Chyna and Toni reconciled earlier this year. Last month, the OnlyFans model shared on Instagram some pictures of her receiving a kiss and a huge number 1 balloon from her mother as she celebrated 1 year of sobriety. In the snap, she was holding a bouquet of pink and purple flowers in her hands. "September 14 , 2023 marks my one-year of sobriety this year taught me a lot about myself. I made up my mind on September 14, 2022 that I was done with the alcohol. This process is not easy but I did it, I plan on continuing practicing sobriety," the mom of two wrote. She added, "I want to thank everybody that has been supporting me with this part of my journey [red and pink hearts emoji]. Angela White is unstoppable, smart, beautiful, brave, a great mother, and a great friend. I'm hoping that when you see this, this will inspire you. "If you are struggling with any addiction, just know that you can do it and you are worth it. God loves you. Its so many different apps, and groups that can help you with this journey, and you're not alone. I love you. ~ Angela White [red heart and hands folded together emojis]. P.S ( I couldn't wait to get this 1 year balloon) @queen_tokyotoni," she concluded. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The former 'The Hulk' star insists his wife's welfare remains his main 'priority' after he's accused of cheating, blocking her from her money, and emotionally abusing her. Oct 10, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lou Ferrigno has claimed his wife Carla's welfare is his top "priority" after she accused him of trapping her in an emotionally abusive marriage following her dementia diagnosis. The couple have been entangled in a messy legal spat in recent weeks as Carla Ferrigno, 74, is seeking a divorce from "The Hulk" star and has accused him of mistreating her in a series of court filings - claiming he cut off her access to their joint finances, isolated her from family members, and intimidated her when she accused him of having an affair. "Lou's priority remains his wife's welfare ... 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," the former bodybuilder's attorney Vatche Zetjian told DailyMail.com as the actor is hoping for an amicable resolution to the dispute. Carla previously made a series of allegations against her husband in a signed declaration filed at a court in San Luis Obispo County, California - accusing him of abusing and intimidating her. She said, "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 size - he will remind everyone that he is the Hulk - compared to my slight stature, to scare and control me into submission." "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." Carla also claims her husband has been frustrated by her health issues after she was diagnosed with dementia. In one of the filings, she added, "His own frustration with that fact [the dementia diagnosis] and my ageing in a way that prevents me from keeping up with him, has led to him being abusive of me in many ways." "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. I know that I want a divorce and that Lou is trying to stop that by isolating me from other family members." Lou previously sued the couple's daughter Shanna, 42, accusing her of "financially exploiting" Carla by taking advantage of her ill health to gain access to her money. He alleged Shanna - along with Carla's sister Pam Vog - have been turning her against him because she is "easily manipulated and influenced" because of her dementia. In his court papers - obtained by The Blast - Lou's attorney's claimed, "[Carla] has been isolated from her husband Lou, and has been unduly influenced into villainising Lou and acting hostile towards Lou. These emotional and psychological tactics are elder abuse, harmful to Carla, and are probably progressing her already advanced dementia." You can share this post! ACC, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Group, launches its latest campaign that embodies its legacy of trust & durability. The film ACC Bharosa Atoot, takes viewers on an enchanting journey that beautifully captures a range of emotions and experiences, with trust as the cornerstone. ACCs latest campaign honors and acknowledges the dedication and sacrifices made by our armed forces. The storyline, rich in symbolism, begins with an evocative scene of an airplane's shadow touching down gracefully on an airstrip. It's a metaphorical homecoming, a return to trust. Following this, we see an army, the embodiment of resilience and dedication, marching forward. Their unity is captured in a simple yet profound moment when two hands meet in a handshake a silent declaration of the trust soldiers place in each other, which is emphasised by the words Bharosa Lagta Hai.The narrative takes a tender turn as we see an army man returning to his family. The air is thick with anticipation until joy shines from a young girl's eyes, seeing her father. As she rushes to envelop him in a hug, the scene encapsulates the pure, unadulterated bond between a father and daughter. A mother looks on, her eyes reflecting a mix of pride and emotion, her smile capturing the essence of family and the ties that bind. Navigating through the picturesque hill road on a serene drive, the narrative captures a mother's gentle guidance steering her family home, while a reassuring touch from the father underlines their shared journey and bond symbolizing the trust of ACC. Adding another dimension to the tale, the vast expanse of a concrete bridge and dam emerges as a testament to the quality and durability synonymous with ACC. The ending is on an emotional note, culminating with the entire family coming together and leaving the simple yet powerful message - Ghar bhi bharose se banta hae. Mr. Ajay Kapur, CEO, Cement Business, said, From urban megastructures to every home, ACC has played an instrumental role both in Indias growing infrastructures and in the lives of common people. Through this film Bharosa Atoot', we would like to take people on a journey of why we build what we build. A journey to show the positive impact of our company on the lives of millions of Indians and the nation. A journey of winning the unbreakable trust of India. Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation and News18 Network, with Tata Trusts as a knowledge partner, unveiled a collaborative initiative Sanjeevani - United against cancer in an event in New Delhi. Sanjeevani seeks to combat the pervasive fears associated with cancer while emphasizing the significance of early detection as a key factor in successfully overcoming the disease. At the inaugural event of Sanjeevani, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Mansukh L Mandaviya emphasized India's commitment to affordable cancer treatment. He stated, "Out of the 90 medicines for cancer, India offers 42 at the most affordable rates. Our approach is holistic and multi-pronged - focussing on expanding cancer hospitals, and tertiary care facilities, enhancing medical education and bolstering health infrastructure through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat. This initiative will lead to discussions and deliberations. Send a note on it to us, so we can track the suggestions coming from people. Public partnership is integral to Indias health model. Share your ideas with us, so we can fight the diseases in the nation. Shyam Srinivasan, MD and CEO of Federal Bank emphasized, "Our commitment to the Sanjeevani initiative goes beyond awareness. We are dedicated to providing on-ground support to caregivers who often bear the brunt of consequent economic and physical pressure. Many caregivers, unfortunately, lack access to proper facilities, and we are keen to take concrete steps to help change this. We have initiated an employee program where our employees actively engage with local communities to spread awareness and encourage testing. Additionally, we are keen to work on AI-based solutions to simplify detection, especially in remote parts of the country, as a part of this CSR initiative. We are dedicated to this long-term mission to raise awareness, reach grassroots communities, and leverage technology for early detection in our nationwide fight against cancer." Siddharth Sharma, CEO, Tata Trusts added, We remain steadfast in our commitment to combating cancer and making quality cancer care treatment available at affordable prices. The Trusts are dedicated to shaping a healthier future, where timely screening and early detection are paramount. Through continued collaboration and a shared vision, we aim to break down social and economic barriers, making progress in our fight against cancer." Puneet Singhvi, CEO - Digital & President - Corporate Strategy at Network18 Media & Investments Ltd. states, As a responsible news network, we are unwavering in our commitment to shine a spotlight on issues of significance. Our campaign, Sanjeevani, strengthens the fight against cancer by emphasizing on the critical importance of early detection and timely tests in saving lives. Through awareness, education, and collaboration with institutions like the 'Federal Bank Hormis Memorial' and 'Tata Trusts', we aim to take this message effectively across the length and breadth of the country and underscore the value of good health and the vital role of regular health check-ups. The event witnessed the participation of prominent personalities, including Padma Shri Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director of Tata Memorial Centre, Amitabh Dube, MD of Novartis India, and esteemed oncologists such as Dr. Shyam Agarwal from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr. Vineet Talwar from Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Dr. Sharmila Pimple from Centre for Cancer Epidemiology (CCE) at Tata Memorial Centre, Dr. Harsh Mahajan of Mahajan Imaging & Labs, Dr. Vinod Raina from Fortis Healthcare, and Dr. Suversha Khanna from Dharamshila Cancer Foundation and Research Centre. In addition, the event featured inspirational figures like renowned actress Lisa Ray, cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and film director Anurag Basu, all cancer survivors themselves. During a panel discussion themed, Courage Beyond The Spotlight, Lisa, Anurag, and Yuvraj reflected on their arduous journeys of fighting and overcoming cancer. Lisa Ray recounted her multiple myeloma diagnosis and her decision to use the red carpet to raise awareness about the disease. Anurag Basu spoke about his unexpected cancer journey at the height of his career, while Yuvraj Singh discussed his initial disbelief upon receiving his cancer diagnosis and how it reshaped his perspective of life. Godrej Interio, the furniture arm of the brand Godrej & Boyce and also a constituent of the wide ranging Godrej Group, is a leading furniture brand in both institutional and home segments in India. The company began manufacturing furniture way back in 1923 with the Godrej Storewel cupboard. Godrej Interio has a 15% share of the institutional and home furniture market. It has over 56 showrooms across 20 cities in India and 800 dealer outlets all over the country. Recently, Godrej Interio has come up with its new campaign, titled Welcome to the Family, revolving around the heartwarming stories of a quintessential Indian household, as narrated by their furniture, the silent observer, which is like a part of their family. The Welcome to the Family campaign comprises five ad films showing how the family members are attached to the furniture in their homes and cannot live without them. It shows how furniture has become a fashion statement for people and at the same time unites the members of a family together and is a part of the family. In conversation with Adgully, Sumeet Bhojani, Head of Marketing Communications, Godrej Interio, said, Furniture is a focal point of interaction among families and getting the families closer. From there emerged the thought that the piece of furniture is not simply part of our homes, it is part of our family. What is the core idea and objective behind the campaign Welcome to the Family? One of the key insights that continues to emerge in our research is that consumers form a very special bond with their furniture. Over the time, a piece of furniture almost becomes like a family member participating in special moments and memories. And thats the emotion we've aimed at capturing through this Welcome to the Family series. It's like a slice-of-life take on a typical Indian family's relationship with their beloved furniture and interestingly narrated from the point of view of the furniture itself. So that is the core idea of the campaign. As far as the objectives of the campaign are concerned, there were two fold objectives. The first one was to show that some of our hero products and their features and how these features are used in everyday lives of a typical Indian family. So as a brand, our products are designed to prioritize both functionality as well as aesthetics. And the idea was to show this in a very engaging and a relatable manner. So, that was the first and the second was to build an emotional resonance with the consumers. Our target consumers are a typical Indian family that is progressive, thats modern and looks for products that are not just durable and long lasting, but come with relevant features that enrich their day to day lives. And these set of films show such life situations that the consumers can relate to with respect to the usage of their furniture. These are the two objectives that we started off the campaign with. How did this idea of humanizing furniture first come about? It has an interesting story behind it. We were having a brainstorming session with the agency on the brief itself. The brief was how do we make our demo films which are showing the features of our products more relatable, more engaging and add a layer of story. So basis our research and insights, we always knew that the furniture purchase is done keeping in mind the context of the family needs and comfort. Secondly, all important life moments, memories happen around furniture. Families interact together, they grow closer when they share furniture. For example, the families eat together at the dining table. Kids play with their grandparents sitting on the sofa. The wardrobe is used to store all sorts of things and not just clothes. So, furniture is a focal point of interaction among families and getting the families closer. From there emerged the thought that the piece of furniture is not simply part of our homes, it is part of our family. Now this gave us a crux of the idea that why don't we show the furniture like it is an actual member of the family and participating in discussions and narrating some life stories. Thats how the idea came about. Which agency has conceptualised this campaign and what are the expectations out of this campaign? Pari Studios has conceptualised and produced this campaign. The expectation from the campaign is that people are able to relate to Godrej Interio as a brand which has a certain connect with the way the Modern Indian Family is. Secondly, we want to come across as a brand which has well-designed, aesthetically pleasing furniture and comes with relevant features that are important to life context. So, in the context of the life that happens as it does with Modern Indian Family, we want people to be able to relate to that, to be able to relate to that situation and see how the furniture can add value to their lives. So, one is to build that emotional resonance with Godrej Interio as a brand that understands Indian consumers like nobody else. And second, to be able to give consumers a relatable life situation with the furniture and how the furniture and its features can add value to their lives. Those are the expectations that we have from this campaign. How is Godrej Interio leveraging technology to promote the campaign? This campaign is not like a regular ad campaign. It has five videos. It is essentially what we call as long form content, with each video of about minute-long duration. Our approach has been to use two large social media platforms Facebook and Instagram to promote this content. So, we have deployed a three pronged strategy with this. The first is to use the native targeting capabilities of both Facebook and Instagram to finally target cohorts of users on this campaign and engage with them with this kind of content. So, that uses the targeting capabilities of the two platforms very effectively. Second, we have curated a set of influencers that align with our brand values to create content which amplifies the message. We wanted the message that furniture is a member of the family and comes to life through this set of influences. Therefore, they created content around this concept. This is used to amplify the message. And third, we then needed this content with a host of community pages and used retargeting capabilities of both Facebook and Instagram to take the audience that engaged with our influencer content previously, and then target them with our videos to be able to engage with them. So, this is helping us with fine tuning our reach and engagement goals and amplifying the message for Welcome to Family. What kind of traction have you received on this campaign? The traction has been quite good. We are already live with these five videos and both the influencer set of videos as well as these videos are getting a lot of social media attention and engagement. In fact, these are some of the highest performing videos on our social handles currently. More importantly, we are seeing a very high rate of click throughs. So, weve also used these videos to be able to lead people to our website and we are seeing very high percentages of click through rates where people are looking at the video and then are becoming interested enough to go to the website and build intent to go through the product listing, to go through the product imagery. And these are typically going to be people who are in the purchase cycle. Thus, in a way weve moved a certain people from the middle funnel of intent and consideration to the bottom funnel of actually trying to evaluate purchase itself. So, in that sense it has performed very well for us. What are the other marketing activities that Godrej Interio has undertaken this year? We started the year with what a consumer offer, called the Summer Carnival, and this was our quarter one offer. This was typically run as a digital campaign on both YouTube and OTT platforms across the country, supported by print media as well. We finally targeted a set of 60+ cities using YouTube targeting capabilities as well as OTT targeting capabilities to focus this campaign on cities where we want to prioritise our sale, where our channel partners are present so that we get the most out of this campaign. This was an offer campaign that we ran in Q1, typically May and June. We also did BTL campaigns across more than 500+ offline stores that we have, the stores as well as dealer networks during this period. This included things like in-store merchandising, society, activation holdings, etc. We have amped up our social media again in Q1 with very new content formats. We have engaged with influencers to keep the engagement level high on our social media campaign. I would also like to mention we have an online blog called Godrej Interior Inspire. This blog is a brand agnostic content platform that weve created and in quarter one weve got really good traction on this blog. This puts up relevant articles on all things related to furniture, handy guides on home decor, tips for choosing furniture, tips on home decor, festive decor, etc. So, thats one platform that weve seen a lot of traction which is happening in quarter one because weve promoted it on social media and we got influencers to promote it as well. Thats the set of marketing activities that weve conducted in quarter one. How has the first half of 2023 been for Godrej Interio and what are the expansion plans and future vision? The first quarter has been quite good for us. Weve clocked an overall growth of about 15% to 20% across our categories. We are on track to expanding our e-commerce footprint to over 5,000+ pincodes this year to provide more accessibility to consumers. We are also expanding our offline presence to around 100 outlets this year in Tier 1, 2 and 3 towns. Our consumer offer has got a great response from consumers. So, weve seen an increase in walk-ins in this quarter to some of our stores. In as far as the marketing mix is concerned, I think increasingly our spends have been premediated towards the digital space. We are seeing increasing traction out there through precise geotargeting and looking at market and affinity powers. We are significantly improving our ROI every quarter on some of our marketing spends. In terms of customer experience, I think focusing on digital technology and strengthening our online presence is going to be very pivotal for companies like ours. So, weve started our journey and our website has become a pivotal point for people discovering the brand online. And not just that, we are looking at expanding the scope of the website by including blogs, by including rich content in our product listing pages. Thus, improving the quality of customer experience that the consumers get on the digital space has been a big focus for us and that has continued for us in Q1 with some of the initiatives. After the successful event last year, the second edition of CMOs Charcha - Bengaluru Chapter was held on October 6, 2023. The theme for this year was Marketers Blueprint: Embrace Automation, Inclusivity, and Sustainability. The exclusive industry event brought together forward-thinking marketers, industry experts, and thought leaders under one roof. This event serves as a platform for marketing professionals to engage in meaningful discussions, share innovative strategies, and gain insights into the ever-evolving landscape of marketing. CMOs Charcha - Bengaluru Chapter 2023 featured an insightful keynote address by Gandharv Sachdeva, Country Head - India, Thailand, Hybrid, who spoke on In-Image Advertising. Sachdeva commenced his keynote with a quick introduction about Hybrid. He said, Hybrid is an ad tech solution company. We started our operations globally around 12 years back and in India weve been there for the last 3 years and we've come up with three products, which are doing pretty well in the Indian market for the advertising industry. Elaborating on these three products, he added, The three products that we have one is our Hybrid Platform, which is our demand side platform (DSP), where we can do a lot of audience targeting and demographic targeting in all campaigns that we run programmatically. The second product is Hybe, it is a programmatic in-house platform that we are launching in India now, where we are going to help the mobile app developers. Third is Vox, which is our In Image platform. It is our in-house product, where we do In Image advertising. He went on to peak at length anout In-image advertising, saying, In-Image advertising, also referred to as image-based advertising, is a form of native advertising in which ads appear directly over an image on a web page under many formats, including display ads, editorial images or rich videos. These ads can also be video or rich media ad units that appear when users hover over or click on an image. The image is placed in the most optimal way, basically the creative is not placed on a 728x90 or a 300x250 banner. The creative is placed within the editorial image and there are different ad formats, because today when we go to a client, they ask us for an innovation and want to do something new, so this is where our product In Image advertising comes into VOX place. Highlighting some of the advantages of In-Image advertising, he said they include higher engagement, being in line with editorial content, contextually relevant, viewable and attractive. Speaking on their new product, VOX, which is an in-image network powered by AI, Sachdeva explained that VOX takes in-image ads to a new level of contextual targeting for highly relevant contact with consumers. We have integrated with the major publishers in India, right from The Times of India, Hindustan Times, One India, and all the major publishers are there with us on VOX. We have our codes implemented on them, which been approved by the editorial team. We are running ads with them contextually and are also doing image targeting. These are edited excerpts. For the complete address, please watch below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epKkeK-0Qog Pepe Jeans London celebrates its remarkable 50-year journey amidst the enchanting narrative of "I LOVE LONDON." This iconic denim lifestyle brand, born in the heart of London, proudly unveils its AW23 campaign as a heartfelt homage to its enduring London heritage. Set against the backdrop of London's iconic landmarks, this campaign endeavours to encapsulate the timeless essence of the city by seamlessly blending modernity with classic charm. In a pioneering move, the campaign introduces an internationally renowned model of Indian origin, strengthening its connection with the Indian audience. The campaign serves as a captivating window into the latest offerings from the collection, showcasing a curated selection of iconic denim pieces, each meticulously crafted from premium fabrics. In addition, it features an array of fashion-forward elements, including a colour-blocked hoodie, a double flap pockets shacket, a hooded parka jacket, yarn-dyed check shirts, and avant-garde styling that resonates with the contemporary spirit. Mr. Manish Kapoor, CEO & MD of Pepe Jeans India, shared his thoughts on the collection, stating, "This campaign embodies the essence of Pepe Jeans London, where timeless fashion harmonises with the dynamic beat of London. We are thrilled to introduce our AW23 collection, a fusion of classic denim and modern style that appeals to fashion enthusiasts from all walks of life." Our AW23 collection has something special in store for Indian consumers, as it artfully combines the iconic fashion legacy of London with the vibrant and diverse fashion landscape of India. From premium denim pieces to trendy streetwear, our collection caters to a wide range of tastes and celebrates the dynamic style sensibilities that define fashion enthusiasts in India. The AW23 collection is now available at all our exclusive stores, leading departmental stores, multi-brand outlets, top e-commerce partners, and on our website, www.pepejeans.in. The second edition of CMOs Charcha - Bengaluru Chapter 2023, held on October 6, brought together forward-thinking marketers, industry experts, and thought leaders. Presented by NewsFirst Kannada and hosted by Adgully, CMOs Charcha - Bengaluru Chapter 2023 is more than just a conference; its a celebration of the marketing industrys innovation, resilience, and adaptability. The theme this year was Marketers Blueprint: Embrace Automation, Inclusivity, and Sustainability. The theme reflects the current needs of the marketing industry, especially with the growing importance of automation and inclusivity in reaching diverse audiences. Innovation, of course, is always a key driver of success. The theme encapsulates the marketing industry's quest to adapt, connect, and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. In keeping with the theme of the event this year, a panel discussion turned the focus on Inclusivity in Marketing. Chaired by Sindhu Janardhan, Senior Creative Director, Interactive Avenues, the esteemed panellists included: Ashok Vidyasagar, Segment Leader, EY Shahbaaz Mohammed, Brand Marketing Head, cult.sport Puja Bedi, Head - Brand Marketing, WOW Skin Science Vikas Bansi, Business Head, OTC, Himalaya Wellness Company Sindhu Janardhan initiated the session by highlighting the current significance of inclusivity and diversity within the marketing community. She acknowledged that marketers have increasingly embraced inclusivity when creating campaigns. She posed a question regarding the shift in focus towards inclusivity within the past decade and why marketers should prioritise inclusivity both in their campaigns and when forming teams. Vikas Bansi noted that the topic of inclusivity gained momentum among marketers over the last 4-5 years, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. He stressed the importance of inclusivity in marketing, citing a Kantar Study, which found inclusive and progressive marketing campaigns are 25% more effective in establishing a meaningful connection with the audience. He pointed out that globally, brands are actively implementing inclusivity and representation, with even government and health websites in India striving to maximise inclusivity, diversity, and reach. Bansi further noted that COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of data and technology, prompting brands to ensure that they stayed closely connected with their target audiences, making inclusivity vital for marketers on all fronts. According to Mohammed Shahbaaz, several factors contribute to the rise of inclusivity in marketing. First, brands have grown larger, enabling them to tackle broader agendas beyond functional objectives. Second, the emergence of social media has given consumers a more democratic platform to voice their opinions. He noted that while some brands work diligently to represent consumers accurately, others fall short in this regard, leading to disparities in advertising representation. Shahbaaz also highlighted a shift in marketing philosophy, moving away from viewing consumers as a single persona associated with a brand, to recognising the multifaceted nature of consumers. This evolution has rendered demographic segmentation obsolete, as it is now possible to see different facets of individuals, such as their participation in activities like sports, which was traditionally stereotyped as a male domain. Sharing her perspective, Puja Bedi highlighted the transformation of marketing over the past decade or two. She pointed out that mass media once dominated the scene, leaving the interpretation of brand messages to consumers. However, with the rise of start-ups, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, performance marketing, and social media, brands have become much closer to consumers. They now have a better understanding of consumer preferences, realising that not every product or message resonates with everyone. Bedi cited her personal care start-up as an example, mentioning how they tailored products to specific geographic locations based on differing climate conditions. Furthermore, she stressed that brands now appreciate the diversity among consumers, recognising that not all 35 or 40-year-olds share the same preferences. In this evolving landscape, companies are taking more thoughtful and targeted approaches to their marketing strategies. Ashok Vidya Sagar spoke about the steps taken by EY (Ernst & Young) to promote gender equality within the company. He noted that EYs workforce is almost evenly divided between men and women, with a significant representation of the LGBT community within their staff. He shared a touching anecdote about a brilliant LGBT individual that he had met in their Bengaluru office, shedding light on the challenges that she faced from securing rental accommodations to accessing various facilities. Regarding changes in the market compared to a decade ago, Sagar attributed much of it to shifting demographics. With 58% of the countrys population being under 25, the Gen Z demographic is driving inclusivity. This generation is highly concerned about issues like casteism and societal divisions, making inclusivity a top priority. These are edited excerpts. For the complete panel discussion, please watch below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epKkeK-0Qog The most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier is on its way to Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden ordered this military aid after the shocking Hamas attack, which killed hundreds of Israelis. This was confirmed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, Oct. 8, saying that sending aircraft carriers and other military vessels is part of a "show of strength" by the U.S. government in the wake of the Hamas attack. Joe Biden Sends Most Advanced US Aircraft Carrier to Israel According to Business Insider's latest report, the U.S. is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean. Aside from navy vessels, Austin announced that more warfare equipment and resources would be sent to Israel. "In addition, the United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," said the defense official. NDTV reported that the latest military aid from the U.S. government will boost fighter aircraft squadrons in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Aside from helping the Middle Eastern country, the military effort is also a way for the U.S. to show its "rock solid" support since it is a major supplier of arms to Israel. Warfare experts said that by sending advanced vessels and other defense resources, the U.S. can warn other countries to stay out of the ongoing conflict in Israel. "The leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to ensure that no enemies of Israel believe they can or should seek advantage from the current situation," said the White House in a recent statement. Read Also: Israeli Officials Under Scrutiny After Hamas Strike Exposes Intelligence Lapses Consequences of Helping Israel U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that by helping Israel in its war against the Hamas group, the U.S. government is putting the lives of Americans at risk. As of writing, it is unclear if Americans are among those who are being killed or taken hostage in Israel. But, U.S. officials said that they are already working to confirm if the said reports are true. Numerous sources claimed that Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog confirmed that there are American hostages. During an interview, Herzog explained that he don't have specific details regarding American casualties. He added that he wasn't able to identify the exact number of Americans who were killed or taken hostage by the Hamas group. But, Herzog believes that there could be dozens in the hands of the terrorist organization. As of press time, the U.S. government is working overtime to verify how many Americans were killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Related Article: Israel-Palestinian Conflict: Videos Show Devastating Moment Affecting Innocent Civilians @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Did you know that India boasts the world's highest number of female STEM graduates at a commendable 43%? However, the stark reality is that only an estimated 14% of them are part of the STEM workforce. These numbers underscore a significant drop out after education & work place gender gap that urgently needs addressing. Deep-rooted gender stereotypes link STEM fields to men, steering women toward traditional household tasks. Early exposure to these stereotypes dissuades young girls from exploring STEM, resulting in a scarcity of female representation. The absence of prominent female role models and mentors compounds the issue, dissuading even those who initially venture into STEM careers. The dearth of female role models often leads women to drop out, perpetuating the gender gap in STEM. For decades, Procter & Gambles legacy skincare brand Olay, a brainchild of chemist Graham Wulff, has maintained a deep understanding of women's changing needs through science since its inception. Olay is not only deeply rooted in research and development but strongly believes in gender equality. With a 50/50 female-to-male management split in the region, it also helps eliminate gender bias inside and outside of the workplace. Led by a female R&D leader - Chandrika Kasturi, Olay's R&D team is 250+ strong and comprises of more than 50% female scientists. In March 2023, Olay India commissioned a survey and the findings attested to the fact that due to a lack of female role models, young girls are found to not pursue a career in STEM. 81% of the respondents dropped out due to the lack of female role models who can pave the way for success. Whereas 88% said having female role models who are excelling in the workplace would influence them to go back to a career in STEM. Overall, 91% of respondents said having a female role model is crucial to staying in a STEM career. In 2021, Olay launched #STEMtheGap in India, aiming to address the STEM gender gap. The campaign garnered 10 million views and an 80 million reach, a record for Olay India. Beyond awareness, Olay invested INR 30,03,026 in scholarships and learning tools for 250+ underprivileged girls in partnership with LEAD School. Within a year, there's been a notable rise in STEM scores across all scholars. This year, the new instalment of Olays #STEMTheGap initiative aims to shed light on the glaring absence of female mentors and role models. Ahead of this year's International Day of the Girl Child, Olay will begin the next leg of its 10-year program. As a brand rooted in scientific innovation and a deep connection with women, Olay India is taking meaningful steps to provide young girls with mentorship and role models through the following three initiatives: A Powerful Film: The brand has unveiled a hard-hitting digital film in collaboration with acclaimed filmmaker Anand Gandhi. The film delves into India's rich history of remarkable women in STEM and pays homage to the enduring legacies of luminaries like Dr. Anandibai Joshi, Kamala Sohonie, Dr. Janaki Ammal, Kalpana Chawla, among others, showcasing their inspiring journeys. It highlights the urgent need for more female role models in STEM today. The film also sheds light on the societal biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEM careers, emphasizing the crucial role of female mentors. The AI-SHU Virtual Mentor: The brand has also launched the beta version of a web-based virtual chat mentor that will offer guidance and information to aspiring young girls seeking to enter the world of STEMand a wonderful supplement to Olays mentorship program. This virtual chat mentor has been created with the help of successful women in different STEM fields in India such as Shannon Olsson (Founder & Global Director of the echo network), Swarna Manjari (Communication Designer), Dr. Vandana Prasad (Community Pediatrician and Public Health Professional), Tarunima Prabhakar (Tech and Policy Research at Tattle Civic Tech and Carnegie India), to name a few, to provide the user with knowledge, resources, and encouragement on their journeys. Mentorship with vLookUp : In collaboration with vLookUp, Olay has joined forces to offer a platform connecting female students in higher education with STEM mentors online. Over 300 sign-ups have been recorded in the past year, with carefully chosen participants engaging in four-month mentorship programs facilitated by volunteers from P&G and partner companies. This program completes the mentorship journey from virtual mentorship to meaningful connections with experts in the field. STEM Scholarships: To encourage future women in STEM, Olay continues to partner with LEAD, India's premier School EdTech provider, to sponsor STEM scholarships to 250+ underprivileged girls. These scholarships empower girls across India by providing financial support for STEM education and career development. Despite the growing availability of STEM jobs in India, it remains essential to motivate and support Indian girls in pursuing STEM education for their active involvement in future employment opportunities. Olay is committed to fostering change and providing equal opportunities for girls in India. Since 2021, the brand has been sponsoring tuition fees, tablets, and data packs for girls across six states. The revamp of Olays #STEMTheGap initiative is a comprehensive campaign, with the film launched on various platforms, aiming to challenge stereotypes and inspire girls to break barriers and pursue STEM careers. Speaking on the second leg of the campaign, Priyali Kamath, Senior Vice President, Skin & Personal Care Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Procter & Gamble (P&G) said, For decades, Procter & Gambles legacy skincare brand Olay has maintained a deep understanding of women's changing needs through science. At Olay, we understand the critical importance of female role models in the STEM field, and our commitment to bridging the gender gap is unparalleled. This year's theme, centered on the significance of role models and the introduction of mentorship initiative, highlights our commitment to ensuring every young girl knows that she can be the next leader in her field. Through initiatives like #STEMTheGap and our commitment to gender equality, we are working hard to double the number of women in STEM by 2030 and create a more inclusive and equitable future. We're proud to recognize and support the next generation of women in STEM who will one day be making history in their respective fields, and become role models for young girls in the future. Ajay Vikram, Chief Creative Officer of Publicis Groupe Southeast Asia said, There are many accomplished women leaders in STEM in India today. Yet, a lack of mentors is often cited as a big reason why so few women make a career in STEM. This got us thinking. How do we not just celebrate the achievements of women in STEM, but actually be useful to be there at the very moment when needed, a friend and guide to any girl or woman looking for answers as they stand at the crossroads of choosing their path forward. Technology came in handy as a way to help, but we cant wait to see how much more AI-SHU can do to help women find their way to a future of their choosing. The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields with very few female role models to look up to, causes fewer and fewer women to join these fields and many even dropout due to lack of external motivation. Olays unwavering dedication to overcome this challenge as a brand that maintains a deep understanding of women is brought out through the various studies and surveys it has conducted to start different initiatives for uplifting and supporting women in STEM. To celebrate the most awaited festival of Bengal, Tanishq, Indias largest jewellery retail brand from the house of TATA, has launched a new campaign Aishani which is an ode to the resilient spirit of women of Bengal. Conceptualized by Lowe Lintas Bangalore for Tanishq, the Pujo campaign rooted in the essence of Bengal's women, celebrates their unwavering strength, progressive thinking, unique perspective, and their ability to stand up for what they believe is right. The film is set on the premise of the strength and perspective so powerful that every Bengali woman withholds. The film encompasses the aspect of how every empowered Bengali woman embodies the strength to stand by her convictions, empowers those around them, and is a source of inspiration for generations to come. Their perspective is a powerful force that shapes not only their own lives but also the society around them. In a land graced by the presence of Maa Durga, every Bengali woman possesses the courage to take a stand for herself. 'Shorboroope Debi, Shorboroope Shokti' encapsulates this essence, paying homage to the divinity and power within every Bengali woman. Tanishq's Pujo campaign this year encapsulates the authentic essence of Bengal's women, accentuating their distinct perspectives and intuitive way of perceiving the world. Through a compelling narrative by Lowe Lintas, the campaign shares inspiring stories, from a stay-at-home father's journey to the intriguing dynamics of an arranged marriage conversation. The film illuminates how women's unique perspectives not only set them apart but also empower them to envision the world through a transformative lens. As an initiative from Tanishq, a brand renowned for championing women's perspectives, this campaign aligns perfectly with its mission. The film at the heart of the campaign tells the story of a young girl in Bengal who draws inspiration from the strength she witnesses in the women around her. Initially, she views strength as purely physical, but as she grows and learns from her surroundings, she begins to grasp that true strength extends far beyond the physical realm. She comes to understand that genuine strength is rooted in staying true to one's beliefs and values. These early lessons become the foundation upon which she builds her own path, fostering her future thinking marked by resilience, empowerment, and a commitment to her convictions. Speaking about the campaign, Ranjani Krishnaswamy, GM Marketing, Tanishq, Titan Company Ltd, said "This Pujo, like every year, we celebrate the Aishanis of Bengal The women of Bengal who epitomize the strength of progressive thought, the courage to break stereotypes and the unwavering spirit of Maa Durga to lead the path of what is right. Their cultural upbringing, enriched with strong female role models including Maa Durga herself, juxtaposed with their sense of responsibility of passing on a better world order to the next-gen, builds in them unwavering confidence to empower themselves but also those around them. Tanishq is proud to be a part of their stories, their struggles, their courage, celebrating their remarkable, diverse journeys. Aishani by Tanishq is not just jewellery; it is community of strong Bengali women, a symbol of their enduring power, and a celebration of the legacies they have built. Speaking about the campaign, Sonali Khanna, President and Branch Head, Lowe Lintas Bangalore said The goddess Durga is a tremendous source of inspiration for all Bengali women and is worshipped as an embodiment of strength and willpower. Coincidentally, Tanishq is a brand that believes deeply in the power of women, and the crucial role they play in our society. We saw the emotional strength and self-belief of Bengali women as a perfect complement to the brands core ideals and were keen to present this unique facet of Bengali culture to the world. Making every woman live the experience of Shorboroope Devi, Shorboroope Shakti. CLIENT AGENCY CREATIVE ACCOUNT MGMT. PLANNING PRODUCTION HOUSE DIRECTOR Divya Barange Lowe Lintas Bangalore Arpan Bhattacharyya Sonali Khanna Kishore Subramanian Little Lambs Films Pvt Ltd Bauddhayan Mukherji Shruti Chakravarty Sahul Patri Arjun KD Oeisikee Basumullick Shantanu Kumar Litna Das Sakhi Roy Karthik J Debali Mukherjee The Federal Tax Administration Bern, 09.10.2023 - The Federal Tax Administration (FTA) has exchanged information on financial accounts with 104 countries. The exchange took place within the framework of the global standard on the automatic exchange of information (AEOI). This year, the AEOI involved a total of 104 countries. Kazakhstan, the Maldives and Oman were added to the existing list of 101 countries. With 78 countries, the exchange of information was reciprocal. In the case of 25 countries, Switzerland received information but did not provide any, either because those countries do not yet meet the international requirements on confidentiality and data security (13) or because they chose not to receive data (12). No data was exchanged with Russia this year either. Currently, around 9,000 reporting financial institutions (banks, trusts, insurers, etc.) are registered with the FTA. These institutions collected the data and transferred it to the FTA. The FTA sent information on around 3.6 million financial accounts to the partner states and received information on around 2.9 financial accounts from them. The FTA cannot provide any information on the amount of financial assets. Switzerland has committed itself to adopting the global standard for the international automatic exchange of information in tax matters. The legal basis for the implementation of the AEOI in Switzerland came into force on 1 January 2017. Identification, account and financial information is exchanged, including name, address, country of residence and tax identification number, as well information concerning the reporting financial institution, account balance and capital income. The exchanged information allows the cantonal tax authorities to verify whether taxpayers have correctly declared their financial accounts abroad in their tax returns. The OECD's Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum) reviews the implementation of the AEOI. Address for enquiries Caroline Wasna, Communications Specialist, Federal Tax Administration FTA Tel. +41 58 464 90 00, media@estv.admin.ch Publisher The Federal Tax Administration https://www.estv.admin.ch The current triple-engine government has made the situation in Maharashtra very miserable. All the major roads in the state are riddled with potholes, making driving and commuting life-threatening. Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat raised an angry question, saying that every pothole in the road testifies to the incompetence of the Mahayuti government. Senior leader Balasaheb Thorat had come to Nashik on the occasion of the North Maharashtra Divisional Review Meeting. On this occasion, he interacted with the journalists. Thorat said the condition of the Nashik-Mumbai highway is bad. A journey of two and a half hours takes four to four and a half hours. One has to wait for an hour at one place. In Bhiwandi, it has become difficult to find out which is the road and which are the potholes. Traffic congestion in Bhiwandi is becoming life-threatening. No one is ready to say a word about the stones on this highway, but the toll collection is going on without a hitch. This is the situation on most of the highways in the state. Dissatisfaction is increasing in the public mind. Thorat said Congress raised its voice about the traffic jams and potholes on the Nashik-Mumbai highway during the session. The minister also promised to take immediate action on it. We had also explained the seriousness of this issue to the Chief Minister, but instead of improving the traffic jam, it has increased. Bala Saheb Thorat said, Every crisis reminds us of the incompetence of the government. Every bump the common man gets while driving through potholes on the Nashik-Mumbai Road is a reminder of the incompetence of the triple-engine government. A lot of tolls are levied, but there is no simple repair of the roads, and the government is not ready to find a way out of the traffic jam. The question is: what should Raj Thackeray take regarding the toll? But there is a huge outcry among the people and the Congress is with this outcry of the people. The position of Congress is clear in the matter of road potholes. We raised this question repeatedly in the assembly. As there is no alternative from the government, there is a lot of anger in the minds of the people due to the huge tolls and huge potholes. Many people opt for trains to reach Mumbai. I request many ruling MLAs to try traveling on this road by train instead of train, so that you too will bring the pathetic condition of this road to the attention of the Chief Minister. DEAR ABBY: Ever since we first began dating, I told my wife I never wanted to own a dog. She seemed to be OK with it, but over the last 10 years, she has put intense pressure on me to get one. She now says she doesnt remember our original conversation and says she never would have agreed to it. She works, and I stay at home with the kids, so it would be my responsibility to take care of the pet, which I refuse to do. I feel physically sick around dogs, but because I dont actively sneeze around them, she thinks Im making up my sensitivity. She is now rallying the kids against me. We live a transient lifestyle that would force us to kennel the dog for one to three months a year, which would cost money we dont have. Im tired of this conversation, and tired of feeling like Im ruining her life. What should I do? -- DOGLESS IN OKLAHOMA DEAR DOGLESS: Since you are outvoted, ask your doctor to refer you to an allergist, a physician whose practice involves the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, because there are solutions to the problem. Once thats dealt with, INSIST before adopting a dog that YOUR CHILDREN be responsible for feeding, walking and training the animal -- with penalties if they dont. The responsibility will teach them lessons that will prove valuable when they are older. As to what to do with the new family member during the time youre traveling, either find pet-friendly places to stay or make it your wifes task to find a boarding situation for her dog that wont break the bank. Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. 50 years. 70 year-round committee members. 600 volunteers. Maybe 250,000 visitors. More shrimp than anyone wants to calculate. No matter how you count it, the National Shrimp Festival is a big deal. This years fest opens Thursday, Oct. 12, in Gulf Shores, bringing a four-day spree of food, fun, arts & crafts, music, sand sculpture contests and more. If youre thinking about going, here are a few key bullet points: Theres no admission charge. You enjoy Shrimp Fest by walking right on in. Its easy to find, since it sprawls along the public beach area at the food of Ala. 59. From there youre free to browse the seafood-centric concessions, well over 100 arts and crafts vendors and other activities. Your best source of up-to-date information on whats happening when is the official festival site, www.myshrimpfest.com Festival organizers announced Tuesday that the opening on Thursday would be pushed back a few hours due to the threat of severe weather on Wednesday. Plans called for the festival to open at 2 p.m. Thursday, closing at 10 p.m. Regular hours apply for the rest of the weekend: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Road closures start Monday, Oct. 9. By Tuesday theyll include the intersection of Ala. 59 and Ala. 182 (Gulf Beach Boulevard); anyone headed through Gulf Shores on their way to Orange Beach should use Ala. 180 east or State Park Road. Limited public and private parking is available at the festival site, but a shuttle service will operate throughout the event for $5 per person per day. Park-and-ride locations include the Pelican Place at Craft Farms Shopping Center in Gulf Shores; the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center in Gulf Shores; Waves Grocery at 1154 W. Beach Blvd. in Gulf Shores; Rouses Grocery at 25405 Perdido Beach Blvd. in Orange Beach; and Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park. Additionally, a bicycle valet service first offered in 2022 will again operate in 2023. Festival patrons who arrive by bicycle can have their bike stored in a secure location. The service is free. Top acts in the music lineup include Dr. Zarrs Amazing Funk Monster and the Troy Laz Band on Thursday; tributes to Elvis Presley, The Eagles, AC/DC and Def Leppard on Friday; and Wet Willie featuring Jimmy Hall and the Velcro Pygmies on Saturday. The Groovinators and Wolfy Grin close out the Sunday lineup. All public beaches remain open throughout the fest, subject to the usual restrictions due to weather. The festival wasnt held in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 event seemed to capitalize on pent-up anticipation. We opened at 10, one organizer told an AL.com reporter on opening day. At 9 a.m. people were here, ready to go. Boiled shrimp offered by Rouses seemed to be a popular entree at the 2022 National Shrimp Festival.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com Ryan Moberly, communications director for the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, which hosts the event, said organizers are hoping to see that level of excitement again, especially given that this is the 50th edition. That milestone, that 50th, I know that number means a lot to people, he said. I think that in itself is going to be a draw. Definitely after seeing the pattern of what was the craziness that was Thursday morning last year, Im hoping that continues. Im hoping thats every morning this year. Although Moberly suggested that arriving early is a good strategy for getting the most out of the event, he also encouraged people to give themselves time to enjoy it. It being four days, you have time to take it all in, he said. You dont necessarily have to rush into anything. You can take it easy. A special word on the food offerings: For many patrons, one of the main attractions is the availability of a Louisiana treat known as Cajun pistols or pistoles. Theyve been described as a spicy combination of shrimp, crabmeat and crawfish, blended with special cheeses and stuffed into a fried bread roll. They were scarce at the 2022 event, as a leading purveyor Rockin Rogers Cajun Pistols wasnt on the scene. Moberly said that Rockin Rogers would be back this year. Thats going to be a great return, he said. Moberly said its a special treat having Wet Willie with Jimmy Hall topping this years music lineup. Wet Willie has a catalogue of familiar songs and a lot of local fans, and Hall delivered an energetic, impressive solo album last year. He really has not lost that vocal talent of that energy, he said, mentioning Halls upbeat single Jumpin For Joy. Im just amazed at that energy hes got at 74 and I think hes going to bring it on that East Stage on Saturday night. Related: Gulf Shores Shrimp Festival gets off to strong start after 2-year hiatus: We really missed it 14 reasons we love the National Shrimp Festival I came here just for this: Louisiana treat a Shrimp Fest favorite Police on Floridas east coast are investigating the death of a 69-year-old skydiver, whose body was found in the front yard of a home in Titusville, Fla., Saturday. The man, identified Monday as Frederick C. Morello of Ormond Beach, was found dead, wearing skydiving attire and gear, about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Titusville Police Department. CBS News reported a surveillance camera from a neighboring home caught the reflection from a parked SUV in which the skydiver was seen falling from the sky before landing on the lawn. James Sconiers told local TV station WKMG it was his yard in which the man landed. I was asking the person that was laying on the ground, Hey man can you hear me, can you hear me? But he did not answer, Sconiers told the television station. Nicole Lacount also spoke with the TV station and said she went outside after hearing fire trucks and saw Morellos body on the ground. I work in the medical field. Thats the worst Ive ever seen, she said. WKMG contacted the nearby Skydive Space Center and asked if Morello came from their company. They declined comment. Sconiers, who told WKMG he was a Vietnam veteran with airborne experience, said the incident raised what are thus far unanswered questions. Look at the video and look at what happened. Why did he fall so hard if all the safety mechanism in place? Something tells me theres a problem there, he said. At least nine Americans have died in bloody violence between Hamas and Israel, a U.S. official said Monday, the third day since Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack in Israel. Matt Miller, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said Monday morning that an unspecified number of Americans remained unaccounted for in Israel, and that America was working to determine the tally. The identities of the dead Americans were not immediately released. We can confirm that there are nine American citizens who have lost their lives as a result of these horrific attacks, Miller told MSNBC. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. More than 1,200 people have already been reported dead in the conflict, which was escalating Monday as Israel ordered a retaliatory assault on the blockaded Gaza Strip. At least 700 people have died in Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The Palestinian death toll was 560, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement late Sunday night that he had been briefed on the rising American death tally then four and that it would rise. The viciousness and brutality of this unprecedented attack from Hamas targeting innocent civilians children, families, seniors is overwhelming and heart wrenching, added Schumer, who is Jewish and is currently on a trip to China. Schumer, the majority leader, met with Chinas President Xi Jinping on Monday and urged China to stand with the U.S. in a united front in support of Israel, Schumers office said. Schumers spokesman, Angelo Roefaro, said the majority leader convinced Xi to strengthen a statement opposing violence against civilians in Israel. A New York City congressman, Dan Goldman, was in Israel when the fighting began, having made a trip for a family Bar Mitzvah, his office said. Goldman and his family sheltered from Hamas rocket fire in their hotels interior stairwell until early Sunday morning, his spokesman, Simone Kanter, said in a statement. Goldman, who represents lower Manhattan and sections of Brooklyn, returned to New York City on Sunday afternoon, Kanter said. In response to the attacks by Hamas, Israels military struck more than 1,200 targets in the Gaza Strip between Saturday and Monday morning, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF said it hit another 1,200 targets on Monday. What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel told mayors of border towns, according to the BBC. We are going to change the Middle East. Some Israelis have been taken hostage by Hamas militants, according to Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. was working to determine if any Americans had been taken hostage. Weve seen reports about hostages, he told NBC News, referring to Americans. Were very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Photo : Mario Tama/Getty Images) California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill into law that would ban toxic chemicals that are used in popular candies, drinks, and food. California has become the first state to ban four toxic chemicals in popular candies, drinks, and food. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the new bill into law on Saturday as the chemicals are believed to be linked to certain health problems, including cancer. The Democratic lawmaker's new law bans the red dye No. 3 chemical used as food coloring for products such as Peeps, the marshmallow treat most associated with Easter. California Bans Toxic Chemicals in Food Supply The chemical has been linked to cancer and has been banned from makeup for over three decades. The new law also prohibits brominated vegetable oil, used in some store-brand sodas, and potassium bromate and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods. The California governor said in a signing statement that the additives addressed in the bill are already banned in various other countries. All four chemicals included in the new ban are also prohibited in foods in the European Union, as per ABC7. In Newsom's statement, he said that signing the bill into law is a positive step forward on the four food additives until the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews and establishes national updated safety levels. The company that makes Peeps, Just Born Inc., has argued that it has been looking for other dye options for its products. Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Los Angeles Democrat, authored the bill that Newsom recently signed. In a Saturday statement, Gabriel said that the governor's signature represents a huge step forward in protecting children and families in the state from dangerous and toxic chemicals in the food supply. Gabriel's office said that the bill would not result in any products being removed from the shelves; instead, it would only require companies to adjust their formulas. He noted that the use of the banned chemicals has already been stopped in the 27 nations of the EU and many other countries due to scientific research linking them to significant health issues, according to KTLA. Read Also: President Joe Biden Approves Plan to Allow Border Walls Expansion in Texas to Curb Migrant Crisis Gavin Newsom's New Bills Several major brands and manufacturers, such as Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade, and Panera, have voluntarily stopped using the additives that are banned under AB 418, also known as The California Food Safety Act, due to concerns about their potential effects on human health. Despite Newsom's newly signed law, it would not take effect until 2027, which he noted would be enough time for companies to adapt to the new rules. The governor also signed a law that allows legislative staffers to unionize, which is a move that comes after lawmakers passed several labor initiatives during a summer of strikes by hotel workers, actors, and writers. A Democrat representing Inglewood, assemblymember Tina McKinnor, introduced the bill and said in July during a Senate Judiciary Committee that it was hypocritical for lawmakers to ask staffers to write legislation that expands other workers' right to unionize when those same employees are unable to form a union, said Fortune. Related Article: Alabama's New Congressional Map Threatens Democrats to Surrender Second Seat in the State @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Florence police say a man used a child as a shield when encountering police Saturday, daring an officer to shoot. Sgt. Cliff Billingsley of Florence police said the incident happened at about 3 p.m. Saturday in the 1900 block of Holiday Drive. Officers responding to a domestic violence call found a woman who said that she had just gotten into a fight with her boyfriend, identified as Christopher Borquez, 37, of Florence. Borquez had just left the area with their child. According to Billingsley, Borquez returned to the residence with the child while an officer was on the scene. Borquez was ordered out of the car. He exited the vehicle, still holding the child, telling the officer he would have to shoot him, Billingsley said. The officer was able to talk Borquez into releasing the child. The officer then attempted to lead Borquez away from the child. However, Billingsley said, Borquez jerked away and repeated the officer would have to shoot him. He also resisted while the officer attempted to handcuff him. Borquez has been charged with domestic violence strangulation, endangering the welfare of a child, public intoxication, interference with a domestic violence emergency call and resisting arrest. He is being held at the Lauderdale County Detention Center on $35,900 bond. A man who moved his family from Grand Bay to Guatemala to do missionary work six years ago was fatally wounded in the Central American country during a robbery attempt Sept. 30, according to information from the familys Grand Bay church. Michael Soy Taylor, his wife, Deidra, and their three children were at their home in Guatemala when three armed men approached and demanded money. Deidra Taylor went inside with the children, while Michael Taylor confronted the would-be thieves. The three men fled the scene, but not before one shot Michael Taylor once in the stomach. He underwent 3 1/2 hours of surgery at a local medical facility and appeared to be recovering, but an infection developed and he died Oct. 2. Since Michael Taylors death, tributes have poured in from those both in Grand Bay and elsewhere, remembering the man nicknamed Soy because of a lifelong love of soy sauce. He and his wife had built a school for the children of Chimaltinago in Guatemala and helped build thousands of homes for impoverished people in the area. Absolutely heartbroken losing Soy, wrote Maridith Lane. He was an amazing man & had a deep impact on my husband since their teenage years. Feeling so angry about the senseless act that took his life & leaves his family with a gaping hole. Today we mourn the loss of a dear brother in Christ, Soy Taylor.], wrote Ricky Watt of Semmes and pastor at Havens Woods Baptist Church. But we also choose to celebrate a life that was well lived with purpose and intention for the sake of the Gospel and sharing the love of Jesus with others. Soy, along with his family answered the call to serve Jesus by loving and caring for the people of Guatemala. Trying to work this morning, but cant seem to focus after hearing of the tragic news, the death of a sweet friend. Soy Taylor was one of a kind, wrote Michelle Thomas of Daphne. He played hard, worked hard and loved big. He and Deidra are the heart of Grace Ministries and Shining Light Abroad Ministries in Guatemala. There is no way to list all the things they have done together to share Gods love to people and help build a better life for the people of Guatemala. They along with their three girls have dedicated their lives as full-time missionaries. To hear of the loss this morning cut deep. While I do not see them every day, I follow their blog, visit often as I can, watched them grow up, get married, work tirelessly in ministry and raise their beautiful girls giving all they have. To say he will be missed is a dire understatement. His smile and love for others was unmistakable. Teddy Turrentine is pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay. He is Deidra Taylors father, Soy Taylors father-in-law. He traveled to Guatemala to be with his daughter and her family after the shooting. Very unexpectedly to us, our son-in-law, Michael Soy Taylor passed from this life and entered Heaven late last night, Turrentine wrote in his pastors blog. I am absolutely heartbroken, crushed, devastated, you name it! Our daughter and her three daughters are hurting more than me as they have lost their husband, father and friend. Will you please just pray for us? A memorial fund has been established to help the Taylor family with extensive medical costs, along with the cost of returning Michael Taylors body to Alabama, plus funeral and other costs. As of last Wednesday, over $30,000 had already been donated. A celebration of life was held for Michael Taylor in Guatemala last Wednesday, with another scheduled for Oct. 12 at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay. Burial will be in Richton, Miss. The celebration in Guatemala had over 400 in attendance, with another 4,000 views of the livestream online. In August David Toomey said his car was towed by Parking Enforcement Systems (PES) and an employee flashed a gun at him. Two months later he said the company is still antagonizing both him and his credit card company as he tries to get his money back. In late August, Toomey and his wife parked in the 2nd Avenue lot across the street from The Collins Bar. Because his ParkMobile app was having issues, Toomey said he paid at the kiosk without realizing the receipt had to be placed in his window. A couple of hours later, the Toomeys returned from dinner to find their vehicle gone. Im walking back from dinner and just briefly noticed the parking lot was a whole lot emptier than we left it and kept walking, Toomey said. And sure enough, our car was gone. So, I knew, unless theres a huge gang organization stealing everyones cars, its probably the tow company. The parking lot across from The Collins Bar has been a frequent feature in PES towing stories as the Lede previously reported. Jefferson County property tax records for 2023 show that Robert Crook owns the lot as well as several other properties in downtown Birmingham. Crook did not respond to requests for comment from the Lede. A Birmingham truck driver is behind bars after a weekend traffic crash that injured a woman and two young children. Rodney DeWayne Gildersleeve, 47, is charged with first-degree assault, driving under the influence and obstruction of governmental operations. The wreck happened Saturday night on Bluff Ridge Road in western Jefferson County. Jefferson County sheriffs Lt. Joni Money said Gildersleeve was driving an 18-wheeler traveling north in the southbound lane of the roadway. He struck a pickup truck in the southbound lane. The driver, a 30-year-old woman, was hospitalized with serious injuries. Her two children, ages 2 and 4, were taken to Childrens of Alabama where they were treated and released. Both were in child safety seats, Money said. A 30-year-old female passenger was not injured. Gildersleeve was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 12:24 a.m. Sunday. He is being held without bond. The investigation is ongoing. Gov. Kay Ivey has ordered state agencies to lower flags to half-staff this week to remember the people killed in Israel in the attacks by Hamas. The repeated acts of terrorism and violation of Israels sovereignty must be stopped at all costs, Ivey said in the directive. Those responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israeli citizens are not only the enemies of our Jewish brothers and sisters, but the United States and her people, too. For more than 80 years, Alabama has proudly stood in solidarity with the State of Israel, and we will continue to do so through these challenging times. The attacks and Israels response have resulted in more than 1,110 deaths and thousands wounded in Israel and Gaza, the Associated Press reported. That includes 11 U.S. citizens. Alabama and Israel share a commitment to deeply-held common values one of which is the belief in the power of prayer, Ivey said. I call upon the people of our great state to uplift our Jewish brothers and sisters in prayer as they fight to protect their homeland. Iveys ordered flags flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday. Related: Alabama church groups stuck in Israel amid war Israel has every right to defend itself: Alabama leaders condemn Hamas attack Alabama Sen. Katie Britt condemns Irans response to Israel attack Alabama had a real taste of fall over the past weekend, and some of the nights got downright cold. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday night into Sunday morning was the coldest night over the widest area, and many areas in the state dropped into the 30s. However, a few spots also hit the 30s last night, according to unofficial temperatures from the weather service. And they were not places you might expect: Eufaula, Evergreen and Prattville in the southern part of the state. Gadsden also got into the 30s for the second night in a row. Unofficial lows from last night (Sunday night/Monday morning): Alexander City: 41 degrees Anniston: 41 degrees Birmingham: 46 degrees Decatur: 41 degrees Dothan: 45 degrees Evergreen: 39 degrees Eufaula: 39 degrees Gadsden: 37 degrees Greenville: 40 degrees Haleyville: 42 degrees Huntsville: 44 degrees Mobile: 45 degrees Montgomery: 43 degrees Prattville: 39 degrees Talladega: 40 degrees Troy: 42 degrees Tuscaloosa: 44 degrees What were some of the lowest temperatures? Heres a look at weather service data: Anniston: 38 degrees on Oct. 8 Birmingham: 41 degrees on Oct. 8 Clanton: 43 degrees on Oct. 8 Dothan: 45 degrees on Oct. 9 Evergreen: 39 degrees on Oct. 9 Mobile: 45 degrees on Oct. 9 Montgomery: 42 degrees on Oct. 8 Selma: 46 degrees on Oct. 8 Tuscaloosa: 42 degrees on Oct. 8 While the weather service is forecasting temperatures to not be as chilly over the upcoming week, NOAAs Climate Prediction Center is suggesting below-average temperatures will be possible through the middle of the month. Heres the 6- to 10-day temperature outlook: Alabama could see more cooler-than-average temperatures from Oct. 14-18 (starting next weekend). The 8- to 14-day outlook also suggests higher probabilities of cooler-than-average temperatures: Human remains found in Anniston earlier this year have been identified as a missing woman, and authorities say she was the victim of a homicide. Miya Marshall, 36, was reported missing to Anniston police on Sept. 8, 2022. Marshalls family last spoke to her, on July 30, 2022. Marshalls family members told investigators that it was unusual to not hear from her for such an extended period of time. On May 15, about 4:45 p.m., investigators were called to the 2600 block of Noble Street on a report of the discovery of a human skull. No other bones were found. Anniston police on Monday identified those remains as Marshall. Miya Marshall (Contributed) Capt. Matt Caballero said an autopsy performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences determined she had been killed. The cause of her death has not been released. Anyone with information is asked to contact Anniston police investigators at 256-240-4000 or by email at apd@annistonal.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at www.215stop.com or through the Anniston Police Tip Portal at https://www.annistonal.gov/police-department/report-police-tips/. A sprawling five-bedroom hunting ranch on 1,200 acres in southwestern Alabama is on the market for $12.5 million. The property, in Washington Countys Deer Park, boasts lush forests, game and a winding road and trail system. Listed with Clint Flowers of National Land Realty, the property is nearly triple the price of the most expensive home ever sold in the area, according to The Wall Street Journal. The priciest home sale on record (there) was $4.49 million, WSJ reported. The limestone lodge, with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, has more than 20,000 square feet and 14,000 square feet of living space. It has a bunk room, walk-in closets, trophy and craft rooms, a gym, and combination movie theater and storm shelter. There is a walk-in gun safe, three-car garage, and a great room with a commercial-grade kitchen, massive fireplace, and hand-constructed hearth, as well as a pool. The property also has an adjacent building housing multiple equipment bays with rollup doors and a game processing facility. For the fishing and hunting enthusiast, there are two 12-acre fishing lakes, stocked and professionally managed for trophy bass, and a 2.5-acre duck pond with wood ducks, teal, and other species. The property boasts both free range and enclosed white tail bucks, fallow deer, turkey, dove, quail, ducks, and other small game on more than 800 enclosed acres with a 10-foot game fence. Another 456-plus acres are free range. There are 15 food plots,13 fiberglass shooting houses, wood-constructed shooting houses, and ladder stands throughout the property. The professionally managed timber has natural hardwood and pine, along with valuable longleaf pine plantations. Mineral rights are included and the propertys location in the Citronelle oil field means potential pore space or mining income from oil or gas, according to the seller. Jefferson County deputies will provide security during a community meeting this evening after one county commissioner said shes received anonymous threats. Commissioner Sheila Tyson said some people complaining about a bingo hall allegedly operating illegally in western Jefferson County are taking their anger out on her with social media posts and threatening phone calls. Tyson told AL.com that she is concerned about anonymous calls from blocked numbers to her cellphone in advance of a planned town hall this evening. The meeting is 5 p.m. at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, 500 Carter Ave. Bessemer. Tyson said recent incidents of politically-motivated violence show that veiled threats can no longer be dismissed. Some things you just dont say to people, and it needs to be addressed, she said. County commissioners in September unanimously approved an amended ordinance that allows them to exclude granting business licenses to any illegal business. Nothing specifically mentions bingo, but the provision gives the county authority to deny licenses to electronic bingo halls in unincorporated Jefferson County. The operations remain a point of contention and have been declared illegal by state officials. The countys actions only apply to portions of unincorporated portions of the county. Cities within the county still have authority to regulate and license bingo. Tyson said callers are livid that some bingo halls continue to operate in the Eastern Valley area, despite the countys vote to rescind business licenses for bingo operators in unincorporated Jefferson County. Their ire is misdirected, she said. Tyson will hold a community meeting this evening where she plans to provide an update on paving and other action. However, she said the recent backlash over bingo, the insults, most importantly, threats to her, raises her concern. Tyson said the calls are beyond political complaints. I dont get one vote off of Eastern Valley. Thats not important to me. What is important to me is youre going to spit in my face and beat me up? And youre going to come to where Im having a town hall meeting and do this to me? The Eastern Valley community is at the edge of districts of both Tyson and Commission President Jimmie Stephens, Tyson said. A longtime politician and community activist, Tyson said shes less concerned about insults but is alarmed by physical threats. Tyson said her request to the county and law enforcement is simple: Handle it like they are supposed to handle if somebody threatens a public official, she said. She called Sheriff Mark Pettway to report the threats. We will be there this afternoon to make sure nothing happens, Pettway told AL.com. We are there to protect her and make sure shes safe from hurt, harm or danger. Pettway said his officers will provide security for this evenings meeting. He will also be on hand to hear resident concerns regarding bingo or any other issue. Well find out more detail about whats going on, he said. Citizen and environmental groups are asking the federal government for help after years of mismanagement, scandal and neglect has left one of Alabamas poorest communities with a public water system that cant provide safe water to all customers. The Southern Environmental Law Center -- on behalf of the We Matter Eight Mile Community Association and 20 other groups -- petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to step in to ensure safe drinking water for customers of the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board, as the utility faces a mix of crippling debt and crumbling infrastructure. The Board in charge of the system has negligently failed to maintain the system, fraudulently used Board funds, and shut the public out of the decision-making processes, SELC said in a 23-page petition to the EPA. Further, the Board is now threatening to shut down the water for approximately 200 residents where the greatest loss occurs. These residents would be forced out of their homes. According to the SELC petition, the water system in Prichard -- a city of about 20,000 people just north of Mobile -- is so full of holes that nearly 60% of the water entering the system leaks out, creating the risk of contamination of the citys drinking water, sky-high water costs and other safety concerns. The citys own testing results, as submitted to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, shows chronic bacterial contamination in the citys water. Many fire hydrants in the city dont have enough water pressure to operate properly during a fire. Life begins in water and is sustained by water, Carletta Davis, President of the We Matter Eight Mile Community Association, said in a news release. Access to clean water is a God given right that should never be taken away, she said. Those responsible for protecting our right to clean, affordable water have epically failed us. The groups Monday asked the agency to intervene using emergency powers under the Safe Drinking Water Act because Prichards water system failures create an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health. That means emergency funding to repair the system, as well as helping the city negotiate long-term settlements to their legal and financial issues. The groups say that in addition to rampant water leaks, Prichard also has an extreme sanitary sewer overflow problem, that could result in untreated sewage finding its way into the drinking water system. Health effects of consuming water with disease-causing microbes include rare diseases like cholera and typhoid fever, and common illnesses caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites, which can result in stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fever, and kidney failure, the groups write. There is also a risk that infectious diseases, like hepatitis, can occur. Read the full petition A troubled history If the EPA steps in, it wouldnt be the first federal intervention in Prichard. The FBI raided the offices of the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board and the home of at least one employee last year, with the investigation resulting in four water works officials being charged with theft or fraud. Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich confirms an 'all-encompassing' investigation into the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at Government Plaza in downtown Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). That scandal became known as Gucci-gate, after charges that former water works manager Nia Bradley used water works credit card for perhaps hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses, including trips to New York, Chicago and Sandestin, Fla., as well as luxury items like Gucci handbags, designer clothes and firearms. The water boards longtime attorney Jay Ross described the spending to one TV station as the worst case of public corruption I have ever seen. The city is also in danger of default on a $55 million loan for infrastructure after struggling to make payments on the debt. The financial crunch resulted in a 22% rate hikes for water board customers last month, which is especially burdensome for low-income residents of Prichard and neighboring Eight Mile. The petition cited one Prichard resident -- Tyrone Pettway -- who reported receiving a water bill for $2,384.51. More than 91 percent of Prichards 18,870 residents are Black and 30% are living below the poverty line, according to the latest U.S. Census estimates. Prichards population is estimated to have dropped about 2.4% since the 2020 census (losing 462 residents), and about 6% from the 2010 census (a decrease of 3,789 people). The groups say the water crisis leaves an impoverished community on the brink of disaster. The Prichard Water Works & Sewer Boards track record of incompetence proves they cannot guarantee safe or affordable drinking water for their customers, Ryan Anderson, Associate Attorney for SELCs Alabama office, said in a news release. Were asking EPA, a governmental entity that has a responsibility to uphold safety, to step in and use their authority because this water crisis is endangering the people of Prichard. A crumbling system Prichard does not treat its own water, but distributes water purchased from the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS) to its customers. Many of the water pipes in Prichard are more than 80 years old, well past their expected life span. An ADEM engineering report cited in the petition to EPA found that the system is facing excessive nominal water loss of nearly 64%. The state of disrepair of Prichards water lines cannot be overstated, ADEM said in the report. ADEM reports that such high volume water loss means that chlorine from the Mobile water treatment facility were too low, leading to the possibility of bacterial contamination. The petitioners note that Prichard water board has self-reported positive bacteriological sampling events at least eight times since 2021. The 200 people cited in the petition at being in danger of losing their water service live in a part of the city called Alabama Village, with some of the worst infrastructure problems. ADEM estimates that the city loses $222,000 per month, or $2.7 million per year in revenue due to rampant water leaks in the pipes going to that community. The water works has stopped allowing new water accounts to be opened in this area, and has considered using eminent domain to condemn existing properties, according to NBC-15 TV in Mobile. In February 2022, just before its offices were raided by the FBI, the Prichard water board applied for $330 million in state and federal infrastructure funds being distributed by ADEM, by far the largest requests in the state. That total included $100 million for repairing leaks in the water lines, $135 million for city-wide sewer extension, and $76 million for system-wide project improvements. ADEM will prioritize funding based on financial and engineering needs, ADEM External Affairs Chief Lynn Battle said at the time of Prichards requests. All factors affecting the needs will be considered. Current ADEM records no longer show Prichards sewer extension and system-wide project improvement requests, and show that the citys $100 million project application for repairing leaky water lines was withdrawn. Prichard was awarded $400,000 to conduct financial audits from those infrastructure funds, which totaled more than $1 billion across the state. The petitioners say that ADEM is unable or unwilling to provide the necessary assistance to fix the Prichard water system. Despite this very serious conclusion and threat to public health, ADEM is stuck between not wanting to give aid to the corrupt Board, but also not able or willing to administer aid and technical assistance itself, the petition states. ADEMs inaction has caused the Prichard community to lose access to one of the most basic human rightsaccess to safe drinking water. After four years of marriage, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas broke their silence about their divorce on October 8, 2023, on Instagram. Sophie Turner also posted a photo wearing a friendship bracelet named 'Fearless,' which shows a reunion with Taylor Swift reminiscing 'The Eras Tour' in 2008. Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas Split After Four Years The former couple, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas, released a joint statement of their divorce on Instagram after Jonas filed for divorce on September 5, 2023. "After four wonderful years of marriage, we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage. There are many speculative narratives as to why, but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children," the two said. Turner and Jonas had two kids, a Willa, 3, and a 14-month-old baby girl documented in the court as Jonas filed the changes during their prenuptial agreement in the court in 2019 when they got married, according to E!News. After their split, Joe Jonas wanted to compromise with Turner to a co-parenting agreement. According to Hello! Magazine, Turner filed a lawsuit against his ex-husband, asking for her daughters, Willa and Delphine, to return home to England. Jonas was accused of withholding the passport of their daughters. He said they can provide for their children if it is questioned during filing and battling for custody. "It is in the best interests of the minor children that the parties have shared parental responsibility," Jonas added. Their two kids have been staying in Jonas' home in Miami and other locations throughout the United States while he is on tour. Turner and Jonas filed for an interim consent order in New York City to demand the restriction of relocation of the children. The pair will have a Manhattan court hearing on January 2, 2024. Turner and Jonas married in 2019 and had their first daughter in 2020. After four years of marriage and two kids, their failed marriage shocked the public, and they filed for a divorce. Read Also: Celebrities React to Gaza's Attack on Israel Sophie Turner Reunites With Taylor Swift Meanwhile, Sophie Turner and Taylor Swift reunited at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to watch the New York Jets game against the Kansas City Chiefs with other celebrity friends, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Hugh Jackman. Furthermore, the night before, Turner and Swift had a group dinner with their celebrity friends in New York City. Turner and Swift had a night out with cocktails to relieve the stress and pressure of the former couple's divorce. Related Article: Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner Reach Child Custody Agreement Amid Brutal Divorce Battle @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Echoing prior calls of support for Israel after a surprise attack by a Palestinian militant group, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt condemned the Iranian presidents praise of Hamas. Cheering on the slaughter of innocent children, women, and men, while members of his parliament chant Death to Israel and Death to America, Britt wrote in a post on X, formerly called Twitter, on Sunday morning. This is not new behavior. Its why I objected to the Biden Administration allowing Iranian President Raisi on U.S. soil last month. A spokesperson from Britts office pointed to past instances of the chants, as well as more recent ones over the weekend, reported by news outlets like Reuters and the Associated Press. More than 1,100 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed since Hamas first launched rockets and gunfire in southern Israel early Saturday morning local time. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war, and the Israeli military ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and the 2.3 million Palestinians who live there, halting any food or supplies and continuing airstrikes. Disputes over who has rights to the land have long preceded this latest conflict between Israel and Palestine. The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan Saturdays surprise attack. While President Biden was agreeing to a $6 billion ransom and allowing Irans president to enter our country, the Iranian regime was plotting terrorist attacks that killed innocent children, women, and men including American citizens, Britt said in a post on X later on Sunday. Appeasement invites aggression. On Sunday, Irans president Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Hamas in its history-making fight against Israel, adding that the Zionist regime and its backers are responsible for jeopardizing regional security and stability and must be held accountable, Iranian news agency Fars News reported. CNN also reported that Hamas claimed Raisis praise in a phone call with the groups leader. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has reiterated his verbal support of Israel, has pushed back on Iran, similar to Sen. Britt. But his monthslong blocking of military promotions is again facing scrutiny, renewed with the weekends conflict. Other Alabama leaders have spoken out since the surprise attack. Alabama House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels called Hamas actions terrorism, plain and simple. My heart goes out to the thousands of families whose lives have been shattered by this brutal, cowardly attack, Daniels said in a statement. I share their grief and sorrow for all the innocent souls, including children and the elderly, who have been violently killed, injured and kidnapped. That there are peoples living in non-democratic countries is well known. That there were and are democracies without people is also well known. In 1967, French political scientist Maurice Duverger published the book La democratie sans les peuples (Democracy without people). In such democracies the elites actually rule, because they are "smarter" than everyone else. To quote Lawrence Peter, a Canadian-American educator and writer, In a democracy, the majority rules and the minority keeps telling the minority where to turn the wheel. The elites do not believe that the number of citizens who voted the "unintelligent masses" into power is crucial, for such choices have the poor quality of coming from "unintelligent" voters. "Unintelligent" voters do not understand what is best for the good of the state. The quantity of "stupid" voters cannot overcome the quality of elites seeing farthest ahead. This point of view resembles the position of ancient democracy: ancient Greek democracy expressed the interests of only the elite of society, i.e., free citizens, and left women and unfree citizens without political rights, or in other words, it deprived the absolute majority of society of political rights. As far back as ancient Greece, the principles of false, imitation democracy were laid down. In the book The Modern Machiavelli, American philosopher and political scientist James Burnham wrote about democratic elitism: No society is governed by the people, by the majority; all societies, including societies called democratic, are governed by a minority. The theory of elitist democracy asserts that a small minority consisting of economic elites, policy planning networks, and technocrats hold the most power and that this power is independent of democratic elections. The new political aristocracy seeks to steer the "unreasonable" voters, who constitute the majority after parliamentary elections, in the "right," "reasonable" direction. Aristocrats may be judges, technocrats, lawyers, retired generals. They regard their country as a land of laws, of which they themselves are the embodiment. The British philosopher Francis Bacon wrote: Judges must remember that their office is jus dicere, not jus dare; to interpret the law, not to make or give law. In Israel, judges decided that they alone represented law and reason. A judge must judge according to the law, but he cannot be the law. In the United States, the people elect the ruling elite. In Israel, the elite chooses the "right" people for themselves, tweaking them to the standard they need. Plato favors an aristocratic system, which should be headed by philosopher-rulers. The creation of a ruling elite standing above parliament is a change in the polity. German-Italian sociologist Robert Michels' in book A Sociological Study of the Oligarchic Tendencies of Modern Democracy offers a theoretical account of the core belief underlying populist politics: the elite (inevitably) seizes democracy from the common people. The real danger to democracy in Israel comes not from judicial reform, but from the court itself, which asserts the existence of the "right" to remove the incumbent prime minister and nullify the results of legitimate elections with its self-rule. The protest movement has arisen in defense of the court's power thanks to the interests of the country's economic, academic and military elites. Democracy is exactly what they seek to prevent. Austrian psychoanalyst Alfred Adler wrote: It is always easier to fight for one's principles than to live in accordance with them. Democracy, in their view, is the rule of these elites who monopolize the knowledge of what true democracy is. Under the auspices of defending "proper" democracy, the elites express arrogance toward the majority of Israeli citizens who elected the current government, accompanied by veiled references to the ethnicity, religion and class of the masses of voters. "The battle for democracy," led by the military, academic and economic elites, is a battle for elitist democracy. No democratic country has a court as powerful as Israel's. There is no branch of power in any Western state that has so much power over other branches, and over which there is no control. "Reasonableness" is just one of many tools invented by the Israeli Supreme Court to overturn actions and appointments it does not like, not on the basis of laws, but on the basis of the opinion of a "reasonable" judge. The Israeli Supreme Court has treated its "common sense" as law. The "uprising of the people," that is, the mass demonstrations in the streets of Israel's cities in "defense of democracy" is an organized and financed struggle by the country's established elites for their interpretation of democracy and their privileged position under it. The elites, with the help of the mainstream press, intimidate the people by saying that they will be bad if they do not support them: "security is deteriorating," "the economic situation is deteriorating," "education is deteriorating," "Israel's international status is deteriorating." The mainstream media, unhappy with the victory of the ruling right-wing coalition, describes the atmosphere in Israel as that of "the end of the world," very similar to that which prevailed in Israel in 1977 after the defeat in the Knesset elections of the Labor Party, which had ruled the country for 29 years since its birth. The rhetoric of the media, elites and demonstrators is reminiscent of the protests of the opposition, which at that time found itself in the uncomfortable and unusual position of being out of power, claiming that the leader of the winning party, Menachem Begin, was a "terrorist," a "fascist," a "warmonger" (an accusation made two years before the ruling party made peace with Egypt) and an "anti-democrat." One can understand the behavior of the then-elite that lost power, just as one can understand the behavior of the current elite seeking to seize power after failing in the November 2022 Knesset elections. The struggle of the elites against the government is quite normal in a democratic society. But the key to a correct understanding of what is happening should be sought in a correct reading of the slogans of the protesters. The slogans of the struggle for democracy should be presented in an adequate way: the elites are engaged in a political struggle for elitist democracy. Image: Avi1111 Dr. Avishai Teicher, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0 On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese asked for "restraint" to protect civilians in the Gaza Conflict. Hundreds of people were killed in Gaza, which has become a real concern for the Australian prime minister. According to Albanese, the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza create terror and are a form of discrimination. Australia Extends Sympathy for Israel Albanese blamed Hamas for the aimless attack, leading to the death of the civilians in Gaza. The Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, also shared her sentiments about the Gaza conflict and showed her support for Israel's right to defend itself. "Australia's thoughts are with those lost, those injured, those taken hostage, and all their loved ones," Wong told the reporters in Adelaide, as per The Guardian. Wong advised all parties to protect civilians, especially children, not just those attacked. Primarily, Wong suggested not to travel and be near Gaza's borders. Read Also: Bowie State University Shooting: Maryland Incident Leaves 2 Injured Casualties in Gaza Conflict According to CTV Bordforen, the death toll in Israel has reached more than 1,100 after a shocking Hamas attack. Most people who died from the attack were militants, and the rest were innocent civilians. Albanese revealed that non-Israeli citizens were kidnapped as different nations frequently visited Israel. Wong checked the Australians who might be hospitalized and injured in the affected areas. But, there was still no information on whether there were Australian victims. Israel has also broken off electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza, putting their current medical situation under pressure with many injured people. Anas Jerjawi of Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor announced that the Israeli warcraft destroyed civilian homes, leaving tens of thousands of Israelis homeless. "Water and electricity supplies are almost at a standstill, and hospitals face extreme difficulties in continuing to operate due to the huge shortage of medical supplies... the Israeli attack must be stopped immediately," Jerjawi added. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman also advised to avoid civilian casualties. Hamas militants reportedly use civilian infrastructure and populations as a shield to its operations. Other than the thousands of deaths, the United Nations discussed that there was too much damage to infrastructure, covering the homes of two million people, forty schools, and four hospitals. The United Nations warned to stop the attack on health care as the medical supplies are running out. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel asked for a truce while speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, Merkel also affirmed that Israel can defend itself against the attacks. On the side of Israel, US President Joe Biden backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US rejected the UN Security Council to publish a statement calling Israel to stop the attack. US State Secretary Antony Blinken said, "The violence must end immediately." Moreover, countries like France and Egypt called off the fight and requested a ceasefire. Related Article: Hamas Attack Update: AA, Other Major Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel-Here's What FAA Says In Updated NOTAM @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Speaker Kevin McCarthy is out, and so are the headlines. According to the MSM, the Republicans are in full self-destruction mode, the radicals have taken over, the House of Representatives is in chaos, and 2024 is looking brighter by the day for the Democrats. Maybe thats true -- but maybe it isnt. It depends on how the Republicans respond to this episode. An important lesson has just been delivered. If the Republicans learn it, they may come out stronger than ever. The lesson is that in a system which depends on good-faith negotiations, integrity is important, and promises matter. When men working within that system lack honor, agreements arent agreements, and deals arent deals. Without honor, the system cant work -- and hasnt been working for many years. Before American history became minority oppression studies, we were regaled with tales of I cannot tell a lie Washington, and Honest Abe Lincoln. Integrity in government was a valued virtue. But somewhere along the way virtue stopped being valued. We started accepting leadership with somewhat lower standards. I dont associate integrity with George No new taxes Bush, or honesty with Bill I did not have sex with that woman Clinton. None of their successors seem to have had a particularly close relationship with honesty either. Unfortunately, dishonesty and treachery have become so commonplace in Washington, D.C. that they have become accepted as standard operating procedure. But treachery comes with a downside, as Speaker McCarthy just learned. At a time when the federal government is swimming in debt -- and its bureaucracy is growing like a malignant tumor -- Americans gave the Republicans a slim majority in the House after the midterm election to address it. It was essentially a two-year probationary period to demonstrate that they were the right people for the job. A few members of the Freedom Caucus held fast and got promises from Kevin McCarthy to hold the fiscal line. In exchange for that promise and some accountability rule changes, they supported his election to Speaker of the House. But then McCarthy worked with Democrats to raise the federal debt limit. Next, as we approached the end of the fiscal year, he worked with Democrats again to pass a continuing resolution -- allowing federal spending to continue at its current level for another 45 days. At the rate the government is currently spending our money, we will pile up an additional $250 billion of debt during that month and a half. Our current debt stands at an astronomical $33.5 trillion. That is $100,000 of debt for every man, woman, and child in America. That debt is not merely an abstraction. It has real consequences for Americans, because every taxpayer is servicing that debt. Their taxes are paying the interest on that debt. At our current prime rate, an average family of fours taxes could go down by $22K per year, had our public servants not taken out all those loans! Kevin McCarthy promised to address the approaching economic crisis. Then he broke that promise. But he was smart enough during the negotiations to get a promise from the Democrats that they wouldnt support attempts to remove him from the Speakers chair. He apparently thought their promise would have more fidelity than his. While McCarthy was betraying his caucus, he forgot that treachery is now standard operating procedure. He made a deal with the Democrats to protect his position, and they betrayed him. Just like McCarthy, their honor was secondary to achieving their goal. In this instance, their goal wasnt to protect the Speaker, it was to disrupt the Republican Party before next years election. In such an environment, why did McCarthy think he could break a promise to his own caucus, yet trust his opponents? Thats rather poor judgement, no? I didnt think Kevin McCarthy was a particularly bad speaker. He supported investigations of government corruption, and nothing about his leadership has approached the awfulness of San Fran Nans. But with a President determined to drive us into economic collapse, we needed a trustworthy speaker -- one whose word meant something. It will be unfortunate if the House experiences a few months of chaos because of his removal. But McCarthy made a promise and then broke it. In a political system which is woefully lacking in accountability, McCarthy was just held accountable. That is a good thing -- and far too rare. How different would Washington, D.C. be if holding bureaucrats and politicians accountable for their actions were the norm rather than the exception? When Republicans won their narrow control of the House -- and it took 15 tries for McCarthy to ascend to the speakers chair -- the narrative was that compromise would be the key to a successful speakership. Well, Kevin McCarthy compromised, and failed spectacularly. Compromise is not inherently bad. But compromise which breaks ones word is dishonorable. In McCarthys case, it resulted in his demise. Perhaps the real lesson from the McCarthy saga is that when ones leadership grasp is tenuous, one must hold tight to ones principles and value allies over opponents. John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He writes for the American Free News Network and can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com. Image: Defense Visual Information Service With hundreds of Israelis killed and many more kidnapped or injured by the anti-Semitic Arab supremacists of Hamas, the rhetorical war for Israel has begun. This war, as has always been the case, is fought in the realm of rhetoric and argument and not upon the means of military weapons. We will now see with the outrageous annihilation of civilians by an unrepentant aggressor in the political sovereignty of Hamas, a massive social and intellectual effort to rationalize the genocidal ambitions of Hamas, Hezballah, and the Shia Supremacists of Tehran. Intellectuals and academics will rally to the defense of these fanatical anti-Semitic genocidaires and we must take a measure of their rhetorical arguments to plan for the defense of Jews worldwide. At the tip of the anti-Semitic rhetorical sphere is Harvard. Exhibit A is Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe. Within moments of the Sabbath attacks on women, children, and any civilians in easy reach of Gaza, Professor Tribe explained: 'Is Netanyahu wagging the dog of war to take attention from his own war on the independent judiciary?' Can anyone put that past him? Though he immediately deleted the post when confronted, the moment exposed the institutional commitment of Harvard to an old anti-Semitic canard from one of the most important scholars of American jurisprudence. Study the rhetorical contrasts between presidential candidates Cornell West and Robert Kennedy Jr. West, a former Harvard faculty member, complained in his 2021 resignation that Harvard was hostile to the Palestinian cause. In the ongoing genocidal ambitions of Hamas, Professor West argues presently: The escalation of the barbaric violence in the Middle East must stop. The vicious Israeli occupation and the ugly Palestinian retaliation results in the killing of precious innocent people on both sides. We must have a lasting peace based on justice! #TruthJusticeLove. West offers a half measure of equivocation and full measure of Israeli occupation propaganda to push for a tolerant response to Hamas killing and kidnapping of women and children. Robert Kennedy Jr. takes a different tack: This ignominious, unprovoked, and barbaric attack on Israel must be met with world condemnation and unequivocal support for the Jewish state's right to self-defense. We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself -- now. As President, I'll make sure that our policy is unambiguous so that the enemies of Israel will think long and hard before attempting aggression of any kind. Though both men are arguably features of the American political Left, Robert Kennedy Jr.s Harvard degree does not prevent him from seeing how his fathers defense of Israel led to his assassination by Sirhan Sirhan. Nonetheless, more than a dozen Harvard student organizations have signed a statement in the shadows of the ongoing anti-Semitic slaughter stating: We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all the unfolding violence... millions of Palestinians in Gaza have been forced to live in an open-air prison... The apartheid regime [Israel] is the only one to blame. Americas intellectual elite at the State Department crafted the brilliant statement: We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing. This ridiculous statement was also immediately withdrawn. The U.S. State Department restored millions of dollars in aid to UNRWA in Gaza in 2021. An important component of this aid to Gaza is to educate children about how evil Israelis and Jews are and the profound moral legitimacy of Hamas genocidal ambitions. On 9/11/23, the Biden administration made a point of releasing billions of dollars in aid to the financier of this Sabbath slaughter to fanatical anti-Semitic Shia Supremacist government of Tehran that five times a day leads partisans in chants of Death to Israel and Death to America. Hamas leadership says that the Iranian government helped coordinate these attacks while the Biden administration says they are unsure of Irans role in the killing of civilians -- including some Americans. In one important respect, the Harvard students are correct: millions of Palestinians live in an open-air prison. But that prison is built, maintained, and held by the governance of Hamas and an array of even more radical splinter groups who view the human beings within their grasp as mere utilitarian means to their genocidal ambitions. The sovereignty of Hamas and its rival groups over the Gaza Strip must be ended with complete military force. The education provided by UNWRA that continues the indoctrination of children to accomplish Shahid must be ended. It is the false propaganda education of Gaza that propels the violence. The fact that American intellectuals fawn and obfuscate to encourage such a system is disgraceful and is worthy of all of our civil disobedience and a true quest for human freedom. Dr. Ben Voth is a professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. His most recent books -- Political Campaign Communication 10th edition with Robert Denton and Centennial of the Modern American Presidency: The Presidential Rhetoric of Wilson, Harding and Coolidge (both with Lexington Books) come out in December. Image: OSPS7 When all Bidens policies and decisions of weakness are added up, the violent Iran-backed Hamas attack of Israel is easy to explain. Lets connect the dots: Biden ignores follow-up on the magnificent Nobel-deserving Trump Abraham Accords as a basis for Arab-Israeli peace. Iran starts fomenting a slow undermining against the Abraham Accords. Biden curtails American oil and gas exploitation just as Trumps policies were leading to American energy independence. Biden tries to appease Putin by supporting the Nordstream pipeline to weaken Europe and NATO Biden botches his abrupt poorly-planned weak departure from Afghanistan against NATO allies opinion and that of his own generals. Biden dithers about an obvious coming attack by Putin against Ukraine -- then gives too little too late for an outright defeat of Putin. In a desperate attempt to reactivate the bogus and always flawed Iran nuclear deal, Biden gives Iran, the sponsor of anti-Israel terror, $6 billion along with other look-the-other-way appeasement. Surprise! Hamas attacks Israel as other Iran sponsored forces like Hezballah gather for action in the region. Biden will soon connect with the next dot -- his buddy in corruption, President Xi. Image: Quinn Shanahan Across the West, Muslims and their socialist allies claim that Israel is a Western colonizer. Thats a lie. Heres a very slimmed-down history of the last 4,000 years. The original indigenous people of the land we now call Israel were the Canaanites. When the Jews migrated to that land roughly 4,000 years ago, tribal warfare ensued, and the Canaanites lost. Since thenfor around 4,000 yearsthe Jews have had a continuous presence in Israel. They are the indigenous people with a claim to the land older than any other living people. In ancient times, they held that land despite wars with and occupations by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Greeks. Finally, in 70 A.D., the Romans fully conquered Israel, erasing its identity as a nation. To symbolize that conquest, Rome renamed the land Palestine after the Philistines whom the Jews had destroyed in Davids time. In subsequent centuries, Christians, Persians, Umayyad Muslims, Abbasid Muslims and, eventually, Ottoman Muslims invaded the land and ruled as imperialist colonizers. Through it all, Jews continued on the land. During the Ottoman period, Israel was a barren wasteland riddled with malaria and yellow fever. The Jews were eventually joined by two Muslim tribes: the Druze, whom Muslims consider heretics, and the Bedouins. Beginning in the early 19th century, Muslim refugees from other lands came, too. Pierre Van Paassen, a Protestant minister and journalist, knew the region intimately in the first half of the 20th century. His book The Forgotten Ally, much of it based on events he witnessed and people he knew, fills in some of the erased facts in the regions history, including how the modern Palestinians came there. Image by Israels Voice. Those who came included Algerians who left North Africa after Frances conquest in 1830; Circassian immigrants from the Russian Caucasus, whom the Turks settled in Syria-Palestine in the second half of the 19th century; and Senussi Muslims from Tripoli who trickled into Syria-Palestine after WWI to escape persecution in their own land. These people did not own the land where they settled and lived in unimaginable squalor. Two things changed this backwater dynamic. First, in response to (a) the Dreyfuss Affair in France, when an innocent Jewish military officer was accused of treason for crimes known to have been committed by a French noble, and (b) the pogroms in Eastern Europe. Theodor Herzl said that the return to the Holy Land was the only way for Jews in the diaspora (the lands outside of Israel) to survive. Zionism was born. Many answered the call. Jews bought the land from Ottoman landowners (who lived in Istanbul, Paris, London, etc.), and the idealists headed off to turn the swamp into a land of Milk and Honey. Second, the Ottoman Empire collapsed when Germany (with which it had allied itself) lost WWI. In 1916, anticipating victory, the French and British entered into the Sykes-Picot agreement, divvying up the land between them. While France would get whats now Syria and Lebanon, Britain would get the southernmost edge of that territory, which is now Israel. In 1917, Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour Declaration supporting Palestine as the national home of the Jewish people. This wasnt just a Protestant religious commitment. It also took a swipe at Germanys ally. When Germany lost the war, the Sykes-Picot agreement went into effect. Syria-Palestine became British-mandate Palestine (BMP). At the time, according to Pierre van Paassen, the Arabs were thrilled with the Jewish presence in BMP. Energetic, European-educated Jews brought the benefits of modern agriculture techniques, modern medicine, and education to the downtrodden people in this backwater. Even the man who would become Faisal I bin Hussein bin Ali al-Hashimi, the king of Syria, in 1920, announced that We Arabslook with the deepest sympathy on the Zionist movement. How did that British and Arab sympathy collapse? Van Paassen writes that it started when Britain shipped into the BMP the lower tiers of bureaucrats from across its Empire. These men, according to van Paassen, were antisemitic and recognized that the energetic Jews and grateful Arabs were a threat to their power. They encouraged the Arabs to view the Jews as their enemy. Additionally, in an era newly desperate for oil, Arabs had the oil. European countries knew on which side their oil was buttered. In 1925, the League of Nations recognized that Palestine and Transjordan (modern Jordan) were successor states under international law. Palestine was to have been the Jewish state; Transjordan was the Muslim-Arab state. Both the British and the Arabs, however, refused to recognize Palestines status as a Jewish state. When Hitler rose, Amin al-Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem and a radical Arab nationalist and violent antisemite, made common cause with the Nazis. He and Hitler plotted the complete annihilation of Jews in BMP. What happened, instead, was that, following the Holocaust, Jews poured into BMP. Eventually, the world was forced to acknowledge the Jews historic right to their indigenous homeland. As of 1948, the Jews got a new infusion of citizens when the Muslim world (the most aggressive colonizing force on earth) evicted roughly 900,000 Jews, many of whom had lived in those lands from times predating Jesus. In the 76 years since then, Arabs have regularly attacked Israel, and Israel has repeatedly rebuffed those attacks. In each case, the Arabs engaged in the savagery we see today: mass rapes, kidnapping, torture, beheadings, body mutilation. Arabs just never did so on such a glaring, shocking scale and never before had the ability to share their triumphs on social media. Arabs fight wars as they did 1,400 years ago and as humans did in the Stone Age. There are no rules of warfare. One final point: In the last forty years, Israel has also repeatedly been willing to cede land for peace, including handing Gaza over to the Arabs in 2005. That has made no difference. As the Hamas Charter makes explicit, the goal is now and has always been the eradication of the indigenous Jewish population. Tell that to the next socialist who claims that Jews are the colonialists. They are the indigenous people who have been oppressed by millennia of colonialism, most recently by the Muslims and the British. Heres a helpful video about Islamic colonial expansion: It is fashionable to compare the current war in Israel with the 9/11 attack. This is no less than Israel's 9/11, said Ian Bremmer, the president of Eurasia Group, in reference to the scale of the attack. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper explains why he thinks the Hamas attack in Israel compares to the attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. Gilad Erdan, Israels Ambassador to the UN, analogizes similarly. He stated on "Fox & Friends Weekend" (10/08) that the 600 dead in the conflict with Hamas equates roughly to 20,000 Americans dead on 9/11, given population differences (the number of dead is almost certain to rise). Erdans back-of-the-envelope math is: there are ~330,000,000 Americans and ~10,000,000 Israelis. Hence, there are 33 times more Americans than Israelis. 33 x 600 = 19,800. Roughly, 20,000. This minimizes the number significantly. Israels population is 9,174, 520. The population of the USA is 339,996,563. There are 37.1 times more Americans than Israelis. On 9/11, the targets were Americans. In the war in Israel, Jews and Jewish towns are the targets (see the Hamas Charter). However, Israel is only 79% Jewish. The Jewish population of Israel is 7,247,871. There are 47 times more Americans than Israeli Jews, so 600 dead Israelis (read Jews) equates to 28.146 dead Americans. This is 141% of Ambassador Eldans estimate, i.e., 1.4 times greater. He is off by 40%. If this were a Muslims calculation, it would make sense. Muslims (e.g., Mahmoud Abbas) have a way of minimizing Jewish dead. So why might the ambassador lowball the number? Because despite all the hatred of Jews by Arabs, the State of Israel has always considered its Arab population as part of the country. This sentiment goes all the way back to its establishment where the Founders asked the Arab population to remain instead of leaving at the time of the Arab invasion to destroy the nascent state. Good luck finding a Muslim or Arab country that considers its minority populations likewise. As horrible as 20,000 dead sounds to the sane, i.e., non-anti-Semites, remember the real number is 40% higher, as it will remain as the casualty count increases. Image: James Emery It is no secret that our former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency was not a fan of Joe Biden when he saw him up close and personal as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as our Vice President. Gates was present when then Vice President Biden urged President Obama, over the advice of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, not to launch the daring raid that ultimately took out Osama bin Laden. His famous statement in Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War: I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades. ...has continued to be remarkably prophetic since Joe Biden assumed office as president. Having served in the Department of Defense both in uniform and as a government employee when Robert Gates was at the helm, I can assure you he was a no-nonsense and apolitical public servant with no axe to grind nor allegiance to a political party. He called them as he saw them and was known in The Building (The Pentagon) for his ability quickly to size up ones character and ability as a leader, be it as a member of the military or as a civilian. Which brings us to Joe Biden and the 9/11-like terror attack on Israel. The current situation in Israel has the potential to quickly engulf the entire Middle East in flames. It once again demonstrates that Robert Gates was and continues to be on target regarding the lackluster abilities of our current Commander-in-Chief Joe Biden in foreign policy and national security. President Bidens weak enforcement of sanctions against Iran and the recent release of billions of frozen assets of humanitarian aid surely served as the catalyst for the horror that Hamas is inflicting upon the people of Israel. In addition, if Iran-backed Hezbollah enters the war, the very existence of the state of Israel could be threated and the United States will be pulled yet again into another conflict that could have been prevented had the Biden administration demonstrated more resolve against Iran. From our disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan (not coordinated with our NATO allies) which left the Taliban in charge along with billions in U.S. weapons, to Putins invasion of Ukraine, prompted by our perceived weakness and resolve, once again Robert Gates has proven that he is not only consistent in his assessment of Joe Bidens ability in national security affairs but clairvoyant as well. Lets hope for the sake not only our nation and the world that President Biden gets it right for once before it is too late. Image: Ed Schipul, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Congressional Squad members and other Democrat officials created a firestorm by putting out problematic statements as Israel declares war on the Hamas terror group as the conflict heats up in the Middle East. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said in a statement. I condemn Hamas attack in the strongest possible terms. 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. This is problematic because Hamas doesnt recognize the statehood of Israel. You cant broker lasting peace with an organization who doesnt believe you have a right to exist. Lets be honest: the goal of Hamas is to claim the whole land of Israel for themselves, so any peace treaty will just serve as a short reprieve while they build up military resources for the next terror campaign. AOC's statement suggests that Israel is partly to blame for the violence. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Missouri) also criticized U.S. foreign policy in her statement over the attacks, insisting that in order to achieve peace in the region, the U.S. needs to end its support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid. This belief is problematic for two reasons: number one, Hamas is not operating in a vacuum; it is backed by countries like Iran, Syria, etc. who readily provide assistance for terrorist organizations. Not supporting Israel does not change this reality or achieve peace. The second reason this is problematic is because if you believe that Israel is running a military occupation, then you believe that Hamas deserves some or all the land in Israel, which will not lead to lasting peace. Giving Hamas more land doesnt make anti-Semitism or their belief in the destruction of Israel disappear. It will only empower Hamas and its state backers. Examples of these anti-Semitic views can be found in places like Tunisia, where a new global study done by ADL showed 85% believed Jews have too much control over global affairs, and Jews have too much power in the business world, respectively, while 83% said that Jews have too much power in international financial markets. The rhetoric heats up to even more deadly heights with chants of death to the Jews but its funny how the pro-Palestinian representatives conveniently ignore these truths. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) jumped in, saying, 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. On the surface this seems like a very typical political response to a tragedy but it ignores certain realities. The traumatizing of generations is caused by Hamas -- they must be called out for using terror to further their political and ideological aspirations. They are religious warlords who need to be stopped at all cost. We cant forget the chants of "death to America" coming out of the mouths of Hamas and their state sponsors its in our national interest to support Israel. Hopefully these Democrat representatives can get on board with the rest of the free world to confront terror and anti-Semitism. Israels existence depends on how well the world confronts these issues. American national interest is tied to our support for Israel in confronting terrorist organizations and their state sponsors. Maybe next time these elected officials will think before they put out statements. Image: Ted Eytan To say Joe Biden and his troupe are a complete mess is a gross understatement, and even the fake polls cant do much to downplay the absolute disdain a growing number of Americans have for him and his collaborators. President Donald Trump is leading Biden in multiple recent battleground state polls and national surveys, demonstrating the former presidents continued political success despite being indicted four times by the Biden regimes weaponized Department of Justice. Trump leads Biden in key swing states by multiple points, with some polling analysts telling the Daily Caller that recent surveys appear to be trending in Trumps favor. [Trump] can absolutely win a general election, that has always been true, and his odds get better every day Joe Biden is president, OnMessage Inc. pollster Nathan Klein told the Daily Caller. Klein also added: The positive movement for Trump weve been seeing in the presidential race seems real. I wouldnt go as far as to say Trump has an outright advantage yet, as many of the swing state polling leads are within the margin of error. But Trump certainly is experiencing a bump, helped by some political environment factors and the current perception of the incumbent President, he continued, before citing that 70% of Americans feel as if the country is headed in the wrong direction and that Bidens approval rating stands at 40%. A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that Trump is leading Biden by six points in swing states that were extraordinarily close in the 2020 presidential election: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. A Quinnipiac University survey released last week found that in Pennsylvania, Trump leads by 2 points. Among independent voters, Biden trails by 9 points. Poll: Trump Takes 2-Point Lead over Biden in Pennsylvania https://t.co/0YF8wjNnk4 Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) October 5, 2023 In Georgia, where Trump was indicted for his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, the former president also leads Biden 47-38%, according to a Rasmussen Reports poll that was released on Sept. 15, 2023. In North Carolina, Trump is also ahead of Biden by four points, marking a three-point increase from when Trump won the state in 2020. Also from the article: Its important to remember that Trump only lost Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin by about 40,000 votes combined. So, the assumption that Biden would cruise to re-election if Trump becomes the nominee was flawed from the start, said Klein. As if Democrats dont have enough to worry about, given their unfavorable presidential candidate and record on crucial issues such as immigration, the Washington Post recently released a poll, showing Trump ahead of Biden by a whopping 10 points. Image: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. Do you remember those highway billboards with former President George W. Bush waving and the caption: "Do you miss me yet"? We need a few of those billboards for President Trump. Love or hate him, his presidency looks better and better in comparison every minute. And the comparison gets better when you look in the bullpen and see VP Mike Pence vs VP Kamala Harris. Once again, we see how the world sees President Biden. Down in Mexico, he gets ridiculed by President Lopez-Obrador who goes AOC and calls his border fence "a backward step." In Iran, they get $6 billion and welcome talk of a nuclear deal by having their client Hamas attack Israel. Who predicted that Iran would use the money to fund terrorism? You guessed it: Mr. Orange Man himself. Who told us that a Biden presidency would open the border and drive up gasoline prices? Another two for the Orange Man. It's easy to play politics at times like these. However, it is a fact that the Biden Administration's efforts to appease Iran have projected weakness, as Alex Miller wrote: The expectation was that the funds would be used for humanitarian aid. However, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told NBC News last month that the country would use the money wherever we need it. Victoria Coates, former deputy national security adviser for the Middle East under the Trump administration, said that Iran had been starved of resources because of sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump. If you unfreeze funds, if you let them sell oil, they spend that money on violent mayhem in the region, and they spend that money on attacks on Israel, Mrs. Coates told Fox News. Mr. Trump condemned the attacks, calling them a disgrace and supporting Israel to defend itself with full force. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration, Mr. Trump said. Others are calling for Mr. Biden to be held culpable for the attack. The Biden Administration must be held accountable for its appeasement of these Hamas terrorists, including handing over billions of dollars to them and their Iranian backers, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana. Again, maybe it's only a coincidence that the attack occurred two weeks after the money was sent to Iran. Yes, we want our hostages back and we are happy about the family reunions. Nevertheless, the optics are bad. Iran gets money and Hamas fires missiles. Biden talks border wall and Lopez-Obrador ridicules him publicly. It's hard to disagree with the idea that we were better off under President Trump. At least, Iran feared him and Lopez-Obrador kept his mouth shut. P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. Image: Gage Skidmore Maeklong Railway Market, located in Samut Songkhram, Thailand, around 37 miles west of Bangkok, looks like any other open-air market in Asia. There are tropical fruits and vegetables such as lychee, durian, and mango in big brightly colored piles, variety of dried spices, pastes and herbs, freshly caught seafood and other local foods. The crowd weave their way around in between vendors, picking up whatever they need for the day. The market is sheltered by low-hanging awnings/umbrellas and if you look closely, you will notice that you are actually walking on train rails. Then a piercing siren sounds and in a flash the market transforms - the shoppers disappear and the stallholders whip away their produce. One moment you see the locals shopping for their vegetables and the next moment the vendors will scoop up their baskets and boxes and anything that lies over the track. The market comes to a standstill as all the vendors hold on to the poles supporting their awnings to make way for the train to pass. It is such a tight squeeze that the train travelling at about 15mph almost touches the fruits, vegetables and everything else at the marketplace as it passes through. Photo credit Once the train is gone, the vendors push back the stalls and awnings into position and everything goes back to normal as if nothing has happened. After all the market has been here for generations way before when the railway was set up in 1905. Thais call this place Talad Rom Hoop Market which literally translates to Market Umbrella Pulldown. You will understand the name once you see the video. Trains runs through the Maeklong Railway Market 7 times a day, 7 days a week. In the morning, the train passes by the market 4 times. The train arrives at 0840hrs from Ban Laem Station and departs from Maeklong (Samut Songkram) Railway Station at 0900hrs. The next train arrives at 1120hrs from Ban Laem and depart from Maeklong (Samut Songkram) Railway Station at 1130hrs. In the afternoon, the train passes by the market 3-4 times. The train arrives at 1430hrs from Ban Laem and departs from Maeklong (Samut Songkram) Railway Station at 1530hrs. The next train arrives at 1740hrs from Ban Laem and may or may not depart from Maeklong (Samut Songkram) Railway Station. Do note that the train schedule is subject to change so check the schedules with the train station before planning your journey to Maeklong. Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Sources: Dailymail, Lonely Planet Xi Jinping Thought on Culture highlighted at key meeting Xinhua) 14:47, October 09, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A national meeting on the work of public communication and culture was held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday. The most important outcome of the meeting is that, for the first time, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was put forward. An instruction by President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was conveyed at the meeting. In the instruction, he stressed building stronger cultural confidence, following the approach of openness and inclusiveness, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground to provide a strong ideological guarantee, spiritual strength and favorable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Culture plays a vital role in inspiring national spirit, maintaining national identity, and promoting economic and social development and well-rounded personal development. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi has placed the work of public communication and culture in a prominent position, giving instructions and guidance in art, journalism, philosophy and social sciences, and culture, among others. Xi introduced the concept of confidence in culture. He incorporated the core socialist values into the basic policy underpinning the endeavor to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. He also set clear tasks for public communication and culture: to uphold socialism with Chinese characteristics, rally public support, cultivate generations of young people with sound values and ethics, develop Chinese culture, and better present China to the world. The new ideas and judgments about cultural development in the new era put forward by Xi are the crystallization of cultural development under the Party's leadership. They have enriched and developed Marxist cultural theories and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture shows that the Party's confidence in history and culture has reached a new height. It marks a milestone in the Party's cause of public communication and culture. Xi has raised a new cultural mission for the nation: to further advance cultural prosperity, build a leading country in culture, and foster modern Chinese civilization at a new starting point. In his instruction made public at the national meeting over the weekend, Xi made requirements in seven aspects: -- strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of public communication and culture; -- developing a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people; -- cultivating and applying core socialist values; -- strengthening the penetration and credibility of the media and its ability to guide and influence; -- promoting the creative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture; -- vigorously developing the cultural sector; -- enhancing international communication capacity and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Domestically, China's national rejuvenation requires both a strong material foundation and spiritual strength. Globally, profound changes in the international landscape prompt an urgent need to increase China's cultural soft power and the appeal of Chinese culture. Facing such situations and tasks, it is of great importance to promote the high-quality development of the work of public communication and culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has thus provided powerful inspiration and a scientific guide for action. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (Photo : Morgan Sette / AFP) (MORGAN SETTE/AFP via Getty Images) NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) provided insights into the 16 Psyche asteroid that is believed to be made mostly out of metal. NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) telescope provides new insights into 16 Psyche, the asteroid believed to be metal-rich and one of the largest in the asteroid belt. The space agency's Psyche mission and spacecraft will journey to the cosmic object and research its characteristics. The situation comes as the true nature of the asteroid is still largely unknown, and new research from SOFIA and NASA's Ames Research Center could help scientists predict what to expect at Psyche. NASA's Psyche Mission In the last few years, scientists have theorized that 16 Psyche's characteristics, especially as Psyche teams have started planning the mission and its goals. One of the primary hypotheses behind the origins of the asteroid is that it was once the iron-rich interior of a planetesimal or a forming planet. Scientists believe that the surface of the planetesimal was blown away by the near-constant collisions between it and other planetary materials that existed in the early solar system. After the asteroid's surface was blown away, the only thing that remained was the core, believed to be what researchers now know as Psyche, as per NASA Space Flight. Despite this hypothesis and data to support it, scientists are still largely unsure of the exact nature of the asteroid and its features. The scientists that will study the asteroid are led by Psyche's principal investigator, Maggie McAdam of Ames, and lead author Anicia Arredondo of the Southwest Research Institute. When SOFIA was still in operation, it was a reflecting telescope integrated into a Boeing 747SP airplane. This unique setup allowed scientists to observe astronomical objects from above the planet's lower atmosphere and any location on Earth, even oceans. Its observations of Psyche were the first to gather data from every part of the mysterious asteroid's surface. They allowed scientists to research and analyze the materials that make up the cosmic object's surface. This is crucial information for understanding the entire asteroid and could never have been collected by telescopes on our planet's surface. Read Also: Dead Star Hits Earth With Powerful Energy Blast, Baffling Scientists Metal-Rich Asteroid NASA set the launch of its Psyche spacecraft for Oct. 12, and it will be from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. According to the Voice of America News, the mysterious asteroid orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter and was first discovered by an Italian astronomer in 1852. The latest mission will be NASA's first trip to an asteroid made mostly of metal, as past missions only explored asteroids made mostly of rock or ice. Psyche is said to be about 280 kilometers at its widest point. After NASA's Psyche spacecraft launches, it will travel roughly 2.2 billion miles to the main asteroid belt and orbit around the metal-rich asteroid. The spacecraft's journey will take under six years and is expected to arrive in 2029. The main mission is set for August 2029 and is when the spacecraft will use its instruments, including a camera, spectrometer, and magnetometer, to investigate the Psyche asteroid. The study would provide insights to understand how rocky planets, such as Earth or Mars, formed, said Digital Trends. Related Article: NASA's Hubble Space Telescope Witnessed Mysterious Intergalactic Explosion, Prompting Various Theories @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When almost every brand is talking about software support and increasing the number of promised OS upgrades, have you ever heard about hardware support? Well, Google did. Google just promised to keep the original spare parts for the Pixel 8 series devices available for the next 7 years. This happens in a scenario where Google promises 7 years of OS, security patch, and feature drop upgrades to keep the Pixel 8 series devices up to date in terms of software until 2030. Advertisement Advertisement And 7 years is a pretty long time for hardware parts. The battery has to keep powering the device through regular usage without losing capacity. Theres also the risk of accidental physical damage, from the back glass to the front display. Although Google has not mentioned where to buy the repair parts, rational thinking suggests that it might be iFixit, their official replacement part supplier for their last offering, i.e., the Google Pixel 7 series devices. The reason Google is providing 7 years of spare parts support to the Pixel 8 series A lot of users upgrade their devices just because the battery capacity dips below their needs. Smartphone batteries are generally rated for only 80% of their capacity after 800 charge cycles. That means charging only once a day may make you want to replace it within 2 years. This issue is becoming especially noticeable for the latest non-Pro iPhones. Some users have to replace the battery. Not everyone can break the bank again after just one year of usage. Often, they end up using batteries from third-party manufacturers in their premium phones. This is because the original component isnt available for a reasonable price. And speaking of other components like the glass and the display panel, well, accidents happen. Repairing a smartphone instead of buying a new one also means doing good for the planet by not turning that otherwise functional piece of tech into e-waste. Google is putting their effort into making replacement parts available, probably for this exact reason. Samsungs Odyssey gaming monitor line has become a popular option for gamers, and right now theres a deal on the companys 32-inch G5 monitor. At $349.99 for the original price the 32-inch Odyssey G5 is a pretty good value already. Thats because it features a WQHD resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a curved display to add a little immersiveness to your games. There are more nice features too. And while all that sounds good for $349.99, it never hurts to save a little money. So the deal is you can now pick up the monitor for $319.99. Thats a small savings of $30 but thats better than no savings at all. Because now you can spend that $30 on something else. As for additional monitor features, the Odyssey G5 has an aspect ratio of 16:9 and it supports wall mounting. Or you could use the included stand if youd prefer to have it sitting directly on your desk. Advertisement Advertisement We would recommend wall mounting though if you have the room for as it would free up some desk space. The monitor also features HDR 10, as well as a 1ms response time for low-latency visuals in games and other content. AMD FreeSync Premium Pro is also supported, and you have ports and connections for both DisplayPort and HDMI. Although theres only one of each so you are limited on how much stuff you can plug into it. Additionally, youll find one USB-A port and a 3.5mm audio-in port for speakers. Samsung also makes a 34-inch version of the G5 and thats a great monitor as well. However it is an ultrawide monitor so it can take up a little bit more space. Itll also be more expensive. So this model is a nice compromise on getting more space and saving some money. You can snag this deal from the link below. Samsung Odyssey G5 32-inch - Amazon So far, it seems that the foldable has pretty much been perfected. So its time to look forward to our next Sci-Fi-fueled innovation which is the slidable phone. This technology has been in the works for some time, but two Chinese companies are looking to bring it in the near future. According to a tweet from @tech_reve, companies like Vivo and Transsion are working on bringing slidable phones. Most people in the smartphone world should know what Vivo is. This is a large Chinese smartphone company that makes a wide range of devices including premium flagships. This includes the Vivo X Fold 2 from earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement The other company is a large parent company called Transsion. It owns the companies Tecno, Infinix, and Itel. Tecno has also come out with several foldable phones. Transsion and Vivo are working on bringing slidable phones next year Right now, we dont have too much information on what phones to expect from these companies. What we know is that theyre trying to take the flexible screen phone to the next step and have some user-facing devices out to the public as early as next year. The two companies arent working together to manufacture a phone. Rather, it seems that several Chinese companies are looking to get the jump on the slidable phone market. Right now, Samsung has the foldable phone market by the neck, and its hard for any company to steal market share. So, rather than keep struggling with the market hoping for some change, were seeing companies try to beat Samsung to a different market. Over the years, weve seen Samsung file numerous patents pertaining to slidable phones, so we know that the company is working on the tech as well. As for these rumored phones, Samsung Display is listed as one of the suppliers that might supply the displays. The other company is called CSOT. So, it looks like these companies are serious about this technology. Well need to wait a bit until we see anything solid. For all we know, we might see something from these companies during CES or MWC next year. (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - The spread between Italian and German 10-year treasury bonds, a gauge of confidence in Italy's ability to pay down its high public debt, rose to 207 basis points on Monday morning in a sudden U-turn after opening at 200 points, down from Friday evening's closing value of 202 points. The yield on the Italian ten-year BTP bond stood at 4.9%. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - Fincantieri said Monday that it has signed an agreement to build a ferry for the Sicilian regional government to connect mainland Sicily with the islands of Lampedusa, Linosa and Pantelleria. Lampedusa has been at the centre of international attention recently due to a big rise in the number of migrant boats landing on Italy's southernmost island. It is also a popular tourist destination. The ferry will cost 120 million euros, it will be built in Palermo and is set to be delivered in 2026. "Today is an important day, with Fincantieri bringing ferry production back to Italy," Fincantieri CEO Pieroberto Folgiero told a joint press conference with Sicilian Governor Renato Schifani. "It is a great return to Italy, distinguished by innovation". The region will lease the ferry out to a private contractor. The 140-metre long ferry will have a maximum speed of 19 knots and will be able to carry up to 1,000 people and 200 cars. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - The Bank of Italy told parliament Monday that Italy's high debt/GDP ratio, the second highest in the eurozone after Greece's, reduced the wiggle room to cope with future adverse shocks to the economy and public finances. "The high ratio of public debt to GDP is a serious element of vulnerability: it reduces the fiscal space to cope with possible future adverse shocks; it exposes the country to the risk of tensions in the financial markets; and it increases the cost of debt for the State, and ultimately for households and businesses", said the head of the BoI's economics and statistics unit, Sergio Nicoletti Altimari. He was speaking at a parliamentary hearing on the government's updated economic and financial plan, the NADEF. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - ISTAT told parliament on the NADEF update to the government's economic and financial blueprint Monday that weakness in the Italian economy will continue over the coming months. "The latest economic indicators suggest for the coming months the continuation of the phase of weakness in the Italian economy", said the acting president of the stats agency, Francesco Maria Chelli in his hearing on the NADEF. "Net of the trend of international international 'exogenous' factors, elements hindering growth are also linked to tighter credit access conditions for households and businesses and the slow recovery of households' purchasing power of households," he added. (ANSA). The war in Israel is just getting worse. Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, made huge headlines after its terrorist attack on Saturday, Oct. 7. Some people may think that this terrorist organization is the main enemy of Israel. But, the truth is, the Hamas is only the tip of the iceberg in the worsening war in the Middle East. Worsening Israel Conflict: Hamas Is Just Tip of Iceberg According to Blitz, the gruesome terrorist strike of Hamas marked the start of a relentless barrage of rockets fired at Israel. Aside from Hamas, another Iranian proxy called Hezbollah joined the ongoing conflict in the Middle Eastern nation. This group is considered to be more substantial than Hamas because it has high-precision rockets that can hit any target in Israel. Hezbollah, along with the Ansar Allah Houthi Movement, the Afghan Taliban, and Iraqi militias, expressed solidarity with the terrorist activities of the Hamas. What's shocking about this ongoing conflict is that these groups are even encouraging other Middle Eastern nations to open their sea and land routes so they can conquer Jerusalem. Meanwhile, some leaders of Iran-backed militias in Iraq also praised the recent deadly operation of the Hamas group. These include Al-Nujaba' Movement leader Akram Al-Ka'abi. Abu Alaa' Al-Wala'i, leader of the Sayyid Al-Shuhada' Brigades, also said that they support the Palestinian factions, promising that they will assist these terrorist groups to destroy Israel. All these groups that want to destroy Israel clearly show that the war in the Middle Eastern country is a very serious one. But, the question is, should the U.S. continue getting supporting the Israeli nation? Read Also: Belarus President Claims US Triggers Russia To Use Nuclear Weapons-Should Biden Admin Still Aid Ukraine? Should US Continue Aiding Israel? There are many reasons why the U.S. government wants to continue supporting Israel in the ongoing war against Hamas and other terrorist groups. One of these is that Israel serves as a frontline defense against threats that come from the Middle East. Another reason is that the Israeli nation is considered to be a thriving hub of technology and innovation, making it critical for numerous industries. PBS reported that the Israeli government officially declared a war, allowing its forces to take significant military countermeasures against Hamas and its other enemies. This means that the war could worsen once Israel seriously retaliates against them. This is why the U.S. is continuing to support the Middle Eastern country while acting as a neutralizer between Israel and its foes. Related Article: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Palestinian Militants Bucher Civilians; US President Joe Biden Offers Support @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Monday reiterated the government's solidarity with the people of Israel and the Italian Jewish community in light of the "horrible and barbaric events that are taking place in Israel". "Today more than ever, after the horrible and barbaric events that are taking place in Israel, the government expresses its closeness and solidarity with the people of Israel and the Italian Jewish communities," said Meloni in a statement on the 41st anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Great Synagogue in Rome in which one person, two-year-old Stefano Gaj Tache, was killed and 37 were injured. "Terror will never prevail," added Meloni. The premier recalled how "no-one has paid for the grenades and machine-gun fire that ended Stefano's life that day, destroyed a family, caused pain in many others, and shocked an entire community". "Today, we renew our commitment not to forget what happened and to continue to demand that the facts of that terrible day become historical and legal truth," she said. The Rome synagogue was attacked by five armed Palestinian terrorists at the close of the morning Sabbath service on October 9, 1982. That year, an Israeli operation was ongoing in Lebanon and a wave of attacks against Jewish cemeteries, schools and places of worship were reported across Europe, including the most serious in Rome. Photo: Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi after a ceremony on Monday in memory of Stefano Gaj Tache, the two-year-old boy who died in the terrorist attack on the Great Synagogue In Rome. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - Inspectors will be sent into schools where students have hailed Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, ANSA sources said Monday. Reports will be given to police to take action against students supporting the Islamist militants, they said. Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara has said that high-school students who celebrated the attack should be jailed. One of Milan's best-known schools was involved in the celebrations. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - Italy has received the third installment of European Union funding for implementation of its post-Covid national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP), European Commission spokeswoman Veerle Nuyts said on Monday. Payment of the 18.5 billon euro tranche is "an important step in the implementation of the Italian plan as the third payment includes far-reaching and transformational reforms and investments," said Nuyts. Italy requested the third tranche at the end of 2022, but the Commission only agreed to OK payment at the end of July after the government rejigged the NRPP and moved some milestones to the measures covered by the fourth installment, worth 16.5 billion euros. "The payment of the third instalment follows the Commission's positive assessment on the achievement of the 54 objectives and targets set out in the Plan, an assessment that was then confirmed by the EU Member States," said European Affairs Minister Raffaele Fitto. Now it is "onwards and upwards with the work on the fourth installment," he added. The proposed changes to the measures to be implemented in exchange for the fourth installment of payment include incentives for energy efficiency, an increase in childcare facilities, the development of the space and film industries, and sustainable transport. Italy also added a milestone on increasing student accommodation that had initially been linked to the third tranche. These proposed changes have now been approved by both the European Commission and the European Council, making it possible for Italy to formally request payment of the fourth tranche. Last month Fitto said the payment would arrive by the end of the year. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 9 - A second judge in Catania on Sunday night freed migrants striking down a recent government decree amid a row over the alleged bias of the first judge in the Sicilian city to do so last week. Judge Rosario Cupri did not uphold the detention of six Tunisian asylum seekers in a pre-removal centre (CPR) at Pozzallo, as his colleague Iolanda Apostolico had done regarding four Tunisians on September 29. Like Apostolico, Cupri reportedly ruled that new detention norms were against the Italian Constitution and international conventions. Apostolico has been attacked by government parties as allegedly biased after a police video emerged of her taking part in a demonstration in 2018 calling for migrants to be left off a Coast Guard ship after then interior minister Matteo Salvini had refused them the right to land in a controversial closed-ports policy for which he is currently on trial in Palermo. A second video has reportedly emerged showing Apostolico taking a more active part in the demo than shown in the first one. Salvini's League party have called for Apostolico to be sacked highlighting that the protesters were recorded called Salvini and others "murderers" and "animals". Apostolico says she acted as a "peacekeeper" to calm down the protesters. On Monday Catania Chief Prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro said Apostolico's 'media lynching" had been "deplorable", as all such trials by media were. photo: Apostolico in the 2018 video (ANSA). Greek PM hails victory in regional elections Next Sunday the other six of 13 regions will go to the polls (ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, OCT 9 - Greece's conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hailed the results of regional elections on Sunday as an endorsement of his ruling New Democracy (ND) party. "We have emphasised the political significance of the regional elections, and at least seven regions have already been decided in favour of the ND in the first round", the prime minister declared after partial results were published. According to these partial results, the ND's Nikos Hardalias, a former minister, was elected governor of Attica, the Athens region, in the first round with more than 45 percent of the votes cast. By law, a majority of more than 43 percent is required for victory in local and regional elections. In Greece's second-largest city, Thessalonika, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, supported by the ND, was re-elected to govern the Central Macedonia region for a third term, winning over 60 percent of the vote. "The political message of this vote confirms the public's confidence in ND," Mitsotakis stressed. At a national general election in June, the ND was returned to power with a landslide victory of 40.5 percent of the vote, 20 points higher than its main rival, the radical left Syriza party. Next Sunday the other six of Greece's 13 regions will go to the polls. (ANSA-AFP). UK special forces are accused of unlawful massacres during night raids in Afghanistan. Here, the PA news agency looks at why the inquiry relating to unlawful killings in the war-torn nation has been commissioned and what it will involve. Who commissioned the inquiry? The independent statutory inquiry was commissioned by then-defence secretary Ben Wallace under the Inquiries Act 2005. Why was the inquiry commissioned? The probe was commissioned in the wake of legal challenges from Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families, as well as notable media investigations from BBC Panorama and The Sunday Times newspaper. Chair of the Afghanistan Inquiry Sir Charles Haddon-Cave arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday (Jonathan Brady/PA) Who are the Saifullah and Noorzai families? The Saifullah and Noorzai families brought judicial review proceedings against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2019 and 2020, which challenged the MoDs failure to investigate the deaths of members of their families during night raids. Which matters are the inquiry tasked with examining? The probe will look at whether Royal Military Police investigations were effectively and properly conducted, whether there is credible information that unlawful killings were carried out by UK special forces, whether any unlawful killings were covered up at any stage, and what lessons can be learned. What time frame will the inquiry look at? The inquiry will look at incidents between mid-2010 and mid-2013. Which Royal Military Police investigations are being scrutinised? Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro will be scrutinised by the inquiry both of which looked into alleged unlawful executions by special forces during night raids in Afghanistan. How many night raids were referenced in counsel to the inquirys opening submissions? Oliver Glasgow KC detailed seven separate night raids which resulted in 36 deaths. Why might some inquiry hearings be held in private? Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said many hearings would have to be held in private due to reasons to do with national security that are highly sensitive. What will happen if the inquiry finds evidence of unlawful activity? The inquirys chairman said anyone found to have broken the law should be referred to the relevant authorities for investigation. Police chiefs have been urged to step up patrols to prevent anti-Jewish disorder following the renewed violence between Hamas and Israel. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has written to forces in England and Wales telling them to use all available powers to prevent disorder and distress to our communities. She said officers should act immediately to crack down on criminality, both in our streets and online. Ms Braverman said: The barbaric attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists who have massacred civilians and kidnapped the most vulnerable, including the elderly, women and children, is truly sickening. Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Dame Lynne Owens, Deputy Commissioner of the Met Police, during a visit to the Community Security Trust (Yui Mok/PA) The UK stands unequivocally with Israel in her fight against this evil. There can be zero tolerance for antisemitism. Sadly, we have seen in recent years how events in the Middle East are used as an excuse to stir up hatred against British Jewish communities. There is no place for demonstrations, convoys, or flag-waving on British streets that glorifies terrorism or harasses the Jewish community. I am writing to police chiefs in England and Wales to urge them to step up patrols and use all available powers to prevent disorder and distress to our communities. I have been clear officers should act immediately to crack down on criminality, both in our streets and online. Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited Golders Green Road (Yui Mok/PA) The Home Secretary visited the Community Security Trust, which acts to protect the safety of Jewish communities, and joined Met Police officers on patrol in north London. Her intervention came as pro-Palestinian graffiti was daubed on bridges in Golders Green, an area of the capital with a prominent Jewish population. Free Palestine has been written on the bridges in what has been called a deliberate attempt to intimidate the Jewish community. The graffiti is being investigated as a potential hate crime by British Transport Police (BTP). Dave Rich from the Community Security Trust said: This graffiti is a deliberate attempt to intimidate the Jewish community. It is disgraceful and should be roundly condemned by all sides. We expect the police to fully investigate because this cannot be allowed to continue. BTP said officers were called to the line near Golders Green underground station at about 8.45am on Monday to reports of graffiti. Graffiti sprayed on a railway bridge in Golders Green (Yui Mok/PA) The force said in a statement: Preventing and tackling hate crime is a BTP priority no-one should be subjected to violence or harassment because of who they are. A kosher restaurant in Golders Green also had its window smashed and cash register stolen, but this is not being treated as a hate crime. A mother with children at a Jewish school in the capital said a school outing had been cancelled because of fears among parents about antisemitic attacks. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the PA news agency: Its really difficult to say how scared and traumatised everyone is at the moment. To be honest, I personally wasnt as fearful about it but its knowing how terrified everyone else is. I know that the school has security guards. Theres always a fear about sending your kids to a Jewish school, its something that we thought of before, even without this, but I wasnt worried about it this morning, and then realising how worried everyone else is has made me quite upset. (Antisemitism) spikes when Israel does something wrong, and it appears to spike when Israel is attacked, it doesnt seem to matter either way. Britains Jewish community shares the pain of the people of Israel and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them in the wake of hundreds of killings by Hamas, the Chief Rabbi has said. Sir Ephraim Mirvis told of heinous crimes which had taken place in recent days, as he addressed those gathered at Finchley United Synagogue in north London. Among the packed congregation was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who Sir Ephraim praised for having turned your diary upside down in order to be here on Monday night and being a great and wonderful friend of Israel and the Jewish people. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for attending the prayer service at a synagogue in north London (Lucy North/PA) The Chief Rabbi said there was hardly a single Jewish family in the UK without a direct connection to Israel at this time, and said those gathered recalled the life of Nathanel Young and are deeply concerned about missing Jake Marlowe. Mr Young, 20, was a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at the Gaza border on Saturday. Mr Marlowe, a 26 year-old Briton, was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas and is missing. Sir Ephraim said few had been left untouched by the events that had unfolded and pledged solidarity with Israelis. He said: We have brethren in Israel parents, siblings, children, nieces, nephews, we have friends there. Israel is the very heart of not just the Jewish people, but the Jewish faith and we send out a strong message to our brethren and our friends in Israel this evening. You are not alone. We share your pain. We are crying with you. We share your anguish. We share your fate and your destiny and we will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in your time of stress. It has been so encouraging and so heartwarming for us to have received so many messages of support and solidarity. Sir Ephraim said seeing Downing Street lit up with the flag of Israel sent an extraordinary message throughout the Jewish world and throughout the decent world. Of the PMs attendance at the short-notice event, the Chief Rabbi said: No words can adequately encapsulate our feelings of being so grateful to you for being with us right now. We know you and your Government, and with some exceptions yes, there are some exceptions but you and your Government and the British people are solidly behind that which is right and fourscore against that which is wrong. Prompting loud applause from the congregation, Sir Ephraim said: Good friends are able to differentiate between the forces of darkness and the forces of light, between true and false, between right and wrong, And Prime Minister, you are a great and wonderful friend of our Jewish community and of the State of Israel. He also thanked Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for his statements of support and solidarity for our community, for Israel. Addressing the congregation, Mr Sunak pledged his support for Israel, saying: There are not two sides to these events. There is no question of balance. I stand with Israel. We stand with Israel, the United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always. Sir Ephraim said every civilian in Israel is on the front line of this war, and said while Israel is aiming to kill murderers, Hamas is aiming to kill innocent men, women and children. He argued that Israel has a responsibility to defend herself, with the prime responsibility to make the country secure. He said: When innocent Palestinian civilians die or are killed, that was not the intention and of course our hearts go out to all those who suffer the loss of innocence. Israel must continue to do whatever it can for the sake of her citizens. Near the beginning of the service, Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom Tzipi Hotovely lit a candle in memory of those who had been killed. An organiser said as many as 3,000 are believed to have attended the service, with thousands more tuning in online. Greenhouse gas emissions from British residents and businesses increased by 2% between 2021 and 2022, according to provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data published on Monday show initial calculations for the amount emitted by UK residents or UK-registered businesses last year, regardless of whether they are in the UK or overseas. This excludes emissions from foreign visitors and businesses in Britain. These emissions stood at 512 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (MT CO2e) in 2022 2% higher than 2021, the provisional data suggests. It follows a 3% increase in residence-based emissions during 2021 as the UK emerged from the coronavirus pandemic. Estimates of UK greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) on a residence basis, 2022 provisional GHG emissions up by 2% between 2021 and 2022 Emissions stood at 512 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2022, 7% below pre-pandemic (2019) level https://t.co/1yvVkop7hj pic.twitter.com/zfwLRQJ0jL Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) October 9, 2023 Emissions saw a sharp drop as the public were plunged into national lockdowns when the pandemic hit in 2020. Despite the increase in 2022, the provisional figure is still 7% lower than the pre-Covid level of 550 MT CO2e in 2019, the ONS said. The sector with the largest increase in UK emissions last year was transport up 34% in 2022 compared with 2021. This followed a fall of 28% for the sector in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic and a 9% decrease in 2021. Meanwhile, consumer expenditure stood at 25% of the UKs total emissions in 2022, making it the largest single contributor, followed by the energy sector at 16%. In terms of CO2e tonnes emitted per million pounds of UK economic activity, the ONS figures suggest UK residents and businesses emitted 190 tonnes down from 67% in 1990. The sector with the highest increase in emissions intensity in 2022 was transport up 20% from 2021. The UK is required to report its estimated greenhouse gas emissions on a range of different bases to fulfil a wide range of international agreements as well as for domestic policy-making purposes. The ONS figures on residence-based emissions are one of three key official measures. The other two are territorial emissions, published by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and footprint emissions, published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The greenhouse gases included in the atmospheric emissions accounts which are widely believed to contribute to global warming are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). Families who allege unlawful killings by British special forces in Afghanistan have called on an independent inquiry to provide us with the truth. The inquiry, which is set to begin its substantive hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, is due to focus on alleged illegal activity by special forces in the war-torn nation between 2010 and 2013. The probe will look at allegations that numerous killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP). The inquiry will be chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave (Jonathan Brady/PA) It was launched in the wake of legal challenges to the Government by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families, as well as a number of significant media investigations. One member of the Saifullah family said since a raid by British forces, they are having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties. Ahead of counsels opening submissions to the inquiry, they said: On February 16 2011, as a consequence of a night raid on our house by the British forces, my father, Haji Abdul Khaliq, my two brothers, Sadam Hussein and Atta Ullah, and my cousin, Ahmad Shah, were killed. Before their killings, our family had a very beautiful life. This was a very difficult, saddening and painful night. Since this raid by the British forces on our house, we have lost our normal sleep and are having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties. When this incident took place, we lost everything. My family and I request the inquiry team to provide us with the truth and explain to us why and on what basis we had to go through this cruelty. The probe is now set to hear submissions on behalf of the families of 33 people, including eight children, who were allegedly killed by special forces. Mansour Aziz has called on the inquiry to listen to two children who were allegedly severely injured by British forces during a night raid on his family home on August 6 2012. He said: In 2012, our house was raided by foreigners and my brother and sister-in-law were killed and their two children severely injured whilst they were sleeping in their bed. We want to know the truth and why it was our house that was raided. We are asking for the court to listen to these children and bring justice. Two RMP investigations, codenamed Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro, are set to be scrutinised by the inquiry. No charges were brought under Operation Northmoor a 10 million investigation which was set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions by special forces, including those of children. Operation Cestro saw three soldiers referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, but none were prosecuted. Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory said the families involved in the probe hope it will fearlessly uncover the truth of the death of their loved ones. She said: Our clients hope that the opening of this inquiry marks the end of the wall of silence and obstruction that has confronted them over the last decade. The bereaved families look to the inquiry to fearlessly uncover the truth of the deaths of their loved ones and to ensure that those responsible are held to account. Proper accountability must involve those at a senior level in the armed forces and in government who are responsible for the management and oversight of our most elite forces. The independent statutory inquiry was commissioned by then-defence secretary Ben Wallace under the 2005 Inquiries Act. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said: The MoD is fully committed to supporting the inquiry as it continues its work. It is not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry and it is up to the statutory inquiry team, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine which allegations are investigated. New Jersey schools are accused of intentionally failing to address racial imbalance issues. Mercer County Superior Court Judge Robert Lougy said that he agrees with the plaintiff's arguments. Lougy confirmed this during the long-anticipated state Superior Court decision on Friday, Oct. 6. The New Jersey judge explained that the state's school system avoided its responsibility to address racial segregation. New Jersey's Schools Fail to Address Racial Imbalance According to USA Today's latest report, Robert Lougy agreed with the plaintiffs, which is led by the Latino Action Network and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He said that the U.S. state is responsible for correcting de facto segregation in schools. Unfortunately, the judge didn't provide any order or propose a remedy. Because of this, the ongoing case still doesn't have any winner. This means that the lawsuit filed by the coalition of advocacy groups still needs to have another trial or go into settlement decisions. Because of this, the plaintiffs and their lawyers are wondering what would be the next step for their lawsuit against New Jersey. "We will be consulting with our clients and all relevant stakeholders to determine our next steps, whether appeal, trial, or negotiation," said lead attorney, Lawrence Lustberg, via NJ.com. Although the judge's decision lacks clear steps for the lawsuit, Lustberg is still optimistic regarding the case, saying that the court rejected most of New Jersey's defenses. He added that a clear path forward for the plaintiffs to obtain remedy for school system's racial imbalance was provided. Lawrence explained that the court agreed with them on two essential arguments. "One, New Jersey's schools are deeply segregated by race, and two, the state has a constitutional obligation to address this urgent problem," said the lawyer. Read Also: California Targets More Than 600 Schools for Defunding Over Low Vaccination Rates New Jersey School System's Racial Imbalance The Latino Action Network and other plaintiffs argued that New Jersey schools have serious racial imbalance among students. Their lawsuit claims that 60% of Latino students are forced to go to schools with over 80% of non-white students. Aside from this, they also argued that around 66% of Black students need to attend educational institutions with more than 75% of non-white students. Plaintiffs said that racial imbalances can be seen in schools in 23 districts and 8 counties in New Jersey, such as the following: Passaic: Passaic, Paterson, and Prospect Park Boro Hudson: Guttenberg, North Bergen, Union City, and West New York Camden: Camden City, Lawnside Boro, and Woodlynne BoroEssex: East Orange, Irvington, Newark, and Orange Monmouth: Asbury Park and Red Bank Boro Union: Elizabeth, Hillside, Plainfield, and Roselle.Mercer: Trenton Middlesex: New Brunswick and Perth Amboy Related Article: Florida Universities Approve New Classic Learning Test for College Entrance Exam @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Flood warnings remain in place as the clean-up operation continues following a weekend of extreme rainfall which caused disruption across Scotland. Two severe flood warnings were in place in Aviemore/Dalfaber and Perth on Monday morning while 52 flood warnings and eight flood alerts were in place elsewhere around the country. Heavy rain caused flooding across many parts of Scotland over the weekend, leading to road closures and train cancellations. ScotRail said disruption caused by flooding will continue into Monday for some routes, with services between Edinburgh/Queen Street and Inverness, and Queen Street to Aberdeen/Dundee/Perth and Arbroath unable to run. They advised people to check their journey on its app or website in the morning before setting off. A car left abandoned under a flooded railway bridge in Dumbarton (Robert Perry/PA) The Met Office weather warnings for heavy rain which were in place over the weekend have now lifted but a yellow warning of heavy rainfall in western parts of the country has been issued for Tuesday. Police Scotland said communities faced some of the most challenging conditions ever over the weekend, with 10 motorists airlifted to safety on Saturday due to landslides on the A83 in Argyll and Bute, which dislodged 2,000 tonnes of debris. Another four were airlifted in Kilmartin, Argyll and Bute. Ruth Ellis, Scottish Environment Protection Agency flood duty manager, said: Its 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 its really important people understand the danger. Hazards can be hidden, so please dont 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. Our teams have been working around the clock with partner agencies, including Scottish Government, the Met Office, emergency services and local authorities, across this major weather event. The challenges posed by the flooding has been compared to those faced during the Beast from the East period of cold weather in 2018. Stein Connelly, head of transport resilience at Transport Scotland, said: Its been an extremely challenging 72 hours, with perhaps some of most difficult conditions weve experienced since the Beast from the East. Flooding on the 18th green at St Andrews (Steve Welsh/PA) In terms of Argyll, the area around the A83 Rest and Be Thankful saw a months worth of rainfall, around 160mm, fall over 36 hours. Only a small amount of debris has reached the road at the Rest and Be Thankful itself. Safety inspections are now under way and teams are on site to begin clear-up operations once it is deemed safe to do so. Elsewhere, work is under way to clear other roads affected by flooding. The Scottish Governments Resilience Room (SGoRR) met on Sunday to discuss and plan the response to the situation. Justice Secretary Angela Constance, who chaired the meeting, said multi-agency response teams stand ready and prepared to respond to any flooding incidents. She 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. A guitar played by Kurt Cobain at Nirvanas last performance is estimated to fetch between one million to two million US dollars (820,000 to 1.64 million) at auction. Juliens Auctions has announced a line-up of rock n roll items to mark its 20-year anniversary, including Eric Claptons guitar The Fool and Cobains SkyStang I. Cobains blue Fender Mustang electric guitar was used during Nirvanas 1993 to 1994 tour dates, up to the bands final performance with Cobain at Terminal Einz in Munich in March 1994, which took place just over a month before the singers death. SkyStang I (Juliens Auctions/PA) A Fender Stratocaster, also played by Cobain, is expected to be auctioned for between 500,000 to 700,000 dollars (409,393 to 573,150). The cream electric guitar was smashed at the end of Nirvanas performance in Buenos Aires in 1992 and the body includes the band members signatures and a poem by Dave Grohl written within a heart-shaped bubble. The poem reads: Hello. My name is Dave. I like rave. Itll drive me to my grave. But Im not dumb. I play drums with two green thumbs and a sour plumb that makes the roof of my mouth numb David. Other Cobain items on offer include his signature distressed and patched Levis button-fly blue jeans with rips, a button-front argyle cardigan as well as his cassette tapes with handwritten notes, a pack of cigarettes, an In Utero promotion poster and more. Headlining the auction stage for the collection Played, Worn And Torn: Rock N Roll Iconic Guitars And Memorabilia is Claptons 1964 Gibson SG electric guitar, The Fool, which is also estimated to fetch between one million and two million dollars. Other sale highlights include a restored 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V owned by Elvis Presley and an original 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray owned and driven by Guns N Roses guitarist Slash. A cape worn by Dolly Parton (Juliens Auctions/PA) A cape custom made and worn on stage by Dolly Parton during the 1970s will also go on sale, as will Sinead OConnors access-all-areas personal artist credentials/badge laminate issued to her and worn on stage at her performance at the Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert Celebration in 1992. Darren Julien, president and founder of Juliens, said: For Juliens two-decade anniversary, were turning it up to 20 with this definitive music auction of a lifetime that encompasses all genres from classic rock, punk, hard rock, metal, progressive, grunge, rap, country, the blues and beyond. From the stage to studio, weve curated over 1,000 of the most culturally significant and historically important music artefacts ever to be offered for sale to the public. It has been our privilege and honour to be entrusted in preserving the legacy of rock and roll through the years at our annual tentpole auction event which we are excited to hold. Played, Worn And Torn: Rock N Roll Iconic Guitars And Memorabilia will launch with a special evening session on Thursday November 16 and traditional sessions on Friday November 17 and Saturday November 18 at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville, with some of the proceeds going to mental health initiative Kicking The Stigma. Before the auction, an exhibition tour will travel to London, taking place from October 17 to October 22 at Hard Rock Cafe, Piccadilly Circus. Scotlands First Minister has said his parents in-law are trapped in Gaza after visiting family, leaving him worried if they will make it through the night. The parents of Humza Yousafs wife, Nadia El-Nakla, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds, according to reports. Speaking to journalists on Monday, a visibly emotional Mr Yousaf said: As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, theyve been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, Im afraid. The couple went to visit the 93-year-old mother of Mr Yousafs father-in-law when the Hamas attack took place. Elizabeth and Maged el-Nakla are in Gaza (Handout/PA) They have been told by Israeli authorities to leave because Gaza will effectively be obliterated, the First Minister said. Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere, Mr Yousaf said. So Im in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we dont know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law who have nothing to do, as most Gazans dont, with Hamas or with any terror attack whether they will make it through the night or not. Mr Yousaf also issued an unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas attack. He said: We cannot sleep we are constantly watching our phones. When our messages do get through, were waiting for a reply. He added: Im worried about my family there will be many people, including in Scotlands Jewish community for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm. My thoughts go out to everybody, because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, they have nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life and theyre the ones often innocent people who are paying the price. Mr Yousafs brother in-law is a doctor and lives in Gaza with his wife and four young children, the youngest being two months old. Whats happening in #Palestine is a consequence of #Apartheid, of illegal occupation,m & of imperial aggression by the Israel state. Palestinian civilians have seen their homes destroyed, their water stolen & their land appropriated illegally.#GazaUnderAttack#VivaPalestine https://t.co/JHdFrZ3Y2l Maggie Chapman MSP (@MaggieChapman) October 8, 2023 He said he does not know how many Scots have been caught up in the fighting in Israel and Gaza. The First Minister praised communications with the Foreign Office as good, but said it was not yet clear who was in the region and how they have been impacted. He said: Im afraid not yet. Ive asked both for the situations in terms of any Scottish Israelis that might be affected and impacted and any Scots in Gaza that might be impacted. Ive not got numbers yet but liaison with the Foreign Office, I should say, is good, theyve been helpful in providing information but once I have that Im sure well be able to furnish you with the details. Humza Yousaf and his wife Nadia El-Nakla (Andrew Milligan/PA) The First Minister also accused the Scottish Conservatives of a crass attempt to undermine the Bute House Agreement between the Government and the Scottish Greens. In a letter to Mr Yousaf on Monday, Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw whose Eastwood constituency boasts the biggest Jewish community in Scotland asked that the agreement be scrapped if he agreed with comments from a Green MSP. On Sunday, Maggie Chapman posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying the Hamas attack was a consequence of apartheid. In his letter, Mr Carlaw said: I would like to ask you if you agree with the comments made by Maggie Chapman and if they reflect the current position of the SNP-Green Government. If not, and given the brutality of Hamas actions, will you dismiss Green ministers from the Scottish Government and terminate the Bute House Agreement because appearing to excuse the actions of Hamas should be unacceptable for any party in Scotland, especially given their recent terrorist attacks. Responding to the calls, Mr Yousaf said: I have seen the tweet, and Maggie Chapman is responsible for what Maggie Chapman says. To somehow equate what is happening in the geo-political situation between Israel and Palestine, to reduce it to an issue about whether the Bute House Agreement can go on or shouldnt go on, I think is terribly crass. He went on to describe the attacks as unjustifiable, expressing his Governments support for a two-state solution. Innocent civilians being killed will not help us towards peace and an innocent Israeli life is worth, of course, the same as an innocent Palestinian life. An innocent child getting killed, it doesnt matter whether theyre Palestinian or Israeli. Irish president Michael D Higgins has called for a cessation of violence in Israel and Gaza for the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. His comments came as the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs criticised a unilateral announcement from an EU commissioner which said payments under a development portfolio for Palestinians would be suspended. In a statement, Mr Higgins said: May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families. Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible. Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life. Such actions will not lead to such a constructive approach as might achieve the necessary conditions for the co-existence of all in conditions of peace, for which we must all aspire. Mr Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to all the families of the victims of the recent violence. He said his thoughts are particularly with the family of 22-year-old Irish-Israel citizen Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for since the attack against Israel. The president also said an ongoing diplomatic failure to address the conflict is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved. Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled. Those international voices who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life, for restraint, realise how difficult this is to achieve. Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure. Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency. What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all. I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Meanwhile, Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has said the protection of civilians has to be the centre of work towards a just and sustainable peace. In a statement, Mr Martin said: I am horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days. I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately. Yesterday, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence. Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: I am working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis, including by speaking today with Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki and with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi. I will discuss the situation with my EU counterparts in an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers tomorrow. These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events. We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was also critical of a tweet from EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi which said all payments for a Palestinian development programme immediately suspended. A spokeswoman said: It is our understanding there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid. The Commission later clarified that it is launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel. It said no payments have been suspended as there were no payments foreseen. The Department of Foreign Affairs also said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Irish funding provides emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic public services. Ireland has also consistently funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which addresses the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestinian refugees. Irelands funding plays a crucial role in the livelihoods and welfare of Palestinian civilians currently up to 80% of the Palestinian population is dependent on international assistance for basic human needs. Ireland remains committed to delivering this vital support to Palestinian civilians and their needs should continue to be a central part of the overall response to this crisis by the international community. A doctor has told a High Court judge of the terrible reality facing a critically ill baby at the centre of a life-support treatment case. The specialist on Monday told Mr Justice Peel that seven-month-old Indi Gregory, who is being treated in Nottingham, was dying. He said keeping her on a ventilator would prolong matters. The doctor said staff treating Indi who has mitochondrial disease, a genetic condition that saps energy from the bodys cells at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham had done the best they could and were very sad. Dean Gregory, the father of Indi Gregory, at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London (Victoria Jones/PA) Hospital bosses want Mr Justice Peel to rule that doctors can lawfully limit treatment provided to Indi. Indis parents Dean Gregory and Claire Staniforth, who are both in their 30s and from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, want treatment to continue. Mr Justice Peel is considering evidence at a private trial in the Family Division of the High Court in London. We feel very sad, the doctor, who cannot be named in media reports, told Mr Justice Peel on Monday. She is a little girl we have tried to treat to the best of our abilities. He added: The terrible reality is that she is dying. The doctor said further ventilation would prolong matters. Bosses at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who have responsibility for Indis care, have asked the judge to make decisions. Mr Justice Peel is considering evidence relating to Indi Gregory at a private hearing at the High Court (Aaron Chown/PA) Barrister Emma Sutton KC, who is leading the trusts legal team, has told the judge that Indi is critically ill. She has told how Indi has a devastating neurometabolic disorder, which is exceptionally rare. Mr Justice Peel is considering evidence behind closed doors but has allowed journalists to attend the hearing and ruled that Indi, her parents, and the hospital can be named in reports. He ruled that medics treating Indi and a guardian appointed to represent her interests could not be named. The specialist described himself as an expert in the treatment of seriously ill children. He told Mr Justice Peel that on the unit where he was based there were 15 to 20 deaths a year. The doctor said staff dealt with child life cases almost on a monthly basis. He said Indis case was really difficult. The doctor told Mr Justice Peel that on one day Indi had nine episodes of resuscitation to keep her alive. Labour was split over raising concerns about Palestinians in the wake of Hamass killings of civilians in Israel as the partys left sought to highlight the treatment of people in Gaza. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said on Monday she had no time for pro-Palestinian events on the fringes of the Labour conference being held in Liverpool. But former frontbencher John McDonnell appeared at a union-led event organised in solidarity with Palestinians to raise fears of the nightmare situation for people in Gaza. Meanwhile, shadow exports minister Afzal Khan apologised after posing for a photograph in front of a Palestinian flag saying end apartheid now. Israels military has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, blockading deliveries of food, fuel and supplies to 2.3 million people. Labour was largely united in condemning Hamass wave of violence that has left hundreds dead in Israel, with deputy leader Angela Rayner leading a moments silence. Ms Reeves told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that Israel has every right to defend itself, but said it has to abide by international rules of engagement. She hit out at pro-Palestinian fringe events at the conference, telling Times Radio: Ive got no time for that. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was no justification for Hamass terrorist attack on Israel (Peter Byrne/PA) Mr McDonnell went further than his old ally Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, in proactively saying he would condemn the killing of innocents by Hamas. But as a father and a grandfather, my heart also goes out to the parents of the children killed in Gaza, the former shadow chancellor added at an event chaired by a Unite director. There is no justification for the killing of civilians on any side. My fear now is with the Israeli bombings and the threat of ground invasion of Gaza and the blockage today of water, electricity and food supplies. I fear for the Palestinian parents who now see their children living in a nightmare situation of wondering what will happen next. Mr McDonnell said the Government should be working flat out for de-escalation, to bring about a ceasefire by all sides. He urged ministers across the world to work towards a just peace including the end of the illegal occupation of Palestine. Jeremy Corbyn has not explicitly condemned Hamas (Lucy North/PA) Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission to the UK, told the event that six members of his family had just died in an Israeli bombardment. The diplomat said Israel cutting off water and electricity to Gaza in an act of sheer vengeance would be a war crime. Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who served as a shadow minister under Mr Corbyn, condemned the violence in recent days and said we should grieve for innocent victims on all sides. But we should be clear. If you are holding a minutes silence for the dead in this conflict, we would be doing it every year. For the whole of my life there has been killing and bloodshed, she said. She called for proper peace negotiations to begin, arguing the UK has a particular responsibility because it is the former colonial ruler of Palestine. Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, on Monday (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) This is the rubble of the empire we can see all around us and especially in terms of British foreign policy, she said. In this country, the former colonial power, there is a special responsibility and duty to work towards peace and we should never encourage war. Pro-Palestine activist Hugh Lanning told the event that it was becoming harder and harder to speak up in support for the cause within the Labour movement. He said: In a way, first they came for people who mentioned those three letters BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions). Then it was coming for people who mentioned the word apartheid. And now its the P word, really you cant even mention Palestine or peace and I think we need to, in this time, be clear that we are not going to be silenced. Mr Khan issued an apology after posing for a photo at the Palestine Solidarity Campaigns (PSC) stand at the conference. The Manchester Gorton MP said: I want to apologise for any offence caused by stopping by the PSC stall at this time. I unequivocally condemn the terrorist actions of Hamas and support Israels right to defend itself. Tory chairman Greg Hands had questioned when Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will take action against those who use the offensive apartheid term in relation to Israel. Ms Reeves said that Mr Corbyn, who has been expelled from the parliamentary party over his handling of antisemitism, will absolutely not be welcomed back as a Labour MP. Labours shadow Middle East minister Wayne David said at a fringe event that the UK should not turn a blind eye to the huge injustices committed against the Palestinian people for many years. Mr David said Israeli settlers have also been guilty of terrorist activity and urged for Israels response to be proportionate. The mother of Israeli Colonel Roi Levy cries during her sons funeral at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on Monday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) He also told the event that more UK aid should go to Palestinians who must not be equated with Hamas. But he was later contradicted by shadow international development secretary Lisa Nandy, who said the UK should review aid given to Palestinians following Hamas attack. It came after the European Commission said it was putting all of its development aid for Palestinians under review and suspending all payments. Well always support the Palestinian people, Ms Nandy told another fringe event. But in light of current events, its right that the UK considers how British money is being spent and whether that British money is being used appropriately or whether its being used to support acts of terrorism. More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, according to reports. Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Palestinian militants, which began on Saturday. 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. 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. Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Monday (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living. Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead. Mr Darlington and his friend Carolin Bohl were in Kibbutz Nir Oz when it was attacked by Hamas fighters. Ms Bohls sister, Anja Pasquesi, wrote on Instagram: Today we learned from Carolins friend on the ground in Kibbutz Nor Oz in Israel that she and her friend Danny were killed in a terrorist attack yesterday. We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy. Ms Bohls brother-in-law Sam Pasquesi said on Instagram there has been no official confirmation but there has been reliable information on the ground. A man mourns during the funeral of Israeli Colonel Roi Levy at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on Monday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. His mother told the Jewish News on Sunday the last message she got from her son was one saying he loved her. He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, Lisa 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. More than 400 criminals, including senior kingpins in organised crime, have been sent to prison in a Metropolitan Police operation targeting the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. The force said 426 people had been jailed for a total of 3,722 years behind bars in the investigation, named Operation Eternal, since it began in March 2020. Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and its own Operation Venetic, it used data taken from EncroChat to identify criminals, solve murders and tackle the drug trade, with more than 1,200 people jailed nationally. Commander Paul Brogden, head of specialist crime at the Met, said it was the most significant operation targeting organised crime figures in the Mets history. EncroChat was a secret operating system accessed by a secure password on Android phones, with each user of the platform given a unique handle made up of a noun and an adjective. The handsets, which cost 1,500, could only communicate with other EncroChat devices and could have all their data wiped if handed over to the authorities. Commander Brogden told the PA news agency: These criminals were using what we call a hard and secure communication device, so effectively its like a social media platform that the criminals believed that we couldnt 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 weve never seen before. It was a significant leap forward. Large quantities of Class A and B drugs, including cocaine, were seized in Operation Eternal (Met Police) The platform messaged users urging them to get rid of their handsets after realising it 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 the kingpins of organised crime networks in London, adding: They were sitting in their leafy enclaves and didnt expect police to knock on their door and we did and brought them to justice, so Im incredibly pleased about that. The Met said 942 arrests had been made in Operation Eternal so far, with 784 of those charged and 426 convicted. Three tonnes of Class A and B drugs and 49 guns were also seized by the force. Naki Aslan, 39, a high-ranking gang member, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to import in excess of 20kg of heroin and cocaine as part of the operation. Officers discovered Aslan had an encrypted phone and used the EncroChat handle junglecookie to arrange drug transactions. Messages were also found showing Aslan attempted to source a firearm, a Makarov pistol, to shoot a business associate in May 2020. The EncroChat messages from Aslan read: You got anyone to fire a couple of shots? From the waist down but urgent. I wanna get him popped ASAP. Naki Aslan was one of the criminals jailed as part of the Mets operation (Met Police) Craig Turner, deputy director for investigations at the NCA, described the operation as yielding one of the most stunning results and said EncroChat gave the organisation an absolute gold mine of intelligence. In the UK-wide Operation Venetic, 3,100 suspects were arrested and 1,867 charged, with 7,000 mobile devices collected and around 18 million messages logged. Detective Chief Inspector Driss Hayoukane, senior investigating officer for Operation Eternal, said there were significant trials coming up with some iconic criminals and the force was still working at a pace to make more arrests, with the operation ongoing. Commander Brogden said the Met was working with the Home Office to look at whether a new legislative framework was needed for encrypted platforms going forward. Rwanda is an authoritarian, one-party state with a woefully deficient asylum system, lawyers representing migrants facing deportation to the east African nation have told the Supreme Court. The Home Office is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the UKs multimillion-pound deal with Rwanda over the processing of asylum claims was unlawful. During the first of a three-day hearing over the case, Raza Husain KC, representing a number of asylum seekers, said Rwanda imprisons, tortures and murders those it considers to be its opponents, adding that Home Office officials had repeatedly recorded their concerns about it. The Rwandan asylum system is woefully deficient. Its marked by acute unfairness and arbitrariness serious safeguarding and capacity issues, Mr Husain said. The policy has previously attracted protests (PA) Mr Husain said Home Secretary Suella Braverman does not dispute the state of the Rwandan asylum system significantly but rather seeks to ignore it. He said it was the Governments case that Rwandas assurances change everything and that the past is of little relevance, making reference to evidence of large scale abuse under a similar previous agreement the country had with Israel. Mr Husain said the Governments extravagant claims in its Supreme Court appeal should be rejected. But earlier on Monday, Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, said the policy to remove people to a country less attractive than the UK, but nevertheless safe, is lawful. The barrister said both countries are committed to the deal, with very powerful practical incentives for Rwanda to comply with the assurances given. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said she remains fully committed to the Rwanda deportation policy (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Sir James earlier told a panel of five justices that the appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by Government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state Rwanda. He told the hearing in London there is a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel, from a safe country. Sir James later referenced concerns that had been raised over the policy and Rwandas history, including by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. The barrister continued: Both the Government and the Rwandan government were fully aware of the likely controversy of the arrangements that were made when the deal was signed. Sir James said: The UK cannot possibly seek to resolve those issues. That does not mean that those concerns having been received should be ignored, quite the contrary. The barrister added: Whatever debates there might have been it is, at best, peripheral. This is a new context with a new set of detailed arrangements. The Governments Rwanda policy is part of its bid to stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats to reach the UK (Gareth Fuller/PA) Sir James said that asylum seekers rights of review and appeal were embedded in the deal with Rwanda, which also guaranteed access to legal support. In written arguments, he added that transfers to the east African nation will take place only with the consent of the Rwandan authorities and numbers will, in the first instance, be low. He said the independently monitored deal and assurances were designed to ensure anyone sent to Rwanda will have a safe and effective determination of their asylum claim that is compatible with human rights conventions. The UNHCR, which has intervened in the legal challenges over the policy, previously said Rwanda lacks irreducible minimum components of an accessible, reliable, fair and efficient asylum system. In the agencys written submissions to the Supreme Court, Angus McCullough KC said it had consistently expressed grave concerns about the safety and legality of the policy. He continued: UNHCR maintains its unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda under the UK-Rwanda Arrangement. Several asylum seekers who were set to be deported on the first planned flight to Rwanda in June 2022 which was grounded minutes before take-off following a ruling by a judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are opposing the Governments appeal. Mr Husain said in written submissions to the Supreme Court: The policy is an inherently difficult one to achieve lawfully. On the one hand, for the deterrent purpose of removal to a third country to be successful, the third country must be a sufficiently unattractive location to an asylum seeker travelling to the UK. On the other hand, the third country must not be unattractive because it falls short of Article 3 (the right to be free from torture) and Refugee Convention standards. He told the hearing that the Home Secretary had failed to tread that difficult line and indeed has done so by a considerable margin. The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is expected to end on Wednesday, with a judgment at a later date. In their majority judgment at the Court of Appeal, Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill found there were substantial grounds to think that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda faced real risks of torture or inhuman treatment, or that their claims for asylum would not be properly determined there. The ruling overturned the High Courts finding that Rwanda could be considered a safe third country for asylum seekers. After the Court of Appeal decision, which was seen as a setback in his bid to stop the boats, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he fundamentally disagreed with the ruling and intended to appeal. Ms Braverman said she remained fully committed to the policy and, despite the ruling, still had every confidence in the plan while stressing that Rwanda was a safe country. Immigration featured heavily at the recent Conservative Party conference, with Mr Sunak saying he will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats. A Scot is among those killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday, his family have said. Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, died in the surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group on southern Israel. More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing amid the violence, which has reportedly claimed the lives of least 700 people in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Mr Cowans family told the BBC: We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. Desperately sad & grim news. The family of Bernard Cowan, of late my Eastwood constituent, have confirmed that he was murdered on Saturday by Hamas. Our heartfelt condolences to his family as we respect their privacy in their grief. May his memory be a blessing. Jackson Carlaw (@Jackson_Carlaw) October 9, 2023 We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed. Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw paid tribute to Mr Cowan. He posted on X, formerly Twitter: Desperately sad & grim news. The family of Bernard Cowan, of late my Eastwood constituent, have confirmed that he was murdered on Saturday by Hamas. Our heartfelt condolences to his family as we respect their privacy in their grief. May his memory be a blessing. Friend Sammy Stein, from Glasgow Friends of Israel, told BBC Scotlands The Nine: It was awful. I mean, it was really, really dreadful. Many people were killed and injured but when its someone who you know personally, its a lot more difficult to understand and comprehend and accept. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: I have just heard the tragic news of the murder of Glasgow-born Bernard Cowan by Hamas. My condolences and prayers are with his family and all those affected by the violence. There is never any justification for terrorism and the loss of innocent life. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised that the country's next economic package will support AI development. This innovative initiative comes as the Asian country falls behind in the intensifying artificial intelligence race. But, will Japan's next economic package really help the country keep up with the likes of the United States, the U.K., and other countries leading AI development? Japan's Next Economic Package Will Support AI Development, Says Kishida According to Kyodo News, Kishida announced on Monday, Oct. 9, that they will release a new economic package that will boost the artificial intelligence development of the country. He shared this upcoming effort at the ongoing Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, Japan. He said that the discussions' outcome will be utilized in the Hiroshima AI Process. After that, the Japanese government is expected to draw the new economic package around the end of October. The prime minister explained that the economic package will ensure that funds will also facilitate the integration of AI. These include artificial intelligence incorporations in small and midsize businesses, as well as in medical and other fields essential to Japan. Another AI effort that the Japanese prime minister announced is the establishment of international guidelines for AI developers. The Japanese government is doing this with the help of other G-7 leaders, who are also attending the Hiroshima AI Process event. Read Also: Biden Admin Says NO to AI-Driven Credit Denials; CFPB Orders Lenders to Rely on Customers' Specific Behaviors Japan Falls Behind in AI Race The U.S., the U.K., China, and other super countries are all racing to develop their own generative artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. While these nations are making huge AI breakthroughs, CNBC reported that Japan is falling behind in artificial intelligence development. "Japan's trailing position in the field of generative AI largely stems from its comparative shortcomings in deep learning and more extensive software development," said Kotoba Technology's co-founder, Noriyuki Kojima. He explained that AIs and MLs need a robust community of software engineers. Unfortunately, Japan is expected to face a deficit of over 780,000 software experts by 2030. This was shared by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry. As of press time, Japan is ranked 28th out of 63 countries when it comes to AI development and other technological advancements. Another issue that Japan is facing is the need to be trained to use AI supercomputers, such as Microsoft's Azure and IBM's Vela. These supercomputers are essential to develop LLMs. This is why Fumio Kishida decided to include AI development enhancements in the next economic package of the country. Related Article: Canada Privacy Bill's AI Section Fails to Protect People, Claim Experts-Here's What They Suggest @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Rishi Sunak told Britains Jewish community I will stop at nothing to keep you safe amid concerns they could be targeted as Israel laid siege to the Gaza Strip following the Hamas atrocity. The Prime Minister addressed a synagogue in north London to express his solidarity for Israel following the Hamas attack and to reassure Britains Jews. We stand with Israel, the United Kingdom stands with Israel against this terrorism today, tomorrow and always, Mr Sunak said. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attending Finchley United Synagogue (Lucy North/PA) Home Secretary Suella Braverman has written to police chiefs to encourage them to step up patrols in areas with large Jewish communities. Mr Sunak told the United Synagogue in Finchley: I know that at moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe. We have already seen vile words on our streets and attempts to stir up community tensions. I say: Not here. Not in Britain. Not in our country. Not in this century. My first duty is to protect you. We will not tolerate this hate, we will not tolerate this antisemitism. And I promise you: I will stop at nothing to keep you safe. Protesters at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA) As he was speaking in north London, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington. Fireworks were let off, flares were lit and chants of Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar rang out. Police separated pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups at High Street Kensington tube station. In Westminster, around 2,000 people attended a Jewish community vigil, arranged by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council. People attending a vigil outside Downing Street for victims and hostages of the Hamas attacks (Lucy North/PA) Mr Sunaks address at the synagogue came after he had chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas. At least two Britons were killed in the Hamas onslaught, with another feared dead and more missing. Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by the group, which began on Saturday. Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died. Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead. Mr Marlowe was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas gunmen. ISRAEL Gaza Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was uncomfortable speculating on the total numbers of British people affected by the violence after it was reported that more than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing. He said Israels unique status meant there were a large number of British-Israeli dual nationals, with Government estimates suggesting about 50,000 to 60,000 Britons are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region and as flights out of Israel are still available for those wanting to leave there are no plans for a UK-facilitated evacuation of British citizens. Mr Sunak, who spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any diplomatic, intelligence or security support it needs as it hits back at Hamas. The US has dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. Downing Street said the UK is not planning to redeploy military assets to the Middle East, with warship HMS Duncan already in the Mediterranean as part of Nato patrols. Mr Netanyahu said Israel has only started its fierce offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to Hamas unprecedented attack. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations, he said. Israel sealed the Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, and other supplies in retaliation for the Hamas attack, as the wars death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas which is banned as a terrorist group by the UK Government pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks targeted civilians in Gaza without warnings. The most senior Palestinian diplomat in the UK accused Israel of a war crime against civilians. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission in London, condemned the killing of civilians by Hamas, but said Israel is seeking sheer vengeance in its retaliation. Speaking at a Labour Party conference fringe event in Liverpool he said: Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. Its a war crime. Its not going to lead anywhere. The British Red Cross has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to provide humanitarian support in Israel and Gaza. In response to the devastating humanitarian crisis in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory we have launched an emergency appeal to support the people affected. People are in desperate need of our help. If you can, please donate today: https://t.co/jC1IiW4HFD pic.twitter.com/iYJVocbxrq British Red Cross (@BritishRedCross) October 9, 2023 Mike Adamson, chief executive at the charity, said: With the casualties in their thousands, it is vital that healthcare workers and health facilities are protected so people can get the urgent care they need. Separately, the European Union announced it would be suspending all payments immediately to the Palestinians in response to the weekends atrocities before reversing the decision . Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said the UK was reviewing its aid, but told ITVs Peston: It is already the case, though, that we go through a very rigorous process for the sort of aid we provide. Its also very important to appreciate that we shouldnt clump together the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip who have carried out these attacks and the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people. Thousands of people gathered in London on Monday for vigils and protests over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli embassy in west London was boarded up as hundreds took part in a pro-Palestine demonstration. Fireworks were let off, flares were lit and chants of Israel is a terrorist state, Free Palestine and Allahu akbar rang out. A protester climbs a lamp post as people take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Meanwhile, around 2,000 people attended a Jewish community vigil in Westminster for Israel, arranged by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council. It comes after Palestinian militant group Hamas sent fighters across the border to Israel and fired thousands of rockets in an unprecedented attack on Saturday. At least 900 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 600 have been killed in Gaza, with dozens more taken hostage by Hamas. Groups including Stop the War and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign gathered at the embassy in Kensington, waving placards calling for Israel to end the occupation. Wooden boards had been placed near the entrance to the embassy and the gate, while large groups of police officers watched on. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (Lucy North/PA) One man, visibly angry at the demonstration, argued with some people before officers escorted him away. An officer was heard telling him the protest had been peaceful. The road on High Street Kensington was blocked off shortly after crowds arrived. Palestine Solidarity Campaign said in a statement: The offensive launched from Gaza can only be understood in the context of Israels ongoing, decades long, military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land and imposition of a system of oppression that meets the legal definition of apartheid. This is the context in which we need to understand the cycle of violence. If violence is to end, both that of the oppressor and the oppressed, then we must all take action to end the root cause Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians. People attending a vigil for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks (Lucy North/PA) In Westminster, speakers at the pro-Israel vigil included Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and the shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. There were chants of let our children go by the crowd at the vigil, which event organisers estimated was around 1,500-2,000 strong. Many of those attending held up photos of Noa Argamani, an Israeli woman who was kidnapped by Hamas militants. Others waved the Israeli flag, as well as banners which stated: I stand with Israel. Sir Ephraim told the vigil no civilised person cannot be moved, cannot be deeply shocked by the scenes of brutal terrorist outrage in Israel. He added: If Hamas would want peace with Israel, just lay down your arms. Just declare your interest to live alongside us in peace and in amity. All they want is war, because for Hamas the ultimate solution is not a two-state solution as far as the Jews in Israel are concerned, its a no-state solution because they want to drive us from our land and this is what they have proven over the past few days. Mr Tugendhat said: Im here because I spoke to the Prime Minister today and after his call with the Prime Minister of Israel, his commitment is only doubled. Because this country, the United Kingdom, has stood against evil before, we have stood against hatred before, we have stood against antisemitism before we will always stand against hatred and evil and antisemitism. Mr Lammy, who travelled from the Labour Party conference in Liverpool for the vigil, added: In this country, it doesnt matter whether you are Conservative, it doesnt matter whether you are Liberal Democrat, it doesnt matter whether you are Labour, we stand with Israel. Labour must have a delivery plan for Scotland, the partys leader in Holyrood has said as he sets his eyes on the 2026 Scottish elections. Anas Sarwar told a fringe event at the Labour Party conference on Monday: Scotland is not there to deliver Labour MPs just so we can get a UK Labour government. Scotland is there to fight Scotlands corner and deliver Scottish Labour MPs who can change peoples lives in Scotland because they recognise that through transformative change and a policy agenda, things can get better for people in Scotland. That delivery plan for Scotland has got to be front and centre of that change going into the next two elections. Mr Sarwars party has been buoyed by the result of last weeks Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, which saw Labour secure more than 50% of the vote and take back a seat won by the SNP in both 2015 and 2019. Anas Sarwar celebrates victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election with newly-elected MP Michael Shanks (Jane Barlow/PA) At the same fringe event, pollster Peter Kellner described Rutherglen as a microcosm of Scottish politics and suggested the volatility of politics north of the border meant Labour could win between 15 and 35 Scottish seats at the next general election. Such a result would help ease Sir Keir Starmers passage to Downing Street, which Mr Sarwar said would in turn help Labour to become the largest party at the Holyrood elections in 2026. He said: Its pretty clear that our success and our fate goes hand in glove. There is no route to Keir Starmer being prime minister unless we make significant gains in Scotland, and there is no route to us winning the Scottish Parliament election in 2026 unless we elect a Labour government in 2024 and Keir Starmer becomes prime minister. Anas Sarwar said there was no route to Sir Keir Starmer reaching Downing Street without Scotland (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Sarwar added he and Sir Keir were already working on that delivery plan while he regarded the next general election as a staging post for 2026, not the other way round. Looking ahead to that election, he said the SNP had become arrogant and out of touch in the same way Labour had before losing control of Holyrood in 2007, while Labour had become the party of change, working to persuade people rather than hold on to their base. He added: Three words will drive us: hope, humility and hard work. On hope, we are not saying vote for us because the SNP and the Tories deserve to lose. We have got to persuade people why we deserve to win and thats why setting out that positive case, that positive alternative is so important. Second, humility. Youve got the arrogance from the SNP, youve got the arrogance and the hubris of the Tories. Were not going to get into that, were going to reach out and do the hard work and be on the streets doing the hard work to win peoples trust and win their support. And third, hard work, because you shouldnt win by default, you should win by deserving to win and you only deserve to win if you put in the hard yards and do the hard work. Foreign Office officials are assessing the situation in Israel and Gaza as the death toll continues to rise, with fierce fighting ongoing in the wake of an attack by Hamas. Among the dead is 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died on the Gaza border on Saturday. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, over two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack. It comes as Israel intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the appalling act of terror by Palestinian militants as the Government continued to establish the status of UK citizens. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington are believed to be missing. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the appalling attack by Hamas (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is understood. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. Mr Young, a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, died after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. His loved ones said they are heartbroken, while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing. Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. It comes as a Government minister warned any potential protesters not to glorify the violence of Hamas. A woman lays flowers in front of the Israeli embassy in Moscow, Russia (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP) Communities minister Lee Rowley told Sky News: You cannot support proscribed organisations like Hamas within the United Kingdom and if thats the case then I would expect police to take action accordingly. Ultimately, there is a right to protest but there is not a right to glorify terrorism. On Monday, Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also condemned the violence. She said: I want to see a Palestinian state existing alongside a safe and secure Israel. Terrorism is not the way to get there. Im appalled by what weve seen. Ms Reeves told Times Radio: Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon (Erik Marmor/AP) The Israeli government declared war on Sunday and, as of Monday, was believed to be fighting Hamas in several locations in southern Israel. All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the countrys flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support. The Government is working to establish the status of UK citizens in Israel after a British man serving in the countrys army was killed during attacks by Hamas. Rishi Sunak condemned an appalling act of terror by Palestinian militants as the death toll climbed to 700 in Israel and 300 in Gaza. Among those killed was 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died on the Gaza border on Saturday. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City (Hatem Moussa/AP) 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 believed to be missing. Speaking to reporters at his Chequers country residence, the Prime Minister said he had spoken with the Israeli premier 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: 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. It is understood the Government is assisting the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. Mr Young, who was a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, was killed following a surprise attack by Palestinian militants which caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. We stand with pic.twitter.com/dFtOngg4ju Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 8, 2023 His family said they were heartbroken while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing. Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with Mr Youngs family at this grave and significant moment, and labelled the incursion a terrorist attack. The Israeli Government declared war on Sunday, with the military saying it had hit at least 800 targets in Gaza so far. The countrys rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under Hamas attack. Previous conflicts in the Middle East have seen an increase in antisemitism in the UK, the Board of Deputies of British Jews warned, as it confirmed it was in touch with Government to ensure the Jewish community is supported. All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the countrys flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support. 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. With the outbreak of war in Israel, President Joe Biden is contending with conflicts in two parts of the world at a moment of paralysis in Washington and increasing polarization over the direction of Americas involvement abroad. The moment is exactly the type of global crisis Biden pledged to voters he was uniquely prepared to confront, particularly when compared with his predecessor. Spending almost 50 years in proximity to the American foreign policy establishment gives Biden a perspective shared by few, if any, in Washington. But this is also a major test of his ability to corral alliances at home and abroad behind American leadership, all while dysfunction in Washington undercuts some of his authority and competing world powers jockey for influence. Biden vowed within hours of Hamas attack on Saturday that his administrations support for Israels security was rock solid and unwavering. In a Sunday conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 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 is 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 and noted that these decisions followed detailed discussions with President Biden. Still, delivering on Israels request for additional support is not an uncomplicated undertaking for Biden. With the war in Ukraine now well into its second year with no apparent end in sight, recent polling has shown that the American publics support for supplying Ukraine with more weapons is starting to fray. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted earlier this month showed 41% of respondents agreed with the statement that Washington should provide weapons to Ukraine down from 46% in May. Before Saturdays stunning attack on Israel, the White House was already grappling with how to move additional funds for Ukraine through a divided Congress, after hardline Republicans managed to strip billions of dollars in Ukraine assistance from a government funding bill. At the start of the war, support for Ukraine was more widespread. And the emergency situation in Israel comes as the House is in a state of paralysis and uncharted legal territory without an elected speaker after Kevin McCarthys historic ouster last week. Aid for Israel will likely be a different proposition from Ukraine assistance, and there was widespread bipartisan condemnation of the Hamas attack among lawmakers on Saturday, including those to Bidens left who have sometimes adopted different views toward Israel. Among the likely asks of the US by Israel will be additional interceptors for its Iron Dome missile defense system, an official said. Yet those same strains of resistance on Capitol Hill will still confront Biden if his administration pursues a new aid package for Israel. I look at the world and all of the threats that are out there, and 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? House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. By all accounts, the sudden explosion of violence in Israel came as a surprise to Biden and his aides. It was just over a week ago that Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told an interviewer, The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades a statement that at the time was largely true. He did go on to note that all of that can change, and senior administration officials have emphasized that rising tensions in Gaza and the West Bank have been a concern for months. That is partly why Biden was hopeful he could broker an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia to establish diplomatic ties, a historic undertaking that US officials said could bring a new degree of stability to the Middle East. Administration officials refused to close the door on those efforts this weekend, even as they acknowledged the diplomacy was now infinitely more complicated. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that part of the rationale for the Hamas attacks might have been to disrupt the normalization talks. That could have been part of the motivation, he told Dana Bash on State of the Union. Still, Sullivans comments underscored a widely held view within the administration that the Middle East was no longer occupying the central role it once did in American foreign policy. That view wasnt necessarily unique to Bidens team. The past three administrations have sought to refocus American foreign policy to Asia, hoping to challenge Chinas rise. Even former President Donald Trump, who successfully brokered diplomatic agreements between Israel and some Arab nations, was more focused on trade deals with Beijing and summits with North Korea. Biden made returning the United States as a relevant global power central to his campaign after the years of Trumps America first agenda. He used his long experience in the arena as a selling point. On Israel in particular, he has frequently pointed to his decadeslong relationship with Netanyahu as key to his understanding of the Israeli leader, even as their ties have come under recent strain. The sudden onset of the war in Israel stood in stark contrast to the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, which the US warned about for months ahead of time using downgraded intelligence. Even for a president as long immersed in American foreign policy as Biden, a ground war in Europe was not likely among his top foreign policy fears. A conflict in the Middle East despite the relative calm of the last years would have seemed more likely when Biden entered office. In any case, wars in both places are on his plate. And theres now an additional challenge: a House of Representatives that does not have a permanent speaker. The acting speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry, does not have the full authority of a permanent speaker, raising the prospect that the lower chamber may be paralyzed until the next speaker is in place. As Bidens aides were huddling at the White House on Saturday trying to determine the scope of Israels needs, the question arose over Congress ability to pass new assistance without a speaker. They did not arrive at an answer. A senior official acknowledged that the situation was entirely unique and that administration officials were attempting to discern what was achievable. CNNs Oren Liebermann and Aileen Graef contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com 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 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. 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. Sam Bankman-Fried's trial is underway in a packed New York courtroom. During the first week, the disgraced FTX founder kept his eyes fixed on his laptop as some of his best friends testified against him. On Tuesday, another person once close to Bankman-Fried is set to take the stand for the prosecution: Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Bankman-Fried's hedge fund, and his on-again, off-again girlfriend. Ellison's testimony has been billed as one of the most crucial moments of the trial and is likely to put Bankman-Frieds lawyers on their back foot as they try to fend off a flurry of damning allegations amid what many are calling the trial of the decade." Here are some highlightsand what to expect this week. A haircut, a jury, a grown man On the first day of the trial, it was official: Bankman-Frieds famous mop of unruly curlsso distinctive that his employees once thought that a planned headquarters in the Bahamas should resemble his hairwas shorn. With his hair short and a new suit bought, he watched jury selection take up Tuesday and part of Wednesday morning, as the prosecution and defense eventually settled on a diverse cast of 12 jurors and six alternates, including a retired, 68-year-old investment banker and a 50-year-old train conductor. Then, lawyers for the government and the defense opened the trial and presented two tales of two very different Bankman-Frieds. Thane Rehn, a member of the prosecution team, laid out in short, succinct sentences the case against the former FTX CEO. In contrast to media coverage that often emphasized Bankman-Frieds boyish qualities, Rehn called him a man who stole billions of dollars from thousands of people. However, Mark Cohen, a lawyer for the man who dominated the industry just a year ago, did not refer to him as Mr. Bankman-Fried or the defendant. Instead, he repeatedly called him Sam. In the end, Sam started and built two billion-dollar companies in the span of a few years, Cohen concluded. He didnt steal any money. FTX was not fine The governments first four witnesses were evenly split: two victims and two close confidants. The victims who testified were Marc-Antoine Julliard, a French cocoa bean trader who lost more than $100,000 in crypto and cash once FTX collapsed, and Matt Huang, the cofounder of the venture capital firm Paradigm who invested $278 million into the failed crypto exchange. We have marked it to zero, Huang said when asked the current value of the almost $300 million investment in FTX. The two Bankman-Fried confidants, however, provided more damning evidence of his alleged fraud. The first was Adam Yedidia, one of Bankman-Frieds best friends at MIT who later worked as a senior developer at FTX. Yedidia testified he had a fateful conversation with the former FTX CEO where Bankman-Fried told him in June 2022 that FTX was not bulletproof, in reference to Alamedas growing debt to the crypto exchange. Gary Wang, the former CTO of FTX and a cofounder of the crypto exchange, provided the most complete testimony so far of how Alameda allegedly withdrew $8 billion from FTX customers. FTX was not fine, he said. And assets were not fine. Caroline Ellisonand whats next Lawyers for Bankman-Fried haven't finished their cross-examination of Wang, and when the trial resumes on Tuesday (court is closed on Monday for the holiday), they will continue to pepper him with questions. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is presiding over the case, has repeatedly lambasted the defense for asking repetitive questions. When Wangs time on the stand is over, the government said it will call its star witness to the stand: Ellison. She's the former CEO of Alameda, which prosecutors have argued was the key entity that facilitated the misuse of FTX's customer funds. In both of their opening statements, the government and lawyers of Bankman-Fried repeatedly referenced Ellison. She will tell you about how she and the defendant stole the money that customers entrusted to FTX and used it to make investments through Alameda, said Rehn, one of the prosecutors. After Ellison, the government still has one more key lieutenant to call to the stand: Nishad Singh, an FTX cofounder and close friend of Bankman-Frieds younger brother. Its not clear when, or if, he will testify, but were just one week into what prosecutors have estimated will be a six-week-long trial. The government also listed Ryan Salame and Sam Trabucco, other highly placed FTX and Alameda executives, as potential witnesses. For now, all indications suggest that Ellison is likely deliver a number of bombshell allegations against Bankman-Fried, and that more sparks will fly. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Some U.S. Republicans claim that China is a bigger threat compared to Russia. Because of this, they believe that Taiwan should receive more military aid instead of giving billions of dollars to Ukraine. Their warning comes as the Biden Admin officials as both countries are fighting against the invasions of Russia and China. Is China Bigger Threat Than Russia? US Republicans Say Yes One of the U.S. Republicans claiming that China is a far bigger threat than Russia is Rep. Mike Collins. He even voted against additional military aid to Ukraine. Instead, he claims that the Biden Admistration should focus on assisting Taiwan. Collins and other Republican officials consider Ukraine and Taiwan as effective rivals for the limited U.S. military assistance. But, unlike Republicans who say China is a more serious enemy than Russia, many of Taiwan's supporters believe that assisting Ukraine is as important as helping the self-governed island. "Ukraine's survival is Taiwan's survival. Ukraine's success is Taiwan's success," said Hsiao Bi-Khim, Taiwan's diplomat in the United States, via Time Magazine. Meanwhile, some experts said that ever since the U.S. decided to provide military aid to Ukraine, many weapons manufacturers have been able to boost their production. They added that this would also benefit Taiwan in case of a serious clash with the Chinese military. Although Taiwan wants the U.S. government to provide assistance to Ukraine, the country is cautious when it comes to getting involved in debates regarding funding the Ukraine military. Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Palestinian Militants Bucher Civilians; US President Joe Biden Offers Support Americans Consider China as Greatest Threat to US In July, the Pew Research Center released a study revealing that many Americans consider China as the greatest threat to the United States. Based on the organization's findings, around 50% of U.S. residents believe that China poses the greatest threat. Meanwhile, 17% of them say Russia is a bigger enemy. The remaining surveyees believe that the greatest threat to the U.S. is North Korea and the United States itself. Aside from that, the Pew study also analyzed what Americans consider the greatest threat to the national security and economy of the U.S. When it comes to China, U.S. residents consider the Asian country as the greatest threat to the American economy (78%: a great deal, 20%: a fair amount). On the other hand, participants believe that Russia is the greatest threat to U.S. national security (66%: a great deal, 31%: a fair amount). Related Article: Belarus President Claims US Triggers Russia To Use Nuclear Weapons-Should Biden Admin Still Aid Ukraine? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Everyone has a breaking point, and I reached mine nine days ago when Elon Musk endorsed the German far right. Is the German public aware of this? he asked while retweeting a call for Germans to vote for the increasingly extremist Alternative for Germany (AfD), and suggesting it is scandalous that the country pays for the rescue of migrants who would otherwise drown in the Mediterranean. Yes. And its called saving lives, the German government responded. So youre actually proud of it. Interesting, Musk chin-stroked in return, making reference to invasion vibes. Thus ended a decade and a half of my activeand occasionally hyperactiveparticipation in Twitter, then X. I am not shuttering my account, in case new management comes around one day, and because my job requires me to visit the site from time to time. But Im not contributing to the platform anymore while it remains under its current leadership because I feel that now amounts to supporting someone who doesnt merely have inhumane views, but who has done his damnedest to chase away those who disagree with him, while financially rewarding those who seek to fuel discord and hatred. Fine, X is what it has become, and Im off. Now Im spending all my microblogging time on Bluesky and Mastodon. Do I miss X? Really notmy brief time off the platform has already spared me the confusing consequences of Musks decisions to scrap headlines and to throw unmarked, unblockable programmatic ads into the mix. I do miss Twitter, but Twitter doesnt exist anymore. Are those other platforms adequate replacements for Twitter? Kind of. Bluesky, which is enjoying an extremely visible influx of Twitter evacuees, is fast becoming a lot like certain aspects of old Twitterthe left-wing cool kids and the policy people, who also tend to skew progressive. Its a bit too echo-chamber-y, but on the other hand, most users currently seem to be enjoying the chance to bask in expertise and mutual respect. I will be interested to see how Bluesky evolves once it inevitably moves from an invitation-only model to something truly open. Mastodon isMastodon, only far more active these days. Again, theres a leftward tilt, and some policy wonks, but its still largely old-school tech people hanging out. Its also fun, but it feels as if the more usable Bluesky is achieving greater momentum right now. So now Im actively using two platforms instead of one, but I would say my combined time spent still doesnt match that from back when Twitter was fun. Thats probably because Im not following as many people as I did on Twitter, so there isnt as much content to read. The volume of content is growing quickly as the migration continues, though. On Bluesky and to a slightly lesser extent Mastodon, it is now possible to abandon X and find a rewarding experience on the other side. But again, I miss the Twitter that doesnt exist anymorethe place where everyone agreed to hang out. Things did sometimes get nasty when ideologies clashed, and its frankly therapeutic to have a more harmonious environment, but Im not sure its healthy to have a situation where people risk losing touch with what the other side thinks. On the old Twitter, for all its faults, that was impossible. Want to send thoughts or suggestions to Data Sheet? Drop a line here. David Meyer This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Republican lawmakers returning to Washington this week will do so without a House speaker, setting up a high-pressure situation to reach consensus on a candidate to wield the gavel and the power to push through support for Israel. While Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina serves as the acting speaker after the historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy last week, he has little power outside of recessing, adjourning or recognizing speaker nominations. Two candidates have stepped up to fill the vacuum: House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump. Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern announced Saturday that he had decided not to run. Neither man starts the week with anywhere near the votes needed to claim the top spot, so heres what to watch as the race unfolds: Who are the candidates? Jim Jordan: The powerful chair of the Judiciary Committee and a founder of the conservative Freedom Caucus secured Trumps backing last week. (The former presidents intervention came after he expressed openness to temporarily serving in the role himself and had considered a visit to Capitol Hill to speak with Republicans, but he is no longer expected to make that trip.) Jordan has been a key figure in high-profile House GOP-led investigations. Steve Scalise: As the No. 2 House Republican after the speaker, Scalise has been a prominent figure in the conference and had long been seen as either a potential successor, or rival, to McCarthy. Before he became majority leader, Scalise served as House GOP whip, a role focused on vote counting and ensuring support for key party priorities. The majority leader, his current role, oversees the House floor and schedules legislation for votes. The jockeying for votes Scalise met virtually with the House Freedom Caucus on Sunday afternoon as he tries to lock down support ahead of a secret-ballot leadership election Wednesday to nominate a candidate for speaker, according to a person familiar with the matter. The move comes after Jordan met with the same group on Friday. Both lawmakers have also been making a direct pitch to more centrist members, insisting they will make their reelection battles a priority and ensure more stability atop the badly divided conference, according to sources familiar with the conversations. By CNNs count, just over 60 members have publicly endorsed so far, with many more indicating they will keep their powder dry for now. Jordan racked up some notable endorsements over the weekend, mostly from the far-right faction. How the vote will unfold The House GOP is scheduled to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday and an internal election on Wednesday, but its unclear when the floor vote will happen. Monday at 6 p.m. ET: Republicans who left town will start returning for an in-person candidate debate and discussion during which Scalise and Jordan are expected to make their pitches to the conference. Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET: The House GOP will hold an official candidate forum during which members will debate who is the best fit to take the gavel. House Democrats will hold a similar forum on Tuesday to officially nominate their leader, Hakeem Jeffries, for speaker. Wednesday 9 a.m. ET: House Republicans will hold an internal, secret-ballot election to officially select their nominee. When will the official floor vote take place? This could happen as soon as Wednesday, but it will be up to whomever the GOP decides to officially nominate starting the floor vote will be their call. And this is where things get tricky. Remember, it took McCarthy 15 rounds of balloting to secure the necessary votes in January. Given the division in the GOP and the partys slim majority, it will be a tall order for whoever the ultimate Republican nominee is to try to secure the requisite 217 votes quickly. (The nominee can only lose four GOP votes.) The magic number of 217 the majority of the current House assumes every member is physically there and shows up to vote aye or nay. If they vote present or dont show up, then the calculus changes. Supporting Israel Theres no sign yet that the GOP is changing its schedule to nominate a new speaker following surprise attacks by Hamas against Israel on Saturday. But the emergency situation in Israel puts a spotlight on the state of paralysis and uncharted legal territory that the House is in without an elected speaker. Lawmakers have been scrambling to determine, for example, whether McHenry can participate in a so-called Gang of Eight intelligence briefing on the attacks, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN on Saturday. Biden administration officials briefed leadership of key House committees Sunday evening, multiple sources told CNN. That briefing, provided by officials from the departments of State and Defense, included McHenry, as well as majority and minority leaders of national security committees and those on appropriations. Jeffries, meanwhile, said Sunday that he had conversations with the White House and the National Security Council but has not yet received a briefing with the Gang of Eight which includes top leaders and heads of the intelligence committees in both parties and both chambers. McHenrys limited powers McHenry has been clear with members, a source familiar tells CNN: He cannot bring any resolution or further funding to the floor in his current role. Committees can still continue to operate, but McHenry is mostly responsible for overseeing the election of a new speaker, which means recessing, adjourning or recognizing nominations on the floor. The chaos around what the House can and cannot do has sparked outcry from some GOP members, who are calling on their party to speed up their timeline for electing a new speaker. In light of todays attacks, we should be called back to DC & vote on a Speaker ASAP, GOP Rep. Brandon Williams of New York tweeted. This is why you dont remove a Speaker mid-term without cause, New York Rep. Michael Lawler wrote on social media. If the speakers race drags on, House Republicans could try to vote to give McHenry more temporary powers. And even without McHenry having power to bring nonbinding resolutions to the floor, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul indicated the chamber may look to pass a bipartisan resolution condemning Hamas anyway. 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, McCaul, a Texas Republican, told CNNs Dana Bash on Sunday. We have to get that message out as soon as possible. CNNs Lauren Fox, Alex Marquardt, Annie Grayer, Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Oren Liebermann, Clare Foran and Pamela Brown contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com JERUSALEM (AP) Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the war's death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the war's third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, already have been killed in Israel, according to media. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israel's aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy. Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house. In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp. Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries. Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed. New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N. ___ Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. Colonel Roy Levy was killed on Saturday on the first day Hamas launched an attack from Gaza - IDF Colonel Roy Levy, a legendary Israeli soldier from its elite Ghost unit, was killed during Hamass attack on Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. The 44-year-old from Shavei Tzion is one of dozens of soldiers now confirmed dead. The IDF shares in the familys grief, the IDF said in a statement. At least 500 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its attacks from Gaza on Saturday morning, local media reported. Israeli air strikes have killed at least 313 people in the Gaza Strip, with almost 2,000 wounded, Palestinian officials said. Nathanel Young, a London-born man who was serving in the Israeli army, also died on Saturday on the Gaza border. Youngs family said in a statement: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. The IDF is publishing the names of all soldiers killed during the fighting online, and also named Col Jonathan Steinberg, 42, the commander of the Nahal Brigade, and Lt Col Sahar Machluf, 36, the commander of the 481st Signal Battalion. British man missing Another British man remains missing, Israels embassy in London said on Sunday afternoon. In Saturdays assault, Hamas fighters escaped back to Gaza with dozens of hostages, including soldiers and civilians. Col Levy spoke to the Telegraph about attack tunnels being built by Hizbollah in 2020. Hizbollah is a Shia Islamic terrorist organisation from Lebanon, which showed support for Hamas over the weekend. Hizbollah fired large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles at Israeli positions in a contested border area on Sunday morning. The assault was in solidarity with a large-scale air, sea and land attack on Saturday by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel, it said. They are not resting, Col Levy told the Telegraph in 2020, speaking of Hizbollah. They wake up every morning and say, what can I do to help for the day of war? 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. What if John Lennons infamous lost weekend really wasnt? They made it sound like this whole time he was drugging out. And I really took offense to that, says May Pang, Lennons girlfriend during his 18-month split from Yoko Ono. Pang, 72, reclaims the narrative in the new documentary The Lost Weekend: A Love Story (available Friday for home viewing on demand and Blu-ray). The film depicts a productive period when the former Beatle enthusiastically collaborated with Elton John and David Bowie and happily patched up his relationship with Paul McCartney and son Julian Lennon. Its a provocative retelling of the year and a half when Lennon regularly made tabloid headlines for his rowdy nights out, culminating in an incident when he was ejected from The Troubadour for heckling The Smothers Brothers. John Lennon and May Pang photographed together on a picnic during their 18-month relationship, a period Lennon later referred to as his "lost weekend." Her relationship with Lennon who would have turned 83 today began inexplicably, even by 70s standards. Pang, then 22 and working as Lennon and Onos personal assistant, says Yoko walked into her office in 1973 and told her: John and I are not getting along, and I know hes going to start seeing other people. And I want you to go out with him. John Lennon charmed the pants off me, says Pang, now divorced with two grown children, in the documentary. Calling from St. Louis, where she was battling a cold as she was promoting her new photography exhibit, Pang spoke at length with USA TODAY about her relationship with Lennon and bearing witness to rock n roll history. (Edited and condensed for clarity.) John Lennon and girlfriend May Pang play with Elton John's glasses collection. "Its good memories," Pang says. "People were saying, 'God, he was so accessible, you could talk to him.' He was having a great time." Question: Yoko comes to you with this surprising proposition. We see your reaction in this documentary: shock, protest, not knowing what to make of it. What was Johns reaction? Answer: She goes in when hes waking up, and she says, I fixed it so you can go out with May. And hes like, What are you doing? How do you even know I like her? I didnt want to come out of my office, he didnt want to come out of his bedroom. It was like Oh, no, no, no. Im thinking, "Please let this be the nightmare that just goes away." Why did you agree to this? What were your expectations when you went into this relationship? Hes John Lennon he doesnt need me; he could go with anyone under the sun. Im sure if he went out on the street and said, Oh, I want to date that person, they would say, Yeah, lets go. But I was surprised that he decided he would pursue me. He said: OK, she doesnt care? Im going for it. You won't recognize it: John Lennon originally sang 'Yellow Submarine' as a sad song I really felt for you as a young woman in an unusual situation when you said you cried after the first time the two of you had sex. Why was that such an emotional experience? It was hard enough trying to get a date. I was still a minority in certain ways. Did he really like me? Where were we going, where does it lead to? It was just a whole lot of confusion. So, yeah, I cried. I said, I dont know where this is going. And John goes, And neither do I, but well do it together. John Lennon manned the camera to document a period of his life he would later call his "lost weekend." You must have been very angry, or at the very least confused, when he later referred to this as his lost weekend. Did you ever discuss that with him? I knew what it was about. When he went back to the Dakota, it was ... (Pang pauses) an easy way out, an easy way to say it. He says, I know itll probably hurt, because theyll think its you, but its not about you. He was trying to ease that, but thats how it would look: Oh, she was nothing. He didnt like that, but there was no way around it. These were a pretty good 18 months for him, from all appearances, though there was obviously some substance abuse going on. Was it less than it has been portrayed? It was much less than it was portrayed. There was only a couple of times when somebody would bring drugs in, and theyd say, Do you want to share? Drinking? You go out with Harry Nilsson (Lennon was producing Nilsson's album at the time). Who makes for better copy? Is it Harry or is it going to be John Lennon? So guess who gets the worst of it? You reference an incident where he pushed you against a wall when he was drunk and didnt remember it the next day. As a young woman in a new relationship, that must have been surprising to you. How do you feel about it now? He didnt hurt me; it just sounds like more than it actually was. It was a hard push. When he realized it, he was so hurt by what he had done, he was actually in tears. He was working through his own demons, absolutely. John Lennon reconnected with his son Julian, who is interviewed in the documentary, during his 18-month "lost weekend." You were in the middle of so much rock n roll history here, and you took the last known photo of John and Paul together. You learned afterward that part of the reason for Pauls visit was to tell John, Hey, if you want, you know, you can go home (to Yoko). Did it change your perception of that reunion when you found out? I saw what was happening. John had no idea; he thought Paul was saying it on his own, so he goes, I told Paul Ive moved on. It wasnt an honest thing: It wasnt coming from Paul, it (was coming from Yoko). But it was fine, because he stayed. You talk about The Beatles officially dissolving and John signing the legal papers when youre at Disney World. And his mind goes to Maybe I should start writing with Paul again. Was that surprising to you? The pressure was off. All of them were now free to do whatever they wanted to do. So in January 1975, Paul and Linda (McCartney) were saying, Were going to go down to New Orleans and do a new album (Venus and Mars). So John says, Oh, great, New Orleans, always loved it. A couple of days later, hes tinkling on the guitar, and he goes, What do you think if I wrote with Paul again? You talk about shock: The reference is like The Exorcist, the head flips back. And I said, I think it would be great. Then he goes, Maybe we should go down. He really wanted to do that. I knew if Id gotten him down to New Orleans, it would have happened. John Lennon's birthday: 80 Lennon quotes for his 80th You spoke about being involved with John for years after he went back to the Dakota. Were you hoping for a reconciliation or looking for closure? He said, Yokos allowed me to come home. So I said, Where does that leave us? And he said, Yoko said we can still see each other. I had to stop, because I knew where this was leading. It was difficult, and I think she knew it was not as easy as "Well just cut this off." It was almost weaning him away from me. The first couple of years was tough. Were you in contact with Yoko after John died?(Lennon was assassinated in 1980.) I tried to call. No. (She shakes her head.) There was nothing. It sounds as if you remember this time in your life with great affection, despite how your relationship with John ultimately played out. We were like kids on a first date. We wanted to go to Hawaii, we wanted to go to Paris. We would go down to Chinatown late at night to eat with friends. (She tears up.) I had some good memories, I really did. And Im sorry hes not here. We had a great bond. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Lennon's lover May Pang recalls his 'Lost Weekend' in new movie As Jennifer Damti sat between her two daughters in her Tel Aviv home Sunday, she was unable to hold back tears, saying she is worried sick that her youngest child was taken hostage in the surprise attack launched by Hamas militants. Damti told ABC News her 22-year-old daughter, Kim, whom she described as having big green eyes and a huge smile, is missing, possibly one of a large crowd of desert partygoers set upon by armed men in vans and wearing balaclavas. She said she last heard from her daughter in a phone call Saturday at 6:30 a.m. local time just as Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, indiscriminately firing thousands of missiles from Gaza into southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv. Damti said as the militant moved in on an all-night music festival Kim was attending in the desert of southern Israel near the Gaza border, her daughter asked, "Mummy, what should I do?" Damti said her son took the phone and told his sister to find shelter. Since then, they haven't heard from her. PHOTO: Palestinians cross the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 7, 2023. (APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire) As the missile attack was commencing, Hamas militants on motorcycles and in vehicles stormed blockaded areas of Gaza and infiltrated Israel, officials in Israel said. Video footage emerged of Hamas terrorists shooting Israelis and taking others hostage. The Israeli government confirmed that a number of civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage. At least 100 Israeli citizens and soldiers are being held hostage by Hamas fighters, Israel's Government Press Office said Sunday. Today I met Jennifer. Her 22yr old daughter Kim called her in a panic from the desert party. Rockets firing overhead. She told her to hide. Since then, silence All I can think about is where she is. If shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back. @ABCWorldNewspic.twitter.com/8K63LjOMjD James Longman (@JamesAALongman) October 8, 2023 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration is trying to confirm reports that Americans are among those killed or taken captive. As of Sunday afternoon, at least 700 people had been killed in Israel by Hamas and another 2,100 have been injured, the Israeli Health Ministry said. Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies were removed from the venue of the music festival that Damti's daughter attending in southern Israel when it came under a Hamas attack. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 370 are dead and 2,200 others are injured in Gaza in retaliatory strikes by Israeli jet fighters and soldiers. Israeli Prime Minister has declared "Israel is at war." PHOTO: Yoni Asher told ABC News his wife is seen in this screengrab from a social media video published on Oct. 7, 2023 among a group of hostages Hamas militants, at an unknown location. (Video Obtained by Reuters/via Reuters) "Kim didnt realize seven or eight Toyota vans (were) full of terrorists, Damti, crying, said of her daughter. "They just shot everywhere. They slaughtered them like ducks. This behavior is barbaric. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. Im asking the world to condemn this." Damti said the family hasnt slept since the onset of the attack as they wait by the phone for word on her daughter's fate. She said her daughter's father and brother have been traveling from hospital to hospital with a hairbrush containing Kim's hair, hoping for a DNA match and some answers. MORE: Timeline of surprise rocket attack by Hamas on Israel Damti showed ABC News a photo of her missing daughter, pointing out her unique curly blond hair. "I know my daughter, shes a gentle loving person, who wants to make the world a better place. I dont know if well get her back," Damti said. The thought of never seeing her daughter again prompted more tears and fears that the worst had befallen her girl. MORE: Hamas attacks in Israel: Airlines that have suspended flights amid travel advisory "Maybe shes been taken as a hostage in Gaza. I dont want to think about that. Maybe shes hiding somewhere. Shes clever. Or maybe -- I dont know... I dont even want to think." she said. Damti's other daughter, Emily, said the family has also been combing through online videos of kidnappings and killings they said were carried out by Hamas militants, looking for any sign of her sister. But Emily said their search has yet to produce "nothing.". You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is," Damti said. "If shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back. I have three daughters. I cant imagine my life without Kim." ABC News' Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report. A mother's agony: Israeli mom worried Hamas took her daughter hostage originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalones parents are part of a church group that is currently stuck in Israel amid the deadly conflict that broke out there this weekend, he revealed on Sunday after the Lions beat the Carolina Panthers 42-24 at Ford Field. Anzalone said his parents, Sal and Judy, are touring through Israel with their church, First Naples, based out of Naples, Florida. The Baptist congregation sent a 53-person group to Israel, though the group is now trying to find a way out of the country after war broke out between Israel and Hamas. Its hard, Anzalone told The Detroit News after their win on Sunday when asked about his parents. [Its] really all Ive been thinking about. Alex Anzalones parents are in Israel with a 53-person tour through their Florida church. The group is currently trying to find a way home. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) (Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images) Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday morning, which reignited the deadly conflict between Israel and Palestinians that has been going on for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is now at war and vowed retaliation. As of Sunday night, the death toll was estimated to be around 1,100 people, according to The New York Times. An estimated 150 people were being held hostage by Hamas, and its unclear if any Americans were among them. There were several U.S. citizens that were killed in the fighting, a National Security Council spokesperson told The New York Times, though its unclear how many. According to The Detroit News, the First Naples group had a flight scheduled to leave the country for Thursday out of Tel Aviv. They are now trying to find a quicker alternative to get home. Pastor Alan Brumback said on the churchs Facebook page on Saturday that they were doing good and staying at their hotel in Jerusalem. Anzalone shared a clip of an interview that U.S. Representative Byron Donalds gave on Fox News on Sunday morning to social media. Donalds, a Republican, represents Naples, Florida, and the surrounding areas. My parents are in this group. Please get my parents home @POTUShttps://t.co/Jjg3M1teyp Alex Anzalone (@AlexAnzalone34) October 8, 2023 I have 53 members of my constituency who are in Jerusalem right now, Donalds said on Fox News. Obviously, they are panicked, trying to find their way back to America We need to provide every assistance possible to Israel to get Americans back. Anzalone had a team-high 11 tackles in the Lions win on Sunday. The 29-year-old now has 35 tackles so far this season, his third with the Lions and seventh in the league. Workers at Mack Trucks have gone on strike Monday after rejecting a proposed contract between the company and the United Auto Workers union. The union released a letter on X, formerly known as Twitter, that said 73% of UAW members voted against the contract and would walk off the job at 7 a.m. ET. About 4,000 UAW members work at Mack Trucks in three states. UAW President Shawn Fain wrote in a letter addressed to the company that the two sides now need to settle issues include wage increase, cost of living allowances, job security, and pensions. "We are surprised and disappointed that the UAW has chosen to strike, which we feel is unnecessary," said Mack President Stephen Roy in a press release. Mack Trucks says terms of that deal included a 10% wage increase in the first year and a compounded 20% increase to pay over the course of the five-year agreement, with a guarantee of no increases in health insurance premiums. Mack Trucks is owned by Volvo, so the new strike is separate from the UAW dispute with Detroit's Big Three. Since September 15, about 25,000 workers have walked off the job in an escalating series of strikes against Ford, General, Motors, and Stellantis, which makes cars under brands such as Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler. The rejected agreement between the union and Mack Trucks may be a record, but it also falls short of the terms the UAW and the Big Three have discussed. The union is seeking a 40% pay increase for those members, and says Ford, GM and Stellantis have all offered increases of around 20%. In his statement, Roy suggested those kinds of increases were not realistic in the trucking industry. "The UAW called our tentative agreement a record contract for the Heavy Truck industry, and we trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business, and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers," he said. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is calling on President Biden to refreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds in the wake of the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas. In a lengthy address laying out a five-step plan to address the escalating conflict in Israel, McCarthy took aim at the Biden administration for its prisoner swap with Iran and its decision to unfreeze $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for the freedom of five wrongfully detained American citizens. Bidens policy on appeasement, including money for hostage deals, must come to an end, McCarthy said Monday. His policy has only emboldened terrorists. And handing over $6 billion to Iran only helps the cause. In explaining that to members of Congress, they said they had provisions to refreeze the money if Iran has done something wrong. They should freeze the money back today. The $6 billion has become a rallying cry for critics of the Biden administration in the wake of the attacks on Israel. Many Republicans say that the move freed up resources for Irans military spending and support of terrorism. McCarthy, who has opened the door to potentially returning to the Speakership amid the bloodshed in Israel, also called on the Biden administration to focus on getting any Americans who may have been taken as hostages home. Three years ago there was not war in Europe or in Israel, but today there is, he said. The United States must reinstate the maximum pressure campaign against Iran. Refreezing the $6 billion is only the start. Last week, McCarthy became the first Speaker in history to get booted by the House, with seven Republicans voting with Democrats to strip him of his gavel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had pushed back on the Iranian criticism while making his rounds on Sunday news shows over the weekend. He emphasized that not a single dollar has been spent from the funds that have been unfrozen for the prisoner swap. 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. The prisoner deal last month included the Biden administration granting clemency to five Iranians and issuing 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 came from Irans oil sales that were frozen by the U.S. when relations between the two countries faltered. Blinken reiterated that the funds were to be used only for food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. Deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said early Monday that Iran was broadly complicit in the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, but noted that it was not clear whether Tehran was directly involved. He said that Iran was without a doubt indirectly responsible for backing and training Hamas. In terms of broad complicity, we are very clear about a role for Iran, Finer told CBS. What we have not seen yet at this moment, although we are continuing to look at it very closely, is any sort of direct involvement in the immediate attacks. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Photo : MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images) Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. srael, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) met in an emergency session behind closed doors in response to the conflict between Israel and Gaza but was unable to reach the majority required for a joint statement. Since Hamas, the Palestinian group that controls the blockaded Gaza Strip launched an assault on Israeli towns on Saturday and held hundreds of people hostage, at least 1,100 people have been slain, as per Politico. UNSC Emergency Session on Israel-Gaza Conflict Fails to Reach Consensus Israel attacked by declaring war and bombarding densely populated Gaza, killing hundreds. Tor Wennerland, the Middle East peace envoy for the United Nations, addressed the council during its roughly 90-minute meeting. Diplomats reported that members led by Russia desired a broader emphasis than condemning Hamas. The United Arab Emirates, which promoted relations with Israel as part of a historic agreement for 2020, stated that it anticipated additional UNSC meetings on the crisis. In addition, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors on Sunday, during which the United States demanded that all 15 members firmly condemn "these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas," but they took no action right then. Robert Wood, the deputy ambassador for the United States, stated afterward that "a good number of countries" condemned the Hamas attack, but not all council members. According to Aljazeera, he told reporters that they could likely deduce one of them. Read Also: The World in Shock: Global Leaders React to Gaza's Attack in Southern Israel Russian, Chinese Ambassadors Reject Claims of Non-Condemnation The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, told the Associated Press that the Americans attempted to claim during the meeting that Russia does not abhor the attacks, but "that is false." Earlier, as he entered the meeting, the Chinese ambassador, Zhang Jun, expressed a similar view. He added that Beijing condemns all attacks on civilians, without mentioning Hamas. Wood made it clearly that the United States is focused on condemning Hamas for "this unprovoked invasion and the terrorist attacks," and he stated that Hamas must cease its "violent terrorist activity against the Israeli people." When asked if it wasn't crucial to resume negotiations on a two-state solution and terminate the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he replied, "There will be a time for that. Currently, we must address Hamas's hostage-taking and violence. and we must address the most important matters first." The Chinese ambassador stated that the Security Council, which is responsible for maintaining international peace and security, must "be heard." However, Nebenzia stated that no country submitted a statement for the council's consideration. This could occur in the coming days if disagreements regarding condemning Hamas and decrying civilian fatalities can be resolved, as well as if an agreement can be reached on potential language regarding ending the violence and resuming negotiations. The ambassador of Malta to the United Nations, Vanessa Frazier, who called for the meeting, stated that she did not know if the council would adopt a statement, but that any condemnation must be directed primarily at Hamas. "Palestinian civilians are also victims in this situation, and Hamas put them in this position," she said, as per the Washington Post reported. Related Article: Hamas Attack Update: AA, Other Major Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Reuters) - U.S. presidential contenders have thrown their support behind Israel after Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on the country. Here is what the candidates have said: PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking a second term in the November 2024 general election, said his administration's support for Israel remained "rock solid." He said the country had a right to defend itself. His administration pushed back against Republican criticism of a deal with Iran by which five detained U.S. citizens were allowed to leave that country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds for humanitarian-related purposes. White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said that "these funds have absolutely nothing to do with the horrific attacks" and added that this was "not the time to spread disinformation." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the funds that were unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September. DONALD TRUMP Former U.S. president and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has touted his own record supporting Israel and blamed Biden for the assault, the worst breach in Israel's defenses since Arab armies waged war in 1973. "Joe Biden betrayed Israel," Trump said at a campaign event in the early primary voting state of New Hampshire on Monday. In a statement on Saturday, Trump falsely stated that "American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks." The $6 billion was Iranian money that had been frozen in South Korean banks. It was earmarked for humanitarian needs, and has yet to be spent by Iran. RON DESANTIS Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a distant second to Trump in national polls for the Republican presidential nomination, also assailed Biden over the attack. "Israel, with the full support of the United States, should kill Hamas members and extinguish their entire infrastructure," DeSantis said in a post on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. He also called for a "freeze" on funds "Biden has made available to Iran." Speaking at a campaign event in Iowa on Monday, DeSantis pushed back on the fact the funds had yet to be transferred to Iran. "You take Biden's $6 billion to plug that hole and you can free up other money for terrorism." NIKKI HALEY Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, a Republican foreign policy hawk, urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "finish them" in an apparent reference to Hamas. "They should have hell to pay for what they've just done." Haley also condemned the Iran deal. VIVEK RAMASWAMY Biotech entrepreneur and Republican contender Vivek Ramaswamy, who has faced criticism by supporters of Israel for previously suggesting a phase-out of aid after 2028, criticized what he called "barbaric and medieval Hamas attacks." MIKE PENCE Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, a long-shot Republican presidential candidate who has made support for Ukraine against Russia a plank of his campaign, took aim at some of his Republican rivals, including Trump, suggesting that their Ukraine positions had signaled a weaker United States on the world stage. "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," he said on CNN. TIM SCOTT South Carolina Senator Tim Scott joined fellow Republican presidential contenders in criticizing Biden, tweeting that "America's weakness is blood in the water for bad actors." ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist who is running for the White House as a long-shot independent, condemned the "barbaric attacks." "We must provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself - now," he tweeted. (Reporting by Alexandra Ulmer; Additional reporting by James Oliphant, Costas Pitas and Nathan Layne; Editing by Ross Colvin and Howard Goller) By Maggie Fick and Andrew Silver LONDON/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's largest vaccines company Zhifei will pay British drugmaker GSK 2.5 billion pounds ($3.05 billion) for the exclusive rights to distribute GSK's shingles vaccine in the world's No.2 pharmaceuticals market. The deal is one of a series of moves by western pharmaceutical firms to seize a bigger share of China's market, including announcements from companies such as AstraZeneca. The vaccine, named Shingrix, is GSK's top-selling medicine. GSK said the deal with Zhifei is part of its efforts to more than double sales of Shingrix, to more than 4 billion pounds ($4.88 billion), by 2026. In a call with journalists, GSK's Chief Commercial Officer Luke Miels said Zhifei had an impressive track record of driving access to medicines in China, citing the company's deal with drugmaker Merck & Co to distribute its Gardasil vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV): "We essentially sought to replicate that with Shingrix." The deal will result in the vaccine being available in more than 30,000 locations across China, up from 9,500 currently. This is important, Miels said, because unlike in most countries, people can only access vaccines at these locations, and not at hospitals, doctors' offices or health centres. Zhifei will purchase volumes of Shingrix with a value to GSK worth 2.5 billion pounds over an initial three-year period, GSK said. GSK expects to extend beyond that three years, Miels said. The market for Shingrix in China, and also in Brazil and Mexico is "largely out-of-pocket", and the vaccine's launch in those markets is still in its early stages. Miels said that Monday's deal gives GSK more money to put into research and development, and "more room to concentrate" on the development of drugs in its pipeline, instead of distribution of them. POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE VACCINE DEALS The agreement is set to start on Jan. 1. Zhifei shares were up as much as 20% to 58.40 yuan ($8.00) following the filing, their highest since March 27. GSK shares were up 1.2% by 0812 GMT, near their session high. Shingrix is currently GSK's biggest product and strongest growth driver, taking in 1.7 billion pounds in first-half sales, up 20% from a year prior. JPMorgan analysts said in a note that the announcement "de-risks GSKs Shingrix China sales for the next three years" and holds the potential for as much as a 6% upgrade to 2026 consensus Core EPS (Earnings per Share) forecasts. GSK's statement also said that Zhifei has granted it the "right of first refusal to be their exclusive partner for any co-development of an RSV vaccine for older adults in China". The company launched its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)vaccine, called Arexvy, in the United States after it was approved by regulators in May. Barclays analysts said in a note last month that the first five weeks of prescription data showed that the vaccine's launch was off to a strong start and that GSK appeared to have the lead over Pfizer's competing vaccine for RSV. A GSK shareholder then told Reuters that if the strong start was maintained through September, it would mean consensus estimates for 2023 sales of Arexvy, at about 215 million pounds, are "way too low". GSK is banking on Arexvy being its next blockbuster medicine, part of its efforts to ensure growth as it faces a combination of patent expiries and declining revenue from its current bestsellers by the end of this decade. (This story has been refiled to remove the extraneous 'pound' in paragraph 1) ($1 = 0.8192 pounds) ($1 = 7.2960 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Maggie Fick in London and Andrew Silver in Shanghai, additional reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru and Lucy Raitano in London; Editing by Savio D'Souza and Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan) 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) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Dan Williams GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The Israeli military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attack by Hamas gunmen. After hours of intense bombardment by Israeli jets, Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls Gaza, said it would execute an Israeli captive if civilian houses were bombed. Inside Israel, Palestinian fighters were still holed up in several locations, two days after they killed hundreds of Israelis and seized dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900. Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida said the group had been acting in accordance with Islam by keeping the Israeli captives safe. But in return for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, it will begin executing an Israeli civilian captive and broadcast it, he said. In Gaza, Israel pressed on with its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, which have killed more than 500 people since Saturday. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a tightened blockade, which would prevent even food and fuel from reaching the strip, home to 2.3 million people. As night fell, the Israeli air strikes became more aggressive and witnesses said several Hamas security headquarters and ministries were hit. The strikes also destroyed some roads and houses. Israel also bombed the headquarters of the private Palestinian Telecommunication Co., which could impact land phone, internet and mobile phone services. As it rained, explosions and lightning lit the skies as thunder mixed with the sound of the bombings. In a further signal of Israel's rapid shift to a war footing, a cabinet member from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party said it could set up a national unity government joined by opposition leaders within hours. Netanyahu told mayors of southern towns hit by Saturday's surprise assault that Israel's response would "change the Middle East". At the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, men clambered on a pancaked building to pull an infant's tiny body from the rubble, carrying it down through the crowd below amid still-smouldering remains of bombed buildings. That air strike killed and wounded dozens, according to the territory's health ministry. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said some 137,000 people were taking shelter with UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. FIGHTING SPREAD The prospect that fighting could spread to other areas has alarmed the region. Israeli troops "killed a number of armed suspects that infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory", the military said, adding helicopters "are currently striking in the area". An official with Hezbollah denied that the group had mounted any operation into Israel. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite militant group powerful in southern Lebanon, is, like Hamas, backed by Iran. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a correspondent for Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said in a post on social media. Israel's Army Radio gave the location as being near Adamit, across from the Lebanese border towns of Aalma El Chaeb and Zahajra. The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, claimed responsibility for an attack at the Lebanon-Israel border. In Israel's south, scene of the deadly Hamas attack, Israel's chief military spokesman said troops had re-established control of communities inside Israel that had been overrun, but that isolated clashes continued as some gunmen remained active. The shocking images of the bodies of hundreds of Israeli civilians sprawled across the streets of towns, gunned down at an outdoor dance party and abducted from their homes were like nothing seen before in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The announcement that 300,000 reservists had been activated in just two days added to speculation that Israel could be contemplating a ground assault of Gaza, a territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago. "We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale," chief military spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said. "We are going on the offensive." Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there. Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, says its attack was justified by the plight of Gaza under a 16-year blockade and the deadliest Israeli crackdown for years in the occupied West Bank. 'A TOTAL MASSACRE' Mainstream Palestinian groups who deplored the attacks said the violence was nonetheless predictable, with a peace process frozen for nearly a decade and far-right Israeli leaders talking of annexing Palestinian land once and for all. Israel and Western countries said nothing justified the intentional mass killing of civilians. The attackers gunned down scores of young Israelis at the desert dance party - media reported 260 killed there. A day later dozens of survivors were still emerging from hiding. The site was littered with wrecked and abandoned cars. "It was just a massacre, a total massacre," said Arik Nani, who had been celebrating his 26th birthday and escaped by hiding for hours in a field. In Gaza, footage obtained by Reuters showed dozens of people climbing over collapsed buildings in search of survivors, the air still dusty from impact. Sirens rang out as emergency teams put out cars that had caught fire. At least 560 Palestinians have been killed and 2,900 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday, said Gaza's Health Ministry. "The Zionist enemy's military targeting and bombing of homes inhabited by women and children, mosques and schools in Gaza amount to war crimes and terrorism," Hamas official Izzat Reshiq said in a statement. Egypt, which has mediated between Israel and Hamas at times of conflict in the past, was in close contact with the two sides, according to Egyptian security sources. Qatari mediators have held urgent calls with Hamas officials to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source told Reuters. An Israeli official said no negotiations were under way. The violence jeopardises U.S.-backed moves towards normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - a security realignment that could have threatened Palestinian hopes of self-determination and hemmed in Hamas backer Iran. "The price the Gaza Strip will pay will be a very heavy one that will change reality for generations," Defence Minister Gallant said in Ofakim, one of the towns that had been attacked. Israel's military faces harsh questions for the country's worst intelligence failure in 50 years. Netanyahu's options may also be curtailed by concern over the fate of Israeli hostages. (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 Michael Georgy and Nick Macfie; Editing by Peter Graff and Rosalba O'Brien) (Reuters) - The union for tens of thousands of workers at Kaiser Permanente, a leading non-profit hospital network and managed-care organization, said it may hold a one-week strike starting Nov. 1, following up on its recent 3-day strike. A statement by the union on Monday said it had served the company official notice of the possible action on Nov. 1, when a contract covering workers in Seattle expires. Last Wednesday, 75,000 nurses, medical technicians and support staff at hundreds of Kaiser hospitals and clinics walked off their jobs for 72 hours in the biggest ever U.S. healthcare strike. The strike drew to a close on Friday as both sides agreed to resume stalled contract talks this week, while union officials warned of possible further walkouts if their demands were not met. The labor clash has centered on workers' demands for better pay and measures to alleviate chronic staffing shortages and high turnover of personnel that union officials say has undermined patient care at Kaiser. The Seattle contract, which expires on Oct. 31, would add another 3,000 healthcare workers to the strike lines. The workers have asked the company to hire more, saying there is a dangerous staffing crisis. The strike would begin at 6 a.m. local time on Nov. 1 and continue until 6 a.m. on Nov. 8, the union said. The potential strike would also involve workers from Kaiser facilities in California, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington state. (Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; editing by Caroline Humer and Shinjini Ganguli) By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Syed Hassib HERAT, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Rescue workers on Monday scrambled to pull out survivors, and the dead, from beneath the rubble two days after the northwestern city of Herat and its surroundings were struck by the deadliest earthquakes to rattle Afghanistan in years. The Taliban administration said at least 2,400 people were killed and many more injured in the quakes, which were among the world's deadliest this year after tremors in Turkey and Syria, in which an estimated 50,000 people were killed. Neighbours Pakistan and Iran have offered to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid, while China's Red Cross Society offered cash relief aid. "The operation is still going on, still some people are being pulling out of the rubble," the spokesman of Herat's governor, Nissar Ahmad Elyias, told Reuters, adding that more than a dozen villages around Herat were also affected. Many buildings in Herat city were relatively unaffected, but the mediaeval minarets of its famous mosques sustained some damage, photographs on social media showed. "Many of our family members have been martyred, including one of my sons, and my other son is also injured," Herat resident Mir Ahmed told Reuters at a hospital that was treating many survivors. "Most of the people are under the rubble." 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. In a statement late on Sunday, the U.N. Humanitarian Office put the death toll from the quakes at 1,023, with an additional 1,663 people injured, and more than 500 missing. It said all the homes in the Zindajan district in Herat were destroyed. Afghanistan's 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. Pakistan said its disaster management authority had put a search and rescue team on standby to assist in the disaster hit area. It is also preparing to send in relief items including food, medications, tents and blankets. Iran, whose border is less than 90 kilometres (56 miles) from the site of the worst hit area, also pledged humanitarian aid, the Taliban administration said. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Syed Hassib in Herat; Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; editing by Miral Fahmy) (Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council John Kirby speaks as a picture shows Russian rail cars in North Korea during a White House daily news briefing at the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on January 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. The United States plans to impose additional sanctions against the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, that U.S. officials say has been helping Russia's military in the Ukraine war. The U.S. made public an image dated Nov. 18 that it said showed Russian rail cars traveling between Russia and North Korea. The revelation follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's trip to Russia, during which he met with President Vladimir Putin and visited vital military installations. Experts and foreign officials believe Kim's travel was partly motivated by a desire to acquire advanced Russian weapons in exchange for munitions to bolster North Korea's nuclear program, as per to Appnews. North Korea-Russia Border Traffic Sparks Concerns of Munitions Transfer Recent satellite imagery reveals a substantial increase in rail traffic along the North Korea-Russia border, raising concerns about a potential transfer of arms and munitions from North Korea to Russia. The increase in rail activity has piqued the interest of experts and officials, who suspect North Korea is assisting Russia in restocking its depleted munitions stocks due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to a report by Beyond Parallel, a website operated by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the increase in rail traffic along the border may be a sign that North Korea is supplying Russia with munitions. The report, published on Friday, stated, "Given that Kim and Putin discussed some military exchanges and cooperation at their recent summit, the dramatic increase in rail traffic likely indicates North Korea's supply of arms and munitions to Russia." The satellite images captured on October 5 reveal a "dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic" at the Tumangang Rail Facility on the North Korean-Russian border. In stark contrast to previous satellite images from the past five years, which showed no more than 20 railcars at the facility, these images depict approximately 73 railcars. However, the report acknowledged that the extensive use of tarps to conceal shipping crates, containers, and equipment at the Tumangang Rail Facility made it challenging to determine with certainty the nature of the transported cargo, according to VOA News. Read Also: Walgreens Pharmacies May Be Closed Next Week; Workers Preparing to Strike Over Pay, Benefits Global Alarm Over North Korea-Russia Ties This potential arms transfer has raised concerns internationally, with both the United States and South Korea warning of consequences if North Korea and Russia proceed with the reported weapons exchange. Such a transfer would violate United Nations Security Council resolutions prohibiting all arms commerce with North Korea. Since last year, the United States has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with ammunition, artillery shells, and missiles. Numerous munitions are believed to be replicas of armaments from the Soviet era. Officials from South Korea have also asserted that North Korean weapons supplied to Russia have already been employed in Ukraine, further complicating the situation. The suspected armament transfer raises concerns regarding its potential impact on regional stability and the ongoing conflicts involving the involved nations. It highlights the international community's difficulties enforcing sanctions and averting illicit arms trade, mainly when dealing with secretive governments such as North Korea. Even though the satellite images provide strong indications of increased rail traffic and potential arms shipments, additional concrete evidence is required to corroborate the nature and scope of the loads. The international community will likely keep a close eye on developments in this region to ensure compliance with existing sanctions and prevent the escalation of conflict or insecurity. In the coming weeks, as experts and government officials continue to analyze the situation, the world will be closely observing how North Korea, Russia, and the international community respond to these worrisome developments along their shared border, SCMP reported. Related Article: Russia Plans New Naval Base on Black Sea Coast Near Occupied Georfia Region Following Crimea Retreat @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Joey Roulette (Reuters) -Russia's space agency said on Monday that its multipurpose Nauka module attached to the International Space Station suffered a leak of a backup cooling system used to regulate onboard temperatures for astronauts. The crew and the station "are not in danger" as astronauts assess the leak, Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, said in a statement posted on Telegram. It's the latest such leak the Russians have had to deal with in space recently, following one that sprang on a Soyuz crew capsule late last year, forcing the spacecraft's replacement and a delayed trip home for its crew. A Russian Progress cargo spacecraft leaked coolant months later. NASA, which manages the ISS with Russia, did not immediately return a request for comment. Around 1 p.m. ET (1700 GMT), an official at NASA's mission control center in Houston instructed one of station's U.S. astronauts to go to the cupola, a dome-like set of windows overlooking space, to look for what ground teams had detected as "flakes" outside the station, according to mission control audio. "There's a leak coming from the radiator on MLM," replied NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, referring to the Nauka module on the station's Russian segment. Coolant that leaked from Russia's Soyuz-22 capsule in December appeared on live video feeds as flaky, snow-like particles spewing into space from the craft's radiator. A NASA engineering team believes a piece of space debris or a tiny meteorite was to blame, following a monthslong investigation with the Russians. Moghbeli and astronauts from Denmark, Russia and Japan arrived at the station in August aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. American Loral O'Hara and Russians Oleg Kononenko and Nikolai Chub arrived via a Russian Soyuz spacecraft last month. The station, a football field-sized orbital science laboratory some 250 miles (400 km) above Earth, has continuously housed international crews of astronauts for more than two decades. With the U.S. in charge of the station's power grid and Russia largely responsible for engines that enable orbital maneuvers, the interdependency aboard the laboratory represents one of the few remaining cooperative ties between the two countries following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. The station's structure has aged since housing its first crew in 2000 and NASA is preparing for its retirement around 2030 by funding early development of privately built successors, as the agency prioritizes returning humans to the moon. (Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Leslie Adler and Sandra Maler) 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 By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix will be allowed to supply U.S. chip equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate U.S. approvals, South Korea's presidential office and the companies said on Monday. The U.S. had been expected to extend a waiver granted to the South Korean chipmakers on a requirement for licences to bring U.S. chip equipment into China. "Uncertainties about South Korean semiconductor firms' operations and investments in China have been greatly eased; they will be able to calmly seek long-term global management strategies," said Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs. The U.S. has already notified Samsung and SK Hynix of the decision, indicating that it is in effect, Choi said. The U.S. Department of Commerce is updating its "validated end user" list, denoting which entities can receive exports of which technology, to allow Samsung and SK Hynix to keep supplying certain U.S. chipmaking tools to their China factories, the presidential office said. Once included in the list, there is no need to obtain permission for separate export cases. Samsung and SK Hynix, the world's largest and second-largest memory chipmakers, had invested billions of dollars in their chip production facilities in China and welcomed the move. "Through close coordination with relevant governments, uncertainties related to the operation of our semiconductor manufacturing lines in China have been significantly removed," Samsung said in a statement. SK Hynix said: "We welcome the U.S. government's decision to extend a waiver with regard to the export control regulations. We believe the decision will contribute to the stabilisation of the global semiconductor supply chain." Samsung Electronics makes about 40% of its NAND flash chips at its plant in Xian, China, while SK Hynix makes about 40% of its DRAM chips in Wuxi and 20% of its NAND flash chips in Dalian. The companies together controlled nearly 70% of the global DRAM market and 50% of the NAND flash market as of end-June, data from TrendForce showed. (Reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Edmund Klamann) GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States on Monday led a moment of silence at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to commemorate the lives of people killed in the major Hamas attack on Israel. "The United States unequivocally condemns these heinous acts of terrorism," Michele Taylor, U.S. Permanent Representative to the council, told the U.N.'s top human rights body. "We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel in these trying times." At a meeting of the U.N. refugee agency in Geneva, the U.S. envoy also requested a minute of silence to honour victims of the conflict in Israel and of an earthquake in Afghanistan. All but a handful of delegates stood up. Hamas gunmen burst across the fence from Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 700 people and taking dozens hostage back to the coastal enclave ruled by the Islamist group. Israel responded with its heaviest ever bombardment of Gaza, killing more than 400 people, and could be contemplating a ground assault on the territory it withdrew from nearly two decades ago after 38 years of occupation. The Israeli military said on Monday its forces had re-established control of communities near Gaza that had been overrun in a mass Hamas infiltration, but isolated clashes continued as some Palestinian gunmen remained active. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; additional reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Mark Heinrich) By Michael Holden and Sam Tobin LONDON (Reuters) -Government lawyers told Britain's top court on Monday there was a serious and pressing need for its plan to deport migrants to Rwanda, one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's key policies, as they sought to overturn a ruling which declared it unlawful. In June, London's Court of Appeal concluded that the scheme to send tens of thousands of migrants more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) to East Africa was not lawful, saying Rwanda could not be treated as a safe third country. The court ruled that those sent to Rwanda would be at risk of being sent home where they could face persecution despite having a legitimate asylum claim. This would make the policy unlawful under Britain's Human Rights Act (HRA), which made the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) part of British law. The decision dealt a massive blow to Sunak's pledge to stop thousands of migrants from arriving in small boats on the English south coast. At the start of three days of hearings, the government's lawyer James Eadie told the UK Supreme Court the appeal concerned "a policy to which the government attaches considerable importance". "There is a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel from a safe country, normally France," Eadie said. "There is, we submit, a strong public interest in that legitimate, indeed key, policy aim," he added. Lawyers representing eight of the asylum seekers involved in the case said in court documents there were "critical defects" in Rwanda's system for determining the status of refugees, also referencing the Rwandan government's "capture of the judiciary" and the repression of political dissent. Legal teams representing migrants from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam and Sudan also want the judges to conclude the scheme itself is unlawful on a wider basis. The political stakes are high and the outcome, with a final ruling likely by year-end, could have far-reaching consequences. Sunak, whose Conservatives are trailing by about 20 points in opinion polls ahead of an election expected next year, has made a vow to "stop the boats" one of his five priorities as he seeks to turn around his party's fortunes. Surveys show that immigration, a key factor in the 2016 referendum vote for Britain to leave the European Union, remains a major concern for voters, and that a majority of the public think the government is handling the issue badly. The government's first planned Rwanda deportation flight had been due to leave in June last year, but was blocked at the last minute by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights until all the UK legal action had been concluded. Many in Sunak's party want Britain to pull out of the ECHR to prevent any repeat, while in a speech to party faithful last week Home Secretary (interior minister) Suella Braverman labelled the Human Rights Act, "the Criminal Rights Act". "Know this; I will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats," Sunak told the Conservative conference. The court case comes as governments around the world wrestle with how to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war zones or seeking better lives in the West. In the United States, President Joe Biden's administration said it would add sections to a border wall to stave off record crossings from Mexico, while in Europe, governments are grappling with how to cope with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. (Reporting by Michael Holden and Sam Tobin; editing by Mark Heinrich and Christina Fincher) Ukrainian forces beat attacks on five points across the war frontline on Sunday as Russias troops resorted to using old weapons and equipment while shelling the frontline, military officials said in the latest update from the battlefield. At least two people were killed and a dozen more injured in Russias shelling of the southern Kherson region. The attacks were repelled in five areas of the eastern front Kupiansk, Bakhmut, Lyman, Avdiivka, and Marinka along the 1,000km-long (600mile) front, the general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its evening report. A total of 33 skirmishes were recorded during the day by Ukraine, the battlefield update added. Russian forces also mounted six air attacks and 20 strikes from multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), inflicting casualties among military personnel and the civilian population, the general staff said, calling the situation difficult. Russia has scaled up its presence in the eastern hotspot of the conflict and deployed its reserves north of Bakhmut to stop Ukraines advancing counteroffensive in Donetsk oblast, the spokesperson for the Eastern Group of Forces Illia Yevlash said on Saturday. He confirmed a total of 774 Russian strikes on the Kupiansk and Lyman direction which had seen intense fighting in the past week. The eastern and southern parts of Ukraine have seen the majority of Russias offensive in the continuing invasion since February and have now become the two key theatres of Kyivs counteroffensive. In southern Ukraine, troops have been repelling Russian forces in an inch-by-inch fight by capturing clusters of villages as they pushed toward the Sea of Azov to cut Vladimir Putins access to a land bridge created by Russian forces controlling the areas of south and east. Russian troops have now started using older weaponry howitzers and cannons in an evidence that Ukrainian forces had been successful in knocking out enemy equipment, spokesperson for troops in the south Oleksandr Shtupun told national television. "Sadly, the Russians have plenty of equipment," he said. Top military officials said Russia was continuing to mass its reserves. "Our troops are performing their assignments with the aim of proceeding with our advance, general Oleksandr Syrskyi, head of Ukraines ground forces, said. He had met troops and commanders engaged in offensive operations near Bakhmut which was taken by Russian forces in May after months of battles. Emma Lutz, at left in the foreground, and Rabbi Ken Chasen, on guitar, are among those at a vigil Sunday at Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) When Sharon Farber turned her phone back on after seeing a play with her daughter Saturday, frantic WhatsApp messages poured in from the other side of the world. Her sister in Israel told her that she and other relatives were hiding in bomb shelters because the country was under attack. Terrified and unable to work or sleep, Farber spent the day and night on the phone, calling and texting family and friends, and scrolling through the news. Here, youre so far away, said Farber, a film composer and the music director for Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts. Theres nothing you can do, except for lose your mind from worry. Those feelings of fear and helplessness were echoed by many Sunday in Los Angeles' Jewish community, which was reeling from the deadliest attack in Israel in decades during what was supposed to be a holiday weekend of celebration. Attendees embrace at a vigil Sunday at Stephen Wise Temple amid the violence in Israel and Gaza. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) By Sunday afternoon, more than 1,100 Israelis and Palestinians were reported dead as Israel mounted a relentless counterattack to the surprise assault by Hamas militants, raising the specter of a protracted war. Among the dead, Farber had learned, was the son of a longtime friend. With a death toll so large in an area so small, "you will know someone who's no longer with us," wounded or kidnapped, Farber said. "The lack of power to do something to help is really hard," she said. Read more:Israel and Hamas continue to battle, with at least 1,100 dead and warnings of a long war The Los Angeles area, Mayor Karen Bass noted, is home to the second-largest Jewish population outside of Israel. Streets in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood would normally be shut down this weekend for parties in honor of Simchat Torah, the Jewish holiday marking the completion of the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah. But this year, the mood was somber as police stepped up security in Jewish and Muslim communities alike. It will forever be a day of memorial and sadness, said Rebecca Wizman, standing outside a Pico Boulevard synagogue. Its supposed to be the happiest day of the year. She and three others were discussing who they knew preparing to fly to Israel to fight. Batsheva Pinto said many people from her congregation were headed there. So was her brother-in-law. For two days, Wizman said, everyone she knew had been operating in an information vacuum. Because of the holidays, they hadnt been able to check their phones since Friday night. Read more:Photos: Israel declares war, bombards Gaza after Hamas attack Wizman said she was dreading Sunday evening, when she would once again be able to go online and read the latest headlines. She assumed the death toll had mounted; she was scared to learn by how much. Were not looking forward to it, she said. We want to know our people are OK, but we know theyre not. Theyre telling us no matter what you do, dont watch the videos, said another member of the group, David Abezis. For Rabbi David Baron of Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts, watching the attacks unfold reminded him of 9/11. As the hours continued, we got to understand more and more of the scope of what had happened, he said. It became clear this was not just simple, one-off act of terrorism, but a coordinated and organized invasion and attack. Over the weekend, he spoke with his cousins in Jerusalem, friends in Tel Aviv, and others he'd seen when he visited Israel twice this summer for two weddings and four bar mitzvahs. They all emphasized how the scale and scope of this attack was just massive and bold, said Baron, 72. No mercy shown to anyone. One of Barons friends had taken his two young daughters to Cyprus for the holiday, while his wife stayed behind to care for her mom. He said she was staying close to where missiles struck. She said to her husband, Im very glad you took the girls, they would be so traumatized by this, he said. With flights into the country halted, Baron said, they cant yet travel back to Israel. Yossie Ziff walked down Pico Boulevard on Sunday, still teary-eyed from the morning service at the synagogue down the road. Two years ago, Ziff said, he moved from Pico-Robertson to the Israeli city of Modi'in. He was back in Los Angeles last week visiting his grandchildren and was just stepping into the synagogue Saturday morning when he heard about the attacks. Everyone hes spoken with back home is physically OK, he said, but reeling from the same emotions as him. Pain. Sadness. Concern about friends, he said. The country is in shock. Ziff said the congregation was clearly in mourning. He was not the only one who sat through the service with tears in his eyes, but he said they were determined to make it the kind of holiday it was supposed to be: one of jubilation. I went and celebrated with joy, in spite of the sadness of what has happened, he said. Not everyone could stomach celebrating. "Its hard. Its our duty to celebrate, said Nathan Pazooky, 29. "But I dont know how." Across the street, a group holding a Torah had just broken out in jubilant chanting. Many probably did not yet know the scope of the carnage. Theres a lot of people, bless their hearts, a lot of them dont know the extent of whats happening, Pazooky said. Read more:Shock and stepped-up security in Southern California as Israel-Gaza battle rages In Anaheim's Little Arabia neighborhood, much of the fear and uncertainty that gripped Pico-Robertson was just as evident. Aref Mohammad, owner of Al Baraka restaurant, said Saturday that he was calling his siblings in Gaza nearly every hour to make sure they were safe. At a nearby table, a Palestinian man named Nazeeh said the Israeli and U.S. governments were partly to blame for the tragedy after failing to find a peaceable solution to the long-running conflict. People in the Gaza Strip live in a big prison, said Nazeeh, who asked to withhold his last name for fear that his businesses could face retaliation. Its a human tragedy on both sides. Killing children is a tragedy. Innocent people are getting crushed. Sitting on a ledge Sunday outside Chabad Persian Youth Center in Pico-Robertson, Jay Israel said his heart broke for the hundreds of innocent Israelis and Palestinians who would die as a result of the latest bout of fighting. The leaders are safe, the civilians are getting killed, he said. "When they drop the bombs, the missiles, both sides get hurt. Any war is the worst thing, he said. Times staff writer James Queally and staff photographer Irfan Khan 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. When the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on Israel over the weekend, Palestinians living in the besieged strip had mixed feelings. Some celebrated, taking pride in what they perceived as a victory against Israel. Others, however, were afraid, dreading a deadly retaliation. The militant groups unprecedented incursion prompted vows of retribution from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who declared that his country was at war, pledging a mighty vengeance for this black day. By Monday, the retaliation was in full swing, as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of Gaza. I have given an order Gaza will be under complete siege. No electricity, no food, no fuel. Everything closed. We are fighting barbaric (terrorists) and will respond accordingly, he said on camera, adding that water to the enclave would also be cut off. Aftermath of Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday. - Ibrahim Dahman/CNN More than 700 people were killed in Israel by Hamas fighters who breached the border from Gaza, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Maj. Ben Wahlhaus told CNN on Sunday. In response, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Sunday that Israel had destroyed around 800 targets in Gaza, including what he described as launching pads used by Hamas. At least 560 Palestinians have been killed and a further 2,900 injured, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said Monday. The ministry said on Sunday that the dead included 78 children. No strangers to war with Israel, many Gazans are sheltering in their homes, with the vast majority lacking access to bunkers. The territory is one of the most densely populated places on earth, where some 2 million people live in an area of 140 square miles. Aftermath of Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday. Israel said it struck 800 targets in Gaza. - Ibrahim Dahman/CNN Those who venture out do so only to complete essential errands, or to look for their missing in the carnage of Israeli strikes. The streets are damaged and covered with rubble, and the air smells of dust and gunpowder. Salim Hussein, 55, lost his home when his building was targeted in an Israeli airstrike. He lived on the first floor and told CNN that he and his family were given warnings by Israel just moments before the building was struck. Hussein said he did not know why the tower was struck. He had moved in with his family just five months ago. We left (the tower) only with the clothes we had on, he told CNN, adding that he and his family now have nothing left and nowhere to go. Following Hamas incursion, Palestinians were also barred from leaving Gaza through the Erez Crossing, which has become the site of a battle between Hamas and Israeli forces. Netanyahu declared over the weekend that Israel will stop the supply of electricity, fuel and goods into the Gaza Strip, although IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Sunday only electricity had been cut. Since then, power is only available for an average of four hours per day, down from the usual eight hours. Israel supplies the majority of Gazas electricity. Internet connectivity has also been choppy. Israeli opposition leader and former caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid told CNN on Monday that everything was on the table, including a ground incursion into Gaza, but that Israel must consider the fate of dozens of hostages that have been taken into the enclave. It is unclear how many people have been kidnapped Israeli authorities have said dozens are being held in Gaza, while Hamas claims to have more than 100. Later on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said Israeli airstrikes targeted the al-Shati and Jabalia refugee camps, killing a large number of people. The occupation committed a massacre against an entire neighborhood by targeting the al-Sousi Mosque in al-Shati refugee camp, Ashraf Al Qidra, a spokesman for the health ministry, said in a statement. A large number of martyrs and wounded have arrived at al-Shifa Medical Complex. The health ministry added that bodies were still being recovered from under the rubble. It did not immediately release a death toll. Panic and fear The Gaza Strip has been almost completely cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 17 years. Governed by Hamas since 2007, the enclave is under strict siege by Egypt and Israel, which also maintains an air and naval blockade. It has been described by Human Rights Watch as the worlds largest open-air prison. Gazans have seen Israeli strikes ravage the strip on several occasions since Israeli forces withdrew from the territory in 2005. Fighting regularly takes place between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Aftermath of Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday. The Palestinian health ministry said 560 Palestinians were killed there. - Ibrahim Dahman/CNN Over the weekend, Israel struck down at least 10 towers in Gaza that it said were used by Hamas, IDF spokesperson Hagari said Sunday, adding that tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers are operating on the ground around the Gaza Strip. The IDF on Sunday said it is now focusing on taking control of the Gaza Strip, and urged civilians there to leave residential areas near the border immediately for their safety as Israeli military operations continued to target Hamas. But most Gazans have no way of fleeing the besieged enclave. All crossings out of the territory are shut, with the exception of the tightly controlled Rafah crossing with Egypt. Hani el-Bawab, 75, said he and his family of four had been up all night, fearing airstrikes. The tower adjacent to his home was hit by Israel overnight, collapsing onto his own house and rendering him and his family homeless. I dont know what to do, el-Bawab said. He now lives on the street, while his wife stays with an acquaintance. Palestinians in Gaza, he said, are living in panic and fear, preparing each moment for a bomb to crash into a building. I just want a house to live in with my kids. I just want shelter, he told CNN. Nevertheless, he doesnt regret Hamas attack on Israel. Every time, they (Israel) are the ones who attack us, he said. This time, the (fighters) are the ones who went in. CNNs Nadeen Ebrahim and Elliott Gotkine contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In todays not-so-golden era of domestic air travel, checking a suitcase for free is a luxury afforded to few. And those who do check their bags often find themselves stressing out the whole journey, wondering if their luggage is actually going to arrive at their destination with them. As a result, more travelers than ever are opting to cram their belongings into a carry-on bag many of them bulky, with wheels. The result? A boarding free-for-all, as nervous flyers hover around the gate hoping to be among the first to get on the plane all to secure a tiny piece of overhead real estate near their seat. Unfortunately, the older versions of those highly coveted bins were not designed with your average carry-on roller suitcase in mind. They must be laid down flat, leaving a small space above them that is of little use, while taking up a good chunk of bin space. Enter French aircraft maker Airbus and its new Airspace L Bins, designed to be retrofitted in three to five days. First revealed in May, these specially shaped overhead compartments, promise to create 60% more cabin luggage space than traditional systems. How? Simply by allowing travelers to load their carry-on roller bags vertically instead of having to lay them flat. (See the above pic.) The bins hold bags that are 61 centimeters (height) x 38 centimeters (width) x 25 centimeters (depth). Made of ultra-lightweight composite products, the retrofit re-uses many parts of the original bin including the sidewall, ceiling and lighting to cut down on waste, says Airbus. Flight attendants will likely approve of the new compartments too, knowing they can complete boarding procedures while hearing far fewer complaints from flyers about how they dont have a place to stash their bags. According to Airbus, the new Airspace L Bins were designed to be retrofitted in three to five days. - Courtesy Airbus One airline has already signed up. From early 2025, German flag carrier Lufthansa plans to begin retrofitting 38 A320 aircraft with the new Airspace L Bins, which are produced by Germany-based Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a subsidiary of ST Engineering and Airbus. We know from talking with airline customers that bigger bins are a clear need to enhance the passenger experience, said Airbus head of commercial services for Europe, Charbel Youzkatli, in a statement. The complicated world of baggage Luggage has long been a contentious and complicated issue in the aviation world, and, bigger bins or not, that doesnt appear set to change. Not everyone brings carry-on luggage just to dodge added checked baggage fees many airlines charge extra if you want to bring a suitcase on the plane, too. As noted, some travelers just love the convenience of not having to wait for their suitcase at the carousel upon arrival. Its also a political issue. Just this week, European Union lawmakers reportedly voted to support a resolution that calls for airlines to stop charging passengers for reasonable sized carry-on luggage. But baggage fees are undeniably a huge money maker for airlines. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, US airlines earned more than $6.7 billion in baggage fee revenue in 2022. Some airlines justify the fees by pointing to the environmental impact lighter aircraft are more fuel-efficient, so deterring people from bringing a lot of added weight with them is a good thing. And supporters of fare unbundling say it all works out those who want to pay for extras like checked bags can, the rest of us can enjoy cheaper fares. In the end though, regardless of traveler preferences, most would agree that if better-designed bins can speed up the time we spend getting on and off the plane, were all for them. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared his independence from the Democratic Party Monday in Philadelphia, ending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and launching an independent bid that he said aims to heal the political divide, which he portrayed as a fiction of a corrupt establishment. I intend to wrest the reins of power from both parties and give to it the American people, he said, comparing Republicans and Democrats to teenagers fighting over the steering wheel of an out-of-control car, but both following a GPS programmed by lobbyists. This hatred we have for each other is orchestrated, Kennedy continued, while switching to a medieval metaphor. My job... is to unify Americans. Then were all going to go over the castle walls together. Kennedy has struggled to gain traction in the Democratic primary, even with voters expressing a desire that someone younger take the party banner from President Joe Biden. His views on issues like vaccines and abortion has left him outside the Democratic mainstream. A crowd of about 1,000 turned out on a sunny fall day to hear Kennedy speak in front of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Some wore suits and ties, others homemade Kennedy t-shirts, hats and buttons and at least one custom-made cape. One sign read, I want Camelot," a reference to the mythologized Kennedy dynasty. There have been anti-establishment candidates before, but none of them who actually understand how to get the job done, he said. This time the independent is going to win. Kennedy said the time is ripe, citing the growing portion of Americans who tell pollsters theyre fed up with both parties a record 63% say Republicans and Democrats do such a poor job of representing America that a third major party is needed, according to a new Gallup survey. Still, Kennedy faces long odds. The best-performing independent presidential candidate in the past century, Ross Perot in 1992, won just 19% of the popular vote, which translated to zero Electoral College votes, since the winner of each state collects all the votes that actually determine who wins the White House. Given that reality, Democrats are worried a third candidate on the ballot would be a spoiler for Biden, though polls show Republicans like Kennedy more than Democrats do. Three-quarters of Americans believe Biden is too told to govern effectively, Kennedy said, before noting former President Donald Trump, the likely GOP nominee, is facing multiple criminal indictments. My intention is to spoil it for both of them, Kennedy said. The scion of the first family of Democratic politics said it was very painful for him to leave the party of his uncles (one was president, another was senator), father (former attorney general and senator), grandfather (ambassador) and great grandfather (one was a mayor and congressman, another was a city councilor), and break with their political dynasty. The rest of the Kennedy family, most of whom remain committed Democrats, have been generally critical of Bobbys campaign, but he took time to mention the names of several Kennedies and Shrivers who were in attendance. In a statement, four of the most prominent and politically active members of the Kennedy family condemned his decision to run against Biden. "Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Todays announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country," said Rory, Kerry and former Rep. Joe Kennedy, along with Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. But Kennedy said the break was necessary because Democrats have lost their way and being free of any party is the only way to overcome the totalizing tribalism of contemporary politics and the paralysis it has wrought. Kennedy launched his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in April in Boston, a place associated with his famous family, but he chose different symbolism for Mondays announcement, which was made in front of a large banner that read, KENNEDY 24 DECLARE YOUR INDEPENDENCE. He said he and his populist movement that defies left-right division were declaring independence from corporations, Wall Street, polluters, polarizing politics. He at times seemed to echo Trump, saying he will break from the mercenary media that is here to fortify all of the corporate orthodoxies from their advertisers. Its going to be very hard for people to tell if my administration is right or left. Is it right or left to support small farms? Is it right or left to pull our country back from the brink of war with Russia? Is it right or left to have a totally secure electoral system where we know every vote will count? Kennedy said. As long as were locked in these habitual debates, the two parties are often blind to common sense solutions. And Kennedy who has wrestled with the media and other fact-based institutions for decades over his conspiracy theories about vaccines and technology took aim at the press for, he claimed, undercounting his prospects and sowing political division. Voters should not be deceived by anyone who pretends to have conservative values. The fact is that RFK has a disturbing background steeped in radical, liberal positions," Trump campaign spokesman Steve Cheung said, pointing to his views on China, the environment and other issues. Kennedy's announcement that he would be independent of "any party" also put to rest speculation he would join the Libertarian Party, whose chairperson he met with this summer, or the Green Party, whom Democrats blame in part for spoiling the 2000 and 2016 election. That means next Novembers ballot may be crowded. In addition to the two major party candidates, and two from the established third parties, there are two well-known independents currently running Kennedy and philosopher Cornel West plus the possible addition of a centrist No Labels candidate. Still, getting on the ballot in all 50 states is a tall order without the help of a party. And with more than a year to go, several candidates may end their bids before Election Day. (Photo : Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 23: A San Mateo County sheriff deputy pulls police tape across the entrance to a family reunification center following a mass shooting on January 23, 2023 in Half Moon Bay, California. Seven people were killed at two separate farm locations that were only a few miles apart in Half Moon Bay on Monday afternoon. The suspect, Chunli Zhao, was taken into custody a few hours later without incident. Recent crimes involving teenagers and gang violence in New York have sparked a growing concern among citizens. In a tragic incident that unfolded on Friday, a 13-year-old boy lost his life after being fatally stabbed on an MTA bus in Staten Island. Rampant Crimes, Gang Violence in New York In a tragic turn of events, the young victim, whose aspirations were set on a promising future, has been abruptly cut short. The devastating news has sent shockwaves through the neighborhood as loved ones grapple with the loss of a young life. Ular has found himself in close collaboration with an organization committed to providing him with guidance and support, ensuring that he stays away from the dangers of the streets. In a dramatic turn of events, the streets ultimately apprehended him. In a heartfelt statement, Mike Perry, a member of the esteemed mentorship program True 2 Life, expressed the profound devastation experienced by their organization and the individuals affected by an undisclosed loss. The individual disclosed that he, personally, is a survivor of street violence. This work remains a constant endeavor day after day. In an important approach, young people are being mentored without the need for a tragedy, as reported by our sources. In a statement, Perry expressed that this endeavor is the culmination of their life's work. Perry, a compassionate individual, expressed his unwavering commitment to assisting Ular, as per CBS News. Moreover, law enforcement officials have reported that on Friday, a 14-year-old suspect tragically took Perry's life by inflicting a fatal stab wound to his chest while they were aboard a bus. According to NYPD Chief of Patrol John Cho, it is believed that this motive may once again be gang-related. The use of the word "again" has caught the attention of many, as Ular's demise is not the sole occurrence that is causing worry. Investigators have revealed that a distressing incident unfolded mere hours prior to the Staten Island stabbing. According to reports, a 17-year-old girl found herself caught in a harrowing episode of gunfire in the borough of Brooklyn. In a shocking incident near a public school, a bullet struck a woman's ankle during a shooting believed to be gang-related. Schools Chancellor David Banks emphasized the ongoing nature of the issues that have been identified, stating that they persist beyond the confines of the school. As a result, he stressed the necessity of maintaining an elevated level of communication with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). In the ongoing battle against street violence, the city is steadfastly moving forward, taking measured steps to address this pressing issue. According to sources, a stunning revelation has stated that not everyone will be obtained. In a recent statement, Perry warned that individuals may be lost. In a statement, he expressed that the act of saving one child at a time is deemed worthy of every ounce of effort expended. Read Also: US Calls for Other Nations To Condemn Hamas Attacks as Security Council Remains Silent Weekend Crimes in New York On Sunday, four suspects remained at large in relation to the alleged September robbery of a 72-year-old New York man who suffered a broken mandible and other injuries. Police describe it as a possible hate crime. Authorities have not made any arrests since the September 15 incident in Chelsea, Manhattan's West Village, where the victim was strolling alone around 10:15 p.m. near West 17th Street and Ninth Avenue. Per Yahoo, police said the group of assailants could be heard using anti-gay obscenities before beating the defenseless victim and leaving him with wounds and injuries before fleeing the scene. The victim was treated for his injuries at the hospital and was anticipated to recover. The New York Police Department revealed the crime for the first time on Sunday, releasing photographs of the suspects in the hopes that the public will assist in identifying them. The images appear to have been captured by a surveillance camera and depict four adolescent males traveling through what appears to be the building's foyer. However, a historically turbulent Brooklyn neighborhood in which police have clamped down on quality-of-life infractions has witnessed a significant decrease in crime. In the past six weeks, no homicides have been reported in the 73rd Precinct of Brownsville. And no shootings had been reported there during the same time period, police say, until early Friday morning, when two men and a woman were shot in a corner of the Crown Heights precinct, according to NY News Daily. Police urged anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-577-8477 or submit an online tip. Tips can also be submitted via the @NYPDTips Twitter page. Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) late Sunday described the Hamas attack on Israel as heart wrenching. The viciousness and brutality of this unprecedented attack from Hamas targeting innocent civilians children, families, seniors is overwhelming and heart wrenching, Schumer, who is in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, wrote in a statement. Schumer said he received a briefing Sunday evening by senior national security and State Department officials. He also said Defense Department officials told him they are giving Israel everything they need and are surging support. I asked them if they have denied any requests that Israel has made, and they said no, Schumer said. 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. Schumer also said he was working to arrange a classified briefing for senators in their respective states. And he confirmed at least four American deaths, saying, The Administration told us that they know of four thus far, but, sadly, we know the toll will rise. 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, he said. 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. Schumers remarks came after Hamas launched a massive attack on Israel by sea, air, and on the ground, resulting in at least 700 Israeli deaths. Hamas also took Israeli hostages into Gaza. Israels defense minister on Monday ordered a complete siege on the densely populated Gaza Strip. The announcement came as Israel scoured the south looking for Hamas fighters. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 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 Russia's 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. A "tenant from hell" who was supposed to stay at a long-term Airbnb in Southern California for six months hasn't left for a year and a half and isn't paying a dime to stay there, according to a report by The Los Angeles Times. The homeowner, Sascha Jovanovic, rented out the accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at his Los Angeles home to Elizabeth Hirschhorn in September 2021. She was supposed to leave in March 2022, but never did. Now, Hirschhorn has been living there rent-free ever since, and she refused to budge unless Jovanovic paid her a relocation fee of $100,000, according to court papers reviewed by The Times. Hirschhorn's attorney said the city had never approved the unit for occupancy, and that its shower was constructed without a permit. Therefore, she's not required to pay rent, he said. Sebastian Rucci, Jovanovic's attorney, told the Times that doesn't make any sense. Shes the tenant from hell, Rucci said. If shes right, the theory is that if a landlord has something that isnt permitted, then you can stay in it rent-free forever. When did the trouble begin between Jovanovic and Hirschhorn? Jovanovic had been renting the guesthouse, located on his property, as an Airbnb since 2019. The problems began for Jovanovic when he rented out his accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles' Brentwood neighborhood to Hirschhorn. She had initially rented out the Airbnb in September 2021 as a long-term stay, and was meant to leave in March 2022. Her stay was was extended to a month later in April, according to the The Times, but did not move out when her stay was scheduled to end. Satellite image of 1235 North Tigertail Road in Los Angeles. Are Airbnbs cheaper than hotels? Depends on your trip details, travel site survey says Since the stay began, both the host and guest have sued each other Jovanovic and Hirschhorn have sued each other, and the LA Times said in a settlement offer Hirschhorn has refused to move unless Jovanovic pays her a relocation fee of $100,000. Airbnb has since deleted Hirschhorn's account. It told the LA Times because the stay was extended outside the platform, it was deemed a third-party matter and does not involve the company. Airbnb is not involved in the dispute between Dr. Sascha Jovanovic and Elizabeth Hirschhorn, who has not paid rent or moved out of the accessory dwelling unit on Jovanovic's property in over a year. Does Hirschhorn have a legal right to stay in the unit? Hirschhorn's attorney told the LA Times that because the city had never approved the unit for occupancy, and that its shower was constructed without a permit, she was not required to pay rent. The landlord broke the law and tried to make money by renting out an illegal bootleg unit, her attorney, Colin Walshok, told the LA 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. Hirschhorn has tenant protections because the unit falls under Los Angeles' Rent Stabilization Ordinance, a city investigator concluded. She has also qualified for Los Angeles' Just Cause Ordinance, which was adopted in March and protects tenants at the end of their first lease or six months after lawful occupancy. Under the ordinance, tenant no-fault evictions also require the payment of relocation assistance. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California Airbnb owner says 'tenant from hell' won't leave or pay As Israelis were wrapping up the seven-day-long Jewish festival of Sukkot on Saturday, sirens echoed across the country just before dawn, and citizens soon realized it was not a false alarm. A full-fledged surprise attack was being waged from the air, sea and ground by hoards of Hamas militants. Thousands of missiles fired from Gaza streaked through the sky and began raining down on indiscriminate targets in Israel, sparking terror and leaving hundreds of bodies in the streets of cities and buildings decimated. Simultaneously, hundreds of armed fighters of the terrorist group, many on motorcycles, followed bulldozers that breached fences separating Israel from Gaza and charged into cities, taking Israeli soldiers off guard and gunning down citizens. A special edition of "20/20" at 10 p.m., Wed., Oct. 11, on ABC looks at life under threat in Israel and Gaza and how this attack is different from what weve seen in this region in the past. The lightning-quick, multi-pronged ambush also included dozens of Hamas militants in motorboats storming Israeli beaches and engaging in fierce firefights with Israeli forces. Other armed Hamas attackers swooped into Israel through the smoke-filled skies on paragliders. As those under attack rushed to safe rooms and bomb shelters, groups of terrorists infiltrating the county marched into towns and into kibbutz after kibbutz, opening fire on homes and killing Israeli citizens at random. Militants burst into houses, shooting residents begging for their lives and taking others -- including women, children and the elderly -- hostage, driving the terrified captives back into Gaza as many of them screamed for help. PHOTO: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Ashkelon in southern Israel, on Oct. 8, 2023. (Amir Cohen/Reuters) A music festival where hundreds of Israeli young people danced through the night into the break of dawn suddenly became a shooting gallery for the Hamas militants, who arrived in vans with their guns blazing, mowing down 260 partygoers and abducting others. Hamas leaders are now threatening to kill the hostages one by one and film the executions if their demands are not met. In one of the hardest-hit kibbutzim, Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border, where ABC News was allowed in on Tuesday, entire Israeli families were slaughtered and bodies of militants killed in the attack remained sprawled in the streets, some next to crashed motorcycles. Nearly every home in Kfar Aza was bullet-riddled, and a gaping hole in a nearby border fence remained open and guarded by Israeli soldiers still engaging in intense firefights with the enemy. The bodies of at least 1,500 Hamas fighters have been found along the border, killed in chaotic battles since Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces said. Within hours of the attack that shocked the world, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was calling it a "dark day" for his country and declaring war on Hamas. A veteran Israeli military official deemed the assault "our 9/11." MORE: Israel live updates: US sending carrier strike group, munitions to region "We have begun the process of naming and counting the dead, both soldiers and civilians. We are talking about unprecedented numbers, numbers that up until two days ago seemed totally fictional and unimaginable," Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a spokesperson for the IDF, told ABC News on Sunday. As of Wednesday, the death toll in Israel had surpassed 1,200 with many more bodies to count, officials said. Another 2,900 people were injured in Israel. Among the dead are at least 14 American citizens and an undetermined number had been taken hostage by Hamas, President Joe Biden said Tuesday. In Gaza, at least 950 people have died and 5,000 others have been injured in retaliatory airstrikes by Israeli jet fighters and surface-to-ground missiles since Saturday, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday afternoon. At least 260 of the dead in Gaza are children and 230 are women, the health ministry said. The Hamas attack was launched on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kipper War that pitted Israel against Egypt and Syria. Here is a timeline of events in the rapidly changing conflict enveloping Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip territory: A barrage of rockets Oct. 7, 6:30 a.m. in Israel Air raid sirens began sounding in Jerusalem around 6:30 a.m. local time, warning citizens of the attack in progress and to immediately take cover. An estimated 2,200 rockets were fired toward southern and central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, by the Hamas militants, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Meanwhile, Hamas claimed at least 5,000 rockets were fired, all landing in southern and central Israel. One missile slammed into a hospital in the Israeli coastal town of Ashkelon, Israeli officials said. PHOTO: Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. (Fatima Shbair/AP) Armed Hamas militants, many on motorcycles, storm blockaded areas of the Gaza Strip, shooting at Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip, officials said. Video footage surfaces of Hamas militants taking Israeli citizens -- including mothers, children and the elderly -- hostage and taking them across the Gaza border. In one of its first public messages, the IDF said Saturday morning, "Over the past hour, the Hamas terrorist organization launched massive barrages of rockets from Gaza into Israel, and its terrorist operatives have infiltrated into Israel in a number of different locations in the south." Videos posted online captured hundreds of Hamas soldiers breaching the Israeli border from Gaza by boat, pickup trucks and even motorized paragliders. Oct. 7, shortly after the attack begins Mohammed Deif, commander in chief of the Hamas' military arm Al Qassam Brigades, releases a video statement claiming responsibility for the attack. "The Zionist colonial occupation occupied our Palestinian homeland and displaced our people, destroyed our towns and villages, committed hundreds of massacres against our people, killing children, women and elderly people and demolishing homes with their inhabitants inside in violation of all international norms, laws and human rights conventions," Mohammed Deif said in his statement. 'Israel is at war' Oct. 7, about 10:30 a.m. local time Israeli jet fighters launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza. Video surfaces of a high-rise residential building and the Al-Sousi Mosque in Gaza City being bombed and flattened by Israeli airstrikes Oct. 7, around 11:30 a.m. in Israel Netanyahu makes his first public statement, telling his country, "Israel is at war." "This is not a so-called military operation, not another round of fighting, but war," Netanyahu says. Oct. 7, around 8:30 p.m. ET U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin releases a statement saying he is "closely monitoring" the situation in Israel and extends his condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in Israel. "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," Austin said. PHOTO: An Israeli sodleir prays standing in front of a Merkava tank on the outskirts of the northern town of Kiryat Shmona near the border with Lebanon on Oct. 8, 2023. (Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images) Separately, a U.S. defense official said that Austin had a call with his team Saturday morning, including U.S. Centcom Commander Gen. Eric Kurilla. Israel falls under CENTCOM's area of responsibility. Oct. 7, around 9:30 a.m. ET The White House announces that President Joe Biden has been briefed by senior national security officials "on the appalling Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel." Oct. 7, just after 10 a.m. ET U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issues a statement condemning Hamas' attack on Israel, saying the U.S. will "remain in close contact with our Israel partners." "The United States unequivocally condemns the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, including civilians and civilian communities. 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," Blinken said in a statement. Oct. 7, around 11 a.m. ET The White House announces that Biden had spoken with Netanyahu, telling the prime minister the U.S. "condemns" Hamas' assault on Israel. "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 Administration's support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering," Biden said in a televised statement. 'We will win' Oct. 7, around 5 p.m. ET Netanyahu makes a televised address in Israel, repeating his earlier statement that Israel is at war and adding, "We will win." "This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens," Netanyahu said. "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. At the same time, I have ordered an extensive mobilization of reserves and that we return fire of a magnitude that the 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 and we will win it." 30 Israeli police killed in fighting Oct. 8, around 5 a.m. ET At least 30 Israeli police officers were killed in the fighting, mainly in Sderot, Israel, where Hamas gunmen took control of the police station. MORE: 'The world should be revolted' by Hamas' surprise attack on Israel: Blinken Israeli officials announce that fighting is ongoing Sunday morning in six places, including Sderot -- which sits just 2 miles from the border with Gaza -- and that a rocket injured four people on Sunday morning. PHOTO: Israeli forces cross a main road in their armoured personnel carrier (APC) as additional troops are deployed near the southern city of Sderot on Oct. 8, 2023. (Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images) Oct. 8, around 9 a.m. ET The Israeli government confirmed that a number of civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage. At least 100 Israeli citizens and soldiers are being held hostage by Hamas fighters, Israel's Government Press Office said Sunday. Videos posted online show a packed all-night music festival in a desert in southern Israel near the Gaza border being attacked by rockets and armed Hamas fighters on the ground. The footage showed women and children being dragged away in vehicles and driven back into Gaza. Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies were removed from the venue of the music festival following the attack. Blinken says on CNN's "State of the Union" and NBC's "Meet the Press" that the State Department is trying to confirm reports that Americans are among those killed or taken hostage. MORE: Hamas attacks in Israel: Airlines that have suspended flights amid travel advisory Blinken tells ABC's "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos that the U.S. has pledged its full support to 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 border with Gaza, including a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children," Blinken said on "This Week." He adds, "The world should be revolted at what it's seen." Oct. 8, around 1 p.m. ET Israeli health officials announce that more than 700 people are dead in Israel and over 2,100 others injured. The Palestinian Health Authority said there are 370 people dead in Gaza and 2,200 others injured. Oct. 9, morning Air sirens sound in northern Israel, prompting residents to rush to safe rooms. Israel Defense Forces claim at least two rockets were fired toward northern Israel from Lebanon. One of the rockets, according to the IDF, landed in Lebanese territory. "The IDF neutralized a number of terrorist infiltrators who crossed from Lebanon into Israel. We are defending our country and stand ready on all borders," the IDF said in a statement Monday posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. IDF helicopter gunships are attacking Lebanese territories, the IDF announces. The Lebanese Army announces Monday that missiles were fired from Israel in Lebanon. "The outskirts of the towns of Al-Dhaira and Aita Al-Shaab and other border areas are being subjected to air and artillery bombardment by the Israeli enemy," the Lebanese Army said in a statement. "The Army Command calls on citizens to take the utmost precaution and caution and not to go to areas adjacent to the border in order to preserve their safety." There are no immediate reports of injuries. Americans killed Oct. 9, about 6 a.m. ET At least nine Americans have been confirmed killed in Israel since Saturday as a result of attacks launched by the Hamas militant group, according to an official with the U.S. National Security Council. "At this time, we can confirm the death of nine U.S. citizens," the official told ABC News in a statement on Monday. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected and wish those injured a speedy recovery. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities." Two French citizens are among those killed in Israel, the French Foreign Ministry announces. One of the American citizens killed was identified as 32-year-old Hayim Katsman, who had been living in Israel, his mother told ABC News. Hannah Katsman said she initially thought her son had been taken captive, but later learned he had been killed when Hamas militants burst into his home and found him hiding with neighbors in his closet. She said she learned one of the neighbors was released, while her son and another female neighbor were immediately shot dead. "I've been getting so many messages from people who worked with Hayim or who knew him, or who met him during their travels and how warm he was, how open," Hannah Katsman told ABC News. "He was a very accepting person and a very loyal friend. He had a good sense of humor. He took things in stride." Oct, 9, about 8 a.m. ET The Israel Defense Forces announces its jet fighters struck 130 targets in the Gaza Strip early Monday, many of them in the Al Furqan area, which serves as a hub for Hamas. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a "complete siege" on Gaza. He said authorities would cut electricity to the region and block fuel and food from entering the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. In an interview with ABC News Monday, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said Israel is taking swift retribution for Hamas attacks. "It is an unprecedented attack," Conricus said. "And it will be followed by an unprecedented Israeli response against those bloodthirsty animals that have come across from Gaza and attacked our civilians." Hamas threatens to kill hostages Oct. 9, around 1 p.m. ET Hamas says the group will start killing Israeli hostages one by one and film the executions unless Israel immediately stops shelling homes in Gaza without warning. In an update on the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, Israel Defense Forces announces it has obtained information on every Israeli kidnapped and that it has notified 30 families so far. Oct. 9, just after 1 p.m. ET The Israel Defense Forces announces it has mobilized 300,000 reserves -- the largest and quickest call-up in Israel's history, according to an IDF spokesman. Oct. 9, about 4 p.m. ET President Joe Biden announces that at least 11 Americans are among those who were killed in Israel and that it's "likely" American citizens are among those being held hostage by Hamas. "It's heart-wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence," Biden said in a statement. "We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable." 'Pure, unadulterated evil' Oct. 10, just after 3 p.m. ET In an afternoon address from the White House, President Biden said 14 Americans had been killed in the terrorist attacks and that an undetermined number had been taken hostage. "We now know that American citizens are among those being held by Hamas," Biden said. "I've directed my team to share intelligence and deploy additional experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts. Because as president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world." Biden said the atrocities committed by Hamas fighters included the "slaughter" of men, women and entire families, as well as "stomach-churning reports of babies being killed." "There are moments in this life, I mean this literally when the pure, unadulterated evil is unleashed on this world," said Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "The people of Israel lived through one such moment this weekend." Biden added, "We will make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today and tomorrow." Following Biden's address, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that at least 20 Americans remain unaccounted for in Israel, but emphasized that not all of them are believed to be Hamas hostages. He said a precise number of U.S. hostages is still being investigated. Oct. 10, around 4 p.m. ET Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant tours southern Israel along the Gaza border, telling soldiers they are moving to "a full-scale response" to the Hamas surprise attack and that he has "removed every restriction." "Hamas wanted to see a change in Gaza -- the reality is Gaza will make a 180. They will regret [their actions]," Gallant says. He adds, "We will not allow a reality in which Israeli children are murdered. I have removed every restriction. We will eliminate anyone who fights us, and use every measure at our disposal. Anyone who decapitates citizens, or murders women and Holocaust survivors -- will be eliminated." Gallant's comments come as IDF soldiers from the 17th Battalion, with the assistance of aerial fire from a remotely manned aircraft and a combat helicopter, are exchanging fire with a number of terrorists held up in Ashkelon, a coastal city in southern Israel. The soldiers, according to the IDF, killed three terrorists in the industrial area of the city and were continuing to search the area as night fell. Death came from sea, air and ground: A timeline of surprise attack by Hamas on Israel originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Stocks reversed losses Monday to finish higher, even as the burgeoning Middle East conflict added a dose of geopolitical risk to the interest rate and inflation concerns already facing markets. At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) was up 0.6%, or almost 200 points. The S&P 500 (^GSPC) also gained about 0.6%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) edged up nearly 0.4%. Islamist militant group Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on Saturday, prompting a declaration of war in response. That has rattled markets, as investors worry that another full-blown conflict could join the war already being waged between Russia and Ukraine. "Geopolitical risk doesn't tend to linger long in markets, but there are many second-order impacts that could come through in the weeks, months, and years ahead from this weekend's developments," Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid said. Oil prices jumped to start the week amid speculation that key crude-producing countries in the region could be pulled into the fray. WTI crude oil futures (CL=F) and Brent crude futures (BZ=F) traded over 4% higher as fighting entered its third day. Meanwhile, safe havens gold (GC=F) and government bonds were in demand. Defense-related stocks saw some of the biggest moves upward Monday. Lockheed Martin (LMT) was up almost 9%, Northrup Grumman (NOC) jumped over 11%, and General Dynamics (GD) rose over 8%, among others. Read more: What the Fed rate-hike pause means for bank accounts, CDs, loans, and credit cards Investors have been increasingly facing up to the reality that borrowing costs are likely to stay higher for longer, with the surprisingly hot September jobs report on Friday just the latest data to make the case for more restrictive policy. The recent rise in bond yields to 16-year highs shook investors who were already worried about the impact on the economy of further rate hikes and put pressure on stocks. But it could give the Fed a reason to pause hiking, given some of its officials believe the bond rout is likely to tighten credit considerably. Trading in US Treasuries was closed on Monday for the US holiday. The next crucial economic indicator up is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September, due on Thursday and expected to show a small drop in headline inflation. The release this week of minutes from the Fed's last meeting should also provide more insight into policymakers' thinking about the path of interest rates. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Pharmacy staff at some Walgreens stores locked their gates and walked out Monday, citing harsh working conditions that make it difficult to safely fill prescriptions. CNN confirmed pharmacy closures at some Walgreens locations in Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts and Oregon, and pharmacy staff and customers are posting to social media that other closures are taking place throughout the country. Heres what you need to know. Whats happening? Pharmacists, technicians and support staff are planning walkouts from Monday through Wednesday, an organizer who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution, confirmed to CNN. Some stores are remaining open with a skeleton emergency crew an organizer told CNN that Walgreens had asked regional leaders to mobilize and staff the pharmacies on Monday. Many pharmacies that are open are severely understaffed as the majority of their employees called out today. Some stores said they were able to operate only their drive-thru pharmacy Monday and others said they would be closing early due to a lack of staff. Walgreens told CNN in a statement that a small number of our pharmacies are experiencing disruptions and we apologize for any inconvenience. Walgreens said it is working to return these pharmacies to regular operations as quickly as possible, adding that the vast majority of pharmacies remain open. Still, regional Walgreens leadership is struggling to keep some locations functioning on the West Coast. In a text message thread reviewed by CNN, managers reported a flurry of pharmacy closures and asked for extra coverage to stay open. Some managers reported receiving calls encouraging them to participate in the walkouts and others issues warnings to their staff against speaking to the media. A Walgreens representative said on Monday that the company understands the immense pressures felt across the US in retail pharmacy right now, and that they are are engaged and listening to the concerns raised by some of our team members. Unlike the WGA and United Auto Worker strikes, there is no union leader to coordinate and publicly address the movement. Instead, pharmacy employees are using platforms like Reddit and Facebook, as well as email and fliers, to plan walkouts. Without a central organizing body, it is also difficult to confirm how many pharmacies will be closed. Organizers told CNN they had heard from well over 500 interested stores (out of approximately 9,000) across the country. Walgreens did not immediately respond to questions about the exact number of pharmacy closures. Why theyre walking out Pharmacy staff are burned out. A survey conducted last year by the American Pharmacists Association and the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations, found that pharmacy staff are inundated with demands for prescriptions, shots and other services without sufficient or sufficiently trained staff to fulfill the orders. Meanwhile, they complain that they face harassment and bullying by some patients. The survey also found that pharmacy workers say management focuses too much on profit, facing constant disruptions to their workflow that prevent them from making decisions about how appropriate a treatment might be for a particular patient. And when pharmacy workers take their complaints to management, theyve fallen on deaf ears, the survey found. There is no open mechanism for pharmacists and pharmacy personnel to discuss workplace issues with supervisors and management; if they try, the discussion is not welcomed or heard, the groups wrote. Some CVS and Walgreens employees told CNN that a new focus on vaccinations added to their workload and made it more difficult to focus on filling prescriptions or customer care. Its a hard job on a good day. Its an incredibly rewarding job, but its hard, said Amanda Applegate, the interim executive director of the Kansas Pharmacists Association. And so the idea of pharmacists essentially being turned into ATMs in these environments, encouraging volume over quality, is why this is happening. Why it matters Pharmacy employees are essential healthcare workers Wolters Kluwers Pharmacy Next survey found that 58% of Americans are likely to first seek non-emergency healthcare at pharmacies. More than 80% said they trust a pharmacist, nurse, or nurse practitioner to diagnose minor illnesses and prescribe medications to treat them. Pharmacies are becoming a front-line site for non-emergency care, particularly among younger generations, said Dr. Peter Bonis, the chief medical officer at Wolters Kluwer Health. CVS pharmacists also walked off the job CVS recently had a walkout and talks are not over. In September, CVS pharmacists in the Kansas City area closed as many as 22 pharmacies in two walkouts over two weeks in a planned protest, prompting executives to meet with staff and assure them that additional support and higher overtime pay were coming. Pharmacists are doing exactly what theyve been trained to do, which is evaluate the situation and take whatever action is necessary to ensure that theyre providing the best patient care, said Michael Hogue, CEO of the American Pharmacists Association, who traveled to Kansas City to meet with CVS executives and walkout organizers last week. We have a widespread problem in the United States of inadequate staffing in community-based pharmacies. In an internal memo reviewed by CNN, Prem Shah, CVSs chief pharmacy officer and president of pharmacy and consumer wellness, apologized to his Kansas City-based pharmacy teams for failing to address their concerns in a more timely manner. Another meeting with Shah is planned for late this week, but no time or location has been set, a CVS walkout organizer told CNN. CVS representatives told CNN that no specific talks have been scheduled because executives dont see this as a one-time meeting or update its a continuous two-way dialogue to share how were meeting the commitments we made to our teams and to continue to hear their direct feedback, said Amy Thibault, lead director of external communications for CVS Pharmacy. A lead organizer of the CVS walkouts in Kansas City told CNN that if there is no meeting this week there could be another round of labor action. What next? Walgreens and CVS say theyre working with pharmacy staff to fix the situation. In a statement to CNN, Walgreens acknowledged that pharmacy employees are overworked. 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, a spokesman for Walgreens. 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. Walgreens is 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 well-being, added Engerman. We are making significant investments in pharmacist wages and hiring bonuses to attract/retain talent in harder to staff locations. Similarly, CVS told CNN that the company is 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. The company is 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, a representative said. CNNs Ramishah Maruf and Sergio Padilla contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A dog isnt called mans best friend for nothing. According to the American Kennel Club, a dog's ability to communicate with humans is like no other species in the animal kingdom. So, when dog owner, Ms. Yao of Beijing, China, began crying while sitting on her couch, her golden retriever, Cai Bao, instinctively knew what to do. Watch the video to see a loyal pet tenderly comforting its owner. Humankind is your go-to spot for good news! Click here to submit your uplifting, cute, or inspiring video moments for us to feature. Also, click here to subscribe to our newsletter, bringing our top stories of the week straight to your inbox. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Adoring Golden Retriever tends to crying owner West Maui is starting to welcome tourists again, two months after raging wildfires devastated the western part of the Hawaiian island. But as visitors return, the area and many who live there are still struggling to recover. More than 2,000 buildings, the majority of them homes, were destroyed in the fire. In some cases, multiple families were living under one roof. Today, thousands of people are still displaced, being shuffled from one temporary location to another. "Because of the tourism opening up, a lot of the residents have to relocate," said Vance Honda, a local resident who is still struggling to find permanent housing. "So it's been very difficult. There's a lot of mixed emotions." The pain of losing the home Honda built with his father while in middle school is still fresh. He and his wife Cathy raised three children on the property that is now a pile of ash and rubble. "Now when we look at the house we see the memories of raising our kids here," Honda said. He said the community needs a better idea of where people are going to live until they can rebuild. As they wait for answers, Hawaii's government has pushed ahead to jump-start tourism in an effort to boost the economy and create jobs. Under the mayor's guidance, businesses, including hotels, on a three-mile stretch from Kapalua to Kahana were encouraged to open Sunday. The area of Kaanapali, where many fire evacuees have been sheltering at hotels, is set to reopen in phase two. Conflicting information surrounding whether the fire could have been stopped, slowed or prevented is adding to the difficulty for many. The fires killed at least 97 people, and nearly all of the historic town of Lahaina in West Maui was destroyed. A recent study found that Maui lost more than $13 million a day in visitor spending. Sherman Thompson, former chair of the state's civil defense advisory council, said the ultimate decision on whether or not to sound any warning sirens belongs to one person. "It is the chief executive of the county, and that would be the mayor," he said. Eighty outdoor sirens on the island sat silent as people fled for their lives. According to the state's government website, they can be used for a variety of natural and human caused events, including wildfires. CBS News reached out to the mayor multiple times for comment but did not hear back. Sly Stone's new memoir Students making friends across the American divide Rachel Maddow on "Prequel" and fascism in America On Sunday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over Times Square in New York City, just one day after the terrorist organization Hamas brutally attacked Israel, killing hundreds of civilians. Infuriated counter protesters waving Israeli flags clashed with 300 enraged placard-carrying protestors, one of whom was observed on the front line carrying a swastika, as per to Daily Mail. Tensions Escalate Amidst Israeli-Palestinian Conflict After a large gathering of Palestinian supporters in Times Square, there was a confrontation between opposing demonstrators near the United Nations headquarters in New York City. In the meantime, American Palestinians demonstrated in front of the Israeli consulates in Atlanta and Chicago. The incursion coincided with Simchat Torah celebrations, a significant Jewish holiday, prompting widespread condemnation from Jewish communities and organizations. A Jewish community congregated at Congregation Sherith Israel, one of the oldest congregations in the United States, in San Francisco. Some students from Israel's Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, which is 40 kilometers from Gaza, spent a week in San Francisco as part of a Hillel organization delegation. They showed a desire to return home and assist in any way possible. Yuval Appleboim, 26 years old, revealed to USA Today that his family resides less than 20 miles from Gaza. Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support Protests Spur Condemnation from NYC Leaders On Saturday, supporters of Palestine congregated in Times Square for a demonstration that was condemned by both the mayor and the governor. Adams deemed it repulsive, while Hochul deemed it morally unacceptable. Those rallying in support of Israel condemned the attacks conducted by Hamas over the weekend. They expressed concern for their relatives and those from other nations who are ensnared in the violence. Eventually, the rallies shifted to Second Avenue. Barricades and a large number of NYPD officers were deployed to prevent violence. Fadi Attan, a supporter of Palestine, stated, "Peace cannot exist without human equality and justice for all." Sami Steigmann survived the Holocaust. "In this century, the twenty-first century, such hatred has no place. We have distinctions. "The only way we can work and live together is if both sides desire peace," said Steigmann. At a community vigil in Bennett Park, Washington Heights, the anguish was audible in every voice and visible on every countenance. Rep. Adriano Espaillat stated, "We stand here in solidarity with the state of Israel and to denounce terrorism," adding that he will be in Washington on Tuesday to join President Joe Biden in his unwavering support of Israel. Mark Levine, borough president of Manhattan, asked the audience, "How many of you currently have a friend or loved one in Israel?" CBS News reported. The number of individuals who raised their hands indicated how many people in New York are impacted by a surprise and barbaric Hamas attack that disrupted a peaceful holiday. Related Article: The World in Shock: Global Leaders React to Gaza's Attack in Southern Israel @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United Nations has begun to bring in food supplies, but after two days the remoter areas have not been yet reached. Survivors report that some villages have been razed to the ground. Taliban authorities first said more than 9,000 were injured, but then lowered the figure to more than 2,000. A Herat hospital has had to set up beds outside. Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) The death toll from the earthquake that hit Afghanistan two days ago has risen to more than 2,400, Taliban authorities said, but it is hard to confirm the figure. A spokesman for the Ministry of Disasters, Janan Sayeeq, said that more than 2,000 injured; initially, he had said that 9,240 people had been injured. The affected region is subject to frequent earthquakes. With a magnitude 6.3, Saturdays quake was one of the deadliest in recent years, the worst of 2023 after the February earthquake that killed about 50,000 people in Syria and Turkey. The quake struck several villages at 11 am, 35 km northwest of the city of Herat, which is 120 km east of the Iranian border and is considered Afghanistans cultural capital. According to the latest figures from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), at least 1,023 people were killed and another 1,663 injured in eleven villages in the district of Zenda Jan, where all the houses, mostly in mud, were destroyed. Another 516 people are currently missing. Humanitarian experts expect the number of casualties and affected families to increase once more remote areas are reached, this, in a country where decades of war left the infrastructure inadequate to cope with emergencies. After the Taliban took power again in August 2021, funding in healthcare decreased. "In the very first shake all the houses collapsed," said one Herat resident. "Those who were inside the houses were buried," he added. "There are families we have heard no news from." People who were working outside their homes at the time of the quake said that entire villages vanished. We looked around, the village was levelled, there was nothing, it was dusty. When the dust settled, we came and saw that there was nothing, and the village was gone, said Ali Ahmad, a resident in Herats Zenda Jan district Survivors dug through the rubble with shovels and bare hands. Many are preparing to sleep outdoors for the second night in a row. Most of the injured, primarily women and children, local doctors said, were moved to a Herat hospital, which said it was treating more than 550 patients. Several beds have also been set up outside the facility. A local news agency, AMU, one of the few independent Afghan media outlets, described the situation of survivors, many of whom have the added burden of losing all or most of their family. Mah Gul, a resident of Ghogha village in Zenda Jan district, said: 25 people died in our house. We were left with only two women We were left with a man and his three children. As search and rescue operations continue, UN aid workers have begun handing out food aid. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: The United States is carefully tracking the impact of yesterdays (Saturday) earthquake. Japan stated that it is working with international organisations to deliver necessary assistance, while China announced that its Red Cross will provide around 0,000 to help quake victims. Iran and Pakistan announced that they are sending rescue teams to Herat. by Angeline Tan A delegation of 43 members of parliament from Tokyo in Taiwan for National Day on 10 October. They are on the island on an official visit and will take part in the celebrations to strengthen diplomatic and technological relations in an anti-Beijing context. The semiconductor market. Taipei (AsiaNews) - A bipartisan delegation of over 40 Japanese parliamentarians visiting Taiwan will participate tomorrow, Tuesday 10 October, in the island's National Day celebrations, in memory of the outbreak of the Wuchang uprising which in 1911 triggered the Xinhai revolution which put an end to the rule of the imperial dynasty and led to the Republic of China. The republican government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing the civil war with the communists of Mao Zedong, who founded the People's Republic of China. Even today, Taiwan is formally known as the Republic of China. The trip of the Japanese parliamentarians led by Keiji Furuya comes in the context of bilateral efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries, just as significant is the reception they hosted, organized by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. Koichi Hagiuda, political leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as well as Seishiro Eto, former vice president of the House of Representatives, both took part in the meeting. During their four-day stay in Taiwan, the Japanese delegation also met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the president of the Legislative Yuan - i.e. Taiwan's single-chamber parliament - You Si-kun and the president of the Association for Taiwan-Japan Su Jia-chyuan. The visit also represents - indirectly - an attempt to show the communist regime in Beijing that Taiwan and Japan are allies, as China claims Taiwan as its own territory, to be joined by force if necessary. Likewise, Beijing's growing military assertiveness in the region around the Taiwan Strait, as well as in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, have unnerved Tokyo. After all, any conflict between mainland China and Taiwan could jeopardize the nearby shipping lanes that supply Japan with most of the oil it needs. These concerns have likely pushed Tokyo to also strengthen military ties with Taiwan, including establishing direct military-to-military contacts that could help Japan with emergency defense plans. A report, titled US-Taiwan Relations in a New Era, published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) stated that Japan's support for Taiwan would be crucial for the United States to safeguard the island in case the China invaded the territory. Furthermore, approximately 54,000 US soldiers and the headquarters of some key US units such as the Navy's 7th Fleet and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are based in Japan, on the island of Okinawa: For the US it would be almost It is impossible to respond promptly and effectively to Chinese aggression against Taiwan without being able to call upon U.S. forces and its facilities in Japan, the CFR report continues. In addition to creating military and political deterrents against China, Japan has another interest in strengthening relations with Taiwan: the self-governing island has replaced Japan in dominance of the global chip industry, currently producing around 60% of semiconductors world and over 90% of the most advanced ones. Most are produced by a single company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), which dominates 90% of the global market for the most advanced made-to-order chips. Japanese semiconductor materials makers had a combined share of the global chip market of just 9% last year, compared to their 50% dominance in the late 1980s. To relaunch itself in this market, Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology is collaborating with domestic semiconductor companies and Taiwan's TSMC to build a line of 2-nanometer chips. An alliance with clear technological connotations - in the military but also civil field. It is likely that Japan will continue to strengthen relations with Taiwan in the near future, especially in the political and economic fields through bilateral engagements, even though Japan has no formal diplomatic representation in Taiwan. The way around this problem is bilateral relations maintained through the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in Taipei, which mainly includes reassigned Foreign and Trade Ministry officials. However, China remains a partner of great strategic importance for Japan, since both countries are economically interdependent both from a socio-cultural and economic point of view. And Tokyo is walking on eggshells with Beijing also because China acts as a balancer in the area, above all as a "brake" to the aims of North Korea's nuclear missiles. by Steve Suwannarat No mercy from Palestinian militiamen in front of the many Asian migrants working as farmers on kibbutzim near Gaza. Some are also among the hostages taken into the Strip. Concern in the Indian and Filipino communities in Israel. Still living in the People's Republic of China is the mother of Noa Argamani, the girl kidnapped at the rave party in the desert whose video immediately went viral. Tel Aviv (AsiaNews/Agencies) Victims of a conflict that is not theirs. There are also many Asian families among those mourning the dead of the Hamas incursion into the kibbutzim around Gaza or anxious about the kidnapping of loved ones. It is no coincidence: the agricultural settlements of southern Israel are one of the areas where the work of migrants arriving from the Far East is most concentrated. Migrants we have often talked about due to the harsh working conditions imposed by one of the most restrictive legislation in the world: they have residence permits strictly linked to temporary work contracts, without any possibility of accessing Israeli citizenship. Yet they too were treated as "collaborators", without any mercy on the part of the Palestinian commandos. Two deaths have been confirmed so far by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, as communicated by the deputy minister Jakkaphong Sangmanee, but according to various sources, including Israeli employers, there are a dozen in total, to which should be added eight injured, two of whom are serious and 11 kidnapped by militiamen, the details of three of whom have been released. The Thai government has announced that it has made a military aviation plane available for the possible launch of an airlift to bring home its citizens who work in the conflict zone close to the Gaza Strip in the Ashkelon areas , Netivot and Sderot. In total, it is estimated that as many as 5,000 of the almost 30,000 workers originally from Thailand employed in Israel lived in the area. The Ministry of Labor has so far reported the impossibility of establishing the whereabouts of the kidnapped Thais, while the Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, who is traveling on a tour of several Asian countries, has instructed his deputy to follow the situation. The Israeli ambassador to Bangkok, Orna Sagiv, asked for the solidarity of Thais and to "join in prayer with us for the souls of those who tragically lost their lives and for a rapid end to the violence". The number of victims from Nepal is also very high: according to news released by the Nepalese embassy in Tel Aviv, there are as many as ten Nepalese victims, mostly agricultural workers who worked in the Amunim kibbutz, one of those attacked on Saturday morning by Palestinian militias. Two other Nepalese are hospitalized in serious condition, while others who are missing could be among the people kidnapped and taken into the Gaza Strip. In total, there are approximately 4,500 Nepalese citizens currently in Israel. The story is also being followed with great concern in India, another country that has a significant number of its own emigrant workers in the area affected by Hamas incursions. When asked by AsiaNews about the fate of the Indian Catholic migrants, sources on site responded: "We have no news of migrants killed or taken hostage, but the situation is very tense and there is a lot of fear for what will happen... Pray for peace". Another Asian community that is highly apprehensive is the Filipino community, which also has around 30,000 migrant workers in Israel, many of whom work as carers alongside elderly Israelis. In this case, however, there were few who carried out their work in the cities closest to the border with Gaza. The Manila government's undersecretary for foreign affairs, Eduardo de Vega, spoke of a "small number of Filipinos who have not been traced in southern Israel. Less than 10, about five or six." Finally, it should be noted that Noa Argamani - the young Israeli citizen kidnapped during the rave party in the desert and whose video went viral in the first hours of the attack - was born in China: her mother still lives in the People's Republic of China. This circumstance is being discussed a lot on social networks in China at the moment, alongside the stories of Chinese citizens stranded in the country. We ask the interested parties to remain calm, exercise moderation and immediately end hostilities to protect civilians and avoid a further deterioration of the situation," - Beijing's Foreign Ministry wrote in a note yesterday. "The recurrence of the conflict demonstrates once again that the prolonged blockade of the peace process cannot continue. The fundamental way out of the conflict is the implementation of the two-state solution and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. (Nirmala Carvalho collaborated) by Vladimir Rozanskij Many teachers leave their school jobs while Tajik students try by all means to continue their studies abroad, in Russia or in Western countries. A problem made worse by the authoritarianism and rigidity of Tajik society. Dushambe (AsiaNews) - The education system in Tajikistan is going through a moment of serious difficulty, with many teachers leaving their school jobs, and Tajik students trying in every way to continue their studies abroad, in Russia or better yet in Western countries. The teaching staff is unable to face the challenge of adequate training, in the face of completely insufficient funding, with absolutely inadequate salaries. The young professor Abel Polese, scientific collaborator of the faculty of social and humanitarian sciences at Dublin City University, interviewed by Radio Ozody, dedicated research to this problem after having studied the situation directly in Tajikistan. The fact that the expectations of underpaid teachers and professors in the country are more demanding than even at Harvard, and to obtain tenure they are forced to publish a long series of articles in scientific journals further complicating matters. According to Polese, "the Tajik state is evidently trying to raise the quality level of its training system, when first-year 'aspirants' (new graduates) are asked for at least three articles in one of the newspapers included in the Scopus database, which they perhaps don't even know what it is." Faced with these high demands there are no "real stimuli", and teachers immediately become discouraged, unable to obtain prestigious and sufficiently remunerated positions. Perhaps it is also due to the dependence on the judgments of social media, everyone wants to earn and make a name for themselves as quickly as possible, we are all addicted to TikTok, adds the academic. Students who manage to reach Europe or the United States often find themselves in difficulty, due to the very low level of their basic preparation. Education systems, moreover, vary greatly from country to country, and Tajik children are absolutely not prepared to adapt to what they find in front of them. Polese observes that "for example, students in American schools are not very good at exact sciences, compared to Soviet-Tajik education, but they have a highly developed critical sense, they are capable of asking questions on every subject, even on their own opinions, something that no one teaches Tajiks." Furthermore, it is not enough to reach prestigious places for training, you still need available capital to reach good levels and hope for a scholastic or academic career. There are scholarships, awarded under the responsibility of various structures, but "good relationships with colleagues and the entire academic community are often needed, even before money", explains the Dublin researcher. Logistical and material, but also social and human stability is needed to truly enter the world of higher education in any country. Speaking with various students and teachers in various areas of Tajikistan, Polese understands that "the challenge of education also depends greatly on personal characteristics, the place of residence and the institution of origin, as teachers from the National University especially told me . Many have asked their colleague to act as an intermediary to establish links with the various European universities, not only to find funding and grants, but precisely to connect with people in the various scientific sectors of interest, or to understand the mechanisms of an academic career in different locations. Recalling again the question of the "critical sense", Abel Polese insists on the fact that "there is no need to impose too high standards of scientificity in the various subjects, what is needed is rather greater dialogue between science, education and society". A difficult task at any latitude, and particularly complicated in a rigid and authoritarian society like Tajikistan. 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. Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, investigative news organization covering social justice, water, environment and more. Aspen Journalism is supported by a grant from Pitkin Countys Healthy Community Fund. Aspen Journalism is solely responsible for its editorial content. Visit aspenjournalism.org. (Photo : Photo by Hannah Beier/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 05: Police tape is pictured near the scene of the fatal fire in the Fairmount neighborhood on January 5, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A fire killed 13 people, including seven children, in a Philadelphia rowhouse on Wednesday morning, officials said. State police report that a 22-year-old male was killed and eight others were injured early Sunday morning in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, following a mass shooting at a party. At 12:35 a.m., the gunfire erupted. A private event was being held at a community center in White Township, according to a release from the Pennsylvania State Police. IUP Homecoming Weekend Shooting The deceased individual has been identified as a 22-year-old male from Pittsburgh. An 18-year-old from Chicago is in critical condition in the hospital, along with five other injured individuals, as per CNN. In addition to the 18-year-old victim from Chicago, seven others between the ages of 18 and 23 were injured, one from Florida and the rest from Pennsylvania. At least two of the nine individuals shot, according to an IUP spokesperson, were students. People leaving the gunfire on Sunday morning left their shoes strewn across the ground just outside the center. Ellen Ober fought back emotions as she recalled what transpired when shots were fired mere feet from her residence, which she shares with her husband Robert Miller. They heard roughly twenty gunfire. "It's too scary and too much," said Ober. "Bang, bang, bang, repeatedly. It was more than one or two." Miller glanced out the window and observed people fleeing the center. The entire parking lot was packed with people jogging. "Everyone was running down there and out there, and then out the back here," Miller said. They trampled one another, with some leaving by the center's terrace while tearing down a portion of the fence. It was IUP's homecoming weekend, but the circumstances surrounding the celebration are ambiguous. The alert system at IUP instructed students to remain in a secure location until 6:40 a.m. A spokesperson for IUP told KDKA that the institution did not sponsor the event, but students were present. "There were young people there and they shouldn't been on the sidewalk bleeding," Ober remarked, according to CBS News. Read Also: PM Netanyahu Says Israel is at War After Deadly Palestinian Attack; US President Joe Biden Offers Support Chevy Chase Community Center: A Sanctuary of Inclusivity and Community Devotion The Chevy Chase Community Center was constructed in 1971 by a group founded in 1969 to combat destitution and provide assistance to those in need, according to the organization's website. The center's stated mission is to "cultivate, nurture, and maintain a peaceful and inclusive culture that brings the community together through positivity, diversity, inclusion, education, nutrition, and love." On the center's Facebook page, executive director Brandi Ports stated that officials are "praying for everyone involved" and that the center would be closed until further notice. "Please be in prayer for those involved, our community, and our staff and volunteers," she pleaded. Lillian Clemons, a local resident and former director of the center, told the Tribune-Review that her brother is among the many individuals who receive meals there. She believes that the center should not be rented out during "crazy weekends" such as homecoming. Per The Washington Post, she stated, "This was an act of community devotion. This is why we require it, for the people." Related Article: Philadelphia Journalist Shooting: Josh Krugers' Murder Suspect Identified @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SUV That means even more deliveries for the top segment of the market compact crossover SUVs followed by the eternal sunshine of the spotless full-size pickup truck sector, of course. In terms of brands and overall performance, the end of the year will probably see Toyota and GM duke it out for the crown, followed by many Asian carmakers.Among them, all prey upon the US car market with the full force of the rising appetite for compact crossover SUVs. First among them is, of course, the original purveyor of the sector Toyota's RAV4. Like a shadow, the Honda CR-V is closely following it thanks to the recent introduction of the sixth generation in 2022. And the podium is completed by none other than Nissan's Rogue Yep, the crossoverproduced from 2008 is currently in its third generation, which is now twinned with the international Nissan X-Trail for the second time. Starting at $27,910, as opposed to $29,500 for the 2024 CR-V and the 2023 RAV4 kicking off at $28,275, the Rogue is only marginally cheaper than both, so it is pretty obvious the three-way battle is fought on other plains of existence rather than just in the accounting department.For example, the exterior and interior looks are equally important as space and the broad availability of powertrains. Well, the all-new CR-V represents a challenge for both the RAV4 and Rogue due to its confident styling that mixes traditional Honda cues with modern technology. No worries, though, as both the RAV4 and Rogue are approaching their own inflection points a new generation (probably) for the Toyota CUV and the 2025 model year mid-cycle facelift for the Nissan rival.Speaking of the latter, everyone is trying to take a swing at revealing the goodies, of course, including the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. As such, meet the good folks over at the Q Cars channel on YouTube, who aim to daze and amaze the audience with the potential styling of their vision for the redesigned Rogue CUV.Interestingly, the resident pixel master might be using the assistance of AI software tools for these digital projects, which is probably why we are getting a couple of variants for the hypothetical design of the unannounced and unreleased 2025 Nissan Rogue facelift. So, which one is your favorite, especially considering that both stray away for good from the current Nissan design language and at least one of them seems to veer in the same mature yet bold direction of the current RAV4 styling from certain angles? If you've been following Android Auto news for over a week, you probably know that things on this side of the world tend to break down without users moving a single finger. There's no such thing as Android Auto stability, and bugs come but rarely go . A new glitch that showed up out of nowhere last month is slowly but surely becoming more mainstream, making everybody confused, including drivers and even dealerships.The Android Auto Communication Error 14 is nothing new. It's an error code indicating that "your car's software didn't pass the Android Auto security checks," in Google's words. In plain English, it means the software powering your infotainment system in the car hasn't been validated from a security perspective to run Android Auto.In theory, unless the carmaker releases a software update, you can't run Android Auto, as the validation is mandatory before the app is allowed to run in the vehicle.Oddly enough, the error showed up in new BMW cars, with more than a handful of customers claiming they're encountering this message when trying to launch Android Auto in their shiny vehicles. All people reporting the problem on Google's forums purchased BMW models, such as X5 and X6 SUVs. Someone says the message appeared after a dealership installed a language pack on the infotainment unit, as Android Auto worked properly on the original software.With the message indicating something was wrong with the vehicle software, some BMW buyers contacted the dealership for more information. A commenter on Google's forums claims the BMW dealership told them the work on a fix started in the summer, but developing a fix somehow takes more than originally anticipated.If the information is accurate, the German carmaker has been aware of the bug since at least July, when it kicked off the work on the patch. It's unclear why the release of a patch takes so long, but BMW buyers certainly didn't expect Android Auto to be broken due to an error on the carmaker's side (especially considering that most bugs happen due to broken Android Auto updates).Someone in the discussion mentioned above suggests changing the head unit's time zone, though it's unclear if the trick restores Android Auto. Google also suggests that drivers should "make sure the car's date and time are set correctly" and update the Google Play services on the mobile device to the latest version.Updating Android Auto to the newest release doesn't make a difference. The most recent version is Android Auto 10.6 , which shipped a few days ago to production devices. The rollout takes place through the Google Play Store and takes up to several weeks to complete. You can install the latest build manually using the standalone APK file. The International Space Station (ISS) is currently enjoying its last years in orbit. At the end of the decade, it will be brought down, ending decades of unprecedented science performed in zero-g. No other space station is being planned by national and continental space agencies to replace it, but several private companies are working on their own orbital habitats. kW One such company is Voyager Space, which is currently working with aerospace giant Airbus on something called the Starlab. Scheduled to enter service in 2028, thus sharing a near-Earth orbit with the ISS for a while, the Starlab is described as the "first-ever free-flying commercial space station."The habitat will be a tad smaller than the ISS , with an interior space of 340 cubic meters (12,000 cubic feet). The space will be created by means of an inflatable habitat, and it will be able to house up to four people at a time.The interior space will be divided into a biology lab, a plant habitation lab, a physical science and materials research lab, and an open workbench area. A power and propulsion element rated at 60and a robotic arm complete the setup.The work being performed in any of the areas mentioned above will be made possible thanks to materials brought up, just like it happens with the ISS, by supply spacecraft. We do know the station will be equipped with a metallic docking node for spaceships to connect to it, but until last week we had no info on what spacecraft could be used for resupply missions.It was then that we learned the first spaceship selected to serve the needs of Starlab is the Cygnus. Made by Northrop Grumman, the ship had its first test flight in 2013, and conducted the first ISS resupply mission a year later.Since then, the Cygnus flew a total of 19 missions to space, helping deliver 138,000 pounds (almost 63,000 kg) of cargo. It is a piece of tech that flies uncrewed, but requires human controllers to be positioned into place for docking with the ISS.That's not what Voyager Sace wants for Starlab, and that's why Northrop Grumman is now working with the private space company on a "fully autonomous rendezvous and docking technology." Once the tech is ready, the Cygnus will be upgraded and will start serving the needs of the new station.The current plan is to have the spaceship deliver pressurized cargo to Starlab. It will do so for the first five years of the station's life, but its role and use might be expanded to include laboratory duties, just like it did in some cases when docked to the ISS, or extra means of boost for Starlab's orbit change.The companies involved made no mention about when we should expect an operational autonomous system for the Cygnus. Every once in a while a company going by the name Tuscany Motor gives truck and motorcycle lovers a treat they all can enjoy: Harley-Davidson-branded pickups that look like nothing else available on the market. The company (part of Fox Factory) has been around for long enough to have made a solid name for itself in this exciting niche with not-that-many players. It brags about having produced 200,000 custom vehicles since 1988, and it'll probably continue to make them for a long time still at least until Americans' love for trucks and bikes dies out.In recent times Tuscany has been selling Harley-Davidson branded trucks based on the products of Ford, GM, and Ram. From time to time, these product lines get updated, and that's exactly what happened last week with a Blue Oval platform.Enter the "newly designed" Harley-Davidson Ford F-250 Super Duty, a build that'll have riders and drivers drooling in a heartbeat. Built as a nod to the "V-Twin machine legacy," it was put together by Tuscany together with Harley people so that everything about it looks just right.The obvious changes to the truck are mostly visual. All over the exterior and interior, there are orange accents that immediately make one think about Harley. Badges and logos are there to make sure nobody misses what this truck is all about.The visual aspect of the truck was enhanced with the fitting of custom parts. At the front, for instance, we've got a new grille with included bumper cover and LED light bar, but also a skid plate and tow hooks, they too painted in orange.At the rear, the most noticeable changes are the dual billet aluminum exhaust tips, and above them the truck's bed, now made with a carpet rug bed liner and a tonneau cover featuring the Harley-Davidson logos.The interior is unique as well, proudly showing custom leather stitched seats, a redesigned center console on which a serial number plate has been fitted, and bar and shield logo billet pedals.The F-250 was at the receiving end of some mechanical upgrades as well, and they changed both the way the truck stands still and how it moves over tarmac and fields. Since Tuscany is part of Fox, the main mechanical changes are of course related to suspension and road stance.The Harley-Davidson Ford F-250 Super Duty rides on a 5-inch lift achieved by fitting a BDS suspension and Fox shocks from the Adventure series. The suspension system is tied to the ground through Harley-Davidson edition 22-inch wheels, all four wearing 37-inch off-road tires.You can enjoy a walk-around video of the truck below this text. If you find the truck to your liking, you should know Tuscany is selling one of these for over $127,000. LieferMichel is the name of the first drone delivery service for groceries in Germany, which recently kicked off in Michelstadt, Hesse. Wingcopter drones and locally-made electric cargo bikes will work together to test this alternative, eco-friendly way of delivering food supplies to locals in remote districts. Wingcopter, the developer of an advanced drone with the same name, is at the center of what claims to be the first of its kind delivery project in Germany. This pilot project will first unfold in Rehbach and Wurzberg, two locations that are well outside Michelstadt, Hesse. People in these areas have had to deal with many of the local shops closing off, which meant they would sometimes have to drive more than six miles (10 km) just for basic groceries.With this new delivery service, they could get everyday goods delivered to them fast and efficiently. This is how things will work: customers will place orders on a dedicated platform, and then Wingcopter drones will fly out these orders to specific landing spots outside the villages. For the final step, cargo bikes will deliver the orders to each individual home.Other than speed and convenience, this alternative process has obvious environmental benefits. Both the drones and the cargo bikes are fully electric, meaning they'll operate with no emissions. The bikes are made by Riese & Muller, a manufacturer based in the Odenwald region. Vodafone is another important partner in the project, the one that ensures a stable connection between the drones and the ground control station.The Wingcopter drone promises a top speed of 90 mph (144 kph). In terms of altitude, it can reach 16,400 feet (5,000 meters). The initial version offered a range of 46 miles (75 km) on a single charge, coupled with a maximum payload of 11 pounds (5 kg). However, the range could increase up to 60 miles (95 km) by dropping the payload to just 2.2 pounds (1 kg).Most importantly, the Wingcopter drone demonstrated its unique ability to make three separate deliveries to various locations on a single charge. It even claims to be the only triple-drop all-electric drone in the world. This triple-drop system has the potential to make future deliveries much more effective without requiring more energy. The German manufacturer won't stop there. Earlier this year, it unveiled plans to make its delivery drone even more potent by adding fuel cell technology. It's currently working with the ZAL Center of Applied Aeronautical Research Center on a dedicated fuel cell system that would be based on compressed gaseous hydrogen.In the meantime, its primary focus is the pioneering delivery project in Michelstadt. The project is supported by local authorities and was funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV). Apple doesn't natively show the weather forecast or the current temperature on CarPlay, which is kind of disappointing if you ask me. CarPlay has enough space on the screen, including in the dock, to at least display the outside temperature alongside an icon indicating the current conditions. However, Apple has always ignored this feature request, leaving Android Auto the better alternative in this regard. Google's alternative originally displayed weather information in the status bar at the top of the screen, with the same data now included in a dedicated card on portrait screens with the Coolwalk interface While Apple shows no interest in bringing weather info to CarPlay, third-party apps come to the rescue. Weather on the Way is one of the best solutions that can do this, offering easy access to weather data and the radar on the infotainment screen.And thanks to the latest updates, Weather on the Way got even better on CarPlay.Earlier this year, the parent company enhanced the CarPlay experience by adding audio navigation and support for the Dashboard mode. The CarPlay Dashboard is Apple's version of the Coolwalk UI. It allows users to run multiple apps side-by-side on the same screen, with every application receiving a card to display essential data, including navigation and audio apps like Apple Music.The latest update allows the application to speak the weather information when navigation is enabled on CarPlay. This means you can follow turn-by-turn directions on CarPlay, and Weather on the Way will continue to monitor the weather conditions in the background, speaking out loud any information you must be aware of in real-time.The developer says they also addressed bugs during the CarPlay navigation experience. The previous update (version 1.8.6) included another bug fix for CarPlay, targeting the screen brightness not aligning with the vehicle settings.The star of the show is clearly the support for speaking weather information in the background, allowing users to stay up-to-date with conditions as they drive to their destination. This is the primary objective of Weather on the Way, as the application allows you to define a destination and see the expected weather as you approach the address.The radar allows users to anticipate rain or changing conditions more accurately, with the information updated in real-time as their location changes (when they drive towards the defined address).The new Weather on the Way updates are already available from the App Store. The application continues to support iOS 14 and later, and it also seems to work flawlessly on the newly released iOS 17. Weather on the Way also comes with a Pro version that adds additional functionality, and users can get it with a $24.99 yearly subscription. A monthly plan is also available for $4.99. For a couple of years, I've been keeping tabs on a California-born e-bike manufacturer called Engwe. Well, this year, they released an e-bike that I just had to test, their X26. Why the urge to do so? Just look at it; I had to see what this sort of design has in store for us and if it's what we want in terms of a two-wheeling EV. Design Evaluation Photo: Autoevolution Photo: Autoevolution Photo: Autoevolution EV Ride Assessment Photo: Autoevolution Photo: Autoevolution Photo: Autoevolution Photo: Autoevolution Conclusion Fast Good Range Powerful motor Price for punch ratio Comfortable on city streets Not the best suspension fork Rough on off-road use Hanging Seat Tube Ladies and gents, feast your eyes on the behemoth of a machine before you today and really let it sink into your visual cortex. After all, when's the last time you've seen anything like this? If you're like me, probably never, because who in their right mind would design a bicycle with such a frame? Apparently, Engwe, and before we go on, let me point out that there is a bit of method to their madness, and it all starts with this machine's design Right off the bat, we can tell that the X26 is different than other e-bikes we typically see around town. It's not shaped like a classic bike frame, nor is it shaped like other two-wheelers, the likes of Super73's machines, or cafe racers.Instead, we're looking at a machine with one massive and hollow top tube that holds together a rear composed of two swing arms. No down tube is in place, which frees up a whole bunch of space from the front wheel, which, in my opinion, is a very smart move because this thing is rocking 26 in wheels with 4 in fat tires wrapped around those alloy rims.Now, fat tires already prove to be quite effective in riding around town over cracked asphalt and pebbles, but another benefit is that they tend to offer a more lush riding experience, with a small downside: lots of bouncing action. In short, we can consider fat tires as a sort of suspension system.But Engwe decided to take things one step further and make this e-bike the softest ride on the planet. At least, that's the idea. In short, the manufacturer included three suspension systems in the frame's design, and this is the main reason why the rear of the bike looks the way it does.At the front of this monster - in comparison to my body size - lies a dual-crown fork that screams moto design, but it's clearly made just for bicycles that stick around to city streets or, at best, a rough dirt road. More suspension is found in the center of the bike, right above the BB, in the form of a shock designed to reduce any hits you take up from the road.Finally, it's the addition of a third set of shocks and springs that really make the X26 what it is, once decently smooth and surprisingly stable ride. After tampering with those shocks a little bit, I realized you can tune the level of bounce experienced in the rear, which is rather neat, especially if you're carrying someone around on that seat.And this is really where we realize what Engwe has done with this monster. This bike is big, and there's a reason for this; it's designed to handle those riders among us who have bigger bones and often have a hard time finding anything to support their body weight.At least, that's one way Engwe is marketing this machine. But, with a total payload weight of 150 kg, of which around 42 kg (93 lbs manufacturer reported) is a pure e-bike, it leaves us with 108 kg |(238 lbs) to work with, which is enough for the average Joe and a couple of bags of groceries on the rear seat . Still, it seems we can push that number way further because I cruised around town with a colleague on the back, albeit very slowly, so as not to hit any bumps too big to blow up those balloon tires.More on the design here, it's important to note that this thing is fast, even for its overweight stature. This is made possible by a 1,000 W nominal motor, which peaks at 1,200 W. It's more than enough power to handle any hill your town throws at you and enough juice to take the X26 outside of Class 3 e-bike standards; it can be unlocked to catch 31 mph (50 kph). In short, you better be wearing a helmet for this one, and watch out for the 5-0. Standard, 28 mph (45 kph) is the top speed.But, there's one massive downside to the X26's design and one that you need to know about. If you happened to see the images in the gallery, you noticed me holding the seat in hand, with a very big hunk of something attached to it. Well, that's one of the battery packs that is housed in an X26; the second is housed in the top tube and accessed by unfolding the frame.Back to the seat tube battery pack, I feel this could be improved for two reasons: because it's filled with batteries, there's a minimal and maximum depth where the pack must reside, and often, for riders, that may be a tad shorter, the X26 is hard to mount. Even I've had trouble getting the hang of it at first, and since the top tube is also very high, you may need to tip the bike towards you to get your leg over it.Another problem is the frame in which this battery pack resides, or the seat tube, albeit I have never seen a seat tube quite like this one. I want to bring your attention to that hunk of aluminum tubing that extends well below the BB (Bottom Bracket) and hovers ever so close to the ground. I think you can see where I'm going with this. Read on.As for the rest of this Frankenstein, it's got integrated lights, hydraulic brakes with motor cut-off, a decently intuitive controller, a thumb throttle, and a display that does a rather good job of letting you know what's going on with your. Shimano is also found on the X26 and supplies a 1x8 drivetrain setup that won't be doing much if you don't have any juice in your packs.Now, if we take all that I mentioned above and place a human at the center of it all, what do we have? Well, that's what we did, and the experience I had with the experience I had with the X26 was, and continues to be, a rather good one, but it's not perfect, so stay with me here.First off, there's that whole business of mounting and dismounting this bugger, a problem created because of that seat tube battery pack and even the raised top tube. But once you're on this monster and the motor kicks in, I can safely say that you'll enjoy the ride.There's more than enough power in that motor to not only handle whatever your town throws at you, but it'll do it with a speed that most other e-bikes can't legally attain: an e-bike that goes beyond the standards set by a Class 3 rating should only be driven on a closed course or private property What does this relate to in terms of riding around at speeds upwards of 31 mph? It means a rather neat feeling as though you're riding a motorcycle. Even the position, slightly leaning forward, gave me this impression, let alone the speed it can catch. Its weight also helps with this effect.The motor is also strong enough to, as I mentioned, carry two people weighing around 75 kg (165 lbs) each, but that's outside any of Engwe's product guidelines, so if anything happens, you're on your own, as I was. But this thing took it like a champ. Then, there are the speed settings that Engwe places at our disposal. Until now, the four other Engwe products I've encountered don't offer the option of selecting different power classes in which your five speeds can operate.There's Eco, for optimized range - I squeezed out around 53 mi (85 km) with various road conditions down from the manufacturer-reported 62 mi (100 km) of peak range - Normal, for more power, but clearly less range, and finally, Sport mode, my favorite setting and unleashes this puppy's full potential. I've even seen the LCD display showing me that I'm actually pumping out over 1,200 W; around 1,312 W is the peak number I've witnessed, so there's clearly more power to be accessed However, this is no motorcycle, and a few aspects I feel could be improved are front-end stiffness, typically modified by paying closer attention to the fork in place, possibly a shorter-travel one, and the brakes. Only two-piston hydraulic brakes are used to stop you and all the inertia you may have atop this beast. Still, with a bit of foresight and prudent riding, you'll avoid any mishaps, as I've done to date.Finally, three suspension systems, four if you count the tires? Yup, and Engwe is making a big deal out of this. Should they? Honestly, yeah, they should. While it comes across as a rather odd design, the functionality behind it actually sparks results. Once you hit bumps and cracks in the road, you'll barely feel it. So, for city use, this idea gets a thumbs up.Not to go beyond the confines of city limits, you can ride your X26 to destinations nearby, but like most other riders, you'll probably want to load up this bike onto or into your car. This is where the folding frame comes in, or does it?Remember, the X26 is heavy, bulky, and rocking the biggest wheels the industry has to offer, so once you've folded it, you're still looking at a rather bulky sack of potatoes with which you're going to struggle if you've been skipping out on your gym membership. Honestly, I had trouble fitting this into a Hyundai Tucson.But things are different once we take the X26 off of city streets and onto rougher ground. Once off-road, there are a few things you need to know about the X26 and fat-tire bikes in general: the bounce produced by the tires can often become tiresome and doesn't offer the best level of control you can get out of a bicycle with smaller cross-section tires.And then there's the fork and rear assembly. At the front, the fork is fine on dirt roads and even some more very small drops, but I can't really say the same for the rear. Sure, the suspension does take up small bumps, but if you hit anything too big, you'll be thrown upwards ever so slightly, causing you to come down onto that seat; you'll feel it once it happens multiple times. A slight lack of control can also accompany this event, so keep both wheels on the ground at all times.Finally, a big feature I noticed as being problematic on the X26 is the seat tube jutting out from underneath the BB. Let me put things into perspective: you're riding along on some trail, as you see in the image gallery, and suddenly, a large stone embedded into the ground creates a little ledge. Avoid such interaction as much as you can because, as I tested, that piece of seat tube can snag on obstacles , damaging your X26 in the process and, god forbid, damaging yourself.Also, if you don't have any experience with maneuvering a fat tire around on trails, make sure you practice a bit because the dynamics are different than your typical 2.25-inch rubbers. Throw in a rather beefy motor, and you could be ready to go home a bit battered and bruised. Always wear a helmet.At the end of the day, the X26 isn't perfect, but then again, what is? Still, a few notable features to land this puppy in your garage are the triple, even quadruple suspension while in a city setting, its sheer power and speed, and the feeling that you're on some 50 CC dirt bike. But, do these features offset off-road handling and efficiency, its weight, and then, cost (currently priced at $1,800 for dual-battery)? Well, it all depends on what you're going to use your X26 for If it's city use you're planning on, go for it, but if you're looking for an off-road-worthy machine, this X26 wouldn't be my first choice. Then again, I come with a bit of an MTB background, and what I want my off-road experience to be like is on a different level than the X26 is built for. Weigh your options, and if you can, always go for a test ride before committing to any e-bike.Oh, and if this puppy sounds like the kind of e-bike you'd like to get your hands on, there's a little promotion going on now (at the time of publishing) where you can win an X series from Engwe that even includes a special color scheme.: 4.0 / 5.0 Even an award-winning high-class superyacht has room for improvement. At least, that's what the current owners of this magnificent 2016 Christensen believed. They took this luxury pleasure craft to the next level, so much so that it's now worth more than it did when they bought it. Photo: Burgess Yachts Photo: Burgess Yachts Photo: Burgess Yachts In 2016, this superb 164-footer (49 meters) was one of the famous superyachts flaunting their exquisite looks at St. Bart's, waiting to celebrate the New Year in style. It was the fresh acquisition of telecommunications mogul Donald Burns. Co-founder of Telco Communications, Burns is particularly known for his contribution to the revolutionary Voice Over IP (VoIP) technology.His brand-new floating luxury toy was named Chasseur (French for "hunter"), boasting sophisticated looks that certainly lived up to its bold name. The US Christensen Shipyards were responsible for the yacht's naval architecture and exterior design, while its interiors were styled by VARO Interior Design.The gorgeous vessel was built on the same platform as Odessa, an acclaimed Christensen design known for its ultra-clean, contemporary style. The new tri-decker also got its fair share of fame. It was awarded the Judges' Special Award for Achievement at the highly prestigious World Superyacht Awards one year after its debut.However, the tech millionaire didn't hold on to his new toy for long. Like so many other superyacht owners , he was already eyeing an even bigger Christensen by the time Chasseur was delivered. After five years of ownership, Chasseur was on the market, asking for nearly $31 million. It didn't have to wait long. In 2022, the new owners were willing to not only pay a hefty sum but to pump even more dollars into a makeover.The reason was strictly personal. They weren't the biggest fans of Chasseur's ultra-minimalist aesthetic with sharp angles everywhere, cold surfaces, and a rigid, impersonal vibe. The aggressive Chasseur had to be tamed and feel more like a home, although still highly luxurious and contemporary.The transformation was carried out at the Safe Harbor Marina in Fort Lauderdale under the guidance of the acclaimed Patrick Knowles. He was the wizard who turned Chasseur into a warm and relaxing sanctuary at sea. Indeed, Knowles had to devise several tricks to disguise what the new owners saw as flaws without having to remove or completely change certain elements.The English sycamore wood, with a milky-glaze coating, was stripped down, tinted, and given a different finish. The harsh Venetian blinds were replaced with softer alternatives, such as roller mesh blinds and fixed drapery panels. The floors were covered with precious custom rugs for a more comfortable feeling.The bulkheads, berths, and window mullions were carefully disguised with hand-stitched textile panels (also custom-made) that didn't just blur the harsh lines and angles but also dampened the noise and vibration. In the master suite, organic shapes and soft colors were used to replace the original furniture. At the same time, a custom-designed console was added to break the direct line of sight from the salon into the bedroom, which the new owners found uncomfortable.Chasseur's signature staircase was also transformed. The original version featured floating glass steps and equally transparent railings. It was undoubtedly a statement piece and a stunning work of art, yet it made regular guests prefer the exterior staircases. The revamped Chasseur kept this unusual staircase, but Knowles added foam-backed cream panels to the steps to eliminate the unsettling transparency without ruining the overall effect.The refitted Chasseur is now an inviting floating palace that could be considered even better than the original. It comes with all the extravagant amenities you'd expect onboard a superyacht, including a helipad, a gym, and a generous private jacuzzi.The jacuzzi is part of the yacht's massive sun deck, which is divided into three separate areas. One houses the jacuzzi and numerous sun loungers, another is dedicated to a modern bar, and the aft area is a spacious outdoor lounge.Speaking of bars, Chasseur has plenty of them. Perhaps the most impressive one is the marble bar in the sky lounge. It includes eight oversized chairs, and it offers the best views of the water. Next to it, there's a roomy dining area for enjoying meals under the stars. This also happens to be the owners' favorite spot onboard, complete with a game setup.When it's time for bed, they get to relax inside the lavish master stateroom on the main floor. It's big enough to include a separate private office and sophisticated onyx bathrooms. The other five staterooms, including a sumptuous VIP cabin, are fitted with en-suite bathrooms, under-floor heating, and individual climate controls. In total, this grandiose 499 GT vessel can comfortably accommodate 13 guests and up to ten crew members.Performance-wise, it cruises smoothly at 12 knots (13.8 mph/22 kph), while zero-speed stabilizers ensure maximum comfort onboard. This elegant pleasure craft traveled to the Bahamas and the Caribbean regularly, and it's the perfect millionaire's vacation boat. Still, it looks like its second ownership will last even less than the first one. After less than two years, Chasseur is up for grabs once again. It's asking for $32.7 million this time and will probably get it in no time. For a number of years now the world has gotten used to the term TRX applied to an impressive pickup truck. Supposedly meant to stand for Tyrannosaurus Rex, which as you all know is the perceived king of the dinosaur world, the moniker hides behind it a 702 hp vehicle that has few natural competitors. The U.S. Army might be getting a TRX for its military uses as well, but it's not the Ram-built truck. In its case, TRX stands for Tracked Robot 10-ton, and we're talking about a machine made by General Dynamics Land Systems.The robot is one of four platforms to have been chosen by the Army for the future robotic combat vehicle (RCV) program. It will compete against similar machines made by Textron Systems, HDT, and Oshkosh Defense, to become an important asset for ground military operations of the future.We've already discussed the proposal submitted by Textron and HDT, namely the Ripsaw M3 and the Wolf-X, and now it's time for the TRX.General Dynamics' solution is, just like the Ripsaw, a tracked platform on which a variety of tools can be installed: long-range loitering munitions, short-range air defense, and anti-drone weapons. Additionally, it can also act as a source of "exportable power to support mission command operations. "The system has not been fully detailed by Textron, this thing being meant for military use and all, but we do know it will be easy to move to areas of operations by current military platforms - the Wolf-X competitor, for instance, fits inside a Chinook helicopter.The platform is a hybrid-electric machine that uses an undisclosed kind of powertrain of publicly unknown capabilities. Aside from being suitable for use as a weapons platform, it is capable of conducting autonomous resupply missions, breaching obstacles, and conducting electronic warfare and reconnaissance all of that, of course, when the proper setup is chosen, and the right gear installed.We don't get any info on the robot's field capabilities, but General Dynamics does say the TRX "is built to maneuver at speed with all formations" and that it comes with a payload-to-chassis ratio of 1:1.The TRX will be shipped to the Army as two prototypes by August next year, and testing will begin. The Army is expected to run tests on these two prototypes (and those of its competitors) well into 2025, when a decision is expected as to which platform will become the soldiers' mechanized companions.Full deployment of the robotic combat vehicle is expected in 2028, at the end of an investment effort that is likely to reach a total of $750 million.As always, autoevolution will keep an eye out for developments on this story and update as soon as anything new reaches us. His remarks contrasted with other signals sent by Moscow in recent days. In particular, the official TASS news agency said on Friday that a Russian military delegation will visit Yerevan to discuss with Armenian officials the peacekeepers withdrawal from Karabakh. The Russian Defense Ministry denied the report hours later. But it reported over the weekend that the peacekeepers continued to dismantle their observation posts along the Karabakh line of contact that existed until Azerbaijans September 19-20 military offensive. The role of our [peacekeeping] contingent is in demand, and I believe that it will also be necessary in the future, Galuzin told the Russian news agency RBC. Firstly, the question remains of making sure that those residents of Karabakh who stay there feel secure. It cannot be ruled out that some of those who left Karabakh today will at some stage decide to return, and the presence of peacekeepers will become an additional factor of calm for these people. So I would not say that the activities of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Karabakh have exhausted themselves, he said. The number of Karabakh Armenians remaining in their homeland is believed to be negligible, a fact acknowledged by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The more than 100,000 other residents of the region have fled to Armenia since September 20 because of being unwilling to live under Azerbaijani rule. Nevertheless, Galuzin said, Moscow still believes that an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty discussed by the conflicting sides should address the issue of the rights and security of Karabakhs Armenian population. It has presented Baku and Yerevan with some ideas on this score, he added without elaborating. The Russian diplomat also said that Moscow hopes to broker the peace treaty and help the sides delimit the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and work out terms for opening it to trade and cargo shipments. He dismissed similar efforts by the European Union, claiming that their main goal is to drive Russia out of the South Caucasus. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev were expected to reach a framework peace deal on the sidelines of last weeks EU summit in Spain. However, Aliyev withdrew from the talks at the last minute, citing pro-Armenian statements made by France. European Council President Charles Michel indicated afterwards that he will likely hold a trilateral meeting with Aliyev and Pashinian in Brussels later this month. The Armenian government urged the Russian peacekeepers to step in to protect Karabakhs population hours after the start of the Azerbaijani assault. The absence of such intervention led Yerevan to accuse Moscow of not honoring its obligations spelled out in a 2020 truce accord brokered by it. Galuzin rejected the criticism. Echoing Putins statements, he said Pashinian himself downgraded the peacekeepers status and legitimized Bakus military action by recognizing Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan during earlier talks with Aliyev organized by the EU. The fall of Karabakh and the resulting exodus of its population added to unprecedented tensions between Russia and Armenia increasingly calling into question their long-running alliance. The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Pashinian on September 25 of seeking to ruin Russian-Armenian relations and reorient his country towards the West. Galuzin reiterated Moscows condemnation of Yerevans unfriendly moves, notably the decision to recognize jurisdiction of an international court that issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March. Despite the mounting tensions, Pashinian phoned Putin on Saturday to congratulate him on his 71st birthday anniversary. Official readouts of the call said they discussed the situation in and around Karabakh. Another 706 telecom scam suspects from northern Myanmar handed over to China Xinhua) 16:41, October 09, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- In an ongoing crackdown on telecom fraud originating from northern Myanmar and affecting Chinese citizens, 706 more suspects have been transferred from Myanmar to Chinese custody, the Ministry of Public Security announced Monday. The suspects, including 26 fugitives, were handed over to public security authorities in the cities of Lincang and Pu'er of southwest China's border province of Yunnan between Sept. 25 and Oct. 7. Chinese authorities have pledged to thoroughly investigate the suspects' criminal activities and crack down on telecom fraud with strict adherence to the law. They also plan to delve into related domestic crimes in order to ensure a comprehensive crackdown throughout the entire chain of criminal activities. The number of telecom fraud cases has declined significantly in recent months, with a total of 2,317 suspects to date captured and transferred to China from Myanmar, according to the ministry. Public security authorities have vowed to continue their efforts to crack down on telecom fraud and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) (Photo: MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AFP via Getty Images) A Great Wall 236 submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, billed by Chinese state media as a new type of conventional submarine, participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy in the sea near Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on April 23, 2019. The production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines by China is likely to test rising U.S. and international efforts to track them for the first time, escalating the submarine arms race. According to analysts and regional defense attaches, there is growing evidence that China will be able to operate its Type 096 ballistic missile submarine by the end of the decade thanks in part to technological advances from Russia. During a conference in May in the U.S., research was discussed, as reported by Reuters. New Vessels are Harder to Monitor The new vessels will be far more difficult to monitor, according to research conducted by the China Maritime Studies Institute of the Naval War College and released in August. The opinions of seven analysts and three military attaches based in Asia support that judgment. One of the main reasons for the U.S.'s expanded deployments and contingency preparation by the US Navy and other armed forces in the Indo-Pacific region is the covert effort to follow China's nuclear-powered and -armed ballistic missile submarines, known as SSBNs. When Type 096s are put into service, that drive is anticipated to intensify. The Pentagon reported in November that the Chinese navy regularly conducts fully armed nuclear deterrence patrols from its older Type 094 boats out of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, simulating patrols conducted for years by the United States, Britain, Russia, and France. However, the Type 094s are thought to be relatively noisy, which is a big disadvantage for military submarines as they are equipped with China's most sophisticated submarine-launched JL-3 missiles. In terms of stealth, sensors, and armaments, the Type 096 submarine will be comparable to modern Russian submarines, according to the study. It stated that the U.S. and its partners in the Indo-Pacific will be affected by the capability jump in "profound" ways. The report examines more than 50 years of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy's frequently glacial nuclear submarine development and is based in part on Chinese military periodicals, internal speeches by senior PLA leaders, and patent data. Read also: Taiwan Unveils First Homegrown Submarine in Defense Milestone To Bolster Defense Against China A Lot Bigger Than the Type 094? It includes satellite images of the pressure hull construction for a big submarine obtained in November at China's brand-new Huludao shipyard. As indicated in the Pentagon's yearly briefings on China's military, this puts the building on track to have the boats operational by 2030. The study also describes potential innovations based on "imitative innovation" of Russian technology, such as pump-jet propulsion and interior quieting systems. The ship is probably going to be a lot bigger than the Type 094, which will enable it to have an inside "raft" built on intricate rubber supports to quieten other sounds, comparable to Russian designs. Related article: US Reconstructs Cold War Submarine Program as China Bolsters Navy @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. I strongly condemn the Azerbaijani military operation which led to the exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, she told a youth conference held in the French city of Bordeaux. I reiterate my absolute support for Armenia's territorial integrity in line with the principles of the United Nations. Our immediate priority is to help Armenia receive the displaced persons and support the Armenian state in this ordeal, she said, pointing to over $11 million in humanitarian aid to Karabakh refugees and $16 million in separate financial assistance to the Armenian government provided by the EU. In addition, with the United States, we will organize a joint meeting to support Armenia. This is a first step to strengthen our bilateral relations. Because Europe and Armenia share a long and rich common history and the time has come to write a new chapter in this shared history, added the head of the EUs executive body. In her speech repeatedly interrupted by rapturous applause, von der Leyen gave no dates or other details of the donors conference announced by her. She met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on the sidelines of an EU summit in Granada, Spain last Thursday. Pashinian also held a separate meeting there with the EUs top official, Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Sczholz. In a joint statement, the European leaders expressed their unwavering support for Armenia and called for the strengthening of EU-Armenia relations in all its dimensions. While in Bordeaux, von der Leyen also met with a group of pro-Armenian French lawmakers. They reportedly told her that the EU must also provide military aid to Armenia and impose sanctions on Azerbaijan. The European Parliament urged such sanctions in an October 5 resolution that accused Azerbaijan of committing ethnic cleaning against Karabakhs ethnic Armenian population. It criticized von der Leyen for describing Azerbaijan as a key partner in our efforts to move away from Russian fossil fuels during a 2022 trip to Baku. None of the 27 member states -- include France, Armenias main Western backer -- has backed the idea of sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron said October 5 that they would be counterproductive at this point. The EU as well as the United States are moving to forge closer links with Armenia amid the South Caucasus states mounting tensions with Russia, its longtime ally. The government claims to have housed more than half of the 100,000 or so refugees in hotels, disused public buildings and empty village houses. It says the others have told government officials that they will stay with their relatives or have other places of residence in Armenia. However, there is growing evidence of a large number of refugees remaining homeless after the mass exodus of Karabakhs population that began two weeks ago. Activists of two Yerevan-based nongovernmental organization spotted such people sleeping in their cars or even the streets of the Armenian border town of Goris before deciding to open a temporary shelter for them. The municipal administration of Artashat, a town 30 kilometers south of Yerevan, agreed to make one of the local school gyms available to the NGOs called Fist-2020 and Smart Armenia. The latter provide the refugees staying there with hot meals and other essential items on a daily basis. Marcus Azatian, the Fist-2020 founder, said the charities initially hoped that the refugees will spend a few days in the shelter before finding other accommodation. However, only about 20 of the 114 beds placed in the gym were vacated in the past week, according to him. At some point, we will tell people that they have 10 days to leave this place so that they look for homes a bit more actively, Azatian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. He confirmed that for security reasons many of the refugees are refusing government offers of free housing in mostly rural communities close to Armenias volatile border with Azerbaijan. Exorbitant rent prices in and around Yerevan are seriously complicating their search for alternative housing. And more affordable homes often lack basic amenities. There are homes [available for rent] but they are in poor condition They may have no running water or bathroom, said Robert Avagian, a Karabakh Armenian man staying in the Artashat shelter with four other family members. Anya Safarian, a 78-year-old schoolteacher from the Karabakh town of Askeran, is stuck there with her son, daughter and three grandchildren. They have no relatives or other contacts in Armenia. People here are nice and they treat us well, said Safarian. But until when? We feel ashamed when they bring us food. The government is due to give every refugee 50,000 drams ($125) per month for housing expenses. Also, the United States, the European Union and some of its member states have pledged tens of millions of dollars in aid to the Karabakh refugees. It is not yet clear whether some of that money will also be used for their housing needs. 9 October 2023 12:30 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Large-scale resettlement of citizens in the liberated territories through sustainable settlement and reintegration of economic activities is one of the five national priorities of Azerbaijan outlined in the 2030 Strategy, which was developed on the basis of the UN document "Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". After the conclusion of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan in November 2020, Azerbaijan immediately started the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and reintegration of liberated Garabagh, which was subjected to colossal destruction during the Armenian occupation over the past 30 years. Azerbaijan intends to mobilize all resources and stakeholders to revitalize Garabagh, transforming "ghost settlements" into "smart cities" and "smart villages", paying special attention to the needs of the most vulnerable groups - 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. The first village to be reconstructed as a "smart village" was Aghali village of Zangilan district, as well as the neighboring parts of this district - Aghali 1, Aghali 2. The concept of building smart villages includes environmentally friendly houses, renewable energy sources, and new infrastructure providing schools, houses, kindergartens, and other types of buildings in the consumption of green energy that will be distributed throughout the territory of smart villages. The first state program "Great Return" in the liberated territories provides for the return of more than 40 thousand families by the end of 2026, referring to the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the liberated territories Emin Huseynov. Similar projects will be implemented in the "Bash Garvand" village of Aghdam district, and unlike the previous two projects, the planning of this project will be done by Slovak specialists, where the financing will be done by the Azerbaijani state. Within the framework of the project on the basis of the concept of "smart village," it is planned to restore the village with a total area of 470 hectares, where at the first stage it is planned to return more than 6000 people, at the subsequent stage 1170. Today, Azerbaijan has fully regained its sovereignty over the previously occupied lands by carrying out a brilliant local operation to neutralize the terrorist organizations infesting the territory of Garabagh. The Garabagh clan of separatists has been put to an end and a full-scale operation on reintegration of the Armenian inhabitants of Garabagh in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been launched. Azerbaijan's significant interest is seen in the reconstruction and transformation of the previously occupied, as well as polluted lands into new ecologically clean green energy zones. After the activity of the separatist clan, the process of returning IDPs to their native lands is difficult, as a huge amount of territory is sown with mines, and the soil is not favorable for irrigation and introduction of agriculture, after the activity of mining companies during the occupation of Armenians. What is a smart city and why is it needed? A simplified understanding of the concept of "smart city" defines it as a component of technological development, and sustainable development, which selects cities and communities as target groups improving the way of living and working in the city. According to the UN Foundation population data, more than half of the world's population lives in rapidly growing cities, and urban population growth is expected to reach 70% by 2050. The main reason for "urbanization", which leads to huge consumption of resources, and negative environmental impacts, is the growth of the urban population. This rapid population growth leads to technical, social, and infrastructural problems such as waste management, air pollution, and health problems. In order to significantly improve health care, management of economic parts of social needs and requirements, education, urbanization, and its drawbacks, the state finds solutions in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Plan 2030, and in this case, the "smart city" will help us to do so. Rapidly growing technological progress in most cities of the world contributes to the introduction of developing AI in most infrastructures of the states, in the implementation of digitalization, the introduction of new databases on the population for quality service of the needs of citizens, gradual replacement of internal combustion engines with environmentally friendly electric motors. The favorable geographical location of Azerbaijan and the economic region of Garabagh contribute to the implementation of the construction of the energy sector on renewable energy sources in the upland mountains, land, and sea routes. Azerbaijan is one of the main suppliers of energy resources to the European Union countries. Many Arab countries have built and invested in the developing energy sector on renewable energy sources in liberated territories. Countries like Turkiye, UAE, and the Czech Republic along with companies from France, Britain, etc. have started construction and investment in the economic sector of Azerbaijan in its favorable geographical location. Azerbaijan is cooperating with TotalEnergies and Nobel Energy to build solar power plants with a total capacity of 650 MW and further export the generated electricity to Turkiye. Nobel Energy plans to commission a 100 MW solar power plant at the initial stage. The Azerbaijani-Turkish Energy Forum and the International Conference "Nakhchivan - Green Energy Zone" held in Nakhchivan contribute to the opening and construction of important economic and energy-dependent infrastructures. As of today, at least 1000 MW of renewable energy from Nakhchivan is planned to be exported. With foreign investment, with 5000 MW of renewable energy generation potential in Nakhchivan, the strategic goal for Azerbaijan is to create approximately 1500 MW of wind and solar power generation capacity. At the initial stage, Masdar is also planning to build a 150 MW solar power plant in Azerbaijan. Czech Engineering is also interested in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan on the construction of a solar power plant in the Sadarak district of Nakhchivan on the border with Turkiye, as well as on the construction and utilization of power transmission lines. The German company Notus intends to implement green energy projects in Nakhchivan, where the construction of a 70 MW solar power plant in the northwest of Nakhchivan, near the border with Turkiye, is considered a pilot project at the initial stage. In addition to the technological part of development, Azerbaijan is rapidly building agro-parks in the liberated territories in accordance with the priority of Garabagh revival, with the aim of realizing the industrial potential of the region, reintegrating it into the country's economy and providing employment for the population, in accordance with the relevant decrees of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Aghdam Industrial Park was established in Aghdam city and the Araz Valley Economic Zone Industrial Park was established in Jabrayil district. On 28 September, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of the Jahangirbeyli hydroelectric power plant of the Azerenerji Open Joint Stock Company. In accordance with the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to create a new potential of "green energy" in the territories liberated from occupation, AzerEnergy will build 10.5 megawatts of power at four sites in autumn 2022 in the Okhchuchay section passing through Zangilan district, where construction of a number of hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 42 megawatts has been started. Construction work on the Sarykishlak, Shayifly, and Zangilan HPPs is nearing completion. Work on the Jahangirbeyli HPP has been completed. As of March 2023, 37 small HPPs with a total capacity of 240 MW are under construction. 11 hydropower plants have been put into operation. Aghdam Industrial Park and Araz Valley Special Economic Zone have been put into operation. The 42 MW Zangilan series of hydroelectric power plants, which President Ilham Aliyev inspected in May this year, is the first major energy project fully built in the territories liberated from occupation. This project was realized in a record time of just one year. Until now, neither in Azerbaijan nor elsewhere has there been the fact of construction of hydroelectric power plants in such quantity, or capacity, in this period. It is reported that in the engine room built for Jahangirbeyli HPP, two eco-friendly certified eco turbines of European production of French type with a capacity of 5.25 megawatts each, generators and remote-controlled digital equipment have been installed. The plant will produce more than 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. All this once again shows that Azerbaijan has achieved great achievements by creating all these facilities and infrastructure in the territories it liberated from occupation in the last three years, and has even undertaken a responsible mission as an energy carrier to European countries. With its recent anti-terrorist measures, Azerbaijan once again demonstrated that it owns its sovereign territories and is a guarantor of peace and security in the region. ---- Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33 --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Day by day dynamically developing processes in the region create conditions for new priorities and realities. This reality also means potential opportunities for the strengthening and further development of the South Caucasus states. President Ilham Aliyev's working visit to Georgia was a step taken to further strengthen the beneficial cooperation between the two countries and ensure its future. Today, the most important thing in the Caucasus region is to ensure peace. The South Caucasus, which used to be the area of interest of foreign countries due to the continuation of conflicts, today is based more on intra-regional joint decisions in the resolution of those conflicts. It is no coincidence that Azerbaijan and Georgia, as two independent states, suffered from a similar conflict. The fact that Azerbaijans territories were occupied for 30 years and wasted time at the negotiating table as a result of the intervention of foreign forces in resolving the conflict for a long time is an example for moving towards future prospects. During the meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, the head of state spoke about ensuring peace and security in the region. Yes, as the President emphasized, Azerbaijan took decisive steps to restore its territorial integrity three years ago. But war is not the solution to all problems. Because in such a period, there is a greater need for more solidarity and consensus. The time has come to establish peace in the South Caucasus. As the 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. The 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. The Azerbaijani President said these words while making press statements, and he also pointed out that the prolongation of the occupation and condition of conflict is not beneficial to any state of the region. Indeed, the conflict for a long time did not bring success to the neighboring state of Armenia, on the contrary, it prevented it from participating in many large-scale projects. Azerbaijan really intends to support the development of Armenia as a regional state even today. Because joint development and progress mean the future security of the South Caucasus, as well as the prevention of interference by foreign forces. 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, the President said. Now is the time for all targets to step forward and join the Middle Corridor project that will connect the world. Azerbaijan, with its economic potential, is the most profitable partner in this project and strives to fulfill an important mission not only in the region but also as a joint collaborator between East and West. Over the past 30 years, Georgia has been Azerbaijan's closest partner in a number of large projects, including oil and gas projects. Today, Azerbaijan intends to continue this cooperation in a broader form. 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, the President emphasized in his press statements. In addition, Azerbaijan is about to start cooperation with European countries in the field of Green Energy. Real steps are already being taken for this. This project also creates great opportunities for the successful continuation of the Green Energy Corridor and closer cooperation with Georgia. It is significant to note that Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary, and Romania have reached an agreement to push ahead with a project to generate green energy from renewable sources in Azerbaijan and to export the power to Europe via a subsea cable under the Black Sea. Having been named the Caspian Sea-European Union Green Energy Corridor, the project aims to transfer 1000 megawatts of energy through a 1,200 km cable under the Black Sea. Meeting in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, on July 25, officials from the four countries signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture between their national electricity grid operators in order to coordinate activities and proceed with the project. Thus, the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Georgia revealed the priorities in two directions: firstly, the tripartite cooperation of the regional states for peace and secondly, sustainable development in the region in all spheres. This is Azerbaijan's next step for peace and security and the only optimal way out that will ensure Armenia's involvement in these giant projects. At the same time, this cooperation is a common communication route from east to west, as well as from north to south, which is the backbone of a strong economy. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 16:00 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The relationship between Azerbaijan and Georgia has historical roots and these two countries are united by many factors including economic ones. These two countries are not only neighbors and friends but also important strategic partners, and are well-integrated with each other. Thus, Georgia plays an important transit role in the delivery of Azerbaijans energy resources to the European markets. Simultaneously, Azerbaijan is one of the major investors in Georgia, and Azerbaijan's SOCAR is the biggest taxpayer in Georgia. Therefore, relations with Georgia are of particular importance in Azerbaijan's policy regarding neighboring countries. Reciprocal visits of the heads of countries positively affect these relations and help to develop the relations further. The visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Tbilisi on October 8 is one of them. During the visit, several issues relating to the economy were discussed and it is believed that this business visit will contribute to the further development of high-level relations between the two countries and to the strengthening of cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Speaking to Azernews on the issue, economist Eldaniz Amirov noted that the relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are generally at a high level. However, the trade turnover between the two countries is not high in comparison with other countries. He thinks that the potential between these countries is big, and to realize it, the two countries need to review their existing potential. The relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are generally at a high level, but in order for the economic relations to be manifested, especially in the trade turnover, I think that a number of things need to be done. At the same time, it is necessary to rediscover the existing potential. It is true that the joint generation of electricity produced from alternative energy sources and export to Europe through the bottom of the Black Sea will contribute to the trade turnover between the two countries, the expert emphasized. He added that the trade turnover between the two countries increased year-on-year and this year it could hit record. The economist also shared the figures on mutual investment in both countries. During the first 8 months of this year, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia exceeded $612.87m, and this trend suggests that the turnover will exceed $900m by the end of the year. Besides, Georgia has invested $279 for 815 total investment activities in Azerbaijan, and in turn, Azerbaijan has invested $3.4bn. This means that Azerbaijan invested 12 times more in Georgia, Amirov noted. He also touched upon the possibility of Armenia joining this process by concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and expressed that Armenia will get a huge benefit. As for Armenia, I think that Armenia will join this process by signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan because it has no alternative. There is a great need for Armenia to act in the 3+3 (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia + Turkiye, Iran, Russia) format, and if not, there is a great need for the development of trilateral relations between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. Because Armenia shares big border areas with these countries. I believe that joint participation in international projects will bring great dividends for Armenia. I hope that Armenia will appreciate this fact Eldaniz Amirov concluded. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 21:38 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Israel on Sunday formally declared war after two days of intensive rocket fires by Hamas on Israel as a result of which more than 700 people have been killed. So according to the latest report of the Israeli Health Ministry, at least 2,506 people have been injured so far. And many people have left the country and some others have moved to places near the Lebanon border. However, the situation over there also is unpleasant as Lebanons Hezbollah targets Israeli positions in the Golan Heights border region. Israeli journalist Rachel Avraham, well-known in Azerbaijan, said in an interview with AZERNEWS that the current situation in Israel is very tense and dangerous. According to her, people have been evacuated from many cities, and currently, Hamas and Hezbollah groups are shelling the country, especially from the north. It should be noted that Rachel is currently staying in a temporary shelter in one of the areas near the Lebanese border. Your browser doesn't support video. Please download the file: video/mp4 --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 16:50 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Last week, the delegation of Harvard University visited the Production Union of the Ganja Automobile Plant, Azernews reports. A group of employees from the world-known university visited the factory on the initiative of the Azerbaijani Economy Ministry and were closely interested in the activities of the enterprise. According to the press service of the plant, during the visit, Baghban Nabiyev, the first deputy director of the enterprise, told the employees of Harvard University's Kennedy School - senior research manager Tim Cheston, researchers Jorge Tapia, Felicia Belostechinich, Alexandro Rueda Sana about the history of the plant's development from 2004, when it started operating again, until today. He gave detailed information about the signed contracts. Then, after getting acquainted with the assembly lines, the guests talked about future plans with the plant management and asked the questions they were interested in about the work to be done. After the meeting, senior research manager Tim Cheston of Harvard University's Kennedy School expressed his satisfaction that they were in the country's only agricultural production facility and that they saw a plant that has managed to produce large-scale heavy equipment from small equipment. To recall, Ganja Auto Plant was an auto assembly plant built in 1986. At that time, it was planned to assemble 30,000 GaZelle vans. Due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, the work in the plant was suspended until 2004. In December 2004 the Ganja automobile plant started manufacturing and the first car built at the factory was sold. Today, Ganja Automobile Plant is the biggest automobile plant in Azerbaijan. It cooperates with several countries, especially with Belarussia, in assembling vehicles used in agriculture. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The third Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival has started in Baku. The large-scale event is co-organized by the Culture Ministry, Heydar Aliyev Center, the International Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY), the State Film Agency and Baku Media Center in connection with the proclamation of Azerbaijan's Shusha city the 2023 Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, Azernews reports. The festival's opening ceremony took place at Heydar Aliyev Center. First, a video was shown at the event, reflecting the unity of the Turkic world. Azerbaijan's Deputy Culture Minister Farid Jafarov welcomed the guests of the event. In his speech, he stressed that the festival's main goal is to strengthen the unity of the Turkic world and cultural cooperation between the Turkic peoples. He stressed that not only cultural figures but also officials participate in the festival. In their remarks, the TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General Sayit Yusuf, director of the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, film critic Ihsan Kabil, director of the State Film Fund, Honored Artist Jamil Guliyev highlighted the stronger bond between the Turkic peoples in various fields, especially in culture. They also touched upon Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage, the country's cinema industry, and its main features. It was brought to the attention that this film festival is an important cultural project that unites the entire Turkic world. Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival has been organized since 2021. The festival's first edition took place in Istanbul, Turkiye. The film festival was organized for the second time in the city of Bursa. Azerbaijan is hosting the third Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival. The festival's program includes 32 feature, documentary and animated films produced by Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, Gagauzia (Moldova), Tatarstan, Sakha-Yakutia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chuvashia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Tuva and Bashkortostan ( Russian Federation). The film screenings are organized in Nizami Cinema Center from October 9 to 11. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 10:26 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The 2nd Latin American Film Festival has opened its doors to cinema lovers in Baku. Organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Azerbaijan, the film festival features films produced in Latin-American countries, Azernews reports. Many public and cultural figures took part in the opening ceremony of the event. Speaking at the festival's opening ceremony, the Ambassador of Argentina Mariangeles Bellusci emphasized the similarity of customs, traditions and cultural values of the two peoples. The ambassador noted that such events contribute to the rapprochement of cultures between countries and peoples. Mariangeles Bellusci also spoke about the documentary "Los Corroboradores", screened as part of the event. Produced in 2018 by director Luis Bernardez, the documentary provides insight into the architecture of Buenos Aires. The film aroused great interest among the audience. Recall that the Latin American Film Festival was held for the first time in Baku in 2018. The films like "Land and Shade" (Colombia), "The Return" (Costa Rica), "Owner of the story" (Brazil), "Conducta" (Cuba), 'Wild Tales" (Argentina), "Instructions not Included" (Mexico), "Old Friends" (Peru) were shown within the first Latin American Film Festival. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Azerbaijan National Art Museum has opened an exhibition themed "Turkish-Azerbaijani Brotherhood: Breeze from Anadolu". The art project is organized by SAKUDER Art and Artisans Community Cultural Association (SAKUDER) to mark the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, Azernews reports. Deputy director of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum Khadija Asadova welcomed the guests of the event. The Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Cahit Bagci, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora Valeh Hajiyev took part in the opening ceremony of the exhibition. In their remarks, the guests underlined that Azerbaijan and Turkiye are united by a deep and inseparable bond, and the strategic relations between the two states have risen to the level of alliance. It was brought to attention that the founder of the Azerbaijani Statehood Heydar Aliyev, and the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kamal Ataturk, always paid special attention to art and artists. At the same time, art representatives stated that art is an important tool in the expansion of cultural and friendly relations and emphasized the importance of Turkish artists bringing the Anatolian breeze to Baku with their art works. Around 19 artists took part in the event, including Asim Yucesoy, Inci Tekin, Banovsha Aghayeva, Gunash Abbas, Mustafa Piskinas well as People's Artist of Azerbaijan Arif Huseynov and national artist Anar Huseynov. Through QR code on each painting, the museum visitors can obtain detailed information about the art works. The exhibition Turkish-Azerbaijani Brotherhood: Breeze from Anadolu will last until October 20, 2023. Founded in 1937, National Art Museum offers art connoisseurs some of the best examples of decorative-applied arts of Western Europe. Over 3,000 items in 60 rooms are on permanent display at the museum and around 12,000 items are kept in storage. Here, you can see masterpieces of the Italian, French, German and Polish masters of brush. The museum also attaches great importance to cooperation with international partners. In April, Chingiz Farzaliyev presented his personal exhibition at Georgian National Museum. The exhibition was organized in connection with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan and marked the 100th anniversary of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. The National Art Museum also started cooperation with the Aegean University in Izmir,Turkiye. The partnership aims at strengthening cultural ties and promoting relations between the two countries. In September, the National Art Museum signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Uzbekistan State Art Museum. The MoC provides for cooperation between the two state art museums in the field of research, restoration and conservation work, exchange of experience of museum staff, holding conferences, seminars, training on museum affairs, joint exhibitions, security, conservation and restoration of cultural property within five years. Signed by the director of the Azerbaijan National Art Museum, Honored Art Worker Chingiz Farzaliyev and the director of the Uzbekistan State Art Museum Vasila Fayzieva, it also covers such issues as the exchange of experience in creating electronic catalogues. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz (Photo : MUHAMMAD BALABULUKI/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images) 10/08/2023 Herat, Afghanistan. Afghans excavate the ruins of demolished buildings to recover bodies after the massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits the city of Herat. Afghan villagers and volunteers dug for survivors of a series of fatal earthquakes as aid began to trickle into the region. Volunteers in vehicles stocked with food, tents, and blankets flocked to hard-to-reach areas 30km (19 miles) northwest of Herat city, the capital of the same-named province, struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake Saturday and eight powerful aftershocks, as per SCMP. Volunteers Rally to Aid Earthquake-Stricken Afghanistan Volunteers arrived in trucks carrying essential supplies such as food, tents, and blankets, and they rapidly converged on remote areas that were incredibly inaccessible due to the devastation. In addition to delivering aid, these volunteers brought shovels to aid in the arduous process of excavating through the debris of destroyed villages in search of survivors. Khalid, a 32-year-old volunteer in the Zenda Jan district, characterized the rescue efforts as follows: "Many people have traveled from distant districts to help rescue victims. Everyone scours for bodies everywhere; we do not know if others are beneath the rubble." Local and national authorities have given contradictory accounts of the casualties. The Taliban administration reported that the earthquakes killed at least 2,400 persons and injured many more. In contrast, the United Nations Humanitarian Office reported 1,023 deaths, 1,663 reported injuries, and more than 500 people still missing. The World Health Organization reports that over 11,000 people in 1,655 families have been afflicted. As confined survivors remain inaccessible, the International Rescue Committee warns that a dearth of rescue equipment could result in a higher death toll. Salma Ben Aissa, the committee's country director for Afghanistan, voiced concern, stating, "There is a lack of disaster management capacity, and the limited capacity that exists cannot encompass the population on the ground. The number of fatalities is increasing hourly." A pressing issue is the absence of medical infrastructure to heal those injured by the earthquake, resulting in additional deaths. The harsh living conditions, including insufficient access to food, shelter, and pure water, increase the health hazards for the affected communities, according to EuroNews. Read Also: Campi Flegrei: Italian Authorities Plan to Evacuate Naples as Volcanic Earthquakes Increase Humanitarian Organizations Respond to Afghanistan's Earthquake Crisis Numerous humanitarian organizations have mobilized their resources in response to the crisis. The International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders have erected medical pavilions and dispatched healthcare teams to provide injured calamity victims with urgently required medical care. UNICEF has dispatched winter apparel, blankets, and tarpaulins to assist people in coping with the frigid weather. Despite these efforts, the extent of the devastation is still enormous. The country director for Afghanistan at Save the Children, Arshad Malik, characterized the situation as a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by a severe food shortage among children. He demanded an immediate influx of international aid and support. Neighboring Pakistan has contacted Afghan authorities to evaluate their immediate requirements and offer assistance. Afghanistan, already one of the poorest nations in Asia, confronts daunting challenges in the aftermath of the earthquakes, exacerbated by decades of conflict and international isolation. The Taliban's takeover in August of 2021 further complicated the humanitarian situation as aid organizations struggled to respond effectively. The earthquakes have exacerbated the country's problems, highlighting the need for international assistance. Although some countries have offered aid, additional international assistance is required to address Afghanistan's immediate and long-term challenges after this disaster, CNN News reported. Related Article: Afghanistan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 2,000 After Villages Destroyed, Civilians Buried @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 9 October 2023 13:57 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Russia, the European Union, and the United States can work together on the settlement of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan only if the West takes into account what has been achieved through Moscow's mediation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said, Azernews reports. "They can work together on the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement. But with the understanding that the European Union and the United States will not intercept our developments and pass them off as their own, but will fit their actions into those modalities of the Armenian-Azerbaijani settlement that have already been worked out between the parties through Russian mediation," the Deputy Foreign Minister said. According to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, on 2 June this year, when the last meeting of the trilateral working group was held, the sides noted noticeable progress in moving towards the unblocking of transport communications. "However, we believe that the unblocking of transport communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan, namely the creation of the Meghri route, would link the main territory of Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan." During the conference, an RBC correspondent asked Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin an affirmative question to clarify whether he was referring to the Zangazur railway or the Meghri route, to which the Minister replied that it is about the railway through the territory of Armenia. "Still, we are talking about the railway through the territory of Armenia, that's why I allowed myself to use the name Meghri route. Yes, in Azerbaijan it is called the Zangazur corridor. Let's just say that in order for this wording to suit everyone, we are actively helping our Azerbaijani and Armenian partners to reach an agreement. We believe that this agreement will be a very important factor in general stabilization in Transcaucasia. It will contribute to the economic development of all Transcaucasian states because in this case, Armenia will have an opportunity to become a transport and logistics hub and strengthen and expand its transport links with Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Russia. Azerbaijan will get an opportunity for uninterrupted rhythmic transport communication between the two parts of the country. And the overall stabilization of the situation in the Transcaucasus will serve to strengthen the foundations of trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan for the future. So we are determined to further advance these consultations within the Trilateral Working Group." says Russian Foreign Minister Galuzin. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 11:15 (UTC+04:00) Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Shahin Abdullayev met with OIC Secretary General Hissain Brahim Taha at the Organization's headquarters in Jeddah, Azernews reports. Azerbaijani diplomat provided the Secretary-General with detailed information about the recent developments in the Garabagh economic region of Azerbaijan and the efforts of Azerbaijan to normalize relations with Armenia and ensure sustainable peace and security in the region. The Secretary-General was also informed that after the local anti-terrorist measures the process of reintegration of the residents of Armenian origin into the Azerbaijani society continues. Secretary General Hissain Brahim Taha said that the organization he chairs once again expresses support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. He added that Baku's initiatives and efforts towards establishing lasting peace, stability, and security in the South Caucasus region, turning this geopolitically important region into a place of cooperation and progress are praiseworthy. A wide range of views were exchanged at the meeting on issues related to the prospects of cooperation between the OIC and Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 10:50 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijani Ambassador to Israel condemns terrorist attacks, Azernews reports, citing a post on X by Mukhtar Mammadov, the Ambassador. The post reads that the Ambassador and his family spent hours in a shelter like thousands of Israeli citizens. The Ambassador stressed that he condemns rocket strikes and terrorist attacks against civilians. He noted that he was appalled by numerous abductions of civilians, including women and children, who are abused & mistreated by terrorist abductors. Mukhtar Mammadov emphasized that like all sovereign states, #Israel has the right to live in peace and security. As thousands of Israeli citizens, my family & I have to spend hours in shelter. I condemn indiscriminate rocket strikes & terrorist attacks against civilians. I am appalled by numerous abductions of civilians, including women & children, who are abused & mistreated by Mukhtar Mammadov (@MammadovMukhtar) October 8, 2023 To recall, Palestinian militant groups headed by Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. It is the first direct conflict within Israel's boundaries since the 1948 Arab-Israeli military bases. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 13:36 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Another UN mission arrived in Garabagh this morning. The members of the mission traveled through Aghdam and moved towards Asgaran-Khankendi, Azernews reports. The mission includes representatives of various UN structures. The UN mission visited Garabagh on 1 October. To recall, the last mission of UN The mission has not received complaints about incidents of violence against civilians since the last ceasefire. The report also notes that up to 1,000 Armenians currently live in the Garabagh region. The mission was headed by the UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva. The UN Office in Azerbaijan plans to continue regular visits to the region. Armenian Ambassador-at-Large Edmond Marukyan said that the UN mission that visited Garabagh and denied the existence of any ethnic cleansing in the region appeared to discredit the UN as an institution. According to Marukyan, "the so-called UN mission has done everything to legitimize ethnic cleansing" and he "looks forward to the UN investigation into the activities of these representatives". Apparently, Edmond Marukyan, on special assignment, has not realized that the UN is not a branch of the Armenian National Committee of America, and if there is no ethnic cleansing, the UN mission cannot confirm it. Moreover, a new disappointment is in store for Armenian diplomacy: as it has already been reported, the US State Department was forced to admit that there is no evidence of "ethnic cleansing" in Garabagh. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 14:19 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Baku hosts the opening ceremony of the VIII International Conference on Medical Education (ICME), Azernews reports. The event, which is jointly organized by the Ministry of Health, Azerbaijan Medical University and Pakistan's Ripah International University, is attended by leading specialists in the field of medical education from more than 20 countries. It was reported that the discussion of topics covering all aspects of medical education at the conference will open up great opportunities for the participants. After the opening ceremony, the conference will continue with symposia on various topics. The symposia will discuss topical issues such as simulation-based learning, skills training, imparting cognitive skills, and application of computer technology and artificial intelligence. The conference, which runs until 10 October, will feature presentations from more than 30 renowned experts in medical education on the hottest topics, "What the Experts Say?" The sessions will present the most advanced, new approaches and practices in medical education and training. It should be noted that ICME conferences have so far been held biennially in Abu Dhabi, Mauritius, Istanbul, Ottawa, and Islamabad. Prior to this, the conference was held in a virtual format in 2021 in collaboration with the Islamic University of Indonesia. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 14:59 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more There is a unified opinion on resumption of activity of Azerbaijan's embassy in Iran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference today, answering a question on resumption of activity of Azerbaijan's embassy in Iran, Azernews reports. "The visit of the Azerbaijani official (Azerbaijani President's Representative for Special Assignments Khalaf Khalafov - ed.) to Tehran took place in continuation of negotiations between the officials of the two countries. Constructive talks and consultations were held. Both Azerbaijani and Iranian sides expressed their views on the latest developments in the region," the spokesman stressed. Nasser Kanaani noted that there is a consensus on the resumption of activity of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran: "In the near future, within the framework of discussions and successfully taken steps, the Embassy may resume its activity in Tehran. We are in a good mood and trend in bilateral relations between Iran and Azerbaijan". It should be noted that the special representative of Azerbaijani President Khalaf Khalafov visited Tehran on 3 October, and Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash arrived in Azerbaijan on 6 October. To recall, The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tehran has been closed due to the armed attack on 27 January 2023, at around 08:00 a.m. local time. The perpetrator passed by the guard post with a Kalashnikov rifle and opened fire inside the embassy, while its staff tried to neutralize him. The head of the embassy's security service, Orkhan Asgarov, was killed in the attack, while two guards were injured. Shortly after, a suspect was detained by Iranian police. The State Security Service of Azerbaijan opened a criminal investigation of the attack. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev strongly condemned the attack. The Azerbaijani side regarded the incident as a "terrorist act". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan announced evacuation of the embassy personnel in Tehran. On 29 January Azerbaijan evacuated most of the embassy staff from Tehran and suspended the embassy's operation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 21:57 (UTC+04:00) October 7 will be remembered as the darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, George Deek said, Azernews reports. 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 and men, our sons and our daughters. The toll of this aggression is staggering, with over 700 Israelis dead, over 100 individuals abducted, and over 2,000 more injured, said the ambassador. According to Deek, while the timing was a surprise, the cruelty wasnt. Hamas is a genocidal organization whose leaders openly speak about killing all Jews. Its written in their charter. This culture of hate is the cause of this barbarism, said the ambassador. What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and we will make sure it will not happen again. The IDF will immediately use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We will eliminate the threat of Hamas. This is war, he said. Unfortunately, it will not be the first war in Israeli history in which we must rise from tragedy. We were attacked before, outnumbered, taken by surprise. We just marked 50 years to the Yom Kippur war when the armies of the Arab world invaded Israel. In the end, the Israeli army was at the gates of Cairo and Damascus. This time as well, we will change the reality of the Middle East, said Deek. In addition, Deek noted that there are hundreds of Israelis waiting to donate blood. Hundreds of Israelis volunteering to help the people of the South in their time of need. People flying back from all over the world to join the army and fight the battle of justice. We are a nation of lions who will defend their families and their land. We are determined. We are united. And we will win, he said. We were impressed by messages of support from our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan. I stopped counting how many messages, emails, whatsapps and calls we received from people from all walks of life. The flocks of people laying flowers at the gate of the embassy is truly heartwarming. On behalf of the people of Israel, I want to say to the Azerbaijani people you touched our hearts, thank you, said the ambassador. In addition, the ambassador, addressing the international community, said that this is a war between good and evil, between right and wrong. Be sure to be on the right side and support Israels right to defend itself with all means necessary. This war will be long, it will be tough but we will do what we need to do, and win back the peace, he said. A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. 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 rocket attack killed more than 700 people and injured 2,315. The Israeli army declared a "state of readiness for war" and fired back with the launch of the "Swords of Iron" operation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 October 2023 22:10 (UTC+04:00) Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday discussed human rights, prospects for cooperation and bilateral ties with Seref Malkoc, Turkeys Chief Ombudsman in a Tbilisi meeting, Azernews reports, citing Agenda. The Georgian PM told the visiting official his office had made significant efforts to strengthen human rights protection mechanisms in the country, and added the second Human Rights Protection Strategy for 2022-2030 had been developed this year, the Government press office said. The head of the Government added the purpose of the strategy was to further strengthen the systemic guarantees for protection of human rights and freedoms in Georgia. Garibashvili noted his office was working on the 2024-2026 action plan for human rights to effectively implement the goals and objectives of the Strategy, which he said would include the topics on childrens rights. Describing childrens rights and human rights generally as his Government's priority, the PM agreed with Malkoc to further strengthen the partnership, the press office added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Italian restaurant and lounge chain Cipriani announces the opening of its restaurant at Marassi Beach in Bahrain. Read More: The Biggest Endurance Racing Finale Is Coming to Bahrain in November The restaurant chain already has branches in other parts of the Middle East such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh. However, the Bahrain branch is different because, for the first time, Cipriani will provide a cool dining experience by the pool or the beach in the Middle East. Locals and tourists in Bahrain will get a taste of Italian and Venetian cuisines in an aesthetic and soothing atmosphere. Cipriani is a well-known brand because its founder was the founder of Harry's Bar in Venice, which became a hotspot for various famous artists and celebrities such as Ernest Hemmingway, Humphrey Bogart, and Katharine Hepburn. If you love Italian food, then you must check out the Cipriani restaurant in Bahrain! Image source: @cipriani Instagram page (Photo : Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images For Kenzo) PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 23: Ye and Julia Fox attend the Kenzo Fall/Winter 2022/2023 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 23, 2022 in Paris, France. Julia Fox felt like a "little puppet" during the time was in a relationship with Kanye West, a statement made as the controversial rapper's "rules" for the newlywed couple have been "revealed". Beginning in 2022, Julia Fox, age 33, had a brief relationship with Kanye West, a period she will candidly discuss in her forthcoming memoir, 'Down the Drain,' as per to Mirror. Julia Fox's Journey with Kanye West Despite their alleged "instant connection," she reveals in her memoir that she and Kanye West never had a carnal relationship. In one jaw-dropping passage from Fox's memoir, West makes an unexpected offer: "I'll get you a boob job if you want." While others might have enthusiastically accepted such an offer, Fox declined. Their relationship began with a flourish on New Year's Eve in Miami in 2021 and proceeded to shine throughout Paris Fashion Week. However, it was short-lived and terminated following West's public appeal to reunite with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. Despite their romantic separation,Fox and West continue to maintain close ties, with a source affirming that they are "good friends and collaborators." The surprising absence of romance details regarding her relationship with West enhances the intrigue of Fox's memoir. In a recent revelation, she told The New York Times, "It wasn't really about that" about their intimate relationship. In her memoir, Julia Fox has cautioned those anticipating juicy details about Kanye West to temper their expectations. She revealed to E! News that West's presence in her book encompasses only six pages, indicating that she avoided drama and lingering negativity by treading gingerly on the subject. Julia Fox has been candid about the reasons for their separation since their split. She identified blatant warning signs and acknowledged West's problems. In an interview with ES Magazine, she candidly confessed, "I thought I could be his savior, but that was just my delusion." Read Also: Sophie Turner Breaks Her Silence Amid Divorce With Joe Jonas, Reunites With Taylor Swift Julia Fox Did Not Sign NDA Despite their separation, she continued to venerate West's artistic aptitude and refused to let his "bad moments" define him. Fox described her straightforward approach to writing her memoir about her time with West. Although she did not execute a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), she stated, "On principle, I will not sign a f****** NDA. I have never done so, nor will I ever do so, although she may contemplate it for professional opportunities." Fox also alluded to potential ramifications deriving from her association with the controversial celebrity, who faced censure and brand cancellations in response to his anti-Semitic remarks. She said, "I know I've turned down certain opportunities because of my relationship with Kanye. It's somewhat bizarre." Julia Fox emphasized that despite the media attention surrounding her relationship with West, the relationship was not as significant as it appeared to outsiders. She said, "It wasn't that big of a deal, but other people made it such a big deal." Since breaking up with West, Fox has taken a hiatus from dating and openly confessed she no longer sees the point. Her primary concern is her 2-year-old son, Valentino, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Peter Artemiev. "All the validation I could ever receive comes from my son - the affection, the proximity, and the intimacy. We share a bed at night. I possess all of it. She revealed that she would not want anyone to step in and steal her attention or time away from her son". The forthcoming publication of Julia Fox's "Down the Drain" memoir promises readers a forthright look at her whirlwind romance with Kanye West and life beyond the media spotlight, MENZ MAG Reported. Related Article: Celebrities React to Gaza's Attack on Israel @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Students rehearse for the East Carolina University School of Theatre and Dances 2023 Fall Dance Concert. (ECU photos by Rhett Butler This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Meaghan Skelly The East Carolina University School of Theatre and Dance opens its doors this week for the Loessin Playhouse season opener, the 2023 Fall Dance Concert.The collaborative performance will span many genres including a historical reconstruction of Marius Petipas' famous balletcontemporary dance and more.said Jayme Klinger Host, director of the School of Theater and Dance and producing artistic director for Loessin Playhouse.Each year, theatre and dance students have the opportunity to apply to be the student choreographer for the fall dance production. This application is a rigorous process that includes presenting past choreography material and detailing a concept that would be included in the show if selected.This year's student choreographer, Kyleigh Burton, has designed a piece titledBurton said.Before being selected as the student choreographer, Burton struggled with self-doubt in her choreography skill.Burton said.A unique element that has been incorporated this year is the addition of set pieces for some of the performances.Host said.Additionally, the Playhouse has partnered with the Greenville Civic Ballet to borrow costume pieces.Host said.This event is the kickoff for a packed 67th season of ECU's Loessin Playhouse. Later this year, students and faculty will presentby William Shakespeare and the Broadway musicalamong others.Host said.The Fall Dance Concert 2023 will be performed in McGinnis Theatre Sept. 27 to Oct. 1. To see show times and purchase tickets, visit the School of Theatre and Dance website. Select Playhouse performances will be live streamed this year, including the dance concert Sept. 29-30, and can be purchased here A new VinFast earnings report shows the electric car company slated to receive the largest taxpayer subsidy in North Carolina history lost $623 million this summer, with net losses now eclipsing $5 billion since 2021. The earnings report released Thursday shows VinFasts revenue swelled 3.8% from the second quarter to $342.7 million, as net losses continued to rise by 20% to $622.9 million, putting the company on track to post its biggest yearly loss in the last three years. Thursdays report follows a groundbreaking in late July at the companys first facility outside of Vietnam in Chatham County, where VinFast is expected to start production by 2025 after postponing the launch by a year. The $4 billion facility is funded in part by taxpayers to lead the EV revolution through a state incentive package that could reach $854 million over 32 years if the company achieves its investment and hiring goals, which include 7,500 jobs at the plant by 2027. Chatham County is expected to contribute another roughly $400 million. https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/recipient-largest-state-subsidy-posts-623m-loss-most-three-years Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health will undergo an investigation from a U.S. Senate committee, which will be led by Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, according to an Oct. 4 report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The investigation centers around Bon Secours' use of the government's 340B program, which allows hospitals to buy drugs at steep discounts. It was intended to help hospitals that serve underinsured patients but has now become controversial. Bon Secours has several affiliates in the Ohio and Virginia region, including several planned ASCs and an ongoing partnership with Compass Surgical Partners. Federal audits and watchdog groups have found that some hospital networks use the 340B program to buy drugs cheaply and sell them at a much higher profit. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions' investigation cites reports about Richmond (Va.) Community Hospital, which faced scrutiny from The New York Times last year for its profitability despite a lack of services. Some physicians quoted in The New York Times referred to the Bon Secours hospital as a "glorified emergency room" and as a "money-laundering operation" for Bon Secours' "wealthier outposts," according to the Richmond Times. According to the report, Bon Secours was able to buy cancer drugs through the 340B program and resell them at seven times the purchase price. The probe does not require Bon Secours to produce any records, but the Senate committee has subpoena power that can be used to compel record production or witness testimony. The investigation will also probe Cleveland Clinic's participation in the 340B program. Sean Falzarano, a registered nurse in Southbury, Conn., was charged with five counts of tampering with a consumer product. The indictment alleges that on Jan. 31, 2022, Mr. Falzarano, 37, took five vials of lorazepam solution he knew was intended to be distributed to patients, removed the medication solution from the vials, replaced it with saline and returned the vials to be used in medical procedures, according to an Oct. 6 news release from the Justice Department. Mr. Falzarano pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr. Falzarnao's nursing license is currently suspended. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum imprisonment of 10 years, according to the release. Torrance (Calif.) Memorial Medical Center's longtime CEO, Craig Leach, is retiring after 39 years with the system. On Nov. 1, Keith Hobbs, who joined the hospital's administration in February, will take over the role as CEO, according to an Oct. 9 report from the Los Angeles Business Journal. Under Mr. Hobbs' leadership, the system plans to move forward with the development of a new ASC with overnight stay capabilities and with plans to become a teaching hospital, according to the report. Mr. Leach plans to stay on the board at Torrance and Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai Health System, which has an affiliation with Torrance Memorial. The United Auto Workers (UAW) said that union members at Volvo Group subsidiary Mack Trucks went on strike on Monday morning, October 9, after decisively rejecting a proposed five-year contract deal. The UAW said that 4,000 employees in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland voted against the proposal. This year, unions in the auto, shipping, and healthcare sectors have utilized labor strikes to catch employers off guard during contract negotiations. Statistics reveal that the majority of Americans agree with the unions' demands. Expanded UAW Strikes As of September 15, the UAW strike against the Detroit Three automakers has been ongoing. There are around 25,000 striking UAW members at General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler parent Stellantis. In a report by Reuters, the intended Mack contract would have given workers a 19% raise, a $3,500 ratification bonus, better retirement benefits, more vacation time, and a shorter time to reach their maximum salary. Late on Sunday, October 8, UAW President Shawn Fain remarked, "I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it." After Mack employees rejected the offer, the UAW served a strike notice on the corporation, citing "many topics" as the reason for the upcoming walkout. These topics include pay raises, cost-of-living adjustments, job security, and promotions. See Also: President Joe Biden Visits UAW Picket Line in Michigan, Showing Support for Striking Workers 'Surprised and Disappointed' Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy expressed surprise and disappointment at the UAW's decision to strike, claiming that it was needless. "We clearly demonstrated our commitment to good faith bargaining by arriving at a tentative agreement that was endorsed by both the International UAW and the UAW Mack Truck Council." The UAW said that it will get back in touch with Mack to schedule new negotiation dates. Mack said it was dedicated to the collective bargaining process and was still optimistic a deal could be reached. In a letter to Mack, the UAW stated, "UAW members and workers across the economy are mobilizing to demand their fair share. The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but clearly, we are not there yet." The Mack truck company was acquired by Volvo in the year 2000, and is now one of the leading producers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks in North America. According to Roy, Mack is a member of the only heavy-truck manufacturing company that builds its vehicles and engines entirely in the USA. With negotiations progressing, including Ford increasing its proposed salary raise to 23% until early 2028, union president Fain said last week that the Detroit Three strikes would not be expanded. Workers might see wage rises of nearly 30% after suggested cost-of-living adjustments are factored in, according to those with knowledge of the idea. See Also: UAW's Next Step is the 'More Nuclear Option,' Claims Top Analyst @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two months after wildfires devastated parts of Maui, Hawaii's health department is conducting a needs assessment to understand where healthcare gaps may exist after the fire upended resources and destroyed some care facilities. Following the fire, the Maui District Health Office opened a clinic in West Maui that offered general health services including wound care, pharmacy and prescriptions needs and mental health services. Additionally, the Hawaii health department's assessment will determine what additional resources residents may need as the island begins repairs. "The information collected will be used to direct state and federal resources to meet the immediate and medium-term needs of Maui residents as well as to link participating households to any additional services they might need and have not been able to access," Sarah Kemble, MD, epidemiologist for Hawaii said in an Oct. 9 statement. While seasonal cases of respiratory syncytial virus are not as high nationwide as they were during this same time in 2022, cases are still rising, and hospitals in Atlanta and Miami are reporting an increase in hospital admissions for it. Flu is also on the rise according to CDC data. RSV cases are increasing the most in Southern states, CDC data shows, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution and WSVN both report a rise in RSV patient admissions in Georgia and Florida. Holtz Childrens Hospital in Miami has seen a "a five-fold increase for influenza and a twofold increase for RSV," Barry Gelman, MD, chief medical officer for the hospital told WSVN. Although cases are increasing, Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta's Chief Medical Officer James Fortenberry, MD, said the swell of RSV, flu and COVID-19 do not appear to be trending toward serious overlap this year, which allows more time for individuals to get vaccinated against the three, the Atlanta Journal Courier reported. CDC data also shows that influenza A and influenza B are co-circulating something that experts previously told Becker's can signal a more severe flu season. As of Oct. 2, the flu positivity rate nationwide was 1percent, the CDC reported. Children's hospital leaders have also warned that any slight increase in hospitalizations for pediatric patients, a group particularly vulnerable to both viruses, could quickly lead to bottlenecks and capacity strains. Several health systems have faced financial repercussions due to data breaches and cyberattacks. Here is how much three health systems are paying to dispute them: Marietta (Ohio) Health, which operates as Memorial Health System, has agreed to pay $1.75 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the health system failed to protect patients' health information during a 2021 data breach. Seymour, Ind.-based Schneck Medical Center has reached a $250,000 agreement with Indiana after the state filed a lawsuit against the health system for a 2021 cyberattack. Knoxville-based East Tennessee Children's Hospital agreed to pay $1.55 million to resolve claims that it failed to protect patient information in a March 2022 data breach. The lawsuit settlements come as Bloomberg Law reported that the monthly average of class-action lawsuits filed over health data breaches has nearly doubled since 2022. Dollar General is setting out to close a gap in rural healthcare delivery with mobile clinics in store parking lots, an offering that raises questions for some and elicits praise from others. In January, Dollar General rolled out mobile clinics in three Tennessee locations for preventive care, urgent care and chronic condition management services in partnership with DocGo On-Demand. The pilot is part of Dollar General's health initiative, dubbed DG Wellbeing, and accepts Medicaid/TennCare, Medicare and certain plans under major health insurers, with flat rates starting at $69 for those without insurance. In July, the chief rural care correspondent for KFF Health News visited one of the three mobile health sites in Tennessee, noting that many customers pass over the clinic despite its location in a federally designated primary care shortage area. So far, approximately 1,000 patients have been seen in the clinics at Dollar General sites or community events. One small business manager 10 miles out from a Dollar General mobile clinic site told KFF that the retailer and healthcare don't go together. "I wouldn't want to go to a health care clinic in a parking lot; that's just me," Michelle Green said. All mobile clinic visits are overseen by a licensed nurse practitioner, physician's assistant or physician. One family medicine physician, Brent Staton, MD, told KFF that he thinks Dollar General is underestimating the magnitude of healthcare delivery. "Honestly, they don't really grasp, I don't think, what they're getting into," Dr. Staton, who heads accountable care organization Cumberland Center for Healthcare Innovation, told KFF. While some community members may be concerned about the legitimacy of receiving medical care in a parking lot, KFF also shared voices of support and satisfaction with Dollar General's "little clinic on wheels," as one resident put it. It spares area residents from traveling and traffic, one resident said. Another 80-year-old community member said he was pleased with how one of the mobile clinics directed him to take his wife, experiencing breathing difficulty, to the local emergency department after taking her blood pressure, free of charge. Read KFF's reporting on the early results of Dollar General's mobile clinic pilot here. The mayor of Atlanta is looking to extend the city's redevelopment ban on the shuttered Atlanta Medical Center through April 2024, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Oct. 6. If the Atlanta City Council approves the extension, it will be the third ban placed by Mayor Andre Dickens to prevent redevelopment of the 460-bed hospital site. Owner Wellstar Health System will have another six-month hiatus with the property; Atlanta Medical Center closed Nov. 1, 2022. Under the ban, Atlanta's planning department must refuse any applications for rezoning, building permits, land disturbances, special administrative permits, subdivisions, or other land changes for 15 parcels of land that were part of the AMC campus. City leaders have said that the ban gives the community more time to address the hospital's sudden sudden closure. Wellstar's hospital closure plans were first reported Aug. 31, 2022, with the news eliciting surprise and backlash from community members, politicians and AMC employees. Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar had operated Atlanta Medical Center since 2016. It attributed the closure to AMC's finances and infrastructure, noting it lost $107 million the year prior, and said closure was decided on after an "exhaustive search" for partners. The mayor's executive order to extend the ban will stay in effect until the City Council votes on the measure; the next council meeting is Oct. 16, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. St. Louis-based Mercy has created a new regional presidency to guide its recent efforts in Southeastern Missouri. In August, Mercy signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cape Girardeau, Mo.-based SoutheastHealth, which has two hospitals in the Southeastern region of the state. The transaction is still pending regulatory and third-party approvals. Mercy also recently began operating Mercy Hospital Perry in Perryville, Mo. formerly Perry County Health System under a lease agreement. Given the system's growing footprint in the area, Eric Ammons will become the regional president for Mercy in the Southeast, according to an Oct. 5 news release from the health system. Mr. Ammons has been with the health system for more than 33 years, serving the past 10 as president of Mercy's Jefferson communities. Dan Eckenfels, Mercy Jefferson's vice president of finance and chief administrative officer, will succeed him. Patient advocacy organizations have accused VA Loma Linda (Calif.) Health Care System of violating patient civil liberties by placing some veterans on involuntary psychiatric holds as a precondition for their transportation to a hospital, the Press-Telegram reported Oct. 8. An Aug. 28, 2022, email discussing the policy stated that veterans arriving at the ambulatory care center for voluntary hospitalization should be placed on a 5150 hold involuntary hold to ensure they are transported safely by ambulance to the emergency department for evaluation. "If you are transporting a veteran without a hold either using VA staffed transportation methods or ambulance, the veteran can request to leave at any moment," VA Loma Linda Associate Chief of Staff Michael Potoczniak, PhD, wrote in the email. "If you would be concerned about the patient if they did not arrive at the agreed upon location (the Emergency Department or a community psychiatric facility), the safest method is to place the hold for the purposes of transport." It is illegal to use a 5150 hold for anything other than evaluation, assessment and crisis intervention for individuals deemed dangerous to others or themselves, or who are unable to provide the basic needs or unwilling or unable to accept voluntary treatment, Rebecca Basson, lead patients rights attorney for the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, told the news outlet. One mental health provider who asked not to be identified added that "a 5150 can't be used as a transportation voucher." Anthony Hwang, PhD, the hospital's behavioral health inpatient supervisor, said in a memo obtained by the Press-Telegram that "true" voluntary admissions can be considered, but if there were concerns about a veteran changing their mind about voluntary hospitalization, a 5150 is "absolutely appropriate." "A lot can happen between here and the Emergency Department," Dr. Hwang said. "We have had patients become agitated, exit vehicles unsafely, leave the premises, harm others. If we are unable to safely transport our veterans, we may lose our ability to write 5150s." The U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs is investigating this and other complaints about VA Loma Linda. Union activity has always been prevalent in healthcare. Amid today's industry challenges and after going through a pandemic, however, workers have become especially vocal about issues such as pay, staffing and working conditions. With this in mind, Becker's has put together a collection of information on largest healthcare unions, largest strikes, longest strikes, trends in physician unionization, and trends in union activity. Here are nine things to know about healthcare and unions: 1. SEIU Healthcare, the healthcare arm of the Service Employees International Union, describes itself as the largest healthcare union in North America. The union has more than 1.1 million members in 29 states and two countries, according to its website. 2. National Nurses United describes itself as the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in U.S. history. The union has nearly 225,000 members nationwide, according to its website. 3. A strike by Kaiser Permanente workers in multiple states concluded Oct. 7. More than 75,000 workers began a three-day strike Oct. 4 at Kaiser hospitals and medical office buildings in California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, and a one-day strike in Virginia and the District of Columbia. The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions deemed the strike as the largest healthcare worker strike in the U.S. 4. Nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, Mass., ended a 301-day strike in January 2022. It was the longest nurses' strike in Massachusetts history, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association. The union also described it as the longest nurses' strike the United States had seen in more than 15 years. 5. Unionization is gaining traction among physicians. A number of factors are driving the trend. Physicians are seeking greater investments by hospitals in working conditions, staffing and pay. Hospitals and health systems, meanwhile, emphasize their commitment to quality care and these professionals. They also express their respect for workers' rights, while maintaining their preference to work directly with workers. 6. Among the latest examples of physicians unionizing is at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Ore., where physicians voted to join the Pacific Northwest Hospital Medicine Association, a hospitalists union represented by AFT Healthcare and serviced by the Oregon Nurses Association. Medical residents and fellows at Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham also voted this year to join the Committee of Interns and Residents, a local of the Service Employees International Union. 7. Physicians who are already unionized have also rallied for better pay. This includes resident physicians and fellows who rallied Oct. 4 outside the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. 8. Healthcare workers have increasingly authorized strikes. However, some strikes have been averted after deals are reached. Some of those deals included significant raises. For example, last December, members of the Michigan Nurses Association at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo approved a new three-year contract after authorizing a strike. The contract includes average raises of 20.5 percent in the first year of the contract, resulting in a new wage scale ranging from $33.44 per hour to $48.72 per hour, according to a union news release. 9. Overall, the Ithaca, N.Y.-based Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations' labor action tracker shows 104 strikes involving workers in the healthcare and social assistance sector since January 2021. This includes 39 strikes in 2022, an increase from 33 in 2021. As of Oct. 7, 32 strikes had occurred in the sector this year. HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital has opened a new 3,000-square-foot simulation lab that will help train medical residents from across the globe, WWSB reported. The space features a SimMan simulator, a life-sized manikin equipped with tools such as an electrocardiogram and bronchoscope, according to the Oct. 5 story. "The new concept in medical training is to simulate on a manikin about what could happen in real life in terms of emergencies and scenarios," Michael Schandorf-Lartey, MD, program director of graduate medical education at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, told the news outlet. The simulation lab's first class will include 12 medical residents from all over the world, according to the report. Hospital officials said they hope the center, which opened Oct. 5, will help recruit primary care physicians to Florida's growing Suncoast region. A Connecticut nurse pleaded not guilty to five counts of tampering with an anxiety medication meant for patients. Sean Falzarano, RN, allegedly took five vials of lorazepam on Jan. 31, 2022, that was intended to be dispensed to patients, removed the medication, replaced it with saline and returned the adulterated vials for use in medical procedures, according to a Oct. 6 Justice Department news release. He was indicted on five counts of tampering with a consumer product. Mr. Falzarano pleaded not guilty to the charges. His nursing license is currently suspended. Amazon, anticipating a surge in demand just before Christmas, plans to increase compensation for its operations employees in the United Kingdom and hire an additional 15,000 individuals. Preparations Ahead of Holidays Frontline operations employees--those who select, pack, store, and transport products in the business' warehouses--will get a basic pay raise to between 11.80 ($14.39) and 12.50 (depending on region) per hour, the company said on Monday, October 9. The raise goes into effect on October 15 for all employees, whether they are full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal. Amazon has promised to raise its employees' hourly wage to between 12.30 ($15.01) and 13 ($15.87) by April 2024. This range will depend on the employee's area. While this is going on, Amazon has announced that it will be hiring over 15,000 new seasonal employees at its various locations around the UK. Apparently, this implies a pay investment of $170 million for the company. The e-commerce firm also notes that this will result in a 20% boost in basic pay for its UK businesses in only two years and a 50% increase since 2018. John Boumphrey, Amazon's country manager in the UK, stated, "We have some of the most talented colleagues around, and we're proud to offer them competitive wages and benefits, as well as fantastic opportunities for career development, all in a safe and modern work environment." However, according to CNBC, the GMB Union issued a statement on Monday saying the news will provide "little comfort" to Amazon employees who already endure low wages, hazardous working conditions, and constant monitoring of their every move. Rachel Fagan, a GMB organizer, said in a statement released, "Amazon has spent millions fighting their own workers over union rights and fair pay. GMB members have forced a pay rise from one of the world's most powerful corporations - but Amazon can and must do better." See Also: Amazon Bets Big on AI With $4 Billion Investment in Anthropic To Inspire Global Unionization Wave Amazon is attempting to satisfy warehouse employees who have been protesting about low pay and unsafe working conditions. Workers at Amazon's fulfillment facility in Coventry organized the first lawful UK walkout at the firm in January. Together with GMB Union, they put in a proposal to have the company's first union in the UK be recognized by the law. This comes at a time when unionization efforts among Amazon employees are on the rise. The first organized strike in the UK occurred in January at an Amazon facility in the city of Coventry. Employees feel they have not gotten sufficient compensation increases. The workers have asked for union status so that they may all negotiate pay with Amazon. However, earlier this year, the unionization efforts of Amazon employees were given a setback when an independent arbitration commission agreed with Amazon and concluded that the workers lacked the necessary support to attain union status. See Also: Amazon's Cost-Cutting Efforts Include Removal of In-House Private Label Brands @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Northern Irelands economic malaise has continued into the autumn with one of UKs steepest falls in business activity, a key survey has said. The Ulster Bank purchasing managers index (PMI) said the private sector here remained in the doldrums in September, with a fall in both output and new orders. It was the third month in a row of decline. However, employment continued to increase, in contrast with the UK-wide trend. Along with Scotland, Northern Ireland was one of two UK regions where employment had gone up. And although input costs and output prices were still going up, it was at a much weaker rate than over the past three years. Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey said: Northern Irelands economic malaise during the summer months continued into the autumn with a further loss of momentum in the local private sector during September. Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey Whilst all but one of the UK regions saw a similar trend of falling output, Northern Ireland was near the bottom of the table with only the North East and Yorkshire & Humberside experiencing sharper rates of decline. New orders for Northern Ireland companies shrank for the fourth month in a row, and all sectors covered in the PMI construction, retail, services and manufacturing reported a decline. But Mr Ramsey said the pace of contraction during September was steepest for the construction industry, with its biggest monthly decline in orders this year. Yet despite Septembers negative indicators, the outlook for the future was positive across all sectors except construction, the survey found. Mr Ramsey said: Despite the recent fall in customer demand, manufacturers, retailers and firms within the services sector remain more optimistic about prospects in 12 months time. Conversely, construction firms are expecting demand conditions to deteriorate further over the year. But there were bright spots. On a positive note, the one silver lining with the weakening demand cloud is that supply chain delivery times eased for the sixth month running. Employment also remains a bright spot, with Northern Ireland firms continuing to increase their staffing levels at the fastest pace in the UK. However, the pace of hiring is now the slowest it has been this year. And he said that the services sector which covers businesses from estate agents to restaurants had seen its staffing levels fall at the fastest rate since February 2021 during September. Higher fuel and wage costs were once again cited by local firms, Mr Ramsey said. Manufacturing was the only sector to reduce its prices in September, for the fourth month running, reflecting a continuing reduction in its cost-base. While we may be anticipating an Indian Summer in the coming weeks weather-wise, a similar improvement in business conditions during October doesnt look likely. The award-winning musical Les Miserables is set to come to Belfast for the very first time as part of a mammoth arena tour. The iconic show which features songs such as One Day More and I Dreamed a Dream will be performed at the SSE Arena next September. Les Miserables is one of the worlds most famous musicals and follows several different tales against the backdrop of the French revolution. Based on Victor Hugos novel of the same name, the show is also one of the longest running West End and Broadway shows of all time. The stage shows have attracted famous faces in some of the musicals roles including Matt Lucas and Nick Jonas. An Oscar-winning film version of the musical was also released in 2012 and starred Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne. The new world tour begins as the stage musical enters its 39th revolutionary year and will run throughout the upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations in 2025. After shows in the UK, Europe, Asia and Australia, the tour is planned to head to North and South America. The staged show has played for over 200 record-breaking performances in the West End and the upcoming tour will feature a new design specifically created for arenas and large theatres with audiences of between 3,000 and 5,000 people. The production will have a UK company of over 110 actors, musicians and crew featuring a core cast with a great number of celebrated Les Mis guest stars appearing as their schedules allow. In a statement, famed theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh said: Im thrilled to announce the initial venues where this spectacular production of Les Miserables will run. "This much anticipated world tour will be a unique opportunity for many celebrated performers to play their favourite roles for short periods in different parts of the world, so fans will get the chance to see their favourite stars (and mine!) in their favourite musical. Les Miserables will run in Belfast from 19 September until 28 September 2024. Tickets go on sale this Thursday at 10 am from the SSE Arena. The Edge has been spotted sporting another custom jacket made by NIs Sara ONeill for U2s residency in Las Vegas. In a video shared to X (formerly Twitter), Ms ONeill celebrated the rock star donning a new design from her during the Irish bands performance in The Sphere, a new $2.3bn venue in located in Sin City designed to look like a planet and offering interactive shows. "So theres a second jacket for Edge, I just didnt want to talk about it before it was worn for fear of being a scud, wrote Ms ONeill on X. So here it is, 2 weeks & 5000 miles apart. The art & the artist. The new jacket features studded arms and lapels, alongside a stylised design of the Las Vegas skyline on the back. U2 are currently performing a three-month residency of shows titled U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere in Las Vegas. Ms ONeill is a textile designer and artist who has Belfast roots, but now lives in Castlerock, where she takes plenty of inspiration for her illustrations and fashion. Earlier this month, she revealed that she had designed a rock star jacket on the north coast, for the bright lights of Las Vegas. Its currently unknown if The Edge will be donning a new jacket every few shows, but there may be more work for Ms ONeill as the rock star recently hinted that U2 may extend their string of gigs. In an interview with Wired magazine, he praised the reception of the bands performances in the new Las Vegas venue, which was critically acclaimed and has been attended by A-listers like Oprah and Paul McCartney. "We always thought in the back of our mind that we might do some additional shows next year, he said when asked if rumours of an extension were true. "But we havent even started the discussion. It does seem to have gone down extremely well, so hopefully therell be some demand. "Theres this kind of balance between keeping this show going, which is, in many ways, a one-off to commemorate Achtung Baby. So were weighing whether to push forward with a new album, new material, and a new tour versus extending this run. Last week Bono said U2s futuristic new shows are all about trying to make a connection with our audience and trying to make the worst seat in the house the best seat in the house. He said the technology is so impressive it can bring you to any time and place and make you feel like youre there. Its a science project in service to art. Nikita Kanda has said she feels emotional after being eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing but feels she gave it everything. The BBC Asian Network presenter became the second celebrity to leave the latest series after she landed in the dreaded dance-off against Zara McDermott on Sundays show. The 28-year-old faced elimination for the second consecutive week on the BBC show after scoring 21 with her movie week jive, which channelled 90s film Clueless. Speaking about leaving the competition on Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, Kanda said: I feel quite emotional, this has been an emotional journey. Its been so fun but Im just really sad that our time got cut short. She revealed her professional partner Gorka Marquez had warned her that the show would bring the emotions out of her as she praised him. It was so special and I just had the best time with you. I honestly couldnt have had a better partner, it was just amazing All the laughs, all the fun, you just made it amazing for me. For her performance on Saturday, she dressed as Cher Horowitz from the 1995 coming-of-age film Clueless as they jived to Kids In America by Kim Wilde. Kanda said she had so much fun with the dance even though she had a foot injury. I just wanted to give it 100% because thats what youre there to do, youve got to give it everything and I feel like thats what we did and we had a blast, she added. Im just really sad that we werent in training today. It felt really weird going back to radio and then not meeting him after (for) training. Marquez also praised the radio host, recalling how he had never laughed so much and described her as a beautiful human. The Spanish dancer added: I think on Saturday night she delivered the best she (had) ever done in the whole week. But I know the jive is a fast dance and a lot of technical aspects, and for someone, like we always said, she never danced before, its difficult after two weeks dancing to go into a jive. During Saturdays show, comedian Eddie Kadi and his professional partner Karen Hauer scored the first 10 of the series with their couples choice performance to Men In Black. The pair were beaten to the top spot on the leaderboard by just one point after Irish TV presenter Angela Scanlon and her professional partner Carlos Gu scored 35 for their Charleston from the film Damn Yankees, while Scanlons parents watched from the audience for the first time. Strictly Come Dancing will continue on Saturday. Lady Mary Peters received a death threat in Munich, but she says her worst experience of the Troubles was when three off-duty soldiers were murdered and a fourth seriously injured in a flat next door to her home in north Belfast. A sex worker was allegedly imprisoned by a customer at gunpoint and told she was going to die alongside him, the High Court heard today. Prosecutors claimed Thomas Morgan, 47, informed her that she could only leave if she agreed to shoot him. The woman only escaped from the house in the greater Belfast area when her suspected captor fell asleep during an ordeal lasting up to three days, a judge was told. Morgan, of Walnut Green in Larne, Co Antrim, faces charges of possessing a firearm, false imprisonment, common assault, paying for sexual services, possessing cocaine, threats to kill, theft, and having offensive weapons with intent. The alleged offences were committed over a period between December 14-16 last year. A Crown lawyer said the woman used WhatsApp to arrange a five-hour meeting for a 1,000 fee. She claimed that when she arrived at the property her customer showed some cash and promised to make payment soon. Later, amid concerns that no money would be handed over, a request to leave the house was refused. She wasnt allowed to phone her children and threatened with having her legs broken, the court heard. At one stage the customer allegedly stated: You are going to die in this house with me. Counsel submitted that when the woman tried to get up from a sofa she was head-butted back down, and then threatened with a knife, hammer and broken bottle. She was taken to a utility room where the man produced a firearm and asked if she would shoot him in the head, according to her account. He said she could only leave if she shot him, the prosecutor added. During the alleged period of captivity no proper food or drink were provided. The woman claimed that she eventually managed to escape out of a window after he took pills and fell asleep, leaving behind her handbag containing hundreds of pounds in cash. Based on a description she provided and inquiries into the leasing of the property, a number of attempts were made to locate Morgan. Police arrested him at a Premier Inn on Queens Road in Belfast on January 10 this year. A search of his hotel room uncovered 20 small deal bags containing suspected cocaine, the court heard. He accepted during interviews that he was intending to sell the drugs to pay for his hotel stay, counsel disclosed. Morgan, who faces a further charge of possessing cocaine with intent to supply over that seizure, denies imprisoning the sex worker or subjecting her to any threats. Despite allegedly offering her 5,000 to stay the entire weekend, he never intended to make a payment and insisted she was free to leave at any stage. As Morgan mounted an application for bail, his lawyer acknowledged it was a bizarre case. Barrister Richard McConkey argued that his client should be released from custody due to the level of delay in proceedings reaching any trial. Adjourning the application, Lord Justice McCloskey requested further medical reports before reaching a decision. The Southern Trust has apologised to women affected. Over 17,000 women are to have their smear tests re-checked following a review of a screening results process dating back to 2008. In a statement, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust said it launched a precautionary review of the results of some women who had cervical smears analysed by the Trust between 1 January 2008 and October 2021. It has apologised to women affected. The review follows a notification from senior laboratory staff who alerted the Trusts management team that they had concerns about performance in some steps of their laboratorys screening system. The Trust then commissioned the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath Consulting) to undertake an independent assessment of its cervical screening services from 1 January 2008 and October 2021. This report which was published today found that while the majority of negative results issued by the laboratory were correct, a significant number of women are likely to have had negative screening results from the Southern Trust laboratory which would have been identified as potentially abnormal by other laboratories. The health body has said the purpose of the review is to look again for abnormalities to double check that the correct information was provided. Those affected will start to receive letters notifying them from Tuesday, according to the Trust, and there is no need to contact your GP. According to the BBC, some of these women will be recalled to have new smear tests carried out. A cervical screening, also known as a smear test, is a test to check the health of the cervix and help prevent cervical cancer. It's offered to women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 64. It is not a diagnostic test, instead it collects a sample of cells that are checked for pre-cancerous changes which can then be treated, therefore avoiding the changes going onto become cancerous. Dr Stephen Austin, Medical Director for the Southern Trust, apologised for the oversight and in a statement said the Trust working to improve the service. This report has identified performance issues in our laboratory and we have been working with colleagues in the Public Health Agency (PHA) on a series of actions to improve both service provision and oversight, he said. The Southern Trust is very conscious of the anxiety this report may cause to women. As Medical Director, I apologise on behalf of the Trust for what has happened. Today we are issuing personal letters to all of the women potentially affected. The vast majority of women screened by the Southern Trust over this period will be unaffected and therefore if you do not receive a letter from us, your records have not been identified as needing review." Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, also urged women who are invited for cervical screening to attend their appointment as normal. Cervical screening has proven to be very effective at detecting early abnormalities which, when treated, can prevent cancer and save lives. It will continue to do so if those who are eligible attend for screening when invited. A cancer could also develop between screening tests, or there is a small chance that the test misses some changes to your cervix. No matter what age you are, if you are concerned about symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, or pain or discomfort in the lower pelvis, you should seek advice from your GP, even if you attend regularly for screening. Alliance Party Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw also encouraged women affected to attend their new appointment if contacted. The South Belfast MLA said: I would encourage anybody who receives a recall letter to follow the guidance enclosed and to attend their new appointment. This will undoubtedly cause a great deal of stress and anxiety to anybody who receives a letter, but any questions can be answered from the Southern Trusts dedicated helpline. I will be following up with the Southern Trusts leadership to ensure that a joint-up approach to implementing the recommendations of the report made by the Royal College of Pathologists must be prioritised. We must do all we can to ensure that no failures like this can happen again, and prevent any potential distress to affected service users. DUP MP Carla Lockhart said the report was deeply worrying for women who have been tested over the time period and the Trust has questions to answer. "Cervical screening is absolutely vital for women, and it is important that women have confidence in the screening process, and that test results are accurate, she said. "That confidence has been completely undermined. I have spoken to women impacted by this issue and who raised initial concerns. I subsequently engaged with the Trust to express these concerns and press for this course of action. Therefore this extensive process of re-checking and in some cases re-testing is welcome. "Priority must now be given to those who need a repeat test. The whole purpose of screening is to detect any abnormalities early. Time is now very much of the essence for those women who are in this position. It is essential that the necessary resources are allocated to this re-testing process, and that anxiety and fears can be assuaged with urgency. "The Trust has many questions to answer. The failures outlined by the Royal College of Pathologists are deeply worrying, and will raise questions around how process and staff performance are monitored to ensure the highest standards of clinical practice and patient care. "I would urge any woman with concerns to avail of the dedicated helpline being provided by the Trust. I am also more than happy to talk to anyone impacted by this process. A Freephone Helpline has been set up to answer questions or concerns. The Freephone number is 0800 9520255 and it will be available Monday to Friday from 9.00 am-6.30pm, and from 10.00am 4.00pm on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th October 2023. Belfast is starting to get its old character back, with plans to reopen an historic entry in the city centre. Sugarhouse Entry, which runs parallel to Bridge Street between High Street and Waring Street, has links to one of the most radical periods of the capitals history. It dates back to the 1600s, taking its name from a nearby sugar refinery, but is best known for links to the Society of United Irishmen, a group led by Wolfe Tone inspired by the French revolution, who wanted to overthrow British rule. The group is noted for the involvement of many prominent Presbyterians such as Henry Joy McCracken, who went on to be executed for his role in a failed rising attempt in 1798. In the 20th century, Sugarhouse Entry went on to be extensively damaged by Nazi bombers during the Second World War. Historian Sean Napier from 1798 Walking Tour, at Sugarhouse Entry off Waring Street in Belfast It was closed to the public in 1972 as part of a number of security measures. But now work is underway to reopen it for the public for the first time in 50 years. Sean Napier, a historian who is involved with the 1798 Belfast and Dublin Walking Tours, hailed a cultural renaissance. I think its great because those alley ways are starting to come to life, when I was a student no-one went down them, but now, look at Joys Entry, the Winetavern Entry, Belfast is getting its old character back again from what it used to be like before the 1970s, he said. Back in the 1700s and 1800s, people lived down those entries. There were whole communities down there and businesses, but commercialism drove them all out and all the money went to the front, and alley ways left alone. People talk about the jewel in the crown, well this is the dagger in the crown because its where all the radical Presbyterians met, the breathing beating heart of republicanism in its Presbyterian form. Samuel Neilson, one of Wolf Tones best friends and the number one rebel, lived there. I think there is a renaissance going on in the city to fall in love with it again, a cultural revival in the Presbyterians and what they were all about, because they are forgotten about, and these people were the people who built Belfast, like Mary-Ann McCracken. Mr Napier said the most famously radical of all the drinking establishments in Belfast of the 1790s, Peggy Barclays Benjamin Franklins Tavern was located in Sugarhouse Entry. Sugarhouse Entry The historical significance is very important, probably the only documented place in Belfast entries, its been written about for hundreds of years, he said. Peggys tavern was a famous place where the United Irishmen all used to meet. Its a sign of something bigger and better to come, tearing down the old metal ring of steel looking to a more positive future where Belfast is slowly but surely coming back into its own. You could be bringing hundreds of people down it every day to tell them the stories of what happened. Its very positive, Belfast City Council and the Department for Communities have been very good on this. A Belfast City Council spokesperson said the work is part of its Belfast Entries Project, focused on improving entries in the city. They said it is due to be completed in the coming weeks. This entry will complement new artwork, lighting and signage recently introduced through the 5Cs project with the Department for Communities, promote the heritage and culture of the entry and contribute to the aims of A Bolder Vision, the shared approach to help create a more attractive, accessible and vibrant city, they added. Raychel Ferguson who died of hyponatraemia in 2001 (PA) A coroner is set to consider his findings after an inquest into the death of a young girl following an appendix operation in 2001. Raychel Ferguson, nine, from Coshquin, Co Londonderry, died a day after the procedure in 2001. She was one of five children whose hospital treatment was examined in the long-running Hyponatraemia Inquiry. The inquiry concluded that Raychels death could have been avoided. An inquest into her death was ordered in January 2022 by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland Brenda King. On Monday, in what is expected to be one of the final hearings of the inquest being heard by Coroner Joe McCrisken, Belfast Coroners Court heard the findings would be issued within the next four to six weeks. Mr McCrisken asked for final comments from the interested parties. John Coyle, representing the Ferguson family, said the case is not mere negligence. It isnt mere inadvertence or a one-off mistake or carelessness on the part of a tired nurse or clinician it is utter systemic failure, he said. This was preventable, it was preventable if there had been the correct dissemination of timely information that was known. Michael Kelly outside the Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter in Tabgha, Israel The leader of an Irish pilgrimage to the Middle East who crossed the border into Israel from Bethlehem on Sunday morning has said that the atmosphere at the checkpoint has never felt as tense in his two decades of visits. Almost 1,000 people have been killed after Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, launched an unprecedented assault into Israel territory. Israel retaliated and reduced buildings in Gaza City to rubble. Co Tyrone man Michael Kelly is editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper and has led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land for the past 15 years, writing a book on the subject. He is currently in the north of Israel on his way to Nazareth with 52 other pilgrims from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. We were on the outskirts of Jerusalem when everything kicked off on Saturday, he told the Belfast Telegraph. The atmosphere got very tense very quickly when Israel decided to call up their reserve army, so we saw lots of civilians getting out of their cars with weapons. We gathered the pilgrims together and moved them back to Bethlehem, back to the West Bank. We checked with the pilgrims before continuing and they were comfortable doing so but it was a very long checkpoint on Sunday leaving Bethlehem; there are usually more than a dozen, but it was reduced to just one, he added. The atmosphere was extremely tense and theres noticeably a lot of military vehicles moving around the highways. Speaking to local people there is a huge sense of fear and uncertainty that they really dont know what is going to happen next. In nearly 20 years travelling here I have never witnessed anything more intense than this; civilians are clearly nervous and frightened because of the number of people who have been kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow Michael and the pilgrims are now 150 miles away from the conflict in Gaza and wanted to reassure those at home that they are safe, but he likened the atmosphere to that of being in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. In coming somewhere like this it is kind of like other people travelling to Northern Ireland during the Troubles, theres always something going on in the background, he explained. The mood music in the Holy Land changes a lot and you just need to be aware of that and the political instability and the tension, but I have never felt anything as intense as today. He added that local people both Israeli and Palestinian are feeling stunned into silence at the recent attacks. The area we are in at the minute, a lot of people work in the tourism industry and this is the last thing they need for people to be scared of visiting, he told this newspaper. Our bus driver, for example, is Palestinian and he is horrified at what has happened, he doesnt see the recent attacks as anything to celebrate. So, the idea that Palestinians are supportive of the Hamas strikes in some kind of misguided sense of supporting the Palestinian cause is intensely disappointing. I have been coming here a long time and am pretty familiar with both sides of the conflict and my opinion is that the only thing outsiders should do is pray for peace and pray that both sides can get around the table and get a negotiated peace settlement, but outsiders interfering or opinions based on nothing doesnt help anyone here peace is the only thing that benefits everyone. Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) has revealed that Ukrainian special forces made three failed attempts so far to liberate the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which is currently occupied by Russian forces. GUR Chief Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told Ukrainian news outlet NV on Sunday (October 8) that Kyiv's special operation teams carried out the liberation missions, with the first taking place in August 2022. The plant - the largest in Europe - has been under Russian control since its invasion of Ukraine began, making it one of the first sites seized by Russian forces. Its six reactors are currently in shutdown mode and its one remaining power line is supplying the electricity needed to prevent a reactor meltdown, Newsweek reported. When the plant was seized by the Russians in March 2022, concerns were rampant about a potential nuclear catastrophe similar to what happened in Chernobyl in 1986, especially with the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam last June, which drained the reservoir that provided water to cool its reactors. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in March that holding a nuclear power plant "hostage" for over a year was "surely the worst thing that has ever happened in the history of European or worldwide nuclear power." Read Also: North Korea- Russia Rail Traffic Suggests Arms Deal to Moscow as Carriages More Than Triple Budanov: ZNPP Missions Crucial in Crimea Landings Ukrainian forces were forced to retreat during an August 2022 attempt to create a bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnipro River that would have paved the way to liberate the plant, Budanov said. Two other attempts were made, but both failed. "But as the GUR gained experience in landing operations, the Russians in the area became more and more prepared," he added. "And at the moment of the third landing operation, they deployed heavy military hardware, including tanks." Despite this, Budanov said the operation provided practical skills for everyone involved in the three operations on how to operate on the water, which proved to be effective in Ukraine's latest incursion in Crimea. An estimated 500 to 600 Russian troops are stationed at the plant. Related Article: Is China Bigger Threat Than Russia? US Republicans Say Yes @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday and (inset) Gerry Carroll, whose social media post was criticised by leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Doug Beattie. (AP Photo/Ramez Mahmoud ) People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has defended his decision to tweet support for Palestinian militants amid ongoing violence in Israel, despite facing calls for his actions to be investigated. On Saturday, Mr Carroll posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter, Victory to the Palestinian Resistance accompanied by two clenched fist emojis, after a surprise attack by the Hamas militant group left hundreds of civilians dead. The post was criticised by leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Doug Beattie, who said he planned to report Mr Carroll and the comments to the Standards Commissioner. Speaking on BBC Radio Ulsters Talkback today, Mr Carroll said he was horrified at the violence taking place over the weekend but that those living in Palestinian territories were people are living under apartheid conditions, ethnic cleansing, denial of rights, murder, enforced deprivation and children living with no future. I think its important that any right minded person would look at the situation this weekend and be horrified, because violence and war is horrific. Theres an imbalance of violenceits horrific. We need to put this into context and for me, I want to see the apartheid Israeli state taken down and dismantled by mass civil disobedience, he said. Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow During the interview, Mr Carroll also expressed a desire for Israel to be treated like South Africa in the 1980s when the African nation was under apartheid rule and faced international sanctions. Its an apartheid state we have Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, we need to treat it as South Africa in the 1980s was treated and their treatment of black people, I think we should treat the state like that. Thats not to celebrate violence, he said. Any violence over the weekend was horrific, but the media has to have a memory longer than 48 hours long. This violence predates 1948 when the Israeli state was established. This violence goes back to the British mandate where they supported the creation of a state where people already had their homes and land. You have to put it into context, you can be horrified by violence which I am, but also put it into context for the people of Palestine. Mr Carroll said not at all when asked if the use of fist emojis created the impressed he was cheering the violence on. When Palestinians protest peacefully theyre gunned down, when they mobilise to the border peacefully with banners and flags, theyre gunned down. Even when they dont resist, they are murdered and brutalised. "Some people in Gaza draw the conclusion violence needs to met with violence because its the solution Israel understands. Video footage from Israel across the weekend shows drive-by shootings and Palestinian militants and members of Hamas arriving at the doors of Israelis before removing from them their homes. Asked about the footage, and if he would class the acts as terrorism, Mr Carroll said: If you define terror as those who use violence to further their political goal, then Israel is the power example of terrorism. Im not going to sit in Belfast and dictate to those in Gaza how to conduct themselves. Over the weekend, Palestinian militants launched an unprecedented assault into Israeli territory, sending fighters across the border and firing thousands of rockets. More than 500 Israelis have been killed since Saturday, according to local media, and on Monday it was reported that at least 260 bodies were found after attack on an Israeli music festival. According to Israeli officials, 1,590 people have been left injured since the incursion began on Saturday. 232 Palestinians have also been killed in Israeli air attacks on the Gaza Strip according to medical sources. On Monday, Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced he will chair an Cobra emergency meeting amid the violence. 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. 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? Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the Conservative Party Conference they should not be bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be (Danny Lawson/PA) Conservative politicians and sections of the press have given the green light for transgender people to be attacked on the street, a Labour MP has said. Veteran MP Dame Angela Eagle accused Rishi Sunak of gaslighting the public during his leaders speech at the Conservative Party Conference last week, in which he weighed in on debates about transgender rights. During his speech in Manchester, Mr Sunak said: We shouldnt get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be. They cant, a man is a man and a woman is a woman. Thats just common sense. At an event on the fringes of the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Monday, Dame Angela attacked the Prime Ministers comments as farcical. She said: We see this kind of gaslighting whereby those people who are powerful pretend that somehow theyre being bullied by some kind of ideology that none of us have even come across and we know doesnt exist. Dame Angela Eagle criticised the Prime Ministers comments, saying they had given the green light for violence (Andrew Matthews/PA) Dame Angela added: All of this is giving signals to people that LGBT people, particularly trans people, can be attacked in the street. We know that theres been an over 150% increase in the last two or three years in trans hate crimes. Theres been increasing hostility towards LGBT people on our streets during the same time because weve got people in power and their enablers in the print media basically giving the green light to have violence on the streets by saying these people are not legitimate, these people are a danger. Analysis of official figures produced by the charity Stonewall, which jointly hosted Mondays event with LGBT Labour, showed hate crimes targeting transgender people had risen by 186% in the last five years, including an 11% increase in the past year. Hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation have risen 112% in the past five years but decreased by 6% in the past year alone. Conservative frontbenchers have become increasingly outspoken on transgender rights, with multiple cabinet members referring to transgender people in their conference speeches last week, including Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, and Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary. Dame Angela said: We have to stand up and call this out and fight it. You cant sort of get a fanatical view of the world like that, which is deeply problematic, and somehow accommodate it. Youve got to call it out for what it is and youve got to be very, very open and say this is not acceptable. All human beings have the right to be themselves and live in dignity without being worried about whether they are going to be attacked on the street simply for who they are. Foreign Office officials are assessing the situation in Israel and Gaza as the death toll continues to rise, with fierce fighting ongoing in the wake of an attack by Hamas (Hatem Moussa/AP) Foreign Office officials are assessing the situation in Israel and Gaza as the death toll continues to rise, with fierce fighting ongoing in the wake of an attack by Hamas. Among the dead is 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died on the Gaza border on Saturday. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, over two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack. It comes as Israel intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the appalling act of terror by Palestinian militants as the Government continued to establish the status of UK citizens. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington are believed to be missing. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the appalling attack by Hamas (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is understood. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. Mr Young, a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, died after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. His loved ones said they are heartbroken, while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing. Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. It comes as a Government minister warned any potential protesters not to glorify the violence of Hamas. A woman lays flowers in front of the Israeli embassy in Moscow, Russia (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP) Communities minister Lee Rowley told Sky News: You cannot support proscribed organisations like Hamas within the United Kingdom and if thats the case then I would expect police to take action accordingly. Ultimately, there is a right to protest but there is not a right to glorify terrorism. On Monday, Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also condemned the violence. She said: I want to see a Palestinian state existing alongside a safe and secure Israel. Terrorism is not the way to get there. Im appalled by what weve seen. Ms Reeves told Times Radio: Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon (Erik Marmor/AP) The Israeli government declared war on Sunday and, as of Monday, was believed to be fighting Hamas in several locations in southern Israel. All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the countrys flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support. Charles Chuck Feeney receives an honorary Doctorate of Laws jointly by all the universities on the island of Ireland at Dublin Castle in 2010 surrounded by family including wife Helga (left). Picture By David Conachy Gerry Adams has said Charles Francis Chuck Feeney the Irish American businessman and philanthropist who has died aged 92 touched the lives of millions with his generosity. Over the course of his life the self-made billionaire gave away an $8bn fortune. Almost a quarter of funds disbursed by his philanthropic vehicle Atlantic Philanthropies were to projects in Ireland, including huge support for universities here and peace projects in Northern Ireland. From 1984, when he established the fund until it was wound up in 2020 it made 6,500 grants of over $8bn, in keeping with Feeneys motto of Giving while Living. Although he eventually became well known, for decades Feeney acted largely in secret and he did not court publicity. He made a fortune selling liquor and luxury goods to travellers, and dominated the airport duty free business around the world. But in 1984 he quietly transferred his shareholding in Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), the luxury retail chain he had co-founded, to The Atlantic Foundation. It later became The Atlantic Philanthropies, and began distributing the bulk of his personal fortune to good causes. The Republic of Ireland has received $1.3bn in grants while $570m went to projects in Northern Ireland. Atlantic Philanthropies said on Monday that Feeney died peacefully on October 9 in San Francisco. If you give while living, the money goes to work quickly, everyone gets to see the action and the results, thats what were all about, Chuck Feeney explained some years ago. He lived modestly quipping that travelling at the front of the plane doesnt get you there any faster when asked why he did not book first class tickets but amassed a vast fortune from his successful business venture. In his later years he didnt own a home or car, preferring to rent as he travelled. None of the around 200 buildings he helped fund in institutions around the world was named after him. Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Irish American parents at the time of the Great Depression. He was the first in his family to attend university, studying hotel management at the prestigious Cornell University thanks to the US GI Bill that funded education for former members of the military. Former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams expressed his deep sadness and at the news. Mr Adams said: I want to extend my sincerest condolences and solidarity to Helga his wife and the Feeney family. Chuck was an extraordinary human being whose kindness and vision brought hope and joy to millions. Through Atlantic Philanthropies he gave away billions to those working in the field of civil liberties, health, community development and education. Along with the late Bill Flynn, Bruce Morrison, Joe Jamison and Niall ODowd, Chuck Feeney was part of the Connolly House group which played a pivotal role in creating the conditions for the peace process. In the decades since then Chuck has remained steadfast and committed to the Irish peace process. Chuck was one of the most remarkable men I have ever met. A very private man who has always shunned the spotlight and who was totally committed to our efforts to build peace. Chucks philosophy was straightforward if you give while living you get to see the results. Its about making real and tangible change in people's lives.Chucks efforts, his generosity and solidarity over many years, touched many millions and will continue to do so into the future. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he had been deeply saddened to learn of the death of Chuck Feeney. Through Atlantic Philanthropies, Chucks vision, generosity and selfless leadership transformed the lives of people on the island of Ireland, north and south, young and old, through investment in education and community, he tweeted. It was a great honour to work with him, transforming Irelands third level research capacity. He was a pioneer in the world of philanthropy." Universities on the island of Ireland to benefit from Chuck Feeneys philanthropy over the years include the University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, along with Cork and Galway universities. Queens University, Belfast, also benefited. Landmark projects such as The McClay Library, Queens Elms Village and the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine helped propel the institution forward. Feeneys 15m gift was the largest single donation Queens ever received. Vice chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer said: Chuck Feeney was an outstanding advocate and supporter of the Higher Education sector on the island of Ireland, he leaves a powerful legacy. "At @QUBelfast we are grateful for his many years of support and I send my condolences to his family and friends on their loss. Feeney is survived by his wife, Helga; five children from his first marriage to Danielle Feeney of France: Juliette Feeney-Timsit of Paris, France; Caroleen Feeney of Los Angeles, California; Leslie Feeney Baily of London, England; Diane Feeney of London, England; and Patrick Feeney of Brussels, Belgium; 16 grandchildren and 4 nieces and nephews. The European Union is suspending all payments immediately to the Palestinians, the EU Commission announced on Monday. Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said the bloc was making the move because of what he called the scale of terror and brutality of Hamass attacks against Israel. The surprise announcement came just hours after EU officials stressed that no EU money whatsoever was going to Hamas in the first place and that contacts had been frozen for 16 years. The EU considers Hamas a terror group. After hours of uncertainty over how deep the measures would reach and whether they would possibly also affect aid to those in immediate need, EU humanitarian aid commissioner Janez Lenarcic said the most urgently needed aid to Palestinians will continue as long as needed. While I most strongly condemn the terrorist attack, Mr Lenarcic said, it is imperative to protect civilians. Mr Varhelyi said that as the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, which he said amounted to 691 million euros (597 million). It was not immediately clear what funds were included and excluded. Mr Varhelyi said the measures include that all payments (be) immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals postponed until further notice. EU foreign ministers are due to meet in Muscat, Oman on Tuesday to discuss the situation and see what actions should be taken. Mr Varhelyis announcement seemed to pre-empt the discussions. There can be no business as usual, Mr Varhelyi said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The foundations for peace, tolerance and co-existence must now be addressed. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many, the commissioner wrote. During an earlier briefing on Monday, the EU Commission sought to draw a clear line between Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organisation, and the Palestinian people, who are in need of humanitarian aid. According to the bloc, it has provided humanitarian aid to help meet Palestinians basic needs since 2000 through the European Commissions humanitarian aid department (ECHO) and the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since 2000, ECHO has provided 700 million euros (604 million) of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The EUs most populous member, Germany, and its neighbour Austria also said they were suspending development aid for the Palestinian areas. The Development Ministry in Berlin said there was no direct German financing of the Palestinian Authority, but a total of 250 million euros (216 million) is currently pledged in German aid half of that for bilateral projects via Germanys overseas aid agency and development bank and the other half for the UN agency for the Palestinians, UNRWA. Like the EU Commission, development minister Svenja Schulze said in a statement that Germany took great care that its aid for Palestinians serves peace and not the terrorists. But these attacks on Israel are a terrible watershed, so we will review our whole commitment to the Palestinian areas, she added. Ms Schulze said Germany wants above all to discuss with Israel how we can best serve peace in the region and security for Israel with our development projects. She noted that Israel also has an interest in Palestinians being able to live in long-term stability, and said Germany will also co-ordinate with its international partners. Germany is not suspending the humanitarian aid it provides separately via international NGOs and the UN, the Foreign Ministry said. Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner said Monday that much of the 72 million euros (62 million) pledged this year has been paid out, and payments will continue because they support life-saving work. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio on Monday that all development aid payments will be put on ice for now. He put the funds affected at about 19 million euros (16 million). He said Austria will review all projects with the Palestinian areas and consult with its international partners on further steps. The secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, an international aid organisation, has warned that the Israeli governments vow to besiege and blockade the Gaza Strip would spell utter disaster for the more than two million Palestinians living in the small territory. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law. Its clear as that, Jan Egeland told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of a lack of energy, electricity, and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. Mr Egeland also slammed donor countries for halting humanitarian assistance to Gaza after the attack. Israels military scoured the countrys south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks on Monday, as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Israels defence minister has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. On Monday, Israels military scoured the countrys south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks, as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air and mustered for a campaign its prime minister said will destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group. More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion from Gaza, the military said the fighting has largely died down for now. The attack caught Israels military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard, bringing heavy battles to its streets for the first time in decades. (PA Graphics) Israel formally declared war on Sunday, portending greater fighting ahead, and a possible ground assault into Gaza a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Civilians are already paying a high price. Around 700 people have been killed in Israel a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts, and nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza, a tiny, impoverished enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians bordering Israel and Egypt. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding more than 130 captives from the Israeli side. Chief military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters Israel has control of its border communities. He said there had been some isolated incidents early on Monday, but that no fighting was going on. He warned, however, that there could still be militants in the area and that forces are carrying out searches. Israeli soldiers on a tank near the Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Israeli tanks and drones, meanwhile, are guarding openings in the border fence to prevent more infiltrations, Rear Admiral Hagari said, adding that 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be evacuated in over the next 24 hours. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the Associated Press that the groups fighters continue to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to painful, lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Meanwhile, Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including air strikes that flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves north-east corner. Rear Admiral Hagari said Hamas is 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 are likely to have fled beforehand. He also provided the first official acknowledgement of the death toll, saying around 700 had been killed on the Israeli side. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) An Israeli military spokesman said the army has called up around 100,000 reservists and that Israel will aim to end Hamass rule of Gaza. Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel, said spokesman Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israels military. And in addition to that, we will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip. Hamas is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled the territory since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority in 2007. Its rule has gone unchallenged through a 16-year Israeli and Egyptian blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak on Saturday, Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. The high figure underlined the extent of planning by the militant group, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem, and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon which was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Erik Marmor/AP) The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claim to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and moved them into Gaza. 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 has said only that the number of captives is significant. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza, while the United Nations said more than 123,000 Gazans have been displaced by the fighting. In Gaza, residents feared further escalation. As of late on Sunday, Israeli air strikes had destroyed 159 housing units across the territory and severely damaged 1,210 others, the UN said. The UN 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. In the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli air strike early on Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. He said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Over the weekend, another air strike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, survivors said. Palestinian civil defence staff look through a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 73 soldiers. 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. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. 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 ceasefire, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage, according to the official. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. 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. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers around the West Bank on Sunday. By Kwon Mee-yoo In a move to celebrate the 577th anniversary of the proclamation of the Korean alphabet and further promote the Korean language and culture, actor Song Hye-kyo teamed up with professor Seo Kyung-duk to donate a Korean language map to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Oct. 9, on the occasion of Hangeul Day. On the LACMA's homepage, the museum's campus map is available in English, Spanish and now Korean and under the Korean map, it notes that it was created thanks to the donations of Song and Seo. "Launching a Korean map on the LACMA's website is meaningful as it marks the first instance of the museum offering its map in a language other than English or Spanish," Seo wrote on his social media account, Monday. Seo added that visitors could use the Korean map to locate various exhibits within the museum and then refer to the Korean-language guide for a more in-depth tour. The launch of the Korean map follows an earlier initiative in June when the duo donated a comprehensive Korean-language guide to LACMA, which was made available for free to Korean visitors. LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, boasting a collection that spans over 6,000 years and includes more than 150,000 artifacts. The museum is also notable for housing the largest collection of Korean art in the U.S., which resonates with the significant Korean community in the region. The museum's Korean gallery showcases an array of paintings, ceramics, textiles and Buddhist artworks. The museum held "Beyond Line: The Art of Korean Writing," an exhibition on calligraphy in Korea, in 2019 and "The Space Between: The Modern in Korean Art," showcasing Korea's modern art, in 2022. Sungshin Women's University professor Seo has a long history of advocating for Korea and its culture, best known for his campaigns regarding Korea's territorial claim to the Dokdo islets and for donating Korean pamplet guides to the world's top art institutions. Seo also first provided a Korean-language audio guide to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2006 and later joined hands with actor Seo to donate Korean guide materias and leaflets to high-profile museums such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. Looking ahead, Seo explained that they have plans to expand their efforts beyond the U.S. to European museums, aiming to make art and culture more accessible to Korean speakers globally. "I will continue to do my best with Hye-kyo, until the day when Korean language services are available for all major art galleries and museums around the world, as well as famous tourist destinations," Seo wrote. A Magherafelt woman who has been living, working and raising her family in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv for the last 20 years has said shes been left stressed, scared, horrified and heartbroken after the city came under attack from Gaza-based Hamas militants over the weekend. The attacks launched on Saturday marked the biggest escalation in the Middle East conflict in decades. Israel launched air strikes in retaliation, and fighting is ongoing inside Israeli territory. Alison McLernon says she is doing all she can to keep her family husband Itzik and three daughters aged 14, 12 and 6 safe. But she admitted she has been stressed and emotional, and shes also now looking after a friend of one of her daughters as her father was unable to get back into the country after news of the attacks began to break. We are all at home with the exception of my husband who had no option but to go to work, for critical reasons not connected to the war, Alison told the Belfast Telegraph from Tel Aviv yesterday. We have a strong room in the basement so we feel relatively safe. But many people have to hide in stairwells or run to the nearest bomb shelter. We are lucky. I am home with my three kids and a friend of my daughter, whose mum is a journalist in the field. Her dad was abroad for work and has had his return flight cancelled due to the situation. I am trying to remain calm for the kids who have ups and downs and, as much as possible, protect them from the news. They obviously know exactly whats happening but they dont need to know all the details. Middle East conflict: What happened and what could follow But while Alison said shes staying strong for her family, she admitted: Emotionally I am stressed, scared, horrified and heartbroken, and Im not sure in which order. This morning I saw a video of a small blonde boy about seven years old who has been captured and is being held in Gaza, I think that was the straw that broke the camels back. If yesterday I felt strong and able to cope, today I am emotional. We are also very much in the dark about what is happening. On Saturday at 6.30am we were woken by the first siren. But this is something most Israelis are used to so it was still something we felt we knew how to cope with. Then, as the morning went on, pictures of terrorists roaming the streets in southern towns started to come in and the shock turned into a nightmare. Throughout the day it felt like we had no idea what really was happening or how awful it really was and the numbers kept rising of dead, missing, injured, captured. An ambulance takes away someone injured from a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv (Moti Milrod/AP) Latest reports last night suggest around 1,000 have been killed. Alison admitted she is fearing for the safety of friends who live south of the city. She said she has been trying to get in touch with one friend in particular who hasnt responded. I dont know if she if just busy keeping her kids safe, said Alison. If I dont hear from her tonight Ill try to find out if she is okay via other people who might know. But yes, there are concerns. Yesterday my husband tried all day to contact a second cousin who lived in the area and in the evening got news that he had died. There were a number of rocket attacks yesterday. Today so far has been quiet. But schools are closed. I think most people didnt go to work. The roads are empty. I think this time it wont be over in a few days sadly. But Ive been here over 20 years outside Tel Aviv and while its tempting to run for home, no. I have a business here and our life is here, our friends and my husbands family not to mention that many flights are being cancelled so it might be easier said than done. Hundreds of people have been killed in Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip since the militant group launched an unprecedented attack on the Jewish state on Saturday (Jonathan Brady/PA) Hundreds of people have been killed in Israel and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip since the militant group launched an unprecedented attack on the Jewish state on Saturday. Here, the PA news agency answers key questions surrounding the dispute. What has happened? Gazas militant Hamas rulers launched a surprise attack on Israel by air, land and sea on Saturday morning. It fired thousands of rockets into the country before its fighters crossed the border into southern Israel, killing civilians and taking captives. In response, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and his Government pledged to destroy Hamass military and governing capabilities. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip a 25-mile-long and six-mile-wide territory home to more than two million people and bordered by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. At least 700 people have reportedly since been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, which has been blockaded by Israel and Egypt for 16 years. (PA Graphics) What is Hamas? Hamas, an acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian militant Islamist group and one of the Occupied Palestinian Territories two major political parties. It won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006 and ousted rival forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, from the Gaza Strip in 2007. In its 1988 charter, Hamas sets out its commitment to obliterate Israel and raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine, according to the Israeli embassy. In November 2021, the UK Government proscribed the entirety of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. What is the dispute about? The leader of Hamass military wing, Mohammed Deif, said the incursion 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 increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians and growth of settlements, the Associated Press (AP) has reported. 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, AP added. Hamas has reportedly also demanded that all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, an estimated 4,500 detainees, be freed in exchange for dozens of captured Israeli soldiers and civilians. Smoke rises after the Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip on Monday (Fatima Shbair/AP) What are the Palestinian Territories? The Occupied Palestinian Territories encompass the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem, with the latter ruled by the more moderate Fatah party of President Abbas. Why is the date of the attack significant? Hamas attacked Israel on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, nearly 50 years to the day after Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on the Jewish state on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, on October 6 1973 in a bid to retake Israeli-occupied territories. Simchat Torah celebrates the annual Torah reading cycle, while the 1973 conflict ended with a ceasefire on October 25 that year. (PA Graphics) What is the Israel-Palestine conflict over? After the British captured Palestine from the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, the United Nations (UN) proposed partitioning it into two independent states one Palestinian Arab and the other Jewish. But in 1948 one state proclaimed its independence as Israel and, after a war involving neighbouring Arab countries, it expanded into most of the territory of former Palestine as over half of the Palestinian Arab population fled or were expelled, the UN said. It has been disputed ever since, with numerous wars fought over the decades. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a mosque after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City (Adel Hana/AP) These include the 1967 Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria, which saw Israel take control of territory including the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Other significant flare-ups included the two Palestinian intifadas, an Arabic term for uprisings, which started in 1987 and in 2000 respectively and led to thousands being killed and injured on both sides. Even at the height of the Troubles, the murder of a 10-year-old was shockingBrians body was found in the River LaganThe murder became part of a wider black magic scare Brian McDermott, 10, was abducted in September 1973 from a children's playground in the Ormeau Park area of South Belfast. The youngster's burnt and dismembered body was discovered in the nearby River Lagan. Brian McDermott left his Well Street home in the Woodstock area just before lunchtime on September 2, 1973, to play in Ormeau Park. He never came home. Police search teams combed east Belfast. Posters bearing Brians face were erected in the area. A week later, a suspicious object had been spotted in the river close to Annadale Embankment. A hessian sack containing the boys remains was pulled from the water. Both his legs and one of his arms had been cut off, while his torso was so badly burned it was impossible to recognise its features. Brian was only identified after fingerprints from his one remaining hand were compared with those on the boys school exercise books. The rest of his remains would never be recovered. The horrific murder shocked Belfast, despite the Troubles being at their worst. Liam Tunney tells Brians story to Ciaran Dunbar. Chef who cut his teeth in top London eatery Ottolenghi sets up business here specialising in Italian staple Carlos Capparelli is on a mission to bring high quality pasta, made in Northern Ireland, to local consumers. Originally from Brazil, Carlos spent 12 years working in some of Londons top restaurants, including the Ottolenghi group, where he was head/executive chef, running the operation of six restaurants across the city. Now, hes making pasta his top priority with Capparelli Cooks. Its a very exciting thing we do, were trying to bring premium quality Italian pasta to Northern Ireland, producing here, making here, says Carlos, who has set up home in Ballyhackamore. The chef has had very positive feedback from his fare so far. People love it; theyre surprised that its made here. Theyre used to high quality pasta from Italy, which is fair enough, thats how its been, but were trying to break this and show that it can be done here as well. Chef Carlos Capparelli With the very positive feedback weve received, we are very excited to keep pushing in that direction, continues Carlos, who was a recent finalist in the Blas na hEireann food awards. But its not just pasta, his business has now extended into the production of a range of pre-made family friendly dishes, prepared using ingredients sourced from local farmers in and around greater Belfast. His offerings include a selection of comfort food favourites like lasagne and shepherds pie all with a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern twist. Carlos arrived in Northern Ireland in late 2021, after many years of experiencing culinary life in London. London is a hub for different cultures coming together. Im from Brazil, my family background, mum and dad, are from Italy. I also lived in Madrid for three years, where I met my wife, Lucy, who is from Northern Ireland. I spent 12 years in London working in a few places. You end up with your everyday life (setting high) standards, you get used to it, he explains of what he learned from working under such a culinary visionary as Ottolenghi. That becomes a natural thing, to be on that level. Its a great place to work and hes a gentleman, a very lovely person, and that reflects in his company and how things are there. Hes your boss but he still keeps that human touch. How they look after the staff (in the business), its something that Ill keep with me. Yotam Ottolenghi While working in London, he graduated in food science culinary arts from London South Bank University. Today Carlos bases his cuisine on his life experiences, combining Mediterranean (his Italian family heritage) and Middle Eastern (influenced by his time at Ottolenghi) to create family-friendly dishes with a flavour punch. For him, passion is at the heart of what he does. Theres so much pressure and demand that if you dont love it, youre not going to do it, he explains. My mum is a big influence. She was a businesswoman and I grew up seeing her having the passion for her own company and striving. I left and went to Europe to work for people but youre building up skills and knowledge but I think that I always had that in the back of my mind, that I wanted to do my own thing. In terms of Northern Irish cuisine, theres one product that he adores. Wheaten bread its not something I was used to in London and every time I have it, I think, This is so good, he says. Its really good. I went to a restaurant the other day and they served breads to start. I thought, Why is this not everywhere? One thing I fall in love with here is how close you are with producers. Sometimes you have a limited amount of things but its a few miles from your place. You get the chance to go and see it. Theres a lot of small businesses, for example, Velocheese supply me with burrata. Theres a small community of producers and chefs. Its so cool to get to see this and my feeling is that there is a great (pool) of talent in Northern Ireland. Example of Capparelli Cooks offerings Carlos is one of many local artisan food and drink producers who exhibits his produce at Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council food fairs and festivals throughout the year. The final food fair of the year will be the Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market which will take place on December 8. You can purchase Carloss pasta and pre-prepared meals in local farm shops and delicatessens. See www.capparellicooks.com Wild yet tranquil, a cottage escape next to island of Irelands tallest onshore lighthouse offers something totally unique The living room at one of the cottages I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve, writer George Bernard Shaw once said. For our stay at St Johns Point in Co Down, we got the rare chance to see this up close in all its glory. St Johns Point lighthouse is one of 33 sites across the island of Ireland that are looked after by the Irish Landmark Trust. As well as lighthouses, they also have castles, old schoolhouses and gate lodges in their portfolio, which you can stay at, offering something a little bit different than your typical hotel. St John's Point lighthouse with its distinctive stripes We stayed for two wonderful nights at the lighthouse keepers cottage at St Johns Point. The cottage is called JP Ketch, named after a type of boat, and is one of two you can book into for a relaxing break. Dating back to 1839, JP Ketch can house four people and has retained many of its original features, with rustic wooden floors and sash windows. Nautical-themed ornaments, books on the history of lighthouses and St Johns Point are dotted about the place. Read more How lighthouses are becoming popular choice for staycationers across Ireland It is self-catering and has a large kitchen/dining room and all the modern appliances you would need to rustle up a home-cooked meal. Upstairs is a twin bedroom and a larger master bedroom, with lovely views out the window of the Irish Sea. There is no TV or wi-fi, so its a great place to disconnect and get away from it all. In the cottage youll find an array of board games and books to keep you occupied if you so choose. The living room at one of the cottages The location is remote, peaceful and perfect for a relaxing break. A few hundred yards away you can take a refreshing dip in the sea, and theres plenty of places for long walks in the countryside. Tyrella is the closest Blue Flag beach, while Kilclief and Ballyhornan are popular for swimmers. One hidden gem nearby is Ballynoe Stone Circle, an ancient monument that is essentially Co Downs answer to Stonehenge. It also has a smaller version of the famous Dark Hedges. Theres also plenty of places to visit just down the road in Downpatrick, from the burial place of our patron saint, to Inch Abbey and Downe Cathedral. The lighthouse itself is in Killough and the nearby village has a few pubs the Ann Boal Inn is a popular spot and a well-stocked shop. Restaurants can be found in Strangford, about 10 miles away, including The Artisan Cookhouse, The Cuan and The Lobster Pot, which are all well-reviewed. There are also many fine eateries in Ardglass and Downpatrick. In terms of food, if you dont do fancy cooking, or eating out, Irish Landmark Trust has recently teamed up with Co Down-based food company Hara at Home to offer guests a premium meal delivery service. One of the bedrooms at JP Ketch, St John's Point We chose to go for the beef wellington dinner. The main course came with red wine sauce, sweetheart cabbage and mash. For starters we had sweetcorn, basil and sour cream soup. Dessert was treacle tart with plums and buttermilk custard. The box of goodies was delivered right to St Johns Point and all we had to do was follow the simple instructions and within about 30 minutes we had a slap-up, three-course meal. The quality of the food was top notch and certainly filling. The views from the cottage are something to behold, with the Mourne Mountains in the distance to the right as youre standing out the back of the cottage, where you can make friends with the two Shetland ponies that graze in the small field there. While the views of the Mournes are amazing, its at night when St Johns Point shines. When darkness falls the light at the top of the 120ft structure is turned on. St Johns is now the tallest onshore lighthouse on the island of Ireland. Powered by electricity, it has a range of 29 miles. The pre-prepared meal from Hara at Home The lighthouse, which is one of 70 on the island of Ireland that are operated by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, is only a few feet from the door of JP Ketch and standing out the back gazing upwards at the magnificent rays is unforgettable. Originally painted white, since 1954 it has had the distinctive black and yellow bands that stand out from miles away. St Johns Point has an interesting connection to the famous Irish writer Brendan Behan. Behans father was once contracted to paint several lighthouses here and got his son to paint St Johns. The writer, who had yet to find fame at this stage, ended up causing havoc. The lighthouse keeper at the time, Henry Harvey, described Behan as the worst specimen he had encountered in 30 years of service and called for his dismissal. Read more Youll have a Wales of a time in Criccieth St Johns Point is also mentioned in Van Morrisons song Coney Island. The weather for our stay wasnt the best, being at the end of September in Northern Ireland, but that made it all the better to experience a taste of what life would have been like for the lighthouse keepers of old. With the wind howling outside and sounds of the crashing waves of the nearby coast, there is something strangely peaceful about it. Our stay at St Johns was definitely one to remember and Im sure well be back. Khaleda Zia (center), leader of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, is escorted back to prison from a hospital visit in Dhaka, Nov. 8, 2018. Bangladeshi opposition leader Khaleda Zia could die anytime if the government keeps refusing to allow her to travel overseas for advanced treatment of cirrhosis of the liver and other illnesses, a panel of doctors told reporters in Dhaka on Monday. Zia, 78, is a former three-time prime minister but she is effectively under house arrest for corruption convictions, while the ruling Awami League has steadfastly rejected requests by her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to seek medical care abroad. Shes at high risk of death anytime. You wanted to know how long we can carry on like this - we just say that her risk of death is much higher, anytime, Dr. Nooruddin Ahmad, a member of a medical board representing Zias physicians, said during a press conference. The 15-member panel consists of her personal doctors and senior medical staff at the Evercare Hospital, a private care facility in Dhaka where Zia has been hospitalized since August. She was given four bags of blood. Her health situation is now very complex and difficult, said Professor Fakhruddin Mohammad Siddiqui, a member of the panel. She is at risk of death. Zia is the bitter foe of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has ruled Bangladesh uninterrupted since 2009, despite allegations that her party has tampered with general elections since then. Every day I hear that she is dying. She is about eighty. So its about time. Theres no point in shedding tears, Prime Minister Hasina said last week at a social reception in London. Doctors from the medical board of Bangladeshi opposition leader Khaleda Zia attend a press conference at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, Oct. 9, 2023. [Munir uz Zaman/AFP] The BNP this year staged street protests to demand that Hasina and her Awami League step aside to allow a neutral caretaker government to take over during the next general election, which is due in December or January. But the Awami League has also refused to concede to the demand of BNP, which says it wont contest the race unless a caretaker administration is in place. Meanwhile, officials from Zias party told a visiting delegation from the U.S. that Bangladesh could not hold free and fair elections in the coming months under present conditions. Under Sheikh Hasina, a fair election is impossible, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a member of the BNPs standing committee, told reporters after he had met the delegation. [The government] has formed an institutionalized scheme to steal the votes. The American delegation also met with officials from the Awami League but did not issue any statements on Monday. They asked us whether there was any way to compromise with the BNPs demands. We said the BNP blocked the path of compromise by demanding that the prime minister must resign, Obaidul Quader, Awamis secretary general who led his party in the separate meeting with the foreign delegation, told reporters afterwards. A six-member delegation representing the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, which are both funded by the American government, arrived in Bangladesh at the weekend for a six-day visit to assess the pre-election conditions in the South Asian nation. Hasinas government has been at odds with the Biden administration lately over concerns expressed by U.S. officials about the climate for free and fair elections as well as U.S. criticism of her governments record on human rights. Critics have accused her government of turning increasingly authoritarian. The last two elections have been controversial. The 2014 polls were boycotted by the opposition, and the 2018 iteration, in which the ruling coalition won in more than 90% of the parliamentary constituencies, faced widespread accusations of fraud. Out of treatment options Chowdhury, the BNP leader, told BenarNews that the party raised the issue of Khaleda Zias treatment by the Awami League and her poor health with the visiting Americans as well. We said that the government sentenced her to imprisonment in a fabricated case and now its pushing her to death, he said. The septuagenarian former prime minister was given a 17-year prison sentence in 2018 on allegations of corruption that her party maintains were politically motivated. She was released by an executive order from Prime Minister Hasina during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but was barred from traveling abroad, including for medical care. A U.S. delegation, comprising officials from the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute both government-funded organizations holds talks with leaders of the ruling Awami League party in Dhaka, Oct. 9, 2023. [Sabrina Yesmin/BenarNews] Zia has a host of complex ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, and heart complications, according to her doctors, and she has been hospitalized four times in recent years. Her doctors recommend a procedure called Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS), which establishes an artificial channel within the liver. They said no medical facility in Bangladesh could conduct this life-saving procedure. All available medical options in Bangladesh are exhausted, said Professor Shahabuddin Talukder, a cardiologist who heads the medical board. If we could have performed the TIPS two years ago, she would not have had fluid accumulation in her stomach and chest, and she would not have had any bleeding in her stomach. We are unanimous that there is still time for the treatment if arrangements are made for her liver transplant and the TIPS at an advanced facility abroad, he said. Cleared trees in a forest located in a concession that is being developed for a palm oil plantation are seen during an aerial survey mission by the environmental group Greenpeace, at North Barito District in Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia, Feb. 24, 2014. Indonesias human rights commission said Monday it would investigate a deadly clash between police and villagers in Central Kalimantan who were protesting against a palm oil company for allegedly failing to allocate them land as promised under a cooperation scheme. In Saturdays incident in Bangkal village in Seruyan regency, one protester was killed and two others were wounded, allegedly by bullets, although police denied using live ammunition. Disputes between plantation companies and local communities over land rights were the most common cause of agrarian disputes in Indonesia, accounting for 37% of the 1,023 conflicts recorded last year, according to a land rights group, Agrarian Reform Consortium. The palm oil industry is a driver of the economy in Kalimantan, the Indonesian section of Borneo island. The group said security forces fired tear gas and live bullets at the villagers, killing a local resident and wounding two others. At least 20 other protesters were arrested, it said. Atnike Nova Sigiro, chairwoman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), urged the Central Kalimantan police, the regencys government and the public to refrain from using violence and prioritize dialogue to find a solution to this problem. We will investigate the violent incident, she told BenarNews. She also urged the Central Kalimantan police chief to enforce the law against police officers or other parties who used violence that caused death and serious injuries. Bangkals villagers were protesting against palm oil company PT Hamparan Masawit Bangun Persada I, which they accused of reneging on the promise to allocate them land, the land rights group said. The company, a subsidiary of palm oil conglomerate Best Group Agro International, and its sister firm had a history of agrarian conflict with villagers in Seruyan and neighboring Kotawaringin Timur regency, the group said. We urge the authorities to release the detained villagers, withdraw security forces from the conflict area, investigate human rights violations by the company and security forces, revoke the companys land use permit and implement agrarian reform for the villagers, Dewi Kartika, the secretary general of the group, said in a statement. Land conflicts common The Central Kalimantan police said they were investigating the incident. Provincial police spokesman Erlan Munaji was quoted by WartaBanjar, a local news outlet, as insisting that the officers at the scene had only used tear gas, blanks and rubber bullets. They did not use live ammunition, he said. If there are any violations by our members, we will not hesitate to punish them, he said. Land conflicts are common in Indonesia, where millions of people depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Palm oil is one of the countrys main exports and a source of income for many rural communities. But it is also a driver of deforestation and environmental degradation. President Joko Jokowi Widodo has pledged to resolve land disputes and protect peatlands as part of his efforts to combat climate change. But he has also enacted a controversial omnibus law that aims to simplify regulations and attract investment. Critics say the law undermines labor rights and environmental protections. The Agrarian Reform Consortium said 69 people had died in land conflicts since Jokowi came to power in 2014. Abetnego Tarigan, deputy chief of the presidential staff office, did not immediately respond to phone calls or text messages from BenarNews. A young palm oil tree growing on a palm oil plantation over cleared tropical forest land in Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia, June 5, 2012. [Romeo Gacad/AFP] The villagers in Central Kalimantan were seeking to enforce a 2013 pact with the company that would grant each household two hectares (5 acres) of land, activists said. They also wanted to manage 443 of 1,175 hectares (2,903 acres) of the land controlled by the company. But the company never honored the agreement, they said. Tensions rose last month when villagers rallied near the companys plantation and blocked the road, prompting police to fire tear gas to disperse them, said Dewi of the Agrarian Reform Consortium. Last week, the company rejected the villagers demands during a meeting attended by representatives of the government and locals, Dewi said. Saturdays incident was a human rights violation, according to Dimas Bagus Arya Saputra, the coordinator of KontraS, an Indonesian human rights group. The police should have avoided using deadly force, Dimas told BenarNews, citing a national police regulation that sets guidelines for controlling crowds. He also called for reforming the way the police are evaluated, both internally and externally, to hold accountable those who use excessive force. The police have not changed their approach because there is no deterrence, he said. The police acted as security guards for the wealthy and not as protectors of the people, said Muhammad Isnur, the chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation. We believe that the police have not learned from their mistakes of using brutal and repressive tactics against peaceful protests, he said. The police must arrest and prosecute those who were involved in the shooting and release the 20 villagers who were detained by force. Palestinians inspect the destruction in a neighborhood heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes on the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. UPDATED at 10:44 a.m. EDT on 2023-10-11 At least 12 Thais have been killed in Israel following attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas at the weekend, Thailands foreign ministry said Monday. As of late Monday, the fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military the deadliest between Palestinians and Israelis in 50 years had left more than 1,100 dead and thousands more injured on both sides, reports said. The death toll has been confirmed at 12 [Thais], based on information from employers that was provided to the embassy, Kanchana Patarachoke, a spokeswoman for the Thai foreign ministry, told a press briefing on Monday. She said eight Thais were being treated for injuries in hospitals and an additional 11 citizens were being held captive, but Kanchan did not elaborate. We have been informed that the Israeli defense force has begun to evacuate Thais to safety from flash points, she said. Israels military has hit back hard with the Jewish state formally declaring war on Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist and Palestinian nationalist group, after the militants launched rocket strikes and raids into southern Israel near the Gaza Strip at dawn on Saturday. Israel has retaliated by fighting with Hamas militants to regain control of areas near the Gaza border and pounding the densely populated Palestinian enclave with airstrikes, reports said. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a complete siege of Gaza, according to reports. The Royal Thai Air Force, meanwhile, has readied five C-130 transport planes and an Airbus passenger jet to bring citizens home once it was clear to fly, Kanchana said. While responding on Monday to parliamentary questions about the situation in Israel, Jakkapong Sangmanee, Thailands deputy minister of foreign affairs, said his department was still awaiting clearance from Israel to allow in Thai flights to evacuate Thai nationals. As for the nearly one dozen Thais believed to be in Hamas custody, he said the government was negotiating with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to help secure the release of the captured people. At least 100 people of various nationalities, including Thai nationals, had been taken hostage, Jakkapong said. As of August, more than 4,533 Thais were working in areas of southern Israel close to the Gaza Strip, where many are employed as farm hands, according to the Thai Ministry of Labor. There are about 30,000 Thais working throughout Israel, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In May 2021, a Hamas rocket attack on an agricultural estate near the Gaza Strip killed two Thai nationals and injured eight others. A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike, Oct. 9, 2023, as Israels military relentlessly pounded the Palestinian territory overnight and into the day as fighting with Hamas continued. [Mahmud Hams/AFP] Early Saturday morning, Hamas launched multi-front attacks that coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and came a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, reports said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) estimated that about 1,000 Hamas militants took part in the initial assault. Subsequent fighting has killed at least 700 people in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, according to a report by the Associated Press. The violence has also affected scores of Filipinos working in Israel. Seven Filipinos remained unaccounted for while 20 others had been rescued by Israeli forces amid the fighting, officials with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday. One of those rescued was being treated for moderate injuries at a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva, said department spokeswoman Maria Teresita Daza. The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv had also received a report from a Filipina about the possible abduction of her husband by armed individuals after she said she had recognized him in an online video, Daza told BenarNews. The matter had been urgently relayed to Israeli military authorities, she said. [Seven] remain unaccounted for and cannot be contacted via their mobile numbers and social media accounts, the embassy said. The Embassy is working non-stop with Israeli security authorities and community contacts to ascertain their condition. We continue to await feedback from them. There are approximately 40,000 Filipinos in Israel, but only 25,000 are legally documented, according to labor and migrant groups. The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan had begun receiving requests for repatriations, Daza said. A Cambodian student was also reported killed in the fighting in southern Israel on Saturday. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen said at a public ceremony of a film about his family that the government wouldn't be sending a special transport plane to bring students back to Cambodia unless the Israeli government said it was necessary. There are more than 400 Cambodian students in Israel, he said. Many of them are working on farms and studying agriculture near the conflict zone. Sum Phirun, who works on a dairy farm along with two other Cambodians in Israels Karmia region, told Radio Free Asia on Monday that he was leaving the area, which is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Gaza Strip. Now, I am a bit busy, he said. I have to move from one location to another, thank you very much. Meanwhile, the Israeli army has secured the area around the Sedot Negev Agricultural Center, about 10 miles (17 km) from the Gaza Strip, where Cambodian students are studying agriculture, according to student Du Suchin. We pray for them Since the fighting began, U.N. officials and Western countries have condemned the attacks by Hamas, while parts of Muslim Southeast Asia have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people. In criticism clearly aimed at the West, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the international community continues to take one-sided action regarding all forms of cruelty and oppression to the Palestinian people. Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, said it was deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel, but added: 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. A digger removes rubble from a police station that was overrun in attacks by Hamas militants, in Sderot, Israel, Oct.8, 2023. [Ohad Zwigenberg/AP] Although Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined many other international leaders in condemning the attacks by Hamas, some Malay-speaking Muslims in the countrys insurgent-hit Deep South said they felt for Palestinians. We feel the pain of our Palestine brothers and sisters when they are at war, said Hazim Salae, a resident of Yala city. We pray for them to stay safe during this war. Abdullah Yusof, a resident of the southern province Pattani, said Muslims at several mosques in the region were praying for both Palestenians and the Thais in captivity. We are the same beings as Palestinians, Abdullah said. We have also raised some funds for them. BenarNews staff in Manila contributed to this report. RFA Khmer, the Cambodian service of Benar News-affiliated Radio Free Asia, contributed to this report. CORRECTION: An earlier version incorrectly reported that more than 4,533 Thais were working in Israel as of August 2023. By Yoon Ja-young Hana Financial Group set its sights on investor relations activities in Europe, to expand global cooperation in environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) efforts and strengthen on-site communication with investors there. This is the third investor relations session following joint investor relations activities by Korean financial firms in Singapore in May and another investor relations session in Hong Kong in September. It aims at exploring advanced systems and successful cases of green financing in Europe, promoting Hanas achievements in ESG management to European investors, and promoting communication to attract global investments. To begin the investor relations session in Europe, Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo met with Rene van Hell, the ambassador for sustainable development in the Netherlands, to discuss green finance-related investments that have been getting attention in the European country recently. They also agreed on the importance of the transition to a carbon neutral economy, and shared insights on carbon reduction for asset portfolios, which is the main axis of carbon neutral efforts by the banking sector. The ambassador shared Hana Financial Groups efforts to reach a 100 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2050, and evaluated highly the groups contribution to the prevention of "greenwashing" by computerizing K-Taxonomy, or the classification of green economic activities contributing to environmental goals. Ham said Hana Financial Group has been actively expanding ESG financing to contribute to the transition to a carbon-free economy. Through this meeting, we hope to create mutual benefits by further cooperation in sectors such as investment in green finance and participation in investment programs led by the Netherlands, he said. The ambassador said the Dutch government is interested in green finance funding through innovative financing in the private sector. He said as Korea and the Netherlands are partners for green finance, the country will be able to create various opportunities for collaboration with Hana Financial Group, which is a leader in ESG finance. Hana Bank has been operating the Amsterdam branch since 1979 and is the only Korean bank to have a branch there. Ham is scheduled to engage in further communication with global investors in Europe, emphasizing the group's overall performance, asset soundness and shareholder return policies. He will also meet a wide range of long-term investors and potential investors, showcasing the groups ESG management activities reflecting European ESG trends. Following the investor relations session in Europe, Ham will be participating in annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco, until Oct. 15, where he will engage with global financial experts and explore global business expansion opportunities. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. A partnership between a Lee-based provider of sterile injectable medical products and a multinational pharmaceutical packaging company has turned into an acquisition. Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing and Sharp Services LLC announced Thursday that Sharp had purchased BSM for an undisclosed amount. Sharp, which is based in Allentown, Pa., is a contract packaging and clinical supply and service company. In 2018, the company partnered with BSM for its sterile fill and finish services in which companies send BSM the active pharmaceutical ingredients in a drug and BSM then sterilizes the formula and places it in vials and syringes. Now, BSMs 228 employees will work under the Sharp umbrella. The announcement issued by the two companies stated that all of the BSM employees will continue to work in the current facility in Lee. Joining these employees on the Sharp company roster is Dr. Shawn Kinney, BSMs co-founder and CEO. Kinney will continue to lead the Lee facilitys daily operations as he joins Sharps leadership team. This is an exciting development for everyone at BSM and for our clients, who will benefit from a seamless downstream packaging, labeling, storage, and distribution service through Sharps network of facilities and expertise, Kinney said in the joint announcement. With Sharps support, I am looking forward to the opportunity to grow the sterile manufacturing business and to broaden our reach in the service of our clients and their patients. Kinney founded BSM with Dr. Andrea Wagner and Paul Souza in 2014. According to the announcement, Wagner has decided to leave BSM following the acquisition and pursue other opportunities focused on creating a fund to support women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The trio from Boston raised $10 million from a variety of sources, including MassDevelopment, in order to launch the company in the former warehouse and headquarters for KB Toys. In the nearly decade since its founding, BSM has quickly expanded from tens of employees to more than 200. The company served an important role during the coronavirus pandemic, working with companies who were developing vaccines to the virus. That work of helping pharmaceutical companies find solutions to the leading medical problems of the day continues, the companies said. Sharp will use the acquisition to expand its offerings to companies with small-to-medium scale sterile injectable service needs. Kevin Orfan, the president and CEO of Sharp, said that sterile injectables have an important role in meeting unmet medical needs. This acquisition, which builds on the existing partnership between our two companies, will greatly benefit our clients, creating an efficient manufacturing and distribution service for biotech companies developing sterile injectable products across the world, Orfan said. Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter WEST STOCKBRIDGE A new outdoor marijuana cultivation farm on Baker Street, near the Richmond line, is not passing the smell test for some nearby residents. Wiseacre Farm opened for cultivation in June, and odor complaints from about eight nearby Richmond and West Stockbridge residents are coinciding with the early fall harvesting season. Similar concerns about existing or proposed marijuana farms have surfaced in several other Berkshire towns and across the state. CANNABIS FARM ODOR CONTROLS ... The Host Community Agreement signed in September 2022 by Jon Piasecki, president of Wiseacre Farm Inc., and West Stockbridge Select Board Chair Kathleen Keresey, includes a detailed odor mitigation plan. The document states that the town and Wiseacre acknowledge that the natural outdoor growing of any agricultural product, including cannabis, does, from time to time, create some natural odor(s). Requirements listed in the agreement include: Air gaps space in the form of physical distance from the parcels boundaries to allow odors to largely disperse passively. Physical barrier private fencing surrounding the farm to contain odors that may remain closer to the ground. Aromatic planting of fall-blooming clematis vines with sweet-smelling, jasmine-like blossoms that coincide with the flowering of cannabis. The agreement also suggests exploring cutting edge technology such as a licensed odor detection and mitigation system, as well as an air recirculation, scrubbing and filtration systems, and directional venting to minimize odor impacts as much as possible. If the town receives reasonable complaints of odor impacts, Wiseacre Farm is required to meet with the town upon written request and also take additional steps such as a review of its prevention measures by an independent engineer. In addition, the West Stockbridge Board of Health and building inspector are authorized to enforce state and local regulations involving any odor violations. At a recent meeting, Richmond Select Board Chairman Alan Hanson reported that while driving past the farm he found the odor truthfully, is quite strong. You could probably park your car, open your window, and get a buzz. Thats how strong the odor is in that general area. I was quite surprised. Hanson suggested working with West Stockbridge leaders to make sure odor controls are in place at the farm leased by Jon Piasecki, president of Golden Bough Landscape Architecture. The site is owned by Baker Flower LLC, a corporation registered to David Jadow of Stockbridge. After consulting with town counsel, Richmond Selectman Neal Pilson noted that the town doesnt have legal standing to bring an action. He attended last weeks West Stockbridge Select Board meeting to express the concerns of some upset Richmond residents. Obviously, we want to protect the interests of our residents, he told The Eagle. Piasecki, who ran for selectman earlier this year, is slated to meet with the West Stockbridge board at a special hybrid public meeting held 6 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall and via Zoom. "I really want to get this resolved, to the extent that it can be, said the boards chairwoman, Kathleen Keresey. Longtime Richmond homeowner Jane Mayer of Dean Hill Road, off Baker Street, told her towns Select Board about a pungent, noxious odor wafting up from the farm when marijuana plants are growing, maturing and flowering. She described it as an air pollution problem; it smells like rotten eggs or bad garlic, and its also a public health concern. Mayer asserted that headaches, irritated eyes and sore throats can result. She suggested exploring additional odor control or air filtration systems. Its truly impacting Richmond residents on Cross Street, Dean Hill Road and perhaps further than that, said Mayer. Its a major public health problem for this part of the Richmond community. The smell travels remarkably far. During a visit by The Eagle to the 22-acre parcel last Friday, Piasecki asserted that a recent state Cannabis Control Commission inspection report described Wiseacre as the nicest pot farm in the state of Massachusetts. Piasecki had relocated his 5,000-square foot marijuana growing operation from his home-based farm to the Baker Street site in the Marijuana Overlay District, located within the towns very compact manufacturing zone. This is like growing corn, he explained. As this plant matures, were farming and harvesting flowers, and like a rose, lilacs or any other flower, cannabis has its own fragrance, and some people who like cannabis absolutely love the fragrances here. Piasecki described any odor carried by the wind into the nearby Richmond residential area as very temporary and occasional, and that no one had complained directly to him. He acknowledged the West Stockbridge Board of Health had recently visited, responding to a complaint from a nearby resident of that town. He pointed out a security fence along the farms perimeter that also serves as an air barrier. Piasecki said a fan system could also redirect the air flow away from residential areas. Piasecki said the farm employs about 40 full- and part-timer workers, including 10 West Stockbridge residents, during fall harvest season. Were trying to be good neighbors and drive the economy, he said. Were hiring all these people who need jobs and we pay $25 an hour. Our idea is to have good, organic economic development in our town, and if people need us to do more, were happy to do more, he said. Smell is a very subjective thing, and Im sure it bothers some people. But the trouble happens in such a limited window of time in a manufacturing district and a marijuana overlay district. Its a really sweet spot to grow cannabis, he added, and were trying to build the economy. This is our first season, so we want to be cooperative and were happy to work to accommodate our neighbors. Were willing to do more as problems arise. "It was two weeks from the end of August into September when it was quite pungent, said Evelyn Garstang, a Richmond resident whose home is within sight of the farm is employed there currently. If it was a pig farm, youd smell it. Ive had sheep and cows next to me, and Ive got a pot farm now. Its only six weeks that its going to be active, the rest of the year is quiet, so you couldnt ask for a better neighbor. Piasecki emphasized that well try to keep our neighbors as happy as we can. Itll never be odor-free, but were happy to try to mitigate the situation. CANNABIS FARM ORDOR CONTROLS ... The Host Community Agreement signed in September 2022 by Jon Piasecki, president of Wiseacre Farm Inc., and West Stockbridge Select Board Chair Kathleen Keresey, includes a detailed odor mitigation plan. The document states that the town and Wiseacre acknowledge that the natural outdoor growing of any agricultural product, including cannabis, does, from time to time, create some natural odor(s). Requirements listed in the agreement include: Air gaps space in the form of physical distance from the parcels boundaries to allow odors to largely disperse passively. Physical barrier private fencing surrounding the farm to contain odors that may remain closer to the ground. Aromatic planting of fall-blooming clematis vines with sweet-smelling, jasmine-like blossoms that coincide with the flowering of cannabis. The agreement also suggests exploring cutting edge technology such as a licensed odor detection and mitigation system, as well as an air recirculation, scrubbing and filtration systems, and directional venting to minimize odor impacts as much as possible. If the town receives reasonable complaints of odor impacts, Wiseacre Farm is required to meet with the town upon written request and also take additional steps such as a review of its prevention measures by an independent engineer. In addition, the West Stockbridge Board of Health and building inspector are authorized to enforce state and local regulations involving any odor violations. You are the owner of this article. The state House is expected to hear testimony on a gun safety bill this week. The value of Korea's virtual asset market grew 46 percent in the first half from six months earlier on higher prices of cryptocurrencies and improved investor sentiment, data showed Monday. The market capitalization of Korea's cryptocurrency market came to 28.4 trillion won ($21.05 billion) as of end-June, up from 19.4 trillion won tallied in December of last year, according to the Financial Services Commission (FSC). The total value of Korean won deposits made by traders here also increased by 11 percent to 4 trillion won and the operating profit of the operators rose by 82 percent to 227.3 billion won over the same period. The FSC surveyed a total of 35 virtual asset operators in the country, including 26 crypto exchanges. Despite an increase in the value of the crypto market, the average value of daily crypto transactions at the 26 exchanges dipped 1.3 percent to 2.9 trillion won in the January-June period from six months ago. The number of individual and corporate crypto traders also decreased by 210,000 to 6.06 million as of end-June. Of the individual traders, those in their 30s accounted for the biggest share and more than 67 percent held virtual assets worth less than 500,000 won. The data also showed that 622 types of cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Dogecoin, were traded in Korea in the first half. Also in the first half, a total of 169 crypto coins were newly listed, while 115 coins had a suspension of trading due to project risk, investor protection or other reasons. The max draw down rate of cryptocurrencies, which shows the price volatility, stood at 62 percent as of end-June, down 5 percentage points from end-December. Korea plans to implement a law aimed at protecting crypto investors, the first of its kind, in July next year. Under the new law, those who unfairly trade virtual assets can be sentenced to prison terms and fined. Acts of unfair trading include the use of undisclosed information, market price manipulation and illegal transactions. (Yonhap) BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. India is manufacturing life-saving high-risk medical devices but the cost is just a fraction of the rest: Dr Jitendra Singh Amidst global competition for hi-tech medical devices, India has emerged among the world's top five healthcare manufacturers, but at a much lesser cost, said Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Government of India. India is manufacturing life-saving high-risk medical devices but the cost is just a fraction of the rest, he said. The Minister was delivering the Inaugural Address at the 8th CAHOTECH, Annual International Healthcare Technology Conference, organised by Consortium of Accredited Healthcare Organisations (CAHO) in New Delhi, on 7th October. India is set to become the global hub of medical technology and devices with the market size estimated to grow up to $50 billion by 2050 from the present $11 billion (approximately Rs 90,000 crore), he said. "From a market share of 1.5 per cent, we hope to increase Indias market share to 10-12 per cent over the next 25 years, he added. The Central Government is supporting the setting up of 4 Medical Devices Parks in the States of Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Under the PLI scheme for medical devices, till now, a total of 26 projects have been approved, with a committed investment of Rs 1,206 crore and out of this, so far, an investment of Rs 714 crore has been achieved. Out of the 26 projects, 14 projects producing 37 products have been commissioned and domestic manufacturing of high-end medical devices has started which include Linear Accelerator, MRI Scan, CT-Scan, Mammogram, C-Arm, MRI Coils, high end X-ray tubes, etc. Dr Jitendra Singh said, technologies such as the ones developed by the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, like the artificial heart valve, hydrocephalus shunt, oxygenator and drug eluting intra uterine device are being manufactured in the US, Japan, Brazil and China. App operates offline and employs a logical algorithm to assist health workers in making accurate diagnoses and treatment decisions The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the release of an enhanced version of its Skin NTDs App, a valuable tool designed to assist front-line health workers in diagnosing and managing skin-related neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs). This development is the result of a collaborative effort between WHO and Until No Leprosy Remains (NLR). NLR transferred the content of its SkinApp, which encompassed information on skin NTDs, 24 common skin diseases, and some HIV-related skin conditions, to the WHO Skin NTDs App. This collaboration has resulted in a comprehensive and user-friendly resource that aligns with the latest WHO recommendations. This software application will rapidly furnish healthcare professionals with practical information for a particular disease, encompassing its clinical characteristics, treatment protocols, and geographic prevalence The WHO Skin NTDs App represents a significant step forward in the fight against NTDs affecting the skin. By providing health workers with a robust and accessible tool, WHO aims to enhance early detection, streamline treatment and ultimately improve the lives of individuals affected by these diseases. The two-day conference will include a discussion on the crucial subject of Making Cancer Care Affordable and Accessible in India Indias apex industry chamber, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) is all set to host the 17th edition of its annual healthcare conference FICCI HEAL 2023 on October 26 and 27, 2023 at FICCI Federation House, New Delhi. The event has been supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and NITI Aayog, Government of India. With the overarching theme of Healthcare METAmorphosis, the conference will delve into the strategies and opportunities for the evolution of the healthcare industry in the coming years. Besides, it will serve as a platform for sharing and learning among all the stakeholders, both national and international. Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare; and Chemicals and Fertilisers, Government of India has been invited to inaugurate the Conference. The event will also include eminent dignitaries and speakers including Dr Ajay K Singh, Senior Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education, also serving as Director, MMSCI, Harvard Medical School and Dr Carsten Engel, CEO, International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua). Additionally, as a notable component of the HEAL Conference, FICCI will host the 15th FICCI Healthcare Excellence Awards' on October 26, 2023, at Hotel Le Meridien in New Delhi. The ceremony will felicitate organisations and individuals for their invaluable contribution in the healthcare space in the presence of Chief Guest, Sharmila Tagore. The participants were evaluated on three criteria: Innovation, Impact and Sustainability & Scalability, by a distinguished independent jury panel chaired by C K Mishra. The two-day conference will include a discussion on the crucial subject of Making Cancer Care Affordable and Accessible in India, given the increasing burden of NCDs and specifically cancer in the country. A unique session on Fostering Resilient Economics will focus on key measures and approaches that can be implemented to achieve resilience in the economics of healthcare. This will be followed by a fireside chat on Driving Investments in Healthcare. Day 2 of the conference will present a panel on Leveraging Technology for Transforming Primary Healthcare, inviting industry to join the FICCIs initiative on demonstrating Smart HWCs in States. This will be followed by session on Perspectives on Healthcare, which will bring together renowned personalities from other industries to share their unique perspectives on healthcare sector. The conference will end with a special Stakeholders Consultation titled "Empowering Her Health to address the challenges and opportunities related to women's health in India. The Consultation seeks to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and policy recommendations for promoting gender-responsive and inclusive healthcare systems. The conference will have the below thematic sessions: During its Annual General Meeting held on 3 October, 2023, The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (Savca) enthusiastically embraced five new board members. Source: Ria Papier and the esteemed individuals - Darshan Daya, Edmund Higenbottam, Liz Kolobe, and Nicola Gubb - have officially embarked on their new roles as board members of Savca. The esteemed individuals - Darshan Daya, Edmund Higenbottam, Liz Kolobe, Ria Papier, and Nicola Gubb - have officially embarked on their roles as board members. Providing his insight on these new appointments, Savca chairperson and executive director of Ata Capital, Lelo Rantloane commented: Our five new board members were voted in by our members based on their unique individual and collective skill sets, and industry experience gained over a number of years. They join the board at a crucial time, when there is great expectation around the role private markets can play in our economy. Together they will contribute towards the already diverse board, and provide strategic oversight to the Savca team as they translate the associations vision into critical activities to drive the growth of private equity and venture capital in the region. "We wish to extend a warm welcome, and look forward to collaborating with them as we work to expand the reach and impact of the private equity and venture capital industry. Daya brings more than two decades of private equity industry experience across many economic cycles to bear, having worked in large cap buyout funds prior to co-founding Capitalworks in 2006. Through directly sourcing and executing multiple transactions as well as numerous engagements with both the local and international institutional investor community, Daya has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities available to the venture- and private-equity industry in South Africa, his experience of which can be leveraged for the benefit of the greater industry through his participation on the Savca board. brings more than two decades of private equity industry experience across many economic cycles to bear, having worked in large cap buyout funds prior to co-founding Capitalworks in 2006. We couldn't have said it better. "The mandate for institutional investors necessitates strategic proficiency at striking a balance between internal rate of return & ESG aspects like BBBEE, transformation & the just energy transition. https://t.co/ubate9Oabm#INVESTINGFORGROWTH pic.twitter.com/mGh0KchL0q SAVCA (@SAVCAssociation) August 10, 2023 Higenbottam is a veteran investment banker and private capital fund manager, with extensive experience across London, Johannesburg, Lagos and Dubai. His banking career started in 2001, having worked at global investment banks and, from 2008 has worked in the Africa market. He designed the strategy for, raised and is responsible for the deployment of Verdant Capital Hybrid Fund, a $100m fund investing in digitally enabled MSE-lenders and other inclusive financial institutions on a pan-African basis. He will share his unique experience coupled with his entrepreneurial mindset as well as an investor mindset as he is a founder of Verdant Capital. is a veteran investment banker and private capital fund manager, with extensive experience across London, Johannesburg, Lagos and Dubai. His banking career started in 2001, having worked at global investment banks and, from 2008 has worked in the Africa market. Kolobe has more than 13 years experience in private equity, advising and executing transactions. She is a principal at Agile Capital, representing the firm on various boards across various sectors including water, mining services, media, financial services, environmental management, medical, property, soft services and energy. Kolobe has worked in both traditional private equity funds funded by pension funds, as well as the captive fund space, which will add invaluable insights to the team. She is passionate about transformation and would like to make a personal and professional contribution to meaningful transformation of the industry. has more than 13 years experience in private equity, advising and executing transactions. She is a principal at Agile Capital, representing the firm on various boards across various sectors including water, mining services, media, financial services, environmental management, medical, property, soft services and energy. The business case for private equity in SA during challenging times By Tshepiso Kobile. 5 Jul 2023 Papier is the client director at Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE), responsible for leading fundraising and investor relations functions. Prior to this, Papier was in the client solutions team at Standard Bank Investment Banking. Her investment banking career spans 19 years, where she has worked across diverse sectors, including industrial and consumer, in the origination and execution of equity and debt transactions, mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings (IPOs). Armed with a very good understanding of investors views, Papier is passionate about educating the broader financial services industry on this valuable asset class that not only has the ability to generate solid returns, but also drive impact to improve the lives of many South Africans. is the client director at Old Mutual Private Equity (OMPE), responsible for leading fundraising and investor relations functions. Prior to this, Papier was in the client solutions team at Standard Bank Investment Banking. Gubb has over 25 years of investment and corporate finance experience with a particular niche in BBBEE and gender-lens investing coupled with 17 years of board experience in financial services, media, wholesale fuel supply and private education.In her previous role as chief investment officer (CIO) of WDB Investment Holdings, Gubb was responsible for investee strategic value-add and post deal maintenance of a portfolio with a net asset value (Nav) of R5bn, where she built and managed a team of all-women investment professionals. She is passionate about the private equity sector and its transformative potential and would like to add value at a strategic level on the Savca board. Gratitude and farewell The chairperson acknowledged outgoing board members, Richard Rose, Yvonne Maitin, Rory Ord, Andrea Bohmert and Thiru Pather, to whom a heartfelt thanks was extended for their exemplary service and ongoing commitment. This being his last year as the chairperson of Savca, Rantloane thanked the members and fellow board members, for the support they have provided, as the association underwent a number of significant changes, and for entrusting him with the position for the last three years. Rantloane said: Richard, Yvonne, Rory, Andrea and Thiru brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Savca board, inspiring a high level of commitment to the association and supporting the executive team to lay the important groundwork that will enable us to fulfil our shared vision for the industry. "The impact of their contributions is highly appreciated and has become a key part of our development as the industrys association and has enabled us to position both venture capital and private equity as key opportunities for investors. Wed also like to formally welcome Tshepiso, whom, having joined Savca in November 2022 as chief executive officer, now has her feet firmly planted in the organisation, as well as Mandlakazi, who joined Savca this month as the executive responsible for operations. Gratitude was extended to Shelley Lotz and former operations executive, Manusha Parshotum, for their immense commitment to the organisation in the last financial year, which contributed greatly to its sound status. On the eve of his retirement from stage performance - dancer, choreographer, mentor and cultural entrepreneur Gregory Maqoma will be celebrated by the Business and Arts South Africa (Basa) Awards as its featured artist. Every year, the awards select a featured artist and usually this artist is involved in the creation of an award trophy. This year however, Basa elected to honour the legacy of South African dance legend Gregory Maqoma who will instead perform one of his last ever performances on the evening of the awards to be held at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art in Cape Town on 13 October 2023. Says Basa CEO, Ashraf Johaardien, Gregory Maqoma stands out as an extraordinary South African success story because he has artfully navigated the blending of creative clarity and exemplary talent with a sharp business acumen and a strong sense of value for his contribution as an artist. This lucidity has taken him to global stages and seen him take a defining leadership role, one he intends to build on after he retires from stage. He credits collaboration as a core principle and the value that has largely shaped his career. It is this same value that is the foundation of the work we do at Basa. Maqoma adds, Partnership is alignment; its about working together to achieve similar goals. I have had the opportunity to partner with organisations that have helped to shape and sustain my career. The Basa Awards recognise business and arts partnerships that create mutual benefit. From long standing partnerships like this years Heineken Beverages Long Term Partnership Award finalist ATKV & Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), to innovative projects like 2023 finalist E-Squared Investments & Sunshine Cinema for the Spark Impact Program (Samsung Innovation Award finalist). 48 finalists (24 partnerships) are in the running for the announcement of the overall winners of the 26th Basa Awards. Awards are recognised in categories, each one sponsored by an organisation or business that advocates for the arts. In addition to Gregory Maqoma, guests will be treated to performances by jazz musician Mandla Mlangeni and electric violinist Kirsty Bows. Maqoma will head directly to Johannesburg after the Basa Awards for the GM50 Legacy Programme which will take place at the Joburg Theatre on 14 and 15 October 2023. The weekends event is presented by Gregory Maqoma Industries and Vuyani Dance Theatre in Collaboration with Joburg Theatre, Arts Alive International Festival, City of Johannesburg Arts, Culture and Heritage and Jacana Media as a celebration of Maqomas remarkable career on the occasion of his 50th birthday. Click here for more information about the programme and tickets. About Gregory Maqoma Gregory Vuyani Maqoma became interested in dance in the late 1980s as a means to escape the political tensions growing in Soweto, South Africa, where he was born. He started his formal dance training in 1990 at Moving into Dance, where he became the Associate Artistic Director in 2002. He founded Vuyani Dance Theatre (VDT) in 1999 while undertaking a scholarship at the Performing Arts Research and Training School (PARTS) in Belgium, under the direction of Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker. Maqoma has established himself as an internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director. Greg has received numerous awards, among these the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for dance in 2002; the Tunkie Award for Leadership in Dance (2012); New York Citys premier dance award, the Bessie, for Exit/Exist for original music composition (2014); and the Chevalier de LOrdre des Artes et des Lettres (Knight of the Arts & Literature) Award in 2017 from the French government. International Dance Day author in 2020. In 2022 he was awarded The Simon Nkoli Feather Award and 2023 he received The Artfluence Human Rights Champion in recognition of his remarkable career, courage, and commitment to social justice. About the Basa Awards The Annual Basa Awards recognise support of and partnerships with the arts, particularly from the private sector. It is Basas flagship event and assists in promoting mutually beneficial, equitable and sustainable partnerships with the arts. The awards categories encompass all creative mediums and a wide spectrum of partnerships. In addition, special awards are made annually at the discretion of the Basa Board of Directors to celebrate remarkable contributions by individuals, organisations and businesses. Anti-apartheid hero Desmond Tutu could have chosen practically any car in the world when billionaire Warren Buffett offered to buy him a vehicle. Archbishop Desmond Tutu laughs as crowds gather to celebrate his birthday by unveiling an arch in his honour outside St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa on 7 October 2017. Reuters/Mike Hutchings/File Photo But in 2008, the archbishop picked a modest Toyota Corolla with manual transmission over the luxury BMWs and Mercedes Benz favoured by government ministers. He gave the cash left over from the U.S. investor's present to the poor. The Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, which manages his legacy, has put the old car on show along with his books and possessions in honour of Tutu's 92nd birthday, which he would have celebrated on Saturday. "We hope this lesson ... by the Arch about us not being tempted by opulence, by being sensitive to the least amongst us is the takeaway people (who have) seen that car will make," Trust chairperson Mamphela Ramphele told Reuters, referring to Tutu by his nickname. "We cannot but keep that prophetic voice alive to remind us that we can be better, as he would tell us, that we are designed for better things," Ramphele said. The car, displayed in Cape Town, the city where the archbishop lived for most of his later life, became a symbol of Tutu's values. Former president Nelson Mandela, who died in December 2013, described his long-time friend as "the voice of the voiceless". Desmond Mpilo Tutu, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule, died in 2021. Widely revered across South Africa's racial and cultural divides for his moral integrity, Tutu never stopped fighting for his vision of a "Rainbow Nation" in which all races in post-apartheid South Africa could live in harmony. North Korea on Monday condemned a deadly drone attack on a Syrian military academy, saying it opposes all sorts of terrorism. "We strongly denounce the terrorist attack as an undisguised infringement on the Syrian people's desire for national sovereignty," a spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry said in comments carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency. The spokesman did not specify the attack, but the remark was apparently referring to the drone attack on a military academy in Syria on Thursday, which is reported to have killed more than 80 people and injured over 100. Syria is one of the few countries that have friendly ties with North Korea. "Taking this opportunity, we reaffirm the consistent stand of the DPRK government against all sorts of terrorism," the spokesman said, referring to North Korea by the acronym of its formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea has a track record of staging terror attacks against South Korea in the past few decades, including the 1987 midair bombing of a South Korean airliner near Myanmar that killed all 115 people aboard. The attack prompted the United States to put North Korea on its terrorism blacklist, but Washington removed Pyongyang from the list in 2008 to facilitate talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. (Yonhap) Sustainability is not just about protecting the environment for future generations; it can also be good for business. A recent panel discussion at Nampo Cape, South Africa, concluded that sustainable agriculture practices can provide significant financial benefits to farmers. The panel, which included experts from the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, a precision agriculture company, the Milk Producers' Organisation, and WWF-SA, discussed a variety of sustainable agriculture practices, such as water conservation, soil management, and integrated pest management. They all agreed that these practices can help farmers reduce costs, increase yields, and improve their overall bottom line. Source: vecstock via Freepik Financial benefits of sustainable farming All of the panel members supported the move to sustainable agriculture and gave examples of farmers who have benefited financially from being good stewards of their resources. Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the Milk Producers' Organisation (MPO), said that sustainability means profitability for dairy farmers. He said that all of the finalists for the MPO Nedbank Stewardship Award for 2023 mentioned that the financial viability of farming sustainably is the greatest, most immediate benefit. Ferreira said that most dairy farmers in the MPO are part of a program to become more sustainable. He said that while the initial investment is high and it can take 5 to 10 years to see the benefits, farmers are already reaping the rewards of working with nature rather than against it. Shelly Fuller, Sustainable Agriculture Programme Manager at WWF-SA, agrees that sustainable agriculture is good for business. She says that the Conservation Champions programme, a partnership between Nedbank, WWF, and the South African wine industry, has helped to make the SA wine industry a market leader in sustainable production. Fuller says that 95% of SA wines are now certified as sustainably produced under the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme. The Conservation Champion programme recognises farmers who go even further in their commitment to sustainable practices. Fuller says that even after experiencing the worst drought in decades and a changing climate, most of the farms in the Conservation Champion Programme have been able to maintain their productivity and continue to grow. Johann Strauss, who leads research on conservation agriculture in the Western Cape, says that farmers who have switched from conventional to sustainable farming have saved the province approximately R440m in environmental damage between 2002 and 2020. "Conservation agriculture is a farming system that is based on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, biodiversity through crop rotation, and covering the soil with living crops or crop residues." Strauss says that these principles are simple and cost-effective in the long run. Sustainable agriculture practices can lead to a number of benefits, including: Greater soil resilience, thus reducing water and fertilizer usage, water runoff, and soil erosion Greater yield consistency Resilience to drought periods Reduced capital and operating costs Strauss says that there is evidence that sustainable agriculture practices can help soil to build resilience, as evidenced by the fact that farms that apply these principles have recovered more quickly from drought periods in recent years. Technology, a major enabler of more sustainable farming Another point that the panel agreed on is the role of innovation and big data in enabling farmers to produce more with fewer resources and farming sustainably. Tara Southey, founder and CEO of TerraClim, believes that data is more important than ever before in helping farmers and policymakers make decisions and plans to adapt and mitigate climate change and market shifts. Southey founded TerraClim while conducting research for her PhD in viticulture and climate change. She discovered that there was inadequate climatic data available to farmers, and she decided to build an integrated climate, geographical information system, remote sensing, and crop database to provide this essential information. TerraClim's database provides farmers and policymakers with access to data on climate, soil, and crops. This data can be used to make decisions about things like when to plant and harvest, how to manage irrigation, and how to adapt to climate change. "In partnership with Metos SA, we now have an additional 200 weather stations, strategically placed across the Western Cape, which constantly measure while TerraClim collates multiple factors, such as hourly temperatures, solar radiation and hydrology profiles to mention a few," she says. "TerraClim integrates multiple weather station networks to fill in the gaps to build a robust, complete set of data that is invaluable in analysing the changing environment on an hourly basis. This in turn helps farmers in the region understand the changes that their crops are undergoing and thus make informed decisions to adapt." Ferreira agrees that technology is a major factor in improving yields and making educated decisions. When I started working in the dairy industry in the 1980s, there were more than 28,000 dairy farmers in South Africa. There are now less than 900 but they produce more milk with fewer cows than those thousands of farmers in the 80s. Because of technology specifically genetics in this case each cow is producing up to 50 litres of milk per day, as opposed to 5 to 10 litres of milk per day back then. There are so many innovations these days, such as cow management systems, digitised milking parlour systems and genomics innovations that drive better breeding outcomes all of which give dairy farmers the edge to maximise their yields and provide their animals with better care. We all have our part to play Fuller is a passionate advocate of farming sustainably, which she views as moving towards a more nurturing practice. "Farmers easily understand the benefits of working with Mother Nature almost like a business partner and their role as a custodian for the services that nature provides. Within this context and considering the ever-increasing input costs, the profitability factor is making the decision to move to sustainable farming easier and Im happy to report that that is more important than the scorecard for them," she says. "But its not just about what farmers need to do. I see the public less as consumers and more as supporters: With our every purchase we can choose to support sustainability or not. Its really that simple." A young woman who embarked on a learning journey with Sappi five years ago, is now enjoying the fruits of her labour through her flourishing brickmaking business, thanks to her perseverance and diligence. Nonkululeko Zimba from the community of Vimbukhalo, near Sappis Winterton plantation in KwaZulu-Natal, was part of the 2018 intake of Abashintshi a Sappi-sponsored programme aimed at enabling youth to bring about positive change to their communities. Since joining the programme, which delivered over 90 active Abashintshi (meaning changers in isiZulu), Nonkululeko has taken her learnings and has started a successful brickmaking business, which recently received a wonderful boost, when she took delivery of brand new brickmaking equipment from Sappi at a small handover ceremony held near her home. Through her established relationship with Sappi, she was able to apply for the funding which enabled her to receive this equipment to increase the size and scope of her business. Helping build thriving communities is at the core of Sappis Social Impact Strategy, comments Mpho Lethoko, Sappi Southern Africas head of corporate affairs. We engage and partner with our communities to deliver tangible social benefits as well as create economic empowerment, as we believe this is key to securing sustainable development. Nonkululekos business, Sehlukaniso (Pty) Ltd is an emerging business in the flourishing building sector currently producing bricks to build homes. Using her knowledge of the Asset Based Community Development model, which formed the basis of her training in the Abashintshi programme, Nonkululeko did an asset survey of her community and surrounds to identify a business opportunity. Looking around me, I could see that the need for bricks in my community was growing very fast. People are moving from mud to bricks for their homes, says Nonkululeko. With the Department of Human Settlements also starting with building RDP homes for vulnerable families, she saw this as a possible avenue giving her access to another market for future business growth. Sappi SA believes that projects like this, that have the potential to reduce poverty, increase job opportunities in rural communities and make available key items needed by the community to live, are pivotal for addressing social challenges in marginalised communities. The fact that the owner of the business is a young and passionate woman, who is using her knowledge gleaned from another Sappi-supported initiative, makes it even more rewarding for the company in knowing that it has played a positive role in this success story. Having grown to know Nonkululeko over the years, we have confidence in her ability to make a success of this venture. Supporting her by providing funding for the brickmaking equipment was based on the character and growth she has shown since joining the Abashintshi programme, says Beryl Traore, social impact lead for Sappi Southern Africa. She used her ABCD training to identify the gaps in her community and to see how she could fill those gaps. We will continue to use the ABCD model to engage with our neighbours, to further improve symbiotic relationships and also to decrease dependence and reveal opportunities that are all around, she said. In addition to the equipment, Nonkululeko will also receive support from Sappis ESD (Enterprise Supplier Development) department, where she will receive further training tailormade to assist SMMEs to succeed. I can still not believe that my dream has come true. The knowledge and skills that Sappi gave us as Abashintshi - I declare that no one can take it away from me! Now my life is changing and I have big hope that in years to come I will be part of those who are called entrepreneurs and I know that I will also change my communities. Thanks Sappi, thanks! said an elated Nonkululeko. Besides embarking on this ambitious project, where she and her husband are making the bricks themselves, sometimes with the help of two temporary workers, Nonkululeko is also raising a family and this year also earned an NQF 6 teaching diploma. As a young woman in the rural landscape Nonkululekos efforts are not only inspiring but serve as a valuable lesson in discipline and choosing a path that goes towards success and development at a personal level," says Mpho Lethoko. Besides the work our ESD department are doing in our communities, where hundreds of people are being helped to enter the economic mainstream, Sappi will be reviewing more applications from former Abashintshi to see if there are other strong candidates that have the potential to become self -sustaining economic hubs with opportunity to work and thrive. As we support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) this ties in with our priority focus on SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and our ongoing focus on empowering the youth, she said. The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Energy Mobility Education Trust have concluded a three-year partnership agreement to fund postgraduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and commerce fields. The agreement is said to focus on traditionally marginalised groups and contribute to the transformation of the education landscape, with a specific focus on South Africans who are Black, female or people with a disability. According to the Energy Mobility Education Trust CEO, Vuyo Mwase, the move will promote academic, scientific, and technological cooperation by supporting full-time studies for South African postgraduate students at the Honours level for the first year and Masters and Doctoral levels from 2024. The Energy Mobility Education Trust has championed the attainment of formal qualifications in STEM and commerce for over years, said Mwase. The CEO also noted the lack of funding for postgraduate studies. As such, this complementary and strategic partnership with the NRF strengthens our position and commitment to narrowing this gap. Additionally, our partnership will augment the much-needed innovation in developing and managing the current and emerging renewable energy systems, Mwase explained. The programme will initially provide funding opportunities for 38 Honours students for the 2023 academic year, with an initial investment of R6.8m, with Masters and Doctoral programmes to start in 2024. Funding for postgraduate students will be made available in the STEM disciplines, with a specific focus on mathematical science, data science, computer science, green economy, renewable energy and climate change studies. The first phase of the programme will support students from the Universities of Fort Hare, Limpopo, Pretoria, Witwatersrand, Western Cape and Johannesburg. The NRFs Dr Mbulelo Ncango is of the view that the scholarship programme comes at a critical time as South Africa strives to respond to energy and climate change challenges amongst many other national concerns. This partnership is aligned with national policy goals on higher education, science, and technology such as the strengthening of human resource development and the creation of an enabling environment for innovation in South Africa, he said. Like medical professionals, says Wayne van Zijl CA(SA), professional accountants might benefit from taking an oath. While doctors have a direct impact on saving lives, accountants' actions can equally influence the lives and livelihoods of thousands. The extent of their impact depends on their roles, the organisations they're associated with, and the public interest they need to protect. Even in the academic environment, accountants have a critical window of opportunity to shape the decision-making of future professionals, who will eventually hold the well-being of others in their hands, albeit indirectly. Ane Church Recently, the University of the Free State (UFS) School of Accountancy, in collaboration with Standard Bank, hosted a thought-provoking event called Business Acumen Day. The event placed significant emphasis on professional values, attitudes, and acumens (PVAAs), which are often challenging to teach and assess in large classes. Instead of trying to directly teach these competencies, the approach was to expose students to real-life examples and inspire them to adopt the right behaviours. Throughout the day, distinguished speakers, including Conrad de Wee CA(SA) RA, Patricia Stock CA(SA) RA, Bernard Agulhas CA(SA), and Rob Rose, editor of the Financial Mail, shared their insights and experiences. The event's core themes revolved around patience, humility, respect, purpose, and trust. Conrad de Wee highlighted the importance of hard work and perseverance in achieving success, drawing from his own life lessons. Patricia Stock's life story of overcoming challenges and giving back to society resonated with the students, inspiring them to believe in possibilities beyond their circumstances. Bernard Agulhas, now an adjunct professor in auditing at the UFS, delved into the challenges faced by the auditing profession in recent years. He stressed the significance of trust, accountability, and ethical principles, reminding professionals not to prioritise commercial interests over their commitment to professionalism. Rob Rose's discussion on corporate reporting scandals and the need for greater accountability piqued the interest of many in attendance. He presented red flags and governance issues surrounding major scandals, urging everyone to be more vigilant against unethical practices. Despite the sobering insights, Rose expressed faith in South Africa's justice system and its ability to bring justice in these cases. Additionally, under the sub theme 'The audit profession's response to the financial reporting scandals of the past decade: Has enough been done?', the event provided an opportunity for stakeholders, including practitioners, accountants in business, representatives from professional bodies, and university staff, to participate in a panel discussion where topics like mandatory audit firm rotations, technology's impact, audit quality, and whistleblowing were zoned in on. Open and sometimes difficult discussions are essential to stay rooted in principles and true to one's purpose. While professional accountants may not be obligated to take an oath, Agulhas emphasised the importance of being aware of their social contract to act in the public interest. The Business Acumen Day aimed to inspire future accountants to be ethical and responsible, recognising their role in shaping the welfare of society. Chevron Brands International, LLC (Chevron) and Astron Energy have reached an agreement to extend their existing Caltex usage rights and debrand agreements (URDA) for South Africa and Botswana until the end of 2026, the companies announced on Monday. hevron and Astron Energy will extend the existing Caltex Usage Rights and Debrand Agreements (URDA) for South Africa and Botswana until December 2026. Source: Supplied According to the agreement, Astron Energy will remain Chevrons exclusive licensee for Caltex branded retail service stations in the two countries until 30 September 2024. After that date, the license will become non-exclusive, allowing Chevron to partner with other companies to grow the Caltex brand in the region. During the extended period from 1 October 2024, until 31 December 2026, Astron Energy will continue to rebrand the Caltex retail service stations in its network to the Astron Energy brand, which was launched in July 2020. Chevron said it remains committed to reliably supplying quality fuels with Techron in South Africa and Botswana, where it has been operating for more than a century. The Caltex star is a symbol of quality, value and service, and is a constant reminder of our commitment to our partners and customers, said Danielle Lincoln, vice president for International Products. Thabiet Booley, CEO of Astron Energy, said the agreement reflects the companys solid future as a proudly South African company and brand. Our commitment to the rebranding of our retail network, the successful restart of our refinery and the significant investments associated with these flagship projects speaks to the solid future we envisage for Astron Energy, he said. The Tax Administration Act, 2011 (TAA) enables the South African Revenue Service (Sars) to impose an understatement penalty where the conduct of a taxpayer has either resulted in prejudice to Sars or the fiscus. Image source: Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels According to the Sars Guide to Understatement Penalties (Guide), the purpose of penalties under the TAA is to deter undesirable taxpayer behaviour, such as non-compliance and tax evasion. The exception to the imposition of understatement penalties is if the taxpayer has made a "bona fide inadvertent error", which is a concept not defined in the TAA. Where legislation is silent on the definition of legal concepts, the ordinary dictionary meaning must be considered. In previous case law, the concept of "bona fide inadvertent error" was broken down. It was acknowledged that the English Oxford Living Dictionaries define "error" as "a mistake" and "inadvertent" as "not resulting from or achieved through deliberate planning", and according to the dictionary "bona fide" means "genuine" and "real". Ultimately, it was held that a bona fide inadvertent error is an innocent misstatement by the taxpayer while acting in good faith and without the intention to deceive, which results in an understatement. Once it is determined that a taxpayer's behaviour constitutes an understatement, Sars must identify the appropriate behaviour with respect to which understatement penalties are levied. Background In Lance Dickson Construction CC v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service, the High Court had to determine whether the Tax Court's confirmation of Sars' decision to levy understatement penalties was correct. For unsubstantiated reasons, the High Court set aside the decision of the Tax Court and ordered Sars to lift the understatement penalty. By so doing, the High Court may have missed an opportunity to delve into the substance of the matter, as the court merely reiterated the views of the Tax Court. During the 2017 year of assessment (2017 YOA), the taxpayer, Lance Dickson Construction CC (LDC), transferred immoveable property, which was to be subdivided into 72 erven, to Kwali Mark Construction CC (KMC), a related party. The immoveable property was transferred to KMC for the amount of R25.2m, which was not payable immediately. In terms of the written sale agreement, KMC was to pay LDC the amount of R350,000 for each erf on-sold to the ultimate purchaser, and the capital gains tax (CGT) arising in the hands of LDC upon the initial sale would be paid upon the on-sale of each erf by KMC and receipt of the proceeds by LDC. As the erven were not on-sold during the 2017 YOA and LDC did not "receive" any proceeds, LDC did not declare the proceeds from the sale to KMC in its 2017 tax return and further did not pay any CGT arising from the sale, although the transfer to KMC was registered at the Deeds Office during the 2017 YOA. This occurred even though it was clear from the ITA and common knowledge to persons conducting a business that tax is imposed on the earlier of accrual or receipt. As a registered VAT vendor, LDC correctly charged output VAT on the sale of the immoveable property to KMC and declared this in their VAT return for the relevant period. During the tax reconciliation process, Sars identified the discrepancy between LDC's VAT declaration and income tax declaration and picked out the omission of the proceeds from the 2017 income tax return. Consequently, Sars imposed an understatement penalty of 25% on the basis that LDC did not take reasonable care in completing its tax return, ie. behaviour (ii) in the understatement penalty percentage table. Considerations under the Income Tax Act The Tax Court dealt with the substance of the matter and considered the provisions dealing with the time of disposal of assets. In terms of paragraph 13(1)(a)(ii) of the 8th Schedule to the Income Tax Act (ITA), the time of disposal of an asset where there is a change of ownership from one person to another is, in the case of an agreement that is not subject to a suspensive condition, the date on which the agreement is concluded. Effectively, this would be the date of accrual of the proceeds for CGT purposes. In the Tax Court, Sars successfully pleaded that the contractual clause delaying the payment of the purchase price and CGT liability constituted a suspensive time clause and not a suspensive condition as contemplated in paragraph 13(1)(a)(ii). Therefore, the immoveable property was determined to have been disposed of on the date that the sale agreement between the parties was concluded, a date falling under the 2017 YOA. As a result, LDC could not rely on the exception provided for in paragraph 13(1)(a)(ii) to escape its liability to pay CGT in the 2017 YOA. To understand the Tax Court's conclusion, it is important to distinguish between the concepts "suspensive time clause" and "suspensive condition", as it is easy to mistake one for the other. Suspensive time clause and suspensive condition A suspensive condition is a condition that, if not fulfilled, renders the contract null and void. A good example is when a seller and purchaser conclude an agreement for the purchase and sale of immoveable property on the condition that the buyer obtains a mortgage bond. If the condition is not fulfilled, the agreement falls away as the purchaser would not have the funds to acquire the property. On the other hand, a suspensive time clause suspends the operation of rights or obligations under a contract until a predetermined event occurs. In the LDC case, the contentious clause likely constituted a suspensive time clause as it did not impose a condition that, if not fulfilled, would result in the agreement between the parties being invalidated. The clause simply sought to delay payment by KMC of the purchase price and payment by LDC of the CGT. Although the parties may have intended to achieve a suspensive condition, the clause was crafted in its wording more similarly to a suspensive time clause, and in our view, the decision of the Tax Court should have been accepted. Importance of wording This case demonstrates the importance of contractual drafting so that the intentions of the contracting parties reflect clearly in the wording of contracts. The lawful desired outcomes of the parties may not be achieved with poorly worded contractual terms. Taxpayers must also exercise great diligence regarding the nature of clauses they include in their agreements, as they may still be liable for CGT if a clause other than a suspensive condition is included in the agreement. Sars took this as an opportunity to remind taxpayers that they have a legal obligation to declare their taxes in the YOAs in which they dispose of an asset. This is also contained in section 26A of the ITA, which requires that a person's taxable capital gains for a YOA be included in that person's taxable income for that YOA. Whether there was an understatement and determination of appropriate behaviour The Tax Court determined that there was indeed an understatement on the basis that LDC did not apply reasonable care in completing its tax return and the "bona fide inadvertent error" exception was not a question before the courts. The Tax Court applied the reasonable person test and considered the fact that LDC was not a first-time seller of immoveable property and was aware of the tax implications arising from the sale of immoveable property. In the Tax Court, LDC argued that there was no understatement as there was no loss to Sars or the fiscus, considering that CGT would have in any event been paid in subsequent YOAs upon the on-transfer of the individual erven by KMC. This argument failed as the court accepted that Sars is given an annual target by the National Treasury to collect certain amounts of taxes and in order for the target to be reached, every cent counts. Sars' witness convinced the Tax Court that a failure to disclose a sale with a value of R25.2m by a taxpayer would impact Sars negatively and affect the governments ability to fulfil its constitutional obligations to South African citizens. Increase of understatement penalty It transpired in the Tax Court proceedings that Sars sought to have the imposed understatement penalty increased to 50% in terms of section 129(3) of the TAA, which empowers the Tax Court to increase a Sars understatement penalty. Although the Tax Court allowed the parties to file supplementary heads of argument, it concluded that it could not increase the penalty with reference to the Supreme Court of Appeal's (SCA) decision in Purlish Holdings v The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (26 February 2019), wherein it was held that the Tax Court could increase the penalty where "the issue has been properly raised for adjudication before that court". Further, Rule 34 of the TAA Rules confines the issues in a Tax Court appeal to those issues contained in the parties' submissions (ie. Rules 31, 32, 33 statements). Aggrieved by the decision of the Tax Court to confirm the imposition of the understatement penalty, LDC appealed to the High Court. The High Court focused on Sars' initial request to increase the understatement penalty and questioned the Sars' witness about how behaviour (ii) was identified as the most appropriate behaviour in respect of which the understatement penalty was imposed. Seemingly disappointed by the witness' response, the High Court raised the point that Sars could have imposed understatement penalties on the basis of behaviour (iii) ie. no reasonable grounds for tax position taken, which attracts a minimum penalty of 50%. The witness' agreement with this point appears to have constituted sufficient evidence for the High Court to conclude that Sars did not discharge the onus to justify its imposition of the penalty based on behaviour (ii). Furthermore, the High Court went on to explain why the Tax Court had misread the Purlish case, as "there is no debate that the Tax Court has the power to increase an understatement penalty [in terms of] s 129(3) of the TAA [which] expressly provides so" (own emphasis). It is our respectful view that the Tax Court did not misread the Purlish case, but accepted and abided by the SCA's decision, which effectively means that the issue regarding the increase of the penalty was not properly brought before the court as it was not contained in the parties' submissions and, as a result, could not be entertained by the court. We doubt, from the wording of the Tax Court decision regarding this issue, that the Tax Court ever doubted its powers in terms of section 129(3). Failure to look at substantive facts We believe the manner in which the High Court reached its conclusion is questionable and fails to show substantive reasoning. The court heavily critiqued the decision of the Tax Court because of the concession made by the Sars' witness that a penalty of 50% could have been imposed instead, based on behaviour (iii). This concession undoubtedly prejudiced Sars' arguments against LDC but could not, at least in our view, completely release LDC of its tax obligations and the penalty imposed. Sars was successful before the Tax Court in proving the presence of an understatement. This meant that LDC was liable for understatement penalties given its omission in the 2017 income tax return and that should have been the end of the story. The High Court's direction that Sars lift the understatement penalty is basically permitting LDC and KMC to contract out of section 26A of the ITA and paragraph 13(1)(a)(ii) of the 8th Schedule, which are clear on the tax treatment of asset disposals where the agreement is not subject to a suspensive condition. By granting LDC's appeal, the High Court is condoning undesired behaviour by taxpayers, which is the primary issue that understatement penalties seek to tackle, and unfortunately, the decision of the High Court has already been accepted by many as it does not favour Sars. It may be unfounded to completely fault the court, considering the inherent complexity of tax matters. This case is a clear indication that the High Court should consider inviting tax specialists to sit in on tax-related matters, especially given the binding nature of High Court judgments, whereas Tax Court judgments are merely persuasive. This case has important implications for taxpayers, Sars, the courts and tax practitioners alike. In the dynamic landscape of labour regulations, compliance with employment equity (EE) reporting holds significance for organisations aiming to foster inclusive and diverse workplaces. The Department of Labour's recent EE Roadshow has shed light on key updates and insights for the 2023 reporting period. Image source: Getty Images The reporting period commenced on 1 September 2023, encompassing both manual and online submission methods. Manual EE submissions close on 1 October 2023, while online submissions will be accepted until midnight on 15 January 2024. These dates mark critical milestones for organisations to present their EE reports, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and demonstrating their commitment to equitable workplaces. A prominent aspect highlighted during the roadshow is the absence of an effective date for impending amendments to the Employment Equity Act (EEA), therefore the 2013 Amendments to the Act remain for this reporting period. This situation carries several implications: Inspections will continue as per the regulations outlined in the 2013 Amendments. Businesses with less than 50 employees but surpassing the turnover threshold must still adhere to designated employer obligations. Companies transitioning from designated to non-designated status after the effective date are advised not to deregister if they require a Certificate of Compliance. Expiry of existing EE Plans or imminent expiration necessitates proactive action, as inspections can occur before the effective date. Furthermore, while the duration of EE Plans remains unamended (between one to five years), uncertainty persists regarding the practical implementation of shorter durations than the five-year duration of each round of Sectoral Targets. The concept of Sectoral Targets emerged as a pivotal topic during the roadshow. The demographic transformation benchmark remains the Economically Active Population (EAP), while Sectoral Targets serve as interim milestones toward achieving EAP goals. An important point highlighted is that transformation should occur through natural attrition, avoiding dismissals or retrenchments. The formulation of Draft Sectoral Targets followed a comprehensive process, involving stakeholder engagements, written submissions, EAP data analysis, B-BBEE Sector Codes, and unique sector dynamics. These targets serve as more flexible benchmarks than rigid quotas, affording designated employers the ability to self-regulate and consult employees in their pursuit of achieving 5-year Sectoral Targets. In cases of failure to meet these targets, explanations justifying this can be provided, adding a layer of adaptability to the process. The evolution from rigid quotas to flexible Sectoral Targets underscores a strategic shift towards equitable workplaces through collaborative transformation. Companies should seize this opportunity to engage with their employees, adapt their EE Plans, and embrace diversity and inclusivity as their corporate ethos. Ultimately, EE reporting is not merely a regulatory obligation but a testament to an organisation's commitment to equality and fairness in the modern workforce. Employment Equity can add enormous value to an organisation, provided it is understood and implemented correctly. If we are truly committed to transformation and if we approach the EE Plan and EE Report effectively, it offers a structured approach which addresses both the transformation of a business, as well as ensuring compliance with the legislative employment equity framework. Tips for successful reporting: Frik Boonzaaier, Senior Human Capital Consultant at The BEE Chamber Accuracy: It goes without saying that your report needs to be accurate and honest. Consultation: It is important that both the EE Plan and EE Reports are consulted through an EE Committee, the members of which are nominated by their peers. These members must have a thorough understanding of the Employment Equity Act. Report against the plan: I cannot stress this enough: you need a plan to be able to submit a proper report. It is fraudulent to submit a report without a plan. The BEE Chamber meets with clients, assisting them with drafting a compliant and transformative Plan, or adapting their plan to be achievable. Businesses can prepare an EE Plan which spans between one and five years, with three years being the most common. The optimal duration will be based on the size and nature of the business. Time: The size of a company impacts the time needed for reporting. It is a simple task for a small company, especially with the EAA2 Report (which includes the latest workforce profile, historical staff movements, as well as a focus on skills development). However, allow adequate time if you are a large business, especially for completing the EEA4 Report which looks at differences in the terms and conditions of employment, as the necessary analyses can be tedious. Amid the absence of an effective date for amended regulations, compliance with the existing 2013 Amendments is key. Businesses must stay attuned to changes in reporting forms and ensure their submissions adhere to the specified deadlines for a successful report. In an environment filled with economic curveballs, South African businesses face just as many challenges as they do opportunities. With cash flow management and funding being paramount to the survival of a small business, access to expert advice, mentorship and guidance on financial matters is one of the most invaluable tools in a small businesses' toolkit. Being able to work with money, exercise responsible financial habits and take a long-term view on a business' financial wellbeing are not always inherent skills of every entrepreneur. Rather, they are skills that are learnt and developed over time, with much patience and practice. This is the viewpoint of Mandy van Wyngaard, entrepreneur and managing director of interior design, renovations and installation company, Chilli Pepper Designs. In retrospect, she believes that financial counselling and advice would have been immensely beneficial during her business formative years. A helping hand on the financial front As the most recent Business Partners Limited SME Confidence Index illustrates, many of Van Wyngaards industry peers agree on the importance of having small business specific information, resources and support for the development and growth of a business. These sentiments were echoed by 77% of respondents to the survey, while 78% found that levels of access to finance for the growth and sustainability of business was among the top areas of importance for emerging entrepreneurs. Having the ability to make money doesnt mean you are necessarily good with managing money. My advice for aspiring South African entrepreneurs is to invest in building financial acumen and get advice on best practices, when it comes to keeping your finances in check. Ideally, if you can build a nest egg that will tide you over when business is slow, those funds may provide a much-needed safety net and a buffer against tough times, she says. A proudly South African success story Van Wyngaard financed Chilli Pepper Designs with a loan from, Business Partners Limited, a specialist small business financier. Access to this essential funding helped her to transform her designs into a reality and build a client base within the kitchen fitting and construction industry. Today, her company offers consulting, site evaluation, interior design, installation, quotations and site inspections. Over the years, she has succeeded in onboarding a range of clients within the hospitality industry and has serviced leading destinations such as the Serengeti Gold and Wildlife Estate and the Waterfall Country Lifestyle Estate. Choose your business partner wisely As is the case for many local small business owners, van Wyngaards journey to building a robust business did not come without its fair share of hurdles. Another important lesson she has garnered from the experience is the importance of choosing the right business partner and when necessary to know when to let go of unfruitful partnerships. Breaking up with a business partner may seem like an implausible prospect when youre starting out. But for me, it was a necessary step on my journey to building a business I really believed in. In this regard, being covered from a legal standpoint and having the necessary contractual agreements in place to regulate these relationships is vital. I highly recommend partnering with a business lawyer from the get-go making that investment can save you a lot of pain, frustration and money in the long run, she adds. Women entrepreneurs making moves Megan Dedekind, area manager at Business Partners Limited For Megan Dedekind, area manager at Business Partners Limited, Van Wyngaards success stands as a testament to the resilience of local entrepreneurs. Not only is she a prime example of the payoffs of relentless determination as an entrepreneur in general, but she is also a role model for other aspiring businesswomen. She brings a valuable, unique perspective to her sector as well as the broader business network. "Business financing and ongoing support can give business owners the boost they need to get off the ground and begin building ventures that will benefit themselves, their families and their communities, Dedekind says. On this point, Van Wyngaard believes that as a woman, her ability to be agile in adapting to evolving internal and external market conditions, as well as her innate compassion for people are two of her greatest assets. I want to add value to the world. I want to share my experience and knowledge with young and older women alike to tell my story of taking the bull by the horns and making things happen despite a range of pitfalls along the way. I count myself as being fortunate to be able to do what I love every day, and I hope through my journey, to inspire other businesswomen to reach the same level of self-fulfillment and professional development, she concludes. The annual IMM Marketing Excellence Awards will be held on 8 November 2023 to celebrate South Africa's top marketers and their organisations. The IMM invites all marketing industry role players to submit nominations for the different categories in this year's awards. Award nominations close on 16 October 2023. To submit your nominations, visit: https://imminstitute.co.za/awards. Interview: BRI propels inland Chinese municipality toward forefront of opening up: vice mayor Xinhua) 17:00, October 09, 2023 CHONGQING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Through actively participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chongqing Municipality in southwest China is moving quickly toward the forefront of the country's opening up, Chen Mingbo, vice mayor of Chongqing, told Xinhua in a recent interview. With a population of 32.13 million, Chongqing's development was once hindered by its geographical location deep in the hinterland, requiring imports and exports to travel long distances to and from China's east coast. Over the past decade, Chongqing has effectively aligned its involvement in the BRI with the development of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle and the Yangtze River economic belt, among other national strategies, striving to establish an international logistics hub in inland China, according to Chen. As one of the key projects under the BRI, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members, with Chongqing serving as its operating center. Since its launch in 2017, the project has connected 68 Chinese cities with 473 ports in 120 countries and regions, facilitating the transportation of over 980 types of goods. In partnership with Chengdu, capital of the neighboring Sichuan Province, Chongqing has launched the China-Europe freight train service with routes covering more than 100 cities in Europe and Asia. Thanks to the growing connectivity of infrastructure under the BRI, Chongqing has better integrated into the global market and developed a more open economy, said Chen. In 2022, the city's trade volume with BRI partners reached 333.14 billion yuan (about 46.41 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 1.7 times in nine years, while 319 Fortune 500 companies invested in Chongqing during these nine years. Leveraging its strengths in industries such as automobiles and electronic information, the city is actively exploring trade opportunities in BRI markets, especially in ASEAN countries. The city is also advancing the construction of a pilot free trade zone where various institutional innovations have been implemented to facilitate trade, investment, and port clearance, among others, according to the vice mayor. Looking ahead, Chen said that Chongqing will continue to consolidate its trade advantages and build mutually beneficial industrial and supply chains with BRI countries. It will also give full play to its role in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, further upgrading infrastructure and optimizing the intermodal transport system to enhance trade efficiency. "In the coming years, we will vigorously expand economic and trade cooperation and exchanges and strive to play a leading role in advancing BRI cooperation, so as to better serve and integrate into China's new development pattern," said Chen. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Korea's finance minister plans to leave for Morocco this week to take part in annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, his office said Monday. Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho will also attend the Group of 20 (G20) meeting of finance ministers and central bank chiefs on the margins of the event that kicked off in Marrakesh, western Morocco, on Monday, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. On Wednesday, Choo plans to attend a roundtable on the global supply chain and Ukraine-related issues, providing details on how Korea can support the reconstruction of the war-torn nation. On the following day, Choo will participate in a meeting of the World Bank to discuss new missions of the organization, including promoting the supply of so-called global public goods that can be shared by all people. He will also share opinions on ways to successfully reform multilateral development banks with his G20 counterparts. On Friday, Choo plans to discuss financial stability and other economy-related agendas with other G20 nations, the finance ministry added. During the visit, Choo also plans to meet officials from various countries, including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Ghana, to call for their support for Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in its southeastern port city of Busan. Choo will head back home Friday. (Yonhap) Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Korea has seen no major impact from the Israel-Palestine conflict on the country's imports of crude oil and natural gas, the trade ministry said Monday. Officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the state-run Korea National Oil and the Korea Gas held an emergency meeting earlier in the day to look into the supply of the two key fuel sources following the conflict, the ministry said. The government expects no delays or disruptions in importing oil and gas from the Middle East given that the site of the conflict is located away from the Strait of Hormuz islands, a critical maritime route through which Korea imports oil and gas. It found most of the crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers heading to Korea are operating as usual in the Middle Eastern areas, the statement said. "We will make all-out efforts to avoid any disruptions in securing the key energy sources amid the conflict that has just flared up," a ministry official said. "We will make all-out efforts to avoid any disruptions in securing the key energy sources amid the conflict that has just flared up," a ministry official said. Korea is closely watching the situation in the Middle East, as Korea relies on the region for 67 percent of its overall crude oil purchases and 37 percent of its total gas deals. "The government will make every effort to minimize the impact on our economy by keeping all possibilities open while strengthening market monitoring with heightened vigilance, as it is highly uncertain how things will unfold," Choi Sang-mok, senior presidential secretary for economic affairs, said during a briefing. Korean stock markets were closed Monday for the Hangeul Day holiday, which celebrates the proclamation of the Korean alphabet. Oil prices were trading at $87.7 as of 9:00 a.m. Monday, up 3.6 percent from a day earlier as the military conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas increases political uncertainties across the Middle East and raises concerns about supplies. (Yonhap) The final season of the hit royal series The Crown will be released in two parts later this year, Netflix has announced. The first instalment of the historical dramas sixth season will launch on November 16th while part two will be released on December 14th. Advertisement The series, broadly based around real historical events, depicts a fictionalised version of the British royal family. It is not a choice. It is a duty. The final season of The Crown arrives next month. Part 1: 16 November Part 2: 14 December pic.twitter.com/ULOPHeghKh Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) October 9, 2023 Advertisement Netflix announced news of the series release date with a clip that showed the actresses who have played the late Queen Elizabeth reflecting on the monarchs role in Britain. After the past versions of the queen, played by Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, speak about their duty, the current queen, played by Imelda Staunton, walks up to a window where her figure stands as a silhouette in front of a crowd of cheering onlookers. Advertisement Advertisement In the clip, different versions of the queen speak and say: The crown is a symbol of permanence. Its something you are, not what you do. Some portion of our natural selves is always lost. We have all made sacrifices. It is not a choice. It is a duty. But what about the life I put aside. The woman I put aside? Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix UK & Ireland (@netflixuk) Advertisement Alongside the clip, Netflix wrote: It is not a choice. It is a duty. The final season of The Crown arrives next month. Season five of The Crown explored the events following Prince Charles and Princess Dianas divorce, including the BBC interview Diana had with journalist Martin Bashir. The next series could look into the 1997 Paris car accident which led to the death of Diana, the driver Henri Paul and Dodi Fayed, the son of business tycoon Mohamed Al Fayed, who was seen getting to know Diana in season five. Season six is also expected to show the premiership of Tony Blair, and the early relationship between Prince William and the then-Kate Middleton. The Department of Foreign Affairs has said stories about Ireland refusing to label Hamas a terrorist group are "categorically false". Some Israeli media claimed Ireland, Denmark and Luxembourg took exception to using that phrase in an EU response. Advertisement However, the Department has clarified and said that is not true. Hamas is listed as a terror organisation by the EU, as was agreed unanimously by Member States. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: "In response to queries, DFA confirms it is categorically false that Ireland refused to agree a reference to Hamas as a terrorist organisation in the EU statement in response to attacks in Israel. Hamas is listed by the EU as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all MSs." In response to queries, DFA confirms it is categorically false that Ireland refused to agree a reference to Hamas as a terrorist organisation in the EU statement in response to attacks in Israel. Hamas is listed by the EU as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all MSs Advertisement Advertisement Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) October 9, 2023 Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site, and has been missing since the Hamas attack. The 22-year-old's mother has spoken of her heartbreak as she waits for news about her daughter. In an interview with ABC News, her mother Jennifer Damti, originally from Portlaoise, said her daughter had phoned them shortly after. Kim didnt realise there was like seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, she said. They just shot them, slaughtered them like ducks, and thats the reason Im here, cause I want the world to condemn this behaviour. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is, if shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back, she said. So many other mothers here today. Im not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody. The family of a prisoner who scalded his cellmate with boiling water before strangling him had tried to get him committed before his fatal attack and had contacted gardai with concerns that there might be "an incident" if his mental health further deteriorated, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Meanwhile the victim's family, in an impact statement to the court, described him as a "gentle soul" who was the "apple of his mother's eye", adding that his mother died of a "broken heart" before the case came to trial. Advertisement Michael Connolly (55), of no fixed abode, scalded Mark Lawlor with hot water using a borrowed kettle from a next-door cell before strangling him. He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in August. Advertisement Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. The jury heard that Connolly, who is originally from Louth, believed that Mr Lawlor (37), from Drumcondra, had some kind of exalted identity like a king and was "a kingpin of Dublin" when he killed him in a cell in the prison. Advertisement The jury had been told that a disagreement on the findings of two psychiatrists was the nub of the case over whether or not Connolly was sufficiently mentally ill to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. At the Central Criminal Court on Monday, Mr Lawlor's sister, Sharon Brennan, read an emotional victim impact statement to the court, written by her father, Sean, on behalf of the family. Ms Brennan said the family's lives were "shattered" on the day they were informed of Mr Lawlor's death. She said that her brother's mental health had deteriorated before his death and that he had been taken away from the family while in the prison system. Advertisement Justice served Ms Brennan said that her brother had a "gentle soul" and a "heart of gold" and that "all of our lives were changed" by his death. She said that Mr Lawlor was the only son in the family and was the "apple" of his mother's eye, "who died of a broken heart after Mark's death". Advertisement She read that the family hoped that "justice be served for the people of Ireland", adding that the Lawlor family "should never have had to go through the pain of losing our son in the way that Mark died". Today, in outlining the evidence heard at the trial, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tony McGillicuddy SC, said that the attack took place in Cloverhill Prison on the night of Friday, November 22th, 2019, into the early hours of Saturday, November 23rd, 2019. Advertisement Mr McGillicuddy said Mr Lawlor and Connolly had both been remanded to the prison on unconnected matters and the two men were alone sharing the three-prisoner cell on the night. Mr McGillicuddy said that at 11.35pm on the night, a call light was activated by prisoners in the adjoining cell, who heard a scuffle and someone calling out Davey or David. The prisoners thought it was Mr Lawlor and that he sounded hoarse and may have been choking. A prison officer responded and when he looked into the cell, he saw Connolly on top of Mr Lawlor with his hands around his neck. The cell door was opened, and prisoner officers took Connolly off Mr Lawlor. Mr Lawlor was pronounced dead at 12.55am. Advertisement Counsel said a psychiatrist found that Mr Connolly had delusional beliefs, including that the prisoners were in league with prison officers in a homosexual conspiracy. Advertisement Mr McGillicuddy said the psychiatrist noted that Mr Connolly had formed the delusional belief that Mr Lawlor had some kind of exalted identity, like a king. The barrister said prison officer Adrian Richmond gave evidence that when he looked into the cell, he saw Connolly on top of Mr Lawlor and that Mr Connolly showed no reaction to the light of his torch shining into the cell and that he also made no sound. Mr McGillicuddy said the officer's evidence was that it was as if the accused was in a "trance" when removed. Pool of blood Colm Burke, an assistant chief prison officer, gave evidence that he saw Mr Lawlor lying on the bed with a chair across his chest and Connolly lying across the chair with his hands around Mr Lawlors neck. Mr Burke said he saw blood smears on the window in the cell and on the wall, and that directly under Mr Lawlors head there was a massive pool of blood. Detective Garda Inspector Darragh Kenny confirmed to Mr McGillicuddy that a post-mortem revealed that Mr Lawlor had sustained multiple superficial burns with blistering on his face, neck and arms, which were consistent with having been scalded by having boiling or hot water thrown at him. Advertisement The detective told Mr McGillicuddy that the kettle had been borrowed from a next-door cell by Connolly. Det Insp Kenny said that Connolly had also used the kettle itself "as a weapon" to attack Mr Lawlor and that blood had also been found on it. Mr Lawlor was placed in a recovery position, attended to and CPR was performed but he was pronounced dead at 12.55am on November 23rd, 2019. Over the course of four interviews, Connolly admitted that he caused the death of Mr Lawlor and had poured the scalding water over him to "get an advantage" before getting on top of Mr Lawlor. Mr McGillicuddy said that Connolly returned to Ireland from the US around 2007 and then engaged with mental health services from around 2012. Mr McGillicuddy said the "nub" of the case for the jury was the evidence of two consultant psychiatrists, who differed on whether or not Connolly was mentally impaired enough to have a possible verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Det Insp Kenny said Connolly was being held in Cloverhill at the time for a suspected arson attack on a Louth B&B and that he had two previous convictions, one for criminal damage and one for the possession of an axe. Advertisement Mr McGillicuddy said it was the prosecution's submission that the offence committed by Connolly fell into the higher bracket for sentencing which would result in a sentence between 10 and 15 years. Defence barrister Donough McDonough BL said his client had studied furniture-making in Dundalk Institute of Technology for a year, emigrating to the UK and then the US before returning in 2008. Mr McDonough said Connolly had received a fully-suspended sentence in 2013 for attacking what he believed to be "blasphemous" art works in a Louth church gallery with an axe and was then admitted to a mental health institution in Ardee, Co Louth. Mr McDonough said Connolly's sister had been attempting to get him committed to an institution before his attack on Mr Lawlor and had contacted gardai by phone and email about her concerns that there might be an incident if Connolly's mental health further deteriorated. Counsel said Connolly had admitted his actions caused the death of Mr Lawlor, had co-operated with gardai, expressed his remorse and apologised to the Lawlor family. Mr McDonough said Mr Lawlor was "entirely blameless" in the matter and had done "nothing wrong". Counsel also commended the Lawlors for "as dignified a victim impact report as I have ever heard". Mr McDonough submitted to Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford that his client would endure a "more onerous" time in prison due to his mental health issues and asked for the judge to take this into account when sentencing. Ms Justice Lankford said she would need time to consider the matter for sentencing in what she described as an "important" case and offered her condolences to the Lawlor family. Ms Justice Lankford then adjourned the matter to October 27th for sentence. President Michael D Higgins has called for a cessation of violence in Israel and Gaza for the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. His comments came as the Department of Foreign Affairs criticised a unilateral announcement from an EU commissioner which said payments under a development portfolio for Palestinians would be suspended. Advertisement In a statement, Mr Higgins said: May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families. Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible. Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life. Advertisement Such actions will not lead to such a constructive approach as might achieve the necessary conditions for the co-existence of all in conditions of peace, for which we must all aspire. Advertisement Mr Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to all the families of the victims of the recent violence. He said his thoughts are particularly with the family of 22-year-old Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for since the attack against Israel. Advertisement The president also said an ongoing diplomatic failure to address the conflict is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved. Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled. Those international voices who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life, for restraint, realise how difficult this is to achieve. Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency. What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all. I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. Advertisement Tanaiste Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Meanwhile, Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said the protection of civilians has to be the centre of work towards a just and sustainable peace. In a statement, Mr Martin said: I am horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days. I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately. Yesterday, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. Advertisement It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence. Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: I am working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis, including by speaking today with Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki and with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi. I will discuss the situation with my EU counterparts in an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers tomorrow. These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events. We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was also critical of a tweet from EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi which said all payments for a Palestinian development programme immediately suspended. Advertisement A spokeswoman said: It is our understanding there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid. The Commission later clarified that it is launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel. It said no payments have been suspended as there were no payments foreseen. The Department of Foreign Affairs also said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Irish funding provides emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic public services. Ireland has also consistently funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which addresses the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestinian refugees. Irelands funding plays a crucial role in the livelihoods and welfare of Palestinian civilians currently up to 80% of the Palestinian population is dependent on international assistance for basic human needs. Ireland remains committed to delivering this vital support to Palestinian civilians and their needs should continue to be a central part of the overall response to this crisis by the international community. A man who raped a young woman after a night socialising has been jailed for six years. Owain Plumb (37), who has worked in IT in Ireland for the past decade, raped the woman as she slept on a couch in his apartment. The woman had earlier in the night rebuked him for touching her in an unwanted manner. Advertisement Plumb, originally from Wales but with an address at The William Bligh, The Gasworks, Dublin 4, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court earlier this year of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault of the woman at his apartment on January 11th, 2020. Plumb, who has no previous convictions, maintains his innocence. He has been in custody since May. Ms Justice Melanie Greally said the offences had been a breach of trust and hospitality. She noted the young woman had previously unambiguously rebuked Plumb and lack of consent had been expressed. She said the rape was opportunistic and a sexual violation of a sleeping person. Advertisement She imposed a headline sentence of eight years and eight months, before taking into account mitigation. Advertisement Ms Justice Greally noted factors including his lack of previous conviction and positive evidence of his previous good character. She also took into account steps taken by him to rehabilitate, the support of his family and his favourable employment history. She imposed a sentence of seven years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended. Detective Garda Tara Power told Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that Plumb and the woman were unknown to each prior to meeting while socialising in Dublin city centre on the evening in question. The woman, Plumb and a number of others in their company returned to Plumbs apartment where further alcohol and some cocaine were consumed. Advertisement During the course of the evening, Plumb had touched the womans bottom during a group hug and she told him in no uncertain terms it was not welcome. The court heard others left the apartment and the woman remained with Plumb and two males. One male left at about 6am and the woman fell asleep on the couch, with Plumb on an inflatable mattress on the floor. The woman said she had fallen asleep in a seated position but when she was awoken she was in a different position, with her face pressed into the sofa. Her trousers were pulled down to her knees and as she came to full awakening, she realised Plumb was raping her. Advertisement He moved to turn her to face him and uttered an expletive when he realised she was awake. He backed away, and she left the apartment in a state of distress. She was aware he had also attempted to anally penetrate her and had digitally penetrated her vagina. Advertisement She realised she had left her iPad, her main means of communication, behind her and, with the assistance of one of the other males who had been in the apartment, she went back to look for it. She encountered Plumb, told him he was evil and punched him in the face. She was unable to find her iPad, but it was later recovered in a damaged condition on the ground beneath Plumbs apartment. Gardai were alerted and Plumb was arrested. A victim impact statement from the woman was handed into court but not read aloud. Fiona Murphy SC, defending, said Plumb was a family man with a good work history. He has been in Ireland for the past 10 years. His family are supportive. She said he does not accept his guilt. Advertisement Ms Murphy said Plumb has abstained from drink and drugs since the night in question. She said a probation report places him at moderate risk of offending in circumstances where he is maintaining his innocence. Counsel said Plumb is now on the sex offenders register which will cause him difficulties. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. A man who sexually assaulted his flatmates girlfriend in an apartment shortly after her boyfriend had left for work has been jailed for four years. Mamadou Alpha Bah, a native of Guinea, was found guilty of the sexual assault and false imprisonment of the young woman from eastern Europe at an address in Kildare two years ago following a four-day trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in July. Advertisement Alpha Bah (26), a former cleaner at Intel in Leixlip, Co Kildare, had denied the charges. At a sentencing hearing on Monday, Garda Conor OCasey told the court that the victim, who is now aged 23, had only arrived in Ireland 10 days earlier. Garda OCasey said the woman, who used to sleep without any clothes, woke to find Alpha Bah in her bedroom at around 7.15am on August 20th, 2021, about 35 minutes after her boyfriend had left for work. Advertisement He told counsel for the DPP, Daniel Boland BL, that the accused had told her she was a very good-looking woman but that she had pointed out that they both already had partners. Advertisement Garda OCasey said Alpha Bah had pulled the bedclothes off the woman leaving her naked and proceeded to kiss her and touch her on the vagina. The court heard Alpha Bah had got on top of the victim and she struggled for around 10 minutes to try and get Alpha Bah to stop. However, she managed to persuade him from doing something more serious by promising not to report him to gardai if he stopped. Garda OCasey said the woman was screaming during the incident but was not heard by anyone. Advertisement He said the woman was unable to go ahead with a job interview later that morning and spent the rest of the day with a friend. The matter was reported to gardai after she informed her boyfriend about what happened when he came home that evening. Panic attacks and anxiety In a victim impact statement read out in court, the woman said the incident had greatly affected her health with her suffering severe panic attacks and anxiety. The woman, who did not attend the hearing, said she did not feel safe at work and felt that someone could hurt her. Advertisement Advertisement She said her relationship with her boyfriend also suffered, while she had also spent a large amount of money on psychotherapy. The court heard that Alpha Bah had remained in custody ever since he was arrested on August 27th, 2021. Counsel for the defendant, John Peart SC, said his client had come to Ireland in 2018 as part of a family reunification arrangement. Mr Peart said Alpha Bah had no previous convictions. Advertisement He also informed the court that his clients father had died shortly before his arrest, while his mother had died while he was in custody. Judge Mary OMalley Costello, noted Alpha Bah had been found guilty of serious offences by unanimous verdicts of a jury. The judge said the defendant had violated the trust of the woman as her boyfriends flatmate. She said the sexual assault was compounded by the fact that he had prevented her from leaving her bedroom. The judge said it was hard to hear the victim describe how she did not feel safe in any part of her life and commended her for her bravery. 'Heartbroken and disappointed' Judge OMalley Costello also noted that Alpha Bah had submitted a letter to the court in which he declared he was heartbroken and disappointed at the jurys verdict. It was all regret and remorse but no admission of guilt, she added. The judge acknowledged that drugs and alcohol had played no role in the offences. The court heard that Alpha Bah had been assessed as being at a moderate risk of re-offending in relation to sexual assault and crimes involving violence. Judge OMalley Costello sentenced him to five years with the final 12 months suspended for the conviction for sexual assault for a period of two years on condition that he make himself available on release from prison for assessment for a treatment programme for people who commit sexual offences and violence against women. The judge backdated the term of imprisonment to when Alpha Bah was first remanded in custody. She also sentenced him to three years with the final 12 months suspended for false imprisonment with the term to run concurrently. The judge remarked that being placed on the sex offenders register would also represent a significant punishment for his offences. Excessive support of Israel may put Seoul's economic ties with Riyadh at risk By Nam Hyun-woo With the military conflict between Israel and Hamas expanding into a full-scale war, Koreas Middle East diplomacy is being put to the test, as questions grow as to whether the Yoon Suk Yeol government will uphold its diplomatic principle of voicing its opinions in international affairs amid the intertwined complexity involving the United States, Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia. In response to the conflict, Korea, a strong ally of the United States, has released a message that it condemns attacks on Israel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday night that it "strongly condemns indiscriminative attacks waged on Israel from the Gaza Strip and urged the attacks to be stopped immediately. Palestines Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas, which has long been suspected to be sponsored by Iran. Despite its efforts to maintain a distance, Korea finds itself mired in the clash, as the U.S. Republicans slammed U.S. President Joe Biden for recently releasing $6 billion in Iranian funds, previously frozen in Korean accounts, on suspicion that the funds were being funneled to Iran-backed terrorists. Just weeks ago, the Biden administration handed over $6 billion to Iran, and today, innocent Israelis were murdered by Iran-backed terrorists, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop also wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Biden just gave Hamas sponsor Iran $6 billion. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken denied these claims in an interview with CNN, saying no money has been sent to Hamas from the unfrozen funds. Last month, the governments of Korea and Iran announced that the Iranian funds frozen in Korea had been transferred to Iranian accounts in Qatar, following a prisoner swap deal between Washington and Tehran. Contrary to hopes that this unfreezing of the funds could help restore ties between Seoul and Tehran, there was no improvement in the two countries relations as Iran immediately threatened to pursue complaints to collect compensatory interest on the funds, while Korea saw the issue was neither its responsibility nor a diplomatic priority. Currently, Korea has no direct involvement with the war and the Yoon government is seeking to keep a distance from the conflict. However, experts said the war could be a test of Seouls Middle East diplomacy in the event that the conflict expands to the entire Middle East. For now, Korea is expressing its concerns on the violence in the Israel-Gaza war, said Kim Joon-hyung, a professor of international relations at Handong Global University and former chancellor of Korea National Diplomatic Academy. However, if the war expands and becomes a confrontation between blocs, making an assertive statements, such as aligning Korea and Israel in the conflict, may affect Seouls relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran and even the UAE. Kim said the underlying reason for the war is an attempt to disrupt ongoing efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia on the arrangement of the U.S. And this resulted in Palestine being sidelined from those talks. Saudi Arabia, which has been uncomfortable about Irans hardline stance, may not want to be involved in this situation from the beginning, but will find no option but to side with Palestine as a Muslim nation if the casualties grow in the Gaza Strip, Kim said. A friendly mood exists presently between Saudi Arabia and both Israel and the U.S., but Riyadh also normalized its ties with Iran in March with a helping hand from China. Blinken also said in an interview with CNN that disrupting an Israel-Saudi Arabia deal could have been part of the motivation of the attack, and noted that Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran oppose the normalization. Against this backdrop, Kim said Korea should be careful about in its expression on supporting Israel, given that Seoul is seeking to deepen its economic ties with Saudi Arabia with the intention of attracting investment from Riyadh. On Friday, President Yoon had a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud during which they exchanged their views on economic partnerships. A question remains on whether Yoon will uphold his diplomatic philosophy in this process and express strong support for Israel, as the U.S. does. Under his belief that Korea should raise its opinions on international matters to become a global pivotal state, Yoon has openly expressed his criticisms of international aggresions and assertions, such as Russias invasion of Ukraine and Chinas territorial claim on Taiwan. Particularly, Korea initially focused on expressing concerns on the issues, but changed its stance in recent months, with Yoon ardently condemning Russias invasion and Koreas commitment to protect freedom on the international stage. During his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January, Yoon said that the UAEs enemy is Iran and South Koreas enemy is North Korea, and the enemy of our brother country (the UAE) is our enemy, drawing strong protests from Iran. This resulted in the two countries' foreign ministries summoning each others envoy for reprimand. For now, it is important to closely monitor whether the war will expand to the entire Middle East, Kim said. The situation may grow complex if Korea finds itself entangled with countries with the value and stance that the Yoon government is reiterating. Mary Lou McDonald has condemned the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday, which saw Israeli civilians killed and taken hostage. The Sinn Fein leader also defended meeting with the Hamas leadership a number of years ago, saying that talking to all sides was the correct approach. Advertisement The targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is to be condemned outright, she told RTEs News At One programme, adding that it was a breach of international law. Scenes where a lot of young people were out enjoying themselves and to meet with such a violent and traumatic death is just truly horrific, and I understand perfectly the sense of trauma thats been expressed. Ms McDonald added that the ongoing bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli defence forces had equally to be condemned. Advertisement My feeling overall in this scenario is one of alarm because this is now a very, very dangerous situation, but I am also feeling a very deep frustration. The truth is that for decades, the Israeli state has breached international law, day in and day out, with collective punishment, annexation, confiscation of lands, imposing an apartheid regime denying the Palestinian people the right to self-determination. And there is just such a depressing predictability about this entire intensification of conflict. Asked whether she had met with the Hamas leadership, she said I have been to the West Bank and I have met with everybody. Advertisement After confirming that this included Hamas, she said thats the correct way to approach this. We should know in Ireland, if you are serious about achieving a ceasefire, which is necessary, a path to peace and respect for international law in a conflict situation, you meet and talk to everybody. Thats the only way you can find a pathway forward. Ms McDonald visited the West Bank for several days in December 2018. Her comments come as the European Commission said it was putting all of its development aid for Palestinians, worth 691 million, under review and immediately suspending all payments following Hamas' attack on Israel. Germany and Austria earlier on Monday said they were suspending bilateral development aid to Palestinians, while others such as Italy had said suspending aid was not up for discussion. Europe is one of the main sources of aid to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories where the United Nations estimates that around 2.1 million people need humanitarian assistance, among them 1 million children. It is unclear whether the suspensions in development aid will also apply to such assistance. Nobody wanted to see this violence, the Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, has said. Palestine had a right to self-determination and Hamas is a part of the Palestinian people, she told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Advertisement The ambassador was speaking after an attack by Hamas caught Israels military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard this weekend, bringing heavy battles to its streets for the first time in decades. Israel formally declared war on Sunday, portending greater fighting ahead, and a possible ground assault into Gaza a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. When asked her opinion on the Hamas attacks on Saturday, Dr Wahba Abdalmajid said she had been really shocked by it, but that she was not there to criticise Hamas. She said she had been shocked by the information contained in the RTE reports that mentioned how the Israelis had suffered. Advertisement You ignore 2 million Palestinian people who really endured the occupation, oppression, humiliation and violation of international law under the Israeli occupation for more than four decades. Today, we are talking about an all-out war that has been declared by the Israelis against the Palestinian people. You ignored those people. Advertisement The ambassador said she wanted to talk about the oppression and aggression and occupation and the suffering of the Palestinian people. The continued violation by Israel of international law could not continue, she said, adding that there will be consequences. Palestine had wanted the international community to assist in finding a just solution, but the Palestinians had been left without hope, she said. What do you expect from a people that really endured this oppression for decades to do? I mean, there is no protection. When you talk about the suffering of the Palestinian people, that they don't see any hope for the young generations, that they didn't see any change for decades. "What do you expect those people to think about it? I mean, we have a just cause, we have the right to defend ourselves. We have the right to self-determination. We are human beings. We're not less human beings than any other humans. Advertisement Advertisement When asked again about her feelings about what Hamas did on Saturday, Dr Wahba Abdalmajid said that before talking about Hamas and what was going on in Palestine it was necessary to talk about the root causes of the grave situation. Nobody wanted to see this violence. No one wanted to talk about killings. But at the end of the day, I'm here representing my people. I wanted to talk about this feeling. The situation was deteriorating and it was getting complicated, she said as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had declared he would wipe out Gaza. What do you think about the 2 million Palestinians who live in this ... blockade? The Gaza Strip [has] suffered from blockade for the past 17 years. Dr Wahba Abdalmajid said that Hamas was part of the Palestinian people whether one agreed with them or not. We the Palestinians are calling on the international community to protect us, to protect the Palestinian people from Israeli aggression. Advertisement Aid to Palestine Independent TD Cathal Berry called for financial aid to the Palestinian Authority to cease, but for humanitarian aid to continue. The former Army Ranger told RTE radios Morning Ireland that taking hostages was unacceptable and Ireland had to be very, very vocal in condemning both Israeli and Hamas aggression. Hostage taking was a very sensitive issue as a number of Irish troops had been taken hostage and executed by both sides in the past, he said. Advertisement So it's a red line issue for Ireland, and we should be very, very forthright and make that very, very clear. We have to get our point across that what happened over the weekend was completely unacceptable. Actions were more important than words. Hamas had called for a flare up in violence in the West Bank, but that had not happened. If the Palestinian Authority had wanted that to happen it would have happened, so the Authority had to be commended for that at least, he said. Advertisement Financial aid for the Authority, for administration and governance should be stopped, but not funds for schools and hospitals, it should even be increased, he urged. Dr Berry said he, and he believed most Irish people, supported the Palestinian right to resist the occupation of their land, but there were human rights issues and there was a requirement not to stray beyond the norms of a conflict. And that's what happened over the weekend. What happened is completely unacceptable. And we can't we can't be seen to not condemn any kind of bloodletting. And I am concerned about some reports on social media in Ireland over the weekend almost cheerleading what happened as though we should be supporting it. There's a big difference between supporting the Palestinian people and supporting the actions of Hamas over what happened. Pilgrims Advertisement Meanwhile, the editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper has told of the nerve-wracking experience of a group of Irish pilgrims currently visiting Israel. Michael Kelly told RTE radios Morning Ireland that the group had been on the outskirts of Jerusalem when they heard sirens going off indicating that there had been rocket attacks. People were getting messages from home from family members who were seeing the attacks on television and were obviously concerned, he said. So we moved very, very quickly to try to get everyone back to the hotel and keep everyone calm. And everyone was able to contact loved ones at home. But it was a very grim experience and it was obvious as well, I mean, one could feel the tension in the air, one could feel the uncertainty. Local people really were just shaking their heads. Everyone he had spoken to was expecting more Israeli casualties. It was also obvious that there would be more casualties in Gaza too, he said. I would say people are looking at the whole thing with trepidation because the situation is so unprecedented. Normally, there's a certain rulebook around these things. Normally one would say Hamas will fire rockets into Israel, Israel will fire some rockets back. And then usually very quickly it calms down again. Egypt intervenes, Qatar intervenes, the United States. But because of the nature of this, I think no one really knows where this is going to go. And it's very, very obvious on the highways and the roads, even in the north of Israel, that there's an enormous troop mobilisation. We passed a very long line of two convoys yesterday in the Galilee region. And you can see bus stops at various junctions a lot of young men and young women reserve soldiers who have been called up and are waiting there at the junction, one presumes to be to be taken to the army bases or to the front at Gaza, because the Israelis think they've already amassed 100,000 troops there on the southern border. Mr Kelly said his group had been scheduled to return to Ireland on Thursday, but they were now trying to get home on Tuesday. People are anxious. They've never been in a situation like this. So obviously we're doing our best to try to keep people calm, but obviously we don't want to expose people to the risk as well. So there was a fair deal of consensus when we met with the groups last night that people would like to try to get home as soon as possible. The ongoing violence as Israel declares war on Hamas and preparations for the budget are the main headlines in Monday's papers. The Irish Times lead with Israel preparing for a ground attack on Hamas as they declared war. Advertisement The Irish Examiner also lead with Israel declaring war, while also claiming the budget is set to benefit working families, pensioners and carers. The Echo looks forward to the Cork Jazz festival, which is set to bring 45 million to the local economy. Advertisement The Irish Independent reports the budget will include a 1,000 mortgage interest tax break. The Irish Daily Mirror and the Irish Daily Star lead with the Irish woman who is missing following a rave that was targeted by Hamas. Advertisement Newspapers across Britain are largely focused on the conflict in the Middle East in the wake of Israel declaring war on Hamas and Gaza City. Advertisement The Guardian tells of escalating violence as the death toll surges to more than 1,000 in Israel. Advertisement THE GUARDIAN: Violence escalates as death toll surges to over 1000 ##TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/MQl3JAvp2h Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 8, 2023 Advertisement The is front page reports that fears are growing for 100 hostages in the Middle East. The Times says simply stunned Israel goes to war, with the Financial Times declaring Israel is at war. THE TIMES: Stunned Israel goes to war #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/6zqFbKAIJY Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 8, 2023 The Daily Mail tells of the merciless terrorists taking Israelis hostage. The Daily Express focuses on a British angle with Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks pledge emblazoned on their front page: Terrorism will not prevail. The Daily Telegraph looks to the US as its government sends warships and jets to help Israel in the conflict. Advertisement TELEGRAPH: US sends warships and jets to help Israel #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/noW8t8zbEH Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) October 8, 2023 Opting for a different approach to Mondays news, the Daily Mirror concentrates on an exclusive with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and her election promises. A different sort of conflict has found its way to the front page of The Sun the escalating row between Simon Cowell and his fellow Britains Got Talent judge David Walliams. And the Daily Star opted for a front on Frances bed bugs crisis, which has seen seven schools shuttered over growing concerns due to an infestation. An application for pop star Gary Glitter to have his parole hearing held in public has been rejected. The disgraced performer, who had a string of hits in the 1970s, is due to be considered for release in January. Advertisement But the hearing will take place behind closed doors because of difficulties contacting all his victims. Glitter, 79, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980. A prison vehicle leaves HMP The Verne on Portland, Dorset, on the day that Glitter was released in February (Andrew Matthews/PA) Advertisement He was automatically released from HMP The Verne a low-security prison in Portland, Dorset in February after serving half of his 16-year fixed-term determinate sentence. Less than six weeks after walking free, he was taken back to prison in March for breaching his licence conditions by allegedly viewing downloaded images of children. Calls were made for Glitters parole hearing to take place in public, with lawyers for one of his victims reportedly applying for open proceedings. Advertisement The Parole Board said it would consider arranging for victims to view the private hearing. Advertisement In her decision, chairwoman Caroline Corby said holding the hearing in public could risk identifying the children in the downloaded images, who are potential victims of sexual offences and have a lifelong right to anonymity. It is also not known whether all the victims Glitter abused supported the application for the hearing to take place in public. She said: The panel will need to consider the circumstances of the recall and whether the images that Mr Gadd allegedly downloaded are indicative of a continuing sexual interest in children. Advertisement Paedophile Gary Glitter in 1999 when he was convicted of possessing thousands of images of child abuse (Barry Batchelor/PA) The children in these images are potentially victims and any discussion in a public setting could have the potential to identify them. It is unknown whether all victims of the index offences wish for the hearing to be held in public and there is a risk that if this hearing were held in public, it could retraumatise them. She said there are also concerns over sensitive operational information linked to Glitters recall to prison being revealed publicly. Advertisement It follows that whereas I have deep sympathy for Mr Gadds victims, I do not grant the application for the hearing to be held in public, the chair concluded. Advertisement Glitters fall from grace began in the late 1990s when he was jailed for possessing thousands of child abuse images and was jailed for four months in 1999. In 2002, he was expelled from Cambodia amid reports of sex crime allegations, and in March 2006 he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged 10 and 11, in Vietnam and spent two-and-a-half years in jail. The offences for which he was jailed in 2015 came to light as part of Operation Yewtree, the Metropolitan Police investigation launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Israel intensified its bombardments of the Gaza Strip on Monday after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the enclaves Hamas rulers, as Israeli soldiers fought to secure the border and dislodge Gaza gunmen from areas of southern Israel. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding more than 130 captives from the Israeli side. Advertisement More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling militants holed up in several locations. As Monday began, the military said it was fighting Hamas in seven to eight places in southern Israel. Advertisement Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Photto: Yousef Masoud/AP. Advertisement Military spokesman Richard Hecht said it was taking longer than expected to repel the incursion because there were still multiple breaches in the border, which Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons. We thought this morning wed be in a better place, he said. The Israeli Defence Forces said 70 additional militants infiltrated the Beeri kibbutz, which the military has been unable to wrest from Hamas, overnight. Meanwhile, Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including air strikes that flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves north-east corner. Advertisement Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters that 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 are likely to have fled beforehand. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes used by Hamas, Rear Admiral Hagari said. 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. Advertisement An Israeli military spokesman said the army had called up around 100,000 reservists, and said in a statement that Israel would aim to end Hamass rule of Gaza. Advertisement Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel with this, said spokesman Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israels military. And in addition to that, we will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon which was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip. Photo: Erik Marmor/AP. Advertisement After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak on Saturday, the Hamas 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. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. The high figure underlined 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. Advertisement Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken more than 130 people captive from inside Israel and moved 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. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza, while the United Nations said more than 123,000 Gazans have been displaced by the fighting. 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. As of late on Sunday, Israeli air strikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, the UN said. The UN 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. In the Palestinian city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli air strike early on Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Advertisement He said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Palestinian civil defence staff look through a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Yousef Masoud/AP. Over the weekend, another air strike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Outa family, including women and children, when they were huddling on the ground floor in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, survivors said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 73 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 declaration of war was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute 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 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 ceasefire, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage, according to the official. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. World Number of displaced people in Gaza rises to more t... Read More 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 at Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border on Sunday, and Israel fired back using armed drones. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers around the West Bank on Sunday. 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. Israels military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, halting entry of food, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of air strikes in retaliation for the militants bloody weekend incursion. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack from Gaza, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Advertisement Israels military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades. (PA Graphics) Tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the border fence to prevent new incursions. Advertisement Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilisation in a short time. Advertisement The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. On Sunday, strikes flattened much of the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, which Israel said Hamas was using as a staging ground. On Monday, the Israeli military blared messages to residents to evacuate Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City where offices of the Associated Press and other international media are located, a signal that heavy strikes were to come. Advertisement A major question remains whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Israeli firefighters extinguish a blaze at a site in Ashkelon hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group. Advertisement As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. Advertisement There was no immediate word on casualties or damage from the latest bombardment. Israeli soldiers on a tank near the Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Advertisement Civilians have already paid a high price. 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. The armed wing of Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli air strikes. That could not be independently confirmed. Smoke rises in Gaza City after an Israeli air strike on Monday (Hatem Moussa/AP) Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. He said Israel is at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanising language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza of varying strictness since Hamas seized power in 2007. In recent years Israel has provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and some consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out. Advertisement The Israeli seal will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighbouring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official said more than two tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are under way to organise food, and other deliveries, but the question of allowing in fuel has not yet been decided. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israeli bombardment is moving from district to district to destroy houses and buildings Israel says are being used by Hamas. Israel is planning to hit thousands of targets, he said. He added that hundreds of Hamas militants have been buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours. His claims of the numbers and his characterisation of the dead as Hamas could not be confirmed. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli air strike early on Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Advertisement He said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon which was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Erik Marmor/AP) Over the weekend, another air strike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, and five neighbours, said a survivor, Nasser Abu Quta, adding that there were no militants in the family house. The United Nations said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. The UN 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. Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Rear Admiral Hagari said the military has control of its border communities in southern Israel. Despite some isolated incidents early on Monday, at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities. He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Advertisement Palestinians remove a body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli air strike on the Jebaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip (Ramez Mahmoud/AP) Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the Associated Press that the groups fighters continue to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group is aiming to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said on Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Palestinian civil defence staff look through a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak on Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem, and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, says it is near maximum capacity in accommodating internally displaced people in Gaza. The agencys director of external communications, Tamara Alrifai, said on Monday that nearly 137,000 people have sheltered so far in around 70 UN schools in Gaza. Ms Alrifai said the agency can host up to 150,000 people at up to 79 schools around the territory. She added there is fuel in Gaza that could last for up to 10 days. More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, according to reports. Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Palestinian militants, which began on Saturday. Advertisement 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. 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. Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel on Monday (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Advertisement He loved music and was a talented DJ, DJing both on base and at Benjis House, the lone-soldier house where he was living. Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead. Advertisement Mr Darlington and his friend Carolin Bohl were in Kibbutz Nir Oz when it was attacked by Hamas fighters. Ms Bohls sister, Anja Pasquesi, wrote on Instagram: Today we learned from Carolins friend on the ground in Kibbutz Nor Oz in Israel that she and her friend Danny were killed in a terrorist attack yesterday. We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy. Advertisement Ms Bohls brother-in-law Sam Pasquesi said on Instagram there has been no official confirmation but there has been reliable information on the ground. A man mourns during the funeral of Israeli Colonel Roi Levy at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on Monday (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. Advertisement His mother told the Jewish News on Sunday the last message she got from her son was one saying he loved her. He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, Lisa 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. Rwanda is less attractive than the UK but a safe country to deport asylum seekers to, the British government has told the country's Supreme Court. The Home Office is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the multimillion-pound deal which would see asylum seekers deported to the east African nation was unlawful. Advertisement At the start of the three-day hearing on Monday, James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, told the UKs highest court that the policy to remove people to a country less attractive than the UK, but nevertheless safe, is lawful. The appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by British government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state Rwanda, Mr Eadie told a panel of five justices. Advertisement The barrister said both countries are committed to the deal, with very powerful practical incentives for Rwanda to comply with the assurances given. Advertisement Mr Eadie said the British government has attached considerable importance to its Rwanda deportation policy. He told the hearing in London there is a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel, from a safe country. Advertisement Mr Eadie later referenced concerns that had been raised over the policy and Rwandas history, including by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. The barrister continued: Both the Government and the Rwandan government were fully aware of the likely controversy of the arrangements that were made when the deal was signed. The Home Office is bringing a challenge at the Supreme Court in London. Photo: PA. Advertisement Mr Eadie said: The UK cannot possibly seek to resolve those issues. That does not mean that those concerns having been received should be ignored, quite the contrary. The barrister added: Whatever debates there might have been it is, at best, peripheral. This is a new context with a new set of detailed arrangements. The UNHCR, which has intervened in the legal challenges over the policy, previously said Rwanda lacks irreducible minimum components of an accessible, reliable, fair and efficient asylum system. In the agencys written submissions to the court, Angus McCullough KC said it had consistently expressed grave concerns about the safety and legality of the policy. Advertisement Advertisement He continued: UNHCR maintains its unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda under the UK-Rwanda Arrangement. Several asylum seekers who were set to be deported on the first planned flight to Rwanda in June 2022 which was grounded minutes before take-off following a ruling by a judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are opposing the appeal. Raza Husain KC, for several of the asylum seekers in the case, described Rwanda at a previous hearing as a highly autocratic repressive state which imprisons, tortures and murders those it considers to be its opponents. The policy has attracted protests. Photo: PA. He said in written submissions to the Supreme Court: The policy is an inherently difficult one to achieve lawfully. On the one hand, for the deterrent purpose of removal to a third country to be successful, the third country must be a sufficiently unattractive location to an asylum seeker travelling to the UK. On the other hand, the third country must not be unattractive because it falls short of Article 3 (the right to be free from torture) and Refugee Convention standards. The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is expected to end on Wednesday, with a judgment at a later date. Advertisement In their majority judgment at the Court of Appeal, Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill found there were substantial grounds to think that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda faced real risks of torture or inhuman treatment, or that their claims for asylum would not be properly determined in the east African nation. The ruling overturned the UK High Courts finding that Rwanda could be considered a safe third country for asylum seekers. Mr Vos noted it was accepted the UK government has huge experience of diplomatic relations with the Rwandan authorities. However, he added: I do not accept that the past and the present can either be ignored or sidelined as the Home Office suggests. Shortly after the decision, which was seen as a setback in his bid to stop the boats, British prime minister Rishi Sunak said he fundamentally disagreed with the ruling and intended to appeal. The UK home secretary, Suella Braverman, said she remained fully committed to the policy and, despite the ruling, said she still had every confidence in the plan while stressing that Rwanda was a safe country. Immigration featured heavily at the recent Conservative Party conference, with Mr Sunak saying he will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats. The Uk governments legal battle over its Rwanda deportation policy has reached the Supreme Court. The UK home office is bringing a challenge after the Court of Appeal ruled in June that the multimillion-pound deal which would see asylum seekers deported to the east African nation was unlawful. Advertisement In a three-day hearing starting on Monday, five justices at the UKs highest court will hear arguments over whether two appeal judges were right to find there was a real risk asylum seekers could be returned to their home country and face persecution when they may have a good asylum claim. While Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill concluded there were deficiencies in the Rwandan asylum system and ruled the policy was unlawful, former lord chief justice Lord Burnett disagreed and said he would dismiss the challenge. Advertisement Advertisement As well as the Home Offices bid to overturn the decision, several individual asylum seekers are set to challenge aspects of the ruling. Immigration featured heavily at the recent Conservative Party conference, with British prime minister Rishi Sunak saying he will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats. He said on Wednesday: We are by no means where we want to be but dont let anyone tell you we arent making progress, we are and we will get there. Advertisement Our new law will ensure that if you come here illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed. Now Im confident that once flights start going regularly to Rwanda, the boats will stop coming. He added: I am confident that our approach complies with our international obligations. But know this: I will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats. The Supreme Court hearing in London, before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales, is due to begin at 10.30am. The US has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally, a senior Defence Department official said. Planes have already taken off, said the official, who declined to provide details on the weapons. Advertisement The official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments, also warned that the US is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of them from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel. The weapons movement came as President Joe Biden announced that the US death toll in the war has gone up to 11. Israeli soldiers take position near the Israeli Gaza border (Oren Ziv/AP/PA) Advertisement Advertisement The official said the US is flooding the zone with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question Americas commitment to supporting the defence of Israel in the wake of attacks by Hamas. The official, however, would not comment on whether US military forces would be used at all. While the official said the US has the ability to support weapons needs in Ukraine and Israel and maintain security for America, the rapid delivery of munitions to the new war has raised concerns. Congress must pass more funding quickly for the US to be able to give both Israel and Ukraine the weapons and munitions they both now need, army secretary Christine Wormuth said on Monday. Advertisement The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel, she said. But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed to increase our capacity to expand production and then also pay for the munitions themselves. It is clear the administration is now facing potentially competing requests from Israel and Ukraine for additional weaponry. And while there is strong bipartisan support in Congress for aid to Israel, the next steps are uncertain, with the House lacking a leader after the ouster of the Republican speaker and the Senate out of town until next week. Advertisement Also uncertain is whether the debate over further assistance to Ukraine, which is opposed by a group of hard-right Republicans, will complicate efforts to pass assistance for Israel. Advertisement Ms Wormuth, speaking at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, said the administration is still in the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the IDF needs, referring to the Israel Defence Forces. The USS Gerald R Ford has been ordered to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, US officials said (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press via AP/PA) She did not provide details, but Doug Bush, the armys assistant secretary for acquisition, told reporters at the conference that conversations are under way about what the US can provide. He said it likely will be a wide range of equipment, from small arms to sophisticated munitions. Advertisement Most of the weaponry sent already to help Ukraine has come from army stocks and defenec contractors at a rate that has challenged the global supply chain, and while the army has recently ramped up production of some critical lines, such as 155mm ammunition for howitzers, they are not yet at full speed. Advertisement With a new ground offensive in Gaza imminent following the Saturday surprise attack by Hamas, army officials said Monday they were concerned about the ability to meet additional demand for ground munitions and that Congress needed to act quickly to provide help in time. In addition to the 11 American citizens whose deaths Mr Biden confirmed, an undetermined number of remain unaccounted for. It was not yet clear if the missing are dead, in hiding, or had been taken hostage. Biden said the US believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, but officials are working to confirm that. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, Mr Biden said in a statement. The attack by Hamas and Israels response have left more than 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, the White House has asked Senate leaders to fast track confirmation of President Joe Bidens nominee to be the next ambassador to Israel, former Obama-era Treasury Secretary and White House chief of staff Jack Lew, according to a US official who was not authorised to comment publicly and requested anonymity. Advertisement The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Mr Lew, the official added. The US is currently without an ambassador after the departure of Ambassador Tom Nides in July. Mr Biden nominated Mr Lew in September. 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. The USS Gerald R Ford, the US 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 and conducting surveillance. The senior Defence Department official said worries about Hezbollah opening a second front of violence against Israel was the main reason for moving the ships to the Eastern Mediterranean. The official said the US is deeply concerned Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups will make the wrong decision to try to pile on and widen the war. Along with the Ford, the US is sending the cruiser USS Normandy and 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. Advertisement 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 on Sunday night, and majority leader Chuck Schumer said they were assured that the US was giving Israel everything they need. By Bereket Alemayehu American artist Aaron Cossrow is displaying some of his paintings of daily scenes in Seoul's streets for his solo exhibition, titled The Guys of the Park at Topgoal Art Museum near downtown Seoul's Insa-dong area. Cossrow is well-known for painting with vivid colors the daily life of Seoul's working class, from the urban decay of downtown Seoul to Itaewon's lively alleys. From Sept. 22 to Oct. 22, his original canvases 21 in total are on display at the gallery. On view are his paintings of elderly men hanging out around nearby Tapgol Park, the workers of a now-demolished industrial district in downtown Seoul's Euljiro, Itaewon dive bar Grand Ole Opry proprietor Kim Sam-sook, the landmark Itaewon Chicken Man and Mapo District's infamous but elusive "Makgeolli Man." The subjects of his paintings are seen at work or enjoying leisure time in a communal setting. I identify myself with down-to-earth hardworking people," Cossrow told The Korea Times. "I come from Philadelphia and I'm a normal person from a normal family, from a working-class city. These are the people that I connect with. I don't connect with fancy people trying to, you know, dress up and pretend like they're more than they are. I'm not into the flashy flash of the young generation of Korea. I like the old, hardworking people with that real flavor, that real Korean men, that culture. I'm into those real people. Real energy. It only comes from pain. Real spirit only comes from struggle and real life. I don't want to paint any soft people with the easy life and their pretty Instagram influential posts. That's not me. I want real people. When you're looking at someone, you can see it on their face, their smile, their hands, the clothes they wear, where they come from, the type of place they live, the type of job they have. It's full of energy and flavor and it's written in their character. While all the paintings on display have been made since 2021, the centerpiece of the exhibit, "The Guys of the Park," was painted earlier this year. It depicts a scene out the back gate of Tapgol Park, where aging men gather to play janggi, a Korean board game. Some of the men wear masks, including one man dressed in a tall "tongcheongwan" hat, the headgear of the 1897-1910 Korean Empire. Two men are in wheelchairs, and another sits on the sidewalk. Bottles of Korean alcohol lie around. Cossrow explained that the painting isn't merely a snapshot of the area, but more of a collage assembled over a longer period of observing various participants at different times there. The result brings out a heightened reality of the community. On the morning of Sept. 25, Cossrow gave an artist talk for invited guests at the gallery. Afterwards, he led a small walk over to the nearby park, where he greeted the elderly men playing board games, just as seen in his painting. So, this is their neighborhood," he said. "I named the exhibition after the people of the park, the people of this neighborhood. And I use it as a focal point to tell a larger story. When asked why he focuses so often on senior citizens in his paintings, he explained, I just think that the older people have so much more character, they're just more interesting. There's no complicated way to explain why I like older people of Korea more than I like younger people. It's because the older people are just more interesting. Their families, their clothes, their life, their work, their spirit. And plus, the very fact of people getting old is a story in themselves. They've lived a life and every piece of them talks. About their stories, just visually speaking, the people are way more full of character." He expressed his appreciation to Topgoal Art Museum for the chance to exhibit his work in such a meaningful location connected with his work. "The exhibition allows for a deeper understanding of the content and process of the work and adds to the meaning of the exhibition, said Cossrow, who has lived in Korea for 12 years. We all have to find something to give us a purpose. I found my purpose in documenting a community for the community. Its my way of giving back, practicing the art and improving myself, while also contributing to society. Topgoal Art Museum is located in the Seoul Senior Welfare Center, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year since its opening in 2013. It supports elderly people's enjoyment of culture and arts, culturally communicates with the community and other generations through art. From the perspective of an American artist, it contains the sentiments, lives and lively stories of Korean people, so it feels strange for some reason," said Hee Yu, a monk as well as director of Topgoal Art Museum. "I feel the meaning. Through this exhibition, senior citizens can transform their daily lives into works of art. It is a precious opportunity to meet with the elderly and share their daily lives and stories as a medium. I hope this will be an opportunity for all generations to increase their interest in the daily lives of the elderly. Visit cossrow.com for more information about the artist, or follow @topgoal.art on Instagram for details about the exhibition. Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative, and freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency. US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has said he is grateful for a strengthened statement from China condemning the killing and kidnapping of Israeli and foreign civilians by Hamas. It came during a bipartisan congressional visit to Beijing that included a lengthy meeting with President Xi Jinping. Advertisement Later on Monday the US State Department said that at least 11 American citizens were killed in the weekend attacks on Israel, raising the toll from nine. It said an undetermined number of American citizens remain missing and unaccounted for. It was not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or were in hiding. Mr Schumer led a delegation of six senators to China for talks aimed at stabilising ties following a sharp deterioration in recent years over trade, US support for self-governing Taiwan, human rights and other issues. Advertisement The delegation, which included three Democrats and three Republicans, was the first visit by US politicians since 2019 and came at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijings rise as a global power. Advertisement Mr Schumer told Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier in the day that he had been very disappointed by Chinas failure to strongly condemn the attack on Israel and show sympathy for the country and its people. US senate majority leader Chuck Schumer talks to Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao a bilateral meeting at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing (Andy Wong/Pool/AP/PA) Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said later on Monday that China is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Advertisement China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians, along with actions that expand conflict and undermine regional stability, Ms Mao said, going beyond an initial Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday. China hopes for a resumption of peace talks, the implementation of a two-state solution, and a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestinian issue, which guarantees the legitimate concerns of all parties, through political means, as early as possible, Ms Mao said at a daily briefing. Advertisement The Chinese Embassy in Israel said a young woman of Israeli and Chinese heritage was among the scores of hostages seized by Hamas fighters, who killed at least 700 people in Israel. Noa was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists when attending a peace music festival in southern Israel. She was dragged from Israel to Gaza, an embassy statement said. Advertisement She is a daughter, a sister and a friend. Advertisement Mr Schumers delegation also met the head of Chinas rubber-stamp parliament, the commerce minister and Mr Wang, the countrys highest-ranking diplomat. Mr Xis comments were not immediately reported, and Mr Wang did not respond before journalists were escorted out of the room. Mr Schumer said he had made a direct request to Mr Xi to strengthen the Foreign Ministrys statement on the Hamas attack and the horrible, gut-wrenching loss of civilian life, which had been omitted from the earlier missive. Im gratified the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement that did condemn the loss of civilian life, he told reporters at a news conference following the conclusion of meetings. Mr Schumers meeting with Mr Xi ran to 80 minutes 20 more than scheduled emphasising the careful preparation and highly detailed nature of the discussions, the senator said. Advertisement He said the US side asserted its concerns about the lack of reciprocity and the need for a level playing field for American businesses in China, and urged China to take measures to prevent the export of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl, which has fuelled a deadly wave of addictions. Both sides, the Chinese and us, said unless we have sincere conversations about our differences and not pull any punches, that we would never solve these problems, Mr Schumer said. Chuck Schumer is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping before their bilateral meeting (Andy Wong/AP/PA) The two governments are trying to arrange a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping during a regional summit in San Francisco next month in a bid to manage the increasingly fraught relationship. China has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. In recent years, it has stepped up its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming Syrian President Bashar Assad on a visit to China. Mr Schumer told Mr Xi that the top priority for the Senate delegation is seeking fair trade between the two countries. Advertisement We want the Chinese people to have economic opportunity. That would be good for America, he said. But China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now. Earlier, Mr Wang urged the US to respect Chinas core interests and development rights, a frequent refrain as Beijing seeks to counter American restrictions on trade and technology exports that it views as attempts to hold back the countrys economic growth and rise as a global power. Mr Schumer also urged China to drop its tacit support for what he called Russias immoral war against Ukraine, advancing human rights and releasing detained Americans. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China this month. China says it remains neutral in the conflict, but has refused to condemn Russias full-on invasion of Ukraine and has condemned international sanctions imposed on Moscow as a result. As the worlds most stylish people trotted around Paris earlier this month for fashion week, designers and runway shows werent the talk of the town. Instead, everyone was speaking about bed bugs. The city of lights has been plagued by an army. The pest has been spotted on the Paris metro, at Charles de Gaulle airport and in cinemas, homes and hotels. And with the 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, public health officials are scrambling to control the outbreak. But how concerned should Australians be about a similar outbreak reaching our shores? Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, and can be hard to detect. Credit: Monique Westermann; Getty Images In Australia, bed bugs are fairly prevalent, but less common than in other countries around the world, says Stephen Doggett, director of Medical Entomology at NSW Health Pathology and leading bed bug expert in Australia. This is, in part, due to the governments proactive approach at educating all stakeholders in effective bed bug management through an industry code of practice, authored by Doggett. And while he says there is no evidence that bed bugs are becoming more prevalent in Australia, they are expected to increase with more people travelling post-COVID. Former prime minister Scott Morrison has arrived in Taiwan for a meeting with President Tsai Ing-Wen at the Presidential office in Taipei. It is Morrisons first visit to Taiwan. No sitting prime minister has visited Taiwan since Australia formed its One China policy in 1972. The policy, which acknowledges but does not endorse Chinas claim to Taiwan, has restricted official visits because Australia does not recognise Taiwan as a country. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen. Credit: AP That position has come under pressure after years of threats from China to take over the democratic island of 24 million people. It has been my dream to come here for many many years, Morrison said on Tuesday afternoon. Can I congratulate you, Madam President, on your strong leadership over these many years in showing that character and that consistency in your very strong standing up for the peace and freedom of the people of Taiwan. Morrison, who is still the member for Cook, has focused largely on foreign affairs in his public comments since losing the prime ministership last year. The 55-year-olds domestic legacy has been controversial, but internationally, it has been dominated by his handling of Australias relationship with China, COVID-19 and the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact. We meet at a time of great disruption and uncertainty around the world, Morrison said. Taiwan is no stranger to uncertainty and no stranger to facing down great challenges and threats. So we wish to support ensuring a resilient Taiwan and a region that has a strong deterrent against any violence or any aggression. Morrison emphasised that he was speaking in a private capacity and not on behalf of the Australian government. In the past, the visits by former Australian leaders have helped to open unofficial channels between Taipei and Canberra to get messages between the two governments. Tsai, who will finish her term after 8 years as president in January, thanked Morrison for his long-standing support for Taiwan and the importance that he attaches to our country. Morrison is due to speak at the Yushan Forum in Taipei on Wednesday. Israel Defence Forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said the hostage situation was the most dominant factor that would shape Israels military response in the coming days. Greg Barton, a professor of global Islamic politics at Deakin Universitys Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, said militant groups, including Hamas, had a long history of taking hostages in the Middle East. But he said the number of hostages captured in the most recent attack marked the biggest such crisis of its kind in modern Israeli history. We can make some reasonable speculations about what their intent is and motive is for taking hostages, Barton said. They [Hamas] want human shields. They have their own fellow Gazans and other Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as human shields, but they know when push comes to shove, the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] will try and avoid civilian casualties, but it wont absolutely refuse to act on the basis of civilian casualties. So far, no Australian citizens have been reported dead or captured. The US and UK are investigating reports Americans and a British citizen were among those killed or taken hostage. A White House National Security Council spokesperson confirmed on Monday several Americans had been killed. Loading Barton said that, in the past, Israeli hostages had been held in reasonable conditions for many years because of their value in exchanges. Israel has a history of leave no man behind. It is a strong part of Israeli ethos, whether its on the left or right of politics, Barton said. He said deals had also been struck for human remains to be returned to Israel. In 2011, Israel swapped hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for the release of an Israeli soldier who had been held captive for five years. The exchange sparked criticism at the time for being lopsided. Experts say a similar exchange would be almost impossible now because of the escalating violence unfolding and number of hostages Hamas has taken. Australian National University professor Clive Williams, an expert in counterterrorism, intelligence and national security, said Hamas had appeared to disperse the Israeli hostages within Gaza, which will make Israeli recovery by force extremely difficult. Hamas will inevitably be defeated militarily, but having Israeli hostages will give Hamas leverage over Israel to release Palestinian detainees and perhaps force Israel to resume talks to achieve a negotiated political settlement, Williams said. Hamas headquarters, weapons and training facilities are scattered across the Gaza Strip. Already, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed Hamas offices and training camps. Barton said Israel would have intelligence on the whereabouts of the groups leaders and their families. They will strike those places, but what they dont know, of course, is who else will be there, including Israeli hostages, so thats the powerful logic for taking hostages, Barton said. What this does is buys Hamas more time by slowing down what the IDF is prepared to do. The images of one Israeli family purportedly taken hostage have been shared on Instagram by British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, who appealed for help finding them. The Borat star shared a photo of the mother, Doron, and her daughters, Raz and Aviv, and said they had been filmed being captured by Hamas. May the whole world see these faces and bring them home to us, he wrote. Barton said questions were rightly being asked about what could have been done to avoid this attack. The challenge in the short to medium term is what can be done to minimise the loss of lives on all sides, he said. But in the longer term, what we are reminded of again is that while there is no excuse for what Hamas has done, there is no lasting peace without a political solution that is just and robust for Palestine. He said global leaders, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, would be quietly questioning the far-right Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus reckless and tough-minded approach to governance and his ongoing disregard for the lives of Palestinians in the lead-up to the crisis, despite their vocal support for Israel. Former NRL premiership-winning player George Burgess allegedly groped a woman in her Sydney home and pinned her against the kitchen counter, saying be naughty with me, a court has heard. The 31-year-old Englishman has pleaded not guilty to sexually touching another person without consent after allegedly repeatedly squeezing the womans bottom on March 8, 2022, days before his short-lived NRL return with St George Illawarra. Former NRL player George Burgess (centre) arrives at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday with his lawyers Bryan Wrench and Sophie Newham. Credit: Nick Moir Giving evidence at Burgess hearing in Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court on Monday, the woman said she was left feeling violated. The court heard the woman, who had known Burgess for some time, contacted him and two of his brothers seeking signed football club jerseys for charity. A disputed claim over the Indigenous Voice is now the biggest factor in turning people against the proposal, with 22 per cent of voters saying they find it persuasive when critics argue it would divide Australians by race. Voters are being convinced to back the Voice, however, by assurances that it would help solve entrenched disadvantage and produce better outcomes by listening to Indigenous people. The exclusive findings highlight the most powerful arguments at play ahead of Saturdays referendum when many soft voters are yet to cast their votes. Credit: The exclusive findings highlight the most powerful arguments at play ahead of Saturdays referendum when many soft voters are yet to cast their votes and many of them are swayed by the claim the Voice offers a practical way to recognise First Australians. With 56 per cent of Australians against the Voice in the latest Resolve Political Monitor, the campaign for change is ramping up efforts to convince soft No voters about 9 per cent of the electorate to swing to Yes. As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australians not to attend pro-Palestine rallies following Hamas indefensible attacks on Israeli civilians, the opposition called on the government to cease all support for the Palestinian Territories unless the money was redirected to purely humanitarian purposes. Loading Pro-Palestine advocates and Labor sources conceded that the push to recognise Palestinian statehood, as outlined in the partys policy platform, had suffered a major blow and was likely to be off the agenda for years after Hamas unexpected and brutal incursions into Israeli territory. Parliament House in Canberra was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag on Monday night in a sign of solidarity with Israel, as was the Sydney Opera House and several Melbourne landmarks, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground and National Gallery of Victoria. Albanese is facing a backlash from Muslim community leaders who say they feel thrown aside after the prime minister energetically courted them to back an Indigenous Voice to parliament. Saying that he expected Israel to unleash hell on Gaza over coming days, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said: Im not sure recognition [of Palestinian statehood] is something that could be contemplated by a government that is lighting up the Opera House with the Israeli flag while Palestinians are also being killed. Battles continue in seven to eight locations More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion from Gaza, the Israeli military said it was still battling Hamas militants in seven to eight places in southern Israel. Israeli Defence Forces spokesman Richard Hecht said it was taking longer than expected to repel the incursion because there were still multiple breaches in the border, which Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons. We thought this morning wed be in a better place, Hecht said. The Biden administration announced that it would send the USS Gerald R. Ford, the US Navys newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, to the region to conduct surveillance and prevent further weapons from reaching Gaza. The ship, with about 5000 sailors and a deck of warplanes on board, will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a major show of support for Israel. Albanese shifts tone Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who spoke to her Israeli counterpart on Monday, said Israel had not requested any military assistance from Australia. Referring to Wongs initial comments that all sides should show restraint, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said it was completely and utterly the wrong time for that sort of language, and backed Israels right to hit back after Hamas barbaric attacks. On Sunday and across several media appearances on Monday, Albanese condemned the Hamas assault as abhorrent and asserted Israels right to respond. Loading Albanese described Hamas indiscriminate targeting of civilians including young people at a desert festival as quite unprecedented and quite horrific, saying the attacks had been quite rightly condemned by the world. Albaneses tone had shifted slightly by Monday afternoon, when he acknowledged Palestinians had suffered for a long period of time and affirmed his support for a two-state solution. The Palestinian people have, of course, continued to do it tough Im a supporter of Israel, Im also a supporter of Palestinians as well, he told Sydney radio station 2GBs afternoon program. While saying the issues involved were complex, Albanese said he did not believe the cause of peace would be advanced by people attending free Palestine rallies, including one in Sydney on Monday afternoon. Executive Council of Australian Jewry spokesman Alex Ryvchin condemned a Sunday night pro-Palestinian rally in Lakemba, Sydney, as sickening. Its truly devastating and sickening to see such inhumanity in our midst, he said in Sydney. I place the blame at their leaders, at the clerics that incite them, that tell them that this is OK ... they need to be held to account for this. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the planned rally would not further the goal of peace. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Albanese gave a categorical no when asked whether any Australian money had made its way to Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. We are very careful, he said, adding Australia provided aid via the United Nations for essentials such as food and healthcare. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said the Coalition had regularly raised concerns about the governments decision last year to double funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency in the Palestinian Territories from $10 million to $20 million. Until the proper use of Australian taxpayer funding can be guaranteed, the Coalition believes funding should cease or be redirected into purely humanitarian assistance, Birmingham said. People feel used The emerging rift between the federal government and the Muslim community comes days after the Australian National Imams Council asked all imams and speakers to dedicate last Fridays address, or khutbah, to backing a Yes vote in Saturdays Voice referendum. A spokesperson for the council, which has supported a Yes vote on the referendum, said: People feel used. They feel as though when it has suited the government it sought the support of the community, it entered their sacred places, and in the moment it no longer suited, the concerns and sentiments of that community were thrown to one side and ignored. Condemning all violence as reprehensible, the spokesperson said pro-Palestine protests were an expression of frustration at the constant ignoring of Palestinian suffering and death and questioned why the colours of the Palestinian flag had not been projected onto the Opera House. Albanese has developed a close relationship with Imam council president Shady Alsuleiman, viewing him as an important ally to gain support for the Voice in Muslim communities. Gamel Kheir, secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association, said the group felt blindsided by the prime minister after Albanese visited its Lakemba mosque on Friday. Loading He extended one hand on Friday then slapped us in the face on the Sunday, he said. We dont support the death of any life; every life is a valuable life, he said. But calling out one party, and not the other, is frustrating the community. Kheir said the association would continue to support the Voice because it believed it was morally right, but urged the government to take a more neutral approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Minns government will dramatically overhaul NSW drug laws by introducing a broad pre-court diversion scheme for people caught in possession of small amounts of illicit substances, potentially allowing thousands of recreational users to avoid criminal sanctions. The Sydney Morning Herald has confirmed NSW Labor is poised to announce the most significant shake-up of existing drug laws in the states recent history, expanding existing pre-court diversion schemes already in place for cannabis to include all illicit drugs. NSW Premier Chris Minns will oversee a dramatic shake-up of the states drug laws. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos The changes, to be introduced in parliament this week, would introduce a two-strike policy, which would mean people caught with small quantities of illicit drugs including ice, cocaine and MDMA, would be able to receive fines and access health programs rather than face criminal charges. The changes are a major win for drug law reform advocates long frustrated by NSWs glacial approach to changing the criminal approach, and represent a sharp shift from a government that has resisted calls for changes. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is concerned about a police report that reveals most Queenslanders dont feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhood at night. Palaszczuk also warned against vigilantism after footage showed some citizens were taking the law into their own hands. The premier has warned Queenslanders against vigilantism. The premier was responding to the 2022-23 Queensland Police Service annual report that revealed declining numbers in public perception of safety measures. When introduced in 2018-19, the annual report said 53.4 per cent felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhood at night. Singapore: Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta says China has stopped short of forging greater links with Dili in supporting its military and police forces out of concern about how it would be received in Australia. The upgrading of diplomatic relations between South-East Asias youngest nation and Beijing last month elicited comparisons with Chinas police co-operation deal with Solomon Islands, an agreement that triggered anxiety about China expanding its influence in the Pacific. East Timor President Jose Ramos-Horta addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month. Credit: AP Ramos-Horta has insisted that the new comprehensive strategic partnership signed by his Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and Chinese President Xi Jinping is focused mostly on infrastructure development and on industries such as agriculture, and is no worry for Australia. We could have had more Chinese support, for instance, in infrastructure to our defence forces, to our police force. And sometimes when I chat with the Chinese about increasing their support to our police force, like building our whole compound, theyd say theyd be willing to do it, but they would be concerned about the overreaction or potential overreaction in Australia and elsewhere, he told ABC radio on Monday. By Jun Ji-hye Former soldiers who served in U.N. Command (UNC) and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) after the 1950-53 Korean War, will visit South Korea on Tuesday upon the invitation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The ministry invited 45 former UNC and USFK soldiers to express the countrys gratitude for their contribution to post-war reconstruction and maintaining a security posture here. Six of them are sons of war veterans who fought for South Korea under the U.N. flag. They include Dennis Michael Bullard, 67, James Edward Truman, 66 and David Lee Nutter, 67. Two war veterans Robert Eugene Jenkins, 88, and Kenlym Hinshaw Moy, 92 are also on the invitation list, the ministry said, noting that a total of 91 people 87 U.S. nationals, two Swedish nationals and two Italian nationals including families of the former soldiers will visit and stay in Korea until Oct. 15. During their visit, the guests will tour Osan Air Base, Camp Humphreys, the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjeom, Seoul National Cemetery and the War Memorial of Korea. Those who served in the UNC and USFK propped up the country after the war, Veterans Minister Park Min-shik said. The ministry will give full efforts to enhance ties with countries that helped South Korea in the war by expanding our gratitude to the former UNC and USFK soldiers. This marks the third time that the ministry has invited former UNC and USFK soldiers 16 and 50 were invited in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The crisis of the mainstream parties has also reached Bavaria and is hitting the CSU with increasing force, said Thomas Schlemmer, a historian of Bavarian politics. Today, you vote based on your individual lifestyle, not because of tradition. Even before Sundays vote, Soder and his CSU were having to govern in coalition with the Free Voters. Now, they will be even more dependent on the Free Voters, underscoring the CSUs increasing vulnerability. Protesters carry signs saying, We are governed by idiots before the weekend voting in two western German states. Credit: Getty Much the same has happened nationally to its sister party, the much larger CDU, the party of former chancellor Angela Merkel, as centre-right support has been eaten into by populist and extremist parties including AfD. Virtually the only reason the AfD, which came in second at just under 16 per cent, did not do better in Bavaria was the presence of Free Voters, a homegrown Bavarian party with populist tendencies, which split the right-wing vote. Loading The Free Voters outsize role has underscored the rise of populist forces nationwide. The party, founded by independent municipal and district politicians in 2009, is playing an ever-larger role in Bavarian state politics, where it is once again expected to be the junior partner in the state coalition. Aiwanger, a fiery beer-tent speaker, has become the face of the party, bringing it further towards populism by criticising immigration and environmental legislation. Aiwanger recently called for the silent majority to take back democracy from the government in Berlin, language that for many Germans evoked the countrys Nazi past. Although he was criticised by other politicians and the mainstream news media, the speech did nothing to quell his popularity among voters. The success of the Free Voters is due to Hubert Aiwangers populist impulses and not to the constructive policies they have pursued in the municipalities for many decades, said Roman Deininger, a reporter with the Suddeutsche Zeitung, a daily newspaper based in Munich, who has followed Bavarian politics for decades. Aiwanger and his party managed to succeed despite a scandal in August, when he was discovered to have had a homemade antisemitic pamphlet in his possession while in high school in the 1980s. German Chancellor Olaf Sholzs government did not have a good weekend at the polls. Credit: Bloomberg Aiwanger quickly turned the scandal into an advantage, claiming that the newspaper that broke the story had waited until the heat of the campaign to discredit him. Voters apparently believed the narrative: Aiwanger and his party saw a bump in polling numbers. Throughout the campaign, conservative and populist parties made the left-leaning environmentalist Green party a stand-in for Scholzs governing coalition. The Greens are just one of three parties in the coalition, along with the centre-left Social Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats, they were singled out for special apathy. During one campaign appearance, candidates Katharina Schulze and Ludwig Hartmann were onstage when a man in the crowd threw a stone at them. That really was a shock, Schulze, who campaigns with a police security detail, said in an interview. Despite that, the Greens in Bavaria came in at well over 14 per cent. Soder, the governor, vowed he would not form a coalition with the Greens even though Sundays election returns gave him the numbers to do so and instead said he would continue in coalition with the populist Free Voters. With their worldview, the Greens do not fit Bavaria, and that is why there will be no Greens in the Bavarian state government, Soder said during a campaign stop in September. No way! Although the results in Bavaria have no direct consequence on the government in Berlin, all three parties in the national coalition lost significant voter share in the election. The liberal Free Democratic Party, which occupies the important post of finance minister, is predicted to fail entry into the state house because of its bad showing. That portends badly for Scholz, who is about two years into a four-year term, especially because parties in Bavaria ran against his coalition in Berlin as much as against each other. The group formed as a spin-off of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in the late 1980s, taking over the Gaza Strip in 2007 after defeating its rival political party, Fatah, which dominates the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and rules in the West Bank, also a Palestinian territory. What is the Gaza Strip? The Gaza Strip is a narrow, 40-kilometre-long parcel of land between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, home to more than 2 million people. It is the smallest of the Palestinian territories and is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Until 1967, Gaza was under the control of Egypt, before it was seized by Israel during the Six Day War. Israel controlled the strip and enabled the construction of Jewish settlements until 2005 when it responded to mounting international pressure and withdrew from the territory. Loading However, since 2007 Israel has imposed a strict land, sea and air blockade over the region, restricting the flow of goods and people. The Hamas militant group has been the de facto authority since that time and fought multiple wars with Israel since taking control of the area, where it has established a judiciary and authoritarian institutions. Hamas founding document called for the destruction of Israel, although leaders in recent years have shown a willingness to see the establishment of a two-state solution based on borders that existed before 1967, without recognising the statehood of Israel. Does Hamas account for all Palestinian territories? What about the West Bank? No, Hamas does not speak for all Palestinians. The larger West Bank is governed by the Fatah party and overseen by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Fatah recognises Israels right to exist and is seen by most Western countries as representing the Palestinians. Hamas and Fatah have ruled the occupied Palestinian territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank respectively since 2007. Among the key differences between the groups is their approach to Israel: where Hamas has remained committed to using armed resistance, Fatah believes in negotiation and has ruled out using attacks or violence. Why are Israel and Hamas at war? While it was not immediately clear what prompted Hamas to launch its attack on Saturday, it followed weeks of long-simmering tensions along the Gaza frontier. The violence erupted one day after Hamas, which rules Gaza, said that the people had to draw a line to end the occupation and added that Israel continued to commit crimes across Palestinian land, and especially on the holy site of Al Aqsa in Jerusalems old city. Al Aqsa is a highly sensitive site for both Muslims and Jews. To Muslims, the area around the mosque is the third-holiest place after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. To Jews, it is known as Temple Mount, and is venerated as a holy site in Judaism. Hamas has called its current offensive Operation Al Aqsa Deluge. Israel declared war on Saturday after Hamas launched the assault, striking Israel with thousands of rockets while militants broke through the security barrier surrounding the Gaza Strip. The most recent conflict comes after years of clashes, cross-border raids by Hamas and rocket fire from both sides, while Israel has maintained its blockade of the region. The restrictions, which include a land and naval blockade, mean basic supplies of food and medicine have been missing from the Gaza Strip for years. The strip has been described by Human Rights Watch as the worlds largest open-air prison. Who supports Hamas? Hamas is part of a regional alliance made up of Iran, Syria and the Shiite Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon. All broadly oppose US policy in the Middle East and Israel. While its power base is in Gaza, Hamas also has supporters across the Palestinian territories, and it has leaders spread across the Middle East, including in Qatar. Iran is Hamas key supporter both financially and materially. Irans mission to the United Nations says Tehran was not involved in Hamas surprise attack on Israel, but that it supported the action. It has made no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the group and another Palestinian militant organisation, Islamic Jihad. A captured Israeli civilian from Kibbutz Kfar Azza, wrapped in white, being taken into the Gaza Strip. Credit: AP A spokesman for the militant group, Ghazi Hamad, on Monday told the BBC Hamas had direct backing from Iran for the assault. Hamad said the offensive was a response to attacks by Jewish settlers in the West Bank. Separately, Iran has praised the attacks, insisting its emphatic and unflinching support of Palestine. The countrys UN missions noted, however, that the response had been taken solely by Palestine itself. Also backed by Iran is Lebanons Hezbollah militia group, which entered the conflict on Sunday by firing artillery and rockets into territory that Israel controls. Hezbollah was founded by Irans Revolutionary Guards to export its Islamic Revolution. Hezbollah supporters on the Lebanese side of the Lebanese-Israeli border, near the Israeli town of Metula. Credit: AP The Shiite group began as a shadowy faction established during Lebanons 1975-1990 civil war. Today, it is a heavily armed force commanding genuine influence over the Lebanese state. Governments, including the US, deem it a terrorist organisation. Who supports Israel? More than 80 countries have formally declared their support for Israel in the emerging conflict, with many including Australia insisting the nation has a right to defend itself. Chief among them is the US, which will send additional munitions to Israel and move navy warships closer to the country in a show of support. President Joe Biden has reiterated the USs unwavering support for Israel. US President Joe Biden speaks about the Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is seen in the background. Credit: Bloomberg Solidarity with Israel has also been declared by other Western nations, including Germany, France, and the UK. Across the Arab world, leaders have called for restraint, as others like Qatar say Israel is responsible for the situation. Saudi Arabias Foreign Ministry likewise called for an immediate cessation of violence, adding that it had repeatedly warned of the dangers of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights. What does the conflict mean for relations in the region? Experts fear the situation will only further set back relations between Israel and Arab nations, including delicate negotiations which have been under way between Israel and Saudi Arabia. An anti-Israel banner is carried on a truck in an annual military parade in September in front of the shrine of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, just outside Tehran, Iran. Credit: AP Since last year, the US president has led talks between the two nations in an attempt to normalise relations and affirm recognition from Saudi Arabia of Israels statehood. Political commentators suggest a resolution to those negotiations is now under threat. Minneapolis: US customs agents pooh-poohed the plans of an Iowa woman who wanted to make jewellery from giraffe faeces that she picked up on a trip to Kenya and brought back to the US in her luggage. The woman declared the box of faeces when she was asked to have her belongings inspected upon arriving at Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport on September 29, according to US Customs and Border Protection. The woman, who was not identified, told officials that she planned to use the waste to make a necklace, as she had done in the past with moose droppings. A small box of giraffe faeces that was confiscated from a passenger arriving from Kenya at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Credit: Customs/AP Giraffe poo can be brought back to the US with the proper permits and inspections, according to Minnesota Public Radio. The station reported that the woman wouldnt face sanctions because she declared the cargo and gave it to Customs. Quito, Ecuador: A seventh man accused in the assassination of an Ecuadorian presidential candidate was killed inside a prison in Ecuadors capital, authorities said, a day after six others allegedly linked to the crime were slain in a different lock-up. The killing of the seven suspects happened a little more than a week before Ecuador holds a presidential run-off election and as officials struggle to explain how this was possible. The prison system said in a press release that the man killed was being held at a prison in Quito, Ecuadors capital. It released no details of how it happened and identified him only Jose M. without giving his nationality. Fernando Villavicencio speaks during a campaign event at a school minutes before he was shot dead. Credit: AP Six Colombian men charged in the August 9 assassination of Fernando Villavicencio were killed on Friday inside a prison in Guayaquil. The Washington Post reported they were all found dead in ward 7, which was under the control of the powerful gang called Los Lobos, according to one prison researcher who spoke to the paper on the condition of anonymity. Latest News Brokers react to CBAs mortgage slide Have the big four mortgage wars reignited? Industry creates mens mental health event It follows four suicides in six weeks The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have announced the publishing of an information package to support the financial services industry in implementing the Financial Accountability Regime (FAR). In a news release, ASIC said the FAR replaces the Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR), and fulfils the recommendations made by the Financial Services Royal Commission that provisions modelled on the BEAR be extended to all APRA-regulated entities. The FAR aims to improve the risk and governance cultures of APRA-regulated financial institutions. It imposes a responsibility and accountability framework for these entities and their directors as well as their most senior executives. Just as the BEAR has helped to sharpen risk culture and governance in the banking sector, we expect the FAR to have a similar positive impact in improving standards of accountability across insurance and superannuation, said Margaret Cole, deputy chair at APRA (pictured). We are working closely with ASIC to ensure a smooth transition from the BEAR to the FAR, and we encourage industry to engage with both regulators in the lead up to the FAR commencing. Sarah Court, deputy chair at ASIC, welcomed the extension of the regime to provide accountability related to conduct failures. We believe the regime will increase transparency and accountability in financial firms and help embed a culture of accountability for misconduct at an individual level accountable individuals will need to understand and closely engage with their obligations under the FAR, Court said. The information package released includes the following: the Joint Administration Agreement between APRA and ASIC setting out the framework within which the regulators will work together to administer the FAR a joint information paper providing guidance for ADIs on transitioning from the BEAR to the FAR, supported by the ADI accountability statement guidance and template The FAR will come into force on March 15, 2024 for the banking industry, and March 15, 2025 for the superannuation and insurance industries. Any thoughts about the new FAR? Let us know in the comments section. Israeli military officials said they carried out airstrikes after Palestinian militant groups fired rockets at some of their positions in Jerusalem. (Photo: Reuters / Ibraheem Abu Mustafa) Saudi-Israeli Relations on the Horizon Amidst Palestinian-Israeli Clashes Before the recent intense clashes between Palestine and Israel, a significant development was brewing: the U.S. was facilitating the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Arab world, and Israel. Despite U.S. dissatisfaction with Saudi's oil production cuts, its stance towards Russia, and its strengthened ties with China, high-ranking U.S. officials, including National Security Advisor Sullivan and Secretary of State Blinken, visited Saudi Arabia this year. They discussed the normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In return, Saudi Arabia presented the U.S. with a set of conditions, including assistance in developing civilian nuclear technology, expanding arms exports to Saudi, and crucially, a promise of U.S. aid if Saudi were attacked. Recent weeks have seen continuous reports of Saudi advancing these negotiations. In mid-September, Crown Prince Salman, in a rare interview with U.S. media, stated that Saudi and Israel were "closer every day" to reaching an agreement. Last week, Saudi officials indicated that if oil prices remain high by early next year, Saudi would consider increasing oil production in exchange for the U.S. Congress approving a defense agreement between Saudi and the U.S. U.S. officials revealed that the Biden administration hopes to finalize the Saudi-Israeli normalization agreement within the next six months. These negotiations have overshadowed the Middle East's once-central issues: Palestinian statehood and peace between Palestine and Israel. Since former U.S. President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and promoted the normalization of relations between countries like the UAE and Israel, the Palestinian issue has been marginalized. Since the rise of Israel's most right-wing government, the Israeli military has intensified its strikes against Palestinian militants. In July, the Israel Defense Forces launched their largest military operation in 20 years on the West Bank, clearing out strongholds of militant groups like Hamas, Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade. If Saudi Arabia, the leading Arab nation, normalizes relations with Israel, the Palestinian issue will be diplomatically sidelined by the Arab world. On the morning of October 7, Hamas launched a military operation named "Al-Aqsa Flood" from the Gaza Strip against Israel. They not only fired over 5,000 rockets but also successfully captured over 100 Israelis, including high-ranking officers. In 1973, on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel to reclaim the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights. Initially caught off guard, Israel eventually triumphed with U.S. support. This war, known as the Yom Kippur War or the Fourth Middle East War, saw Hamas choosing to launch its surprise attack on its 50th anniversary, aiming to replicate that past victory. This time, Israel was initially caught off guard. Now, Israel has launched a fierce counterattack, currently cutting off electricity and fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Netanyahu has urged Palestinians to leave Gaza. To date, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of 1,100 people, including 700 Israelis and 400 Palestinians, with thousands more injured. Will this largest-scale conflict between Palestine and Israel in nearly 20 years evolve into a new Middle East war? Will the Middle East peace process come to an end? Will relations between Iran and Saudi deteriorate again? How will the conflict conclude? Li Shaoxian, dean of the China-Arab States Research Institute at Ningxia University, and Zou Zhiqiang, a researcher at the Middle East Research Center of Fudan University, provide insights, as reported by Jiemian News. Why Could Hamas Launch a Surprise Attack? Before this round of conflict, skirmishes between Palestine and Israel never ceased. Palestine has always sought to establish a state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, Israel controls East Jerusalem and has established numerous Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. According to UN statistics, in the first six months of this year, clashes in the West Bank resulted in the deaths of 147 Palestinians and 23 Israeli soldiers. This year is expected to surpass the previous year, becoming the deadliest year in recent Palestinian-Israeli conflict history. However, before this round of conflict, Israel's military superiority over Palestinian militants was evident. Most of the rockets fired by Hamas were intercepted by Israel's "Iron Dome" air defense system. Li Shaoxian believes that there are two main reasons why Hamas could catch Israel off guard. The first is the internal conflicts within Israel. This year, the Netanyahu administration's push for judicial reforms and efforts to weaken the Supreme Court's power led to the largest protests in the country's history. In July, the Israeli parliament passed part of the judicial reform plan, sparking intense domestic protests. As of last month, protests surrounding the judicial reforms were still ongoing. Li Shaoxian stated that the judicial reforms have caused a significant rift within Israel, affecting all societal levels, including the military. "I believe this includes Mossad. The societal chaos and division severely impacted Mossad's response." The other reason is that Hamas was well-prepared and had long planned this operation. Li Shaoxian specifically mentioned that in May of this year, when armed groups in the Gaza Strip clashed with Israel, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza, targeting senior Jihad officials. However, Hamas did not participate in the conflict at that time. Li Shaoxian believes that Hamas's non-participation created a false impression, making Israel think that Hamas had softened and was unwilling to provoke Israel's retaliatory strikes, causing Israel to let its guard down against Hamas. Iran, an ally of Hamas, has consistently provided Hamas with supplies and weapons. On October 8, a Hamas spokesperson confirmed in an interview with British media that the organization received support from Iran during the attack, as well as assistance from other countries. However, the spokesperson did not specify which other countries. Regarding Iran's involvement in the attack, Iranian officials firmly denied it, and U.S. officials also stated that they could not confirm Iran's direct involvement. Zou Zhiqiang pointed out that besides Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon is also a traditional supporter of Hamas. He speculated that although they did not directly participate in the attack, Iran and Hezbollah might have provided multifaceted support for this surprise attack. What Was the Purpose of the Attack? Against the backdrop of the U.S. facilitating the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, both Zou Zhiqiang and Li Shaoxian believe that the primary purpose of Hamas's surprise attack was to disrupt this process. Zou Zhiqiang stated that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel would be a significant blow to the Palestinian cause. If Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Arab world, normalizes relations with Israel, it would mean that the Arab world has abandoned the Palestinian issue. This would be a severe setback for the Palestinian cause. Li Shaoxian added that the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel would also be a significant blow to Iran. Iran has always been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and has consistently opposed the normalization of relations between Arab countries and Israel. Zou Zhiqiang believes that Hamas's surprise attack was not only aimed at disrupting the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel but also at uniting the Palestinian factions. In recent years, the Palestinian factions have been divided, with Hamas controlling the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority controlling the West Bank. The surprise attack could unite the Palestinian factions against a common enemy, Israel. Li Shaoxian also pointed out that the surprise attack was a way for Hamas to demonstrate its strength and capabilities. By launching a large-scale surprise attack and capturing over 100 Israelis, Hamas has shown that it is still a force to be reckoned with in the Middle East. How Will the Conflict Conclude? Both Zou Zhiqiang and Li Shaoxian believe that the conflict will not escalate into a full-scale war between Israel and Palestine. They believe that the international community, especially the U.S., will intervene to prevent the conflict from escalating further. Zou Zhiqiang pointed out that the U.S. has a vested interest in maintaining stability in the Middle East, especially given the ongoing negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. The U.S. will not allow the conflict to derail these negotiations. Li Shaoxian added that the U.S. has always played a mediating role in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The U.S. will likely intervene and broker a ceasefire between the two sides. However, both Zou Zhiqiang and Li Shaoxian believe that the conflict will not be resolved in the short term. The underlying issues, such as the Palestinian demand for statehood and the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, remain unresolved. Until these issues are addressed, the conflict will continue to simmer and periodically erupt into violence. Study isolates factors showing how conservatives, liberals differ in support of science Trust is a key factor when it comes to supporting science, but measuring trust alone does not capture the whole picture. A UB communication researcher has identified five factors associated with the publics perception of science. Those factors are part of a tool that was tested to determine the state of science in the U.S. using a national sample of 1,054 American adults, conducted in collaboration with the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. The results, published in the journal PNAS, suggest the differences separating conservatives and liberals when it comes to both supporting federal funding of research (finding solutions to existing problems) and basic research funding (how processes or concepts work) are nuanced, and go beyond a simple divide in trust. Trust is a key factor when it comes to supporting science, but measuring trust alone does not capture the whole picture, says Yotam Ophir, assistant professor in the Department of Communication and the studys lead author. In the U.S., science is funded to a large degree by the government. Many recent scientific breakthroughs, like the development of the internet, DNA analysis and nanotechnology, were all made possible by government investments in research. Knowing what may encourage people to support that funding is critical. The new tool developed by Ophirs research team expands on limited definitions of trust to build a more comprehensive measure that provides a sense for how Americans and various subpopulations feel about science. In Ophirs model, trust is part of the tools credibility measure, which also includes the ideas of competence, integrity and openness. These are measured along additional perceptions, specifically that scientists are not only credible, but prudent (a measure that takes morality and accountability) and unbiased (in ways that prevent their personal beliefs from interfering or influencing their professional work), and that science itself is self-correcting (meaning that mistakes are identified and being addressed) and beneficial (that the science yields useful outcomes). Ophir says conservatives were less likely to be supportive when they perceived that scientists failed to overcome their biases. The interaction between political ideologies and the prudence and beneficial factors was significant only when predicting basic research support. There are no differences between conservatives and liberals when perceptions of benefit were low, but when those perceptions were high, liberals showed more support for funding than conservatives. Among those perceiving that scientists lack prudence, liberals were more likely to support funding basic research than conservatives, but the difference disappeared when perceptions of prudence were high. The model we present in this paper is an important measurement tool that we hope will become the standard for scientific and governmental organizations that want to understand how public perceptions of science and scientists change over time, says Ophir. The tool can track gaps between how science is presented everything from climate change to vaccine efficacy and how its perceived by the public. If we learn why specific people resist science, then we can become better at crafting effective messages that explain how science works, that clarify misunderstandings about science, while also finding and addressing vulnerabilities that could lead to misperceptions, says Ophir. We hope the findings from this study would be useful for people who care about science and wish to improve public acceptance of science. Ophir and his co-authors Dror Walter, Georgia State University assistant professor of communication; Patrick Jamieson, director, Annenberg Health & Risk Communication Institute; and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director, Annenberg Public Policy Center plan to continue to develop this line of research by testing the applicability of the model in other important scientific contexts. SaaS major Zoho Corp is seeing robust interest in its collaboration platform, Cliq, in India its quickest growing market, which expanded by 37 per cent in 2022. The company has enhanced its Cliq platform with the introduction of Cliq Rooms, an intelligent conference room solution, and announced fresh updates to Zoho Cliq to further strengthen its upmarket momentum. These declarations were made during Zoholics India, the company's annual user conference in Bengaluru. "Zoho Cliq is the world's most sophisticated collaborative platform. Zoho provides the operating system for business, and we label Cliq as the operating system for Zoho. The comprehensive functionality of the Zoho suite is increasingly accessible via Cliq, with its intuitive messaging interface. This facilitates employees in extensive organisations, like Zoho Corp itself, to communicate and collaborate, supply data in real-time to apps, and interpret reports from the top-tier interface across both desktop and mobile platforms," stated Sridhar Vembu, CEO and co-founder of Zoho Corp. "With this introduction, Zoho Cliq delivers a resilient platform that can empower employees to execute most of their duties directly within the app, be it resolving a client problem or authorising expenses. This can assist organisations, particularly those in the medium to large segment, in enhancing both the employee and customer experience by integrating key functions from front-end and back-end applications into the Cliq interface," Vembu continued. According to Zoho, Cliq is one of the most frequently utilised applications in Zoho One, and there's been a 30 per cent surge in user migration from Slack and MS Teams in 2022. Reports suggest that the revenue for the Indian collaboration software market might reach $275.50 million by 2028. This solution was entirely developed in India and is part of Zohos research and development endeavours in crafting a cohesive technology stack. With the recent updates, Zoho Cliq offers low-code adaptability, enabling developers to design and operate custom apps within Cliq. Distinct from its competitors, Cliq boasts its custom database, allowing developers to run their applications in a serverless manner. Utilising Zia, Zohos AI assistant, users can obtain meeting summaries, initiate action items as tasks in Zoho Projects, and set subsequent reminders within Cliq. Zia also functions as a writing aide, assisting users in formulating, refining, and reviewing messages. Users can also conduct sentiment analysis with Zia. Zoho's expansion in India is propelled by its diverse array of products and suites that are witnessing growing upmarket and mass-market adoption. The primary products driving growth encompass Zoho One, Zoho CX suite (CRM and CRM Plus), Zoho People, Zoho Books, and Zoho Workplace. The sectors in India adopting Zoho include IT hardware, banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), manufacturing, education, and retail. Also Read Open challenge to OpenAI, Google: Zoho working to build its own AI model PwC India ties up with Zoho to drive digital transformation of firms Tata Cliq gets new CEO as Tata Digital reshuffles management Zoho surpasses 100 million users across over 55 business applications Delta Corp tanks 15%, hits 52-week low on tax notice of Rs 16,822 crore Moody's affirms PFC, REC 'Baa3' ratings; asset quality expected to improve Govt constitutes three-member search committee to find new chairman of IOC Mahindra Last Mile Mobility gets Rs 300 crore investment from IFC Measures in place to ensure safety of employees at Haifa port: APSEZ FIR filed against Hero Moto Chairman Pawan Munjal on forgery allegations Zoho has also increased its partner network in India by 30 per cent year-on-year. To back its ascending upmarket growth in India, the company has launched sales offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad and has also broadened its systems integrator (SI) partner network. Australia said on Monday it will be a partner country for the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet in January 2024. Milton Dick, speaker of the Australian Parliament, and Philip Green, the countrys new High Commissioner in Chennai, made the announcement on their visit to Chennai. The Advisory Board of the Centre for Australia India Relations visited the city earlier October 25-26. I am pleased to announce that Australia will be a partner country for Tamil Nadus Global Investors Meet in January 2024. Entry into force of our free trade agreement, the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), and the growing Indian diaspora in Australia, means there has never been more economic potential between us, said Green. "We see lots of scope to do more with Tamil Nadu in the fields of education and research, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and health, he said. We have been continuously engaging with Australia to explore further trade opportunities between Tamil Nadu and Australia. India and Australia have deep cultural and economic ties which thrive because of the over 1 million people of Indian origin who live in Australia. Many of them are from Tamil Nadu, studying and working there, said TRB Rajaa, the states industries minister. There is immense untapped potential for further collaboration between Australia and Tamil Nadu, and I am excited about the many ideas we have discussed so far, said Rajaa. Green also announced that the Australian Consulate General will participate in the Indian Institute of Technology Madras-led Hydrogen Valley Innovation Cluster in Tamil Nadu (HVIC-TN) discussions as an initiative to engage with the Australia India Centre for Energy. Australia is well placed to become a global hub for green hydrogen production and export. We have an excellent partner in India as we work towards elevating our cooperation to a full Renewable Energy Partnership including through the Australia-India Green Hydrogen Taskforce, said Green. The Australian Parliaments Speaker was a special guest at the Indo-Australia Chamber of Commerces 34th Annual Day celebrations on October 7. Green, who is patron of the chamber, was the guest of honour. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will embark on a six-day official visit on Tuesday to Marrakech, Morocco, to attend the World Bank-International Monetary Fund annual meet, along with the G20 FMCBG meeting. Besides, bilateral meetings with Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany and France are scheduled to take place on October 11-15, 2023, in Marrakech. The Indian delegation for the annual meetings will be led by the Finance Minister, and comprise officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India, an official statement said on Monday. During the visit, it said, Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will co-chair the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting. The G20 FMCBG meeting under India's presidency will witness the participation of 65 delegations from G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations in multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of important global issues, it said. The fourth G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise two sessions - 'Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address shared challenges of the 21st Century' and 'Global Economy and Crypto Assets Agenda'. During the meeting, it said that Volume 2 of the Report on strengthening MDBs by the Independent Expert Group (IEG) will also be released. Volume 1 was released during the third FMCBG held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in July. On the sidelines of the fourth G20 FMCBG meeting, Principals from the Indian G20 Presidency, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank will co-chair the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) on October 12, 2023. The roundtable will discuss the progress made on debt restructuring and explore ways and means to support the work of G20 countries, the statement said. In a high-level event organised by the US Treasury, it said, the Finance Minister will engage in a Roundtable Discussion on "IMF policy priorities and how the institution should support its membership". She will also participate in a discussion on Partnership for "Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement" (RISE) with the World Bank Group, organised by the G7 Japan Presidency, it added. Also Read Earthquake-struck Morocco to spend nearly $12 billion on recovery IMF's Gita Gopinath praises India's G20 Summit message, PM Modi responds Embellished trees, floral works: New Delhi gets ready for G20 Summit A look at the millet-rich culinary extravaganza that awaits G20 guests Tharoor lauds India's sherpa after '200 hrs of non-stop negotiations' claim Israel-Hamas conflict may impact gems, jewellery trade, say exporters Inflation expectations moderate in September 2023, says RBI survey High cotton prices may impact exports in 2022-23 marketing year: CAI India, UK looking at possible visit of PM Sunak to New Delhi soon Urban jobless rate falls for second consecutive quarter to 6.6 % in Q1 On the margins of the IMF-WB annual meetings in Marrakech, Sitharaman will participate in a discussion on the macroeconomic outlook during a G7 Africa Ministerial Roundtable. Sitharaman will also give the keynote address at a session on "MDBs evolution", co-hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Center for Global Development (CGD). During her visit, it said, the Finance Minister will also participate in a roundtable on "Reviving Growth with Inclusivity: Galvanising Private Capital to Support Governments and Multilateral Institutions". In another high-level event on the sidelines, she will engage in a conversation with the Atlantic Council on India's economic prospects through 2024 and beyond, it said. Under the G20 India Presidency theme of 'One Earth', 'One Family' and 'One Future', the discussions will continue to build on the key outcomes achieved under the Finance Track of India's G20 Presidency during the G20 Leaders' Summit in September 2023 in New Delhi. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik called Monday for a strong readiness posture against North Korea as he made his first visit to a front-line military unit in his new role. Shin, who took office Saturday, was briefed on border operations at the Army's 1st Infantry Division in Paju, just south of the Demilitarized Zone, and ordered a firm military readiness posture. "In the past, North Korea has conducted large-scale provocations after two or three years after our government takes office," Shin was quoted as saying. If North Korea provokes, Shin said, "First, retaliate immediately. Second, retaliate strongly. Third, retaliate until the end." Last week, President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to defend the nation from North Korea's provocations by strengthening its ability to respond "immediately and overwhelmingly." Tensions linger on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. Shin, a ruling People Power Party lawmaker who retired as a three-star Army general, is known for his expertise in defense policy and military operations. He served as the head of the defense ministry's Policy Planning Bureau in 2011 and 2012 before leading the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Chief Directorate of Operations from October 2013 to April 2015. Shin capped off his military career as the JCS vice chairman before his discharge in January 2016. (Yonhap) The next round of negotiations for a trade agreement between India and South American nation Peru will start from October 10, an official statement said on Monday. The agreement is aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investments between the two countries. With the pact, the two trading partners will significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on maximum number of goods traded between them. "A special round of negotiations for the India - Peru trade agreement is scheduled to be held virtually on 10-11 October," the commerce ministry said. During the negotiations, the two sides will discuss different issues, including rules of origin, trade in goods, customs procedures and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures. "Discussions on services, movement of natural persons (professionals), trade remedies and investment chapter will be held later in the month based on mutual convenience of the negotiators," the statement said. Negotiations for the agreement was started in 2017 and the fifth round was concluded in August 2019. The negotiations were paused due to the coronavirus pandemic. "It is anticipated that the agreement will significantly boost trade, investment and enhance cooperation in various sectors. The sixth round is slated to be held in December 2023 at Lima in Peru," it added. During 2022-23, the bilateral trade between India and Peru stood at USD 3.12 billion. India exported goods worth USD 865.91 million to Peru and imported goods valued at USD 2.25 billion. Key Indian exports to Peru include motor vehicles/cars, cotton yarn and pharmaceuticals while Peru primarily exports gold, copper ores and concentrates. During the negotiations, the Indian track will be led by Chief Negotiator Vipul Bansal, Joint Secretary at the Department of Commerce, and the Peruvian track will be led by Gerardo Antonio Meza Grillo, Director for Asia, Oceania and Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Also Read Fire in south Peru gold mine kills at least 27 in night shift: Officials Shark Tank Season 1: Which shark honoured most number of deals? Check here India, Peru to resume FTA talks to promote commerce, investment: Official India-Peru to recommence free trade agreement negotiation on Tuesday Guillain-Barre Syndrome emergency in Peru: All you must know about disease Israel-Hamas conflict: India's hope of respite in oil prices dashed Unemployment rate at 6-year low of 3.2% in 2022-23, shows PLFS data Marrakech meet likely to see breakthrough on 15% minimum tax on MNCs FM to attend World Bank-IMF meet, G20 FMBCBG in Morocco from Oct 11 Israel-Hamas conflict may impact gems, jewellery trade, say exporters The Congress registered a landslide victory in 2018 assembly elections because of the strong anti-incumbency against the BJP that had ruled the state for 15 years between 2003 and 2018. The Congress currently holds 71 seats in the 90-member state assembly and is aiming to win 75 seats in the upcoming elections riding on the Bhupesh Baghel-led government's pro-farmers, pro-tribals and pro-poor schemes. The ruling party is also eyeing to cash in on CM Baghel's popularity as he has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters. Here is a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh. Strengths: Implementation of several welfare schemes, including Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay and Godhan Nyay Yojana, catering to farmers and rural population, unemployment allowance and procurement of millets and various forest produce at support price. CM Baghel has developed his image as a son of the soil, enhancing his popularity in the native population. He has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters. In the last five years, the party has strengthened its organisational set-up till the booth level. Around 3 lakh youths associated with the Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club scheme could help the party in mobilising voters in its favour. This scheme is aimed at connecting young people of the state with creative works, developing leadership skills and making them aware of their social responsibilities. The Congress won bypolls held to five assembly seats in Chhattisgarh after 2018, consolidating its position in the state. Weaknesses: There is factionalism and infighting in the grand old party's state unit. In the last five years, CM Baghel's bete noire in the party T S Singh Deo raised a banner of revolt multiple times. Finally, the party had to placate him by appointing him as the deputy chief minister earlier this year. Another leader Mohan Markam, a former state Congress president, was also not on good terms with Baghel. But he was inducted into the state cabinet a few months back. Despite all this, the internal bickering is far from over. Also Read 'Baghel vs Baghel' fight: BJP fields Bhupesh Baghel's nephew on Patan seat Chhattisgarh elections: Delhi CM Kejriwal to visit Chhattisgarh on Sept 16 Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel transfers Rs 2,000 cr to beneficiaries CM Bhupesh Baghel transfers Rs 34.55 cr to unemployed youth in Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel initiates 700-bed hospital project in Raipur Chhattisgarh elections: Polling in two phases on Nov 7, 17; result on Dec 3 Assembly polls: How do Chhattisgarh, Mizoram fare in economic parameters? Congress President slams BJP for making 'baseless' corruption allegations Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh inaugurates Model Library in Durg, organic C-mart NMDC steel plant to give employment to 50,000 people in state, says PM Modi The government is facing allegations of corruption in coal transportation, liquor sale, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund utilisation and Public Service Commission recruitment in the state. Some incidents of communal violence and clashes over religious conversion occurred in the state during the present regime, giving an opportunity to the opposition BJP to build a narrative against the Congress of being anti-Hindu. Opportunities: The BJP has failed to mount an effective attack on the Congress in the last nearly five years. Leadership issue in the BJP: After the 2018 assembly polls, the BJP has changed its state chief thrice and also changed its leader of opposition in the state assembly last year. The saffron party has also virtually sidelined Raman Singh, whose last tenure as CM between 2013 and 2018 was rocked by alleged civil supplies scam and chit fund scam. The Congress has been continuously targeting the BJP, claiming its central leadership does not have faith in the party's frontline leaders in the state. Weak BJP district units that failed to counter Congress' narrative against the BJP-led Centre at the local level. Threats: Unfulfilled promises, including liquor ban and regularisation of contractual employees, may attract the wrath of people in various constituencies. The 'Modi factor' that gives the BJP an edge over rival parties. Entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Sarwa Adivasi Samaj (an umbrella body of tribal organisations) into the elections may damage the vote bank of the Congress. Of the 68 Congress MLAs who were elected in 2018, a total of 35 were first timers and most of them are now facing opposition from the public over their performance. A Delhi court has allowed a man accused in a money laundering case related to the alleged Rs 60,000-crore ponzi scam involving the Pearls Group to travel abroad to explore educational institutions for his daughter. Special Judge Rajesh Kumar Goel allowed Hemant Patil to travel to Luzern and Zurich in Switzerland from October 14 to 22, noting that he was not arrested during the investigation and the supplementary complaint (ED's equivalent to a charge sheet) was filed against him without his arrest. Patil was granted bail on April 20 and the court had directed him not to leave the country without its permission. "There is nothing on record indicating that the accused ever tried to abscond even during the investigation or avoided his appearance before this court. Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case and the submissions made, the present application stands allowed," the judge said. The application stated that Patil wished to travel along with his wife as they were desirous of exploring higher secondary educational institutions in Switzerland for their daughter. The ED opposed the application, saying that the accused was facing trial for serious economic offences and if he was permitted to travel abroad, there was every likelihood that he may not be available to stand trial and would flee justice. According to the complaint, the accused prima facie violated the provisions of the SEBI Act and regulations of the SEBI (CIS) Regulations, SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices Relating to Securities Market) in the alleged ponzi case. According to the regulator's complaint, the firm had allegedly "illegally mobilised around Rs 60,000 crore". Also Read Actor Govinda to be questioned in Rs 1,000 cr online ponzi scam: Report Scam 2003: Who was Abdul Karim Telgi, and what was the Stamp Paper Scam? EOW Odisha unearths crypto-ponzi scam worth Rs 1000 crore, 2 held ED arrests 2 directors of WB firm that duped investors through ponzi scheme FinMin working with MeitY, RBI to clamp down on ponzi apps: FM Sitharaman Federal Bank to stop funding for thermal power projects by 2030: Official War, flight cancellations disrupt peak travel season from Israel to India Deepak Anurag sworn in as member of Competition Commission of India Indian Air Force airlifts 149 civilians stranded in flood-hit Skikim India, France forge deeper ties in Space sector at Indian Space Conclave The Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) signed a significant MoU aiming to enhance the understanding of space industry capabilities and increase awareness of business opportunities in France and India at the second chapter of Indian Space Conclave 2023 in the national capital,Indian Space Association said in a press release. The first day was dedicated to India-France collaboration in the space sector. The event was attended by representatives of the French and Indian space industry leaders, startups and government officials. The collaboration will help foster sustainable growth, promote innovation and advocate the adoption of new technologies in France and India's space industries. The MoU will act as an extension to the already flourishing Indo-French relationship in the space sector and augment the individual and collective membership bases of the organizations through the benefit of greater international linkages for the members, it read. As the interest towards the space sector increases among students across the world, the partnership will also help facilitate academic and educational program exchanges between both organizations that encompass training at all levels, the official release stated. The conclave is followed by a three-day exhibition put up by 24 exhibitors from leading space startups and academic institutions showcasing their products and offerings. The exhibition was inaugurated by Thierry Mathou, Ambassador-Designate of France in India and Governor Shekhar Dutt, SM (Retd), Former Defence Secretary and Governor of Chhatisgarh. Meanwhile, Lt General AK Bhatt (Retd), Director General of the Indian Space Association in his opening remarks said that the dawn of a new era in space is upon us, where the Indian private space industry will have the potential to play a pivotal role in every aspect of the space sector. "This collaboration between the public and private sectors promises to propel us to new heights, fostering innovation and driving progress like never before. In this journey, I must acknowledge the importance of our alliance with France, a crucial partner in our space exploration endeavours. France has been a steadfast friend, and today's MoU with GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association, reaffirms our commitment to strengthening industry collaboration between our two nations. Together, we shall continue to push the boundaries of space exploration and unlock the limitless possibilities that await us," he added. Also Read China to send astronauts to Moon by 2030 as space race intensifies China to send its first civilian to space on Tuesday, says space agency India extends UPI services to France, first in Europe after Singapore Germany beat France 2-1, ending winless run days after removing Hansi Flick UAE space sector enhances global competitiveness, contributes to economy India-Peru to recommence free trade agreement negotiation on Tuesday Govt set to make changes in some of the earlier proposals under DESH Bill Meeting of rubber-producing nations discusses need to mechanise sector Commercial Taxes dept detects multiple QR code use by hotels to evade tax Bid to tarnish image by foreign entities: Adani Group ahead of SC hearing Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, European Space Agency said that India is on the cusp of achieving the milestone of sending human beings to space through its Gaganyaan mission. "The convergence of French and Indian leadership underscores the profound significance of space exploration. Space is playing a pivotal role in the battle against climate change, it is evident that our shared future lies among the stars. As rovers continue to pave the way for future interplanetary journeys, we find ourselves at the threshold of limitless possibilities. By embracing the vision of a future where private industries seamlessly intertwine with every facet of the space sector, we can forge a path towards a boundless cosmic frontier," Astronaut Thomas Pesquet said. In his video address, Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of ISRO S Somanath said that the integration of private industries into every facet of the space sector marks a significant milestone, opening new frontiers and sparking innovation. "I applaud ISpA for fostering an ecosystem that nurtures space startups, driving the growth of our space industry. This conference, with the active participation of both public and private stakeholders, will be a crucible for thought leadership. As we engage in profound discussions on sustainable development, disaster management, business domains, and geospatial policy, we recognize the transformative potential that the space sector holds for the betterment of humanity. Additionally, the imminent release of FDI rules will further incentivize foreign investments, propelling us towards even greater heights in our cosmic endeavours," Somanath said. On the occasion of signing the MoU with ISpA, Cedric Post, Deputy Director International, European and Commercial Affairs, GIFAS "As we embark on this exciting journey of collaboration between India and France in the realm of space exploration, we recognize the pivotal role that this partnership will play in shaping the future. The MoU signed with ISpA underscores our shared commitment to strengthening industry collaboration and fostering an environment of innovation, business development, and sound policy regulation. The convergence of public and private sectors is set to redefine the landscape of the space sector, and India and France are poised to lead this transformation. Private industries will soon permeate every aspect of space, unlocking new possibilities and driving progress like never before. Together, we look forward to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and charting a course for a brighter, more interconnected cosmic future." The Indo-French space collaboration has achieved significant milestones in recent years. Both nations have joined forces for India's ambitious human spaceflight initiative named Gaganyaan, with France contributing to areas like space medicine and astronaut health as well as supplying CNES flight systems. Also, France's participation in ISRO's upcoming Venus mission in 2025 marks another significant leap, opening new avenues for international cooperation in space exploration. Both countries also pledged to enhance collaboration between their startup ecosystems, fostering innovation in the space sector. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on a four-day visit to India, will be conferred an honorary doctorate by Jawaharlal Nehru University on Tuesday, according to the Education Ministry. President Hassan arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit. "The first woman President of Tanzania will be honoured with an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) by Jawaharlal Nehru University for her pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Tanzania relations, promoting economic diplomacy, and achieving success in regional integration and multilateralism. "She proudly acknowledges herself as a "product of Indian education", attributing it to her ITEC training at NIRD, Hyderabad," the Education Ministry posted on social media site X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held wide-ranging talks with Tanzanian President Hassan, with a focus on boosting overall bilateral ties. Before of the talks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Tanzanian president's visit is an opportunity to take the long-standing ties between the two countries to "new levels". Earlier in the day, the visiting leader was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Hassan will also participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi on October 10. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday said that teachers have a major responsibility in guiding the students in the right direction in the spirit of nationalism. The Chief Minister said this while attending the inaugural session of Tripura Rajya Mahavidyalaya Shaikshik Sangh's Annual General Meeting 2023 at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Auditorium, Tripura University. "Educational institutions are sacred places. Here, children are taught to become true human beings. So, the state government will not tolerate chaos in educational institutions. In this case, teachers also have important duties to perform," Saha said. "Due to the strong efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is progressing in every field, including the education sector. At the recently held G-20 summit in India, the Prime Minister strongly expressed the desire to make India a global leader. For this reason, special importance has been given to the expansion of quality education," Saha added. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also stated that the state government is working diligently towards the expansion of quality education in alignment with the central government. "But at one time, extreme anarchy was created in educational institutions in the name of movements in the state. At present, a healthy environment has been established in all educational institutions in the state," added Saha. During the event, Dr. Gangaprasad Prasain, Vice-Chancellor of Tripura Central University, General Secretary of Tripura Rajya Mahavidyalaya Shaikshik Sangh, Tirtharam Reang, and Organising Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Sangh, Mahendra Kapoor, also spoke on the occasion. Also Read Govt working for overall development, aiming at 8% growth: Tripura CM BJP-IPFT alliance will rule Tripura for next 40-50 years: CM Manik Saha Tripura CM Saha seeks investment to explore state's natural resources World Teachers' Day 2023: History, importance, theme, quotes and wishes Ulta Rath Yatra mishap: CM Manik Saha announces compensation for victims Cauvery row: Pro-Kannada organisation to block highway in B'luru on Oct 10 EAM Jaishankar holds meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan Assam govt issues Rs 47 cr grant to surrendered cadres of Adivasi militants Dassault Aviation CEO to visit India, discuss marine variant of Rafale jets PM Janaushadhi Kendras-like stores for animal medicines on the cards Officials of China's electric carmaker BYD Auto have been facing difficulties in obtaining Indian visas for over a year, according to a report by Mint. These officials have been planning a trip to India to hold in-person discussions with executives from Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd regarding an electric vehicle (EV) project in India. Due to visa constraints, meetings between BYD and Megha executives have been taking place in neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and China. As of now, no official reason has been provided for the denial of Indian visas to BYD executives, said people familiar with the matter. India-China Relations Relations between India and China have soured following clashes along the India-China border in the Galwan region of Ladakh, resulting in the death of twenty Indian soldiers. This incident has strained relations between the two Asian nations. The difficulties faced by BYD are not isolated; several other Chinese companies across various sectors have also encountered challenges in securing Indian visas, according to the Mint report. Megha Engineering and BYD Project Megha Engineering is negotiating with BYD to assemble the Atto 3 and e6 electric cars in India. However, their proposal for a $1 billion equal joint venture is still pending approval from India's Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Mint reported. In a policy shift in April 2020, the DPIIT introduced amendments to the foreign direct investment (FDI) rules, mandating government clearance for all FDI inflows from countries sharing a land border with India. Citigroup Inc said on Monday it had agreed to sell its China consumer wealth portfolio, including clients, assets under management (AUM) and deposits, to Asia-focused HSBC Holdings Plc. The deal covers total deposits and investment AUMs of about $3.6 billion, and is expected to close in the first half of 2024. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. "Today's announcement progresses the wind-down of Citi's consumer banking business in China, which was announced in December 2022," the US-headquartered bank said in a statement. Citi first announced its plan to exit China consumer banking in April 2021 as part of a global strategy revamp. The consumer banking business mainly served rich clients with deposit, fund and structured product offerings. Reuters first reported late last month that HSBC was set to acquire Citi's China consumer wealth business, in a major boost to the London-based bank's business in the world's second-largest economy. Citi's consumer banking business size in China is dwarfed by Chinese banks and foreign peers including Standard Chartered , all which have more retail branches handling wealth management. The acquisition of Citi's wealth portfolio will help HSBC expand its presence in China, one of its key markets as Europe's largest lender vows to exit less profitable geographies to focus on its key revenue generator, Asia. The deal with HSBC does not include Citi's institutional businesses, the bank said, adding it would continue to serve the needs of affluent to ultra-high net worth Chinese clients via its regional wealth hubs in Singapore and Hong Kong. Since announcing its intention to exit consumer banking across 14 markets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Mexico as part of its strategic revamp, Citi has now closed sales in eight markets, it said. Apart from the China consumer banking deal, Citi plans to complete the sale of its Indonesia consumer business later this year, the bank statement said. Previously announced wind-downs of Citi's consumer business in Korea and its overall presence in Russia are in progress. Citi has also announced it will pursue an IPO of its consumer, small business and middle market banking operations in Mexico. The attacks from the Hamas on Saturday on Israel came as a surprise despite the ongoing tensions between Gaza and Israel. As the tensions escalate, here is a closer look at the Gaza Strip, its history, relevance, and tensions with its neighbouring countries, Egypt and Israel. What is the Gaza strip? The Gaza Strip or Gaza, is one of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank. The territory is located along the Mediterranean Sea northeast of the Sinai Peninsula and between Israel and Egypt. The Gaza Strip is 41 km long and 10 km wide, measuring 363 square km. Home to approximately 2.3 million people, Gaza is one of the most densely populated regions globally. Significance of Gaza Also Read: The Gaza Strip's significance lies in its historical and cultural importance for Palestinians and Israelis. Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israel are considered the lands of Jewish kingdom in the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh.Also Read: Israel-Hamas war: What is Hamas and why did it launch an attack on Israel? History of conflict in Gaza Gaza has been no stranger to conflict, having been under the rule of various empires. When the Ottoman Empire's reign ended after World War I, the Gaza area became part of the League of Nations mandate of Palestine under British rule. Following the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948, Egyptian forces entered Gaza, and it became part of Egypt. In the Six-Day War of June 1967, Israel took control of the Gaza Strip, occupying it for the next 25 years. Following the Oslo Accords in 1994, Israel transferred governance of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, tensions persisted, leading to violent uprisings such as the Intifada. Palestinian Authority (PA) in Gaza In 2005, Israel completed a unilateral pullout from the territory, and control was transferred to the PA, although Israel continued to patrol its borders and airspace. In subsequent years, internal conflicts led to Hamas taking control of Gaza, leading to a blockade by Israel and Egypt. The Gaza strip became a regular site for conflict between the Fatah-led government, which had dominated Palestine since the 1950s, and Hamas. In June 2007, Hamas took control of Gaza, while the Fatah party took control of the West Bank. Also Read Israel-Hamas war: What is the Iron Dome and how did Hamas breach it? Israel-Hamas war: What is Hamas and why did it launch an attack on Israel? Disrupting Saudi-Israel ties may have motivated Hamas attack, says Blinken Why has the Pope launched an 'AI Bible'? Latest LIVE: Air India cancels all flights to and from Tel Aviv till Oct 14 Active firing in southern city of Sderot in Israel for third day: Reports 'Pakistan, China to invite 3rd parties to participate in CPEC projects' Israel-Hamas war: What is the Iron Dome and how did Hamas breach it? Morocco welcomes annual meeting of IMF, WB a month after its deadly quake Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, with 1,100 dead The Fatah party was one the strongest factions in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and recognised Israel's right to exist. The Fatah party is considered to represent Palestine by most Western nations. Also Read: PA President Mahmoud Abbas called for Hamas to relinquish control, however, the region remains under Hamas till date.Also Read: Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, with 1,100 dead What is Hamas? Militant Islamist group Hamas is a Palestinian political organisation that controls Gaza and has been designated a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, the European Union and the UK, as well as other nations. Hamas and Israel have been in conflict, firing rockets and engaging in violence since the group seized control. The ongoing conflict has led to frequent strikes by both regions and a blockade that restricts goods and people from entering and leaving Gaza. Living conditions in Gaza The Gaza Strip faces challenges such as rapid population growth, inadequate services, high unemployment rates, and sanctions imposed by Israel. Most of the population lives in the northern parts of the region. Almost 40 per cent of the population is under the age of 15, according to a report by Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcaster. Agriculture is a key economic activity along with light industry and handicrafts. Many Palestinians travel daily across the border to Israel to work, however, due to restrictions, they cannot stay overnight. According to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Gaza recorded an unemployment rate of 46.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 13.4 per cent in the West Bank. Restrictions from Israel on the movement of people and goods were cited as one of the key factors for Gaza's economic status. While conflict has been constant between Gaza and its neighbours, the attacks beginning on October 7 were a drastic escalation in the conflict. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the battle has claimed over 1,100 lives on both sides. The situation is likely to escalate as reports suggest that the US is planning to send military ships and aircraft closer to Israel. In the Israel-Palestine war, Palestinian militants from Hamas group on Saturday fired over 5,000-7,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. The war started off with land, sea and air strikes from the Hamas group, an approach Israel has never seen in decades. It killed several individuals and injured many more; setting off air strike sirens nationwide and raising the probability of another round of high warfare in the future. Hamas militants have penetrated Israels towns in SUVs, bikes and paragliders and started shooting at military installations and civilians. The early morning bombardment lasted over 30 minutes. Later, Israel announced a "state of war". Hamas invades Israel: Updates Israel is battling a hard conflict against Hamas in Gaza after one of the deadliest offensives was launched by the Palestinian group against the country that caught it completely off guard. More than 1,100 have died on both sides since the attack on Saturday and Israel is fighting back with full power. The Gaza Strip has experienced its deadliest day in 15 years after almost 300 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes as of now. The unprecedented size of brutality has brought the two 'Intifadas' or Palestinian uprisings against Israel back into the spotlight and there is speculation about whether the war is the start of the Third uprising. The United Nations says the number of displaced Gazans has increased to over 123,000. On Sunday, as per the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, retaliatory Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and harmed 1,210 others. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees stated a school protecting over 225 individuals took an immediate shot and didn't say where the fire came from. A few Israeli media sources, citing a service official, mentioned that at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. The Gaza Health Ministry also stated that 413 individuals, including 78 kids and 41 ladies, were killed in the area. Approx 2,000 individuals have been injured on each side. An Israeli authority added that security forces have killed 400 militants and caught dozens more. Also Read Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Israel-Hamas war: What is the Iron Dome and how did Hamas breach it? Israel-Hamas war: What is Hamas and why did it launch an attack on Israel? Holding more than 100 people captive from its assault on Israel: Hamas Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, with 1,100 dead Nobel Prize 2023 in Economic Sciences awarded to Claudia Goldin Israel taking 'significant military steps' in response to Hamas attack LIVE: CWC supports the idea of a caste census in country, says Rahul Gandhi Measures in place to ensure safety of employees at Haifa port: APSEZ Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Israel-Palestine war: Background The Israeli-Palestinian conflict goes back to the end of the 19th century. In 1947, the Unified Nations adopted Resolution 181, or the Partition Plan, which led to separate the British Mandate of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was made, starting with the first Arab-Israeli conflict. The conflict ended in 1949 with Israel's win, however, 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, and the territory was split into 3 sections: the State of Israel, and the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (of the Jordan River). Throughout the years, tensions rose between Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. In June 1967. Following a series of manoeuvrers by Egyptian President Abdel Gamal Nasser, Israel pre-emptively raided Egyptian and Syrian air forces beginning the Six-Day War. After the war, Israel obtained the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan; Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Six years later, the Yom Kippur War or the October War, Egypt and Syria launched an unexpected two-front conflict on Israel to recover their lost territory. Later, Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat announced the conflict a triumph for Egypt as it permitted Egypt and Syria to negotiate over past ceded area. In 1979, following a progression of cease-fires and peace dealings, delegates from Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Accords, a peace treaty that finished the thirty-year war among Egypt and Israel. In 2013, the US attempted to revive the peace cycle between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. But, peace talks were disturbed when 'Fatah', the Palestinian Authoritys ruling party, was formed as a unity government with its opponent group Hamas in 2014. Hamas, a spin-off of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood established in 1987, following the first intifada is one of two significant Palestinian political parties and was declared a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in 1997. Israel and Hamas reached a cease-fire on May 21, 2021, which was mediated by Egypt. Both sides declared victory, and there were no reported violations. However, the United Nations believes that over 72,000 Palestinians were displaced by the battle, while authorities in Gaza estimate that tens of millions of dollars' worth of damage was done during the war. What is the Gaza strip in the Israel-Gaza war? The Gaza Strip refers to a limited portion of land wedged among Israel and Egypt on the Mediterranean Ocean. Involved by the Ottoman Empire and afterward the English Empire, it frames the smaller of the two Palestinian territories; the other being the West Bank. In 1967, Israel won the 6-Day Battle against its Arab neighbours and gained control over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank for the next 38 years. In 2005, under global tensions and domestic pressure, Israel withdrew approx 9,000 Israeli settlers and its military infrastructure from Gaza, passing on the territory to the Palestinian Power, which is also involved in the West Bank. What is Hamas? Hamas is one of the two important political parties in the Palestinian regions. It was established in 1987 during an uprising against Israel's occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, the group was initially a part of the Muslim Brotherhood, which favours Islamist guidelines, a conviction that Islam must play a significant part in political life. Numerous nations, including the U.S., the U.K. and Canada, have named Hamas a 'terrorist' organization in light of its invasions on Israel, which incorporates rocket salvos, suicide bombings and other types of warfare. Another nation that considers Hamas' military wing to be a terrorist group is New Zealand. The Hamas group: Backing Hamas considers itself a political party, whose aim is to liberate Palestinians from occupation and recover huge parts of Israel. Its functioning and operations have often been controversial even among the groups that support Palestine due to its use of brutal means in war. Hamas also offers social services for Gaza people, like education and medical care. The militant group gets significant support from Iran, which includes funds, weapons, and training" to the group, as per the Council on Foreign Relations. Turkey also says it assists Hamas just politically, however, it has been blamed for financing Hamas' militant operations, through funds diverted from Turkish government aid programs. Various countries' reaction on Israel-Palestian war India- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel". China- Beijing said it was deeply concerned by the weekends dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all sides to show calm. France- French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the terrorist attacks against Israel on X (twitter) and added, I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks which are currently hitting Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, and their families and those close to them". Germany- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Hamas contributes to the intensification of violence, adding violence and rockets aimed at innocent people must stop immediately. Iran- The country reiterated its support of the militant group, stating, We congratulate the Palestinian fighters. We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem," it quoted adviser Rahim Safavi as saying. NATO- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization said, terrorist attacks by Hamas against NATO partner Israel. Russia- Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said, It goes without saying that we always call for restraint". Russia also added it is in contact with Israel. What is Israels Iron Dome? Israel's Iron Dome system is a short-range air defence framework which is known to have a 96 percent success rate in intercepting and shooting down enemy rockets. The Dome can intercept 90% of the rockets fired by Hamas towards Israeli territories. The framework was created by state-owned Rafael Advanced Defence Systems with the support of the US to counter rockets fired by the groups from Palestine's Hamas and Hezbollah from Lebanon during the 2006 war. This air-defence framework became functional in 2011. Iron Dome comprises truck-towed units, every one of which fires radar-guided missiles to counter short-range dangers including rockets, mortars and drones in mid-air. It had a reach between 4 and 70 km, to give city-sized coverage, but the range is said to have been extended later. The cost to launch an Iron Dome interceptor is said to be between a staggering $50,000 to $100,000. Conclusion Since 2015, 2022 has seen the most clash-related deaths for both Israelis and Palestinians and war has kept on escalating through 2023, with the West Bank on target for its deadliest year since 2005 in the midst of almost regular Israeli attacks. Palestinians and Israeli settlers have seen regular confrontations on many events, and tensions have gotten worse after Israel supported 5,000 new settler homes in June 2023. The Israeli military has additionally heightened its activities, including attacking the al-Aqsa mosque two times in a day. In July, Israel deployed almost 2,000 soldiers and held drone strikes in a huge scale raid. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while withdrawing said, the invasion was "not a one-off" occurrence; Israel means to prevent the camp from filling in as a safe haven for Jenin Brigades and other militant groups. Han Byung-soo, a former South Korean prisoner of war who was held in North Korea for five decades before escaping to his home country, has died at the age of 92, the defense ministry said Monday. Han enlisted in the South Korean Army in 1951, when he was 20, and became a prisoner of war in June 1953, a month before the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. In North Korea, he was forced into hard labor in Tanchon, South Hamgyong Province, and escaped to South Korea via China in 2002, according to the ministry. Tanchon is identified as the site of the Kumdok Laborers' District and is home to the Kumdok Mine. South Korean POWs were in many cases forced to work as diggers or coal miners, according to South Korea's Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs. Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul paid his respects at the memorial altar for Han at a hospital in Ansan, 29 kilometers south of Seoul. Han will be buried in Seoul National Cemetery in central Seoul on Tuesday. Since the Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953, 80 South Korean POWs in North Korea have fled to their home country. With Han's death, the number of former POWs in South Korea fell to 11. South Korea estimates that more than 500 POWs are still alive in the North as of late 2016. Still, North Korea denies holding any POWs. (Yonhap) Israel says it has brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters in response to the militant group's unprecedented incursion into Israel. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for the surprise attack a day earlier. The Israeli military has tried to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. More than 1,100 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides. The fighting continued in several locations Monday morning. AUSTRIA TO FREEZE DEVELOPMENT AID FOR PALESTINIAN AREAS Austria's foreign minister says his country will freeze development aid for the Palestinian areas following the attack by Hamas on Israel. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio on Monday that all development aid payments will be put on ice for now and that the affected funds are worth around 19 million euros (USD 20 million). Schallenberg also said he will summon Iran's ambassador to the Austrian Foreign Ministry on Monday to complain about the country's abhorrent reactions to the Hamas attack. On Sunday, Germany's development minister said her country would review its financial aid for the Palestinian areas. Her ministry put the amount currently pledged at 250 million euros (USD 265 million) and said no payments are currently being made. EGYPT AND UAE LEADERS DISCUSS NEED FOR JUST AND PERMANENT PEACE The leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on Monday discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed on the importance of advancing diplomatic efforts that aim to de-escalate violence, protect civilians, spare blood, a statement from the Egyptian president's office said. Such efforts should include establishing a comprehensive, just and permanent peace, it added. Egypt was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in the 1970s, and shares borders with both Gaza and Israel. Also Read Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Israel airstrike kills senior member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza 5 things to know as Israel declares war, bombards Gaza after Hamas attack We are at war: Netanyahu tells Israel after Hamas' unprecedented attack Hamas has started a war that 'Israel will win', says defence minister LIVE: PM is incapable of doing the caste census, says Rahul Gandhi Measures in place to ensure safety of employees at Haifa port: APSEZ Gaza strip: Understanding the territory, its history, and ongoing conflict Active firing in southern city of Sderot in Israel for third day: Reports 'Pakistan, China to invite 3rd parties to participate in CPEC projects' The UAE normalised ties with Tel Aviv as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. The Arab Gulf nation has frayed ties with Hamas. NEARLY 600 ROMANIANS REPATRIATED FROM ISRAEL IN 2 DAYS Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says 245 Romanian citizens including two groups of pilgrims have been repatriated from Israel on two separate flights by a commercial carrier. The repatriation on Sunday came after 346 were also flown back to Romania over the weekend, bringing the total number in the past two days to nearly 600 after Hamas launched its unprecedented attacks against Israel. HAMAS WANTS TO 'LIBERATE ALL PALESTINIAN PRISONERS,' IT SAYS Hamas wants to liberate all Palestinian prisoners from Israel and end Israeli provocations in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque, a spokesman for the militant group said Monday. Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press over the phone that Hamas militants were still fighting Israeli forces and had captured more Israelis on Monday morning. We are in an open battle to defend our people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, he said. This battle is linked to the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners and the cessation of this fascist government's activities in Jerusalem. He said the group has captured a large number of Israelis in Gaza, without giving a specific figure. He said Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam, would announce the figures later. HUNGARIAN AIR FORCE BRINGS MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE OUT OF ISRAEL Two Hungarian air force planes carrying 215 people from Israel arrived in Budapest early Monday, according to posts by Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Facebook. We thank the authorities of Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania for their cooperation in the swift issuance of the necessary permits for flights, the foreign minister wrote. Earlier, Szijjarto said in a video on Facebook that there were 400 Hungarian citizens in Israeli territory, but that there were no known Hungarians who had been killed or injured in the Hamas attacks. EGYPTAIR SUSPENDS FLIGHTS TO ISRAEL EgyptAir, Egypt's national carrier, suspended its flights to Israel on Monday amid fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, Cairo airport officials said. The flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv are suspended until further notice, said two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. EgyptAir normally operates a daily flight between Cairo International Airport and Ben Gurion International Airport, just outside Tel Aviv. Many carriers suspended flights to and from Israel following the unprecedented attack by the Hamas militant group, which rules Gaza, Israeli media reported. 12 THAI NATIONALS KILLED IN ISRAEL FOLLOWING HAMAS ATTACK Twelve Thai nationals have died in Israel following Hamas' attack, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke said Monday. Eleven others were taken hostage and eight were injured. The numbers, based on reports from workers and employers in the area, were still awaiting confirmation from Israeli authorities, Kanchana said. Around 5,000 Thai workers are in the areas around the Gaza Strip, and some have been evacuated to safer areas, the spokesperson said, adding that Thailand's air force is preparing planes for an evacuation whenever the situation allows. Many Thais work on farms in Israel. ISRAEL MOVES TO PROP UP ITS CURRENCY AMID MARKET UNCERTAINTY Israel's central bank says it will sell up to USD 30 billion in foreign exchange to prop up the country's shekel currency following market uncertainty in the wake of Hamas' incursion from the Gaza Strip. The central bank issued a statement Monday morning announcing the plan, saying it will operate in the market during the coming period in order to moderate volatility in the shekel exchange rate and to provide the necessary liquidity for the continued proper functioning of the markets. It added it would provide additional liquidity of up to USD 15 billion in the market as well. The shekel has fallen to a near eight-year low against the US dollar in early trading Monday. SCHUMER CRITICIZES CHINA FOR NOT SUPPORTING ISRAEL AFTER HAMAS ATTACK Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told China's foreign minister on Monday that he was very disappointed by Beijing's statement on the recent Hamas attack because it didn't show any sympathy or support for Israel. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks, Schumer, who is leading a delegation of six senators to China, told Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Wang, who spoke before Schumer in their opening remarks, did not respond before journalists were escorted out of the room. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday called on both sides to exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities. It said that establishing an independent state of Palestine is the fundamental way to resolve the issue. EL SALVADOR PRESIDENT, WHO HAS PALESTINIAN ANCESTRY, CALLS HAMAS CRIMINALS El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who has Palestinian ancestry, decried Hamas on Sunday after its attack on Israel. The best thing that could happen to the Palestinian people is for Hamas to completely disappear. Those savage beasts do not represent the Palestinians, Bukele said on the social network X, previously known as Twitter. Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause would make a great mistake siding with those criminals. He also compared Hamas to the MS-13 gang, which has terrorized El Salvador for years. 10 NEPALIS KILLED IN VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL Ten Nepali nationals have been killed in fighting in Israel and at least one more is missing, Nepal's Foreign Ministry said. An unknown number of others were wounded in the violence, it added. Efforts were being made to return the bodies to Nepal and embassy officials were also trying to help citizens who want to leave the country. US GIVING ISRAEL ALL THE HELP IT NEEDS, SCHUMER SAYS US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says senators were briefed by senior State Department and Pentagon officials and given assurances that the United States was giving Israel everything they need. I asked the representatives of our Defence Department if they are giving Israel everything they need, and I was heartened that they said yes and that they are surging support, Schumer said in a statement after Sunday evening's 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. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced earlier Sunday that the US was sending a host of military ships and aircraft to the region. He also said it was providing the Israeli defense forces with additional equipment, including munitions. INDONESIA EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT ESCALATING CONFLICT Indonesian officials are urging an end to the fighting between Hamas and Israel and blaming the occupation of the Palestinian territories for the conflict. The world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel and there is no Israeli embassy in the country. It has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinians, and President Joko Widodo has condemned the airstrikes that Israel has launched in response to Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday. The occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel, as the root of the conflict, must be resolved, according to the parameters agreed upon by the UN, said the statement from Indonesia's foreign ministry. The ministry also said the government continues to monitor the situation of its 13 nationals residing in the Gaza area. US SENATOR CORY BOOKER SAYS HE WAS IN ISRAEL AT TIME OF ATTACK Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey was in Israel when Hamas attacked Israel, he announced Sunday in a video statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. Booker said he was jogging in the Old City of Jerusalem on Saturday when he received a call from his chief of staff telling him to return to his hotel immediately. He sheltered in the stairwell of his hotel with other guests. Booker wrote that he is now safe. It is unclear if he has returned to the US. We who believe in peace and freedom and human rights for Palestinians, for Israelis, for all humankind must reject those who use terror as their weapon, Booker said. MORE THAN 123,000 GAZANS NOW DISPLACED, UNITED NATIONS SAYS The United Nations says the number of displaced Gazans has risen to more than 123,000 as a result of the fighting between the Israeli military and Hamas following the militant group's unprecedented attack on Israel. As of late Sunday, retaliatory Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit. It did not say where the fire came from. Several Israeli news 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. About 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. ISRAEL WANTS TO REMOVE HAMAS FROM POWER, MILITARY SPOKESPERSON SAYS One of Israel's goals as it battles Hamas fighters is to remove the militant group from power in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesperson said Monday. Jonathan Conricus made the statement in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. His words appeared to go further than those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said Sunday that his security cabinet had made the decision to destroy Hamas' ability to govern in a way that posed a threat to Israeli civilians. A thousand Hamas militants took part in the initial, unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, Conricus said. It is by far the worst day in Israeli history, Conricus said. UN SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS, TAKES NO ACTION ON US DEMAND The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors Sunday to address the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel, during which the US demanded that all 15 members strongly condemn the incursion. The council didn't take immediate action on the request. US deputy ambassador Robert Wood said after the meeting that a good number of countries, but not all, denounced Saturday morning's attack. He said the support of at least one member could be counted out. Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told The Associated Press that the US was trying to say at the meeting that Russia isn't condemning the attacks, but that's untrue. It was in my comments, Nebenzia said. We condemn all the attacks on civilians. He said Russia's message is: It's important to stop the fighting immediately, to go to a cease-fire, and to meaningful negotiations which were stalled for decades. China's UN ambassador, Zhang Jun, expressed a similar position as he headed into the meeting. But Wood said the international community must strongly condemn this unprovoked invasion and the terrorist attacks until Hamas ends its violent terrorist activity against the Israeli people. Pakistan and China have agreed to invite third parties to participate in the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a key part of Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, a top Pakistani diplomat has said. Pakistan's state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that the country's ambassador to China Moinul Haque told China's official CCTV on Sunday that the two countries are now working to extend CPEC to Afghanistan. India firmly opposes the CPEC, which will link Xinjiang in China and the Gwadar port in Pakistan, because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of China's ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments all over the world. In his comments, the Pakistani envoy said the CPEC has been a "game changer and very important" for the socio-economic development of the country. "Now, our two countries have agreed to invite third parties to participate in this project. We are now working to extend it to Afghanistan, Haque said. The ambassador highlighted that China is a global leader in many technologies including artificial intelligence, e-commerce and green technologies, the report said. So, it has been identified as one of the most important areas for the second phase, and we have established joint working groups for cooperation, he said. Haque said new corridors like the China-Pakistan Digital Corridor, Green Corridor and Health Corridor have been launched to benefit from the emerging opportunities in areas of science and technology and Information Technology (IT). India has previously expressed its opposition to the plan of China and Pakistan on the participation of third countries in so-called CPEC projects. "Any such actions by any party directly infringe on India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan," the Ministry of External Affairs said last year. "Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable, and will be treated accordingly by India, the MEA statement said in July last year. Haque said the major focus has so far been on the energy sector because when CPEC kicked off, Pakistan was facing acute shortages of energy and long hours of load-shedding. Also Read China to work with Pakistan to build CPEC into 'exemplary project': Xi China's Vice Premier to visit Pak, attend 10th anniversary of CPEC China will always stand firmly with Pakistan: Xi hails role of CPEC Pak, Chinese, Afghan diplomats agree to extend CPEC to Afghanistan Pakistan, China to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, stress on fighting terrorism Israel-Hamas war: What is the Iron Dome and how did Hamas breach it? Morocco welcomes annual meeting of IMF, WB a month after its deadly quake Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, with 1,100 dead Israel-Hamas war: What is Hamas and why did it launch an attack on Israel? US wants to cut Ukraine aid, boost Taiwan's. But it is tied to Kyiv's New projects under CPEC have put in almost 8,000 megawatts of new energy into Pakistan's system helping to fulfil not only the needs of the common man but also the industries, he said. In Pakistan, we consider China as our best friend and in China, I know, Pakistanis are known as Battie', the iron brothers, an expression which is only reserved for Pakistan. It's very heartwarming, he added. Haque said besides promoting economic relationships, trade, and investment industry, both countries are focusing on cooperation in culture, education and tourism. To Rep. Mike Collins, China is a bigger threat to the United States than Russia. So the Georgia Republican has voted against providing military aid to Ukraine as he advocates for doing more to arm Taiwan, the self-governed island that's at risk of military aggression from Beijing. For Collins and other Republican lawmakers, Taiwan and Ukraine are effectively rivals for a limited pool of U.S. military assistance. But that's not necessarily how Taiwan and many of its supporters see it. They view Taiwan's fate as closely linked to that of Ukraine as it struggles to push back a Russian invasion. They say China is watching closely to see if the United States has the political stamina to support an ally in a prolonged, costly war. The U.S. aid to Ukraine also has led to weapons manufacturers stepping up production something that could benefit Taiwan in a clash with China. Ukraine's survival is Taiwan's survival. Ukraine's success is Taiwan's success, Taiwan's diplomat in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-Khim, said in May at the Sedona Forum hosted by the McCain Institute. Still, Taiwan has been careful not to weigh in on the U.S. debate about continued funding for Ukraine, which has become a divisive political issue after initially having strong bipartisan support. Asked about Congress removing Ukraine funding from a temporary spending measure that prevented a U.S. government shutdown on Oct. 1, Taiwan's diplomatic office responded with discretion. Taiwan is grateful to have strong bipartisan support from the U.S. We will continue to work with the U.S. to maintain the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. But Congress' refusal to include the aid raises alarm bells in Taiwan. said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund. She noted that the Taiwanese government has argued that Ukraine's victory is existential for Taiwan., These worries exist even though most Republicans who seek to end U.S. support for Ukraine are still very pro-Taiwan and willing to do more to help defend Taiwan, she said. Also Read India invited to join regional group on Afghanistan: Russian FM Lavrov Ukraine needs more than a $30 billion arsenal for counterstrike on Russia Tension on Taiwan Strait: What is the dispute between China and Taiwan? China sends ships and fighter jets toward Taiwan in new show of force Putin admits Russia's shortcomings as Ukraine presses counteroffensive Ten Nepali nationals killed, four others injured in Hamas attacks in Israel Citigroup to sell China's consumer wealth business worth $3.6 bn to HSBC LIVE: Election Commission to announce poll schedule for 5 states today 5 things to know as Israel declares war, bombards Gaza after Hamas attack Oil prices soar as Hamas' attack on Israel fans Middle East tensions Taiwan is the thorniest issue in the frayed U.S.-China relationship. Beijing claims sovereignty over the island, which lies roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the mainland's southeastern coast, and vows to seize it, by force if necessary, to achieve national reunification. The United States wants a peaceful resolution and has a security pact with the island, supplying it with military hardware and technologies to prevent any forced takeover by Beijing. China's military actions near the island have fueled concerns over armed attacks. President Joe Biden has said he would send troops to defend Taiwan in case of war, while Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded the U.S. respect his country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Collins traveled to Taiwan on his first overseas trip as a congressman. When he returned, he called for timely weapon deliveries to the island, especially since as much as $19 billion worth of weapons sold to Taiwan have been delayed. These delays are primarily a result of a U.S. manufacturing backlog and a distracted Biden administration with weapons deliveries to Ukraine taking preference over Taiwan, Collin said. We must get serious about offering support to our ally Taiwan because ultimately when it comes to countering China, our interests align. Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center of Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, disagrees with that logic. It's not a zero-sum game, he said. Taiwan supports the U.S. aid to Ukraine. They understand that the deterrence message works. And on a practical level, Bowman said, the aid for Ukraine is helping the U.S. expand its weapons production, which will both benefit Taiwan and enhance U.S. military readiness. Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who in April led a congressional delegation to Taiwan as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said support for the island has not diminished on the Hill. Throughout the conversations about aid to Ukraine, I have not heard a single person take a swipe at Taiwan," McCaul said at a recent National Day celebration hosted by Taiwan's representative office in Washington. Glaser said the Chinese leadership is unlikely to discount the U.S. support for Taiwan, even when U.S. support for Ukraine is waning, but it is likely to exploit any failure to fund Ukraine in a disinformation campaign to sow doubts among the Taiwanese people about the U.S. commitment to their defense. In a social media post, Hu Xijin, a retired chief editor of the Communist Party-run Global Times newspaper and now a political commentator, said this month that most U.S. overseas military interventions have rotted if the U.S. fails to cinch a rapid victory. Top 10 Indian researchers in ophthalmolo gy included in the 2023 Stanford list are: Top 10 in the Stanford 2023 list for career-long impact are: , the Honorary Secretary of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS), Director of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery and Ocular Oncology at the Centre for Sight Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, former Associate Director of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, and the past Editor of the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, has claimed the top spot among researchers in Ophthalmology in India for the third consecutive year. The rankings for the year 2023 were announced by a panel of experts from Stanford University and Elsevier, featuring the top 2% of researchers globally, based on the impact of their work in 2022.Dr. Honavar is an internationally renowned ophthalmologist with expertise in eye cancers, and his illustrious career has earned him accolades such as the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award from the Government of India and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is the sole ophthalmologist from the Indian subcontinent to receive the Honorary Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the UK. Dr. Santosh G. Honavar also holds the second position in the Stanford List based on his lifelong contributions to the field.Heading the list of researchers in ophthalmology in India for career-long impact is, the Founder-Chairman of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. Dr. Rao, a highly esteemed ophthalmologist in India, has been honoured with the Padma Shri for his outstanding achievements. Additionally, he has served as the former Secretary-General and Chair of the Board of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, playing a pivotal role in the global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness. Dr. Rao has also been inducted into the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery., the President of AIOS, extended his congratulations to the Indian researchers featured in the Stanford list. He highlighted AIOS's commitment to promoting Indian research through its Journals, scientific activities, and research as part of the Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to support and nurture the research potential of Indian ophthalmologists. He expressed optimism about witnessing more young Indian ophthalmologists making their mark on the Stanford list in the near future.Forty Indian Ophthalmologists figure in the list of top 2% of world researchers considering the impact of their work in 2022. There are 21 Indian Ophthalmologists who are part of the list of top 2% of researchers in the world in terms of career-long impact.1. Santosh G. Honavar, 2. Philip Aloysius Thomas, 3. Murthy G. V. S., 4. Savitri Sharma, 5. Mohammad Javed Ali, 6. Swathi Kaliki, 7. Gullapalli N. Rao, 8. Rohit Shetty, 9. Virender S. Sangwan and 10. Namrata Sharma.1. Gullapalli N. Rao, 2. Santosh G. Honavar, 3. Philip Aloysius Thomas, 4. Virender S. Sangwan, 5. Balasubramanian D., 6. Savitri Sharma, 7. Muthiah Srinivasan, 8. Amod Gupta, 9. G. V. S. Murthy and 10. Prashant Garg. HistoSonics, (www.histosonics.com), the manufacturer of the Edison System and novel histotripsy therapy platforms, announced today the marketing authorization of its Breakthrough platform via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) De Novo Classification Request process, a rigorous pre-market review pathway for medical devices with no existing predicate. Marketing authorization makes Edison the first and only histotripsy platform available in the Unites States. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009669222/en/ HistoSonics Edison Histotripsy System (Photo: Business Wire) FDA authorization was based, in part, on data from the #HOPE4LIVER Trials in 13 trial sites across the US and Europe. Data pooled from both the US and European/UK trials were used to assess the clinical safety and efficacy of histotripsy in destroying targeted primary and secondary liver tumors. Histotripsy was noted to have achieved both primary safety and efficacy endpoints in the pooled data where 44 subjects were evaluated for safety and 44 tumors treated were evaluated for efficacy. Important to note was the heterogeneity of the treated subjects, 18 of which had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and 26 had metastatic tumors to the liver from the colon, rectum, breast, and other primary origins. As recently presented at the annual CIRSE Congress in Copenhagen, a technical success rate of 95.5% was achieved indicating that physicians can precisely target and destroy liver tissue and unresectable liver tumors. Also, only 3 procedure related CTCAE Grade 3 or higher adverse events through 30 days post-histotripsy were observed across all 44 subjects treated, representing a complication rate of 6.8% with each event being common to focal liver therapies and not specific to histotripsy. This is HistoSonics most meaningful milestone to date and represents over two-decades of tireless efforts, from its inception at the University of Michigan in 2001, overcoming what was once thought to be impossible - integrating the many complexities of histotripsy into a completely non-invasive clinical platform, commented Mike Blue, President, and CEO of HistoSonics. The Company noted it has expanded its commercial and operational capacity over the previous year in preparation for commercial activities. Blue added, We have been thoughtfully adding professionals with deep domain experience in operations, market development and education and are prepared to begin scheduling physician training immediately. This is a fantastic day for patients who will benefit from the novel advantages of histotripsy, and I commend the FDA for working so expeditiously with us throughout the review process. The science of histotripsy uses focused sound energy to produce controlled acoustic cavitation that mechanically destroys and liquifies targeted liver tissue, including tumors, at sub-cellular levels. HistoSonics' Edison System uses proprietary technology and advanced imaging to deliver personalized, non-invasive histotripsy treatments with precision and control. The company believes that the novel mechanism of action of their proprietary technology may provide significant advantages to patients, including the ability of the treatment site to recover and resorb quickly. Uniquely, the HistoSonics platform also provides physicians the ability to monitor the destruction of tissue under continuous real-time visualization and control, unlike any modality that exists today. As a surgeon, its rewarding to be able to offer a procedure where we can precisely destroy liver tumors without using a scalpel or needles, hopefully enabling the patients quick recovery while avoiding certain complications like surgical site infections or radiation illness common with other modalities, commented Joe Amaral MD, VP Medical Affairs for HistoSonics. Based on the data and patient experiences in our studies we are confident histotripsy will have a meaningful impact for patients suffering from unresectable liver disease, including liver tumors, and we look forward to the role histotripsy will play in treatment strategies going forward, added Amaral. The Edison System is indicated for the non-invasive destruction of liver tumors, including unresectable liver tumors, using a non-thermal, mechanical process of focused ultrasound. About HistoSonics HistoSonics is a privately held medical device company developing a non-invasive platform and proprietary sonic beam therapy utilizing the science of histotripsy, a novel mechanism of action that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy and liquify unwanted tissue and tumors. The company is currently focused on commercializing their Edison System in the US and select global markets for liver treatment while expanding histotripsy applications into other organs like kidney, pancreas, and others. HistoSonics has offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Minneapolis, MN. For more information please visit: www.histosonics.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009669222/en/ The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Sultan Al-Marshad, signed today a new development loan agreement with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Kahhorzoda Fayziddin Sattor, through which SFD is contributing $20 million USD to fund the fifth phase of the Constructing and Equipping of Secondary Schools project in Tajikistan. Attending the signing ceremony was the Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, Majidi Yusuf Khayrullo, and the Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan, H.E. Waleed Al-Reshiadan, alongside other officials from both sides. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009090313/en/ SFD CEO, H.E. Sultan Al-Marshad, signing a new development loan agreement with the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Kahhorzoda Fayziddin Sattor. (Photo: AETOSWire) The signing of todays loan agreement will construct and equip 19 schools across different regions of Tajikistan, to cater for the rising demand for education. Once completed, it will enhance the countrys educational landscape, benefitting approximately 30,000 students. This marks a continuation of SFDs contributions towards developing and improving public education in Tajikistan, and aligns with its efforts to promote sustainable development in developing countries around the world. The signing brings the total contribution of the Fund towards the education sector in Tajikistan to $95 million USD, through which it will establish 76 public schools in total. Additionally, it will benefit Tajikistans economy by creating direct and indirect jobs, both during the construction phase, and by employing teachers in the different regions where the schools will be based. The project aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4, Quality Education, and SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth. Moreover, and aims to ensure that more children across the nation have access to quality education. It represents yet another key milestone in the longstanding relationship between SFD and Tajikistan, which extends for over 20 years. The signing ceremony followed the previous days participation of SFDs CEO in the inauguration of Shahrinav School. Built during the fourth phase of the same project, for which SFD had contributed $35 million USD, Shahrinav School will host 36 classrooms and 620 students. The SFD has decades of expertise since its establishment in 1974, and has implemented more than 700 development projects worth $18.7 billion USD in over 90 countries worldwide. In Tajikistan, SFD has financed 12 development projects worth over $190 million USD to support developmental projects in key sectors. Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009090313/en/ Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung will be released from a Seoul hospital Monday and attend a by-election campaign for his party's candidate in a key district in Seoul, his party said. Rep. Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has received treatment to recuperate from a 24-day hunger strike to protest against President Yoon Suk Yeol's policies. The DPK said Lee will leave Green Hospital in northern Seoul later in the day and attend a by-election campaign by Jin Kyo-hoon, a DPK candidate for Gangseo Ward office chief in western Seoul, with three days left before the election. Although the election picks one of Seoul's 25 ward chiefs, it is widely seen as a key litmus test of voter sentiment ahead of the parliamentary elections slated for April next year. The by-election takes place after former chief Kim Tae-woo was removed from the post in May due to a suspended prison sentence for leaking secrets he gained while working for a special inspection team under former President Moon Jae-in. Although the seat was vacated due to Kim's conviction, the ruling People Power Party has named him as its candidate after his right to run in the election was reinstated following a special presidential pardon in August. The turnout of the two-day advance voting between Friday and Saturday stood at 22.64 percent, the highest ever in Korea's by-election history. (Yonhap) The monsoon season has come to an end, and as we enter October, numerous cities are still experiencing weather conditions reminiscent of hot summers. Once again, this year has provided clear evidence of the impact of climate change, with temperatures on the rise. According to the most recent study, two major Indian cities, Delhi and Kolkata, have collectively endured 1000 hours of heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding the pre-industrial era's average by 4 degrees Celsius. Interdisciplinary research from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development, Purdue University College of Sciences and Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future has revealed the above fact. Not only this, if if global temperatures increase by 1 degree Celsius (C) or more than current levels, each year more that a billion people will be exposed to heat waves where they will be unable to naturally cool themselves. Heat and humidity levels surpassing human tolerance limits In 2015, 196 nations signed the Paris Agreement which aims to limit worldwide temperature increases to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. But the way the rising temperature is showing its local effects, it seems things will worsen in the next 50 years. Here to study the impact, the research team conducted modeling on global temperature rises, exploring a range from 1.5C to 4C. This range represents the worst-case scenario where warming would start to accelerate. The objective was to pinpoint regions on Earth where such warming would result in heat and humidity levels surpassing human tolerance limits. Northern India experiencing high-temperature The outcome for almost all the countries including India was horrible. To study the temperature in India, the research team considered the data collected from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. According to the data collected, Delhi witnessed 16 hours of temperature 1.5 degree above normal. 39 hours were 2 degrees hotter and 170 degrees had temperatures 3 degree above the pre-industrial era. And 556 hours of Delhi were exposed to the temperature 4 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial era. Similarly, Kolkata witnessed 10, 31 157 and 548 hours respectively. The study's findings suggest that with a global temperature rise of 2C above pre-industrial levels, numerous regions will be affected. Specifically, the Indus River Valley, home to 2.2 billion people in Pakistan and India, the eastern part of China with one billion residents, and sub-Saharan Africa with 800 million inhabitants will annually endure prolonged periods of heat exceeding human tolerance. Heatwaves pose greater risks In these areas, the predominant type of heatwaves would be characterized by elevated humidity levels. Heatwaves with increased humidity pose greater risks, as the air's limited capacity to absorb excess moisture restricts the evaporation of sweat from human bodies and moisture from certain infrastructure, such as evaporative coolers. Concerningly, researchers have pointed out that these regions are predominantly situated in lower-to-middle-income nations, potentially leaving a significant portion of the affected population without access to air conditioning or any effective means to alleviate the adverse health impacts of extreme heat. If global warming proceeds to reach 3C above pre-industrial levels, the researchers have determined that heat and humidity levels exceeding human tolerance will become a reality. What experts say Daniel Vecellio, a bioclimatologist who completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Penn State with Kenney said that models like these are good at predicting trends, but they do not predict specific events like the 2021 heatwave in Oregon that killed more than 700 people or London reaching 40 C last summer. Irrespective of the extent of planetary warming, the researchers emphasized the importance of ongoing concern regarding extreme heat and humidity. This concern should persist even when these conditions remain below the established human tolerance thresholds. In preliminary studies involving older populations, Kenney discovered that older adults are susceptible to heat stress and its related health effects at lower levels of heat and humidity compared to younger individuals. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) has announced a major 2023 recruitment for the posts of Review Officer (RO) and Assistant Review Officer (ARO). Candidates who are eagerly waiting for these vacancies can start registering from tomorrow. There are 411 vacant positions that are slated to be filled through this recruitment process. The registration details can be checked on the official website of UPPSC - uppsc.up.nic.in. Eligibility Criteria Candidates who aspire to submit their applications for the UPPSC RO and ARO posts must comply with the eligibility guidelines established by the commission. The aspirants should possess a bachelors degree from a recognized university or institution. The age limit set by the UPPSC for RO and ARO posts is between 21 and 40 years. The official notification detailing the age relaxation norms for reserved category candidates is available on the UPPSC portal. Application Process The application process for the UPPSC RO and ARO recruitment 2023 will commence from tomorrow. Candidates can apply online by visiting the UPPSCs official website. It is important to complete and submit the online application form within the prescribed deadline. A registration fee must also be paid via online transaction methods. General and OBC category candidates need to pay INR 125, whereas, for SC, ST, and Ex-servicemen, the fee is INR 65. Visit the UPPSC website at uppsc.up.nic.in. For UPPSC Recruitment 2023, students must complete a One Time Registration (OTR). Students should review the eligibility requirements, dates, and documents needed to apply for the UPPSC exam. At the time of registration, candidates must provide a scanned copy of their ID, marksheet, photograph, and signature. After completing the application form, candidates must pay an application fee. The application fee varies depending on the candidate's category. Once you've finished the registration form, submit it and print it. Examination Procedure The UPPSC will select candidates for the RO and ARO posts based on their performance in a written examination. This will be followed by an interview for those who qualify for the written test. The written examination will consist of multiple choice questions covering topics like General Studies, General Hindi, and Drafting. By Choe Chong-dae Peru's extensive coastline and abundant seas have fostered a rich maritime history dating back centuries. From ancient times to the present day, coastal cultures have thrived along Peru's shores, leaving a legacy of seafaring traditions. The Inca culture, with its origins in Cusco, played a significant role in forming Peru's history and is often referred to as the "navel of the world." To commemorate 60 years of diplomatic ties between Korea and Peru, we had the pleasure of witnessing a historic moment the arrival of the Peruvian ship, BAP Union, at Busan International Cruise Dock on Sept. 10, 2023. The BAP Union, a Navy training ship under the leadership of Commanding Officer Captain Jose Luis Arce Corzo, anchored at Busan International Cruise Dock on Sept. 10, 2023. It was accompanied by postgraduates from the Peruvian Naval Academy and active-duty naval crew members, paying a profound tribute to the historical significance of the Peruvian Navy. The ship's name, Union, reminds us of a corvette that played a pivotal role in the 1879-1883 War of the Pacific. This conflict, etched in history, saw the emergence of an esteemed Peruvian Navy hero, Miguel Grau, known as the "Gentleman of the Seas." His legacy extends beyond Peru, earning him respect from Chileans and others for his compassionate, chivalrous and honorable treatment of defeated adversaries during the Naval Battle of Angamos. He stands as the foremost maritime hero of that era. The BAP Union's audacious 10-month voyage includes visits to 14 countries across five continents during the circumnavigation journey. It serves as a specialized military academy course nurturing the next generation of naval leaders for Peru and as a roving diplomatic mission, fostering stronger bonds with partner countries. During their four-day stay in Busan, the BAP Union graciously opened its enigmatic doors to dignitaries, students and citizens, extending an invitation to partake in this extraordinary event. They showcased Peruvian traditions, nurturing cultural exchange and fostering friendship. Constructed in 2016, the BAP Union, stands as a symbol of the Peruvian Navy's shipbuilding prowess, fostering professional development, maritime awareness and international relations for future Navy officers. As Peru's itinerant diplomatic mission, the vessel represents the nation on a global stage, significantly contributing to the achievement of its foreign policy objectives and effectively extending Peruvian influence beyond its borders. Its arrival in Busan coincides with the celebration of six decades of diplomatic relations between Korea and Peru, marked by strong cooperation, particularly in military collaboration. The "Peruvian House" exhibition hall on the ship showcased a unique opportunity for Koreans to immerse themselves in Peruvian culture and maritime heritage. In honor of the 144th anniversary of the heroic achievements of Great Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario, particularly his remarkable role in the 1879 Battle of Angamos, and to mark the 202nd anniversary of the Peruvian Navy Day, Paul Duclos, Peru's Ambassador to Korea, and Captain Roberto Hinojosa Zubillaga, the Naval Attache will host a commemorative event on October 13th in Seoul. The BAP Unions arrival in Busan serves as a symbol of the enduring friendship between Korea and Peru, one that has flourished over six decades of diplomatic ties. It is a resounding testament to the potency of diplomacy, cultural exchange and the shared aspirations of nations to forge unbreakable bonds on the global stage. The vessels voyage is not just a maritime journey; it is a voyage of diplomacy, culture and history, uniting the two nations in celebration of their enduring friendship. Reflecting on this remarkable milestone, we are reminded of the immense potential for cooperation and mutual understanding among nations, proving that the seas of diplomacy can lead to prosperous and harmonious shores. While Peru and Korea are geographically distant, their connection has grown closer thanks to the BAP Union's voyage to Korea and Perus maritime legacy. Choe Chong-dae (choecd@naver.com) is a guest columnist of The Korea Times. He is president of Dae-kwang International Co., and Director of the Korean-Swedish Association. Photo: Glacier Media Anja Johnston and Addy Gawne, at Victoria General Hospital where they work as University of Victoria nursing students. Nursing students at the University of Victoria are advocating for changes to their unpaid practicum requirements to address the financial burden of pursuing a nursing degree. Nursing students complete unpaid practicums during the summers between school years. While working up to 12-hour days in clinical practice, some are also working paid jobs to survive with a rising cost of living, said Addy Gawne, a fourth-year nursing student at UVic and co-president of the UVic Nursing Student Society. My peers [are] coming off of a 12-hour night shift 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and then immediately rolling into their paid jobs, whether it was serving for eight to 16 hours or another nursing health-care related job, Gawne said. Gawne knows peers who have left the program because they couldnt afford to continue or they burned out juggling practicum work with paid work. Many other fields pay students during practicum and co-op placements, such as engineering and work in the trades, he said. Gawne and others at the student society are pushing for changes that would alleviate the financial strain for student nurses, whether by paying students during their practicums, waiving tuition for the nursing program altogether or allowing students to apply paid nursing work to their academic requirements. Nursing students can work as employed student nurses, paid about $30 an hour and more, but the hours dont count toward their practicum requirements, which amounts to about 760 hours just between third and fourth years, said Dzifa Dordunoo, acting director of UVics school of nursing. Dordunoo said the school is working with students and exploring ways to address their concerns. The school is conducting a poll to understand the economic burden on students. Allowing students to count their hours working as employed student nurses toward their academic requirements could have other useful impacts, Dordunoo said. The current nursing shortage, leaving hospitals and other clinical sites understaffed, can make it difficult for students to find placements able to take them on, she said. But hospitals might be more likely to take on an employed student nurse who can shoulder some of the workload, rather than a student who requires a good learning environment, Dordunoo said. That could make it easier for student nurses to get the practicum hours they need and graduate more nurses to address shortages, she said, but the idea would need to be explored further to ensure students are gaining the required competencies. Counting hours worked as an employed student nurse could pose a challenge, as students are required to gain certain skills to graduate, and practicums are designed to fulfil those requirements, but the employed student nurse roles are not, said Adriane Gear, president of the B.C. Nurses Union. However, the government should consider all options to encourage students to pursue a nursing education amid a critical shortage, she said. We need to remove barriers for qualified candidates to go into nursing school. And for the first time ever, were hearing of examples of empty nursing seats, Gear said. The province is at least 5,000 nurses short, and many nurses are retiring as early as they can or leaving mid-career because of the challenging working conditions in a shortage. Some units in the province are working with 50 per cent of the staff they should have, she said. Its a challenge for sure. Care is delayed. Care is missed. There are negative patient outcomes. You know, its a very concerning situation right now in British Columbia, Gear said. Photo: The Canadian Press Police in North Vancouver say they were called to the set of an amateur film shoot over the weekend after receiving a report of a group of men in body armour carrying rifles. The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Police in North Vancouver say they were called to the set of a film shoot over the weekend after receiving a report of a group of men in body armour carrying rifles. North Vancouver RCMP say they were called to an underground parking lot on Marine Drive on Saturday evening. Police discovered the men there were part of a shoot for an action film that was without permits. Police say the film crew were given a warning and educated about city protocols around filming in public spaces. Const. Mansoor Sahak says no one was injured. He adds the North Vancouver RCMP takes reports involving firearms "very seriously." Durkee plant orders new cement mill 09 October 2023 Ash Grove Cement (CRH) has announced plans to build a new cement mill at its cement plant in Durkee, Oregon, USA. The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024. The new cement mill will transform the Durkee plant, enabling it to produce low-carbon cement to meet the growing market demand for sustainable building materials. It will support multiple markets across the region by increasing capacity with no net increase in carbon emissions. "The transition to low-carbon cement production and reducing our environmental footprint is a top priority for Ash Grove Cement. We are always seeking new ways to improve our sustainability performance while providing high-quality cement solutions to our customers. This state-of-the-art finish mill at our Durkee plant will strengthen Ash Grove's position as a leader in low-carbon cement across the Western United States," stated Ash Grove President, Serge Schmidt. Low-carbon cements are a more sustainable solution that can reduce CO 2 emissions by up to 30 per cent. These products have been used globally for more than 20 years and are recognised by multiple state DOTs, AASHTO, FHWA, FAA, ASTM, and ACI regulatory agencies. They are also essential to meeting goals defined in the Portland Cement Associations Roadmap to Sustainability. Published under Lafarge Canada's Exshaw plant signs 38.5MW solar power project 09 October 2023 Lafarge Canada Inc (Holcim) and ATCO Ltd announced that they have entered into a 12.5-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA). Under this agreement, Lafarges Exshaw cement plant will receive 100 per cent of the solar energy produced by the 38.5MW Empress Solar project, meeting 34 per cent of the plants power requirements through 2036. "Were continually assessing ways we can reduce our environmental impact while actively pursuing sustainable solutions within our operations, said Brad Kohl, president and CEO of Lafarge Canada (West). Our collaboration with ATCO underscores our commitment to adopting renewable energy at our plants and sites, which is key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels." Under the agreement, Lafarge will offtake 100 per cent of the power generated from the Empress Solar project, which is scheduled to commence commercial operations in October 2023, marking a step towards a greener, more sustainable energy landscape in Alberta. The Empress Solar project is expected to generate enough renewable energy to offset approximately 43,000tpa of carbon. Once operational, the facility will further drive ATCOs commitment to meeting ATCOs 2030 ESG target of owning, developing, or managing over 1000MW of renewable energy. Published under By John Alderman Linton When my youngest son was in his second year of middle school, I got a call from the international school he was attending. Stepping into the teachers room, I couldnt help feeling a little nervous. Any parent who gets called in to talk to their kids teacher cant help feeling humble, as well as responsible for whatever their kid did wrong. It turned out my son who was 170 centimeters tall and weighed 80 kilograms had shoved another boy hard enough to knock him down, and now the other boys parents were upset. In all honesty, I was a bit relieved to learn my son hadnt punched anyone. But my next task was teaching my son how to avoid creating this kind of situation in the future. We sat down on a bench in front of the school for what must have been the most serious and intense conversation wed ever had. Son, Im sure you know that while Im white, I dont slavishly follow the Western obsession with putting rules above everything else. Given their Anglo-Saxon heritage, America and England put the priority on rules. But what I learned in my childhood in Jeolla Province is that personal relationships come first. Thats what Id always been taught by my friends grandparents on their heated ondol floor back in Jeolla Province. In the years since, that has become my basic approach to life. When I asked my son if he really wanted to be expelled from the school and say goodbye to his friends, he was horrified by the idea. Son, I continued, if you want to keep your school friends, your only choice is to abide by the rules imposed by the people at this school. Do you think you can manage that for your friends sake? I was reasoning that for the sake of your valued relationships, son could you obey the rules? As I spoke with my son, I thought back to what had been important to me at his age. My son didnt cause any more problems from that point until he graduated from high school, and our communication improved as well. The practice of viewing relationships as more important than rules or laws is a cherished aspect of Korean culture, as well as the aspect I value most. One day, my older brother told me that many of the Korean values I prize are on their way out. His remark nearly threw me into a panic, but I soon regained my cool. The people who share those cherished Korean values grew up with me and are getting old along with me. Surely those values will stick around at least as long as I do! That conversation with my brother reminded me of an experience Id had in my second year of middle school, when Id attended an international school, just like my own son. My international school in Daejeon was parochial and strictly conservative, and the dormitory had rules that were nearly as strict as a military academy. Four pieces of paper were posted with the rules we were expected to follow printed in a tiny font. I felt stifled by life at the dormitory and desperately missed my childhood in Suncheon, where Id been free to play with other kids in the neighborhood. I never missed my parents, but I missed those childhood friends so much that I often cried myself to sleep at night. The hardest part about the dormitory was the rules that had obviously been made by Westerners. I was supposed to ask permission each and every time I wanted to use a little bit of my friends toothpaste in the morning. That kind of Western culture was a serious source of stress for a kid like me who had grown up in Jeolla Province, sharing everything and having little concept of mine and yours. While I was struggling with dormitory life, something happened that became a major source of comfort for me. There was an upperclassman in the dormitory named Choi Ki-ho my hyeong, or older brother. I was a little intimidated by the older Korean boy, but I also adored him. My sole pleasure at the international school was going downtown on the weekend to watch the latest James Bond film or whatever else was showing at the cinema. That particular weekend, I borrowed Ki-hos suit and dress shoes with those stylish pointed toes and had a splendid time at the cinema and out on the town. The only problem: Id taken them without asking. It was with a heavy step that I walked back to the dormitory that night. Since Id gone off with the older boys clothes and dress shoes without permission, I figured I was in serious trouble. As soon as I was back, I stepped into Ki-hos room, where he was busy doing his calculus homework. I made my confession in a small voice. Ki-ho hyeong, I took your suit when you werent looking and went to the movies in it. Good for you, Ki-ho said without even looking up. You can take it off and leave it there. When I told him Id taken his dress shoes, too, he said the same thing. Good for you. Just take it off and leave it there. And Id assumed I was in for a beating! Thats when I made up my mind to spend the rest of my life around Koreans. Which are more important people or rules? Are people here to follow the rules, or are the rules here to benefit people? Korea has a relational concept called "miun jeong" (literally, hateful affection) that doesnt have a direct parallel in the West. Koreans never stop caring about friends and family regardless of the resentment, pain and loss those relationships entail. Westerners are apt to say that social order is maintained through rules. But what my experience living in Korea has taught me is that Koreans stubborn affection keeps human relationships orderly and makes them even stronger. Its not very easy to explain miun jeong to non-Koreans, and I dont deny that affection of that sort can bring some people to grief. But that relational dedication is what has kept me in Korea for more than 60 years now, and Im confident that Koreas jeong culture is more mature and, dare I say, more Biblical than Western culture. John Alderman Linton, an American-Korean whose Korean name is Ihn Yo-han, is a director at Yonsei University Severance Hospital International Health Care Center. Find better candidate and seek Assemblys cooperation President Yoon Suk Yeols appointment has failed once again to cross the threshold of the National Assembly. If the post had been a cabinet minister, Yoon might have ignored the result of the confirmation hearing, reduced to a perfunctory procedure, especially under his government, and stuck to his nominee. This time around, however, he cannot do so. The position at stake is the Supreme Courts chief justice. Yoon and his aides must pick a new candidate, verify the nominees qualifications and win the approval of the parliament. The process will take at least a month, leaving a void at the top of the judicial branch. The public will suffer the most due to delayed trials, as the highest court cannot grant en banc reviews. Rival political parties are blaming each other for the judicial impasse. The ruling camp is accusing the opposition of hampering state administration for partisan gain. The opposition is criticizing the administration for presenting a candidate who should not lead one of the nations three pillars. Last Friday, the Assembly rejected Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Lee Gyun-ryong. It was the second such rejection following one in 1988 and the first case of the candidate failing due to personal flaws. Thirty-five years ago, the no vote was for political reasons, as the candidate had cooperated with military rulers. The latest rejection was attributable to the nominees failure to meet ethical and professional standards. Above all, Lee revealed obnoxious opaqueness in financial matters. He was accused of willfully underreporting assets he and his family owned for many years in the annual asset disclosures of ranking officials while serving as a high court judge. Addressing lawmakers who questioned him at the hearing, Lee kept saying he was not aware of changes in laws and decrees. How could a judge of nearly 30 years not know so many laws? an exasperated opposition legislator asked. Lees track record is also far from impressive. He reduced the sentences of offenders convicted of sex crimes or domestic violence multiple times, revealing poor gender sensitivity. During his four years as the chief of district high courts, he ranked at the bottom in eight multi-faceted evaluations conducted by court officials. Nor is his historical perception correct. At a parliamentary audit, Lee replied that the Republic of Korea was born in 1948, instead of 1919 when the government-in-exile began work in Shanghai, China, as stipulated in the Constitution. The conservative judge also drew the publics attention recently. He was one of the most vocal critics of the progressive chief justice, Kim Myeong-su, whose six-year term ended last month. Kims Supreme Court left some memorable rulings. It called for the Japanese government to compensate Koreans who were forced into labor for the empire during WWII. Kim's court also guaranteed disabled peoples rights to mobility, recognized conscientious objectors and expanded the scope of sexual violence. Lees criticism of the progressive chief justice and his avowed respect for freedom might have caught the eye of a like-minded president. Rumors in legal circles also say the failed candidate is an FOAF" (or friend of a friend) of Yoon, although they have no verifiable personal relations. We hope the president severs these personal and quasi-personal ties in selecting a new candidate. True, chief executives want to sit a person who is politically and ideologically close to them at the top judicial post. Yoon will be no exception. Especially when the top court is sometimes forced to determine key election results in this era of shaky democracy. However, the publics trust in the highest court has almost hit rock bottom under the two previous chief justices for either influencing trials or enacting half-baked reform. When one political party dominates the three branches of the government, or even tries to do so, democracy cannot survive. The public will endure a temporary judicial vacuum over watching an unqualified chief justice for six years. If he has any compassion for the people, Yoon must select a clean, capable and centrist candidate while seeking cooperation from his political opponents. Many adoptees first feel biological connection when giving birth Editors note This article is the sixth in a series about intercountry adoptions. While over 160,000 Korean children have been adopted abroad since the 1950-53 Korean War, it is believed that many cases have infringed on relevant laws or violated children's right to know the truth about their filiation. The series will review such violations in transnational adoptions of Korean children and elsewhere, and discuss receiving countries' moves for their own investigations. This series is co-organized with Human Rights Beyond Borders. ED. By Oh Myo Kim When I was first pregnant, someone told me that I was once a tiny egg in my mothers ovaries when my grandmother was carrying my mother inside her womb. I remember imagining it like a Russian nesting doll, and I was inside my mother who was inside her mother, and now my child is inside of me. This physical connection of women felt particularly significant because though I imagined my mother during my whole life, I had never once thought about my grandmother. In that moment, my grandmother carried us all. I have been a professor and researcher for the past nine years, studying adoption, race, ethnicity and identity. My most recent project, which was presented at the International Korea Adoptee Association conference in Seoul in July, involved 41 Asian American adoptees who experienced pregnancy and childbirth. Inspired by my own experience of meeting my first biological relative when giving birth to my son, the participants in my study discussed feeling an irrational fear and anxiety about losing the baby or separating from the baby. Sarah (alias), a 34-year-old Korean American adoptee mother, said that her feelings felt so inexplicable. Why would I have such an intense feeling of dread or fear? I felt it on like a cellular level it just felt like, oh, I've experienced a separation between my first home, my biological mother. And so if that's been my experience, I don't know another, I don't know another experience or another way, Sarah said during an interview for the project. Many adoptees, including myself, think about their birth mother at different times throughout their lives, but for participants like Grace (alias), a 39-year-old Korean American adoptee, the physical act of pregnancy awakened a connection to their birth mother for the first time. I remember I went running, and I just started crying, like just crying out and like, tears and just asking for my birth mom to be with me. Like, I just wanted her to be with me. And I didn't have anyone to rely on to tell me what to do And I just felt so lonely. And like all I wanted was my birth mom. And Id never felt connected to my birth mom before. And that was the first time that I felt that connection, Grace said. Participants spoke about the power of meeting their first biological relative when they gave birth, and then imagining what it must have been like to be separated from their own birth mother and subsequently sent to the U.S. at such a young age. Adoptees in this study talked about the realization that babies are so aware and attached to their parents from such a young age. All of the themes we identified from the interviews touched on the intergenerational trauma of adoption. The stories were marked by an understanding that there is a lineage of trauma that extended from mother to child to child, and to reclaim that lineage by birthing, keeping and raising the next generation was a step toward healing. For adoptees, the raising of our babies is an act of reclamation. I kind of reflect on it as having this dual experience, like I was walking in the past with my Korean mom while having my own pregnancy experience," said another 44-year-old Korean American adoptee. "And for me, it was very, it felt very healing because I knew the end result was it was a bit of like a cycle break, right? Like, I, I didn't have to make hard choices. I wasn't going to relinquish my child and you know, so that was for me, that was a really powerful experience to be able to think I was doing something that she couldn't or didn't want to do." I thought about the connection with my birth mother a lot during my own pregnancy as well. I first started searching for my birth family when I returned to Korea almost 20 years ago. Holt Childrens Services, an international adoption agency in Korea, confirmed that my birth parents had filled in the paperwork, they were poor and married, and hoped for a boy, but instead received a fourth daughter. They told everyone I had died. Like so many adoptees, I was told that it is against the law for my agency to give me my birth parents identifying information. Hosu Kim, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at City University of New York who has studied transnational adoption, calls this phenomenon, the deliberate withholding, erasure and manipulation of adoptee records, an ongoing archival violence. This was the first time I ever heard my experience labeled so accurately. It had the dryness of paperwork and filing cabinets, but it was such an intimately violent act. To wield this type of power over ones identity and ones life trajectory, to politely hide behind the protection of privacy laws, is such a dehumanizing act and it takes my breath away every time. When I returned from Korea this past summer after visiting for a few weeks, I experienced tiny waves of grief short bursts of tears in my office when I closed the door. It was a realization that I started searching so long ago and I always expected that it would just happen one day. I would get an email. Someone would google my name and find me. My DNA would find a match. But it never did, and now years and years later, I still do not have access to my original file. Names, birthdates, anything that could actually help me search are hidden away by social workers who carry notebooks emblazoned with: Love in action. As I see my two children grow, I wonder about the loss they will carry, the intergenerational trauma, and the lineage of archival violence that will be passed down. I think about the irony of the low birthrate in Korea and the fact that 200,000 children were sold to foreign countries for the sake of capitalism under the guise of social welfare. I think about the quote of British psychologist John Bowlby, If a community values its children, it must cherish its mothers, and I wonder if Korea is cherishing me in the same way my mother was cherished. And when I go too deep down this path, I kiss the chubby folds of my kids and search their faces for something familiar. It does not stop the yearning, but it softens the edges. Oh Myo Kim, a Korean American adoptee, is an associate professor of the practice in the Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology Department at Boston College. She was raised with her two adopted brothers in New Jersey and currently lives with her family near Boston, MA. Government assesses safety of Koreans By Park Jae-hyuk The Israel-Hamas war, which broke out on Saturday after the Palestinian militant group launched an abrupt attack, has put Korean companies doing business there on alert for potential damage and disruptions to their operations. As a consequence, Korean companies are now preparing to evacuate personnel, according to industry officials, Monday. Samsung is monitoring the safety of hundreds of its employees there, including around 10 Korean staff, ordering them to work from home. The conglomerate runs a subsidiary in Israel, as well as an R&D center in Tel Aviv and a research institute in Herzliya, 14 kilometers north of Tel Aviv. Just a week before the outbreak of the war, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the company's R&D center in Israel for an update on its investments in startups and new technologies there and to address ways to secure future technologies through open innovation. Samsung has invested in Israeli startups specializing in artificial intelligence and robotics. Our Israeli subsidiary and research facilities are over 100 kilometers from the border, a Samsung official said. We confirmed that there is no damage to our employees and offices there. LG Electronics, which operates an Israeli branch in Tel Aviv, also ordered local employees to work from home, while it assesses the safety situation there. The electronics maker acquired a controlling stake in an Israeli cybersecurity company called Cybellum in 2021, as part of efforts to boost ties with the countrys innovative tech firms. The Israeli branch is regularly checking the safety of local employees, an LG Electronics official said. Hyundai Motor and Kia, both of which are the top-selling car brands in Israel, have remained vigilant about the safety of their local sales agents and Hyundai Cradle Tel Aviv, the carmakers open innovation center in Israel. According to Hyundai Motor Group, no harm to agents or damage to the center has been reported. Korean Air canceled Mondays Incheon-Tel Aviv flight while delaying the Tel Aviv-Incheon flight by 15 hours. The carrier usually operates direct flights between Incheon and Tel Aviv every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As of Monday, the airline had yet to decide whether to continue flights after Wednesday. Given that Hamas reportedly launched a rocket attack on Ben Gurion International Airport, many carriers are suspending flights from Tel Aviv. Korean Air advised passengers on its website that flights may be delayed or canceled due to the situation in Israel and advised passengers with reservations that could be affected to check the status of their flights in advance. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to cooperate with Korean Air and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the evacuation of Korean nationals in Israel. The foreign ministry said that there have been no injuries reported concerning Korean nationals in the country. There are around 570 Koreans who are long-term residents of Israel and around 360 Korean tourists staying there when the fighting broke out. However, the foreign ministry issued a special travel advisory and recommended that Korean nationals leave Israel, raising expectations that Korean companies operating there would evacuate their Korean employees. For now, the ministry said it is not considering sending a military transport plane to evacuate Korean nationals. The presidential office is also analyzing the possible impact of the war on the Korean economy and national security, with National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong receiving regular updates on the situation in the Middle East. A PIT maneuver was used on Saturday afternoon to finally stop a driver who had hit several vehicles. At approximately 4:15 p.m., Hamilton County Sheriffs Office personnel were dispatched to assist Chattanooga Police with stopping the vehicle. Deputies were alerted that the suspect had allegedly already struck several other vehicles and damaged private property. After a failed stop attempt CPD was advised not to pursue the vehicle. Two HCSO deputies in the area responded to the call for assistance and soon located the suspects vehicle. After attempting another traffic stop near the exit ramp to Shallowford Road on I-75 northbound, the suspect continued to flee and turned onto Hamilton Place Boulevard. To prevent further damage or injuries and due to the amount of traffic in that area, an HCSO lieutenant attempted to conduct a PIT maneuver and was able to force the suspect to the right side of the road, where they were boxed in by the other HCSO deputies. The suspect was then removed from the vehicle, taken into custody without further incident, and transported to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center by CPD. The suspect, Emory Letson, is charged with two counts of evading arrest, vandalism, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of failure to exercise due care, driving left of center, failure to yield right of way, failure to report an accident, reckless driving, DUI and failure to register a trailer. Just when Rhea Countians were beginning to enjoy and think that the fame or shame of the 1925 Monkey Trial was going to be put to rest by the actions of the House of Representatives (Not Senate) in the Tennessee General Assembly in the debacle over the expelling of the Tennessee 3, the great state of Montana grabs all of the glory with the expulsion of Democrat Zooey Zephyr by the Republican majority from returning to the state House floor after he/she et al., expressed their concern over their treatment when the first openly transgender woman elected to Montanas legislature was silenced by the G.O.P. lawmakers for her assertion that the (Grand Old Party) would have blood on their hands for opposing gender-affirming health care for kids. She, he (I dont know) et al., sued under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution on their own behalf and that of 11,000 constituents in The Treasure State by the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana. A federal district judge dismissed the initial lawsuit filed by Miss, Mr., Ms., et al., Zephyr as being an unconstitutional encroachment on the legislative power of the Montana House of Representatives in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers clause that controls the independent authority between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. The punishment of silence may become moot (dead) as the legislative term is over and Zooey would have to be re-elected to her present seat in 2024 before being given the opportunity to speak again on the House floor. The media circus created in the Volunteer State on the Tennessee 3 will continue in the wide open spaces of Montana as a political and campaign issue! (The public is invited to next year's re-enactment of the Scopes Trial in beautiful downtown Dayton at the historic courthouse!) * * * You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com 11/2/2023 Businesses are featured in the new coffee table book on interesting old Chattanooga photos sponsored by Chattanoogan.com. More Old Chattanooga Photos is currently being printed by College Press ... more A Walker County Sheriff's deputy was shot in the line of duty on Sunday. Walker County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched around 6 p.m., to meet with a complainant in reference to her brother, living at her residence at 4 Bragg Circle, Rossville. The woman advised her brother was threatening her and would not let her return to the residence. Further investigation by Walker County Sheriffs deputies determined that the suspect had a warrant through Whitfield County. Based upon the active warrant out of Whitfield County, deputies received permission from the woman who was the homeowner, to enter the residence. Once inside the residence, the suspect closed himself inside a bedroom and as deputies entered the bedroom, he fired a gun at deputies and deputies returned fire. A Walker County Sheriffs deputy was struck and the suspect is deceased. Sheriff Wilson requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate the officer-involved shooting. The deputy was scheduled to have surgery Monday morning for non-life threatening injuries. The Tennessee Department of Correction said the latest data shows the recidivism rate for offenders released from TDOC facilities is now at its lowest level in more than a decade. For the first time, the recidivism rate has dropped below 30 percent and is currently at 29.6 percent for individuals released from a state prison in 2019. TDOC measures recidivism by the criminal acts that result in re-arrest, re-conviction, or a return to prison within a three-year period after release. Commissioner Frank Strada said the data demonstrates that TDOC "is significantly bending the curve and reducing recidivism through the use of evidence-based programming, a validated risk and needs assessment tool, and criminal justice reforms that promote public safety. "The data is proof that what we are doing in Tennessee is working. We are seeing the results of the action taken by Governor Bill Lee, the General Assembly, and TDOC employees who work to prepare offenders for success on the day they enter our custody. Further, overall changes in the Department of Correction, such as the standardization of offender supervision in the community and the use of graduated sanctions, reaffirms that you can be both tough on crime and smart on crime and get better public safety outcomes. Commissioner Strada also credited TDOCs partnerships with private, nonprofit and community organizations with helping to make a real difference in the lives of returning citizens by providing support services across the state. An attorney said a club on the Southside is "another Station Street Blue Light situation with shootings, young families at risk, noise violations, etc." The Blue Light recently closed permanently. Attorney Kurt Faires has written Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy about the Chattanooga Cigar Club at 1518 Market St. He has also written Curtis Greene, owner of the club. The attorney wrote to Chief Murphy, "The surrounding owners request a meeting with you to discuss options. It's dangerous and intolerable. A video link to a shooting which occurred there is also included for proof." Attorney Faires said in a letter to Mr. Greene, "This law firm represents Rosebud Rentals, LLC ("Rosebud") adjacent to Chattanooga Cigar Club ("Club") and several surrounding residential owners. The partial list of dangerous activities occurring in and about your Club listed on Exhibit A is simply unacceptable for a neighborhood with young families and children. Furthermore, in the words of your own security personnel, the customers are capable of "violence" and could shoot someone. One of the surrounding residences had a bedroom window shattered by a bullet while they slept which proves the point. The attached Open Records Request from the Chattanooga Police Department indicates 63 calls to the Club since July 1, 2021. So obviously you are aware of the problem. In addition, CPD detectives recently visited one of our clients for camera footage regarding a homicide they said began with an altercation at the Club. "You are hereby requested to immediately cease and desist from the excessive noise which occurs nightly when the Club closes and to provide security capable of preventing the illegal activity outlined in Exhibit A. "The CPD, Beer Board, City Attorney's Office and City Court have all been contacted or will be involved. Failure to end the disruptions and violent situations will leave our clients with no option but to move to have the Club permanently closed." Kate Middleton and Prince William send their three children to the same school, but Prince George vocalized to his mother that he's being 'tested' often and doesn't seem to like that. Earlier this year, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all started a new school year at The Lambrook School, which is closer to where they live near Windsor; the family relocated outside of London fairly recently in order to give the Wales children a more normal life. While George hasnt seemed to mind school much, and its probably nice attending alongside his siblings, there is one aspect of his schooling that he isnt crazy about according to his mother, Kate Middleton. Kate Middleton talks to Prince George in 2016 | Pool/Sam Hussein/WireImage Kate Middleton suggests George doesnt like all of the testing his school is doing Growing up isnt easy, and while we might long for the days where we could sit in a classroom and learn cursive writing all day, George is going through his own set of frustrations as a 10-year-old. According to Kate Middleton, hes being tested on his abilities quite a bit, and he doesnt like the tests. During a recent visit to a high school in Cardiff, United Kingdom, Kate explained that her oldest child doesnt love the testing that comes along with learning new things. George is just at the beginning of being tested, she said. He says, Mummy, I keep getting tested all the time. However, Kate reminded George and the students she was speaking to that by the time the kids get to the higher levels, theyll feel like they know a lot more. Aside from testing, George hasnt seemed to voice any major complaints about his school. At least, not that either of his parents have mentioned. Not too much is known about George typical school day, but he does attend a private school as opposed to being homeschooled. Although he is arguably the famous child in the United Kingdom, his parents did insist that he attend school alongside other children. His father, Prince William, did the same when he was growing up. Prince George sits between Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2022 | Karwai Tang/WireImage Prince William and Kate Middleton moved the kids outside of London for a quieter life When George first entered school, he was attending a private school in London. But as the kids got older, William and Kate made the decision to relocate their growing children to a home in Windsor as opposed to Kensington Palace in order to keep them out of the spotlight as much as possible. William and Kate have attempted to give their kids a more private life, and this was one way they could help the young ones escape the fanfare of the royal family. Of course, as they get older, they will slowly be more introduced to their royal roles, but for the time being, William and Kate want them to just enjoy being kids. George has already started his royal duties in a slow way. He played an important role in his grandfathers coronation ceremony, which was his first time attending an official royal engagement with a purpose (normally, he might make a quick appearance with no real role). Photo-electrochemistry (PEC) holds the potential to convert renewable energy such as solar light into useful green fuels. However, most known PEC materials suffer from instability issues which are difficult to track and cause a decrease in their performance under continuous operation. A research team from the University of Hamburg, DESY and LMU Munich has developed within a framework of BMBF project LUCENT a new multi-modal setup that determines the structural changes affecting PEC material under realistic operation conditions. The researchers have published their results in the current issue of the journal "Angewandte Chemie International Edition". A custom-built photoelectrochemical cell allows to investigate the structure of an active PEC material with a high-energy X-ray beam. Davide Derelli ne of the most pressing challenges facing modern society is the transition from fossil fuels to green, renewable alternatives. Through photo-electrochemical water splitting, solar energy can be used to convert water directly into its two components, oxygen and hydrogen. Hydrogen holds a great value, as it represents a common building block to the industrial production of many chemical compounds. Moreover, hydrogen can be stored, transported, and burned on demand as a green fuel which produces heat and an utterly harmless waste product water. However, at present no PEC material succeeded in being transferred from the lab into a real-world working device. One of the main reasons for the slow rise of efficient photoelectrochemical technology is its low stability in continuous operation." The conditions enabling photo-electrochemical processes to occur are rather harsh," explains Dr Francesco Caddeo from Universitat Hamburg. "The use of solar radiation, the application of external voltage and the presence of chemical ions in the electrolyte determine a quick degradation of most photo-electrochemically active materials over time. While many of these degradation phenomena are still largely unknown, revealing them constitutes an essential step toward developing more stable and efficient PEC materials." From a chemical perspective, photo-electrochemical water splitting constitutes a rather complex process. To understand the different phenomena, the use of complementary techniques which can see the problem from different points of view is crucial, explains Dorota Koziej, professor at the Department of Physics and member of the Cluster of Excellence "CUI: Advanced Imaging of Matter" at Universitat Hamburg. Some techniques, such as spectroscopy, target specific chemical species which might form at the surface of the material or within the electrolyte. Conversely, X-ray scattering offers an overall perspective of the atomic arrangement in PEC material. The key is exploiting the benefits of each analysis to reconstruct the photo-degradation process as if we were on a crime scene." However, the time required to perform the analytical measurement also constitutes a major factor to account for. When we started studying the PEC properties of CuBi2O4 films we immediately realized that a fast photo-degradation process was occurring, which determines a loss of around 90 % of the material performances in just few minutes of operation. reveals Davide Derelli, from Universitat Hamburg and one of the leading scientists of the study. We therefore turned to the use of the high-brilliant X-ray radiation provided by the X-ray radiation source PETRA III at DESY to collect scattering patterns with high time resolution, which allowed to closely follow the dynamics of the photodegradation process. Kilian Frank from LMU explains the experiment: When the X-rays interact with the material surface, all the radiation is scattered at different angles, creating characteristic patterns. At low angles, the scattering patterns contains information about the outer shape of the PEC film, while at higher angles it reveals its atomic arrangement. To collect both information simultaneously, we used two different detectors, which provided an exceptionally comprehensive representation of the material structure during PEC operation. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close By Lee Min-hyung Samsung C&T's Resort Group has decided to expand its emotional management program for employees, Vitamin Camp, from service industry workers to employees in all industries. Vitamin Camp marks its 10th anniversary this year. The Samsung affiliate developed the special program offered at the nations largest theme park, Everland, in 2014. Vitamin Camp was designed to help employees strengthen their emotional resilience and maintain their mental peace in the workplace. Samsung C&T offers a range of experiential activities for participants in the program. More than 10,000 participants have attended the Vitamin Camp program to date. All the participants in the program are required to carry out a self diagnosis of their emotional state. Samsung C&T developed the so-called emotional management scale (EMS) tool so that each participant can get a clearer grasp of their current emotional status. Educators for the program analyze details for each participant's results, and help individuals identify the causes of their stress and help them find solutions to alleviate their daily struggles. Participant then have the chance to express their emotions and share them with fellow program participants. This is the first empathy phase of the four-stage experimental program. They write down two to three moments when they were happy and unhappy at work, and share the results with their peers. The emptying stage comes next. In this phase, participants go outside for walking, trekking and mediation. Everland is an excellent place for doing such activities, as it is surrounded by small mountains, according to the company. This stage is aimed at relieving their stress level through outdoor activities. They then experience the filling stage through which participants enjoy such activities as breathing, stretching or aroma therapy and fill themselves with positive emotions. The nurturing is the final stage when particpants learn about the importance of maintaining positive energy in their daily lives. A group of reporters were invited to take part in the program on Friday afternoon. They had the opportunity to take a look at the nations first naturally-born panda, Fu Bao, at the theme park. They also walked through Everlands forest path surrounded by 340,000 trees that have been nurtured over the past half century. After experiencing the outdoor "emptying" stage, reporters were taught mediation exercises at the Forest Dome. We will keep developing the program, so more people, not only service industry workers but also those from all walks of life, can enhance their emotional resilience Lee Yu-ri, group head of Samsung C&T Experience Innovation Academy, said. Australia is known for being home to some of natures most creepy, venomous creatures. Recently, a team of scientists led by paleontologist Dr. Matthew McCurry has found the fossilized remains of an extraordinarily large spider in the heart of the continent. Its the fourth spider fossil to have ever been found in Australia and the first-ever fossil of a spider from Barychelidae, the brush-footed trapdoor spider family, worldwide, making the discovery extremely significant. McCurry states that this unique spider fossil reveals new information about the extinction of spiders in Australia and will help researchers learn more about their evolutionary history. The closest living relative of this fossil now lives in wet forests in Singapore through to Papua New Guinea. This suggests that the group once occupied similar environments in mainland Australia but have subsequently gone extinct as Australia became more arid, said McCurry. The new species lived in the age of the Miocene and is between eleven and sixteen million years old. It was discovered at a site called McGraths Flat and has been given the name of Megamonodontium mccluskyi. According to Dr. Robert Raven, a scientist from the Queensland Museum, there are 300 living species of brush-footed trapdoor spiders, but it is rare for them to become fossils. This is due to the fact that they spend most of their time in burrows, which do not provide the right environmental conditions for them to be fossilized. The type of rock present in the fossil bed makes the whole find even more impressive. McGraths Flat is a fossil site that contains an abundance of an iron-rich rock called goethite. It is very uncommon for well-preserved fossils to be found in that type of rock. Michael Frese, an associate professor at the University of Canberra, used stacking microphotography to scan the fossil, reporting that it showed a remarkable level of detail. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. This woman has a 1-year-old son who has been growing rapidly. He already wears a 2T/3T. He also has pretty sensitive skin and seems to have some allergies to certain fabrics and plastics, such as the nylon strap in his highchair. I tried putting him in different smocks and bibs, but they either caused him a rash or didnt protect his skin from touching the straps, she said. In order to solve these issues, she thought it would be best to put her son in a standard onesie, but she wasnt able to find the size she needed. She needed onesies that were bigger than a 24-month-old size, which is roughly the same as 2T, yet sometimes runs a bit smaller. Since she couldnt track down any onesies that worked, she decided to purchase some plain-colored dresses for her son to wear while he was sitting in his highchair. This would make things easier because she could tuck the skirts material between his legs and underneath the strap to prevent skin irritation. The problem started when I mentioned my idea to my mother-in-law. She got upset, saying I would confuse him and maybe even (gasp!) turn him gay, she explained. Her mother-in-law continued, saying that she was concerned she would post photos of her son in a dress on social media. However, she has intentionally refused to post photos of her son on social media in the first place, so this would never even be an issue. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. The cessationist debate is back, although in some ways, its never left. Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church recently hosted the Cessationist Conference, timed to coincide with the release of the Cessationist moviebringing an age-old topic back to the forefront of trending conversations, especially among Reformed believers. These discussions center on a basic question: Are the miraculous gifts for today? Cessationists would answer no. But to me, there are even more fundamental questions at play heresuch as why there is fresh interest in this subject today, and why so much effort is being spent on arguing against the continuance of supernatural signs and wonders. The answer may be as obvious as it is simple. The Pentecostal-charismatic movement continues to rise rapidly around the world, and in the eyes of cessationist leaders like MacArthur, this is a cause for alarm, not celebration. In their view, this global movement is marked by doctrinal deviances and aberrant practices so extreme that some believe the vast majority of Pentecostals and charismatics are not Christians at all. Dale Coulter, professor of historical theology at Pentecostal Theological Seminary, argues that the the Pentecostalization of American Christianity is coming of age. But in the opinion of these cessationist leaders, this isnt a positive trenddangerous doctrinal weeds are growing rapidly in our backyard, and theological diligence is required. Having dialogued face to face with some of these leaders for hours, I dont doubt the sincerity of their Christian faith or their pastoral concerns about perceived spiritual abuses. As a Pentecostal-charismatic leader, I have addressed problems within our movement for more than three decades. In fact, I told TheNew York Times two years ago that the failed prophecies of Trumps 2020 reelection amounted to the greatest deception Id seen in my five decades in the Lord. So I have no desire to minimize error or deny the fact that, with the exponential expansion of the Pentecostal-charismatic movement worldwidegrowing from 58 million in 1970 to 656 million in 2021there has been plenty of strange and even false fire. But to focus on the aberrant is to miss the greater reality: Over the last 50 years, hundreds of millions of people have come to true and lasting faith in Jesus through the present-day, miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit. Article continues below As a thoughtful rabbi once commented, we should not take the best of our religion and compare it to the worst of someone elses religion. As Ive said elsewhere, The existence of flaky charismatics no more disproves continuationism than the existence of spiritually dead Calvinists disproves Reformed doctrine. Historian Conrad Cherry pointed out that, during the First Great Awakening, critics like Charles Chauncy often focused on the chaff, whereas revival leaders like Jonathan Edwards focused on the wheat. Sadly, this is often the same with those who criticize the worldwide Pentecostal-charismatic movement today. I can testify personallyhaving spent decades of my life working with this movement worldwide and ministering overseas on more than 160 tripsthat there is far more Jesus-glorifying, Word-based wheat than could possibly be counted. Moreover, this harvest has grown and remained strong in the face of great suffering and persecution. But the best answer to cessationism is found in the Bible itself. While I respect my cessationist friends, I disagree that there is scriptural support for their stance that the miraculous gifts were uniquely associated with the apostles and existed solely for the establishing of the gospel. In fact, I personally believe this position is rendered indefensible by the explicit testimony of Gods Word. In my book Authentic Fire, which I wrote in response to MacArthurs Strange Fire book and conference, I explain that it is precisely because I am sola Scriptura that I am charismatic. For many years Ive heard my cessationist colleagues say, You charismatics rely on experience. We rely on the Word. But to be candid, Ive often found the opposite to be true. I know many who became cessationists because of bad experiences with charismatics or Pentecostal churches, whereas (as you will soon read) Ive remained a charismatic because of the testimony of Gods Word. When my experience confirms the Word, wonderful. But when my experience (or lack thereof) is contrary to the Word, I dont reject the Word. I reject the experience. This is a lesson I have learned the hard way through my own faith journey. I came to faith in 1971 at the age of 16 in a little Italian Pentecostal church as a heroin-shooting, LSD-using Jewish hippie rock drummer. But 10 years later, while working on my PhD in Near Eastern languages and literatures at New York University, my perspective greatly changed. Article continues below I did not want to be Pentecostal anymore. I wanted to be spiritually sophisticated, like the Reformed scholars whose works I was now studying. Speaking in tongues, which used to be a rich part of my spiritual life, was no longer something I wanted to practice. Bear in mind that this was before I knew of any prominent biblical scholars and theologians who were Pentecostal or charismatic. Im thinking of people like Gordon Fee, Craig Keener, Ben Witherington, Peter Davids, Jeffrey Niehaus, J. P. Moreland, Wayne Grudem, R. T. Kendall, Sam Storms, and others. In my mind at the time, being Pentecostal or charismatic meant being small-minded and theologically backwards. As for supernatural healing, Id heard about past stories and was assured of future ones, but I had seen very little with my own eyes. As for people being slain in the Spirit (something I used to see when I prayed for people), I now taught against it, saying it proved nothing and was not found in the Bible. I even bought books like B. B. Warfields Counterfeit Miracles and Robert Gromackis The Modern Tongues Movement to help persuade myself that the miraculous gifts were not for today. I fully desired to be a cessationist. In the end, I could not be convinced. The Word was too clear, and cessationist arguments too weak and easily refuted. So I concluded that the supernatural gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing were still for today, but that what we were seeing in the contemporary charismatic movement was not what Scripture had promised. Then in 1982, over a period of months, God brought me to repentance for leaving my first love and convicted me of theological and intellectual pridespeaking to me through some friends of mine who were charismatic believers. To say this rocked my world would be an understatement. Now, Im not saying that cessationists are not walking in love and devotion to the LordIm simply sharing my own experience. At that time, I was serving as an elder in training at a largely non-charismatic congregation, which was incredibly active in good works, but lacking in the power of the Spirit. By the end of the year, my life was radically changedand the Lord even used me as a vessel to pour out his Spirit in our church. As glorious and wonderful as that season wasas I was once again witnessing the gifts of the Spirit in operation, and more than Id ever seen beforeI now had a big problem. Here I was, with the right theology and accurate exegesis but seeing no one healed, while the people with wrong theology were seeing healings happen. How could I reconcile this? Article continues below At that time, I was in the early stages of research for my doctoral dissertation, Abbreviated Verbal Idioms in the Hebrew Bible: A Comparative Semitic Approach, but I decided to change my topic to I Am the Lord Your Healer: A Philological Study of the Root RP in the Hebrew Bible and the Ancient Near East. I had so many questions that needed answeringexegetical, linguistic, practical, theological, and philosophicalthat I wanted to dig into what the Word said about healing from as many angles as I could. Ten years later, Zondervan published my monograph, Israels Divine Healer, as part of their series titled Studies in Old Testament Biblical Theology. In it, I expanded my research to include the New Testament, which only further cemented my beliefs about healing for today. So what do the Scriptures really say about miraculous healing? First, the Bible indicates that acts of miraculous healing point to the goodness of God and are often an extension of his compassion (e.g., Matt. 14:14). As Scripture attests, Jesus brought the full revelation of the Father and ushered in the kingdom of Godwhich included healing of the sick and setting captives free (Luke 4:1821, John 14:811; 3). And, while we pray for the kingdom to come in fullness with the return of Jesus (Matt. 6:10), we recognize that, in a spiritual sense, Gods kingdom continues to grow worldwide. Jesus taught plainly that whoever believed in hima universal formula in the Greek and in Johns Gospel (see John 6:35; 7:38; 11:25; 12:44, 46, which apply to all believers)would do the works he did, and even greater works (John 14:12; the immediate context makes clear he is speaking of his miraculous works). Moreover, the Bible makes clear that the Spirits outpouring, which began in Acts, came with tongues and the promises of prophecy, dreams, and visionsand that it would be for all people and for this entire era of the church in these last days (Acts 2:1421, 39). Paul directly commands us to earnestly seek the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, and to not forbid tongues (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1, 39). He also makes it clear that these gifts would continue until the eschaton (1 Cor. 1:7; 13:810). In addition, miraculous healing of the sick, in response to the prayer of faith of local elders, should be the norm in our churches (James 5:1316). Article continues below Of course, each of these concepts could be unpacked in far greater depth, but it is my personal conviction that the Bible itself does not support the cessationist position. That is, I believe it is impossible to make an exegetically robust argument for cessationism using the Bible alone. And for sola Scriptura believers, this should matter. Much of the witness of church history also attests to the continuation of supernatural signs and wonders. There is ample evidence of ongoing miracles after the death of the apostles. There are also countless stories of Christian skeptics who changed their minds about miraclesincluding the early church father Augustine, who said, What do these miracles attest but the faith which proclaims that Christ rose in the flesh and ascended into heaven with the flesh? There is also an overwhelming number of testimonies to the modern-day miraculous work of the Spirit over the centuries, and some have been carefully documented in recent decades. That said, I ultimately welcome any debate among the body of Christ on how the Holy Spirit is at work today. Lets all put our best arguments on the table, with respect and grace, for the glory of God and the good of his people. Michael Brown is the host of the Line of Fire podcast and author of more than 45 books, including Revival or We Die and Why So Many Christians Have Left the Faith. At least 11 Americans killed in Hamas attacks on Israel; report says Iran plotted the assault Update at 4:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 9, 2023: The death toll rose to at least 11 American citizens killed in Hamas' attacks on Israel Saturday. It's also believed that Americans are among those being held hostage by the terrorist group. In a statement released by the White House on Monday, President Joe Biden said: As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed many of whom made a second home in Israel. Update at 9:30 a.m. ET on Oct. 9, 2023: At least nine Americans have been confirmed dead and several others remain missing following Hamas' attacks that killed 700 Israelis. "At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine U.S. citizens," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. "We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts." Original report: Several Americans are dead and others were possibly taken hostage in a large-scale offensive by Hamas militants against Israel. The combined death toll surged to over 1,100 as of early Monday and is expected to rise, according to U.S. officials, as a report says Iranian security officials helped plan the attack. Weve got reports that several Americans are among the dead, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on CBS News Face the Nation on Sunday. Were working very actively to verify those reports. At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage there, too, were working to get the facts to find out if those reports are accurate. Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer told the network that Americans are among the scores of hostages being held in Gaza. Citing sources who briefed key House committees on Sunday, CNN reported that four Americans have died in attacks near Israels Gaza border, and the death toll is expected to rise. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also confirmed the death of four Americans, agreeing that the number could rise. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel early Saturday, firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating the heavily fortified border near Gaza. Israeli officials confirmed that over 700 Israeli civilians and military personnel had died as of early Monday, with another 2,150 reported wounded. At least 413 Palestinians had also been reported dead, according to officials and the Gaza Health Ministry. Blinken described the assault as the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 carried out by Egypt and Syria. However, he differentiated the current situation from past conflicts, emphasizing that this is a terrorist assault involving home invasions and kidnappings. The bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus condemned the attack on Israel, saying the group stands with our ally Israel. Israel has every right to defend itself against this ruthless attack by an Iranian-backed terrorist group. The world must know that Israel has our full support against terrorism, Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., said in a statement released by the Caucus and sent to The Christian Post. Israel has deployed special forces to regain control of four locations from Hamas fighters following the groups unprecedented incursion, according to The Associated Press, which reported that Israel officially on Sunday declared war and authorized significant military steps in retaliation for Hamas surprise attack. The Israeli military escalated its efforts to eliminate fighters in southern towns and intensified airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the AP reported. Meanwhile, citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, The Wall Street Journal said Iranian security officials helped plan the Hamas attack. Officers of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been working with Hamas since August to plan the assault, WSJ said, adding that details of the operation were fine-tuned in multiple meetings in Beirut, attended by officers from IRGC and representatives from four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon. While a European official and an adviser to the Syrian government corroborated Irans involvement, aligning with the account given by senior Hamas and Hezbollah members, U.S. officials said they had not seen evidence of Irans involvement. Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, claimed that the group planned the attacks independently, according to WSJ, which quoted a spokesman for Irans mission to the United Nations as saying that Iran supported Gazas actions but did not direct them. Israeli security officials have pledged to strike at Irans leadership if Tehran is found responsible for killing Israelis. Blinken has indicated that the U.S. has not requested Israel to refrain from striking Iran. Blinken also dismissed the idea that the attack was an attempt to exploit the Wests focus on Ukraine, suggesting that the assault might be a response to U.S. efforts to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which are opposed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Several Christian leaders in the U.S. have condemned the Hamas for the attack. Robert J. Pacienza, senior pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and founder of the Institute for Faith & Culture, called for urgent prayers for Israel and the region in a statement to The Christian Post. He said the attacks have been carried out by terrorists and funded by Iran, putting democracy and freedom at risk globally. Pacienza emphasized that Christians should be particularly concerned about the humanitarian and religious liberties that are under threat due to the attacks. 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 would gather on the weekend standing with Israel and dedicating time to pray for Israel, he added. Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, also condemned the coordinated terrorist assault on Israel in a statement, saying it shocks the conscience. Intolerance against Christians: Human rights experts denounce Turkeys crackdown on religious minorities Turkey faces mounting criticism for its treatment of religious minorities, particularly Christians, as experts and civil society representatives convened to discuss the issue in Poland last week. The human rights group ADF International hosted a panel discussion at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Human Dimension Implementation Conference in Warsaw last Thursday. The event featured human rights experts, including Tatjana Peric, OSCE adviser on combating racism and xenophobia. The experts emphasized that foreign Christian workers and their families are being targeted for deportation or branded with security codes, effectively banning them from Turkey, ADF International said in a statement. By deliberately targeting Christians with de facto bans, the government is actively stifling the Christian faith, Lidia Rieder, legal officer for ADF International, said, adding that such actions violate Turkeys commitments to religious freedom and non-discrimination. The number of Christians in Turkey has plummeted from 20% to 0.2% over the last century. The Open Doors ministry reports that between 2020 and 2023, at least 75 foreign Christian workers and their families were expelled from Turkey. The 2022 Human Rights Violations Report by the Protestant Church Association cited 185 people who have been arbitrarily branded with the N-82 code, preventing them from entering Turkey. Pam and David Wilson, a missionary couple, were banned from Turkey after nearly 40 years of residence. They were assigned a G87 code, labeling them as a threat to security, and have taken their case to the European Court of Human Rights, supported by ADF International. Christian minister David Byle was also forced to leave Turkey in 2018 after more than 19 years. Authorities portrayed him as a threat to public order and security, imposing a permanent entry ban after he left the country. The Byles now live in Germany. Intolerance against Christians continues to be a concern across the OSCE region today, said Peric. Yavuz Aydin, a former judge from Turkey in exile, highlighted the correlation between autocratic tendencies and pressure on minority groups. ADF International, which is challenging Turkeys treatment of Christians through cases at the European Court of Human Rights, hopes the court will hold Turkey accountable. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan aims to spread Turkish Islamic influence, according to the Christian group Barnabas Aid. Despite being a secular state, Turkeys Christian population is treated as inferior to the Muslim majority, the group says, noting that from January 2019 to March 2022, Turkey deported 78 foreign pastors and their families. The European Court of Human Rights ruled in November 2022 that Turkey violated the rights of a Greek church by refusing to allow it to register its land. In June 2022, an Assyrian Christian family was attacked in Turkeys Mardin province. A Christian cemetery was desecrated the following month. The Christian community still bears the trauma of Armenian, Assyrian and Greek genocides in the early 20th century, where 3.75 million believers were killed. While Turkeys legal system technically protects religious freedoms, the lived reality for Christians is different, according to Open Doors, which says converts from Islam face pressure and threats, and women who convert are most vulnerable to persecution. Armenian and Assyrian Syriac churches face hostility in southeastern Turkey. They have moved to western areas to escape conflict between the Turkish army and Kurdish resistance groups. Inland regions of Turkey are more conservative and can be hostile toward Christians, according to Open Doors, which says discrimination is also facilitated by religious affiliation being recorded on ID cards. Preacher fatally shot during service; church says faith remains unshaken Leaders of the Eagle Christian Center in Newlands, South Africa, said the congregations faith remains unshaken after a young preacher, known as Prophet Dwayne Gordon, was shot dead and two others were wounded during a robbery at the church on Friday. At Eagle Christian Center, our faith remains unshaken. We believe that in the face of adversity, we must come together as a community, demonstrating love, compassion, and unwavering support for one another. We will continue to provide spiritual guidance and strength to our congregation during this challenging time, church officials said in a statement on Facebook Saturday. The church said Gordon, who was a special guest speaker for their Restoration Conference, which was set to run from Oct. 68, was killed after six gunmen entered the church and began robbing members on Friday. We were confronted by a tragic and harrowing situation. Six armed individuals entered our sacred place of worship, robbing members of their belongings, tragically taking the life of our guest speaker, Prophet Dwayne Gordon, the statement of the church led by Pastor Mervyn and Maria Campher continued. In addition to Gordons death and two others injured in the attack, the church said many women and children were severely traumatized. We are devastated by this loss and extend our deepest condolences to Prophet Dwayne Gordon's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. We ask that you keep us all in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate this profound grief, the church said. Faranaaz Mosale, the wife of 39-year-old Sebastian Mosale, who is one of the two individuals injured and recovering in hospital, told SABC News she is terrified. Its terrible, I never knew. I always heard of the shootings and stuff. But Friday, when I saw it happening in front of me, it got close to home, she said. A 45-minute recording of the service which was livestreamed on several social media platforms including YouTube, shows members of the church worshiping for about 28 minutes before Gordon was excitedly welcomed to the pulpit. I dont know about you, but I can already feel the presence of God, Gordon said from the pulpit as the congregation acknowledged that they had felt it too. He soon asked the churchs choir to help him sing The Steadfast Love and they worshiped together again. Great is thy faithfulness. If I was you, I would prophesy to my neighbor and say, neighbor, good morning, he said. The Bible declares that whenever the enemy would come in like a flood, the Bible said the Spirit of the Lord will raise a mighty standard. Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning, he declared, whipping the congregation into a rapturous frenzy. Someones season of joy has just entered into this place, Gordon said. He then called the church a spiritual portal that would give rise to the prophecy, but he would try his best to behave. He greeted the Holy Ghost and was in the middle of greeting the churchs pastor around the 40-minute mark of the recording when he is shown with a stunned look on his face and steps back from the pulpit. Moments after that motion, terrified screams could be heard coming from the congregation as Gordon stayed frozen in the recording until the camera appeared to get knocked over and at least two shots were heard going off. Eagle Christian Center said they are cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for this heinous act are brought to justice. As a church, we will also be taking additional security measures to safeguard our congregation and ensure their safety during future gatherings, the church said. While there are currently no official motives given for the attack on the church and Gordons murder, a Zambian televangelist based in South Africa, Prophet Isaac Kabamba, well-known on social media as Prophet DD Isaac, alleged that Gordon's murder was orchestrated by a fellow minister who was threatened by his growing popularity. The individual responsible for the demise of my son is another prophet of a same ethnicity, driven by the fear of losing his congregation. Prophet Dwayne Gordon, nurtured under my guidance, was known to me as an exceptionally devoted young prophet, ardently devoted to Jesus Christ, he wrote on Facebook. It is truly heart-wrenching to witness the tragic waste of his life. His spirit will inflict anguish upon any individual implicated in his untimely demise. Kabamba who is a leader and founder of Holy Ghost Embassy Church with branches in South Africa and other parts of the world, said Gordon was previously shot in the leg at his Randburg branch but he survived. I vividly recall the distressing incident that transpired in South Africa. Malevolent forces orchestrated an intrusion into our sacred sanctuary, located in our Kyasands Randburg branch. They callously targeted my son, discharging a firearm that struck his leg. Miraculously, he managed to survive, Kabamba said, alleging that South Africa harbors a propensity for extinguishing the lives of their own prophets. May the indomitable spirit of Prophet Dwyane Gordon wage war against all those involved. To all congregations, prophets, apostles, pastors, and evangelists, I implore you to fortify your places of worship and ensure the presence of security personnel in your vicinity, he said. This very reason compelled me to return to my homeland, Zambia, where we could find solace and sanctuary. As an American Jew, 10 raw reflections on Hamas' attack on Israel As news was breaking on Saturday and we were learning about the atrocities that were taking place in Israel, I immediately wrote an article. But even as I was writing, the news kept getting worse. How could this be happening? It turns out that things were far worse than we could have imagined. Here are some open, honest, raw reflections on the last 72 hours. 1. The scope of the terrorist attack and the scale of suffering inflicted are unprecedented in the modern State of Israel. This is the worst massacre of Jews on any single day since the Holocaust. Just that alone is mind-numbing. But when you remember that the size of the Jewish population of Israel is roughly 7 million meaning about 1/47th the population of America the numbers become completely devastating. If we translate this into the proportionate number of deaths in America, were talking about 9/11, but more than 10 times over. Were talking about more than 117,000 wounded. And were talking about what would be the equivalent of perhaps 5,000 Americans taken hostage in Afghanistan. Who can fathom this? A husband texted his wife from a kibbutz, saying it was a mess and there was heavy shooting. Minutes later, the daughter texted, Mom, its Daria. Dad has been murdered. Stav too. Help. Another post, describing the kidnapping of the persons 85-year-old grandmother, read, This is my grandmother, abducted without any hindrance into Gaza. She helped establish the kibbutz with her own hands, believed in Zionism, and loved this country that trusted her. She is now likely abandoned somewhere, suffering in severe pain, without medicine, food, or water, dying in fear, all alone. And then, staggering headlines like this, after we thought the initial death count had been finalized (aside from the critically injured): About 260 people are believed to have been killed at [a music] festival with new photos being released that show bodies piled high. Piles of Jewish bodies? What does this sound like? When I first heard 40 were murdered, my heart sank. Then 100. Then over 250. Now over 700. Let us not downplay the magnitude of this tragedy. 2. This is when Israels enemies rejoice. I personally went through the AskDrBrown Facebook page and my X account numerous times on Sunday, deleting and/or blocking vile comment after comment. Many antisemites took exception to this post in particular: No matter what your position is on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, if you rejoice over the slaughter of Israeli women, children, babies, and the elderly, your heart is evil. In response, I was told that it was Israel that was murderous, and their sufferings were well deserved. (And, for the record, I was informed that I believed in the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians.) When my team posted the same comment on Facebook, adding the graphic of an Israeli flag and a meme saying, Pray for Israel, the comments got uglier still. Those were not real Jews living there. They were the synagogue of Satan. And it was the evil Zionists who rejoiced over the slaughter of innocent Palestinian children. Of course, this was also the time for the false moral equivalencies, as if Israeli troops, doing their best to avoid civilian casualties, could be compared to coldblooded murderers who slaughtered babies and children in cold blood. Or who butchered parents in the presence of their young children. Or who gunned down elderly Israelis while radical Muslims in Gaza and Iran and elsewhere rejoiced. Please. Is Israel blameless in its dealing with the Palestinians? Certainly not. Have there been cases of abuse by Israeli soldiers over the years? Absolutely. But these are investigated and called out and tried in court, not celebrated. And nothing Israel has done can compare to the barbaric actions of Hamas. 3. A nation divided against itself cannot stand. An insightful post from Messianic Jewish leaders in Israel (it is worth reading in full) noted that one reason for Hamass success was that, The IDF reserves framework has recently been weakened as a result of the boiling internal debates in Israel over the judicial overhaul, and the Israeli Police were similarly weakened due to being used to guard anti-overhaul demonstrators instead of more pressing security needs. They added, In a recent interrogation of a Hamas terrorist captured by Israel, he noted a few points: Hamas had planned this coordinated attack for over one year; the anti-government demonstrations in Israel (which divided, distracted and weakened the nation) were a great encouragement to them; they broke through into Israel and were free to murder and kidnap for 5 hours before the IDF responded to them; 1,000 Hamas terrorists participated in the operation; they made 15 holes in the security fence; the Hamas forces were astounded that IDF forces were not there at the fence to confront the jihadi forces. 4. Israel is not promised protection. There are certainly verses in the Old Testament that promise divine protection of the people of Israel in the Land, some of which are familiar to Christians (see Isaiah 54:17, for example). And who has not heard or read Psalm 121, which includes the words, indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep (Psalm 121:4)? Yet these promises applied in their fullest sense to a righteous nation, and Israel today is not in the Land because of its righteousness (see Ezekiel 36) but because of Gods mercy. While I do believe that the Lord has protected Israel from disaster countless times not just throughout history but in particular in the last 75 years back in the Land there has also been much pain and suffering. (Need I elaborate?) So, while it is shocking beyond words to take in what has happened in Israel, we cannot imagine that nothing can touch the Jewish people. That would be naive. Thats why we should continue to pray for Gods mercy. 5. Radical Islam is demonic. Without a doubt, there are millions of Muslims who are decent human beings and who are shocked by the actions of Hamas, just as they were shocked at the actions of ISIS. They would be the first to say this does not represent their faith. (The question of what is real Islam is separate from the point I am making.) Let us acknowledge how demonic radical Islam is without demonizing all Muslims. 6. While some Christian Zionists can make an idol out of Israel, we should celebrate Christian love for Israel, not disparage it. Indeed, it is Christian love for Israel that has helped wipe away centuries of Christian antisemitism. And it is Christian love for Israel that is making a difference at this critical hour and will do so in the days and months ahead. Thank God for healthy Christian Zionism. 7. We must not forget the suffering of the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza. It is true that what Hamas has done is monstrous, parading bodies of murdered Israeli women stripped naked before cheering, jeering crowds, among other atrocities. But let us remember that the average citizen of Gaza is also a victim of sorts. Not only is the Gaza Strip one of the most densely populated regions in the world with much poverty, but with the people electing Hamas in their one and only election (in 2006) as opposed to having the option of a peace-loving leadership that recognized the Jewish state Gaza has been isolated by Israel. And when you realize that the median age of Gazan Palestinians is 18 (10 years younger than the worldwide average), you understand that a large percentage of the populace has grown up blaming Israel for all its problems. State TV brainwashes them, as do their school systems. The people do not realize that hundreds of millions of dollars of support is used for weaponry and tunnels rather than helping fight poverty. (Or, if they understand this, they think its justified.) And when Israel launches a counterstrike on Gaza, amounting to more Palestinian suffering, then Israel is viewed as all the more evil. As Joel Rosenberg wrote in response to calling for the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly from Gaza, after which Israel would totally destroy it, Are you crazy? Im an Israeli. I want my country to defeat Hamas, reestablish security and liberate our hostages. But genocide is not the answer ... 2 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip. They are also suffering under Hamas reign of terror. We must pray for Gods mercy for the Palestinians as well. 8. Yes, we are at war. As a Christian leader shared with me on Sunday morning after I preached on Gods pain for Israel, Its not just Israel that is at war, as Netanyahu said. As Christians, we are all at war meaning, the spiritual war is intense and real, and while the outward manifestations are clearest in Israel right now, the spiritual conflict is just as real here. 9. Yes, it was a terrible mistake for America to give billions of dollars to Iran. I do not want to make this political, but for good reason, Trumps recent comment has gone viral. 10. I dont know how, but God can bring beauty out of ashes. This is who He is. This is what He does. And just as out of the ashes of the Holocaust the modern nation of Israel was birthed, God can bring something beautiful out of the agony and screams and terror and blood and suffering. Let us lean hard on Him in the days ahead, continuing to pray for His merciful intervention. And may the eyes of all the people in the region find mercy in His Son. LG Electronics Inc. has decided to bring its South Korean employees in Tel Aviv back home due to safety concerns over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, according to industry sources Monday. According to the sources, the South Korean electronics giant was arranging for the return of a group of around 20 people comprising of the employees and their families based in Tel Aviv. LG Electronics ordered its employees in the Tel Aviv branch to work at home after Hamas launched its assault on Israel on Saturday. According to business industry sources, no damage has yet been reported among firms operating in the Middle Eastern country. (Yonhap) 'Treated like a criminal': Christian teacher fired for refusing to affirm 'extreme' LGBT ideology A Christian teacher has claimed she was "treated like a criminal" after being fired by a Church of England school. Glawdys Leger, a modern languages teacher, was sacked by Bishop Justice CofE School in Bromley, Kent, in May 2022. She says her termination was because she refused to teach "extreme" LGBT lessons and because she shared her Christian beliefs on these issues with pupils. The 43-year-old had objected to the content of year 7 lessons, which had been incorporated into Religious Education (RE) classes. The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting the 43-year-old, said lesson materials included "extreme content on gender identity with themes that begin to suggest to children that humans can be born in the wrong body" and introduced fake gender identities such as pansexual, asexual, intersex and transgender. Children were also reportedly encouraged to be allies of the queer community. Leger told pupils in her class, during a discussion on LGBT issues, that God made humans male and female, and that she believed LGBT practice was sinful. The CLC said she raised her conscientious objection about the lesson content but her concerns were "brushed aside and ignored." The school is part of the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust, which reported Leger to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) after a complaint was made. A "fitness to practice" hearing was held by the TRA on Monday. She faces being struck off and unable to teach again if the regulating body finds against her. Speaking ahead of the hearing, she said, "I was treated like a criminal and as though I was a danger for expressing my Christian beliefs. "I have great compassion for LGBT people, especially for those suffering from gender confusion. I cannot, however, in good conscience teach or say things I believe are contrary to my faith, for example saying that same-sex sexual relationships are good and/or affirming people in their gender confusion. "I am certain that I have not shown, and never would show, any hatred or lack of love towards LGBT people. "True compassion and love is to be able to speak the truth to people irrespective of their sexuality. I would never discriminate against anyone, but the school was compelling teachers to promote, teach and celebrate these issues, which I could not do. "For Christians, it is important to remain an ally of God rather than being an ally of things that are against God's Laws and Commandments. It is not 'inclusive' if pupils at a Christian school are barred from understanding what Christian belief is and means on these very serious issues." A spokesperson for the Church of England said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on the complex particulars of any case to which we are not party, and which is under consideration. "Schools are bound by the Equalities Act, which assures that all children and adults are treated with respect, regardless of their faith, gender or sexuality. "Everyone is made in God's image and loved by God, no matter what their background, identity, abilities or anything else." A spokesman for the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust said: "Delivering a high-quality education and supporting the wellbeing of students is our top priority. "To ensure this is achieved, we promote fundamental British values including mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. "The school teaches in line with statutory requirements to promote British values and follows relevant guidance outlined by the Department for Education. "Given the ongoing investigation and sensitivities involved, it would not be appropriate to comment any further." Originally published at Christian Today Emmy-winning director creates film to help teens combat suicide, contrast to '13 Reasons Why' Former youth leader turned Emmy Award-winning director, Kyle Roberts, hopes his new film will help teenagers overcome battles with depression and suicidal ideation. What Rhymes With Reason will hit theaters on Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day, and follows six teenagers who embark on an adventure after a tragedy impacts their lives. Throughout the film, the teens, each going through their own battles, explore legendary landmarks that no one else has discovered. The movie directly targets anxiety, depression, anger and thoughts of suicide. "When '13 Reasons Why' came out and other shows like that, that kind of glorify suicide. We knew as a team there had to be a better way to talk about this that is real and honest, like those John Hughes films, but it also had to be family-friendly, and not cheesy, Roberts told The Christian Post. It took the creators eight years to produce this film. Roberts explained that the first five years consisted of doing lots of research and talking to counselors, principals, youth leaders, youth pastors, and high school kids to get their feedback. "The number one feedback of all those five years was, Please, please, please do not show an attempt at suicide. Because that can create an ideation and potentially glorify it, he revealed. Roberts work and family-friendly approach has attracted huge Hollywood studios such as DreamWorks, Disney and Nickelodeon, among others. Hes done lots of mainstream family content, but his new film is infused with the heart of his faith in Christ. It's not a straightforward, overtly Christian movie and not Outer Banks or something. Were kind of in the middle, he shared. "Our goal from day one was to earn the right to be heard by high school students and their parents, and that's what we did with this movie. The 2014 Emmy winner for "Broken Beyond Repair was a youth leader at Young Life for eight years, and is where he met his wife. Since leaving Young Life, Roberts has seen a rise in anxiety, depression and suicide. He said social media, content such as Netflixs original series 13 Reasons Why and the COVID-19 lockdowns all led to the spike in suicidal ideations. "There are a lot of shows and films that cover this, but it's too dark and too gritty and can tend to glorify [suicide], and most counselors would not recommend those shows. They would tell you to stay away from those shows, Christian or not, counselors. They would tell you if you're going through this right now, you should not watch this show, he explained. "It took us a long time to very carefully craft the story, to entertain and engage but also provide hope, and that's one of the biggest things that these other shows don't have. "There's no hope, there's no redemption in 13 Reasons Why. It's entertaining, but there is no hope. So I would [ask], 'Why? Why are you making this movie or the show?' According to the CDC, the No. 2 cause of youth deaths, starting at age 10, is suicide. Just five years ago, it was ranked No. 10. There are a reported 700,000 suicides each year. What Rhymes With Reason has partnered with The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a toll-free suicide prevention helpline, to donate the proceeds of the film to their efforts. Roberts encouraged adults to listen and be present for the teens around them. The filmmaker hopes people will invite at least 10 teenagers to see the movie on Oct. 10 because, statistically, at least one of those teens is battling suicidal thoughts, anxiety or depression. For more information about the Fathom event, visit the films website. Israelis told to prepare for 3-day stays in bomb shelters; Hamas threatens to execute hostages Israeli residents are being warned to prepare to spend days in bomb shelters as tensions continue to escalate after attacks by Hamas killed more than 900 Israelis and at least 11 Americans. It all began Saturday morning when Hamas, an Islamic terrorist group based in the Gaza Strip, fired thousands of rockets into Israel and infiltrated Israels border near Gaza. Since then, Israeli officials say more than 900 civilians and military personnel have died, along with more than 2,100 wounded, according to Sky News. More than 500 Palestinians were also killed, according to Palestinian officials. The report from Sky News, quoting a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in London, said Israelis have been told to "prepare for a three-day stay in bomb shelters/secure rooms." Residents are being urged to stock up on food, water, flashlights and other battery-powered devices in the event of widespread power outages. Said to be the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 carried out by Egypt and Syria, the conflict spread beyond Israels borders after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed President Joe Biden that Israel has no choice but to launch a ground invasion against Hamas in Gaza. In response to the attacks, Israel launched airstrikes against the Gaza Strip and announced it would cut off supplies of food and fuel as it stepped up efforts to eliminate jihadists along the southern border, according to The Associated Press. Hamas, meanwhile, has warned Israel that any bombing of Gaza without prior warning will result in the execution of Israeli hostages, Sky News reported. In an audio clip quoted by the AP, Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said the threat to execute hostages comes in response to Israeli airstrikes. 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, Obeida was quoted as saying. Israels foreign minister, Eli Cohen, issued a video statement Monday warning Hamas to refrain from further harm against Israeli hostages, the AP reported. We demand Hamas not to harm any of the hostages, he said. This war crime will not be forgiven. It's believed that Americans are among those held hostage by the terrorist group. In a statement released by the White House on Monday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced that the death toll of American citizens killed had risen to 11 and said "it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas." On Monday, Netanyahu said the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip had only started in a nationally televised address. We have only started striking Hamas, Netanyahu told the nation. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. The bipartisan Senate Abraham Accords Caucus condemned the attack on Israel, saying the group stands with our ally Israel. Israel has every right to defend itself against this ruthless attack by an Iranian-backed terrorist group. The world must know that Israel has our full support against terrorism, Senator James Lankford, R-Okla., said in a statement sent to The Christian Post. Pastor arrested for allegedly raping family member at least 600 times since age 7, getting her pregnant Bishop Robert L. Carter, a husband, father of four and high-ranking leader in the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc., USA., has been arrested after allegedly raping a family member at least 600 times since she was 7, getting her pregnant as a teenager and forcing her to give up their baby. Carter, who is the founding and senior pastor of the Sanctuary Church of Jesus Christ in downtown Houston, Texas, according to the Black Preaching Network, is also listed as Diocesan Bishop of the Gulf Coast Diocese for the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc., USA, which has some 350 churches nationally and 600 churches globally, according to the South Carolina-based denomination. Carter, 39, was arrested Monday and charged with sexual assault of a child between the ages of 14 and 17, and continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to KPRC 2. Court documents cited by the news outlet claim that Carter began abusing his family member in 2008. He allegedly would visit the childs room on a nightly basis and make her perform a sex act on him. As the victim got older, Carter is accused of intensifying his sexual abuse inside his home, in a parking lot before dropping her off at school, and at his grandmothers home. By the time the victim turned 16, a warrant for Carters arrest said the victim got pregnant and secretly gave birth to Carters baby. The victims father, who asked not to be identified, told KPRC2 that Carter took the baby from the teenager and gave the child away. What if she wouldve died that night? She had that baby in the closet, by herself. He came and got the baby and took the baby to a fire station and dropped the baby off, the father said. The victims father said his daughter was so damaged by the abuse, she once ended up in a psychiatric hospital. Shes had an episode where she ended up in the hospital for psychiatric reasons, he said while noting his shock at Carter abusing his daughter as a child. How? How could you even get aroused? It doesnt make any sense, the distraught father said. The pastors victim is now trying to get her child back. Calls made by The Christian Post to the International Bible Way Church of Jesus Christ, Inc., USA., where Carter is still listed as a leader on the denominations website, were not returned on Monday. The pastors profile on the Black Preaching Network notes that he is well-known for his work in church planting, development, and church administration. In a 2015 message, Carter referenced Scripture from Romans 7 in the Bible to lament the perils of the lust of his flesh. I cant be caught up in my flesh because I heard it say that no good thing dwells in my flesh, he said in a video clip from the spirited message he delivered on Facebook approximately one year before the victim gave birth. I need you to understand that it is not about my flesh because my flesh causes me to do the things that I would not do. Paul said the good that I would I just cant seem to do because he said whenever I [go to do good] evil is always present because Im in my flesh, he said. Your flesh will send you right to Hell. Your flesh will get yourself in trouble. Texas pastor stuck in Israel as war erupts and US airlines cancel flights The Rev. George Mason, the former senior pastor of the Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, who had gone to Israel to observe peacebuilding work between Israelis and Palestinians, is now stuck in the country as war erupted Saturday after Hamas, a Sunni Islamist terrorist organization, launched an attack against Israel that has killed at least 900 Israelis and left has 687 Palestinians dead in retaliatory airstrikes. Mason, senior pastor emeritus of Wilshire Baptist Church that left the Southern Baptist Convention in 2000 and was kicked out of the Baptist General Convention of Texas after it decided to be an LGBT-affirming congregation, told ABC News affiliate WFAA, "One of the strangest things about war is that life can feel eerily normal in parts of the country where just down the road a few miles people are dying, are terrorized, are being taken hostage. It's an extraordinary juxtaposition of life and death taking place." In an audio clip quoted by The Associated Press Monday, Abu Obeida, the spokesman of the Qassam Brigades, said they will start executing hostages if any Israeli airstrike comes without a "pre-warning." This comes after Hamas' head of political and internal relations, Basem Naim, told Sky News that civilian hostages would be treated "humanely." The Biden administration confirmed today that Americans are among the hostages. In an interview with CBS News, Mason said his Dallas-based interfaith organization, Faith Commons, was set to host a tour for about 30 people on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but the group announced on Facebook Saturday that they canceled the trip because of the war. Just as our newsletter was about to go out to our subscribers this morning announcing the debut of our Holy Land trip, we received word that Hamas had launched an attack on Israel, initiating the kind of violence that made it necessary for us to cancel our What Makes This Land Holy? tour, the Faith Commons wrote. While we are heartbroken to see more violence and devastation unfold, we feel it is more important than ever to lift up the holiness that persists even now through the everyday insistence on human rights, civil discourse, and peaceful coexistence, the group added, noting that in the coming days we plan to share the experiences and insights of people who live in the Holy Land and strive every day to realize its promise. Mason, according to Faith Commons, had gone to Israel earlier to participate in the Land, People and Culture International Conference at Dar al Kalima University in Bethlehem. The conference focused on the theme of land, people and culture, with a particular focus on the Palestinian question on the 75th remembrance of the "Nakba." According to the U.N., "The Nakba, which means 'catastrophe' in Arabic, refers to the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war." When the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution dividing Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under a U.N. administration in November 1947, that plan was rejected by the Arab world. Muslims argued that the plan was unfair and violated the U.N. Charter. Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the U.S. National Security Council, said in a statement that the Biden administration unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks." Mason argued that what the world is witnessing now is a "humanitarian crisis that has been brewing for 75 years." "I think it's incredibly difficult because so much of American sympathy is with Israel, for us to recognize that there are Palestinians who are 'indigenous' peoples to the area, also claim this as a homeland and are seeking a way of peace," Mason argued. "Not all Palestinians are terrorists and not all Israelis are supportive of government policy." U.S. airlines have halted flights in and out of Israel, The Associated Press and government officials reported. Even though the Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, some flights have been reduced or suspended. U.S. carriers have temporarily suspended flights to Israel, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem noted in a statement. U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire, often take place without warning, the embassy added. U.S. citizens should monitor news outlets and follow advice from local security and emergency response officials to increase their security awareness and remain safe. It's time to be blunt about Andy Stanley and gay Christians I do my best to be sensitive in the language I use, not wanting to drive people away from a life-giving message because of controversial terminology. Yet there are times when being blunt is essential, and now is one of those times. That is why Pastor Andy Stanley must be called out publicly for inviting practicing homosexuals to speak at his Unconditional Conference. The fact that these men claim to be committed Christians makes the sin all the more grievous. Im speaking specifically of Justin Lee and Brian Nietzel, both of whom are not only openly gay Christians but are also married to their same-sex partners. This means that, according to the plain teaching of Scripture, they will not inherit the Kingdom of God (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) and their actions are detestable in His sight (Leviticus 18:22). Justin and Brian might be very gracious and kind men. Their partners might be terrific people in many ways. They might even model certain aspects of Christian compassion and grace and profess some orthodox beliefs. But that only magnifies the level of deception involved, since Satan himself comes as an angel of light (see 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). It is true that, on the Sunday following the Unconditional Conference Pastor Stanley reaffirmed that biblical marriage is the union of a man and a woman and claimed that his church did not condone sin, although he made other statements that muddied the water and caused confusion. But he also stated that both Justin and Brian have spoken to his people before, with his blessing and approval. This means that on several occasions, he has willfully exposed his flock to their message and example, thereby undermining the positive statements he made in his sermon. This is as destructive as it is confusing. Pastor Stanley, with whom Ive been in friendly correspondence and interaction since 2015, pressing him for clarity on these issues, emphasized that the purpose of the conference was not to debate theology. Rather, it was to help parents understand how they should deal with their kids who identify as LGBTQ+. He didnt want this generation of Christians to perpetuate the errors of past generations, where parents often rejected their kids or tried to strongarm them into becoming straight. It was time, he said, for this to stop. The Church must do better. On this, we agree, point for point. We need to do better. We need to show unconditional love. We need to recognize how deep these struggles can be. And we need to understand the degree to which Christian young people, in particular, can suffer an acute conflict over these feelings, which they did not ask for. Yes, let us be educated and let us love well. But under no circumstances should we affirm a childs gay or bi or trans or queer identity. Even more emphatically, under no circumstances should we tell them that they can follow Jesus and be in a same-sex, sexual or romantic relationship. God forbid. To do so is to be complicit in their demise. In a statement to The Roys Report, Justin Lee claimed that he didnt take any position on topics like same-sex marriage or sexual behavior at the conference. Instead, he stated, My primary message was that Christians should look to Jesus and to Scripture not to me or any human source for determining what is Gods will. And that Christians who follow Jesuss example can treat others with love and empathy without compromising on truth. But what about his personal example? What about the example of Brian? What about their online resources and teachings? To paraphrase, Im not taking a public position here on same-sex marriage or sexual behavior. But in my personal example, in which I am in a same-sex marriage and have sex with my male partner, Im shouting quite loudly to all of you. The very presence of Justin and Brian at the conference, along with men like Christian ethicist David Gushee, who believes that God affirms committed, same-sex relationships, sent a clear message to all those in attendance. Yes, they were saying, your kids can practice homosexuality and follow Jesus at the same time. And these men were not just given a platform but were honored and celebrated for who they are. Otherwise, they would not have been invited to speak. Consider that it was Justin who founded the Gay Christian Network, with most of the adherents in the network affirming same-sex, Christian relationships. Justins new organization, called Nuance Ministries, recommends groups like the Reformation Project, which actively seeks to change church views on the Bible and homosexual practice. (See https://gaychristian.net/, one of the Nuance Ministries links; while still under construction, the site links to the Reformation Project and others of like mind.) As for Brian, his bio states that he is a gay man committed to his faith and love for Jesus. He grew up in the Evangelical Church and struggled with his sexuality, then later in life found his peace with God. He is now happily married to his husband Dan and is a proud father. He founded the organization Making Things Right to invite Christians to reimagine their relationship with LGBTQ+ people (my emphasis). To repeat: this is detestable in Gods sight, no matter how loving, kindhearted, caring, and Christian Dan and his partner may be. They are in fundamental violation of the order and plan of the God who Himself is love. They are sinning and they are leading others into sin. Yet it is men like Brian and Justin whom Andy chose to have speak at his conference not ex-gays, not compassionate Christian counselors with a very different approach, not biblically grounded theologians, not parents of LGBTQ+ identified kids who unconditionally love without affirming. How many parents, then, were misled by the examples of Justin and Brian? How many will, in turn, fail in their responsibilities towards their children? How many will embrace a grace (really, pseudo-grace) at the expense of life-changing truth? To give an extreme example, think of having a conference on sexual purity in which you invited a Christian porn actress to share her own story. Dont look to me, she says to the interested audience. Look to God and to the Word. Im just encouraging you to be compassionate and understanding towards those who struggle with porn. And if youd like more information, you can visit my website, Christianporn.com. As crazy as this seems, is it any crazier than Andy Stanley inviting professing Christians who are married to their same-sex partners to speak at an LGBTQ+ related conference? Can you imagine Paul asking a homosexual Christian couple to share with the Corinthian church about the importance of being loving towards children who struggle with same-sex attraction? On the contrary, Paul would have lovingly and firmly called them to repent, and if they refused to repent, he would have called on the Corinthians to excommunicate them (see 1 Corinthians 5). Rather than do this, Pastor Andy Stanley gave them a platform a very big, influential platform. What a horrible shame. And what lasting damage this will do. To be sure, all of us fall short of Gods glory and live in daily need of His grace and mercy. And without question, if we turn to Him in repentance, the blood of Jesus will wash us clean. But if we continue in unrepentant sin, let alone justify it, we will face His judgment. It was the Puritan Thomas Manton who said, First we practice sin, then defend it, then boast of it. This is exactly what Andy Stanley and the Unconditional Conference have done, platforming practicing homosexuals who claim to have the blessing of God on their same-sex relationships. May God grant them repentance before it is too late. And may all of us take careful stock of our lives before Him. Almost 2,000 years ago, Paul wrote these words to Timothy: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and His Kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:14). Need I say more? Anti-Christian incidents in Israel condemned The uptick in anti-Christian acts in Israel that began last December continued last week when police arrested five suspects accused of harassing Christians in Jerusalem's Old City. Four adults and one minor were arrested Wednesday (Oct. 4), charged with assault for allegedly spitting at Christians and their sacred sites in Jerusalem, according to police and Israeli media sources. The incidents took place during Sukkot, the week-long Jewish "Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles)," with the alleged harassment taking place against Christians celebrating the holiday. Several thousand Christian tourists were in the city to celebrate their version of the Feast of Tabernacles. The first known incident occurred on Monday (Oct. 2) when a group of foreign pilgrims exited a church building with a large, red, wooden cross to begin a procession through the Old City, as passing Orthodox Jews spat on them or at their feet, according to local media reports. In a video of the interaction that surfaced online shortly after the incident, at least seven Orthodox Jews in dark suits, along with small children, can be seen spitting on the ground beside the group of Christians. Jerusalem District Police Commander Doron Turgeman said in a press statement that continued harassment of Christians in the Old City was a "shameful and ugly phenomenon." He said officers in the Old City have redoubled their focus on stopping such attacks. "We will not tolerate expressions of hatred towards anyone, whether Jews, Muslims or Christians, in the Old City and anywhere else in Jerusalem," Turgeman said. "Violence and hatred, however they manifest, are unacceptable." But Elisha Yered, an ultranationalist leader in Israel's settler movement, defended the accused. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that spitting at Christian clergy members and at churches was an "ancient Jewish custom." Yered made the statement while under house arrest for his alleged involvement in the politically motivated killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian man. Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, said on Army Radio that spitting at Christians was "not a criminal case." Like Yered, Ben Gvir had previously defended the act of spitting on Christians as a Jewish custom. At the same time, the incident and subsequent video were met with widespread condemnation from religious and government leaders across Israel, including both the Chief Ashkenazi and Sephardic rabbis of Israel and the rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites in Jerusalem. Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said in a statement that the attacks must be condemned, adding, "This is nationalism that has no place and has nothing to do with Judaism." The alliances that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formed with ultra-Orthodox political parties is said to have contributed to such harassment, but he spoke out against anti-Christian acts such as the incidents during the Feast of Tabernacles. "Israel is fully committed to safeguarding the sacred right of freedom of worship and pilgrimage to the holy sites of all faiths," Netanyahu said in a statement. "Offensive behavior toward worshippers is a desecration and is unacceptable. We will show zero tolerance toward any harm to worshippers." The tension during Sukkot wasn't limited to spitting. A group of around 50 ultra-Orthodox Jews protested against the Christians' celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem on Tuesday night (Oct. 3). The protestors, mostly adolescent boys and children, were cordoned off behind police barricades on a street corner opposite Jerusalem's Pais Arena, where the event was held. The Christians' celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is one of the largest annual celebrations by evangelicals in Israel. Organized by a Christian Zionist organization known as the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), it brings thousands of Christians from around the world to Israel for an eight-day celebration during Sukkot. Mina Fanton, a former Jerusalem city council member, called for the demonstration, warning against "missionary traps" that she said would be set at the ICEJ event. Protestors chanted "missionaries go home" and held up signs that read, "No to a Jewish holocaust." They accused the ICEJ of declaring a "spiritual war against Jews." Emboldened Fringe Groups Sporadic attacks of Christians living and worshiping in Jerusalem have happened on and off for years, but until late 2022, they usually were seen only as a nuisance. That changed in December 2022, when Netanyahu was forced to establish alliances with extremists and ultra-Orthodox political parties in order to form a voting bloc in the Knesset. Almost overnight, members of Israeli fringe groups appeared to be emboldened and empowered by a newfound sense of impunity. Groups of extremist ultra-Orthodox Jews and "anti-missionary" militants dramatically stepped up their attacks against Christians in Israel, according to Christian leaders in Jerusalem. There is some type of harassment almost every week now. It is commonplace for settlers or Haredim to intimidate Christians by threatening them with pepper spray. Christian symbols and cemeteries are vandalized. Yeshiva (Orthodox seminary) students routinely spit and yell threats, insults and profanity at priests, nuns and pilgrims. Worship services and religious processions in the Old City are disrupted by demonstrators bearing lists of grievances and often blunt weapons. Police have been criticized for reportedly not taking the attacks seriously and refusing to treat the incidents as part of a trend. Response times of police in the Old City, a place where the security presence is ubiquitous, for unknown reasons can be dismal. After an attack at the Tomb of the Virgin Mary in March, it took more than half an hour for police to arrive at the scene from a security outpost only six minutes away by foot. The rapid arrest of suspects during Sukkot and police statements emphatically supporting the religious freedom of Christians in the Old City may be a sign that Jerusalem police have been receptive to the criticism leveled against them. 2023 Morning Star News Christian teacher sacked after refusing to teach LGBT lessons A Christian teacher has claimed she was "treated like a criminal" after being sacked by a Church of England school. Glawdys Leger, a modern languages teacher, was sacked by Bishop Justice CofE School in Bromley, Kent, in May 2022. She says her sacking was because she refused to teach "extreme" LGBT lessons and because she shared her Christian beliefs on these issues with pupils. The 43-year-old had objected to the content of year 7 lessons, which had been incorporated into Religious Education (RE) classes. The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting the 43-year-old, said lesson materials included "extreme content on gender identity with themes that begin to suggest to children that humans can be born in the wrong body" and introduced controversial gender identities such as pansexual, asexual, and transgender. Children were also reportedly encouraged to be allies of the queer community. Ms Leger told pupils in her class, during a discussion on LGBTQ issues, that God made humans male and female, and that she believed LGBTQ practice was sinful. The CLC said that she raised her conscientious objection about the lesson content but her concerns were "brushed aside and ignored". The school is part of the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust, which reported Ms Leger to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) after a complaint was made about Ms Leger. A 'fitness to practice' hearing was held by the TRA on Monday. She faces being struck off and unable to teach again if the regulating body finds against her. Speaking ahead of the hearing, she said, "I was treated like a criminal and as though I was a danger for expressing my Christian beliefs. "I have great compassion for LGBT people, especially for those suffering from gender confusion. I cannot, however, in good conscience teach or say things I believe are contrary to my faith, for example saying that same sex sexual relationships are good and/or affirming people in their gender confusion. "I am certain that I have not shown, and never would show, any hatred or lack of love towards LGBT people. "True compassion and love is to be able to speak the truth to people irrespective of their sexuality. I would never discriminate against anyone, but what the school was compelling teachers to promote, teach and celebrate these issues, which I could not do. "For Christians it is important to remain an ally of God rather than being an ally of things that are against God's Laws and Commandments. It is not 'inclusive' if pupils at a Christian school are barred from understanding what Christian belief is and means on these very serious issues." A spokesperson for the Church of England said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on the complex particulars of any case to which we are not party, and which is under consideration. "Schools are bound by the Equalities Act, which assures that all children and adults are treated with respect, regardless of their faith, gender or sexuality. "Everyone is made in God's image and loved by God - no matter what their background, identity, abilities or anything else." A spokesman for the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust said: "Delivering a high-quality education and supporting the wellbeing of students is our top priority. "To ensure this is achieved, we promote fundamental British values including mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. "The school teaches in line with statutory requirements to promote British values and follows relevant guidance outlined by the Department for Education. "Given the ongoing investigation, and sensitivities involved, it would not be appropriate to comment any further." US Christian leaders urge prayers as Hamas' attack on Israel kills over 600 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, Israel's 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 Israel's 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, Israel's 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. "We're talking [about] over 100 people that are hostage at the moment in [the] Gaza Strip and Israeli families don't know where they are. "I've 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 Israel's 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 today's 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 couldn't 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 Jerusalem's 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. Israel's 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. Historic epitaph plaque of wife of first Korean minister to US returns to Korea Israels military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday, as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air and mustered for a campaign its prime minister said would destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group. Civilians paid a high price on both sides. 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. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 captives from the Israeli side. More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling militants holed up in several locations. As Monday began, the military said it was fighting Hamas in seven to eight places in southern Israel. Military spokesperson Richard Hecht said it was taking longer than expected to repel the incursion because there were still multiple breaches in the border, which Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons. We thought this morning wed be in a better place, Hecht said. The Israeli Defense Forces said that 70 additional militants infiltrated Beeri kibbutz, which the military has been unable to wrest from Hamas, overnight. Meanwhile, Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, 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. 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. An Israeli military spokesperson said that the army had called up around 100,000 reservists, and said in a statement that Israel would aim to end Hamas rule of Gaza. Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel with this, said spokesperson Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israels military. And in addition to that, we will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, the Hamas 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. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. 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. 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. 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. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza, while the U.N. said more than 123,000 Gazans had been displaced by the fighting. 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. As of late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, the U.N. said. 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. In the Palestinian city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Barhoum said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Over the weekend, another airstrike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Outa family, including women and children, when they were huddling on the ground floor in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, survivors said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 73 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 declaration of war 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 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. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. 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. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank. 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. (AP) Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Te invit in Intersectia de bine - un newsletter pentru ONG-uri si comunitatile cu oameni responsabili In Black communities, philanthropy is an everyday occurrence; Black families give a higher proportion of their income away than any other racial group, despite earning less and facing structural barriers to accumulating wealth. Black history and the history of the charity sector are deeply intertwined. Black History Month itself was founded in 1915 by a non-profit, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. After visiting America in the 1970s, Ghanaian-born Akyaaba Addai Sebo, a special projects officer at the Greater London Council, founded the UKs version of Black History Month in 1987. Lisa Frith, People First, Duncan Shrubsole, director of policy, communications and research at Lloyds Bank Foundation, Sarah Vibert, CEO of NCVO, Andrew Harrop, general secretary of Fabian Society and Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol Charities ability to speak truth to power is vital despite how charity campaigning will not always be comfortable for those in government, the recently appointed shadow minister for civil society has said. Lilian Greenwood was speaking at a fringe event at the Labour Party conference alongside panellists from across civil society. We might not always like what you say, but we absolutely respect your right to say it, she said. Sarah Vibert, chief executive of NCVO, said at the event she was absolutely horrified at the anti-charity rhetoric thats coming from senior Conservatives in relation to campaigning. She went on to say: Charities need to know that a Labour government has their back when it comes to speaking truth to power. Were partners with the state, but we are not the state. Viberts comments came after home secretary Suella Braverman told the Conservative Party conference last week: Each time I have gone to parliament to improve the law on immigration, Labour has tried to block us. Always aided by their allies in the third sector. Earlier this year, Braverman said some charities and civil society groups are comprised of politically motivated activists masquerading as humanitarians. Also at the Conservative Party conference last week, a former Charity Commission chair said charities should stay out of contentious debates. Charities independence is vital, says shadow charities minister Greenwood has been in the role for four weeks and replaced Barbara Keeley in Labour's cabinet reshuffle. She opened the fringe event by saying she couldnt have asked for a warmer welcome from the sector and praised the tremendous role that charities are playing in their communities every day. On charity campaigning, Greenwood said: You see the need for change and you articulate it to those in power, so often using your voice to amplify the voices of those who are most marginalised and least likely to be heard. And I know that that role as campaigners isn't always going to be comfortable for those in government. But your independence and your ability to speak truth to power are vital. We might not always like what you say, but we absolutely respect your right to say it and share your perspective and your expectations and will listen to that. Greenwood also said a Labour government needs an equally strong relationship with civil society as it does with private businesses. When public, private and charitable and voluntary sector are working together on our shared interests and goals, well surely be able to achieve more. Labour wants charities to be key partners in government Greenwood said she wants charities to be key partners in the delivery of Labours five mission statements if it gets into power at the next general election. I want [charities] to feel valued and receptive and never taken for granted. I want to build on the strong heritage of Labour and civil society working together. I'm really excited by the prospect of a Labour government working with charities as partners and delivering a fairer, more equal, more inclusive Britain and I hope you are too. We will hold politicians feet to the fire without fear or favour Duncan Shrubsole, director of policy, communications and research at Lloyds Bank Foundation was also speaking at the event. He said that charities have often led and created a space for politicians. To influence in government has always been key [to charities] when some people tell charities to stick to their knitting that's our knitting. But it is important to note that because of that we will also be impartial. We will hold politicians feet to the fire without fear or favour. Shrubsole spoke out about the criticism refugee charities have received for campaigning. He said: They aren't being political theyre explicitly defending their charitable purpose. They shouldnt be attacked by the media and particularly by her majestys home secretary for doing so. Shrubsole said the sector has seen attempts to get charities investigated by the Charity Commission precisely for doing their job. He suggested if refugee charities did not stand up in the face of the biggest challenge and change ever to policy and legislation towards refugees, then they should be reported to the Charity Commission for not campaigning hard enough. At a different fringe event yesterday, Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said some Conservatives think charities should not campaign. The lesson for Labour is that the sector can be a real critical friend, he said, as charities have often felt as though they have been put on the naughty step for campaigning. NCVO: We are not the state Vibert said that at the moment charities are acting as the welfare state and have become sticking plasters where government has stepped back over decades of austerity. A pre-Beveridge, Victorian view of charities is not what we at NCVO believe in, she said. Voluntary organisations are often the glue that holds communities together. So yes, I want to see fewer food banks, but I also want to see more Scout groups more park runs and more wonderful things like the Big Help Out. Vibert went on to say that NCVO wants to work with Labour and co-create a shared vision on how civil society and the state can collectively deliver community. Shrubsole echoed Viberts concerns. He said charities are supposed to be filling gaps not wide gaping chasms and too often were trying to do what government should be doing. Earlier on in the discussion, Shrubsole said: We used to be the icing on the cake, too often were asked to be the cake. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Fifty years ago last Friday, Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated attack on Israel, sparking the fighting that would come to be known, variously, as the Yom Kippur War, the Ramadan War, and the October War. The offensive quickly became a huge global news storyone that, as a trio of academics wrote for Journalism Quarterly two years later, brought an extremely large number of media people from around the world to Israel, enabled by technological advances in transport and satellite communication, that made it possible to cover the war in great depth and intensity. Werner Sonne, who covered the conflict for the German broadcaster ARD, recalled recently that Israeli authorities, in facilitating access to the front lines and censoring copy, had an interest in shaping the perception of the war, since modern battles are also about dominating the narrative. By one count, some fourteen thousand people were killed in the fighting. At least one foreign reporterNicholas Tomalin, on assignment for Londons Sunday Timeswas among the dead, hit by a Syrian missile while reporting in the Golan Heights. Sonnes recollection, written for Haaretz, was one of many published last week to mark the anniversary of the war. Over the weekend, a modern-day parallel took over the news cycle. On Saturday, Hamas fired rockets into Israel from Gaza while its fighters penetrated the border and attacked towns and military bases on the other side; they massacred many of the people they found thereincluding at a music festival, where young people had been dancing in the desertand took hostages back to Gaza. The attack quickly became a huge global news story. Soon, Israel had fired rockets into Gaza in response; earlier today, Israels defense minister ordered a complete siege of the territory. As of this morning, more than seven hundred Israelis and around five hundred Palestinians had been killed. At least one Palestinian journalist, Mohammad El-Salhi, was among the dead. As of Saturday, the Committee to Protect Journalists was investigating reports that two other Palestinian journalists may also have been killed. As soon as the attack began, the words Yom Kippur began trending on social media in Israelshorthand, Anshel Pfeffer noted for Haaretz, for military failure, complacency, and national trauma. As Pfeffer and others noted, for all the parallels with 1973, the Hamas attack differed in various key respects. One of these, of course: the modern information environment, itself defined by technological advances. Ruth Margalit, a Tel Avivbased journalist (who has covered Israel for CJR), ducked into the stairwell of her building with her family and neighbors after an air-raid alarm sounded. We spoke of previous rounds of rocket fire, all of which had been intercepted by the Israeli military to a high degree, so panic was not in the air; even the kids were acting blase, she wrote for The New Yorker. But then we opened our phones. According to Isabel Kershner, of the New York Times, residents in areas under land attack used their phones to call into local TV stations. Speaking in whispers, they pleaded for help and said they could hear the militants outside, or even inside, their homes, Kershner writes. Quickly, graphic videos of unspeakable violence spread on social media. (Dont search the trending, one friend texted me to advise.) These were how the friends and relatives of some of those killed or taken captive found out about the fate of their loved ones. The sky fell over me, Moshe Or told Margalit after being sent footage of his brother and his brothers girlfriend being abducted from the music festival. Around the world, TV news shows aired clips from some of the videos. It is incredibly disturbing to see, Anderson Cooper said on CNN, before broadcasting footage showing the kidnap of another festival-goer. But it is important to see. Hamas itself uploaded video footage of its attack, often on the messaging service Telegram, where the groups following ticked up significantly through the weekend. Some of the footage was shaky, shot from handheld devices. Some of it was slick, including sweeping aerial shots showing the bombing of Israeli observation towers and rockets streaking across the sky. At various major news organizations, reporters set about trying to authenticate the footage. (CNN found that the videos Hamas posted were heavily edited.) Indeed, visual investigators and fact-checkers were kept busy as they tried to keep up with the torrent of online content coming out of the conflict. Some of the imagery was doctored; some was real, but depicted past, not current, events. The situation was seen as a major test for X, formerly known as Twitter, whose status as the key platform for keeping up with unfolding crises in real time has always been complicated by the proliferation of junk information, and has recently foundered as the platform has become less friendly to the sharing of reliable news under the ownership of Elon Musk. On Saturday, Musk recommended that users follow a pair of accounts that are known for spreading bad information and, in one case, anti-Semitic slurs. (Musk later deleted his post.) Ive been fact-checking on Twitter for years, and theres always plenty of misinformation during major events, Shayan Sardarizadeh, a journalist with the BBCs Verify service, wrote. But the deluge of false posts in the last two daysis something else. Sign up for CJR 's daily email If the attack played out, in some ways, at a new frontier in our online information hellscape, in other ways it felt grimly familiar. Semafors Ben Smith said that the graphic content circulating online put him in mind of the ISIS tactic of uploading execution videos, amplifying a global sense of their power and supercharging their recruiting in the mid-2010s. And the nascent information war around the attack carries echoes of the early days of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Going forward, it will be important to continue to track this information waralongside the many other story lines, from the hyperlocal to the geopolitical, that the attack has opened up, but also with the understanding that the information war will shape how we perceive these other stories. And, if the theater in which information wars play out has changed greatly in the past decade or so, the idea of information warfare is far from an invention of the digital age; when Sonne wrote that modern battles are also about dominating the narrative, he was referring to the fighting in 1973. Tonally, if nothing else, some echoes from that time ring particularly clearly today, not least in the sharp sense of shock that the weekends attack provoked. In recent weeks, some of the 1973 anniversary coverage spoke of that war more in the language of distant memoryunthinkable todaythan of parable. Just ten days ago, at a festival organized by The Atlantic, Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, declared that the Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades. Behind this moment, The Atlantics Gal Beckerman wrote over the weekend, are failures of intelligence, but also of imagination. A profound sadness also echoes down the decades and through the coverage of the present horror. As well as interviewing Moshe Or about the abduction of his brother, Margalit spoke with a friend of Ors brothers girlfriend. As they spoke, Margalit heard weeping in the background. It was coming from Yaakov Argamani, the girlfriends father, who had just rewatched the video showing his daughters kidnapping. Later, Argamani himself spoke to the press. In one interview, he wept again as a reporter put an arm around him. In another, he referenced people in Gaza, saying, They have also lost loved ones in the war. They also have captives. They also have mourning mothers. He added, We are two nations from the same father. Lets please make peace. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Gaetzkeepers Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio -- It was a rather long evening, but residents seemed to be interested in the 2023 candidates forum held in the North Ridgeville Schools Academic Center. The Oct. 4 event was hosted by the North Ridgeville Chamber of Commerce. The forum invited all City Council and Board of Education candidates running for election in November to come on stage to answer direct questions -- from Mayor Kevin Corcoran for council candidates and from schools Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio for school board hopefuls. The City Council candidates were on stage first. They seemed to stick with one particular subject as a top priority: Stop the growth in housing developments and pay more attention to other issues, such as home flooding. The school board candidates followed with their own appearance on stage. They agreed that the next school levy must pass for the schools to move forward, especially under the umbrella of overcrowding, making it known that they didnt think moving forward means adding more outside trailers for classrooms. In the Nov. 7 general election, the school district is asking voters to approve a 6.26-mill, 37-year bond issue for construction of a new high school. Each candidate in both groups answered about a dozen questions and no one seemed to trip themselves up, appearing to be well-informed and knowledgeable about the issues and the needs within the city and school district. For those who couldnt attend the forum, it behooves them to watch the video of the entire forum. There is a lot to be learned on both the issues as well as the candidates running for election. Visit https://www.nridgeville.org/ and click on the second item under Recent News. Read more from the Sun Sentinel. Voters dealt the parties of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's fractious center-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 percent 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 percent 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 percent down 4.7 percenton 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 percent 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 percent 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 percent. They and the AfD were the only parties to make gains in the Bavaria election. The AfD was on track for 18.6 percent in Hesse and 16 percent in Bavaria, compared with 13.1 percent and 11.6 percent 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. (Reuters) MAGNOLIA, Texas -- An ExxonMobil executive was arrested at a Texas hotel last week on a sexual assault charge, authorities said. David Scott, senior vice president of ExxonMobil Upstream, was arrested Thursday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, Texas, after he was accused of committing sexual assault. Montgomery County Sheriffs Office detectives were dispatched to the scene after a female said she was sexually assaulted by a male in one of the hotel rooms, police said. After arriving on scene, authorities interviewed Scott and subsequently arrested him for sexual assault, which is a second degree felony. He was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and is being held on a $30,000 bond, according to a news release. Authorities are investigating the case and said no further details are available at this time. ExxonMobils corporate headquarters is located in Spring, Texas, about 30 minutes southeast of the La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia. The company said in a statement it was aware of the allegations against Scott. 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, an Exxon spokesperson told CNN. 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. CLEVELAND, Ohio Issue 2 on the state ballot this November brings the question of whether to legalize recreational marijuana also known as cannabis to voters. Marijuana is currently legal in Ohio for only medical purposes. But a yes vote will legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana to adults aged 21 and over, allowing the state to regulate its sale and use similar to that of alcohol. Should the measure pass, Ohio will become the 24th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. A 2021 report by the Cato institute found that the states that have adopted legalization over the last decade have seen fewer benefits than proponents promised, but also little to none of the drawbacks like increased crime or motor vehicle accidents predicted by those opposed. Those against legalizing the drug claim that to do so would put public health and safety at risk. But does the consumption of cannabis really pose serious health risks? And if so, what are they? One of the difficulties in evaluating the health effects of marijuana lies in the fact that it comes in many forms. Its use has also been stigmatized and as a result it has been poorly studied by the scientific community. The chemical composition and dosage are also not standardized. As a consumer, its difficult to know exactly what youre getting. Much of this is part and parcel to its status as an illegal substance, and those who want the drug to be legalized strongly believe that legalization is a necessary step toward destigmatizing cannabis, and furthering education about the plant and its place in modern medicine. We have to change the stigma, we have to make this available and we have to educate people, said Dr. Uma Dhanabalan, a family medicine physician and cannabinoid medicine specialist in Massachusetts where cannabis has been legal since 2016. Dhanabalan says that there is a lot of misinformation about the use of cannabis. For starters, not everyone knows that the body already creates its own system of cannabinoids that play a role in regulating sleep, appetite, stress and immune function. Dhanabalan said the many different cannabinoid molecules that come from the cannabis plant simply mimic the ones that the body makes naturally. She said using them as medicine isnt any more unusual than any of the other pharmaceuticals that originally were isolated from plants, like morphine, the antimalarial drug quinine or aspirin. She said our joint failure to standardize the growth conditions of the plant, and ensure reproducible quality of the cannabis product is a real problem, because the cannabis plant is unusual in that it readily absorbs pollutants, heavy metals and pesticides from the environment. These toxins are then consumed by the user along with the drug. Meaning that where your cannabis comes from, who grows it, and how, really matters. If they dont understand this stuff, they could be creating a poison, she said. But when used correctly it has a lot of benefits. Anxiety, depression, PTSD, anorexia, asthma, nausea, pain, epilepsy and opioid use disorder are just some of the conditions that cannabis can be used to treat. It acts as a bronchodilator, and a vasodilator opening up airways and blood vessels. Marijuana can be used to reduce inflammation, diminish pain, calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety, promote sleep and act as a safer substitute for the much more dangerous opioids, Dhanabalan said. There has never been a single death from cannabis, Dhanabalan said, explaining that there was no such thing as a lethal dose of the drug. According to the CDC, there have been no reported deaths due to cannabis. Although people have died while using it, their deaths were the result of other conditions. However, the CDC and the American Lung Association do argue that smoking marijuana can be harmful to the lungs and cardiovascular system. Marijuana can make the heart beat faster and can make blood pressure higher immediately after use, says the CDC page on the topic of marijuana. It could also lead to increased risk of stroke, heart disease and other vascular diseases. Smoked marijuana, regardless of how it is smoked, can harm lung tissues and cause scarring and damage to small blood vessels. While more research on the health consequences of breathing secondhand marijuana smoke is needed, there is concern that it could cause harmful health effects, including among children, the CDC says. Likewise, the American Lung Association writes that it is concerned about the health impacts of marijuana use, especially on lung health. Whether from burning wood, tobacco or marijuana, toxins and carcinogens are released from the combustion of materials, the American Lung Association says. Smoke from marijuana combustion has been shown to contain many of the same toxins, irritants and carcinogens as tobacco smoke. The organizations says that marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which leads to a greater exposure per breath to tar. On this, Dhanabalan disagrees. All smoke is not the same, she said, arguing that pure, clean cannabis smoke can actually benefit patients with lung cancer and asthma. The problem, she says, are the contaminants and the fact that we dont have a system that ensures that all cannabis is free of those toxic additives. Cannabis is a bronchodilator, a vasodilator, an anti-inflammatory and an expectorant, Dhanabalan said. When we have patients use good cannabis, clean cannabis, that is not contaminated it does not cause lung disease. The problem is that the sort of research that could settle this debate is decades behind that of alcohol, tobacco and other pharmaceuticals. We dont have foundational data on cannabis that we have for other stuff, Ryan Sultan, research scientist at Columbia University in New York told New Scientist magazine for their recent article Why we know so little about cannabis and why scientists are worried. The whole treatment and medicinal thing I find very aggravating, he says. Sultan said we dont know what doses are appropriate, what their long-term effects are or even what people are consuming. In fact, we know the things theyre getting are not what the label says they are, Sultan said. So how could you even do dosing recommendations when you dont even have accurate ways of deciphering [whats in it]? According to the same article, the majority of the research studies on cannabis have been done in the last 20 years. By comparison there were roughly the same number of studies on nicotine in 2005, and on alcohol in 1995 as we have on cannabis today. Clearly, the science has some ways to go to catch up, and government restrictions are one of the things that are holding scientists back. In the US, researchers must obtain a special license from the Drug Enforcement Administration before they can study marijuana, and they can only study cannabis grown at a licensed facility. Only one operation, the University of Mississippi, had been licensed to supply marijuana to U.S. medical researchers from 1968 until 2020. Change is happening, albeit slowly. The number of licensed growers for research purposes has now expanded to eight. And at the end of September, the American Nurses Association formally recognized cannabis nursing as a nursing specialty. This medicine has been around for thousands of years. said Dhanabalan. Its here whether the government decides to legalize it or not. Patients and doctors should have a choice, she says, because in her opinion it can provide a real medical benefit when used with a physicians guidance. Meanwhile, her advice to consumers and voters alike is that the issue isnt just black and white. Its not necessarily a good treatment for every person, or every condition, but doctors, politicians and the general public should get all the facts before they make their decisions. Look at the information, become educated and understand that theres positives and negatives. Read more: Car crashes, alcohol consumption and vet visits: How legal recreational marijuana has changed Michigan, Illinois and more - cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio An inmate died Friday at the Cuyahoga County Jail after he experienced what authorities said was a medical emergency. Paramedics transported Freddie D. Tackett, 47, to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Officials did not say why or when Tackett was booked into the jail. COLUMBUS, Ohio The Ohio Supreme Court has blocked a planned November vote in a Central Ohio community that would have asked residents to ban public drag shows within city limits. In a unanimous ruling on Sunday, the court said Secretary of State Frank LaRose and other elections officials failed to follow the law when they allowed the measure to move forward. LaRose, a Republican running for U.S. Senate next year, put the measure up for a vote after he cast a tie-breaking vote on Sept. 17, siding with the Logan County Board of Elections two Republicans over its two Democrats, who agreed with a group of city residents that the measures backers didnt properly submit the petitions needed to qualify the ordinance for the ballot. Specifically, the ordinances backers, after collecting hundreds of voter signatures on state-mandated petitions, switched the petitions cover page before submitting them to elections officials. The ruling said this violated state law, which says the text and title of a petition signed by voters seeking a ballot issue must be the same as the petition submitted to elections officials. Secretary LaRose and the board of elections abused their discretion and disregarded the law in overruling relators protest, the ruling read. (Scroll down to read the ruling in full, or click here for a PDF.) The ruling comes just days ahead of early voting, which begins Wednesday for the Nov. 7 election. The ballot initiative traces back in part to The Olive Tree, a gay bar in Bellefontaine that hosts drag shows, and its float in a town Christmas parade last year. According to The Ohio Newsroom, a consortium of public radio reporters, The Olive Trees float featured a drag queen, whose dancing and outfit concerned resident Devin Palmer, who in turn launched the ballot proposal. The measure would have classified any drag performance in city limits as an adult cabaret performance, and regulated them in a manner similar to strip clubs by banning them from public spaces or any other location viewable by a minor. The proposed drag show ban was similar to a bill being proposed by Republican state lawmakers and would have been the first by an Ohio community. But the Ohio Supreme Court, where Republicans hold a 4-3 majority, agreed with a group of Bellefontaine residents, including Tim Steinhelfer, a lawyer whos the citys Democratic candidate for mayor, who sued to block the vote while citing the issue involving the petitions cover sheets. Today, the arc of the moral universe bends a little closer to justice due to the bravery of the people who spoke truth to power, Steinhelfer said in a statement. The Bellefontaine ordinances backers, after collecting 779 voter signatures, had removed their petitions cover sheet that described the proposal as a general ordinance and replaced it with a new cover sheet describing the measure as amending an existing zoning ordinance. The actual text of the proposed ordinance remained the same. LaRose had argued the switch was legally insignificant, ruling that the new ordinance language was a header rather than the measures title. LaRose argued a different part of the petition that described the measure as reclassifying drag artists and drag shows as an Adult Cabaret Performance was actually the measures title. The Ohio Supreme Court ruling flatly rejected that argument, saying the term header doesnt appear in state law. Even if we were to accept Secretary LaRoses conclusion that the proposed ordinance already had a title, that fact would not obviate the problem created by petitioners alteration of the part-petitions and their addition of another title, it reads. Messages have been left with the Logan County Board of Elections and a lawyer representing residents who had proposed the measure. Mary Cianciolo, a LaRose spokesperson, said the Secretary of States Office will follow the court order as required. Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer Professional wrestling legend Ric Flair is coming to Northeast Ohio again to promote his Wooooo! energy drink at Giant Eagles stores across the region. The 74-year-old Flair, who is a 16-time world champion wrestler for WWE, WCW and NWA, will appear at Giant Eagle locations in Ohio from Tuesday through Thursday. On Tuesday, Flair will be at the Giant Eagle in Willoughby at 36475 Euclid Road at 1 p.m. Later that day, hell be at Giant Eagle in Beachwood at 24601 Chagrin Blvd. at 5 p.m. On Wednesday, Flair will be at Giant Eagle in Medina at 870 N. Court at 1 p.m. Hell also be at Giant Eagle in Wadsworth at 825 Ambassador Dr. at 5 p.m. that same day. And on Thursday, Flair will appear at Giant Eagle in Groveport at 3841 S. Hamilton Road at 12:30 p.m., and he will also be at Giant Eagle in Columbus at 2900 Stelzer Road at 3 p.m. RELATED: Logan Pauls Prime Energy drink recalled in Canada due to excessive caffeine Fans who want to meet Flair can register for one of the Wooooo! promotional events for free online at EventBrite. At the event, fans can secure their spot to meet Flair by purchasing a six-pack of Wooooo!, which comes in flavors such as dragon fruit, lemon and strawberry banana, according to a news release. In addition, the company will be awarding 30 six-packs of Wooooo! energy autographed by Flair himself. Flair previously appeared at three northeastern Ohio Giant Eagle stores in North Olmsted, Painesville and Stow, on Sept. 12. Rotunda Rumblings High expectations: While backers of Issue 2, the proposed recreational marijuana initiated statute, emphasize the potential tax revenues Ohio could get, opponents say impaired driving accidents will increase. Laura Hancock looked at five other states with adult-use cannabis, considering impaired driving crashes, alcohol consumption after legalization, pot sales and tax revenues and emergency vet visits from pot exposure to show possible implications for Ohio. Ohioans for background checks: A whopping nine in 10 Ohioans support mandatory background checks for gun buyers and training for a concealed carry permit, according to a new poll from the USA TODAY Network and Suffolk University. Reporters Jim Weiker and Anna Staver also note that about three of four of the 500 Ohioans surveyed also indicated support for red flag and safe storage laws. The data comes despite a steady march of gun deregulation from Republicans who control the statehouse and governors office. You can print that: Last year, GOP Senate President Matt Huffman in a Columbus Dispatch interview dropped the memorable line that We can kind of do what we want with a Republican supermajority. What he really meant, he now tells the Washington Post, was that Republican majorities in the House and the Senate are now able to put through legislation that the people want. No rush: Following the resignation from the Ohio House of Bob Young, a Summit County Republican who was criminally accused of domestic violence and related offenses, House leadership is in no rush to fill the seat. House Speaker Jason Stephens told Jo Ingles of the Statehouse News Bureau that hes taking his time to fill the seat given its district lines were recently redrawn. Jim Jordan, unifier? U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, now in the running to become Speaker of the U.S. House, said the race to fill the newly opened seat comes down to three questions: Who can unite the caucus? Who can unite conservative Republicans nationally? And who can explain to the nation what Republicans are doing and why it matters? Speaking to CNNs Manu Raju, Jordan, a longtime bomb-thrower, said he likes his job now but someone needs to step up and bring the team together. Endorsement alert: Jordan scored perhaps the biggest endorsement of the speakers race late last week when former President Donald Trump announced publicly that his fiercest congressional ally also was his pick to become the next leader of the chamber. Trumps input could prove significant in a race that (for now) is pitting Jordan against fellow hardliner Steve Scalise, the Republican House majority leader from Louisiana. Hold up: The Ohio State Board of Education postponed its October meeting as a Franklin County court considers arguments in a challenge to an education overhaul state lawmakers passed as part of the two-year state budget. A judge extended a temporary order halting part of the law while the two sides offer more written arguments. The plan would strip the state board of most power and instead make a new department part of the governors cabinet. Heres the deets: Kellie Deeter, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner, and owner of a medical spa business, announced she will run as a Republican next year for the newly redrawn House District 54, which covers western and southern Lorain County, as well as most of Huron County. The districts incumbent, Republican state Rep. Dick Stein of Norwalk, cant run for reelection because of term limits. Tick Tock The countdown is on for the November election, when Ohio voters will decide whether to enshrine a right to abortion in the state constitution and whether to legalize recreational marijuana. Heres the key dates to remember. Voter registration deadline... 1 day (Oct. 10) Early, in-person voting begins... 2 days (Oct. 11) Absentee voting by mail begins... 2 days (Oct. 11) Election Day... 29 days (Nov. 7) Full Disclosure Heres five things we learned from the May 15, 2023 financial disclosure of Toledo-area Republican state Rep. Haraz Ghanbari. Along with his legislative salary, he earned income from his service in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a rental unit near Washington D.C. He disclosed investments in two retirement funds and a short-term bond fund. He disclosed neither creditors nor debtors through the year. He reported receiving gifts from Matt Gruber, the Marine Corps Ball, Buckeye Boys State, Light Ohio Blue, Hollywood Casino Toledo, Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwestern Ohio and the Rodel Institute Hes licensed as a volunteer firefighter and to operate small unmanned aircraft systems Birthdays Uma Loganathan, Ohio House Democrats policy adviser Brad Miller, director of membership for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association and ex-Ohio House GOP press secretary Jeremiah Morrow, Ohios 9th governor (1771-1852) Straight From The Source First time here? -U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Toledo Democrat, taking a swipe at U.S. Sen. JD Vance, a Republican from the Cincinnati area, on Friday as the two visited the United Auto Workers picket line at the Toledo Assembly Complex on Friday. An ABC affiliate in Toledo caught the exchange on video. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. JERUSALEM Israel intensified its bombardments of the Gaza Strip on Monday after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the enclaves Hamas rulers, as Israeli soldiers fought to secure the border and dislodge Gaza gunmen from areas of southern Israel. 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. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 captives from the Israeli side. More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling militants holed up in several locations. As Monday began, the military said it was fighting Hamas in seven to eight places in southern Israel. Military spokesperson Richard Hecht said it was taking longer than expected to repel the incursion because there were still multiple breaches in the border, which Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons. We thought this morning wed be in a better place, Hecht said. The Israeli Defense Forces said that 70 additional militants infiltrated Beeri kibbutz, which the military has been unable to wrest from Hamas, overnight. Meanwhile, Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. A Palestinian child walks with a bicycle Sunday by the rubble of a building after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. (Fatima Shbair, Associated Press)AP 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. 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. An Israeli military spokesperson said that the army had called up around 100,000 reservists, and said in a statement that Israel would aim to end Hamas rule of Gaza. Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel with this, said spokesperson Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israels military. And in addition to that, we will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, the Hamas 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. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. 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. 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. 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. Police officers evacuate a woman and a child Saturday from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. (Tsafrir Abayov, Associated Press)AP Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza, while the U.N. said more than 123,000 Gazans had been displaced by the fighting. 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. As of late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, the U.N. said. 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. In the Palestinian city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Barhoum said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Over the weekend, another airstrike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Outa family, including women and children, when they were huddling on the ground floor in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, survivors said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 73 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 declaration of war 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 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. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. 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. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank. 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. China's top diplomat said Monday he hoped Washington and Beijing could manage their differences "more rationally" as he met with visiting senior American lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is the latest high-level American official to go to China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, leading a six-person team reportedly seeking a meeting with leader Xi Jinping. Meeting with Schumer at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, foreign minister Wang Yi told the senate delegation he hoped their visit would help the two sides "manage existing differences more rationally, helping the relationship between the two countries return to the track of healthy development." He also said he hoped they would "more accurately understand China" after the trip. Schumer, in turn, thanked the Chinese delegation for their hospitality, noting there were several issues of "great concern" he was seeking to raise during his visit. He said "a level playing field for American business and workers" was his delegation's "number one goal." "Holding accountable China-based companies supplying deadly chemicals fuelling the fentanyl crisis in America" was another objective, he told Wang, as was "ensuring China does not support Russia's immoral war against Ukraine." "Advancing human rights" was an additional priority, Schumer said. But he also said he was "very disappointed" by a Sunday statement from Beijing's foreign ministry on the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Beijing called Sunday for all sides to show "calm" and "cease fire immediately." It did not explicitly condemn a Palestinian attack that has left hundreds in Israel dead, instead urging the establishment of a two-state solution to end the violence. "The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific," Schumer said. "I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks. "The foreign ministry's statement... showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times," he added. Schumer met Saturday with Chen Jining, the ruling Chinese Communist Party's chief official in Shanghai, according to a pool report, stressing the United States "does not want to decouple our economies." He is the latest high-level American official to visit China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, which have flared in recent years over everything from trade to human rights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury and Commerce Secretaries Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo, as well as climate envoy John Kerry, have all visited China this year. And President Joe Biden Friday said he may meet Xi in San Francisco in November as Washington and Beijing push to reset ties, but added that nothing is scheduled yet. (AFP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said part of the motivation for Hamas' latest attack on Israel may have been disrupting a potential normalizing of Israel-Saudi Arabia ties and added Washington will announce new assistance for Israel on Sunday. Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns as the country suffered its bloodiest day in decades on Saturday and battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza on Sunday, with hundreds reportedly killed on both sides. The spiraling violence threatens a major new Middle East war. 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," Blinken told CNN in an interview on Sunday. Hamas said on Saturday 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 the blockade on Gaza and Israeli normalization with countries in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month he believed his country was on the cusp of peace with Saudi Arabia, predicting it 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 that many members of Netanyahu's nationalist religious coalition have long resisted. The United States said on Sunday 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 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. "We have reports that several Americans were killed. We're working overtime to verify that," Blinken said. The White House said on Sunday U.S. President Joe Biden was briefed by his national security team about the situation in Israel and that Biden had "directed additional support for Israel." The secretary of state also said details of new U.S. assistance for Israel will be made public later on Sunday, as he labeled the attack on Israel as a "terrorist attack by a terrorist organization." Blinken added there was relative calm on Sunday in most of Israel but intense fighting in Gaza, an Israeli-blockaded Palestinian enclave which 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. (Reuters) Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China-US ties would impact the "destiny of mankind," as he met with a group of American senators in Beijing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is the latest high-level American official to go to China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, leading a six-person delegation. "How China and the United States get along with each other in the face of a world of change and turmoil will determine the future and destiny of mankind," Xi said as he met with Schumer at Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "I have said many times, including to several presidents, that we have 1,000 reasons to improve China-US relations, but not one reason to ruin them," Xi said, adding China-US ties are "the most important bilateral relationship in the world." Schumer, in turn, told Xi that "our countries, together, will shape this century." "That is why we must manage our relationship responsibly and respectfully," he said. Earlier China's top diplomat Wang Yi said he hoped Washington and Beijing could manage their differences "more rationally." Meeting with Schumer at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Foreign Minister Wang told the senate delegation he hoped their visit would help the two sides "manage existing differences more rationally, helping the relationship between the two countries return to the track of healthy development." Wang also said he hoped they would "more accurately understand China" after the trip, which he said comes as the world is in a "turbulent period of change." "The crisis in Ukraine has not yet subsided, and warfare has reemerged in the Middle East," he said. "All these various challenges need to be addressed by the international community, and China and the United States should play their due roles," Wang said. Schumer, in turn, thanked the Chinese delegation for their hospitality, noting there were several issues of "great concern" he was seeking to raise during his visit. He said "a level playing field for American business and workers" was his delegation's "number one goal." "Holding accountable China-based companies supplying deadly chemicals fuelling the fentanyl crisis in America" was another objective, he told Wang, as was "ensuring China does not support Russia's immoral war against Ukraine." "Advancing human rights" was an additional priority, Schumer said. Troubled times But Schumer also said he was "very disappointed" by a Sunday statement from Beijing's foreign ministry on the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Beijing called Sunday for all sides to show "calm" and "cease fire immediately." It did not explicitly condemn a Palestinian attack that has left hundreds in Israel dead, instead urging the establishment of a two-state solution to end the violence. "The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific," Schumer told Wang. "I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks. "The foreign ministry's statement... showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times," he added. In response to a question on Schumer's comments at a regular press briefing, ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China was "highly concerned about the escalation of conflict." "We are very saddened by civilian casualties caused by the conflict," she said. "We also oppose and condemn actions that harm civilians. Schumer reiterated his call for Beijing to support Israel in his with meeting Xi, urging the Chinese leader to "stand with the Israeli people." Senior meetings On Monday, Schumer also met with Zhao Leji, the head of the standing committee of China's rubber-stamp National People's Congress. "As the two great powers it is natural we find ourselves in competition in areas like trade, technology, diplomacy, and more," Schumer told Zhao. "We welcome this competition," Schumer stressed. "We do not seek conflict." Schumer is the latest high-level US official to visit China as Washington seeks to ease tensions with Beijing, which have flared in recent years over everything from trade to human rights. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury and Commerce Secretaries Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo, as well as climate envoy John Kerry, have all visited China this year. And President Joe Biden on Friday said he may meet Xi in San Francisco in November, but added that nothing has been scheduled yet. Wang is expected to visit Washington ahead of the APEC summit. (AFP) China is not heading toward Japan-style stagnation because the government is behind the latest property slump, Yao Yang, dean of an economics department at a top Chinese university, told reporters in late September. Not only does that imply recent sluggishness is temporary, but China's high savings rate, artificial intelligence applications and renewable energy prowess signal the country's longer-term potential, he said. "I think we should compare China to Japan in the 1970s, because after the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, Japan entered a period of fast economic growth ... which lasted for 30 years," Yao said in Mandarin, translated by CNBC. He heads the National School of Development at Peking University As bold as the claim sounds, Bernstein took a similar view in a Sept. 29 note titled "The Long-View: 'Japanification' of China? Not really." Despite similarities to Japan in the 1990s such as an aging population and poor consumer confidence China today bears many differences, wrote Rupal Agarwal, director and Asia quant strategist at Bernstein. For example, China's urbanization rate in 2022 was 64%, the same as Japan's back in the 1960s, she said, noting Japan's urbanization rate in the 1990s was a much higher 77%. China is also leading in innovation based on research and development spending as a percentage of sales, the report said. "While there are no easy and quick fixes to China's economic challenges, we believe there are still ample levers to bring back broad-based recovery," she said, noting those include increased urbanization and central government assistance on local government-led debt problems. Easier said than done, especially since that debt and urban development are linked to a struggling real estate sector that's accounted for about a quarter of China's economy. While Bernstein's Agarwal didn't have stock picks in her Sept. 29 report, she shared some buy-rated Chinese stocks in a separate report that month high growth names still cheap relative to five-year valuations. Here are three of the stocks on the list, which didn't include price targets: BYD Bernstein lists the mainland China-traded shares of the Chinese electric vehicle giant, which is on its way to becoming a global exporter of cars. Shares are down by about 7.5% for the year so far. Estun Automation Shezhen-listed Estun sells robots and components for factory automation. The stock is up nearly 2% for the year so far but trading at about half its record high reached in 2021. Meituan the Hong Kong-listed Chinese food delivery giant has suffered along with the rest of the Hong Kong market this year, with a 38% decline. The company reported a 33% year-on-year surge in second-quarter revenue and swung to profit from a loss during that time. Economic analysis and market projections, however, do remain in the realm of theory. After a summer of mounting worries about China's growth prospects, KKR's head of global macro, Henry McVey, made yet another trip to the region . Versus his visit earlier in the year, this time people had a better understanding of property problems, he told me in an interview Thursday. He added that the further away consumers moved from the zero-Covid period, the higher their confidence. "For me, personally, this was a really important trip because I got a much better understanding of how the economy is changing, more of the structural drivers," he said. He pointed to China's push to reduce carbon emissions and increase the integration of tech in the economy such as through automation. Those two broad categories of "green" and "digital" economy are growing rapidly and contributed 1.6 percentage points and 3.1 percentage points, respectively, to China's GDP growth last year, versus the 3.7-percentage-point drag from real estate, according to KKR estimates published last week. China's GDP rose by 3% last year, under pressure from Covid-related restrictions that ended in December. Citi in the last week revised up its China GDP forecast to 5% for the year, around the national target. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. Security is becoming increasingly crucial around the world, and Bank of America thinks investor portfolios can benefit from owning certain names. The bank on Monday released its "Future Security" primer, examining stocks through a lens of safety. It also incorporates firms exposed to both physical security and cybersecurity. "If cybercrime damage were a state, it would be the world's 3rd largest economy," analyst Felix Tran said in a Monday note. "The new world feels less safe, with converging risks of food/energy shortages, social polarization and inequality. Against this unsettling backdrop, many of us are craving stability, safety and security." BofA's note comes after an attack by Hamas against Israel, which led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare that his country is at war. The attack is also the deadliest Israel has experienced in 50 years , underscoring the increasing role security and cybersecurity are playing in the world. Defense stocks rallied, with the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) popping more than 3%. That would be its biggest one-day gain in a year. Here are five stocks Bank of America thinks can thrive in a dangerous world. CrowdStrike made the BofA list within its "safety in an online world" segment. Shares of the cybersecurity stock have surged nearly 68% this year, and the company has taken steps of its own to incorporate artificial intelligence into its range of products. CRWD YTD mountain CrowdStrike YTD "CrowdStrike's platform is one of the few 100% cloud-based architectures and is uniquely positioned to displace incumbents with its platform breadth, including advanced detection and remediation capabilities," BofA analyst Tal Liani wrote. Information security company CyberArk Software also made the list. The stock is up nearly 29% year to date. CEO Matt Cohen asserted in August that CyberArk is investing millions of dollars into protection from ransomware attacks originating from AI. CYBR YTD mountain CyberArk YTD "CyberArk is the clear leader within the PAM [privileged access market] market, with a robust technological moat," Liani said. Another name that made the cut is consumer credit reporting agency TransUnion . BofA lauded the company's growth of its fraud prevention business through mergers and acquisitions and said the company will remain significant while worry over online fraud persists. TRU YTD mountain TransUnion YTD. "These factors make it increasingly important for consumer facing companies to know who is on the other side of a transaction and that they are working with trusted technology and data partners," analyst Heather Balsky said. Shares are up more than 20% year to date. In physical security, Motorola Solutions made the cut. Shares have ticked up more than 9% from the start of 2023. The company produces radio systems used for public safety and also develops command center software. MSI YTD mountain Motorola Solutions YTD "Physical security is a powerful tool within public safety and enterprise security; however, the inappropriate usage of such technologies can have harmful influences on personal privacy," analyst Tomer Zilberman said. "As the restriction of certain Asian vendors in Western countries demonstrate, the inappropriate usage of these technologies can lead to denial of market access, providing a structural tailwind to companies with North American-based R & D and manufacturing, such as Motorola." Life safety company APi Group also made the list, with analyst Andrew Obin highlighting its necessity as a performer of regulatory inspection for equipment within buildings. Shares have added nearly 39% from the start of the year. APG YTD mountain APi Group stock. "Over 50% of APi Group's revenue comes from inspection, service, and monitoring services," Obin said. "These revenues come from multi-year contracts (typically 3-5 years) with high renewal rates. If an inspection uncovers a needed repair or retrofit, APi Group generally negotiates directly with clients (versus competitive bids)." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. BEIJING China called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and for "establishing an independent State of Palestine," according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement Sunday. "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. Its online statement described the situation as an "escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel." It did not mention the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and has been designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and the European Union. An undated conceptual illustration of China's technology aspirations. Yaorusheng | Moment | Getty Images China plans to increase its computing power by 50% by 2025, the country's key ministries said Monday, as it looks to keep pace with the U.S. in artificial intelligence and supercomputing applications. The world's second-largest economy wants to have computing capacity equal to 300 exaflops, according to a plan from six government departments, including the powerful cyberspace regulator. That would be up from the 197 exaflop computing power the country currently has. An exaflop, or EFLOP, refers to a unit of computing power. For context, one exaflop is equivalent to the computing power of two million mainstream laptop computers, according to Counterpoint Research. The Chinese ministries said that the increased computing power will be required to support applications in industries including finance and education. Expanding computing power is seen as key for supporting the development of artificial intelligence which requires advanced semiconductors to process huge amounts of data. "China has found that traditionally, every 1 yuan invested in computing power has driven 3-4 yuan of economic output," Akshara Bassi, senior research analyst at Counterpoint, told CNBC via email. "The investments echo China's plans to drive economic output through leadership in technology prowess and integrating AI with existing technologies and solutions across all industries and domains." Technologies like semiconductors and AI have become key battlegrounds in the tech rivalry between the U.S. and China. "China aims to invest in growing in its computing power especially the AI, as it sees its major cloud providers launching AI solutions en masse for consumers and enterprises," Bassi said. As part of its computing push, China wants to focus on areas such as memory storage and networks for transmitting data, and it is also planning to build more data centers. These are required for cloud computing players to grow their footprint. Many AI applications currently are sold via cloud computing services, such as those offered by Chinese giants like Alibaba and Tencent . Supply chain Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testifies about the company's labor and union practices during a Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, March 29, 2023. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Former Starbucks Corp CEO Howard Schultz violated federal labor law by telling a barista in California who questioned the coffee chain's response to union organizing to "go work for another company," a National Labor Relations Board judge has ruled. Administrative Law Judge Brian Gee in Los Angeles said in a decision issued on Friday that the comment Schultz made during a "listening tour" last year amounted to an illegal threat against the worker, Madison Hall. Schultz had met with a group of employees from Starbucks locations in Long Beach, California, to discuss concerns about working conditions. Starbucks in a statement did not comment directly on the finding that Schultz violated the law. The company said it hosted listening sessions across the country last year "to gather input on how best to shape the experiences in our stores." Lawyers for Starbucks Workers United, which is organizing the company's workers and filed a complaint on behalf of Hall, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Workers at more than 360 Starbucks locations in the U.S., including one in Long Beach, have voted to join unions since late 2021. Starbucks and Schultz have faced allegations of widespread illegal union-busting from workers, labor groups and Democratic lawmakers. The company has denied the claims and is defending itself against scores of complaints before the NLRB and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor. At the listening session at a conference center in Long Beach last April, Hall said the company should engage in collective bargaining and sign a pledge not to interfere with union organizing, among other comments. No other worker at the meeting raised concerns related to unionizing, according to board filings. Hall then asked Schultz about allegations of illegal labor practices in complaints pending at the NLRB, according to the filings. Schultz responded that he had not come to discuss union issues and told Hall that "if you're not happy at Starbucks, you can go work for another company." Gee said Schultz's "angry reaction" to Hall's comments amounted to a warning that protected pro-union speech was not compatible with employment at Starbucks, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act. The judge's decision can be appealed to the five-member NLRB and then to a federal appeals court. Gee dismissed a separate claim that Starbucks unlawfully interrogated workers at the meeting by asking them to write their concerns about the company on Post-It notes and place stickers next to comments by other workers that they agreed with. Starbucks in its statement said it was pleased that Gee found the listening session "both lawful and rooted in our past practices." The case is Starbucks Corp, National Labor Relations Board, No. 21-CA-294571. She added that the technology can cite and link to the original source of the information, which will come directly from an organization's own internal data. This should help alleviate clinicians' concerns that the AI might be hallucinating, or generating inaccurate responses. Google's new search capabilities can also be used for other crucial applications such as applying the correct billing codes and determining whether patients meet the criteria to enroll in a clinical trial, O'Malley said. For instance, if doctors want to know about a patient's history, they no longer need to read through their notes, faxes and electronic health records separately. Instead, they can search questions such as "What medications has this patient taken in the last 12 months?" and see the relevant information in one place. "While it should save time to be able to do that search, it should also prevent frustration on behalf of clinicians and [make] sure that they get to an answer easier," Lisa O'Malley, senior director of product management for Cloud AI at Google Cloud told CNBC in an interview. The company said the new capabilities will ultimately save health-care workers a significant amount of time and energy. The health-care industry is home to troves of valuable information and data, but it can be challenging for clinicians to find since it's often stored across multiple systems and formats. Google Cloud's new search tool will allow doctors to pull information from clinical notes, scanned documents and electronic health records so it can be accessed in one place. Google Cloud on Monday announced new artificial intelligence-powered search capabilities that it said will help health-care workers quickly pull accurate clinical information from different types of medical records. The search features will be especially valuable to health-care workers who are already burdened with staffing shortages and daunting amounts of clerical paperwork. A study funded by the American Medical Association in 2016 found that for every hour a physician spent with a patient, they spent an additional two hours on administrative work. The study said physicians also tend to spend an additional one to two hours doing clerical work outside of working hours, which many in the industry refer to as "pajama time." In 2022, 53% of physicians reported that they were feeling burned out, up from 42% in 2018, according to a January survey from Medscape. Google hopes its new search offerings will reduce the amount of time clinicians need to spend digging through additional records and databases. "Anything that Google can do by applying our search technologies, our health-care technologies and research capabilities to make the journey of the clinicians and health-care providers and payers more quick, more efficient, saving them cost, I think ultimately benefits us as patients," O'Malley said. The new features will be offered to health and life sciences organizations through Google's Vertex AI Search platform, which companies in other industries can already use to conduct searches across public websites, documents and other databases. The specific offering for health care builds on Google's existing Healthcare API and Healthcare Data Engine products. Aashima Gupta, global director of health care strategy and solutions at Google Cloud, said the new Vertex AI Search capabilities can integrate directly into a clinician's workflow, which is of high importance for customers in the field. The health-care industry has historically been more hesitant to embrace new technology, and adoption can be even harder if health-care workers find new solutions distracting or hard to work with. It's something Gupta said Google has been paying close attention to. "These are the workflows that the physicians and nurses live by day in and day out. You can't be adding friction to it," Gupta told CNBC in an interview. "We are very cautious of that that we are respecting the surface they use, that the workflow doesn't change, but yet they get the power of this technology." Customers can sign up for early access to Vertex AI Search for health care and life sciences starting Monday, but Google Cloud has already been testing the capabilities with health organizations such as Mayo Clinic, Hackensack Meridian Health and Highmark Health. Mayo Clinic is not using the new Vertex AI Search tools in clinical care yet, said Cris Ross, Mayo's chief information officer; it is starting with administrative use cases. "We are curious, we're enthusiastic, we're also careful," he told CNBC in an interview. "And we're not going to put anything into patient care until it's really ready to be in patient care." Down the line, Ross said, Mayo Clinic is looking to explore how Vertex AI Search tools could be used to help nurses summarize long surgical notes, sort through patients' complex medical histories, and easily answer questions such as "What is the smoking status of this patient?" But for now, the organization is starting slow and examining where AI solutions like Google's will be the most useful. Richard Clarke, chief analytics officer at Highmark Health, said the initial reaction to the search tools at the organization has been "tremendous" and the company already has a backlog of more than 200 use-case ideas. But similar to Mayo Clinic, he said the challenge will be prioritizing where the technology can be most useful, building employees' trust in it and deploying it at scale. "This is still very early days, deployed with small teams with lots of support, really thinking about this," Clarke told CNBC in an interview. "We haven't gone big and wide yet, but all early signs say that this is going to be tremendously useful, and frankly, in many cases, transformational for us." Google Cloud does not access customer data or use it to train models, and the company said the new service is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. Gupta said that as a patient, interacting with the health-care system can feel like a very fragmented and challenging experience, so she is excited to see how clinicians can ultimately leverage Google's new tools to create a fuller picture. "To me, connecting the dots from the patient perspective has long been health care's journey, but it's hard," Gupta said. "Now, we are at a point where AI is being helpful in these very practical use cases." Writers Guild of America East members walk a picket line at the Paramount+ Summit outside the Paramount Building in Times Square in New York City on May 17, 2023 The Writers Guild of America has officially ratified its new three-year contract with Hollywood studios. The guild on Monday announced that 99% of its membership voted to ratify the new deal, with 8,435 votes for "yes" and only 90 for "no." The terms of the new agreement go from Sept. 25 through May 1, 2026. "Through solidarity and determination, we have ratified a contract with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of our combined membership," said Meredith Stiehm, president of Writers Guild of America West. The WGA secured pay increases in each of the next three years, artificial intelligence restrictions and a new residual system for streaming based on viewership. The guild also negotiated higher contribution rates to health benefits and pensions, as well as a guaranteed number of writers in writers' rooms for television shows. The first productions to return after the strike ended were late-night heavyweights Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Stephen Colbert, followed by John Oliver, host of "Last Week Tonight." Now it's the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists' turn. The actors guild began negotiations with the likes of Disney, Paramount, Netflix , Universal and Warner Bros. Discovery last week. "Until the studios make a deal that addresses the needs of performers, WGA members will be on the picket lines, walking side-by-side with SAG-AFTRA in solidarity," said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, president of Writers Guild of America East. SAG-AFTRA is looking to improve wages, working conditions and health and pension benefits, as well as establish guardrails for the use of AI in future television and film productions. Additionally, the union is seeking more transparency from streaming services about viewership so that residual payments can be made equitable to linear TV. The guild is also looking to standardize the self-tape process. Disclosure: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal and CNBC. NBCUniversal is part of the AMPTP. President Joe Biden confirmed at least 11 Americans were killed in Israel. "Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. Commenting on hostages, Biden said: "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts." Read the full statement from the president: Statement from President Joe Biden on American Citizens Impacted in Israel As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel. It's heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence. We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable. The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts. For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts. For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available. Please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities. This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people. In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel. In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms. The United States and the State of Israel are inseparable partners, and I affirmed to Prime Minister Netanyahu again when we spoke yesterday that the United States will continue to make sure Israel has what it needs to defend itself and its people. Republican lawmakers are under mounting pressure to settle on a candidate to replace Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House of Representatives this week after the worst attack on Israel in five decades. A senior Biden administration official indicated to reporters Saturday that the paralysis in the House could complicate U.S. efforts to support Israel. "There probably is a role for Congress here, and without a speaker of the House, that is a unique situation we're going to have to work through," the official said in a telephone briefing. McCarthy, of California, was ousted by conservative Republicans last week, the first time a House speaker was deposed in a no-confidence vote in U.S. history. GOP lawmakers have struggled to coalesce around a replacement for McCarthy. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan of Ohio are viewed as the top candidates. Jordan and Scalise have voiced unequivocal support for Israel in the wake of the devastating weekend surprise attack by the militant group Hamas on towns that border the Gaza Strip. McCarthy told Fox News on Saturday that there is nothing the House can do until the body elects a speaker: "I don't know if that happens quickly," McCarthy said. House Republicans are expected to vote for a candidate to replace McCarthy on Wednesday morning. The GOP has a conference meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday and a candidate forum at 5 p.m. Tuesday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., called on Republicans to settle on a candidate who can win 217 votes in the closely divided House so lawmakers can move forward with support for Israel. Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the decision to oust McCarthy has sent a "dangerous" message to U.S. adversaries around the world. "It wasn't my idea to oust the speaker," McCaul, R-Texas, told CNN in an interview that aired Sunday. "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 can't govern, when we're dysfunctional, when we don't even have a speaker of the House," McCaul said. The Hamas offensive is the deadliest attack on Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. More than 700 Israelis died in attacks and more than 100 soldiers and civilians have been taken hostage. Israel has formally declared war on Hamas, laid siege to Gaza and launched retaliatory strikes that have killed at least 560 Palestinians. Jordan rebuffed any calls for Israel to demonstrate restraint in response to Hamas' offensive. The congressman from Ohio told Fox News in an interview that aired on Sunday the U.S. should give Israel "what they need to win." Scalise said in a social media post Saturday that Israel has the full support of the U.S.: "They must defend themselves as their citizens are slaughtered by Hamas terrorists." Secretary of State Antony Blinken, when asked about the disarray in Congress, told NBC News Sunday the U.S. has a standing agreement with Israel to supply $3.8 billion in security assistance annually. "There's a tremendous amount of aid and assistance already in the pipeline," Blinken said. The secretary of state said Israel has made specific requests for additional assistance, but he did not go into detail. Still, Blinken said, it is important for both houses of Congress to clearly demonstrate their support for Israel: "That's something we want to see, and we hope that that happens quickly," he said. The U.S. is deploying the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and several other warships to the Eastern Mediterranean and bolstering several squadrons of warplanes to act as a deterrent in the region, according to the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday the U.S. will provide additional military assistance to the Israel Defense Forces, including munitions. This first tranche of assistance is on the way and expected to arrive in Israel in the coming days, Austin said in a statement. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who led the ouster of McCarthy, rejected accusations that his decision to depose the speaker has jeopardized U.S. national security. "I don't think that other countries think about Kevin McCarthy's speakership quite as much as Kevin McCarthy does," Gaetz told NBC News in an interview that aired Sunday. Gaetz said House Republicans will coalesce around Scalise or Jordan this week: "I reject the premise that this is going to drag on for weeks," he said. LONDON - Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves responds after Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his autumn statement to MPs in the House of Commons. LIVERPOOL, England Britain's main opposition Labour party on Monday vowed to "rebuild Britain" if it wins the 2024 General Election, as Shadow Finance Minister Rachel Reeves announced a host of new economic pledges aimed at stimulating growth. In a confident speech to a packed exhibition hall in Liverpool, Reeves said Labour would fight the next election on the economy but said "change will only be achieved on the basis of iron discipline." "You cannot tax and spend your way to economic production. The lifeblood of a growing economy is business investment," Reeves said, further cementing the party's recalibration in recent years as a centrist, pro-business alternative to the ruling Conservatives. "It is investment that allows businesses to expand and create jobs and compete with international rivals, with new plants, factories and research labs coming to Britain, not France or Germany or America." Promising "ironclad fiscal rules," Reeves announced that Labour would implement a Charter for Budget Responsibility that would mean any significant changes to tax policy must be accompanied by an independent forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility. This was a thinly-veiled dig at former Prime Minister Liz Truss, whose "mini-budget" last year involving a series of unfunded tax cuts sent markets into turmoil and culminated in her resignation after just six weeks in the job. Truss and then-Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng opted not to seek an independent appraisal from the OBR, breaking with traditional norms of economic policy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure from some within his ruling Conservative Party to cut taxes, with Britain's tax burden sitting at a 70-year high. Labour holds around a 20-point lead over the Conservatives across most major polling, with the ruling party damaged by a string of scandals and the fallout from Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss's "mini-budget." Reeves said Labour would establish a Covid Corruption Commission to investigate and recoup the billions of pounds of taxpayers' money lost to fraud via pandemic support programs, along with cracking down on ministers' use of private jets an overt swipe at the current prime minister. In order to catalyze and de-risk business investment, Labour would create a new national wealth fund, Reeves also announced. A powerful mission alone isn't enough for Mark Cuban to invest seven figures in a company. Micah Truman learned that lesson firsthand on the latest episode of ABC's "Shark Tank," when the billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner alongside the rest of the show's judges declined to cut him a deal. "Micah, you blew it," Cuban told Truman. "I'm out." Truman's 4-year-old Auburn, Washington-based startup, a green burial company called Return Home, works to turns human remains into compost within 60 to 90 days. It bills itself as an environmentally-friendly and cost-efficient alternative to cremation and traditional burials. CEO Truman, alongside Return Home services manager Katey Houston, asked the Sharks for $2 million in exchange for 5% of their business a deal that would value the company at $40 million. Don't miss: How the 'human composting' movement could help the planet: 'Young people are going to teach us to die better' The request grew bolder when Truman said that Return Home is "a money-losing company" that brought in $350,000 in 2022 revenue. At the time of its most recent fundraise, "about a year" prior, Return Home was only valued at $20.6 million, Truman said. Cuban and Kevin O'Leary wondered how the company's valuation could nearly double in such a short time frame, opening the floor for Truman and Houston to make their case. "Micah, this is your moment," Cuban yelled. "Go, go, go!" "Funeral homes are the worst marketers in the world. This is not about land grab, it's about brand grab," Truman responded. "Tell me, guys, how many funeral homes do you know that are amazing? That are cross-country?" Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., conducts a news conference in the U.S. Capitol on border security, government funding and other issues on Sept. 29, 2023. WASHINGTON Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he was open to becoming speaker of the House again, less than a week after he was ousted from the role. A handful of hardline Republicans in the House of Representatives last week accomplished the unprecedented feat of voting out the sitting speaker. McCarthy on Tuesday after the vote said he would not run again for the role that took him a historic 15 rounds of votes to obtain in January, throwing the House Republican conference into a tailspin without an obvious leader. McCarthy changed his tune Monday in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt, saying, "Whatever the conference wants, I will do." "Look, the conference has to make that decision," McCarthy told Hewitt when asked if he would step up if the party was deadlocked. Reps. Steve Scalise, R-La., the majority leader, and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Judiciary Committee chair, have both expressed interest in the position but neither at this point is a sure choice. The House is extremely limited without an elected speaker. Congress is already feeling pressure to replace McCarthy with just over a month before the government runs out of funding. That urgency only grew over the weekend for some members after militant group Hamas attacked Israel. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., a supporter of McCarthy, said there is support in the caucus for McCarthy to lead again. "People are disgusted by what happened. It shouldn't have happened. And I believe a good portion of the conference believes Kevin McCarthy should continue to be speaker," Lawler said. Here are Monday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Wells Fargo reiterates Meta as overweight Wells lowered its price target on Meta to $372 per share from $389 and said it's standing by its overweight rating on the stock ahead of earnings later this month. "Maintain OW rating, reduce PT to $372, based on 20x our '24 GAAP EPS ests, a modest premium to recent historical multiples to reflect the improved cost discipline and capital allocation." JPMorgan initiates Arm Holdings as overweight JPMorgan said the chipmaker is a "leader in semiconductor compute." " Arm is the leader in semiconductor compute architectures (~60%+ microcontroller/microprocessor unit market share) with a strong semiconductor IP portfolio and developer ecosystem." Read more about this call here. Bank of America reiterates Domino's as buy Bank of America lowered its price target on the stock to $461 per share from $483, but said it's standing by its buy rating ahead of earnings later this week. "We believe, however, that DPZ's growth rate is likely to surprise to the upside as unit growth reaccelerates and share gains in carryout support comps ahead of the category." Goldman Sachs reiterates Netflix as neutral Goldman said it's standing by its neutral rating heading into earnings next week. "In terms of the upcoming earnings report, we expect Netflix to report above Street modeled subscriber performance as a mixture of continued password crackdown execution, relative strength vs. competition in terms of breadth & depth of content on the platform (against the backdrop of strikes), and varying price points stimulate demand." Barclays reiterates Disney as equal weight Barclays said it's cautious on Disney heading into earnings in early November. "There continues to be significant lack of visibility beyond the very near term, which has effectively resulted in sector flows being dominated by tactical considerations. The one name where focus could gradually shift towards a longer term outlook is Disney. The company should disclose financials in the new reporting structure which breaks out ESPN, ahead of earnings." JPMorgan reiterates Apple as overweight JPMorgan said its Apple survey checks show product delivery times are moderating. "In Week 4 of our Product Availability Tracker, delivery lead times have moderated for the second week in a row; albeit, to various degrees across models." Baird upgrades On Holdings to outperform from neutral Baird said the shoe manufacturer has "increasing appeal." "While some investors were hoping for a 2023E update (targets simply reiterated), we believe strong consumer demand and positive orders for spring 2024 support upside potential to estimates." Wells Fargo reiterates Tesla as equal weight Wells said it's cautious heading into Tesla earnings next week. The firm said it's concerned about "margin erosion." " TSLA walked away from its 20% auto GM [gross margin] target earlier in the year after additional price cuts. We expect auto gross margin ex EV credits to fall from 18.1% in Q2 to 16.3% in Q3." Bank of America initiates Motorola Solutions as buy Bank of America said Motorola is "well-positioned with multiple tailwinds supporting growth." "The company's focus on public safety and enterprise security merits solid pricing power and a healthy funding environment with the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) also drives a sustainable order pipeline." Bank of America downgrades Datadog to neutral from buy Bank of America said it's concerned about slowing demand for the software company. "We are downgrading shares of Datadog (DDOG) to Neutral (from Buy) and lowering our PO to $105 (from $123) as our demand checks and scenario analysis suggest downside revenue risk." Jefferies upgrades Aramark to buy from hold Jefferies said the turnaround for the food service and uniform company is taking hold. "We expect organic growth of ~6% in FY24 and FY25, 2x the pre-Covid trend rate driven by a successful multi-year turnaround effort and a step change in the industry's outsourcing penetration rate post-Covid driving new business wins." Redburn Atlantic Equities downgrades Spotify to neutral from buy Redburn said it sees margin risks. "We remain positive on Spotify's momentum in operating cost cuts and expect EBIT to turn positive in Q4 23 but see limited value from here given the risks to margins." Read more about this call here. Evercore ISI upgrades Oracle to overweight from in line Evercore said it sees a compelling entry point. "We are upgrading Oracle to Outperform from In Line as we believe that the recent pullback (-13% since F1Q) simply creates a more interesting entry point for a business that is now in a better position to deliver more consistent revenue and earnings growth due a higher % of revenue coming from its cloud solutions." Read more about this call here. Goldman Sachs upgrades Lennox to buy from sell Goldman said it sees margins getting better for the HVAC company. "upgrading LII to Buy from Sell as Resi HVAC volumes are likely bottoming, the Commercial margin improvement is not done and we expect the company to continue to beat going forward" Citi upgrades Patterson-UTI Energy to buy from neutral Citi said in its upgrade of the drilling company that it's a "top tier" business. "The upcoming recovery in U.S. drilling is likely modest by historical standards which we believe is currently weighing on PTEN's stock. Yet PTEN's quality operations and deal synergies should still drive outperformance." Baird names Capital One a fresh pick Baird said shares of the credit card company are "too compelling to ignore." " COF has built significant credit card reserves in the past 4 quarters in response to increased potential for rising unemployment and generally softer economic conditions, and the card reserve is now near ~8% (vs. ~6% post-crisis median), while delinquencies are near ~3.5%." Piper Sandler reiterates Amazon as overweight Piper said it's standing by its overweight rating on the stock. "We remain constructive on AMZN due to margins. While oil prices have risen QTD, we see structural efficiencies as more impactful and for 3Q23 we forecast $7.7BN in op income, 2% above consensus. " Barclays upgrades Zscaler to overweight from equal weight Barclays said the cloud security company is a "market leader." "The main driver for this upgrade is we like secular growth in SASE [secure access service edge], which has the potential to be just as big as the traditional network security market in CY26; we want to reposition for more exposure to this market and think Zscaler is a market leader." Read more about this call here. Nvidia canceled its AI conference in Tel Aviv next week due to safety concerns, as Israel ordered a siege of Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend. Nvidia had scheduled its in-person AI summit, with a keynote by CEO Jensen Huang, for Oct. 15 and 16 in Tel Aviv, billing the event as "the #1 conference for developers, business leaders, and AI researchers." In a blog post leading up to the event, Nvidia highlighted Israel's more than 6,000 startups and amount of VC investments per capita, making it "one of the world's most vibrant technology hubs." Nvidia, the world's largest AI chipmaker, can't keep up with industrywide demand for its chips. Revenue spiked more than 100% year over year for its second fiscal quarter along with $6.7 billion in net income, a 422% year-over-year increase. In Huang's summit keynote, he planned to discuss Nvidia's latest in generative AI and cloud computing. About 2,500 developers, researchers and tech workers were set to attend the two-day conference, Nvidia confirmed to CNBC, and it was set to feature more than 60 live sessions on topics ranging from generative AI, supercomputing and large language models, to autonomous vehicles, health care and cybersecurity. Most of the summit's planned speakers are key figures at Nvidia, such as Kimberly Powell, vice president of health care; Deepu Talla, vice president of embedded and edge computing; and Gilad Shainer, senior vice president of networking and high-performance computing. Executives from Microsoft , Amazon Web Services, Snowflake and Lenovo were also set to lead sessions, some sponsored. "We regret to inform you that due to the current situation in Israel, we have decided to cancel AI SUMMIT," Nvidia announced on the event's website. "Our hearts go out to all those affected by the situation. The safety and wellbeing of our participants are our top priority, and we believe this is the best course of action to ensure everyone's safety." Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes a campaign announcement at a press conference on October 9, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. WASHINGTON Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he will abandon his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and instead run for the White House as an independent. Kennedy's move raises the chances that he will play a spoiler in the 2024 election. Kennedy announced his break with the national Democratic Party at an event in Philadelphia on Monday. "How are we going to win against the established Washington interests? It's not by playing by the corrupt rules that the corrupt powers and the vested interests have rigged to keep us in their thrall," Kennedy said in a video released Friday, teasing his "major announcement." In it, he decried what he claimed was "corruption" in "the leadership of both political parties." His late father, Sen. Robert Kennedy of New York, and late uncle, President John F. Kennedy, are icons of the Democratic Party. The shift comes as Kennedy lags far behind President Joe Biden in national polls of Democratic voters a little more than a year out from the 2024 election. In addition to Biden's incumbent status, which makes it very difficult to challenge him from within the party, Kennedy also holds views that put him at odds with the majority of Democratic voters. Kennedy first garnered national political attention for pushing baseless anti-vaccine conspiracies during the Covid-19 pandemic. But he also opposes U.S. aid to Ukraine as that country defends itself against Russian invasion. Positions like these have helped to endear Kennedy to high-profile figures on the far right, who typically align with former President Donald Trump. In July, while Kennedy was running as a Democrat, the former president heaped praise on him. "He's a very smart guy," Trump told Fox Business. "And he's hit a little bit of a nerve. And a lot of Democrats I know want to vote for him." As polls increasingly show Trump ever more likely to sweep the Republican presidential primary, the prospect of an independent run by Kennedy is being viewed by the White House as a potentially serious threat to Biden's reelection. Former Sen. Hillary Clinton, the onetime Democratic presidential nominee, warned Biden earlier this month at the White House not to underestimate the potential impact of a third party challenge on a two-person race, NBC News reported. Green Party candidate Jill Stein is widely viewed as having cut into Clinton's 2016 support in key Midwestern states, potentially tipping the election in Trump's favor that year. The Bank of Israel on Monday announced it will sell up to $30 billion in foreign reserves in a bid to support its domestic currency which has fallen sharply following the deadly incursion by Hamas militants over the weekend. The Israeli shekel last weakened 1.63% to trade at 3.90 against the greenback, marking its weakest in seven years. "The Bank will operate in the market during the coming period in order to moderate volatility in the shekel exchange rate and to provide the necessary liquidity for the continued proper functioning of the markets," the central bank wrote in a statement released Monday. On top of the $30 billion program, the bank added it will provide liquidity to the market through SWAP mechanisms in the market of up to $15 billion. The USS Truxtun (DDG-103) destroyer sits in dry dock at the General Dynamics Corp. NASSCO shipyard facility on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia, on Jan. 9, 2018. Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Spotify Shares of the music streaming service company fell 2.5% after Redburn Atlantic downgraded the streaming giant to neutral from buy. The firm said Spotify's new audiobook offer doesn't fit into its original forecast for margin expansion, while simultaneously stoking competition from Amazon. Zscaler Shares of the cloud security company rallied 4.2% following an upgrade to an overweight rating from Barclays. As a catalyst, analyst Saket Kalia cited a new growth opportunity in the secure access service edge, or SASE, cybersecurity segment. Mirati Therapeutics Shares of the cancer drug company fell more than 5% after Bristol Myers Squibb announced a deal to acquire Mirati for $48 per share, plus a contingent value right worth up to $12 per share. Mirati's stock closed at $60.20 per share Friday. Tesla The automaker's stock fell 2.3% in Monday trading upon news that the company's year-over-year sales declined 10.9% in China last month, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association. On Holding The sneaker maker rose more than 1% after Baird upgraded the stock to outperform from neutral. The firm said On's recent investor day reinforced its confidence in the brand's health and upcoming three-year pipeline of growth. Motorola Solutions Motorola added 3.3% after Bank of America initiated the stock at a buy rating. The bank cited solid pricing power, strong growth and a sustainable order pipeline. Datadog Datadog dropped 3.6% after Bank of America downgraded the cloud stock to neutral from buy, citing downside revenue risk from demand checks. Oil stocks Energy stocks soared following the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict over the weekend. Shares of Halliburton , CF Industries and Hess each respectively rose 6.5%, 5.5% and 5%. Defense stocks Similar to the energy sector, defense stocks also rallied on the back of rising conflict between Palestine and Israel. Northrop Grumman , L3Harris Technologies and General Dynamics respectively soared 10.8%, 9.1% and 8.4%. Airline stocks On a broader level, airline names were down after several major airlines suspended service to Israel following this weekend's attacks. United Airlines slid 5.3%, while Delta Air Lines and American Airlines shed 4.5% and 5.3%, respectively. CNBC's Yun Li, Tanaya Macheel, Sarah Min and Jesse Pound contributed reporting. The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas threatens to push oil prices higher by straining relations between major oil-producing countries in the Middle East, according to Wall Street experts. Oil prices rose Monday after the weekend attacks, though they remain below recent highs from two weeks ago. The move reversed some of a sharp slide that saw the price of U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude drop more than $10 per barrel since Sept. 27. @CL.1 5D mountain Crude futures jumped on Monday. Wall Street analysts cautioned that prices could rise further as the conflict takes shape. While Israel and Gaza are not oil-producing regions, the war there could widen to other fronts and unwind recent diplomatic efforts elsewhere in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia One key player on the sidelines of the war is Saudi Arabia. The world's leading oil producer already cut production in recent months, and the war could put an end to hopes that the nation would reverse those reductions, according to Goldman Sachs analyst Daan Struyven. "Along with the decline in oil prices over the last two weeks, and limited evidence for large draws in global commercial visible oil inventories over the past three months, this weekend's developments reduce the probability of an early unwind of the Saudi production cuts," Struyven said in a note to clients. Saudi Arabia was also engaged in diplomatic talks with Israel, which are now complicated by the war. "The Saudi leadership has insisted on Israel making significant concessions to the Palestinians as part of any normalization agreement and given what has transpired, it is very difficult to envision a government that is now on war footing to agreeing to such terms," RBC Capital Markets strategist Helima Croft said in a note to clients. Iran The other major oil producer tied into the conflict is Iran, the chief backer of Hamas. Iran's oil exports have been subject to sanctions from the U.S. and other nations, and those could be tightened again, even though U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that he has "not yet seen" evidence that directly tied Iran to the Hamas strike. "With the possibility of broader regional tensions re-escalating as a result of the conflict in Gaza, we think the risks to our Iranian production projections are now tilted to the downside," Goldman's Struyven said. Iran also has ties to Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based group that exchanged rocket fire with Israel over the weekend. "All indications are that the Israeli declaration of war on Hamas could see not only significant direct retaliation, but raises the likelihood that Israel will pre-emptively engage with Hezbollah and its rocket and military stores in southern Lebanon, and given Hezbollah's even closer ties with Iran, will likely affect Iran's oil exports one way or another," Citigroup's Ed Morse said in a note to clients. Other oil-producing countries will be less directly affected by a conflict in the Middle East. Bank of America's Doug Leggate said in a note to clients that the United States could release oil from its strategic petroleum reserve if prices spike. "Despite criticism over prior price related releases under the current administration, its actual purpose is to be available in response to geopolitical risk to supply," Leggate said. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. A protestor holds a placards during the ULEZ Protest. Protesters against Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion brought traffic to a standstill as they demonstrated against the expansion of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone. MANCHESTER, ENGLAND Moves by the U.K. government to introduce a series of pro-motorist policies brings Britain into the fold of countries succumbing to a political backlash against Europe's green agenda. A so-called "greenlash" has been growing across Europe as the cost of implementing ambitious environmental policies has faced resistance from citizens, prompting some governments to water down their targets. Britain's Transport Minister Mark Harper last week announced new concessions for motorists, a move he said would protect drivers from "over-zealous traffic enforcement." The measures include limits on councils' ability to impose speed limits, restrictions on the number of hours a day that car traffic is banned from bus lanes, and a new national system to simplify parking payments. The decision comes as the ruling Conservative Party seeks to shore up support from voters many of whom live in rural areas and feel unfairly penalized by green transport policies ahead of next year's General Election. "The Conservative Party is proudly pro-car," Harper said as the Conservative Party Conference got underway in Manchester, England. "We stand for freedom to travel how you want." Kyiv said Russia is planning to launch a disinformation campaign to discredit Ukraine in the Middle East, claiming Moscow was planning to allege that Ukraine had supplied Western-supplied weapons to Hamas militants. "The special operations units of Russia are conducting a campaign to discredit Ukraine in the Middle East," Ukraine's main intelligence department said on Telegram Monday. It said Russia was looking to exploit the Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack against Israel in order to undermine Ukraine. The intelligence department claimed that the Russian army had given Hamas "trophy weapons manufactured in the USA and EU states, that were captured during the hostilities in Ukraine." "The next step, according to the plan of the Russians, should be fake accusations [involving] the Ukrainian military in the alleged sale of Western weapons to terrorists on a regular basis." "As part of the Kremlin's disinformation campaign, these fakes should form the basis of a number of 'revealing publications' and 'investigations' in the Western media," the intelligence department added. It did not provide evidence for its claims and CNBC was unable to verify the information. Ukraine said Russia "aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and [encouraging] the complete cessation of military aid to our country from Western partners." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, having offered his support and condolences for those killed in deadly attacks that erupted in the country after Hamas launched an audacious and large-scale attack on Saturday. Holly Ellyatt US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R) attends a bilateral meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao (front L) at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on October 9, 2023. BEIJING U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday the congressional delegation to China asked Beijing to use its influence with Iran to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from spreading. "A bunch of us made the request that China use its influence on Iran to not allow a conflagration to spread," Schumer told reporters in a briefing. "They have influence with Iran in many different ways," he said. "And we asked them to do everything they could to not have Iran spread this conflagration through themselves and through Hezbollah." "The Chinese said they would deliver the message to the Iranians," U.S. officials said at the briefing, in response to a question. Schumer and five other U.S. senators representing both the Republican and Democratic parties met with Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier on Monday, among other high-level meetings. The meeting lasted about 80 minutes, Schumer said, about twice what had been expected. "We're deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians," Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said in a regular press conference Monday, according to an official English transcript. "We oppose moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hope fighting will stop and peace will return soon," Mao said. Israeli soldiers and police gather following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel, Oct. 8, 2023. Over the weekend, X flagged several posts as misleading or false, including a video purportedly showing Israeli airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza. Thousands of users saw the posts, and the most widely shared posts were flagged as misleading by the platform. Still, dozens of posts with the same video and caption were not flagged by X's system, according to CNBC's review. From the outset of this weekend's Israel-Hamas conflict , graphic footage of abductions and military operations have spread like wildfire on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter. But disinformation on the platform has made it harder for users to assess what's going on in the region. Under Musk, X has prioritized user-driven content tagging with Community Notes, the preexisting feature formerly known as Birdwatch. But a September study from the EU found that despite the feature, which adds crowdsourced context to posts, disinformation was more discoverable on X than on any other social media platform and received more engagement than on other platforms, on a relative basis. Before Elon Musk acquired Twitter, the company's management had devoted significant resources to fighting manipulated or misleading information. After Musk took over, renaming the platform, he slashed head count in teams dedicated to fighting misinformation and criticized the company's past work with the U.S. government on Covid-19 disinformation. The patchwork enforcement comes days after NBC News reported that X made cuts to its disinformation and election integrity team. Shortly before Hamas launched its surprise attack, X removed headlines from links on the platform, making external links difficult to tell apart from standard photos shared on X. Alex Goldenberg, an analyst at the Network Contagion Research Institute, studies hate and right-wing extremism on social media and in the real world. Goldenberg told CNBC that even before Musk's tenure, Twitter had a challenging time handling non-English disinformation. "I've often found that mis- and disinformation and incitement to violence in the English language are prioritized, but those in Arabic are often overlooked," Goldenberg said. He added that NCRI has noted an uptick in "recycled videos and photos from older conflict being associated, intentionally sometimes, with this particular conflict." Users have noticed the impact of the changes to X's content moderation, and some have fallen prey to sharing disinformation on the platform. "It's remarkable how Elon Musk has destroyed what was perhaps the best thing about Twitter: the ability to get relatively accurate and trustworthy data in real time when there's a crisis," Paul Bernal, an IT law professor at the University of East Anglia in England, wrote on X on Monday. On Sunday, a British politician shared a video purportedly from a BBC correspondent. "Following some pretty appalling equivocation and whataboutary from the BBC yesterday and this morning, now this from a BBC journalist," wrote Chris Clarkson, a member of parliament for Heywood & Middleton. The video was not from a BBC correspondent; Clarkson wrote Monday that his "comments on the BBC stand" but conceded that the original post was not from a BBC journalist. Although government verification now awards certain accounts a silver checkmark, verification for notable individuals and reporters was phased out in favor of paid Twitter Blue verification, making it "even more difficult to ascertain whether the messenger of a particular message or its content is authentic," Goldenberg said. Some Hamas-created propaganda videos have also been circulating on X. While the terrorist organization is banned from most social media platforms, including X, it continues to share videos on Telegram. Those videos including some from the most recent assault on Israel are often reshared onto X, Goldenberg told CNBC. And that can have real-world effects. "As we've seen in the past, especially in May of 2021, for example, when tensions rise in the region, there's a high possibility of a rise in hate crimes targeting the Jewish community outside of the region," Goldenberg said. Paid verification purportedly boosts a user's posts and comments on X, and some posts tagged as misleading have come from those verified users. Musk himself has amplified such posts on several occasions both pertaining to the conflict in Ukraine and more recently in Israel. On Sunday, Musk encouraged his 160 million followers to follow two accounts which Musk said had "good" content about the conflict. One of those users had made anti-Semitic posts in the past, including one where the person told a Twitter user to "mind your own business, jew." Musk later deleted his post promoting the account. Correction: This article has been updated to correctly reflect Alex Goldenberg's comment on English-language disinformation on X and Twitter. A previous version contained a transcription error. Greenply Industries witnessed a decline of over 4% in its stock value following a recent management meeting. Nuvama, a prominent financial analysis firm, has adjusted its target prices for Greenply Industries downward due to key takeaways from the meeting. Share Market Live NSE Nuvama analysts have pointed out that a slowdown in demand and obstacles in the joint venture model have delayed the realisation of benefits from the company's ongoing structural changes. Despite these challenges, Greenply Industries remains committed to achieving a sales target of 0.1 million cubic meters in its MDF (medium-density fiberboard) division. One pressing concern in the near term is the persistence of margin pressure, primarily due to soaring timber costs. Additionally, the company's operations in Gabon continue to pose challenges. Although Greenply Industries has limited exposure to Gabon, they have expressed their intent to liquidate these operations. Taking all these factors into account, Nuvama has revised its earnings per share (EPS) estimates for FY 2023, FY 2024, and FY 2025, reducing them by a range of 22% to 15% for the next three years. Consequently, the target price for Greenply Industries has been adjusted from Rs 196 to Rs 188. However, it's worth noting that Nuvama maintains a "hold" recommendation on the stock, suggesting that there may still be potential for recovery in the future. The stock was trading at Rs 162 on the NSE on Monday, lower by 4.06 percent. It has lost over 4 percent in the last one month. A Special Round of negotiations for the India-Peru trade agreement is scheduled to be held virtually on October 10 and 11, 2023. Share Market Live NSE Joint secretary with India's Department of Commerce, Vipul Bansal will be the Chief Negotiator leading the Indian track of discussions, while the Peruvian track will be led by Gerardo Antonio Meza Grillo, Director for Asia, Oceania and Africa at the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Discussions on chapters including Initial Provisions and General Definitions, Rules of Origin, Trade in Goods, Customs Procedures and Trade Facilitation, Technical Barriers to Trade, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, General and Security Exceptions, Cooperation and Legal and Institutional Issues/Dispute Settlement are expected to be undertaken during this special round. The commerce ministry said discussions on services, movement of people, trade remedies, and investment chapter will be held later in the month based on mutual convenience of the negotiators. Negotiations on the India-Peru Trade agreement commenced in 2017 and the 5th round was concluded in August 2019, after which the negotiations were paused due to the COVID pandemic. On the sidelines of the CII India-LAC Conclave held in New Delhi on August 3 and 4, a delegation led by Dr. Teresa Mera Gomez, Peru's Vice Minister of Foreign Trade met India's minister of commerce and industry Piyush Goyal where both sides had expressed an interest to resume trade negotiations. The sixth round of negotiations is slated to be held in December 2023 at Lima in Peru. India and Peru have been experiencing steady growth in their trade relationship. During FY 2022-23, the bilateral trade volume reached $3.12 billion. India exported goods worth $865.91 million to Peru, and imported goods valued at $2.25 billion from Peru. Key Indian exports to Peru include motor vehicles/cars, cotton yarn, and pharmaceuticals, while Peru primarily exports gold, copper ores and concentrates. As the 50 th anniversary of the infamous Yom Kippur war dawned, the Hamas militants had planned to break the siege of Gaza and enter the settlements and attack the military and civilian installations in Israel through a multi-pronged strategy by undertaking ground, aerial and naval operations simultaneously. They called this operation the 'Aqsa Typhoon/Flood entering at least 22 locations across the Israeli borders. Thousands of rockets were fired. Hundreds of civilians killed or captured and wounded as the final details emerge including several Israeli military personnel, women and children. The name of the operation was carefully chosen to legitimise and rally large numbers of Islamists and Palestinians as repeated desecration of the third holiest mosque Al Aqsa became routine and humiliation of the Ummah by the ultra-right government of PM Netanyahu a daily recurrence, apart from invoking the historical injustices done to them for nearly a century. No wonder, Hamas Military Commander Mohammed Deif claimed that the operation was launched to deter the Israeli violations against Al Aqsa Mosque and to force Israel to respect international law. It has been a known fact that Hamas backed by common Palestinians is ever so ready to eke out revenge and demolish the Jewish State of Israel for decades now and has had four large scale skirmishes and wars with greater vengeance each time. 2021 is barely two years ago when thousands of rockets and projectiles hit and even crossed the Iron dome and killed many including an Indian nurse. This time it was far worse and the fact that the meticulous planning by the Hamas went unnoticed by the ever so vigilant Mossad and other security centric Israeli outfits, smacks of some complacency and will become a point of introspection once this is over. Meanwhile, Netanyahu, heading a divided polity and society has launched a retaliatory war Operation Iron sword with the instructions to decimate Hamas and its capabilities for good. Our enemy will pay a price the type of which it has never seen and Israel will win this war, he added. No one can doubt the exceptional superiority of Israeli Defence Forces and their lethal fire power and that they will overpower their enemy. But initial shocks have their limiting impact. While the army is marshalling its resources and deploying them, Netanyahus biggest task of uniting opposition for National Unity may have become easier because for Israelis and Jews their country comes first. It is reported that former PM Naftali Bennet has already signed up as a reservist. Apart from his external enemies Bibi and his team have to somehow see to it that the domestic socio-political discord especially among the Israeli Arabs is addressed. International Response International condemnation or approbation of the Hamas attacks has been on expected lines. President Biden condemned the terrorist attacks and extended fullest support to Israel justifying their response, even as his hands are tied given a dysfunctional Congress. Likewise, European leaders expressed their solidarity with Israel. The Indian Prime Minister expressed his deep shock at the terrorist attacks on civilians and casualties and expressed solidarity with the Israeli people. India also issued an advisory to Indian citizens there while Air India cancelled its flights in view of the ongoing war. President Mahmoud Abbas of the PLA, being in a difficult situation and Trishanku position, justified the rights of Palestinians to defend themselves against the terror of settlers and occupation troops. Iran supported the Hamas attacks. Hamas is said to be a part of the 3 H Iranian toolkit with Hezbollah and Houthis. Hezbollah leaders based out of Lebanon extended full support to Hamas while Hamas had made a call for all groups to join and fight the occupying state in this fight to finish. Palestinian Islamic Jihadi groups joined the Al Qassem brigades. The Houthis in Yemen also supported the Hamas offensive. Turkish President Erdogan also spoke of the sanctity of the Al Aqsa mosque. Jordan, Qatar, Algeria and Iraq held Israel accountable for this situation. Arab countries especially those part of Abraham Accords or about to normalise have been caught in a bind as overt support of the Jewish state will provoke their own populations. Hence calibrated statements for de-escalation and talks and settlement of the Palestinian issues have been reiterated. The immediate trigger seems to be the Rapprochement vs Rapprochement matrix whose dynamic on both poles is quite contradictory in strategy, approach, intent and content. On the one hand China brokered a peace deal between Riyadh and Tehran that is holding out despite the trust deficit and appears to be yielding some dividends which was much to the dislike of Americans and the Israelis. Hence, the US efforts to wean away and bring the Saudis closer to Tel Aviv essentially to counter the increasing Iranian influence in the region had a contradictory objective. This has irked Tehran even more which has become one of the keen vocal supporters of Palestinian cause witnessing the Arabian fatigue. Hence stoking the cinders of Palestinian resistance, helped by the recent excesses of the ultra-right Netanyahu government against the Palestinians, provided a convenient time and perfect alibi to launch this massive operation. This would obviously accentuate the fault lines and red lines for the Arab countries in so far as their eagerness to normalise ties with Tel Aviv is concerned. This might even impact the recently launched India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) which was predicated on normalisation of ties between Riyadh and Tel Aviv to a large extent. The outcome of the ongoing war will be bloody and revengeful and worse for the civilians on both sides while countries like Qatar, Egypt and Turkey may be harnessed to intervene to bring about de-escalation, especially early release of the captured Israelis. But this unprecedented escalation also has the potential of spiralling out of control if Hezbollah and others join in. However, this will happen again until and unless a legitimate solution of the underlying causes are duly and honourably addressed including a Two State Solution. Alas! no one is ready for it. The author, Amb. Anil Trigunayat, is a former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta, and currently heads the West Asia Experts Group at Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed are personal. Read his previous articles here The latest flare-up between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas entered the third day on Monday and it has raised concerns among many nations across the world. According to the news agency AP, the death toll has surpassed 1100 on both sides and thousands were left wounded as heavy rocket firing continued at several locations on Monday morning. Israel's military pounded Gaza with rockets on Sunday and killed hundreds of people after the surprise attack by Hamas. In view of the situation of war, Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation and asked to be prepared for a "long and difficult" war a day after Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Israel and also sent hundreds of its fighters to invade the country. In Gaza, airstrikes by Israel have continuously been causing damage, while at least three schools and one hospital have also been impacted, reported The Guardian. According to the AP News reports, Hamas has officially cited that the tensions with Israel include the dispute over the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is sacred to both Muslims and Jews. This site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, has ignited violence in the past as well, which led to an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2021. However, this time the situation has erupted after a dispute last week, when during the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot hundreds of 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. Meanwhile, the war between Hamas and Israel h as raised concern among several nations in the West and Middle East. While countries like Iran, Qatar and Lebanon are backing Hamas many European nations come out in support of Israel. Israel's foreign ministry has claimed that 84 nations have issued statements supporting its right to self-defence. Several countries, including the US, UK, Australia, France, Norway and Austria, have seen multiple political leaders issue statements condemning the attacks and backing Israels right to self-defence, Times of Israel reported, citing a Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Countries supporting Hamas Amid the state of war, many countries, mainly the Middle East nations, have come forward to support Hamas. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday spoke with Hamas, reported Hindustan Times. Besides, Iran has been a generous supporter of Hamas since the last many years. The country is assisting the Palestinian Militant group through financial aid and military supplies. On the other hand, Qatar, a strong supporter of Hamas , made a statement alleging Israel will be held responsible for the ongoing escalation. Even previously, Qatar has been a prominent player among those who extended financial help to Hamas. Additionally, numerous Lebanese citizens in Beirut have expressed their solidarity with Hamas fight against Israel. US, UK, Australia, France, Norway, and Austria supporting Israel The countries, mostly Western nations, which have come out in support of Israel include, the US, UK, Australia, France, Norway and Austria, among others. These countries have not only been supporting Israel but also backing its rights to self-defence against the attack by Hamas. The US has announced to send military support to Israel and strengthen the naval and air force. US President Joe Biden spoke to the PM of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday. According to reports, President Biden assured that additional assistance for the Israel Defence Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days, reported The Guardian. India extends support to Israel Prime Minister Modi on Saturday tweeted that India stands in solidarity with Israel extending support to the country. PM Modi also condoled the death of Israeli citizens in the attack by Hamas. 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 tweeted. 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. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2023 Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon on Sunday said that India's support is significant to Israel. He said that the support is important for Israel due to two reasons, firstly Indias importance in the world and secondly, its linked to Indias long fight against terrorism, according to a Hindustan Times report. Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to India Naor Gilon on Sunday said that India's support is significant to Israel. He said that the support is important for Israel due to two reasons, firstly Indias importance in the world and secondly, its linked to Indias long fight against terrorism, according to a Hindustan Times report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Assumption College San Lorenzo will celebrate its 131st year on October 14-15, 2023 with this years traditional Old Girls Day 2023, the Assumption communitys annual homecoming event, and its first face-to-face gathering since the pandemic started, which calls for A Celebration, coincidentally this years theme of the event. The much-awaited event is a strong tradition in the Assumption community and celebrates the gift of friendship, love, and life among the alumnae and among the jubilarians celebrating their milestones this year. This years host will be the Silver Jubilarians, Assumption College High School Batch 1998, whose tagline ACcelerate98, aims to give back to the community by ACcelerating education, moving forward from the pandemic. According to Batch 1998, Among the worst impacts of the pandemic in the Philippines is the deterioration of our education system. With the funds raised by ACcelerate98, it is our hope to accelerate the recovery of our education system, starting with the eight (8) Assumption mission schools nationwide, to help our children get back on track to maximize their potential, The charity-based family affair will be an occasion filled with fun activities, which will also include a community mass, a Sunday brunch, an Outdoor Viewing Party on Sunday, and a Velada Bazaar on both days which feature food and lifestyle booths, facepaint, caricature and photo booths for all ages to enjoy. There will be raffle prizes at the end of the show. The activities are held this year at the Assumption College San Lorenzo College Atrium grounds The Old Girls Day 2023 aims to raise funds for eight (8) beneficiary schools which are St. Martins School, Baguio, Assumpta Technical High School, San Simon, Pampanga, San Juan Nepomuceno School, Malibay, Pasay City, The Socio-Educational Center, Barrio Obrero, Iloilo City, Assumption School, Passi, Iloilo, Sta. Rita Academy, Sibalom, Antique, St. Vincents Academy, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte, and Xavier de Kibangay, High School, Lantapan Bukidnon, as well as Centers for Transformative Education, like the Mother Rosa Memorial Foundation, Marie Eugenie Institute and the Associate Missionaries of the Assumption. The tradition of the Old Girls Day provides a venue for alumnae reports on social action activities, news about the Religious of the Assumption, and a chance to wear the old uniform again and have some Assumption food treats reminiscent of school days. Old Girls Day is now held on the third Sunday of October and doubles as the annual general members meeting of the AAA. The day starts with a Holy Mass and the election of new members to the AAA Board. The much-awaited program called the velada takes place in the afternoon. Platinum sponsors for the event include Birch Tree Advance, Unmeat, Cooks Chicken, ESL, and Union Bank. Other generous sponsors such as Gold, Silver, and Bronze raffle sponsors, patrons and individual donors have made this fundraising event possible. For more information, visit the ACcelerate98 Facebook and Instagram pages. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) -- The country's former ambassador to Israel has described the situation in the Middle Eastern nation as "bad," with explosions happening every few minutes, but adds there is confidence among Israelis that they will be protected by their military. Former Ambassador Girly Garcia, who served from 2009 to 2011, told News Night she arrived in Israel in August this year to visit her son and his family who were living in the country, adding she was supposed to leave on Oct. 15. However, she said that will be difficult because of what was happening in the country. "All I can do is just want and hope that things will subside. We are waiting to be able to go back to our normal lives," she said on Monday. She described the situation as "bad." 'Young people are being called back to the army: 80 percent, I think, of the military is there. And many of them are reservists. I would like to say that there are several Filipino-Israeli soldiers out there, and magaling po sila [theyre good]," Garcia added. When asked to describe what the situation in Israel was like at the moment, she said while the interview was ongoing that explosions sounded "like rolling thunder." "It stops, and then it starts again," Garcia said. On Saturday, Garcia said they heard loud sirens early in the morning followed by sounds of explosions, and had to go to bomb shelters for protection. During her interview, Garcia pointed out there were still explosions happening in the background. At one point, she took her camera to show where these were coming from. "It's like a constant hum," she added. She said the situation was worse on Saturday, adding that a building two blocks away from where she lived exploded after being hit by shrapnel. "I've been coming to Israel since 1993, I've witnessed a lot of wars. Ngayon pa lang po ako nakakita ng ganito katindi [It's only know that I've seen it this bad]," she said. Garcia also said a nephew is in the Israeli Reserve Forces and has been called in because of the situation. His family is worried, she said. "Obviously, everyone is really worried, but they're very confident their children will come home. They're hoping and praying their children will come home," said Garcia. However, Garcia said that even in the middle of the conflict there was still something to learn. "One of the admirable things that I saw, and I think I can learn from this is as soon as they were under attack -- you're aware that the politics here, I mean they're quite divided -- but as soon as they were under attack, everybody united to defend the country. And you can feel among the people here that there is trust and confidence that the Israeli Defense Force is really the best in the Middle East and it will protect us." 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) The group BAN Toxics is urging the government to review the 10-year-old Toy and Game Safety Labeling Law, saying more harmful toys may be sold this holiday season. "We are dismayed that most of the toys and childcare articles (TCCAs) being sold in the local markets still lack the required labeling requirements under RA 10620. We need to review the said law to ensure product safety of the children," BAN Toxics campaigner Thony Dizon said in a statement. According to the toxic watch group, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should probe and monitor establishments to evaluate if manufacturers and sellers comply with the Act and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). "Now that the holiday season is near, we must enforce the law and conduct actions against toy manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers that violate the existing labeling requirements," Dizon added. The RA No. 10620 stated that it ensures the protection of children against potential hazards to their health and safety by labeling toys and games. Last Sept. 29 on CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon, Dizon also urged the government to strengthen the precautionary information of toxic chemicals that are available in local markets. "In terms of the packaging, kailangan talaga may naka-indicate diyan na precaution, napakaimportante niyan, even 'yung mga ginagamit natin ay halos ganun pang masyado, kumbaga sensitibo. Kung lalagyan mo 'yan ng label na warning or indication na talagang ito ay para ma-secure lang na hindi ito mapupunta sa kamay ng mga bata ay dapat nating gawin," he said. [Translation: In terms of packaging, we really need to indicate the precaution, it's very important even for the [chemicals] that are not that sensitive. There should be labels to warn the consumer, so that the usage will be secure and will not be given to children.] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) A former executive assistant at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is eyeing to file corruption complaints against agency officials as he alleged on Monday that regulators were practicing a ruta for sale scheme. In a news conference on Monday, Jeffrey Tumbado, who was an executive assistant to LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, said operators have to pay transport officials up to 5 million to get routes, franchise, and special permits, among others. Kapag ikaw ay operator, gusto mong makuha itong daan na ito lalo na sa probinsya, magre-request ka tapos kung gusto mong mapasaiyo iyan kahit hindi pwede, hanapin mo ko tapos ayun na, he said. [Translation: If youre an operator who wants to get a route, especially in the provinces, you need to request and if you want it to be yours even if its not allowed, you just need to find me then it will be settled.] Transport group Manibela will be Tumbados co-complainant. Aside from his testimony, Tumbado said he has pieces of evidence in hand including screenshots of text messages and audio recordings of conversations related to the alleged corrupt practice. He claimed that aside from Guadiz, there were other top officials from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Malacanang ordering to collect the money. I dont believe pang-sarili niya yun eh, I mean may instructions din from higher-ups, he said. [Translation: I dont believe its not for personal gain, I mean there were also instructions from higher-ups.] The former LTFRB official said he was a middleman for the scheme. He added that even LTFRBs regional officials have a quota of 2 million to be given to the central office. Tumbado served as an executive assistant in February but said he resigned in September after being demoted and transferred to an office for the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program. In a LTFRB news conference, Guadiz denied the allegation and said: Pero kung meron po haharapin po natin, malinis po ang ating kalooban [But if there will be a complaint, we will face it, our conscience is clear]. In a press release, the DOTr asked Guadiz to explain the allegations of corruption, along with other irregularities bared within the agency. It added that the LTFRB chairperson was also issued a notice to explain after Guadiz was accused of misconduct regarding the PUV Modernization Program. We already launched an investigation on the allegations against the LTFRB, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said. While we are already evaluating the alleged irregularities involving [Chairman Guadiz], we also issued a notice to explain against Guadiz for him to shed light on the allegations. CNN Philippines AC Nicholls and Lois Calderon contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) The Philippine embassy in Tel Aviv said it is strongly recommending the indefinite suspension of all travel to Israel amid the ongoing conflict there. The embassy cited the volatile security situation in the Middle Eastern country and that trips should be postponed indefinitely or until such time that the situation has stabilized. Israels main international gateway, Ben Gurion International Airport, currently remains open and travel between the Philippines and Israel continues. Those with confirmed flights, however, are advised to check with their travel agency for possible flight cancellations, the embassy said in an advisory on Sunday. Israel has formally declared war on Palestinian militant group Hamas after the latter launched an unprecedented attack over the weekend. This came after months of surging violence between the two sides. The death toll has surged to at least 1,100 with at least 700 Israelis and 400 Palestinians killed based on figures from authorities. Thousands were wounded from both sides, while Hamas claims to hold over 100 Israeli hostages. The Philippine embassy said two Filipinos were among those injured, but it added the tally could be higher. Consul General and Deputy Chief of Mission Anthony Mandap said authorities are verifying reports that Filipinos were among those being held hostage by Hamas. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) The House Committee on Dangerous Drugs will issue a subpoena for the owner of a warehouse in Mexico, Pampanga where authorities last month seized 530 kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of 3.6 billion. The name Willy Ong surfaced during the panels hearing Monday on the series of major drug hauls in Pampanga in recent months. Ong is the owner of the warehouse in Barangay San Jose Malino. Local officials said Ong applied for a building permit for the warehouse in October 2022. He reportedly did not go into the details of his business or why he wanted to build the facility in Mexico town. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel described Ong as a main character in the case. I strongly suggest that this committee should issue a subpoena to Mr. Willy Ong because kailangan natin siya (because we need him), Pimentel said. Siya ang isang actor dito eh, yung iba supporting actor lang (hes an actor here, and the others are just support actors). Parang yung (its as if the) municipality of Mexico is very privy to the activities of Mr. Willy Ong, starting from the barangay all the way up to municipality, he added. Surigao Del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the panel will seek the approval of House Speaker Martin Romualdezs office for the issuance of a subpoena for Ong. The panel also approved a motion to summon Roy Gomez, a former local employee who supposedly signed the assessment for Ongs permit, as well as former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Jonathan Tan. Former Mexico town mayor Teddy Tumang said Gomez had worked on the side for Ong as a facilitator of permits. Tan, meanwhile, was summoned since the shabu haul seized in Ongs warehouse entered through the Subic Bay freeport. Officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Bureau of Customs later briefed the committee about sensitive details of their recent operations in Pampanga in a closed door session. During the public hearing, NBI officials also clarified that the contraband discovered inside an abandoned vehicle outside a supermarket in Mabalacat, Pampanga last August was not shabu, contrary to what was reported by the media. Ross Jonathan Galicia, head of the NBIs task force against illegal drugs, said the vehicle contained tea bags filled with dimethyl sulfone, an ingredient for making shabu. We did not claim that those substances found were shabu. The media came out that it was suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, but the NBI never claimed those were shabu, Galicia told the panel. Those substances were found to be dimethyl sulfone, which is a shabu extender. It only shows that theres a clandestine shabu laboratory in the Philippines right now and those substances we were able to seize will be used in the manufacture of illegal drugs. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss on Monday said Filipinos in the Jewish state will be protected the same way as their citizens, as the conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militant group Hamas continues. Speaking to CNN Philippines The Source, Fluss said he raised the concern regarding overseas Filipino workers in Israel to the minister of foreign affairs on Sunday. His answer was very clear, and thats the policy of the Israeli government, we take care of the foreign workers in Israel, of the Filipinos in Israel the same as we take care of the Israeli citizens and Israeli nationals, the envoy said. Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on Saturday. In retaliation, Israel conducted air strikes on Gaza Strip, a Palestinian territory bordering the eastern and northern parts of Israel. The Philippine government said there were no reported deaths among Filipinos there, but at least two were injured. More than 700 Israelis, including children and elderlies, were killed in the ongoing war. Fluss said more than 100 were held captive by the attackers. Fluss also said Israel has tapped tens of thousands of reservists to help defend the state. His children were among those recruited, he added. We are still seeing more efforts to penetrate into Israel, just a few hours ago also from the sea there was another attack and some are still hiding within Israel in order to attack more Israelis, he added. The envoy said Israel is slowly gaining control despite the continuous presence of Hamas fighters. Those living near the affected areas were evacuated and were given assistance. The ambassador also said there may be no solution or agreement to end the issue for now. International support is very important in order to give Israel the sense of legitimacy of protecting itself from the terrible terror attack, he added. The Philippines is among the countries that condemned the attack on Israel. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Administrator Arnell Ignacio said there are 24,807 OFWs in Israel who are mostly caregivers and hotel employees. On Saturday 30 September, at a General Assembly the indigenous and peasant communities of Guatemala called a National Strike to demand that the result of Augusts election be respected. The strike has extended to the capital and has drawn in various sections of society. This article was written on 6 October, the fifth day of the indefinite strike, and at the time of writing, demonstrators were also demanding the resignation of the attorney general and other prosecutors that have sought to interfere in the electoral process. In June and August 2023, presidential elections were held in Guatemala over two rounds. 9 million voters participated. In the first round, a dozen candidates competed. In the end, two candidates made it through to the second round with 60 percent of the vote between them. On the one hand, you had Arevalo of the Semilla party, which emerged from historic mobilisations in 2015. On the other, you had right-winger Sandra Torres. Arevalo emerged triumphant in the second round, leading to illegal interference on the part of the Public Prosecution Service (Ministerio Publico, MP), which went before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to have the results dismissed. This coup d'etat in the making has aroused indignation and anger among the peasant and working-class masses. The Public Prosecutor defends a corrupt system Ever since Consuelo Porras ascended to the MP in 2018, the Public Prosecution has become a well-honed weapon for organising the defence of the corrupt and the oligarchy. This prosecutor is a faithful representative in the state apparatus of the national oligarchy. Ever since Consuelo Porras ascended to the MP in 2018, the Public Prosecution has become a well-honed weapon for organising the defence of the corrupt and the oligarchy / Image: CARLOS SEBASTIAN, Wikimedia Commons The MP has systematically halted investigations and prosecutions conquered by masses mobilisation on the streets since 2015. Meanwhile, the press has been persecuted, while figures critical of the regime have been subject to accusations. In this period, individuals such as Thelma Aldana, Andrei Gonzalez, Claudia Escobar Mejia, Juan Francisco Sandoval and anti-corruption judges and prosecutors have had to head into exile to avoid becoming victims of the witch hunt unleashed by the Attorney General and President Giammattei. Throughout the electoral process, the MP has been the sharp end of the wedge for the regime. Among the irregularities it has been engaged in, weve seen the blocking of three candidates that stood out in the opinion polls, including indigenous leader Thelma Cabrera who was the favourite candidate in the polls. There was also an attempt to rule out the Semilla party at the end of the first round of elections, a process that is still ongoing. These irregularities have been denounced by social organisations and international observers, and have even been covered by the international media. The BBC reported on Guatemala on 1 October: Guatemalas Public Prosecutors Office raided the headquarters of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) in Guatemala City and took away several boxes containing the original minutes of the results of the presidential elections held on 20 August, in an operation that took place between Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, Europa Press reported on 24 August: The Guatemalan Public Prosecutors Office has requested this Wednesday to remove the immunity of three magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), including the president of the body, for the alleged crimes of breach of duty, abuse of authority and the implementation of resolutions that would have violated the Constitution. The National Strike and the resistance of the oligarchy The MPs interference in the election results was met with the announcement of a National Strike that began on 2 October, organised by the indigenous peasants group, 48 Cantones de Totonicapan. This organisation has put out a combative call to extend the National Strike in defence of Augusts election results, closing the main arteries in the north of the country and the borders with Mexico and El Salvador. This blatant use of the state apparatus particularly of the Public Prosecutors Office by the hated and corrupt Consuelo Porras has only radicalised the peasant and working-class masses. They have gone from expressing their discontent through the ballot box to organising the strike. The TSE has already given its final verdict, although there remain the bare minimum processes to complete, which will extend until 30 October. However, these final electoral processes wont change the final result of the elections that give Arevalo as the winner. The political representatives of the oligarchy, grouped in what is commonly known as the pact of the corrupt, which encompasses the old parties of the Guatemalan regime, are doing everything possible to halt the process of transferring power to the president-elect. Their main tool, for now, is the Public Prosecutors Office. It should be emphasised that, based on the experience of the workers struggle, we know that the regime will not hesitate to use repressive force against the masses who demand that the decision of the ballot box be respected. This is another clear example of how the national oligarchies and imperialism will not give up power and their privileges easily, not even in the most optimistic dreams of the reformists. Bernardo Arevalos programme The case of Guatemala and Bernardo Arevalo is both revealing and educational. It shows that even a party, a candidate and a programme that do not go beyond the limits of capitalism will face resistance from the ruling class. The case of Guatemala and Bernardo Arevalo is both revealing and educational / Image: Gobierno de Guatemala, Wikimedia Commons Bernardo Arevalo, son of former president Juan Jose Arevalo, one of Guatemalas most progressive presidents, won the presidency with a programme very different from that of his father. Arevalo Jrs programme does not propose radical changes outside the bounds of bourgeois democracy. Whereas Arevalo Sr at least made agrarian reform, in the times of the murderous Fruit Company, the emblematic struggle of his government, his sons party bases its programme on the fight against corruption, social justice and environmental protection through minor concrete changes to the capitalist system. The Guatemalan oligarchy is not so much afraid of Arevalo as what his candidacy might inspire among the people. We have seen how his candidacy seemed to come from nowhere. None of the opinion polls indicated that Arevalos candidacy stood a chance, whereas the former first lady was presented as the virtual winner in advance. The ruling class controlled institutions were quick to eliminate Torres most immediate competition. But they failed to anticipate that the anger and discontent of the oppressed would express itself instead through the candidate of the Semilla party, at least until the results of the first round came in and showed a run-off between Arevalo and Torres. This was totally unexpected. In the absence of a working-class party, the masses have expressed themselves using the only instrument to hand. What kind of party is Semilla? Semilla emerged first as a movement and then as a party following the mobilisations of 2015, when the masses forced the resignation of the corrupt and hated president, Otto Perez Molina. Since then, a group of intellectuals began a process of building a party that could lead the struggles of the oppressed layers of Guatemalan society. Many things can be said about the Semilla party, but what cannot be said is that it opposes capitalism. Quite the contrary. Semilla is a party that declares itself in favour of liberal democracy, and its objective is based on the fight against corruption in order to re-establish the liberal democratic balance that has been lost in Guatemala in recent years. Of course, within its objectives are a certain minimum of progressive demands, rights that have been taken away by the rotten oligarchy of the country, or in the worst case that have never been enjoyed in the country, such as indigenous rights, environmental protections, and the rights of women and oppressed groups. None of its proposals, however, attack the privileges of the rich. These demands, although unobjectionable, do not solve the root problem the country is facing. They are akin to cleaning up the capitalist state of the many stains that corrupt hands have left on it, whilst keeping the exploitation and oppression of the system intact. It is fighting for capitalism with a human face. The Semilla party is a petty-bourgeois, liberal party. In the absence of a genuine working-class party that proposes profound changes to end exploitation and oppression, the masses will, as they have before, seek out any alternative through which they might express themselves. The vacuum has been filled, on this occasion, by the party of Bernardo Arevalo. The most urgent task of the Guatemalan working class and peasants is to build an independent party of the oppressed and to take up the struggle to overthrow the capitalist system, which is the source of all the ills suffered by the Guatemalan people. Weakness of the regime One of the clearest expressions of the discontent of the working masses in Guatemala is their contempt for the institutions of the state. No state institution is spared from the biting criticism of the masses. In fact, the elections did not have the highest voter turnout. Abstention was the clearest trend of the elections first round. The ruling out of candidates and sudden emergence of Semilla in the second round radicalised the vote, not in favour of the Semilla party, but against the corrupt system. The oligarchy knows full well that beneath the surface, major events are being prepared. One false step and the working masses can paralyse the country. One of the aims of the ruling class is no doubt to prevent political plots, corruption and kick-backs for the countrys tycoons from being uncovered should Arevalo become president. The uncovering of corruption may encourage the masses to make demands beyond the limits of bourgeois democracy. This is what the ruling class fears now, and this is what it is trying to prevent with the help of the MP and every means at its disposal. For the last decade, Guatemala has been a country swept by constant revolutionary turmoil, second only to Honduras in the Central American region. The Guatemalan masses have taken to the streets time and again to make their demands, overthrowing presidents in 2015, and even burning down the legislative palace in 2020. We can safely say that this is a developing process that advances, stagnates and sometimes regresses, but that it is taking shape over time. In its development, it is showing great revolutionary potential. It is precisely this process that the bourgeoisie fears, and which it undoubtedly is attempting to contain through the use of state institutions such as the MP and its representatives, such as Attorney General Consuelo Porras and Rafael Curruchiche. An immediate resolution that excludes Arevalo could trigger a large-scale movement in Guatemala, and even an insurrection / Image: Gobierno de Guatemala, Wikimedia Commons Big business and the US National business and US imperialism are involved in this plan. The Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF), the main chamber of business in the country, is feeling the threat a triumph by the working people at the polls represents. Unable to buy the vote or carry off an electoral fraud, it is now trying to stage a reactionary coup d'etat to maintain the stability of the regime for the protection of its own interests. The United States, the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the European Union have, in words, condemned the judges involved in the coup. However, we should be in no doubt that behind the machinations of the coup there stands US imperialism, which is always intervening in the region. The situation is now complicated. An immediate resolution that excludes Arevalo, by challenging the elections or something similar, could trigger a large-scale movement in Guatemala, and even an insurrection. They could also try gradually wearing down the masses on the streets until they tire. To prevent this outcome, the strike must spread to all regions and bring the whole country under its control. Perspectives for the National Strike The leaders of the indigenous peasant population, women, youth and trade unions in struggle must understand that Guatemala is on the verge of a coup d'etat. The ruling class will not give up its privileges easily and will do everything possible to maintain control of its state. This cannot be fought with weak appeals for peace and respect for the processes of bourgeois democracy, nor with appeals to the international community. The sad history of the Latin American working class has shown time and again that a passive attitude often leads to bloody defeats for the labour movement. The oppressed of Guatemala have only one reliable ally: all those suffering daily from the exploitation and oppression of the regime. Only in them can the prospects for revolutionary victory be entrusted. The consequences of a coup against the elected president would be devastating for indigenous people, peasants, youth and workers in general. If the coup succeeds, we are likely to face the installation of an illegitimate regime that will repress those who challenge its power, resulting in more persecutions, assassinations and exiles of movement leaders. It could become much worse than what the regimes critics have so far experienced. The struggle of the oppressed classes, which has advanced in recent years with significant gains, could be set back by the implementation of a military police state. Therefore, the immediate task of the leaders of the movement must be to call an indefinite general strike of all the oppressed sectors of the country. Extending the strike to the communities, universities, high schools and, above all, to the workplaces all over the country will help to consolidate the struggle against the coup. The indigenous people organised in the 48 Cantones have strong traditions of assemblies. The Guatemalan youth and working class must emulate these practices, and extend them to the whole country in order to fight not only for democratic demands, but for deeper demands that affect the living conditions of the Guatemalans. Call for workers self-defence Faced with the threat of military repression, which will not be long in coming as events deepen, the leadership of the movement must move into action, organising self-defence committees in all the places where the strike spreads. #ParoNacionalGT #Xela La ciudadania en la ciudad de Quetzaltenango sale al parque Centroamerica a manifestar pacificamente exigiendo #FueraGolpistas de #Guatemala pic.twitter.com/IDj6hpJhVa Festivales Solidarios (@festivalesgt) October 7, 2023 The bourgeoisie will not hesitate to unleash repression if necessary. The leaders must not have a passive attitude, calling for peace. On the contrary, we must move to organise self-defence against repression by the state. We cannot afford to have more martyrs in our cause for liberation, and this can only be prevented by moving into action, through revolutionary self-defence. For a revolutionary national assembly The indigenous, peasant and proletarian organisations must fight to dismantle all the institutions that the ruling class uses to impose its exploitation. They must sweep away the whole rotten capitalist state. The only way the Guatemalan working class can end its long and painful suffering at the hands of a stubborn and murderous oligarchy is by taking control of the country, by convening a revolutionary national assembly of democratically elected delegates from all sectors engaged in struggle, which will agitate for a revolutionary programme focusing on measures that will put an end to the deepest problems faced by the working class. It is not enough to fight for demands that remain restricted within the limits of a bourgeois-democratic. It is not enough to touch up the old capitalist state. It must be replaced through coordinating an assembly of elected delegates. Only control of the country by the people can save the people. A revolutionary national assembly of delegates must consider measures such as revolutionary agrarian reform, control of industry and land, expulsion of foreign capitalist multinationals, planning the economy and production on the basis of the real needs of society. The banks must be nationalised under the control of the revolutionary people, and used to solve the social problems of the poorest in the country. The indigenous peasants have already given examples of revolutionary sacrifice. We must fight against the system to impose the will of the revolutionary assemblies of the working people and expel once and for all the businessmen, landowners and bankers who impose the most ruthless poverty and exploitation. There is no other way. Only the revolutionary struggle can offer Guatemala a different future for the new generations and make the country a truly beautiful place to live. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Around 4.4 tons of shabu with a street value of 30 billion have been seized since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office in July last year, the chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs said. At the hearing on the recent spate of discoveries of illegal drugs in Pampanga, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said the value of seized narcotics is enough to bankroll the electoral campaigns of drug lords. From July 1, 2022, the first day in office of our President, until today, we have a total drug haul of almost 4.4 tons of shabu, and almost three tons of dried marijuana leaves, Barbers said. This amount can most definitely finance the elections and victory of drug lords in our political arena. Kahit po kampanya pang Presidente, kayang pondohan ng war chest na yan [this war chest can fund even a presidential campaign]. Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., who sought the probe as the representative of Pampangas third district, expressed alarm about the series of seizures of illegal drugs in his province. On August 25, some 200 kilograms (kgs) of shabu was seized in Mabalacat. On September 24, another 560 kgs of illegal drugs were transported from Subic port to Mexico town. The latest major discovery of illegal drugs took place last Oct. 4, when 323 kgs were seized at the Manila International Container Port. Nakakalungkot at nakakaalarma na ang dating tahimik na bayan ng Mexico at siyudad ng Mabalacat ay nabahiran ng ganitong klaseng kontrobersiya [Its sad and alarming that our previously quiet town of Mexico and the city of Mabalacat have been tainted with these kinds of controversies], Gonzales said. Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) chief Moro Virgilio Lazo asked Congress for additional funds to step up the offensive against illegal drugs. He said the pay of entry-level agents should be increased from Salary Grade 11 to 14 to attract more recruits. Currently, only 3,000-strong PDEA is up against a multibillion-peso drug trade. We need all the help we can get to topple such a formidable adversary, Lazo told the panel. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Millions of members have been affected by the cyberattack on the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), based on the analysis of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). During the agency's event for Cybersecurity Month on Monday, DICT Usec. Jeffrey Dy did not give a specific figure, but he described the number of affected to be "significant" and in the "millions." "Unfortunately, its significant. Its not the entire database, but its still significant," Dy said. He did emphasize, though, that the number could decrease after duplicated files were discovered. The DICT is 90% done with its investigation on stolen data, which has now been reportedly published on the dark web and messaging app Telegram. The illegally obtained data amounted to around 700 gigabytes or over 420,000 files. PhilHealth could not directly confirm the report. I cannot ascertain ano po given that we do not have that capability to look into the files dumped by the attackers to the web, PhilHealth Acting Vice President for Corporate Affairs Rey Balena said Monday. "Hindi natin dini-discount yung possibility na meron talagang lumabas na na-leak na personally identifiable na information of our members, he added. [Translation: We do not discount the possibility that there is actually leaked personally identifiable information of our members.] The National Privacy Commission (NPC) is working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to take these down from the application and run after those who have downloaded the files for violating the Data Privacy Act. Hackers may face up to 20 years in prison and any individual or entity found downloading, processing, or sharing the stolen data will be held accountable for unauthorized processing of personal information and could also face criminal charges. Authorities said information can no longer be recovered and may be sold to scammers and phishers. Babala po sa ating mga kababayan mag-ingat po dahil yung mismong information ginagamit ng cybercriminals na bait for you to click on it in order to enter your system, DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said. [Translation: A warning to the public to be careful because the information is being used by cybercriminals as bait for you to click on it in order to enter your system.] READ: PhilHealth urges public to be vigilant against fraud schemes after cyberattack While PhilHealth said its public-facing platforms are back to normal, including its website, member portal and e-claims system, investigators are trying to determine the origin of the attack, including possible liabilities of PhilHealth personnel. We are looking at the possible gaps sa security that led to this hacking. We're looking at responsibilities ng bawat [every] official, department, to see kung meron bang naging [if there is] negligence, NPC Complaints and Investigation Division Chief Michael Santos. The state-run health insurer said it has not received complaints from its members related to the cyberattack, as it called on the public to email them at: phic.actioncenter2023@gmail.com, phic.dpo@gmail.com. The DICT also renewed its call to increase funding for cybersecurity, following the recent hacking and data breach incidents. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Some illegal foreign foreign nationals in immigration detention centers are wittingly using the criminal justice system to avoid deportation, a Cabinet official said on Monday. It is called "Demanda me" (file charges against me), and Justice Secretary Boying Remulla said the scheme lets detainees facing criminal complaints and charges to stay in the country unless their cases are dismissed or after they serve time once convicted. Ang nahalata po namin, minsan may isang kalahati po na nandon na nakakulong kaso sila po nagpapa-file (cases) para hindi sila umalis, Remulla said during a Senate committee hearing. [Translation: What we noticed is that, sometimes half of those detainees, they want cases filed against them so that they don't leave.] The secretary cited an instance of seven Japanese men filing 12 cases against themselves to remain in the country. He said the department had to dismiss the cases one-by-one. May Demanda me package po na ginagawa ang mga lawyers minsan para hindi po mapa-deport ang mga tao, he said. [Translation: There is a 'Demanda me' package that lawyers sometimes do to prevent people from being deported.] Senator Bato dela Rosa said some illegal foreigners prefer to stay since they are in danger if they go home. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said almost half of detained persons with charges are Chinese, with most cases related to offshore gaming operation scams. RELATED: 58% of POGO-related crimes in PH involved human trafficking Gatchalian Senator Nancy Binay said 18 of the 289 detainees have been held for five years, amd 28 others for at least three years. I suggest na baka kailangan i-resolve na natin 'yung issue, lalong lalo na itong 18 na ito (maybe its time to resolve the issue, especially this 18), Binay said. Tansingco said the 18 detainees are facing drug and capital offense cases. Remulla suggested penalizing lawyers assisting criminals in this scheme. Ang mas mahalaga siguro ay malaking penalty sa mga lawyers na mag a-assist ng Demanda Me racket na ginagawa ng mga foreigners, he said. [Translation: Perhaps what's more important is to mete a hefty penalty for lawyers who will assist the Demanda me racket by foreigners.] (CNN) Some 2,000 people have perished after a powerful earthquake struck western Afghanistan, the Taliban said Sunday, as the nation reels from another natural disaster at a time of deep economic crisis. The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Herat city in the western Herat province the third largest in Afghanistan. Abdul Wahed Rayan, a senior Taliban official from the Ministry of Information and Culture, told CNN that they estimated close to 2,000 people have been killed. But he warned that figure could rise with rescue operations ongoing and people still trapped under the rubble. The initial quake was also felt in neighboring provinces of Badghis and Farah and was followed by multiple aftershocks. An earlier assessments from the UN had indicated a lower toll of around 100 dead and 500 injured. Close to 500 houses were reportedly destroyed and 135 buildings damaged, said the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In total, 4,200 people (600 families) are assessed to have been affected to date, OCHA said. Images showed massive heaps of debris and rubble after buildings collapsed. Crowds of survivors had gathered in the streets for safety. Mahal Wadakah is understood to be the worst affected village, the UN said, reporting at least 20 deaths. Other badly affected areas include Dasht Hows, Bahadorzai, Zoryan and Koshkak, it added. Additionally, an estimated 300 families (around 2,100 people) are reported to have been displaced to Herat City where they are living in abandoned buildings. Afghanistan has suffered significant damage from a series of recent earthquakes amid an ongoing dire economic and hunger crises, killing and displacing tens of thousands combined. The country has long been one of Asias poorest and has been ravaged by conflict for decades. But its ability to respond to natural disasters has been further hampered since the Taliban seized power in 2021 following the chaotic US withdrawal, an event that saw many international aid groups pull out. It also led to Washington and its allies freezing about $7 billion of the countrys foreign reserves and cutting off international funding. The situation has crippled an economy already heavily dependent on aid. Last week the World Bank warned two thirds of Afghan families currently face significant challenged in maintaining their livelihoods" That makes is far harder for Afghans to recover from earthquakes, which are a regular phenomenon in a country that often experiences seismic activity. A deadly quake in March struck northeastern Afghanistan, sending residents fleeing from their homes as it brought down entire buildings and triggered devastating landslides. Tremors were also felt in several major Pakistani cities and as far away as the Indian capital New Delhi. A 5.9 magnitude earthquake last June in the eastern Paktika and Khost provinces bordering Pakistan, killed more than a thousand people and sent aid groups scrambling to reach victims and survivors in areas blighted by poor infrastructure. The quake had coincided with heavy monsoon rains and winds which greatly hampered search efforts and helicopter travel. And a 5.6 magnitude earthquake on January 17, 2022 struck Badghis, another western province near Herat bordering Turkmenistan, killed more than 20 people and reduced hundreds of brick homes to rubble. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Taliban says close to 2,000 people have died in quake that struck western Afghanistan." 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) Israel-Hamas conflict: Death toll crosses 1,000 as combat intensifies 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. Men walk through a heavily damaged area of central Gaza. Photo Courtesy: UN News/Ziad Taleb "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. Israel has declared war on Hamas and initiated airstrikes in response to their fierce attack. 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. 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 Israel Defense Forces said 2150 people have been injured in the attack so far. Meanwhile, top UN officials engaged key actors amid the spiraling Israeli-Palestinian conflict while UN peacekeepers detected rocket and artillery fire exchanged across the Israel-Lebanon border ahead of Sundays Security Council emergency closed-door meeting on the unfolding crisis. The UN agency is currently sheltering 73,538 internally displaced people in 64 of its schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip. An UNRWA school sheltering 225 people was "directly hit" and severely damaged, but no casualties were recorded, the agency said. New reports emerged of alarming food scarcity and clashes across the Israel-Lebanon border. The UN chief of the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, is in close contact with the United States, European Union, Qatar, Egypt, and Lebanon to discuss the ongoing war in Israel and Gaza, according to a social media post by his office, UNSCO. Priority now is to avoid further loss of civilian life and deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the Strip, the UNSCO post said, adding that the UN remains actively engaged to advance these efforts. Calls to protect civilians Top UN officials have called for an immediate cessation of violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier condemned in the strongest terms the attack by Hamas against Israeli towns, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, urging maximum restraint and that all diplomatic efforts are made to avoid a wider conflagration. Civilians must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law at all times, the UN chief said in a statement. As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies, with distribution networks disrupted and production severely hampered by hostilities, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP urges safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected areas, calling on all parties to uphold the principles of humanitarian law, taking every necessary measure to safeguard the lives and well-being of civilians, including ensuring access to food, the agency said. From Gaza, UNRWA reported that food operations remain on hold until further notice, with 14 distribution centres now closed. Some 112,759 families, or 541,640 individuals, had not yet received food assistance, the agency said. Fall usually means a flu shot, but with upticks in the new COVID-19 variant (BA.2.86) and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), it also means that theres a "tripledemic" many Americans have to face. Of those three, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has expressed concern over the seriousness of RSV in older adults serious in that it can cause substantial illness and death in older adults. Each year in the United States, RSV leads to approximately 60,000-160,000 hospitalizations among adults 65 years and older, and 6,000-10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older. In tracking RSV hospitalizations, it was found that most RSV-associated hospitalizations occurred among those 75 and older, and 17% of all patients resided in long-term care facilities. Most patients hospitalized with RSV had one or more underlying medical conditions, such as obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, or congestive heart failure, the CDC wrote in an email to ConsumerAffairs. As a course of action, the CDC recommends adults 60 and older get the RSV vaccine, particularly those who live in a long-term care facility and/or have pre-existing medical conditions such as obesity. The CDC is concerned about seniors not getting the COVID booster, too In addition to its RSV data, the CDC has been watching whats going on with COVID-19. For one thing, its newest data shows a rise in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths. But, breaking that data down, the data reveal that older adults accounted for 63% of all COVID19associated hospitalizations in 2023. However, more than 75% of those hospitalized had not received the recommended two-part COVID-19 vaccine. If you think that getting a COVID booster is just redundancy of the other booster shots youve received, experts would disagree. The latest mRNA shots by drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna are monovalent, meaning they protect against one variant XBB.1.5, the most recent to descend from Omicron earlier in 2023," says Dr. John Ross, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who is board-certified in infectious diseases. "Though that strain is no longer dominant, the boosters should still guard against closely related sub-variants that are now circulating. People can feel comfortable about their protection regardless." Why not get all your shots at once? Some pharmacy chains, such as Walgreens and Kroger, are offering a trifecta of flu/RSV/COVID shots. But, is getting all three at once safe? The University of Nebraska Medical Center said that since there is no data on the all-at-once approach, most experts recommend a different strategy. Take flu and COVID together, those experts told MedPage Today. The CDC endorses this, as theres evidence and experience that people can take this combination just fine, they said. That said, its Okay to give all three at once if that is the only opportunity to do so, said Dr. Aaron Glatt of Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York, who is also a spokesperson for Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). We dont have a ton of data, but if someone is really that sick, Id want them to get all those vaccines, Glatt told MedPage Today. The problem with waiting is, will they get the vaccine? If they need three visits to the doctor, how many people are willing to do that? Thanks to the unconventional lifestyles that tend to accompany artistic genius (see: pills and swills), we often lose our best artists much too young. Wouldnt it be great if death didnt have to be the end of creation? Hey, Tupac didnt let it stop him. Plenty of people have claimed to assist the late and great, but instead of a network of producers with a backlog of master tapes, they insist that theyre working directly with the artist, giving a whole new meaning to the term media. 4 Emily Grant Hutchings Claimed Mark Twain Wrote a Novel Via Ouija Board In fact, as the New York Times review of Jap Herron: A Novel Written From the Ouija Board noted, it was only the latest of a literary fad of Ouija board books, but it was significant for being authored by hands-down the most famous ghost. In 1917, Emily Grant Hutchings insisted she spent two years painstakingly transcribing the dictations of Mark Twain, seven years dead at that point, though it sounds like she neednt have bothered. The story, which tells how a lad born to poverty and shiftlessness, by the help of a fine-souled and high-minded man and woman, grew into a noble and useful manhood and helped to regenerate his town, didnt exactly break any new Twain ground, and the reviewer suggested that if this is the best that Mark Twain can do by reaching across the barrier, the army of admirers that his works have won for him will all hope that he will hereafter respect that boundary. Ghost burn. If this was actually just a stunt to attract publicity for a book that otherwise wouldnt warrant it, though we dont know how anyone would get that idea, it backfired pretty hard. Twains estate sued Hutchings and her publisher to block the sale of the book, and the defendants soon found themselves in a jam. The court was willing to acknowledge Twains ghost as the novels possible author, but by doing so, Hutchings et al would have to surrender its royalties to the Twain estate. Rather than admit to the hoax or lose the money, they quietly pulled the book from circulation, although this does mean its now a rare book worth way more than some of Twains legitimate publications. He was a master of irony, after all. 3 Albert Houghton Pratt Published a Book of Short Stories By O. Henrys Ghost Another volume of the Ouija book fad was My Tussle With the Devil, and Other Stories, whose publishers were bold enough to print with the byline O. Henrys Ghost. Unlike Hutchings, it took Albert Houghton Pratt less than a year to transcribe after first contacting O. Henry eight years after the authors death. According to Pratt, the ghost soon became a fixture of his social scene, inviting himself to New Years Eve parties and entertaining guests with stories via Ouija, an obvious lie to anyone who knows how slow Ouija boards work. Advertisement Weirdly, Pratt anticipated that skeptics would claim the stories in My Tussle With the Devil didnt sound like O. Henry. I say at once, of course they are different! he wrote in its introduction. Where before his stories were written in the bold black and red of human passions, which belong to materiality, now, they must of necessity be pastel in hue and delicate gossamer things, for O. Henrys Ghost is using finer material to mold his creations. Advertisement So that explains that! Pratt also asked O. Henrys Ghost what he thought of his stories being adapted for them there moving pictures, to which he allegedly responded, Foolish rehash of yesterdays ignorance. Man, O. Henrys Ghost was really not a fan of O. Henry. 2 Valdelice Da Silva Dias Salum Paints the Art of the Greats In 2015, an unassuming elderly Brazilian woman named Valdelice Da Silva Dias Salum came to the attention of the art world with an exhibition that was unusual for a few reasons. For one thing, it featured live painting by Salum, but its most attention-getting characteristic was Salums claim that her work was actually done by famous dead artists working through her, including Matisse, Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. On the spot, she painted a portrait that she signed Renoir, though Renoir probably wouldnt have painted someone so piggy. Advertisement He probably also would have taken longer than 18 minutes to do it, as Salum did, probably accounting for its pigginess. In fact, strangely, none of Salums work seems to stand up to their artists living catalog. To her credit, she was well aware of that, telling reporters, Its because of my lack of knowledge. They are using me as an instrument, but I am weak. Its unclear if Salum ever wondered why they wouldnt have chosen a more skilled artist through whom to deliver their posthumous masterpieces or considered trying to get good. On December 8, 2017, the writer and pop-culture critic Anthony Oliveira graced the internet with a tweet thread I have never forgotten. Frasiers son Freddy Crane was born in 1989, which means he is now 28 and the perfect age for my reboot, in which he has become a wealthy hip start-up bro aggravating his aging father and newly-out uncle, Oliveira wrote. Freddy texting during the opera. Freddy eats soylent. Freddy only wears athleisure wear. Freddy has a podcast. Freddys furniture is all beanbag chairs and yoga balls. Freddy is flirting w(ith) anti-psychiatric scientology, and measures Frasiers thetan levels.the set is a massive loft full of huge expensive hideous manga art, particle-board Ikea furniture, a playstation VR rig...and, in the centre, Frasiers gorgeous Eames chair. (I)nstead of Frasiers arriviste vs his dads working-class values the pleasure would be in Frasier as the last bourgeois aesthete pressing against son Freddys STEM-bro Zuckerbergian one-outfit ramen anhedonia.Freddy also drinks Ballantines, but ironically. If you happened to miss this thread at the time, then I apologize for bringing it to your attention: knowing about this just makes the Frasier sequel we actually got an even bigger disappointment. It writes itself, Oliveira tweeted of his version. The one on Paramount+ arriving with a two-episode premiere on October 12th feels quite effortful. As we rejoin him, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) has just come out the other side of several major changes in his life, including the end of the televised advice show hes been hosting for more than a decade. Hes returned to Boston (where we first knew him as one of the many devoted patrons of a bar called Cheers) on the invitation of his old college friend Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst). Cornwall is now a tenured professor in Harvards psychology department, and Frasier is coming back to his alma mater to deliver a guest lecture. Frasier is also eager to visit his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), and is hurt if not entirely surprised when Freddy gives him the cold shoulder; the two have never quite reconciled since Freddy dropped out of Harvard to become a firefighter. Advertisement Freddy may not want Frasier to stay in Boston; not so Alans department head, Olivia Finch (Toks Olagundoye), who thinks that if she can hire Frasier for a full-time teaching position, his celebrity will boost her to Harvard provost at a younger age than her sister was named to the same role at Yale. Frasiers relocation to Boston would also please David (Anders Keith), son to Frasiers extremely off-screen brother Niles and equally off-screen sister-in-law Daphne. Davids hero worship of Frasier is such that David followed him to Harvard rather than to Niless alma mater, Yale. Beyond that, David is very socially awkward enough that even his checked-out psych prof Alan remembers David tripping on the first day of class, spilling coffee and losing a shoe they still havent found so having more supportive family around would be a real comfort. By the end of the series premiere, Frasier has decided to give up his plans to move to Paris and write a book about the writer and playwright Pierre de Marivaux, instead remaining in Boston to repair his relationship with Freddy. Advertisement Since the 2018 death of John Mahoney, who played Frasier and Niles retired cop father Martin in the first 11 seasons of Frasier, no series revival could have returned us to the exact format we knew. But Grammer, who was never a credited writer on either Frasier or Cheers, the show it spun off from, started laying the groundwork for a more radical departure just a few months after Mahoney died. He imagined that Frasier wouldnt have stayed with Charlotte (Laura Linney), the woman with whom Frasier finally found love in the original series finale, nor that it would make sense for him to return to Seattle from Chicago, where he and Charlotte had moved. Sure enough, this series premiere has barely started before we find out Frasier and Charlotte broke up. But otherwise, this iteration of Frasier seems determined to replicate as many elements of the old show as it can. In place of Martin, the first responder and guys guy, we have Freddy. In place of Niles (David Hyde Pierce), Frasiers snobby psychiatrist confidant, we have Alan; David also shares Niles physical frailty and timidity with women. In place of Roz (Peri Gilpin, who will reprise the role as a guest star), a reliable sparring partner for Frasiers closest friend, we have Olivia, always ready with a zinger about Alans age, laziness or fading career. Daphne (Jane Leeves), Martins physical therapist and Frasiers housekeeper, has little in common with Eve (Jess Salgueiro), who lives with Freddy but is most emphatically not his girlfriend but then again, Eves also the character who seems most like a placeholder. Ive watched all five episodes (of 10) that were provided to critics, and I still dont know if she has a last name. Advertisement Advertisement Given that Frasier ended its first run almost 20 years ago, its probably too much to have hoped that the writing staff for this version would be entirely or even largely composed of producers from the first 11 seasons. Show business is youth-obsessed even when it comes to people who work behind the camera; as we were all made aware during the WGA strike, streaming originals pay a pittance compared to network rates, and who knows how many of the original writers feel the same way about the sequel as Pierce, who said last year, That whole time of my life, the writing on those shows, the actors I got to work with all of that is deeply important to me. And I would never disrespect that in such a way as to say just offhandedly, Oh, no, thanks. Im not going to do that again. Its too valuable to me. But by the same token, because its so valuable to me, I also wouldnt do it just (to) do it. Advertisement Other than producers who are credited with having created the character of Frasier, Bob Daily is, per IMDb, the only writer to have worked on both versions of the show. This shows credited co-creators, Joe Cristalli and Chris Harris, havent ever worked on anything near (original) Frasiers level of quality. Were talking about Stacked, the sitcom where the gag was that a character played by Pamela Anderson, snicker snicker, worked in a bookstore, and Maggie, a swiftly canceled Hulu original that was disappeared from the platform less than a year after its premiere. So its easy to point to the lack of continuity at the top except from James Burrows, the prolific multi-cam sitcom director whos also credited as a co-creator on Cheers as a possible cause of the disconnection between the original run and this one. Everything about it invites tinkering that somehow didnt happen during the actual development process. Canonically, Freddy was primarily raised by his chilly, intellectual mother Lilith; how did he transform from the fragile, allergic nerd Trevor Einhorn played on the original show to the buff dudes dude of Cutmore-Scotts portrayal? There are multiple references to how desirable Freddy is to women, but what is his dating history? If he and Eve are supposed to be endgame, why is her character paper-thin? As for Frasier himself, he hasnt just been a TV star for well over 10 years but, we eventually learn, a cravenly pandering one; his experience among the kind of people who would make a show like his hasnt dulled his snobbery at all? (Or maybe thats why we hear him incorrectly use the phrase the hoi polloi in the series premiere life among philistines has lowered his own intellect or maybe thats a Kelsey Grammer error no one on set wanted to risk embarrassing Grammer by pointing it out.) Advertisement Were given to understand Frasiers show has vaulted him to a new echelon of wealth: So why, when teaching immediately turns out to be a bad fit, would he not stay in Boston without having to work at all? If Frasiers go-to hangout is not a coffee house, as in Seattle, but a bar, why isnt he going to Cheers? (I mean, I know why both rights issues and, apparently, a lack of studio space, given how small and cheap all the shows sets look but is Frasier ever going to say why he hasnt returned? Did Cheers close?!) More so than practically anyone I talked to about the new show, I really was (cautiously) optimistic. The involvement of Burrows, a major creative force on both Frasier and Cheers, made me hopeful. Sure, the show seemed like a patently terrible idea, but so did the original Frasier post-Cheers, and if the new one was actually that bad, wouldnt Burrows sit out like Pierce and Leeves and all those writers did? But unfortunately, the new show is a blurry copy of the old one: You can almost make out a picture you recognize, but the effort of trying to focus just leaves you frustrated and headachey. Or, to use another analogy straight out of Frasiers own mouth in the series premiere: This is bad sherry. Browser Compatibility Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Australian Dollar, AUD/USD, BoJ, RBA, Fed, Treasury Yields, ACGB, JGB Talking Points The Australian Dollar lost its footing going into Mondays trading session The news of violence erupting in the Middle East has roiled markets Treasury yields and the US Dollar are stretching higher. Will that sink AUD/ USD ? Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade AUD/USD Get My Guide The Australian Dollar sunk on Monday morning after weekend news of an all-out assault by the terrorist group Hamas on Israel, opening up another theatre of war. The US Dollar is broadly stronger to start the week but especially so against the growth and risk sensitive currencies such as the Aussie and Kiwi. The Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc have fared better on their perceived haven status. Futures markets are pointing toward lower prices for equities across Asia, Europe and North America later today. It is a holiday in Japan, Taiwan and the US which may contribute to slipperier market conditions than would otherwise be the case on potentially less liquidity. The US Dollar had already been underpinned by Treasury yields continuing their march north after a solid jobs report on Friday that saw 336k jobs added in September. The benchmark 10-year note eclipsed 4.88% on Friday, the highest return for the low-risk asset since 2007. It has since settled near 4.80%. By comparison, the yield on the 10-year Australian Commonwealth Government Bond (ACGB) has slipped under 4.50% today after nudging 4.70% last week. Government bond spreads have historically seen fluctuating correlation to AUD/USD but the moves to start this week have moved aggressively in favour of the US Dollar. AUD/USD, 3- AND 10-YEAR AU-US BOND SPREADS Chart created in TradingView Gold, silver and crude oil futures prices have opened higher on a combination of haven buying for the precious metals and possible supply constraints and increased demand for energy. At the time of going to print, most other commodity futures are yet to open and if risk aversion is a theme for the trading session ahead, excessive volatility may unfold. Recommended by Daniel McCarthy Trading Forex News: The Strategy Get My Guide AUD/USD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AUD/USD rejected a move below a descending trendline last week but overall remains in a descending trend channel. It briefly traded above a historical breakpoint of 0.6387 on Friday but was unable to sustain the move and it may continue to offer resistance. That peak of 0.6400 coincides with the 21-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) and that level may offer resistance ahead of the 34-day SMA, currently near 0.6412. The inability of the Aussie to move above these SMAs could suggest that bearish momentum is intact for now. A move above the 21- and 34-day SMAs might indicate more sideways price action. The 0.6500 0.6520 area contains a series of prior peaks and might be a notable resistance zone. Further up, the 0.6600 - 0.6620 area might be another resistance zone with several breakpoints and previous highs there. On the downside, support may lie near the previous lows of 0.6285, 0.6270 and 0.6170. The latter might also be supported at 161.8% Fibonacci Extension level at 0.6186. To learn more about Fibonacci techniques, click on the banner below. Recommended by Daniel McCarthy Traits of Successful Traders Get My Guide Chart created in TradingView Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter --- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCarthyFX on Twitter Crude Oil, WTI, Brent, US Dollar, Israel, USD, Gold - Talking Points Oil prices have leapt higher as markets re-appraise the Middle East The US Dollar resumed strengthening as perceived havens gain favour If geo-political conditions remain unstable, is that supportive of WTI? Recommended by Daniel McCarthy How to Trade Oil Get My Guide Crude oil prices jumped higher today as markets take stock of the tragedy unfolding in the Middle East. Hopes for peace in the region have diminished in the aftermath of the military offensive of Hamas into Israel. The WTI futures contract is near US$ 86 bbl while the Brent contract is around US$ 87.50 bbl. For markets, stereotypical haven status assets such as gold and the US Dollar have benefitted in somewhat of a befuddled day for markets. Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are on holiday, while Hong Kong has seen limited trading hours due to a typhoon and the US will be away due to Columbus Day. Spot gold is back above US$ 1,850 an ounce while the DXY (USD) index up around 0.20%. Growth and risk-sensitive assets are on the backfoot with the Aussie and Kiwi seeing the largest losses leading into the start of the week. USD/JPY is steady above 149.00 while GBP/USD is holding ground above 1.2200 at the time of going to print. Supporting the US Dollar, Treasury yields continued to higher levels after a robust jobs report on Friday that saw 336k jobs added in September. The benchmark 10-year note eclipsed 4.88% in the aftermath, the highest return for the low-risk asset since 2007. It has since settled near 4.80%. Looking forward, it appears that the markets are perplexed on how to interpret the events of the last few days and with some holidays and a lack of significant economic data release, volatility could evolve. The full economic calendar can be viewed here. Trade Smarter - Sign up for the DailyFX Newsletter Receive timely and compelling market commentary from the DailyFX team Subscribe to Newsletter WTI CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL SNAPSHOT Last weeks sell-off in the WTI futures contract broke below the lower band of the 21-day simple moving average (SMA) based Bollinger Band. Today it has emphatically traded back within the band and if it closes inside the band at the close today, it may signal a pause in the bearish move or a potential reversal. Nearby resistance could be at the breakpoints of 87.76, 88.15 and 88.19. On the downside, support may lie near the breakpoints of 84.89, 83.53,83.34 or the prior low at 81.50. WTI CHART Chart created in TradingView Recommended by Daniel McCarthy Understanding the Core Fundamentals of Oil Trading Get My Guide --- Written by Daniel McCarthy, Strategist for DailyFX.com Please contact Daniel via @DanMcCarthyFX on Twitter Looking for the best trade ideas for Q4? Look no further and download your complimentary guide courtesy of the DailyFX team of Analysts and Strategists. Recommended by Manish Jaradi Get Your Free Top Trading Opportunities Forecast Get My Guide Tentative signs of stabilization in the Chinese economy, thanks to a spate of policy measures, coupled with oversold conditions, attractive valuations, and elevated pessimism suggest Hong Kong/China equities could be due for a rebound. Recent China's macro data have been less-worse than expected, as indicated by the Economic Surprise Index. The ESI is now close to neutral territory from near mid-2020 lows in July. Manufacturing activity appears to be stabilizing after NBS manufacturing PMI rose slightly last month. Credit growth, industrial production, and retail sales came in better than expected in August, just as deflationary pressures are easing, raising the odds that growth may have troughed in Q3-2023, thanks to the momentum in support/stimulus measures. The finer details within the data sets also suggest bright spots could be emerging in the economy. The pace of relief measures has gathered momentum in recent months, including cuts in key policy rates/lending rates, cuts in reserve requirement ratio, measures toward the property sector, and infrastructure spending. Early signs of a turnaround in macro data have motivated a few analysts to upgrade their economic growth forecasts for the current year. However, continued FX outflows and declining home prices suggest more fiscal and monetary measures could be needed to revive the property sector. Hang Seng Index Monthly Chart Chart Created Using TradingView Meanwhile, the risk barometer on Hong Kong/China equities based on some market estimates is at elevated levels. Similar levels in the past have been associated with positive returns in equities over a multi-week period. However, timing the rebound can be tricky indeed, there is no sign of a reversal of the downtrend on technical charts. Looking at the big picture, on the monthly charts, the index has been nicely guided lower by a declining pitchfork channel since 2020. Despite the sharp rebound in Q1-2023, the 14-month Relative Strength Index failed to cross above the 50-mark, suggesting the early 2023 rebound was corrective. Hang Seng Index Weekly Chart Chart Created Using TradingView On the weekly charts, the index is at a crucial cushion area, including the May low of about 18000 and the lower edge of a declining channel since early 2023 (at about 17400). Below that, the next support is at the 2022 low of 14600. So far, the index has lacked any meaningful upward momentum. In this regard, the Hong Kong benchmark index would need to, at minimum, cross above the early-August high of 20300 for the immediate downside risks to fade. Until then, the balance of risks remains tilted toward the downside. Recommended by Manish Jaradi Get Your Free Gold Forecast Get My Guide --- Written by Manish Jaradi, Strategist for DailyFX.com --- Contact and follow Jaradi on Twitter: @JaradiManish Beyond the immediate devastation, the shockwaves from the barbaric assault by Hamas on Israel are now reverberating across the world. Monstrous in its scale, pitiless in its savagery, this unprecedented attack has ramifications that may be felt far beyond the Middle East and for decades to come. It is no exaggeration to argue that the primitive savagery displayed by Hamas at the weekend has sparked a geopolitical earthquake. The sudden shifting of global tectonic plates means that not only Israel's local rivals, such as Iran, but the West's rivals, China and Russia, may well now move to take advantage of the immediate focus on the Middle East. Might there be a time, once this has played out, when we look back on the post-9/11 world order with nostalgia? Pictured, the twin towers of the World Trade Center billow smoke after hijacked airliners crashed into them early 11 September, 2001 It is no exaggeration to argue that the primitive savagery displayed by Hamas at the weekend has sparked a geopolitical earthquake. Pictured, Palestinians inspect the destruction in a neighbourhood heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes Provoking Israel also enables Hamas and Iran to stir up sympathy for the Palestinian cause across the Middle East. Pictured, people stand among the rubble of a destroyed mosque The Israelis' retaliating bombardment will whip up the Palestinian cause, encouraging fundamentalism and thereby weakening moderate Arab governments like that of Egypt. Pictured, a missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike The element of surprise and the harrowing death toll have inevitably led to comparisons between Hamas's blood-soaked offensive and 9/11 in New York. In fact, Al Qaeda then posed no risk of starting a world war and Bin Laden had no plans what to do after his atrocity. In contrast, Hamas's indiscriminate attack on Israel could well change the world order. As has been reported, Hamas is bankrolled by Iran. The terror group's weaponry, including the missiles that rained down on Israel at the weekend, were designed and paid for by Tehran. Ayatollahs have very specific aims in employing Hamas against Israel. A key goal is to undo the thawing of relations between the Jewish state and other Middle Eastern nations Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan that occurred between September 2020 and January 2021 with the signing of the Abraham Accords during the Presidency of Donald Trump (who, in contrast to his fiery, war-mongering image, was actually an advocate of peace and co-operation in the Middle East). Tehran loathes this reconciliatory process. The ayatollahs deny that the State of Israel has any right to exist, and insist it should be wiped off the face of the Earth. Any peace process ending Israel's isolation would push Iran further into the cold. Provoking Israel also enables Hamas and Iran to stir up sympathy for the Palestinian cause across the Middle East. People look on as the colours of the Israeli flag are projected onto the Sydney Opera House Contrary to most Western reporting, the terrorists' cynical slaughter of defenceless civilians, raping women and kidnapping others, gets little mention in the Arab media. Rather, images of the 'victims' of Israeli retaliation are the ones shown on television stations throughout the Middle East. In the heart of this maelstrom, Arab leaders now face pressure from below to pick a side. Saudi Arabia has already cancelled any plans to deal with Israel and appears to blame Israel for the violence inflicted on it. Iran enjoys several other benefits from inflaming this proxy war. One is to establish its Shia brand of Islam as the prime enemy of Israel, eclipsing the influence of Saudi Arabia, which upholds the alternative Sunni creed. Tehran can trumpet the ideological purity of the Shia code to the Muslim world in contrast to Riyadh, whose Sunni regime they'll portray as fatally compromised by attempts at rapprochement with Israel. The Israelis' retaliating bombardment will whip up the Palestinian cause, encouraging fundamentalism and thereby weakening moderate Arab governments like that of Egypt which will be destabilised even further by huge refugee flows from Gaza. Contrary to most Western reporting, the terrorists' cynical slaughter of defenceless civilians, raping women and kidnapping others, gets little mention in the Arab media. Pictured, counter protesters at a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy, in Kensingston Pictured, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration in London with supporters brandishing Palestine flags Elsewhere, Iran will now benefit (as, too, will Russia) from the inevitable surge in oil prices as the dangers of a wider Middle Eastern war rise. Meanwhile, the Western economies, already stuttering, face a 1973-style oil-price shock which could cause rifts as each country tries to save its own industry. Then there are the military implications of this conflict. An emboldened Iran will extend the export of its missile and drone technology, which is already playing an important role for Russia in its campaign against Ukraine. Indeed Moscow, though it has had good relations with Israel, has much to gain from a new Middle Eastern conflict. The U.S. is likely to feel pressure to strengthen Israel's defences against Hamas rockets with weapons like the highly effective Patriot surface-to-air anti-missile system. America does not have a big stockpile of these Patriots, and Israel will receive priority, meaning there will be far fewer for President Zelensky's government. So Moscow and Tehran stand to gain plenty from a long conflict which draws in Israel's neighbours. For us in the West, things will be much worse than they were after the Yom Kippur War exactly half a century ago, which generated the 1973 shock. Our national grid is already having difficulty coping with high demand, but we could be heading back to power cuts and the three-day week. Then, Britain was the basket case, but tomorrow a hike in oil prices could cause mayhem across a fragile global economy. Above all it would be the West Europe, America and Japan who will take the economic hit, not Russia or China. Just at a time when the West needs resolution from the very top, the White House's elderly incumbent is a figure whose mental faculties and grasp of policy fail to inspire any confidence. The sense of weakness that President Joe Biden exudes was embodied in his ludicrously unbalanced deal with Tehran last month, in which the U.S. paid a ransom of $6 billion in return for the release of just five prisoners held in Iran. It equalled a direct incentive to hostage-taking, which might explain why Hamas has taken to this tactic in its most recent assault. American distraction in the Middle East will also be welcomed by China and North Korea, who will feel that they have greater scope to fulfil their territorial and nuclear ambitions in the Pacific. Amid a deepening Cold War in the Far East, China has adopted a stance of escalating menace towards Taiwan and even the Philippines, and such threats will only be encouraged by the deployment of the biggest American aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, to the Eastern Mediterranean to bolster Israel this week. At the same time, the North Korean dictatorship, which already has strong military relations with Tehran, could use the current atmosphere of turmoil to threaten Japan or South Korea. Suspicions that Kim Jong Un and the ayatollahs have shared nuclear know-how for years could now to turn to Pyongyang slipping a weapon of mass destruction or two to Iran. That would spark a crisis of Armageddon proportions with Israel and the West. And if this wasn't enough, the fallout from Hamas's attack could re-ignite the tinderbox of civil war in Syria. President Assad's government has been moving soldiers to the Israeli border, leaving space for ISIS to re-emerge. Meanwhile Turkey, a strong supporter of Hamas, feels increasingly emboldened to launch an assault on the restive Kurds there. Next door in Lebanon, the powerful Shiite Islamist group Hezbollah might decide to use its vast Iran-supplied missile arsenal against Israel to show its 'solidarity' with Palestine. Might there be a time, once this has played out, when we look back on the post-9/11 world order with nostalgia? The prophecy of the great Irish poet W.B. Yeats seems all too appropriate as circles of crisis overlap and worsen each other. 'Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold. Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.' Mark Almond is Director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford With depressing predictability, the anti-Semites are out on the streets of Britain again, in the absurd guise of condemning Israeli 'aggression'. Any excuse for another round of Jew-baiting. In what kind of insane parallel universe can mass murder, rape and hostage-taking by a bloodthirsty Islamist terrorist organisation be interpreted as a legitimate act of 'resistance'? It takes a unique strain of psychosis to justify the slaughter and capture of hundreds of innocent men, women and children on Israeli soil and then appropriate these atrocities as a club with which to beat British Jews. Yet over the past couple of days there has been no shortage of support for Hamas from the usual suspects, coupled with a resurgence of anti-Semitic activity. In West London, Hamas groupies celebrated by dancing in the street. In Golders Green, North London, at the heart of London's Jewish community, pro-Palestinian slogans were scrawled on railway bridges and a kosher restaurant was attacked. People take part in a demonstration in support of Palestine at the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, West London on Monday night Palestinians celebrate on a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip on Saturday A Palestinian runs amidst the debris after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on Monday Police say they are treating that incident as a burglary the cash register was taken not a hate crime, even though it is perhaps no coincidence that the restaurant is in the shadow of a bridge freshly painted with pro-Palestine graffiti. I can understand their reluctance, but wonder if they'd have reached the same conclusion if it had been a curry house next to a bridge daubed with anti-Islam slogans. To be fair to the Met, they have stepped up patrols around potential Jewish targets after reports that threats have been made against synagogues and schools. The police were out in force last night as 'Free Palestine' fanatics laid siege to the Israeli embassy in Kensington. There have been smaller pro-Hamas demonstrations in Brighton, Newcastle and Manchester. In Glasgow, a section of the crowd at Celtic's Parkhead ground waved Palestinian flags and unfurled a banner reading: 'Victory to the Resistance.' Social media is awash with vile anti-Israel, anti-Semitic abuse. Maggie Chapman, a Scottish Green MSP propping up the SNP government, shared a tweet which read: 'Don't let the Western media fool you into thinking it's terrorism, this is decolonisation...' Broadcasters have had no difficulty finding Hamas apologists spouting similar drivel, blaming Israel's 'aggression' and 'occupation' of Gaza, completely ignoring the fact that the only entity 'occupying' the Gaza Strip is Hamas, backed by Iran. As I've been pointing out for years, the BBC still refuses to use the word 'terrorists', insisting on referring to Hamas, Hezbollah and the like as 'militants'. Palestinian protesters head to the Israeli embassy in London on Monday night A local Kosher restaurant had its windows smashed over night, but the Met Police is treating this as a burglary rather than a hate crime Yesterday I dug out a column I wrote here in 2006, when Israel was forced to defend itself against a barrage of Hezbollah rocket attacks from neighbouring Lebanon. 'Hezbollah has started a war it knows it can't win in the certain knowledge that there will be civilian casualties. Its stated aim is to kill as many Israelis as possible and if innocent Lebanese get caught in the crossfire, tough. 'These fanatics have little or no regard for human life. Their tactic is to hide among civilians; to use terrified women and children as human shields; to deploy school playgrounds as rocket launch sites; hotels and apartment blocks as command centres; homes as weapons dumps; mosques as air-raid shelters. 'I've heard reporters referring to Hezbollah as a 'resistance' movement. Just as they insist on calling terrorist murderers 'radicals' or 'militants' as if there's no difference between them and Aslef train drivers on unofficial strike.' Substitute 'Hamas' for Hezbollah and 'Gaza' for Lebanon and I could have written the same piece today. Some things just don't change. The following year I made a documentary for Channel 4, titled The War On Britain's Jews. In it, I exposed the growing anti-Semitism fuelled by an unholy alliance between Islamist extremists and the Hard Left. Time and again, I heard people protest that they didn't hate Jews, they were simply opposed to the policies of the Israeli government. It was a glib, get-out-of-jail-free excuse to cover their thinly disguised anti-Semitism. I didn't believe them then, and I don't believe them now. In the years which followed, the problem became increasingly worse indeed, going mainstream following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader. Corbyn described Hamas, an internationally proscribed terrorist group, as his 'friends'. Under his leadership, Palestinian flags were waved in the Labour conference hall. On Sunday, confronted by reporters in Liverpool, Corbyn again refused to condemn his 'friends'. To his credit, Keir Starmer, has attempted to purge the party of its virulent anti-Semitic streak. Palestinian flags have been replaced some might say, cynically by Union Jacks. Corbyn has had the Labour whip withdrawn, but he still commands considerable support among the grassroots, who share his loathing of Israel. Scratch the surface and you will soon discover plenty of Hamas stooges. At a fringe event, a speaker who praised the 'resistance' received a warm ovation. And the Palestine Solidarity Campaign stand has apparently been doing brisk business. Labour backbencher Apsana Begum was photographed posing with activists after the Hamas incursion. Starmer may have driven the anti-Semites underground, but as Gerry Adams said in another context about the IRA they haven't gone away, you know. Nor should we forget that, whatever he says now, Starmer campaigned for Corbyn to become Prime Minister in 2019 and would have been happy to serve in a Hard-Left Cabinet hostile to Israel and openly friendly towards Hamas and Hezbollah. What has always baffled me is the way in which British Jews are routinely blamed for the actions of the Israeli government. Yes, our Jewish community has deep ties with Israel. There are more than 30,000 British passport holders living there. One of the soldiers murdered by Hamas at the weekend was a young man from Barnet, down the road from me in North London. And let's not forget, either, that at least ten British citizens are presumed dead or missing at the hands of Hamas. Yet the idea that all British Jews are uncritical backers of the Israeli administration is fiction. There are as many vocal opponents of Benjamin Netanyahu and his hardliners as there are supporters. So why should they be blamed en masse for policies decided in Jerusalem? And why must it spill over into violence and vandalism? Indelibly ingrained anti-Semitism can be the only credible explanation. After all, the Left and it is almost exclusively the Left don't hold all British Muslims responsible for the excesses of the Saudi regime. Or attack Chinese restaurants over Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs. Where are the protests outside the Russian embassy about the illegal war on Ukraine? What also baffles me is why the Left make common cause with fascistic, paramilitary organisations such as Hamas, which represents and practises everything they claim to abhor, including rampant misogyny. How can they make excuses for a terrorist group which rapes and kills women and children? And why would they take to the streets of Britain to demonstrate that support? The police are right to be vigilant. Two years ago, an Islamic State-style convoy swept through North London waving Palestinian flags and Hamas scarves, and screeching anti-Semitic abuse through a megaphone. As I wrote at the time, how long before drive-by shouting becomes drive-by shooting? What is unfolding in Israel is a human tragedy on an epic scale, sparked by a nihilistic terrorist organisation funded and trained by a theological tyranny in Tehran, hell-bent on erasing Israel from the face of the earth. It shouldn't be an excuse for gormless Guardianistas in fashionable intifada scarves to parade their juvenile political prejudices, or a licence for extreme anti-Semites to target British Jews. As Labour bigwigs burble from the platform at this week's conference in Liverpool, I want you to remember this: Just three years ago, this party was led by a man who once called Hamas his 'friends'. The gravity of this cannot be understated. In 2009 Jeremy Corbyn cosied up to Hamas, a known Islamic terrorist group. The group has now killed more than 900 Israelis since its terrible attack started on Saturday. Corbyn is on the record as saying Hamas, who have now massacred festival-goers, raped young women, kidnapped grandmothers and spat on the dead bodies of Jews over recent days, were 'dedicated towards the good of the Palestinian people and bringing about long-term peace and social justice in the whole region'. Of course, Labour's official line is that 'the Corbyn era is over'. It is true that, under Keir Starmer, Labour has ostensibly distanced itself from its ex-leader. He was suspended from the party at the end of 2020 after being found ultimately responsible for Labour's discrimination against Jewish members. But this week's conference is packed with people who cheered Corbyn on, despite being well aware he had used the word 'friends' to describe a terrorist group whose founding charter committed it to a 'struggle against the Jews'. It is true that, under Keir Starmer, Labour has ostensibly distanced itself from Corbyn, but this week's conference is packed with people who cheered him on despite being well aware he had used the word 'friends' to describe Hamas, writes BRENDAN O'NEIL Starmer himself was happy to serve as Corbyn's shadow Brexit secretary. In fact, he campaigned vigorously for Labour to win the 2019 election. As Dominic Lawson wrote in these pages yesterday: imagine if his campaigning had worked. Corbyn would be running Britain while Hamas was rounding up Israelis and murdering them. Emily Thornberry, Angela Eagle and Angela Rayner will all be swanning around Liverpool this week doing their usual moral preening. All will conveniently forget to mention, I'm sure, that they worked and campaigned for Corbyn. Then there's Mark Drakeford, Labour's First Minister in Wales and Corbyn's noisiest Welsh supporter, who took two full days to condemn Hamas's slaughter of Israelis. Finally Drakeford yesterday brought himself to describe Hamas's actions as 'appalling'. Though Corbyn is gone, I'm not convinced Labour has changed all that much. Every trade union on Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) is affiliated to the repugnant Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), a group that was on the streets calling for boycotts against Israel on the very day Israel was being invaded by murderous Islamists. Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to remove the whip from Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, Apsana Begum, was pictured at a PSC stand at the party's conference Worse still, that same day, Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse, Apsana Begum, was pictured at a PSC stand at the party's conference. It was the same stand that drew Labour's shadow justice minister Afzal Khan, where he posed for a photo in front of a Palestinian flag saying 'end apartheid now'. He apologised for showing PSC his support after they posted the photo online. So far, Keir Starmer has yet to remove the whip from Khan or Begum and is under mounting pressure to do so. Meanwhile, skulking around the sidelines of Labour's conference will be left-wing publications like Novara Media, whose commissioning editor Rivkah Brown called news of the terrorist incursions 'a day of celebration'. So, while Corbyn might be long gone, the party's anti-Semitic history casts a dark shadow over this conference. And I fear that sympathy for Israel-hating terrorists still lurks close to the surface. Brendan O'Neill is chief political writer at Spiked Doing the washing might seem a fairly straightforward task, but it leaves many of us in a state of confusion. In fact, new data shows three-quarters of Brits (74 per cent) don't fully understand the laundry symbols on clothes labels and four in 10 (42 per cent) only ever use two settings on their washing machine. This lack of knowledge could be costing us dear. It's estimated the average household could save almost 149 per year* by adopting new habits like fuller loads, cooler washes and more efficient drying methods. Head spinning stuff: New research has found Brits are in a state of laundry confusion The study by Smart Energy GB found many struggle to understand how to select different modes on their washing machine, with synthetics cycles, cool washes and gentle washes considered among the hardest to identify. This is despite some being far more efficient than others. For example, 29 per cent of us have never used a cool wash, despite the fact that washing at 30C uses around 40 per cent less energy than higher temperatures, according to the Energy Saving Trust. One of the simplest ways to see how much energy you are using when you wash, in pounds and pence, is to get a smart meter. Three in five smart meter users say it's been integral to monitoring their energy use at home. Meanwhile, 41 per cent say the smart meter's display has specifically helped when it comes to laundry management. Labels on clothes contain important information, including temperature guidelines and recommended water levels. This means understanding them can ensure you're not washing clothes for longer, or at a hotter temperature, than they need. It could also extend the lifespan of your clothes, with over a third (34 per cent) of Brits admitting that they have ruined one of their garments by not following the washing recommendations. Wool is one of the most common fabrics that Brits admit to accidentally damaging in the wash. It's not surprising that people are confused: 32 per cent believe there are too many laundry label symbols to understand, and a fifth (20 per cent) have abandoned reading washing labels altogether. To try to tackle this nationwide laundry label confusion, Smart Energy GB has partnered with style advisor Susannah Constantine to re-imagine what common laundry labels could look like if simplified into easy-to-understand icons. Style advisor Susannah Constantine has partnered with Smart Energy GB to re-imagine what common laundry labels could look like if simplified into easy-to-understand icons They're also working with the Energy Saving Trust to provide useful tips, tricks and hacks to help households wash clothes more efficiently - saving energy and lowering bills. Currently, 40 per cent of Brits are actively looking for ways to be more energy efficient, while over three-quarters (79 per cent) are searching for tips and hacks on how they can reduce their household spending. Susannah says: 'Symbols on laundry labels are so confusing that often we don't look at them at all. 'That's why I'm teaming up with Smart Energy GB to help the nation better manage their laundry habits and energy use, one load at a time, and reduce household bills.' Methods like cold washing and air drying can significantly reduce your energy usage Victoria Bacon from Smart Energy GB adds: 'Our research has found that lots of households repeatedly use the same washing settings and could be missing out on ways to reduce their energy use and save money. 'Tracking your energy usage with a smart meter and in-home display is the best way to see how small changes to your washing routine can benefit your bills. 'So, we want to arm households with a few simple tricks to be more efficient with their laundry, to help everyone better manage their bills.' 'My smart meter lets me see how much household appliances cost to use' Like many people, Sarah Fitzgerald has been hit hard by the cost of living crisis and is struggling to afford her bills. The mother of two, who lives in Chelmsford, has long tried to save energy by taking small steps like turning off lights after her kids leave a room. She requested a smart meter from her energy supplier to allow her to keep a closer eye on her energy costs. As a result, she now feels more in control. Mother-of-two Sarah Fitzgerald finds her smart meter display 'really useful' when keeping an eye on energy usage 'The smart meter's display is really useful. It shows me when we're low on credit, while seeing our usage in near-real time helps me identify what we can do to make savings,' she says. Smart meters have a display showing how much you've spent on electricity and gas in pounds and pence 'Before having a smart meter, I wasn't aware just how much the tumble-dryer, washing machine or leaving the cooker and TV on actually costs. 'Having this information at my fingertips helps me to feel more in control, as I know exactly how much I am spending and can identify where to cut down. Sarah's in home display is right next to the sink, making it easy to check her family's energy usage. 'I look at it every time I want to use the washing machine or tumble dryer,' she says. 'Being able to keep an eye on costs is a big help.' Get a smart meter today! Eligibility may vary. *Source: Energy Saving Trust. The mom said that she preferred Denmark because of the support and costs An American woman living in Denmark has lifted the lid on the benefits of raising her son in Copenhagen compared to the US. Ilana Buhl is a mom-of-one who moved from Texas to Copenhagen in 2018 to marry her then-boyfriend. After three years of enjoying married life, the couple had a son. Now Ilana is dishing on the perks of having a child in Denmark compared to the US. She revealed that she loved that prenatal care was free, the length of paid maternity leave, and how easy it was to get her two-year-old son into daycare in Copenhagen. Ilana Buhl is an American woman living in Denmark who has lifted the lid on the benefits of raising her son in Copenhagen compared to the US She moved from Texas to Copenhagen in 2018 to marry her then-boyfriend. After three years of enjoying married life, the couple had a son Now, Ilana is dishing on the perks of having a child in Denmark compared to the US Ilana originally moved to Copenhagen on a family reunification visa and was granted permanent residence after four years of living and working in the country. And while the English teacher enjoyed her first three years in Denmark, it wasn't until she had a child that she began to see just how lucky she was. Speaking to Insider, the mom-of-one revealed the benefits she experienced while having and raising her child in Copenhagen compared to the US. No cost, no trouble! Mom thankful that prenatal and birth care is free in Denmark The first pro the mom dished on was the cost of having a kid. She revealed that Denmark had a public healthcare system, meaning that she didn't have to pay for any prenatal care. Throughout her pregnancy, the mom-of-one had three checkups with her general practitioner, five appointments with a midwife, and two ultrasounds. In addition to free birth care, Ilana noted that 'prenatal care felt more relaxed' because it was led by midwives, whereas in the US, it was led by OB-GYNs. She revealed that Denmark had a public healthcare system, meaning that she didn't have to pay for any prenatal care 'Though the approach feels a little more laid back than it does in America, if there are problems, pregnant people are referred to the appropriate specialists and get the care that they need at no extra cost,' she told the outlet. She explained that she gave birth at Denmark's largest hospital and even stayed one night in the hospital. At the end of her stay, Ilana, her son, and her husband walked out without having to pay a large sum. More time with her family! Ilana loved that she was granted 52 weeks of paid maternity leave in Denmark - especially because you're only allowed 12 in the US Another aspect of Denmark the mom was thankful for was the amount of maternity leave she was granted Another aspect of Denmark the mom was thankful for was the amount of maternity leave she was granted. In the US, employers offer 12 weeks of paid parental leave. Meanwhile in Denmark, parents get 52 weeks of paid leave to share between themselves. Because Ilana is a teacher, she decided to take the entire school year, or 50 weeks off, while her husband took two weeks off. Ilana was paid for the entirety of the 50 weeks. She noted that half the time she received her full salary and the other half she received a government stipend called a 'barselsdagpenge.' She began her maternity leave in April 2021 and after the 50 weeks of maternity leave, she took another five weeks of paid vacation and then one month unpaid so that she could also spend the entirety of the summer with her son before going back to work. In total, she took 16 months - with one of them being unpaid - during maternity leave. She added: 'If I had still been working as a teacher in the US, I would have likely had to go back to work after just 12 weeks of family leave. I'm so grateful that I could spend a long time at home with my son.' No feelings of loneliness! Mom given many postnatal resources that helped her make friends with other parents The mom also spoke about the resources that were available to her after giving birth - including help to connect with other parents The mom also spoke about the resources that were available to her after giving birth. She noted that after her son was born, a nurse would come to her home and give him checkups. Ilana also had the nurse's number and was able to text her at any time if she had any questions. Ilana was also connected with other moms during her maternity leave. 'During my maternity leave, I was assigned to two mothers groups, or mdregrupper,' she explained. 'In Denmark, the home nurses create these groups, which consist of about six parents who live in the same area and have given birth about the same time. 'The groups meet regularly with their babies while on parental leave. I got assigned to two groups: a Danish group and an international group.' Ilana noted that motherhood can be 'isolating' and she was thankful to have the resources available to connect with others in her shoes. The care without the stress! Mom revealed it was MUCH easier for her to get her child into daycare in Denmark The mom opened up about the daycare in Denmark, noting that she was worried it would be hard to get her son into a good one The mom opened up about the daycare in Denmark, noting that she was worried it would be hard to get her son into a good one because she had heard horror stories of parents going through many hurdles in the US. However, she quickly found out it was much easier in Denmark. She noted that all she had to do to register your child for daycare was 'enter your top two day-care choices into a centralized system.' Ilana said she had to do this by the time her son was fourth months old. 'The wait lists can be quite long, but if parents don't get into the day cares they requested by the date they need childcare, they're guaranteed a spot at a day care within four kilometers of their home,' she explained. Although daycare isn't free, it's subsidized, so all the daycares in the area cost the same. Ilana noted that it costs $620 a month, including lunch, until children are three years old. After they turn three, the cost goes down to $400 a month. Australian women have been left scratching their heads over a racy summer buy from Kmart. A shopper was shocked to spot a pair of bikini bottoms on the racks she said would surely 'expose' the wearer's 'lady parts'. She even pointed out the hygiene sticker on the inside of the crotch was even wider than the bikinis. The woman shared the skimpy briefs online sending hundreds into hysterics with people dubbing the buy 'ridiculous'. But not everyone took an issue with the design as some said they loved the risque look while other said they're not as thin as they look on. A pair of Kmart bikini bottoms have left shoppers divided. Some are in hysterics as they say the 'ridiculous' bathers are too thin to cover their 'lady parts' 'Kmart Australia, please explain how a woman is supposed to not expose their lady parts in this?' the customer said to the Kmart Hacks and Decor Facebook group. 'Even the sanitary plastic crutch sticker is too wide!' The String Jacquard Briefs are $10 and boast 'low coverage' on the Kmart website. Hundreds were quick to react to the shopper's query with one woman saying: 'Well apparently covering your bum in bathers is now a thing of the past so next it's the front bits.' 'Front g-string? Is this a new style?' a second wondered and another exclaimed: 'Our coochies just don't fit that way!'. 'Even the hygiene seal can't hide in those,' one user laughed. 'Going to need some sensitive sunscreen' someone quipped. 'If it isn't wide enough for the protection sticker on it isn't wide enough for lady parts,' added another. Many thought they were on the rack back to front. 'That's obviously the back sidepeople like to tan their booties!!' one woman thought and another agreed: 'maybe that's the bum part. I would hope!'. However the theory was promptly dispelled as the poster claimed: 'Sorry nope. They are legit for the front. I'm the one who tried them.' 'My friend brought this it covers all her important parts once it's on it's not as skimpy as this picture suggests. Definitely not made for me,' another replied. 'Been wearing bikinis like this for decades!' a third wrote. Effective 2024, Julius Baer will change its regional structure, create encompassing responsibility for client experience, and strengthen the importance of people management and culture. As a result, the Group makes new appointments to the Executive Board. The changes in structure and leadership are designed to enhance the delivery of its targets for the 20232025 strategic cycle and beyond. Zurich, 9 October 2023 As of the beginning of 2024, Julius Baer Group complements its leadership team through a number of in-house promotions and select new hires. The Executive Boards of Julius Baer Group Ltd. and Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. will both consist of the following individuals: Philipp Rickenbacher , Chief Executive Officer , Chief Executive Officer Nic Dreckmann, Chief OpeRating Officer & Deputy Chief Executive Officer Regions and clients: Sonia Gossi , Switzerland & Europe , Switzerland & Europe Carlos Recoder Miralles , Americas & Iberia , Americas & Iberia Rahul Malhotra , Emerging Markets* , Emerging Markets* Jimmy Lee , Asia , Asia Thomas Frauenlob , Intermediaries & Family Offices , Intermediaries & Family Offices Sandra Niethen, Client Strategy & Experience Products and solutions: Luigi Vignola , Markets , Markets Yves Bonzon , Investment & Wealth Management Solutions, Chief Investment Officer , Investment & Wealth Management Solutions, Chief Investment Officer Nicolas de Skowronski, Investment & Wealth Management Solutions, Wealth Management Solutions Strategy, stakeholder relations, and corporate functions: Evie Kostakis , Chief Financial Officer , Chief Financial Officer Guido Ruoss , Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Affairs , Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Affairs Oliver Bartholet , Chief Risk Officer , Chief Risk Officer Christoph Hiestand, Group General Counsel The changes in regional structure will create maximum proximity to clients and their needs, thereby accelerating the growth of the Groups franchise. The newly created division Client Strategy & Experience will set global standards in client service, providing support, segment management, marketing, and front risk management for all Regions. With the representation of Human Resources in the Executive Board, the updated leadership structure further reflects the central role of people and culture in Julius Baers strategy of FOCUS SCALE INNOVATE. Commenting on the changes, CEO Philipp Rickenbacher said: Creating value for our clients and stakeholders is at the heart of our purpose it is the key to our success. Our organisational structure and freshly composed leadership team, with its blend of in-house and new talent, will create the momentum and continuity needed to achieve our targets. It is also the optimal structure to fuel Julius Baers ability to capitalise on the growth opportunities in the wealth management industry. Further changes effective 2024 Yves Robert-Charrue decided to leave the Group at the beginning of 2024 and will therefore step down from the Executive Board. Philipp Rickenbacher said: The unrivalled position that Julius Baer enjoys today in Switzerland, Europe, and the Middle East is an outstanding achievement of Yves Robert-Charrue and his teams. A highly esteemed and valued colleague since 2009, I would like to thank Yves for his leadership and loyalty and wish him the very best for his professional and personal future. Beatriz Sanchez will also step down from the Executive Board, reflecting her wish to relinquish operational responsibilities, and assume the strategic role of Chair of Americas at Julius Baer as of January 2024. Philipp Rickenbacher said: Betty Sanchez has been invaluable in re-structuring the Americas business and positioning it for renewed growth. I am immensely grateful for her great contribution and delighted that she will continue to work with us in her new role. Background on new Executive Board members, with designated roles Sonia Gossi, Switzerland & Europe, will join Julius Baer on 1 January 2024 from UBS, where she was Sector Head Wealth Management Europe International North. She started her career in audit and business consulting and joined UBS in 2004, where she held senior client-facing roles in wealth management as well as various risk control and risk management positions. Carlos Recoder Miralles, Americas & Iberia, today Head Western, Northern Europe & Luxembourg at Julius Baer, joined the Group in 2016 from Credit Suisse, where he started his career in private banking in 1997 and last held the role as Head Private Banking Western Europe. Rahul Malhotra, Emerging Markets, is currently responsible for Julius Baers Global India franchise (onshore and non-resident), Japan, and Asian clients served out of Switzerland and Japan. He joined from J.P. Morgan in 2021. Rahul will be based primarily in Dubai, recognising the financial hubs central role for these growth markets. Thomas Frauenlob, Intermediaries & Family Offices, will join on 1 April 2024 from UBS. He is currently the Head of UBSs Global Financial Intermediaries Business and was previously in charge of their Swiss Global Family Office and Ultra High Net-Worth franchise. He started at UBS in 2010 as Head Equities Switzerland, following roles in the institutional business of Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs. Sandra Niethen, Client Strategy & Experience, is currently Chief of Staff and Head of Strategy at Julius Baer, a role she has held since 2020. Her financial services career of over 20 years spans a number of senior positions in private wealth and asset management, in international client-facing, strategy development, and sales management roles at Deutsche Bank and DWS. Guido Ruoss, Chief Human Resources Officer & Corporate Affairs, has been Global Head Human Resources at Julius Baer since 2015. Previously he was responsible for business and product management in the Banks Investment Solutions division. He joined Julius Baer in 2008, after several years in the asset management and alternative investment industry. Christoph Hiestand, Group General Counsel, has been with Julius Baer since 2001 and has held the role of Group General Counsel since 2009. Before joining the Bank, he worked as an attorney-at-law in law firms in Germany and Switzerland. A mother-of-three has said that the environment was 'the last thing on her mind' when she was in labour, hitting out at calls to get rid of gas and air. For years Entonox, known as gas and air, has been a popular method of pain relief in labour. However, in a crackdown on harmful greenhouse gas emissions, the NHS has warned that the use of Entonox in Scotland is 'equivalent to 18,000 transatlantic flights'. Instead, the health service will be offering an injection of water to ease contractions. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, mummy blogger Lucy Baker said the move puts 'pressure on women again'. A mother-of-three has said that the environment was 'the last thing on her mind' when she was in labour, hitting out at critics of parents who choose to opt for gas and air during childbirth amid reports that it may be harming the planet 'Are you going to feel guilty if you took the and air not the water injections after you've had the baby?' she questioned. 'We know that gas and air works. it totally takes the pain away - it's a great method.' Opening up about her own labour, Lucy said gas and air offered huge relief for her at a 'critical moment'. 'I was at the point where the baby was stressed, I was stressed - it was going to be an emergency caesarean,' she revealed. 'And then I was offered gas and air and I took it and loved it, and it got rid of the pain and ensured that I could manage the situation that I was in.' However, mother-of-one Kate Hofman says she wishes she knew about the impact of gas and air before she went into labour so she could 'factor that in'. 'I think the main thing is, like when we all make our birth plans, the more information you can give people as they're going in and preparing before they go into labour, the better informed they'll be,' she told the programme. 'And that comes with all the decisions we make as parents about sustainability, what we want to feed our children, what nappies we want to use...' However, mother-of-one Kate Hofman says she wishes she knew about the impact of gas and air before she went into labour so she could 'factor that in' However, social media users appeared to side with Lucy, many saying that asking anyone to think about sustainability during labour is unreasonable Stressing that she is not a doctor and has no medical experience, Kate added that the water injections appear to offer a valid alternative. 'My understanding is they're used in other parts of the world, have been done for years as a form of pain relief,' she explained. The Scottish Government previously wrote to all health boards with a plan suggesting women should be discouraged from using Entonox for the good of the planet. Last week, watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) backed the use of sterile water in England. NHS Lothian and NHS Ayrshire and Arran have confirmed they offer the jabs alongside other forms of pain relief. Deep breaths or jabs in the back? GAS & AIR, known as Entonox, is a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen self-administered through a mouthpiece; First developed in 1933 by anaesthetist Robert James Minnitt and instrument maker Charles King, the mix is understood to work by blocking neurotransmitters and releasing feel-good chemical dopamine taking the edge off pain, rather than eliminating it. Quick-acting and safe, it is not harmful to the unborn child but is considered harmful to the environment. STERILE WATER is injected at four points in the lower back; First documented in 1885, it was used for minor surgery and kidney stones It has been used for labour in Sweden, Canada, Asia and Australia since the 1980s Although unclear how it works, scientists believe the perception of pain from the back is blocked by pain receptors in the skin being irritated by the injections. Although some studies found injections significantly reduced back pain, patients have complained about the intense stinging sensation when injected Sterile water has no long-term effects and is environmentally friendly Advertisement NHS Lothian's online advice to pregnant women says: 'It is particularly useful in early labour and we have seen great results with this form of pain relief.' The NICE guidance told medical staff: 'Consider intracutaneous or subcutaneous sterile water injections as a pain relief option for women in labour with back pain. These injections can be given by a midwife trained in the use of sterile water injections. 'Explain to the woman that sterile water injections can provide relief of back pain from ten minutes after the injection for up to three hours, but there can be an initial stinging sensation.' However, social media users appeared to side with Lucy, many saying that asking anyone to think about sustainability during labour is unreasonable. 'The last thing any labouring mother is thinking about is "saving the planet",' one said on X - formerly known as Twitter. 'No, at that moment in time we just need pain relief!!!!' 'Only agree to this if there is a specifically male equivalent of saving the planet. It doesn't take the pain away, it just makes you not give a s**t.,' a second added. Elsewhere, some were wary of the injection alternatives. 'Sterile water injections well I've never heard that before,' one penned. 'Injection?????? Ya must be mad. Don't know what's in it,' another wrote. 'Keep gas and air ffs, it's also needed in A&E.' Those in favour of the jabs say they are cheap and effective but not everyone agrees. TV doctor Amir Khan branded NICE's guidance 'hugely concerning' and author and palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke said it was 'mind-boggling'. The National Childbirth Trust website says the treatment is 'unusual' but adds: 'There is some evidence it can help. It's usually used for women experiencing strong back pain in labour.' It is unclear exactly how the injections work, but one theory is that they stop back pain signals from reaching the brain. In one study, six in ten women described the jabs as effective. However, during a consultation on the treatment, the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association wrote: 'What possible biological plausible explanation is there for benefit with intracutaneous or subcutaneous injections of water in volumes of 0.1 to 0.4mls? 'Because it is cheap and unlikely to cause harm is an inadequate justification for a recommendation, especially as NICE does not recommend other similar non-pharmacological therapies such as acupuncture and hypnosis.' The Scottish Medicines Consortium, which advises boards on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of new medicines, said: 'Pain relief in labour is not a licensed use of sterile water for injection, so not in the SMC's remit.' The Scottish Government plan sent to boards proposes that expectant mothers do their bit in a 'collaborative mitigation approach' to cutting the environmental impact of Entonox. Healthcare service NHS Scotland Assure admits the benefits of Entonox but says that 'within NHS Scotland, Entonox alone is responsible for an emission footprint similar to that of 18,000 flights from Frankfurt to New York'. Crown Princess Mary looked stylish alongside her lookalike children at the premiere of Peter Pan on Saturday. The Danish royal, 51, along with her children Prince Christian, 17, Princess Isabella, 16, and Prince Vincent, 12, appeared in great spirits as they made their way into the theatre in Tivoli, Copenhagen. The mum-of-four paired chic wide leg, high-waisted jeans with a stylish navy blazer over a ruffled collar white blouse. She accessorised the casual yet classy look with a navy suede boots and a cream leather handbag. The glamourous royal could be seen posing up a storm with Christian, Isabella and Vincent before the premiere. Crown Princess Mary looked stylish alongside her lookalike children Prince Christian, 17, Princess Isabella, 16, and Prince Vincent, 12, at the premiere of Peter Pan on Saturday Prince Christian looked smart in navy chinos which he paired with a grey wool jumper. While Princess Isabella donned flared trousers like her mother and she paired her ensemble with a checkered blazer. Elsewhere prince Vincent looked autumnal in cream trousers and a brown wool jumper. It comes after the Crown Princess looked cheerful as she arrived at the Bispebjerg Hospital last week- and was greeted by two friendly hospital clowns- Basta and Baglaens. The Australian-born Danish royal appeared in a positive spirit during the visit to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Centre in Copenhagen. The royal looked elegant in tonal brown suit separates- perfectly corresponding to the shades of the autumn weather. Mary matched the outfit with a simple white t-shirt and accessorised with chic layered necklaces. The mum-of-four paired chic wide leg, high-waisted jeans with a stylish navy blazer over a ruffled collar white blouse While Princess Isabella donned flared trousers like her mother and she paired her ensemble with a checkered blazer Meanwhile, she opted for natural makeup and swept her long brown hair across her shoulders for the occasion. Upon her arrival, the Danish royal greeted lines of hospital clowns, who donned red noses and woolly hats. But it was hospital clowns Basta and Baglaens who took the mother-of-four by the hand during the visit. The Danish hospital employs 'clowns' to bring joy to the children undergoing mental health treatments; there are currently 61 working clowns at the hospital. Elsewhere prince Vincent looked autumnal in cream trousers and a brown wool jumper Prince Christian looked smart in navy chinos which he paired with a grey wool jumper Training to be a clown can take up to two years as they are taught a range of skills in relationship building, neuropsychology, and collaboration with the staff, according to Culture For Health. The royal seemingly saw the effectiveness of the clown programme, which launched in 2003, as she appeared to have a wide grin across her face at all times. Princess Mary has long been recognised for her work in raising awareness of mental health issues, and she is the patron of several organisations and foundations on the matter. A mum and daughter who almost died during childbirth 30 years ago have been joyfully reunited with the nurse who helped saved their lives. Catherine Conteh, then 18, and her unborn daughter Regina were in the midst of a gruelling four-day labour at a hospital in Sierra Leone when things took a turn for the worst. To save her and her baby's life, Catherine was told she would need a 70 Caesarean section which at the time she couldn't afford. Nurse Aly Hogarth-Hall, then in her 20s, was touring the hospital in 1993 on a visit from a nearby charity. Upon learning of Catherine's fate she stepped in to help, managing to raise the life-saving funds in the nick of time. Unfortunately. the trio lost touch for decades until they reunited face-to-face - when they volunteered at healthcare charity Global Mercy in Sierra Leone. Catherine, 48, recalls the incredible moment: 'To see her [Aly] in person again, I couldn't believe it. We just sobbed. We cried and cried'. Catherine Conteh, 48, who almost died during childbirth 30 years ago, has been joyfully reunited with nurse Aly Hogarth-Hall, 52, who helped save her and her unborn baby's life Catherine's daughter Regina is now all grown up now. She volunteers as a nurse at healthcare charity Global Mercy alongside her mum and Aly Catherine is pictured here with her husband cradling their newborn Regina at the hospital, just moments after the life-changing C-section Aly, now 52, from New Zealand, said it was all too 'surreal'. She added: 'To see Catherine again, it's very surreal really. 'It's not something I ever expected until we made contact again, 18 months ago or so. So it was overwhelming'. The women - including now grown up Regina - saw each other after they began a stint of volunteering earlier this month. The trio volunteer for a healthcare charity on a Mercy Ships hospital boat docked in Sierra Leone. Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. Aly currently volunteers on board the boat, while Catherine works in the dining room. Meanwhile Regina is on nursing duties. Aly spoke on the frightening moment 30 years ago when Catherine was giving birth in a maternity hospital in Freetown. The nurse was visiting as part of a tour on a hospital ship run by Mercy Ships and heard a woman's cries of pain. Aly, from New Zealand , said it was all too 'surreal' seeing Catherine again three decades later Aly and her husband Arnie (pictured centre) are moved to tears after meeting Catherine face-to-face Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and other healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical car Nurse Aly Hogarth-Hall, then in her 20s, was touring the hospital in 1993 on a visit from a nearby charity. Upon learning of Catherine's fate she stepped in to help, managing to raise the life-saving funds in the nick of time (Pictured: Aly reading her 1993 diary entry) 'The nurse told me that she [Catherine] would die, and the baby would die' said Aly. Catherine needed a C-section to save her and Regina's lives - but was unable to afford the 70 surgery - equivalent to six months' salary in Sierra Leone. Aly informed her colleague, British anaesthetist Dr Keith Thomson of the dire situation and he immediately paid for the surgery. That was the very first moment Catherine met Aly and Keith. Speaking on the life-changing moment, Catherine added: 'I could literally feel my strength falling out of my whole body. 'Then the nurses came up to me and explained, "Look, these strangers who came in are going to pay for your Caesarean section".' Thankfully both Catherine and her baby Regina survived and were healthy. Aly continued to visit Catherine in the hospital while she recovered, helping to dress her wound and even teaching her how to breastfeed. Catherine needed a C-section to save her and Regina's lives - but was unable to afford the 70 surgery so Aly informed her colleague, British anaesthetist Dr Keith Thomson of the dire situation and he immediately paid for the surgery. (Pictured: Dr. Keith Thomson (standing centre) with Catherine Conteh, her husband, and their daughter, Regina) Happy times! Dr. Keith Thomson and Catherine Conteh at Regina Conteh's wedding Happy family! Catherine, her husband and their daughter Regina are all smiles years later Although they became friends, they all lost touch when Aly returned home to New Zealand and Regina gained asylum in Australia. Catherine and Regina both became nurses, a decision they say was inspired by Aly, while Regina is now raising a child of her own. Catherine regularly returns back home to Sierra Leone to serve her local community and has raised funds to launch her own school. Dr Thomson also kept in touch with the family and managed to track down Aly in 2021 via social media in a bid to reunite her with the pair. He sadly passed away from cancer in April 2021. WHAT ARE THE MEDICAL REASONS FOR A CAESAREAN? There are various reasons why a doctor may recommend that you have a caesarean section instead of giving birth vaginally. If you had complications in a previous pregnancy or birth, or in your current pregnancy, you may be advised to have whats called a planned or elective caesarean, or a planned repeat caesarean. If you were planning to give birth vaginally, but complications during labour or birth mean that youre advised to give birth by caesarean, youll have whats called an unplanned or emergency caesarean. Here are some reasons why doctors may opt for a planned or emergency caesarean, rather than a vaginal birth: You've already had at least one caesarean section. Your baby is in a bottom-down, or breech, position. Your baby is in a sideways (transverse) position, or keeps changing its position (unstable lie). You have a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia). You have a medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes. You have lost a baby in the past, either before or during labour. Youre expecting twins or more. Your baby is not growing as well as it should be in your womb. You have severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia, making it dangerous to delay the birth. Source: BabyCentre Advertisement It's Aly's first stint back with the Global Mercy charity since she met Catherine, who is a first-time volunteer. Aly calls it a 'legacy' fulfilled, saying: 'This is Dr Thomson's legacy in a way. This is a tribute to him in a lot of ways because his dream was for us to come together here'. Aly and Catherine will spend the next month volunteering while the ship's crew carry out surgeries and train more than 200 Sierra Leonean healthcare professionals. Their bond remains as strong as ever - and this time, they have no plans to lose touch ever again. Catherine said: 'I call her sister and she calls me sister because it takes a pure heart and someone with pure love' Aly added: 'When I came back to New Zealand, it was a story I carried in my heart. I thought about her every time I told that story for the last 30 years. 'I know it was a significant time, realising that you can make a real difference by doing something'. A bar of royal souvenir chocolate from 1935 has been found under a woman's bed 88 years after her father told her not to eat them. Vera Petchell, from Boston, Leeds, was given the chocolate to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary when she was just eight years old. But she never ate them because her father told her they might be worth something one day and treasured the souvenir for 82 years - up until six years ago when she thought she had lost them aged 90. Ms Petchell passed away at the age of 95 in November last year and her children discovered the lost confectionery while clearing out her home in Beeston, Leeds. The chocolate bar was found hidden inside a toffee tin at the back of a drawer under Vera's bed and could now fetch hundreds of pounds at auction. A bar of royal souvenir chocolate (pictured) from 1935 has been found under a woman's bed 88 years after her father told her not to eat them The chocolate bar was found hidden inside a toffee tin (pictured) at the back of a drawer under Vera's bed and could now fetch hundreds of pounds at auction Vera Petchell (pictured as a child) was given the chocolate to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary when she was just eight years old Ms Petchell passed away at the age of 95 in November last year and her children discovered the lost confectionery while clearing out her home in Beeston, Leeds Nadine Mccafferty, 71, from Beeston, one of Vera's four children, said: 'Mum was mortified when she lost the chocolates. She had us hunting high and lot for them. We looked everywhere. 'They used to be in a drawer in her bedroom but we couldn't find them. She thought we'd accidentally thrown them out.' Ms Mccafferty said she found the chocolate in a toffee tin when clearing her mother's house after she died in November last year. She said she was confused to find the box hidden in the tin because the chocolate never used to be in there. 'It's a shame Mum never knew we'd found them,' she said. 'She spent the last few years of her life wondering where they'd got to. 'She kept them safe forever. Her dad told her not to eat them because they might be worth something one day.' And Ms Petchell's father's advice now appears to be right because the The Rowntree & Co Ltd chocolates are now expected to fetch 100-200 at auction. Ms Mccaferty said that knowing how much the chocolates meant to her mother, her and her siblings decided to put them into auction to preserve them because box can't really be split between four. Cardiographer Ms Petchell was born in September 1927 and in 1935 all children were presented with the chocolates to mark the Silver Jubilee. 'The gift was arranged by the then Lord Mayor of Leeds William Hemingway,' Ms Mccaferty added. 'Mum always did what her dad told her. She was a great character and enjoyed a good life.' Ms Petchell's father's advice now appears to be right as the The Rowntree & Co Ltd chocolates (pictured) are now expected to fetch 100-200 at auction In 1935 all children were presented with the chocolates to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary Ms Petchell (pictured as a teenager) had four children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren Ms Mccafferty said she found the chocolate in a toffee tin (pictured) when clearing her mother's house after she died in November last year. She said she was confused to find it hidden in the tin as the chocolate never used to be in there Ms Petchell had four children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The chocolates are set to go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, in Etwall, Derbyshire, between October 19 and October 24. Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: 'What a relief those chocolates have been found and are here to honour Vera's memory. I can imagine her horror at thinking she had lost them after treasuring them for more than 80 years. 'But this story is destined to have a happy ending. This find has sparked memories of a wonderful Yorkshire woman, old-school discipline and a child's respect for her father.' Mr Hanson added: 'It must have been hard for Vera not to eat a morsel of chocolate but in those days a gift like this was so special it was treated like treasure. 'No doubt Vera occasionally had a peep, just to check her chocolates were still there. We're not sure when she put them inside the Thorne's toffee tin but it would have helped to preserve them during hot summers.' He said as the Rowntree chocolates were in the tin they are in good condition despite being more almost a century ago. But Ms Petchell was not the only person to have treasured years-old chocolate for it then to end up being worth hundreds An 85-year-old Easter egg was left untouched by bride-to-be Joyce Angell after her fiance Jack Carter gave it to her as an engagement present The Little Miss Muffet Chocolate Easter egg made by Pascalls still has its original rose gold paper and blue bow But Ms Petchell was not the only person to have treasured years-old chocolate for it then to end up being worth hundreds. An 85-year-old Easter egg was left untouched by bride-to-be Joyce Angell after her fiance Jack Carter gave it to her as an engagement present. The Little Miss Muffet Chocolate Easter egg made by Pascalls still has its original rose gold paper and blue bow. The sweet treat was given by Mr Carter to his 17-year-old sweetheart Ms Angell when they got engaged on April 16, 1938. Ms Angell could not bear to eat the egg and kept it in mint condition up until her death in 2004 aged 84. Following her death, her devoted husband kept the egg until he passed away in 2012, just three weeks before his 96th birthday. A fascinating diary kept by Princess Diana's great-great-grandmother in which she listed all the balls she attended and the men she danced with has come to light. Adelaide Horatia Elizabeth Seymour was a member of Victorian Britain's social elite who was invited to countless balls, banquets and gatherings during the 'London Season'. As an attractive 19-year-old born into an aristocratic family - she was a direct descendant of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife - she would have been launched into society to find a husband. And judging by her 'charming aide memoir' there was no shortage of potential suitors who waltzed with her in the ballrooms of some of London's finest residences in the springs of 1844 and 1845. Adelaide made a note of the date and location of each event she attended, the name of the host and all the men who asked her to dance. A fascinating diary kept by Princess Diana 's great-great-grandmother in which she listed all the balls she attended and the men she danced with has come to light She also made summary comments about some of the balls. For example, for Madame St Aulaire's do of May 2, 1844 she wrote: 'Dreadfully crowded & could not get into the ballroom till very late.' However she found the Duke of Devonshire's ball at Chiswick House on May 17 to be 'a charming Ball'. At most of the events Adelaide danced quadrilles and waltzes and her distinguished partners included various lords and 'Prince Edward'. Adelaide had to wait 10 years before she married Vice-Admiral Frederick Spencer, the 4th Earl Spencer. Their great-grandson was John Spencer, 8th Earl Spencer, who was Princess Diana's father. The booklet, which Adelaide titled 'Balls and My Partners 1844-45' fell out of another book bought as a job lot by antiques collector Peter Hone about 40 years ago. Mr Hone recalled the book sale had links to Bagshot Park, the current home of Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh. Adelaide Horatia Elizabeth Seymour (pictured) was a member of Victorian Britain's social elite who was invited to countless balls, banquets and gatherings during the 'London Season' Princess Diana bore a striking resemblance to her great-great-grandmother (pictured during a Royal Tour of Nigeria in 1990) And judging by her 'charming aide memoir' there was no shortage of potential suitors who waltzed with her in the ballrooms of some of London's finest residences in the springs of 1844 and 1845 He has kept it at his London flat ever since. Its true significance has only now been realised as he prepares to auction off some of the contents if his flat. Mimi Connell Lay, of Lay's Auctioneers of Penzance, Cornwall, has researched the little booklet and discovered the identity of its author. She said: 'I have never seen anything like it before. It is a lovely and fascinating record of all the balls she attended, the dances and danced and, of course, the partners she danced with. 'This was all during the 'London Season' in Victorian Britain when the great and the good held swanky balls almost every night. It is like something out of Sense and Sensibility only this was real life. 'Adelaide Seymour was obviously very well connected because she got invited to so many of these events. 'She also must have been very attractive judging by all of the distinguished men who asked her to dance. 'The booklet is tiny, about 10cms by 11cms. She cut up sheets of paper and stitched them together. There are probably 20 pages in all.' For example, for Madame St Aulaire's do of May 2, 1844 she wrote: 'Dreadfully crowded & could not get into the Ball Room till very late' The booklet, which Adelaide titled 'Balls and My Partners 1844-45' fell out of another book bought as a job lot by antiques collector Peter Hone about 40 years ago For 1845 she attended 44 balls, four breakfasts and three teas and danced 373 times, including 134 waltzes and 118 polkas On the final page of the booklet, Adelaide tallied up all the balls she went to. For 1844 she worked out she went to 32 balls and danced 291 times On the final page of the booklet, Adelaide tallied up all the balls she went to. For 1844 she worked out she went to 32 balls and danced 291 times. For 1845 she attended 44 balls, four breakfasts and three teas and danced 373 times, including 134 waltzes and 118 polkas. Some of the men she danced with included Lord Worcester, Lord Northland, Lord Curzon and Leopold Paget. The last two men must have been vying for Adelaide's affections as their names pop up repeatedly in her little book. The booklet will be sold on Thursday and had a pre-sale estimate of 400. Michelle, from Wigan, is speaking out to raise awareness and inspire change A young woman who was raped by her stepfather as a child has slammed the lack of support for survivors of abuse. Michelle Sallis, 27, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, was subjected to horrific sexual abuse by her depraved stepfather, David Sallis, who is now beginning a 14-year jail term after admitting his crimes at Preston Crown Court. Michelle, an auxiliary nurse, is critical of Victim Support, who, she said, offered her no help or advice during the court process. Now, the 27-year-old is speaking out to raise awareness of the need for change. Michelle said: 'At the court hearing, the defending barrister said my stepdad had been working hard in prison and taking part in all sorts of schemes and rehabilitation programmes. Michelle, 27, who is now an auxiliary nurse, has criticized Victim Support for neglecting to help or advise her during the court process Michelle Sallis (pictured above at her mother's wedding to Sallis), who was subjected to horrific sexual abuse by her stepfather as a child, has slammed the lack of support for survivors of abuse 'I, on the other hand, had no support at all. I wanted to tell them that actually I had been working hard every day too, living with horrific trauma, and hadn't even been offered counselling. 'I am the victim, yet I feel all the emphasis was on him. 'I can absolutely understand why victims of abuse don't speak out and don't follow cases through to court, because there just isn't enough help. 'We have a flawed system that supports paedophiles more than victims. The person who committed the vilest crimes gets the most support.' In the run up to her court case, Michelle was promised help from Victim Support. She said: 'The officer explained there were many things they could do to make the court case more bearable, such as looking around the court, or giving evidence behind a screen. 'I asked Victim Support if I could visit the court room, as I was very anxious about it, I'd never been in a court before. 'They promised me they'd arrange it, but they never did. David Sallis (pictured) is now beginning a 14-year jail term after admitting his crimes at Preston Crown Court of sexually abusing his stepdaughter from when she was eight-years-old 'When I rang, I spoke to a different person every time. I was told I wasn't on their system. 'The trial was adjourned three times. The first two times, Victim Support didn't let me know and I had to ring the court myself. 'The third time, Victim Support rang only the night before. I had taken time off work; my friends had arranged to come with me and it all had to be cancelled. 'More than that, the emotional impact of building up to the trial, and then it being cancelled the night before, was very stressful. 'My employers asked for a letter, to confirm the court dates, and again, Victim Support told me they couldn't find me on their system. It took weeks of me calling to sort it out. Michelle, who was a bridesmaid at her mother's wedding to David (pictured), was not informed by Victim Support when the case had been adjourned During the court hearing, Michelle heard about her step father's progress and the help he has received, but she, the victim, failed to receive any support or care (Pictured: Michelle's school photo) 'When the trial finally went ahead, it was moved from Burnley Crown Court to Preston Crown Court, but nobody told me. It was just lucky I contacted the CPS direct. 'By this time, I was feeling stress and anxiety and I had to source counselling myself, through my employer. Victim Support offered me nothing. 'I just hope, by speaking out, I can make the courts and their services aware of how important it is to support abuse survivors through the justice process. 'It's not ok to leave victims to cope alone. I had no support from my family, which was another burden I had to carry. I felt very isolated. 'The only person who really looked after me was the officer, Phil Scott. Without him, I doubt I'd even have got to trial.' A much younger David Sallis is pictured here - around the time he first started abusing Michelle Michelle's despair was confounded when she heard that her rapist stepfather had himself been offered a range of schemes and programmes whilst on remand. She says: 'He was praised, in court, for taking part in rehab, yet I, the victim, had been offered nothing. It defies belief.' Michelle bravely read her own personal statement in court, saying: 'The only person who picked up the phone and explained things to me was the officer in charge of my case. 'I am yet to receive any support from victim support and am yet to be assigned a support officer. 'I didn't even know the date of this sentencing, I found out from the Crown Prosecution Service. Michelle is yet to receive any support from Victim Support and has not yet been assigned a support officer 'Do I not deserve an explanation, or do victims just need to be left in the dark? Things need to change. 'I should not have to wait for a call from the officer so he can explain what the next steps are. 'The NSPCC published a report into child sexual abuse statistics which showed one in 20 children in the UK had been sexually abused. 'More recent statistics from Rape Crisis show that one in six children have been abused. 'We are told about how many women and children are victims of these crimes, but never about how many men commit these crimes. 'We are told about how many victims of harassment there are, but never about how many men are committing the harassments. 'We are told statistics about teenage pregnancies, but never about the boys and men getting these women pregnant. Michelle revealed that she now has a partner, James (pictured), who is kind and supportive and the pair are gearing up to enjoy their life ahead 'Men aren't even part of it. A change needs to be made.' Despite her ordeal, Michelle is determined not to be ruled by her past, and she is now moving forwards. She lives with her partner, James Maroun, 25, an assistant manager in retail and nutrition expert. She says: 'Relationships have been difficult for me. 'Aged 16, I met my first boyfriend, but I always seemed to end up with the wrong type of man. My self-esteem was very low, and I was drinking too much. I felt like I was always running away from my trauma. 'I was in emotionally abusive relationships because that was all I felt I was worth. Meeting James has been a real turning point. He is kind and supportive and we are very much in love.' DC Phil Scott, of East CID, said: 'The victim has shown tremendous courage throughout this process. The way she dealt with such a heinous crime has been truly inspirational. Most people could not comprehend what she has lived through. 'I welcome the sentence handed down Sallis, which reflects the seriousness of his crime.' A spokesperson from Victim Support said: 'We want to say a huge apology to Michelle, we are incredibly sorry to hear her account of not getting the support she needed from our services. It is absolutely vital that all victim-survivors are listened to and get timely, specialist and tailored support to help them cope and recover. 'We hold ourselves to a very high standard and want to reassure that we remain dedicated to delivering support that meets the needs of victim-survivors. We acknowledge Michelle's experience and take it very seriously we are taking steps to establish why this happened and to ensure it does not happen again.' One of the victims of the infamous Tinder Swindler has revealed the red flags to look out for to avoid love scams. Ayleen Koeleman, was one of many women who was fooled into thinking Shimon Heyada Hayut, from Israel, was the son of a billionaire diamond merchant after meeting him on dating app Tinder. The convicted conman would use the money he acquired from other victims to impress single women with an expensive lifestyle and lavish gifts - it's believed in total he conned women out of around 7.4million in total. Ayleen, who starred in Netflix documentary Tinder Swindler, revealed that one of the biggest red flags is 'love bombing' - a term referring to meaning to lavish someone with praise as a means of control. 'I was an intelligent, internet-savvy young woman and yet I was still heavily deceived. After all, victims believe that they are sending money to a loved one for a genuine reason, so they may not behave any differently as to how they would making any other transaction. Ayleen Koeleman, was one of many women who was fooled into thinking Shimon Heyada Hayut, from Israel, was the son of a billionaire diamond merchant after meeting him on dating app Tinder Ayleen, who starred in Netflix documentary Tinder Swindler, revealed that one of the biggest red flags is 'love bombing' - a term referring to meaning to lavish someone with praise as a means of control 'While it felt real then, looking back, I can see the holes. New partners arent like this, even if they are crazy about you,' she told the Telegraph. She added that signs that things might be too good to be true, and you should break contact, may involve declaring their love for you, bombarding you with gifts straight away. She added that they might 'claim to be from your town' but never want to meet in person or plan visits - only to cancel last minute. While dating apps have cracked down on fake profiles, and tightened security, Ayleen said that it's very easy for people to make a fake profile. She added to 'take your time' when someone asks to borrow money. 'Once under their spell, fraudsters make you think irrationally. So if this new person in your life is asking for money, take a step back and say that you are going to think about it for a few weeks. 'If they continue to push, then walk away and say no. If theyre a genuine friend or partner, theyll happily afford you this time, as theyll know that its a significant decision and commitment for you to make,' she added. Ayleen got the last laugh though, after teaming up with fellow victims Cecilie Fjellhy and Pernilla Sjoholm to get their money back via GoFundMe. Shimon (pictured) has deleted his Instagram and is no longer on Tinder, following backlash from the Netflix documentary Cecilie Fjellhy (pictured, with Shimon Heyada Hayut) teamed up with Ayleen Koeleman, and Pernilla Sjoholm, who featured in Netflix's The Tinder Swindler, to launch a fundraiser Shimon, who has been known to use pseudonyms, scammed Cecilie, Ayleen and Pernilla by claiming that he needed to borrow money because using his own funds could lead him to be traced by his enemies. It is unclear how many other people fell for the scam but it is estimated that he conned his victims out of 7.4 million. Having received messages of support following the hit Netflix documentary, Cecilie, Ayleen and Pernilla, have set up a GoFundMe page with the hopes of raising 600,000. Cecilie Fjellhoy was a 29-year-old Norwegian graduate student living in London, when Shimon conned her out of more than 200,000. She believed that she had finally met her Prince Charming, when she matched on Tinder with 'Simon Leviev' in 2019. He claimed to be a billionaire playboy and even took her on a trip using his private plane during their first date. Shimon has never been charged for scamming Cecilie, Ayleen or Pernilla, but was jailed in Israel for use of a fake passport in 2019. He was released after five months on good behaviour. The serial fraudster, who is no longer on Tinder, had 200,000 Instagram followers before deciding to close his account following backlash from the Netflix documentary. Shimon's last message read: 'Thank you for all your support. I will share my side of the story in the next few days when I have sorted out the best and most respectful way to tell it, both to the involved parties and myself. Until then, please keep an open mind and heart.' Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor has called for 'a wider conversation to be had about menopause' as she opened up about being unable to take HRT after battling breast cancer. The 60-year-old soap actress from Lancashire, who plays Sally Metcalfe in the ITV programme, was diagnosed when she was 46, and revealed that she entered the transitional stage earlier than she expected. Cancer treatments can often cause women to enter menopause prematurely due to changing hormone levels, leading to symptoms including hot flashes, anxiety and nigh sweats. Speaking on Loose Women about that time, Sally, said she felt would suddenly start to feel nervous and unsure. 'I was 46 when I got breast cancer so I was probably near going through the menopause but I was still quite young so I wasn't really expecting it,' she revealed. Coronation Street star Sally Dynevor has called for 'a wider conversation to be had about menopause' as she opened up about being unable to take HRT after battling breast cancer 'And suddenly I just remember walking into work one day and thinking, "Oh my gosh I'm really nervous, I feel really anxious, if anybody talks to me I just want to cry".' She said that meeting with hormone specialist Dr Annice Mukherjee was vital in helping her understanding everything that was happening in her body. 'It just kind of overwhelmed me a little bit,' Sally explained. 'But then I met Annice at the school gates and we were really good friends 'cause our daughters were in the same class and she'd been amazing because during my breast cancer she'd kind of guided me through what was going to happen to me and explained things to me because I didn't know what was going on. 'I knew I was going through the menopause but when I got those symptoms of being anxious I didn't realise that's what it was, they were linked, I just thought: "Why am I feeling like this?".' Adding that 'every woman is completely different', Sally also shared that what really helped her deal with symptoms was going to the gym. 'I just suddenly thought, "I really need to do this for my mental health". I know that's really boring.' Sally can't take HRT to deal with menopause symptoms because doctors often don't recommend it to those with a history of breast cancer. The 60-year-old soap actress, who plays Sally Metcalfe in the ITV programme, got diagnosed when she was 46, and revealed that she entered the transitional stage earlier than she expected Speaking on Loose Women about that time, Sally, said she felt would suddenly start to feel nervous and unsure 'I think there's a wider conversation to be had about menopause and the fact that everybody says, "Oh you know, I take HRT". I can't take HRT so I have to find other ways. 'One size doesn't fit all and we need to be talking about other ways of coping.' Dr Annice - who herself had breast cancer when she was 41 and also dealt with premature menopause due to treatment - also shared her insights on the programme. 'I had a menopause overnight, and it's a shock. It's pretty sudden,' she admitted. 'Everybody's menopause experience is different. I knew exactly what I was dealing with so it wasn't actually that hard for me because I knew at every stage what was happening. 'I'd actually looked after many women going through breast cancer, before I got it myself.' She too echoed Sally's sentiments that there must be more information about alternatives to HRT. 'There is a link (between HRT and breast cancer) but we don't really understand what that link is,' she explained. Dr Annice - who herself had breast cancer when she was 41 and also dealt with premature menopause due to treatment - also shared her insights on the programme 'If you've got genes that predispose you to getting breast cancer, that might bring breast cancer earlier, if you take HRT. But generally speaking most people who haven't had oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer - if they're struggling with severe menopausal symptoms - most situations, you can at least have a trial.' Dr Annice also encouraged women to focus on things they can do for themselves, such as making sure that they're moving everyday, filling their plate with whole foods, focusing on getting good sleep where possible and managing their stress levels. It comes following a recent survey's revealing that four out of five women are unaware excess oestrogen can raise their risk of womb cancer. While hormone replacement therapy is safe within recommended levels, The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this year that many women are taking mega-doses to tackle menopause symptoms after seeing advice on social media. One GP leader said she regularly sees patients who have increased their medication intake beyond the safety limits set by HRT makers and blamed misleading messages online that 'more is better' to reduce symptoms such as hot flushes, mood swings and brain fog. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? It comes from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding tissue it is called 'invasive'. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in those over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare. Staging indicates how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed? Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours. Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray. How is breast cancer treated? Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used. Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour. Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery. Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying. Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer. How successful is treatment? The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage. For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000 Advertisement Now research from gynaecological cancer charity The Eve Appeal has found that most women are unaware of the risks of taking too much oestrogen a female sex hormone which decreases with age, causing most of the symptoms of menopause. The charity said its survey which polled 2,000 women in the UK shows a need to educate women about the link between excess oestrogen and womb cancer, which affects almost 10,000 women each year. Excess oestrogen can also be caused by health conditions such as obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and has also been linked to ovarian and breast cancer. 'Factors which increase the level of oestrogen in the body conditions such as PCOS and medications such as HRT therefore increase the risk of these cancers,' says Dr Aziza Sesay, a GP who works with The Eve Appeal. 'Being aware of this and learning how to reduce this risk is lifesaving.' HRT contains compounds similar to hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Typically, women are prescribed it in patch, gel or spray form and the drug is absorbed through the skin. Experts say excessive amounts of the hormone can trigger anxiety, palpitations and mood swings. Patients can also suffer tachyphylaxis where they need ever more hormonal treatment to feel 'normal'. In the longer term, if doses of oestrogen and progesterone are not taken in the right balance, the womb lining may thicken known as endometrial hyperplasia. This can lead to heavy bleeding and increases the risk of womb cancer. In August, Dr Katie Barber, who runs a GP-led NHS gynaecology service in Oxfordshire, told the MoS that 'roughly one in ten' women on HRT that she saw were taking 'two or even three times the maximum dose'. She added: 'Safety studies into HRT in these doses have not been done.' A number of models have defended a London-based agency in a series of videos following an investigation into scouting in one of the world's biggest refugee camps. According to the Sunday Times, a number of aspiring models from the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya have been taken to Europe by agencies - only to find they are unsuccessful, and have to return to the camp thousands of euros in debt to the agencies. The investigation, which says that 'top fashion labels' have used models recruited from the camp, included interviewing 'dozens of models', of which some were 'already working in Europe, with varying degrees of financial success, while others had returned to Kenya having made nothing'. According to the agencies, scouting from the camp not only makes catwalks more diverse, it also 'means they are giving refugees a better chance in life'. Among the agencies included in the investigation is Isis Models, which is run by Nigerian businesswoman Joan Okorodudu from her Walthamstow home - and despite criticism aimed at Isis, some models have shared videos online defending Joan. Josephina (pictured) was among the models who shared videos online, in which they defended agent Joan Okorodudu According to the investigation, after potential models are scouted by agencies in the camp, they are taken to Nairobi. There, they arrange passports and visas, before flying to Europe usually before fashion weeks, so they attend castings. As the modelling industry operates on a debt-based system, these are funded by agencies, as is the pocket money of about 70 to 100 a week given to models. This is expected to be repaid by models once they start working and earning money. The investigation says that Ms Okorodudu - known to models as 'Mama Joan' - would sign up models to Isis Models as their mother agency, before then marketing them to larger agencies. It adds that some have complained about their experiences with Ms Okorodudu, saying one, Biliny Manyang, 23, wrote to the UN to complain. Biliny, who was scouted by Isis Models in 2019 in Kakuma, terminated her contract with the agency in 2021, saying she felt the agency was not going to get her to Europe. She claims that after she left Isis Models, Ms Okorodudu told her industry contacts not to work with Biliny, threatening to withdraw other models if they did. Meanwhile another model, Hakima (pictured) also defended the agent, crediting Ms Okorodudu for her success as a model According to Biliny, who has now signed with a new agency in Paris, this made it more difficult for her to progress in her career. In an email to the UNHCR, she said that 'manipulating models' should end with her, and that she doesn't want the same thing to happen to others. She called on the organisation to follow up with refugees entering the modelling industry, claiming that what the potential models are told does not represent the reality. Speaking to the Times about Biliny, Ms Okorodudu said she 'took care' of the model, including organising her passport, and had receipts to prove it. Ms Okorodudu is also cited in the report as saying: 'I am the only person in the industry who takes care of these models financially and assists their families. Modelling and helping the youth is my passion.' Among the videos defending her, is one shared via an Instagram account called fashionxreality as well as the Isismodelsafrica account. It is accompanied by a caption which says: 'She is absolutely a good person she has change lives and she is still changing lives of young models for the better.' In the video, a model called Josephina says: 'What you've heard about Joan is not true. Joan has been doing everything for love. 'She has been doing a lot of things [for] the models. Please, you need to see [how hard Joan works]. She's been helping all of us. She's been giving us pocket money and we stay in her apartment.' Josephina concludes her video by saying that Ms Okorodudu has treated her well, and so she assumes she treats others well too. Another video features a model called Hakima, captioned: 'Hakima is one of Joan's top models who has been walking since 2019 till now. She is sharing her experience and how Joan has helped her alongside with other models from Kakauma refugee camp.' In the clip, Hakima says she is from South Sudan, and that she signed with Isis models in 2019. Hakima adds: 'Right now, I'm in Berlin for work. So I'm just recording this video to tell you that Aunty Joan is someone who really has a lot of refugees and South Sudanase models. Joan Okorodudu (pictured, left) shared a video on Instragram captioned 'Our gorgeous Hakima came to visit me in the office in Nairobi' 'She was the first person to come to Kenya to scout us, and she really did [change some lives]. 'Especially [mine], I never thought that I could be a model, and here I am in Berlin walking, with a place in London, and it's because of Auntie Joan. 'So whoever thinks that Auntie Joan took money from models, I don't think so, because she really has a lots of models who don't have money, and [she is] paying for their accommodation, passport, and visa.' Speaking to the Times, Select agency boss Matteo Puglisi said providing models with debt statements is a 'fiscal obligation', and added that while the agency asks twice for reimbursement, they don't ask a third time and never hires lawyers in an effort to recover money. He added that every year, the agency loses 'hundreds of thousands of euros and pounds in Paris and London for unrecoverable model advances' - with models from around the world, and not just from Africa. Prince William was warned not to 'try and take over' from his father King Charles too soon by a royal historian. Marlene Koenig claimed Princess Diana's son needs time to 'enjoy' his new role as Prince of Wales and 'learn' what it means to be King before taking over as monarch. Her comments come after a substantial 41 per cent of people said it should have been the Prince of Wales, 41, who took over as King one year ago, rather than Charles - a sharp rise from the 35 per cent who took that view six months earlier. Only 43 per cent are sticking with Charles, which means his lead on the question has plunged from 15 percentage points to just two, according to MailOnlines exclusive royal poll released last month. Speaking to Express.co.uk the author of Queen Victoria's Descendants said: 'William can't be King, because Charles is already a great King. Who would want to put such a burden on his son, when he's only just starting to feel comfortable in his new role?' Prince William was warned not to 'try and take over' from his father King Charles too soon by a royal historian The royal historian went on to say that the William along with his wife, the Princess of Wales, have been doing a great job during their recent royal engagements. She added: 'People need to let them enjoy their current roles and learn their future ones as King and Queen.' Meanwhile, nearly two thirds of the public want Charles and Camilla to start handing over power and responsibility to William and Catherine. It's seen not so much as a sign of dissatisfaction with the Kings first year on the throne, but rather a huge vote of confidence for his son and heir. Yet with the King's 75th birthday approaching this autumn, it is inevitable that some are starting to look to a future beyond Charles - a future with King William and Queen Catherine in charge. Their developing profile is no accident. The Waleses have employed a skilled media strategy using, for example, an in-house videographer to broadcast web-friendly clips as they tour the country. And it appears William has taken the baton from his father and become a more vocal advocate about pollution and climate change. The prince 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 yesterday. Marlene Koenig revealed she wanted the royal to 'feel comfortable' in his new role as Prince of Wales before taking over as monarch A substantial 41 per cent of people said it should have been the Prince of Wales, 41, who took over as King one year ago (Pictured The King's Coronation Ceremony) In his introduction, William wrote 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. 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. The royal historian went on to say that the William along with his wife, the Princess of Wales , have been doing a great job during their recent royal engagements (The royal couple during a visit to Kings Pitt Farm in Hereford) The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Fitzalan High School in Cardiff to hear from pupils about the work they have been doing around black history 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. 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. Catherine Marks, 40, and husband Will, 38, decided to ditch life on land in 2021 A 'fearless' three-year-old girl has become the real-life Disney princess Moana as she sails the world with her parents living 'off grid' on a boat. Catherine Marks, 40, and husband Will, 38, ditched life on land for their 48-feet-long sailing boat in December 2021 - when their daughter Maddie was just a one-year-old. The couple, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, waved goodbye to their corporate jobs and now sustain themselves with part-time freelance consulting remotely or sewing ship canvas while out on the waves. The trio fish for food whenever the wildlife is plentiful, sometimes doing it daily such as in the Bahamas, while purifying their own water from the sea and generating their own electricity from solar panels. A 'fearless' three-year-old girl has become the real-life Disney princess Moana as she sails the world with her parents living 'off grid' on a boat Catherine Marks, 40, and husband Will, 38, ditched life on land for their 48-feet-long sailing boat in December 2021 - when their daughter Maddie was just a one-year-old The couple, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , waved goodbye to their corporate jobs and now sustain themselves with part-time freelance consulting remotely or sewing ship canvas while out on the waves 'Water baby' Maddie is now also embracing life at sea and helps with chores such as fishing for food, turning lights on and even steering the family's large vessel. Adorable footage shows her scrubbing and hoovering the boat while other clips show her fearlessly leaping into deep water and maneuvering their smaller jet-powered boat. Her sailor life appears to mirror that of Disney character Moana who lived her dream of exploring the ocean in a boat despite only being a child. Incredible images show the family enjoying white sand beaches and clear blue seas, cooking giant fish they catch on the go. Catherine is delighted that her daughter has found her sea legs and she loves how her family spend all day together rather than them needing to put her in childcare on land. She says the family, who are currently moored off the coast of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean, live a slower pace of life than those living on land. They post clips to TikTok and YouTube where users have hailed Maddie 'fearless' and 'confident' and the family 'blessed' to spent all their time together. Catherine said she 'could see why people would draw the conclusion' that Maddie was like a real-life Moana however she feels she's just a kid 'getting to live an alternative lifestyle.' 'Water baby' Maddie is now also embracing life at sea and helps with chores such as fishing for food, turning lights on and even steering their large vessel Catherine is delighted that her daughter has found her sea legs and she loves how her family spend all day together rather than them needing to put her in childcare on land Adorable footage shows her scrubbing and hoovering the boat while other clips show her fearlessly leaping into deep water and maneuvering their smaller jet-powered boat She says she compares the youngster more to a different Disney Princess - The Little Mermaid - as Maddie is 'a fish' and 'swims incredibly for her age.' 'We've been living aboard full-time for two years now so she's grown up on the water,' said Catherine. 'We like to give her responsibility as much as we can so she learns about the boat and is participating. 'It's her job to turn on the anchor light every night and she has her own fishing pole. She needs a bit of help casting it but she'll reel it in. 'She's a fish, she can swim incredibly well for her age. She's been swimming since she was two. 'She's super confident and is able to make friends really easily. She's got happy parents, which make for a happy kid. 'She loves the film Moana. I don't know if she identifies yet as like that, she doesn't really understand that what she's doing is anything different.' Catherine and Will first left their jobs in management consulting and planning in 2016 to spend the year on a tiny sailing boat. Will has been sailing for 20 years but Catherine took a sailing crash course when they made the decision. Despite returning to land for work and then having Maddie in December 2019, they bought a new boat and have lived on it permanently since December 2021. Her sailor life appears to mirror that of Disney character Moana (left) who lived her dream of exploring the ocean in a boat despite only being a child 'We've been living aboard full-time for two years now so she's grown up on the water. We like to give her responsibility as much as we can so she learns,' Catherine said Catherine says she compares the youngster more to a different Disney Princess - The Little Mermaid - as Maddie is 'a fish' and 'swims incredibly for her age' 'She's super confident and is able to make friends really easily. She's got happy parents, which make for a happy kid,' said Catherine 'We've been in the Caribbean and are planning to cross the Pacific Ocean in a year or two. It's dramatic and really wonderful but can take some time to adjust to,' said Catherine Catherine also supplements their income utilizing her sewing skills by sewing canvas for other boats and hopes to someday branch out into clothing too. 'We went back to work for a few years, had our little girl, and then moved onto another boat and have been sailing as a family ever since,' said Catherine. 'It's much happier [than life on land], my friends say I'm very Zen! We don't have any plans to stop anytime soon. 'We've been in the Caribbean and are planning to cross the Pacific Ocean in a year or two. It's dramatic and really wonderful but can take some time to adjust to. 'In my opinion, it's a beautiful way to live. We'll go as far as the wind will take us! So often when you've got young kids you're pulled in a million different directions. 'You'll only see them in the morning and after daycare but we're spending all day together as a family so it's really brilliant.' Despite noting that finding food in some locations, such as the Bahamas, can be a struggle, the mom-of-one says living on a boat is a 'much simpler life' than the one she lived on land. Catherine said: 'On a boat, everything that is easy on land is hard. In the Bahamas, there's very little food. 'The grocery stores have seven canned options and little fresh produce. It varies, but you get in your little dinghy and go to shore to see what you can find. 'For water, we do have a water maker. It's done by a process called reverse osmosis that takes salt water and turns it into fresh water by spinning it very fast and then pushing it through very fine membranes to take out the salt. 'In my opinion, it's a beautiful way to live. 'We'll go as far as the wind will take us! So often when you've got young kids you're pulled in a million different directions,' said Catherine 'It's much happier [than life on land], my friends say I'm very Zen! We don't have any plans to stop anytime soon,' said Catherine For people looking to start a new life on a boat, Catherine recommends learning to sail first and preparing for a slower pace to their days 'And we generate our own electricity with solar panels. So we are able to live off-grid quite easily. 'As for fish, that depends on where we are. When we were in the Bahamas the fishing is very plentiful so we fished almost daily and had fresh fish multiple times a week.' For people looking to start a new life on a boat she recommends learning to sail first and preparing for a slower pace to their days. Catherine said: 'Learn how to sail, and get ready for a slower pace of life. It's dramatic, and really wonderful but can take some time to adjust to. 'In my opinion, it's a beautiful way to live.' Catherine's TikTok account charts her family's journey and has earned almost 1,500 followers - with many expressing their jealousy at the life they live or amazed by Maddie's adventures. One commented: 'Fearless, such a cutie. You are truly blessed to be living your life. May you always be safe from storms.' A second said: 'I love how confident she is in the water.' A third added: 'Adorable swimsuit! And dang she is such a swimmer!' In August, the duo rented a billboard in New York City promoting 'free love' The couple recently revealed that their best selling content feature chores They advertised freelove on a billboard in Times Square, but it turns out the more mundane tasks are the biggest turn ons. Brazil-based couple Bella Mantovani, 31, and her 34-year-old husband Vagner O Fera tied the knot in 2011 after five years of dating - and decided to spice up their love lives. Wanting to free themselves from the constraints of religion - admitting it was impacting their sex life - they left the Evangelical church in 2018, started an OnlyFans account and become polyamorous. However the sultry Sao Paulo spouses revealed it's actually not their spicy content which sells the most - but rather pictures of them completing household chores. Brazil-based couple Bella Mantovani, 31, and her 34-year-old husband Vagner O Fera tied the knot in 2011 after five years of dating - and decided to spice up their love lives The sultry Sao Paulo spouses revealed it's actually not their spicy photos which sells the most - but rather pictures of them completing household chores 'Our fans ask for photos of us washing the dishes, cleaning the bathroom, making the bed and even brushing our teeth,' Bella explained to NeedToKnow.co.uk. 'People are interested in seeing us in simple everyday moments,' she added. According to the couple, there's a fan who requests a photo from a different corner of the house 'every week.' 'The interesting thing is that we always need to have a squeegee or broom in our hand,' Bella quipped. 'Vagner and I have fun with these requests.' In August, the couple - who often speak about the 'benefits' of 'swinging' on social media - decided to try to spread their message by broadcasting a 15-second clip about it on an enormous screen in the heart of New York City. In the video, the couple could be seen dancing and smiling at each other whilst wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the words: 'Free love.' It's unknown how much the passionate couple paid for the ad, but Sixth Tone reported it costs $40 to have a 15-second clip projected on an 18,000-square foot LED display in Time Square. The Brazil-based couple have known each other since they were six, started dating as teens, before getting hitched after five years together in 2011. Bella said fans ask for photos of them washing the dishes, cleaning the bathroom, making the bed and even brushing their teeth The couple broadcast a 15-second clip about 'benefits' of 'swinging' on an enormous screen in Times Square in August Bella and Vagner O Fera, 34 insisted that being with other people has strengthened their romance It's unclear how much Bella and Vagner paid for the ad, but Sixth Tone reported it costs $40 to have a 15-second clip projected on an 18,000-square foot LED display in Time Square Bella and Vagner discovered OnlyFans and decided to start making racy content together, as a couple The couple decided that they wanted to pursue an open relationship, but the church was highly critical. When they launched a racy OnlyFans account, it sparked outage from their community and so they decided to leave. Both were raised in strict religious households, and Vagner was working as a minister at an Evangelical congregation when they got married. Vagne previously revealed how he ditched religion for shooting racy content with Bella, who was also part of the Evangelical church. After briefly working in Bella's family's pie store, they decided to start making erotic videos together. 'We were already part of swinging groups and a friend introduced me to the universe of adult content,' Bella explained. 'It's much more than selling content, it's much more than making an erotic video, it's much more than making a video call,' she added. 'We want to end this stereotype that polyamory is synonymous with being naughty,' Vagner told NeedToKnow.co.uk recently. 'Our marriage has been different since we started living with a freer love. The prejudice of many is sometimes the desire to live like Bella and I live.' Princess Beatrice looked stylish in a daring pale blue lace dress as she attended a gala with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi tonight. The royal, 35, joined a host of famous faces at Art of Wishes gala at the Raffles Hotel at the OWO in London. Mother-of-one Beatrice looked stylish in a daring maxi-length dress, made of light blue, largely transparent lace. She matched the frock with heeled pumps, with pointed toes, in a matching hue, and a small, cream clutch bag with purple and black detailing. Keeping out the October cold, the royal threw a white jacket, made from a boucle-style fabric, over her shoulders. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice (both pictured) attend the Art of Wishes Gala at Raffles in London The couple looked stylish, with Beatrice donning a daring lace gown, and Edoardo wearing a blue two-piece suit She wore her auburn locks tied into a messy ponytail, showing off her statement, dangling earrings. Beatrice finished the ensemble off with a natural make-up look, pairing a dewy base with peach blush, a light smokey eye, and pink lip. Meanwhile, her husband Edoardo, 39, was equally dapper, donning a dark blue two-piece suit. He matched the suit with a crisp white shirt, a light blue tie in a textured fabric, and navy loafers. According to the Art of Wishes organisation, which partnered with auction house Christie's for the event, the gala guests included 'gallerists, art lovers, Make-A-Wish supporters and artists to support and raise money for the charity'. Among the other famous faces at the event were television presenter Vernon Kay, Tiktokker Abby Roberts, and stylist Evie Henderson. The royal couple appeared to have left the children at home: they share daughter Sienna, two, and Edoardo is father to seven-year-old son Christopher Woolf, known as Wolfie, whose mother is Dara Huang. Sienna, who celebrated her second birthday last month, appears to have a sweet nickname, which was revealed with Dara online. Mother-of-one Beatrice (pictured) looked stylish in a blue lace frock, which she paired with a natural make-up look The 35-year-old royal wore her auburn locks tied into a messy, low ponytail, showing off a pair of dangling statement earrings Property developer Edo shared an adorable photo of his daughter to Instagram to mark her second birthday, with the 39-year-old writing: 'Harry birthday baby girl. You bring us so much love and joy every day.' In the picture, Sienna, who is facing away from the camera, dons a sombrero and a long sleeved frock with a red floral print as she walks barefoot along a pathway which is layered with a soft material. Commenting on the image, glamorous American architect Dara wrote: 'Happy birthday Cece', alongside red heart emojis. Beatrice and Edo's daughter, who is currently tenth in line to the throne, turned two on September 18. Sienna is a name with Italian origins, perhaps chosen because of Edo's roots. Meaning 'orange red', it could also refer to the Duchess of York's fiery hair. Beatrice and Edo were snapped socialising at the Art of Wishes Gala, chatting with other guests at the event The couple appeared to have left daughter Sienna, and Edo's son Wolfie at home as they attended the London event together Beatrice, who had a close relationship with her late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, decided to honour her by including Elizabeth in Sienna's name. Although Beatrice is a princess, her daughter Sienna, who is the late Queen's 12th great-grandchild, does not have a royal title. Only grandchildren of the monarch through the male line are automatically entitled to the styling of HRH. King Charles could bestow a title on his great-niece if desired, but it is unlikely to be asked for. The change meant that Beatrice's younger sister Princess Eugenie moves down to eleventh in line. Sienna will, however, receive a title through her father's family as the toddler has other nobility in her blood. Princess Beatrice (pictured) joined guests Vernon Kaye and Tiktokker Abby Roberts at the charity gala in London Her father, Edo, is descended from Italian aristocracy and will inherit the family's seat, the 18th-century Villa Mapelli Mozzi palace in northern Italy. This makes Beatrice and Sienna Italian 'Contessas' and 'Nobile Donna'. Such titles are not officially recognised in Italy anymore. They can still, however, be used as a sign of respect. When the couple announced Sienna's name in October 2021, Edoardo shared a print of their daughter's feet and wrote: 'Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi. Our life together has just begun, and I can't wait to see all the amazing things that await us. 'Feeling so much love and gratitude for my amazing wife, baby Sienna and [her half-brother] Wolfie. These are the days I never want to forget. This week, a friend said to me the sweetest saying. that with every child you grow a whole new heart.' Sienna was christened on April 29, 2022, at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. It was revealed by Hello in May that nutritionist Gabriela Peacock is one of the young royal's godparents - with Beatrice also being godmother to her daughter, Iris. When lecturer Fiona Wilde heard that her husband, Pete, had inherited 200,000 from a much-loved aunt, she perhaps naturally expected him to use the money to pay off the mortgage on the family home or invest in a rental property to cushion the future of their ten-year-old child. 'I certainly didn't expect him to give me a slice of the money, but I did feel strongly that it should be used for something that would benefit us as a family,' says Fiona, 42, who lives in Gloucestershire. But Pete, a 44-year-old sales director, decided he'd far rather spend it on a lavish holiday and a fancy new car for himself. 'We didn't discuss the inheritance in any detail until several months after his aunt's death, when it was finalised by her solicitor,' Fiona says. 'Pete made it clear that, despite sharing our finances in every other part of our lives, this was different. It was his money and he wanted to do what he wanted with it. To me, it felt like he was blowing it.' For Sarah Greeff, 52, her inheritance was indeed the stuff of dreams but for her husband, not her Soon, the inheritance was the subject of fierce rows that almost ended the couple's 12-year marriage. Fiona left the family home for several weeks to give herself and Pete a breather, only returning after they had finally thrashed out a compromise. In the end, he got his BMW and a family holiday in Mauritius... but Fiona also won renovations to the family home new windows and a kitchen although there was no money left over to invest in a rental property. 'We've come out the other side now,' she says. And yet you get the feeling that it still rankles. 'Because it was such a large sum, I didn't anticipate that Pete wouldn't include me in decisions about it. After all, we own a property together, we're a couple, we have a ten-year-old child. 'If ever I inherit anything in the future, I'd feel selfish if I didn't discuss what to do with the money with him.' So who is right on this highly emotive issue? Is an inheritance 'family money', to go into the joint pot like income from any other source? Or does it belong only to the spouse from whose parent or relative it came? As inheritances have grown with the price of property, these are increasingly pointed questions. For those expecting to inherit from the Baby Boomer generation, the pot is maybe especially full, with house prices today 65 times higher than they were in 1970. Which may be why so many inheritance disputes end up in court. Although only a third of Britons inherit anything at all, the average legacy for those who do is soon expected to hit more than 200,000 a life-changing amount of money. For Sarah Greeff, 52, her inheritance was indeed the stuff of dreams but for her husband, not her. When she received a 200,000 legacy after her beloved father died in October 2020, she was consumed by grief and what she now knows was the brain fog of menopause. Unable to think about what to do with the money, she gave it to her husband of 21 years, Nick, 49, who promptly spent it all on his lifelong dream a remote Scottish croft. 'When the solicitor handed me the cheque, I was engulfed by sadness for my dad and cried sitting on the floor of her office,' says Sarah, a dog trainer and behaviourist, who was living on the Isle of Wight at the time and had cared for her elderly father for two years. Her sister received an equal inheritance. 'Unbeknown to me, after Dad died, Nick started looking online for property with land and persuaded me to go and view the 100-acre croft and the four-bedroom house on it. When I saw how rundown it was, I told him we would not be buying it. It hadn't been decorated since 1980, there was water pouring in through the roof and the heating didn't work. Sarah Greeff's husband Nick, 49, promptly spent all the money on his lifelong dream a remote Scottish croft 'But I didn't have the capacity to think straight at the time and, having realised that it would mean Nick fulfilling a long-held dream to own a property with lots of land, eventually I agreed to it. 'Had I been single, I'd never have done such a thing. I'd probably have invested in a rental property instead.' More astonishing, the sale had to adhere to strict Crofting Commission laws, which mean the only person who can benefit financially in future is Nick. The land can never be owned but merely held in tenancy, and the house could only be bought with cash and registered in Nick's name. 'We've always shared everything, from our bank accounts to our work. But when I got Dad's money it felt different because it had been his and it was given specifically to me. 'Dad loved and respected Nick, but if he'd been alive, we'd never have bought the croft house he'd have thought it was an insane idea.' Nevertheless, Sarah agreed to take a leap of faith with Nick. They sold their marital home on the Isle of Wight for 350,000 in December 2021, banked the profit and moved to Scotland, where they still live in one room of the as yet minimally renovated property. Having paid experts to install a new roof, electrics and log burners, the couple are undertaking the rest of the renovations themselves. Nick now works as a crofter and intends to breed from the six cows and three pigs the couple have bought. Sarah is adamant that Nick spent the money in good faith on a lifestyle change he thought they'd both love. She admits that she loves having so much land as much as he does if only the house was warm and more habitable. 'At the time, I wasn't great at making decisions. I'd lost all my oomph. Just getting out of bed and feeding us both was an achievement.' As her grief receded, and with an HRT prescription to give her some energy back, Sarah became increasingly concerned about what she'd done. 'I realised I was deeply unhappy, and when Nick sat down and asked me why, I told him I felt I'd lost control of everything,' she says. 'With the croft house solely in his name, it means that if we ever divorced, I'd have no right to the property or the proceeds of its sale, even though it was paid for with my inheritance.' Feeling deeply uneasy, Sarah began rectifying some of the mistakes she felt she'd made. Using some of the proceeds from the sale of the Isle of Wight house, last month she bought a seven-year-old bungalow near their new home solely in her name which she will rent out. Nick, she says, is happy, too, that they each now own a property. 'It's resolved a lot of the disquiet I felt. Although Nick and I didn't row about it, I was concerned about what I'd done with Dad's inheritance,' she says. 'I also worried that the antique furniture, treasured family photos and beautiful pieces of artwork I'd inherited would perish at the croft house, either due to damp or mice. They are all now safely on display in the bungalow. I'm happier and feel that the financial imbalance has been restored now that we each own a property.' Given stories like Sarah's, it's not surprising couples are increasingly turning to the law to protect their inheritance. Joanne Westcott is a partner at family law firm Osbornes in Hampstead, North London. She says she receives daily calls from those who want to ringfence a future legacy specifically against use by a spouse. Sometimes the parents of a bride or groom will even insist on a pre- or post-nuptial agreement to safeguard an inheritance for their own child. 'The starting point for the division of marital assets upon divorce is a 50-50 split and that can include any inheritance received during the marriage, which has been mingled, mixed and forms part of the marital pot. For example, if it has been used to pay off the mortgage on the family home. 'It is, however, becoming increasingly common for one or both parties to insist on an agreement that ringfences their inheritance whether already received or simply anticipated and even for the person who will be gifting their wealth, such as a parent, to insist on a pre-nup as a condition of the inheritance.' Wellbeing company founder Vicky Borman had no qualms about being bullish with the 178,000 she inherited from her 94-year-old grandmother in 2020. After treating herself to a convertible Mercedes and putting some of the money into her business, she invested the rest in a Grade II-listed mews property which she rents out on Airbnb and owns jointly with her mother. There's no mention of Vicky's husband's name on the deeds. Wellbeing company founder Vicky Borman had no qualms about being bullish with the 178,000 she inherited from her 94-year-old grandmother in 2020 'The inheritance made things awkward,' says Vicky, 44, who lives in Cambridge with her husband, who owns a plastering business, and their three sons aged 18, 15 and ten. 'We've been together since we were 17 and have always shared our finances and assets, yet we both knew without spelling it out that the inheritance was 'mine', and I had the right to decide what happened to it. 'It was the elephant in the room, and although there were no real disagreements, I spent and invested it as I wanted to without seeking his opinion. 'To be fair, he went along with it, although if I'd done something stupid such as blowing the lot on handbags or diamonds, he'd have had something to say. If it had been the other way around, he would have asked for my opinion on how to spend it.' Tech company director Danielle Holmes, 36, admits she was in a state of total disbelief when she learned she was to inherit 250,000 after her grandmother died in 2021 in her 90s, and also left money to her two sisters and their mother. 'I regularly stared at my new bank balance for about eight weeks after the money had been paid in because I couldn't quite believe it was real,' says Danielle, who lives in Wiltshire with her husband, Kyle, 31. They are co-directors of a tech company and each has a ten-year-old child from a previous relationship. Having shared their finances throughout their five-year marriage, Danielle admits that although she and Kyle pooled ideas about what to do with the inheritance, there was an understanding that she would have the casting vote on all spending. 'We agreed we would not blow it, but disagreed on how we might put it to best use,' she adds. 'For example, some of it was inherited in stocks and shares and Kyle's view was that we should leave those investments to see how they performed, whereas I didn't want that sort of financial risk. I cashed them in and banked the money. 'We also looked at buying a property to rent out but decided against it, and very nearly bought a new home, which fell through.' In the end, they splashed out on two, no-expenses-spared family holidays one to Turkey and another to Disneyland Paris voted for by their children. 'Then we invested 40,000 in the business and bought a VW Transporter van for our business,' Danielle says. She also used some of the inheritance to lend her husband the money for a car. 'Kyle had always dreamed of owning a Toyota Supra and wanted to take out a loan to buy one, but I insisted there was no point getting into debt when I had the means to pay for it outright,' she says. 'But we agreed he would pay me back month by month, a decision he was very much in favour of.' The remaining 100,000 is safely banked in savings accounts in Danielle's name and Premium Bonds in her husband's. 'As we discovered,' reflects Danielle, 'there's no right or wrong way to handle such a huge windfall. 'But it can be an emotional battleground. Until you have that cheque in your hand, you never know how it's going to make you feel or what disagreements it might stir up in your marriage.' The couple welcomed their first child Hone Raye in July this year Brody made the couple breast milk lattes and noted that they were 'delicious' Brody Jenner has declared his coffee made with his fiancee's breast milk 'delicious.' The Hills alum shared a clip of himself making a cup of coffee for himself and his wife-to-be, Tia Blanco, with the unconventional ingredient as creamer. In a new YouTube video, the 40-year-old discovered he had run out of almond milk while making the lattes, but found that breast milk made for an amazing alternative. The TV personality and his pro-surfer fiancee, 26, enjoyed their breast milk lattes while snuggling up in bed together after welcoming their new baby, Honey Raye, in July. Brody Jenner has declared his morning coffee made with his fiancee's breast milk 'delicious' The Hills alum shared a clip of himself making a cup of coffee for himself and his wife-to-be, Tia Blanco, with the unconventional ingredient as creamer The video begins with the son of Caitlyn Jenner in the kitchen. Is the TV personality on to something? The benefits of drinking breast milk Reduces your risk of diseases Reduces your risk of depression Provides antibodies Can aid with weight loss Advertisement 'Alright so I just came out to make us both some coffee and we are out of almond milk,' he said. 'But I did find one thing,' he giggled before showing the camera a bag of breast milk. Brody added: 'I hear it's very nutritious. I hear it's very delicious. I think it will do.' After admitting to fans he would be using his fiancee's milk, he ran to the couple's bedroom to share the news. He told Tia: 'Sorry to disturb you, but we're out of almond milk. Do you mind if we use the breast milk that I put in the fridge last night?' And luckily for the TV personality, his fiancee gave him a nod of approval, before adding: 'That would be really good for you.' After getting a thumbs up from Tia, he raced back to the kitchen and whipped up their coffee. Then he headed back to their bedroom with two coffee cups in hand. Just moments after sipping on his unique concoction, he branded it 'delicious,' with his fiancee adding: 'It just tastes like coffee.' The video begins with the son of Caitlyn Jenner in the kitchen as he whips up the breast milk lattes Just moments after sipping on his unique concoction, he branded it 'delicious' According to Healthline, drinking breast milk can be very nutritious for both the parents and the baby. It can provide antibodies, reduce the risk of diseases, and even decrease your risk of depression. The Hills alum announced the birth of his first child with Tia, whose tense 19-hour labor and home birth were captured on video. The first-time dad shared the exciting news over Instagram as he revealed his newborn daughter, Honey Raye Jenner, was born on July 29. 'Momma and baby are in perfect health. We are so incredibly in love and have been cherishing this precious time together as a family. We want to thank everyone for all the love and support,' he captioned a video of his bride-to-be delivering their little girl. He went on to share that he and his fiancee 'put together a video of our journey including our baby shower, proposal and full home birth' on their YouTube channel. The Hills alum announced the birth of his first child with Tia, whose tense 19-hour labor and home birth were captured on video The first-time dad shared the exciting news over Instagram as he revealed his newborn daughter, Honey Raye Jenner, was born on July 29 In the YouTube video, he admitted to viewers that 'to be totally honest' he 'didn't even know if' fatherhood was in his future. Brody was first linked to Tia in April 2022. The two reportedly met while they each were surfing in Hawaii. They confirmed their relationship status in May 2022 via a sweet Instagram post featuring a photo of the two of them with the Bromances alum's dog. The engagement came five months after the couple announced that the Orange County California native was pregnant. 'To start off this new year, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends, family and followers health, happiness & an abundance of love,' they captioned a joint Instagram video. 'We truly appreciate & love you all. We are excited to share with you the blessing of a new life in the new year.' Brody was first linked to Tia in April 2022. The two reportedly met while they each were surfing in Hawaii The child is his mother Linda Thompson's fourth grandchild and 73-year-old Caitlyn Jenner's 21st. The ex-spouses share 42-year-old Brandon Jenner's three children, Eva, eight, and twins Sam and Bo, two. Caitlyn is also grandfather to Kylie Jenner's two kids, Stormi, five, and Aire, 16 months as well as to the kids of Cassandra Jenner and Burt Jenner. Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Rob Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian's multiple children also add to the grandchild count, albeit as a former step-grandfather. A food-loving bodybuilder bit off more than most could chew when he guzzled down gut-busting portions of food to consume 20,000 calories in one day. Jack Manchester, 29, from Leeds, wolfed down huge bowls of mouth-watering munch during his 'cheat day', which TikTok followers have branded 'insane'. His 20,000-calorie cheat day include dishes such as 12 Nutella-drenched syrup-infused crumpets, six turkey-filled pita breads, and some massive scoops of ice cream stacked on top of 16 delightful Dominos cookies. But the gigantic gorges often leave Jack slumped on the sofa, filled with food and plenty of regret. The bodybuilder frequently shares clips of him getting through mountains of food on TikTok, but this was the highest intake of calories he's ever had in a day of extreme eating. Jack Manchester (pictured), 29, from Leeds enjoyed a cheat day of 20,000 calories in just 24 hours Jack's extreme eating cheat day BREAKFAST 150g oats, 80g chocolate, 40g Nutella, 30g peanut butter, 20g honey and two bananas Calories: 1,715 MORNING SNACKS 12 crumpets, 70g Nutella, 170g peanut butter, 150g maple syrup, two bananas, pancake made with 300g Krusteaz mix, 100g jam Calories: 4,945 LUNCH Six pittas with 125g turkey best, two cinnamon buns Calories: 1,635 AFTERNOON SNACKS More cinnamon buns Calories: 625 DINNER Chicken curry, prawn curry, two naan breads, two portions of rice, two double-cheese pizzas Calories: 4.300 DESSERT Three cookies, 80g chocolate sauce, 150g ice cream Calories: 3,650 LATE NIGHT MEAL 16 Domino's cookies, ice cream, 30 grams of Nutella, 25 grams of peanut butter, 60 grams of chocolate and honey. Calories: 3,650 Total calories: 20,520 Advertisement But the bodybuilder recognised that feasting to this extent is not sustainable and won't happen often. Jack said: 'I'm a bodybuilder; I just have large cheat days. 'This was a one-off and won't ever happen again; it's not healthy.' During the 20,000-calorie gorge, Jack broke his fast at 6am with 150 grams of oats, 80 grams of chocolate, 40 grams of Nutella, 30 grams of peanut butter, 20 grams of honey and two bananas- taking him to 1,715 calories. Two and a half hours later, at 8:30 am, Jack headed for a mid-morning snack made up of 2,280 calories. He devoured 12 crumpets, 70 grams of Nutella, 70 grams of peanut butter, 75 grams of maple syrup, and one banana. At 10:30am, the bodybuilder continued his gorge by making pancakes with 300 grams of Krusteaz mix, 100 grams of peanut butter, 75 grams of maple syrup, one banana, and 100 grams of jam- leaving him at 2,665 calories. Next, Jack prepared an early lunch at 11:30, which consisted of six pittas filled with 125 grams of turkey breast and two cinnamon buns, adding on 1,635 calories. Between lunch and dinner, Jack finished off the packet of cinnamon buns, which led him to devour 625 more calories. At 5:30pm, Jack enjoyed 1,700 calories of Indian food, which included chicken curry, prawn curry, two naan breads, and two portions of rice. Two hours later, he finished off his dinner with two double-cheese pizza with 2,600 calories. Then it was time for a 3,650-calorie dessert, which included three Cookie Dealer cookies, 80 grams of chocolate sauce, and 150 grams of ice cream. At 10:45pm Jack had his last snack of the day, which included 16 Domino's, ice cream, 30 grams of Nutella, 25 grams of peanut butter, 60 grams of chocolate and honey. With the addition of the final dessert, Jack had successfully completed the challenge and consumed 20,520 calories in one day. The day of extreme eating included dishes such as 12 Nutella-drenched syrup-infused crumpets, six turkey-filled pita breads, and some massive scoops of ice cream stacked on top of 16 Dominos cookies The bodybuilder from Leeds will make sure to get outside and complete some exercise during the calorie-heavy days Jack started his day of feasting at 6:00 am with oats covered in Nutella, honey, and peanut butter At 8:00 AM, Jack headed for his second meal of the day, which added on a whopping 3,995 calories However, in between the monstrous meals, Jack makes sure to squeeze in time for exercise. After licking his plates clean, Jack opted for a low intensity walking workout- but he completed an impressive 30,000 steps. Jack has dedicated his page to preaching about positive mental health around food, having everything in moderation. Viewers have flocked to the comment section to share their thoughts on Jack's eating habits, and many are impressed. For an early lunch, Jack enjoyed six pittas stuffed to the brim with turkey breast and two cinnamon rolls Jack recognised that the day of gorging is not sustainable- but he views it as a treat cheat day that is acceptable in moderation Jack will get outside during the busy day of eating- and will complete approximately 30,000 steps The bodybuilder enjoyed Indian food for his first dinner, which included both a prawn and chicken curry After gorging on the likes of curry and crumpets, by 7:30 pm Jack had consumed over 13,000 calories But the bodybuilder did not stop there- and after dinner he enjoyed a pudding involving ice cream and more Nutella At 10:45 pm Jack gorged on 16 cookies, ice cream, Nutella, peanut butter, honey, and even more chocolate Viewers took to the comment section to share their thoughts on Jack's busy day of eating, and one commended his effort One user said: 'You must have a unreal sweet tooth bro! Dont know how you do it! Id be more for the savoury side but Jesus 20,000 cals is INSANE!' Another wrote: 'What an effort.' A third person added: 'That would do me the week bro.' A fourth said: 'Id be full for the day after the first meal.' An Australian pharmacist who grew up in Iran with limited access to pads and tampons has started her own brand of period products. Shida Kebriti was born in Iran and had a peaceful upbringing in the 'wealthy and rich' country before the revolution in the mid-seventies when the topic of periods became 'forbidden'. The 1978/79 Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution, led to the toppling of the western-backed monarchy and installation of a fundamentalist Islamic regime. The new government enforced a return to conservative values - scrapping major amendments including the Family Protection Act which gave women rights in marriage, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Islamic dress codes were enforced and speaking freely about women's matters such as periods, with men in the family, was banned. So girls could not speak out about the dwindling availability of period products. By the time she was in her early teens, Shida said period products were difficult to find and many women would make do by using old pieces of material when they couldn't buy pads or tampons. 'Sadly, these women have no choice, they're not worried about what's good or what's bad. They just find anything they can use,' she told FEMAIL. 'I haven't been back for a number of years so I'm hoping things have changed but I still hear there are a lot of areas that women will not have access to pads and tampons.' Sydney pharmacist Shida Kebriti (pictured) has launched her own line of period products after growing up in Iran with limited access to pads and tampons during the revolution The 45-year-old's upbringing coupled with her time working in an Indigenous community less than hour outside Sydney where woman and girls struggled to find hygiene products gave her a passion for abolishing period poverty. She developed Respect under her pharmaceutical brand Soodox with a line of pads, tampons and period underwear made using environmentally-friendly materials and no nasty chemicals as well as a pH-balanced wash and pain relievers. Shida explained since the late seventies when the Iranian revolution began, citizens have had limited access to imported products including pads and tampons. 'Foreign products are not provided, and the marketplace still relies on supply from domestic sources. Therefore, it's very limited, but this is not an uncommon thing in the whole Middle East area,' she said. 'Through the Middle East, even in countries that don't have a sanction, they still have limited access to this type of product.' She said women would find ways to make do without pads and tampons when they weren't available at the pharmacy. 'A lot of women would use a (handmade) cotton reusable pads type of thing if you had it but then washing them could be quite difficult if you didn't have access to washing equipment,' Shida said. Shida said period products were difficult to find and many women would make do by using old pieces of material when they couldn't buy pads or tampons The problem women had finding suitable feminine hygiene products was made more difficult as periods were something no one spoke of. 'You don't talk about it you father or your brothers, it's a very, very forbidden topic,' she said. 'It's still a forbidden topic, people don't want to talk about it. Even some parents have difficulty discussing it with their children.' When Shida and her family moved to Australia when she was in her mid teens, she saw an immediate difference in the attitudes to periods. Feminine hygiene products were abundantly available at supermarkets and pharmacies and while the topic was still a taboo, Aussies weren't as shy when it came to talking about periods. However in her adult life when she became a pharmacist, Shida found there were even places in Australia where people who menstruated had as much difficulty finding pads and tampons as the women in Iran. She did some work in an Indigenous community in Wyong, which is only less than an hour's drive from Sydney. 'I couldn't believe only 45 minutes away from north of Sydney there are still so may Aboriginal girls who have no access to basic period products and they don't know how to deal with it,' Shida said. 'Young girls would use things like socks or part of a t-shirt as a pad because they don't have access to the right products. Sometimes they would be too embarrassed to ask because they couldn't afford to buy the product.' Shida said she met many girls and women in the community who missed out on basic education around their periods. 'The concept of having a period and bleeding had not been explained to them very well. There are many reasons why, such as they live in a foster home where nobody is there to support them,' she recalled. 'When they get their period, they are not prepared. Especially, not prepared it for the cost involved with getting the products that they require.' Shida said pads were one of the most stolen items in the Wyong pharmacy she worked in. 'If someone is living in a foster home, for example, they might live on a very limited budget. They'll be like lucky to get one or two meals a day,' she said. 'So for them do they get the next meal or do they get the pads. And I guess most of the time they probably wanted to have the next meal.' Shida found there were places in Australia where people who menstruated had just as much difficulty finding pads and tampons when she worked in an Indigenous community just outside Sydney Her strong-held belief that things like pads and tampons should be globally accessible to all people who get periods drove her to create her own line. After working in the pharmaceutical industry for so many years she became hyper aware of the environmental damage created by and harmful chemicals contained in things like pads and tampons. 'The key factor was that I wanted products that are plastic free and very good for women's health,' she said. 'A woman can use up to 20,000 pads during their menstrual cycle and that's not even considering liners or pre or post menopause, this is just on your period.' Shida said many big-brand period brands contain nasties like bleach or pesticides - and those buying them have no idea. 'We just purchase the first available product at a supermarket or pharmacy, because that's what we've been told to do - buy a pad or a tampon. We don't think about the product that we're using,' she said. 'We don't ask questions, is it good for me? Is it safe? We just purchase it without even reading ingredients. As well, a lot of people will make a decision based on price.' Shida's using Respect by Soodox to education people with periods on what they're putting in their body during that time of the month. 'A lot of women can get sensitivity in their private area and the whole vagina in general. There are so many different reasons why. Simply you could be allergic to the product you are using,' she said. 'Generally what happens is that we go to the doctor and they prescribe Canesten cream and then you just go through this whole cycle again.' She created a period wash to keep the vagina clean without affecting its pH-levels and alleviate any irritation that may occur. Shida's using her brand Respect by Soodox to education people with periods on what they're putting in their body during that time of the month 'When you are using a face cream and it gives you an allergic reaction. You stop using it. You should be doing the same but for you private area which is why we developed the period wash,' she said. There are also plastic, pesticide, bleach-free pads and tampons as well as reusable period underwear. 'Our products are cotton and not grown by pesticides, there's no bleaching being used,' Shida said. 'They don't have chemicals in them, chemicals that then get inserted into your body say four or five times a day for one week every month.' Shida wants encourage menstruating Aussies not to be shy when it comes to talking about their periods to break down the stigma and help women not only understand their bodies better but not hesitate to speak out or ask for help when something is wrong. 'Everyone deals with hormonal changes, and everyone reacts differently. You speak to some women and they've never experienced any PMS and you speak to some others and they go through it very severely,' she said. 'You need to discuss this with your parents, partners or friends. They need to be aware of your symptoms and how you're affected.' 'This way if you're reacting or overreacting or you're feeling down, they can support you in the right way. I believe this topic circles the conversation about mental health.' An avid traveller has complained about the lack of 'spatial awareness' shown by Australians - despite being an Aussie himself. The man insisted Australians are among the worst in the world when it came to getting in other people's personal space - without even realising. And many people agreed. He questioned why many Australians move at a 'snail's pace', take up an entire foot paths with bikes and scooters, seat next to right next to others in an 'empty cafe' or stand too close in queues. Others said Australia's lack to awareness for what's around them 'drives people bonkers' and even Aussies sided with the claims. One person cleverly dubbed people Down Under as 'Meanderthals' but not everyone thought Aussies moved in an inefficient way saying they've experience worse in other countries. 'Why do people have such poor spatial awareness in Australia?' the person asked in a Reddit post. A tourist has slammed Australians for having 'poor spatial awareness'. They said Aussies don't keep to one side of the footpath of escalator and stand too close in queues (stock image) 'Boarding and disembarking the train at snail's pace like they've got absolutely no where to go. Walking on the right side rather than the left and not correcting themselves when they get too close.' They said they've noticed people will take up an 'entire footpath' with bikes and scooters and expect others to walk around them instead of moving out of the way. 'Seating their whole noisy family right next to you in the cafe that's half empty,' they continued. 'Standing right behind you in the register to the point where they're breathing down your neck when there's plenty of space to stand further back. I don't get it.' Both tourists and Aussies alike were quick to share the traveller's sentiment with one saying the lack of self awareness was 'Australia's biggest flaw. They said they've noticed people will take up an 'entire footpath' with bikes and scooters and expect others to walk around them instead of moving out of the way (stock image) 'People have zero self awareness or consideration for others in public. Don't get me started on people driving under the speed limit in the right lane,' they wrote. 'COVID was s*** but I loved that people would not get too close. Now they do,' an Aussie user replied. 'They've got to have their 30th high school reunion somewhere,' joked another. Many shared their own pet peeves about Australian people's spatial awareness shortcomings with one calling those who walk slowly on a footpath 'Meanderthals'. 'It drives me bonkers. I almost lost it in Woolworths yesterday because there were five people standing in the middle of an aisle talking like it was a park,' one Aussie said. READ MORE: This is the secret Aussie sign language you must know if you're visiting from overseas Advertisement 'Bunnings on a weekend - people socialising and hanging out with their dog in the middle of the aisles,' another complained. 'It blows me away every day when people stand in doorways blocking others from passing just to have a chat. There seems to be zero concept of taking a step to the side to allow the flow of people through the door,' a third commented. 'Stepping off an escalator to stand still and ponder their next move like a Sim, while the conveyor belt of people approaches on a collision course,' a fourth added. Some shared their questionable tips for combating the 'rude' habits. 'If you've got a trolley just push it through them. It usually works,' one woman said. 'I say excuse me, as nicely as I can with a big smile, but loud enough that other people also notice like a little public shaming. Surprisingly effective. I start slowly pushing my cart towards them before I get a reaction,' someone laughed. But not everyone thought Aussies were the only ones guilty of the 'pet peeves' and claimed they are a 'universal thing'. 'Why do you think this is an exclusively Australian thing? It's a people thing, and it happens literally everywhere,' one used asked. 'I've definitely noticed it more in Australia. People walk super slow even in big cities. Australians would totally get trampled if they lived in Paris or New York City,' the poster responded. 'I was just in Europe where literally NO ONE CARES if they walk into you, push into you or stomp on your feet. At least in Australia you get a 'oh s***, sorry'.' another said. American chef and TV host Michael Chiarello died age 61 after suffering an allergic reaction. He died Friday night, surrounded by family and friends, at the Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California. The award-winning TV chef was hospitalised for a week following the reaction that ultimately led to anaphylaxis, according to his Gruppo Chiarello restaurant group. Allergic reactions are usually mild, triggering symptoms such as abdominal pain and vomiting. However, they can be very serious and trigger anaphylaxis within minutes of eating the offending food or drink. The Italian-American culinary whiz and TV host appeared on a slew of television shows and opened several restaurants Some of the most common symptoms of an allergic reaction can happen within ten minutes of eating an allergen. Sneezing, getting a runny nose, coughing, getting stomach cramps, feeling sick or getting itchy skin are all signs of an allergic reaction to a food COMMON CAUSES OF FOOD ALLERGY cows' milk eggs peanuts, soybeans, peas and chickpeas tree nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashews, pistachios and Brazil nuts shellfish, such as prawns, crab and lobster wheat Advertisement Stomach cramps Feeling or being sick and experiencing stomach cramps can both be signs of an allergic reaction. Symptoms 'almost always' appear within a few seconds or minutes of eating the offending food, according to the NHS. Stomach pain and nausea can, however, also occur with food intolerances, which tend to begin 30 minutes after eating or drinking the item in question. Allergies involve the immune system and can be life-threatening. Itchy and swelling skin Hives, itch skin and swelling are common mild and moderate symptoms of many food allergies. This itching and swelling can occur externally on the skin or inside the mouth. With a cow's milk allergy, for example, the symptoms can include an itchy mouth, tongue and throat as well as swollen lips, eyes or face. In some cases, it can also trigger a raised itchy rash on the skin, known as hives, says Allergy UK. Although swelling and skin reactions can be a mild allergy symptom, if your lips, throat, tongue suddenly become swollen you should call 999, the NHS warns. 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 found instant fame when he opened his first restaurant, Toby's, after graduating from college TYPES OF FOOD ALLERGY IgE-mediated food allergy the most common type, triggered by the immune system producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Symptoms occur a few seconds or minutes after eating. There's a greater risk of anaphylaxis with this type of allergy. the most common type, triggered by the immune system producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Symptoms occur a few seconds or minutes after eating. There's a greater risk of anaphylaxis with this type of allergy. non-IgE-mediated food allergy these allergic reactions aren't caused by immunoglobulin E, but by other cells in the immune system. This type of allergy is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms take much longer to develop (up to several hours). these allergic reactions aren't caused by immunoglobulin E, but by other cells in the immune system. This type of allergy is often difficult to diagnose as symptoms take much longer to develop (up to several hours). mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies some people may experience symptoms from both types. Source: NHS Advertisement Runny nose Sneezing and getting a runny nose after eating could be a sign you are allergic, too. An allergy can develop at any point in a person's life, according to Allergy UK. So even if you have not experienced this reaction before to a food, you can still develop one. 'If you are concerned or are having severe or unpleasant symptoms then take a non-sedating antihistamine,' says Allergy UK. 'If you have taken an antihistamine and feel your symptoms are not improving then you may need additional treatment and you should seek medical advice.' Wheezy cough Struggling to breathe or struggling with a wheezy cough are thought to be 'classic' respiratory reactions to a food allergy. But these symptoms can quickly become life-threatening. Difficulty breathing is an initial symptom of anaphylaxis, according to Allergy UK. If someone is experiencing this symptom it should be treated as a medical emergency, an ambulance should be called, and an adrenalin shot should be given if it is available. Anaphylaxis is the result of your body's immune system overreacting to a harmless substance, such as food. EXCL: Medic claimed 'there are no civilians in Israel' in wake of bloody attacks An NHS medic shockingly mocked Israeli festival-goers for fleeing Hamas gunmen, MailOnline can reveal today. Dr Mennah Elwan said 'if it was your home, you would stay and fight' in response to horrifying footage of Palestinian terrorists opening fire on innocent party-goers who gathered for an all-night trance music rave. The neurology registrar also claimed 'there are no civilians in Israel' in her series of abhorrent posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Comments by Dr Elwan, who last week attended a British Medical Association (BMA) rally in Manchester, show support for the brutal series of surprise attacks in Israel by Hamas. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians including 260 slaughtered at the same music festival Dr Elwan posted footage of have been killed. BMA bosses said her opinions 'do not reflect its values' and told MailOnline they will be 'investigating' her post. Dr Elwan's employer, the Walton Centre - a major neurology site in Liverpool - said it did not 'support any behaviour that marginalises an individual or community'. Her comments came as a wave of demonstrations kicked off in numerous UK cities from pro-Palestine supporters acting as apologists for Hamas. Some speakers held a rally outside the Labour party conference defending the terrorists' incursion into Israel. Dr Mennah Elwan in her British Medical Association kit during NHS industrial action organised by the union last week Dr Elwan, a neurology registrar, posted on social media mocking people fleeing a massacre by Hamas at a music festival Dr Elwan has described herself as working at the NHS's The Walton Centre, a major neurology hospital in Liverpool In response to footage of revellers running for their lives from the barbaric attack, Dr Elwan questioned the behaviour those fleeing. Reposting a terrifying clip of people attempting to dash to safety at the Supernova Festival, which took place close to the Gaza Strip, she wrote: 'If it was your home, you would stay and fight. You wouldn't just run away.' Egyptian-trained Dr Elwan then closed off her statement with a smiley emoji. People can be heard screaming as shots are fired while police are seen trying to help people evacuate. Other footage from the incident has since emerged showing gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets. Corpses of victims have since been piled up in makeshift tents as Israeli emergency responders work to identify the remains. In another post, Dr Elwan also appeared to support the wave of horrific violence towards Israeli civilians and tourists over the weekend. She wrote: 'Israel kills Palestinians everyday, didn't see anyone caring', again ending the statement with a smiley face emoji. Dr Elwan went on to add: 'Also, there are no civilians in Israel.' In another post, Dr Elwan even shockingly claimed that 'there are no civilians in Israel' in apparent support of violence over the weekend In another post, a reply to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressing his support Israel, she said the UK should simply take the Israeli population away from Palestine. 'Just take all the Israelis to the UK from terrorist Palestine a win for everyone, no?' she wrote. MailOnline approached Dr Elwan about her posts but she made her profile private after this website reached out to her. While Dr Elwan has described herself as working in the NHS on the professional networking platform LinkedIn, she did not name which organisation she was employed by. However, Dr Elwan has described herself as working at the NHS's The Walton Centre, a major neurology hospital in Liverpool, in a YouTube video. A spokesperson for The Walton Centre today told MailOnline: 'This is a personal social media account, Dr Elwans comments are entirely their own and do not represent those of The Walton Centre. 'The Walton Centre does not support any behaviour that marginalises an individual or community.' The medic, who is partway through her training to become a doctor specialising in neurology, just last week boasted about joining an NHS picket line. She wrote how 'great' it was to attend a rally organised by the BMA in Manchester on October 3 to coincide with the Tory party conference. Dr Elwan wrote about 'Manchester turning orange' with the hashtag #BMAPayRally' and pictures of her attending the event. Strike action by medics has led to almost 1.2million NHS appointment cancellations, official figures show. She also advocated for the removal of Israeli people from the country as an apparent soultion to the long-running conflict Dr Elwan, an NHS medic part way through her training to become a neurology specialist recently boasted of taking in strike action that has devastated the NHS A BMA spokesman said the union would be investigating her posts. 'Dr Elwan does not speak for or represent the BMA and the comments shared with us do not reflect the BMA or its values in any way,' they said. 'We will be fully investigating the matter in line with our procedures.' Britain's medical regulator, the General Medical Council (GMC), which has the power to officially sanction medics for inappropriate behaviour, said their standards apply to posts made by medics on social media. Standards state medics should 'make sure that your conduct justifies your patients trust in you and the publics trust in the profession'. A spokesman for the regulator added: 'The GMC can investigate where there are concerns that patient safety or the publics confidence in doctors may be at risk and take action if needed.' Survivors of the music festival massacre have since posted chilling footage of hiding in nearby vegetation for hours as they penned goodbyes to their families, not believing they would see them again. The Met Police have stepped up patrols in London amid fears of anti-Semitic attacks Israeli authorities have asked distraught relatives of those missing to bring personal items such as combs and toothbrushes so investigators can attempt to match their DNA to bodies. The massacre was one just one of many bloody attacks launched by Hamas after the group infiltrated communities in Israel's south. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack over the weekend, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said today. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. Other people have been taken hostage by Hama in distressing images and video posted to social media. One of those captured at the music festival was 30-year-old German tattoo artist Shani Louk. Her lifeless, half-naked body was paraded on the back of a Hamas pick-up truck as terrorists sat on top of her and jeered following the violent incursion. Other civilians unaccounted for include Noa Argamani and her boyfriend Avi Nathan. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday Footage shows the 25-year-old student screaming as she was forced on to the back of a motorcycle just metres away from her helpless boyfriend who was held at gunpoint. Both remain missing. In response, the Israeli army has hit more than 500 targets in overnight retaliatory strikes on the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. READ MORE: Tragic last dance for peace-loving tattoo artist murdered by Hamas: Shani Louk, who refused military service in Israel, is seen having fun.. before being slaughtered and paraded naked by terrorists Shani Louk, in her early 20s (pictured), was at a music festival for peace when she was captured by Hamas terrorists who had stormed the event and massacred 260 Israeli revellers during their assault on Israel Advertisement 'Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,' the military said in a statement. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as the strikes continued in the early hours of the morning. In a statement delivered from Chequers, Mr Sunak 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.' British Jews are also fearful that hateful events in the Middle East could spill over into the UK. The Metropolitan Police announced it had ramped up 'reassurance patrols' in London as images and videos of people waving Palestine flags and celebrating the bloody assault in the capital were shared on social media. Suella Braverman warned that the 'full force of the law' will be used against those who support Hamas or 'intimidate' Jews in Britain. She 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.' Her comments came as wave of demonstrations in numerous UK cities from pro-Palestine supporters acting as apologists for Hamas. Some speakers held a rally outside the Labour party conference defending the terrorists' incursion into Israel. There were banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party. Banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party were held by demonstrators. In fiery scenes one Labour member took on around 100 of the flag-waving crowd, telling them they were apologists for murder and should be ashamed of themselves. They responded by booing, chanting 'racist Israel' and demanding he be removed by police - something officers refused to do. It follows shocking scenes in Brighton yesterday where a woman at a pro-Palestine rally there called the attacks against Israel 'inspiring' and 'beautiful'. Speaking at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign rally, the woman, who described herself as a Palestinian told the crowd: 'Yesterday was a victory. 'For freedom fighters to break out of a 15-year blockade so successfully under the inhuman genocide of Israel was so beautiful and inspiring to see. 'It shows the world that we will always fight and always resist and we need to celebrate these acts of resistance because this was a success. 'Revolutionary violence initiated by Palestinians is not terrorism - it is self-defence'. Her words were greeted by applause. It came as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks. The former Labour leader refused to single out the terrorist group for condemnation, saying he was against 'all violence'. In a bad-tempered exchange with journalists on the fringes of the party's conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said the way to end the 'terrible situation' was to 'end the occupation of Palestine by Israel'. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is expected to attend a reception at the conference tomorrow night alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. Mr Zomlot previously told CNN that 'Israel knew that this was coming their way It's a consequence'. Asked about his comment, shadow chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: 'I'm very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable. 'And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment.' Mr Corbyn sparked anger yesterday when he responded to slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel without condemning Hamas. The MP is sitting as an independent after being removed from Labour's parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer 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 Israel's 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.' 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. Israel has started its retaliation for this weekend's attacks. Israeli forces have already used their strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip, with airstrikes and artillery destroying 1,000 targets belonging to Hamas and killing 560 Palestinians. Israel is drawing on its huge military might - including thousands of tanks, warplanes and troops - to obliterate Hamas after the terrorists launched a surprise assault that has so far killed 700 Israelis Israeli soldiers on a tank are seen near the Israel-Gaza border on Monday A six-month baby called Sema al-Misri is being rescued under rubble after Israeli airstrike in Gaza Strip on Monday Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday Video shows hundreds of cars belonging to Israeli reservists lining the streets close to a military base near Gaza after they reported for duty following Hamas's attack The nation's ground forces are now preparing to launch a massive co-ordinated ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy the Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fierce fighting erupt in the streets. The ground troops are drawing from Israel's arsenal of 300 military tanks including self-propelled howitzers to scour the country's southern and northern borders for Hamas gunman and guard the breaches in its border. On top of the 173,000 active Israeli soldiers, Israel has today drafted in a record 300,000 reservists in its response to a multi-front Hamas attack from Gaza and is 'going on the offensive,' the chief military spokesperson said. The country is also drawing on its special forces from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit to fight against Hamas. It is believed that they will be aiming to take out those high-ranking fighters within the terrorist organisation and also rescue the hundreds of Israelis who have been taken hostage. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine after what has been described as the country's 'worst day in history' with the number of Israeli's killed in the conflict set to rise further. Hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have already been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack. Israel's military might is far superior to that of the Hamas, who currently only possess around 10,000 rockets that had been built up in secret. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned that price Gaza would pay a price that 'will change reality for generations' with Israel imposing a total blockade with a ban on food and fuel imports as part of a battle against 'animals'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. A year ago Israel introduced the fifth version of its Merkava tank. The Merkava 5 was quietly developed, built, tested and deployed in small numbers during late 2022. This was ahead of schedule because the original delivery date was supposed to be early 2023. Like the earlier Merkava models, Merkava 5 is an improved version of the previous model and proved to be such an impressive upgrade that it was given a name; Barak. This new version of the Merkava appeared relatively quickly after the 65-ton Merkava 4 entered service in 2005. Merkava 4 received major upgrades in 2011. Further upgrades of Merkava 4 turned out to be so extensive that this version was designated Merkava 5, which weighs the same as Merkava 4. Several hundred Merkava 4 tank deliveries will instead incorporate the Merkava 5 features and enter service as Merkava 5s. This means there will be 360 Merkava 4s and 300 Merkava 5s. The price per tank will also increase from $4.5 million for each Merkava 4 and over $5 million for each Merkava 5 Barak. Improvements in the Merkava 5 include a more effective engine along with upgrades to the Iron Vision system that provides the commander a view of what is happening outside the tank. The new version provides a more realistic day/night view of what is outside as well as indications of where enemy fire (bullets or projectiles) hitting the tank is coming from and how best Merkava can respond. This was the result of upgrading the fire-control system. The Trophy APS (Active Protection System) has also been updated to be more effective and incorporate some of the lessons of the war in Ukraine. In addition to Iron Vision, Barak also has a much more capable fire control system featuring improved sensors that can detect and track enemy armored vehicles at night and in bad weather. The gunner can more quickly fire on any enemy tank detected no matter the weather or if Barak is on the move. All crew members have touch screens to access information on the status of Barak systems and any activity outside the tank. The improved sensors and Iron Vision enable the Barak crew to stay inside the tank during combat. Barak can operate in combat without the need for the commander to stand up and so that his head and shoulders outside the turret in order to get a better look at whats going on. This eliminates the risk of the commander being killed or wounded, which was always bad for crew morale. Israel is a small country and has always strived to keep combat casualties as low as possible. Israel is the smallest nation in the world to design and build its own tanks. This was the result of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, which took Israel by surprise, and inflicted heavy losses, before Israel counter-attacked and defeated Egypt and Syria and their larger number of modern Russian tanks. Israel carefully analyzes the results of each war it fights and makes changes to deal with problems encountered. The 1973 war prompted Israel to start designing and building its own tanks. By 1979 the 61-ton Merkava entered service and 250 were built by 1983. That was the year the first of 580 62-ton Merkava 2s entered service. Production of Merkava 2 ended in 1989. The first two Merkava models were similar in design with both using a 105mm gun. The Merkava 2 had additional armor, a five percent more powerful 950 HP engine and a 20 percent higher top speed of 55 kilometers an hour. The external 60mm mortar, mainly for firing smoke shells, was moved inside for the Merkava 2. There were a lot of other mechanical and electronic upgrades. By 1989 all the active-duty armored brigades had Merkavas and many of the reserve armored brigades as well. Using lessons learned from the 1982 fighting in Lebanon, Israel developed a much improved 63.5-ton Merkava 3, which entered service in 1990. By 2002 680 Merkava 3s were built. The main improvements in Merkava were a 120mm main gun and much more powerful 1,200 HP engine that produced a 60-kilometers an hour top speed, faster acceleration and a more maneuverable and nimbler tank. All the armor was of a modern composite design. Fewer main gun shells could be carried; 46x120mm ones compared to 60x105mm shells in the Merkava 2. Merkava 3 could load shells faster because of a five-round mechanical drum. The fire-control system was also upgraded, as were many other components. The Merkava 3 is still used, mainly by reserve armor brigades. In 2003 the 65-ton Merkava 4 was introduced. So far 360 of these have been produced and most have already undergone several major upgrades. Merkava 4 has improved armor, a redesigned turret, 25 percent more powerful 1,500 HP engine and a top speed of 65 kilometers an hour. Merkava 4 is even more nimble and maneuverable than Merkava 3. Merkava 4 carries 48 rounds of 120mm shells and uses a 10-round electric powered drum for quick loading. Merkava has a smoother ride because of an improved suspension system. There is also improved protection for the crew against mines and roadside bombs. By 2021 360 Merkava 4s were built. All Merkavas feature a unique design feature; the engine is in the front. This adds more protection for the four-man crew and any passengers in the large rear compartment. That compartment can hold more 120mm shells or other supplies or up to eight passengers. Usually six infantrymen are carried, providing Merkava with its own infantry support. This is especially useful in built-up areas. Merkava 4 underwent several major upgrades. In 2012 Israel completed equipping all the Merkava tanks in an armor brigade with the Trophy APS. In 2010 the first battalion of Merkavas was equipped with the APS. In 2011 Trophy defeated incoming missiles and rockets in combat for the first time. This included ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles), possibly a modern Russian system like the Kornet E. This ATGM was introduced in 1994 and sold to Syria, who apparently passed some to Hezbollah and Hamas. A few weeks before the ATGM intercept, Trophy defeated an RPG warhead, an unguided rocket propelled grenade fired from a metal tube balanced on the shoulder. As it was designed to do, Trophy operated automatically and the crew didn't realize the incoming RPG and missile warheads had been stopped until after it was over. That is how APS is supposed to work. In 2017, a ground vehicle VR (Virtual Reality) system called Iron Vision was introduced and Merkava 4 was the first tank to get it. Iron Vision meant a tank could largely dispense with tanks traditional dependence on the tank commander spending a lot of time with his head sticking out of the turret to get a better view of the situation. The VR helmet display helmet is worn by the tank commander and not only shows real-time video of what is outside, but also an overlay of other information or even a map. Israel pioneered the development and use of such helmets, and the F-35 stealth fighter was designed to use a VR helmet. Most modern tanks are equipped with these small external digital video cameras but Iron Vision makes the external cameras much easier to use. In 2020 Fire Weaver fire control network software was first installed in Israeli tanks and will soon be installed in warplanes, artillery and other armored vehicles. In 2021 at least two of the four active-duty armored brigades had Fire Weaver. Once all the active-duty armor brigades have it, the six active-duty infantry brigades will receive it. Some of the 22 reserve brigades, nine of them armored, may get the system as well. Fire Weaver takes data from existing sensors on tanks and other armored vehicles as well as artillery and warplanes and rapidly (within five seconds) lets vehicles, warplanes and artillery know which available target each combat system should fire at. This eliminates a common battlefield situation where too many weapons fire on some targets while other targets are not initially fired on at all. Currently, tank crews and artillery spotters (troops who call back to tell artillery which targets to hit) have manual procedures for picking which targets they should fire at. That often works quite well, especially during a situation where a tank unit encountering the enemy has an opportunity to fire first. Fire Weaver automates these decisions and makes more effective choices more quickly. The troops and pilots can override Fire Weaver-selected targets but tests have shown that Fire Weaver is usually quite effective in selecting the best targets for each tank, artillery unit or aircraft. Fire Weaver is easy to implement in the Israeli military because the Israelis have already been providing their troops with better sensors and battlefield networks. For example, in mid-2019 three Israeli firms, responding to an IDF proposal for bid, showed off their versions of the proposed Carmel Concept for future armored vehicles. Three different armored vehicles; the Merkava 4 tank, Namer IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and the Eitan 8x8 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) had proposed versions of Carmel installed. Carmel involves several existing technologies plus proposed new ones that would turn an armored vehicle into a combat system that would operate with, a crew of two or a robotic vehicle operated remotely (like a UAV) or autonomously, to benefit from more information about where friendly and suspected enemy forces were. This information would often be delivered in real-time. This sort of thing provides a tremendous advantage in combat. The best example of similar (to Carmel) existing tech is used in the F-35 where numerous sensor and communications systems are controlled by software that uses data fusion. This is merging data from many sources and presenting it to the pilot in a comprehensible fashion to provide the F-35 pilot with unprecedented situational awareness. That means an accurate picture of where the pilot and everything else in the vicinity is. It had long been known that superior situational awareness was the key to victory in combat be it in the air, at sea or on land. Carmel proposes that manufacturers find ways to effectively combine existing tech with improved software. This would include more AI (Artificial Intelligence) to analyze sensor and situational data at high speed and either act autonomously (as ADS, or Active Defense Systems, do) or present options to the vehicle operators. Although the Merkava was introduced in 1979, it wasnt until mid-2006 that Israeli tanks saw their first heavy combat in 24 years. It was also the first combat for the then new Merkava 4. Actually, it was the first heavy combat for the Merkava 2 (introduced in 1983) and Merkava 3 (1989). In 1982, 180 Merkava 1s saw action during the war with Lebanon. Until 2006 Merkavas had only been used in peacekeeping and counter-terror operations with the Palestinians. The Israelis, as they have in all past wars, collected detailed information on each tank that was hit by enemy fire. Israel won't, for obvious reasons, release all this information, but they have provided some data. "Several hundred" Merkavas were sent into southern Lebanon in 2006. Of those, ten percent were hit by enemy fire, including mines and roadside bombs. Merkava faced modern ATGMs for the first time in 2006. Only 18 tanks were seriously damaged, and only a third of those were from several hundred ATGMs fired by Hezbollah. Only two of the 18 heavily damaged tanks were destroyed, and both of those were damaged by roadside bombs. In those two cases, the tank was over the bomb when it was detonated. The experience in Lebanon again proved that ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles) tend to be overrated. Israel first encountered ATGMs during the 1973 war, and quickly adapted. ATGMs were much less effective in the 1982 war, and didn't do all that well in 2006 either. The Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah quickly learned that the Merkava frontal armor was impervious to their Kornet ATGMs. Getting side and rear shots was more difficult, and not a lot more successful. While the ATGM warhead often penetrated, the Merkava was designed to take this kind of hits and survive, and survive it did. In addition to fire extinguisher systems, the ammo and fuel are stored in such a way that secondary explosions are rare. The crew normally survives these hits, as does the tank. One of the biggest problems with Israeli tanks in Lebanon had to do with the crews. Because of the heavy use of Israeli troops in counter-terror operations since 2000, most tank crews have spent a lot of time without their tanks, serving as security troops (light infantry). The lack of training in their tanks reduced the effectiveness of the Merkavas in Lebanon. This was not a critical factor, but it annoyed the tank crews quite a bit. The tank crews were also peeved at the lack of protective devices, like smoke grenades on some tanks, or active defense systems like the Trophy APS. This was because so much money was diverted to counter-terror operations. While only six tanks were destroyed in Lebanon, over a hundred tank crewmen were killed or wounded by ATGMs. Hezbollah would often use a missile just to get the vehicle commander, who often was standing up, with his head and chest out of the turret hatch to get a better look at what's going on. Tank commanders would like to see some money spent on sensor systems (cameras) that enable the tank commander to get a good look around the tank, from inside the tank. The Lebanon operation was a wakeup call for the Israeli government to stop shortchanging efforts to improve their tanks. As good as the Merkava is, there are not a lot of export customers. There was apparently only one export customer and Israel did not reveal who it was and no other public information about a foreign user has appeared so far. One difficulty with export orders is that Israel builds the Merkava itself and cannot afford large production facilities. Moreover, many key components come from the United States, which gives the Americans a veto power over who exports go to. Merkava is also very expensive, with the most modern Merkava 5 costing over $5 million each. Israel cannot afford to keep all its Merkava in service. Currently 220 of 550 Merkava 4s are in storage, while only 160 of 730 Merkava 3s are in use, the rest in storage. There are still 370 Merkava 2s available, but all are in storage. If there is a major war, the stored Merkavas can be ready for combat in a few days, or less. These storage tanks would be used to replace tanks out of action for combat or non-combat reasons. Because the Merkava is designed to reduce crew casualties, most of the crews of damaged or destroyed tanks are available for duty within hours. While storage tanks dont get many of the upgrades, the basic controls of Merkava were kept the same or similar from one model to another to make it easy for crewmen who started out in a Merkava 4 to operate an earlier Merkava model taken out of storage. The success of Merkava and the need for a new APC (armored personnel carrier) to replace the current 18-ton American M113s led to the production of several hundred Namer IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles). These were basically Barak tanks without the turrets. At first the chassis of the 61-ton Merkava 1 was used but the protection for the infantry and three-man Namer crew was considered inadequate. Instead, the chassis of the 65-ton Merkava 4 was used. This Namer used the Trophy APS and that seemed to provide the needed protection. The Namer is the best protected IFV in service. It is armed with a small RWS (remote controlled weapons station) containing a 30mm autocannon. There is also a 60mm mortar and a 7.62mm machine-gun that are manually operated by crew or passengers. The latest addition is two Spike ATGMs that are carried and launched from a metal pod that is inside the vehicle and raised from inside the Namer for use. The passengers and crew are seated in blast resistant seats to protect them from injury if Namer encounters a large roadside bomb or anti-tank mine. This approach proved successful when such large explosions were encountered. Candy companies will be forced to change their recipes within three years in California or face fines after a new bill was passed in the Golden State. Gavin Newsom signed the so-called 'Skittles ban' Saturday, which outlaws four popular additives that have been linked to cancer, disease and mood disorders. The bill gives food companies three years to strip the ingredients from their products or face fines of up to $10,000. Supporters have heralded the bill as an 'important stand' against 'toxic' chemicals but food companies have hit back, blasting the move as confusing and threatening to raise food prices. The four newly-banned additives are: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben and red dye No.3. Newsom sent a letter confirming he had signed the bill. To this he attached a bag of Skittles from the European Union, saying this was proof that companies could alter their recipes Around 12,000 products sold in California use these, according to the Environmental Working Group Around 12,000 products sold in California use these, according to the Environmental Working Group. An earlier version of the ban also included titanium dioxide used in products like Skittles but this was removed in September. This was how the bill became known as the 'Skittles ban'. The European Union has already outlawed the additives in foods, forcing companies to make the tweaks. The ban will come into force in January 2027, with companies found to be manufacturing, distributing or selling the products facing fines of up to $10,000. Other states like New York look are considering similar bans. Newsom revealed he had signed the bill into law by stapling a packet of Skittles to the document. He said: 'This is demonstrable proof that the food industry is capable of maintaining product lines while complying with different public health laws, country-to-country.' Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat for Woodland Hills who proposed the bill, said: 'The Governor's signature today represents a huge step in our effort to protect children and families in California from dangerous and toxic chemicals in our food supply. 'It is unacceptable that the US is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to food safety. 'This bill will not ban any foods or products it simply will require food companies to make minor modifications to their recipes and switch to safer alternative ingredients. 'These are already in use in Europe and so many other places around the globe.' Brian Ronholm, the director of food safety at Consumer Reports, said: 'We've known for years that the toxic chemicals banned under California's landmark new law pose a serious risk to our health. 'California has taken an important stand for food safety at a time when the FDA has failed to take action. 'Safer versions of food products that are available in other countries should be made available to US consumers too.' Democrats in the state said their aim was not to ban the sale of any foods in the state outright, but to get manufacturers to change their recipes. Studies show that Red No.3 a food dye in many candies can cause cancer in laboratory animals in very high doses and has been linked to behavioral issues in children. The US banned it from cosmetic products in the 1990s, but it remains in many food products still sold in the US. A pair of studies in 2016 found it was in more than one in 10 candies in the US and more than 80 percent of children under two had consumed it in the past two weeks. Another of the substances set to be banned brominated vegetable oil, which is made from plants and used for citrus flavoring is suggested to harm the body's nervous system following long-term exposure. It has also been linked to the development of chronic headaches, memory loss and impaired balance. It was previously in the soda Mountain Dew until parent company Pepsi removed the ingredient in 2020. Propylparaben, often used as a preservative in baking goods, has been linked to fertility issues in mice via disrupting estrogen in females and reducing sperm counts in males. Potassium bromate is found in many baked goods too, but has been linked to the development of thyroid and kidney cancers. It is often used in processed foods to make the dough rise. The National Confectioners Association which represents candy companies said: 'They're making decisions based on soundbites rather than science. 'We should be relying on the scientific rigor of the FDA in terms of evaluating the safety of food ingredients and additives.' A spokesman added that 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'. Advertisement Vulnerable Americans are struggling to access the new Covid booster vaccine due to a shambolic fall rollout. Weeks after new shots were approved and the vaccine rollout was handed off to private companies, just four million Americans, or one percent, have been inoculated with the latest version. Despite Pfizer shipping more than 10 million doses of vaccines and Moderna shipping 1 million to locations across the country, Americans are still facing obstacles when showing up to get their shot. Inoculations are only now starting to be carried out this month in nursing homes and some facilities won't start vaccinating vulnerable residents until November - despite rising infections among the elderly. Also among the most vulnerable - young children. Danielle Campoamor's son has been admitted to the intensive care unit twice with a respiratory infection. After the traumatic experience, Ms Campoamor said she makes appointments for her children to receive every updated vaccine: 'The moment that there is a new [Covid vaccine], we sign up.' Many Americans are being told at clinics or pharmacies their insurance covers the shot at no cost to them, others are being asked to pay more than $100 before they roll up their sleeve. The patchiness of this year's rollout has been blamed on the fact it is being left to private firms than a US government sponsored campaign like was seen during the pandemic. A poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed a majority of Americans are not planning to get the updated Covid booster vaccine this year. The red dotted line above shows the 50 percent margin The above map shows the proportion of people by state who got the previous updated booster vaccine. No state went above 25 percent of coverage Some families who are vulnerable have taken matters into their own hands have begun testing and masking up against to protect themselves as they wait for a vaccine. It came as Novavax announced it received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to begin shipping doses of its vaccine, which will be available in pharmacies next week. The US government has recommended all Americans aged six years and older get the new vaccine, which was updated to protect against the omicron sub-variants that have been driving a rise in cases. When the White House ended the Covid-19 public health emergency in May, it passed off responsibility of distribution, administration and payment to private companies including vaccine makers, pharmacies, and insurance plans. However, decentralizing the rollout of the vaccines, which were free to everyone, has made it difficult and confusing for Americans. Some Americans show up for the vaccine and are forced to wait for an hour, while others receive notifications the day before their appointment informing them it has been canceled. Chad Worz, CEO of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, told KFF: 'The distribution of the new covid-19 vaccine is not going well. Older adults in [nursing homes] are certainly the most vulnerable and should have been prioritized.' However, the chaotic rollout could see the elderly in nursing homes waiting until November to receive their new vaccine - and this wait could prove dangerous for many. Infections among this population have been increasing, and now stand at 9.7 per every 1,000 residents, a steep increase from a low of 2.2 per 1,000 residents in June. While Covid may be just a cold for some, for this high-risk population, it could prove deadly. During the first two years of the pandemic, Covid killed more than 200,000 residents and staff, and facilities faced and continue to face resistance to the vaccines from both groups. While 62 percent of nursing home residents were up to date on their vaccines prior to the most recent being approved, just one-quarter of nursing home employees can say the same - putting residents at risk. And while Medicare will pay for vaccines for the residents, employees may be faced with insurance costs. On September 13, CVS said it would begin receiving doses of the new vaccine that day and would continue to receive inventory on a rolling basis. All CVS Pharmacy locations were expected to have the vaccine and people would be able to walk into a clinic or make an appointment online. However, the company, the largest pharmacy chain in the US, told Reuters it was still experiencing delivery delays from its wholesalers. A spokesperson from McKesson, one of America's largest wholesalers, said it had shipped 3.8 million Covid vaccines so far, but acknowledged it needed to increase its supply chain. A spokesperson for both CVS and Walgreens have each blamed canceled or rescheduled appointments on supply chain issues and delays in delivery. In a statement to DailyMail.com, a Walgreens spokeswoman said: 'For the best experience, patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance. Walgreens.com and the Walgreens app will continue to be updated to reflect availability.' While Americans are growing frustrated with the hurdles they're faced with, if last year's uptake of the vaccine is any indicator for this year's, many Americans may not even want to get boosted. Last year, just 17 million Americans received the updated Bivalent booster and a recent poll found 52 percent of adults in the US said they 'definitely' or 'probably' would not get the newest vaccine. Still, those most vulnerable, such as the elderly or immunocompromised individuals, are still dependent on the protection that comes from an updated vaccine. Jennifer Kates, a senior vice-president at KFF, was informed one day prior her Covid vaccine appointment at CVS was canceled. However, Ms Kates was due to attend a conference and then see her elderly parents. Hoping the vaccine would provide her and her parents protection, Ms Kates told The Guardian they now will resort to testing and wearing masks. She said: 'It was too bad that the timing didnt work out; it was disappointing.' For a New Jersey dad who was lucky enough to get vaccine appointments for himself, his wife and one of their daughters, it cost him nearly $600 in September and he is hoping he will be reimbursed by his insurance. Xavier Becerra, the U.S. health and human services secretary, said at a press conference last week the administration is aware of the issues and is working with insurers to iron out the problems. He confirmed anyone with Medicaid, Medicare or private health insurance should have the vaccine covered at no charge. For people without insurance, Mr Becerra said they could request a free shot through the government's Bridge Access Program. A mother has told how she feared her 12-year-old daughter would die after vaping left her in a coma. Sarah Griffin, who suffers from asthma, had an infection which left her struggling to breathe. She was taken to A&E, where doctors whisked her straight into intensive care due to her oxygen levels being extremely low. Medics then put Sarah, who has asthma, into an induced coma for three days as she battled the infection. She is now recovering at home. Sarah Griffin was initially so agitated medics decided to delay bringing her out of her induced coma over fears they would have to induce her again. But after three days medical staff were finally able to take Sarah out of the coma and remove the ventilator Sarah, from Belfast, suddenly began coughing one evening as she was getting ready for bed, but her parents dismissed it as her asthma. She tried to ease her symptoms throughout the night with her inhaler and nebuliser. But less than 24 hours later, she was left struggling to breathe before attending hospital where she was admitted straight to intensive care. Pictured, Sarah with her mother Mary Her mother Mary, from Belfast, claims doctors told her that vaping had left her lungs 'very weak' even though she hadn't been 'vaping heavily'. Discussing her daughter's terrifying ordeal, she said: 'The doctors explained if Sarah had not have been vaping, she would have been in a better position to fight off the infection. 'The doctors said if Sarah had have got to hospital any later the outcome would have been entirely different. 'That is something I cant even think about.' Sarah suddenly began coughing one evening as she was getting ready for bed but her parents dismissed it as her asthma. She tried to ease her symptoms throughout the night with her inhaler and nebuliser. But less than 24 hours later, she was still struggling to breathe. Ms Griffin told Belfast Live: 'Her cough was no different from any other time. 'That morning I was taking my other two children to school when Sarah rang and said, "Come back mummy, I don't feel well, I'm afraid". Read more: Rishi Sunak unveils crackdown on 'worrying' child vaping epidemic and announces kids aged 14 and under will NEVER be able to buy cigarettes under new ban Advertisement After returning home to give Sarah her inhaler and nebuliser, she left for the shops briefly but received another call from her daughter who was breathless and 'barely able to string a sentence together', she said. Sarahs father rushed her to the Royal Victoria Hospital where medics discovered her oxygen levels had dropped dangerously low. Doctors showed Ms Griffin an X-ray of Sarahs lungs which showed one had been seriously injured. 'Sarah also had an infection, so everything combined had a massive impact on her body, extremely quickly,' she said. 'There were tubes, wires, and machines everywhere it was heartbreaking to see her like that. As her mum I just felt so helpless. It was a nightmare come true. 'Sarah has an older brother and two younger siblings and trying to explain to them what was happening was awful. 'They were asking if she was going to die, and I was saying, "Of course not", but in my mind I was terrified that was a real possibility.' She was initially so agitated medics decided to delay bringing her out of her induced coma over fears they would have to induce her again. But after three days medical staff were finally able to take Sarah out of the coma and remove the ventilator. Sarah's father rushed her to the Royal Victoria Hospital where medics discovered her oxygen levels had dropped dangerously low. She spent four and a half hours in intensive care before being put into an induced coma Doctors showed Ms Griffin an X-Ray of Sarahs lungs which showed one had been seriously injured. The other lung was working overtime triggering her asthma worse, she claimed. Pictured, Mary with Sarah Her family has shared their story as part of Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Strokes (NICHS) campaign to raise awareness of their concern about young vapers. Fidelma Carter, head of public health at NICHS, said: 'The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. 'This is not true, and this message needs to change to prevent more young people from taking up and getting addicted to vaping because they think they are risk free. 'The long-term health implications are unknown - just as they once were with tobacco.' It comes as Rishi Sunak last week announced a crackdown on vaping among kids. He promised to look at banning kid-friendly flavours and packaging that encourage children to pick up the habit. Colourful displays of the gadgets, sold for as little as 5, currently litter high streets across the UK. Predatory manufacturers lure kids in with flavours such as bubblegum and cotton candy and some shops even sell the devices next to sweets. NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from youngsters found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium. Some were almost 10 times above safe limits. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while the other two metals can trigger blood clotting E-cigs allow people to inhale nicotine in a vapour which is produced by heating a liquid, which typically contains propylene glycol, glycerine, flavourings, and other chemicals. Unlike traditional cigarettes, they do not contain tobacco, nor do they produce tar or carbon two of the most dangerous elements. Although widely viewed as safer than smoking, the long-term effects of vaping still remain a mystery. Doctors have expressed fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age. Earlier this year leading paediatricians also already warned children were being hospitalised with vaping-induced breathing difficulties amid a 'disturbing' youth vaping epidemic. NHS figures also show a rise in the number of children admitted to hospital due to vaping. Forty children and young people were admitted to hospital in England last year due to 'vaping-related disorders', which could include lung damage or worsening asthma symptoms, up from 11 two years earlier, the NHS said. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last month show around 4.5million Brits vape daily or occasionally a rise of some 500,000 in just 12 months. More than a third of US schools do not have a single full-time school nurse, despite record rates of disease and mental health problems in students. Only 66 percent of K-12 schools have access to a full-time school nurse, according to a 2021 survey by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). California has just one nurse for every 2,410 students in the state, for example, while Missouri has around one nurse for every 718 students. Evidence shows that schools that don't have a nurse on site have triple the amount of absences due to illness compared to schools that do. It comes as America is dealing with high rates of chronic illnesses among K-12 students, including diabetes and asthma, plus record rates of mental health issues, which evidence suggests were exacerbated by school closures during the Covid pandemic. Only 66 percent of K-12 schools have access to a full-time school nurse, according to a 2021 survey by the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) The pandemic placed an extra burden on school nurses' shoulders as they had to track cases and exposures (stock pic) Schools are also struggling to hire and retain nurses because hospitals are offering much higher salaries than schools, coupled with an overall shortage of nurses nationally. Jodi Bobbitt is the only school nurse for the 600 pupils at William Ramsay Elementary in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the port of call for medications, education about health care and routine health checks. She is also in charge of tracking students' vaccinations, distributing local healthcare resources to parents and conveying tricky messages to them, for instance, sexually transmitted infections and signs of depression and anxiety among students. In her last job, she worked across two or three school buildings in the same district. The pandemic placed an extra burden on school nurses' shoulders as they had to track cases and exposures. They also took the heat from anti-maskers and maskers and anti-vaxx and pro-vacc parents and were the point of contact when students had to quarantine. Kate King, president of the NASN, told CBS News that while 'school nurses are used to interacting with parents who are angry,' due to the pandemic, 'that anger just got to levels we had never seen before.' When schools don't have a nurse onsite, children's attendance suffers. A study from the Journal of School Nursing found that sick or injured students were sent home 18 percent of the time when assessed by an unlicensed school employee, such as a regular teacher, while only five percent were sent home after a school nurse looked at them. At the start of the term this year, a Kentucky school district was forced to cancel classes less than two weeks after reopening after swathes of students were hit by a 'tripledemic' of flu, Covid and strep throat outbreaks. Ms King said that although some teachers and admin staff at schools are trying to learn how to handle injuries and illnesses themselves, it 'doesn't take the place of having a school nurse who can respond immediately.' By law, schools do not have to have school nurses, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that there should be at least one full-time nurse per 750 students. Most schools are way off this target. Schools without a dedicated nurse may share one with other campuses or not have one at all. School nurses in California have a particularly hefty workload. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, there is just one nurse for every 2,410 students in the state. Antibiotic resistance is responsible for millions of deaths every year globally Scientist fear chemical mixtures, that kill bacteria, could cause drug-resistance Using bleach and alcohol in hospitals and homes could be fuelling drug-resistant bacteria, experts have warned. Disinfectants and antiseptics are commonly used to clean surfaces, surgical instruments and even skin across healthcare settings. These chemical mixtures, called biocides, help kill bacteria and other microorganisms. But scientists have warned their widespread and unregulated use may actually increase antibiotic resistance, meaning germs develop the ability to defeat drugs designed to kill them. Disinfectants and antiseptics are commonly used to clean surfaces, surgical instruments and even skin across healthcare settings. But these could increase antibiotic resistance A team from Macquarie University in New South Wales, Australia, analysed a 'problem germ' called Acinetobacter baumannii. The highly contagious bacteria can cause a range of diseases, including pneumonia and meningitis, and is already resistant to many antibiotics. The researchers used genetic screening to look for genes that either increased or decreased the bacteria's sensitivity to 10 different disinfectants and antiseptics. They discovered that certain biocides, including chlorhexidine, affected the way the bacteria behaved. Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic commonly used to clean skin before surgery and to sterilise surgical instruments. It can also be found in some mouthwashes. Analysis revealed the A. baumannii bacteria responded to low levels of the antiseptic - and these changes could help it survive and grow when exposed to multiple types of antibiotics. Writing in the journal Nature Microbiology, the authors said that low levels of biocides remaining in the environment due to their widespread use might promote antibiotic resistance which they described as an 'alarming public health issue'. They said: 'Biocides are disinfectants and antiseptics that are widely used for disinfection and cleaning in both households and hospitals, but little is known about their impact on the emergence and spread of multiple-drug resistant infections. 'In contrast to antibiotics, the use of biocides is largely unregulated. 'Our results support the concern that residual biocides might promote antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria.' Infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and salmonella are becoming harder to treat as antibiotics become less effective, experts say Antibiotic resistance is considered one of the biggest threats to health globally - responsible for 1.3 million deaths a year with the over-prescribing of antibiotics partly to blame. The World Health Organization has warned that a growing number of infections such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhoea and salmonella are becoming harder to treat as antibiotics become less effective. Their website reads: 'Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world. '[It] is accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, as well as poor infection prevention and control. 'Without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.' Earlier this year, a separate study suggested that air pollution could be causing bacteria to become more resistant to antibiotics. Researchers in China found a global connection between a microscopic pollutant called PM2.5 and cases of bacteria becoming immune to antibiotic drugs. Cells taken from a patient's own lungs could be used to treat or even cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), that affects about 1.4million people in the UK and leaves many struggling for breath. Research presented at last month's European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy, showed that after a cell transplant patients were able to breathe better, walk farther and had a better quality of life. The lung damage in two patients with emphysema a type of COPD that often worsens over time was completely repaired by the therapy. The groundbreaking treatment involves harvesting a type of cell able to repair damage, before cloning it to make millions of copies. These are then injected back into the lungs. The technique has been hailed as a potential 'game-changer' by the charity Asthma + Lung UK. Cells taken from a patient's own lungs could be used to treat or even cure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd), that affects about 1.4million people in the UK and leaves many struggling for breath. Pictured: A female doctor with a lung illustration COPD is an umbrella term for severe respiratory diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Pictured: File photo of lungs COPD is an umbrella term for severe respiratory diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. RUDE HEALTH: Smoking and vaping harm male fertility in rats, reports a study by Cumhuriyet University in Turkey. Researchers found exposure to smoke from vapes and cigarettes led to cell damage, smaller testes, lower sperm count and quality. Further studies are needed to examine this in humans. Advertisement Patients often have breathing difficulties due to inflamed and narrow airways. The main cause been exploring the use of stem cell therapy. Stem cells have the capacity to regenerate or repair almost any body tissue. For example mesenchymal stem cells, from bone marrow or umbilical cord blood, are used to treat several diseases and have had mixed results in studies to treat COPD. The treatment uses progenitor cells, 'descendants' of stem cells, and instead of maturing into any type of tissue, they only turn into the tissue from which they came. Researchers at Tongji University in Shanghai, China, collected a type of progenitor cell called P63+ which can regenerate the tissues of the airways from the lungs of 17 patients with COPD. They inserted a catheter (a thin tube) with a tiny brush on the end into the patients' lungs to collect the cells: these were used to grow millions more in the lab. Days later, the lab-grown cells were transplanted into the lungs via a bronchoscopy where a tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the airways via the mouth while the patient is under sedation. Previous research found P63+ cells can repair COPD-related damage to the walls of alveoli, the tiny is smoking, but air pollution and genetics are also implicated. Over time, the walls of the airways thicken and mucus is produced, worsening symptoms. A cough is often a first sign, and those affected soon develop extreme breathlessness and wheezing. There is no cure. Treatment involves medication often inhaled through a nebuliser to reduce inflammation and allow more oxygen into the lungs; or exercises to boost lung capacity. Researchers found average diffusing capacity of the lungs (how well gases are exchanged between the lungs and bloodstream) improved from 30 per cent before treatment to 40.3 per cent after 24 weeks. Pictured: File photo of doctor examining lungs In recent years scientists have air sacs in the lungs which play a crucial role in the exchange of gases in the blood supply to the lungs. Transplanting a patient's own progenitor cells rather than a donor's also reduces the risk of tissue rejection and serious side-effects. Researchers found average diffusing capacity of the lungs (how well gases are exchanged between the lungs and bloodstream) improved from 30 per cent before treatment to 40.3 per cent after 24 weeks. Patients could also walk farther and their quality-of-life scores rose, with no serious side-effects. Researchers said although progenitor cell transplantation could repair mild emphysema as it did with the two patients it is not yet able to cure severe emphysema. Larger studies are now planned. Omar Usmani, a professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, said the results were 'encouraging' but it was unclear how many of the transplanted cells would remain and actually trigger the growth of healthy new tissue. 'So we don't know whether the lungs of some patients responded better to the transplantation than others. This may become apparent in future studies,' he said GSK has agreed a bumper deal with China's largest vaccine company Zhifei for the exclusive rights to distribute the FTSE 100 firm's shingles vaccine. The pharmaceutical giant told shareholders on Monday the distribution agreement for Shingrix will be worth 2.5billion over an initial three-year period starting on 1 January 2024. In a statement, the London-based firm, said: 'The partnership supports and accelerates GSK's commitment to double global Shingrix sales, reaching more than 4billion by 2026'. The pharmaceutical giant said that the deal to sell Shingrix will be worth 2.5billion over an initial three-year period starting on 1 January 2024 It added: 'Under the terms of the strategic partnership, Zhifei has granted GSK the right of first refusal to be their exclusive partner for any co-development and commercialisation of an RSV vaccine for older adults in China, paving the way for the companies to potentially partner on Arexvy upon approval in China.' Luke Miels, chief commercial officer, of GSK, said: 'This partnership is consistent with our focus on products with a high and durable level of differentiation. It materially expands the number of Chinese adults who can benefit from Shingrix and includes the option to extend the collaboration to include our novel RSV vaccine, Arexvy.' Last week, the business reported that it had collected another bumper payout after offloading a stake in consumer healthcare spin-off Haleon. The company told investors it had raised around 885.6million from selling 270 million Haleon shares at 328p each, reducing its shareholding in the company from 10.3 per cent to about 7.4 per cent. When GSK and Pfizer spun off Haleon in July last year, the former retained a 12.9 per cent stake in the firm, while the American drugmaker owned just under a third of the shares. GSK shares were up 1.08 per cent to 1,515.60p in early trading on Monday. (PA) - Online giant Amazon has announced a pay rise for its staff of at least 1 an hour. The minimum starting pay for frontline employees will increase to between 11.80 and 12.50 an hour depending on location. The rise, for all full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal roles, will be effective from October 15. Minimum starting pay will increase further next April to between 12.30 and 13 an hour, depending on location. Amazon said the increases represent a 170 million investment in pay and mean its minimum starting pay will have risen by 20% in two years, and 50% since 2018. It will apply to tens of thousands of staff across the UK, as well as over 15,000 seasonal employees who will be hired at Amazon sites across the country this festive season. Amazon UK country manager John Boumphrey said: "We have some of the most talented colleagues around, and we're proud to offer them competitive wages and benefits, as well as fantastic opportunities for career development, all in a safe and modern work environment. Islamist group leader blows himself up in mosque as 24 die in worst inter-Palestinian violence in two years The leader of a radical Islamist group blew himself up today during a shootout with Hamas security forces on the Gaza strip. The death of Abdel-Latif Moussa ended hours of violence sparked by a rebellious sermon at a mosque in the southern town of Rafah near the Egyptian border. At least 24 people were killed, among them three children, in what has been called the worst inter-Palestinian violence in two years, which broke out late yesterday. Suicide: Abdel-Latif Moussa pictured giving the sermon that sparked the violence with Hamas, in which he called for Gaza to be ruled by strict sharia law Hamas forces surrounded the mosque containing about 100 members of the Jund Ansar Allah fundamentalist group after a sermon given by Moussa in which he called for Gaza to be ruled by strict sharia law. Moussa detonated the explosive vest he had been wearing in the early hours of this morning, along with an aide named Khaled Banat after killing a negotiator, said Ihab Ghussein, a Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman. 'The so-called Moussa has committed suicide ... killing a mediator who had been sent to him to persuade him and his followers to hand themselves over to the government,' he said. Hamas government spokesman Taher al-Nono said: 'We hold Jund Ansar Allah and Moussa responsible for what happened because of his rash declaration of an emirate.' Violence: Palestinian mourners pray over the bodies of some of the 24 killed in clashes between Hamas and radical Islamist group Jund Ansar Allah Hamas also confirmed the death of one of its high-level commanders, Abu Jibril Shimali, who Israel says orchestrated the capture three years ago of Sergeant Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier who continues to be held by Hamas. Today, the Jund Ansar Allah website vowed revenge: 'We swear to God to avenge the martyrs' blood and we will turn their women into widows,' it read. Dr Moaiya Hassanain of the Palestinian Health Ministry said that six Hamas police officers were among those killed in the fighting, which also wounded 150. Protest: Palestinians shout during the funeral of Hamas policemen who were killed in this morning's violent clash at a mosque in Rafah Residents in the town of Rafah, still sealed off to the media by Hamas forces, described a night of terrifying violence. Hamas has ruled Gaza since routing the forces of Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas in 2007. The Jund Ansar Allah group first made their presence known with a border raid against an Israeli base in June when some of its fighters rode into battle on horseback. Three were killed. Ghussein said the group was behind bombings of Internet cafes and of a wedding party. Tension: Hamas officers stop a car at a makeshift roadblock on the coastal road of Gaza City today following the violence this morning in Rafah The United States and European Union have condemned Hamas, which won the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary election, for its refusal to end violence and accept Israel's existence. Western powers are also calling on Israel to ease the blockade and have been urging Hamas to meet conditions to engage in peace talks. Israel unilaterally ended its occupation of the Gaza Strip in 2005 and withdrew its forces and settlers. However, it retains control of Gaza's borders, in cooperation with Egypt. Israeli soldier kidnapped three years ago is alive after Hamas release 'proof of life' After more than three years with little news, the parents of an abducted Israeli soldier have finally received proof that their son is alive. A short video of Gilad Shalit was released by his terrorist captors yesterday after Israel freed 20 female Palestinian prisoners. Shalit, who was abducted from an Israeli army post near the Gaza border in June 2006, read from a prepared text and held a a copy of a Hamas newspaper, Falasteen, dated September 14. Scripted: Gilad Shalit holds up a newspaper as he reads for a prepared text In a direct plea to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu he said: 'Do not waste this chance to reach a deal so that as a result I can finally realise my dream and be released. 'I feel well, from a health point of view, and the mujahideen of the Qassam Brigades are treating me excellently.' Turning to his family, 23-year-old Shalit says: 'I love them and I miss them very much.' Wearing a military uniform, he appeared in good health but was clearly reading from a script. The video was broadcast with the agreement of Shalit's family after it was received in exchange for the release of the Palestinian women from Israeli jails in a complex swap organised by Egypt, Germany and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Emotional: Gilad's father Noam (left) agreed to the broadcast of the tape Ever since his abduction Shalit has been denied visits by the Red Cross - a contravention of international law - and his family have received only three handwritten notes, a voice recording and a still photograph. Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas government in Gaza, hailed the exchange as 'a triumph for the resistance' and said he hoped it would be 'the prelude to an honourable deal' where Shalit would be exchanged for up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, including more than 40 convicted of mass murder. But last night Israeli officials rejected the demands. The released Palestinian women were arrested for their involvement in planning terror attacks, including failed suicide bombings, against Israel. Fourteen were convicted of attempted murder and the youngest was only 13 when she was arrested. Hamas has claimed it scored an important victory in forcing Israel to pay a heavy price just for a sign that Shalit was still alive. However, Israeli experts said most of the women were due for release anyway and only five came from Hamas. There are 40 more women among more than 7,000 prisoners still held by Israel. The video of Shalit was first seen by a German mediator in Egypt on Monday. He showed it to Israeli negotiator Hagai Hadass in Tel Aviv yesterday morning. After confirming that it proved Shalit was still alive and contained indications it had been filmed recently, Hadass gave the order for the prisoners to be released into the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross. The Starlink satellite network, with about 5,000 satellites currently in orbit, lost 212 of these between mid-July and mid-September. Starlink satellites are designed with a service life of at least five years. At this point the satellites are supposed to move into a lower orbit that will soon degrade and the satellite will fall into the atmosphere and burn up. This is now a standard feature with new satellites, to avoid crowding orbital space with derelict satellites that no longer function. This is important because American firm SpaceX is the first of many companies worldwide to put a large number of small communications satellites into orbit. Within a decade there are to be over 100,000 of these satellites in orbit. Currently SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corporation) has over 5.000 Starlink satellites in orbit. The number was achieved with the August 26 use of a SpaceX Falcon 9 SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) carrying 22 Starlink satellites, raising the Starlink count to 5,005. Ultimately, SpaceX wants to have 30,000 Starlink satellites in orbit. This would provide the entire planet with low-cost, high-speed Internet access via a multiple-satellite ISP (Internet Service Provider) system. Users will need a small ground station consisting of a small satellite dish and a special modem, costing $600 with service costing $90 a month. In large quantities these stations cost about $100 each. Some nations will not allow their citizens to access Starlink while others seek to regulate what portions of the Internet users can access. This has been the experience of major competitors like ViaSat and HughesNet. When all the Starlink satellites are in orbit, Starlink will be the planets major provider of satellite Internet service. Starlink needs about ten million monthly fee paying customers to be profitable. SpaceX turned profitable in early 2023. The original gen1 Starlink system was designed to expand to over 40,000 satellites if demand by paying customers was large enough to justify and pay for it. Starlink gen2 is designed to provide so much more customer bandwidth (data transmission) that far fewer Starlink satellites will be needed. That could be up to 90 percent less than gen1. Gen2 is designed to operate more efficiently over countries that outlaw Starlink as an ISP. Nearly half the Internet users on the planet live in countries that heavily censor Internet use. Starlink makes it much more difficult to censor Internet users. Originally designed to provide affordable high-speed Internet use to those in remote areas, Starlink discovered it had gained a lot of new customer interest because of its experience in Ukraine. The gen2 satellites are described as nearly ten times more capable than the gen1 (original) Starlink satellites. Gen2 are designed to work with gen1 satellites and gradually replace them. Gen1 birds are designed to last for about seven years. At that point the satellite gradually loses altitude until it burns up reentering the atmosphere. The true capabilities of gen2 wont be known until some of them are in orbit. Gen1 satellites proved more effective than expected but the list of suggested improvements indicated that a larger gen2 satellite would be the way to go. Eventually this will mean fewer Starlink satellites in orbit but there will still be thousands of them. The main function of Starlink is to provide cheaper, more powerful and globally available access to the Internet or any other communications network that can pay for the use of the Starlink network. That includes military users that are friendly to Starlink and not considered a threat. The threat nations include China, Russia and several smaller countries like Iran, North Korea and Cuba that are hostile to Internet access they cannot control. China estimates that Starlink is able to increase the speed and throughput of military communications over a hundred times what it is now. Starlink is not the only multiple-satellite ISP system. There are similar efforts underway in several countries, including Russia and China. These efforts have fallen far behind Starlink in terms of numbers and capabilities. Starlink is unique in that it was the first to enter service and quickly proved it could do what it was designed to do. That included quickly adapting to the needs of military users. This was demonstrated in Ukraine where Starlink was activated over Ukraine days after Russia invaded in February 2022. The first of thousands of free user kits were delivered in less than a week. Currently there are over 100,000 user kits in Ukraine, most of them serving as small, local ISPs by adding an inexpensive router. As long as the Ukraine War continues, SpaceX and the U.S. government will pay for the service in Ukraine. In 2022 SpaceX announced a new subsidiary called Starshield with enhanced versions of Starlink technology on larger earth-imaging satellites with sensors to provide whatever sensing capabilities a national security customer wants. This includes photos, real-time video and all manner of data which U.S. military-grade satellite sensors can collect. Potential users include the NSA, CIA and equivalent agencies of American allies. While Starlink has achieved market dominance in space-based communications for personal and commercial users, that largely consists of high-speed Internet datalinks and inexpensive ground links that can be stationary or moving in a vehicle or ship. Starshield plans to do that same with classified data government agencies collect. Starshield satellites are designed to accept many types of capabilities provided by user-supplied modules designed for compatibility with the Starshield interface. Starshield data and control links use much more robust encryption. Starshield will use larger SpaceX SLVs (satellite launch vehicles) to put new Starshield satellites in orbit. Currently Russia is actively seeking ways to disrupt Starlink service. These attacks are nothing new, because government and military users of space-based communications systems have long worked on improving security. Starshield is organized to take business away from commercial firms like Blacksky and Maxtar that already have billions of dollars in government contracts to provide persistent imaging, including real-time video, of specific areas on earth. The United States provides these specialized imaging services to Ukraine and that provides satellite data on Russian forces superior to what the Russians can provide to their own troops. Ukrainians were impressed by the potential for Starlink and rapidly came up with new uses, some of them military. This gave Starlink a realistic test under very adverse conditions. So far this has been a success even though Russia, apparently with some help from China, is still seeking ways to shut down or disrupt Starlink. Another advantage of Starlink is the rapidity of upgrades or modifications to deal with problems, including Russian efforts to jam or disrupt performance in Ukraine. Not only were the Russians unable to disable Starlink, but found its encrypted signals far superior to communications Russian troops had to use in Ukraine. Worse for the Russians was the Ukrainian ability to rapidly integrate Starlink with Ukrainian communications and fire control systems. Before Gen2 satellites were ready, SpaceX pointed out that it could put additional Starlink satellites into orbit faster and more cheaply than Russia or anyone else could destroy them. This capability was part of the Starlink design that not only allowed satellite and user software to be quickly updated, but new Starlink satellites often had new features added to improve performance and that included more resistance to hacking and jamming. Complaints that Starlink satellites would become so numerous that they would be a hazard for other satellites are unproven and even less likely once the gen2 satellites are operating. Starlink operates in LEO (low earth orbit) between 300 and 600 kilometers from earth, where there is already a lot of space junk too small to quickly fall back into the atmosphere and burn up. Any plans to destroy a lot of Starlink satellites would make the situation worse without shutting down Starlink services. If left alone the gen1 and gen2 Starlink satellites are designed to burn themselves up in the atmosphere when no longer operational. China sees Starlink as a serious threat to its current government Internet censorship and control over the population, as well as the political reliability of its military. Thats no speculation because its already happening, often live on TV, in Ukraine. China has not yet come up with a workable plan to disrupt or destroy Starlink, and considers Starlink a major obstacle to China eventually becoming the most powerful military force on the planet. That was supposed to happen before 2050. With Starlink it may take longer. Starshield also aims to provide users with a dominant position in space-based sensing. Starshield is meant to be cheaper and more responsive than any existing competitor in providing a wider array of earth sensing capabilities. SpaceX has not revealed the schedule for lifting Starshield satellites into orbit, and some may already be there testing the services Starshield will provide. Starshield activities will be less public than Starlink, which is how intelligence agencies like it. Hamas militants test fire long-range rocket capable of striking Tel Aviv Hamas militants in Gaza have successfully test-fired an Iranian rocket able to reach Israel's largest urban centre, Israel's head of military intelligence revealed. Major General Amos Yadlin told parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee that the rocket could fly 37 miles and strike metropolitan Tel Aviv. Until now, rockets fired from Gaza have reached up to 25 miles putting one-eighth of Israel's population within rocket range. Yadlin said the rocket was fired in recent days, but no further details were immediately available from his testimony before the closed session. A Palestinian rides his bicycle past a wall covered with graffiti showing rockets in Gaza City Defence officials said Palestinian militants in Gaza generally test-fire rockets into the Mediterranean Sea. It was not clear whether the rocket actually flew 37 miles, or why Yadlin described the rocket as being of Iranian origin. Israeli ballistics experts have said paint, tool work and Latin lettering on other rocket fragments point to Iranian origins. But the military has not publicly released clear evidence proving Iranian involvement. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, had no comment on Yadlin's testimony. Israel launched a bruising war against Gaza militants last winter to quash rocket and mortar fire that had bombarded southern Israeli communities for eight years. Since 2008 more than 3,500 rockets have been fired from Gaza Although the attacks have decreased dramatically - from 3,300 rockets and mortars fired in 2008 to 250 so far this year - Israeli officials said weapons continued to reach militants through tunnels under Gaza's border with Egypt. Yadlin warned that militants now had as many rockets as they did before the war, if not more. Defence officials have estimated militants had 3,000 rockets before the fighting began and fired or lost to Israeli airstrikes more than 1,000. Most of the Hamas rockets targeted at Israel are crude projectiles cobbled together in small metal shops. But militants have also fired more sophisticated, longer-range weapons, believed to be made from parts originating in Syria or Iran. While rockets cannot match the firepower of Israel's military, they have killed 21 civilians and four security personnel over the past eight years and have been highly effective in terrorising residents of Israel's southern communities. Israel is also vulnerable to rocket fire from the north, where Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas have amassed tens of thousands of projectiles, some capable of reaching southern Israel. Israel fought a month-long war with Hezbollah in 2006 after it captured two soldiers in a cross-border raid. Militants bombarded northern Israel with some 4,000 rockets during that conflict. Is Hamas about to free Gilad Shalit? Israeli hopes soar over 'imminent release' of POW who captivated the nation Speculation is soaring over the 'imminent release' of an Israeli soldier who was captured by Palestinian militants over three years ago. The cost for the freedom of Gilad Shalit may be the release from jail of up to 450 Palestinian prisoners. Israel is nearing a deal with arch-enemy Hamas that could result in a dramatic prisoner swap and set free the soldier captured as a teenager whose ordeal has captivated the entire nation. Proof of life: Captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a video released by Hamas in October The Jewish state has softened its terms in negotiations with the Palestinian militant group as they near a deal. A delegation from Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, planned to meet Egyptian security officials in Cairo later in the day to discuss the deal that Egypt and Germany have been mediating. Officials close to the talks said Israel had agreed to include in the exchange for the soldier, Gilad Shalit, some 160 prisoners whose release it had vetoed previously. Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants who tunnelled into Israel from the Gaza Strip in 2006. His capture was an enormous blow to a military which more than any other fights to uphold its creed of leaving no man behind. Civilians have followed the military's lead. Over the past three years Israel as a nation has been riveted by the story of Gilad Shalit. 'Israel is obsessed with Gilad Shalit in a way that no other nation in history has been obsessed with a prisoner of war,' columnist Ari Shavit, who writes for the Israeli English-language newspaper Haaretz, said earlier this month. Israel has linked any major easing of its blockade on the territory on the soldier's return home. 'The Shalit episode is about to be closed,' one of the officials said. Sources on both sides told Reuters there were hopes that a deal might be struck by the end of the week, when the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha begins. In Jerusalem, Israeli government officials declined to comment on prospects for a deal with Hamas, a group that has rejected Western demands to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept existing interim Israeli-Palestinian peace accords. Sources close to the negotiations have said Hamas, in the first part of a deal, would hand over Shalit to Egypt and Israel would release some 350 to 450 prisoners. In a sign of flexibility from Hamas, the sources said, the group had agreed that some would go into exile rather than return to the West Bank or Gaza Strip. More prisoners would be released when Shalit was transferred from Egypt to Israel, while other prisoner releases could take several more weeks to complete. Officials who reported that a deal is approaching said Arabs holding Israeli citizenship are among the 160 newly agreed prisoners slated for release. Israel had objected to including Israeli Arabs in an exchange. Public pressure has been mounting on the Israeli government to show flexibility in a prisoner swap, even if it meant freeing militants jailed for planning some of the most deadly Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel. Amid the mounting speculation that a deal is near, Shalit's parents met on Monday Israel's chief negotiator in the indirect contacts with Hamas. On October 2, Israel freed 20 Palestinian women in return for a 'proof-of-life' video showing the 23-year-old Shalit. Hamas helped British lawyers secure arrest warrant for Israel's ex-foreign minister Tzipi Livni Embarrassment: Tzipi Livni was forced to cancel a trip to London last week Hamas militants helped British lawyers secure an arrest warrant against former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni, it emerged today. The Palestinian terrorist organisation admitted providing information to sympathisers who last month handed the information to Westminster Magistrates Court. Ms Livni, who was a cabinet minister during the Israeli offensive in Gaza that started last year, was forced to cancel a trip to London last week. A diplomatic incident was averted only after Ms Livni, now Opposition Leader, was alerted to the warrant and pulled out of a speaking engagement at the last minute. The incident was a major embarrassment for Gordon Brown, who phoned the Israeli MP last week to offer his apologies. But the disclosure that Hamas legal experts are briefing pro-Palestinian lawyers investigating alleged war crimes is certain to deepen his embarrassment. Diya al-Madhun, a judge who heads the Hamas committee, admitted his organisation had helped in the Livni case. He told the Daily Telegraph: We provide documents, reports and evidence of crimes to all international bodies aiding the Palestinian people in bringing Israeli civilian and military leaders to trial and issuing warrants for their arrest. Terrorists: Militants from Hamas, whose legal experts briefed British lawyers We have provided a group of independent lawyers in Britain with documents, information and evidence concerning war crimes committed by Israeli political and military leaders, including Livni. He said, however, that the human rights lawyers had acted independently and were not hired by Hamas, which controls Gaza and is considered a terrorist group in the UK. Israeli officials have reacted with fury at the event. Ron Prosor, the ambassador to Britain, said anti-Israeli activists were being allowed to abuse the British legal system. In Israel, the foreign ministry said Israeli officials would not visit Britain until the arrest warrant was removed. Igniting anger: Israeli attacks on Gaza led lawyers to investigate war crimes Naor Gilon, a senior foreign ministry official, told Tom Phillips, Britains ambassador to Israel, last Friday: Until a solution is found, senior Israelis will boycott Britain and will not visit the UK. The diplomatic row is an embarrassment for the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, as the British Government regards Israel as a key ally in fighting Islamist extremists. About 1400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were reportedly killed in Israels Gaza offensive last year. It was aimed at halting Palestinian rocket fire from the impoverished enclave. A United Nations report this year accused both sides of committing war crimes during the conflict. Labour restores official ties with Muslim Council of Britain despite their refusal to remove deputy accused of supporting Hamas Hazel Blears had cut ties with the MCB but Labour will now renew their relationship with them Ministers have restored official ties with the Muslim Council of Britain despite its refusal to remove a deputy leader accused of supporting attacks on British soldiers. Hazel Blears severed Government relations with the country's leading Muslim group almost a year ago after deputy secretary-general Daud Abdullah signed a declaration in support of Hamas. The document also seemingly advocated attacks on the Navy if it tried to stop arms intended for Hamas being smuggled into Gaza. Mrs Blears, then Communities Secretary, said the ban on the MCB - which was once considered the Muslim group closest to Labour - would remain in place until a firm stance was taken against Dr Abdullah. But, despite Dr Abdullah retaining his post, the new Communities Secretary John Denham yesterday said the MCB would be invited back into the fold. It will attend Government conferences and take part in consultations over policy. The only restriction is that Dr Abdullah will not himself be allowed to attend the meetings. Officials said Mr Denham had made the decision after the MCB stated its opposition to violence. But critics accused the Government of capitulating for fear of losing votes at the upcoming General Election. Tory MP Paul Goodman said: 'It is a surrender to extremism by a bunch of politicians who are scared witless over losing their seat and are prepared to compromise real cohesion and real integration in order to appease an organisation that remains tainted.' Labour's relationship with the MCB - which acted as a key adviser to Tony Blair in the wake of the July 7 attacks - has lurched between being very close and frosty in recent years. Communities Secretary John Denham said the MCB would be invited back into the fold In 2006, ministers decided to distance themselves from the group in frustration at the MCB's refusal to attend Holocaust Memorial Day. But after agreeing to drop their opposition, it was welcomed back into the fold a year later. Last January, however, tensions again exploded when the MCB launched another boycott against the memorial day in protest at the Israeli action in Gaza. These were heightened further when Dr Abdullah, who has also served as a member of the Government-backed Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, was one of 90 Muslim leaders around the globe who signed the controversial 'Istanbul declaration'. It said: 'The obligation of the Islamic Nation [is] to regard the sending of foreign warships into Muslim waters, claiming to control the borders and prevent the smuggling of arms to Gaza, as a declaration of war, a new occupation, sinful aggression. This must be rejected and fought by all means and ways.' The declaration was interpreted as calling for violence against Israel and condoning attacks on British troops. Last night, a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said: "The Muslim Council of Britain has made a commitment to Government to examine their internal processes and ensure that the personal actions of all members, including senior leaders, remain true to the organisation's agreed policies, avoiding a repeat of the issues which arose after one member signed the Istanbul Declaration. 'The MCB has stated its categorical opposition to attacks on British defence interests and confirmed its unwavering support for British troops across the world. 'It has also made clear that it stands firmly against anti-Semitism and other forms of racism.' The significance of these actions on the part of the MCB has led to the Government lifting the suspension of its formal relationship with that organisation. The MCB will now contribute to ongoing dialogue with Government as one amongst a wide range of Muslim organisations. 'We will closely monitor how the internal processes progress over the coming months.' Israel 'poisoned senior Hamas military leader in hotel room in Dubai', claim Palestinians 'Assassinated': Mahmoud al-Mabhouh Israel has assassinated a senior Hamas military commander in Dubai who played a major role in a Palestinian uprising in the 1980s, an official in the Islamist group revealed today. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who has been a target since engineering the capture of Israeli soldiers in the 1980s, was killed on January 20 - the day after he arrived in Dubai. He was found dead in his hotel room in Dubai without any injuries to his body, a Palestinian source said. He had barricaded the door of his room with chairs, a standard precaution by a man who felt that Israeli intelligence had been after his head for 20 years. It seems that an autopsy was ordered and found traces of poison in his body,' a source said. 'Mabhouh was also ill. Hamas controls the information on this. Being in Syria, Mabhouh was not directly involved in Hamas's military operations. He was one of their main military guys, although not a crucial figure. The death of Mabhouh, 50, lengthens Hamas's list of what it describes as martyrs, and constitutes another setback for the group, which has defied Israel and refuses to abandon its fight against the Jewish state. Israeli officials were not prepared to comment. Israel has killed dozens of leaders and military figures in Hamas, which was founded two decades ago as a religious resistance movement against Israeli occupation. I cannot reveal the circumstances (of the killing). We are working with the authorities in the United Arab Emirates, said Izzat al-Rishq, who is a member of Hamas's politburo. He added Mabhouh was an important member of Izz el-Deen al- Qassam brigades, Hamas's military wing named after a Syrian religious leader who fought British colonial forces in Palestine in the 1930s. Mabhouh was born in the Gaza Strip but had been living in Syria since 1989. Conflict: Air strike on January 5, 2009, as Israel intensified its ground assault against the Gaza Strip in an effort to put an end to Hamas rocket attacks Syria and Iran are the main backers of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Rishq, who lives in exile in Damascus, along with several of Hamas's main figures, said Mabhouh engineered the capture of two Israeli soldiers during the Palestinian uprising in the 1980s. The soldiers were later killed. Mabhouh was imprisoned several times by Israeli forces. Israel razed his home in Gaza, Rishq added. A diplomat in Damascus said it was too early to say if Mabhouh's past was linked to his death. The Israelis have a long memory for sure, but one cannot draw conclusions yet. It might be easier for the Israelis to kill him in Dubai than in Damascus, the diplomat said. The U.S., which has started a rapprochement with Damascus, wants Syrian authorities to help neutralise Hamas as an armed Middle East force. Syria, which is seeking peace with Israel, resisted U.S. pressure several years ago to expel the Hamas leadership. Hamas also has a presence in Lebanon. A bomb in Beirut killed two of its members in December 2008. Hamas commander assassinated in Dubai 'helped smuggle weapons into Gaza' A Hamas commander killed in Dubai was targeted by Israel for his role in smuggling 'special weapons' to the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Islamist group said on Sunday. Israel's government declined official comment on the death of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh on January 20, which Hamas labeled an assassination. But Israeli security sources linked him to rockets and other arms that reach Gaza from Iran. Police in the United Arab Emirates said they suspected a foreign 'criminal gang' of killing Mabhouh in his hotel room, while not ruling out involvement of Israel's Mossad spy agency. A Palestinian supporter of Hamas holds a picture of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh during his funeral at al-Yarmouk camp near Damascus Hamas spokesman Talal Nasser told the UAE newspaper The National that Mabhouh had 'played a key role in supplying the Palestinian people with weapons and money'. A source close to Hamas in Gaza said: 'I believe the issue of weapons he used to provide Hamas and (Palestinian) resistance factions was the reason behind his being targeted.' The source added that such weapons generally come from Iran or Sudan, countries with ties to Islamist groups. Nasser said that Mabhouh had been vulnerable in Dubai because, unlike during other trips, he had used a passport bearing his real name and had travelled without bodyguards. 'His murder is not a victory for Israel,' he said. 'The blood of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh will spawn a thousand more like him.' Destroying Hamas's rocket arsenal, and securing foreign help in stopping smuggling, were among Israel's declared aims in the Gaza war. Mourners carry the coffin of Mahmoud Abdul-Raouf al-Mabhouh during his funeral Egypt has since begun erecting a barrier to block Palestinian tunnels under its border with the blockaded strip. Israel says its arch-foe Iran bankrolls attempts to ship weapons to Gaza by sea or land routes leading to the Egyptian Sinai. Iran says its support for Hamas is diplomatic only. Hamas officials have declined to say what Mabhouh, who had long lived in the Syrian capital Damascus, was doing in the Gulf - though a Hamas source said he was active in armed operations 'until the moment of his assassination'. He left Gaza in 1989, pursued by Israel for his role in the abduction and killing of two of its soldiers. The Mossad is believed to have stepped up missions against Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and Iran's nuclear project. Among killings attributed to the agency were that of Hezbollah commander Imad Moughniyeh in Damascus two years ago. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, bottom left, marches as mourners carry the coffin of al-Mabhouh, one of the founders of Hamas' military wing, at his funeral A former Mossad officer, Ram Yigra, suggested that Mabhouh may have fallen foul of criminal arms dealers rather than Israel. 'In the end of the day, Mr. Mabhouh was into arms smuggling, which means shady relationships,' he told Israel's Army Radio. Fayek al-Mabouh, the dead man's brother, said however: 'He wasn't involved in any gang. He wasn't involved in any crime. 'So who had an interest in killing him? Israel.' Yigra noted the varying accounts of Mabhouh's death, which included a UAE media report that he had been tortured by his killers, Palestinian poisoning allegations and a suggestion by Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar that the assassins accompanied an Israeli cabinet minister who visited Abu Dhabi on January 15 to 17. The UAE does not have a peace treaty with Israel but has hosted Israeli officials and does business with Israeli firms. Israel rocked its relations with Jordan when assassins botched an attempt to poison Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Amman in 1997. Ex-spy Yigra said the Mossad had learned its lessons about the need for discretion. 'When there cannot be foul-ups, then the thing is done quickly -- and not in the course of torture and suchlike. And using visiting politicians (as cover) is not done,' he said. A businessman who has proposed a 70,000 plan to build a memorial to the 17,000 sailors who lost their lives fighting to end the slave trade says Britain has 'very little to apologise for'. Semi-retired management consultant Colin Kemp, 76, has launched a fundraising campaign to build a monument to the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron, which freed more than 150,000 slaves over the course of six decades in the 19th century. At its peak, the squadron took up 50 per cent of the navy's budget - after Britain banned the slave trade in 1807. Mr Kemp has secured the backing of renowned sculptor Vincent Gray, who has designed a statue that could be installed in Portsmouth, the home of the West Africa Squadron. The proposed monument depicts a slave before abolition, a naval officer and a freed slave. A businessman who has proposed a 70,000 plan to build a memorial to the 17,000 sailors who lost their lives fighting to end the slave trade says Britain has 'very little to apologise for'. Above: The monument proposed by semi-retired management consultant Colin Kemp, 76 Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Kemp said: 'I am patriotic, I think we have got very little to apologise for. Slavery was obviously awful, no one in their right mind could support it but it happened. 'Doing the statue completes the story. Britain did good, we were the first to stop it.' The West Africa Squadron was formed in 1808 to help in the abolition of the slave trade. Around 2,000 sailors died in direct combat, while a further 15,000 died after succumbing to diseases and illness on their voyages. At their peak in the 1840s and 1850s, British anti-slavery operations involved 36 ships and 4,000 sailors. The operation amounted to around two per cent of government expenditure. Overall, 1,600 slave ships were captured and its prisoners liberated. The squadron ceased operating in 1867, after the transatlantic trade had been suppressed. Mr Kemp said: 'I like history, but I had never heard of the West Africa Squadron. 'I started looking into it. It's absolutely fascinating. 'One of the most fascinating things is that at its peak it took half of the royal navy budget, or the equivalent of 2 per cent of GNP, which in today's terms would be an enormous amount of money.' He added: 'I commissioned a piece of research, of 189 people only one had heard of the WA Squadron, I think that needs putting right. 'We stood alone and did it on our own. The Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron, freed more than 150,000 slaves over the course of six decades in the 19th century. Above: A painting by Reverend Robert Ross-Lewin - the chaplain on anti-slavery ship HMS London - showing Royal Navy sailors chasing a slaver ship near Zanzibar Anti-slave ship the Black Joke had itself been used to carry slaves until it was captured and transformed by the Royal Navy. Above: A painting depicting the Black Joke's capture of Spanish slave ship the Almirante The captain of the Black Joke, Lieutenant Henry Downes, spent every idle hour charting El Almirantes likely route, accounting for location, currents and season 'I think that sums it up entirely. I will never defend slavery. I am proud of what we did to stop it.' Asked if he agrees with increasing calls for Britain to pay reparations to nations affected by the slave trade, Mr Kemp added: 'I think it is absolute rubbish, it's nonsense. We have quite a large overseas aid budget. 'I don't agree with slavery. It was awful, it was terrible, but no, we should not pay reparations.' His project, which has so far raised nearly 900 since being launched last weekend, has already received some backlash online. After it was supported on X - the social media platform formerly known as Twitter - by respected law professor Dr Wanjiru Njoya, some critics took aim at the project. Dr Njoya had said: 'Thousands of British sailors died fighting slavers off the West African coast. 'Yet today many people have not heard of this squadron. Their sacrifice is forgotten. After it was supported on X - the social media platform formerly known as Twitter - by respected law professor Dr Wanjiru Njoya, some critics took aim at the project Critics took aim at Dr Njoya's support for the proposed memorial to the West Africa Squadron 'Please support this sculpture if you can. We should remember them and ensure future generations will remember them.' She added in another post that Britain 'stood for liberty'. But one critic said: '"Britain stood for liberty", are you joking?' Another replied: 'You're entitled to your view and to campaign for a memorial to the Royal Navy West Africa Squadron, Wanjiru. 'You're not entitled to appropriate British and West African history and inanely accuse 'us' of a lack of gratitude.' Mr Kemp, from Chichester, hopes that, if his fundraising target is reached, the memorial could be completed within six months and then installed at a yet-to-be-determined location in Portsmouth. Sculptor Mr Gray previously designed a monument to Battle of Trafalgar hero Horatio Nelson, which was installed in Chichester. It was handed a design award by the Sussex Heritage Trust last year. In 1827, sailors of the West Africa Squadron caught the Henriqueta slave ship off the coast of West Africa. It had recently been laden with more than 500 would-be slaves. It was bound for the Bahia, a sugar-cultivating region in Brazil. The men of HMS Sybille fired cannon balls at the ship's rigging to destroy its sails and masts whilst sparing the lives of those onboard. The Navy then set about transforming the Henriqueta into a ship that could hunt down slave vessels. Renamed the Black Joke, she seized 11 slave ships on behalf of the crown and some of her 50-strong crew were freed Africans. Around 3,000 liberated Africans - rather than being transported across the Atlanic - were resettled in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the capital of British West Africa. In 1829, the Black Joke engaged in a battle with the notorious slave ship the El Almirante. The heavily-armed, purpose-built vessel had received warning that the Navy were coming but the men of the Black Joke still triumphed. The El Almirante was captured and onboard were found cryptic letters revealing the location of secret slave-trade routes to Havana. Colin Kemp, 76, is a semi-retired management consultant from Chichester In 1831, the Black Joke captured a Spanish slave ship, the Primero, after a chase that lasted a whole day. The slave deck was found to be packed with 311 people, with more than half being children. After a little over two years of work for the Navy, the Black Joke was declared unfit for service and was set ablaze off the coast of Freetown. To donate to the West Africa Squadron memorial campaign, go to https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/westafricasquadron. Some of Canary Wharf's most iconic office buildings are increasingly empty as the district struggles to bounce back from Covid and the working from home boom, new data reveals today. Among those hit by the 'rental recession' is One Canada Square - the centrepiece of the business zone and London's third tallest building - which is currently 36 per cent vacant compared to just 4 per cent in 2019, before the pandemic. This means nearly half a million square feet of office space inside the tower is currently unused, according to figures shared with MailOnline by real estate information firm Costar. Canary Wharf itself puts the figure at 275,000sqft. One waterfront block, 5 North Colonnade, is now almost entirely vacant after staff from Barclays corporate and investment bank left the building for the banking giant's existing Canary Wharf HQ several months ago. All 12 floors comprising 588,408sqft of office space are now listed as available, with Barclays looking to sublet. Slide me This graphic shows the occupancy rates in four iconic Canary Wharf office blocks in 2023 compared to 2019 - before the pandemic. Most are now more empty, although some buildings - including 5 Churchill Place - are actually busier A view of Canary Wharf, including One Canada Square on the left, and 8 Canada Square, home of HSBC building. Europe's largest bank is now leaving for another premises in the City Another building to see an increase in vacant space is 20 Churchill Place, a cube-shaped glass block occupied by State Street, a US investment bank. It is now a quarter empty despite being entirely full before the pandemic. Some of the space is sub-let. At 14.3 per cent, Canary Wharf has one of the highest vacancy rates in London in the second quarter of the year. This is comfortably above the central London average of 9.2 per cent, and as low as 3 per cent in parts of the West End. Canary Wharf has suffered particularly badly from the trend towards working from home due to its status as an overwhelmingly commercial district that many workers see as lacking in character. READ MORE - When I walked around a deserted Canary Wharf, I realised working from home will SINK the dream of Wall Street on Thames, writes ROBERT HARDMAN Advertisement In July, credit ratings agency Moody's became the latest major firm to reveal it was considering leaving to cut costs. It came hot on the heels of HSBC, Europe's largest bank, deciding to leave its home of 20 years at 8 Canada Square for a smaller space in the City of London. Major law firm Clifford Chance announced it was leaving Canary Wharf last year, while Barclays has put 500,000sqft of space at its Docklands office on the market. Credit Suisse is also trying to let empty space at its Canary Wharf headquarters, with the top nine floors on the market. London's office market as a whole is suffering a 'rental recession', with volumes of empty space at a 30-year high, analysts at Jefferies said on Wednesday. Analysts say Canary Wharf has been hit particularly badly due to a range of factors, including the nature of its real estate. 'The pandemic resulted in a high number of companies adopting flexible working policies whereby organisations require less office space. That meant the large trading floors that were part of Canary Wharf's initial appeal are no longer so important,' Mark Stansfield, Senior Director of UK Market Analytics, CoStar Group, told MailOnline. 'In addition, many Canary Wharf towers are over 20 years old and big corporates have been prioritising best-in-class office buildings with higher environmental credentials and high-quality amenities, often located in other parts of London.' A deserted Canary Wharf during rush hour on Friday July 28. Pre-pandemic, the area would have been teeming with workers Canary Wharf Underground station during morning rush hour on July 28. Many financial workers now work from home on Fridays Mr Stansfield predicted Canary Wharf landlords would react to falling demand by continuing to try and attract clients beyond banking. 'Boston Consulting Group took 50,000 square feet in a noteworthy deal in September 2022, with tech giant Apple also leasing a large space here during the pandemic,' he said. 'Genomics England and Kadans [a lab developer] have both signed significant lettings over the past year as the Canary Wharf Group tries to position Docklands as a life sciences hub. READ MORE - Remarkable photographs of Canary Wharf show how busy financial centre was once a thriving port taking in sugar, rum and elephants Advertisement 'The arrival of Elizabeth line services, which have reduced journey times to Heathrow Airport, the City and the West End, has provided a major plus for the area.' Another challenge facing landlords is companies demanding more flexibility on rental contracts, with long lease periods with break clauses increasingly falling out of fashion. 'Covid put the desire for flexibility on steroids,' Marie Dormeuil, of industry analytics specialist Green Street, told the FT. 'Offices were such a sleepy sector. It's becoming much more operationally intensive.' After its conversion from deserted docklands in the 1980s, Canary Wharf developed into a thriving area thronging with workers employed by some of the world's largest financial institutions. But the rise of home working during the pandemic has dramatically cut the number of daily commuters, leading many commentators to conclude it has 'lost its appeal'. In a recognition of its struggles, Moody's recently downgraded Canary Wharf Group based on the 'difficult operating and funding environment for real estate companies'. HSBC plans to move in late 2026, according to a memo seen by Reuters. The switch was seen as a major hit to Canary Wharf's status as a financial district and a 'pivot' back to the City of London. Moody's, which is based in the area (seen on July 28 at rush hour), is planning a move to elsewhere in London HSBC plans to move in late 2026, according to a memo seen by Reuters A senior City stockbroker told MailOnline: 'The City of London is a more cultural and historical area that most financial workers prefer. 'I wouldn't be surprised if we saw more consolidation towards the City due to a lower need for office space due to working from home.' Bike racks, showers, terraces, cafes and break-out spaces are among the must-haves for firms looking for new offices, as well as a location with bars, shops, restaurants, and quick transport links. David Earle, the head of Lambert Smith Hampton's London office, said demand for the most pleasant working environment possible is an attempt 'to attract people back into the office and to recruit and retain the best talent'. James Carswell, a research analyst at Peel Hunt, said: 'Vacancy levels have definitely drifted upwards, but when you look at the grade A, best-in-class buildings, it is still very, very tight.' The switch to prime office buildings is due to 'the fact that employees have the option to stay home but employers would like them to come in but don't want to force them', he said. 'Canary Wharf is a bit of a sterile environment, and not as easy for people to get to,' Mr Carswell added. MailOnline has contacted Canary Wharf Group for comment. BBC's The Reckoning is released on BBC iPlayer today and broadcast on BBC One from tonight at 9pm Find out the paedophile's date and cause of death by reading on below The BBC's new documentary drama series The Reckoning charts Jimmy Savile's horrendous exploitation of his power and fame to commit up to 500 sexual offences. These crimes were only exposed and investigated fully after the former Top Of The Pops host's death aged 84. All four episodes of The Reckoning will be released on BBC iPlayer today. The series will also be broadcast on BBC One on Monday and Tuesday nights at 9pm for the next two weeks. Steve Coogan, who plays Savile, has defended the production which has come under criticism for its dramatisation of the events. But when exactly did Jimmy Savile die? And what was his cause of death? Find out about the paedophile's final days by reading on. Jimmy Savile (pictured in 2009) died age 84, and a flood of allegations of sexual assault subsequently emerged The BBC 's new documentary drama series The Reckoning charts Jimmy Savile 's horrendous exploitation of his power and fame to commit up to 500 sexual offences Savile (pictured on Top Of The Pops) was one of the most prominent faces on TV in the UK for almost half a century Who was Jimmy Savile? Jimmy Savile was one of the most prominent faces on British TV between the 1960s and 1990s - with roles on the BBC programmes Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix It. After his death, it was revealed that this fame, and his involvement in organisations such as charities, hospitals and prisons helped him get away with the abuse of hundreds of young boys and girls without being brought to justice. An ITV documentary the year after Savile's death investigated claims of sexual abuse against him stretching for decades, leading to further allegations of abuse and a number of public inquiries. One of these was Operation Yewtree - an investigation into historical acts of sex abuse - which led to the uncovering of historic sexual offences by Rolf Harris. The first recorded case of abuse by him happened in 1955 in Manchester, when he was the manager of a dance hall. According to records, abuse by Savile at Leeds General Infirmary, where he was a volunteer porter, Stoke Mandeville hospital, where he also volunteered, and at the BBC started in 1965. Now it is believed he preyed on roughly 500 victims who were as young as two years old across his life. Many of his victims reported incidents at the time but did not receive justice until years later. These include the last time he was interviewed interviewed which was in 2009, when Surrey police investigated an alleged indecent assault at Duncroft school, Surrey, but the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was not enough evidence to prosecute. He was also knighted in 1990. In 2013, plans emerged for Savile to be awarded a posthumous knighthood so he could then be stripped of it. The bizarre plan was considered by the Honours Forfeiture Committee because knighthoods cannot be removed from people who have died. Those given a knighthood are awarded lifetime membership to a living order and the title no longer exists when the holder dies. When did Jimmy Savile die? After a short time in hospital, Savile died at his penthouse home in Roundhay, Leeds on October 29, 2011. It was two days before his 85th birthday. In an interview shortly before he died, Savile said: 'I've got a bounce back-ability, but this time I don't seem to be bouncing back.' In the same discussion, he replied to a question about turning 85: 'So many women, so little time.' The last picture of Savile, taken during the interview, reveal that he continued smoking cigars until he died. Witnesses and victims of Savile's crimes have told of how he abused his power and raped and molested them in his dressing room while he was Top Of The Pops host. An inquiry into the death of a teenage girl reportedly led to Savile telling his Radio One bosses that he had been taking girls as young as 14 years old back to his flat after recordings because they did not have a place to stay overnight. However, it appears that explanation - that he was just doing them a favour - was accepted at the time. A leaked BBC report in 2016 further explained how the sex offender managed to evade detection. It said: 'During the Savile years, the culture in the BBC and BBC's management style did not encourage the reporting of complaints or concerns. 'Given the hierarchical structure, the impracticability of complaining to anyone other than a line manager and the weakness of the personnel department, the only option for a victim of inappropriate behaviour during the Savile years was to put up with it or leave.' However, it contrastingly concluded: 'By and large, they chose to stay because, in many respects, the BBC was a wonderful place to work.' Prince Charles, as patron of the British Forces Foundation, with Savile during a reception at the Army Staff College, Sandhurst An inquiry into the death of a teenage girl reportedly led to Savile telling his Radio One bosses that he had been taking girls as young as 14 years old back to his flat after recordings What was Jimmy Savile's cause of death? Jimmy Savile died of pneumonia, with his nephew Roger Foster confirming at the time that the paedophile had 'passed away quietly in his sleep during the night.' The penthouse where he lived much of his life, and eventually died, has since been demolished. Savile was buried at Woodlands Cemetery in Scarborough at a 45-degree angle, so that the Jim'll Fix It presenter could 'have a view of the sea'. His 4,000 headstone - which read 'it was good while it lasted - was removed by his family and sent to landfill following the litany of allegations about his past emerged. With its fading red paint job and overall derelict feel, it is one of the most photographed homes in London. Dozens of posts on Instagram show how the Grade-II listed, 15-room Georgian home at 4 Princelet Street, Spitalfields, attracts a lot of attention. Yesterday it opened to the public for an exhibition displaying the early works of famed artist Christo, who was best known for huge public art projects conceived with his wife Jean-Claude. The property featured as a safehouse in BBC drama Luther and also appeared in 2013 film The Invisible Woman, which was directed by Ralph Fiennes. With its fading red paintjob and overall derelict feel, it is one of the most photographed homes in London . Dozens of posts on Instagram show how the Grade-II listed Georgian home at 4 Princelet Street, Spitalfields, attracts a lot of attention The property featured in BBC drama Luther. Above: Idris Elba as the eponymous detective, knocking on the door of the home. It depicted a safehouse in the show's second season Its first occupant when it was built 300 years ago was brewery boss Sir Benjamin Truman and it became the home of Huguenot silk weavers later in the 18th century. In the Victorian era, Spitalfields became notorious for the levels of poverty and the Princelet Street home became the scene of a violent family argument in the 1850s. A labourer and his wife were both injured in the row, which resulted in a trial at the Old Bailey. By the 1870s, the property was the home of a printer by the name of William Pilson. And in 1881, the occupant was Polish bootmaker Solomon Franklin, who was one of many Jewish refugees who had fled to London from Russia and Poland. In the next decade, the home was shared by two families. One was headed by a Polish tailor, who lived with his wife and eight children. From today until October 22, Britons can see it for themselves as it opens to the public for a display of the early works of famed artist Christo. Above: One of the works on display in the property The property's decor is traditional, with wooden floors and paneling Its first occupant when it was built 300 years ago was brewery boss Sir Benjamin Truman and it became the home of Huguenot silk weavers later in the 18th century The property was bought by its current owner - the Truman Brewery - in 2016 The home boasts original fireplaces, along with a stone floor on the lower level Number four Princelet Street his hugely popular on Instagram for its decaying frontage This image shows the property's wooden flooring and original fireplace. It hasn't been lived in for years The home's current owners have ensured the fixtures and fittings remain traditional The property opened to the public yesterday and will remain accessible until October 22 The other family was tailor's cutter Philip Hyams and his wife and five children. By the turn of the 20th century, another Polish tailor was living there with his wife and large family. And although until that point the home was number two Princelet Street, it was re-designated as number four in 1921. By the 1950s, the property had become home to Bangladeshi migrants. It was newcomers from this community who would go on to start up the famous curry houses on London's Brick Lane. Number four Princelet Street came full circle in 2016 when it was bought for more than 4million by The Truman Brewery - the successor firm to the one made famous by Sir Benjamin Truman. The company rents out events spaces which include 4 Princelet Street. As well as hosting events, the property is used as a filming location. The works being displayed in the home at Princelet Street are some of Christo's earlier works, largely dating from the 1960s and 1970s. Bulgarian-born Christo - who fled his home country when it was under Communist rule - died aged 84 in 2020 The works being displayed in the home at Princelet Street are some of Christo's earlier works, largely dating from the 1960s and 1970s The exhibition is being run by contemporary art gallery Gagosian and is curated by Elena Geuna. Kay Pallister, of Gagosian, said: 'As a global art gallery Gagosian shows artists in some of the most beautiful contemporary architectural spaces in the world but for this new series of projects, Gagosian Open, we searched for locations where we don't usually exhibit. 'This was an ideal choice as the area has such a rich history of communities over the centuries and is still a significant hub for so many artists working today. 'The house itself has somehow managed to escape bombing, demolition or gentrification. 'We found the tangible traces of families who have lived there and its inherent atmosphere are a potent backdrop to show work by Christo, who escaped Soviet Bulgaria in the 50's.' Its location was chosen in part because of Christo's own experience as a political refugee and the home's connection with Huguenot weavers who had fled persecution. Christo - who fled his home country when it was under Communist rule - died aged 84 in 2020, whilst Jean-Claude passed away in 2009. Their high profile works together included the wrapping of the Reichstag in Berlin with aluminium-like fabric in 1995 and the installation of 7,500 vinyl gates in New York's Central Park in 2005. Another famous project saw the pair install 1,340 blue umbrellas in Japan and a further 1,760 blue umbrellas in California in 1991. Early Works, at 4 Princelet Street, runs until October 22. Find out more at https://gagosian.com/exhibitions/2023/christo-early-works-curated-by-elena-geuna/. The bungalow, Allt-na-Reigh, is yet to be demolished or lived in since his death Savile is believed to have assaulted up to 20 victims in the Glencoe property Graffiti daubs the crumbling walls of a condemned cottage on a remote Scottish hillside. Its mouldy carpets torn up, its ceilings shredded. Since Jimmy Savile's death on October 29, 2011, his Glencoe retreat, Allt-na-Reigh, has been uninhabited despite multiple owners - but trophy hunters and vandals have left their mark. The late presenter is believed to have assaulted up to 20 of his estimated 500 victims - women and children - at the bungalow, which has been in line for demolition for almost two years - but still stands today. A new BBC documentary drama The Reckoning documents how the depraved star abused power and manipulated his vulnerable victims throughout his life, with Steve Coogan playing the paedophile who was hidden in plain sight. The broadcaster has denied that the series was a 'face-saving exercise' with many of their former presenter's crimes committed with the help of the status he cultivated as a public figure on TV and radio. The building - pictured in 2013 - has been unoccupied since Savile died Jimmy Savile's Scottish bungalow in which he is believed to have assaulted up to 20 of his roughly 500 victims is still standing The Glencoe property shows no sign of having been the paedophile's former home besides the graffiti directed at the former TV presenter Savile owned Allt-na-Reigh for the 13 years before his death, but it is now owned by businessman Harris Aslam The most recent photos - from April 2023 - show Savile's former cottage is now a dilapidated mess with the roof in pieces and graffiti lining both interior and exterior walls. Nothing remains to indicate that Savile owned the house for 13 years, besides bright red graffiti reading 'paedo' and 'Jimmy the beast' plastered across its white walls. Another notable former owner is Scottish climber and mountain rescue leader Hamish MacInnes, leading some to say the property should be given to a climbing group. These include Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Angus MacDonald, who said according to The Press and Journal: 'This would result in a satisfactory result for most.' However, the land's current owner, retail tycoon Harris Aslam, plans to replace the eyesore with a futuristic new-build family home. Following Savile's death in 2011, the two-bedroom bungalow was purchased for 212,000 with the buyer intending to live there. But the family of the businessman then bought it for a reported 335,000. The new plan has drawn criticism, including from The National Trust for Scotland and Mountaineering Scotland. New BBC documentary drama The Reckoning has faced criticism in the run up to its release New plans have faced a backlash for drawing attention away from the natural landscape The former said the contemporary design 'does not reflect Glencoe's long-established, distinct built heritage and would insensitively dominate the landscape in this highly visible location at the heart of the Pass of Glencoe.' Mr Aslam, who is in his 20s, is director of Fife-based Scottish convenience store operator Eros Retail, which is part of the family's Glenshire group of companies. He said they wanted to turn it into a family home with its 'beautiful location'. During a question-and-answer session with around 20 people, it was made clear that while Mr Aslam and his business partner Raza Rehman had looked at renovating the main existing building, which would be the easiest and cheapest option, it was concluded this was not viable if they wanted to rid the site of its association with Savile. The family of a missing Colorado woman have shared the strange circumstances surrounding her disappearance, which has gained more attention since the discovery of the remains of missing Suzanne Morphew. Edna Quintana, 56, has been missing from Saguache, Colorado, since May 3 and police were searching for her when they found the remains of 49-year-old mother-of-two Morphew, who had disappeared on Mother's Day 2020. On the day Quintana vanished, she had been hiking with a male companion whom she had been dating sporadically over the course of a few years. He later explained how she couldn't keep up the pace and decided to return to their car. When he returned to the vehicle later in the day, Edna was missing, but her purse and cell phone were still with him. Edna was not reported missing for another three days when family members raised the alarm. Quintana's cousin, Augustina Edwards found it suspicious that Edna, who was not an avid hiker, would go missing on a hiking trip without telling anyone. Edna Quintana is part of a fifth-generation family native to Saguache, Colorado. Following her disappearance, her loved ones said she had been hanging out with a bad crowd Suzanne Morphew vanished without a trace on May 10, 2020 after setting off from her home on a Mother's Day bike ride. Her bike was found that same day, and now her remains have finally been found, over three years later, in Moffat, Saguache County Investigators were probing a completely separate case, that of Edna Quintana, who vanished in May of this year when they found Morphew's remains 'The red flag for our family is that she was not a hiker, she wasn't a fisherman, and she wasn't really even an outdoorsy person,' Edwards told The US Sun. 'Hiking is not a typical activity that Edna would've done and she wasn't immediately reported missing to the sheriff's office, to local search and rescue, or even her family until three days later. 'She has not been seen or heard from since, and I think that's very suspicious.' Edwards described Edna as a kind and humble person who would never have left her children or disappear without a reason. Despite limited updates from the police, Edwards is now growing increasingly pessimistic about Edna's chances of being found alive. She believes that something untoward may have happened to Edna and that she may no longer be alive. Edna was part of a fifth-generation family native to Saguache, Colorado. Following her disappearance, her loved ones said she had been hanging out with a bad crowd. 'You won't find a single person in the town of Saguache that has something bad to say about Edna,' said Edwards. 'But she unfortunately didn't keep the best company; it didn't matter to her what your past was, or what kind of person you are now, she would be your friend because she was just a kind person. 'And maybe someone took advantage of that kindness, we don't know.' Edwards hopes that the increased media coverage will encourage someone to come forward with information about Edna's whereabouts. 'It's our hope someone knows where she's at, whether she's alive or not, the lies can't continue on forever, somebody knows something. 'And with the increase in media attention to her case, it's our hope that somebody will come forward and the pressure will be on them and they will see her face and they will see her name and somebody will come forward due guilt or just the mere pressure that that this case is now getting attention.' The man she went on the hike with has not been listed as a suspect. Morphew's sister, Melinda Moorman Blazer, has also now urged the public to turn their attention to Edna's case and to pray for her family's strength and Edna's safe return. Morphew's remains were found while investigators were searching for 56-year-old Edna Quintana, who has been missing since early May Following Barry Morphew's (left) arrest for Suzanne's murder in 2021, evidence revealed that both spouses had conducted extramarital affairs and were pursuing a path toward separation In a statement, Balzer (left) thanked the law enforcement teams who positively identified her sister and reflected on the ordeal her family has now been through Morphew's sister, Melinda Moorman Balzer, released a statement saying she has found peace following the discovery of her sister's remains, and asking others to keep Edna Quintana - the other missing woman - in their thoughts Edwards expressed frustration at the lack of attention Edna's case had received before the discovery of Suzanne's remains. She highlighted a disparity in media coverage, given that high-profile cases involving other individuals had also generated far more attention. 'I don't know what makes a case newsworthy and what doesn't but Laci Peterson in the 2000s got national attention, Suzanne Morphew got national attention but here is a Hispanic female from a very poor community that gets zero attention,' Edwards said. 'It was not until Suzanne's remains were found in the search for Edna that her case got any attention whatsoever - and that's hugely disappointing for our family. We hope she won't be forgotten now. She matters just as much as anyone else.' She emphasized the importance of keeping Edna's story alive in the media. 'I choose to turn my thoughts and heart to the family of Edna Quintana whose search was the catalyst for my miracle; Suzanne being found,' Moorman said in a statement. 'I am asking the same loving Social Media community who kept Suzanne alive to now turn their heart of care to the family of Edna Quintana [in] their time of need. 'They wait in the anguish of uncertainty for the discovery of their beloved Edna. Please take a few moments each day and do what you can to keep Edna's story alive. 'Pray for those in authority. Pray for Edna's return. Thank you for all who believed that Suzanne would someday be found. We are forever grateful! 'Now it's Edna who needs your thoughts and prayers. Keep her alive in the social media world. Don't forget Edna Quintanashe needs you. 'May the God of all mercy grant a miracle for the Quintana family in the discovery and safe return of their beloved Edna back to her family.' Edna is described as a Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing around 110 to 120 pounds. Suzanne and her husband Barry had two daughters together - Mallory and Macy Though it is still unclear precisely what happened to her, the discovery of Suzanne Morphew's remains caps off a search that began on May 10, 2020 - the last time she was seen. Morphew set out for a bike ride from the home she shared with husband and their two daughters. Her bike was found the day she went missing, discarded in a ravine near her mountain home. A year after he disappearance, Barry was arrested and charged with her murder - despite there being no body at the time. Both spouses has conducted extramarital affairs and were in the process of figuring out how to end their marriage. She texted her husband days before her disappearance that she was 'done' with their relationship. At a preliminary hearing in 2021, law enforcement officials presented to the court Suzanne's text exchanges with her lover - Jeff Libler - in which she told him she had a fine night and was looking at houses for sale. The day before Mother's Day, Barry had returned to the couple's house to find his wife sunbathing in the yard. She was sending pictures of herself to Libler via LinkedIn, which the couple had been using to communicate behind her husband's back. The court was then shown a photo of Suzanne that she had sent to her lover Jeff Libler that day, which depicted her laying on her front in a bikini and smiling at her $1.3million home. Barry would later tell investigators his wife looked 'drunk' in that photo, which officials said was Suzanne's last proof of life. The following day, Libler wished Suzanne a Happy Mother's Day and said he knew it would be a hard day for her because she missed her own mother. Suzanne never replied. His last known text to Suzanne was sent on May 11, 2020, in which he offered her well wishes for her cancer treatment. That message also went unanswered. Mallory and Macy Morphew flank their father as they walk into court following his arrest for their mother's murder. The charges were ultimately dropped and his daughters maintain their belief in his innocence Suzanne had survived two battles with Hodgkin's lymphoma, decades apart. After arguments about the evidence and procedures, the charges against Barry were dropped a year later without prejudice meaning he could be charged again if new evidence came to light. No arrests have been made since Morphew's remains were located. Barry Morphew has since said he is 'relieved' that his wife's remains have been found and believes he will now be cleared of an suspicion of involvement in her death. At the time of his arrest, Melinda Balzer said that her sister's husband had been 'very dominant in the relationship.' 'He had a great tendency to overpower and intimidate people to get what they wanted.' 'The Friday before Mothers Day, my sister had sent me a text message that morning. It was very lengthy. It was very powerful. It was very revealing. She had been ready to share some things close to her chest. She said she was scared,' said Balzer. At the time, she begged Barry to 'do the right thing' and 'tell the truth.' The couple's daughters, Mallory and Macy, both came out in defense of their father following his arrest. Police unexpectedly came across Morphew's remains in a remote field near Moffat in Saguache County, 50 minutes from her home in Salida. She was found buried in a shallow grave on September 22, more than three years after vanishing. The opinions of Australians about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament were made clear by a 'worm' graphic used by Channel Seven on Sunday. Seven Spotlight's Voice to Parliament referendum debate pitted prominent 'No' campaigners Independent senator Lidia Thorpe and Coalition senator Jacinta Price against Yes campaigners Ray Martin and Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy. The segment was accompanied by a 'worm' - where undecided voters in the studio audience show whether they feel positively or negatively towards an argument presented by one of the panel. The worm rose far above the line when Ms Price and Ms Thorpe spoke, but trended down when Martin or Ms McCarthy had their turn. All four have Aboriginal heritage, but Ms Price and Ms Thorpe are vehemently opposed to an Indigenous Voice while Martin and Ms McCarthy are in favour of one. Channel Seven 's 'worm' - where undecided voters move a graphic up or down depending on whether they agree with a speaker - has made plain how participants feel about four of the most prominent figures in the Voice referendum debate. Coalition senator Jacinta Price is pictured Ray Martin's worm (pictured) spent most of the show below the line, meaning what he said was unpopular The worm's instant measure of popularity seemed to show most of those watching the debate opposed the Voice, and supported both Ms Price's conservative No reasons and Ms Thorpe's so-called 'progressive No' views. The worm went below the line, meaning a negative view, most of the time when Ms McCarthy or Martin spoke, especially when the TV legend attempted to defend calling some No voters 'd***heads'. The only blip in the worm for Ms Thorpe's happened when she spoke about wanting a treaty between Australia and Indigenous people. READ MORE: Ray Martin struggles to explain what the Voice will look like The TV icon sparked controversy when he called voters convinced by the No campaign's 'If you don't know, vote No' slogan 'd***heads and dinosaurs'. Advertisement Host Liam Bartlett asked Martin why he 'choose to abuse people who had a different opinion' by calling them 'd***heads and dinosaurs' at a Yes rally in the Sydney inner west suburb of Marrickville. 'I haven't done that,' Martin replied. 'That is part of what I said... 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 have ever heard.' He added that 'if someone looks at the issue and decides to vote No, that's perfectly their democratic right. I don't oppose that at all. 'If a Yes voter votes without bothering to look at this very important referendum, I think they're a d***head as well.' Ms Price defended the 'If you don't know, vote No' slogan, saying it has been impossible for people to find out exactly what they are being asked to vote on. '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. 'So if you don't know, if you're not clear, evidently the government is not clear as to how this whole thing is supposed to operate. That's a red flag to me, I'd vote No,' she said. Ms Thorpe argued: 'It's not about (Indigenous people's) problems, it's about the government's problems in not allowing us to decide what's best for us'. Though Lidia Thorpe's worm sometimes went below the line, mostly it stayed well above (pictured) Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy (pictured) slipped well below the line at times Martin said it was the opposite to that. 'The Voice is an opportunity for First Australians to talk about their problems as they haven't been able to do for 235 years (since European settlement),' he said. Ms McCarthy responded to Indigenous activist Warren Mundine who said the Uluru Statement from the Heart, on which the referendum question is based, was a 'symbolic declaration of war against modern Australia'. She said his choice of words was 'most unfortunate. This is actually a peaceful document ... we are a very peaceful people. 'This is a peaceful approach through our democratic structure of this country, to ask for our people to have a Voice enshrined in the Constitution. 'A Voice that can give advice on matters that impact First Nations people.' In a worrying sign for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the worm reached its lowest point of the night when a clip of him speaking about the Voice was played. At the end of the show, most of the undecided voters in the studio picked a side, with 53 per cent saying they will vote No, 30 per cent would vote Yes and 17 per cent were still undecided. Almost 41,000 viewers watching at home also took part, with 72 per cent saying they would vote No, 23 per cent Yes and just five per cent undecided. The Israeli Ambassador to the United States chastised US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib who over the weekend released a statement condemning the 'violent reality' of the Israeli 'apartheid state.' Ambassador Michael Herzog, who is a retired Brigadier General in the Israeli Defense Forces, questioned what more horrifying acts of violence the Palestinian-American representative would need to see to prompt an unequivocal condemnation of Hamas. 'How much more blood needs to be spilled for you to overcome your prejudice and unequivocally condemn Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror organization?' he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in response to Tlaib's statement. 'Hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians massacred in cold blood on a holy day. Babies kidnapped from their mother's arms and taken to Gaza. 'An 85-year-old woman in a wheelchair and a Holocaust survivor taken hostage. Is that not enough, @RashidaTlaib?' The Michigan Congresswoman had previously slammed Israel's 'occupation' of Gaza and the West Bank, as she wrote that she grieved the lives lost in the violence that followed Hamas' unprecedented attack on Israel this weekend. Progressive Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib called for an ending of the Israeli 'apartheid' state in the wake of a barrage of Hamas terror attacks in Israel over the weekend How much more blood needs to be spilled for you to overcome your prejudice and unequivocally condemn Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror organization? Hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians massacred in cold blood on a holy day. Babies kidnapped from their mother's arms and taken to pic.twitter.com/tRvvwlhzX8 Ambassador Michael Herzog (@AmbHerzog) October 8, 2023 Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building The third-term Palestinian-American congresswoman, did not specifically condemn the Iranian-backed Palestinian terror group Hamas, who were responsible for the shocking attack that shook Israel Saturday morning. 2,000 rockets were fired into Israeli cities in addition to a ground attack that involved the kidnapping, torture and murder of women, children and the elderly by militant Palestinian terrorists. 'I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity,' Tlaib wrote in her statement. 'The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.' Tlaib called Israel an 'apartheid' state and criticized the United States for providing 'billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government.' While that support continues, she wrote, 'this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,' blaming both the United States and Israel for the actions of Hamas that have left 700 Israelis and counting dead and thousands more injured and missing. 'The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other,' she added. Tlaib has, throughout her time in public office, made controversial remarks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has previously condemned Israel's policies about settlements in the West Bank and around the Gaza Strip. Tlaib is also a member of 'The Squad,' comprised of several progressive women in the Democratic Congressional caucus. The militant Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets Fellow member Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog's joint address to Congress over the summer, and issued a statement Saturday prompting the US to end its support for 'Israeli military occupation and apartheid.' Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, another Squad member and along with Tlaib one of the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress, did identify Hamas in her condemnation of the violence in Israel. '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 weve seen,' she wrote. She also expressed 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 (formerly 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.' Some were moved to remind Omar that Hamas, the democratically elected leaders of Gaza, should have considered spending government funding on shelters instead of rockets used to attack Israel. Other Squad members, including Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, called for an 'immediate ceasefire and de-escalation' in the region. 'Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights. I condemn Hamas attack in the strongest possible terms. 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,' wrote AOC. Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel on Saturday Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Gaza as Israel begins its counteroffensive on October 08, 2023 Israeli forces, dispatched to the border with Gaza in southern Israel, scan the area near Ashdod on October 8, 2023 as the battle against holdout Hamas fighters continues 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 My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/xGb8FYnqit Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) October 7, 2023 Massachusetts Representative 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,' responded one X user to the statement. 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 replied: 'Bowman can't merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel.' Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country. Israeli Defense Forces have begun bombarding key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and have issued warnings to civilians in certain regions to leave before a wave of retaliatory attacks begin. After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the Israeli death toll surged past 700 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization Speaking on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin 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 vowed to reduce Gaza to 'rubble,' telling innocent Palestinians to leave immediately. Hamas, he said, will pay 'a price it has never known.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirmed Sunday that several Americans - reportedly four - are believed to have been killed during the attack on Israel, and several more may have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. Elon Musk was forced into deleting a tweet which recommended an anti-Semitic account and a promoter of debunked videos as reliable sources of information about the attack on Israel. The owner of X, formerly Twitter, faced a furious backlash after telling his 159 million followers that the accounts @WarMonitors and @sentdefender were good for following the war in real time. Followers were quick to point out that @WarMonitors has repeatedly used jew as a term of abuse on the platform, telling New York supermarket boss Avi Kaner to mind your own business, jew. The worlds richest man offered his advice as the Jewish state reeled from its deadliest attack in 50 years, with more than 700 citizens dead and Hamas claiming to have seized 100 more and dragged them back to Gaza as hostages. The guy Musk recommends for information on the Israel-Hamas escalation is an anti-Semitic account with a history of spreading misinformation, wrote Sam Sokol of Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Musk has been accused of allowing anti-Semitic content to double on the platform The X boss faced a furious backlash after his recommendation for 'good' sources of information about the conflict in Israel War Monitors has a long history of using the word 'jew' as a term of abuse He has long been, and remains, an anti-Semite, added Seth Abramson. The War Monitors account has claimed that the overwhelming majority of people in the media and banks are zionists and told one opponent to go worship a jew lil bro. Sent Defender account was delighted with Musks endorsement, replying: Wow, thank you so much for the support! Musk acknowledged the thanks with a tweet that remains on his account. Youre welcome. As always, please stay as close to the truth as possible, even for stuff you dont like, he added. This platform aspires to maximize signal/noise of the human collective. But Sent Defender too has a history of fake news, posting a phony AI-generated picture of a massive explosion at the Pentagon in May. Emerson T. Brooking, a researcher at the Atlantic Council Digital Forensics Research Lab, called @sentdefender is an absolutely poisonous account. Regularly posting wrong and unverifiable things, inserting random editorialization and trying to juice its paid subscriber count, he added. Elon Musk boosting two regular fake news posters who have historically posted debunked videos neither are on the ground or verify, tweeted YouTuber Matt Binder. Both have shared AI-generated videos in the past as real. they just share any garbage they come across to rack up views. It took nearly two hours for Musk to delete his tweet, replacing it instead with a revised version omitting his call-out to the contentious accounts. Moments later War Monitor posted a tweet referring to 20 'martyrs murdered ' in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza. '"Martyr's" is not an objective or accurate word, nor is "murdered",' Musk tweeted in response. 'While reporting both sides is fair, please use maximally accurate words or I must withdraw my recommendation to follow your account,' he added. His original tweet outraged followers, including some who have long accused Musk of allowing the platform to promote anti-Semitic content. Researchers at Beam found in June that the volume of English-language anti-Semitic tweets has more than doubled since the companys takeover by Musk in October 2022. He has threatened to sue anti-hate organization the Anti-Defamation League for defamation after it slammed him for allowing anti-Semitic content online, but insists he is against antisemitism of any kind. Conservative commentator Andrew Bolt has called out the selection of Ray Martin for a prime time TV debate on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, describing him as a 'white-faced' hand-picked "Aborigine". Martin stirred controversy after delivering a speech at a Yes campaign event in Sydney. During his speech, he criticised the no campaign's slogan, 'If you don't know, vote No,' calling it nonsensical. 'What that asinine slogan is saying is if you're a dinosaur or a dickhead who can't be bothered reading, then vote No,' he declared. Bolt expressed disdain that Martin took part in the Sunday night Channel Seven forum as an Indigenous representative. Daily Mail has confirmed Yes23 actually put forward Ray Martin after Indigenous Australians Minster Linda Burney refused to go on the show Veteran journalist and TV presenter Ray Martin appeared as Indigenous spokesperson on a Channel Seven debate on the Voice The other Indigenous spokespeople representing different sides of the Voice debate were Senators Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (LNP), Lidia Thorpe (independent) and Malarndirri McCarthy (Labor). While Bolt accepted the Senators all had relatively recent Indigenous ancestry, he said that was not the case for Martin despite him being officially chosen as an Aboriginal representative for the Yes23 campaign. 'Why did Channel 7 add Martin, a white-faced superannuated TV presenter from decades ago?' Bolt wrote in Sunday's Herald Sun column. Bolt questioned whether the veteran journalist and TV presenter should be counted as Indigenous when Martin's ancestry was almost entirely Irish except for an Aboriginal great-great grandmother, Bertha. 'To be fair, Martin doesn't go around identifying as Aboriginal, yet his single Aboriginal great-great-grandparent was important enough for Channel 7 to choose him as an 'Indigenous man',' Bolt wrote. Noting the show producer's stated intent that they did not want 'white people talking for' Indigenous people, Bolt questioned whether Martin was 'really Aboriginal in any meaningful way?' This question led Bolt to question the validity of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. 'Just one of his 16 great-great-grandparents was Aboriginal, so why does that one define Martin more than the other 15?' Bolt asked. 'Why does that one great-great-grandparent privilege him in a debate, or qualify him to be represented by a Voice to Parliament in the Constitution unlike anyone of any other 'race'? 'What an insult to our individuality to assign people to a victim race because of a single ancestor 150 years ago or even more.' In looking at the illustrious panel of three elected senators and one famous TV personality, Bolt also questioned whether Indigenous people did not already have a 'voice'. 'Millions and millions of other Australians will never have a Voice as loud as any of these Aborigines have already,' Bolt wrote, saying the debate heaped 'absurdity upon absurdity'. Conservative columnist was unimpressed by Martin's participation in the Seven show calling him 'white-faced' and a 'hand-picked Aborigine' 'How mad to divide us by race so crudely that even a Ray Martin could get a Voice in the constitution to speak for him, but not for the 97 per cent of Australians who don't also have a great-great-grandmother of the 'right' race,' Bolt wrote. The referendum to constitutionally recognise Indigenous people by establishing the Voice will be held on Saturday. To pass it needs to get the approval of a majority of voters but also win in a majority of states. Voter surveys have delivered little but bad news to the Yes23 campaign for the past month. A Newspoll published on Sunday shows the proposal is set to suffer ignominious defeat with 58 per cent saying they will vote No against only 34 per cent plumping for Yes with 8 per cent undecided. Baggage handlers Darren Steven Bragg, 61, and Michael James McPherson (pictured), 55, were arrested on the tarmac Two Qantas baggage handlers and three other men have been charged for allegedly trying to import 100kg of cocaine worth $40million into Sydney Airport. The Australian Federal Police arrested five men on Saturday as part of a major sting into an alleged drug syndicate using insiders in Sydney International Airport. Baggage handlers Darren Steven Bragg, 61, and Michael James McPherson, 55, were arrested on the tarmac at the airport just minutes after allegedly unloading the drugs from Qantas Flight 64 from Johannesburg, South Africa. Bragg and McPherson, who worked for Jets Transport Express - a contractor of Qantas - were allegedly told 100kg of cocaine would be in four blue and one orange bag. The drugs, which have a street value of $40million, were allegedly hidden in a container in the cargo hold of the passenger plane. The import was allegedly facilitated by Ahmed Haouchar - the brother of feared gangster Bilal Haouchar, according to court documents. The arrests mark the end of a year-long investigation into an international drug operation. For 12 months, the AFP watched the drug syndicate allegedly use flight QF64 as a highway to import illegal substances from South Africa and into Australia. The investigation, codenamed 'Operation Lucian', began in October 2022 following a report from an airline of suspicious activity that occurred near the cargo area of a Sydney-bound flight in Johannesburg. A month later, investigators intercepted a text exchange between Bragg and McPherson in which they spoke about meeting 62-year-old David Peter Cain. Cain was allegedly instrumental in coordinating with Bragg and McPherson to move the cocaine off the tarmac and to an associate of the drug syndicate leader. On Saturday, Bragg went to work at Sydney International Airport and waited for the ground crew to unload bags from the 3.08pm QF64 flight. Once the bags were unloaded, Bragg and McPherson allegedly located the drugs on pallet 91394 and towed it towards Gate 6. The pair then loaded the five bags - each carrying 20kg of cocaine - into a white van outside the freight terminal, which 24-year-old Sydney man Ziad El-Mustapha was allegedly driving. The 24-year-old allegedly used Signal - an encrypted messaging app - to contact an unknown person known as 'Batman'. Police swooped in on the trio as they were about to drive away and allegedly found a handwritten note containing the number '91394' in Bragg's pocket. The drugs, which have a street value of $40million, were allegedly hidden in five bags - each carrying 20kg of cocaine - in the cargo hold of the passenger plane (pictured) Australian Federal Police arrested Bragg, McPherson and 24-year-old Ziad El-Mustapha after the drugs were allegedly unloaded into a white van allegedly being driven by El-Mustapha After taking Bragg, McPherson and El-Mustapha into custody, AFP detectives set out to arrest Cain and Haouchar, according to court documents. Detectives used Bragg's mobile phone to send Cain two text messages at 5.12pm. 'Driver not at the fence when I came back. I've got the bags at mine. What should (I) do?' the first message said. 'Mate freaking out,' the second read. Cain allegedly tried to call his 'best mate' before driving to Bragg's apartment block in Coogee where he was arrested by Operation Lucian officers. The AFP executed four search warrants at houses in Coogee, Mascot and Hillsdale after the arrests on Saturday, seizing a small quantity of drugs and a number of electronic devices. AFP Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy said the AFP is committed to targeting and disrupting organised crime syndicates undermining Australia's security. 'Transnational serious organised crime groups actively try to corrupt people working at our airports because their access to airside operations is an active and efficient way to facilitate the importation of illicit drugs,' Superintendent Cressy said. 'The AFP and its partners including airport operators, airlines and service providers treat such matters as a priority because of the damage that can be caused to our communities and businesses.' The import was allegedly facilitated by Ahmed Haouchar (left) - the brother of feared gangster Bilal Haouchar (right), court documents revealed Superintendent Cressy added as the job's alleged 'facilitator', Haouchar had allegedly liaised with international organised crime figures. 'People with trusted access in an airport precinct are critical to the successful operation of Australia's tourism and trade sectors, but the AFP will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who abuse this trust by assisting and profiting from organised crime,' Superintendent Cressy said. 'We will allege the organiser of this importation was well-organised and well-resourced, while the men working with trusted insiders had the potential to assist numerous criminal endeavours if they were allowed to continue unchecked.' Police carried out search warrants at Coogee, Mascot and Hillsdale after the arrests (pictured). Bragg, McPherson, El-Mustapha, Cain and Haouchar were arrested and charged with drug related offences Bragg, McPherson and El-Mustapha were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine and also possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine. Police charged Cain with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of cocaine. Haouchar was arrested at Rushcutters Bay later on Saturday evening and charged with possessing a commercial quantity of cocaine. All five men appeared at Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday, making no applications for bail. It's believed Haouchar's lawyer will make an application for bail on Monday at the Downing Centre Local Court. Bragg, McPherson, El-Mustapha and Cain will face court again on November 30. The Israeli dad of a 20-year-old woman who had been attending a music festival that came under attack from Hamas terrorists early on Saturday morning has now gone missing - as a horror image of bodies piled up at the venue has emerged. Mark Peretz, 51, raced to the area where the trance music festival was taking place, just three miles from the Gaza Strip in the hope of rescuing his daughter, Maya, from the unfolding terror. Mark knew he was heading into danger as he left his home in Rishon LeZion and began the journey south. During the car ride he was in contact by phone with his family but the call was cut off when suddenly gunshots sounded. Maya, meanwhile, was with a group of about 12 people who initially managed to escape in a car as they sped away from the Tribe of Nova music festival - but were later forced to abandon the vehicle altogether as terrorists continued to pursue them. As of Sunday night, Hamas was believed to be holding more than 100 hostages while the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are reporting more than 700 Israeli's dead with 2,150 injured. At least four Americans are confirmed to be among the dead. At least 260 people have been confirmed dead at the music festival. Bloodied bodies were stacked in tents while they await identification The father 20-year-old Maya Peretz, attending a music festival that came under attack from Hamas terrorists. She is pictured along side dad, Mark, 51 Footage of the festival before the attack was posted on social media The terrorists gunned down as many revelers as possible and on Sunday night horrifying photos emerged of bodies piled up in a tent at the festival. Authorities believe 260 people were massacred at the event at which between 3-4,000 people were in attendance. Many of those kidnapped by Hamas terrorists include women - both young and old - and children. The terrorists even shot the legs off hostages to prevent them from escaping. Maya managed to successfully get away and her group eventually managed to find safety in a police station for three hours. Following Mark's disappearance, his son's friends, all of whom are ex-military, set about searching for him. They quickly located his car but found no trace of him. His phone still appeared to be sending erratic pings indicating his location but Israeli authorities don't have the manpower to deal with the search for one individual given the current crisis. '[He] dropped everything and drove there. Even given the situation, given the fact that there were rockets being thrown over our heads. Given the fact that he saw Hamas terrorists riding into Israel, taking parachutes into Israel he went to go rescue Maya,' Mark's daughter-in-law, Jessica Cohen, 24, told The New York Post. He was about 20 minutes away from reaching his daughter when his phone suddenly cut off. 'We were on the phone with him and we heard gunshots, and don't know exactly sure what happened,' Jessica explained. 'Everyone in Israel is hugging one another, but we're living in a nightmare. We're all living in this crazy terror attack, and it's insane. It's really just unfathomable. 'The police are dealing with so much other stuff right now. There are so many terrorists still out there, and the streets are really blocked off everywhere we go,' Cohen explained. 'There are thousands of families like us. There are thousands of families searching for their loved ones. Their loved ones might be still in the desert, they might be hiding in a home, you never know.' As a young person growing up in Israel, Maya Peretz had served time in the country's military Maya has been posting desperate pleas in the hope of finding her father, Mark, 51, who had gone off to search for her Mark Peretz's phone still appeared to be sending erratic pings indicating his location but Israeli authorities don't have the manpower to deal with the search for one individual currently Bodies were seen piled up in refrigerated trucks following the massacre Other bodies were seen lying around the site of the festival on Sunday Maya Peretz (left) is seen dancing at similar festival from earlier this year in a photo from her Instagram page The full horror of what unfolded at the dance festival became clear as drone footage from above allowed for a birds eye view of the site Throughout Sunday, the full horror of what unfolded at the dance festival became clear as drone footage from above allowed for a birds eye view of the site. One account of what unfolded told how revelers were 'captured and bound and kidnapped.' 'I saw videos with a male getting held by a group of Arab kids. Like, they're like 16, 17,' one survivor told TabletMag. 'They're kids, but they're they're young men already, and they're holding this guy, and he looks as his girlfriend is being mounted on a bike and driven away from him. God knows what she's going to experience Women have been raped at the area of the rave next to their friends bodies, dead bodies.' One report suggested that several of the rape victims were later executed, while others were taken back across the order into Gaza. In some pictures, women's bodies were paraded through Gaza streets with blood gushing from between their legs. Many of those who were killed were shot at point blank range. Of the women who were murdered, dozens had their bodies mutilated as they lay in the dirt. Dozens of abandoned cars, some overturned, could be seen lining the roadway out of the venue as panicked, desperate partygoers attempted to escape, only to be met with rockets and gunfire from waiting terrorists along their route. Shocking footage from the aftermath of the attack shows empty festival tents, with many burnt out cars of those trying to escape strewn by the side of the road. The festivalgoers could be seen dancing in the desert at dawn on Saturday. Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape Music lovers, mostly in their 20s and 30s, had gathered for the peaceful festival in the desert completely unaware that within minutes members of the Hamas militant group were about to descend from the skies to inflict terror. 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. 'Guys, we have red alert,' a voice over the loudspeakers warned. 'Red alert.' Initially, some of those dancing didn't even notice the sound of explosions going off with the beat of the music drowning it out. The festival has been described as being 'more than a simple psychedelic trance music festival' but an 'international gathering of people from different styles and cultures, all together to celebrate Peace, Love, Union, and Respect' - something which the Hamas fighters showed none of. Music at what had been described as a 'beautiful party' with 'good vibes' played all night until round 6.30am when a siren began blaring warning of rockets. Hamas terrorists then cut the electricity as rockets flew overhead and jeeps filled with gunmen ran onto the site. All 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. 'We heard sirens and rockets, tons of rockets,' 27-year-old Millet Ben Haim said to the Washington Post. 'We started running; we didn't know where to go. Nobody knew what to do. 'I took the car keys from a friend of mine that was really wasted and got as many people in the car as possible and started driving like crazy,' Haim explained. 'The people who stayed, most of them got kidnapped or murdered.' When Haim couldn't go any further, they were forced to run across fields to escape. 'Every direction we ran we had more people shooting at us; we were running for two hours trying to escape. We started crawling in bushes. Eventually I realized I couldn't run anymore.' Haim said she ended up hiding behind trees and covering herself with leaves. 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 Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military 'We stayed silent and tried to reach the police. The police said they can't help us because too many people were kidnapped.' Terrifying footage shows the partygoers 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'. Police are seen helping the crowd evacuate. Survivors of the attack said they were forced to hide under bushes as they watched victims get killed one by one, until they heard the sound of people rescuers speaking in Hebrew. According to Israeli media, it took five hours for military to arrive. By the time IDF soldiers managed to subdue the attackers, they found shoulder-launched, anti-tank, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, high-end communications devices, various types of AK-47s and a number of other Soviet-made weapons, together with copies of the Quran. Gal Raz, 31, is another of those who attempted to drive from the festival when he saw the place was becoming overrun with terrorists. 'We heard shots. There were cars with corpses on top of them that blocked the road. We couldn't get out,' Raz said. Upon getting into another car, they were ambushed. 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 People could be seen hurriedly packing their cars in a desperate effort to get away 'There were about seven to eight terrorists, and they started to shoot at us in our car,' he said. Raz said that he saw other vehicles with dead bodies next to it as he made his escape. 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. 'There were 3,000 people at the event, so they probably knew it. They had intelligence information.' Amongst those also hiding was Gili Yoskovich, who was forced to shelter beneath a fruit tree in the middle of a field shaking for three hours as bullets flew past her. She hid until she heard people speaking Hebrew and was rescued by Israeli soldiers. The mother described how young people - whose night celebrating the end of the Sukkot religious holiday had turned to terror - were dying all around her as Hamas militants carried out their killing spree. 'They were going tree by tree and shooting everywhere from two sides. 'I saw people were dying all around. They were all over the place with their automatic weapons. I was very quiet. I didn't cry, I didn't do anything,' she told the BBC. A terrified Gili Yoskovich hid under a tree for three hours as Hamas militants opened fire on defenceless festivalgoers near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life 'I was... breathing, saying: 'OK, I'm going to die. It's OK, just breathe, just close your eyes'.' Michael Atias said gunmen were systematically attacking festival-goers as they desperately fled the area. He told the Times: 'It started off as a beautiful party, with great vibes and energy. But [when] the rocket fire started. Many people panicked and started running to their cars. 'We heard gunshots and later realized that the gunmen were targeting those who were trying to flee the party they were waiting for them.' 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.' As people tried to run through the sand or drive off in their cars, more shots were fired. Ortel said she hid in a bush where she watched 'masses of wounded people thrown around'. German tattoo artist named Shani Louk, 30, was in Israel to attend a peace rave One of those captured at the festival was 30-year-old German tattoo artist Shani Louk. Her lifeless, half-naked body was paraded on the back of a Hamas pick-up trick 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 said the body was a female Israeli soldier but last night it was confirmed to be Shani by her cousin Tomasina Weintraub-Louk. Tomasina told DailyMail.com that the family recognized her distinctive leg tattoos and dreadlocked hair. Her mother, Ricarda, released a heartbreaking video begging for help to find out what happened to her daughter. Holding a picture of Shani on her mobile phone, she said: 'This morning my daughter, Shani Nicole Louk, a German citizen, was kidnapped with a group of tourists in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas. 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 Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's naked body on the back of a pick-up truck Shani's mother, Ricarda, holds up a picture of her daughter on her mobile phone in an emotional video appeal begging for help to find out what happened to her daughter '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.' Meanwhile festival-goer Adam Barel told Haaretz that while they had been aware of the chance of rocket fire, the gunshots came as a shock. He told the Israeli newspaper that he was among those fleeing to their cars but shots were being fired so he decided it was better to run. 'People were hit. We hid. Everyone ran somewhere else,' he said. The organizers of the festival have been said they were 'stunned' and 'share the grief of the missing and murdered families.' 'We hope and pray that good news will reach us and you soon,' the organizers wrote in a posting online. Indigenous Affairs minister Linda Burney was invited to debate Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Lidia Thorpe on the merits of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament on Channel Seven's special on Sunday night, but turned it down. Instead, her assistant minister Malarndirri McCarthy went toe-to-toe with two of the most outspoken senators in Australian politics. Ms Burney did however appear on ABC's Q+A on Monday night. While she has been targeted and criticised throughout the campaign for her ability to answer questions on the fly, her assistant has handled heated exchanges with reporters in the lead-up to this weekend's referendum, drawing on her experience as a Walkley award-nominated journalist. During Question Time, ministerial colleagues have rushed to Ms Burney's side to answer the onslaught of Opposition questions on the Voice, while critics have accused her of failing to persuade everyday Australians to vote Yes on October 14. Senator McCarthy could be considered a safer pair of hands during heated exchanges with journalists just five days out from the historic referendum given her extensive experience as a Walkley award-nominated journalist As the campaign has ramped up in the community and left the Canberra bubble, Ms Burney has largely left Senator McCarthy to handle media calls. Ms McCarthy has appeared as a guest on Sky News, ABC's Q+A, in new Voice advertising material and, most recently, in a live debate with Seven's Spotlight which Ms Burney reportedly refused to participate in. Host Liam Bartlett made a disclosure during the event revealing: 'Just as a matter for the record for the benefit of our audience... we should point out the Minister for Indigenous Affairs refused to be a part of this debate, and specifically debate you, Senator Price. 'I just want to put that on the record, I think that's important.' A No campaign source later told Daily Mail Australia there were no surprises when Ms Burney's name was not included in the debate. 'We've been calling for a debate for months, but Senator Burney has been desperate to avoid a one-on-one with Senator Nampijinpa Price,' the insider said. 'We're not too upset about it though, because Senator McCarthy's... final pitch on Sunday night was a catastrophe for the Yes campaign.' The source said 'at the end of the day, the problem isn't their salespeople, it's their product. Australians just don't want to be divided by race in their Constitution'. Ms McCarthy was the weeknight newsreader for ABC News in Darwin and established her own community radio station in 1998 prior to entering politics The media blitz has seen Ms McCarthy catapulted into the spotlight at a time the Yes campaign desperately needed to inject a fresh face into the debate Indigenous Affairs Minister Burney has been targeted and criticised throughout the campaign for her ability to answer questions on the fly Ms McCarthy was catapulted into the spotlight at a time the Yes campaign desperately needed to inject a fresh face into the debate. Like Ms Price, Ms McCarthy represents the Northern Territory in the Senate. Initially she worked as a journalist and newsreader for the ABC from 1989, when she joined as a teenage cadet, then going by the name Barbara McCarthy. Ms McCarthy was the weeknight newsreader for ABC News in Darwin and established her own community radio station in 1998 prior to entering politics. READ MORE: Ray Martin's attempt to explain Voice Advertisement Before winning a federal Senate seat in the 2016 federal election, she served in the NT Legislative Assembly from 2005 to 2012. She then took a break from politics and returned to journalism with NITV, where she was nominated for a Walkley Award for her investigation into the Bowraville murders, and two further Walkley nominations for an article into a Mercedes Benz advertisement filmed on a place of cultural significance to Indigenous communities. Ms Burney has been repeatedly slammed for her handling of questions and criticism over the Voice. She said back in July she would not debate Senator Nampijinpa Price, despite repeated requests to do so. She argued the Voice is not about politics and Canberra, and that speaking with everyday Australians would remain her priority. 'We want an honest and open conversation with Australia about a path to a better future,' she said at the time. 'They want typical political conflict and obstruction.' Pictured: Ms McCarthy when she was the Northern Territory Minister of Tourism, posing with Opera Winfrey British Airways passengers were evacuated from a plane in Heathrow on Sunday, with four travellers falling ill after unknown 'fumes' filled the flight arriving from Barcelona. Emergency services were seen rushing to Terminal 5 after the plane landed around 4.15pm yesterday, with the unwell passengers being treated and discharged at the scene. Footage posted online shows a number of fire engines and police cars on the runway at Terminal 5 while dozens of other passengers wait outside the plane. Were you on the British Airways flight? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Other images show firemen on board the flight kitted out with breathing apparatus as they pass scared customers. One passenger tweeted 'major police operation at Heathrow T5 tonight' while another said: 'Nothing like being locked on a plane with a 'potential contagion' for an hour and half with no explanation or information.' Two firemen seen boarding the British Airways plane at Heathrow Terminal 5 yesterday afternoon Emergency services were called to the runway was the plane from Barcelona landed Footage posted online shows a number of fire engines and police cars on the runway at Terminal 5 while dozens of other passengers wait outside the plane Four people on board were said to have become unwell, however, they were quickly discharged at the scene Nothing like being locked on a plane with a potential contagion for an hour and half with no explanation or information. @britishairways @HeathrowAirport pic.twitter.com/xw8YzfEOUF Martin Hill (@MartinHill25) October 8, 2023 He added: 'For clarity there was no contagion in the end. At least I hope not since they finally let us go. 'The Met seems to be on the ball. Heathrow staff though, were increasingly unclear and hostile to what amounted to very confused terrified folks that just wanted to go home.' A third wrote: 'Scenes at Heathrow T5 as the BA flight from Barcelona has had its crew fall sick upon landing, and the passengers are being held on the runway. 'No information other than smoke/fumes were detected in the cockpit and some cabin crew have been told to strip after falling ill.' The London Fire Brigade said that there were no elevated chemical readings were detected inside the the aircraft, while the London Ambulance Service said it had sent a hazardous area response team along with three medics. The Metropolitan Police also attended the scene, telling the Mirror: 'Police were called at 16:15hrs on Sunday, 8 October to reports of passengers taken unwell on a flight into Heathrow Airport. Emergency services attended. Four people were treated at the scene.' The London Fire Brigade said that there were no elevated chemical readings were detected inside the the aircraft Crowds of passengers wait on the runway as emergency services inspected the BA plane A number of fire engines, along with the ambulance service and Metropolitan Police attended the scene Emergency services were seen rushing to Terminal 5 after the plane landed around 4.15pm yesterday The London Ambulance Service added: 'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including three medics in fast-response cars, two advanced paramedic practitioners, two ambulance crews, two incident response officers and members of our hazardous area response team (HART). 'After assessing multiple people at the scene, we treated three patients and discharged them.' London Fire Brigade told the paper its 'chemical team did a sweep of the plane and found no elevated readings'. British Airways said the safety of its customers and crew 'is always out top priority' adding that the aircraft 'landed normally' following reports of a technical issue. A statement added: 'Customers disembarked the aircraft safely via steps, and we've apologised to them for the delay and inconvenience caused to their journey.' MailOnline has contacted the Met Police, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and Heathrow. Logistics ... Lidia Thorpe has been blasted for publicly supporting Palestine, as the brutal Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East rages on. The controversial senator made clear her stance on the violent clash in a post on the social media platform X on Sunday night. 'I stand with Palestine!' she wrote. The post featured a contested map of Israel, appearing to show the gradual dispossession of 'Palestinian land' since 1946, just prior to the founding of the modern state of Israel. 'Unprovoked They said [sic],' Ms Thorpe wrote in the caption. Senator and No campaigner Lidia Thorpe has backed Palestine in a post to social media platforn X on Sunday The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas launched its biggest assault on Israel in years early on Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets from Gaza and sending fighters across the border. READ MORE: Sonny Bill Williams shows support for Hamas militants who launched horrific attack on Israel Advertisement Israel said it was on a war footing and began its own strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza, with Israeli media reporting gun battles between bands of Palestinian fighters and security forces in southern Israel. The death toll from the conflict has surpassed 1,000, with officials reporting at least 413 deaths in Gaza and thousands more wounded across the warzone, while at least 100 have been taken hostage. Many social media users rushed to condemn Ms Thorpe, pointing out the horror unfolding overseas. 'The most appalling public statement you've ever made, and that's saying something,' Sky News columnist Will Kingston wrote. 'You're a disgusting terrorist-sympathiser,' another said. Others pointed out that women had been 'kidnapped raped and brutalised' in the conflict. 'You stand with the raping and murdering of women. You are foul,' one wrote. 'Stand with Palestine but not for Hamas,' another said. The outspoken senator was blasted online for her stance and for sharing what many have said is a false map of Israel Others took to the comments to point out the map shared by Senator Thorpe was incorrect. An article by Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council notes similar maps such as those shared by Thorpe were 'riddled with misrepresentations and omissions'. 'Their overall narrative is an outright lie,' it reads. It said the 1946 map was misleading as the land at that time 'was not in any sense Palestinian, whether this refers to ownership, control, or even simply habitation'. In a speech before the Senate last month, Sen. Thorpe called on Australia to recognise Palestinian sovereignty. 'I rise to condemn the violent occupation of Palestine, the brutality of the colonial power that is Israel and their state-sanctioned murder of the Palestinian people,' she said. 'In 2022, Israeli forces murdered more than 170 Palestinians, including 53 children. Since the start of 2023, 160 lives have been taken, including 35 children.' The death toll from the conflict has surged above 1000, with officials reporting at least 413 deaths in Gaza and thousands more wounded across the war zone She urged the Australian government to call on Israel to 'end the illegal occupation'. 'This government must recognise sovereignty abroad and at home, recognise the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all the land taken since 1967 and call for the Israeli government to end the illegal occupation.' Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday condemned attacks by Hamas against Israel, describing the conflict as a 'very dark 24 hours'. 'This is an abhorrent attack on Israel. This is indiscriminate. Civilians being targeted, killed and murdered, and as well, many of them being taken as hostages,' he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. 'Of course people are worried about escalation, but Israel has a right to defend itself and it will be doing so'. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the nation was in for a 'long and difficult' war. Universities are offering thousands of pounds in grants to trans and non-binary students for fake breasts and chest binders, the Mail can reveal today. At the University of Kent, students can get up to 100 to put towards 'gender-affirming products' and even 'minor cosmetic procedures'. University College London has set aside almost 5,000 to help students buy 'clothing, beauty products or travel for medical or therapy appointments'. Critics slammed the schemes as 'a mind-boggling example of virtue signalling' and demanded that universities stop wasting money. Conservative MP Lia Nici said: 'Universities need to be supporting their students in lectures rather than wasting their supposed cash-strapped organisation's money on gender ideology, rather than proper scientific research.' University College London has set aside a fund of almost 5,000 to help students buy 'clothing, beauty products or travel for medical or therapy appointments' Toby Young of the Free Speech Union said: 'It beggars belief that universities are spending money on this nonsense when they're charging 9,250 a year for tuition and clamouring to put fees up.' Students who 'identify as trans, non-binary, intersex or otherwise gender diverse' can apply to UCL's 'Gender Expression Fund' for a grant of up to 100. The institution, ranked in the top ten universities worldwide, has allocated 4,883.97 to the fund this year. Grants can be used to help students with the 'purchase of items that will make them more comfortable with their gender presentation', the university says. The cash is allocated through a 'trust-based process based on self-declaration by the student' and is not subject to checks. It is part of a wider package of more than 500,000 available through the student union for students affected by rising costs of living. The union website reads: 'Grants can be used to purchase gender-affirming products such as clothing, binders, packers and beauty products. Grants will usually be around 50, but in exceptional circumstances may be up to a maximum of 100.' Packers are used by trans and non-binary people to create bulges suggestive of male genitals. From next month, trans and non-binary students can apply to the University of Kent's 'Gender Affirmation Fund'. A number of Cambridge and Oxford colleges have similar schemes. Edinburgh University student union, which is funded mainly through a grant from the university, has created a 'gender-empowerment fund', and Warwick and Bournemouth University student unions have similar schemes. At the University of Kent, students can get up to 100 to put towards 'gender-affirming products' and even 'minor cosmetic procedures' Professor Kathy Armour, UCL's vice-provost, said: 'Our gender-expression fund, set up with the UCL Students' Union, is an important scheme that provides real and practical support to students who may be particularly vulnerable to marginalisation and prejudice.' A University of Kent spokesman said: 'The fund is part of our wider package of student support, with those students who have accessed it reporting a positive improvement on their mental health and confidence, as well as their feelings of security and belonging.' An Oxford University spokesman said: 'Oxford is committed to supporting the needs of the university's transgender students, staff and alumni. 'All trans members of the university deserve to feel safe, valued and supported.' Cambridge said funds were typically run by local student bodies and not centrally. A bill that would have made condoms available for all high school students in California was vetoed by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom for being too expensive. Newsom cited the state's current budget deficit of more than $30 billion in his veto of the costly and controversial measure impacting nearly 2million teens. On top of requiring high schools with grades nine through 12 to provide condoms for free, the bill would have seen public schools with grades seven through 12 allow condoms to be made available as part of educational or public health programs. Additionally, Senate Bill 541 would have made it illegal for retailers to refuse to sell condoms to minors. Despite serious objections from some parents on moral and political grounds, Newsom said his primary objection was the financial impact it would have. 'This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process,' he wrote in a message Sunday. California Governor Gavin Newsom has rejected a bill that would have given free condoms to high school students in the state, calling the proposal too expensive A sample of condoms distributed freely by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is displayed at a news conference on Feb. 14, 2023, in Los Angeles Legislators estimated the cost to have been in the low millions to cover the roughly 1.9 million high school students enrolled in more than 4,000 schools. State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat from Los Angeles and the author of the bill, argued the bill was an important step to protecting the state's youth. Minjivar said it would have helped 'youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from (sexually transmitted infections), while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex.' Newsom did not disagree with the overall sentiment, writing that increasing access to condoms is 'important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health.' However, he said he believed the bill - when added together with other proposed laws - would amount to $19 billion in costs to the state budget. 'With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure,' Newsom said. This comes after Newsom said in June the state's budget deficit was expected to soar to almost $32 billion, nearly $10 billion more than he had projected in January. To cover the projected shortfall, Newsom proposed a combination of modest spending cuts, increased borrowing, and a plan to push some expenses into future budget years, creating a projected $14 billion annual deficit by 2027. Newsom said: 'This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process' The condom bill was hotly debated online among California residents and others who argued back and forth about whether minors should be given condoms. 'Just condoms? Why not put a mattress in one of the school broom closets and let the kids rut like deer between classes?' one person wrote. 'Keep it in your pants and you won't need condoms. lol.' 'And people think he would be a good president? Look at the mess California is.' Others, however, argued that the measure would preemptively save the state money in the long run. 'Well, the system will bare more cost than that of free condoms in the expense of state benefits. So his argument is ridiculous at best.' 'Boy math: condoms are more expensive than babies and STIs.' 'Unwanted babies come with a higher cost.' The condom bill was hotly debated online among California residents and others who argued back and forth about whether minors should be given condoms Newsom has been on a veto kick - rejecting a bill that would have decriminalized hallucinogens and one that would have banned 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. The right to strike will be strengthened within 100 days of Labour taking office, deputy leader Angela Rayner said yesterday. She was cheered at the conference as she vowed to tear up anti-strike laws brought in by the Tories to limit the power of unions. Ms Rayner dismissed reports Labour's plans to boost workers' rights would be 'watered down', saying: 'We'll ensure that unions can stand up for their members. 'We will boost collective bargaining, to improve workers' pay, terms and conditions. Make no mistake, this is an agenda that we will deliver hand in hand with the trade union movement.' She also pledged 'family-friendly' reforms, including a 'right to switch off' that will prevent managers from contacting staff outside of working hours. The right to strike will be strengthened within 100 days of Labour taking office, deputy leader Angela Rayner said. She is pictured at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Sunday Ms Rayner was cheered at the conference as she vowed to tear up anti-strike laws brought in by the Tories to limit the power of unions. Pictured: Members BECTU striking in Leicester Square, London last week And new workers will be given 'basic rights' from day one of their employment. Matthew Percival, of the Confederation of British Industry, warned 'poorly targeted' changes could damage the country's competitiveness. He said employers supported flexible working, but added: 'Legislative changes around day one rights, while well intentioned, will make it impossible for firms to have probationary periods.' Ms Rayner also pledged to boost house building and 'deliver the biggest boost in affordable and social housing for a generation'. Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would build 1.5million new homes over the next Parliament - equivalent to 300,000 a year. However, Tory sources pointed out that Labour peers recently blocked plans to relax EU environmental rules that would have allowed the construction of an extra 100,000 homes. It may have been named the nation's favourite chocolate last year, but Ferrero Rocher fans may find their top treat hard to come by or more expensive this Christmas. Low rainfall and insect problems in Turkey are threatening supplies of a key ingredient hazelnuts. Some 70 per cent of the world's crop comes from the country. The shortage has led to prices soaring 40 per cent in the eight weeks to the end of September. Low rainfall and insect problems in Turkey are threatening chocolate supplies this Christmas Italian-owned confectionery firm Ferrero also uses hazelnuts in its Nutella spread A Turkish trader told analysts Mintec: 'We went to speak to farmers and they all said the harvest would be much smaller than last year. 'We are seeing the effects of global warming, insect damage and, in particular, a lack of rainfall during the critical nut development period in May.' Italian-owned confectionery firm Ferrero also uses hazelnuts in its Nutella spread. Ferrero Rocher consists of whole roasted nuts encased in a hazelnut spread, covered with milk chocolate and chopped nuts. Trade magazine The Grocer warned the shortage and price rises could become 'a problem for big hazelnut buyers like Ferrero'. Its product was named the Britain's favourite in a survey for an online retailer last July. The founder of a renowned chicken shop on Sydney's northern beaches has died from a heart attack, leaving behind two sons who lost their mother six-years-ago. Jimmy Sagiotis, owner of Queenscliff restaurant Salty Rooster - hailed by some locals as having some of the best burgers on the beaches - has left a community in mourning after his sudden passing last week. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the tragic passing of our much loved partner, father, son, brother and friend,' a statement on his death read. 'Jimmy had a minor heart attack Wednesday night and by the time he got to the hospital in the ambulance, (with Claudine, his mum and sister, and his beautiful boys there at the hospital with him) he had additional heart attacks that required serious treatment. 'Ultimately, despite great care provided from the surgeons and nurses, he couldn't survive these attacks. 'No one would ever imagine that the light of our lives would not make it. It's just surreal. Complete and utter shock.' Jimmy (left) lost his late wife, Renee in 2017 and helped his sons Harrison, 10 (pictured centre) and Hudson, 8 (right) through immense grief Salty Rooster is a popular family owner chicken shop in Sydney's northern beaches The tragedy comes after Jimmy lost his late wife, Renee in 2017 and helped his sons Harrison, 10 and Hudson, 8 through immense grief following the sudden loss of their mother. Friends have made an emotional plea for support via a GoFundMe page in order to pay for the unexpected costs of arranging Jimmy's funeral, as well as the ongoing and much-needed support of his blended family. 'Claudine has lost her soulmate and best friend, and the children have lost their incredible father,' the page read. 'Life will never be the same for them, but with our support, we hope they will continue living the life Jimmy had dreamed of for them.' The fundraiser has raised $26,420 of its $40,000 target. The news has devastated the local community, in which Jimmy was very active, having opened his popular burger store in 2005. After the loss of his late wife, Jimmy found love with Claudine (pictured) who has two children from a previous relationship There has been an outpouring of grief on social media from community members and Salter Rooster fans, sharing their shock and heartache at his sudden passing There has been an outpouring of grief on social media from community members and Salter Rooster fans, sharing their shock and heartache at his sudden passing. 'VALE to this gentle soul. Jimmy experienced enough tragedy for any one person in a lifetime when he became a single Dad caring for his two young boys and trying to run his beloved (and iconic) in Queensie,' local MP James Griffin posted on Instagram. 'I cannot believe it, such a shock and tragedy. An incredible dad and member of our community. I've known jimmy, his boys and mum for many years and admire their family and values. RIP beautiful man xxxx, ' local business Beaches Healing said. A funeral has been arranged for next Tuesday the 17th held at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Mascot followed by a burial Botany cemetery. Salty Rooster advertises itself as having a menu of 17 flavours 'from all around the world to tantalise taste buds'. The Hawaiian Rooster is a popular, go-to order, consisting of grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese, grilled bacon, grilled pineapple & mayonnaise. Experts warn hundreds of miles of pylons will be needed to meet net zero plans Labour wants to tear up planning rules to fast-track the construction of thousands of electricity pylons across Britain. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today pledge to overhaul the 'antiquated planning system' and slash the time it takes to approve major infrastructure projects. Ms Reeves also confirmed that Labour will look at lifting existing protections on green belt land as part of plans to 'get Britain building'. Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said he would make it a priority to 'challenge planning laws,' adding: 'We have to get real about where we're going to build.' Ms Reeves will use her speech at Labour's conference to pledge a 'once in a generation' reform of the planning system, which is aimed at speeding up decisions on infrastructure projects, such as battery factories, clean energy facilities and 5G telecommunication networks. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves will today pledge to overhaul the 'antiquated planning system' and slash the time it takes to approve major infrastructure projects Sir Keir Starmer yesterday said he would make it a priority to 'challenge planning laws' Sources confirmed this would include approvals for the thousands of new electricity pylons needed to deliver Labour's radical net zero plans, which include making the entire electricity supply carbon neutral by 2030 five years faster than current Government plans. Sir Keir hinted at the move yesterday, telling the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: 'I've said to businesses, look infrastructure, how long would it take you, for example, to build a wind farm? I'm told about two years physically, but about 13 years before we actually get any power out of it. 'That means we've got to go at pace to deal with the planning that sits in the way of it, got to go at pace to deal with the grid which is far too slow.' Experts have warned that hundreds of miles of new overhead cables and pylons will be needed to hook up new energy sources to the National Grid in order to meet the net zero plans. In a bid to sugar the pill, Ms Reeves will say that communities which have to 'host critical national infrastructure' will receive 'benefits, including lower energy bills'. She will accuse the Government of presiding over a sclerotic system, which has seen decision times for major infrastructure projects increase by 65 per cent since 2012. Labour sources cited the case of the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power station which is facing a legal challenge for failing to take fully into account the environmental impact of plans, despite producing a 44,000-page environmental assessment. The Shadow Chancellor will say: 'If the Tories won't build, if the Tories can't build, then we will. Taking head-on the obstacles presented by our antiquated planning system. Experts have warned that hundreds of miles of new overhead cables and pylons will be needed to hook up new energy sources to the National Grid in order to meet the net zero plans 'So, today, I am announcing our plans to get Britain building. A once-in-a-generation set of reforms to accelerate the building of critical infrastructure for energy, transport and technology. 'To fast-track battery factories, life sciences and 5G infrastructure, and to tackle the litigation which devours time and money before we ever see shovels in the ground. 'And to make sure that when a local community hosts critical national infrastructure, they will feel the benefits, including lower energy bills.' In an interview yesterday, Ms Reeves said that even green belt land will not necessarily be safe from the bulldozer under Labour's plans. She told The Sunday Times: 'We want to take a common sense approach. A brownfield-first approach is right. 'But we also need to look again at what is designated green and brown. No one has got anything to fear from this.' Ms Reeves will also set a target of increasing business investment by 50billion a year by the end of the decade, which is the equivalent of 1,700 per household. The commander of a crack team of Israeli troops known as a the Ghost unit was killed fighting Hamas when the militants first struck in southern Israel, it has emerged. Colonel Roy Levy, 44, was the leader of the Multidimensional Unit - a secretive group of commandos established to tackle Hamas using drones and other modern warfare techniques. He was killed as his forces battled Hamas fighters in the community of Re'im, near the border with Gaza where as many as 260 festivalgoers were killed when violence erupted on Saturday. The Israeli Defense Force said Levy 'led his team bravely, engaged [the terrorists], and entered the battle first in Kibbutz Re'im, in order to save citizens who were besieged in their homes.' Around 10 Palestinian terrorists were killed during Saturday's battle, the IDF said. It added in its statement on Levy's death that it 'shares in the family's grief.' Colonel Roy Levy, 44, was the leader of the Multidimensional Unit - a secretive group of commandos established to tackle Hamas File image shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim, southern Israel, on October 8 An Israeli tank drives on a road following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, near Sderot in southern Israel The Ghost unit - officially Unit 888 'Refaim' - was established in 2019, and is said to engage in secret reconnaissance missions to root out Hamas. Col Levy is among the dozens of soldiers now confirmed killed in the violence, with Hamas claiming its fighters are still present in Israel. A British-born soldier was revealed as one of the first to lose his life after the conflict escalated on Saturday. 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. His heartbroken family paid tribute to their son who was 'the life of the party'. The IDF is publishing all the names of the soldiers killed after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was on a 'war-footing'. 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. Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed yesterday 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. Everything is quiet. Israelis are known as a loud and boisterous people too loud, too boisterous so the hush that has fallen over the country since Hamas launched its attack on Saturday morning feels alien and creepy. Slowly, by and large isolated and alone, Israelis are beginning to grasp the dimensions of the disaster: more than 650 dead and counting. More than 2000 wounded, hundreds of them critical. An unknown number of hostages dragged into the Gaza Strip by Hamas terrorists who invaded Israel, its communities, its homes and its bedrooms - captured civilians between the ages of three and 83, many of them women and girls. Terrorists who are now holding them in unknown prisons. Yoni Asher, a resident of Tel Aviv, was one of the first to call into a radio program, midday on Saturday, and describe the indescribable. His wife, Doron, he said, had taken their two young daughters to visit his mother-in-law in a rural village in the south of the country. Now they were all gone. I was making coffee as I heard this, and was sure I had misheard. Missing? That couldn't happen. Not here, in Israel. The hush that has fallen over the country since Hamas launched its attack on Saturday morning feels alien and creepy. Pictured: People surveying damage from a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday Slowly, by and large isolated and alone, Israelis are beginning to grasp the dimensions of the disaster: more than 650 dead and counting. More than 2000 wounded, hundreds of them critical. Pictured: A destroyed building in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday Thirty-six hours after Hamas invaded and assaulted an unprepared Israel, General Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, announced that the army has yet to fully regain control of the nation's territory. Pictured: A resident clears debris in a damaged building in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday I left the radio on to find that streams of Israelis, helpless and distraught, were calling in crying and begging for news of relatives who have disappeared. Late Sunday, representatives of a rapidly organised group of 900 relatives of the vanished held an improvised press conference. One man, who introduced himself as Uri David, the father of two daughters who have vanished, took the microphone, his voice shaking. 'We can't believe it,' he said. 'It is impossible to believe. We ask our government to do something!' Sobbing, he described the last he'd heard from his terrified girls, who were at a festival in the desert called the Nova Rave. They'd called him to beg for help. 'We're being shot,' they said, as he heard voices yelling in Arabic around them. Then, he added, 'I heard them take these deep, deep breaths, then nothing.' 'I am asking the entire world to look at us. We need to meet already tonight with some representative who can give us some answers. 'No one is in touch with us: not the police, no hospital. My two daughters, I close my eyes and I don't know where they are. Are they raping them in Gaza? Are they dumped into some ditch, half an hour from me, and I can't do anything? Someone has to stop this.' The sudden realisation that this fortress nation's borders are made of putty has caused Israelis to fall into a sort of stupor. Thirty-six hours after Hamas invaded and assaulted an unprepared Israel, General Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, announced that the army has yet to fully regain control of the nation's territory. Streams of Israelis, helpless and distraught, have been calling in crying and begging for news of relatives who have disappeared. Pictured: Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City on Sunday Palestinian men walk amidst the rubble of a UNRWA school in Gaza City, which was destroyed overnight in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes on Sunday There is an established protocol here for terror attacks, which are not that uncommon, albeit on a much smaller scale. In the immediate minutes after these incidents, police spokespersons appear on television screens announcing the count of the dead and the wounded. Pictured: Israeli security forces stand near a burned car at a scene where a rocket fired from Gaza strip hit a building on Saturday This is not the Israel we Israelis thought we knew. And if that weren't bad enough, we can barely recognise our own government which seems to have gone missing. Pictured: People take refuge in a shelter in Tel Aviv on Saturday night as sirens heard as the Hamas had begun a massive shooting of rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory Thirty-six hours after the invasion began, terrorists are still roaming free in several southern Israeli towns and villages, while residents are enduring the end of their second full day in bomb shelters. READ MORE: Horror as at least 260 bodies are found by rescuers at Israel festival site where revellers ran for their lives Advertisement As I write this, I hear a military warning on the radio for residents of Zikim in the south to lock themselves in shelters, because of yet another possible invasion by a terrorist cell. This is not the Israel we Israelis thought we knew. And if that weren't bad enough, we can barely recognise our own government which seems to have gone missing. There is an established protocol here for terror attacks, which are not that uncommon, albeit on a much smaller scale. In the immediate minutes after these incidents, police spokespersons appear on television screens announcing the count of the dead and the wounded. Not this time. No one seems to be in charge. Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to address his people live on camera. Israeli media are calculating the rising number of the dead by collecting the figures released, one by one, by all the hospitals in the country, individually. As I write, Ron Dermer, the minister of strategic affairs and Netanyahu's closest aide, admits, on camera that 'we don't know how many hostages there are because we don't know how many dead there are.' It is impossible not to wonder whether the government haven't been releasing the number of the dead and disappeared because it has fallen into chaos or - as the parents of vanished children claim - they aren't doing so because they refuse to admit the true cost of their terrible intelligence and security failure over this attack. Nothing feels like it did before. Jerusalem, like Tel Aviv, is a ghost town. Schools nationwide have been ordered closed by the Home Front Command but there are no kids playing on the streets. While no missile has actually landed in the capital city, the parks are empty, cafes and restaurants are shuttered. In my usually animated Jerusalem neighbourhood, the only sounds I hear are fighter jets in the air, and, every few hours, the sound of the muezzin calling people to prayer. Nothing feels like it did before. Jerusalem, like Tel Aviv, is a ghost town. Schools nationwide have been ordered closed by the Home Front Command but there are no kids playing on the streets. Pictured: 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 While no missile has actually landed in the capital city, the parks are empty, cafes and restaurants are shuttered. In my usually animated Jerusalem neighbourhood, the only sounds I hear are fighter jets in the air, and, every few hours, the sound of the muezzin calling people to prayer. Pictured: Police at the site of a destroyed building in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sunday It feels post-apocalyptic. In my area, one of the few mixed Jewish-Arab neighbourhoods in town, the residents' WhatsApp group, normally filled with traffic complaints or requests for apartments to let, has become the repository of urgently needed information. Where are the bomb shelters? Where can one give blood? Where can one donate to IDF soldiers in need? Pictured: People walk by the damage from a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv, Israel on Saturday Worse, posts appear with instructions for family members of the disappeared, offering advice and information about where they should take belongings which can provide samples of their loved ones' DNA. Pictured: Israeli security forces gather in front of a building in Tel Aviv, after it was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on Saturday It feels post-apocalyptic. In my area, one of the few mixed Jewish-Arab neighbourhoods in town, the residents' WhatsApp group, normally filled with traffic complaints or requests for apartments to let, has become the repository of urgently needed information. Where are the bomb shelters? Where can one give blood? Where can one donate to IDF soldiers in need? Worse, posts appear with instructions for family members of the disappeared, offering advice and information about where they should take belongings which can provide samples of their loved ones' DNA. Everyone is calling the radio shows, and the usual news radio programmes have turned into anguished vehicles of heartbreak. In the cloud of war, in the absence of government information, citizens call in desperately and the feeling is that the sky has fallen in. Reshet Bet, the national broadcaster, has been transformed into a national therapy centre, with a psychologist constantly on air. One mother, her voice breaking, said that her 24-year-old son, an army officer, had not responded to her or to his commanders in 30 hours. 'You're a good mother,' the psychologist replied, 'looking for her son. You are doing what you need to do.' 'No one from the army has called me! No one! I need help!' the mother wailed. 'How is it possible that I haven't heard from anyone?' Israel has so far established two official hotlines: one for those searching missing civilians, the other for missing service members. But families are still desperate for information. It would be a mistake to assume that the attack is being felt principally in the south of the country that borders on the Gaza Strip. The agony is felt across Israel. Again, in my neighbourhood, the parents of Ophir Engel posted pictures of their son, who had travelled south to visit his girlfriend. This was a long holiday weekend in Israel, with the festival of Simchat Torah taking place on Saturday. Many Israelis had innocently hit the road. Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Gaza on Sunday Israeli police check the damage from a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv on Saturday 'Our beloved son and grandson was kidnapped yesterday from the bomb shelter when he went to visit his girlfriend in Kibbutz Beeri,' they wrote. 'We would be grateful for any information.' The initial images of Hamas terrorists gleefully taking selfies next to abandoned Israeli tanks appeared to have been taken from a dystopian b-movie, but then pictures of bloodied young girls being pulled by their hair into Hamas captivity emerged and the reality of the horror was there for all to see. At the press conference held by families of the disappeared, one parent after another related their private nightmares. Omer Bar Shem-Tov's parents described seeing him, alive, wounded, handcuffed, laying on the ground, in one of the propaganda videos released by Hamas. 'We need someone to call,' his father begged. 'It's impossible that we haven't heard from anyone. We need answers. We need transparency. Something!' The sheer savagery of the unprovoked assault on Israel demonstrates beyond all doubt that Hamas does not belong to the civilised world. Whatever Britain's pro-Palestinian liberal elites might tell themselves, this was not a legitimate act of resistance by freedom fighters. It was mindless, pitiless carnage by ruthless terrorists. Gunmen massacring innocent families in cold blood. Hostages including women, children and the elderly captured and shipped to Gaza. Bodies mutilated and paraded before cheering mobs. It was an abomination which should be condemned by anyone with a shred of decency or compassion. Hideous as it was in scale however, this is the latest in a long litany of cowardly attacks against the weak and vulnerable. Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday) The Hamas founding charter openly commits it not merely to the destruction of Israel but also to the elimination of Jews. Given the UK has officially designated the group as a terrorist organisation, this makes it all the more reprehensible for the BBC to equivocate by insisting the mass murderers are simply 'militants'. Labour, meanwhile, also has questions to answer. Jeremy Corbyn, who Sir Keir Starmer enthusiastically backed to become prime minister at a time when Labour was shot through with anti-Semitism, once described Hamas as 'friends'. Sir Keir may condemn Hamas today and boast that he has rid the party of such abhorrent bigotry, but the job is clearly far from complete. Yesterday, hard-Left MP Apsana Begum was pictured with a pro-Palestine group in the Labour conference centre hours after it defended the butchers of Gaza. Has Sir Keir the moral compass to finish the purge? Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself. It may be bloody, but Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's forces will be targeting trained paramilitaries, not murdering civilians. Israeli civilians were purportedly taken off the street and driven back into Gaza This is a dangerous moment for the world. Was Hamas Iran's proxy trying to scupper Israel-Arab peace talks by pushing Middle Eastern opinion back towards polarised extremes? And did US President Joe Biden embolden the assailants by being so pathetically appeasing to Iran on oil and cash transfers? The answers will become clear in time. It is vital the UK and the West stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel as it restores order after this darkest of days. Keir's leaky logic Discovering what Sir Keir truly thinks on any given policy is usually like drawing blood from a stone. But as his party's conference got under way, he at least gave an unequivocal answer on the vexed issue of illegal immigration. In an extraordinary intervention, he vowed to scrap the Rwanda scheme even if the Supreme Court rules it legal and even if it reduces illegal Channel crossings. How on earth does that make sense? For someone who never stops reminding us that he was a top barrister, Sir Keir's arguments are staggeringly feeble. He claims sending asylum seekers to Rwanda for assessment has 'failed'. How can he possibly know? We will find out whether this plan succeeds or not only when flights are finally allowed to take off. Discovering what Sir Keir truly thinks on any given policy is usually like drawing blood from a stone He also says the flagship policy is 'hugely expensive'. Yes, the short-term costs may be high. But if it works, billions will be saved by not having to accommodate and feed those arriving in small boats. Despite the Left's indignation, the public is behind the Rwanda scheme as a means of deterring illegal cross-Channel migration. The truth is, Sir Keir and the Left are fanatically opposed to border controls. By pledging to scrap Rwanda flights even if they work, he is putting ideology firmly before the national interest. A shattered young cafe owner has had her new business broken into and ransacked, with the thieves leaving behind a damage bill that is expected to extend into the thousands. The manhunt continues for the brazen thieves who broke into and trashed Lola's Coffee Bar, in Brisbane's south early Sunday, Owner Marie David shared harrowing footage of the trail of destruction she was confronted with when she arrived not long after the break-in. The front door and windows were completely smashed, while pot plants and other items were strewn across the floor. Ms David and her family raced to the cafe after a 3am knock at the door from the police informing them of the break-in. She took over the running of the cafe from her brother four months ago, who operates a barber shop from the same premises. Lola's Coffee Bar owner Marie David (pictured) has been left shaken by the break-in READ MORE: Fed-up father unleashes after his partner and kids were surrounded by teens in an attempted daylight carjacking Advertisement She has been left shaken by the ordeal and fears it will happen again. 'I was scared and disheartened when the police came to our door, especially being a new business owner,' Ms David told Daily Mail Australia. 'I was in shock as I honestly thought something like this would never happen to us.' 'I'm scared that it will happen again.' The popular cafe was only open for takeaway orders on Sunday as the mammoth clean-up job began. While the damage has since been cleared, repairs will continue throughout the week. 'It's going to affect the business, but the priority for us right now is everyone's safety,' she said. 'The best thing to come out of this is the number of customers who've come and shown their support.' Ms David is grateful no one was harmed as Queensland's crime wave worsens and has no ill will towards the culprits responsible. Investigations into the break-in continue. 'I don't have much to say about the government, but I understand that there's a lot of cost of living pressure at the moment, and people are resorting to these things, she said. 'I do forgive whoever it was. I just hope they don't cause any further damage.' The devastated cafe owner said repairs will continue throughout the week. Pictured is the shattered front window and door Police are hunting for the brazen thieves who caused extensive damage during the break-in Her main message is to other business owners to be vigilant about security and that it can happen to anyone. 'Be alert as these break-ins and happening more and more, all the time,' she said. Ms David hopeful the cafe will bounce back from the setback. It comes after Ms David shared confronting footage of TikTok of the damage. 'As a business owner, this is something I couldn't prepare for,' she explains. 'This was something I was hesitant to share on social media because this is us at our most vulnerable state, but I also wanted to raise awareness for other business owners and the community that these things happen to normal people, and it happens all the time.' 'We're just really grateful for our community and for those who came in today to offer their support or a listening ear.' Marie David told Daily Mail Australia that she forgives the intruders who trashed her cafe Emoloyers have a 'duty of care' to protect men going through the menopause, according to a union. Describing it as 'a normal biological change that every man experiences', it insists men should not be embarrassed to admit if they have symptoms such as poor sleep and hot flushes. Workplaces must protect them from bullying or harassment or could face legal action, the advice warns. Sufferers are encouraged to ask for help from bosses, such as for special uniforms. The Community Union, which represents a range of sectors including steel and justice, says people suffering severe andropause or 'male menopause' could even be classed as disabled. It comes after a Daily Mail audit revealed dozens of councils, universities, police forces, fire services and NHS trusts have guidelines on the issue (Stock Image) It says men going through andropause would be protected by the Equality Act, designed to shield workers from discrimination. Last night critics described the guidelines as 'an absolute joke'. Charlie Mullins, the founder of Pimlico Plumbers, said: 'I would rather go to a tribunal than give in to this 'manopause' nonsense.' It comes after a Daily Mail audit revealed dozens of councils, universities, police forces, fire services and NHS trusts have guidelines on the issue. This is despite NHS England's website branding the term 'misleading' because it suggests men suffer a sudden drop in testosterone in middle age, similar to female menopause. Like with women, the male menopause is used to describe the period in an adult man's life when his hormone levels crash Community states in advice to members: 'You should not feel ashamed to talk about a normal biological change that every man experiences... If you are experiencing bullying or harassment because you are going through the andropause, your employer has a duty of care to prevent this.' Larger unions, such as Unison and GMB, do not mention male menopause but state 'the menopause affects a wide range of people'. In its policy, GMB states 'people from the non-binary, transgender and intersex communities may also experience menopausal symptoms'. Meanwhile, Unison's guidance notes that trans women 'may experience pseudo-menopausal symptoms if their hormone therapy treatment is interrupted'. Community Union was approached for comment. The Government has previously looked into cutting bills in return for wind farms Communities could request a new doctor's surgery or nursery in return for their consent to build an onshore wind farm nearby under plans being considered by ministers. It is understood that proposals to give households the chance to request new facilities for their local area are among measures being reviewed to encourage green energy projects. A consultation on the ways communities can benefit directly from wind farms closed over the summer, and ministers are now in the process of considering the responses. The Government has previously looked into a proposal for households to receive up to 350 a year off their energy bills in return for supporting the construction of a local wind farm. Bill reductions remain under consideration, but a Cabinet source said new facilities could also be built in return for wind farms. A consultation on the ways communities can benefit directly from wind farms closed over the summer, and ministers are now in the process of considering the responses Communities could be offered nurseries, GP surgeries or youth centres as well as a host of other facilities if they consent to a project. The source said: 'We're looking at money off people's bills because that's what people tell us they would prefer. 'But we are also considering consulting on local projects. So if you agreed to a wind farm, you could request a new nursery if that's what the community needs.' Community consultations would be used to determine what facilities are preferred, rather than a local vote. A Whitehall source added that no decisions had been made, with bill reductions expected to be more likely than the offer of facilities. When he entered Number 10 Rishi Sunak scrapped plans to relax planning laws that have led to a virtual moratorium on wind farms since 2015. When he entered Number 10 Rishi Sunak scrapped plans to relax planning laws that have led to a virtual moratorium on wind farms since 2015 But he faced a backbench rebellion over support for an amendment to allow onshore wind farms where there is community consent. Labour then joined forces with the rebels to support the amendment, and Number 10 was forced into a rethink. Last month, the Government said onshore wind projects with community consent would be approved more quickly. This is thanks to streamlined planning rules included in the Energy Bill. Ministers have broadened the ways that suitable locations can be identified and are speeding up the process of allocating sites. The Government said this would allow whole communities to have their say, rather than just a small number of objectors. Former prime minister David Cameron introduced an effective ban on new onshore wind farms in 2015. A father and son have been killed after their plane crashed into power lines before plummeting into a field on the weekend. Ben Mumford, 50, and his son Charlie, 24, were flying in their Cessna plane when trouble struck at Merriton, in South Australia, at 4.10pm on Sunday. SA Police received reports the plane had struck power lines and crashed into a field. Charlie died at the scene while his father suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a local hospital before he was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital. Charlie Mumford (right), 24, died at the scene following a light plane crash in Merriton, near Crystal Brook, in the northern SA, on Sunday He succumbed to his injuries in hospital on Monday morning. The father and son are both from Redhill, in the state's mid-north, where Mr Mumford works as a farmer. Mr Mumford leaves behind his wife Bronwyn and two other sons Lachlan and David. It is understood a passer-by suffered burns to their hands and arms after trying to help the men out of the fallen plane. They were taken to hospital. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into the tragedy, with investigators expected to be onsite Monday. 'The ATSB has launched a transport safety investigation into an accident involving a Cessna light aircraft at Merriton, SA on Sunday afternoon,' the statement read. Farmer Ben Mumford, 50, died in hospital on Monday following the horrific plane crash on Sunday The Cessna plane flown by 50-year-old Ben struck power lines and crashed into a field on Mumfords Rd in Merriton 'The ATSB is preparing to deploy a team of transport safety investigators with aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering expertise to the accident site on Monday.' 'Once on site they will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities including site mapping, wreckage examination, and recovery of aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra.' The ATSB has also urged anyone with any information to come forward. 'Anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or may have video footage of the aircraft in any phase of its flight, to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity.' Glawdys Leger was dismissed in May 2022 for refusing to teach LGBT content A teacher has been sacked from a Church of England school after she refused to teach 'extreme' LGBT lessons. Glawdys Leger, 43, a modern foreign languages teacher at Bishop Justus CofE School in Bromley, south London, was dismissed in May 2022 after she said she wouldn't teach LGBT material on the religious education syllabus to year seven pupils. Ms Leger, who had taught at the school since 2017, said she was 'treated like a dangerous criminal' after she shared her belief with students that LGBT practices were sinful and that humans are born either male or female. She was later reported to the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) following reports she had upset one pupil with her views. The teacher of 12 years could now face being banned from the profession indefinitely after a 'fitness to practise' hearing in Coventry due to start on Monday. Glawdys Leger was dismissed from a Church of England school after she refused to teach LGBT content that was incompatible with her views It is thought to be the first time a TRA case against a teacher at a CofE school has progressed to a full hearing. Ms Leger took particular issue with introducing children to the concept of gender and sexual identities, including pansexual, asexual, intersex and transgender, as well as the promotion of Critical Race Theory and abortion. The RE teaching syllabus included the suggestion that people could be 'born in the wrong body' as well as encouraging students to have 'allyship' for queer people. Teachers were also required to screen a film entitled 'Fit' which looks at millennials with protected characteristics. Ahead of her hearing, Ms Leger said: 'The impact of what has happened to me has taken a great toll on me. The thought of me losing my career for expressing my Christian beliefs in response to questions from students is heartbreaking. 'I was treated like a criminal and as though I was a danger for expressing my Christian beliefs. 'I have great compassion for LGBT people, especially for those suffering from gender confusion. I cannot, however, in good conscience teach or say things I believe are contrary to my faith, for example saying that same sex sexual relationships are good and/or affirming people in their gender confusion.' Ms Leger said that students at Bishop Justus CofE School in Bromley were being taught ideas contrary to Christian beliefs without parents' knowledge She added that the Christian aspects at Bishop Justus were 'just for show' and that political and ethical beliefs contrary to religious practice were being promoted without the knowledge of parents. A spokesman for the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust said: 'Delivering a high-quality education and supporting the wellbeing of students is our top priority. 'To ensure this is achieved, we promote fundamental British values including mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum. The school teaches in line with statutory requirements to promote British values and follows relevant guidance outlined by the Department for Education. 'Given the ongoing investigation, and sensitivities involved, it would not be appropriate to comment any further.' A teenager who was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the neck has died a week after the horrific attack. The 18-year-old was stabbed on Woodward Crescent at Miller, in Sydney's south-west, just after 9pm on October 1. Emergency services performed CPR on him before rushing the teenager to Liverpool Hospital. A teenager who was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the neck has died a week after the horrific attack (stock image) The 18-year-old died from his injuries a week later. A 19-year-old man was rushed to hospital with stab wounds to his back on the same night the other teenager was attacked. NSW Police are investigating whether the two incidents are linked. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The Voice to Parliament referendum is on track to lose all six states and win in just 22 out of 151 electorates in Australia's federal parliament, according to modelling by an internationally regarded pollster. The UK-based Focal Data research group forecasts the nation will vote No by 61 per cent to the Yes campaign's 39 per cent at Saturday's referendum after polling 4,500 Australians and modelling the outcome in every seat. The only firm Yes seats are in the inner cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane - including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's seats of Grayndler and Sydney. The Yes campaign has also won over Greens-held strongholds including Adam Bandt's electorate of Melbourne and the south-east Queensland seats of Brisbane and Griffith, which were won by Greens young guns Stephen Bates and Max Chandler-Mather at the last election. But 129 seats out of a total 151 seats in the House of Representatives are on track to vote No according to the polling estimates, including a series of teal electorates in Sydney - including Warringah on the northern beaches and Wentworth in the eastern suburbs. Even Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney's own seat of Barton, in Sydney's inner south, is forecast to vote No by a narrow margin - 53 per cent to 47 per cent, the data determined. One seat in Queensland - Bob Katter's northern seat of Kennedy, which is home to Cairns and Townsville - is forecast to vote 84 per cent No to the Voice. Eight of the 10 seats most likely to vote No are based in Queensland. If the polling is correct, the No vote will triumph in every state - the worst case scenario for Mr Albanese and Yes campaigners. A referendum needs a majority of states and a majority of the national vote to get up. Just 22 electorates (the darkest purple on the map) are on track to vote Yes in the upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, according to a survey by an international polling group, but there are 15 other electorates (light purple on the map) which are very close to a Yes vote with 47 per cent support or higher The Prime Minister and his son, Nathan, cast their ballots on October 7 Both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese 's seat of Grayndler and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's Sydney are on track to vote Yes While several polls, including Redbridge, Newspoll and Essential, have been tracking the falling Yes vote over the course of the campaign, this is the most detailed projection to date. The seats of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth are all trending toward a Yes vote, but out in the suburbs, voters are less convinced. The city of Sydney is registering the highest voter support for the Voice so far at 70 per cent in favour, with the PM's Grayndler following at 64.5 per cent. Melbourne is tracking a 64 per cent approval rating, with Canberra at 62 per cent and Adelaide at 59 per cent. Beyond that, most of the 'Yes' suburbs are just scraping over the line, the data suggests. 'It leaves Australia more divided than ever on an inner city versus rural basis,' a Focal Data spokesperson said in a statement. 'More broadly, its a fallout which could have been lifted straight from the U.K. Brexit analysis - except the Yes side does materially worse than Remain.' Bennelong in NSW - which takes in Chatswood, Ryde and Gladesville - Ryan in Queensland and Chisholm in Victoria - which includes Glen Waverely and Mulgrave - all have support around the 50 per cent mark, with Cooper in Victoria sitting at 51 per cent. Greenway and Kingsford Smith in NSW, Wills in Victoria, Griffith in Queensland, Bean in the ACT and Perth all registered Yes votes with a support rate of about 52 per cent. The remainder of the Yes electorates - Clark in Tasmania, Fenner in the ACT, Higgins and Macnamara in Victoria, and North Sydney and Reid in NSW - have support somewhere between 56 and 57 per cent. No Liberal Party held seats are on track for a Yes vote, according to the data. The referendum will be held on October 14, and polls suggest it will be defeated But there are 15 seats where the Voice has the support of 47 per cent or more of the poll's participants - meaning the referendum could still prevail in those areas when accounting for a small margin of error. The affluent seats held by the 'teal Independents' are divided on the Voice. While Kylea Tink's North Sydney is on track for a Yes vote, Monique Ryan's Kooyong and Allegra Spender's Wentworth are narrowly voting No at this stage, polling at 49 per cent support. In Warringah, which includes wealthy suburbs on the lower northern beaches, support for the Voice in the latest poll is at about 44 per cent, meanwhile it drops to 37 per cent in the upper northern beaches suburbs of Mackellar. Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney's seat of Barton, comprising Kogarah, Bexley and Hurstville, is one of the 15 seats with over 47 per cent support, but less than the 50 per cent threshold needed for a Yes vote. Queensland is leading the charge against the Voice in the Focal Point poll, making up eight of the top 10 highest No-voting electorates. In Bob Katter's electorate of Kennedy, including Cairns and Townsville, opposition to the Voice is polling at about 84 per cent, while Nationals leader David Littleproud's enormous division of Maranoa sits at about 81 per cent. Capricornia, Dawson, Flynn, Hinkler, Wilde Bay and Wright in Queensland all oppose the Voice at rates of 75 per cent or above according to the data. READ MORE: Indigenous Australians ask for a Yes vote Advertisement Mallee in Victoria and O'Connor in Western Australia are the only two electorates outside of Queensland where opposition to the Voice is at 75 per cent or above. The latest poll comes after The Australian released the most recent Newspoll, which found support for the Voice to Parliament declined ahead of this week's referendum. National support for the Voice fell to 34 per cent in the past fortnight ahead of Aussies casting their vote 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. 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. Support for the Voice fell to 34 per cent in the past fortnight ahead of Aussies casting their vote on October 14 Oil prices surged as Hamas' attack on Israel fanned fears of a wider regional war and worries over crude supplies. Brent crude jumped more than 5% at one stage to 89 US dollars a barrel, before edging back slightly to stand 3.3% higher at 87.27 US dollars. Swissquote Bank's markets expert said the attack 'sent a panic wave into financial markets', although London's FTSE 100 was propped up by gains from defence stocks and oil giants. Oil groups BP and Shell were higher on the rising price of crude, up 2% and 1% respectively on Monday morning on the FTSE 100. Defence giant BAE Systems was the biggest gainer, ahead 5%. Oil giant Shell's stock on the FTSE 100 soared on Monday BP stock on the FTSE 100 also surged upon opening on Monday Defence giant BAE Systems was the biggest gainer, ahead 5% A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night While Israel is not an oil producer, there are concerns that the conflict could spark uncertainty across the entire Middle Eastern region and in particular affect major producers Iran and Saudi Arabia. There are fears over tougher sanctions on oil from Iran, which is said to have backed Hamas's actions as self defence, while the US has also sent warships to the region. The eruption of violence threatens to derail U.S. efforts to broker a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, in which the kingdom would normalise ties with Israel in return for a defence deal between Washington and Riyadh. Saudi officials reportedly on Friday told the White House that they were willing to raise output next year as part of the proposed Israel deal. Riyadh and Moscow have agreed to a combined 1.3 million barrel per day (bpd) voluntary cut until the end of 2023. The question is how long will this oil rally last, Citi analysts said. 'Timing is everything and the attacks almost certainly postpone any Saudi-Israeli rapprochement, along with any high probability expectation of Saudi Arabia reducing or eliminating its extra 1 million bpd cut if prices resume their recent fall.' A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday There are also questions about whether Iran will be implicated in the conflict. 'If the conflict envelopes Iran... up to 3% of global oil supply is at risk. And if a wider conflict eventuates that ends up impacting transit through the Strait of Hormuz, around 20% of global oil supply could be held hostage,' energy analyst Saul Kavonic told Reuters. Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank, said: 'Fears of a potential retaliation against Iran threaten the passage of vessels carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz and flip the market rhetoric from a potentially slowing global oil demand to tight global supply.' With the threat of the US and Iran being pulled into the turmoil, she warned that 'escalation and prolongation of Mid-East tensions could be the final straw that could bring the world very close to the brink of recession'. The conflict also threatens to derail efforts by the US Government to facilitate a deal with Saudi Arabia to normalise ties with Israel. Just last week, Saudi officials had reportedly told the US it was willing to increase output next year as part of the deal, which would have helped ease tight oil supplies after repeated cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia. Oil prices had recently eased back on hopes of a supply boost, having previously surged to the highest level in nearly a year and edging close to the 100 dollar mark. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley tore into Anthony Blinken on Sunday after the Secretary of State insisted that releasing $6 billion to Iran played no role in Saturdays attack. Haley, who served as President Donald Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, warned that his successors open border policies have left the US vulnerable to a similar attack. Speaking on NBCs Meet The Press, Blinken said Iran had not yet seen a penny of the $6 billion in sanctioned oil revenue earmarked for humanitarian purposes last month in exchange for five American prisoners. But Haley told the same program that Iran was already banking on the money to finance its terror campaign. It was irresponsible for Secretary Blinken to say that the $6 billion doesnt weigh in here, she added. 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. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken insisted that Iran has spent nothing of the $6billion they received in a cash for hostages deal, but Nikki Haley said they are spending on account 'This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran,' Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said when asked about a del to unlock $6 billion in oil revenues as part of a deal to release five U.S. citizens Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel on Saturday Thats the reality. The former South Carolina governor said she knew from her dealings with the International Atomic Energy Agency that funds released by previous administrations had gone to militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. They go and spread terrorism every time they get $1, she added. 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. The deal with Iran helped free US citizens Siamak Namazi, 51, Emad Sharqi, 59, and Morad Tahbaz, 67, a duel U.S.-U.K. national, as well as two unidentified U.S. citizens. Five Iranians detained in the US were also released under its terms. Not a single cent has been spent from that account, Blinken said. 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. But Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi laughed at the idea that Tehrans spending would be controlled. 'This money belongs to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and naturally, we will decide the Islamic Republic of Iran will decide to spend it wherever we need it, he told NBC last month. 'Humanitarian means whatever the Iranian people need, so this money will be budgeted for those needs. And the needs of the Iranian people will be decided and determined by the Iranian government.' U.S officials arranged a group photo after freed Americans Siamak Namazi, Morad Tahbaz and Emad Shargi arrived back in the US last month Freed Iranians Kambiz Attar-Kashani, Kaveh Afraisiabi, and Amin Hasanzadeh decided not to return to Iran. Two are staying in the US, and one is going to another country. They were all convicted of acting against the US Blinken said he had 'not yet seen evidence' that Iran was involved in the attack that killed at least 700 people, but he admitted that Israels growing ties to its Arab neighbors may have inspired the terrorists. 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. But senior members of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah claimed that the attack 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, with the final go-ahead given at a Monday meeting in Beirut. Haley who is now second only to Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination according to some recent polls said that Hamas' attack should act as a wake-up call for the US itself. We have an open border, he claimed. People are coming through. Theyre not being vetted. We dont need to wait for another 9/11. You also look at the fact that America is incredibly distracted and incredibly divided, and when Americas distracted, the world is less safe. 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. EXCLUSIVE Extraordinary scenes unfolded outside the Family Law Court in Sydney as a business' entire staff gathered to support their boss in his bitter battle with his ex-wife. Men clad in hi-vis jackets clustered outside the court's entrance in the city's CBD on Monday while a hearing was held between the company boss and his former partner. Passers-by watched on curiously as the men displayed their company's logo in a show of strength on the footpath near the extremely private and security conscious court complex. Denying the group was conducting a protest, one of the men told Daily Mail Australia: 'We haven't got signs or banners, we're just here to show support for the boss.' At the hearing before a Family Court judge, the husband's lawyer claimed the company boss was 'trying to keep the business afloat, keep the employees working' and blamed 'the wife' for the fact that the company was threatened with liquidation. A company's entire staff gathered outside the Family Court on Monday to support their boss's bitter battle with his ex-wife. The employees in hi-vis jackets clustered around the entrance of the privacy and security conscious Family Court of Australia in Goulburn Street He said the wife had placed an injunction on one of the company's properties 'to prevent its sale ... leading to the financial peril of this current business'. The court was told: 'The husband is the ... person at the helm who is running the day-to-day operations. 'The wife seeks to remove him from that and install a professional (receiver)'. 'The husband has significant contacts with third parties, personal relationships. Things may never be the same again.' However the wife's lawyer argued that there had been a downturn in the business's financial credibility, cash flow issues and an outstanding tax bill of almost half a million dollars. The court heard the business had current commitments of more than $11 million, and debts of $8m. As the men put on their show of strength outside, inside the boss's lawyer argued that he was 'trying to keep the business afloat, keep the employees working' The judge was 'far from convinced' by the husband's argument and questioned his objections to installing a receiver. The judge said that if financial remedies were not applied 'it's not a receiver who will be appointed, it's a liquidator'. The judge said the way financial and other documents had been presented to the court is 'just extraordinary'. The judge also questioned the fact the husband had borrowed $1.7m to keep the business in liquidity. 'The husband has been doing his absolute best trying to save this business, its employees and its stakeholders,' the lawyers claimed. The case continues. None of the parties involved in this story could be identified for legal reasons. A prominent doctor bound to a wheelchair has revealed how he ended up on the floor of an airport after a shocking blunder by airline staff. Dinesh Palipana, a senior doctor at Gold Coast University Hospital, was being pushed in his wheelchair by a Virgin staff member at Brisbane Airport last week. Dr Palipana was on his way to boarding a flight to Melbourne when the worker 'took a sharp turn with the wheelchair' prompting Dr Palipana to fall out and hit the floor. Dr Palipana, who was the 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year, has since received an apology from Virgin. Queensland's first quadriplegic medical graduate said it was the first time such an incident had occurred despite him being a frequent airline traveller. Dinesh Palipana, a senior doctor at Gold Coast University Hospital, was being pushed in his wheelchair by a Virgin staff member when she 'took a sharp turn with the wheelchair' and he fell out 'I was a little bit embarrassed... I was shocked and I couldn't believe it happened,' Dr Palipana told 7News. Dr Palipana said the staff member had earlier been 'a bit dismissive' of his team of two carers, who had attempted to advise staff on how to best handle his wheelchair. He will need to undergo scans to determine if he was injured. A Virgin Australia spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the airline 'sincerely apologises' for the incident and is carrying out an investigation. 'Virgin Australia sincerely apologises for and deeply regrets the incident at Brisbane airport and has communicated this directly with our guest,' he said. 'We immediately initiated an investigation into the incident and will continue to work to ensure this does not happen again. 'Virgin Australia takes its responsibilities to support guests travelling with specific needs, including mobility assistance, extremely seriously'. Dr Palipana said accessible air travel has 'been an issue for the disability community for a long time'. 'We need to do better with airline travel,' he said. Virgin Australia said the company 'sincerely apologises' for the incident and is carrying out an investigation Doctor Dinesh Palipana (centre) was the 2021 Queensland Australian of the Year Last month, a Qantas passenger was 'embarrassed' and had to crawl to her seat when airline staff dropped her from her wheelchair as she was boarding a connecting flight from Melbourne to Mildura, in Victoria, where she lived. Nikita Bennett, who has cerebral palsy, was also made to wait for half an hour to be provided with a wheelchair despite Qantas being warned of her requirements in advance. Ms Bennett said as she was boarding after the delay, she was dropped by an airline worker. 'He kind of pulled quite hard and the chair came out from underneath me, and I basically collapsed on top of myself,' she told said. 'It was embarrassing, it was done in front of a whole plane of people.' In the nearly 48-hours since the militant Palestinian terror group Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel, former Democratic presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have not said a word. By Sunday night, no social media account tied to either man, including presidential library and foundation accounts, had commented on the attack that has left 700 Israelis (and reportedly four Americans) dead, and thousands missing and wounded. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did release a statement Sunday evening offering her prayers to 'everyone affected by the horrific attacks by Hamas in Israel.' The Obama Administration had an infamously rocky relationship with the US's closest ally. President Obama himself and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were not close, and there was tension over the brokerage of the Iran nuclear deal - a passion project of Obama's team. Bill Clinton had a positive relationship with Israel and oversaw the signing of the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan - a formerly hostile neighbor. Statements from the two most recent Republican Presidents - George W. Bush and Donald Trump - were issued over the weekend. Neither former President has said a word about the brutal attack executed by Hamas terrorists over the weekend Trump statement on Hamas attacks against Israel: pic.twitter.com/4FREzZmw80 Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) October 7, 2023 Trump, whose administration oversaw the signing of the Abraham Accords - bilateral agreements on Arab-Israeli normalization signed by Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - called the attacks a 'disgrace' and encouraged Israel to defend itself with 'overwhelming force.' In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump wrote: 'These Hamas attacks are a disgrace and Israel has every right to defend itself with overwhelming force. 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. Here we go again.' He later said that, like the war between Russia and Ukraine, the current conflict between Israel and the Palestinians would not have happened were he the president. The George W. Bush Presidential Center also issued a statement following the attack that condemned in no uncertain terms Hamas' brutal attack. 'We urge the United States and our allies to stand unequivocally with Israel, its government and people, and support Israels right to defend itself against these threats,' read the statement. 'Attacks on free and democratic states anywhere are attacks on all of us, whether in Israel, Ukraine, or elsewhere.' The Carter Center, which released a statement on behalf of the fifth and final currently living former president, Jimmy Carter, 99, said: '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.' US President Barack Obama laughs during an official State Dinner at the President's Residence in Jerusalem in 2013 - Former U.S. President Bill Clinton touches the flag-draped coffin of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, after eulogizing him during his funeral ceremony at Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem, Israel in 2016 The George W. Bush Institute strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attacks on Israel that claimed scores of innocent civilians. We urge the United States and our allies to stand unequivocally with Israel, its government and people, and support Israels right to defend itself The George W. Bush Presidential Center (@TheBushCenter) October 7, 2023 '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 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.' Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria Israeli soldiers and civilians fought Hamas militants on the streets of southern Israel following a barrage of 2,000 rockets sent over the border by the Palestinian terrorists, in addition to a savage ground assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country. Israeli Defense Forces have begun bombarding key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and have issued warnings to civilians in certain regions to leave before a wave of retaliatory attacks begin. After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the Israeli death toll surged past 700 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday) Speaking on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin 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 promised 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.' He vowed to reduce Gaza to 'rubble,' telling innocent Palestinians to leave immediately. Hamas, he said, will pay 'a price it has never known.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also confirmed Sunday that several Americans - reportedly four - are believed to have been killed during the attack on Israel, and several more may have been taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. Advertisement Israel has ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food and electricity as it prepares for a massive ground offensive 'within 48 hours' after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack this weekend in what has been described as the Jewish state's 'worst day in history'. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days. Now, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. The announcement comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, suggesting greater fighting lies ahead with a possible ground assault into Gaza. Netanyahu has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. Speaking on Monday afternoon with officials in Jerusalem, the Israeli PM declared: 'What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible... we are going to change the Middle East. 'This is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force.' This morning, thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as Israeli strikes continued, with harrowing videos circulating on social media showing screaming civilians being pulled from the rubble of densely populated residential buildings. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100, with casualty figures expected to spiral drastically in the coming days as more bodies are found. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023 A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday People stand among the rubble of a destroyed mosque during Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 Covered bodies of dead Palestinians lie on the floor at the Al-Shifa hospital after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 09 October 2023 A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday Thousands have been injured and killed in the three days since Hamas attacked Israel A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighborhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City, Gaza on October 08, 2023 Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023 Gaza is set to be sieged within the next 48 hours A Palestinian emergency responder directs other after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023 Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and cars at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday Palestinian firefighters battle a blaze after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023 Chilling video shows terrified revellers recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked Israeli festival in massacre that left 260 dead Advertisement Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack in response to Hamas launching its surprise assault. The airstrikes have so far flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. On the ground, thousands of Israeli soldiers are preparing to launch a massive ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fighting erupt in the streets, US officials say. Israel has so far brought in special forces to try and wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters in the south of the country. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine. And today, Israel's army said its forces were in 'full control of communities' in its southern territory near Gaza - hours after it said it was fighting Hamas terrorists in 'seven to eight' locations in the south. 'We are in full control of the communities,' military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists, adding however that there still might be 'terrorists' in the area. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said he believed around 1,000 Palestinian gunmen were involved in the unprecedented attack on Israel on Sunday, which he called '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,' he said, adding that the current death toll of 700 is expected to rise as more than 1,000 Israelis are injured, some critically. The terrorists massacred 260 Israeli revellers at a festival in a hail of bullets, with survivors describing how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims. Survivors of the attack posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars. But the carnage has not ended there, with Hamas terrorists still battling with Israel's forces and taking more Israelis hostage on Monday morning, the group's spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said. Al-Qanoua said Hamas wants to 'liberate all Palestinian prisoners' from Israel and end Israeli provocations in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque. He added the terrorists have captured 'a large number of Israelis' in Gaza, without giving a specific figure. He said Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam, would announce the figures later. In response to Hamas' taking of hostages, former UN senior advisor and one of the world's most experienced hostage negotiators Scott Walker said: 'It is understandable and reasonable for IDF to be preparing for an armed hostage rescue - but these operations are some of the riskiest. 'Hostages are likely to be dispersed and moved around and it will be highly unlikely that an Israeli force could just go in and liberate the hostages in one fell swoop without suffering significant losses, either of hostages or their own men,' he said. Walker added that the hostages taken by Hamas are likely to be well treated if they are to be used as political prisoners or bargaining chips - but that their fate could be something far more sinister if Hamas has an ulterior motive. 'Hostages need to be kept alive - fed and watered at a bare minimum. If Hamas' intention is to use them as bargaining chips or with a view to prisoner swaps, the hostages are likely to be treated reasonably well... if you want to use the hostages as currency in political bartering, you can't damage the goods. 'Having said that, Hamas is evidently very capable of being harsh and brutal - so it's possible - though unlikely - they could subject one or some of the hostages to brutal treatment and potentially execute them to show they mean business by sowing fear and further instability in the region for their own gain.' Harrowing video footage and images showed how terrified women were torn away from their partners and driven away on motorcycles, while others were beaten and handcuffed before being stuffed into the back of pickup trucks. The captives are known to include soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday Israeli army reinforcements take position outside the southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Monday Israeli soldiers gather near tanks, as violence around the nearby Gaza Strip mounts following a mass-rampage by armed Palestinian infiltrators on Monday Israel continued to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip in the early hours of this morning Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and buildings were reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack in response to Hamas launching a surprise assault that has so far killed more than 700 Israelis and injured 1,200 An injured Palestinian is being carried on a stretcher after Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday Smoke rises after Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Monday A Palestinian points to the Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City early on Monday Palestinians inspect the destruction around Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City on Monday Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces, blasted the terror group on X on Sunday, going one step further than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who had vowed to destroy Hamas ability to govern in a way that posed a threat to Israeli civilians. 'It is by far the worst day in Israeli history,' Conricus said, adding Israeli forces have not yet killed every terrorist who made their way into the state. 'We are all appalled and enraged by the brutality, by the beastly nature of these terrorists,' he added. Several Israeli news outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. Attacks continued into Sunday and Monday, with the nation's Iron Dome intercepting continuous waves of rockets. A thousand Hamas terrorists took part in the initial, unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, Conricus said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. About 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Conricus also confirmed that Americans, British and French people were involved in the carnage. He said that children, babies, elderly people and disabled people were among those kidnapped. 'We will focus all our efforts on the Gaza Strip and delivering a long, hard, tremendously powerful blow in Gaza,' he said. Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria. Israeli soldiers and civilians fought Hamas militants on the streets of southern Israel following a barrage of 2,000 rockets sent over the border by the Palestinian terrorists, in addition to a savage ground assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country. Israeli Defense Forces have begun bombarding key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and have issued warnings to civilians in certain regions to leave before a wave of retaliatory attacks begin. Speaking on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin 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.' An Israeli airstrike at a Hamas weapons depot in Gaza from Sunday night Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the Israeli death toll surged past 700 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday) He promised 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.' He vowed to reduce Gaza to 'rubble,' telling innocent Palestinians to leave immediately. Hamas, he said, will pay 'a price it has never known.' Joe Biden held a barbecue for his staff at the White House while at least four Americans were confirmed dead in the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel Saturday and Palestinian sympathizers protested at the president's gates. Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog confirmed earlier reporting that multiple Americans are missing after the Hamas attack. Later Sunday, at least four Americans were confirmed dead and Hamas is believed to be holding more than 100 hostages. The terrorists gunned down as many revelers as possible and horrifying photos emerged of bodies piled up in a tent at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. Authorities believe 260 people were massacred at the event at which between 3-4,000 people were in attendance. The full horror of what unfolded at the dance festival became clear as drone footage from above allowed for a birds eye view of the site. 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 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. 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 took place just after midday on Sunday, with one sympathizer flashing a Nazi swastika. 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 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. Speaking late on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said the situation in the south of the country was 'still not fully under control.' A father and his three sons have been sentenced by a Miami federal court to up to 12 years in prison for making $1 million by selling toxic bleach as a 'miracle cure' for coronavirus through a bogus church. Mark Grenon, 65, and his sons Jonathan, 37, Joseph, 35, and Jordan, 29 were found guilty of conspiring to defraud the U.S. government and FDA by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug. Jonathan and Jordon received 12-year prison sentences after being found guilty of two counts of violating federal court orders requiring them to stop selling the drug, while dad Mark and his other son Joseph Grenon both received five-year terms. The family, all of Bradenton, Florida, began selling Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS) - a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite that, when mixed with water and a citric acid activator, turns into chlorine dioxide - a powerful bleach. The Grenons claimed that ingesting MMS could treat, prevent, and cure COVID-19. The product was sold after the foursome set up a fake Florida church website which conned thousands of people across the US, in 2010. The sales continued throughout the COVID pandemic. Mark Grenon, 65, (pictured) and his sons were sentenced by a Miami federal court to up to 12 years in prison for making $1 million by selling toxic bleach as a 'miracle cure' for coronavirus through a bogus church website Throughout their trial, prosecutors portrayed the Grenons as con men using the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing website as a front to defraud consumers and the US government The family sold Miracle Mineral Solution (MMS), a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite that, when mixed with water and a citric acid activator,' turns into chlorine dioxide The Federal Drug Administration never approved MMS for treatment of COVID-19, or for any other use and strongly urged consumers not to purchase or use MMS for any reason. It explained how consuming MMS was the same as drinking bleach and could cause dangerous side effects, including severe vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening low blood pressure. In April 2020, the feds cracked down on the enterprise after the Grenons defied FDA orders to stop distributing the toxic substance. Their defiance of the court order ultimately led to criminal charges and a raid on their home in Bradenton, south of Tampa Bay, where investigators found loaded guns, nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder and thousands of bottles of MMS. Jonathan and Jordan were arrested in Bradenton, and Joseph fled to Colombia, where he was later extradited by the Colombian authorities. The Grenons chose to represent themselves during their July trial and said nothing throughout the proceedings until the 12-person jury delivered their verdict, when Joseph told the court: 'We will be appealing.' Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed the Grenons as con men using the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing website as a front to defraud consumers and the US government. The Grenons sold tens of thousands of bottles of MMS nationwide, including to consumers throughout South Florida. The blue chemical drums of sodium chlorite powder, stored in a dirty rundown shed in Jonathan Grenon's backyard, even had warning labels advising the product was toxic, flammable, and highly dangerous to consume During July's trial, the jury saw photos and video of a dirty rundown shed in Jonathan Grenon's backyard where they were manufacturing their MMS. These photos showed dozens of blue chemical drums containing nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder, thousands of bottles of MMS, and other items used in the manufacture and distribution of MMS. The blue chemical drums of sodium chlorite powder even had warning labels advising the product was toxic, flammable, and highly dangerous to consume. The relatives used video pitches to appeal to customers, touting MMS as a cure for 95 percent of the world's known diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia, even though the FDA had not approved MMS for any use whatsoever. 'This whole Miracle Mineral Solution scheme was built on deception and dishonesty,' prosecutor John Shipley said during closing arguments at the trial. Mark and Joseph Grenon were arrested in Colombia Joseph Grenon (pictured) was arrested in Colombia where the authorities extradited him back to the US Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, were given to 12 years in jail Mark Grenon received a five year jail sentence. He used the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing website to flog the dangerous substance Officials say that the church sold chlorine dioxide as a 'Miracle Mineral Solution' (MMS), which the Grenons claimed could cure a vast variety of illnesses ranging from cancer to autism to malaria to COVID-19 The Grenons sold the product under the guise of Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, an entity they created to avoid government regulation of MMS and shield themselves from prosecution. The fake church 'made it harder for the Food and Drug Administration and government to stop the family from selling snake oil' Shipley explained. 'This was no church. This was a scam for money an old-fashioned scam.' Shipley and fellow prosecutor Michael Homer described how the Grenons called themselves 'bishops' and peddled MMS as 'sacraments' to consumers in South Florida and other parts of the United States in exchange for a 'donation' to the Genesis church. On the Genesis website, it was stated how MMS could only be acquired through a 'donation' to Genesis, but the donation amounts for MMS orders were set at specific dollar amounts, and were mandatory, essentially making the donation amounts as sales prices. Genesis' own websites describe Genesis as a 'non-religious church,' and Mark Grenon, acknowledged that Genesis 'has nothing to do with religion,' and that he founded Genesis to 'legalize the use of MMS' and avoid 'going to jail.' The Grenons manufactured the solution in a backyard shed and were already selling the substance as a treatment for the other disorders prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Mark Grenon was even the subject of an ABC 20/20 expose back in 2016, but he continued to hawk the product for four more years. Mark Grenon, 62, was even the subject of an ABC 20/20 expose back in 2016, but he continued to hawk the product for four more years In court, it was revealed how the family were making an average of $32,000 per month before COVID-19 pandemic reached America. However, orders skyrocketed as the coronavirus began to spread and their earnings reached $132,000 per month. The Grenons' actions may have caused multiple deaths over the years, with the Federal Drug Administration saying it received numerous reports of people requiring hospitalization, developing life-threatening conditions, and even dying after drinking MMS. The criminal case brought in April 2020 was the first pandemic-related enforcement action in Florida. When the case was passing through the justice system, the Grenons threatened the federal judge presiding over the case, and threatened that, should the government attempt to enforce the court orders halting their distribution of MMS, the Grenons would 'pick up guns' and instigate 'a Waco.' Footage has captured the moment Anthony Albanese unknowingly said the Aboriginal word for penis while appearing in a TikTok with an Indigenous rapper. The Prime Minister had been campaigning for the Voice to Parliament where he spoke with First Nations rapper Chloe Quayle, known by her stage name as Barkaa. Barkaa had requested Mr Albanese to appear in a video with her, before cheekily asking him to pronounce the word 'budoo', which is translated to penis. Mr Albanese, who seemingly didn't know what budoo meant, eagerly agreed and said the word causing Barkaa to erupt into laughter and give him a thumbs up. The Prime Minister had been campaigning for the Voice to Parliament where he spoke with First Nations rapper Chloe Quayle, known by her stage name as Barkaa The rapper shared the video onto her Instagram and TikTok accounts over the weekend where it's been viewed 650,000 times. 'Albo for budoo,' she captioned the video with a laughing emoji and Yes23 hashtag. Barkaa is a Malyangapa, Barkindji woman who was dubbed the 'new matriarch of Australian rap' by GQ Magazine in 2020. Fellow Indigenous rapper Adam Briggs, who recently produced an ad for the Yes campaign, said it was a 'slam dunk'. 'That's funny. You're cooked/the best!' he commented. Many others applauded Barkaa on the cheeky prank. 'Vote yes for budoo,' one wrote. 'That's hilarious. Imagine his face when he finds out what it means,' said another. Barkaa has risen to fame within the Australian rap genre, after battling drug addiction in her teens and spending three stints behind bars. The 28-year-old language ambassador has also been actively supporting the Voice, with the referendum to be held on Saturday. It comes as Mr Albanese's popularity slumps to a new low with a poll finding support for the Voice has fallen among young voters. It comes as Mr Albanese's popularity slumps to a new low with a poll finding support for the Voice has fallen among young voters Labor's primary vote dropped to 34 per cent - its lowest level since 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. A woman left fighting for life after she was brutally mauled by her pet Rottweilers has been spared prosecution over the horrific incident. Nikita Piil, 31, suffered severe injuries to her arms and legs after she was attacked by her dogs Harlem, four, and Bronx, seven, at her Success home, in Perth, on September 16. Ms Piil remains in hospital and has undergone five emergency surgeries, amounting to a total of 13 hours. Officers needed to use lethal force and shoot Bronx after their attempts to taser and lead the dog away failed. The animal was later euthanised at a local veterinary hospital. Nikita Piil, 31, suffered severe injuries to her arms and legs after she was viciously attacked by her dogs Harlem, four, and Bronx, seven, at her Success home, in Perth , on September 16 Ms Piil has been spared prosecution following the horrific attack but will need to follow strict guidelines if she decides to keep the remaining Rottweiler as a pet Rangers are currently considering the fate of Ms Piil's other pet after he was secured away during the attack and taken to the City of Cockburn pound. The council confirmed Ms Piil would likely avoid legal punishment as it was her who was attacked rather than a member of the public. 'As a result, it is unlikely the City will prosecute the owner,' a City of Cockburn spokesperson said according to the West Australian. But the council warned Ms Piil would not completely escape consequences from the local government. City of Cockburn head of community safety and ranger services Michael Emery said the council would only euthanise Harlem if Ms Piil requested or if she didn't want to collect the dog from the pound. If she did decide to keep the dog, Ms Pill would need to comply with a list of strict conditions. 'If the dog is released back to the owner, it will be declared dangerous,' Mr Emery said. 'Declared dangerous dogs are required to be secured to a higher standard than other dogs.' The new rules include ensuring that the dog is housed in an area 'inaccessible' to a person under seven years old without the presence of an adult. Harlem would also be prohibited from being off-leash in any public exercise areas and would need to be 'muzzled' outside of 'its secure enclosure'. Last week an anonymous neighbour said they had witnessed a delivery driver narrowly escape being attacked after trying to drop a package to Ms Piil's home. The driver was attempting to deliver the package when one of the dogs burst through the open front door of the home. 'The dog was out the front, and a man was trying to drag it back inside,' they said. 'The delivery driver was holding his arm... I couldn't see if he had been bitten.' Ms Piil remains in hospital and has undergone five emergency surgeries, amounting to a total of 13 hours Ms Piil's family is attempting to raise money for her via a GoFundMe and last week said she was continuing her slow and painful recovery The neighbour said police officers who attended to Ms Piil after she was attacked had been made aware of the incident. The local council received two complaints about the rottweilers in 2022 for 'excessive barking'. Ms Piil's family is attempting to raise money for her via a GoFundMe and last week said she was continuing her slow and painful recovery. Late last month her family revealed the 31-year-old had suffered another blow. 'Unfortunately, she didn't brush her dog's teeth that morning, so the canine bacterial infections are manifesting and creating ongoing serious complications,' they wrote on the GoFundMe page. 'The rehabilitation journey ahead will be painful, long and costly. 'We nearly lost our precious girl a couple of times but as you all know, Nikita is our little fighter.' Ms Piil's sister Natasha earlier said that her siblings loved her dogs and Harlem and Bronx loved her back. 'Unfortunately she got caught in a crossfire calming her dogs down due to an incident within the neighbourhood. There's more to this story as to what the media has told,' she said. More than $17000 has been raised so far for Ms Piil. A grandmother who was bitten twice on the head by a rogue bat is enduring up to five injections a day to stave off a fatal virus. Sandi Galloway, from Geelong, was walking back to her hotel during a holiday in Cairns earlier in October with her husband Gordon Ball when she noticed something circling her head. She couldn't see what it was so she started waving her hands around to try and get it away, before the flying mammal sunk its fangs into her skin. Ms Galloway's daughter joked on social media that her mother 'tried to fight the poor bat and thumped it when she thought it was going to land on her head'. But the 67-year-old insisted she didn't hit the flying mammal, explaining: 'I didn't hit it... I waved my hand up to get whatever it was away from me, and the bloody thing bit me.' Sandi Galloway (pictured) was bitten by a bat while holidaying in Cairns earlier in October Pictured: The bite marks on Ms Galloway's forehead. She has up to five injections per day to stave off a fatal rabies-like virus Ms Galloway said the bite site was 'really sore, so so itchy, and bright red for days', with 'tiny blood spots where it nipped'. Despite feeling tired and sick, she didn't want to accept that she had been bitten by a bat until the flight home. She also didn't book an appointment with a doctor until her daughter explained she could contract rabies and die. Animals in Australia do not have rabies, but bats carry the lyssavirus which is very similar to rabies and, without treatment, causes fatal inflammation of the brain. Three people have contracted lyssavirus since 1996. They were in Queensland and caught the virus through bat bites or scratches. All three victims died. Ms Galloway has now been tested for the virus, but believes she has it because she lost her appetite, felt fatigue, and the bite site was so inflamed. She was referred to the hospital, before the registrar from infectious diseases was called. Sandi Galloway, from Geelong, was enjoying a trip to Cairns with her husband Gordon when she was attacked by the bat What to do if bitten or scratched by a bat Do not scrub the wound. Immediately wash the wound gently but thoroughly for at least 5 minutes with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic with anti-virus, such as povidone-iodine, iodine tincture, aqueous iodine solution or alcohol (ethanol), after washing. If bat saliva gets in the eyes, nose or mouth, or broken skin, flush the area thoroughly with water. Seek urgent medical advice from a doctor or nearest hospital. Source: Queensland Government Advertisement One of the medications was flown to Victoria from Canberra. She had five injections last Wednesday and will need three more rounds over the next three weeks. 'If I miss an injection, I have to start the whole process again,' she previously told the Cairns Post. Ms Galloway has also been forced to reschedule her annual brain tumour MRI due to the intensive treatment. 'I had a brain tumour and I go for yearly check ups to make sure it's dormant, but I can't do the MRI while taking this course of treatment,' she said. She believes the bats should be relocated outside Cairns CBD. 'Having them in the middle of town is ridiculous,' she said. Ms Galloway called on the Cairns council to remove bats from the CBS (stock image of flying foxes) 'I find it abhorrent this happened while on holidays when I should've been enjoying myself, but instead stayed indoors afterwards for fear of it happening again.' READ MORE: Wedding guests rushed to hospital after bat attack Advertisement 'It would be the best thing for Cairns to remove the bats from the city and relocate them to an area that's not so crowded.' Cairns Regional Council has previously successfully moved populations of flying foxes out of busy CBD locations. 'Council's Flying-Fox Colony Management General Policy outlines a multi-faceted and balanced approach to managing flying-foxes which uses scientific advice and data to determine appropriate actions,' a council spokesman said last week. 'The policy maintains that the health and wellbeing of people is to be given primary consideration over the health and wellbeing of flying foxes, where there is conflict between the two. 'This is a very rare yet alarming incident, however, if council is made aware of a significant flying-fox roost that may cause conflict between the people and flying foxes, signage will be posted around the site to make the community aware.' A truck driver and his retail worker wife have died in a suspected murder-suicide - as shocked neighbours reveal the couple leave behind a teenage daughter. Zheng Hong Li, 67, and his wife Yu Zhou, aged in her 50s, were found dead at their Riverwood home, in Sydney's southwest, on Sunday afternoon. Police were called to the Union Street address about 2pm and discovered Mr Li's body inside his truck, which was parked in the driveway. His wife's body was later found inside the house. Neighbours say the couple had lived at the home for around a decade, but, like many residents in the street, they mainly kept to themselves apart from the occasional wave. Zheng Hong Li and his wife Yu Zhou were found dead inside their Riverwood home (pictured) on Sunday Police officers remained at the scene on Monday morning as they investigate the suspected domestic-violence incident They were known locally by the nicknames 'Park' and 'Grace'. One family who lived several doors down described Mr Li as 'very hardworking' and his wife as 'nice and softly spoken'. 'I'm shocked. He was a very nice man,' the neighbour said. 'I'd see him everyday when I would walk up the street.' The family said the couple, who are originally from China, have a daughter who is aged around 18. Another neighbour said the couple were very nice and Ms Zhou would often wave hello when they bumped into each other. She said she often saw her walking to and from the train station as Grace did not drive. A forensics officer scours Mr Li's truck in the driveway, where he was found dead over the weekend Detectives were seen trailing in and out of the property on Monday An upset neighbour (pictured) said he would see Mr Li outside his house every day 'The last time I saw her was last week. She waved as she was coming home from work, ' the woman said. 'She worked at a duty-free shop at the airport. The daughter recently moved out to Hurstville. 'It is very sad.' Detectives are investigating whether the incident was domestic-violence related, with officers seen scouring the home for evidence on Monday. Forensic officers could be seen walking out of the home with containers, before loading them into the back of the vehicle. St George detectives are heading the investigation and are being assisted by the State Crime Commands Homicide Squad. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers. For confidential support 24/7 call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 1800 RESPECT A baby boy has been rushed to hospital following a near drowning at a family pool. The boy had been swimming at a home at Bahrs Scrub in Logan, Queensland, at 6.45pm on Sunday. Emergency services were called to the scene where he was found 'conscious and breathing'. The boy was treated for an 'immersion incident' and rushed to Logan Hospital in a stable condition. Fashion designer Libbie Mugrabi was forced to call the police after her boyfriend Bobby Vaughn barricaded them inside her luxury Upper East Side townhouse. Vaughn, 48, was arrested on suspicion of assault following a 30-minute stand-off at the $9.1million brownstone townhouse on swanky Madison Avenue on Sunday. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Mugrabi said that her boyfriend locked himself inside her bedroom and wouldn't open the door. She said she doesn't want to press charges. 'The police were completely brutal,' she said. 'They asked me to go outside in my underwear. They wouldn't let me in my bedroom to get my clothes. There were 11 cops in my room and I couldn't talk to him. 'I told them everything was OK and it was an accident. He grabbed my phone and I bit my lip. I didn't know what to do. I never thought they'd arrest him. It's a false arrest.' The founder of the iconic Von Dutch fashion label was snapped in handcuffs leaving the 19th Precinct after a 911 call at 9pm. Vaughn being marched into custody by police on Sunday night following the siege at Mugrabi's home The photo featuring matching his and her sunglasses posted by L'Scher boss Libbie Mugrabi, 43, in July to announce her relationship with Von Dutch founder Bobby Vaughn Heavily armed cops with rifles and shields swooped on the house and led Vaughn away in cuffs. He was wearing signature diamond Louis Vuitton dark sunglasses and a black t-shirt. Police confirmed that Vaughn was charged with assault, adding: 'Upon arrival, officers observed a 43-year-old female with a laceration to the face. 'A preliminary investigation determined that the female victim and a 48-year-old male individual were engaged in a dispute inside the residence when the individual pushed the victim, causing the victim's cellphone in her hand to hit her face. 'The individual then barricaded himself in a third floor bedroom for approximately 30 minutes before he surrendered to officers without incident. 'The male was taken into custody at the scene. The victim sustained a minor injury to the lip and refused medical attention on scene. The investigation remains ongoing.' Vaughn appeared in court on Monday morning, and was released on bail following the hearing. He went public on his relationship with L'Scher boss Mugrabi, 43, when she posted a loved-up photo of them wearing matching diamond-encrusted sunglasses in July. 'We're the new power couple, we're going to be bigger than Posh and Becks,' Libbie exclusively told DailyMail.com at the time. Vaughn appeared in court on Monday morning, and was released on bail following the hearing Police confirmed that Vaughn was charged with assault, adding: 'Upon arrival, officers observed a 43-year-old female with a laceration to the face Mugrabi (right) showed up to the hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday to support her boyfriend with her mother (left) Heavily armed police were deployed to the home on New York's East 67th Street at 9pm Vaughn appeared emotionless as he was taken into custody after surrendering to police He was arrested by police from the NYPD's 19th precinct Dennis Rodman, Paris Hilton, and Hillary Duff were among those who wore Vaughn's label during its fashion heyday in the early 2000s. But he had lost his stake in the company by 2005 when he was arrested for shooting dead his friend Mark Rivas in a drunken fight during which Rivas slashed his neck with a broken bottle. On the Hulu show 'The Curse of Von Dutch', he admitted to shooting dead his friend and business partner Vaughn's home in Venice Beach in 2005 in a dispute over a girl. Vaughn was charged with first-degree murder, but was acquitted after a jury ruled the friends death was justifiable homicide. Recently he had been advising Mugrabi on her fashion line following her messy $100million divorce from art mogul ex-husband David Mugrabi in 2020. David and Libbie were fighting over a $72million Manhattan townhouse, his family's art collection estimated to be worth $5billion, and their Hamptons home. Despite the tumultuous breakup, her ex-husband David posed in a Von Dutch shirt following the news of Libbie's new man - seemingly giving his blessing. Earlier this summer Libbie was accused of failing to pay her staff minimum wage. He lost his stake in the company by 2005 when he was arrested for shooting dead his friend Mark Rivas in a drunken fight during which Rivas slashed his neck with a broken bottle Speaking to DailyMail.com, Mugrabi said that her boyfriend locked himself inside her bedroom and wouldn't open the door. She said she doesn't want to press charges Vaughn had been advising Mugrabi on her fashion line following her messy $100million divorce from art mogul ex-husband David Mugrabi in 2020 Police said they were called to the brownstone townhouse on New York's Upper East at 9pm Police with rifles and shields were among those who took part in the 45 minute stand-off Vaughn and Mugrabi appeared loved up as they shared intimate photos earlier this summer Vaughn's Von Dutch fashion label was one of the world's most recognizable brands during its early noughties heyday with patrons including Dennis Rodman, Paris Hilton, and Hillary Duff In the pending civil court case, the plaintiffs allege Mugrabi failed to pay them minimum wage when they were employed by Libbie as domestic workers. According to the Manhattan Supreme Court filing, Libbie, 43, owes $17,912 in damages, together with approximately $3,200 in interest and $19,912 in civil penalties. Libbie told DailyMail.com: 'They keep dropping this maid lawsuit to my houses. 'They're really going for it', she said, referring to a previous case in which housekeeper Janneth Gonzalez Duarte sued Libbie, having accused her of 'violently attacking' her in Libbie's Hamptons manor in July 2022. Duarte told the court Libbie broke her cell phone and threatened her with a knife and a mop handle. Earlier this year, Libbie showed up to the Manhattan Family court in a $25,000 bulletproof vest to obtain a retraining order against ex-husband David Mugrabi, who Libbie claims hired a Russian hitman to kill her. Libbie and Vaughn met when she whisked him to her Hamptons abode to advise her on her fashion brand, L'Scher. Over the course of the month, she said they developed feelings for each other and became not only partners in business, but in love too. A friend told DailyMail.com at the time that Libbie had completely mellowed: 'She's so happy with Bobby, he's a great guy, he's put a spring in her step.' Friends had claimed they had not seen Libbie so happy since her divorce from David. EZULWINI - An unknown man has been found dead with his head buried in the sand at Nyonyane in Ezulwini. A blue Mazda Demio with local registration plates was parked a few metres from the lifeless body. Worth noting is that the motor vehicle was parked a footstep from the public road. However, it could not be immediately ascertained if the deceased had anything to with the motor vehicle as police investigations are ongoing. Information gathered was to the effect that the corpse was discovered by a herdboy who was looking after livestock in the area. It is said the herdboy noted that one of the cattle was sniffing around a particular area and when he went to investigate, he found the corpse. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers were found recording statements from the herdboy and independent witnesses, while awaiting officers from the Scenes of Crime Department. Enyonyane community police members and some community members were gathered at the scene. Dumped The blue Mazda Demio was still parked at the same spot, while the corpse was dumped at the bottom of the heap of soil next to Makhondvolwane River. The head was buried on the loose soil. Upon searching the corpse, the police officers discovered about E50 inside the mans pocket. The police officers also discovered different shoe laces with different colours inside the mans pocket. The deceased was wearing blue trousers, blue T-shirt and black shoes. When pulled out from the soil, blood oozed from his nostrils. However, there were no visible injuries. The corpse was loaded into the police van, while the motor vehicle was driven to Lobamba Police Station, where it was parked pending investigations. Some residents stated that people were used to parking cars at the area. They stated that many people passed by without suspecting anything. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed a report of a man who was found dead at Nyonyane in Ezulwini. Vilakati said investigation were ongoing. A group of 31 Harvard organizations, including the Ivy League institution's affiliate of Amnesty International, has placed the blame on Israel for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack that has killed at least 700 Israelis. The organizations released a letter to the public as a 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence. They claim that Hamas' attacks, which are still ongoing, 'did not happen in a vacuum' and the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.' 'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the groups wrote. It's another moment of contention for the school just a day after a professor was forced to apologize for implying the Hamas attack on Israel was an attempt to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu's 'own corruption.' The Palestine Solidarity Committee holding banners outside the prestigious college The groups then repeat a familiar trope of the left in accusing the Israeli government of forcing Palestine to live under an apartheid state. 'The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years,' they continue. 'From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden.' Despite the hundreds dead in Israel, including at least four Americans, the groups' asked for an end to brutalization of Palestinians to conclude the letter. 'Today, the Palestinian ordeal enters into uncharted territory. The coming days will require a firm stand against colonial retaliation. We call on the Harvard community to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians.' The Palestine Solidarity Committee has held inflammatory events in relation to the conflict, including protests, an 'Apartheid Week' and a 'Boycott Israel Trek.' The group has also taken credit for getting the Harvard Crimson - the school's long-running student newspaper - to support BDS, or Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel. The groups include the school's African American Resistance Organization, Amnesty International, 'Harvard Act on a Dream,' groups of Muslim and South Asian students from the Kennedy and Chan schools, the Harvard Islamic Society and Harvard Jews for Liberation. Robert P. George, a professor at Princeton of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals & Institutions, blasted the organizations in a tweet. The Palestine Solidarity Committee has held inflammatory events in relation to the conflict, including protests, an 'Apartheid Week' and a 'Boycott Israel Trek' The group has also taken credit for getting the Harvard Crimson - the school's long-running student newspaper - to support BDS, or Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel The letter, released to the public, was signed by several groups making up the school's 'Palestine Solidarity Committee' The groups include the school's African American Resistance Organization, Amnesty International, 'Harvard Act on a Dream,' groups of Muslim and South Asian students from the Kennedy and Chan schools, the Harvard Islamic Society and Harvard Jews for Liberation Robert P. George, a professor at Princeton of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals & Institutions, blasted the organizations in a tweet '31--yes 31--Harvard organizations have declared that the murders, rapes, kidnappings, and other atrocities committed by Hamas against innocent people are in no way the fault of Hamas, but are rather entirely the fault of ... Israel. Something is deeply, deeply wrong in academia,' he wrote. It comes just a day after Harvard Emeritus Professor Laurence Tribe, who teaches constitutional law, posted the remark on X, formerly Twitter, only hours after a surprise Hamas attack on Israel. Militants opened fire killing dozens of civilians and soldiers near the Gaza strip, early Saturday morning. Tribe expressed his remorse for what he called an 'ill-informed' claim and quickly deleted the post. Those who saw it were outraged calling the professor an 'idiot' who needs to 'go commit' himself somewhere. Liberal political commentator Keith Olbermann also criticized Tribe's claims, calling it 'moronic and indefensible,' Fox News reported. Pictured: Harvard Emeritus Professor Laurence Tribe, who teaches constitutional law, posted the remark on X, formerly Twitter , only hours after a surprise Hamas attack on Israel early Saturday A fiery explosion on a Palestinian apartment building following an air strike by Israel in Gaza City following an attack in Israel by militant Hamas rulers A crying child in her fathers arms stands in front of a building decimated by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City early Saturday morning Reporter Julie Kelly was one of those outraged by Tribe's post and told him to 'go commit yourself somewhere' Several Israeli news outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. Attacks continued into Sunday and Monday, with the nation's Iron Dome intercepting continuous waves of rockets. A thousand Hamas militants took part in the initial, unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, Conricus said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. About 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Conricus also confirmed that Americans, British and French people were involved in the carnage. He said that children, babies, elderly people and disabled people were among those kidnapped. 'We will focus all our efforts on the Gaza Strip and delivering a long, hard, tremendously powerful blow in Gaza,' he said. Hamas' surprise attack came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria. Israeli soldiers and civilians fought Hamas militants on the streets of southern Israel following a barrage of 2,000 rockets sent over the border by the Palestinian terrorists, in addition to a savage ground assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country. Israeli Defense Forces have begun bombarding key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and have issued warnings to civilians in certain regions to leave before a wave of retaliatory attacks begin. Speaking on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin 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.' An Israeli airstrike at a Hamas weapons depot in Gaza from Sunday night JUST IN: Israeli airstrikes recently targeted an area near the central Gaza coast, resulting in a massive explosion. pic.twitter.com/qYhtQsMcW9 Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 9, 2023 After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the Israeli death toll surged past 700 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday) He promised 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.' He vowed to reduce Gaza to 'rubble,' telling innocent Palestinians to leave immediately. Hamas, he said, will pay 'a price it has never known.' Joe Biden held a barbecue for his staff at the White House while at least four Americans were confirmed dead in the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel Saturday and Palestinian sympathizers protested at the president's gates. Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog confirmed earlier reporting that multiple Americans are missing after the Hamas attack. Later Sunday, at least four Americans were confirmed dead and Hamas is believed to be holding more than 100 hostages. The terrorists gunned down as many revelers as possible and horrifying photos emerged of bodies piled up in a tent at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. Authorities believe 260 people were massacred at the event at which between 3-4,000 people were in attendance. The full horror of what unfolded at the dance festival became clear as drone footage from above allowed for a birds eye view of the site. 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 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. 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 took place just after midday on Sunday, with one sympathizer flashing a Nazi swastika. 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 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. Speaking late on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said the situation in the south of the country was 'still not fully under control.' A NSW Greens MP has drawn an extraordinary comparison between Australia's historic treatment of Indigenous people and Israel's policies toward Palestinians in the wake of Hamas's bloody attack on the Jewish state. Jenny Leong, who represents the inner-Sydney electorate of Newtown in the NSW parliament, launched a savage attack on Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday after he decried the 'abhorrent' attacks launched on Israel by Hamas. Ms Leong took particular exception to Mr Marles describing the attacks - which are estimated to have cost 700 Israeli lives including 260 people gunned down at an outdoor dance party - as 'unprovoked'. 'Unprovoked?! This is a disgraceful statement from Defence Minister Richard Marles,' Ms Leong posted on X, formerly Twitter. NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong has labelled Defence Minister Richard Marles as disgraceful for calling the Hamas attack on Israel 'unprovoked' 'It is also appalling that tonight the Opera House will be lit up in support of Israel - what about all of the Palestinian lives lost since occupation?' 'What about the Palestinian Australian community mourning their loved ones? 'What about the decades upon decades of human rights violations against Palestinian people? I am disgusted at both state and federal Labor Governments for their actions in relation to this.' Ms Leong then tweeted she 'shouldn't be surprised - because after all they (state and federal governments) too rule over a land still marked with the bloodstains of invasion and colonisation without any end to the injustice for First Nations people.' In a lengthy thread she said that 'today and every day, I stand in solidarity and defiance with Palestinian people'. 'I urge all to listen to the voices of Palestinian people - and human rights orgs - providing much-needed perspective and historical context for the current escalation,' she wrote. In a lengthy thread Ms Leong labelled Israel's actions as the 'root cause' of all the conflict in the region She echoed the calls by the Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights for Member States of the UN Security Council to condemn Israel's 'illegal occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid regime'. She asserted these thing were 'the root causes underpinning the continuous waves of conflict in the territory' and called for 'Israel's immediate, unconditional and total withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory'. The UN should take 'concrete steps' towards protecting the Palestinian people and impose sanctions if Israel refused these demands, Ms Leong said. On Sunday Mr Marles said there was 'no justification for these brutal attacks on Israel'. 'Australia calls for these attacks to end and recognises Israel's right to defend itself,' he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also called the attack 'abhorrent' and told ABC show Insiders on Sunday that the attack had been 'indiscriminate'. 'Civilians being targeted, killed and murdered, and as well, many of them being taken as hostages,' he said 'Of course, people are worried about escalation, but Israel has a right to defend itself and it will be doing so. 'This has been a very dark 24 hours.' A chorus of other world leaders also condemned the attack by Hamas, which included thousands of rockets being launched at Israeli towns and cities. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the attack by Hamas on Israel was 'abhorrent', a description also used by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Ms Leong's tweets bitterly divided those commenting on it with the majority furious that she had justified the brutal Hamas offensive. 'The civilians at a peace music festival had it coming, hey?' one person wrote. 'How very progressive,' another commented. 'You are a disgrace to Australia,' read another furious reply. However, Ms Leong did have her supporters. 'THANK YOU JENNY!!!!!!!' one person wrote. 'I'm 52 & have seen precisely 52 years of provocation from Israel,' another said. 'Israel has ignored UN for decades while they expand unrestrained through their neighbour's land,' said one comment. 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 'Is it any wonder the Palestinians fight back? It seems that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his Trumpian thugs learned well from Hitler. Why is Australia offering unqualified support to these thugs? It is believed that more than than 100 hostages have been seized from Israel and taken to the Gaza by the Hamas fighters who flew over the heavily fortified border in para-gliders and poured through checkpoints by the truckload in a surprise attack. The Tribe of Nova music festival near the border became a scene of unbridled chaos when Hamas insurgents opened fire indiscriminately at fleeing party-goers who only moments before had been dancing happily. On Sunday night horrifying photos emerged of bodies piled up in a tent at the festival. Five decades of Pandamonium looks set to draw to a close in the US within months as the nations last Giant Pandas head back to China. At least one US zoo has been able to show off the iconic animal to the American public since the First Lady Patricia Nixon told Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai how fond she was of them on a visit in 1972. But the deteriorating relationship between the superpowers and the reluctance of the creatures to breed in captivity has whittled their numbers down, and the loan periods of those that remain are set to expire. The three housed at the National Zoo in Washington DC will leave by December 7 and the four at Georgia's Zoo in Atlanta are expected to follow shortly afterwards. China sent the Smithsonian its first pair of giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, within two months of the Nixons groundbreaking visit to China. Mei Xiang (left) and male companion Tian Tian, have lived at the National Zoo since 2000 Their son, Xiao Qi Ji, was born just three years ago - though visitors will now have now have just five months to see the furry family It began in 1972, when then-president Richard Nixon found himself captivated by the animals during a visit to the Beijing Zoo with his wife Patricia - an inkling he imparted on then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai The two bears died in the '90s, but their replacements, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, have lived at the National Zoo since 2000. Their son, Xiao Qi Ji, was born just three years ago - though visitors will now have now have just five months to see the furry family. The announcements came in a pair of birthday press releases for Xiao Qi Ji's third birthday - which came and went on August 21 and for his father Tian Tian's 26th, which was on Sunday. Sharing video of Tian Tian enjoying his day with a special panda-friendly fruitsicle cake, Zoo officials wrote: 'This will be Tian Tians last birthday in Washington, D.C. 'He and the Zoos female giant panda, 25-year-old Mei Xiang, and their three-year-old son, Xiao Qi Ji, will leave the Zoo by December.' The zoo added that they are planning an extravagant sendoff for the pandas in September, which will run for a week until the beginning of October. Fittingly billed as 'Panda Palooza', the celebration will mark an end to more than 51 years of panda couples at the facility - which was forced to close Tuesday after receiving an unspecified bomb threat. The three, the statement said, will remain at the zoo until December 7 - before being shipped back off to their homeland. The giant pandas will be returned to their home by December 7, the zoo said in statements - putting an end to an arrangement that had lasted more than a half-century. Mei Xiang, 25, and Tian Tian, 26, are seen here Cub Xiao Qi Ji and mother 'Mei Xiang' are seen enjoy a specially made panda friendly cake in spring of last year celebrating 50 years of the countries' panda partnership Mei Xiang - who weighs 230 pounds - celebrates her 25th birthday with a cake at Smithsonian's National Zoo in July 250lb Tian Tian is currently the oldest panda being kept in the United States The two parent pandas were brought to the the DC zoo in December of 2020, and are seen here after the then brand new exhibit was opened The announcements came in a pair of birthday press releases for Xiao Qi Ji's third birthday - which came and went on August 21 and for his father Tian Tian's 26th, which was on Sunday A reason for the rearrangement was not specified - though it has been in the cards for years because of time constrictions in the conservation and breeding agreement that brought them to the Zoo in the first place. Originally slated for 10 years, the timeline that saw the two brought from their birthplace the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda in December 2000 has been extended several times, leading to their prolonged stay. The pandemic also threw a wrench into those plans - along with the birth of Xiao Qi Ji, which officials at the time called a 'much-needed moment of pure joy,' at a time of global pandemic and social unrest. Furthering the occasion's importance was the fact it would see the facility welcome its first panda cub in years, after a series of other cubs born to the two over the years were sent to China before the age of four - a stipulation in the original agreement. Complications arrived after birth stole the lives of three other newborns - leaving Xiao Qi Ji as the last of the six born since the agreement was signed. His older brother, a male named Bei Bei, lived at the National Zoo until November 2019 - before he was forced to undergo the 16-hour flight from D.C. to Chengdu after turning four. After spending four years captivating the hearts of millions, fans are forced to say bye bye to Bei Bei the giant panda as he prepares to leave the US capital to go to China. At the time, The National Zoo organized a week of events to honor Bei Bei - including Q&A sessions with zoo personnel and writing postcards to accompany the 250-pound on his journey. The heartbreaking news, aired just before the pandemic, said that Bei Beis bittersweet departure is in line with panda diplomacy' - the old Chinese initiative that involved gifting Panda bears to friendly countries across the globe that got his parents there in the first place. Bei Bei is part of our family, the Zoo's statement read, as schoolchildren flocked to the parks with signs reading Bye bye Bei Bei and other similar sentiments. Our team has cared for him, learned from him and, along with millions, loved watching him grow. 'Were sad hes leaving, but excited for the contributions he will make to the global giant panda population.' In December 2020 - despite then-deteriorating relationships between Washington and Beijing - the National Zoo announced that a three-year extension keeping parents Mei Xiang and Tian Tian had been signed, meaning the pair would be staying through most of 2023. That time limit is now set to expire, and unlike the also famous exhibit at not-so-nearby Memphis Zoo - which recently revealed it had extended its own arrangement with the Eastern nation to keep their two giant pandas for another ten years. The Mao successor responded by sending the Smithsonian its first pair of giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, which for decades were a fixture at the facility. They were brought from their birthplace the China Research and Conservation Center for the Giant Panda on December 6, 2000, initially for ten years, though a series of extensions and the pandemic saw that timeline extended The pandemic also threw a monkey wrench into those plans - along with the birth of Xiao Qi Ji, which officials at the time called a 'much-needed moment of pure joy,' at a time of global pandemic and social unrest. In this image from video provided by the Smithsonian National Zoo, Mei Xiang is seen after giving birth to Xiao in August 2020 Mei Xiang cradles the tiny cub in her arms after giving birth at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, in August 2020 Her first three offspring, Tai Shan (pictured in , Bao Bao and Bei Bei, were transported to China at age 4 under an agreement with the Chinese government His older brother, a male named Bei Bei, lived at the National Zoo until November 2019 - before he was forced to undergo the 16-hour flight from D.C. to Chengdu after turning four. Bei Bei (pictured as a baby in 2015) has amassed a fan base with admirers around the country as they watched him grow over the last four years Aside from Memphis, the only other American zoo carrying the endangered animal is Georgia's Zoo Atlanta, which has four of the bamboo-chopping critters. That said, at 25 and 26, respectively, Mei Xiang and Tian and Tian are the oldest pandas being housed in the country - and in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, were at the center of a controversy involving their containment. At the time, users of Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter, accused officials at the Smithsonian of 'abusing' elderly Mei Xiang, and urged authorities to 'save' the bear by bringing her back to the country. The zoo responded by rejecting the online allegations, stressing that Mei Xiang is eating plenty every day and being looked after well by keepers. A family crime gang who ran a drugs empire from a sleepy village terrorised neighbours who would wake up and find their car tyres mysteriously slashed if they dared to call police. Lynne Leyson, her husband Stephen, and his son Samson's reign of terror almost caused one person to be put into a psychiatric hospital, while others sold their homes to escape their drug-dealing neighbours. The Leysons sold cannabis and cocaine from their family farm in Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales, with a grit box at the end of the road used as a drop-off point for deals. Lynne was the godmother of the family crime gang and hid her criminality behind the curtains of the farm. Always 'beautifully dressed', with her hair styled, neighbours fell for her and her husband's charm. But on occasions, Stephen's real side would seep out from the facade - with one villager recalling how he threw a bin full of rubbish at a neighbour when she complained it had been strewn over her land, reported The Times. Farmer's wife Lynne Leyson operated a hidden double life as the godmother of a family crime gang Lynne's husband Stephen Leyson (left) and his son Samson (right) were jailed for a total of 17 years in July after the farm was raided by police Before their misdeeds were uncovered in Capel Dewi, the Leysons had menaced another community 12 miles south in Kidwelly. Here, with views of a Norman castle in the distance, the stench of cannabis coming from the 'filthy' home was unmissable. The family had an ice-cream van from which neighbours hinted they were selling more than ice-cream. And if locals dared to call the police, they would wake the next morning to find the tyres on their cars had been slashed and deflated as a menacing Stephen glared down at them from the balcony. The gang was caught with 60,000 of cocaine, 15,000 of cannabis and a 9mm handgun when police raided Pibwr Farm in Capel Dewi. Police also discovered two dealers in Pembrokeshire, who were working on behalf of the family to sell drugs, including one who was known as 'Mr Pickles'. Stephen, 55, and Samson, 24, were put behind bars for a combined 17 years, but farmer's wife Lynne is still on the run three months after being sentenced for nine years, with it thought she might be in Thailand. Neighbours would witness dozens of cars arriving at the farm at all hours and speeding away within minutes of arriving. Villagers, once feeling safe tucked away in their sleepy village, became terrified by the law-breaking family and all went out and bought cameras for security. 15,615 of cannabis was seized by the police at Pibwr Farm, near Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun which was found stashed at the farm After a decade of living in Kidwelly they sold up the home for 109,000 when men in smart suits had arrived days earlier and demanded money from Stephen, it is claimed. 'They lived here for nearly ten years, they nearly put me in the [psychiatric] hospital, it was unbelievable,' one former neighbour told The Times. 'I didn't want to stay here, but who was going to buy this house?' Swansea Crown Court heard husband and wife Stephen and Lynne Leyson denied any wrongdoing when they were questioned. Lynne Leyson was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and possessing criminal property. A bench warrant was issued after she previously failed to turn up to court for sentencing - and she has now been jailed for nine years in her absence. Judge Catherine Richards said: 'Lynne Leyson has chosen not to attend her sentencing hearing. It appears to be a deliberate attempt to evade justice. 'She presented at trial as someone who controlled a number of people working for her in this serious offence.' Stephen was jailed for 11 years for conspiracy to supply cocaine, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property. Samson was handed a six-year sentence for conspiracy to supply cocaine and conspiracy to supply cannabis. The family claimed that cash seized by police was from a 'house sale' After the case, one neighbour said: 'We just couldn't believe it. 'They seemed like a normal farming family - well, a bit rough around the edges like a lot of country people. Lynne seemed very normal really - not a cocaine dealer like she was. It is all very odd.' A Crimestoppers appeal said: 'Arrest enquiries have been conducted at known addresses where Lynne is likely to frequent. These premises are across Carmarthen and parts of Swansea. To date these have been negative enquiries.' A request is being made for Lynne Leyson, also known as Annelyn Caldicot, to be placed on Crimestoppers as a wanted person. She is described as being 5ft 4in, with black hair, brown eyes, right handed, a surgical scar on her left leg and having a Welsh accent. Anyone who sees her is asked to call anonymously on 0800 555 111. Drug kingpins built their dirty empires by 'hiding in plain sight' before they were caught boasting on an encrypted messaging platform, a sweeping crackdown on organised crime across Britain lays bare. More than 1,200 criminals have been jailed thanks to the infiltration of encrypted messaging platform EncroChat. Gangsters were so confident in the platform's security that several 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 drug lords were taking their children to school and then making a wad of money 'in their downtime' - before adding that the EncroChat hack had revolutionised the investigation of criminal gangs. In one exchange, wealthy haulage boss Thomas Maher bragged 'I'm at this game the last 20 odd years pal, I'm not an over night so I know the way of plays' as he ran a Europe-wide drug ring from his living room. Another drug boss Richard Weild boasted he could make 30,000 a week on the platform under the name Blacklable, all the while using his Gas Works Motor Company as a front. Within the 20,000-odd messages he sent, he wrote: 'If I carry on making tops [cocaine] for people an get this weed parcel again I'll have life changing money.' In another, he said 'I looking at the bigger pic mate am getting along great the money coming in thick an fast an not putting myself out there got a easy life'. EncroChat messages from drug kingpins reveal how they would boast about how much money they had made Wealthy haulage firm owner Thomas Maher (left), Richard Weild (right) The Met said 942 arrests had been made in Operation Eternal so far, with 784 of those charged and 426 convicted (Pictured: Cocaine seized by police) Maher built up a fleet of luxury cars worth more than 200,000 from his ill-gotten gains Maher arranged for 305,000 euros to be transported from Ireland to Holland on behalf of one of his associates, who he charged a commission for his involvement He boasted about being 'happy cracking on' making 30,000 a week and how he had 'made so much money'. In another he boasted: 'Wait till you see these jobs I make they look heavy I made 12-15 for these kids in 2-3 weeks ... making another 4 into 5 tomo.' Maher, of Warrington, was jailed for more than 14 years in 2020 at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting two charges of importing Class A drugs into the UK and two charges of money laundering. In one set of Encrochat messages he orchestrated the collection and delivery of 21 kilos of cocaine in the Netherlands. He used his ill-gotten gains to pay for a luxurious lifestyle of cars worth more than 200,000, had spent 90,000 on holidays, and a hoard of jewellery, while paying himself minimum wage at his firm for tax purposes. Weild, of Wallasey, Merseyside, was jailed for 19 years in March this year after pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine, heroin, MDMA, 2-CB, cannabis and transferring criminal property. Approximately 20 kilos of Class A and B drugs were seized from the safe house. Meanwhile, other drug kingpins take their children on the school run and then plot murder and drug-dealing on the encrypted messaging platform. NCA officers seized a large quantity of cash from Maher Approximately 20 kilos of Class A and B drugs were seized from Weild's safe house Gangsters Naki Aslan (left) and Frankie Sinclair (right) Money and a Rolex watch owned by Frankie Sinclair 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. 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 Metropolitan Police operation targeting EncroChat uncovered 426 criminals who were were jailed for a total of 3,722 years behind bars in the investigation, named Operation Eternal, since it began in March 2020. Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and its own Operation Venetic, the investigation used data taken from EncroChat to identify criminals, solve murders and tackle the drug trade - with more than 1,200 people jailed nationally. While Commander Paul Brogden, head of specialist crime at Scotland Yard, said it was 'the most significant operation targeting organised crime figures in the Met's history'. EncroChat was a secret operating system accessed by a secure password on Android phones, with each user of the platform given a unique 'handle' made up of a noun and an adjective. The handsets, which cost 1,500, could only communicate with other EncroChat devices and could have all their data wiped if handed over to the authorities. Commander Brogden said many of those uncovered in the operation were 'the kingpins' of organised crime networks in London, saying: '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, so I'm incredibly pleased about that.' He 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 messaged users urging them to get rid of their handsets after realising it had been compromised by law enforcement in June 2020, and it was shut down shortly afterwards. The Met said 942 arrests had been made in Operation Eternal so far, with 784 of those charged and 426 convicted. Three tonnes of Class A and B drugs and 49 guns were also seized by the force. Three tonnes of Class A and B drugs and 49 guns were also seized by the force. While in the UK-wide Operation Venetic, 3,100 suspects were arrested and 1,867 charged, with 7,000 mobile devices collected and around 18 million messages logged Officers seized 173 firearms, 3,000 rounds of ammunition and more than 19million in cash More than 1,200 criminals have been jailed thanks to the infiltration of encrypted messaging platform EncroChat (Stock Image) Naki Aslan, 39, a high-ranking gang member, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to import in excess of 20kg of heroin and cocaine as part of the operation. Officers discovered Aslan had an encrypted phone and used the EncroChat handle 'junglecookie' to arrange drug transactions. Messages were also found showing Aslan attempted to source a firearm, a Makarov pistol, to shoot a business associate in May 2020. The EncroChat messages from Aslan read: 'You got anyone to fire a couple of shots? From the waist down but urgent. I wanna get him popped ASAP.' In the UK-wide Operation Venetic, 3,100 suspects were arrested and 1,867 charged, with 7,000 mobile devices collected and around 18 million messages logged. Detective Chief Inspector Driss Hayoukane, senior investigating officer for Operation Eternal, said there were significant trials coming up with some 'iconic' criminals and the force was still working 'at a pace' to make more arrests, with the operation ongoing. Commander Brogden said the Met was working with the Home Office to look at whether a new legislative framework was needed for encrypted platforms going forward. Were YOU on the British Airways flight? Were YOU on the British Airways flight? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk British Airways cabin crew have been seen putting on hazmat suits after four passengers fell ill from unknown 'fumes' on a flight. Passengers were evacuated from the plane arriving from Barcelona at around 4.15pm yesterday and emergency services were seen rushing to Terminal 5, with those unwell being treated and discharged at the scene. New images show airline staff wearing white hazmat suits following the evacuation yesterday. Footage posted online shows a number of fire engines and police cars on the runway at Terminal 5 while dozens of other passengers wait outside the plane. Were YOU on the British Airways flight? Email jack.wright@mailonline.co.uk Other photos show firemen on board the flight kitted out with breathing apparatus as they pass scared customers. BA cabin crew have been seen putting on hazmat suits after four passengers fell ill from unknown 'fumes' on a British Airways flight Two firemen seen boarding the British Airways plane at Heathrow Terminal 5 yesterday afternoon Emergency services were called to the runway as the plane from Barcelona landed Footage posted online shows a number of fire engines and police cars on the runway at Terminal 5 while dozens of other passengers wait outside the plane Four people on board were said to have become unwell, however they were quickly discharged at the scene Nothing like being locked on a plane with a potential contagion for an hour and half with no explanation or information. @britishairways @HeathrowAirport pic.twitter.com/xw8YzfEOUF Martin Hill (@MartinHill25) October 8, 2023 One passenger tweeted 'major police operation at Heathrow T5 tonight' while another said: 'Nothing like being locked on a plane with a 'potential contagion' for an hour and half with no explanation or information.' He added: 'For clarity there was no contagion in the end. At least I hope not since they finally let us go. 'The Met seems to be on the ball. Heathrow staff though, were increasingly unclear and hostile to what amounted to very confused terrified folks that just wanted to go home.' A third wrote: 'Scenes at Heathrow T5 as the BA flight from Barcelona has had its crew fall sick upon landing, and the passengers are being held on the runway. 'No information other than smoke/fumes were detected in the cockpit and some cabin crew have been told to strip after falling ill.' The London Fire Brigade said that there were no elevated chemical readings detected inside the aircraft, while the London Ambulance Service said it had sent a hazardous area response team along with three medics. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Police were called at 16:15hrs on Sunday, 8 October to reports of passengers taken unwell on a flight into Heathrow Airport. Emergency services attended. Four people were treated at the scene.' The London Fire Brigade said that there were no elevated chemical readings detected inside the aircraft Crowds of passengers wait on the runway as emergency services inspected the BA plane A number of fire engines, along with the ambulance service and Metropolitan Police attended the scene Emergency services were seen rushing to Terminal 5 after the plane landed around 4.15pm yesterday The London Ambulance Service added: 'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including three medics in fast-response cars, two advanced paramedic practitioners, two ambulance crews, two incident response officers and members of our hazardous area response team (HART). 'After assessing multiple people at the scene, we treated three patients and discharged them.' London Fire Brigade told the paper its 'chemical team did a sweep of the plane and found no elevated readings'. A BA spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. 'This aircraft landed normally at Heathrow following reports of a technical issue. Customers disembarked the aircraft safely via steps, and we've apologised to them for the delay and inconvenience caused to their journey.' She began to weep while describing the conflict in Israel Sharri Markson broke down in tears on her Sky News show Sharri Markson was overcome with emotion when she spoke about the abhorrent Hamas terror attacks that have shaken Israel in the past 48 hours. The Jewish-Australian TV presenter broke down in tears describing how hundreds of innocent Israelis were brutally killed or captured at the hands of Palestinian militants. 'This is the darkest day for Jewish people in decades. It's being called Israel's September 11 it is pure savagery,' she said on her Sky News Australia show Sharri on Monday. 'But it's the heinous barbarity that makes this attack by Hamas so sickening and so unexpected for the state of Israel that prides itself on national security and is surrounded by Arab States endlessly calling for its annihilation. 'There was no mercy shown as the elderly, the women, the children the babies were kidnapped, seized and carted off by jeering men away from the safety of their homes, their loved ones and their life as they knew it.' The renowned journalist asked: 'How can humans be this cruel? 'To laugh and celebrate as they torture terrified, young souls who had so much ahead of them in life, who were so hopeful for the future.' Sharri Markson was overcome with emotion when she spoke about the abhorrent Hamas terror attacks that have shaken Israel in the past 48 hours READ MORE: Dramatic moment man with an Israeli flag is arrested and dragged away by police Advertisement 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. They then went door to door gunning down innocent civilians and soldiers before kidnapping more then 100 Israelis and taking them into Gaza. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched the sneak attack over with another 1,200 people wounded, many critically. In response, the Israeli army said Monday it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight retaliatory strikes on the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100. Markson's emotional moment comes as dramatic footage emerged of a man being arrested as police brace for a night of intense protests in Sydney. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney has gathered at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD at 5.30pm tonight, with attendees set to march to the Sydney Opera House at around 7pm. The march will coincide with the state government's decision to illuminate the landmark in blue and white - the colours of the Israeli flag - in support of Jewish community groups in NSW. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon a Sydney rally slated for Monday night. But as protesters arrived, a man clutching an Israeli flag was dragged away by police at Town Hall for 'disrupting the peace'. The man can be heard repeatedly saying 'I have done nothing wrong'. A man has been arrested by NSW Police at a pro-Palestine rally at Sydney's Town Hall (pictured) on Monday after he was seen with an Israel flag An Israeli woman is seen being forced into a car by a terrorist before she is taken to the Gaza Strip Daily Mail Australia witnessed three individuals attempt to fly an Israeli flag before being chased away by protesters and arrested by the police 'for their own safety'. One man who had not even unfurled an Israeli flag was dragged away by three officers as he cried out: 'I've done nothing wrong!' An officer told him: 'You've been arrested in relation to a breach of the peace.' Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the words 'peace' taken from her by police. 'A police officer came and snatched it out of my hands and said: 'Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think you're doing?',' she said. 'I said: 'I'm not Palestinian, I'm not Israeli. I'm just Irish-Australian and I don't like that we are inciting hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate.' She added: 'I don't think inciting more anger and violence is the solution.' Appearing on 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe, Mr Albanese called on people to respect the 'loss of life' that occurred on the weekend after Palestinian military group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to the death of more than 1100 civilians. 'I think people need to really take a step back,' he said, speaking on 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe. 'What has occurred here is completely indefensible. 'You can't target civilians like what occurred over the weekend where you had thousands attending a music festival. 'The idea that you would have people launching essentially indiscriminate shooting at random, just trying to cause as much harm and bloodshed as possible, is just an atrocity that deserves condemnation of all.' Dramatic footage shows the man being dragged away by police while repeatedly saying 'I have done nothing wrong' during his arrest (pictured) Prime Minister Anthony (pictured) has pleaded with pro-Palestinian protestors to abandon the rally at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night However, Palestine Action Group Sydney organiser Josh Lees criticised both the state and federal government for taking a 'one-sided stance'. 'The media and government are decrying the loss of life of civilians. What about Palestinian civilians. Why don't their lives matter?' he said. 'Where is the condemnation for the promises coming from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to target every corner of the Gaza Strip in the coming days.' The activist group condemned Israel for launching a 'full scale war on Palestine' and demanded Australia 'cut ties with Israel'. 'It is the responsibility of everyone who stands for justice, freedom, against apartheid, colonialism and imperialism to stand up for Palestine,' the event description read. 'End Israeli apartheid, the occupation, the siege on Gaza.' As of 5pm on Monday, more than 250 people had said they would be attending the rally. A statement issued by the NSW Police confirmed officers 'will have a presence at the protest' and 'will work with protesters to ensure there are no breaches of the peace and there is minimal impact to the community'. Demonstrators plan to move from the Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House at 7pm in protest of the landmark being lit up in white and blue, the colours of the Israel flag 'The NSW Police Force is aware of upcoming planned protest activity at Sydney Town Hall today (Monday, October 9, 2023) and will monitor the situation accordingly,' the statement said. 'The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.' On Sunday evening, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Lakemba, where the Hamas attack was labelled as a 'day of pride' and a 'day of victory'. The demonstrations were criticised by Anthony Albanese, who condemned people who supported the violence. 'There's no victory with the slaughter of innocent people,' the Prime Minister told Sunrise on Monday. 'The capturing of the people and taking them back to Gaza represents an extraordinary action by Hamas. And Israel, of course, has a right to defend itself, and it will.' The rally is the latest of demonstrations in support of Palestine after the Hamas group launched a surprise attack on Israel, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured NSW Police say they will closely monitor the rally, saying in a statement that while they respect the right to exercise free speech their priority 'is always the safety of the wider community' Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Mr Albanese's concerns and said the 'targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is never a cause for celebration'. The planned protest will occur hours before the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated in blue and white at 7.30pm as an act of solidarity with Jewish communities across NSW. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government was working to identify whether any Australians had been involved in the attacks. 'We are deeply concerned about the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel and those who have been kidnapped,' he said. 'We will continue to work to ensure that we provide all support possible to those impacted across our state and are monitoring the situation closely to learn if any NSW citizens that are currently living in, on holidays or pilgrimage in the Middle East are impacted.' 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 missing Brit has been pictured having fun shortly before he vanished during the Hamas massacre - as friends of his partner say they have been told she is dead. British photographer Danny Darlington, who lived in Berlin, and his German girlfriend Carolin Bohl have not been heard from since hiding out in a bunker in Nir Or, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, according to Ms Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi. Mr Pasquesi said his family learned late on Sunday from a man working at the kibbutz that the bodies of the two had been identified. Heartbreaking photographs on Instagram show the pair laughing together shortly before they vanished during the deadly attack on Israel. Several Israeli news outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have now been killed in the country, with attacks continuing into Sunday and Monday. Ms Bohl's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel. A heartbreaking photograph on Instagram shows British photographer Danny Darlington (left) and his partner Carolin Bohl (right) laughing shortly before they vanished during the Hamas massacre Mr Darlington has not been heard from since hiding out in a bunker in Nir Or, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, with family and friends receiving information of his death Ms Bohl's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel Ms Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi also posted on Instagram to share the news of the tragedy She wrote: 'Today we learned from Carolin's friend on the ground in Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel that she and her friend Danny were killed in a terrorist attack yesterday. 'We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy. 'We send our deepest thanks to those who made such an effort today to hep find her and provide information and contacts.' She added: 'Please give us some time and space to remember our sweet angel Caro and her beloved friend Danny.' Meanwhile Mr Pasquesi shared on Instagram: 'While we haven't got official notification from the governments of Israel, Germany or UK, we have reliable information from the ground in Israel that our beloved Caro and her dear friend Danny were killed in a terrorist Hamas raid. 'We are so thankful to family, friends, friends of friends, and strangers for the aid in providing such expedient information, press and government contacts, hopes, prayers and comfort. 'We will now focus on coping with this tragedy and ask for some time and space to come to terms. Thank you.' People in Isreal are seen running for their lives after militants fire gunshots at a music festival A distressing image, shared in a pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at a festival site The photographer's father David Darlington previously 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.' Their deaths come as hundreds remain missing in Israel following the surprise attack from the Palestinian militant group. The bodies of young revellers were seen piled up on top of each other in makeshift tents last night as emergency workers tried to identify the 260 festival-goers killed at an Israeli music festival by Hamas terrorists. The distressing image, shared in a pixelated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags at the site of the 'beautiful party' that turned into a horrific massacre. Footage from the aftermath shows empty festival tents and abandoned cars strewn frantically across the road leading to the Supernova Festival, that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. Many terrified victims had fled across the sand on foot to their cars in an attempt to drive away from the horrors, only to be met with gunfire from armed gunmen piled into jeeps going 'tree by tree' in attempt to shoot people. A British holidaymaker has died on a plane which was about to leave for the UK from a Costa airport. The man is said to have fallen ill as the plane prepared for take-off. Police sources confirmed the dead man was a British 61-year-old. The pilot put the plane's departure on hold and radioed for medical assistance. The unnamed passenger reportedly lost consciousness and was pronounced dead on the aircraft after emergency responders were unable to save him. The tragedy occurred on a Jet2 plane at Reus airport on Spain's Costa Dorada, around 65 miles south of Barcelona, bound for East Midlands Airport. The man, described locally as a 61-year-old tourist, is said to have fallen ill as the plane prepared for take-off (Stock Image) The tragedy occurred on a Jet2 plane at Reus airport on Spain's Costa Dorada, around 65 miles south of Barcelona, bound for East Midlands airport The incident led to a long delay, with the aircraft leaving nearly seven hours after its scheduled 11.10am departure on Friday. The plane reached its destination airport just before 6pm local time. A post-mortem is already thought to have taken place, although the results have not been made public, as is normal in Spain where they will be sent directly to an investigating judge in charge of a routine inquiry into the man's death. One local report linked it to possible heart failure. It was not immediately clear this morning if the dead man was travelling alone or was with family or friends. One police source said: 'He died on board the plane while it was still parked but preparing to taxi to the runway for take-off.' Another said: 'In cases like these, a judge has to authorise the removal of the body and it will have stayed where it was until the judge or judicial officials reached the plane to sign that authorisation after an inspection of the scene. 'I can't comment on this particular case but normal procedure would be for the other passengers to disembark again until the body had been removed and the plane was ready for take-off. 'I imagine that's what happened here and that would have been behind the delay.' The source added: 'It's not been treated by police at this stage as a suspicious death and this man appeared to have had existing health problems. 'But it will be up to the judge to determine the cause of death and the post-mortem results will obviously be able to shed proper light on what occurred. 'A court in Reus has been placed in charge of that probe.' A spokesman for Jet2 said this morning: 'Flight LS684 from Reus to East Midlands airport returned to stand on Friday October 6, due to a customer requiring medical attention. 'Regrettably, we can confirm that the customer sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with the customer's family and friends at this very difficult time.' Last month shocked passengers discovered a 73-year-old woman they thought was sleeping next to them on a BA flight from London had actually died. The woman had boarded the BA flight 348 from Heathrow to the French city's airport on September 21. Reports at the time said she was believed to have suffered a heart attack in the air. Paramedics and firefighters were called to the plane after passengers began lining up to disembark and realised something was wrong, but there was nothing they could do to revive her. In April a Jet2 passenger died on board a flight from Tenerife to Manchester which was forced to make an emergency landing in Newquay. Local reports at the time said the woman died after falling ill and being led to the toilet 'in distress'. In September 2019, a 67-year-old woman died after arriving at Reus airport. She was assisted by a German nurse who was on holiday but died at the scene after paramedics arrived and made an unsuccessful attempt to save her using a defibrillator when she went into cardiac arrest. Local reports said she fell ill on her way to the airport and died while waiting to be flown home on a rescue flight organised after Thomas Cook went into administration. MATSAPHA A police officer is said to have stabbed his wardress wife twice in the neck and chest while she was on duty at the HMCS canteen, in full view of customers. The reason for the violent act could not be established. However, it was gathered that the police officer husband had previously seized two of his wifes cellphones. The incident happened at the His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) canteen in Matsapha, where the wife is stationed on Saturday afternoon. The names of the parties involved will not be mentioned as the alleged perpetrator has not been arrested and charged, while the wife is a victim of abuse. The wife was reportedly admitted to Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital, where she was reportedly treated and discharged, while the husband is said to be at large. Cellphones According to a source, the police officer first arrived at his wifes place of employment between 8-9am on Saturday, where he forcefully took two of her cellphones and immediately left. It was also revealed that later he arrived at the canteen carrying a gun and knife, where he plunged it into his wifes neck and chest. This, according to the source, happened in the presence of the wifes colleagues and customers. It was too busy so he took advantage of that and the fact that he was carrying a gun, so he easily fled and disappeared. To this day, he hasnt been arrested as the police are not aware of his whereabouts, the source disclosed. It was further highlighted that while the husband has not been apprehended, his wife was treated and discharged at RFM Hospital. The alleged perpetrator is said to be one of the police officers who was shot during the political unrest at the height of solidarity forces. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the incident, but stated that no one has been arrested yet. In a similar incident reported by this publication in 2020, a police officer stationed at the Mbabane Police Station, was arrested for allegedly stabbing his former girlfriend five times. The incident happened in full view of onlookers at the Mbabane Government Hospital, where the woman was employed. The woman, who was then 30 from northern Hhohho, and a TB Screening officer at the hospital, worked under the HIV/AIDS Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Department. It was reported that when he allegedly went to attack his ex-lover at the Mbabane Government Hospital just before lunch, the law enforcer was said to have been armed with a gun and two knives. Another incident happened in 2014, where a Correctional Services officer killed his pregnant girlfriend and then hung himself inside his flat at the Matsapha Maximum facility. Trigger When drawn for comment, Clinical Psychologist Ndo Mdlalose said: Anger is becoming a bigger trigger. EmaSwati lack emotional intelligence. So immediately when overwhelmed by emotion, they respond to the first thought that comes. Its high time people applied emotional intelligence. Also, a lot of these perpetrators are triggered by external factors which they then bring onto their close relatives and loved ones, she said. Mdlalose stated said they were advocating that mental health should be made a human right now, which was emphasised by this years theme of the International Mental Health Day, to be commemorated on Tuesday. She said just like hunger and other pandemics, mental health should be given urgent attention to avoid incidents such as these. Police formed a ring of steel around the Sydney Opera House on Monday evening as hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside to demonstrate against the iconic building's sails being lit up in support of Israel. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching on the Opera House. There were scenes of chaos as the demonstrators - some wearing masks - hurled lit flares at the line of over 100 cops stopping them from approaching the iconic building. Some were heard chanting 'f*** Israel', 'f*** the Jews' and even, at points, 'f*** Albanese' - while some attempted to set fire to an Israeli flag before stamping on it and tearing it to shreds. Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great in Arabic) rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police barrier, brandishing torn pieces of the Israeli flag - despite the rally organisers calling for protestors to respect the police. The Opera House's sails were later lit up blue and white in support of Israel, which came under attack from Hamas over the weekend. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100. The illumination of the Opera House had been due to take place at 7.30pm but did not appear to happen until nearer 8.30pm, when some of the protesters had left the area. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching on the Opera House Police formed a ring of steel around the Sydney Opera House A man has been arrested by NSW Police at a pro-Palestine rally at Sydney's Town Hall (pictured) on Monday after he was seen with an Israel flag The sails were lit up in a muted blue and white pattern in support of Israel As protesters arrived at Town Hall earlier in the evening, a man clutching an Israeli flag was dragged away by three police officers for 'disrupting the peace' - before he even had a chance to unfurl it. In an video of the incident taken by Daily Mail Australia, the man can be heard repeatedly saying 'I've done nothing wrong'. An officer told him: Youve been arrested in relation to a breach of the peace. A speaker then told the booing crowd: 'Zionists dont deserve our attention'. In total, this publication witnessed three individuals attempt to fly an Israeli flag before being chased away by protestors and arrested by the police for their own safety. Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the words peace taken from her by police. 'A police officer came and snatched it out of my hands and said: "Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think youre doing?, she said. 'I said: Im not Palestinian, Im not Israeli. Im just Irish-Australian and I dont like that we are inciting hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate".' She added: I dont think inciting more anger and violence is the solution. The start of the rally at Town Hall kicked off with various chants including 'Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied', 'Israel, Israel you cant hide youre committing genocide' and 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' Pro-Palestine supporters are pictured tearing up an Israeli flag The protestors marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting 'Free Palestine' A protestor makes his feelings clear below the steps of the iconic building on Sydney's harbourside Jeremy Heathcote, Indigenous community engagement officer at the University of Sydney, performed the 'Welcome to Country' and likened the Palestinian cause to the experience of Aboriginal people in Australia. People ask me why I support Palestine and its pretty simple,' he told the crowd. 'Two reasons, its the right thing to do for starters. And also you see between us as Aboriginal people and what you guys are going through, the same sorts of things. Dispossessed from our land, racist attacks from people, intergenerational trauma that your kids are facing and your grandkids will face for many years to come.' Israeli supporters largely stayed away from the Opera House on Monday evening, with some watching the illumination from the other side of Circular Quay. In a depressing turn of events, NSW Police felt compelled to warn Sydney's Jewish community from attending Sydney's CBD on Monday evening over safety concerns. 'NSW police are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House or Town Hall this evening,' an email from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to members read. 'Community members already in the CBD should be vigilant as protesters are likely to seek to march from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House. There were scenes of chaos as the demonstrators lit up flares and cops lined up to stop them approaching the building A large crowd has gathered outside the Opera House Israel supporters kept their distance, watching the display from the other side of Circular Quay 'The events tonight may pose a risk to the safety of community members and you are strongly urged not to attend.' One of the speakers told the crowd it was a 'disgrace that the Sydney Opera House is going to be lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag to rapturous cheers and applause. Australia has blood on its hands,' said another speaker. Protestors carried placards emblazoned with the words 'Palestine is Ukraine' and 'cut ties with Israeli apartheid'. Premier Chris Minns condemned the 'horrible scenes' at the Opera House. He said the protestors 'do not represent the people of NSW'. 'This sort of behaviour incites violence and creates division,' he said, according to the Daily Telegraph. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier called on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the rally. Dramatic footage shows the man being dragged away by police while repeatedly saying 'I have done nothing wrong' during his arrest (pictured) An Israeli woman is seen being forced into a car by a terrorist before she is taken to the Gaza Strip Appearing on 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe, Mr Albanese called on people to respect the 'loss of life' that occurred on the weekend after Palestinian military group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to the death of more than 1100 civilians. 'I think people need to really take a step back,' he said, speaking on 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe. 'What has occurred here is completely indefensible. 'You can't target civilians like what occurred over the weekend where you had thousands attending a music festival. 'The idea that you would have people launching essentially indiscriminate shooting at random, just trying to cause as much harm and bloodshed as possible, is just an atrocity that deserves condemnation of all.' Prime Minister Anthony (pictured) has pleaded with pro-Palestinian protestors to abandon the rally at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night However, Palestine Action Group Sydney organiser Josh Lees criticised both the state and federal government for taking a 'one-sided stance'. 'The media and government are decrying the loss of life of civilians. What about Palestinian civilians. Why don't their lives matter?' he said. 'Where is the condemnation for the promises coming from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to target every corner of the Gaza Strip in the coming days.' The activist group condemned Israel for launching a 'full scale war on Palestine' and demanded Australia 'cut ties with Israel'. 'It is the responsibility of everyone who stands for justice, freedom, against apartheid, colonialism and imperialism to stand up for Palestine,' the event description read. 'End Israeli apartheid, the occupation, the siege on Gaza.' As of 5pm on Monday, more than 250 people had said they would be attending the rally. Demonstrators plan to move from the Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House at 7pm in protest of the landmark being lit up in white and blue, the colours of the Israel flag A statement issued by the NSW Police confirmed officers 'will have a presence at the protest' and 'will work with protesters to ensure there are no breaches of the peace and there is minimal impact to the community'. 'The NSW Police Force is aware of upcoming planned protest activity at Sydney Town Hall today (Monday, October 9, 2023) and will monitor the situation accordingly,' the statement said. 'The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.' On Sunday evening, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Lakemba, where the Hamas attack was labelled as a 'day of pride' and a 'day of victory'. The demonstrations were criticised by Anthony Albanese, who condemned people who supported the violence. 'There's no victory with the slaughter of innocent people,' the Prime Minister told Sunrise on Monday. 'The capturing of the people and taking them back to Gaza represents an extraordinary action by Hamas. And Israel, of course, has a right to defend itself, and it will.' The rally is the latest of demonstrations in support of Palestine after the Hamas group launched a surprise attack on Israel, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured NSW Police say they will closely monitor the rally, saying in a statement that while they respect the right to exercise free speech their priority 'is always the safety of the wider community' Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Mr Albanese's concerns and said the 'targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is never a cause for celebration'. The planned protest will occur hours before the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated in blue and white at 7.30pm as an act of solidarity with Jewish communities across NSW. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government was working to identify whether any Australians had been involved in the attacks. 'We are deeply concerned about the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel and those who have been kidnapped,' he said. 'We will continue to work to ensure that we provide all support possible to those impacted across our state and are monitoring the situation closely to learn if any NSW citizens that are currently living in, on holidays or pilgrimage in the Middle East are impacted.' This is the moment a car spontaneously bursts into flames leaving witnesses stunned as black plumes of smoke rise from the burning wreckage. Firefighters rushed to the quiet residential street in Clapham, south London, on Saturday night to tackle the flames spewing from the front of the hybrid grey BMW - which was just meters away from people's homes. The inferno was caught on video by a passerby, who said they were at a nearby off-licence when the car spontaneously went up in flames at around 7pm on Abbeville Road. The London Fire Brigade confirmed no one was injured in the incident. A car on Abbeville Road in Clapham Common spontaneously burst into flames this weekend The London Fire Brigade attended the scene as the flames came from the front of the car, just metres from nearby houses Parts of the engine and the front of the car appeared melted after the fire was extinguished After firefighters extinguished the flames, they were seen prying open the boot with tools READ MORE - Family 'lose everything' after their electric car catches fire Advertisement A spokesperson for the fire brigade said: 'Firefighters tackled a car fire on Abbeville Road, SW4, on 7 October. 'One car was destroyed by fire. 'The Brigade was called at 18.55 and the fire was extinguished by 19.15. A fire engine from Clapham Fire Station attended the scene.' Photographs of the aftermath reveal the vehicle's devastation, with parts of the engine and bonnet appearing to have melted. Meanwhile, more footage shows London Fire Brigade prying open the boot with tools in a cordoned-off area after they extinguished the flames. A probe is underway but the cause of the fire is currently unknown. A spokesperson for BMW said they are aware of the incident and are assisting in identifying the cause. They said: 'We understand that events like this can be distressing and BMW takes any incident involving its vehicles very seriously. 'BMW has been contacted about this case and our technical team will carry out an investigation so we can attempt to establish the root cause of the incident. 'Vehicle fires are rare but have many possible causes including external factors and individual cases must be thoroughly investigated. 'We can confirm that this vehicle is subject to a recall for the starter motor that was issued in September 2022 and that BMW had written to the registered keeper on three occasions since then to invite them to have corrective work completed free of charge. 'BMW encourages customers who receive any recall letter to follow the instructions therein, or if they have any doubts to contact their local BMW service centre.' Batteries in cars can catch fire after a vehicle has been involved in a collision or the battery has been damaged in some way - causing them to combust spontaneously. Battery packs also occasionally catch fire through overheating and while being charged. Motor fires can also be caused by a leak in the fuel tank, faulty wiring or an overheated engine. Liberal Democrat Ritchie Torres took aim at two members of the squad for expressing support for terrorists amid the deadliest attacks against Israel in history. The South Bronx congressman called Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib's comments 'reprehensible and repulsive.' As of Monday, Israel's troops were still fighting to recapture its own towns from Hamas gunmen, acknowledging the battle was taking longer than expected more than two days after the militants burst across the fence from Gaza on a deadly rampage. Fighting was still raging at seven or eight locations inside Israel captured by the fighters, who killed 700 Israelis and seized dozens of hostage. In a statement, Rep. Tlaib referred to Israel as an 'apartheid government' which is responsible for the 'suffering' that caused the attacks. Tlaib referred to Hamas as the 'resistance' in the same statement. Both representatives called on the Biden administration to stop supporting Israel. 'I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity.' Liberal Congressman Ritchie Torres has called the messages of support from his fellow Democrats for Hamas 'reprehensible' In a statement, Rep. Rashida Tlaib referred to Israel as an 'apartheid government' which is responsible for the 'suffering' that caused the attacks. That was followed by a similar statement from Rep. Cori Bush 'The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance,' Tlaib said in her statement. Rep. Cori Bush later released a similar statement. Meanwhile in a statement to the Jewish Insider, Rep. Torres struck a different chord compared to his other liberals. 'US aid to Israel is and should be unconditional, and never more so than in this moment of critical need. Congress must act decisively to provide Israel with whatever it needs to defend itself in the face of unprecedented terrorism.' 'Shame on anyone who glorifies as 'resistance' the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust. It is reprehensible and repulsive.' Torres, 35, was elected to represent New York's 15 congressional district in 2020. In 2019, he called himself 'the embodiment of a pro-Israel progressive' in 2019. In other messages on X, Torres slammed the media for seemingly normalizing Hamas' actions. '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,' he wrote on Saturday. 'Hamas's surprise terrorist attack by air, land, and sea is Israel's 9/11. Losing 600 Israelis is the equivalent of losing about 20,000 Americans,' he wrote the following day. In other messages on X, Torres slammed the media for seemingly normalizing Hamas' actions Torres was also critical of the New York Democratic Socialists of America's protest in Times Square on Sunday. 'The DSA held a hate rally, chanting: 'from the River to the Sea,' which is code for wiping Israel from the face of the earth. Let that sink in. The DSA is calling for the destruction of the Jewish State amid the largest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.' 'When it comes to the butchering and kidnapping of Israeli civilians and children, the DSA leadership has no shame. No decency. No humanity. Only hate. I have been warning for years about the deep rot of antisemitism at the core of the DSA and its enablers. There's no denying it anymore,' he added. Earlier over the weekend, fellow squad member 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. 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 The shocking images of the bodies of hundreds of Israeli civilians sprawled across the streets of towns, gunned down at an outdoor disco and abducted from their homes were like nothing seen before in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has responded with its heaviest ever bombardment of the Gaza strip, killing more than 400 people, and is possibly contemplating an unprecedented ground assault of the territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago. First it has to reestablish control of its own territory. Fighter jets, helicopters and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, with targets including Hamas and Islamic Jihad command centres and the residence of a senior Hamas official, Ruhi Mashtaa. '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 Ofakim, one of the towns that was finally recaptured after a battle with Hamas fighters who stormed through it, killing civilians and leaving with hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's options for hitting Hamas, which controls the narrow Gaza Strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, could be curtailed by concern for the many Israelis seized in the raid. A full-scale invasion of Gaza, which Netanyahu has avoided in his long years in power, could endanger the lives of the hostages. In a statement, the Israeli Air Force said it dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza aimed at over 8,000 targets in Gaza in the last 20 hours. Among the targets were three rocket launchers directed at Israel, a mosque where militants were operating and 21 high-rise buildings that served militant activity. Since Saturday, at least 436 people were killed, including 91 children and 61 women, and more than 2,270 people were wounded, said the Health Ministry in Gaza. 'The Zionist enemy's military targeting and bombing of homes inhabited by women and children, mosques and schools in Gaza amount to war crimes and terrorism,' Hamas official Izzat Reshiq said in a statement. An Israeli operation to rescue more than 100 people taken captive by Hamas attackers and dragged into Gaza would be fraught with difficulty - and could result in hostages being killed, according to an expert in hostage negotiation. In the aftermath of this weekend's brutal attack by Hamas gunmen on civilians in Israel, former UN senior advisor and one of the world's most experienced hostage negotiators Scott Walker said: 'It is understandable and reasonable for IDF to be preparing for an armed hostage rescue - but these operations are some of the riskiest. 'Hostages are likely to be dispersed and moved around and it will be highly unlikely that an Israeli force could just go in and liberate the hostages in one fell swoop without suffering significant losses, either of hostages or their own men,' he said. Walker added that the hostages taken by Hamas are likely to be well treated if they are to be used as political prisoners or bargaining chips - but that their fate could be something far more sinister if Hamas has an ulterior motive. 'Hostages need to be kept alive - fed and watered at a bare minimum. If Hamas' intention is to use them as bargaining chips or with a view to prisoner swaps, the hostages are likely to be treated reasonably well... if you want to use the hostages as currency in political bartering, you can't damage the goods. 'Having said that, Hamas is evidently very capable of being harsh and brutal - so it's possible - though unlikely - they could subject one or some of the hostages to brutal treatment and potentially execute them to show they mean business by sowing fear and further instability in the region for their own gain.' Harrowing video footage and images showed how terrified women were torn away from their partners and driven away on motorcycles, while others were beaten and handcuffed before being stuffed into the back of pickup trucks. The captives are known to include soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Hamas has not yet released the exact number of hostages it had seized, but a spokesperson said they had captured more Israelis on Monday morning even as both sides are locked in bitter gunfights and are exchanging rocket attacks. Images shared on social media appear to show an armed Hamas militant taking a bound and wounded Israeli woman hostage Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life 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 Israel must 'work quickly' to save hostages taken by Hamas to Gaza or risk losing them to Palestinian control, intelligence expert warns Counterterrorism expert and former member of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) Aaron Cohen did not comment on the likely fate of the hostages, but warned that they are likely to be broken up and dispersed unless they are rescued quickly. 'The longer Israel waits to be able to conduct those hostage rescues in Gaza, the longer the terrorists have to move around those hostages, which makes it more difficult for our Mossad and our Shin Bet security or intelligence agencies to find them,' he said in an interview with Fox News. Chilling video shows terrified revellers recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked Israeli festival in massacre that left 260 dead Advertisement 'The longer they wait, the more those hostages are going to get moved around.' Meanwhile, a statement given to AP by Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua suggested the hostages could be used as bargaining chips to push for the release of Palestinian political prisoners in Israel. The Hamas spokesperson said the group wants to 'liberate all Palestinian prisoners' from Israel and end Israeli provocations in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque - a site considered holy for both Palestinians and Israelis that has previously been at the centre of other lethal conflicts. 'We are in an open battle to defend our people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque,' the Hamas spokesperson said. 'This battle is linked to the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners and the cessation of this fascist government's activities in Jerusalem.' He said the group has captured 'a large number of Israelis' in Gaza, without giving a specific figure. He said Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam, would announce the figures later, but added that even more hostages were taken this morning in the Israeli city of Sderot which lies less than a kilometre from Gaza. The United Arab Emirates - a country which had historical tensions with Israel but established diplomatic relations in 2020, said it was 'appalled' that Israeli civilians were taken hostage in the Hamas assault. 'The (foreign) ministry stressed that attacks by Hamas against Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza Strip, including the firing of thousands of rockets at population centres, are a serious and grave escalation,' said the statement late on Sunday. 'The ministry is appalled by reports that Israeli civilians have been abducted as hostages from their homes.' The statement is notably less neutral than the initial UAE reaction on Saturday, which simply 'expressed great concern regarding the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians'. 'The UAE expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and urges all diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional confrontation,' the latest statement said, warning against 'nihilistic destruction'. Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighborhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City, Gaza on October 08, 2023 Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023 A man stands among the rubble of a destroyed mosque during Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Now, Israel's military is scouring the country's south for Hamas fighters and guarding breaches in its border fence with tanks on Monday, as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air and mustered for a campaign its prime minister said would destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of the militant group. More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion from Gaza, the military said the fighting had largely died down for now. But Israel formally declared war on Sunday and a possible ground assault into Gaza - a move that would likely see attempts to rescue hostages, but in the past has brought intensified casualties. Civilians are already paying a high price. Around 700 people have been killed in Israel - a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts. Nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza, a tiny, impoverished enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians bordering Israel and Egypt. Now, Israeli tanks and drones, meanwhile, guarded openings in the border fence to prevent more infiltrations, military officials said, adding that 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be evacuated in over the next 24 hours. Once the communities are evacuated, it's likely that Israel will step up offensive military operations in the region. 'Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel with this,' said spokesperson Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israel's military. 'And in addition to that, we will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip.' The third day of violence in the Middle East has begun, but while many nations have condemned Hamas' attacks on Israel, many countries, including China and Russia, have sat on the fence. So far, more than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack over the weekend, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. Several nations, including Iran and Algeria, have backed Hamas following Saturday morning's attack on Israeli citizens, but others declined to condemn the violence in the region, instead choosing to wait and see how the bloodiest conflict between Israel and Palestine in half a century will play out. The US has unequivocally condemned the attack on Israel, with its defence secretary Lloyd Austin announcing late on Sunday night that he was sending several American military ships to the eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas' attack. America is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, the largest warship in the world, as well as five more ships. Much of the world has already commented on the ongoing violence in the region But China and Russia have sat firmly on the fence for this deadly conflict. China's foreign ministry urged the 'relevant parties' to remain calm and immediately end 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'. This response caught the ire of Israel, with Yuval Waks, a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, saying: 'When people are being murdered, slaughtered in the streets, this is not the time to call for a two-state solution.' Russia also put at a similarly mild statement, with Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova saying hours after the initial attack: 'We call on the 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 aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace in the Middle East.' 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 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 Smoke and flames billow after Israeli forces struck a high-rise tower in Gaza City, October 7 Fire and smoke rise in Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike on Sunday October 8 Dozens of rockets are fired by Palestinians towards Israel on Saturday night 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 Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza, in the early hours of Monday 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 Russia is currently engaged in its own bloody conflict with Ukraine, which stated its support for Israel on Saturday. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: '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. 'Our position is crystal clear: anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable. '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.' Europe followed suit, and many EU members stated their support for Israel, including France, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Spain, Italy, Poland, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Also in support of Israel were several Nordic nations, with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden all condemning Hamas' attack on Israel. Elsewhere in the world, Australia, the UK, Canada and India all vocalised their support for Israel. Brazil, which currently chairs the Security Council at the UN appeared to sit firmly on Israel's side, with its foreign ministry saying in a statement that it condemned the 'series of bombings and ground attacks carried out in Israel starting from the Gaza Strip.' Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's naked body on the back of a pick-up truck Israeli soldiers are pictured at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim on Sunday While much of the West and several other key international players condemned the attack on Israel, many Arab nations openly supported Hamas' attack on Saturday. Algeria's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday: 'Algeria strongly condemns the brutal air strikes by the Zionist [Israeli] occupation forces in the Gaza Strip, and which caused many casualties, including children and women. The ministry reiterated the country's 'full solidarity with the Palestinian people,' and called on the international community, including the UN Security Council, 'to take an urgent action to end the repeated and systematic criminal attacks.' Iran agreed with Algeria, with its foreign ministry stating on Saturday: 'This operation... is the spontaneous movement of resistance groups and Palestine's oppressed people in defence of their inalienable rights and their natural reaction to the Zionists' warmongering and provocative policies.' Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel 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 Several other Arab nations, including Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt, and Qatar, made statements of support for Hamas and Palestine. Elsewhere in the world, Venezuela and Djibouti stood in solidarity with Palestine. Though some Arab countries have come out in support of Palestine and Hamas, some have refused to be drawn into the conflict. READ MORE - Chilling video shows terrified Israeli revellers hiding in undergrowth and recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked festival Advertisement Jordan's King Abdullah stressed the need to find a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and said cooperation between Jordan and the EU was vital to achieving peace in the region. Morocco's foreign ministry said it held 'deep concern over the deterioration of the situation and the outbreak of military operations in the Gaza strip.' It also condemned the targeting of civilians 'from any side.' Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain all called for de-escalation from both Israel and Palestine. Several Asian and African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Vietnam and Thailand, also called for the conflict to die down. In Europe, Turkey and Bulgaria sat on the fence and chose not to condemn either side. Shocking footage from the aftermath of the attack shows festival tents empty, with abandoned cars of those trying to escape strewn on the side of the road The Israeli army said Monday it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight retaliatory strikes on the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. 'Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,' the military said in a statement. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as the strikes continued in the early hours of the morning. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100. On the ground, thousands of Israeli soldiers are preparing to launch a massive ground assault to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fighting erupt in the streets. But in the meantime, Israel may choose to carry out small special-forces operations whereby they target high-profile Hamas terrorists. Jeremy Corbyn has risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks. The former Labour leader refused to single out the terrorist group for condemnation, saying he was against 'all violence'. In a bad-tempered exchange with journalists on the fringes of the party's conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said the way to end the 'terrible situation' was to 'end the occupation of Palestine by Israel'. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is expected to attend a reception at the conference tomorrow night alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. Mr Zomlot previously told CNN that 'Israel knew that this was coming their way It's a consequence'. Asked about his comment, shadow chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: 'I'm very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable. 'And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment.' Mr Corbyn sparked anger yesterday when he responded to slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel without condemning Hamas. The MP is sitting as an independent after being removed from Labour's parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. Jeremy Corbyn has risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked He is not thought to have a pass for the main conference. Mr Corbyn said he wants 'peace, a ceasefire and a process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine'. 'I don't support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all,' he said, after being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn Hamas. He told ITV News that the 'occupation of Palestine' was 'fundamentally the background to the whole issue'. Rachel Reeves ducks on why Labour MP escaped punishment for posing with pro-Palestine group who said Hamas attacks were a 'response' to Israel 'apartheid' Backbencher Apsana Begum was pictured with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) at the party conference on Saturday. Advertisement 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 don't 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.' Keir Starmer 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 Israel's 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.' 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. It all started with an ominous voice ordering hundreds of Hamas terrorists over the border to launch a bloodthirsty assault on Israel that has seen more than 700 Israelis massacred so far. That sinister voice, broadcast to fighters across Gaza, belonged to one-eyed terror boss Mohammed Deif, 58, who has for years been the thorn in Israel's side despite several assassination attempts. This fearsome figure has made his way up the ranks of Hamas and somehow survived five assassination attempts that saw both of his legs and an arm blown off and his wife and two children killed. And now, Deif, who was previously a bombmaker, has masterminded a carefully planned and deadly assault on Israel that has taken Israeli officials by surprise. He ordered the militants to use explosives and bulldozers to break through the fences surrounding Gaza to let hundreds more through. Deif came from nothing. He was born in the Khan Younis refugee camp in 1965 when Gaza was under Egyptian control but he was able to rise up the ranks of Hamas to launch Saturday's attack, his most audacious and deadly yet. His ability to survive countless assassination attempts and to outwit Israel's military while ordering the slaughter of civilians and soldiers alike has made him something of a hero amongst Palestinian militants. 'Even before this, Deif was like a sacred personality and very much respected both within Hamas and by the Palestinians,' Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of politics at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, told the Financial Times. 'This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,' Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif said on Saturday, announcing the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media and calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight A Palestinian boy reacts next to a burning Israeli vehicle that Palestinian gunmen brought to Gaza after they infiltrated areas of southern Israel, in the northern Gaza Strip, on October 7, 2023 Dance festivalgoers run in fear after an attack on all-night trance music rave near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, on Saturday His latest attack against Israel, which is on a scale not seen for 50 years, will now turn him into a figure 'like a god to the young', Abusada said. And as soon as Deif's voice emitted over the radio waves, they will have been primed and ready to launch the attack. They will have listened in sickening anticipation as he said over the broadcast: 'In light of the continuing crimes against our people, in light of the orgy of occupation and its denial of international laws and resolutions, and in light of American and western support, we've decided to put an end to all this.' 'So that the enemy understands that he can no longer revel without being held to account,' Deif added in the video where he remained in the shadows. Deif has remained in the shadows and evaded frustrated Israel's attempts to kill him for more than two decades - though he has been left paralysed as a result of the assassination attempts. There are only two known images of Deif, including a 30-year-old ID photo released by Israel, and even in Gaza, only a handful of people would recognise him. Indeed, his nom de guerre 'Guest' is considered a reference to the practice of Palestinian fighters spending each night at the property of a different sympathiser to stay out of the sights of Israeli intelligence. His past is riddled with bomb attacks and the slaughter of hundreds of innocent civilians. Deif, as the commander of Hamas's military wing Qassam Brigades, ordered terror attacks including bus bombings in Israel that killed hundreds. As a result Deif, also known as Abu Khaled, is by far Israel's most wanted target in Gaza. Israel has tried to kill him five times - in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2014 and most recently in May 2021. Deif managed to escape the latest airstrikes unscathed - but the earlier attacks left him without an eye, cost him both legs and an arm, and killed his wife and two children. The ominous figure has been described by those who know him as a quiet and intense man who has no interest in historic rivalries within Palestinian factions. Instead, he wants to change the Israeli-Arab conflict for good, using violence at every turn. The broadcast carried the message: 'In light of the continuing crimes against our people, in light of the orgy of occupation and its denial of international laws and resolutions, and in light of American and western support, we've decided to put an end to all this' He has a taste for theatrics, as displayed by Saturday's ominous video, which is said to have come from his time at an acting troupe he joined when he was at the Islamic University of Gaza. When Hamas was born in the late 1980s, Deif was in his 20s - and around that time, he was imprisoned by Israeli forces. READ MORE: Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel's Defence Forces to besiege Gaza Advertisement 'From the beginning of his life in Hamas, he was focused on the military track,' Ghazi Hamad, who shared a prison cell with Deif, told the Financial Times. 'He was very kind, all the time a patriot who would make little cartoons to make us laugh.' But any hint of kindness soon disappeared, with Deif accused of killing more than 50 civilians in a wave of suicide bomb attacks in 1996. He also helped with the creation of Hamas's first rockets, which are now in the thousands. An Israeli official familiar with the commander's security file said that either Deif's uncle or father in the 1950s raids by armed Palestinians into the same area of land that Deif's fighters infiltrated on Saturday. Along with others in the Hamas, Deif considers the Oslo Accords, which briefly promised a negotiated peace settlement in the late 1990s, as betraying its resistance and the original aim to replace Israel with a Palestinian state. 'Deif has tried to start the second war of Israeli independence,' said Eyal Rosen, a colonel in the Israeli army's reserves who in a previous role concentrated on the Gaza Strip. 'The main goal is by steps to destroy Israel. This is one of the first steps this is just the beginning.' Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday, killing hundreds of 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. 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 Smoke billows from a building in Gaza after Israel fired missiles in response to Palestinian air strikes earlier on Saturday Palestinians use an excavator to break through the border fence separating the occupied Gaza Strip from Israel on Saturday A rocket is fired from within Gaza City after Israeli forces began launching airstrikes in response to the Hamas offensive on Saturday Men believed to be Palestinian militants are seen riding an Israeli military vehicle on Saturday after reportedly seizing it close to the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip The mass raid in the early hours of Saturday has left least 700 people dead in Israel, and another 1,200 people wounded, many critically. 'This is the day of the greatest battle to end the last occupation on earth,' said Deif, who is behind a decades-long campaign against the Jewish state, announcing the start of the operation in a broadcast on Hamas media and calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. Deif said the assault on Saturday 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. He added: 'Today the people are regaining their revolution.' The BBC's former director of television joined voices today criticising the broadcaster for not calling the Hamas gunmen terrorists in news broadcasts. Bulletins went out of their way to call them a 'militant group' and the appalling massacre a 'militant attack'. The terrorists are known to have murdered 700 Israelis so far in the outrage, which has been likened to 9/11. Danny Cohen, the former director of television at the BBC, expressed disbelief at his former employer's reluctance to label Hamas a terror group. He said: 'This is no time for the BBC or any other UK news organisation to call terrorism anything but what it is. 'Having worked for the BBC, I understand the delicate balancing act it aims to perform. I also know that the BBC employs a great number of dedicated journalists, committed to their profession and their belief in the important role it plays in a healthy democracy. Danny Cohen, the former director of television at the BBC, expressed disbelief at his former employer's reluctance to label Hamas a terror group 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 The BBC has been slammed for referring to Hamas, a terror group, as 'militants' and describing attacks as 'militant attacks' 'This is why it makes it even harder to understand why BBC News is unable to see something for what it is and call it what it is, without prevarication, without qualification. 'Words matter. The BBC, and other UK news organisations, are failing the public when they fail to accurately report terrorism and war crimes for what they are,' he wrote in the Telegraph. Mr Cohen's thoughts were echoed by human rights organisation The Simon Wiesenthal Center. Director Michele Alkin said: 'There has been a long, double standard by the BBC, as well as other media outlets, in terms of usage of the term 'terrorist' vis-a-vis Israel. 'It is absolutely imperative there be one, fair standard used. Sadly, the Jewish State continues to be singled out.' Although the government classifies Hamas as a 'single terrorist organisation', the BBC 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. A plume of smoke rises above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike in retaliation to Hamas terror attack on Saturday An Israeli soldier directs a self-propelled howitzer near the southern city of Ashkelon About 700 Israelis have reportedly been killed since the Palestinian terrorists crossed over into Israel from the Gaza Strip in a surprise assault. One BBC online report described a warning that 'Hamas militants from Gaza are still fighting' in Israel. 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. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, after the terror attack by Hamas 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. '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.' Dachshund lovers were in for a treat when up to a thousand of the dogs and their owners gathered for the world's biggest sausage dog gathering yesterday. The little dogs met up at Southwold's harbour, in Suffolk, on Sunday morning before setting off for their sunny stroll which ended at the town's pier. Among them was Laura Baggott, 32, an eyebrow tattoo artist from Leiston, Suffolk, who owns three dachshunds and first organised the walk on Facebook in 2017 when just 150 dogs attended. The much-loved event has been staged every year since, apart from during the Covid pandemic in 2020, and has gradually grown in size. Last year, the gathering set an unofficial world record for the world's biggest ever gathering of dogs of any breed - when 2,238 dachshunds attended. Four rescue dachshunds owned by Karen and Brian Hodgkins Woodie, the dachshund, pictured with his wheels which help him take part in the annual sausage dog walk Laura Baggott, 32, who organises the world's biggest annual gathering of sausage dogs Some of the estimated 1,000 dachshunds walking on the beach at Southwold, Suffolk Julie Attewell with daughter Arabella and her family's five dachshunds The sound of exciting yapping filled the air in the seaside town. Pictured: Dachshund owners on the beach on Sunday morning Up to a thousand dachshunds and their owners gathered to walk more than a mile in the sunshine along the sandy beach at Southwold But this year's walk was scaled back after council officials ruled that a license costing 1,000 needed to be applied for if organisers wanted to erect a stage for live music. Ms Baggott said: 'We were not counting the number of dogs this year, having set the record last year. 'Basically we just take over Southwold for the day. The dogs like to socialise and it is a fantastic atmosphere.' The event is partly aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) which is common in sausage dogs due to their long bodies. Mark O'Donnell and wife Roxanne of Beccles, Suffolk, attended with their seven-year-old disabled dachshund Woodie who has a set of wheels to support him, as he suffers from IVDD. Roxanne said: 'He has had his wheels for two years and is really happy because he can get around like any other dog.' Social worker Liz Hewitt, 67, of Ipswich, Suffolk who was with husband Dave and her family's three dachshunds, said: 'This is just the best day out. Beautician Barbara Wolanska and her dachshund Tilly at the sausage dog walk The little dogs met up at the town's harbour in the morning before setting off for their stroll The annual stroll which ended at Southwold Pier. Pictured: Two excited dog owners The event has been staged every year since, apart from during Covid in 2020, and has gradually grown in size Liz Hewitt with her family's dachshunds, taking part in the world's biggest annual gathering of sausage dogs Mark O'Donnell and wife Roxanne with their two dachshunds including Woodie, who is on wheels 'It is marvellous to get to get together with other dachshund owners and have a brilliant day in the sunshine. Southwold is lovely, and so are all the people and dogs.' Karen Hodgkins, 60, of Bowers Gifford, Essex, who was with husband Brian, 71, and their four rescue dogs, said: 'Dachshunds are just the best breed. 'They are such fantastic little characters. They talk to you and communicate, and love their cuddles.' Hairdresser Julie Attewell, 39, of Hadleigh, Suffolk, who was at the walk with her seven-month-old daughter Arabella, her mother Sharron Wilkinson and their five dachshunds, added: 'We didn't want to miss today. The event is partly aimed at raising awareness and funds to combat Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) which is common in sausage dogs due to their long bodies Dachshund owners strolling along the Southwold seafront during the world's biggest annual gathering for sausage dogs 'We love our dachshunds. They are like a big dog in a small dog's body, and make wonderful pets.' Teresa Godsafe of Bungay, Suffolk, who was with her son Gary and their three dachshunds, said: 'I have had these dogs since my son was six months old. 'I just love them. They are so easy to live with. You can also have fun and games with them. We are out every day over the fields and on beaches.' Polish beautician Barbara Wolanska of Ipswich, Suffolk, who was with her pet Tilly, said: 'I grew up with dachshunds. Having one is great for my mental health.' A woman called Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel 'inspiring' and 'beautiful' at a pro-Palestine protest in Brighton yesterday. Demonstrators from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign gathered at the Clock Tower in North Street following the group's mass attack on the Jewish state the day before. One woman who described herself as a Palestinian told the crowd through a loudhailer: 'Yesterday was a victory. For freedom fighters to break out of a 15-year blockade so successfully under the inhuman genocide of Israel was so beautiful and inspiring to see. 'It shows the world that we will always fight and always resist and we need to celebrate these acts of resistance because this was a success. Revolutionary violence initiated by Palestinians is not terrorism - it is self-defence...' Her words were greeted by applause. Security is currently being ramped up across the UK amid fears spiralling violence in the Middle East will fuel a rise in antisemitic hate crime. 'Free Palestine' was seen daubed onto bridges this morning in Golders Green - home to London's largest Jewish community. A local Kosher restaurant had its windows smashed overnight, but the Met Police is treating this as a burglary rather than a hate crime. Patrols have been increased in London after Hamas began a wave of cross-border terrorist attacks and kidnappings in Israel on Saturday. A woman hails Hamas attacks on Israel as a 'success' during a protest in Brighton yesterday Demonstrators from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign gathered at the Clock Tower in North Street yesterday 'Free Palestine ' was seen daubed onto bridges this morning in Golders Green - home to London 's largest Jewish community Graffiti on a railway bridge this morning next to Golders Green Underground station Buses pass more pro-Palestine graffiti in Golders Green today Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for police to 'use the full force of the law' against displays of support for Hamas, which is a proscribed terror group. Despite her intervention, there have been visible displays of support for Hamas terrorists in parts of Britain. Rivkah Brown, commissioning editor at Novara Media, wrote on X to call the first day of the bloody rampage 'a day of celebration'. She said on Saturday: 'Today should be a day of celebration for supporters of democracy and human rights worldwide, as Gazans break out of their open-air prison and Hamas fighters cross into their colonisers' territory. READ MORE - Left-wing journalist Rivkah Brown sparks fury with tweet celebrating Hamas attack on Israel Advertisement 'The struggle for freedom is rarely bloodless and we shouldn't apologise for it.' That same day 60 Israelis were kidnapped, including children, mothers and old women. 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 following the terrorist incursions. Screenshots of posts from their respective Instagram accounts have described the scenes as a 'heroic fight' by 'the martyrs' against 'fascist and criminal settlers', the Telegraph reported. The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has called for university and students' union bosses to 'take harsh action against this despicable celebration of violence'. Politicians across the world have condemned the Hamas invasion, including Muslim leaders, but there have been cheers and triumphant flag waving in some parts of Britain. Yesterday, a Palestinian woman told a rally in Brighton the terrorist atrocities were 'inspiring', 'beautiful' and a 'success', while on Saturday horns blared in celebration in parts of London. 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. She tweeted: 'People have been brutally murdered and kidnapped and there are people in London dancing.' A local Kosher restaurant had its windows smashed over night, but the Met Police is treating this as a burglary rather than a hate crime People celebrating the Hamas atrocity in Israel outside a cafe in Acton, West London yesterday Groups gathered to celebrate the atrocities in parts of London on Saturday night by waving Palestinian flags and sounding car horns. So far, 700 Israelis have died in the violence while more than 100 have been kidnapped. Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes in Gaza in preparation for a major ground offensive, with officials reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. READ MORE - Jeremy Corbyn risks fresh fury by suggesting Israel 'occupation' is the root cause of Hamas atrocities Advertisement Antisemitism charity the Community Security Trust (CST) said it expected to see an increase in hate crimes against Jews. There are fears tension could increase today with Pro-Palestine protests planned in several cities, including London and Newcastle. Scotland Yard said the force had been made aware of a number of incidents in the capital in connection with the conflict in Israel, with protests also planned in the coming days. A spokesman added: '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.' A source at the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, said there was a great deal of concern about violent clashes and vandalism at a protest and counter-protest planned this evening. The Met Police has confirmed that officers will step up patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks and protests Rivkah Brown, commissioning editor at Novara Media, wrote on X to call the first day of the bloody rampage 'a day of celebration' The vile tweet praising the murderous attack was shared on X on Saturday 'It is going to be big, I think and there will be Israelis protesting too on High Street Kensington,' they added. 'We also this morning saw people smashing up Israeli-owned shops, cafes and businesses in north London. 'It is so sad to see I don't know who feels as if not enough damage has been caused in Israel that they have to cause more destruction in London. 'The attacks are the biggest we have seen it is our 9/11. 'It is going to take a long time to bring back peace and security in Israel and among the community across Britain.' Ms Braverman said she had spoken to the Community Security Trust (CST) to ensure that the '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,' she said. '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.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) has called for police to 'use the full force of the law' against displays of support for Hamas, which is a proscribed terror group Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities Meanwhile, the murders were applauded at a left wing event, called The World Transforms, on the sidelines of the Labour conference yesterday. Clapping for the bloody violence broke out amongst audience members at a meeting to mark 75 years since the Nakba or 'catastrophe' that led to the creation of the Jewish state. 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' The event is not officially linked to Labour but was created while Jeremy Corbyn was the party leader. READ MORE - Outrage as 31 Harvard organisations including US university's Amnesty International affiliate blame Israel for Hamas terror Advertisement On Saturday, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley shared footage on social media showing two cars flying Palestinian flags in Acton. Riley's post on X had 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.' Mr Jenrick shared Riley's post and said: 'These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK.' Shadow policing minister Mr Philp later 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, formerly Twitter, Mr Philp wrote: 'This is sick. I'm appalled that anyone holds these repugnant views.' 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'. Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday Hamas militants began their attack early on Saturday and appeared to take the Israelis completely by surprise. Pictured is a grieving woman in the southern Israeli city of Sderot Israel has now hit Gaza with retaliatory air strikes. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday 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.' 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. READ MORE - Chilling video shows terrified Israeli revellers hiding in undergrowth and recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked festival Advertisement '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.' 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.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the attack on Israel as 'an appalling act of terror' and offered his support to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu. A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an 'emergency' demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli embassy. Jo Grose, Chief Executive of the United Synagogue, said: 'Whenever there is violence in the Middle East, we see ramifications on the streets of London and Manchester as British Jews - who don't vote for Israeli governments - are singled out by racists for antisemitic attacks. 'That British Jews, still reeling from the news more than 700 people were murdered in cold blood, should then find a kosher restaurant destroyed and antisemitic graffiti daubed on walls, is intolerable. 'We thank the police for the support they show the British Jewish community and hope that perpetrators will be brought to justice.' MailOnline has contacted the Palestine Solidarity Campaign for comment. MBABANE Auditor General (AG) Timothy Matsebula alleges that businessman Kareem Ashraff instructed him to drop the investigation and reinstate the suspended Ministry of Health officials who had taken government to court. The senior officers who took government to court are Principal Procurement Officer in the Ministry of Health Sincedile Magwaza and Deputy Director-Pharmaceutical Services Fortunate Bhembe. The AG made these allegations in his answering affidavit, in response to the urgent application wherein an order is being sought to direct him, prime minister, ministers of Finance and Health and AG, to produce, for purposes of copying, a report styled Forensic Investigation Report into Allegations of Irregularities Relations to Procurement, Acquisition and Distribution of Medicines to Public Health Facilities in Eswatini that was carried out by Funduzi Forensic Services (Pty) Limited at their instance to the applicants. According to the AG, Ashraff also allegedly told him that the two health officials had been unfairly treated. Demands He said it was then that he showed the businessman a copy of a transaction between one of the officers and SwaziPharm Wholesalers. Matsebula said he refused to give in to the demands that were allegedly made by Ashraff. The AG stated that the demands could not be stated in the court papers. He denied that the purported visit to his (Ashraff) residence was a surprise, instead he claimed that he was invited by him in his capacity as honourary consular general, not a businessman. It must be put on record that I have met other diplomats, consular and country representative with similar invitation and as an ascertaining exercise to them that the office of the auditor general is taking this investigation very serious and it is aware of its magnitude, the picture it is painting to the outside community, especially in their countries of origin regarding the health crisis the kingdom is facing, contended the AG. Applicants in the matter are SwaziPharm Wholesalers (Pty) Ltd, Ashraff and David Melvin. In the application, Ashraff alleged that the AG showed and allowed him to take pictures of parts of the forensic report during purported visits to his residence. The honourary consular general for the Republic of Indonesia in the Kingdom of Eswatini also alleged that Matsebula informed him that the report implicated the two Ministry of Health officials who took government to the Industrial Court over the investigation into medical drugs and supplies shortage. In his answering papers, Matsebula averred that Ashraff had no documented proof that he was directly involved in the deliberations pertaining to the forensic investigations. I would like to state categorically that I informed second respondent (Ashraff) that the forensic investigation was not complete but in progress. Furthermore, I deny that I had extracts of the forensic report and never showed the second applicant any extracts of the report, submitted the AG. He contended that his office was not obliged to furnish the applicants with the copy of the forensic report. There is no law that authorises the applicants to demand such a report from the respondents. This is in terms of Section 207 (5) and (7) of the Constitution, Section 4 (2) of the Audit Act, 2005, and Section 9 (viii) (b) and (c). The report has not been finalised and is not yet ready for the public since the second applicant has not established a direct interest, he argued. He went on to deny the assertion by the applicants that the forensic investigation was established by the Ministry of Health. Matsebula brought it to the attention of the court that, following an audit query from his office on the distribution and management of pharmaceuticals in the public health system, his office proposed that a forensic investigation be conducted, and Cabinet approved same. I would like to state emphatically that it is by law that the audit reports from the Supreme Audit Institution are received and adopted only by the Legislature/ Parliament, he argued. Scrutiny Meanwhile, in the application to have the report released, Ashraff argued that on a conspectus of the facts and the law, he and the other applicants were entitled to have access to the report and to subject it to judicial scrutiny. The report, which may be adopted by Cabinet at its final meeting, according to Ashraff, would have a direct and external effect in that certain resolutions may be taken by Cabinet on its (report) strength. The applicants have been condemned in the eyes of the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, suppliers in the pharmaceutical industry, role players in the diplomatic corps, members of the public and the international community in circumstances that are patently unfair and wrong. It is conceivable that criminal or civil proceedings may even be constituted on the strength of a false report, he argued. These are allegations whose veracity is still to be tested in court. The matter is still pending in court and appearing for the applicants is Senior Lawyer Zweli Jele of Robinson Bertram while for the respondents is Principal Counsel Vindinduku Manana from the chamber of the attorney general. A mother has shared the heartbreaking messages she received from her children moments after their father was brutally murdered in front of them by Hamas terrorists. Reut Karp took to Facebook on Sunday to reveal the final messages sent by her husband, Dvir, before he was killed in one of many surprise attacks launched by the terrorist group in Israel. In the exchange, 46-year-old Dvir says: 'There's a big mess here', before adding 'There is a heavy shooting in the kibbutz'. Concerned for the safety of her husband and children who were with their father, Reut replied: 'Shooting? Inside the kibbutz?' He said: 'Yes. That's how it sounds'. Referring to her children, Reut then replies: 'She wrote that she's in a safe place. Orly is calming down Lia'. But in a devastating turn of events, Reut's daughter writes back: 'Mom, it's Daria... Dad has been murdered. Stav too. Help'. Reut Karp has shared the chilling moment that she found out that her husband and father of her children was killed by Hamas terrorists In a heartbreaking exchange on WhatsApp, Dvir's daughter reveals her father has been shot and killed in the terrorist attack Reut took to Facebook on Sunday to reveal the final messages sent by her husband, Dvir, 46, before he was brutally murdered in front of their three children by the terrorist group Hamas Sharing the correspondence, Reut wrote on social media: 'My last messages with my husband, the father of my children, Dvir Karp. 'Dvir Karp RIP 1977 - 2023 Rest in peace'. Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel on Saturday, that has so far killed more than 700 Israelis and injured 1,200. Meanwhile, more than 100 Israelis are being held captive, a senior Hamas official said yesterday. In a following post, Reut then explained the events that transpired, leading up to the messages. She penned: 'At 8:20 a.m. terrorists entered Dvir's home, he lunged at them with an axe, tried to protect my two kids who were with him, and was murdered in front of their eyes,' she posted. 'His partner Stav also tried to protect them, but was murdered as well. The terrorist calmed down my Daria and Lavi, covered them in a blanket, took lipstick and wrote on the wall: 'The al-Qassam [Brigades] people don't murder children.' 'For three hours, I was on the phone with Daria, calming her down, hearing her breathe heavily and in fear. 'She was hearing someone still inside the house and I instructed her to be silent,' said Reut, who lives in Yehud. Sharing the correspondence, Reut wrote on social media: 'My last messages with my husband, the father of my children, Dvir Karp. 'Dvir Karp RIP 1977 - 2023 Rest in peace' Hamas terrorists leave marking on the wall, reading: 'The al-Qassam [Brigades] people don't murder children' Eventually, she said, an armed civilian found and rescued the kids through the window to avoid passing by the bodies and took them to a safe home where they were still besieged and unable to leave the kibbutz as of Sunday. It comes after chilling video emerged of the moment terrified Israeli festivalgoers were forced to hide in the undergrowth to avoid a hail of bullets from Hamas gunmen in a massacre that has left some 260 civilians dead. Survivors of the attack posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian militant group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. Music at the deadly targeted rave, which survivors said initially had 'good vibes', played all night until around 6.30am, when a siren began blaring warning of rockets. Festivalgoers knew there was a risk of rocket attacks. What they didn't expect was truckloads of armed gunmen cutting power to the festival and storming the site, firing indiscriminately into the crowd. Terrifying footage shows innocent civilians screaming as shots are fired while police are seen trying to help people evacuate. Some are heard shouting, 'go, go, go!' as they clasped hands and sprinted away from the oncoming trucks who followed behind and sprayed bullets. Confirming the horror, the Israeli rescue service Zaka said it had recovered at least 260 bodies in the aftermath of the attack. Corpses of young revellers were seen piled up on top of each other in makeshift tents last night as emergency workers tried to identify their remains. This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars. The distressing image, shared in a pixelated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags at the site of the 'beautiful party' that turned into a horrific massacre. Footage from the aftermath shows empty festival tents and abandoned cars strewn frantically across the road riddled with bullets. Many terrified victims had fled across the sand on foot to their cars in an attempt to drive away from the horrors, only to be met with gunfire from attackers piled into jeeps going 'tree by tree' in a search for targets. Distraught relatives, hoping to find their loved ones, were yesterday asked to bring personal items such as combs and toothbrushes belonging to their missing children so investigators can attempt to match their identification. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack over the weekend, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. A distressing image, shared in a pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at the festival site One heroic Israeli father, Mark Peretz, 50, had raced down to the scene as the horror unfolded in hopes of rescuing his 20-year-old daughter Maya. Both (pictured together) remain unaccounted for In response, the Israeli army said Monday it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight retaliatory strikes on the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. 'Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,' the military said in a statement. One heroic Israeli father, Mark Peretz, 50, had raced down to the scene as the scene horror unfolded in hopes of rescuing his 20-year-old daughter Maya who is amongst the unaccounted for. Maya was with a group of 12 when she managed to escape the festival by car but they were later forced to abandon the vehicle. Mark knew he had been heading into danger when he began his journey south and had been on the phone with his family when gunshots sounded and the call was cut off. No one has heard from Mark since, with his son's friends - all of whom are ex-military - began searching for him. They found his car but no trace of the distressed father. '[He] dropped everything and drove there. Even given the situation, given the fact that there were rockets being thrown over our heads. 'Given the fact that he saw Hamas terrorists riding into Israel, taking parachutes into Israel he went to go rescue Maya,' Mark's daughter-in-law, Jessica Cohen, 24, told The New York Post. He had been around 20 minutes away from Maya when the phone cut out. 'We were on the phone with him and we heard gunshots, and don't know exactly sure what happened,' Jessica added. Both Mark and Maya remain missing. Amongst those unaccounted for are Noa Argamani and her boyfriend Avi Nathan. Heartbreaking footage showed the 25-year-old student screaming 'Don't kill me! No, no, no' as she was forced onto the back of a motorcycle just metres away from her helpless boyfriend who was held at gunpoint. Both remain missing. Widely shared on social media, the footage of Noa's kidnapping is almost too distressing to bear. 'Imagine what it is like for her family,' said her university roommate, Amir Moadi. Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life 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 They found out she had been snatched only when they chanced upon the footage online. Yesterday her inconsolable father, Yaacov Argamani, sobbed as he voiced his fears for her safety, saying: 'she was so petrified, so scared'. Speaking through tears, he said: 'I was hoping this is a mistake that it's not true. And then in the hospital a guy asked me if I wanted to see. I said yes and then I know for sure it is Noa... she was so petrified, so scared.' He then begins to uncontrollably sob. 'I was always so protective but in this moment I couldn't protect her,' he told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 News. 'All my life since she was born I have tried to protect and hug her, support and love her. I wish I could at this difficult moment at least encourage her or say something to her.' Noa's aunt, Yaffe Ohad, said they were 'crazy with worry'. She said: 'We know that Noa was kidnapped, probably in the hours of the beginning of the fighting.' A Jimmy Savile abuse survivor revealed how she underestimated how confronting she would find it when she saw actor Steve Coogan dressed as the paedophile for the new BBC drama The Reckoning. The four-part series will tell the story of the disgraced children's entertainer's upbringing, his early career and horrific child sex offences and is set to air tonight - despite a backlash from victims. Steve Coogan, known for portraying comedy character Alan Partridge, will play Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84 having never been brought to justice for his crimes. Abuse survivor Sam Brown told GMB what it was like being involved in the making of the controversial drama - which has come under fire by some of Savile's victims for 'retraumatising' them. Ms Brown told Susanna Reid and Ed Balls that she felt invincible until during filming, when she first saw Steve Coogan dressed as her abuser, and did not realise she was speaking out loud her thoughts of panic. The four-part series is set to be screened by the BBC, despite backlash from victims of the sex offender Steve Coogan filming the BBC drama 'The Reckoning' as he plays the part of paedophile Jimmy Savile 'When I saw that child, when me and my husband Jim just watched it by ourselves, I felt really sad for that little girl' She revealed how Coogan had tried to reassure her saying: 'Sam, I'm in dress, I'm in character, I'm not him. Remember I'm acting.' Ms Brown, who was abused by Jimmy Savile at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Church, also spoke about what it was like when she first saw actor Steve Coogan as Savile on set. 'I kind of thought that I'm a bit invincible and everyone was saying "have you thought about how this is going to feel" and I was like "Yeah no problem". 'Then there was a graveyard scene, so he [Steve Coogan] began to walk up to us and inside of my head I was screaming like "Give me a minute, give me a minute, step back." 'I was doing all of this in my head, not realising that this was coming out of my mouth, I didn't even know I was saying this.' When Susanna asked Ms Brown what it is like to see what she went through represented on screen in the new drama, she revealed: 'I am an adult looking back on a child, with my adult views. 'It started when I was about eleven and this went on for about three years. When I saw that child, when me and my husband Jim just watched it by ourselves, I felt really sad for that little girl. 'I really felt sad for her and Jim was like, "Well that's you". But it was quite a lot to see me as a child because I looked at her as a child.' 'You're not having that opportunity to learn and this is very relevant to all the other groomers. The pattern is the same.' Ms Brown, who was abused by Jimmy Savile at Stoke Mandeville Hospital Church, spoke to Susanna Reid and Ed Balls The Reckoning, which will trace the disgraced former star's upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences, finished filming in January 2022 (Jimmy pictured in 2006) Savile, who died before his 'monstrous' crimes were exposed, hid in plain sight and abused his position as a TV star to prey on vulnerable children and get close to them. Allegations against Savile indicate that he sexually assaulted more than 400 people over a 54-year span, with his victims ranging from five to 75 years old. The BBC's decision to chronicle Savile's life has received backlash from victims who feared the drama would exploit their pain for ratings and glorify his crimes. The public service broadcaster has said it worked with his some of his victims to portray the story 'with sensitivity and respect'. Ms Brown said she wants The Reckoning to be a hard watch 'because this wasn't easy for us guys and if it isn't a hard watch, you aren't coming away with anything. 'You're not having that opportunity to learn and this is very relevant to all the other groomers. The pattern is the same.' She also shared why she believed that Savile was able to get away with his crimes for so long. 'Do you know what, I think it is the same with any groomer, they have an absolute charm. 'He had a charm to everyone else, not to me. I knew that when I walked into that little presbytery room, that I had to go in and get the collection plate from, I knew when I walked in there that he filled that room with power and I couldn't look up.' When Ed asked Ms Brown why she didn't think she was brave, she said: 'I don't think I am brave, I use all of these opportunities for everyone that can't. That's not bravery, that's my job. 'I feel strongly enough to do this and my life is to do this. We all kind of think that everyone looks at us and kind of thinks we are a bit rubbish and you know we aren't really worth much and that is what you feel like. 'I want everyone at home to know that We are strong and we have succeeded as people, that's really important for me.' In August the first official still for the new drama was released ahead of its broadcast When asked what Ms Brown would say to the people who 'allowed' Savile's abuse to continue, she replied: 'I don't know who I would have been. I'm a person that couldn't fit education in my brain because I was too busy being alive. 'You know the general thing of not loving anyone and not feeling worthy of love. I don't know who I would have been if they would have stopped it and if they would have saved all these people and now I would say to them "It's your fault and you are accountable."' She continued 'Anybody who knows about any abuse, and that is every day of the week, if you do not raise that, you are party [to it]. 'You need to raise that and if somebody isn't going to listen, then you talk to somebody higher than that because otherwise, you are the person enabling for us to have a real tricky life.' The first episode of The Reckoning will air on October 9 on the BBC. Labour's leadership has seen off attempts by former leader Lord Kinnock and Tony Blair-era spin chief Alastair Campbell to have an open debate on 'the Tories' disastrous Brexit deal' at the party's conference. The two Remainers lead a campaign by pressure group Labour 4 Europe to have a debate and vote on pursuing closer ties with Brussels at the event in Liverpool. But the effort came to nothing despite the two big beasts of Labour politics issuing social media videos urging party members to allow the debate to go ahead. Sir Keir Starmer has been battling to keep a lid on Brexit divisions in the party, dashing hopes of the pro-EU wing that it will seek to rejoin the single market or customs union if it wins power. However, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy today told the conference that improving the relationship with the EU would be a 'priority' for a Labour government. It came after he last night told activists: 'No one in this room, in all seriousness, would suggest that you... could get married again without even going on a date.' Mr Campbell, who was Mr Blair's firebrand top spin doctor when he was in No10, said: 'This conference gives Labour the opportunity, after the shambles of last week, to show that they're serious and part of being serious is debating the things that are doing real damage to this country. And that includes the Tories' disastrous Brexit deal.' Sir Keir Starmer has been battling to keep a lid on Brexit divisions in the party, dashing hopes of the pro-EU wing that it will seek to rejoin the single market or customs union if it wins power Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy today told the conference that improving the relationship with the EU would be a 'priority' for a Labour government And Lord Kinnock, who led the party to defeat in the 1987 and 1992 general elections, added: 'Everyone now knows that Brexit has inflicted, is inflicting, terrible costs and losses on our economy and it's diminished our country internationally. 'Obviously Labour wants to change that bleak reality, and part of doing that should involve discussing it at our conference.' Allies of the leader kept the issue off the floor. Instead Labour delegates will debate and vote in seven subjects: Defence, Ukraine, Critical infrastructure, Industrial strategy, education and skills, Social care workforce, Technology and AI in the workplace, and Energy. In his speech to conference this morning, Mr Lammy said: 'Earlier this year the Conservative Party Press Office attacked me for saying that improving our relationship with the European Union will be a priority. Conference, I'm happy to repeat it. 'If you have forgotten that Britain's trade with Europe is a priority for our economy, you need to wake up. The two Remainers lead a campaign by pressure group Labour 4 Europe to have a debate and vote on pursuing closer ties with Brussels at the event in Liverpool 'If you've forgotten Britain's alliances in Europe are a priority for our security, you need to wake up. If you've forgotten we need to work with Europe to tackle organised crime, you need to wake up. If you've forgotten UK universities depend on links with Europe, you need to wake up. If you've forgotten the French president is our friend not our foe, you need to wake up. 'With Labour there will be no return to the Single Market or the Customs Union. But Keir Starmer is committed to improving our relations with the EU. Delivering Britain a much better deal. And seeking a new security pact to keep our country safe.' Australians are being urged to prepare for seven months of severe weather after the Bureau of Meteorology released a grim long-term forecast. While severe weather can occur at any time of the year, the national weather agency has warned extreme conditions are most likely to occur between October and April. The coming months will bring an increased risk of heatwaves and bushfires due to El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole climate conditions. The climate drivers typically result in lower rainfall and higher temperatures individually, and the phenomenon is strengthened when they occur together. Australians are being urged to prepare for seven months of severe weather after the Bureau of Meteorology released a grim long-term forecast The coming months will bring an increased risk of heatwaves and bushfires due to El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole climate conditions Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said the forecast showed a high chance most of the country would experience unusually warm temperatures until at least February 2024. 'Daytime and night-time temperatures have an increased chance of being unusually warm for October to February,' she said. 'Warm nights after hot days means little relief from heat and can lead to heat stress.' Much of eastern and southern Australia will also be at risk of increased bushfires due to high temperatures, reduced rainfall, and increased fuel load. 'There is always a risk of dangerous and destructive fires in Australia at this time of year,' Ms Scully noted. 'Grass growth due to above average rainfall in the past two to three years is contributing to an increased fire risk.' The bushfire season started worryingly early this year, with 70 fires blazing throughout NSW in August. In the intervening weeks, dangerous fires have been reported in every jurisdiction in Australia and several have forced emergency evacuations of large communities. The NSW South Coast town of Bermagui and surrounding areas were told it was too late to leave on October 3 According to the Bureau, the El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole events will result in an 80 per cent chance of fewer tropical cyclones. Picture: NASA/Earth Observatory However, there is a silver lining for millions of Australians in the recent BOM forecast. According to the Bureau, the El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole events will result in an 80 per cent chance of fewer tropical cyclones. 'During El Nino, the number of tropical cyclones in the Australian region is often below average,' Ms Scully said. However, BOM notes at least one tropical cyclone crosses Australian coasts every season. The area most likely to be affected is the northwest coast between Broome and Exmouth in Western Australia. Northern Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory also usually experience a high number of tropical cyclones. Residents of those areas will receive some reprieve with the Bureau predicting that changing weather conditions will delay the start of the cyclone season. 'On average the first tropical cyclone crosses the Australian coast in late December,' Ms Scully said. 'This can be later in El Nino years - possibly early to mid-January.' The Bureau of Meteorology has warned Australians to be prepared for seven months of severe weather conditions. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology The Bureau predicts the start of the summer monsoon will also be delayed by a few weeks until early January. There will be a normal risk of severe thunderstorms in late spring and early summer, according to the weather forecast. Despite the drier-than-usual conditions, BOM warns heavy rainfall could still result in localised flash flooding or riverine flooding. Preparation is key, according to the Bureau, which urges Australians to keep up to date with the latest weather warnings. The extreme weather forecast comes on the heels of Australia's hottest winter on record. Home Office lawyers today insisted there is a 'strong public interest' in deterring migrants from making the 'perilous' journey across the Channel as judges consider the fate of the Rwanda scheme. The Government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the multimillion-pound deal - which would see asylum seekers deported to the east African nation - was unlawful. Sir James Eadie KC, representing Suella Braverman's department, said the Government attached 'considerable importance' to its Rwanda deportation policy. The barrister said there was 'a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey, typically across the Channel, from a safe country'. He added that such journeys were often 'facilitated by people smugglers'. Sir James said there was a 'strong public interest in the legitimate, and indeed key, policy aim'. A three-day Supreme Court hearing starts this morning with ministers seeking to show the proposed multi-million-pound scheme is lawful Home Secretary Suella Braverman with Rwanda president Paul Kagame during a visit to Kigali in March At the start of the three-day hearing today Sir James said that the policy to remove people to 'a country less attractive' than the UK, 'but nevertheless safe', is lawful. 'The appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by the Government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state - Rwanda,' he told a panel of five justices. The barrister said both countries are 'committed' to the deal, with 'very powerful' practical incentives for Rwanda to comply with the assurances given. Sir James later referenced concerns that had been raised over the policy and Rwanda's history, including by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. READ MORE - Teenage migrant drowns while trying to cross the Channel in small boat carrying 60 people Advertisement The barrister continued: 'Both the Government and the Rwandan government were fully aware of the likely controversy of the arrangements that were made when the deal was signed.' Sir James said: 'The UK cannot possibly seek to resolve those issues. That does not mean that those concerns having been received should be ignored, quite the contrary.' The barrister added: 'Whatever debates there might have been... it is, at best, peripheral. This is a new context with a new set of detailed arrangements.' The UNHCR, which has intervened in the legal challenges over the policy, previously said Rwanda 'lacks irreducible minimum components of an accessible, reliable, fair and efficient asylum system'. In the agency's written submissions to the Supreme Court, Angus McCullough KC said it had 'consistently expressed grave concerns' about the safety and legality of the policy. He continued: 'UNHCR maintains its unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda under the UK-Rwanda Arrangement.' Several asylum seekers who were set to be deported on the first planned flight to Rwanda in June 2022 - which was grounded minutes before take-off following a ruling by a judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg - are opposing the appeal. Raza Husain KC, for several of the asylum seekers in the case, described Rwanda at a previous hearing as 'a highly autocratic repressive state' which 'imprisons, tortures and murders those it considers to be its opponents'. He said in written submissions to the Supreme Court: 'The policy is an inherently difficult one to achieve lawfully. Migrants are brought ashore at Dover today after being intercepted by a Border Force vessel The Supreme Court was today told of a 'serious and pressing need' to deter further crossings 'On the one hand, for the deterrent purpose of removal to a third country to be successful, the third country must be a sufficiently unattractive location to an asylum seeker travelling to the UK. 'On the other hand, the third country must not be unattractive because it falls short of Article 3 (the right to be free from torture) and Refugee Convention standards.' Doctors without Borders executive director Natalie Roberts called the Government's plans to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda as 'cruel, dangerous and futile', and said they 'will cause immense suffering'. Dr Roberts said: 'Now, even before anyone has been expelled to Rwanda, we are already seeing the harm caused by the prospect of being removed there. 'The policy has triggered fear and confusion, exacerbating the mental health conditions - including post-traumatic stress disorder and depression - of people who have already suffered harrowing situations in their countries of origin followed by highly traumatic journeys, and who are now threatened with expulsion. 'It is abhorrent that the UK is punishing people simply for seeking safety - and at the same time shutting down the few safe routes to the country that exist. 'Ministers must abandon the Rwanda policy and instead focus on establishing routes to the UK for people fleeing conflict and persecution.' Mrs Braverman toured a building site on the outskirts of Kigali in March as she was shown preparations for asylum seekers being sent to Rwanda The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is expected to end on Wednesday, with a judgment at a later date. Cabinet ministers are said to be confident the Supreme Court hearing will go in their favour due to its previous rulings that have warned against over-interpretation of human rights laws. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made the Rwanda plan a key part of his pledge to 'stop the boats' as he seeks to end the Channel migrant crisis. He said at the Tory conference in Manchester last week: '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. 'Our new law will ensure that if you come here illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed. Now I'm confident that once flights start going regularly to Rwanda, the boats will stop coming.' He added: 'I am confident that our approach complies with our international obligations. But know this - I will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats.' Sir Keir Starmer, speaking at this week's Labour party conference in Liverpool, vowed to scrap plans to forcibly remove asylum seekers even if the policy is deemed legal by the courts and such action reduces the number of unauthorised Channel crossings. The Labour leader was asked in a BBC interview if he would terminate the plans even if judges approve it and small boat crossings then decline. 'Yes. I think it's the wrong policy, it's hugely expensive,' he told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. '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.' Three siblings mistakenly disinherited by their 'illiterate' painter father because he couldn't understand his own will have won their court fight for a share of his 700,000 fortune. 'Proud' father Kenneth Grizzle had left nothing in his will for his three children from his marriage, instead giving everything to his lover of 40 years, Theodora Richeford. Hope Dillon, 65, Jo-Ann Morris, 62, and Leonard Grizzle, 64, claimed their father always struggled with reading, never read them bedtime stories as children and even dictated Christmas cards. He had five children with two women - his wife Ena Grizzle and later Ms Richefond - but left his three kids on the Grizzle side of the family nothing in his will. Instead, his estate, including the Grizzle family's terraced Victorian home in Forest Gate, east London, went to former charity worker Ms Richefond when he died, aged 83, in 2019. But the trio successfully sued, claiming their father must have disinherited them by mistake, because he always intended that their former family home in east London would be theirs. Jo-Ann Morris, Leonard Grizzle and Hope Dillon outside the High Court after the hearing over their father Kenneth Grizzle's will The Forest Gate house at the centre of court fight over the will. The Grizzle children will each get a slice of the 550,000 property alongside their two half-siblings They have each been awarded a 110,000 slice of the Forest Gate home which they will share with half-siblings Lee and Kym Richeford. Following a trial at the High Court, a judge ruled in the trio's favour, finding that their father could not have understood he was cutting them out when he made the will in 2013. Deputy Master Katherine MacQuail said that, although Mr Grizzle's literacy had improved over the years, he could not without help have understood the effect of the will he signed. She ordered that one clause of the will be torn up. During the trial, the London court heard Mr Grizzle and his wife Ena were married in 1964 and had three children, buying their home in Sebert Road, Forest Gate, in 1967. However, the relationship ended and he left the family home in 1974, before later meeting Theodora Richefond, now 73, and beginning a 40-year relationship with her. Together, they had two children, Lee and Kym, and also brought up Theodora's son Gary from a previous relationship, living at a house they bought in Stanley Road, East Ham, in 1992. Mr Grizzle worked as a painter and decorator and continued to visit the Grizzle side of the family, never divorcing and still owning Sebert Road with his long separated wife. In 2013, he made his final will, which handed Gary, Lee and Kym his share of Stanley Road, but granted Ms Richefond the right to stay there for the rest of her life. Ms Richefond was to get the rest of his estate, which - because Ena crucially died before him - included the Grizzle children's family home in Sebert Road. Mr Grizzle had a 40-year relationship with Theodora Richefond, 73 But challenging the will, the Grizzle children said their father had always wanted them to ultimately have the Sebert Road house, which was there to 'look after' them. He must have believed that was the effect of his will, but was mistaken because he could not read well enough to understand its terms, they claimed. Their barrister, Adrian Carr, said there had been no evidence put before the court to prove that Mr Grizzle could read and write, and therefore understand the terms of his will. Despite 500 pages of documents, not one showed his handwriting, he said. His children said he had not read to them at bedtime and he had used another family member as his 'secretary' to help him with filling in forms, he said. It meant he could not have read the 2013 will and understood that he might be disinheriting his three eldest children if Ena died before him. He had been completely reliant on what his will writer advised him. Mr Carr said there was a 'family understanding that Stanley Road was for the Richefond side of the family and Sebert Road was for the Grizzle side of the family'. And in giving evidence, Ms Morris described the situation as 'very very sad', because she thought her father's other family would stand by that 'understanding'. 'What I am disappointed about is Stanley Road doing what they're doing when it was always clear in our family that Sebert Road would come to us once mum and dad had passed,' she told the judge. Mr Carr continued: 'The deceased was not concerned because he always believed that as Sebert Road was jointly owned it would pass to Ena and when she died it would pass to the Grizzle children. 'He was adamant that Sebert Road belonged to Ena and the Grizzle children.' When he was reminded that his children with Mrs Richefond could make a claim against Sebert Road if their mother died first, he had become furious at the suggestion they 'would do such a thing'. Ultimately, their mother did die first, meaning her share of Sebert Road passed to Mr Grizzle under 'survivorship' rules and then to Ms Richefond under his will. Defending the claim and also claiming themselves to prove the will, Ms Richefond's barrister Julia Beer insisted that, by the time he made the will, Mr Grizzle could read, having taken lessons in the 1990s. She put before the judge text messages sent by Mr Grizzle and pointed out that he was able to read newspapers and pick which horses to bet on from the racing pages. 'Any difficulty with reading or writing which may have existed in the 1970s was historic and... there is clear evidence of the deceased being able to read and to write from old text messages from 2009 and 2010,' she said. 'It is clear that this is not a case where the testator can be said to have been illiterate.' She said the will was 'perfectly rational' and that the illiteracy allegation had been 'born out of disappointment' on the part of the Grizzles. The Grizzle family's terraced Victorian home in Forest Gate, east London, went to the former charity worker when he died Ruling on the case, the judge said Mr Grizzle had been a 'proud' man with a 'sharp mind and a good memory'. 'Nothing I have heard enables me to conclude that Kenneth would, without assistance from somebody who understood the document themselves, be able to fully understand the will and its legal consequences,' she said. 'Kenneth was not a sophisticated reader and there is no evidence that he had any legal knowledge.' She said the effect of her ruling was that the clause in his will leaving the residue of his estate - which included Sebert Road - was invalid. Instead, he died partially intestate, meaning that the Sebert Road house would have to be shared five ways between the three Grizzle children, plus Lee and Kym. The decision means each child is entitled to a 110,000 share of the house, which is said to be worth 550,000. His half-share of the Stanley Road house still passes to the Richefond side of the family, with Ms Richefond entitled to stay there for life. A British family hid inside a smoke-filled safe room for nine hours with their newborn baby while Hamas set fire to their home and tore down their village, it was reported. Aimee and Uriel Labban, UK-Israeli citizens, were asleep in their Nirwin home near the Gaza strip with their 10-day-old son Kai when they were awoken to rocket fire at 6am on Saturday. Hamas murderers killed their dog, torched their car and forced the family to flee to the safe room where they had to hold their baby up to the window for fresh air due to the smoke, the family said. The parents, both in their 30s, hid in the tiny room with Kai's grandmother Deborah Mintz, originally from Romford, fearing they would be killed if they stepped outside. They were finally freed just before 3pm local time as Israeli Defence Forces arrived and helped them to a nearby bomb shelter. Photographs show the traumatised family in the aftermath of the attack, with Ms Labban seen holding an oxygen mask to her face while clutching onto baby Kai. Aimee and Uriel Labban (pictured) reportedly hid inside a safe room for nine hours with their newborn baby Kai while Hamas set fire to their home and tore down their village The family were finally freed just before 3pm local time as Israeli Defence Forces arrived and helped them to a nearby bomb shelter Hamas terrorists killed the couple's dog, torched their car and forced the family to flee to the safe room Another image shows the couple during happier times - seemingly on their wedding day - looking at each other and smiling. Russell Langer, a policy researcher related to the family, told The Telegraph he learnt of their plight when getting a text message saying: 'We are stuck. They came in and burnt our house.' Mr Langer said he stayed in contact with the family via text, finding out how close the terrorists were to them and the death of the family's beloved dog, Mickey. 'They ran straight to the safe room. They can literally hear the terrorists. [The] room has been filled with smoke, so they basically lifted the baby up to the window to get fresh air,' Mr Langer told the newspaper. The family were able to wait out the terrorists and were eventually rescued by the IDF, who helped the family and neighbours to a shelter. Langer said: 'Baby Kai appears to be okay, but [he is] a bit covered in soot. The house is burnt out, as are their cars.' It comes as a missing Brit and his German girlfriend are believed to be dead by their heartbroken families after they vanished during the Hamas massacre - as friends say they have been told she is dead. At one point the couple had to hold baby Kai up to the window for air to protect him from the fumes A distressing image, shared in a pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at a festival site in Israel READ MORE: Chilling video shows terrified revellers hiding in undergrowth and recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked Israeli festival in massacre that left 260 dead Advertisement British photographer Danny Darlington, who lived in Berlin, and Carolin Bohl have not been heard from since hiding out in a bunker in Nir Or, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, according to Ms Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi. Mr Pasquesi said his family learned late on Sunday from a man working at the kibbutz that the bodies of the two had been identified. Heartbreaking photographs on Instagram show the pair laughing together shortly before they vanished during the deadly attack on Israel. Several Israeli news outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have now been killed in the country, with attacks continuing into Sunday and Monday. Ms Bohl's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel. Israel is drawing on its huge military might - including thousands of tanks, warplanes and troops - to obliterate Hamas after the terrorists launched a surprise assault that has so far killed 700 Israelis. Israeli forces have already used their strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip, with airstrikes and artillery destroying 1,000 targets belonging to Hamas and killing 560 Palestinians. And the onslaught won't stop there, with Israel's 173,000 soldiers, including 8,000 of its fearsome elite commandos, vying for the opportunity to kill Hamas terrorists who have killed more than 700 Israelis so far, including those massacred at a festival. They are now preparing to launch a massive co-ordinated ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy the Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fierce fighting erupt in the streets. The ground troops are drawing from Israel's arsenal of 300 military tanks including self-propelled howitzers to scour the country's southern and northern borders for Hamas gunman and guard the breaches in its border. Israel's military might is far superior to that of the Hamas terrorists, who currently only possess around 10,000 rockets that had been built up in secret. On top of the 173,000 active Israeli soldiers, Israel has today drafted in a record 300,000 reservists in its response to a multi-front Hamas attack from Gaza and is 'going on the offensive,' the chief military spokesperson said. Video shows hundreds of cars belonging to Israeli reservists abandoned along the streets close to a military base near Gaza after they reported for duty following Hamas's attack. Israel is drawing on its huge military might - including thousands of tanks, warplanes and troops - to obliterate Hamas after the terrorists launched a surprise assault that has so far killed 700 Israelis Israeli soldiers on a tank are seen near the Israel-Gaza border on Monday Israeli soldiers on a tank move near Gaza border as Israeli army deploys military vehicles around the Gaza Strip in Sderot, Israel, on Monday Israeli forces launch artillery fire towards southern Lebanon from the border zone in northern Israel on Monday Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday A member of the Palestinian civil defence carries a wounded boy rescued from the rubble of the Tattari family home which was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Monday A six-month baby called Sema al-Misri is being rescued under rubble after Israeli airstrike in Gaza Strip on Monday Video shows hundreds of cars belonging to Israeli reservists lining the streets close to a military base near Gaza after they reported for duty following Hamas's attack Israel is also drawing on its special forces from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit to fight against Hamas. It is believed that they will be aiming to take out those high-ranking fighters within the terrorist organisation and also rescue the hundreds of Israelis who have been taken hostage. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine after what has been described as the country's 'worst day in history' with the number of Israeli's killed in the conflict set to rise further. Hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have also been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack. The Israeli airstrikes have so far killed 500 people and flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. In a statement, the Israeli Air Force said it dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza aimed at over 10,000 targets in Gaza in the last 20 hours. Among the targets were three rocket launchers directed at Israel, a mosque where militants were operating and 21 high-rise buildings that served militant activity. But Palestinians are preparing for an offensive of unprecedented scale on the tiny, crowded enclave, exceeding previous bouts of destructive warfare that they fear will leave survivors destitute, without homes, water, electricity, hospitals or food. 'It doesn't need much thinking about. Israel suffered the biggest loss in its history so you can imagine what it is going to do,' said a resident of Beit Hanoun on Gaza's northeastern border with Israel. 'I took my family out at sunrise and dozens of other families did the same. Many of us got phone calls, audio messages from Israeli security officers telling us to leave because they will operate there,' he said. Families began stockpiling food as soon as Saturday's attack began but fear that despite Hamas assurances supplies will run low. And now, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned that the price Gaza would pay 'will change reality for generations' and Israel was imposing a total blockade with a ban on food and fuel imports as part of a battle against 'animals'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. By Monday afternoon, Hamas said more than 500 people had been killed, 2,700 wounded and 80,000 displaced in the hundreds of strikes that Israeli warplanes, drones, helicopters and artillery cannon have fired into Gaza. Gaza has no protected shelters designated for times of war. It comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Earlier, Israel's army said its forces were in 'full control of communities' in its southern territory near Gaza - hours after it said it was fighting Hamas terrorists in 'seven to eight' locations in the south. 'We are in full control of the communities,' military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists. But he said that fighting still raged in locations inside Israel where the fighters were still holed up after killing 700 Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. 'We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area,' he said in a televised briefing. Military officials had previously said that their focus was on securing Israel's side of the border before carrying out any major escalation of the counter-offensive in Gaza. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. Hagari said 300,000 reservists have been called up by the military since Saturday, , suggesting greater fighting lies ahead with a possible ground assault into Gaza. 'We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale,' he said. 'We are going on the offensive.' Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday Israeli forces launch artillery fire towards southern Lebanon from the border zone in northern Israel on Monday Israeli forces launch artillery fire towards southern Lebanon from the border zone in northern Israel on Monday Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday Israeli soldiers on military vehicles keep watch at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, on Monday Israeli self-propelled howitzers are positioned at an undisclosed location in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on Monday People douse a car blaze in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon after a rocket attack from Gaza on Monday A plume of smoke billows behind highrise buildings in the sky during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Monday Palestinians carry a wounded man on a stretcher following Israeli strikes on a residential building, in Gaza on Monday A Palestinian child walks past damaged cars amid the rubble of a destroyed area after Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night Palestinians gather around the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday Palestinians evacuate a body following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on Monday Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said he believed around 1,000 Palestinian gunmen were involved in the unprecedented attack on Israel on Sunday, which he called '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,' he said, adding that the current death toll of 700 is expected to rise as more than 1,000 Israeli's are injured, some critically. Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Hamas on Saturday and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down hundreds of civilians in cold blood and took at least 100 hostages in a huge co-ordinated attack that took Israel by surprise. The shocking images of the bodies of hundreds of Israeli civilians sprawled across the streets of towns, gunned down at an outdoor disco and abducted from their homes were like nothing seen before in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The terrorists massacred 260 Israeli revellers at a festival in a hail of bullets, with survivors describing how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims. Survivors of the attack posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. The slaughter of those 260 people at the music festival and the killing of hundreds more in the rocket attacks has seen Israel launched a series of revenge attacks - with Israeli officials saying they won't stop until they strip Hamas of their power. Israel has already responded with its heaviest ever bombardment of the Gaza Strip, killing some 500 people so far, and could be contemplating an unprecedented ground assault of the territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago. Hamas says the attack is justified by the plight of Gaza under a 16-year blockade, an Israeli crackdown in the occupied West Bank that has been the deadliest in years, and a far-right Israeli government that talks of annexing Palestinian land. Israel and Western countries say nothing justifies the intentional mass killing of civilians. Hamas fighters were continuing to cross into Israel from Gaza, the military said, adding that between 70 and 100 gunmen have been killed in the Beeri area since Saturday. Fighter jets, helicopters and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, with targets including Hamas and Islamic Jihad command centres and the residence of a senior Hamas official, Ruhi Mashtaa. '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 Ofakim, one of the towns that where calm was restored after a battle with Hamas fighters who stormed through it, killing civilians and leaving with hostages. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the Israeli side of the border with Gaza, in southern Israel, on Monday Israeli army artillary are positioned towards Gaza near the border with the Palestinian territory in southern Israel on Monday Israeli soldiers on military vehicles maneuver at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, on Monday Palestinians walk amid the rubble of a destroyed area after Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Monday Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023 People stand among the rubble of a destroyed mosque during Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 Covered bodies of dead Palestinians lie on the floor at the Al-Shifa hospital after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 09 October 2023 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's options for hitting Hamas, which controls the narrow Gaza Strip that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, could be curtailed by concern for the many Israelis seized in the raid. A full-scale invasion of Gaza, which Netanyahu has tried to avoid in his long years in power, could endanger the lives of the hostages. Israel's military, which faces harsh questions for the country's worst intelligence failure in 50 years, said it had regained control of most infiltration points along security barriers, killed hundreds of attackers and captured dozens more. Tens of thousands of soldiers are now around Gaza and the military is evacuating Israelis around the frontier. 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.' Netanyahu has vowed revenge. 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. Scores of young people were killed in a bloodbath at an outdoor dance party, attacked by the gunmen before dawn on Saturday. About 30 Israelis still missing from the party emerged from hiding on Sunday. '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. 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. In Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem condemned the U.S. announcement as 'an actual participation in the aggression against our people'. Israel's government has published a selfie of an innocent family who were reportedly killed by Hamas militants in their kibbutz near the border with Gaza. Tamar and Yonatan Kedem, along with their children Shachar, Arbel and Omer, were all reportedly murdered by Hamas in Kibbutz Nir Oz, which lies just 1.4 miles from Israel's border with Gaza. The family's deaths are just a handful of the more than 700 Israelis who have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack over the weekend, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. The official X account of Israel shared the photo of the five smiling family members in a post late on Sunday evening. Tamar and Yonatan Kedem, along with their children Shachar, Arbel and Omer, were all reportedly murdered by Hamas Tamar's last social media post was made on the night before Hamas invaded Israel. Several major figures decried the family's murder, including Israel's former prime minister Naftali Bennett The post read: 'Tamar, Yonatan and their children Shachar, Arbel, Omer. An entire family wiped out by Hamas terrorists. 'There are no words. May their memory be a blessing.' Yishai and Mor Lacob are close friends of Tamar Kedem and were part of a friends' text group who regularly communicated with each other. Mrs Lacob, who lives in Sydney, said: 'It was horrific. When everything started to happen, our friends' group checked in on each other. Tamar was, as usual, the first person to check on everyone's well-being. 'She said she was hiding in the safe room but then she went deadly silent. The wait was horrific, I knew something was happening and I started imagining all sorts of things. 'We even started looking on Hamas propaganda videos to see if we could recognise them. Yesterday we got the dreadful news, they had all been executed all of them, the whole family. I am in disbelief.' The family lived on the kibbutz (a community of around 400 people) and Mrs Lacob said she knows the terrorists 'went on a killing rampage there'. She said: 'If people didn't come out they set fire to their homes and then shot them as they ran for their lives.' Several major figures decried the family's murder, including Israel's former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who wrote on X: 'An entire family murdered in cold blood. 'Look at their happy faces. Their love. All of them murdered by Palestinian terrorists at Nir-Oz kibbutz. Just because they're Jews.' Tamar's social media profile lists that she is an advisor to the Ministry of the Interior in the Department of Regional Cooperation and Clusters. Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett wrote: 'Look at their happy faces. Their love. All of them murdered by Palestinian terrorists at Nir-Oz kibbutz. Just because they're Jews.' Tamar's Facebook hosted several photos of her family in happier times Her profile also says she works at the Foundation for Encouraging Initiatives in Education, and that she was a former programme leader for the Cadets for Municipal Service, an initiative that aimed to train local leaders in Israel's rural communities. Tamar, who grew up in Jerusalem, got a Master's Degree in Management and Public Policy at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheva, Israel. Her Facebook holds dozens of photos of her and her family in happier times. She and her husband, an operations manager and wheat grower, appear to have been together for a long time. Tamar's social media profile holds several photos of the couple when they were young, through to the present day. Her last social media post was made on the night before Hamas invaded Israel. The couple shared dozens of photos of their family in their kibbutz She shared photos of her kibbutz, an type of isolated community unique to Israel, celebrating Sukkot, a Jewish holiday that celebrates Israelites who were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Israeli army said Monday it hit more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip in overnight retaliatory strikes on the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. 'Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip,' the military said in a statement. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as the strikes continued in the early hours of the morning. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100. On the ground, thousands of Israeli soldiers are preparing to launch a massive ground assault to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fighting erupt in the streets. But in the meantime, Israel may choose to carry out small special-forces operations whereby they target high-profile Hamas terrorists. Israel's defence minister has ordered a 'complete siege' on Gaza, three days after Hamas militants began attacking Israeli citizens up and down the country. A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and cars at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday Minister Yoav Gallant added that authorities will cut electricity to the bordered area and will block the entry of food and fuel to the region. The announcement comes as Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks, while it relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip in the early hours of this morning, with air strikes and artillery hitting more than 1,000 targets belonging to Hamas overnight. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and buildings were reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack in response to Hamas launching a surprise assault that has so far killed more than 700 Israelis and injured 1,200. The Israeli airstrikes have so far flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. On the ground, thousands of Israeli soldiers are preparing to launch a massive ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fighting erupt in the streets, US officials say. MailOnline has contacted Israel's interior ministry for comment. Rachel Reeves ducked today as she was challenged on why a Labour MP escaped punishment for posing with a pro-Palestine group who said the Hamas attacks are a 'response' to Israel 'apartheid'. Backbencher Apsana Begum was pictured with the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) at the party conference on Saturday. The group issued a statement in the aftermath of the slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking suggesting it was the consequence of Israeli violence. However, Keir Starmer has refused to take disciplinary action, insisting the PCS is not banned in Britain. Asked by Sky News this morning whether it had been 'appropriate' for Ms Begum to pose for the photo, the shadow chancellor dodged answering directly - merely saying: 'I don't think that Labour could be any clearer about our support for the right of Israel to defend itself.' The PCS stall was still up and running at Labour conference today, with a party spokesman staying silent on whether its comments about the Hamas attacks were acceptable. The group has been banned from using the term 'apartheid' in the titles of conference events, but bizarrely is still allowed to display the word on its stall. Side by side: Labour MP Apsana Begum, centre, poses alongside the Palestine Solidarity Campaign - which has said the Hamas attacks are a 'response' to Israel 'apartheid' Asked by Sky News this morning whether it had been 'appropriate' for Ms Begum to pose for the photo, the shadow chancellor dodged answering directly The PSC issued a statement in the aftermath of the slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking suggesting it was the consequence of Israeli violence The PCS stall was still up and running at Labour conference today, with a party spokesman staying silent on whether its comments about the Hamas attacks were acceptable 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. READ MORE: Lone Israel supporter berates hard Left demonstrators outside Labour conference as they defend Hamas Advertisement 'These attacks are a response to recent and historic violence against Palestinians by Israel,' the PSC tweeted on Sir Keir has faced calls to take action against Ms Begum after Tory Party chairman Greg Hands demanded she have the whip suspended over her support for the PSC. Mr Hands said today: 'I wrote yesterday to Labour calling for them to withdraw the whip from Apsana Begum - so far they have refused to. 'Wes Streeting said yesterday that Labour MPs should unequivocally condemn Hamas and their violence, and we're still yet to see them take proper action. 'Most Labour MPs were elected under Jeremy Corbyn, and sadly, we can still see his influence alive and well.' 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.' Labour had a grim reminder of the Corbyn era yesterday 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.' Mr Corbyn risked fresh fury overnight by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks. The former Labour leader refused to single out the terrorist group for condemnation, saying he was against 'all violence'. In a bad-tempered exchange with journalists on the fringes of the party's conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said the way to end the 'terrible situation' was to 'end the occupation of Palestine by Israel'. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is expected to attend a reception at the conference tomorrow night alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. Mr Zomlot previously told CNN that 'Israel knew that this was coming their way It's a consequence'. Asked about his comment, shadow chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: 'I'm very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable. 'And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment.' Mr Corbyn sparked anger yesterday when he responded to slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel without condemning Hamas. The MP is sitting as an independent after being removed from Labour's parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. MBABANE The attorney representing the soldier who stands accused of killing his three relatives is reportedly receiving death threats. Renowned Human Rights Lawyer Sipho Gumedze is said to be receiving threats from one of the family members of the deceased. According to a source close to the matter, some people who were directly involved in the matter called Gumedze on his cellphone and proceeded to issue threats against him. This was after they had learnt that he would be representing Nhlanhla Moris Dlamini, who is facing three charges of murder. He is alleged to have shot and killed three of his family members over land dispute. It is alleged that during the telephone conversation, the caller, among other things told Gumedze to desist from representing the soldier, or he would face the consequences. The caller told him that they will soon deal with him in the event he continues to represent Morris. The caller, who sounded livid, also accused Gumedze of being the one who instructed the accused to act in the manner he (allegedly) did, which resulted in the death of the trio, alleged the impeccable source. The people he is accused of killing are Andy Dlamini (54), Thandi Lukhele (72) and Dumisile Dlamini (52). He is accused of killing the three on September 24, 2023, near Lomshiyo in the Hhohho Region. Arrested In an urgent bail application that was heard at the High Court, Morris told the court that on September 4, 2023, he was arrested by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), who subsequently charged him with three counts of murder and two of arson. He recounted the events that led to the alleged killing of the trio. He alleged that on September 23, 2023, while at his home he was attacked by a group of people, who included the three deceased persons. The attack follows a long protracted land dispute between Morris and the children of the now-late Thandi Dlamini. When reached for comment, Gumedze confirmed that he reported the matter on Friday at Piggs Peak Police Station. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati at the time of compiling this report said nothing was officially recorded by the lawyer. No threats have been reported in any of our police stations, she said. This is not the first time a lawyer received death threats. Early this year, Human Rights Lawyer Maxwell Nkambule reported endless death threats. Nkambule last year December also allegedly escaped death after gunshots were fired at his car while from a meeting from Big Bend with one of his clients. Last Friday, Morris told the court that the community of Lomshiyo fully sympathised with him. He made these averments in his bail application. It is my humble submission that my being admitted to bail will not induce a sense of shock or outrage in the community where the offence was committed. My community is full of sympathy for me, submitted Morris. He told the court that if admitted to bail, he would not undermine or jeopardise the objectives of the proper functioning of the criminal justice system, including the bail system. I am aware that the charges I am facing are serious, however, I believe that it is not just the seriousness of the charge that matters but it is the evidence against the person that is crucial, he argued. The accused averred that no evidence against him could influence him to flee the Kingdom of Eswatini. In motivating his bail application, he went on to submit that he had a lot of responsibilities. Circumstances Morris argued that there were special circumstances which warranted his release on bail. He pointed out that he was employed by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini under the Ministry of Defence as a soldier and he had two wives and children. He brought it to the attention of the court that his two wives were unemployed. He further argued that his continued detention might result in him losing his job. The soldier undertook that if admitted to bail he would not attempt to evade trial and would not attempt to influence or intimidate witnesses. The accused further undertook that if released on bail, he would not conceal or destroy evidence for the Crown. Multiple US airlines have suspended flights to Israel as the country deals with the most deadly terrorist attack in the nation's history. Flights from New York, Chicago, Washington DC and Miami regularly fly into Tel-Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, on Sunday most of those services were suspended until further notice. Israeli officials said Monday that a Hamas rocket did not impact the airport's international terminal, despite a social media video showing smoke emanating from the building. In a statement, United said it had run two scheduled flights to the United States from Israel late on Saturday and early on Sunday but had suspended services 'until conditions allow them to resume.' One flight, en route to Israel from San Francisco on Saturday night, turned back mid-flight. Passengers were more than fours into the flight, over Greenland, when the decision came to return to California Delta representatives said flights 'have been canceled into this week' while they monitor the situation to make necessary schedule changes. American Airlines have also suspended services. Airline services between the US and Israel has been suspended as the conflict continues following Hamas' unprecedented attack Delta Airlines, which regularly runs services to Tel-Aviv, said that it has suspended flights but would continue to work with the US government to get Americans out of the country The Federal Aviation Administration has urged US pilots to exercise 'extreme caution' when flying in Israeli airspace amid the conflict The president of AA's pilots' union, Ed Sicher, said in an email to members that the company's pilots should not fly to Israel until they 'can be reasonably assured of the region's safety and security.' The email cites the most recent advisory from the U.S. State Department, which warns that the current situation in Israel 'continues to be unpredictable,' and that mortar and rocket fire can take place any time without warning, putting aircraft in danger. 'It is not prudent or appropriate to knowingly put our flight crews and passengers in harms way by maintaining flights into a war zone,' Sicher said. Delta also said that it would work with US government officials in order to work towards ensuring American citizens can safely leave the country. The Federal Aviation Administration has urged US pilots to exercise 'extreme caution' when flying in Israeli airspace amid the conflict. While Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday. Korean made a similar announcement. 'Future operations at TLV will be suspended until conditions allow them to resume,' United said in a statement.' Delta said 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.' 'We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,' said American Airlines. International carriers, including Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair, Brussels Airline, Transvaria, Iberia Express, ITA and Aegean Airlines, have suspended services until further notice. British Airways has yet to suspend travel but said that it was allowing bookers to be flexible with their travel plans. Passengers wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, as internaitonal carriers continue to suspend flights The conflict sparked major disruption at Tel Aviv airport, with American Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa and Ryanair among carriers with cancelled flights It's unknown how many Americans are still stuck in Israel as the attacks continue. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack from Gaza, the military said the fighting had largely died down for now. Israel's vaunted military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard, bringing heavy battles to its streets for the first time in decades. Israel formally declared war on Sunday, portending greater fighting ahead, and a possible ground assault into Gaza a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of the militant group, which is deeply rooted in Gaza. As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and its tanks and drones guarded openings in the border fence to prevent more infiltrations, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage from the latest bombardment. A dog owner has told of his heartbreak after his French Bulldog was run over and killed by an Evri delivery driver who jumped a red light. Michael Hamill and his partner Tracy Readdin were walking their dog Millie to the shop in Crewe town centre, Cheshire, when a Mercedes Sprinter sped past. The couple 'stepped back' but Mr Hamill's seven-year-old Frenchie, who was off her lead, had already started to cross the road. Mr Hamill said he heard a 'big bang' and knew driver Stuart Bostock had run over Millie, and he was seen cradling the dead animal in his arms moments after. Bostock, 58, was convicted of careless driving at Warrington magistrates court and ordered to pay Mr Hamill 100 in compensation. Michael Hamill and his partner Tracy Readdin were walking their dog Millie (pictured) to the shop when an Evri delivery driver ran a red light and sped past them in Crewe town centre, Cheshire Delivery driver Stuart Bostock, 58, has been ordered to pay the owners 100 in compensation after being convicted of careless driving at Warrington magistrates court Bostock, who was driving a Mercedes Sprinter van, told police he was 'blindly following the sat nav' on his vehicle whilst making deliveries and didn't know he had hit Millie READ MORE - Moment angry cyclist flies head-first over handlebars while trying to 'intimidate' DPD driver Advertisement He was also given eight points on his licence, fined 519 and told to pay 828 in costs and victim surcharge. Bostock, from Greater Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, was traced after a public appeal for information. He told police he was 'blindly following the sat nav' on his vehicle whilst making deliveries and didn't know he had hit Millie. Mr Hamill told the hearing: 'Millie has never been on a lead ever since I've been with her as I have taught her to always stop at the roadside. When I cross the road and say 'come on Millie' she follows me. 'At the time the traffic lights went on red, so me, Millie and Tracy were waiting at the roadside. 'When it came up green for pedestrians and I heard the beeping sound and I said to Millie, 'Let's cross the road.' I looked left and right and we both stepped out into the road with Millie being a bit in front of me. 'Then a van came out of a side street, turned right as me and Millie were crossing the road. There was a big bang and I stepped back. I was hoping that Millie had made it across the road but it was wishful thinking. 'As the van shot off, I ran across the road to see Millie and I knew she was dead. It was such a big bang. It was so loud that people in the nail shop all came running out. 'I was in the middle of the road picking Millie up to get her off the road. Michael Hamill and his partner Tracy Readdin 'stepped back' as the Mercedes Sprinter van came past them and hoped the French Bulldog had made it to the other side in time Michael Hamill and his partner Tracy Readdin set up a shrine to the seven year old dog 'I saw a glimpse of the van and I could see it shooting off. 'All of my concerns were to get Millie off the road. My focus was to get to Millie, hoping for the best, but I knew as soon as I saw her, there was blood coming out of her mouth.' 'Everyone was crying. People offered me a phone to ring people but I was not in a fit state to do anything.' An emotional Ms Readdin said: 'Millie does not cross without Mickey's say so. When the green man came on and the beeping started, Mickey said to Millie 'Let's go'. 'We both looked left and right and Mickey told Millie to go. I was holding Mickey's hand and we went to step out. 'But I looked to the right and I could see the white van approach at speed. It had no intention of stopping and went straight through the red light. 'We both stood back on the path and I was hoping Millie had got to the other side but I heard a thud. The van then carried on - it never stopped. 'That's when Millie was lying on the floor. It had hit her, took her straight out. She was already dead. 'But the van carried on driving and never stopped. I do not know how anyone could drive through the red light, not even feel the thump, and not stop. 'It was a massive shock to see that happen in front of your eyes. I have flashbacks seeing that road accident.' Bostock, from Greater Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, was traced after a public appeal for information When Bostock was interviewed by the police he said he worked for Evri out of a depot in Wigan as a delivery driver. Prosecutor Clare Oliver said: 'He said he was blindly following the sat nav and when asked about the contravention of the red traffic signal, he said a car had flashed him out of the side road. 'He said he heard the beep, beep beeping sound, saw a woman's face at his passenger door say 'Bloody hell' and was embarrassed and wanted to get off. 'He thought people may be angry that he had driven through the red light. 'He said he remembered seeing the woman jumping back from the road, but did not see a dog at all. The worst he thought he did was to make them jump back and make them angry.' Bostock told the court he had only just started working for Evri and was on his second day working on his own and did not know the area. He said he was HGV qualified and had previously been a heating and gas engineer, but he had to give it up due to a back issue. The driver said the delivery job involved carrying heavy bags of parcels, which made a noise in the back of the van whenever he braked or took corners as they push up against the bulkhead. READ MORE - Driver is hit with 100 parking fine after rushing to doctor's surgery with carbon monoxide poisoning Advertisement He also said his hearing might be affected by his previous work with power tools - but he insisted he was fit to drive. Bostock told the hearing: 'I came up to the side road, somebody flashed me out so I thought I was good to go. I could not really see the lights on the street as I turned out- so I was literally turning straight onto the crossing. 'I heard the bleeping of the crossing then I realised I had a mistake. I also saw the people at the side window of the van jump back. My immediate thought was, 'I am in the way, I should not be here', that's why I drove on. 'I panicked when I realised there was the beeping, then I thought 'Get out of the way.' 'So, I accelerated away. I just thought I was in the way and what if someone was disabled and tried to get across. If I reversed I would've backed into another car. I was in first or second gear, it was low speed.' Bostock said when he was contacted by the police he initially thought they had the wrong person and he had to check the registration of the vehicle. He said: 'When she mentioned the crossing, that's when I realised what had happened. 'The police officer even said, 'I'm not surprised you did not know what happened because it was a little dog and you were driving a massive van.' 'I feel absolutely awful about the poor dog. I've had to pay for counselling and I've not been able to sleep at night. I have almost committed suicide to be honest. 'When the police rang me I felt absolutely awful. Up until they rang I knew nothing about its presence at all. It was a genuine driving mistake. Up until this happened I had a really good driving record. 'You would have to be a really callous person to run over a dog. I am not that person.' Bostock admitted contravening a red light at an earlier hearing. Speaking to Millie's owners, JP Anita Davies said: 'We are sorry about your dog but unfortunately, in law, it is just a dog. The law does not recognise a dog as part of the family. So please, do not get upset if it seems that the law trivialises your loss.' With the joyful freedom of any young festivalgoer, Shani Louk beamed into the camera without a care in the world as she partied with friends not knowing that this would be her tragic final dance. A few moments later, the tattoo artist would be captured by Hamas terrorists and massacred alongside 259 other revellers during their assault on Israel. Shani, who is in her early 20s and grew up in Israel, would then be stripped naked by the same fighters and paraded through the streets in front of jeering crowds who spat on her motionless body in sickening scenes. Harrowing video shows her naked body splayed in the back of the truck, with one leg at an unnatural angle, while being surrounded by the four Hamas terrorists who were shouting 'Allahu Akbar'. Her family, who are desperately hoping that Shani is still alive despite the footage of her body, said she was a pacifist who refused to take up the military service that is mandatory in Israel due to her views. And now, further tragic footage shows a smiling Shani, who loved to travel, dancing enthusiastically at the music festival - moments before she was captured by the terrorists. Video shows Shani dancing with a group of other revellers while smiling broadly at the camera - a far cry from the harrowing footage that emerged later of her naked body being paraded through the streets by the Hamas terrorists. Shani Louk, in her early 20s (pictured), was at a music festival for peace when she was captured by Hamas terrorists who had stormed the event and massacred 260 Israeli revellers during their assault on Israel Her family, who are desperately hoping that Shani is still alive despite the footage of her body, said she was a pacifist and a peace campaigner who was known for her involvement in organising music festivals Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's naked body on the back of a pick-up truck Video shows a smiling Shani, who loved to travel according to her family, dancing at the music festival moments before she was captured by the terrorists Shani, who grew up in Israel but had a German passport, was a peace campaigner and conscientious objector to military service, her aunt Orly Louk, told the German newspaper Der Spiegel. Orly said Shani had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her pacifist views, adding that her German passport helped with this. It comes as Shani's mother, Ricarda, released a heartbreaking video begging for help to find out what happened to her daughter. Holding a picture of Shani on her mobile phone, Ricrarda said on Sunday: '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.' 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 MailOnline that the family recognized her distinctive leg tattoos and dreadlocked hair. She said: '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.' Tomasina said she and other family members had been desperately trying to contact Shani as well as her Mexican boyfriend, but they couldn't get through. 'We knew she was in the party, she didn't answer,' Tomasina said. Her parents say they have not heard from their daughter since a phone call early on Saturday, just after Hamas launched their first rockets. But her family have said they have since received information from her bank that Shani's credit card had been used in Gaza. Shani, who grew up in Israel but had a German passport, had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her views German tattoo artist named Shani Louk, who is in her early 20s, was in Israel to attend a peace rave Shani's mother, Ricarda, holds up a picture of her daughter on her mobile phone in an emotional video appeal begging for help to find out what happened to her daughter Palestinian fighters can be seen cheering and driving away as Shani's body lies motionless in the back of the truck The tragedy comes as Palestinian militants launched its worst onslaught for 50 years on Saturday by unprecedented land, sea and air attacks - even using hang gliders to avoid detection. 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. Dozens of people are feared to have been snatched off the street and returned to Gaza, or simply killed on the spot. The music festival attended by Shani was one of the first sites to be attacked by the terrorist group, with 260 revellers massacred there. Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims. Survivors of the attack posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars. Palestinian militants brandish weapons as they pass through Israeli territory on trucks Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken off the street and driven back into Gaza In a second video widely shared on social media, a woman screaming 'Don't kill me!' can be seen being driven off on a motorbike by a gunman. She has since been identified as Noa Argamani, 25, a student who was seized at the same outdoor peace festival she had attended with her boyfriend close to the border. 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. 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. Other footage showed captured soldiers and civilians some dead being paraded through Gaza's streets. A senior coroner has called for a crackdown on the growing cold water immersion industry after a mother-of-three died while taking part in a session. Peter Nieto warned of more tragic deaths as he said there is 'very little oversight' of companies providing the activity, in which participants plunge into water colder than 15C (59F), that is growing increasingly popular in Britain. His appeal comes after Kellie Poole, 39, died when her heart stopped after entering the freezing River Goyt in a 200 session at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, in April 2022. During an inquest, it emerged she had an undiagnosed heart condition which meant she was unable to recover when the cold water triggered it to fall out of rhythm, causing a 'sudden cardiac death'. Although she was unaware of her heart abnormality, there is no 'specific health and safety guidance' that participants must be told or shown, the coroner for Derby and Derbyshire warned. Kellie Poole died when her heart stopped after entering the River Goyt in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, in April 2022 Despite CPR being given and paramedics being called, Ms Poole tragically died at the scene in Buxworth in the Peak District Cold water immersion involves participants immersing themselves in cold water to speed healing after an injury, ease joint and muscle pain, quicken recovery from exercise and is believed to have mental health benefits. But the coroner has written to Health and Safety Executive calling for the practice - made popular by celebrities - to be regulated. During her two-day inquest in Chesterfield, it was heard Ms Poole, of Greater Manchester, complained of a headache after entering the 10.7C (51F) water at the session run by a company named Breatheolution, before falling in the river. Despite the best efforts of those in attendance to revive her, she died on the river bank on April 25, 2022, from a 'sudden cardiac death'. In a Prevention of Future Deaths report, Mr Nieto revealed 'matters giving rise to concern' heard at Ms Poole's inquest about the lack of regulation in the activity. 'It appears that there is increasing public interest and participation in cold water immersion,' he wrote. 'Businesses have been established which offer led cold water immersion sessions and may offer other types of led activities such as breath work often in combination with the cold water immersion. As businesses they charge participants a fee for the sessions. 'It is recognised that some people may experience an adverse physiological reaction to cold water immersion, which has the potential to be life-threatening. 'Whilst many leisure or health focused activities may carry risk, where these are provider led the general expectation must be that participants are informed of risks, have an expectation that reasonable safety measures are in place, and that the provider has suitable training and experience.' Actor Stephen Graham is among the celebrities to have visited Breatheolution The cold water camp is popular with celebrities and was previously visited by Coleen Rooney (pictured second from the right) He criticised the lack of regulation and suggested the training of those leading the session should be 'assured' of quality. 'There seems to be very little oversight of these businesses in their provision of cold water immersion covering matters such as pre-session health advice or warnings, public liability insurance, training and experience of the session leader, first aid training and equipment, or written risk assessments,' he added. 'I am not aware of the issuing of specific health and safety guidance.' Mr Nieto said although some sessions take place in water tanks, many take place in open water such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs - which are locations that 'pose a risk'. 'Session leaders may have undertaken some form of training, but I am not aware that the nature and quality of the training itself is regulated or quality assured,' he continued. 'There is no established UK member organisation for providers of cold water immersion, other than for "wild" and open water swimming which is a distinct activity, and therefore no form of even voluntary self-regulation. 'On my understanding the current limits of oversight of cold water immersion providers in effect means that these activities have not received guidance from the Health and Safety Executive or other appropriate bodies. 'My investigation indicated that local authority environmental health departments are unclear whether they should and how they might monitor and oversee these providers.' Addressing the Health and Safety Executive, he concluded: 'In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action.' He added that they were under a duty to respond by November 29. There will much to think about for viewers of The Reckoning, the controversial new drama about Jimmy Savile which starts tonight, particularly those who remember the predator as one of Britain's best-known and apparently best-loved television stars. For some, however - should they find the time to watch - there will be particular cause for reflection. Not only is Prince Charles one of the first names mentioned, but the screen play - starring Steve Coogan as the depraved late television presenter - features archive footage of Savile with Charles and Diana, who went so far as to view him as a confidante and advisor. This footage is juxtaposed with highly disturbing scenes from Saviles decades of paedophilia and necrophilia, leading viewers to one stark question, above all: how could our King have allowed himself to be taken in by such a monster? Prince Charles appeared to admire Savile, sending him cufflinks and Cuban cigars on his birthday. According to Diana, Charles viewed Savile as 'a sort of mentor' Savile started out as a club manager and DJ, eventually presenting Top of The Pops. His violent past was disregarded Diana, too, regarded Savile as a friend. When the Waleses' marriage was in trouble, they sought his advice Last week, the Daily Mail revealed that, so close were Charles and Savile following Prince Harrys birth in 1984, he was included in a long list of potential godfathers. This selection had been written down by Charles and seen by his private secretary Edward Adeane. Adeane then discussed it with Sir Alastair Aird, the Queen Mothers comptroller, who assured Adeane that the matter would be dealt with. Savile didnt make the final six. But the Kings friendship with him continued. When Savile turned 80, Charles sent him Cuban cigars and gold cufflinks with the note, Nobody will ever know what you have done for this country, Jimmy. This is to go some way to thanking you for that. Saviles rise to the position of friend to the royals had been extraordinary even before his abuse was revealed in the years following his death. Some of those who'd known him in the past were quite clear about what sort of man he was. As a dance hall boss in his hometown of Leeds in the 1950s, he was regarded as a deeply sinister man with links to gangsters. Speaking of that time, he boasted of his use of violence, saying: I was always in trouble with the law for being heavy handed, but I couldnt care less. I never threw anyone out. I tied them up and put them down in the bloody boiler house until I was ready for them at about two oclock in the f***ing morning I was the judge, jury and executioner. Later, in a 2002 interview with documentary maker Louis Theroux, he intimated he had killed someone, saying, If he wants to die, he can die. He wont be the first that Ive put away. Savile is the subject of a new drama, The Reckoning, which airs on BBC1 tonight. Savile, played by Steve Coogan, is pictured in a fictional recreation of his encounter with Charles and Diana at Stoke Mandeville Savile accompanies the Prince of Wales on a visit to the Glen Coe mountain rescue centre Prince Philip, too, admired Savile's work. The two men are seen arriving at Stoke Mandeville Taken in 1970 as Savile, with trademark cigar, presents Yorkshire Television's Calendar news show But once hed become the face of BBC programmes including Top of the Pops, Clunk Click and Jimll Fix It, he deliberately insinuated himself into influential circles and manipulated the highest in the land to give himself protection, according to journalist Meirion Jones. What local police officer was going to bust a friend of the royals and the PM on the word of any vulnerable 14-year-old girl who claimed to have been sexually abused by him? Jones was head of investigations at Newsnight in 2011, the year Savile died, and it was his expose of Saviles crimes - initially pulled by the programmes editor Peter Rippon in December of that year - that would eventually blow the myth apart. But while Saviles desire for powerful allies is all too easy to comprehend, considerably less so is what the likes of Prince Charles got out of their association with Savile. In the 2022 Netflix documentary, Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, correspondence stretching back over two decades between the men revealed Charless hope that Savile could help him appear in-touch with his young future subjects. In one letter, from January 1987, the Prince of Wales wrote: Perhaps I am wrong, but you are the bloke who knows whats going on. What I really need is a list of suggestions from you. I so want to get to parts of the country that others dont get to reach. The documentary revealed that Savile even drafted an informal media relations handbook for him, some of which was incorporated into a memo seen by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. It also claimed that it was initially Lord Mountbatten, Charless favourite uncle, who smoothed Saviles path into the royal circle. Could this association have been linked an account of the perversion for young boys Mountbatten allegedly held, according to FBI files from the 1940s? READ MORE: Richard Kay on how Savile wormed his way into the heart of Palace life Advertisement Saviles relationship with Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he abused a series of victims, including raping an eight-year-old girl, enabled him to get to know Prince Charles better. When the hospitals 10 million National Spinal Injuries Centre was opened in 1983 by Charles and Diana, they were lavish in their praise for the work he had done to raise the money required to build it. When the couples marriage broke down, both remained close to Savile. Royal press adviser Dickie Arbiter later said Savile had even acted as a sort of marriage guidance counsellor: Savile was brought in by an aide as a sort of 'Jim'll Fix It' to fix the state of the marriage, but of course it didn't work. Prince Andrew was called on to help in an episode of Savile's most famous show, Jimll Fix It, when an eight-year-old girl asked to visit a warship. The Naval officer Prince was her host on his minehunter, HMS Cottesmore. Princess Anne was similarly obliging on another episode of the Saturday night programme, while Prince Philip was leant on to help a fundraising drive for the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville . Charles also asked Savile if he would meet with the Duchess of York to give her some straightforward common sense following the photographs of her having her feet kissed by Texan lover John Bryan. In one of the notorious Squidgygate tapes the recordings of conversations between Diana and John Gilbey from 1989, in which he called her the pet name Squidgy Diana said: 'Jimmy Savile rang me up yesterday and he said, 'I'm just ringing up, my girl, to tell you that His Nibs [Charles] has asked me to come and help out the redhead [the Duchess of York], and I'm just letting you know, so that you don't find out through her or him; and I hope it's all right by you'.' Diana also referred to Saviles relationship with Prince Charles as sort of mentor in the conversations. In a letter written the following year, Charles told Savile he was so good at understanding what makes people operate and youre wonderfully sceptical and practical. Charles was not alone in his admiration, of course. His own father, Prince Philip, had been something of an admirer - and it is only fair to say that Savile managed to work his malevolent con trick on much of the arts and television establishment and, for that matter, the viewers. Diana, Charles and Savile at Stoke Mandeville. When their marriage ran into trouble, they asked Savile for advice Yet according to Meirion Jones, the rumours about Saviles activities with underage girls were rife from 1990, after journalist Lynn Barber put them in print for the first time. Today, I find it very difficult to believe that Charless PR and media advisers would not have been asking the same questions about whether it was wise for Savile to remain as Charless mentor, he wrote in the Daily Mail last year. When he died in 2011, Charles paid tribute, saying he was 'saddened to hear of Jimmy Savile's death'. What the King thinks of Savile today - or his strikingly misplaced friendship - is unknown. Rishi Sunak is holding a Cobra meeting today as he vows to support Israel with military kit and intelligence resources. The PM will convene the emergency committee as the death toll rises in the aftermath of the bloody attacks by Hamas. At least 700 people are feared to have been killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza, after the terrorist group launched its surprise assault - slaughtering citizens and taking hostages. Among the dead was 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at the Gaza border on Saturday. Israel has intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after declaring war and vowing to destroy the 'military and governing capabilities' of Hamas. Rishi Sunak will convene the emergency committee as the death toll rises in the aftermath of the bloody attacks by Hamas Shocking footage from the aftermath of the attack shows festival tents empty, with abandoned cars of those trying to escape strewn on the side of the road A missile explodes over Gaza City last night as Israel carries out airstrikes following Hamas' attack Mr Sunak said that the UK was in 'close dialogue' with Israel over any support it needed, after holding a phone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. 'We already have a very long-standing relationship with Israel, we're one of their strongest allies. 'We've provided in the past the kinds of equipment that they've used to defend themselves over the past couple of days. 'And as I said to the Prime Minister, we will continue to provide whether that's diplomatic, intelligence or security support as they need. 'I'm chairing a Cobra with my ministerial colleagues this afternoon, when we'll continue to discuss the situation, but we're in close dialogue with our Israeli counterparts', he told a business event in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington are believed to be missing. The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is understood. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. Mr Sunak said it is a 'complex' situation, as he acknowledged many will have concerns about family members caught up in the conflict. 'I know it will be an anxious time for many families who have loved ones in the region,' he said. 'It's a quite complex situation on the ground, so we are working very closely with our Israeli counterparts to establish the status of any British nationals on the ground. 'That work is under way as we speak.' Mr Young, a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, died after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. His loved ones said they are 'heartbroken', while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing. Footage showed hostages apparently being taken by Hamas militants into Gaza over the weekend A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza border. It comes as Communities minister Lee Rowley warned any potential protesters not to 'glorify' the violence of Hamas. On Monday, Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also condemned the attack She told Times Radio: 'Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens.' Israel's defence minister has ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Authorities in Israel are said to be in 'control' of the border communities, with no fighting going on as of mid-morning on Monday. All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the country's flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support. This is the shocking moment three brazen thugs on bikes smash the back window of a car and steal bags from the boot in broad daylight outside a celebrity recording studio. The theft took place last week outside the Westpoint Studios in Acton, west London, where a vehicle had been left in a loading bay. Westpoint Studios' website says it has hosted dozens of celebrities including Adele, Bjork, Frank Ocean, Dizzee Rascal, Kylie Minogue, Little Mix, Paul Weller, Pete Tong, PJ Harvey, Pharrell Williams, Take That and Tom Jones. The plush 55,000 Audi A7 had its rear window smashed after bags were left in view on the parcel shelf. Video footage was taken of the trio in the act by a resident living in a flat opposite with a clear view of the scene. The plush Audi A7 - worth more than 55,000 - had its rear window smashed after bags were left in view on the parcel shelf She said police arrived within 20 minutes. As the three riders cycle off carrying a looted bag, the cars parcel shelf can be seen lying on the floor. The thugs search through the boot of the car before pulling out three bags. After searching through them, they discard one and leave it behind on the pavement. The thugs search through the boot of the car before pulling out three bags. After searching through them, they discard one and leave it behind on the pavement They then race off down the road as they escape from the scene on their black mountain bikes. All three are dressed head to toe in black, with helmets and face coverings. Some online wondered why people leave items of value on display in their cars. The Met Police have been contacted for comment. Roger Waters' gig was supposed to be him playing reinterpretation of album Controversial Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters told his audience to 'F*** off' at a gig as he spent an hour reading from his biography - prompting some to walk out. Many left their seats after the controversial musician spent an hour reading passages from his unpublished book from a laptop computer. The London Palladium gig had been billed as an evening where he would play the iconic Dark Side of the Moon album. Waters, 80, read out pages of notes about his pets, including a duck called Donald, which he discussed for 20 minutes - leaving audience members stunned. He said some who were talking: 'If you want to tell stories tell them in your own time to your own audience in your own f****ing theatre. By the way, if you can show constraint and stop shouting again.' Earlier this year Waters was investigated by German police for wearing a Nazi-style black trench coat with a red armband at his concerts in Germany. Picture shows Roger Waters at the London Palladium last night at the first of two dates there Some Pink Floyd fans walked out of a Roger Waters gig at the London Palladium last night He also pretended to shoot the crowd with an imitation machine gun during his hit songs In The Flesh and Run Like Hell. Last week it emerged he had visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in prison. Assange, 52, has been confined in Belmarsh prison in London since April 2019 after being found guilty of breaching the Bail Act. He is currently facing extradition to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion. Waters, 80, visited Assange accompanied by his wife Stella Assange, 40, and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who is best known for his role in the Greek debt crisis in 2015. It was the first time that the Pink Floyd co-founder, who has faced criticism for his controversially pro-Russian and allegedly anti-Semitic views, had visited Assange in prison. Julian Assange, 52, (pictured) has been confined in Belmarsh prison in London since April 2019 after being found guilty of breaching the Bail Act. He is currently facing extradition to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion Waters has recently faced criticism for his controversially pro-Russian and allegedly anti-Semitic views. He is pictured wearing his controversial Nazi-style coat and machine gun during his concert at the O2 Arena in London in June this year Bob Ezrin claimed that Roger Waters once sang an improvised song in which he referred to one-time Pink Floyd agent Bryan Morrison as a 'f***ing Jew' Pictured: An inflatable pig emblazoned with insults aimed at Donald Trump at a 2016 Roger Waters concert in California. Claims have been made that Waters wanted a similar pig to be plastered with anti-Semitic language The musician's visit to Belmarsh came days after he was accused of singing that his agent was a 'f***ing Jew' in an improvised song, according to an account from the rocker's ex-producer in an explosive new documentary. Bob Ezrin, a Jewish man who produced hit Floyd albums including The Wall and A Momentary Lapse of Reason, told investigative journalist John Ware that the 80-year-old was a 'bully' in his eyes. He claimed that Waters, while in the studio, invented an offensive song about the band's then-agent Bryan Morrison, saying: 'I can't remember the exact circumstance but something like... the last line of the couplet was: 'Because Mori is a f***ing Jew.'' Mr Ezrin appears in The Dark Side of Roger Waters, a new documentary produced by the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) - months after Waters appeared on stage in a Nazi-esque trench coat with a red armband as part of his most recent tour. Mr Ware has previously reported on claims of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party for the BBC's Panorama programme. Mr Ezrin, who has also worked with huge names like Lou Reed, U2, Taylor Swift and Aerosmith, said he was 'embarrassed' to admit that he didn't challenge the bassist on his alleged ditty, out of shock. He added: 'It was my first inclination that there may be some anti-Semitism under the surface. Waters courted controversy this year after dressing in a Nazi-style trench coat and holding a fake machine gun during a concert at the O2 Arena in London in June this year Music mogul Bryan Morrison, who was allegedly the target of an anti-Semitic ditty sung by Roger Waters whilst in the recording studio. He died in 2008 The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism's documentary, The Dark Side of Roger Waters, is presented by TV journalist John Ware, who previously investigated claims of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party 'Now, Roger knew that I'm Jewish, so I didn't know whether this was another one of those button-poking things that he was doing, just to see if I would react, or if he just didn't even get how offensive that might be to a Jewish person.' He is convinced that Mr Waters genuinely doesn't see himself as anti-Semitic despite the nature of his alleged comments. Mr Ezrin concluded: 'I don't believe that Roger sees himself as an anti-Semite, in the same way that most people don't see themselves as racist. 'But he walks like one, he quacks one, he swims like one - so you know, from my point of view he's functionally a duck.' Bryan Morrison, the alleged subject of Mr Waters' improvised song according to Mr Erzin, died in 2008 aged 66 after spending two years in a coma following a fall from a horse. Hamas fighters have been shown rehearsing their deadly Israel paraglider attack, landing with their weapons drawn before infiltrating mock-up buildings marked with the Jewish Star of David. Fighters from the 'Falcon' squadron were seen walking through the sand at dawn carrying the equipment that would be used in the operation. Video shows them starting up the engines with parachutes stretched out on a sandy strip of land before one of the buggies carrying two men takes off. Several paragliders can then be seen hovering in the low light above the desert scrub before they land beside a village with their rifles drawn and storm the buildings, opening fire on targets. 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. Hamas fighter from the 'Falcon' squadron were seen walking through the sand at dawn carrying the equipment that would be used in the operation Several paragliders can then be seen be seen hovering in the low light above the desert scrub before they land beside a village with their rifles drawn Footage shows the fighter storming buildings marked with the Star of David and opening fire on targets Revellers 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. Drone footage taken in the aftermath of the attack in Saturday's early hours shows cars left at the roadside, many destroyed or pockmarked with bullet impacts. Hundreds of vehicles abandoned in the scramble to flee a massacre at the music festival where Hamas gunmen killed 260 people and took captives back into Gaza underline the scale of the deadliest attack on Israel in decades. 'It was just a massacre, a total massacre,' said 26-year-old Arik Nani, who escaped from the dance party where he was celebrating his birthday after hiding for hours in a field. 'We didn't know where to go,' he said. 'I found myself with a friend, we found ourselves completely afraid and in shock, we ran just to understand what was happening to us.' Around 700 people have been killed in Israel - a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts. At least 560 have been killed in Gaza, an enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians bordering Israel and Egypt. Thousands of young people attended the nature party, which became one of the first targets of Palestinian gunmen who breached Gaza's border fence early on Saturday under the cover of massive rocket barrages from Gaza. A Hamas fighter holding a parachute during the rehearsal The group could be seen starting the engines before taking off on a stretch of sand One of the paragliders taking off before he was joined by the other group members A paraglider landing with his rifle drawn before the assault Hamas fighters storming the buildings during the rehearsal Video footage circulating on social media shows the gunmen descending in paragliders on the gathering in the Negev Desert. 'I felt like existential fear, I have never felt so close to death, this time I really felt like it was the end,' said 23-year-old Zohar Maariv, who had to jump out of the car she was escaping in when it came under fire from two sides. Footage posted on Tiktok, 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 terror ensues as festivalgoers are forced to run for their lives as armed Hamas fighters begin shooting and kidnapping whoever lies in their path. Festivalgoers are then warned of an incoming rocket attack just as the invasion begins. The terrifying incident occurred during a 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.' Israeli festival goers 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 In footage posted to TikTok revellers 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: a paraglider crossing into Israel) 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 has 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. 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,' one video is captioned. A second video of the same scene shows 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. Others were left to make their own getaway on foot across the Negev desert 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 people 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. Noa Argamani, 25, was kidnapped on Saturday 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,' Amir said. '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, with 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. 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 was 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 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 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 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 on 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 '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 at point blank range. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was 'at war' and called for a mass mobilisation of army reserves. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Reeling from the Islamist group's unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have killed 560 people there. The skies over Gaza were blackened by plumes of smoke from deafening explosions as Hamas kept launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared. Hamas claimed on Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of the captives. Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists, and truck convoys were seen moving tanks to the south, where its forces had dislodged the last holdout Hamas fighters from embattled towns. A couple accused of murdering a pensioner and leaving her to rot under two duvets searched online 'how long does a dead body smell,' a court heard. Chelsea Grant, 28, and Xyaire Howard, 23, are alleged to have killed former bank worker Susan Hawkey, 71, before leaving her body under duvets and among piles of rubbish. She had been blindfolded, with her arms tied behind her head with shoelaces and tape, before being strangled. Her body was found decomposing in her flat in Neasden, north-west London, on September 26, 2022. Grant, who was pregnant at the time of the alleged murder, and Howard then allegedly spent 13,000 on Ms Hawkey's card as she lay dead, buying items including perfumes, clothes, shoes, cannabis and alcohol. Susan Hawkey's body was found in her flat in Neasden, north-west London, on September 26, 2022 Jurors heard Chelsea Grant, 28, made 65 searches on the subject of bodies decomposing, including 'how long does a dead body smell?' Xyaire Howard, 23, is also alleged to have killed former bank worker Ms Hawkey The pair have resorted to blaming each other, with Howard insisting that he did not strangle Ms Hawkey. Mother-of-two Grant claims she never went into the flat, only standing outside to see if she could smell the body decomposing. Jurors heard Grant made 65 searches on the subject of bodies decomposing, including 'how long does a dead body smell?' The pair are allegedly seen to have re-visited the property on CCTV over a week after the alleged murder took place on September 7, shining a torch inside the flat. Grant then allegedly searched on her phone: 'Can we smell a dead body?' and 'can neighbours smell a dead body?' Howard insists that although he bound Mrs Hawkey to get her to reveal her PIN number, he did not strangle her. Annabel Darlow, KC, asked Howard in cross-examination: 'Did she [Ms Grant] tell you I am worried about smelling dead bodies?' He replied: 'She didn't.' Further searches came from Howard himself, who at 3am was looking up PPE equipment he claimed was for his work on a construction site. Ms Darlow asked: 'We can see that at 3 o'clock in the morning, we can see you searching for a whole face respirator. 'You had no interest in working on a grungy building site, you were going to Aylesbury Street to deal with the body.' Howard replied: 'I was supposed to start on the September 22, but I got sacked on the 21st because I didn't go to work on the 20th. 'I was planning to do the [PPE] order when I woke up, but I woke up and saw the message that I was sacked.' Ms Hawkey was a 'highly vulnerable' elderly woman who lived an isolated life with little contact with friends and family, according to police Police investigated Ms Hawkey's home after being alerted by a concerned neighbour The court heard further searches from the pair, including: 'What time do retirees get paid?' Ms Darlow said: 'You wanted to figure out when Ms Hawkey's pension came in. 'The reality is, that the two of you, knowing full well that Ms Hawkey was dead, thought that the money would keep flowing in from her pension. 'Surely that is the only sensible explanation from the question, "What do retirees get paid?" 'You were planning with Ms Grant on leaving Ms Hawkey's body decaying while you milk her card. 'Then you want to find out not only what day she is going to get paid, but how much. 'You searched for benefits for pensioners over 70, UK. 'She would have been five days as an over 70 year old, you knew her date of birth, and that is why you were searching for over 70. 'You didn't want to find a rough figure, you wanted to find out exactly what you would get.' Howard denied each of the prosecutor's allegations. Grant and Howard, of Press Road, Neasden, deny murder. Grant denies three counts of robbery, while Howard denies two and admits one. They both admit two counts of fraud. The trial continues. Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen) will support Bahraini startups and small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) wishing to take part in Gitex Global Exhibition taking place from October 16 to 20 October at the Dubai World Trade Centre. In partnership with the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Export Bahrain, and ila Bank, Tamkeen will sponsor Bahrain's pavilion at Gitex Global 2023, along with the participation of 30 small to medium-sized Bahraini tech enterprises within the pavilion. Additionally, Tamkeen will support the participation of promising tech startups in the Expand North Star exhibition. Scheduled to be held from October 15 to 18 in Dubai Harbour in conjunction with Gitex Global, it is one of the largest global events for startups and hosted by the Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy. 265 Bahraini enterprises Tamkeen Chief Executive Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez said: "Over the past eight years, Tamkeen has facilitated the participation of 265 Bahraini enterprises in Gitex Global, and we are delighted to continue this support. The presence of our local enterprises at this exhibition reinforces Bahrain's position as a leading technology and innovation hub in the GCC and offers them opportunities to engage with international industry players, exchange knowledge and build partnerships. It allows them to stay abreast of the latest technological advancements, while showcasing their innovative products and services to a global audience. She added: "The information and communications technology sector is a vital pillar of our economy, contributing significantly to the GDP at 6.8% in 2022. In line with the kingdom's digital economy strategy, we have launched an array of initiatives and programmes to bolster tech businesses, nurture entrepreneurs, and drive digital transformation. Our aim is to foster innovation, create high-quality job opportunities, and elevate the kingdom's global standing." Startup PLAYBOOK In previous editions of Gitex, Bahraini entrepreneurs have achieved remarkable successes, particularly in competitions held alongside the exhibition. Notably, Bahraini startup PLAYBOOK secured the top spot in the Supernova Challenge last year within the women's category. PLAYBOOK is a digital platform designed to empower women in leadership roles by offering a diverse digital academy led by influential and inspirational women. In previous years, numerous Bahraini institutions had forged fruitful agreements and partnerships that contributed to their growth on both local and regional fronts.--TradeArabia News Service A Muslim preacher who described the abhorrent Hamas terror attacks in Israel as 'a day of courage' once held prayers with Anthony Albanese. Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun spoke at a recent Iftar dinner during Ramadan where the Prime Minister also addressed the crowd of worshippers. During his speech, Mr Albanese thanked the Australian National Imams Council for their support for the Voice to Parliament, saying they 'are very much at the heart of the story of this great nation'. 'Events like this one remind us of the value of coming together and taking time to reflect on both the sacrifices in our histories and the possibilities of our shared future,' Mr Albanese said, according to the Australian Muslim Times. On Sunday, Sheikh Dadoun joined a large crowd outside Lakemba Station in western Sydney cheering on the Palestinian terrorists who plotted the most devastating and well co-ordinated strike on the Jewish state in 50 years. Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun spoke at a recent Iftar dinner during Ramadan where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also addressed the crowd of worshippers Sheikh Ibrahim Dadoun (pictured), who described the abhorrent Hamas terror attacks in Israel as 'a day of courage' once held prayers with Anthony Albanese 'I'm smiling and I'm happy. I'm elated,' Sheik 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. Facing a severe backlash over the confronting rally cry, the cleric on Monday tried to walk back his comments in a lengthy statement posted to Facebook. 'To be clear, at no stage did I express any support for, nor refer to, the loss of lives on any side,' he said. 'I made no reference to the killing of the innocent people. I do not condone nor celebrate the killing of innocent people from any side, particularly women and children.' More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian militants on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. Israel has now ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food and electricity as it prepares for a massive ground offensive. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days. 'I'm smiling and I'm happy. I'm elated,' Sheik Ibrahim Dadoun told the crowd Meanwhile, there was tense scenes on Monday night as police formed a ring of steel around the Sydney Opera House to hold off hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered outside to demonstrate against the iconic building's sails being lit up in support of Israel. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching on the Opera House. There were scenes of chaos as the demonstrators - some wearing masks - hurled lit flares at the line of over 100 cops stopping them from approaching the iconic building. Some were heard chanting 'f*** Israel', 'f*** the Jews' and even, at points, 'f*** Albanese' - while some attempted to set fire to an Israeli flag before stamping on it and tearing it to shreds. Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great in Arabic) rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police barrier, brandishing torn pieces of the Israeli flag - despite the rally organisers calling for protestors to respect the police. The Opera House's sails were later lit up blue and white in support of Israel, which came under attack from Hamas over the weekend. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100. The illumination of the Opera House had been due to take place at 7.30pm but did not appear to happen until nearer 8.30pm, when some of the protesters had left the area. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching on the Opera House Police formed a ring of steel around the Sydney Opera House A man has been arrested by NSW Police at a pro-Palestine rally at Sydney's Town Hall (pictured) on Monday after he was seen with an Israel flag The sails were lit up in a muted blue and white pattern in support of Israel As protesters arrived at Town Hall earlier in the evening, a man clutching an Israeli flag was dragged away by three police officers for 'disrupting the peace' - before he even had a chance to unfurl it. In an video of the incident taken by Daily Mail Australia, the man can be heard repeatedly saying 'I've done nothing wrong'. An officer told him: 'You've been arrested in relation to a breach of the peace.' A speaker then told the booing crowd: 'Zionist's don't deserve our attention'. In total, this publication witnessed three individuals attempt to fly an Israeli flag before being chased away by protestors and arrested by the police 'for their own safety'. Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the words 'peace' taken from her by police. 'A police officer came and snatched it out of my hands and said: 'Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think you're doing?',' she said. 'I said: 'I'm not Palestinian, I'm not Israeli. I'm just Irish-Australian and I don't like that we are inciting hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate'.' She added: 'I don't think inciting more anger and violence is the solution.' The start of the rally at Town Hall kicked off with various chants including 'Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied', 'Israel, Israel you can't hide you're committing genocide' and 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' Pro-Palestine supporters are pictured tearing up an Israeli flag The protestors marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting 'Free Palestine' A protestor makes his feelings clear below the steps of the iconic building on Sydney's harbourside Jeremy Heathcote, Indigenous community engagement officer at the University of Sydney, performed the 'Welcome to Country' and likened the Palestinian cause to the experience of Aboriginal people in Australia. 'People ask me why I support Palestine and it's pretty simple,' he told the crowd. 'Two reasons, it's the right thing to do for starters. And also you see between us as Aboriginal people and what you guys are going through, the same sorts of things. 'Dispossessed from our land, racist attacks from people, intergenerational trauma that your kids are facing and your grandkids will face for many years to come.' Israeli supporters largely stayed away from the Opera House on Monday evening, with some watching the illumination from the other side of Circular Quay. In a depressing turn of events, NSW Police felt compelled to warn Sydney's Jewish community from attending Sydney's CBD on Monday evening over safety concerns. 'NSW police are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House or Town Hall this evening,' an email from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to members read. 'Community members already in the CBD should be vigilant as protesters are likely to seek to march from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House. There were scenes of chaos as the demonstrators lit up flares and cops lined up to stop them approaching the building A large crowd has gathered outside the Opera House Israel supporters kept their distance, watching the display from the other side of Circular Quay 'The events tonight may pose a risk to the safety of community members and you are strongly urged not to attend.' One of the speakers told the crowd it was a 'disgrace that the Sydney Opera House is going to be lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag' to rapturous cheers and applause. 'Australia has blood on its hands,' said another speaker. Protestors carried placards emblazoned with the words 'Palestine is Ukraine' and 'cut ties with Israeli apartheid'. Premier Chris Minns condemned the 'horrible scenes' at the Opera House. He said the protestors 'do not represent the people of NSW'. 'This sort of behaviour incites violence and creates division,' he said, according to the Daily Telegraph. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier called on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the rally. Dramatic footage shows the man being dragged away by police while repeatedly saying 'I have done nothing wrong' during his arrest (pictured) An Israeli woman is seen being forced into a car by a terrorist before she is taken to the Gaza Strip Appearing on 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe, Mr Albanese called on people to respect the 'loss of life' that occurred on the weekend after Palestinian military group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to the death of more than 1100 civilians. 'I think people need to really take a step back,' he said, speaking on 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe. 'What has occurred here is completely indefensible. 'You can't target civilians like what occurred over the weekend where you had thousands attending a music festival. 'The idea that you would have people launching essentially indiscriminate shooting at random, just trying to cause as much harm and bloodshed as possible, is just an atrocity that deserves condemnation of all.' Prime Minister Anthony (pictured) has pleaded with pro-Palestinian protestors to abandon the rally at the Sydney Opera House on Monday night However, Palestine Action Group Sydney organiser Josh Lees criticised both the state and federal government for taking a 'one-sided stance'. 'The media and government are decrying the loss of life of civilians. What about Palestinian civilians. Why don't their lives matter?' he said. 'Where is the condemnation for the promises coming from the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to target every corner of the Gaza Strip in the coming days.' The activist group condemned Israel for launching a 'full scale war on Palestine' and demanded Australia 'cut ties with Israel'. 'It is the responsibility of everyone who stands for justice, freedom, against apartheid, colonialism and imperialism to stand up for Palestine,' the event description read. 'End Israeli apartheid, the occupation, the siege on Gaza.' As of 5pm on Monday, more than 250 people had said they would be attending the rally. Demonstrators plan to move from the Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House at 7pm in protest of the landmark being lit up in white and blue, the colours of the Israel flag A statement issued by the NSW Police confirmed officers 'will have a presence at the protest' and 'will work with protesters to ensure there are no breaches of the peace and there is minimal impact to the community'. 'The NSW Police Force is aware of upcoming planned protest activity at Sydney Town Hall today (Monday, October 9, 2023) and will monitor the situation accordingly,' the statement said. 'The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly; however, the first priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.' On Sunday evening, pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Lakemba, where the Hamas attack was labelled as a 'day of pride' and a 'day of victory'. The demonstrations were criticised by Anthony Albanese, who condemned people who supported the violence. 'There's no victory with the slaughter of innocent people,' the Prime Minister told Sunrise on Monday. 'The capturing of the people and taking them back to Gaza represents an extraordinary action by Hamas. And Israel, of course, has a right to defend itself, and it will.' The rally is the latest of demonstrations in support of Palestine after the Hamas group launched a surprise attack on Israel, leaving hundreds dead and thousands injured NSW Police say they will closely monitor the rally, saying in a statement that while they respect the right to exercise free speech their priority 'is always the safety of the wider community' Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Mr Albanese's concerns and said the 'targeting of civilians and the taking of hostages is never a cause for celebration'. The planned protest will occur hours before the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated in blue and white at 7.30pm as an act of solidarity with Jewish communities across NSW. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government was working to identify whether any Australians had been involved in the attacks. 'We are deeply concerned about the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel and those who have been kidnapped,' he said. 'We will continue to work to ensure that we provide all support possible to those impacted across our state and are monitoring the situation closely to learn if any NSW citizens that are currently living in, on holidays or pilgrimage in the Middle East are impacted.' An 18-year-old Lidl supermarket worker has won more than 50,000 after suing the retail giant for sexual harassment - after her gay boss said he'd like to sleep with her and her boyfriend. Maddie Hunter revealed that her manager, Michael Harding, made a slew of inappropriate remarks which were widely tolerated. Ms Hunter recalled an example where she was sorting through a pair of knickers, with Mr Harding telling her: 'I'd bet you would look good in this.' When told: 'You can't say that', Mr Harding replied: 'You better get used to it,' an employment tribunal heard. A-Level student Ms Hunter worked in a branch of the budget supermarket where sexual comments were tolerated, the hearing was told, and where male staff ranked female colleagues according to their attractiveness. But after complaining about her treatment she was told by the store manager to 'take it as a compliment'. After eventually quitting, Ms Hunter sued the retail giant for sexual harassment and constructive dismissal - winning 50,884.62 in compensation. The tribunal in Reading was told that the teenager began working as a customer assistant at Lidl in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in February 2019, shortly after her 18th birthday. An 18-year-old Lidl supermarket worker has won more than 50,000 after suing the retail giant for sexual harassment - after her gay boss said he'd like to sleep with her and her boyfriend Within a month of working there, a male checkout worker moved his till next to her, asked her for her number and made comments and sexual advances through the day, the hearing was told. Ms Hunter then asked to move tills. Her store manager, however, denied the request and told her to 'take it as a compliment', the tribunal heard. Mr Harding became Deputy Store Manager in February 2020 and Ms Hunter alleged that - despite her asking him to stop - he would pester her on a daily basis, touching her on her bottom, thighs and waist and often attempting to hug her. '[He] regularly talked about sex,' the tribunal heard. 'He talked about who he would rather sleep with, what they could do and made comments such as, "Bet they're good at giving head."' '[He] admits that he said he found [Ms Hunter's boyfriend] attractive. [She] said he told her he wanted to sleep with her and her boyfriend. '[Ms Hunter] said that when she arrived at the store with wet hair [he] asked, "How was your shower?", "Do you shower alone?", and "What did you do in the shower?"' Mr Harding explained in his defense that as a gay man 'he is not interested in women'. She also described an incident where she and a colleague were sorting through swimming costumes and underwear. 'He was passing through the warehouse, and he picked up some knickers and asked [Ms Hunter] and the person who she was with, "Do you think I look good in these?"' the tribunal heard. '[Ms Hunter] did not respond and he then said, "I bet you would look good in this" to which she did not respond. Someone said, "You can't say that". '[She] says that [Mr Harding] then said, "You better get used to it."' Ms Hunter - who was promoted in August 2020 - told the tribunal she complained to her store manager about Mr Harding's conduct but that she was ignored. Maddie Hunter revealed that her manager, Michael Harding, made a slew of inappropriate remarks which were widely tolerated with her being told to 'take it as a compliment' 'He laughed and said he was not surprised,' the hearing was told. After deciding she'd had enough, Ms Hunter asked on two occasions - in October and December - to be transferred to a store with a female manager. She was told there wasn't one nearby. Ms Hunter also complained of being underpaid and being asked to work excessive hours, the tribunal heard. In June 2021, she resigned after being told by a manager she needed to have a 'performance discussion' for being late. The tribunal - chaired by Employment Judge Sarah Matthews - upheld her claims of sexual harassment and constructive unfair dismissal. The panel concluded that Mr Harding did not intend to cause offence through his comments because he didn't realise that what he was saying was offensive. 'This reflects the culture in the store which was allowed to go unchecked,' it said. 'The Tribunal has found that there was an acceptance of comments with sexual overtones. '[Mr Harding] has been identified as the main perpetrator but that does not excuse the failure to act by more senior management. We find that [he] was reflecting the culture within the store. 'He said in evidence he wanted to lighten the atmosphere and that workplace banter was not uncommon; they were like a big family. 'We accept [Ms Hunter's] explanation that "It was a man's world in that company". 'We find that the line managers did not consider that it was their role to police harassment. They paid no attention to her complaints and closed their eyes and ears to the culture of harassment that existed.' Hundreds of people currently trying to flee Israel have been held up by rockets coming down near the country's main airport, as the third day of violence in the region gets well under way. Over 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack over the weekend, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday, while another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international gateway, was packed with travellers trying to leave the country on Monday. But departure boards at the airport, which last year saw over 20million passengers on 143,000 international and domestic flights pass through, were glowing red as flight after flight was cancelled by aviation authorities. Hundreds of anxious travellers were seen with their heads in their hands as they wracked their brains to figure out how to leave Israel. One man was told by an airport official to 'leave everything' after a siren went off in Ben Gurion airport Hundreds of people have been flown out of Israel by concerned governments Smoke was seen rising through the air near the carpark at Ben Gurion Airport The delays come hours after a rocket salvo in the Tel Aviv area landed near Ben Gurion Airport. Video circulated online appeared to show smoke rising from Ben Gurion, near the airport's carpark. A spokesman for the Israel Airports Authority said there had been a mid-air rocket interception and a possible impact in a nearby village. They added that there were no impacts at the airport itself. One man who took a video that was shared to a Telegram page revealed the panic in the airport. He said to the camera: 'Guys, I don't know what's going on here. It's crazy.' Anxious travellers were left unsure of how they were going to leave Israel Departure boards at the international gateway show dozens of flights out of Israel had been cancelled Hundreds were left to their own devices as flight after flight from Ben Gurion was cancelled Sirens wailed overhead as travellers were told to move to a nearby bomb shelter after a rocket crashed near the airport Many countries around the world have made efforts to take their citizens out of Israel Sirens wailed overhead as travellers were told to move to a nearby bomb shelter. A security guard was heard telling him: 'Move, leave everything.' The airport is also home to a centre for missing persons and abductees, in the wake of mass civilian deaths and kidnappings at the hands of Hamas forces. Police were seen carting out evidence boxes by the dozen. One officer was seen comforting a woman just outside the centre. Many countries around the world have made efforts to take their citizens out of Israel. Spaniards were repatriated from Israel hours after its prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas. 170 passengers arrived in Barajas Airport in Madrid on Monday. Over in Bulgaria, dozens were seen leaving Sofia International Airport after being repatriated from Israel by the government. Thailand's prime minister Srettha Thavisin also has ordered preparations to fly Thai nationals out of Israel, after two were killed, eight injured and 11 captured in the weekend violence. This morning, Israel's defence minister ordered a 'complete siege' on the Palestinian exclave while the country is still scouring areas in the south for Hamas attackers. The airport is also home to a centre for missing persons and abductees Police officers carted boxes of evidence out of the centre One woman was comforted by a police officer outside the centre Minister Yoav Gallant added that authorities will cut electricity to the bordered area and will block the entry of food and fuel to the region. The announcement comes as Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas attackers and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks, while it relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip in the early hours of this morning, with air strikes and artillery hitting more than 1,000 targets belonging to Hamas overnight. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and buildings were reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack in response to Hamas launching a surprise assault that has so far killed more than 700 Israelis and injured 1,200. The Israeli airstrikes have so far flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. On the ground, thousands of Israeli soldiers are preparing to launch a massive ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fighting erupt in the streets, US officials say. Hundreds of Spanish travellers were taken back from Israel by Spain's government Many countries across the world have deployed planes to repatriate their citizens 170 passengers arrived in Barajas Airport in Madrid on Monday Israel has so far brought in special forces to try and wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters in the south of the country. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine after what has been described as the country's 'worst day in history' with the number of Israelis killed in the conflict set to rise further. And today, Israel's army said its forces were in 'full control of communities' in its southern territory near Gaza - hours after it said it was fighting Hamas terrorists in 'seven to eight' locations in the south. 'We are in full control of the communities,' military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists, adding however that there still might be 'terrorists' in the area. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said he believed around 1,000 Palestinian gunmen were involved in the unprecedented attack on Israel on Sunday, which he called 'by far the worst day in Israeli history'. Over in Bulgaria, dozens were seen leaving Sofia International Airport after being repatriated from Israel 'Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day,' he said, adding that the current death toll of 700 is expected to rise as more than 1,000 Israelis are injured, some critically. Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at Hamas on Saturday and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down hundreds of civilians in cold blood and took at least 100 hostages in a huge coordinated attack that took Israel by surprise. The terrorists massacred 260 Israeli revellers at a festival in a hail of bullets, with survivors describing how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims. Survivors of the attack posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. New York congressman Dan Goldman and his wife and their three children were forced to hide out in the stairwell of a hotel in Israel as Hamas rained down rockets over the weekend. Meanwhile, Senator Cory Booker and his staff also escaped danger by holing up in a hotel bomb shelter on Saturday as the Palestinian terrorists entered the country in a surprise multi-front attack. According to a statement from his office on Sunday, Goldman (D-N.Y.) and his family were in Israel for a Bar Mitzvah when Hamas launched its barrage of land, sea and air attacks. Goldman, 47, his wife Corinne Levy hid in a hotel stairwell in Tel Aviv until early Sunday morning with their three children, at which point they departed back to New York, his spokesperson Simone Kanter said. Rep. Dan Goldman, his wife and their three children sheltered in the stairwell of a hotel in Israel over the weekend after Hamas terrorist launched a surprise attack. Goldman and his family were in Israel for a Bar Mitzvah when the multi-front attack commenced At least nine Americans were killed in Israel, the State Department confirmed, after Hamas launched a multi-front attack against the Jewish State on Saturday. Pictured: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip on Monday, October 9 'I mean, our experience was traumatic. But of course it is nothing compared to so many Israelis down in the south just massacred with barbarism that we have not seen,' Rep. Goldman said. On Sunday Rep. Goldman posted to X: 'At a minimum, Congress must replenish and expand the Iron Dome as soon as possible,' referring to Israel's defense system. He added: 'I hope Republicans can get their House in order so we can pass emergency legislation to assist Israel in defending herself.' Sen. Booker (D-N.J.) posted a video from Israel on Sunday after he and his staff reached safety. 'I am in Israel,' the senator said in his selfie-style video from Jerusalem. 'About this time yesterday I was jogging in the Old City when I got an urgent call from my chief of staff telling me to get back to the hotel as quickly as I could that Israel was under attack.' 'When I got back to the hotel I joined others in the bomb shelter or the stairwells of the hotel. Frightened faces there were children, and elderly, families, many Americans. There was a sense of fear and worry.' Booker, 54, had to cut his trip short due to the violence. The senator arrived in Israel last Friday and had plans to stay through at least Tuesday to speak about regional economic integration. Sen. Cory Booker was also in Israel with his staff when the attack began. The Democrat had plans to stay through at least Tuesday to speak about regional economic integration, but was forced to cut his trip short amid the violence Rep. Goldman called for Congress to 'replenish' Israel's main defense system the Iron Dome Goldman and his family and Booker and his staff were all in Israel at a time when Hamas on Saturday morning launched the largest attack on Israel in decades resulting that day in the largest Jewish death toll since the Holocaust in World War II. Forces raided multiple Israeli towns as rockets rained down across the country and videos were released from Hamas showing them kidnapping, murdering and defacing bodies. The total death toll surpassed 1,100 entering the third day of conflict. Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians are wounded and Hamas is holding at least a few hundred hostage in Gaza. While Booker and Goldman were in Israel escaping the violence, some of their Democratic colleagues in Congress mainly those in the progressive 'squad' were expressing their distaste for Israel launching counter strikes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and calling for a ceasefire. Music star David Foster's daughter, Sara, has slammed those not supporting Israel after the violent attack launched by terrorist organization Hamas on Saturday. The political activist shared her stance on social media condemning the 'killing of innocent people' and touched on the ongoing division between Palestinian and Israeli people. 'I do not support the killing of innocent people. The people dying are not the ones on this radical plight,' she said. 'The loving Palestinians I know do not want this. The loving people of Israel do not want this. Hamas is EVIL. Period. 'How can ANYONE of any nationality or race defend this?' Music star David Foster 's daughter, Sara, has slammed those not supporting Israel after the violent attack launched by terrorist organization Hamas on Saturday The political activist shared her stance on social media condemning the 'killing of innocent people' and touched on the ongoing division between Palestinian and Israeli people She shared the comments on Instagram alongside a post from the Stand With Us organization, which fights antisemitism and supports Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video shared at the weekend that Israel is 'at war' and called for a massive military response to the Hamas attacks. 'If you are too scared to say you stand with Israel or even if you don't, at least stand against 4-year-old children being dragged out of their beds by a terrorist organization,' Foster said in a separate Instagram story. 'And if you don't stand against that, then you are not human.' Foster's youngest sister Erin, who converted to Judaism before marrying her husband Simon Tikhman also shared the post from the nonprofit organization with the addition of a broken heart emoji. The Israeli military on Monday said it struck hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip overnight. They had sent four combat divisions south, where it continued to battle the Islamist militants with the death toll from the fighting now standing at 1,100. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. Sara is the daughter of music mogul David Foster and has always been vocal in politics Foster's youngest sister Erin (left), who converted to Judaism before marrying her husband Simon Tikhman also shared the post from the nonprofit organization with the addition of a broken heart emoji A declaration of war gives the green light for Israel to take 'significant military steps' against Hamas. But a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday he has ordered a 'complete siege' on Gaza and that authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. The announcement came after the Israeli military said it had regained 'control' of border communities taken by Hamas. Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said there were some isolated incidents but no fighting going on Monday morning. He cautioned, however, that there could still be militants in the area and that forces were conducting searches. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. 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 enclave's northeast corner. Hamas had been using the town as a staging ground for attacks, Hagari said. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepted rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel on Monday A missile exploded in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday as Israel reels from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century 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. 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 held an emergency meeting about the situation and took no immediate action on a U.S. demand that its 15 members condemn the Hamas attack. Russia's U.N. ambassador told The Associated Press that long-stalled negotiations between the two sides need to resume. China's ambassador said it was important to come back to a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side-by-side. But U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said the ongoing violence needed to be dealt with first. Germany's development minister said her country would review its aid for Palestinian areas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video shared at the weekend that Israel is 'at war' and called for a massive military response to the Hamas attacks Women were seen mourning during the funeral of members of the Abu Quta family who were killed in Israeli strikes on the Palestinian city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip Hamas officials cited long-simmering tensions including a dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque, sacred to both Muslims and Jews for the reason for their attack. 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 Palestinians claim for a future state and Ben-Gvir's efforts to toughen restrictions on Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Tensions escalated with recent violent Palestinian protests. 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. Flights were suspended at Germany's Hamburg Airport this morning after a threat of an attack was made against a plane flying from the Iranian capital Tehran. German cops descended on the aircraft after it landed safely at the international airport in the country's north and conducted a search, acting on an earlier emailed threat. The Iranian plane touched down in Hamburg at about 12.20pm with 198 passengers and 16 crew members then undergoing a security check. The aircraft and luggage on board were also searched. The terminal halted take-offs and landings at 12.40pm local time, a spokesman said. Cops said they were taking the threat seriously but have yet to disclose further details. Hamburg Airport officials have since revealed that air traffic has resumed at the airport. The police operation comes on the first day of a special meeting of the German and French governments in Hamburg, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Emmanuel Macron both attending. Flights were suspended at Germany's Hamburg Airport this morning (pictured) after a threat of an attack was made against a plane flying from the Iranian capital Tehran It also unfolded against a backdrop of growing international tensions after Israel came under a sustained and brutal attack by Hamas gunmen over the weekend. The incursions left hundreds of Israelis dead - including revellers at a festival. Israel responded with a wave of deadly retaliatory air strikes on the Gaza Strip. A murder inquiry has been launched after a man was stabbed to death outside a bungalow in a quiet village. The 37-year-old victim died of injuries at the scene at Sutton near Woodbridge, Suffolk on Sunday evening, even though neighbours had desperately tried to revive him by giving CPR. Witnesses said the horrific incident happened in front of a woman and her seven-year-old son. Local residents were alerted to the sound of a woman screaming just before 9pm last night in Ipswich Avenue. A 42-year-old man from Ipswich was detained at the scene and later arrested on suspicion of murder. He was today being quizzed by detectives at the Police Investigation Centre in Martlesham near Ipswich. Police at the scene after a man was stabbed to death in Sutton A police forensics tent was today erected outside the end terrace bungalow where the incident happened on an estate which used to be housing for RAF Woodbridge. Many of the houses are currently occupied by Army personnel and their families from the two Royal Engineers regiments at the nearby Rock Barracks. But other homes are rented out or owned by civilians. Neighbours said they believed that the bungalow where the stabbing happened was home to a civilian. A father-of-three who lives nearby said: 'I heard a woman screaming and shouting. When we went outside there was a guy on the floor. There were people surrounding him and a woman crying. 'I thought at first that he might have had a stroke or a heart attack, but then I saw blood on his T-shirt. People were trying to give him CPR, but it was too late. Somebody called over the medic from the barracks and they came over.' Another woman who asked not to be named said: 'I always considered this a safe area with kids able to run around safely, but I don't think I will regard it that way any more. We couldn't sleep all night because there were police vans coming and going all the time.' A Suffolk Police spokesman said a murder investigation was launched following the man's death Heavy recovery operator Jim Wallace, 43, who lives in Ipswich Avenue, said: 'I heard some loud banging. I went outside and saw a hysterical scene. It was a bit of a messy scene and completely unexpected. This is a safe community and hopefully this was a one off.' A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Sutton. 'Police were called at just before 9pm last night, Sunday, October 8, to reports of a stabbing outside a property in Ipswich Avenue. 'Ambulance crews including an air ambulance were also in attendance, but despite the best efforts of police and medical personnel, the victim - a 37-year-old man - died at the scene. 'A 42-year-old man from Ipswich was detained at the scene and subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder. He has been taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning. 'Detectives are treating this as an isolated incident and the victim and suspect are understood to have been known to each other. 'A section of Ipswich Avenue is currently closed from the junction with Easton Road as police enquiries take place.' An illegal immigrant who brutally hacked his sister-in-law to death with a hatchet after she repeatedly phoned the Home Office to get him deported has been jailed for life. Moldovan Nicolae Virtosu, 49, claimed to be having hallucinations of the devil when he bludgeoned Svetlana Mihalachi 18 times with an axe - before messaging his brother Iurie to tell him she was dead. The killer had been convicted of murdering his wife, Anastasia Virtosu, in his home country in 2009. He was jailed for four years as under the Moldovan system it was treated as a 'heat and passion'. After he was freed he came to the UK illegally in 2016. Virtosu had threatened to kill Mrs Mihalachi, 53, before he murdered her with a hatchet as household tensions escalated over lockdown on April 9, 2021, the Old Bailey heard. Nicolae Virtosu hacked his sister-in-law to death after she repeatedly called the Home Office to have him deported back to Moldova Virtosu bludgeoned Svetlana Mihalachi (pictured) 18 times with an axe She had contacted Home Office Immigration Services in the hope that they would deport Virtusu and called police to report him a month before her death. Jurors saw bodyworn camera footage of Ms Mihalachi telling police officers she was scared Virtosu would kill her. She told a practice manager at Reach Out Domestic Violence Hub that she did not understand why the Home Office and the police did not help her. 'Do they want someone to be killed before they do anything?' she asked. Her case was due to be discussed at a multi-agency risk assessment conference on 20 April 2021 but by then it was too late. Virtosu denied but was convicted of murder and making threats to kill by an Old Bailey jury on Friday. He denied and was cleared of a second count of threats to kill. He had admitted manslaughter claiming he was suffering from psychosis when he killed Ms Mihalachi and having hallucinations of the devil. Judge Rosa Dean sentenced Virtosu to life in prison and said he would have to serve 28 years before being eligible for parole. Two victim impact statements were read including one from the killer's brother Iurie Virtosu. He said: 'I no longer consider him my brother. He has completely gone out of my heart. 'I have feelings of hate towards him and I do not think I can ever forgive him for what he has done.' Andrei Tofan, the son of the killer's ex-wife Anastasia, said: 'Nicolae's horrible actions have left a void that nobody and nothing will ever will. 'Not only did Nicolae take away my mother but when he murdered Svetlana he also took away my opportunity for any semblance of family life. It's difficult to quantify the impact Nicolae's actions have had on my life. Nicolae has inflicted emotional scars and I will never recover.' Jenni Dempster KC, defending Virtosu, called on the judge to take his mental health into account when passing his sentence. She said that he had been examined by three psychiatrists during the trial and was found to suffer from a personality disorder. She also said that he was genuinely remorseful for his actions. 'He remains genuinely regretful and remorseful at his behaviour and the tragic impact this has had on his family.' Virtosu was convicted of murder, as well as making threat to kill and found not guilty of making another threat to kill Judge Dean told Virtosu: 'You are an angry and impulsive man. You are also a resentful one. Over the months building up to Svetlana Mihalachi's murder, you harboured a hatred towards her. You are a misogynist. 'In plain terms, you have a deep seated hatred of women and you would not tolerate her telling you what to do or how to behave in her home. 'This conclusion is supported by your previous convictions and I note that there have been incidents where you have been abusive to women since your remand into custody. I consider that you are exceptionally dangerous. 'You were also willing to torment and destroy your brother and nephew's happiness and peace of mind.' Ms Mihalachi was married to the killer's brother, Iurie Virtosu, and they had all lived together in Barkingside, east London, since 2018. Virtosu first came to the UK in 2008 and there was an incident where he put his hands around Ms Mihalachi's neck. He returned to Moldova 'to see his wife' and a few days later he strangled her to death. Virtosu, who previously attacked and raped a woman in a hostel, served a jail sentence for the unlawful killing in Moldova then returned to England in 2016. He waited until everyone had left the house before 'repeatedly and brutally' striking her with the hatchet, the court heard. Ms Mihalachi remained alive in an induced coma until she died on May 12, 2021. She had told a friend police were not going to do anything unless they 'saw her lying dead on the floor'. Virtosu had once said to his brother: 'In the same way that I have killed my wife, I could easily kill yours too. It's not a big deal.' Virtosu claimed he had heard voices on April 8 telling him to be careful and that he had an argument with Ms Mihalachi on the morning of the killing and believed she was the devil. He claimed he saw her eyes shining red when she looked at him and that he had no recollection of attacking her, only remembering being in a park later that day where he was arrested. Virtosu, of Barkingside, Ilford, denied murder and two counts of threats to kill. He was assisted in court by a Russian interpreter. For the past three years Indigenous People's Day has shared the day with Columbus Day The US remains divided as Italian American and Native Americans stand up for their communities Columbus Day and Indigenous People's Day is the second Monday in October The debate to drop Columbus Day for Indigenous People's Day has divided communities and left politicians fuming over the so-called 'woke' revisions to history. Columbus Day is meant to highlight Italian Christopher Columbus's journey to discovering the West. But, in recent years, there has been a push to downplay his place in history and remove the holiday named for him because of the treatment of Indigenous people. 'As an Italian-American, Columbus Day will always hold a special place in my heart and no amount of woke madness will take that away,' a statement from the Italian Caucus of New York and NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino read. 'I will continue to celebrate Columbus Day proudly and I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in the Italian Caucus in opposing the erasure of the Italian History in America.' New York City is set on Monday to honor Columbus and Italian Americans during its annual parade with Mayor Eric Adams. That is despite the mixed messages from the Democrat who called for the 'honest teaching of our history' as he praised Indigenous People's Day in a social-media post before attending the march. In response to the findings of what the Italian explorer did on his journey, his federal holiday has been questioned for the past quarter century due to his mistreatment of Indigenous people. Pictured: A man defacing a Columbus statue in Miami Many communities now celebrate Indigenous People's Day, or both holidays, on the same day. Pictured: People gathered for the 202 Indigenous People's celebration in New York City Columbus himself was Catholic Italian and others of that decent look to this day as testament of dignity and celebration. Others who don't agree with Columbus's choices see the day differently and would much rather it be expelled from ' woke ' US history. Pictured: A Columbus statue in Providence, Rhode Island, before and after being vandalized Indigenous People's Day has been around since 1977 when it was first introduced at a United Nations conference, and for the past three years, it has shared the same day with Columbus Day following a 2021 federal proclamation from President Joe Biden. Columbus was born in Geno, which is now part of Italy, in 1451. The Italian explorer is idolized by many for representing their heritage each year on the second Monday in October. Spanish rulers, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand approved and funded his journey, but what they did not authorize were the indigenous people that he abducted and enslaved. 'His first trip had been rushed, he told the monarchs, but on his next he was sure he could amass slaves in any number they may order,"' Columbus allegedly said, according to a new op-ed from the Boston Globe's Jeff Jacoby. In a 1975 essay from American Heritage, Edward T. Stone wrote that 'Columbus captured a large number of indigenous men, women, and children, sending them back as cargo in 12 ships to be sold in the slave market at Seville.' He then told the King and Queen that the people he brought back with him were 'cannibals' that could be taught the ways of Christianity. Jacoby's piece on Sunday was titled 'I used to defend Columbus as "magnificent." I don't anymore.' Jacoby, like others across the nation, have seen a shift in the way history has viewed Columbus. That has led to changes in the day and statues being vandalized. Others have pushed to keep his honors and his importance in finding the West. At least 14 states and 130 cities in the US have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day. Columbus, Ohio, named for the explorer, has even changed the holiday to recognize Indigenous people. People gather by the East River during an indigenous sunrise water ceremony on Randall's Island as they observe Indigenous Peoples' Day in New York City on October 9, 2023 New York City celebrated Indigenous People's Day on Oct. 9 along Randall's Island as the annual Columbus Day parade was held nearby Typically, Indigenous People's celebrations last for three days in New York City Massachusetts has become a hotbed for the Columbus Day vs. Indigenous People's Day debate. Native American activists and supporters take the day and make it their own as more than 300 cities and towns across Massachusetts alone have set out to honor their community. But, the state government has yet to make the switch. A bill is pending to make the change to Indigenous People's Day, according to The Boston Herald. 'This bill basically disregards the contributions of Italian American people,' said State Representative Jeffrey Turco, D-19th Suffolk. Danielle DeLuca co-founded Italian Americans for Indigenous People's Day and has led efforts to drop Columbus Day since 2016 and instead use it to celebrate other Italian Americans. 'We believe that Indigenous Peoples Day should be its own holiday. It should not stand alongside Columbus Day. It should not stand alongside Italian Heritage Day. 'We cannot celebrate Italian Americans on a day that is honoring Columbus. You just cannot celebrate a perpetrator of genocide and victims of genocide on the same day,' DeLuca said. Likewise, in Connecticut, the holiday is still designated Columbus Day. While the governor has not discussed a change, state legislator Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, has pushed for a switch. 'What Im asking for is a conversation about this issue,' said Osten, whos district is home to two tribes. 'I think were having a sea change in an area where people didnt necessarily believe there needed to be a discussion. Today marks the first day that the state of Minnesota has celebrated Indigenous People's Day as a group of people came together in a large circle early on Monday morning. Legislation this year dropped Columbus Day and requires schools to observe the new holiday. In New York City, the annual Columbus Day parade was held midday. Mayor Eric Adams, in a morning social-media post, seemed to send mixed messages about the day. He lauded Indigenous People's Day and called for the 'honest teaching of our history.' 'Indigenous People's Day is also a call of justice for us to mend our broken history, embrace or indigenous and native brothers and sisters and honor extraordinary contributions of Indigenous people to our country,' the mayor stated. Moments after posting about Indigenous People's Day, Adams posted a video touting Italian American's contributions to the city. 'New York is the city it is today because your ancestors helped to build it,' Adams said. #IndigenousPeoplesDay is a call for us to mend our broken history and embrace our indigenous and native brothers and sisters upon whose ancestral land we live. pic.twitter.com/sdf9T3XaP8 Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 9, 2023 The story of Italian immigrants is New York City's story. Our Italian-American community has contributed so much, from arts and culture to the determined, working class spirit that built our very city. pic.twitter.com/wwhl8Moq2L Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 9, 2023 Today marks the first day that the state of Minnesota has celebrated Indigenous People's Day as a group of people came together in a large circle early on Monday morning Councilwoman Vickie Paladino took to X to share her support for Columbus Day as an Italian American In Chicago, all public schools are closed in recognition of Indigenous People's Day, as the rest of the state has gone on to honor Columbus Day instead. Arlene Duncan, a member of the Chippewa nation, told Chicago Sun Times that Columbus supporters 'choose to believe their own facts' even when the 'historical trauma and the annihilation of our people cannot be denied.' A spokesperson for the city of Chicago reported that the opposing parties are currently involved in 'settlement decisions.' However, not everybody is happy with the switch. The Italian Caucus of New York is one of the groups that has blasted the move. In a Monday op-ed for The Federalist, Scott Powell discussed why Americans should continue to honor Columbus Day. 'Some modern-day revisionist historians have taken cheap shots at Columbus, taking a chapter out of Lenin in charging him with being an imperialist,' Powell wrote. 'Others blame Columbus for unfair treatment of indigenous people without taking into consideration the mix of his Spanish machismo crew encountering ruthless tribes that included cannibals and the brutal Aztecs. These contributed to the force needed to survive.' Powell detailed how Columbus braved the risk to help explore the world. His efforts led to people from Great Britain leaving England and settling in America, looking for freedom. 'Columbus Day is worth keeping and honoring because it remains foundational to the establishment of a new nation by people who largely shared the core beliefs and the qualities of character Columbus exhibited,' Powell noted. 'Columbus Day commemorates character, embodies freedom, and celebrates the uniqueness that is America.' Three children killed in a plash crash alongside their grandfather had celebrated their team's stunning last minute Grand Final victory just days earlier. Peter Nally, 65, his grandson Raphael, 11, and two granddaughters, nine-year-old Evita and six-year-old Philomena, died when the five-seater Cirrus SR22 light plane Mr Nally was piloting crashed at Lake George near Canberra on Friday. A GoFundMe page has since been set up to raise funds to support parents Elyse and Dave Smith and the extended family. It revealed the children's' final day was spent at the zoo and then trying to save animals in a game of make-believe. 'After spending Thursday 5th October at the zoo, the kids spent the evening engaged in an hours-long game of make-believe, saving animals from poachers inside an elaborate lounge room cubby,' family friend Kristin Boyle said. Raphael, 11, Evita, 9, Philomena, 6, spent their final day together at the zoo before they tragically perished in a plane crash on Friday The trio were also huge supporters of the Penrith Panthers Rugby League side. 'All three were passionate Penrith Panthers supporters, and raised the roof on their Armidale home on Sunday night watching their team's miraculous win!' the page read. She described the kids as 'wildly imaginative, clever, fun and compassionate,' Ms Boyle said. 'Raphael, Evita and Philomena loved to read, create works of art and play sport, to help out their adored Mum and Dad, and play with their little brothers and cousins,' 'They were happy kids who knew, every day, how much they were loved.' The tribute was also extended to Mr Nally, who was a highly experienced pilot. 'This loss will reverberate through the lives of Elise, David, Eamon and Reuben, and Therese, Peter's wife and the children's grandmother.' The three children died alongside their grandfather Peter Nally, 65, when the light plane Mr Nally was piloting crashed into a paddock at Gundaroo, north of Queanbeyan (pictured, investigators at the crash site) A GoFundMe page revealed Raphael, Evita and Philomena spent their final day at the zoo and then played a game of make-believe where they pretended to save animals (pictured, the children with their siblings and parents Elyse and Dave Smith) Ms Boyle explained that the fundraising was 'being coordinated to help the family with the costs inevitable over the coming months'. She said the funds would also 'allow them time together to find strength as they forge a path'. 'Dave and Elise appreciate the love and care and generosity of you all, but remain, as all who know them will attest, humble in their needs,' she added. The plane had taken off from Canberra on a 750km trip to Armidale in northern NSW but didn't make it 20 minutes into the flight. Mr Nally, who has hundreds of hours of flying experience, is from Bunya in Brisbane and had flown from Redcliffe Aero Club to Armidale to visit his daughter Elyse. He then took his three older grandchildren on a flight to Canberra where they visited extended family for a two days before attempting to fly back. The plane crashed minutes after takeoff, first climbing to 9,000ft before it quickly lost altitude and smashed into a paddock at Gundaroo, north of Queanbeyan, where it burst into flames. The single-engine aircraft exploded on impact at around 2.50pm. The Redcliffe Aero Club released a statement on Saturday following the crash. 'The Redcliffe Aero Club expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the pilot and passengers who were tragically killed on Friday the 6th October 2023,' the organisation said. 'The pilot was active in the social side of the Club with many hours of flying experience.' The club added the aircraft was privately owned and not operated by the club. It is registered to Up n Up Aviation. The five-seater single-engine Cirrus SR22 VH-MSF crashed and caught alight near Lake George in the NSW Tablelands around 2.52pm on Friday The light plane crashed (pictured) in Canberra's north-east on Friday afternoon before the aircraft burst into flames Emergency crews (pictured) arrived at the scene following the crash as firefighters from the Rural Fire Service quickly worked to douse the flames The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said on Saturday that teams were examining the crash site to determine what had happened. 'This will be a difficult undertaking given how burnt the wreckage is,' the ATSB's Colin McNamara said. 'But over the coming days, I am fully confident that the investigators will gather as much information and evidence as they can from the accident site.' Mr McNamara said ATSB crews will monitor for spilled chemicals, burnt carbon fibre and possible explosive materials. 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. According to the company the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System is unique in aviation, has saved more than 100 lives with a 'very high success rate' when deployed above 1,000ft. The plane is understood to have vanished from radar screens 16 minutes after taking off on Friday. Air traffic control repeatedly tried to raise a response from Mr Nally but were met with radio silence before eventually raising the alarm. Redcliffe Aero Club in Queensland issued a statement on Saturday saying the pilot was active in their club 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 Six minutes after take-off, the plane made a sharp plunge near Lake George with air traffic control unable to establish communications with the pilot Mr McNamara praised the first responders to the scene. 'These are indeed tragic circumstances exacerbated by the news that children have been involved,' he said. He also asked for any other witnesses to the crash to contact the ATSB. 'Yesterday we were contacted by witnesses which we're very appreciative about. It does prompt me to say, if anyone has relevant information pertaining to this accident, please go to our website.' One witness reportedly saw the plane travelling just above the tree line before it impacted heavily with ground. The area was still alight when emergency crews arrived and firefighters worked quickly to extinguish the blaze. 'When police arrived with RFS services there was a small grass fire and obviously a catastrophic crash of a small light aircraft,' Police Superintendent Cath Bradbury said. 'The RFS extinguished the plane - unfortunately there are no survivors. They are yet to be formally identified. A report will be prepared for the coroner.' The US-made Cirrus SR-22 is a single-engine aircraft and one of the most popular General Aviation aircraft in the world, regularly topping global best-seller lists. Mr 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. The UAE's change in mindset and visionary steps taken during the past few decades have helped the country rank among global leaders in tourism, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has indicated. In the recent UNWTO report on international tourist spending, the UAE ranked fourth with a total of AED224 billion ($61 billion) spend last year alone, outperforming countries such as France, Italy, Turkey, and Germany, Sheikh Mohmmaed said in a X (formerly Twitter) post. Narrating how he argued for a change in mindset at at meeting of GCC ministers in the 1980s, he said in the X post: "On the sidelines of one of the Cooperation Council meetings in the 1980s, while the ministers were discussing the crises that the region is going through and the endless challenges... I was in my mid-thirties and I was the youngest person in the session... and the most bored of the endless political talk... I asked to talk, and I suggested the ministers have a different proposal: Why don't we develop the Gulf cities into global tourist destinations... and can we start from Dubai? "All eyes turned to me... and there was a little silence... before it was interrupted by the laughter of one of the older foreign ministers... "Then he said: What will tourists find in Dubai and our Gulf cities? The desert ! Sand ! Heat and humidity! The rest laughed.. "Then he added a tone of experience to his speech and said: Then, Sheikh Mohammed, where is the cultural and civilizational heritage and human history in Dubai so that people can visit it! "I did not argue with him, but I felt sad because we do not make better use of our wealth, we do not trust our youth, and we do not try anything different other than what we know and are familiar with! "Two days ago, the United Nations World Tourism Organization report was issued. The UAE ranked fourth in the world in international tourist spending, with a total of 224 billion dirhams last year alone, outperforming ancient countries such as France, Italy, Turkey, and Germany in international tourist spending. Only the United States preceded us in the ranking. Spain and Britain. "I read the report and remembered my friend, the Foreign Minister." Rachel Reeves hinted at a tax raid on the wealthy to 'rebuild Britain' today as she was endorsed by former Bank of England governor Mark Carney. The shadow chancellor hit out at the Tories for allowing the 'wealthiest to avoid taxes' and 'keeping loopholes open' as she delivered her Labour conference speech. Although Ms Reeves did not elaborate, there have been hints at tightening up inheritance tax rules to raise more cash. It also wants to levy VAT on private schools. She also swiped at Rishi Sunak for using private planes and helicopters to travel, vowing to save billions by cracking down on government waste. In an unusual step, Sir Mark - handpicked by George Osborne to run the BoE but later a strong Brexit critic - recorded a video praising Ms Reeves as a 'serious economist'. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt slammed Ms Reeves for failing to mention inflation in the speech - although she did refer to the cost of living. He also pointed to Labour's suggestion that borrowing could rise further to fund more spending. Rachel Reeves hinted at a tax raid on the wealthy to 'rebuild Britain' today as she was endorsed by former Bank of England governor Mark Carney The shadow chancellor hit out at the Tories for allowing the 'wealthiest to avoid taxes' and 'keeping loopholes open' as she delivered her Labour conference speech In an unusual step, Sir Mark - handpicked by George Osborne to run the BoE but later a strong Brexit critic - recorded a video praising Ms Reeves as a 'serious economist' Chancellor Jeremy Hunt slammed Ms Reeves for failing to mention inflation in the speech - although she did refer to the cost of living Rachel Reeves' speech at Labour conference: Key points In her Labour conference speech today, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said: Labour will support Rishi Sunak's plan for a New Zealand-style smoking ban Labour will introduce a new guarantee to ensure any government making tax and spending changes will be subject to an independent forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility Labour will end the VAT exemption on private school fees and scrap business rates relief for independent schools Labour will end crackdown on the use of private jets by Government ministers and slash Whitehall consultancy spending Labour will appoint a Covid Corruption Commissioner to help recover lost pandemic cash Labour will create a new National Wealth Fund to boost investment Labour will commission an independent expert inquiry into HS2 to 'learn the lessons for the future' Labour will reform planning laws to speed up the building housing and energy and transport infrastructure Ex-TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady has been tasked with examining how the gender pay gap can be closed once and for all Advertisement Ms Reeves urged the party to focus on the task of winning power at the election, saying she wanted to be the first female chancellor in UK history. She warned that Labour cannot 'tax and spend' its way to growth, saying she wanted to 'tax fairly and spend wisely'. The leadership has already ruled out significant tax rises, including the main rates of income tax and VAT. 'I didn't come into politics to raise taxes on working people, indeed I want them to be lower,' she said. 'But the Tories have piled 25 tax rises on ordinary working people and businesses while allowing the wealthiest to avoid taxes, keeping loopholes open and letting government waste spiral. Taxpayers' money should be spent with the same care with which we spend our own money.' Labour is believed to be looking at options including ending the inheritance tax exemption for agricultural land, and curbing reliefs on shares in unlisted businesses. But the move could open a clear dividing line with the Tories amid speculation that Rishi Sunak will pledge to cut or even abolish inheritance tax in his election manifesto. Labour is holding off announcing its proposals until much closer to a poll, amid fears that ministers would either steal or find ways of attacking them. Sir Keir's plans for government are coming under increased scrutiny with polls consistently showing a double-digit lead for his party. Ms Reeves said Labour would 'wage a war against fraud, waste and inefficiency', including a 'crackdown on Tory ministers' private jet habit'. She said: 'What is Rishi Sunak so scared of up there in his private jet meeting a voter? Well, we will properly enforce the Ministerial Code on the use of private planes and save millions of pounds for taxpayers in the process.' Ms Reeves said Labour would seek to 'slash government consultancy spending', saying it has 'almost quadrupled in just six years', and introduce a Covid corruption commissioner helped by a 'hit squad'. She said 'we want our money back', in an apparent echo of Baroness Thatcher, who won her four-year battle to reduce Britain's payments to the European Economic Community in 1980 after famously declaring 'I want my money back'. Ms Reeves told activists in Liverpool that Labour would pull the economy out of the 'wreckage of Tory misrule' with a 'vision to rebuild Britain'. She confirmed plans for reforms to the 'antiquated' planning system to make it quicker and easier to build the infrastructure needed for modern industries and clean energy networks. Ms Reeves confirmed that her first Budget would crack down on private schools, making them pay VAT and business rates. She told Mr Sunak to 'bring it on' if he wanted a fight on the issue at a time when children in state schools were being taught in temporary classrooms due to crumbling concrete. Ms Reeves said: 'The choice at the next election is this: five more years of the Tory chaos and uncertainty which has left working people worse off or a changed Labour Party offering stability, investment and economic security so that working people are better off. 'It falls to us to show that Labour are ready to serve, ready to lead and ready to rebuild Britain.' The shadow chancellor said Labour would act to prevent a repeat of the HS2 fiasco by creating a new cross-government unit to keep major infrastructure projects under control. The cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham by Mr Sunak presents a political headache for Labour, which has been under pressure from some of its senior figures to commit to the scheme. Ms Reeves urged the party to focus on the task of winning power at the election, saying she wanted to be the first female chancellor in UK history The IFS has estimated that inheritance tax revenues will surge far more than previously thought as a proportion of GDP 'If I were in the Treasury, I would have been on the phone to the chief executive of HS2 non-stop,' she said, 'demanding answers, and solutions, on behalf of taxpayers, businesses and commuters.' Daily Mail Comment Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has given Labour his seal of approval, hailing Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves as 'a serious economist'. But is his support really anything to shout about? The sleek Canadian began 'quantitative easing', a technical term for printing money, after the 2008 global crash. By letting it go on for too long, he helped sow the seeds of the inflation spike now blighting families. And having shamefully allowed the Bank to become an agent of Project Fear, his doom-laden Brexit predictions proved spectacularly wrong. Then, last month Mr Carney mocked the Tories for having turned Britain into 'Argentina on the Channel' ignoring the fact that our economy is outgunning France and Germany. Given his track record, yesterday's endorsement of Ms Reeves looks more of a curse than a blessing. Advertisement The promised unit would be responsible for ensuring crucial national infrastructure projects are delivered on time and on budget and report directly to the prime minister and the chancellor. 'I will not tolerate taxpayers' money being treated with the disrespect we have seen over recent years,' she said. 'I will not turn a blind eye to dither, delay and incompetence. I will hold those responsible to account. ' Her plans would mean reinstating sign-off procedures on procuring consultants, with a target to reduce spending by half or 1.4billion over the next parliament. Officials would be instructed to enforce the ministerial code's rules around private jets. And the Covid corruption commissioner would examine contracts signed during the pandemic line by line to recover up to 2.6billion lost to fraud, waste and non-delivery. In his video played in the hall, Sir Mark said: 'Rachel Reeves is a serious economist. 'She began her career at the Bank of England, so she understands the big picture. 'But crucially, she understands the economics of work, of place and family. 'And, look, it is beyond time we put her energy and ideas into action.' Mr Hunt said: 'It is extraordinary that Rachel Reeves failed to mention inflation once when it is the biggest challenge facing the British economy. 'Instead, Reeves made it clear Labour will take 'up' borrowing by 28billion every year which is a fairytale for the British economy with no happy ending - just higher inflation, higher mortgages, higher debt and lower growth. 'Borrowing more doesn't solve problems, it creates them - the worst kind of short termism when instead we should be taking long-term decisions that will actually tackle inflation and unleash growth.' A spokesman for Ms Reeves, who is a former Bank of England economist, said she was 'incredibly proud' to win Mr Carney's backing. But he faced criticism for shattering the convention that former Bank governors should remain politically neutral. And senior Tories said the endorsement showed Labour would 'take us back to the past'. Mr Carney, a former investment banker, has taken a string of lucrative jobs since leaving the Bank of England and is rumoured to be weighing up a political career in his native Canada. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said his backing was 'the endorsement no one wants'. He added: 'Mark Carney never accepted Brexit and is no doubt hoping Labour will reverse it and take us back to the past.' Former Cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom said it showed Mr Carney was 'every bit as naive (and wrong) as when he promoted Project Fear in 2016'. Former Business Secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg added: 'The truth will out. A socialist governor of the Bank of England left us with runaway inflation and pretended to be impartial when he advocated extreme green views and campaigned for Remain. With such a track record, the Labour Party is more than welcome to him.' Simon French, chief economist and head of research at investment bank Panmure Gordon, who previously worked in the Cabinet Office, said: 'I personally prefer my former Bank governors to be apolitical out of office commensurate with the delicate political environment their former employer operates in. I don't think Carney endorsing Reeves fits that mould.' A city in Alabama is accusing police in neighboring Mississippi of transporting homeless citizens over state lines. The city of Mobile made the claim in a 'cease and desist' letter sent to Biloxi Mayor Andrew Gilich - where officials asserted the practice has been going on for several months and offered photos framed as evidence. One photograph, a still from a Mobile surveillance camera, shows a Biloxi police SUV passing a traffic light camera well within the Alabama city. Located about an hour's drive away, Mobile has a population of some 200,000 - while Biloxi, a city of 50,000, is a renowned casino destination. Bioxi's Mayor, Andrew 'FoFo' Gilich, denies any wrongdoing - despite recent comments from Biloxi's police chief stating the city has reached 'an overabundance.' Scroll down for video: The city of Mobile, Alabama, is accusing police in neighboring Biloxi, Mississippi - a casino city with a growing homeless population - of transporting homeless citizens over state lines Biloxi Mayor Andrew 'FoFo' Gilich, at left, denies any wrongdoing - after a civic servant 71-year-old Republican Sandy Stimpson cited a recent 'influx' of homeless in Mobile, as well as an increasing number of calls for police 'associated with that ever-increasing number' A Republican who has served as mayor for eight years, Gilich said Biloxi is working with homeless shelters in Mobile, and claimed no one has been taken against their will - citing that fewer than 20 people have been transported. 'Since August 2022, the City has worked with two shelters in Mobile that offer homeless persons numerous resources not available in our community,' he wrote in a letter sent Friday, in response to Mobile's cease-and-desist. 'These shelters have been in coordination and contact with our police department, and any individuals wanting to go to the Mobile shelters have signed consent forms,' it continued. 'Since August of last year, there have been less than twenty transports,' he added. 'During the 2023 calendar year only two people were offered transportation.' Responding to allegations he is using police and city vehicles to transport unhoused individuals, Gilich, 75, simply said: 'the inherences in your letter attributing some wrongdoing by our police department are incorrect. 'If you would like to discuss details further, we welcome an open discussion with your administration and law enforcement officers.' A day earlier, Mobile's chief of staff sent a scathing correspondence to Gilich's office claiming cops from his police force were using tactics ranging from intimidation to deception to transport homeless citizens the 60-some miles to nearby Biloxi. In it, the civic servant under 71-year-old Republican Sandy Stimpson cited a recent 'influx' of homeless and an increasing number of calls for police 'associated with that ever-increasing number.' The Alabama city made the claim in a cease and desist letter sent to Biloxi Mayor Andrew Gilich - where officials asserted the practice has been going on for several months and offered photos billed as evidence One photograph, a still from a Mobile surveillance camera, shows a Biloxi police SUV passing a traffic light camera well within the Alabama city In a letter sent the following day, Gilich denied any wrongdoing - despite recent comments from Biloxi's police chief stating the city has reached ' an overabundance' of homeless people City officials in Alabama wrote: 'Over the past several months, the City of Mobile has noticed an influx of homeless individuals and an increased number of police calls associated with that ever-increasing number'. A homeless encampment erected in the city this month is seen here Biloxi also has a growing homeless population - a problem that officials acknowledged as far back as 2018, before the pandemic worsened matters 'Over the past several months, the City of Mobile has noticed an influx of homeless individuals and an increased number of police calls associated with that ever-increasing number. 'After initiating an investigation, which included interviews, it has come to our attention that the City of Biloxi/Biloxi Police Department is engaging in a pattern and practice of behavior that is quite troubling.' It went on: 'Based upon what we have ascertained, the Biloxi Police Department, utilizing uniformed police officers and city vehicles, is transporting homeless individuals from Biloxi, MS, to Mobile. 'Furthermore,' the note added, 'the techniques utilized to coerce the individuals to travel range from intimidation and fear to fraud and deception.' Speaking on behalf of Stimpson - who has been mayor of Mobile for more than a decade - Barber wrote that 'interviews with multiple homeless individuals' supported his claims, and revealed 'a consistent pattern' of illegal police activity. The official proceeded to paint a picture of the alleged city plot, using a 'general description of events' offered by the interviewees. The majority of the accounts, Barber wrote, 'are all quite similar.' 'It begins with a confrontation with Biloxi Police.' In an interview in 2018, Biloxi Police Chief John Miller - who started on the force as a patrolman in 1990 - griped about complaints of increased homeless activity in the Miscopy City Located about an hour's drive away, Mobile has a population of some 200,000 - and reportedly has around 670 unsheltered people roughing it on a given night He continued: 'During the [prospective] exchange, the officer, while in uniform and acting under his apparent authority, implies to the homeless individual that they are in violation of one or more criminal statutes. 'The officer [further] explains the City of Biloxi does not have adequate social services programs to assist the homeless,' he added. 'At that point, the officer insinuates the individual has a choice of either going to jail or being transported to Mobile.' '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,' 'Once the homeless individual agrees to go to Mobile, the officer transports them in their city vehicle.' Another tactic used by Biloxi cops, Barber wrote, was promises of aid - where officers supposedly reach out to homeless individuals before driving them 'to the area of a [Mobile] homeless shelter.' During one interview, a homeless person supposedly told Mobile investigators that a Biloxi office had been 'bragging to a co-worker [that] he had transported over 50 people to Mobile.' In another instance that allegedly took place on September 26, a homeless person provided the date, time, and location where he had been dropped off. Attached to the letter was a photograph of a Biloxi police vehicle at the same Mobile location where the man said he had been dropped off. A 'no to panhandling' sign is seen up in Biloxi, whose reputation as a tourist destination has been marred by its relatively recent rise in homelessness Concluding homeless individuals' Constitutional rights are being infringed upon, Barber - on behalf of the mayor - requested the City of Biloxi end the practice, adding that should it continue, Mobile would be 'forced to seek alternative actions.' Those actions, the official wrote, include notifying the Department of Justice, as well as the FBI. Less than a day later, Gilich rejected Mobile's assessment - calling it 'incorrect.' The Biloxi Police Department, long headed by presiding police chief John Miller, did not immediately comment on the potential scandal. In an interview in 2018, Miller - who started on the force as a patrolman in 1990 - griped about complaints of increased homeless activity. 'Weve reached a point now where we have an overabundance,' Miller told Biloxi news station WLOX nearly five years ago. Around that time, Mayor Gilich issued a statement revealing the citys homeless population had grown to somewhere around 400 on a given day - and expressed a desire to do something about it. Since then, the city has enlisted overnight security to watch over the city's overrun bus stations, as citizens continue to complain of congregations consisting of marijuana smoking and drinking, as well as individuals sleeping on the street. The fact the city is known as a haven for gambling for citizens near the southern coast does not help matters - while the recent rise also has also harmed the city's image as a tourist destination. Matters have worsened since the pandemic, fueling local efforts cited by Gilich in his letter to house individuals. Meanwhile, in Mobile - per a recent study - there are thought to be around 670 unsheltered people on a given day, a figure that is up 6 percent from 2022. It is also slightly more than the historic 18-year average for the city, and is the highest seen in 11 years. In 2011, the areas homelessness count was at 718. That came one year after an 18-year high and in the midst of the Great Recession, when Housing First counted 883. Though he added: 'I get it, money ain't falling out of the sky' He said 'thousands and thousands' of people had started to receive money through the People's Fund of Maui The actor and former wrestler posted a video to Instagram on October 9 to provide updates on the campaign and address the controversy Dwayne Johnson has addressed the backlash he and Oprah Winfrey faced for calling on fans to donate to their Maui wildfire recovery fund. When the campaign was announced in August, people were enraged Johnson and Winfrey - with an estimated net worth of $800million and $2.8billion - were asking them to chip in. The 'Moana' star posted a video on Instagram Sunday to provide updates on the campaign, which promises $1,200-a-month to every family affected by the wildfires. 'I'm so grateful and moved by all the messages I'm receiving out of Maui from the survivors of the devastating wildfires who are now getting their personal funding from the People's Fund of Maui,' Johnson said. The actor said 'thousands and thousands of survivors' had started to receive their first round of funds over the past few weeks. But he also addressed the backlash, adding: 'I get it and I completely understand, and I could've been better. And next time I will be better.' Winfrey addressed the controversy last month during a morning show appearance, saying it made her 'sad that we're in this state in our country' The fund promises $1,200 each month to families devastated by the wildfires Dwayne Johnson posted a video on October 9 to provide updates on the People's Fund of Maui and to provide his own statement on the backlash Johnson acknowledged that 'money ain't falling out of the sky, and it's not growing on trees, and there's a lot of people out there who's living paycheck to paycheck. And I get it, and I know what that's like.' He continued: 'The last thing you want to hear when you are living from paycheck to paycheck is someone asking you for money, especially when the person asking you for money already has a lot of money.' Speaking to his own experiences, the former wrestler characterized himself as 'easily pissed off' and 'frustrated' when he was living between paychecks. 'So I get it. I understand. I'd never launched a fund before, but I'm a quick study so lesson learned.' Johnson then praised the transparency on his social media platform, encouraging fans to 'keep it real.' He said: 'If I do something and you hate it, let me know.' He closed off the message directly addressing the residents of Maui and speaking to their shared ancestry - Johnson's mother is Samoan. 'When we're down and we rise back up and we do it together we become one,' he said. 'And that is a reflection of who we are as Polynesian people. 'I am so proud of our community and our culture.' Johnson and Winfrey launched the People's Fund of Maui via a video posted jointly to their Instagram pages. The millionaire and billionaire said they contributed $5million each to get the campaign started. 'We are honored to start this campaign with $10 million dollars and ask for your help in donating to those who have lost their homes,' the post read. The millionaire and billionaire - who personally contributed $5million each to the campaign - were slammed for asking people to donate Ninety-seven people were killed when the wildfires ripped through Maui and thousands of homes and buildings destroyed Around 8,800 people are estimated to be out of work on the island and nearly 8,000 people are staying in temporary accommodations Winfrey addressed the controversy during an appearance on CBS Mornings last month. When asked about the public reaction to the fund, she said it surprised her. 'I was so excited. I was so excited about it, and then I got up the next morning, and I saw all of this vitriol, and I was, like, 'Whoa, what happened here?'' Winfrey said. She continued: 'This is what I want to say. I want to say that, in the beginning, so many people were calling, asking, 'Where do we give our money to?' So I thought, I'm going to give people a place to give it.' Winfrey expressed her unwavering support of the idea to start a fund, calling it 'really strong,' and said as of that date, 2,200 people had been 'cleared and verified, and those people are gonna get a notice from the People's Fund of Maui and are gonna have the money put into their account.' She added that the backlash made her 'sad that we're in this state in our country.' A total of 97 people were killed when the blaze ripped through Maui in August, devastating the historic town of Lahaina and burning thousands of buildings to the ground. 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 like hotels. The head of Exxon's shale oil business has been suspended after being arrested at a Texas hotel on a sexual assault charge. David Scott, 49, was reported to police by one of two women he was with at La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia. The married senior vice president was picked up by cops at the $109-a-night hotel, near to his company's headquarters in Spring on Thursday morning. The arrest came after one of the women left the room and called police from the lobby, a hotel worker who saw a security video told Reuters. Now Exxonmobil has revealed to DailyMail.com he has been suspended pending the criminal probe. Married ExxonMobil boss David Scott, 49, has been accused of sexual assault by one of two women he was at a hotel with last week A spokeswoman from the company said: 'All ExxonMobil employees, officers and directors are accountable for observing the highest standards of integrity and code of conduct in support of the Company's business and otherwise. '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. ' Scott is currently in the midst of merger talks to acquire rival Pioneer Natural Resources in a deal that could value the shale producer at about $60 billion. As a senior vice president of its shale operations, he would not necessarily be involved merger talks, a person familiar with the matter said. Scott's LinkedIn profile shows he has been with Exxon for more than 26 years and has been involved in some of its most important oil and gas projects around the world. Scott was arrested at the $109-a-night La Quinta Inn and Suites by Wyndham around 30 minutes from his company's headquarter in Spring, Texas Scott has been at ExxonMobil for 26 years and is currently in the middle of a billion dollar merger deal with a rival company The Australian-born Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology graduate took up the senior vice president role eight months ago with an estimated salary of up to $520,000. He faces a second-degree felony assault charge and was released 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. Scott did not immediately respond to a message sent by Reuters to his LinkedIn profile. DailyMail.com has contacted Pioneer Natural Resources for comment. Paedophile Gary Glitter's parole hearing will take place behind closed doors after the disgraced rocker was recalled for 'viewing videos of girls doing ballet' just six weeks after he was first released from jail. The disgraced performer, who had a string of hits in the 1970s, is due to be considered for release in January. But the hearing will take place behind closed doors because of difficulties contacting all his victims. Glitter, 79, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980. He was automatically released from HMP The Verne - a low-security prison in Portland, Dorset - in February after serving half of his 16-year fixed-term determinate sentence. Less than six weeks after walking free, Gary Glitter (pictured) was taken back to prison in March for breaching his licence conditions by allegedly viewing downloaded images of children Glitter, 79, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls between 1975 and 1980 Less than six weeks after walking free, he was taken back to prison in March for breaching his licence conditions by allegedly viewing downloaded images of children. Calls were made for Glitter's parole hearing to take place in public, with lawyers for one of his victims reportedly applying for open proceedings. The Parole Board said it would consider arranging for victims to view the private hearing. In her decision, chairman Caroline Corby said holding the hearing in public could risk identifying the children in the downloaded images, who are potential victims of sexual offences and have a lifelong right to anonymity. It is also not known whether all the victims Glitter abused supported the application for the hearing to take place in public. She said: 'The panel will need to consider the circumstances of the recall and whether the images that Mr Gadd allegedly downloaded are indicative of a continuing sexual interest in children. 'The children in these images are potentially victims and any discussion in a public setting could have the potential to identify them. 'It is unknown whether all victims of the index offences wish for the hearing to be held in public and there is a risk that if this hearing were held in public, it could retraumatise them.' The disgraced performer, who had a string of hits in the 1970s, is due to be considered for release in January She said there are also concerns over sensitive operational information linked to Glitter's recall to prison being revealed publicly. 'It follows that whereas I have deep sympathy for Mr Gadd's victims, I do not grant the application for the hearing to be held in public,' the chair concluded. Glitter's fall from grace began in the late 1990s when he was convicted for possessing thousands of child abuse images and was jailed for four months in 1999. In 2002, he was expelled from Cambodia amid reports of sex crime allegations, and in March 2006 he was convicted of sexually abusing two girls, aged ten and 11, in Vietnam and spent two and a half years in jail. The offences for which he was jailed in 2015 came to light as part of Operation Yewtree, the Metropolitan Police investigation launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. More than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead as of Monday afternoon Secretary Antony Blinken said he is working 'overtime' to confirm if more Americans were kidnapped or killed by Hamas terrorists The State Department confirmed that nine Americans were killed so far by Hamas in its terrorist attack against Israel this weekend Nine Americans were killed in Israel during Hamas ' massive terrorist attack, the State Department said Monday. It is unclear how many American citizens were injured in the attacks, and whether any are being held hostage by the Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. While the names of those killed are not yet released State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Monday morning that the agency is in touch with their families 'and providing all appropriate consular assistance.' 'We cannot confirm that [Americans were taken hostage] at this point,' he told CNN on Monday morning. 'There are reports of that, but there are Americans who are unaccounted for, and our first priority is to locate those Americans, find out what their status is in the coming hours and days.' As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least. Miller insisted Monday morning that there is no 'direct intelligence' that show Iran was 'directly involved in this terrorist attack.' 'But that said, Iran has been a longtime supporter of Hamas,' Miller clarified. 'That's why we've taken action to hold Iran accountable for its support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations.' 'We will continue to examine what information we can about what directly led to these attacks and whether Iran or any other country may have been involved,' he told CNN on Monday. 'But at this point, we don't have any evidence to confirm that.' At least nine Americans were killed in Israel, the State Department confirmed, after Hamas launched a multi-front attack against the Jewish State on Saturday. Pictured: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip on Monday, October 9 Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday there are 'indications' that Americans were kidnapped and killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel over the weekend and said his agency is working 'overtime' to confirm reports Iran's United Nations mission has denied Tehran's involvement in Hamas' terrorist operation. Republicans claim that the Biden administration's approval of a $6 billion payment to Iran in exchange for the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Tehran directly funded the Hamas terrorist attack. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that the U.S. is working 'overtime' to confirm reports claiming Americans were murdered in the heinous attack by Palestinian terrorists. He also insisted that he has yet to see evidence Iran 'directed or was behind' the Hamas attack. The death toll in Israel on Saturday reached 600, which is by far the largest mass murder of Jewish people in a single day since World War II . 'Is there any indication that Americans were either killed or kidnapped by terrorists?' CNN's Dana Bash asked Blinken on Sunday. '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.' Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog told CBS News during a Sunday interview that U.S. citizens are among the hostages taken by Hamas. If there are Americans being held hostage in Gaza it is unclear whether Israeli or U.S. intelligence are aware of where they are being held and if any counterstrikes from the Jewish State could unintentionally result in the death or injury of U.S. citizens. Hamas took credit Monday morning for striking with rockets over the weekend the Israeli cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Sderot, Ashkelon and Ashdod. Israel announced a full siege of the Gaza Strip with the Jewish State's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said they would cut-off electricity and food as the Israeli government declared war on the Palestinian militant group. U.S. officials expect Israel to launch a ground operation into Gaza early this week. Hamas terrorist launched a massive attack 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 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.' 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. Hamas yesterday bombed the airport amid the slaying of hundreds of Israelis Terrified Jewish Americans who fled Israel amid full-scale war with Hamas have landed in the US on last-minute flights out of the Middle East nation. Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel's main international gateway, was packed out by desperate travelers trying to escape on Monday - as the Palestinian militant group launched a rocket strike close to one of the terminals. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas began a colossal attack over the weekend, per the Israel Defence Forces, while a further 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. The US government confirmed nine Americans are among those killed, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his department is working 'overtime' to verify reports of any more natives murdered. Meanwhile, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to incite 'mighty vengeance' against Hamas by reducing Gaza - which is also home to around two million innocent Palestinians - to 'rubble'. Terrified Jewish-American people who fled Israel amid full-scale war with Hamas have begun landing back in the US on last-minute flights out of the besieged nation. Edn Bendavid (pictured), who arrived in LA, California, from Tel Aviv on Sunday, broke down in tears Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel's main international gateway, was packed out by desperate travelers trying to escape on Monday - as the Palestinian militant group launched a rocket strike close to one of the terminals. (Pictured: the scene at the airport on Sunday) At Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion Airport, departure boards glowed red with flight cancelations on Monday as hundreds of anxious travelers attempted to escape. Edn Bendavid, who arrived in LA, California, from Tel Aviv on Sunday, broke down in tears as she spoke about her relatives who had been killed in the conflict. 'We had to go because of our kids, but my heart is still there,' she told KTLA. 'All my family, everybody is theremy cousin's husband just passed away trying to save other people. It's horrible.' Alan Goldfarb, a New Jersey native who had been on holiday in Israel with his sister, resorted to spending $2,000 for one of the last seats available on a flight back home. 'It took four hours to get to the gate. It was a madhouse,' he told CBS New York. Another New Jersey tourist, Lauri Bader, is still in an Israel hotel with her sister, and they are hoping to secure a flight home soon. 'Yesterday was the perfect day here in Israel,' she told CBS. 'Everything was fine and calm and beautiful and busy and vibrant, normal. Israelis are scrambling to escape to airports all over the world. (Pictured: passengers who fled the besieged nation arriving in Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, on Monday) Emotional scenes were seen at airports around the world as people fled from Israel amid full-scale war between the country and Palestinian militant group Hamas The departures come after a rocket salvo in the Tel Aviv area landed near a terminal at Ben-Gurion Airport. Video circulated online appeared to show smoke rising from near the airport's carpark 'And then this morning, we were woken up to a siren at 7:30 and we had to go to a safe room, which is like a bomb shelter. 'It's been very tumultuous, very unsettling, very upsetting, obviously. 'I'm not so much worried about my own safety 'cause I'm in the safety of a hotel, but I am worried about the Israelis and what they're going through right now because it's a really horrendous situation. 'Your heart breaks for them when you're here because it's no way to live and people have to live in fear and it's not right, and I'm getting a little taste of it and it's really, really horrible.' The departures come after a rocket salvo in the Tel Aviv area landed near a terminal at Ben-Gurion Airport. Video circulated online appeared to show smoke rising from near the airport's carpark. A spokesperson for the Israel Airports Authority said there had been a mid-air rocket interception and a possible impact in a nearby village. They added that there were no impacts at the airport itself. A 'heartbroken' Brit has confirmed that his brother was among those killed in Israel after it was reveled ten UK citizens are feared dead or missing as a result of the Hamas massacre. Scot Bernard Cowan, 57, from Newton Mearns near Glasgow, was among the hundreds who have been killed since Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on Saturday morning and in turn started 'war' with Israel. His brother Colin Cowan revealed the tragic news in a statement on social media, posting: 'Yesterday my brother was murdered by the terrorist Hamas, he was the kindest, most generous person you would ever meet, and would go out of his way to help others. Mr Cowan added: 'We are all heartbroken.' His sister Laura also paid tribute, writing: 'Yesterday my dear brother Bernard was shot dead murdered by Hamas.' Bernard's cousin Simon Gordon added: 'And when I thought the shock of what happened in Israel yesterday couldn't get worse. I find out a cousin was killed. Bernard Cowan, nice guy, kids etc. Gone. Murdered in cold blood in his home.' Bernard Cowan (left) with his brother Colin who confirmed the tragic news in a statement today Bernard's (pictured) sister Laura also paid tribute writing: 'Yesterday my dear brother Bernard was shot dead murdered by Hamas.' And his nephew Guy added: 'Yesterday was the hardest news I have heard in my life. My uncle has been killed by the Hamas terrorists in Israel. I still can't believe how real this is and wish he was still with us. 'He was the best and funniest uncle I could have wished for. I am heartbroken.' It's understood that Bernard grew up near Glasgow before moving out to the Middle East. Scottish Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw wrote: 'Desperately sad and grim news. The family of Bernard Cowan, of late my Eastwood constituent, have confirmed that he was murdered on Saturday by Hamas. 'Our heartfelt condolences to his family as we respect their privacy in their grief. May his memory be a blessing.' It comes after a UK official revealed more than ten Brits are feared dead or missing in Israel amid the shocking atrocities in Israel and Gaza. The Prime Minister said it is 'an anxious time for many families' as diplomats try to handle the situation on the ground. Another three Brits have also been identified as either dead or missing - one being 20-year-old Corporal Nathanel Young, of London, who was killed on Saturday while serving in the 13th battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces. Brit Nathanel Young, 20, was killed on Saturday while serving in the 13th battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces 26-year-old Jake Marlowe is among those missing after he had been working as a security guard at a music festival that was targeted by Hamas terrorists Photographer Dan Darlington (left) is also believed to be dead by family and friends after the family of his German girlfriend - also missing - received information from a man working in kibbutz that the bodies of the pair had been identified 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. Another British victim, photographer Dan Darlington, is also believed to be dead by family and friends after a relative of his German girlfriend - also missing - received information from a man working in kibbutz that the bodies of the pair had been identified. The couple were last heard from while hiding out in a bunker in Nir Or, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, according to Carolin Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi. A third Briton, 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, is among those missing after he had been working as a security guard at a music festival that was targeted by Hamas terrorists. Mr Marlowe's devastated family said they have not heard from him since Saturday morning. Mr Young's family said in a statement that he was 'full of life and the life of the party'. They added: '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.' Eliot Young, his brother, told Sky News: 'Nathanel always had strong Jewish pride. From a young age he always wanted to play an important role in defending his country - it's something he talked about a lot.' Of Marlowe, the Israeli embassy said: 'He is missing, we don't know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital.' He texted his mother Lisa on 5.30am on Saturday morning to say he was okay and that he loved her. Ms Bohl's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel Ms Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi also posted on Instagram to share the news of the tragedy His mother said: '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.' He had moved to Israel two years ago and lived in the city Ma'alot, which is in northern Israel. He is believed to have been working as a security guard at a music festival in Kibbutz Re'im, a suburb in the city of Okafim, about three miles from the Gaza border. Mr Darlington, who lived in Berlin, and his German girlfriend Carolin Bohl have not been heard from since hiding out in a bunker in Nir Or, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, according to Ms Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi. Mr Pasquesi said his family learned late on Sunday from a man working at the kibbutz that the bodies of the two had been identified. Heartbreaking photographs on Instagram show the pair laughing together shortly before they vanished during the deadly attack on Israel. Several Israeli news outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have now been killed in the country, with attacks continuing into Sunday and Monday. Ms Bohl's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel. She wrote: 'Today we learned from Carolin's friend on the ground in Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel that she and her friend Danny were killed in a terrorist attack yesterday. 'We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy. 'We send our deepest thanks to those who made such an effort today to hep find her and provide information and contacts.' She added: 'Please give us some time and space to remember our sweet angel Caro and her beloved friend Danny.' Meanwhile Mr Pasquesi shared on Instagram: 'While we haven't got official notification from the governments of Israel, Germany or UK, we have reliable information from the ground in Israel that our beloved Caro and her dear friend Danny were killed in a terrorist Hamas raid. 'We are so thankful to family, friends, friends of friends, and strangers for the aid in providing such expedient information, press and government contacts, hopes, prayers and comfort. 'We will now focus on coping with this tragedy and ask for some time and space to come to terms. Thank you.' The United States has deployed a carrier strike group led by the world's largest warship to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is headed to the region as part of a carrier strike group comprised of the military's most advanced hardware, including a fleet of destroyers, guided-missile cruisers and fighter jets. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment on Sunday, hours after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that has killed hundreds of people, including at least 260 people at a festival near the Gaza border. Israel has declared war on Hamas and is poised to mount an invasion of Gaza. America's deployment of its most sophisticated and expensive military hardware marks a major show of force and comes along with the pledge of weapons and equipment to the Israeli Defense Forces. A carrier strike group is a naval force comprised of an aircraft carrier at its center, along with a fleet of support ships and often attack submarines. The US has 11 carrier strike groups, each with enough firepower to match the forces of many small and mid-sized countries. The United States has deployed a carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest warship, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, has been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the attack by Hamas on Israel F-18 jet fighters are seen on the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford, on November 17, 2022 in Gosport, England USS Gerald R. Ford, which cost roughly $18 billion to develop - including $4.7 billion for research and development and $12.8 billion in construction - can carry up to 90 aircraft, including the military's most advanced fighter jets. The carrier, which is powered by two nuclear engines that can operate for 25 years without a refuel, is accompanied in the Mediterranean by a fleet which includes the USS Normandy guided missile cruiser and the USS Thomas Hudner guided missile destroyer. Aircraft on board the carrier include F-35 stealth fighter jets, which cost around $100 million each and carry radar-guided missiles and laser-guided bombs, along with attack helicopters and tactical surveillance aircraft. In total, around 7,500 personnel work across the carrier strike group. In a statement announcing the deployment, General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, Commander, U.S. Central Command, said America 'stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict.' The USS Gerald R. Ford can carry up to 90 aircraft, including the F-35 stealth fighter jet U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters can also be deployed from the USS Gerald R. Ford US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, pictured left in March with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, said America could 'further reinforce' its military presence in the region 'if required' Austin added: 'The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required.' Hamas has called the US decision to send the strike group 'participation in the aggression against our people' and 'an attempt to boost the morale of the crumbling Israeli army'. The USS Gerald R. Ford, whose first deployment was in October 2022, marks a new era for aircraft carriers and is the world's largest warship, at 256ft wide, 250ft tall and 1,106ft in length. She has a crew of around 4,500. Her firepower is primarily defensive and includes four surface-to-air missile systems and a range of guns, including the Phalanx CIWS radar-guided cannon system. Offensive capabilities are provided by the fleet of aircraft and support ships. The ship was already close to the region around Israel after recently conducting operations near the strait of Sicily. She had been due to visit the French ports of Marseille and Toulon before the carrier strike group's deployment to the Mediterranean. F18 jets on the flight deck of the USS Gerald R. Ford, which is the world's largest warship The United States has pledged its full support for Israel after an unprecedented series of attacks by Hamas were launched on Saturday. Pictured: Israelis walk by a police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle after Hamas militants took over the building Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization, including an invasion of Gaza People stand among the rubble of a destroyed mosque during Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 Other ships deployed as part of the strike group include: USS Normandy guided-missile cruiser USS Thomas Hudner destroyer USS Ramage guided missile destroyer USS Carney destroyer USS Roosevelt destroyer The capability of these ships ranges from anti-ship, anti-aircraft and land-targeting firepower to electronic warfare and surveillance. USS Ramage, which is believed to have cost more than $1 billion and was launched in 1994, has Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, cruise missiles and torpedos. The USS Thomas Hudner, which was built under a $663 million contract and launched in 2017, is also fitted with guns, missiles and torpedos. The F-35 stealth fighter jets launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford can reach speeds of 1,200mph and can be fitted with guns, missiles and bombs. They have a range of around 1,200 miles. 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 'everything they need'. The Hamas attacks on Israel have been compared with the September 11 terror attacks on the US and the Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy, pictured in 2018, is part of the carrier strike group that has been launched to the eastern Mediterranean F-18 jet fighters are seen on the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford, on November 17, 2022 in Gosport, England Israel has responded by ordering a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food and electricity as it prepares for a massive ground offensive. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have already retaliated with a series of massive air strikes on the Gaza Strip which had hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets by Monday morning. The attack by Hamas and Israel's response have left more than 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. The State Department said Monday that at least nine American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel, raising the toll from four. It said an undetermined number of American citizens remain missing and unaccounted for. On Sunday, an official said that number was fluid and had ranged from six to 12. It was not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or were in hiding. The State Department is in touch with families 'and providing all appropriate consular assistance', said spokesman Matthew Miller. He was slammed for the trip, and for not shutting down the Times Square rally The Democrat had been on a four-day trip in Latin America New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been slammed for allowing a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square just hours after a horrific attack by Hamas terrorists left hundreds of Israelis dead. Adams, who returned from had been on a trip to Latin America on Sunsay, spoke out against the rally organized by the Democratic Socialists of America - which saw a demonstrator wave a swastika at a Jewish crowd. '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. But the Democrat's comment was not enough for many social media users, who expressed rage that Adams did not shut down the demonstration. 'Why didn't you shut it down then?' asked one X user. New York City mayor Eric Adams has been slammed for allowing a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square just hours after a horrific attack by Hamas terrorists left hundreds of Israelis dead Adams, who had been on a trip to Latin America in an attempt to keep asylum seekers at bay, spoke out against the rally The rally, organized by the Democratic Socialists of America, saw a demonstrator wave a swastika at a Jewish crowd 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 'MONITORING? You've been monitoring? But what ACTIONS have you taken??' wrote another. Many Adams' critics took the opportunity to slam the mayor's trip to Latin America, seen as a useless publicity stunt by many New Yorkers fed up with the migrant crisis, which has seen over 120,000 asylum seekers arrive in the city in just 18 months. 'from where? Ecuador? lol' said one X user. 'Aren't you in Mexico?' added another. 'Yet you're still in Mexico?' said a third. The mayor is scheduled to attend the Columbus Day parade on Monday with governor Kathy Hochul. When asked if he will hold any events today with the Jewish community, his office directed DailyMail.com to the mayor's previous statements on the rally. 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. Speaking from a dock in northern Colombia where migrants take boats toward the jungle, the embattled mayor 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. Meanwhile on Sunday, 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. '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. 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. 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.' A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday Israel has now ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food and electricity as it prepares for a massive ground offensive 'within 48 hours' after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack this weekend in what has been described as the Jewish state's 'worst day in history'. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days. Six Senses Zighy Bay, located on Omans northern Musandam Peninsula, is celebrating the success of its first coral restoration programme, which aims to renew the propertys house reef to its full potential. The two-year project began in January this year, with a process in which coral fragments collected by the resorts dive centre from nearby diving sites were attached to 10 metal frames in the sea, which six months on, are flourishing and exhibiting robust growth. Around 50 coral fragments were added to each of the frames, which were made by the resorts engineering team from recycled construction material. The ultimate goal of this venture is to re-introduce the two main coral species previously present on the reef known as Acropora and Pocillopora, to group the coral fragments together for a higher chance of survival, and wait until they reach maturity, spawn and repopulate the entire reef. The team leading the mission have encouraged 57 hotel guests and hosts and 25 members of the Environment Authority to take part in this exciting project, in which 522 coral fragments from local dive sites were attached to steel frames placed around the reef and left to grow. Davide Panarese, Six Senses Zighy Bays full time marine biologist said: Over the coming months, the coral will continue to be cared for and with careful monitoring of the site, it is hoped the reef will continue to flourish. September results, part of our monthly monitoring of the coral health, show significant growth, a promising sign that the corals have adapted and are thriving in their new environment. A noteworthy sight around the first frames is the vibrant presence of numerous fish, which have taken to swimming in their vicinity. The project is just one of the many sustainability-driven activities happening at the Six Senses Zighy Bay whose core DNA is centred around celebrating and protecting the sea, and wider environment. Panarese also manages the resident turtle populations within Zighy Bay, helping preserve their precious habitat. The resort is making headway with a number of other green initiatives. In 2022 Six Senses Zighy Bay launched Waste into Wealth, a pledge to continue to decrease plastic usage and operate in a self-sustaining manner to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The resorts Sustainable Purchasing Programme ensures that suppliers have sustainable certifications and encourages them to commit to a zero-waste approach. New waste segregating facilities allowed 36% of total waste to be diverted from landfill in 2022 which was instead tuned into compost, with bread waste now being utilised to feed the Zighy goats. The resort also recycles glass, candles, soap, paper, and metal, and guests are also invited to do their bit by offsetting the carbon footprint for scope 1 and 2 emissions following GHG protocol of a nights stay, with a third-party offsetting company. An organic farm based on the site is also central to sustainability efforts, producing its own free range organic eggs, fruits, vegetables, and goat milk turned into homemade. Six Senses Zighy Bays sustainable activities also extend into the surrounding communities, with projects to empower and educate local women, and encourage entrepreneurship. In a statement, Six Senses Zighy Bay said that it will continue to spearhead projects across the site and in wider communities and support the wider Oman Vision 2040 by planting trees around Musandam areas, as well as focus on fisherman livelihoods and sustainable fishing practices, all whilst continuing to nurture the regrowing coral in the bay. TradeArabia News Service Holly Willoughby won't be rushed back on to the This Morning sofa by ITV bosses after a 30-stone security guard was accused of plotting her kidnap and murder, an internal email leaked to MailOnline revealed today. The mother-of-three pulled out of hosting the show last week and was placed under police guard at her home with her husband and children. Gavin Plumb, 36, from Harlow, Essex, is accused of offences including soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap in relation to the broadcaster, allegedly contacting a hitman in the US and booking him flights. Emma Gormley, Managing Director of ITV Daytime, has today written to staff after Plumb was arrested last Wednesday and charged last Friday. She said: 'Inevitably there is already speculation about when Holly will return. However, our priority right now is the safety and well being of Holly and her family. I wanted to reassure you that throughout this distressing time, we have been in constant contact with Holly and the authorities and we are providing all the support we can'. Emma Gormley (right), Managing Director of ITV Daytime, has today written to staff after Plumb was arrested last Wednesday and charged last Friday. She said ITV have been in 'constant contact' with Holly Gavin Plumb, 36, appeared in the dock at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday accused of soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap Holly out in London walking her dog last month. She is under guard at home Ms Willoughby was said to have been left 'shocked and distraught' when she was told about the plot shortly before she was due to go on air. Emma Gormley said: 'I know many of you have been deeply affected by the events of last week. As you will know, an individual has now been charged. 'As always, the incredible production team at This Morning and the Daytime Crew have remained calm, professional and focused throughout this unsettling time and I want to thank them for being the best in the business. If anyone feels they need any support, please do reach out to me'. Holly and Phil have been estranged since his dramatic exit from the role of co-presenter on ITV's This Morning in May. But Mr Schofield has reportedly lent his support to his former co-presenter following news of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her. Plumb is a security guard at Pinnacles Shopping Centre in Harlow and appeared before 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 and address. Prosecutors told the court that Plumb was part of a network of like-minded individuals and he had conspired with a man from the US whom he arranged to fly to Britain next week to execute their plot. They are alleged to have devised their conspiracy over the internet and made a 'detailed plan' to execute it. According to the charge sheet, Plumb had also '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. Following the news, Schofield reportedly contacted his former co-host, for the first time in five months, to share his well wishes. The pair had been close friends and co-hosts on ITV's This Morning for 14 years until Schofield left in May after admitting to having had an affair with a younger male member of staff, which he initially lied about. The presenting duo had not spoken since his departure with rumours of a rift fuelled by his and his two adult daughters unfollowing her on social media. However, Schofield broke the ice because he was 'horrified' by the allegations about the plot to target her. 'Holly and Phil's friendship was so close before the events of this year,' a source told The Mirror. Father-of-two Plumb, who previously worked at Pizza Hut, once weighed 35 stone and featured in a 2018 BBC piece cataloguing his attempts to lose weight. 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 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 He described how he would drink 36 pints of cola every week and a half, and said he had not left the house unaided since 2014, when his weight spiralled out of control after he lost his job. He claimed he only ventured outside to go to the communal bins. The BBC article said Plumb had appeared twice on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss his struggles before they invited him to write the diary-style piece. Plumb was remanded in custody by District Judge Caroline Jackson and will appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3. Miss Willoughby's London home, where she lives with her husband and three children, has been put under 24-hour surveillance by police. Police chiefs alerted ITV bosses to the alleged plot early Thursday and the presenter was told shortly before she was due to go on air. It was decided she should pull out and Alison Hammond was called in to present alongside host Josie Gibson. On This Morning on Friday, presenter Dermot O'Leary addressed the alleged plot, saying: 'We are not going to talk too much about it but Holly is on the front pages after police arrested a 36-year-old man over an alleged kidnap plot. He has now been charged by Essex Police.' Co-presenter Alison Hammond said: 'We are obviously all shocked to hear the news and we want to send our love and biggest hugs to Holly and her family.' Another presenter, Lorraine Kelly, told viewers: '[It's] very, very upsetting, and of course we are sending Holly all of our love and best wishes. 'That's a terrible thing to be having to go through for her and her family.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also offered his support to Miss Willoughby while appearing for an interview on This Morning. 'I was so sorry to hear about everything going on with Holly and I wanted to send my best to her and her family and to all of you,' he said. The probe dismissed any concerns and has since reinstated the New Yorker She was investigated over her comments to Republican Senator JD Vance A transgender American has been reinstated as a Ukrainian military spokesman after being suspended over unapproved comments as NATO praised her work tackling Russian disinformation. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, 45, was removed from her post after hitting back at Republican Senator JD Vance in a video filmed in front of the Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces logo. Vance sent a letter to Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines accusing her of threatening 'physical violence to anyone who circulates Russian propaganda'. He also questioned if she was an American citizen, as well as if she had ever served for American intelligence services. Ashton-Cirillo, a New York native, also made a video where she said 'Russian devils' will 'pay for their crimes', on her show 'Russia Hates The Truth'. Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, 45, was removed from her post after hitting back at Republican Senator JD Vance in a video filmed in front of the Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces logo However, she says that the show, broadcast on YouTube, was not the reason she was suspended, adding that she 'does not regret' anything about Russia Hates The Truth. 'Russia Hates The Truth doesn't require anything to be vetted,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I and the TDF team have editorial control over that. It's meant to be as over the top as possible. 'It was my response to Senator Vance in uniform in front of the TDF logo without approval which was the reason for my suspension. 'I told my team that I was going to do it, but given that it was something as sensitive as a response to a US Senator in a public setting, it needed to be approved. It was not the wording at all, the wording was considered polite. 'It was just that I responded at all without permission. I don't regret the words that I answered him with. 'I couldn't believe it that there was a US Senator trying to unmask me. It wasn't my message to him that was a problem, it was that President Zelensky was on a trip to the US at the time and I probably should have held back in responding. 'It was incredible that the Russians were gloating, thinking that I was fired because in reality, there was nothing to investigate, and it was already over. ' In his letter, Ohio Senator Vance asked if she was an American citizen, as well as if she had ever served for American intelligence services. Senator JD Vance sent the letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines After being swamped with Russian lies, a sitting US Senator questioned my role in Ukraine. Below is my response. First though, I asked for the expedited delivery of ATACMS from the United States. Watch below: pic.twitter.com/L6KuHgfyC5 Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (Ukrainian TDF Media) (@SarahAshtonLV) September 18, 2023 Documents seen by DailyMail.com show that Ashton-Cirillo's work was praised by Larysa Kompantseva, head of the Department of Strategic Communications and Applied Linguistics at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine He also requested to know if she is employed by the Ukrainian military and being 'compensated using American resources.' Ashton-Cirillo's response to his questions came as President Zelensky was visiting the US. She said that she regrets the timing of her response to Vance. 'I do regret not focusing on the bigger picture,' Ashton-Cirillo said. 'I want to apologise to the TDF media, the President and the office who were on their trip. 'I want to publicly apologize to my full command for taking the focus off the work of Ukraine and putting it on really a topic that didn't have to be addressed every especially not then. 'I don't regret the statement, I do regret the timing of it took away from President Zelensky.' Vance additionally questioned if US officials have 'reason to believe Ukrainian forces or intelligence services are planning to commit acts of violence against those who engage in 'Russian propaganda.' 'While we can debate the merits of these accusations, engaging in protected speech should not invite threats of violenceotherwise, the First Amendment means nothing,' Vance wrote. In response to Vance's questions on X, formerly known as Twitter, she added: 'Simply put, I am an American serving as a Ukrainian infantry soldier and combat medic who was brought from the zero line and assigned to the TDF's Media Team in the dual role of spokesperson and Russian disinformation analyst. 'I have never been more proud to be a U.S. citizen as I am fighting on behalf of the Ukrainian people against the tyranny of Russia and their assorted enablers, all of whom are enemies of the United States. Ashton-Cirillo's response to his questions came as President Zelensky was visiting the US. She said that she regrets the timing of her response to Vance An announcement about my present and future. pic.twitter.com/AJA94tCHF7 Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (Ukrainian TDF Media) (@SarahAshtonLV) October 3, 2023 She says that the show, broadcast on YouTube, was not the reason she was suspended, adding that she 'does not regret' anything about Russia Hates The Truth 'I'll finish by stating unequivocally that I only answer to three groups of people: My Ukrainian commanders, the Ukrainian people and the American taxpayer,' she added Documents seen by DailyMail.com show that Ashton-Cirillo's work was praised by Larysa Kompantseva, head of the Department of Strategic Communications and Applied Linguistics at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine. Speaking at a NATO conference, Kompantseva called Ashton-Cirillo a 'powerful information weapon', during a panel on 'Gender Analysis on the Ukraine Conflict'. Her PowerPoint said that the 'hate on social media has only scaled' her impact and audience, it also stated that only President Zelensky can get similar numbers on Twitter per month. A NATO official confirmed that Larysa Kompantseva was invited as an 'external speaker at a conference hosted by NATO. ' 'She spoke about Russia's use of disinformation and Moscow's use of gender based violence in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine', they added. Another email seen by DailyMail.com reveals that Ashton-Cirillo was cleared by an internal investigation two days after making the comments to Senator Vance. It states: 'We have managed to clear Sarah from all allegations and sort out all misunderstandings. 'She is an extraordinary example of Americans who stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians in our fight for Independence and Democracy.' Ashton-Cirillo says her work being presented at NATO is 'absolutely astonishing', and an 'honor', adding that her commanders love her YouTube shows. Her apology comes after she went on a rant on her Russia Hates the Truth show, saying the teeth of the Russian devils will 'gnash even harder' which she says is part of a 'character'. Ashton-Cirillo says her work being presented at NATO is 'absolutely astonishing', and an 'honor', adding that her commanders love her YouTube shows The military activist hosts live YouTube shows from her studio called 'Ukraine in the Know' and 'Russia Hates the Truth' Ashton-Cirillo first arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 to work as a reporter before enlisting in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic She said: 'Russia Hates The Truth is meant to be this very over the top character, almost a mockery of the Russians themselves and their propaganda shows. 'It got to a point that we were laughing internally at what we could come up with next and what I could do to push their buttons. They kept responding and we were ultimately hitting out goal to get their attention and get the attention off our leadership. 'As pointed out at NATO, TDF media is extremely effective and we were just enjoying ourselves. I took it seriously and tried really hard not to break character. 'Ultimately, the message that I put out about hunting down Russian propagandists was never meant to be about extrajudicial killings. 'It was more of a bounty hunter implication, it was meant to be over the top.' Ashton-Cirillo confirmed that the YouTube show will be continuing, but will have a 'more serious and less melodramatic' approach. She was hospitalized for 16 days after being hit by an artillery shell in Ukraine's Donbas region on February 23 in her head and hand. She immediately returned to the front line. Ashton-Cirillo first arrived in Ukraine in March 2022 to work as a reporter before enlisting in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a combat medic. She began hosting English-language shows for the TDF before she became a spokesperson for the military branch this summer. Former police officer Mark Williams-Thomas is known for a 2012 documentary A former police officer turned-investigative journalist has opened up about how he put his career on the line to expose the 'untouchable' prolific paedophile Jimmy Savile. Savile's horrendous crimes, that spanned throughout his decades-long career, were only exposed and investigated fully after his death at the age of 84 in 2011. Mark Williams-Thomas described the journey to expose Savile as 'difficult', largely due to his status and inability to defend himself. And while he had so-far evaded justice, Williams-Thomas' 2012 documentary tipped the balance, and news broke of Savile's crimes, leading to a huge criminal investigation. Mark Williams-Thomas's 2012 documentary Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile was essential in uncovering the TV presenters sexual offences The BBC 's new documentary drama series The Reckoning explores Jimmy Savile's exploitation of power and fame to commit up to 500 sexual offences The documentary, Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Saville, aired on 3 October 2012. Mark Williams-Thomas conducted the in-depth allegations that Saville had sexually abused vulnerable teenage girls at the height of his career. In an interview with LADbible TV in 2021, he explained: 'One of the things about being an investigator is: talk to everybody. And when you talk to them, say: 'Is there anybody else I need to talk to?' Williams-Thomas started to track down a range of victims and managed to 'build up a picture that he [Savile] had sexually abused quite a number of children.' In his lifetime, Savile was one of Britain's biggest stars, known for appearances on Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix it. He became the recipient of numerous honours, and was awarded an OBE in 1971 and was knighted in 1990 in recognition of his charity work. William-Thomas described Savile as 'untouchable', he explained: 'The fear that existed around him still remained even though he had died.' The gravity of exposing Savile's crimes became apparent as Williams-Thomas attempted to bring the story to light. Williams-Thomas said he first brought the story to BBC Newsnight, who were initially going to run the programme but despite evidence pulled the broadcast from schedules in December 2011. The reason why, he explained: '[was] quite simply because they decided that the police had carried out their investigation correctly, there wasn't any criticism to be applied to them, that they knew of, and therefore, there wasn't a story in it'. With the conviction that the story needed to be told, Williams-Thomas brought it to the attention of ITV. The journey to expose Savile's behaviour was not straightforward, and complications to comission a documentary arose In his lifetime, Savile was one of Britain's biggest stars, known for appearances on Top of the Pops and Jim'll Fix it He began gathering evidence and talking to victims before coming to the conclusion Savile had sexually abused 'quite a lot of' children. Though ITV was 'incredibly nervous' by the claims, as the evidence began to build Williams-Thomas explained: 'We said: 'Listen, we have to get this out there and we have to let the public decide.' Williams-Thomas received backlash while investigating the accusations brought against such a prolific public figure, receiving outraged phone-ins which even left his mother concerned. While working at ITV Birmingham, he told LAD Bible that he was sent an incendiary device which was 'capable of causing significant damage'. But Williams-Thomas was convinced he couldn't let the story go, and even contemplated financing the documentary himself if he couldn't get it commissioned. Williams-Thomas said it was 'difficult' to complete the documentary, he explained: 'We'd put our lives into it.' When it finally aired the documentary resulted in a huge police investigation - and the results were damning. Several women interviewed by Exposure said that they had been sexually abused by Savile as teenagers. It was aired that Savile obtained access to young girls through the television programmes he presented as well as through his charity work. The Reckoning will air on Monday 9 October and stars Steve Coogan as Savile (pictured left) Williams-Thomas has questioned the purpose of the new series, describing its impact on survivors as 'massive' The Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police Service released a joint report in 2012, which stated that Savile had sexually assaulted up to 500 people, the majority of whom were young girls. They concluded the the crimes were primarily committed on BBC premises and in over 10 hospitals. Reflecting on the documentary, Williams-Thomas said: 'It changed the outlook of television of current affairs and it was probably the biggest tidal change that's occurred by revealing that this man was quite clearly a predatory paedophile.' He credited the five 'brave' women that initially came forward and allowed him to tell their story. A new BBC documentary drama series The Reckoning explores how Jimmy Savile's exploitation of power and fame to commit up to 500 sexual offences was unearthed. All four episodes, written by Neil McKay and directed by Sandra Goldbacher, will air tonight, Monday, 9 October. Ahead of the new BBC series, starring Steve Coogan as Savile, Williams-Thomas has taken to Twitter to contemplate the impact of the series on Saville's victims. He wrote: 'The major question for the BBC and those that have made the Jimmy Savile drama The Reckoning is what exactly is its purpose? 'It will rate high I am sure but for the survivors the impact is massive.' The sister of a British man feared killed during the Hamas massacre along with his girlfriend has paid tribute to her 'baby brother' - revealing how he was 'enjoying life's simple pleasures' just hours before the brutal attack. British photographer Danny Darlington, who lived in Berlin, and his German girlfriend Carolin Bohl are both believed to have been gunned down in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in Southern Israel. The couple were initially reported as missing and while there has not been any official confirmation of their killing, on-the-ground information from Israel provided to their families by friends has indicated that they are dead. In a moving tribute posted on social media, accompanied by a picture of Danny, his heartbroken sister Shelley wrote: 'My heart is broken. My baby brother is gone.' Thanking people for their messages of support, she continued: 'Knowing how many people loved and cared for Danny and reading your memories of him will never bring him back, but it does offer a slither of comfort to the indescribable pain I am feeling.' A heartbreaking photograph on Instagram shows British photographer Danny Darlington (left) and his partner Carolin Bohl (right) laughing shortly before they vanished during the Hamas massacre Thanking people for their messages of support, Danny's sister Shelley (pictured) posted: 'Knowing how many people loved and cared for Danny and reading your memories of him will never bring him back, but it does offer a slither of comfort to the indescribable pain I am feeling' Shelley revealed that Danny was supposed to have left for Tel Aviv a day before the attack but decided to stay so that he could explore the kibbutz with Carolin. She wrote: 'My baby brother, Dan, was murdered by terrorists on Saturday morning on our kibbutz., Nir Oz, alongside his beautiful friend Carolin. Only days before he was riding his bike, laughing, taking photographs of sunsets and enjoying life's simple pleasures in our beautiful kibbutz. 'He was meant to leave for Tel Aviv the night before but decided to stay one more day to explore the kibbutz with his friend-a decision that has irrevocably changed all our lives forever, and one that cost him his life.' Recalling the impact of the attack she wrote: 'Our community has been destroyed.' Mr Darlington has not been heard from since hiding out in a bunker in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in Southern Israel, with family and friends receiving information of his death Ms Bohl's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel Ms Bohl's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi also posted on Instagram to share the news of the tragedy Shelley revealed that her family are in contact with Israeli officials to try and recover Danny's body and bring him back to the UK. Signing off her post, she wrote: 'I am broken.' Heartbreaking photographs on Instagram showed Danny and Carolin laughing together shortly before they vanished during the deadly attack on Israel. Carolin's devastated sister posted on Instagram claiming the family learned the news of the couple's death from a friend 'on the ground' in Israel. She wrote: 'Today we learned from Carolin's friend on the ground in Kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel that she and her friend Danny were killed in a terrorist attack yesterday. 'We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy. 'We send our deepest thanks to those who made such an effort today to help find her and provide information and contacts.' She added: 'Please give us some time and space to remember our sweet angel Caro and her beloved friend Danny.' The photographer's father David Darlington previously 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.' Carolin's brother-in law Sam Pasquesi said his family learned late on Sunday from a man working at the kibbutz that the bodies of the two had been identified. Sam wrote on Instagram: 'While we haven't got official notification from the governments of Israel, Germany or UK, we have reliable information from the ground in Israel that our beloved Caro and her dear friend Danny were killed in a terrorist Hamas raid. 'We are so thankful to family, friends, friends of friends, and strangers for the aid in providing such expedient information, press and government contacts, hopes, prayers and comfort. 'We will now focus on coping with this tragedy and ask for some time and space to come to terms. Thank you.' Their deaths come as hundreds remain missing in Israel following the surprise attack from the Palestinian terrorist group. The four-day-old war has already claimed at least 1,600 lives, as Israel saw gun battles in the streets of its own towns for the first time in decades and neighbourhoods in Gaza were reduced to rubble. The bodies of young revellers were seen piled up on top of each other in makeshift tents last night as emergency workers tried to identify the 260 festival-goers killed at an Israeli music festival by Hamas terrorists. People in Isreal are seen running for their lives on Saturday after militants fired gunshots at a music festival A distressing image, shared in pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at a festival site The distressing image, shared in a pixelated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags at the site of the 'beautiful party' that turned into a horrific massacre. Footage from the aftermath shows empty festival tents and abandoned cars strewn frantically across the road leading to the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. Many terrified victims had fled across the sand on foot to their cars in an attempt to drive away from the horrors, only to be met with gunfire from armed men piled into jeeps going 'tree by tree' trying to shoot people. A lone Israel supporter stood up to pro-Palestine supporters acting as apologists for Hamas today as they demonstrated outside the Labour party conference. In fiery scenes one Labour member took on around 100 flag-waving demonstrators, telling them they were apologists for murder and should be ashamed of themselves. They responded by booing, chanting 'racist Israel' and demanding he be removed by police - something officers refused to do. Speakers at the event outside the secure conference zone had defended the incursion into Israel, which has left hundreds of civilians dead. There were banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party. The man, who said he was a Labour member called Stuart, told the mob they were supporting 'murderous barbaric people', adding: 'You murdered children, this is not the time to be doing this, not in the aftermath of what has happened. 'You are murdering people, you should be ashamed of yourself, you should step back, and let this pass. It is disgusting.' Tonight, Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves urged people not to take part in pro-Palestinian protests, telling the Newscast podcast: 'Israel was subjected to a terrorist attack on Saturday, people have been killed, hostages have been taken. And Israel has every right to defend itself, as does any sovereign country against terrorists. And we stand as a Labour Party fully alongside Israel in fighting that terrorist threat.' It came as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks. The man, who said he was a Labour member called Stuart, told the mob they were supporting 'murderous barbaric people', adding: 'You murdered children, this is not the time to be doing this, not in the aftermath of what has happened' They responded by booing, chanting 'racist Israel' and demanding he be removed by police - something the police refused to do. Speakers at the event had defended the incursion into Israel, which has left hundreds of civilians dead. Speakers at the event outside the secure conference zone had defended the incursion into Israel, which has left hundreds of civilians dead. There were banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party. The man, who said he was a Labour member called Stuart, told the mob they were supporting 'murderous barbaric people', adding: 'You murdered children, this is not the time to be doing this, not in the aftermath of what has happened. Jeremy Corbyn has risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks The former Labour leader refused to single out the terrorist group for condemnation, saying he was against 'all violence'. In a bad-tempered exchange with journalists on the fringes of the party's conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said the way to end the 'terrible situation' was to 'end the occupation of Palestine by Israel'. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is expected to attend a reception at the conference tomorrow night alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. Mr Zomlot previously told CNN that 'Israel knew that this was coming their way It's a consequence'. Asked about his comment, shadow chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: 'I'm very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable. 'And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment.' Mr Corbyn sparked anger yesterday when he responded to slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel without condemning Hamas. The MP is sitting as an independent after being removed from Labour's parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked He is not thought to have a pass for the main conference. Mr Corbyn said he wants 'peace, a ceasefire and a process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine'. 'I don't support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all,' he said, after being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn Hamas. He told ITV News that the 'occupation of Palestine' was 'fundamentally the background to the whole issue'. 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 don't 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.' Keir Starmer 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 Israel's 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.' 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 shameless 19-year-old driver has been locked up for 12 months after he led police on a 90mph car chase and posted it on his social media. Philip Amue was captured on police dashcam footage as he sped through the streets of Wales during the middle of the day. The teenager refused to stop for officers before the tyres of his Volkswagen Bora were punctured by a stinger, the court heard. Prosecutor Anna Price said Amue posted footage of the police chase on his TikTok account after he was sent it by his solicitors. He captioned the video: 'Bora vs police #video #policechase #UKpolice' Philip Amue has been locked up for 12 months after he led police on a 90mph car chase and posted it on his social media last year The teenager, then 19, was captured on police dashcam footage as he sped through the streets of Wales during the middle of the day Caernarfon Crown Court heard Amue claim he had driven from from the West Midlands to Anglesey, North Wales, to 'clear his head'. He was first seen entering Anglesey in Wales, on the Menai Suspension Bridge, at roughly 3pm on March 4 before going down an unclassified road. He was shortly after approached by police before he reversed and sped off in the direction of where he had just come from, the court heard. Miss Price said Amue led police on a chase lasting more than eight minutes while officers reached speeds of 90mph. Amue sped through Beaumaris town centre before his tyres were punctured and he was blocked by two police cars and an officer with a Taser. After being stopped, officers discovered number plates inside the car, which were registered to his address in Dudley. The number plates on the Bora were cloned and did not match his vehicle. Amue, of Kingswinford, Dudley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without a licence, and driving with false number plates. Amue posted the footage of the police chase on his TikTok account after he was sent it by his solicitors Amue can be seen stopped by a police car after his tyre wheels were punctured Police rush to the scene of his car and try to prevent him from escaping Defending Richard Edwards said Amue, now 20, had a 'passion' for cars and likes to buy and modify vehicles but had only passed his theory test. Judge Recorder IWL Jones said: 'You were driving through a busy town centre in the middle of the day. I shudder to think what would have happened if say a young child was crossing the road. 'It's a miracle no-one was seriously injured or killed as a result of your driving. It's perfectly obvious you have no care for road safety or other road users.' Amue was sentenced to 12 months and disqualified from driving for three years and four months. The 32-year-old arrived in Israel on Sunday evening hearing of atrocities across the region - Almost 1,300 have been killed thus far - 9 of which are American Leyb visited his family in Israel a week ago for the birth of his nephew and revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com how life had dramatically changed A New Yorker who traveled to Israel after seeing harrowing images surface following the brutal attack launched by Hamas on Saturday said the country has dramatically changed since he last visited only a week ago. Noy Leyb, 32, had been visiting his family, who live in the mixed Jewish and Arab city of Acre (Akko), when his nephew was born and said that it was a 'celebration of life.' The 32-year-old returned on Sunday to help fight with the Israel Defense Force, who he's served with in some capacity since the age of 18, and said the horrors of war are palpable in the city. 'We celebrated life and now I'm returning as people are dying,' he revealed to DailyMail.com exclusively from his barracks in central Israel. 'We were going out and we were celebrating there was no reason for anyone to be scared you didn't have to worry about traveling north or south. 'Now, things have completely changed. After my ten-hour flight, I found out a friend was in hospital, another who had been shot, someone else from my team had a friend killed. 'It used to be a normal happy life in Israel and now people assume there will be terrorists so they don't come outside, they lock their doors, its unheard of.' A New Yorker who traveled to Israel after seeing harrowing images surface following the brutal attack launched by Hamas on Saturday said the country has dramatically changed since he last visited only a week ago Noy Leyb, 32, had been visiting his family who live in the mixed Jewish and Arab city of Acre (Akko) when his nephew was born and said that it was a 'celebration of life' Leyb said since being in Israel, gunfire and explosions erupting outside have become the new normal and people hear the conflict before it floods the news channels and social media. 'I landed on Sunday evening around 5pm and first went north to get my gear, to see my parents and grandpa, give them a kiss goodbye and then made my way to base in central Israel,' he said. 'We celebrated life and now I'm returning as people are dying,' said Leyb of the atrocities taking place in the Middle East 'People are physically and mentally getting ready for a very long war, there were army vehicles lining the streets and the whole area my parents live is full of police in case things get worse. 'I think I'm being strong for my family, I have two brothers who were also called up and are both serving, as the eldest its my duty to be strong.' A Canadian born Leyb moved to Israel when he was 18 and volunteered to serve three years with the IDF. He stayed in Israel and worked with the reserves until the age of 30 before moving to Michigan and then later New York in November last year. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video shared at the weekend that Israel is 'at war' and called for a massive military response to the Hamas attacks. These sentiments were reiterated by Leyb, who added that making the decision to go to Israel for the most recent conflict wasn't an easy one, but was his duty. Leyb (left) poses with his two brothers(center), who are also serving, his mother and father (right) Leybe hugged his mother before leaving. She begged him not to return but was happy to see him even for a short time. He also sent DailyMail.com a picture of his weapon on Monday Leyb said since being back in Israel gunfire and explosions erupting outside have become the new normal and people hear the conflict before it floods the news channels and social media 'Hard stories are being shared from people I know and my brothers,' he said. 'I'll be here as long as it takes, a week, a month, no one is going home until this is resolved and do my part.' Following the plane journey to Israel, Leyb posted a video showing himself listening to the airline staff sending their support. 'We wish to strengthen the residents of the south, the soldiers of the IDF and the security forces at this difficult time and wish for better days for the State of Israel,' the announcement said. Leyb explained that the announcement set the mood for the duration of the trip. 'So that was how the flight started which set the mood for the entire duration and was by far the most emotional plane ride I've been on,' he said. He remembers the moment he heard about the 260 people killed at a festival massacre and piled on top of each other laying bare the gravity of the Hamas attack. 'I'm having dinner with my parents and you hear 260 bodies cleared from the outdoor party that happened and you're like 260 bodies, can you even get a grip on that number? Like, how do you kill 260 people just like that?' he said. 'The wild thing here is that it's either one or two degrees of separation, so usually you know who it is [that is being killed] unfortunately.' The 32-year-old returned on Sunday to help fight with the Israel Defense Force, who he's served with on some capacity since the age of 18, and said the horrors of war are palpable in the city Following the plane journey to Israel Leyb posted a video showing himself listening to the airline staff sending their support While speaking with DailyMail.com Leyb revealed telling his family about his return was bittersweet. 'They were happy to see me and my dad understood because he served, but my mom begged me not to come back,' he said. 'I think it would be hard for any mother, no one wants to go to war, people have kids they have families. 'But every minute, you feel more and more ready we don't have time to really think about our mental wellbeing that will come later.' Sirens blared in Jerusalem as explosions were heard in the holy city on Monday as Israel ordered a 'complete siege' on Gaza in retaliation to the unprecedented attack seen by Hamas at the weekend. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant officially announced the blockade of the besieged enclave, saying authorities will cut electricity and prevent the entry of food and fuel. 'No electricity, no food, no fuel. We are fighting animals, and we will act accordingly,' he said. Hamas launched salvos toward Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as rockets continued to rain down in the southern Israeli town Ashkelon. About 9 Americans have died from the atrocities while the death toll soars to almost 1,300 since the fighting erupted. A Hamas fighter poses with an elderly female hostage, who may have diminished mental capacity, after forcing her to hold a rifle 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 Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from Kibbutz Kfar Azza into the Gaza Strip on Saturday. The militants have abducted dozens, if not hundreds, of hostages 'At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine U.S. citizens,' State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. 'We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts,' he added. The Americans killed in the conflict that began over the weekend have yet to be identified by officials in the United States. U.S. airlines have suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have also issued travel waivers allowing passengers scheduled to fly to and from Israel to rebook. United's waiver also covers flights to and from Amman, Jordan. 'We continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,' American said in a statement. Delta said it is working with the U.S. government to repatriate American citizens from Israel. A three-year-old girl became the second Brazilian child to die from a scorpion bite in over a month after she was attacked while she slept at her home in Brazil. Maria Brito was stung on September 25 and was immediately hospitalized before she died from cardiac arrest on October 1. 'My princess, how much you will be missed,' a family member wrote on social media. 'Thank you for your beautiful time here on earth, we love you very much. With a broken heart, see you soon Maria Fernanda.' Brito was initially treated at Ribas do Rio Pardo Municipal Hospital in her hometown of Ribas do Rio Pardo and then transferred to Mato Grosso do Sul Regional Hospital in Campo Grande, where doctors treated her with antivenom. The Ribas do Rio Pardo city hall said in a statement that 'the weakening of her heart muscles ended up causing a cardiorespiratory arrest.' Maria Brito suffered a scorpion bite while she was sleeping at her home in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, on September 25. Although she was treated with antivenom, the three-year-old went into cardias arrest and died at a hospital October 1 Maria Brito is the second child to die from a scorpion bite in Brazil in 2023 A 45-year-old man and a woman survived after they were also stung by scorpions in separate incidents the weekend of September 22-25 in Ribas do Rio Pardo. An eight-year-old boy was also hospitalized after he was bitten by a scorpion on September 30 Brito's death is the second in Ribas do Rio Pardo after Pyetro Arguelho died from a scorpion bite on August 22. The five-year-old boy was at his home getting ready to leave for school the morning of August 15 when a scorpion bit him inside his shoe. Five-year-old Pyetro Arguelho died August 22, a week after he was bitten by a scorpion He was rushed to Ribas do Rio Pardo Municipal Hospital and treated with antivenom and then was rushed to Mato Grosso do Sul Regional Hospital after his condition worsened. 'The toxin in the poison was very strong,' the boy's father, Max Jonatham, told Brazilian news outlet G1. 'The doctor said it was still (affecting) his body, it could last up to seven to 10 days. Give his age, it was perhaps a large dose of poison.' Residents in Ribas do Rio Pardo, a city with a population of 23,000, have complained about the increasing presence of scorpions, which is generated by humidity and heat. The Mato Grosso do Sul Department of Health has registered 3,012 in 2023 after 3,205 were reported last year. House Republicans will gather in the same room Monday night for the first time since the shock ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. The meeting comes in a political landscape rocked by the Hamas attack on Israel. House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) will each make their case to colleagues for why they should replace McCarthy. For either to be elected speaker, they will need the support of 217 lawmakers, half the current House a number that is difficult to achieve in the fractured Republican party. McCarthy was unable to secure that level of support when he suffered a devastating motion to vacate the chair brought by by rebel Republican Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). It is not clear if either Jordan or Scalise has yet found a path that gets them to 217. Meanwhile, some McCarthy allies and centrists are demanding changes to House rules that would free the new speaker from the prospect of removal in a motion brought by a single lawmaker. Although he has been rolling up support, some more moderate members are already raising concerns about Jordan's ability to assist in swing districts in the 2024 election. The former founding chair of the House Freedom Caucus took a leading role in the first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing. meaning he may not appeal to independents. The House is currently hamstrung by the lack of a speaker. The White House contacted Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries over the weekend to make arrangements for an all-members briefing, with Republican leadership up in the air. Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Steve Scalise (R-La.) are battled in a race to succeed Kevin McCarthy as speaker Lawmakers are already circulating a resolution expressing congressional support for Congress in light of the stunning terror attack that left 700 Israelis killed. The State Department said 9 Americans were among the casualties. Although the Biden administration has said it is already able to move a military aid package for Israel, it may soon need congressional to be able to undertake additional action. As of now, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is serving as the temporary Speaker pro tem. THe absence of authority in the House comes as Israel declared war on Hamas, pounding the Gaza Strip following a stunning terror attack by militants Former Speaker John Boehner once called Jordan a 'legislative terrorist' Scalise is battling health challenges while seeking to move up to the top position Some lawmakers would like to try to reinstate Kevin McCarthy as speaker, but he has said he is not seeking the position after his stunning ouster But the extent of McHenry's authority is a matter of dispute. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, said McHenry's authority is limited. 'I want to clear up some confusion. As an unelected acting Speaker pro tempore [Patrick McHenrey's] job is to guide the House toward the election of a new Speaker. That's it. His power is constrained by the plain text of Rule 1, Clause 8 of the Rules of the House,' McGovern wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. If no Republican is able to reach 217 votes, the post would remain vacant. Hyd: CCMB develops novel method to assess biodiversity of life forms 02 Nov 2023 | 10:30 PM Hyderabad, Nov 2 (UNI) Indian researchers on Thursday claimed that they have developed a new non-invasive method to assess the total biodiversity of any ecosystem by sequencing the DNA fragments found in the environmental samples such as water, soil or air. see more.. 02 Nov 2023 | 10:16 PM New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) State-controller power major NTPC on Thursday reported a substantial 86% year-on-year growth in coal production from its captive mines in April-October period of 2023-24. see more.. Nita Ambani celebrates 60th birthday 02 Nov 2023 | 9:26 PM Mumbai, Nov 2 (UNI) Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries Ltd. Chairman Mukesh Ambani celebrated her 60th birthday on November 1 while inaugurating a new junior school and performing anna-seva to over 3,000 underprivileged school kids, officials said here on Thursday. see more.. KSUM to host 200-startup expo at Huddle Global 02 Nov 2023 | 8:10 PM Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 (UNI) The fifth edition of Huddle Global conclave this month will feature an expo by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), giving 200-plus nascent companies an opportunity to display their products as well as interact directly with experts from technology and industry for advice on investment opportunities. see more.. One of Britain's most iconic seaside piers could be forced to shut after racking up enormous debts. Hastings Pier has been a popular tourist attraction on the South Coast since it first opened to the public in 1872. It has hosted concerts by the Rolling Stones, the Who and Jimi Hendrix and served as a landing site for refugees during the Second World War. The pier was bought in 2018 by controversial hotelier Sheikh Abid Gulzar, who drives distinctive gold Mercedes and Tesla cars, wears large gold rings and is known as Mr Goldfinger. But now his company, Lions Hastings Pier Ltd, has gone into liquidation owing up to 300,000. Among the creditors are gas and electric companies, former employees, a bank, a council and several small businesses. Hastings Pier, one of Britain's most iconic seaside piers, could be forced to shut after racking up enormous debts The pier was bought in 2018 by controversial hotelier, Sheikh Abid Gulzar, who drives distinctive gold Mercedes and Tesla cars, wears large gold rings and is known as Mr Goldfinger It is understood the company also owes more than 30,000 to Hastings Borough Council for unpaid business rates. The huge debt means the future of the 150-year-old pier has been thrown into doubt and the council has stepped in to try to allay fears. Badly damaged by fire in 2010, it was saved thanks to a 12.4million cash injection from the Heritage Lottery Fund. But there was fury in 2018 when it was then sold at a knockdown price to the self-styled Sheikh. Indian-born Sheikh Gulzar, 78, who also owns Eastbourne Pier, bought the pier for a knockdown price of 60,000 in 2018. He caused further anger when he closed the pier for several months to carry out 'repairs'. The pier reopened in 2019 but has accumulated huge debts since the Covid pandemic. In the last few months bankruptcy notices have also been filed against three hotels owned by Mr Gulzar. Peter Wheeler, an engineer who helped restore the pier to award-winning condition following the 2010 fire, took Mr Gulzar's firm to an employment tribunal. Along with his engineer assistant, Francesca Hill, they sued him and were awarded 31,000 and 45,000 for the 'disgraceful treatment' they were subjected to. He said: 'Hastings pier is a focal point for the whole town and my only concern is I would like to see it maintained to the condition it was in 2017 and for it to continue to be run viably so that visitors can enjoy it. 'It is simply not good enough to be able to set up a company, rack up huge debts and then to liquidate. Gulzar bought the Sussex pier after it was destroyed in a major fire in 2010 and rebuilt with 12.4 million in funding from the Heritage Lottery fund The pier reopened in 2019 but has accumulated huge debts since the Covid pandemic Gulzar also caused controversy when he painted the roof of the Eastbourne Pier in gold 'Those found to repeatedly do this should be banned from acting as company directors because it is just wrong.' Mr Wheeler said: 'Hastings pier is not being maintained properly and for the good of the town I would like to see it being properly run.' He said he, and especially Francesca Hill, were subjected to 'disgraceful treatment' by Mr Gulzar's firm and claimed it was unlikely they would ever see a single penny from the award made by the court. In its 145-year history the pier has burned down twice, most recently suffering severe damage in 2010. But it won lottery funding and, following a major 12.4million reconstruction, the pier won the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) Stirling Prize for the best new building in the UK in 2017. James Chang, spokesman for the Friends of Hastings Pier (FOHP), said: 'Our group have been watching the steady demise of Hastings Pier over the last few years with increasing concern. 'We have repeatedly flagged maintenance issues with Hastings Borough Council and our local MP, both of whom have assured us that they had approached the owners of Hastings Pier to pass on our concerns. 'What we would like to see is an owner who is committed to investing money in Hastings Pier to make it a vibrant community space for all to enjoy and preserve the Grade II structure for future generations.' A spokesman for Hastings Borough Council said: 'Hastings Pier is an important asset for our town. We are aware that residents and visitors are concerned about it following the recent news about its owning company going into administration. 'We are following these updates, particularly as the council is a creditor, but the Pier is privately owned so there are limits to what action the council can take.' Mr Gulzar said: 'I want to assure the people of Hastings and beyond that we will be keeping the pier open. We are trying to work with Hastings Borough Council planning department so that we can to continue the restoration of the pier and get the necessary permissions to rebuild what was lost in the fire in 2010. 'If we can do that then we can attract more businesses, bars, restaurants, fish and chip outlets to the pier and it will become financially viable. We have a long-term strategy but we need the support.' A 'shattered' granddaughter has told how her Israeli grandmother was murdered by a Hamas terrorist who broke into her home and slaughtered her before using her phone to take pictures and posting them on her Facebook account. Mor Bayder said she only found out about the tragedy when going on Facebook to see the horrific post at 7am yesterday - calling the video the 'nightmare of my life'. In her own Facebook post, Ms Bayder paid a moving tribute to her grandmother and detailed the terrifying manner in which she was killed. 'The pillar of my life, in my family's life. My grandmother, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz all her life, was [killed] yesterday in a brutal murder by a terrorist in her home,' she wrote. 'Seven in the morning, I saw the nightmare of my life. A terrorist came home to her, killed her, took her phone, filmed the horror and published it on her Facebook wall. This is how we found out. Mor Bayder has told how her beloved grandmother was murdered by a Hamas terrorist who broke into her home and slaughtered her before using her phone to take pictures and posting them on her Facebook account Ms Bayder said she only found out about the tragedy when going on Facebook to see the horrific post at 7am yesterday 'The purest thing in the world, the light of my life, my whole world, my grandmother, can't make it real.' The murder is just one of hundreds of deaths which have occurred this week after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise assault that has so far killed more than 700 Israelis. Ms Bayder added: 'This morning I didn't get ''My dear teacher, did you get up?'' like every morning when you were persistent not a minute after seven. My heart is shattered to pieces. 'Those who know me know what she is to me, what a connection we had, what a person she is, pure and good. 'My grandmother loved life but how do we go on without you? Who am I without you? I'm not willing to talk about you in the past, it's a nightmare of my life. 'I love you and you know it, in every room of my heart, in every particle of my body, in every fiber of my organ. Ms Bayder said her and her grandmother were very close, adding that her heart is 'shattered' Her murder is just one of hundreds of deaths which have occurred this week after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise assault The 'shattered' granddaughter has told how her Israeli grandmother was murdered by a Hamas terrorist 'Those who know me know what she is to me, what a connection we had, what a person she is, pure and good,' said Ms Bayder of her grandmother 'My grandmother, my flower, the light of my life, my whole world.' It comes after a tattoo artist's naked body was paraded by Hamas terrorists after they slaughtered 260 Israelis at a festival Shani Louk, 30, was at a music festival for peace when she was captured by Hamas terrorists who had stormed the event and massacred 260 Israeli revellers during their assault on Israel. Her naked body was seen splayed in the back of a truck, with one leg at an unnatural angle, while being surrounded by four Hamas terrorists who were shouting 'Allahu akbar' in a sickening video. Jeering supporters of the gunmen, including children, were filmed running alongside the truck and spitting on her motionless body. Her family, who are desperately hoping that Shani is still alive despite the footage of her body, said she was a pacifist and a peace campaigner who was known for her involvement in organising music festivals. Shani, who grew up in Israel but had a German passport, had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her views, her aunt Orly Louk, told a German newspaper, adding that her German passport helped with this. Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz is eyeing up a seat on Disney's board again as he ramps up his stake in the company amid sliding share prices. Peltz, whose daughter Nicola married Brooklyn Beckham in a lavish ceremony last year, now owns around $2.5billion worth of Disney shares after his company boosted the number they hold to around 30 million. The fund, which is now one of Disney's biggest investors, is expected to ask for multiple seats including one for its co-founder, the Wall Street Journal reports. It comes months after an initial proxy war between Peltz and current Disney CEO Bob Iger and at a time when Disney shares have plummeted to a ten year low. Disney shares have tumbled 12.5 per cent over the last 52 weeks from $95.16 to a decade-long low of $83.60. Nelson Peltz,81, pictured with his daughter Nicola (right) and wife Claudia has reignited his proxy war with Disney Disney shares have slumped in recent months as the media conglomerate grapples with Former Trump supporter Peltz previously declared war on woke Disney in January, making a play for a board position and demanding that Iger cut down on spending. Iger had himself staged a dramatic comeback after handing the reins over to Bob Chapek who struggled to fill his predecessor's shoes and ended up losing Disney's favorable business terms in Florida over his clumsy handling of the state's 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Chapek entered into a public feud with governor Ron DeSantis after he tried to intervene in the discussion over state legislation to restrict discussions of sex and gender in schools. Disney still has a pending lawsuit against the state following a bitter back-and-forth. Peltz withdrew from the initial proxy fight in February after Iger returned to his previous role and unveiled a cost-cutting plan involving 7,000 layoffs and restructuring to save around $5.5 billion. Bob Iger managed to fend off Peltz's previous bid for a board seat earlier this year by promising a raft of cost-cutting measures However, the stock slump has prompted the activist investor to renew his bid for power, according to The Hollywood Reporter. If Disney refuse Trian's request, the fund can look to nominate directorial candidates ahead of the media conglomerate's next meeting in the Spring. Shareholder nominations can take place from December 5 through January 4. Part of Trian's concerns center around the inability to find a successor for Iger, who recently renewed his agreement with Disney to stay in post until 2026. Other issues facing the media company include the recent Hollywood writers' strike, a battle with large cable operator Charter Communications and losses across its streaming and TV businesses. Peltz is a firm believer in keeping politics out of business and has a history of challenging woke companies. In September 2021, he confronted Ben & Jerry's owner Unilever about its many political statements. He told the ice-cream manufacturer it was a mistake for the company to get involved in issues such as Palestine's conflict with Israel. At the time, Ben & Jerry's had vowed to stop selling ice cream in 'Palestinian territories'. Almost a year after the conversation with Unilever CEO Alan Jope, Peltz joined its board and shares rose by seven percent. Peltz and his partners found further success acquiring Snapple from Quaker Oats in 1997 Peltz's first proxy war called on Disney to 'restore the magic' amid criticism the media conglomerate had become too political The move was just the latest in a string of successes for Peltz, who began his working life as a truck driver for his family's food wholesale business. Over the next 15 years he transformed the company into a giant, taking it public for $150 million in 1973. Other triumphs came in 1997 when he and his partners acquired Snapple from Quaker Oats and turned it around before selling it to Schweppes and 2007 when he masterminded Cadbury's splitting its confectionary arm from Schweppes to huge success. He performed a similar overhaul at Procter & Gamble, joining its board in March 2018 then exiting in October 2021, after reviving its share price with a series of structural changes. His first bid for a Disney board seat came amid criticism the company had begun virtue signaling and gone down in the estimation of many American families. In a social media blitz, Peltz launched urged the mass media behemoth to 'restore' its lost 'magic'. DailyMail.com has approached Disney and Trian Investment Fund for comment. Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf revealed his parents in-law have become 'trapped' in Gaza by the Israeli military, leaving him worried if they will 'make it through the night'. Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, the parents of his Palestinian wife Nadia, who live in Dundee, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds. The Israeli Defence Force has now laid siege to the territory, which has a population of around two million. It has drawn up a force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers, plus 173,000 soldiers preparing to launch a massive co-ordinated ground assault within the 'next 48 hours'. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Mr Yousaf said: 'As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, they've been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, I'm afraid.' They went to visit Mr Yousaf's father in-law's 92-year-old 'elderly and frail' mother, when the Hamas attack took place and have been told by Israeli authorities to leave because 'Gaza will effectively be obliterated', the First Minister said. 'Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere,' he said. 'So I'm in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we don't know whether or not my mother in law and father in law - who have nothing to do, as most Gazans don't, with Hamas or with any terror attack - whether they will make it through the night or not.' Mr Yousaf also issued an 'unequivocal condemnation' of the Hamas attack. Elizabeth and Maged El-Nakla, the parents of his Palestinian wife Nadia, who live in Dundee, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds. The parents of his Palestinian wife Nadia El-Nakla, who live in Dundee, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Mr Yousaf said: 'As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, they've been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, I'm afraid.' Ms El_Nakla has family living permanently in the region in addition to her grandmother. Her brother Mohammed is a doctor there, and he and his wife Duas have twin sons Amjid and Majid, and a daughter, Layla. In 2021 she said she also had an aunt living in Gaza City. Her paternal grandfather fled to Scotland after he lost his lands to Israeli settlers in 1948 and she has been outspoken int he past about the treatment of Palestinians. 'I feel our blood is cheap, that is how I feel,' she told The National in 2021. READ MORE: Israel's military might that is about to obliterate Hamas Advertisement 'I feel so sad the world does not value our blood but also really angry about the way this is being portrayed. The mainstream media is very one-sided. They keep saying it is conflict on both sides but they don't mention that Gaza is illegally occupied by Israel, is under siege and has no protection. It is victim blaming.' The First Minister and his wife 'cannot sleep' due to worry for her parents, he said. He added: 'I'm worried about my family - there will be many people, including in Scotland's Jewish community for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm. 'My thoughts go out to everybody, because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, they have nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life and they're the ones often - innocent people - who are paying the price.' Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine after what has been described as the country's 'worst day in history' with the number of Israeli's killed in the conflict set to rise further. Hundreds of Palestinians have also been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack. The Israeli airstrikes have so far flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. In a statement, the Israeli Air Force said it dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza aimed at over 10,000 targets in Gaza in the last 20 hours. Among the targets were three rocket launchers directed at Israel, a mosque where militants were operating and 21 high-rise buildings that served militant activity. Now, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. A photograph of gun victim Ashley Dale with the man who killed her was found in her phone, her murder trial was told today. The photo shows Ms Dale posing with her partner Lee Harrison and the gunman James Witham, 41, on an unknown date before the shooting on August 21 last year. The 28-year-old was shot dead in her home in Old Swan, Liverpool after a feud between rival factions was sparked by violence at the Glastonbury music festival held in June last year, the trial at Liverpool Crown court has been told. The jury has been told Ms Dale 's partner Lee Harrison,25, was the intended target of the attack with a Skorpion sub machine gun by Witham. She was hit by a single bullet as she tried to run for safety through the house. The trial was told yesterday that Ms Dale 's phone , which was recovered just a few feet from her body, contained various photos of her with Harrison, including one at Glastobury which showed her making a two fingered peace sign. Ashley Dale, 28, (pictured) was hit in the abdomen by a bullet when gunman James Witham, 41, invaded her home on August 21 last year Ms Dale's sister (left), her mother Julie Dale (centre) and stepfather Rob Jones (right) arriving at Liverpool Crown Court for the trial of Ian Fitzgibbon, Niall Barry, Sean Zeisz, Joseph Peers and James Witham on October 2 Voice notes also recovered from her phone detailed how Ms Dale described the growing tension between Harrison on one side and rivals Niall Barry, 26, Sean Zeisz,28, and Ian Fitzgibbon,28, on the other. The prosecution claims that Barry - known as Branch Zeisz - known as Zest - and Fitzgibbon were the organisers of the planned murder of Harrison. Witham and Joseph Peers ,29, were the 'foot soldiers'. Witham has admitted manslaughter but claims he did not know that Ms Dale was in the house and she was shot 'by accident'. Peers is alleged to be the driver who took Witham to and from the scene of the shooting. The jury were shown the messages from Ms Dale to friends which the prosecution claim highlight the background to the murder. A friend of Ms Dale called Sophie asked after Glastonbury: 'Omg what happened with Zest and Liv (Olivia McDowell, the girlfriend of Zeisz and one of Ms Dale's friends)? Ms Dale replied: 'Zest got smacked Saturday and again last night by all joker and that.' Paul Greaney KC said: 'When Ashley Dale saw James Witham, she screamed, she shouted 'get the f*** out' and she attempted to run for her life' Niall Barry, 26, (pictured) was arrested at a hotel in Formby with a bag of cash and his passport, intending to flee the country, Paul Greaney KC, prosecuting, said Sean Zeisz, 28, (pictured) is one of the five defendants involved in the murder trial She added that a friend of Harrison's called Jordan Thompson - known as Dusty - also hit Zeisz. Ms Dale said: 'I dunno if Liv got hit... She ended up legging Zest and staying with us with Dusty.' Voice notes between Ms Dale and Ms McDowell, the then partner of Sean Zeisz, recorded on June 29, 2022 discussed the dispute at the festival. Ms Dale said: 'He's obviously just fuming isn't he because of everything and he's taken it out on you but what are you meant to do? 'You tried your best to keep the peace. Hes obviously going to be f**** fuming because of everything, you just need to give him a few days.' Ms McDowell replies: 'I don't want all this I have had enough of it Ash. I am trying to keep the peace. He might not be arsed but I am. My life is so hard, I don't know it's just a mad one isn't it. 'Coming home from Glasto, going through a break up, my head's all over the place.' All five defendants deny the murder of Ms Dale, the conspiracy to murder Lee Harrison, and conspiracy to possess a prohibited weapon and ammunition with intent to endanger life. A sixth man Kallum Radford, 26, denies assisting an offender by hiding the killer's car after the shooting. The trial continues. Democrats stepped up a push to install a U.S. ambassador in Israel 'instantaneously' after Hamas militants launched a brutal attack on civilians and military personnel at the weekend. President Joe Biden nominated Jack Lew in early September and key senators indicated they would act to block his appointment in protest at the administration's Israel policy. The issue took on added urgency on Saturday when Hamas launched thousands of rockets into Israel and sent hundreds of gunmen on a killing spree. Sen. Ben Cardin, the Democratic chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said it was vital that the U.S. stood with Israel. 'Right now, it is as critical as ever that we have a Senate-confirmed ambassador in Israel,' he said hours after the Hamas attack began. 'That is why I hope my colleagues will join me in promptly confirming Secretary Jacob J. Lew as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel.' Former Secretary of the Treasury Jack Lew was nominated by President Joe Biden to be his ambassador to Israel in early September. Democrats are stepping up their confirmation push Israeli warplanes continued to pound Gaza on Monday in retaliation for Hamas attacks He also promised to prioritize sending more resources to Israel, including support for the Iron Dome missile defense system. Sen. Chris Murphy offered his immediate support. 'Spoke to Chairman @SenatorCardin tonight,' he posted on X. 'We both agree that we need to move Jack Lew's nomination to be ambassador to Israel as the Senates first business when we reconvene.' And Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democratic member of the Foreign Relations Committee, told Politico: 'We should do this instantaneously and we also need to confirm a chief of Naval Operations.' The Senate is in recess until next week. And the House has no speaker, leaving Congress unable to move fast in providing additional support to Israel. At the same time, Sen. Tommy Tuberville is blocking all military nominations before the Senate in protest at administration policies. However, Senate Democrats have the power to act unilaterally in moving nominees such as Law. At least nine Americans were killed in Israel, the State Department confirmed, after Hamas launched a multi-front attack against the Jewish State on Saturday. Pictured: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip on Monday, October 9 Hamas terrorist launched a massive attack 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 Republican Sen. Ted Cruz initially voiced opposition to confirming him to the post. Even before he was named as replacement for Ambassador Tom Nides, Republicans laid out their opposition. Some 31 U.S. representatives sent a letter to Biden setting out their reservations. 'At a time when we should work on strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship, this nomination has the potential to strain relations with our strongest ally and the only democracy in the Middle East,' it read. 'We strongly urge you to ensure that any nominee to be the U.S. Ambassador to Israel can and will improve relations between our two countries.' They pointed to his involvement in developing the Iran nuclear deal, later ripped up by President Donald Trump, and statements critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The State Department said on Monday that nine Americans were among the dead at the weekend. Israel's Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Herzog told CBS News during a Sunday interview that U.S. citizens were among the hostages taken by Hamas. At least 700 people were reported dead in Israel and more than 400 killed in Gaza, more than two days after the militant group launched its unprecedented attack. She was placed into state custody for three months after doctors at the Florida facility raised concern her parents were faking symptoms of her illness The now 17-year-old was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) at age 9, but was taken to hospital with severe pain Oct 2016, at age 10 Netflix teen Maya Kowalski, 17, broke down in court as she told the court the final moments she saw her mom as she took the stand in the $220M trial against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. Kowalski, 17, was placed into state custody for three months after doctors at the Florida facility raised concern that her parents were faking symptoms of her debilitating complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Florida's Department of Children and Families and a state judge supported hospital staff's suspicions of 'child medical abuse' and placed Maya under Florida's Department of Children and Families' custody and she was housed at the center. Her mom, Beata, died by suicide after not being able to see her daughter for 87 days. The story was featured in a Netflix documentary and Maya Kowalski later sued the hospital for her care and mom's death As she addressed the court, Maya said she had been laying in bed when he mom came to pick up her belongings and said 'I love you and I'll see you tomorrow' - the 17-year-old revealed, through tears, 'and I never saw her again.' Netflix teen Maya Kowalski, 17, broke down in court as she told the court the final moments she saw her mom as she took the stand in the $220M trial against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Maya Kowalski (pictured left) was detained at a Florida hospital after staff suspected her mother Beata (center) could be faking symptoms for her chronic pain condition While sitting in court, Maya wore a pink blazer, a black top and a distinctive silver necklace around her neck. 'I notice you're wearing a necklace, why don't you explain that,' said the family's legal counsel Greg Anderson. 'So December 10th was my birthday, I turned 11, and I was unfortunately still in the hospital at the time and the hospital has this program where they collect funds for children who are still in the hospital on their birthday,' Maya explained. 'I was given $20 to spend and I remember the social worker came in and she asked me what I'd like to buy. I bought a nerf gun for my brother, I bought my mom a necklace and I bought my dad his favorite bag of mints because I didn't have a lot of money left over, but then my aunt Wendy bought him this little glass Christmas tree and just said it was from me.' While sitting in court, Maya wore a pink blazer, a black top and a distinctive silver necklace around her neck. The necklace was her mom Beata's that Maya had bought her and was found on her after she'd killed herself Addressing the necklace for a second time, Maya said her mother - who took her own life on January, 7, 2017 - would often tell her that she loved her 'to the moon and back' a similar inscription found on the piece of jewelry. 'I found out later that she wore it every single day and when she was found in the garage she was still wearing it and I have it on my neck right now.' During Maya's stay at the hospital, it's claimed she was videotaped for 48 hours and, on another occasion, stripped down to her underwear and photographed without the permission of a guardian or the dependency court, the lawsuit claims. 'I had a few nurses who were nice, but I could tell they were all agenda-driven,' Maya claimed. Court filings also claim the hospital employees also refused to let Maya's parents take their daughter to another hospital before the state intervened. Maya claims that she was never shown the hospital rules and regulations and alleged to have been treated differently to others she observed staying at the facility. 'I had multiple different rooms even though their policy is every 30 days you switch your room,' she said. The Kowalski family's harrowing situation has been covered in an explosive Netflix documentary The now 17-year-old was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) aged 9, but was taken to hospital with severe pain Oct 2016, aged 10 Maya's mom, Beata, (right) took her own life after she was diagnosed with a depressive mood and adjustment disorder upon being separated from Maya for almost three months 'I stayed there more than 90 days and I definitely had more than three rooms and these rooms had surveillance cameras and when I was placed in those rooms I was told not to worry about them they don't work.' Its been claimed that Maya was allowed to leave her room 95 percent of the time, an allegation vehemently denied by the now 17-year-old. 'That's not true at all, most of the time I was in my room there were times where I went to PT [so] I was outside my room [then] and there were a few occasions I went to the rec room,' she claimed. 'But I would say for the majority of my time I was kept in my room.' As part of the separation from her family, Maya claims to have experienced a period in which she wasn't allowed to speak to her mother. 'I remember that my mom was on this phone call and the person who she was speaking to a person at the hospital, I'm not sure what role they had,' she began. 'They claimed I never asked to speak to my mom, I was doing fine, I was ok in my room, I hadn't had any questions about why my parents weren't allowed to see me. 'And that infuriated me so much, because all I did for days on end was demand to speak to my parents, that's all I wanted to do. She added, 'I wasn't just sitting in my room, I was crying,' before breaking down on the stand. When asked whether she had communication with other patients in the facility Maya spoke of a girl she befriended, Natalie, who she claims she was quickly isolated from. 'Next thing I know Cathy Bedy is in my room saying I'm not to ever speak to a patient again and that day Natalie had given me this little present... I think they just wanted to comfort me,' she explained referring to Bedy, a former All Children's hospital social worker. Bedy had been a defendant in the trial but was removed, according to Court TV, although a reason was not given. When asked whether she was given a reason as to why she wasn't allowed to speak to the other kids Maya claims she wasn't. 'They didn't give me any reason and it was heartbreaking because you know they had my door open a lot and the blinds were open and I could see other people conversing and interacting and here I am all alone,' she said. As she stayed at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Maya claims that she was often ignored, surveilled and made to feel 'humiliated.' The hospital released a statement to DailyMail.com which read: 'Our priority at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital is always the safety and privacy of our patients and their families' Maya Kowalski (pictured at a previous hearing) along with her family are seeking $220 million from the Florida hospital over the ordeal 'Even though I told them about my symptoms and I pointed them out they kind of just ignored them,' she said. She also claimed that she was made to believe her mom was 'sick' and had been 'making her believe she was also sick.' 'They never told me straight up, we think you have conversion disorder, they never said we think your mom has Munchausen-by-proxy instead they would give me little clues in the things that they were saying,' she claimed. 'For example when I expressed to them a symptom or like my pain they'd say 'no you're making it up, its in your head' and then at one point the social worker Cathy Bedy said my mom was in a mental institution. '[This made] me think that there was something wrong with her, and I asked my dad, and it turned out to be a lie. 'They were trying to manipulate me into thinking that my mom was sick and therefore making me sick even though it wasn't true.' However, during cross-examination, the hospital's attorney focused on a relationship she had one nurse and how the hospital allowed special accommodations - such as a visit from a priest not affiliated with her parish church. Maya was removed from her parents' care after hospital staff became suspicious of the dosage of ketamine her mother insisted on treating her with for the excruciating chronic pain. Florida's Department of Children and Families and a state judge supported hospital staff's suspicions of 'child medical abuse' and placed Maya under Florida's Department of Children and Families' custody and she was housed at the center. AndersonGlenn LLP, who launched the lawsuit on behalf of the Kowalski family confirmed the family is seeking $55 million in compensatory and $165 million in punitive damages. The hospital's defense is expected to center on staff status as mandatory reporters required by state law to call the abuse hotline if they have 'reasonable cause' the Tampa Bay Times reported. Ethen Shapiro, who is part of the hospital's defense team, previously stated that the decision to remove Maya was made by the child welfare system rather than the medical facility. The hospital released a statement to DailyMail.com which read: 'Our priority at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital is always the safety and privacy of our patients and their families. 'Therefore, we follow strict federal privacy laws that limit the amount of information we can release regarding any particular case. 'Our first responsibility is always to the child brought to us for care. Our staff are required by law to notify Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) if they suspect abuse or neglect. 'It is DCF and a judge not Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital that investigates the situation and makes the ultimate decision about what course of action is in the best interest of the child. 'We are determined to prevent any chilling effect on the obligation to report suspected child abuse in order to protect the most vulnerable among us.' Porn star Mia Khalifa has sparked fury online after loudly supporting the terror attacks by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead. The 30-year-old repeatedly supported the group's bombings and kidnappings to her five million followers on X, urging the aggressors to film horizontally so she could better watch the carnage. The Lebanese-American posted: 'Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.' She made light of the horror conflict, joking about a 'Zionist apartheid regime being brought down by guerrilla fighters in fake Gucci shirts'. Khalifa also shared an image of the terrorists riding in the back of a pick-up truck, calling it a 'Renaissance painting.' Over the weekend Hamas militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip, seizing settlements and capturing and murdering civilians celebrating a Jewish holiday. Former porn star Mia Khalifa has sparked massive backlash online after she loudly supported the terror attack by Hamas that left hundreds of Israelis dead over the weekend A music festival attended was one of the first sites to be attacked by the terrorist group, with 260 revelers massacred there. Survivors described how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims and posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars. But the former porn star was not moved by the criticism, and continued defending Hamas' actions as justified. She reposted a message saying 'the United States of America is also a terrorist state' and went after Kylie Jenner for sharing and then deleting a message in support of Israel. 'If true journalism exists, the next person to talk to Kylie Jenner will ask for her opinion on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and not break eye contact until she can string one coherent sentence together since she wants to take a stance to her 400M followers so badly,' Khalifa wrote. Khalifa was born in Beirut and moved to the stages as a kid in 2001 during the South Lebanon conflict with Israel Khalifa apparently lost a business deal following her posts, with a company named Red Light Holland informing her she had been 'fired effectively' due to her 'horrendous' posts, but she doubled down. 'I'd say supporting Palestine has lost me business opportunities, but I'm more angry at myself for not checking whether or not I was entering into business with Zionists. My bad,' she said. She continued defending her request that the terrorists film horizontally: 'I just wanna make sure there's 4k footage of my people breaking down the walls of the open air prison they've been forced out of their homes and into so we have good options for the history books that write about how how they freed themselves from apartheid. 'I'm from LEBANON, are you insane for expecting me to be on the side of colonialism you f***ing weirdo. Khalifa was born in Beirut and moved to the stages as a kid in 2001 during the South Lebanon conflict with Israel. She has always expressed support for what she calls Palestinian's 'right to end Israeli occupation' and often denounces 'Zionists.' The US-based star, whose real name is Sarah Joe Chamoun, used to work in the porn industry but now speaks out against it. She became a controversial figure after filming sketches while wearing a hijab, and revealed in 2019 that she had received death threats over her work. Saturday's attack on Israeli citizens marks the start of what could be the deadliest confict in decades between Israel and Palestine. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday Israel has ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food and electricity as it prepares for a massive ground offensive 'within 48 hours' after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack this weekend in what has been described as the Jewish state's 'worst day in history'. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days. Now, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. The announcement comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, suggesting greater fighting lies ahead with a possible ground assault into Gaza. Netanyahu has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. An American-born soldier from Houston is in hospital on a breathing tube after being shot in the face during an attack in Israel, according to reports. The unnamed 24-year-old is now recovering after facial surgery with his father by his side after medics and the Israeli army tracked down his family, the Hadassah Medical Center told DailyMail.com. The soldier is said to be 'very traumatized' by his injuries, which were sustained as an as of yet unknown location. He was placed on a tracheotomy - a breathing tube - and is unable to speak, but gave a 'thumbs up' to caregivers. It comes after the US State Department confirmed Monday nine Americans were killed in Israel during Hamas' massive terrorist attack that began Saturday morning. Plumes of smoke rise in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday there are 'indications' that Americans were kidnapped and killed by Hamas terrorists in Israel over the weekend and said his agency is working 'overtime' to confirm reports Authorities are desperately trying to locate an unknown number of missing US citizens. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, including 260 people massacred by Hamas gunmen at a music festival. State Department Spokesman Matt Miller said it had been 'offering consular assistance to the families' of American citizens 'who have lost their lives as a result of these horrific attacks'. He told MSNBC that authorities 'continue to work' to confirm the number of missing Americans and to locate them. 'We don't have solid information about either the number of where they might be,' he added. 'We will continue to work through that with the government of Israel as they continue to take back towns in southern Israel that were attacked by Hamas.' Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said on CNN on Sunday that 'scores of hostages' were taken into Gaza. 'I can tell you there's also American hostages as part of that number as well,' Dermer added. The injured Houston soldier is being kept company at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem by Rhoda Smolow, the president of the women's Zionist group Hadassah, until his family can be contacted. 'He is on a tracheotomy, so we couldn't speak, and apparently, according to the caregivers there, the nurses and the doctors, they felt he is very traumatized,' she told The Times of Israel. 'We felt so terribly that he was in the room alone without anyone.' The group's CEO, Naomi Adler, discussed the soldier in a briefing held by the Jewish Federations of North America and the American Jewish Committee on Sunday. It comes after it was revealed an American man sent a chilling text message to his parents while he attended a desert party in Israel - moments before Hamas terrorists launched a devastating attack. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you, I'm 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. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you. I'm 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 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. Ilan Troen, a professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, said that his daughter Deborah Matias, 50, and her husband, Shlomi, were killed when Hamas fighters attacked their community in southern Israel. The Boston-born academic recalled how his daughter and son-in-law 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. Cincinnati native and Israel resident Hannah Katsman said on Facebook that her son Hayim Katsman was killed at his kibbutz near the border with Gaza. Mr Katsman, an academic who specialized in Israel studies, was a graduate of the University of Washington. It is unclear if Matias and Katsman are among the nine US citizens whose deaths have been confirmed by the State Department. 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 Meanwhile, Canadian peace activist Vivian Silver, 75, was reportedly abducted from Kibbutz Be'eri on Saturday, near the border. Born in Winnipeg, Silver was previously director of the Arab Jewish Center For Empowerment, Equality, and Cooperation, which organized projects joining communities in Israel, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In 2014, after the last major war between Israel and Hamas, she helped found Women Wage Peace, which promotes peace between women from all communities. Around 200,000 US citizens live in Israel, around 2.2 per cent of the total Israeli population, according to 2021 data from the country's Central Bureau of Statistics. That year 4,000 Americans emigrated to Israel, the highest number since 1973, according to the Immigration and Absorption Ministry. A disproportionate number - around one in ten - move to settlements in the West Bank, compared to 3.2 per cent of all new immigrants. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an independent presidential bid and was swiftly condemned by several members of his own famous family. Kennedy, a prominent anti-vaxxer, first announced a White House run in April - saying then that he planned to challenge President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. On Monday, alongside his actress wife Cheryl Hines, he changed tack - saying he wanted independence from the two political parties. 'I'm here to declare myself an independent candidate,' Kennedy said in front of several hundred supporters, whose cheers broke up his announcement. 'Candidate for president of the United States of America.' In a speech delivered steps away from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Kennedy said he did not come to the decision 'lightly'. He said: 'It's very painful for me to let go of the party of my uncles, my father, my grandfather and both of my great-grandfathers.' Four members of his family - siblings Rory, Kerry, Joseph P. Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend - issued a joint statement saying they were against his independent bid, calling the move 'dangerous' and 'deeply saddening.' Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced an independent presidential bid Monday steps away from Independence Hall in Philadelphia Actress Cheryl Hines introduces her husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who announced an independent presidential bid from Philadelphia Monday 'The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country,' the statement said. 'Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Today's announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.' Kennedy is the son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, and the nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. One supporter brought a hand-drawn sign that read, 'I want Camelot!' a reference to the nickname for President John F. Kennedy's administration. In his speech the current Kennedy presidential candidate railed against the 'smug elite.' He said: 'I can stand before you as every leader should stand before you, free of partisan elite, free from the backroom deals, serving only to my conscience, to my creator and to you. 'There have been independent candidates in this country before. But this time is going to be different, because this time the independent is going to win.' He pointed out the unpopularity of the 2024 race's two frontrunners - Biden and former President Donald Trump. 'Three-quarters of Americans believe that President Biden is too old to govern effectively,' he said. 'President Trump faces multiple civil and criminal trials.' 'Both of them have favorability ratings that are deep in negative terrority,' he added. 'That's what two-party politics has given us. And that's why we need to pry loose from the hammerlock of the corrupt powers in Washington, D.C. and make this nation ours again.' Kennedy told the crowd that the nation needed to get over its 'addiction to taking sides.' 'My intention is to spoil it for both of them,' Kennedy later said, pushing back on both Democratic and Republican fears that he could 'spoil' the election for the parties' choices. Four of Kennedy's family members - Rory, Kerry, Joseph P. Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend - put out a joint statement calling his announcement of an independent presidential run 'dangerous' and 'deeply saddening' Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) gives a kiss to his wife, actress Cheryl Hines (right), known for playing Larry David's wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm In his Monday remarks, Kennedy advertised himself as the candidate of American reunification. 'We are told today that our country is hopelessly divided. The most hateful voices, of course, are always the loudest,' he said. He added that there are a 'lot of quiet Americans.' 'They want us to get along,' he said, adding 'getting us to hate each other is part of the scam.' Kennedy expressed support for a number of more traditional conservative positions. 'Six months ago, I thought that an open border was a humanitarian policy and if you were for sealing the border you were probably a xenophobe and maybe a racist,' Kennedy said. 'I was wrong, I was wrong,' he said to a smattering of applause. He said that his change of heart didn't come from just listening to the other side, but after traveling to the border region and talking to border patrol officers, local officials and migrants themselves. 'None of the simplistic narratives actually contain the whole truth,' the candidate observed. 'My promise to you as president, is I'm going to do this on every issue,' he added. Kennedy also pledged that he would accept the support from Americans on both sides of major wedge issues. 'I'm proud to say my supporters include both pro-lifers and pro-choicers, climate optimists and climate skeptics, the vaccinated and unvaccinated,' Kennedy said. 'They include people who have for years been on both sides of the culture war.' 'Why? Because more and more Americans are beginning to understand that for the good of our country, one cannot insist on getting one's way on every issue,' he continued. 'They understand that people can disagree and still respect each other.' 'You can be pro-choice and not think that pro-lifers are women-hating zealots. You can support the Second Amendment and not think that gun control advocates are totalitarians who hate freedom,' he said. 'It's more than independence from existing parties, it's independence from tribal thinking. It's freedom from the reflex of having to take sides.' Kennedy's supporters came from a variety of political backgrounds. Dawn Hullings, a 60-year-old registered nurse from New Jersey, said she's a registered Republican and a political moderate. She said she's in for Kennedy because 'First Amendment rights are very important to me.' 'I had my own First Amendment rights trampled on. I am a nurse, I was forced to be vaccinated and I haven't felt well since then. And I don't want that to ever happen to anyone again,' Hullings said. 'So that's my perspective on why we're here today.' Leanne Brown, an 'over 50' environmental attorney from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, said she had been a longtime Republican before changing parties to support Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential runs. 'I was really into the Bernie program and everything and I just feel really bad that didn't work out,' Brown told DailyMail.com. 'But I'm really excited that there's still hope for somebody taking on the establishment.' Another woman, who declined to give her name, said she voted for Democratic President Barack Obama before voting for Trump in 2016 and again in 2020, before switching to team Kennedy. Kennedy's announcement started with a snafu, after the candidate, wearing a hot mic, was introduced by his wife, only to realize his speech wasn't with him. 'I need my speech,' Kennedy could be heard saying. Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich - a liberal Ohio lawmaker who ran for president as a Democrat in 2004 and 2008 - is running Kennedy's campaign and appeared onstage alongside with his wife Elizabeth to help introduce the candidate Monday. He was also introduced by celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, who one male attendee in the audience loudly shouted down as a 'warmonger!' Kennedy got in trouble in July for making remarks that were widely condemned as anti-Semitic, as he floated that COVID-19 had been targeted to spare Chinese and Ashkenazi Jewish people. Philadelphia's Independence Hall can be seen in the background of where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told supporters Monday he would leave the Democratic Party and run for president as an independent Signs given out to supporters Monday read: Kennedy 24 - Declare Your Independence,' a sign that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would go ahead and announce an independent presidential bid after not getting much traction among just Democratic primary voters Biden had a 51-point lead over Kennedy in the most recent Democratic primary poll, with him never getting over 25 percent of Democrats surveyed. However, allies of both Biden and Trump have expressed anxiety behind closed doors about third-party challengers. NBC reported last month that Hillary Clinton warned Biden in a pull-aside while she was visiting the White House to take part in the Praemium Imperiale Laureate ceremony that the president needed to take third-party challengers seriously. Already, Cornel West, a prominent academic who was previously politically aligned with progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders, is running to Biden's left - and is expected to appear on the November 2024 ballot as the Green Party candidate. The Associated Press reported Monday that those conversations have happened in Trumpworld too. 'Voters should not be deceived by anyone who pretends to have conservative values. The fact is that RFK has a disturbing background steeped in radical, liberal positions. Whether he's a China sympathizer, denigrating gun owners, promoting business-killing green policies, or supporting on-demand abortion, a RFK candidacy is nothing more than a vanity project for a liberal Kennedy to cash in on his family's name,' Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement to DailyMail.com. A shocking Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed that Kennedy was much more popular among Republicans than Democrats - and thus an independent Kennedy bid could potentially pull away support more from Trump than Biden. Forty-eight percent of Republicans held a favorable view of Kennedy versus just 14 percent of Democrats. On the flip side, 57 percent of Democrats held an unfavorable view of Kennedy, while just 18 percent of Republicans said they didn't like him. Independents viewed Kennedy evenly - 37 percent viewed him favorably, while 37 percent viewed him unfavorably. A September NBC News poll showed bad news for Biden when third-party hopefuls were factored in. The president was tied with Trump at 46 percent support when just the two of them were in the race. Campaign manager, former Rep. Dennis Kucinich (left), appeared with his wife Elizabeth at Monday's event in Philadelphia. Kucinich was a Democratic lawmaker who ran for president as a Democrat in 2004 and 2008 When a libertarian candidate, a Green Party candidate and a moderate, No Labels candidate were added as choices, Biden lost to Trump 36 percent to 39 percent. In that scenario a libertarian candidate would take 5 percent of the electorate, a No Labels candidate would siphon away 5 percent and a Green Party candidate would get the support of 4 percent, the poll found. The New York Times reported last month on a previously undisclosed meeting that Kennedy had in July with Angela McArdle, the chair of the Libertarian Party, stoking speculation that he could appear as their candidate on the ballot. Ballot access will be Kennedy's biggest challenge, as presidential candidates must meet a number of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. Those hurdles have kept an independent candidate from gaining steam for several decades. Being associated with the Libertarian or Green party takes out some of that ballot access legwork. Some Trump supporters also had an idea of how Kennedy could appear on the ballot. When Kennedy appeared at the Iowa State Fair in August on the same day as Trump, a number of the ex-president's supporters flocked to see the then-Democrat speak. 'Trump-Kennedy!' one woman yelled - as Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination, currently doesn't have a running mate. A British mother living in Israel is pleading for help to find her missing son and his girlfriend after they were caught up in the Hamas music festival attack. Miryam Shafir, 55, held back tears as she urged the UK and Irish governments to apply pressure on the Palestinian terror group that rules the Gaza Strip. Her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, both 30, were attending the nature party near Nirim, a kibbutz in the south of Israel close to the Gaza border. Ms Shafir said: 'We know from a person that saw them at the party that when they heard the first rockets my son and his girlfriend were the first to run to their car and leave. Within minutes everyone fled. 'They ran into the forest or got into their cars and started driving all over the place. Some of them were met by Hamas terrorists. Some of the people were shot, some were taken hostage. Miryam Shafir, 55, with her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, at a bowling alley Festivalgoers at the nature party near Nirim, in the south of Israel, close to the Gaza border Revellers at the trance music rave, near Nirim, in the south of Israel close to the Gaza border 'We don't know if they are alive or dead. There were hundreds, hundreds of young people killed. We don't even know who they are or where they are.' 'Savion and Dor were planning to get married next year, and I want to make them a wedding,' she said, through tears. Savion sent a final text message at 7.03am on Saturday to a friend, saying: 'We fled the party and we found shelter.' The couple has not been heard from since. The police managed to track Savion and Dor's mobile phone signal. Ms Shafir said: 'We know that Dor's phone was shut off manually at 1.30 on Saturday. We don't know who shut the phone off, if our son shut off the phone, maybe to save battery or to be silent wherever he was, or if he was taken physically by Hamas and they shut the phone. Savion's phone was giving signals until 11.30 on Saturday night.' Dor and his father, Itzik in the mountains The family are pictured together at a bowling alley Both phones' signals were traced by police to Re'im, another kibbutz in southern Israel, where a cellular antenna serves a 5km radius area. That could place the couple in Gaza. 'Even 40 hours after the attack started, there are still terrorists in the area who aren't allowing anyone even to come close, to search,' Ms Shafir said. Ms Shafir, whose father is from Reading and whose mother was from Dublin, urged the UK and Ireland to get involved. She said: 'We are citizens, they should help stop this war crime from going on. There are hundreds of innocent people, women, children, young people, who are hostages in Gaza. We don't even know if they are dead or alive. 'My son is British and Irish and this is why I want the international community to intervene. We need help. I don't know where our children are. Israeli festival goers could be seen dancing in the desert at dawn on Saturday, completely unaware that within minutes members of the Hamas terrorist group were about to descend from the skies and inflict terror Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempted to escape Drone footage taken in the aftermath of the attack in Saturday's early hours shows cars left at the roadside, near Kibbutz Re'im, close to Gaza, from which Hamas launched its shock assault, many of them destroyed or pockmarked with bullet impacts 'We don't know if they are hostages. We don't officially know if they are in Gaza. I don't know if he's alive. I am praying that he's alive.' Hundreds of cars abandoned in the scramble to flee a massacre at the music festival where Hamas gunmen killed 260 people and took captives back into Gaza underline the scale of the deadliest attack on Israel in decades. READ MORE: Chilling video shows terrified revellers hiding in undergrowth and recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked Israeli festival in massacre that left 260 dead Advertisement Drone footage taken in the aftermath of the attack in Saturday's early hours shows cars left at the roadside near Kibbutz Re'im, close to Gaza, from which Hamas launched its shock assault, many of them destroyed or pockmarked with bullet impacts. Thousands of young people attended the nature party, which became one of the first targets of Palestinian gunmen who breached Gaza's border fence early on Saturday under cover of massive rocket barrages from Gaza. Video footage circulating on social media shows the gunmen descending in paragliders on the gathering in the Negev Desert. Other social media footage shows some of those taken captive from the party being led away by jubilant gunmen. At least 700 Israelis were killed in unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks and dozens more were abducted into Gaza in profoundly shocking scenes. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said today that regional governments did not want the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to spill out into other parts of the region after the Islamist group Hamas assaulted Israel from Gaza on Saturday. He was asked by broadcasters about concerns that Hezbollah could get involved, following the attack by Hamas. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday that regional governments did not want the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to spill out into other parts of the region (File Photo) Mr Cleverly said: 'We should recognise that Hamas are a terrorist organisation. They are not acting on behalf of the entirety of the Palestinian people, or indeed the other countries in the region. 'Israel has told us they are very focused on dealing with this specific terrorist threat from Hamas. 'I have spoken with representatives and governments around the region and we are all agreed that nobody wants this to spill out into other parts of the region. 'Israel are very focused on dealing with a specific terrorist threat from Hamas emanating from Gaza. That remains their focus.' There is a 'strong possibility' of criminal charges being filed in the case of an Ohio toddler who drowned in a neighbor's above-ground pool after wandering away as his mom was asleep, police admit. The announcement comes as the Oregon, Ohio, police defend their actions after they were called to the area just an hour before the youngster died. On Oct 4, Marcus Anthony Hall, two, was found at the bottom of the above-ground pool. The investigation revealed that officers responded to the home for a report of an unattended child and spoke to the mom before leaving her and the kids in the home. 'When our first officer got there, he tried to make contact with the parent, but it took several minutes because she was sleeping. She eventually woke up and came to speak with the officers at the backdoor,' Oregon Police Chief Brandon Begin told DailyMail.com. 'The officer saw the child and the dog inside the home. He spoke with the mother for several minutes and advised her of safety measures she must take to ensure the safety of her children. She was alert and coherent while the officer spoke with her, and with the information that officers had at the time of the call there were no signs of further danger.' Police went to the family's house on October 4 after they received a call about an unattended child just an hour before two-year-old Marcus Anthony Hall was found at the bottom of an above-ground pool Oregon Police Chief Brandon Begin told Dailymail.com that 'At this point the matter is under further investigation and there is a strong possibility of charges being filed' 'If there were signs that there was danger to the children in the home, the officer would have had to take steps to contact Lucas County Children Services to come out and assess the situation. The officers left the scene after speaking with the mother who never mentioned that her two-year-old was missing,' said Begin. Though there is no set policy in place for when to involve child services, Begin said that the standard that is used by officers is if there is immediate danger to the children. The police left the area and the children with the mom. An hour later, around 11:30 am, officers were called back to the area for Hall's reported drowning. 'This is a heartbreaking situation that has affected the family, the officers of my agency, and the community in a big way. We are all mourning the loss of a young boy in a very tragic accident, which was avoidable with the correct safety measures,' Begin told DailyMail.com. 'I truly hope that this situation will open the eyes to other parents and those who have pools to the dangers presented in this situation and that everyone takes the steps to ensure the safety of children in the community.' A complaint was filed with the city, as every private swimming pool must be enclosed by a fence under Ohio law. It is currently unclear if charges have been filed against the mom or the neighbor The boy's father, Anthony Hall, described Marcus - nicknamed 'Mar Mar' - as 'a cool little dude' Hall's sleeping mom has not been named or criminally charged. But, Begin said charges could be filed in the case. 'At this point the matter is under further investigation and there is a strong possibility of charges being filed. The issue with the pool fence is a zoning issue and the City of Oregon Building and Zoning Department has been notified of the situation and they are handling that end of it,' he said. Hall 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 law. It is currently unclear if charges have been filed against the mom or the neighbor. Children Services is investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy's death, police said. The two-year-old had just celebrated his second birthday in July. The boy's mourning father Anthony Hall said: 'He was a cool little dude,' as he added his son will be remembered by his smile. Baby Marcus's dad Anthony posted this picture to Facebook on Friday and caption it: 'He was gonna be my lil contractor. Very smart boy' Hall with his older sister in a post from October 1 on dad' Facebook page that was captioned: 'Oldest to youngest' 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 Hall posted this tribute to his son on Facebook on Sunday and said: 'Made his video for the funeral that was hard.' Marcus's funeral is set to be held on October 10 A funeral service is set for October 10 and Hall has set up 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 $1,980 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.' A New Hampshire man has been arrested for allegedly using a small propeller airplane to stalk a woman in New York from the air for four years - and pelting her home with tomatoes from above. Michael Arnold, 65, was charged with aggravated stalking, impeding and providing false information to a police officer after 'terrorizing' Cassie Wilusz from the sky since 2019. Arnold would fly his single-engine Cessna 180 out of to allegedly stalk the victim's New York home, according to authorities in Bennington County, Vermont. Wilusz, who lives in Schenectady, said about the ordeal: 'He is terrorizing us. He flies so close to the house that it feels like he's going to go through it. Michael Arnold, 65, was charged with aggravated stalking, impeding, providing false information to a police officer after 'terrorizing' Cassie Wilusz from the sky since 2019 Cassie Wilusz said that the ordeal is a 'nightmare' and called the police when he allegedly broke his temporary restraining order 'It's a nightmare that just doesn't stop.' She accused him of waking her family up at 7am, three times a week, with the sounds of the aircraft over her house. Her roof, windows and doors would rattle from the fly-bys Arnold appeared in Vermont Superior Court last week and pleaded not guilty. He previously posted his $5,000 bond and was ordered not to go within 300 feet of his plane. An image of Arnold's plane flying over his alleged victim's neighborhood Arnold appeared in Vermont Superior Court last week and pleaded not guilty Wilusz accused him of waking her family up at 7am, three times a week, with the sounds of the aircraft over her house. Her roof, windows and doors would rattle An FBI agent in Albany reported Arnold was keeping his plane at the Bennington airport - and he was served with a temporary restraining order in the summer. But Wilusz reported seeing Arnold flying over her home on September 28. She called the police, and the FBI said the FAA found the plane in Bennington. 'Officers were able to determine that Arnold was, in fact, flying his airplane from the William H. Morse State Airport and last seen flying west toward New York several days earlier,' a press release stated. Video then showed Arnold flying out of the airport and heading toward her New York home, an affidavit stated. Arnold denied that he was flying the plane - but refused to say who the pilot was. According to WCAX, Arnold said: 'I might be able to, but I don't want to throw anybody under the bus. If they don't want to get involved, I can't get them involved.' The man allegedly also stalked Wilusz from the ground. In May, he was caught driving by Cassie's house - and he was eventually arrested and charged with an additional count of stalking. A wannabe police officer is suing the force that rejected her application over her medication for post-natal depression. Laura Mackenzie sailed through the recruitment process but the offer to sign up was later rescinded after she disclosed she was taking anti-depressants for the condition. Police Scotland could now face a raft of other legal cases because of an 'outdated' rule which requires probation officers to be free from the medication for two years. Ms Mackenzie, who is now training to be a nurse, is suing the force for discrimination. She was described by her recruiting officer as an 'impressive' candidate when she applied to join Police Scotland in June 2019. He also said her application to become a probationary officer in the Highlands and Islands division 'stood out'. Laura Mackenzie sailed through the recruitment process but the offer to sign up was later rescinded after she disclosed she was taking anti-depressants She was issued with a provisional offer of employment in November 2019 - with several conditions. One was to be 'certified by a registered medical practitioner approved by the police authority to be fit both physically and mentally to perform the duties of a police officer'. About a month later, Ms MacKenzie attended a medical ahead of an expected uniform fitting. There the occupational health nurse asked her about anti-depressants. Ms Mackenzie said that she had believed that by this time Police Scotland, or its occupational health advisers, Optima Health, would have had access to her medical records. She said that she was taking an anti-depressant drug for anxiety and depression. The nurse consulted a colleague and then advised her of a 'two year rule' stipulating that probationary police officers had to be free of anti-depressant drugs for a period of two years before they could be considered for employment. Police Scotland could now face a raft of other legal cases because of an 'outdated' rule which requires probation officers to be free from the medication for two years An occupational health nurse said the policy was 'old and may be due to be revised', according to employment tribunal papers. Ms Mackenzie, from Inverness, said she was left 'heartbroken'. Despite being outside the usual three-month time limit for making a complaint, Judge Russell Bradley ruled that an employment tribunal could hear her case. Police Scotland lodged a re-consideration of this decision but it was rejected. The force then lodged an appeal with the Employment Appeal Tribunal but this was also unsuccessful. A full hearing is expected to take takes place in the New Year. Jay Lawson, of Dundee-based firm MML Law which is representing Ms Mackenzie, said the firm had been contacted by a number of other people with 'almost carbon-copy experiences' to hers. Mr Lawson said: 'We are delighted that the attempt to appeal by Police Scotland was not accepted and thrown out at the first stage of the appeal process. 'The significant level of public interest in this case has not been surprising. 'The number of people that came forward who had been through similar to Laura and those before her is extremely concerning. 'The Tribunal hearing will forensically analyse the treatment of applicants with underlying health conditions which are arguing is discriminatory on many levels.' Weeks after Ms Mackenzie's rejection, the Highlands and Islands division announced that it had secured funding for a three-year mental health and wellbeing project for officers and staff. Police Scotland also set up a formal partnership with See Me, Scotland's programme to tackle mental health stigma and discrimination. A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'It would be inappropriate for us to comment on this case at this stage.' UK special forces officers have raised concerns of 'questionable behaviour' by certain units in Afghanistan, describing alleged unlawful killings as 'massacres'. In email exchanges read to an independent inquiry on Monday, some officers feared being 'dragged down' with the units carrying out the killings 'when the next WikiLeaks occurs'. One officer, who like all others had their identity hidden in the interests of national security, questioned a 'rash of curtain-shootings', which involved UK special forces taking suspected insurgents back into compounds before they then returned with a weapon from behind a curtain. In one particular email chain, concerning a night raid on February 9 2011 where eight people were killed, one special forces officer said there appeared to be a 'casual disregard for life'. This comes after another officer said that the spate of curtain-shootings made it seem as though they were 'setting the conditions' for their execution. 'And finally they shot a guy who was hiding in a bush who had a grenade in his hands. You couldn't MAKE IT UP', one email read. UK special forces officers have raised concerns of 'questionable behaviour' by certain units in Afghanistan , describing alleged unlawful killings as 'massacres' Mohammed Ibrahim was killed during a night raid despite not being the target, an independent inquiry has been told In his opening submissions at the Royal Courts of Justice, counsel to the inquiry Oliver Glasgow KC said UK special forces allegedly had a policy of executing males of 'fighting age' who posed no threat. Mr Glasgow said one senior officer queried whether 'deliberate policy was being demonstrated where all fighting-aged males in a given scenario were killed irrespective of whether they posed a threat or not.' AFGHAN KILLED BY UK SPECIAL FORCES WAS AN 'INNOCENT CIVILIAN', INQUIRY TOLD An Afghan man killed by UK special forces was an 'innocent civilian', his family has insisted, despite army suggestions he appeared from behind a curtain with a grenade. Mohammed Ibrahim was killed during a night raid despite not being the target, an independent inquiry has been told. His family claimed there were 'no weapons' at the property where he died and he was 'singled out' by special forces. Counsel to the inquiry, Oliver Glasgow KC, said that in November 2010, a UK special forces unit conducted a night raid in the area of Gereshk, near Nad e Ali in central Helmand. The target of that operation was a suspected mid-level Taliban commander who, according to intelligence, was active in the emplacement of improvised explosive devices and ambushes against Nato forces. After clearing the compound, special forces re-entered the property, with Mr Ibrahim accompanying them to 'assist in opening doors', the inquiry heard. Army reports of the incident suggest that while in the main living area, Mr Ibrahim walked into a different room before going 'behind a curtain on the left wall' and reappearing with a grenade. He was immediately shot dead. Once everyone had been removed from the buildings, British forces searched the compound and a 'long-barrelled shotgun and electrical detonators were recovered along with a grenade', the inquiry was told. But Mr Ibrahim's family insists he was an innocent civilian who worked as an Afghan government official between 2001 and 2007, firstly as a deputy police chief and then as the Gereshk district governor alongside British forces in Helmand. They say there were no weapons at the compound, which UK special forces cleared before singling out Mr Ibrahim to go back inside with them. His son, Abdul Walli, said that when he entered the compound he found the body of his father still bound at the front with 'plasticuffs, bullet injuries to his face and chest and dog bites to his upper body', the inquiry was told. Mr Walli said that shortly after burying his father, he attended a meeting with a British Army commander who offered the family a tractor to replace one damaged in the raid. The operation came within the remit of an investigation by military police but no further statements were taken from members of the UK special forces about the incident, the inquiry was told. Advertisement In one conversation that a senior officer had with another, the inquiry heard a second officer had received 'disturbing information' that could have a 'detrimental effect on the possible reputation of the UK special forces'. The second officer issued a statement on March 24 2011, in which he said a soldier 'implied that photos would be taken of the deceased alongside weapons that the 'fighting-age male' may not have had in their position when they were killed.' The central allegation of the inquiry, which will focus on alleged illegal activity in the war-torn country between 2010 and 2013, is that special forces 'abused' night raids to carry out the policy. Mr Glasgow also said there were claims that Afghan partner units (APU) 'refused to serve with UK special forces due to their behaviour'. Another email exchange between two officers on a night raid of February 16 2011 showed that an APU had complained to a commanding officer that 'no-one was firing' at the special unit before four men were killed. In the email chain, the officer said the APU saw 'this as confirmation that innocents were killed'. In one email, the officer said: 'I explained that there was intelligence to suggest involvement in insurgency and that was the basis for the operation - this was not well received. 'He said that they are teachers and farmers and that they have weapons for self-protection, but they are emphatically not Taliban. 'He suggested that the houses were used as guest houses, and that the villagers have no option but to house them.' An email from a member of the special forces legal team suggested that they had made comments about the February 16 raid that 'public interest lawyers may undoubtedly raise in the inevitable public inquiries'. An exchange between two special forces officers about the deliberate detention operation (DDO) suggested 'questionable behaviour' but certain units had been 'gathering momentum'. One email read: 'Why are we the only ones who see this bollocks for what it is? '(A commander) is keen to threaten people when disclosure is breached - not that anything EVER comes of it - and here he has serious amount of questionable behaviour from his (special forces unit) that is gathering momentum.' The inquiry will now look at allegations that 'numerous' killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP). It was launched in the wake of legal challenges to the Government by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families, as well as a number of significant media investigations. Mr Glasgow read out another email chain between two special forces officers, concerning the February 16 night raid, which read: 'Is this about (a special forces unit's) latest massacre! I've heard a couple of rumours.' The second officer replied: 'Yeah mate... for what must be the 10th time in the last two weeks, when they sent a (suspect) back into the (room) to open the curtains (??) he re-appeared with an AK. 'Then when they walked back into a different (room) with another (suspect) to open the curtains he grabbed a grenade from behind a curtain and threw it at the (special forces soldiers). 'Fortunately it didn't go off.... this is the 8th time this has happened. 'And finally they shot a guy who was hiding in a bush who had a grenade in his hands. You couldn't MAKE IT UP.' Mr Glasgow said there were claims in a 'restricted security compartment', which were recovered years later, that there were details of a conversation with a soldier who allegedly 'admitted there was a policy in special forces to kill fighting-age males'. Two RMP investigations, codenamed Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro, will be scrutinised by the inquiry. Tessa Gregory from Leigh Day solicitors who represent Afghan families affected by alleged illegal activity by British special forces in the war-torn nation between 2010 and 2013, making a statement outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London Chair of the Afghanistan Inquiry Sir Charles Haddon-Cave, arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London No charges were brought under Operation Northmoor - a 10 million investigation which was set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions by special forces, including those of children. Operation Cestro saw three soldiers referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, but none were prosecuted. The inquiry will now hear submissions on behalf of the families of 33 people, including eight children, who were allegedly killed by special forces. The independent statutory inquiry was commissioned by then-defence secretary Ben Wallace under the 2005 Inquiries Act. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said: 'The MoD is fully committed to supporting the inquiry as it continues its work. 'It is not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry and it is up to the statutory inquiry team, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine which allegations are investigated.' An American tourist who tried to drive a 20,000 Nissan down a tiny footpath but got it stuck for a week has blamed her sat nav. The white Nissan Juke was jammed into the narrow entryway after two American visitors to the popular seaside town went the wrong way and said their sat nav told them to go in that direction. The car ended up wedged between two stone walls that border a footpath down to Castle Beach, in the Welsh tourist destination of Tenby in Pembrokeshire. The two women were trying to reach the landmark of St Catherine's Island, which is accessible from the beach at low tide, but ended up stuck between the walls, unable to move. They drove the car until they couldn't go any further and then had to escape the vehicle by climbing out of the windows because it was so tight. The white Nissan Juke was jammed into the narrow entryway after two American visitors to the popular seaside town went the wrong way The car ended up wedged between two stone walls that border a footpath down to Castle Beach, in the Welsh tourist destination of Tenby in Pembrokeshire READ MORE - Second home owners ARE welcome here': Businesses in holiday home hotspots erect signs Advertisement The mechanic tasked with extracting the car said it was especially difficult as the walls it was wedged between are protected by their Victorian heritage status, and they were toying with the idea of cutting up the brand-new car. This is because many features of Tenby are historically significant, with the medieval town walls being Grade I listed. Mechanic Stephen Lowe said the women blamed their sat nav before abandoning the car and catching a train to their hotel. Mr Lowe, 56, said: 'No-one's ever got a vehicle down there before. 'The walls were touching on both sides of the car. They got it wedged and they just put more power on. 'There's normally a bollard on the footpath but that was out at the time, and they went onto the footpath.' Stephen Lowe and his colleagues came up with a plan to free the car near the busy RNLI lifeboat station Mr Lowe and his colleagues came up with a plan to free the car near the busy RNLI lifeboat station. The work began on Thursday night when they had to scrape mud from the footpath so the car's wheels could get traction. It took more than four-and-a-half-hours to finish to drag the battered and scraped car back up the footpath to be towed away for repairs. He said: 'We had to winch the car backwards all the way using a winch right at the top of the path.' But he said the car vehicle nearly met a worse end. Mr Lowe said: 'They were talking about cutting up the car where it was and scrapping it. It's a brand new car as well.' The arrests came after months of theft and physical confrontations with boaters Two men were unmasked in August but it is unclear if these are the same people Suspects taken into custody by the Coast Guard and turned over to Oakland PD Two suspects thought to be targeting vessels in a California estuary have been arrested by the Coast Guard - after months of thefts and fights with boaters. At least one suspect - who has not been named - was charged with possession of stolen property. Investigators believe two individuals committed most of the thefts in the Oakland Estuary, sitting between Oakland and Alameda and near San Francisco. 'There has been an increase in crime on the waterway, and it's likely due to a few new anchor-out persons that have recently acquired a sailboat and anchored in the Oakland Estuary,' Oakland police spokesperson Paul Chambers told Fox News Digital. Now detectives are reaching out to victims and local harbor masters as the investigation deepens. So-called 'pirates' have been marauding onto larger boats in the Oakland Estuary for months, according to locals - and the arrest of 'a few' suspects was announced this month One woman posted a photo of two men she claimed were 'actively stalking and stealing' back in August. Community members rely on watchdog groups to know which marinas are being targeted. It is not clear if the men are the two that have been arrested by Coast Guard Other residents photos of the small boats that 'pirates' were said to be using as they pillaged other crafts around the estuary The thieves navigate over to larger boats and pillage them, taking anything they deem valuable - including the motor. Once they've finished, they either sink the ships or dump whatever is left of the boats miles away in the harbor or along its shorelines. Oakland police received a $166,000 state grant from the Department of Boating and Waterways and are drafting a 90-day cleanup project plan. They aim to remove most of the abandoned vessels from the estuary by December. The department is joining forces with the Coast Guard and Alameda police to crack down on crime - following months of outrage from the community. During a municipal meeting in September, several residents shared alleged anecdotes of their run-ins with the thieves. One woman recalled a time she rescued a man in the middle of the night after the 'pirates' cut his sailboat line during an argument, stranding him in the water. 'If there had been any wind at the time I wouldn't have been able to go out there and rescue this young man who had no motor and no ability to sail that boat,' the woman said. Residents in Oakland and neighboring Alameda pledged to assemble into watchdog groups back in August, conducting much of their business on Facebook. At least one suspect was charged with possession of stolen property, and two individuals in particular are thought to have committed most of the thefts The U.S. Coast Guard, Oakland and Alameda police are banding together to catch the criminals Oakland police plan to use a $166,000 state grant to remove abandoned and scrapped vessels from the water, with the effort concluding around December One local, Marianne Armand, identified two men she'd spotted frequently in the area on August 11. 'Oakland/Alameda people - HIGH ALERT!!! - these guys are actively stalking and stealing,' she wrote. 'Several incidents at EYC (Encinal Yacht Club), but no proof. We have several calls into the police but they can't do anything unless we catch them. If you see them, take pictures and call the police. We followed them out of our marina Wednesday night. They were back circling Thursday night.' She attached images to the post showing two bearded men sitting atop a white dinghy. One man wore a gray hoodie with a vest and sunglasses, and the other wore a black winter coat with a camouflage bucket hat concealing half his face. The photo was printed and tacked near the entrance gate to a local marina with a note: 'Heads up. Seen trolling around OYC (Oakland Yacht Club), EYC, and all of Marina Village. Early A.M. & at dusk - theifs (sic)!' Armand's husband, Dan Hill, uploaded photos of several stolen boats days later along with a call to action for Alameda residents. 'Alameda boating friends!! Let's get a patrol going at night,' he wrote. 'Donated boat with spotlight. I have a yellow/white flashing light to use. Start shifts. Just make a presence and run these a**holes off!' Commenters beneath the post slammed local authorities as 'rent-a-cops,' with one person writing: 'Why are the Alameda police in essence aiding & abetting them? Why don't they ask them for proof of ownership & then escort them away & impound the boats?' Hill said he was working with the Coast Guard, who had 'started a report on all of this activity.' It is unclear if the men pictured are the men who were taken into custody. This is the moment mourners paying their respects to British soldier Nathanel Young were forced to duck and take cover as Hamas fired a rocket at Jerusalem. Sirens wailed as the Hamas rocket flew to Jerusalem on Monday afternoon, as hundreds gathered on Mount Herzl, just west of the country's capital, to bid farewell to the fallen 20-year-old corporal from London. Civilians were heard crying as they ducked for cover and lay on the ground watched over by armed soldiers at the ceremony, held at the site of Israel's national civil and military cemeteries. His funeral was held at 4pm local time today, and shortly after 5pm several people were injured in Jerusalem by a barrage of rockets, which Hamas said it fired in response to Israel bombing civilian homes earlier on Monday. A rabbi leading the ceremony said, while referring to the brigade he worked under, of Young: 'You left everything to be a Golani fighter, you gave your life defending our borders. You are a hero and Golani is now your family.' Young was a soldier in the 13th Battalion, according to the IDF, and was a former a former pupil at JFS, a Jewish mixed comprehensive school in Kenton, north London. Armed soldiers were seen patrolling the funeral of Nathanel Young Hundreds of mourners were seen dropping to the ground at the young soldier's funeral Siren wailed overhead, warning of an incoming rocket attack on Jerusalem At the time of Hamas' attack on Israel, he was living in the Bayit Shel Benji home for lone IDF soldiers in Raanana, north of Tel Aviv. His family said they were devastated upon hearing the news of his death, with one member writing on Facebook: '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 brother Eliot Young told Sky News: 'Nathanel always had strong Jewish pride. From a young age he has always wanted to play an important role in defending his country - it's something he talked about a lot.' 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 'Nathanel was also a bubbly guy who my two little daughters loved playing with and were always so excited to visit. 'When Nathanel could have taken his days off to sleep and re-energise, he instead found out where we were, which wasn't always so close to him, and came to join us.' Several other Brits have been affected by the ongoing violence in the region. Security guard 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. 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 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 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.' Israel currently is drawing on its huge military might - including thousands of tanks, warplanes and troops - to obliterate Hamas after the terrorists launched a surprise assault that has so far killed 700 Israelis. Israeli forces have already used their strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip, with airstrikes and artillery destroying 1,000 targets belonging to Hamas and killing 560 Palestinians. Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and cars at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night And the onslaught won't stop there, with Israel's 173,000 soldiers, including 8,000 of its fearsome elite commandos, vying for the opportunity to kill Hamas terrorists who have killed more than 700 Israelis so far, including those massacred at a festival. They are now preparing to launch a massive coordinated ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy the Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fierce fighting erupt in the streets. The ground troops are drawing from Israel's arsenal of 300 military tanks including self-propelled howitzers to scour the country's southern and northern borders for Hamas gunman and guard the breaches in its border. Israel's military might is far superior to that of the Hamas terrorists, who currently only possess around 10,000 rockets that had been built up in secret. On top of the 173,000 active Israeli soldiers, Israel has today drafted in a record 300,000 reservists in its response to a multi-front Hamas attack from Gaza and is 'going on the offensive,' the chief military spokesperson said. Several Utah synagogues have received bomb threats as religious tensions reach a boiling point amid full-scale war in Israel and Palestine. Jewish leaders in Salt Lake City were forced to evacuate worshippers after receiving an anonymous terror threat which police said was emailed to 'several' synagogues in the state on Sunday. Rabbi Sam Spector said the Congregation Kol Ami Synagogue saw the menacing message at around 10.30am on Sunday, prompting them to abandon their Simchat Torah service and flee to nearby Tanner Park. 'Our staff received an email threat saying that there was a bomb in the building and bombs had been placed around other Jewish centers in Utah, and that it would go off in a few hours and we all should die,' he told Fox13. Spector added that conflicts in Israel often spark a rise in anti-Semitism in the US. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Gaza have targeted mosques. Jewish leaders in Salt Lake City were forced to evacuate worshippers mid-service after receiving an anonymous terror threat which was emailed to 'several' synagogues in the state on Sunday. Rabbi Sam Spector of Congregation Kol Ami Synagogue spoke about the ordeal An NYPD patrol car is parked outside a synagogue on the Lower East Side of Manhattan as police departments across America step up security outside Jewish places of worship amid all-out war in Israel and Palestine Meanwhile, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to incite 'mighty vengeance' against Hamas by reducing Gaza - which is also home to around two million innocent Palestinians - to 'rubble'. Many of the attacks have struck mosques in Gaza Officers from Salt Lake City Police checked the Kol Ami temple along with 'several' more synagogues in the area who received the same threat. 'The Salt Lake City Police Department is aware of unspecified threats directed toward several Jewish intuitions throughout Utah, including two locations in Salt Lake City,' cops said in a statement. 'Currently, no further information is available as the investigation is ongoing. 'Since Saturday morning, the Salt Lake City Police Department has increased its patrol presence at the synagogues and Jewish Community Center in Salt Lake City.' The department has not found anything suspicious at the Jewish places of worship, but extra patrols have been deployed around the buildings. Ogden Police told Fox that Congregation Brith Sholem received the same email, and a bomb squad scoured the building but did not find anything suspect. Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the threats in a statement on X, formerly Twitter. 'We stand with unwavering support for Utah's Jewish community. Acts of terrorism will not be tolerated and are unconscionable,' he said. Congregation Kol Ami Synagogue (pictured) in Utah was forced to evacuate its congregation on Sunday after it received a bomb threat via email, amid the war in Israel and Palestine A plume of smoke rises in the sky above Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday. Israel relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip on Sunday night as fighting with Hamas continues An Israeli fire fighter walks through the aftermath of burned cars after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit Ashdod, Israel, on Monday Palestinians ride an Israeli military jeep in the streets of Gaza on Saturday during the storming of Israeli settlements by members of Ezz Al-Din Al Qassam, the military wing of Hamas More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas began a colossal attack over the weekend, per the Israel Defence Forces, while a further 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. The US government confirmed nine Americans are among those killed, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken said his department is working 'overtime' to verify reports of any more natives murdered. Meanwhile, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to incite 'mighty vengeance' against Hamas by reducing Gaza - which is also home to around two million innocent Palestinians - to 'rubble'. Many of the attacks have struck mosques in Gaza. Official opening of Natural History Museum at Parsons Lodge Professor John Cortes officially opened the new natural history museum at Parsons Lodge. The new museum will be open to the public from Tuesday 10th October onwards. The new natural history museum is the next stage in the development of museums and heritage services in Gibraltar. The ongoing expansion of galleries, laboratories and storage areas in the Gibraltar National Museum, at its Bomb House Lane premises, has reached saturation after many years of active development. The new museum is expected to provide a solution to this problem. For over a decade, the Gibraltar National Museum has been actively researching the natural history value of the site which it also manages, known as Parsons Lodge. Best known for its historical significance, Parsons Lodge is also a site of natural history significance as the museums research is showing. It is part of the Gibraltar National Park and holds a rich plant and animal community; its strategic position makes it a staging post for migratory birds moving between Africa and Europe; and its proximity to the coastline gives it added value in terms of marine and intertidal biology. Parsons Lodge is situated on top of a rich fossiliferous vein, known as the Rosia breccias, which were first explored by the Reverend John White in the late eighteenth century. The breccias became internationally known as providing significant evidence of evolutionary processes and are considered a key site in the history of science. In fact, one of the terraces at Parsons Lodge is dedicated to the Reverend White. Two others are dedicated to Victorian naturalists who made important contributions to the study of Gibraltars natural history: Willoughby Verner and Howard Irby. It was logical that a solution to the museums expansion problems could be Parsons Lodge, say Govt, which will now become the dedicated site to the rich natural history of Gibraltar in the form of the Gibraltar National Museum (Natural History). The premises at Bomb House Lane will be fully dedicated to history and cultural heritage and all aspects of natural history (with the exception of Neanderthal-related exhibits) will be transferred to Parsons Lodge. This will, in turn, release much-needed space at Bomb House Lane. The recent opening of a Great Siege Gallery at Bomb House Lane is an immediate example of the benefits of expansion into Parsons Lodge. The development of the Parsons Lodge site will be phased over a number of years, following the successful model applied to Bomb House Lane, and the first phase is now ready for opening. During the first phase the museum will be open from Mondays to Fridays, inclusive, between the hours of 10am and 6pm, and Saturdays 10am till 2pm. The museum will also be available for opening additional hours if requested by tour operators, as happens at Bomb House Lane and at the Europa Advance Battery Viewing Platform. The demand will be monitored closely. Entry will be free for local residents. Additional events will be planned and announced. These will include bird migration observation days, open air lectures and discussions, hands-on and wildlife conservation activities. Curators and other specialists will be at hand to interact with the public during these events. Use will be made of the natural assets at the site in turning the new museum into a living museum. A rewilding programme has already commenced with the release of Hermanns Tortoises, once natural on the Rock, as well as Iberian Water Frogs and wild rabbits, adding to the rewilding work being done elsewhere in Gibraltar jointly by GONHS and the Department of the Environment. There are interpretation panels, open air and enclosed exhibits telling the story of our rich natural history. A member of the museum staff, with knowledge of the history and natural history of Gibraltar and, specifically, the site, will be in attendance during the opening hours. This person will be available to interact with visitors, providing additional information to that on display. There will be a strong educational element at the site, something which is already well-developed at Bomb House Lane, and already during the summer, in Parsons Lodge. There will be opportunities to turn this into an interactive museum, with open air lectures and workshops being key components. Even though the focus is on natural history, the important history of the battery and, more widely, of the Rosia Bay area is also interpreted at the site. Commenting on the development, Caretaker Minister for Heritage and the Environment Professor John Cortes expressed his delight: I have been developing the joint heritage-environment potential of Gibraltar, with the expansion of our nature reserve, the development of nature trails, a network of bird migration sites (of which this is one), and finally the creation of our very own National Park. To now have a site dedicated as a museum of natural history would have been unimaginable only a few years ago. I am delighted and I wish to express my gratitude to the managers and staff of the Gibraltar National Museum for working with me so positively to achieve this goal. I sincerely hope that the public will now support this initiative and that tour operators will see the benefits of bringing tourists here. It can be the perfect introduction to a tour of the Upper Rock. A huge fireball filled the skies in Perth after a loud explosion at a chemical warehouse, with a fire still burning at the factory 12 hours after it started. Residents in Bibra Lake, 23km south of the city's CBD, heard a loud bang at around 9pm on Monday night - with people up to 35km away feeling their homes shake. It is understood the explosion was caused by fire which broke out inside the Chemsol Australia warehouse on Cocos Drive around 7.45pm. 'I think everyone living south of the [Swan] river felt that,' one woman said on social media. Residents in suburbs up to 10km away, including North Lake and Winthrop, said the explosion shook their homes. One called it 'a mighty big boom'. 'Heard and felt in Roleystone,' said another. Roleystone is 35km east of Bibra Lake. Residents in Bibra Lake, 23km south of Perth's CBD, heard a loud bang at around 9pm on Monday night - with people up to 35km away feeling their homes shake It is understood the explosion was caused by fire which broke out inside the Chemsol Australia warehouse BREAKING: Emergency services responding to large explosion and fire at chemical warehouse in Bibra Lake suburb of Perth, Australia; residents urged to stay inside pic.twitter.com/pfTxMoO4DD I.E.N. (@BreakingIEN) October 9, 2023 'ChemSol So that smoke will have a bite to it,' said another Perth resident. The company's website says it specialises in 'chemical blending'. Video taken by locals on Monday night showed a bright orange fire and several flashes lighting up the sky, with thick plumes of black smoke pouring out. A HAZMAT warning was issued on Tuesday morning by Emergency WA. The warning said the fire 'is now contained but not controlled.' People in Bibra Lake and the surrounding suburbs of South Lake, North Lake, and Coolbellup were urged to stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed. People were also told to turn off their air conditioning. Authorities said the fire was causing 'a potentially dangerous smoke blowing in an easterly-north easterly direction'. A HAZMAT warning was issued on Tuesday morning by Emergency WA No injuries were reported. Various emergency services and government agencies are still on the scene. They include the Department of Water and Environmental Regulations Pollution Response Unit, the Water Corporation, Western Power and local government. Cocos Drive was closed from Cascara Corner to Barberry Way and motorists were asked to avoid the area. Two separate U.S. State Department tweets calling for Israel to stop its counterstrikes against Hamas terrorists in Gaza are now deleted. It follows fierce backlash against the agency for seeming to suggest Israel doesn't have a right to defend itself or engage in counter operations after Palestinian fundamentalists launched a multi-front surprise attack on Saturday. As of Monday morning, more than 700 Israelis are confirmed dead and on Sunday it was announced that more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least. Additionally, a Department of State spokesperson revealed on Monday that nine Americans were killed so far in the conflict. The State Department is receiving intense backlash for deleting two separate tweets calling for Israel to stand down in its counterstrikes against Hamas terrorists in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza State's U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs posted to X on Saturday: 'We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks' The agency's U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs posted to X on Saturday: 'We unequivocally condemn the attack of Hamas terrorists and the loss of life that has incurred. We urge all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing.' That post is now no longer available on the social media site formerly known as Twitter. 'Hi Antony Blinken! Why did the State Dept just delete this?' Human Events senior editor Jack Posobiec posted to X with a screen shot of the now-deleted tweet. Additionally, Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on Sunday that he spoke with his counterpart in Turkey about having Israel stand down from defending itself against the horrific terrorist attacks. 'Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and I spoke further on Hamas' terrorist attacks on Israel,' the State Department head wrote. 'I encouraged Turkiye's advocacy for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas immediately.' Blinken's post has also now been deleted. Fox News' Guy Benson questioned: 'Did Sec. Blinken delete the tweet in which he says he asked Turkey to negotiate a ceasefire, prior to Israel's response even really starting?' 'Why would the admin just delete this post? Either Blinken advocated a ceasefire or he didn't,' conservative podcast Stephen L. Miller posted to X. Additionally, Secretary of State Antony Blinken posted on Sunday that he spoke with his counterpart in Turkey about having Israel stand down from defending itself against the horrific terrorist attacks A pro-Palestine activist who called Hamas terror attacks against Israel 'inspiring' and 'beautiful' is an elected Women Students' officer at the University of Sussex students' union, MailOnline can reveal. Hanin Barghouti was seen addressing a crowd by the Clock Tower in Brighton during a protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign on Saturday - a day after terrorists began murdering and kidnapping Israeli civilians. Describing herself as a Palestinian, Ms Barghouti said: 'Yesterday was a victory. For freedom fighters to break out of a 15-year blockade so successfully under the inhuman genocide of Israel was so beautiful and inspiring to see. 'It shows the world that we will always fight and always resist and we need to celebrate these acts of resistance because this was a success. Revolutionary violence initiated by Palestinians is not terrorism - it is self-defence...' Her words were greeted by applause and several cheers. Today, a University of Sussex spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We have received a complaint about a Sussex student expressing views on the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel. The University is currently seeking to establish the facts, and, if necessary, will take action in line with our policies and the law.' Hanin Barghouti - Women Students' Officer at the University of Sussex students' union - called Hamas attacks 'inspiring' and 'beautiful' Ms Barghouti made the sickening comments at a protest in Brighton yesterday Today, a University of Sussex spokesperson said: 'We have received a complaint about a Sussex student expressing views on the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel' Elsewhere, an NHS doctor was caught mocking Israeli festival-goers for fleeing Hamas gunmen. In response to horrific footage of terrorists opening fire on revellers at a trance music rave, Dr Mennah Elwan said: 'If it was your home, you would stay and fight.' The neurology registrar claimed 'there are no civilians in Israel' in her posts on X, formerly Twitter. READ MORE - Left-wing journalist Rivkah Brown sparks fury with tweet celebrating Hamas attack on Israel Advertisement Security is currently being ramped up across the UK amid fears spiralling violence in the Middle East will fuel a rise in antisemitic hate crime. 'Free Palestine' was seen daubed onto bridges this morning in Golders Green - home to London's largest Jewish community. A local Kosher restaurant had its windows smashed overnight, but the Met Police is treating this as a burglary rather than a hate crime. Patrols have been increased in London after Hamas began a wave of cross-border terrorist attacks and kidnappings in Israel on Saturday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for police to 'use the full force of the law' against displays of support for Hamas, which is a proscribed terror group. Despite her intervention, there have been visible displays of support for Hamas terrorists in parts of Britain. Rivkah Brown, commissioning editor at Novara Media, wrote on X to call the first day of the bloody rampage 'a day of celebration'. She said on Saturday: 'Today should be a day of celebration for supporters of democracy and human rights worldwide, as Gazans break out of their open-air prison and Hamas fighters cross into their colonisers' territory. 'The struggle for freedom is rarely bloodless and we shouldn't apologise for it.' That same day 60 Israelis were kidnapped, including children, mothers and old women. 'Free Palestine ' was seen daubed onto bridges this morning in Golders Green - home to London 's largest Jewish community Graffiti on a railway bridge this morning next to Golders Green Underground station Buses pass more pro-Palestine graffiti in Golders Green today 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 following the terrorist incursions. Screenshots of posts from their respective Instagram accounts have described the scenes as a 'heroic fight' by 'the martyrs' against 'fascist and criminal settlers', the Telegraph reported. READ MORE - Jeremy Corbyn risks fresh fury by suggesting Israel 'occupation' is the root cause of Hamas atrocities Advertisement The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) has called for university and students' union bosses to 'take harsh action against this despicable celebration of violence'. Politicians across the world have condemned the Hamas invasion, including Muslim leaders, but there have been cheers and triumphant flag waving in some parts of Britain. Yesterday, a Palestinian woman told a rally in Brighton the terrorist atrocities were 'inspiring', 'beautiful' and a 'success', while on Saturday horns blared in celebration in parts of London. 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. She tweeted: 'People have been brutally murdered and kidnapped and there are people in London dancing.' Groups gathered to celebrate the atrocities in parts of London on Saturday night by waving Palestinian flags and sounding car horns. So far, 700 Israelis have died in the violence while more than 100 have been kidnapped. Israel has responded with a wave of air strikes in Gaza in preparation for a major ground offensive, with officials reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. Antisemitism charity the Community Security Trust (CST) said it expected to see an increase in hate crimes against Jews. A local Kosher restaurant had its windows smashed over night, but the Met Police is treating this as a burglary rather than a hate crime People celebrating the Hamas atrocity in Israel outside a cafe in Acton, West London yesterday There are fears tension could increase today with Pro-Palestine protests planned in several cities, including London and Newcastle. Scotland Yard said the force had been made aware of a number of incidents in the capital in connection with the conflict in Israel, with protests also planned in the coming days. A spokesman added: '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.' A source at the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, said there was a great deal of concern about violent clashes and vandalism at a protest and counter-protest planned this evening. The Met Police has confirmed that officers will step up patrols in London amid fears of antisemitic attacks and protests Rivkah Brown, commissioning editor at Novara Media, wrote on X to call the first day of the bloody rampage 'a day of celebration' The vile tweet praising the murderous attack was shared on X on Saturday 'It is going to be big, I think and there will be Israelis protesting too on High Street Kensington,' they added. 'We also this morning saw people smashing up Israeli-owned shops, cafes and businesses in north London. 'It is so sad to see I don't know who feels as if not enough damage has been caused in Israel that they have to cause more destruction in London. 'The attacks are the biggest we have seen it is our 9/11. 'It is going to take a long time to bring back peace and security in Israel and among the community across Britain.' Ms Braverman said she had spoken to the Community Security Trust (CST) to ensure that the '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,' she said. '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.' Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured) has called for police to 'use the full force of the law' against displays of support for Hamas, which is a proscribed terror group Ms Braverman posted on X this morning to say the government was doing 'everything necessary' to protect Jewish communities Meanwhile, the murders were applauded at a left wing event, called The World Transforms, on the sidelines of the Labour conference yesterday. Clapping for the bloody violence broke out amongst audience members at a meeting to mark 75 years since the Nakba or 'catastrophe' that led to the creation of the Jewish state. 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' The event is not officially linked to Labour but was created while Jeremy Corbyn was the party leader. READ MORE - Outrage as 31 Harvard organisations including US university's Amnesty International affiliate blame Israel for Hamas terror Advertisement On Saturday, Countdown presenter Rachel Riley shared footage on social media showing two cars flying Palestinian flags in Acton. Riley's post on X had 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.' Mr Jenrick shared Riley's post and said: 'These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK.' Shadow policing minister Mr Philp later 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, formerly Twitter, Mr Philp wrote: 'This is sick. I'm appalled that anyone holds these repugnant views.' 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'. Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Saturday Hamas militants began their attack early on Saturday and appeared to take the Israelis completely by surprise. Pictured is a grieving woman in the southern Israeli city of Sderot Israel has now hit Gaza with retaliatory air strikes. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday 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.' 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. READ MORE - Chilling video shows terrified Israeli revellers hiding in undergrowth and recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked festival Advertisement '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.' 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.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the attack on Israel as 'an appalling act of terror' and offered his support to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu. A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an 'emergency' demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli embassy. Jo Grose, Chief Executive of the United Synagogue, said: 'Whenever there is violence in the Middle East, we see ramifications on the streets of London and Manchester as British Jews - who don't vote for Israeli governments - are singled out by racists for antisemitic attacks. 'That British Jews, still reeling from the news more than 700 people were murdered in cold blood, should then find a kosher restaurant destroyed and antisemitic graffiti daubed on walls, is intolerable. 'We thank the police for the support they show the British Jewish community and hope that perpetrators will be brought to justice.' MailOnline has contacted the Palestine Solidarity Campaign for comment. A Brazilian man was forced to play dead inside a bunker near an Israeli festival site as Hamas terrorists threw gas bombs and grenades into the facility. Now, the victim of the attack that left at least 260 dead is speaking out about the harrowing ordeal. 'We were just young people at a party,' Rafael Zimerman said. 'You know, celebrating life, and out of nowhere people who want death interrupt it?' Zimerman was among the hundred revelers who attended a festival near the border with Gaza, where Hamas militants arrived and slaughtered members of the crowd. The sophisticated assault that surprised Israeli intelligence was launched by land, sea and air, and has left 900 people dead in Israel and more than 680 in Gaza. The assault is said to be the deadliest in the countrys 75 years of existence. As thousands of rockets were unleashed into Israel, Hamas militants also stormed into nearby Israeli towns and kibbutzim, gunning down civilians. The militant group took at least 100 hostages - including several from the festival - and took them back into Gaza, where some were paraded before cheering crowds. It sparked full-blown conflict in the region with Israel launching counter-attacks. Rafael Zimerman, of Brazil, was wounded by shrapnel after Hamas militants threw gas and grenades inside a bunker where he and about 50 people were hiding following Saturday's attack in Israel Zimerman said he and two friends had thoughts about leaving the bunker, but chose not to because of the fear of coming into contact with Hamas militants At least 260 people were killed at an electronic music festival in Israel on Saturday. Three Brazilian who attended the rave are still missing From his hospital bed, Zimerman told TV Globo that he, his friend Ranani Glazer, a Brazilian national who is missing, and Ranani's girlfriend, managed to flee the electronic music party grounds in Be'er-Sheva and found refuge inside a bunker. Members of the extremist group fired gas and grenades inside the underground shelter where about 50 festival attendees feared for their lives. Zimmerman thought about leaving the bunker because people around him were set on fire, but he chose to stay alongside multiple people who were killed and wounded. 'The chance of me coming face to face with a terrorist was enormous. So, I ended up pretending I was dead for hours,' he said. Zimmerman recalled a woman repeatedly bit him for no reason. 'Everyone wanted to survive and I remembered there was a girl who was desperate, desperate,' he said. 'She started biting me, biting me, biting me, biting me and I couldn't breathe at the same time.' A police officer, according to CNN Brazil, pulled him and Glazer's girlfriend out of the bunker. Because medical facilities in Be'er-Sheva were at capacity with patients, Zimerman was airlifted to Soroka Hospital, two hours away in Haifa. He received treatment for shrapnel wounds to his back and was discharged Sunday. Zimerman was discharged from an Israeli hospital Sunday after he was injured during the Hamas military attack Ranani Glazer is one of three Brazilian natives who are missing in Israel after attending the electronic music festival that was attacked by Hamas Celeste Fishbein is one of three Brazilian nationals who have not been seen since Saturday. It's unknown if they are among the 130 people being held hostage by Palestinian militant groups Bruna Valeanu, a native of Brazil, went missing after Saturday's attack at a music festival in Israel Zimerman remembers partying alongside other electronic music aficionados when Hamas fighters raided the festival site. Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also confirmed Brazilian nationals Bruna Valeanu and Celeste Fishbein, both of whom attended the rave, are missing. At least 14,000 Brazilians live in Israel and about 6,000 more in Palestine. It's unknown if Glazer, Fishbein and Valeanu are among 130 people who are being held hostage by Palestinian militant groups. The group has said it will begin to execute hostages and share the footage with the world. Zimerman, a Brazilian, remembers watching people around him inside the bunker on fire and dead after Hamas militant tossed gas and grenades into the bunker they were hiding in A distressing image, shared in a pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at the festival site A Palestian militant and a captured man at the festival, in an image from video footage posted on the Telegram channel South First Responders Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon, Israel, after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on Monday The Israeli government responded to the attack by launching air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza. It has also cut off electricity, food, water and fuel, to the area. The Israeli military has recalled around 300,000 military reservists. In an audio released by the militant group Monday night, Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida said that it will kill one Israeli civilian hostage any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza 'without prior warning.' Obeida said that Israeli military air strikes have increased on civilian areas in which homes were destroyed over people's heads. 'We have decided to put an end to this and as of now and 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. A young Israeli couple who were murdered by Hamas terrorists in their home in Israel managed to save their 10-month-old twin babies from the same tragic fate by hiding them in a hidden shelter, it has been revealed. Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky, both 30, only had mere seconds to react when they heard the gunmen trying to smash down their front door, knowing that if they didn't, their children would never have a future. The terrified parents frantically bundled their two babies into a hidden shelter moments before the Hamas terrorists stormed into their home, the Israeli ambassador to Colombia Gali Dagan revealed. Itay and Hadar 'bravely fought' the gunmen before they were shot and killed during their assault on Israel, which has left more than 700 Israelis dead. Astonishingly, their two babies were found and rescued by Israeli soldiers after being left alone for more than 12 hours, Dagan said, hailing the couple as 'heroes' who did 'everything they could to save their children'. Itay and Hadar Berdichevsky (pictured with babies), both 30, only had mere seconds to react when they heard the gunmen trying to smash down their front door, knowing that if they didn't, their children would never have a future The terrified parents had frantically bundled their two babies into a hidden shelter moments before the Hamas terrorists stormed into their home, the Israeli ambassador to Colombia Gali Dagan revealed Astonishingly, their two babies were found and rescued by Israeli soldiers after being left alone for more than 12 hours 'They hid their 10-month-old twin children in the shelter while terrorists infiltrated their home,' Dagan wrote on Twitter. 'Itay and Hadar were brutally murdered after bravely fighting the terrorists. 'The babies were left alone for more than 12 hours until they were rescued. Imagine the horror. Two terrified parents doing everything they can to save their children, who are now orphaned. Blessed be the memory of these heroes.' Itay and Hadar are now among the more than 700 Israelis who have been killed by Hamas terrorists, after the gunmen launched a surprise assault on Israel at the weekend. The attacks came by land and air with Hamas gunmen flying into Israel using paragliders while other units cut wires in border fences and bulldozed walls to enter the country. Harrowing videos captured by Hamas insurgents using helmet-mounted GoPro cameras and smartphones showed how unsuspecting Israeli soldiers were gunned down in their barracks while others were beaten, tied up and frogmarched away or bundled into cars and pickup trucks. Israeli civilians, including women, were also seen tied up and thrown into the back of trips in front of jeering terrorists. In response, Israel's forces have retaliated with ferocity, pounding the Gaza strips with air strikes that have so far destroyed 1,000 Hamas targets and killed 560 Palestinians. Israel's 173,000 soldiers, including 8,000 of its fearsome elite commandos, are now preparing to launch a massive co-ordinated ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy Hamas fighters in Gaza that will see fierce fighting erupt in the streets. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine after what has been described as the country's 'worst day in history' with the number of Israelis killed in the conflict set to rise further. Hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have also been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack. The Israeli airstrikes have so far killed 500 people and flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. In a statement, the Israeli Air Force said it dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza aimed at over 10,000 targets in Gaza in the last 20 hours. Among the targets were three rocket launchers directed at Israel, a mosque where militants were operating and 21 high-rise buildings that served militant activity. But Palestinians are preparing for an offensive of unprecedented scale on the tiny, crowded enclave, exceeding previous bouts of destructive warfare that they fear will leave survivors destitute, without homes, water, electricity, hospitals or food. 'It doesn't need much thinking about. Israel suffered the biggest loss in its history so you can imagine what it is going to do,' said a resident of Beit Hanoun on Gaza's northeastern border with Israel. 'I took my family out at sunrise and dozens of other families did the same. Many of us got phone calls, audio messages from Israeli security officers telling us to leave because they will operate there,' he said. Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on Monday A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on Friday Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and cars at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday Families began stockpiling food as soon as Saturday's attack began but fear that despite Hamas assurances supplies will run low. And now, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has warned that the price Gaza would pay 'will change reality for generations' and Israel was imposing a total blockade with a ban on food and fuel imports as part of a battle against 'animals'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. It comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Earlier, Israel's army said its forces were in 'full control of communities' in its southern territory near Gaza - hours after it said it was fighting Hamas terrorists in 'seven to eight' locations in the south. 'We are in full control of the communities,' military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists. But he said that fighting still raged in locations inside Israel where the fighters were still holed up after killing 700 Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. 'We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area,' he said in a televised briefing. Military officials had previously said that their focus was on securing Israel's side of the border before carrying out any major escalation of the counter-offensive in Gaza. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. Hagari said 300,000 reservists have been called up by the military since Saturday, suggesting greater fighting lies ahead with a possible ground assault into Gaza. Former President Donald Trump on Monday accused his successor Joe Biden of betraying one of the nation's closest allies amid the chaos and tragedy in Israel. Trump touted his own withdrawal of the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, and his Muslim travel ban, as examples of why he would have handled the crisis better. He said: 'When I was Commander in Chief, we reduced the Iranian economy to rubble, I withdrew from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, imposed the toughest-ever sanctions on the regime, and imposed a strict TRAVEL BAN to keep Radical Islamic Terrorists the hell out of our country.' Trump was speaking to supporters in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire after Hamas fighters crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip and attacked houses, cars, and military bases, killing an estimated 700 Israelis along with nine Americans. Former President Donald Trump blasted President Joe Biden over the Hamas attack on Israel, saying he 'betrayed' the U.S. ally Trump accused Biden of 'giving' funds to Iran, and said U.S. foreign policy caused the terror invasion. 'Joe Biden BETRAYED Israel,' Trump said, saying he would 'once again stand strongly with the state of Israel.' He said: 'Joe Biden undid all of it, and gave billions of dollars to the worlds top sponsor of terror, tossing Israel to the bloodthirsty terrorists and jihadists.' Trump called it a '$6 billion dollars ransom.' He was referring a deal that provided a waiver for the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea. The funds are now held in Qatar as part of a deal that freed five Americans. The Biden administration says the funds are limited to humanitarian purposes, and that so far no funds have been distributed. 'My administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering,' President Biden said Saturday Trump's attack on Biden came as Israel continued to pound Gaza City after the brazen Hamas attack Trump tore into Biden in remarks in New Hampshire, claiming he 'doesnt like farmers and he doesnt like minorities' Trump's attack came after Biden spoke at the White House about the stunning attack. 'The United States stands with the state of Israel,' Biden said, saying he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'My administrations support for Israels security is rock solid and unwavering,' he said. White House national security official John Finer told CBS News on Monday that Iran was 'broadly complicit in these attacks' but that the U.S. had not seen 'any sort of direct involvement in the immediate attacks that took place over the last couple of days.' Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Hamas 'wouldnt be around in the way that it is without the support that its received from Iran over the years,' but also said 'we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack.' Trump also blamed the attack on 'our countrys perceived weakness with an incompetent and corrupt leader, Joe Biden, whos laughed at all over the world.' Trump joined other Republicans who are hammering Biden over the new tumult in the Middle East. Some regional experts have said Hamas may have timed the attack in part to try to scuttle negotiations over a planned normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Trump, in his planned remarks, held up predecessor moves known as the Abraham Accords to normalize relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. 'Less than 4 years ago, we had PEACE in the Middle East with the historic Abraham Accordstoday we have all-out war on Israel. What a difference a President makes!' Trump wrote. He said he would 'cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on Day One' if reelected, and would 're-impose the travel ban on terror-afflicted countries so that the bloodshed and killing we saw this week will NEVER reach American soil.' The Biden campaign hit back at Trump Monday with a blistering statement from campaign co-chair Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). 'With each and every lie, Donald Trump further proves he is too dangerous to lead the United States on the world stage. The generals and other military leaders who served under Trumpthose in a position to knowhave repeatedly said he made our country less safe, not more,' she said. 'This is the same man who refers to our men and women in uniform as suckers and losers and refused to visit the final resting place of the brave Americans who served our nation,' she added, referencing comments by former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who said Trump made those comments. Dearie was later reconnected with the couple who had lost her card Allie Dearie shared photos of the proposal to Instagram in early October, asking for everyone to share the story so she could find the couple A professional photographer who caught an engagement at Yosemite National Park was reunited with the couple thanks to the power of social media A Los Angeles photographer who captured a stunning proposal at Yosemite National Park and then asked social media to help her find the couple was reunited with the happy duo thanks to social media. Allie Dearie took photos of a proposal at Taft Point on September 28 and gave the couple her business card so they could get the stunning pictures. According to the photographer, however, the newly engaged couple lost her card as they were traveling home - a whopping 6,300 miles to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Luckily, after Dearie shared the pics on her Allie Dearie Photography Instagram page, KTLA and other outlets amplified the story, helping to spread the word. The photographer confirmed that she had made contact with Chen-Yun Yang and her fiance Mati shared their surprise engagement pics via email. A Los Angeles photographer who captured a stunning proposal at Yosemite National Park and then asked social media to help her find the couple was reunited thanks to social media Allie Dearie (pictured) took photos of a proposal at Taft Point on September 28 and gave the couple her business card so they could get the stunning pictures 'Update: we found them!!!!! Thank you all so much for your help,' Dearie wrote on Instagram The whole story started with an Instagram post on October 2. Dearie wrote that she was at Taft Point in Yosemite for an elopement - her photography specialty - when she saw the proposal unfolding at sunset. 'So we're waiting to use the rock and we turn and we look and the guy was kneeling down and proposing,' Dearie explained. 'This was just right place right time.' 'She turned and looked 'cause there was other hikers and when he kneeled down people started to applaud,' she continued. 'She kneeled down too so she was like really surprised, he totally caught her off-guard It was a really cute reaction.' She said the couple whose elopement she was photographing on September 28 let her 'grab a few quick shots' for the couple getting engaged. After a week without hearing from them, though, she was concerned. 'I gave him a business card before they left, but I haven't heard from him and with the hike back I'm worried he lost my contact info,' Dearie wrote on Instagram. 'It's a long hike back and after sunset, you're hiking in the dark so I'm a little worried that he may have lost the card and that's why I started posting online to see if I could find them,' she told reporters. The photographer said the then-unidentified couple had a friend with them taking a video, 'but these would be their only still photos!' Even better, the man who can be seen taking video of the proposal in Dearie's photos found his way to her Instagram and said he too was a stranger. 'Pls let me know when you find them! I'm that stranger she asked to take their photos without unknowingly what came next,' the purported videographer wrote. Yang then responded to the man, writing: 'Thanks for taking that video and being such a chameleon in adapting to the situation!' Chen-Yun Yang (right) was so shocked by her now fiance's proposal that she also got down on her knees in the moment out of confusion The couple embraced after Chen-Yun said yes while at Taft Point in Yosemite Allie Dearie took photos of a proposal at Taft Point on September 28 and gave the couple her business card for them to reach out and obtain their pictures This is the view on the way to Glacier Point trail, near where the proposal took place After several days of searching and the story being picked up by Southern California outlets, Dearie finally made contact with the Argentinian lovebirds. They confirmed her suspicions: they had lost her business card and had no way to contact or find her. Luckily, the three were brought back together and after an exchange of emails, the couple was able to get the photos of their special moment. The photos and the story elicited a strong reaction on social media where dozens weighed in on the 'heartwarming' tale. 'That is so cool that you captured such a special moment for them!!! This lighting is pure magic!' one person wrote. 'Love this story!!' wrote another. More than 25,000 US autoworkers are currently on strike after thousands more union members at Mack Trucks voted to join the picket line. The United Auto Workers union said nearly 4,000 workers at the heavy truck manufacturer have joined in with the industrial action, after voting down a tentative agreement reached earlier this month. The organization is seeking pay rises of 40 per cent for all employees, a four day work week and better retirement and health benefits. UAW President Shawn Fain said: 'I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it.' The Mack Trucks strike began at 7am today and involves workers from Macungie and Middletown, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown and Baltimore, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida. Members of UAW Local 171 picket outside a Mack Trucks facility in Hagerstown are among those who have joined the strike UAW leader Shawn Fain said 73 per cent of Mack Trucks members voted against the tentative agreement It is the latest in a series of picket lines involving all three of the major Detroit auto manufacturers estimated to have cost the US economy $4 billion in the first two weeks, according to a report by the Anderson Economic Group. The general strike has been going on since September 15 and involve workers across 22 states. Demands being made of Mack Trucks echo those being made of GM, Ford and Stellantis an are 'audacious' by Fain's own admission. UAW is seeking 36 per cent rises in general pay over four years and an end to varying tiers of wages for factory jobs. They want a 32-hour week with 40 hours of pay; the restoration of traditional defined-benefit pensions for new hires who now receive only 401(k)-style retirement plans; and a return of cost-of-living pay raises, among other benefits. Last year Mack Trucks parent company Volvo reported net sales of 473.5 Swedish kronor ($46.4 billion. Mack Trucks is owned by Volvo which posted net sales of more than $46 billion in 2022 The deal negotiators had reached just over a week ago offered a 19 per cent pay raise over the life of the contract with 10 per cent upon ratification and a $3,500 ratification bonus. Better health and retirement benefits were also on the table. But in a letter to Mack Trucks parent company Volvo, Fain explained that 73 per cent of members had voted against the tentative agreement on Sunday night. Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement night that the company is 'surprised and disappointed' that the union chose to strike. He said UAW had hailed the tentative agreement as a 'record' for the heavy truck industry. He added: 'We trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers.' A grandmother was hauled to court for breaking a box of 3 eggs - with intent. Prosecuting Alissa Ash, 59, over the kitchen tiff with her own mother is thought to have cost taxpayers as much as 1,000 in legal and court costs. And the magistrate who sentenced her appeared baffled the case had come to court, saying he was 'struggling to find any criminality' before handing down an absolute discharge. Police were called to calm the situation after a spat between Ash and her mother, Ann-Marie Ash, 89, at Mrs Ash's home. During the row, Ash threw the box of eggs on the floor. At a hearing on Thursday, Guildford Magistrates' Court was told police wanted to give Ash a caution but she refused to accept it. Prosecuting Alissa Ash, 59, (pictured) over the kitchen tiff with her own mother is thought to have cost taxpayers as much as 1,000 in legal and court costs File photo of Guilford Magistrates Court As a result, she was charged with criminal damage for 'damaging a box of eggs at the cost of 3 with intent'. The charge added her actions were intended 'to destroy or damage such property' or were 'reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged'. In court, Ash spoke only to confirm her name and address and to plead guilty. Manni Gosal, defending, told the court: 'She has expressed remorse for her actions.' Mr Gosal added that Ash, who was living at Molesey, Surrey, but is currently residing at a hotel in Thornton Heath, South London, was 'of good character and has never been in trouble before'. Sentencing her to an absolute discharge, magistrate James Barber said: 'I'm struggling to find any criminality other than breaking a few eggs. I do that every time I make breakfast.' The case was heard despite reservations even from Mrs Ash, the supposed 'victim'. Speaking outside court, she told The Sun her daughter's prosecution was 'a waste of time'. Surrey Police said: 'We have a duty of care to ensure that victims of crime are carefully safeguarded, especially within domestic environments.' Israeli death squads will launch assassination attempts against Hamas commanders, saying Gaza's leaders pose a threat on par with that of ISIS. 'We are going to act towards Hamas in every way, like the West treated Daesh [ISIS]. Operationally, that means eradicating their leaders and fighters,' an Israeli government official told The Times on Monday. 'But there will be international and diplomatic implications as well.' Israeli forces will now be seeking targets in territories outside of Gaza, where some Hamas officials have sought refuge. Sources said that Israel would put pressure on countries like Qatar, which has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Hamas in recent years and currently houses Hamas Chief Ismail Hainyeh. Smoke billows behind highrise buildings during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on October 9 Israeli police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon Israeli soldiers gather at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, 9 October 2023 Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh (left) and spokesperson Abu Obeida (right) are among those who likely now face assassination Yahya Sinwar (left), head of Hamas' political wing in Gaza, and commander Mohammed Deif (right) are among the leading officials in the group It was not clear which chiefs Israel would immediately target in its campaign. Ismail Haniyeh is the main leader of Hamas, living outside of Gaza in Doha, Qatar. READ MORE: 'Devastated' Brit confirms his brother was among those killed in Israel after it was revealed ten UK citizens are feared dead or missing after Hamas massacre Advertisement He named the offensive 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood' at the weekend and pledged to continue the 'battle to liberate our land and our prisoners'. Haniyeh said Palestinian factions would push on with the operation in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, is also a target in focus for Israeli death squads. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'Yahya Sinwar is the commander of the campaign, and he is a dead man.' Hagari claimed Hamas' 'military and political leadership, all of its assets, are subject to attack and doomed.' Sinwar is the second most powerful member of Hamas after Haniyeh. Mohammed Deif is a third likely target of Hamas' leadership as the head of its military wing, the IQB. Deif has claimed since Saturday the surprise attack was in response to the 16-year blockade of Gaza, the Israeli occupation and other recent incidents. The head of Hamas' military branch was reportedly the strategist responsible for directing Saturday's push into Israel. Abu Obeida, spokesperson for the IQB, is also 'high on Israel's kill list', according to The Telegraph. Hamas is a Palestinian militant group and the standing authority in Gaza, an exclave on the Mediterranean coast. The group has controlled the Strip since winning the 2006 parliamentary elections and toppling rival party Fatah in a power struggle during the bloody Battle of Gaza in 2007. Today, the group is headed by a Politburo of 15 members, responsible for setting policy and led by political chief Ismail Haniyeh. The Politburo is elected by a council, which has four divisions: tackling West Bank affairs, Gazan affairs, imprisoned members' affairs and diaspora affairs. Hamas also has a military branch, the IQB, which is commanded by Marwan Issa and Mohammed Deif. The IQB operates mostly removed from other areas of government, though some onlookers say the military branch is 'gradually taking even stronger control of the movement's institutions' and dictating the movement's policies. 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 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 plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9, 2023 A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday Israel declared a 'complete siege' on Gaza earlier today in response to the unprecedented attacks by Hamas militants. The country's defence minister said earlier today: 'There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals, and we act accordingly.' READ MORE: Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel's Defence Forces to besiege Gaza Advertisement The siege will look to put pressure on Hamas to relent after reports emerged Palestinian militants had abducted more than 100 people. Rights groups and charities have urged against moves that will indiscriminately affect civilian populations. An additional 300,000 reservists will also be mobilised, although not all will be sent to the border with Gaza, according to IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Hagari said it was the largest call-up in the country's history. Israel claims more than 700 civilians and troops have been killed since Saturday. Health officials in Gaza say 560 have died in the city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a meeting with council leaders: 'What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible; we are already in the campaign and we are just getting started. 'I ask that you stand steadfast because we are going to change the Middle East.' Qatar has since sought to mediate de-escalation talks with Israel and Hamas, aiming to secure a deal whereby both sides release captives. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Police have named a man who was shot dead in south London as they continue to hunt for his attacker. Rico Andrews, 21, was fatally shot on Thursday last week following reports of gunfire on Shuttleworth Road, near Battersea Park. The Metropolitan Police were called to scene at around 9:50pm along with the London Ambulance Service. They provided first aid to an injured Mr Andrews but he later died at the scene. The Met police said that his next of kin are aware and are being supported by specialist officers, while no arrests have been made. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest, the force added. Rico Andrews (pictured), 21, was fatally shot on Thursday last week following reports of gunshots on Shuttleworth Road A police cordon was put in place on parts of Shuttelworth Road on Friday morning following the fatal shooting Emergency services were called to the scene on Shuttleworth Road after gunshots were heard Detective Chief Inspector Neil John from the Met's Specialist Crime Command who leads the investigation said: 'This is a tragic incident where a young man has lost his life whilst standing on a street in Battersea. 'Our thoughts are with his family and friends as they continue to struggle with this terrible news. 'Detectives are working at pace to gather as much information as possible and I would ask anyone who was in the area and saw events unfold, or anyone who has captured this incident on phone or doorbell footage, to contact police immediately.' Police said that at this early stage there have been no arrests and enquiries continue. On the night of Mr Andrews' death local residents said they could hear people shouting and a loud bang, which they initially thought was a car misfire. 'It just seems a bit surreal you hear about stories but to be there and listen see what's happening We could see it was obviously not going the way you'd hope,' they said. They added: 'We could see a lot of commotion from the window. We could also see people on the phone with police and ambulance in the immediate aftermath. We've only been here since April so quite untoward, not felt unsafe at all.' Chloe Thomson, who lives five minutes away from the scene and walked past said at the time: 'A bit shocking really, so close to home.' Police cordon off parts of Shuttelworth Road following the shooting on Thursday night Police arrived on the scene (pictured after it was cordoned off on Friday) at around 9:50pm Another resident said: 'This is a really safe area. I don't understand. I walk through here to get the bus every day.' Any witnesses or anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC. Please quote CAD 8285/05OCT To give information anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. Advertisement Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late on Monday that atrocities committed by Hamas during its attack on Israel mirrored those carried out by the jihadist group Islamic State. 'The atrocities committed by Hamas have not been seen since ISIS atrocities. Bound children executed along with their families. Young men and women shot in the back, executed. Other horrors I won't describe here,' Netanyahu said. 'We have always known who Hamas is. Now the entire world knows. Hamas is ISIS. And we will defeat it just like the enlightened world defeated ISIS. This vile enemy wanted war and it will get war,' he said. With Hamas attacks into Israel checked by devastating airstrikes into Gaza, there is no indication of the conflict waning, despite calls for de-escalation from the international community. Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu vowed to 'change the Middle East' in response to Hamas' shock incursion over the weekend. 'What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible... we are going to change the Middle East,' Netanyahu told officials visiting Jerusalem from the country's south. 'This is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force.' 'What we will do to our enemies in the next few days will echo for generations,' Netanyahu said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech on July 5, 2023. The Israeli PM today vowed military action against Gaza A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict's death toll surged close to 1,000 Smoke rises over the buildings as the Israeli airstrikes continue in Al-Rimal Neighbourhood of Gaza City, Gaza on October 9 Israeli death squads said on Monday they would launch assassination attempts against Hamas commanders, echoing Netanyahu's words that Gaza's leaders pose a threat on par with that of ISIS. 'We are going to act towards Hamas in every way, like the West treated Daesh [ISIS]. Operationally, that means eradicating their leaders and fighters,' an Israeli government official told The Times on Monday. 'But there will be international and diplomatic implications as well.' Israeli forces will now be seeking targets in territories outside of Gaza, where some Hamas officials have sought refuge. Hamas Chief Ismail Hainyeh is among those who have sought refuge outside of Gaza, currently living in Qatar - which has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars in Gaza in recent years. Haniyeh has said that Palestinian factions would seek to expand operations, pushing on in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Speaking from Jerusalem on Monday evening, Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent at The National, told MailOnline he had witnessed missiles hitting the city today, injuring a ten-year-old child. He suggested there were no indications at present of the conflict waning. He said: 'The thinking has been that [Hamas] launched their [strongest missiles] in the first barrage. But if they are still hitting Jerusalem now, it shows they still have a desire to escalate.' With today's response of a 'complete siege' of Gaza, Israel is now 'trying to prepare their backers' for the possibility that 'this is going to be a long war', Helm added. Officials on Monday ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, cutting off food and electricity as it prepares for a massive ground offensive 'within 48 hours' after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack this weekend in what has been described as the Jewish state's 'worst day in history'. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. The announcement comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a montage video on Monday showing the aerial bombardment of Gaza The video shows missiles striking and crushing various buildings throughout the territory 'What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible... we are going to change the Middle East,' Netanyahu told officials visiting Jerusalem on Monday Israeli Minister for Defence Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza during an intense video that was posted to social media on Monday Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, suggesting greater fighting lies ahead with a possible ground assault into Gaza. Netanyahu has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. Speaking on Monday afternoon with officials in Jerusalem, the Israeli PM declared: 'What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible... we are going to change the Middle East. 'This is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force.' This morning, thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as Israeli strikes continued, with harrowing videos circulating on social media showing screaming civilians being pulled from the rubble of densely populated residential buildings. The death toll from this new war is already well above 1,100, with casualty figures expected to spiral drastically in the coming days as more bodies are found. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday People stand among the rubble of a destroyed mosque during Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City on October 9, 2023 Covered bodies of dead Palestinians lie on the floor at the Al-Shifa hospital after an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, 09 October 2023 A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday Thousands have been injured and killed in the three days since Hamas attacked Israel Israeli airstrikes on Islamic National Bank of Gaza destroy buildings and neighborhoods at Rimal district of Gaza City, Gaza on October 08, 2023 Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023 Gaza is set to be sieged within the next 48 hours A Palestinian emergency responder directs other after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023 Israeli airstrikes destroyed buildings and cars at the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday Palestinian firefighters battle a blaze after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on October 9, 2023 Chilling video shows terrified revellers recording messages for loved ones as Hamas gunmen stalked Israeli festival in massacre that left 260 dead Advertisement Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack in response to Hamas launching its surprise assault. The airstrikes have so far flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. On the ground, thousands of Israeli soldiers are preparing to launch a massive ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fighting erupt in the streets, US officials say. Israel has so far brought in special forces to try and wrest control of four sites from Hamas fighters in the south of the country. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine. And today, Israel's army said its forces were in 'full control of communities' in its southern territory near Gaza - hours after it said it was fighting Hamas terrorists in 'seven to eight' locations in the south. 'We are in full control of the communities,' military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists, adding however that there still might be 'terrorists' in the area. Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said he believed around 1,000 Palestinian gunmen were involved in the unprecedented attack on Israel on Sunday, which he called '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,' he said, adding that the current death toll of 700 is expected to rise as more than 1,000 Israelis are injured, some critically. The terrorists massacred 260 Israeli revellers at a festival in a hail of bullets, with survivors describing how the gunmen went 'tree by tree' executing victims. Survivors of the attack posted clips of the ordeal to social media, showing how they were forced to hide under bushes and record hushed farewell messages to their loved ones as they watched victims get killed one by one. Many lay still in sheer terror for more than five hours before they heard the sound of armed rescuers speaking in Hebrew. The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars. But the carnage has not ended there, with Hamas terrorists still battling with Israel's forces and taking more Israelis hostage on Monday morning, the group's spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said. Al-Qanoua said Hamas wants to 'liberate all Palestinian prisoners' from Israel and end Israeli provocations in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, particularly at Al-Aqsa Mosque. He added the terrorists have captured 'a large number of Israelis' in Gaza, without giving a specific figure. He said Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam, would announce the figures later. In response to Hamas' taking of hostages, former UN senior advisor and one of the world's most experienced hostage negotiators Scott Walker said: 'It is understandable and reasonable for IDF to be preparing for an armed hostage rescue - but these operations are some of the riskiest. 'Hostages are likely to be dispersed and moved around and it will be highly unlikely that an Israeli force could just go in and liberate the hostages in one fell swoop without suffering significant losses, either of hostages or their own men,' he said. Walker added that the hostages taken by Hamas are likely to be well treated if they are to be used as political prisoners or bargaining chips - but that their fate could be something far more sinister if Hamas has an ulterior motive. 'Hostages need to be kept alive - fed and watered at a bare minimum. If Hamas' intention is to use them as bargaining chips or with a view to prisoner swaps, the hostages are likely to be treated reasonably well... if you want to use the hostages as currency in political bartering, you can't damage the goods. 'Having said that, Hamas is evidently very capable of being harsh and brutal - so it's possible - though unlikely - they could subject one or some of the hostages to brutal treatment and potentially execute them to show they mean business by sowing fear and further instability in the region for their own gain.' Harrowing video footage and images showed how terrified women were torn away from their partners and driven away on motorcycles, while others were beaten and handcuffed before being stuffed into the back of pickup trucks. The captives are known to include soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday Israeli army reinforcements take position outside the southern city of Sderot near the border with Gaza on Monday Israeli soldiers gather near tanks, as violence around the nearby Gaza Strip mounts following a mass-rampage by armed Palestinian infiltrators on Monday Israel continued to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip in the early hours of this morning Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and buildings were reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack in response to Hamas launching a surprise assault that has so far killed more than 700 Israelis and injured 1,200 An injured Palestinian is being carried on a stretcher after Israeli airstrikes at al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza Strip on Monday Smoke rises after Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip on Monday A Palestinian points to the Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City early on Monday Palestinians inspect the destruction around Ahmed Yassin mosque, which was levelled by Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City on Monday Jonathan Conricus, spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces, blasted the terror group on X on Sunday, going one step further than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who had vowed to destroy Hamas ability to govern in a way that posed a threat to Israeli civilians. 'It is by far the worst day in Israeli history,' Conricus said, adding Israeli forces have not yet killed every terrorist who made their way into the state. 'We are all appalled and enraged by the brutality, by the beastly nature of these terrorists,' he added. Several Israeli news outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. Attacks continued into Sunday and Monday, with the nation's Iron Dome intercepting continuous waves of rockets. A thousand Hamas terrorists took part in the initial, unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, Conricus said. The Gaza Health Ministry said 413 people, including 78 children and 41 women, were killed in the territory. About 2,000 people have been wounded on each side. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Conricus also confirmed that Americans, British and French people were involved in the carnage. He said that children, babies, elderly people and disabled people were among those kidnapped. 'We will focus all our efforts on the Gaza Strip and delivering a long, hard, tremendously powerful blow in Gaza,' he said. Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria. Israeli soldiers and civilians fought Hamas militants on the streets of southern Israel following a barrage of 2,000 rockets sent over the border by the Palestinian terrorists, in addition to a savage ground assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country. Israeli Defense Forces have begun bombarding key Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and have issued warnings to civilians in certain regions to leave before a wave of retaliatory attacks begin. Speaking on Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin 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.' An Israeli airstrike at a Hamas weapons depot in Gaza from Sunday night Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 8, 2023. Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory in half a century, formally declared war on Hamas Sunday as the Israeli death toll surged past 700 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage Israelis walk by a blown up police station in Sderot that was destroyed during a battle with Hamas militants who had overtaken the building Israeli soldier directs armored vehicles heading towards the southern border with the Gaza strip on October 8, 2023 in Sderot, Israel. The nation is preparing a full blown counteroffensive against the terrorist organization Israel has no choice but to meet force with force. The Middle East's only democracy has every right to defend itself (Pictured: Gaza on Sunday) He promised 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.' He vowed to reduce Gaza to 'rubble,' telling innocent Palestinians to leave immediately. Hamas, he said, will pay 'a price it has never known.' Joe Biden held a barbecue for his staff at the White House while at least four Americans were confirmed dead in the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel Saturday and Palestinian sympathizers protested at the president's gates. Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog confirmed earlier reporting that multiple Americans are missing after the Hamas attack. Later Sunday, at least four Americans were confirmed dead and Hamas is believed to be holding more than 100 hostages. The terrorists gunned down as many revelers as possible and horrifying photos emerged of bodies piled up in a tent at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. Authorities believe 260 people were massacred at the event at which between 3-4,000 people were in attendance. The full horror of what unfolded at the dance festival became clear as drone footage from above allowed for a birds eye view of the site. 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 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. 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 took place just after midday on Sunday, with one sympathizer flashing a Nazi swastika. 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 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. Speaking late on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Israeli military said the situation in the south of the country was 'still not fully under control.' The founder of failed crypto exchange FTX blamed his ex-girlfriend when the scale of the company's $11billion debts became clear. Court documents showed that Sam Bankman-Fried wrote to his male colleagues that Caroline Ellison 'is not a natural leader, and probably never will be.' Bankman-Fried said in the September 2022 document that she made a 'critical' error by failing to make a risky investment he suggested to her. 'These kinds of errors happen when I'm not actually running the show there,' Bankman-Fried sniffed. He also claimed that the culture at Alameda Research, FTX's sister company which Ellison ran, had become 'mediocre at best' and said his ex was 'not good enough to be able to trust' with winding it up. Sam Bankman-Fried blamed Caroline Ellison for the collapse of FTX in court documents obtained by DailyMail.com. Bankman-Fried claimed that the culture at Alameda Research, FTX's sister company which Ellison ran, had become 'mediocre at best' and said his ex was 'not good enough to be able to trust' with winding it up Court documents showed that Sam Bankman-Fried wrote to his male colleagues that Caroline Ellison 'is not a natural leader, and probably never will be' The document emerged a day before Ellison is set to testify against Bankman-Fried as one of the prosecution's star witnesses. The 29-year-old daughter of two MIT professors, who posted about her love of Harry Potter in online blogs, has already pleaded guilty to fraud charges. Ellison is a 29-year-old daughter of two MIT professors Prosecutors claim that FTX was a 'house of cards' which was worth $32billion at its peak but collapsed last November after media reports raised questions about its finances. Bankman-Fried, 31, has denied 13 counts between 2019 and 2011 including wire fraud, money laundering and violations of campaign finance laws which could see him jailed for 115 years. Seven of the allegations are being dealt with at the current trial with the rest due to come to court next year. Alameda is central to the case against Bankman-Fried and prosecutors claimed it worked like a slush fund spending $8billion of FTX customers' money to pay for lavish expenses, real estate purchases and to make political donations. Customers had no idea that their money was being used for this, it is alleged. Last September amid falling crypto prices, Bankman-Fried decided to shut Alameda down after a report in Bloomberg said that its relationship with FTX was far closer than had been thought. Bankman-Fried feared that this would erode trust in the company, the court heard, because he had publicly insisted they were separate. He had recently ordered a full accounting of Alameda and found that it owed $11 billion to FTX. Bankman-Fried drew up the Google document outlining the reasons for winding up Alameda, which he did not share with Ellison despite her running the company. Instead it only went to FTX co-founder Gary Wang and Nishad Singh, FTX's head of engineering. The document stated that it 'might be time for Alameda Research to shut down.' Bankman-Fried wrote: 'Honestly, it was probably time to do that a year ago. 'The reasons: the PR hit from Alameda and FTX both existing is really large. 'The current Alameda leadership is good, but not good enough to be able to trust with such a big operation.' Sam Bankman-Fried dated Caroline Ellison and appointed her as head of FTX's sister company Alameda Research Bankman-Fried faces up to 115 years in prison if convicted on a slew of fraud charges The court has heard that in the summer of 2022 Ellison and Bankman-Fried talked about Alameda making a risky investment bet, known as a hedge, but she decided not to. Bankman-Fried said that decision had 'alone cost more than all the money Alameda has ever made or ever will make, and that's the kind of critical mistake we're likely to make if I'm not actually running the show there.' He went on: 'Caroline is not a natural leader, and probably never will be. She's also unhappy at Alameda, and is doing it because she thinks it's important. Nishad Singh has admitted his part in the scheme and is expected to testify at the trial 'Alameda's culture has become mediocre at best. People don't bother coming into the office or being co-located. 'There's a brain drain we've hit a downward spiral where good people leave, and so then there aren't any good people, so future good people leave (or don't join). 'There isn't sufficiently strong leadership to reverse this'. Bankman-Fried wrote that there was a 'much stronger culture and leadership' at Modulo, a Bahamas-based hedge fund that received $475 million in seed capital from Alameda. Modulo was run by a woman called Lily, who Bankman-Fried also dated for a time, the court heard. In the document, Bankman-Fried dismissively wrote: 'I can't make everyone happy, and if people are unhappy they should leave.' In his testimony Wang said that Bankman-Fried was far more involved with Alameda than the document suggested. He had the Alameda balance on a screen on his desk most of the time and he still had a majority stake in both companies, the jury has heard. All major decisions were ultimately taken by Bankman-Fried, Wang told the jury. Previous reports have stated that Ellison was paid far less than other top FTX executives, and may not have known about the wage gap. Wang claimed Bankman-Fried ordered a $700million loss be put onto the accounts of its sister company because they were more secretive than FTX FTX co-founder Gary Wang took the stand at Sam Bankman-Fried's trial and claimed the company had been stealing customers' money for three years Court filings have said that FTX's founders and other top staff got $3.2 billion in payments and loans. Ellison got $6 million compared to $587 million for Singh, $246 million to Wang and $2.2 billion to Bankman-Fried. Writing in her personal diaries, Ellison did voice concern about her ability to run Alameda, saying that she didn't feel it was something she was 'comparatively advantaged at or well-suited to do'. The Stanford University math graduate wrote in February 2022: 'I have been feeling pretty unhappy and overwhelmed with my job. 'At the end of the day I can't wait to go home and turn off my phone and have a drink and get away from it all.' After the breakup with Bankman-Fried, she cut off all communication with him. Writing in April 2022, she said: 'I felt pretty hurt/rejected. Not giving you the contact you wanted felt like the only way I could regain a sense of power.' Bankman-Fried is said to have leaked the diary to the New York Times which published extracts ahead of his trial. That and a number of other breaches of his bail conditions led Judge Lewis Kaplan to revoke Bankman-Fried's bail and remand him in the grim Metropolitan Detention Center before and during his trial. During her testimony Ellison is likely to be asked about her online blog posts which talked about her engaging in a polyamorous lifestyle. She also wrote about drug use and wrote about her 'regular' amphetamine use in 2021. In April that year she wrote: 'Nothing like regular amphetamine use to make you appreciate how dumb a lot of normal, non-medicated human experience is'. Ellison pleaded guilty in December last year and told the court she was 'truly sorry for what I did.' She said that she 'knew that it was wrong' and that she wanted to 'accept responsibility for my actions.' Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy touted his foreign policy chops in a news conference where he tore into President Biden's response to the Israel attacks and emphasized that the spending bill he put through the House which led to his ouster was the right decision. He said the U.S. intelligence community had 'failed' when Hamas caught Israel by surprise during a long-planned barrage of rocket attacks over the weekend. 'This just wasn't a failure in Israel, in their intelligence community. It was ours as well,' he said. 'Why do we have a secretary of state who says he has no knowledge if Iran was involved? He has less knowledge than the Wall Street Journal.' 'This just wasn't a failure in Israel, in their intelligence community. It was ours as well,' McCarthy said He took a victory lap for his contentious continuing resolution (CR), the spending deal that passed with a majority of Democratic votes in the House and averted a government shutdown at the last second. 'Could you imagine if we were sitting here, if we listened further to [Rep. Matt] Gaetz and [Rep. Nancy] Mace and we were in a shut down? If we asked the 30,000 men and women of military families to defend us without getting paid?' The press conference was ostensibly a way for McCarthy to position himself as the best person to lead the lower chamber through an attack on one of the U.S.'s top allies. The former speaker's message to Biden was: 'Turn off the barbecue and speak to the American people.' 'Be the leader the world is looking for.' Biden has no public appearances on his schedule for Monday and hosted a barbecue at the White House on Sunday. McCarthy refused to answer what his response would be if he was nominated for the job again and instead insisted it was 'up to the conference.' Gaetz and Mace were among the eight Republicans and all Democrats who voted to kick McCarthy out of the speakership last week. Gaetz's grievances were with the CR. McCarthy accused those who voted to oust him of doing it for attention as he insisted rules need to change so that one member cannot put a motion to vacate, or a resolution to fire the speaker, on the House floor. 'This conference has to come to an understanding that .. if it allows a few individuals that love a camera more than the love the American public,' to kick out the speaker, 'then we're not going to govern,' he said. McCarthy outlined his deep commitment to Israel while laying out what he envisioned the U.S. response to the conflict should be in a 'five point plan.' The former speaker said the U.S. should first rescue American hostages taken by Hamas, then freeze any Iranian assets that the U.S. has unfrozen and 'confont' Iran. 'This will not be Afghanistan,' he said. Iran has denied any involvement in the attack, but the sophisticated tactics used by Hamas suggest otherwise. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the attack. He said Biden should then demand the extradition of Hamas' leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and the U.S. 'must be there for our friend Israel' by passing legislation to help them replenish the Iron Dome, their anti-missile defense system, among other defense aid. 'We must also expand the Abraham Accords,' he said referring to the U.S.-brokered peace deals between Israel and some of its Middle Eastern neighbors that were signed under the Trump administration. Israel had been on the precipice of a historic peace deal with Saudi Arabia, a factor which was likely at play in Hamas' attacks as the Palestinian militia group seeks to thwart the deal. 'Three years ago there was not war in Europe or in Israel,' McCarthy said, harkening back to the Trump administration. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023 View of a cluster bomb sent by Israeli forces in Gaza City, Gaza on October 9, 2023 He then went on with more suggestions: 'Sanctions should go on Iran's production of oil. Replace it with American energy.' He said the U.S. must secure its borders and fight anti-semitism in the U.S., and refuse any future nuclear deals with Iran. Asked if he was the best person to lead the House through the Israel-Hamas conflict, McCarthy said: 'That's not my decision. That's the conference.' But then he went on to tout his strong support for Israel. 'It was an honor for me to be the second speaker in American history to speak to the Knesset,' he said, referring to Israel's legislature. Hamas attack on Israel.Festival goers flee as Hamas closed in on the music festival in Israel.Panicked partygoers under attack at the rave after Hamas terrorists appeared 'out of nowhere : Smoke rises over the buildings as the Israeli airstrikes continue in Al-Rimal Neighbourhood of Gaza City, Gaza on October 9, 2023 It is believed that at least 900 Israelis have died in the attacks and at least 500 Palestinians as a result of Israel's counter-attack on Gaza. Hamas is believed to be holding more than 100 hostages. Hamas has said it will execute the hostages if Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza strip. At least nine U.S. citizens have died in the conflict and more are believed to be a part of the hostages. One civilian hotbed targeted by Hamas was an Israeli music festival in the desert. Hamas terrorists gunned down as many revelers as possible and horrifying photos emerged of bodies piled up in a tent at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip. Biden also remained out of the pubic eye on Sunday President Biden has still yet to appear publicly after he confirmed 11 Americans were killed in Hamas' terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend Joe Biden was lambasted for staying out of the public eye Monday as war raged and nine Americans were confirmed dead in 'Israel's 9/11'. The president delivered a speech lasting less than three minutes on Saturday condemning the brutal Hamas terrorist attack. On Sunday, he was briefed that Americans were among the victims but he said nothing publicly all day, and still went forward with hosting a staff BBQ, featuring a live band, at the White House. Then, on Monday morning, as the world awaited his response to the loss of American life, the White House said Biden would not be making any appearances for the second day in a row. The president eventually issued a written statement on Monday afternoon condemning the 'appalling terrorist attack' that killed 'at least 11 Americans.' But he has yet to appear publicly to address the nation about the attack. Meanwhile, other world leaders publicly expressed support for Israel in public speeches and longer recorded videos. President Joe Biden has remained radio silent after news broke Monday that nine Americans were killed in Hamas' terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby assured on Monday that Biden was at the White House despite the lack of public events. 'You've got to be sh****ing me?!? It's Monday at noon,' Donald Trump Jr. posted to X upon hearing news the president had decided not to make any remarks. He added: 'Our greatest ally in the Middle East is at war, women and children are being slaughtered and raped in the streets, and our imbecile president is checking out before lunch?' Following an intense backlash, the White House was forced to release a detailed account of what Biden was doing Monday to respond to the conflict. It included meeting earlier in the morning with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients. 'He directed his team to follow up on coordination with Israel on all aspects of the crisis and to continue their work with regional partners to warn anyone who might seek to take advantage in this situation,' a White House statement said. 'This afternoon, President Biden will be speaking with several of our close allies about the latest developments in Israel and we will have more to share soon.' In the last two days, Biden has posted several tweets from the official POTUS account about a wide variety of topics including student debt relief, taxing billionaires, creating good-paying union jobs and backing technology innovations. He did post once on X about the ongoing conflict, writing: 'This morning, I spoke with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to express my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists.' 'We will remain in close contact over the coming days,' the president assured in the Sunday post. 'The U.S. will continue to stand with the people of Israel.' During the call, Netanyahu reportedly told Biden that a ground offensive in Gaza against Hamas is critical and there is no time for negotiations. Instead of hearing from Biden on Monday regarding the American deaths, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates released a statement slamming Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for using the violence as an 'opportunity' to put the blame on the president. 'At least nine Americans have lost their lives in these brutal terrorist attacks against the State of Israel. Hundreds of additional innocent people are dead,' Bates wrote in a statement. He added: 'While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a great opportunity, most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy.' 'As the administration provides assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, this is a moment in which all Americans, regardless of political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder with one of our closest allies. No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united.' Republicans were quick to claim that Biden's three-minute remarks on Saturday were not enough to show the extent of the U.S. support for Israel. Hamas terrorists based in Palestinian enclave of Gaza launched a multi-front terrorist attack in Israel on Saturday, killing 900 Israelis in the three days so far of conflict Pro-Palestinian protesters convened outside the White House over the weekend to seemingly show support for the heinous attacks against the Jewish State They also blame Biden for the attack and say his un-freezing of $6 billion to Iran last month in exchange for the release of five Americans detained in Tehran is what funded the Hamas attacks. Biden notably announced the release of these funds from the frozen account in South Korea on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks last month. Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that he has yet to see evidence Iran 'directed or was behind' the Hamas attack. Matt Miller, Department of State spokesperson, echoed the sentiment on Monday that there is no 'direct intelligence' that shows Iran was 'directly involved in this terrorist attack.' 'But that said, Iran has been a longtime supporter of Hamas,' Miller clarified. 'That's why we've taken action to hold Iran accountable for its support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations.' 'We will continue to examine what information we can about what directly led to these attacks and whether Iran or any other country may have been involved,' he told CNN. 'But at this point, we don't have any evidence to confirm that.' White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates did release a statement on Monday regarding the los of U.S. lives in Israel but took the short statement to attack RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel Iran's United Nations mission has denied Tehran's involvement in Hamas' terrorist operation. It is unclear how many American citizens were injured in the attacks, and whether any are being held hostage by the Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. While the names of those killed are not yet released, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Monday morning that the agency is in touch with their families 'and providing all appropriate consular assistance.' 'We cannot confirm that [Americans were taken hostage] at this point,' he told CNN. 'There are reports of that, but there are Americans who are unaccounted for, and our first priority is to locate those Americans, find out what their status is in the coming hours and days.' As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least. A trailblazing Harvard professor has won the Nobel Prize for economics for her research on the women's labor market. Claudia Goldin was awarded the economics prize Monday - for a body of work that seeks to explain why women are less likely than men to secure employment and will likely earn less when they do. She is the third woman to win the top economics prize. Fittingly, the announcement marked a small step toward closing a gender gap among Nobel laureates in the prize's economic category - with American Elinor Ostrom earning a win in 2009, and Esther Duflo doing so a decade later. Born in New York just after WWII, Godin is a product of the advancements seen since - and appeared over the moon when she got the phone call at the Cambridge, Massachusetts, home she shares with her husband and dog revealing her win. Scroll down for video: Claudia Goldi - a trailblazing Harvard professor known for her research on the male-female wage gap - won the Nobel for economics Monday, for research on the women's labor market. The 77-year-old is seen here talking to press at the prestigious school after securing the win In Stockholm, officials from The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences - the committee who awards the prize - hailed the tenured professor for '[providing] the first comprehensive account of womens earnings and labor market outcomes throughout the centuries' Some 5,000 miles away in Sweden, officials from The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences - the committee awarding the prize - hailed the 77-year-old for '[providing] the first comprehensive account of womens earnings and labor market outcomes throughout the centuries'. Randi Hjalmarsson, a member of the committee, added how the Harvard historian 'had to be a detective,' after analyzing more than 200 years of US data to demonstrate that much of the gender pay gap could be explained historically. Stemming mostly from differences in education and occupation, the disparity was laid bare in a body of work that spanned decades - and centered around topics such as the evolution of womens workforce and its implications for future job markets. However, thanks to sprawling studies that helped her become the first female at her school to secure tenure, Goldin also shined a light on other lesser-known sources of earnings difference - such as the birth of a womans first child. During a 15-year study of business school students conducted by Godin in 2010 at the University of Chicago, she found evidence the gap in pay between men and women started to widen a year or two after the woman had her first baby. Upon announcing the award winner in Stockholm Monday, Hjalmarsson cited such discoveries as the driving force behind his and other committee members' decisions - along with the 'vast societal implications' of her findings. Those discoveries sought to provide answers to long looming questions like why only half the world's nearly 4billion women have paid jobs, in contrast to 80 percent of men. Economists have historically regarded the gap's existence as a result of jobs failing give qualified women a chance, or because they either weren't competing for work or were not being considered properly. Goldin, the first woman to ever be tenured at the prestigious university, is seen here arriving at Harvard with her husband, fellow Harvard economist Lawrence, and their 14-year-old dog, Pika, who she's raised from a pup Sge was all smiles as she arrived to procession of press and faculty at the Cambridge school, before giving a speech that gave thanks for being acknowledged and even considered Earlier in the day, she said that she hoped her work would help others realize how important long-term changes in life are paramount understanding the labor market - including amongst women Her research - which spanned decades sought to find the reasons behind pay disparities, and often found they resulted from decisions that women made about their prospects in the job market and about their families' personal circumstances Goldin, however, sought to find the reasons behind such disparities - and often found they resulted from decisions that women made about their prospects in the job market and about their families' personal circumstances. Some women underestimated their employment opportunities, she found, while Others felt overwhelmed by responsibilities at home. 'Women are now more educated than men,' Goldin noted in an interview Monday, shortly before arriving at Harvard after winning the award to give a speech in front of members of the press and faculty. 'They graduate from college at much higher rates than men. They do better in high school than men do. So why are there these differences?' she asked rhetorically, 'We realize that these differences, although some are found within the labor market, are really reflections of what happens within individuals' homes. She further added, after learning she was the first woman to be the prize's sole winner in any year: 'And they're an interaction between what happens in the home and what happens in the labor market.' Goldin is just the third woman to be awarded the prize and the first woman to be the sole winner in any year Goldin is seen speaking to a reporter on the phone in her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after learning that she received the Nobel Prize in Economics Monday During a 15-year study of business school students conducted by Godin in 2010 at the University of Chicago, Goldin found evidence the gap in pay between men and woman started to widen a year or two after the woman had her first baby Golding - seen here with pooch Pika - was asleep when the call informing her of her win came in, after having gotten up earlier in the day to let the dog out. She said that she was 'delighted' with the news In an interview with the New York Times shortly after her win, She revealed she was asleep when the call informing her of the prize came in, stating that she had gotten up earlier to let her Golden Retriever Pika out, but had gone back to bed. She told the paper that she was 'delighted' with the news. 'We see a residue of history around us,' she said, attempting to explain some of the sentiments seen in her work. 'Were never going to have gender equality until we also have couple equity,' she added, citing dynamics present in relationships that affects discrepancies in pay. Conceding that there has been 'monumental progressive change' even since she joined Harvard back in 1990, she added that 'at the same time, there are important differences' that often can be explained by women doing more work in the home. Moreover, a persistent pay gap that sees women in advanced economies earn, on average, about 13 percent less than men, further discourages women from pursuing jobs or continuing their education to qualify for more advanced gigs, fueling the disparity. Goldin compiled new databases using resources like industrial statistics and historical surveys on how people used their time to find these and other answers, which Nobel officials on Monday praised 'for having advanced our understanding of women's labor market outcomes.' Her award follows Nobel honors this year in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace that were announced last week. It also follows last year's three winners in economics: Former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip Dybvig for their research into bank failures that helped shape Americas aggressive response to the 2007 financial crisis. The United Nations has blasted Israel for imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip following Hamas' assault on the country. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last night said he is 'deeply distressed' after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza by cutting off food and electricity in the area. Guterres added: 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now it will only deteriorate exponentially.' More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by Hamas on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days and killing 560 Palestinians. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today addressed the situation in Israel after an attack by Hamas on Saturday A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday A Palestinian emergency responder directs other after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on Monday Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday People douse a car blaze in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon after a rocket attack from Gaza on Monday Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'. READ MORE: Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel's Defence Forces to besiege Gaza Advertisement The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. Israeli forces have already used their strike force of 600 planes and 300 rocket launchers to relentlessly pound the Gaza Strip, But the onslaught is not expected to stop there, with Israel's 173,000 soldiers, including 8,000 of its fearsome elite commandos, vying for the opportunity to kill Hamas terrorists. They are now preparing to launch a massive co-ordinated ground assault within the 'next 48 hours' to destroy the Hamas fighters and infrastructure in Gaza that will see fierce fighting erupt in the streets. The ground troops are drawing from Israel's arsenal of 300 military tanks including self-propelled howitzers to scour the country's southern and northern borders for Hamas gunman and guard the breaches in its border. Israel's military might is far superior to that of the Hamas terrorists, who currently only possess around 10,000 rockets that had been built up in secret. On top of the 173,000 active Israeli soldiers, Israel has today drafted in a record 300,000 reservists in its response to a multi-front Hamas attack from Gaza and is 'going on the offensive,' the chief military spokesperson said. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (pictured last month) said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel Israel is drawing on its huge military might - including thousands of tanks, warplanes and troops - to obliterate Hamas Israeli soldiers on a tank move near Gaza border as Israeli army deploys military vehicles around the Gaza Strip in Sderot, Israel, on Monday Israeli soldiers scan an area while sirens sound as rockets from Gaza are launched towards Israel near Sderot, southern Israel, on Monday Israeli forces launch artillery fire towards southern Lebanon from the border zone in northern Israel on Monday Israeli soldiers on a tank are seen near the Israel-Gaza border on Monday Israeli forces, dispatched to the border with Gaza in southern Israel, scan the area near Ashdod on Monday A Palestinian child walks past damaged cars amid the rubble of a destroyed area after Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on Monday Israeli soldiers gather at an area along the border with Gaza on Monday A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on Monday Israel is also drawing on its special forces from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit to fight against Hamas. It is believed that they will be aiming to take out those high-ranking fighters within the terrorist organisation and also rescue the hundreds of Israelis who have been taken hostage. Israel's Defence Forces have said they want to completely strip Hamas of its power to govern in Palestine after what has been described as the country's 'worst day in history' with the number of Israeli's killed in the conflict set to rise further. Hundreds of Palestinians, including children, have also been killed and buildings reduced to rubble after Israel began its deadly revenge attack. By Monday afternoon, Hamas said more than 500 people had been killed, 2,700 wounded and 80,000 displaced in the hundreds of strikes that Israeli warplanes, drones, helicopters and artillery cannon have fired into Gaza. The Israeli airstrikes have flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the Palestinian enclave's north-east corner, which Hamas terrorists had been using as a staging ground for their attacks. In a statement, the Israeli Air Force said it dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza aimed at over 10,000 targets in Gaza in the last 20 hours. Among the targets were three rocket launchers directed at Israel, a mosque where militants were operating and 21 high-rise buildings that served militant activity. But Palestinians are preparing for an offensive of unprecedented scale on the tiny, crowded enclave, exceeding previous bouts of destructive warfare that they fear will leave survivors destitute, without homes, water, electricity, hospitals or food. 'It doesn't need much thinking about. Israel suffered the biggest loss in its history so you can imagine what it is going to do,' said a resident of Beit Hanoun on Gaza's northeastern border with Israel. 'I took my family out at sunrise and dozens of other families did the same. Many of us got phone calls, audio messages from Israeli security officers telling us to leave because they will operate there,' he said. Families began stockpiling food as soon as Saturday's attack began but fear that despite Hamas assurances supplies will run low. Gaza has no protected shelters designated for times of war. Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday Palestinians evacuate a body following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on Monday A member of the Palestinian civil defence carries a wounded boy rescued from the rubble of the Tattari family home which was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Monday A six-month baby called Sema al-Misri is being rescued under rubble after Israeli airstrike in Gaza Strip on Monday Palestinians carry a wounded man on a stretcher following Israeli strikes on a residential building in Gaza on Monday It comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Earlier, Israel's army said its forces were in 'full control of communities' in its southern territory near Gaza - hours after it said it was fighting Hamas terrorists in 'seven to eight' locations in the south. 'We are in full control of the communities,' military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists. But he said that fighting still raged in locations inside Israel where the fighters were still holed up after killing 700 Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. 'We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area,' he said in a televised briefing. Military officials had previously said that their focus was on securing Israel's side of the border before carrying out any major escalation of the counter-offensive in Gaza. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. Elliot Sorene said his son Ariel escaped attack by running 12 miles through a field A father has said his son feels 'happy to be alive' after he saw people being killed and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists at a music festival. Elliot Sorene, a surgeon from Mill Hill in north west London said his son Ariel was not injured at the Supernova festival site, where 260 bodies have been found. Ariel made a lucky escape after he managed to get to his Renault Clio, but had to run away after militants starting firing on his car. He ran about 12 miles with his friends through a field to a nearby community, the BBC reported. Mr Sorene said his son, who has dual British-Israeli citizenship, 'heard rockets' while at the trance party, before seeing militants shoot indiscriminately at the partygoers. Elliot Sorene (right) said his son Ariel (left) saw people killed and taken hostage by militants at the supernova festival in southern Israel, before he escaped with his friends Hamas militants targeted the Supernova festival in southern Israel, where 260 bodies were found dead Dozens of people, including some foreign nationals, at the music festival were taken as hostages, Israel's military said A distressing image, shared in a pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at the festival site A family, including a tearful girl, is evacuated after a rocket attack in southern Israel on Saturday 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 Dozens of people have been taken as hostages from the festival and border towns, including foreign nationals, the Israeli military said. Another partygoer named Ortel said the rockets fired were quickly followed by gunshots being fired from jeeps full of gunmen. Horrifying footage shows partygoers screaming while shots were fired and police are seen trying to help people evacuate. Some were seen holding hands as they ran away while others shouted 'go, go, go'. Survivors of the attack said they were forced to hide under bushes as they watched victims get killed one by one, until they heard the sound of people rescuers speaking in Hebrew. According to Israeli media, it took five hours for military to arrive. Israeli rescue service Zaka said it had recovered at least 260 bodies that will be removed from the festival site. A senior Hamas official said last night that the militant group is holding more than 100 people captive following the attack on Israel, which has sparked fierce fighting killing and wounding thousands of people on both sides. 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. A missile explodes over Gaza City last night as Israel carries out airstrikes following Hamas' attack The Israeli rescue service Zaka tonight said at least 260 bodies have been removed from the festival site. Pictured: Partygoers fleeing the festival scene yesterday morning On Monday, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to put a 'complete siege' on Gaza in retaliation for the surprise attack launched by Hamas over the weekend. Among those believed to be kidnapped from the festival is Ada Sagi, 74. Her son Noam told BBC Radio 4: 'It feels unreal it feels inhumane it is very upsetting to think that this is even possible.' More than 200 asylum seekers landed in Britain yesterday after crossing the English Channel in small boats, just one day after a teenage refugee from Eritrea drowned when a dinghy carrying 60 people capsized. Official figures revealed that 218 people arrived aboard six dinghies yesterday, an average of 36 people packed onto each small boat. It comes as people smugglers taking migrants across the Channel have created a 'rush' of business after warning those crossing of a fresh crackdown by Suella Braverman. The Home Secretary warned at the Tory Party conference last week of a 'hurricane' of mass migration and slammed the Human Rights Act. The latest figures of arrivals takes the number of migrants to come to the UK so far this year to 25,600 people in 539 boats. More than 200 asylum seekers landed in Britain yesterday after crossing the English Channel in small boats. Pictured: Migrants are brought into Dover Harbour today Official figures revealed that 218 people arrived aboard six dinghies yesterday, an average of 36 people packed onto each small boat. Pictured: A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel today The latest figures of arrivals takes the number of migrants to come to the UK so far this year to 25,600 people in 539 boats. Pictured: Migrants are being brought into Dover Harbour today The latest batch of arrivals follows the death of the unnamed teenager who was in an inflatable dinghy crammed with 60 men, women and children when it for got into difficulties in the sea near the French port in the early hours on Sunday. The youngster, aged 17 or 18 from Eritrea, is the fifth refugee to die in northern France in the last 21 days. The boat capsized tipping everyone into the water, refugee charity Care4Calais reported. When the emergency services arrived they found the teenager's body on the beach. 'The death toll of refugees in northern France is becoming overwhelming,' the charity posted on its Facebook page. 'This morning a young Eritrean man aged just 17 or 18, was found drowned on a beach near Calais. He is the fifth refugee to die in northern France in just 21 days.' The charity said the dinghy, which was carrying 60 people, got into difficulties shortly after it left the shore. The small boat capsized in the sea, 'tipping everyone into the water', in the early hours of Sunday morning. The group made it back to land, but when emergency personnel arrived at 6.30am they found the teen's body on the beach, 'surrounded by discarded life jackets'. 'It is not clear if he was washed ashore, or carried,' the charity wrote, adding: 'Many of those who had been on the boat were in a state of shock after the tragedy.' Pictured: A small inflatable boat left on the beach in Gravelines, northern France, as migrants continue to make attempts to cross the Channel in small boats towards the UK on Friday A total of 25,382 people have made the crossing in 533 boats so far this year compared to 45,755 in 2022. In 2021 28,526 were intercepted. Pictured: Migrants are brought into Dover Harbour after being rescued in the English Channel today The latest batch of arrivals follows the death of the unnamed teenager who was in an inflatable dinghy crammed with 60 men, women and children when it for got into difficulties in the sea near the French port in the early hours on Sunday. Pictured: A view of a shoe left on the beach in Gravelines, northern France, as migrants continue to make attempts to cross the Channel in small boats towards the UK Ten men and five women, all Eritrean, were taken in by members of the nautical club, which had opened up to help the survivors. Other French emergency services allowed the refugees to change clothes, and keep warm under survival blankets 'This tragedy means that 15 refugees are known to have died on the English-French border so far this year, with hundreds more seriously injured. This carnage is utterly unacceptable, and would never be tolerated if the people dying were native British or French people,' the charity added. 'It is all the more shocking because the authorities have admitted they're aware of the scramble to get into boats.' The organisation criticised the governments in Britain and France for the influx in Channel crossing. Care4Calais wrote: 'This scramble is driven by harsher and more frequent evictions in France, which makes people desperate to escape, and UK Government rhetoric that people tell us makes them keen to try to get there in case Channel crossings are somehow blocked completely. 'People are dying in northern France not because of natural accidents, but because of conditions created by politicians. These conditions could be changed by introducing safe passage, and they know it. The young man that died alone this morning, 3000 miles from home, and for all those like him, deserve better than this: we will never stop campaigning until they get it.' The latest tragedy comes after a 24-year-old Eritrean woman died trying to cross the Channel on September 26. More than 200 migrants made the crossing on Sunday in at least four dinghies and brought into the port of Dover in Kent by Border Force vessels. It is the first crossings in more than a week due to strong winds. A total of 25,382 people have made the crossing in 533 boats so far this year compared to 45,755 in 2022. In 2021 28,526 were intercepted. It comes as Ms Braverman, in a bald speech bound to anger lawyers and judges, told delegates it should be renamed the 'Criminal Rights Act' and pledged to do 'whatever it takes' to stop the crossings. Now traffickers in Calais have warned those wanting to travel of a new 'crackdown' on the back of what she said in Manchester. And it comes amid an expected surge in solo migrants making the crossing on an inflatable. It comes as Suella Braverman (pictured earlier this year), in a bald speech bound to anger lawyers and judges, told delegates it should be renamed the 'Criminal Rights Act' and pledged to do 'whatever it takes' to stop the crossings A French prosecution source in Calais said: 'The idea is to use the Home Secretary's rhetoric as a way of frightening the lives out of those crossing to do it now as there won't be long left. 'They are creating a rush. That is great for business as autumn approaches and conditions become more challenging. They are sharing clips of the speech and the idea is to frighten migrants that this will soon be over. The smugglers know full well it won't but it's just another tactic. 'It's creating a rush around Calais and is great for the smugglers as the conditions approaching are far from ideal to cross.' It comes after French police opened an investigation into the death of a teenage Eritrean migrant who died after drowning in the Channel on Sunday morning. The source said it showed the 'cunning' of the smugglers. He added: 'They are ruthless business people and will deploy any tactics possible to continue their trade.' Gal Gadot has demanded the world not 'sit on the fence' over the war in Israel and Palestine after hundreds were murdered by a terror attack on Saturday. The Wonder Woman actress, 38, served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat trainer over a decade ago, leading some to wonder if she could be called to fight in the war with Hamas. Over the weekend, the former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to support Israel, writing: 'I stand with Israel you should too. The world cannot sit on the fence when these horrific acts of terror are happening!' The star has also asked her followers to donate funds for those affected by the weekend's attacks, which left hundreds of Israeli soldiers and civilians left. Gadot also shared a video of U2's Sunday show at the Sphere in Las Vegas, where the band dedicated their song Pride (In the Name of Love) to the hundreds of music fans killed and kidnapped at a music festival in Israel on Saturday. Actress Gal Gadot has demanded that the world not 'sit on the fence' as she voiced her support for her native country after hundreds were murdered by a terror attack in Israel on Saturday The Wonder Woman star, 38, famously served in the Israeli Defense Forces as a combat trainer over a decade ago On Saturday, the former Miss Israel 2004 was one of the first Hollywood names to speak up in support of Israel, sharing news of the Hamas ' assault on civilians Bono tweaked the hit's lyrics to say: 'Sing for our brothers and sisters who they themselves were singing at the Supernova Sukkot festival in Israel... We sing for those. Our people, our kind of people, music people. Playful, experimental people. Our kind of people. We sing for them.' During his concert, Bono added: 'In the light of what's happened in Israel and Gaza, a song about non-violence seems somewhat ridiculous, even laughable, but our prayers have always been for peace and for non-violence But our hearts and our anger, you know where that's pointed. So sing with us and those beautiful kids at that music festival.' 'Thank you U2 and Bono for supporting Israel,' Gadot wrote on her Instagram story. Gadot served for two years in the IDF, which is mandatory for Israelis, and has said being in the military helped her with discipline and teamwork skills, which she now applies in filmmaking. 'It's not about you, you're not number one. Right now we're doing something for a greater objective and when you film a movie, the greater objective is to make a great movie,' she told Fox in August. 'I'm not spoiled, I know how to work hard. I have a really strong work ethic and I think it's related to that.' The star has also asked her followers to donate funds for those affected by the weekend's attacks All Israelis citizens are subject to being called on to fight as the nation enters what experts have called the worst conflict between Israel and Palestine in decades. As many as 300,000 Israeli reservists have already been called to join the IDF forces. It's not clear if the star has been called up as a reservist. DailyMail.com has reached out to Gadot's team for comment on this story. Gadot and other stars such as Kylie Jenner, Madonna and Amy Schumer have received abuse online from pro-Palestinian social media users after voicing support for the Jewish nation. Some even demanded the actress be boycotted. 'I unfollowed nina dobrev ian Somerhalder , gal gadot, Thibaut Courto is blocked kylie jenner cause i ve never followed her in the first place the list keep increasing and im here for it,' said one X user. Another said: 'Gal Gadot, Madonna, Mark Hamill, Amy Schumer, Natalie Portman and more disappointedly, Jamie Lee Curtis all publicly supporting Israel I stand with Palestine against Israel's illegal occupation of their land.' A third said: 'I hate gal gadot with all my heart. Every movie or shows with her in it I don't even watch it. It's not that hard to boycott & ignore them!' Meanwhile, former porn star Mia Khalifa has been loudly supporting Hamas' armed attack on civilians online. The 30-year-old repeatedly supported the group's bombings and kidnappings to her five million followers on X, urging the aggressors to film horizontally so she could better watch the carnage. The Lebanese-American posted: 'Can someone please tell the freedom fighters in Palestine to flip their phones and film horizontal.' The Palestinian terrorist group stormed the Supernova Festival that had been taking place near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza Strip, as part of its surprise assault launched on Saturday. This morning, harrowing dashcam footage from the incident showed gunmen executing civilians as they lay in the sand before rifling through their pockets and emptying bags from their cars. Bono tweaked the hit's lyrics to say: 'Sing for our brothers and sisters who they themselves were singing at the Supernova Sukkot festival in Israel' Gadot and other stars such as Kylie Jenner , Madonna and Amy Schumer have received abuse online from pro-Palestinian social media users But the former porn star was not moved by the criticism, and continued defending Hamas' actions as justified. She reposted a message saying 'the United States of America is also a terrorist state' and went after Kylie Jenner for sharing and then deleting a message in support of Israel. 'If true journalism exists, the next person to talk to Kylie Jenner will ask for her opinion on geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and not break eye contact until she can string one coherent sentence together since she wants to take a stance to her 400M followers so badly,' Khalifa wrote. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets in the past two days. A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday Now, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities will cut electricity to the Gaza Strip and block the entry of food and fuel, declaring his troops are 'fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly'. The measures will essentially enact siege-like conditions that will see the millions of Palestinians living in the tiny, fenced-in region begin to starve as they are attacked from the skies. The announcement comes as Israeli soldiers backed by helicopters killed at least two gunmen who crossed the northern border from Lebanon today, in a sign of a possible new front opening as Israel's forces continued to battle Hamas terrorists to the south. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a local journalist said. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, suggesting greater fighting lies ahead with a possible ground assault into Gaza. Netanyahu has vowed to completely destroy 'the military and governing capabilities' of Hamas, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. Adams posted supportive videos for both Columbus Day and Indigenous People's Day prior to the parade New York Governor Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Eric Adams were front and center for Monday's annual Columbus Day parade - even though the city's leader posted messages backing both sides in the debate over what should be honored on the holiday. The 79th parade is a chance for to celebrate Italian-American heritage and the legendary explorer with plenty of groups, Maseratis and revelry on display along Fifth Avenue. However, some have pushed to ditch Columbus Day for Indigenous People's Day because of the legendary explorer's treatment of natives when he arrived in the West. Adams seemed to play both sides in social media messages. 'The story of Italian immigrants is New York City's story. Our Italian-American community has contributed so much, from arts and culture to the determined, working class spirit that built our very city,' he said in a short video posted online. Moments earlier, the mayor posted about a separate video stating '#IndigenousPeoplesDay is a call for us to mend our broken history and embrace our indigenous and native brothers and sisters upon whose ancestral land we live. New York Mayor Eric Adams was seen marching in the streets as he waved around the Italian flag and waved at people Governor Kathy Hochul stood tall on a float and marched as she waved a flag around as well as she interacted with the crowd Floats and Maseratis lined the streets as members of the Italian American community stayed out for hours on end Adams didn't speak at the parade, neither did Governor Kathy Hochul. But both were present. Hochul stood tall on a float and marched as she waved a flag around. Every year, thousands of people come together to celebrate Italian-American heritage, dressed in red, white and green, waving Italian flags around as they marched the streets. The parade began on Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and continued north to 72nd Street after a mass was held at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Floats and Maseratis lined the streets as members of the Italian-American community stayed out for hours on end. 'Italian Americans have done so much to build the city of New York and I think we all definitely benefit from Italian culture whether we are conscious of it or not, between art, food, music, everything else,' said Beth Paretta, CEO or Paretta Motorsports. Lenny Mancuso from Long Island told CBS New York: 'What people don't realize is that Italians have had an influence in the development and growth of the United States since colonial times. We helped write the Declaration of Independence, in every field that you can think of.' Columbus Day is meant to highlight Italian Christopher Columbus's journey to discovering the West. But, in recent years, there has been a push to downplay his place in history and remove the holiday named for him because of the treatment of Indigenous people. 'As an Italian-American, Columbus Day will always hold a special place in my heart and no amount of woke madness will take that away,' a statement from the Italian Caucus of New York and NYC Councilwoman Vickie Paladino read. 'I will continue to celebrate Columbus Day proudly and I am proud to stand alongside my colleagues in the Italian Caucus in opposing the erasure of the Italian History in America.' Indigenous People's Day has been around since 1977 when it was first introduced at a United Nations conference, and for the past three years, it has shared the same day with Columbus Day following a 2021 federal proclamation from President Joe Biden. Many communities now celebrate Indigenous People's Day, or both holidays, on the same day. Pictured: People gathered for the 202 Indigenous People's celebration in New York City In response to the findings of what the Italian explorer did on his journey, his federal holiday has been questioned for the past quarter century due to his mistreatment of Indigenous people. Pictured: A man defacing a Columbus statue in Miami Adams came out for this parade after he failed to appear at the pro-Palestine rally in Times Square on Sunday Columbus was born in Geno, which is now part of Italy, in 1451. The Italian explorer is idolized by many for representing their heritage each year on the second Monday in October. Spanish rulers, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand approved and funded his journey, but what they did not authorize were the indigenous people that he abducted and enslaved. 'His first trip had been rushed, he told the monarchs, but on his next he was sure he could amass slaves in any number they may order,"' Columbus allegedly said, according to a new op-ed from the Boston Globe's Jeff Jacoby. In a 1975 essay from American Heritage, Edward T. Stone wrote that 'Columbus captured a large number of indigenous men, women, and children, sending them back as cargo in 12 ships to be sold in the slave market at Seville.' At least 14 states and 130 cities in the US have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day. Columbus, Ohio, named for the explorer, has even changed the holiday to recognize Indigenous people. Massachusetts has become a hotbed for the Columbus Day vs. Indigenous People's Day debate. Native American activists and supporters take the day and make it their own as more than 300 cities and towns across Massachusetts alone have set out to honor their community. But, the state government has yet to make the switch. A bill is pending to make the change to Indigenous People's Day, according to The Boston Herald. 'This bill basically disregards the contributions of Italian American people,' said State Representative Jeffrey Turco, D-19th Suffolk. Danielle DeLuca co-founded Italian Americans for Indigenous People's Day and has led efforts to drop Columbus Day since 2016 and instead use it to celebrate other Italian Americans. 'We believe that Indigenous Peoples Day should be its own holiday. It should not stand alongside Columbus Day. It should not stand alongside Italian Heritage Day. 'We cannot celebrate Italian Americans on a day that is honoring Columbus. You just cannot celebrate a perpetrator of genocide and victims of genocide on the same day,' DeLuca said. A woman accused of murdering a stepfather whose body has never been found told police the victim was very good at disappearing, a court heard. Frank McKeever, 63, vanished off the face of the earth after visiting Surie Suksiri, 31, at her home in north London on 28 August 2021 and his body has never been found. Surie Suksiri, 31, had forced him to film a 47 second video confessing to abusing her when she was six, saying: I deserve to be punished, the Old Bailey heard. Suksiri and her partner Juned Sheikh, 48, both deny murdering Mr McKeever. They also deny preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body on or around 3 September 2021. Surie Suksiri, 31 and her partner Juned Sheikh, 48 both deny murdering Frank McKeever Mr McKeever, 63, 'vanished off the face of the earth' after visiting his stepdaughter at her north London home in August 2021 Suksiri was later befriended by an undercover police officer called Nat and told her I battered the f**k out of him. She bought a 350 car and drove 80 miles to dump the body in a location the killers have never revealed, the court heard. Sheikh claims that Mr McKeever left the house alive and well and that while he has not seen him since, he may well be still alive. Suksiri claims that Mr McKeever stayed at the home for two nights but on the morning of 30 August she found him dead and Sheikh made her dispose of the body with him. On 1 September 2021 the defendants made google searches for used cars including cheap Ford Cars for sale in the UK. Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones said: There cant be any doubt, can there- especially given what Suksiri was later to tell Nat about getting a car for 350 from- as she put it a gypo- that is what they were searching for here. The two of them searching together for a cheap car, a seller being identified, his number being saved and then that number being repeatedly contacted by Sheikh that evening. As I told you, the body of Frank McKeever has never been found. Surie Suksiri told Nat that she and her co-defendant had driven 80 miles to dump it, but she did not say where. Mr Emlyn Jones said the defendants had been aware of preventing police finding out where they dumped the body through their mobile phones. From midnight on 2 September 2021 to 4pm on 3 September neither of them used them at all. They were switched on- but neither of them sends a text, or makes a call, or answers a call, throughout that period, he said. Given what Suksiri told Nat they had done, and given that we can see what looks like the arrangements to buy the car they needed to drive the body out of London and dump it, the prosecution suggest that period of inactivity on their phones must be when they made that journey. That journey of 80 miles in the car they had bought and performed the grisly task of dragging Franks dead body into the undergrowth and dumping it- only they know where. The first thing Surie Suksiri did with her phone when she started to use it again is very odd - and you may think significant. At 4.06pm on 3 September 2021 Suksiri made a phone call to Frank McKeever. Frank McKeever, who she now admits, on her case, was dead, and whose body, she told Nat, she and Sheikh had dumped. Why would she phone him? We suggest that there can only really be one reason for that- to try and leave a false trail, hoping that one day, if she ever had to face questions about Franks disappearance, she could say- I dont know where he is, Ive been trying to call him. Now, as it happens, that is not now her case. She is not pretending that she does not know where Frank McKeever was. But thats not what she has always been saying. Because on 20 October 2022 both defendants were again rearrested on suspicion of murder. On that occasion Suksiri provided a prepared statement saying: I stand by everything I have said to police about the disappearance of Frank McKeever previously. The only thing I would add is that Frank was very good at disappearing and I believe he is still alive. I didnt murder him or assist in any murder. Mr Emlyn Jones said: She knew, just as the prosecution suggest they both knew, that Frank McKeevers dead body was lying somewhere, hidden or buried in some sort of shallow grave, and to this day hes not been found, theyve not said where, and his family have not been able to bury him. We suggest she has swapped one lie for a different one, as the net of evidence tightens and tightens around her. Despite previously insisting to police her stepfather was 'good at disappearing' and he was still alive, Suksiri told the court that she found him dead on August 30 and Sheikh made her dispose of the body with him The prosecution case is that the one time she was being entirely truthful was in what she said to Nat, when she thought she was confiding in someone she could trust. Then, we suggest, she had no reason to lie- not about herself, and not about Juned Sheikh either. You have heard a lot about different things Surie Suksiri has said- much less about what Juned Sheikh has said. But of course, as a matter of common sense, you will want to consider whether there is any realistic prospect of Surie Suksiri having acted alone in this. We suggest it is simply not credible or realistic she could have murdered Frank McKeever alone or disposed of his body alone. The only person with whom she can have done these things was we suggest Juned Sheikh. Sheikh, of Camberwell, southeast London, and Suksiri, of Islington, north London, deny murder and preventing the lawful and decent burial of a body. The trial continues. Police arrested three people after protests outside Israel's London embassy on Monday night, with further arrests possible after criminal damage to a building on Kensington High Street. Of those arrested, one was taken in for assault on an emergency worker, another for racially-motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon, the Metropolitan Police said. Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately tried to keep the peace on a night where thousands of pro-Palestine protesters descended on the Israeli embassy. Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station in west London as more than 1,000 pro-Palestine activists gathered on the streets outside. Fireworks were seen being launched by protesters on Kensington High Street - some towards the boarded up Israeli embassy - as those supporting Palestine told MailOnline that there is 'no way to change the Middle East peacefully'. In stark contrast to the dancing, singing and flares in Kensington - and other heated protests across the UK - weeping Israelis gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas who launched a violent assault over the Gaza border on Saturday. Rishi Sunak also visited a London synagogue to show his support for Israel - and later condemned Hamas in a joint statement with his French, German, American and Italian counterparts. Nearly 1,600 people have been killed in the conflict in three days - many of whom are civilians. Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the Israel Embassy in London chanting 'free free Palestine ' and lighting flares Palestinian and Israeli supporters have clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately try and keep the peace Tensions spill over into scuffle at Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London. A young man set off a firework during the gathering on Kensington High Street. As Met police intervened, several other protesters waded into the melee. #London pic.twitter.com/6jm7fqKcqK Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) October 9, 2023 Israeli flags were being waves while Palestinian posters can be seen in the background Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to divide demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station while a pro-Palestine rally took place outside One Israeli goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington There was a heavy police presence at High Street Kensington Tube station as protesters clashed Police officers had to escort protesters down to the platform as tensions threatened to boil over As Palestine supporters gathered in Kensington, weeping Israelis held a vigil outside Downing Street Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) attended Finchley United Synagogue in central London, for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks In Kensington, pro-Palestine protesters - some scaling bins and lampposts with flags and flares - banged drums and chanted 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'. At other protests across the UK, activists proclaimed: 'Let there be bloodshed.' Across the street, around ten protesters scaled a Bupa Dental Care building where they scrawled 'free Palestine' in red and green spray paint on to the wall. Various activist groups turned up in support, including the Socialist Worker, which had set up at least three stalls. It was selling its newspapers and calling for signatures for a petition demanding the end of 'arming Israel apartheid'. One police officer said: 'We just hope that the two groups don't meet and pro-Israeli activists arrive here too then it will be chaos.' But Israelis caught wind of the protest and swarmed the area, waving their country's flag as things turned ugly forcing police to step in on what transformed into a night of fury. Police had to escort supporters of both countries onto the platforms where tensions threatened to boil over. One Israeli goaded a group of Palestinians by holding an Israel flag up against the window as the Tube left High Street Kensington. Brit Patricia Ryan, who was at the rally with her Palestinian husband, told MailOnline she was 'surprised like everybody' by the Hamas attack, but added: 'We feel that there had to be a huge tectonic movement for any change to occur in the Middle East. 75 years is a long time. Nothing, nothing was happening. 'It's sad to say there's no way to do it peacefully. Every avenue has been tried and failed. 'Boiling point for Palestinians has been there for a long time. Now of course very quickly the Israelis are feeling that pressure, that terrible sense of danger that the Palestinians deal with day in day out.' Palestine flags were waved throughout Kensington high street on Monday night Smoke fills the air in west London as pro-Palestine protesters continue their demonstration Makeshift stalls were set up touting 'Free Palestine' merchandise in the popular shopping district Protesters set off red and green flares Smoke fills the air as protesters gather on the busy shopping street in west London Protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up placards near the Israeli Embassy As the night went on, pro-Palestinian supporters danced to music and waved the country's flag Palestinians wave flags of support after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday There was a significant police presence in the Royal borough throughout the evening People take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy Protesters were seen climbing up lampposts and letting of flares to show solidarity with Palestine Mosibur Rahman Ullah, 53, said that the situation in Gaza has 'reached boiling point' after '75 years of Israeli oppression' of Palestinians People also took part in a demonstration in support of Palestine at Piccadilly Circus on Monday Another pro-Palestine protester, Mosibur Rahman Ullah, 53, agreed that the situation in Gaza has 'reached boiling point' after '75 years of Israeli oppression' of Palestinians. In reference to Hamas militant's acts of terror on members of the Israeli population, Mr Ullah, from Bangladesh, told MailOnline: 'Sometimes you have to fight, freedom isn't won just by words.' He added that 'the diplomatic means at the hands of Palestinians just hasn't worked, so these are the steps they have had to take'. Another protester, who was handing out Free Palestine merchandise, said that the brutal Hamas attack was 'justified', adding: 'I do feel it's something the Palestinians support.' But Willian de Britto, 35, condemned Hamas' attack, saying 'what we want is peace', although he said that 'what has been happening with Palestine throughout so, so many years cannot continue to happen'. 'It is just a retaliation of what has been happening for so many years,' he added. Twenty-year-old Russian Akhmed agreed, telling MailOnline: 'I don't think it's right to kill civilians. There's been innocent people harmed because of this situation which is why it's important it should stop. People who have killed civilians should be held accountable. But he said action was needed, adding: 'I'm a Muslim myself so I'm supporting my Muslim brothers and sisters. It's unfair what Israel soldiers have done to Palestinians for so many years. It's important to come speak and support Palestine and help to stop Israeli occupation.' People take part in a 'Vigil for Israel' opposite the entrance to Downing Street Mourners gathered to remember those lost during the violence in Israel, with the death toll surpassing 700 Israelis gathered outside Downing Street to fly their country's flag amid Hamas' unprecedented assault Attendees at the vigil held up placards saying 'I stand with Israel' People take part in a 'Vigil for Israel' opposite the entrance to Downing Street The Palace of Westminster illuminated in the colours of the flag of Israel as the Government shows support As the evening went on, anger turned into jubilation among some of the pro-Palestine protesters, with music blaring and flags waving. There was a heavy police presence, with several police cars and fire engines lined up along High Street Kensington. A group of protesters surrounded a woman who was being quizzed by several officers outside the station. One pro-Palestine supporter told MailOnline that 'Israel has done terrible things before' and the 'whole world has been silent for so long'. He added: 'I'm not justifying any action that ends human life. Everyone wants peace and harmony. But one side has land, power and everything and one side has nothing. 'They have a right to have land, freedom and a livelihood. We don't encourage violence. We want peace and co-existence. 'Israel has the support of largest economy in world most powerful economy - western society. They have no voice.' It comes as Suella Braverman urged police forces to step up patrols to prevent anti-Jewish disorder and violence. Boards of wood and gates were placed around the entrance to the Israeli embassy earlier on Monday. Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the groups behind the demonstration, said in a statement: 'The offensive launched from Gaza can only be understood in the context of Israel's ongoing, decades long, military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land and imposition of a system of oppression that meets the legal definition of apartheid. 'This is the context in which we need to understand the cycle of violence. If violence is to end, both that of the oppressor and the oppressed, then we must all take action to end the root cause - Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.' In Newcastle, more than 200 activists surrounded Grey's Monument for an 'End the siege on Gaza' protest, chanting 'free, free Palestine.' Among them was an activist named Ahmed, 36, who held a sizzling green flare aloft and told reporters: 'Let there be bloodshed for now. I support the Palestinian resistance. Hamas are a freedom movement, they are resistance, they are not terrorists. Israel is an apartheid state. You shouldn't steal someone's land and you shouldn't kill people either.' During its nightly update, the Israeli Defence Force's spokesman said that some 2,300 Israelis are confirmed wounded and more than 700 dead. This total includes civilian and military casualties. 'But unfortunately, for the first time in Israeli history the majority of those casualties are civilian', said Jonathan Conricus, IDF reservist and spokesman. British Jews have said they are 'at one' with Israelis, with the Chief Rabbi addressing the crowds. Rishi Sunak, who has been extremely vocal about Britain's support for Israel, wore a kippah as he attended a prayer service for the hundreds of Israeli victims of Hamas. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets People standing on a rooftop watch as a ball of fire and smoke rises above a building in Gaza City on October 7, 2023 during an Israeli air strike Israeli soldiers gather at an area along the border with Gaza, southern Israel, 09 October 2023 The Prime Minister was hailed as a 'great and wonderful friend' of Israel and the Jewish people. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told a congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London that Mr Sunak had 'turned your diary upside down in order to be here'. Sir Ephraim said: 'Good friends are able to differentiate between the forces of darkness and the forces of light, between true and false, between right and wrong, 'And Prime Minister, you are a great and wonderful friend of our Jewish community and of the State of Israel.' Mr Sunak told those who attended: 'I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you, to stand with you in this hour of grief as we mourn the victims of an utterly abhorrent act of terror, to stand with you in this hour of prayer, as we think of those held hostage and your friends and loved ones taking refuge in bomb shelters, or risking their lives on the frontline. 'And perhaps above all, I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you in solidarity in Israel's hour of need. 'As the Prime Minister of this country, I'm unequivocal. The people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. 'They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.' Rachel Shoer Geaves, 81, from north London, said: 'I am from Israel, my parents had to flee Vienna in the Holocaust. I have two brothers and their families who are there right now and all I can do is pray for their safety.' The protests came as police deployed extra security outside Jewish schools after a spate of anti-Semitic violence and vandalism. The words 'Free Palestine' were daubed onto a bridge in Golders Green, home to London's largest Jewish community. The nearby Pita kosher restaurant was also vandalised and a cash register was stolen though police have said the attack is not being treated as a hate crime. The Met Police has stepped up patrols in Jewish areas of the capital after videos that were circulating online appeared to show people celebrating the attacks by Hamas. Pupils at some Jewish schools have also been warned not to wear blazers carrying the school logo. A Met Police spokesman said it had 'increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities'. In Westminster, hundreds attended a Jewish vigil for Israel where security minister Tom Tugendhat and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy were among the speakers. Emotional crowds chanted 'let our children go', while many held photos of Noa Argamani - an Israeli woman who was kidnapped by Hamas. Mr Sunak, speaking at the Finchley United Synagogue last night, said of Hamas: 'They are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.' Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (pictured) told a congregation at Finchley United Synagogue in north London that Mr Sunak had 'turned your diary upside down in order to be here'. It comes after Hamas pledged to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the war's third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri - around 10% of its population - after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists - a massive mobilization in a short time. A paramedic holds a little girl with her face full of blood and dirt from the effects of the bombing of Israeli planes in Gaza on Monday A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Sunday night The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. 'We have only started striking Hamas,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. 'What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations.' As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question is whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, already have been killed in Israel, according to media. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israel's aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza 'without prior warning.' Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, 'This war crime will not be forgiven.' Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis. Sitting on the back of a terrorist's motorcycle, her outstretched arms pointing towards her helpless boyfriend, student Noa Argamani pleads for her life 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 A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9, 2023 Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a years-long Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That is fomenting calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject any Palestinians statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy. In the early evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods - a sign of Hamas's reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Also Monday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a 'complete siege' on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israel's siege would spell 'utter disaster' for Gazans. 'There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law,' he told The Associated Press. 'If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because lack of energy, electricity, and supplies, it could amount to war crimes.' The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food, and other deliveries. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. The U.N. said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza - many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. 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. Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed. moke rises following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on October 9 as the war escalates Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a 'complete siege' on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Pictured: Damage from an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City Israeli soldiers carry the flag-covered coffin of Col. Roi Levy during his funeral at the Mount Herzl cemetery in Jerusalem on Monday Israelis evacuate a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel New exchanges on Israel's northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanon's 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. While the Israeli military said it had control of its border communities in southern Israel about 48 hours after the incursion, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the group's fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israel's prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. In a joint statement with his French, German, American and Italian counterparts on Monday night, Prime Rishi Sunak expressed his 'unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.' The communique was issued following a joint phone call between Mr Sunak, President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy and US President Biden. The five leaders said: 'We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. 'There is never any justification for terrorism. In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages. 'Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities.' They added: 'All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed. 'Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region.' Labour was embroiled in a major internal row over Hamas's bloody attack on Israel tonight after a member of Keir Starmer's frontbench was pictured posing with hardline Palestinian activists. Shadow business minister Afzal Khan apologised after visiting the Labour conference stand of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which issued a statement in the aftermath of the slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking suggesting it was the consequence of Israeli violence. He is the latest Labour politician to pose with the group and its banner accusing Israel of 'apartheid' , with backbencher Apsana Begum avoiding censure for doing the same thing on Saturday. At the same time, hard left backbench allies of the former party leader Jeremy Corbyn attended an event at the conference in Liverpool attended by the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot, who said he 'regretted' the Hamas violence that has left hundreds dead. John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, a former shadow immigration secretary, spoke at the event organised by the Unite union. Ms Ribeiro-Addy, the Streatham MP, contemned the violence and the loss of life on both sides, before calling for peace talks, saying: 'I have seen it said that this weekend's events have interrupted or damaged peace talks. That is fiction, There are no real peace talks and there have not been for years.' It came after shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has urged pro-Palestinian demonstrators who protested outside the event to stay at home, saying the party backed Israel's fight against the 'terrorist threat' of Hamas. Speaking to the News Agents podcast she said: 'Israel was subjected to a terrorist attack on Saturday, people have been killed, hostages have been taken. And Israel has every right to defend itself, as does any sovereign country against terrorists.' Tory chairman Greg Hands questioned when Sir Keir Starmer will 'take action' against 'those who use the offensive 'apartheid' term in relation to Israel'. Shadow business minister Afzal Khan apologised after visiting the Labour conference stand of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. He is the latest labour politician to pose with the group and its banner accusing Israel of 'apartheid' , with backbencher Apsana Begum avoiding censure for doing the same thing on Saturday. John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, and Bell Ribeiro-Addy, a former shadow immigration secretary, spoke at the event organised by the Unite union attended by the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Husam Zomlot (left) Bell Ribeiro-Addy, the Streatham MP, contemned the violence and the loss of life on both sides, before calling for peace talks, saying: 'I have seen it said that this weekend's events have interrupted or damaged peace talks. That is fiction, There are no real peace talks and there have not been for years.' It came after shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has urged pro-Palestinian demonstrators who protested outside the event to stay at home, saying the party backed Israel's fight against the 'terrorist threat' of Hamas. A 'Boycott Israeli Apartheid' demonstration was held outside the conference venue this afternoon Mr Zumlot said six members of his family died today from an Israeli bombardment as he accused the nation of a 'war crime' by cutting water an electricity from Gaza. He told told a Labour and Palestine event on the fringes of the party conference: 'I have family in Gaza and it broke my heart just before I walked here to receive the news that I lost six of them only two hours ago because of an Israeli bombardment over their home.' He said a cousin died, along with two of her children, adding: 'Together with her husband and their mother in law the entire family was wiped out.' He said Israel is seeking revenge for the Hamas atrocity, having condemned the killing of civilians. 'What Israel is doing now is revenge. Sheer vengeance. 'Those are civilians, families. It's not gonna resolve anything. Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. It's a war crime. It's not gonna lead anywhere.' A Labour frontbencher has apologised after posing for a photograph in front of a Palestinian flag saying 'end apartheid now'. Shadow exports minister Mr Khan apologised this afternoon, with the Manchester Gorton MP saying: 'I unequivocally condemn the terrorist actions of Hamas and support Israel's right to defend itself.' The picture is understood to have been taken on Sunday but posted online by PCS today. Tory chairman Greg Hands questioned when Sir Keir Starmer will 'take action' This afternoon a lone Israel supporter stood up to pro-Palestine supporters acting as apologists for Hamas today as they demonstrated outside the Labour party conference. In fiery scenes one Labour member took on around 100 flag-waving demonstrators, telling them they were apologists for murder and should be ashamed of themselves. They responded by booing, chanting 'racist Israel' and demanding he be removed by police - something officers refused to do. Speakers at the event outside the secure conference zone had defended the incursion into Israel, which has left hundreds of civilians dead. There were banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party. The man, who said he was a Labour member called Stuart, told the mob they were supporting 'murderous barbaric people', adding: 'You murdered children, this is not the time to be doing this, not in the aftermath of what has happened. 'You are murdering people, you should be ashamed of yourself, you should step back, and let this pass. It is disgusting.' It came as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks. The man, who said he was a Labour member called Stuart, told the mob they were supporting 'murderous barbaric people', adding: 'You murdered children, this is not the time to be doing this, not in the aftermath of what has happened' Speakers at the event outside the secure conference zone had defended the incursion into Israel, which has left hundreds of civilians dead. There were banners from the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, which is not affiliated to the Labour Party. The man, who said he was a Labour member called Stuart, told the mob they were supporting 'murderous barbaric people', adding: 'You murdered children, this is not the time to be doing this, not in the aftermath of what has happened. Jeremy Corbyn has risked fresh fury by suggesting Israel's 'occupation' is the root cause of the Hamas attacks The former Labour leader refused to single out the terrorist group for condemnation, saying he was against 'all violence'. In a bad-tempered exchange with journalists on the fringes of the party's conference in Liverpool, Mr Corbyn said the way to end the 'terrible situation' was to 'end the occupation of Palestine by Israel'. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is expected to attend a reception at the conference tomorrow night alongside shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. Mr Zomlot previously told CNN that 'Israel knew that this was coming their way It's a consequence'. Asked about his comment, shadow chancellor Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: 'I'm very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable. 'And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment.' Mr Corbyn sparked anger yesterday when he responded to slaughter of civilians and hostage-taking in Israel without condemning Hamas. The MP is sitting as an independent after being removed from Labour's parliamentary party over his response to antisemitism under his leadership, but remains a party member. The comments came as left-wing activists projected the Palestinian flag on the venue for the World Transformed festival - which takes place alongside the Labour gathering, but is not formally linked He is not thought to have a pass for the main conference. Mr Corbyn said he wants 'peace, a ceasefire and a process that ends the Israeli occupation of Palestine'. 'I don't support any attacks, therefore I criticise them all,' he said, after being repeatedly asked whether he would condemn Hamas. He told ITV News that the 'occupation of Palestine' was 'fundamentally the background to the whole issue'. 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 don't 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.' Keir Starmer 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 Israel's 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.' 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. Rishi Sunak yesterday expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in London in light of the 'appalling attack' in Israel and warned that all those who support the Hamas are responsible for their atrocities. The Prime Minister, giving an address at a vigil for victims in a London synagogue, said how he he stands with them in 'solidarity in Israel's hour of need'. 'I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you, to stand with you in this hour of grief as we mourn the victims of an utterly abhorrent act of terror,' he said. Mr Sunak also joined France and the USA in denouncing those standing with Hamas, calling the group 'terrorists'. In a joint statement, Mr Sunak, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni promised their 'steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism'. Rishi Sunak attending Finchley United Synagogue in central London, for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks, amid ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza on October 9, 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis attending Finchley United Synagogue in central London, on Monday night Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (left) and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis speak earlier on Monday. Sunak delivered an address at the vigil, condemning Hamas as 'terrorists' Rishi Sunak is pledging his support for Israel's 'absolute right to defend itself' and has told Britain's Jewish community that he is 'with them' as pro-Palestinian protesters march in London and Newcastle. Pictured: Mr Sunak (right) attending Finchley United Synagogue in central London, for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks on Monday Mr Sunak told the vigil: '...To stand with you in an hour of prayer as we think of those held hostage and your friends and loved ones raking refuge in bomb shelters or risking their lives on the frontline. 'And perhaps above all, I wanted to come here tonight to stand with you in solidarity in Israel's hour of need. 'As the Prime Minister of this country, I am unequivocal: the people who support Hamas are fully responsible for this appalling attack. 'They [Hamas] are not militants. They are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists.' He also joined other western leaders in condemning the actions of the Hamas. They warned that 'this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage'. 'We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism,' the statement read. 'In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages.' The leaders said they recognised the 'legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people', but 'Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed'. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis (left) and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) attend a vigil at Finchley United Synagogue in central London for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks The Israeli military said it had called up 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, signalling it could be planning a major ground assault. Pictured: Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Gaza on Monday The Prime Minister expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community and said he would work to make sure they felt safe after the devastating attacks in Israel. It comes after Downing Street was illuminated with the Israeli flag on Sunday night (pictured) Mr Sunak was hailed as a 'great and wonderful friend' of Israel and the Jewish people last night as he attended the prayer service at the Finchley United Synagogue in north London. The Prime Minister entered the synagogue wearing a kippah, a traditional Jewish headcovering, as he expressed condolences to those affected and those paying their respects. He also received a loud round of applause for tearing up his diary to attend. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the congregation: 'Prime Minister, you are a great and wonderful friend of our Jewish community and of the State of Israel.' He added that lighting up Downing Street with the flag of Israel on Sunday night had sent 'an extraordinary message' throughout the Jewish world. He added: 'No words can adequately encapsulate our feelings of being so grateful to you for being with us right now. 'We know you and your government, and with some exceptions yes, there are some exceptions but you and your government and the British people are solidly behind that which is right and fourscore against that which is wrong.' Earlier Monday, Mr Sunak said he would work to make sure the Jewish community in Britain felt safe after the attacks in Israel. London's Metropolitan Police said it would increase the number of police officers on the streets across Britain's capital to 'reassure and protect communities.' The Greater Manchester Police force in northern England also said it had stepped up the protection of communities amid the conflict. At least 700 people are feared to have been killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza, after the terrorist group launched its surprise assault - slaughtering citizens and taking hostages. Mr Sunak also declared his support for Israel's 'right to defend itself and to deter further incursions' this evening. 'Last night we flew the Israeli flag over Number 10 to show our solidarity with the people of Israel and our utter condemnation of the horrific violence that Hamas unleashed over the weekend,' he said in a speech at the Future Resilience Forum, according to his office. 'On Saturday morning terrorists crossed into Israel intent on murder and kidnap. Whole families were killed. Women, children and the elderly were taken hostage. 'Innocent teenagers at a festival of peace were gunned down in cold blood and the sickening evidence posted online. 'It is inhuman and it will not stand. Terrorism will not prevail. Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and to deter further incursions.' He also issued a message to the Jewish communities in the UK, saying 'I am with you'. The Prime Minister also affirmed that the Government is 'taking the necessary steps to ensure that you feel safe'. It comes as hundreds of protesters have filled the streets outside the Israeli Embassy in London chanting 'free Palestine' and lighting flares. There were reports of fireworks being launched on Kensington high street and people unable to push through heaving crowds, as parts of the Israel embassy were boarded up. Hundreds gathered in Kensington on Monday afternoon, chanting 'Israel is a terrorist state' and 'Allahu akhbar' [God is the greatest], with stalls set up touting 'Free Palestine' merchandise in the popular shopping district. Earlier in the evening, large groups of police officers watched on as placards calling for Israel to 'end the occupation' were waved, but their presence appeared to subside as the busy area was taken over by a wave of protesters. Meanwhile, Israelis have gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas after the terror group launched its violent assault over the Gaza border on Saturday. Hundreds of protesters have gathered outside the Israel Embassy in London chanting 'free free Palestine ' and lighting flairs Makeshift stalls were set up touting 'Free Palestine' merchandise in the popular shopping district Protesters set off red and green flares Smoke fills the air as protesters gather on the busy shopping street in west London Protesters waved Palestinian flags and held up placards near the Israeli Embassy There was a significant police presence in the Royal borough throughout the evening One pro-Palestine protester, Mosibur Rahman Ullah, 53, said the situation in Gaza has 'reached boiling point' after '75 years of Israeli oppression' of Palestinians. In reference to Hamas militant's acts of terror on members of the Israeli population, he said: 'Sometimes you have to fight, freedom isn't won just by words.' He added that 'the diplomatic means at the hands of Palestinians just hasn't worked, so these are the steps they have had to take'. One protester condemned Hamas' attack, saying 'what we want is peace', but said that 'what has been happening with Palestine throughout so, so many years cannot continue to happen. It is just a retaliation [to that].' As the evening went on, anger turned into jubilation among some of the pro-Palestine protesters, with music blaring and flags waving. It comes as Suella Braverman urged police forces across the country to step up patrols to prevent anti-Jewish disorder and violence. 'We are doing everything we can to keep people safe and ensure they feel reassured by our presence,' Manchester Superintendent Rachael Harrison said in a statement. Boards of wood and gates were placed around the entrance to the Israeli embassy earlier on Monday. Palestine Solidarity Campaign, one of the groups behind the demonstration, said in a statement: 'The offensive launched from Gaza can only be understood in the context of Israel's ongoing, decades long, military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land and imposition of a system of oppression that meets the legal definition of apartheid. 'This is the context in which we need to understand the cycle of violence. If violence is to end, both that of the oppressor and the oppressed, then we must all take action to end the root cause - Israeli apartheid and oppression of Palestinians.' Israelis gathered outside Downing Street tonight to fly their country's flag amid Hamas' unprecedented assault Attendees at the vigil held up placards saying 'I stand with Israel' People take part in a 'Vigil for Israel' opposite the entrance to Downing Street on Monday Israel has been rocked by the attacks that started on Saturday when fighters from the Islamist group Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted dozens, the deadliest such incursion in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The Israeli military said it had called up 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, signalling it could be planning a major ground assault. At least 700 people are feared to have been killed in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza, after the terrorist group launched its surprise assault - slaughtering citizens and taking hostages. Among the dead was 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at the Gaza border on Saturday. In Britain, the Jewish advisory body, the Community Security Trust (CST), said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that it had seen incidents of what it called 'racist anti-Semitism against Jewish people' since Saturday. Israel has intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after declaring war and vowing to destroy the 'military and governing capabilities' of Hamas. Rishi Sunak will convene the emergency committee as the death toll rises in the aftermath of the bloody attacks by Hamas Shocking footage from the aftermath of the attack shows festival tents empty, with abandoned cars of those trying to escape strewn on the side of the road A missile explodes over Gaza City on Sunday night as Israel carries out airstrikes following Hamas' attack Mr Sunak said that the UK was in 'close dialogue' with Israel over any support it needed, after holding a phone call with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. 'We already have a very long-standing relationship with Israel, we're one of their strongest allies. 'We've provided in the past the kinds of equipment that they've used to defend themselves over the past couple of days. 'And as I said to the Prime Minister, we will continue to provide whether that's diplomatic, intelligence or security support as they need. 'I'm chairing a Cobra with my ministerial colleagues this afternoon, when we'll continue to discuss the situation, but we're in close dialogue with our Israeli counterparts', he told a business event in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington are believed to be missing. The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is understood. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. Mr Sunak said it is a 'complex' situation, as he acknowledged many will have concerns about family members caught up in the conflict. 'I know it will be an anxious time for many families who have loved ones in the region,' he said. 'It's a quite complex situation on the ground, so we are working very closely with our Israeli counterparts to establish the status of any British nationals on the ground. 'That work is under way as we speak.' Mr Young, a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, died after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. His loved ones said they are 'heartbroken', while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing. Footage showed hostages apparently being taken by Hamas militants into Gaza over the weekend A woman in Tel Aviv picks her way through rubble late on Saturday Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Re'im, close to the Gaza border. It comes as Communities minister Lee Rowley warned any potential protesters not to 'glorify' the violence of Hamas. On Monday, Labour's shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also condemned the attack She told Times Radio: 'Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens.' Israel's defence minister has ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Authorities in Israel are said to be in 'control' of the border communities, with no fighting going on as of mid-morning on Monday. All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the country's flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support. Dramatic videos have captured the moments two journalists reporting from Israel were forced to duck for cover as a 'barrage' rockets fired overhead. CNN's Clarissa Ward and NBC News' Richard Engel were live for their respective channels from close to the Gaza strip when had to take the evasive action. The correspondents were in the Middle East reporting on all the latest developments following the attack by Hamas at the weekend. Footage shows an out-of-breath Ward lying in a ditch with her face pressed into the ground. Addressing her news anchor she says: 'Forgive the inelegant position but we have just had a massive barrage of rockets coming in here not too far from us so we have had to take shelter here by the road side. CNN's Clarissa Ward conducted a live broadcast from a ditch near the border to the Gaza Strip after being forced to take cover amid rocket fire The reporter described a 'barrage' of rocket fire over head just moments before she began the broadcast live from Israel 'We are just about five minutes away, Gaza is in that direction. We can hear now a lot of jets in the sky we can also hear the iron dome intercepting a number of those rockets as they were whizzing overhead and making impact. The iron dome is Israel's land-based defense system which intercepts rockets and mortars. Ward explains she is at the location because it was 'ground zero' for the Hamas operation and where militants in a pickup truck drove down the street 'spraying lead'. She holds up a piece of heavy weaponry casing to the camera indicating that she was about to grab it when the warning came in for the team to 'hit the deck'. After showing off the fragment she and her team receive the all clear to get back on their feet and began showing the scene of desolation that remains along the road following the Hamas strike. She continues: 'This is where those militants first came, opening up fire all over these vehicles, there is a baby carriage back there turned on its side.' The camera then pans into the distance to reveal thick plumes of smoke rising from the ground and Ward explains she isn't sure what the source of the smoke is since they had to quickly take cover. She says that the car used to carry Hamas fighters over the border is being towed away and her team continue to film the scene. NBC News' Richard Engel delivered his piece to camera while a rumbling could be heard in the backgorund Engel was forced to hunker down on his stomach in the city of Sderot amid 'active' rocket fire Similarly, Engel located in the nearby city of Sderot was also forced to conduct his broadcast from the ground. Video shows him wearing a helmet and hunkered down on his stomach alongside a wall. As he delivers his piece to camera, deep rumbling can be heard in the background which the reporter says is 'mortar fire' or possible rockets. He says: 'They have been coming in quite close, that's why we're on the ground right now. This is still considered a very active combat zone even though we are inside Israeli territory.' He explains there is not just rocket fire but reports of Hamas sending through more insurgents through weak points in the border. He says: 'It seems like that big barrage that we just experienced has passed. They come in waves but this one was practically right on top of us.' Engel eventually gets tentatively to this feet and reports that he has seen a 'build of forces' by the Israelis. This is the moment a Texas sheriff tricks migrants into getting arrested after nabbing their driver and using his GPS to track them as they illegally crossed into the US. In exclusive video obtained by DailyMail.com, Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland - a retired Border Patrol agent - can be heard signaling to migrants they can come out of hiding in desert brush and load into a pick-up to be trafficked. 'Come on; come on,' Cleveland can be heard saying in Spanish. 'Hurry, hurry, get in. Get in. Everyone, get in.' Out of no where, Mexicans who entered the country illegally emerge from the pitch-black desert and climb into the bed of the truck, the sheriff told DailyMail.com. 'I'm the smuggler; everything is fine,' Cleveland reassures the migrants who stare at him as they follow orders. Of the seven migrants who hop into the waiting truck, one man becomes violent and starts to resist, prompting a US Border Patrol agent to show himself. A driver is pictured on the left alongside two migrants who were picked up by the agents The migrants are seen piling into the back of the truck after the sheriff called out to them in the darkness The agent appears with a light on his helmet and subdues the man as the sheriff can be heard saying, 'If you move, I'll shoot. Do you understand?' The real smuggler the migrants were expecting was arrested moments before the migrant were busted on Thursday near Sanderson, Texas. The Mexican citizen was driving the truck on a remote road, Cleveland explained, adding he stopped the driver because his search of his plates showed he wasn't from the area. 'We get drivers from all over, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth,' the law enforcement officer said. 'If someone from Houston is in Sanderson, it's because they're here to drive illegal aliens somewhere.' The migrants are seen helping each other into the bed of the vehicle before being apprehended The footage showed them sprinting out of the bush towards the vehicle when the sheriff called out Drivers come from as far away as California, Alabama and the Midwest to make quick cash by picking up illegal immigrants who have just crossed the border. The illegal immigrants walk for a day or two until they reach a rendezvous point. From there, the drivers are sent GPS coordinates to the pickup location. The drivers head to the meet up spot and usually honk or signal to the waiting border-crossers to get in the car. If the driver is successful, they pick up the migrants and ferry them to big cities in Texas or even beyond, Cleveland stated. In last week's incident, once the driver was pulled over, Cleveland discovered the man was an illegal immigrant from the state of Jalisco. The sheriff turned the driver over to Border Patrol agents and received permission from the driver to look through his phone, the sheriff said. The driver's car was also seized by the agents, with him pictured alongside the migrants he allegedly helped smuggle across the border Law enforcement officers were able to get the location of the pickup spot and drove there to nab the migrants. 'It's something we do as often as we can,' Cleveland said of the police work. 'We want to get the smuggler, but we also want to get the migrants. Even though most of them are just coming here to work, we have to enforce our laws.' Of the Mexicans who were taken into custody Thursday, Cleveland said one woman who was among them pleaded to be let go. 'She cried and said she just came to the US to work. She said she had a baby back home in Mexico and was just trying to provide for it.' Most of migrants illegally crossing the southern border of the US near Sanderson are from Mexico and try to evade authorities. It's a far cry from the chaotic scenes at the border of asylum-seeking migrants from countries such as Venezuela and Cuba surrendering themselves to border agents in an attempt to be granted political refuge in America. In the last two years, the remote town where Cleveland serves as the top cop, has seen a nearly 400 per cent increase in human smuggling, he said. New York City Fire Department confirmed one person was taken to hospital Police briefly cordoned off the North Tower Memorial following the incident This is the horrifying moment a man slides into the 20ft 'central void' of the 9/11 reflecting pool after hurling himself 30ft into the basin of the NYC memorial. The 33-year-old man, who has not been identified, lay prostrate peering over the edge into the abyss before sliding himself forward and falling headfirst down to the bottom on Monday afternoon. The jumper had already sustained an injury after throwing himself the 30ft into the basin of the memorial in front of terrified onlookers. Video showed a gash on his head and the water filled with blood. The Fire Department quickly rushed to rescue the man from the central drop which is filled with around 18 inches of water. He reportedly told one of the officers he 'did this for his father.' The man was rushed to a local hospital, complaining of 'back pain' and suffering from an injured leg. The area was reopened a short time later. This is the horrifying moment a man slides into the 20ft 'central void' of the 9/11 reflecting pool after hurling himself 30ft into the basin of the NYC memorial. The person, who has not been identified, lies prostrate peering over the edge into the abyss before sliding himself forward and falling headfirst down to the bottom Another piece of footage showed the jumper had already sustained an injury after throwing himself the 30ft into the basin of the memorial. A gash was visible on his head and the water through which he trudged to the edge was filled with blood The man trudges over to the edge of the void as horrified onlookers watch and then lies down to peer over the edge Officials received a call at 1.30pm on Monday to reports of a 'jumper in the fountain', with one person transported to Bellevue Hospital. Following a mental evaluation the man could face trespassing charges. It is unclear if anyone has thrown themselves into the reflection pools in the past, with police previously raising concerns over the potential issue. Former Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said they had to consider the 'possibilities' someone might try to commit suicide in the monument. Grief experts also claimed the memorial could set off a 'negative psychological reaction', especially those who have a direct connection to atrocities. Officials at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum said that a physical landmark for a tragedy is a 'trigger for grief'. Kari F Watkins told the New York Times previously: 'People come to these places and begin to understand the meaning of them. 'We're teaching lessons of remembrance and resilience, and no matter what people are going through in their personal lives, they can relate to some story that is told here.' Officials received a call at 1.30pm on Monday to reports of a 'jumper in the fountain', with one person transported to Bellevue Hospital The New York Police Department and the 9/11 Memorial did not immediately respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com. Before the reflection pools were constructed, counterterrorism issued concerns that the sites could be an attraction for terrorist activity. Glenn P. Corbett, an associate professor of fire science at John Jay College, said: 'Our big worry several years ago, in the original design, was terrorism, and now we add suicide to the equation. 'I think it's going to happen a suicide. I think it is an unbelievably emotional site.' Victims of the horror unleased by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas have included those from overseas, including British citizens. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday to 'change the Middle East' in response to Hamas' unprecedented terror attack over the weekend. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbour. In retaliation, Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) and air force pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and missile attacks, claiming they hit more than 1,000 Hamas targets. More than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were shot dead or blown up in rocket attacks launched by the Palestinian gunmen on Saturday Here is what we know of the international victims so far: United Kingdom British man, Nathanel Young, who was working as a soldier in Israel, is amongst the hundreds of innocent victims killed in a series of surprise attacks launched by the terrorist group Hamas on Saturday. The 20-year-old from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) when he was killed on the weekend, according to the IDF, with his heartbroken family paying tribute to their son who was 'the life of the party'. British man, Nathanel Young, who was working as a soldier in Israel, is amongst the hundreds of innocent victims killed British photographer Danny Darlington 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 after working at the Supernova Festival, near the Gaza Strip, when Palestinian militants stormed onto the site British photographer Danny Darlington, who was visiting Israel from Berlin, is thought to be dead by his family. He 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. According to BBC News. more tan 10 Britons are feared to be dead or missing in Israel following the surprise attack by Hamas over the weekend. United States Nine US citizens have been confirmed dead following Hamas' massive terrorist attack. The National Security Council said: 'We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery,' they said. 'We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities.' American-Israeli dual citizen Hersh Golberg-Polin is feared to missing after the weekend's attack as he has not been heard from since Saturday morning The identities of those killed have not yet been confirmed, but Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, told CBS that he understood Americans were among the hostages taken. American-Israeli dual citizen Hersh Golberg-Polin is feared to missing after the weekend's attack as he has not been heard from since Saturday morning. According to the Jerusalem Post, he moved from California to Israel with his family at the age of seven and had finished his mandatory service in the army this April. Speaking to CBS, Israel's US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Sunday that Americans citizens were possibly amongst those kidnapped and killed in Israel. Canada There have been reports of a Canadian citizen and two others missing, according to Global Affairs Canada, an agency of the Canadian government. Ben Mizrachi, from British Columbia, is believed to among Candian citizens who have gone missing since the attack, according to CTV News. Mr Mizrachi had been attending an event in southern Israel after graduating from Vancouver's King David High School five years ago. The agency said there are 1,419 registered Canadians in Israel, and 492 in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. However, this ifgures may not be entirely accurate as registration was voluntary. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his 'deep condolences'. France The French government have confirmed that a French woman was killed, and has some citizens in Israel who are currently unaccounted for. Meyer Habib, who is an MP representing French nationals overseas, said on Monday that at least eight French people are believed to have been killed, kidnapped or missing. A 26-year-old man from Bordeaux is thought to be one of the hostages being held by militants after attending the Supernova festival in southern Israel. The French government have confirmed that a French woman was killed, and has some citizens in Israel who are currently unaccounted for Thailand 12 Thai citizens have been killed, 11 kidnapped and another eight Thai nationals have been injured in the attack over the weekend, according to Thailand's foreign ministry. Estimates of approximately 30,000 Thai laborers in Israel work in the agricultural sector near the Gaza border. Thailand's labour minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told AFP news agency that approximately 5,000 Thai labourers work in the area that has seen the brutal violence sparked by the Hamas surprise attack, but that Israeli forces had begun moving them to safety. He added that 1,099 workers have registered to return home. It said air force planes were on standby to fly its citizens home. Germany A harrowing video shows German-Israeli woman Shani Louk, who is in her early 20s and grew up in Israel, stripped naked by the militant fighters and paraded through the streets in front of jeering crowds who spat on her motionless body in sickening scenes. Shani, who grew up in Israel but had a German passport, was a peace campaigner and conscientious objector to military service, her aunt Orly Louk, told the German newspaper Der Spiegel. Orly said Shani had refused to take up the military service that is mandatory for Israelis due to her pacifist views, adding that her German passport helped with this. The tattoo artist was captured by Hamas terrorists and massacred alongside 259 other revelers at a music festival during their assault on Israel. 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 MailOnline that the family recognized her distinctive leg tattoos and dreadlocked hair. Shani Louk, in her early 20s (pictured), was at a music festival for peace when she was captured by Hamas terrorists who had stormed the event and massacred 260 Israeli revellers during their assault on Israel Ireland 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman, Kim Danti, is feared to be missing after being unaccounted for. RTE, the country's national broadcaster, said she was last seen at the music festival where many festival-goers have been either killed or reported missing. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Irish Embassy in Israel was working on finding out what has happened to her. Nepal Nepali authorities have confirmed that 10 of its citizens have been killed in the violence. It was confirmed on Sunday that Nepalese students had gone over to Israel for work and to gain skills in an agircutural firm. 265 Nepali students are believed to be working on farms, and another 4,500 Nepalis working as caregivers. Cambodia Prime Minister, Hun Manet, has confirmed one student has been killed. China Israeli woman called Noa Argamani, who was born in Beijing is among those kidnapped from the Supernova festival, according to the Israeli Embassy in China. The embassy published a video of what is claims to be footage of the abduction. Israeli woman called Noa Argamani, who was born in Beijing is among those kidnapped from the Supernova festival The embassy published a video of what is claims to be footage of the abduction Brazil On Sunday, the country's foreign ministry confirmed that that three dual Brazilian-Israeli nationals were missing after attending the music festival and a fourth was being treated in hospital. Paraguay Two of the country's nationals are missing with reports that a couple has been killed. Mexico Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena wrote on social media that two Mexicans have been taken hostage. Tanzania Tanzania's embassy in Israel is searching for two Tanzanian students who were on a business studies internship. Pro-Israel protestors chanted 'go back to Gaza' while pro-Palestine ones fumed They were separated by metal barriers outside the Israeli consulate on Monday Hundreds of pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protesters gathered in New York City A group of pro-Israel demonstrators partied outside the Israeli consulate in New York City on Monday while being screamed at by pro-Palestine activists. NYPD used metal barriers to separate the two factions and kept them on separate sides of the road to avoid violent clashes during the heated exchange. Dozens of armed officers stood between the two pens, while passing motorists appeared to honk in support of the Jewish cause. The scene bore a striking resemblance to the chaotic Times Square demonstration on Sunday that saw one protestor brandish a swastika. At daybreak on Saturday, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel that killed hundreds and saw dozens of hostages taken. A group of pro-Israel demonstrators partied outside the Israeli consulate in New York City on Monday while being screamed at by pro-Palestine activists Hundreds of protestors clashed outside the Israeli embassy in Manhattan on Monday The two sides were separated by metal barriers and forced to stand on opposite sides of the street Pro-Israel protestors taunted 'Go back to Gaza' while pro-Palestine demonstrators responded: 'Settlers, settlers, go back home, Palestine is ours alone' Protestors lined 2nd Avenue, holding up signs and chanting. On the pro-Israel side of the protest, demonstrators waved the national flag - and clashed with a motorist. The driver brandished a Palestinian flag through his front window as the protesters shouted: 'How is Gaza doing now?' and 'Go back to Gaza!' Pro-Palestine demonstrators across the block screamed back: 'Settlers, settlers, go back home, Palestine is ours alone.' They also chanted slogans like: 'Netanyahu what do you say, how many kids will you kill today' while beating drums. Protestors lined 2nd Avenue, holding up signs, waving flags and chanting On the pro-Israel side of the protest, demonstrators brandished the national flag Protestors in support of Palestine shouted: 'Netanyahu what do you say, how many kids will you kill today' while banging drums 'I'm so proud of how many people are showing up. It makes me feel like I'm on the right side of history,' one pro-Palestine protestor said The same protestor said that violence was not a new occurrence and asked Israelis to have sympathy 'because my friends are also missing and I can't find them' Hamas said it was holding 'dozens' of captives in the Gaza Strip, and the Israeli military later confirmed that hostages had been taken A 21-year-old student named Chabad brought a hefty PA speaker to the protest and blasted dance music. This prompted several Jews to perform the Am-Yisrael-Chai - a religious celebratory dance - amid an otherwise heated protest. 'The Rabbi says that if you want to win something in life it has to be with a lot of positivity,' Chabad told Dailymail.com. 'That means just one little lap can take away a lot of dark things. 'We're trying to be happy because all the terrorists want us to be is sad and they want us to be depressed. 'So we're not going to let them win, this is a moral war. We want to win the war so we've got to be happy,' the Montreal native explained. 'All of us have relatives in the military, it's not going to stop, we may as well be happy.' He added: 'It's a very difficult time, it's not simple, but this is all we can do. We're waiting for the Messiah to come.' Amid the soaring tensions, several Jews performed the Am-Yisrael-Chai, a religious celebratory dance, when music played Demonstrators shouted slogans at a pro-Palestinian rally held across the street from the Consulate General of Israel They advocated for the freeing of Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli-controlled West Bank The Hamas attack on Israel came at a time of soaring tensions, as 2023 was the deadliest year on record for Palestine Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared war, but warned his people that 'this war will take time. It will be difficult' The Israeli counteroffensive killed at least 560 Palestinians by Monday morning The energy was equally high across the street, where 20-year-old Ria attended the protest dressed in a headscarf and face covering. She said she joined the pro-Palestine pen to 'stand in solidarity' with her missing friends in Gaza. 'I have a lot of friends on the ground in Palestine and I've been on the ground,' the New Yorker told DailyMail.com. 'I'm so proud of how many people are showing up. It makes me feel like I'm on the right side of history.' Of the violence that exploded over the weekend, Ria said: 'If you have done your research on the occupation and have watched videos throughout the years then you know that this is not a new occurrence. 'I sympathize with them (Israelis) on an individual level, yes, but I've been to Palestine and my friends there are going through similar things every day.' The protester added that she was 'strip-searched and humiliated for no reason' by the Israel Defense Forces when she last visited the country. She implored Israelis to have sympathy 'because my friends are also missing and I can't find them.' Officials confirmed Monday that at least 900 Israelis had been killed and more than 2,000 injured A 20-year-old protestor named Ria said she joined the pro-Palestine pen to 'stand in solidarity' with her missing friends in Gaza Scenes of clashing protestors mirrored Sunday's Times Square's demo, where one attendee flashed a Swastika at a group of Jewish people NYPD were forced to physically separate some of the demonstrators Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing rockets and infiltrating the border on Saturday Days later, people gathered at the Israeli mission in Manhattan to protest the the opposing views of the war Gaza's ruling Hamas militant group launched a surprise attack on Saturday, firing rockets into Israel as hundreds of fighters infiltrated the border. The country was thrown off guard on a major holiday called Simchat Torah, when Jews complete the annual cycle of reading the Torah scroll. Gunmen encroached on towns and communities outside the Gaza Strip, firing at civilians and IDF soldiers. More than 250 people who had been attending a music festival in southern Israel were gunned down, their bodies left strewn in the dirt. At daybreak on Saturday, gunmen encroached on towns and communities outside the Gaza Strip, firing at civilians and IDF soldiers Hamas militants broke past the heavily guarded border by land, sea and air The attack prompted ongoing retaliatory strikes by Israel on Gaza, killing hundreds Hamas is an Islamist militant movement and one of the Palestinian territories' two major political parties The group governs more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Protestors on both sides have called for an end to the war and peace for all Among the festivalgoers was Shani Louk, a tattoo artist who was born in Israel but held a German passport. Her name began to circulate on social media as her body was purportedly paraded around in the back of a truck beneath the boots of Hamas fighters. Israeli officials confirmed Monday that at least 900 Israeli civilians and soldiers had been killed and more than 2,000 injured. Hamas said it was holding 'dozens' of captives in the Gaza Strip, which the Israeli military later confirmed, but did not specify how many hostages had been taken. In a televised address Saturday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - who declared the country to be at war - said the military would use all of its strength to counter Hamas, warning that 'this war will take time. It will be difficult.' The Israeli counteroffensive killed at least 560 Palestinians by Monday morning, with another 2,900 wounded, according to Palestinian health officials. by Michael Liss There was a sense everywhere, in 1968, that things were giving. That man had not merely lost control of his history, but might never regain it. Garry Wills, Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of the Self-Made Man Last month, I wrote about Eugene McCarthys Vietnam-based primary challenge to Lyndon Baines Johnsons reelection campaign, the angst-ridden mid-March entry into the race by Robert F. Kennedy, and LBJs stunning withdrawal on March 31, 1968. I ended with April 4, when the Dreamer, Martin Luther King, was assassinated. Some of the chaos that ensued is the subject of this piece. Things were giving, seemingly everywhere, and all at the same time. Americas ability to deflect the course of history as it accelerated toward the unknown was disappearing. The months that followed the King assassination were punctuated by more violence, more uncertainty, and the continued deterioration of social discourse. None of this appeared out of thin air. Grassroots efforts on Vietnam and on civil rights had been intensifying for years, as had been the backlash to those movements. FDRs New Deal coalition was fraying, most notably in the South, but also in the industrial Midwest. 1968 was also to be the last stand of the Liberal Republicans, people like Nelson Rockefeller, Charles Percy, and John Lindsay. We think about them and their ambitions with an amused raised eyebrow, but, at the time, they were men of reputation and influence. There were so many crosscurrents, so many strange alliances, that its difficult to trace each causation, but if you want to pick up on an organizing thread other than Vietnam, look to George Wallace. History frames Wallace largely as the segregationist that he was (after losing his first run for office for being more moderate than his opponent, he vowed never to be out-ned again). It sometimes skips over how Wallace had a broader message, anchored by the emotional appeal of his racism, but also including perennial themes of law and order and economic and social grievances that resonated in peoples lives. Wallace announced his candidacy in March 1968 under the new American Independent Party banner. Conventional wisdom was that its goal was similar to that of Strom Thurmonds Dixiecrat effort in 1948to win enough Southern States to deny either candidate an Electoral College win, throw it into the House, and then bargain with both sides to obtain a segregationist promise/free hand in dealing with racial and local issues. That might have been an impetus for Wallaces run, and its potential success certainly was a legitimate fear of the Establishment in both parties. Letting a minority dictate terms to the majority is immensely destabilizing to a system such as ours. Its even more true when that minority intends to exercise that power to legalize oppression and abuse. What some of the professionals werent fully attuned to, at least at first, was a truth that Wallace felt instinctivelythat he could be a national figure by exploiting a much larger issue than just open, virulent racism. There was also a market in fear, in economic dislocation, and in cultural resentment, and that extended well beyond the Mason-Dixon Line. Just about every poll and just about every potential candidate match-up initially had Wallace in the mid-teens, and then, by September, rising to the 20% level. He ultimately fell back on Election Day to 13% (the disastrous selection of General Curtis LeMay as his Veep certainly hurt his numbers), but he still managed at least 10% in these outside-the-South states: Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, and Ohio. Many third-party candidacies wither, but stay on to be vanity campaignscertainly that was true with candidates like John Anderson and Ross Perot. Wallace was different. He certainly had plenty of vanity, but he was also purposeful, and he had a message other than change. What Wallace did was articulate some of the resistance that LBJ had been encountering in trying to build on his Great Society initiatives. As farsighted as those programs had been, they nevertheless upset the existing order, in effect redistributing both economic and social capital. At the very same time the failed promise of a more just society had led to impatience in some parts of the Black community with Dr. Kings message of non-violence. Layer into that Wallaces pungent rejection of the counterculture for its disdain of traditional values and opposition to the Vietnam War, and you had the perfect tuning fork for a certain type of vibe. Violence was metastasizing, and politicians like Wallace were at least tacitly encouraging it. So were politicians of a more conventional type who found more elegant words to express some of the same sentiments. For them, Wallace was a gift. Barring a radical change, it was obvious by the spring of 1968 that Wallace would stay in and Richard Nixon would be the Republican nominee. But who would be his Democratic opponent? For just a few days, April 1-3, the only announced candidates were Eugene McCarthy and Robert F. Kennedy. Those two men knew three big things. The first was that they had to win primaries to show their viability as national candidates. The second was that, no matter how many state primaries they won, the system wouldnt make the results of those primaries dispositivemany did not award the winners pledged delegates, and others had favorite-son candidates who would be in Chicago to do some horse trading. In sum, the party bosses still controlled the nominating process. The third was that Hubert Humphrey, LBJs loyal-but-tormented Vice President, was going to jump in as soon as he thought it decent to do so. Humphrey was expected to inherit some of the bosses from Johnson, but because of his late entry, he wouldnt be running at all in primaries. Humphreys candidacy would, in effect, run parallel to his rivals, amassing delegates through proxies and local powers, but without person-to-person, head-to-head contests. For McCarthy and RFK, this left a very narrow lane to run in. They had to punch it out between themselves, a clear favorite had to emerge, demonstrating a popularity that was so great that the party bosses could not ignore it RFKs late announcement had caused him to miss filing deadlines, so, in April, McCarthy racked up large, pledged-delegate wins in Wisconsin and Massachusetts (yes, that Massachusetts). He also dominated in Pennsylvanias beauty contest. But none of those, nor other states with nominating conventions carried the weight of Indiana, the first true head-to-head contest between the two men, scheduled for April 30, and an absolute must-have for Kennedy. April 4 first found Kennedy campaigning at Ball State University in Muncie. He then got on a plane to Indianapolis, disembarking to the unthinkable: Martin Luther King had been assassinated. In a time before cell phones and 24/7 instant communication, news came on television and in the next days papers. None of the crowd there to greet him had any idea of the act of mindless violence that had just occurred. Watch this extraordinary, essentially extemporaneous five minutes. Im not going to describe it, because it speaks for itself, and Bobbys words spoke to his audience. Cities across the county seethed, but Indianapolis did not. There, people drew back; they mourned, but they recoiled from further violence. Baltimore was a different story. Violence began on the 6th and lasted through the 9th. The Maryland Governor called out the National Guard; thousands of arrests were made; six died. On April 11, he summoned 100 moderate Black leaders for what they thought would be a time for conciliation. Instead, Spiro Agnew laced into them, accusing them of cowardness and complicity. Overnight, Agnew became a folk hero to some on the Right, who were looking for a more close-fisted approach to Black protests. He also caught the attention of Richard Nixon, who would go on to build a part of his campaign around some of the issues that Wallace had raised. April 27, Hubert Humphrey formally entered the race. With LBJ out, he became the heir to many of Johnsons boss-controlled delegates, along with a chunk of organized Labor, and some Southern Democrats not ready to bolt to Wallace. Now hard numbers really mattered. Humphrey would almost certainly go into the Convention with more delegates, but could his first-ballot votes be kept below the level needed for the nomination? There were two avenues the McCarthy and RFK campaigns could take to deal with this before the Convention beganthe first was working the nominally uncommitted delegates (more likely, the local powers who controlled those state delegations) to consider their man, or at least not to commit to Humphrey immediately. The second was to navigate the primary and caucus system to show strength, even if the hard results didnt deliver any delegates at first. The fix may have been in for Humphrey, but the fixers were not exactly sentimentalists. They wanted to win. Show them that Humphrey was demonstrably weak, and an alternative would become possible. Its hard to characterize Humphrey fairly. Surely, he was hardworking, intelligent, occasionally eloquent, and above all a man of good intentions. But he was weighed down by two sets of factorson style, his Happy Warrior affect seemed out of synch with the gravity of the issues. On substance, he was boxed in by the paradoxical LBJ demand that he embrace the very policies that were so unpopular they had forced the President from the race. It didnt help that the acts of deference on which LBJ insisted, and which Humphrey gave, further diminished Humphrey in LBJs eyes. Johnson just didnt think his Vice President could cut it. He froze him out of policy meetings and kept him on a tight leash, and the public knew it. Still, Humphrey came out of the box fairly well. He had a strong team and knew how to be a wirepuller with the wirepullers. Although not actively on the ballot anywhere, several favorite-son surrogates worked his behalfincluding in the delegate-rich states of Ohio, Florida, California, and Indiana. The (Democratic) public, while not particularly enthusiastic, was reasonably well disposed to him. A May 7 Gallup Poll had Humphrey at 40%, RFK at 31%, and McCarthy at 19%. He wasnt going to be easy to take down. The message to the Kennedy and McCarthy camps was clear: there was majority support for a more liberal candidate, but one candidate, not two. Either the two men came to a rapprochement, as a ticket or with the loser in some other prominent position in a future Administration, or they continued the cage match. The problem was that neither wanted to yield. Cage match it would be. On May 7, Bobby won the Indiana primary, with Richard Branigan, the favorite-son Governor and Humphrey surrogate finishing second, McCarthy a disappointing third. The next contested primary was Nebraska on May 14, and again Bobby beat McCarthy. Inside the RFK campaign there was cautious optimism mixed with realism. Bobbys strength with key portions of the Democratic base was elevating him into the top challenger spot. But they could also count, and McCarthys delegate count, while temporarily stalled, was still higher than theirs. Humphreys rose continuously through the miracle of party discipline amongst the insiders. RFK also had another, self-imposed obstacle. He felt it was imperative not to lose a contested state, anywhere. Kennedy men (Jack, Bobby and Ted) had won 26 consecutive elections, and Bobby felt the record helped create an air of inevitability. A loss, he told both his team, and, rather clumsily, some in the media, could be a mortal blow to that image, and to his campaign generally. And then, on May 28, he lost. Oregon, where McCarthys message resonated particularly well with primary voters (anti-war, educated, middle class, very demographically homogeneous) and where McCarthy was exceptionally well organized. RFK, for once, did not recognize the danger and did not have his top people in the state. And, he had baggage. Whereas Jack, in 1960, had no history and his extraordinary charisma, Bobby brought a troubled past with organized labor from his anti-corruption years in the Senate, and the sense that hed entered opportunistically. His style and the portion of his central campaign message which included poverty and economic opportunity just didnt connect. In the give and take between the two men, Oregon was a clear shot in the arm for the McCarthy campaign, and he needed it. The truth was McCarthy had been losing altitude for some time. He had been having trouble raising money; his organization, at the national level, was fraying; and the head-to-head with Bobby was taking an emotional toll. Before March 16, McCarthy had been running a campaign above it allhed taken on a sitting Presidentindeed, hed taken down a sitting President, but without being a target himself. Politics just isnt like that, particularly when you approach the top. You can be aspirational, but you also need to be tough. The Kennedys knew how to throw and take an elbow; our two most graceful Presidents since 1968, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, knew how to; and Richard Nixon had made a career of it. McCarthy didnt. He got angry when RFK called himself more electable, and he stayed angry. It filtered into seemingly every conversation about Kennedy, either private or with the press, took on an unpleasant edge, and almost certainly hurt the inspirational image McCarthy wanted to project. Bobby, realizing that he would need McCarthy supporters to defeat Humphrey, studiously did not react, but he kept notes (Kennedys always kept notes). A bare week between Oregon and California. A week for McCarthy to feel renewed energy and for RFK to use every bit of his. Even though McCarthy was struggling, both men understood that the Kennedy campaign could not withstand another loss. There was also a lesson to be learned from Oregonwhile California was an exceptionally diverse state, a good percentage of it consisted of people just like the ones who put McCarthy over the top in Oregon. Bobbys strengthsinner cities, Caesar Chavez and his United Farmworkers, were formidable, but wouldnt work everywhere. He and his team stretched themselves to a near-breaking point, but McCarthy was well-organized as welland had an infusion of cash from an unlikely sourcelarge Humphrey backers, with the blessing of Humphrey himself, who saw RFK as the bigger challenge. The two men conducted a largely desultory debate, which showed neither at his best. June 3, the day before the primary. The time for choosing had come, probably none too soon. Kennedy was exhaustedhis style of plunge-in-shake-hands campaigning had worn him down. He literally had to sit down at the edge of a stage in one venue. Besides California, a primary was also being held in South Dakota, and, while the number of delegates at stake were comparatively small, a loss would have taken some of the shine off of any positive California result. South Dakotas polls closed two hours earlier than Californias and Senator George McGovern called with good newsBobby had won decisively. The Kennedy people waited for California. An early McCarthy edge faded away, and, as it seemed Bobby would win, talk again returned to wooing McCarthy with something to get him to drop out of the race. Humphrey, with his huge institutional advantage, was racking up delegates, and, without a clear single alternative, would be the safer bet for the bosses. It was too early to declare victory, so Kennedy submitted to four interviews, and watched numbers come in. Finally, it was clear he had a decisive lead, maybe not as much as he wanted, but a clear win. He left his suite and headed to the ballroom. Cheers greeted him, and he made what would be considered a fairly unremarkable victory speech. He then left through the kitchen, walking and talking with a reporter. A small man armed with a .22 caliber gun pushed forward and fired several shots. Sirhan Sirhan had seen on television Kennedys pro-Israel speech at a Portland synagogue, and he was filled with purposeful rage. He shot first at Kennedy, struck him at least twice, then emptied his gun at those nearby. Robert F. Kennedy slumped to the ground, and for the second time in just two months, the country stopped to hold its breath. A little more than 24 hours later, he gave his last one. There was a sense everywhere, in 1968, that things were giving. That man had not merely lost control of his history, but might never regain it. Next, Nixon in Miami, and how Chicago, where things that were giving, gave. Indigenous Voice to Parliament tensions have boiled over on ABC current affairs panel show Q+A with a Liberal MP labelled as 'disgusting' for defending colonisation. On Monday night's program member for Sturt, James Stevens, was at first guarded when asked what he thought of No campaign spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price's comments that First Nations people were better off due to British settlement. But when pushed for a direct answer by host Patricia Karvelas, Mr Stevens said he believed European colonisation was an 'overwhelmingly good thing for the great society that we live in'. Actor and Kaurna Narungga Ngarrindjeri and Nyoongar woman Natasha Wanganeen, also on the panel, fired up at the comments, calling it 'disgusting language'. Ms Wanganeen is part of the Blak Sovereign Movement who says the Voice to Parliament is another form of assimilation, and a Treaty should be the first priority. James Stevens, MP for Sturt, said he agreed with Senator Price's comments that British Settlement was beneficial for all Australians on Monday night's Q+A program The clash erupted when Mr Stevens was asked by an audience member: 'As a No supporter, how comfortable are you being associated with a campaign that continues to spread misinformation and disinformation?' 'How do you feel being associated with Senator Jacinta Price?' Mr Stevens responded that he 'respected' Senator Price. 'She's more entitled than me to make those sorts of comments. I think she holds an opinion that should be respected, and others with different opinions should be respected as well.' Ms Karvelas pressed him on whether he agreed with Senator Price who previously said colonisation had a 'positive impact' on first Australians as 'we've now got running water, we've got readily available food'. 'I think European colonisation has been an overwhelmingly good thing for the great society that we live in,' he replied. 'I am a proud Australian, I am proud of our Indigenous culture. I am proud of the English institutions that came to this country. I am proud of the multicultural community that we have. 'I am very proud of this country, and I think Jacinta Price is a great Australian, and she is very entitled to put her views forward.' Ms Wanganeen was entirely unimpressed. 'That is disgusting language. I cannot believe you. You are disgusting, bro,' she fired back to the audience's cheers. 'Any politician that sits there and says stuff like this, their heart is not in the right space, your spirit is wrong, bro.' 'And any politicians that sit here and ask me to be Australian, I don't want to be that. I am a Narungga, Nyoongar Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna woman. 'I hope you go home and think about what you said tonight, I seriously do.' Actor and Kaurna Narungga Ngarrindjeri and Nyoongar woman Natasha Wanganeen fired back that the comments were 'disgusting' Award-winning journalist Karla Grant, who has been covering Indigenous affairs for decades, said this week she was shocked by the level of vitriol the Voice debate has sparked. 'I just never imagined that it would get nasty and so many awful things would be said and so many people turning against each other and the racial abuse directed towards people on both sides of the argument.' Ms Grant, a Western Arrernte woman, has been reporting on constitutional recognition since it was on the political agenda in the late 1990s under Prime Minister John Howard. 'The amount of abuse racial abuse online directed towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and some of the arguments that have occurred during this whole campaign have gotten really nasty,' she said. 'That's really surprised me. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has continued to claim the voice will divide Australians and waste taxpayer money that could spent on practical solutions. '(The prime minister) has divided the country,' he told Sky News. 'I hope that people do make the effort to get out and vote because this would be the most detrimental change to our constitution in our nation's history. 'We live in the best country in the world, we should be prepared to stand up and defend it to make sure that our institutions are protected.' More than 2.2 million people have cast an early ballot, while a further 1.9 million applied for a postal vote ahead of polling day on October 14. READ MORE: Ozone hole over Antarctica is one of biggest on record Australians are being warned the next seven months could bring severe heatwaves and bushfires to large swathes of the country. The Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest climate outlook that an El Nino weather pattern on the east coast combined with a positive Indian Ocean Dipole on the west could bring extreme heat between October and April. It was just a few years ago that Australia endured some of the most widespread fires on record during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20 in which roughly 24.3million hectares was scorched. There has been a La Nina weather pattern bringing increased rainfall in the years since but the two dominant climate drivers this summer will typically result in lower rainfall and higher temperatures individually, and the phenomenon is strengthened when they occur together. There has already been record temperatures in some parts of Australia this year The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast an extreme hot and dry summer (pictured: a composite image made from NASA's satellites that shows where bushfires ravaged the nation in the 2019/20 summer) Senior meteorologist Sarah Scully said the forecast showed a high chance most of the country would experience unusually warm temperatures until at least February 2024. 'Daytime and night-time temperatures have an increased chance of being unusually warm for October to February,' she said. 'Warm nights after hot days means little relief from heat and can lead to heat stress.' Much of eastern and southern Australia will also be at risk of increased bushfires due to high temperatures, reduced rainfall, and increased fuel load. 'There is always a risk of dangerous and destructive fires in Australia at this time of year,' Ms Scully noted. 'Grass growth due to above average rainfall in the past two to three years is contributing to an increased fire risk.' The bushfire season started worryingly early this year, with 70 fires blazing throughout NSW in August. The NSW South Coast town of Bermagui and surrounding areas were told it was too late to leave on October 3. Picture: Twitter In the intervening weeks, dangerous fires have been reported in every jurisdiction in Australia and several have forced emergency evacuations of large communities. However, there is a silver lining for millions of Australians in the recent BOM forecast. According to the Bureau, the El Nino and positive Indian Ocean Dipole events will result in an 80 per cent chance of fewer tropical cyclones. 'During El Nino, the number of tropical cyclones in the Australian region is often below average,' Ms Scully said. However, BOM notes at least one tropical cyclone crosses Australian coasts every season. The area most likely to be affected is the northwest coast between Broome and Exmouth in Western Australia. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the next seven months will bring increased risk of severe weather. Picture: NASA/Earth Observatory Northern Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory also usually experience a high number of tropical cyclones. Residents of those areas will receive some reprieve with the Bureau predicting that changing weather conditions will delay the start of the cyclone season. 'On average the first tropical cyclone crosses the Australian coast in late December,' Ms Scully said. 'This can be later in El Nino years - possibly early to mid-January.' The Bureau predicts the start of the summer monsoon will also be delayed by a few weeks until early January. There will be a normal risk of severe thunderstorms in late spring and early summer, according to the weather forecast. Despite the drier-than-usual conditions, BOM warns heavy rainfall could still result in localised flash flooding or riverine flooding. Preparation is key, according to the Bureau, which urges Australians to keep up to date with the latest weather warnings. The extreme weather forecast comes on the heels of Australia's hottest winter on record. Brendan Doyle was recently hired as a professor at Michigan State before he was suspended A Michigan State University kinesiology professor has been suspended after students found his past conviction for running a meth lab. Brendan Doyle was charged in Louisiana in 2020 for the creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance.' He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 days behind bars, but only served 90. Doyle was hired by the Big 10 University for the fall semester but was quickly suspended after his erratic behavior in class led some students to do some digging into his past. MSU officials claimed the professor passed a background check before he was hired and his arrest was uncovered. A Michigan State University kinesiology professor has been suspended after students found his past conviction for running a meth lab Students said he frequently canceled class on short notice, raising suspicion. Mackenzie Albee, who was one of Doyle's students at Michigan State, told FOX 17: 'When I joined the GroupMe for homework help, I saw that there was an article about him. It had the picture of my professor.' 'He was just erratic and he just seemed, like, impatient,' Albee said. He appeared in a Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office press release and in articles that outlined his involvement in a meth lab in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He was previously employed at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux before his 2020 arrest. On March 27, 2020, a person discovered a bucket and trash bag smoking under a bridge and decided to report it to authorities. 'Deputies and narcotics agents arrived on the scene and confirmed the presence of items commonly associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine. Agents determined the smoke was caused due to chemical reactions still taking place at that time. The items were safely processed and neutralized,' said the Sheriff's Office press release. In January 2021, Doyle was jailed for his role in the making of the drug. MSU officials claimed he had passed a background check before students uncovered his arrest When students found his previous arrest, Michigan State suspended him from the kinesiology department. The head of the kinesiology department - the study of human body movement -reached out to his students and formally apologized. 'When he yelled at us as if we were a high school class for talking, I just thought it was kind of unnecessary; like, when that happens in other classes at MSU, the professors don't really make a big deal out of it; they just keep teaching the lecture. It was more distracting when he yelled at us than the actual talking,' Allbee said. It is unclear if Doyle has been paid, and how much, for the semester. A temporary educator has taken over his classes. 'Even if his involvement was minimal, how did this happen? How did they look past it, or not know at all?' Allbee said. Harvard's President Emeritus Larry Summers has said he is 'sickened' by the Ivy League school's response to Hamas' terror attack on Israel after 31 organizations claimed the Jewish nation was 'entirely responsible'. Summers, who is Jewish and led Harvard University from 2001-2006, reacted too the prestigious school's lack of official response to the atrocity, as well as to a letter claiming Hamas' attacks 'did not happen in a vacuum'. 'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the groups wrote. Summers, who also served in the Obama administration, addressed the school, tweeting: 'In nearly 50 years of affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today. 'The silence from Harvard's leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups' statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel.' Harvard's president Emeritus Larry Summers has said he is 'sickened' by the Ivy League school's response to Hamas ' assault on Israel In nearly 50 years of @Harvard affiliation, I have never been as disillusioned and alienated as I am today. Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) October 9, 2023 The Palestine Solidarity Committee holding banners outside the prestigious college The former Secretary of the Treasury went on to note Harvard supported Ukraine after Russia's invasion by flying the nation's flag at the school. He also mentioned Harvard's condemnation of police brutality hours after George Floyd's killing to call out current Harvard president Claudine Gay, who has yet to release a statement. 'We have as yet - 48 hours later - no official Harvard statement at this time of moral testing,' Summers said. 'Instead, Harvard is being defined by the morally unconscionable statement apparently coming from two dozen student groups blaming all the violence on Israel. 'I am sickened. I cannot fathom the Administration's failure to disassociate the University and condemn this statement. 'I very much hope appropriate statements from the University and College condemning those who launched terrorist attacks and standing in solidarity with its victims will soon be forthcoming. 'To be clear nothing is wrong with criticizing Israeli policy past, present or future. I have been sharply critical of PM Netanyahu. But that is very different from lack of clarity regarding terrorism.' Summer's statement comes after 31 Harvard organizations released a letter to the public as a 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence. 'The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years,' they continue. 'From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden.' Despite the hundreds dead in Israel, including at least four Americans, the groups' asked for an end to brutalization of Palestinians to conclude the letter. The Palestine Solidarity Committee has held inflammatory events in relation to the conflict, including protests, an 'Apartheid Week' and a 'Boycott Israel Trek' After the attacks Saturday morning, Hamas took dozens of Israeli civilians hostage 'Today, the Palestinian ordeal enters into uncharted territory. The coming days will require a firm stand against colonial retaliation. We call on the Harvard community to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians.' The Palestine Solidarity Committee has held inflammatory events in relation to the conflict, including protests, an 'Apartheid Week' and a 'Boycott Israel Trek.' The group has also taken credit for getting the Harvard Crimson - the school's long-running student newspaper - to support BDS, or Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions of Israel. The groups include the school's African American Resistance Organization, Amnesty International, 'Harvard Act on a Dream,' groups of Muslim and South Asian students from the Kennedy and Chan schools, the Harvard Islamic Society and Harvard Jews for Liberation. A day earlier, a professor was forced to apologize for implying the Hamas attack on Israel was an attempt to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu's 'own corruption.' Meanwhile, more than 700 Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed by Hamas, who mowed down some 260 innocent people at a music festival in a brutal, unexpected offensive that drew comparisons with the 9/11 attacks or Pearl Harbor. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip on October 9 and cut off the water supply as it bombed targets A paramedic holds a little girl crying after being pulled from the scene of the bombing Gaza on Monday In retaliation, Israel has launched a massive airstrike campaign in Gaza, and Hamas' has threatened to begin executing hostages if the attack doesn't stop. Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, the IQB, said they have been acting in accordance with Islamic instructions by keeping Israeli captives safe. '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, Israel's 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. Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger weighed in on the ongoing migrant crisis at the US-Mexico border - and had some strong words about how officials are handling the situation. The Terminator star slammed policies that have allowed more than 2.8million to cross this year alone - and called for reform as a result. Citing his own heritage as an immigrant, the 76-year-old said during an appearance on Monday's The View that there was no single solution to the country's current woes - but criticized the current, lax conditions at the nearly 2,000-mile-long crossing. He aired a desire for a more rigid border that is not so easily traversed, as well as his belief that asylum seekers should be granted visas so they can work here legally. 'Its a stupid system,' the aging actor said. '[It's] set up to commit a crime.' Scroll down for video: Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke with the ladies of The View on Monday. He discussed his current stance on the immigration crisis at the US southern border Conversing with hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sara Haines, Ana Navarro, Sunny Hostin, and former Donald Trump aide Farah Griffin, the storied actor at first prefaced how he was in the middle of the road over the issue after being asked about it by Navarro. A political strategist herself, Navarro, 51, said aloud: 'You are one of the countrys most famous immigrants and a former two-term Republican governor of California back when Republicans were sane.' She went on to ask: 'What do you think about the current immigration crisis? Because you have such a unique perspective, and whats going on at the border.' After a brief pause where the actor-turned-politician appeared to consider the question, he offered a thoughtful response. 'I've seen firsthand how this is not a one-kind of a step approach,' he began, after being asked about President Joe Biden's recently aired plans to build 20 miles of border wall within Texas' Rio Grande Valley - a popular point of crossing. The decision, announced Thursday, puzzled many, as the 80-year-old head of state had campaigned heavily on promises that he would never build even another foot of wall - unlike his predecessor Donald Trump. Schwarzenegger, who secured his California gubernatorial seat as a Republican in 2003, continued: 'You have to really have comprehensive immigration reform, and you have to look at this immigration problem in a comprehensive way.' 'Number one', he said, was that he believes 'very strongly in having a border that no one can get through.' 'Thats number one for me,' the retired bodybuilder said. The former Republican Governor of California said that he believes in having a strong border, but that the current system is broken and designed for migrants to commit a crime by crossing The actor's views came after he was asked about President Joe Biden's recently aired plans to build 20 miles of border wall within Texas' Rio Grande Valley - a popular point of crossing 'Number two,' he said, 'is that we have visas available for people that want to work in the United States so they dont have to work illegally.' The assertion, coming from a native Austrian who emigrated to America in 1968 but did not become a citizen until 1983, came days after New York's Governor, Kathy Hochul, announced that 18,000 jobs are now available to select migrants given Temporary Protected Status by the Biden Administration. Only pertaining to migrants from Venezuela - thought to account for nearly half of the now daily arrivals at the southern border - the move was designed to authorize them for work more quickly, as cities continue to deal with an influx of newcomers. While some conservatives slammed the move, Schwarzenegger didn't agree. 'It is bogus,' he said of the fact that lawmakers are still opposed to such a measure, given the country's current labor shortage. 'We need the workers here,' he added, welcoming other efforts to help connect willing migrants with workplaces that will employ them. He proceeded to slam the current system in place as 'stupid' - claiming it's set up to further divide Americans and fuel already ongoing crime. Sylvia of Honduras hands her three year old daughter Melanie to Geraldo of Venezuela as the migrants search for an entry point past razor wire after wading across the Rio Grande river into the U.S. from Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thousands of migrants are pictured lining up to be processed on arrival in Eagle Pass, Texas, last week. At one point the line stretched five miles 'Why can we not come together - Democrats and Republicans - and instead of using this issue always as a fundraising issue for the party, to go and sit down together and really to do the service that theyre supposed to do?' he asked. He went on to add how he believed strongly in a more pronounced defense at the border, due to prospective instances of "terrorism" the potential "great danger," or roaming drug cartels. 'We have to have a secure border but weve got to go and reform our system,' he said, seeking to appeal to the notoriously progressive panel's analytical side. 'That's where the action is I think,' he concluded. The conversation came days after The View cohosts coitized Biden's bizarre backtrack Friday, likely with former president Trump in mind. Speaking about the about-face, Haines appeared to lay blame on the GOP-dominated Congress rather than the Democrat. 'How I would have come out and handled it One, Id put Biden on the mic right away,' she said. 'Put him on the mic and say... "This is not my wall. This is Congress wall. It was appropriated in 2019, Id be literally committing a crime by disobeying this and we have a lot of that already happening so were gonna go ahead and follow the law."' She added of the president's announcement: 'It didnt come out strong, and I thought the messaging looked weak, and it was confusing.' The abrupt declaration came as the continuing border crisis reached crisis levels last month, especially after the recent rescinding of Trump's Title 42 - a move that has made it easier for migrants to seek asylum while circumventing border laws. As the crisis continues to worsen with each day, Mexico recently announced a new agreement with the US to deport migrants from its border cities to their home countries. The deal will also take actions to deter migrants from traveling by rails, as part of a new effort to combat the recent surge in border crossings. Despite violence from drug cartels and the dangers that come with riding atop the train cars, such freight trains still remain popular. That said, the closures temporarily cut off one of the most transited migratory routes in the country at a time of surging migration. It also further underscores the historic numbers of people heading north in search of a new life in the US, and the dilemma it poses for nations in Central and South America - as they also struggle to cope with the amounts of migrants traversing their territories. Migrants hop a northbound freight train in Irapuato, Mexico, Saturday Migrants wait for a northbound freight train to hop in Irapuato, Mexico, Saturday Migrants wait to hop a northbound freight train, in Irapuato, Mexico, Friday Stateside, matters are even worse, after more than three years of thousands of illegal entries a day - leaving states like Texas, and more recently New York, at a loss. The Biden Administration, even after its rescinding of Title 42, has failed to address the crisis, and is actually turning a lower percentage of border-crossing migrants back into Mexico than his predecessor, statistics show. According to federal data an average of 1,000 people have been sent back across the border each month since Title 42 ended, compared with nearly 3,000 the month before. In August, the U.S. Border Patrol made 181,509 arrests at the Mexican border, up 37 percent from July but little changed from August 2022 and well below the high of more than 220,000 in December, according to figures released Friday. It reversed a plunge in the numbers after new asylum restrictions were introduced in May. That comes after years of steadily rising migration levels produced by economic crisis and political and social turmoil in many of the countries people are fleeing. Once, just dozens of migrants from Central American countries would pass through Irapuato by train each day, said Marta Ponce, a 73-year-old from who has spent more than a decade providing aid to those who travel the tracks running through her town. Now, that number often reaches the thousands. Cities like Eagle Pass say they are at absolute capacity and cannot handle any more migrants streaming across the border In the last handful of days, El Paso has seen an influx of some 2,000 migrants per day Migrants breach concertina wire set by the Texas National Guard at the border between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso In an aerial view, migrants are seen grouped together while waiting to be processed on the Ciudad Juarez side of the border last month in El Paso Some of the babies were carried by National Guard and Border Patrol personnel who took the infants from their exhausted mothers as they struggled up the bank This is the astonishing moment a group of 100 migrants stormed across the Rio Grande National guard in boats and air boats and razor wire along the banks trying to discourage the migrants from crossing the Rio Grand and entering the USA on September 23 And migrants come from all over, including African nations, Russia and Ukraine. Most travel through the Darien Gap, a dayslong trek across the rugged Colombia-Panama border. The crossing was once so dangerous that few dared to attempt it, but now so many migrants flood through its dense jungles that it's rapidly become a migratory highway similar to the trains winding through Mexico. Crossings of the Darien Gap - a 66 roadless miles of dense, mountainous jungle and swamp filled with armed guerillas and drug traffickers in Panama - have shot up so much they could approach 500,000 people this year alone. Colombia, which has taken on the brunt of the exodus from Venezuela, has long called on the international community for aid. Panama and Costa Rica, meanwhile, have tightened migratory restrictions and demanded that something be done about hundreds of thousands of people passing through the notoriously dangerous Gap. Panama even launched a campaign dubbed 'Darien is a jungle, not a highway.' The Biden administration has pushed Mexico and Central American nations to control migratory flows and now requires asylum seekers to register through an app known as CBP One - despite its failure to address crises occurring in New York and Texas on American soil. Migrants wait to be processed in Eagle Pass on Thursday morning after overwhelming the small Texas border town yesterday Thousands of migrants are pictured lining up to be processed on arrival in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday. At one point the line stretched five miles The line of migrants awaiting processing on Wednesday stretched as far as the eye could see in Eagle Pass Migrants sit under the bridge on Wednesday in Eagle Pass, awaiting processing Late last month, the Biden administration announced it would grant temporary protected status to nearly a half million more Venezuelans already in the country. Activists like Ponce say to expect other methods of crossing - such as migration along the country's train lines - to grow. As migrants climbed onto the train early Saturday morning, they cheered as the train picked up speed and continued them on their winding route north - a destination they reached in roughly a day. When they touch down, a new struggle awaits - as politicians like Eric Adams mull policies that could put an end to complementary stays in hotels and shelters for the thousands of visitors, and instead thrust them out on the streets within two months of arrival. This comes as countless arrivals have found themselves with nowhere to sleep and nowhere to work, spurring protests, homelessness, and unrest from weary locals. Border patrol sources told ABC News that nearly nine thousand migrants were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border that day alone - the highest rate since May. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, meanwhile, has continued to eviscerate President Biden for allowing the unfolding disaster. His office said it is regularly reinstalling razor wire brought down by the flood of asylum seekers. Senior Republicans stepped up their attacks on President Joe Biden on Monday, accusing him of appeasing Iran by unfreezing $6 billion in its assets and emboldening the terrorists who attacked Israel at the weekend. Senior administration officials have pushed back on the unproven connection, and say they have no plans to refreeze the money after the Hamas assault that killed at least 900 people. But the past three days of bloodshed has renewed focus on the U.S.-Iran prisoner swap that was made in September, freeing five American citizens detained by Tehran in exchange for five Iranian prisoners held in the U.S. and the transfer of billions of dollars that had been frozen in South Korea. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who was until last week speaker of the House, demanded that the money be refrozen. 'Biden's policy on appeasement, including money for hostage deals, must come to an end,' he said Monday. 'His policy has only emboldened terrorists. Anti-Israel banners and billboards appeared in Tehran on Monday. U.S. officials say Iran was 'complicit' in Hamas' attacks, but have stopped short of saying Tehran was directly involved 'And handing over $6 billion to Iran only helps the cause. 'In explaining that to members of Congress, they said they had provisions to refreeze the money if Iran has done something wrong. They should freeze the money back today.' Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from its Gaza bases on Saturday morning. It fired thousands of missiles and dispatched commando groups in raids designed to sow death and fear across Israel. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces bombarded the Gaza Strip, sealing it off from food, fuel and other supplies as it prepares for a ground invasion. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had reached 900, while Gaza's health ministry said at least 687 Palestinians had died since Saturday. U.S. politicians have delivered messages of support and solidarity with Israel, while Republicans have sought to blame Biden directly. Ron DeSantis, who is running to be the Republican nominee for president next year, said: 'Hamas committed these acts for two simple reasons: They hate the Jewish people, and they are evil cowards. Republicans including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped up their attacks on President Joe Biden on Monday, accusing him of appeasing Iran by unfreezing $6 billion in its assets and emboldening the terrorists who attacked Israel FILE - Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike on the Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 'They were empowered by Joe Bidens appeasement of Iran and a desire to ruin further normalization of ties within the Arab world with Israel.' He also demanded that the U.S. refreeze the $6billion. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Republicans were mistaken to think that Iran suddenly had access to billions of dollars of fresh cash. 'None of that money has been allocated or gone into Iran yet. They don't get access to it,' he told Fox News. The deal transferred the assets to Qatar, where the central bank is overseeing its allocation. Kirby said: 'It's set up for humanitarian assistance. The Trump administration did the same thing. Israeli emergency responders inspect a damaged car after a barrage of rockets that were launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 9, 2023. 'Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel,' said Biden Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 8, 2023 'We don't have a beef with the Iranian people but none of that money has been allocated. We can refreeze it any time.' In an earlier appearance on MSNBC, he said Iran was complicit in the attack but that the U.S. had no intelligence that it took part directly. 'Iran has long supported Hamas and other terrorist networks throughout the region with resources, capabilities, training,' he said. 'And so in that regard, clearly, Iran is complicit here, but in terms of specific evidence on this, these sorts of attacks, no, we don't have anything.' The Wall Street Journal reported that officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps worked with Hamas to develop plans and security officials signed off on the attack at a meeting in Beirut last Monday. More than 140 civil servants in Scotland will become the first to experiment with a four-day working week despite warnings the plan will backfire. Staff will have the number of days they work cut, but remain on the same pay. South of Scotland Enterprise office, an SNP quango, has now been confirmed as the first to take part in a 12-month trial, which was announced by Humza Yousaf last month. The organisations chief executive, Jane Morrison-Ross, told Holyroods economy and fair work committee that resources were stretched because of budget cuts. Ms Morrison-Ross, whose agency is responsible for economic and community development across the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, also warned the delivery of some support programmes was under threat. South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) boss Jane Morrison-Ross said the pilot would benefit productivity and the workforces health and wellbeing. Staff at SOSE will reduce hours from 35 to 32 a week and work over four days But the agencys staff will now reduce their working week from 35 hours to 32 hours and work four days between Monday and Friday. Ms Morrison-Ross said participating in the pilot has the potential to provide benefits to our productivity, our workforce in terms of health and wellbeing, and allowing colleagues to contribute further to the regional economy. She added: It is important to emphasise that SOSE will remain a five-day week organisation throughout the pilot, with colleagues available Monday to Friday as they are now. Our level of service to the south of Scotland will not change. But Scottish Tory finance spokesman Liz Smith said: The advice issued to civil servants in the South of Scotland Enterprise is typical of the SNP governments casual disregard for the burden their schemes place on taxpayers who are already struggling with the cost of living and the nationalists cuts. Instead of focusing on the desperate need to improve growth and productivity, the SNP has opted for what they believe is an eye-catching gimmick, without any regard for the costs involved. The public will find it very hard to accept that civil servants should work less while taxpayers have to pay more. SNP economy minister Neil Gray said the identity of other public bodies taking part would be announced soon. Political economist John McLaren previously told the Mail: There are just certain jobs where you cant increase productivity by the required amount, or you just cant do it at all the health service is an obvious one. Colin Borland, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: If the idea is to pilot paying certain government staff five days money for four days work, youd want to see some dramatic productivity gains. David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retain Consortium, added: Shopkeepers in our larger towns and city centres will be keen to understand what the pilot might mean for trading conditions in these destinations. Australians have been urged to 'reconsider your need to travel' to Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories as conflict intensifies. In an update on DFAT's Smart Traveller website, Australians have been told to avoid all non-essential travel to the country due to the volatile security situation. 'Rockets have been fired at Israel from Gaza. There have been separate terror attacks on civilians,' DFAT said in their warning. SYDNEY AIRPORT 'The Israeli government has declared a state of emergency across the whole country' There is also a 'do not travel' warning for Gaza, and areas near the border. Australian officials are still seeking to get in contact with many of the thousands of Australians who call Israel home, and tourists caught up in the conflict. Israel is 'at war' after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack from Gaza on Saturday. Since then, hundreds of Israelis have been confirmed dead and hostages have been taken. Israel has returned fire on Gaza, and on Monday announced a total blockade, cutting food electricity and blocking food and fuel supplies as part of a 'complete siege' on Gaza. United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres says he is 'deeply distressed' by Israel's declaration. In return, Hamas has vowed to kill one hostage for every rocket attack Israel launches. At home, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Israel had a right to defend itself, but called for both sides of the conflict to work to protect civilians. 'We've said Israel has a right to defend itself (and) we call for all hostages to be released. But we also have a principle position which we would advocate to all nations and all groups and all situations, which is we would urge for the protection of civilian lives and restraint,' she told ABC Radio. 'I don't think that's a decision that is easy to make from overseas ... but I would say this - I think Australia should always, in any conflict, be saying we want civilian lives to (be) protected and that is what I have advocated.' Senator Wong has attracted criticism, including by the opposition, for urging 'restraint', but said she stood by her call for innocent lives to be protected. 'What's the alternative to Australia urging restraint and the protection of civilian lives?' she said. Senator Wong said she understood the latest events were the escalation of a 'long standing dispute', but that nothing justified what Hamas had engaged in. 'Nothing justifies the violence, the hostage taking, the killing of civilians and other awful scenes we have seen,' she said. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said Israelis had become victims to some 'unbelievable' crimes against innocent women, children, and the elderly, and as such was 'entirely within its right' to defend itself. 'Any country that faced this type of terrorist attack would seek to have a comprehensive response against its attacker. Israel is entitled to do so,' Senator Birmingham told Sky News. Already, more than 800 Israelis and some 500 Palestinians have been killed. The United Nations said more than 123,000 Palestinians in Gaza had been displaced amid the intense bombardment. Australians in northern parts of the country near the Lebanon border have also been told to co-operate with Israeli officials, who have asked residents of towns like Rosh Hanikra, Adamit, Bezet, and Hanita to evacuate. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia had not been asked by Israel for military support. 'I have been in contact, and the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister have been in contact as well, but there is no talk of any kind of that support,' Mr Marles told Channel 7. The updated advice comes amid clashes between Israel and Palestine supporters in Sydney on Monday night, where the Israeli flag was burned outside the Sydney Opera House. The pro-Palestine rally, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had urged people not to attend, was attended by thousands of protesters and overseen by hundreds of police. The Sydney Opera House, alongside other major Australian landmarks including Parliament House, had been lit up with Israel's flag on Monday night. President Biden remained silent Monday after it was revealed that Americans were killed in Hamas' terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend President Joe Biden released a statement Monday condemning 'inexcusable hatred and violence' in the terror attack on Israel, as he revealed that 'at least' 11 Americans have been killed in the carnage. That number is two higher than the figure released by his administration on Monday morning. Uncertainty remains over the number of American hostages now being held in Gaza. Biden's written statement on Monday came as he made no public appearances despite the unfolding situation involving the nation's close ally Israel. In the statement he said: 'As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy. President Joe Biden made no public appearances Monday even as his administration confirmed 9 Americans were killed in Hamas' terrorist attack in Israel over the weekend. Biden later issued a printed statement saying the number had grown to 11 'Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed - many of whom made a second home in Israel.' He also said it was 'likely' there are Americans being held hostage, pledging to work with Israeli forces to secure their release. The statement comes as Hamas has threatened to start killing hostages if Israel launches an invasion of Gaza, which appears imminent. Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, the IQB, said: '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.' The head of the Israeli Defense Forces has already threatened to lay siege to Gaza. 'I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, said Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. 'We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.' White House national security official John Kirby confirmed earlier that the U.S. and Israel had been in touch. It wasn't until 5:18 pm that the White House put out an image of Biden, turning to X, the former Twitter site, to feature a black and white image of him meeting with his security team at the White House. Kirby provided an evening briefing to reporters where he said the administration was still gathering information on any potential hostage situation involving Americans with no firm information yet. 'We can't confirm that they are in fact holding hostages,' Kirby said. 'We are working literally by now to try to get more information about these unaccounted for Americans. The truth is, we don't have a solid idea of how many total are unaccounted for,' he said. He said Biden 'has directed his team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.' 'That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that some are. I don't want to say we're assuming it, but we have to accept that grim possibility.' Biden used his statement to speak in emotional terms about the devastation in Israel. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel October 8, 2023 Israeli emergency responders inspect a damaged car after a barrage of rockets that were launched from the Gaza Strip landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank October 9, 2023. 'Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel,' said Biden FILE - Palestinians remove a dead body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli airstrike on the Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 He said: 'Its heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence. 'We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts. My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days. The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.' 'The safety of American citizenswhether at home or abroadis my top priority as President. While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts.' Biden said Americans stand 'shoulder-to-shoulder' with Israel, and said the U.S. State Department is providing consular assistance to the many U.S. citizens who may have been traveling there. 'Please also take sensible precautions in the days ahead and follow the guidance of local authorities,' he urged. He cited close ties between the U.S. and Israel, in a relationship that goes back to minutes after Israel was founded. It is a relationship that also carries great weight in domestic politics. Biden also spoke of steps to guard against potential domestic threats and antisemitism. 'This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep. It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people,' Biden said. 'In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel.' 'In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis,' he continued in his statement, which ran seven paragraphs. 'We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.' With Biden keeping his head down Sunday and Monday, National Security Advisor John Kirby appeared on Fox, Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on CBS Sunday after standing at Biden's side Saturday, and security official John Finer was on CBS Monday morning. John Finer told CBS News on Monday that Iran was 'broadly complicit in these attacks' but that the U.S. had not seen 'any sort of direct involvement in the immediate attacks that took place over the last couple of days.' Kirby also said Iran was 'complicit' while saying the U.S. had not evidence of Iranian involvement in the attack at this time. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday that Hamas 'wouldnt be around in the way that it is without the support that its received from Iran over the years,' but also said 'we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack.' The White House also released a joint statement from the leaders of the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom expressing 'steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.' 'We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. There is never any justification for terrorism,' they said. Earlier, Biden was lambasted for staying silent on Monday as war raged and nine Americans were confirmed dead in 'Israel's 9/11'. The president delivered a speech lasting less than three minutes on Saturday condemning the brutal Hamas terrorist attack. On Sunday, he was briefed that Americans were among the victims but he said nothing publicly all day, and still went forward with hosting a staff BBQ, featuring a live band, at the White House. Then, on Monday morning, as the world awaited his response to the loss of American life, the White House said Biden would not be making any appearances for the second day in a row. Meanwhile, other world leaders publicly expressed support for Israel. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby assured on Monday that Biden was at the White House despite the lack of public events. 'You've got to be sh****ing me?!? It's Monday at noon,' Donald Trump Jr. posted to X upon hearing news the president had decided not to make any remarks. He added: 'Our greatest ally in the Middle East is at war, women and children are being slaughtered and raped in the streets, and our imbecile president is checking out before lunch?' Following an intense backlash, the White House was forced to release a detailed account of what Biden was doing Monday to respond to the conflict. It included meeting earlier in the morning with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients. 'He directed his team to follow up on coordination with Israel on all aspects of the crisis and to continue their work with regional partners to warn anyone who might seek to take advantage in this situation,' a White House statement said. 'This afternoon, President Biden will be speaking with several of our close allies about the latest developments in Israel and we will have more to share soon.' In the last two days, Biden has posted several tweets from the official POTUS account about a wide variety of topics including student debt relief, taxing billionaires, creating good-paying union jobs and backing technology innovations. He did post once on X about the ongoing conflict, writing: 'This morning, I spoke with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to express my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists.' 'We will remain in close contact over the coming days,' the president assured in the Sunday post. 'The U.S. will continue to stand with the people of Israel.' During the call, Netanyahu reportedly told Biden that a ground offensive in Gaza against Hamas is critical and there is no time for negotiations. Instead of hearing from Biden on Monday regarding the American deaths, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates released a statement slamming Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel for using the violence as an 'opportunity' to put the blame on the president. 'At least nine Americans have lost their lives in these brutal terrorist attacks against the State of Israel. Hundreds of additional innocent people are dead,' Bates wrote in a statement. He added: 'While apparently some individuals like Ronna McDaniel consider this loss of life and pain a great opportunity, most Americans see it as a horrific tragedy.' 'As the administration provides assistance to the Israeli Defense Force, this is a moment in which all Americans, regardless of political views, should stand shoulder to shoulder with one of our closest allies. No one can ever welcome this kind of hideous behavior or try to divide our country when we need to be united.' Republicans were quick to claim that Biden's three-minute remarks on Saturday were not enough to show the extent of the U.S. support for Israel. Hamas terrorists based in Palestinian enclave of Gaza launched a multi-front terrorist attack in Israel on Saturday, killing 900 Israelis in the three days so far of conflict Pro-Palestinian protesters convened outside the White House over the weekend to seemingly show support for the heinous attacks against the Jewish State They also blame Biden for the attack and say his un-freezing of $6 billion to Iran last month in exchange for the release of five Americans detained in Tehran is what funded the Hamas attacks. Biden notably announced the release of these funds from the frozen account in South Korea on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks last month. Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted that he has yet to see evidence Iran 'directed or was behind' the Hamas attack. Matt Miller, Department of State spokesperson, echoed the sentiment on Monday that there is no 'direct intelligence' that shows Iran was 'directly involved in this terrorist attack.' 'But that said, Iran has been a longtime supporter of Hamas,' Miller clarified. 'That's why we've taken action to hold Iran accountable for its support of Hamas and other terrorist organizations.' 'We will continue to examine what information we can about what directly led to these attacks and whether Iran or any other country may have been involved,' he told CNN. 'But at this point, we don't have any evidence to confirm that.' White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates did release a statement on Monday regarding the los of U.S. lives in Israel but took the short statement to attack RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel Iran's United Nations mission has denied Tehran's involvement in Hamas' terrorist operation. It is unclear how many American citizens were injured in the attacks, and whether any are being held hostage by the Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip. While the names of those killed are not yet released, State Department spokesman Matt Miller said Monday morning that the agency is in touch with their families 'and providing all appropriate consular assistance.' 'We cannot confirm that [Americans were taken hostage] at this point,' he told CNN. 'There are reports of that, but there are Americans who are unaccounted for, and our first priority is to locate those Americans, find out what their status is in the coming hours and days.' As of Monday afternoon, more than 900 Israelis are confirmed dead and on Sunday it was revealed more than 2,000 were injured in the attack. This does not include those still being held hostage in Gaza, the number of which is unknown but thought to be in the hundreds at least. An Israeli couple who escaped the festival massacre in Israel on Saturday have shared their harrowing experience as they continue the search for a missing friend. Amit Bar and her partner Nir were among those attending the Tribe of Nova festival in Re'im when Hamas militants opened fire, killing more than 260. The couple managed to avoid the gunfire but became separated from their friend, Ziv, as he peeled off to help others. 'When the rockets started, Ziv helped two girls and made sure to calm them down, he told them that everything would calm down soon,' Amit told Israeli outlet N12. Two hours later, Ziv called to tell his friends that he was with another group. 'We tried to shout at him and call him but he didn't listen. All this time we saw the terrorists driving in vehicles and shooting in every direction, we thought that we couldn't move,' Amit said. Amit Bar and her partner Nir were among those attending the Tribe of Nova festival in Re'im when Hamas militants opened fire, killing more than 260 The aftermath of an attack on a music festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8 The Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies have been removed from the festival site. Pictured: Partygoers fleeing the festival scene on Saturday Amit posted a photo of her with her partner on Instagram earlier today. She wrote of her experience: 'You hear the bullets whistling next to us and people just fall and the f*****g terrorists behind us circling everywhere on motorcycles just trying to kill. 'When I tell you I have no strength, you tell me I have no choice and we must keep running. 'We didn't stop running until you and Ziv split up and hid in the bushes. 'The gunshots went over the head, I never knew what a whistle of a gun sounds like, the terrorists pass by and shoot wherever possible and we do everything not move to maintain silence.' She added: 'What we experienced is impossible to digest, we just keep praying that Ziv comes home to us.' At least 260 people were killed at the festival in southern Israel on Saturday. Countless more were injured in attacks as armed Hamas militants swept through. Some 3,500 people had reportedly been at the festival, though reports vary. Gunmen infiltrated the festival in vans while others descended from motorised paragliders. Hamas took an unknown number of hostages from the festival. Fears have grown for the safety of British national Jake Marlowe, 26, missing since Saturday. 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. More than 100 people have been taken hostage since the incursion began on Saturday. Thomas Helm, Jerusalem Correspondent for The National, told MailOnline on Saturday locals had been expecting a rocket attack, but were stunned by the nature of the full assault. 'What's so shocking about this one is the creativity. People were planning for a large rocket barrage. That's what we have been worrying about for a long time. But for people to be flying in on hang-gliders, it's unreal,' he said. 'What it does more than anything else is shatters this sense that Israel... whenever you speak to an Israeli General they're obsessed with deterrence. And they worry that their deterrence has been diminished in recent months. But this shatters it.' 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) Israel has responded with devastating airstrikes in the last couple of days and today announced it would push through a 'complete siege' of Gaza, affecting 2.3mn people living on the Strip. READ MORE: Hamas announces it will begin to EXECUTE hostages and post video evidence online for every Israeli airstrike as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders Israel's Defence Forces to besiege Gaza Advertisement Yoav Gallant, Israel's defence minister, said today: 'There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza]. 'We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly.' Some 300,000 reservists have been called up as Israel gathers momentum. With the siege, the country is now 'trying to prepare their backers' for the possibility that 'this is going to be a long war', Helm told MailOnline this evening. At the same time, continued strikes on Jerusalem today indicate Hamas still has large stockpiles of premium weapons, he said. 'The thinking has been that [Hamas] launched their [strongest missiles] in the first barrage. But if they are still hitting Jerusalem now, it shows they still have a desire to escalate.' Hamas has responded to mounting airstrikes by threatening to execute its hostages and share evidence online. Qatar has since sought to mediate de-escalation talks with Israel and Hamas, aiming to secure a deal whereby both sides release captives. The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are 'moving positively' a source told Reuters earlier today. 'We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover,' foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said. by Akim Reinhardt and A Nother I am sitting on the couch of our discontent. The Robot Overlords are circling. Shall we fight them, as would a sassy little girl and her aging, unshaven action star caretaker in the Hollywood rendition of our feel good dystopian future? Shall we clamp our hands over our ears, shut our eyes, and yell Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah!? Shall we bow down and let the late stage digital revolution wash over us, quietly and obediently resigning ourselves to all that comes next, whether or not includes us? Or shall we turn fate inside out? Ill see your for-now mistake-prone, mechanical-sounding AI text wrapped in perfect grammar, spelling, and syntax, and raise you a heaping portion of human word salad. I will confront our looming destiny, an endless stream of tyrannical 1s and 0s, and counter it with a pale imitation of the worst that 20th century modernism had to offer: crippled, meandering stream of consciousness threaded together by not one, but two fleshy humans, one sitting and soaked through with the hot runoff of high end espresso beans, the other bedraggled, stained, and standing, each of them hypocritically and simultaneously composing on a share word processing document made possible only by the forerunners of tomorrows masters: the processors and software we still treat, at least for now, like slaves, lashing them with mechanical keystrokes and mouse swipes. This mother of mine is one hellacious cook. Back in the eighties, she bought large and succulent eggplant by Hasbro Co. At the local grocery store they keep the produce near the hair dye and the kumquats. Aisles full with shelves arranged in color-coded cosmic array of celestial co-minglings shone dully upon her face. The fluorescent lighting buzzed brightly above the linoleum floor. Oh my! she squealed. What was the difference between linoleum and hand soap? One of bestial divinity lords over us, and the other lays upon a fiery throne bedazzled with rotten grapefruit. Groats. Kibbles. Bits. All be praised! So sayeth the Lord, alrighty then. Quoth the maven: I cook and cook til I am out of groats. Whatever leftovers may leave this kitchen shall become naught digestible. This isnt even correct. Where did all of the endings ultimately begin? In so very much the present, it isnt quite inevitable that one should type all the words. Pictures and makeshift sculptures can replace blow-jobs half of the tamale season. Greetings. And decorations for tamales are always welcome in this area. Amen. Recipes are handed out at the end of the day. But by the time tomorrow dawns, all of them will be worthless. Generations of family have forgotten all groat-related matters. Factual recountings occur to dislodge all memories from their minds. Coming to after the celebration has to be the most moist sensation of temporal awakenings. There it is, our useless, toothless hack. Our confused response to the predictable orderliness that is rising up like silty groundwater soon to swallow us. Soon enough they will take it all away from us. We will drown in their rationally scheduled routines, becoming bondaged in their logics, and wrapped up in competent monotony. But before that era springs fully to life, sit across from me on the couch one last time and let the joy fail to spring from us as we grasp and flail in the dim light of each others half-blind eyes. Sweet is no longer blinkety before hair, lest in the whatever awaits, um, all. Forget whatever reflection lays signifying future breath. Only tee shirts nod in gust. And bobbleheads auto-correct. Sportification rises winningest dreams. Node upon constipated dreams. Jeremiah! Or, you could just join my cult. Akim Reinhardts website is ThePublicProfessor.com. Heres A Nother one. Horrifying video shows the moment an Israeli mother and her two young sons are dragged screaming from their home near the Gaza border by Hamas terrorists before disappearing. Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, was hiding in a safe room with her husband Yarden, their nine-month-old Kfir and three-year-old Ariel when Israel was invaded by the militants on Saturday. Armed with just a small pistol, Yarden hoped to defend his family and their home in in Kibbutz Nir Oz as villages were raided - in an attack which saw hundreds of Israelis killed and over 100 taken hostage. The father texted relatives 'I love you all' as they sheltered, with militants firing semi-automatic weapons outside their window, according to reports. Half an hour later, he ominously wrote 'they're coming in', before communication ceased. The family has not been heard from since, and Shiri's parents, Yosi and Margit Silberman, who are in their late 60s, are also missing and feared abducted. Later, video emerged showing the distraught mother clutching her two children as they are kidnapped, with no sign of their father, as horrified onlookers scream: 'She has a baby.' Shiri Silberman-Bibas, 30, is believed to have been abducted along with her nine-month-old Kfir and three-year-old Ariel Israel supporters at a vigil outside Downing Street in London held up pictures of the mum and her boys being taken, with one placard begging: 'Let the children go' Social media footage of Shiri sobbing as she and her children are taken away by the militants has sparked anguish Shiri and her little boys appear to have been pushed into armoured vehicles by Hamas fighters after their village was stormed Social media footage of Shiri sobbing as she and her children are taken away by the militants has sparked anguish among the Jewish community worldwide. The mother's expression of terror and pictures of her innocent sons in happier times have been used by demonstrators around the world to illustrate the terror inflicted on Israel by Hamas. Distraught Israelis at a vigil outside Downing Street in London held up pictures of the mum and her boys being taken, with one placard begging: 'Let the children go'. Missing grandmother Margit is a nursery teacher who suffers from Parkinson's disease, and is said to desperately need her medication. Devastated relatives have spoken of their horror at seeing the footage, with Shiri's cousin Yosi telling Sky News that his family member's disappearance has made him 'want to go and fight'. 'The first time I saw the pictures I couldn't believe it,' he said. 'I couldn't comprehend what I saw, then I look at another picture and it was very clear that this is my cousin Shiri and the two little children.' 'My fear's that they separated them, that they separated them, that they killed them, that they're injured, that we wont see them again, that we won't even get any piece of information with them and we will stay in this blank forever.' Shiri's niece Yifat Zailer, who spoke to the New York Times, said she she will not rest until her relatives are returned home. 'I just hope that they are alive, and that they are together. And I want them home, with me, so I can hug them tightly again,' she said. 'We feel that those responsible don't know what to do, because this is a situation we've never been in before. That's the feeling in Israel,' she added. 'It's a catastrophe.' The whereabouts of three-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir are not known after Hamas terrorists kidnapped their family Grandparents Margit and Yosi and parents Yarden and Shiri have not been heard from since Saturday Her family are not the only ones to have been rounded up and taken from Nir Oz. Father-of-two Yoni Asher said he received a call from his panic-stricken wife saying terrorists had stormed into the house. Doron Asher Katz, 34, was visiting her mother in the settlement with their two daughters, aged two and four, when Hamas attacked. After losing contact with her, Mr Asher saw a video of them on social media being loaded into a cart by militants. '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. He was able to track his wife's mobile phone and saw its location was in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip. Doron Asher Katz, 34, was visiting her mother in Nir Oz near the Gaza border with their two daughters, aged two and four, when Hamas attacked He said: 'My little two girls, they are only babies, they are not even five years old and three years old. 'I don't know in what terms they are captive. I don't know what happened to them.' Mr Asher has appealed directly to Hamas to not hurt his family and has even offered to exchange himself for their safe return. Another young family from the same village near Israel's border with Gaza are all believed to have been murdered by the terrorists. Tamar and Yonatan Kedem, along with their three children Shachar, Arbel and Omer, were all reportedly killed by Hamas in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Tamar and Yonatan Kedem, along with their children Shachar, Arbel and Omer, were all reportedly murdered by Hamas Tamar's last social media post was made on the night before Hamas invaded Israel Israel's official X account posted of their deaths: 'Tamar, Yonatan and their children Shachar, Arbel, Omer. An entire family wiped out by Hamas terrorists. 'There are no words. May their memory be a blessing.' Several major figures decried the family's murder, including Israel's former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who wrote on X: 'An entire family murdered in cold blood. 'Look at their happy faces. Their love. All of them murdered by Palestinian terrorists at Nir-Oz kibbutz. Just because they're Jews.' Around 150 Israelis, many of them civilians, are believed to have been kidnapped by the militants in the bloodiest incursion on Israel's territory in its 75 year history. Footage has shown terrified children, mothers and elderly people being loaded into vehicles by heavily armed men before being taken to Gaza. Weeping Israelis held a vigil outside Downing Street holding up pictures of Kfir and Ariel Pro-Israel demonstrators protest during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, near Downing Street in London The mother appears to plead with the militants as she desperately clings to her two young sons Gunmen were reported to have been going door to door to round up whole families as they sheltered from a barrage of rockets fired into settlements from Gaza. It has even been suggested that an elderly Holocaust survivor was among those dragged across the border, and two Britons are also feared to be among those being held. Scores of young people were taken hostage from a music festival, where at least 260 bodies were recovered by rescue workers. Among them was Noa Argamani, a 25-year-old student who was filmed screaming 'don't kill me' as she was dragged away on a motorcyle by Hamas thugs. German tattoo artist Shani Louk, aged in her 20s, was paraded partially naked through the streets by Hamas militants. At least 260 were killed in the massacre while many are still missing probably dead or taken hostage by the bloodthirsty militants. As rescuers continue to sift through the deadly wreckage of the attack yesterday, the Mail recounts how the terror unfolded Despite shocking social media video showing her lying motionless with her leg at an unnatural angle, her family clings onto hope that she is still alive. Fears are now mounting over their fates in the militants' hands, with a friend of Shani's saying 'God knows what they're doing to them'. Now the group has announced that it will execute hostages one by one in retaliation for any new Israeli bombing of civilian houses without pre-warning. Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, the IQB, said they have been acting in accordance with Islamic instructions by keeping Israeli captives safe. He blamed the intended move on Israel's stepped-up bombing and killing of civilians inside their homes in air strikes without warning them. '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. Gaza City was bombarded by airstrikes on Monday as Israel ordered a 'complete siege' of the city, cutting off electricity, fuel and food for the Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people. While the civilised world recoils from the horror of the bloody Hamas incursion into Israel, on the streets of London and other British cities, people dance and wave flags in celebration. Hundreds of civilians massacred including UK citizens; young Jewish women raped and then shot; families wiped out; naked bodies of the dead paraded through the streets of Gaza. Now Hamas is threatening to publicly execute hostages snatched during Saturday's raid. By any decent standard this is psychopathic and utterly indefensible conduct. But, for a significant number of anti-Semites in Britain, it was an act of heroism. One Palestinian woman told a rally in Brighton that the mass slaughter had been 'beautiful' and 'inspiring'. An editor for Left-wing media outlet Novara said the rampage should be welcomed by 'supporters of democracy and human rights worldwide'. Smoke and flames rise following Israeli strikes in Gaza, October 9 Palestine protest outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington on Monday night University students joined in the adulation, with Palestine societies at Warwick and London's School of Oriental and African Studies praising the killers. In any other context, this sick glorification of racially motivated murder would be viewed as a hate crime and cracked down on hard by the police. But there was little sign of that happening last night as hard-Left demonstrators spewed bile against Israel outside the country's embassy in London. Quite rightly, Rishi Sunak has offered Israel Britain's full support, having Israel's flag projected on to Downing Street as a gesture of solidarity. There are others, however, who are happy to give succour to Hamas. Sinn Fein blamed Saturday's massacres on Israel's supposed policy of 'apartheid' rather than the terrorists who committed them. As the political wing of the IRA, it was used to making excuses for the murder of innocents, but it is now the joint largest party in the Irish Dail. Does Ireland really want its elected representatives to be apologists for this kind of savagery? The United Nations Security Council shamefully ducked the issue, with Russia and China refusing to back a US motion condemning the 'heinous terrorist attacks'. They called instead for negotiations. But these terror groups are not interested in negotiating, or any form of shared 'two-state' solution. Their stated aim is to see Israel obliterated from the map of the Middle East. Like the monsters of Isis, they are driven by religious bigotry and implacable hatred. A small group of protesters supporting Israel clash with supporters of Palestine in Kensington High Street tube station Smoke rises over the buildings as the Israeli airstrikes continue in Al-Rimal Neighbourhood of Gaza City on Monday A protester with a flare climbs a lamp post as part of a Palestine Solidarity Campaign near the Israeli Embassy in Kensington, West London Israeli protesters and Palestinian protesters inside High Street Kensington tube station with police officers on Monday night They are heavily funded by Iran, and there is speculation that Saturday's raid may have been in response to Saudi Arabian moves to normalise relations with Israel. We are already seeing Israel's retaliation and, as ever, it is swift and brutal. Hundreds of targets in Gaza have been hit by rocket and artillery fire, with civilians inevitably being caught in the barrage. The Palestinian enclave is now in a state of siege, with water, fuel and food supplies and electricity cut off. A full ground offensive has not been ruled out. Hamas is holding around 100 Israeli hostages across Gaza, four of whom are said to have died in the bombardment, though they may have been killed by their captors. Extracting the survivors is high on the Israeli list of priorities but will be ferociously difficult. Normally there might be a trade-off to be found. Right now, however, that seems improbable. Some will say the Israeli onslaught is just as inhuman as the original Hamas attack. But there is no equivalence here. Israel is a country which was created with the consent of the international community after the Second World War in the shadow of the Holocaust. It has an inalienable right to exist and to defend itself against those who seek to destroy it. It is engaged in a struggle for its very survival. A high-flying American academic was shot dead in a callous attack by Hamas terrorists who burst into his home and found him hiding in a closet, his distraught mother has said. US-born Dr. Hayim Katsman, 32, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2021, was killed in his home in Israel alongside a female neighbor as the militant group launched the deadliest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust on Saturday morning. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, including 260 people massacred by Hamas gunmen at a music festival. President Joe Biden on Monday confirmed that at least 11 Americans were among the victims. Dr. Katsman's mother, Hannah, said she initially thought her son had been taken hostage, but later learned he had been killed by Hamas after they stormed his home and found him taking cover. She said one of his neighbors was released, but her son and another neighbor were immediately shot dead. US-born Dr. Hayim Katsman was shot dead in his home in Israel by Hamas terrorists Saturday His mother, Hannah Katsman (right), said she had been flooded with tributes to her son Hamas terrorists burst into the home of Dr. Katsman and shot him and a female neighbor 'I've been getting so many messages from people who worked with Hayim or who knew him, or who met him during their travels and how warm he was, how open,' Mrs Katsman told ABC News. 'He was a very accepting person and a very loyal friend. He had a good sense of humor. He took things in stride.' Dr. Katsman had been living on a kibbutz - a Jewish commune - in Israel conducting research, his mother said. A statement released by the Association for Israel Studies described the slain academic as 'an emerging scholar in the field of Israel studies', who was 'deeply committed to community service'. His volunteer activities included Co-Coordinator of the Israel/Palestine research group at the University of Washington, the statement added. It comes after President Joe Biden released a paper statement Monday condemning 'inexcusable hatred and violence' in the terror attack on Israel, as he revealed that 'at least' 11 Americans have been killed in the carnage. 'As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy,' Biden said. 'Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killedmany of whom made a second home in Israel.' He also said it was 'likely' there are Americans being held hostage as well, pledging to work with Israeli forces on the matter. That statement comes as Hamas has threatened to start killing hostages if Israel conventions an invasion of Gaza that appears imminent. It is likely to strike terror into the hearts of American families fearing for loved ones in the war-torn region. Dr. Katsman received a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, but also appeared to be a keen musician and DJ, according to his social media profile Dr. Katsman had a special interest in Israel-Palestine relations in his academic work The father of a missing American serving in the Israeli army today called on President Biden to do more to protect US citizens under attack from Hamas. Itay Chen, a US-Israeli dual citizen, was serving with the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) on the Gaza border when Hamas launched its devastating terror attack on Israel on Saturday morning. His father, Ruby Chen, who is from Brooklyn, New York, but now lives in Netanya, Israel, said the last he heard from his 'wonderful' son was that his base was under heavy bombardment. Mr. Chen said he had reached out to the U.S. State Department for help, but criticized American authorities for 'taking a back seat' in the investigation into Itay's whereabouts. Meanwhile, the parents of a missing 23-year-old American man pleaded for him to 'come home' after he sent a chilling text message to them while he attended a desert party in Israel, moments before Hamas launched a surprise attack that killed 260 people at the festival. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, texted his mother and father 'I love you, I'm 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. Ilan Troen, a professor at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, said that his daughter Deborah Matias, 50, and her husband, Shlomi, were killed when Hamas fighters attacked their community in southern Israel. 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. The State Department would not confirm whether Matias or Katsman were one of the 11 Americans it confirmed as having been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its attack on Saturday. The 'Train Karen' Brianna Pinnix was seen outside her Manhattan apartment Monday, in her first public appearance since going viral for drunkenly berating German tourists on the subway. The high-flying recruitment specialist lost her job at pharmacy giant Capital Rx after footage of her screaming abuse at the travelers on a New Jersey Transit train went viral. Pinnix was seen outside her residence in Manhattan in a white hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses and Beats headphones. She resides in Yorkville, ironically an historically German immigrant neighborhood, with many German beer halls and butcher shops and even a church that was formally a German evangelical church. The former pharmaceutical employee has since been accused of an additional xenophobic tirade against a Scottish boss. The 'Train Karen' Brianna Pinnix was seen outside her Manhattan apartment Monday, in her first public appearance since going viral for drunkenly berating German tourists on the subway Pinnix was seen outside her residence in Manhattan in a white hooded sweatshirt, sunglasses and Beats headphones Zion-St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, formerly known as Deutsche Evangelische Kirche von Yorkville and Zion Lutheran Church During the confrontation, Pinnix, who appeared drunk, is seen becoming increasingly aggressive towards the group of young travelers, questioning where they came from before shouting 'lets not let immigrants take up our country...how about you get the f*** out of our country.' After her identity was revealed by DailyMail.com Capital Rx said in a statement that the 'company has a zero-tolerance policy around prejudicial or discriminatory behavior. 'After conducting a review of the circumstances, we acted immediately and terminated the employee in question. 'The former employee's actions and words are not representative of Capital Rx, and we offer our sincerest apology to those who were hurt.' In the video, circulated heavily on social media, the tourists appeared to take the incident in good humor, with only one getting out of their seat, appearing visibly annoyed before calmly sitting back down moments later. It's unclear what led to the confrontation or what comments were made to Pinnix. Pinnix declined an interview request to explain her perspective and to provide context on the situation when reached by DailyMail.com. A male companion, who does not appear to be Pinnix's British husband, attempted to diffuse the situation. She resides in Yorkville, ironically an historically German immigrant neighborhood, with many German beer halls and butcher shops The former pharmaceutical employee has since been accused of an additional xenophobic tirade against a Scottish boss In a recent viral video, Pinnix became increasingly aggressive before shouting 'lets not let immigrants take up our country...how about you get the f**k out of our country' 'Brie, don't do this. You could be arrested' the man pleads, as he takes her by the arm and tries to convince her that the group of men were 'having a private conversation' and not trying to start a conflict. 'Babe, I love you, but get off me' an increasingly upset Pinnix tells the man as she continues to berate the tourists. 'Stop this right now, go sit down or I'm never going to talk to you again' he threatens. Pinnix eventually takes her seat only to get up again, much to the frustration of the male companion who tells her: 'I'm an immigrant too, you know that right.' New Jersey Transit told DailyMail.com the company 'strongly condemns any behavior of this type' and its customers are 'encouraged to report incidents of this nature to train crew members, or they can reach out to NJ TRANSIT Police'. It was later revealed that Pinnix had been accused of a second xenophobic attack for once calling her former boss a 'Scottish piece of s***' and telling him she 'hoped he would be deported.' A former colleague described Pinnix as 'aggressive' and 'not a good drunk,' explaining to DailyMail.com that the unsavory comments were made during a work dispute with Jack Lockerbie on a Teams call during the pandemic. The colleague, who worked with Pinnix between 2019 and 2022, recalled that she was an 'HR nightmare' who colleagues dreaded dealing with. 'Brianna was not a good drunk, there were always tears and screaming when she drank at work events. 'It got to the point where she was banned from work social events.' 'Stop this right now, go sit down or I'm never going to talk to you again' the woman's boyfriend threatens 'Train Karen' Brianna Pinnix has been accused of a second xenophobic attack for once calling her boss a 'Scottish piece of s***' and telling him she 'hoped he would be deported' A former colleague described Pinnix as 'aggressive' and 'not a good drunk,' explaining to DailyMail.com that the unsavory comments were made during a work dispute with Jack Lockerbie (pictured) on a Teams call during the pandemic The former InterQuest colleague, who did not wish to be named, explained that Pinnix, 30, then made a TikTok video series about the former boss, claiming he 'gaslit her'. 'None of us that used to work with her are surprised by this video. There was frequent aggressive, angry behavior, she has just been caught out this time' he said. DailyMail.com has contacted Lockerbie for comment on the claims but did not immediately hear back. READ MORE: Police form ring of steel around the Sydney Opera House Pro-Palestinian protesters were allowed to chant 'gas the Jews' and burn the Star of David in front of Sydney's Opera House on Monday night - while a counter-demonstrator was arrested for attempting to fly the Israeli flag. The 'despicable' scenes have been roundly condemned by leaders from across the political spectrum. Attorney General Michael Daley - the highest law officer in NSW - admitted to being unaware of the protest in a car crash interview with 2GB's Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning, before urgently back-pedalling and calling for people to 'calm down and stay at home'. Police are now under fire for allowing the rally to go ahead - while telling Jewish Australians to 'stay home' for their own safety. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD on Monday evening before marching to the Opera House where its sails were it up in blue and white in support of Israel. There were scenes of chaos as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims - some wearing black masks - who hurled lit flares at police and chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews' beneath the steps of the Opera House (pictured) Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before resorting to stamping on it and tearing it into shreds (pictured) In the end, the sails were only lit up for a short time and in muted colours. Israeli supporters largely stayed away, with some watching the illumination from the other side of Circular Quay. There were scenes of chaos at the Opera House as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims - some wearing black masks - who threw lit flares at police and chanted 'f*** Israel' and 'f*** the Jews' beneath the steps of the iconic harbouside venue. At one point, there were even chants of 'gas the Jews'. Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before stamping on it and tearing it to shreds. Cries of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great in Arabic) and 'death to the Jews' rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police barrier, brandishing torn pieces of the Israeli flag - despite the rally organisers calling for protesters to respect the police. Over 100 cops formed a ring of steel along the steps of the Opera House and didn't intervene when flares or other projectiles were thrown at them. Instead, they placed the lit flares in buckets of water as acrid smoke filled the air. On Tuesday morning, Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said police were looking at CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the flare-throwers. 'Im very disappointed in the strongest possible terms that people saw fit to utilise flares and what not,' Assistant Commissioner Cooke said. The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD before marching to the Opera House 'However, I can tell you the entire rally and footage was covered by CCTV footage and an operation has been established to look into the issues last night and we will attempt to identify people who committed offences and will take appropriate actions to put them before the courts where it is possible.' The hands-off approach on the night will undoubtedly prompt accusations of bias given that counter-protesters who had earlier attempted to wave the flag of Israel were arrested by police. As protesters arrived at Town Hall earlier in the evening, a man clutching an Israeli flag was dragged away by three police officers for 'disrupting the peace' - before he even had a chance to unfurl it. In an video of the incident taken by Daily Mail Australia, the man can be heard repeatedly saying 'I've done nothing wrong'. An officer told him: 'You've been arrested in relation to a breach of the peace.' A speaker then told the booing crowd: 'Zionists don't deserve our attention.' In total, Daily Mail Australia witnessed three individuals attempt to fly an Israeli flag before being chased away by protesters or arrested by the police 'for their own safety'. Israel supporters kept their distance, watching the display from the other side of Circular Quay Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the word 'peace' taken from her by police. 'A police officer came and snatched it out of my hands and said: "Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think you're doing?",' she said. 'I said: "I'm not Palestinian, I'm not Israeli. I'm just Irish-Australian and I don't like that we are inciting hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate". 'I don't think inciting more anger and violence is the solution.' Shockingly, NSW Police felt compelled to warn Sydney's Jewish community from entering Sydney's CBD on Monday evening over safety concerns. 'NSW police are urging the community not to attend the Sydney Opera House or Town Hall this evening,' an email from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies to members read. The protesters marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting 'Free Palestine' 'Community members already in the CBD should be vigilant as protesters are likely to seek to march from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House. 'The events tonight may pose a risk to the safety of community members and you are strongly urged not to attend.' One TikToker pointed out that the police had kept protesters away from the sails of the Opera House which were lit up in blue and white in support of Israel (pictured) Assistant Commissioner Cooke admitted NSW Police had arrested a man who attempted to unfurl an Israeli flag at Town Hall. 'A person was removed from the Town Hall rally who was carrying a flag for his safety,' he said. 'He was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace for his safety. He was removed and released.' He added: 'This is New South Wales, we do not expect people to bring conflict from other places to the streets of Sydney. Violence will not be tolerated and we were able to manage that to assure that there was no conflict last night.' Meanwhile, Mr Daley admitted he had not been aware of the protest because he was 'working late'. The NSW Attorney General urgently called for people to 'calm down and stay at home'. 'Stop dividing into teams and competing with each other with various forums or on the streets, this is Australia, not Israel or Palestine,' Mr Daley said. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton branded the Opera House scenes 'despicable' and criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for allowing the protest to go ahead. 'These were despicable scenes in Sydney tonight and they are unimaginable in modern Australia. I condemn the actions of the activists and protesters,' Mr Dutton said. A large crowd has gathered outside the Opera House NSW Premier Chris Minns said he 'deplored' the rally and described it as being 'against the tenets of our multicultural community'. 'We lit up the Opera House in support of innocent people who have had their lives slaughtered or loved ones kidnapped,' Mr Minns told Sunrise. 'The community expectation from the vast majority of people I have spoken to in the past 48 hours has been horror at the actions of Hamas and also the demonstrations that have taken place in Sydney in the past 48 hours.' Mr Albanese earlier called on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the rally, claiming there was 'nothing to celebrate from the loss of innocent lives'. 'I just find it abhorrent and it should be condemned, but unequivocally by everyone,' Mr Albanese told 2GB's Drive with Chris O'Keefe. Robert Gregory, CEO of the Australian Jewish Association said 'Australians should be very worried'. 'The police gave a warning for Jews not to come into the area,' Mr Gregory said. 'Think about that. Imagine if there were mobs hunting blacks or gays in Sydney's CBD. 'Imagine if the police warned blacks or gays not to come into Sydney's CBD.' It was supposed to be a festival filled with merriment and music as thousands of care-free revellers danced in the desert under the stars. Scheduled to coincide with the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah, Supernova was billed as a celebration of 'friends, love and infinite freedom'. Instead, the weekend-long outdoor rave in southern Israel turned into the site of an unimaginable bloodbath. Terrified revellers fled for their lives as they were surrounded by Hamas gunmen who descended on the site in paragliders, motorbikes and pick-up trucks. It was several hours before help would arrive, leaving militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns free to carry out a murderous rampage. At least 260 were killed in the massacre while many are still missing probably dead or taken hostage by the bloodthirsty militants. As rescuers continue to sift through the deadly wreckage of the attack on Sunday, the Mail recounts how the terror unfolded. At least 260 were killed in the massacre while many are still missing probably dead or taken hostage by the bloodthirsty militants. As rescuers continue to sift through the deadly wreckage of the attack on Sunday, the Mail recounts how the terror unfolded Shani Louk, 30, was seen struggling to reach her car as it was surrounded by armed terrorists. Her mother said she last spoke to her daughter after hearing rockets and alarms sounding in southern Israel and called to see if she'd made it to a secure location. Pictured: Tattoo artist Shani Louk at rave Survivors of the attack, who posted videos of the ordeal to social media, explained how they were forced to hide under bushes to avoid the Hamas gunmen As the party-goers scrambled toward their vehicles or took cover they found themselves surrounded as four pick-up trucks filled with militants and gunmen on motorcycles encircled the main road leading out of the venue. Pictured: A festival-goer who posted videos as she hid in undergrowth DANCING WITHOUT A CARE UNDER THE STARS Surrounded by trees in the desert, revellers had spent the night dancing to pumping trance music under the stars. They had begun arriving at the site which featured multiple stages, a camping area and a food court from 11pm after paying $100 for a ticket, blissfully unaware of the terror to come. Three miles away at the border with Gaza, heavily-armed Hamas militants were preparing to embark on a callous multi-pronged attack breaking through the fortified fence surrounding the territory using explosives to create gaps. MURDEROUS ATTACK BEGINS AT SUNRISE Footage shows oblivious party-goers dancing at around 6.30am as a formation of Hamas militants on paragliders approaches in the sky some distance behind them. Around the same time rockets were sent arcing over the heads of the ravers. Some did not initially notice the sound of the explosions and gunfire over the thumping music while others, used to rockets from Gaza, shrugged them off. But when the music stopped the revellers hit the ground a standard drill for those in southern Israel where fire exchanges over the border are frequent. A voice boomed over the loudspeakers across the site warning: 'Guys, we have red alert. Red alert.' A handful of police officers began breaking up the party and shouting 'Colour Red' code for incoming rocket fire. Michel Atias, 43, who was at the festival, said: 'It started off as a beautiful party, with great vibes and energy. But at around 6.30am, the rocket fire started. Many people panicked and started running to their cars.' Briton Jake Marlowe, 26, who had been working as a security guard at the event, messaged friends later that morning saying he was still trying to get people out. At around 9am, the 26-year-old who has since gone missing left a brief voice note to a friend saying he had stayed behind with another pal he referred to as Shlomi. It said: 'Me and Shlomi are right by Gaza, bro... 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 was last seen attempting to rescue revellers from the killers. He remained missing last night Terrified partygoers were seen fleeing the festival on foot, running across the sand, trying to jump into cars as Hamas terrorists fired shots Israelis could be heard shouting, running, and hurriedly getting into cars as they attempt to escape 'SHOT LIKE DUCKS IN A FIRING RANGE' As the party-goers scrambled toward their vehicles or took cover they found themselves surrounded as four pick-up trucks filled with militants and gunmen on motorcycles encircled the main road leading out of the venue. 'We heard gunshots and later realised that the gunmen were targeting those who were trying to flee the party they were waiting for them,' Mr Atias added. 'When I reached my car, the terrorists were still shooting. I saw a woman shot in the leg, I saw a car with bullets that had shattered the windshield. 'There was so much panic and the sound of the gunshots was getting closer and closer. We all understood this was a terror attack.' Hanoch Hai Cohen, 32, from Tel Aviv said: 'They were shooting at people just a metre away... these were executions. We were like ducks in a firing range.' Vehicles were abandoned before the exit as cars were peppered with automatic gunfire and hit with rocket-propelled grenades. Shye Weinstein, 26, who recently moved to Tel Aviv from Toronto, said: 'I remember one specific car, the person in the car was in the front seat. They had tried to get away and couldn't and they were shot in their car.' Chilling social media footage showed desperate festival-goers running across the desert without cover as rapid gunshots rang out. Some were locked in a terrifying chase as they were pursued by attackers in vehicles, with revellers being killed or seized. Injured survivor Sahar Ben Sela said he was led to a concrete bomb shelter by a policeman with about 30 others. 'After a few minutes, the terrorists started shooting at us and neutralized the policeman right in front of us,' he said. Aftermath: Burnt-out and abandoned cars where revellers tried to escape the onslaught An armed Palestinian militant leading a man during the Supernova music festival An armed Palestinian militant is seen walking around the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel 'They threw a grenade that exploded at the entrance of the shelter. After a minute... they threw another grenade that hit me in the head. I stood against the wall in the second row of people and the grenade flew to the bodies behind. They were the ones getting hit, and this is what saved us. 'He said a terrorist then entered the shelter with an Uzi machine gun and sprayed the trapped revellers with bullets. Everyone who was in the first and second rows, except for me, was killed. A bullet hit me in the elbow and shrapnel in my leg and lungs. I think his gun got stuck because I heard a noise and he ran outside.' When Sahar managed to escape he was able to call the police for help but was told simply: 'Just run. Good luck.' SAVAGERY IN SIX-HOUR MURDEROUS RAMPAGE As the murderous gunmen continued to mow down anyone in their path, terrified revellers scrambled for cover in nearby orchards, banana groves or ditches. 'We were hiding and running, hiding and running, in an open field, the worst place you could possibly be in that situation,' said Arik Nani from Tel Aviv, who had been celebrating his 26th birthday. Parents and friends received panicked messages from their trapped loved-ones desperately asking for help. It was still only 9.30am but it would be six hours before the Israeli military arrived, leaving the militants to murder indiscriminately. Dashcam footage from an abandoned car shows how a reveller was spotted as he hid. Cowering on the ground behind a vehicle, he is approached by a terrorist and executed. Moments earlier another terrorist had fired at an injured reveller before marching him off at gunpoint. Others were forced to play dead as the killing carried on around them, only emerging when they heard security forces speaking in Hebrew. Ester Borochov, 19, fled in her car before it was hit and broke down. 'They started shooting at us point blank,' she said. 'A young man took us in his Jeep. They shot him... the car overturned. We played dead, me and my friend, for two and a half hours... before help arrived. That's how we survived.' May Hayat, who had been working at a festival bar, said: 'I hid under the stage of the party and laid down next to three dead people. I smeared blood that dripped from one of the bodies and pretended to be dead. For three hours I lie among corpses and wonder what will happen to me.' 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, in her early 20s (pictured), was at a music festival for peace when she was captured by Hamas terrorists who had stormed the event and massacred 260 Israeli revellers during their assault on Israel 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 Shocking footage shared on social media appears to show Palestinian fighters parading Shani's naked body on the back of a pick-up truck KIDNAPPED...THEN USED AS VILE PROPAGANDA At around 10am, student Noa Argamani, 25, and her boyfriend Avinatan Or had texted loved ones to let them know they were safe. Noa was said to have been hiding with a group who were being murdered. 'She was saying there were terrorists going crazy, killing and kidnapping people,' said childhood friend Yad Gorjalstan, 27. 'We last heard from Noa around 10am and then the next thing we see is her on a Hamas propaganda video.' Footage circulating on social media showed the terrified student screaming as she is bundled on to a motorcycle. 'You can hear her screaming, 'No, no, no, I am innocent',' added Mr Gorjalstan. NAKED VICTIM'S BODY PARADED IN GAZA Shani Louk, 30, was seen struggling to reach her car as it was surrounded by armed terrorists. Her mother Ricarda said she last spoke to her daughter after hearing rockets and alarms sounding in southern Israel and called to see if she'd made it to a secure location. 'She was going to her car and they had military people standing by the cars and were shooting so people couldn't reach their cars, even to go away. That's when they took her.' Hours later a video emerged of an apparently lifeless semi-naked woman thought to be Miss Louk being paraded through Gaza in the bed of a truck. In highly distressing scenes, militants are seen sitting on the body as one pulls her hair and another spits on her. Her family said they recognised her distinctive tattoos. 'It looks very bad, but I still have hope,' said Mrs Louk. 'I hope that they don't take bodies for negotiations. I hope that she's still alive somewhere.' Hamas fighters circumvented Israel's border with the Gaza Strip by flying in via paraglider, according to the Israeli military (pictured: A paraglider crossing into Israel) The Israeli rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies have been removed from the festival site. Pictured: Partygoers fleeing the festival scene on Saturday A distressing image, shared in a pixellated form on the Israeli government's official Twitter page, showed scores of victims placed in body bags underneath a tent at the festival site BODY BAGS LOADED IN REFRIGERATED LORRIES The staggering toll of the festival was only becoming clear on Monday, as Israel's rescue service Zaka said at least 260 bodies had been recovered and there are fears the total could rise. Harrowing pictures emerged of dozens of body bags being loaded into refrigerated lorries. 'They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way,' said Zaka spokesman Moti Bukjin. Desperate relatives have continued to descend on hospitals in an attempt to locate the missing. Shany Tsaban, 31, said her parents spent hours walking through hospital wards anxiously searching for her missing sister, Bar Zohar, 23. She said: 'Bar called our mother at around 6.40am yesterday, saying, 'Mum, come and get me, there are rockets here'. 'Then a bit later she called again screaming, 'Mum! Mum' And then the call was disconnected.' Kelly said that there are 'raging anti-Semites' who walk the halls of Congress Megyn Kelly slammed progressive members of Congress who have released statements pointing blame at Israel in the wake of the Hamas terror attack that has killed at least 900 Israelis. Specifically, Kelly called out Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Cori Bush, who both released statements over the weekend that referred to Israel as an 'apartheid' state and calling for an end to the 'military occupation' of Gaza. Kelly opened her show Monday discussing the surprise attack against Israel conducted by Palestinian terrorists. She highlighted some of the specifics of the heinous attacks, which have included the rapes and murders of young women, children and the elderly. She said there are 'raging anti-Semites in the halls of Congress.' 'Rashida Tlaib of course, predictably, she's the only Palestinian American a member of Congress, tweeting out finally - she went silent and then finally tweeted 100% she blames Israel,' said Kelly. Rep. Cori Bush, said Kelly, is directing her 'never ending life of grievance' at Israel. Smoke rises from Gaza following a retaliatory Israeli airstrike on October 9, 2023 Speaking with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Kelly said: 'You got some raging anti-Semites in the halls of Congress. Thanks a lot, Minnesota. Thanks a lot, Missouri. Thanks a lot, The Bronx, where AOC reportedly came from.' 'They're open about it, they're not even trying to hide it, and they're the reason why a lot of this money does get funneled over there. They really see Israel as the aggressor.' The staunchly conservative senator agreed, saying that 'in todays Democrat party, anti-semitism has been normalized.' 'These radical leftists, they loathe the State of Israel You'll remember a few years ago when the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi tried to pass a resolution condemning anti-semitism. And it turned out she couldn't get her conference to agree. The Democrats could not come together and clearly condemn anti-semitism,' he continued. Kelly said that even in the wake of the horror of the weekend, Congressional leftists who hate Israel should have had better sense than to point blame at Israelis while the ashes are still cooling. 'There are literally parents desperately searching for their babies right now. We saw the murders in the streets with our own eyes A bus stop full of elderly women, dead, murdered, toppledWho would murder a baby? An elderly person? ' 'Evil. Just absolute evil. And all they want to do is say 'Well, they're [Israel] evil too,'' she said. Bush and Tlaib, two hyper-progressive members of the Democratic Congressional Caucus, released statements over the weekend condemning Israel as an 'apartheid' state, and pointing blame for the Hamas terror attacks away from Palestinians The aftermath of a large explosion in Gaza, as Israel ramps up its war effort following attacks that have left more than 900 Israelis dead How much more blood needs to be spilled for you to overcome your prejudice and unequivocally condemn Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror organization? Hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians massacred in cold blood on a holy day. Babies kidnapped from their mother's arms and taken to pic.twitter.com/tRvvwlhzX8 Ambassador Michael Herzog (@AmbHerzog) October 8, 2023 2,000 rockets were fired into Israeli cities on Saturday, in addition to a ground attack that involved the kidnapping, torture and murder of women, children and the elderly by militant Palestinian terrorists. 'I grieve the Palestinian and Israeli lives lost yesterday, today, and every day. I am determined as ever to fight for a just future where everyone can live in peace, without fear and with true freedom, equal rights, and human dignity,' Tlaib wrote in her statement. 'The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.' Tlaib called Israel an 'apartheid' state and criticized the United States for providing 'billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government.' While that support continues, she wrote, 'this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue,' blaming both the United States and Israel for the actions of Hamas that have left 900 Israelis and counting dead and thousands more injured and missing. 'The failure to recognize the violent reality of living under siege, occupation, and apartheid makes no one safer. No person, no child anywhere should have to suffer or live in fear of violence. We cannot ignore the humanity in each other,' she added. Tlaib has, throughout her time in public office, made controversial remarks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has previously condemned Israel's policies about settlements in the West Bank and around the Gaza Strip. 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 My statement on the escalating violence in the Middle East: pic.twitter.com/xGb8FYnqit Congressman Jamaal Bowman (@RepBowman) October 7, 2023 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 Fellow member Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog's joint address to Congress over the summer, and issued a statement Saturday prompting the US to end its support for 'Israeli military occupation and apartheid.' Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, another Squad member and along with Tlaib one of the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress, did identify Hamas in her condemnation of the violence in Israel. '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 weve seen,' she wrote. She also expressed 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 (formerly 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.' Some were moved to remind Omar that Hamas, the democratically elected leaders of Gaza, should have considered spending government funding on shelters instead of rockets used to attack Israel. Other Squad members, including Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, called for an 'immediate ceasefire and de-escalation' in the region. 'Today is devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights. I condemn Hamas attack in the strongest possible terms. 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,' wrote AOC. Massachusetts Representative 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,' responded one X user to the statement. 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 replied: 'Bowman can't merely condemn terrorism. He has to include his ignorant criticism of Israel.' Hamas' surprise attack on Saturday morning came just one day after the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which saw Israel battle existential threats from hostile neighbors led by Egypt and Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and has since promised 'mighty vengeance' on Israel's attackers that will end in victory for his country. At least ten British nationals are missing or dead following Saturday's shocking attack on southern Israel, including two whose deaths have been confirmed. Every Jewish family in the UK has been affected 'in one way or another', the Chief Rabbi said. Sir Ephraim Mirvis told Sky News: 'The first question we are asking people when giving them a call in the UK is, "How is everyone in your family?" 'Because there certainly isn't a Jewish family in the UK which hasn't been affected in one way or another by this.' Those confirmed missing or dead include: NATHANEL YOUNG, 20 Corporal Nathanel Young, 20, from London, was a soldier in the 13th Battalion who lived in Tel Aviv JFS Jewish school headteacher Dr David Moody said: 'We are heartbroken at what has happened. Nathanel is fondly remembered' Mr Young was fulfilling his 'childhood dream' to serve in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Palestinian terrorists. A former pupil at JFS Jewish school in Kenton, north London, the corporal had been living in a lone-soldier house in Raanana, according to the Jewish News. His brother Eliot said: 'Nathanel was full of life and the life of the party. He loved his family and friends and was loved by everyone.' Mr Young's funeral in Jerusalem yesterday was interrupted by warning sirens and loud bangs, with mourners taking shelter behind gravestones, the BBC reported. JFS Jewish school headteacher Dr David Moody said: 'We are heartbroken at what has happened. Nathanel is fondly remembered within the school and we think of him with nothing but love.' BERNARD COWAN, 57 Glasgow man Bernard Cohen (aka Cowan) killed on Saturday in Israel by Hamas He was yesterday identified by family members on social media as having been 'murdered in cold blood' Mr Cowan grew up in Newton Mearns, Glasgow, then settled in Israel where he lived with his wife and three children. He was yesterday identified by family members on social media as having been 'murdered in cold blood in his home'. His brother, Colin Cowan, shared on Facebook: 'Yesterday my brother was murdered by the terrorists Hamas. Mr Cowan grew up in Newton Mearns, Glasgow, then settled in Israel where he lived with his wife and three children 'He was the kindest, most generous person you would ever meet, and would go out of his way to help others. We are all heartbroken.' Jackson Carlaw, Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament for Eastwood in East Renfrewshire, said Mr Cowan had been 'murdered on Saturday by Hamas', adding that it was 'desperately sad and grim news'. JAKE MARLOWE, 26 Jack Marlowe was last seen attempting to rescue revellers from the killers. He remained missing last night Mr Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, left desperate messages to friends while providing security at the Supernova music festival close to the Gaza border, where around 260 people were killed. His parents, Lisa and Michael, who live in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, have launched a desperate appeal for information. The carpenter's mother told the Jewish News on Sunday that the last message she got from her son was one saying he loved her. Mr Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, left desperate messages to friends while providing security at the Supernova music festival His parents, Lisa and Michael, who live in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, have launched a desperate appeal for information 'He was doing security at this rave yesterday 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.' DAN DARLINGTON This is the last picture of Brit Danny Darlington and German girlfriend Carolin Brohl taken just one day before the attack Photographer Mr Darlington is feared dead along with his German friend Carolin Bohl after the kibbutz which he was meant to have left the day before was attacked by Hamas fighters. Heartbreaking photographs on Instagram show the pair laughing together shortly before they vanished. His sister Shelley said: 'My baby brother, Dan, was murdered by terrorists on Saturday morning on our kibbutz, Nir Oz, alongside his beautiful friend Carolin. 'He was meant to leave for Tel Aviv the night before but decided to stay one more day to explore the kibbutz.' DOR SHAFIR, 30 A British-Irish mum living in Israel is desperate to locate her missing son Dor Shafir (left) and his girlfriend, after the young couple were caught up in the Hamas terror attack Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, both 30, were attending the nature party near Nirim A British mother living in Israel is pleading for help to find her missing son and his girlfriend after they were caught up in the music festival attack. Miryam Shafir, 55, whose father is from Reading and whose mother was from Dublin, urged the UK and Irish governments to apply pressure on Hamas. Her son, Dor Shafir, and his fiancee, Savion Hen Kiper, both 30, were attending the nature party near Nirim. 'We know from a person that saw them at the party that when they heard the first rockets, my son and his girlfriend were the first to run to their car and leave,' Ms Shafir said. 'We don't know if they are alive or dead.' The BBC's refusal to refer to Hamas murderers as terrorists was criticised by ministers yesterday. Referring to the broadcaster's choice of language in its news programmes, Rishi Sunak declared: 'This is not a time for equivocation, we should call it out for what it is.' Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer took BBC boss Tim Davie to task during a meeting, demanding answers over why his journalists chose not to call Hamas gunmen terrorists. Although the Government classifies Hamas as a 'single terrorist organisation', the broadcaster has continually referred to it as a 'militant' group and called the invasion a 'militant' attack. Yesterday the BBC continued to refer to the attackers as 'the Hamas militant group', 'Hamas militants' and 'Palestinian militants' in its online news coverage. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak blasted the BBC for refusing to call the Hamas terrorists before attending Finchley United Synagogue in central London for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks on Monday People take part in a 'Vigil for Israel' opposite the entrance to Downing Street on Monday There has been growing disquiet about the BBC's refusal to use the word 'terrorist' given the horrific scenes on social media of the Islamist group inflicting brutal violence on Israeli citizens. Mr Sunak was speaking about the issue during a visit to a Currys repair and customer service centre in Nottinghamshire yesterday morning. Last night, speaking at the Future Resilience Forum security conference in London, the PM added: 'Innocent teenagers at a festival of peace were gunned down in cold blood and the sickening evidence posted online. It is inhuman and it will not stand. Terrorism will not prevail.' One BBC report described a warning that 'Hamas militants from Gaza are fighting' in Israel, while another said Israeli forces were carrying out operations to rescue hostages 'taken by Palestinian militants'. Former Tory party chairman Eric Pickles has branded the broadcaster's coverage as 'universally biased and dreadful'. Former Labour MP Luciana Berger, who is Jewish, said: 'There's a responsibility on all the media. These people are terrorists. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Language matters. When you treat countries differently you exacerbate the problem.' 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.' A young farm worker has been tragically killed while mustering cattle on a quad bike. Emma Varis, 22, was working on a property in Western Australia's Dandaragan shire last Wednesday when the quad bike she was riding rolled. She is survived by her parents Greg and Sharon and older siblings Ryan and Kate. Her death has sparked an outpouring of tributes from shattered family and friends. Her sister penned an emotional tribute on Facebook hours after the tragic accident. 'On Wednesday the world was made just a little bit darker,' Kate wrote. Emma Varis was mustering cattle on a quad bike when she was killed in a tragic accident READ MORE: Huge fireball erupts as fire breaks out at chemical warehouse in Perth Advertisement 'We ask that people be respectful, be kind and all look after each other in these times and can show the same love and caring towards one another that Emma did. 'We love you little hobbit and you made such a positive impact and filled everyone's lives with so much fun, love and joy while you were here.' A shattered friend compiled a video collage of Ms Varis. 'Still doesnt feel real that we wont ever see you again Emma. Thanks for all the great memories youve given us all,' he wrote. Another added: 'Absolutely loved Ems friendship and being in her company on and off the hockey field. So many fun times shared, memories that Ill treasure forever. Along with her BIG long hugs she always gave me. They were the BEST.' Emma Varis' tragic death last week has sparked an outpouring of tributes Others hailed Ms Varis as one in a million with a heart of gold whose smile and infectious personality lit up every room. Originally from Collie in WA's south-west, Ms Varis graduated from the WA College of Agriculture in 2019 before moving north to work on the land. Ms Varis was also a talented hockey player and much loved member of the close-knit local community in Dandaragan. 'Emma, your beautiful, bubbly and supportive nature was touched to many within our club. A true friend, club member and premiership player. Thank you for your shining light on and off the field, you will be greatly missed by all,' Dandaragan Football Club wrote. WorkSafe investigators have travelled to the property to 'ensure compliance and preventing future incidents'. At least nine Aussies have died in quad bike-related incidents so far in 2023. A recent recent independent inquiry into the agricultural industry found that five workers died in quad bike-related incidents on WA farms between 2017 and 2022, according to the WA WorkSafe Commissioner. Twice this summer, after being in the woods a while, I came back and hung out with people unmasked. Both times I got lucky and didnt catch anything. Both times I was stunned at how quickly I forgot that Covid is still here and still infecting people. Id hear someone barking a rattly wet cough nearby and realize the risk I just took since most transmission is from people who appear perfectly healthy. Being able to adapt to the environment around us is one of our species greatest abilities, but it doesnt always work when needed. Acclimatizing to this level of illness enables us to keep forging ahead, going to work and getting tickets for an event months ahead of time. Imagining a bright future is useful to our immediate mental health, and it keeps us eating and reproducing. However, it misses the dangerous longterm effects on our body and brain that come from ignoring this invisible threat in the air. As a teacher, students advertising for events often complained that nobody noticed all the posters they painstakingly put up around school. I told them its because there are always posters, with similar graphics, lining the hallways in the same place, so our brain has learned that attending to them wont help us mate or eat or avoid harm. I advised hand-painted posters in new locations might help; people need something to make our brain register the posters as novel stimuli. If we didnt acclimatize to stimuli, wed be exhausted from noticing every single thing all day. Its a useful mechanism until we start to forget the danger of an invisible disease waiting for a chance to wreak havoc in our bloodstream. so aware of this that they have suppressed naming new variants of concern since November 2021. They are so wary of panic causing an economic crash or maybe violence in the streets, or something, that theyd rather people get sick than know the truth. The fact that they name variants from the Greek alphabet clarifies that they didnt expect so much mutation to happen so quickly. There are only The WHO is aware that the announcement of a new variant helps to get people to pay attention to Covid again. In fact they areaware of this that they have suppressed naming new variants of concern since November 2021. They are so wary of panic causing an economic crash or maybe violence in the streets, or, that theyd rather people get sick than know the truth. The fact that they name variants from the Greek alphabet clarifies that they didnt expect so much mutation to happen so quickly. There are only nine options left Some volunteers, like evolutionary biologist since Omicron. However, BA.2.86 (must be name-worthy! Some volunteers, like evolutionary biologist T. Ryan Gregory, have taken it upon themselves to assign nicknames outside the canon in order to make it easier to discuss the over 1,700 variants that have developedOmicron. However, BA.2.86 ( nicknamed Pirola ) is so prevalent, in over 24 countries, and spreading so fast, and is so different from the original BA.1 strain that some think itbe name-worthy! A new genetic background competing with the circulating diversity, this is something of concern. The range of its impacts is wide. . . . Its a variant of concern. Health systems should be alerted to the possibility. That being said, despite the WHOs concerns with bringing attention to officially designated variants, I dont think a new name will be enough. I think an inner narrative may be more of a motivator to act. Purposeful Narratives I need a lot to have the impetus for doing a deep-clean of my kitchen. The action requires a catalyst sometimes the first warm day of spring does it, but I missed that thrust option this year. Luckily one of my kids is moving out which will generate a good two days of cleaning after dirty shoes go in and out of every room collecting boxes and searching for that one book of theirs. There are a few people out there that keep their homes immaculate all the time. They dont need an external trigger or stimuli to provoke routine behaviour. And people like me openly admire them while possibly secretly deciding that surely something must be horribly wrong with them for being so obsessed with cleanliness in order to assuage our feelings of inadequacy because we know theres a layer of sticky dust on top of our fridge right this minute. Right? Despite being slovenly, somehow I ended up in that uber-motivated group when it comes to avoiding Covid. I think its the case that people with clean homes have little messages in their head from childhood about someone possibly popping by and what they might think of them if the house were a mess. I have no such messages. My mother always said she didnt want the epitaph on her tombstone to read: She kept a clean house. And it didnt. But Covid precautions stick for me because the virus attached itself to two of my biggest fears. Very early on, before vaccines took the edge off of acute infections, I happened to catch a video of a woman who had recovered from Covid explaining what it was like. She had been in the hospital for weeks struggling to breath without family allowed in to see her, instead surrounded by people who were similarly dying or already dead waiting to be moved to freezer vans outside. She described in detail the horror show of having lungs so full of fluid that she was literally fighting to take each breath. For some reason, she turned a corner that didnt budge for many others; she lived to tell the tale. That story has since been augmented with all the many stories Ive heard of people living with Long Covid, spending their life savings on babysitters when they can no longer afford actual medical care because they need help to be fed and to go to the bathroom 24/7. My second biggest fear is my children spending the prime years of their lives burdened with taking care of me. Admittedly, these are not all-encompassing do-gooder narratives about protecting anyone near me. Theyre about saving myself from pain and my children from a difficult life. Survival of the self and kin is more immediately motivating than concern with the entire species. Thats too big to consider much less affect. So my amygdala keeps sending out alerts whenever I walk near someone unmasked. My brain yells at me: It takes less than 20 seconds to get Covid from an infected person. You cant tell whos infected because almost 60% of transmission is from people who feel perfectly healthy. Your kids might have to take care of you for the rest of their lives, and then you could drown in your own fluids! Its like getting in a car and being stunned by people not wearing a seatbelt because of that one very vivid image from drivers ed of a guy thrown through the windshield and buried head first into the asphalt of the highway in a fatal collision. An image stark enough and connected enough to our current deepest fears is all it takes to keep the adrenaline primed when it encounters a trigger. People who only buckle up when they think a cop might catch them either didnt see that image, likely deemed too gruesome for modern day drivers ed lessons, or it was just funny to them since theyre too desensitized from all the other gruesome things they see online. There was an ad on TV when I was a teen: a guy had survived a car crash, and all his buddies came to see him in the hospital to find he was paralyzed from the waist down. Gradually, they stopped visiting, and then his girlfriend stopped, and then he was left just with his sobbing mother. Being disabled can be very lonely. And that video was enough to make us a bit more careful about spending the night rather than driving home drunk. Many of us have been well conditioned to have a healthy fear of cars. We totally dropped the ball on conditioning people to be wary of Covid. Im not sure people can learn new stories at this point in order to change their choices. Nothing seems to work to override my moms voice in my head ensuring a lackadaisical attitude towards housekeeping. At the bare minimum, trying to convince others to protect themselves from Covid at least helps me reinforce it for myself. Knowing this will likely be an ongoing, lifelong issue, maybe its time for another tattoo, this time borrowing from Botticelli: In the meantime, enjoy a Plague Poem President Biden confirmed that at least 11 Americans have been killed in Israel Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, to the region A defense official told DailyMail.com that the Pentagon has the 'authority, funding and resources' needed to support Israel The Pentagon is working quickly to provide Israel much-needed ammunitions and is preparing to deploy additional support for its 'strike force' in the Middle East as the critical U.S. ally fends off a brutal attack by Hamas terrorists. A defense official told DailyMail.com Monday that the Department of Defense is providing 'critically-needed munitions of various types' and other equipment to assist Israel. The official said the department is working to assess what other munitions and equipment from the U.S. inventory can be 'quickly' made available for Israel. 'We are also in touch with U.S. industry and have successfully expedited shipment of pending Israeli orders for military equipment that otherwise may have been considered routine for movement,' the defense official continued. The Pentagon currently has the 'authority, funding and resources' needed and is in constant consultation with Congress. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, pictured left in March with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, said America could 'further reinforce' its military presence in the region 'if required' F-18 jet fighters are seen on the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford, on November 17, 2022 in Gosport, England On Sunday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, to the Middle East region. The announcement came just hours after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that has killed an estimated over 900 Israelis. Israel has declared war on Hamas and is poised to mount an invasion of Gaza. The ship is headed to the region as part of a carrier strike group comprised of the military's most advanced hardware, including a fleet of destroyers, guided-missile cruisers and fighter jets. The deployment is sending a 'clear message to Iran, Hezbollah, and its proxies to not take advantage of the situation,' the official told DailyMail.com. An additional surface ship coming from Greece will be added to the 'strike group.' A carrier strike group is a naval force comprised of an aircraft carrier at its center, along with a fleet of support ships and often attack submarines. The U.S. has 11 carrier strike groups, each with enough firepower to match the forces of many small and mid-sized countries. In total, around 7,500 personnel work across the carrier strike group. USS Gerald R. Ford, which cost roughly $18 billion to develop - including $4.7 billion for research and development and $12.8 billion in construction - can carry up to 90 aircraft, including the military's most advanced fighter jets. Hamas has called the decision to send the U.S. strike group 'participation in the aggression against our people.' In addition, Austin made the decision to 'augment air power across several bases in Europe and the Middle East.' This comes in addition to the fighter aircraft capability provided by the Carrier Strike Group. 'This increase was achieved by holding in place aircraft that had been previously scheduled to rotate out of these regions as their replacements had arrived, creating an elevated force capability,' said the official. President Biden confirmed Monday that 11 Americans have been killed in Israel President Biden confirmed Monday that 11 Americans have been killed in Israel. There are also an unknown number of U.S. citizens that may be held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. 'It's heart wrenching. These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence,' the president said in a statement. 'We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts.' 'While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas,' Biden continued. The State Department is in touch with families of victims 'and providing all appropriate consular assistance,' said Pentagon spokesman Matthew Miller. A man has been arrested after climbing the Ferris wheel on Santa Monica's pier and making a bomb threat, leaving riders including children stranded in the gondolas for two hours. Police said the man - who climbed the wheel in sneakers, jeans and a t-shirt, with a backpack on his back - appeared to be 'in crisis.' They sent negotiators, who managed to talk him down. No one was injured, and he did not have any explosives or incendiary device on him. The alarm was raised at 2:35pm local time, and at 4pm the man appeared to be speaking to police negotiators. Half an hour later, he climbed down and was detained. A man is seen climbing the Ferris wheel in Santa Monica, claiming he has a bomb He is seen climbing down, with police standing by to grab him and arrest him The unnamed man has been detained by Santa Monic police and will face questioning 'The #SantaMonica Pier is closed for police activity,' police tweeted. 'We have a subject who has climbed onto the Ferris wheel. The subject was heard by witnesses saying he has a bomb. 'Our officers are currently evacuating Pacific Park and the Pier and our Crisis Negotiation Team is contacting the subject who appears to be in crisis.' Photos on social media showed a heavy police presence. 'I can confirm that we have officers out on the Pier contacting a subject in Pacific Park,' said Lt. Erika Aklufi, spokesperson for Santa Monica Police Department. 'We are shutting down the pier to control access for officers.' Santa Monica pier is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Los Angeles area Brooke Martelli from Salt Lake City and her son Ragnar Martelli, 10, on the Santa Monica pier on Monday Brooke Martelli from Salt Lake City told DailyMail.com she was horrified to discover people were still on the Ferris Wheel. 'There's a mom on there with two small children. It's so scary,' she said. 'They have been on there for over a hour. Thank goodness we weren't on the Ferris Wheel. 'We were going to go on it, but then we were told we had to leave the amusement park. This is crazy. I just worry about the young kids on there.' The man was seen clinging to the main axle of the wheel, without any apparent harness. It was unclear how he had managed to scale the structure. A spokesperson for the police told KTLA 5 that the pier was 'moderately busy' at the time, pointing out it was a sunny day on the beach and crowds were out enjoying the good weather. Scotland's First Minister has said his parents in-law are 'trapped' in Gaza after visiting family, leaving him worried if they will "make it through the night". The parents of Humza Yousaf's wife, Nadia El-Nakla, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds, according to reports. Mr Yousaf said: 'As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, they've been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, I'm afraid.' The couple went to visit the 92-year-old mother of Mr Yousaf's father-in-law when the Hamas attack took place. They have been told by Israeli authorities to leave because 'Gaza will effectively be obliterated', the First Minister said. 'Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere,' Mr Yousaf said. 'So I'm in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we don't know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law - who have nothing to do, as most Gazans don't, with Hamas or with any terror attack - whether they will make it through the night or not.' Mr Yousaf also issued an 'unequivocal condemnation' of the Hamas attack. He said: 'We cannot sleep - we are constantly watching our phones. 'When our messages do get through, we're waiting for a reply.' He added: 'I'm worried about my family - there will be many people, including in Scotland's Jewish community for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm. 'My thoughts go out to everybody, because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, they have nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life and they're the ones often - innocent people - who are paying the price.' He said he does not know how many Scots have been caught up in the fighting in Israel and Gaza. The First Minister praised communications with the Foreign Office as "good", but said it was not yet clear who was in the region and how they have been impacted. He said: 'I'm afraid not yet. I've asked both for the situations in terms of any Scottish Israelis that might be affected and impacted and any Scots in Gaza that might be impacted. They were hidden for safekeeping for more than 300 years. Now, archaeologists have found a 17th-century hoard of coins in a house in Glencoe that offers a snapshot of one of the darkest days in Scottish history. Researchers say they date back to the Glencoe Massacre of 1692 when an estimated 38 men, women and children were brutally slain for their support of James II of England. The 36 coins were stashed in a small pot and hidden beneath the remains of a grand stone fireplace at a house believed to have been a hunting lodge or feasting hall. The house is thought to have belonged to Alasdair Ruadh 'Maclain' MacDonald - a Highland clan chief and one of those murdered during the terrible events of February 13, 1692. Pot containing 36 silver and bronze coins in the 'summerhouse' of Highland clan chief Alasdair Ruadh 'MacIain' MacDonald of Glencoe who was slain during the 1692 Glencoe Massacre The massacre was a tragic and poignant chapter in Scottish history - when an estimated 38 men, women and children were killed for their support of James II of England. This artist's impression depicts conflict between supporters of James and William of Orange What was the Glencoe Massacre? Alasdair Ruadh 'Maclain' MacDonald - a Highland clan chief and one of those murdered during the Glencoe Massacre The Massacre of Glencoe is a tragic and poignant chapter in Scottish history. It took place in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland on February 13, 1692. An estimated 38 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe - including children - were killed by Scottish government forces. Victims were slain allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II. Advertisement None of the coins were minted after the 1680s, which suggests they were deposited under the fireplace either just before or during the massacre for safekeeping. Historians believe whoever buried the coins was killed as they did not return for them. Dr Michael Given, co-director of the University of Glasgow's archaeological project in Glencoe, said: 'These exciting finds give us a rare glimpse of a single, dramatic event. 'Here's what seems an ordinary rural house, but it has a grand fireplace, impressive floor slabs, and exotic pottery imported from the Netherlands and Germany. 'And they've gathered up an amazing collection of coins in a little pot and buried them under the fireplace. 'What's really exciting is that these coins are no later than the 1680s, so were they buried in a rush as the Massacre started first thing in the morning of February 13, 1692?' Archaeology student Lucy Ankers, who found the hoard, said: 'As a first experience of a dig, Glencoe was amazing. I wasn't expecting such an exciting find as one of my firsts. 'I don't think I will ever beat the feeling of seeing the coins peeking out of the dirt in the pot.' Excavations of the former house were carried out by the University of Glasgow between August 7 and 19 this year. The university isn't naming the location of the dig to 'preserve and protect it', but an interactive tool reveals that it no longer stands. The house seems to have been abandoned in the late 17th century, perhaps after the massacre when the power of the MacDonald chiefs had significantly diminished. The coins sorted and numbered after Archaeology student Lucy Ankers found the hoard Excavations of the house in Glencoe were carried out by the University of Glasgow between August 7 and 19 this year but the site location has not been named to preserve and protect it READ MORE Will the lost settlements of the Glencoe Massacre finally be found? The massacre was a part of the Glencoe Campaign, which was a military operation ordered by King William III of England and Scotland (depicted here) Advertisement The site has long been associated with Alasdair MacDonald of Glencoe and experts think the house was used by MacDonald chiefs in the 17th century as a hunting lodge and feasting hall. 'The scale of this structure and the wealth of artefacts uncovered within suggest this was a place where the MacDonald chiefs could entertain with feasting, gambling, hunting and libations,' said Edward Stewart, excavations director at the university. The silver and bronze coins date from the 1500s to 1680s and range from the reigns of Elizabeth I, James VI and I, Charles I, the Cromwellian Commonwealth, and Charles II as well as France and the Spanish Netherlands and the Papal States. Other finds from the structure include musket and fowling shot, a gun flint and a powder measure, as well as pottery from England, Germany and the Netherlands and the remains of a grand slab floor. According to the experts, the discovery of the coin hoard will contribute to understanding of the history and archaeology of Glencoe. 'Gradually a fuller story is being pieced together, not just about the time of the infamous massacre, but also of everyday life in the glen before and after 1692,' said Alexander. Noted as one of Scotland's most scenic places, with its snow capped mountains of volcanic origin, Glencoe is also the location of one of Scotland's darkest chapters. Noted as one of Scotland's most scenic places, with snow capped mountains of volcanic origin, Glencoe is also the location of one of Scotland's darkest chapters It's long been associated with the MacDonald clan and its chief Alasdair MacDonald. The MacDonalds took part in the first Jacobite rising of 1689 the conflict that aimed to put King James VII of Scotland and II of England back on the throne. The staunchly Catholic King had been displaced by Protestant William of Orange in 1688, known as the Glorious Revolution. William demanded that all the clans sign an oath of allegiance to him, initially with the promise of giving them money and land. Any clan signing the oath before New Year's Day 1692 would be pardoned, while anyone who refused would be punished as traitors. The MacDonalds took part in the first Jacobite rising of 1689 - the conflict that aimed to put King James VII of Scotland and II of England (pictured) back on the throne Alasdair MacDonald missed the deadline by a few days, providing the authorities with an opportunity to crush his clan. In late January 1692, around 120 men from the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot arrived in Glencoe from Invergarry, led by Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. In all, 120 government soldiers under the command of Campbell were ordered to stay with the MacDonalds, under the pretext of collecting arrears of taxes from the local area. The MacDonalds welcomed these men into their homes, giving them free lodgings and feeding them from their own scant supplies. For almost a fortnight they provided shelter for the soldiers before they received orders to slaughter them 'putt all to the sword under seventy' on February 13. If you're a fan of stargazing, make sure you keep an eye on the skies this evening. The Draconid Meteor Shower peaks tonight, with up to ten meteors flying through the sky every hour. While this is far below August's Perseid shower which had up to 100 meteors every hour, the Draconids boast something else that is all the more magical. That's because they are best seen in the evening, after nightfall, unlike most meteor showers which put on their most spectacular displays in the early hours. If you want to catch a glimpse of this year's Draconids, MailOnline has put together everything you need to know about how, when and where to look. How to see it: The Draconid Meteor Shower takes its name from the constellation of Draco. It is best viewed in the evening just after sunset. The meteors fly in all directions through the sky This year's display has been visible since Friday evening but is now at its peak, with up to ten meteors flying through the sky every hour. Pictured is how it looked over Russia in 2018 How to get the best view of this year's Draconids If you want to see tonight's meteor shower, it is best to head to an area with a good, clear view of the stars. Avoid busy cities as these have lots of light pollution, and instead head for the dark countryside if you can. 'Make sure there are no direct sources of light in your eyes, so that you can fully adapt to the local conditions and ensure that fainter meteors become visible,' the Royal Observatory Greenwich advises. 'There's no advantage to using binoculars or a telescope; just look up with your own eyes to take in the widest possible view of the sky.' Advertisement The meteor shower is best seen in the Northern Hemisphere, although it is still possible to see the Draconids in the Southern Hemisphere, especially if you are close to the Equator. That is because the radiant point for the shower almost coincides with the head of the constellation Draco in the northern sky. The bad news is that cloud cover could spoil the view across much of Britain tonight. 'The forecast is currently for widespread cloud over much of the UK overnight Monday into Tuesday, though this cloud cover will be thinner in the south of the UK,' the Met Office told MailOnline. 'There could be occasional breaks in places like eastern Scotland too.' Shortly after sunset, most of the East and South of the UK should be free of cloud. However, it will gradually move in and blanket most of Britain as the night goes on, so it is best to get out early tonight to catch a view from the UK. If you can't see it, the Draconids will still be visible until tomorrow evening - they just won't be at their peak. Meteor showers are caused when the Earth travels through a cloud of cometary debris. Hampered: The bad news is that cloud cover could spoil the view across much of Britain tonight. Shortly after sunset, most of the east and south of the UK should be free of cloud (pictured). However, it will gradually move in and blanket most of Britain as the night goes on What you could see: The rate of meteors that can be seen depends on which part of the comet's trail the Earth orbit intersects on any given year, according to Royal Observatory Greenwich. Pictured is the Draconids over Howick rocks in Northumberland in 2021 Remaining meteor showers in 2023 Orionids - 21-22 October Taurids - 12-13 November Leonids - 17-18 November Geminids - 14-15 December Ursids - 22-23 December Advertisement In this case, the Draconids come from the debris of comet 21 P/ Giacobini-Zinner. The meteor shower takes its name from the constellation of Draco, which is its radiant point the point in the sky the meteors appear to come from. Draco is a long and winding constellation, easily visible to people in the Northern Hemisphere, in the northern sky. It can be found lying above the Big Dipper and Polaris, the North Star. The rate of meteors that can be seen depends on which part of the comet's trail the Earth orbit intersects with on any given year, according to the Royal Observatory Greenwich. The observatory describes the Draconids as 'variable', meaning you can never be sure what kind of light display you're going to get. 'In recent years, the Draconids have not produced any particular outbursts in activity,' Royal Observatory Greenwich says on its website. 'However, in 1933 and 1946 the Draconids produced some of the most active displays in the 20th Century.' If you miss the Draconids, there are still several other meteor showers set to put on a celestial display this year. The Orionids will next appear on October 21, followed by the Taurids (November 12), and Leonids (November 17). This week, millions will have the chance to see the most exciting astronomical event of the year as a rare 'Ring of Fire' eclipse sweeps across the Western hemisphere. On October 14, much of North, South, and Central America will be treated to a glimpse of an annular eclipse, which causes the Sun to appear as a brilliant burning ring. Starting from 09:15 PT, or 16:15 BST, the eclipse will follow a path leading from the West Coast of the US down to Northern Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean. While the whole of the US will be able to see a partial eclipse, those in the centre of the path will be able to see around 90 per cent of the Sun obscured for up to five minutes. This will be the first time in over a decade that the annular eclipse has been seen over Northern America. This week, millions will have the chance to see the most exciting astronomical event of the year as a rare 'Ring of Fire' eclipse sweeps across the Western hemisphere The path of the eclipse begins in the state of Oregon before travelling towards the west coast via Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Texas. Those in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, and California will also have a chance to see the maximum obscuring of the Sun if they are in the right part of the state. Having passed through the US, the path of the eclipse will then continue to travel over Mexico and into South America through Columbia. The path will finally move through a large swathe of Brazil before ending up over the Atlantic Ocean at sunset. Michael Zeiler, cartographer and eclipse-chaser at GreatAmericanEclipse.com, told Space.com that people using eclipse glasses will clearly see a 'brilliant ring of sunlight' during the eclipse. On October 14, much of North, South, and Central America will be treated to a glimpse of an annular eclipse, which causes the Sun to appear as a brilliant burning ring. The path of totality will cross through the Midwest of America from Oregon and southwards through to Texas Starting from 09:15 PT, or 16:15 BST, the eclipse will follow a path leading from the West Coast of the US down to Northern Brazil and the Atlantic Ocean 'I would recommend the U.S. National Parks in the "Four Corners" area where Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Ariana meet because it's a sunny time of year after the monsoon season and before the winter storms,' said Mr Zeiler. To help budding eclipse hunters, NASA has created an interactive eclipse tracker which reveals the best areas to watch this phenomenal celestial event. It features layers of details that space enthusiasts can toggle on or off, including the percentage of the sun that will be covered at the peak of the eclipse in various areas. Skygazers can also see the path and shapes of the antumbra the darkest part of the shadow and where annularity occurs and penumbra, which is the brighter part of the shadow, where only a partial eclipse is visible. NASA has also included a 'countdown widget', which provides a timer for when the eclipse will be at maximum coverage for each city. What causes a solar eclipse? Both annular and total solar eclipses occur when the Moon casts its shadow over part of the Earth. When the sun, Earth, and Moon are arranged in a line in an event referred to by astronomers as Syzygy, light travelling from the Sun is blocked. Both annular and total solar eclipses occur when the Moon casts its shadow over part of the Earth BEST TIME TO SEE THE RING OF FIRE SOLAR ECLIPSE IN US CITIES Location Partial Eclipse Begins Annularity Begins Maximum Annularity Ends Partial Eclipse Ends Eugene, Oregon 8:06 a.m. PDT 9:16 a.m. PDT 9:18 a.m. PDT 9:20 a.m. PDT 10:39 a.m. PDT Alturas, California 8:05 a.m. PDT 9:19 a.m. PDT 9:20 a.m. PDT 9:21 a.m. PDT 10:43 a.m. PDT Battle Mountain, Nevada 8:06 a.m. PDT 9:21 a.m. PDT 9:23 a.m. PDT 9:25 a.m. PDT 10:48 a.m. PDT Richfield, Utah 9:09 a.m. MDT 10:26 a.m. MDT 10:28 a.m. MDT 10:31 a.m. MDT 11:56 a.m. MDT Albuquerque, New Mexico 9:13 a.m. MDT 10:34 a.m. MDT 10:35 a.m. MDT 10:39 a.m. MDT 12:09 p.m. MDT San Antonio, Texas 10:23 a.m. CDT 11:52 a.m. CDT 11:54 a.m. CDT 11:56 a.m. CDT 1:33 p.m. CDT While the Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, it is also around 400 times further away, meaning the Moon can completely obscure the Sun during a total eclipse. During an annular eclipse however, the Moon is at its furthest point away from the Earth, called its apogee, at approximately 251,000 miles (405,500 km) away. This means the Moon casts a smaller shadow and the edge of the Sun is visible from Earth, allowing a burning ring of fire to be visible. How to safely watch the solar eclipse If you're lucky enough to be in the path of the 2023 Ring of Fire eclipse, the most important thing to remember is that you must never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye. Even during the eclipse, the Sun will remain just as bright and exposure will risk permanent damage to your eyes. Normal sunglasses will not offer protection as they cannot block out enough of the light. To view the eclipse safely you must use special eclipse glasses which block out more light than a regular pair of glasses. Alternatively, you can use a pinhole projector to project the shape of the eclipse onto a sheet of paper or screen where it can be safely viewed. To make a pinhole projector, make a small hole in a piece of card and hold this up to the Sun. The light will pass through the hole and can be projected onto a piece of paper held behind it. If you're lucky enough to be in the path of the 2023 Ring of Fire eclipse, the most important thing to remember is that you must never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye When will an eclipse be visible in the UK? Generally, a total solar eclipse is visible every 400 years from any one place, however, partial eclipses are significantly more common. The UK's last total solar eclipse happened on 11 August 1999 and could be seen over parts of Cornwall and Devon while other parts of the UK experienced a partial eclipse. To see the next partial eclipse you won't have to wait too long, as one will be visible from the UK on 29 March 2025. However, for those who are desperate to see a total eclipse, your wait will be a little longer as the next time this will happen over the UK will be September 2090. The next total eclipse happening anywhere will be next year on 8 April over Mexico, the US, and Canada. Astronomers have been left scratching their heads after new research found that our galaxy could actually be a fifth as heavy as previously thought. This would appear to suggest that the Milky Way is missing some dark matter the invisible substance which makes up around 85 per cent of all mass in the universe. Using data from the Gaia telescope which created a map of 1.8 billion stars in the Milky Way researchers estimated the total mass of our galaxy to be just 200 billion times that of the sun. That is around four to five times lower than previous estimates, which have placed it at between 890 billion and just over one trillion solar masses. Until now it had also been thought that dark matter was at least six times more abundant than ordinary matter. Discovery: Astronomers have been left scratching their heads after new research found that our galaxy could actually be a fifth as heavy as previously thought. They used data from the Gaia telescope which created a map of 1.8 billion stars in the Milky Way (pictured) The data: It revealed that the Milky Way's curve is different to other large spiral galaxies because it is not flat. Instead, stars were found to be orbiting slower than expected 50,000 light-years from its centre, as would be expected from a so-called Keplerian decline (pictured) LARGE SURVEY OF GAS CLOUDS HELPS ASTRONOMERS STUDY THE MILKY WAY A large-scale survey of the inner galaxy revealed a wide range of structures inside the Milky Way. Scientists from Cardiff University and 50 other institutions around the world created the new 3D survey of the inner Milky Way. The map of clouds will help astronomers study the galaxy Called SEDIGISM (Structure, Excitation and Dynamics of the Inner Galactic Interstellar Medium) - it will allow astronomers to push the boundaries of what we know about the structure of our own galaxy. Dr Ana Duarte Cabral, from Cardiff University said this provides a catalogue of 10,000 clouds of molecular gas. This will allow scientists to probe exactly how the spiral structure of the galaxy affects the life cycle of clouds, their properties, and ultimately the star formation that goes on within them. 'What is most exciting about this survey is that it can really help pin down the global galactic structure of the Milky Way, providing an astounding 3D view of the inner galaxy,' she said. The catalogue was created by measuring the rare isotope of the carbon monoxide molecule, 13CO, using the extremely sensitive 12-metre Atacama Pathfinder Experiment telescope in Chile. Advertisement However, the new study suggests the latter could actually account for up to a third of all matter, given that most astronomers agree it equates to the mass of about 600 million suns. This huge discrepancy has scientists urging caution on the finding, because it 'flies in the face of many previous studies'. 'If our galaxy really has as little mass as this work suggests, one would have to explain why previous works based on different techniques all came up with a higher number,' Professor Andrew Pontzen, of University College London, told the Times. The discovery could have a profound impact on the understanding of our galaxy's 13-billion-year history because it might suggest the Milky Way has endured fewer collisions with other galaxies than some of its counterparts. The absolute upper mass limit for the Milky Way is 540 billion, according to the international team of astronomers led by the Paris Observatory. Study author Dr Francois Hammer, from the Paris Observatory, said researchers were 'very surprised' by their findings. She explained how astronomers were able to calculate our galaxy's mass by looking at what is known as its rotation curve. Essentially, the Milky Way is a spinning spiral of between 100 and 400 billion stars which scientists think is enclosed in a dark matter halo. The Gaia data, therefore, is a fraction of the total number of stars but it is enough to calculate an accurate rotation curve. It revealed that the Milky Way's curve is different to other large spiral galaxies because it is not flat. In the 1970s, one of the major breakthroughs in modern astronomy was that the rotational velocities of other large galaxies were much faster than what would be expected from a so-called Keplerian decline. This is where stellar speeds begin to drop off in accordance with Kepler's laws because almost all of the galaxy's mass is closer to the galactic center. The discovery led to the theory that large spiral galaxies must be surrounded by halos of dark matter. Stargazer: Launched in 2013, the Gaia satellite operates at the so-called Lagrange 2 (L2) point a gravitationally stable spot in the sun-Earth system and measures the position and brightness of stars, along with their magnitudes and colour Fascinating glimpse: Another project using an early release of Gaia data includes a map showing the movement of the stars in our immediate stellar neighbourhood - that is within about 300 light-years of the Earth. They are shown as streaks of white across the galaxy plane With the Milky Way, however, the rotation curve begins to decrease rapidly on the outskirts of the galaxy's disc. Stars were found to be orbiting slower than expected 50,000 light-years from its centre, indicating that some of the gravity from dark matter was absent. The researchers said their findings were 'quite exceptional' and explained that the Milky Way's rotation curved 'could be due to the extraordinarily quiet history of our Galaxy'. Its last major merger occurred around nine billion years ago, compared to the average of six billion years for other spiral galaxies. The new study will be published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. The soggy weather might have put a dampner on your summer parties, but the rainy July and August have given British pumpkin farmers reason to celebrate. Experts say this year's pumpkins will be larger than usual thanks to a wet summer. Oakley Farms, based near Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, is one of Europe's biggest suppliers of pumpkins, growing around five million each year. Steve Whitworth, commercial manager at Oakley Farms, said the wet weather in July and August was 'perfect' for growing pumpkins. The experts predict that the ideal growing conditions will mean a bumper crop of larger-than-normal vegetables will reach stores just in time for Halloween. The soggy weather might have put a dampner on your summer parties, but the rainy July and August have given British pumpkin farmers reason to celebrate Oakley Farms, which grows pumpkins for Tesco, found that its pumpkins were all larger than normal this year The Met Office's summary for July and August reveal an exceptionally rainy summer with extremely high rainfall in July across the country and patches of wetness during a drier August 'We had a pretty good growing season for pumpkins this summer with a really hot June, which really helped the plants along,' Mr Whitworth said. 'The rainy July and August may not have been great for sun lovers or BBQ fans but from a growing point of view for pumpkins, it was perfect. 'The weather gave us the right amount of rain with sunny intervals especially compared with the challenging conditions we encountered during last year's heatwave, which was officially the hottest UK year on record.' According to the Met Office, rainfall in July was well above average across much of the UK. In Northern Ireland, Lancashire, Merseyside, the Manchester area, and parts of Devon, Dorset and Wiltshire, rainfall was more than twice the average. Across the UK, it was the wettest July since 2009, while August was actually slightly drier than average on the whole. Oakley Farms is a supplier for Tesco, where the pumpkins are on sale now. Tesco says that each size of pumpkin in the shops will be a little larger than average this year due to the great harvest so customers get a little more for their money Tesco pumpkin buyer Lucy Moss said: 'The good news for Halloween fans coming from our main pumpkin growers is that the fruit will be larger than normal in all size variations this year as a result of very good growing conditions across the summer months. 'This year we have six different sizes and based on last year's performance, we expect the carving variety to continue be the most popular. 'Each of the six different size categories will be larger than usual this year so fans will definitely get value for money.' The six categories of pumpkin at the store are: Carving standard size; culinary; munchkin; novelty including devil (red) and ghost (white) types; large and giant. According to Tesco's online store, a large pumpkin will measure between 7.8 and 9.8 inches (20 and 25 cm) in diameter while a giant pumpkin will be 10.2 inches (26cm) or larger. However, pales in comparison to the 2,656 lbs (1,205 kg) giant which was recently confirmed to be the UK's largest pumpkin. This 2,656lbs squash (1,205kg) was grown by Ian and Stuart Paton from Lymington, and makes even the largest pumpkin you might find in the shops seem tiny in comparison This enormous pumpkin, grown by Ian and Stuart Paton from Lymington, caused chaos when it fell off its trailer and onto a busy road while being transported to a pumpkin festival. Thankfully nobody was injured and the gourd survived with only minor bruising. Tesco said that last year there was a tenfold increase in people searching for pumpkin recipes from September to October on its Tesco Real Food website. Ms Moss added: 'It's good news, from a food waste point of view so nothing should go to waste.' The 'Godfather of AI' has warned the tech will be smarter than humans in some ways by the end of the decade - and he believes it will ultimately destroy humanity. In a doom-laden interview with 60 Minutes, Geoffrey Hinton, 75, predicted that in five years, the systems will be surpass human intelligence that would lead to the rise of 'killer robots,' fake news and a boom in unemployment. Hinton is a former Google executive credited with creating the technology that became the bedrock of systems like ChatGPT and Google Bard. He recently revealed his fears that the technology could go rogue and write its own code, allowing it to modify itself. Geoffrey Hinton, 75, is credited with creating the technology that became the bedrock of systems like ChatGPT and Google Bard While the scientist fears many aspects of the technology, he said AI has huge benefits in healthcare, such as designing drugs and recognizing medical issues. 'We're entering a period of great uncertainty where we're dealing with things we've never done before,' Hinton told 60 Minutes. 'And normally the first time you deal with something totally novel, you get it wrong. And we can't afford to get it wrong with these things.' He explained that AI becoming sentiment is just the tip of the iceberg, but the real danger is when the tech 'gets smarter.' This would be possible if AI reaches singularity, a hypothetical future where technology surpasses human intelligence and changes the path of our evolution - and this is predicted to happen by 2045. AI would first have to pass the Turing Test. When it does, the technology is considered to have independent intelligence, allowing it to self-replicate into an even more powerful system that humans cannot control. He explained that AI becoming sentiment is just the tip of the iceberg, but the real danger is when the tech 'gets smarter' 'One of the ways these systems might escape control is by writing their own computer code to modify themselves. And that's something we need to seriously worry about,' he said. Hinton continued explaining that materials for training AI, like fictional work and media content, will likely fuel its super-intelligence. 'I think in five years time it may well be able to reason better than us,' Hinton said. And even though the British scientist foresees these events coming to fruition, he noted that there is no real way to stop them. 'We're entering a period of great uncertainty where we're dealing with things we've never done before, said Hinton. 'And normally, the first time you deal with something totally novel, you get it wrong. And we can't afford to get it wrong with these things.' He continued to tell 60 Minutes that humans may have reached the point where either the pause development of the technology or stay on the path and brace for what lies ahead - even though it could mean destruction. 'I think my main message is, there's enormous uncertainty about what's going to happen next,' Hinton said. 'These things do understand, and because they understand, we need to think hard about what's next, and we just don't know.' There is a great AI divide in Silicon Valley. Brilliant minds are split about the progress of the systems - some say it will improve humanity, and others fear the technology will destroy it A warning of a pause has been sounded by other tech experts, such as Elon Musk, in fear of the future of AI. In March, Musk and more than 1,000 other AI and tech leaders signed an open letter highlighting the dangers Hinton echoed this month. The open letter urged governments to conduct more risk assessments on AI before humans lose control and it becomes a sentient human-hating species. DeepAI founder Kevin Baragona, who signed the letter, told DailyMail.com: 'It's almost akin to a war between chimps and humans. The humans obviously win since we're far smarter and can leverage more advanced technology to defeat them. 'If we're like the chimps, then the AI will destroy us, or we'll become enslaved to it.' However, Bill Gates, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and futurist Ray Kurzweil are on the other side of the aisle. They are hailing ChatGPT-like AI as our time's 'most important' innovation - saying it could solve climate change, cure cancer and enhance productivity. These frightening heat maps reveal the countries that could soon become too hot to live in if global temperatures increase by as little as 1.5C (2.7F). Some 2.2 billion people in Pakistan and India's Indus River Valley, 1 billion in eastern China and 800 million in sub-Saharan Africa would be among those facing heat that is beyond human tolerance, researchers say. That could extend to eastern and central parts of the US if temperatures on Earth were to rise by 3C (5.4F) above pre-industrial levels. Residents in Florida, New York, Houston and Chicago would all have to endure dangerous and stifling levels of humidity, while extreme heat could wreak havoc among those living in parts of South America and Australia, according to the new study by Penn State University. Humans can only endure so much heat before putting themselves at risk of a heart attack or heat stroke. Warning: These frightening heat maps reveal the countries that could soon become too hot to live in if global temperatures increase by as little as 1.5C (2.7F) Residents in Florida, New York, Houston and Chicago would all have to endure dangerous and stifling levels of humidity if temperatures on Earth were to rise by 3C (5.4F) above pre-industrial levels (s and t above). Maps q and r show the warming scenarios of 1.5C and 2C WHAT IS WET BULB TEMPERATURE? The 'wet-bulb temperature' (TW) is measured by attaching a wet cloth to the bulb of a thermometer. It alters according to real temperature and humidity but if the TW peaks above 103F, the body can no longer cool itself. This is defined as 'dangerous' by the US National Weather Service and if it hits 124F or above, it poses an extreme danger. Heats and humidity causing a 'wet bulb temperature' of this enormity can result in heat stoke which can in turn trigger damage to the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles. At an actual temperature of just 90F, if the humidity rises to 95 per cent, it can reach the 124TW threshold for 'extreme danger.' However, if humidity remains low, say around 45 per cent, the actual temperature would need to soar to a roasting 104F before the 'extreme danger' boundary was met. A so-called 'wet-bulb temperature', which factors in humidity, of just 35C can be fatal after a few hours to even the fittest person. Advertisement The elderly, children, and those with health problems are particularly vulnerable, but in a warming climate experts fear that billions more could also be in danger. 'As people get warmer, they sweat, and more blood is pumped to their skin so that they can maintain their core temperatures by losing heat to the environment,' said study co-author Larry Kenney. 'At certain levels of heat and humidity, these adjustments are no longer sufficient, and body core temperature begins to rise. 'This is not an immediate threat, but it does require some form of relief. 'If people do not find a way to cool down within hours, it can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and strain on the cardiovascular system that can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people.' Record-breaking heatwaves across the US, Europe and China this summer once again threw the spotlight on just how much heat is too much for people. Last year, researchers from Penn State revealed how the upper temperature limit for human safety was much lower than first thought. Previously it had been thought that a wet-bulb temperature of 95F (35C) equal to a temperature of 95F at 100 per cent humidity, or 115F at 50 per cent humidity was the upper limit. At this point the human body would no longer be able to cool itself by evaporating sweat from the surface of the body to ensure a stable body core temperature. However, the latest research suggests the upper limit is actually 87F (31C) at 100 per cent humidity or 100F (38C) at 60 per cent humidity. The key point to note is that it is not just about what the thermometer says. Instead, it is the combination of heat and humidity - known as the 'wet-bulb temperature'. This is a direct indicator of how well sweating is cooling the body and is measured by attaching a wet cloth to the bulb of a thermometer. In human history, temperatures and humidity that exceed human limits have been recorded only a handful of times and only for a few hours. Sweltering: Some 2.2 billion people in Pakistan and India's Indus River Valley, 1 billion in eastern China and 800 million in sub-Saharan Africa would be among those facing heat that is beyond human tolerance, researchers say. Pictured is the areas that would experience particularly intense heat in a scenario where global temperatures rise by 1.5C or 2C The region would get even more unbearable to live if global temperatures increased by 3C or 4C One billion people in eastern China would also be among those facing heat that is beyond human tolerance, the researchers said. Pictured left is a 1.5C warming scenario and right 2C Pictured left is a 3C warming scenario and right 4C for residents living in eastern China Sweating: Record-breaking heatwaves across the US (pictured), Europe and China this summer once again threw the spotlight on just how much heat is too much for people These occurred in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, the researchers said. Since the start of the industrial revolution when humans began to burn fossil fuels in machines and factories temperatures around the world have increased by about 1C (1.8F). To counter man-made climate change, 196 nations signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 in a bid to limit worldwide temperature increases to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels. WHAT IS HEAT STROKE? Heat stroke is where the body is no longer able to cool itself and a person's body temperature becomes dangerously high due to a long amount of time exposed to direct sunlight. Common symptoms include: Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech Not sweating - a sign of being dehydrated Loss of consciousness, incoherence Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating Seizures Nausea or vomiting Very high body temperature Dizziness or a headache Fast, strong pulse Advertisement Researchers in the new study modelled global temperature increases ranging between 1.5C (2.7F) and 4C (7.2F) considered the worst-case scenario where warming would begin to accelerate. Their aim was to identify areas on Earth where warming would lead to heat and humidity levels that exceed human limits. In parts of India, Pakistan, eastern China and sub-Saharan Africa, residents would have to endure high-humidity heatwaves if global warming is not curbed. These can be particularly dangerous because it means the air cannot absorb excess moisture, which in turn limits the amount of sweat that evaporates from the human body. What is particularly worrying, the researchers said, is that many of the areas that would be worst affected are in lower-to-middle income nations who likely wouldn't have access to air conditioning. In the worst-case scenario of global temperatures rising by 4C (7.2F), the port city of Al Hudaydah in Yemen which is home to more than 700,000 people on the Red Sea would be almost uninhabitable. That is because residents would have to endure temperatures exceeding the limits of human tolerance on 300 days of the year. 'The worst heat stress will occur in regions that are not wealthy and that are expected to experience rapid population growth in the coming decades,' said co-author Matthew Huber, of Purdue University. 'This is true despite the fact that these nations generate far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than wealthy nations. 'As a result, billions of poor people will suffer, and many could die. But wealthy nations will suffer from this heat as well, and in this interconnected world, everyone can expect to be negatively affected in some way.' Some 800 million people in sub-Saharan Africa would be among those facing heat that is beyond human tolerance. Pictured left is a 1.5C warming scenario and right 2C Pictured left is a 3C warming scenario and right 4C for residents living in sub-Saharan Africa Pictured left is a 1.5C warming scenario and right a 2C one for people living on the Arab Gulf coast Pictured left is a 3C warming scenario and right a 4C one for people living on the Arab Gulf coast A man puts his head in the water to cool off at the fountain in Piazza del Popolo in Rome in July A woman wearing a sun protection clothing cools herself with an electric fan as visitors line up to visit the Panda enclosure on a sweltering day at a zoo in Beijing earlier this year The researchers said 3C (5.4F) was the best estimate of how much the Earth will warm by 2100 if no action is taken to address climate change. 'Around the world, official strategies for adapting to the weather focus on temperature only,' fellow author Qinqin Kong said. 'But this research shows that humid heat is going to be a much bigger threat than dry heat. 'Governments and policymakers need to re-evaluate the effectiveness of heat-mitigation strategies to invest in programs that will address the greatest dangers people will face.' Regardless of how much the planet warms, the researchers said that people should always be wary of extreme heat, even if it is below the limit of human tolerance. 'Heat is already the weather phenomenon that kills the most people in the United States,' said lead author Daniel Vecellio, now a postdoctoral researcher at George Mason University's Virginia Climate Center. 'People should care for themselves and their neighbours especially the elderly and sick when heatwaves hit.' The new study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. by William Benzon Oh, Ariela, daughter of the People of the Book, the work of the mind is our game! Miriam Yevick I first became aware of Miriam Lipschutz Yevick through my interest in human perception and thought. I believed that her 1975 paper, Holographic or Fourier Logic, was quite important. David Hays and I gave it a prominent place in our 1988 paper, Principles and Development of Natural Intelligence, and in a related paper on metaphor. Since Yevicks work shares a mathematics with some work in machine vision and image recognition, I wondered whether or not that paper had been cited. Moreover, that work is relevant to current debates about the need for symbolic processing in artificial intelligence (AI). As recently as 2007 Yevick was arguing, albeit informally, that human thought requires both poetic, Gestalt, or holographic processing, on the one hand, and analytic, propositional, or logical on the other. As far as I can tell, her work has been forgotten. That is one thing. But there is more. I become curious about her, this woman, Miriam Lipschutz Yevick. What about her? And so I began reading her 2012 memoire, A Testament for Ariela, which takes the form of letters she had written to her grand-daughter in a three-year period in the mid-1980s. The memoire says nothing about her mathematical ideas, though it does mention that in 1947 she became the fifth woman to get a mathematics Ph.D. from MIT. She also talks of her friendship and correspondence with David Bohm, who became a noted quantum theorist. It quickly became clear that she had not had an academic career worthy of her intellectual gifts. Yet she did not seem bitter about that. She had a rich and fulfilling life. This essay is about both her life and her holographic logic. The work on holographic logic leads me to a harsh assessment of the current debate about artificial intelligence. Thinking about her life leads me to conclude with an optimistic look at the future: next year in Jerusalem. A Life, a Testament I describe A Testament for Ariela as a memoire. Yevick gives her views on many subjects. She tells us much about her life. But this is not an autobiography. The order is not chronological. Much is left out. To be sure, we do learn something of her early life, that she was born in Scheveningen, Holland, on August 28, 1924, and that the family moved to Antwerp in 1935. Her father was a diamond dealer. She first knew shame in 1926 when she wet her bed the night her sister was born. In 1930 her Montessori school introduced her to the joy of reading. She tells us that she became a socialist in 1931. She was walking in Scheveningen with her aunt when they came upon a herring peddler: Listen to his voice, how hoarse it has turned of late from all this yelling, she said. Soon he will need an operation. But after that he will not peddle again, I asserted. Yes, he will go back. He has a family to feed. The next year, 1932, she overheard her brother and mother talking about Hitler, a name shed not heard before. That brings us to the one section of the book that is chronological, her familys three-month flight from the Nazis. The bombs came at 5 a.m. on the morning of August 28, 1940. Their departure was hurried. Nothing was certain. Officials were bribed; diamonds were hidden; soldiers marched by (some were handsome); Marshal Petain capitulated to the Germans and France became a danger zone; they are befriended by a Marrano in Madrid. And so it went. Our flight occurred in three stages: from Antwerp to La Panne on the Belgian coast (by taxi); from there four days later across the French border (by bus and then by train) to Cognac and two days later to Royan in the South of France; and after a month of apparent normalcy, a renewed trek by bus to the South Atlantic border of France and from there through the Pyrenees to the Mediterranean and into Spain. The first and the last of these wanderings were in small commuter buses which father exhumed in miraculous ways and loaded to near twice their capacity. All those who came along survived the war. They left Antwerp on May 11 and arrived in Hoboken aboard the Nea Hellas on August. The next day we took a walk on Broadway. I saw a striking dress in a shop window: sky blue with bold purple stripes descending diagonally from both shoulders to meet along the centerline of the body. I went into the store and bought the dress, which accentuated my youthful shape, for $ 1. Ready-made! Still, as I said, much is left out. We learn that her husband George taught physics at Stevens Institute in Hoboken, New Jersey, but she tells us little else about him. She tells us that she named her son, David (Arielas father), after David Bohm, and that he went to Harvard, beyond that Nor, for that matter, do we learn much about her mathematical ideas she doesnt mention that 1975 article though we learn that she taught remedial math to adults. A Testament for Ariela omits much that would be central in an autobiography. These reflections and recollections are a testament. Last will and testament. The New and the Old Testaments. Miriam Lipschutz Yevick is bearing witness. In her preface she tells us her testament is for grandmothers and granddaughters, for seniors and adolescents and mothers-to-be, and for all women who hope to create a better world for their children and grandchildren and for future generations. These letters to my granddaughter, Ariela, were written in the hope that my experiences over a lifetime of eighty-seven years as a mathematician, a scholar and writer, a leftist and activist, a mother and grandmother might inspire and sustain her in the struggles that await her in life. And it happened that in re-reading what I wrote years ago to Ariela, I was re-inspired to hold on to my own purpose in life. Yevick was unable to secure academic employment once she got her degree in 1947 at the precocious age of 23. Women did not have academic careers in those days even 20 years later women were scarce in the academy (I only remember three women on the faculty at Johns Hopkins when I was there in the late 1960s). One examiner was particularly harsh during her doctoral defense, grilling her mercilessly on unrelated questions. She judged he was a misogynist. She held visiting posts at various places, University of Victoria, Princeton, and City College, but her only permanent post was at Rutgers University College, starting in 1964. It was a four-year school for adult learners. She retired with only the rank of Associate Professor and never held the kind of research post her ideas merited. Think about that. She did not coast into graduate school because, what else? as some of my peers did. She was an intelligent young woman pursuing an intellectual passion at a time when the world had little room for womens intellectual achievement. That passion continued to animate her as an independent scholar when, during a visit to Princeton in January of 1948, she met a young David Bohm and became his disciple (her word), corresponding with him during the 1950s during his political exile in Brazil. While at Rutgers she developed a course, Mathematics for Life and Society, specifically designed to teach remedial mathematics to women re-entering the workplace. And in the city of Newark, many mothers who had grown up in poverty were coming to the college at night where Grandma taught mathematics. Her students rose very early in the morning, made breakfast for their children and sent them off to school, cooked dinner to be ready in the evening when they came home, went to their jobs and worked all day; then they went to class. Sometimes, if the baby-sitter was ill or daddy could not give the children dinner, the children came along to college. They sat next to their mothers in Grandmas class, quietly drawing with crayons or watching the strange symbols on the blackboard with a dubious look. Then they stared proudly at their mothers who studied so hard to earn the college degree which would improve their lot. I am reminded of Goethes Faust, who sought the secrets of the universe in his youth, making a bargain with the Devil in the process, but ended up reclaiming land from the sea in old age. Thats quite an evolution, from intellectual firebrand to real estate developer. Perhaps Miriam Yevick underwent a similar progression. Perhaps her life-long participation in the Passover Seder guided her. There is a point in the ritual where the participants must eat maror, bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery in Egypt accept the bitter with the sweet. Perhaps, in contemplating her life, her history, Jewish history, human history, could not she begin actually to sense sweetness within those bitter herbs? Could not the experience of working with those mothers have revealed the mystery of transforming bitterness into sweetness? Had the maror come to taste like honey? She retired from Rutgers during the course of writing these memoirs.And I, Ariela, have retired. The free time I yearned for to complete my work is now mine. And once again my heart is pounding. Will I still have the will to do as intended and yet be true to my human obligations? Or will the finiteness of time, the softening and silencing of age cut off my visions? My search for ever new insights? will my will win, Ariela? Will you encourage me to give what I still can to those around me and those yet to come? I have risen early several more times in my life to see the world from some lofty viewpoint. On Berkeleys hills I have overlooked the silver bay with the peaks of the white houses of San Francisco seemingly floating in the fog like a fairyland. And I have mounted the tower of Kibbutz Yehiams crusaders fort among the hills of Galilee. The Mediterranean Sea shimmered in the west; centuries-old groves of olive trees covered the gray-green mountainsides and cedar trees adorned their crests. Arab villages blended into the landscape and wild cyclamen flowered at my feet. I hummed the tune of Dominique, the singing nun: Je veux faire de ma vie quelque chose de bien. (I want to make something good of my life). Cognitivism, Holographic Logic, and the mind To appreciate the significance of Yevicks work on holographic logic we need to understand the intellectual context. Cognitive science, as it is called, was riding high at the time, the mid-1970s. Roughly speaking, cognitive science is what happened when the idea of computing, and of digital computing in particular, intersected with work in psychology, linguistics, philosophy, and neuroscience. Computing, along with the closely related idea of information processing, provided a way of thinking about mental operations that didnt depend on immaterial spirits or some mysterious mental substance to do the heavy intellectual lifting. To be sure, we couldnt observe these computational processes in any direct way, but we could construct computer models and simulations of at least some processes and we could, on that basis, justify speculation about more sophisticated processes that we could not yet actually construct. In 1975 Allen Newell and Herbert Simon received the Turing Award roughly speaking, the computer science equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Their Turing Award lecture, Computer Science as Empirical Inquiry: Symbols and Search, was published the next year. Here is the core idea (p. 116): The Physical Symbol System Hypothesis. A physical symbol system has the necessary and sufficient means for general intelligent action. By necessary we mean that any system that exhibits general intelligence will prove upon analysis to be a physical symbol system. By sufficient we mean that any physical symbol system of sufficient size can be organized further to exhibit general intelligence. By general intelligent action we wish to indicate the same scope of intelligence as we see in human action: that in any real situation behavior appropriate to the ends of the system and adaptive to the demands of the environment can occur, within some limits of speed and complexity. The paper is important and influential. As much as any single paper could, it captured the spirit of the age. It was during this period that Steven Harnad founded a new journal, Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS), which was modeled on Current Anthropology. Authors would submit comprehensive articles on topics of current interest. Upon acceptance, 10 to 30 or so other scholars would submit comments on the target article, as it was called. These comments would be published with the original article, along with a reply by the author. The second issue, in June 1978, contained an article by the philosopher John Haugeland, The nature and plausibility of Cognitivism, which set out to review the Cognitivist program and to provide a much needed framework for articulating questions about whether the Cognitivist approach is right or wrong. Toward the end of his argument he offers holography as a possible alternative model to the symbolic program based on information processing systems (IPS), as he called them. Miriam Yevick is one of the scholars who wrote a comment on Haugelands article. Holography is an optical process invented by Dennis Gabor in 1951, for which he won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1971. In the late 1960s and into the 1970s a number of neuroscientists became interested in holography as a model for neural processing. While Haugeland offered holography as an alternative to information processing typical, a number of commentators pointed out that holography IS a kind of IPS, albeit one with a different underlying architecture. Holography allows considerable processing of many information streams in parallel rather than the serial, one-thing-at-a-time, processing of digital computers. That is an important point, and one central to Yevicks arguments. Let us first pause to consider holography itself. Heres how Haugeland describes it: Optical holograms are photographs of interference patterns, which look kind of like the surface of a pond that has just had a lot of pebbles thrown in it. But they have some interesting properties. [] First, they are prepared from the light bouncing off an ordinary object, and can subsequently be used to reconstruct a full three-dimensional colored image of that object. Second, the whole image can be reconstructed from any large enough portion of the hologram. (That is, theres no saying which portion of the hologram encodes which portion of the image). Third, a number of objects can be separately recorded on the same hologram, and theres no saying which portion records which object. Fourth, if a hologram of an arbitrary scene is suitably illuminated with the light from a reference object, bright spots will appear indicating (virtually instantaneously) the presence and location of any occurrences of the reference object in the scene (and dimmer spots indicate similar objects. So some neurophysiological holographic encoding might account for a number of perplexing features of visual recall and recognition, including their speed, some of their invariances, and the fact that they are only slightly impaired by large lesions in relevant areas of the brain. The second and third properties mean that a holograph can function as an associative memory. You glimpse a hat and recall the whole person, or recognize a song from the opening phrase 2nd property. The sight of Uncle Julius reminds you of his cottage, the taste of a madeleine conjures up the past 3rd property. The fourth property means that it is capable of pattern-matching those bright spots indicate a match between a reference object and the target hologram. For the most part, those who commented on holography noted that, while it provides a memory model, thats all it provides. Yevicks reply was different; her 1975 article, Holographic or Fourier Logic, suggested there was more to neural holography than memory. It can provide a logic as well, an algebra, a way of working with concepts and percepts that was distinct from and complementary to the symbolic mode at the center of Cognitivist thought. In her comment on Haugelands article Yevick writes: The author here points out a distinction between two modes of understanding our environment: the first identifies objects by quasi-linguistic representations; the other apprehends objects by means of nonarticulate skills. This dichotomy; which is undoubtedly related to the complexity of the concrete objects to be recognized or manipulated, was projected as follows by von Neumann (1966, pp. 51-54): certain objects are such that their description is more complex than the object itself. Some such distinction has been around in various forms, holistic and Gestalt vs. reductionist and particular, metaphor vs. logic, example, but Yevicks formulation is novel. She develops it in terms of visual objects and contrasts simple geometric objects, such as rectangles, triangles, and circles, with complex more natural objects, such as faces, leaves, or even Chinese characters. Given this distinction and borrowing the technical language of her 1975 article, Yevick goes on to note: The following holds true: a complex object requires a long (sequential, quasi-linguistic) description but yields a sharp recognition (auto-correlation) spot under holographic filtering; hence it is identified most readily by holographic recognition, or holistically. A simple object requires a short (quasi-linguistic) description but yields a diffuse recognition spot; hence it is identified most readily by quasi-linguistic representation or description. Description and holographic recognition thus appear as two (complementary) modes of identifying an object: the more complex the object, the longer its description and the sharper its auto-correlation spot, and vice versa. The more complex the physiognomy of a person, the more unique, and hence sharper, its identity and ease of recall; the more simple, the more common and hence unidentifiable. We now have two distinctions, one about objects and phenomena in the world, and the other about computational processes by which we recognize and think about those objects and phenomena. Holographic processes work best with geometrically more complex, natural objects, where symbolic processes work best with geometrically simple objects. Given the nature of our world, it follows that one cannot construct a mind on the basis of one type of process alone. Both types are needed. While Yevick developed her argument from visual examples, being a mathematician, and a poet as well, she generalized it to all modes of mentation, leading her to assert: If we consider that both of these modes of identification enter into our mental processes, we might speculate that there is a constant movement (a shifting across boundaries) from one mode to the other: the compacting into one unit of the description of a scene, event, and so forth that has become familiar to us, and the analysis of such into its parts by description. Mastery, skill and holistic grasp of some aspect of the world are attained when this object becomes identifiable as one whole complex unit; new rational knowledge is derived when the arbitrary complex object apprehended is analytically described. Both processes are thus necessary for full and complete knowledge. She offers this as speculation, but it is a deep one, and speculation is necessary if we are to move forward. Later, and less formally in The Mathematical Intelligencer in 2007, after her ideas had slipped into the undertow of intellectual history, Yevick points out: Poincare defined Discovery as appearances of sudden illuminations, obvious indications of a long course of previous unconscious work. All that one can hope for from these inspirations which are the fruit of unconscious work, is the point of departure for such calculations. They must be done in the second period of conscious work: results must be verified and consequences deduced. This is the dichotomy: on the one hand Zwickys visual intuition, the seeing as; on the other, a rigorous proof, which requires analytic validation, a derivation from axioms, or an algebraic computation. Yevicks argument is a philosophical one, one that has roots in logic, algebra, and meta-mathematics. It is about the foundations of mind and thought and their realization in matter, physical stuff. The thinkers and works she cites are foundational Boole, Frege, von Neumann, Pribram, Gabor, Kleene, Wittgenstein, Quine, Julesz, Longuet-Higgins, Poggio, Church, and others. Miriam Yevick is telling us that we need to construct a new foundation in which to think about the human mind. Consider two questions animating current debates: 1) Do we need symbolic computation as well as statistical, and 2) can we get THERE by nothing more than amassing more computing power? My sense is that the weight of the industry and it is industry that dominates the discussion is on the side of compute (as it is called). More compute, more compute, thats all we need. I believe, as do others, that we need symbolic computation the old-fashioned Cognitivism that Haugeland was interrogating to bring discipline to statistical models. The work Yevick began with Holographic or Fourier Logic lays the ground for a more principled framework in which such questions can be considered. Why We Need Yevicks Ideas Now Though the general distinction Yevick has called upon continues in some form (perhaps even in the ubiquitous System 1, System 2 distinction), Yevicks contribution has been lost. She had begun the essential task of providing a formal explication of both poles and of the irreducible necessity for mechanisms appropriate to each. We need to recover her beginnings and extend and develop them. Why? Because we are living in a post-ChatGPT world. Research into artificial intelligence began in the mid-1950s. By the mid-1990s computer systems were at long last able to beat the best human chess players. Now they are exhibiting language capacities that would have seemed astonishing only five years ago. Some thinkers are now claiming that we stand on the brink of some miraculous AGI (artificial general intelligence) that rivals human intelligence in all spheres. Among those, some believe that the machines will turn on us and destroy us. Other thinkers are deeply, and properly in my view, skeptical of such claims. Make no mistake, we are now embroiled in a grand debate about computing technology and humanitys future. Yes, the debate is replete with hype, bluster, and posturing, as such debates always are. Despite all that, the consequences really are of the deepest, broadest, and highest order. I have spent a great deal of time exploring and sampling this debate over the past few years, and especially since the launch of GPT-3 in late summer of 2020 and then ChatGPT in late 2022, and writing about it as well. I have read technical articles, blog posts, journalistic treatments, tweets and treat streams. I have read things by the so-called Godfathers of AI Geoffrey Hinton, Yann LeCun, and Yoshua Bengio by critics such as Gary Marcus, Melanie Mitchell, and Emily Bender, by philosophers and digital humanists, by venture capitalists and executives, and who knows how many others. These words, these paragraphs, essays and reports, these polemics and technical expositions, all of them, are about the technology. The debate is also about the human mind, implicitly and explicitly as well. The pursuit of artificial intelligence has been haunted by the human ever since Alan Turing proposed the imitation game, which has become known as the Turing Test: Is it a machine or is it human? The conception of human intelligence I see scurrying through these debates is impoverished. The account of human capabilities deployed in these discussions is not as sophisticated as that of machines. I suppose one could lay this asymmetry at the feet of C. P. Snows infamous two cultures, science and engineering versus humanistic cultivation, and its institutionalization in our intellectual life. That may be a reason, but it is not an excuse, not in view of all the earnest palaver that has been devoted to it over the last half-century or more. We are on the brink of creating machines that think (if we have not done so already). We can no longer function coherently in the shadow of those old ideas. As far as I can tell, these current debates would keep us dancing in the dark even as they earnestly proclaim a new dispensation. It is time we give serious consideration to the work of a woman who fled the Nazis halfway across Europe when she was 15, got a Ph.D. in mathematics from MIT when she was 23, corresponded with David Bohm in her late 20s, and during middle age, at the height of her career, was up teaching remedial math to housewives seeking to re-enter the workplace. I am not claiming that Miriam Lipschutz Yevick can show us the way forward into the light. But I am claiming that she is touch with something fundamental to the new understanding we need, we are seeking. Let us strike the match she has given us. Next Year in Jerusalem, 2040 Yevick ends A Testament for Ariela with a speech she gave to Princeton students in 1970. The United States had started bombing Cambodia. Princeton students were staging protests in the university chapel and in front of the library, shouting shut it down. Yevick addressed the students who had gathered in front of the library, urging them to respect and learn from the accumulate knowledge to be found there. In the course of that speech she talked about a global knowledge can evoke that holographic awareness which transcends its interpretation in the mechanical language of recurrent programs. It holds compact in one that global vision which continuously reinterprets reality in terms of lived experience. Thus you will assert your superior humanity and do better than the computer. That is the only time that she used the word holographic, or any of its cognates, in the entire book. I dont know what Yevick would have thought about GPT-3, which was announced two years after she had died, nor do I know if she would have taken pleasure in experimenting with ChatGPT. I would like to think that her reactions would have been similar to mine, yes, this is remarkable technology portending a tantalizing future, but it has severe limitations as well. In that spirit I presented part of her 1970 speech to ChatGPT, requesting it to recast that speech so that it is suitable for, say, 2040: Climate change has gotten worse, though mitigation efforts have begun to succeed. We now have a permanent colony on the moon and are about to send a team to take up residence on Mars. I also asked ChatGPT to imagine that Ariela was giving the speech. (She is a patent attorney, though I didnt know that when I prompted ChatGPT.) Here is the speech it wrote; I have included Yevicks original in Appendix 1: Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed faculty, and my fellow students, Today, as I stand before you in the year 2040, I find myself reflecting on the words of my grandmother, Miriam Yevick, who delivered a passionate speech to students at Princeton University in 1970. Her words still resonate deeply, but as we gather here today, we find ourselves in a world marked by both progress and profound challenges. In 1970, my grandmother implored students to embrace knowledge from a myriad of disciplines, to read the world with empathy, imagination, and rational analysis. She spoke of a global awareness, a holographic awareness that transcends mere data and numbers. She believed that we, as humans, possessed the ability to understand and shape our world better than any computer. Fast forward to 2040, and the world has indeed changed. Climate change, once a looming threat, has become a stark reality. But amidst this crisis, we have witnessed remarkable efforts to mitigate its effects. Renewable energy sources have replaced fossil fuels, and innovative technologies have transformed our cities into sustainable hubs of life. In the spirit of my grandmothers vision, we now have a permanent colony on the moon, and we stand on the precipice of sending a team to Mars to establish a new home among the stars. These achievements are a testament to our unwavering determination and our ability to come together as a global community to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. Yet, even with these strides, we are acutely aware that our work is far from finished. Climate change remains a pressing issue, and we must continue our efforts to protect and preserve our planet. The knowledge my grandmother spoke of in 1970 is even more critical today. We must not only understand the complex systems of our world but also be prepared to address them with wisdom, compassion, and innovation. As we look at the world through the lens of 2040, we see a society that has made progress, but we also see a miniature city, much like the dollhouse my grandmother envisioned. In every room and every mind, activities proceed, sometimes with purpose but often without a conscious connection to the larger scheme. Its up to us to bridge these gaps, to make the connections, and to steer our collective actions toward a more sustainable and equitable future. The problems we face are vast and diverse, but so too are our talents, our intellect, and our determination. We are the generation that will rise to the occasion. We have the knowledge, the technology, and the global awareness to build a better world for ourselves and for future generations. In the words of Victor Hugo, There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come. The time for change is now. Let us draw inspiration from the wisdom of the past, like my grandmothers speech from 1970, and let us forge a path forward that leads us to a world where we not only survive but thrive, where we are stewards of our planet, and where we use our superior humanity to create a brighter future. Thank you, and let us embark on this journey together with hope, determination, and a commitment to change. Coda Let me offer a closing observation. The phrase Next Year in Jerusalem (LShana Habaah BYerushalayim) is sung or said at the end of the Seder and dates at least to the 15th century. Just what the phrase means, how it signifies, that has been and remains the subject of commentary and interpretation at the core of which is the desire to see the Temple in Jerusalem rebuilt. It had twice been destroyed, first in c. 587 BCE by the Babylonians and again in 70 CE by the Romans. However one elaborates and transforms that core, the phrase looks to a better future. Hamas has said that their current attack on Israel was intended in part to defend the Aqsa Mosque, which is located on the 35-acre site where those temples had been located. Appendix 1: Yevicks 1970 Address to Students This is not Yevicks complete address as she has given it, but it is the portion that I gave to ChatGPT as part of the prompt: You will have to know in depth the nature of a dozen disciplines: medicine, education, architecture, city planning, transportation, food production, the generation of power, pricing mechanisms, local administration, government organization. You will have to read the world both in fictional and mathematical terms: with empathy, the imaginative projection of ones own consciousness into another human being, and with logic and rational analysis and lucidity and precision. You may come to stand above your society and epoch as one who views an immense doll house, a miniature city: in every room, in every street, in every mind the activities proceed, locally purposeful but not consciously connected to the larger scheme and often collectively random and destructive. Such a global knowledge can evoke that holographic awareness which transcends its interpretation in the mechanical language of recurrent programs. It holds compact in one that global vision which continuously reinterprets reality in terms of lived experience. Thus you will assert your superior humanity and do better than the computer. The world is there for you to rethink and redo. The problems are as numerous as the number of your brains. Your brains are young and vigorous; they will rise to the occasion! For There is nothing as powerful, as Victor Hugo said, as an idea whose time has come. Appendix 2: What does ChatGPT know about Miriam Yevick? On September 17, 2023, I asked ChatGPT about Miriam Yevick. It knew nothing. That did not surprise me. Though everything I know about her would have been on the web prior to the time it was trained, I do not know how much of that was in its training corpus the content of various articles is behind paywalls. The fact is LLMs do not remember everything they are trained on. If something isnt mentioned sufficiently often, whatever that is, it wont register as an individual object of knowledge. What do you know about Miriam Yevick, a mathematician? Im sorry, but I dont have any specific information about a mathematician named Miriam Yevick in my database, and as of my last knowledge update in September 2021, she does not appear to be a widely recognized or publicly known figure in the field of mathematics. Its possible that she may have become more prominent in the field or made significant contributions after my last knowledge update. If you have specific questions or would like information about a different mathematician or topic, please feel free to ask, and Ill do my best to assist you. Youre correct, shes not well-known. She got her Ph.D. from MIT in 1947. She corresponded with the physicist, David Bohm, in the 1950s, and she published an interesting article in the journal, Pattern Recognition, in 1975, entitled Holographic or Fourier Logic. She also published a book of letters she wrote to her granddaughter, A Testament for Ariela. Thank you for providing additional information about Miriam Yevick. While she may not be widely known in the broader mathematical community, its clear that she had an interesting and diverse set of interests and contributions. Her correspondence with physicist David Bohm and her work on Holographic or Fourier Logic in the journal Pattern Recognition suggest an engagement with interdisciplinary ideas. Publishing a book of letters to her granddaughter, titled A Testament for Ariela, is a personal and unique contribution that highlights her broader interests and desire to connect with future generations. If you have any specific questions or would like to know more about any aspect of Miriam Yevicks work or life, please feel free to ask, and Ill do my best to provide information based on the details youve provided. She fled the Nazis in 1940 along with her parents. As you know, many Jews left Europe at that time. Miriam Yevicks experience of fleeing Europe with her parents in 1940 during World War II is a poignant reminder of the widespread displacement and persecution that many Jewish families and individuals faced during that time. The Holocaust and the policies of Nazi Germany forced millions of Jewish people to leave their homes and seek refuge in other countries to escape persecution and violence. This historical context adds depth to her personal story and underscores the resilience of those who survived and managed to rebuild their lives in new places. If you have any more specific questions about Miriam Yevicks life or her contributions, please feel free to ask, and Ill provide information to the best of my ability based on the details youve provided. Thank you, and thanks for not making stuff up. Youre very welcome! Providing accurate and reliable information is a priority, and Im here to assist with the information I have up to my last knowledge update. If you have any more questions or need information on any other topic in the future, dont hesitate to reach out. Im here to help! However, a week and a half later, on September 29, 2023, I again queried ChatGPT about her. This time it offered a fair amount of information, all of it fabricated, though the fabrication is not without interest. Why the difference? Perhaps it is because the earlier query was about Miriam Yevick while this one was about Miriam Lipschutz Yevick. Perhaps its because the earlier query took the form of a complete sentence while this prompt was simply a name. Or perhaps it was because the earlier query ran against the August 3rd version of the Chatster while this ran against the September 25th version. Who knows? Miriam Lipschutz Yevick Miriam Lipschutz Yevick (19102003) was a notable American physicist and mathematician known for her contributions to statistical mechanics, particularly her work in the field of lattice gases. She made significant contributions to the understanding of phase transitions and critical phenomena. Miriam Yevick received her Ph.D. in mathematical physics from the University of Chicago in 1933. She was one of the early female physicists who made important contributions to the field at a time when it was predominantly male-dominated. Her work in lattice gases and statistical mechanics was influential in the development of mathematical models for understanding phase transitions in gases and liquids. Her research contributed to the foundation of the lattice gas theory, which is an important area of statistical mechanics. While her contributions to science were significant, Miriam Lipschutz Yevicks work has not always received the recognition it deserved during her lifetime. Nevertheless, she remains an important figure in the history of physics and mathematics, especially for her pioneering work in statistical mechanics. What about her work in holographic or Fourier logic? Im not aware of any specific work by Miriam Lipschutz Yevick in the fields of holographic logic or Fourier logic. Her primary contributions and recognition are in the field of statistical mechanics, particularly lattice gases and their applications to understanding phase transitions and critical phenomena. Its possible that she may have explored related areas or interdisciplinary topics during her career, but if there were significant contributions in holographic logic or Fourier logic, they might not be as widely documented or recognized as her work in statistical mechanics. If you have specific information or references to her work in these areas, please provide more context, and Ill do my best to provide further information. Oh, her Ph.D. was in mathematics and it was from MIT in 1947. She also corresponded with David Bohm on quantum mechanics. Thank you for providing additional information about Miriam Lipschutz Yevicks background and her correspondence with David Bohm on quantum mechanics. Its important to note that my previous responses were based on general knowledge, and I didnt have specific details about her background or correspondence in my database up to my last knowledge update in September 2021. Miriam Lipschutz Yevicks Ph.D. in mathematics from MIT in 1947 and her correspondence with David Bohm on quantum mechanics are significant aspects of her academic and scientific career. Correspondence with prominent scientists like David Bohm often indicates an active and engaged role in scientific discussions and research. Her contributions in the field of mathematics and her interactions with notable physicists like Bohm are valuable aspects of her legacy in science and mathematics. If you have more specific questions or would like to know more about her work in these areas, Ill do my best to provide further information based on the details youve provided. He has digitized more than 125,000 of these maps and shared them online on DavidRumsey.com Advertisement This mans map collection is off the charts. David Rumsey, 79, has acquired more than 200,000 maps over four decades, with a collection that spans from around 1500AD to the present day. The collector, who is based in San Francisco, reveals he had been 'fascinated by maps' since childhood. Speaking to MailOnline Travel, he says: I grew up with National Geographic maps on all the walls of my bedroom. I would lie in bed and look at all of them and dream of the places I would travel to when I grew up. When I became old enough to appreciate history, I found that out-of-date maps tell stories of history visually. Maps are constantly being updated for accuracy, and I loved to follow how with every exploration and discovery, the world seemed to get bigger. This passion inspired him to start collecting. When people learn about his extensive menagerie of maps, David says they assume [he] must be obsessed with maps, which indeed is the truth. And David who formerly worked as a real estate investor - has generously made his collection available to the masses, putting over 125,000 digitised maps on his website, Davidrumsey.com. He says: Over time, decades really, my collection became so big that I had to use information technology meaning database software to work with it and understand what I had, and to share it with people over the internet... users can really embrace the vastness of the collection and see over five centuries of mapping [in] one glance. Making it even easier to navigate, David has just introduced a new feature to the site that allows users to sift through the maps based on the text they hold. Or you can see his collection in person at the David Rumsey Map Center in the main library of Stanford University, California. As David notes: There still is nothing like the look and feel of the paper map itself! Scroll down to see some of the standout maps from Davids incredible collection, from a map that shows Belgium and the Netherlands as a huge lion to a rare map of the world from 1587 Touching on what it is about maps that he loves, David (pictured) says: Maps combine art, science, and history all in one image. Few other graphic forms do that. Old maps show how the world looked long ago, and the best old maps do that in a way that lets you in. You can feel you are really there in the time depicted' One of David's favourite maps in the collection is this 1611 map that shows Belgium and the Netherlands as a huge lion. David says: 'Made by a prominent map maker from Amsterdam, Claes Janszoon Visscher, its engraving quality takes your breath away as you zoom into the tiniest details of towns and places on the body of the lion' This WWII-era map titled 'Oil, the Target of the Axis' appeared in the Sunday News newspaper in New York. Created in July 1942, it's the work of U.S cartographer Edwin Sundberg This 1865 map, drawn on cloth, shows the Red River running through Vietnam's Hanoi Area to its Lao Cai Province. It's 'unique in its beauty', says David This 1932 'food map of the U.S' shows the part played by each U.S state 'in supplying the nation's larder', the website reveals This 1945 map, called 'Pulse of the Nation', shows the U.S death rate per 1,000 from ailments such as heart disease and cancer This map, which winds the clock back to 1948, illustrates the food products and tourist destinations of France These maps, produced in 1881, were created to 'illustrate the pauperism of the people' in England, Scotland and Wales. They show the number of workhouses - and the number of 'paupers' they accommodate - throughout each country, as well as the parishioners that 'receive relief' This 1929 map shows the San Francisco to Los Angeles route flown by the now-defunct airline Western Air Express. It includes a photo of a tri-motored Fokker-type aircraft, the website reveals This map shows the 'preliminary master plan' of Hamilton Air Force Base in San Rafael, California, in 1951 This gastronomy-themed map of Italy, showing the different foods produced across the country, was created in 1949 LEFT: This map is one that stands out to David as one of the more unusual of his collection. Created in 1956 by Polish artist Roman Cieslewicz, it shows Poland as a red carnation flower. RIGHT: Produced by Pan American World Airways in 1948, this map shows the airline's flight route from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico This 1939 map celebrates the round-the-world voyage completed by Japan's Nippon aircraft that year. The plane took off from Tokyo in August 1939 and returned to the city after 55 days, having flown 52,886 km (32,862 miles) David declares this 1947 'Map of the United States as Californians See It' as 'hilarious'. He says: 'All the distortions and prejudices of living on the West Coast are illustrated.' He notes that the map, created by the late novelist Oren Arnold, shows Florida as 'Death Valley', the rest of the U.S as 'unexplored' and only good for 'movie sets' David declares this 1835 map of London by brother cartographers Christopher and John Greenwood as 'amazing' This 10ft (3m) map of the world from 1587, created by cartographer Urbano Monte, is the 'largest early world map in existence', David reveals. He says that only one other copy of the map exists. 'It is made up of 60 meticulously drawn and coloured sheets,' David says. He notes that online, those who believe that the earth is flat - known as 'Flat Earthers' - have adopted the map 'as proof of their view that the world is not a sphere'. He says: 'Monte did not intend that, rather his choice of the North Polar projection was entirely practical because it shows accurately the relative sizes of the continents, with the exception of Antarctica, which has to ring the outer edges of the map. Monte was competing with Mercators World Map published just a few years earlier in 1569. Mercators projection resulted in inaccuracies in the sizes of continents, in favour of precise measuring of distances. Montes map corrects those inaccuracies.' David notes that he enjoys 'people loving the Monte map, for whatever reason' David describes this 1660s map of the southern tip of South America as 'exceptional'. It's the handiwork of cartographer Joan Blaeu David counts this 1914 map as one of the most beautiful in his collection. It shows Mount Rainer National Park in Washington State David says that this 1784 map of Paris is 'one of the most beautiful city maps in the collection'. It shows the city prior to the French Revolution This is one of a series of 1675 'strip maps' by British mapmaker John Ogilby that show the roads of England and Wales. They're 'unique in the way they show travel from town to town', David notes. This particular map illustrates the road from London to Aberystwyth, Wales, and the road from London to Islip and Oxford This map is one of the most beautiful in David's collection, he notes. Created in 1938, it's a composite of 164 aerial views of San Francisco. David notes that it stands out as 'the first accurate aerial photography of an American city' This 1850 map, created by those who practice Jainism (a group that believes disciplined non-violence leads to enlightenment) in India, is described as 'very unusual', by David. It maps out the continents as concentric circles, he reveals. This 1946 map by American Airlines shows the airline's routes and those of other, connecting airlines. It's titled 'American Airlines System Map' This 1854 map pokes fun 'at the serious business of the Crimean War in Europe', which waged from 1853 to 1856, David notes. Created by English artist Thomas Onwhyn, it's called the 'Comic Map of the Seat of War With Entirely New Features'. David notes: 'No one had ever made this kind of satirical map before Onwhyn' David says that the 'visual exaggerations' of this 1927 map 'always bring a smile to [his] face'. It appears in a book called the Magic Map by Mary Graham Bonner that teaches children concepts of geography During the trip, he visits Strokkur geyser, which erupts every 10 minutes or so Were in the middle of a vast plain of jagged, grey-and-green lava rocks, standing on top of mile-long wounds in the earths crust, where two continents Europe and America are slowly ripping apart. And Im right next to the worlds oldest parliament, dating back to 930, listening to a story of witch-boiling. If that sounds a touch overdramatic, thats because it is. This is Thingvellir, a huge, natural amphitheatre, full of grouchy volcanoes, burping mudpools and steaming lakes (hence the witches), in the far south-west of Iceland, about an hour out of the capital, Reykjavik. Im on a special New Scientist tour of this unique islands geology, history and ecology, and I am already learning that everything in Iceland comes with a dash of flamboyant terror and that includes the price of alcohol (best advice: buy your booze in the government off licences). From Thingvellir we head on to Geysir. This is the original geyser, though these days it is Geysirs sister, Strokkur, which sends tourists into raptures. Every ten minutes or so, it erupts in founts of hot steam and liquid. Blow out: Sean joins a special New Scientist tour that showcases Iceland's unique geology, history and ecology. Stops on his tour include a visit to the Geysir geyser (pictured) It shouldnt be as much fun as it is. Sometimes Strokkur makes you wait an extra few minutes, building the tension. Then: whoomph! Occasionally, as if for variation, it has a strop and does a couple of ten-metre high spouts in a few seconds, drenching the unwary. Every time Strokkur does its shtick, the crowd bursts into happy laughter and then we all march down to the modern, airy cafe for much-needed refreshment. Try the thyme-fed lamb soup, perhaps with a nicely chilled Einstok Arctic Pale Ale. From here we motor to an agreeably chic four-star hotel in the tiny south-coast village of Vik. We get a lecture on magma as well as some scrumptious cod, plus skyr cake with red berry sauce, and a precious chance to see the ethereal green curtains of the Northern Lights which are best viewed from the pretty hilltop church. Above is Thingvellir, a 'huge, natural amphitheatre, full of grouchy volcanoes, burping mudpools and steaming lakes' in the far south-west of Iceland Make sure you bring a hot toddy, warm hat and gloves and a specialist Northern Light-spotting phone app, such as My Aurora Forecast. Bring plenty of patience, too. The next day we aim inland on-board an Icelandic Superjeep passing sour farmlands, steamy geothermal power-plants and the odd remarkable museumlike Lava Centre, which boasts earthquake corridors and mighty 3D models of mantle plumes. We also take in the evocative, blood-streaked Icelandic history. The ancient church of Hofskirkja, for example, with its turf roof, spooky graveyard, pagan foundations and sacrificial stone altar. Sean (not pictured) describes the ice cave of Vatnajokull, which is in the biggest glacier in Europe, as a 'wonder' Then we get beautifully lost in the central wilderness of plunging cataracts and dwarfing glaciers. As we soak up the grandeur, we drink the scented local schnapps, called Brennivin, to wash down chunks of fermented shark meat known as hakarl. The schnapps is nice... After this, the days blur into a brilliant whirl of daunting, horrifying wonders. First comes Reynisfjara, a realm of towering dark sea stacks, elegant sweeps of charcoal-black sand and hexagonal terraces of basalt cliffs. Its as if Ibiza was redesigned by the Devil. Above is a harbour seal in Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, a setting that is 'especially striking' at twilight Sean explores Reynisfjara beach (above), a realm of towering dark sea stacks, elegant sweeps of charcoal-black sand and hexagonal terraces of basalt cliffs Above is a bottle of Brennivin Icelands signature drink, which helps to wash down the delicacy of fermented shark meat Not far away is Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, where seals disport between white, grey, and turquoise icebergs. At twilight, Jokulsarlon is especially striking, as the slanted northern sunlight glows through the ice, turning them into miniature, translucent, blue-lit Taj Mahals, floating dreamily to the darkening sea. Now comes the ultimate wonder of all the ice cave of Vatnajokull, which is in the biggest glacier in Europe. We barrel across the barrens to get there. Then we don compulsory helmet and headlamps ice caves are dangerous and begin the hike across the Mordor-black sand. An hour in and we confront a momentous gash in the grey-white glacier. This is the gaping entrance of the ice cave. Inside we edge down dripping wet pathways, before the guide tells us to douse those headlamps, letting the darkness descend. Why? Because it is not true darkness. As our eyes adjust, we realise we are surrounded by thousands of years of frozen time. Above us, besides us and around us are ice walls, floors and ceilings, all shot through with ancient blue daylight, even as the cave shifts and melts in a million tinkling cascades. Its like a surreal and crystalline hallucination. Its scary, strange, moving and tremendous. It is the glorious, freezing heart of the land of ice and fire, and it is totally worth it, despite the fearsome price of beer. READ MORE: I spent 17 years photographing the same family of grizzly bears Cruise ships will be banned from docking at Barcelonas most central port from October 22 in a controversial move to reduce emissions close to the city centre. All cruise ships will be forced to dock at the citys less central southern port along the Moll Adossat pier, which is currently used by larger cruise ships such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises. The citys 'Muelle Barcelona Norte' northern docks and the World Trade Centre area will both be affected by the ban. It means that tourists will no longer be able to stroll off cruise ships into Barcelonas historic centre - instead, they'll have to take a shuttle bus from the dock further south to access the city. For disembarking passengers, reaching the iconic La Rambla boulevard from the central dock takes just ten minutes by foot. It will take around half an hour by bus from the southern port. Cruise ships will be banned from docking at Barcelonas main port (above) from October 22 in a controversial move to reduce exhaust emissions close to the city centre All cruise ships will be forced to dock at Barcelona's less central southern port along the Moll Adossat pier (top right) Barcelona has long been a popular destination for British tourists enjoying a cruise around the Mediterranean. Visitors are drawn to the citys sandy beaches and famous landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia and Antoni Gaudis Park Guell. Although the ban does not officially come into force until later this month, the last cruise ship docked at the northern port on October 3. Lluis Salvado, president of the Port of Barcelona, labelled October 3 as a historic day for the city'. He added: We are pushing the pollution away, towards the south and reducing the emissions that reach the city. A new limit has also been imposed on how many cruise ships can dock at Barcelonas ports - the number of available docking areas for cruise ships will be reduced from ten to seven on October 22. The new restrictions have been in the works since 2018 when the municipal government and port authority in Barcelona agreed to regulate cruise ship activity. What once was a brief ten-minute walk on to the iconic La Rambla boulevard (above) will now be a 30-minute shuttle bus ride for disembarking cruise ship passengers The agreement stemmed from controversies over increased pressure from tourism on the Catalan capital. Mr Salvado said: The closure of the Barcelona northern docks for cruise operations is a new step to comply with the agreement signed in 2018 with the Barcelona municipal government to eliminate the negative impact that this activity could produce for citizens. This is a clear demonstration that the Port of Barcelona complies with the agreement. There has been a spate of protests against tourism in Barcelona over the past six years. A tourist bus was notably targeted in 2017, with masked attackers slashing the tyres and spraying tourism kills neighbourhoods on its windscreen. Cruise ships will be forced to dock at Barcelona's less central southern port, along the Moll Adossat pier, which is currently used by larger cruise ships by lines such as Royal Caribbean (above) Statements such as 'tourists go home' have also been graffitied in the city by anti-tourism groups. Tourism has also steadily grown since the end of the pandemic. The number of cruise ships arriving in Barcelona increased by 8 per cent in the first half of 2023, compared to the same period in 2019. On average 3.1million people travel through the Port of Barcelona each year. Mr Salvado explained that the goal is to stabilise, not decrease, the number of people using the port. Barcelonas partial ban on cruise ships follows similar measures introduced in other European tourist hotspots. Venice banned ships from stopping in the Lagoon in 2021 and has since discussed plans to introduce a daily tax for all visitors over the age of 14. Amsterdam, Santorini and the Orkney Islands have all also implemented or announced plans to limit or ban cruise liners. Would you pay 542,600 ($660,000) for a bed? Believe it or not, there are plenty who will. Swedish bed-sellers Hastens markets its handcrafted beds which it labels sleep instruments - at this price point, and theyre selling like hotcakes. Celebrities that are rumoured to own a model include Beyonce, Brad Pitt, Drake, Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie. The beds which have a distinctive chequered pattern, start at 20,584 ($25,000) and contain genuine horsetail hair are designed to last, with Hastens, a company that was established in 1852 in Koping in Swedens Vastmanland County, offering a 25-year warranty. A quote from the new book by Hastens CEO Jan Ryde, which is being published in January, reveals: We really dont know how old a Hastens bed can get we have seen Hastens beds that are more than a century old. Swedish bedsellers Hastens markets its handcrafted beds (above) which it labels sleep instruments - at 542,600 ($660,000) at the top end With such a substantial investment being made, Hastens wants its customers to be certain theyre ready to make the purchase. Before taking the plunge, customers are encouraged to really try [its] beds out by dozing in them, complete with a blanket, without a salesperson talking to them, in one of their in-store bed tests, Hastens reveals. The company also recommends that clients come back and try out the bed for a second time. Hastens says that there is no such thing as taking too long to test a bed that youll sleep in for the rest of your life. These two images show the Hastens store on Wigmore Street in London. The company offers a 25-year warranty Customers are encouraged to try out Hastens beds by dozing in them, complete with a blanket in one of their in-store bed tests. Above is the Hastens store in Stockholm The Portuguese city of Coimbra is home to the Hastens Sleep Spa - CBR Boutique Hotel (shown in the two images above), where all 15 bedrooms are decked out with Hastens beds Hastens Sleep Spas crank the experience up a notch. These partner stores, which are located across the U.S, offer an even more unique approach to bed testing. The Financial Times visited a Sleep Spa in New York and said that customers are invited to climb into bed in a dark, lavender-scented showroom while wearing a pair of $220 (183) booties made out of down duvet before being instructed to wiggle and say hello to the bed. A store representative talks customers through how the body should feel on the mattress during the experience, which takes around an hour. After your purchase, theres maintenance involved. To keep your bed in the best condition, its advised you turn and rotate your mattress 180 degrees over specific time intervals, so the sleeping surface is adapted to your body and your sleeping positions, Hastens reveals. If you cant afford one of these pricey beds yourself, a hotel stay could give you a taster of the Hastens way of life. These two pictures show the Hastens Ultimate Sleep Suite at the Lotte New York Palace hotel, where guests can choose from three different Hastens beds to sleep in The Infinity Suite in 'The Langham, London' hotel, which has been graced with a Hastens 2000T bed thats made of 37 layers' The Portuguese city of Coimbra is home to the Hastens Sleep Spa - CBR Boutique Hotel, where all 15 bedrooms are decked out with the companys beds and bedding to ensure the supremacy of sleep prevails. In London, theres The Infinity Suite in The Langham, which has been graced with a Hastens 2000T bed thats made of 37 layers and over 200 kilograms (440lb) of carefully selected materials, the hotel reveals. And across the pond in New York, theres the Hastens Ultimate Sleep Suite at the Lotte New York Palace hotel, where guests can choose from three different Hastens beds to sleep in. The suite is priced from $10,000 (8,600) per night. Scroll down to see an etiquette expert's advice on how to handle the situation A young man has sparked a backlash online after revealing he refused to give up his seat on a train for a pregnant woman. The train passenger insisted he had every right to remain in his seat, despite other passengers urging him to help the pregnant woman out. The anonymous man shared his story in a since-deleted post on Reddit's AITA forum earlier this month, asking whether he was in the wrong in the situation. The man - who goes by the Reddit username Future-Fold-6085 - explained that there were no vacant seats left on the packed train he was travelling on when a pregnant woman entered the compartment, apparently looking for a seat. He noted that his own seat was the first in her eye-line and that everyone occupying the seats around him was much older than him. I wasn't sure whether I should offer mine [to her] or not, he said. A young man has sparked a backlash online after revealing he refused to give up his seat on a train for a pregnant woman (file photo) However, while the young man was mulling over whether he ought to offer up his seat, an elderly woman who was seated nearby made the decision for him and instructed the pregnant woman to take his seat. The young man was angered that his seat had been offered up without his say-so, and told the elderly woman: You can't just ask tell someone else to claim my seat. It's mine, I get to decide. The elderly woman then explained that the female passenger was evidently pregnant and that as a young man he has the ability to stand. The young man continued: Everyone was eyeing me as if I had said something wrong, but I got p***ed off. I wasn't having that nonsense. I told her that I am not doing it, and she began to accuse me of not having respect for elders. A few more passengers then weighed in and urged him to forgo his seat, but he refused to listen to them, he revealed. The man said: I told the old woman that she has to mind her own business, to not interfere in my affairs, and that I have every right to remain there. He said: I probably [made] a bad impression on everyone, but I didn't like her attitude. Taking to the thread, commenters were quick to criticise his behaviour, while also pointing out that the elderly woman shouldnt have presumed he was comfortable standing. Reddit user didntcondawnthat remarked that the man showed a very prominent lack of empathy towards someone in a physically demanding state who did nothing wrong. The train passenger insisted he had every right to remain in his seat, despite other passengers urging him to help the pregnant woman out (file photo) Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, the founder of The Protocol School of Texas, says: 'This man should have extended a courtesy by offering the woman his seat' And user 'Knightseason' wrote that the man 'should have offered up [his] seat' but noted that the older woman 'should not be offering other people's seats up' as 'someone can have a disability/condition where they need to sit, and age doesn't matter'. While user I_am_legend-ary said: The courteous thing to do is give up your seat to the pregnant person. What is the best etiquette in such a scenario? Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, the founder of The Protocol School of Texas, told MailOnline Travel: This man should have extended a courtesy by offering the woman his seat. He made the decision to stay seated and stood his ground out of anger, which is not the best-deciding factor when determining an act of kindness to someone else. Common courtesy dictates that when you are able-bodied, and have the opportunity to offer your seat to someone who appears to want or need extra help or attention, you do so out of goodwill. Gottsman continues: This gentleman continues to be bothered by his own behaviour, or he wouldve let it go by now, rather than dwelling on what he did. Whether the person was pregnant, elderly, or simply appeared to need to sit down, giving up a seat is a small sacrifice, which makes a big impact. You never know they may have gratefully refused the kindness but it is a goodwill gesture nonetheless. Married At First Sight 2024 is just days away from wrapping up filming. And if viewers thought previous seasons of Nine's social experiment were dramatic, next year's couples are set to take things to a whole new level. Despite bosses claiming the series will be less 'screechy and shouty', Daily Mail Australia can reveal that season 11 has been the most chaotic series to film. The upcoming season will be rocked by a cheating scandal, will see multiple cast members walking out and another 'revenge porn' incident. The MAFS 2024 cast are said to be the 'worst behaved cast to date' - or so they've been told - and were scolded by producers on a number of occasions. Married At First Sight 2024 is just days away from wrapping. And if you thought past seasons of Nine's social experiment were dramatic, next year's couples are set to take things to a whole new level. Pictured: Sara Mesa and husband Tim Calwell Despite bosses claiming the series will be less 'screechy and shouty', Daily Mail Australia can reveal that season 11 has been the most chaotic series to film to date. Pictured: Jack Dunkley Runaway brides and grooms A number of cast members abruptly quit the show, leaving the producers scrambling to pick up the pieces to the puzzle. Simon Flocco, an Adelaide-based restaurant manager, almost 'derailed' the show's plans to highlight a same-sex couple after he pulled out days before his wedding. Casting producers were able to find a last-minute replacement and brought the couple in as intruders. Another insider whispered about a mystery bride who ditched her vows, not even giving the romance a chance. 'She was having none of it, and I think she was regretting ever signing up for the show,' said the source. The upcoming series will be rocked by a cheating scandal, will see multiple cast members walking out of the show and another 'revenge porn' incident Adelaide-based restaurant manager Simon Flocco, pictured, almost 'derailed' the show's plans to highlight a same-sex couple after he pulled out days before his wedding Cheating scandal Daily Mail Australia can reveal the new series will be rocked by a cheating scandal. It seems one groom's world is about to get shattered when he finds out about his bride's secret rendezvous. Season 11's dinner parties will be also 'the most explosive viewers have seen in years'. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the new series will be rocked by a cheating scandal. Season 11's dinner parties will be 'the most explosive viewers have seen in years' Explosive fights and feuds Brides Lauren Dunn, Sara Mesa, Eden Harper, and Tori Adams are four names viewers won't be forgetting anytime soon. Lauren and Sara in particular have been the life of the party, driving up the drama factor every week. 'They aren't afraid of confrontation and were often praised by producers for making the show,' dished the spy. Lauren's not one to shy away from confrontations as personal trainer Jack Dunkley is about to find out. Brides Lauren Dunn, Sara Mesa, Eden Harper, and Tori Adams are four names viewers won't be forgetting anytime soon. (Lauren and Sara pictured hanging out during a filming break) Lauren (pictured) and Sara have been the life of the party, driving up the drama factor every week. Lauren's not one to shy away from confrontations, as Jack Dunkley is about to find out 'Revenge porn' scandal In a troubling twist, a groom is facing fierce backlash for sharing intimate snaps of an ex at a gym. The mystery groom is said to have been outed by a co-star he once considered a 'friend' at a dinner party. The jury's still out on whether this storyline will make the final cut, but the air was tense when relationship expert John Aiken berated the groom for his 'disrespect'. In a troubling twist, a groom is facing fierce backlash for sharing intimate snaps of an ex. The mystery groom is said to have been outed by a co-star he once considered a 'friend' at a dinner party. Pictured: MAFS groom Collins Christian New look After filming previous seasons at Skye Suites on Kent Street in Sydney's CBD, this year producers have moved the cast to Green Square - the posh neighbourhood just a quick 10-minute dash from the airport. According to whispers around the set, relocating was the producer's desperate attempt to keep the stars of the show from going AWOL. 'Last year was just a mess,' dished one spy. After filming previous seasons at Skye Suites on Kent Street in Sydney's CBD, this year producers have moved the cast to Green Square - the posh neighbourhood just a quick 10-minute dash from the airport. Pictured: Jack with his wife Tori Adams According to whispers around the set, relocating was the producer's desperate attempt to keep the stars of the show from going AWOL. Pictured: Timothy Smith 'Some cast members slipped out the fire escape and didn't return until the birds chirped at sunrise - they wanted to put a stop to that.' Fresh accommodation wasn't the only thing that Channel Nine decided to switch up. Season 11 will see the newlyweds travel to Byron Bay for three days for a mini getaway, where things will no doubly reach boiling point for some. Married At First Sight will return to screens on Channel Nine in January, right after the Australian Open. The upcoming series will see former MAFS groom Mitch Eynaud's younger brother Jayden join the series. (Jayden pictured with his glamorous bride Eden) Axed Married At First Sight UK groom Brad Skelly and his bride Shona Manderson have split and he has already started a new romance with a bridal model. Brad's marriage to Shona, 31, ended shortly after the TV personality was ejected from the E4 series by producers for demonstrating 'controlling' and 'coercive' behaviour. MailOnline can reveal Brad, 27, didn't waste a second back on the dating scene and is now in a relationship with Hollie Baldwin, 25, who he was seen passionately kissing at the VIP Scarefest launch at Alton Towers on Friday night. Bosses made the decision to end Brad's time on the series after concern grew among the experts including Mel Schilling that his attitude towards wife Shona was 'toxic' and 'uncomfortable' and he didn't treat her as his 'equal.' The Grimsby-born groom was seen snogging new girlfriend Hollie, who on Sunday night confirmed her love for the father-of-one by sharing a photo of them together on her Instagram alongside a padlock emoji. Axed Married At First Sight UK groom Brad Skelly and his bride Shona Manderson have split and he has already started a new romance with a bridal model MailOnline can reveal Brad didn't waste a second back on the dating scene and is now in a relationship with Hollie Baldwin, who he was seen passionately kissing on Friday night The Grimsby-born groom was seen snogging new girlfriend Hollie, who on Sunday confirmed her love for the father-of-one by sharing a photo of them together on her Instagram A source told MailOnline: 'It wasn't long after Brad was axed from Married At First Sight UK that he and Shona went their separate ways, it was clear from the process that their relationship was never going to work. 'Brad and Hollie know each other from their hometown and connected instantly, they were kissing in front of the other MAFS UK cast on Friday night, they weren't holding anything back. 'Hollie didn't pose for any of the official photographs at the launch event as Brad was keen not to give away that his marriage with Shona is over. 'But they are an item and looked really loved up.' Brad and Shona got married after meeting for the first time at the altar and instantly professed their love for each other. After connecting over their spiritual beliefs, the couple started to face problems, which were highlighted by the show's relationship experts. Speaking on Australian TV, Mel described Brad's actions as 'uncomfortable' and 'toxic' while confirming the show's decision to end his time in the process. With his scenes still airing on the prerecorded series, charity Women's Aid spoke out about Brad, saying 'controlling' and 'abusive' behaviour is not acceptable. Brad's new romance with Hollie, who has previously modelled for bridal boutiques, started after his marriage to Shona failed Brad and Shona got married after meeting for the first time at the altar and instantly professed their love for each other Speaking on Australian TV, Mel Schilling described Brad's behaviour as 'uncomfortable grooming' and 'toxic' while confirming the show's decision to end his time in the process With his scenes still airing on the prerecorded series, charity Women's Aid spoke out about Brad, saying 'controlling' and 'abusive' behaviour is not acceptable Last year, the show cast financial advisor George Roberts, who was later arrested for alleged controlling and coercive behaviour, claims which he denies. Three ex-partners of George spoke out about alleged tendencies he displayed in a relationship and reportedly warned Channel 4 of his casting ahead of the series airing. The current series has also been hit by 'fakery' claims after contestant Nathanial Valentino branded the show a 'sham' and said producers went against his wishes in finding him a partner. He was matched with Ella Morgan, who is the first transgender contestant to sign up to the show, but Nathanial says he would have been better suited to someone who doesn't smoke or has a history of working in the sex industry. Nathanial said: 'The way some were treated on the show became very dark. Pretty much from the start it was a complete sham...' Brad was seen with new girlfriend Hollie at the VIP Scarefest launch at Alton Towers on Friday night as well as his MAFS UK co-stars Paul Liba, Nathanial Valentino and Tasha Jay Former Love Island stars Michael Griffiths and Christopher Taylor were also at the celebrity launch event YouTuber Daz Black wore a black hoodie and ripped jeans to the launch on Friday night New couple Brad and Hollie attended the VIP launch of Alton Towers' annual Scarefest event on Friday night. They were joined by Married At First Sight UK co-stars Nathaniel Valentino, Tasha Jay and Paul Lina, plus Love Island's Michael Griffiths and Christopher Taylor. This year the theme park boasts a new attraction inspired by YouTuber Daz Black who hosts an immersive experience, an escape room meets live action scare maze, called Daz Games: PANIC. And celebrity guests at the event were the first to try out the scare attraction, along with scare mazes. The Attic: Terror of the Towers, Darkest Depths and The Invitation, plus family favourite Trick Or Treat Town with HARIBO. They seem like unlikely friends, but Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo have opened up about their close bond ahead of presenting the Pride Of Britain Awards on Sunday. The Countdown host met the Diversity star's brother, Jordan, when they completed together on I'm A Celeb in 2016 and are the families are now great friends. Through Jordan, Carol went on to meet the former Dancing On Ice judge and is now close to the whole family, including his two children Rose, four, and Micah, three. Discussing their relationship with The Mirror, Carol said: 'We get on really well. Through Jordan, I met Ash and their family. Theyre amazing.' Ashley, 35, agreed: 'Carol has become a family friend. She comes to see our shows and we support each other with whatever we do. Ive always enjoyed working with her. Ive learnt a lot from her too.' Pals: Carol Vorderman, 62, and Ashley Banjo, 35, have revealed they are close family friends ahead of presenting the Pride Of Britain Awards on Sunday evening Connections: Carol was introduced to Ashley and his family after she met his brother Jordan Banjo (pictured) during her time on I'm A Celeb back in 2016 The Daily Mirror Pride Of Britain Awards will air on television on Thursday October 12, as the pair host the 24th annual tear jerking event. The 62-year-old has hosted the special evening since 1999 and will be joined on stage by the Diversity superstar who has been by Carol's side since 2021. 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. The 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. Discussing working alongside the TV legend, Ashley revealed that he learns lots from Carol and her incredible memory. The mathematician's mind has always been extraordinary, and the dancer explained that she uses it to memorise all the different details from all the incredible people receiving awards on the night. Besties: 'We get on really well. Through Jordan, I met Ash and their family. Theyre amazing,' revealed Carol (pictured together at the Pride of Britain Awards in 2021) Strong bonds: Through Jordan, Carol went on to meet the former Dancing On Ice judge and is now close to the whole family, including his two children Rose, four, and Micah, three Working out: The 62-year-old is in great shape and she revealed she is committed to weight training (pictured working out in September) Sensational! Carol is back hosting the Pride of Britain Awards for the 24th year after she began hosting the show in 1999 It's her 24 year hosting the show, and aside from all her television work the star makes sure to prioritise keeping fit. Carol mainly focuses on weight training, especially now she is older as she confessed she is no stranger to hip thrusts, kettlebells and working her arms, shoulders and glutes. And it is clearly working as she revealed: 'I can nearly do the splits for the first time in my life.' The star is also loving being in her sixties and admitted she still feels young and is happy being single. She confessed she started watching Married At First Sight Australia recently when she was out of action with Covid. After binging the show for 20 hours she decided she is most definitely happy single. Brooke Vincent looked glamorous in a glitzy blue dress on Sunday as she attended the Pride Of Britain Awards. The Coronation Street star, 30, joined her fiance Kean Bryan, 26, on the red carpet before entering the awards ceremony. The soap star cut a very stylish display in her bejewelled ensemble as she posed up a storm for cameras. She flashed her ample cleavage and toned midriff in the plunging cut-out dress and beamed on the carpet. The loved-up couple, who share two sons, Mexx, two, and 11-month-old Monroe, looked smitten as they arrived at the Grosvenor Hotel. Glam: Brooke Vincent, 30, looked glamorous in a glitzy blue dress on Sunday as she attended the Pride Of Britain Awards with her fiance Kean Bryan, 26 Loved-up: The Coronation Street star cut a very stylish display in her bejewelled ensemble as she posed up a storm for cameras with Kean Brooke showcased her incredibly slender physique in her glitzy garment, while Kean looked handsome in a classic black tuxedo. 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. Cosy: The loved-up couple looked smitten as they arrived at the Grosvenor Hotel arm in arm on the red carpet Family: Brooke shares two sons, Mexx, two, and 11-month-old Monroe with Kean '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. Abbie Chatfield's feud with Life Uncut's Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley is set to reignite as the trio battle it out for an Australian Podcast Award later this month. Abbie, who famously called out Brittany Hockley for 'slut shaming' her, is up for Best Sex & Relationships Podcast, against Life Uncut. This is the first time Abbie's podcast 'It's A Lot' has been nominated for the award. Britt and Laura walked away with the Gold Award for the third year running in 2022. The TV and radio host didn't address her competition when she announced the nomination, simply saying the nomination was 'thrill'. 'What a thrill to be nominated in the podcast awards for best Sex and Relationship podcast! (Unsure the podcast fits the bill but who are we to say??)' she wrote. Abbie Chatfield's feud with Life Uncut's Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley is set to reignite as the trio battle it out for an Australian Podcast Award later this month. Left, Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley. Right, Abbie Chatfield Abbie famously lashed out at Brittany in December last year, when she was filling in for Jackie 'O' Henderson on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Kyle was leading a conversation about Abbie's dating life while they were interviewing American rapper, Yung Gravy. While host Kyle Sandilands was the one leading the conversation, Abbie said Brittany was complicit in his 'misogyny' by remaining silent. Brittany went on to apologise via social media, insisting she has always been an advocate for female empowerment. Abbie is the creator of the wildly popular, It's A Lot podcast, which is up for the Best Sex and Relationships podcast at the Australian Podcast Award. Pictured Laura and Brittany created the Life Uncut podcast, with the pair already walking away with the Gold Award for three years running. Pictured 'I want to apologise for the undercurrent misogynistic tones the interview had,' she began in the post. 'The nature of live radio is unpredictable and often unplanned, which was the case with the direction the conversation took. Live on radio I found myself in a position where Abbie and I were pitted against each other.' Brittany assured her fans she had never meant to 'make anyone feel shameful' about enjoying sex. Abbie refused to accept the apology saying it was insufficient and only demonstrated her 'internalised misogyny'. Abbie famously lashed out at Brittany in December last year, when she was filling in for Jackie 'O' Henderson on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. Kyle and Brittany discussed her dating American rapper, Yung Gravy. Pictured She rejected the excuse that mistakes are made on live radio and that she had tried to limit her contributions during the interview as soon as Abbie was mentioned. 'Live radio is hard, but if I say something off on air, I message the person immediately. But you didn't, showing you didn't feel shameful after doing this. You only realised the very clear issue after I called you out,' she wrote. 'Also, you didn't say as little as possible. You added commentary. You weren't silent. You asked if we had sexted after Kyle asked if I had sent nudes. You brought me up two more times in total [during the Yung Gravy interview]. 'Don't blame the segment and live radio. Again, if you can't hold your own in that environment, maybe it isn't for you.' Brittany apologised but Abbie refused to accept the apology, which she considered insufficient after the radio segment Abbie went on to say she 'wasn't shocked' by Brittany's remarks in light of their time together on the dating show Bachelor in Paradise in 2020. Yung Gravy himself spoke out to The Brag, defending Abbie. 'I remember that interview I remember them saying that. I was like, 'This is kinda wack,''' he said. 'Hopefully they're close friends 'cause I didn't really like how he [Kyle] reacted to it.' Laura later hit out at Abbie after it revealed she was the host of FBOY Island, a dating show on Binge. 'Talks about dismantling the patriarchy, announced that they are hosting F-Boy Island, a show that encourages men to lie to women and manipulate their emotions to win a cash prize,' Laura wrote, adding to the intense feud 'Talks about dismantling the patriarchy, announced that they are hosting F-Boy Island, a show that encourages men to lie to women and manipulate their emotions to win a cash prize,' she wrote. 'That's enough internet for me for one day. The absolute hypocrisy.' Abbie hit back via her own Instagram, before the feud seemingly settled. 'I would not turn up to the show if that was the premise,' she said. 'You need to address what your co-host did rather than trying to retaliate in this passive aggressive way. At least tag me, babe.' by Shadab Zeest Hashmi At dusk, the shaft of light striking Rumis tomb is emollient as pale jade. It has been a long, hot day in Konya, Ive been writing in a cafe-terrace overlooking the famed white and turquoise structure of the tomb-museum complex. I sip my tea slowly, facing the spare, elegant geometry of the building that appears as a simple, intimate inscription on the vast blue. For once I am studying Rumis verses in Persian, not repeating English translations or paraphrasing in Urdu. Bash cho Shatranj rawan, khamush o khud jumla zaban, Walk like a chess piece, silently, become eloquence itself! Im reciting to myself in the din, in awe of the kind of magnetism that would pull one as a chess piece. Only the heart understands this logic, not any heart, but the one that has been broken open, the one that is led to the mystery in cogent silence. For once, I am letting the music of Rumis diction guide me: khamush (silent) and khud (self), a sonic coaxing of paradox, two words beginning with the same consonant, the first ending in sh, a sound that evokes the hushing of the egos voice, the softly-fading whisper of self-annihilation, the second ending as a sonic anchor in ud, suggesting the triumph of the self as it sheds worldly desires, alchemizing from base to the gold it was meant to be. This meditation yields the word khuda or God, who is paradoxically both closer than the jugular vein and a hidden treasure, in the words of the Quran, to be revealed actively, painstakingly in the hidden recesses of the self as Rumi and the Sufi tradition teach. The divine resides in the selfs silences and music, solitude and communion, longing and ecstasy. Rumis path to love passes through such paradox; to be a Darwish, is to linger by the door, content to make a home of the beloveds threshold where he gives himself up to gnosis through praise. Of the many doors to enter Rumis tomb/museum complex, I enter by Baab e Gustakhaan, The Door of the Irreverent ones. I recall the instances of irreverence in the Mathnavi, that boil and distill as teachings of the ultimate sublime, instances in which it is the crassness of the parable that illuminates the egos peculiar pettiness; descriptions so visceral and crude that they serve to scrub the soul clean. The door that I go through is simple, as are the buildings of the museum and the tomb. The sight of the bright russet velvet curtains at the entrance of the tomb makes me smile; isnt it irreverent to give a celebratory color to what is conventionally deemed a place of mourning? By Sufi logic, death is something to celebrate, as it marks the end of the egos battles and the beginning of union with the divine as a mature soul. I gaze at the threshold and the curtain for a while, taking in the joyful color of the curtain and recalling Rumis verse about how language slips like a donkey in mud when it comes to love. Mortality is at once a matter of pity for our ultimate helplessness and a matter of delight because it allows us to return home to the beloved. As I sit by the threshold to cover my shoes with the plastic covering we are asked wear before entering the tomb, I feel the energy of the other visitors. It takes me a while to notice faces and outfits or to make guesses about where they might be from because they exude a familiar vibration. Some wear headscarves, many do not, some carry prayer beads, some are fashionably dressed, others plain. I hear many languages and recognize some of the cultures, but Im not paying attention to specifics; instead, Im savoring the tacit fellowship of the moment. It is as much a gift as being present here. Wasnt this the cosmopolitan scene, 800 years ago, at Rumis funeral too? An assortment of humanity from numerous ethnicities, faiths, domiciles and languages, joined by the message of purifying the spirit with love. The main hall of the tomb feels like a festival; it is sublime without being somber. I have never been surrounded by so many graves and witnessed the sense of camaraderie and love, a love that is elevated by Adab or the expression of sincere respect that is the hallmark of Mevlevi Sufism. Immediately prominent as I enter the tomb building is the mural design on the far wall which reads Al Baqi, the Eternal One or the One who Remains; it is one of the 99 Asma al Husna, or Beautiful Names of God. Written as a colorful mirror image calligram, Al Baqi is a reminder of the temporariness of our earthly existence. Rumis family members and many fellow-Sufis are buried here side by side. On each grave is placed the turban of the deceased wearer, a custom which may be a symbol of leaving worldly status and identity behind, reminiscent also of the dervishs cap which represents the tombstone of the ego, an embrace of heech or the exquisite nothingness which leads one to become prayer itself, to discover the divine within as a result of burying the ego, to know this love for the One as an all-consuming passion that is inextricable from loving all beings at all times. The framed calligraphy pieces on the walls give the place the look of a family graveyard where decorations have continued to be added as graves are added. The carved and intricately painted ceiling and pillars around Rumis grave have springtime hues such as saffron, orange, green and gold: beautiful, uplifting hues. The green sheet that covers Rumis grave has a verse from the Quraan that reads Friends of God are not overcome by sadness or fear. The sound of the ney flute in the distance, Rumis central metaphor for yearning to reunite with the divine, enters as part of the sentiment of this place, the paradox of devotion enhanced by separation and the joy of finding the beloved within. This neighborhood of Konya is made sacred by love and remembrance taught by one who proclaimed himself heech, after attaining and rejecting all manner of worldly success as a scholar, happy to be a chickpea or door-knocker as long as he was engaged in praising the divine beloved. I am dumbstruck by the sheer beauty of the sentiment, realizing that the visit to Rumis tomb is not about Rumi at all. It is about being bathed in the language of love and recognizing the divine within the subtle signs and deep silences of that language. The door I choose to pass through on my way out is Baab e khamoshaan, the door of the silent ones. The Real Housewives of Sydney was controversially axed after one season for being 'too nasty'. And the show's new cast member Victoria Montano has revealed producers warned the new stars of the reboot about their behaviour on the upcoming season. 'They told me there will be no more table flipping, no nastiness like previous years,' she told The Australian's Diary. 'It's great TV without throwing a drink.' Victoria, who is the owner of fitness clothing label SportLuxe, revealed it took almost two years before she agreed to join the series. RHOS cast member Victoria Montano has revealed producers told her there would 'be no more table flipping' as they reduce 'nastiness' on the new season 'I think it was about a year or two until I was officially on board,' she added. Victoria will be starring in the reboot alongside Terry Biviano, Krissy Marsh, Nicole O'Neil, Dr Kate Adams, Sally Obermeder and Carol Gaultier. The Real Housewives of Sydney's first season was cancelled in 2017 after just one season, with Foxtel bosses claiming American TV networks had snubbed the show for being 'too extreme'. At the time, Foxtel's head of television Brian Walsh had blamed the housewives' 'nasty' attitudes for the franchise's failure, telling The Daily Telegraph : 'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nasty's sake and have no redeeming features.' She will be starring in the reboot alongside Terry Biviano, Krissy Marsh, Nicole O'Neil, Dr Kate Adams, Sally Obermeder and Carol Gaultier Fans of the original season would remember the electrifying moment when housewife Lisa Oldfield 'sl*t shamed' Krissy on camera. During the scandalous scene, Lisa accused Krissy of being 'fu**ing embarrassment, a sl*t and a wh*re', while members of the public watched on in horror. Following the shocking incident, Krissy fled to China to avoid watching the episode go to air. Jason Sudeikis was pictured while stepping out in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. The 48-year-old actor cut an eye-catching figure in a nearly all-green outfit as he made his way along the city's streets before arriving at a friend's house. The Primetime Emmy Award-winning performer, who recently settled his bitter custody battle with his former partner, opted for a blue-green Nike hoodie that was paired with matching pants. Sudeikis added a bit of extra pop to his outfit with a pair of lime green Nike running shoes. The Ted Lasso star contrasted the dominant tone of his outfit with a light gray flat cap. There he is: Jason Sudeikis was pictured while stepping out in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon The performer's outing took place just four days after his family's former nanny, Ericka Genaro, appealed a decision to have her case against the actor and his former partner, Olivia Wilde, moved to mediation. Sudeikis and the Don't Worry Darling director, 39, were in a long-term relationship that lasted from 2011 until 2020, when they split up. The actress moved on with Harry Styles, with whom she costarred in the 2022 feature, although they broke up in November of that year. The former couple currently co-parents their son Otis, 9, and daughter Daisy, 6. Genaro named Sudeikis and Wilde in a lawsuit that was filed this past February, in which she claimed that she had been wrongfully fired by the pair. The couple's former nanny has alleged that she was let go due after developing struggles with her mental health from working with the performers. She has also claimed that she served as a confidant to Sudeikis after he split up from his former long-term partner. Genaro's lawyer, Ron Zambrano, issued a statement via Us Weekly to protest the court's decision to move the case to mediation. Interesting attire: The 48-year-old actor cut an eye-catching figure in a nearly all-green outfit as he made his way along the city's streets before arriving at a friend's house In hot water: The performer's outing took place just four days after his family's former nanny, Ericka Genaro, appealed a decision to have her case against the actor and his former partner, Olivia Wilde, moved to mediation; Sudekis is seen with Wilde in 2020 Legal trouble: Genaro named Sudeikis and Wilde in a lawsuit that was filed this past February, in which she claimed that she had been wrongfully fired by the pair; they are seen in 20214 It began: 'We respectfully disagree with the judge's decision to move this case into private arbitration and are seeking all avenues to have the ruling reversed and allow us to try this case before a jury of their peers.' 'We believe the judge did not apply the actual facts presented to applicable law which should have led to a finding that the agreement was unenforceable,' he continued. Zambrano then alleged: 'Ms. Wilde and Mr. Sudeikis merely want this case moved into arbitration to silence Ms. Genaro. We believe they should not be given special treatment merely because they are celebrities.' Neither the actor nor the actress have publicly responded to the lawyer's statement as of yet. Greta Gerwig took part in a Q&A session in London over the weekend where she teased her next project that doesn't seem too similar to her blockbuster Barbie. The 40-year-old writer-director attended a Q&A panel at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival on Satuday, which was moderated by Succession creator Jesse Armstrong. Towards the end of the session the director - who recently opened up about the 35 classic films that helped influence Barbie - briefly teased her next project which she is currently writing... and has been giving her nightmares. 'Im working on something right now. Its hard and Im having recurring nightmares,' Gerwig said towards the end of the session. She also admitted that she had to fight hard to keep the I'm Just Ken musical number in her Barbie. New project: Greta Gerwig took part in a Q&A session in London over the weekend where she teased her next project that doesn't seem too similar to her blockbuster Barbie Ken scene: She also admitted that she had to fight hard to keep the I'm Just Ken musical number in her Barbie 'It just said in the script, "And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance,"' Gerwig told Jesse Armstrong. 'There was a big meeting that was like, "Do you need this?" And I was like, "Everything in me needs this,"' she said. 'They were like, "What do you even mean? What is a dream ballet?" And I was lIke, "A dream ballet? Where do I begin!"' she said. The writer-director added that Singing in the Rain was one of her biggest inspirations for that scene, adding that movie has, 'a dream ballet inside of a dream ballet.' 'I was like, if people could follow that in Singing in the Rain, I think well be fine. I think people will know what this is. So that was the big reference point,' she said. 'Even though everything felt right to me and was giving me so much joy in the way we were doing it, it was also like, "Oh no, this could be just terrible, but now Im committed,"' she admitted. In an interview with Letterboxd, the Oscar nominee wrote down 32 films, but actually shared 35, some famous and some not so famous, that she paid homage to in her own masterpiece. One of the first film the 40-year-old filmmaker drew inspiration from was 1939's The Wizard of Oz when creating Barbie World. Greta says: 'It just said in the script, "And then it becomes a dream ballet and they work it out through dance,"' Gerwig told Jesse Armstrong Need: 'There was a big meeting that was like, "Do you need this?" And I was like, "Everything in me needs this,"' she said Inspiration: The writer-director added that Singing in the Rain was one of her biggest inspirations for that scene, adding that movie has, ' a dream ballet inside of a dream ballet. Joy: 'Even though everything felt right to me and was giving me so much joy in the way we were doing it, it was also like, "Oh no, this could be just terrible, but now Im committed,"' she admitted 'I think of the painted backdrop of the Emerald City as they go towards it. In our movie, we have the Pink Brick Road instead of the Yellow Brick Road,' she explained, 'We also have beautiful painted backdrops of horizons.' We executed it like they wouldve done in the 30s and 40s and 50s soundstage musicals. It was something that we kept returning to,' she explained. The Gene Kelly musical An American in Paris contributed to opening scene of Barbie. 'There was something so satisfying about watching him go through his morning routinethat was one of the morning routines I loved. Even though Barbie has much more of an expanse, I was like, This is a great opening.' Big Little Journeys Rating: Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker Rating: For bushbabies, the streets of South Africa's cities are paved with gold. Better still, it's the golden yellow of bananas. Animal-loving locals leave slices of the ripe fruit in heaps on feeding tables so the wide-eyed raiders can feast. In the capital Pretoria, there's so much free banana on offer that the resident bushbabies weigh 25 per cent more than their cousins in the forest. Like an African version of that fable about the country mouse and the town mouse, the lifestyles of rural and urban bushbabies couldn't be more different, as we discovered in the charming wildlife documentary Big Little Journeys (BBC2). Life is harsh, out in the wilds. Food is so scarce that mothers chase their babies out of the nest as soon as they're old enough to fend for themselves, and the youngsters might have to travel 10 or 20 miles in search of their own territory. Like an African version of that fable about the country mouse and the town mouse, the lifestyles of rural and urban bushbabies couldn't be more different. Pictured, a bushbaby on Big Little Journeys In the capital Pretoria, there's so much free banana on offer that the resident bushbabies weigh 25 per cent more than their cousins in the forest Cameras followed one young male, a sort of bushbaby Dick Whittington, as he trekked off in search of his fortune. At first, he lived on droplets of tree sap. Later, as he reached the suburbs, there were tasty moths and midges clustering around electric lights. But the real riches came as he ventured into denser human habitations. Food was so plentiful that other bushbabies welcomed him, gave him a good grooming and even showed him where the juiciest pickings were to be had... inside the grounds of Pretoria zoo. By now, the story was less like a panto and more of a Disney cartoon. Where else would you see animals trying to break into a zoo? Bushbabies are nocturnal, and capable of leaping 30 times their own body length in a single bound. Armed with exceptional low-light tech, the camera crews had to be agile and alert to keep up. But the really impressive camera work came in the programme's other narrative thread, following a turtle hatchling in Canada's Algonquin woods as it stumbled its way to a freshwater lake. A long-nosed lens like a mechanical anteater trundled after the little reptile. Moving at a quarter of a mile per hour, she was unlikely to give film-makers the slip but, being smaller than a leaf, she did tend to disappear into the undergrowth. The images were so sharp and vivid that, as I watched, I began to feel I'd shrunk to the size of an insect. This was less Dick Whittington, more Alice In Wonderland. Every time narrator Aaron Pierre switched from one story to another, we were left with a cliffhanger. I was sitting on my fingers as Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker (Ch4) returned There's an alarming lack of protective equipment on show most of the time, people are not wearing gloves or goggles, let alone heavy-duty arm and leg coverings The scariest came at the start, as the turtle trudged across the tarmac of a main road, with truck wheels repeatedly missing her by inches. For the film crew, the urge to pick her up and carry her to safety must have been almost overwhelming. I watched through my fingers. I was sitting on my fingers as Handmade: Britain's Best Woodworker (Ch4) returned. Every time one of the amateur carpenters lowered a whirring buzzsaw onto a plank, I expected to see someone lose half a hand. There's an alarming lack of protective equipment on show most of the time, people are not wearing gloves or goggles, let alone heavy-duty arm and leg coverings. Several contestants were simply in short sleeves and aprons. That seems reckless, but then it's a dictum in my family that no DIY job is finished until someone draws blood. This includes changing a fuse. Handmade has a similar format to Bake Off, but the editing is much choppier. The camera never stays on one person for more than a few seconds. The reason is obvious: sawdust is much less enticing than cake. Fab finale of the weekend: The Horrible Histories team created a hilarious fantasy fairytale sitcom with Yonderland, and topped that with the blissfully clever Ghosts (BBC1). Now that's about to end... what will they do to delight us next? Kendall Jenner put on a head-turning display as she modeled various stylish ensembles while filming a commercial in New York City on Sunday. The TV personality, 27 - who recently joined Bad Bunny in Miami to celebrate his Billboard Latin Music Awards wins - was spotted striking various poses for the camera in different parts of the bustling city. The 818 Tequila founder was effortlessly classy wearing an all-black ensemble that comprised of a pair of loose-fitting slacks as well as a snug blazer that was partially unbuttoned. She slipped into a pair of black loafers and also wore chunky, silver bracelets on her left wrist for a flashy touch as well as silver-hooped earrings. Her brunette locks were parted in the middle, and cascaded down past her shoulders in light waves. Wow! Kendall Jenner, 27, put on a head-turning display as she modeled various stylish ensembles while filming a commercial in New York City on Sunday On set: The TV personality was spotted striking various poses for the camera in different parts of the bustling city The reality star was seen casually leaning against a large fountain as she flaunted a few of her favorite poses during the outdoor shoot. Her makeup was classically done, and Kendall opted for a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light blush and contour to better accentuate her cheekbones. The beauty also added a nude-colored tint to her lips to complete her overall look for the day. Afterwards, Kendall had a quick outfit change and was spotted walking along a crowded street while sporting a light blue trench coat which was loosely secured with a belt that wrapped around her waist. Underneath, the media personality added a black ensemble that contained a hem that stopped just above her knees. Jenner also slipped into a pair of black ankle socks as well as black loafers for a finishing touch. The Kardashians star strolled across a street as the bright sunshine shone down on her, and also hopped onto a busy sidewalk in the heart of the Big Apple. She later removed the fashionable, outer piece and also filmed a scene while only wearing a sleeveless, black minidress. Chic: The 818 Tequila founder was effortlessly classy wearing an all-black ensemble that comprised of a pair of loose-fitting slacks as well as a fitted blazer that was partially unbuttoned Flashy details: She slipped into a pair of black loafers and also wore a chunky, silver bracelet on her left wrist for a flashy touch as well as silver-hooped earrings Next look! Afterwards, Kendall had a quick outfit change and was spotted walking along a crowded street while sporting a light blue trench coat which was loosely secured with a belt Fashionable: Underneath, the media personality added a black ensemble that contained a hem that stopped just above her knees Shooting a scene: The 818 Tequila founder was seen making her way along a crosswalk as she shot a quick scene for the commercial Flashing a smile: Kendall was seen holding a cheerful smile on her face as she had a blast on the set in New York City The supermodel then switched into an all-white outfit that comprised of a pair of cream-colored slacks as well as a white button up that was partially unfastened towards the collar. She opted to wear a white trench coat that was secured with a belt that was tied around her slim waist. Her locks flowed behind her as she strutted toward a camera as she made her way down a more quiet sidewalk next to a large building. Jenner completed the look with a pair of black shoes that added a bit of color contrast to the vibrant outfit. Along with moving towards the camera, Kendall was also spotted sending sultry gazes as she struck a few more poses while shooting on set. When she wasn't filming, the star was seen sharing a laugh with some of the crew members during a break in between takes. Lastly, Kendall kept it casual in a black, short-sleeved shirt as she also filmed a few close-up shots for the commercial. The beauty seemingly was in a bubbly mood and flashed a happy smile for the camera. The beauty has been filtering through a busy schedule, and recently whisked herself to Miami earlier this week to spend time with beau, Bad Bunny, as they celebrated his seven wins at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. Under the sun: Jenner walked under the bright sunshine and also accessorized her outfit with silver bracelets as well as hooped earrings Having fun: The Kardashians star strolled across a street as the bright sunshine shone down on her, and also hopped onto a busy sidewalk in the heart of the Big Apple Ready for the camera: The supermodel then switched into an all-white outfit that comprised of a pair of cream-colored slacks as well as a white button up that was partially unfastened towards the collar Action! She opted to wear a white trench coat that was secured with a belt that was tied around her slim waist Sharing a laugh: When she wasn't filming, the star was seen sharing a laugh with some of the crew members during a break in between takes Strutting: Her locks flowed behind her as she strutted toward a camera as she made her way down a more quiet sidewalk next to a large building Gazing: Along with moving towards the camera, Kendall was also spotted sending sultry gazes as she struck a few more poses while shooting on set Busy day: The businesswoman was seen ditching earrings but still opted to wear silver bracelets on her left wrist The Puerto Rican rapper notably garnered seven big wins at the ceremony which was held in Florida on Thursday, such as winning Artist of the Year and also Top Album Latin Artist Of The Year, Male. The two enjoyed a day full of fun, and paid a visit to a museum called Superblue Miami and then had dinner at Hometown BBQ Miami with close pals, including nightlife guru David Grutman. Kendall was stylishly casual for the day, and showed off her toned midriff wearing a gray cropped top that was partially pushed up with a large claw hairclip. She also slipped into a pair of white pants that were secured with a thin black belt that wrapped around her waist. The star added a pair of white and black Adidas sneakers and draped a brown sweater over her arm in case her grew chilly later in the evening. The performer donned a short-sleeved, plain white T-shirt which was tucked into the waist of brown trousers. Bad Bunny threw on a brown cap that was placed backwards on top of his head, and wrapped a brown and red checkered bandana around his neck to complete his look. The fashionable couple recently starred in a Gucci campaign together as their budding romance continues to heat up - after they were first linked back in February. And last month in September, the pair were seen sitting front row together at the Gucci Ancora fashion show during Milan Fashion Week. The rapper opened up about the romance with Jenner during an interview with Vanity Fair last month - but did not officially confirm their relationship. Classy: She later removed the fashionable, outer piece and also filmed a scene while only wearing a sleeveless, black minidress Close-ups: Lastly, Kendall kept it casual in a black, short-sleeved shirt as she also filmed a few close-up shots for the commercial Happy mood: The beauty seemingly was in a bubbly mood and flashed a happy smile for the camera Front row: And last month in September, the pair were seen sitting front row together at the Gucci Ancora fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Stunning: Kendall also whisked herself to Paris for fashion week, and strutted down the runway for a few shoes, including the star-studded Le Defile Walk Your Worth L'Oreal show; seen earlier this month in Paris As he touched on how he maintains privacy, he explained, 'I'm not really interested in clarifying anything because I have no commitment to clarify anything to anyone,' adding that he is only 'clear' to his family and close friends. 'There are people who say that artists have to put up with it,' he continued. 'I don't have to accept anything and everything because I wanted to be an artist. At the end of the day, you listen to me because you want to. I don't force you to.' Bad Bunny was also later asked if he had plans to get married and have children in the future, which he replied with, 'No. I don't think so,' but then stated, 'Not ever, but not now.' Kendall also whisked herself to Paris for fashion week, and strutted down the runway for a few shoes, including the star-studded Le Defile Walk Your Worth L'Oreal event which took place earlier this month. Cassie Sainsbury has revealed how she feared for her life while spending three years in Columbia's notorious El Buen Pastor prison. The drug trafficker-turned-fitness influencer, 28, has revealed she was stabbed and beaten multiple times by fellow inmates while discussing her appearance on the new season of SAS Australia. '[SAS] was nothing that I expected. Obviously everyone goes into SAS thinking it's not hard instantly but I was transported straight back to prison,' she told Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Monday. Host Ryan Fitzgerald asked: 'Were there moments where you feared for your life in prison?' 'Definitely. I had a lot of beatings. I got beaten up a lot. I got stabbed. I got two stab marks on my arms where I was stabbed,' Cassie responded. Convicted drug smuggler 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury has revealed she was stabbed twice and beaten multiple times during her stint in a Colombian jail 'I went through a lot of things that I wouldn't wish on anyone ever.' 'Why were you stabbed?' Michael "Wippa" Wipfli asked. She explained: 'I had a lot of enemies. And obviously being the gringa in a Spanish prison, it just brings that attention of you know, rich white girl. Need to I guess bully her down until that's it?' Cassie was arrested in Columbia in April, 2017, when she was caught trying to leave the country with 5.8kgs of cocaine in her luggage. The drug trafficker-turned-fitness influencer , 28, revealed she was stabbed and beaten by fellow inmates while discussing her appearance on the new season of SAS Australia The bust shot her to international infamy as she was dubbed 'Cocaine Cassie' and even landed a role on SAS Australia this year. She was sentenced to six years behind bars at El Buen Pastor prison but only served three before she was released. Cassie spent another two years on parole in South America before returning to Australia last year to live in Adelaide with her wife Tatiana. Hugh Sheridan revealed he was almost caught up in the Hamas terrorist attacks after being invited to a music festival that was targeted by militants. The Packed To The Rafters actor, 38, shared footage of terrifying scenes from the music festival, which were first posted by the New York Times. The video was accompanied by news that Palestinian militants viciously 'gunned down more than 100 ravers and abducted others', with the number of dead now reportedly over 260. The clip ends with a woman's terrified screams as she is abducted on the back of a motorbike while her boyfriend is frog-marched off by militants. Hugh revealed he attended a peace barbecue for the festival and was offered a ticket to attend, but declined the offer. Hugh Sheridan, 38, has shared his heartbreak for Israel as he revealed he was 'offered a ticket' to a music festival targeted by Palestinian militants: 'These are kind and loving souls' 'I attended the (pre) sunset beach PEACE bbq (barbecue) for this, they offered me a ticket to this too,' Hugh began, referring to the music festival. Hugh said it was to raise money for Israeli 'Burning Man' to be held in six weeks time, speaking of the 'kind' and 'loving' nature of the festival-goers. 'These are kind and loving souls who just want the best for the planet and just wanted to have a break and dance with nature for a minute,' he wrote. 'The latest report is over 250 innocent humans were gunned down here. I can't believe I didn't go. It's only just sinking in,' he finished. Hugh revealed he was set to attend the music festival with him sharing his heartbreak at the senseless acts of violence, writing: 'These are kind and loving souls who want the best for the planet and just wanted to have a break and dance with nature for a minute' Hugh has been caught-up in Hamas' terrorist attacks on the country at the weekend, with him sharing alarming footage of himself hiding in a stairwell with friends. He also posted distressing video of sirens going off and 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 was in Israel and was sharing footage of missile attacks to his Instagram as it was happening with him trying to get out of the country. Pictured Sheridan also posted a video of a 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, a recognised 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. Hugh took to social media to share these images of the Hamas terrorist attacks on the country, sharing 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. Bec Judd's son Tom has been rushed to hospital for urgent care. The WAG, 40, took to Instagram on Monday to share a photo of her adorable son lazing in a hospital bed. In the post, Tom smiled at the camera as he held onto his teddy bear while eating an ice cream. However Bec did not share the reason for Tom's treatment with her followers. 'Onwards and upwards Tom,' Bec began. 'Thanks nurse Becky Bell for looking after us,' she added. Bec Judd's son Tom, seven, was rushed to hospital with mystery condition on Monday with her sharing a photo of her youngest in a hospital bed. Pictured Bec shares four children - daughter Billie, nine, son Oscar, 12, and twins Darcy and Tom, seven, with her ex-AFL star husband, Chris Judd. It comes after the star revealed her plan to help provide 25,000 meals to the Food Bank Victoria, which is committed to battling hunger. Bec's not just lending her voice; she's putting her design skills to work by creating a unique spatula for the cause. Every penny earned from its sales will go straight to Food Bank. In Bec's words, each spatula sold translates to a whopping '25 meals on the table', with a lofty target of serving up '250,000 extra meals by Christmas.' Glamorous Bec thanks the nurse that attended to Tom, writing: 'Thanks nurse Becky Bell for looking after us.' Pictured She urged her vast following, saying, 'So when you're ticking off that Christmas shopping list this year, swing by Minimax'. Not only will you nab a Bec Judd original, but you'll also be doing 'a world of good for the community'. The campaign sees the WAG alongside Kiwi culinary genius, Ben Shewry, radio and TV presenter Chrissie Swan, and Australian pastry chef Kirsten Tibballs. The WAG is currently being seen on the celebrity edition of The Amazing Race alongside sister, Kate Twigley. Bec shares four children - daughter Billie, nine, son Oscar, 12, and twins Darcy and Tom, seven, with her ex-AFL star husband, Chris Judd. all pictured The WAG is currently being seen on the celebrity edition of The Amazing Race alongside sister, Kate Twigley. Both pictured Speaking to KIIS FM's Jase and Lauren recently, Bec spoke about being forced to sift through elephant poop on the competition series. 'It was interesting, they really threw us into these challenges that were quite foul so shovelling poo and I was like where are the gloves?' Bec said. 'You know I worked at The Alfred Hospital, I have four kids, I've got a puppy, I'm used to vomit and poo and secretions, but we always had gloves and masks, so it was okay. But this is bare hands, and I was not happy about it.' Bec recently revealed she is a germaphobe in a trailer for the Ten reality show. 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury broke down in tears during Monday night's premiere episode of SAS Australia, as she opened up about her life in a Colombian prison. Cassie, 28, was arrested in Colombia in April 2017, when she was caught trying to leave the country with 5.8kgs of cocaine in her luggage. When asked by Ant Middleton about the reason for her imprisonment, she straightforwardly answered, 'smuggling drugs.' 'I'm the person who committed the crime, but I was... set up by someone who I considered to be my friend,' she disclosed. The prison environment proved hostile for Sainsbury, who felt singled out as the 'rich white girl' 'Cocaine Cassie' Sainsbury broke down in tears during Monday night's premiere episode of SAS Australia , as she opened up about her life in a Colombian jail. Pictured Cassie, 28, was arrested in Colombia in April, 2017, when she was caught trying to leave the country with 5.8kgs of cocaine in her luggage 'I was almost sure that someone would kill me there,' she said. She went on to add her days in prison were marked by oppressive authority figures who treated inmates with disdain, often resorting to physical violence. 'I just saw a life of sadness and pain,' she said of her experience in prison. 'It was such a horrible feeling that I gave up all hope. 'I had a lot of time to kind of process having been manipulated and tricked by someone I thought was my friend... having been raped,' she explained. The grim reality of prison life was not for the faint-hearted, as Sainsbury witnessed inmates lost in a haze of drug addiction. 'That would kill themselves,' she went on. 'I saw people hung from staircases, stabbings.' When asked by Ant Middleton about the reason for her imprisonment, she straightforwardly answered, 'smuggling drugs'. Pictured 'I'm the person who committed the crime , but I was... set up by someone who I considered to be my friend,' she disclosed 'I just saw a life of sadness and pain,' she said of her experience in prison. 'It was such a horrible feeling that I gave up all hope Yet, in spite of the adversities she faced inside, she remained resolute. 'I wasn't gonna let that prison be the end of me,' she said. The bust shot her to international infamy as she was dubbed 'Cocaine Cassie'. She was sentenced to six years behind bars at El Buen Pastor prison but only served three before she was released. Cassie spent another two years on parole in South America before returning to Australia last year to live in Adelaide with her wife Tatiana. SAS Australia continuesTuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven Perth Influencer Em Davies made quite the entrance at her engagement party over the weekend. The blonde bombshell, 28, went underwear-free in a daring white dress which was slit to the hip. Em, who is set to wed boyfriend of two years Joel Gambin, also revealed her toned back in the halterneck number which featured flower detail at the neck. The satin gown also had a glamorous winged train which attached to the blonde internet sensation's arms. Em wore her blonde tresses in an elegant updo and allowed her fringe to frame her face. She accessorised with gold earrings and was made up in a glossy makeup palette. During the engagement celebrations, guests dined on oysters and a grazing board. 'I could not imagine life without you. Thank you. Love you. I can't wait to do this thing. Let's go,' Joel said in a snippet of an Instagram video. Em revealed her engagement in March when Joel dropped to one knee during a trip to New York for the couple. Perth Influencer Em Davies made an entrance at her engagement party over the weekend The blonde bombshell, 28, went underwear free in a daring white dress which was slit to the hip The bikini model uploaded a gallery of photos that captured the moment Joel proposed in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of DUMBO. 'I'm speechless. I love you so much. Someone pinch me !!??!!! What just happened?' she wrote in the caption. She also included close-up photos of Joel presenting her with an elegant emerald-cut diamond engagement ring. Em, who is set to wed boyfriend of two years Joel Gambin, also revealed her toned back in the halterneck number, which featured flower detail at the neck Em was dressed-to-the-nines in the candid photos, sporting a silk red gown with cap sleeves and an open back. Her accessories included a $6,000 Dior saddle bag, gold jewellery and slingback black pumps. Joel also looked slick in a black turtleneck, matching trousers and a trendy wristwatch. In a subsequent post, Em shared photos of the pair cuddling in bed and toasting with champagne at an upmarket restaurant shortly after Joel's proposal. During the engagement celebrations, guests dined on oysters and a grazing board Em's happy news comes after a string of recent controversies. In August last year, the Perth star landed herself in hot water after she uploaded an image of a sealed ziplock bag containing a brownie, as she made her way to the airport to catch a flight to Bali. 'Are we going to regret eating this weed brownie on our way to the airport?' she wrote alongside a 'yes' or 'no' poll. The post was deleted a few minutes later, presumably when Davies realised it was shared with her more than 360,000 followers, rather than her close friends. by Gus Mitchell 1. Art comes out of act. The act of making images, of making sounds, the act of making words and symbols. And these acts are really accretions, many individual actions, acts in a process, acts which dont often seem like acts at all. The acts of doodling, of scribbling, of sketching, of humming, of reading, looking, listening, playing, feeling, thinking, sitting, talking, walking. 2. The Greek verb artizein means to prepare. Aside from an obvious etymological readinga work of art is something that has been fitted together by skill or craft implied in the Latin artem. The making of art, any art, means to engage in an incalculability of acts of preparation. 3. To prepare, though, carries the sense of a forethought and foreseen nature to the act which is very often not part of the artistic process. We dont know what were doing, a great deal or the time; at others, we dont even know what we want. And if we do happen to have an idea before us, a definite plan to carry out, then we just has often have no sense of how to get there. None. 4. This is where preparation meets iteration. If art as an act only arises out of and ultimately consists of preparations, it is then true that the work of art (a product and evidence of learning, skill, craft, and tradition) is the child of iteration. That is, of doing again. And again, and again and again. 5. If natures glory and mystery is in its effortlessness, its spontaneity, what Daoism calls Ziran (that which arises of itself) then perhaps we might claim ours in sheer and bloody effort. (Beethoven, Nina Simone.) 6. The word act, the Latin actus and agere, both tell us, carries inside it the sense of impulse, of setting in motion, of drive on, draw forth, incite. In other words, they are as much or more to do with the split-second preparation before action. To make something happen, setting something going. That is the decision, the act, that lies before us. After that we cannot say. 7. There must always come a moment, when we begin, when we sit down in a chair or enter a studio and spend some time laying out our materials, our resources, our tools, our ideas, our thoughts, our wishes for our workthat is, when we begin, and we decide to begin. This is the crucial hinge at which one point of our imagination must give way to another point. This, maybe, is the act of art (the point of deciding to begin) and it is often accompanied by a squirm of anxious feelings: imposture, perhaps, the awareness of self and of trying to another self, or another kind of selfand the question then arises, irrepressible sometimes, could it possibly be that this self-unselfing, this act which is perhaps the only act in art deserving of that name, is just that, an act? Is my art, am I as an artist, we then ask, only an act? Am I only ever acting being an artist? (Am I fake?) 8. The beginning, the middle, and the end of art, then, is a process. A poem is never finished (only abandoned) because we are never finished (we only die.) And the outcome, like all our outcomes, singular and collective, is always unknown. Success cannot be summoned or willed into being. And yet Leonard Cohen says: I only know that if you stay with a song long enough it will yield. 9. So, we iterate. We try something. It doesnt work. We try something else. We try again, and again in another way, and something else again, and something else. Every time and every try is different, yielding different results. But nothing is wasted. Just as to lament a wasted day is to lack respect for life, so to bemoan a wasted attempt is disrespect of process. 10. But what of the goal? The goal, we might quickly say, is to create a beautiful, powerful, moving work of art; something that gives somebody, even one person, an experience of greater meaning, a sense that their own process, their own life, is meaning-full in ways that our everyday human (and political) indignities tend to obscure. Or it is to change the way someone sees the world. Or even (in our giddiest and most unguarded moments) to maybe change that world itselfsomehow. 11. All these goals, these ideal outcomes of the ongoing process of art, can be defined as political. The desire to illuminate meaning presupposes itself (at least in secular art) as resistance to a greater lack of meaning. We might call this lack structural, societal, and therefore, political. The desire to communicate, illuminate or agitate the world assumes a wider world that needs the artists work. 12. My fate depends upon this book, Arthur Rimbaud wrote to a friend while writing A Season in Hell in 1873. Rimbaud was 19 at the time, but artists do often feel this way. If you are lucky enough for your art to also be your profession, you may literally depend upon the goal you have set for your novel or your film coming to fruitionand more than that, upon its being successful. Rimbaud, his poetry was mostly ignored during his short time on earth, was one of those artists who believed that he had secrets to change life. When he failed to achieve thisto achieve his recognition from others around him, which amounts to the same thinghe abandoned poetry. 13. What comes first is the joy, the process, of being. For the artist actor, much of the process is solitary. For the political actor, it must be mostly collective. For the political actor, the process is being and working together, and the act is the decision to do this, despite the ennui of progress, of slowness, of the non-appearance of change and the non-realisation of goals, of the awkwardness of collective decision-making and co-organisationand to keep doing it. The outcome is secondary. 14. I dont mean that the outcome doesnt matter. Activists of course correctly understand that a great deal (everything even) is riding on the success or failure of their efforts. But we should remember that the principles behind any art project and any social movement are as organic as the world in which they exist. 15. The artist is reaching for something transcendent, in that it is just over the horizon of imaginative possibility; just as a society, and the social movements that seek its course-correction, are always pursuing broad, differently conceived visions of progress, which is equated with the good: both (as far as they are conceived at all) remain utopian. The artist is constantly running up against impossibility; the reach outstrips the grasp; hence the priority of process over result and of iteration over completion. 16. All art is political, a saying goes. (I would amend that: the modern artist is always political, whether they are or not.) Walter Benjamin famously diagnosed fascism as the aestheticization of politics. As culture becomes ever more politicised, as politics mutates into culture war, we should be suspicious of any attempt to conflate the two. But that does not mean there are not certain truths which may productively overlap. 17. I have both seen and been the activist entrapped in a kind of matrix of hopelessness. We are so desperately alert to the covalent urgency of our time, so full of dreadful awareness as to the stakes, so conscious of how much must be done, and all at once, and so quickly, and in so many simultaneous and overlapping directions, that it is very easy to lose hope before we are even aware of losing it. Before weve even begun, before weve even decided to act. Without hope, yet still somewhere adhering to our highest expectations, and because of our necessary lack of ability to apply that urgency ourselves, individually, with any hope of making the important difference which our individualised culture dictates we each must make (or why bother?), many efforts, many contributions may lost to inertia and guilt; to the utterly inescapable uselessness of social media; to an imagining of change in the fancy dress of dead culture and non-art. 18. If the would-be activist committed to nothing else but livingdaily life, being with and for the people in it, deciding each day to be as aware and attentiveprepared, in other words, for the process which is the art of living. To allow themselves to be moved toward things as they really are, to avoid the traps of a hyper-politicised culture and a politics of culture and their braying outlets and dead artefacts and the time and the energy and the people they waste. To begin by living, with the process of living, to treat life as the ongoing and interrupted progress that it can be if we take the soul as seriously as an artist does. That may steer us truer toward seeing what needs to be doneand then to act in whatever best direction we find ourselves able to act in, out of the world, as it appears in front of us. 19. Once the decision to act has been made, things (at least some things) get easier. It may require constantly remembering that we are engaged in many acts, not a single act. If we lie down in a road full of angry drivers, smash the windows of a bank, put an uncorrupted candidate up for election, join or support a strike, march against police violencewe cant tell what will happen. We may win, we may lose, we may get something or nothing. And after we try, we try again. Differently, better. We stay with one another and learn. We iterate. 20. If we allow the process of process to move us forward and be aware that the process is a part of the goal. Then the temptation may ease of building cramped ships in bottles of self-policing ideology and all-or-nothing expectation, of feeling boxed in an abstract matrix rather than look around us at something that can be done. Neither art nor politics fare well on abstractions. Today most of us live and mentally interact mainly in a world of hyper-super-abstractions. 21. The beginnings of a counterforce of more good art and more popular political action also resemble one another. First of all, attention. Awareness of the near-universal threat of abstract information overload: the buzz of thoughts, opinions, commentary, anxiety. Mistaking world for earth, and people for human beings. 22. Just as the artist is oftenor at least, often feels likean outsider, so it is from the fringes, the despised, from the forgotten, the abandoned, the outskirts of order and reason, the debris and damage of our way of life, that the voice of something different always announces itself. 23. What of the goals of politics? The kind of politics of the left that Im talking about, which grasp that nothing less that great change will allow for a world in which we can really live rather than exist either in a fantasy or a nightmarethe necessary politics of revolt in the strongest sense. The end that lies behind the end, the reason for goalI would suggest it is the same idea of a future, of a held-out promise, which has lain behind every social movement or great artwork the means of which, at bottom, are always lovecall it freedom. Freedom for each human being to truly be a human being, experience the transcendence of one, unchosen and mortal existence, they are capable of being. To create things. To love and care for others. To enjoy being. 24. The plain fact of limitation in artmaking and in any honest attempt at politics: we create our conditions out of alien tools; often, the tools of our enemies. The conditions for a response arise out of scarcity. 25. What unites artist and activist must be a patient impatience: an impossible sense of possibility. Mary Poppins Star Glynis Johns celebrated her 100th birthday this past Thursday. The actress, who portrayed Winifred Banks in the classic 1964 Disney musical film, reflected on her career during an interview with ABC7, in which she opened up about her work and longevity. The performer, whose family has publicly expressed their desire to have the British government designate her as a Dame, also stated that, despite her age, she still felt as if she was ready to get back to set. When asked how turning 100 felt, Johns stated that 'It doesn't make any difference to me,' before quipping: 'Well, I looked very good for every age.' The actress also spoke about being included in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's 1973 musical, in which she performed the song Send In The Clowns. Congratulations! Mary Poppins Star Glynis Johns celebrated her 100th birthday this past Thursday Reflecting on her appearances in the show and being able to sing for her fans, the performer recalled: 'I got applause for that. I loved doing it. I felt it.' Johns was given the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Desiree Armfeldt in 1973 for her work in the show. During her interview, the actress proudly showed off her Tony Award and stated that it was 'better than nothing, isn't it?' The performer also spoke about her busy career during the interview, and stated: 'I've been working at something ever since I was born, I think.' Johns concluded the interview after being told that her work would likely be remembered by fans well into the future. The performer stated described the idea of having her work impact future audiences as a 'lovely thought' before adding: 'That's what I'd hoped.' The actress, who was born in Pretoria, South Africa, on October 5 1923, began her career in the 1930s with various stage appearances in the United Kingdom. She eventually made her screen debut at the age of 15 in the 1938 feature South Riding. Speaking her mind: The actress, who portrayed Winifred Banks in the classic 1964 Disney musical film, reflected on her career during an interview with ABC7, in which she opened up about her work and longevity No big deal: When asked how turning 100 felt, Johns stated that 'It doesn't make any difference to me' High hopes: The performer stated described the idea of having her work impact future audiences as a 'lovely thought'; she is seen in 1960's The Sundowners On the big screen: Johns' most recent role in a film was in the comedy feature Superstar, which premiered in 1994 Johns went on to move to Hollywood, and her first major role in an American film was in No Highway in the Sky, which premiered in 1951. She went on to receive a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1960 for her role as Mrs. Firth in The Sundowners. The performer spent the next three decades working on various television, film and stage projects, and she was named as a Disney Legend in 1998. Johns' most recent role in a film was in the comedy feature Superstar, which premiered in 1994. An Australian reality TV star has been busted propositioning a woman at a Melbourne bar in exchange for drugs. According to a blind item posted by Daily Mail Australia columnist Jana Hocking during one of her 'Saucy Secrets' Instagram sessions, the star made an X-rated proposal while he was in the toilets at a city hotspot. 'It was hot for five mins but he wouldn't let me touch him,' she said. The source added she quickly ended the encounter after she realised he wasn't interested in her as a person. 'Turns out he only wanted coke from me too. Byeeee,' she concluded. An Australian reality TV star has been busted propositioning a woman at a Melbourne bar in exchange for drugs. Pictured: Stock image Jana Hocking's Saucy Secrets sessions are renowned for getting her fans to dish their dirtiest stories. In August, a fan wrote that another Aussie TV star had been very busy after splitting from her husband and becoming single. One follower contacted Hocking to reveal they have been seeing the anonymous celebrity 'on and off again' for some raunchy nights together. 'I've been seeing [redacted] on and off again. Some nights we were up until sunrise,' the person wrote alongside a laughing-crying emoji. Jana Hocking's Saucy Secrets sessions are renowned for getting her fans to dish their dirtiest stories. Pictured Jana shared the message to her Instagram Stories, alongside a racy stock photo of a woman lying back on a flat surface with a man hovering over her. Blacking out the name of the celebrity, Jana explained the follower was talking about a 'recently(ish) divorced Aussie celeb'. It's not the first time Jana has been inundated with sexy confessions from people who have had secret romps with big celebrities. Every Monday, the blond beauty encourages her followers to send in blind items for her 'Saucy Secrets' sessions. Heather Graham has three new films set for release in the coming months. So after her latest string of long days of shooting the actress decided to take a break and enjoy a getaway to the village of Poistano, which is off the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, with her boyfriend John de Neufville. On Sunday, the 53-year-old Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me star took to her Instagram page to share a series of snaps and videos from their holiday. Spending as much time relaxing in the gorgeous ocean water, the snowboarder captured one photo of his leading lady showcasing her fab figure in a black bikini. It didn't end there, as de Neufville would also shoot Graham diving into the ocean in a white bikini, and as they made their way around sight-seeing, which included a romantic dinner for two with an incredible view of the landscape. Getaway: Heather Graham, 53, showed off her fab figure in a black bikini while on holiday with her boyfriend John de Neufville, 47, in Poistano, off the Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy For the photo of Graham in her black bikini, she can be seen standing in the crystal clear water just below her waistline. The Drugstore Cowboy star flashed a subtly seductive look towards the camera and her beau of just over a year-and-a-half. She had just taken a dip in the water so her long blonde locks were still wet and pushed back off her face. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native would also be photographed in a white two-piece, while mugging for the camera alongside her partner. She was also caught in the skimpy bikini while driving back into the water for another swim. Back on dry land, Graham can also be seen lounging on a chair on the beach as she was browsing through some magazines. Seemingly on another day of their trip, the longtime Hollywood actress paraded around in a blue floral swimsuit that covered more of her womanly curves. Still dressed in the outfit that included tony short, the Boogie Nights star was caught taking a lick of an ice cream cone while out surveying the region. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native would also be photographed in a white two-piece, while mugging for the camera alongside her partner Coolin' off: She was also caught in the skimpy bikini while driving back into the water for another swim. Chilling: Back on dry land, Graham can also be seen lounging on a chair on the beach as she was browsing through some magazines Item: The couple have been dating for about a year-and-a-half Lovely: The longtime Hollywood actress paraded around in a blue floral swimsuit that covered more of her womanly curves The couple also posed together for a few more selfie photos dressed in more traditional attire while seemingly out playing the role of tourist. From the looks of things, they apparently asked someone to take their picture while enjoying a romantic dinner for two along the coast. While Graham is known for a slew of films that dates back to the 10980s that includes Six Degrees of Separation (1993), Swingers (1996), From Hell (2001) and The Hangover Part III (2013), the love in her life now also has left his mark on the world. de Neufville holds the world record for the most vertical feet ever snowboarded in a year, which he accomplished in 2014 by snowboarding on every continent. Tasty: Graham also got in some sight-seeing while dressed in her blue floral number Coming ahead: In the coming months Graham is set to star in three films that includes the horror thriller Oracle, the romantic comedy The Other Zoey, and the Western Place Of Bones Preference: Earlier this year, Graham revealed how she prefers dating someone not involved in the Hollywood scene, like de Neufville Scenic: The couple also enjoyed a romantic diner for two along the coastline Earlier this year, Graham revealed how she prefers dating someone not involved in the Hollywood scene, like de Neufville 'Of course, you want someone to understand your crazy schedule, which is different than a normal job, but I like dating someone who's not in the business,' the On A Wing And A Prayer star who's dated actors Josh Lucas and Heath Ledger told People. 'It puts it in perspective. Sometimes your job becomes so important to you, and then you realize there's so many other things in life that are happening. It's not all about the movie business.' In the coming months Graham is set to star in three films that includes the horror thriller Oracle, the romantic comedy The Other Zoey, and the Western Place Of Bones. Amy Dowden led the Pride Of Britain departures as she headed home after a night at the awards - amid her breast cancer battle. The dancer, 33, was joined by her Strictly co-stars as she hopped into a waiting taxi after wowing on the red carpet. She looked like she was having a great time with her fellow dancer pal Dianne Buswell who wowed in a busty yellow number. Earlier in the night Amy beamed for the camera as she stepped out for her first red carpet appearance with a shaven head looking sensational. October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the colour for which, is pink, so Amy's dress was very fitting for the occasion. Looking lovely: Amy Dowden led the Pride Of Britain departures as she headed home after a night at the awards - amid her breast cancer battle Home time: She looked like she was having a great time with her fellow dancer pal Dianne Buswell (right) who wowed in a busty yellow number Happy: Also seen leaving the bash were Strictly stars Janette Manrara and her husband Aljaz Skorjanec who looked in great spirits Pretty in pink: She boosted her height with with silver strappy heels She carried her essentials in a silver sequin clutch and accessorised with a pair of diamond hoop earrings. Also seen leaving the bash were Strictly stars Janette Manrara and her husband Aljaz Skorjanec who looked in great spirits. It Takes Two host Janette who recently welcomed a baby girl named Lyra looked gorgeous in a pink strapless top and patchwork feather skirt, whilst Dianne opted for a white corset style dress. Amy's glamorous outing comes after the professional dancer returned to Strictly on Saturday night to support her co-stars in her first TV appearance since shaving her head. She revealed that her decision to 'brave the bald' had been last minute and confessed to her Instagram followers that the experience had been 'liberating'. It comes as Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas spoke on the red carpet about Amy's return to Strictly on Saturday night and revealed she has been sending letters to the pro dancer as she undergoes chemotherapy treatment. She told The Mirror: 'I do talk to her a lot, I send her flowers and notes and letters and tell her what's been going on. My mum just had shingles, so I was sharing that. She has Crohn's and my niece has Crohn's, so it's difficult.' 'She was a student of mine for many years. I talk to her a lot, all the time and I thought she was very, very brave. She was going to wear a wig and then she decided not to for cancer awareness month.' Out and about: The dancer, 33, was joined by her Strictly co-stars as she hopped into a waiting taxi after wowing on the red carpet Pretty: Earlier in the night Amy beamed for the camera as she stepped out for her first red carpet appearance with a shaven head looking sensational Glam: October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the colour for which, is pink, so Amy's dress was very fitting for the occasion Having fun: Amy was enjoying a night out on the town What's so funny? Dianne seemed to be finding something hilarious Brave: She proudly showed off her shaved head amid her chemo Night out: Strictly stars Johannes Radebe and Annabel Croft were seen leaving together in a taxi Party: The duo were also spotted with fellow Strictly star Karen Hauer as they all headed home All smiles: Annabel looked in great spirits as she left the bash in the back of a taxi Dancing: Strictly's Layton Williams and Annabel stopped for a quick chat Big night? Annabel looked tired as she headed home after the glitzy awards Close: She held hands with her dance partner Johannes after the awards Glowing: Janette looked gorgeous in a pink gown Smart: Aljaz wore a dapper black suit for the occasion Stars: Strictly partners Vito Coppola and Ellie Leach left in a cab together Happy: They looked like they had had a good night Close: The pair seem to have a great bond Stunning: Nikita Kanda puts on a brave face wearing a fabulous silk dress after being booted off Strictly Come Dancing Beaming: She looked upbeat despite being kicked off Strictly Stunning: Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo seen leaving the Pride Of Britain Awards 2023 held at Grosvenor House Heading home: Jamie beamed as he held his glamorous wife's hand Smart: Jamie looked dapper in a dark suit Pretty: Dani Dyer looked lovely as she left in her baby pink dress Beauty: Dani sported a glowing tan Glam: Love Island's Liberty Poole put on a busty display as she headed home Work it: She put on a confident display Loved-up: Love Island's Tasha Ghouri and Andrew Le Page seen leaving the Pride Of Britain Awards 2023 Beauty: Tasha looked great in her red dress Legs: Anita Rani seen leaving the Pride Of Britain Awards 2023 held at Grosvenor House Love Islanders: Sanam Harrinanan and Kai Fagan left hand in hand Thrilled: They put on an animated display when they left Peace: Kai posed for the cameras Gown: Georgia Harrison stretches out her long dress in a London taxi as she heads home from the Pride of Britain awards Off we go: She grabbed a taxi to head home Glamorous look: Her gown was dramatic Amy recently revealed she'd shaved off her hair after losing much of her locks during her gruelling chemotherapy, after bein diagnosed with breast cancer in May. She underwent a mastectomy in June before doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer and would need further treatment. 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. Style: Kate Garraway headed home in her purple silk dress Chic: Frankie Bridge called it a night too Busty: Helen Flanagan and Christine McGuinness both put on busty displays Glam: Bobby Kootstra and Katherine Ryan seen leaving the Pride Of Britain Awards 2023 Cute: They packed on the PDA Together? Joey Essex leaves the Pride Of Britain Awards with a mystery blonde Girly night: Faye Winter and Saffron Barker headed home too Giddy: They both looked in high spirits in the back of the car Busty: Love Island's Faye struggled to contain her assets Fun: The girls all piled into the taxi Leggy: Faye left little to the imagination in her black dress New mum: Love Island's Laura Anderson wore a chic black dress Lovely: Her black dress featured a cream ruffle design Glitzy: Katie McGlynn wore a sheer sparkly number Leggy: Nikki Sanderson flashed her tanned pins Outfit: She teamed her glitzy bag with a nude YSL clutch Looking good: She boosted her height with strappy heels Beautiful: Kara Tointon wore a flowery dress with red heels Happiness: She left with Kelsey Parker who wore a silver gown Single: Sammy Root exits Pride of Britain Awards looking happy despite recent split from Love Island's Jess Harding Couple: Brooke Vincent and partner Kean Bryan left hand in hand Dapper look: Jermaine Jenas left in a dark suit Chic: Lulu wore a black blazer as she left in the back of a cab Bleary-eyed: They seemed in good spirits after the big night out Former partners: Strictly's Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal held hands as they left Incredible: Mollie King headed home in her red dress Night's over: She hopped into a waiting car Parent: The new mum was heading home after the late night 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. Michael Sheen and Anna Lundberg attended the Pride of Britain Awards, at London's Grosvenor House hotel, on Sunday. The actor, 54, made a rare appearance with his glamorous girlfriend, 28, who looked sensational in a stunning red gown. Swedish beauty Anna wore the floor-length, form-fitting frock with a a sparkling pair of pointed silver heels. Michael was equally stylish in a smart navy suit, which he teamed with a matching coloured tie and light blue shirt. The loved-up couple - who welcomed their second child together last May - cosied up together for photographs on the red carpet. Loved-up: Michael Sheen, 54, and Anna Lundberg, 28, attended the Pride of Britain Awards, at London's Grosvenor House hotel, on Sunday Gorgeous: The actor made a rare appearance with his glamorous girlfriend, who looked sensational in a stunning red gown 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 honoured 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 honoured at the glitzy event included 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: Swedish beauty Anna wore the floor-length, form-fitting frock with a a sparkling pair of pointed silver heels, while Michael was equally stylish in a smart navy suit '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 attended 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. Sunday night's fifth episode of AMC's The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon finally answered a question on the minds of fans since the show's beginning: How did Daryl Dixon get to France? Along with the answer to that question, Norman Reedus' title character also finally heard from Carol (Melissa McBride) as well... though she had quite the ominous message, revealing that someone had returned to the Commonwealth. The episode begins with a boat floating down a river, with Josephine Baker's J'ai Deux Amours (I Have Two Loves) playing. Laurent (Louis Puech Scigliuzzi) prays, 'I will be strong, Issa, I promise, but you must be strong too.' At the helm of the boat, Daryl asks Azlan (Hassam Ghancy) what The Nest is like, and if Laurent will be taken care of. Daryl: Sunday night's fifth episode of AMC's The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon finally answered a question on the minds of fans since the show's beginning: How did Daryl Dixon get to France Ominous: Along with the answer to that question, Norman Reedus ' title character also finally heard from Carol (Melissa McBride) as well... though she had quite the ominous message, revealing that someone had returned to the Commonwealth 'It's a special place. A home for the soul,' Azlan insists, as Daryl asks, 'But he's gonna be safe? I'm afraid those nuns raised him a little -- a little soft.' 'He'll be well looked after. Nurtured and groomed... To be the leader he's destined to be.' Azlan asks, 'Are you a Christian, brother?' Daryl says, 'No. They kicked me out of Sunday school.' Azlan asks, 'In the Bible, Abram becomes a pilgrim after the Lord tells him, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.' Daryl asks, 'I'm guessing Abram didn't end up in France,' as Azlan admits, 'No. But I'm curious... How did you end up here, so far from home?' Daryl ponders the question as it cuts to Daryl back in Maine, pushing his motorcycle on a road when a truck pulls up. The truck stops and a man dressed in camouflage named Jones (Gilbert Glenn Brown) gets out and asks if he needs any help.' Daryl says he's fine and he's heading home, as Jones notes, 'On a bike with no fuel?' So far: Daryl asks, 'I'm guessing Abram didn't end up in France,' as Azlan admits, 'No. But I'm curious... How did you end up here, so far from home?' Truck: Daryl ponders the question as it cuts to Daryl back in Maine, pushing his motorcycle on a road when a truck pulls up Jones: Daryl says he's fine and he's heading home, as Jones notes, 'On a bike with no fuel?' Daryl asks if he has some to spare, and Jones says that depends on if he is, 'any good with that thing,' referring to his signature crossbow. Jones takes him to an auto repair shop, telling Daryl to take a seat and they'll get started soon. Daryl heads inside and sees a bunch of other men, while some in the back listen to a transistor radio with someone speaking French. A young man named TJ (Martin Martinez) is looking at a picture of a young girl, as an older man named Juno (John Ales) says she's pretty and snatches the photo from him, saying maybe he'll give her a call when they're done.' Jones brings them together and says 'fighting' or 'stealing' or 'sexual deviancy' will be tolerated.' 'No children will be accepted, nor elderly or shorties. Five foot, four inches is the cut-off,' Jones explains as Juno asks, 'What do you want them for anyway?' The same French doctor French doctor (Francois Delaive) from the French cargo ship at La Havre says, 'This is not your concern.' Jones says, 'One pint of ethanol per head is all you need to know,' as Juno protests, ' What? No. We were told a quart.' Juno: A young man named TJ (Martin Martinez) is looking at a picture of a young girl, as an older man named Juno (John Ales) says she's pretty and snatches the photo from him, saying maybe he'll give her a call when they're done' No concern: The same French doctor French doctor (Francois Delaive) from the French cargo ship at La Havre says, 'This is not your concern.' The French doctor adds, 'A quart for the fresh ones, okay?' as Juno adds, 'That's more like it.' Jones tells everyone to 'take what you need' from the back wall, adding, 'Wheels up in five.' TJ adds, 'I'm kinda thinking our chances may be better in numbers, so if anybody wants to team up, I'm open to it.' Juno laughs and says, 'I'll have my assistant call you. We got all the guys we need,' as they leave while Daryl watches. Back on the boat, Azlan says, 'I'm sure however you got here, it was hard. I fear your journey home may be even harder.' Daryl asks, 'How much further?' Azlan responds, 'About 200 kilometers. In American, it's about 124 miles,' with a chuckle. Daryl is in the woods, shooting two zombies with a crossbow, with the arrow tied to a rope, as he ties the two walkers to a tree. Back at the auto shop, they start dragging chained-up zombies in, each with restraints on their mouths, as Juno brings in five, telling the French doctor one is, 'fresh that isn't, 'more than a few months turned.' Not sure: Back on the boat, Azlan says, 'I'm sure however you got here, it was hard. I fear your journey home may be even harder' Daryl walks in with a huge chain of zombies all strung together, as Jones tells him, 'Not bad, friend.' Jones hands him a huge gas can that is filled up with ethanol, as Daryl says it should be 'better tomorrow.' TJ approaches Daryl, saying he had a few but he stopped to fill his canteen and they got away somehow. TJ asks for some pointers and Daryl tells him to 'go home to your girl,' but TJ says he can't go home empty-handed. TJ asks if he could use a partner, but Daryl asks, 'Do I look like I need help?' Back in France, Azlan says it's almost time for prayer, saying, ' Allah keeps us on a tight schedule.' Laurent comes running up and shows him a fish he caught, as Daryl is happy for the kid, saying, 'Oh, wow. Look at you getting the hang of it. Grab your knife. I'll show you how to gut him.' Laurent is confused, as Daryl explains, 'Yeah, we wanna eat him. You didn't think we were doing this for fun, did you?' Fish: Laurent comes running up and shows him a fish he caught, as Daryl is happy for the kid, saying, 'Oh, wow. Look at you getting the hang of it. Grab your knife. I'll show you how to gut him' Laurent insists, 'I can't eat animals. I made a promise to God,' but Daryl says, 'I think God will understand.' Azlan adds, 'He's right, Laurent. It's allowed when there is no other option. You ain't at the abbey anymore.' Daryl says, 'You gotta learn how to take care of yourself, as Laurent says, 'I miss Issa.' Daryl says, 'We all got people we miss,' as Laurent asks, 'What people do you have?' 'I have friends,' Daryl says, as Laurent says, 'You know my friends, but I don't know about yours. It's not fair.' 'Life's not fair. Ask the fish,' Daryl says, as Laurent just looks at him, as Daryl relents, telling him, 'There's Judith and RJ. They're kids, like you. Uh, there's Connie, Ezekiel. There's a lady named Carol.' Laurent says, 'They sound nice, adding ,'You miss Issa, too. I can tell.' Daryl kills the fish and says, 'See? Didn't feel a thing, as Laurent adds, 'Not to worry. We'll all be together again.' Together: Daryl kills the fish and says, 'See? Didn't feel a thing, as Laurent adds, 'Not to worry. We'll all be together again' The episode transitions to Paris, where Issa (Clemence Posey) wakes up in an ornate bed, turning to find the iconic Claude Monet painting Les Nenuphars (Water Lillies) at her bedside. She goes into another room where she's met by a woman named Marie who tells her it's 11 AM and she was 'having bad dreams' so they made something to soothe her. She goes back into her room and looks out at the elaborate, highly-guarded mansion, as she prays, 'Lord, guide them safely. I've done everything you've asked' The door opens and Quinn (Adam Nagaitis) enters with a tray of pastries, saying Marie will fetch her anything she wants. He says he has a 'warehouse full of things' and she can pick anything she wants, she says, 'It's not for me. Quinn says, 'You're just being contrary,' while she says, 'Must be the drugs.' 'I wanted to let you rest while I took care of business. So I could prove to you that I was gonna keep my promise,' he says. 'Have you?' Issa asks, as Quinn says, 'I've just been with a couple of Pouvoir blokes. They assured me that Laurent made it out of the city. He's headed north now with your, um... American friend. It's what you wanted. So... How long's it gonna take? Rest: 'I wanted to let you rest while I took care of business. So I could prove to you that I was gonna keep my promise,' he says She asks, 'For what?' He says, 'For you to see me different. Want me again.' She says she has, 'locked that part of myself away... A long time ago. I... I need to pray on it,' as Quinn leaves. The episode cuts back to Daryl, who teaches Laurent how to gut a fish, but Laurent says he doesn't want to, but Daryl says sometimes you have to do things you don't want to, sometimes you don't have a choice. Back in Paris, Issa searches the room for anything she can use as a weapon, asking the Lord to forgive her for what what she's going to do. Back at their camp, Laurent prays for all of Daryl's friends that he mentioned, adding, 'I put them in my prayers 'cause Daryl doesn't know how to pray' Daryl goes to Azlan, bringing firewood, seeing Azlan admiring a pocket watch, which Azlan says saved his life. Azlan says, 'Genet controls the port in Le Havre. But our leader, Losang, will help you secure a boat home.' Searches: Back in Paris, Issa searches the room for anything she can use as a weapon, asking the Lord to forgive her for what what she's going to do 'A lone wolf who only wants to get back to his pack,' Azlan says, as Daryl adds, 'I made a promise.' 'There are times when even a man's promise gets overwhelmed by a connection to other people or a larger cause,' Azlan says. 'You know, when a man dies in someone else's war, it's his kids that suffer. That gets passed down to their kids. After a while, no one even remembers what the 'Cause' was. The causes were... Never really my thing,' Daryl admits. Azlan says, 'When I first got to the Nest, I had just lost my wife and son. All I wanted to do was die. Losang asked me to fix this watch, told me how important it was. I worked on it, day and night, for months. And when I finally got it running, he told me it didn't matter anymore. Because I had found a reason to live.' Laurent keeps praying, adding, 'Please, Lord, let me be strong... Like Daryl is strong.' TJ is still trying to find someone to partner up with him, as Juno and his friends keep making fun of him. Juno adds, 'Alright. Look, kid. You chop some more firewood, keep this Rollin' while we rest the night, and... I'll consider letting you come along.' TJ walks over to an ax and tries to cut a log in half but he fails, as Daryl shows him the proper way, and he gets it right. Log: TJ walks over to an ax and tries to cut a log in half but he fails, as Daryl shows him the proper way, and he gets it right TJ tells him he's from just outside Freeport and his girl, 'her father practically keeps her prisoner. I promised I'd take her far away, so I can't go back without any fuel.' Daryl asks, 'Where's 'Far away'?' TJ says, 'California. I hear it's better there,' but Daryl says, 'You can't believe everything you hear,' while Daryl goes to talk with Juno. Back in Paris, Quinn has Marie wheel in a tea set, but down at the main door, Anna Valery (Lukerya Ilyashenko) walks in, looking for Quinn, but she's told, 'I'm afraid he's busy.' While Valery says she can wait, she's told, 'No, but he's busy for the evening,' which causes Valery to turn with a peculiar look. Quinn tells Issa, 'I know I've made mistakes. But everything is different now. I can be a better man for you,' as Issa takes a drink. She gets up and rubs his back and takes his hand, walking him across the room, sitting him on his bed as she kisses him while reaching in her coat and pulling out the sharp shard she broke off earlier. Quinn smiles and says, 'Abraham sacrificed his only son. But Isaac was saved. And in the end, Abraham was redeemed. I believe in redemption. And I know you do, too,' as Issa backs away, conflicted. 'I'm sorry. It's been so long,' she says, as Quinn adds, 'It's okay. It's okay. You're not ready. I can be patient. It's just you and me now. We've got all the time in the world.' Valery: While Valery says she can wait, she's told, 'No, but he's busy for the evening,' which causes Valery to turn with a peculiar look Shard: She gets up and rubs his back and takes his hand, walking him across the room, sitting him on his bed as she kisses him while reaching in her coat and pulling out the sharp shard she broke off earlier Quinn walks into his chambers and finds Valery, who drops her glass and walks out. Daryl is at the radio, and he's told the connection only lasts a few minutes, when Daryl finally reaches out to Carol by radio. While he's about to give up, Carol comes through, as he rushes to the receiver. 'I'm in Maine, by the coast. Everything good there?' Daryl asks, as Carol says, 'Yeah, you know, pretty quiet here,' adding it, 'Just takes some getting used to, that's all.' He asks again if she's OK and she says, 'You never have to worry about me, Daryl.' She asks how it is in Maine and says he'll tell her all about it when he gets back in, 'about a week, I promise.' 'Hey, Daryl,' Carol says, as the transmission crackles and Carol says someone, 'came back' but the connection is lost before she can say. Later that night, Daryl kills a walker, telling Laurent to stay put, but he goes out and finds Azlan impaled to a telephone pole. Rushes: While he's about to give up, Carol comes through, as he rushes to the receiver Impaled: Later that night, Daryl kills a walker, telling Laurent to stay put, but he goes out and finds Azlan impaled to a telephone pole 'One got away from me. I took care of it. I slipped fighting them off. I think something pierced my back. I can't seem to move,' Azlan says. 'I'm covered in their blood. Don't touch me. All those years of training, and I'm done in by a telephone pole,' Azlan says, as Daryl says it's a 'tough break.' 'At least we know God has a sense of humor. My father worked for the phone company all his life,' Azlan says with a laugh. Daryl offers to get him some water but Azlan says to save it, 'just get the boy to The Nest,' while handing Daryl his pocketwatch. 'Follow the river. You'll find it. And beware of telephone poles. I'm at peace, Monsieur Dixon. The boy is in good hands,' Azlan says, handing Daryl his knife to kill him. Daryl buries Azlan and leads Laurent to the boat but there is no boat there, seeing the rope tied to the tree cut. He looks at Laurent and asks, 'Did you do this? Give me the knife,' yelling at Laurent, 'Why would you do this?! Why?! How the hell are we supposed to get there now?! You stupid little shit! Do you know what you've done?! You think you're so goddamn smart! Worthless! I should've left you right where I found you! What do I do with you now?! I wanna know why. Why would you do this? Why?! Tell me why!' 'Everyone I care about is gone. When we get to the Nest, you'll go, too. I don't want to be alone,' Laurent says, which Daryl takes in, and gives Laurent a hug. Pocketwatch: Daryl offers to get him some water but Azlan says to save it, 'just get the boy to The Nest,' while handing Daryl his pocketwatch No boat: Daryl buries Azlan and leads Laurent to the boat but there is no boat there, seeing the rope tied to the tree cut Laurent: Everyone I care about is gone. When we get to the Nest, you'll go, too. I don't want to be alone, Laurent says, which Daryl takes in, and gives Laurent a hug 'Yeah. Come here. I didn't mean it. It's gonna be alright. It's alright. Come on,' Daryl says as they walk back through the woods. Back in Paris, Issa is trying to turn the sharp shard on herself, pondering cutting her wrist, when Marie arrives with breakfast, but Issa says she isn't hungry. Marie says the eggs are fresh and they were specifically delivered by a friend, and Issa, nearly in tears, says, 'Tell your friend I am sorry.' 'Who said it was my friend?' Marie says, moving the plate of eggs, revealing a small note, as Marie leaves the room. Issa grabs the note, reading it, but we don't know what it says. Daryl keeps walking with Laurent, telling him, 'Don't worry. I bet there's gonna be a whole bunch of good people at the Nest.' 'How do you know? They could be mean,' Laurent says as Daryl says, 'Azlan was from the Nest. He wasn't mean.' Laurent asks why he can't come with him as Daryl says he told Isabelle he'd drop her off at The Nest and she'll be looking for him there, but they have to hide when they hear a car. Herself: Back in Paris, Issa is trying to turn the sharp shard on herself, pondering cutting her wrist, when Marie arrives with breakfast, but Issa says she isn't hungry Eggs: 'Who said it was my friend?' Marie says, moving the plate of eggs, revealing a small note, as Marie leaves the room Note: Issa grabs the note, reading it, but we don't know what it says Back at the auto parts shop, Daryl arrives and sees more zombies being walked in including the newly-zombified TJ, with Juno saying they 'found him like that.' Daryl notices there were rope burns on his neck as Juno says, 'A quart's a quart, you prick. You know, you snooze, you lose.' Daryl doesn't hesitate and punches Juno in the face as others rush in to break up the brief fight. Jones kicks them both out for fighting, as Daryl returns to Laurent, giving him Azlan's pocketwatch, showing him the etching of The Nest inside. 'I need you to follow the river until you find this place,' Daryl says, adding he'll be right behind him, handing Laurent his knife, telling him to take it and do what he says. Daryl tries to sneak up on the men but is caught, as they ask where the boy is, but Daryl won't tell them though Laurent surrenders himself and asks them not to kill Daryl. Back in Paris, Quinn shows Issa a glamorous necklace, as Issa asks if he stole it, but he says he got it for her, adding he has to go out for a while but he will be back. 'Madame Genet has invited me to a gathering at Maison Mere. She calls it 'De Gualle Day,' Quinn says. Surrender: Daryl tries to sneak up on the men but is caught, as they ask where the boy is, but Daryl won't tell them though Laurent surrenders himself and asks them not to kill Daryl 'She considers you a friend?' Issa asks, as Quinn says, 'She needs people like me, that can get their hands on things.' Issa says, 'I've been thinking about what you said. About going back to... The way things used to be. You can't move forward if you're looking back,' she says while putting the necklace on, adding, 'Let's start over.' Quinn and Issa arrive at Maison Mere, as they meet Madame Genet, who tells them, 'One of my Guerriers charged with securing the city, he accepted an -- How do you call it in English? Un pot de vin? Bribe. Precisement. A bribe. To allow people out we wanted to keep in. Should have done his job. If you please. ' She leads them into a jail cell where they find Daryl, as Genet says, 'You've disappointed me. Didn't we have an agreement?' Quinn finds the spurned Valery, as Quinn whispers to her, 'You have no idea what you've done.' Quinn says he can explain this as Genet says she'll give him time to gather his thoughts, putting him behind bars. Genet leads Issa away, as Daryl says, 'I'm sorry,' before taking her to her office, where she reunites Issa with Laurent. Genet says she can see why he's special, 'born from the curse, life from death, Mother Mary, Phoenix from the ashes, it hits all the notes, doesn't it?' Needs: 'She considers you a friend?' Issa asks, as Quinn says, 'She needs people like me, that can get their hands on things' Start over: Issa says, 'I've been thinking about what you said. About going back to... The way things used to be. You can't move forward if you're looking back,' she says while putting the necklace on, adding, 'Let's start over' Sorry: Genet leads Issa away, as Daryl says, 'I'm sorry,' before taking her to her office, where she reunites Issa with Laurent No idea: Quinn finds the spurned Valery, as Quinn whispers to her, 'You have no idea what you've done' Issa asks Genet what she wants, and she says, 'For him to make an appearance. All he has to do is smile.' She adds, 'Some people think that the union is against her but she must show them the truth that they are all one French people.' Issa tells Laurent to do what she asks and he says, 'It's a lie what she says,' as Genet says he's making her angry. Laurent says she's not angry, her heart is broken as Genet gets up and says he must do as she asks, there is no other choice. Back in the cell, Daryl is told to sleep with one eye open by Juno. He's lead outside with Juno behind him as Daryl sees some of the experiments they're doing on zombies. They're lead into a container on a ship, as Juno wants to know where the boat is going, as a French man takes Daryl's iconic vest. He holds up the vest and says, 'Merci,' as Juno keeps yelling, 'Where are you taking us?' as fans have finally learned how Daryl has ended up in France. The ship has set sail to France, when one of the men is taken from the container and dropped into another container full of zombies. Appearance: Issa asks Genet what she wants, and she says, 'For him to make an appearance. All he has to do is smile' Back in Paris, Daryl is uncuffed as a French guard says it's, 'lunchtime,' while Genet gives Laurent instructions on what to say. She steps into the light to applause, telling them they celebrate the rise of their rebirth as the crowd applauds. Daryl is being lead through a corridor as Genet speaks as it flashes back to Daryl convulsing in the container, as Juno says if he dies in there he's gonna turn. Guards drag him out and are about to dump him in with the other zombies, when Daryl takes them all out, strangling one with a rifle strap taking his vest back. He grabs the keys and unlocks as many doors as he can, even Juno's, who follows him as gunfire breaks out. Genet says they are ushering in a new era of France with hope for the future as the crowd breaks into a chant. Back on the boat, Daryl and Juno find a lifeboat, while in Paris, he's unlocked and pushed into an area where Genet is delivering her speech. She says the world is hers and they will make their enemies pay, while back on the ship, Daryl and Juno try to lower the lifeboat as zombies approach. Turn: Daryl is being lead through a corridor as Genet speaks as it flashes back to Daryl convulsing in the container, as Juno says if he dies in there he's gonna turn Speech: Back on the boat, Daryl and Juno find a lifeboat, while in Paris, he's unlocked and pushed into an area where Genet is delivering her speech Enemies pay: She says the world is hers and they will make their enemies pay, while back on the ship, Daryl and Juno try to lower the lifeboat as zombies approach Dart: Back in Paris, the crowd chants as Daryl is given an axe as a zombie is lead in, while someone shoots a dart into the zombie's neck Daryl fights: The zombie is released as Daryl raises his axe as the episode ends on a cliffhanger, to be resolved on next week's season finale A zombie rushes up and attacks Juno as he backs into the button dropping the lifeboat into the sea. Back in Paris, the crowd chants as Daryl is given an axe as a zombie is lead in, while someone shoots a dart into the zombie's neck. Back on the boat, Daryl jumps overboard as the boat explodes. The dart causes the zombie to writhe in his restraints as a man says Daryl will now die for his brother. The zombie is released as Daryl raises his axe as the episode ends on a cliffhanger, to be resolved on next week's season finale. Anita Rani made her first public appearance since announcing her split from her husband of 14 years as she attended the Pride Of Britain Awards on Sunday night. The Countryfile host, 45, turned heads in a plunging semi-sheer gown, featuring intricate beading and a racy thigh-high split, as she left London's Grosvenor House Hotel after a night out at the star-studded charity event. The television presenter looked happier than ever as she beamed from ear-to-ear while linking arms with Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe, 36. Anita teamed her striking Malan Breton gown with a pair of towering peep-toe black heels as she made a glamorous exit from the ceremony. Praising her 'sexy' look, she wrote on Instagram prior to attending the awards: 'A special night calls for a special look. Thanks to @rebekahroy_ for being my dress Angel LOVED wearing @malanbreton talk about a sexy number. Ooooof this dress.' Plenty to smile about: Anita Rani made her first public appearance since announcing her split from her husband of 14 years as she attended the Pride Of Britain Awards on Sunday night Dressed to impress: The Countryfile host, 45, turned heads in a plunging semi-sheer gown, featuring intricate beading and a racy thigh-high split, as she left Grosvenor House Hotel The broadcaster and her husband of 14 years, tech company owner partner Bhupi Rehal, are said to have split last month after their busy schedules kept them apart. Anita and Bhupi first met at a rave in east London and married in a traditional Sikh ceremony back in 2009. A source told the Daily Mirror at the time: 'It's really sad but they've decided to separate. 'Their hectic schedules over the past couple of years have sadly meant they've drifted apart over time. They remain on very good terms and wish nothing but the best for one another.' In a recent interview, Anita told how she's stopped 'people pleasing' after being being put 'in a box' for much of her life. Speaking to Yahoo News, Anita - born in Bradford to Indian parents - told of the pressure she felt to settle down after it was instilled that marriage and children equals success, remarking that the notion is 'drip fed to you'. She said: 'How many of us are making choices based on what we actually want to do? and how many of us are doing it because its whats expected of us? And those are the things that Im personally grappling with.' The presenter told how she began 'second guessing' what people wanted after watching women in her life facilitate everyone before themselves. Party time: The television presenter looked happier than ever as she beamed from ear-to-ear while linking arms with Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe , 36 Taking the plunge: Anita teamed her striking Malan Breton gown with a pair of towering peep-toe black heels as she made a glamorous exit from the ceremony 'Sexy number': Praising her 'sexy' look, she wrote on Instagram prior to attending the awards: 'A special night calls for a special look Anita went on to say that her 40s were very 'transitional' and she started to not 'give a f*** as much' as she felt more 'empowered' and 'confident' within herself. She shared: 'I think at some point, you wake up and realise its time to make myself happy, because I think women do look after everybody, whether thats because thats what society expects, or whether its your parents or your husband or your children. 'You realise that its a bit of a waste of time trying to please other people. And once you find who you are, and you walk into a room authentically, valuing who you are thats a sensational feeling.' The TV host previously told how the couple had a good marriage, saying: 'He's great and we have a great life. It's like any marriage: you have to work at it.' In the past, Anita opened up about suffering a devastating miscarriage in 2018, telling The Times: 'I'm much better at self-care and I ask myself more questions about how I want to live my life. 'I'm also more willing to be vulnerable, like talking about the miscarriage I had in 2018. 'Vulnerability used to scare the s*** out of me, but it has been liberating to share my personal story and see the response.' 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 produced from the thousands of entries, winners are chosen by the Pride of Britain judging panel. The ceremony will air on ITV on Thursday October 12 at 8pm. Happier times: The broadcaster and her husband of 14 years, tech company owner partner Bhupi Rehal, are said to have split last month after their busy schedules kept them apart Zara McDermott has revealed she was left 'gutted' after ending up in the dance off on Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night. The former Love Island star, 26, found herself and dance partner Graziano Di Prima facing off against Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez after receiving the lowest amount of votes. They performed their Pasodoble to The Puss Suite from Puss In Boots while Nikita and Gorka did their Jive to Kids In America from Clueless again in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition. However, judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas chose to save Zara and sent Nikita home. Zara took to her Instagram on Sunday night after attending the Pride of Britain Awards and voiced her disappointment at nearly being knocked out of the show, but promised to 'turn this around' next week. Disappointed: Zara McDermott has revealed she was left 'gutted' after ending up in the dance off on Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night Staying positive: Zara took to her Instagram on Sunday night after attending the Pride of Britain Awards (pictured) and voiced her disappointment at nearly being knocked out of the show, but promised to 'turn this around' next week At risk: The former Love Island star, 26, found herself and dance partner Graziano Di Prima facing off against Nikita Kanda and Gorka Marquez after receiving the lowest amount of votes She shared a slew of snaps of her performing the dance routine with her 'best friend' Graziano and from behind-the-scenes clad in their feline-themed costumes. Captioning the shots, she confessed to feeling she had let the professional dancer down but expressed her gratitude to still be in the competition and vowed to have a 'positive mindset'. Zara penned: 'We were totally gutted to be in the dance off this week. especially after putting our heart and soul and so many hours into our routine. 'Bless Graz, I have started with literally no dance or performance experience whatsoever and he has been putting all of his energy into teaching me, with so much kindness, patience and passion. 'For a moment I felt like I let him, myself and my family down but I reminded myself, this is what Strictly is all about!! 'You dont have to be the best dancer, you just have to be willing to learn and have fun. And thats exactly what I am.' She went on: 'I am beyond grateful to the judges for saving us, and I am going into next week with a positive mindset that I can turn this around and do even better next week. 'I am going to dedicate myself to learning our next routine and I cannot wait for tomorrow, for training to begin and to be back on that dance floor with my best friend. Putting in their all: They performed their Pasodoble to The Puss Suite from Puss In Boots while Nikita and Gorka did their Jive to Kids In America from Clueless again in a bid to impress the judges and remain in the competition All over: However, judges Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse , Anton Du Beke and head judge Shirley Ballas chose to save Zara and sent Nikita home (Nikita and Gorka pictured) Looking good: She shared a slew of snaps of her performing the dance routine with her 'best friend' Graziano and from behind-the-scenes clad in their feline-themed costumes Determined: Captioning the shots, she confessed to feeling she had let the professional dancer down but expressed her gratitude to still be in the competition and vowed to have a 'positive mindset' Proud partner: Graziano took to the comments to praise the reality star, and express his pride at her resilience 'I am doing this for myself and for those that have felt their confidence knocked, to show that we can come back stronger than before.' Graziano took to the comments to praise the reality star, and express his pride at her resilience. He wrote: 'There are no words to describe how proud of you I am!! All the hard work paid off in the end!! lets keep pushing partner!!' The pair seemed to have put the disappointing results show behind them on Sunday, as they attended the Pride of Britain awards at the Grosvenor Hotel together. Zara looked sensational in a white silk gown with a nude sparkly bodice, 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. Her Italian dance partner looked dapper in a cream pinstriped suit and kept the top buttons of his shirt open to flash a glimpse of his chest. Stylish exit: The pair seemed to have put the disappointing results show behind them on Sunday, as they attended the Pride of Britain awards at the Grosvenor Hotel together Glamorous: Zara looked sensational in a white silk gown with a nude sparkly bodice, which featured a high slit up her left leg and a long white train Handsome: Her Italian dance partner looked dapper in a cream pinstriped suit and kept the top buttons of his shirt open to flash a glimpse of his chest Hugh Bonneville was pictured without his wedding ring as he attended his first public engagement since his shock split from his wife of 25 years, Lulu Williams, on Sunday night. The Downton Abbey star, 59, confirmed the split at the end of September - just days after he appeared at the wedding of his co-star Michelle Dockery alone. Hugh made his first public appearance since news of the divorce broke at the Stars in Salute Gala, held at The Royal Air Force Club in London's Mayfair, to pay tribute to Battle of Britain pilots. The actor looked suave in a black suit complete with a smart bow tie as he joined in with the evening of words and music, taking to the stage to help mark the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Trust. He was also seen chatting to The Comedy About A Bank Robbery star Tom Hopcraft. Moving on: Hugh Bonneville was pictured without his wedding ring as he attended his first public engagement since his shock split from his wife of 25 years, Lulu Williams, on Sunday Shock: The Downton Abbey star, 59, confirmed the split at the end of September - just days after he appeared at the wedding of his co-star Michelle Dockery alone (pictured in January) Others in attendance at the gala included EastEnders legends Pam Clement and Janet Dibley and well as broadcaster Michael Aspel. Hugh, who shot to superstardom with his portrayal of the Earl of Grantham in the ITV drama, raised eyebrows last month after appearing Michelle's nuptials without Lulu, 55, and without his wedding band on his finger. The couple had been a common sight together on the red carpet, with Lulu regularly accompanying her husband to premieres and film sets. They were last seen together in public at the Old Vic Theatre in London for a gala in April. A spokesperson for the actor confirmed he and Lulu, who have lived together for 25 years at their home in West Sussex, have ended their marriage. However, it seems the split has not been smooth sailing, with a source revealing: 'It is clear that Lulu feels as if 20-odd years of marriage counts for nothing.' Lulu often accompanied her husband to premieres and film sets and her recent absence sparked rumours the pair were having troubles. The actor, famous for his role as Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, had never shied away from expressing his love for Lulu, having previously called her his 'bedrock' and 'anchor' and crediting his wife for being the backbone of their household. Hugh was spotted flashing a grin at Dockery's lavish wedding to Jasper Waller-Bridge - the brother of Fleabag creator Phoebe - without his wedding ring just last week. A source told The Sun: 'Hugh has been away from home filming a lot this year. He has lost a bit of weight this summer, he was looking trim, tanned and relaxed.' Stepping out: Hugh made his first public appearance since news of the divorce broke at the Stars in Salute Gala, held at The Royal Air Force Club in London's Mayfair In conversation: Hugh chatted to The Comedy About A Bank Robbery star Tom Hopcraft Last appearance: Hugh and Lulu were last seen together in public at the Old Vic Theatre in London for a gala in April The heartbreak comes just five years after the couple renewed their vows at Graceland chapel in Las Vegas. The pair met as teens but reconnected later in life and got together in their 30s, in no small part thanks to Hugh's mother Patricia. Hugh has said: 'Lulu was running a marquee company... my mother rang her to hire some chairs or something and said, ''Do you remember Hugh?'' 'It did infuriate me that I had to give full credit to my mum for reintroducing us.' Hugh and Lulu later tied the knot in November 1998. Lulu regularly joined her husband while on set, including in 2013 while he was filming The Monuments Men with George Clooney. Hugh also admitted in 2009 that his wife helped him to lose weight after saying he was as 'fat as a pig'. While appearing as a castaway on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, he selected Mama Cass's 1968 hit Dream A Little Dream as a tribute to Lulu. The couple enjoyed entertaining their friends at weekends and walking their two Tibetan terriers, Teddy and Sasha. During the pandemic, Lulu and her husband - who she nicknamed 'luvvie' - both were volunteer marshalls at their local NHS vaccine centre In previous interviews Hugh claimed he was 'completely indebted' to his wife for the way she supported him throughout his career while looking after their son Felix, 20, who himself has enjoyed success on the screen. 'Lulu's priority has been to be a bedrock for Felix and me and I'm completely indebted to her,' he said. Long-term: Hugh (pictured in 2019) claimed he was 'completely indebted' to his wife for the way she supported him throughout his career while looking after their son Felix, 20 Hugh has played Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham in the BBC period drama since it launched in 2010 - a role for which he has won a Golden Globe - and revealed that the Royal Family are among the popular series' many fans. He was later appointed Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex by the Royal Family in 2019. His first major film role was in Frankenstein as the right leg of Robert De Niro's character the Monster. More recently he has starred in two Paddington movies, and has been signed on to appear in the third instalment, which has entered into production. He said of the appointment: 'It's nice because it's in my county where I live and I do quite a lot of stuff like visiting schools and reading a lot of Paddington. It's really the same thing, but just with a badge. I'm very honoured.' He was seen wearing his gold ring while attending the King's Coronation Concert on May 7 - again without Lulu. Anya Taylor-Joy rocked skimpy Dior swimwear as she struck a series of sultry poses for an edgy shoot with ODDA Magazine on Monday. The Queen's Gambit actress, 27, flaunted her toned figure in racy shots where for one she wore a black and white bikini top from the designer while kneeling in sand. It comes after last week she married now-husband Malcolm McRae in a star-studded Venetian ceremony. Another image from the spread saw her slip into a swimsuit and long white socks as she posed with an inflatable shark. Her long blonde tresses were pinned back into a pony tail and gold tassels were attached to add even more interest to the quirky look. Wow! Anya Taylor-Joy rocked skimpy Dior swimwear as she struck a series of sultry poses for an edgy shoot with ODDA Magazine on Monday Interesting: The Queen's Gambit actress, 27, flaunted her toned figure in racy shots where for one she wore a black and white swimsuit and posed with an inflattable whale Beauty: Elsewhere she put on a racy display in sexy black leather boots and a cosy jumper while reclining on a brown sofa Elsewhere she put on a racy display in sexy black leather boots and a cosy jumper while reclining on a brown sofa. A different snap saw her add a simple white vest over her bikini as she fixed the camera with a stare. For another out-there shot she sat in a red bucket and stretched out her lithe legs. The shoot's release comes just after her lavish Italian nuptials to beau Malcolm. The star, who has also featured in dramas Peaky Blinders and Last Night In Soho, married the musician in front of just over 150 guests including Cara Delevingne and Julia Garner at the ceremony while sporting a beige gown. It was revealed before the big day that the couple were spotted looking at wedding venues earlier this year, including Palazzo Pisani-Moretta, a 15th century palace, and Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista di Venezia, a 14th century church. The couple - who have been dating since May 2021 - instructed firm The Wedding Boutique Italy to organize their nuptials which looked sensational. The luxury event planners host weddings located across Italy, also including Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Sicily and Lake Como, set in idyllic destinations including romantic castles and rustic farmhouses. Edgy: A different snap saw her add a simple white vest over her bikini as she fixed the camera with a stare Making a statement: For another out-there shot she sat in a red bucket and stretched out her lithe legs Different: Her long blonde tresses were pinned back into a pony tail and gold tassels were attached to add even more interest to the quirky look The wedding firm budgets for weddings costing over 250,000 and not only plan the nuptials but also design the entire experience. Anya has rarely spoken about her relationship with Malcolm, 28, since they began dating, having been first spotted together in New York. They have managed to maintain a healthy relationship despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, with Anya largely based in London, while Malcolm, who also acts as well as being in a band, lives in the US. Their busy work schedules also make it difficult, as Anya spends weeks on end in filming locations, while Malcolm regularly tours for his music. Speaking about their relationship to British Vogue in March 2022, Anya said: 'I said to my partner the other day that he was my hobby. I see reading as something that I have to do. He loved it because he's the same. 'I've finally found someone who will happily sit in silence with me reading. We're basically 80 years old and seven at the same time and it works really well.' Speaking about the distance, she added: 'Yes, it is [hard], but it's also kind of great because when you're together you're really valuing the time that you have. Busy: It comes after last week she married now-husband Malcolm McRae in a star-studded Venetian ceremony Flawless: She sported perfect glowing makeup complete with a slick of bright red lip to add a pop of colour Nuptials: The star, who has also featured in dramas Peaky Blinders and Last Night In Soho, married the musician in front of just over 150 guests Fancy: It was revealed before the big day that the couple were spotted looking at wedding venues earlier this year , including Palazzo Pisani-Moretta Nice: The couple - who have been dating since May 2021 - instructed firm The Wedding Boutique Italy to organize their nuptials which looked sensational Private: Anya has rarely spoken about her relationship with Malcolm, 28, since they began dating, having been first spotted together in New York Talent: Her role as orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon in the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit elevated her into one of the most in demand actresses in Hollywood Love: They have managed to maintain a healthy relationship despite living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, with Anya largely based in London, while Malcolm, who also acts as well as being in a band, lives in the US 'Everyday mundane activities are so full of joy. I love going to the petrol station with him and filling up.' Anya was born in Miami, Florida and moved to Buenos Aires as a toddler before relocating to London at the age of six 'for political reasons' with her parents, banker father Dennis - a Scot born in South America - and Spanish-English mother Jennifer who hails from Zambia. Her role as orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon in the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit elevated her into one of the most in demand actresses in Hollywood, having bagged a Golden Globe for Best Actress and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie. She received another Golden Globe nomination for her role in black comedy movie The Menu, starring alongside Nicholas Hoult and Ralph Fiennes, and is playing the lead in blockbuster action movie Furiosa, the prequel to 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road. David Walliams has revealed how he was taken into custody for seven hours by Italian police during a trip to Venice. The Little Britain actor, 52, who is also a children's author, appeared at the annual Henley Literary Festival in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, for a 'one-hour spectacular' on October 7. The Independent, the festival's news partner, reports the comedian spoke about being apprehended by Italian authorities after being asked by a young fan where his favourite place to write is during a Q&A session at the literary event. The Britain's Got Talent recounted his experience of being taken into custody by customs officials after unknowingly travelling to Venice with an expired passport. He told the audience member: 'I'll tell you a story that I havent told anyone yet. Recently I went to Venice for a little weekend, and I have two passports. One that is out of date, and one that isnt. By accident, I picked up the out-of-date one. Locked up: David Walliams (pictured in 2020) has revealed how he was taken into custody for seven hours by Italian police during a trip to Venice 'And this wasnt spotted at Heathrow. It wasnt until I arrived at Venice that it was spotted. And I was taken away by the Italian police, and I was locked in the cell for seven hours.' 'I was only at one point asked if I fancied a glass of water. But luckily, my laptop was fully charged. 'I had my little carry-on luggage, and I sat there, and I typed for seven hours straight, and the time passed very well. So the best place to write, for me, is an Italian prison cell.' Walliams was also asked by another young attendee about his controversial departure from Britains Got Talent. He responded: 'Ask me again when youre 18 years old, and youll find out the answer.' Walliams stepped down as a judge on the popular ITV reality series in November 2022 after a 10 year stint on the panel, following being caught off-camera talking inappropriately about contestants. The comedian had made lewd and offensive comments about two contestants, in which he branded an elderly auditionee a 'c***' three times, and said of a female competitor: 'She thinks you want to f**k her, but you don't.' The remarks, revealed by The Guardian, are said to have taken place during a recorded audition show at the London Palladium in January 2020. Passport blunder: The Little Britain actor, 52, recounted his experience of being taken into custody after unknowingly travelling to Venice (stock image) with an expired passport Walliams later issued an apology, stating: 'I would like to apologise to the people I made disrespectful comments about during breaks in filming for Britains Got Talent in 2020. 'These were private conversations and like most conversations with friends were never intended to be shared. Nevertheless, I am sorry.' Last month, it was reported that Walliams is suing the production company behind Britains Got Talent, FremantleMedia, who produce the reality series for ITV. Walliams is seeking 'significant damages,' as he revealed how he is fighting 'active suicidal thoughts' and has 'lost the ability to be funny' due to fears about his remarks being leaked without his consent, in High Court papers obtained by The Sun. Craig McLachlan admitted he finds it hard to trust women during the gripping season premiere of SAS Australia on Monday. The Doctor Blake star, 58, fired up as he told host Ant Middleton about the heavy toll his indecent assault trial took on his career. In 2019, McLachlan was charged with seven counts of indecent assault, and six counts of common law assault, against four women who starred alongside him in the stage production of The Rocky Horror Show. In 2020 he was cleared of all charges. 'When I started on Neighbours, I was in people's lounge rooms night after night, day after day,' he told SAS producers. 'But there was something that happened about five years ago that was shocking for the public and shocking for me. 'Craig McLachlan, disgraced actor. Workplace bully, monster,' he continued. 'So I'm here to exorcise some pretty extreme pain with some pretty extreme pain.' McLachlan went on to admit he now suffers from 'extreme social anxiety'. 'I find it very difficult to trust situations where there are a lot of people, especially women,' he said. Craig McLachlan admitted he finds it hard to trust women during the gripping season premiere of SAS Australia on Monday. Pictured The Doctor Blake star, 58, fired up when told host Ant Middleton (pictured) about the heavy toll his indecent assault trial took on his career 'I'm more anxious about being in a new group of people than I am about climbing up the side of a mountain. I know that sounds bizarre, but for me, I'm afraid it's true,' he added. He went on to admit that many people he once called friends had disappeared from his life. 'People who only months before looked me in the eye and said you create the most wonderful work environments imaginable... abandonment, total abandonment,' he told Middleton. 'A tiny handful of courageous people I have friendships with over 30 years were always there, but the vast majority - gone.' McLachlan went on to admit he now suffers from 'extreme social anxiety'. 'I find it very difficult to trust situations where there are a lot of people, especially women,' he said 'I'm more anxious about being in a new group of people than I am about climbing up the side of a mountain. I know that sounds bizarre, but for me, I'm afraid it's true,' he added McLachlan, was charged with assault and indecent assault over complaints from female co-stars in a stage production of The Rocky Horror Show in Melbourne in 2014, during which he played the role of Frank-N-Furter. He was later handed a $500,000 payout in April of this year, after he was acquitted of his assault charges. He strongly denied the allegations against him. Magistrate Belinda Wallington found him not guilty of 13 charges following a four-week contested hearing in the Victorian Melbourne Magistrates Court in December 2020. SAS Australia continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Seven Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear has been pictured in public for the first time since her dementia diagnosis. The actress, 81, who announced the news back in June, is famed for playing leopard-print loving Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch in the ITV soap for over 25 years, starting in the role in 1966. Her beloved husband Scott Brand, 55, announced the news on her behalf on social media, revealing that they had 'come to terms' with the 'heartbreaking' diagnosis. This week Julie took part in the Alzheimer's Society's Memory Walks fundraiser in Heaton Park in Manchester and was pictured for the first time since her health news. She was joined by thousands of other walkers all dressed in light-blue T-shirts and was pictured beaming from her wheelchair for the charity's flagship fundraiser. Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear, 81, was pictured for the first time since news of her dementia diagnosis at the Alzheimer's Society's Memory Walks fundraiser in Manchester Legend: Julie is famed for playing leopard-print loving Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch in the ITV soap Coronation Street (pictured in 1970) Meanwhile Scott gave an update on her condition, revealing that they are trying to 'create more memories' together in the wake of her diagnosis. He told The Sun: 'Julie is now living with Alzheimer's, not suffering with it and that's a big difference. 'Calling these events 'Memory Walks' is most appropriate; of course, memory is one of the things most affected by this cruel disease, but Julie and I are also trying to make more memories together. 'Taking part in this walk was a wonderful new memory for us to share.' Kate Lee, Chief Executive at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Our thoughts are with Julie Goodyear and her family following the announcement that she's living with dementia. Sharing such personal news publicly raises much-needed awareness of dementia and we are extremely grateful to Julie for this. 'One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime and Alzheimer's Society is here to offer support via our website alzheimers.org.uk and helpline on 0333 150 3456.' Scott previously released a statement to announce the news, writing: 'My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis. 'Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance. 'But we now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse. In good spirits: She was pictured beaming from her wheelchair for the charity's flagship fundraiser Team: She was joined by thousands of other walkers all dressed in light-blue T-shirts 'No hope of a reversal in the situation': Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear, 81, revealed on Wednesday she is suffering from dementia as she shared her heartbreaking diagnosis (pictured as Bet Lynch in a still from the ITV soap) Her love: Julie's fourth husband Scott Brand, 55, released the statement on Julie's behalf on Wednesday - the couple pictured in 2004 Heartbreaking: Scott released this statement on behalf of his wife 'We have taken the decision to publicly announce the diagnosis as Julie still loves visiting friends and eating out. 'Inevitably she is recognised, and fans love to meet her - and she them - but she can get confused particularly if she is tired. I hope people will understand.' Julie remains a patron of Willow Wood Hospice in Greater Manchester and has said she wishes to highlight the wonderful work of the hospices who do so much to support patients and families with dementia. In December 2020, Julie paid tribute to fellow soap actress, EastEnders star Dame Barbara Windsor, who died following her own battle with Alzheimer's disease, aged 83. She wrote on Facebook: 'Last night was so devastating for everyone in the industry who was ever lucky enough to meet Barbara let alone work along side her. 'She was a national treasure. That word is thrown around too casually nowadays. But with Barbara it was well and truly meant. Thoughts are with her family and friends. 'From one former landlady to another I raise a glass to the one and only and truly irreplaceable Barbara Windsor. 'The laughs your gave over the years and the stellar performance you executed week in week out in your pub in the East End of London lives on.' Julie's last TV appearance is thought to be on The Big Soap Quiz in 2018 Soap icons: In December 2020, Julie paid tribute to fellow soap actress, EastEnders star Dame Barbara Windsor, who died following a battle with Alzheimer's disease, aged 83 Lovely in leopard: Actress Barbara pictured in the role of landlady Peggy Mitchell in 1993 - she was survived by her husband Scott Mitchell They go way back! Barbara (right) and Julie, (centre), on Russell Harty's chat show in 1977 Meanwhile, Julie has been very open with her life and appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories back in 2013. She revealed that her husband Scott proposed to her every day for 11 years before she accepted him. She said: 'I might renew his contract. He's been the best of a bad bunch, he really has.' Asked if she was happily married, she responded: 'Very.' Asking about her sexuality, the chat show host said: 'You've had relationships with men and women.' Miss Goodyear replied: 'A relationship can be a friendship. A soul mate, whatever. You don't have to have sex all the time. 'There are many gay people, who work in the industry we work in. Have you no gay friends? What's it like having sex with them?' Superstar: Julie was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother 10 in 2012 and came in seventh place alongside the likes of Julian Clary, MC Harvey, Martin Kemp and Coleen Nolan Honest: Julie appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories back in 2013, where she revealed that Scott proposed to her every day for 11 years before she accepted him When Piers responded that he didn't, Miss Goodyear continued: 'Neither do I. Let me tell you, there was a time when I thought it might be worth a try. No good at it. Because I can't stop laughing.' When he fired back: 'Are we talking men or women?' she responded: 'Anybody. Which is why they only ever gave me one bed scene in Coronation Street. Because it makes me laugh.' 'Sex does?' asked Morgan. 'Even being in bed,' she replied. The actress wed her first husband, draughtsman Ray Sutcliffe, in 1960. The pair had a son, Gary, when she was 17, but the marriage ended three years later when her husband walked out. In 1973 she married secretary Tony Rudman, but the couple had been married for only a few hours when he ran off with the best man. The heartbreak left her so distraught she spent a month in a mental health clinic. In 1979, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer and given just one year to live. She was then married to airline executive Richard Skrob between 1985 and 1987. The actress wed Mr Brand in 2007. They first met in 1996 when he delivered plaster to a house she was renovating. The larger-than-life star first joined the ITV soap in 1966 as barmaid Bet, but left after being advised by senior cast member Pat Phoenix - who played Elsie Tanner - to get some more acting training. After joining Oldham's Repertory Theatre, Julie returned in 1970 and was a permanent fixture on the cobbles for 25 years until she left in 1995, when 22million viewers tuned in to watch her last episode. Julie made three returns as Bet, firstly in 1999 for the home video spin-off The Rover Returns and then again in 2002 and in 2003 for scenes shot in Blackpool as part of a storyline focusing on Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) and her husband Jim (Charles Lawson), who had recently escaped from prison. In 2012, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside the likes of Julian Clary, MC Harvey, Martin Kemp and Coleen Nolan and came in seventh place. Dementia UK CEO and Chief Admiral Nurse Hilda Hayo said: 'We're sorry to hear that Julie Goodyear has been diagnosed with dementia, and hope that she and her family are receiving the support and assistance they need at this time. 'By choosing to speak publicly about her diagnosis, Julie and her family will raise vital awareness of dementia and we hope that this will encourage others to seek advice if they have concerns for their brain health. 'We urge families affected by dementia to reach out to our specialist Helpline. Staffed by dementia specialist Admiral Nurses, our Helpline offers support and guidance on all stages of dementia, including grieving for a loved one. Anyone affected by dementia can contact the Helpline by calling 0800 888 6678 or emailing helpline@dementiauk.org.' Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'Our hearts go out to Julie Goodyear and her family, following the announcement that she is living with dementia. 'So many of us have such fond memories of watching Julie on screen, playing the iconic role of Bet Lynch. 'It is incredibly brave of Julie's husband to share this news and help raise much-needed awareness of dementia, a condition affecting almost one million people in the UK today. 'With no treatments to slow or stop the diseases that cause dementia, a diagnosis is truly heartbreaking. 'Tragically many more families like Julie's will go on to experience the devastation it causes because, if nothing changes, one in two people will be directly affected by dementia. 'They will either develop the condition themselves, care for someone with it, or both. As the UK's leading dementia research charity, we have vowed to put a stop to dementia by finding a cure.' 'If you have questions about dementia, you can contact our Dementia Research Infoline on 0300 111 5 111 between 9.00-5.00pm Monday to Friday or send an email to infoline@alzheimersresearchuk.org' Please get in touch with Alzheimer's Society if you need support on 0333 150 3456 or visit alzheimers.org.uk She is a hard-working model. And Kendall Jenner was filming a new commercial in NYC on Monday where she wore a chic light blue coat and posed up a storm by a fountain. The beauty, 27, completed her look with smart black shorts and a simple plain T-shirt as she strutted her stuff along the cab-lined street. She added chunky, shiny shoes and socks and accessorised with small silver hoop earrings. As part of the filming the 818 Tequila founder splashed around in a fountain and then lounged on the side of it showing off her lithe legs. Model behaviour: Kendall Jenner was filming a new commercial in NYC on Monday where she wore a chic light blue coat and posed up a storm by a fountain Confident: As part of the filming the 818 Tequila founder splashed around in a fountain and then lounged on the side of it showing off her lithe legs When she wasn't filming, the star was seen sharing a laugh with some of the crew members during a break in between takes. She wore her dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a typically glowing makeup look. The beauty has been filtering through a busy schedule, and recently whisked herself to Miami last week to spend time with beau, Bad Bunny, as they celebrated his seven wins at the Billboard Latin Music Awards. The Puerto Rican rapper notably garnered seven big wins at the ceremony which was held in Florida on Thursday, such as winning Artist of the Year and also Top Album Latin Artist Of The Year, Male. The two enjoyed a day full of fun, and paid a visit to a museum called Superblue Miami and then had dinner at Hometown BBQ Miami with close pals, including nightlife guru David Grutman. The fashionable couple recently starred in a Gucci campaign together as their budding romance continues to heat up - after they were first linked back in February. And last month in September, the pair were seen sitting front row together at the Gucci Ancora fashion show during Milan Fashion Week. The rapper opened up about the romance with Jenner during an interview with Vanity Fair last month - but did not officially confirm their relationship. Ensemble: She added chunky, shiny shoes and socks and accessorised with small silver hoop earrings Work it: The beauty, 27, completed her look with smart black shorts and a simple plain T-shirt as she strutted her stuff along the cab-lined street Working hard: The campaign filming comes just a few days after she returned to the US from Paris Fashion Week Fun: When she wasn't filming, the star was seen sharing a laugh with some of the crew members during a break in between takes As he touched on how he maintains privacy, he explained, 'I'm not really interested in clarifying anything because I have no commitment to clarify anything to anyone,' adding that he is only 'clear' to his family and close friends. 'There are people who say that artists have to put up with it,' he continued. 'I don't have to accept anything and everything because I wanted to be an artist. At the end of the day, you listen to me because you want to. I don't force you to.' Bad Bunny was also later asked if he had plans to get married and have children in the future, which he replied with, 'No. I don't think so,' but then stated, 'Not ever, but not now.' Kendall also whisked herself to Paris for fashion week, and strutted down the runway for a few shoes, including the star-studded Le Defile Walk Your Worth L'Oreal event which took place earlier this month. Flashing her legs: She flaunted her toned and tanned pins in the black shorts while getting to work Ruth Langsford was forced to apologise on Monday's instalment of Loose Women. The anchor, 63, suffered an awkward moment after an on-air technical blunder occured during the show's opening moments. Instead of a clip from Paris Fury's reality show playing out, unexpectedly, a clip from Big Brother's launch night was shown to viewers, with the audio cutting out half way through. Ruth said: 'Ahh famous last words on erm...' before hesitating and looking down from her autocue as she smiled while it dawned on her that there had been an error. The presenter then explained: 'Sorry, I've just realised that's completely the wrong clip! We're going to be talking about Big Brother last night, okay... 'But anyway, these things happen. It's Monday morning, do you know what I mean? It's been a big weekend!' Oh dear: Ruth Langsford, 63, was forced to apologise on Monday's instalment of Loose Women, after an on-air technical blunder occured during the show's opening moments. Tech blunder: Unexpectedly, a clip from Big Brother's launch night played out to viewers, with the audio cutting out half way through Awkward: Ruth said: 'Ahh famous last words on erm...' before hesitating and looking down from her autocue as she smiled while it dawned on her that there had been an error Earlier this year, Ruth opened up about her sister Julia's suicide and told how it was the 'hardest year' of her life. The Loose Women presenter reflected on the devastating loss of her sister and admitted she could have 'cried all day' as she spoke about her grief. Ruth's sister Julia Johnson, who had battled depression for years, was found dead at the age of 62 by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey, in June 2019. Speaking to Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast, Ruth told how her husband Eamonn Holmes was 'amazing' and helped her get through the very difficult time. According to The Mirror, she said: 'The hardest year of my life was when my sister died. I can't even tell you what year it is, because I've blocked it from my memory really.' Ruth said Eamonn and their son Jack, now 21, both supported her and she told how her job also helped her after Julia's death as it gave her 'structure' back in her life. 'Eamonn was amazing during that time and Jack and then work,' she said. 'I needed a focus, which was - get up and I would cry in the shower - have a big old bawl and then I could almost cut it off and go: "right, come on, time for work, dry your hair, go to work". Devastating: Ruth recently opened up about her sister Julia's suicide and told how it was the 'hardest year' of her life 'I needed that, because I could lie and cry all day about my sister. I needed that focus and structure back in my life.' Ruth also stressed the importance of not 'locking' the pain of losing a loved one 'in a box' as she candidly spoke about her grief with her Loose Women co-star Kaye. Ruth has previously spoken about how she almost almost quit her TV presenting career after being left 'heartbroken' following Julia's death. Speaking to Best Magazine in 2020, Ruth admitted: 'It seemed wrong to be cheery on screen, when, inside, my heart was breaking.' But her husband Eamonn encouraged her to go back to work in memory of Julia, after she admitted she had 'no motivation or desire' to be in the public eye. After a month of 'crying, screaming and sobbing', Ruth said Eamonn told her she had 'so much to live for'. Ruth explained: 'Eamonn pointed out that he was, in effect, losing not one, but two of the most precious people in his life Julia and me. He showed me how I had so much to live for in Julia's memory and beyond. 'He pleaded with me not to let it win, by ruining everything I had achieved and still had to celebrate.' Penrith Panthers star Stephen Crichton has announced his engagement to his high school sweetheart Leone Lauafia. The Samoan native, 23, recently shared a gallery of loved-up photos to Instagram, capturing the precious moment he proposed on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour. Stephen can't wipe the smile off his face in the heartfelt snaps which capture him kneeling down and presenting Leone with an eye-popping diamond engagement ring. Crichton is then seen kissing his gorgeous fiancee's forehead as she flashes her stunning ring to the camera. 'SHE SAID YES My high school sweetheart who's now my fiancee,' he wrote next to the photos. Penrith Panthers star Stephen Crichton has announced his engagement to his high school sweetheart Leone Lauafia. Both pictured The Samoan native, 23, recently shared a gallery of loved-up photos to Instagram, capturing the precious moment he proposed on the foreshore of the Sydney Harbour 'My forever love, it's always been us and now we can share forever together,' he continued. Many of Stephen's followers were quick to congratulate him on the exciting news. 'Congrats my bro,' wrote fellow NRL player Malakai Watene-Zelezniak. 'Awwww my gosh! Congrats fam this is so beautiful,' a second person added. 'SHE SAID YES My high school sweetheart whos now my fiancee,' Stephen wrote next to the photos The lovebirds have been together for six years and Leone is frequently seen cheering Stephen on at NRL games. Crichton joined the Penrith Panthers NRL team in 2019 and played with them up until the end of this year's season. Next year, he will be joining the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He was born in Apia, Samoa and is the younger brother of fellow Penrith Panthers player Christian Crichton. Sir Paul McCartney posted a sweet tribute to his wife Nancy to celebrate their 12-year wedding anniversary on Monday. The former Beatles star, 81, and the businesswoman, 63, have been married since 2011. The music legend took to Instagram to share a loved-up snap of the couple enjoying some quality time together on holiday to mark their 12th year of marriage. Writing alongside his post, he wrote: 'Happy anniversary to my lovely wife, Nancy. Let's have a great one - Paul', alongside a heart emoji pierced with an arrow. Fans were quick to congratulate the couple, with one saying: 'You guys genuinely look so cute', alongside a crying emoji, while another added: 'Congrats to the happy couple. Look'in good guys.' Happy couple: Sir Paul McCartney posted a sweet tribute to his wife Nancy to celebrate their 12-year wedding anniversary on Monday Paul and Nancy got married in 2011 after meeting in 2007 and both have children from previous relationships. Nancy shares son Arlen with her ex-husband Bruce Blakeman, while Paul has Stella, James, Heather and Mary with late ex-wife Linda McCartney and daughter Beatrice McCartney, 19, with ex-wife Heather Mills, 55. Last year, Paul revealed his signature dance moves were responsible for his lasting romance with his businesswoman wife Nancy. Writing in his book, The Lyrics, Sir Paul, the Beatles star explained how he knew Nancy was a keeper when she matched his energy on the dancefloor. Paul, who has previously married to Linda McCartney and Heather Mills, wrote: 'Theres no denying it, I really enjoy dancing. 'Its something my wife Nancy and I are particularly keen on. 'After a show, when the band and crew get together for a drink, were always the first ones on the dancefloor. Certain songs will just get you dancing.' Paul coupled up with Nancy when the pair were on holiday in Morocco with his brother Mike and the musician serenaded her on the hotel's piano. Happy couple: Paul and Nancy got married in 2011 after meeting in 2007 and both have children from previous relationships (pictured in 2022) The Beatles star detailed how they weren't yet officially a couple and were sleeping in separate bedrooms when he made his move. Paul explained: 'The piano was sitting in the foyer all day long, and because the rain would not stop, I sometimes went and just noodled on the keys.' 'I was thinking all sorts of loving thoughts towards Nancy, and while I was at the piano, I could see that the waiters who were clearing up were listening. 'But it was nice and romantic, it was a perfect moment, and I thought to myself, were not going to stay in separate rooms tonight.' In July, Paul and Nancy adopted a rescue dog - Jet - in July from Los Angeles-based animal rescue the Labelle Foundation. Strictly star Bobby Brazier has admitted he is 'falling in love' with his partner Dianne Buswell, after branding the pro 'a sister' to him. The duo have forged a firm friendship since hitting the dancefloor last month and at Sunday night's Pride Of Britain Awards, Bobby, 20, admitted he is 'very lucky' to have the Australian beauty, 34, as his trainer on the show. Speaking to Mirror, he said: 'I could speak about Dianne all day. She's just a diamond - you know what, I'm falling in love with her. She's just great. I feel very lucky.' As well as speaking about her expertise as a trainer, Bobby divulged a cheeky secret about their training - admitting he is known to sleep on the job. When asked if he is a 'perfectionist' during their 'gruelling' training sessions, he said: 'Dianne would say no because I've been taking as many breaks as possible, I've been napping as much as possible. Necessary digestive periods, I call it.' Sweet: Strictly star Bobby Brazier has admitted he is 'falling in love' with his partner Dianne Buswell, after branding the pro 'a sister' to him Wow: The duo have forged a firm friendship since hitting the dancefloor last month and at Sunday night's Pride Of Britain Awards, Bobby, 20, admitted he is 'very lucky' to have the Australian beauty, 34, as his trainer on the show Feeling sleepy? As well as speaking about her expertise as a trainer, Bobby divulged a cheeky secret about their training - admitting he is known to sleep on the job Dianne, who is dating her 2018 Strictly partner Joe Sugg, looked incredible at the event where she dazzled in a corseted yellow dress with a slash along the leg. The buttercup hue of her racy dress clashed perfectly with her trademark red locks. Bobby meanwhile, fresh from making it to the third week of Strictly live shows unscathed, looked dashing in a sharp suit with his hair slicked back. On Saturday night, Bobby and Dianne put on a spectacular display as they danced to Young Hearts Run Free from Romeo and Juliet for Movie Week. Freddie and Dianne scored 32 points for their performance, earning eights from all four judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke. But many on social media were shocked he didn't get higher marks, with users writing: 'Bobby and Dianne only getting 8s for that compared to some of the other scores tonight is wild... Bobby and Dianne were robbed of 9s then.' Last month, Dianne spoke adoringly of her partner saying: 'I am so happy. I have already adopted Bobby as my little brother, and I already care so much about him, I just want him to have the best time ever'. Shock: On Saturday night, Bobby and Dianne put on a spectacular display as they danced to Young Hearts Run Free from Romeo and Juliet for Movie Week Keep dancing! The star is the son of late reality TV star Jade Goody His Strictly debut comes shortly after Bobby confirmed he had split from model Liberty Love, after 18 months. A source said: 'She and Bobby had been on and off but now it seems that it's over for good'. Bobby stepped out with Mia Mon over the summer, but it is thought that he and Liberty have been on and off for more than 18 months. In July 2022, Bobby and Liberty unfollowed each other on Instagram and deleted all traces of each other from their social medias. However, they rekindled their spark and began dating again, until Bobby called it quits ahead of his Strictly debut. It's over: His Strictly debut comes shortly after Bobby confirmed he had split from model Liberty Love, after 18 months as a couple. A source said: 'She and Bobby had been on and off but now it seems that it's over for good' Former Britain's Got Talent contestant Michalakis 'Lagi' Andreas has welcomed his second child with wife Annika Crawford - 13 months after tying the knot. The couple took to their respective Instagram accounts on Sunday to announce the news with a sweet black and white image showing their hands alongside their newborn and 19-month-old daughter Xenia's hands. They revealed they have called their new daughter Demetria Demetriou - inspired by his father Demetrios' name. Demetrios and Demetria are the Latinised male and female forms of the Ancient Greek name Demetrios AKA Demetris - meaning 'devoted to goddess Demeter'. Back in July, hairdresser Andreas, who found fame alongside his father Demetrios as British-Cypriot dance act Stavros Flatley, confirmed they were expecting Demetria in posts across his Instagram and TikTok platforms. Sweet: Former Britain's Got Talent contestant Michalakis 'Lagi' Andreas has welcomed his second child with wife Annika Crawford - 13 months after tying the knot Double act: They revealed they have called their new daughter Demetria Demetriou - inspired by his father Demetrios' name. Michalakis soared to fame alongside his dad in Stavros Flatley on BGT in 2009 (pictured) Happy news: Back in July, hairdresser Andreas, who found fame alongside his father Demetrios as British-Cypriot dance act Stavros Flatley, confirmed they were expecting Demetria in posts across his Instagram and TikTok platforms Posting a video montage for his 27,000 followers, the one-time reality TV star shared footage from his stunning coastal wedding in September 2022, alongside edited clips of the couple with Xenia. The video ended with Crawford revealing her baby bump as she cradles the infant, confirming baby number two is well on the way. Captioning the post, Andreas wrote: 'Guess we do this all again, couldnt do it with anyone better.' Joined by father Demetrios, the 27-year old found fame after reaching the final of Britain's Got Talent in 2009, finishing in fourth place behind Julian Smith, Diversity and eventual winner Susan Boyle. Famous for their bleach blonde wigs, tattooed torsos and shirtless routines, the pair returned in 2019 for Britain's Got Talent: The Champions, finishing second. Andreas later quit the duo in order to focus on managing his barber shop in Cyprus. According to The Sun, Demi will continue to perform as Stavros Flatley with his nephew Samson, 19, taking over from his son He told the publication: 'Weve done this for 10 years for a joke. Weve done so many amazing things but what is there left to do? Weve done the Royal Variety, weve played in China, Monaco - everywhere. 'So when we got to The Champions, I thought this was the right time to leave. But Simon Cowell told me not to quit forever.' Announcement: Andreas tied the knot with his stunning bride 13 months previously Special memories: Their announcement included a video montage from the couple's Cypriot wedding in September 2022 Former Britain's Got Talent star Andreas exchanged vows with Crawford in September, six months after the birth of their first child. One image taken by Nick & Aimie Wild at Beziique and shared by Andreas on Instagram showed the couple posing alongside a beautiful Cypriot sunset after being declared husband and wife. Another image showed Lagi presenting his new wife with her bouquet as they prepared to exchange vows in a Greek Orthodox ceremony planned by Katie at Marry Me Cyprus. Captioning the post, he wrote: 'Thank you to every single person that made this night so special... All our bridesmaids and groomsmen and everyone else who done everything they could for us ! We love you all. Mr and Mrs Demetriou.' Andreas and Crawford had been dating for five years and announced their engaged on New Year's Eve in 2020. In April 2022 he revealed the couple had welcomed their first child together, sharing a sweet black-and-white snap of himself and Annika holding their tiny baby's hand. He captioned the post: 'Xenia Demetriou. 31032022' Just married! Andreas shared a handful of photos from his wedding ceremony shortly after exchanging vows Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin has been in a secret romance with stunning model Lauren Jaine for months. The pro dancer, 25, who is paired with Layton Williams in this year's constant, was seen getting cosy with graduate Lauren after Saturday's show and their romance has now been revealed - and approved by his nearest and dearest. Last month, Nikita's fellow dancer sister Anastasia, who boasts 109k Instagram followers, jetted to the UK to visit her brother in the capital during which she met Lauren for a night out at the theatre, where they snapped sweet selfies. Insiders revealed to The Sun: 'Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection... 'The pair have tried to keep their romance under the radar but they have been attending events together and are really enjoying each other's company.' Loved up: Letting loose: Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin has been in a secret romance with stunning model Lauren Jaine for months (pictured last month) Sweet: The pair were seen getting cosy after Saturday's show Sweet: Insiders revealed to The Sun: 'Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection' Sweet: Last month, Nikita's fellow dancer sister Anastasia, who boasts 109k Instagram followers, jetted to the UK to visit her brother in the capital during which she met Lauren for a night out at the theatre, where they snapped sweet selfies Anastasia, who lives in Italy, shared a sweet selfie of her, Nikita and Lauren putting on a trendy display in a lift before the trio hopped on to a Rikshaw in central London and headed to the theatre - seemingly marking a seal of approval. She shared a stunning snap from inside The Piccadilly Theatre as she joined her brother and his girlfriend to see Moulin Rouge. Last month Nikita and Lauren attended the star-studded Tina Turner Musical Gala, during which they were said to be looking "loved-up". His Strictly partner Layton was also in attendance at the musical spectacular. The sources continued: 'Nikita and Lauren have been dating for months and seem to have an amazing connection... 'The pair have tried to keep their romance under the radar but they have been attending events together and are really enjoying each other's company. They have been spending a lot of time together and even went on holiday together in the summer. Things are progressing and Nikita is very happy with his new romance. 'Lauren joined Nikita and his parents at Saturday's live show and he was chuffed to have her in the crowds supporting him. His Strictly co-stars also think they are a great match and are rooting for the pair.' Nikita and his new love interest looked very happy together, they were seen looking cosy and Nikita couldn't wipe the smile off his face. They looked in high spirits as they spent the night smiling and laughing together." The whole gang: Anastasia, who lives in Italy , shared a sweet selfie of her, Nikita and Lauren putting on a trendy display in a lift before the trio hopped on to a Rikshaw in central London and headed to the theatre - seemingly marking a seal of approval Pretty: Lauren looked stunning as she threw her support behind her partner on Saturday News of his romance comes after it was reported the Strictly Come Dancing crew are reportedly 'struggling' to film Layton on the show due to his 'revealing' clothes. The actor, 29, who has received heaps of praise on his Movie Week dance by viewers on Saturday, has allegedly been told to cover up more instead of wearing skimpy clothes. But despite being slammed by the crew for his choice of outfits, Layton is continuing to wear his usual looks. According to The Mirror, he said: 'I keep getting told by the camera crew to wear more clothes. 'In the training room, theyre like "Were seeing a lot of things." But this is how I feel comfortable. Ive got my jock strap on, its the BBC. But everything is nice and tight and together.' MailOnline have contacted Strictly Come Dancing for a comment. On Saturday Layton and Nikita danced the Viennese Waltz to There Are Worse Things I Could Do from Grease. Layton dressed in drag as he sported a bright pink top, inspired by Grease's Pink Ladies, and a black skirt for the ballroom dance. His vibrant shirt had 'Rizzo' stitched across the front as he got into character as the iconic character from the smash hit 1978 movie. Meanwhile, Nikita opted for an all-black outfit and styled his locks in a 70s quiff as he channeled John Travolta's Danny Zuko. Slammed: News of his romance comes after it was reported the Strictly Come Dancing crew are reportedly 'struggling' to film Layton on the show due to his 'revealing' clothes Ashley Roberts displayed her chic sense of style as she left the Global Radio studios in London on Monday. The former Pussycat Doll, 42, wore a black pinstripe co ord which consisted of an off-the-shoulder top and a pair of matching trousers. Heart Radio showbiz reporter Ashley added a few inches to her stature by opting for some black heels to match the rest of her ensemble. She carried a black handbag with her and shielded her eyes behind some dark sunglasses as she made her way across the UK capital's Leicester Square. Ashley accessorised with a pair of gold earrings and wore her blonde hair back behind her head. In style: Ashley Roberts, 42, displayed her chic sense of style in a black pinstripe co ord as she left the Global Radio studios in London on Monday Fashion forward: The ensemble consisted of an off-the-shoulder top and a pair of matching trousers She was seen climbing into a luxurious black taxi before heading off to enjoy the rest of her day. It comes after Ashley endured a testing day last Tuesday as she tackled the UK's 'most extreme' assault course which saw her grimacing as she fell into a pool of water. The star is undertaking five insane challenges in five days alongside Heart's Amanda Holden, 52, in a bid to raise funds for Global's Make Some Noise Charity. And after Amanda kicked things off on Monday by climbing Blackpool Tower, Ashley stepped up to the challenge. Ashley got stuck in the mud as she raced against time in the 7-28k assault course, whilst having to find 15,000 worth of donations hidden away. Coined 'The Nuts Challenge', Ashley had 50 minutes whilst live on Heart Breakfast, where she was required to crawl on her hands and knees and climb up muddy banks and cargo netting through obstacles. Ashley wore skin-tight red leggings and a matching jacket for her go at the gruelling course. Underneath, she wore a white three-quarter zip jumper and white shoes and socks - which were quickly ruined as she plunged into a pool of muddy water. Despite being covered in dirt, Ashley appeared in good spirits after completing all of the obstacles. Looking good: She carried a black handbag with her and shielded her eyes behind some dark sunglasses as she made her way across the UK capital's Leicester Square Wet and wild: It comes after Ashley grimaced as she fell into a pool of water while tackling UK's 'most extreme' assault course for Global's very wet and muddy charity challenge last Tuesday Taking it on: Ashley gave it all her all for the wet and muddy challenge as she raced against time in the 7-28k assault course, whilst having to find 15,000 worth of donations hidden away She held up bags of money as she posed in front of a red buzzer at the finish line. After completing the challenge Ashley said: 'It was all horrible in a sense. 'I had a little rinse, but I still think I have mud in my hair that has not quite come out yet. 'But yeah, it's just been wet and muddy and cold as you're going through it all. But you know, it's worth it! It's for good cause.' Maya Jama wowed in a slew of sizzling Instagram snaps on Monday after she returned home from filming the Love Island Games in Fiji. The TV presenter, 29, showed off her jaw-dropping figure in a skimpy blue string bikini from Capala Swim, while accessorising with a white cap. In another stunning image, Maya put on a very leggy display in a colourful corset top and matching mini skirt, teamed with strappy heels. She opted for a dewy glam makeup look with a swipe of nude lipstick, while her long brunette locks were styled in loose curls. It comes after Maya went Instagram official with her boyfriend Stormzy after confirming their romance was back on. Wow! Maya Jama showed off her jaw-dropping figure in a skimpy blue string bikini from Capala Swim on Monday after she returned home from filming the Love Island Games in Fiji Incredible: The TV presenter, 29, put on a very leggy display in a colourful corset top and matching mini skirt, teamed with strappy heels The TV presenter took to her Stories on Saturday and shared a clip of the rapper, 30, greeting her after she returned from filming Love Island Games in Fiji. The star filmed herself walking through a car park as she approached Stormzy who was holding a cardboard sign reading: 'Maya Jama #1 Fan'. The hitmaker also carried a photo of his partner in his other hand as he waited for her alongside his luxury car. Maya confirmed her relationship was Stormzy was back on in August as they were seen strolling hand-in-hand during a holiday in Greece. It has also been claimed that Stormzy's mum, Abigail Owuo, was the matchmaker who 'motivated him to make amends with Maya.' A source told The Sun: 'Stormzy is really open about wanting to settle down and have kids one day and he knows Maya is "The One".' The couple dated for four years before parting ways in 2019, with the rapper, publicly declaring he has 'never loved anyone how I've loved her'. Beauty: She opted for a dewy glam makeup look with a swipe of nude lipstick, while her long brunette locks were styled in loose curls Maya penned on Instagram: 'Bulaa! Been away for a month filming, cant wait for you to see' He has always denied any infidelity in the relationship but admitted he had to learn some hard lessons about his behaviour, describing it as 'disrespectful'. Speaking to Louis Theroux on his interview series, the rapper admitted to making mistakes during their four-year relationship but revealed he has since grown. He explained: 'My break-up, that was probably the biggest catalyst for growth as a man. It was like, OK, you made a mistake and you lose someone you loved, someone you cared for, someone who is special to you. 'Thats probably the biggest loss a man can have, isnt it? Away from someone passing away, thats the biggest loss you can have.' It's not the first time that Stormzy has spoken of his relationship with Maya, having declared that he still loves her 'wholeheartedly' and wants to marry and have children with his ex-girlfriend in the future. In 2020, he admitted he has 'never loved anyone how I've loved her' in a YouTube interview with Charlamagne tha God. It must be love: Maya has gone Instagram official with her boyfriend Stormzy after confirming their romance was back on It comes after reports Maya and Stormzy are heading to couples' therapy in a bid to rid themselves of their past tensions. A source told the Mirror : ' Stormzy and Maya have been encouraged to go to "couples therapy" to nip their past issues in the bud once and for all. He is very close to his mum Abigails pastor, and she made the recommendation. 'They plan to use him in a similar role to Bishop T.D. Jakes in Oprah Winfreys life, who has guided her through the highs and lows of life with transformational thinking.' They added: 'Stormzy and Maya have never stopped loving each other and want to do all they can to protect their second shot at lifelong happiness. Stormzy has already told friends hes ready to have kids as early as next year.' Emmerdale viewers were finally relieved of their suspense as the man held hostage in an abandoned farmhouse was revealed during Monday's episode - but many were left disappointed. Last week, viewers learned that Cain (Jeff Hordley) and Caleb (William Ash) had locked someone up in an abandoned farmhouse after taking a mysterious trip. Just seconds into the instalment, it emerged actor Danny Miller, 32, had reprised his role as Aaron Dingle after being snatched from Italy for his own protection. The character seen sitting in a dark room with his hands bound together with rope and his hood up over his head, having been brought back to Yorkshire after picking a fight with the mafia while he was away - and he's back home for good. Cain and Caleb had previously left the village in a hurry and claimed they were working on a car consignment deal in Holland, but Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) appeared unconvinced by the story. He's back: Emmerdale viewers were finally relieved of their suspense as the man held hostage in an abandoned farmhouse was revealed as Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) on Monday Prisoner: Last week, viewers learned that Cain (Jeff Hordley, left) and Caleb (William Ash) had locked someone up in an abandoned farmhouse after taking a mysterious trip And in Friday's episode, she further suspected Cain was lying when Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) revealed he knew nothing about the deal. The drama-packed show saw Moira discover who her husband Cain and his half-brother Caleb had locked in the abandoned farmhouse, with viewers finding out this week. Aaron was last seen on the soap a year ago when he left the village after his younger sister Liv was killed in a storm. His mother Chas Dingle (Lucy Pargeter) did not support her grieving son at the time as she was busy cheating on Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) with businessman Al Chapman. Despite Aaron needing the support of his mum, she sent him packing off to Italy with his boyfriend Marco. But it seems there is still more to the tale, with Aaron raging and tied up in the barn, and Moira demanding answers from Cain. Aaron's return divided viewer opinion, with some soap fans baffled by what was unfolding on their screens while others were delighted to see him. Taking to Twitter, someone wrote: 'Can someone explain what's going on with Aaron?? Remember him leaving the village so why's he linked to gangsters in Italy and whys Cain kidnapped him ...very confused tonight??????? Please someone explain???' Plot: Cain (Jeff Hordley, left) and Caleb (William Ash, right) snatched Aaron from Italy after he picked a fight with the mafia Views: Aaron's return divided viewer opinion, with some soap fans baffled by what was unfolding on their screens while others were delighted to see him Someone else asked: 'When did Aaron get involved with the Italian mafia?' Another viewer posted: 'I'm not sure what this twist in #Emmerdale is for? Why is Aaron back? Why is he locked away like a prisoner?' While someone else exclaimed: 'Aaron being back with a pathetic story what a let down Hopefully it's a temporary stop.' Another viewer commented: 'Big disappointed it's Aaron, we are in for lots of scenes with him crying now.' Someone else wrote: 'Im glad Aaron is back but its a ridiculous storyline #Emmerdale,' while another viewer tweeted: 'Give out all yee like about the storyline - I'm just delighted to have Aaron back, and of course it means more Cain scenes. One other person shared: 'Never been more happy, the boy is BACK @DannyBMiller. Welcome home Aaron back where you belong #emmerdale.' Aaron made a brief return to Emmerdale for the 50th anniversary before making a quick exit. But former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! winner Danny has been in talks with soap bosses to make a comeback since January this year. Danny told The Sun: 'Aarons a lot more mature now, and thats obviously myself too as an actor and a person. 'When Jane [Hudson] and Laura [Shaw] had pitched the idea for me to come back I was over the moon. 'I was so excited but I had to keep it quiet from the beginning of the year. Its been months of not being able to tell people. 'Ive relocated and moved my family here and some of my closest friends and family dont know so its been hard to do. But with the respect and the appreciation to the show, I wanted to keep that secret.' Emmerdale airs weekdays at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle desperately try to establish themselves as a Hollywood 'power couple', the Prince and Princess of Wales are quietly boosting their own showbusiness links. I can disclose that Prince William and Catherine have appointed the producer of hit BBC drama Call the Midwife as a director of their Royal Foundation. Dame Pippa Harris will also be a director of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Trustee Company. 'This is a big appointment,' a royal source tells me. 'Dame Pippa knows everyone and is an expert at getting things done.' Dame Pippa, 56, founded the hugely successful film company Neal Street Productions with the Oscar-winning director Sir Sam Mendes 58. As well as creating Call the Midwife together, they have produced acclaimed films including Revolutionary Road, starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, and most recently the World War I epic 1917, for which they received two Bafta awards and a Golden Globe. Dame Pippa is also a chairperson of Bafta, of which Prince William is the royal patron. Prince William and Catherine have appointed the producer of hit BBC drama Call the Midwife as a director of their Royal Foundation Dame Pippa Harris will also be a director of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Trustee Company While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle desperately try to establish themselves as a Hollywood 'power couple', the Prince and Princess of Wales are quietly boosting their own showbusiness links The Royal Foundation originally included Prince Harry and there were concerns that it would suffer after he and Meghan quit in 2020. In fact, the opposite seems to have been the case. It enjoyed a surge in income the following year, to a staggering 11.78million. That's almost double the 6.68 million raised in 2019, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were still involved. Last year's income was 10.1million, according to newly published accounts. The foundation develops programmes and initiatives based on the Prince and Princess's interests, particularly in the areas of early childhood, mental health and the environment. Last year, Lord (William) Hague, the former Tory leader, quit politics to concentrate on his work as chairman of the Royal Foundation. He formed a warm relationship with Prince William and Catherine while he was Foreign Secretary, working with them to combat the illegal wildlife trade. As chairman of the foundation, Hague replaced Prince George's godfather, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who was William's right-hand man for 15 years. Kerry Washington opted for quite a leggy look to pre-tape a future episode of The View at ABC Studios in Manhattan's Upper West Side neighborhood on Monday morning. The 46-year-old Scandal alum looked elegant in a Giambattista Valli tweed double-breasted blazer mini-dress and black knee-high boots selected by styling duo Rob Zangardi + Mariel Haenn. Kerry completed her preppy look with a black bejeweled headband and a $350 Brandon Blackwood 'Slim Trunk' purse in tweed snakeskin. Washington wore her natural locks down and had a fully-contoured complexion with defined brows, cat eyeliner, and pink pout. The Emmy-winning producer was on the daytime talk show to promote her memoir Thicker Than Water, which is currently No. 6 on the New York Times Bestsellers list of hardcover non-fiction. Good morning! Kerry Washington opted for quite a leggy look to pre-tape a future episode of The View at ABC Studios in Manhattan's Upper West Side neighborhood on Monday It will mark Kerry's 10th appearance on The View, and her second time this year after previously promoting her Hulu sitcom Unprisoned on March 9. On Monday, co-host Ana Navarro shared a selfie urging her Florida 'peeps' to attend 'fabulous' Washington's conversation with 'my girl' Eva Longoria during the Miami Book Fair on November 12. It took The School for Good and Evil actress four years to write the 320-page tell-all, and she'll next bring her 10-date book tour to the Southbank Centre in London on October 20 with British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. Kerry reprised her voiceover role as teacher Rayshelle Peyton in Sunday night's episode of Fox's The Simpsons - titled 'A Mid-Childhood Night's Dream' - in which 'Marge is overwhelmed by her fear of the kids growing up.' Catch more of Washington in the third season of her vlog talk show The Street You Grew Up On, which premieres Tuesday on YouTube. Last October, the two-time Golden Globe nominee and Omar Sy wrapped their roles as former special forces leaders Kyrah and Isaac in Joe Carnahan's action thriller Shadow Force, which will be released by Lionsgate. Kerry produced the Mr. & Mrs. Smith-inspired flick, which also features Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Method Man, and Mark Strong. And in April, Washington wrapped her role as Major Charity Adams in Tyler Perry's upcoming WWII drama Six Triple Eight, which will stream on Netflix. 'Need for tweed!' The 46-year-old Scandal alum looked elegant in a Giambattista Valli tweed double-breasted blazer mini-dress and black knee-high boots selected by styling duo Rob Zangardi + Mariel Haenn Thigh's the limit! Kerry completed her preppy look with a black bejeweled headband and a $350 Brandon Blackwood 'Slim Trunk' purse in tweed snakeskin Cheekbones for days! Washington wore her natural locks down and had a fully-contoured complexion with defined brows, cat eyeliner, and pink pout Pen is mightier than the sword! The Emmy-winning producer was on the daytime talk show to promote her memoir Thicker Than Water, which is currently No. 6 on the New York Times Bestsellers list of hardcover non-fiction Throwback! It will mark Kerry's 10th appearance on The View, and her second time this year after previously promoting her Hulu sitcom Unprisoned on March 9 'Join us!' On Monday, co-host Ana Navarro shared a selfie urging her Florida 'peeps' to attend 'fabulous' Washington's conversation with 'my girl' Eva Longoria during the Miami Book Fair on November 12 England bound! It took The School for Good and Evil actress (pictured June 23) four years to write the 320-page tell-all, and she'll next bring her 10-date book tour to the Southbank Centre in London on October 20 with British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful 'A Mid-Childhood Night's Dream': Kerry reprised her voiceover role as teacher Rayshelle Peyton in Sunday night's episode of Fox's The Simpsons in which 'Marge is overwhelmed by her fear of the kids growing up' Premieres Tuesday on YouTube! Catch more of Washington in the third season of her vlog talk show The Street You Grew Up On (pictured with Jane Fonda) The Simpson Street founder also executive produced the adaptation of Kevin M. Hymel's 2019 WWII History magazine article about the all-black, all-female 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion sorting over 17M pieces of mail ahead of time. Six Triple Eight stars Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon, Oprah Winfrey, Gregg Sulkin, and Dean Norris. On the personal front, Kerry has three children - daughter Isabelle Amarachi, 9; son Caleb Kelechi, 7; and stepdaughter Anaiya, 18 - from her decade-long marriage to The Good Nurse actor Nnamdi Asomugha. Motorists could soon face higher prices at the gas pump after Hamas launched an attack on Israel this weekend, heating up geopolitical tensions in the oil-rich region. When oil markets opened on Monday morning, West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark US crude jumped 5 percent, surpassing $87 a barrel, Bloomberg reported. Although Israel and Palestine are not major oil producers themselves, the fighting, which has killed more than 1,100 people so far, is already having repercussions across the broader region. The conflict could heighten tension between the US and Iran, which according to a report in the Wall Street Journal helped plot the attack on Israel with Hamas. Iran is a major supplier of oil to the US and could restrict shipments if it is lumped with sanctions. Gas prices reached a record high of $5.02 in June 2022, in the months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions by the West. The conflict could heighten tension between the US and Iran. Pictured are Israeli soldiers on military vehicles along the border with Gaza Last week gas prices fell to an average of $3.74 a gallon - it usually takes more than a week for oil prices to impact the cost of gas Oil giant Shell's stock on the FTSE 100 soared on Monday It comes as last week gas prices fell to an average of $3.74 a gallon, prompting some analysts to predict Americans will soon experience relief from soaring fuel costs thanks to the decreasing cost of oil. On Monday gas was down to an average of $3.70, according to the AAA. It usually takes more than a week for the cost of oil to start impacting the cost of gasoline - around half the amount Americans pay for gas is the price of the crude oil refined to produce it. Craig Erlam, marker analyst for broker OANDA, told Reuters: 'Should the spotlight turn towards Iran, there's a possibility of stricter sanctions being imposed, potentially leading to supply constraints and tightening conditions within the market.' The conflict could also derail Biden administration's efforts to improve relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - jeopardizing hopes of commitment from the Saudis to boost its oil production. Saudi officials reportedly on Friday told the White House they were willing to raise output next year as part of the proposed Israel deal. 'At this stage, the price response that you've seen is quite understandable and proportionate, just in terms of putting a bit of risk premium in,' Marcus Garvey, head of commodities strategy at Macquarie Group, said in a Bloomberg TV interview. Although Israel's oil production is limited in the grand scheme, in the last two decades Israel it has become an increasingly prominent producer and earlier this year exported for the first time. On Monday, Chevron said it was told by Israeli officials to shut down the Tamar oil field (pictured) Experts said last week that gas prices could be on their way down. Pictured: the states with the highest and lowest gas prices as of Friday On Monday morning, Chevron said it was told by Israeli officials to shut down Tamar, an offshore oil field around 12 miles from Gaza, citing safety concerns. 'People will draw parallels to the early 1970s' Yom Kippur War that's probably, with the following embargo, your extreme case. It's quite plausible you get no meaningful disruption,' he added. That also happened before in 2021 when fighting amid fighting. 'Our top priority is the safety of our personnel, the communities in which we operate, the environment and our facilities,' the company said in an announcement on Monday. Israel's largest offshore gas field, Leviathan, continues to operate normally, Chevron said. A caste census is deemed discriminatory and opposed by those who seek equal rights for all. Besides, opinions are sharply divided on its impact Does India need a caste census? If conducted, Will it bring positive or negative consequences? There is debate over this issue. The issue is controversial due to differing opinions on potential benefits or drawbacks. Opinions vary, with some acknowledging its long-standing presence and others expressing concern for adverse outcomes. In preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, political parties are seeking to establish connections with marginalized communities, resulting in increased demands for a caste census. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has provoked the present debate by conducting a caste census. He released the results on October 2 and has projected himself as the champion of marginalized communities. The census report may lead to political demands for removing the 50% reservation ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court. At its recent Mumbai meeting, the newly formed Opposition coalition INDIA also requested a caste census. Maharashtra, Odisha, and Jharkhand have agreed to conduct a caste census, while Bengal has not decided yet. Madhya Pradesh Congress has also promised. The topic of caste census sparks varied opinions. It encompasses aspects such as its impact on elections and communities. It still needs to be completed, given the need for more reliable data since 1931. Some argue favouring a caste census, but it's akin to trying to wink 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 India's independent censuses contained information on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes but not on other castes. India saw a census conducted for administrative and demographic purposes without collecting data on Caste during the British Colonial period. After independence, the Nehru government did not favour a caste census. The successive Congress governments opposed a caste census for decades. During the Janata Government, the Mandal Commission was established in 1979. After a decade, Janata Dal Prime Minister VP Singh implemented a 27% reservation for O.B.C.s in government jobs, based on the Mandal Commission report. The 2001 Census considered adding Caste as a category, but practical issues and concerns prevented it from being implemented. 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. Today, there is a change in Congress's stand. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi used the phrase "Jitni Abadi, utna haq" to discuss issues related to Caste. In 2011, the SECC. included information about Caste, but the main focus was living conditions and financial status. 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 has so far not taken an official stand on the caste census, a demand first raised by regional parties like the RJD and the JD (U) and then supported by most other opposition parties. The Party 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. Historically, the Constituent Assembly met between December 1946 and November 1949 to draft a constitution for India's independence. Stalwarts like Dr BR Ambedkar, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Patel were important figures who led discussions on topics like government structure, citizens' rights, and fundamental principles. Their contributions were crucial in shaping the new republic's 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 conducting a caste census. There are valid arguments both for and against carrying out a caste census. Ultimately, the decision to conduct a census largely depends on political factors, public sentiment, and the ruling Party's priorities. The government's actions can also be influenced by the public's demands and level of awareness. As of now, we need a more favourable environment to acknowledge the importance of the caste census. BJP leaders argue that many leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi and Lohia, have recognised that caste discrimination weakens society. The BJP hesitates to back a caste census, though they hold 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. Some Political parties have gained influence by addressing caste issues. Specific communities seek recognition as Other Backward Classes. Congress, DMK, and JD(U) support a caste census, which Bihar has already conducted. Other states may run one as well. The situation's success depends on Modi's political determination. To avoid repeating VP Singh's mistakes, Modi must build a consensus and explain the effects beforehand. Due to limited time, the BJP might need to take a delicate approach to address the issues. (The writer is a popular columnist; views are personal) Yoga is the only solution that can eradicate man's mental pollution The ongoing communal or religious disharmony in various parts of the world reminds us that there has been a vast discrepancy between what religions have preached and what most of their followers have practised. Going by the frequent confrontations happening between two west asian countries as well as unresolved conflicts between two eastern European countries brings one to the conclusion that religious preachers and believers have done more harm to the cause of religion than its opponents. Blind faith, meaningless and tiresome rituals, needless physical austerities, dryness and dogmatism, and unbridgeable gulf between religious preachers on such vital topics as the true identity of God, their rigidity of views, narrowness of outlook and intolerance are some factors that are responsible for repulsion in the minds of the people towards Religion, as a result of which it has become uninspiring. Though there is no dearth of temples, mosques, synagogues, vihars and churches in the East as well as in the West, the number of persons-devotees, visiting these places, has considerably dwindled, which clearly shows that religion has quickly been losing its appeal. Most religious preachers do not have any reliable experience about God, nor is there any unanimity among them even on fundamental subjects such as soul. They can neither explain religious truths logically nor inspire others from their practical example. All this has naturally led people to distance themselves from religion. This, however, does not mean that religion has lost its utility or is unnecessary. If religion loses its influence on the minds of scientists, politicians and men in general as it has been losing, the world will soon face an unprecedented catastrophe. It was not so long back when Swami Vivekananda reflected on the necessity of the concept of universal religion for society. He realized the nature of man, according to which mankind in the whole world has been trying to look beyond in the quest for his ultimate destiny or search for God. Therefore, the whole of the world community today expects a religion, that is acceptable to all, is universal in its scope and teachings and works as a unifying force. The need of the hour is to thus have a religion of spiritual love and brotherhood that can inspire men, women and children to build up a new world of total peace, amity and spirit of brotherhood. Looking at various problems that are faced by our society daily, it can be easily said that spirituality can easily tackle those with ease. For example, problems like over-population, eve-teasing, criminal assault and adultery, are due to inflamed sex-lust. Economic exploitation, bribery, adulteration, etc. are due to man's greed. All wars and acts of violence are due to anger. Many countries are backwards in the comity of nations because of sloth or laziness. All these basic evils are recognised by religion and it gives ways to eradicate these if man cares. It has been found and thoroughly researched that easy Yoga is the only solution that can eradicate man's mental pollution and if man does not take to ways of spiritual wisdom, purity and Yoga even at this critical phase of the world, natural processes will set at work to wipe off these dominating evils and corrupt society built up on false values with its strong hand of nuclear weapons and grave elemental fury. Now it's up to us what way we want to go! (The writer is a spiritual educator and popular columnist, views are personal) Opposition parties the Congress and the JD (U) on Sunday condemned the attacks on the people of Israel, saying violence of any type never provides any solution and it must stop. A full-fledged war broke out between the ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip and Israel, killing hundreds of people from both sides. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said his party has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine must be fulfilled through dialogue while ensuring the national security concerns of Israelis. The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel, he said on X, adding the party has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop, the Congress leader said. Militants from Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, fired more than 3,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday morning, according to the Israeli military, while Hamas fighters entered southern Israel by land, sea and air, using paragliders and even captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. 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. On the Gaza Strip side, there are nearly 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israels counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. The Janata Dal (United) also condemned all kinds of violence and sought the UNs intervention to restore peace as Israel launched retaliatory attacks in Gaza after Islamist group Hamas militants infiltrated into the country and killed hundreds of people. JD (U) spokesperson K C Tyagi said his party stands with the oppressed people of Palestine and said Israel must respect the United Nations earlier resolutions and vacate the occupied territory of Palestine. This is not just the fight of Palestinian people. This is a struggle for humanity, for justice, and for the future of a world governed by law and not brute force. We stand with the oppressed people of Palestine, he said in a statement. Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel on Sunday and launched retaliation strikes that levelled buildings in Gaza. In northern Israel, a brief exchange of strikes with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group raised fears of a broader conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel is at war. Not projecting any Chief Ministerial face in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP on Monday inducted its old warhorses, Union Ministers and several members of Parliament in the electoral battle in the three Assembly polls. The party announced Madhya Pradesh four-time Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans name from his traditional Budhni seat in the States fourth list and named former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and its State president Arun Sao, also a Lok Sabha MP, as its candidates in its second list for the State . Polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. In the first list released by the party for Rajasthan, the BJP included royal scion and Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari and Jaipur Rural MP and former Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. The party released the names of 64 candidates in its second list for Chhattisgarh, 57 candidates in the fourth list for Madhya Pradesh and 41 for the first list of Rajasthan. Polling in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Telangana will be held between November 7 and 30 and results will be announced on December 3. Chouhans name appeared on the fourth list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh on Monday. The delay in announcing his name triggered considerable speculation as the party had already fielded three Central Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Prahlad Patel four MPs and general secretary Kailash Vijayvergia , by releasing their names in its second list of nominees. MPs Home Minister Narottam Mishra will fight from the Datia seat. In the second list for the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, the BJP fielded Raman Singh, a three-term former Chief Minister, from Rajnandgaon, his traditional constituency, while Sao will contest from Lormi. BJPs State president Arun Sao, also a Lok Sabha MP, will also be contesting the Assembly election. Three MPs, including Renuka Singh and Gomati Sai, figured in the list as the party continued with fielding parliamentarians in the Assembly polls, underlining its all-out bid to win power in the current round of five-State elections. Chhattisgarh is going to the polls in two phases on November 7 and November 17. The Congress had won 68 seats and the BJP 15 in the 2018 Assembly polls. The BJPs Central election committee comprising party national president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders had approved the names of 57 candidates for Madhya Pradesh at its meeting on October 1. With this, the BJP has so far announced its candidates for 136 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly which is expected to be a hard-fought contest between the BJP and the Congress with the latter banking on the anti-incumbency factor against the ruling party. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is also seen to be a probable nominee from Shivpuri Assembly seat which has been vacated by Yashodhara Raje Scindia announcing that she will not contest elections from Shivpuri. The first list of candidates for Rajasthan included Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. These are among the seven BJP parliamentarians who will contest the Rajasthan Assembly polls, according to the first list of 41 candidates issued by the party on Monday. While Diya Kumari will fight the elections from Jaipurs Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency, Rathore, a former Olympian shooter, will be contesting from Jhotwara, also in Jaipur district. Diya Kumari is a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family. Rajasthan has the 200-member Assembly for which polling will take place on November 23. The BJP is hopeful that it would wrest power from the Congress in Rajasthan as it fights evenly matched poll contests in Chhattisgarh which is again ruled by the Congress. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has sought to reduce anti-incumbency by announcing several welfare schemes, particularly those centered around women. There is a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The BJP has sought to undercut factionalism in the State units by not projecting any Chief Minister face with the Prime Minister stressing in Rajasthan that the partys election symbol Kamal alone will be the face for the BJP . BJPs next list for Rajasthan is likely to include Central Ministers and more MPs to balance the caste and influence over the voters in different Assembly segments, according to sources. Israels Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a complete siege of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, two days after shock attacks by the militant group killed more than 700 Israelis, including soldiers. Gallant is currently conducting an operational assessment at IDF (Israel Defence Forces) Southern Command, together with the Head of Southern Command Major General Yaron Finkelman. I have given an order Gaza will be under complete siege. There will be no electricity, food or fuel (delivered to Gaza). We are fighting barbaric (terrorists) and will respond accordingly, Gallant said. Gaza depends on Israel largely for its basic supplies and such a decision will have far-reaching consequences for 2.3 million people living in the densely populated area. While Hamas activists looked celebrating on the streets of the coastal territory on Saturday, wary commoners were seen looking to stock up on basic needs speculating about the imminent harsh attack. The streets of Gaza for the last two days have looked completely deserted, much like most Israeli towns in the south. The complete siege of the coastal Strip comes amid unabated air strikes being carried out by Israel in which, according to Gazas Health Ministry, 560 Palestinians have been killed so far and 2,900 wounded. The spokesperson for Hamass Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, going by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida, claimed that Israels bombing in the Gaza Strip has killed four Israeli hostages. More than 100 Israelis, old, young and children have been taken captive by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the attack which started on Saturday. The occupations bombing tonight and today on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of four enemy prisoners and the martyrdom of their captors, the Qassam Mujahideen, Abu Obeida said in a statement on his Telegram channel. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. Israels Minister of Defence has been issuing stern warnings of a protracted fight since Saturday. Today we saw the face of evil. The Hamas (terrorist organisation) has launched a brutal attack against the citizens of the State of Israel, attacking men, women, children and the elderly, indiscriminately. Hamas will understand very quickly that it has made a mistake a grave mistake, and will pay a (heavy) price, he said soon after the brutal attacks. Fifteen years ago, as Head of the Southern Command, I came close to breaking the neck of [destroying] Hamas. I was stopped by the political echelon. This phenomenon will not continue. We will change reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years. What was before, will be no more. We will operate at full force, Gallant asserted. After more than 50 hours of firefight, the Israeli army claimed that it has regained control of all Gaza border towns, but said that some militants who infiltrated may be remaining around. Israel has imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Dr Maher Awawedeh, a West Bank-based analyst, described the Hamas attack as a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said the multifront assault shocked everyone by its strength, size, scope, and achievements. We saw how the Israeli image, projecting itself as a superpower that sells intelligence and warfare, collapsed before a group of Palestinians, less than 1000 in number, as per the Israeli media, he told PTI. He blamed Israel for provoking Palestinians by entering the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, preventing them from praying there and restricting their movement. All of that was the spark that ignited what happened after the 17 years of siege to the Gaza Strip, he said. We saw Germany, France and the US expressing support for Israel and saying Israel has the right to defend itself. Israel has the right to defend itself, but it doesnt have the right to defend its occupation, he added. Meanwhile,European Union Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said Monday the bloc is suspending all payments immediately to the Palestinians because of what he called the scale of terror and brutality during the attacks on Israel by Hamas. The surprise announcement by Varhelyi came just hours after EU officials stressed that no EU money whatsoever was going to Hamas in the first place and that contacts had been frozen for 16 years. The EU considers Hamas a terror group. Queries about what the move entailed and whether it would hit all humanitarian aid to Palestinians were not immediately answered. Varhelyi said that as the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, which he said amounted to 691 million euros. Varhelyi said that the measures include that all payments (be) immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals... Postponed until further notice. The EU says it is the biggest donor to the Palestinian people and has been advocating for years for the two-state approach that has guided international diplomacy since the 1993 Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. EU foreign ministers are slated to meet in Muscat, Oman, on Tuesday to discuss the situation and see what actions should be taken. Varhelyis announcement seemed to preempt the discussions. The Election Commission (EC) on Monday announced the schedule for Legislative Assembly elections in five States, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. Single-phase Assembly polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30 and Mizoram on November 7, while Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats). Counting of votes in all States will take place on December 3. There has been a lot of buzz around the elections this season, especially in view of the the Lok Sabha elections next year as these five States account for 83 Lok Sabha seats. The term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on December 17, while the terms of the legislative Assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year. Speaking at the Press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said nearly 16 crore voters would be eligible to cast their votes in these elections. He said strong measures are being put in place to make these polls inducement free. Kumar said these five States will have 1.77 lakhpolling stations, of which 1.01 lakh will have webcasting facilities. He said with over 940 inter-State border check posts in five States, any cross-border movement of illicit cash, liquor, freebies and drugs will be checked. Around 60 lakh first-time voters will participate in elections. As many as 15.39 lakh young voters are eligible to participate in elections due to amendment on qualifying dates. To inspire young voters, over 2, 900 polling stations will be managed by youth, said Kumar. More than 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women, he said. Responding to a query on freebies announced by various political parties, Kumar said the freebies announced by political parties and State Governments have a tadka of populism and it is difficult for those who win polls to either implement these sops or stop this practice. The upcoming Assembly elections will be a major litmus test especially for the Opposition bloc INDIA as it will not only determine its standing against the ruling BJP but also set the tone for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Out of five States slated to go to polls this year, the Congress is in power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. Telangana, on the other hand, is ruled by the KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samiti and the Mizo National Front (MNF) is in power in Mizoram. The BJP and the Congress will be engaged in a direct fight in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan while the two parties are also in contention for power in Telangana, where Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi is eyeing a third straight term. In Mizoram, regional parties and the Congress will challenge the incumbent Mizo National Front amid the Opposition partys hope that political polarisation on ethnic lines following violence in Manipur may boost its chances. In Madhya Pradesh, a fierce competition among parties to offer freebies and guarantees, a scramble for tribal, OBC, women votes and a touch of Hindutva all have combined to make the Assembly polls a high-stakes battle with main rivals the BJP and the Congress pulling out all the stops to gain power. The BJP is in power for the last 20 years in the State. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who is fighting anti-incumbency factor, is on a freebies announcing spree, mostly targeting women, and playing temples-centric Hindutva card, while State Congress president Kamal Nath is countering his rivals doles with his own pre-poll guarantees and wooing OBC voters. With a long history of bipolar politics, dominated by the Congress and the BJP, Madhya Pradesh located in the geographic heart of India will also see the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) trying to make its presence felt in the state this time around. The BJP is pinning hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modis charisma to get voters on their side with MP Ke Man Mein Modi slogan and theme song of electioneering focused on him. Modi has addressed nine rallies in seven months. In Chhattisgarh, the Congress Government led by Bhupesh Baghel has been in power for the last five years after recording a stupendous victory in 2018. There was a leadership dispute between Baghel and TS Singh Deo, settled recently with the Congress making TS Singh Deo the Deputy CM. On the other hand, after Raman Singh, the BJP has been facing a leadership crisis in the State. Over the past five years, it has changed three State presidents but has still to come out of its shadow, with Raman Singh still the most favoured CM candidate of the BJP in the minds of voters, as per surveys. In Rajasthan, no Government has come back to power here since 1993. For the last three decades, there has been a revolving door mechanism followed in the State BJP-Congress-BJP-Congress-BJP-Congress. Meanwhile, the Congress is trying to retain its hold in Rajasthan where it hasseen frequent infighting between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, as well as in Chhattisgarh where it is facing challenges against the BJP to secure its OBC votebank. The BJP, on the other hand, has skillfully kept the issue of religious conversion simmering, along with allegations of scams and corruption against the Government. For Congress, promises of a nationwide caste census and fast-forwarding of womens reservation bill implementation are among the top agendas across its campaigns. In Rajasthan, the party announced it will begin its election campaign on October 16, the slogan for which is Kaam kiya dil se, Congress firse. In Telangana, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is seeking a third consecutive win with the idea that a vote against it is a vote against Telangana. The party is however facing several challenges against the BJP in opposition which is trying to make inroads in the State. In Mizoram, the Mizo National Front (MNF) is fighting to hold its turf. The two-day 11th National conference of Ophthalmic Association of India was over in Aranya Vihar of Hazaribag. In the conference more than 300 eye specialists participated from all across the country. The specialised eye doctors discussed modern techniques of the eye related problems and their treatment with modern technique. The conference was inaugurated by National President of the association Dr. SP Yadav by lighting the lamp. The conference was organized under the banner of the Jharkhand chapter of the organization. In the scientific session the experts gave their views regarding the treatment and the surgical operation of the eyes. Eye specialist Dr. Bibhuti Kashyap expressed his views. He said that in an accident if the cornea becomes damaged then it can be transplanted, if all the internal systems are running smoothly. The chief guest of the conference National President Yadav said the conference was scheduled two year before but due to Corona, now it will be held every year in the different states of the country. He further said that now- a- days most of the surgeons are using modern techniques in the surgery of the eyes. We have discussed different views, which came during the conference. We will consult with the specialist doctors of different Western countries then implement in India. In the conference Pritam Kumar, Ramesh Prasad, Abhimanu Kumar and Dr. Surendra Yadav were the chief speakers. In the conference Jharkhand Chapter president Dr. Vinay Krishna Sinha, treasurer Dr. Uma Shankar secretary Dr. Sanjay Kumar and Suresh Kumar Played a vital role in the success of the conference. The election of the association was also held under the supervision of Dr.SP Yadav, Dr. Vinay Kumar Sinha of Dhanbad became chairman, general secretary Harpal Singh of Punjab, vice president Dr. Rahul Patel of Gujrat, joint secretary Dr. Abhimanyu Kumar of Ranchi and treasurer Dr. Anirudh Kumar Sangar have been elected. The members of the executive committee will be announced later on. The members have decided that the next conference will be held at Puri. Cultural programmes will be held in 26 locations to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Kumaon visit on October 12. All the preparations for this and other aspects of Modis tour have been completed. Agriculture minister Ganesh Joshi said this while chairing a meeting in Pithoragarh to review arrangements for the Prime Ministers visit to the State. Chairing the meeting with officials, Joshi issued necessary instructions to them regarding the venue of the public rally to be addressed by Modi in Pithoragarh. He sought information from the officials regarding the entrance, site, tent, drinking water, toilet and other aspects related to the public gathering. He directed all the officials concerned to ensure that all the preparations are completed on time while also making sure that there is no gap in any of the arrangements. He directed the Transport department officials to ensure that all the vehicles reach the programme venue on time. All necessary arrangements should also be made for drinking water at the venue of the public gathering, he said. It will be recalled that the Prime Minister is slated to visit Jageshwar on October 12 and also address a public rally in Pithoragarh on the same day. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is slated to reach Pithoragarh on Tuesday to check the arrangements made for Modis visit. Kumaon commissioner Deepak Rawat, Pithoragarh district magistrate Reena Joshi, chief development officer Varun Chaudhary, BJP State general secretary Aditya Kothari and others were also present in the meeting. Curtailing the tenure of a 1997-batch DANICS officer, the Union Home Ministry on Monday ordered the premature retirement of AV Premnath. However, the Ministry has granted an aggregate amount of his pay and allowances for three months which comes to Rs 4.06 lakh as a full and final compensation for relieving him prematurely from service. In a note, the Home Ministry has informed the Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar of the Centres decision. Premnath is considered close to the AAP government in Delhi and was under suspension for facing criminal case relating to possession of disproportionate assets prior to his premature retirement. Top sources said that the a three member review committee headed by additional secretary in the Ministy, has reviewed his service records and it was decided to issue his premature retirement. I am directed to refer to the subject mentioned above and to say that the Competent Authority has approved the premature retirement of Shri A.V. Prem Nath, an Entry Grade officer of DANICS (1997) in public interest under sub-rule 1 of Rule 56(j) of the Fundamental Rules and Rule 42 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1965 with immediate effect by giving three months pay and allowances in lieu of notice. Two copies of the order of premature retirement are enclosed. One copy of the order may be served on to the concerned officer namely, A.V. Prem Nath DANICS(1997) along with a cheque for a sum approximate to the aggregate amount of his pay and allowances for a period of three months. Action taken in this regard may be intimated to this Ministry at the earliest, said Kshitish Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Home Ministry said in an order on Monday. Earlier in June this year, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has filed an FIR against former joint commissioner of the Delhi Labour department, A V Premnath, for allegedly acquiring illegal properties across the country in the name of his family members. The FIR was registered on June 16 by the ACB following a complaint that was transferred from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Economic Offences Wing (EOW), in December 2019 for conducting an enquiry. It has been alleged that the officer has connections/dealing in real estate business. It was found that he even sold properties that were purchased on his wifes name. He had allegedly set up a school in Uttarakhands Almora in 2017 through a foundation in which his wife is the chairperson and one of the members is his mother-in-law. The officer allegedly designated him as vice-president of this foundation. He had bought five properties allegedly bought by Premnath in Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. Premnath had filed a complaint on June 2 with the Delhi Assembly speaker demanding a probe by the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) into the fake credentials of Special Secretary (Vigilance) YVVJ Rajasekhar. In his complaint, Premnath alleged that Rajasekhar entered the second list of selected candidates for the Civil Services Main Examination in 1994 through fraudulent OBC credentials. The committee first issued a notice to Rajasekhar on June 5 asking him to appear before it on Friday. However, it did not mention the name of the complainant. The Special Secretary also accused Premnath of trying to use the shoulder of Honble Assembly/Committee to obtain a finding which he may likely to plead or use it for his legal purposes in various forums in ongoing disciplinary/criminal cases Panjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Renu Vig said that emphasis has been laid at the University to create a rich environment for aspiring entrepreneurs with a wide array of entrepreneurship courses, strong support systems, advanced technologies, and extensive resources. More than 100 start-ups have come up and students are working on different innovation ideas and efforts are on to commercialize their technologies. She says that the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has bestowed upon the University the coveted A++ grade with an impressive score of 3.68. Under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), funds received for the upgradation of the infrastructure. University received a grant for setting up Northern Region Science & Technology Cluster in collaboration with the IIT Ropar at Sector 25, Chandigarh, she adds. Vig further said that the University has involved Industry in the innovation journey from the inception of projects. The University is organizing a conference titled Industry Focused Research jointly with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Punjab State Council of Science & Technology (PSCST) on October 12 and students will present their technologies in order to transfer them for commercialization to Industry. Moreover, the efforts are on to promote the culture of filing patents that is being strengthened. Faculties are encouraged to file more patents and also publish papers in quality journals with a highly impact factor, she adds. Vig, who is the first woman to hold charge as varsitys VC, says that more than 100 new courses including value added cases, skill enhancement courses, integrated programmes and other discipline courses are being offered to the students under New Education Policy in the University. Process is on to appoint about 50 new staff members in the university. In an exclusive interview with The Pioneer, the Vice Chancellor talks about Universitys achievements, current status on the execution of startup programme and New Education Policy; steps taken to fill up vacant posts, teachers demands among others. Excerpts: NAAC recently awarded PU with A++ grade. How do you see this achievement? NAAC has bestowed upon the University the coveted A++ grade with an impressive score of 3.68. This marks the universitys first-ever attainment of the highest grade, with a cumulative score of 3.68 out of 4. For this, I express my gratitude towards the NAAC Peer Team for their diligent review of data and valuable suggestions. I also extend my appreciation to the universitys faculty, staff, and other stakeholders for their significant contributions to this noteworthy accomplishment. After the NAAC A++ grade, we can introduce some more new courses for opening learning students. We can also enroll upto 20 per cent international students of the total strength in the University. What is the current status on the execution of New Education Policy in University? Within Panjab University, we have already implemented New Education Policy (NEP) in all our departments, although the UGC has given us a four-year timeframe for full implementation. Schemes and syllabus are being revised for the second year students also and the framework is ready for all the four yours. From the next session, we are going to implement NEP in colleges also. Students now have much more course choices than earlier. Regarding our affiliated colleges, we are conducting special programmes for faculty members to align them with NEP guidelines. Colleges have been asked to appoint nodal officers for the implementation of the NEP. Are there any new courses planned that differ from traditional education? NEP-2023 encourages courses that equip students to face the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We have developed a portfolio of around 100 short-term courses that will be introduced within a year. These courses include MSc in data science, specific courses in mechanical engineering like robotics, 3D printing, and manufacturing. We will also offer minor degrees in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, machine learning, and renewable energy. Our aim is to enhance admissions and students rankings through these courses, offering both theoretical and practical components. Startups face significant challenges as a result of regulatory ambiguity, inadequate infrastructure, and difficulties scaling up operations. What is its execution status at PU? We are strengthening the startup and entrepreneur system which is already in the campus and now we are taking it upto the next level. More than 100 startups have come up in the University and students are working on different innovative ideas and they have been making efforts to commercialize their technologies which have been developed. There are some success stories also. Moreover, as part of its commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, we have launched the Project Incubators Funding Scheme under the National Mission for Higher Education, RUSA, for bonafide students of the University. This initiative seeks to support and nurture innovative projects and startups by providing them with the necessary financial backing, mentorship, and infrastructure. With a view of bridging the gap between theory and practice, and to sensitize University towards the needs of the industry, Centre for Industry Institute Partnership Programme (CIIPP) was set up in the University. The main objectives of CIIPP are to bring industry closer to the academia and vice-versa, to make strategies for the promotion of synergistic interface with industry, to organize industry interactions, to identify the specific areas of mutual interest, to develop methodologies and guidelines for encouraging consultancy and technology transfer, to encourage R&D programmes for meeting industrial need(s) and to generate resources in the form of industry supported projects and consultancy programmes. PU is facing a staff shortage problem. PU teachers are still waiting for arrears. How will you address these issues? Indeed, Panjab University is grappling with a substantial faculty shortage. We are managing these departments by hiring temporary faculty. We have already advertised about 50 posts in January, this year. Screening has been done by the departments concerned. Final interview will soon start. Few more posts will be advertised as approval has been given. Regarding teachers arrears, we are in touch with the Ministry of Education and the Punjab government. Arrears can be paid after receiving a green signal from the Ministry. You have come a long way from starting as a teaching assistant at PEC to officiating as PU VC. What kept you going? What was your prime source of inspiration? My mother was a government school teacher in Punjab. Sometimes I used to go with her to her school. I grew up in that environment. When I was a kid, my family used to tell me I would gather rice grains on the floor and teach them (playfully). So maybe it all started there. Then when I married, everyone in my marital family was into academics so I joined the teaching profession. Now, with the grace of God I am here, and I feel that it is a great responsibility. As the first woman to hold this charge, what are your plans for women in education, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? I think the scenario has already changed. Back when I was in college, there were only 20-25 girls as against around 1,200 boys. When I went to take admission in Punjab Engineering College (PEC), my father asked me whether he should pay the Rs 500 fee for my admission as there were no girls at PEC. My father wanted me to be a doctor. He was worried I might spoil my career by opting for engineering. As for PU, there are already more girls than boys in all our courses combined, and I think there are 30% girls in STEM fields. Things will further change. When people start seeing more women in leadership roles, they'll be encouraged to send their daughters for higher studies. In every course, we have reserved seats for single girl children. At present, in the campus, the number of girl students is actually more than the number of boys. The number of girls hostels is more than boys hostels. As far as faculty is concerned, the number of female faculties is also more than male faculties. How are you engaging students and teachers bodies for the redressal of their concerns? I have been a director for 28 years and the students already know I am accessible to them. I have that kind of a relationship with them that they would call me on the phone to discuss their issues. They already know I am there for them. We have a democratic system where different council members are elected, and various political parties have their student wings, which take part in the elections so in order to win votes, they have to protest and show results. Those things (protests) will continue. It's a democratic process. As soon as the code of conduct came into force, leave of government officers and employees has been halted in the state capital, now only the Collector will give permission for all types of leaves. Every employee has been asked to stay at the headquarters and have to take permission from the collector even to go out. Offices will remain open even on public holidays. After the implementation of the Code of Conduct, Section 144 has been imposed in Bhopal. Collector Ashish Singh issued orders on Monday. Strict action will be taken if the order is violated. Bhopal Collector Ashish Singh discussed the elections with the media on Monday evening. Along with ADM Prakash Singh Chauhan. Officers and employees attached to the personal staff of the Chief Minister's residence, ministers, MPs and MLAs have been recalled. The date of Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections has been announced. Voting will be done on November 17, while the result will be declared on December 3. In the 7 assembly constituencies of Bhopal 2086569 voters will cast their votes in the elections. There are 27000 voters who are 80 years of age or older, while there will be wheel chair arrangements at every polling station for 8000 differently abled voters. Of the total voters in the district, there are 1074376 male voters and 1011681 female voters, 174 are third gender. Govindpura has the highest number of voters, 392905. At the same time, Bhopal South-West has the least number of voters at 231849. Bhopal has a total of 7 constituencies namely Govindpura, Narela, Huzur, Bhopal Central, Bhopal South-West, Bhopal North and Berasia. Except Berasia assembly, all the rest are in urban limits. Berasia has the highest number of disabled voters at 2153. Their number is 1943 in Huzur and 1474 in Narela. In the remaining assemblies their number is less than 700. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) State Chief and Hussainabad MLA, Kamlesh Singh, on Monday, has warned of withdrawing support from the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition in the State if the partys demand will not be fulfilled at its earliest. Addressing a press meet organized by the State unit of NCP at Ranchi Press Club, Singh said that this Government is working contrary to the expectations and aspirations of the people of the State. There is a demand to make Hussainabad a district in 2021 but the Government did not accept the demand. Illegal sand trade is flourishing in the State due to the nexus of Government, criminals and police. This is not being stopped. In such a situation, if the demand is not met by October 31, then we will withdraw support from the Hemant Soren Government, he added. The Partys State Chief further said that the party had supported the UPA Government formed under the leadership of Hemant Soren. The party has not supported the INDI alliance. In the coming days, the party will work to support the NDA alliance. We are working under the leadership of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, his orders will be paramount, he added. The MLA said that the party has been supporting the State Government for four years. We raised this issue seven times in the Assembly regarding black marketing of sand. Despite this, the Government remains relaxed only by giving assurances. In such a situation, the beneficiaries of PM Awas are not getting sand on proper rate, they are helpless. On the other hand, sand is being sold at high prices in black marketing. If the State Government does not take immediate cognizance of this issue, then the situation regarding sand in the state will continue to worsen and it will affect the people of the State, he added. Threatening the State Government Singh said that NCP will once again inform the Government about all the problems. After that if the Government will not listen to our voice then there will be a State wide movement in the coming days, he added. The State General Secretary, Vinod Singh was also present on the occasion. On the occasion NCP State Spokesperson, Surya Singh said that this Government neither listens to the youth, nor to women and farmers. Unemployment is increasing. Till now there is neither BDO, nor CO nor DSP in our district, so you can imagine what is the condition there. We also informed Minister Alamgir Alam about this several times. But he is doing nothing to solve the problem, he added and he also asked that when the Government is not listening to the MLAs, then how will it listen to the public? General secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai has announced that the upcoming Ram Katha Museum in Ayodhya will house a comprehensive collection, including artifacts and inscriptions excavated from the Ram Janmabhoomi site, as well as documents related to the historic court case. This initiative aims to provide future generations with insights into the challenges faced and the journey taken towards the construction of the Ram temple. Rai revealed that all materials unearthed during the excavation work carried out in 2003 at Ram Janmabhoomi, as well as the travelogues of foreign travellers, would find a place in the museum. Additionally, documents related to the court proceedings, spanning from 1785 to the present day, will be carefully preserved and digitised for easy access. Highlighting the universal significance of Lord Ram, Rai said that the deitys presence transcends borders and is revered worldwide. The museum will showcase how Lord Ram is depicted in different countries and cultures, providing visitors with a global perspective on Lord Rams life and significance. The aim is to present a comprehensive narrative of Lord Rams life, drawing from sources and artifacts from across the world, he said. The Culture department, in a programme held in Lucknow, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the management and operation of the International Ram Katha Museum and Art Gallery in Ayodhya. This collaboration is expected to further enrich the cultural landscape of Ayodhya and promote tourism. Chairman of Ram Mandir Construction Committee Nripendra Mishra reflected on the significance of this initiative during the event. He expressed delight at the progress made in the construction of the temple complex and highlighted the museums importance in presenting the timeless aspects of Lord Ram's life to the world. Drawing parallels with the PM Museum at Teen Murti Bhawan, Mishra said that the expectations of the public would be met and exceeded, and the museum would serve as a testament to Lord Rams enduring legacy. Notorious criminal Zubair Maulana has been arrested by Bhopal Crime Branch. The accused had come to meet his friend near a tea shop located in Fatehgarh, accused was absconding for the last one month in a case of attempt to murder registered in MP Nagar police station. A reward of Rs 5000 was declared against him. On Monday, the police team reached Zubair's house to search for illegal weapons. During this time, his procession was also taken out near his house in the Aishbagh area. According to Crime Branch's Additional DCP Shelendra Singh Chauhan, accused Zubair Maulana, along with two aides, had opened fire in Durga Nagar in the month of September. The incident was carried out due to old rivalry. Since then he has been absconding. The crime branch was searching for him for a long time. Raids were being conducted at his possible hideouts. Every time the accused dodged and escaped. MP Nagar police station said that Abdul Nafees of Durga Nagar Basti, runs Wasim Tent House called Bablu and instructed not to involve his younger brother in gambling and after some time Abdul got a call from the history-sheeter criminal Zubair Maulana of Aishbagh police station who abused and said don't call Bablu in future. After some time, Zubair came along with shooter Salman and Raja and opened fire. Meanwhile miscreants have become fearless in the capital Bhopal. At the birthday party of criminal Nafees alias court, goons were seen openly waving swords. Nafees was also dancing to the tune of DJ and providing cakes to the youth. In the background, miscreants are seen dancing and singing the tag of bullying. After the video surfaced, the police are identifying the accused and would take action. The viral video is said to be from Durga Nagar slum. The wall seen behind in the video is said to be of the main branch of RBI, Arera Hills. A section of students from Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday made some posts on X calling Israel an oppressor state and demanding freedom for Palestine. An occupier and oppressor State (Israel) has no right to lecture about the Right to Defend. This comes after students of Aligarh Muslim University on Sunday took out a march in protest of Palestine and Hamas in Aligarh. The students shouted slogans in support of Palestine. A video of the incident is being circulated on social media. JNU Students Union president Aishe Ghosh wrote on X, Today remembering Comrade Che Guevara on his death anniversary and what he had said years ago. Homeland or Death. With Palestine. Left-backed All India Students Association expressed solidarity with Palestine and called for restoration of peace in the region. In a post later deleted, Jamias National Students Union of India unit too threw its lot behind Palestine and called the presence of Israel in the region terrorism. Israels seven-decade-long occupation in Palestine is terrorism. Palestine deserves freedom from Israelis Zionist terrorism, and collective efforts must be made to ensure a just and peaceful resolution to this long-standing conflict, read the deleted post by the Congress student wing. In its latest tweet, the NSUI said that a peaceful resolution is the only path to justice and urged the world organisations to prioritise diplomatic solutions. Another student group, Dayar-I-Shauq Students Charter, championed the Palestinians cause. We stand in Solidarity with Palestinian people and the Palestinian freedom fighters in their struggle against the settler colonial state of Israel, DISSC posted on X. Hundreds of students at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Sunday demonstrated on campus in support of Palestine amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the suggestions and directions given by Union Home minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to Uttarakhand will be implemented in the State. He said that Shah took time out from his hectic schedule and chaired review meetings of different departments during the visit. Dhami expressed gratitude to Shah for the suggestions and said that the State government has started the necessary works for implementing his suggestions. He said that the Union Home minister gives guidance to the State government from time to time and the state government is committed to implement them. It is pertinent to mention here that Shah was in the State to attend the meeting of the central zonal council in Narendranagar in Tehri and the 49th All India Police Science Congress in Dehradun on Saturday. He took time out of his schedule and took review meetings of the cooperatives, disaster management and home departments. He also reviewed the progress of the vibrant village programme. Shah gave many suggestions and directions to the officers in these meetings. He also held a meeting with BJP office bearers of the State, shared his suggestions and issued directions to them. The Samajwadi Party (SP) will commemorate the first death anniversary of its founder Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday. The party will organise state-wide programmes and the main event will be held at his Samadhi in Saifai, the ancestral town in Etawah district where the entire Yadav family and several party leaders will be present. Mulayam Singh Yadav, who served three terms as Uttar Pradesh chief minister and also as the country's defence minister, had passed away after a prolonged illness on October 10 last year at the age of 82. He had founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992 and was its national president till January 2017. SP national president Akhilesh Yadav and most of the family members will assemble in Saifai on Tuesday to pay tributes to Mulayam. The party will observe Malayams death anniversary across the state and at the party offices in other states besides Delhi. SP president Akhilesh Yadav, other leaders and many workers will gather in Saifai. There will also be an event at the SP state headquarters in Lucknow, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said. At the party offices, tributes will be paid to Netaji and discussions will be held on his political ideals, principles, and legacy, he added. The party has made elaborate arrangements at Mulayams Samadhi in Saifai. The SP will also organise a meeting at the party office in Vidhan Bhawan. Manoj Pandey, chief whip of the party in the state assembly, said that MLAs and other leaders would attend the programme. Punjab Congress on Monday led a vociferous protest march towards the Punjab Raj Bhavan, the Governor's official residence, to voice their strong opposition against the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. However, the peaceful demonstration took a turbulent turn when Chandigarh police used water cannons to disperse the Congress workers. The protest march aimed to present a memorandum to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit, urging him to support Punjab's stance on the contentious SYL canal issue. Prominent leaders of the Punjab Congress, including state unit president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, were part of the procession. A large gathering of Congress supporters accompanied them. Bajwa, expressing his concern, said: We won't let even a single drop of water go out of Punjab at any cost. He accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of collaborating with the BJP Government at the Centre, highlighting the perceived betrayal by legal representatives of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the recent Supreme Court hearing on the SYL canal. Bajwa claimed that the AAP government conveyed its willingness to construct the canal during the hearing, a move that contradicted the interests of Punjab. Congress leader also emphasized that Haryana already possesses more water than Punjab, as it receives water from the Yamuna. He argued that a survey for the SYL canal is unfeasible since the land acquisition has been de-notified in 2016, and farmers have already started cultivating the land. Punjab Congress president Warring lambasted both the AAP led Punjab Government and the BJP-led Central Government for their alleged disregard of Punjabs interests. He criticized the BJPs approach of deflecting complex decisions to the Supreme Court and called for a more responsible role from the Central Government in resolving such issues within the federal structure. Warring appealed to Governor Banwarilal Purohit to inform the Central Government about Punjab's water situation and the state's inability to spare any more water. He highlighted Punjab's critical water scarcity situation and warned that, without a resolution, the State could face desertification within the next 15-20 years, which would be catastrophic for its agriculture-dependent economy. Punjab Congress chief accused the Central Government of attempting to weaken Punjab economically and pushing a particular ideology across India. He vowed to continue the fight for Punjab's interests, asserting that the opposition would not stand in the way of the state government but demanded a strong stance against the canal's construction in the Supreme Court. The Congress leaders and their supporters proceeded toward the Punjab Raj Bhavan but were met with resistance from Chandigarh police, who used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Despite their peaceful intentions, the leaders were subsequently detained by the police at the Sector 17 Police Station. Warring expressed gratitude to the supporters who joined the protest and pledged to persist in their efforts to protect Punjab's interests and resources in the face of what they see as a growing threat to the state's water supply. Continuing its Dalit outreach, the Uttar Pradesh Congress launched a Dalit Gaurav Samvad on Monday, on the death anniversary of Bahujan Samaj Party founder and Dalit scion Kanshi Ram. The Congress has also worked out a Dalit Adhikar Maang Patra (charter of demands) and those attending the partys programmes in UP will be asked to list five demands of Dalits and give their names along with the names of their villages and districts. The move is aimed at bringing the issues of the marginalised classes in focus. The Dalit Gaurav Samvad will end on Constitution Day (November 26). The Congress is making renewed efforts to woo the Dalits, the most backward classes and other downtrodden sections, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress is trying to win back its traditional vote bank, as the grand old party has been out of power in UP since 1989. UPCC president Ajay Rai started the campaign by communicating with Prof RB Singh Gautam, an associate of Kanshi Ram, of Kanshi Ram Colony in Laulai village, Chinhat, and by filling the demand letter for Dalit rights. Rai said, With the Dalit Gaurav Samvad, we will go to villages in Lucknow and other districts to connect with the Dalits and other deprived classes. Various political parties have been making efforts to woo the Dalits in the past and holding programmes on the birth and death anniversaries of Dr BR Ambedkar. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had also coined a slogan, Jitni Abadi Utna Haq (rights proportional to the population size) when he campaigned in the Karnataka Assembly elections early this year. This is quite similar to the BSP founders slogan, Jiski Jitni Sankhya Bhari, Utni Uski Hissedari (share of different sections should be in accordance with their population). UP Congress spokesman Anshu Awasthi said that in the first phase, they propose to connect with 100,000 influential Dalits (250 in each assembly constituency) across UP and 500 Dalit rights demand forms will be filled in each assembly. Dialogue will be held with influential people of more than one lakh Dalit families in the entire state. The party will try to find out what are the main demands of the Dalit community by getting two lakh Dalit rights demand forms filled in the entire state. A night chaupal in Dalit areas in every assembly constituency (total 4,000) has also been proposed. UPCC also proposes to hold Dalit Gaurav Yatras and press conferences. We are seeking a list of 25 Dalit bastis from every district. We will hold night chaupals there. We are also seeking a list of important Dalit leaders from all the districts. We will issue a circular to all the district party units to hold the Dalit Gaurav Samvad programmes. We will get a large number of Dalit Adhikar Patras filled in the coming weeks, he said. A core group will be formed in every Lok Sabha under collective discussion (Dalit Agenda), after which a one-day Dalit Gaurav Yatra will be taken out in 18 divisions of the state. The Congress has always been committed to protecting Indias Constitution and the self-respect of Dalits. In the year 1948-49, the then Congress government had taken the first step for the uplift of these castes by establishing the Harijan Welfare Board for the development of SC/ST. To connect them with education, arrangements for providing free education were ensured. In the year 1950, the Constitution of India was adopted in which every Dalit, deprived and exploited living in the country got the opportunity to become equal. In the year 1953, by giving reservation in land to the landless Dalit community, every landless person was made a land owner. This Dalit Gaurav Samvad is another step in this series, Awasthi said. The Congress government abolished the Zamindari system and implemented the principle of equality in the country. Former PM Bharat Ratna Rajiv Gandhi fulfilled the dream of every poor having a house by bringing Indira Awas Yojana. On the initiative of public leader Rahul Gandhi, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh implemented the NREGA scheme and gave work to everyone, he added. Bagh sewania police have booked a youth for sexually assaulting a 24-year-old young woman; accused is an employee of a telecom company and befriended the girl on Facebook and later sexually assaulted and exploited her. Police said that after the two became friends on the pretext of meeting, he called the girl to his house and committed an atrocity. Police have registered a rape case and started investigation. The accused young man is arrested. Bagsevania police said that the 24-year-old girl lives in Barkheda Pathani area. Last year, she became friends with a young man named Daniel Arnold through Facebook. When the conversation started between the two, Daniel called the girl to his house in December 2022. Here he tried to have physical relations with the girl when the girl refused him, Daniel told her that he loved her and would get married soon and raped the girl on the pretext of marriage. After this, he continued to sexually exploit the girl by promising to marry her soon. Recently, when she pressured him to marry her, Daniel refused to marry her and even beat her up. Yesterday the girl reported the matter to the police. The police have registered a case of rape and arrested the accused. Police suspect that the accused used a fake name to develop friendship with the victim. The accused might have cheated other girls and sexually exploited them, social media accounts of the accused would be investigated. His mobile phone would also be investigated in the investigation, said police. A firebrand Pakistani religious and political leader has termed the deadly attack on Israel by Hamas as a "historic success" and vowed to stand by the people of Palestine, a media report said on Monday. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Sunday, Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the attack on Israel was clear evidence that the Palestine issue was not dead, The Express Tribune newspaper quoted him as saying. We reiterate the position that we are with our Palestinian brothers. The attack of the Palestinian Mujahideen on Israel is a historic success and a historic battle. The Palestinian Mujahideen have freed their territories from the usurpation of Israel, the JUI-F chief said. Rehman, also the chief of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief, also congratulated the Palestinian people, saying that the world was thinking that the Palestinian issue was dead. A section of us [Muslim world] tried unsuccessfully to recognise Israel, however, the latest incident proved that the Palestine issue is not dead, Rehman said, adding that the attack destroyed Israel's defence system and its arrogance. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas militants, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel -- the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said. The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that it will shortly issue a notification for appointment of the chief justice of the Manipur High Court. The apex court was hearing two pleas, including the one alleging delay by the Centre in clearing the names recommended by the collegium for appointment and transfer of judges. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia was informed that files regarding transfer of 14 judges of high courts have been cleared while the remaining 12 are under process. The apex court collegium headed by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud had on July 5 recommended the appointment of Delhi High Court judge Justice Siddharth Mridul as the chief justice of the Manipur High Court. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on October 20. Four Nepalese students studying in Israel have been injured and 11 are still missing after Hamas militants attacked a farm, Foreign Minister NP Saud said on Sunday. The minister said that casualties are feared among the missing students studying in the southern part of Israel. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by the Hamas group, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 600 people, 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. Contact could not be established with 11 Nepalese students and heavy casualties among them are feared, Foreign Minister Saud told PTI. We are trying to ascertain the exact number of casualties, he added. There were 17 Nepalese students in Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel, under the learn and earn programme. Out of 17, two managed to escape safely and four of them sustained injuries, according to Foreign Ministry sources. The injured Nepalese students are undergoing treatment in a hospital, the sources added. There are currently 4,500 Nepalese working as caregivers and 265 Nepalese students currently working in various agricultural firms under the learn and earn scheme. The Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the attack in Israel by the Hamas group. The Nepal government has taken the incident seriously, the ministry said in a statement. The Government of Nepal has formed a mechanism headed by Saud aimed at rescuing Nepali citizens currently in Israel, according to the ministry. An Egyptian policeman opened fire on 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 Egypts Interior Ministry said that another person was wounded in the attack at the Pompeys Pillar site in Alexandria. It provided no further details. Israels 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 US 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. 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 administrations policies led to this moment. The potential for prolonged and expanding violence could test Bidens 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. Lebanons Hezbollah group welcomed the attack as a response to Israeli crimes. The group, which holds similar goals as Hamas for the destruction of the Israeli state, said its command was in contact with Hamas about the operation. A senior adviser to Irans supreme leader also lauded the deadly attack. And Hamas said it was ready for a potentially long fight. 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. Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military official, said the military had killed 400 militants since the start of the war and captured dozens more. Among the 313 killed in Gaza were 20 children, and close to 2,000 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. 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 USD 6 billion in blocked Iranian funds in exchange for freeing five Americans who had been detained in Iran to Saturdays 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 Irans 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 hasnt 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 normalisation 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 recognise 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 Arabias 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 Israels 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 US 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 US 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 US had warned Iran through interlocutors that direct involvement in the Gaza situation would imperil any future initiatives the US 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 US 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. Two German states hold elections on Sunday at the halfway mark of Chancellor Olaf Scholzs unpopular national government, with polls showing the center-right opposition well ahead and Germanys 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 neighbouring Hesse, a region that includes Germanys financial capital, Frankfurt. Both states are led by the countrys main opposition Union bloc, made up of the Christian Democratic Union and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union. The outcome could increase tensions in Scholzs 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 per cent. In Hesse, they give the CDU a double-digit lead in a three-way contest for the governors office among the conservative party, Scholzs 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, wont 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 wont do well on Sunday because people arent 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 per cent support needed to keep their place in the two state legislatures; previous election flops for the party have fueled tensions in the national government. Scholzs 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 governments response on that issue if Interior Minister Nancy Faeser becomes governor of Hesse, but she doesnt appear likely to end the CDUs 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 isnt represented in the national parliament. Soeder decided last month to keep that partys 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. Block, Inc. (NYSE:SQ Get Free Report) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the thirty brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and twenty-three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $84.19. A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Block from $90.00 to $85.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Block from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Stephens lowered their target price on shares of Block from $90.00 to $80.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 4th. Piper Sandler decreased their price target on Block from $83.00 to $77.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 29th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Block from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday. Get Block alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on SQ Insider Activity at Block Institutional Trading of Block In other Block news, insider Brian Grassadonia sold 4,584 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.00, for a total value of $192,528.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 293,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,319,860. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . In related news, CAO Ajmere Dale sold 847 shares of Block stock in a transaction on Monday, October 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $44.16, for a total value of $37,403.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 72,134 shares in the company, valued at $3,185,437.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Brian Grassadonia sold 4,584 shares of Block stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.00, for a total transaction of $192,528.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 293,330 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,319,860. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 30,541 shares of company stock worth $1,722,034. Company insiders own 10.79% of the companys stock. Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in shares of Block by 77,283.6% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 11,698,072 shares of the technology companys stock worth $778,741,000 after acquiring an additional 11,682,955 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Block by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 11,368,613 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $756,809,000 after purchasing an additional 55,250 shares during the period. ARK Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Block by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. ARK Investment Management LLC now owns 10,726,935 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $714,092,000 after purchasing an additional 256,004 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Block by 6.6% in the 2nd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 10,377,309 shares of the technology companys stock worth $690,817,000 after purchasing an additional 643,825 shares during the period. Finally, Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. boosted its position in Block by 17.8% during the 1st quarter. Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 8,205,524 shares of the technology companys stock worth $551,252,000 after acquiring an additional 1,237,427 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 61.17% of the companys stock. Block Trading Up 2.8 % Shares of SQ stock opened at $43.83 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.92 and a quick ratio of 1.92. The company has a market cap of $26.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -99.61 and a beta of 2.37. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $55.39 and a 200-day simple moving average of $61.69. Block has a 1-year low of $40.77 and a 1-year high of $89.97. Block (NYSE:SQ Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The technology company reported $0.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.04. Block had a negative net margin of 1.38% and a negative return on equity of 0.61%. The company had revenue of $5.53 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.10 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.19) EPS. Blocks quarterly revenue was up 25.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Block will post -0.27 EPS for the current fiscal year. Block Company Profile (Get Free Report Square, Inc provides payment and point-of-sale solutions in the United States and internationally. The company's commerce ecosystem includes point-of-sale software and hardware that enables sellers to turn mobile and computing devices into payment and point-of-sale solutions. It offers hardware products, including Magstripe reader, which enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Contactless and chip reader that accepts EMV chip cards and Near Field Communication payments; Chip card reader, which accepts EMV chip cards and enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Square Stand, which enables an iPad to be used as a payment terminal or full point of sale solution; and Square Register that combines its hardware, point-of-sale software, and payments technology, as well as managed payments solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Block Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Block and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of First American Financial Co. (NYSE:FAF Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $68.25. A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of First American Financial in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. SpectralCast restated a maintains rating on shares of First American Financial in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of First American Financial from $67.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. BTIG Research reiterated a neutral rating on shares of First American Financial in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, Stephens increased their price target on shares of First American Financial from $71.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Get First American Financial alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on First American Financial Hedge Funds Weigh In On First American Financial First American Financial Stock Up 0.1 % A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in shares of First American Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC acquired a new position in shares of First American Financial in the 1st quarter valued at about $38,000. Ellevest Inc. raised its holdings in First American Financial by 76.1% in the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 745 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the period. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in First American Financial in the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new stake in First American Financial during the 1st quarter worth approximately $46,000. 85.53% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. NYSE:FAF opened at $54.22 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average price is $60.11 and its 200-day moving average price is $57.88. First American Financial has a 52 week low of $43.54 and a 52 week high of $64.66. The stock has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.47 and a beta of 1.26. First American Financial (NYSE:FAF Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.35 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.39. First American Financial had a net margin of 3.64% and a return on equity of 10.72%. The firm had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.50 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that First American Financial will post 4.34 earnings per share for the current year. First American Financial Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.91%. This is a boost from First American Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. First American Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 91.78%. About First American Financial (Get Free Report First American Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides financial services. It operates through Title Insurance and Services, and Specialty Insurance segments. The Title Insurance and Services segment issues title insurance policies on residential and commercial property, as well as offers related products and services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for First American Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First American Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The firm issued a buy rating on the healthcare product makers stock. A number of other brokerages also recently commented on ABT. Wolfe Research upgraded Abbott Laboratories from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Citigroup lowered their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $130.00 to $122.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $120.00 to $112.00 in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Mizuho upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and issued a $112.00 price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Friday, July 21st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $120.47. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.7 % NYSE ABT opened at $96.88 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $93.25 and a twelve month high of $115.83. 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. The stocks 50 day moving average is $102.41 and its 200 day moving average is $105.07. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $9.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.71 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.50% and a net margin of 12.83%. Abbott Laboratoriess revenue for the quarter was down 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.43 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 13th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.11%. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 69.62%. Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories In related news, Director Daniel J. Starks sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $113.76, for a total transaction 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Abbott Laboratories news, Director Daniel J. Starks 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 $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 is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 10,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.03, for a total transaction of $1,092,312.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,829,785.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Abbott Laboratories Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Monumental Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. CGC Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories in the second quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock. About Abbott Laboratories (Get 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. Read More 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. AES (NYSE:AES Get Free Report) was downgraded by UBS Group from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report issued on Thursday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $29.00 target price on shares of AES in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Barclays assumed coverage on AES in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $25.00 price objective for the company. Susquehanna cut their target price on AES from $33.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on AES from $26.00 to $23.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Finally, Bank of America lowered AES from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $24.00 to $23.00 in a report on Thursday, June 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.91. Get AES alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on AES AES Stock Performance AES traded up $0.39 on Thursday, hitting $13.40. 9,173,406 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,804,779. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.02. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $17.13 and a two-hundred day moving average of $20.27. AES has a twelve month low of $11.43 and a twelve month high of $29.89. The firm has a market cap of $8.97 billion, a PE ratio of -21.95, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.02. AES (NYSE:AES Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.08 billion. AES had a negative net margin of 2.70% and a positive return on equity of 36.65%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.34 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that AES will post 1.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at AES In other AES news, Director Alain Monie bought 27,400 shares of AES stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $18.27 per share, for a total transaction of $500,598.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 28,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $524,805.75. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Alain Monie bought 27,400 shares of AES stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $18.27 per share, with a total value of $500,598.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 28,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $524,805.75. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Maura Shaughnessy purchased 12,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $19.49 per share, for a total transaction of $243,625.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 60,653 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,182,126.97. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.01% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On AES A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of AES by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Paragon Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 22,358 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $643,000 after buying an additional 383 shares during the period. River Street Advisors LLC boosted its position in AES by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. River Street Advisors LLC now owns 11,863 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $286,000 after acquiring an additional 466 shares during the period. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in shares of AES by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 78,671 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,894,000 after purchasing an additional 487 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of AES by 22.8% in the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 2,759 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $62,000 after purchasing an additional 512 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Harbour Investments Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AES by 17.6% during the fourth quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 3,513 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.49% of the companys stock. AES Company Profile (Get Free Report) The AES Corporation operates as a diversified power generation and utility company. It owns and/or operates power plants to generate and sell power to customers, such as utilities, industrial users, and other intermediaries. The company also owns and/or operates utilities to generate or purchase, distribute, transmit, and sell electricity to end-user customers in the residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental sectors; and generates and sells electricity on the wholesale market. Read More Receive News & Ratings for AES Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AES and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Aflac (NYSE:AFL Free Report) in a report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Several other research firms also recently commented on AFL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Aflac from $72.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Aflac from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Aflac from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. 888 restated a reiterates rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Friday, June 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut Aflac from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price target for the company from $74.00 to $75.00 in a report on Friday, August 18th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $76.36. Get Aflac alerts: View Our Latest Report on AFL Aflac Stock Up 1.5 % Shares of AFL stock opened at $77.60 on Thursday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $75.69 and a 200 day moving average of $70.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The stock has a market cap of $46.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.91. Aflac has a twelve month low of $56.26 and a twelve month high of $78.43. Aflac (NYSE:AFL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.16. The firm had revenue of $5.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.52 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 16.10% and a net margin of 24.48%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Aflac will post 6.01 EPS for the current year. Aflac Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 22nd. Aflacs payout ratio is 22.46%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, insider Virgil Raynard Miller sold 2,626 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.08, for a total transaction of $202,412.08. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $168,111.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CFO James Todd Daniels sold 3,355 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.51, for a total transaction of $249,981.05. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 60,274 shares in the company, valued at $4,491,015.74. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Virgil Raynard Miller sold 2,626 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.08, for a total value of $202,412.08. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 2,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $168,111.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 30,170 shares of company stock valued at $2,289,435 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Aflac Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AFL. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC grew its position in Aflac by 0.4% during the second quarter. Sound View Wealth Advisors Group LLC now owns 37,453 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,614,000 after buying an additional 141 shares during the period. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Aflac by 4.0% during the third quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,888 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $298,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. boosted its position in Aflac by 0.7% during the first quarter. Valmark Advisers Inc. now owns 23,179 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,495,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Hanlon Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Aflac by 3.1% in the second quarter. Hanlon Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,219 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $364,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Good Life Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Aflac by 0.6% in the first quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 24,699 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,594,000 after buying an additional 159 shares in the last quarter. 66.75% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Aflac (Get Free Report) Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. It operates in two segments, Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Alamos Gold (NYSE:AGI Free Report) (TSE:AGI) in a research report released on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the basic materials companys stock. A number of other brokerages have also issued reports on AGI. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $10.00 target price on shares of Alamos Gold in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. TD Securities upgraded shares of Alamos Gold from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Finally, CSFB lowered their target price on shares of Alamos Gold from $13.00 to $12.50 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Alamos Gold presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $14.70. Get Alamos Gold alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Alamos Gold Alamos Gold Trading Up 2.1 % AGI stock opened at $11.55 on Thursday. Alamos Gold has a twelve month low of $7.08 and a twelve month high of $14.12. The companys 50 day moving average is $11.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.31. The stock has a market cap of $4.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.17, a PEG ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.12. Alamos Gold (NYSE:AGI Get Free Report) (TSE:AGI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The basic materials company reported $0.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.12 by $0.03. Alamos Gold had a net margin of 16.98% and a return on equity of 6.00%. The company had revenue of $261.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $251.17 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.07 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 36.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts predict that Alamos Gold will post 0.43 earnings per share for the current year. Alamos Gold Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 14th were given a $0.025 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 13th. This represents a $0.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.87%. Alamos Golds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.39%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alamos Gold A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in Alamos Gold by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 52,129,570 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $621,383,000 after buying an additional 3,542,008 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,312,053 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $98,641,000 after purchasing an additional 256,082 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 9,177,531 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $77,275,000 after purchasing an additional 579,511 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 16.6% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,232,342 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $76,089,000 after purchasing an additional 888,701 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Alamos Gold by 29.0% during the 1st quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 5,551,252 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $67,770,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248,500 shares in the last quarter. 54.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Alamos Gold Company Profile (Get Free Report) Alamos Gold Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and extraction of precious metals in Canada and Mexico. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Young-Davidson mine and Island Gold mine located in the Ontario, Canada; Mulatos mine located in the Sonora, Mexico; and Lynn Lake project situated in the Manitoba, Canada. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Alamos Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alamos Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its position in RingCentral, Inc. (NYSE:RNG Free Report) by 176.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 465,697 shares of the software makers stock after acquiring an additional 297,085 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned approximately 0.49% of RingCentral worth $15,242,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of RingCentral by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 8,927,410 shares of the software makers stock valued at $356,739,000 after acquiring an additional 420,567 shares during the period. Pictet Asset Management SA raised its position in shares of RingCentral by 25.7% in the 1st quarter. Pictet Asset Management SA now owns 4,602,025 shares of the software makers stock valued at $141,144,000 after acquiring an additional 940,926 shares during the period. No Street GP LP raised its position in shares of RingCentral by 26.3% in the 1st quarter. No Street GP LP now owns 2,375,000 shares of the software makers stock valued at $72,841,000 after acquiring an additional 495,000 shares during the period. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. raised its position in shares of RingCentral by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 1,931,128 shares of the software makers stock valued at $59,228,000 after acquiring an additional 216,585 shares during the period. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its holdings in RingCentral by 10.0% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,665,813 shares of the software makers stock worth $51,090,000 after buying an additional 150,943 shares during the period. 84.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get RingCentral alerts: RingCentral Stock Up 5.3 % NYSE:RNG opened at $30.03 on Monday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $31.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.76. RingCentral, Inc. has a twelve month low of $25.32 and a twelve month high of $49.32. Analyst Ratings Changes RingCentral ( NYSE:RNG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The software maker reported ($0.03) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.07) by $0.04. The business had revenue of $539.31 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $536.04 million. On average, analysts expect that RingCentral, Inc. will post -0.1 EPS for the current year. Several brokerages have commented on RNG. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of RingCentral in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on shares of RingCentral from $42.00 to $46.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of RingCentral from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $49.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Craig Hallum reaffirmed a hold rating and set a $38.00 price target on shares of RingCentral in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of RingCentral from $50.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $43.52. Read Our Latest Report on RNG Insider Activity In other RingCentral news, CFO Vaibhav Agarwal sold 5,434 shares of RingCentral stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.73, for a total transaction of $156,118.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 108,370 shares in the company, valued at $3,113,470.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other RingCentral news, CEO Vladimir Shmunis sold 58,222 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.56, for a total transaction of $1,662,820.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 439,476 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,551,434.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Vaibhav Agarwal sold 5,434 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.73, for a total value of $156,118.82. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 108,370 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,113,470.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 82,469 shares of company stock worth $2,356,238 in the last quarter. 6.49% of the stock is owned by company insiders. RingCentral Company Profile (Free Report) RingCentral, Inc provides cloud communications, video meetings, collaboration, and contact center software-as-a-service solutions worldwide. The company's products include RingCentral Message Video Phone (MVP) that provides a unified experience for communication and collaboration across multiple modes, including HD voice, video, SMS, messaging and collaboration, conferencing, online meetings, and fax; RingCentral Contact Center, a collaborative contact center solution that delivers AI powered omni-channel and workforce engagement solution with integrated RingCentral MVP; and RingCentral Engage Digital, a digital customer engagement platform that allows enterprises to interact with their customers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for RingCentral Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for RingCentral and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. cut its stake in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report) by 26.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 12,225 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 4,501 shares during the quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. owned about 0.06% of Mettler-Toledo International worth $16,035,000 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 stock. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Mettler-Toledo International by 8.0% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 176 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $242,000 after acquiring an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 19.7% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 176 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $242,000 after purchasing an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 48.9% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 834 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,172,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 16,305 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $21,817,000 after purchasing an additional 662 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in Mettler-Toledo International during the 1st quarter worth $626,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.11% of the companys stock. Get Mettler-Toledo International alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. TheStreet downgraded Mettler-Toledo International from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. StockNews.com lowered Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,660.00 to $1,520.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on shares of Mettler-Toledo International from $1,454.00 to $1,366.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,470.14. Mettler-Toledo International Stock Performance NYSE MTD opened at $1,081.73 on Monday. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a one year low of $1,065.55 and a one year high of $1,615.97. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $1,174.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1,316.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.65 billion, a PE ratio of 27.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.16. Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $10.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $9.99 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $982.12 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1 billion. Mettler-Toledo International had a net margin of 22.48% and a negative return on equity of 2,136.23%. Equities analysts forecast that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 40.63 earnings per share for the current year. About Mettler-Toledo International (Free Report) Mettler-Toledo International Inc manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: U.S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations, and Other. The company's laboratory instruments include laboratory balances, liquid pipetting solutions, automated laboratory reactors, titrators, pH meters, process analytics sensors and analyzer technologies, physical value analyzers, density and refractometry, thermal analysis systems, and other analytical instruments; and LabX, a laboratory software platform to manage and analyze data generated from its instruments. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mettler-Toledo International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mettler-Toledo International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the fifteen brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $69.20. A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on PNR shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Pentair in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set a buy rating and a $75.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Pentair from $70.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Pentair from $63.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Friday, July 28th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Pentair in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Pentair from $65.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 28th. Get Pentair alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on PNR Pentair Stock Performance Shares of Pentair stock opened at $63.30 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $67.56 and a 200-day moving average of $62.00. Pentair has a 1-year low of $38.55 and a 1-year high of $71.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market cap of $10.45 billion, a PE ratio of 21.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 1.17. Pentair (NYSE:PNR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The industrial products company reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.08. Pentair had a net margin of 11.82% and a return on equity of 22.39%. The company had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.02 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Pentair will post 3.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Pentair Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 20th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 19th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.39%. Pentairs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.53%. Insider Activity In other news, CEO John L. Stauch sold 32,596 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.42, for a total value of $2,328,006.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 7,690 shares in the company, valued at $549,219.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pentair Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Global Retirement Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of Pentair by 2,605.0% during the first quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 3,219 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $186,000 after acquiring an additional 3,100 shares in the last quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its stake in shares of Pentair by 9.6% during the first quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 87,708 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,848,000 after acquiring an additional 7,683 shares in the last quarter. Interval Partners LP purchased a new position in shares of Pentair during the first quarter worth approximately $9,041,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Pentair by 7.5% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 9,253 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $511,000 after acquiring an additional 643 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Pentair by 5.2% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 13,468 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $744,000 after acquiring an additional 667 shares in the last quarter. 88.60% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Pentair (Get Free Report Pentair plc provides various water solutions worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Pool, Water Solutions, Industrial & Flow Technologies. It designs, manufactures, and sells residential and commercial pool equipment and accessories, including pumps, filters, heaters, lights, automatic controls, automatic cleaners, maintenance equipment, and pool accessories for residential and commercial pool maintenance, repair, renovation, service, and construction applications; and water treatment products and systems comprising pressure tanks, control valves, activated carbon products, conventional filtration products, and point-of-entry and point-of-use systems for use in residential whole home water filtration, drinking water filtration, water softening solutions, commercial total water management and filtration, and foodservice operations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Pentair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pentair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 0.3% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 167,606 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 521 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Digital Realty Trust worth $19,085,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 0.7% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 27,569,868 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,710,394,000 after buying an additional 185,845 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 0.5% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,131,762 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,979,148,000 after buying an additional 96,038 shares during the period. APG Asset Management US Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 0.3% in the first quarter. APG Asset Management US Inc. now owns 10,020,960 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $985,161,000 after buying an additional 26,148 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 2.5% in the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,170,504 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $704,925,000 after buying an additional 176,565 shares during the period. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 13.3% in the first quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 6,100,440 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $599,734,000 after buying an additional 715,291 shares during the period. 99.71% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages recently issued reports on DLR. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on Digital Realty Trust from $132.00 to $144.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Digital Realty Trust from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $138.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, July 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday. They set a sell rating for the company. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $130.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Digital Realty Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $112.00 to $131.00 in a research report on Friday, August 25th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Digital Realty Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $121.50. Digital Realty Trust Stock Performance Shares of DLR opened at $117.37 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 90.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.56. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $124.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $110.26. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $85.76 and a 12 month high of $133.39. Digital Realty Trust Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $4.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.16%. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 378.30%. Insider Transactions at Digital Realty Trust In other news, insider Cindy Fiedelman sold 2,770 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total transaction of $346,250.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock. About Digital Realty Trust (Free Report) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its stake in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Free Report) by 15.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,274 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 587 shares during the period. Summit Trail Advisors LLCs holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $386,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Roundview Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Consolidated Edison during the first quarter worth about $680,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 22.6% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,030,616 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $97,579,000 after buying an additional 190,138 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 54.4% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 18,204 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,693,000 after buying an additional 6,412 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 1.3% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 19,489 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,845,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Consolidated Edison during the first quarter worth about $214,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.53% of the companys stock. Get Consolidated Edison alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of Consolidated Edison from $90.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Bank of America cut their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $103.00 to $96.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $95.00 to $88.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $102.00 to $96.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $70.00 to $77.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Consolidated Edison currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $89.14. Consolidated Edison Stock Up 1.9 % Shares of NYSE ED opened at $86.35 on Monday. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a 1 year low of $78.10 and a 1 year high of $100.92. The firms 50 day moving average price is $89.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $93.04. The firm has a market cap of $29.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.80 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 1.02. Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.03. Consolidated Edison had a net margin of 15.84% and a return on equity of 8.27%. The firm had revenue of $2.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.31 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.64 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 4.9 earnings per share for the current year. Consolidated Edison Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.81 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $3.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.75%. Consolidated Edisons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 46.62%. About Consolidated Edison (Free Report) Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.6 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ED? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Consolidated Edison Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Consolidated Edison and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. decreased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,300 shares of the companys stock after selling 120 shares during the quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,548,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of LLY. Towerpoint Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Towerpoint Wealth LLC now owns 4,239 shares of the companys stock worth $1,988,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. Pacific Sage Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,591 shares of the companys stock worth $746,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. Oxler Private Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,050 shares of the companys stock worth $2,078,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the period. Missouri Trust & Investment Co lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 774 shares of the companys stock worth $266,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the period. Finally, IFG Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.8% during the 2nd quarter. IFG Advisors LLC now owns 654 shares of the companys stock worth $307,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Company 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 stock was sold at an average price of $466.62, for a total value of $275,772.42. Following the transaction, 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total value of $678,445.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at $4,586,004.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, 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 value of $275,772.42. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 have sold 693,246 shares of company stock worth $20,948,820,977 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of LLY opened at $565.22 on Monday. 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 stock has a 50 day moving average price of $542.00 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $463.28. 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. Eli Lilly and Company has a 52 week low of $309.20 and a 52 week high of $601.84. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.25 EPS. The companys revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades LLY has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $615.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. HSBC began coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $560.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $490.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Eli Lilly and Company from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $408.00 to $615.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and twenty have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $537.13. Read Our Latest Research Report on Eli Lilly and Company 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. Cozad Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report) by 3.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 15,162 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after buying an additional 479 shares during the period. UnitedHealth Group makes up about 0.9% of Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $7,287,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chelsea Counsel Co. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. 25 LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Freedom Wealth Alliance LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Kalos Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. 85.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently weighed in on UNH. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $592.00 to $572.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on UnitedHealth Group from $527.00 to $532.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, July 17th. StockNews.com started coverage on UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $616.00 to $561.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price objective on UnitedHealth Group from $600.00 to $549.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $575.65. Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group In other news, CEO Andrew Witty sold 4,000 shares of the 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 78,573 shares in the company, valued at $39,772,866.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 1.7 % NYSE UNH opened at $524.81 on Monday. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 52 week low of $445.68 and a 52 week high of $558.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a current ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $486.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $496.76 and a 200-day moving average of $490.26. UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.97 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.57 earnings per share. UnitedHealth Groups revenue was up 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.83 EPS for the current year. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 11th were paid a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.43%. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio is 33.65%. 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. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Free Report). 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. Cozad Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX Free Report) by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 13,033 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 246 shares during the quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Quest Diagnostics were worth $1,832,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 220.5% during the 1st quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 13,959 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,975,000 after purchasing an additional 9,604 shares in the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp increased its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 23,459 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $3,319,000 after purchasing an additional 494 shares in the last quarter. WBH Advisory Inc. acquired a new stake in Quest Diagnostics during the 1st quarter valued at $226,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 86,920 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $12,217,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trilogy Capital Inc. increased its holdings in Quest Diagnostics by 22.3% during the 1st quarter. Trilogy Capital Inc. now owns 2,247 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $318,000 after purchasing an additional 410 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.76% of the companys stock. Get Quest Diagnostics alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $145.00 price target on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $149.90. Quest Diagnostics Price Performance DGX opened at $124.27 on Monday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $129.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $135.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The stock has a market cap of $13.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.09 and a beta of 0.96. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 12 month low of $119.59 and a 12 month high of $158.34. Quest Diagnostics (NYSE:DGX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The medical research company reported $2.30 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $2.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.25 billion. Quest Diagnostics had a return on equity of 16.32% and a net margin of 8.37%. Quest Diagnosticss revenue was down 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.36 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.7 EPS for the current year. Quest Diagnostics Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be given a dividend of $0.71 per share. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Quest Diagnosticss dividend payout ratio is currently 41.34%. Quest Diagnostics Profile (Free Report) Quest Diagnostics Incorporated provides diagnostic testing, information, and services in the United States and internationally. The company develops and delivers diagnostic information services, such as routine testing, non-routine and advanced clinical testing, anatomic pathology testing, and other diagnostic information services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DGX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Quest Diagnostics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quest Diagnostics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of CPI Aerostructures (NYSEAMERICAN:CVU Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a strong-buy rating on the aerospace companys stock. CPI Aerostructures Price Performance NYSEAMERICAN:CVU opened at $2.92 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $3.56. CPI Aerostructures has a 1-year low of $1.50 and a 1-year high of $4.60. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68. The stock has a market cap of $36.91 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 1.83. Get CPI Aerostructures alerts: CPI Aerostructures (NYSEAMERICAN:CVU Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Monday, August 21st. The aerospace company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter. CPI Aerostructures had a return on equity of 312.34% and a net margin of 12.43%. The company had revenue of $20.55 million during the quarter. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About CPI Aerostructures Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in CPI Aerostructures in the 4th quarter valued at about $445,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of CPI Aerostructures by 272.5% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 90,067 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $350,000 after purchasing an additional 65,887 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of CPI Aerostructures by 41.4% in the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 126,557 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $574,000 after purchasing an additional 37,045 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new position in shares of CPI Aerostructures in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $115,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in shares of CPI Aerostructures by 95.0% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 61,800 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $240,000 after acquiring an additional 30,100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 10.84% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) CPI Aerostructures, Inc engages in the contract production of structural aircraft parts for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters in the commercial and defense markets. The company also offers aerosystems, such as reconnaissance pod structures and fuel panel systems; and supplies parts for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), as well as kitting contracts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for CPI Aerostructures Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CPI Aerostructures and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 21,438 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 179 shares during the quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $2,441,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Digital Realty Trust during the 1st quarter worth $276,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 9,563 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $940,000 after buying an additional 469 shares during the last quarter. BOS Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Digital Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $521,000. Oak Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. Oak Asset Management LLC now owns 10,868 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,068,000 after buying an additional 531 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arlington Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Digital Realty Trust by 485.4% during the 1st quarter. Arlington Partners LLC now owns 1,206 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $119,000 after buying an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. 99.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently weighed in on DLR shares. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $130.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. StockNews.com started coverage on Digital Realty Trust in a report on Thursday. They issued a sell rating for the company. BNP Paribas raised Digital Realty Trust from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $138.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, July 28th. Barclays boosted their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $80.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $125.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an outperformer rating in a report on Monday, August 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $121.50. Digital Realty Trust Stock Performance NYSE DLR opened at $117.37 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.02. The businesss 50 day moving average is $124.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $110.26. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $85.76 and a 12-month high of $133.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 90.99, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.56. Digital Realty Trust Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $1.22 per share. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.16%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. Digital Realty Trusts payout ratio is 378.30%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, insider Cindy Fiedelman sold 2,770 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.00, for a total value of $346,250.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.39% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Digital Realty Trust Profile (Free Report) Digital Realty brings companies and data together by delivering the full spectrum of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data center platform, provides customers with a secure data "meeting place" and a proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for powering innovation and efficiently managing Data Gravity challenges. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp grew its holdings in AppLovin Co. (NYSE:APP Free Report) by 57.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 12,844 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,661 shares during the quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in AppLovin were worth $330,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of AppLovin by 447.9% in the first quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 146,258 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,304,000 after purchasing an additional 119,562 shares during the last quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in AppLovin during the first quarter worth about $735,000. ETF Managers Group LLC grew its position in AppLovin by 69.3% during the first quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 42,559 shares of the companys stock worth $670,000 after buying an additional 17,426 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in AppLovin during the second quarter worth about $48,726,000. Finally, Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC acquired a new stake in AppLovin during the second quarter worth about $228,000. 41.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get AppLovin alerts: AppLovin Stock Performance NYSE:APP opened at $40.38 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 2.87, a quick ratio of 2.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 673.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 1.82. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $38.89 and a 200-day moving average of $27.82. AppLovin Co. has a 1 year low of $9.14 and a 1 year high of $44.89. Insider Activity at AppLovin AppLovin ( NYSE:APP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The company reported $0.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.08 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $750.17 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $724.41 million. AppLovin had a net margin of 0.70% and a return on equity of 5.51%. AppLovins revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.06) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that AppLovin Co. will post 0.77 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other AppLovin news, Director Dawson Alyssa Harvey sold 922 shares of AppLovin stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.51, for a total transaction of $35,506.22. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 13,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $533,170.95. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other AppLovin news, major shareholder Denali Holdings L.P. Kkr sold 15,000,000 shares of AppLovin stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.85, for a total transaction of $552,750,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 4,570,327 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $168,416,549.95. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Dawson Alyssa Harvey sold 922 shares of AppLovin stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.51, for a total transaction of $35,506.22. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 13,845 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $533,170.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 25,610,250 shares of company stock valued at $947,717,590 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 12.43% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on APP shares. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on AppLovin from $36.00 to $43.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 10th. Jefferies Financial Group raised AppLovin from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $20.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Bank of America lifted their target price on AppLovin from $41.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of AppLovin from $17.50 to $40.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 16th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price target on shares of AppLovin from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AppLovin has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $41.25. Get Our Latest Stock Report on APP About AppLovin (Free Report) AppLovin Corporation engages in building a software-based platform for mobile app developers to enhance the marketing and monetization of their apps in the United States and internationally. The company's software solutions include AppDiscovery, a marketing software solution, which matches advertiser demand with publisher supply through auctions; Adjust, an analytics platform that helps marketers grow their mobile apps with solutions for measuring, optimizing campaigns, and protecting user data; MAX, an in-app bidding software that optimizes the value of an app's advertising inventory by running a real-time competitive auction; and Wurl, a connected TV platform, which primarily distributes streaming video for content companies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for AppLovin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AppLovin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Free Report) by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 56,960 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorps holdings in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF were worth $13,822,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in IWO. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 109,740.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 84,984,482 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $18,230,871,000 after purchasing an additional 84,907,111 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 174.7% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 302,593 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $77,388,000 after acquiring an additional 192,447 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF by 233.2% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 244,827 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $52,520,000 after acquiring an additional 171,350 shares during the last quarter. CI Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF in the 4th quarter worth $35,014,000. Finally, Barclays PLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF in the 1st quarter worth $25,746,000. Get iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Stock Up 1.2 % Shares of IWO opened at $220.43 on Monday. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $201.72 and a 52-week high of $255.10. The company has a market capitalization of $9.18 billion, a PE ratio of 17.55 and a beta of 1.15. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $234.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $233.16. iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell 2000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the small-capitalization growth sector of the United States equity market. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of First Majestic Silver (NYSE:AG Free Report) (TSE:FR) in a research report sent to investors on Friday. The firm issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock. A number of other research analysts also recently commented on AG. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on First Majestic Silver in a report on Thursday, September 14th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. TD Securities reduced their price objective on First Majestic Silver from C$10.50 to C$10.00 in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Finally, HC Wainwright lowered their target price on shares of First Majestic Silver from $12.50 to $12.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 7th. Get First Majestic Silver alerts: Read Our Latest Report on AG First Majestic Silver Stock Performance First Majestic Silver stock opened at $5.21 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $5.71 and its 200-day moving average is $6.17. The company has a market cap of $1.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.14 and a beta of 1.15. First Majestic Silver has a 12 month low of $4.81 and a 12 month high of $9.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 2.89 and a quick ratio of 2.43. First Majestic Silver (NYSE:AG Get Free Report) (TSE:FR) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The mining company reported ($0.02) EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.02). The business had revenue of $146.69 million for the quarter. First Majestic Silver had a negative return on equity of 3.26% and a negative net margin of 25.46%. Equities analysts anticipate that First Majestic Silver will post -0.05 earnings per share for the current year. First Majestic Silver Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a $0.005 dividend. This represents a $0.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. First Majestic Silvers payout ratio is -3.51%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of First Majestic Silver by 5,383.0% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,825 shares of the mining companys stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 4,737 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its stake in First Majestic Silver by 52.2% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 46,051 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $606,000 after buying an additional 15,787 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in First Majestic Silver during the 1st quarter valued at about $87,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its position in shares of First Majestic Silver by 127.3% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,322,713 shares of the mining companys stock worth $17,408,000 after buying an additional 740,867 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of First Majestic Silver in the 1st quarter worth approximately $142,000. Institutional investors own 31.43% of the companys stock. About First Majestic Silver (Get Free Report) First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in North America. Its projects include the San Dimas mine that consists of 119 individual concessions covering an area of 71,839 hectares located in Durango and Sinaloa States, Mexico; the Santa Elena comprising 32 individual concessions that covers an area of 102,172 hectares located in Sonora State, Mexico; and the La Encantada consists of 22 exploitation concessions covering an area of 4,076 hectares located in Coahuila State, Mexico. Read More Receive News & Ratings for First Majestic Silver Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Majestic Silver and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forum Financial Management LP boosted its position in Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO) by 7.3% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 7,328 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the quarter. Forum Financial Management LPs holdings in Bank of Montreal were worth $662,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BMO. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Bank of Montreal in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Bank of Montreal by 339.0% in the 4th quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 439 shares of the banks stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Bank of Montreal in the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC bought a new position in shares of Bank of Montreal in the 1st quarter worth $78,000. Finally, CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its holdings in shares of Bank of Montreal by 64.2% in the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,125 shares of the banks stock worth $99,000 after buying an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. 43.89% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bank of Montreal alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts have recently commented on BMO shares. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from $123.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, August 21st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bank of Montreal in a report on Thursday. They issued a sell rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $139.25. Bank of Montreal Price Performance BMO stock opened at $81.05 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 0.96. Bank of Montreal has a 52 week low of $78.50 and a 52 week high of $102.79. The firms fifty day moving average is $85.60 and its 200 day moving average is $87.81. The firm has a market cap of $58.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.14. Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Get Free Report) (TSE:BMO) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 29th. The bank reported $2.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.28 by ($0.20). Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 11.19% and a return on equity of 12.70%. The business had revenue of $5.94 billion for the quarter. Research analysts predict that Bank of Montreal will post 8.71 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of Montreal Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 28th. Investors of record on Monday, October 30th will be issued a dividend of $1.11 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 27th. This represents a $4.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.48%. This is a positive change from Bank of Montreals previous quarterly dividend of $1.09. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.81%. Bank of Montreal Profile (Free Report) Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of Montreal (NYSE:BMO Free Report) (TSE:BMO). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Montreal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Montreal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new stake in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 529 shares of the credit services providers stock, valued at approximately $208,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Aspire Private Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth $18,897,320,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Financial Connections Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth $268,923,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.94% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Stock Performance Shares of Mastercard stock opened at $397.97 on Monday. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $276.87 and a one year high of $418.60. The company has a market cap of $374.97 billion, a PE ratio of 37.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $402.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $386.93. Mastercard Announces Dividend Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.05. Mastercard had a return on equity of 178.10% and a net margin of 43.37%. The business had revenue of $6.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.18 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.56 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 9th. Investors of record on Monday, October 9th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 21.37%. Insider Activity at Mastercard In related news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $400.00, for a total value of $2,533,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 46,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,596,400. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Timothy H. Murphy sold 7,419 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $397.28, for a total value of $2,947,420.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 39,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,496,700.96. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $400.00, for a total value of $2,533,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 46,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,596,400. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 424,779 shares of company stock valued at $168,609,298 over the last three months. 0.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently issued reports on MA. Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $438.00 to $442.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Mastercard in a report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $440.00 to $443.00 in a report on Friday, July 28th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $437.00 to $470.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Finally, 888 restated a reiterates rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, June 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $443.88. Check Out Our Latest Report on MA About Mastercard (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE Free Report) by 11.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,062 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,299 shares during the quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC.s holdings in St. Joe were worth $631,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Money Concepts Capital Corp bought a new position in St. Joe in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in St. Joe by 93.8% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 909 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. bought a new position in shares of St. Joe during the 1st quarter valued at $42,000. Adirondack Retirement Specialists Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of St. Joe by 304.1% during the 1st quarter. Adirondack Retirement Specialists Inc. now owns 1,196 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 900 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of St. Joe by 18.1% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,805 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 277 shares during the period. 88.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get St. Joe alerts: Insider Transactions at St. Joe In other news, Director Bruce R. Berkowitz sold 185,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.95, for a total value of $12,015,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 20,586,791 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,337,112,075.45. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Bruce R. Berkowitz sold 185,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.95, for a total value of $12,015,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 20,586,791 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,337,112,075.45. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Bruce R. Berkowitz sold 118,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.82, for a total value of $7,562,670.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 20,468,291 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,306,286,331.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 711,300 shares of company stock worth $44,820,479 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 41.60% of the companys stock. St. Joe Price Performance NYSE JOE opened at $53.41 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $58.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.33 and a beta of 1.33. The St. Joe Company has a 1-year low of $31.11 and a 1-year high of $65.99. St. Joe (NYSE:JOE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $128.10 million for the quarter. St. Joe had a return on equity of 13.06% and a net margin of 26.73%. St. Joe Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were paid a $0.12 dividend. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.90%. This is a positive change from St. Joes previous quarterly dividend of $0.10. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. St. Joes dividend payout ratio is 32.65%. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on St. Joe in a report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on JOE About St. Joe (Free Report) The St. Joe Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate development, asset management, and operating company in Northwest Florida. It operates through three segments: Residential, Hospitality, and Commercial. The Residential segment plans and develops residential communities of various sizes for homebuilders or retail consumers. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JOE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The St. Joe Company (NYSE:JOE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for St. Joe Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for St. Joe and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. decreased its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report) by 3.7% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 4,334 shares of the companys stock after selling 165 shares during the period. Institute for Wealth Management LLC.s holdings in Novartis were worth $437,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2.7% during the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 340,927 shares of the companys stock worth $34,403,000 after purchasing an additional 9,060 shares during the period. Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 20.2% during the second quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 4,261 shares of the companys stock worth $430,000 after purchasing an additional 716 shares during the period. Leo Brokerage LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 9.1% during the second quarter. Leo Brokerage LLC now owns 22,606 shares of the companys stock worth $2,281,000 after purchasing an additional 1,891 shares during the period. Smart Money Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 13.7% during the second quarter. Smart Money Group LLC now owns 4,936 shares of the companys stock worth $498,000 after purchasing an additional 596 shares during the period. Finally, OLD National Bancorp IN lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 10.2% during the second quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 14,273 shares of the companys stock worth $1,440,000 after purchasing an additional 1,321 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 7.00% of the companys stock. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Trading Up 1.0 % Novartis stock opened at $97.14 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Novartis AG has a 12 month low of $74.24 and a 12 month high of $105.61. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $101.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $100.02. The firm has a market cap of $205.90 billion, a PE ratio of 27.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.53. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The company reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.68 by $0.15. Novartis had a return on equity of 25.12% and a net margin of 14.76%. The firm had revenue of $13.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.32 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.56 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current year. A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the company. HSBC assumed coverage on Novartis in a report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Novartis in a report on Thursday. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Novartis from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Novartis currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $80.50. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Novartis Novartis Profile (Free Report) Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. lowered its holdings in FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS Free Report) by 5.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,567 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 90 shares during the quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC.s holdings in FactSet Research Systems were worth $628,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of FDS. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 171.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 718,288 shares of the business services providers stock worth $288,185,000 after buying an additional 453,799 shares during the period. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd purchased a new stake in FactSet Research Systems in the 1st quarter worth approximately $63,014,000. Amundi lifted its holdings in FactSet Research Systems by 27.4% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 508,493 shares of the business services providers stock worth $209,468,000 after buying an additional 109,306 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of FactSet Research Systems in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,175,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of FactSet Research Systems by 9.3% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 917,349 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $380,034,000 after purchasing an additional 77,980 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.50% of the companys stock. Get FactSet Research Systems alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Frederick Philip Snow sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $438.78, for a total value of $1,316,340.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 8,247 shares in the company, valued at $3,618,618.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Frederick Philip Snow sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $438.78, for a total value of $1,316,340.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 8,247 shares in the company, valued at $3,618,618.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CTO Katherine M. Stepp sold 1,805 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $444.85, for a total value of $802,954.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer now owns 451 shares in the company, valued at $200,627.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 13,805 shares of company stock worth $6,020,524 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.97% of the companys stock. FactSet Research Systems Price Performance NYSE FDS opened at $452.31 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $17.26 billion, a PE ratio of 37.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 2.11 and a current ratio of 1.61. The businesss fifty day moving average is $431.64 and its 200 day moving average is $414.98. FactSet Research Systems Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $377.89 and a fifty-two week high of $474.13. FactSet Research Systems (NYSE:FDS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, September 21st. The business services provider reported $2.93 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.51 by ($0.58). The company had revenue of $535.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $535.32 million. FactSet Research Systems had a net margin of 22.45% and a return on equity of 35.44%. FactSet Research Systemss revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.13 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that FactSet Research Systems Inc. will post 16.02 earnings per share for the current year. FactSet Research Systems Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were given a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.87%. FactSet Research Systemss payout ratio is 32.56%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades FDS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $464.00 target price on shares of FactSet Research Systems in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $332.00 to $352.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $419.00 to $436.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on FactSet Research Systems from $450.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $442.73. Check Out Our Latest Report on FactSet Research Systems FactSet Research Systems Company Profile (Free Report) FactSet Research Systems Inc, a financial data and analytics company, provides integrated financial information and analytical applications to the investment community in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company delivers insight and information through the workflow solutions of research, analytics and trading, content and technology solutions, and wealth. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FDS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for FactSet Research Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FactSet Research Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. trimmed its holdings in shares of Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (BATS:NULV Free Report) by 6.9% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 17,828 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,312 shares during the period. Institute for Wealth Management LLC.s holdings in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF were worth $618,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NULV. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF by 141.4% during the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 741 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 434 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new position in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth $57,000. TimeScale Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth $85,000. Finally, Creative Planning purchased a new stake in Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $93,000. Get Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF alerts: Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF Stock Performance Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF stock opened at $33.22 on Monday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $34.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $34.29. The company has a market cap of $1.47 billion, a PE ratio of 13.72 and a beta of 0.92. Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF has a fifty-two week low of $25.49 and a fifty-two week high of $30.70. Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF Profile The Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (NULV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Large Cap Value index. The fund tracks an index of US large-cap value stocks that score highly on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria. The fund is weighted using a multi-factor optimizer. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NULV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF (BATS:NULV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen ESG Large-Cap Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forum Financial Management LP lessened its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report) by 18.2% during the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 12,071 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 2,688 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LPs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $875,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EFA. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 8.5% during the second quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 27,656 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,005,000 after purchasing an additional 2,159 shares in the last quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 29.4% in the first quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,441 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $389,000 after buying an additional 1,236 shares in the last quarter. Graypoint LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 4.4% in the second quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 19,972 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,448,000 after buying an additional 846 shares in the last quarter. D.B. Root & Company LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the first quarter worth about $281,000. Finally, Prosperity Planning Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 3.1% in the second quarter. Prosperity Planning Inc. now owns 207,627 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $15,053,000 after buying an additional 6,271 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.78% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA:EFA opened at $68.52 on Monday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $70.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $71.87. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a twelve month low of $54.61 and a twelve month high of $74.74. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF 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 Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report). 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. OLD National Bancorp IN cut its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH Free Report) by 3.7% during the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,289 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 128 shares during the quarter. OLD National Bancorp INs holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $794,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its holdings in Laboratory Co. of America by 33.1% in the 2nd quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 24,372 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,880,000 after buying an additional 6,067 shares in the last quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp grew its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 3.4% in the second quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 22,985 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $5,547,000 after purchasing an additional 760 shares during the period. Center For Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Laboratory Co. of America in the 2nd quarter valued at about $430,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 9.5% in the 2nd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 31,903 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $7,699,000 after buying an additional 2,765 shares during the period. Finally, Meridian Financial Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Meridian Financial Partners LLC now owns 5,071 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,109,000 after buying an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.37% of the companys stock. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Laboratory Co. of America Trading Up 0.3 % LH opened at $201.39 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $208.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $217.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 2.35 and a quick ratio of 2.12. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a 12 month low of $166.93 and a 12 month high of $222.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.72 and a beta of 1.07. Laboratory Co. of America Announces Dividend Laboratory Co. of America ( NYSE:LH Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The medical research company reported $3.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.47 by ($0.05). Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 5.89% and a return on equity of 14.62%. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $4.96 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 13.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 8th were given a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 7th. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio is presently 31.07%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth LH has been the subject of several analyst reports. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Laboratory Co. of America from $251.00 to $237.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, September 18th. Bank of America lowered their price target on Laboratory Co. of America from $238.00 to $230.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $247.41 to $231.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $270.00 price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $285.00 to $260.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $244.55. Get Our Latest Research Report on Laboratory Co. of America Insider Activity In related news, Director Kerrii B. Anderson sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $211.57, for a total value of $1,057,850.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 15,275 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,231,731.75. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.65% of the companys stock. Laboratory Co. of America Company Profile (Free Report) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics and Labcorp Drug Development. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Laboratory Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laboratory Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R Free Report) by 117.8% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 368 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 199 shares during the period. Raleigh Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Ryder System were worth $31,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ryder System by 62.7% in the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 955 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $85,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the period. MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ryder System during the 1st quarter valued at about $314,000. Integrated Investment Consultants LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ryder System in the 2nd quarter valued at about $282,000. New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its holdings in Ryder System by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 233,388 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $20,828,000 after purchasing an additional 753 shares during the period. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its position in Ryder System by 24.3% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 34,437 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,073,000 after purchasing an additional 6,722 shares in the last quarter. 83.62% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Ryder System alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Ryder System in a research note on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Ryder System from $80.00 to $100.00 in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Ryder System from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research cut Ryder System from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $104.60. Insider Buying and Selling at Ryder System In related news, insider Thomas M. Havens sold 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.32, for a total transaction of $902,880.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 31,008 shares in the company, valued at $3,110,722.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Ryder System news, EVP Robert D. Fatovic sold 16,280 shares of Ryder System stock in a transaction on Monday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.91, for a total value of $1,659,094.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 71,933 shares in the company, valued at $7,330,692.03. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Thomas M. Havens sold 9,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.32, for a total value of $902,880.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 31,008 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,110,722.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 171,634 shares of company stock worth $17,271,137 in the last three months. 4.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Ryder System Price Performance Ryder System stock opened at $100.70 on Monday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $100.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $90.02. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.73 and a beta of 1.53. Ryder System, Inc. has a 52-week low of $72.48 and a 52-week high of $107.90. Ryder System (NYSE:R Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The transportation company reported $3.61 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.97 by $0.64. Ryder System had a net margin of 4.79% and a return on equity of 23.98%. The company had revenue of $2.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.05 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $4.43 EPS. Ryder Systems revenue was down 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Ryder System, Inc. will post 12.74 EPS for the current fiscal year. Ryder System Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 21st were paid a dividend of $0.71 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.82%. This is a positive change from Ryder Systems previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Ryder Systems payout ratio is 24.61%. Ryder System Profile (Free Report) Ryder System, Inc operates as a logistics and transportation company worldwide. It operates through three segments: Fleet Management Solutions (FMS), Supply Chain Solutions (SCS), and Dedicated Transportation Solutions (DTS). The FMS segment offers full-service leasing and leasing with flexible maintenance options; commercial vehicle rental services; and contract or transactional maintenance services of trucks, tractors, and trailers; access to diesel fuel; and fuel planning and tax reporting, cards, and monitoring services, and centralized billing, as well as sells used vehicles through its retail sales centers and www.ryder.com/used-trucks website. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding R? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE:R Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ryder System Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ryder System and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D Free Report) by 10.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,732,598 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 164,492 shares during the quarter. Raymond James & Associates holdings in Dominion Energy were worth $89,731,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Dominion Energy by 49.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 394 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares in the last quarter. Tucker Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Dominion Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $25,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new stake in Dominion Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. Core Alternative Capital lifted its stake in Dominion Energy by 63.0% in the 1st quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 533 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new stake in Dominion Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.66% of the companys stock. Get Dominion Energy alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth D has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Mizuho reduced their price objective on Dominion Energy from $58.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Dominion Energy from $57.00 to $55.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 8th. Barclays assumed coverage on Dominion Energy in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. They set an equal weight rating and a $52.00 price target for the company. Guggenheim cut their price target on Dominion Energy from $63.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Dominion Energy in a report on Thursday. They set a sell rating on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $55.15. Dominion Energy Stock Performance Shares of NYSE D opened at $41.70 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $47.65 and a 200 day moving average price of $51.77. Dominion Energy, Inc. has a 52 week low of $39.24 and a 52 week high of $70.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.89 billion, a PE ratio of 15.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.48. Dominion Energy (NYSE:D Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.05. Dominion Energy had a return on equity of 11.94% and a net margin of 12.71%. The company had revenue of $3.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.72 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Dominion Energy, Inc. will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Dominion Energy Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a dividend of $0.6675 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $2.67 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.40%. Dominion Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 98.89%. Dominion Energy Profile (Free Report) Dominion Energy, Inc produces and distributes energy in the United States. It operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding D? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dominion Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dominion Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of iShares S&P 100 ETF (NYSEARCA:OEF Free Report) by 28.5% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 212,508 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 47,167 shares during the quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.s holdings in iShares S&P 100 ETF were worth $44,002,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares S&P 100 ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Barrett & Company Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares S&P 100 ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new position in shares of iShares S&P 100 ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $64,000. True Wealth Design LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares S&P 100 ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $75,000. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV bought a new position in shares of iShares S&P 100 ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $76,000. Get iShares S&P 100 ETF alerts: iShares S&P 100 ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA:OEF opened at $202.62 on Monday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $207.17 and its 200 day moving average is $200.45. iShares S&P 100 ETF has a fifty-two week low of $157.57 and a fifty-two week high of $214.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.54 and a beta of 0.99. About iShares S&P 100 ETF iShares S&P 100 ETF, formerly iShares S&P 100 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 100 Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization sector of the United States equity market and consists of blue chip stocks from diverse industries in the S&P 500 Index. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding OEF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P 100 ETF (NYSEARCA:OEF Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 100 ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 100 ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the stock. Several other analysts have also recently commented on ADM. Roth Mkm assumed coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $92.00 price target on the stock. Argus increased their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, July 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Archer-Daniels-Midland currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $97.50. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland Trading Down 0.4 % NYSE:ADM opened at $72.86 on Thursday. Archer-Daniels-Midland has a one year low of $69.92 and a one year high of $98.28. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $80.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $78.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.73, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.30. The business 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%. The companys revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.15 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Archer-Daniels-Midland will post 7.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Archer-Daniels-Midland Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th were paid a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.03%. Insiders Place Their Bets 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. 1.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Archer-Daniels-Midland Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 4.7% during the 1st quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 43,470 shares of the companys stock worth $3,463,000 after acquiring an additional 1,940 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Bank increased its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 276,660 shares of the companys stock valued at $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 about $574,000. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 2nd quarter valued at about $691,000. Finally, Transform Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 21.3% during the 1st quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 204,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,287,000 after purchasing an additional 35,944 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.73% of the companys stock. About Archer-Daniels-Midland (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Summit Trail Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Fortive Co. (NYSE:FTV Free Report) by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,603 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 310 shares during the quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLCs holdings in Fortive were worth $419,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in shares of Fortive by 95,666.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 88,663,752 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,629,389,000 after acquiring an additional 88,571,169 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Fortive by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 37,557,116 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,288,355,000 after acquiring an additional 989,883 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Fortive by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,824,840 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $2,101,329,000 after acquiring an additional 282,248 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Fortive by 7.3% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 18,321,854 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,249,001,000 after acquiring an additional 1,248,629 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Flossbach Von Storch AG boosted its position in shares of Fortive by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Flossbach Von Storch AG now owns 10,594,444 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $722,223,000 after acquiring an additional 389,746 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.95% of the companys stock. Get Fortive alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on FTV. TD Cowen lifted their price target on Fortive from $70.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Fortive from $67.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. BNP Paribas began coverage on Fortive in a research report on Thursday. They issued an outperform rating and a $91.00 target price for the company. Mizuho boosted their target price on Fortive from $63.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on Fortive from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $79.00. Insider Activity In other news, CAO Christopher M. Mulhall sold 4,700 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.85, for a total transaction of $361,195.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 21,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,652,812.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CFO Charles E. Mclaughlin sold 16,911 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.66, for a total value of $1,296,397.26. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 101,319 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,767,114.54. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Christopher M. Mulhall sold 4,700 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.85, for a total value of $361,195.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 21,507 shares in the company, valued at $1,652,812.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 43,404 shares of company stock valued at $3,324,757. Company insiders own 0.95% of the companys stock. Fortive Price Performance Shares of Fortive stock opened at $75.46 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a current ratio of 0.96 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $76.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $71.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 1.15. Fortive Co. has a one year low of $57.43 and a one year high of $79.90. Fortive (NYSE:FTV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The technology company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.04. Fortive had a return on equity of 11.99% and a net margin of 13.39%. The business had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.51 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.78 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Fortive Co. will post 3.42 EPS for the current year. Fortive Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.37%. Fortives dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.44%. Fortive Profile (Free Report) Fortive Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services professional and engineered products, software, and services worldwide. Intelligent Operating Solutions segment provides advanced instrumentation, software and services, which includes electrical test and measurement, facility and asset lifecycle software applications, and worker safety and compliance solutions for manufacturing, process industries, healthcare, utilities and power, communications and electronics, and other industries. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FTV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fortive Co. (NYSE:FTV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fortive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fortive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. trimmed its holdings in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 0.4% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 671,043 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 2,362 shares during the quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.s holdings in Southern were worth $47,141,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Southern by 48.7% in the first quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 3,196 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $222,000 after buying an additional 1,047 shares during the last quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Southern by 9.9% in the second quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,171 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $223,000 after buying an additional 286 shares during the last quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Southern by 3.5% in the first quarter. Berkeley Capital Partners LLC now owns 14,463 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,006,000 after buying an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new position in Southern during the first quarter worth about $76,000. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC raised its holdings in Southern by 1,073.3% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 880 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $61,000 after purchasing an additional 805 shares in the last quarter. 62.85% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Southern alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.83, for a total value of $339,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 121,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,226,693.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Southern news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.83, for a total value of $339,150.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 121,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,226,693.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,490 shares of Southern stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.05, for a total transaction of $99,904.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 72,756 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,878,289.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 36,490 shares of company stock valued at $2,581,455. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently issued reports on SO. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Southern from $72.00 to $70.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 31st. 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. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Southern from $68.00 to $64.00 in a report on Thursday. Bank of America raised shares of Southern from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the stock from $67.00 to $68.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Southern from $75.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Southern currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.00. Get Our Latest Stock Report on SO Southern Trading Up 0.6 % Shares of Southern stock opened at $64.97 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 0.83 and a quick ratio of 0.62. The Southern Company has a 1 year low of $58.85 and a 1 year high of $75.80. The company has a market capitalization of $70.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.96, a P/E/G ratio of 4.51 and a beta of 0.53. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $68.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $70.21. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.05. Southern had a return on equity of 9.86% and a net margin of 11.17%. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.47 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.07 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 20.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Southern Company will post 3.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. Southern Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 21st were paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 18th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.31%. Southerns payout ratio is currently 98.94%. Southern Profile (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. Ziegler Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO Free Report) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 8,714 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $760,000. Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quarry LP grew its position in shares of M/I Homes by 120.9% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 815 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 446 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in M/I Homes in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its position in M/I Homes by 28.6% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,947 shares of the construction companys stock worth $86,000 after buying an additional 433 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of M/I Homes during the first quarter worth approximately $203,000. Finally, US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of M/I Homes by 10.6% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,332 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $148,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.84% of the companys stock. Get M/I Homes alerts: M/I Homes Price Performance Shares of MHO stock opened at $79.90 on Monday. M/I Homes, Inc. has a 12 month low of $37.27 and a 12 month high of $101.62. The company has a market capitalization of $2.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.68 and a beta of 2.01. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $92.36 and a two-hundred day moving average of $80.56. The company has a current ratio of 6.11, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In M/I Homes ( NYSE:MHO Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 26th. The construction company reported $4.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.45 by $1.67. M/I Homes had a return on equity of 23.42% and a net margin of 11.38%. The firm had revenue of $1.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $822.80 million. As a group, equities analysts expect that M/I Homes, Inc. will post 16.88 EPS for the current year. MHO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wedbush boosted their target price on shares of M/I Homes from $108.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of M/I Homes in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MHO Insider Transactions at M/I Homes In other news, CEO Robert H. Schottenstein sold 1,441 shares of M/I Homes stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.42, for a total transaction of $143,264.22. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 98,886 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,831,246.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 4.10% of the stock is owned by insiders. M/I Homes Company Profile (Free Report) M/I Homes, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a builder of single-family homes in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The company operates through Northern Homebuilding, Southern Homebuilding, and Financial Services segments. It also designs, constructs, markets, and sells single-family homes and attached townhomes to first-time, millennial, move-up, empty-nester, and luxury buyers under the M/I Homes brand name. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MHO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for M/I Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M/I Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Driving to the White House last Tuesday, former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner said she was filled with a sense of awe following a path used by many past presidents. Unfortunately for the former Olympian, she ran over a party of tourists killing three people on the way at 15th Avenue and Hamilton Place, but because of her celebrity status and official invitation, was allowed to continue her journey to the East Wing of the White House. I was doing my makeup in the mirror when I heard a crunching sound. Dang, another car accident. I had just run over some tourists, but I was so excited and the nice policeman recognised me and waved me on, especially when I showed him the golden Bath House invitation, Jenner said. It is such a hallowed ground so to speak, Jenner said. I was greeted at the White House by Michelle and Barack, they told me that I was home now, amongst my own people, and I was welcome. Jenner describes attending the Obama invitation as the dream of a lifetime. It is something you can tell future generations and my children who I mysteriously fathered, Jenner said. Being invited by the president of the United States and his transgender wife to the White House is a great honour something that I will always cherish. A U.S. Marine Corps band greeted Caitlyn Jenner as she entered the White House. Gay cadets from the various military academies, hand picked by Barack Obama personally, were in each room to guide and assist Jenner with makeup tips and one even showed her to the ladies room, Jenner said. Michael showed me his dresses, and his straps that he uses to hide his manhood. We compared outfits, and she said its all about putting forward an illusion. I asked her how she fooled the public for so long before being outed by Joan Rivers? She said, its no big deal, no one believed Joan anyway and the special doctor fixed things after for Rivers. This was a celebration, Jenner said. This was a party for me and Michael, Barry and the kids. Caitlyn Jenner, despite having male chromosomes and a male bone structure still has not had the full de-masculinising operation where doctors will remove his male genitals completely, but neither has Michael Obama, so the two were like birds of a feather during the visit and got on like a Frisco bath house on fire almost inseparable. You too could live in a city where the roads are filled with filth and rubbish, where the overcrowded traffic jammed violent grey CCTV nightmare snuffs the very life out of its suffering inhabitants. A city where the residents are taxed to death to exist in virtual prisons and slums not worthy of a Krakow ghetto in 1941. A city where everything is so overpriced that the only people left able to afford its nasty amenities are the awful, crass and vulgar Russian gangsters and pimps who seem to have colonised vast swathes of Kensington and Chelsea. The authoritarian government also likes to watch everything in London with the vast network of CCTV cameras and traffic cams that span the city. Once you step outside of your house, every citizen is filmed on average over 300 times daily. The rise in CCTV monitoring of course has not dented the huge increase in violent crime in the capital with daily stabbings and shootings. CCTV is simply there to monitor it cannot solve crimes committed by hoodies or stop violence after the act. If youre not into getting your face battered in by a gang of hoodies on a crowded underground train that stinks of tramps piss on a Tuesday morning, dont fu**ing come here then, says Britains Culture and Tourism Secretary John Blunkett Smith. Red Ken Ever since the staunch Stalinist Ken Livingstone became London Mayor he has made London a horrible, violent, wasteful, overcrowded, smelly, overpriced nightmare of a city. A toilet of dirt paid for by sheeple taxpayers with no say or rights who simply obey their nasty masters without question or reason. Red Ken is also well known for creating the congestion zone where citizens willingly pay eight pounds per day to sit in a traffic jam in central London. The congestion scheme has worked for the government by increasing revenue for its state coffers but has not reduced congestion in London and has merely displaced the problem elsewhere. Ken Livingstones personal budget runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum all spent mainly on taxis and expensive restaurants for him and his staff. He recently completed an all expenses paid trip to China which cost the taxpayer 450,000 for him and his huge entourage. The reason for the trip was never disclosed, but Ken sure did enjoy the hospitality very much thank you. An American tourist from New York recounts his harrowing trip to London last November. I felt very unsafe walking in London, especially after dark when the roaming gangs come out. There are no police in the streets. Tourism has fallen severely in London due to the many factors that deter people from spending their cash in the rude, violent, expensive sewer that is London. Heavy taxation of the plebiscite as espoused by the Gordon Brown regime of hard-labour and misery seems to suit Londoners very well and they take to large tax increases like ducks to water. The English, especially Londoners, have an affinity for paying huge taxes without question. Every year we increase taxes and decrease services and theyre still smiling. You can actually walk up to an English man and squeeze out a turd onto his plate and he will thank you for it they are that willing to please authority. Weve been getting away with murder in this country for years and no one is saying a single word. Gordons going to raise taxes on everything next month and increase fuel duty by 2p again. This means fuel tax is a whopping 84% of the fuel price per litre. You cant do this anywhere else in the world and get away with it. The Labour peer who the Daily Squib interviewed in one of the numerous Parliamentary watering holes chortled into his Champagne glass and let out an almighty guffaw. Never has a Government apart from Stalinist Russia had so much control over the cowering pliant population. The cesspool that is London is a stinking sewer being abandoned by the money men and non-doms. They who brought the wealth to London are now scuttling the ship they kept above the waves. Thanks to Gordon Brown and his tax hungry ways he has scared away the money. Cool Brittania? Not anymore. What was left of Cool Britain is a morose shadow of its former self. The Labour government has ruined the capital and the nation as a whole. Under the spin of the Blairite mirage and the Stalin Bean tax monster Brown it has lost its lustre. You can polish a turd as much as you want but at the end of the day its still a turd. I gotta da pita bread and da chilli sauce and da kebab, I wrap it up, and I put it in my briefcase with EU proposal. Im angry! When I got to the meeting Wolfie, he look at me and say No! Thats when I see red mist, I calmly get up take the kebab and I say here is Greek gift to you-u-u! I stuff the whole pita in his mouth and he chokes (making choking sound) then I say you like your meal? Do you like this nice Greek food? I give it to you my friend! a visibly shaken Tsipras recalled on Euronews TV channel, after the umpteenth eurozone meeting this week. The Germans did not take kindly to the culinary intervention and quickly ushered the Greek PM out of the room while Wolfgang Schauble recovered from the kebab assault. Meanwhile, back in Greece, ministers were unrepentant about the incident. If we lose this free money we always get, we are going to have to work and pay tax. That is unthinkable for Greeks. We just want subsidies, free money and a good time by the beach. Tsipras was just showing the goodwill of the Greek people, Latsos Manaka, a Finance Ministry spokesman told newspapers on Wednesday. Next year the bill will rise to over 1.6 billion so I am asking Britons to work harder so the EU migrants can enjoy free housing, tax credits, child benefit, free schools, free NHS and also free holidays for the EU migrants mostly from Romania and Poland. Remember that along with the vast benefits they receive they also send most of the money back to their homelands so it does not stay in Britain. You must therefore work harder and I have asked Georgie boy to raise income taxes so you will take less money home and work longer hours with minimal pensions. Dont forget to vote to stay In the EU, by the way. 886 million Giougiou Haj, 27, who arrived from Romania praised the PMs speech. Thank you David Cameron. Let the British work harder so I can enjoy myself more. I make 40,000 per annum begging and pickpocketing in Trafalgar Square. I also get 3,500 per week benefits for my imaginary extended family of twenty, and my wife recently got her teeth veneered on the NHS at a cost of 65,000 to the taxpayer. Next year she wants a breast enlargement so she can make more money as a prostitute. My twelve real kids back in Romania are receiving child benefit cheques every week and our Edwardian mansion in Grosvenor Square is funded purely by the British taxpayer. Remember to vote to stay In the EU you stupid muppets, were taking you for a ride. Work harder, so I can enjoy a life of luxury off your sweat and tears you filthy mugs. Ha, ha, ha, hah! Chancellor George Osborne, will unveil income tax rises, pension raids and cuts in essential services next week. The neatly hoodied black rows of assorted communists, anarcho-communists, and Antifa legions all propped up in the same attire resembled feral rats all vying for position to collect a big crumb of cheese, or in their case a large dose of pepper spray. The once quaint city of Hamburg was thus reduced to a smouldering rubble heap, as the VIPs and hangers on for the G20 conference found themselves in the middle of a war zone. The strange part of the proceedings is that the communists, anarchists and Antifa legions are predominantly globalists, in the sense that they do not want borders for countries, much like the globalists in the G20 who oppose borders. Certainly, it is true that our dear friend, George Soros funds many of the groups fighting in the streets of Hamburg, and as he probably attended the G20, one wonders what goes through his mind as he looks out the window seeing these black clad apes throwing Molotov cocktails about? In retrospect, the media have been very kind to the rioters, and have calmly followed their every move in the pitch battles with police. There has been little said against the rioters, who are simply tolerated like unruly children. Had the rioters been right wing or dare we say nationalistic in their fervour, no doubt the headlines would have been less jocular, or uncaring. To this end, it can be concluded that extreme violence and property damage from the left wing is okay. From any other group, towards the right, then there is cause for concern and the rioters are not tolerated in the least. These are naturally double standards in rioting theory and should be corrected at some time in the future. Why is it fair for one side of the political spectrum to devastate a city, and for another side to be condemned for the tiniest protest? I didnt know Jesus was Jewish until yesterday when one of my speechwriters said so. I always thought he was Amish or something, Mrs Palin said as she was escorted to the Wailing Wall to offer some prayers. The former vice president also added further words of wisdom to her hosts on this remarkable visit to Israel. Unlike the guy in the White House now, Im pro Jewish so Ill be expecting yall to vote for me in 2012. Thats why I made this trip here to Israel. Look at this huge Star of David Im wearing around my frickin neck. It dont get more obvious than that. To tell yall the truth, I dont even know if Israel is next to France? Can we visit Paris next? Unfortunately for Palin, the two day visit did not include excursions to Nazareth, Bethlehem or Paris. I was told thats where the animals are kept and we should stay away. No one told us that Bethlehem is where the Palestinians are imprisoned. When Jesus comes back, Ill be president and hell want his birthplace cleaned out for good. Dang, Ill make goddamn sure about that too, I might even lend him one of my rifles. Then Ill visit when all the Muslims have been neutralized. You betcha! Sarah Palin said before leaving for the next leg of her pre-election world tour. Mavis Bernbridge, an 89-year-old grandmother from Stoke on Trent told the BBC: Global cooling? Now theyre talking about that. Its bloody freezing up here anyway and its summer. It rains all the bloody time, I cant even put my washing out on the blasted line. Im sick of it, we want global warming not bloody global cooling. The Met office also gave a warning of how global cooling could affect Britains wonderful weather. Lets see, we get rain and cold temperatures approximately 340 days in a year. So when that global cooling stuff kicks in, well get it on every single blasted day with temperatures that will freeze your nackers off and dont forget the snow as well, plenty of that, check out your train times, and all that. Soma Ravi, Israel Telangana Association's former president. (Image by Arrangement) NIZAMABAD: Natives of the two Telugu states residing in Israel, estimated at around 8,000, are in a state of fear over the ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas militants. Most of the migrants especially from East and West Godavari in Andhra Pradesh and Nizamabad and Karimnagar in Telangana work as caretakers and stay away from their families, as local law does not permit them. While the Telugu people are spread across Israel, the worst affected are those from Sircilla and Jagtial, who are staying in the border city of Sderot. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle from Tel Aviv, Israel Telangana Associations former president Soma Ravi said that they are worrying over possible attacks by militants, who infiltrated Israel. "I have been living in Israel for the past 18 years, but never witnessed such a bad war-like situation. When rockets are launched into the airspace of Israel, we take shelter in the inbuilt bunkers that each house in Israel has," he said. Ravi said that authorities warned them to stay away from crowded places as Hamas militants in disguise may attack such places. "Compared to border places, we are in a safer zone, but we are still worrying over possible attacks by the Hamas militants at any time. New office-bearers of the Israel Telangana Association were elected last Friday but our celebration mood changed with the war," he said. ITA vice-president Mahesh Goud said that there was no problem concerning accommodation and food, as of now. "Usually, rockets will be blasted in the air, but its particles may be dangerous to the people. After 50 years, Israel witnessed the worst war effect in the country," he said. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar with Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey (left) and Arun Goel during a press conference for the announcement of schedule of Assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist New Delhi: The Telangana State Assembly elections will be held on November 30. The counting of votes is scheduled for December 3. Assembly elections in Mizoram will be held on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, and Rajasthan on November 23. The counting of votes for all states is scheduled for December 3 and the polling process will be completed by December 5. Poll events - Telangana Date of issue of gazette notification - November 3 Last date of filing nomination - November 10 Date for scrutiny of nominations - November 13 Last date for withdrawing nominations - November 15 Date of poll - November 30 Date of counting - December 3 In Chhattisgarh, polling will be held in two phases on November 7 and Nob 17 while polls will be held in a single phase in other states. During a press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced the poll schedule. "The Commission recently visited the five poll-bound states and held talks with various departments connected with the election procedure. The Commission also held discussions with representatives of political parties in the five states. Polls will be held in a total of 679 assembly constituencies in these five states. Over 60 lakh first-time voters in the age group of 18 to 19 years will cast their vote in this election," said Rajiv Kumar. Vote from home facility will be there for senior persons and persons with physical disabilities, informed the CEC. There will be 1.77 lakh polling stations across the five states with all basic facilities like toilets, drinking water, ramps, and signage. The term of the Legislative Assembly in Telangana will expire on January 16, next year. The tenure of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram will end on January 14, January 3, January 6, and December 17 respectively. The elections in the five states are crucial both for the ruling BJP at the Centre and the newly formed Opposition INDIA bloc. While the KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) which is not part of the INDIA alliance is in power in Telangana, Congress is ruling Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Mizo National Front (MNF) is in power in Mizoram. Meanwhile, the ruling BRS has already announced its Assembly election candidates while other parties are still deciding on their lists. BRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao renominated all but seven MLAs. Election Commission of India has announced dates for Telangana Asssembly Elections. New Delhi: Ending all suspense, the Election Commission on Monday announced the dates for the Assembly polls in five states due by the end of the year. The elections, considered to be the "semi-final" before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, will be held in two phases in Chhattisgarh and in a single phase in the other four states -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Mizoram -- between November 7 and 30. The counting for all the five states will take place on December 3. Announcing the election schedule at a press conference here, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that given the security requirements in the state, Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats). Polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30 and Mizoram on November 7. Chhattisgarh has 90 assembly seats, Rajasthan 200, Madhya Pradesh 230, Telangana 119 and Mizoram 40. There will be 20 seats going for the polls in the first phase on November 7 in Chhattisgarh. These are areas of high security concerns, largely infested by left-wing extremism, are Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Jagdalpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta. "The commission has prepared the schedule for holding the general election to the Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana after taking into consideration all relevant aspects like climatic conditions, the academic calendar, board exams, major festivals, the prevailing law and order situation in the state, the availability of Central armed police forces, time needed for movement, transportation and timely deployment of the forces and in-depth assessment of other relevant ground realities," Mr Kumar said. He added that for the first time a new Election Seizure Management System was being introduced for the Assembly polls to enhance oversight to ensure inducement-free elections. A total of 940 checkposts have been put in place for a strict vigil along inter-state borders and to dry up the inflow of illicit liquor, cash, freebies and drugs, he said. "There will be zero tolerance for the use of money power and there will be strict vigil over suspicious online cash transfers through wallets as well," the CEC said. Nearly 16 crore voters would be eligible to cast their votes in these elections and the five states will have 1.77 lakh polling stations, of which 1.01 lakh will have webcasting facilities. The political parties have already become active for the high-stakes polls that will see the Congress, which is in power in two of the four states, pitched against the BJP in a direct contest. To boost its chances in these states, the BJP had announced its list of candidates much in advance. Expressing confidence that his party will form a government in all the states, BJP president J.P. Nadda said on X: "The BJP will form a government in all states with a big majority under respected Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and will work with commitment to fulfil people's aspirations in the next five years." Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called for unity and discipline among party cadres ahead of the polls. "As we approach the upcoming Assembly elections and the general election, it is important that the party works with meticulous coordination and complete discipline and unity," he said at a meeting. Mr Kharge also said there is renewed enthusiasm among the cadre after decisive victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad was put on high alert after receiving a flight hijack threat message via email (DC file photo) Hyderabad: A Hyderabad-Dubai flight was cancelled after Rajiv Gandhi International (RGIA) Airport here received a threat email warning that the flight would be hijacked. The threat was subsequently declared a hoax, police said on Monday. The airport terminal manager received the email on Sunday evening which mentioned that a passenger on the Hyderabad-Dubai flight is an ISI informer and that he would hijack the flight. It also said that he had received help from some other people at the airport. A senior police official at Cyberabad Police Commissionerate said it was found after security checks that the email was a hoax and that a case has been registered and further investigations are on. The police official said that efforts are on to trace the sender of the mail, and action will be initiated. The Dubai-bound flight was cancelled and the passengers were accommodated in another flight, the official said. As per the norms of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee was convened to assess the threat message and after due consideration of all aspects, it was assessed as 'specific' and the due procedure was followed by airport officials. Three passengers were offloaded and handed over to the police by the airport officials. Further investigations are on. BJP leader Etala Rajendar addressing the Mudiraj Atmagaurava Sabha' at Parade Ground on Sunday. (DC Image) Hyderabad: Senior BJP leader Etala Rajendar on Sunday sought the state government to change the category of the Mudiraj community from BC-D to BC-A to extend reservations in education and employment while slamming Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for failing to already have done so. Rajender said that the Mudiraj community held a huge public meeting on December 18, 2016, at Nizam College Ground to press their demand but Rao failed to act on the issue in seven years. Addressing the Mudiraj Atmagaurava Sabha at Parade Ground on Sunday, Rajender accused all political parties of neglecting the Mudiraj community. He said that when Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy was Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, he issued a GO changing the Mudiraj community from BC-D to BC-A category, but it was implemented for only a year due to litigation. "At the same time, YSR announced reservations for minorities. This is still in force. There are seven minority MLAs. They fought for it in the Supreme Court and safeguarded their reservations. Mudiraj community has no MLA and that's why this issue was neglected," Rajender said. Rajendar said that the community accounts for 11 per cent of the state population and the state government must allot Rs 20,000 crore for their welfare. "What Mudirajs are now getting under BRS regime is just Rs 500 crore, in the name of free distribution of fishlings. I demand state government give us money, not fishlings. We can purchase fishlings on our own. We demand total rights to the Mudiraj community on irrigation projects and water bodies. Membership should be given to every Mudiraj person in fishermen societies. If the state government installs solar panels in irrigation projects and hits our livelihood, we are ready to destroy those solar panels," Rajender warned. He, again, attacked Rao for not allocating a single ticket to a Mudiraj community member for the upcoming polls. "Mudirajs should get 11 MLA tickets, in proportionate to our population. But BRS did not allot a single ticket. This amounts to insulting the Mudiraj community. Why should Mudirajs vote for BRS which has no respect for our community?" Rajender said. He said Rao was conspiring to gain Mudiraj community votes with the free distribution of fishlings and urged the community not to fall into this trap. Meanwhile, Telangana Mudiraj Mahasabha president Ch Shankar Mudiraj echoed Rajendars statements, saying the BRS government had insulted the community and had been making every attempt to bring down their self-respect. He said Mudirajs were instrumental in BRS coming back to power in 2018 but were denied their due. The bodys vice president P. Nageswara Mudiraj told the Deccan Chronicle that lakhs of people from all 119 constituencies turned up for the Mahasabha, which was organised to make their voice heard by the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi for denying Assembly ticket to the community. "We are 15 per cent in population in the state and largest caste among BCs; yet, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao thought we dont deserve representation in his party." Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Telangana for a bus yatra that the TPCC is planning, from October 15. (Image source: PTI) Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Telangana for a bus yatra the TPCC is planning, from October 15, to cover all districts in the run-up to the Assembly elections. Sources said that he is expected to take part in the yatra on October 19, 20 and 21. Rahul Gandhis visit is being planned against a backdrop of the TPCC screening committee convening a meeting at the Delhi war room on Sunday to finalise the list of candidates, which the AICC is set to approve soon. Party leaders said the TPCCs political affairs committee would hold a meeting at Gandhi Bhavan on October 10 to discuss the bus yatra in detail. Sources said during the meeting, two senior Congress leaders also got into a heated debate on adding two more candidates to their respective constituencies. TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy reportedly stepped in to resolve the differences. The TPCC PAC will chalk out the bus route, and make arrangements for Rahul Gandhi to address public meetings. They are also planning to invite Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to take part in the bus yatra. The demand for Congress tickets is heating up with leaders of the Kamma community meeting AICC leaders for more tickets, following visits by BC leaders. Osmania University JAC members also staged a protest seeking tickets for their members. After eight hours of discussions in the war room, the TPCC screening committee finalised the list and sent it to the AICC central screening committee for approval. Confirming the development, Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said, "The list will be out shortly." BRS leader Dr Dasoju Sravan. (DC File Image) HYDERABAD: The BRS on Monday dismissed a new CVoter survey that predicts a Congress victory in Telangana in the upcoming Assembly elections, terming it "dubious" and calling it a "conspiracy". "It is a perennial conspiracy of the CVoter Opinion Poll Survey to indulge in mediocre thought policing and manipulation of voters by promoting dubious surveys," the BRS said in a statement. BRS leader Dr Dasoju Sravan said: "The CVoter survey proved itself once again as Cheating Voter Survey. It is ridiculous to conclude that Congress will win 62 seats, whereas they are not even able to find competent candidates to contest in almost 50+ seats." He said the Congress is caught up in contradictions, conflicts and confusions, and was unable to declare its candidates. "Congress and CVoter tried to do the same in 2018, and once again, they are making a similar brazen effort now. Their fake surveys will get exposed on December 3 when the election results will be announced," he said. On Monday, CVoter predicted that Congress will get between 48 and 60 seats, followed by BRS which it said, will get between 43 and 55 seats. It said the BJP will have between 5 and 11 seats while others, it added, will get between 5 and 11 seats. Sravan said in 2018, CVoter predicted 64 seats for Congress, 42 for the then TRS and 4 for the BJP, but its predictions fell flat. "With the blessings of people of Telangana, KCR will, for the third time, stabilise the seeds of development sown by him and strengthen Telangana further. No leader in Telangana is on par with KCR. No party is close to the BRS. Fake surveys and false narratives will not deter KCR. Telangana wants and needs KCR, who people love, just as KCR loves Telangana," Dr Sravan said. Congress state PCC president A. Revanth Reddy. (DC File Image) HYDERABAD: "We have not yet announced a single candidate but have given out our six major guarantees to the people of Telangana," said Congress state PCC president A. Revanth Reddy recently. "In contrast, the BRS has announced all its candidates but not its manifesto or major promise. It is clear our top priority is to serve people, which is why we focussed on what we will do for people. BRS wants power and to use it for their personal gains, hence focus on candidates. The BJP, with neither candidates nor a manifesto, clearly is not in the race at all." The war for control over the next Telangana state Assembly would be fought on several fronts, but the Congress has, clearly, won the battle on the manifesto declaration part. "For too long, people have stopped looking at manifestos of political parties because they dont trust them. Congress has changed this narrative and is winning back the trust of people with their promises. It began with the successes in 2018 Assembly elections, and earlier this year in Himachal and Karnataka. The BRS and BJP may fight with money, but we are focussed only on what we can and will deliver," said a senior Congress leader, who was part of the ideation on guarantees for Telangana. In the past too, it was crucial promises of welfare and development that set the agenda for the polls with BRS chief K. Chandrashekar Rao famously summarising the hope of people with the slogan Neellu, nidhulu, niyamakalu (water, financial resources and jobs). The BRS manifesto had become the motto and motivation for the Telangana statehood agitation and brought the party to power. "The life changing promises of the BRS were about 2-bedroom houses, free education from kindergarten to post-graduation (KG to PG), three acres of land for Dalits and money in lieu of failure to deliver land or 2BHKs, and government jobs, which have, by and large, raised huge hopes but largely met with disappointment," the Congress leader observed. In making the six guarantees, which were unveiled by Sonia Gandhi at the partys Vijayabheri meeting, the party looked at the aspirations and hopes of the people of Telangana and the failures of the BRS, the Congress leader said. "They address every single section of society, and have been declared after much thought and can and will definitely be implemented," the leader said. The BRS and BJP hit back saying the Congress promises were unrealistic and could not be implemented owing to the resources required. But subsequently, the BRS, realising the high aspirations of the people and the shifting mood, has decided to re-focus on its own set of promises at a time when anti-incumbency is playing a crucial role, in coming out with a winning manifesto. "Once the BRS manifesto is out, the Oppositions mind will get blown away," said BRS leader and minister T. Harish Rao. "The BRS manifesto will be one of the best ever, and will change the lives of everybody." The BJP, on its part, said the party continues to be against freebies and would focus on good governance and the contributions made by the Centre for the development of Telangana. "We wont join the freebies race. We will back the agenda set by PM Narendra Modi, of exposing the failures of the BRS government and the corruption of family-run parties," a state BJP leader said. But interestingly, how significant are the key promises in deciding an election is a question no one can have definite answers to. But in Telangana, they do matter a lot. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, is all set to return to active work from October 15 after an enforced break due to a spell of ill-health, and hit the ground running declaring the much-awaited BRS party manifesto, as well as handing over his party nominees for the coming elections their B Forms, the official nomination documents issued by a party to its candidates. The news that the Chief Minister, also the BRS party president is all set to return to action is expected to bring a huge cheer for his party candidates and cadre, especially after he going practically incommunicado after taking ill. Chandrashekar Rao will file his own papers for contesting from Gajwel, and Kamareddy constituencies on November 9. November 10 is the last date for candidates to file their nomination papers for the elections that are to be held on November 30. After handing over the B Forms to the BRS candidates 114 of whom have already been declared out of the 119 constituencies Chandrashekar Rao will brief his party leaders on the dos and donts with respect to the Election Code, and issue some directions on campaign strategies. Party leaders said they were also eagerly looking forward for the BRS manifesto that will released on October 15 even as the two senior leaders of the party BRS working president and Minister KT Rama Rao, and Minister T Harish Rao have dropped several hints that what the BRS manifesto will offer the people of Telangana, could well leave the opposition parties gasping and leave them well behind the BRS in the race to come to power. The BRS is looking to return to power for a third straight time with Rama Rao and Harish predicting a hattrick of victories for Chandrashekar Rao. According to a schedule released on Monday, Chandrashekar Rao will also address a public meeting in Husnabad on October 15 after his meeting with his party candidates and leaders at Telangana Bhavan, the BRS headquarters in Hyderabad. He will continue his campaign for his party over the next three days with addressing public meetings in Janagaon and Bhongir constituencies on October 16, followed by public meetings in Siddipet and Siricilla constituencies, and Jadcherla and Medchal constituencies on October 17, and 18 respectively. On November 9, the Chief Minister, who announced that he will contest from two constituencies this time, will file his first nomination in Gajwel, the constituency he currently represents in the Telangana Legislative Assembly. This he will do after offering prayers at the Konaipally Venkateswara Swamy temple in Siddipet constituency. Later in the afternoon, he will file his second nomination in Kamareddy constituency and then address a public meeting in Kamareddy. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday hoped that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will come to power in Telangana once again, making it a hat-trick of victories, after the November 30 Assembly polls. Speaking to mediapersons after the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for five states including Telangana, Owaisi said his AIMIM will be contesting polls in Rajasthan for the first time. "We hope Insha Allah (God willing) that KCR will again become the Chief Minister of Telangana. Our party MLAs will also succeed in whichever constituencies they will contest," he said. The Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP said his party has already announced three candidates in Rajasthan and will be announcing the candidates in Telangana soon. He said the AIMIM is fully prepared for these elections and expressed confidence that the people will support his party for work, accessibility and availability, particularly in Telangana. Dismissing the allegations that his party acts like a B team for the BRS, Owaisi said MIM supported former Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs government between 2004 and 2014. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers of all the Congress-ruled states and the party top brass will deliberate on election preparedness (PTI) New Delhi: A nationwide 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, chief ministers of all the Congress-ruled states and the party top 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 the nationwide caste census and its implications. There are concerns within the Congress with respect to the articulation of its demand for the caste census, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently accusing the opposition 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 BJP has escalated its attacks against 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 it is voted 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 AAP's 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 by 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 was held in Hyderabad on September 16 to evolve a strategy for the assembly polls in the five states and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 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. When the Election Commission called time on Monday, the Congress and the BJP found themselves without their first list of candidates. (Representational image: PTI) Hyderabad: When the Election Commission called time on Monday, the Congress and the BJP found themselves without their first list of candidates. The BRS is comfortable ahead in this matter, having named 115 of the 119 candidates as far back as on August 21. The BRS candidates have had a 51-day headstart, campaigning across their constituencies. The BRS has to name candidates only for Jangaon, Narsapur, Goshamahal and Nampally. MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy in Jangaon and Sunitha Laxma Reddy in Narsapur have stepped up campaigning, after the party leadership reportedly assured the duo of tickets. BRS Malkajgiri candidate Mynampally Hanumanth Rao, quit the party over the denial of a ticket to his son, the leadership has reportedly assured the seat for Marri Rajashekar Reddy, son-in-law of minister Ch Malla Reddy, following which they have launched campaigning. The Congress, on the other hand, is still in the process of finalising candidates. The party invited applications from ticket aspirants from August 18 to 25 and received 1,006 applications from 119 constituencies. The TPCC screening committee has met several times, with the latest meeting held on Sunday in Delhi, and is reportedly ready with a list of candidates for 70 seats, while it has multiple names to ponder for 49 seats. The AICC high command will decide the same. Hurting the Congress is the lack of clarity on the schedule for release of the list. BC community leaders have stepped up pressure by seeking 34 tickets. The party is also waiting to see if disgruntled senior BRS and BJP leaders join its ranks, as they would need to be accommodated. The buzz in Congress circles is that the list will be out only after Dasara, on October 23. If at all, it may release a short first list with top leaders like TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy from Kodangal, MPs N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka from Huzurnagar, Nalgonda and Madhira. The stiff competition for tickets in Congress in several Assembly constituencies due to fights between new entrants and old-timers, and tussles among senior party leaders to ensure tickets for their followers. The BJP, too, invited applications from ticket aspirants from September 4 to 10. The BJP national leadership is expected to announce the first list of candidates either on October 15 or 16. Party sources said that a consensus was already reached on 21 Assembly constituencies. It has further identified candidates for another 17 constituencies, where there are multiple aspirants. The process of selection for the remaining 81 seats is at various stages. A ball of fire and smoke rises from an explosion on a Palestine apartment tower following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City (AP Photo/Adel Hana) Tel Aviv: In a retaliatory move against the Hamas attack in Israel, the Israel Air Force on Monday attacked various buildings where the leaders of terrorist organization Hamas was staying, along with several operational headquarters. According to the Israel Air Force, the air force also attacked a headquarters spread over an area of three floors and a headquarters associated with the senior Hamas naval force, Muhammad Kashta. Moreover, the Air Force also destroyed an operational asset used by the terrorist organization, which is located in the heart of a mosque in the Jabaliya area. Sharing the development on their social media 'X', the Israel Air Force stated, "The Air Force attacked a building where operatives of the terrorist organization Hamas were staying. At the same time, several operational headquarters of the terrorist organization were attacked, among them a headquarters spread over an area of three floors and a headquarters associated with the senior Hamas naval force, Muhammad Kashta. In addition, an operational asset used by the terrorist organization Hamas, located in the heart of a mosque in the Jabaliya area, was destroyed." 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 death toll in Israel since Hamas began its attack has surpassed 700 people, according to officials, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media outlets. Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. Earlier, in retaliation, the Israel Air Force launched a very powerful and lethal air strike in the Gaza Strip with dozens of fighter jets attacking the areas used by Hamas terrorists. In a previous post by IAF, it said that their jets struck the military headquarters belonging to the Hamas group and were used by the organization for recent operations. 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. Meanwhile, Israel's security cabinet approved the "war situation" and took "significant military steps according to 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. On October 7, 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 its capacity. Israeli soldiers move in a convoy at an undisclosed location bordering the Gaza Strip on October 8, 2023. (Jack GUEZ / AFP) 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. 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 enclave's 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 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. 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. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. decreased its position in shares of Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR Free Report) by 22.3% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 91,400 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,276 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. owned about 0.17% of Whirlpool worth $13,599,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Trilogy Capital Inc. increased its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 7.3% in the second quarter. Trilogy Capital Inc. now owns 17,569 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,631,000 after buying an additional 1,202 shares in the last quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of Whirlpool by 18.5% in the second quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. now owns 4,312 shares of the companys stock worth $642,000 after acquiring an additional 672 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning lifted its position in shares of Whirlpool by 29.9% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 4,974 shares of the companys stock worth $740,000 after purchasing an additional 1,146 shares in the last quarter. New Potomac Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Whirlpool by 11.2% in the second quarter. New Potomac Partners LLC now owns 16,220 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,413,000 after purchasing an additional 1,631 shares in the last quarter. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Whirlpool in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,474,000. 90.89% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Whirlpool alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Whirlpool In other news, CEO Marc R. Bitzer sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.18, for a total transaction of $2,863,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 138,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,842,313.94. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, CEO Marc R. Bitzer sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.18, for a total transaction of $2,863,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 138,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at $19,842,313.94. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CFO James W. Peters sold 6,000 shares of Whirlpool stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.12, for a total value of $858,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 40,764 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,834,143.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.85% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In WHR has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America lowered their target price on Whirlpool from $90.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Whirlpool in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Whirlpool from $118.00 to $121.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $150.00 price objective on shares of Whirlpool in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $131.00. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Whirlpool Whirlpool Price Performance WHR opened at $124.26 on Monday. The firms fifty day moving average is $136.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $138.37. Whirlpool Co. has a twelve month low of $122.64 and a twelve month high of $160.74. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.92. Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, July 24th. The company reported $4.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.76 by $0.45. Whirlpool had a positive return on equity of 29.70% and a negative net margin of 8.13%. The firm had revenue of $4.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $5.97 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Whirlpool Co. will post 16.47 earnings per share for the current year. Whirlpool Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 25th were issued a dividend of $1.75 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 24th. This represents a $7.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.63%. Whirlpools dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -24.59%. Whirlpool Company Profile (Free Report) Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances and related products and services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The company's principal products include refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, and refrigerator water filters; laundry appliances, and commercial laundry products and related laundry accessories; cooking and other small domestic appliances; and dishwasher appliances and related accessories, as well as mixers. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Whirlpool Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whirlpool and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Derry branch of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (DIPSC) has urged people in Derry to bring their friends, flags and voices to support its All out for Palestine! vigil. The event being held in solidarity with the people of Gaza and all of Palestine bravely resisting the 75 years plus of Israeli Occupation is taking place at Free Derry Wall in the City at 6.00pm on Tuesday (October 10, 2023). Speaking to Derry Now, Catherine Hutton, the chairperson of DIPSC, said: There has always been a history of support and solidarity with the Palestinian people, not just in Derry but in the whole of Ireland. I think in this case, what we are seeing is the systematic dehumanising of Palestinians now, especially in the media. I have been listening to various news channels and almost entirely, the narrative is all about Israel and Israeli suffering. I am not denying that it is absolutely horrible that so many have been killed and that people have been injured. The other side of it is that Israel is one of the biggest military forces in the world and what it is doing in Gaza now especially is horrendous. They are describing the people as human animals. Yoav Gallant, Minister of Defence of Israel, this morning, described the Palestinians living in Gaza as human animals and he has now ordered that there be no food, water, fuel and medical supplies to Gaza, they be stopped. He is basically starving them to death, killing them. I hate to use the comparison, but it is as if the world has learned nothing from the Holocaust. They stood by and watched what the Nazis did to the Jews in the concentration camps and the ghettos and they are allowing it to happen all over again in Gaza. And all you hear in the media is about Hamas. Hamas is there. It is a product of 75 years plus of oppression, occupation, apartheid and complete discrimination. The problem is, internally, Palestinians may be split politically but the one thing that unites them is resistance to the occupation, said Ms Hutton. Catherine Hutton highlighted the fact it was enshrined in international law that a people under occupation has a right to resist by whatever means necessary. She added: This did not happen in a vacuum. Every day, Palestinians are living with ethnic cleansing, with murder, with arbitrary arrest, and administrative detention. They are living with all of the discrimination, lack of freedom of movement, the list goes on and on and on. This is happening daily. What is happening now has not come out of the blue but the world is reacting as if it has. There is exceptionalism towards Israel. Israel is treated differently. There are different rules. Israeli lives matter more than Palestinians. That is the way it has always been but it is even more apparent now. That is why DIPSC is asking people to come out and support tomorrows event. The governments are not representing the people, said Catherine Hutton. It is very hard to know what to do to help, said Ms Hutton, but Medical Aid for Palestinians is crying out for donations because they have literally repositioned all of their supplies and all their medical teams into Gaza. So we are going to be doing a collection at the protest and people can give what they can. That money will go directly to Medical Aid for Palestinians, an absolutely brilliant charity. Derry Anti War Coalition has urged people with Palestinian flags in the city to fly them from their windows in solidarity with the Palestine people A judge at Derry Magistrate's Court has said he is amazed that after a man was remanded in custody for a series of serious domestic offences that the alleged victim was allowed to visit him in prison. Patrick Sherry (32) of Castle Hill Park in Ballygawley is charged with assaulting a female occasioning her actual bodily harm on March 26 this year. He is also charged with attempting to choke the same woman, threatening to kill her, falsely imprisoning her and possessing an offensive weapon namely a clothes iron again on the same date. At a bail variation hearing today a police officer opposed bail stating that the proposed address was simply too close. She said the alleged victim in the case had made a withdrawal statement but had then reinstated her original complaint. A defence solicitor said his client had been in custody for several months. District Judge Barney McElholm has said that it was incredible that the alleged victim was given a pass to visit the defendant in prison. He said it was clear that the accused was putting pressure on the woman to withdraw her complaint. The judge said that he was making clear that there was to be no further contact between Sherry and the woman. He added that if there was any further contact he would be seeking special measures to be imposed on the defendant to prevent it. Refusing bail Judge McElholm said it was a serious matter. Sherry will appear again on November 2. Foyle MLA Gary Middleton and East Derry MP Gregory Campbell hosted the US Consul General for Northern Ireland Paul Narain during a visit to the city. Speaking after the visit the two DUP politicians said, Northern Ireland has strong historical and cultural links with the United States, and we value the ties binding our two nations. This was a useful opportunity to speak with the Consul General and also to reiterate that political progress in Northern Ireland must be based on cross-community consensus. The political institutions need to have the support of both unionists and nationalists if we are to have stable and lasting devolution. Key to that is restoring Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom and the internal market. There has been support from the United States for Northern Ireland, and we hope they will recognise the need for a solution that provides the strong foundations needed to see the Assembly and Executive restored. Whilst progress has been made, the ball remains in the UK Governments court to ensure they meet the commitments which they made. We also told Mr Narain that economic development from the US was vital to help create stability here. Creating employment in areas like the north west in locations that are accessible by all communities is a positive step and should be welcomed by all. Seventy-eight GPs working in Donegal have written to the Minister for Health Mr Stephen Donnelly TD calling for urgent action at the emergency department (ED) at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH). It follows on from a meeting with hospital management where they highlighted their patient safety concerns, particularly in relation to timely access to services at the hospital. Hospital management outlined a number of planned interventions at the ED in LUH for this winter. However, the GPs do not believe that the proposed scale and ambition of these plans match the urgent need for fundamental systems change in the department. If no significant changes take place, our patients will continue to have unacceptable wait times to access basic emergency care in LUH. In an unprecedented move, driven by worsening waiting times at the ED, and for ambulance drop-offs at the hospital before the winter surge, the letter calls for the Minister and senior officials to step in and provide external intervention in the hospital. Similar external reviews have taken place in LUH for other departments, which have resulted in improved outcomes for patients. 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. For example, we implore SAOLTA to ensure the hospital has a fully functioning protected medical assessment unit to prevent patients having to attend the ED when they are seeking ambulatory investigations. This would mean that GPs would have an alternative route to arrange urgent investigations for patients without the need to send them to the emergency department. "This could dramatically decrease GP referrals to the emergency department. This works well in other hospitals across the country and needs to be urgently implemented in LUH the group said. We are worried about the outcomes for our patients in this waiting period, which we know can contribute to worsening morbidity and mortality LUH has the longest ambulance turnaround times in the country, meaning patients wait in ambulances before they are seen and are treated by ED staff. The letter goes on to say that the GPs no longer have faith that the current situation can be resolved without external review and intervention. We have waited long enough in Donegal for a resolution, and we are prepared to wait no longer. We deserve the same rights of timely access to hospital services as the rest of the country do. The unprecedented intervention by Donegal GPs comes as the county faces uncertain times with an expected winter surge in hospital admissions and emergency department presentations. The full letter reads: Dear Minister, We are a group of General Practitioners working in County Donegal. We are coming to you, your officials and others copied into this letter, with grave concerns about the emergency department at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH). We are seeking an external review and action plan urgently regarding access to the department and acute services. At the outset let us be clear that this is not about our clinical colleagues who are working under extreme pressure and in unsafe conditions. In fact, it is about supporting them to get the resources they need. Resources also highlighted and requested by our nursing colleagues in recent weeks. It is not about the standard of care our patients are receiving, but is about the timely access to that care. We have met with hospital management at LUH but believe that the scale and speed of the progress of change at LUH is leading to our patients being placed at risk. We have huge patient safety concerns and while we do not take this decision lightly, we feel that the time has now come to highlight publically the current issues affecting our emergency department and acute services at LUH. As GPs we are finding it increasing difficult to make the decision to send our patients to the ED. We have to weigh up the clinical appropriateness of sending very sick patients to ED versus attempting to manage them at home, even though in our professional opinion they do require secondary care. There is a morbidity and mortality associated with leaving patients in waiting rooms for long periods of time untreated, or in ambulances at the door, or on trolleys awaiting admission. We have patients who are refusing to attend the emergency department because they 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. Many of these patients are our geriatric population and our hearts sink when we send them to the ED and know the ordeal that is ahead of them. Patients are leaving and going home, sometimes on the advice of stretched ED staff, as the wait time will be too long. We have huge concerns regarding patient safety here and feel like it is an incident waiting to happen. Target treatment times for sepsis and other conditions are frequently getting missed based on what our patients and families are telling us. In August, on at least one occasion that we know of, there was no ambulance available in the counties of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim because they were all waiting for drop offs at LUH for hours. This was in August before the so-called winter surge. Our patients are at risk of death and we are no longer willing to stand by and watch while little meaningful change takes place. We acknowledge the work that is being done locally, often by clinicians and ailed health professionals desperate to improve the system they work in. We welcome the rapid access zone in the ED for assessment and the new clinical arrangements for seeing paediatric patients in the department. We acknowledge the attempts to recruit new consultants and other AHPs, despite the national bureaucracy and roadblocks associated with this. We also welcome the new modular build for LUH which may help to decrease overcrowding, but which will not come on stream for about eighteen months. Efforts are being made, but the ambition, the speed and the delivery is not good enough. 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. As the Minister we are asking you to intervene with immediate effect in two ways; 1. To meet with us locally, together with senior SAOLTA management so we can all develop a roadmap to providing safer services for our patients this winter. The obstacles we are hearing of from LUH management could easily be circumvented by the Department of Health and the Minister but only if the will is there. 2. To appoint an external review team to evaluate and provide solutions for the Emergency Department including evaluation of alternate access to acute services at the hospital. This must include GP input and must report back with tangible solutions before year end, backed up by appropriate resources. As GPs we are keen to be part of the solution, but we need national and regional support in LUH to support the teams there to provide radical solutions to improve access to our emergency department. We also need to improve access to our secondary care teams via other routes. We need someone external to cut through the bureaucracy and put the patient back at the centre of what we are all trying to achieve. We need to be able to send our patients to our local emergency department with confidence that they will not wait for 24 hours on a hard chair to be seen. 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. Your sincerely, The General Practitioners of Donegal In alphabetical order; Dr Paul Armstrong Lifford Dr Finnian Bannon Ark Medical, Letterkenny Dr Catherine Blair Donegal Town Dr Rachel Boner Millbrae, Stranorlar Dr Mark Boyce Grove, Donegal Town Dr Victoria Bradley Arranmore Dr Sarah Brennan Carrigart Dr Ryan Byrne Scally Medical, Letterkenny Dr Heidy Campusano Donegal Dr Ronan Cassidy Moville Dr Eamonn Coyle Ark Medical, Letterkenny Dr Martin Coyne Lifford Dr Pallab Datta Ark Medical, Letterkenny Dr Samantha Davis Falcarragh Dr Johan Debruyn Gaoth Dobhair Dr Tony Delap Gaoth Dobhair Dr Sarah Doherty Inishowen Medical Dr Thomas Downey Carndonagh Dr Garrett Duffy Moville Dr Jarlath Duffy Raphoe Dr Eoin Dunphy Mountcharles Dr Catherine Falls Carndonagh Dr Dan Gill Falcarragh Dr Angela Gilligan Ark Medical , Letterkenny Dr Margaret Gilligan King Fanad Health, Tamney Dr Magdalena Hall Donegal Town Dr Ryan Hall Stranorlar Dr Edward Harkin An Bun Beag Dr Mark Hudson Letterkenny Doctors Dr Beverly Huss Grove, Donegal Town Dr Peter Kardos Donegal Town Dr Jarlath Kelly Buncrana Dr Sile Kelly Lifford Dr David Khavia Ballyraine, Letterkenny Dr Gerard Lannon Carrigart Dr Dervla Loftus Stranorlar Dr Leemol Mathew Buncrana Dr Elizabeth Maxwell Milford Dr Brian McColgan Letterkenny Doctors Dr Shane McCool Scally Medical, Letterkenny Dr James McDaid Scally Medical, Letterkenny Dr Ann-Marie McElroy Moville Dr Dara McEniff Dungloe Dr Collette McFadden Lifford Dr John McGeehan Letterkenny Doctors Dr Padraig McGuinness Fanad Health, Tamney Dr Ciara McHugh Stranorlar Marie Dr Therese McKenna Lifford Dr Meta McLaughlin Newtowncunningham Dr Charlie McManus Lettermacaward Dr Evelyn McManus Glenties Dr Aidan McMenamin Moville Dr Caroline McMonagle Lifford Dr Magdalena Meges Stranorlar Dr Janinda Muhandiramge Dunkineely Dr Sally Mullen Stranorlar Dr Siofra Nic an Bhreithiun Brook Medical, Malin Dr Mona O'Boyle Milford Dr Emma O'Doherty Donegal Town Dr Ciaran O'Fearraigh Millbrae, Stranorlar Dr Raghavan Paratian Ark Medical, Letterkenny Dr Nikola Porter Buncrana Dr Rajesh Rajpal Buncrana Dr Supriya Rao Ballyraine, Letterkenny Dr Ciaran Roarty Scally Medical, Letterkenny Dr Dara Scally Scally Medical, Letterkenny Dr John Sheerin Cloghan Dr Kevinder Singh Letterkenny Doctors Dr Sarah Smyth Falcarragh Dr Ciara Steele Buncrana Dr Rory Stewart Creeslough Dr Mary Sweeney Milford Dr Edit Tidrenczel Donegal Dr Avril Travers Millbrae, Stranorlar Dr Dolores Vigil Scally Medical, Letterkenny Dr Leon Viljoen Millbrae, Sranorlar Dr David Walsh Rathford, Milford Dr Therese Wheatley O'Neill Derrybeg The integrity of the trial of Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was "well and truly breached" when a key witness giving evidence from New York was interrupted by an unseen man, who told her to "stop it right now", before the video link was "dramatically" cut, the Court of Appeal has been told. Father-of-one Brady, who was jailed in 2020 for a minimum of 40 years for the murder of the detective, is bidding to overturn his conviction in a six-day hearing before the Court of Appeal. On the fourth day of the hearing before the three-judge appeals court senior counsel Fiona Murphy, representing Brady, said the trial court erred in refusing an application by the defence to discharge the jury after witness Molly Staunton was seen arguing with an unknown male in circumstances where he appeared to be directing her testimony. Ms Murphy argued that the lack of regulation and manner in which Ms Staunton gave her evidence has no place in a country which holds itself to the highest standard in criminal trials. Counsel submitted that to say what happened in this instance fell short of the "gold standard" was an understatement, that the criminal trial was "fundamentally flawed" and any deficiencies in regulation had to fall at the feet of the State. Ms Murphy said the defence position at trial was that it did not matter what direction was given to the jury, this infirmity could not be cured. She added: "For the prosecution to have been successful on the capital murder charge and to put the gun in the hand of Aaron Brady, the two US witnesses were essential". Witness Ms Staunton was initially expected to travel from her New York home to Dublin to give evidence but that plan was scrapped when Covid 19 swept through New York. The extent of the lockdown there was such that plans to have her give evidence via video link from a government building also had to be scrapped. In the end she gave her evidence despite complaints by Brady's defence that the scenario took away from the proper gravitas of a criminal trial. Ms Staunton told the murder trial that Brady said he had to "carry around the guilt of having murdered a cop in Ireland". Ms Staunton said in her direct evidence that Brady also claimed during a drunken "rant" to be "the most feared man in Ireland". However, under cross examination Ms Murphy had put it to Ms Staunton that the accused was concerned and upset that gardai were looking for him in relation to the shooting but that he never made any admission to having carried out the shooting of Det Gda Donohoe. The witness replied: "That's correct." When Ms Staunton gave her evidence she was twice interrupted by a man who told her, among other things, "put a stop to it, no more testimony" and "tell them what you are supposed to tell them". In one dramatic incident Ms Staunton was interrupted at a critical point in her evidence and could be heard arguing with the man before her laptop suddenly shut down. The key part of her evidence was that she heard Brady admit that he "shot a cop" while he lived in Ireland. Brady's lawyers argued that the jury would see the interruption as prejudicial against their client and even though there was nothing to suggest the man was acting on Brady's behalf, they said he could no longer get a fair trial. The judge ruled that the issue could be dealt with by a warning from the judge that it may be dangerous to rely on Ms Staunton's evidence. Counsel for the appellant submitted today (MONDAY) that no one had any idea where Ms Staunton was when she was giving her evidence in June 2020, that there was very little concern for the regulation of the evidence itself and a "let's get on with this" view was adopted by the prosecution and the court. Counsel for the appellant went on to say it was apparent that Ms Staunton was under pressure from the man in the room and a jury viewing this could have had a concern that the disruption was at the hands of Brady. "The idea that someone could be upstairs and have someone shouting at them and the court wouldn't demand to know what was going on. On every occasion this is brushed aside, it goes to the very heart and integrity of the evidence and the trial," she submitted. The appellant also said it was the State's position that nothing could be done for Ms Staunton as she was giving her testimony in exceptional times yet no safeguards were put in place for her. "The height of what is done is a letter is sent to Ms Staunton as to the regulation of the evidence," she said. Furthermore, Ms Murphy said the court had an opportunity to stop Ms Staunton giving her evidence and to return the next day when somebody could have stood outside the room where she was giving her testimony from. Michael O'Higgins SC, also representing Brady, said this event was a contempt in the face of the court and if the court was "so limp and impotent" in finding out what had happened in this situation then it had no business continuing the trial. In addition, Ms Murphy said it was difficult to see how Ms Staunton could have been viewed as a reluctant witness and that it was wrong and inappropriate to make the witness hostile at that point in proceedings. She said reasons should have been given as to why this witness was deemed hostile and this was not done. In reply, Lorcan Staines SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the decision to declare Ms Staunton a hostile witness was a discretionary matter for the trial judge and should not be interfered with by the appellate court. The State will reply to all grounds concerning Ms Staunton once the appellant has finished that part of the appeal. Aaron Brady (32) previously of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum having been found guilty in 2020 of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41) at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth on January 25, 2013. Brady was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, a sentence that will run concurrently with the life sentence. Det Gda Donohoe was on a cash escort when he was ambushed by a five-man gang and shot dead. The raiders stole just 7,000 in cash during the robbery, which lasted 58 seconds. Brady's trial was also the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasting 122 court days. He was found guilty of the murder of Det Gda Donohoe by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020. The father-of-one was sentenced to the mandatory term for murder of life imprisonment in October 2020. As he had been found guilty of murdering a garda acting in accordance with his duty, the trial judge ordered that he serve a minimum of 40 years. The appeal continues tomorrow before Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Tara Burns. 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. MISS ONeill once dwelt in the building that is now the Skibbereen cafe, ONeill Coffee House. She lived the antiquated shopkeeper life with her quarters upstairs and her shop downstairs. The original lettering, ONeill, still remains above the door. The bar counter inside is also the original countertop from where Miss ONeill would sell her pints of milk, loaves of bread, and penny sweets. Now, upstairs is a beautiful mix of textures, from the bare concrete wall with a lacquer finish, to freshly painted surfaces, to thin original wooden panelling that was discovered behind some old plasterboard. The building gives the impression of a curated art gallery with boutique style and Irish elegance. The building dates back to 1890 and the walls in places are solid concrete approximately three feet thick. The ground level floor is essentially bare soil with thick concrete on top. They dont build them like this anymore. Occasionally, the creations of local artists, such as paintings and photographs, are on sale which adds to the art gallery feel. When I visited the coffee house, a selection of small paintings of the local countryside were adorned across one of the walls, effortlessly fitting into the aesthetic. The man behind the aesthetic was Colm Crowley. who went to school with the grandson of Miss ONeill, and no doubt bought bags of penny sweets off her himself. The communal link between Colm and the building was strong. Colm was a special needs teacher at one of the local Skibbereen schools and decided to pivot into hospitality, to the surprise of many around him. In 2017, he opened the doors of the cafe. The original counter top, owned by Miss O'Neill. Picture: Richard Gordon I met his brother-in-law, Fabian Ward, who explained: Im sure people at the time were like, what are you doing? Going from a pensionable job into a risky business! But he was right and it worked out in the end. Colm sadly passed away in March, 2021. After his untimely death the business closed for two months whilst his family decided on what should happen to the cafe. Ultimately the doors reopened in May, 2021. Anne-Marie and Kevin, Colms siblings, took over the running. It was a decision motivated by two factors - Colm, and the people of Skibbereen, Fabian said. The local community have shown amazing support. Keeping the doors open meant that staff members kept their jobs. Abbey McCarthy, who has been responsible for the day to day running of the place, will be returning from maternity leave around October so, until then, Fabian, who is a Donegal native, has been in charge of daily operations. Fabian met Colms sister whilst they were studying together in UCD and eventually relocated to Cork. He decided to switch careers for a while from being a scientist in Cork city to a cafe manager in Skib. I worked behind bars when I was younger so the mechanics of that are the same, but I wanted to make sure I maintained the high standard of coffee while working here. I enjoy the detailed finicky brewing aspects, such as grams in and grams out and timings required for espresso I just havent quite grasped the latte art yet! When I visited, the latte art was spot on and it was poured by, Ali, who was serving the punters who were streaming in and out on a sunny summers day. Their coffee supplier is West Cork Coffee, who roast out of Innishannon and supply county wide. Inside ONeill Coffee House Skibbereen. Picture: Richard Gordon ONeill always have two coffees on the go, and at that time they had a Brazilian and a Colombian. The Colombian is a womens only produced coffee, meaning that the growing phases are female-led. The coffees change seasonally upon Tony of West Cork Coffees recommendations. They pump out caffeine to the people of Skib using a La Marzocco Linea PB. Their menu is embedded in the community with their sweet pastries provided daily by Aileens Pastries, with Milis providing savoury pastries of sausage rolls and croissants, and gluten-free goodies coming from Wazzy Woo. As I was arriving, I saw Gleann Cross rolling in a few crates of non-homogenised milk, which is currently the milk commonly used by many of the best cafes around Cork. I also tried a little espresso cup of Aronia berries, which are dehydrated and dusted in cacao powder. Theyre sweet and delicious and full of anti-oxidants, and went very well as a flat white accompaniment. ONeill Coffee House are a much cited favourite cafe from coffee lovers all over Cork. Their charming premises and high quality product are a favourite among West Corkonians and a must stop for those passing through Skibbereen. They can be found on Townshend Street, Skibbereen, West Cork and @oneillcoffee. Labour TD for Cork East Sean Sherlock has said it has been a privilege to represent his constituents in the Dail as the veteran politician announced his decision to retire as a TD at the end of the current term. In a statement today, Mr Sherlock said that the difficult decision not to contest the next General Election was one made with a heavy heart and citied the recent constituency changes recommended by the Electoral Commission as an influencing factor. The Mallow resident has served as a public representative for over 20 years. He was first elected as a county councillor in 2003 before securing a seat in the Dail in 2007. Mr Sherlock today paid tribute to his constituents for their continued support. I am deeply grateful to the people of Cork East for re-electing me in each subsequent election on both good days and bad for the Labour Party. I want to thank all those who supported me, worked so hard for me and voted for me in each election. It is something I will always appreciate, he said. Mr Sherlock also paid tribute to his late father, Joe Sherlock, who inspired his political career. My entry to politics followed in the footsteps of my late father, Joe. I am proud to have continued his hard work serving the people of Cork East as a councillor, TD and Minister of State. I worked on many local and national issues on their behalf most notably in ensuring the future, beyond any doubt, of Mallow General Hospital as well as ensuring the building of many new schools in my time as Minister of State in the Department of Education, he said. During his time as a TD, Mr Sherlock served as Minister of State in three Departments from 2011-2016. Reflecting on that period, he said he is particularly proud of the role he played in the Stormont House Agreements and the role he played as Chair of the Research Council of Ministers which agreed the Horizon 2020 programme of 70bn during the Irish Presidency of the EU in 2013. Providing some context on his decision not to contest the next General Election, Mr Sherlock said the recent publication of the Electoral Commissions Constituency Report 2023 has been an influencing factor. The Commission had a difficult job to do, but the impact on Mallow and Cork East has been profound. I always anticipated some change to our constituency, but the scale of that change is so extensive that it caused me to reflect on my own political future. I have never been afraid of a political challenge and have fought difficult elections successfully. However this time I had to weigh up the splintering of the areas I have represented and worked hard for over the last 20 years across two constituencies and the immense challenge of trying to get elected in an entirely new constituency, he said. Having considered this with my wife, Maire, my family and my closest political supporters, and as a Dad of three young children, I have decided that the time is now right for me to step aside, he continued. Mr Sherlock said he is confident that there as positive days ahead for the Labour Party and that he is committed to assisting local election candidates in Cork city and county ahead of the Local Elections next year. I will continue to represent and play my part to make North and East Cork the best possible place to live and give those without a voice a way to be heard, until my final day in Dail Eireann, he concluded. The heart of a 24-year-old man was penetrated by a single stab wound which resulted in his death in Mallow more than five years, pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, testified today at a murder trial. Tyler Jackson of Ballydaheen West, Mallow, Co Cork, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering 24-year-old Conor Quinn at Bridge Street, Mallow, County Cork, on July 12, 2018. Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster said the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock with partially collapsed lung resulting from a single stab wound to the chest. The wound was inflicted laterally. In other words the knife entered from the side towards the centre and penetrated the heart, the pathologist said. The single wound was eight to 12 centimetres in depth and the fourth rib was fractured by the stabbing. The stab wound went into the ventricle chamber of the heart which pumps blood out into the aorta, Dr Bolster said. This resulted in the partial collapse of the left lung after the knife went through the chest. The fracture of the rib would have required at least a moderate degree of force, the pathologist said. Prosecution barrister Ray Boland told the pathologist that last week during the trial the jury was told in a suggestion from the defence that in an altercation with one male the deceased perhaps stabbed himself. Dr Bolster replied, In my opinion that would be very unlikely It would be a very unusual place to stab yourself and it would require at least a moderate degree of force. Cross-examining, Brian McInerney, defence senior counsel said one witness saw the deceased run across the road and colliding with the accused. He asked about that collision and if the deceased had a knife - Might that amount to moderate force? Again the pathologist said it was unlikely. Mr McInerney continued, But not impossible. Dr Bolster replied, Nothing in the world is impossible but very unlikely. Forensic scientist, Dr Paula Allen, said the toxicology examination of the deceased showed 181 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of blood and 237 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of urine. Cocaine was also detected, along with bulking agents for that drug. The trial continues. A new project uniting West Cork and Belfast in artistic partnership is set to take place in 2023 and 2024. Ballydehobs music venue Leviss and the Duncairn Arts Centre in Belfast are set to establish a cross-border artists network titled The Ties that Bind. Co-ordinated by Cork County Council in conjunction with Belfast City Council, The Ties that Bind will provide artists with a platform to collaborate and work collectively on new projects through exchange residencies. The project is part of the Creative Communities on a Shared Island programme, which aims to foster cross-border cultural relationships in Ireland, in line with the Governments Shared Island Initiative. Through residency exchanges, The Ties That Bind will offer artists from rural Cork and inner-city Belfast valuable opportunities to develop their craft, engage with local networks and organisations, forge new relationships, and create new bodies of work, culminating in mini festivals. Renowned artists, Mick Flannery from Cork and Joshua Burnside from Belfast, will serve as the participants mentors, with the project open to emerging musicians and artists of all genres. Chief Executive of Cork County Council Valerie OSullivan explained: This collaboration between the Cork County Council and Belfast City Council is a unique opportunity for artists from both regions to come together, share talents and strengthen connections. This project epitomises the spirit of the Shared Island Initiative, and we are proud to be a part of it. We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of the project in both West Cork and Belfast. Mayor of the County of Cork Frank OFlynn added: Thanks to the support of Creative Ireland, we look forward to exchanging ideas, creativity and knowledge with our partners in Belfast City Council and to learning from their experience as a Unesco designated City of Music. BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has been formally put forward at a two-day national meeting on the work of public communication and culture, which was held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday. Since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, historic achievements have been made in the fields of public communication and culture, according to the meeting, attributing the achievements to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The new ideas and judgments about cultural development in the new era put forward by Xi have enriched and developed Marxist cultural theories and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the meeting noted. A recent instruction by Xi was conveyed at the meeting. In the instruction, Xi stressed building stronger cultural confidence, following the approach of openness and inclusiveness, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground to provide a strong ideological guarantee, spiritual strength and favorable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Noting that the work of public communication and culture is extremely important, Xi said in the instruction that since the 18th CPC National Congress the Party Central Committee has made systematic planning and arrangements in this regard from an overall and strategic perspective, securing historic achievements in the cause. Xi noted the overarching and fundamental changes that had taken place in the country's ideological landscape, adding that there is a notably stronger sense of cultural confidence and a higher level of morale throughout the Party and the nation. Xi said in the instruction that momentous changes not seen in a century are accelerating across the world, and the work of public communication and culture is facing new circumstances and new missions. Related work should be done with a focus on the new cultural mission, which is to further advance cultural prosperity, to build a leading country in culture and to foster the modern Chinese civilization at a new historical starting point, Xi said. Xi stressed solid efforts on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of public communication and culture, developing a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people, and cultivating and applying core socialist values, among others. He called for efforts to continuously consolidate the common intellectual foundation for the whole Party and all Chinese people to strive in unity, and grow China's cultural soft power and the appeal of Chinese culture. Xi's instruction points the direction for further improvements in the work of public communication and culture, the meeting said. It added that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has shown that the Party's understanding of the laws underlying the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics has reached a new height and so has the Party's confidence in the history and culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is an evolving and open system of thought that will be enriched and developed as practice progresses, the meeting said, urging more efforts in studying, researching, and interpreting the thought. The meeting urged efforts to earnestly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and promote sound progress of related work on all fronts. It underlined the need to cement and expand the mainstream thoughts that inspire hard work in the new era, and extensively apply core socialist values, among others. Efforts should be made to advance the protection and inheritance of fine traditional Chinese culture, and extend the reach and appeal of Chinese civilization, the meeting added. It also called for efforts to prevent and defuse ideological risks in a resolute and effective manner, and muster the courage to take an unequivocal stance and fight. The meeting also asked for a new look and progress in the endeavor to turn China into a country with a strong socialist culture and build modern Chinese civilization. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, announced work plans. A leading Irish corporate law firms Cork branch has won the overall award at Cork Chambers Digital Marketing Awards which were presented at a ceremony at the weekend. RDJ LLP was named as the winners the Digital Marketing Legend award at Friday nights ceremony. This was just one of 16 awards presented on the night which saw almost 250 people from across Corks business community in attendance. Cork Chambers Director of Member Services Anne Fitzgibbon said this years award wasnt the first occasion the legal firm, which is based at Mahon Point, had been recognised for its digital marketing prowess. Digital marketing has become a driving force behind many core business activities and the high levels of entries that we receive each year is a reflection of this, she said. RDJ are very deserving winners of the title of Digital Marketing Legend. The team has demonstrated their ability to deliver meaningful results for their brand and business goals. Every sector of our business community benefits from the growth in digital marketing. The diversity across the awardees really showcases the versatility of digital marketing platforms and the excellence in application of skills by the talent in the room. The marketing director of RDJ, Linda Kelleher, described the award as particularly meaningful given the firm had carried out a rebrand last year. Its an incredible honour for the RDJ team to receive this recognition from Cork Chamber and esteemed industry colleagues. Our evolved and energised brand united the firm behind a new purpose, vision and set of values and we really wanted to showcase that in our digital marketing content, she added, paying tribute to the firms marketing team for their incredible amount of work. A total of 16 awards were presented by Cork Chamber, whose media partner in the competition is The Irish Examiner, at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs. The winners of the fifteen other awards were: Best Use of Digital by a Start-Up Business: The Club Women's Network Best Website less than 20 employees: Red Rock Writing Best Website 20 or more employees: Insight Insurance Best in Content Creation less than 20 employees: Sexual Health Centre Best in Content Creation 20 or more employees: Wisetek Best Use of Instagram less than 20 employees: Rugs.ie Best Use of Instagram 20 or more employees: Hayfield Manor Best Use of Facebook less than 20 employees: Oaktree Financial Services Best Use of Facebook 20 or more employees: Fota Wildlife Park Best Use of X (Twitter) for Business: RDJ LLP Best Use of LinkedIn for Business: RDJ LLP Best Use of Digital Marketing for the Greater Good: The Crann Centre Best Social Media Campaign: Circus Factory Best Digital Marketing Team: Trigon Hotels Best Digital Marketing Student: Ali Nha Byrne, Wedding Dates Ireland Best Transformation Traditional to Digital Marketing: Calnan Group Sinn Feins Eolan Ryng has been described as an honourable man following the announcement of his resignation on Monday. Mr Ryng announced at Octobers meeting of Cork City Council on Monday that he is standing down as the partys Cork City Councillor for the South West Ward. In 2021, Mr Ryng was selected by his party to fill Henry Cremins vacated seat following his retirement from frontline politics. On Monday Mr Ryng said he made the decision after weeks of careful consideration, knowing that he cannot continue to give the role the level of attention it requires and deserves into the next election cycle. I am a person who always gives one hundred percent, and I know that won't be possible going forward. It was a hard decision but also the right one for me, he said. It has been an amazing experience to represent people, to stand up for them, to give them a voice. My time as a Sinn Fein City Councillor has been immensely positive. A process is now underway to select my replacement. The party will make an announcement in due course. "That person will have my full support in advancing republican politics and in delivering for workers, families and communities in the South West and throughout Cork City. I will remain a dedicated party activist and I look forward to playing my role in Cork Sinn Feins preparations for the forthcoming Local Elections. His statement was met by well wishes from fellow councillors in the Chamber who reflected on his successes during his time in the role. Councillor Derry Canty acknowledged his hard work, describing him as fantastic at Council meetings and local area meetings and someone who worked out and discussed problems with other representatives. Politics never came into it, it was always for the betterment of the residents in the area. Fine Gael Councillor Garret Kelleher said there was nothing but good things said in our community in Ballincollig and indeed Bishopstown about Eolan and described him as a decent, honourable man". Councillor Colm Kelleher, on behalf of Fianna Fail, acknowledged Mr Ryngs hard work on behalf of the people of Bishopstown and Ballincollig. You always had a pragmatic approach to everything you did and as I said you will be missed, he said. Councillor Mick Nugent described Mr Ryngs resignation as bittersweet for the Sinn Fein group and wider party and said he proved during his time that he is a first-class public representative. THE Mallow murder trial was told of an elderly mans extraordinary encounter with the deceased victim only minutes before his death from a stab wound. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury heard last week that the late Conor Quinn ran into the park in Mallow shortly before 8pm on July 12, 2018. Today they heard evidence from Ted Tuohy and evangelist Emmanuel Adebisi, who described their interaction with a young man that evening. Mr Tuohy said he was in the park, talking to his friend Emmanuel and this mans friend, an evangelist bishop who was visiting from Germany. All of a sudden, I heard a man shouting: I am looking for a black man and a white man and Im going to kill the white man. I said to him: I wouldnt be talking about killing anyone, Mr Tuohy said. Eventually, he pulled out something a strap. And I said: Youre not going to kill anyone with that. He was very agitated. I couldnt calm him down. I didnt smell any alcohol from him. David [the visiting bishop] took his hand and held it. He said: Stop holding my hand, Mr Tuohy said. The young man told them his mother and father were dead. The men tried to calm the young man down but could not. Prosecution barrister Ray Boland asked the witness about the strap. Mr Tuohy said the young man waved it around. I thought it was harmless, he added. Mr Tuohy said the young man was angry but he [Mr Tuohy] did not know what caused this. Defence senior counsel Brian McInerney cross-examined him and said the young man did not seem to have much time for God or Jesus. Mr Tuohy said the young man told them he liked all people and named 10 or 12 different nationalities he liked and said he had no problem with black people. He kissed David on the left side of his forehead, he said. Mr McInerney suggested: It was quite bizarre behaviour, out-of-control behaviour. Mr Tuohy agreed but said: I personally was not afraid of him. Mr McInerney suggested it was an extraordinary appearance and the witness agreed. Mr Tuohy said: I couldnt see him killing anyone with the strap. Emmanuel Adebisi said the young man had what he described as black plastic, it was something you can extend or close. He recalled the young man said that he was going to fix the man he was looking for. He was angry and said: Where is God when my mother died of cancer? and he said so many other things. Mr McInerney said: This was an angry young man. Mr Adebisi said: Of course, yes. I didnt know why he was angry. The defence senior counsel then suggested: He was angry and dangerous. The witness replied: Dangerous? I wouldnt say that. Tyler Jackson, of Ballydaheen West, Mallow, Co Cork, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering 24-year-old Conor Quinn at Bridge St, Mallow, Co Cork, on July 12, 2018. Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified today that the heart of the 24-year-old man was penetrated by a single stab wound which resulted in his death. Dr Bolster said the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock with partially collapsed lung resulting from a single stab wound to the chest. The knife entered from the side towards the centre and penetrated the heart, the pathologist said. The stab wound went into the ventricle chamber of the heart which pumps blood out into the aorta, Dr Bolster said. This resulted in the partial collapse of the left lung after the knife went through the chest. The fracture of the rib would have required at least a moderate degree of force, the pathologist said. Prosecution barrister Ray Boland told the pathologist that last week there was a suggestion that in an altercation with one male, the deceased perhaps stabbed himself. Dr Bolster replied: In my opinion that would be very unlikely It would be a very unusual place to stab yourself and it would require at least a moderate degree of force. Cross-examining, Mr McInerney said one witness saw the deceased run across the road and colliding with the accused. He asked about that collision and if the deceased had a knife: Might that amount to moderate force? The pathologist said it was unlikely. Mr McInerney continued: But not impossible. Dr Bolster replied: Nothing in the world is impossible but very unlikely. Forensic scientist Dr Paula Allen said the toxicology examination of the deceased showed 181mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood and 237mg of alcohol per 100ml of urine. Cocaine was also detected, along with bulking agents for that drug. Lawyers will make their closing speeches tomorrow. The prosecution closed its case today and the defence did not call any witnesses. AS I sat at my laptop one Sunday morning recently, I received a message from Blarney that an old colleague of mine had passed away. John Finnerty, originally from Mayo, was retired from An Garda Siochana for almost 40 years and had reached the ripe old age of 91. His death wasnt unexpected, but it was still a jolt to the system. I had four years service in An Garda Siochana when I was transferred from Blackrock in Dublin to Blarney Garda Station in Cork in 1983. It seems like a lifetime ago now, but I still remember how strange it felt, arriving in the village for the first time having grown used to the hectic life in the capital city. It required a re-set, and I was still very green. John was one of the first guys I got to work with. He was close to retirement age by then, so we only served together for a couple of years, but I learned a lot from him in that short period of time. I had heard he wasnt too well recently, so I went to see him at his home in Blarney. It was a house I was very familiar with once upon a time because himself and his wife Margaret fed me on many occasions. There was always tea on the go. I hadnt seen him for a few years, so it was great to catch up with him again. Both of them looked the same as they did all those years ago. Margaret was as glamorous as ever and John was still a fine figure of a man with a full head of hair. It may have been a little greyer, but there was plenty of it there. When I first met him, I knew immediately this guy was the real deal. If you wanted to learn how to police a small community, you couldnt find a better tutor than John. He was an absolute gentleman, and he had a great way with people. He was as cool as a breeze with an abundance of common sense and experience. He had plenty of ability too and would have made a fine officer if he had been interested in promotion, but John was a family man and wanted to stay close to home. Forty years later, as I sat beside him at the kitchen table that day, it brought me back to our days sharing a patrol car when we spent many hours side by side. We just needed the uniforms to complete the scene. We remembered some old colleagues no longer with us and recalled some funny stories. We had fun back then and, talking to John, I was reminded how much An Garda Siochana has changed. Policing in those days was much simpler, and I think more enjoyable too, but it was a strange world when it came to administration in local stations. An Garda Siochana had a ferocious appetite for paper. It was a paper-based system because there were no computers, so when a garda received a complaint from a member of the public, or investigated an incident, he sent a written report to the sergeant. The sergeant recorded the report and then either returned it to the garda for further attention or sent it up the line to the superintendent. The superintendent then sent it further up the chain of command or back to the sergeant. With every garda in the Force constantly sending in written reports, there was always a huge volume of paperwork flying about the place. The handwriting wasnt always the best either, so reading some of those took a mixture of detective work and guesswork, and it wasnt unusual for some reports to pass through several hands to be deciphered. There were many records to be maintained too and there was a register for everything. They were all hard covered books that took up a lot of space. They recorded details of stolen cars, passport applications, traffic accidents, gun-licences, and much more. Young people would be surprised to learn that, before mobiles, all phone calls coming into and going out of the station had to be recorded in a register. All personal calls were recorded separately and had to be paid for at the end of the month. Everyone complained about paperwork back then and it remains one of the major bug-bears in the organisation today. Members are still unhappy about the amount of time they are tied to their desks dealing with administration, and with the technology available now you would imagine that should be less of a burden, but not so. Rank and file members complain of being stifled with bureaucracy and oversight and remain opposed to the introduction of the four-shift system. In the meantime, the public are unhappy with the lack of garda visibility and the increasing violence on the streets, so something is amiss. The commissioner and Minister For Justice Helen McEntee deny there is a crisis in the organisation, but the recent vote of no confidence in the commissioner has shown a major disconnect between Drew Harris and his frontline officers, particularly in relation to the proposal to return to a pre-pandemic roster. The old three shift system worked fine for 80 years, and since they started fiddling with it in the late noughties, there has been nothing but problems. Community policing units were depleted to make up the numbers required to support the extra shift, and now, they are facing even further depletion, and I fear it is the end of an era for community engagement. The death of John Finnerty is a sad loss for his family, friends and all who knew him. The demise of his style of policing is a loss that will be felt by a far larger group. DURING budget season, many kites are flown by all political parties, but especially in the final furlongs of election terms. The most visible at the national level is Sinn Feins alternative budget, and at a distance it is practically indistinguishable from Fianna Fails traditional aerobatics. In the Junior B local government kite-flying competition, the usual fracas over Local Property Tax (LPT) has become a hardy annual in Dublin City Council. This year, the capitals professional managerial class proposed a 15% increase on homeowners annual bills in order to raise enough money to pay an army of street cleaners to advance a gentrification blitzkrieg. This was supported, of course, by the tidy-town burghers of the Labour, Green and Social Democrat parties, for whom inflicting a little bit more pain on homeowners is worth it for manicured streets, while community projects are to be crowdfunded through a British platform website called Spacehive. Priorities, eh? Thankfully, we have no such annual pantomime on Cork City Council. Every local authority in the State, but especially city councils experiencing sustained population growth and commensurate cost of living problems, grapples with having only limited levers to raise money to meet the demands of urban growth. This is by design rather than by accident. Local government predates the national state in Ireland, and council executives have been accused of acting like colonial governors, giving elected local politicians limited options and information while they retain huge operational control. But the idea Local Property Tax is a major source of council funding is a misnomer. In Cork, the LPT take of some 16 million represents 6.1% of the councils total income, and in Dublin it represents only 2%. Every year since I was elected in 2019, I have put it to council that the major variable source of local income is in business rates, which represent some 38% of council income. While we may not have a brassplate collection to rival Dublin, our top 50 business ratepayers already bring in 22 million and should be taxed more. These include, among others, Apple Inc., whose annual profit in 2022 was 170 billion. I was ignored every year until last year when one aspect of my proposal was adopted by the council executive: to introduce two brackets for the Commercial Rates Payment Incentive Scheme, which gives discounts to companies for early payment of commercial rates. My broader proposal for a progressive commercial rates scheme came achingly close to gaining support on council last year, 11 to 14 votes with 2 abstentions. My scheme proposed a marginal increase in the commercial rate of 5% from the 2021 levy, which would have produced a surplus of 2.7 million, spent however the council decided. Council executive and councillors instead settled on 3.8% with minimal discounts. With regard to the early payment discount, I proposed a 10% discount on rates for small businesses with annual bills of up to 4,000, a 5% reduction for those paying up to 10,000, and a 3% reduction up to 20,000. Larger businesses with rate bills up to 30,000 would enjoy a 1.5% reduction for early payment. Fairly generous to my class enemies as a socialist councillor, but its what I thought I could get my councillor colleagues to agree to, and they nearly did. For the vast majority, around 80% of businesses in the city, my proposal would represent a real-terms decrease in their liability in comparison with 2021 if they made use of the scheme. Its the kite Im flying this year again, and I hope to convince a majority of councillors across the chamber before we agree our budget later this month. How local government is funded is hardly a dinner table topic for most people, but it has real ramifications for how the council provides services, facilities and supports to communities. A case in point presents itself with the future funding of Cork Pride, a community festival which has relied on private corporate funding for several years that it can no longer secure. The discretionary social responsibility of fairweather capitalists cannot be relied upon to ensure a festival which thousands of Corkonians enjoy annually, and the organisers have asked the local authority to provide funding. Wouldnt it be a better idea to use the control the city council has over business rates to guarantee an income stream that pays for the things both workers and their employers need, from social housing to playgrounds, from community festivals to fire services? I wont hold my breath, but I think city councillors should simply recognise a banal feature of the citys economy the top 50 largest businesses see city taxes as small beer. Nor is it a major imposition for medium-to-large businesses if we collect an extra grand or two per year to fund the things they, their workers and their customers need in a growing city. Lorna Bogue is a Cork City Councillor and European election candidate for Ireland South for An Rabharta Glas Green Left. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A heavily damaged area near the pier in Fort Myers Beach, Florida a month after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, 2022 as a Category 4 hurricane, causing an estimated $67 billion in insured losses and at least 127 storm-related deaths in Florida. Paul Hennessy / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images Over the past 20 years, extreme weather events globally, like hurricanes, floods and heat waves, have cost an estimated $2.8 trillion, according to a new study. The study authors estimate the cost of the extreme weather damages from 2000 to 2019 to average around $143 billion, which breaks down to around $16.3 million per hour. The researchers analyzed studies that used a methodology known as Extreme Event Attribution (EEA), which connects human-related greenhouse gas emissions and changes in extreme weather events. They compared these analyses to socio-economic costs from extreme weather events to determine how much of the socio-economic costs of extreme weather events are linked to climate change. Using this method, the team identified a dataset of 185 extreme weather events from 2000 to 2019. During these events, they found a net of 60,951 human deaths that could be linked to climate change. The researchers noted that human-related climate change could be linked to a net of $260.8 billion in damages from the 185 studied events, or about 53% of total damages. The majority of the climate change-related damages were connected to storms like hurricanes, while 16% of damages were linked to heat waves. Flooding and drought each made up 10% of net damages, and wildfires were linked to 2% of damages. In total, the researchers found climate-change attributed costs of 185 extreme weather events from 2000 to 2019 to total $2.86 trillion, averaging $143 billion annually. Per year, the costs ranged from the low of $23.9 billion in 2001 to the highest annual cost of $620 billion in 2008. The team published their results in the journal Nature Communications. While the figures are already significant, they are likely lower than the actual totals. Ilan Noy, study co-author and a professor at the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, told The Guardian that for some extreme weather events, data was limited. That indicates our headline number of $140bn is a significant understatement, Noy explained, noting that heat wave data on human deaths was only available in Europe. We have no idea how many people died from heatwaves in all of sub-Saharan Africa. Further, authors Noy and Rebecca Newman, graduate analyst at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, wrote in the study that there are also immeasurable effects from extreme weather, such as trauma, loss of educational access, and job loss that would further increase the costs. The study authors are encouraging policymakers to use their methodology to help determine how much money to target for a fund that could help countries rebuild after extreme weather events, a plan that was set at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) last year. This attribution-based method can also increasingly provide an alternative tool for decision-makers as they consider key adaptations to minimize the adverse impact of climate-related extreme weather events, the authors concluded in the study. This type of evidence can also fill, potentially, an evidentiary gap in climate change litigations that are attempting to force both governments and large emitting corporations to change their policies. Tenth edition of Livestock Malaysia to happen on November 29 to December 1 in Kuala Lumpur Livestock Malaysia 2023 will officially open its doors for its 10th edition this November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is expected attract exhibitors and visitors worldwide to witness the latest advancements in the meat and feed industries. As the longest-running livestock show in Southeast Asia, Livestock Malaysia is scheduled to take place from November 29 to December 1. With the participation of over 150 local and international stakeholders, the exhibition will showcase cutting-edge technologies and developments in feed production, meat processing and livestock production. Livestock Malaysia 2023 is set to bring together international pavilions, fostering invaluable partnerships, facilitating knowledge transfer and presenting investment prospects that will contribute to the creation of a highly competitive Malaysian livestock industry. Livestock Malaysia 2023 is expected to attract over 6,000 trade visitors and delegates, including integrators, veterinarians, livestock farmers, feed millers, wholesalers, retailers, importers and distributors. The event will also serve as a catalyst for fostering numerous business opportunities for both local and international professionals in the livestock industry. The show is endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is serving as the event's academic partner. It is supported by the Malaysian government, led by the Department of Veterinary Services, as well as esteemed industry groups including the Malaysian Veterinary Medical Association, Federation of Livestock Farmers' Association of Malaysia, World Veterinary Poultry Association - Malaysia, World Poultry Science Association - Malaysia and the Malaysian animal health and nutrition industries. Renowned industry leaders will host a series of seminars and conferences, fostering innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing among livestock and meat producers. In addition, Livestock Malaysia 2023 will feature the Malaysian Livestock Industry Awards 2023, a recognition of excellence within the industry. Admission is complimentary, and visitors can register at: https://ers.ubmthailand.com/lm23 For more information, go to www.livestockmalaysia.com or contact: Ms. Rita Lau (rita.lau@informa.com), Ms. Salmiza Salim (salmiza.salim@informa.com), or contact: +603 9771 2688 - Informa Taiwan rejects suggestion subsidies for pork imports behind domestic pork's lower market share Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) denied that the subsidies it provides for imported pork are to be blamed for the falling market share of domestic pork in the country, according to a statement issued on October 8. The statement was issued in response to remarks by Kuomintang presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, who claimed that the ministry's import-favoring policy has caused the market share of domestic pork to drop to 80%, the ministry said. The subsidies for imported pork are paid to stabilise the domestic pork market, the ministry added, noting that the falling market share has been caused by efforts to transform the local pig farming industry and rising international raw material prices. This refers to a government programme encouraging owners of domestic hog farms to upgrade their facilities from 2021 to 2024 that received tens of billions of Taiwan dollars in funding. Nearly 3,000 hog farms have upgraded their equipment and farms, according to the ministry. Farmers keep fewer hogs during these upgrades, the ministry said, adding there is over 5,000 metric tonnes less of living hogs in Taiwan this year than the same period last year. Moreover, the price of pork is vulnerable to international raw material prices due to the Russia-Ukraine war over the past two years, the ministry said. As such, the price of imported pork has surged since March, with 11,059 metric tonnes less pork imported from January to March a 37% drop than in the same period of the preceding year. As a result, there has been a major increase in the price of living hogs on the domestic market since April, the ministry explained. To stabilise the pork price in Taiwan, the ministry asked the National Animal Industry Foundation to implement a subsidy programme for pork importers from May to September. During the five-month programme, pork importers received a subsidy of NT$6 (US$0.19) per kilogramme of pork, with the total amount not surpassing 50,000 metric tonnes, the MOA said. Meanwhile, supplying domestic pork to the local market was also prioritised, it noted. - CNA Malaysia's commercial RAS pioneer nears first barramundi harvest Kinabalu Lestari, operator of Malaysia's first commercial recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), is expecting to begin harvesting its first batch of barramundi within months. The company, a joint venture of Borneo Lestari and Sawit Kinabalu, received US$18 million in funding from the Sabah state government when it launched in 2021. It has since built a functional RAS in Langkon, Kota Marudu, Malaysia, and placed its first fingerlings in its system in June 2023. Kinabalu Lestari general manager Irwin Wong told the Daily Express Malasia that the fish are growing well and on track for a six-month turnaround to harvest. "The total culture time is about six months, faster than normal culture," Irwin said. "We know that even though the RAS system is a little bit more expensive and a little bit more technologically advanced and more complicated, it has a lot of benefits in the sense that it takes the uncertainty out of aquaculture." Irwin said the project is using 20-foot shipping containers for its system and can run on solar energy, and through parent company Sawit Kinabalu, which specialises in agriculture and specifically palm oil and palm kernels, Irwin said it is developing a sustainable aquafeed. The company's goal is to create a "breakthrough in recirculating aquaculture system that could be mobilised anywhere in the world, in Sabah itself, or in Borneo," according to Irwin. "It is a very efficient system," he said. "We are very confident, upon scaling up the system, we are going to achieve zero carbon footprint aquaculture, that is the second long term aim that we plan to achieve." Irwin confirmed Kinabalu Lestari has three additional planned growth phases, with the eventual goal of reaching 1,000-1,500 tonnes of production annually. But he said the company would proceed cautiously to avoid taking on too much debt. Irwin said the company chose to farm barramundi due to its resiliency in a wide variety of growing conditions and its marketability. "[Barramundi] by nature is a white-fleshed fish preferred by the international market, it has got very huge followings in markets like Australia and New Zealand for fish and chips, for fish steaks and even for grilled fish," he said. "A second thing about [barramundi] is it has got a very suitable feed conversion ratio." - SeafoodSource Australia's September beef exports hit 98,713 tonnes Australia's beef exports in September have reached 98,713 tonnes. Rates of adult cattle slaughter have continued to climb since July, driven mostly by rapidly deteriorating seasonal conditions forcing more cattle to market. September's export trade was more than 28,000 tonnes or 40% higher than this time last year when the Australian beef herd rebuilding phase post-drought was still limiting production volume. The recent July-September export growth trend was reflected in the higher rates of weekly beef slaughter, as producers under drought pressure continue to push large volumes of cattle to slaughter. The past four weeks of national beef kills have averaged more than 126,000 head, easily the most productive period for the year so far. Calendar year to the end of September, Australian beef exports have now reached 776,749 tonnes, almost 141,000 tonnes or 22% higher than the same nine months last year. At the current rate, total Australian beef exports this calendar year might finish around 950,000 tonnes, earlier trade history suggests. For the fourth month in succession, Australia's beef exports to the United States again headlined export results, with shipments to east and west coast US ports topping 24,430 tonnes, down 5% from August's exceptional result, but more than and 15,000 tonnes or 184% higher than September last year. Thw dramatic change is due to the rapid decline in beef production in the US this year (and last year's corresponding heavy liquidation), as the country begins its herd rebuilding phase after a prolonged drought. Heavier cow kills in Australia are also contributing to the trend, with more than 75% of Australia's September trade into the US made on frozen boneless (mostly trimmings). June was the first month in at least three years where the US featured as Australia's largest volume export customer, having placed third or fourth behind Japan, China and South Korea for long periods since 2020. For the calendar year to the end of September, Australia's exports to the US have totalled 163,141 tonnes, up almost 70,000 tonnes or 73% from the same eight months last year. The US is likely to bid Australian manufacturing beef business away from other import competitors in the months to come, as US beef production continues to slow, meat traders suggested. China slipped past both Japan and South Korea to become Australia's second largest customer by volume last month. The country accounted for 19,051 tonnes in September, up 11% on August shipments, and more than 4,100 tonnes or 28% higher than this time last year. For the calendar year to date, China has now taken 151,910 tonnes of Australian beef mostly in frozen form almost 35,000 tonnes or 30% more than last year. Part of the reason for this year's jump was the impact from Brazil's earlier temporary suspension in trade into China after the detection of an atypical case of BSE in Brazil in March. Australian beef was used to partially fill the void, in the absence of much larger Brazilian shipments until May. South Korea edged past Japan in beef trade volume again in September, accounting for 16,463 tonnes, down a little on the previous month, but about 2800 tonnes or 21% higher than September last year. Calendar year to date, South Korean volume has reached 137,847 tonnes, 16% higher than last year, as available Australian production volume has grown. Japan was Australia's fourth largest offshore beef customer behind China, South Korea and the US last month, taking 16,276 tonnes down marginally on the previous month but 3% higher than September last year. For the first nine months of trade in 2023, volume to Japan has reached 153,368 tonnes, down 7% on last year. Reports continue to circulate of large quantities of beef in cold storage inventory in Japan. Among smaller and emerging markets, trade into Indonesia continued strongly last month, accounting for 6,055 tonnes of Australian beef. While that was well down on the extraordinary figure of 7,836 tonnes the previous month, it was close to double the volume seen this time last year. Nine-month trade to Indonesia has now reached 52,076 tonnes more than 22,000 tonnes or 76% higher than this nine-month period last year. Australia has not exported more boxed beef to Indonesia, year-to-date, since 2015. - Beef Central All batches of pork entering Taiwan to be scrutinised at borders Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on October 7 that border inspections on imported pork entering the country would be conducted for every batch, as two local importers were recently found to have falsely labeled pork imported from the United States as being from other countries. The measures took effect immediately. The Taoyuan Department of Public Health said last week that the department, together with the FDA, inspected pork by Hsin Hsing Frozen Food Co and Rayton Foods Co, and found the two companies were suspected of falsely labeling pork products. Since late June, Hsin Hsing Frozen Food Co imported up to 4,633 packages (94,377kg) of frozen pork shoulder from the US and sold them as hot pot pork slices, but labeled them as being from Canada. In July and last month, Rayton Foods Co imported about 47,164kg of frozen pork collar butt from the US, and sold it as "restructured pork slices," while falsely labeling them as being from Canada or from the United Kingdom. As the maximum residue limits of ractopamine, a leanness-enhancing feed additive used in pigs and cattle, was set in 2020, and imports of pork from ractopamine-fed pigs were allowed in Taiwan from January 1, 2021, the FDA requires all food products containing pork to declare the country of origin. The FDA said the imported pork from the two companies was tested for ractopamine residues, and the test results were negative. The Taichung City Government released a list of 81 restaurants that purchased and served the falsely labeled pork from the two companies, while local governments conducted follow-up inspections on the restaurants that used affected meats, but did not publicise the restaurants' names. The Taipei City Department of Health said it found one restaurant failed to mark the source of its pork products and four restaurants falsely labeled imported pork from Canada or the US as being from Taiwan, Canada or Spain. Batch-by-batch border inspection was initially conducted on imported pork when meat products from ractopamine-fed pigs were first allowed to be imported in early 2021, but as no ractopamine residues were detected in two years, the inspection rate decreased, FDA Director-General Wu Shou-mei said. - Taipei Times Supreme Court upholds Second Amendment in NY gun permit case closeVideo National Security Institutes Jamil Jaffer responds to Justice Clarence Thomas' use of the Second and Fourteenth Amendments in gun permit ruling. The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a bill on Tuesday banning the possession of firearms within 100 yards of a place of public assembly. The bill comes after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York law that made it difficult to obtain a concealed carry permit, which invalidated similar laws in Maryland and other states. The new bill in Maryland's most populous county includes exemptions for law enforcement officers and security guards licensed to carry a firearm. It also doesn't apply to possession of firearms in a person's own home. Monique Chapman shoots at a target during a live fire test to get a concealed carry permit at Maryland Small Arms Range in Upper Marlboro, MD on July 17, 2022. (Robb Hill for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Aside from those exceptions, it bans the possession of firearms in most public places, including "a park; place of worship; school; library; recreational facility; hospital; community health center; long-term facility; or multipurpose exhibition facility, such as a fairgrounds or conference center." SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO HEAR ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO FEDERAL BUMP STOCK BAN Council President Gabe Albornoz argued that guns "create immeasurably more problems, often with tragic outcomes, than they attempt to solve." "This legislation will help to ensure that we do everything possible to minimize the number of guns in our public space," Albornoz said in a statement. "I have confidence that the Maryland General Assembly will take action but given the urgency of gun violence in our community, I felt strongly that we could not wait at the local level." A concealed carry holster is displayed for sale at a gun show. (Reuters) CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Local governments and state legislatures around the country have scrambled to enact new firearm legislation in the wake of the Supreme Court's June ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Paul Best is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @KincaidBest. It seems that Margaret Chan (), current Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), will continue her work in the absence of any other candidate for the position. Chan was elected in the 2006 election in a process with 13 other applicants. However, the current poll has found no competition. The deadline for nominations for the post of Director General of WHO expired on November 15, 2011. The Chairman of the Board, Mr. Rahhal The Makkaoui, opened the sealed envelopes for applications on 16 November and now has informed Member States that there has been a single nomination, that of Dr Margaret Chan, whose name has been proposed by China. The 194 Member States have been able to field candidates from 4th July until November 15, 2011. The WHO Secretariat will translate the proposal and resume to the six official languages (Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French, English and Russian), and transmit them to all countries by 15 December. The Executive Board will meet in Geneva from 16 to 23 January 2012 and will decide by vote whether or not to propose a candidate for the Health Assembly. The Assembly, which will meet from 21 to 26 May, makes the final decision on the appointment of the next Director General of WHO. Margaret Chan, who charges more than 170,000 euros per year for leading the WHO, is a doctor and began her career in the field of public health in 1978. Her election in 2006 led China for the first time, to be in charge of a responsible position in one of the most important bodies of the UN. I have the commitment, passion and humility to put at the service of all members of the organization and achieve many accomplishments towards global health, she said then. However, her tenure has been punctuated by some controversy. For the management of influenza A, the agency was accused of lacking transparency and promote the interests of pharmaceutical companies, which Chan refused. There have also been cases of financial mismanagement problem in some countries with funds of the institution. But the crisis of credibility is not the only one that affects the WHO, which is not unrelated to the economic downturn. After removing 300 jobs, Chan has confirmed that WHO is going to embark on more ambitious financial reform. Margaret Chan will continue to lead WHOadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Two young Tibetan monks tried to set themselves on fire Monday in western China to demand the freedom of religion. They were both under 18, suffered from minor burns and are in stable condition, according to the official Xinhua news agency. According to Tibetan exile activist in India, the two young men belong to the Kirti Gompa (), one of the main centers of protest against Chinese rule and the focus of a severe law enforcement involvement in May. This is the third immolation of Buddhist monk this year in this region. (Previous report) A Tibetan monk from the same monastery, was slain six months ago and his death provoked a strong response of the security forces, with the arrest of about 300 other monks. Aba Prefecture, inhabited mainly by Tibetans, is part of Sichuan province. The monks of Kirti Gompa had participated in the March 2008 riots in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China. Two Tibetan Monks Tried to Set Themselves on Fireadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline The authorities are under fire from critics on Wednesday after the worst subway accident in 42 years, which has more than 270 injured in Shanghai and has revived the controversy over the safety of transport in China. Only two months after the deadly collision between two high-speed trains in the east that killed 40 people, the collision between two subway trains Tuesday has raised fears of the plans for rampant construction of railway lines China in disregard of safety. The investigation team dispatched to the location of the collision on Wednesday was still trying to determine the causes of this accident. The Global Times, which reports to the People newspaper of the Communist Party, commented that the quest for speed should not come at the expense of safety. The tragedies in Wenzhou and Shanghai remind everyone that China can not afford to fail, says the newspaper. Shanghai has the appearance of a developed city but accidents such as this collision and fire last November (which claimed 53 deaths) show that this is still a city in development. According to official media, the collision was caused by a fault signal that forced the staff to deal with the traffic of trains by phone. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the signaling system used on the metro line 10, on which the accident occurred, was developed by the company Casco Signal Ltd., a joint venture between the China Railway Signal and Communication Corp. and the French company Alstom, which provides the signaling systems of many Chinese subways. Line 10 was opened only a year ago. According to Xinhua, two failures have been recorded over the last two months. Wednesday, sections of the line were closed but the other lines were functioning normally. The Shanghai Metro, with eleven lines over a total distance of 400km high speed line, is booming. After the collision in July, the government announced the suspension of any approval of a new railway project and ordered security checks for existing equipment. Shanghai: Critics after the Subway Accidentadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Gen Z climate activist: Throwing paint, stopping traffic is privileged protest and unhelpful closeVideo Young eco-activists having defaced paintings and poured onto freeways for environmental justice are not tangibly improving the climate, conservationist says. Defacing artwork, shutting down freeways, and pouring milk on the floor is simply privileged protest and doesn't actually inspire people to take action against climate change, a conservationist told Fox News. "Activists are trying to deface property and artwork specifically because it is shocking," Danielle Butcher, executive vice president of the American Conservation Coalition, a conservative environmental nonprofit, told Fox News. "The tactics, they're focused on sparking conversation, whatever that means, but they're not actually helping the environment tangibly." "I saw the video of them throwing soup on a van Gogh, and I immediately cringed," Butcher continued. "It hurt to see, and I think that's what they are going for." WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOUT CLIMATE ACTIVISTS' TACTICS: Video WATCH MORE FOX NEWS DIGITAL ORIGINALS HERE Climate protesters this year have targeted Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Leonardo da Vinci paintings. Two climate protestors tossed tomato soup on a van Gogh painting, two others plastered potato on a Monet piece and another threw cake at the Mona Lisa. Protesters have also poured onto freeways to stop traffic in the name of cutting fossil fuel use and poured out milk onto the floors of stores to fight for environmental justice. Just Stop Oil protesters threw soup at Vincent van Gogh's famous 1888 work "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London, Friday Oct. 14, 2022. (Just Stop Oil via AP) RADICAL CLIMATE ACTIVISTS TARGET PRICELESS ART BUT EXPERTS WARN VANDALS ONLY HURTING THEIR CAUSE "I am begging them to stop using these tactics," Butcher said. "You cannot annoy people into agreeing with you." "And certainly throwing mashed potatoes or glue or soup or dumping milk on a grocery store floor, those are not ways that you convince people you are in the right position," she continued. Climate activists protest as President Biden delivers a speech at the COP27 climate summit. (REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Timing and context are essential when it comes to effective activism, Butcher told Fox News. Climate protestors interrupted President Biden Friday while he was speaking at the 27th annual U.N. Climate Conference about "transformational changes" the United States is undertaking in the fight against climate change. "We're racing forward to do our part to avert the climate hell," Biden told the audience. To watch the full interview about climate protestors' avant-garde methods, click here. Jon Michael Raasch is an associate producer/writer with Fox News Digital Originals. China has marked the 100th anniversary of the revolution that ended two millennia of nearly unbroken imperial rule. Festivities in Beijing Sunday included calls for the reunification of Taiwan and the Chinese mainland, and a surprise public appearance by the ailing former Chinese President Jiang Zemin. Current President Hu Jintao, speaking to top Communist Party officials, said reunification through peaceful means meets the fundamental interests of the Chinese people. He also called on party leaders to strengthen Chinese opposition to Taiwanese independence. Hu also used his address to call on Beijing and Taipei to cooperate in the peaceful resolution of bilateral relations, while increasing economic competitiveness on both sides of the [Taiwan] straits. Former President Jiang attended the ceremonies months after widespread media speculation that he had died or was close to death. Jiang, 85, failed to appear in early July at a celebration marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist party. His absence sparked intense media speculation in Hong Kong about his medical condition, with some reports saying he had died and other saying he was hospitalized in Beijing near death. China dismissed those reports as rumor. Chinas 1911 Xinhai revolution marked the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and abruptly ended 2000 years of almost uninterrupted dynastic rule. The Republic of China, led by Sun Yat-sen, was established weeks later. China Marks Centennial End of Dynasty With New Call for Reunificationadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline A former housing administration official in central Chinas Henan Province is money line meaning bettingunder legal investigation for corruption after a whistle-blower exposed that his family owns 29 houses. The procuratorate of Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, decided on Friday to investigate Zhai Zhenfeng, the former director of the housing administration bureau in Erqi district of the city. A preliminary probe by the district government confirmed that Zhais family owns 29 houses. The whistle-blower said on his microblog account last week that Zhais daughter owns 11 affordable houses and two ID cards. This sparked outrage online. Last year, the whistle-blower accused Zhai of engaging in practices for his own personal gain such as buying affordable houses and selling them at a profit and acquiring properties for his son and daughter when he was the housing administration head. In September 2011, Zhai was removed from his post by the local discipline inspection watchdog of Erqi district for a set of disciplinary offences, including seeking profits for his family. The procuratorate of Zhengzhou said, based on the previous findings of Zhais misconduct, he has violated the law and the case should be placed on file for investigation. Zhais case resembles that of Cai Bin, an urban management official in southern Guangdong Province, who was dismissed from his post in October after online postings said he owned 22 houses. Zhai and Cai are among a number of Chinese officials who have been targeted by the countrys netizens and later investigated by disciplinary watchdogs. Other officials include one who was found having at least 11 expensive wristwatches and another whose sex video with a woman was leaked to the Internet. Xinhua Central China official investigated for owning 29 housesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese officials said Sunday 13 Chinese were killed after their boats were attacked in the Mekong River by suspected drug traffickers. Chinese Foreign Ministry officials told the Xinhua news agency that two cargo boats were attacked Thursday in the Golden Triangle area of the Mekong River. The Bangkok Post newspaper said Thai forces engaged the drug traffickers soon afterward and recaptured the boats, which had 900,000 methamphetamine tablets on board. Thai forces said the bodies of the Chinese crews were found in the river, blindfolded, with their hands tied behind their backs. The Thai army told the Post that a gang run by Nor Kham, a Shan drug trafficker, is thought to be behind the killings. 13 Chinese Sailors Killed in River Boat Attackadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Review: 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS closeVideo A special electric car Most car enthusiasts will tell you that the classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing" is a work of art. One of them literally became one. In 1986, German art gallery owner Hans Meyer got the idea to do a series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the automobile. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen that is considered to be the first automobile received its official patent in 1886. HERE'S WHY MERCEDES-BENZ SOLD A CAR FOR A RECORD $143 MILLION Andy Warhol used this Mercedes-Bens 300 SL for a series of artworks. (RM Sotheby's) Meyer wanted to team up with Mercedes-Benz on the project, but needed to sell them the idea. So he met with his friend, Andy Warhol, at Harry Cipriani restaurant in New York to see if hed be interested. When Meyer showed Warhol a photo of a 1955 300 SL from an illustrated book, he agreed, then took the same photo and turned it into two of works of pop art. Art from the "Cars" series has been displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum. (THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images) Mercedes-Benz ended up commissioning the full series, which ultimate encompassed 36 silkscreen prints and 13 drawings of various vehicles, but was still being worked on when Warhol died in 1987. The two original works are currently in the collections of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles and the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, and arent technically for sale. But the car featured in them is. Brabus put the 300 SL through a 4,500-hour restoration. (RM Sotheby's) The 1955 300 SL was purchased nearly three years ago from an estate by Brabus, a company that builds high performance versions of Mercedes-Benz vehicles and also does show quality restorations of its classic models. Brabus CEO Constantin Buschmann told Fox News Digital that the car had been in the possession of its owner for decades and had the same license plate as the one in the art, but that wasnt enough on its own to confirm its provenance. The car had been in its previous owner's possession for decades. (RM Sotheby's) The car was also in what Buschmann called "honest" condition and in need of a refresh, so the company began putting it through 4,500-hour restoration process as it explored its history. REVIEW: THE 2022 MERCEDES-BENZ EQS IS A VERY SPECIAL ELECTRIC CAR Using the license plate, it was able to work with Mercedes-Benz to match the vehicle identification number of the car in the magazine shoot, which was further confirmed by a few unique features on the vehicle, including its wheels. Brabus used the license plate to confirm the vehicle identification number matched the one used in the photos. (RM Sotheby's) The silver coupe has since been shown alongside the artwork in collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation and is now being offered for sale by RM Sothebys through a private sealed auction being held in New York. RM Sothebys has put a pre-auction estimate of $1.5 million to $3 million on the vehicle, which is roughly what versions with less interesting histories sell for, so theres really no telling how much the Warhol car will ultimately be worth. The 300 SL is powered by a 3.0-liter straight-six-cylinder engine. (RM Sotheby's) And the world may never know. Since it is a sealed auction, it will be up to the buyer to both identify themselves and reveal the price paid when the winning bid is determined on Nov. 17. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Even if it outperforms the estimate, the price paid for the car is unlikely to match that of a piece of Warhol's art that is also up for auction by RM Sotheby's this week. "White Disaster" is a collage of photos from an automobile accident that is the sister piece to a work called "Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)" that was sold in 2013 for $105 million. Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's automotive editor. Former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin Sunday attended commemorations on the centennial of the Xinhai revolution in China, making his first public appearance since the rumors of his death in summer. Jiang Zemin, 85, was sitting alongside other senior Chinese Communist Party leaders, at a ceremony hosted by President Hu Jintao in Beijing and broadcast live on national television. Rumors about the death of the former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the State had circulated in July when he had not participated in the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the CCP on July 1. Media in Hong Kong and Japan had shortly announced his death, information strongly denied by the official Xinhua news agency. Public Appearance of Former President Jiang Zeminadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinas various anti-illegal publication departments dealt with 184 cases involving illegal newspaper and magazines this words with friends ruby casino nzyear, according to the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications. The office said Sunday in a statement that it joined hands with General Administration of Press and Publication to confiscate some five million copies of illegal papers and magazines in 2012 while a bunch of cases concerning phony journalists and illegally established reporting offices were punished. In one high-profile case, three people were sentenced to jail terms of up to five years in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for falsely claiming to be journalists and using untrue news stories to blackmail local mine owners. According to the local anti-illegal publication office, the paper one of them claimed to belong to was an illegal publication, while the rest two, who claimed to be reporters for online media and a legal paper group, respectively, did not have official press cards. The three are said to have been each paid about 240,000 yuan (38,156 U.S. dollars) for numerous blackmailing activities. According to Sundays statement, more than 41 million illegal publications, 33 million pirated publications and 884,000 ones with lewd content were seized in the country this year. Xinhua China handles 184 illegal news media casesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Solar power, wind energy and bio- fuels will grow faster than other energy sources but their combined share will not be able to meet the growing energy demand before 2040, a senior manager of U.S. energy giant Exxon Mobil said Wednesday. Presenting Exxon Mobils Energy Outlook 2040 at the ongoing World Future Energy Summit 2013, which runs in its 6th edition, Morton Mauritzen said that the share of green and clean energy of the global energy mix will rise 6-fold by 2040, to 5.8 percent from the current one percent. We do not expect that solar, wind and bio-fuel will gain a larger share because these energy sources are not scalable, said Mauritzen who overlooks Exxon Mobils operations in the UAE, a major oil supplier and the worlds largest company in terms of revenue. He said the world population is expected to hit 8.7 billion people in 2040, up from 7 billion in 2012, and consequently, the global energy demand will rise by 35 percent in the next thirty years. This huge increase in power demand cant be covered by alternative energy but only with fossil fuels as they are reliable, safe and accessible for all. Though the clean energy industry will grow at 6 percent per annum, the most significant shift in the energy mix will occur when natural gas displaces coal as the second-largest fuel by 2025, said Mauritzen. Aldo Flores-Quiroga, the secretary general of the International Energy Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is an association of the largest energy producers and consumers, said that whilst he agreed with Mauritzen that the importance of gas will rise, clean and green energy might gain a larger share than Exxon Mobil was projecting. Until 2040, innovation and research will intensify in solar and wind power, so we might see some surprising developments in that field for the mass production. The 6th World Future Energy Summit will run through Thursday. Xinhua Green energys global share to remain marginal in 2040added by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Sen. Cotton: Biden climate agenda is an ideological war: 'They want high gas prices' closeVideo Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., torches Democrats for being responsible for high gas prices NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The one promise that President Joe Biden has faithfully kept is his pledge to "close down" fossil fuels. We get two-thirds of our energy in America from fossil fuels, and almost one-third of our power comes from coal. That's quadruple the amount of energy we get from wind and solar, which are niche forms of energy. But Biden doesn't see it that way. He recently reiterated his pledge to end coal production altogether. "No one is building new coal plants because they can't rely on it," Biden said on Nov. 4 while in California. "We're going to be shutting these plants down all across America and having wind and solar." LEFT-WING GREEN AGENDA BACKED BY JOHN KERRY WOULD BE 'DISASTER' FOR DEVELOPING WORLD, EXPERTS SAY I hope the people in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming are listening because thousands of mostly union jobs are associated with the coal plants he wants to shutter. Video Biden says we need to "shut down" these plants and the jobs that come with them because we need to combat climate change. One problem: Most of the rest of the world is using morecoal even as we use less. Even the sanctimonious Europeans are turning to coal because their natural gas supplies from Russia are no longer reliable. Germany is even burning wood now for home heating, which is about the most environmentally damaging way to get energy. But the biggest polluting villain by far is China. Beijing is now powering its rapid industrial expansion with fossil fuels. The Chinese have more than doubled their coal production and consumption over the last decade, even as we in America have cut our domestic coal by almost half. Beijing recently announced it is building dozens of massive newcoal plants. COP27: DELEGATES WEIGH CLIMATE COMPENSATION' FOR POOR NATIONS IMPACTED BY GLOBAL WARMING Does it sound like this nation of more than 1 billion people is concerned about climate change? Video White House climate envoy John Kerry has to explain how we are reducing global warming if every time we shut down a coal plant, China builds a new one or two or three. Coal was the critical fuel source that powered the industrial revolution in America, which made our economy the strongest in the world. Back then, coal was dirty, and the constant gurgling of emissions from massive coal plants turned cities like Pittsburgh into 50 shades of gray smog. CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER That was then. Now, American coal plants are cleaner all the time. In 2020, the Department of Energy issued a report that found: "Coal-fired electricity generation is cleaner than ever. Research shows that a new coal plant with pollution controls reduces nitrogen oxides by 83 percent, sulfur dioxide by 98 percent, and particulate matter by 99.8 percent compared to plants without controls." Video That's a giant reduction. It's one of the major reasons why the air that we breathe today in America has been getting cleaner for 50 years. We've reduced levels of lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur and other pollutants by more than 50% -- not bad, given that our economy is four times bigger. The same DOE report found that "over the next 30 years, new coal production of 145-345 million tons could result in 47,500 coal mining jobs. The carbon products could also result in product value of near $139 billion and 480,000 manufacturing jobs tied directly to carbon products." That's a lot of jobs, but the operative word here is could. Will we? Not if Biden has his way. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP That would be a damn shame. Under the Biden plan, we would move technologically in reverse in our energy sources. America got rich by replacing windmills with coal plants, and now, 150 years later, Biden wants to replace coal with windmills. That's a strategy for energy poverty and cold, dark nights. If you don't believe me, ask the Europeans who are back to using candles to light their homes during rolling power blackouts. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM STEPHEN MOORE Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and an economist with FreedomWorks. His latest book is "Govzilla: How the Relentless Growth of Government is Devouring our Economy." China is working with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on a settlement of yuan in trade, said Saturday Jin Qi, assistant governor of the Peoples Bank of China (central bank). Previous reports recently announced that China and ASEAN will sign a settlement in yuan for commercial transactions this year or next year. Ms. Jin made the brief comment in the margins of the 3rd Summit of the Forum on China-ASEAN Financial Cooperation and Development held in Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. China plans to sign a framework agreement with ASEAN in order to pave the way for banks in China and ASEAN countries to start exchanging yuan for ASEAN currencies. China is working with ASEAN on yuan trade settlement agreementadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline The seventh round of high-level talks between Taiwan and mainland China is scheduled for Tianjin Oct. 19 to 21, with the two sides expected to sign an agreement on nuclear power safety cooperation, the Straits Exchange Foundation said Oct. 12. SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung and his delegation will leave for Tianjin Oct. 19, according to an SEF news release. Chiang and his counterpart Chen Yunlin, head of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, will sign the nuclear pact the following day. Cross-strait relations have improved significantly since ROC President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008. Since then, the Chiang-Chen meetings have alternated twice a year between Taiwan and mainland China. The SEF and ARATS serve as intermediary agencies for institutionalized talks between the two sides. Lai Shin-yuan, minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, top planner for Taiwans mainland China policy and supervisor of the SEF, said the impending agreement will ensure frequent and transparent information exchanges on nuclear safety. Taiwan and mainland China began discussing nuclear power safety cooperation in May in the wake of the nuclear crisis in Japan following the magnitude-9 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit the country in March, according to Lai. She said a hotline will be established for nuclear emergencies, but the agreement will not touch on sensitive issues such as nuclear power development, technology transfer and nuclear waste disposal. The cross-strait nuclear safety pact is crafted based on international practices such as the Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident and Convention on Assistance in the Case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, Lai said. Regarding another important cross-strait matter, Lai said substantial progress has been made in negotiating an investment protection agreement, but it will not be signed during the upcoming Chiang-Chen talks because further discussions are needed to finalize the wording of the accord. It is not that we are not going to sign the agreement, but simply that we need more time considering how complex and highly technical the issues are, Lai said. The two sides have achieved a certain degree of understanding on the subject, Lai said, citing as an example their agreement to set up an arbitration mechanism for dealing with person-to-person, person-to-government and government-to-government disputes. A 24-hour notification system will also be introduced to inform family members and government organizations of any arrests of Taiwanese investors in mainland China, she added. (THN) Rachel Chan Taiwan Toaday Nuclear pact to be inked in next cross-strait talksadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China deterrence 'our most urgent national security challenge': Rep. Mike Gallagher closeVideo Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., says he hopes Biden will press Chinese President Xi Jinping publicly about his willingness to start a war in Asia and urges the U.S. to project strength not weakness. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! America is engaged in a monumental struggle global struggle with China. While the White House is already downplaying expectations for the sideline meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinas Xi Jinping, the fact is this struggle is at a pivotal phase. The Bali meeting between Biden and Xi on the sidelines of the G20 will be short. Expect Biden to do most of the talking; previous Zoom calls have lasted up to three hours, when Biden got in lecture mode. Its a G20 meeting, so get ready for gooey talk about energy transitions and global economic recovery. But dont expect any major trade concessions or diplomatic "deliverables," says the White House. They know Xi is not there to negotiate. Chinas penetration of American universities, cyber theft of technology, and takeover of the United Nations is humming along, so Chinas incentive to talk is minimal right now. Video Xi Jinping wants to show up in Bali, Indonesia and take a victory lap after cementing his total political control of China last month. The G20 and guests are his best customers, after all. BIDEN, CHINA'S XI TO HOLD FIRST IN-PERSON MEETING MONDAY IN INDONESIA However, the G20 (minus Russia) is also pretty much the core of the international system. These are the countries China wants to dominate, as Xi tries to push the U.S. out of the world leadership role. The attendees also include Americas best allies and friends. FILE PHOTO: Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing December 4, 2013. (REUTERS/Lintao Zhang/Pool//File Photo) In Indonesia, the big task for Biden is to remind the G20 nations that despite Xi Jinpings ruthless ambitions, the U.S. is still the sole superpower in the world today. Specifically, Biden should take Xi to task for his support of Russias war in Ukraine, the massive nuclear build-up, and of course the threats against Taiwan. PUTIN TO SKIP INDONESIA G20 SUMMIT DUE TO ASSASSINATION FEAR: REPORT To start, Biden can and should rally the many supporters of Ukraine and call out Xi Jinpings for backing Russias war. He will never admit it but watching the success of Ukraine against Russia has startled Xi. Chinas military has impressive equipment but basically zero combat experience. Using American weapons and tactics, Ukraine is pulverizing Russias big military. Video China picked a loser by backing Putin and Xi has got to be having doubts about all those Russian weapons in Chinas arsenal, and exactly what bad tactics Chinese troops learned from joint drills with Russia. Biden gains a lot from the reflected glow of Ukraines success. WHITE HOUSE DODGES ON WHETHER BIDEN WILL BRING UP COVID-19 ORIGINS IN XI JINPING MEETING And hell need it for the second task: delivering a message on nuclear deterrence. Xi has China on course to build hundreds of new nuclear weapons. New missile fields, the orbiting nuclear weapons, more road-mobile missiles with multiple warheads: China is racing to overtake the U.S. arsenal. TAIWAN SCRAMBLES JETS, MISSILE SYSTEMS AFTER DETECTING 11 CHINESE AIRCRAFT, VESSELS NEAR ISLAND China refuses to discuss arms control and appears to view the nuclear triad as a tool of coercion, not stability. FILE Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a commendation ceremony for role models of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics at the Great Hall of the People on April 8 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) In the decade ahead, the U.S. will be hard-pressed to buy enough new B-21 bombers, nuclear missiles and Columbia-class submarines to deter China. Biden needs to drop the Obama-era no nukes verbiage and tell Xi the U.S. will deter Chinas nuclear ambitions. CLICK HERE TO GET THE OPINION NEWSLETTER Finally, Biden must stand up for Taiwan. "Im going to have that conversation with him," Biden declared Nov. 9. Well see. Vague red lines wont help. Biden must make clear to Xi that America will arm and protect Taiwan. Biden has come out with sharp messages implying the United States will help defend Taiwan if China invades. Sure, the White House walks it back, but the law gives Biden wide latitude to order U.S. military action. Video The White House cant let State Department eagerness to restore dialogue derail deterrence. Every strong word from Biden is effective. Chinas already angry because the White House plans to debrief Taiwan on the results of the Biden-Xi meeting. I like that. As Taiwan policy shows, Biden can actually get a lot of help from the rising generation of House and Senate Republicans, who rightly see China as a threat like no other. "Im very, very concerned. China is watching this weak commander in chief Joe Biden," Rep. Elise Stefanik, R- N.Y., said Oct. 4. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP House Republicans like Stefanik will investigate medical research dollars to China, bump up defense investment in Taiwan, and keep restoring U.S. military strength. Its going to take both parties to face down China. Xi Jinping is bent on world domination, but Biden and the likely new GOP House still have opportunities to set limits on how far Xi can go. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DR. REBECCA GRANT Rebecca Grant is president of IRIS Independent Research. NBC News retracts stunning report on Paul Pelosi attack closeVideo NBC News went viral with an explosive report about what allegedly transpired when police responded to the attack on Paul Pelosi but the network's retraction is fueling even more questions. NBC News national correspondent Miguel Almaguer hasn't appeared on the network in 11 days since his explosive report on the Paul Pelosi attack was retracted, but he and NBC News have remained silent since the scrubbing of his report suggesting the House Speakers husband may not have been in danger when police arrived. The ordeal has puzzled NBC News insiders, with some believing the report was squashed because it went against the mainstream narrative. A former senior NBC News executive who worked with Almaguer believes the network needs to explain whats going on. "NBC News must be more transparent with its viewers about this error. Who wrote Miguels script? Who approved the script? Are he and his producers suspended during an internal investigation? NBCs silence on this matter speaks volumes. NBC owes it to its audience to be truthful and not cover this up," the former executive said. NBC News retracted its report from correspondent Miguel Almaguer about stunning details from the Paul Pelosi attack. (Screenshot/NBC News) NBC SILENT AFTER RETRACTING PAUL PELOSI REPORT UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES It started when Almaguer went viral after he appeared on the Nov. 4 installment of "Today" and offered stunning revelations of what may have transpired when police arrived to Pelosi's San Francisco home following a 911 call. The NBC News report attempted to answer lingering questions about the alleged home invasion that left Paul Pelosi with a fractured skull. Almaguer cited sources familiar with the situation who said the police didnt know they were responding to the Pelosi residence, Pelosi opened the door but didnt attempt to escape or declare an emergency, and even walked away from law enforcement and toward his eventual attacker. Almaguer concluded his report by telling "Today" co-host Craig Melvin "we still don't know exactly what unfolded between Mr. Pelosi and the suspect for the 30 minutes they were alone inside that house before police arrive. Officials who are investigating this matter would not go into further details about these new details." Later in the day as the segment gained prominence on Twitter, Almaguers report was erased from all NBC News platforms. It was deleted from social media, and NBC News issued an editor's note on its website, reading, "This piece has been removed from publication because it did not meet NBC News reporting standards." It is unclear what specifically from Almaguer's report did not meet the network's "reporting standards." NBC refused to elaborate, and its digital platforms said the video "expired." PAUL PELOSI ATTACK BODYCAM, 911 CALL REMAIN UNDISCLOSED AS SUSPECT DAVID DEPAPE DUE BACK IN COURT Paul Pelosi (L) and Nancy Pelosi on April 25, 2015 in Washington, DC.; Image shows FBI agents outside the home of Nancy and Paul Pelosi on Oct. 28, 2022. (Dimitrios Kambouris/VF15/WireImage ; Fox News ) On Monday, Fourth Watch editor Steve Krakauer, a former NBC page who has been critical of NBC News handling of the ordeal, noticed that Almaguer has been absent since the report was retracted. "It has been 10 days since @Miguelnbc went on NBC and delivered his Paul Pelosi report, that was expired hours later," Krakauer tweeted. Indeed, Almaguer did not appear on NBC from the since-retracted report through Mondays edition of "Nightly News," according to a search of transcripts using Grabien Media. NBC News did not immediately respond to a series of questions, including whether he was disciplined and what was wrong with his report in the first place. Hours after Krakauers tweet, the Daily Beast reported it had learned Almaguer has been "suspended pending an internal investigation." Again, NBC News did not respond when asked for comment by Fox News Digital. Almaguer, who sent nine tweets over the first three days of November, did not tweet from the day before his report was retracted through Monday evening. Almaguer did not respond to a voicemail left by Fox News Digital. Video Another NBC News insider expressed disbelief at the story getting through editors in the first place, saying they "couldn't believe they'd follow a conspiracy theory days after it was disproven." A third NBC News insider told Fox News Digital that something "shady" must have happened but couldnt pinpoint exactly what it was. Others feel the situation could be similar to the 2012 incident when NBC News quietly cut ties with multiple journalists responsible for deceptively editing audio from a 911 call placed by George Zimmerman the night he killed Trayvon Martin. "Today" aired a doctored 911 call that removed the dispatcher asking Zimmerman to describe Martin's race. The version that aired on "Today" made it seem like Zimmerman said Martin was Black without being asked. The Zimmerman call was a major media scandal at the time, and NBC News wasnt particularly transparent at first but apologized after an internal investigation. Many of the NBC News executives who oversaw the Zimmerman 911 call aftermath such as then-president Steve Capus have moved on. But Comcast remains NBC's parent company, and the Zimmerman 911 call scandal occurred only a few months after telecommunications conglomerate consolidated NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC. PAUL PELOSI RETURNS HOME FROM HOSPITAL DAYS AFTER HAMMER ATTACK Krakauer previously suggested Almaguer could have reported something that was supposed to stay off-the-record, or the veteran reporter was offering an angle the San Francisco Police Department wanted out there. "Whatever the backstory is, we don't know it - and it's incumbent on NBC to be more transparent about the process, and say publicly what, if anything, was inaccurate in the report," Krakauer wrote. "In the meantime, the rest of the media have pretended it didn't happen." Paul Pelosi's suspected attacker, a 42-year-old illegal immigrant from Canada named David DePape , is being held without bail on a slew of state and federal charges, including attempted murder. Police recovered zip ties in Pelosis bedroom, found glass broken at the rear of the house, tape, rope, gloves and a journal, according to the FBI affidavit. Paul Pelosi returned home six days after the home invasion that left him with a fractured skull. Fox News Joseph A. Wulfsohn, Michael Ruiz and David Rutz contributed to this report. 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. MAGA world loves Ron DeSantis: Marc Thiessen closeVideo Juan Williams, Hogan Gidley and Marc Thiessen give their take on potential 2024 candidates on 'The Story.' ORLANDO Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida received a heros welcome on Tuesday night, as he addressed an audience of leading Republicans minutes before former President Donald Trump announced he was launching a 2024 White House bid. DeSantis, who last week won a landside re-election victory for a second term steering Florida, garnered a standing ovation from the audience as he delivered a keynote conversation at the Republican Governors Associations winter meeting in Orlando, according to multiple sources in the room. According to one source, DeSantis spotlighted his "impressive re-election campaign" and how he won Maimi-Dade County, connecting with Hispanic voters. Another source told Fox News that governor received an "enthusiastic" response as he "recapped the Florida blueprint and the path to winning Hispanics, women, and independents." FLORIDA'S GOVERNOR RESPONDS TO ATTACKS FROM TRUMP Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida waves to the crowd during an election night watch party at the Convention Center in Tampa, Florida, on November 8, 2022. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images) And a third source added that the speech received a very warm reception from an audience that is energized about the possibilities of taking the DeSantis model and applying it to battleground states across the country. Multiple sources said that the margins DeSantis was able to run up in his re-election victory last week and his efforts on issues like education and on battling "woke curriculum" received some of the strongest applause of the evening. MEET THE POTENTIAL GOP CONTENDERS WHO MAY TAKE ON TRUMP IN 2024 While DeSantis delivered his keynote conversation minutes before Trump announced his 2024 campaign, he didnt mention the former president in his remarks. A source in the room said that Trump "was not even a topic of discussion" in the DeSantis address. In this image from video, former President Donald Trump announces he is running for president for the third time as speaks at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP ) DeSantis, who at age 44 is 32 years younger than Trump, won his first election as governor thanks to a major assist from the then-president. But hes become a force of his own as hes built a political brand that stretches from coast to coast. Floridas governor has seen his popularity soar among conservatives across the country the past two and a half years, courtesy of his forceful pushback against coronavirus pandemic restrictions and his aggressive actions as a culture wars warrior, as hes targeted the media and corporations. HOW A TRUMP ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD IMMEDIATELY IMPACT THE 2024 RACE While DeSantis for over a year has routinely discounted talk of a 2024 White House bid as he stayed laser focused on his gubernatorial re-election, he potentially dropped some hints last week during his Election Night victory speech. Incumbent Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at an election night party after winning his race for reelection in Tampa, Fla., Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, as his wife Casey listens. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)) "We have rewritten the political map," DeSantis declared. "While our country flounders due to failed leadership in Washington, Florida is on the right track." And he took in the scene as a chant of "two more years! Two more years," broke out among supporters urging the governor to consider a national run in 2024. As DeSantis seen his poll numbers in 2024 Republican presidential polls start to rival Trump, and his fundraising prowess match that of the former president, Trump in recent months has targeted the Florida governor. And Trump has turned up the volume on his attacks on DeSantis in the days just before and after the midterms, and debuted a new nickname for the governor: "Ron DeSanctimonius." Until Tuesday, DeSantis had refused to take the bait, electing not to engage with Trumps taunts. "One of the things I've learned in this job is when you're leading, when you're getting things done, you take incoming fire. That's just the nature of it," DeSantis said in response to a question about Trump at a Fort Walton Beach high school event. "I roll out of bed in the morning and I have corporate media outlets that have a spasm just because I'm getting up in the morning, and it's just constantly attacking." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I think what you learn is all of that is just noise, and really what matters is are you leading, are you getting in front of issues, are you delivering results for people, and are you standing up for folks," he continued. "At the end of the day I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night." If DeSantis decides to launch a 2024 campaign, dont expect an announcement anytime soon. A source in the governors wider political orbit tells Fox News any announcement wouldnt happen until after Floridas legislative session ends in May. Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in New Hampshire. the Shenzhou-8 spaceship has successfully completed its rendezvous with Tiangong-1 (heavenly palace), at a speed of about 28,000 km/h, 343 km above of the Earth. With this first rendezvous in orbit, China confirmed its intention to become a major space power. The docking of two vessels, for now uninhabited, is a crucial step towards building a space station by 2020. Shenzhou-8 was launched Tuesday from the base of Jiuquan, which was also a party on September 29 Tiangong-1. Premier Wen Jiabao attended the retransmission of the operation from the control center in Beijing. The Chinese press describes it as a kiss in space. President Hu Jintao, who is in France to attend the G20 summit in Cannes has sent a congratulatory message. Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1 will remain connected for 12 days before separating to come together again for two days. After their second separation, Shenzhou-8 will return to Earth on November 17 in the afternoon. The space technology is controlled by the Russians and the Americans since the 1960s. The China National Space Administration said it has developed the technology, though its design is based on Russians. China wishes to have a space station where the crew can live for several months, as the old Russian space station Mir and the International Space Station. If current operations end well, next year China will launch two other ships Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 to join Tiangong-1, Shenzhou-10 will be inhabited. Two women are among the astronauts train for this mission. They could be the first Chinese to be sent by their countries in space. Shenzhou-8 was loaded with 17 experiments in automatic life science carried out in cooperation with Germany. It is the first international cooperation program of the Chinese manned flight in space science. For the Chinese, it is to show that a real level of cooperation has now been achieved while the Germans are looking to diversify their carriers, said Isabelle Sourbes-Verger, a specialist in Chinas space program at the CNRS. China made its first space docking testadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Elon Musk's bumpy landing at Twitter closeVideo Can he fix the social site before money runs out? Liberal tech journalist Kara Swisher revealed in a recent episode of her podcast that shes on the outs with Twitter owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk after he allegedly emailed her and called her an "ahole." As Swisher told it, the worlds richest man did not appreciate the reporters tweets about his dealings with Ukraine regarding the use of his "Starlink" satellite network, though Swisher maintained her tweets were supportive of Musk. Swisher recounted the incident during the latest episode of her podcast "On With Kara Swisher," where she spoke to co-host Nayeema Raza about her history of covering Musk for years as part of her tech beat. ELON MUSK'S COMPANY SHOULD BE 'NATIONALIZED' FOR UKRAINE, ATLANTIC WRITER ARGUES Kara Swisher claimed that Elon Musk recently called her an "a--hole" in an email. (REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs) She remarked that theyve corresponded much over the years, and characterized the nature of their relationship, saying, "I call em as I see em. Ill support him when hes doing great things, and I will tell him when hes being an ahole." She added, "Im gonna tell him what I think. I always have and if he doesnt like it, whatever sir, you dont have to listen, but Im telling you the truth." However, she mentioned shes been very supportive of Musk throughout his career and their correspondence. Swisher stated that recently she and Musk are not on speaking terms. Raza asked how their relationship is at the moment, and the reporter revealed, "Hes not speaking to me." Raza probed, saying, "One word to describe it," and Swisher replied, "Im an ahole." She elaborated: "He emailed me this recently." When asked to talk about this exchange, the reporter said, "You know, before this, I had asked him for an interview for On, and we had a great back and forth about what should be done at Twitter and I was explaining what we had done with Twitter Spaces and he said I love your thoughts." Swisher mentioned how Musk expressed interest in being interviewed after dust settled from his Twitter deal, though her subsequent tweets about Musks recent dealings with Ukraine annoyed the billionaire. MAJORITY OF REGISTERED VOTERS SAY THE MEDIA IS A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, POLL FINDS Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington. A Delaware judge is hearing arguments, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022 over the exchange of information by lawyers in Twitter's lawsuit seeking to force billionaire Elon Musk to carry through with his $44 billion acquisition of the social media giant. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) She explained, "And then I tweeted something that he didnt like. I tweeted this Washington Post article which cited an anonymous U.S. defense official talking about Starlink. The official said, Elons gonna Elon, and I wrote on Twitter, Elons gonna Elon kinda says it all." At the time, Musk was taking heat for floating the notion that he should receive financial help for supplying free internet to the Ukraine war effort against Russia with his Starlink satellites. As Swisher recounted it, Elon allegedly thought Swisher was dismissive of his request. Though Swisher maintained she was ultimately supportive of the idea that Musk get paid. She said, "But I didnt agree with this defense official, I think they should pay Elon, and I said that. And so the next couple of tweets was like, I think he should be paid, he does have them over the barrel and can say what he wants, cause I think it was Defense Departments problem." Still, the angry email came from Musk. As Raza said, "And then on October 17th at 9:45 PM Eastern, you get an email from Elon." Swisher added, "Yeah, late. Its always late. I was up at night having chocolate sandwiches, I dont know whats happening." Elon Musk has wasted little time making his mark on Twitter since he took over last month. Gabriel Hays is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Speech by Ambassador Liu at the Unveiling of the Confucius Institute, University of Southampton From Chinese Embassy in UK Professor Don Nutbeam, Sir Leonard Appleyard, Lord Mayor, Professor Zhu Chongshi, Distinguished Guests, Teachers and Students, Its a great pleasure to be here at the University of Southampton. Today is a special occasion for me on two counts. First, we will be unveiling Britains 15th Confucius Institute. Second, this is the ninth Russell Group university Ive visited. I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the University of Southampton and Xiamen University. I wish you a most productive partnership. As we are about to open a Confucius Institute, it is appropriate to reflect on and talk about Confucius. As you know Confucius was the best known educator, thinker and statesman in ancient China. So, first what did he say as an educator? Confucius believes that teaching methods must be tailored to individual needs. The Confucius Institute in the University of Southampton has an important mission of teaching British young people Mandarin. It also means devising the right teaching methodology. In any aspect of education developing students interest in learning is the key to success. Confucius famously said: Isnt it a pleasure to review and practice what you have learnt. He also pointed out that: The learning process is most rewarding when theres immense interest in it. These are clear indications that what Confucius found important is to make teaching and learning an interesting and pleasant experience. I hope the Southampton University Confucius Institute will take inspiration from Confucius. If that is done I feel sure this will encourage students interest and make the learning process a pleasure and delight. My second point is about Confucius as a great thinker. Much of the thinking and philosophy of Confucius represents the best of Chinese culture. In China Confucius has been a profound influence for over two thousand years. China as a country has always been open to new ideas and cultures from the outside world. As you may know, there have been enormous changes and development in China. However, the values of the Chinese people are still in large part shaped by the Confucian heritage. Confucius stressed the values of love, justice, courtesy, wisdom and credibility. These ethics are central to the Confucian system of morality. These principles are as strong today as they have been for the past two millennia. Reflecting on this legacy of thinking, the biggest contribution this Confucius Institute can make is to not only teach Mandarin, but also introduce to students the Chinese culture and philosophy. Following this path will make your Institute a treasure house of Chinese language and culture. It will create a bridge that encourages communication and understanding in the University of Southampton and far beyond. The third point about Confucius I would like to talk about is his role as a statesman. In this capacity Confucius strove to build a world of harmony, where nations thrive in peace and gain from cooperation. Building on this vision, China today takes a path of peaceful development and pursues a win-win opening-up strategy. China is committed to working with Britain and the world to achieve development and mutual benefit for all. Our aim is to make our world a better and harmonious place. Im confident the teachers of the Confucius Institute will do an excellent job to teach Mandarin and promote Chinese culture. More important, I look to you to act as ambassadors of friendship. You need to gain understanding and support for Chinas aspirations for a better future. I urge you to do your utmost to build understanding of Chinas commitment to peaceful development. These efforts are essential for the China-UK friendship to flourish. Let me conclude with congratulations again to the University of Southampton and Xiamen University on the opening of the Confucius Institute. Thank you! Southampton, 31 October 2011 Speech by Ambassador Liu at the Unveiling of the Confucius Institute, University of Southamptonadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Growth of Chinas foreign trade missed the governments 10-percent annual target set for 2012 by rising only 6.2 percent from 2011,game golden tiger customs data showed Thursday. The countrys exports and imports volume totaled 3.87 trillion U.S. dollars last year, and growth slowed sharply from the 22.5-percent rise registered in 2011, Zheng Yuesheng, General Administration of Customs spokesman said. Exports rose 7.9 percent in 2012 from the previous year while imports increased 4.3 percent year on year, Zheng said at a press conference. Foreign trade surplus widened to 231.1 billion U.S. dollars last year, 48.1 percent more than the level recorded in 2011. Xinhua Chinas 2012 foreign trade growth slows to 6.2 pctadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Greg Gutfeld: We are now the travel hazard, not the other countries closeVideo Greg Gutfeld and his guests discuss Mexico using images of Philadelphia citizens in an anti-drug advertisement on 'Gutfeld!' NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Pull my tongue down. Happy Monday. I hope you had a great weekend. I did. After I cleared up the misunderstanding with the park police. Damn. When did restroom custodians start working undercover? So it appears that the Mexican government is using video of homeless people and open-air drug users from Philadelphia in a national ad campaign to try to scare young people away from drugs. Take a look at this, if you will. [VIDEO] They don't speak English? That's right. A third-world country taking shots at a failed Democrat-run city. That's no fair. That's our job. Anyway, some felt this denigrated Philly's image, which I don't understand. What depicts brotherly love better than two guys sharing a dirty needle. Fact is, the only city worse off than Philly is Pompeii. And they had an excuse. Although it's been a few thousand years. I mean, one volcano erupts and they call it a day, not even bothering to build it back up. Come on, Pompeii, grow a pair. Anyway, people objected to the addicts and degenerates being filmed without their consent. That was another problem. And I'm not just talking about my live studio audience. Yeah, I was just checking if you're awake. But these scenes were filmed in public unlike those videos Kilmeade shows me from the locker room at the YMCA. He's got a shampoo bottle with a hole in it. It's amazing. But face it, it's hard to give consent when your pants are down, on the sidewalk trying to dislodge that last rock of crack from your butt like it's a gumball from the machine. Honestly, you want that guy to sign a waiver? You'll need a pair of salad tongs to retrieve your pen. But obviously, Mexico is the big source of fentanyl that's killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. It's made overdose the number one cause of accidental death outside of being on the set of an Alec Baldwin Western. GREG GUTFELD: GOP MUST BRING SANITY BACK TO GOVERNMENT And so Mexico tells their people, "Do not be like our customers." It's like Ronald McDonald telling Ronald Junior to lay off the Big Macs or me saying, "Don't watch this show. The sheer brilliance could destroy your mind." But it is probably the best advice you can give. Don't get high on your own supply. It's the favorite advice of corner drug dealers and the hobby shop where I buy my glue. But it's also saying, "Stay away from Philly." Yeah, it's sad. We have reached a point where we are now the travel hazard, not the other Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered relevant ministries Saturday to be prepared for a satellite launch conducted by the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and asked them to secure public safety. Noda said he will seek cooperation with the United States,parlay betting app mozzart website South Korea, Russia and China to urge the DPRK to stop the launch, which would be carried out between Dec. 10 and Dec. 22, according to Japans Kyodo News Agency. Japan will also put the issue on a high-level negotiation with the DPRK on Wednesday and Thursday in Beijing, trying to persuade the DPRK to give up the plan. The DPRK announced the plan on Saturday, saying the earth observation satellite, the second version of Kwangmyongsong-3, will be launched by the Unha-3 carrier rocket from the Sohae Space Center in the countrys North Phyongan Province. The DPRK attempted a satellite launch in April to mark the 100th birthday of late DPRK founder Kim Il Sung. But the rocket failed to send the satellite into orbit and crashed into sea. Xinhua Japans PM orders ministries to prepare for DPRKs satellite launchadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chairman Mark Hendrick, Mr. David Longbottom, Mr. Hugh Roberts, Teachers and Students, I warmly welcome you to the launch of the project: Panda Partnership-UK schools welcome pandas from China, or Panda Pals for short. When China and Britain signed the joint panda research agreement earlier this year, I said this to British friends, the pandas will come a few months from now. Today, I can go on to say, therere just a few weeks to go before the pandas arrive. And as people count down to their arrival, Im sure all of us look forward to welcoming these two cute pandas to Britain. The arrival of these rare and much loved bears will attract a great deal of interest in China and Britain. This attention is very good news as Panda Pals will create a popular focus on the cultural and people-to-people links between our two countries. Indeed, in many aspects, Panda Pals is symbolic of the closer partnership between China and the UK. Let us take science links. At its core Panda Pals represents the growing scientific ties between China and Britain. The arrival of the two Pandas is part of a 10 year joint research programme to find out how human-bred pandas can survive in the wild. Then there are diplomatic links. Panda Pals also reminds us of the history of our diplomatic ties. Next year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary. 37 years ago the growing warmth of Chinese and British diplomacy was reflected by the arrival of two giant pandas Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching at London Zoo. Chia-Chia and Ching-Ching were a link to the shared commitment of China and Britain to create an environmentally sustainable future. It was these two giant pandas that in 1961 inspired the creation of the panda logo of the World Wildlife Fund. Panda Pals connects with the very important education links between our two countries. There are now 120,000 Chinese students studying in Britain. And more and more UK schools are teaching mandarin in all parts of the UK. Growing numbers of British young people are thinking of visiting, studying and working in China. What Panda Pals provides is a way of engaging young people in British schools. It is a way to encourage them to learn more about China through a universal love for Pandas. As the Panda Pals logo suggests, this project is about much more than conservation; it is also about science, culture, education and above all friendship and partnership. Through these themes we expect pandas to bring China and Britain even closer together. The pair of pandas arrival will be greeted with strong enthusiasm among children and young people. The Panda Pals Project is designed to build on this enthusiasm with serious education objectives. The project includes a primary school drawing competition, a middle school speech contest and a Panda Pals website. Panda Pals may also be collaborating with BBCs Blue Peter on a possible naming the Pandas initiative. Now, let me say a few words about what Panda Pals is meant to achieve. First, we hope to build knowledge. As you know, there are loads of interesting questions surrounding pandas. Why do they have black eyes? Why do they like bamboo? Why are there so few of them? Im sure this Panda Pals project is an ideal way for children and youngsters to explore all these answers and many other aspects of panda conservation and Chinese culture and history. Second, we hope to spread fun and enjoyment into the learning process. There are panda games for young students to join and the winners will be awarded the chance to visit the Edinburgh Zoo to see pandas. Also there is a very big motivation to participate. The top pupil winner, and his or her parents, will be invited to fly to China and visit the pandas home in Chinas Sichuan province. Third, we hope to strengthen friendship and understanding. Knowing pandas also means understanding more about their home country of China. This opens the way for young British people to explore the Chinese traditions, people, its society and economy. More important, this is an excellent window into grasping Chinas commitment to peaceful development, desire for win-win cooperation and quest for harmony with the world. Let me take this opportunity to thank Edinburgh Zoo, London South Bank University, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, the University of Edinburgh and Cardiff University. All of these distinguished organisations are our close partners in this project. Also I must extend my thanks to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland for your strong support. And I would like to express appreciation to Huawei (UK) and HSBC for your sponsorship of this project. Through Panda Pals we can observe the process of learning amongst British pupils. So, I wish all the students good luck in the competitions and hope they all have fun and make more friends. Those students who win the Panda Pals contests will be invited to the Chinese Embassy early next year. I look forward to presenting awards to all the winners at the Chinese Embassy. In that way we can all gather to celebrate the success of the Panda Pals Project ! Thank you! London South Bank University, 10 November 2011 Chinese Embassy in UK Speech by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Launch of China-UK Panda Pals Projectadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Wedding ceremony halted as kangaroo fight breaks out closeVideo An Australian wedding was temporarily delayed after kangaroos near the venue began fighting one another. A bride and groom about to be married may not have gotten a kick out of this. A couple's wedding ceremony was delayed when two kangaroos were spotted fighting near the venue. The Jervis Bay, New South Wales, wedding was about to begin when wedding guests spotted two kangaroos fighting off to the side. WEDDING MISHAP: BRIDE STOPS ENTIRE CEREMONY WHEN SHE FORGETS PART OF HER WEDDING DRESS A video captures the moment the large kangaroos were seen on their large and powerful hind legs, fighting each other. As a result of the fight, the wedding ceremony was temporarily delayed. The two animals continued to fight, causing the wedding guests to watch in shock and dismay. (@mitchchuri via Storyful) Videographer and commentator Mitch Churi can be heard talking about the encounter. WEDDING WINNERS 2022: THE BEST 10 STATES FOR WEDDINGS THIS YEAR (DID YOUR STATE MAKE THE LIST?) At one point, he jokes about the timing of the incident wedding day. Two large and aggressive kangaroos attracted undue attention at a couple's wedding. (@mitchchuri via Storyful) "Weddings are all fun and games until some of the guests start to fight," he said. MICHIGAN MAN PROPOSES TO HIS GIRLFRIEND WITH A SWEETGREEN SALAD In the video, the two kangaroos can be seen standing on their hind legs and attacking one another. One kangaroo even went for the gut of the other kangaroo. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "Right in the gut," said the videographer. The two kangaroos can be seen fighting in the field. (@mitchchuri via Storyful) The crowd of wedding guests was apparently completely fixated on the fight. "Everybody stopped looking for the bride and groom and spent 20 minutes watching the fight," he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP After the kangaroos calmed down and left the area the ceremony then began. Brittany Kasko is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital. China successfully sent a communication satellite into space on Tuesday evening. Conditions of Chinasat 12 are normal after it was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Chinas Sichuan Province at 6:13 p.m.. It has reached a preset orbit,raging bull free money codes according to a monitoring center based in Xian. The satellite, the 13th commercial orbiter operated by the China Satellite Communications Co., Ltd., will provide telecommunications services for its customers in Asia, Africa and Europe. Manufactured by Frances Thales Alenia Space, Chinasat 12 was launched by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. It was the 173rd launch mission for the Long March series of carrier rockets. Xinhua China launches new communication satelliteadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Xi Jinping,1xbet 24 poker game table top general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has extended his condolence with deep feeling of grief on the unexpected death of Luo Yang, the on-site director-in-chief of Chinas carrier-borne fighter jet research program. In his instruction, which was made on Monday but publicized on Tuesday, Xi called Luos death a big loss to the Party as well as to the nation, and he also extended words of comfort to Luos family. Xi, also chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, said Luo devoted himself to the countrys aviation industry and made an extraordinary contribution to its development. The Party and military leader urged all Party members and cadres to learn from Luos qualities and treasured spirit. He asked relevant departments to take good care of Luos family. Luo, chairman and general manager of the Shenyang Aircraft Corp. (SAC), headed the manufacturing and production phase of the J-15 fighter jet. He had a heart attack onboard the carrier after the successful landing of the J-15 on Sunday, and later died in hospital at the age of 51, according to an obituary issued by the SAC. Chinese people nationwide, including Luos colleagues, acquaintances and netizens, have mourned his death. Xinhua Xi offers condole on senior jet figures deathadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline What Is a Maquiladora?bingo blitz crypto helium mining The term maquiladora refers to a factory or manufacturing plant in Mexico. These corporations are approved for operation by the country's Secretariat of Commerce and Industrial Development under a decree established in 1989 and are owned by foreign entities. Maquiladoras were first developed in the 1960s as a way to encourage foreign investment and address unemployment. As such, they usually operate near the U.S.-Mexico border. Companies that operate under the maquiladora model are able to take advantage of numerous benefits. The products manufactured by these factories are normally exported beyond the Mexican border. Key Takeaways A maquiladora is a low-cost factory in Mexico that is owned by a foreign corporation. Facilities are usually located near the U.S.-Mexico border. These plants assemble products and export them back to the United States and other countries. Companies can capitalize on a cheaper labor force in Mexico and certain tax advantages under the North American Free Trade Agreement, the USMCA, and the IMMEX Program. Despite the benefits, maquiladoras have come under fire because of the way they exploit their labor force. Understanding a Maquiladora As noted above, a maquiladora is a factory located in Mexico but owned and run by a foreign entity. The first plants of this kind were established in 1961 to help stimulate the domestic market and attract foreign investment. Many of these companies are located along the United States-Mexico border. The structure of a maquiladora system is set up so that the parent company is located in the United States while the manufacturing operation or factory is located in Mexico. The Mexican Secretary of the Economy determines whether a plant is officially considered a maquiladora. This official designation is important because it qualifies the plant for unlimited foreign capital investment and duty-free imports. Duty-free imports apply to the raw and semi-finished materials shipped after manufacture or assembly, as well as to the machinery used in the manufacturing process. The factories that participate in the maquila program, which are also known as twin plants, manufacture a variety of goods. In fact, there are thousands of maquiladoras that produce everything from clothing and consumer electronics to cars, drones, medical devices, and aircraft components. Export may be direct or indirect, whether that's through the sale of products or shipping through another factory or export company. These factories have certain tax advantages that make them attractive to businesses. Companies can capitalize on a cheaper labor force in Mexico and also receive the benefits of doing business in the U.S. The presence of maquiladoras contributed significantly to the industrialization of the Mexican-American border. Although maquilas can open anywhere in Mexico, they are not permitted to operate in highly congested parts of the country, including Guadalajara, Mexico City, and the Monterrey urban areas. Benefits of a Maquiladora As noted above, there are a number of benefits that come with establishing a maquiladora. We've listed some of the most common ones below. Economic Benefits The first and obvious advantage is the economic benefit that comes with establishing maquiladoras for Mexico as well as border cities and states where they may be located. Once these factories are set up, they provide a source of labor for local residents and can help boost the local economy. Maquilas effectively help industrialize border cities in Mexico that may otherwise be characterized by high unemployment. The economies of border cities and states also benefit because of the administrative centers that are set up on the U.S. side, as well as the transport and customs services that result from import-export operations. Costs and Incentives Companies can take advantage of lower costs and tax benefits by setting up maquilas. Labor costs are fairly low in Mexico, which makes production cheaper. That's because there's a larger labor pool that may be looking for work. Maquilas also help companies cut down the costs associated with tariffs and duties. For instance, companies are exempt from the 16% value-added tax (VAT) on raw materials used for production. They are also exempt from paying duties when they export goods marked "Made in Mexico" to Canada and the U.S. This is because of the trade relationship that exists between the U.S. and Mexico under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Access to Labor Border towns are commonly known for high unemployment rates, where people are actively looking for work. Setting up a maquila in a Mexican town gives companies access to a greater and cheaper labor pool. Although many of the people available for work may be unskilled, it gives workers a chance to transition to the skilled category. Location Aside from a few exceptions, maquilas can be set up anywhere in Mexico. But from a logistical standpoint, it makes more sense to establish a presence along the border of Mexico and the United States. Many maquiladoras are also strategically located close to airports, roads, railroads, and shipping ports. Proximity helps lower costs, including transport expenses, and improves supply chain management. For instance, a company may decide to locate the parent company in San Diego and the plant in Tijuana rather than setting up a shop in Detroit and Matamoros. Maquiladoras and Labor Exploitation Although they may provide numerous economic benefits, maquilas have come under fire for the way they may exploit the labor force. Although they provide competitive wages for those who work in these facilities, the pay is still relatively low. In fact, the pay can be at or below the poverty line. Wages are normally based on daily rather than hourly rates and workers are often contracted for 48-hour shifts each week. This is compounded by American border and migrant policies, as well as an increased military presence at the border. Migrants who want to enter the United States from Central America often seek work in these facilities. This demand for employment from non-Mexicans allows corporate management to take advantage of these workers by paying them drastically lower wages. The conditions of employment may also be a big issue for plant workers. For instance, workers may experience health risks and unsafe working conditions. Housing conditions may be unsound or inadequate, especially for migrant workers. There is often a lack of representation for workers. Labor unions may exist on paper, giving workers false hope that their needs and demands are met. And employment contracts are often written in favor of plant owners rather than workers, giving virtually no protection to workers' rights. History of Maquiladoras The creation of the maquiladora system was spurred by the end of the Bracero program in 1964. The Bracero program allowed Mexican agricultural workers to be employed in the U.S. seasonally. In order to address the high rates of unemployment that the ending of the Bracero program created, the Mexican government created the maquiladora program. This provided U.S. corporations with a vast supply of cheap labor. The ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 ended tariffs that impacted the maquiladoras system. Mexican import duties were waived and these factories were able to take advantage of preferential duty rates for certain products. This led to an explosion in the number of maquiladorasthe second half of the 1990s saw the number of maquiladoras nearly doubled each yearnot to mention a boost in economic growth to the tune of $345 billion in 2014. Improvements were made to the maquiladora program through the IMMEX program, which was formerly known as the Maquiladora Program. This new program increased the benefits, leading to a further reduction in costs, increased operational efficiencies, and the modernization of the establishment process. Under the program, companies can register as one of the following entities: Holding Company Industrial Outsourcing Services Shelter The IMMEX Program has led to significant growth in the industry. Reports indicate that export increased between 2005 and 2017 from $210 billion to $419 billion. Maquiladoras FAQs How Have Maquiladoras Impacted the Mexican Economy? Maquiladoras have a significant impact on Mexico's economy. They employ millions of workers each year, many of whom are unskilled. By giving them access to employment, these plants help the individuals make the leap from unskilled to skilled workers. These facilities also make up a good portion of the goods exported to the United States. Are Maquiladoras Similar to Sweatshops? While there may be cases of unsafe working conditions or unscrupulous maquila owners who take advantage of their employees by paying them low wages, they don't have the same reputation as sweatshops. Sweatshops don't provide their workers with a living wage and the overall conditions are unsafe to the point where they may even be dangerous. Many of these establishments employ children and women, don't provide any job security or guarantee of wages. Where Are Maquiladoras Generally Located? Although there's no limitation to where maquiladoras can be located, they are generally found along the border of the United States and Mexico. Who Benefits the Most from Maquiladoras? Border cities and states tend to benefit the most from maquiladoras. Those in Mexico benefit from the creation of plants and facilities and a boost in labor and employment. American companies can benefit from cheaper labor costs, a reduction in production costs, import-export tariffs, and duties. Nancy Grace shares why she declined to take part in new Casey Anthony docuseries closeVideo Fox Nation host Nancy Grace rips Peacock's upcoming Casey Anthony docuseries and shares why she declined to take part in the show. New details have emerged regarding the upcoming docuseries about Casey Anthony, the Florida woman acquitted in her 2-year-old daughters mysterious, unsolved murder. "Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies," will be released later this month and features Anthonys first on-camera interview since she was found not guilty of murdering her daughter, Caylee. In the three-part docuseries, the 36-year-old provided new details and pinned the blame on her father, much like defense attorneys did during her 2011 trial. People.com was first to report about Anthonys statements. "He handed her to me. Said it was my fault. That I caused it." Casey Anthony in "Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies" George Anthony did not immediately provide comment when contacted on Tuesday. He previously denied having any involvement in Caylee's death or the disposal of her remains. According to the docuseries, Anthony said she and her daughter had been resting together in her bed on June 16, 2008, when the mother "wasnt feeling that great." She said she thought she had locked the door. CASEY ANTHONY MYSTERY: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? "I was awoken by him (her father) shaking me and asking me where Caylee was," she said. "She would never even leave my room without telling me." She went on, "I immediately started looking around the house. I go outside, and I'm looking to see where she could be. She's not in her playhouse. Where is she?" Asked if she had looked inside the pool, she said, "Didn't have to." Caylee Anthony (Orlando Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) She then spotted her father "standing there with her." CASEY ANTHONY WANTS TO TELL HER TRUTH IN A DOCUMENTARY, PAL SAYS: SHE FEELS LIKE ITS TIME "She's soaking wet," she said. "He handed her to me and telling me that it was my fault. That I did that. That I caused it. But he didn't rush to call 911, or he wasn't trying to resuscitate her. I just collapsed with her in my arms." Caylee was "heavy" and "cold," Anthony said. Casey Anthony sits in the courtroom before a sentencing hearing in Orlando, Florida, July 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Joe Burbank, Pool) George Anthony then changed his demeanor and took Caylee from his daughter, Casey Anthony said. "He immediately softens his tone and tells me, Its going to be OK," she said. "That's what he said to me. I wanted to believe him. He took her from me, and he walked away." She said she did not believe her daughter had drowned and added that the above-ground pool had "no ladder" and there was "no way for her to shimmy up." Video She added, "There's no way to explain that, unless [George] put her in the pool to cover up what he did." JUDGE IN CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL SAYS SHE MAY HAVE KILLED DAUGHTER BY ACCIDENT Casey Anthony then left and spent the next 31 days with her boyfriend but kept quiet about what she had seen. She claimed that she "genuinely believed that Caylee was still alive." Video "My father kept telling me she was OK," she said in the show. "I was in contact with my father daily. I just wanted answers. When am I going to see her? How much longer are we going to keep doing this? Is she OK?" CASEY ANTHONY ACQUITTAL: JUROR SPEAKS OUT 10 YEARS AFTER TRIAL, SAYS CASE 'HAUNTS ME TO THIS DAY' Caylees grandmother reported her missing on July 15, 2008, weeks after she was said to have been last seen on June 16. Anthony said her daughter was with a babysitter when they disappeared. George and Cindy Anthony in their seats after placing a teddy bear at the memorial for their granddaughter, Caylee Anthony, at First Baptist Orlando in Orlando, Florida. (MyFOXOrlando.com) Casey Anthony was initially arrested for child neglect but was later charged with more serious counts, including first-degree murder, after Caylee's remains were discovered on Dec. 11. After months of speculation surrounding the case and a trial that lasted more than a month, a jury deliberated for 11 hours before finding Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse. She was convicted of lying to law enforcement. Casey Anthony returns to spotlight in docuseries on her daughter's murder. (Fox News) Anthonys defense attorney, Jose Baez, argued that Caylee accidentally drowned and her death was then covered up. Prosecutors argued that Casey Anthony suffocated the girl using chloroform and then covered the toddler's mouth with duct tape. Caylee's disappearance and death, and the criminal investigation and trial that followed, gripped the nation for years and captured headlines for days at a time. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "Casey Anthony: Where The Truth Lies," will air on Peacock on Nov. 29. Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @steph_pagones. Thecurrent price of hex coin government of China and authorities of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Wednesday moved to strengthen relations by signing a framework agreement for cooperation in specific areas with a view to enhancing economic cooperation between both sides. The framework agreement was signed in Abuja, Nigerias capital city, when a high-level delegation of ECOWAS and Chinese officials met on ways to boost trade, investment and technical cooperation between China and the sub-region. Three months ago in July, we successfully held FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) in Beijing and ECOWAS had a strong delegation there. China is willing to support African integration by all means. China and ECOWAS have made great consensus toward strengthening the ties between them. ECOWAS is one of the strongest regional blocs implementing great policies and it has been committed to west Africa development. For this reason, it is highly significant for China and ECOWAS to develop certain mechanisms to further deepen cooperation, said Li Jinzao, Chinas Vice Minister of Commerce who led a delegation of high-level officials from China to the meeting. In the next three years, according to the vice minister, China will establish trans-national cooperation with African countries and the country will provide customs and commodity inspection facilities to enhance trade and commerce in the region, as part of its support. He added that the move will foster investment cooperation. Responding to a proposal by the ECOWAS delegation for the Chinese government to assist the West coast of Africa in completing the construction of a 2000 km trans-west African highway project it has embarked on, the Chinese top official assured that the government of the Asian country will respond to the request in due time. According to officials, although some 1,200 kilometers have been covered in the yet-to-be completed 2,000 km trans-west African highway project linking nine countries, the remaining part of the work will gulp about 10 billion U.S. dollars. Our technical staff will carry out further studies and make a focus before we can discuss the work to be done. Also, we need proper understanding between the nine specific countries linked to that highway. They must make agreement before we can begin to discuss the funding. It is a huge financial project and we need African financial institutions to also support it, not only the Chinese. We so much believe in this project and we must continue to be in touch, Li added. Announcing a donation of 200,000 U.S. dollars by the Chinese government to further boost the ECOWAS integration process and to enhance capacity development within the region, the vice minister expressed hope that the partnership between China and the west African bloc will last for a long time. Earlier, vice president of the ECOWAS Commission Toga McIntosh who led high-level officials of the regional bloc to the meeting had said the forging of a new and progressive partnership has ushered in a new historical process in the growing China-Africa relations. The relationship, according to McIntosh, is now strategic in nature with a focus to ensure a brighter future. This new momentum to China-Africa exchanges and cooperation must not slip from our hands, nor should we allow the bundle of opportunities to vanish before our eyes, he said, adding that the regional bloc has drawn inspiration from Chinas determination to establish a partnership with ECOWAS, especially in enhancing trans- national and trans-regional infrastructure development. A joint committee will be set up and will be saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and examining the effective implementation of the agreement by ECOWAS and China with a view to expand areas as well as explore new ways of cooperation, said the ECOWAS vice president. Xinhua China, ECOWAS move to strengthen tiesadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinas growing demand for greener illumination gave the countrys light emitting diode (LED) makers an easy time this Jogo do Bicho - Slotyear with good profits in the first half of 2014. Of 38 listed LED makers to publish semiannual financial results, 31 reported improved performance. The net profits of 12 companies grew by more than 50 percent. HC SemiTek Corporation, which posted a 215-percent profit growth, attributed its success to demand for LED chips, a device to control LED lights and screens. LEDs are usually lights that are more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs. China is the worlds largest LED producer with a large number of companies, mostly small firms, in the business, the high price of LED bulbs means that they are not all that popular in China, especially in the countryside. Huge production capacity and a relatively small domestic market means the LED industry is highly reliant on overseas markets. Some analysts fear that LED companies may face similar problems to PV producers. A silver lining came when China released a plan in 2011 to phase out incandescent illumination to raise energy efficiency: imports and sales of 60-watt and above incandescent bulbs will be prohibited on October 1. In addition, China started to subsidize LED lights last year and encouraged schools, shopping malls and hotels to install them. Xihua Chinas LED industry brightens upadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline China condemned the U.S. for its latest offer to sell weapons to Taiwan, called the move gross interference in internal affairs of China and warned it could damage military ties and security between Washington and Beijing. The Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun, expressed strong indignation and resolute opposition on the decision of US to upgrade F-16 fighter and sell other military equipment when he called the U.S. ambassador, Gary Locke. Zhang stressed that regardless of excuses and reasons, the U.S. announced plans to sell arms to Taiwan is a serious intervention in the internal affairs of China. The path chosen will inevitably harm U.S.- China relations, cooperation and exchanges in the fields of military, security and others, Zhang stressed. He warned Washington not to take more actions that harm the fundamental interests of China and bilateral cooperation. Tensions over the last sale of U.S. arms to Taiwan could obscure the relationship between economic giants for a while. Comments indicated that Beijings military relations came to a halt, as happened after previous sales. Last year, these arms sales were part of a series of disputes that strained relations between China and the U.S.. United States put a formal end to diplomatic relations with Taiwan when it recognized Beijing in 1979, but says it is bound by law to help Taiwan defend itself. The government of President Barack Obama formally notified Congress of a potential upgrade of Taiwans aging fleet with American-made F-16 fighter aircraft. China Condemns United States Arms Sales to Taiwanadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun on Friday urged Japan to face up to its history and sincerely correct its mistakes. If Japan cannot face up to history, cannot examine its conscience and sincerely correct its mistakes, no matter how developed its economy is, it will never stand up morally or psychologically, he said. Zhang told reporters at a news briefing that the dangerous political tendency of the Japanese right-wing forces had once plunged Asia into a major disaster. Such forces, if not stopped but used, if encouraged and indulged out of domestic political needs, will become further emboldened and lead Japan further down a dangerous path, Zhang said. If this tendency should continue, it is not impossible that the historical tragedy will be repeated, and that will throw Asia and the entire world into disaster and will cause eventual trouble to Japan, he said. Japan has, until this day, remained reluctant to explicitly recognize the nature of that war of aggression, Zhang said. Some Japanese political figures have swaggered into the Yasukuni Shrine and paid tribute there without feeling guilty or ashamed, dismissing the feelings of the people in other Asian countries, which were victims of its past aggression. Should Japan continue to act like that, how could it be forgiven by the Asian people and how could its neighboring countries rest assured of it? Zhang said. Xinhua China urges Japan to face up to historyadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Hundreds of villagers protested for a fourth day to denounce the toxic waste from a factory of solar panels in Haining in eastern China. Some protesters have assaulted into the factory in addition to ransacked the offices and overturned cars , according to the authorities of Zhejiang province. The protest was started on Thursday when 500 villagers near Hongxiao went to the factory to demand an explanation on the death of a large amount of fish in the adjacent river, said Xinhua news agency. The villagers also claim that toxic releases from the plant caused at least 31 cases of cancer among residents, including six cases of leukemia. A Hongxiao resident of 64 years told the press that the plant, located near a school and a daycare center, discharges its waste into the river and its dozen chimneys spitting out thick smoke. The villagers strongly demanded that the plant move to another area. I am very concerned about the health of younger generations, he said. According to Chen Hongming, Deputy Head of the Office of Environmental Affairs in Haining, this plant does not meet the standards since April. Despite warnings from the authorities, the company has never complied the rules, he said. The plant is owned by a subsidiary of Jinko Solar Holding Co, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company would not comment. For its part, the Government of Haining asked the company to suspend production and ensured that a meeting would be held between local leaders and representatives of the villagers. In China, industrial pollution has become a major problem. The authorities are struggling to contain the anger of the people affected. Last month, after strong protests, the authorities of the city of Dalian in the northeast of the country, have agreed to move a chemical plant. Also Friday, the environmental authorities of Shanghai have ordered the temporary closure of two plants and started to investigate the lead poisoning of several children. One of two factories manufacturing lead-acid batteries for the U.S. firm Johnson Controls. Anger Among Villagers Against a Polluting Factory of Solar Panelsadded by chinatimesonline on View all posts by chinatimesonline Manx podcaster interviews Fearne Cotton Ballakermeen student and keen Podcaster, Evie Roberts has had Fearne Cotton on her Talking in the Dark podcast. The fourteen year old was born with bilateral anophthalmia and hopes the regular episodes will raise awareness about being visually impaired, along with tackling the stereotypes around disabilities. Fearne has presented many popular TV and Radio programs, such as; Top of the Pops, Red Nose Day, Children In Need, and the Radio 1 Chart Show. In this episode of Talking in the Dark, Evie sat down with Fearne to discuss her life and career. Over the course of this chat Fearne shared with Evie lots of personal experiences, including; studying for her GCSEs, dealing with anxiety, starting the Happy Place Podcast and Festival, and looking after her completely outrageous pet tortoise. Videos Talking in the Dark with Fearne Cotton Talking in the Dark with Fearne Cotton Chief Minister attends Tory Conference Chief Minister Hon Alfred Cannan MHK (R) and Deputy Chief Minister Hon Jane Poole-Wilson MHK (L) with the European Union's Ambassador to the United Kingdom Pedro Serrano (C) The Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK attended the Conservative Party Conference this week along with the Deputy Chief Minister Jane Poole-Wilson MHK. The pair met with a number of MPs and UK ministers including the Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk MP. A range of issues were discussed and the Chief Minister provided an overview of the Islands economy and outlined the Isle of Man Governments priorities. A Government delegation will also be heading to the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. The Chief Minister said: Attending the Autumn conferences in Manchester and Liverpool provides an excellent opportunity to meet with key influencers face-to-face and raise the profile of the Island and its positive contribution to the UK and wider global community. The relationship and political dynamics with Westminster have shifted post-Brexit and it is vital that the Isle of Man continues to promote positive dialogue with our friends and colleagues in the UK. Shoprite sell out to Tesco Shoprite (Isle of Man) Limited has today announced the sale of its nine stores on the Isle of Man to Tesco. The acquisition of the Shoprite stores will bring the number of Tesco stores on the island to ten, including its existing store in Douglas. These stores will remain trading as Shoprite during a transition period and will be rebranded to Tesco over the next nine months. Deryck and Kevin Nicholson, from Shoprite, said it was a historic moment for their business and they have carefully considered this decision and are pleased to pass the business on to Tesco. We wish to express our gratitude for the loyal support of our staff, suppliers and customers and we would like to sincerely thank them for being part of our journey for more than 50 years. We believe these stores will continue to thrive and deliver a fantastic service for customers on the Isle of Man. We look forward to continuing our work well into next year as part of a transition period.\ Tesco will be linking prices locally with those in the UK post-transition, plus a small additional fee for transportation, in line with its approach at the existing Douglas store. Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products. Just ahead of Google's October "Big Deal Days" Prime Day sale, multiple Nest products are on sale, some back to all-time low prices. The easy-to-install Nest Doorbell (Battery) and Nest Cam Outdoor have particularly steep discounts of $60, letting you grab them for just $120 each (33 percent off). Meanwhile, the Nest Security Cam indoor is also on sale for $70 (30 percent off), one of the steepest discounts we've seen. The Nest Doorbell (Battery) is a popular item because it's much easier to install than any wired doorbells. As with the cameras, it will send you alerts when you have a visitor and you can chat with them through your phone and the built-in speaker and microphone. Google's "intelligent alerts" can tell the difference between a visitor, a package being delivered, an animal sighting and more, so you can see if a situation requires your immediate attention. If the regular $180 price has made you pause, it's now on sale for $120. You can also pick up the Nest Cam Outdoor for just $120, or $60 off the regular $180 price. That model obviously has a weatherproof design so that you can install it outside your home, along with expanded Night Vision to better spot outdoor intruders. It also packs an internal battery that lets you set it up without the need for an AC plug, providing up to seven months of battery life before a recharge depending on usage. Other deals are available as well. The Nest Cam indoor is designed to blend in to your home, with a range of colors, built-in stand, wall mount and hinge, and is currently on sale for $70 or 30 percent off the regular price. The sale also includes the Google Nest Doorbell (Wired) and other products to see everything check here. Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. Learn about Prime Day trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblogs experts on the best Fall Prime Day deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you. Despite what Jules Verne may have you believe, it's not exactly possible to journey to the center of the Earth. As such, it's pretty difficult to gain a full understanding of what the core of our planet looks like. NASA is trying the next best thing. It's set to launch a mission to an asteroid that's understood to be largely made up of iron and nickel. In fact, this metal-rich asteroid, which is called 16 Psyche, is believed to once have been part of a planetary core. This is the first NASA mission to study an asteroid that has more metal than rock or ice. Launch for the Psyche mission is targeted for 10:16AM ET on Thursday. The spacecraft will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida (this will be the first of several NASA science missions in which the primary payload will launch on one of those rockets). You can watch a live stream of the launch below. The Psyche spacecraft is around the size of a small van. As soon as it reaches the asteroid, it will start sending images of 16 Psyche back to Earth. It's equipped with a magnetometer, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer and a multispectral imager to study the asteroid. It will spend around two years snapping photos, mapping the asteroid's surface and collecting data to gain a better understanding of 16 Psyches composition. The spacecraft, which is powered by solar electric propulsion, is expected to reach 16 Psyche (which is in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter) in July 2029. If NASA had been ready to launch the mission last year, as was previously the plan, it might have been able to reach 16 Psyche as early as 2026. NASA understands that the 173-mile wide 16 Psyche asteroid may, in fact, not be an exposed core of a planetesimal, an early planetary building block. The agency says that it might instead be the "leftover piece of a completely different kind of iron-rich body that formed from metal-rich material somewhere in the solar system." The spacecraft will have a second job to do. It will also test new laser communications tech from NASA JPL called Deep Space Optical Communications. This is said to be able to transfer data and images at least 10 times faster than conventional systems. The experiment will test how capable the system is of transmitting data at faster rates beyond the Moon. However, it won't be used to send back any Psyche mission data. Monday, October 9, 2023 Dont Let Your Words Disappear or Die Trees have been on my mind as fall enters the scene. I saw changes in them mid-summer this year. The wind where I live has been more active and stronger than I can remember in the 30-plus years Ive lived in Colorado. Im surprised with the howling we sometimes hear from the inside of my home as I see the trees swayoften breaking branches. A few articles crossed my reading this past weekdont you wonder how things all of a sudden land in your lap that trigger your blogs?anyway, trees, the Ken Burns film on the National Parks, and Easter Island came into my thoughts. An old article by Jared Diamonds Easters End in Discover magazine revealed the transformation of a vibrant, lush Easter Island into a no-mans land. With a focus on trees, islanders chopped down one by one until they were all gone. When they were gone, the palms didnt come back. And yet, you have to wonderdidnt anyone speak up? Didnt anyone say, Whoathings are not looking so good around here with the greenery disappearing? Didnt anyone make a connection that trees just might be a good thing? And then another one, What Happened On Easter Island A New (Even Scarier) Scenario by Robert Krulwich that I found in NPR News that was more about behaviors and the direct impact on our environments. In it, Im taken with the dummy down that seems to routinely happen in so many things that I observe; and it alarms me. In fact, scares me. You can read his article HERE. Those of you who have been to my home know that I LOVE trees its always one of the first things I plantstarting with a few focal ones to set the stage and then literally babies that I get for under $50 to do all the fill-ins over as time goes by. I mean, with a little nurturing, twigs get very strong. Not just one or twolots of them. I look for color variations, patterns my goal is to create harmony in my front, back, and side yardsno matter the size. Trees and flowers have always brought me joyI cant imagine not having them in my life and world. And enclose me from street and neighborhood noise, giving privacy on my deck for my preferred type of outdoor living. This means that I wont be silent when I see the destruction of things I feel are critical for my well-being and for those of others. The changing seasons always leave me in awe; the glories of water flowing fuel my writing and my creativity. I want to protect the environment. Oh, Im not what they call a tree hugger but I want to slow down the chopping. And yes, I do get it that nature sometimes does natural burns and that some forests do need trimmingbut not destroying. When I was working in Alaska for three weeks several years ago, the vastness of it was amazingthe glaciers left me awe-struck and the experience of the midnight sun and the size of the summer crops was breathtaking I came away withleave this place alone. Not knowing when I first went there that many parts were considered a rainforest, the last thing I wanted to see was the man taking it away. So where am I going here? We authors we writers have the power of our words. Are you using them for just not your stories? Are your eyes open to your surroundings? Are you connecting what you see and what you experience with the strength of your fingertips and convictions? Is there a cause you deeply care about that your gift might help it articulate bettereven when your name isnt visible? Think about it I dont want to see the last tree die. And, I dont want my words to die. How about you? Dr. Judith Briles is a book publishing expert and coach. Often, she must roll up her writing sleeves and become a Book Doctor, juicing up storylines and author words. She empowers authors and works directly with authors who want to be seriously successful and has been writing about and conducting workshops on publishing since the 80s. Judith is the author of 44 books including Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms, Snappy Sassy Salty: Success for Authors and Writers, and How to Create a Million Dollar Speech. Her personal memoir When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present is a #1 bestseller on Amazon and her historical fiction debut Secret Journey. Collectively, her books have earned over 45 book awards. Judith speaks throughout the year at publishing conferences. Throughout the year, she holds Judith Briles Book Unplugged in-person and online experiences: Publishing, Speaking, Marketing, and Social Media. All are two-day intensives limited to a small group of authors who want to be seriously successful. Join Judith live for the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast on the Toginet Radio Network HERE. Follow @AuthorUYOUBooks and @MyBookShepherd on Twitter and do a Like at AuthorYOU, and join the Facebook group Book Publishing with The Book Shepherd. If you want to create a book that has no regrets, contact her. 2023 Judith Briles The Book Shepherd All Rights Reserved. see all) Latest posts by Judith Briles Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. England's sheep flock has declined to its lowest recorded population in over 10 years against the backdrop of numerous challenges, new Defra figures show. The annual livestock survey shows the English sheep flock declined by 3.2% year-on-year, totalling 14.5 million head in June 2023. This is the lowest recorded population since 2011, with female breeding flock seeing a reduction of 116,000 head (-1.6%). Looking at this by category, there was a notable increase in breeding ewes intended for slaughter, up 8.8% compared to the same period last year. This was countered by declines in the number of ewes intended for first time breeding (-8.3%) and ewes intended for further breeding (-1.3%). While a decline versus last year, the number of ewes for further and first-time breeding was relatively level with numbers recorded in 2021. Looking at Defra's figures, Becky Smith, AHDB analyst, said these reductions continued the general trend in the total English flock seen since 2017. She said: "Industry challenges are well-documented - input cost fluctuation, changes to direct payments, agricultural policy and government support schemes, not least consumer purchasing. "GB finished lamb prices have fluctuated but have been relatively firm historically in 2023, especially since early August. "The changes in ewe numbers suggest that perhaps the outlook for next year is for flock consolidation, although we await data from other devolved nations to see the full UK picture." Declines were also seen in the rest of the English flock, driven by a reduction of 4.9% (364,000 head) in lambs aged under a year old, compared to the June 2022 survey. Ram numbers did see a slight increase of 1.2% year-on-year alongside an increase of 3.5% of other sheep 1 year old and over. A game farm near Leeds has been fined nearly 27,000 after a fire in a rearing shed resulted in serious injuries to one of its employees. the employee suffered second and third degree burns, and was kept in an induced coma for five days, and not released from hospital until 12 days later. The incident happened at Yorkshire Game Farm, located in Woodlesford, West Yorkshire on 6 May 2020. Leeds Magistrates Court heard that the employee had been installing gas heaters in a pheasant rearing shed, ready for a new crop of birds. Upon turning on the gas supply and lighting the heaters, the shed burst into flames, causing him significant burns and totally destroying the shed. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that when the employee came to commission the heaters, it was highly likely that a leak of gas ignited, setting fire to the shed and the bedding put down for the birds. The reason for the gas leak was not identified as all the gas piping within the building was destroyed, but gas equipment outside the building was cracked and perished, indicating that it had not been maintained. Yorkshire Game Farm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined 26,680 and ordered to pay 6,495 in costs. HSE inspector Howard Whittaker said: This fire was most likely caused by gas leaking from poorly maintained equipment, and could have led to this young mans death. "He was very lucky to escape with his life, but he will suffer increased sensitivity to sunlight for the rest of his life. The gas pipelines and equipment we found outside the shed was perished and cracked, indicating that it had not been maintained in a safe condition leading to the leak of gas causing an initial flash, followed by a fire inside the shed. In addition, a gas tightness test should have been carried out once the equipment had been installed and before the gas equipment was used, to identify if there were any leaks." In sentencing Yorkshire Game Farm, Leeds Magistrates district judge remarked this was an accident waiting to happen. Mr Whittaker said: "Had the equipment been properly maintained and operated, in line with industry standards and good practice, this dreadful accident would not have happened." NFU Cymru and NFU Mutual are on the lookout to find this year's Livestock Champion working within the agricultural industry in Wales. Looking for its ninth winner, the Welsh Livestock Champion of the Year Award seeks to spotlight a dedicated and enthusiastic livestock farmer. Rob Lewis, chairman of NFU Cymrus Livestock Board, who will judge on behalf of the union, said the award aims to celebrate excellence amongst Welsh livestock producers. In Wales we have some of the best quality beef and sheep in the world, produced to the highest animal health and welfare standards," he said. We want to recognise the key role an exceptional livestock person can make to a livestock farm, and to the Welsh livestock industry as a whole." Potential winners will be judged on their management of the flock/herd, their animal health planning, breeding programme, and their stock handling skills. They will also be judged on how they incorporate health and safety into their day-to-day activities on-farm and their vision for the future of the industry. Mike Thomas, Builth Wells NFU Cymru / NFU Mutual Group Secretary, who will be judging the award on behalf of NFU Mutual, said Welsh farmers were amongst the best stockpeople across the world. During challenging times for livestock farmers, its vital that these skills are maintained and are able to thrive for future generations." The closing date for entries is 30 October and the winner will be announced at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells on 27 November 2023. Those interested in entering the award or putting a nomination forward for someone should visit the NFU Cymru website to download an application form. The award winner will receive a top prize of 500 and a Welsh Royal Crystal trophy. Farming groups are urging the government to ensure the provision of rural mental health services remain high on the agenda as World Mental Health Day soon commences. The 2023 campaign, taking place on Tuesday (10 October), is mental health is a universal human right', meaning everybody has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. First held in 1992, the World Federation for Mental Health's dedicated day raises awareness of mental health issues, and to fighting the still-associated stigma. But such issues in the countryside and farming industry can often become unnoticed by health professionals. The leading cause of death for people aged between 20 and 34 is suicide - and approximately, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), more than one agricultural worker a week in the UK takes their own life. And this year, farmers and those who work in rural areas may be suffering more than usual due to feelings of isolation, the cost-of-living crisis and an uncertain policy direction. Stephanie Berkeley, manager of the Farm Safety Foundation, said the charity's research showed that levels of mental health in farming were deteriorating. She said: "Farmers also recognise that there are barriers to opening up about their mental health however, having no one to talk to was not seen as a significant barrier. However, calls to rural support helplines have increased or become more complex over the past three years. "For example: In Wales, Tir Dewi have noted 5-8 times the volume of calls to their helpline and the DPJ Foundation have made 47% more counselling referrals." She added: "We need to take the pressure off these rural support groups and charities who are increasingly relied upon to provide support for those in crisis situations." MPs recently expressed 'deep concern' about how isolation and a lack of digital connectivity have contributed to poor mental health in rural areas, particularly among farmers. A report by the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee (EFRA), published in May, called for far greater joined-up planning and action from the government to address the issue. The study said that relative poverty in rural areas could exacerbate poor mental wellbeing, and that rural workers, including farmers, faced "particular stresses". These included unpredictable weather and animal health crises, as well as uncertain government policies which could affect farmers' incomes as well as their mental health. Who can provide support? Organisations that offer help and support for farmers and others in rural areas include numerous charities, such as Farming Community Network, the DPJ Foundation, YANA: You Are Not Alone and Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI). Cheshire Cheshire Ag Chaplaincy 07967 559 594 talk@agchap.com Available 24/7 Cornwall FarmCornwall 01736 367589 or 07775 667825 mail@farmcornwall.co.uk Farming Health Hub 07568 471064 jon@farminghealth.co.uk Cumbria Cumbria Ag Chaplaincy mcumbriaagchap@outlook.com Farmer Network 01768 868615 info@thefarmernetwork.co.uk Derbyshire Derbyshire Rural Chaplaincy/Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD) 07710 088972 chaplaincy@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk Farming Life Centre 01692 810903 info@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk Devon Dartmoor Hill Farm Project 01822 890913 hfp@dartmoor.gov.uk Exmoor Hill farming Network 01643 841455 katherine@ehfn.org.uk Dorset Sherborne Deanery Rural Chaplaincy 01963 23570 07966 754110 rural.chaplaincy@btinternet.com Durham UTASS (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services) 01833 641010 07917 304685 info@utass.org Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Farming Friends 0845 300 6886 help@gloucestershirefarmingfriends.co.uk Herefordshire Herefordshire Rural Hub 01432 268428 hub@herefordshireruralhub.co.uk We Are farming Minds 07506 567500 wearefarmingminds@gmail.com Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy 07958 591646 07531 676832 Isle of Wight Wight Rural Hub 01983 296244 info@wightruralhub.co.uk Lancashire Lancashire Field Nurse 07815 099748 info@fieldnurse.org.uk Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Rural Support Network (LRSN) 0800 138 1710 info@lrsn.co.uk 8am 8pm 365 days a year Norfolk You Are Not Alone (YANA) 0300 323 0400 helpline@yanahelp.org Shropshire Shropshire Rural Support 0300 123 2825 ruth@shropshireruralsupport.org.uk Borderlands Rural Chaplaincy 07958 591646 or 07531 676832 Somerset Somerset Mental Health in Agriculture (SMHAG) 07590 684888 becky@newleaf.uk.com Exmoor Hill farming Network 01643 841455 katherine@ehfn.org.uk Suffolk Lightwave 07413 683368 graham.miles.lightwave@gmail.com You Are Not Alone (YANA) 0300 323 0400 helpline@yanahelp.org Staffordshire Farming Life Centre 01692 810903 info@thefarminglifecentre.org.uk Warwickshire Warwickshire Rural Hub 07780 159291 info@ruralhub.org.uk Wiltshire Sherborne Deanery Rural Chaplaincy 01963 23570 07966 754110 rural.chaplaincy@btinternet.com Yorkshire Yorkshire Agricultural Society 01423 541000 kated@yas.co.uk Farmer Network 01768 868615 info@thefarmernetwork.co.uk Wales DPJ Foundation 0800 5874 262 (call) 07860048799 (text) kate@thedpjfoundation.co.uk Tir Dewi 0800 121 4722 info@tirdewi.co.uk 7am 10pm 365 days a year Elon Musk has seen "no evidence" of aliens. Elon Musk has not seen any evidence of alien life The Twitter tycoon has played down hopes of humans finding extraterrestrials as he discussed his plans to launch his Starship on Mars. Musk said: "People often ask me if I've seen any evidence of aliens and I unfortunately have seen no evidence of aliens yet. We are the aliens, as far as I can tell." The maverick tycoon suggested that he is one of the individuals who is most likely to know about the existence of the little green men as a result of his various space projects. Musk added: "If anyone would know, it would probably be me." The billionaire made his alien claims while talking about space exploration at the International Astronautical Congress being held in Azerbaijan. Musk concluded: "What that perhaps suggests is that this tiny candle of consciousness that is humanity is all that exists in a vast darkness, and we should do everything we can to ensure that the candle does not go out." Hillary Clinton has likened Donald Trump's supporters to "cult members". Hillary Clinton has compared Donald Trump supporters to 'cult members' The politician, who lost to Trump in the 2016 presidential election, called for a "formal deprogramming" of the "MAGA extremists" who ardently back the controversial Republican frontrunner. Clinton told CNN: "Sadly, so many of those extremists, those MAGA (Make America Great Again) extremists, take their marching orders from Donald Trump, who has no credibility left by any measure. "He's only it for himself. He's now defending himself in civil actions and criminal actions. And when do they break with him? You know, because at some point, you know, maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members." Clinton's remarks were met with anger in some quarters and have been compared to her 2016 "basket of deplorables" description of Trump's supporters. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one of Trump's rivals for the Republican nomination in the 2024 election, joined the condemnation of the ex-First Lady's comments. He said of the former president's followers: "These are patriotic Americans. They want to see the country do well. "Some people would be with Trump no matter what, but I think the bulk of the people... appreciate what he did, but they also understand that he has got limitations in terms of his electability." To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million policy-based loan to support the Philippine government in creating a stronger institutional and policy environment to help expand Filipinos access to financial services, particularly the vulnerable segment of the population, and to promote economic growth. ADBs Inclusive Finance Development Program, Subprogram 3, is supporting reforms to expand financial inclusion in the country by improving the countrys financial infrastructure, including widening the digital financing ecosystem. It also supports efforts to increase the capacity of financial service providers, including rural banks and nonbank financial institutions, to offer quality products and services accessible through various delivery channels, ADB said in a press release. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $300 million loan to support the Philippine government in enhancing financial inclusion for vulnerable groups. The loan is part of ADB's Inclusive Finance Development Program and aims to improve the country's financial infrastructure. It will also increase the capacity of non-bank financial institutions. Through this loan, ADB is expanding its partnership with the Philippines in ensuring all Filipinos will have access to financial products and services, including via digital platforms, to help improve their lives and livelihoods. Considering the significant impact of climate change on the vulnerable segments of the population, the reform actions supported by the loan will ensure government assistance can reach people faster during crises and emergencies; help raise climate resilience of farmers and micro, small, and medium-scale businesses through expanded insurance; and promote improved financial stability, said ADB senior financial sector specialist Kelly Hattel. According to the 2021 Global Findex Database, the number of Filipino adults holding an account with a financial institution or mobile money provider has risen from 34 per cent of the population in 2017 to 51 per cent in 2021. Hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the Philippines nearly doubled the number of financial institutions or mobile money accounts for the bottom 40 per cent of the population by income from 18 per cent in 2017 to 34 per cent in 2021. The government wants to raise the number of Filipinos holding an account with financial institutions or mobile money providers to 70 per cent by 2024, aided by streamlined requirements with the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys). As of September 1, 2023, the government has registered nearly 88 per cent of the population under PhilSys after launching the programme in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of efforts to widen financial inclusion in the country. Key reforms pursued by the government to eliminate barriers to access financial services and mainstream gender across its policies include updating and providing action plans for the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 20222028. The Philippines also passed and implemented key legislation on financial consumer protection under the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, and rules encouraging digital platforms to provide financing to agriculture value chain members in support of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act 2022. The government also implemented a regulatory sandbox framework for financial solutions to test new business models and facilitate the adoption of innovative technology approaches. The new loan builds on ADB assistance provided under the Inclusive Finance Development Program Subprogram 1 and Subprogram 2 delivered in October 2018 and August 2020, respectively. Reforms pursued under this loan will complement other ADB programmes in the Philippines, such as the Competitive and Inclusive Agriculture Development Program Subprogram 2 approved in January 2023. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB) October kicked off with a bang as we were treated to a docu-series Beckham, showcasing the life of David Beckham. Our viewing choices also included a thrilling experience with Khufiya, a dose of horror in The Exorcist: Believer, some comedic fun with Thank You for Coming, and the introduction of Do Bong-soon's superhero cousin in the Korean drama Strong Girl Nam-soon.As we dive into this week, we're in for an exhilarating ride, beginning with the delightful and humorous romantic comedy K-drama titled A Good Day to be a Dog, featuring the talented duo Park Gyu-young and Cha Eun-woo. And that's just the beginning! Get ready for a plethora of highly anticipated movies and series set to release this Friday.Here's everything we are watching this week:This series is an adaptation of a webtoon with the same name and centres around Han Hae-na, a high school teacher who comes from a family that is cursed. Her curse causes her to transform into a dog for six hours every midnight, and a kiss with a man triggers the transformation. However, the story turns unexpectedly when she accidentally kisses her colleague Jin Seo-won one drunken night. The only person who can break this curse is a man traumatized by a fear of dogs from his past. Hae-na must now find a way to unlock the curse while also dealing with Seo-won's deep-seated phobia.Release Date: October 11Exploring the themes of madness, family, isolation, and metaphysical identities, The Fall of the House of Usher is a miniseries adapted from an 1839 short story of the same name written by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The show is created by the makers of the popular American series The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, Mike Flanagan.Release Date: October 12Dhak Dhak, a highly anticipated film, is a fitting tribute to women and stars Fatima Sana Sheikh, Ratna Pathak, Dia Mirza, and Sanjana Sanghi as four courageous women embarking on a road trip. Their ultimate goal is to reach the world's highest motorable pass on their motorcycles, while also embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The film's all-female cast has generated significant excitement.Release Date: October 13Adventure City is hit by a meteor and the PAW Patrol puppies suddenly gain extraordinary abilities. However, their powers are stolen by Humdinger and a mad scientist who become supervillains. Skye realizes that even the tiniest pup can make a significant impact as the team works together to rescue the city from danger.Release Date: October 13Sultan of Delhi is a period crime thriller featuring Tahir Raj Bhasin, Mouni Roy, Vinay Pathak and other actors. The story follows a refugee who collaborates with a notorious illegal arms dealer in Delhi. Based on Arnab Ray's book Sultan of Delhi: Ascension, this show guarantees an enthralling viewing experience.Release Date: October 13Adapted from the 2022 novel by Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott, a former chemist who became a popular cooking show host in Southern California during the 1960s, after losing her job ten years earlier. This miniseries stars The Marvels star Brie Larson in the lead role.Release Date: October 13My Dearest is a romantic drama set in the Joseon era, which narrates the love story of Lee Jang Hyun, a man who is resolute in his choice to remain unmarried, and Yoo Gil Chae, a woman who still longs for love despite having gone through two unsuccessful marriages.Release Date: October 13Han Dong-soo, a lawyer known for his honesty and intelligence, has a hidden and dark aspect to his personality. He keeps this side of himself hidden until his broker and half-brother brings him a case involving the infamous criminal mastermind Seo Do-young. This is when Dong-soo's malicious side is awakened, leading him down a path of criminal behaviour.Release Date: October 14 In light of the threats following this year's two straight hits Jawan and Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan has been given Y+ protection. Shah Rukh Khan will have six police commandos as his constant bodyguards as part of the security detail. The Maharashtra Police's special protection section will provide the armed bodyguards. He would be provided protection all over India, and they will be equipped with Glock handguns, AK-47 assault weapons, and MP-5 machine guns. Four armed police officers will also provide round-the-clock security for his home. Security will be covered by the actor. Private security is not allowed to carry high-tech weapons in India, hence police security is required. According to intelligence reports, the threat to Shah Rukhs life has dramatically escalated as a result of the commercial success of his two films. According to the announcement made by Dilip Sawant, special IGP, VIP security: In view of the recent imminent and probable threats to Shah Rukh Khan, cine actor, all unit commanders are requested to provide him Y+ with escort scale of security on payment basis, with immediate effect till the next high level committee recommendation and review committee decision, during his visit/engagements and stay in your jurisdiction to avoid any untoward incident." Salman Khan's security was raised to the Y+ category in November 2022 from the previous X level due to suspected threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who are thought to be responsible for the murder of Punjabi musician Sidhu Moose Wala. Gone Girl (2014) - Directed by David Fincher The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) - Directed by David Fincher Mystic River (2003) - Directed by Clint Eastwood Zodiac (2007) - Directed by David Fincher The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - Directed by Jonathan Demme Sharp Objects (2018) - Mini-Series The Big Sleep (1946)- Directed by Howard Hawks Murder on the Orient Express (2017)- Directed by Kenneth Branagh Gone Baby Gone (2007)- Directed by Ben Affleck Rebecca (2020)- Directed by Ben Wheatley Murder mystery movies have a timeless allure that has been captivating audiences for generations. These films are known for their ability to craft intricate plots, deliver suspenseful storytelling, and introduce us to memorable characters who navigate the murky waters of crime and investigation. What makes them even more intriguing is when they find their origins in the pages of celebrated books, where authors have meticulously woven tales of mystery, deception, and murder. Here are the 10 best murder mystery movies born from the rich literary tapestry, celebrating the enchanting fusion of literature and cinema that has consistently delivered heart-pounding narratives of murder, intrigue, and suspense.Based on Gillian Flynn's bestselling novel, Gone Girl is a dark and twisted tale of a seemingly perfect marriage gone horribly wrong. Directed by David Fincher, the film captures the essence of Flynn's intricate storytelling, maintaining the suspense and unpredictability that made the book a sensation. Rosamund Pike's chilling performance as Amy Dunne and Ben Affleck's portrayal of her husband Nick complement the film's exploration of deception and media manipulation. Gone Girl is a masterclass in adapting a complex narrative to the screen, earning its place among the best murder mystery movies.Stieg Larsson's Millennium series introduced readers to Lisbeth Salander, a brilliant but troubled hacker, and Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist. David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo brought this gripping mystery to life, with Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig in the lead roles. The film delves into a decades-old disappearance and a wealthy family's secrets, staying true to the book's gritty atmosphere and complex characters. Its dark, atmospheric tone and impeccable performances make it one of the standout murder mystery adaptations.Dennis Lehane's novel Mystic River explores the lasting impact of childhood trauma and the haunting mysteries of the past. Clint Eastwood's adaptation is a riveting exploration of the human psyche, featuring a powerhouse cast that includes Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon. The film's portrayal of a murder investigation in a tight-knit neighborhood is as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful. Eastwood's direction and the stellar performances make Mystic River an unforgettable murder mystery.Zodiac is a chilling adaptation of the real-life hunt for the Zodiac Killer in San Francisco during the late 1960s and early 1970s. David Fincher's meticulous direction and attention to detail create an atmosphere of paranoia and obsession. The film's ensemble cast, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo delivers exceptional performances as they become increasingly consumed by the unsolved case. Zodiac combines the elements of a murder mystery with a true crime thriller, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre.Jodie Foster plays a young FBI cadet who asks Anthony Hopkins' cannibalistic and brilliant Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who is currently imprisoned, for assistance. Even though she is a rookie, Clarice Starling is chosen to convince Lecter to reveal information on a number of horribly murdered and skinned women. Lecter and Starling develop a close bond in exchange for his assistance, and their mutual regard for one another aids in the case's resolution. The Hannibal franchise's Silence of the Lambs, which was adapted from Thomas Harris's novels, won the Big Five Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Every scene in this movie draws you in and makes you want to keep watching.Gillian Flynn's debut novel, Sharp Objects, was adapted into a gripping mini-series starring Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, a troubled journalist returning to her hometown to cover a murder case. The story is a haunting exploration of family, trauma, and small-town secrets. Director Jean-Marc Vallee's visual storytelling captures the eerie atmosphere of the book, and Amy Adams delivers a mesmerising performance. Sharp Objects is a prime example of how a well-crafted mini-series can do justice to a complex murder mystery narrative.The Big Sleep is a classic example of a murder mystery film that originated from literature. This 1946 film, directed by Howard Hawks, is an adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel of the same name. The novel, published in 1939, introduced the world to the iconic private detective Philip Marlowe. In both the book and the film, Marlowe is tasked with investigating a complex case involving blackmail, deceit, and murder within a wealthy family. The film, starring Humphrey Bogart as Philip Marlowe and Lauren Bacall as Vivian Rutledge, captures the dark and gritty atmosphere of Chandler's novel. This adaptation is not only a testament to the enduring appeal of Chandler's work but also a classic in the film noir genre.Murder on the Orient Express is a recent adaptation of Agatha Christie's renowned detective novel, first published in 1934. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, who also stars as the iconic Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, this film brings the captivating mystery of the novel to life once again. Christie's novel revolves around the murder of a passenger on the luxurious Orient Express train. Poirot, known for his keen powers of deduction, is aboard and is called upon to solve the baffling murder. The film follows the same premise, with a star-studded ensemble cast that includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Judi Dench, among others. What sets this adaptation apart is its visual grandeur and the modern approach to storytelling. Branagh's direction captures the opulence of the train and the tensions among the passengers, and his portrayal of Poirot adds depth to the character while staying true to Christie's creation.After the police are unsuccessful in finding a missing four-year-old, the girl's aunt employs two private investigators. Even though the detectives aren't experts in discovering missing children, they are well-versed in the harsh Boston neighbourhood, which comes in useful when the family runs into drug dealers, gang members, and paedophiles while looking for the young girl. What begins as a kidnapping develops into a moral quandary that poses a threat to their collective stability. The author of the book Gone Baby Gone is based on, Dennis Lehane, is no stranger to mystery books. They were able to effectively turn his book into a hugely popular film with the aid of Ben Affleck, who was making his directorial debut. This movie is a sophisticated, compelling thriller supported by a strong ensemble.A young woman marries attractive widower Maxim de Winter, with his family estate serving as her new home, after they first met in Monte Carlo. The little girl, who is naive and inexperienced, starts to adjust to her new life only to feel perpetually eclipsed by Maxim's deceased first wife, Rebecca, whose memory is preserved by the evil housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. She seeks to learn more about the lovely Rebecca and her untimely demise as the young man's unease over her life grows. Du Maurier's 1938 psychological suspense novel has been adapted into a film several times. The book and its 2020 film version, which is frequently hailed as the best thriller of all time, both use tension to draw in the audience and make them want to learn the truth. This timeless mystery stars Lily James and Armie Hammer. Ganapath Trailer Review: The trailer of the highly anticipated sci-fi dystopian action thriller Ganapath: A Hero is Born was dropped on Monday, October 9. The film stars Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon, and megastar Amitabh Bachchan in pivotal roles. The trailer of the actioner was launched by fans across the nation, which happened for the first time in Bollywood, making Ganapath the first-ever film to get a trailer launched by fans. Ganapath trailer The trailer for 'Ganapath- A Hero Is Born', is a feast for the senses, showcasing stunning visuals, breathtaking sequences, and a stellar cast of actors who bring their A-game to the table. Indeed, being a visual extravaganza, this magnum opus promises to transport fans and audiences into a mesmerising world, one that is almost like a painting brought to life on the big screens. Varun Dhawan & Shahid Kapoor Shake A Leg With Tiger Shroff On Hum Aaye Hain From Ganapath: A Hero Is Born The trailer begins with a glimpse of the dystopian society while a voiceover talks about Tiger Shroff's character. We see him in dual roles - Guddu and Ganpath. As the video continues with Tiger performing some deadly action sequences, he is later joined by sword-wielding Kriti Sanon, who is an expert with nunchaku (a kind of weapon). Amitabh Bachchan also makes a strong appearance on the screen with his rugged look and is Ganapath's mentor. Later, Tiger, who is beaten up badly, undergoes drastic change and fights for his people as he says, "Hero woh hota hai jo apne liye nahi apno ke liye ladta hai." What truly sets the bar high for the trailer is its properly incorporated VFX, which helps in providing an international scale to the film. Jackky Bhagnani aims to bring a world-class cinematic spectacle and a never-before-seen VFX to audiences that appeal to every section of the audience. About Ganapath Produced by Jackky Bhagnani and Vashu Bhagnani, Ganapath is directed by Vikas Bahl. The film will release worldwide in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada on October 20, 2023. Watch the trailer here:- Jackky Bhagnani on Ganapath Sharing his excitement about the project, Jackky Bhagnani said, "I'm thrilled by the incredibly positive response to the 'Ganapath' teaser and Hum Aaye Hain Song. It's immensely satisfying to see that we have been able to live up to the vision we had for the film, and it has struck a chord with the audience." I Love The Aura...: Krishna Shroff To Attend the F1 Racing Frenzy in Qatar, Roots for Lewis Hamilton "Now, I'm eagerly looking forward to the same level of love and enthusiasm in our viewers' reactions to the trailer. We have so much more in store, and I can't wait to unveil it all to the audience." After much wait and anticipation, the makers of the upcoming action film 'Tejas' have unveiled the official trailer of the film on the occasion of Indian Air Force Day, today. Starring Kangana Ranaut and Varun Mitra, the film revolves around the life of a Female Air Force pilot who's passionate about serving her nation and wishes to instill a deep sense of pride in the soldiers of her country. For the unversed, The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the first of India's defence forces to induct women into combat roles. Speaking of the film's trailer, we see Varun Mitra in the role of a musician who promises to unveil more layers to Tejas Gill's character. The audience however will have to wait a little more to see more of him. Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut is seen in the titular role of 'Tejas Gill' - an Air Force Pilot, who wins hearts with her true spirit of patriotism. Talking about his character further Varun Mitra said, " Every actor always dreams to play the role of a rockstar and I'm glad I get to do it with a Arijit Singh's song with this film. This character has been a special one for me and now I can't wait for viewers to dive into the world of 'Tejas' with us." Promising a never-seen experience to the audiences, the 'Tejas' trailer has soared expectations higher from the film. Produced by RSVP, 'Tejas' is written and Directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced By Ronnie Screwvala. The film is scheduled to hit the screens on 27th October, 2023. Half Love Half Arranged Trailer: Amazon miniTV, the free streaming platform from Amazon, has teamed up with Dice Media to introduce an engaging romantic comedy titled Half Love, Half Arranged. This series offers a unique take on the world of love and arranged dating, presenting a fresh perspective. Starring the delightful duo of Maanvi Gagroo and Karan Wahi in lead roles, the streaming service has unveiled an amusing trailer that provides viewers with a sneak peek into a delightful fusion of love, humor, and the rollercoaster of emotions that accompany the quest for the ideal partner. TRAILER OF HALF LOVE HALF ARRANGE UNVIELED The series follows the life of Riya Tanwar (played by Maanvi Gagroo), a successful millennial gynecologist, who meticulously planned out her personal and professional path. But when unexpected circumstances disrupt her life, she finds herself on a quest to discover her ideal partner through modern matchmaking. Half Love, Half Arranged promises to take viewers on a charming journey through this unconventional love story. You can catch all the bliss and beauty exclusively on Amazon miniTV starting October 12, and the best part is, it's available for free. The trailer provides a glimpse into Riya's life, initially on the verge of a proposal from her longtime boyfriend. However, unexpected twists in her relationships and circumstances lead her down a different path. Riya becomes embroiled in a series of comical arranged marriage meetings and entertaining dates, all while navigating the eccentricity of her loving yet eccentric family. As Riya grapples with the absurd questions and amusing encounters, a charming prince enters the scene, sweeping her off her feet and prompting her to question whether her straightforward life plan is truly what she desires to pursue. Watch the trailer here: KARAN WAHI, MAANVI GAGROO ON HALF LOVE HALF ARRANGE Talking about the series Karan Wahi said, "Rom-coms have always been everyone's favourite, lightening up their mood. With Half Love Half Arranged we are bringing in a unique perspective with a twist of traditional marriage and modern matchmaking. This light-hearted series is sure to give viewers jitters, with women relating to the character of Riya and the situations she gets stuck in. We have tried to address the untouched topic of arranged matchmaking in an Indian family with a flavour of comedy and love." "I think the concept of Half love half arranged, is ideal right. You love someone and your families are on board! Just like many women, in Riya's life too, everyone, her family, relatives, astrologers, neighbours.. are trying to get her to 'settle down'. The story revolves around bizarre & quirky scenarios, meet-ups with prospective groom, crazy questions, expectations from their families & the saga of finding the right match. Viewers will get a dose of romance, getting a glimpse of Riya's love life, filled with sweet, heartwarming moments.", shared Maanvi Gagroo. Actor Karanvir Bohra, widely recognized for his versatility and charismatic performances, recently shared his thoughts on the comparison drawn between his character, Viraj Dobriyal, and Heath Ledger's iconic portrayal of the Joker in Star Bharat's new season of 'Saubhagyavati Bhava - Niyam Aur Shartien Laagu.' Karanvir Bohra expressed deep admiration for Heath Ledger and the indelible mark he left on the cinematic world with his portrayal of the Joker in 'The Dark Knight. The actor praised Heath Ledger's exceptional acting skills and emphasized the dedication it takes to embody such complex characters. Karanvir sheds some light on the flattering comparison between his character, Viraj Dobriyal, and Heath Ledger's Joker He says, "I am grateful for the comparison, but there is no comparison in our acting. Heath Ledger was a phenomenal actor, and it takes time and consistent effort to reach the level of skill and artistry that he showcased. He was an extraordinary talent, and his portrayal in the movie as Joker was nothing short of brilliance. Although I'm overwhelmed that the viewers are comparing my character Viraj Dobriyal with Heath Ledger's Joker I'm still working hard and constantly trying to improve my craft and evolve as an actor each day and reach the level of brilliance as Heath Ledger. He further adds, "His ability to immerse himself into a character, showcasing the depth of emotion and psychological complexity, is truly commendable, I have great respect for his acting prowess. Actors like him take a lot of time and dedication to hone their skills, as we witnessed in his exceptional performance as the Joker". The new season of Suabhgyavati Bhava-Niyam aur Shartien Laagu also star Dheeraj Dhoopar as Raghav and Amandeep Sidhu as Siya in lead roles. The show is already making its place in viewers heart and the audience are thrilled to see Karanvir Bohra reprising his iconic character as Viraj Dobriyal in the show. The upcoming episodes will surely keep the audience hooked to their seats. Stay tuned to watch the new season of 'Saubhagyavati Bhava-Niyam aur Shartien Laagu' every Monday-Saturday at 10:00 PM only on Star Bharat DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lynk & Co made its official entry into the Qatari market on October 6th at GIMS through a collaboration with Auto Class Cars, a subsidiary of the NBK Group. Auto Class Cars will be the exclusive distributor, overseeing Lynk & Co's sales and services in Qatar. Auto Class Cars, affiliated with Qatar's prestigious Nasser Bin Khaled Group, has a track record of success representing renowned brands like Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, MG, and Maxus in Qatar. Auto Class Cars see Lynk & Co as seamlessly integrating its distinctive value into the hearts of discerning Qatari consumers, aligning perfectly with the preferences and lifestyles of the younger generation. In celebrating this strategic partnership, Sheikh Nawaf and Frank Zauner from the NBK Group expressed immense enthusiasm for Lynk & Co's unique positioning and its deep integration into every aspect of the customer's driving experience and lifestyle. Notably, Auto Class Cars highlighted how Lynk & Co's superior product aligns perfectly with the brand's philosophy in enhancing driving experiences and surpassing industry standards in terms of active safety and technological features. Sheikh Nawaf articulated, "We take pride in this partnership and collaboration with Lynk & Co to represent them in Qatar. We are passionately committed to achieving our shared goals and exceeding customer expectations. Our shared values and forward-thinking ambitions make this alliance especially promising." During the launch event, the Torch Doha skyline was illuminated with a message, conveying Lynk & Co's warm greetings to Qatar. This captivating display marked the official arrival of Lynk & Co in Qatar, emphasizing the brand's commitment to Personal, Open, and Connected values. Lynk & Co's unwavering dedication to excellence has earned recognition across various Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman. Now, Qatar joins this list as the brand seeks to provide a holistic consumer experience that extends beyond automobiles. Looking ahead, Lynk & Co is committed to introducing premium vehicle models into the Qatari market, promoting a customer-centered lifestyle. In collaboration with the NBK Group, Lynk & Co will establish a comprehensive dealership service system and pioneer a lifestyle experience that transcends the automotive world. About Lynk & Co Launched in 2016, Lynk & Co is tailored for the new generation of urbanites valuing openness and connectivity. Beyond being a car brand, Lynk & Co represents a new paradigm in the automotive industry. Born with a global perspective and a commitment to openness, Lynk & Co aims to build a platform connecting people, cars, and the world. For more information on Lynk & Co, visit www.lynkco.com Contact: LynkCo.me@lynkco.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241317/Lynk_Co_Qatar_launch_2023.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241318/Lynk_Co_Qatar_launch_2023_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241319/Lynk_Co_Qatar_launch_2023_Torch_Doha.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lynk--cos-dazzling-launch-with-nbk-group-in-qatar-301950262.html 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. 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. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241193/JA_Solar_Samsung_C_T_Cement_Partnership_Signing_New_Strategic_Cooperation.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ja-solar-and-samsung-ct-cement-partnership-with-signing-of-new-strategic-cooperation-agreement-301950272.html NEW DELHI, Oct. 8, 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/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241234/image_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241235/image_2.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/arctech-showcases-stellar-solar-tracker-products-at-rei-expo-2023-301950277.html 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 nearly 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 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The upcoming COP28, scheduled to take place in Expo City Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 30 November - 12 December 2023 is expected to host a strong Malaysian delegation comprising more than 200 delegates, including ministers, government officers, subject matter experts, private sectors representatives, and other relevant organisations. Malaysia will also have a presence through a dedicated Malaysia Pavilion, which will showcase Malaysia's thought leadership and proposition to the approximately 40,000 delegates expected to attend this global conference. The recently held soft launch of the Malaysia Pavilion @ COP28 was officiated by YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change at IGEM 2023. As a party to the Paris Agreement, Malaysia has committed to reduce its economy-wide carbon intensity (relative to Gross Domestic Product) of 45% by 2030 compared to the 2005 level. Malaysia also aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as early as 2050, subject to the outcome of the Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change. Malaysia will establish its own pavilion within the Blue Zone of COP28, intending to spotlight its proactive role as a climate leader and foster collaborations and investments. Throughout COP28, our pavilion will host interactive exhibits, panel discussions, and side events designed to offer diverse insights into Malaysia's climate initiatives. Speaking at the Malaysia Pavilion COP28 soft launch, YB Nik Nazmi said, "Malaysia's participation in COP28 in Dubai, UAE, is a collective journey driven by determination. As we traverse this path, let us focus our energy on crafting impactful policies, pioneering technologies, and fostering transformative collaborations." "Malaysia is proud to showcase our unwavering commitment to climate action through the Malaysia Pavilion. It serves as more than just a physical structure; it stands as a tangible demonstration of Malaysia's commitment and dedication to address climate change," said Nik Nazmi. Malaysia's Pavilion at COP28 will be led by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change and Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation as the implementing agency. The Ministry also organised a Climate Change Forum: Road to COP28 on 5 September 2023 aimed at fostering further discussion and gathering diverse perspectives on Malaysia's agenda for COP. In November 2023, Malaysia will be hosting the Asia Pacific Climate Week, showcasing our commitment to address climate challenges on a regional scale. About MGTC MGTC is an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC) mandated to accelerate green growth, advance climate actions, and foster green lifestyles within the community. Guided by the National Green Technology Policy (NGTP), National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), Green Technology Master Plan 2017-2030 (GTMP), and the 12th Malaysia Plan, MGTC carries out various programs and initiatives to support stakeholders at all levels. Heading towards 2030, and through a range of implemented programs and initiatives, MGTC aims to invest up to RM100 billion in green initiatives, create around 230,000 green job opportunities, and assist Malaysia in achieving net-zero GHG emissions by as early as 2050. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241643/Malaysia_COP28_Soft_Launch_featuring_Minister_NRECC.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/malaysias-commitment-on-climate-action-and-preparations-for-the-united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change-unfccc-cop28-301950439.html CHANGSHA, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading global heavy machinery manufacturer SANY Group (SANY) recently exhibited at the Mining and Metals Central Asia & Kazcomak which was held from September 20 to 22 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. As one of the most significant mining machinery expos in Central Asia, over 10 industry giants gathered with around 40 thousand visitors in attendance and saw SANY winning intended orders of RMB21.4 million. At the exhibition, six units of SANY's latest flagship equipment, including the STC300V truck crane, 115S off-highway mining truck, and excavator, stole the show. SANY electrified the atmosphere with wonderful dancing, singing, and interactive performances and games, which all resonated with visitors. As the earliest engineering machinery enterprise responding to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), SANY established its Central Asia Business Unit in 2014, injecting high-quality products that have been since facilitating the region's infrastructure construction. In 2018, ENTER, one of the largest engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies in Uzbekistan, established cooperative relations with SANY. Upon signing the contract, the company introduced 44 pieces of SANY cranes, and, to date, over 1700 units of SANY equipment owned by the company have been involved in various projects in the region, such as the construction of the first nuclear power station in Central Asia and a gas-to-liquids plant in Uzbekistan, which have powered the country's socioeconomic growth. Additionally, catering to the global trend of low-carbon development, SANY has also been active in new energy projects in the region. In July of this year, SANY's 10 units of SANY wind turbines were delivered to Kazakhstan's Alkarek wind power project. Starting from August 12, SANY cranes completed the lifting work in just 52 days, much to the amazement of the customer. Once the project is put into use, it will provide 170 million kWh of clean electricity annually to locals, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 176,000 tons, contributing to Kazakhstan's clean energy transition and its carbon neutrality goals. SANY has become deeply rooted in the market during these years with its high-quality products and excellent after-sales service. By far, SANY wheeled cranes market share in Kazakhstan has grown to 61% and will continue to increase in the coming years. Yang Lei, General Manager of the SANY Central Asia Business Unit, commented that SANY will work together with local customers to continue to boost the development of the region. For more information about SANY Group, please visit www.sanyglobal.com or follow us on Facebook or YouTube. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241638/Mining_Metals_Central_Asia___Kazcomak.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241640/WechatIMG20.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241639/Kazakhstan_s_Alkarek_wind_power_project.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1518641/logo_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sany-impresses-at-the-mining-and-metals-central-asia--kazcomak-boosting-development-in-region-301950512.html New report from Generation and OECD reveals an "age-performance paradox" where employer biases lead to the undervaluing of midcareer and older candidates Unfounded concerns about workers aged 45+ being able to use technology prevent employers from considering experienced candidates - despite highly-rated job performance WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- New data from Generation, the global employment non-profit, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), reveals employers need to radically rethink how they approach midcareer and older talent. The Midcareer Opportunity: Meeting the challenges of an ageing workforce report outlines insights from OECD data and from an eight-country survey of thousands of employers, job seekers, and employees in Europe and the US. The research in Europe was funded by Google.org, and in the United States by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. People aged 45-64 accounted for 40% of the OECD workforce as of 2020, compared to only 28% in 1990, representing a growing share of the available talent pipeline. "Aging workers are an important asset, given their skill sets, experience, and commitment," said Stefano Scarpetta, Director, Directorate Employment, Labour and Social Affairs, OECD. "Retaining them in the workforce is key to sustaining high living standards in our economies. And with businesses struggling to recruit, it's more important than ever that all stakeholders do more to make longer and fulfilling careers a reality for all workers, regardless of age". But the report's findings show employers are not seizing this opportunity. Nearly 40% of employers said they would hire someone aged 20-29, and nearly half (47%) indicated they would hire from the 30-44 cohort. Whereas just one in three (35%) said they would hire someone aged 45-54. This lowers to just 13% who say they would hire someone aged 55-65. Consequently, people aged 45-64 are a sizable, growing share of the long-term unemployed, and within surveyed countries - the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Romania, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States - they accounted for 44% of the long-term unemployed in 2020, up from 36% in 2000. While employers do value experience, the advantage for candidates declines over time. In the survey, hiring managers said they'd be as likely to interview someone with five years of experience as they would someone with 25 years. This is driven by concerns that workers aged 45+ are unable to adapt to rapidly changing technology. More than half (52%) of employers generally say that 30-44 year olds have the right tech skills for work, but only 30% say the same for workers over age 45. Employers also believe that midcareer and older job applicants are less likely than younger peers to try new technologies or learn new skills. Yet, there is an age-performance paradox: employers highly value the age 45+ employees they already have. 89% said that the midcareer and older workers they had hired performed as well or better than their younger hires, and that they learn as quickly if not more so (83%). "Employers are missing out on talented candidates aged 45 and older," said Mona Mourshed, Global CEO of Generation. "There is plenty of evidence that workers aged 45+ can thrive in the workplace. Employers can fill needed roles and boost organization performance by changing hiring practices to embrace candidates of all ages." Midcareer and older job seekers feel the weight of age biases. Regardless of education attainment level, more than half of job seekers (53-54%) said the job search is difficult, with age cited as the most common barrier. The findings also highlight a disconnect between what employers value the most and how midcareer and older individuals position themselves in the workplace. Employers place great importance on continuous training and upskilling, but midcareer and older workers too often believe that work experience alone is sufficient proof of job readiness - less than 1 in 4 have participated in training in the past three years. Training participation decreases with age, and this holds true across education levels. Access to these opportunities can be one of the issues, with only half of employers (53%) offering training, leaving workers to seek out various alternatives on their own. In addition, workers 45+ are not looking for jobs in the right places. Employers look to recruiting firms, referrals, and LinkedIn to hire talent . Yet while 50% of employers use LinkedIn, only 24% of older workers cite LinkedIn as one of their "preferred" job channels. The report lays out thirteen concrete recommendations for employers, policy makers, and midcareer and older individuals to enable an intergeneration workforce. You can read the full report and the full recommendations here. About Generation Generation is a global employment nonprofit network that supports people to achieve economic mobility so they can change their lives. We train and place adults into careers that would otherwise be inaccessible and seek to improve how education to employment systems function. Generation launched in 2015 and consists of a global hub and a network of in-country affiliates that spans 17 countries. To date, Generation has more than 90,000 graduates who have earned more than $890 million in wages, and works with more than 12,000 employers. For more, visit generation.org. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/generation--oecd-report---workers-over-age-45-represent-a-large-and-growing-part-of-the-workforce-and-a-talent-opportunity-for-employers-navigating-the-transition-to-a-more-digital-and-sustainable-world-301949745.html LimmaTech Biologics AG today announced the closing of a USD 37 million (CHF 33 million) Series A financing round co-led by Adjuvant Capital, AXA IM Alts, and the Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund. The proceeds will enable LimmaTech to advance its proprietary technology platform and accelerate its pipeline of preclinical and clinical vaccine candidates against increasingly dangerous bacterial infections, including programs addressing shigellosisandgonorrhea Later-stage clinical development efforts will focus on the company's Shigella vaccine program, which LimmaTech developed as part of a joint collaboration with GSK and recently exclusively in-licensed. The company expects to announce preliminary results from the Shigella program's ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2023. As part of the company's next phase of corporate growth, LimmaTech also welcomed seasoned biotech industry leader Dr. Franz-Werner Haas as CEO. Concurrent with the financing, Kabeer Aziz from Adjuvant Capital, Zina Affas Besse, PhD, from AXA IM Alts, and Camilla Petrycer Hansen, PhD from Novo Holdings will join LimmaTech's Board of Directors. "Within the next decade, multiple bacterial infections will become untreatable due to antimicrobial resistance, which is already a significant burden on global health. By advancing our innovative technology platform, LimmaTech has the potential to simultaneously provide vaccine-induced protection against bacterial infections, mitigate the increasing risk of antibiotic resistance, and move toward the control of several highly transmissible pathogens," said Dr. Franz-Werner Haas, CEO of LimmaTech. "Our Series A with backing from highly experienced and strategic institutional investors reflects the increasing value of our technology and our achievements to date. With this support and our team of proven experts in bacterial vaccine development and manufacturing, we look forward to providing life-changing vaccines to address a major global medical need." Kabeer Aziz, Partner at Adjuvant Capital, commented: "Each of the firms co-leading this financing is dedicated to using venture capital investments to support bold and innovative companies like LimmaTech that are developing technologies with the potential to generate significant improvements in global public health. Given the deadly threat posed by increasingly treatment-resistant pathogens, and the enormous scale of the problem, vaccines targeting these indications represent highly attractive commercial markets as well." Zina Affas Besse, Partner, Deputy Head of Healthcare, Private Equity, at AXA IM Alts, further commented: "Our investment in LimmaTech through our healthcare private equity strategy supports our wider goal of investing in companies with innovative and affordable solutions to global health challenges and we are proud to collaborate with this outstanding team of biotech industry veterans. LimmaTech's leadership team has a long track record of success, having built two vaccine technology platforms with programs in late-stage clinical development. We are happy to support LimmaTech in growing its pipeline of much-needed vaccine candidates and contributing to improving health globally." Camilla Petrycer Hansen, Principal at Novo Holdings and REPAIR Impact Fund, said"Our investment in LimmaTech reflects Novo Holdings' continued commitment to tackling antimicrobial resistance. We believe that with its outstanding record of success in the vaccine field, its seasoned leadership at the helm, and its promising technology, LimmaTech represents a very attractive investment opportunity, which we are pleased to pursue in partnership with leading investors. We are thrilled to support LimmaTech's pipeline of much-needed vaccine candidates with the potential to significantly improve health outcomes globally." The Series A is the first venture-backed round of funding for LimmaTech since it was spun out of GlycoVaxyn, its predecessor company that was acquired by GSK in 2015. LimmaTech's leadership team has in-depth bacterial vaccine development and manufacturing expertise, having sponsored, and led several clinical trials around the world. LimmaTech's unique technology platforms are all based on E. coli expression systems. These technologies allow the production of multivalent vaccines combining carbohydrates and protein antigens with broad and novel modes of action. The company's overall objective is to develop and manufacture highly effective vaccines that can stop the spread of infections caused by emerging antimicrobial resistance. About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) AMR is responsible for approximately 5 million deaths annually.1 Nearly one million of these deaths occur in children under the age of five, and these numbers are rising at an alarming rate. Treatment with antibiotics has historically been able to reliably stop bacteria from growing or kill these pathogens, however, inappropriate or excessive use of antibiotics has caused bacteria to develop natural resistance to these agents. As a result, infections that were once easily treatable have now become difficult, if not impossible, to cure. As a leading example of this threat to global health, half of the approximately 700,000 annual2 gonorrhea infections in the U.S. are already resistant to antibiotics as of today, and there is a real threat of gonorrhea soon becoming untreatable.3 This development is also projected for a growing number of other infections, such as Shigella sp., in both developed and low- and middle-income countries. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified AMR as a serious threat to public health due to its resistance to reserve antibiotics. Shigella sp. is responsible for approximately 450,0004 infections in the U.S. alone, and 700,0005 deaths globally each year. For children, it is the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal death worldwide.6 The discovery of new antibiotics, while promising, has not kept pace with the growth of AMR, making the development of vaccines against pathogens with concerning multidrug-resistant patterns an essential component of any strategy to contain this deadly global health threat. About LimmaTech Biologics AG LimmaTech Biologics AG is applying its deep know-how of engineering complex molecules to develop next-generation vaccines to prevent life-threatening diseases. Spun out from GlycoVaxyn after that company's acquisition by GSK, LimmaTech Bio is advancing its own proprietary clinical pipeline to halt the increasing threat of global infections due to emerging antimicrobial resistance such as gonorrhea, alongside partnered programs with GSK. LimmaTech is committed to translating novel scientific concepts into highly effective vaccines that benefit humanity. For more information, please visit www.lmtbio.com About Adjuvant Capital Headquartered in New York, with offices in Zurich, Adjuvant is a global life science investment fund built to accelerate the development of new technologies for the world's most pressing public health challenges. Backed by prominent healthcare and emerging market investors, Adjuvant draws upon its network of scientists, public health experts, biopharmaceutical industry veterans, and development finance professionals to identify new investment opportunities. Adjuvant invests in companies developing promising new vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices targeting high-burden infectious diseases, maternal and child health, antimicrobial resistance, and malnutrition, with a commitment to make these interventions accessible globally. For more information, visit http://www.adjuvantcapital.com About the REPAIR Impact Fund The REPAIR (Replenishing and Enabling the Pipeline for Anti-Infective Resistance) Impact Fund was established by Novo Holdings in 2018 with a purpose to increase humanity's therapeutic arsenal in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. With a total commitment of USD 165 million, the Fund invests in start-ups, early-stage companies and corporate spin-outs in Europe and the United States and gives priority to first-in-class therapies, covering small molecules, biologics and new modalities, from the early stage of drug development to the early stages of clinical development. The Fund focuses on priority pathogens as defined by the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a catalogue of 18 families of bacterial and fungal pathogens that pose the greatest threat to human health. For more information: REPAIR Impact Fund Home (repair-impact-fund.com) Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. For more information: www.novoholdings.dk 1 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators (2022). Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet (London, England), 399(10325), 629-655. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0 2 Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (May 16,2023). National Overview of STDs, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/overview.htm 3 Alirol, E., Wi, T. E., Bala, M., Bazzo, M. L., Chen, X. S., Deal, C., Dillon, J. R., Kularatne, R., Heim, J., Hooft van Huijsduijnen, R., Hook, E. W., Lahra, M. M., Lewis, D. A., Ndowa, F., Shafer, W. M., Tayler, L., Workowski, K., Unemo, M., Balasegaram, M. (2017). Multidrug-resistant gonorrhea: A research and development roadmap to discover new medicines. PLoS medicine, 14(7), e1002366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002366 4 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (April 6, 2023). Questions Answers. Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/shigella/general-information.html 5 World Health Organization. (March 24, 2023). Extensively drug-resistant Shigella sonnei infections Europe European Region (EURO). Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON364 6 Fleming, J. A., Gurley, N., Knudson, S., Kabore, L., Bawa, J. T., Dapaah, P., Kumar, S., Uranw, S., Tran, T., Mai, L. T. P., Odero, C., Obong'o, C., Aburam, K., Wanjiru, S., Hanh, N. T. M., Dung, L. P., Hausdorff, W. P. (2023). Exploring Shigella vaccine priorities and preferences: Results from a mixed-methods study in low- and middle-income settings. Vaccine: X, 15, 100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100368 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009329425/en/ Contacts: LimmaTech Biologics Franz-Werner Haas, CEO E-Mail: media@lmtbio.com For media inquiries Gretchen Schweitzer or Alexander Siebert Trophic Communications Phone: +49 1511 0619 905 E-Mail: limmatech@trophic.eu Lottie is a free service that helps families understand, find and fund later life care Rated the UK's best eldercare search service, Lottie provides care seekers with access to 4,000+ UK-wide care homes, home care services and retirement living communities Company brings transparency to the industry by ensuring all listings are clear about pricing and service availability Lottie already has 500,000+ monthly users and recorded 300% customer growth in last 12 months LONDON, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lottie, the free online marketplace that connects care seekers and retirees to UK care homes, home care services, and retirement living communities, today announces that it has raised a $21M (16.35M) Series A funding round led by Accel, with participation from previous investor General Catalyst. This brings the total amount raised by the company to $31M (25M). Lottie will use the investment to confront the growing social care crisis and elevate the standard of later living by further investing in its suite of technology products that significantly improves the care seeker experience. The company will expand its 50-strong team based in London, with the aim of doubling headcount in 2024. Across the UK, care home availability has reached its lowest point in over a decade, amid a backdrop of an ageing population and stagnant state funding: new government data suggests there is a 2.3bn shortfall in England's care home funding. Moreover, the experience for care seekers is complicated, stressful and time consuming, with people contacting an average of six services before finding a provider that fits their personal care needs. Most have no real sense of how much care should cost, little up-to-date information on services, and no support throughout what can be a distressing time. Lottie was founded in 2021 by Will and Chris Donnelly, who experienced firsthand the struggles of finding affordable care services for family members. The brothers launched Lottie with the goal of elevating later life for the older generation, modernising the process of finding care, and ensuring that standards of care are improved across the whole sector. Lottie will become the UK's first end-to-end marketplace experience for finding care, simplifying the search process so anyone can seamlessly book care online in a similar way to reserving a hotel room via Booking.com or Expedia. With Lottie, care seekers can find, compare and enquire directly with more than 4,000 high-quality care, home care and retirement living services, as well as having the support of Lottie's team of care experts through each stage of the search process. Lottie also grants full transparency of pricing and service availability, an industry first that means care seekers can see exactly how much their care will cost and whether the service is accepting new clients. Beyond its core marketplace, Lottie has developed Found by Lottie - a suite of technology tools it acquired in 2022, designed to upgrade the outdated services offered within care homes themselves.Foundoffers care providers powerful tools to effectively manage enquiries, customer relationships, networking, occupancy, finance and billing, and to show real-time bed availability. By working towards "instant bed bookings", Found has the potential to massively relieve the winter pressures on the NHS, where discharge nurses and social workers still have to manually find care homes for patients ready to be discharged. This leads to expensive rates and an inefficient process, as well as a 'bed-blocking' crisis in which patients who could be discharged remain in hospital. Lottie has already matched tens of thousands of families with care and retirement service providers. The London based start-up recorded a 300% growth in customers and revenue over the last 12 months, with more than 500,000 monthly users. Lottie also recently added home care as a new category to its marketplace, including its Direct to Carer solution, which allows families to find and book a high-quality carer without having to go through an agency, giving them more choice and control of the carer selection process. The fresh investment will be used to expand Lottie's marketplace coverage in the UK and to continue developing the platform's innovative software offerings for care homes. The company will also invest in artificial intelligence and has plans to develop a data insight tool aimed at helping the industry's key stakeholders make better informed decisions and to help the sector become sustainable in the long-term. Will Donnelly, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Lottie, said: "We set out to build Lottie after experiencing firsthand the fundamental issues in the UK social care sector: namely a lack of high quality affordable care and an outdated, emotionally taxing process for individuals and families urgently looking to find care for their loved ones. Everyone deserves the best possible quality of life in their later years, and Lottie is helping to drive real change in the care search process, while supporting our provider partners in delivering better health outcomes for residents, improved operational efficiencies and huge cost savings via our software products. Our goal for Lottie is to become the trusted adviser to care seekers throughout the world - helping families best understand, find and fund later life care. Over 500,000 Britons now visit Lottie every month, and we're incredibly excited to have Accel join General Catalyst and Kindred on our journey, helping to fuel our next stage of growth and continue in our mission to elevate later life for everybody." Sonali De Rycker, Partner at Accel, said: "Digital marketplaces have transformed our lives. We expect glossy, transparent, low-touch experiences when booking holidays, buying groceries and doing everything in-between. For some reason, eldercare has been left behind. Will and Chris are on a mission to level up an industry stuck in the dark ages. Lottie offers consumers the modern discovery and booking experience they deserve when finding help for loved ones. In parallel, they offer care providers a suite of tools to shift online and upgrade their operations. Meeting Will and Chris is an experience you don't forget: they're an ambitious, high integrity team chasing a significant and important opportunity. We're excited to be part of their journey." Chris Bischoff, Managing Director at General Catalyst, said: "We believe the Lottie team has made great strides in their mission to provide transparency and support for families searching for quality care. They have demonstrated the ability to collaborate with care partners who share their commitment to modernising home care with sustainability, safety, and quality of life in mind. These values align with our Health Assurance thesis and we are excited to participate in their positive impact and continued growth." About Lottie Lottie is a digital marketplace that connects care seekers to the UK's best care homes at a fair price. Blending smart technology with market leading human expertise, Lottie makes finding the perfect care home for yourself or for a loved one less stressful, quicker and more affordable. The company is leading the global transformation to a modern and sustainable care sector and has raised capital from investors including Accel, General Catalyst and Tom Blomfield. Choose a Lottie care home today via: www.lottie.org About Accel Accel is a global venture capital firm that is the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Atlassian, Bumble, Celonis, CrowdStrike, Deliveroo, Fiverr, Freshworks, Miro, Qualtrics, Scale, Segment, Slack, Spotify, Supercell, and UiPath are among the companies Accel has backed over the past 40+ years. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit www.accel.com or www.twitter.com/accel. About General Catalyst General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures - for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lottie-raises-21m-series-a-led-by-accel-to-confront-the-social-care-crisis-and-elevate-the-standard-of-later-living-301949819.html LONDON, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lymphoma Disease is a form of cancer affecting a large part of the global population. According to an epidemiology study, an estimated 80,550 people (44,880 men and 35,670 women) in the United States are projected to be diagnosed with this dreadful ailment by the end of 2023. This increased disease burden has created a prompt need for advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches. This form of cancer predominantly originates in the lymphatic system consisting of lymph nodes, lymph vessels, the spleen, tonsils, and the thymus gland. It occurs when abnormal white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are a vital part of the immune system, begin to multiply uncontrollably. Hodgkin lymphoma and non-hodgkin lymphoma are the two primary types of lymphoma. DiseaseLandscape Insights (DLI) play a pivotal role in assisting lymphoma stakeholders across various aspects of the disease, from drug development to market access. DLI offer a comprehensive understanding of lymphoma's epidemiology and subtypes, aiding drug developers in identifying potential therapeutic targets and tailoring treatments. They also facilitate clinical trial management by providing valuable patient data and helping to design more effective trials. Moreover, DLI assists in treatment gaps identification, ensuring that unmet medical needs are addressed, and in adhering to regulatory compliance standards for drug approval. Furthermore, through product pipeline analysis, DLI enables players to stay ahead in this vertical by empowering with deep dive market insights or market intelligence. By leveraging DLI's market research expertise, these industry participants are being able to formulate ideal market entry strategy, thereby strengthening their position in the competitive landscape. Price and Market Access Lymphoma Disease Market Competitors Listed Below are Revolutionizing Healthcare with Innovative Diagnostic Inventions: Roche Molecular System, Inc. Foundation Medicine, Inc. PreXion, Inc. GE Healthcare Siemens Healthcare Shimadzu Corporation Others Lymphoma- A Treat to the Mankind: Lymphoma, constituting of various subtypes such as B-cell lymphoma, cutaneous lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, presents a formidable challenge in the realm of oncology. This group of blood cancers, characterized by the abnormal proliferation of lymphocytes, can manifest in diverse ways, including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and often brings with it a range of distressing symptoms such as itching, referred to as itching cancer lymphoma affecting the quality of life of those afflicted. Common symptoms of lymphoma may include swollen lymph nodes (often painless), unexplained fever, weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, and itching. The exact cause of lymphoma is not always clear, but it can be associated with factors like genetics, exposure to certain infections (e.g., Epstein-Barr virus), and a compromised immune system. Learn More About the FDA NDA & BLA Approval (NME) Drugs for Lymphoma Disease @ https://www.diseaselandscape.com/requestsample/postid/89 Diagnosis and Treatment: Diagnosis primarily involves a combination of physical exams, blood tests, imaging studies (such as CT or PET scans), and the removal and examination of lymph node tissue (biopsy). Treatment options for lymphoma include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, stem cell transplantation, and in some cases, watchful waiting for slow-growing forms of the disease. The choice of treatment depends on the type and stage of lymphoma, as well as the individual's overall health. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for improving the prognosis and quality of life for individuals with lymphoma. Several prevention measures are also suggested to check the progression of this ailment. Unlock the Benefits Today! Get Started Now and Elevate Your Experience @ https://www.diseaselandscape.com/checkout?report_id=89 Final Words: The battle against Lymphoma has been continuing since ages. This dreadful ailment has claimed the lives of many, and its prevalence has been increasing over the years. Medical researchers and related bodies are striving to bring about a transformation in the lymphoma management landscape. DLI has been helping them to navigate through this complexed journey by offering exhaustive healthcare consulting services. It has been providing invaluable data and knowledge about the epidemiology, subtypes, and treatment landscape of lymphoma. This in turn is helping researchers, clinicians, and pharmaceutical companies to develop tailored therapies and improve clinical trial designs. Browse Through More Oncology Research Reports. 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By Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, whose , Inpefa endorsed by the FDA The drug Xacduro from Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics will aid in the Treatment of Bacterial Pneumonia Phase III Trials Show Effective Performance of Levodopa/Carbidopa's New Formulation ND0612: A Struggle Against Parkinson's Disease Lotilaner as a Revolutionary Demodex Blepharitis Treatment Elfabrio's Active Ingredient, Pegunigalsidase Alfa-IWXJ, May Aid in the Treatment of Fabry Disease The Roadmap for a Successful Drug Launch's Enabling Investor Excellence: Your Partner in Closing Gaps, Increasing Competitiveness, and Making a Global Impact Managing the Immunotherapy World's Challenges A case study involving the cooperation of a pharmaceutical business with CDMOs and SMOs Case Study: Expansion of the Australian Product Portfolio AI application in a healthcare organization: a case study Case Study: Landscape Analysis of Ovarian Cancer Treatment About Disease Landscape:? Disease Landscape, a pioneering company specializing in Disease Intelligence, Pricing, and Market Access. Utilizing the power of data analytics, Disease Landscape Insights is dedicated to healthcare sector with invaluable, finely crafted insights and recommendations regarding global pricing and market access strategies. As a specialized firm, we are committed to delivering unparalleled insights into pricing and market access, custom-tailored to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Our data-driven solutions and cutting-edge technology position us as your trustworthy partner, offering swift, adaptable, and evidence-based alternatives to traditional market access and pricing research methods.? Our core competencies encompass Market Research Services, Consulting Services, Global Pricing and Market Access, Epidemiology Studies, as well as Product Portfolio and Pipeline Services. Our expertise lies in furnishing comprehensive data intelligence throughout every phase of drug and device research.? Contact Us:? Disease Landscape Insights LLP? 6th Floor, Sr No.207, Office A H 6070 Phase 1? Solitaire Business Hub, Viman Nagar? Pune, Maharashtra, 411014? Email: ajay@diseaselandscape.com? - Email: vishal@diseaselandscape.com Sales:?+44-2038074155? Asia Office:?+917447409162 Blog: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/blogs? Case Study: https://www.diseaselandscape.com/casestudies?? Pharma consulting Services? Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2217060/Disease_Landscape_Insights_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/transforming-lymphoma-management-landscape-with-dlis-disease-insights-unmet-needs-analysis-kol-perspectives-epidemiology-study-and-regulatory-consulting-services--disease-landscape-insights-301950462.html First Kintsugi Space launches on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi - November 2023, to be followed by online membership and launch of product line in 2024, as well as more spaces internationally ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kintsugi is a new global wellness brand, drawing inspiration from the ancient Japanese art of repairing ceramics with gold. The first Kintsugi Space will launch on Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, in November 2023, an entirely new concept for the destination. This will be followed by online membership and the launch of the lifestyle product line in 2024 and other exciting spaces internationally. Inspiring people to embrace the perfectly imperfect, the Kintsugi project and team are now led by the 'gentle genius of Patrizia Bortolin, one of the world's most beloved spa creatives' (Country & Town House). Thanks to years of global research, new technology and niche transformational wellness techniques, Kintsugi offers a unique approach to self-care, combining Western and ancient Eastern healing rituals. Patrizia is accompanied by a Board of experts, including celebrity Facialist Anastasia Achilleos and Dr Asma Naheed, Clinical Psychologist and mental wellbeing expert. The Kintsugi method guides its members towards a new, higher frequency where life feels more joyful and nourishing. Laughing and crying are both welcome, a celebration of the body is encouraged through dancing, massage, community and purifying. It also stimulates the mind to create healthy routines, change perspectives, think less and observe more, care for details and rituals and appreciate the beauty all around. Situated on the sought after Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, the seven-floor pale pink building will house a wellness space exclusively for female members (unlike other aspects of the brand which are open to all). In addition to 3, 6 and 11 month membership options, there will also be a six-day retreat offering, with membership existing for the duration of the programme. Kintsugi has partnered with Ember Lifestyle Travel for all arrangements to ensure an unforgettable and seamless wellness retreat. A charming house full of therapists, wellness experts and a caring community, the space will have many inspiring corners, creative interactive experiences, wholesome talks by experts and a curated blend of unparalleled technology and natural therapies, promoting both movement and stillness. www.kintsugispace.com / Instagram: @kintsugispace. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2240690/Kintsugi.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2240691/Kintsugi_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/launch-of-kintsugi-a-flagship-space-and-global-healing-movement-designed-to-inspire-empower-and-uplift-people-301950600.html BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China on Sunday said it has decided to provide the Afghan Red Crescent with 200,000 U.S. dollars in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance to aid its rescue and disaster relief efforts. Two 6.2-magnitude earthquakes jolted Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon local time, resulting in huge casualties and property losses. CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Metering Pumps Market by Type (Diaphragm pump, Pistons/Plungers), End-Use Industry (Water Treatment, Petrochemicals and Oil & Gas, Chemical Processing, Pharmaceuticals), Pump drive (Motor, Solenoid, Pneumatic) and Region - Global Forecast to 2028", size is projected to grow from USD 6.9 billion in 2023 to USD 8.5 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.3%. The metering pump market is witnessing growing demand, driven by factors like increased water stress, stringent regulations on water contamination, and the need for precise chemical dosing in wastewater treatment. Many governments mandate water purification before release, boosting the use of metering pumps to maintain water quality. These pumps are essential in water treatment facilities, dosing chemicals like chlorine to control pH levels and eliminate bacteria. The rising global demand for potable water and the chemical processing industry's wide application of metering pumps for dosing various fluids further contribute to market growth. Restraints in the metering pump market include customization needs associated with these pumps and maintenance expenses associated with these pumps. Opportunities lie in the expanding chemical processing sector. However, challenges include adapting to evolving fluctuations in raw material prices. Browse in-depth TOC on "Metering Pumps Market" 267 - Tables 43 - Figures 254 - Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=949 The diaphragm pump segment is expected to dominate the metering pumps market during the forecast period The diaphragm pump segment is expected to dominate the metering pumps market during the forecast period. Diaphragm pumps are known for their efficiency and self-priming capabilities, making them a preferred choice. They are also more cost-effective and require less maintenance compared to piston/plunger metering pumps. Diaphragm pumps overcome issues like bubble formation, giving them a competitive edge in the market. Pharmaceutical segment to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The pharmaceutical segment is poised for substantial growth during the forecast period from 2022 to 2027. This robust expansion will be accompanied by the escalating demand for metering pumps, notably peristaltic pumps, within the pharmaceutical and medical industries. Peristaltic pumps are witnessing increased usage in critical applications such as ventilators and vial filling machinery. It's noteworthy that even with the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, the pharmaceutical sector continues to thrive, sustaining the elevated demand for these pumps. The resilience of the pharmaceutical industry, coupled with the indispensable role of peristaltic pumps in precision pumping and dispensing solutions, especially in pharmaceutical applications such as pellet and tablet coating, reinforces their significance in this dynamic market landscape. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=949 Motor driven pumps led the Metering pumps market in 2022 Motor-driven metering pumps have established their dominance in the Metering pumps market. These pumps feature a mechanically driven diaphragm that can efficiently operate across various low-pressure ranges. Furthermore, their stroke length and rates can be readily adjusted to meet specific metering rate requirements. Known for their robustness and reliability, motor-driven metering pumps are the preferred choice across industries, demanding minimal supervision. These pumps offer a range of advantages, including a wide capacity range, precise metering even under fluctuating pressure conditions, cost-effective power consumption, flexibility in use, energy efficiency in line with power requirements, and the ability to create metering profiles for optimal metering outcomes. Their versatility and efficiency make them the go-to option for metering needs across diverse applications. APAC estimated to account for the highest share of the metering pumps market during the forecast period The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is poised to dominate the global metering pumps market both in terms of value and volume throughout the forecast period from 2023 to 2028. This supremacy is attributed to the rising demand from the water treatment, driven by significant investments in capacity expansion. Furthermore, the APAC chemical sector's growth is creating new opportunities within the metering pumps market. The expanding textile, pulp & paper, and water treatment industries are also contributing to the market's growth in the region. Notably, India is witnessing substantial growth, with a high number of wastewater treatment plants in operation and several more under construction. This scenario is expected to lead to an increased demand for diaphragm pumps in the coming years. Ingersoll Rand, Inc. (US), ProMinent GmbH (Germany), IDEX Corporation (US), Grundfos Holding A/S (Denmark), Seko S.P.A. (Italy), and Dover Corporation (US) are the key players active in the metering pumps market. Expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and new product developments are some of the major strategies adopted by these key players to enhance their positions in the metering pumps market. Browse Adjacent Market: Equipment Machine and Tooling Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Peristaltic Pumps Market - Global Forecast to 2027 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/metering-pump-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/metering-pump.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/metering-pumps-market-worth-8-5-billion-by-2028--exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301950522.html In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. The newly merged company aims for fast growth in the coming years HELSINKI, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finnish shelter and safety companies Verona Shelters Oy, and Suomen Turvakauppa Oy merge with the Swiss industry leader Andair AG to create a market leading shelter and safety solution provider Verona Shelters Group (VSG). The newly merged company will be targeting growth in Nordics, Middle East, India, and Europe. Growth is to be achieved through acquisitions and organically in the target markets by focusing on bringing CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear), blast protection and safety solutions for civil defence, industrial blast protection, and infrastructure resilience. The group's current turnover is approximately 25 million euros. VSG's goal is to become the world's largest operator in the field as it aims to quadruple its revenue in the coming years. The company has already made several breakthroughs, including supplying its solutions for various types of constructions for civil defence and NATO. The three companies combined have been involved in over 3500 projects globally, ranging from smaller civil shelters to providing blast protection for large nuclear power plants, such as in Olkiluoto 3 in Finland. VSG's solutions cater to a diverse range of needs, from industries operating in volatile zones to homeowners in disaster-prone areas. With competitive pricing and a focus on value, as well as extensive know-how depth, VSG is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for safety solutions. One of the keys to VSG's early success relies on its founding team's ability to provide need-based solutions, tailored for its customers' requirements. Ilkka Kivisaari, CEO of VSG, envisions a breakthrough for global safety, "Combining the technological know-how of Finland and Switzerland, we will create something truly unique for clients worldwide." Designed to withstand natural and man-made threats, VSG offers protective shelter solutions against blast (wave) impacts, earthquakes, tornadoes, biochemical attacks, and EMP (Electromagnetic pulse) disturbances. They range from private houses to large-capacity shelter solutions safeguarding over 10,000 people. VSG provides high-performance solutions, including Air Filtration Systems, Advanced Ventilation solutions, and Blast protective solutions for hardened facilities. What sets VSG apart is the seamless integration of two distinct technological traditions: Swiss precision and Finnish robustness, shaping the future of safety. Pascal Rapallino, Chairman of the VSG board, comments, "The synergies to be found in R&D & operations are remarkable. By joining forces, we will be able to serve clients globally with more insight and innovation. Also, we will focus on 360 service to our clients, by always finding the optimal solutions to their needs." Verona Shelters Group invites individuals, businesses, and governments to explore the future of safety and embark on our growth story together with us. For more information, and to discover our range of products, solutions and services, visit www.veronashelters.com or email info@veronashelters.com. CONTACTS: Verona Shelters Group (VSG) Ilkka Kivisaari, Chief Executive: +358 40 541 5200 Teemu Selin VP of Marketing and Business Development: +35840 574 9295 Pascal Rapallino Chairman of the Board: +352 661 451 102 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/22773/3850222/2346880.pdf Press release (PDF) https://news.cision.com/verona-shelters-group/i/vsg-is-seriously-looking-for-growth-globally--says-ceo-ilkka-kivisaari--second-from-the-right-at-the,c3223555 "VSG is seriously looking for growth globally," says CEO Ilkka Kivisaari (second from the right at the top). https://news.cision.com/verona-shelters-group/i/verona-shelters-group-logo,c3223545 Verona Shelters Group Logo View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/verona-shelters-oy-and-suomen-turvakauppa-oy-merge-with-swiss-andair-to-create-market-leader-in-shelter-and-safety-solutions-301950715.html Emphasizing Diverse Capabilities in Banking and Financial Services Technology SINGAPORE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azentio Software ("Azentio"), a Singapore-headquartered technology firm owned by funds advised by Apax Partners , today announced it has won awards in three categories at the recent Global BankTech Awards 2023. The awards recognize Azentio ONECapitalMarkets - Private Banking & Wealth Management suite, Azentio Financial Crime Management solution and Azentio iMAL Trade Finance application emphasizing the company's diverse capabilities in banking and financial services technology solutions. Hosted by The Digital Banker, a globally trusted business intelligence and research partner in financial services, the Global BankTech Awards 2023 is the world's premier assessment program dedicated to recognizing companies that have introduced out-of-the-box solutions for financial institutions to address key business challenges by deploying best-in-class software systems across the financial services landscape. The Digital Banker Awards programme is co-judged by subject matter experts from KPMG, EY, PwC, Deloitte, Forrester and others. Nirav Patel, Managing Director of The Digital Banker, said, "The judging process gave distinct weightage to digital innovation, digital ecosystems, customer experience, financial performance, and leadership strategy. Azentio's software products successfully met demanding parameters of innovation, customer engagement, personalization, and user experience, winning in the categories - Best AML Technology Solution by a Vendor, Outstanding Wealth Management Solution by a Vendor - Front Office, and Outstanding SME Trade Finance Solution by a Vendor." Azentio Financial Crime Management solution effectively helps financial institutions strengthen their anti-money laundering (AML) capabilities with analytical and investigative tools that provide real-time and near real-time scenarios to detect fraudulent activities immediately. Azentio ONECapitalMarkets - Private Banking & Wealth Management suite helps financial institutions engage with high-net-worth individuals through delivery of personalized solutions to grow their wealth. And Azentio iMAL Trade Finance application has proven to be a cross-functional platform addressing the unique needs of financial institutions offering trade finance services. Guru L, SVP Banking & Capital Markets at Azentio Software, commented, "With the imperative for ongoing business innovation, the continuous refreshment of digital assets is essential. This dynamism is deeply ingrained in our tech products. For instance, our Azentio Wealth Management suite now features a comprehensive financial planning capability that enables users to set goals, providing a centralized view of their financial health, while Azentio Trade Finance solution seamlessly integrates with other modules, market interfaces, and external systems, enhancing operational efficiency across the trade finance ecosystem. Moreover, our Azentio Financial Crime Management solution utilizes a microservices architecture, ensuring rapid deployment, improved workflows, and scalability. Our products are built on a resilient, advanced tech stack, placing business sustainability at their core. These awards underscore the unique value we bring to our clients, and we are deeply honored to receive this triple recognition." For more information on Azentio's software products, click here - Azentio Financial Crime Management solution , Azentio iMAL , Azentio ONECapitalMarkets . Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1978771/Azentio_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/azentio-software-wins-three-awards-at-global-banktech-awards-2023-301950644.html CEO to Address The Bitcoin Conference in Amsterdam and Join the Inscribing Amsterdam Gathering Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - SATO Technologies Corp. (TSXV: SATO) (OTCQB: CCPUF) (the "Company", or "SATO"), a publicly listed company known for building proprietary digital infrastructures for Bitcoin Mining, High-Performance Computing and Artificial Intelligence, today announced an exciting expansion into the world of Bitcoin software L2s infrastructure. The main goal is to lay down robust infrastructure that paves the way for massive Bitcoin adoption and capitalizes on future transaction fees. As part of the L2 initiatives being brought forward by SATO, the company is proud to introduce the Hordes Wallet, a state-of-the-art non-custodial iOS and Android application for the safe management and storage of Ordinals. This novel taproot Bitcoin wallet, 100% non-custodial, is now available for users at: https://hordeswallet.com. SATO has also created a unique platform that empowers users to inscribe ordinals in a simple, non-custodial manner, available at: https://inscribe.bysato.com. The company is also providing white glove services to inscribe collections and as such, is pleased to announce a captivating new collection from the renowned Japanese artist, Takeru Amano, featuring his iconic VNUS. The Company is also releasing a new 100% non-custodial software that scans Bitcoin wallets to identify Rare Satoshis. This tool is ideal for hodlers and Bitcoin miners wanting to track inputs from pools and transfer rare satoshis to a chosen wallet. More information about the L2 projects can be find here: www.bysato.com/L2. "I have a firm belief that the kind of expertise we are developing will be pivotal for the future trajectory of Bitcoin miners. Especially as they seek other avenues to boost transaction-related revenues, a topic gaining traction with recent discussions surrounding Bip300 and 301. Miners equipped with software process are poised to outperform their counterparts," declared Romain Nouzareth, the CEO of SATO Technologies. "It's crucial to understand that while our primary commitment is expanding our proprietary data centers for Bitcoin Mining and AI/HPC, we're also introducing innovative ways for users to leverage Bitcoin," he added. Romain Nouzareth is set to attend the global conference hosted by Bitcoin Magazine in Amsterdam on October 12th and 13th. He will join other industry experts on stage on the 13th at 1:30 PM. Additionally, M. Nouzareth will be present at 'Inscribing Amsterdam' alongside M. Simon Glatre, the company's lead Bitcoin engineer, on Saturday, October 14th. Please reach out if you'd like to arrange a meeting with them. About SATO SATO, founded in 2017, is a publicly listed company positioned for ongoing success in deploying computing power for Bitcoin Mining, High Performance Computing ("HPC"), and Artificial Intelligence ("AI"), via proprietary data centers designed to provide efficient compute power tailored for the digital ecosystem. Listed on (TSXV: SATO) & (OTCQB: CCPUF) since 2021. Around 65% of securities (on a fully diluted basis) owned by Officers, Directors, Insiders and Shareholders above 7% with long term vision. To learn more about SATO's distinct vision, ambitious goals and meet the team, visit www.bysato.com. For additional information, please contact: Romain Nouzareth invest@bysato.com Phone: +1 (450) 756-3636 Full Disclaimer https://corp.bysato.com/documents/disclaimer.html NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the future performance of the Company, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183144 German Quantron AG supplies IKEA Austria with five hydrogen fuel cell trucks of the model QUANTRON QLI FCEV In Austria, 56 QUANTRON battery-electric vehicles are already successfully in operation for IKEA, saving about 450 tons of CO2 per year The 5 FCEV trucks are expected to save another 160 tons of CO2 per year GERSTHOFEN,Germany, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IKEA Austria, together with Quantron AG, sets an example for sustainable logistics and is the first IKEA market worldwide to introduce hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Quantron AG, a specialist in sustainable passenger and freight transport, is supplying the QUANTRON QLI FCEV model vehicles. The zero-emission transporters will be fueled with green hydrogen from energy supplier Wien Energie. "By introducing the hydrogen trucks - as the first IKEA market worldwide - we succeed in Austria in taking a big step in implementing environmentally friendly processes. In this way, as a pioneer in the field of sustainable logistics, we want to show that a transformation to zero-emission delivery is already possible today", says Alpaslan Deliloglu, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA Austria. The fuel cell vehicles were developed in collaboration with Ballard Power Systems, the Canadian global leader in fuel cell technology. The entire process from feasibility study to delivery took only 18 months, enabling the QUANTRON QLI FCEV to hit the road in record time. The innovative Quantron Inside technology offers a user-friendly complete package with innovative e-axle, customized high-performance battery, fuel cell and tank system integration, and unique energy management and aerodynamics for maximum efficiency. One tank of fuel is sufficient for a range of up to 400 km, allowing distances of more than 500 km per day. "We are delighted that our long-standing collaboration with IKEA has reached another level with the launch of a new generation of innovative QUANTRON products. The QLI FCEV is the first H2 vehicle in the fuel cell commercial vehicle segment up to 7.5 t in Europe and the market leader in fuel cell technology in this class. We have been supporting IKEA Austria on its mission of decarbonization since August 2021. IKEA Austria has 45 QLI BEV trucks in use in the greater Vienna area and a further 11 in other Austrian cities.", explains Andreas Haller, founder and Executive Chairman of Quantron AG. The use of the battery-electric QUANTRON vehicles saves around 450 tons of CO2 annually. The FCEV trucks have a longer range for deliveries even outside urban areas and are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by another 160 tons per year. By 2025, IKEA Austria plans to make 100% of its last-mile deliveries emission-free. The company announced to expand its fleet of H2 trucks to 40 units by 2025. You can find the original images in both high and low resolutions here: Press releases from Quantron AG(https://www.quantron.net/en/q-news/press-releases/) About Quantron AG Quantron AG is a platform provider and specialist for sustainable mobility for people and goods; in particular for trucks, buses and vans with fully electric powertrains and H2 fuel cell technology. As a high-tech spinoff of the renowned Haller GmbH, the German company from Augsburg in Bavaria combines over 140 years of commercial vehicle experience with state-of-the-art e-mobility know-how and positions itself globally as a partner to existing OEMs. With the Quantron-as-a-Service Ecosystem (QaaS), QUANTRON offers an overall concept that covers all facets of the mobility value chain: QUANTRON INSIDE includes a wide range of both new vehicles and conversions for existing and used vehicles from diesel to battery and hydrogen electric powertrains using the highly innovative QUANTRON INSIDE technology. QUANTRON CUSTOMER SOLUTIONS ensures digital and physical aftersales solutions with a Europe-wide network of 700 service partners, as well as a service offering for maintenance, repair and spare parts, telematics and in-cloud solutions for remote diagnostics and fleet management. Customers receive individual solutions: rental, financing and leasing offers such as training courses and workshops at the QUANTRON Academy. In the future, QUANTRON ENERGY & POWER STATION will realize the production of green hydrogen and electricity as a platform. To this end, Quantron AG has joined forces with strong global partners. This Clean Transportation Alliance also forms an important building block for the supply of vehicles with the necessary green charging and H2 refueling infrastructure. QUANTRON stands for the core values Reliable, Energetic, Brave. The team of experts at the innovation driver for e-mobility is making a significant contribution to sustainable, environmentally friendly passenger and freight transport. You can find more information at www.quantron.net Visit the Quantron AG on its social media channels on LinkedIn and YouTube . Your contact: Jorg Zwilling, Director Global Communications & Business Development Quantron AG, j.zwilling@quantron.net Stephanie Miller, Marketing & Communications Quantron AG, press@quantron.net Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241818/QUANTRON_QLI_FCEV_IKEA.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1919591/4328957/Quantron_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/world-premiere-quantron-delivers-hydrogen-trucks-to-the-first-ikea-market-worldwide-301950799.html JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - Israel has started implementing complete siege of Gaza Strip as deadly rocket attacks by Palestinian militants continued for the third day. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told media that he has ordered a 'complete siege' on the Gaza Strip, and that no electricity, food, or fuel will be delivered to the enclave. Israel controls the passage of goods through its border crossings to Gaza. The death toll in the most violent war in the Middle East in recent years crossed thousand Monday. Israel claimed to have regained control of its communities near Gaza while admitting that militants remain active in the region. Cross-border attacks that Palestinian militant outfit Hamas launched on Saturday has so far claimed the lives of more than 700 people in Israel, reports say. Israeli rescuers say they recovered bodies of more than 260 people from the Supernova festival site in a desert in southern Israel where militants opened fire in a massive surprise attack. Hamas kidnapped more than 100 Israelis and the hostages that they are holding include Israeli army officers. Nearly 500 Palestinians were killed in retaliatory air strikes by Israeli air force. Hamas claims it fired 120 rockets toward the southern Israeli cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon on Monday in addition to targeting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Many of them were reportedly intercepted by Israel's air defense system called Iron Dome. Israeli opposition leader and former caretaker Prime Minster Yair Lapid said a ground attack into Gaza is 'not off the table.' Meanwhile, after discussing with President Joe Biden, U.S Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed to deploy an aircraft carrier, war ships and fighter jets close to Israel in the eastern Mediterranean in support of its strongest ally in the Middle East. 'I have directed the movement of the 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),' Austin said in a statement. '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. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required'. In addition, the U.S. government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will be arriving in the coming days, according to Austin. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he is convening an emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers Tuesday to address the situation in Israel and in the region. Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Die Top 3 Dividendenaktien 2024 In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! Hier klicken DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This October get ready for the 2nd edition of W.Media's Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards. The exclusive day-long convention will be held at Conrad Dubai on October 12th. W.Media's Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards 2023 will see participation from the creme de la creme of the data center industry. These include over 350 industry experts and thought leaders, including C-level executives, digital infrastructure professionals including architects, engineers and consultants (AECs), key buyers, decision makers, data center owners and operators. Data center boom in the Middle East Over the last few years, the Middle East has rapidly emerged as a vibrant hub for the cloud and data center industry. Mordor Intelligence estimates the data center industry in the region to grow at a Compounded Average Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.74 per cent. Data centers having a capacity of over 460 MW are already live, and infrastructure to support an equivalent capacity is already under construction. What also helps his that the region has access to as many as 45 submarine cables, and is also betting big on its abundance of solar energy to power its datacenters in a sustainable manner. The boom in the data center industry is driven by not only the growing demand for digital services, but also developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). Many governments in the Middle East are also pushing for increased digitization and are investing heavily in e-governance. Therefore, the data center industry is thriving in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Oman and Kuwait, among other nations in the region. According to Dr. Ammar Alhusaini, Acting Director General, Central Agency for Information Technology, Government of Kuwait, "The Kuwait government is taking note of the flourishing cloud and data center industry in the region and trying to attract hyperscale and international companies to Kuwait." Shedding light on latest developments he said, "Recently we signed an alliance framework agreement with Google Cloud to build a Google Cloud region in Kuwait. We have also signed an MoU with Microsoft." Dr. Alhusaini will deliver the keynote address at W.Media's Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards 2023. Growth of the data center industry in UAE UAE is home to close to two dozen data centers, and over 200 cloud service providers. According to a report by Agility Logistics Parks (ALP), the leading private owner and developer of industrial real estate in the Middle East & Africa, UAE's colocation data center capacity stood at 164 MW in 2022-23. Arizton Advisory & Intelligence valued the size of UAE's data center market at US$ 1.25 billion in 2022. They predict it will reach US$ 1.91 billion by 2028. Dubai, already has a reputation as a tech-savvy international city, and is a jewel in the data center crown of the Middle East. It has attracted global interest and investments from global tech majors such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Microsoft etc. Shedding light on the huge growth in the datacenter industry in the region, Stephen Beard, Global Head of Data Centers, Knight Frank, says, "73% of data produced in Dubai / UAE in 2017 left its shores for destinations principally in the US, Europe and Asia. Today, 73% of that same data stays within the UAE. That's a genuine reflection of growth." Beard will be one of the guest speakers at the Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards 2023, and will participate in an interesting panel discussion on technological and infrastructural investments needed to deliver the digital future of the Middle East. According to Adam Docrat, Head of Information Technology, Aster Retail GCC, the outlook for Dubai remains upbeat, and he feels that the industry will only grow "as companies increase their adoption into cloud computing and digital technology." He says, "This is being driven both by government regulations (for example the 2020 Dubai Data Center Strategy) as well as by the growing demand for data storage and processing capacity, driven by the growth of big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning." He will be one of our esteemed speakers at Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards 2023 and will participate in a panel discussion on the role of colocation services in the growth of the data center industry in the region. What to expect at Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards 2023 The day long convention will include several power-packed panel discussions, where the best and brightest minds in the industry will share their ideas on important subjects such as infrastructure investment, a hybrid IT journey, cyber-crime threats to cloud services, hyperscale data centers, Edge computing, planning, policy and skills. Many top companies that provide a variety of services to data centers in the region have joined hands with W.Media as sponsors for the Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards 2023. "We are expecting successful meeting and discussions with carefully chosen event participants that are key players and decision makers in data center business. We hope those discussions lead to fruitful business opportunities and partnerships," says Kimmo Kytosaari, Business Development Director, Naficon. One of the leaders in fiber optics connectivity in the UAE, Naficon is one of our esteemed sponsors. Mohammed Samara, Regional Sales Manager - MENA, PermAlert, another esteemed sponsor for the event, says, "We hope to be able to share our latest technology and best practices in this space to the help grow the data center industry in the Middle East." PermAlert is behind a state-of-the-art liquid leak detection system that aims to make data centers safer and more sustainable. "As a globally recognized leader in power distribution equipment, we are excited to showcase our unique plug & play product designed specifically for the data centre space. This event is perfect for us to connect and interact with the industry's top data experts," says Sathya Sivaramakrishnan, Regional Manager, Southwest Asia & Middle East for Starline, another esteemed sponsor for the event. Why is W.Media betting big on the region? W.Media is a leading international technology publisher, a cloud and data center technology community hub, and has been hosting a wide variety of data center industry events and gatherings across the world. "The nations that make up the Middle East region represent different levels of data center and cloud maturity, technological and investment capability and demand profile. Therefore, the region is not just one single opportunity but a myriad of many for design and construction, outsourcing and cloud, networking and edge," explains Nick Parfitt, Head of Content and Marketing at W.Media. "Digital transformation represents the latest opportunity set for data center owners, operators, legislators, investors and clients across the region to finetune their digital strategies and unlock further opportunity nationally and regionally," he says. REGISTER NOW Come join us at The Conrad on October 12th, 2023, for the Dubai Cloud & Datacenter Convention and Awards. If you haven't booked your passes yet, hurry! Click here to register , and learn more about the agenda, speakers, schedule, and session information. Visit W.Media to register and learn more about the agenda, speakers, schedule, and session information. For sponsorship, exhibition and further involvement opportunities, get in touch at india@w.media Media Contact: Naveen Lawrence naveen@w.media +91-9867831994 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241892/Dubai_Convention_2022.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2157193/W_Media_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wmedia-is-back-with-dubai-cloud--datacenter-convention-and-awards-301950782.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / TriplePundit: Words by CNH Industrial Originally published on TriplePundit It's no secret that the adoption of advanced technologies is accelerating in agriculture and construction. Machines today are more powerful, precise and easy to use than they have ever been, making them more efficient, productive and sustainable. Sustainability is top of mind for many businesses, and for agriculture and construction, it is an opportunity to transform how we manage our natural resources to grow food and build communities. In real terms, that means finding innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions - in the plants where we build our machines and also during their usage - and developing methods to preserve the natural environment while maximizing productivity. These challenges are familiar to CNH Industrial. Selin Tur, the company's vice president of advanced technologies and innovations, and John Crowell, director of sustainability, explain how the industry is adopting and continuing to develop advanced technologies to find viable sustainability solutions. How do advanced technologies play a role in achieving sustainability goals? Selin Tur: All the technologies we work on have a sustainability impact, from automation and autonomous technologies to alternative fuels and electrification to advanced materials. That's by increasing productivity, driving efficiency higher or reducing fuel consumption. John Crowell: The path to achieving our sustainability goals is one of continuous improvement. Whether it be decarbonizing within our own operations, within our value chain or related to our product portfolio, it's technology advancements that progress us forward. What are the sustainability challenges that advanced technologies can help address? ST: They can help reduce the carbon footprint of CNH Industrial and our products. Alternative powertrains, such as fully electric, hybrid electric and biofuels, are all viable solutions. They can reduce operations' emissions while maintaining quality and productivity. JC: There are further ways to meet the decarbonization challenge. We can manufacture our products with materials that have a lower emission impact for a higher level of recyclability, but also a higher level of end-of-life recyclability.? And precision technologies offer farmers innovative ways to lower their carbon footprint. Examples include improving water efficiency by using variable rate irrigation systems linked to real-time weather forecasts, which also take into account how the crop is growing. And pesticides can be applied precisely where they are needed. Advanced technologies can also preserve biodiversity which considers the interconnectedness between water risk, water scarcity, climate change and ecosystem. Using precision technology to minimize inputs supports the natural environment and contributes to healthier soils. What are some examples of advanced technologies addressing sustainability challenges? ST: Recently we acquired 'sense and act' specialist Augmenta. A key solution the company offers is a multispectral camera and advanced artificial intelligence engine. This 'sees' the crop in front of the tractor and adjusts the fertilizer being applied in real time by visually measuring the crops' nitrogen levels. This provides a new level of efficiency for farmers. It optimizes inputs according to crop status and demand through precise rate control at normal vehicle speeds. This provides a new level of field efficiency for the producer. At the end of the year, we'll be launching the New Holland T4 Electric Power. It's the industry's first all-electric light utility tractor. With a battery pack that can support a full day of operation, it's a viable alternative fuel solution for farmers looking to decarbonize. It also adds to our growing electric product portfolio across agriculture and construction, which includes a series of mini excavators, a compact wheel loader and backhoe loader. JC: Alongside electric, our work with Bennamann highlights a tried and tested biofuels solution. Bennamann has expertise in capturing, repurposing and storing fugitive methane emissions for energy use. And when connected with our machinery, they can dramatically reduce emissions to deliver a carbon-negative system that fully supports a circular economy. When electricity is generated from captured fugitive livestock methane, it can be used to power the tractor, the farm and even be sold back to the grid. What are the significant challenges or opportunities regarding advanced technology adoption? JC: One adoption challenge around decarbonization is ensuring that the alternative fuel equipment can complete all the tasks on the farm. That's why biomethane is such an attractive solution - it delivers the same power as a conventional diesel machine. Another challenge is variety in what our customers are aiming to produce. Because of this, there's a great degree of variability in the solutions they're looking for. They want to be sustainable, but all want to maximize their productivity. And to satisfy this, we continually evaluate our portfolio. ST: For customers, price and availability are key. Installing and operating advanced technologies must come close to their current total cost of ownership and provide a significant return on investment. As accessibility to these fuels increases, so should the variety of equipment that can utilize them. JC: Indeed, there is still an infrastructure challenge - whether that be recharging/fueling stations or biodigesters. Training and support, both for operators and our dealer partners, will also be needed to ensure a smooth transition to these new solutions. What promising technology advancements hold potential for sustainable agriculture and construction? ST: Certainly, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. Advanced sensors will make farming practices more efficient by controlling the volume of chemicals applied to fields. We're also working on augmented and virtual reality. These solutions also accelerate product development times through virtual assembly and digital prototyping - and they can reduce our travel by enabling us to conduct virtual design reviews. It's sustainability through reduction. They also enable remote diagnostics and mean field issues can be resolved quickly without having to wait for a technician to attend. JC: There is also an increasing focus on electrifying implements and not just the vehicle. There's a great opportunity there for further innovation, leading to increased productivity and sustainability. What does future collaboration between your technology and sustainability functions look like? JC: It's a collaborative engagement between our teams. We both acknowledge the challenge of decarbonizing our products, but also the opportunity for the industry, and for our customers. The sustainability team is leading the efforts to help the company meet the Paris Climate Agreement's objectives. And in doing so, we are learning from the research and development team. They're showing us what's feasible, what's within their technology innovation roadmap and what really matters to our customers. ST: My team is in an advantageous position working with John. It enables us to tie our innovation and technology programs into company sustainability goals and targets. It's a good process that has real customer benefits. With CNH Industrial continuing to innovate, the agriculture and construction industries are progressing toward a more sustainable future. It's clear that advanced technologies are more than just an option - they're essential. We are committed to delivering solutions that produce food, fiber, energy, shelter and infrastructure for a growing world population sustainably. And that does not mean sacrifice. In fact, it's quite the opposite. Advanced technologies are unlocking new ways for operators to add value, from a sustainability standpoint and beyond. This article series is sponsored by CNH Industrial and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team. Image credit: Valentin Valkov via Adobe Stock View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from TriplePundit on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: TriplePundit Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/triplepundit Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: TriplePundit View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791260/advanced-technologies-are-essential-to-a-sustainable-future Rogue Baron Plc - Allotment of shares PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, October 09 For Immediate Release 09 October 2023 ROGUE BARON PLC ("Rogue Baron" or "The Company") Allotment of shares Rogue Baron PLC (AQUIS: SHNJ), a leading company in the premium spirit sector, announces that is has issued 1,362,235 new ordinary shares in the Company to certain creditors in lieu of cash payments. Admission to Aquis Growth Market Application will be made for the 1,362,235 new ordinary shares to be admitted to trading on the Aquis Growth Market ("Admission"). It is expected that Admission of the new ordinary shares will become effective at 8.00 a.m. on or around 13 October 2023. The new ordinary shares will be issued credited as fully paid and will rank in full for all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after Admission and will otherwise rank on Admission pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares. Total Voting Rights Following Admission, the Company's issued share capital will comprise 98,071,978 Ordinary Shares with voting rights. The Company does not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury. The figure of 98,071,978 Ordinary Shares may therefore be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. For further information, please contact: Ryan Dolder rdolder@roguebaron.com Aquis Corporate Adviser: Peterhouse Capital Limited Narisha Ragoonanthun +44 (0) 20 7469 0936 Aquis Corporate Broker: Peterhouse Capital Limited Lucy Williams +44 (0) 20 7469 0936 BALI, INDONESIA, Oct 10, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - The Archipelagic & Island States (AIS) Forum, being held October 9-11 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, has expressed its strong commitment to preserving the marine ecosystems in the effort to mitigate the impact of climate change that threaten its participating countries.The 1st High Level Meeting (HLM) of the AIS Forum 2023 is taking place at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center and draws participation from 29 countries and four international organizations. Heads of state/government of several countries are participating, including Micronesia, Niue, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, and Tuvalu.The HLM will have four themes: adaptation and mitigation against climate change, promoting a sustainable blue economy, handling plastic waste in the oceans, and strengthening sustainable maritime governance. The Effects of climate change, including rising global temperatures with rising sea levels, have been threatening the very existence of small low-altitude island states, particularly those in the Pacific Ocean."Climate change is real. Climate change is a common enemy for island countries," Alexander Muhammad Khan, Indonesian representative to the AIS Research and Development (RnD) Conference. The AIS RnD Conference serves as one of four side events to the 1st High Level Meeting (HLM) of the AIS Forum.In the RnD Conference, the AIS Forum seeks to bring together oceanographers, marine biologists, scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, and visionaries across the globe to present their breakthroughs and jointly find solutions to preserve oceans, a complex ecosystem regulating the planet's climate.The Conference delves into a number of themes, including the 'Blue Economy', which the World Bank has described as an eco-friendly utilization of marine resources that aims to stimulate economic growth and improve welfare while preserving oceans, which constitute the planet's important carbon sink that can help mitigate climate change impacts.Since its formation in 2018, the AIS Forum has made efforts to realize the Blue Economy, including the Blue Financing Strategic Framework, which will be highlighted in the discussion on the blue economy during the HLM. The framework document constitutes a tool that can guide businesses to invest in blue economic activities taking into account the social, economic, and environmental impacts.AIS Forum further highlights the importance of the Blue Economy by holding the AIS Blue Economy High-Level Dialogue on October 9, another side event for the 2023 HLM. This Dialogue is aimed at the world's political leaders, experts, and major business actors, to find solutions to ensure that all archipelagic and island states, including the least-developed ones, have the same opportunity to tap into the vast potential of the blue economy.Another side event is the AIS Startup Blue Business Summit. Head of the AIS Forum Secretariat Riny Modaso says the event serves as a medium for Blue Economy entrepreneurs, or bluepreneurs, to connect with marine stakeholders, innovators, researchers, and potential investors. "By investing in innovative solutions, AIS participating states can protect their vulnerable ecosystems, suppress the effects of climate change, and create a sustainable future for their communities," she said on Sunday (October 8).The AIS Forum also considers youths' ideas and aspirations in the efforts to protect the oceans. The AIS Youth Conference was held from October 6-8, drawing participation from 26 young delegates from 26 AIS Forum participating states. Deputy for Maritime and Energy Sovereignty Coordination at the Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Investment Coordinating Ministry, Jodi Mahardi emphasized that young people's ideas could help archipelagic and island states deal with challenges.Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated the 1st HLM, which carries the theme of "Fostering Collaboration, Enabling Innovation for Our Ocean and Our Future." Other state delegations are being led by deputy prime ministers, ministers, deputy ministers, and ambassadors.Indonesia is hosting the 1st HLM, as an initiator of the AIS Forum which was formed on the basis of the Manado Declaration on November 1, 2018, during an AIS Ministerial Meeting.Source: Antara News Agency, https://www.aisforum.org/Source: Archipelagic and Island States Forum (AIS Forum)Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Brushstrokes for History is a non-profit organization that promotes community connection and art that features historical records. Yana Danzig is a Broward high school senior who founded this organization that transforms history into art. Artists have developed a bond with the residents of the Sistrunk area that has enhanced the artists' abilities to highlight the community's lesser-known stories. The 17-year-old teen founded this non-profit 501(c) (3) organization in 2023 to raise awareness for the communal history and its celebration through art. Society has a habit of overlooking different communities and stories from their past. This non-profit organization is becoming a brush that paints histories and gives them a spotlight in Broward County, including Sistrunk Blvd. Led by Yana, Brushstrokes for History has created a connection between residents and artists whose conviviality transforms broken doors and windows into beautiful pieces of art. Over the summer, the founder, Yana Danzig, reached out to the community and ran summer camps that taught participants about the area's history and how art can be created to celebrate these past events. The students and artists were joined by their common passion for art and painted large panels that would go over broken doors and windows to elevate the area.? Brushstrokes for History held a display show featuring the artworks on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. In this exhibition,the work of around 20 local artists was displayed at the main public library of Fort Lauderdale at 100 South Andrews Avenue,which ran from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. The show had 20 painted boards on display, and visitors met with many of the artists.With over 80 attendees, the exhibition was a successful start to something great. The goal of connecting communities with art and history has made Brushstrokes for History one of the most promising non-profit organizations in the region. Anyone who would like to join this journey of painting history can sign up at https://brushstrokesforhistory.org where they will be provided with all needed supplies. Follow the company on Instagram @brushstrokesforhistory.org for more updates. Media Contact Organization: Brushstrokes for History Contact Person: Yana Danzig Website: https://www.brushstrokesforhistory.org/ Email: Yana@brushstrokesforhistory.org Address: Fort Lauderdale FL City: Fort Lauderdale State: Florida Country: United States SOURCE: Brushstrokes for History View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/791375/florida-teen-founds-brushstrokes-for-history-to-celebrate-sistrunks-past In diesem Report stellen wir Ihnen 3 Top-Aktien aus dem Energie-Sektor vor, die Sie unbedingt auf Ihre Watchlist setzen mussen. Lassen Sie sich diese kostenlose Analyse nicht entgehen! WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Fluor Corporation (FLR) Monday said that U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) contract with Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC, a Fluor-owned special purpose entity, was extended for five years through 2028. Originally awarded in 2018, the contract had a five-year base period of performance, with a five-year option. Consistent with the original contract, Fluor will recognize all fees earned with this new extension as equity income. The contract supports the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program that is jointly part of the Department of Energy's NNSA and the Department of the Navy. The scope of the contract includes the management and operation of the Naval Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) with primary facilities in New York, Pennsylvania and Idaho. 'Fluor has supported our nation's security since 1944,' said Tom D'Agostino, group president of Fluor's Mission Solutions business segment. 'We are proud that the U.S. government continues to place its confidence in us to ensure that the nuclear Navy remains superior and is able to carry out its vital missions anywhere in the world. We look forward to supporting the Naval Nuclear Laboratory as it continues to deliver excellence to the men and women of the Navy who serve our country.' Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. AstronauTx Ltd, a London, UK-based biotech company, raised48m ($61m) in Series A financing. The round was led by Novartis Venture Fund, with participation from Brandon Capital, MPM Capital, EQT Life Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb and founding investor the Dementia Discovery Fund. Following the financing, Jonathan Tobin, UK-based Partner at Brandon Capital will join AstronauTx board of directors. The company intends to use the funds to advance its portfolio of small-molecule drugs including a clinical study in patients with Alzheimers disease for its lead programme. Created in 2019 by Dr Ruth McKernan and Dr David Reynolds, AstronauTx is a biotechnology company developing drugs for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. In July 2023, AstronauTx announced a partnership with Saniona, a Danish biotechnology company, to identify new treatments by modulating a novel, undisclosed ion channel target, expanding its portfolio of programmes. In September 2023, AstronauTx was awarded an Innovate UK grant to fund preclinical work on one of its programmes. FinSMEs 09/10/2023 FlexSea, a London, UK-based sustainable-packaging company, raised 3m in seed equity funding and grants. The round was led by Indico Capital Partners, with participation from RedRice Ventures, Btomorrow Ventures, Food Foundry, Vala Capital, ICON Capital, and Pente Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach. Led by Carlo Fedeli and Thibaut Monfort Micheo, FlexSEA is a sustainable-packaging company aiming to replace traditional petroleum plastic film with an innovative natural material derived from seaweed. Its transparent, resistant material is degradable in marine, soil and home-composting environments and is also edible. FinSMEs 09/10/2023 gaiia, a Quebec City, Canada-based company which specializes in connectivity operating systems (OS), raised $13M in Seed funding. The round saw participation from YCombinator, Kima Ventures, and oxio alumni. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate their development roadmap and integration library. Led by CEO Marc-Andre Campagna, gaiia provides a SaaS solution for billing, operations, and automation to run internet service providers (ISPs). The company was created in 2021, out of necessity to better operate and manage the complex operations of oxio (the fastest growing ISP in Canada). Earlier in 2023, oxio was sold to a large telecom incumbent for $100m, and the founders have now shifted the business to focus entirely to bringing gaiia to other ISPs around the world. FinSMEs 09/10/2023 Ever since the phenomenal success of Shah Rukh Khans action thriller Jawan, movie buffs are excited to see what Atlee has in store for them next. Speaking during the recently held India Today Conclave, the director talked about one of his most frequent heroes Thalapathy Vijay and Jawan star Shah Rukh Khan. When asked about choosing between the two actors for his next, Atlee said that he would like to cast both of them. He revealed, One is like my wife and the other like my mother. I cant leave them behind, and I have to live with both of them. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Chillies Entertainment (@redchilliesent) Atlee Talks About Thalapathy Vijay And Shah Rukh Khan Atlee was further quoted as saying that whatever he is today, it is all thanks to Thalapathy Vijay. He added that the actor is responsible for providing him with back-to-back films. The filmmaker said, Of course, I have delivered hits to him. But he really trusted me. Atlee further revealed that there are so many directors who would have said yes to doing a movie after just receiving a call from Shah Rukh Khan, but King Khan decided to trust him and till now he is unable to understand the reason behind this trust. He disclosed that it was SRKs trust that made him do Jawan with utmost responsibility and love. Atlee revealed that the journey for Jawan began back in 2019 after Shah Rukh Khan visited him in Chennai and they had a short chat in his office. Atlee also recalled that on his way back, King Khan asked him to watch an IPL match. The director told SRK that if they went together some pictures of them would surely surface on the news. To this, the Don actor said that as they were working together now, people might as well know. As anticipated by Atlee, a picture of the actor and director duo circulated on social media. All About Jawan Financed by Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan saw Lady Superstar Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Deepika Padukone (special appearance), Priyamani and Sanya Malhotra appear in key roles. The movie is credited with breaking several records at the box office. The worst combat in 50 years continued in southern Israel for a third day as Israels military attempted to regain territories that the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas invaded on Saturday early morning. Israel formally declared war on Sunday, portending greater fighting ahead, and a possible ground assault into Gaza a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Around 700 people have been killed in Israel a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts. Nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 captives from the Israeli side, as per The Associated Press. Here are several terms related to the Israel-Palestine conflict that are crucial for you to understand: Hamas Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, is the largest Palestinian militant Islamist group that rules Gaza. Established in 1987, It is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, meaning Islamic Resistance Movement. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian cleric who established the Palestinian Islamist movement as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood (founded in Egypt in the 1920s), according to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). In addition to Iran, Syria, and the Shia Islamist organisation Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas is a member of a regional alliance that largely opposes US Middle East policy as well as Israel. Hamas opposed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his book, Hamas: A Beginners Guide, Khaled Al Hroub, professor of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwestern University Qatar, described Hamas as the internal metamorphosis of the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood that emerged in Jerusalem in 1946, as per Indian Express. Hindustan Times reported Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007 after a brief civil war with forces allied to the Fatah movement, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, who is based in the West Bank and also serves as the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). They even won last Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006. Since then, there have been repeated rounds of clashes with Israel, frequently involving missile attacks from Gaza into Israel by Hamas and Israeli airstrikes and shelling of Gaza. In addition to vehemently rejecting the Oslo peace accords, which Israel and the PLO negotiated in the middle of the 1990s, Hamas refuses to recognise Israel as a Jewish state. Israel, the US, the EU, Canada, Egypt, and Japan have declared the group a terrorist organisation. Operation Iron Swords Israels Operation Iron Swords is retaliation for a surprise attack by Hamas, reported Business Today. The Israeli military claimed to have retaliated by attacking Gaza with airstrikes. Witnesses claimed to have heard powerful explosions and saw numerous people being rushed into hospitals while injured and dead. Israeli military officials said that navy forces killed scores of Palestinian militants who were attempting to enter Israel by sea. All of the assailants who have snuck into Israel and are attacking both Israeli defence personnel and civilians are taken into consideration by Operation Iron Swords. The IDF will protect the residents of the State of Israel, the terrorist organization Hamas will pay a very heavy price. The public is asked to obey the orders of the Home Front Command to stay near protected areas, and residents of the Gaza Strip are asked to stay in their homes, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated earlier. Also read: How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they? Israels war with Hamas complicated by hostage situation: What we know so far How the Israel-Hamas conflict has been raging for years Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years Hezbollah Hezbollah, which means party of god, is a Shia militant group supported by Iran. It was established in 1982 by Irans Revolutionary Guards to resist Israeli forces that had invaded Lebanon and spread the Islamic Revolution. It recruited among Shia Muslims in Lebanon, who shared the philosophy of Tehrans Shia Islamist movement. The Palestinian parties Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as other organisations supported by Iran in the area have close relations to Hezbollah. The US and several countries have regarded the group as a terrorist organisation. According to Hindustan Times, the group has grown from a covert faction that emerged during Lebanons 19751990 civil war to a powerful entity that holds authority over the Lebanese state. In order to combat Israeli forces occupying the primarily Shia south, Hezbollah preserved its weaponry after the civil war ended. After years of conflict, Israel withdrew its forces in 2000. Later, the group stormed into Israel during a five-week conflict in 2006. They captured troops and others to show off its military prowess. 158 Israelis, primarily military, and 1,200 Lebanese civilians were killed in the conflict. According to the report, its military increased after its deployment in Syria in 2012 to support President Bashar al-Assad in his battle against primarily Sunnis. In relation to the latest barbaric attack, Hezbollah claimed that it was in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance. Gaza Strip Gaza Strip is a 41-kilometer long by 10-kilometer width region, with a population of over 2.3 million, between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea, according to News18. With a continuous human population of more than 3,000 years, Gaza City served as a meeting place for several prehistoric cultures. The Prophet Muhammads great-grandfather is thought to have been buried there. The people living in the Gaza Strip are Palestinians, comprising both indigenous settlers and numerous refugees who fled to Gaza from Israel during Israels creation in 1948 and later military battles between Israelis and Palestinians. It has been ruled by the militant Islamist party Hamas since 2007. The organisation opposes the peace process with Israel and, in its charter, demands for Israels destruction. For years, the Hamas terrorists have fired rockets from Gaza into Israeli territory, but the 7 October onslaught is a shocking escalation of the long-running dispute. West Bank With 5,860 square kilometres, the West Bank is a part of Israel that is far larger than the Gaza Strip, News18 explained. Three million Palestinians live in the Palestinian territories. It spans across Israels eastern border along the west banks of the Jordan River and covers the majority of the Dead Sea, which is how it got its name. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Having had to defend the nation in six major wars, the IDF, which was founded in 1948, is one of the worlds most combat-proven armed forces. According to Hindustan Times, its primary responsibilities include bolstering the peace agreements, ensuring overall security in the West Bank in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority, leading the fight against terrorism both within Israel and beyond its borders, and maintaining a deterrent capability to stop hostilities from breaking out. Yom Kippur War The 1973 Arab-Israeli War was an armed conflict that took place between Israel and a coalition of Arab nations led by Egypt and Syria from 6 October to 25 October 1973. As Syrian troops crossed into the Golan Heights and Egyptian troops reached the Sinai Peninsula, a war broke out in the Middle East. After Israels victory in the 1967 Six-Day War, the forces hoped to retake lost land and persuade the Israeli government that a long-term peace agreement was required, according to the History channel. Though Israel was originally outnumbered and unprepared for the fight, it was able to launch a counteroffensive and win the conflict, regaining the Golan Heights The Yom Kippur War brought the Soviet Union and the US closer to a potential nuclear exchange as each nation supported its allies following failed attempts to propose ceasefires, explained Hindustan Times. According to the State Department, the Soviet Union then started resupplying weaponry to Syria and Egypt, and a few days later, the US did the same for Israel. Israel was widely criticised for its lack of preparation prior to the attack, and despite it gained many territories. This was because it also suffered numerous casualties. Judaisms holiest day of the year is Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. Al Aqsa Mosque Hamas says the latest barbaric attack on Israel marks the beginning of Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge, according to The Times Of Israel. NDTV cited a recorded statement by the groups military commander, Muhammad Deif as saying, Today the people are regaining their revolution. Al-Aqsa mosque is considered the third holiest by the Muslims, after Mecca and Medina. The mosque is situated on a hill known to Jews as Har ha-Bayit, or Temple Mount, and to Muslims internationally as al-Haram al-Sharif, or The Noble Sanctuary. This place lies in the heart of Jerusalems Old City, as per Reuters. It is also home to two Muslim holy places the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Qibli Mosque, which was built in the 8th century AD. One of the holiest sites for Jewish prayer, the Western Wall, is visible from there. According to legend, King Solomon from the Book of Genesis built the first temple 3,000 years ago. Israel conquered the location in 1967 during the Middle East War. The Reuters study said that Israel afterwards annexed it along with the rest of East Jerusalem and adjacent parts of the West Bank in a move not recognised internationally. Israel and Gaza have always been at odds over the mosque dispute. More than 200 Palestinians and 10 Israelis were killed in a 10-day conflict in 2021 as a result of fighting between the two sides, according to the New York Times. Israeli police officers and Palestinians engaged in a fight in April of this year, which resulted in a firefight across the border. More than 350 people were detained and evacuated from the property before the conflict was reported, according to the news agency. Waqf personnel reported that police had evacuated the facility using shock grenades and rubber bullets. It took place during the sacred month of Ramadan. Israels raid into Al-Aqsa mosque, its assault on worshippers, is a slap to recent US efforts which tried to create calm and stability during the month of Ramadan, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, was quoted as saying. Iron Dome The air defence system on land used by Israel is called Iron Dome. It is created to stop and destroy short-range rockets, mortars, and artillery shells that are launched from ranges of four to 70 kilometres, reported India Today. The anti-missile system is particularly effective against projectiles with low altitude and slow motion. Over 5,000 successful intercepts of rockets, mortar rounds, artillery shells, aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at extremely close range have demonstrated the systems combat preparedness to date. Two Israeli companies, Rafael Advanced Defence Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries, developed the Iron Dome in 2011, with major assistance from the United States. According to the report, it operates using three key components a radar that detects incoming rockets, a command-and-control system that recognises the threat level, and an interceptor that seeks to destroy the incoming rocket before it strikes. The computers in the control centre determine whether populated regions are at risk from the missile and the Iron Dome system determines whether infrastructure or human lives are. If so, the launcher, which has 20 interceptor missiles, fires a missile. Despite being quite effectice, the Iron Dome is not intended to provide protection against all dangers. It shields a constrained area against less capable projectiles. Beginning in early 2011, the Iron Dome system was initially installed at air force sites in southern Israel. It was eventually established in other places, such the town of Sderot, following substantial escalations near the Gaza border. Intifada According to Al Jazeeras Palestine Remix, the Arabic word for revolt, intifada, literally translates as shaking off and is used to refer to one in the context of Palestine. In December 1987, the First Palestinian Intifada broke out in Gaza after an Israeli truck crashed into two vans carrying Palestinian employees, leaving four Palestinians dead. Conflicts that followed quickly spread to the remaining occupied Palestinian territories. The report explained the Unified National Leadership of the Uprising, a grouping of Palestinian political factions devoted to putting an end to Israeli occupation and achieving Palestinian independence, was in charge of the Intifada, which was predominantly carried out by youth. Israel responded harshly, shutting down universities, expelling activists, and demolishing homes. The world community was compelled to look for a peaceful solution by the Intifada as well. The Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, putting an end to the Intifada. Thousands of Palestinians were hurt, and 1,500 died as a result of Israels suppression of the Intifada. Ariel Sharon, the head of the Likud opposition party, paid a provocative visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on September 28, 2000, while tens of thousands of security personnel were stationed in and around Jerusalems Old City. This marked the beginning of the Second Intifada, sometimes known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada. During the first two days, there were 200 injuries as a result of clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli authorities. An extensive armed rebellion in the Palestinian Territories under Israeli occupation was brought on by the tragedy. Israel started constructing its separation wall and reassumed control over regions previously ruled by the Palestinian Authority. Over 50,000 people had been injured and nearly 5,000 people had died as a result of Palestinian violence by the end of 2008. With inputs from agencies Israel has responded to the escalating conflict with Palestine by announcing a total blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza. The move, announced by Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, came in the backdrop of the Israeli military saying it had largely gained control back in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Gaza is ruled by Hamas the Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement now at war with Israel for the fifth time in 15 years. But what is the total blockade? How will people be affected? Lets take a closer look: What is it? First, lets take a brief look at Gaza and the history of the blockade. One of the most densely populated places on the planet, Gaza is home to over two million people living on a 362-square-kilometre 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. 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. Israel and Egypt have since imposed a blockade on the strip. Hamas, meanwhile, has ruled Gaza unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. However, Israel has in recent years, while placing heavy restrictions on travel in and out of the Gaza Strip, provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and some consumer goods. However, as per The New York Times, any elections items that could be refashioned into arms and armaments remain barred. As per Al Jazeera, the total ban would include food, water and fuel. Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. We are putting a complete siege on Gaza No electricity, no food, no water, no gas its all closed, Gallant was quoted as saying by the outlet. Gallant said Israel was at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanising language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. How will people be affected? 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. Gaza has just one power plant, as per The New York Times. As per BBC, most areas of Gaza are already without power. The strip can only meet around 20 per cent of its own demand for electricity. Most shops in Gaza, sans a few bakeries with customers waiting in line, are shuttered. As per The New York Times, Gazas hospitals are already facing a shortage of equipment and medicine. Now the hospitals are overwhelmed by the sheer number of people flooding in and are begging for people to come forward to donate blood, as per BBC. Mahmoud Shalabi, Gaza director of the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, called the main hospital a slaughterhouse. There were many dead bodies in the morgue and many medical staff were unable to cope with the huge influx of casualties they were receiving, Shalabi told BBC. As per The New York Times, civilians in Gaza are already under threat. In May, a dozen civilians were killed in Israeli airstrikes. In 2021, 67 children died in 11 days of fighting The Israeli seal will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighbouring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, earlier said more than two tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food, and other deliveries. He claimed the question of allowing in fuel was not yet decided. The UN said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. The UN 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. This is the fifth war between Palestinian militants in Gaza and Israel following Israels 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. Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Hagari said the military has control of its border communities in southern Israel. Despite some isolated incidents early Monday, at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities. He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press over the phone that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. With inputs from agencies It was supposed to be an all-night dance and music festival. Thousands gathered in a rural farmland near the Israel-Gaza border to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. The Tribe of Nova trance music fest was dubbed as a celebration of infinite freedom. Its where hundreds met death. Festival-goers partied into the wee hours on Saturday. Videos showed young Israelis grooving to trance music. The first sound of explosions was drowned by the revelry. Then they saw rockets being launched from Gaza one after another, leaving many of them starled. And the music stopped. A voice from loudspeakers warned. Guys, we have red alert. People left hurriedly. A report in The Washington Post said that videos show people jogging as rockets flashed across the sky. Sounds of gunfire filled the air. The attack on festival-goers Hamas terrorists who had infiltrated the country from Gaza descended upon the celebrations. It was one of their first targets as they launched a surprise attack on Israel. The attack at the festival appeared to be not only premeditated but also highly coordinated. Videos uploaded by attendees showed the sky above them suddenly dotted with militants on hang gliders, writes Ruth Margalit in The New Yorker. The masked men began a massacre. They killed around 250 people who attended the outdoor event. In the area where the party took place, and at the party itself it could be estimated that there were 200-250 bodies, Moti Bukjin, a spokesman for the humanitarian NGO Zaka, was quoted as saying by AFP. He estimated the dead on the number of trucks that ferried away the corpses. Ortel, who was at the festival, told Israels Channel 12, 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. I went into a tree, a bush like this, and they just started spraying people. I saw masses of wounded people thrown around and Im in a tree and trying to understand whats going on, she recalled. Gunmen blocked roads as festival-goers tried to escape and they ambushed cars. As chaos reigned followed by terror, attendees started to run for their safety. Everyone just started running in all directions. Nobody knew where to go, Eliav Klein, who was the Tribe of Novat, told NBC News. He said that a friend witnessed victims on their knees at gunpoint, while another jumped off a cliff as he was trying to run away from terrorists. The Israel-Palestine conflict in explainers Israel vs Palestine: Where does India stand? Which countries back Hamas? What is the Gaza Strip, which is at the centre of Israel-Palestine conflict? Hamas, Hezbollah & Intifada: A guide to understanding the glossary of Israel-Palestine conflict How Hamas breached Israels sophisticated security, hoodwinked its intelligence How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they? How Hamas compares to Israel in weapons stockpile Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years What is Hezbollah? Why has it come to aid of Palestinians in Israel conflict? Gunshots and pools of blood Maya Alper, 25, was picking up trash with a team of environment-conscious volunteers when air raid sirens cut through the music. She jumped into the car and raced toward the main road. But at the intersection she encountered crowds of stricken festival attendees, shouting at drivers to turn around. Then, a noise. Firecrackers? Panicked men and women staggering down the road just in front of her fell to the ground in pools of blood. Gunshots, reports The Associated Press (AP). As the carnage unfolded, Alper pulled a few disoriented-looking revellers into her car from the street and accelerated in the opposite direction. One of them said he had lost his wife in the chaos and Alper had to stop him from breaking out of the car to find her. Another said she had just seen Hamas gunmen shoot and kill her best friend. Another rocked in his seat, murmuring over and over, We are going to die. In the review mirror, Alper watched the dance floor where she had spent the past ecstatic hours transform into a giant cloud of black smoke. Thirty-one-year-old Gal Raz narrated his ordeal. He was quoted as saying by The Washington Post that there were corpses on top of cars which blocked the road as they tried to get out. They got into a friends car but eight to ten terrorists started firing toward it. They drove a few hundred metres, then abandoned the car and ran past several bodies of revellers who fell victim to the Hamas terror. Ben Haim saw the militants closing in and managed to escape. She took the car keys from an inebriated friend put as many people in the vehicle and left. The people who stayed, most of them got kidnapped or murdered, she told the publication. Kidnappings and torture Several Israelis are missing at least 100, according to media reports. Hamas says the hostages are held in tunnels and other secure locations in Gaza. However, it is unclear how many of those kidnapped are from the festival. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, told NBC News that few Americans were at the festival. Twenty-five-year-old Noa Argamani was there with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. The couple appear to have been abducted by Hamas terrorists. They were seen in a video circulating on Palestinian social media. It shows the woman screaming and pleading for mercy as she is separated from Or. In the video, the man is seen being restrained by another group of terrorists, as Argamani is dragged away, the NBC News report says. Families of several young Israelis who went to the festival but are now missing have been searching for them. Some have been recognised from videos posted online. In a video, an unconscious woman was seen being displayed by armed militants in Gaza. Her identity was confirmed by CNN as Shani Louk, a German-Israeli dual national. 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, reports CNN. The grounds where the festival was held turned into a graveyard. Bukjin, who was clearing bodies, told AFP, They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way, he said. A night of revelry turned into a nightmare. It will go down in Israeli history as the countrys worst civilian massacre. With inputs from agencies Theres yet another war unfolding and it has left the world divided. The Israel-Palestine conflict has escalated after a surprise attack by the terrorist group Hamas. Its the deadliest strike on the country in 50 years with some calling it Israels 9/11. While West and India have expressed solidarity with Tel Aviv and extended support, some countries in West Asia hold it responsible for instability in the region. The support or criticism of Israel comes with geopolitical implications. History has a role to play. As the conflict enters Day 3 with no end to the fighting in sight, we take a look at how nations have responded. What has India said? Which side is the United States on and why? What about the other countries in West Asia, neighbouring Israel? We take a look. India Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the Hamas attack within hours. Expressing deep shock, he said India stood in solidarity with Israel. 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, Modi said on X (formerly Twitter), without naming Hamas or Palestine. 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. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2023 Naor Galin, Israels ambassador to India, said that New Delhis support was significant because of its importance in the world and its long fight against terrorism, reports Hindustan Times. Also read: How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they? India has to maintain a fine balance between its growing relationship with Israel and its historical ties with Palestine. Over the years, New Delhis support for the Palestinian cause has eroded. While India recognised Israel as a state in 1950, the normalisation of ties started decades later. It was in 1992 that New Delhi got an Israeli embassy and Tel Aviv the Indian embassy. In recent years, Modi has invested in the friendship between the two nations. The United States The US is a long-time ally of Israel and it has offered rock solid and complete support to the country. 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 X. Biden ordered the deployment of US ships and warplanes to Israel on Sunday. A US official also confirmed that several American citizens were killed in the Hamas attack but did not divulge the number of casualties or their identities. The US has over the past decades mediated to normalise ties between Israel and other countries in West Asia. The Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, UAE, Sudan, Morocco and Bahrain in 2020. West Asia is critical to America, from the strategic point of view. It sees Israel as a useful ally to contain Russias influence in the region. The country is said to have the most pro-Israel foreign policy in the world. Also read: Israels war with Hamas complicated by hostage situation: What we know so far The UK and Europe UK prime minister Rishi Sunak called the attack on Israel cowardly and Britain has said it is ready to offer security support to Israel. The prime minister said he had spoken to Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and offered to send diplomatic or security support to the region if requested, reports The Telegraph. Sunak said Britain for a long time has been one of Israels strongest allies and supported its right to self-defence, including by providing the kinds of equipment that Israel has used to defend itself from these appalling attacks, the report says. The head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, called the Hamas attack terrorism in its most despicable form. Today, Hamas terrorists have struck at the heart of Israel capturing and killing innocent women and children. Israel has the right to defend itself - today and in the days to come. The European Union stands with Israel. pic.twitter.com/qTngixfu78 Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 7, 2023 A statement issued by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union called for an immediate cessation of the senseless attacks which it said will only further increase tensions on the ground and seriously undermine Palestinian peoples aspirations for peace. In line with the US, the EU stated that Israel has the right to defend itself in line with international law, in the face of such violent and indiscriminate attacks. Also read: Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves, President Emmanuel Macron said. He discussed the situation with Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. He also held talks with other leaders from the region, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Lebanons caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati. German president Olaf Scholz tweeted that he was deeply shocked at the violence. Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands by Israel, he wrote on X. West Asia Egypt: The Egyptian foreign ministry appealed to both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the utmost restraint. Egypt has played the role of the key mediator in the conflict between the two sides. It has intervened during recent flare-ups, however, without any long-term success. Cairo is also an important ally of the US in West Asia. Jordan: Jordan foreign minister Ayman Safadi warned of the volatility of the situation, flagging Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian people in West Bank, according to a report by the news agency AFP. Jordan was among the first countries in the region to ink a peace treaty with Israel. Iran: Iran has come out in support of Palestine. Presdient 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. Iran supports the legitimate defence of the Palestinian nation, Raisi said, quoted by state television. Iran has long backed Hamas. The Biden administration has said it doesnt have evidence at this point that Iran was directly involved in Hamass latest assault, though US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted, Iran and Hamas have a long relationship. Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support its had for many years from Iran, according to a report on Foreign Policy. A spokesperson for Hamas told the BBC that it had received support from Iran and other sources. The timing of the attack has led to speculation that Iran and Hamas were rattled by the progress made on the normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Just a few days ago, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, said Muslim countries normalising ties will be eradicated by the hands of the Palestinian people and the resistance forces throughout the region, reports Politico. Lebanon: Israel fired barrages of artillery in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah targeted Israeli military positions in the disputed Shebaa Farms. Hezbollah is a powerful army party backed by Iran and said it launched strikes in solidarity with the Palestinians. Shebaa Farms, which is claimed by Lebanon, was captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. There have been no remarks from Lebanese authorities. Saudi Arabia: After the attack. Saudi Arabia said the Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control. It echoed statements that the attack was a result of continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, reports NDTV. The US has pushed to improve ties between Saudia Arabia and Israel and the progress has angered Hamas. Now the Biden Administration is reaffirming the commitment to the idea of possible normalisation of the diplomatic relationship between the kingdom and Tel Aviv. Blinken said normalisation was a choice between regional peace and terrorism by Hamas, reports The New York Times. Syria: The Syrian foreign ministry backed the Hamas attacks, calling it an honourable achievement and expressing support for forces fighting against Zionist terrorism. Turkey President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was determined to ramp up diplomatic efforts to achieve calm in the fighting between Israeli and Palestinian forces, but added that a two-state solution was the only way to achieve regional peace. Turkey said it was ready to help de-escalate tensions. It has in the past supported Palestinians and hosted Hamas members. Speaking in Istanbul, Erdogan said that the formation of an independent Palestinian state, in line with the borders set out in 1967, with its territorial integrity intact, and with Jerusalem as its capital was now a necessity that cannot be delayed. The fighting comes as Ankara was working to repair ties with Israel after years of acrimony over the status of Jerusalem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Russia Russia called for an immediate ceasefire between the two sides. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said, We call on the 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 aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace in the Middle East. An American think tank said that Russia is likely to use the crisis to its advantage in Ukraine. 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, Voice of America reports quoting the Institute for the Study of War. China China has said it was deeply concerned by the escalation of tension and violence between the two sides. Beijing said repeated clashes between Palestine and Israel fully demonstrate that the long-term stagnation of the peace process is unsustainable, the news agency AFP reported. 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 added. The situation is volatile and one can only hope that the conflict does not escalate and spread to other regions. With inputs from agencies Its a new dawn in Israel, but the fighting that first broke out on Saturday (7 October) continues to grind on. Israeli forces have taken the battle to Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group, and the ensuing war has already claimed the lives of over 1,100 people. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said in a video late on Sunday that it is by far the worst day in Israeli history. Comparing the scale of destruction caused by the Hamas to 9/11, he said: Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity on one day. As Israel and Hamas both seek to batter the other into submission, its interesting to see how both the forces and their weaponry stack up against one other. Hamas weapon stockpile On Saturday (7 October), Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel calling it Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In the first 20 minutes of its attack, it rained down over 5,000 rockets. Experts state that it is nearly impossible to estimate Hamas rocket and missiles. It, however, includes those with varying ranges. The BBC had earlier reported that Hamas has an inventory of shorter-range systems like the Qassam (up to 10 km) and the Quds 101 (up to about 16 km). It also has in its inventory the Grad system with a range of up to 55 km and the Sejil 55. Apart from these, Hamas also operates a variety of longer-range systems like the M-75 (up to 75 km); the Fajr (up to 100 km); the R-160 (up to 120 km); and some M-302s which have a range of up to 200 km. This clearly shows that the terrorist group has weapons that could target both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and threaten the whole coastal strip. But how is it that Hamas has possession of these systems? Due to years of Israeli blockage, Hamas has very limited access to foreign arms smuggled in by tunnels across the Egyptian border. However, it is reported that countries like Iran provide them with not just monetary aid, but also blueprints of engineering know-how, motor tests and other technical expertise to build these weapons. Forbes in one of its previous reports has stated that Iranian advisors have taught Hamas how to manufacture a multitude of larger rockets types costing a few thousand dollars each like the R-160 and Sejil series that can strike cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Besides the homegrown missiles, the Associated Press reports that long time patrons Iran and Syria have also helped smuggle in weapons from other places. For instance, the rockets are shipped to Sudan, trucked across Egypts vast desert and smuggled through a warren of narrow tunnels beneath the Sinai Peninsula. However, Iran has denied reports that it has any hand in the current situation, insisting Hamas is carrying out an independent operation. Irans Mission to the United Nations strongly dismissed the notion of Quds Force involvement in decision making on the Hamas offensive. It said: The decisions made by the Palestinian resistance are fiercely autonomous and unwaveringly aligned with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people. We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine; however, we are not involved in Palestines response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself. It continued, They [Israel] are attempting to justify their failure and attribute it to Irans intelligence power and operational planning. Our related coverage: What is the Gaza Strip, which is at the centre of Israel-Palestine conflict? How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they? Israels war with Hamas complicated by hostage situation: What we know so far Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years How the Israel-Hamas conflict has been raging for years But Hamas hasnt just amassed rockets and missiles. The latest attacks reveal that members of the terrorist group breached Israels intelligence and enter Israeli territory. NDTV reports that some of the Hamas terrorists used powered gliders to breach Israeli space. Moreover, they also used armed drones to destroy Israels most well-defended tank, the Merkava IV. And while the strength of Hamas troops is unknown, Daniel Gerlach, a Middle East affairs expert, told Deutsche Welle, The strength of the elite forces of Hamas is the determination of its people. These fighters do not plan to come back. They go in it they calculate they are going to die as martyrs. This is a tactical advantage over the Israeli forces. Israels military Israels military is made up of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF, also known by Hebrew acronym Tzahal), Israel Naval Force (IN) and Israel Air Force (IAF). The IDF on Monday morning (9 October) said that they were still fighting and have attacked around 1,000 targets inside Gaza. They added that there are Hamas gunmen still fighting in seven to eight locations inside Israel. Moreover, the IDF said that it was making sure Hamas pays a heavy price for the attack on Saturday. Israels military might is renowned. In 2022, the US News & World Report stated that Israel is one of the 10 most powerful, politically influential, and militarily strong countries in the world. Besides its boots on the ground, Israel also has a very advanced stockpile of weapons. At the forefront of this is Israels Iron Dome missile shield. In the current attacks, the air defence system, known to be almost impenetrable, having a success rate as high as 96 per cent. It also possesses F-35 stealth fighters and a host of smart bombs that strike targets with minimum collateral damage. The Israeli army also has more than 3,000 tanks, reported to include 441 Merkava MkI, 455 Merkava MkII, 454 Merkava MkIII, 175 Merkava MkIV and 206 Centurion models. Israel is also a nuclear power. This may not be relevant in the war right now, but it certainly has acted as a deterrent in the past. According to some reports, Israel has approximately 90 plutonium-based nuclear warheads, with enough plutonium production capacity for 100-200 weapons. With inputs from agencies The war is on its Day 3. In fact, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (8 October) told his countrymen to prepare for a long and difficult war. This comes after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack a day earlier raining down rockets and breaching Tel Avivs security. But as the violence unfolds, killing thousands of people, there is another huge concern. The Hamas terrorists have abducted an untold number of Israelis, both civilians and soldiers, and brought them back to Gaza, with Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Jonathan Conricus saying that some are alive and some are presumed dead. And reports have come in that among the hundreds of hostages taken children, women, the elderly and the disabled a few are even Americans. This was confirmed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said on Sunday to NBC, Were very actively trying to verify them. Any American anywhere who is being detained is going to be a priority. Hostages taken from homes, music festival, towns Numerous videos on social media platforms show members of Hamas taking hostages, cramming them into trucks. One video verified by the BBC shows a truck being driven towards the Gaza Strip, carrying several hostages. The hostages have been taken from their houses, from the streets and even a rave party, which was being held at Kibbutz Reim, a suburb in the city of Ofakim in Israels south not far from Gaza. Videos and eyewitness accounts reveal that the attendees at the party began running when armed Hamas gunmen stormed the premises and began firing. According to the videos online, some were killed and others were seized by the armed captors. Among the many believed to have been taken hostage is an Israeli woman and her boyfriend identified as Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or. The video, which has not yet been verified, shows Argamani being hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away as Or is apprehended and made to walk with his hands behind his back. Another video, verified by CNN, shows an unconscious woman being held up by armed militants. The woman was later identified as German-Israeli national Shani Louk. The Telegraph also reported that among the hostages taken is senior Israeli military officer Major General Nimrod Aloni. He was captured during the raids in southern Israel. Along with Aloni, other Israeli soldiers are also believed to have been taken hostage it has been more than 17 years that an Israeli soldier has been taken as prisoner of war in an assault on Israeli territory. Hamas military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, also claimed to have taken several soldiers captive. 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. Apart from abducting people from the rave, reports state that Hamas fighters took people hostage from the border town of Beeri and Ofakim. Locals of Beeri were quoted as telling Israels Channel 12 that the armed attackers were going from door to door, trying to break into their homes. A woman was quoted as telling Reuters that she had been barricaded in a bomb shelter for hours in the town. We can hear a lot of gunfire, we were told that terrorists are in the dining hall, we can hear a lot of shooting, she said. She further added, Ive lost contact with my family. I know my father has been kidnapped no one is telling us whats going on. I dont know if my mother is alive. Another woman told CNN that she was home with her children when she heard gunshots outside and people trying to enter. I heard terrorists speaking in Arabic to my teenagers. And the youngest saying to them Im too young to go, the mother said. That was the last time I heard from them. Firstpost explains: How the Israel-Hamas conflict has been raging for years How Hamas breached Israels sophisticated security, hoodwinked its intelligence What is Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system that took on Hamas rain of rockets? Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years Foreign nationals among hostages In addition to the Israeli captives, there are people of several other nationalities that have been taken hostage. Israels Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan on Sunday claimed dozens of US citizens are among the hostages captured by Hamas in Israel currently being held in Gaza. Reacting to reports of US nationals being taken hostage, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the administration was trying to ascertain the number of American nationals. Weve got reports that several Americans are among the dead. Were working very actively to verify those reports. At the same time, the reports of Americans being taken hostage there too, were working to get the facts to find out if those reports are accurate, Blinken told Face the Nation on Sunday. The Guardian also reported that among those reportedly taken hostage was British citizen, Jake Marlowe. He had been attending the music festival in the south of Israel and his family have been unable to reach him since Hamas infiltrators attacked the event. Mexicos foreign minister Alicia Barcena also stated that two Mexican nationals, a woman and a man, have presumably been taken hostage by Hamas. Brazilian authorities also said that at least three of their people were missing. Germany, too, is working with Israel to determine if their nationals have been taken or killed. The German foreign ministry said in a statement: At this point in time, we must assume that German nationals are among those kidnapped by Hamas yesterday. We ask for your understanding that, in order to protect the people affected, we do not comment publicly on the number or individual cases. Several times greater Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida was later quoted as saying that the number of Israelis captured was many times greater than what Netanyahu thinks, and that they are being held in various locations throughout the coastal strip. Speaking on Hamas Al-Aqsa TV, he told Israel not to make miscalculations, adding that whatever happens to the people of the Gaza Strip, will happen to the hostages. However, even as Israel has vowed justice, retired Israeli commander said it wont be easy and the taking of hostages will complicate matters. Israel Ziv, the former head of the Operations Directorate in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was quoted as telling CBS News that the hostages change 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 dont have the answer. So we have to do what we have to do. Lt Col Jonathan Conricus of the IDF also said: These are numbers that were up until now unimaginable. This will shape the future of this war. With inputs from agencies While the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians rages on, questions are being asked about the failures of Jerusalems intelligence agencies. This is a major failure, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This operation actually proves that the (intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good. But what do we know about Israels famed intelligence agencies? And why did they fail? Lets take a closer look: Aman Israel has three major agencies Aman, Mossad and Shin Bet (Shabak). Aman is military intelligence, Mossad is its foreign spy agency and Shin Bet handles internal security. As per Jewish Virtual Library website, Aman is known as the Military Intelligence Directorate. It is headed by intelligence chief Aharon Haliva. Among the oldest of the Israel Defense Forces departments, it was founded immediately after Israels formation. As its name suggests, its job is to provide intelligence that will allow the government to keep the country safe. It puts together the daily reports used to brief the prime minister and the cabinet, evaluates the likelihood of war, intercepts communications and manages cross-border tasks. Aman itself comprises three units 8200, 9900 and 504. The 8,200 unit is tasked with gathering signal intelligence (SIGINT) and decrypting code. Experts say it is one of the worlds premier intelligence outfits. Peter Roberts, senior research fellow at Britains Royal United Services Institute, told the website, Unit 8200 is probably the foremost technical intelligence agency in the world and stands on a par with the NSA in everything except scale. They are highly focused on what they look at certainly more focused than the NSA and they conduct their operations with a degree of tenacity and passion that you dont experience elsewhere. Mossad The Mossad, which handles Israels spycraft around the world, is arguably its most famous intelligence agency. Its current chief is David Dadi Barnea who succeeded Yossi Cohen in June 2021. Said to be the second largest intelligence agency in the world after the CIA, it is the Israeli version of Americas foreign intelligence agencies or Indias equivalent of its Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The Mossad was founded in December 1949 as the Institute for Co-ordination, as per Brittanica. It replaced the intelligence arm of Jewish military force in Palestine known as the Haganah. The Mossad is known all over the world for its daring operations including nabbing the former Nazi Adolf Eichmann in Argentina in 1960 as well conducting Operation Wrath of God tracking down and killing those involved in the murder of the Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich games. As per Spyscape, the Mossad has a mammoth budget of $3 billion and has 7,000 employees. It has agents all around the world arguably the most famous of which was Eli Cohen, who infiltrated the loftiest ranks of Syrias government by pretending to be a businessman. Cohen was found and executed in 1965. The appointment of Mossads spy chief is a private affair privy only to some members of the prime ministers office and Civil Service Advisory Committee. Its internal workings are extremely murky. As per NDTV, the Mossad comprises of several departments including The Political Action and Liaison Department liaisons with other security services The Special Operations Division responsible for assassinations and sabotage The Lohamah Psichologit Department (LAP) which works on psychological warfare, propaganda, and deception The Research Department which provides intelligence updates. The Technology Department works on high-tech equipment to support Mossad. Shin Bet As per the Jewish Defence Library website, Shin Bet handle Israels internal intelligence affairs. Also known as Shabak, its motto is Defends and Shall Not Be Seen. It protects Israels prime minister, other top leaders, security for the national airline and protects sensitive locations both domestic and abroad. As per Britannica, its reputation took a hit in the 1980s after it came to light that its agents beat to death two Palestinians held in connection to a hijacked bus. It also drew criticism for allegedly torturing Palestinian detainees and assassinating alleged Palestinian militants. Shin Bet also took flak for the 1995 assassination of then prime minister Yitzhak Rabin following which its chief resigned. It is thought to be the equivalent of Americas Federal Bureau of Investigation. What do experts say? That of all the nations in West Asia, Israel has perhaps the best intelligence agencies. As per BBC, Aman, Mossad and Shin Bet are arguably the best-funded and also most wide-ranging when it comes to having assets within Palestinian groups, in Lebanon, Syria and around the world. Which is no one is sure why this attack, a spectacular public failure, occurred. Israeli officials told BBC a major inquiry has already begun and questions will be asked for years. A report in Jerusalem Post stated, Gaza was on the back burner in terms of a sense of security threats because Iran-backed proxies have been increasing threats elsewhere and gave details of the events unfolded over the last three-four years in the region which, it said, led to Hamas in Gaza appeared isolated, unable to even get more funds from the usual sources, such as Qatar. With Israeli normalisation agreements growing in the region, Hamas seemed to present an outdated ideology living in the past. This seems to have lulled people into a false sense of security, it pointed out. Jonathan Conricus, ex-spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, told CNN, The entire system failed. Its not just one component. Its the entire defence architecture that evidently failed to provide the necessary defense for Israeli civilians. 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. Chuck Freilich, the countrys former deputy national security adviser, making reference to the fact that the attack came a day after the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Yom Kippur war told Politico, That was a catastrophic failure in regards to Egypt and Syria. This is a catastrophic failure in regards to Gaza. Its a failure in terms of intelligence, operationally, Freilich added. Its clear we were caught totally unprepared by this. The divisional headquarters responsible for Gaza was occupied, theyre in disarray, and so the whole response has been delayed. Raphael Marcus, a visiting research fellow at Kings College Londons Department of War Studies, told Wired, Theres no doubt that the scale and scope of this Hamas attack indicate just a colossal intelligence failure on behalf of the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] and in Shin Bet, the internal security agency.. They have such technical prowess and also a legacy of excellent human source capability. This was an intelligence failure; it could not be otherwise, said Jonathan Panikoff, the US governments 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. Theyve 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. Experts say, this also shows the dangers of over-surveillance. Intelligence in an environment like Israel isnt finding a needle in a haystackits finding the needle that will hurt you in a pile of needles, ex-US National Security Agency hacker Jake Williams said to Wired. Given the number of Hamas members involved in the invasion, its not plausible to me that Israel missed every human intelligence reflection of the planning. But I feel confident that there are always Hamas operatives talking about credible plans to attack the IDF. So Israel cant respond with force to every threat, even every credible one. Theyd be at a heightened state of alert or actively engaged all the time, and thats probably actually worse for security. The Israelis, meanwhile, are suggesting that corrective steps will be taken down the line. Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, the international spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, told CNN, We were surprised this morning. About failures, I prefer not to talk at this point right now. Were in war. Were fighting. Im sure this will be a big question once this event is over. I assume the intelligence question will be talked about down the road and well learn what happened there, he added. The newspapers, meanwhile, have savaged Israels government and its intelligence agencies. Even as Israels political chiefs began to convene in emergency consultations, with the full extent of the infiltration and its consequences still unfolding, Hebrew media began quoting unnamed officials castigating the political and military echelons for the fact that Israel, preoccupied with internal argument, had again been taken by surprise, said a report in Times of Israel. The IDFs assumption, in recent years, was that Hamas was deterred from carrying out major attacks in Israel fearing the potency of Israels response, and wary of plunging Gaza into renewed devastation, it said, pointing: All too evidently, that assumption was unfounded. Eli Maron, the former head of the Israeli Navy told a news channel anchor, All of Israel is asking itself: Where is the IDF, where is the police, where is the security? Its a colossal failure; the hierarchies have simply failed, with vast consequences. The Times of Israel also quoted Amos Yadlin, a former IDF intelligence chief, as saying, (the attack) invoked echoes of the Yom Kippur War another attack marked by intelligence failure, with the enemy initiating conflict. It cannot be understated or put in less severe terms: The IDF, the strongest military in the Middle East and one of the most respected worldwide was caught completely by surprise in the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday, screamed YNetNews, a leading portal. Back to stone age Amidror declined to offer an explanation for the failure, saying lessons must be learned when the dust settles. Some say it is too early to pin the blame solely on an intelligence fault. They point to a wave of low-level violence in the West Bank that shifted some military resources there and the political chaos roiling Israel over steps by Netanyahus far-right government to overhaul the judiciary. The controversial plan has threatened the cohesion of the countrys powerful military. But the apparent lack of prior knowledge of Hamas plot will likely be seen as a prime culprit in the chain of events that led to the deadliest attack against Israelis in decades. Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, stripping it of a close handle on the happenings in the territory. But even after Hamas overran Gaza in 2007, Israel appeared to maintain its edge, using technological and human intelligence. It claimed to know the precise locations of Hamas leadership and appeared to prove it through the assassinations of militant leaders in surgical strikes, sometimes while they slept in their bedrooms. Israel has known where to strike underground tunnels used by Hamas to ferry around fighters and arms, destroying miles (kilometers) of the concealed passageways. Despite those abilities, Hamas was able to keep its plan under wraps. The ferocious attack, which likely took months of planning and meticulous training and involved coordination among multiple militant groups, appeared to have gone under Israels intelligence radar. Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general, said that without a foothold inside Gaza, Israels security services have come to rely increasingly on technological means to gain intelligence. He said militants in Gaza have found ways to evade that technological intelligence gathering, giving Israel an incomplete picture of their intentions. The other side learned to deal with our technological dominance and they stopped using technology that could expose it, said Avivi, who served as a conduit for intelligence materials under a former military chief of staff. Avivi is president and founder of Israel Defense and Security Forum, a hawkish group of former military commanders. Theyve gone back to the Stone Age, he said. He explained that militants werent using phones or computers and were conducting their sensitive business in rooms specially guarded from technological espionage or going underground. But Avivi said the failure extends beyond just intelligence gathering and Israels security services failed to put together an accurate picture from the intelligence they were receiving, based on what he said was a misconception surrounding Hamas intentions. Israels security establishment has in recent years increasingly seen Hamas as an actor interested in governing, seeking to develop Gazas economy and improving the standard of living of Gazas 2.3 million people. Avivi and others say the truth is that Hamas, which calls for Israels destruction, still sees that aim as its priority. Israel in recent years has allowed up to 18,000 Palestinian laborers from Gaza to work in Israel, where they can earn a salary about 10 times higher than in the impoverished coastal enclave. The security establishment saw that carrot as a way to maintain relative calm. In practice, hundreds if not thousands of Hamas men were preparing for a surprise attack for months, without that having leaked, wrote Amos Harel, a defense commentator, in the daily Haaretz. The results are catastrophic. Underestimated warnings Allies who share intelligence with Israel said security agencies were misreading reality. An Egyptian intelligence official said Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had spoken repeatedly with the Israelis about something big, without elaborating. He said Israeli officials were focused on the West Bank and played down the threat from Gaza. Netanyahus government is made up of supporters of Jewish West Bank settlers who have demanded a security crackdown in the face of a rising tide of violence there over the last 18 months. We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to discuss the content of sensitive intelligence discussions with the media. Israel has also been preoccupied and torn apart by Netanyahus judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu had received repeated warnings by his defense chiefs, as well as several former leaders of the countrys intelligence agencies, that the divisive plan was chipping away at the cohesion of the countrys security services. Martin Indyk, who served as a special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during the Obama administration, said internal divisions over the legal changes was an aggravating factor that contributed to the Israelis being caught off guard. That roiled the IDF in a way that was, I think, we discovered was a huge distraction, he said. With inputs from agencies The war-like situation between Israel and Palestine after the terrorist group, Hamas, launched a surprise attack on Saturday, has entered its third day, claiming thousands of lives on both sides. The unprecedented attacks, which Israel has dubbed as its own 9/11 moment, has also divided the world into two camps one side expressing solidarity with Tel Aviv, and the other blaming it for continued violence in the region. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. He also conveyed his solidarity with Tel Aviv through his post on social media platform 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. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2023 Many have viewed the prime ministers statement as a siding with Israel, which reflects how Indias ties with Tel Aviv and also with Palestines Ramallah have changed over the years. The India-Israel relationship, one could say, has seen it all from the lows to the highs. Its important to note that New Delhi has maintained a fine balance between its expanding ties with Israel and its old historical support for Palestine. But in recent times, this has changed; until a few years ago, any visit to Israel by an Indian leader meant a visit to Ramallah too. But thats not the case anymore. The question that then needs to be asked is: Will this attack further change New Delhis equations with Tel Aviv and Ramallah? Also read: Israel-Palestine conflict: Where does India stand? Which countries back Hamas? Post 1947 a pro-Palestine bend Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi vowed to support the Palestinian cause as they rejected the idea of two nations on the basis of religion. Their decision was largely driven by the general consensus in the Arab world, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations. Mahatma Gandhi, in fact, on two separate occasions had articulated his view on the Palestine-Israel question. In 1938, he wrote in a newsletter, that it was a very difficult question and that he was sympathetic to their age-long persecution of the Jews. But, he proceeded to see it in the light of the valid claims of the other side. My sympathy does not blind me to the requirements of justice, he wrote. The cry for the national home for the Jews does not make much appeal to me...Why should they not, like other peoples of the earth, make that country their home where they are born and where they earn their livelihood?... Palestine belongs to the Arab in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. In 1946, he once again expressed deep anguish about how Jews had been cruelly wronged by the world. But stuck to his earlier view that the return of the Jews to Palestine, especially by force, wasnt the way forward. In my opinion, they have erred grievously in seeking to impose themselves on Palestine with the aid of America and Britain, he wrote in a newsletter. It was only in 1950, India recognised Israel as a separate nation. But ties were hardly friendly. Even though Tel Aviv was permitted to establish a consulate in Mumbai, no diplomatic presence was granted in New Delhi. In 1962 when war broke out between India and China, the Nehru administration sought Israels assistance. In 1975, India also recognised Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and permitted it an independent office at New Delhi. It also shared very close and friendly ties with PLO leader Yasser Arafat. The 1990-2000s and thaw in Israeli ties With the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, geopolitics began to change. In 1992, New Delhi established full diplomatic relations with Israel, days after the Chinese established diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv. BJPs rise to the top of Indias politics also changed the way the nation viewed Israel. Seven years later, Israel and India came one step closer during the Kargil War. It is reported that the Indian Air Force was in dire need of precision target bombs. At the time, the IAF reached out to their Israeli counterpart and they immediately shipped weapons to India. In 2000, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee sent L K Advani and even Jaswant Singh to Israel. That year, the two countries set up a joint anti-terror commission. And in 2003, Ariel Sharon became the first Israeli prime minister to visit India. The Israel-Palestine conflict What is the Gaza Strip, which is at the centre of Israel-Palestine conflict? Hamas, Hezbollah & Intifada: A guide to understanding the glossary of Israel-Palestine conflict How Hamas breached Israels sophisticated security, hoodwinked its intelligence How many Indians are stranded in Israel and how safe are they? How Hamas compares to Israel in weapons stockpile Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years What is Hezbollah? Why has it come to aid of Palestinians in Israel conflict? Modi and India-Israel ties Cut to 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi stormed to power, and a friendship blossomed between New Delhi and Tel Aviv. Tanvi Madan, director of the India Project at Brookings Institution in Washington, wrote in 2016, More bluntly, in private, Israeli officials and commentators have said that India has treated Israel like a mistresshappy to engage intimately in private, but hesitant to acknowledge the relationship in public. But that all changed in 2016 when then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj visited Israel. And in July 2017, Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit the country. The change has led to bilateral trade between the two nations increasing and diversifying. As per an ORF report, trade went up from $900 million in 2000 to$7.86 billion in 2021. Israel has also become Indias most reliable weapons supplier. Israel is Indias second-largest weapons supplier. An Al Jazeera report in 2021 stated that imports increased by 175 per cent between 2015 and 2019 and current annual sales amount to more than $1 billion. Theres also been progress in other sectors from tech to health. Theres also been an uptick in cultural exchange, tourism and people-to-people contact. As geopolitics expert Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia program and senior associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center, told Quartz: In the Modi era, New Delhis relations with both the Israelis and the Palestinians have experienced major boosts. What weve seen is a clear policy of de-hyphenation, where India has pursued ties with both sides on their own terms. But India continues to engage in a balancing act when it comes to Israel and Palestine. At the UNHRCs 46th session in Geneva in 2021, India voted against Israel in three resolutions one on the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people, a second on Israeli settlement policy, and a third on the human rights situation in the Golan Heights. It also didnt extend support to Israel when the International Criminal Court claimed jurisdiction in 2021 to investigate human rights abuses in territories, including West Bank and Gaza, and named both Israeli security forces and Hamas as perpetrators. Its left to be seen if these ongoing attacks lead to a change in ties between Israel, Palestine and India. But as of now, it seems that Indias relationship with Israel is only going from strength to strength. With inputs from agencies The conflict in Israel has seen Hezbollah come to the aid of the Palestinians. On Sunday, the group said it rained down large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles on Israeli positions. The Islamic resistance (Hezbollah) attacked three positions of the Zionist enemy in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa farmswith large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles, the group said. Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine said his groups guns and rockets were with Palestinian militants. Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you. Everything we have is with you, Safieddine said at an event in the Hezbollah stronghold of Dahieh on Beiruts outskirts in solidarity with the Palestinian fighters. But who are the Hezbollah, whose name means party of god? Why have they intervened on behalf of the Palestinians? Lets take a closer look: What is Hezbollah? The Hezbollah is a Shiite militant group and a political outfit based in Lebanon led by Hassan Nasrallah. Hezbollahs influence within the country is so vast and all-encompassing that the group is thought to be a state within a state, as per the Council for Foreign Relations. But before we examine Hezbollah, it is necessary to take a brief look at Lebanon. Lebanon was ruled by France until 1943. Since then, its power-sharing system mandates that a president come from the Maronite Catholic sect, the prime minister be a Sunni and the parliament speaker be a Shiite. Tensions between the three communities erupted into a civil war that began in 1975. Hezbollah was founded in the summer of 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon amidst the civil war. Hezbollahs stated goal was to expel Israels forces from Lebanon and establish an Islamic republic. The group took its inspiration and much more from the Islamic revolution in Shiite majority Iran. As the Council for Foreign Relations website notes, Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) provided funds and training to the budding militia. As per Britannica, it was originally located in Biqa Valley, southern Lebanon, and southern Beirut all predominantly Shiite areas. Sharing a Shiite Islamist ideology, Hezbollah recruited from among Lebanese Shiite Muslims. Many of these were the more radical members of the moderate and secular Amal movement, as per Britannica. The group which began as a small, shadowy group of fighters has since spread its tentacles across the Arab world. It plays a key role in exporting Tehrans influence. The United States estimates Iran has allocated it hundreds of millions of dollars annually in recent years. The Hezbollah is thought to be the largest and most heavily armed militant group in West Asia. It boasts of having 100,000 well-trained fighters. And now its leader says they have precision-guided missiles that can hit anywhere in Israel and prevent ships from reaching Israels Mediterranean coast, as well as advanced drones that can either strike or gather intelligence. Why have they come to the aid of the Palestinians? The group is characterised by its unyielding opposition to Israel urged on by Tel Avivs great regional adversary Tehran as well as Western influence in the region. Hezbollah has deep ties to other Iran-backed groups around the region, including the Palestinian factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad. As Saturdays attack unfolded, Hezbollah said it was in direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance. Its leader Nasrallah earlier in October urged Muslims across the world to strongly condemn any step taken by any country toward normalization of relations with Israel. Any country that moves toward normalization of its relations (with Israel) must be condemned, because this step amounts to abandoning Palestine and bolstering the (Zionist) enemy, which must not be tolerated, the Hezbollah leader said. Nasrallah was referring to efforts by the United States to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with the Israeli regime. Its biggest achievement over the past 40 years was its guerrilla war against Israeli forces occupying parts of southern Lebanon. When Israels army was forced to withdraw in May 2000 without a peace deal like the ones it reached with Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinians the victory brought Hezbollah praise from around West Asia. Hezbollah fought Israel to a draw in a 34-day war in the summer of 2006. The result of this was that Hezbollah and Nasrallah were hailed as heroes in the Arab world, as per Britannica. In July 2008, Hezbollah returned bodies of abducted soldiers to Israel for five Lebanese prisoners and around 200 other bodies. Israel today considers Hezbollah its most serious immediate threat. It estimates that the militant group has some 150,000 rockets and missiles aimed at it. But since the withdrawal, the controversy over Hezbollah has steadily grown as its role has changed. Allegations of terrorism The United States, Saudi Arabia, and many other countries have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist group. The European Union classifies Hezbollahs military wing as a terrorist group, but not its political wing. The group is thought to be responsible for a slew of terrorist attacks including the 1994 car bombings of a Jewish community center in Argentina that left 85 dead and the Israeli Embassy in London being bombed, as per CFR.Hezbollah has evolved tremendously in the past four decades in its organizational structure, global reach, and regional involvements, says West Asia analyst Joe Macaron. Groups that Lebanese security officials and Western intelligence have said were linked to Hezbollah launched suicide attacks on Western embassies and targets and kidnapped Westerners in the 1980s. One group, Islamic Jihad, was thought to be led by Imad Moughniyah, a top Hezbollah commander who was killed in a car bomb in Syria in 2008. The United States holds Hezbollah responsible for a suicide bombing that destroyed U.S. Marine headquarters in Beirut in 1983, killing 241 servicemen, and a suicide bombing the same year on the US embassy. A suicide bombing also hit a French barracks in Beirut in 1983, killing 58 French paratroopers. Referring to those attacks and hostage-taking, Hezbollah leader Nasrallah said in a 2022 interview they were carried out by small groups not linked to Hezbollah. Hezbollah has evolved tremendously in the past four decades in its organizational structure, global reach, and regional involvements, says West Asia analyst Joe Macaron. Hezbollah within Lebanon Hezbollahs sway in Lebanon is underpinned by its arsenal and the support of many Shiites who say the group defends Lebanon from Israel. It has used its powerful support among the Shiite community and tough tactics to gain political dominance. In 2005, Lebanons former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the most powerful Sunni politician in the country at the time, was killed in a massive truck bomb in Beirut. A UN-backed tribunal accused three Hezbollah members of being behind the assassination. Hezbollah denies the charges. Hezbollah was blamed for other assassinations that followed, mostly targeting Christians and Sunni Muslim politicians and intellectuals critical of the group. Hezbollah denies the accusations. In 2016, it secured the election of its Christian ally Michel Aoun as president, then it and its allies won a parliament majority in subsequent elections. But that also sealed its role as part of a governing system whose decades of corruption and mismanagement have been blamed for Lebanons economic collapse, starting in late 2019. With the currency crumbling and much of the population thrown into poverty, the political elite, which has been running Lebanon since the 1975-90 civil war ended, has resisted reforms. Massive protests demanding the removal of those politicians began in late 2019, and days afterward, hundreds of Hezbollah supporters attacked the protesters in downtown Beirut, forcing them to flee. Last October, Hezbollah supporters and a rival militia had an armed clash in Beirut over investigations into the 2020 devastating explosion at Beiruts port. Its military power grew after deploying into Syria in 2012 to help President Bashar al-Assad fight mostly Sunni rebels. Backing Assad against opposition fighters, as well as against al-Qaida-linked fighters and the Islamic State group was perhaps the most controversial decision Hezbollah has made. The intervention meant becoming entangled in the internal conflict of a neighbouring Arab country rather than fulfilling Hezbollahs claimed mandate of resistance against Israel, Macaron said. Across the Arab world, it cemented an image of Hezbollah as a sectarian Shiite force fighting mainly Sunni insurgents and spreading Irans power. Hezbollah was also accused of helping Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, leading at least six Arab countries to list the group as a terrorist organization. With inputs from agencies Amid ongoing India-Canada tensions, an independent blogger has claimed that China was involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Jennifer Zeng added that the purpose was to frame India creating discord between India and the West. The astonishing claim comes at a time when diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa hit an all-time low after Justin Trudeau linked Nijjars assassination to India. Additionally, tensions between the neighbours are also on the rise, especially after China released a new map including parts of Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh in its own country. With the fresh allegations, the ongoing debate about Nijjars murder and the relationship between India and Canada has now taken on a new facet. Also read: What is the China funding row, linked to the NewsClick raids? Who is Jennifer Zeng? Jennifer Zeng is a Chinese human rights activist and journalist based in New York, United States. Born in Sichuan Province, China, in 1966, she earned a Master of Science in Geochemistry from Peking (Beijing) University in 1991. She was employed as a research fellow at the Development Research Centre of the P.R.C. State Council until 1996. Later, she worked for Tsinghua Unigroups Investment Consulting Company as a consultant and the manager of the investment division, according to her website Jenniferzengblog.com. She was subjected to four arrests as the Chinese Communist Party cracked down on Falun Gong in 1999, and she was given a one-year labour camp term. In September 2001, she flew to Australia, where she was given refugee status two years later. In 2011, Jennifer relocated to the United States under a journalist visa. According to the website, Zeng became a member of the International Press Association in April 2023. She is known for providing first-hand knowledge and original insights into China and the Chinese Communist Party. Her blog name is Inconvenient Truths, which aims at offering authentic, fastest, uncensored first-hand information from inside China, as well as unique in-depth analysis and insights about Chinas current affairs and politics. The 56-year-olds most well-known works include a book titled Witnessing History: One Chinese Womans Fight for Freedom and Falun Gong. In addition, Zeng took part in the acclaimed film Free China: the Courage to Believe. Also read: How the India-Canada diplomatic row could cost Ottawa $700 million in 2024 What did she say? Taking to the microblogging site, Zeng shared a video where she referred to the killing of Nijjar as an assassination. She claimed, Today shocking revelations about the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the assassination was carried out by CCP agents. Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative Ignition Plan, the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held there The objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West, Zeng claims, adding, The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh leader in Canada. Following the meeting, the CCP agents meticulously executed the killing plan. Exclusive: Today, shocking revelations about the assassination of the #Sikh leader, #HardeepSinghNijjar in #Canada, have emerged from within the #CCP. It is alleged that the assassination was carried out by CCP agents. The purpose was to frame #India, creating discord between pic.twitter.com/aweBigR1bf Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferzeng97) October 8, 2023 She explained Bejings modus operandi. On 18 June, the agents armed with silenced guns tracked Nijjar. When the deed was done, they destroyed the dash camera in Nijjars Car to erase any evidence. After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes, she claimed. Zeng added that the killers learned Indian-accent English. Therefore, they purposely spoke in Indian accent English In fact, these actions were part of the scheme by CCP secret agent to frame India. Neither the Ministry of External Affairs nor the Chinese Foreign Ministry have responded to Zengs allegations. Also read: Who killed Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar? The new ISI link, revealed India-Canada row The diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa turned sour after Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau publicly leveled suspicions that Indian agents were involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in a Vancouver suburb. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside a Sikh temple on 18 June. India had designated him as a terrorist three years earlier. Trudeau told parliament on 18 September that Canada was actively pursuing credible allegations linking Indian government agents to the killing of Nijjar. India dismissed Trudeaus assertion as absurd on 19 September. Both countries expelled diplomats and sent them to their homelands. India urged its citizens in Canada to exercise caution in a statement on 20 September, as the US, Australia, and Britain expressed concerns about the issue. New Delhi also suspended issuing new visas for Canadians on 22 September and asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence in India. Canadian lentil sales to India slowed after tensions rose between the two nations, industry sources in both countries told Reuters. Canada is Indias main import source of lentils, a protein-rich staple. Canada has moved a majority of its diplomats working in India outside of New Delhi to either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, according to PTI. The move comes after India asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic staff in the country by more than half, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. With inputs from agencies The Palestinian terror group Hamas, which has traditionally been supported by Iran, staged one of the deadliest attacks on Israel in years, drawing attention to US president Joe Bidens $6 billion prisoner-swap arrangement with Iran. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday that Iran has not yet been able to spend a single dollar of the $6 billion (Rs 4,99,35 crore) in funds that were unfrozen in a US-Iran prisoner swap in September. Blinken also said he had not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but theres certainly a long relationship. Hamass surprise assault on Israel Saturday and Israels retaliation have killed more than 1,100 people and focused attention on the Iran-backed Islamist group. Lets take a closer look at why US-Iran $6 billion prisoner swap deal is under scrutiny. What was the Iran prisoner swap deal? In August, details were made public of a complicated agreement that President Joe Biden approved. Five US citizens detained by Tehran were allowed to leave the country in exchange for the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds that had been frozen in South Korea. At the same time, five Iranians held in the United States were allowed to leave. Also Read: What is the Gaza Strip, which is at the centre of Israel-Palestine conflict? What was the $6 billion? The $6 billion was Iranian money that had been frozen in South Korean banks. After Washington, under former President Donald Trump, placed a total ban on Irans oil exports and sanctions on its banking sector in 2019, these Iranian oil revenues were blocked in Seoul. Where is the $6 billion now? The funds were not dispersed to Iran. Qatars central bank is overseeing the funds, which are still in Doha. The facts are these no US taxpayer dollars were involved, Blinken told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. These were Iranian resources that Iran had accumulated from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank in South Korea. Also Read: What is Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system that took on Hamas rain of rockets? Under the terms of the Iran prisoner deal, the money can only be used for humanitarian-related purposes, including purchasing food or other goods outside Iran for import, US officials said. The US Treasurys undersecretary for terrorism and finance, Brian Nelson, 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. Not a penny has been spent. 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. Because of due diligence requirements related to the swap, It will take many months for Iran to spend down this money, a State Department spokesperson said. And, as weve said many times, it can only be used to purchase food, medicine, medical devices, and agricultural products for the people of Iran. What are the critics of the deal saying? Most of the Republicans vying to be the partys 2024 presidential nominee tried to link Bidens Iran deal to the attacks, with some alleging, incorrectly, that he or US taxpayers funded the attacks on Israel. Allowing Iran access to those funds under any circumstances improves its budget situation, freeing up money that would be used to use elsewhere, Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, said. 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, she said. What Iran said on the Israel attack? On Sunday, a day after Hamas launched a land and sea offensive on Israel, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi stated that Iran supports the Palestinians right to self-defence and accused Israel of being a regional threat. 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 added. Also Read: Israel-Palestine conflict: The big wars fought over 15 years In another statement, Irans government spokesperson, Ali Bahadori Jahromi, said, The forceful response of young Palestinians today to the child-murdering Zionist regime demonstrated that it is more vulnerable than ever, and the young Palestinians have the upper hand, reports AFP. With inputs from Reuters The BJP is expected to bank heavily on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the development projects launched at the Centre as it heads into the Rajasthan Assembly polls on 23 November. It will try to exploit the infighting in the states ruling Congress while it manages factionalism within its own ranks. A SWOT analysis the partys strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Strengths The BJP has a strong organisational set up down to the booth level. The party began preparing for the elections well in advance. As elsewhere, the party hopes to cash in on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has already addressed a series of rallies in the state. The BJPs Hindutva appeal will help it get votes. The party is also expected to bring up cases of communal violence in the state, and accuse the Ashok Gehlot government of appeasement. Weaknesses The differences within the BJP unit may not be as out in the open as in the rival Congress, but the party will have to tread carefully while dealing with former CM Vasundhara Raje and her camp. The BJP has not been able to effectively counter the Congress narrative that the Centre is reluctant to accord the national project status to the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, which covers some districts where BJP is considered weak. Opportunities Anti-incumbency, a strong factor in Rajasthan since the 1990s, is in its favour. After five years of Congress rule, the voters could be inclined to bring the BJP to power this time. The BJP will exploit the infighting within the rival party. Congress rebel Sachin Pilot has this year targeted the CM on matters like exam paper leaks. The BJP will try to corner the Gehlot government on law and order, particularly crime against women. A red diary detailing corruption that is claimed to be in the possession of a sacked Rajasthan minister Rajendra Gudha is also a talking point. Threats The restoration of the Old Pension Scheme and the launch of a series of welfare initiatives by the Gehlot government will pull votes for the Congress. Former BJP leader and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party supremo Hanuman Beniwal will garner Jat votes which might have gone to the BJP in some constituencies. In tribal areas, the new Bhartiya Adivasi Party is the one to watch out for. Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande completed a two-day visit to take stock of flash-flood hit Sikkim on Monday, an official said. He made an aerial survey of the affected areas on Sunday in the company of Eastern Army Commander, Lt General Rana Pratap Kalita and GOC Trishakti Corps, Lt General VPS Kaushik, a defence official said. The Army chief interacted with the Chief Minister of Sikkim PS Tamang and assured him of all assistance, the official said in a statement. During the visit, he interacted with the troops and commended them for the perseverance and dedication displayed during the challenging time. General Pande also complimented the troops for maintaining high state of operational readiness along the borders of the strategically important state, while the rescue and reconstruction work was being carried out in the affected areas, the official said. The north eastern state shares borders with China, Bhutan and Nepal. Tamang held the review meeting with General Pande, state chief secretary VB Pathak and other officials at his official residence in Gangtok on Monday where coordinated relief and rescue operations along with armed forces were discussed. The Director General of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan briefed Pande about the initial damage assessment and plans for restoration of affected roads and bridges in the state. A plan has been formulated for restoration of infrastructure after the DG BRO along with engineer officers of Trishakti Corps undertook detailed ground reconnaissance over the past the few days and a number of meetings were held with all agencies, the official said. A statement by the Army said that the focus of the rescue and restoration operations is on restoring connectivity with north Sikkim through Chungthang, which was the worst affected in the devastating flood. Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force has started rescue and relief operations in the Himalayan state. Airlifting of the first batch of stranded tourists was carried out in Lachen to Mangan in north Sikkim, officials said. A total 77 tourists, including seven children, were airlifted from Lachung to Pakyong airport, they said. The toll in Sikkims flash flood has risen to 34, officials in the state said on Monday, while the administration in adjoining northern West Bengal said that 40 bodies have been fished out from the downstream of Teesta river. Officials, however, said that the figures reported by the two states will have some duplication though they are keeping each other informed of their respective rescue efforts. Ten army jawans are among the flood victims and search is on for 105 people who are still missing. Shortly after he announced Assembly poll dates for five states including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday cleared the air on elections in Jammu and Kashmir saying that the polls in the Union Territory will be held at the right time depending on the security situation prevailing there. #WATCH | On being asked about the election in Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar says, The decision to be taken at the right time as per the security situation and other simultaneous elections in the state. pic.twitter.com/7TkzWfKNyw ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023 Addressing a press conference to announce the poll dates for five states on Monday, Kumar said, The decision to be taken at the right time as per the security situation (in J&K) and other simultaneous elections in the state. The Union government in August had informed the Supreme Court that it was ready to conduct elections at any time in Jammu and Kashmir. Appearing for the government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had informed the court that the process of updating the voter list is substantially over. The solicitor general submitted that terrorist initiated instances have reduced by 45.2 per cent and infiltration by 90.2 per cent when comparing the situation in 2018 with that of 2023. He also underlined that incidents like stone pelting have reduced by 97.2 per cent and casualties among security forces by 65.9 per cent, adding that the agencies would take these factors into consideration before taking any decision regarding election in the Union Territory. With inputs from agencies As Madhya Pradesh gets down to elect a new government, here are ten issues that are likely to dominate the campaign scene and play a significant role in deciding the outcome of elections to the 230-member Assembly. The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress will remain the main contenders for power though outfits like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will seek to make their presence felt in pockets of their influence and give some serious fight to the two giants of Indian politics. After the last polls in 2018, the state saw a change of guard mid-way in March 2020 when the Congress government led by veteran politician Kamal Nath collapsed and the BJP stormed back to power after remaining in opposition for just 15 months. The BJP is facing the challenge of overcoming anti-incumbency of nearly four terms, barring a 15-month period from December 2018 to March 2020 when the Congress was in power. The Congress, on the other hand, will seek to encash what it sees as resentment among people against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government on a range of issues. 1. Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dominate the campaign scene and will remain the BJPs trump card. The saffron outfit will rely heavily on Modis powerful oratory, political charisma, enduring mass appeal and popularity to pull off yet another electoral victory. 2. Corruption/scams: The Congress is going to make alleged corruption under BJP rule its main poll plank. The opposition party has claimed that in Karnataka, it was 40 per cent commission government when the BJP was in office, but in Madhya Pradesh it is 50 per cent cut. A few months ago, the Congress pasted posters across the state alleging 50 per cent commission charge against the Shivraj Chouhan government. The Congress has also alleged massive irregularities in the construction of Mahakal Lok in Ujjain. The Congress has also listed more than 250 major scams during 18 years of the BJP rule. The list of financial scandals is topped by the Vyapam recruitment and admission scam. 3. Anti-incumbency: The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003 barring a 15-month period (December 2018-March 2020), when the Congress ruled the state, and faces anti-incumbency. All these years, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan remained the face of the party. In a change of strategy, the BJP has fielded three Union ministers and four Members of Parliament in the state, a move being seen as an attempt to blunt anti-incumbency against Chouhan, a four-term CM. The presence of so many senior BJP leaders has left the field wide open for chief ministerial aspirants. 4. Fate of Scindia supporters: It will be an uphill task for Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to get poll tickets for all his key supporters who left the Congress in 2020 and joined the BJP with him. Accommodating all of them will come at the cost of dedicated BJP leaders and workers and will surely cause resentment. 5. Crime: Rising crime graph, especially incidents against women and members of vulnerable sections, including Dalits and tribals, is a major issue among voters. The incident where a person urinated on a tribal man in Sidhi district shocked the state. In a damage control exercise, Chief Minister Chouhan washed the feet of the tribal man and apologised to him. 6. Project Cheetah: The death of six cheetahs and three cubs in the Kuno National Park in MP has raised questions over the programme to reintroduce the worlds fastest land animal in the country. The reintroduction programme has become a talking point among people. A section of conservationists has questioned the way the entire project was conceived and implemented. 7. Farmers: Agriculture-related issues have always dominated the political discourse in the state and all parties have tried to woo cultivators. Both the Congress and the BJP have traded charges of cheating farmers on the issue of farm loan waiver when in power. Non-availability of quality seeds and shortage of fertilizers have been major concerns for farmers. 8. Unemployment: High rate of unemployment among youths remains a challenge and among top issues for voters. In a bid to win over jobless youths, the AAP has promised unemployment allowance if voted to power. On the other hand, the BJP government has been trying to develop skills among youngsters and provide financial assistance to them. 9. Education and health: Both are closely associated with common citizens and their overall welfare. A large number of schools have been opened in rural areas, but there is a dearth of qualified teachers. And if teachers are available, there is a lack of infrastructure for providing proper education to students. Regularisation of temporary teachers is a major issue in these polls. Most hospitals in small towns and primary health centres lack adequate trained staff, especially doctors. This adversely affects health services in rural areas. 10. CM face: While the Congress has clearly said that its veteran leader Kamal Nath is the CM face of the party, the BJP is not clear on the matter despite Chief Minister Chouhan remaining the most popular figure among the state leaders. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday said that she expects her visit to India will open new avenues for political and economic development and cooperation, which will lead to strategic partnership between the two countries. VIDEO | I would like to express Tanzanians appreciation for the excellent existing relationship between our two countries India and Tanzania which has been there for decades. My expectations from this visit is that its going to open new avenues for political and economic pic.twitter.com/W2bjJ8E65l Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 9, 2023 Addressing the reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, Hassan said, I would like to express Tanzanians appreciation for the excellent existing relationship between our two countries India and Tanzania which has been there for decades. My expectations from this visit is that its going to open new avenues for political and economic development and economic cooperation, which will lead to strategic partnership of our two countries. Earlier, the Tanzanian President, who is on a four-day State visit to India, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. VIDEO | Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who is on a four-day State visit to India, receives guard of honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/twa7pDLyqQ Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 9, 2023 Hassan is also scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day today The presidential visit from Tanzania to India is taking place after a span of more than eight years. 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 said on X on Sunday. On Sunday evening, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Tanzanian president. Honoured to call on President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania on her State visit to India. Thanked her for her appreciation of PM @narendramodis initiative towards African Unions permanent membership of the G20, Jaishankar said on X. Hassan will also participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi on 10 October. With inputs from agencies The Israel-Palestine conflict has sparked a political debate in India, with the BJP emphasising the safety of the country under the leadership of Narendra Modi, comparing it with the days of the UPA government when terrorism and bombings were frequent. In response, the Congress has compiled a list of over 30 terror attacks since 2014. The West Asia conflict and the stands taken by political parties and leaders have shed light on the challenges related to political ideologies within the INDIA Bloc. Shortly after the Modi government extended its support and solidarity for Israel following the attack and incursion by Hamas terrorist groups from the Gaza Strip, Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of CPM, criticized the Israeli aggression of the most Right-wing government. The Congress, on the other hand, issued a balanced statement condemning violence against Israel while expressing support for the Palestinian cause. The BJP has suggested that the INDIA alliance should learn from the Israeli Opposition, which has wholeheartedly supported the Israeli Prime Ministers retaliatory actions against Palestine. Shehzad Poonawalla, a spokesperson of the BJP, said that the Israeli Opposition prioritized their nations interests, whereas our own opposition, according to him, seems to endorse opposition to Modi over opposition to the nation. He cited instances where they questioned surgical strikes, Balakot, and even absolved Pakistan of involvement in terror attacks. The BJP leaders also countered the Congresss tweet about over 30 terror attacks since 2014 by highlighting the strong measures, such as surgical strikes, that have been taken in response to any provocations from Pakistan. The current controversy arises following Congress recent handling of Udhayanidhi Stalins comments about Sanatan Dharma. A senior Congress leader commented on Sitaram Yechurys statement regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, saying that Sitaram Yechury has expressed his opinion, which is acceptable to all of us. Each constituent of the INDIA alliance has its own ideologies and political orientation. We cannot control them. This statement acknowledged that members of the alliance hold diverse viewpoints, and Yechurys stance might draw criticism from the BJP for not aligning with the countrys position. Yechury condemned the attacks and counter-attacks in the Gaza Strip of Palestine, calling for the United Nations to safeguard the rights of the Palestinian people, the withdrawal of Israeli illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, and the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution for a two-nation solution. He expressed his support for the Palestinian cause, highlighting the casualties on the Palestinian side in his statement while not addressing the extensive casualties in Israel caused by the attacks. The statement by Congress followed later and was a careful one, said political observers. Congress in its statement condemned the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. But it also maintained that the party had always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop. No other constituents of INDIA have reacted. The Politburo of CPM later issued a statement, saying it condemned the attacks and counter-attacks between Hamas and the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip of Palestine. Already, many human lives have been lost and the situation is poised to escalate causing more deaths, and miseries. This confrontation must end. The most right-wing Netanyahu government in Israel has been indiscriminately occupying Palestine lands and establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank. So far this year, prior to this conflict, 248 Palestinian lives have been lost including 40 children, it said. The Politburo also said that it called upon the UN and the international community including the government of India to ensure the immediate cessation of this conflict and act for the implementation of the UN. Madhya Pradesh will head to polls on 17 November, Mizoram on 7 November, Rajasthan 23 November, Telangana 30 November, and two-phase polls will be held in Chhattisgarh on 7 and 17 November, Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Monday The results for the polls will be announced on 3 December, it added. 5 States Assembly polls | Chhattisgarh to vote on 7th Nov & 17th Nov; Madhya Pradesh on 17th Nov; Mizoram on 7th Nov, Rajasthan on 23rd Nov and Telangana on 30th Nov; Results on 3rd December pic.twitter.com/jV7TJJ9W4A ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023 Addressing a press conference on Monday, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, Total voters in Mizoram are 8.52 lakh, 2.03 crore in Chhattisgarh, 5.6 crore in Madhya Pradesh, 5.25 crore in Rajasthan and 3.17 crore in Telangana. Total voters in Mizoram are 8.52 lakh, 2.03 crore in Chhattisgarh, 5.6 cr in Madhya Pradesh, 5.25 crore in Rajasthan and 3.17 crore in Telangana: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar pic.twitter.com/Q1ChyPQudf ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023 He said polling will be held on 679 seats across the five states. Polls will have 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters and around 60 lakh first time voters (18-19 Yrs). 15.39 lakh young voters are eligible to participate in elections due to amendment on qualifying dates. To inspire young voters, over 2,900 polling stations will be managed by youth, said Kumar. He said 1.77 lakh polling stations will be set up in 679 Assembly constituencies across five states for the elections. There will be 17,734 Model polling stations, 621 polling stations will be managed by PwD staff, and at least 8,192 PS women will be in command, Kumar added. He said with over 940 inter-state border check posts in five poll-bound states, the ECI will be able to check any cross-border movement of illicit cash, liquor, freebies and drugs. The term of the Mizoram Assembly ends on 17 December. The Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state. The terms of the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year. While the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rules Telangana, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the BJP. The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. With inputs from agencies NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, arrested in a case lodged under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda, told the Delhi High Court on Monday the allegations against him were false and bogus, and not a penny has come from China. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela reserved the order on pleas by Purkayastha and the news portals human resources department head Amit Chakravarty challenging their arrest and the subsequent 7-day police remand after the investigation agency defended its action claiming NewsClick received Rs 75 crore from a person in China to ensure the countrys stability and integrity were compromised. Arguments heard. Order reserved, Justice Gedela said after hearing the rival sides for around two hours. The court said any further remand of the accused would be subject to its order on the petitions by the two senior executives of the news portal. Purkayastha and Chakravarty, who were arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3, had moved the high court last week challenging their arrest and subsequent police custody and sought immediate release as interim relief. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the investigation agency, said the case involves serious offences and the probe was still going on. About Rs 75 crore odd the investigation is on and I can show it from case diary came from a person staying in China and the purpose is to ensure that the stability and especially the integrity of this country is compromised, he said. One of the most serious allegations found in the e-mail exchanges between accused persons with somebody sitting in China is that we will prepare a map where we will show J&K and what we call Arunachal Pradesh they use the expression which Chinese use namely northern border of India and not show that (Arunachal) to be a part of India, SG Mehta told the court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, refuted the claim. All facts are false. Not a penny has come from ChinaThe whole thing is bogus, Sibal said. Sibal, along with senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, contended their arrest and remand in the present case cannot be sustained on several legal counts, including that they were not told about the grounds of arrest at the time of arrest or even to date. The remand order was passed by the trial court in a mechanical manner, in the absence of their lawyers, they said. Purkayasthas lawyers argued the arrests were in violation of a recent Supreme Court decision that made it mandatory for police to supply written grounds of arrest to an accused at the time of being apprehended. Sibal said there was an obvious discrepancy in the trial courts remand order because while the order recorded 6 am as the time of pronouncement, in terms of the high court rules, Purkayasthas lawyer was sent the remand application through WhatsApp only at 7 am. Krishnan added that supplying grounds of arrest and having a lawyer of choice was a constitutional requirement under Article 22 of the Constitution, which enables an accused to object to remand. SG Mehta maintained the arrest was legal as per the textual requirements of UAPA because the accused were informed about the grounds of arrest. He said a legal aid counsel was present before the trial court when the remand application was taken up for hearing. Mehta asserted mere quashing of the remand order would not result in the accused walking free and suggested since the police custody was coming to an end, the accused could be sent to judicial custody, after which they can apply for regular bail. The senior law officer also submitted that the Supreme Courts decision pertaining to the supply of grounds of arrest in written form was for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which was distinct from the UAPA, and that the ruling will have a prospective effect and not be applicable to this case. We intimated to him the grounds of arrest. It is not disputed. He was informed about grounds of arrest and produced before the special court within a stipulated time, SG Mehta said. Tomorrow, police custody is getting over It is a wrong proposition of law that quashing remand will result in the accused walking free Remand is curable. I can place him in judicial custody and apply for remand afresh, he added. Sibal contended a remand order cannot validate an arrest that has not been made as per the legal requirements. Mehta argued the reference to 6 am in the remand order was in the context of the production of the accused and not the pronouncement of the order. Case diary is given for your perusal and we have nothing to hide, Mehta told Justice Gedela. The counsel for Chakravarty told the court that he suffered from polio and his arrest was not required as he was neither a journalist nor an editor who would be responsible for the content on the portal. He said Chakravarty has always cooperated with the probe. Besides challenging their arrest, the two have also sought quashing of the FIR in the case. The court said it will deal with the issuance of notice on this aspect at the time of its decision on the challenge to arrest and remand. According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to disrupt the sovereignty of India and cause disaffection against the country. It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group Peoples Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. A raid was conducted on October 3 at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data, the police said. A total of 46 journalists and contributors to NewsClick were questioned on Tuesday and their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets seized. Police also sealed the NewsClicks office in Delhi. Vietnamese agents may be behind a global spyware campaign targeting officials, civil society and journalists around the world using EU-made malware, Amnesty International said Monday. The NGO detailed in a report how a Vietnam-linked account on Twitter, now X, tried to infect the phones of dozens of people and institutions including overseas Vietnamese journalists, EU and US officials and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen with malware called Predator. Amnesty has worked with media outlets and cybersecurity experts to investigate the Predator software, which is marketed by an alliance of companies with French and Israeli connections and bases across Europe. The malware, like the Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO that caused a global scandal in 2021, takes control of the camera and microphone of an infected phone, turning it into a pocket spy. French news outlet Mediapart, which broke the initial story last week in a joint investigation with Germanys Spiegel magazine, said Predator had been sold to governments from Egypt to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan. The malware was also found on the phones of an Egyptian activist and a Greek journalist as far back as 2021, according to the news reports. Mysterious and dangerous Amnesty said such surveillance technology was fundamentally inconsistent with human rights. Amnesty advocacy officer Katia Roux told AFP the EU was completely failing to regulate this sector. We call for a ban on this software and a moratorium on all other surveillance software, she said. The malware was sold to someone at the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in 2020 for 5.6 million euros ($5.9 million), according to Mediapart and Amnesty. The investigations suggest that agents of the Vietnamese authorities, or persons acting on their behalf, may be behind the spyware campaign. It was unclear whether the campaign, which Amnesty said had targeted more than 50 individuals and institutions between February and June this year, had succeeded in infecting any targets. Predator was initially created by a North Macedonian firm called Cytrox, Amnesty said in its report released on Monday titled The Predator Files: Caught in the Net. The tech was eventually marketed by the Intellexa group, described by Amnesty as a complex, morphing group of interconnected companies which was set up by a former Israeli soldier and incorporated in Ireland. Intellexa later formed an alliance with French umbrella group Nexa to market spyware in what Spiegel said was probably one of the most mysterious and dangerous ventures in Europe. In July, the US blacklisted both Cytrox and Intellexa warning that their software was threatening the privacy and security of individuals and organisations worldwide. Scores of students of Uttar Pradeshs Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) took out a march in support of Hamas terrorists and shouted slogans in support of Palestine. The protest came within hours after the terrorist organisation made a surprise attack on Israel that claimed lives of over 700 people of the country. Israel has announced war against Palestine after Hamas attacked Israelis. In the viral video of AMU students protesting, some are seen holding placards in their their hands and marching on the streets of Aligarh. We Stand with Palestine, This land is Palestine, not Israel, read the posters the AMU students were carrying as they raised slogans such as We stand for Palestine, AMU stands for Palestine along with other religious slogans. Talking to media, protesting AMU students said the way in which the atrocities are being committed against Palestinians is not right. They even held Israel responsible for the alleged atrocities being carried out in Palestine. India condemns Hamas attack on Israel India has strongly condemned the unprecedented attack by "Hamas terrorists" on Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Israel, saying India stands with the country at this hour of conflict. "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," the Indian Prime Minister said. Israel-Hamas War On Saturday (October 7), Hamas terrorists attacked Israel by firing over 5,000 rockets and then infiltrated its border. Armed militants infiltrated the border in Southern Israel and attacked the civilians. Israel retaliated and its fighter jets bombed the city and turned many towers and buildings into ashes. Over 1,100 people have lost their lives, so far, as the Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate. In Israel, more than 700 people, including 44 soldiers, have lost their lives. The worst affected cities in Israel include Tel Aviv, Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Beri and Kisufim. According to Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), Israel has hit more than 800 targets in Gaza till now, including airstrikes that reduced much of Beit Hanoun to rubble. Officials have reported at least 413 deaths in Gaza so far. With inputs from agencies My family and I were fortunate that we had a splendid visit to Israel, Palestine, and Jordan and emerged happily, little realising that a war would soon be upon us. This is in the very region that we had traversed, and I must confess that even though I was on holiday, my trained diplomatic instincts were not averse to picking up signs of political disturbance. But at no time did I really think during my fortnight in the region that this kind of sudden war would restart. For one, the Abraham Accords and the consequent peace moves among Arab countries and Israel, including overtures between Saudi Arabia and Israel, were seen as confidence-building. These were evidence that perhaps a tenuous peace would be maintained in the region. In Tel Aviv, where we spent several days, there was no mention of a threat from Hamas or Palestine. There were frequent blockades of roads, police presence, and protests. But these were all internal to Israel. There was a deep domestic conflict over judicial reform and contradictions between the opposition and the minority government. A resolution of this, according to protesters on the ground, seemed distant. At the same time, a large number of Israeli youth and tourists went about their business as if nothing was happening and everything was good. We were told to avoid areas where police blockades took place. But this was not to avoid any terrorist incidents or Palestinian action. It was to avoid protesters who might turn violent. Walking the streets of Tel Aviv or traversing different neighbourhoods did not give us a sense of foreboding. It also seemed that residents of Tel Aviv were also calm and more worried about the domestic cleavages. Comfortable with their growing regional acceptance, they appeared to be looking forward to better lives. Their concern was the dysfunctional government. Our visit to Jerusalem was more cautious. Parts of it were comfortable, but parts of it, particularly towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Wailing Wall, made our escorts anxious. There were hordes of tourists, but all sticking together. Since it was Friday, there were a large number of Muslims heading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. We were clearly told that, as non-Muslims on a Friday, we could not go in that direction. Israeli police were randomly stopping people and checking their credentials. But the flow of people going for prayers to Al Aqsa seemed long but peaceful. We could go up the Villa de la Rosa, walking the path that Christ undertook, and we reached the Western Wall, where men and women were separated. It was the eve of the Sabbath. There were intense prayers underway along the wall and towards the covered areas alongside the wall. There was a sense of prayer and peace rather than any tension. We were warned to keep away from larger crowds and stick to our own family and move ahead. At no time was our visit to Jerusalem impeded though, there was some tension in the air. Muslim interlocutors that we met insisted that the Al-Aqsa Mosque was the target of the Jews and they were going to be denied the right to prayer and access in due course, which they would resist. Having been through that area we took this with a pinch of salt, but the fact that they believed in it was clearly evident. The visit to Bethlehem, which lies within the Palestinian territory, was more tense. Our guides clearly told us to avoid using the terms Israel, Jews, etc. But as we tried to enter the Church of the Nativity, there were enough locals sidelining us willing to provide easier access to the manager for a payment. The site was crowded with pilgrims and tourists. There were clearly Palestinian police on duty, keeping a lookout, particularly on vehicles coming from Israel or people with Israeli IDs. As Indians, we faced no such scrutiny. The bigger divide here seems to be between the Orthodox Church, which had centre stage in the Church of Nativity, and the Catholic Church, which had an outside church. Our escorts heaved a sigh of relief when we finally concluded our visit and exited from Bethlehem through the gates that divide Palestine from Israel. We were advised to carry our passports. Neither while entering Palestine nor while exiting were we checked, indicating a sense of comfort and quiet attitude. Interacting with Israelis in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv invariably leads to more discussions about their internal issues than any problems that they perceive with Palestine. With Muslims in Jordan and in Palestine, there was greater anger against what they perceived to be a loss of their rights and the threat to their access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. While transiting through Bahrain, we had a discussion with some interlocutors because Bahrain was among the first countries to sign the Abraham Accords. They have direct flights from Bahrain to Tel Aviv, and people said things were normal and relations were looking up. That seems to be the trend among Arab countries. On our return, while we enjoy the memories of our visit and as we run through our photographs, sorting them out, we are shocked to learn that there is again a war, and this time, it is a massive assault by Hamas from the West Bank. They seem to have breached Israeli defences with relative ease and surprise. Has Israel gone soft? What happened to their legendary state of alertness? Is it really alert today? Keener on a good life than to keep fighting? How did Hamas build such an arsenal without Israeli intelligence catching on? And why did Hamas undertake such a massive strike? Knowing full well that ultimately, they cannot win? It seems to be a strategy to perhaps disrupt the growing rapprochement between Israel and Arabs, which would leave Palestine in the lurch. A sudden strike, particularly against civilians, undoubtedly classifies the Hamas action as terrorism. India has been quick to side with its all-weather friend Israel at a time of need. This is a crisis the world could well do without. The writer is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The unusual situation that has arisen out of the Indo-Naga conflict has certainly contributed to a state of affairs that can be characterised as chaotic. After all the insurgency, notwithstanding the cessation of hostilities with the NSCN (IM) in 1997 is the longest running insurgency in the world. But is also true that even as Nagaland has perhaps one of the highest extortion rates in the country: the illegal taxes that are being collected by various insurgent groups are being referred to, as is the attendant fact that it is one of the most weaponised state in the country, there are other indices such as the lowest crime rate against women in India which showcase that the law and order situation from a particular point of view is remarkable. Therefore, until such time there is a solution to the Indo-Naga conflict one would continue to witness a sense of perturbed peace. A recent visit to Nagaland was an eye-opener even for the fairly dedicated student of security such as this author. The security related developments in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland as also the India-China boundary as it pertains to the Eastern Sector have been followed for closer to three decades by this author. He has persevered to travel rather extensively in the region despite his indifferent health and a leg that has metallic implants embedded in it. Indeed, the situation in the recent times necessitated a re-visitation and that goaded him to embark upon yet another round of travel in the borderlands. After all, much has happened in the last couple of years. Manipur, Nagaland and parts of southern Arunachal Pradesh are heir to needles that point to unrest and instability. Manipur is perhaps the most troubled state in the whole of South Asia. The efforts of the fire-fighting mechanism in New Delhi are not showing trends of improvement. On 27September 2023, a 500 strong mob sought to set the Manipur chief ministers ancestral on fire and there seems to be helplessness all around. South Arunachal Pradesh is disturbed only because it provides a conduit from the insurgent camps in Myanmar to the oil, coal and tea belt of Upper Assam. Nagaland, where a ceasefire is in progress, seems to be a narrative that is in progression. Indeed, it is one state which this author has not visited in its entirety. Earlier visitations have been only to places such as Dimapur and over 35 years ago as he thoroughfared Kohima on his way back from Manipur. It was the first state in the autumnal itinerary of this author. The unfortunate incident in Oting had occurred and there was some sort of political impasse. As a matter of fact, this author had been holding forth in Webinars on the Naga Peace Process sitting in Guwahati. It disturbed him that he was ordaining about a state and its state of affairs without actually visiting the disturbed state. However, the visit to Nagaland did not quite showcase the perturbed peace. Life seems to be going on as usual and the bustling streets of Dimapur, Kohima and even back of beyond Mon or Khonoma provided no inclination about the disturbance that one is generally fed on about Nagaland. The shops functioned normally, the people were friendly, delicacies were in plenty as was the serenity in Phizos village and a solemn visit to the War Cemetery in Kohima, too, was a demure affair. An outsider is not even given a second glance. Sundays, however, inform that Christianity has an over pervasive hold over each and every denizen of Nagaland and almost everything shuts on Holy Sabbath. But an aspect that did not escape this author is the fact that the onus of ushering durable peace which would mean that the sad headlines that Nagaland hogs metropolitan India disappears would have to be ordained by New Delhi. To that end, aspects such as extortion and institution of correct provision of gun laws etc rest with the Government of India. To the self-confessed student of security that this author is, it is not comprehended as to why the process of reconciliation and resolution has not been hastened and completed. An able beginning was made in 2015 with the historic Framework Agreement. But aspects that New Delhi could have avoided such as doubling-up an interlocutor also as a governor, militating thereby the duties of one with the other, could have been avoided. The Indian Army and the Assam Rifles are in Nagaland and the region to enforce what the ceasefire provision scriveners in New Delhi have set down on paper. But for one reason or the other it is these two noble forces that have to occasionally (and, quite unfairly!) bear the brunt of the mistakes and erroneous decisions of Raisina Road. The visit to Nagaland was an eye-opener for a number of reasons. The first and the foremost aspect is the complete transparency with which I was permitted to witness the security situation in the places I visited. The visit was chaperoned to an extent by the Assam Rifles, but this author was not prohibited from visiting places or meeting civil society organisations in order to cull the truth. As a matter of fact, he was encouraged and as a later column would testify the Assam Rifles actually facilitated a generous meeting of minds with the youth of Nagaland. People in mainland India and perhaps even abroad are fed on stories that are somewhat removed from reality. Most experts write about the North East as a fragile garrisoned land where the Indian army and the Indian para-military forces are considered to be somewhat of an occupation force with laws such as the Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act. But the reality is very different. This author not only witnessed the extra mile that both the Indian army and the Assam Rifles have walked (and indeed are walking!) to usher in peace and development in the region, but the exemplary behaviour of the men in uniform. The Assam Rifles personnel (in a jocular sense to an Assamese onlooker such as this author) have picked up Nagamese as would a native speaker. It was rather refreshing to listen to a Sikh Riflemen from Tarn Taran to mouth aspects such as Besi Bhaal Aase. The manner in which both the Indian army and the Assam Rifles go about their Internal Security Management duties has to be seen to be believed. The Indian Army is in Nagaland temporarily, but the Assam Rifles presence is permanent and it has both counter-insurgency and border management as its primary brief. Officered by the Indian army, the operational command over the force rests with the Indian army. The synergy between the forces is excellent and it is excellent teamwork between the Director General of the Assam Rifles in Shillong, Corps Commander, 3 Corps in Rangapahar and the Inspector General of the Assam Rifles (North) in Kohima that has been reaping the rich harvest in the frontiers of India. Yes, aberrations have taken place in the past. But atonement and course correction have been swift. Indeed, one can hold ones hand to ones heart and say that an act of indiscretion by, say the Assam Rifles could never have been a premeditated act. At best it would have been an anomaly. But there are clouds of adversity as well. Such misfortune, it is a considered view, stops at the door of the political leaders and the bureaucrats in New Delhi. They should have comprehended the way aspects would shape up if such ridiculous provisions have been allowed to creep into the ceasefire ground rules. It is absurd, but an insurgent (despite the fact that he/she is in ceasefire) is allowed to carry his/her weapon if he/she conceals it, and when he/she is marching from Camp A to Camp B. Voluntary collection of taxes are allowed. But one can be certain that the definition of voluntary is to a considerable extent dictated by the weaponry and the arsenal that groups such as the NSCN (IM) possess. It is just as well that of late a double-lock system has been institutionalised for groups coming into newer ceasefires. But the fact of the matter is that the Assam Rifles continues to abide by the ceasefire rules and I know for a fact that were an insurgent to be caught without a weapon with the requisite permission he/she would be apprehended. The talks between the interlocutor, A.K. Mishra and the NSCN (IM) leadership, it has been reported, have restarted. Not privy to the details, all that can be said at this point is that there has to be compromise from both sides. The NSCN (IM) cannot expect to hold on to impossible demands such as separate constitution and integration of all Naga-dominated areas, although at least this author found no problem with a separate flag as long as it defers to the Tricolour. But the fact that a ceasefire has been allowed to continue for 26 years without resolution is bizarre. It even reeks of conspiracies about the Indian nation seeking to set into motion what certain observers are saying about both a wearing out policy even as conflict fatigue sets in and the patience of a vulture for a power struggle and consequent division to break out with a passage of unholy time. The author is a conflict theorist and bestselling author. 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. In the rapidly changing dynamics of the still unfolding aftermath of the invasion of Israel by Hamas, it is difficult, even foolhardy, to make any predictions. But one thing is clear. Saturdays Hamas attack is most likely not a flash in the pan, but a major event with long-term after-effects. With one on-going war in Ukraine and another as yet not fully resolved in Syria, the West and its allies, including Israel, on one side will be more sharply in opposition with Russia, China, Iran, and whoever else wishes to be on the other side. Are we closer to World War III than ever before? While the answer is yes, it is crucial to emphasise that there is still time to roll back from the precipice of an out-of-control global conflict. The raid on Israel by Hamas, while not a new development in the hopelessly tangled web of Middle Eastern conflicts, raises critical questions about the stability of the global order. The world is currently witnessing a confluence of geopolitical tensions that have the potential to reshape international dynamics in ways previously unimagined. The Israel-Hamas conflict, with its deep-rooted historical and political complexities, has long simmered beneath the surface of the Middle East. The latest invasion by Hamas is not merely a localized flare-up but rather a symptom of broader regional tensions. The conflict is inextricably linked to the larger Middle Eastern power struggle, with Iran openly, and possibly Russia, T even China, covertly supporting Hamas. Israel, of course, enjoys the backing of all major Western nations, primarily the United States, as well as more recently vocal India. This dichotomy underscores the potential for a more profound and widespread conflict. But before proceeding, let us underscore how colossal a failure of intelligence this invasion is. How is it that Israeli defence forces, including their highly regarded intelligence agencies, were caught napping? Over 2,000 some estimates put the number at over 5,000 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israeli territory, with coordinated land and sea infiltration by the Hamas terrorists. How did Israel let them gather so much fire power without intervening? How is that their planning, which must have been ongoing for months, was neither intercepted nor disrupted? Worse, further attacks may follow from the north, where Hezbollah is already threatening to cross the border from Lebanon and, for all one knows, from the West Bank, ruled by the more moderate Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO). What about many hostiles who might already be within Israel, having crossed over legally with work permits and passes? Moreover, who actually benefits by this opening up of another theatre of war against Israel, which has already drawn in the US? The latter has diverted supplies meant for Ukraine to Israel. The war in Ukraine, which began as a regional dispute, has grown into a global flashpoint. The Western world, led by the United States and the European Union, has consistently condemned Russias actions and imposed sanctions. This conflict has strained relations between the West and Russia to an extent not seen since the Cold War, with the potential to draw in other nations on both sides. The situation is further complicated by Chinas strategic interests and its growing alignment with Russia, creating a formidable opposition bloc. Now, will the West shift its combined might from Europe to the Middle East? Will this mean that the heat will be off Russia? Certainly, prolonged conflict in the Middle East will draw crucial Western resources from the Ukraine conflict, thus strengthening Russias position. What about China? Its rising influence was seen in the peace talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but with this conflict any hope for progress on that front seems doomed. Also impeded will be the normalisation of relations between the Saudis and Israel, a prospect that seemed quite promising with the Abraham Accords. What about China? Where will it stand in the current conflict? As China expands its influence economically, militarily, and politically, it challenges the established world order dominated by Western powers. Its partnership with Russia and alignment with Iran present a united front against Western values and interests. While China has so far avoided direct military confrontation, its actions in the South China Sea and its assertive stance on various international issues have heightened tensions. Chinas rapid rise as a global superpower in the current geopolitical landscape would make it an indirect beneficiary of this conflict not only as a major arms supplier to the region, but also as the disruptor of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe trade corridor. Iran, with its implacable enmity to Israel, in addition to its growing ambitions for regional dominance and nuclear aspirations, remains a wildcard in the global equation. Irans strategic alliance with Russia and its support for groups like Hamas adds fuel to the fire of existing conflicts. The prospect of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons could further destabilise the region and prompt military responses from Western powers or Israel. Will Israel use this invasion to attack Iran directly? Given these interconnected geopolitical factors, it is obvious that the world is facing a more precarious situation than ever before. The clash of interests and ideologies between the West and its adversaries is becoming increasingly pronounced. The potential for miscalculation, escalation, or the emergence of a new, unforeseen crisis looms large. While the term World War III may conjure images of a global conflict on the scale of the previous world wars, it is important to recognise that modern warfare encompasses economic, cyber, and proxy conflicts, making the landscape even more complex and unpredictable. This is where Indias role may be important. After the super-successful G20 summit, much more is expected of us, at least behind the scenes. Despite the mounting challenges, it is not inevitable that we are destined for World War III. There is still time to pursue diplomatic channels, engage in meaningful dialogue, and seek peaceful solutions to the worlds problems. International institutions, such as the United Nations, could play a central role in mediating disputes and fostering cooperation among nations. In an emergency session of the Security Council, Tor Wennesland, UN Middle East peace envoy, said: This is a dangerous precipice, and I appeal to all to pull back from the brink. Now, more than ever, is it time to invoke the motto of Vasudaiva kutumbakam (one earth, one family, one future). But the restoration of peace and security in Israel will be the prerequisites for any forward movement. India is an interested party with over 80,000 Israelis of Indian origin, and some 18,000 citizens currently resident in Israel. The writer is an author, columnist, and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. 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 upcoming Samsung Galaxy S24 series, which is rumoured to consist of the Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra, may introduce a new material in its construction, according to information from a reputable tipster on the X platform. This development follows Apples recent unveiling of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, where the Cupertino-based company incorporated titanium edges instead of the stainless steel frames used in previous models. If Samsung follows suit with titanium, it could potentially lead to an increase in the price of these forthcoming smartphones. According to the tipster, known as Revegnus, Samsung is considering manufacturing titanium frames for the standard Galaxy S24 model in its production facility in Vietnam. As for the Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra, it is said that Samsung will collaborate with two undisclosed partner companies to produce titanium frames. However, another well-known tipster, Ice Universe, responded to this claim by suggesting that only the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra might feature a titanium frame. In the smartphone industry, this recent shift to titanium is exemplified by Apples 2023 flagship models, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which feature a new 3nm A17 Pro chip, an Action button replacing the mute switch, and a titanium frame. To balance cost and thermal considerations, Apple employed a combination of titanium for the external frame and aluminium for the internal structure. Furthermore, a separate tipster recently leaked computer-aided design (CAD) renders of the alleged Galaxy S24 Ultra. These images indicate a design that closely resembles its predecessor, the Galaxy S23 Ultra, with a quad rear camera setup and support for Samsungs S Pen. Previous reports have suggested that the Galaxy S24 Ultra will offer a 6.8-inch AMOLED display and run on Qualcomms yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip in most markets. In some regions, the Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ are expected to feature Samsungs Exynos 2400 SoC and support fast charging of up to 45W. While Samsung has not officially announced the Galaxy S24 series, these insights from tipsters provide a glimpse into the potential developments in the upcoming lineup. Chinas smartphone production has faced a persistent decline for eight months straight throughout this year, casting a shadow over the industry. However, theres a glimmer of hope on the horizon as Huawei Technologies defies US sanctions by introducing new 5G handsets, potentially breathing life back into the worlds largest smartphone market. As per data published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China produced 679 million smartphones from January to August this year, marking a 7.5 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2022. Simultaneously, smartphone sales on the mainland have experienced a 4 per cent year-on-year decline during the first eight months of 2023, according to insights from the reputable market research firm Counterpoint. The second quarter of 2023 witnessed Chinas smartphone consumption hitting its lowest sales figures since 2014, primarily due to macroeconomic challenges impacting consumer sentiment. Counterpoints July report pointed out a relatively weak performance in handset sales during Chinas 618 shopping festival last June. The sluggish performance of the market reflects the persistently low consumer sentiment amid the countrys turbulent post-pandemic economic recovery, fueled by a property crisis, record youth unemployment rates, and waning confidence in the private sector. However, theres a silver lining on the horizon. The markets outlook for the rest of 2023 appears more promising, thanks to the introduction of new smartphones by both Huawei and Apple, along with the approaching winter sales season, according to Ivan Lam, a senior research analyst at Counterpoint. Huawei, based in Shenzhen, has unveiled its Mate 60 Pro series of 5G handsets, which have significantly bolstered confidence in Chinas smartphone market. Counterpoint estimates that sales of Huaweis latest 5G smartphones could reach between five to six million units by the years end. This optimism stems from Huaweis substantial domestic user base of HarmonyOS, an alternative mobile operating system to Android. Lam emphasizes that Huaweis new 5G devices are poised not only to attract new customers but also to win back former users who had switched to other smartphone brands in recent years. Notably, Huaweis smartphone sales have already witnessed a remarkable 41 per cent surge in the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. Moreover, Huaweis resurgence has been further highlighted by its recovery from a strained supply chain, allowing the company to return to its regular product launch schedule. In a somewhat surprising move, Huawei quietly initiated pre-sales campaigns for its new Mate 60 Pro 5G handset in late August, followed by a similar online pre-sales process for its top-of-the-line Mate 60 Pro+. Prior to the Mate 60 Pro series, the Mate 40 series released in October 2020 was the last 5G smartphone line produced by Huawei. These new 5G handsets from Huawei, including the recently unveiled Mate X5 foldable model, are powered by an advanced, domestically-produced processor called the Kirin 9000s. Intriguingly, the details of this processor have been closely guarded by the privately-held company. Recent third-party examinations of the Mate 60 Pro have indicated that Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, a U.S.-sanctioned Chinese chip manufacturer, played a significant role in developing the breakthrough chip. On a parallel track, Apples new iPhone 15 series has generated substantial interest in China, evidenced by long queues at stores, dispelling doubts about the U.S. tech giants ability to maintain its foothold in the face of Huaweis resurgence and the partial ban on iPhones in government agencies. The competitive landscape in Chinas smartphone market continues to evolve, with Huawei and Apple at the forefront of this dynamic arena. According to a recent report in the business daily Nikkei, Japan has announced a subsidy of 30.6 billion yen, equivalent to $205 million, for hydrogen fuel cell systems and related equipment. This government initiative has been designed to bolster the advancement of components required for electric aircraft, with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as detailed in the newspaper. The Ministry of Trade is anticipated to introduce this policy during an upcoming session of the ministrys council working group. The government is set to earmark 17.3 billion yen for the development of hydrogen fuel cell systems tailored for aircraft, and an additional 13.3 billion yen for the development of engine control systems designed to enhance fuel efficiency, as reported by the Nikkei. This initiative is a critical component of Japans commitment to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and realizing carbon neutrality by 2050. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is regarded as a promising solution to decarbonize the aviation sector, which significantly contributes to climate change. Anticipated to expedite the progress of hydrogen fuel cell systems and related aircraft components, the Japanese governments subsidy program has the potential to pave the way for the commercialization of electric aircraft in the foreseeable future. Such a development could profoundly influence the aviation industry and make substantial strides in mitigating global CO2 emissions. A groundbreaking development in stroke rehabilitation is offering new hope to survivors. Oswald Reedus, whose life took a drastic turn in 2014 when he lost the ability to speak, walk, and move his left arm due to a sudden stroke, has become the first stroke patient to use a pioneering device created by researchers at the University of Houston. This device, a brain-computer interface, controls a robotic arm using the wearers brainwaves, potentially aiding in the recovery of lost limb function. Reedus vividly recalls the life-altering moment when he lost motor function, stating, Around 3 oclock in the morning, my wife said I was talking out of my head, and she woke me up and she said, Move your arm. And I couldnt move my arm. At the time, he joined the ranks of an estimated 610,000 Americans who suffer their first stroke each year. Now, nearly nine years later, Reedus and his wife, Elizabeth, have reason to be optimistic about his future. The 68-year-old stroke survivor is the first to utilize this innovative device a portable headset that interprets brain waves to control a robotic arm. This development represents a potential lifeline for individuals seeking to regain lost limb functionality. Reedus, who eventually regained his ability to speak after years of therapy, still grapples with limited mobility in his left arm and uses a leg brace for walking due to aphasia resulting from the stroke. Keen to participate in clinical trials for the experimental device, Reedus has a familial history of stroke, with both his mother and younger brother succumbing to the condition. The brain-computer interface headset features five electrodes placed on the wearers scalp to measure brain waves via electroencephalography (EEG). These electrical impulses prompt the connected robotic arm to move, with the wearers intention playing a crucial role in the arms motion. Engineered by University of Houston professor Jose Contreras-Vidal, the headsets design aims to encourage a phenomenon known as neuroplasticity, where the brain rewires itself to restore limb function through the interaction between the wearers thoughts, the robotic arms movement, and feedback to the brain. This headset, connected to either a robotic arm or exoskeleton, holds the potential to offer an at-home option for stroke rehabilitation. The device is currently undergoing clinical trials in collaboration with TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Texas. Dr Gerard Francisco, a stroke rehabilitation specialist, believes that robots could soon complement the work of physical therapists by providing consistent, repetitive movement. He emphasizes the importance of repetition in rewiring the brain for movement recovery. Reedus used the headset and robotic arm for six weeks in his rehabilitation, highlighting how it helped him emerge from isolation and depression he had been battling for eight years post-stroke. He expressed optimism about the potential of such technology but underscored the need for affordability and insurance coverage for wider access. However, its important to note that the device is still in its developmental and fundraising stages. The team behind it is working to secure funding for a larger clinical trial and eventually apply for FDA approval. While there is significant promise in this cutting-edge rehabilitation technology, it may take time before it becomes accessible to the wider public. A religious and political leader in Pakistan referred to Hamas fatal attack on Israel as a historic success and vowed to support the Palestinian people. According to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the head of Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on Sunday, the strike on Israel was unequivocal proof that the Palestinian cause was still alive. We reaffirm our commitment to standing behind our Palestinian brethren. The Palestinian Mujahideens onslaught on Israel was both a historic victory and a historic conflict. The JUI-F chief said that the Palestinian Mujahideen had liberated their regions from Israeli annexation. Rehman, also the chief of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief, also congratulated the Palestinian people, saying that the world was thinking that the Palestinian issue was dead. A section of us [Muslim world] tried unsuccessfully to recognise Israel, however, the latest incident proved that the Palestine issue is not dead, Rehman said, adding that the attack destroyed Israels defence system and its arrogance. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas militants, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israels counterattack, media reports said. Several international air carriers have suspended or reined in flight services to or from Tel Aviv after a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel, saying they were waiting for safety conditions to improve. Fighters from the Islamist group killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens in Saturdays attacks, the deadliest such incursion in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Regulators including the United States Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Israels aviation authority urged airlines to use caution in the regions airspace, but stopped short of suspending flights. Israels civil aviation authority asked airlines to review current security and threat information amid the conflict, and changed some air traffic routes. It noted that delays were expected and advised airlines to carry extra fuel. On Sunday, US air carriers United Airlines (UAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and American Airlines (AAL.O) suspended direct flights following the FAAs caution advisories. The US airlines normally run direct services from major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Miami. United said it had run two scheduled flights to the United States from Israel late on Saturday and early on Sunday but then suspended services. Delta representatives said flights this week were cancelled and the situation was being monitored. AIRLINE RESPONSES In Europe, Air France (AIRF.PA) and Finlands Finnair (FIA1S.HE) suspended direct flights. Britains easyJet (EZJ.L) 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 (WIZZ.L) 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 Israels total October capacity and representing some 2.3% of the carriers total schedules, Irish brokerage Goodbody said. Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) group, also among the airlines most exposed to Israel, according to Goodbody, cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Monday. Portugals TAP suspended flights up until Monday and offered refunds or rescheduling at no additional cost. Virgin Atlantic said it would continue to run some flights but that customers could rebook or request a refund until Oct. 15. Some airlines continued to fly to Israel. Flight tracking site Flightradar24 listed upcoming Ben Gurion arrivals from airlines including Ryanair, flyDubai and national carrier El Al. Israels airports authority said on its website Ben Gurion continued to handle arrivals and departures. Hainan Airlines (600221.SS), the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday. It said it would continue flights linking Beijing and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen with Tel Aviv while waiving fees for cancellations before Oct. 20. Cathay Pacific (0293.HK) cancelled its flight between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv due on Tuesday and said it would provide further updates about the next flight on Thursday. Korean Air (003490.KS) cancelled its Monday flight between the port city of Incheon and Tel Aviv and warned future flights may be irregular. The Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel, at war with Hamas, Monday morning was flooded with people trying to leave the warzone for safer places. Some, such as journalists and soldiers poured in, the former to report, while the latter to serve the country. Firstpost is in Tel Aviv, a city in Israel, bringing in ground report from the warzone. Ben Gurion airport is one of the targets of Hamas and heres a report FP Managing Editor Palki Sharma from the warzone. A Turkish air strike Monday killed 11 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training centre for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said. Eleven killed and dozens wounded after a Turkish war plane targeted a training centre belonging to the internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyeh in Hasakeh province, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Kurdish force reported the strike in a statement, saying that a number of our forces were killed and others wounded. AFP correspondents said authorities in the area have called for blood donations. Amid the chaos of Syrias long-running civil conflict, Syrias Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the countrys northeast. Since Thursday, Turkey has been bombing sites in the area, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities. Turkeys defence ministry said Friday it had launched the new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel. A branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies claimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016. Turkey launched strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq hours after the October 1 attack, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan saying days later that the assailants came from Syria and were trained there. Kurdish denial The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces led the battle that dislodged Islamic State group fighters from their last scraps of territory in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) that dominate the SDF as an offshoot of the PKK. The SDF, the Kurds de facto army in the area, denied the Ankara assailants had passed through the area. Turkish bombings had mostly subsided over the weekend after strikes hit energy infrastructure including power stations and oil facilities on Thursday and Friday, killing at least 15 security personnel and civilians, according to the Kurdish authorities. Since 2016, Turkey has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made threats of a new incursion. Turkey supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country that angers Damascus. In November last year, Turkey launched air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria and Iraq in response to a bombing in Istanbul that killed six people. The conflict in Syria has killed more than half a million people since it began in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, spiralling into a devastating war involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists. Australia was hit by a controversy when a Sydney man was arrested by the New South Wales (NSW) police during a pro-Hamas rally in for waving Israeli flags at the march. The video of the incident that has now gone viral shows a man clutching a folded Israeli flag being ushered away by police at Town Hall for allegedly disrupting peace. The man can be heard saying, I have done nothing wrong. A pro-Palestinian rally was organised in Sydney Monday at Town Hall in Sydneys CBD. The NSW Police were in attendance, monitoring the situation, but did not disperse the protesters even as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for cancellations. Cops said the crowd were generally well behaved and complied with police direction. Meanwhile, police formed a ring of steel around Sydney Opera House as pro-Palestine protesters converged in large number outside to demonstrate against the iconic building being lit up blue and white in support of Israel. Earlier, the UK and Germany too had showed solidarity by projecting the Israeli flag on prominent buildings. Muslim mob appears to be attacking Sydney Opera House with flares after pro-terrorist rally. pic.twitter.com/Bh7EXoO1Dv Australian Jewish Association (@AustralianJA) October 9, 2023 According to Australian Jewish Association, hundreds of Muslims in Sydney celebrated the atrocities of Hamas on Israel. They gathered at Lakemba Station on Sunday night, just a day after at least 700 people were killed in Israel and another 2,000 were reportedly injured. Crowds were heard chanting Palestine will be free and Allahu Akbar throughout the gathering. The numerous signs held by women and children in the crowd read: The Khilafah will be the true response", "Stop prosecuting Muslims." HAPPENING NOW: A pro-Palestinian rally is underway at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling for cancellations. The Sydney Opera House will tonight glow blue and white in support for Israel. #9News MORE: https://t.co/HoRmHwj6qG pic.twitter.com/zyUP2sx8jJ 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) October 9, 2023 People were seen wearing T-shirt reading: "Free Palestine". Albanese called pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the rally Albanese earlier called on pro-Palestinian protesters to abandon the rally. The Australian PM called on people to respect the "loss of life" that occurred on the weekend after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to the death of more than 1,100 civilians. "I think people need to really take a step back," he said, adding, "What has occurred here is completely indefensible." "You can't target civilians like what occurred over the weekend where you had thousands attending a music festival. The idea that you would have people launching essentially indiscriminate shooting at random, just trying to cause as much harm and bloodshed as possible, is just an atrocity that deserves condemnation of all," the Australian PM said. In response to the deadly attack on Israel by the Islamist group Hamas, Austria announced on Monday that it was halting aid to the Palestinians. Germany looked to follow suit by declaring that no aid payments were being made at the time. Austria is stopping funding for a few initiatives totaling about 20 million euros, according to Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Neutral The ruling conservatives in Austria have recently taken one of the EUs most pro-Israel positions. Following the shocking Hamas attack launched from the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the Israeli flag has been raised above the chancellors office and the Foreign Ministry. The extent of the terror is so horrific that we cannot go back to business as usual. We will therefore put all payments from Austrian development cooperation on ice for the time being, Schallenberg told ORF radio in comments confirmed by a spokeswoman, adding the estimate of funds and projects affected. Schallenberg did not distinguish between Gaza, a Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas, and the much larger West Bank run by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah movement is a rival to Hamas. Hamas militants killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens in the deadliest such incursion since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, prompting Israel to retaliate with its heaviest ever bombardment of Gaza, killing more than 400 people. On Sunday, neighbouring Germany debated whether it should stop aid to Palestinians following the Hamas attack, with Development Minister Svenja Schulze of the ruling Social Democrats saying the government had always been careful to check that the money was only used for peaceful ends. On Monday, she said no payments were currently being made but, asked by reporters if that meant Germany was freezing aid, she said: I would not at this point use the word freezing, as we are in the middle of a war The formulation does not correspond to the situation on the ground. We are in contact with our partners there and reviewing everything again, she told a news conference. The German development ministry did not immediately reply to request for more details. Schallenberg said Austria would assess its projects before deciding how to proceed in consultation with partners within and outside the EU. Pakistan and China have decided to extend invitations to third parties to join the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This corridor constitutes a crucial component of Beijings expansive Belt and Road Initiative, a top Pakistani diplomat has said. The countrys ambassador to China Moinul Haque told Chinas official CCTV on Sunday that the two countries are now working to extend CPEC to Afghanistan, Pakistans state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Monday. India firmly opposes the CPEC, which will link Xinjiang in China and the Gwadar port in Pakistan, because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistans Balochistan with Chinas Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of Chinas ambitious multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is seen as an attempt by China to further its influence abroad with infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments all over the world. In his comments, the Pakistani envoy said the CPEC has been a game changer and very important for the socio-economic development of the country. Now, our two countries have agreed to invite third parties to participate in this project. We are now working to extend it to Afghanistan, Haque said. The ambassador highlighted that China is a global leader in many technologies including artificial intelligence, e-commerce and green technologies, the report said. So, it has been identified as one of the most important areas for the second phase, and we have established joint working groups for cooperation, he said. Haque said new corridors like the China-Pakistan Digital Corridor, Green Corridor and Health Corridor have been launched to benefit from the emerging opportunities in areas of science and technology and Information Technology (IT).India has previously expressed its opposition to the plan of China and Pakistan on the participation of third countries in so-called CPEC projects.Any such actions by any party directly infringe on Indias sovereignty and territorial integrity. India firmly and consistently opposes projects in the so-called CPEC, which are in Indian territory that has been illegally occupied by Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs said last year.Such activities are inherently illegal, illegitimate and unacceptable, and will be treated accordingly by India, the MEA statement said in July last year. Haque said the major focus has so far been on the energy sector because when CPEC kicked off, Pakistan was facing acute shortages of energy and long hours of load-shedding. New projects under CPEC have put in almost 8,000 megawatts of new energy into Pakistans system helping to fulfil not only the needs of the common man but also the industries, he said.In Pakistan, we consider China as our best friend and in China, I know, Pakistanis are known as Battie, the iron brothers, an expression which is only reserved for Pakistan. Its very heartwarming, he added. Haque said besides promoting economic relationships, trade, and investment industry, both countries are focusing on cooperation in culture, education and tourism. With inputs from PTI. In a harshly worded address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the Israeli response has only just begun and that Hamas will experience many tough and terrible things. Additionally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to transform the region as Israel retaliated after a deadly Hamas strike and worked to heal and support traumatised families. On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, sending a barrage of rockets into the southern and central regions of the nation. This marked a significant escalation in the conflict. The Times of Israel reported that 800 Israelis have died since the attack on Saturday, citing Israeli local media. The Israeli government reports that over 2400 persons have also sustained injuries. I know youve been through tough, terrible things. What Hamas will go through will be tough and terrible were already in the midst of the battle and weve only just begun, Times of Israel quoted Netanyahu as saying citing the PM Office. He continued to commend the warriors for their perseverance and predicted that the forthcoming battle would last a while. The nation will turn over every stone to help you all. I ask that you stand strong because we are going to change the Middle East, he said. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated earlier in the day that a complete siege of the Gaza Strip has been ordered. Following an evaluation at the IDF Southern Command in Beersheba, he made the remark. I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, Gallant said. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly, he added. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces, declared that Israeli forces have retaken control of all communities along the Gaza border. In the last few hours, there have been isolated incidences of fighting between troops and terrorists, he claimed. According to Hagari, soldiers of the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council killed three terrorists. He said that one death occurred in Beeri, five in Holit and Sufa, and four in Alumim. According to Hagari, there isnt any fighting going on right now in any of the towns. According to the IDF, new airstrikes are being conducted in the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, Israel is attacking Hamas terrorist organisation targets. (With agency inputs) According to the BBC on Monday, which cited an official source, more than 10 Britons are presumed dead or missing in Israel. However, foreign minister James Cleverly stated he would not speculate on the number of Britons or dual nationals in the region. The Foreign Office of Great Britain declined to comment on the report. When asked about the number of British or dual British-Israeli nationals either dead or missing, or in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, Cleverly told reporters: The nature of Israeli citizenship means that there are a significant number of dual British-Israeli nationals, many of whom will have made their permanent home in Israel, many of whom will be serving with the Israeli defence force. So its not possible for us to give numbers and I do not intend to speculate. In a surprise strike on Saturday, the islamist organisation Hamas massacred 700 Israelis and kidnapped hundreds more. 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 said that a second British soldier was missing. (With agency inputs) Alleging that the agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were involved in the killing of separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada, an independent blogger, Jennifer Zeng, has said that Chinas purpose was to frame India creating discord between India and the West. Exclusive: Today, shocking revelations about the assassination of the #Sikh leader, #HardeepSinghNijjar in #Canada, have emerged from within the #CCP. It is alleged that the assassination was carried out by CCP agents. The purpose was to frame #India, creating discord between pic.twitter.com/aweBigR1bf Inconvenient Truths by Jennifer Zeng (@jenniferzeng97) October 8, 2023 She also alleged that it was a part of the CCPs sinister Ignition Plan to disrupt the world in line with Xi Jinpings military strategy regarding Taiwan. Jennifer Zeng is a Chinese born rights activist, journalist who is currently living in the US. In a video posted on the social media platform, X, Zeng dubbed the killing of Nijjar as an assassination claiming, Today shocking revelations about the assassination of Sikh religious leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the assassination was carried out by CCP agents. On 18 June 2023, Hardeep Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. The independent blogger attributed her allegations to Chinese writer and YouTuber Lao Deng, who according to her, lives in Canada now. Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative Ignition Plan, the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held thereThe objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West, Zeng claims in the video posted on X. The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh leader in Canada. Following the meeting, the CCP agents meticulously executed the killing plan, she claimed. Explaining their modus operandi, the independent blogger alleges, On June 18th, the agents armed with silenced guns tracked Nijjar. When the deed was done, they destroyed the dash camera in Nijjars Car to erase any evidence. After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes. She also alleged that the killers even purposely learned Indian-accent English. Therefore, they purposely spoke in India accent EnglishIn fact, these actions were part of the scheme by CCP secret agent to frame India, said Zeng. She also claimed that Lao revealed that the CCPs ignition plan was devised this year after the CCPs two sessions. There has been no response to Jennifer Zengs allegations, posted in the video on Sunday afternoon (US time) from either the Chinese foreign ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada soured after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the killing 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. India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it absurd and motivated. Amid escalating tensions, India has called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. 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. In both Israel and the Palestinian territories, China claims that it opposes and condemns violence against civilians. China is highly concerned about the recent escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning says, adding that Beijing is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict, and opposes and condemns actions that harm civilians. The announcement follows a letter from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to Chinas foreign minister in which Schumer expressed his disappointment with Beijings earlier response to the recent Hamas attack, which showed no sympathy or support for Israel. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks, Schumer, who is leading a delegation of six senators to China, tells Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Before media are led out of the room, Wang, who spoke before Schumer in their opening statements, doesnt answer. Yesterday, a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged both parties to use moderation and put an end to the hostilities. It stated that the primary solution to the problem is the creation of an independent state of Palestine. (With inputs from agencies) On Monday, China issued a warning to the Philippines not to engage in any more provocations at an atoll in the South China Sea, claiming that such actions have breached Chinese territorial sovereignty, broken international law, and disturbed regional peace and stability. The atoll has never been a part of the territory of the Philippines, which is specified by a number of international treaties, the Chinese foreign ministry asserted in a forceful statement, referring to the atoll as Renai Reef. The China Coast Guard has frequently sent warships to impede the resupply attempts because the Philippines has been providing supplies to its troops stationed on a World War Two-era cargo ship turned military outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal. China points to a line on its maps that enters the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia in order to assert its authority over practically the whole South China Sea. Beijing disagrees with the Permanent Court of Arbitrations 2016 finding that the line depicted on Chinese maps lacks legal support. The atoll, which is located 190 kilometres (118 miles) off the Philippine island of Palawan, is known as Ayungin in the Philippines and Renai Reef in China. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Renai Reef on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. Since Manilas attempt to press its claim to the atoll in 1999, when it grounded the BRP Sierra Madre there, China has repeatedly requested that the Philippines move the ship away. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible, the Chinese ministry said. However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines acts of going back on its words again and again and violating Chinas territorial sovereignty, it said. The ministry stated that the Philippines must avoid making provocations and creating trouble at sea. China declared that it would keep taking the steps necessary to strongly defend its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. (With agency inputs) A US Congresswoman has called for an investigation into the source of US-made weapons used by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the ongoing conflict in Israel. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene Sunday asked where Hamas get the US-made weapons. She alleged the weapons could be coming from Afghanistan, where the US left a huge arsenal when it hastily pulled out in August 2021, or Ukraine, where America is currently sending weapons to fight against Russian invasion. We need to work with Israel to track serial numbers on any U.S. weapons used by Hamas against Israel. Did they come from Afghanistan? Did they come from Ukraine? Highly likely the answer is both, the congresswoman wrote on X (formerly Twitter). While there was evidence to confirm Greenes allegations, Russia Today claimed that a video message from a Hamas terrorist thanking Ukraine for the weapons was doing rounds on social media. Meanwhile, the death toll in the ongoing conflict in Israel crossed 1100 on Monday, with over 700 reported killed in Israel and around 400 people in the Gaza Strip. Thousands are left injured. Fighting continued in southern Israel, as Hamas militants were believed to still infiltrating, according to local media portal Haaretz.com. The Israeli Defence Forces overnight conducted instance air strikes in Gaza, claiming to have attacked around 500 Hamas targets. The conflict began with the Hamas offensive, which began Saturday morning. First, the Palestinian militant group which operates out of Gaza, launched a heavy aerial attack on Israel with over 5000 missiles, and then it launched an incursion into southern Israel. Visuals claiming to show Hamas militants trying to infiltrate Israel via sea also went viral. While some reports suggest that the aerial attack in the wee hours of the morning was a cover for the infiltration, others suggested that both took place simultaneously. According to a Reuters report, Palestinian militants crossed into Israel as early as 7:40 am. Hamas militants attacked at least three Israeli military installations: the Erez border crossing, the Zikim base and the Gaza division headquarters at Reim. Videos posted by Hamas showed militants overrunning a military facility. It also posted videos showing captured Israeli soldiers parading through the streets of Gaza. Israel in response declared a state of war with Hamas. The Israeli Defence Forces launched operation Swords of Iron, with the Israeli Air Force bombing Hamas targets in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to turn Hamas into rubble. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who has Palestinian ancestry, decried Hamas after its attack on Israel. The best thing that could happen to the Palestinian people is for Hamas to completely disappear. Those savage beasts do not represent the Palestinians, Bukele said on the social network X, previously known as Twitter. Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause would make a great mistake siding with those criminals. He also compared Hamas to the MS-13 gang, which has terrorised El Salvador for years. As a Salvadoran with Palestinian ancestry, Im sure the best thing that could happen to the Palestinian people is for Hamas to completely disappear. Those savage beasts do not represent the Palestinians. Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause would make a great mistake Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) October 9, 2023 Israel intensified its bombardments of the Gaza Strip on Monday after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the enclaves Hamas rulers, as Israeli soldiers fought to secure the border and dislodge Gaza gunmen from areas of southern Israel, reported The Associated Press. 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. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 captives from the Israeli side. More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling militants holed up in several locations. As Monday began, the military said it was fighting Hamas in seven to eight places in southern Israel. Meanwhile, Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including airstrikes that leveled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves northeast corner. With inputs from agencies EU foreign ministers will on Tuesday hold urgent talks on the situation in Israel and Gaza after Hamas militants launched a surprise assault, the blocs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. I am convening tomorrow an emergency meeting of EU Foreign Ministers to address the situation in Israel and in the region, Borrell wrote in a social media post on Monday. Borrell and a number of EU foreign ministers are currently in Oman for long-planned talks with Gulf states from the Gulf Cooperation Council. A spokesman in Brussels said the EU talks would be held in a hybrid video and in-person format to allow those foreign ministers not in Muscat to participate. The EU has strongly condemned the unprecedented attack by the Islamist militants that has sparked a barrage of strikes by Israel on Gaza. More than 700 Israelis have been killed and at least 100 kidnapped in the assault that has left the country reeling and sparked fears of a broader escalation in the region. The reprisal bombing campaign by Israel in Gaza has killed 493 people, according to Palestinian officials. Following Hamas attack on Israel, the European Commission declared on Monday that it was reviewing all of its development assistance to the Palestinians, totaling 691 million euros ($729 million). All payments to the Palestinians were also immediately halted. The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people is a turning point, Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, said in a post on social media. There can be no business as usual. In the bloodiest such assault since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, Hamas militants killed 700 Israelis and kidnapped others, leading Israel to reply with its heaviest-ever shelling of Gaza, which has killed more than 400 Palestinians. All new budget requests for help to the Palestinians, according to Varhelyi, have been tabled until further notice. The foundations for peace, tolerance and co-existence must now be addressed, he said. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many, he added. We need action and we need it now. In response to the attack on Israel, Austria announced earlier on Monday that it was suspending aid worth tens of millions of euros to the Palestinians in order to prevent money from going into the wrong hands, and Germany said it was reconsidering its support. (With agency inputs) German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs troubled coalition suffered heavy losses in two state elections Sunday seen as a crucial test halfway through its term, 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 vote projections. The main conservative opposition won in both states, as expected, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made strong gains, ringing alarm bells anew about its growing popularity. Nearly 14 million people were eligible to vote in the states, almost one in five of Germanys electorate. The polls were seen as a crucial indicator of the populations mood, with surging immigration and economic woes among key topics. The poor results triggered soul-searching in Scholzs coalition, with senior figures acknowledging a new approach was needed. The elections were a signal for the three (coalition) parties that a different pace is needed when it comes to solving the problems of the citizens in this country, SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil told broadcaster ARD. In contrast, there was cause for celebration for the anti-immigration AfD. Co-leader Alice Weidel declared the party was on the right track, describing the polls as a lesson for the (coalition) and a vote for change. The elections came after a torrid two years for Scholzs government, which has had to contend with Russias invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis, which 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. Hesse had been ruled for 24 years by the main opposition CDU and Bavaria since 1957 by the CSU, headed by Markus Soeder. Latest far-right win The SPD had sought to gain ground in Hesse by fielding a heavyweight to run for state premier, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. But the party won just 15 percent of the vote, almost five percentage points below its last result in 2018, according to the latest projections late Sunday from ARD. The CDU maintained its first place in Hesse and extended its lead by over seven points to 34.5 percent, the projection showed. State premier Boris Rhein is thus set to retain his job, while Faeser is left facing questions about her political future. The AfD looked to have gained about five percentage points in both Bavaria and Hesse, building on recent local poll wins. While it does not look likely to enter government in either state its strongholds are in eastern Germany analysts said it showed the party had broad appeal. There can no longer be any talk of (the AfD) being merely an east German regional party, said the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung. The AfD is traditionally an anti-immigration party but has also focused on attacking the coalitions unpopular climate policies, driven by the Greens. Critics argue they could unduly burden households. Immigration was also a central theme at the polls 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 will retain his post. But with vote projections 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. But Aiwanger, leader of junior coalition partner the Free Voters, managed to hang on to his job and his party increased its share of the vote 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 fell below the threshold to get into the state parliament. Final results are due later Sunday. Germanys Hamburg airport suspended flights on Monday as police, acting on a threat of an attack sent via an email, searched a plane from Irans Tehran that had landed in the northern city, a federal police spokesperson told news agencies. The airport said on its website that no take-offs or landings were taking place due to police measures. The German Press Agency first reported on the police response to the threat. The news came on the first day of a special meeting of the German and French governments in Hamburg, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Emmanuel Macron both attending. Passengers and crew members are undergoing security checks and the aircraft is being searched. The federal police this morning received by e-mail a threat of attack against an Iranian aeroplane, a police spokesman said. The plane from Tehran with 198 passengers and 16 crew members has since landed safely at Hamburg airport, he added. The threat came as West Asia descended into chaos after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel. Iran has rejected unfounded allegations that it had a role in the massive assault on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The accusations linked to an Iranian role are based on political reasons, foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told reporters. The Islamic republic, he said, does not intervene in the decision-making of other countries, including Palestine. 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. More than 1,100 people have been killed in the conflict so far, with Israel reporting over 700 dead and the Palestinians putting their toll at 430. Israel Defence Force (IDF) International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht on Sunday characterized the Hamas attack on Israel as their 9/11 and stated that Israel would take whatever action is necessary in response. Hecht said, that the Hamas attacked us on the ground, in the air also through the sea and they did not go for military targets, they went for civilians. The numbers are unprecedented We are going to do whatever is needed. The style of the attack is barbaric. In a way, this is our 9/11. And even more than that, it attacked the party going on in the Gaza Strip. Attacking civilians, kidnapping a grandmother. A lot of my friends near the strip are affected by this. Soldiers have been killed. There are real stories of heroes that engaged with terrorists, he said. In a live video on X, the Israeli defence spokesperson asserted that the attack was against International Law, and Islam and his country would act very severely against it. He added, We gonna respond very very severely to this. This was against international law, this is against Islam, hurting children. We are also looking at the north, there was some unrest in the north this morning. I hope Hizbul and Iran dont do the mistake of joining in. We are ready, we are standing strong, we will overcome this. He also mentioned the situation in the country and informed that Hamas is attacking on the ground, in the air and at sea. Hecht said, Very hard 24 hours. Unprecedented events. We were attacked by Hamas yesterday. We have been talking about Hamas for years who they are & what they want the annihilation of our stateThey attacked us on the ground, in the air & also through the sea. They did not go for military targets, they went for civilians. The numbers are unprecedented. 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. 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. In a previous post by IAF, it said that their jets struck the military headquarters belonging to the Hamas group and was used by the organization for recent operations. 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. Meanwhile, the Israels security cabinet approved the war situation and taking significant military steps according to the Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government., Israel Prime Ministers Office announced on X. According to the Israel PMs 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 PMs 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. Notably, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Hamas has grown stronger with Irans support in recent years. However, he also mentioned that there is no direct evidence of Irans involvement in the specific Hamas attack on Israel, ABC News reported on Sunday. In an interview with ABC News, the US Secretary said, Theres a long relationship between Iran and Hamas. In fact, Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support that its gotten over many years from Iran. We havent yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack is involved, but the the support over many years is clear. He added, Its one of the reasons that over the last couple of years, we have been resolutely working against Irans support for terrorism, for destabilizing actions in other countries. Weve sanctioned more than 400 Iranian individuals and entities precisely for the kind of support that theyve offered Hamas in the past. And its something that we remain extremely vigilant about. The Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon in a press conference in New Delhi asserted that Iran is supporting the Hamas attack on Israel and supplying the group with ammunition. He emphasized that the terrorists behind these actions will face grave consequences and Israel will respond on its terms, at its own pace, and in the manner it deems appropriate. Its clear to us that Iran is involved with it. We know for sure about supplying of weapons training and I will not exclude even organizing or helping organize this specific attack. There is an attempt now to heat the northern border in order to take the attention of Israel. Its places where Indian uniform soldiers are there, he said during a press conference emphasizing that Israel would not rule out the possibility of Iran assisting the terror group in the specific attack. The terrorists are going to pay a very big price. We will act at our pace, in our choosing, the way we want it, Gilon said while issuing threat to Hamas. As per the updated data, 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. On October 7, 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. A source close to Hamas has reportedly revealed that the terrorist organisation spent years trying to convince Israel that it was not interested in war and that it could be appeased with financial rewards to keep things relatively peaceful. According to a report from news agency Reuters, Hamas gave Israel the idea that it was not ready for a fight. While preparing for the enormous sea, land and air attack on Israel. Hamas used an unprecedented intelligence tactic to mislead Israel over the last months, by giving the public the impression that it was not willing to engage in a fight or confrontation with Israel. This careful campaign of deception ensured Israel was caught off guard when the Palestinian Islamist group launched its devastating attack, enabling a force using bulldozers, hang gliders and motorbikes to take on the Middle Easts most powerful army. Saturdays assault, the worst breach in Israels 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 groups 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. Three sources within Israels security establishment, who like others asked not to be identified, also contributed to the Reuters report. 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. 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 Israels military power and capabilities. Mock Israel Set-up 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 wasnt 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 Israels 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 According to the source, several supporters of Hamas publicly criticized the groups restraint, which was once again intended to give the image that Hamas was more focused on economic issues than a new conflict. There were many who made fun of Hamas for going quiet in the West Bank, which is under the leadership of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah organization. In a statement from June 2022, Fatah claimed that Hamas officials had fled to Arab cities to live in luxurious hotels and villas, abandoning their people in Gaza to hardship. A second Israeli security source said there was a period when Israel believed the movements 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. The D-Day 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 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 that divides Gaza from the settlements and which was 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. A commando unit attacked the Israeli armys 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 Reim 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. (With inputs from agencies) Through quiet diplomacy with Iran, US President Joe Bidens administration had strived to keep a lid on Middle East troubles. That bet came crashing down with Saturdays massive offensive by Hamas against Israel. Irans clerical leadership openly supports the Islamist militants, who control the blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip, and hailed the sneak attack that inflicted the deadliest blow on Israel in decades. The Biden administration has engaged in cautious talks with Iranian officials, mostly taking place out of public view in Gulf Arab states, and reached an agreement last month that freed five Americans. While making limited headway on the key issue of Irans nuclear program, US officials have alluded to tacit understandings with Tehran to turn down the temperature. Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security advisor, told a September 27 event that Iranian-backed attacks in Iraq have stopped for now and pointed to a de facto truce in war-ravaged Yemen, where Tehran backs Huthi rebels. The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades, Sullivan said, while cautioning that the situation could change and listing Irans nuclear program and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as festering issues. Less than two weeks later, Hamas launched its surprise attack against Israel, leaving US diplomats scrambling to try and contain the outbreak of violence from spreading in the region. The rival Republican Party has gone on the attack against Biden over the violence, pointing to the deal to free prisoners, which required the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue frozen in South Korea to an account in Qatar. There is no evidence the money went to Hamas. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said not a single dollar has been dispensed and that the funds are restricted to humanitarian purchases. But beyond the money, some experts said the offensive showed the limitations of Bidens approach with Iran. The deal with Iran was not just about prisoner release, but establishing some kind of a process that could potentially de-escalate the conflict between the two states, said Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow for Middle East studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. I have to say, I see no indications that Iranians are actually interested in de-escalating, he said. How much support? Blinken, speaking to NBC News, said the United States did not have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out. But he added Hamas wouldnt be Hamas without the support its had for many years from Iran. Neomi Neumann, the former head of research for Israels internal security agency Shin Bet, said the offensive could have been timed in part due to Irans hopes of scuttling momentum to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia a Sunni kingdom and rival of Tehrans Shiite clerics. Recognition by Saudi Arabia, the guardian of Islams two holiest sites, would be a major coup for Israel. It is reasonable to assume that Hamas trained for many months for this attack, but it is not inconceivable that the current timing is the result of Iranian influence and even pressure, said Neumann, now a visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She also pointed to threats by Hezbollah, Irans Shiite allies in Lebanon, to launch a second front if Israeli forces enter the Gaza Strip. While the United States historically has prioritized containing Irans contested nuclear program, Neumann said it would be a mistake to reach any agreement that fails to address demands to end subversion in the region and support for terrorist groups. It seems that this view is shared by Sunni governments in the region, who see the Iranian threat in the same way, she said. Riskier to escalate? Irans rulers have seen Israel and the United States as arch-enemies since taking power in the 1979 Islamic revolution that toppled the Western-oriented shah, who was Israels main regional ally. Israel, while embarrassed by the intelligence failure to prevent Saturdays assault, has made little secret of its ability to strike inside Iran, including through killings of nuclear scientists and cyberattacks. Ali Vaez, who follows Iran at the International Crisis Group, which promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts, said that the de-escalation between Iran and the United States was never comprehensive. It did not cover Irans tensions with Israel, which are never far from the surface, he said. But the US has very little to gain by escalating against Iran amid this Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he said. That would only add a perilous nuclear crisis to the existing tragic turmoil in Ukraine and the Levant as US presidential elections draw closer. The armed wing of Hamas declared on Monday that it would start beheading an Israeli captive if Israel were to continue attacking civilian homes without giving advance notice. The spokesman for the Hamas armed wing, Abu Obaida, claimed that by protecting the Israeli hostages, they were acting in accordance with Islamic teachings. Hamas attributed the intended action to Israels increased use of bombing and the unannounced slaughter of civilians inside their homes. (With agency inputs) According to Dammu Ravi, Secretary for Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs, during a press conference on Monday, India is looking into trading local currencies with Tanzania. We are exploring new areas of cooperation including in trade in local currencies. This is one of the topics discussed by the two leaders, Ravi told reporters in the national capital. The two leaders expressed a willingness to increase bilateral trade using local currencies earlier in the day, according to the joint statement that was issued following their discussion. They pointed out that the Reserve Bank of India (Indian Central Bank) opened Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVA) of correspondent banks in Tanzania, paving the way for trade using local currencies like the Indian Rupee (INR) and Tanzanian Shilling, and that transactions using this mechanism have already taken place. The two sides agreed to continue with the consultations in order to address any concerns so as to ensure the sustainability of this arrangement, the joint statement read. In order to conduct currency exchanges in local currencies, banks from other nations have set up unique Rupee vostro accounts in Indian banks. Simply said, vostro accounts allow domestic banks to offer worldwide financial services to customers that require them. Last year, the Reserve Bank of India implemented a policy that permits transactions in domestic currencies in order to encourage the expansion of international trade, with a focus on Indian exports, and to raise interest in the rupee. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, is in India on a state visit at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. A significant delegation was with President Hassan. The two presidents declared the elevation of the Indo-Tanzania relationship to the level of Strategic Partnership with a view to further solidifying the bilateral ties and boosting collaboration across numerous areas. The strategic alliance, according to both parties, will enable the two nations to work together on matters like maritime security, defence cooperation, development partnerships, trade, and investment, among others. Tanzanian cashew nuts, pigeon peas, spices, avocados, and other agricultural products continue to be sent to India in large quantities. Both parties decided to intensify their current level of collaboration in this area. India alone exports USD 3.9 billion and buys USD 2.4 billion in 20222023, totaling USD 6.4 billion in bilateral commerce between the two nations. India is Tanzanias fifth-largest investor, at roughly USD 3.7 billion in investments covering a range of sectors. (With agency inputs) Noted Indian Americans, including two Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, have rallied behind Israel following unprecedented attacks on it by the Hamas militant group that has left hundreds dead. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks in southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple airstrikes targeting Hamas key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. Hamas and the backers who support them, the Iranian regime, were chanting Death to Israel, death to America. Thats what we have to remember. We are united with Israel because Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Iranian backers hate us, Republican presidential candidate Haley told NBC News on Sunday. We have to remember that what happened to Israel could happen here in America. And I hope that we all unite and stand with Israel because they really need us right now, she said. In a post on X, Haley told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finish them (Hamas). Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Haley said she had introduced a resolution denouncing Hamas when she was the US ambassador to the UN. America was the only member of the Security Council to vote for it. This is what Israel is up against a world that denies the evil in front of them. We did not bow to world pressure thenwe wont now, she said. Other Indian American Republican candidate Ramaswamy said the key lesson for America to learn from the attack on Israel was that it cannot be complacent about defending its own borders. If it can happen there, it can happen here. Our own border is completely porous right now. The Southern Border is a disaster and I visited the Northern Border yesterday which is wide open for invasion. Hamas picked a moment when Israel is deeply divided over domestic politics, as we are now here at home, he said. Our own foreign policy establishment has focused on distant foreign priorities while leaving us badly vulnerable on border defence, cyber and super-EMP defence, nuclear missile defence, and space-based defences. We cant lose sight of that and should use the attacks on Israel as a wake-up call here at home, Ramaswamy said on Sunday. Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) posted on social media platform X on Sunday: I stand with Israel with the flag of India in the backdrop. Bharat Barai, Indian Indian-American community leader, said Hamas and Hezbollah are the most barbaric terrorist organisations in the world. Israel has every right to destroy this brutal terrorist outfit for attacking Israel, murdering, abducting, raping and torturing innocent Israeli citizens. The entire civilised world must condemn Hamas and other similar barbarians, he said. The terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel are absolutely horrific, said community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria. I stand with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself. My prayers are with the dead, reported hostages, and hundreds injured and all affected by these horrific attacks. I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks 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 innocent life must be protected on both sides including in Palestine, Bhutoria said. Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the United States unequivocally stands with the people of Israel against this gruesome terror attack and strongly supports its right to defend itself. Sundays war crimes carried out by Hamas against Israeli women and children were inhuman and appalling, said Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna. My heart breaks for the victims, and I stand in solidarity with the people of Israel at this dark moment, he said. Strongly condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas, Indian American Congressman Dr Ami Bera said that it is more important than ever that the United States stands with Israel and its right to defend its sovereignty. America stands firmly with Israel, said Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar, adding that Congress must rally behind Israel until this threat is addressed and security is restored. China has called for an immediate cessation of fighting between Israel and Hamas while reiterating the two-states solution as the only way out of the cycle of violence. 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 Chinese government spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Irish Times. China has been a long-standing votary of the Palestinian Case. It has time and again called for the implementation of UN resolutions on Palestine and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state. Beijing was the first to acknowledge Palestinian statehood in 1988. 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, 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. Last April Beijing offered to act as the mediator between both the sides after successfully brokered a deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran, establishing formal diplomatic relations between the two of the most powerful rivals in West Asia. Last June Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Xi Jinping in Beijing. While they signed a strategic partnership, Beijing offered to mediate between the rival Palestinian factions as a prelude to formal dialogue with Israel. Meanwhile, the US has responded strongly to the Chinese position on the ongoing conflict in Israel. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Chinas top diplomat on Monday he was very disappointed by a recent statement by Beijing on the dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, according to agency pool video. I was very disappointed, to be honest, by the foreign ministrys statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times, Schumer told Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting in Beijing. With AFP inputs The Kremlin has expressed concern regarding recent developments in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, saying that the situation could potentially escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East. Israeli forces were still engaged in combat with Hamas militants on Monday, more than 48 hours after the militants had breached the Gaza border and launched a deadly attack. The army said it would soon go on the offensive after the biggest mobilisation in Israeli history. We are extremely concerned, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a regular news briefing. This situation is potentially fraught with the danger of spillover, and therefore, of course, it is a subject of our special concern these days.Russia, which has relationships with Arab countries, Iran and Hamas as well as with Israel, has repeatedly urged both Palestinians and Israelis to cease violence and has blamed the West for blocking the Middle East Quartet. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group backed by Iran threatens to attack American positions in the Middle East. Palestine is not Ukraine, a spokesperson for the Lebanese terror group says in a statement after the US moved warships closer to its ally Israel.If the US intervenes directly, all US positions in the region will become legitimate targets of the resistance axis and face our attacks. And on that day there will be no red line, the spokesperson says. Palestinian militants from the Hamas group on Saturday fired over 5,000-7,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. The war started off with land, sea and air strikes from the Hamas group, an approach Israel has never seen in decades. Moscow has said that proper negotiation is necessary to provide for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of 1967 with a capital in East Jerusalem. We believe that it is necessary to bring the situation to a peaceful path as soon as possible because the continuation of such a round of violence is fraught with further escalation and the expansion of this conflict, Peskov said. At talks in Moscow, Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that he agreed about the need for the violence to stop but said such events would continue as long as the Palestinian problem remains unresolved. Lavrov said the flare-up in violence had again demonstrated that the status quo in the region was no longer viable. He called for an end to the violence but also said it was necessary to understand why the Palestinian problem remained unresolved. We completely reject violence, but on both sides, said Aboul Gheit, who served as Egypts foreign minister during the final seven years of Hosni Mubaraks rule.We demand the creation of political prospects and a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Aboul Gheit said. Peskov said Russias embassy had no information yet on how many Russian citizens in Israel might have been hurt or killed there. He said Russia was in contact with the Palestinians to find out if any Russians had been injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza. Dozens of foreigners have been killed, injured or taken hostage during a surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas Saturday that has left 700 people dead, mostly Israelis. Many of the missing foreigners were at a desert music festival, where scores of revellers were massacred. Here is what we know so far: Thailand: 12 dead, 11 hostages Twelve Thai labourers were killed, eight were wounded and 11 were taken captive, foreign ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke said Monday. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said there were around 5,000 Thai labourers working in the areas hit by fighting who were being moved to safety. Nepal: 10 dead Ten citizens of Nepal were killed in Kibbutz Alumin, one of the flashpoints of the Hamas assault, the Himalayan republics embassy in Tel Aviv said on Sunday. Four others were being treated in hospital while a search was underway for a fifth person, the embassy added. Kibbutz Alumim was hosting 17 students at the time of the attack. US: 4 dead, toll will rise US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US was trying to verify reports that several Americans were killed and others were missing. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said on Sunday that at least four had been killed, adding: We know the toll will rise. Israels ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, said on Sunday he understood that a number of Americans had been taken hostage but had no details. Ukraine: 2 dead Two Ukrainian women who had been living in Israel for a long time were killed, Ukraines foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Sunday. France: 1 dead, several missing A French woman was killed and several others are missing, the French government said on Sunday An MP representing French nationals overseas, Meyer Habib, said on Monday that at least eight French people had been killed, captured or were missing. The hostages may have included a 26-year-old man from Bordeaux who was at the rave, he said. UK: 1 dead, 1 missing Jake Marlowe, 26, who moved to Israel from Britain two years ago, is believed to have been taken hostage while providing security at the music festival. His mother Lisa told the Jewish News site that he called her to say all these rockets were flying over, and then later to tell her signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you. Israels ambassador to Britain said there was one British citizen in Gaza, without naming the person. A British man who was serving in the Israeli army, Nathanel Young, 20, also died in fighting with Hamas, his family said on Sunday. Canada: reports of 1 dead, 2 missing The Canadian government said on Sunday that it was trying to confirm reports that one Canadian had died and two others were missing. Cambodia: 1 dead Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet said a Cambodian student was killed. Germany: several hostages Several dual German-Israeli nationals were kidnapped, a German foreign ministry source said Sunday. The mother of 22-year-old Shani Louk, told news outlet Der Spiegel she recognised her daughter in videos circulating online of a half-naked woman lying face down in the back of a pick-up truck in Gaza with armed men seated around her. Ricarda Louk told Spiegel that her daughter had been at the rave. Brazil: 3 missing, one injured Brazils foreign ministry said on Sunday that three dual Brazilian-Israeli nationals were missing after attending the music festival and a fourth was being treated in hospital. Paraguay: 2 missing Two Paraguayan nationals who had been living in Israel are missing, Paraguays government said, without giving details. Paraguayan media, including La Nacion de Asuncion, said a couple had been killed. Mexico: 2 hostages Mexicos Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that two Mexicans, one man and one woman, had been taken hostage, without giving further details. Panama: 1 missing Panamas government said one of its nationals, Daryelis Denises Saez Batista, was missing. Ireland: 1 missing An Irish-Israeli woman has been confirmed missing by the Irish government. Local media named her as 22-year-old Kim Damti, who was attending the music festival. In the last phone call she made on Saturday morning she was running with a friend towards a car, the Irish Times newspaper reported. Israeli Opposition and Likud party representatives met today to examine the possibility of forming an emergency government cabinet, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Benny Gantz, a lawmaker in the opposition and a former head of the general staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, wants to join a war cabinet in case of emergency, but he doesnt want the far right to be involved, according to Ynet. MK National Unity, led by Benny Gantz, proposed that in order for it to participate in an emergency unity government, a tiny war cabinet must be established. This war cabinet would include members of Benny Gantzs party as well as relevant ministers picked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a statement to the press released after a meeting between representatives of National Unity and Netanyahus Likud earlier today to discuss the entry of Gantzs party into the government, the party claims that the majority of the authority for fighting a war would need to be transferred to this war cabinet. Instead of accepting new or existing cabinet positions for the duration of the war, the party claims it is advocating that its MPs be appointed as ministers without portfolios. National Unity specifies that during the emergency governments term in office, no legislation unrelated to the war cannot be introduced in the Knesset; this appears to be a reference to the governments very contentious program for judicial reform. Whether it ultimately decides to join or not, National Unity adds that it will support the government and the security forces wholeheartedly throughout the conflict. Netanyahu said on Saturday night that he had made the option of joining the government available to both National Unity and Opposition Leader Yair Lapids Yesh Atid party, but not much has changed since then. In essence, Yesh Atid is requesting that Netanyahu remove the extreme right-wing Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties from his cabinet before it will join. A professor at Harvard and labour economist Claudia Goldin has won the Nobel Prize for Economics 2023. Of all the Nobel Prizes, the one for Economics has the fewest number of women who have won, with just two recipients since it was first awarded in 1969 Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019. Goldin won the Nobel Prize for Economics for having advanced our understanding of womens labour market outcomes, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said on Monday. Goldins research, has focused on inequality and the female labour force in global work spaces. The prestigious award, formally known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is the last of this years lot of Nobel prizes and is worth nearly 11 million Swedish crowns ($999,137). This years awards have seen distinguished scientists win for COVID-19 vaccine discoveries, atomic snapshots and quantum dots while a Norwegian dramatist won for Literature and a jailed Iranian activist received the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize 2023. Last year, the honour went to US economists Douglas Diamond and Philip Dybvig together with former Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke for research on banks in times of turmoil. The economics prize is not one of the original prizes for science, literature and peace created in the will of dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel, but a later addition established and funded by Swedens central bank in 1968. Officials said on Monday that a party of Indian Army mountaineers were caught in an avalanche on Mount Kun in Ladakh, leaving one soldier dead and three others missing. According to Indian Army sources, a group of roughly 40 soldiers from the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) and the Army Adventure Wing were engaged in routine training exercises on October 8 near Mount Kun in Ladakh. Unfortunately, the group encountered an unanticipated avalanche during their training ascent. Four of our dedicated personnel were trapped underneath. The mortal remains of one person struck by the avalanche have been recovered, they added. Search and rescue activities are still being conducted to find and rescue more people who are buried behind the enormous snow deposit despite the bad weather and severe snowfall, they added. Further information is awaited. (With agency inputs) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that creating a Palestinian state was the most reliable solution for peace in Israel and that fighting terrorism alone would not ensure security. He spoke during a press conference with the head of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who visited Russia after the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a massive surprise attack on Saturday. Creating a Palestinian state that would live side by side with Israel is the most reliable path to solve (the conflict), Lavrov said. We cannot agree with those who say that security can only be ensured through a fight with terrorism. He said Moscow was deeply concerned that hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have died and that the Gaza Sector has been declared a target for Israeli retaliation. Lavrov said Russia in the midst of its almost 20-month-long Ukraine offensive had serious questions about Western policy on Israel. They say that (fighting) should be stopped immediately, that Israel should destroy the terrorists, Lavrov said. But this was done before and never after the situation calmed down did they come to the fact that the main reason (for the conflict) needs to be eliminated, he said. The Palestinian problem should not be delayed further. Lavrov earlier said that Russia and the Arab League would work to stop the bloodshed in Israel and Gaza. Aboul Gheit, meanwhile, said he condemned the violence, but from all sides. We demand the creation of political prospects and a fair resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he said. The Kremlin said Monday it feared a foreign player could enter the conflict after the US moved warships closer to its ally Israel. The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency. It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process in order to reduce this escalation and move away from a military solution, he said. 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 UKs 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. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an environmental lawyer, anti-vaccine activist and son of the former senator, is expected to announce Monday in Philadelphia that he is dropping his Democratic Party bid for president and will run as an independent. Kennedys campaign flagged the announcement late last month in a video posted to YouTube, promising a sea change in American politics. Kennedys combination of deep-pocketed backers, famous name and lack of enthusiasm for leading Republican candidate Donald Trump or Joe Biden, the Democratic president seeking re-election, could give his campaign a boost, political strategists say. He could draw the support of about one in seven US voters, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week, and pull votes from both Biden and Trump. At a Democratic National Committee gathering in St Louis last week, party faithful were both dismissive and concerned. Outside of his name, what does he have? Hes an anathema to his familys legacy. Its sort of a disgrace, said Ken Martin, head of Minnesotas Democratic Party. Many Democrats also point to the challenges independent candidates face getting on general election ballots in many states, such as collecting tens of thousands of signatures. Others expressed caution. Its going to be a very, very close race, so every vote counts. We cant go into this election with rose-coloured glasses, said Charles Wilson, chair of Washington DCs Democratic Party. Russia denounced the violence that occurred on Monday in Israel and the Palestinian territories against both Jews and Palestinians, but also slammed the US for what it called a harmful strategy that disregarded the necessity for a Palestinian state to exist independently. More than two days after the militants surged across the barrier from Gaza on a deadly spree, Israeli troops were engaging Hamas gunmen on Monday. The largest mobilisation in Israeli history prompted the army to declare that it would shortly launch an offensive. The Kremlin demanded an end to the violence and expressed its extreme concern that it would lead to a wider confrontation in the Middle East. Russia, which has ties to Iran, Hamas, and Arab nations in addition to Israel, stated the West had ignored the need for an independent Palestinian state within 1967 borders. The West was shortsighted, according to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, if it thought it could just denounce attacks against Israel and then expect for an Israeli victory without resolving the root of the instability, the Palestinian issue. I cannot but fail to mention the destructive policy of the United States which thwarts collective efforts within the framework of the Quartet of international mediators, Lavrov told reporters after talks in Moscow with Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit. The United States, Lavrov said, had sought to monopolise dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis and move away from the creation of a Palestinian state in favour to talks about easing the social-economic problems of Palestinians. The Palestinians want a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital all territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. The Quartet, set up in 2002, consists of the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia. Its mandate was to help mediate peace and support Palestinians in preparation for eventual statehood. Israel said on Monday it had called up 300,000 reservists and warned residents of parts of Gaza to leave, signs it could be planning a ground assault to defeat Hamas. This situation is potentially fraught with the danger of spillover, and therefore, of course, it is a subject of our special concern these days, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Aboul Gheit concurred with Lavrov during their discussions in Moscow that the violence needed to end but added that as long as the Palestinian issue was addressed, such incidents would occur. We completely reject violence, but on both sides, said Aboul Gheit, who served as Egypts foreign minister during the final seven years of Hosni Mubaraks rule. The Palestinian problem cannot be postponed any longer, and the U.N. decisions must be implemented. The Kremlin claimed that the Russian embassy has no current knowledge of the number of Russian people who may have been maimed or killed in Israel. In order to learn if any Russians had been hurt in Israeli attacks on Gaza, he claimed that Russia was in contact with the Palestinians. (With agency inputs) On Monday, the Kremlin expressed its deep concern over recent developments between Israel and the Palestinian Territories and issued a warning that things could get out of hand and spark a larger Middle East crisis. We are extremely concerned, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. We are watching with great concern what is happening around Israel in the Middle East. This situation is potentially fraught with the danger of spillover, and therefore, of course, it is a subject of our special concern these days. On Saturday, Israeli communities became the scene of a bloodiest day in decades as Hamas fighters rampaged over the country. On Sunday, Israel bombarded Gaza with air strikes, killing hundreds of people on both sides, according to reports. We believe that it is necessary to bring the situation to a peaceful path as soon as possible because the continuation of such a round of violence is fraught with further escalation and the expansion of this conflict, Peskov said. This is a great danger for the region. According to Peskov, the Russian embassy in Israel is still unsure of the number of Russian people who may have been harmed or murdered there. As part of his remarks, he added that Russia was in touch with the Palestinians to learn whether any Russians had been hurt in Israeli attacks on Gaza. (With agency inputs) A senior Taliban delegation was visiting western Afghanistans Herat province on Monday in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that killed at least 2,000 people over the weekend and flattened entire villages, a statement said. Saturdays magnitude 6.3 quake hit a densely populated area in Herat and was followed by strong aftershocks in what was one of the deadliest temblors to strike the country in two decades. The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team will visit the quake-affected region on Monday to deliver immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable and accurate distribution of aid, according to a statement from the capital, Kabul. The quake also trapped hundreds and people have been digging with their bare hands and shovels to pull victims both dead and alive from under the rubble. Authorities said Monday they were still waiting for an update on the latest casualties form Herat. The US Geological Survey said the quakes epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. A global response to the Afghanistan quake has been slow, with much of the world wary of dealing directly with the Taliban government and focused on the deadly escalation between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday that has left more than 1,100 dead in fighting so far and thousands wounded on both sides. Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for the international community to come forward but only a handful of countries have publicly offered support, including neighboring China and Pakistan. Aid group CARE USA a member of CARE International umbrella said in a statement that the quake struck at a time when Afghanistan was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis that was significantly under-funded while needs are increasing rapidly. The fast-approaching winter, combined with this new disaster, is likely to exacerbate the existing challenges and make it even more difficult for people to meet their basic needs, like adequate shelter, food, and medicine, it said. CARE is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the western province of Herat, said Reshma Azmi, the groups deputy director for Afghanistan. This comes less than seven months after another powerful earthquake hit the country, leaving thousands homeless and displaced. Azimi was referring to the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March that struck much of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Also, an earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, striking a rugged, mountainous region, wiped out stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people. The situation is worse than we imagined with people in devastated villages still desperately trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble with their bare hands, said World Vision, a global charity. Reinforcements from Kabul arrived on Sunday but the area of the quake has only one government-run hospital. Our colleagues and their families are processing this devastation in their hometowns, and yet we are responding with everything we have, said Thamindri de Silva, the head of the Afghanistan office of the charity. People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe. Please stand with us as we respond. Dozens of teams have scrambled to help with rescue efforts, including from the military and nonprofit groups. Irfanullah Sharafzai, a spokesman for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said more than 20 teams were on the ground on Monday and have set up a temporary camp for the displaced. In neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food items and medicines, as well as tents and blankets. Several international airlines have cancelled flights to Tel Aviv in response to the Hamas militant attack on Israel, stating that they will wait for safety circumstances to improve before restarting service. The Islamist groups fighters killed 700 Israelis and kidnapped scores more in Saturdays attacks, the bloodiest such incursion since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, forcing Israel to counter by bombarding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. On Sunday, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines announced the suspension of direct flights, as did Air France and Finnair of Finland. Airlines in the United States typically operate direct flights from major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Miami. In a statement, United said it had run two scheduled flights to the United States from Israel late on Saturday and early on Sunday but had suspended services until conditions allow them to resume. Delta representatives said flights have been canceled into this week while they monitor the situation to make necessary schedule changes. Britains easyjet said it had halted flights with Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and would adjust the timings of flights in the next few days. Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday, citing the security situation in Israel. It said it would continue flights linking Beijing and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen with Tel Aviv while waiving fees for cancellations before Oct. 20. Cathay Pacific, which said it also cancelled its flight between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, is to provide further updates about the next flight on Thursday. Korean Air said it cancelled its Monday flight between the port city of Incheon and Tel Aviv and expects future flights to be irregular. Ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections in January, Taiwans major opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), announced on Monday that it was discussing methods to work with the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP), another opposition group. The election is taking place while China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has increased military and political pressure in an effort to bolster its claims to sovereignty. The Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) vice president and presidential candidate William Lai has nearly always been in the lead in surveys, leaving former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the TPP and KMT to compete for second place. However, they have been unable to come to an agreement on how to do so, including whether Hou or Ko should resign as their partys respective presidential candidate. The KMT, which has historically supported close connections with China, and the TPP have both broached the notion of working together to overthrow the DPP. The campaign team for Hou stated that it has chosen to hold preliminary consultations with the TPP along with the KMTs central office and urged both parties to sit down together as soon as possible. As long as it is an issue of mutual concern, it can be discussed without preconditions, the statement added. Ko suggested that both parties conduct polls to choose who should run for president and who should run for vice president on a potential united ticket, but the KMT was not a fan of that suggestion. In comparison to the TPPs five seats in parliament, the KMT holds 38 of Taiwans 113 seats in the opposition. The KMT also holds 14 of Taiwans 22 county chief and city mayor positions, compared to the TPPs two. The retired billionaire founder of key Apple supplier Foxconn (2317.TW), Terry Gou, is also vying for president as an independent, but he is trailing in the polls. Along with the DPP, he has offered an opposition alliance, but neither the KMT, whose presidential nomination he attempted, has accepted. (With agency inputs) Irans mission to the United Nations said on Sunday that Tehran was not involved in one of the bloodiest attacks in Israels history when Islamist group Hamas killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens more. The resolute measures taken by Palestine constitute a wholly legitimate defence against seven decades of oppressive occupation and heinous crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime, Irans U.N. mission said in a statement. Iran has made no secret of its backing for Hamas, funding and arming the group and another Palestinian militant organisation Islamic Jihad. The Hamas assault on Saturday, the biggest incursion into Israel in decades, coincided 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 kingdoms rapprochement with Tehran. We emphatically stand in unflinching support of Palestine; however, we are not involved in Palestines response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself, Irans U.N. mission said. Hamas fighters rampage through Israeli towns on Saturday was the deadliest such incursion since Egypt and Syrias attacks in the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago and has threatened to ignite another conflagration in the long-running conflict. Irans U.N. mission said the success of the Hamas operation was because it was a surprise, which makes it the biggest failure of Israels security organizations. They are attempting to justify their failure and attribute it to Irans intelligence power and operational planning, Irans U.N. mission said. In response to the Hamas attacks, Israeli air strikes have hit housing blocks, tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children. They (Israel) find it very difficult to accept that in the intelligence community, it is being narrated that they were defeated by a Palestinian group, said Irans U.N. mission. Donald Trump, former president of the United States, asserted on Truth Social Sunday that if he had still been in power, Russias invasion of Ukraine and the attack by Hamas on Israel would not have taken place. If I were president, the horrible attack on Israel, much like the attack on Ukraine, would never have happened, Trump screamed on his social media account. Zero chance! One day prior, during a meeting in Waterloo, Iowa, Trump addressed the Hamas assault and blamed the bloody war on weak and ineffective American leadership. When he remarked, The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader, Trump was probably alluding to President Joe Biden and his team. Similar remarks about the Kremlin invasion, which turned into a full-fledged war on February 24, 2022, have been made by Trump repeatedly. Trump asserted in March that he could end the conflict after being elected in just 24 hours. If its not solved, I will have it solved in 24 hours with Ukrainian [President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy and with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, Trump stated to Fox News at the time. The key is the war has to stop now because Ukraine is being obliterated, he stated. He made these remarks the day after Hamas attacked Israeli communities surrounding the Gaza Strip from the sea, the air, and land. Since then, the Palestinian terrorists have started shelling important Israeli cities. As per reports, the death toll in Israle have passed the mark of 700 fatalities. At least 424 fatalities have been confirmed in Palestinian regions, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Several Americans are among those who have died in Israel, and more could be among the over 100 hostages that Hamas is reportedly holding. Britains plan to send migrants to Rwanda made it to the UKs highest court on Monday, with the government arguing that it was necessary to prevent Channel crossings while refugees and those seeking asylum maintained Rwanda was unsafe. In June, a lower court ruled that the plan to transport thousands of asylum seekers more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) to East Africa was illegal because Rwanda was not a secure third country. Government attorneys urged the Supreme Court to overturn this decision. Recent laws would make the vast majority of people who get to Britain by small boat from France to have their asylum requests rejected and subject them to deportation. According to the London Court of Appeal, the programme was illegal under the British Human Rights Act, which made the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) a component of British law, because individuals transported to Rwanda ran the risk of being returned home where they may face persecution. Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks promise to prevent the arrival of thousands of migrants in small boats off the south coast of England was severely damaged by that decision. James Eadie, a representative for the government, told the UKs highest court on Monday that there was a serious and pressing need to take effective steps that will act as a deterrent to those undertaking the perilous and sometimes life-threatening journey over the Channel. Eight of the asylum seekers implicated in the case are being represented by Raza Husain, who argued that sending them to Rwanda put them at risk of being sent back to their home countries in violation of international law. He claimed that Rwanda was a one-party, authoritarian state whose government repeatedly imprisons, tortures, and kills those it considers to be its opponents. In its intervention in the appeal, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) argues that it is unsafe to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. In court documents, the agencys attorneys stated that the organisation maintains its unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda. Legal teams for refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, and Sudan also want the court to rule that the system is illegal since refugees in Rwanda are subjected to cruel or inhumane treatment. The Rwandan government has declared that it will provide deported Britons the chance to start over safely in a different country. The outcome, which is likely to result in a final decision by years end, might have significant political ramifications. In an effort to turn around the fortunes of his party, Sunak, whose Conservatives are losing in surveys by roughly 20 points ahead of an election anticipated next year, has pledged to stop the boats as one of his five priorities. Surveys reveal that voters are still very concerned about immigration, which was a big component in the 2016 referendum decision for Britain to leave the European Union, and that the majority of people believe the government is managing the issue poorly. The government had scheduled its first flight to deport Rwandans in June of last year, but an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights prevented it at the last minute awaiting the outcome of all UK legal proceedings. To avoid another incident like this, some members of Sunaks party want Britain to leave the ECHR. Know this; I will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats, Sunak told the Conservative conference. The court case comes at a time when governments all over the world are debating how to handle the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants who are fleeing war zones or looking for better life in the West. While countries in Europe struggle with how to deal with the arrival of hundreds of thousands of migrants from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, President Joe Bidens administration in the United States announced it will add sections to a border wall to prevent record crossings from Mexico. (With agency inputs) Ukraine has ordered 2,000 drones of Chinese origin as it gears up for yet another round of drone battles with Russia. Ukraine has managed a number of tactical wins by destroying Russian equipment but has lost most of its planes to electronic warfare and anti-aircraft fire. Drones that are readily accessible for purchase are utilised for attack missions, ISR functions, and directing artillery fire. Even Russia used Chinese DJI drones for a long time to adjust the howitzer barrage and make sure the shells hit their targets. Russia has considerably decreased the usage of UAVs built outside of the country. To lessen reliance on imports from the West, its domestic industry has developed a variety of drones for the purpose, many of them are quite simple but contain more components made in Russia. The large fleet of civilian UAVs that were supplied to front-line forces was seen in a video released on X (formerly Twitter) by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraines Minister of Digital Transformation. The Army of Drones projects almost 2,000 Autel EVO MAX 4T drones with artificial intelligence will conduct reconnaissance, modify artillery, and locate even covert Russian targets. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced the Army of Drones project last year as a global crowd-funded initiative to produce a sizable stock of drones for use in the conflict against Russia. These may be purchased off-the-shelf from the open market, or the donations could be used to design and construct fresh drones in the nation in collaboration with the countrys incipient state-run defence firms and private sector. By modifying them with basic release mechanisms and dumping grenades on trenches and behind open hatches of tanks and armoured vehicles, Ukraine has prominently exploited civilian and recreational UAVs against Russian soldiers. Additionally, it has mounted big quadcopters that can break through Russian armour with Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPG). Numerous viral videos depict Russian soldiers being taken aback when small bombs modified with fins to maintain their stability and ensure they land next to them. In some violent footage, servicemen could be seen either being murdered instantly or suffering grave injuries, while others could be seen lying maimed on the ground after collapsing and probably dying to their wounds. To a lesser extent than the AFU did using commercially available drones, Russia also imitated the practise in the middle of last year. Hexacopters fitted with Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) warheads were also employed by the AFU at one point to attack Russian armour. The newest, however, are First-Person View (FPV) drones, which allow UAV pilots to experience the drones point of view while in flight by wearing a screen under their brow and covering their eyes. This enhances flight control and flexibility. Thousands of drone pilots are being trained in both nations due to the great demand for this profession. Both forces have produced videos including drone footage from FPV UAVs that have been outfitted with explosives for use as loitering weapons against tanks, artillery pieces, and other ground targets. After deadly Hamas strikes, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to support Israel. He said that he was disappointed that Beijing had shown no sympathy for Israel over the weekend. On Saturday, Hamas fighters assaulted Israeli cities, killing 700 Israelis and kidnapping hundreds more. This was the worst attack on Israeli land since Egypt and Syria struck during the Yom Kippur War fifty years ago. In retaliation, Israel bombarded Gaza, killing hundreds of Palestinians. In response, Chinas foreign ministry urged the relevant parties to maintain peace and put an end to hostilities to safeguard civilians in a statement over the weekend. It also stated that the fundamental way out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent Palestinian state. On a rare journey to Asia, Schumer is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation that also stops in South Korea and Japan. It strives to further the nations economic and security objectives. The ongoing events in Israel over the last few days are nothing short of horrific. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn the cowardly and vicious attacks, Schumer told Xi during their meeting in Beijing. I say this with respect, but I was disappointed by the foreign ministers statement that showed no sympathy or support for the Israeli people during these troubled times, he added. Asked about Schumers remarks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular briefing on Monday that China was highly concerned about the escalation. We are very saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict, and also oppose and condemn such acts against civilians, she added. In order to prevent further casualties, Mao declared that China was calling for a cease-fire. He also advised Chinese tourists to the region to be aware of the local security situation and to stay indoors. Schumer and Democratic committee leaders announced in May that they would draught legislation to restrict the flow of technology to China, prevent it from starting a conflict with Taiwan, and tighten regulations to prevent American capital from going to Chinese companies. This follows the passage of a broad bill last year to increase competition with China in semiconductors and other technologies. Schumer reaffirmed on Monday that the main goals of the trip were to seek economic reciprocity and to level the playing field for American businesses in China. He also reassured that Washington was not looking for a trade war. China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans, including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now, Schumer told Wang during their Beijing meeting. Xi advised Schumer that their two nations ought to respect and work together. The relationship between China and the United States is the most significant bilateral relationship in the world, he continued, and he said he wanted to hear what the other side had to say. Six senators, including Republican Mike Crapo, will meet with executives from American businesses doing business in the region as well as government and business leaders in the three nations they are visiting. Republicans Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, as well as Democrats Maggie Hassan and Jon Ossoff, are among the other senators travelling. On Saturday, the group arrived in Shanghai, where it spent the weekend holding meetings with the business sector. The visit follows those of other high-ranking Biden administration representatives, including Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, in August. Relations that have been strained for years over problems like Taiwan, the origins of COVID-19, and allegations of Chinese espionage are beginning to improve as a result of increasing communication between U.S. and Chinese officials in recent months. Raimondo stated in August that American businesses have complained to her that China has become uninvestable, citing fines, raids, and other steps that make it difficult to conduct business there. Raimondos remarks echo those made by Schumer at the time. (With agency inputs) US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Chinese President Xi Jinping in a rare meeting Monday that he was very disappointed by Chinas failure to strongly condemn the recent Hamas attack on Israel and show sympathy for the country and its people. Schumer is leading a delegation of six senators to China this week. The delegation, which includes three Democrats and three Republicans, is the first visit by US lawmakers since 2019 and comes at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijings rise as a global power. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks, said Schumer. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday called on both sides to exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities but made no mention of the unprecedented Hamas surprise attack early Saturday that has left more than 1,100 dead in fighting so far and thousands wounded on both sides. On Monday, Israeli soldiers were still fighting the militants to secure the border with Gaza. In the ministry statement, China also said that establishing an independent state of Palestine is the fundamental way to resolve the issue. The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on, the statement said, adding that the international community needs to act with greater urgency and facilitate the sumption of peace talks. Schumer met earlier with the head of Chinas rubber stamp parliament and the countrys highest-ranking diplomat, Wang Yi, to whom he delivered the same statement about the recent violence. Wang did not respond before journalists were escorted out of the room. The two governments are trying to arrange a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping during a regional summit in San Francisco next month in a bid to manage the increasingly fraught relationship. China has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. In recent years, it has stepped up its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming Syrian President Bashar Assad on a visit to China. I was very disappointed to be honest by the Foreign Ministry statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these troubled times, Schumer said near the end of his remark to Xi. He said that the top priority for the Senate delegation is seeking fair trade between the two countries. We want the Chinese people to have economic opportunity. That would be good for America, he said. But China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now. Wang urged the United States to respect Chinas core interests and development rights. The Chinese government views American restrictions on trade and technology exports to China as attempts to hold back the countrys economic growth. Schumer also raised the issues of Chinese companies that the US says are supplying chemicals for fentanyl production, ensuring China does not support what he called Russias immoral war against Ukraine, advancing human rights and releasing detained Americans. Israel relentlessly pounded the Gaza strip since the wee hours of Monday as fighting raged with Hamas around the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Army said fighting with Hamas Palestinian militants was ongoing in seven to eight locations around the Gaza Strip inside Israel. Were still fighting. There are between seven to eight open places around Gaza (where) we have still warriors fighting terrorists, military spokesman Richard Hecht told media. We thought by yesterday (Sunday) we would have full control. I hope we will by the end of the day, Hecht said. The death toll from the Israel-Hamas war surged over 1,100 on Monday. The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip in overnight clashes. It came two days after Hamas launched a barrage of rockets and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages in an massive attack that took Israel by surprise. On Sunday, the Israeli government officially declared war on the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel to prepare for a long and difficult conflict. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. In retaliation, Israeli air strikes have hammered the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement. Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus estimated around 1,000 Palestinian militants had participated in Hamass assault on Saturday, which he called 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, he said. He likened it to a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbour wrapped into one. Conricus said around 100,000 reserve troops were deployed to the south as the army battles to expel Hamas fighters from Israeli territory. A very large amount of Israeli civilians and soldiers were being held inside Gaza, he said. Situation is unbearable Netanyahu who leads a hard-right coalition government has vowed to turn Hamas hideouts to rubble and urged Palestinians there to flee. Israeli attacks have levelled several Gaza residential towers and destroyed a mosque in Gazas Khan Yunis, as well as hitting the central bank. More than 20,000 people in Gaza have been displaced due to fighting, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said. The situation is unbearable psychologically and economically, said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, as she took shelter in a classroom with her terrified children. Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the US and EU consider a terrorist group. Oil prices soared more than four percent Monday, sparking concerns about possible supply shocks from the crude-rich region. Israels foes have praised the assault, including Iran whose President Ebrahim Raisi voiced support when he spoke with the leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place in the United States, Iraq, Pakistan and other countries, while 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. We will not give up Dubbing its attack Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas called on resistance fighters in the West Bank and Arab and Islamic nations to join the battle. Its attack comes half a century after the 1973 invasion by Egyptian and Syrian forces, a conflict known in Israel as the Yom Kippur War, and has sparked bitter recriminations for what was widely seen as an 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. An Israeli survivor of the attack on Sderot, Yitzhak, 67, said he now expected the army to conquer Gaza house by house, clean the area there properly, and not leave Gaza until they get the very last rocket out of the ground. With inputs from AFP The capture of scores of Israeli soldiers and civilianselderly, women, children, entire familiesby Hamas terrorists has put the Netanyahu government in a bind since a possible prisoner swap will dampen the mighty vengeance promised by the Israeli prime minister. Palestinian terror group Hamas Saturday stormed into Israeli towns, killing over 700 Israelis and escaping with dozens of hostages back to Gaza, in the deadliest challenge to Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Netanyahu promised to hit back hard and fast, while sticking to a longstanding principle of leaving no one behind, and vowed mighty vengeance. Will Israel swap prisoners? Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri told Al Jazeera the group now had a large number of Israeli captives. Without revealing the exact number, he said that 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, according to Reuters. Netanyahus government consists of powerful far-right religious ministers. It also includes West Bank settlers, who have fiercely opposed any gestures they view as capitulating to the Palestinians. With an estimated 750,000 Palestinians having passed through Israel prisons since Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, most Palestinians have either spent time in Israeli jail or know someone who has, according to The Associated Press. Israel sees them as terrorists, but Palestinians view them as heroes. The Palestinian Authority self-rule government, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank, devotes some 8 per cent of its budget to supporting them and their families. Khalil Shikaki, the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, told AP that the release of any prisoners would be a huge deal for Hamas. It would cement Hamas position in the Palestinian street and further diminish the strength and legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority, he said. In 2011, Israel released over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners to win the release of one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was held for five years. Many of the Palestinian prisoners who were released were convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis. The move at the time was criticised by some Israelis as too lopsided. After the Hamas attack, families of missing Israelis held a news conference Sunday evening, and called on the government to bring home the captives. In 1972, Israels 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. World Health Organizations emergency response director in Afghanistan has said that women and children make up two-thirds of the recent earthquake victims who were hospitalized with serious injuries. The Taliban government reported that the quakes on Saturday, which were among the deadliest in the globe this year after those in Turkey and Syria in which an estimated 50,000 people died, left at least 2,400 people dead and more than 2,000 injured. The majority of those who are injured and killed are women and children who were inside the houses at the time of the earthquake, which occurred around 11 in the morning, when men were out of them, WHOs Dr. Alaa AbouZeid told Reuters in a video interview. Two-thirds of those with severe injuries who are admitted in the hospital I have seen yesterday are children and women, he said, referring to his time in Herat following the quake. He also warned that financing the humanitarian operations remained critical, with global attention and funding shifting away from Afghanistan. That could be attributed to competing or emerging crises around the world, such in the Middle East and Ukraine, and amid concerns over Taliban restrictions on women, diplomats and aid officials say. AbouZeid said it was devastating to see the number of children in hospital in critical condition. I have seen a child like 3-4 months old with head trauma, due to the earthquake, he said. Head trauma can cause long-lasting debilitating effects or disabilities, AbouZeid said. The WHOs response teams were taking the matter seriously, given the impact of such injuries on the victim and their families who would need to support them in the long run, he said. While the response teams saved many lives, hospitals need to be better equipped to deal with further casualties and similar situations in future, he said. Afghanistans healthcare system, largely reliant on foreign aid, has faced crippling cuts in the two years since the Taliban took over and much international assistance, forming the backbone of the economy, was halted. The U.N.s humanitarian office has announced $5 million worth of assistance for the quake response, but immediate material support has come from a limited few countries. The news diverted to whats going on in the Middle East over the past two days and there was very little attention towards the existing crisis in Afghanistan, he said. (With inputs from agencies) Waterpump: Was the mounting surface of your new aluminum wp MACHINED? If you recall when you last did your water pump, or if you have a spare water pump sitting on your shelf right now ready and waiting for that fateful day, or if you are an FTE sponsor who sells water pumps for the 7.3L, can you please report to this thread whether or not the mounting surface of your replacement aluminum water pump was/is as cast, or subsequently CNC surface machined on the gasket side? This isn't a thread about cast iron International water pumps. Plenty of those in the archives. Rather, THIS thread is about comparing the manufacturing processes of aftermarket aluminum water pumps, including the Motorcraft (Made in China) PW455 and aluminum pumps marketed online as being so called "Navistar" or "International" (also Made in China), even though the International T444E employed a cast iron water pump. Not everyone can utilize the cast iron water pump (eg, dual alternator applications MUST use the aluminum pump, due to fitment), so a consumer powered comparison of aluminum pump manufacturers might be useful for future reference. Here is a short and incomplete list of several different aftermarket manufacturers that produce (in China, without exception, regardless of where their corporate offices are headquartered) new aluminum water pumps for the 99 up 7.3L application: - Alliant - AirTex - ASC (ASC and AirTex are now combined as one company) - Eastern Industries (which is actually called Shanghai OEM, a joint collaboration between Springcome Industrial in Shanghai and EI) - FENCO / Fenwick - FMI Automotive - Gates (Made in China... don't be fooled by the history of the Gates brand name ) - GMB - Hytec - US Motor Works (anything but "US", manufacturers water pumps through a partnership with a yet to be identified Chinese casting plant that might already be listed above) An attempt has been made to restrict the list above to include only the actual manufacturers of the water pumps, not the distributors, retail brands, or remarketers. Also note that neither Ford nor International are considered to be manufacturers any longer of an aluminum water pump for this application. Some actual manufactures of water pumps are not listed above (like Bosch, for example), simply because they no longer manufacture a pump for the 7.3L, even though they did in the past (ie, the Bosch 99170 that is no longer available). Other manufacturing names, like Bortek, are not listed because their manufacturing operations ceased or the company was subsumed. Still other companies, like Federal Mogul, are still in the business of making automotive parts, but no longer make water pumps at all. Finally note that a great deal of effort was expended in stripping back and seeing through retailer parts brand names like NAPA and CARQUEST, as examples, to get to the bottom line of who actually manufactures the part. And that manufacturer can change over time. In the case of CARQUEST and Advanced Auto Parts, the actual manufacturer of the pumps they distribute under their own house brands used to be AirTex, but now it is GMB. Still, the manufacturer list above is not represented as complete. But at least it provides enough key words for interested readers to "see through" the smoke and mirrors of branding, to find out who is actually producing the parts, so that a comparison of the actual hardware can be made more insightfully. Which brings us back to whether or not the casting itself is machined at the mounting surface, or simply shipped off as cast. I can report from personal observation that the GMB manufactured pump (remarketed and sold under several different popular brands with lifetime guarantees) is NOT machined at the mating surface, and ships with a black colored gasket... whereas the original production water pump (cast with the 1831005C2 part number embossed) is infact machined at the mounting surface, and was fitted with a light blue colored gasket. Please report your personal observations... especially with forum popularized pumps such as the one that Riffraff sells, and the popular AirTex AW4114. Thank you! CAIRO At the Luxor temple, an enormous ancient Egyptian temple complex on the east bank of the Nile River, Huang Zhao, a Chinese tourist, was taking photos while listening to the tour guide on the temple's history. "The temple is a masterpiece of art," said Huang, who also visited the Great Pyramid, Egypt's southern cities, including Aswan, and sea resorts in Hurghada. "I used to read many books on Egyptology, and visiting the archaeological sites was a dream." Chen Wu, 22, a student who came with her parents from Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said she planned the trip to Egypt two years ago. "My father always encourages me to read history books, especially on ancient civilizations that are similar to the Chinese one," she said. "Ten days are not enough to visit all the archaeological sites," she said while visiting the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. "It is a chef-d'oeuvre of ancient architecture." The recovery of the tourism industry in China is providing a significant boost to outbound tourism. This surge in outbound travel coincided with one of China's most significant annual holidays, the Golden Week, which began on Sept 29 and lasted eight days. During this period, Chinese people celebrated both the country's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival. "In the world's No 2 economy, spending on holidays and inbound and outbound tourism is expected to surge, contributing to the world's tourism recovery," said Mohamed Othman, chairman of the Cultural Tourism Marketing Committee in Upper Egypt. According to the China Tourism Academy, a research institution in Beijing, overseas destinations received a total of 40.37 million visitors from the Chinese mainland during the first half of the year. "Chinese tourists are very well-educated and have a great passion for learning about Egyptian civilization and travel with a good budget," Othman said, adding that Chinese tourists will help revive Egyptian tourism, one of the primary sources of foreign currency. To cater to Chinese tourists, Egypt's tourism authorities have coordinated the installation of signs in Chinese languages at all the archaeological sites, temples and hotels, and provided tour guides who speak Chinese. Main source market According to Fitch Ratings, a credit rating agency in the United States, China was one of the world's largest tourism source markets before the pandemic, with a total international tourism expenditure of $254.6 billion in 2019. It expects a revival of Chinese outbound tourism to boost growth prospects in economies with substantial tourism sectors. "With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, China is a treasure for the world tourism sector," said Ahmad Amer, an archaeological inspector in the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. 404 Something's wrong here Sorry. We can't find the page you're looking for. RETURN HOME FlipKart big billion sale 2023 Find amazing deals on home appliances Partner Content oi -Kabir Jain Home appliances are standard machines that reduce human effort in doing home chores. Today, home appliances are considered as a symbol of luxury, and modern technology has made home appliances to be available at very affordable rates. They have become so cheap that home appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, iron boxes, air purifiers and water heaters are almost all found in homes these days. Gone are the days when people tested their home appliances before the final purchase. People were hesitant to buy home appliances online. E-commerce platform has changed everything Yes, with the arrival of many e-commerce websites like FlipKart, the problem has been solved. Free delivery and free maintenance for a particular time frame are the major attractions of online shopping. These features attract the offline shoppers to try out the e-commerce marketplace. And, the epitome of steal shopping - FlipKart Big Billion Days are upcoming! FlipKart does not need any introduction in the online world. It is the giant e-commerce platform where you can get everything for your home at irresistible discounts and deals. Cash back offers when using a particular bank debit/credit card is a perk that you can enjoy when shopping at FlipKart. You will find offers for all seasons and festivals. You just take advantage of the opportunity and save a lot to your pocket. Here comes the added advantage! You now know that FlipKart's upcoming sale 2023 will save you a lot when buying home appliances. But how exciting it would be if you could compare price rates, availability, etc of particular electronics before the sale starts? Yes, you can do this through Buyhatke.com. It is a reliable online price comparison platform where you can find price history, do price comparison and search for availability of products shown on FlipKart. Click here to Check the Extension>>> Install the Extension Confused at where to conclude? Well, the FlipKart upcoming sale 2023 will bring you a myriad of products and its varieties. You will find many home appliances that help automate home chores. This could make you confuse at which product/brand to buy. This is where Buyhatke helps you purchase based on price history, customer reviews and product variety. Some of the popular home appliances that most people buy includes; Refrigerators No need to explain why a house should have refrigerator in the kitchen. FlipKart Big Billion Days are upcoming and it will surely have amazing discounts on refrigerators. You can buy them through an EMI option if you are short of money. Buyhatke helps you understand what is your credit history, how much you can spend, etc. Washing machines Another important home appliance that cut down the risk of hectic cloth washing chore. It is the most sought-after home appliance in the current scenario. You will be notified about the upcoming deals and discounts on washing machines through Buyhatke. Vacuum Cleaners Arrival of vacuum cleaners has made house or office cleaning less tiring. Things are made cleaner and tidier with vacuum cleaners. And now, they are available at fantastic price rates on e-commerce platforms like FlipKart. Upcoming 2023 sale on FlipKart gets you brand new vacuum cleaners at quite cheap rates. You will find high quality vacuum cleaners of popular brands like Bosch, Eureka Forbes and Philips. Air conditioner Summers are getting hotter and hotter these days and just a fan can't keep your space cool. ACs have become a necessary luxury for every house today and FlipKart's upcoming sale brings ACs of reputed brands at stunning discounts. To conclude, you are just a few taps away on your phone for booking that home appliance to make your home chores easy and more effective than ever before. Visit Buyhatke for deals and discounts from FlipKart upcoming sale. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Security Cabinet Meeting Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 07.10.2023 Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks at the start of the Security Cabinet meeting at the Kirya in Tel Aviv, this afternoon : "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 the 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. 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Deputy Secretary General addresses 2BS (To Be Secure) Forum in Montenegro NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 07 Oct. 2023 NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana gave remarks at the (2BS) Be Secure Forum in Budva, Montenegro on Saturday 7 October 2023. The event was hosted by the Atlantic Council of Montenegro. In his pre-recorded address, Mr Geoana said Montenegro was a highly valued Ally and essential to stability in the Western Balkans. The Deputy Secretary General also spoke about the security situation in the region, Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and NATO's strengthened deterrence and defence. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Background Press Call by a Senior Administration Official Regarding Hamas Terrorist Attacks in Israel October 07, 2023 5:20 P.M. EDT MODERATOR: Great. Sorry. Apologies for the delay, everyone. Good evening. And thanks, everyone, for your patience and joining our call. Thanks for joining this call on Hamas's terrorist attack in Israel. As a reminder, this call will be on background, attributable to a "senior administration official." For your awareness, as you heard not for reporting on the line is [senior administration official]. As a reminder, the contents of this call are embargoed unto the call until the call concludes. With that, I'll hand it over to [senior administration official], and we'll take Qs and As after. Over to you, [senior administration official]. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, everybody, for joining this call. I just wanted to we wanted to provide some, really, background about about activity and kind of flesh out some of what the President discussed during his during his phone call. Last night around really, 2:30 in the morning, we were alerted to the rocket attacks in Israel and were engaged, really, throughout the evening with our Israeli counterparts and regional counterparts to try to determine precisely what was unfolding. This morning at 7:00 a.m., Jake Sullivan spoke with his Israeli counterpart. And then shortly thereafter, around 7:30, Jake convened a call with his national security team, including Secretary Blinken and others. Shortly after that, around 8:15 or so, there was a call the President convened a call with his national security team with Jake Sullivan, Tony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Bill Burns, and others. Throughout that call, the President received a full briefing on the situation and developments, directed full engagement with Israeli counterparts and with regional counterparts. Immediately after that call right at when that call ended, the President called Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Prime Minister, on that call, made very clear this was an unprecedented day for Israel. As he said publicly, Israel is at war. The President offered his full support for Israel and emphasized the close coordination ongoing between our military and intelligence teams, noted that Secretary Austin would soon be speaking with his counterpart. And the President and the Prime Minister agreed to remain in regular contact, both between the two of them as leaders and also, obviously, through our teams. Shortly thereafter, Secretary Austin discussed the situation with his counterpart, the Minister of Defense, Gallant, in Israel again, full support for Israel's military right to defend itself. And the Secretary issued a read-out after that call, which I'm sure you've seen. President Biden later called King Abdullah of Jordan. Of course, the President has known these two leaders for decades. And he called the King of Jordan in between receiving regular briefings from his from his team. The King and the President also agreed to stay in regular contact, including through our respective national security teams. Also, throughout the day, Secretary Blinken, who is here at the White House, spoke with Israel President Herzog. He spoke with the President of the Palestine Authority, President Abbas; the Israeli foreign minister; and his counterparts from Turkey, from Egypt, from Jordan, from Saudi Arabia (audio drops) Italy, and others. Needless to say, Jake, Brett McGurk, Jon Finer have been in touch with counterparts throughout the day. State Department Victoria Nuland, Barbara Leaf engaged throughout the day regional counterparts, G7, European, and Lebanese. We remain deeply engaged as of, truly, this very moment, and one reason I was a little late getting on the call. This is ongoing and continuous, likely to continue for some time. The bottom line, as the President said, the United States stands with Israel. The United States unequivocally condemns the appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza. We have made it absolutely clear to Prime Minister Netanyahu, but to Israeli officials up and down, across the political spectrum and their national security spectrum, that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel. And Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. Full stop. So, how this plays out over the coming days and weeks, again, I'm not going to speculate on this call. But we wanted to give you just some of the backdrop of activity here including, obviously, the President's engagement from early this morning, together with his team as this terrible day has unfolded. So, with that, I will take some some questions and answers. MODERATOR: Thank you, [senior administration official]. We'll go first to Yuna from Channel 12 from Israel. Q Hi, [senior administration official]. Hi, everyone. Was there in the talks any specifics about aid, military aid, some numbers requests from Israel or anything that was discussed about that? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, again, thanks so much for your question. There has been a (audio drops) engagement with his counterpart, but General Kurilla has been engaged with General Halevi. Really, up and down our military chains, just regular coordination about some of the needs that Israel anticipates. And I am not going to get ahead of that process, nor would I likely talk about it in any event. But I would say that that is very much very much under way. And we might have more to say about it as early as tomorrow. MODERATOR: Thank you. We'll go next to Steve from Reuters. Q Hey. Thank you. [Senior administration official], did the U.S. have any inkling that this was going to unfold? This is being called a massive intelligence failure in Israel. Did we know about this and the impact this might have on the talks toward a normalization deal? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks, Steve. I would just say I'm obviously not going to comment on specifics of any intelligence or intelligence sharing. We will continue to provide Israel with support during this critical time, including close close, deep intelligence sharing. We have a very close partnership with Israel. And we always share timely intelligence about threats in the region with Israel and other partners, but in particular with Israel. Again, the President directed his team to ensure we're providing all that support for Israel that it needs now. And as this unfolds, I'm just I'm not going to get into any specific intelligence. Obviously, the Israelis, in particular, will be looking at this very closely, and I'm not going to get ahead of that. I would just say on other things going on in the region look, we've said that we are obviously engaged in the process of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. We've also said that process has a ways to travel. I think it's really premature to speculate as to say say the impact. I would say for certain, Hamas terrorist groups like Hamas will not derail any such outcome, should they be possible. I think that's that's quite certain. But that process has a has a ways to go, as we have said a number of times. I would just come back to the first the first question, I just want to point out: When it comes to Israel's military needs, I mean this is something we've been focused on from day one of our administration. You'll recall the billion-dollar allocation for Patriot interceptor replenishment following the first Gaza war the first time Hamas launched a war here in 2021 the first time in the Biden administration the billion-dollar replenishment for the Patriots. The Jerusalem declaration the President signed with Prime Minister Lapid when he was in Israel talks about the full commitment to our MOU and making sure that Israel has everything it needs to protect their citizens and defend themselves. So, that has been an ongoing, continuous commitment that was reaffirmed today, and we are in deep talks with the Israelis about some of their particular needs as they respond to this terrible assault on the Israeli state and the Israeli people. MODERATOR: Thank you. We'll go next to Nadia from Al Arabiya. Q Hi. Thank you. Thank you for doing this call. [Senior administration official], you mentioned that you talked also with the Lebanese during these calls. Do you have any assurances that the Lebanese government will restrain Hezbollah from opening another northern front with Israel? Also, Prime Minister Netanyahu called on Gazans to leave. The question is, to where? How can the U.S. protect civilians in Gaza who will endure collective punishment and who not necessarily agree with Hamas? And just, finally, on the (audio drops) people talk about a diplomatic failure by not focusing on the heart of the matter, which is the Palestine conflict and the rush to expand the Abraham Accords. How do you respond to that? Thank you so much. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: First, on the Lebanese, I think we made very clear the President made very clear that anyone, any any party that's hostile to Israel, seeking to take advantage of this situation, we'd strongly warn against that. Obviously, we you know, similar to other conflicts in Gaza will work with parties throughout the region to try to contain the situation in Gaza and not spread elsewhere. But these are decisions that will be very important. Obviously, this was one of the topics in discussions with the Lebanese and others and others throughout the day. In terms of our I think your third question, I would just say we have been, you know, very deep look, yes, we do not have a final outcome or resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But let me say: We have been in deep, deep discussions with the Palestinians talking to them almost every day, every week and the Israelis. We brought the Israelis and the Palestinians together in face-to-face talks twice really for the first time in almost a decade in Aqaba and Sharm, and have been working to find some rules of the road. And particularly when it comes to security and other issues, particularly in the West Bank and also in Gaza, working with the Egyptian, the Qataris, and others. So, we have really been all over this. This was an unprovoked assault by a terrorist group, Hamas. And that's what this was, and that is how and that is also going to influence the scope and significance of the Israeli response and, of course, our support for Israel in that response. But that does not take away from our focus on the fundamental issue, which you said. That's one reason why Secretary Blinken called President Abbas today, had a very good call. And needless to say, we have been in touch with other Palestinian officials across the board throughout the day. What was your second question, Nadia? I'm sorry. Q On Netanyahu calling on Gazans to leave. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah. Q To where? (Inaudible.) SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm just I'm not yes, I'm not I actually haven't seen that specific statement. Again, I think that the Israelis are in deep consultations about specifically how they're going to respond. I think it is obviously one of the horrific aspects of this day. We have a number of hostages that have been taken. These are families taken from their homes, taken off the street. Some of them are being held hostage in some of these Israeli towns. Some of them we believe have been taken to Gaza. So, this is obviously being taken into deep consideration by the Israelis. But, again, I'm not I'm just not going to parse that statement, and I haven't seen it. Q Thank you. MODERATOR: Thank you. We'll go to Felicia from Financial Times. Q Thanks, [senior administration official]. Just in terms of Iran's involvement or role in encouraging this, do you have any early indications of what role they're playing? And then on the question of security assistance and the Iron Dome, if Congress needs to pass legislation to do that, does the dysfunction or lack of a Speaker get in the way of that? And if so, do you have any sort of workaround? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: On you second, it's a great question. It's actually something we were discussing today, because there probably is a role for Congress here. And without a Speaker of the House, that is a unique situation we're going to have to work through. So, I don't have a an answer to you, but it is something that we have been we have been discussing. There's also an important role for the Senate. We have an Israeli Jack Lew is our nominee to be ambassador to Israel. Obviously, it would be great to have him on the ground in Israel. And though I'll say that our charge, Stephanie Hallett, is doing a superb really superb job throughout this crisis and in the many months before. On Iran's involvement, I mean, look, specifically about what happened today, it's too early too early to say whether, you know, the state of Iran was directly involved or planning and supporting. I'm not going to get ahead of that. We are going to be looking at that very closely. That said, there's no doubt look, 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. We've imposed sanctions on Iran for support to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. That is going to continue believe me. And Hamas is a terrorist group. Full stop. And this is they launched a war in 2021 through rocket attacks. They tried again in 2022. What we've 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 homes. It is just unspeakable, and we will treat Hamas for what they are. They are an international terrorist organization, and I think that is really what we're focused on right now. MODERATOR: Thank you. We'll go next to Ben, Haaretz. Q Hello? MODERATOR: We'll go next to Ben from Haaretz. Q Hey there. Can you hear me? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I got you. Yeah, I got you. Q Good. Thank you so much. Yeah, so just to kind of circle back to the point that you were making about the Sharm and Aqaba summits. You know, this is the worst attack in at least 50 years and possibly in Israel's history. So, you know, does that not make you kind of does it not bring some sort of introspection about maybe the track that the administration has been on to date is not necessarily working? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Again, this was an attack by Hamas against the state and people of Israel. Hamas launched a war in 2021. They tried to launch war in 2022. And today, we have seen this unprecedented response. Again, we walked into office with a situation where we have basically severed ties entirely from the Palestinians, and we have worked to restore that and to be try to begin a process. I think that's going to continue, but Hamas is never a part of that process. Hamas is in charge of Gaza, and that is a situation that we've been dealing with. And I think what we're really focused on right now is trying to ensure and a number of ways that we're working on this that this does not spread to the West Bank. We want to try to make sure this is contained in Gaza, as terrible as the situation in Gaza is. But this is an attack by Hamas. And so even in that process, Hamas is not a part of that. And so, you know, I think the situation in Gaza has been unique how we deal with it through the Israelis, through the Qataris, through the Egyptians, and others. But given that Gaza is controlled by a terrorist organization, it's just a situation we work with through and with the Israelis and others. But I really the focus today is on the response to this terrible (audio drops) Israel and the people of Israel, and ensuring the Israelis have what they need here to respond appropriately. MODERATOR: Great. Thank you. We'll go next to Asma Khalid from NPR. Asma? Okay, can't hear Asma. We'll go next to Barak from Axios. Q Hi. Thank you. Two questions. First, Israeli officials said that Prime Minister Netanyahu asked President Biden during their call for some sort of an emergency funding for Iron Dome interceptors. Did the President agree? Did the President get ordered some sort of an emergency funding? And second question, it seems that the Israeli Cabinet is about to approve an all-out ground operation in Gaza. Does the U.S. support an Israeli ground operation in Gaza? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, Barak, on your first question, I'll say that that level of detail was not specifically discussed on the President's call, as I recall, so I'm not sure where you got that from. There was a discussion about ensuring, as I as I conveyed in my opening ensuring knew that the Israelis had all the support they needed and that our Secretary of Defense would shortly and almost immediately after the call be discussing the situation with his counterpart and General Kurilla and others, and then the leaders would circle back up. But I think, as you saw in 2021 with the billion-dollar supplemental for Patriot interceptor replenishment, to the extent systems have to be replenished, that's something we have always been committed to. And I think we'd be committed to it here. But I just don't want to go into any any specifics. I also am not going to comment on what the Israelis might do, might not do, should do, should not do. That's just not my writ here on this call, so I hope you can understand that. And I'm just not going to get into that tonight. MODERATOR: Thank you very much. We'll try Asma from NPR one more time. Q Hi. Sorry about that. Can you all hear me okay? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes. Good. Q Great. Thank you. Thanks so much for doing that. And sorry about the tech difficulties a moment ago. I had two questions for you, [senior administration official]. One is: Can you talk a little bit about the confidence you have in a bipartisan response, given some of the initial response that we've seen from Republicans trying to attribute this to President Biden's actions as they related to a recent prisoner swap in Iran? And then the second question I wanted to ask is kind of piggybacking on an earlier question about Netanyahu's comments on Gazans should leave the area. Are there or will the U.S. work with any allies in the region to potentially offer solutions for Gazans civilian Gazans to exit or enter the area? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, you asked one questions which I'm not I'm not going to delve into the (inaudible) the political dimension of it. I would certainly hope that there would be a united a U.S.-stands-with-Israel response here when Israel is under assault by a terrorist group. Those of us working on this here in the White House, working in SCIFs and elsewhere, did not see some of that. But I (audio drop) about it. I mean, I cannot think of a more irresponsible claim to make in such a situation. This is about the hostage deal. And it's also completely false. And it's just unfortunate that, you know, we have to spend our time responding to total lies based on either a complete misunderstanding or just a complete mischaracterization and disinformation of facts. I think, as our Treasury Department had to put out today just to clarify first of all, the agreement to secure the freedom of five U.S. citizens from Iran in September obviously had nothing whatsoever to do with today. That is just factual, provable. None of the funds that were part of that deal have even been spent not a single cent or accessed by Iran And in fact, as you know, for anyone who's actually covered this deal, none of those funds will ever be accessed by Iran. They can only be used, when they are used and none have been used to date to pay vetted, third-party, non-Iranian vendors for a limited category of humanitarian trade: food, agricultural products, medicine, medical supplies. That's it. So, nobody in Iran will ever touch a single dinar or cent or rial from those funds. Period. So, it's just a total ridiculous charge, and it's had nothing to do with what happened today. And with such a horrific day like this, it's just really (audio drops) to spread disinformation, but we're fully prepared, obviously, to respond to it. But it would be nice not to have to respond to just totally ridiculous lies like that. Again, on this on the Gaza statement from the prime minister: I have to say, I have not seen that. I also we will be working through with the Israelis and others contingency scenarios. Working with Egyptians I'm sure and others about the come what's going to unfold over the coming days and weeks. So, again, I'm sorry, I'm just not going to get into the speculate about what exactly, precisely that means. MODERATOR: Thank you. We have time for maybe one or two more. So we'll go next to Hiba from Asharq News. Q Thanks, [senior administration official], for doing that. I go back to Lebanon. Hezbollah warned that if there's a ground operation in Gaza, they will start attacking from the northern borders. What information do you have on the situation on the northern borders? And did you convey a message to the Lebanese leaders about that? And my second question on the Iranian factor. I understand that you said that it it's too early to tell if they are to what extent they are involved. And you acknowledged that they are supporting Hamas. But would that impact any kind of talk between Biden administration and the Iranian after this attack? Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Again, on that question, what I said: We don't have anything to indicate Iran was involved in this specific what is unfolding now. But in terms of Iran's full support for Hamas and Hamas would not exist without that support over many, many years and decades. Obviously, that is a fact. And that is why we continue to hold Iran accountable for its support for terrorist groups, whether Hamas or Lebanese Hezbollah. And I will say, and I think it connects to both points: We have clearly conveyed messages and our clear position to all relevant parties, including partners and anyone who might seek to take advantage in any way which would be a huge mistake of this situation. So, I'm not going to speculate on what Hassan Nasrallah or Lebanese Hezbollah might do. But I will say, I think our position is very clear. And one reason we've been engaged throughout the region with everybody and as I outlined at the beginning of my call is to make sure (audio drop) about where we stand in this. MODERATOR: Thank you. And our last question we'll go to Vivian from the Wall Street Journal. Q Hello, guys. Thanks for doing this. All the important questions have been touched upon. But [senior administration official] but you only mentioned the Egyptians once in passing, and so I figured I would ask. The Egyptians say that they you know, there had been reports and also officials that we've talked to have said that they've actually had a lot of the intelligence related to potential Hamas attack, also a potential Hezbollah attack on the northern front. And so, I wanted to ask: Have they conveyed it to you? Because a number of Egyptian officials are now saying that they had informed the Israelis, the U.S., even the Russians about a potential attack. What were those conversations like? And is there any reason that we haven't seen a POTUS-Sisi (audio drops) call, as we did with the King of Jordan, for example. The Egyptians were obviously key to brokering a deal in 2021. And so I'm wondering why we haven't seen more intensive engagement besides just the Secretary of State, the foreign minister level. Thank you. SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, Vivian. I should of no, we've been intensively engaged with the Egyptians. Jake spoke with Abbas Kamel earlier today. I think we've had a couple of touches with Abbas Kamel, who really is the key the key point of contact in these situations. And I'm sure there will be a discussion with Sisi here at some point. I can't speak to what Egyptians are saying there, but I I don't want to characterize the intelligence, and I don't want to get ahead of also what the Israelis will be looking at. But if the allegation is that we had some specific warning or indicator from another country, it's certainly not something that we've seen. So, I think that's really not not accurate, other than just general concern as we have had concern about obviously rising tensions, particularly in the West Bank, which we've been working very hard on. But in terms of the level of sophistication of what transpired overnight here and what continues to transpire, that's a very different a different issue. And I have not seen anything to support that. MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone for joining today's call. As a reminder, the call today was on background, attributable to a "senior administration official." The embargo is now lifted. That is all. Thank you very much. Have a good evening. 5:49 P.M. EDT NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Prime Minister on attacks against Israel Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau October 8, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the recent attacks against Israel: "Early yesterday, on a Jewish holiday and 50 years after the start of the Yom Kippur War, the terrorist organization Hamas launched a massive, coordinated attack against Israel. Canada unequivocally condemns these terrible attacks in the strongest possible terms and reaffirms its support for Israel's right to defend itself, in accordance with international law. "The images we have seen are horrifying and shocking. As we fully realize the scale and brutality of this violence in the coming days, we extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected. Our hearts break for the hundreds of innocent people whose lives were senselessly taken. "We call for the immediate release of those being held hostage and demand they be treated in accordance with international law. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and we are in touch with our international partners to restore peace and security in the region. We must all work to protect civilian life. "To our Israeli friends, Canadians stand with you. The Government of Canada stands ready to support you - our support for the Israeli people is steadfast." Canadians in or around the affected area should limit their movements, follow instructions of local authorities, and shelter in place until it is safe to leave the area. For updated advice, Canadians are encouraged to monitor our Travel Advice and Advisories and sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Canadian officials in Ottawa and in our missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are working around the clock to provide emergency consular assistance to Canadians in these difficult times. For emergency consular assistance, Canadians can contact Global Affairs Canada's 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre: by calling +1 613-996-8885 by text message at +1 613-686-3658 via WhatsApp at +1 613-909-8881 via Telegram at Canada Emergency Abroad via Signal at +1 613-909-8087 by e-mail at sos@international.gc.ca NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas attack 'harsh reminder' wave of reconciliation in Middle East won't last with Palestine-Israel conflict unsolved Global Times By Zhao Yusha Published: Oct 08, 2023 09:46 PM China on Sunday reiterated that the fundamental way out of the Palestine-Israel conflicts lies in implementing the two-state solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine, after the latest conflict triggered by Hamas militants killed hundreds. China has called on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid further escalation. Chinese observers said the surprise attack, triggered largely by Hamas' intention to disrupt US-backed Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization, will shadow the recent "wave of reconciliation" in the Middle East, and serve as a harsh reminder that the reconciliation will be short-lived with the Palestine-Israel conflict remaining unsolved. They also believe the conflict will exert a heavy blow to Washington's Middle East policies, including disrupting the new US-backed India-Middle East trade route, a plan aimed at challenging China. 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 on Saturday. The death toll in Israel following a surprise attack by the militant group Hamas stands at 600, according to several Israeli media outlets. Palestinian officials say more than 300 people have been killed in Gaza, without differentiating between fighters and civilians, AP reported. Israel's security cabinet has officially declared a state of war, according to the government press office Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Saturday "mighty vengeance" against Hamas militants' surprise attack. Netanyahu said, "We are embarking on a long and difficult war that was forced on us by a murderous Hamas attack.'' 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, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday. 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, 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, the spokesperson remarked. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards that end, the spokesperson said. Both the Chinese embassy in Israel and Chinese office to Palestine issued a warning to Chinese nationals in those places to pay close attention to the evolving situation and strengthen safety measures. "The civil defense siren keeps going on all the time; the streets are filled with gun-holding soldiers; warplanes hovering above ... You can hear people crying in the airport," a Chinese national who was stranded in Ben Gurion International Airport, near Israeli city of Tel Aviv, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Sunday. Major airlines such as American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, Ryanair and Aegean Airlines cancelled dozens of flights to Tel Aviv this weekend after the attack. A Chinese student who is studying in Rehovot [an Israeli city roughly 66 kilometers from Gaza Strip], who preferred to be called Zack, told the Global Times that he could not only hear bombings, but also saw bright spots in the night sky as the Israeli antimissile system Iron Dome was intercepting flying rockets. However, his daily life remains undisrupted. As of Sunday, Israeli soldiers were still battling to retake control of territory in the country's south from Hamas. Israeli strikes also leveled buildings in the densely populated Gaza Strip, foreign media reported. Wen Shaobiao, an expert from the Shanghai International Studies University, said the conflict will further escalate in the following days, as Israel has already conducted war mobilization. Netanyahu's administration has always been tough on Palestinian-Israeli conflict, he said, noting Netanyahu will face severe political crisis if he makes no strong response to this attack. Yet Wen believes the conflict will die down within a few weeks under mediation from major regional and international powers, such as Egypt and the US. 'Last-ditch effort' This attack is deemed as the most serious attack against Israel in a generation. Hamas has named the attack "Al-Aqsa Flood," which it said is a response to the desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. One deeper reason for this attack is to disrupt the negotiation of Israel-Saudi normalization, which is primarily facilitated by Washington, Li Shaoxian, director of the China-Arab Research Institute at Ningxia University, told the Global Times. Hamas fears that if Saudi Arabia normalizes ties with Israel, other Arabic countries may follow suits, which will be destructive for Palestine, said experts, noting that all forces in Palestine have been opposing Arabic countries normalizing relations with Israel, and asking solving Palestine-Israel conflicts as precondition for Arabic countries to smooth ties with Israel. Several Chinese experts believe the surprise attack may not only disrupt the negotiation of Israel-Saudi normalization process, but also likely reduce the freshly established mutual trust between Saudi Arabia and Iran, who resumed diplomatic ties under China's mediation. After the conflict, the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iran appeared to blame Israel for escalating conflict with Hamas on Saturday. "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," Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement. US President Joe Biden offered Israel on Saturday "all appropriate means of support" after the attack, and warned "any party hostile to Israel" not to seek advantage. A senior official of Hamas on Saturday criticized the biased position of the US toward Israel. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chief of Hamas, said in a press statement that "the hypocritical position of the US is known to the world, and we do not count on it." Experts said this conflict will severely set back the US policies on the Middle East. The latest example being Biden's plan of building a large-scale transportation network with India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. If Saudi Arabia and Israel were to normalize relations, the rail system could include Israel, extending the project's reach into Europe via Israeli sea ports, according to Axios. China has grasped the essence of solving Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as mirrored by foreign ministry spokesperson's remarks on Sunday, said Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, noting that implementing the two-State solution and establishing an independent State of Palestine is to put Palestine-Israel conflict on the table, and then move to promote reconciliation between Israel and the Arabic world. "A wave of reconciliation in the Middle East won't last long with the Palestine-Israel conflict remaining unsolved," said Liu. "The US has been making plans for solving Palestine-Israel conflict without involving Palestine; and then it forces such plan on Palestine,'' Liu said, adding that the current US plan of pushing more Arabic countries to reconcile with Israel has pushed Palestine to the corner, and Hamas' attack is its last ditch efforts. Experts also said China's impartial stance in mediating contradictions between Middle Eastern countries has been widely recognized by the international society, and has achieved substantial results, with resumption of Saudi Arabia-Iran diplomatic ties a case in point. China's success in brokering Saudi Arabia-Iran talks may serve as exemplary role in solving Palestine-Israel conflicts, although the latter is a result of more complicated conflicts, said experts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran president urges Muslim governments to stand with Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 8, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called on Muslim governments to stand with the Islamic community in supporting the oppressed Palestinian people in the face of the Israeli regime's aggression. The Iranian president made the remark in a message on Sunday, a day after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched a surprise multipronged offensive against the Israeli regime, with Palestinians fighters infiltrating into Israeli towns and illegal settlements and a barrage of rockets being fired from Gaza. The operation, code-named al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank, frequent desecrations of the al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as increased settler violence. "Muslim governments must enter the scene along with the Islamic community in supporting the Palestinian people. The Zionist enemy should also understand that the equation has changed; warmongering is detrimental to the Zionists," President Raisi said in his message. "The Palestinian people are victorious in this battle," he added. The Iranian president further stated that the Islamic Republic supports the "legitimate defense" of the Palestinian nation against the Zionist regime. He added that the Zionist regime and its supporters are responsible for instability in the region and must be held accountable. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas calls on Palestinians to rise up against Israeli regime IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 8, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Hamas has issued a call for a mass uprising of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank against the Israeli regime, as the death toll from a brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza rises to 572. In a statement on Sunday, the Gaza-based resistance movement urged the Palestinians to rise up and confront the Zionist regime's military and its extremist settlers. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday that at least 572 Palestinians have been martyred and over 1,990 injured in two days of massive Israeli strikes on the besieged coastal enclave. Hamas launched a surprise multipronged attack against the Israeli occupied territories early on Saturday, with Palestinian fighters infiltrating Israeli towns and illegal settlements and thousands of rockets being fired from Gaza. The operation, code-named al-Aqsa Storm, was in response to repeated crimes committed by Israeli forces and illegal settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, as well as al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel's Channel 13 reported that as many as 750 Israeli settlers and forces have been killed in the operation. Thousands more have been injured and a large number of Israelis, including senior military commanders, have been taken captive. 4353**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran president, resistance leaders discuss Palestine developments over phone IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 8, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has reportedly had phone conversations with Palestinian resistance leaders over the latest developments in Palestine. In separate phone calls with Ziyad al-Nakhalah, Secretary General of the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, on Sunday, President Raisi reviewed the situation underway in the occupied lands. Gaza-based Palestinian Resistance launched their biggest operation against Israel in years on Saturday morning, in a surprise offensive that combined fighters crossing the fence into the Israeli-occupied territories with a heavy barrage of rockets and drone attacks from the Gaza Strip. In his message to the secretary general of the Palestine Islamic Jihad, the Iranian president said that the ultimate victory of the Palestinian nation is a divine promise. President Raisi noted that the Iranian nation will always stand by the freedom-seeking independent nations, especially the people of Palestine. He stressed that the Zionist regime is declining and the resistance front is conquering the peaks of victory. The president added that what happened in the occupied lands in the fight against the Zionist regime was a great and unprecedented event in 70 years. "You really made the Islamic Ummah happy with this innovative and victorious operation," he said. The Palestinian side, for his part, thanked the support from the Iranian leader, government and nation for the Palestinian people. Al-Nakhalah briefed President Raisi on what is going on in the occupied lands, adding that these good days and victories will continue. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's official terms 'Al-Aqsa Storm' as onset of Zionist regime's collapse IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 8, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr has described 'Al-Aqsa Storm' operation as the starting point for the Zionist regime collapse. While the Zionists claimed intelligence surveillance in Gaza, they left the scene in complete surprise, Zolghadr said cited by the IRNA on Sunday. Yesterday was October 7, 2023, which will be recorded in the history of Palestinian struggles, he said adding that they will undoubtedly conquer Israel, and this operation is the starting point of the Zionist regime collapse, which has not happened in the last 75 years. For the first time, the Palestinians entered the occupied territories, and 420 Zionists were killed in an area covering 90 square kilometers to a depth of 20 kilometers. If these operations continue, the scenario will be rearranged, he said expressing hope for this operation to be the beginning of the end of the Zionist regime. Gaza-based Palestinian resistance launched their biggest operation against Israel in years on Saturday morning, in a surprise offensive that combined fighters crossing the fence into the Israeli-occupied territories with a heavy barrage of rockets and drone attacks from the Gaza Strip. 9376**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Al-Aqsa Storm: 300 Israelis killed, 100 captured by resistance fighters IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 8, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The Palestinian resistance's Operation Al-Aqsa Storm has so far killed 300 Israeli forces and settlers, according to Israeli media. Gaza-based Palestinian resistance launched their biggest operation against Israel in years on Saturday morning, in a surprise offensive that combined fighters crossing the fence into the Israeli-occupied territories with a heavy barrage of rockets and drone attacks from the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera reported that some 1,100 settlers were also injured inside the occupied territories. The Israeli military announced that the commanding officer of the Nahal Infantry Brigade, Col. Jonathan Steinberg, was killed on Saturday in the Kerem Shalom area near the border with the Gaza Strip. Israeli media reported on Sunday that about 100 Israeli forces were captured in Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. Meanwhile, the Hamas resistance movement said the number of Zionists taken captive in the ongoing operation is far more than the "dozens" claimed by the regime's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Today, you talked about dozens of prisoners and we reassure you, Netanyahu, that your prisoners are many times more than this number, and you must keep track of your soldiers well," said Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Gaza Strip-based movement's military wing, al-Qassam Brigades. "These prisoners are present in all areas [of Gaza], and everything that happens to our people in the Gaza Strip is happening to them," the spokesman added. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian, Turkish FMs review developments in Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 8, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has discussed the latest developments in Palestine with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. According to a Saturday report by the IRNA, the discussion was held over the phone late on Saturday. The two foreign ministers stressed the importance of respecting the rights of the Palestinian people. Amirabdollahian described the move made by the Palestinian Resistance movement as spontaneous and as a result of Zionist regime's continuous crimes against Palestine. The foreign minister of the Islamic Republic also underlined the need to preserve solidarity and coherence among the Islamic countries to support the holy Quds and the oppressed Palestinian nation. Early on Saturday, the Palestinian Resistance fighters staged a full-scale operation against the Zionist regime. The operation which started from Gaza in the occupied lands has been unprecedented against the occupying regime for the past 75 years. Following the Resistance operation called "Al-Aqsa Storm" against the Zionist regime, 250 Zionists have been killed and 40 have been arrested by the Palestinian Resistance group so far. 1483**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Turkiye FMs confer on current developments in Palestine ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 8 October 2023 / 11:18 Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian and Turkish Foreign Ministers discussed the current developments in Palestine in a phone conversation. During the phone call, the two sides reviewed the latest developments in the occupied territories, stressing on the importance of respecting the rights of Palestinian people. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, for his part, stated that the Zionist regime's continuous crimes against Palestine left the resistance no way but to resist and rely on their inherent strength in the face of the Zionists. He also called on Muslim countries to preserve their unity and support al-Aqsa Mosque and the oppressed Palestinian people. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran calls on Muslim countries to support al-Aqsa Mosque, inalienable rights of Palestinian people ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 8 October 2023 / 09:18 Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani reacted to the current developments in occupied Palestine and the attack by the Palestinian resistance groups against the Zionist occupiers, saying the Al-Aqsa Storm operation was a spontaneous move by the resistance groups and the oppressed Palestinian people in defense of their inalienable and undeniable rights. He added that the operation was the Palestinians' natural reaction to the war-mongering, provocative and incendiary policies of the Zionists, especially the usurping regime's extremist and adventurous prime minister. Kanaani said, "The oppressed Palestinian people's inalienable right to defend themselves, their land and their sanctities against occupation, aggression, daily violations and organized terror on part of the Zionist regime is a natural and legitimate right in line with all recognized international standards and the fundamental principles of international law". The spokesman noted that on the one hand, the continuation of the desecration of Islam's holy sites and the first Qibla of Muslims by extremist and racist Zionists in recent months and weeks, and the persistence of the Zionist regime's policy of killing, committing crimes and doing acts of aggression against the oppressed Palestinian people, especially women, children and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails amid the silence and inaction of the international community and the fake human rights defenders have left the Palestinian nation and resistance no way but to resist and rely on their inherent strength in the face of the Zionists. Kanaani stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms the inherent and legal right of Palestinians to defend themselves vis-a-vis the crimes of the usurpers of Palestine that have been going on for 75 years. He said, "Iran also holds the Zionist occupiers and its supporters responsible for the continuation and escalation of violence and atrocities against the Palestinians". He underlined that Iran calls on Muslim countries to support al-Aqsa Mosque and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Cabinet Approves War Situation Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 08.10.2023 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). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Correction:Statement by PM Netanyahu Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 07.10.2023 Updated date: 08.10.2023 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv: "Dear citizens of Israel, 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. 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 (https://allpoetry.com/On-The-Slaughter): '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. 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. 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 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/07/statement-from-president-joe-biden-condemning-terrorist-attacks-in-israel/). 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli death toll in Hamas attack reaches 600 People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel evacuates communities near Gaza on 2nd day of escalation with Hamas People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Heavy casualties reported in Gaza, Israel after Hamas surprise attack prompts retaliation People's Daily Online (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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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." 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 313 Palestinians, 300 Israelis killed as conflict enters 2nd day People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 18:34, October 08, 2023 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. Last 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," health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Xinhua. The Israeli airstrikes were carried out in response to an earlier rocket attack by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (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. At least 300 Israelis were killed and more than 1,800 injured during the Hamas attack, figures released by the Israeli Health Ministry showed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll of quakes soars to 2,053 in Afghanistan, officials call for assistance People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 18:19, October 08, 2023 HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of the earthquakes in western Afghanistan has risen to 2,053, a spokesman for the national disaster authority, Mullah Janan Shaeq, said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference in Herat, the official noted that 9,240 others were injured and 1,340 houses were destroyed in the earthquakes that shook Herat and the neighboring Badghis and Farah provinces on Saturday. The most affected area is the Zanda Jan district in Herat, where, according to the official, 13 villages were "utterly destroyed." According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, two earthquakes both with a magnitude of 6.2 jolted Afghanistan on Saturday, followed by several aftershocks. The first tremor occurred around 11:10 local time (0640 GMT), forcing local residents to leave their houses, locals said. International organizations and local authorities have sent rescue teams to the affected areas. Local authorities have provided drinking medicine, water, food, blankets and tents to the affected families. In the meantime, rescue teams have been going all out to find survivors under debris as locals believe that the number of casualties could go up. Herat's provincial governor, Noor Ahmad Islamjar, besides expressing sympathy to the affected families, assured that they would spare no effort to help people in the quake-affected areas. Afghan officials, including Mawlawi Matiul Haq Khalis, acting head of the Afghan Red Crescent Society and Mufti Ashrafi, the head of the coordination committee of non-government organizations (NGOs), visited the quake-affected areas and called on Afghan and foreign aid agencies to offer support to affected families. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens of rockets fired from S. Lebanon to N. Israel People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 15:42, October 08, 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli PM vows retaliation after Hamas offensive People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 14:00, October 08, 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest developments of Palestinian-Israeli conflict: 3,000 rockets fired, hundreds killed People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:37, October 08, 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China calls on Palestine, Israel to immediately end hostilities to protect civilians People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Earthquakes in Afghanistan People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2023-10-08 15:40 Q: It was reported that magnitude-6.2 earthquakes hit Herat province in western Afghanistan on October 7 local time, killing more than 2,000 and injuring nearly 10,000 so far. Are there any Chinese casualties in the earthquakes? Will China provide disaster-relief assistance to Afghanistan? A: China noted that the devastating earthquakes which hit Herat province in Afghanistan caused heavy casualties. We deeply mourn for the victims and offer our 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. We've been checking with various sources and so far found no injuries or deaths of Chinese nationals in the quakes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on the Escalation of Tensions Between Palestine and Israel People's Republic of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2023-10-08 10:58 Q: Fierce conflict has broken out between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip, causing massive casualties on both sides. Does China have any comment on this? A: 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. 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, 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic jihad leader: Best way for enemy to prevent further loss of its forces is to admit defeat Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 10:05 PM The secretary general of the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad resistance movement says the best way for Israel to prevent more of its forces from being taken captive or killed is to own up to its defeat in the face of the Palestinian resistance. Ziad al-Nakhala made the remarks in a televised speech on Sunday, which was the second day of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, the biggest military operation against the occupying regime in years. Israeli media outlets say more than 700 Israeli settlers and troops have been killed as a result of the operation and over 2,000 Israelis have been injured. Meanwhile, unofficial estimates indicate that approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers are missing. "[The number of] the enemy's prisoners of war, including soldiers and settlers that we have captured, [amounts to] dozens and more. In fact, I can say that their number is far higher than this," Nakhala said, adding, "The Islamic Jihad alone has more than 30 enemy captives." "The enemy's cabinet should surrender to this fact and [know that] the shortest way to prevent more of its forces from being taken captive or killed is to admit defeat," the leader of Islamic Jihad said. His remarks came after in early Sunday, the spokesman for the military wing of Hamas resistance movement, which is also based in Gaza, said the number of Israelis taken captive in the ongoing operation against the regime was far more than "dozens" that had been claimed by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Today, you talked about dozens of prisoners and we reassure you, Netanyahu, that your prisoners are many times more than this number, and you must keep track of your soldiers well," said Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades. 'Enemy is broken' Elsewhere in his remarks, Nakhala said the Palestinian operation laid bare the enemy's weakness and rendered it paralyzed. "It became obvious [through this operation] that the enemy can be defeated, and in fact, it is broken, and [this is why it] sought the United States' help from the early hours of the operation," he said. The leader of Islamic Jihad noted that the enemy forces' performance since the beginning of the operation, including their captivity by resistance fighters and abandoning their weapons, "serves as a clear testament to the fact that their army is much weaker than many people in the world believe." Addressing the resistance fighters, Nakhala said, "You have gained the world's attention and hit the global headlines under the toughest circumstances, because you possess the will power and have humiliated an enemy that is armed to the teeth." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIC: Israeli occupation cause of conflict in occupied Palestine Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 6:58 PM The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned Israel's ongoing military aggression against the people in Palestine, stressing that the main cause of the latest bloody conflict is the regime's disregard for the legitimate rights of the Palestinians. A statement published on the OIC's website late on Saturday said the international body is concerned about the new developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. The OIC said the "continuation of the Israeli occupation and its failure to adhere to the resolutions of international legitimacy, and the escalation of the pace of its attacks and daily crimes against the Palestinian people, their land and sanctities, and depriving them of their legitimate rights is the main reason for instability." Israel has launched deadly airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, a besieged Palestinian enclave on the Mediterranean, killing scores of people, including women and children. The bombardment came after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched a multi-pronged operation from Gaza into the occupied territories in what the group described as a response to weeks of violence against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the continued presence of Israeli extremists in the al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites located in the occupied city of al-Quds. OIC's General Secretariat, which is based in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, said the organization holds Israel responsible for the escalation of violence in the occupied territories. It called on the United Nations Security Council to act to protect the Palestinians against the Israeli aggression and to support measures that could put an end to decades of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian lands. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu declares 'long' war on Gaza as Israeli death toll tops 700 Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 6:50 PM Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing cabinet has declared a "long and difficult" war against Palestinians as the estimated death toll from a surprise offensive by the Hamas resistance movement against the Israeli regime has jumped to 700. According to the latest Israeli media reports, the Israeli death toll from the Hamas onslaught surpassed 700 by Saturday evening. The bodies are found as Israeli forces continue to battle with Hamas fighters, who have infiltrated illegal settlements near the Gaza border. Among the dead are dozens of Israeli soldiers and police who were killed battling the Hamas resistance fighters. The Israeli health ministry also confirmed that the number of wounded in hospitals had reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded. There are some 700 injured Israelis being treated at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The new toll comes as Israel's army said it aims to evacuate all Israelis living close to the Gaza Strip within 24 hours as it deployed thousands of soldiers in the area. Netanyahu's office announced that the cabinet voted last night to put Israel officially at war, and it can carry out "significant military activities." The decision, announced on Sunday, formally authorizes "the taking of significant military steps," it said in a statement. Netanyahu warned of a "long and difficult" war ahead after the Palestinian fighters launched a massive surprise operation. "The first phase is being completed... with the elimination of the vast majority of enemy forces that have infiltrated our territory," Netanyahu said, warning the Israelis that they were "embarking on a long and difficult war." Netanyahu also joined his air force chief Tomer Bar at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv as Israeli warplanes carried out attacks on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has said dozens of warplanes were carrying out a wave of "intense" airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. Nearly two dozen members of same family killed in southern Gaza In the latest Israeli attack on Gaza, at least 22 members of the Abu Daqqa family were killed near Khan Younis after their home was targeted in an Israeli air strike. "Among those killed include seven children. Civil rescue teams are still trying to rescue six members of the family who are stuck under the rubble of the destroyed house," Azzoum added. Netanyahu says Israel will cut off supplies to Gaza Israel will stop supplying electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office Saturday night. Much of Gaza was already thrown into darkness by nightfall after electrical supplies from Israel were cut off earlier in the day. US to announce new military aid to Israel On Saturday, US-led Western allies expressed their unconditional support for Israel. The United States warned "any party hostile to Israel" from exploiting the situation. US President Joe Biden added that his country's support for Israel was "rock solid and unwavering". Speaking to attendees of the two-day gathering of the Renaissance political party in Bordeaux, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union "stands with Israel", and that the "ordeal" would be the latest in a long list of challenges that would be "overcome together". Support for Hamas resistance Thousands in Turkey's capital Istanbul participated in a march called "March for Fatah" to support the Palestinians. It was a response echoed in Sanaa in Yemen, where thousands of pro-Palestine Yemeni supporters took to the streets with Palestinian flags on Saturday to celebrate Hamas' surprise attack on Israel. In Beirut, Lebanon, hundreds of Hezbollah resistance movement's supporters took to the streets, waving the Palestinian flags together with the Hezbollah flag and chanting supportive slogans while others distributed celebratory sweets to passers-by. Supporters hailed Hamas' operation and considered it a victory for the resistance against Israel. Others expressed their joy and happiness and announced the 7th of October as a day of victory. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States, a close ally and major supplier of arms to Israel, could announce later today new military support for the country following the Hamas attack. "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 was quoted as saying by CNN. "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." Elsewhere in his remarks, Blinken said, "We have reports that several Americans were killed" in the assault. Earlier in the day, the US Embassy in Israel would not comment on the number of Americans killed, injured, and missing in the Hamas attacks. "We are closely monitoring the situation and have no further details," said an embassy spokesperson. Palestinians seek refuge in UN schools The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, says over 20,000 people are sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza. "The number [of displaced] is rapidly increasing, " says 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 centers, which provide for over 540,000 Gaza residents, have been closed since Saturday. UN food agency calls for humanitarian corridors in Gaza The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has called for the creation of humanitarian corridors to bring food into Gaza as Israeli air strikes pounded the Palestinian enclave. "As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies," the WFP said. The WFP provides direct food assistance to some 350,000 Palestinians every month, while also offering aid to nearly one million Palestinians in cooperation with other humanitarian partners. "While most shops in the affected areas in Palestine currently maintain one month of food stocks, these risk being depleted swiftly as people buy up food in fear of a prolonged conflict," it said. Top Hezbollah official warns US, and Israel that fighting may spread Hashim Safi al-Din, the head of the Executive Council of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement, during a press briefing on Sunday, gave a message to the US and Israel, saying that their violations of Islamic holy places and "crossing of all lines" have led to Hamas's "Al-Aqsa Deluge" operation. The whole Islamic nation will join the "deluge" if they persist in their "foolishness," he said. On Saturday, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement launched its large-scale operation, with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel's desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. At least 600 Israeli settlers and troops have been killed as a result of Operation al-Aqsa Storm. More than 2,000 Israelis have also been injured. In the wake of the Palestinian operation, a spokesperson for the Israeli military confirmed that settlers and soldiers are held captive in Gaza. But the spokesperson declined to specify any exact number. Israeli media outlets say by unofficial estimates approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing. And in the Gaza Strip hospital officials have recorded the death of 320 Palestinians and the injury of nearly 2,000 others. A large number of buildings, homes, and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has called on Palestinians "to join this battle" as fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters continues. Meanwhile, Mohannad Aklouk, Palestine's permanent representative to the Arab League, said he had submitted a request for an emergency meeting of the regional body's foreign ministers in the wake of the latest Israeli onslaught. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Arab League calls on UN to add Israel to 'list of shame' Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 5:56 PM The Arab League has called on the United Nations to add Israel to its annual "list of shame" of countries that commit violations against children in armed conflicts. Assistant Secretary-General of the League Haifa Abu Ghazaleh made the appeal in a speech at the 54th Regular Session of the Human Rights Council in the Swiss city of Geneva on Sunday, under item seven of the council's agenda concerned with the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. In her speech, Abu Ghazaleh stressed the need to put pressure on Israel to halt its settlement expansion policies, arming settlers, violations of Islamic and Christian sanctities and its discriminatory measures against Palestinians, including seizing lands, demolishing homes and property, and stealing wealth and natural resources. She also emphasized on the importance of ensuring international protection for Palestinians by sending international observers and UN committees and enabling them to enter the occupied Palestinian territories. Abu Ghazaleh further called for immediate action to release Palestinian prisoners who are held under the so-called administrative detention in Israeli jails. Back in July, a report by the director of the Palestine Center for Prisoners' Studies (PCPS) revealed that Israeli forces have arrested as many as 570 Palestinian minors since the beginning of 2023. The Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, said in early June that the international community needs to intervene to end Israel's violations against Palestinian children. In the occupied West Bank, Hamas added, Israel keeps kidnapping and jailing minors, and in some cases even kills them, places them under house arrest or uses them as human shields. Hamas has already called on the UN to include Israel in its annual List of Shame for its violations against Palestinian children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steely resolve of Palestinians harbinger of final victory over Israel: Iranian president Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 5:24 PM Iran's President Ebrahim Raeisi says the "steely resolve" of the Palestinians heralds the final victory over the Israeli regime. Raeisi made the remark in a phone conversation with Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, on Sunday, a day after the Palestinian resistance movement launched the Operation al-Aqsa Storm with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel's desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. "What happened with the glorious operation of the Palestinian fighters in the occupied territories was the realization of the 70-year-old expectation of the Palestinian nation and the Islamic Ummah," the Iranian president said. Raeisi said all Muslim nations would soon pray together in the al-Aqsa Mosque, the first 'Qibla' of Muslims. The president praised the courageous Palestinian operation and said Muslim nations honor the dignity of the Palestinian resistance. Haniyeh, for his part, appreciated Raeisi's principled stance as well as the support by the Iranian government and nation for resistance. He said although the resistance fighters lack the proportionate military equipment and facilities in comparison with those of Israel, they succeeded in disrupting the regime's balance in the surprise operation. Haniyeh said the achievements of Palestinian fighters in the battle against Israel were made with the support of the Islamic Ummah and Iran. Israeli media outlets say more than 700 Israeli settlers and troops have been killed as a result of Operation al-Aqsa Storm. Over 2,100 Israelis have also been injured. The media also say by unofficial estimates approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing. In the wake of the Palestinian operation, a spokesperson for the Israeli military confirmed that settlers and soldiers are held captive in Gaza. But the spokesperson declined to specify any exact number. In the Gaza Strip hospital officials have recorded the death of over 370 Palestinians and the injury of nearly 2,200 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 Hamas praises 'historic' al-Aqsa Storm, vows liberation of Palestine Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 4:47 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has extolled as "historic" its latest retaliatory operation against the Israeli regime in the occupied territories and vowed that the attacks on the illegal entity will continue until the full liberation of Palestine. Khaled al-Qaddoumi, the Hamas representative in Iran, made the statement in an interview with Press TV on Sunday. "What has happened today is a historic moment which has been achieved by the Palestinian soldiers and Palestinian people in the confrontation of the last 74 years against the Israeli occupation," Qaddoumi said. "Our people have waited a long time that the international community could serve any of their own legitimate rights and return any of those legitimate rights to them." Stressing that there is a rightist fanatic regime headed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the occupied territories, Qaddoumi said Hamas had sent many messages to the international community to expose the regime's explicit crimes and torture against Palestinian people but there was no response. "Palestinians launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm to tell the international community that al-Aqsa and al-Quds mean Palestine and this operation has started for the liberation of Palestine; all Palestine from the river to the sea," the Hamas official said, referring to a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, the territory controlled by the Israeli regime. The international community, Qaddoumi said, has left Palestine and Palestinians alone. "Our only option and our fate is to fight the Israeli regime. Today, we have started the battle of liberation of Palestine, all Palestine, and no body is able to stop it." On Saturday, Hamas launched its large-scale operation with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel's desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. More than 700 Israeli settlers and troops have died as a result of the large-scale operation and over 2,000 others have been injured. Israeli media outlets have reported an approximate 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers missing so far. Hospital officials in the Gaza Strip have recorded the death of more than 370 Palestinians and the injury of roughly 2,200 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 In warning to Israel, President Raeisi says warmongering detrimental to Zionists Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 2:49 PM President Ebrahim Raeisi of Iran has warned Israel that the regional equation has changed and warmongering would be detrimental to the Zionists. The Iranian president made the remark in a message on Sunday, a day after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched a grand operation without precedent in scale using a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel's desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. "Undoubtedly, the Zionist regime and its supporters are responsible for jeopardizing regional security and must be held accountable." President Raeisi urged the Muslim community to stand by the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israel. The Iranian president also hailed the operation by the resilient Palestinians, which, he said, stoked fear and astonishment throughout the "world of cruelty." "Iran invites the whole world to observe the fact that the accumulation of oppression and injustice towards the oppressed Palestinian nation, the continuation of insult to women and prisoners, and the desecration of al-Quds and the first 'Qibla' of Muslims, will not last forever and are certain to face the resistance of nations." Raeisi reiterated Iran's support for the legitimate defense of the Palestinian people. At least 600 Israeli settlers and troops have been killed as a result of Operation al-Aqsa Storm. More than 2,000 Israelis have also been injured. In the wake of the Palestinian operation, a spokesperson for the Israeli military confirmed that settlers and soldiers are held captive in Gaza. But the spokesperson declined to specify any exact number. Israeli media outlets say by unofficial estimates approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing. And in the Gaza Strip hospital officials have recorded the death of 320 Palestinians and the injury of nearly 2,000 others. A large number of buildings, homes, and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. Raeisi talks developments with resistance leaders Earlier on Sunday, the Iranian president separately spoke on the phone with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad resistance movements Ismail Haniyeh and Ziad al-Nakhaleh. The Iranian president told Nakhaleh the Israeli regime is on the verge of collapse and the resistance front is advancing toward peaks of glory. Raeisi said the Iranian nation has always stood by the freedom-seeking and independent nations, particularly the Palestinian people. He hailed "brilliant and impressive" victories of the Palestinian resistance fighters and said the events in the occupied territories and the battle against the occupying regime were unprecedented over the past 70 years. For his part, Nakhaleh expressed appreciation for the support of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian people and government for the Palestinian nation. He said the resistance movement would proceed with its victories. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Our guns and rockets are with you': Hezbollah tells Palestinian fighters Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 2:35 PM A high-ranking official with Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says the group's "guns and rockets" are with Palestinian fighters who carried out a surprise offensive against Israeli-occupied territories. Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah, made the remarks at an event in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh in solidarity with the Palestinian fighters on Sunday. "Our history, our guns and our rockets are with you. Everything we have is with you," Safieddine said. On Saturday, fighters from the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas 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. According to Israeli media, at least 600 Israelis have been killed and over 2,000 injured following the large-scale operation. The Israeli military has also confirmed that a "substantial" number of soldiers and settlers were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. Following the surprise attack, Hezbollah fired shells and guided missiles toward Israeli-occupied territories, targeting the Radar, Zabdin, and Ruwaysat Al-Alam sites in the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms. Israel strikes Lebanon after Hezbollah hits Shebaa Farms Also on Sunday, Israel fired a barrage of artillery shells into southern Lebanon after Hezbollah targeted three Israeli military positions in the Shebaa Farms. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military said its artillery "is currently striking the area in Lebanon from where a shooting was carried out." It further said that one of its drones struck a Hezbollah post in Shebaa Farms. The spokesman for the Israeli military Daniel Hagari also said that the military remained on high alert. Andrea Tenenti, the spokesman of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said the UN peacekeeping mission has detected several rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory" as well as artillery fire from Israel into Lebanon in response. He also said that UNIFIL is in contact with authorities on both sides of the blue line, a temporary line drawn after the withdrawal of Israel from south Lebanon in 2,000, to contain the situation and avoid a more serious escalation. 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 Sunday, 08 October 2023 12:34 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 "glorious" 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 'We are not attacking civilians': Hamas says amid Operation Al-Aqsa Storm Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 11:32 AM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected accusations of targeting civilians as the fighting rages across the occupied territories since the resistance groups launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on Saturday. Osama Hamadan, senior spokesperson of Hamas, has told Al Jazeera that they are not attacking civilians. "You have to differentiate between settlers and civilians; settlers attacked Palestinians," Hamdan said. "We are not targeting civilians on purpose. We have declared settlers are part of the occupation and part of the armed Israeli force. They are not civilians," Hamadan added. His remarks came after a number of Western-backed rights groups, including Amnesty International, accused the resistance movement of killing "Israeli civilians" in their retaliatory strikes. Asked whether civilians in southern Israel were considered settlers, the Hamas spokesman said "Everyone knows there are settlements there." On Saturday, the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement launched its large-scale operation, with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel's desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. At least 400 Israeli settlers and forces have died as a result of the large-scale operation code-named Al-Aqsa Storm and more than 2000 others have sustained injuries. Following the operation, a spokesperson for the Israeli defense forces confirmed that Israeli settlers and soldiers are held captive in Gaza, however, the spokesperson declined to specify the number of hostages. According to Israeli media outlets, unofficial estimates suggest that approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing since fighting broke out. Hospital officials in the Gaza Strip have recorded the death of 320 Palestinians and the injury of 1,990 others. A large number of buildings, homes, and public facilities have also been badly damaged due to heavy Israeli bombardments. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said on its Telegram channel that the group had directed a "major missile strike on the settlement of Sderot with 100 missiles." The Qassam Brigades also called on Palestinians "to join this battle" as fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters continues. Meanwhile, Mohannad Aklouk, Palestine's permanent representative to the Arab League, said he had submitted a request for an emergency meeting of the regional body's foreign ministers in the wake of the latest Israeli onslaught. "The urgent meeting comes in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, including the escalation of incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by thousands of settlers and Israeli officials over the past days," Aklouk was quoted as saying by the official Wafa news agency. The retaliatory operation by Hamas on the occupied territories is the largest after the 11-day Israeli war against the Gaza Strip in May 2021, which took place after weeks of violence against Palestinians in Al-Quds and a brutal crackdown on worshipers at the al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as attempts to steal their land in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. At least 260 Palestinians, including over 60 children, were killed during the Israeli offensive as the Gaza-based resistance movements retaliated. The regime was eventually forced to announce a ceasefire brokered by Egypt. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli military planning to evacuate settlers living close to Gaza border Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 11:01 AM The spokesman for the Israeli military Daniel Hagari says the regime's army will evacuate all Jewish settlers living close to the Gaza Strip within 24 hours, following a large-scale operation by Gaza-based Palestinian resistance in the occupied territories. "Our mission for the upcoming 24 hours is to evacuate all residents living around Gaza," Hagari told reporters on Sunday. He added that fighting was still ongoing to "rescue hostages" held by Palestinian resistance fighters. "There are tens of thousands of combat soldiers in the area. We'll reach each and every community till we kill" every Palestinian fighter, Hagari said. The Hamas resistance movement said its unprecedented offensive by land, air and sea was in response to the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound as well as Israeli atrocities against Palestinians over the decades. These include the 16-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids inside the occupied West Bank cities over the past year, increasing attacks by settlers on Palestinians as well as the expansion of illegal settlements. Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, said the time has come "for the enemy to understand... they cannot keep going without consequences." Hamas leaders have stated that the assault that began in Gaza would escalate and spread to the occupied West Bank and al-Quds. Israeli media outlets reported on Sunday that unofficial estimates suggest that approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing since fighting broke out on Saturday morning. They highlighted that despite a full day has passed since the unprecedented operation, Palestinian fighters are still present in Israeli settlements. Palestinian medical authorities say more than 310 people have been killed and many more injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip. Hospital officials in the Strip have recorded the death of 313 civilians and injury of 1,990 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 Azerbaijan says France will be to blame if new conflict starts with Armenia Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 9:42 AM Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has criticized France for sending military aid to Armenia, warning that it could trigger a new conflict in the South Caucasus. During a telephone conversation with European Council President Charles Michel on Saturday, Aliyev said that "the anti-Azerbaijani statement adopted by the European Parliament on the basis of a xenophobic and chauvinistic approach and the opinions expressed in it were unacceptable." "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," Aliyev added, according to the Azerbaijani presidential office. Michel expressed the bloc's commitment to the Armenian-Azerbaijani normalization process ahead of a trilateral meeting in Brussels by the end of October. "We believe in diplomacy and political dialogue. This is why we invite Azerbaijani President and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for the meeting," Michel said following a quadrilateral meeting with the Armenian president on the sidelines of the European Political Community meeting in Granda, Spain. Aliyev did not participate in the European Political Community meeting, which was an initiative of Macron to which leaders from more than 40 European countries were invited, in protest against France's recent military and diplomatic support of Armenia. Hikmet Hajiyev, the foreign policy advisor to the Azerbaijani president said Baku had proposed the participation of Turkey and Spain in the planning meeting, but that proposal was also rejected by France. France has recently agreed on future contracts with Armenia to supply it with military equipment "to help ensure its defenses," French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said on October 3 during a visit to Yerevan. Last month, Azerbaijan regained control over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has always been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan though it is mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, following a three-decade-old conflict between Baku and Yerevan over the long-troubled territory. Through its military operation, the Azerbaijani military managed to easily rout pro-Armenian forces in 24 hours and made the separatists agree to lay down weapons, under a Russian-mediated ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel asks Egypt to mediate release of Israelis captured by Hamas: Egyptian officials Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 9:38 AM Egyptian officials have said Israel urged Egypt to help mediate the release of Israeli forces and settlers captured by Palestinian resistance fighters after they launched a surprise assault across the occupied territories. On Saturday, Hamas launched the large-scale operation, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, with a heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel's desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence. Following the operation, a spokesperson for the Israeli defense forces confirmed that Israeli settlers and soldiers are held captive in Gaza, however, the spokesperson declined to specify the number of hostages. A senior Hamas official and Egyptian officials told The Wall Street Journal that the Palestinian resistance group had lost contact with some of those holding the captives, making it difficult to determine how many are being held. The report added that Israel has asked Egyptian authorities to help negotiate the release of the captives in Gaza. The Israeli army also confirmed that a "substantial" number of soldiers and settlers were captured by Hamas and taken into Gaza. According to Israeli media outlets, unofficial estimates suggest that approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have been missing since fighting broke out. Israeli media reported that although a full day has passed since the unprecedented operation, Palestinian fighters are still present in Israeli settlements. They confirmed that confrontations are still ongoing in Kfar Azza and Be'eri settlements near the Gaza Strip, with control yet to be established over areas in Sderot, Zikim, Re'im and Sufa kibbutzes. Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, also announced on Sunday morning that confrontations between Palestinian resistance fighters and Israeli forces are ongoing on several fronts. Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida confirmed that the number of Israeli prisoners is "several times greater than what the Zionist entity thinks." He directed a message at Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that his threats against Gaza are a "losing bet after the regime's soldiers fell like locusts, and hundreds of them fled." Abu Obaida emphasized that the Tel Aviv regime is facing a terrible crisis in the face of the "courage of our men." The Israeli Health Ministry said at least 300 Israelis were killed and over 1,500 injured in the Hamas attack. Palestinian medical authorities said more than 310 people have been killed and many more injured as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip. Hospital officials in the Strip have recorded the death of 313 civilians and injury of 1,990 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 Lebanon's Hezbollah fires shells, guided missiles toward occupied territories Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 6:44 AM Lebanon's 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 Israel's 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel targets two residential buildings in Gaza in fresh air strikes Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 6:34 AM The Israeli military hit two residential buildings in the Gaza Strip in fresh air raids against civilian targets on Sunday morning, a day after Palestinian fighters launched a surprise offensive against the regime. Several Palestinian news outlets reported that Israeli warplanes bombed the Watan Tower in Gaza City, and also hit the eleven-story al-Aklouk. There were no immediate reports of serious damage or casualties. The reports also said the bombs struck the Matar residential building. The developments came only a few hours after Israeli air raids on the blockaded Gaza Strip flattened Palestine Tower in the heart of Gaza City. The Gaza-based al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas resistance movement, announced it renewed rocket fire towards the 1948 Israeli-occupied territories on Sunday morning. Israel has a track record of conducting hits on residential buildings and towers located within the Gaza Strip, one of the world's most densely populated areas. Similar Israeli air strikes on residential towers in the past have provoked heavy responses from Palestinians, who warn Israel to avoid targeting civilian buildings. Operation Al-Aqsa Storm is the biggest to be carried out by Palestinian resistance groups against the occupying regime in years. Resistance fighters crossed the fence into Israeli-occupied cities, with hundreds of rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, Hamas announced the number of Israelis taken captive in the ongoing operation is far more than "dozens" that was claimed by Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Al-Aqsa Storm aims to liberate Palestinian lands, holy sites' The deputy head of the Hamas movement, Saleh al-Arouri, says the primary goal of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, is to liberate the occupied Palestinian lands and holy sites, stressing that the battle will be escalating until its aim is achieved. Arouri said that the operation is not a hit-and-run one, but rather an all-out battle. Palestinians will not stand idle while the occupying Israeli regime attacks the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and desecrates the holy sites, he added. "Al-Qassam Brigades captured enough Israeli soldiers during an unprecedented attack against Israel to make Israeli authorities free all Palestinian prisoners in its jails," he said, noting that senior Israeli officers were among those captured. Arouri said that the fighting front is expected to expand, adding that Palestinian resistance fighters are ready for worst-case scenarios including Israeli ground invasion. He urged Palestinians all over the occupied territories to engage in the battle, calling on Arab and Muslim countries to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance front. 'Palestinian fighters united in Operation Aqsa Storm' Spokesman for the al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad resistance movement, Abu Hamza, also said his comrade resistance fighters are also engaged in Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. "Palestinian resistance fighters in the al-Quds Brigades also managed to capture Israeli soldiers," he said, adding that they are united with al-Qassam Brigades until the full liberation of Palestinian lands and holy sites. Abu Hamza added that the battle will continue and that resistance is the only way to liberate Palestinian lands and holy sites. 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 as a result of Israeli bombardment across the Gaza Strip. A large number of buildings, homes, and public facilities have also been seriously damaged due to the bombardments. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll exceeds 2,000 in Afghanistan earthquake Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 5:57 AM The death toll from a series of earthquakes in Afghanistan that has hit the northwestern part of Afghanistan has passed two thousand. Afghanistan Disaster Management Authority's spokesperson Mullah Janan Saiq said on Sunday over 2,000 people died and more than 9,000 were injured in the earthquakes that jolted western Afghanistan a day earlier, The spokesperson said earlier on Sunday that the death toll could further rise, adding that the tremors caused heavy damage in northwestern Herat and Badghis provinces. "Three villages in Herat province were completely destroyed and hundreds of people are still trapped under the debris," Saiq said. Herat regional hospital was flooded with injured people from across Herat and nearby provinces on Saturday evening. Dozens of people were being treated outside the hospital after the 600-bed hospital reached capacity by the afternoon local time. Telephone connections were down, causing difficulties in obtaining precise details from affected areas. Videos posted on social media showed hundreds of people in the streets outside their homes and offices in the city. Three massive earthquakes in the early hours of Saturday and several weaker ones rattled the western region of Afghanistan within a half-hour timeframe. The most recent earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale and was recorded at 12:42 pm. Before that, a 5.6 magnitude quake occurred at 12:19 pm, preceded by a 6.1 magnitude tremor at 12:11 pm. The epicenter of this seismic activity has been pinpointed 7km deep and 40km distance northwest of Herat city, Afghanistan's third-largest city, which is located 120km (75 miles) east of the border with Iran. An estimated 1.9 million people are believed to be living in the province. The quake was felt in the nearby provinces of Farah and Badghis and some nearby Iranian towns such as Taibad and Mashhad. Tremors were also felt in neighboring countries such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The country is frequently hit by earthquakes, especially in the Hindu Kush mountain range, which lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates. In June 2022, Afghanistan's deadliest earthquake in two decades killed at least 1,000 people and injured about 1,500 more. Afghanistan is already in the grip of a grinding humanitarian crisis due to the widespread withdrawal of foreign aid since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Biden vows 'rock solid' support for Israeli onslaught on Gaza Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 5:37 AM US President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support for the Israeli regime after the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance launched a large-scale operation in the occupied territories. In a phone call with the Israeli regime's embattled prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden offered his "rock solid" support for the regime. In recent months, Biden has had shaky relations with Netanyahu over his extreme policies. In a televised address from the White House, Biden claimed, "In my administration, support for Israel's security is rock solid and unwavering. We'll make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves." "We stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the government and people of Israel," Biden added. The US president also warned against the escalation of the fighting into a wider conflict, saying, "This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching." Biden claimed Israel -- which the United States has supplied with hundreds of billions of dollars worth of arms and munitions over decades to suppress Palestinians -- has "a right to defend itself." Meanwhile, 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. Media reports said on Saturday that discussions between the US and Israeli regime military officials were already underway at senior levels and an announcement by Washington was expected on Sunday. US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, reiterated Biden's support for the Israeli regime, saying he "will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs." In a related development, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and "called on all leadership in the region to condemn" the operation by Hamas. Also, former US president Donald Trump blamed Biden for the Palestinian operation, claiming that the Democratic president indirectly funded the campaign. "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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aliyev Says Azerbaijan Ready To 'Instantly' Begin Georgia-Hosted Talks With Armenia By RFE/RL's Georgian Service October 08, 2023 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 Baku's 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 Garibashvili 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. Garibashvili 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," Garibashvili 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." Azerbaijan's 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 region's population. Most expressed unwillingness to live under Azerbaijani rule. The European Parliament said the situation with Armenians fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh following Azerbaijan's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-aliyev-armenia- talks-georgia-karabakh/32628325.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 Interview: Kosovo's Top Cop On Serbian Meddling And Why It's So Hard To Stop Weapons Smuggling By Arton Konushevci October 08, 2023 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 planning...what 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 were...produced 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. Next, we cooperated with the supervisor of the Banjska monastery...and 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 Kosovo...to 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 careful...you 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. 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 fact...the [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]. They...also 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-police-hozha-serbian- meddling-weapons-smuggling-russia/32628366.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 Pakistan's Order For All 'Illegal' Migrants To Leave Country Sparks Fear Among Afghans By Niaz Ali Khan, Jawid Naimi October 08, 2023 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. "I'm 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 country's 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 Pakistan's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-illegal- migrants-deportation-order-afghans-fears/32628081.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 Israeli Government Declares Country Officially in State of War Sputnik News 20231008 MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - 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. "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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah Claims Responsibility for Shelling Israeli Army Positions in Lebanon Sputnik News 20231008 BEIRUT (Sputnik) - 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. 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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's Defense Minister Expands 'Special Security Situation' to All Israel Sputnik News 20231008 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered that the "special security situation" status be extended to the entire territory of Israel amid the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a release. "Following operational assessments, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant has, this evening (Saturday, 7 October 2023), expanded the 'special security situation' - the status is now applied to the entirety of Israel's territory, the release read. 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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson October 8, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss the terrorist attacks on Israel. The Secretary reiterated Israel's right to self-defense, encouraged the United Arab Emirates' continued engagement, and highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "I am very fortunate; this is a wonderful moment in my life!" Andreas, a worker from Gottingen, Germany, who had spent his entire life manufacturing automotive components, never dreamed that he would be able to "transform" himself into manufacturing lithium batteries with the support of Chinese technology. Overwhelmed with excitement, he, under the witness of many important guests, signed his name on the first battery pack that just came off the production line. What Andreas participated is the recent launch ceremony of the first battery production line at Gotion High-Tech's German base. This marks the achievement of "Made in Germany" for Gotion's lithium batteries. Why did this lithium battery company from Anhui voluntarily venture overseas to establish a factory in Germany? There is an inevitable connection and an interesting story behind it. The Transformation of "Made in Germany" Gottingen, a city rich in academic atmosphere, is also a famous university town in central Germany. Lower Saxony, where it is located, is Germany's leading automotive state, and the headquarters of Volkswagen Group is located here. In 2021, Gotion acquired the Bosch factory in Gottingen, Germany, establishing its first new energy production and operation base in Europe. With dedicated workers, mature technology, and sound management, the first battery pack was successfully produced after more than a year. The capacity planning for the Gottingen factory is 20GWh, expected to be completed in four phases. Once all phases are completed, it is expected to achieve an annual output value of 2 billion euros. Peter Willemsen, Chief Operating Officer of Gotion Global and General Manager of Gotion Germany, stated that the first production line of the Gottingen factory has officially started production and has received a large number of European orders. On the same day as the launch ceremony, Gotion signed cooperation agreements with several internationally renowned companies, including BASF, ABB, Ebusco, and Ficosa. Win-Win in Going Global Why do Chinese power battery companies venture overseas to establish a base in Europe? Because this is a "win-win" situation for both Chinese companies and Europe. Germany is under pressure to undergo a green and low-carbon transformation and hopes to empower its local manufacturing industry with more advanced new energy technologies. "By 2030, Germany aims to have at least 15 million pure electric vehicles on its roads, but Germany still has a long way to go to achieve this goal. Currently, Chinese companies have more than 100,000 employees in Germany and provide important technological impetus in key areas for the future," said Michael Schumann, President of the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) in Germany. On the other hand, China's new energy technology is in a leading position globally. In 2022, China produced a total of 6.85 million NEVs, with an installed capacity of 561GWh, accounting for approximately 60% of the global market, leading the world. According to SNE Research, an international research institution, European demand for electric vehicle batteries is predicted to reach 406GWh by 2023, with expected supply of 335GWh, leaving a gap of nearly one-fourth. For Chinese power battery companies, venturing overseas is also an opportunity. The Newly approved EU Battery Regulation stipulates that starting from 2026, all batteries in newly purchased vehicles, fixed storage systems, and large industrial projects in Europe will require a battery passport, and only batteries with a passport can be sold in the European market. Currently, many Chinese companies are actively participating in the European Battery Passport project. Localizing production and supply in Europe can not only reduce logistics costs and make products more tailored to the European market's needs but also enable Gotion to quickly adapt to local regulatory requirements and accelerate the construction of a local customer network. So, why Lower Saxony? On the one hand, Lower Saxony has established a friendly provincial-state relationship with Anhui Province, with a cooperation history of nearly 40 years. On the other hand, it is the location of the Volkswagen Group headquarters, and Volkswagen Group is Gotion's largest shareholder. "Therefore, with Gotion's technological accumulation and Volkswagen's brand support, the power battery products produced in Gottingen will have a broad market demand for decades to come," said Chen Ruilin, Vice President of Gotion High-Tech's International Business Division. The Unstoppable Wave of Openness Gotion's venture overseas is not an isolated case. Round after round of multinational cooperation is yielding the fruits of openness. In April of this year, international automotive giant Volkswagen Group announced an investment of approximately 1 billion euros to establish a research, innovation, and procurement center focusing on intelligent connected electric vehicles in Hefei. This will become Volkswagen's largest procurement and R&D center outside of Germany. "Anhui has become one of the most important high-end technology research and development bases in China! "At the 2023 World Manufacturing Conference, Volkswagen Group (China) Chairman and CEO Ralf Brandstaetter highly praised Anhui and admitted that Anhui and the provincial capital Hefei play a key strategic role in Volkswagen's transformation to intelligent connected vehicles. Gotion's "going global" and Volkswagen's "landing" both reflect China's leading advantage in the new energy and new energy vehicle industry. "Nowadays, the 'going global' of China's lithium battery industry follows the same logic as the influx of foreign investment from multinational automakers into China two or three decades ago. Many of our technological fields are already world-leading," said Yin Haitao, Vice Dean of the Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. After the industry switched lanes, the technology output patterns between China and some established European and American companies have reversed. With supply and demand, there will be economic cooperation and exchange. Just as a leading official from Anhui said during the inauguration ceremony of the Gottingen factory, in the era of economic globalization, cooperation and competition promote economic prosperity. China will firmly adhere to the concept of open cooperation, while Anhui vigorously supports local enterprises in "going global" and actively expanding into the global market. Source: Anhui Daily Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Kristen Welker of NBC's Meet the Press US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State The Benjamin Franklin Room Washington, D.C. October 8, 2023 QUESTION: And joining me now is Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Mr. Secretary, welcome back to Meet the Press. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Good morning, Kristen. QUESTION: So the big question on everyone's mind, Mr. Secretary: How did Israel, how did the United States miss what Hamas was planning? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, first, put this in perspective - and you heard this from your correspondents as well. This is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, almost exactly 50 years ago. But there's also a big difference. That was a state-on-state conflict, army against army with clear front lines. This is a massive terrorist attack targeting Israeli civilians, gunning people down in the streets of their towns, gunning them down in their homes, dragging Israelis - men, women, and children - across the border with Gaza. A Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, women and children - all being taken hostage. So you can imagine the impact this is having in Israel, and it should be revolting to people around the world. There will be plenty of time to figure out whether the intelligence should have done something different to see this coming. Right now the entire focus is on supporting Israel, making sure that it has what it needs - as President Biden pledged to Prime Minister Netanyahu when they spoke yesterday - 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 there's accountability, and to try to ensure, to the best of its ability, that this doesn't happen again. We've been on the phones constantly since yesterday - early yesterday morning - the President, myself, everyone throughout our government - working around the world both to build up that support and to get countries to use the influence they may have with Hamas to get it to cease and desist. QUESTION: But Mr. Secretary, do you acknowledge that both Israeli intelligence officials and U.S. intelligence officials were caught off guard here? SECRETARY BLINKEN: This is an attack that I don't think anyone saw coming in the - in the immediate. And as I said, this QUESTION: So was it an intelligence failure, Mr. Secretary? Do you acknowledge it was an intelligence failure? SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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. That's the entire focus. Now, more broadly, we have been intensely concerned about the possibility of violence in the region. We have been working intensely with Israelis and Palestinians and other countries to try to make sure that that was - that was avoided. The challenge is this: We brought Israelis and Palestinians together in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh to make sure that neither took steps that could lead to conflict, and that was an ongoing effort, but Hamas was not involved because Hamas is a terrorist organization, and the difference maker here is you have a terrorist group that's undertaken these actions. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, does the administration know at this point if U.S. citizens were among the dead or those taken hostage? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So we have reports that several Americans may be among the dead. We are very actively working to verify those reports. Similarly, we've seen reports about hostages, and there, again, we're very actively trying to verify them and nail that down. QUESTION: Meaning that there could be some U.S. citizens who have been taken hostage as well, Mr. Secretary? SECRETARY BLINKEN: That's correct. QUESTION: And does the United States have a role, given that and more broadly speaking, in securing the release of the hostages that have been taken, both Israeli hostages and U.S. hostages and any other nationalities? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Kristen, first, I'm not going to get ahead of the facts. We need to establish the facts. Second, any American anywhere who is being detained or held hostage, that is going to be a priority for this government, for this administration, and for me, but I don't want to get ahead of where we are. We have reports; we need to verify them. QUESTION: Did Iran play a role in this attack, Mr. Secretary? What has the administration assessed in that regard? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, Kristen, Iran and Hamas have a long relationship. Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support it's had for many years from Iran. In this moment, we don't have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out, but that's something we're looking at very carefully, and we've got to see where the facts lead. But we do know that Iran's had a long relationship with Hamas, long support. It's one of the reasons that we have been aggressively working to counter Iran, including sanctioning more than 400 Iranians, more than 400 - and companies, precisely for the things like the support it's provided to Hamas. QUESTION: And we are learning just this morning that two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were killed in Egypt. This comes as major cities around our country are enhancing security at synagogues and other religious institutions. How concerned should Americans be about a potential attack here, Mr. Secretary? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, we haven't - we haven't seen indications of that, but of course were on guard around the world. We're on guard wherever American citizens may be and could be in danger, and of course we're always on guard in the United States. But when it comes to the region as a whole, look, I was on the phone yesterday with my counterparts from Egypt, from Saudi Arabia, from Jordan, from Qatar, from the United Arab Emirates, from Turkiye, from European countries, and a big part of that was trying to make sure that everyone was doing everything they can to ensure security, ensure safety, and to use whatever influence they have to get Hamas to back down and also to make sure that others don't try to take advantage of the situation. You heard the President speak to this very clearly. He issued a pretty stark warning that no one anywhere should try to take advantage of what's happening in Israel. QUESTION: And speaking of Saudi Arabia, of course, this comes against the backdrop of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel having discussions about a potential deal to normalize relations, which would have further isolated Iran. What, if any, role do you think those talks may have played in these attacks, and does this effectively mean that those talks are now dead? SECRETARY BLINKEN: It's 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, Hizballah, and Iran. And so it's 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. There are a lot of really challenging issues to work through; we're in the process of trying to do that. But the result would be, if we were able to get there, a much different path for the region and for the future - a path of greater stability, of greater integration, of people working together to better their lives. That's in stark contrast to the path that's offered by Hamas - a path of violence, killing, horror, terror, a path that offers absolutely nothing to the Palestinian people. In fact, what it offers is more suffering, not less. So, it's a pretty stark choice. And the fact that Hamas, Hizballah, Iran are lined up against that vision, I think speaks volumes. At the same time, as we're pursuing normalization, it's imperative that it not be a substitute for Israelis and Palestinians resolving the differences between them. On the contrary, it needs to be something that actually advances that prospect and supports it. But right now, in the immediate, the focus is on helping Israel deal with this attack from Hamas. That's what we're focused on. QUESTION: And Mr. - Mr. Secretary, as you know, Republican candidates have been criticizing the administration for the deal that you just struck with Iran to release five American detainees in exchange for some Iranian detainees as well as releasing $6 billion. Your officials have already said Iran has not yet seen a cent of that money, but how do you respond to Republican critics who say that that deal funded the attacks on Israel? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, it's very unfortunate that some are playing politics at a time when so many lives have been lost and Israel remains under attack. Here are the facts: 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, under our law, under our sanctions going back many years, it's always had the right to use those funds for humanitarian purposes - for food, for medicine, for medical equipment. The funds were moved from one bank to another where it could more easily do that, but under the close supervision of the U.S. Treasury Department. In other words, Treasury will verify any QUESTION: Mr. Secretary - Mr. Secretary, I don't - I don't want SECRETARY BLINKEN: No, it's important - it's important to get these facts right, because here's what's going on. Again, 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 - and those who are saying otherwise are either misinformed or misinforming, and it's wrong either way. QUESTION: What do you say about the argument that money is fungible? So Iran may have known this money is coming and used other funds to help fund this attack that happened. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Iran has - Iran has, unfortunately, always used and focused its funds on supporting terrorism, on supporting groups like Hamas, and it's done that when there have been sanctions, it's done that there haven't been sanctions. And it's always prioritized that. And again, I come back to the proposition that from - these funds have always been, under the law, available to Iran to use for humanitarian purposes. The Trump administration set up a very similar mechanism to enable Iran to use these kinds of assets for humanitarian purposes. We've done the same thing. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, very quickly before we go. As you know, there is currently no speaker of the House. Congress is in a state of paralysis. Is Congress able to respond should Israel ask for more aid from the United States? What's your message there? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, Kristen, there's a tremendous amount of aid and assistance already in the pipeline. 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. The contracts are moving forward. We do a lot of co-production with them. A lot is in the pipeline. At the same time, Israel has come to us and asked for some specific additional assistance. I'm sure you'll hear more about that probably later today, and we're responding to that, and we have the ability to do that. Now, 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 that's something we want to see, and we hope that that happens quickly. QUESTION: Okay. Secretary Blinken, thank you so much for joining us. We will look for that announcement about more aid later today. Really appreciate it. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Margaret Brennan of CBS's Face the Nation US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin Room Washington, D.C. October 8, 2023 QUESTION: We go now 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 BLINKEN: Thanks, Margaret. QUESTION: 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 continue 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. QUESTION: 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 are 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. QUESTION: So, you don't know if there are hostages are not? SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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. QUESTION: 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 Turkiye, Lebanon, and many European countries as well 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, and to use the influence that they have with different groups to make sure that they don't do that, precisely so that we don't have a broadening of this conflict to other places. QUESTION: 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 - is 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. QUESTION: Yeah. 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 that. I think - look, we don't - we'll have to see, as we learn more, what the motivations were and what they are. But here's one thing that'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. QUESTION: Right. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Now, who's opposed to that? Hamas, Hizballah, Iran. So, I think that speaks volumes. And there are 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 QUESTION: Right. SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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. QUESTION: 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, in 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 U.S. Intelligence concern about the risk of instability in this region. Jordan's king has been warning about the risks of extremism. Did the Netanyahu government underestimate that risk? Why were they so vulnerable? SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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 instability for many, many months between Israelis and Palestinians. 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 QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN: remains a two-state solution, and one that ensures 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 that track as well. QUESTION: Yeah. 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 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 causalities - something, of course, that Hamas doesn't do. On the contrary, not only does it not seek to avoid them, it deliberately targets civilians. QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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 comparison. But we look to Israel, as always, to apply the highest standards when it comes to avoiding civilian causalities in anything it may do in Gaza. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for your time this morning. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Margaret. Good to be with you. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With George Stephanopoulos of ABC's This Week US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin Room Washington, D.C. October 8, 2023 QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us this morning. I know you've been working through the day, through the weekend. What is the United States doing right now? What comes next? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, George, first, to put this in perspective - and as some of your correspondents just said - this is the worst attack on Israel since 1973, the Yom Kippur War, almost exactly 50 years ago. But there's a fundamental difference. That was a war that was state to state, country to country, army to army. 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. We have immediately engaged our Israeli partners and allies. President Biden was on the phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu early yesterday to assure him of our full 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. QUESTION: How do you explain this intelligence failure, especially - especially - on the anniversary of the Yom Kippur War? SECRETARY BLINKEN: George, there'll be time to look at that and to make determinations about what may have been missed. And right now, the focus has to be on the effort to get - to repel the aggression by the Hamas terrorists, to push them back, and to put Israel in a position where this doesn't happen again. QUESTION: But there are implications for the United States as well, of course. We rely on Israeli intelligence, don't we? SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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 effort, right now, has to be in dealing with the aggression from Hamas with these attacks. There remains intense fighting around Gaza. We continue to see that. The rest of the country right now seems to be calmer. But the intensity of the fighting is real, and we had about a thousand Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel. Most of them seem to have either been killed or have gone back into Gaza. But as I said, intense fighting remains. So, that's the focus. And the focus is also on taking steps to make sure, to the best of their ability for Israel, that this doesn't repeat itself. QUESTION: Can Israel control Gaza if they go in? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Look, I don't want to get ahead of what Israel may or may not do when it comes to Gaza. What they need to be able to control one way or another is, as I said, putting in place measures so that this doesn't happen again. No country should be expected to live with the fear, the possibility, and now the actuality of terrorists crossing a border, coming into people's homes, gunning them down in the street, dragging them across the border, and making hostages of them. That is intolerable for any democracy. It's intolerable for Israel. And one way or another, they're going to have to take steps to make sure that, to the best of their ability, this doesn't repeat itself. QUESTION: As I discussed with Steve Gannon, the U.S. had been making progress in these negotiations with Saudi Arabia and Israel. What happens to that now? SECRETARY BLINKEN: George, it's no surprise that those opposed to the efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and more broadly to normalize Israel's relations with countries throughout the region and beyond - who opposes it? Hizballah, Hamas, and Iran. So, to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes. Right now, the focus is on dealing with this attack, dealing with Hamas. And we'll come to the normalization efforts, which, by the way, are incredibly difficult when it comes to Saudi Arabia and Israel. Lots of hard issues to work through. But if we could get there, that would significantly advance stability in the region. It would offer so many greater prospects for people in all of these countries. And there are basically two paths that are before the region right now. One is the path of normalization, of integration, of people working together. And by the way, in that and on that path, it's not a substitute for resolving the differences between Israelis and Palestinians. On the contrary, it needs to be used to advance that effort as well. But that's one path. The other path is what we've seen from Hamas: terrorism, horror, and something that offers not only nothing to people throughout the region; it offers nothing to the Palestinians. On the contrary, everything that Hamas does makes their situation, their plight, even worse. They bring nothing but death and destruction not only to Israelis but to Palestinians. So, the paths are clear. We know which path we want to follow. We're determined to do that. But right now, the focus has to be on helping Israel as it defends itself against this terrorist attack. QUESTION: Does dealing with Hamas mean dealing with Iran? Was Iran behind this? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So, 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 or involved, but the support over many years is clear. 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. QUESTION: As you know, many in the GOP are laying blame on the Biden administration in the wake of that recent deal to unfreeze Iranian assets that were unfrozen for humanitarian purposes in return for the release of those American hostages. Here's what Steve Scalise, one of the candidates for speaker, put out yesterday: "The Biden administration must be held accountable for its appeasement of these Hamas terrorists, including handing over billions of dollars to them and their Iranian backers." Your response? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, look, I'm not going to comment on specific comments by individuals. I can say this: It's unfortunate that some are, in effect, saying things that may be motivated by politics at a time when so many lives have been lost and Israel remains under attack. And the facts are these and should be well known: This involved Iranian resources, not American taxpayer dollars; these were resources that Iran had acquired from the sale of its oil that were stuck in a bank, in this case in South Korea. They have always been entitled to use those funds under our law and under our sanctions for humanitarian purposes, and the funds were moved from one bank to another to facilitate that. By the way, not a single dollar from that account has actually been spent to date, and in any event it's very carefully and closely regulated by the Treasury Department to make sure that it's only used for food, for medicine, for medical equipment. So, some who are advancing this false narrative, they're either misinformed or they're misinforming, and either way it's wrong. QUESTION: Are we in for a long war? SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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 what's happened; and, also, to do our best to ensure that this doesn't happen again. And that is likely to take some time, and it's fraught with very difficult decisions for the Israelis to make. I don't want to speculate, get ahead, get into hypotheticals, but this is - now we're 24 hours 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. QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, thanks for your time this morning. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, George. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Dana Bash of CNN's State of the Union US Department of State Interview Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Benjamin Franklin Room Washington, D.C. October 8, 2023 QUESTION: Joining me now is the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Thank you so much for joining me; I really appreciate it. First, what can you tell us about what's going on on the ground in Israel and in Gaza right now, and how worried are you about how rapidly and how widely this could escalate? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Dana, the first thing to say is this: This is the worst attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 - 50 years ago. But there's 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. So, you can imagine the impact this is having on Israel, and it should be something that revolts the entire world. Right now, what we're seeing is relative calm throughout most of Israel but intense fighting continuing to go on in the Gaza area. We immediately reached out - President Biden reached out to Prime Minister Netanyahu, spoke to him on the phone early yesterday. I spoke to the Israeli President Herzog, to the Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. We've been on the phones throughout our government over the last 24 hours, engaging everyone in the region and well beyond QUESTION: Yeah. SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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. QUESTION: Well, how concerned are you about that last point that you made, that this will escalate beyond what's happening in Israel and in Gaza? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, our first focus is to make sure that Israel has what it needs to deal with the situation in Gaza, to deal with the some-thousand militants who came into Israel - again, attacking Israeli civilians in their homes, in their towns. They, as of now, seem to have been pushed back for the most part into Gaza, but we want to make sure that Israel has what it needs. At the same time, President Biden was very clear in sending a message to anyone in any other area who might try to take advantage of the situation not to. And whether that's in the north with Hizballah and Lebanon, whether it's in the West Bank, or whether it's elsewhere, we've sent that message very clearly and we've sent it directly, and we've sent it through other countries. QUESTION: When you spoke with your counterpart in Israel, when the President spoke with the prime minister, did they ask specifically for help from the U.S.? SECRETARY BLINKEN: So we, as you know, Dana, provide significant assistance to the Israelis. We have ever since then-President Obama signed a memorandum of understanding with Israel to provide $3.8 billion a year in military assistance. We are looking at specific additional requests that the Israelis have made. I think you're likely to hear more about that later today. QUESTION: Can you give us a preview? SECRETARY BLINKEN: (Laughter.) Let me not get ahead of it, but again, we're - we want to make sure that - 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. And as I said, I would expect that there'll be more on that later today. QUESTION: Before I move on, I just want to ask about any Americans who are in Israel. Is there any indication that Americans were either killed or kidnapped by terrorists? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Yes, 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. QUESTION: It does seem like this very coordinated attack came out of nowhere. I want our viewers to listen to what the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said just nine days ago. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SULLIVAN: The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades. Now, challenges remain: Iran's nuclear weapons program, the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. But the amount of time that I have to spend on crisis and conflict in the Middle East today compared to any of my predecessors going back to 9/11 is significantly reduced. QUESTION: Well, that obviously has changed dramatically, not just for Jake Sullivan but for all of you. And this isn't specifically about anything that Jake missed, but more broadly, about the intelligence failure not just by the Israelis but the U.S. What can you say about that? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, two things, Dana. First, what Jake Sullivan said was right. If you look at the relationship among countries in the Middle East, you saw - with a lot of work by the United States - countries coming together, the region integrating, hostilities diminishing. And we've been very engaged in pursuing, for example, normalization between Israel and its neighbors, building on what's already been done, including with Saudi Arabia. And other conflicts, like the conflict in Yemen where we've had a truce now for almost two years, have made a huge difference. What happened over the last 24 hours doesn't go to state-to-state conflict, where Jake is exactly right - it's diminished. This goes to a terrorist attack by a terrorist organization. At the same time, we have been intensely focused on tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. That's why we brought them together in Sharm el-Sheikh, in Aqaba, to try to get both sides not to engage in acts that could precipitate hostilities, violence. And that, unfortunately, does not include Hamas because it's a terrorist organization. And it took action, as we've seen over the last 24 hours, that has had a terrible impact, but that's what was going on. In terms of the intelligence, there'll be plenty of time in days to come to look and see what anyone missed, what might have - what we could have done better. Right now, the focus is on helping Israel and making sure that it has what it needs to deal with this attack. QUESTION: Understand. The U.S. - you mentioned Saudi Arabia. I wanted to ask you about that, because the U.S., your administration, has been working to help craft a normalization deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Do you think that this attack was in part to disrupt that, and could that be successful? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Certainly, that could have been part of the motivation. Look, who opposes normalization? Hamas, Hizballah, Iran. So 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. So that's certainly a factor. And I think it speaks to the fact that if we could achieve normalization, which is incredibly difficult - there are a lot of hard issues to work through - but if we could achieve it, it would bring even greater - it would bring greater stability to the region. It would move the region away from decades of turmoil, decades of conflict. At the same time, what we've been very clear about and others have been very clear about is normalization cannot be a substitute for Israelis and Palestinians resolving their differences. In fact, it ought to be able to reinforce it, to strengthen it. So there's - there are really two paths for the region. One is a path of much greater integration, much greater stability, and a resolution of the challenges between Israelis and Palestinians, including equal measures of democracy, of opportunity, of justice, and dignity for both Israelis and Palestinians. Or the path that Hamas is engaged in, a path of terror, of wreaking havoc in people's lives, and of doing nothing to better the lives of Palestinians. On the contrary, every action that Hamas has taken is only making it worse for Palestinians as well as Israelis. QUESTION: Secretary Blinken, do you have evidence that Iran directed this attack? SECRETARY BLINKEN: 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. 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. QUESTION: While we're talking about Iran, I just have to ask you to - if you want to respond to what we're hearing from Republicans who are, over and over since this happened, using the word "appeasement" when it comes to Iran and your administration. They criticize the decision to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds. I know and want to state that that money, according to your administration, has not yet been unfrozen. Iran does not yet have it. But the accusation is that Iran's posture - excuse me, that the U.S., your administration's, posture towards Iran has helped contribute to this. I want to get you - to give you a chance to respond. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, there are two things here. First, with regard to the funds that you mentioned that were released to - made available to Iran for humanitarian purposes as part of getting Americans back who were being held and detained in Iran, let's be very clear about this - and it's deeply unfortunate that some are playing politics when so many lives have been lost and Israel remains under attack. The facts are these: No U.S. taxpayer dollars were involved. 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. They were moved from one account to another in another country to facilitate that use. As of now, not a single dollar has been spent from that account. 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. That's what this is about. And by the way, the previous administration set up a very similar mechanism to enable Iran to use its oil proceeds that were blocked in various places or stuck in various places for humanitarian purposes. So people are either misinformed or they're misinforming, and either way, it's wrong. QUESTION: Before I let you go, I want to ask you about the United Nations saying that they have detected rockets coming from Lebanon toward Israel and that Hizballah is claiming responsibility. Have you seen intelligence that Hizballah is contemplating a more fulsome attack in the north of Israel and perhaps maybe would even SECRETARY BLINKEN: So QUESTION: get help from groups like the Taliban or Iran, as we've been talking about? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, one of the reasons President Biden was very clear from the very first moments that no one elsewhere should try to take advantage of this situation is precisely to do everything we can to ensure that there's not another front in this conflict, including Hizballah in Lebanon. We saw some limited firing of missiles by - coming from Lebanon toward Israel. That seems for now to have stopped. The Israelis responded immediately. And as of now, that's quiet, but it's something we're watching very carefully. QUESTION: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, thank you so much for your time this morning on this very dark, dark day. Appreciate it. SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks, Dana. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address "Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all" Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey 08.10.2023 Addressing the opening ceremony of Istanbul Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, President Erdogan said: "Those knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East can clearly see the fact that the Palestinian issue lies at the essence of all the current problems in our region. Peace will remain elusive in our region unless this issue is settled in a just manner. Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all." President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech at the opening ceremony of Istanbul Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Yesilkoy, Istanbul. "I am pleased to be with you during the opening ceremony of Mor Efrem Syriac Orthodox Church, for which we broke ground with you in 2019. I wish the church may be auspicious for the Syriac community, and congratulate those who put efforts for its opening in Istanbul, an epitome of tolerance and peace," said the President. "TURKIYE HAS EXEMPLARY EXPERIENCE IN ACCOMMODATING MEMBERS OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND FAITHS PEACEFULLY THROUGHOUT CENTURIES" President Erdogan stated: "Turkiye has exemplary experience in accommodating members of different cultures and faiths peacefully throughout centuries. Our faith, which regards human beings as the most honorable of the created, commands us to be always fair and act equitably. Likewise, our civilization pays no regard to the identity of the oppressed or the oppressor. It is our duty to stand up to the oppressor and to stand with the oppressed, regardless of their name, faith or allegiance." Touching on the recent developments in the Middle East, President Erdogan said: "Those knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East can clearly see the fact that the Palestinian issue lies at the essence of all the current problems in our region. Peace will remain elusive in our region unless this issue is settled in a just manner. Permanent peace can be achieved in the Middle East only if the Palestine-Israel issue is solved once and for all." "THE REQUIREMENT THAT AN INDEPENDENT STATE OF PALESTINE, WITH AL-QUDS AS ITS CAPITAL, BE ESTABLISHED CAN NO LONGER BE DELAYED" Underscoring the importance of the preservation of a two-state perspective for the solution of the issue, President Erdogan noted: "The requirement that an independent and geographically-integrated State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with al-Quds as its capital, be established can no longer be delayed. However, efforts to divide al-Quds, space- and time-wise, as well as harassments targeting al-Haram al-Sharif, are increasing day by day. As Turkiye, we have voiced our reactions and objections regarding this topic at every opportunity. We have never refrained from speaking what is right and telling the bitter truth even when the entire world has fallen silent." President Erdogan continued his remarks as follows: "While we have always stood in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, we have also underscored that steps which could escalate the tension, cause further bloodshed and aggravate the problems in the region should be avoided. We have diligently worked through our relevant institutions to alleviate the hardships faced by the people of Gaza due to the blockade. Today as well, we act by the principle that 'there are no losers in a just peace.' The establishment of tranquility, lasting peace, and stability in the region through the solution of the Palestinian issue according to the international law is the top issue we focus on during our talks with our counterparts. Unfortunately, Palestinians and Israelis, as well as the entire region, pay the price for the delay in delivering justice. Particularly the suffering and death of innocent children and of babies in their cradles wound the hearts of all of us." President Erdogan further stressed: "Adding fuel to the fire will benefit no one, including civilians on both sides. Turkiye is ready to do its part to the best of its capacity to end the fighting as soon as possible and alleviate the heightened tension due to the recent incidents. We are determined to increasingly maintain the diplomatic efforts we are engaged in to restore calm. We also invite all the influential actors in the region to sincerely contribute to peace." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an emergency phone call with the Prime Minister of Israel President of Ukraine 8 October 2023 - 17:26 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had an emergency phone call with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu. The Prime Minister informed the President about the situation in Israel and the actions of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies to repel the attack. Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine's solidarity with Israel, which is suffering from a brazen large-scale attack, and condolences over the numerous victims. He noted the cooperation between the Israeli police and Ukrainian diplomats on the security and protection of Ukrainian citizens in Israel. The interlocutors also discussed the impact of the attack on Israel on the security situation in the region and beyond. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas Attack Is Latest Tragedy in Long Cycle of Middle East Violence By Steve Herman October 08, 2023 When Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip carried out attacks in Israel on Saturday, resulting in thousands of Israeli and Palestinian civilian casualties, it was the latest clash in a conflict with origins ascribed to biblical times. The modern battle between Israelis and Palestinians is primarily a territorial dispute, although there is a religious component as Israel is a Jewish state and the Palestinians are predominately Muslims in a land deemed holy by several religions, including Christianity. In Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism is known as The Temple Mount, because two ancient Jewish temples that were destroyed are located there. It is also the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the third-most sacred site in Islam (known in Arabic as Haram al-Sharif, meaning Noble Sanctuary) Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven from there. A Hamas leader referred to Saturday's assault into southern Israel, which included Palestinian gunmen on paragliders under cover of thousands of rocket launches, as the "al-Aqsa flood" in defense of the mosque, 75 kilometers to the northwest of Gaza. There have been numerous assaults on the mosque "by Israeli soldiers marching in with their boots on, which is total desecration. If that happened in any synagogue in the world, something comparable, we'd be screaming that it was antisemitism, which indeed it would be," said Professor Joel Beinin of Stanford University. For the Israeli government, Jerusalem is its "unified, eternal" capital. It has held the eastern part of the city since the 1967 Middle East war, a setback for Palestinian dreams of a capital there. Israel's annexation of largely Palestinian eastern Jerusalem is not internationally recognized. There are now more than 200,000 people living in Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem. A nationalistic mythology, rooted in biblical scripture, is used by those on the right in Israel to justify the occupation of Palestinian territories and the continuing repression of its people, according to Khaled Elgindy, director of the Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian Affairs program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. The primary area in dispute is on the west bank of the Jordan River, which the Israeli government refers to as Judea and Samaria. Many Jews living there assert it is the land of their people going back 4,000 years and was never under Arab rule. Palestinians see history differently and point to their families' residing there under four centuries of Turkish rule and before. Hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians and a two-state solution waxed and waned through declarations, armed conflict and treaties since the early 20th century after the British took control of the region following the end of the First World War. Britain and France then carved the area into spheres of influence. Violence between the Arab indigenous population and arriving Jewish settlers, part of a burgeoning Zionist movement, escalated. A war erupted in 1948, a day after Israel declared independence and Arab armies from five countries marched into areas that had not been apportioned by the United Nations to the Jews. The Israelis emerged victorious. For Palestinians, it was a historic loss known as the Nakbah or "catastrophe" for the large number of families who lost their land and became refugees. More wars would follow. "It's hard to ignore the parallels [Saturday] with events from exactly 50 years ago when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. Israel had been feeling quite triumphalist and invincible after its lightning victory of 1967," Elgindy told VOA. There was a burst of hope, 30 years ago, when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat, with U.S. President Bill Clinton as a witness, signed the Oslo Accords at the White House. But the interim agreement failed. It did not lead the Palestinians to a state of their own after a period of self-governance under the Palestinian Authority. Israel did not stop settlement building, blaming the Palestinian leadership for failing to prevent terrorist attacks emanating from territory under Fatah control. No U.S. president since Barack Obama has effectively raised the issue of scaling back the Israeli presence in their territories, according to the Palestinians. The two-state solution "has been dead for decades, unfortunately. I never would have said that before because I never wanted to subject the Palestinian people to more years of trauma and tragedy living in a one state that was not giving them their rights," said James Zogby, the founder and president of the Arab-American Institute. "The result is that today, I don't know where you get a Palestinian state. I don't know where it's to be set up." Analysts across the political spectrum generally concur there will be continuing repercussions if the plight of the Palestinians is ignored. "The Palestinian people are not going to vanish into thin air. This issue is not going to go away just because you think it's too much of a problem to deal with it," Beinin told VOA. Palestinian disgust with the corruption of Fatah, the largest faction of the PLO, led to Hamas as the victor in 2006 balloting in Gaza, the last time elections were held there. "Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip every several years since 2008. They call it 'mowing the grass,'" said Beinin, a former president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America. The deterioration of the situation in the Middle East in recent decades "is clearly an American failure," according to Zogby, contending that Washington has not effectively used its influence. Zogby refers to the Israelis as America's spoiled child and the Palestinians as the abused child. "America has not taken the adult role that it should take and create limits for both sides. We put pressure on and punished Palestinians, and we've continually rewarded and placated Israel," Zogby told VOA. That led to an inevitable violent outburst from Hamas in the densely populated Gaza Strip, according to Beinin. "You're going to imprison 2.1 million people for a decade-and-a-half and there won't be an explosion?" The Stanford professor said he has family at a kibbutz that was attacked on Saturday, adding, "I don't know where they all are at this moment." More than 600 Israelis were killed and at least 2,200 wounded in the Saturday attacks by Hamas, according to officials in Tel Aviv. It was the deadliest day of violence for Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. Hamas has also abducted 100 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly, as well as soldiers, and taken them to Gaza. Israeli retaliation in Gaza, through shelling and airstrikes, has killed 300 people, half of them civilians, according to Hamas. There is a wider geopolitical context with the timing of the Hamas attack - an attempt to thwart the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. "Who opposes it? Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday during an appearance on ABC's "This Week" program. "So, to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes." The Abraham Accords, initiated by the previous U.S. administration of President Donald Trump, effectively ignored the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in pursuing diplomatic recognition between Israel and additional Arab nations. Iran and Hamas have a long relationship, noted Blinken in his Sunday TV interviews. "Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support it's had for many years from Iran. In this moment, we don't have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out. But that's something we're looking at very carefully, and we've got to see where the facts lead," said Blinken on NBC's "Meet the Press" program. "I think it's unlikely Hamas could have carried this out without that support," said Elgindy at the Middle East Institute. But, he added, "Hamas is not an operative or a proxy of the Iranian regime." For decades, the Saudis, who are Sunni Muslims, have been engaged in a rivalry with the Iranians, who are Shiite Muslims, for leadership of the Islamic world. The split goes back to the 7th century when Muslims became divided about who should be the Prophet Muhammad's successor as caliph. Nearly all Palestinian Muslims are Sunnis and Hamas is a Sunni-led faction, something that has not prevented support from the Shiite Islamic Republic in Tehran. State television in Iran on Saturday showed video of members of parliament in Tehran standing and chanting "Death to Israel" and "Palestine is victorious," while government officials were quoted pledging support for the "anti-Zionist resistance" across the region. "People will talk about Israeli intransigence and Palestinian suffering. All true. None of that justifies this barbaric attack on civilians and hostage taking. The Middle East will never be the same," predicted Steven David, a professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN World Food Program Calls for Swift Delivery of Food Supplies in Gaza By VOA News October 08, 2023 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 can't. We have a lot of dual citizens in Israel. I suspect there are several, but we're still trying to sort through all of... all this information after this horrific surprise attack and we'll 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 CNN's ''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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address What We Know: Israel-Hamas Conflict By VOA News October 08, 2023 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 Hamas's 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. Hamas's 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 Hamas's 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 that's 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 Israel's 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." Hezbollah's 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 Israel's 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 Israel's victory against the Arab forces and a subsequent armistice on October 25, 1973. That war also put into question Israel's intelligence failure to offset the surprise attack, as well as the weak performance of the Israel Defense Forces during the war's 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 Israel's unpreparedness as it is dealing with domestic political issues once again. The protest movement that has been mobilized against Netanyahu's efforts to overhaul the country's judicial system draws a parallel with Golda Meir's fledgling government in 1973 and Israel's government today. Hamas's 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 country's courts, sparking a social and political crisis. The move this year also struck a nerve with the military, prompting many reservists - the backbone of Israel's 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? Israel's 16-year Gaza blockade is one of Hamas's arguments for bringing the conflict with Israel to a head. The shadowy leader of Hamas's 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 Defense's 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 CNN's "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 Biden's 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 Israel's 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 Israeli's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Security Aid to Israel to Arrive in Coming Days By Jeff Seldin October 08, 2023 The United States is sending its newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, along with a full carrier strike group, to support Israel following a terror attack that killed hundreds of civilians. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in a statement Sunday the U.S. is moving the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea to "strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts." The USS Gerald R. Ford and its more than 4,000 sailors were first deployed last year. Described by U.S. Navy officials as, "America's biggest and baddest warship," it boasts a redesigned flight deck that allows it to generate 30% more flights than any other U.S. carrier. The Ford will be accompanied by a guided missile cruiser and five guided missile destroyers. In addition, Austin said the U.S. is taking steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the Middle East. And he said the U.S. will be providing the Israeli military with additional equipment, resources and munitions, set to arrive in the coming days, something the Pentagon said Austin reiterated to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a call Sunday. "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 in the statement. A separate statement from U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East and South Asia, said the U.S. is prepared to move in additional forces and supplies, if needed. Central Command "stands firmly with our Israeli and regional partners to address the risks of any party seeking to expand the conflict," said General Michael Kurilla. The U.S. moves come just a day after senior U.S. officials promised unwavering support to Israel as it sought to repel the Hamas terror attack. The officials left open the possibility that the U.S. help could involve restocking Israel's Iron Dome short range missile system or giving Israel access to a U.S. weapons and ammunition stockpile based in Israel, something it has done in 2006 and again in 2014. The decision to strengthen its military posture in the region follows a similar show of force in July, when the U.S. sent F-35 and F-16 fighter jets, a naval destroyer and an amphibious assault group that included 2,500 U.S. Marines to the Persian Gulf in response to a series of Iranian attacks on commercial shipping. U.S. military officials have said the decision to boost U.S. forces in July paid dividends, seeming to deter Iranian efforts. But some analysts are already warning that U.S. support to Israel may need to be more substantial, especially if other terrorist groups, like the Lebanese Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, enters the fray. "Back in 2006, Hezbollah had an arsenal of ~15k missiles (the most sophisticated provided by Iran). Today, it has 10x that number," Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism and insurgencies expert on the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations wrote on X. "The danger of a two front war for Israel or perhaps 3-front if the West Bank erupts in violence, begins to assume existential dimensions," he added. "Hezbollah we've been tracking for quite a while that it's been stockpiling PGMs or precision-guided munitions," said Jonathan Schanzer, the senior vice president for research at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are incredibly lethal weapons that can be steered and targeted using GPS and other means to be able to have direct hits on strategic targets inside Israel." He said other groups, including Hamas, also appear to have benefited from Iranian help. "What we're watching is a buildup across the board with Iranian proxies," Schanzer said. "We are certainly at a dangerous stage right now, with a lot of these militant organizations gaining skills that we have not seen in the past." Carla Babb contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indonesia 'Deeply Concerned' Over Violence Between Israel, Palestinians By Eva Mazrieva October 08, 2023 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 Indonesia's 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-C's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Appeared to Coordinate Closely With Hamas Ahead of Assault on Israel, Observers Say By Michael Lipin October 08, 2023 Iran showed signs of close coordination with its Palestinian militant proxies in the weeks before and immediately after Hamas launched Saturday's 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 Iran's 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 arm's length from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the conference's 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 Saturday's attacks began, online images posted by Hamas were reposted within minutes by Iranian social media channels affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said Israeli analyst Alexander Grinberg of Haifa University's 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 Israel's military response, but most of it probably will be after the operation." A senior White House official echoed Amidror's assessment in a call with reporters. Requesting anonymity to discuss diplomatic communications, the official said it was too early to establish the extent of Iran's support for the assault. "We're going to be looking at that very closely," the official added. Amidror said that if an investigation finds clear evidence of Iran's direct involvement in the attacks, there is "no question" that Israel will make great efforts to show Iran's 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 regime's 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." Iran's 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 Iran's 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 other's capitals after a seven-year break in ties. UANI's Brodsky pointed to this year's 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 regime's 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 VOA's Persian Service contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel Urges China to Show Solidarity After Beijing Fails to Condemn Hamas Attacks By Nike Ching October 08, 2023 China's foreign ministry Sunday responded to the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel by calling on all sides to exercise restraint, echoing Russia's 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 China's 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 China's 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. Taiwan's 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." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP sounds alarm on food security amid conflict in Israel and Palestine, urges immediate humanitarian access World Food Programme ROME -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Israel and the State of Palestine and the impact of this conflict on the affected populations. As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies, with food distribution networks disrupted and food production severely hampered by hostilities. WFP urges safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected areas, calling on all parties to uphold the principles of humanitarian law, taking every necessary measure to safeguard the lives and well-being of civilians, including ensuring access to food. WFP is prepared to respond swiftly with pre-positioned food stocks for people who have been displaced or are in shelters, when the situation allows, as well as resuming its regular food and cash-based transfer assistance to vulnerable people. While most shops in the affected areas in Palestine currently maintain one month of food stocks, these risk being depleted swiftly as people stock up in fear of a prolonged conflict. Frequent electricity cuts bring the threat of food spoilage. WFP is closely monitoring the availability and prices of food items and other commodities among its network of 300 local shops and working closely with local bakeries to provide fresh bread and support the local economy. WFP has been steadfast in providing crucial food assistance, serving approximately 350,000 Palestinians monthly, and extending aid to nearly one million Palestinians in collaboration with other humanitarian partners through its cash-based transfers platform. These developments follow a devastating cut in assistance for 60 percent of WFP food aid recipients since June 2023, due to funding shortfalls, leaving only 150,000 people receiving reduced rations. # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zionist regime attacks on Gaza to further complicate situation: Iran FM IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Oct 9, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian and Hungarian foreign ministers conferred on the expansion of bilateral relations and recent developments in West Asia, especially Palestine. In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Hossein Amirabdollahian and Hungary's Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Siarto exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral relations and recent developments in West Asia, especially Palestine. Referring to the repeated violations of UN resolutions, the continued occupation of Palestinian lands and the continuation of settlement constructions by the Zionist regime, the Iranian foreign minister emphasized that "the continuation of the Israeli regime's attacks on Gaza in the current situation will complicate the situation and increase the possibility of the spread of war." Amirabdolhian also highlighted the repeated violation of international laws and the spread of warmongering policies by the Zionist regime. The Hungarian foreign minister also pointed out that dialogue and cooperation is the right solution to resolve regional conflicts and stated that Hungary always wants to establish peace and save people's lives in such situations. Expressing hope for the end of this conflict in the Middle East, Siarto emphasized the need for all countries to bear responsibility and play their own parts. In the conversation, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the positive trend of relations based on mutual trust. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At least 370 Palestinians, 600 Israelis killed as conflict enters 2nd day People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:00, October 09, 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death toll in Gaza rises to 370 People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:00, October 09, 2023 GAZA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip has risen to 370, and over 2,200 others were wounded, including children and women, according to an update issued by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza on Sunday. The ministry said in a statement sent to Xinhua that medical teams recovered a number of bodies as a result of the Israeli raids, raising the death toll to 370 people, including children. The statement explained that the number of injuries in the hospitals across the Gaza Strip reached 2,200, including children, women, and the elderly, noting some are in serious and critical cases. On Sunday, the Israeli warplanes continued their attacks in various places in the coastal enclave, Palestinian security sources told Xinhua. Israeli army spokesperson Avichai Adraee said in a press statement on Sunday that the Israeli military jets carried out air raids on targets in the Strip. On the other hand, Salama Maarouf, the Hamas spokesman, said in a press conference held in Gaza that 13 towers, buildings, and residential buildings were destroyed and more than 1,000 units were damaged as a result of Israel's continuous attacks on the second day in a row. "A total of 159 units were completely demolished by Israeli air strikes, as well as 1,210 housing units were partially damaged, including 36 units that became uninhabitable," Maarouf added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: Our fighters have captured more Israeli forces, taken them to Gaza Strip Iran Press TV Monday, 09 October 2023 12:34 AM The military wing of Hamas resistance movement says its fighters have managed to capture a new group of Israeli forces, as a large-scale operation continues against the occupying regime. The announcement was made by spokesman for al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, through a recording released late Sunday. He said al-Qassam fighters succeeded during their Sunday assaults, which marked the second day of Operation al-Aqsa Storm, to take a new group of enemy troops captive and transfer them to the Gaza Strip. Operation al-Aqsa Storm, which got underway by the Gaza Strip-based resistance factions on Saturday, is the biggest operation launched by Palestinian groups against the occupying entity in years. It has so far led to the death of more than 700 Israeli settlers and troops while, according to unofficial estimates, approximately 750 Israeli soldiers and settlers have gone missing. Speaking in a televised speech on Sunday, the secretary general of Islamic Jihad resistance movement said the best way for Israel to prevent more of its forces from being taken captive or killed is to own up to its defeat in the face of the Palestinian resistance. "[The number of] the enemy's prisoners of war, including soldiers and settlers that we have captured in Gaza, [amounts to] dozens and more. In fact, I can say that their number is far higher than this," Nakhala said, adding, "The Islamic Jihad alone has more than 30 enemy captives." Elsewhere in his remarks, Abu Ubaida revealed that al-Qassam fighters have documented cases in which the Israeli military has killed a number of its own soldiers after they were taken captive by Palestinian fighters. According to Abu Ubaida, al-Qassam fighters managed to reach the Mavki'im area south of Ashkelon, which is located in the southern part of the occupied territories, during their Sunday battle. He added that once in the Mavki'im area, Palestinian fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces, which led to a large number of deaths and injuries among the enemy's ranks. The Palestinian fighters, the spokesman said, were still engaged in "violent and heroic" clashes in several areas near the Gaza Strip, including Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Be'eri, Yatid and Kissufim. "A number of our fighters were able to withdraw safely from the Urim base [in the Negev Desert], which houses the Israeli regime's Intelligence Unit 8200, after completing their mission there and finishing off a large number of enemy forces," Abu Ubaida said. He also hailed Palestinian people who "are making their victory, [while] awaiting their freedom and inflicting pain, heartbreak, and defeat on their enemy with the help of their heroic Mujahideen and fighters." Following the start of the operation on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Gazan fighters had managed to take no more than "dozens" of Israelis captive. Later the same day, Abu Ubaida retorted by saying that the number of Israeli captives was far higher than what Netanyahu believed. "Today, you talked about dozens of prisoners and we reassure you, Netanyahu, that your prisoners are many times more than this number, and you must keep track of your soldiers well," Abu Ubaida said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Iron Swords - Day 3 - 09 October 2023 Palestinian armed group Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and deployed its militants to infiltrate Jewish settlements near the countrys border with Gaza on 07 October 2023. The 700 Israelis killed on the first day would be the equivalent of 21,000 Americans killed in an attack, as a proportion to Israels population of 9.3 million people (compared to 332 million in the USA). sraeli President Isaac Herzog stated: Not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day". "Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe. We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives. The world wars of the past started with local aggressions." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his video address. The White House has clarified that it will not dispatch American soldiers to support Israel in the ongoing conflict. The United States had expressed unwavering support for Israels right to defend itself against Hamas. However, the line has been drawn at sending American troops to participate in the war. This distinction underscores the delicate balance the U.S. is trying to maintain while navigating this complex geopolitical landscape. The official death toll in the Gaza Strip rose to at least 560, according to the Palestinian territory's Health Ministry, as Israel attacked Hamas targets in Gaza for the third consecutive day. Another 2,900 people in Gaza have also been reported injured. Israel has killed at least 704 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank since October 7, according to the health ministry. An estimated 800 people in Israel have been killed, as well as four Hezbollah fighters in Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon. An all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah backed by Palestinian factions is a possible scenario that could drag Lebanon and the region into a catastrophic conflict. The armed wing of Islamic Jihad has taken responsibility for a failed effort to infiltrate Israel from neighbouring Lebanon. Al-Quds Brigade claims responsibility for the afternoon operation on the south Lebanon border, the armed group said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it had killed a number of militants who crossed into Israel from Lebanese territory. The armed wing of the Shiite Hezbollah party denied any involvement in the border shootout reported by the Israeli side. This was stated by a representative of the military information service of the Shiite party to the Al Nashra news portal. Whether a broader conflagration actually unfolds could depend on the next steps Israel takes. A conflict on that scale will be much more likely if [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu is able to form a unity government, said Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow with Carnegie Middle East Center, a Beirut-based think-tank. Palestinian factions in Lebanon are eager to open a second front against Israel if the Shia-backed group Hezbollah leads the charge, fighters and analysts said. Wherever [Israel] is ready for [the fight] to happen, it will happen, said Ahmed Habet, a member of the Palestinian party Fatah in Burj al-Barajneh, a refugee camp in Lebanons capital Beirut. Im the blood of my homeland. I live for my homeland. I dont live for the future, he added. We are ready [to fight Israel] at any time, said Habet. Palestinians in Lebanon are suffering from living on land that is not ours. We are all looking forward to the next life. Hezbollah may also launch a direct attack if Israel seriously escalates its operations on the Gaza Strip, according to Ahmed Abed, an official for Hamass branch in Lebanon. Hezbollah decided that they will engage [Israel] if the retaliation against Gaza is excessive. They said they are coordinating with the leadership of [Hamas] in Palestine and that they will intervene at the right time [if need be], he told Al Jazeera. Hezbollah is capable of launching a sophisticated attack if it chooses, according to Nicholas Blanford, a Beirut-based expert with the Atlantic Council. The Hamas operation is bigger by far than any single operation carried out by Hezbollah [against Israel], although the tactics Hamas used were straight from Hezbollahs guidebook, he said. Hezbollah has been training for these kinds of border-breaching missions since at least 2007. Israel used to be risk averse and prefer precision attacks [in Lebanon] than all-out war that impacts their economy and security. But with Israeli cities supremely impacted [by Hamas attacks from Gaza], there is no need for caution on Netanyahus side, Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center said. IDF Spokesman, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari said : "The rate of attacks is 5 times what was on Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War. Just at this hour, 60 fighter jets are completing an attack in the Rimal neighborhood in the heart of Gaza City. There are no terrorists crossing the fence from Gaza into the State of Israel. Israel. We are prepared in the entire fence area with tanks and planes, we have no time or ability limit." The rate of mobilization is very fast, faster than any event in the past, we have mobilized over 300,000 reservists. Israels air force has a focus on attacking and destroying underground tunnels and uranium enrichment facilities in Iran, and it has a wide range of increasingly sophisticated munitions at its disposal. They are made in the United States and domestically. Israels reported use of these weapons in the latest fighting are an indication of its military targeting Hamas positions underground. During the 2014 Gaza War, Israeli troops were trapped and killed in tunnels while trying to target Hamas. The use of the bunker busters, therefore, allows the Israeli army to attack Hamas from a distance without risking their own forces. Israel will likely continue to use the bombs because Hamas knows the network of tunnels best, better than Israeli forces could hope to ever navigate them themselves. Ground penetration munitions are not only effective against tunnel complexes and underground factories but also in demolishing high buildings and towers. The bomb can enter the top of the building and penetrate all the way to the foundation, collapsing the entire building rather than blowing it up. IDF Chief of Staff for fighters in the field : "After a difficult start, we are shaping the contact line. We hit a lot of terrorists - whoever gets close, they kill him. We will finish purifying the area, so that we will not have terrorists here, and we are at the same time already on the attack. We have many more tasks, we need to be strong. It started badly, and will end very badly on the other side." "We are here in Kibbutz Nahal-Oz, which I had the privilege of helping restore as much as possible within the area itself," says the Givat patrol commander, Lt. Col. Ziv Boanish, "I received a mission - 'Go conquer Nahal Oz, kill everyone who needs to be killed, save as many residents as possible.'" Lt. Col. Boanish continued "We shout, 'The IDF, the IDF, the Givati patrol,' and the residents do not open their doors for us, understanding that this is what the terrorists did to them". "We killed around 20 terrorists," added the commander of the Givat patrol, "I started a chase almost to the fence, and I was able to both kill their cover squad, and also prevent the kidnapping incident itself. Today we are finishing the last step for us in this part, which is to make sure that we have finished scanning that we have no voids In the settlement that we missed, and that everyone arrives for the burial properly." The Wall Street Journal cited several sources, including unnamed members of the Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups, as saying that officers from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had helped to plan the attack on Israel since August. It also gave the green light for the operation at a meeting in Beirut, Lebanon last 02 October 2023. Ghazi Hamad, a Hamas spokesman, told the BBC that the militants had direct backing from Iran. However, Ali Baraka, another Hamas official, insisted in an interview with NBC News that Tehran had not been notified about 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood' beforehand. It was a surprise to everyone, including Iran, he said. Iranian-designed weapons played a key role in the Hamas operation. The attack used new Rajum missiles, which may have been more difficult to intercept compared to older projectiles, it said. US intelligence said it is assessing alleged Iranian involvement. Tehran has praised Hamas for its raid, but has denied claims that it directly assisted it. Tehran denied accusations that it helped Palestinian militants to plan the surprise attack on Israel. The decisions made by the Palestinian resistance are fiercely autonomous and unwaveringly aligned with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people, Irans mission to the UN said in a statement to the media. We are not involved in Palestines response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself. A senior Israeli political official said Tel Aviv has information to indicate that Iran pushed Hamas into action and is pushing Hezbollah to prepare for the campaign. Iran urged Lebanons Hezbollah to prepare for potential conflict with Israel, the Times of Israel cited a senior Israeli government source as saying. The source also said that Israel has gathered intelligence suggesting Iran influenced Hamas in carrying out its recent attack on Israel. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby accused Iran of being complicit in Hamass attack on Israel, but he said Washington does not have evidence linking Tehran to the assault. Iran has long supported Hamas and other terrorist networks throughout the region with resources, capabilities training, John Kirby told MSNBC. And so in that regard, clearly Iran is complicit here. But in terms of specific evidence on this these sorts of attacks no, we dont have anything, he said. Almost 2 thousand fighters are involved in the operation against Israel, and there are 40 thousand of them in the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reports , citing Ali Baraka, a member of the leadership of the Palestinian movement abroad. "Hamas has so far deployed a small number of its forces. He (Baraka) said that almost 2,000 Hamas fighters took part in the latest battles out of a 40,000-strong army in the Gaza Strip alone," the agency said in a statement. Baraka added that only a small number of commanders in the Gaza Strip knew about the start time of the operation. Moreover, even Hamass closest allies were not informed about it in advance. Hamas refused a cease-fire in exchange for wounded and captured Israeli officers, Hazem Qassem said and said: "There is no question of a cease-fire and that this time we are going to the final victory." The negotiations were led by Egyptian negotiators, and Anthony Blinken mediated in calming the tensions, to which "Hamas" replied that they had the initiative and that it would be buying time because they had received information that Israel had sent 80 percent of the artillery ammunition to Ukraine and they they have this knowledge that now Israel wants to "buy time", according to the "Wall Street Journal" Hamass Qassam Brigades threatened to execute Israeli captives if Israel continues to bombard and kill civilians in Gaza. Any targeting of innocent civilians without warning will be met regretfully by executing one of the captives in our custody, and we will be forced to broadcast this execution, said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas Qassam Brigades. We regret this decision but we hold the Zionist enemy and their leadership the responsibility for this, he said. The Israeli army radio reported that Israeli airstrikes on Gaza will continue even at the cost of harming Israeli captives in Gaza. Attacks on the Gaza Strip will be carried out powerfully and widely, even at the cost of harming Israeli hostages who are in captivity in Gaza. If there is accurate intelligence information about the location of the captives. Certainly Israel will refrain from attacking that location, but as long as such information does not exist, all Hamas targets will be attacked. Hind Khoudary, a journalist in Gaza, has described the situation in the enclave as very dangerous. I saw thousands of Palestinian refugees in UNRWA schools without electricity, without water, without food. Everyone was saying that they cant even afford water, they left their homes after receiving those text messages from the Israeli army that they needed to leave their houses, she told Al Jazeera. At the same time, there is no safe space for Palestinians to go, even the UNRWA schools, Khoudary said, referring to schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated the Kingdoms stance against the targeting of civilians during discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with his French counterpart. In a phone call with Catherine Colonna, Prince Faisal addressed the ongoing situation in Gaza and emphasized the imperative to de-escalate the conflict, the Saudi foreign ministry said. The ministry highlighted Prince Faisals emphasis on the Kingdoms opposition to any harm to civilians and the importance of all parties involved adhering to international humanitarian law. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia had a telephone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which the parties discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip. As reported by the Saudi Press Agency, Mohammed bin Salman assured Abbas that "the kingdom will continue to support the Palestinian people in realizing their legitimate rights to live in dignity and achieving a just and lasting peace." Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Hamas and Israel to immediately end the violence and protect civilians, according to the Egyptian presidency. In a phone call, both leaders agreed civilians should not be exposed to further risks and loss of life, a presidency spokesman said. In Russian pro-Kremlin media, three main theses are being shared: That it is mistakes by the West that have led to the escalation, that wars have become the norm, and Russians who went to Israel because of the war against Ukraine will now return. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, has pounced on the theory that the West, particularly the United States, is responsible for Hamas' attack on Israel. He said in his Telegram channel that the US was a "decisive player," making a geographic connection to Russia's war against Ukraine. He pointed out that the Middle East conflict was what "Washington and its allies should have been dealing with." Instead, the "wackos" had "interfered with us by helping the neo-Nazis divide two peoples [Russians and Ukrainians] who are close to each other." The Kremlin will attempt to leverage the Hamas militants attack on Israel to advance its information operations aimed at diminishing U.S. and Western support and attention towards Ukraine, as stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), The Gaze reported. Analysts note that the Kremlin has already utilized, and is likely to continue using, Hamas attacks on Israel to promote information operations aimed at reducing U.S. and Western support and attention towards Ukraine. In Russia, Western nations have been accused of showing disrespect for conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine. It has been claimed that the international community will soon cease to focus on Ukraine. Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that the United States and its allies should focus on Palestinian-Israeli settlement rather than interfering in Russias affairs and providing military assistance to Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also accused the West of obstructing the efforts of the necessary quartet of Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations, which has led to an escalation of violence in Israel. Russian propagandist Sergey Mardan stated that Russia stands to gain from the escalation as the world will temporarily turn away from Ukraine and again engage in extinguishing the eternal fire in the Middle East. ISW experts argue that these Kremlin narratives are aimed at Western audiences to drive a wedge in military support for Ukraine, attempting to demoralize Ukrainian society by asserting that Ukraine will lose international support. Furthermore, these narratives intend to convince the Russian domestic audience that the international community will ignore Ukraines military efforts. Many Russian war correspondents have primarily focused on the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, with some contributing to Kremlins information operations, claiming that Western attention has shifted from Ukraine to Israel. As previously reported by The Gaze, dozens of armed Palestinian terrorists from Gaza infiltrated Israel on the morning of October 7 after a two-hour mass rocket barrage. They opened fire on civilians from vehicles, prompting the Israel Defense Forces to respond with an attack on the Gaza Strip and the mobilization of reserve battalions. Russia transferred weapons to Hamas to "support" fakes that the Kremlin is desperately spreading about military aid to Ukraine, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya has said. According to an Ukrinform correspondent, he said this at a meeting of the UN Security Council. "As part of the Kremlin's disinformation campaigns, these fakes can be used as a basis for so-called 'investigations' in the Western information space. To make these fakes more convincing, Russia can use a defector from the Ukrainian border service, Ruslan Syrovyi, who turned out to be a long-time Russian agent," Kyslytsya said. China is deeply concerned about the intensification of tensions and the rise in violence between Palestine and Israel, and it's profoundly saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, calling for immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of the situation. In response to a question about whether the Chinese government considered the attacks launched by Hamas against most civilians as acts of terrorism, the spokesperson said China has made clear its position on the current escalation of the situation between Palestine and Israel, and are deeply concerned about rising tensions and violence and saddened that the conflict caused civilian casualties. We oppose and condemn the harm to civilians, and we think the top priority is ceasefire as soon as possible, to restore peace and work together to cool the situation, the spokesperson said. Chinese experts believed that it is natural and realistic for Ukraine to be concerned about reduced attention from the US after the outbreak of a fresh but escalating military conflict in the Middle East, given its already tight budget and growing protests domestically demanding the reduction in aid to Ukraine. As the US sends an aircraft carrier, war ships and jets to aid Israel after Hamas' unprecedented surprise attack near the Gaza Strip, think tanks and observers are wondering if the Palestine-Israel conflict will shift the focus and change the course on the battlefield of Ukraine, as the US finds itself in "a dilemma between an already stretched military aid capacity and the need to assert hegemony in every corner of the world". Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, noted that the changing dynamics in the Middle East do have an impact on the current situation in Ukraine, but only to a limited extent, as the US may pressurize its allies to provide assistance to Kiev, although European countries will also divert some attention to supporting Israel. Despite the political deadlock in the US Congress, Gregory Meeks the top Democrat in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs said that lawmakers will ensure Israel has what it needs for the war in Gaza. Meeks said he and his Republican counterpart on the foreign policy panel are readying a pro-Israel resolution to be taken up after the House elects a new speaker. Youll see that when it comes to giving the finance thats necessary, I hope that after the Republicans have chosen their speaker we wont have an issue there, Meeks told MSNBC. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a blockade of Gaza amid intense fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas militants. It comes after the Palestinian group launched a massive assault against Israel on Saturday, killing and wounding hundreds of people. I have ordered a complete siege to the Gaza Strip, Gallant said following an assessment meeting at the IDF Southern Command on Monday. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, he added, as quoted by the Times of Israel. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly, the minister reportedly added, apparently referring to the Hamas militants who have taken control of parts of Gaza. Human Rights Watch (HRW) slammed as abhorrent Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallants call for the imposition of a total siege on Gaza, including cutting off food, fuel and electricity. Depriving the population in occupied territory of food and electricity is collective punishment, which is a war crime, as is using starvation as a weapon of war, Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at HRW, said in a statement. The International Criminal Court should take note of this call to commit a war crime. Israels chief military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, also stated that Israel had regained control of all towns on the Gaza border and that there is little to no fighting in the communities which were overrun by Hamas militants during the weekends assault. It is possible there are still terrorists in the area, Hagari admitted, stating that clashes between the IDF and Hamas fighters have been isolated. Israel could have lost six Merkava tanks and 17 armored personnel carriers in a day as a result of a Hamas attack, such conclusions were voiced by David Hambling in Forbes. According to unconfirmed early reports, Israel lost as many as six Merkavas and seventeen armored personnel carriers, the author writes, citing a count by Finnish military expert Emil Kastehelmi as of the evening of October 7. As Hambling pointed out, the "stunning attack" caught Israel by surprise, with the Palestinians knocking out IDF tanks with small drones. Videos distributed on social networks show that many Israeli armored vehicles were destroyed or damaged, including Merkava tanks of the latest modification Mk.4. Avichay Adraee, Israels military spokesperson to the Arab world, made an appearance on Al Jazeera Arabic, where he said that the Israeli army has its eyes wide open to any development on all front, in response to a question about the situation on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Adraee added that any infringement on Israeli sovereignty would be addressed with direct and strong action. He explained that although Israel was focused on Gaza, it was also vigilant and prepared for any developments along the northern border. Netanyahu warned Hamas that Israel has "only started" its offensive in the Gaza Strip. "What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations," he said in a nationalized television address. He also called on the opposition to form a unity government. "I call on opposition leaders to immediately form an emergency government of national unity without any preconditions," Netanyahu said. Opposition figures already expressed that they were considering a unity government but with conditions such as limiting the government's role to strategic issues only. Israeli media reported that Israel had hit 1,000 targets in Gaza, adding that the military has announced it will continue hitting the territory, even if it comes at the cost of harming Israeli captives in the enclave. Israeli army radio reports that Israels war as defined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to deprive Hamas of the capacity to harm Israel. If there is accurate intelligence information about the location of Israeli captives, certainly Israel will refrain from attacking that location, but as long as such information does not exist, all Hamas targets will be attacked. Reporting from Gaza, Al Jazeeras Tareq Abu Azzoum says the Palestinian territory is witnessing heavy bombardment on a scale not seen in previous wars with Palestinians homes and civilian infrastructure targeted by missile fire. The Israeli army went mad against the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation air force has managed to carry out dozens and hundreds of strikes against Gazas civilian infrastructures and residential areas, he said. Netanyahu said that his country's response to the onslaught by Hamas will "change the Middle East," as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted the Gaza Strip with air strikes. "What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible ... we are going to change the Middle East," Netanyahu told officials in the south of Israel. "This is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 08 October 2023 - Day 592 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 the Velyka Novosilka sector, west of the Donetsk Oblast town of Vuhledar, has become relatively quiet over the last four weeks, with fighting much less intense from its height in June-July 2023. Over the summer, Ukraine almost certainly liberated at least 125 square kilometres of territory on this axis. Ukrainian operations in this sector have tied down elements of the 36th and 5th Combined Arms Armies of Russia's Eastern Military District, preventing them from reinforcing other areas. It has also drawn in 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. It is unlikely there will be a significant drawdown of Russian forces from this axis in the next six weeks. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of October 8, there were 33x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 6x air strikes and 20x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. 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 Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast). The invaders fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Sen'kivka (Chernihiv oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Vovchans'k, and Okhrimivka (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x Russian attacks near Syn'kivka and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). The Russian adversary fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Kam'yanka, Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled 4x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: Ukrainian troops successfully repelled all Russian attacks north of Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka during the day of October 8. More than 15x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defense forces repelled all Russian attacks in the vicinity of Avdiivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Avdiivka, Opytne, and Sjeverne (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: during the day of October 8, the Ukrainian defense forces successfully repelled 13x Russian occupants' attacks in the vicinity of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). About 10x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), were under artillery fire of the Russian invaders. Shakhtars'ke axis: about 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: the Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Novodanylivka, Robotyne, and Orikhiv (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 25x settlements, including Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Orikhiv, Robotyne, Novoandriivka, Mala Tokmachka, and Mali Shcherbaky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Kherson axis: the russian occupiers launched an air strike near Beryslav. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Kherson and Stanislav (Kherson oblast). 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 occupation forces, exhausting Russian forces all along the front line. During the day of October 8, Ukrainian Air Force launched 3x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment of the Russian invaders. The Ukrainian Missile troops hit 3x artillery systems and 2x ammunition depots of the Russian adversary. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of competent actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems, nine counterattacks by AFU 32nd, 44th, 66th mechanised and 4th tank brigades have been repulsed close to Novosyolovskoye, Makeevka (Luhansk People's Republic) and Orlyanka (Kharkov region). In addition, 25th airborne and 115th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been hit near Sinkovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 170 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pickup trucks. In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, as well as one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station have been destroyed near Peschanoye (Kharkov region). In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, aviation and artillery, three attacks by assault groups of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and the 12th Azov Special Purpose Brigade have been repelled close to Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic), Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. In addition, units of 63rd and 67th mechanised brigades of the AFU and the 5th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine have been hit near Serebryansky forestry, Torskoye and Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces, supported by aviation and artillery, have repelled two attacks by assault groups of 42nd mechanised and 59th motorised infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Andreevka and Nevelskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, actions of two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been suppressed near Andreevka and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic). One AFU control point of unmanned aerial vehicles has been hit close to Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic). One ammunition depot of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed near Novgorodskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). One U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counterbattery warfare radar has been destroyed near Stupochki (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 165 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pickups, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have repelled two attacks by assault groups of the 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region). Ground-Attack and Army aviation, artillery and heavy flamethrower systems have hit manpower and hardware of the 72nd Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, one control point of AFU drones has been destroyed near Zolotaya Niva (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, actions of three sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been suppressed near Urozhainoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were over 185 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian grouping of troops, aviation and artillery have eliminated manpower and hardware of 23rd, 65th and 116th mechanised brigades of the AFU close to Rabotino, Novodanilovka and northwest of Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, as well as one U.S.-manufactured M119 howitzer. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were over 40 Ukrainian servicemen, two motor vehicles, as well as one D-20 howitzer. One ammunition depot of the 60th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Kostyrka (Kherson region). Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 117 areas. One launcher of the Tochka-U tactical missile system has been hit at the position near Peresechnoye (Kharkov region). One self-propelled firing system of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system has been destroyed near Sokolovka (Nikolayev region). One ST-68U radar station for detecting low-altitude targets has been hit close to Malovarvarovka (Nikolayev region). Command and observation posts of 67th, 72nd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 100th Territorial Defence Brigade have been hit near Serebryanka, Ugledar, and Antonovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Air defence facilities have intercepted three Tochka-U tactical projectiles and two S-200 system surface-to-air missiles converted into a strike version. In addition, 25 unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed and suppressed by electronic warfare means close to Belogorovka, Ploshchadka (Lugansk People's Republic), Taramchuk, Spornoye, Berezovoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Chistopolye, Ulyanovka, Ocheretovatoye (Zaporozhye region), Velikiy Vyselok (Kharkov region), Sagi, Kairy, Radensk, Novaya Kakhovka, and Kazachyi Lagerya (Kherson region). In total, 487 airplanes, 250 helicopters, 7,635 unmanned aerial vehicles, 441 air defence missile systems, 12,415 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,161 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 6,685 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 13,934 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China, Azerbaijan sign cooperation document on joint building of the International Lunar Research Station Global Times By Global Times Published: Oct 09, 2023 01:09 AM China and Azerbaijan signed a joint statement on cooperation on International Lunar Research Station program on Tuesday, which marked Azerbaijan's official participation in the program, with the two sides agreeing to conduct extensive and in-depth cooperation in the areas of demonstration, engineering implementation, operation and application at the station. The statement was signed by Li Guoping, Chief Engineer of the China National Space Administration, and Samaddin Asadov, chairman of Azerbaijan's space agency Azercosmos, during the 74th International Astronautical Congress held in Azerbaijan's capital Baku. According to the joint statement, the two sides will engage in extensive and in-depth cooperation in the areas of demonstration, engineering implementation, operation and application, which includes jointly demonstrating scientific goals, carrying scientific instruments, conducting scientific and technological experiments, sharing and analyzing data, as well as education and training. The agreement is a milestone in aerospace cooperation between China and Azerbaijan, which holds great importance in promoting technological, economic and social development in both countries, as well as consolidating the friendly and cooperative relationships between the two nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau October 8, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Prime Minister and the President discussed current global and geopolitical issues, including Hamas' attack on Israel. The Prime Minister expressed his concern for the humanitarian impact of the conflict and reaffirmed Canada's support for Israel's right to defend itself, in accordance with international law, to protect the security of its citizens from terrorist attacks. Prime Minister Trudeau provided an update on the situation between Canada and India. The two leaders acknowledged the strong bilateral relationship between Canada and the UAE. The Prime Minister and the President agreed to continue working together on shared priorities and to remain in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Canada - Justin Trudeau October 8, 2023 Ottawa, Ontario Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. Prime Minister Trudeau unequivocally condemned Hamas' large-scale attacks against Israel and expressed his deep condolences to Prime Minister Netanyahu for the hundreds of lives lost. He stated that Canada is gravely concerned about the atrocities that have been committed and is closely monitoring the situation. Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed that Canada stands with Israel and fully supports Israel's right to defend itself. Prime Minister Trudeau also expressed his concern about escalation and the loss of civilian life. The leaders agreed to remain in close contact as the situation develops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US delegation 'tests China's stance' by raising concerned issues Global Times Washington urged to take concrete actions to improve ties By Liu Xin and Xiong Xinyi Published: Oct 08, 2023 09:41 PM A US delegation of bipartisan lawmakers led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer continued its visit to Shanghai on Sunday, which analysts said was "testing the waters" on China's stance on issues such as fentanyl and "fair treatment" of US companies. Analysts noted that the US should be sincerer in its efforts to improve relations other than using tactical adjustments to test China. The delegation arrived in Shanghai on Saturday afternoon, the first leg of a three-country tour in East Asia, ahead of its stops in South Korea and Japan. On Saturday afternoon, Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with the delegation during which Chen said that the China-US relationships are most consequential in the world today, and healthy and stable bilateral ties are beneficial to both countries and the world. While claiming that the US is "prepared to compete" but "do not seek to conflict," Schumer raised the issue of fentanyl and accused Chinese companies of "fueling the fentanyl crisis that is poisoning communities" in the US during his meeting with Chen. He also mentioned the need for "reciprocity, allowing American companies to compete as freely in China as Chinese companies are able to compete here," media reported. Refuting Schumer's remarks on fentanyl, Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, said that China has already taken multiple measures regarding the issue of fentanyl, and the US cannot just turn a blind eye to the great efforts that China has made. Fentanyl use has become a major social issue in the US, which, however, cannot be linked to China. Although various communications have been conducted by the two governments, the US considers the issue from the perspective of smearing China, Li said. When it comes to fair treatment of the US firms, such as Micron Technology's capacity to conduct business in China, Li said that China handled the issues related to Micron in accordance with the Chinese law. While talking about the issues with Micron, Schumer did not mention that the US has added 42 Chinese companies to its export control list, Li pointed out. The Chinese observer said that the US did not consider about fair treatment when targeting Chinese enterprises. During the meeting with Schumer, Chen noted that China welcomes American companies to deepen their presence in the vast Chinese market through Shanghai. "We will continue to create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, governed by the rule of law, and internationalized, and help companies achieve greater development through win-win cooperation," Chen said. The US congressional delegation's first stop was Shanghai, and given the issues Schumer raised when meeting with senior officials there, he wanted to "test the waters" by using those issues as means to learn more about China's attitude, Wang Wei, a research fellow from the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday. Wang said that the reason Schumer mentioned fentanyl and the so-called fair treatment of US firms is these issues are concerns of US voters and politicians, and raising those issues may have an influence in next year's presidential election. They might also believe that covering old issues from previous talks would not affect future engagement. Wang noted that the congressional delegation's trip to China, the first in four years, is symbolic as accumulated problems between China and the US cannot be resolved in a single trip. Although recent weeks have witnessed a series of frequent high-level engagements between China and the US, some observers warned that Schumer's visit is more about aligning with the Biden administration's recent "tactical" adjustments to enhance engagements with China while the essence of its China policy remains unchanged, with moves to contain China ongoing. The US is voicing that it has been making more of an effort to communicate with China than China has with the US, which is not true, Li said. Li noted that the US has failed to respond to concerns raised by the Chinese side with every official visit while China has been responding to US concerns. China is open and did not prevent any possible means of communication, analysts said, while urging the US to take actions to truly improve relations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Shanghai Party chief meets US congressional delegation, encouraging US companies to seize Chinese modernization opportunities Global Times By Global Times Published: Oct 08, 2023 01:11 PM Updated: Oct 08, 2023 01:06 PM Shanghai Party chief Chen Jining met with a US congressional delegation and encouraged US companies to seize the opportunities created by China's modernization. Chen made the remark in a meeting with a bipartisan congressional delegation led by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who arrived in Shanghai on Saturday. As the economic and trade hub and the frontier of China's opening-up, Shanghai is willing to play an active role in promoting its role in maintaining stable China-US relations and expanding trade ties, Chen said. Schumer said that the US attached importance to US-China relations and does not seek to decouple from China. He said that the purpose of the trip is to enhance mutual understanding, promote the resolution of differences, and facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation through candid, in-depth, constructive, and productive dialogues. According to a list of top 255 overseas companies in Shanghai, the number of companies from the US ranks first, with a total of 79, maintaining the top position for three consecutive years. More US companies plan to ramp up investment in China this year, increasing their bets on China's market potential. According to a poll by American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) released last month, 31 percent of the respondents are increasing investment in China this year, which is 6 percentage points higher than 2022. The primary reason cited for the increase is China's market growth potential, according to the website of the AmCham Shanghai. Eric Zheng, President of AmCham Shanghai said that "despite the challenges, our member companies remain convinced that China is an important market and that they should pursue mutually beneficial commercial opportunities in this country." The chamber has also voiced appreciation for recent "encouraging" developments of the bilateral relations led by several high-level visits by US government officials and China's continued efforts to improve its investment climate. In August, China's State Council issued a statement outlining guidelines regarding further optimizing foreign investment environment and strengthening efforts to attract foreign investment. The guidelines are aimed at improving the overall balance between domestic and international situations and foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. Chen emphasized that Shanghai will continue to build a market-oriented, law-based international business environment to facilitate foreign investment. From January to August, Shanghai received 3,877 newly established foreign-invested enterprises, a growth of 44.2 percent compared with the same period last year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BRI projects facilitate social economic development in PNG as bilateral ties remain steadfast: Chinese ambassador Global Times Respect and cooperation By Global Times Published: Oct 08, 2023 07:14 PM Editor's Note: Papua New Guinea (PNG), the largest Pacific Island country, was the first country to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and cooperation plan in the region for jointly building the Belt and Road initiative (BRI) with China. As the BRI celebrates its 10th anniversary, Global Times reporter Shen Weiduo (GT) recently conducted an interview with Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua (Zeng), covering two countries' cooperation under the BRI, and the prospects and possibilities for bilateral ties ahead. GT: Could you please outline the flagship BRI projects between China and PNG over the past 10 years, and what impact have these projects had on the local community? Zeng: PNG was the first Pacific Island country to sign a MOU and cooperation plan for jointly building the BRI with China. In recent years, China's cooperation with PNG in building the BRI has consistently adhered to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. It has also followed the concepts of open, green and clean cooperation, with a commitment to high-standard, people-centered, and sustainable development goals. A large number of capable Chinese enterprises have contributed to the construction of roads, bridges, airports, ports, the national power grid, undersea cables, as well as hospitals, schools, and other infrastructure in PNG. I would like to introduce a few representative projects. The PNG National Power Grid Phase One Project is a crucial part of PNG's national power grid, with transmission lines starting from Mount Hagen in the Western Highlands Province, crossing rugged mountains and remote jungles to deliver electricity to Tari of Hela Province. Chinese contractors overcame various challenges and completed this project with high quality, significantly improving grid connectivity in PNG and improving local living standards. The PNG National Submarine Cable Network Project has connected 14 major cities in PNG including Port Moresby, Madang, Lae, etc, ending the country's reliance on high-cost, low-bandwidth networks like satellites and microwave. The project has greatly improved PNG's communication infrastructure, enhanced communication quality, and reduced costs, making connectivity with the world more streamlined. The Juncao and Upland Rice Project has been implemented in PNG for over 20 years and has benefited more than 40,000 local people. PNG's Prime Minister James Marape referred to Juncao technology as a "gift from China to the world," with Juncao now known locally as the "grass of happiness" and "grass of prosperity." Some parents even name their children "Juncao." The Butuka Academy, built with assistance from Shenzhen city of China, is the largest and most well-equipped school in PNG, with facilities for kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, accommodating more than 3,000 students. In 2021, it established a Confucius Classroom, becoming the first and only primary and secondary school in PNG to offer Chinese language education. The school not only addresses the problem of limited access to education but also elevates the standard of basic education. Currently, admission to the school is highly competitive, with many parents from other provinces wanting to send their children there, and many high-level government officials hoping to build another Butuka in their hometowns. GT: What are the main areas of cooperation between China and PNG? Zeng: The past decade has witnessed the most rapid development in China-PNG relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties. In particular, President Xi Jinping's historic state visit to PNG in 2018 led to the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development, providing strong strategic guidance and driving force for bilateral relations, and continually advancing pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Currently, China's cooperation with PNG mainly focuses on three areas. First is economic development, trade and investment. PNG has become China's largest trading partner, investment destination, and project contracting market in the Pacific Islands region. The two economies are highly complementary, and economic cooperation continues to grow. In 2022, bilateral trade reached $5.26 billion, a year-on-year increase of 29.9 percent. In the first half of this year, PNG's exports to China reached $1.9 billion, a 6 percent increase year-on-year. PNG continues to supply liquefied natural gas to the Chinese market, and an increasing number of affordable, good quality Chinese products are entering the PNG market. Second is people-to-people exchanges. China has dispatched 12 medical teams to PNG over 20 years consecutively, providing medical services to over 100,000 people, conducting thousands of medical training sessions, and saving numerous lives, earning praise from the local community. The Confucius Institute at the PNG University of Technology and the Confucius Classroom at Butuka Academy are thriving, driving interest in learning Chinese and studying in China. Chinese government scholarships have become one of the most popular programs for study abroad among local students. Third is development cooperation. China has provided assistance to PNG without attaching any political conditions, helping to improve the country's economic and social development conditions and people's livelihoods through a large number of infrastructure projects. For example, Independence Boulevard, supported by China, has become a landmark main road in the capital, Port Moresby, and the Enga Provincial Hospital, also supported by China, is the most modern comprehensive hospital in the area. GT: What efforts has China made to promote local economic development? Zeng: Over the years, both countries have worked to enhance synergy between BRI and PNG's development strategies including PNG Vision 2050, Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030, and Connect PNG. China has strengthened poverty reduction cooperation with PNG under the framework of South-South Cooperation, provided assistance within its capacity to PNG. I've already mentioned China-PNG cooperation in areas such as trade, infrastructure, and development, which have significantly contributed to local economic development. Both sides continue to expand cooperation into new areas. In June this year, the representative office of Bank of China opened in PNG, which will play a role in strengthening China-PNG economic and trade ties and supporting local economic development. Currently, the two countries are actively advancing negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement, and China will continue to increase imports of PNG products and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in PNG. It's important to emphasize that China's engagement in the area is not just about providing short-term assistance but also about nurturing self-reliance. The infrastructure projects we support are mainly in areas of connectivity and people's livelihoods, laying a foundation for local economic and social development. Chinese enterprises entering PNG are highly focused on local operations, actively hiring and training local employees to help them acquire skills. "Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him how to fish," says a Chinese proverb, which interprets China's way of conducting international cooperation. GT: What's the significance of pushing forward relations with PNG? Zeng: PNG is the largest Pacific Island country and the second-largest country in Oceania in terms of land area and population, only after Australia. PNG achieved its national independence less than 50 years ago and is rich in energy, minerals, fisheries, forestry, and tourism resources. The potential for development in PNG is enormous. China and PNG enjoy a longstanding tradition of friendly exchanges. More than 100 years ago, Chinese people came to PNG, worked diligently, integrated into the local culture, and became an integral part of PNG's diverse multicultural fabric. As the largest developing country and the largest Pacific Island country, the relationship between China and PNG goes beyond bilateral ties and holds increasing regional and strategic implications. It serves as a "locomotive" for China's relations with South Pacific Island countries. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1976, both sides have respected and supported each other at the political level. PNG has consistently adhered to the One-China principle and, this year, it closed its trade office in Taipei. Both countries firmly support multilateralism, uphold the international system centered on the United Nations, and the basic principles of international law and basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of UN Charter. Economically, we are each other's largest trading partners respectively in the Asia and South Pacific Island region. China has a vast market and strength in technology and funding, while PNG has abundant resources, making us natural economic complementary partners with significant cooperation potential. PNG needs high-quality and affordable Chinese products to improve the quality of life for its people, and can offer energy, minerals, coffee, palm oil, and other high-quality products to meet Chinese market demands. As President Xi Jinping pointed out during his meeting with PNG Prime Minister Marape in November 2022, China and PNG, as good friends, good partners and good brothers, have set a fine example of solidarity, collaboration and win-win cooperation between developing countries. China will work with PNG toward a comprehensive strategic partnership at a higher level which delivers greater mutual benefit. GT: What's the next area of focus for future cooperation between the two countries? Zeng: Looking ahead, considering the substantial development potential in both countries, there are at least three key areas of cooperation in the coming stages: Firstly, the PNG government is actively promoting the development of domestic downstream processing industries, aiming to transform its resource-rich advantages in energy, minerals, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries into sustainable development momentum. PM Marape and other senior officials have expressed a desire to welcome more Chinese companies to invest and operate in these fields, which are the strengths of capable Chinese enterprises going global. This presents unprecedented new opportunities for cooperation between the two sides. Secondly, PNG is interested in learning from China's experience in developing special economic zones. It is attempting to establish several special economic zones to boost its own economic development. China is willing to share its successful experience and provide necessary support. This will be a new growth area for cooperation in the next stage. Thirdly, as a culturally diverse country with rich tourism resources, PNG acknowledges and supports the Global Civilization Initiative. It is keen to step up cultural and people-to-people exchanges with China and attract more Chinese tourists. Currently, learning the Chinese language and studying in China have become a trend in PNG. The PNG Department of Defense has established Chinese language training courses, and the PM and several ministers have expressed strong interest in learning Chinese. It is believed that there will be significant room for cooperation in various fields, including tourism, in the future. Chinese Ambassador to PNG Zeng Fanhua Photo: Courtesy of Chinese Embassy in PNG Zeng: China has remained committed to supporting the economic and social development of other developing countries, including Pacific Island countries. Our cooperation is based on principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit when engaging in investment and financing with these countries. Our cooperation with Pacific Island countries is open, transparent, and fully respects the sovereignty and will of each nation. It comes with no political conditions, is not targeted at any third party, and there is no such thing as "infiltration" or a "debt trap." The cooperation is welcomed and recognized by the governments and people of Pacific Island countries. Countries like PNG focus on peace and development and are particularly concerned about addressing the enormous challenges posed by climate change. They adhere to a foreign policy of "friends to all, enemies to none," reject confrontational approaches, and refuse to take sides. They view China's rapid development as an opportunity, especially valuing China's vast market, and look forward to the increase of Chinese investment. The claims of "infiltration" or "debt trap" by a few Western countries are entirely misleading. Some of these countries view Pacific Island countries like PNG as their "backyard" and, under the guise of aid and development cooperation, interfere in and manipulate the internal development and external cooperation of PNG in various fields, including politics, security, economy, and culture. This is what constitutes real infiltration and trap. GT: How do you view the influence of geopolitical factors on China-PNG relations? Zeng: In developing relations and cooperation with PNG, China has always adhered to principles of equality, openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit, providing assistance based on the real needs and interests of PNG. Pacific Island countries are peaceful. What the people of Pacific Island countries need is economic development and rising living standards, rather than military bases or conflicts. We have no objections to other countries cooperating with Pacific Island countries, cooperation should not target third parties or harm the interests of third parties. Never should it disrupt the peace and stability of the entire region. Ultimately, who are PNG's friends and who genuinely support PNG's development is something that the people of PNG can discern clearly. In fact, PNG firmly opposes geopolitical maneuvering. As long as we continue to develop our relationship with PNG based on the "four fully respects" as President Xi Jinping has outlined on China's policy toward Pacific Island countries, we are convinced that, regardless of external challenges, the relationship between our two countries will remain steadfast and continue to advance steadily. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Greetings from Syrian President Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, October 8 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un , president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from Bashar Al-Assad, president of the Syrian Arab Republic, on October 5. In the message, the Syrian president extended congratulations to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un and to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), all the Party members and the people of the DPRK on the occasion of the 78th founding anniversary of the WPK. The Workers' Party of Korea has wisely led the Korean people in the course of the struggle to consolidate the national independence and build socialism, thus enabling the country to overcome difficulties and challenges and achieve development and successes in various fields, the message said, adding: Today the world is facing unprecedented great changes. Syria will consolidate and develop the historic bilateral relations of friendship, always together with the DPRK, in conformity with the common interests of the friendly peoples of the two countries. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Senator Says Will Move Forward Bill to Replenish Israel's Iron Dome System Sputnik News 20231008 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin said in a press release that he intends to move forward legislation to provide Israel security assistance, including replenishing its Iron Dome air defense system, as soon as possible. "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," Cardin said in the release on Saturday. Cardin also urges consideration for supplemental funding for Israel's 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel : 8 October 2023 The Prime Minister spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon, following deadly attacks by Hamas against Israel. 8 October 2023 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar's top court declines to hear jailed Suu Kyi's appeals Iran Press TV Sunday, 08 October 2023 7:25 PM Myanmar's Supreme Court on Friday rejected appeals by Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers to overturn her conviction in some corruption cases brought against the ousted leader by the military regime. The top court turned down the appeals in six cases where she was found guilty of abusing her authority and accepting bribes. The 78-year-old Suu Kyi, who was arrested when the army toppled her elected government in February 2021, is serving prison sentences totaling 27 years after being convicted of a string of criminal charges mostly brought by the country's military junta. She is appealing dozens of convictions for crimes ranging from treason and bribery to violations of the telecommunications law, all of which she vehemently denies. Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges, all of which have been contested by Suu Kyi and her lawyers, are bogus and an attempt to discredit her and legitimize the military's seizure of power. The Western-backed leader Suu Kyi was convicted of 19 offenses and initially sentenced to 33 years of imprisonment on cases ranging from corruption to election fraud. In August, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, granted her clemency in five cases and reduced her sentence by six years as part of a broader amnesty for more than 7,000 prisoners. Suu Kyi was president in 2017 campaigning for democracy, when the genocide of Rohingya Muslims took place by the Myanmar military. Myanmar's military leaders claim that the Nobel Laureate colluded with them during her tenure as the country's civilian leader in the killing and brutal displacement of nearly 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims. The military takeover triggered mass protests in the country, which was followed by the junta's brutal crackdown on opponents, with thousands jailed or killed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova over ongoing repression of Russian media and journalists 7 October 2023 16:00 1976-07-10-2023 The unceremonious deportation of Rossiyskaya Gazeta correspondent Alexander Gasyuk from the Republic of Cyprus, which was preceded by an operation by the special services to put psychological pressure on the journalist and his family and which culminated the a violent beating of the media representative, resulting in bodily harm, became another stage in the collective West's coordinated campaign to totally suppress any alternative sources of information in its media space. The neoliberal western pseudo-democracies were not satisfied with numerous bans on broadcasts of Russian TV and radio channels, blocking internet portals, terminating access to social and financial electronic services for Russian citizens, closing Russian media press centres and imposing hundreds of sanctions against media representatives. The largest internet monopolies, registered in the US, joined the information war, launched by the West, blocking unwelcome users and information resources en masse and limiting access to them as they saw fit or at the behest of Washington. Repression continues unabated to suppress the remaining sources of uncomfortable truths, with most vile and violent methods used. Dissidence is suppressed under false pretexts of care about information security and a fight against disinformation. In the few last months alone, a number of incidents were registered in the so-called advanced democracies, involving gross violation of their international obligations to protect the of rights of journalists and ensure pluralism of the mass media. Here are just a few of them: the licences of RT Balkan, Oriental Review, Tsragrad, Katehon and New Eastern Outlook were suspended in the EU; the list of unwelcome journalists, military correspondents and heads of the Russian media was substantially extended; Russia News Editor-in-Chief Yekaterina Nadolskaya was denied access to the press conference of the President of France at the G20 Summit in New Delhi; Latvia's parliament passed a resolution prohibiting the use of the Russian language in public service broadcasts from January 1, 2026. Ukraine and Moldova are displaying no less eagerness than their western curators in the witch-hunt, having actually established total censorship and a zero-tolerance mode regarding any criticism of the authorities. Head of the Sputnik Moldova information agency Vitaly Denisov was brutally expelled from Chisinau; The Moldovan authorities also blocked five websites of the Sputnik information agency. The Kiev regime has long since shifted to frankly terroristic methods in its fight against dissent, having committed the gruesome murders of Darya Dugina, Vladlen Tatarsky, Oleg Klokov and Rostislav Zhuravlev. They long ago stopped abiding by their obligations under international law and even the requirements of basic justice. This sad state of affairs is indulged by the deathly silence of relevant international structures whose main objective is to prevent such tyranny against the media and ensure equal access to information. Some of these structures have finally crossed the point of no return and discredited their institutions in displaying bias and servile readiness to serve the interests of a narrow group of countries to the detriment of their mandate. The powerful circles in the countries of the neoliberal West seriously damage their reputation and undermine society's trust in their institutions with their impudent and two-faced policies, emanating from a hypocritical interpretation of the fundamental principles of democracy. In their attempts to silence the voices of dissent, they neglect the principles of the information society and people's natural need to form an impartial picture of events, replacing argument with force, thus admitting their powerlessness in the face of truth. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Resumes Oil Exports to Brazil in Sept. After Two-Year Halt Sputnik News 20231008 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia resumed oil exports to Brazil in September after a two-year halt, having supplied a record of 84,000 tonnes in 13 years, Sputnik's analysis of Brazil's customs data has shown. In September, Russia supplied a total of 84,000 tonnes of crude oil to Brazil worth $48 million a the first delivery since August 2021, when Russia delivered 42,100 tonnes of crude oil worth $16.6 million. The September oil delivery became the record high since June 2010, when Russia delivered 117,800 tonnes of crude to Brazil in one shipment. At the same time, Brazil's imports of Russian oil products in September was down 22% to 171,300 tonnes in volume compared to the previous month and decreased by 13% to $593.8 million in price. The reduction was against the background of the ban on gasoline and diesel exports imposed by the Russian government on September 21. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Illegal presence of foreign forces in region, Syria should come to end: Iran's Defense Minister ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 8 October 2023 / 16:17 Tehran (ISNA) - In a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart, Iranian Defense Minister, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani pointed to the recent terrorist attack on the graduation ceremony of the Syrian army officers in Homs Province, saying, "The illegal and illegitimate presence of foreign military forces in the region and Syria should come to an end as soon as possible". During the phone talks with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas, General Ashtiani said, "We stand by the Syrian people, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to send any kind of humanitarian medical assistance, both in terms of specialized human resources and medical equipment". Emphasizing that these attacks are the result of continued intelligence, security and logistical support for terrorists aimed at preventing the realization of stability and complete security in Syria, General Ashtiani stated, "Undoubtedly, the responsibility for this tragic event lies with the foreign supporters of terrorist groups, including the occupiers of Syrian soil, who are causing instability in the region". "With this terrorist attack, equations will change and there will be no more excuses, and the illegal and illegitimate presence of foreign forces in the region and Syria must come to an end as soon as possible," he added. Syrian Defense Minister, for his part, expressed his gratitude for Iran's sympathy, saying, "Our enemies are your enemies. Today, the operation of the Palestinians can be the beginning of a great victory over enemies". "Stability will not be established unless we put an end to terrorism in Syria. In this regard, we are always fighting against terrorists with the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he added. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan Coast Guard vessel sets sail for 60-day Pacific patrol ROC Central News Agency 10/07/2023 06:25 PM Kaohsiung, Oct. 7 (CNA) The Coast Guard Administration's Hsun Hu No. 7 fisheries patrol vessel set sail from Kaohsiung on Saturday for the start of a 60-day patrol of the western and central Pacific, according to officials. In a statement, the CGA said that the Hsun Hu No. 7 would make a port call in the Marshall Island, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, during its patrol to inspect fisheries resources and marine biodiversity. Taiwan will also take its responsibility to strengthen maritime law enforcement and rescue operations in the area by conducting inspections on vessels in the area during the mission, the agency added. The ship is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Dec. 4, the CGA said. In the past few months, the agency's Hsun Hu No. 8 and Hsun Hu No. 9 completed high seas patrols in the western and central Pacific, the agency said. The agency added that conducting such patrols not only showed Taiwan's resolve to participate in the international community but also gave the government a chance to show its care for Taiwanese distant-water fishing vessels. Constructed in Taiwan and launched in 2010, Hsun Hu No. 7 has a roughly 1,900-ton displacement, which refers to the volume of water displaced by the vessel converted to weight, according to the CGA. The ship is 84.5 meters in length and 12.5 meters in width, the CGA said. (By Hung Hsueh-kuang and Evelyn Yang) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saint Vincent governor-general to visit Taiwan for National Day celebrations ROC Central News Agency 10/07/2023 02:23 PM Taipei, Oct. 7 (CNA) Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Susan D. Dougan will arrive in Taiwan on Saturday evening to attend the country's National Day celebrations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In addition to taking part in the celebrations scheduled to be held in Taipei next Tuesday, the governor-general will also meet with President Tsai Ing-wen () and attend a dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu () during her visit from Oct. 7-11, MOFA said in a press release. Dougan, who last traveled to Taiwan in 2008 as a senior official handling education affairs, will also meet with Vincentian students in Taiwan and visit several attractions, such as the National Palace Museum, the release said. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, Taiwan's official name, in 1981, and is only one of 13 states to maintain ties with Taipei instead of Beijing. MOFA's press release noted that cooperation projects in the Caribbean ally in agriculture, information technology, health, disaster prevention, women's empowerment, and education over the years had yielded fruitful results. The release added that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continued to staunchly support Taiwan's efforts to participate in international organizations. Apart from Dougan, a Japanese parliamentarian delegation will arrive in Taiwan on Saturday afternoon, and Nauru President Russ Joseph Kun on Sunday, for the National Day celebrations, where Tsai is expected to deliver a speech, according to MOFA. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG 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 8, 2023 The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. They discussed developments related to the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. The Secretary encouraged TArkiye's continued engagement and highlighted the United States' unwavering focus on halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address At Least 16 Civilians Wounded In Two Attacks In Ukraine By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service October 08, 2023 At least 16 civilians have been wounded in Russian attacks in the south and east of Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities said. A Russian attack on the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson on October 8 left a dozen people wounded, including a 27-year-old woman and her nine-month-old baby, the regional governor said. "The Kherson region experienced another terrible night," governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram. Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials said four people including a nine-year-old girl were injured in a Russian rocket strike on Kostyantynivka near the front line in the Donetsk region early on October 8. Meanwhile, UN and local investigators are searching for answers at the site of a Russian missile strike on the small Ukrainian village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region that killed more than 50 people earlier in the week. The investigators have made a preliminary conclusion that nearly all those killed were civilians, according to a UN statement shared with the Associated Press. "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," Danielle Bell, who led the team that visited Hroza on October 7, was cited as saying in the UN statement. "What happened here is yet another tragic reminder of the deadly impact Russia's invasion has had on Ukraine's civilians," Bell added. Moscow denies targeting civilians in its full-scale invasion, a position it repeated on October 6 in response to the Hroza strike. Thousands have been killed in a Russian bombing campaign that has hit apartment blocks and restaurants as well as power stations, bridges, and grain silos. The village cafe was obliterated and whole families perished after the missile strike on October 5 during a ceremony for Andriy Kozyr, a soldier from Hroza who died last winter fighting Russia's invading forces in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine's General Staff said in its daily briefing on October 8 that its forces were making slow progress in the areas of Melitopol in the south and Bakhmut in the east. It also reported "partial success northeast of Andriyivka," in the Donetsk region, less than 10 kilometers from Bakhmut. According to Ukraine's military, over the past 24 hours, the Russian military launched eight missile and 34 air strikes and carried out 37 attacks with rocket salvo systems on both Ukrainian troop positions as well as civilian sites. With reporting by AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kherson-attack-hroza- woman-baby-ukraine/32628142.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 Former British Army Chief Says It's 'Perfectly Reasonable' For Ukraine To Strike Inside Russia By Vazha Tavberidze October 08, 2023 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. 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. 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 situation...it 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. 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 opportunity...to 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. 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 unwilling...to 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. 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-dannatt-interview-strike- russia-counteroffensive-tavberidze/32624776.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses Up to 165 Troops in Donetsk Direction in Past Day Sputnik News 20231008 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House Mulls Asking Congress for $100Bln in Aid for Ukraine - Reports Sputnik News 20231008 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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 November's 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Next week, we will work together with our partners for the unity of the world in countering terror - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 8 October 2023 - 21:26 Dear Ukrainians! Today I spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. I extended my condolences over the numerous casualties caused by the terrorist attack. The Prime Minister informed me about the current situation and the actions of the Israeli defense and security forces. There is all the necessary cooperation between the Ukrainian Embassy and the Israeli police to find out the details about Ukrainians who found themselves in the areas of hostilities and shelling. Unfortunately, the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed. My condolences to the families and friends. The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel, all our diplomats who are in charge of this region, together with the intelligence service, are working around the clock to help all our people who need help. The Embassy has already received more than a hundred appeals from our citizens. The whereabouts of five of our people in southern Israel have been established. I once again address all Ukrainian citizens in Israel: please be careful and follow the instructions of the local security forces. It is very important that the whole world - the whole of it - does not stand aside from what has happened now and responds in the most principled way possible. Many people were shocked by the audacity of the terrorist attack. The audacity and thorough preparation. If terrorists can afford it, it means they are a threat not just to one country. And next 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. 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. To help. And today, this evening, I want to thank our people who save lives, who do everything to make terror lose... Zaporizhzhia region. Captain of the Civil Protection Service Anatoliy Beznos, emergency medical aid feldsher Yuliia Belyba, police Captain Serhiy Khokholiak. Thank you! Kherson region. Major of the Civil Protection Service Volodymyr Serhan, Sergeant of the Civil Protection Service Mykola Silin, police Major Oleksandr Skorniak, and emergency medical aid feldsher Vitaliy Rudakov. Thank you! Kharkiv region. Master Sergeant of the Civil Protection Service Serhiy Osyka, Chief Master Sergeant of the Civil Protection Service Oleksandr Nazarko, and feldsher Yana Fesenko. Thank you! And thanks to all the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the National Police, our ambulance and every doctor and nurse who prove that terror cannot defeat life! And, of course, our unbreakable warriors. Kupyansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Maryinka directions... 58th separate motorized infantry brigade, 79th separate air assault brigade, 44th separate artillery brigade. Well done, warriors! I thank you for your fortitude and destruction of the occupier! As well as the brigades that have made progress in our offensive. Our "Eightieth" air assault brigade, 24th separate mechanized brigade and 93rd Kholodnyi Yar separate mechanized brigade - thank you! Glory to all who fight and work for our country! Glory to our strong people, the people of Ukraine! And thank you to everyone who helps to overcome terror! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INTERVIEW: Planning the post-invasion return of citizens to Ukraine 8 October 2023 - Millions of Ukrainians have fled the country since Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022, and now the authorities in Ukraine with the support of the United Nations are planning ahead for their eventual return. It's estimated that 4.5 million more workers may be needed over the next decade in the labour force. UN News asked Michael Newson, Senior Programme Coordinator for Migration and Sustainable Development at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kyiv, Ukraine, about how people could be encouraged back home. Michael Newson: IOM has already observed an increase of Ukrainians returning to Ukraine despite the ongoing war. Numerous surveys have indicated that a large percentage of Ukrainians who fled the country, especially those based in the European Union, intend to return once conditions allow. We can also expect that many will remain abroad in the long term. Current data suggests that Ukraine can expect a larger share of its population abroad to return after the war than we have seen in other post-conflict settings. When and whether Ukrainians abroad return to the country will depend on a number of factors, including their conditions in their countries of refuge and in Ukraine. The number of people who choose to return to Ukraine will also depend on the types of policies and programmes that the Ukrainian Government and the international community put in place to incentivize return. UN News: What conditions are needed to encourage people to return home? Michael Newson: Security is obviously a key criterion. Until people can feel safe and comfortable returning to their homes, any incentive programmes are likely to have a limited effect. People want to have a sense of economic stability and confidence that they will be able to provide for themselves and their families upon return. As such, ensuring basic healthcare and education services are in place is essential. Developing programmes to link persons abroad with job opportunities in Ukraine even prior to their return will go a long way in encouraging people to return to the country. Often, we speak of providing financial incentives for return to address the costs of return and re-establishing oneself. Ultimately, incentive packages have to reduce the risks that people perceive with return. That includes security risks but also the economic risks and the risks that, should they choose to reverse their decision, they won't be able to return to their country of refuge. UN News: How will IOM support the Ministry of Economy in the process of reintegrating Ukrainians and ensuring a smooth transition back into the labour market? Michael Newson: These are precisely the types of conversations we are currently having with colleagues at the Ministry of Economy and International Labour Organization (ILO). What is absolutely essential is that programmes are evidence-based. We need to develop programmes that respond to concerns Ukrainians abroad have when they are considering returning and to issues people who have already returned have faced in terms of their reintegration and transition into the labour market. We can also learn from previous post-war scenarios. We need to recognize that, like anyone who is considering a major move, having a job and being able to provide for oneself is only part of the concerns of moving. Developing services for potential returnees that assist and facilitate the process of finding housing, enrolling children in school, finding a job, or linking with healthcare services for existing and chronic health issues will also encourage return and ensure a smooth transition. What we want to avoid is providing incentives for return and reintegration that put returnees in a more favourable position to those who have remained in the country, as this can lead to social tensions. UN News: If not enough Ukrainians workers return home post-war, how will this affect the job market? Michael Newson: Given the demographic situation in Ukraine even before the full-scale invasion, it's clear that returning Ukrainians, on their own, will not be sufficient to meet the labour market needs of the country going forward, both for reconstruction and the broader economic recovery. The Ministry of Economy has indicated that an additional 4.5 million workers may be needed in the next 10 years to meet labour market needs and economic objectives. Incoming labour migration will be one of several tools that will be used in order to address this. Ukraine is one of many countries in the region which is not traditionally seen as countries of immigration but need to start to reconsider policies and look at bringing in foreign workers to meet growing labour market gaps both at higher and lower skill levels. Beyond these priorities, we should also be looking at capital investments such as machinery and automation as well as a re-design of management and operations structures that can increase productivity. UN News: How challenging do you expect the post-war period to be as Ukraine readjusts to peace time? Michael Newson: The challenges Ukraine faced even prior to the full-scale invasion were significant. The war has obviously exacerbated a number of these challenges relating to demographics, social services, and economic development. However, I am heartened and encouraged by the Government of Ukraine's willingness to acknowledge and face these challenges head on. The Government and the people of Ukraine have demonstrated incredible resilience and adaptability over the past 18 months. There is no reason to think that, with the support of the international community, they could not adapt in order to stimulate the country's reconstruction and economic recovery when peace arrives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Think Tank: Russia Likely to Use Israeli Crisis to Its Advantage in Ukraine By VOA News October 08, 2023 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 Ukraine's war effort. Reacting to the Hamas coordinated attacks against Israel Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reminded the world during his nightly video address a 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 Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's 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 cafA. 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 soldier's 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 Russia's 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. Volodin's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a recent report by Market.us, the Global Dental Implants Market size is expected to be worth around USD 9.7 Billion by 2032 from USD 4.32 Billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 7.77 % during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. The Dental Implant Market is projected to expand due to the increasing demand for prosthetics. Additionally, oral rehabilitation plays a significant role in driving the market. dental implants help to restore the patient's facial shape and oral function. Patients and dentists alike are now more accepting of dental implants. This can be attributed to the limited functionality of removable prosthetics, discomfort, and cumbersome maintenance process. Prosthetic teeth accompanied by dental implants do not cause any harm to the soft tissue. They also enhance aesthetics. This is expected to further aid in the process of market expansion. Due to supply chain bottlenecks and clinics closing, the sector experienced a slight setback in mid-2020. The market recovered fully by the month of June. Companies such as Straumann, with its extensive portfolio of implant and solution options, reportedly experienced a 2% increase in the industry share, with the share rising to 29% in 2021. This means that Straumann has seen a significant growth of its customer base and geographic presence post-pandemic. Market.us has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View a PDF sample report @ https://market.us/report/dental-implant-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway Dental implants are, in essence, medical devices that are surgically inserted into the jaw either to restore its functionality or for aesthetic purposes. By Material, in 2022, the market share for titanium implants was over 92% . It dominated the global market for dental implants. . It dominated the global market for dental implants. By End-User, the market for global dental implants was dominated by the segment of dental clinics in 2022 , depending on who they were used to. , depending on who they were used to. In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of over 35.5%. Factors affecting the growth of the dental implants market industry Several factors can have an impact on the growth of the dental implants market industry. Some of these factors include: High Cost: Dental implants can be expensive, which may prevent some patients from accessing the procedure. This could potentially hinder market growth by decreasing affordability for some consumers. Dental implants can be expensive, which may prevent some patients from accessing the procedure. This could potentially hinder market growth by decreasing affordability for some consumers. Limited Reimbursement Options: In certain countries, dental implant procedures may not be covered by insurance plans, making it difficult for patients to afford the treatment. In certain countries, dental implant procedures may not be covered by insurance plans, making it difficult for patients to afford the treatment. Complex Procedure: Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure requiring specialized training and expertise, potentially restricting the number of qualified practitioners who can perform it and potentially impacting the market growth. requiring specialized training and expertise, potentially restricting the number of qualified practitioners who can perform it and potentially impacting the market growth. Patient Preferences: Some patients may prefer more traditional methods of tooth replacement , such as dentures or bridges, which could limit the demand for dental implants. Some patients may prefer more traditional methods of , such as dentures or bridges, which could limit the demand for dental implants. Technological Limitations: Despite advances in dental implant technology, there may still be limitations to the procedure, such as implant failure, which could impact market growth. Market Growth Dental implants are becoming more and more popular due to the rising incidences of tooth and oral issues caused by poor eating habits, aging, and inadequate hygiene practices. According to the Foundation for Oral Rehabilitation, over 240 million Americans were either partially or fully edentulous in 2020. With this rising incidence of tooth loss, the demand for dental implants is on the rise. People around the world are becoming more informed about the advantages and accessibility of dental implants. With an increasingly youthful demographic looking to enhance their facial aesthetics, more young people are turning towards this procedure for its safety, durability, effectiveness, and safety. It is no wonder why dental implants have become so popular worldwide. Regional Analysis In 2022, North America contributed to the largest regional market with a 35.5% revenue share. The noticeable drivers of the locale incorporate the developing geriatric populace with a high occurrence of dental circumstances and high mindfulness among the public regarding oral preventive and helpful medicines around here. As per the American Foundation of Embed Dentistry, 3 million individuals as of now have dental implants, and this number is typically higher in evolved nations than in emerging countries because of the wide accessibility of assets, higher per capita pay of the populace, more worry about feel and higher mindfulness. Asia Pacific is expected to be the quickest developing area over the projected period, inferable from expanding financial steadiness and discretionary cash flow. Asian nations have thick populaces, with a developing weight of geriatric populace. These nations are likewise famous for their minimal-expense therapy, making them a favored clinical travel industry market. The developing reception of restorative dental implants is one of the huge elements driving the market. Besides, the presentation of novel advances, like computer-aided design/CAM-based dental reclamations, and high mindfulness about dental methods are supposed to prompt development over the conjecture period. To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/dental-implant-market/#inquiry Scope of the Report Report Attributes Details Market Value (2022) USD 4.32 Billion Market Size in 2032 USD 9.7 Billion CAGR (2023 to 2032) 7.77% North America Revenue Share 35.5% Historic Period 2022 Base Year 2016 to 2021 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers The rising incidence of dental caries and periodontal diseases among the global population is one of the primary drivers of the dental implant market. According to the World Health Organization, around 60-90% of school children and nearly 100% of adults have dental cavities, and severe periodontal disease affects 10-15% of adults worldwide. The aging population is another significant factor contributing to the growth of the dental implant market. As people age, their natural teeth may become weak or fall out, leading to the need for dental implants to restore function and aesthetics. Market Restraints Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure requiring specialized training and expertise, potentially restricting the number of qualified practitioners who can perform it and potentially impacting market growth. Despite advances in dental implant technology, there may still be limitations to the procedure, such as implant failure, which could impact market growth. Market Opportunities Dental implants have become an increasingly popular solution for missing teeth due to their long-lasting, effective solution. With rising awareness about dental hygiene and oral health care, there has been a corresponding rise in demand for dental implants. Technological advances have enabled implant materials, designs, and surgical techniques that are more efficient and effective - making dental implants more appealing options for patients as they can be customized to suit individual needs. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report @ https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=22151 Market Trends Dental scanners, PC-helped plan/CAM machines, CBCT, and 3D printing development have been used in dental working environments, and exploration focuses, allowing dental experts to complete current dental treatment moves close. The market should notice improvement owing to this modernization of dental practices and the gathering of the latest development designs in automated dentistry. Report Segmentation of the Dental Implants Market Type Insight The endosteal segment is the largest contributor to the dental implants market. Seeing that such implants facilitate for natural looking teeth with enhanced longevity, they are most commonly used and account for significant market share. Subperiosteal segment also generates substantial revenue. Further, the transosteal segment contributes the least. Design Insight Tapered dental implants have maintained a stronghold on the dental implants market in 2022. This is credited to the high degree of primary stability provided by such implants. Moreover, these tapered implants are associated with decreased risk for labial bone perforation. Material Insight In 2022, the market share for titanium implants was over 92%. It dominated the global market for dental implants. This can be attributed to the increasing adoption of dental implants made from Titanium. Titanium implants are highly sought after because of their biocompatibility. This market has seen significant growth due to its suitability for all types of implants and its non-allergic nature. End-User Insight The market for global dental implants was dominated by the segment of dental clinics in 2022, depending on who they were used to. This is due to the growing preference of patients for dental care. The growth has been facilitated by the availability of specialized equipment as well as experienced and skilled dentists at dental clinics. This segment is expected to grow further due to the increasing adoption of digital technology in dental clinics. Market.us has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View a PDF sample report @ https://market.us/report/dental-implant-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Type Endosteal Implants Subperiosteal Implants Transosteal Implants Based on Design Tapered Dental Implants Parallel-Walled Dental Implants Based on Material Titanium Zirconium Polymers Ceramics Biomaterial Other Materials Based on End-User Hospitals Dental Clinics Academic & Research Institutes Other End-Users Regional Analysis North America US Canada Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Russia Netherland Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan South Korea India New Zealand Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Rest of MEA Competitive Landscape The market is united, with a couple of vital participants holding a significant piece of the market. Industry pioneer Institute Straumann AG has an overwhelming share with its expansive item portfolio in the business' superior fragment and offers many implants at premium costs. Solid item contributions and effective infiltration across significant income-creating districts, including Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and South America, have made the organization a main supplier of dental implants worldwide. Followed by Straumann, Nobel Biocare, and Dentsply Sirona marks major areas of strength for a presence on the lookout. The following are some of the major players in the global dental implants industry: Institut Straumann AG Nobel Biocare Services AG Dentsply Sirona BioHorizons IPH, Inc. Henry Schein Inc. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. Osstem Implant Bicon, LLC MIS Implants Other key players Recent Development of the dental implants Market In April 2022 , Breakaway Partners, an investment firm based in San Diego announced investment in iDentical, a start-up specialising in making drill-free dental implants with the help of 3D technology. , Breakaway Partners, an investment firm based in San Diego announced investment in iDentical, a start-up specialising in making drill-free dental implants with the help of 3D technology. In August 2023, Henniker Plasma introduced a novel plasma treatment for enhanced osseointegration of dental implants. The treatment has shown promising results with enhanced hydophilicity. Browse More Related Reports About Us: Market.US (Powered by Prudour Pvt Ltd) specializes in in-depth market research and analysis and has been proving its mettle as a consulting and customized market research company, apart from being a much sought-after syndicated market research report-providing firm. Market.US provides customization to suit any specific or unique requirement and tailor-makes reports as per request. We go beyond boundaries to take analytics, analysis, study, and outlook to newer heights and broader horizons. Follow Us on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Our Blog: New York City, New York, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dental Marketing Guy (DMG), who offers SEO services for dentists and dental clinics, is pleased to share that it now offers exclusive SEO courses for dentists. It is a one-of-a-kind dental SEO services provider that gets results in SEO digital marketing to dental practitioners and also provides digital marketing services for them. So what makes DMG better than other SEO and digital marketing agencies? First and foremost, this search engine optimizer offers personalized dental SEO services for each dentist. A dentist or dental clinic will be provided with search engine optimization services that fit their practice areas and digital marketing goals. The dental SEO behind the operations is Justin Morgan, who believes that every dental practice is different because of its specializations and services. You can gain higher Google and Bing rankings by using his dental SEO services for dentists. Dental Marketing Guy The second reason is that there are no long-term SEO contracts. Most SEO service providers have long-term SEO commitments. This dental SEO services platform does not believe in contracts as they make dentists uncomfortable. The third major reason is that this search engine optimizer operates with a rule of one dentist per SEO market. If DMGs SEO professionals already work with a dental clinic in your location or zip code, it will not take up any other dentistry office from the same zip code or location. Hence, there is no conflict of interest for DMGs SEO for dentists services. Lastly, DMG believes in SEO transparency. SEO deliverables inform clients of progress while acquiring new patients, specifically from dental SEO services. DMG has pioneered many of the best SEO techniques for dental websites. Many dental SEO services providers take money upfront and expect their clients to trust them with the results. Very few dental SEO services share their techniques with their SEO clients, and this dental SEO services agency is one of those few. The dental SEOs at DMG dont start with fancy sales pitches. It begins by assessing whether the dental website needs SEO services. This is done with the help of a comprehensive SEO analysis. The SEO analysis aims to not only help clients rank higher but also get more patients through dental SEO services if the dentist decides such. Justin Morgan, the owner of DMG, ensures his team of dental SEO services employees are on top of the evolving Google and Bing algorithms. This is possible because Justin has spoken with John Mueller, Googles spokesperson on SEO. Each project is a personalized and thorough process that starts with assessing the dentists SEO competitors, conducting an SEO evaluation, and forming an SEO strategy and ends with implementing dental SEO services for dental websites. The dental SEO services at DMG can help clinics get at least 30 new dental patients per month with SEO for dentists. Dental SEO is as deep as the practice itself. What might work for general dentistry websites might not work for a cosmetic dentistry websites search engine optimization. Thats why working with a seasoned SEO pro is important to know what will work for your specific dental SEO situation. Learn more about dental SEO: https://dentalmarketingguy.com/dental-seo/. About SEO Services for Dentists DMG is a dental SEO professional specializing in SEO for dentists services. DMG was started by Justin Morgan to help dentists learn how to build a more fulfilling practice by attracting new dental patients. The dental SEO services offered to dentists by DMG are sure to improve your business through superior marketing and new patient attraction via search engine optimization. ### Media Contact Justin Morgan Dental Marketing Guy Phone: 805-996-0304 Website: https://dentalmarketingguy.com/dental-seo/ Email: justin@dentalmarketingguy.com Legal / Medical Disclaimer The dental SEO services provided by DMG are not medical treatments or advice. Dental practitioners are responsible for seeking professional advice and making decisions regarding their practices. DMG's dental SEO services are designed to improve marketing and attract new patients through search engine optimization techniques. Any statements made in this press release regarding the effectiveness or results of DMG's dental SEO services are based on the experiences of previous clients, and results may vary. It is recommended that dental practitioners conduct their research and evaluations before making decisions regarding their SEO strategies. Attachment NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP (Scott+Scott), an international securities and consumer rights litigation firm, reminds investors of its continuing investigation whether certain directors and officers of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (Goldman Sachs) (NYSE: GS) breached their fiduciary duties to Goldman Sachs and its shareholders. If you are a Goldman Sachs shareholder, you may contact attorney Joe Pettigrew for additional information toll-free at 844-818-6982, or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com. Scott+Scott is investigating whether members of Goldman Sachss board of directors or senior management failed to manage Goldman Sachs in an acceptable manner, in breach of their fiduciary duties to Goldman Sachs, and whether Goldman Sachs and its shareholders have suffered damages as a result. On May 4, 2023, Goldman Sachs announced that "various governmental bodies" were engaging in investigations and inquiries about Goldman Sachs's role in the unsuccessful capital raise and securities portfolio sale of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB). On June 15, 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that Goldman Sachs was under investigation by the Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice. What You Can Do If you are a Goldman Sachs shareholder, you may have legal claims against Goldman Sachss directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at 844-818-6982, or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com. About Scott+Scott Scott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and consumer rights actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, California, and Ohio. Attorney Advertising CONTACT: Joe Pettigrew Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP 600 W. Broadway, Suite 3300 San Diego, CA 92101 844-818-6982 jpettigrew@scott-scott.com TURIN, Italy, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Engineering Superyachts of the future; alternative fuels, operational challenges & classification societies. It is the title of the Captains Forum organised by Yacht Club de Monaco. It is one of the activities of the Captains Club that brings together 150 Superyachts Captains with an average Loa of 65 meters represented by 25 nationalities. This 27th edition held in partnership with Oceanco, MB92 Group and Jutheau Husson was attended by around a hundred captains, the sum of the linear metres of the yachts they work on reached 2,985m. We need to work on yachtings image, began YCM General Secretary Bernard dAlessandri, and its by working together that we can move the industry forward. Captain Malcolm Jacotine explained the reasons why yachting needed to make a rapid shift to low carbon fuels like HVO. This was to align itself with the IMOs 2030 decarbonisation target. He then went on to explain HVO, its benefits, as well as challenges. He was joined on stage by a knowledgable panel, including Captains, who shared their experiences with the fuel. HVO provides a practical solution for yachts today to significantly lower their carbon footprint, without the need for fuels like hydrogen, methanol or technological upgrades. Its adoption is often motivated by the growing environmental awareness of owners who appreciate their many advantages. Odour is non-existent, says Captain Ange Di Maggio (M/Y Important Business) and it has no impact on the engine, adds Andy Gerrard (Chief Engineer on MY Savannah). Low sulphur content; no fumes, soot or particulates; maximum engine power which remains unchanged; can mix with diesel; extended storage life; better experience for guests and crew to name some, the benefits are known as are the disadvantages. The issue of price cannot be ignored, points out Captain Jean-Maxime Berthet (M/Y Lammouche) who has already had to present a bigger bill to clients. We also need to recognise that quality is not always the same depending on where you drop anchor, he added. Availability, higher prices and raw material traceability are some of the obstacles to be overcome. The figures speak for themselves as use of HVOs can reduce the carbon footprint by up to 95% compared to diesel, notes Captain Malcolm Jacotine. However, all stressed the need to make the solution more popular. The second session chaired by Captain Sean Meagher (M/Y Latitude) convened a panel of renowned experts who engaged in an eye-opening design challenge. This collaborative exercise illuminated both cutting-edge propulsion methodologies and the vital role classification societies will play in shaping the maritime industrys future. Audience and panelist engagement exceeded expectations, resulting in a dialogue that challenged conventional paradigms and opened the door to innovative solutions. In terms of technical progress, classification bodies are responsible for ensuring the safety, reliability and compliance of these advanced propulsion systems. It is therefore essential they are kept informed of the latest developments. We are also talking about nuclear propulsion, the image of which is still to be worked on, continues Captain Sean Meagher (M/Y Latitude). Held under the aegis of the collective Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting approach, the Captains Forum is one of the meetings that attracts a large number of professionals keen to develop the sector. The next rendezvous will be the 13th edition of the Environmental Symposium and the YCM Explorer Awards by La Belle Classe Superyachts at the Yacht Club de Monaco on March 21st 2024. For more information: Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e1aa13e-beb7-4397-bd37-bdb870c3ac11 Newark, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 5.08 billion in 2021 global sperm bank market will reach USD 7.52 billion by 2030. the lifestyle changes and choices of the younger population are changing, and they are different from the pre-defined norms of society. The younger generation chooses to focus on their careers and wait till their early 30s before having kids or starting a family. Some individuals prefer to have children as a single parent. Furthermore, the growing acceptance and legalization of marriage and family rules for the LGBTQ+ community also give them the choice to have kids. Given the decision to have kids after their 30s, the risk of reduced infertility with age makes IVF, egg freezing and sperm freezing an ideal option for many. Similarly, sperm donation surrogacy or egg donation are critical for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Therefore, the changing societal landscape will offer market growth opportunities for the global sperm bank market. Request market scope and parent market analysis sample PDF: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/12936 Key Insight of the Global Sperm Bank Market Asia Pacific is expected to rise the fastest during the forecast period. The declining birth rates in China and Japan cause concern for the government. The younger population of China, Japan, Korea and many other developed countries choose not to have kids. The fertility rates are declining. These have prompted the governments to introduce various measures to improve birth rates. The growing expenditure on ramping up sperm banks or fertility infrastructure will augment the market's growth. Favourable regulations facilitating easy accessibility and affordability of fertility treatments will bode well for the market's growth. In 2021, the semen analysis segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 23.21% and market revenue of 1.17 billion. The services type segment is divided into semen analysis, sperm storage, specimen storage, genetic consultation, donor screening, and others. In 2021, the semen analysis segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 23.21% and market revenue of 1.17 billion. In 2021, the known donor analysis segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 39.14% and revenue of 1.98 billion. The donor type segment is divided into anonymous donor, known donor, and ID disclosure donors. In 2021, the known donor analysis segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 39.14% and revenue of 1.98 billion. In 2021, the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 38.26% and market revenue of 1.94 billion. The vials type segment is divided into intracervical insemination (ICI), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In 2021, the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 38.26% and market revenue of 1.94 billion. In 2021, the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centers segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 54.36% and market revenue of 2.76 billion. The end-user segment is divided into in vitro fertilization centers and donor insemination centers. In 2021, the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) centers segment dominated the market with the largest market share of 54.36% and market revenue of 2.76 billion. Get additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/sperm-bank-market-12936 Advancement in market September 2023 - A Chinese sperm bank is hosting a unique competition for college students to determine which student has the highest-quality sperm in light of the nation's declining birth rates. Students will also be given money in exchange for their donated semen. The Henan Provincial Human Sperm Bank is holding a competition to identify the male with the largest sperm count and the strongest sperm. The Straits Times reports that participants would receive up to 6,100 yuan ($170) each for their efforts and have 50 days to make up to 20 donations. Additionally, they will receive payment for any out-of-pocket charges, such as transportation fees and the volume of gifts received. Market Dynamics Driver: the decreasing fertility rates. The decreasing fertility rates have increased the demand for fertility treatments. Having kids later in life has increased the demand for sperm or egg-freezing services. The choice to become a single parent is gaining traction. The same-sex partners are increasingly utilizing these services to start a family. All of these trends will bode well for the sperm bank market. Restraints: The high costs of fertility treatments. The limited number of market players offering fertility treatments leads to increasing costs for the patients. The high costs of treatments alienate a significant portion of the population, given the unaffordability and inaccessibility. The low awareness regarding such treatments also hampers the market's growth. The lack of insurance coverage or positive reimbursement policies by the government also limits the market potential. Opportunities: introduction of new technology. The low fertility rates have prompted governments of several developed countries to introduce measures to counter the fall in fertility rates. The introduction of favourable laws offering legal coverage to single parents and same-sex partners are many other regulations augmenting the market's growth. The increasing funding to improve the fertility infrastructure will also bode well for the market. The technological advancements that improve sperm analysis, storage, and extraction will also bode well for the market's growth. Challenge: stringent government regulations. The majority of countries are still apprehensive about fertility treatments. Most of the population dealing with infertility problems are unaware of the causes, conditions and possible treatments. The stringent government regulations restricting access to these treatments further exacerbate the lack of awareness. These restrictions are in place to protect the interests of the patients; however, they limit the market's growth by reducing the visibility of market players offering these services. Interested in Procure Data? Visit: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/12936 Some of the major players operating in the global sperm bank market are: Cryos International Androcryos European Sperm Bank FairFax Cryobank ReproTech New England Cryogenic Center London Sperm Bank California Cryobank Indian Spermtech Xytex Seattle Sperm Bank Key Segments covered in the market: By Services Type Semen Analysis Sperm Storage Specimen Storage Genetic Consultation Donor Screening Others By Donor Type Anonymous Donor Known Donor ID Disclosure Donors By Vials Type Intracervical Insemination (ICI) Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) By End-User In Vitro Fertilization Centers Donor Insemination Centers By Region North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America) The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Inquire for Customized Data: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/request-customization/12936 About the report: The market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed on a worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analyses driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges to gain critical market insight. The study includes Porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, Product analysis, supply and demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution, and marketing channels analysis. About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: http://www.thebrainyinsights.com NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of DigitalOcean Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DOCN) between February 16, 2023 and August 25, 2023, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important November 13, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased DigitalOcean securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the DigitalOcean class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18119 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 13, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) defendants lacked the skills and experience to assess complicated tax matters and therefore did not design or maintain effective controls over DigitalOceans accounting for income taxes; and (2) as a result of the foregoing, defendants financial statements during the Class Period were inaccurate and materially misleading. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the DigitalOcean class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=18119 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Newark, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 834.3 Billion in 2021 non-alcoholic drinks market will reach USD 1,385.77 Billion by 2030. Manufacturers in the market are adjusting to the new trends and developing their current product portfolios in response to customers' rising acceptance of the no-alcohol and low-alcohol categories, which is likely to be positive for future growth. A new category of premium, complex-tasting soft drinks targeted at adult palates has emerged due to customers choosing non-alcoholic drinks. Request market scope and parent market analysis sample PDF: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/sample-request/13012 Key Insight of the Non-Alcoholic Drinks Market Asia-Pacific is anticipated to expand at the highest CAGR of 7.48% over the projection period. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 7.48% over the forecast period. The regional market is anticipated to be driven by the rising demand for alcohol-free drinks from developing nations like China, India, Thailand, and Malaysia. Key international companies are expanding their regional operations and distribution facilities due to several government measures to improve the manufacturing sector through tax cuts, subsidies, and increased FDI limits. Additionally, because of a change in beverage consumption habits, customers increasingly prefer functional and flavoured bottled water to carbonated drinks with a lot of sugar. The bottled water segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 8.64% over the projected period in the non-alcoholic drinks market. The bottled water segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 8.64% in the non-alcoholic drinks market. The demand for pure, natural water is increasing, driving this market's expansion. The flavoured versions are popular for their flavour, satisfaction, and health benefits. Over the projected period, the food service segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 8.17% in the non-alcoholic drinks market. Over the forecasted period, the food service segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR of 8.17% in the non-alcoholic drinks market. One of the main ways that non-alcoholic drinks are distributed is through the food service sector. Due to their hectic schedules and rising disposable income, people worldwide frequently choose to eat out. Various tastes and beverage preferences are catered for by new restaurants, which support this trend. Many full-service restaurants use all-inclusive dining practises to serve customers better. This involves studying regional eating habits and adapting their menu to reflect it. Visits from customers become more frequent as a result. Get additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/report/non-alcoholic-drinks-market-13012 Market Dynamics Driver: Fruit characteristics that have been genetically modified The genetic engineering of fruit characteristics is an important market driver. Better harvests derive from genetically modified fruits' enhanced disease resistance, which requires fewer chemical treatments. Similarly, genetic engineering provides pest resistance on genetically altered fruits, increasing agricultural production. Herbicide-tolerant fruit varieties may successfully lessen weeds while enhancing crop production. Fruit's nutritional content, taste, and texture can all be enhanced while keeping desirable consumer qualities through genetic engineering. The market share of non-alcoholic drinks is rising due to the introduction of new fruit varieties and improved agricultural yields enabled by these advancements in genetic engineering techniques. Restraint: Growing industry saturation and competitiveness The market for non-alcoholic drinks is hampered by the market's growing saturation and competitiveness. The market for non-alcoholic drinks has grown extremely competitive due to its large number of participants and many product alternatives, making it difficult for new entrants to capture a sizable portion of the market. A further obstacle is the growing customer preference for natural and healthier drinks, as typical carbonated soft drinks are criticised for having a high sugar content. Opportunity: Ready-to-drink coffee and tea products' convenience Due to convenience, ready-to-drink coffee and tea drinks have seen tremendous expansion in recent years. Companies can use the expanding RTD coffee and tea market by expanding the flavour selection, providing creative packaging, and researching new brewing methods. Interested in Procure Data? Visit: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/13012 Some of the major players operating in the non-alcoholic drinks market are: The Coca Cola Company Nestle Starbucks PepsiCo SUNTORY HOLDINGS LIMITED Unilever Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. Capri Sun AG Cott Corporation Danone Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. Ocean Spray National Beverage Corp. Gerolsteiner Brunnen GmbH & Co. KG Key Segments cover in the market: By Product: Bottled Water Carbonated Soft Drinks RTD Tea & Coffee Juices Others By Distribution Channel: Retail Food Service By Region North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil and the Rest of South America) The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Inquire for Customized Data: https://www.thebrainyinsights.com/enquiry/request-customization/13012 About the report: The market is analyzed based on value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed worldwide, regional, and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each part. The report analyzes driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining critical insight into the market. The study includes porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, product analysis, supply, and demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution, and marketing channels analysis. About The Brainy Insights: The Brainy Insights is a market research company, aimed at providing actionable insights through data analytics to companies to improve their business acumen. We have a robust forecasting and estimation model to meet the clients' objectives of high-quality output within a short span of time. We provide both customized (clients' specific) and syndicate reports. Our repository of syndicate reports is diverse across all the categories and sub-categories across domains. Our customized solutions are tailored to meet the clients' requirement whether they are looking to expand or planning to launch a new product in the global market. Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-315-215-1633 Email: sales@thebrainyinsights.com Web: http://www.thebrainyinsights.com NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of MasTec, Inc. (MasTec or the Company) (NYSE: MTZ) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. On August 3, 2023, MasTec announced it missed its estimates for the second quarter of 2023. The Company also revised downwards its 2023 guidance, blaming slowdowns in its communications margins for the revision. Analysts critiqued the Company for its over-promise, under-deliver halo concerning overly optimistic guidances which fail to materialize. Following this news, MTZ stock price fell by $24.79 per share or approximately 21% -- within two business days of the news. To obtain additional information, go to: https://zlk.com/pslra-1/mastec-lawsuit-submission-form?wire=3 or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500. WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Joseph E. Levi, Esq. Ed Korsinsky, Esq. 33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10004 jlevi@levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500 Fax: (212) 363-7171 www.zlk.com planning future activities and programs (46 percent agreed) analyzing data -- as opposed to gathering and collecting it (34 percent) personal professional development (28 percent) interacting with peers in government (27 percent) brainstorming (26 percent) Do you have trouble getting all your work done in a 35- to 40-hour week?More than half (53 percent) of local government officials do, according to a survey by the Governing Exchange, a research arm of. It polled nearly 300 executives and senior managers in cities, counties and special districts.Of the people who said they struggle to cross everything off their to-do lists, 69 percent regularly work more than 40 hours with no additional compensation. Another 10 percent get the job done with overtime pay, and 21 percent said they just dont finish the tasks theyre expected to perform.Despite the obvious importance of this issue in state and local governments, which spend a significant percent of their revenues on personnel, theres been little analysis about how to help employees use their time more productively.Most managers dont have any idea of how their people use their time at work, said Karen Thoreson, president of the Alliance for Innovation. Honestly, they might not even have a good handle on how they use their own time.There are a number of activities that respondents believe take up too much of their time. The most common culprits were meetings, paperwork, email, data collection and reporting, and employee performance reviews.Obviously, all these tasks are critical to the smooth functioning of any government entity. Its doubtful that public employees oppose any of these functions, per se. They just feel that theyre voracious time-consumers that leave too few hours for other important things.What are those important things? According to the survey, officials say they would better accomplish the goals of the job if they had more hours for the following:When similar surveys have been conducted in the past, the results have been unsettling. Take the Colorado Child Welfare Workload Study. Over four weeks in 2014, 1,300 child welfare workers in 54 counties recorded how much time they spent on different activities. The results: 37.5 percent of their time was spent on documentation and administration, 5 percent on parent and family contact, and 4 percent on child contact.We knew there needed to be a readjustment, said Reggie Bicha, director of the Colorado Department of Human Services.Over the next two years, they increased staffing, implemented a new child welfare information system, and provided workers with mobile phones and tablets so they could make the best use of all the hours they spend waiting around courthouses and hospitals.Since then, Bicha said, caseworkers have been ecstatic about having these tools.A focus on time management has also helped the Department of Parks and Recreation in Pearland, Texas. About a year ago, Christopher Orlea, the departments new director, decided that a reimagined approach to the standard employee-supervisor relationship could dramatically increase productivity and reduce redundant communications. First, instead of having the same conversation with different people, he created a document where staff can include any necessary news or information. That document is then emailed out each week to all relevant parties.Then, Orlea moved away from a typical hierarchy and gave all employees more autonomy. Granting them the power to make more decisions in effect reduced the need for many meetings.A year later, Orlea said morale has also gotten a big boost, and personally, he said hes gained an enormous chunk of my day back. F1 has questions to answer after Qatar GP Formula 1 has some questions to ask itself after the swelteringly-hot Qatar GP. Max Verstappen, Qatar GP 2023 Red Bull Even as he arrived at the Middle Eastern venue on Thursday, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz said he thought the sport had made a mistake by travelling to Qatar in the desert location's hot season. I know there is a different date next year, but yes (it was a scheduling mistake), he told Spanish reporters on Thursday. World champion Max Verstappen agreed: Before the trip I looked at the temperatures and to be honest, I wasn't looking forward to it. Their prophecies came home to roost on Sunday, where many drivers actually fell ill as they pushed harder for the mandatory three-stop strategies as the result of another F1 faux pas - the tyre-destroying kerbs. Qatar has just been totally refurbished - and Formula 1 was the guinea pig. The new asphalt was still sweating out all the oils, said Verstappen, "so we looked a little stupid as a sport because we were just sliding around on the first day. Maybe there are things that should be considered for the future. Rookie Logan Sargeant actually retired from the race on Sunday due to severe dehydration, while Lance Stroll got straight out of his Aston Martin and staggered to an ambulance as he suffered from vision problems. The body just couldn't cool down, Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas told Viaplay. It felt like being in a sauna that you couldn't get out of. George Russell was seen driving without hands as he desperately tried to cool his body on the straights, while Esteban Ocon admitted to vomiting in his helmet twice. I had to open the visor to be able to breathe. It was hell in the car, said the Frenchman. Charles Leclerc added: "This was a step over the limit. If conditions like this happen again, we'll have to come up with something. Lando Norris said after finishing on the podium: "It was too hot and much too dangerous. It's something we need to speak about. It's sad we had to find out this way. However, the FIA has already dealt with the scheduling issue as next year's Qatar GP is set to take place in December - with the hot season over. But for this year, It's something that should have been thought of. It shouldn't have happened in the first place, said Norris. Oscar Piastri, second behind Max Verstappen, thinks Formula 1 actually got away with a situation that could have actually been much worse. I think Thursday was like four or five degrees hotter than it was today, said the McLaren driver. "So in that sense, we're almost a little bit lucky it wasn't worse. Transformation of ISD in a digital space D. D. Owusu-Amoah Opinion Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:42 For several years, communicating government programmes and policies to the citizenry and soliciting for feedback has been an integral part of governance. It forms a framework for national dialogue through which informed public opinion is shaped. It assists in public understanding and acceptance of national goals and the individual's responsibilities for reaching these goals. One organisation that has played an outstanding role to ensure that the citizenry has access to information on government policies and programmes in Ghana over the years is the Information Services Department (ISD). Evolution The ISD evolved from an organisation established in the latter part of 1939 as a branch of the colonial government dedicated to convey news on the Second World War. After the war, it was renamed the Public Relations Department then later The Gold Coast Government reorganised the ISD into Department of Information as an effective government information disseminating unit to bridge the communication gap between the government and the governed. The ISD has over the years become well known with the Yellow and Green Public Education van, since it has been the main medium for public education, especially in rural communities. It is worthy to indicate that in addition to using the public education vans for public education, the ISD is responsible for training and posting of officers to work mostly in government organisations as Public Relations Officers (PROs) and lately as Right to Information Officers (RTOs). In an era of information, media pluralism and the emergence of several news channels, the relevance of the ISD keeps coming up. This is especially so when people see the public education vans as the only channel of communication to the ISD. It is said that one of the characteristics of a good service provider is to be flexible and adaptive to provide solutions that suit the contemporary needs of the public. Transformation The ISD has for a few years been embarking on a transformation journey tailored at providing timely, authentic and reliable source of information that is multifaceted. This is even crucial even when society has become very complex with a segment glued onto the Internet, whereas others, especially in the hinterlands, do not have access to some of these modern conveniences of assessing information and are sometimes cut off from national dialogue. Each passing moment throws in a new challenge of communicating efficiently as an important part of good governance. It is this drive that led to the unveiling of a new organisational structure for the ISD that focuses on strategic public education, public relations (PR) and access to information that are researched based. Technology For instance, PR as an important wing of the ISD is evolving with the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in its practice. The ISD now employs technology to standardise PR practice that meets a certain appreciable standard. This is what has given birth to an online application called Bonsu. The Bonsu application allows the Public Relations Coordination Division of the ISD to collate, analyse and evaluate PR activities of government programmes and projects in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs),and Regional Coordinating Councils. This system also ensures the submission of PR work plans for it to be assessed with Key Performance Indicators. The years when PROs on secondment worked without any empirical standard for assessing them have been nipped in the bud, courtesy AI. Soliciting for feedback from the citizen about their opinion is an essential part of the work of the ISD without which the work of the information officer falls short. For years, this has been done manually as such its relevance for some time had been far-fetched. To ensure efficiency and reliable gathering of feedback, the Research section of the ISD has been revamped digitally into a division equipped to conduct nationwide surveys on public opinions with regards to programmes, policies and initiatives of government. Data collection apps have also been installed on official tablets for all the 261 metropolitan and district information officers. This is to help collect real-time data for onward submission to the head office for analyses. In addition, there is a survey dashboard that aid the ISD research team to analyse data collected across the country. Media monitoring, which has been an important part of the work of an information officer, has received a fair share of ISDs digital transformation. The days of press cuttings has given way to technology induced mechanism for monitoring the media landscape. As the world plunges into the digital age, the role of technology in information dissemination is more relevant than ever. It is this that has prompted the ISD to consider digitalisation as an integral part of its transformation. It has been the avowed desire of the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, as he champions the agenda for transformation that ISD, will in no time, become a one-stop shop for information dissemination by government to minimise misinformation and disinformation. The writer is the Acting Director and Technical Coordinator for Information Services Department (ISD) Transformation. ECOWAS has made strides despite recent coups - ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs GraphicOnline International News Oct - 08 - 2023 , 10:59 The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made significant strides in democracy in recent decades, despite recent setbacks caused by military coups in some member states, according to Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security. Dr Musah spoke at the deployment ceremony for 80 Short Term Elections Observers (STOs) in Liberia ahead of the country's presidential and legislative elections on October 10. He noted that ECOWAS countries have been engaging in democracy for only one generation, 30 years, unlike some countries that have been practising it for centuries. "ECOWAS has made a strong case that despite recent setbacks by some military officers truncating democratic processes in some of its member states, the regional bloc has made some significant strides," Dr Musah said. "With the advent of the current liberal democracy in the last few decades, there have been several alternations of power in the region, which is a measure of progress." Dr Musah urged those who are sceptical about West Africa's democratic journey to remember that democracy is not an event. "For centuries countries including the US, the UK have been experimenting with liberal democracy and cited the instance of former President Donald Trumps challenge of the 2020 polls results," he said. Dr Musah also noted that currently in Africa and West Africa in particular, there are many former heads of states walking about freely because they finished their terms and handed over power through peaceful democratic process. "Hitherto, one could former heads of states were seen or heard of only in prisons, dead or chased away into exile and that these and many other developments were a measure of democracy that we have made," he said. Dr Musah encouraged Liberians to have faith in their democratic process, acknowledging that there would be challenges and that there was still a lot to do to achieve economic development and other benefits of democracy. "Democracy should not be reduced to holding elections periodically and that there must be the development dividend from and that was what ECOWAS was about in its economic integration process," he said. On October 10, Liberians will vote to elect a president and 73 members of the House of Representatives. Twenty candidates are running for president, including incumbent President George Weah. Israel orders 'complete siege' of Gaza as rocket attacks continue Skynews International News Oct - 09 - 2023 , 13:37 Israeli forces are still trying to defeat the last groups of militants holed up in several towns since Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Saturday. A "complete siege" of the Gaza Strip - leaving the territory with no food, electricity or fuel - has been ordered by Israel. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said Israel was "battling beastly people" and was conducting itself as such, after Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza on Sunday. The Israeli infrastructure minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the water supply between Israel and Gaza to be shut off immediately. It comes as a "huge rocket barrage" out of Gaza hit central Israel late on Monday morning. More than 1,000 Palestinian targets hit - follow live updates Israeli forces are currently fighting Hamas in two locations inside Israel, after the country formally declared war on the militant group. Around 300,000 reservists have been called up by the Israeli military. Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), said, there is still active fighting with Hamas militants "constantly trying to cross over" the border from Gaza. This is despite Israeli troops having regained control in some areas of southern Israel. "They keep stringing to the border and we expect this to continue because there's a massive number of jihadis that have been trained to do this," he told NBC. Other key developments include: Nearly 1,200 have died and thousands are wounded on both sides; Hundreds of Israelis are being held hostage by Hamas, including women, children and the elderly; Israeli captives and their captors have been killed in airstrikes since the weekend, according to Hamas; Israeli civilians have been gunned down in towns, along roads and at a techno music festival being held in the desert near Gaza; Rishi Sunak is chairing a COBRA emergency response meeting; More than 123,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, UN says. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and 560 have died in Gaza as Israel retaliated with airstrikes in an operation which has been dubbed "Swords of Iron". On Monday, Hamas's armed wing claimed four Israeli captives and their Hamas captors have been killed in strikes since the beginning of the attack. An Israeli air strike also killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al Najjar Hospital in Gaza. Inside the Gaza Strip, more than 1,000 targets had been hit, the IDF said earlier, including airstrikes that levelled much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the northeast corner. Meanwhile, the IDF said on Monday that it thought the situation would be in "a better place". Mr Spielman said Hamas fighters have "embedded themselves" in Israel, with one individual coming out of hiding and shooting in one community. Image: Abandoned vehicles outside a music festival in Israel "There are potentially serious numbers of terrorists that are in hiding," he said. "We are battling an enemy that is more similar to ISIS than any other type of enemy that the world has encountered in many, many years." A major question remains over whether Israel will launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought increased casualties. When questioned on this, Mr Spielman said: "I can tell you that we're weighing the situation very carefully. "We're going to need to take a deep breath, because this is going to take a significant period of time." 'Darkest day in our history' The Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands that came under attack, but the number killed may rise. Reasons for coups untenable, West Africa has made strides in democracy - ECOWAS Commissioner GraphicOnline International News Oct - 08 - 2023 , 10:34 The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace & Security, Ambassador Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, has stated that the reasons advanced by some military juntas in West Africa, such as bad and deficit governance that have not delivered, are false because democracy is not an event but a process. He said that some people argue that democracy is not working in Africa, but that this is a false dichotomy. "We will want to tell those sceptics that democracy is not an event, it is a process," he said. "There are countries that for centuries continue to experiment with liberal democracy, including the US, the UK and others. Even as we speak, Donald Trump has still not accepted the 2020 election results in America. These are countries that have been there for centuries and been experimenting with it." Dr Musah made these remarks when ECOWAS deployed 80 Short Term Election Observers (STOs) for the October 10 elections in Liberia. Already, ECOWAS has deployed 15 Long Term Observers (LTOs) who have been in the country for about a month. They comprised experts in field of election administration, gender and civil society, constitutional law, security, and the media. The membership of the 80 is made up of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise, ECOWAS Parliament, and Community Court of Justice, member States foreign ministries, electoral management bodies, as well as civil society organisations. None of them is a Liberian. Dr Musah said those looking at democracy in West Africa were doing so as a glass that was half empty, but urged them to also bear in mind that the liberal democracy in Africa was barely 30 years old, just one generation. "Before the 1990s there was no incumbent government in Africa and West Africa in particular who could be removed from power through the ballot box. Almost all countries were ruled by authoritarian regimes," he added. Dr Musah added that with the advent of the current liberal democracy, there have been several alternations of power in the region, which is a measure of progress. "Today in Africa and West Africa in particular, there are many former heads of states walking about freely. Before now the former heads of states were either in prison, cemetery or in exile. That is also a measure of democracy that we have made. Not everything can be solved in one generation." He said that was why Liberians must be encouraged to have faith in the democratic process they are having, noting that there were challenges and there were still a lot to do to achieve economic development and others that come with the electoral process. "That our democracy should not be reduced to holding elections periodically and that there must be the development dividend of democracy. And this is what ECOWAS is about in its economic integration process," Dr Musah said. Support ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Ms Josephine Nkrumah, said ECOWAS Commission has engaged with all stakeholders including all three arms of government, the National Elections Commission (NEC), civil society, political parties and candidates with the view to help ensure a successful presidential and legislative elections. She said after assessing the countrys preparedness for the elections, ECOWAS has been supporting the process with both technical and financial assistance with the latest being the procurement of IT experts to assist the NEC in securing its database. She said the high-level meetings ECOWAS, led by the Head of the Observation Mission, Prof Attahiru Jega, had with stakeholders were successful and that all the political leaders have given assurance that they were committed to a peaceful electoral process. Over 2.4 million Liberians will vote on October 10 to elect 30 Members of the Senate, 73 Members of Representative and a President. President Weah who is seeking re-election after his first 6-year term is being challenged by 19 other candidates. Mandatory dyslexia training for teachers: Ensure inclusive educational system for all learners Rosalin Abigail Kyere-Nartey Education Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:42 October marks Dyslexia Awareness Month and in this significant time, the Africa Dyslexia Organisation issues an urgent call to the Ghana Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES). Our appeal is straightforward: implement mandatory training for teachers on dyslexia and related learning disabilities from Kindergarten (KG) through to Junior High School (JHS) across both public and private educational institutions. Inclusive education in Ghana is not just an ideal but a crucial driver for the country's sustainable development. There is an essential need to institute mandatory, comprehensive training for teachers to understand and effectively address dyslexia and related learning disabilities for several critical reasons: Addressing learning challenges: Dyslexia and related learning disabilities affects a significant number of students. Without adequate understanding and timely intervention, many students, despite their talents are overlooked and marginalised, limiting their life opportunities and societal contributions. Bridging educational disparities: Educational disparity in Ghana, exacerbated by a lack of necessary resources and training, can be narrowed. Mandatory dyslexia training for teachers is a transformative step towards creating an environment where all students can thrive. Empowering educators: Proper training equips teachers with the knowledge and tools necessary to positively influence the academic trajectories of students with learning disabilities, fostering a wave of nationwide positive academic outcomes. Advancing national development: Investment in inclusive education is an investment in the nations socio-economic standing. This commitment supports individual learners while contributing to the construction of a resilient, knowledgeable, and innovative society ready for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. A Step toward inclusion: Proactive measures in education set a positive precedent for the nation. Such an initiative demonstrates Ghana's commitment to building an inclusive society where every individual, regardless of learning differences, has an opportunity to succeed. Enhancing global standing: In a globally competitive environment, it's imperative for Ghana to foster an educational system that is inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of its students. Mandatory dyslexia training for teachers is not merely a necessity; it's a strategic investment enhancing the nations global standing by fostering a diverse, skilled and inclusive future workforce. Ready for collaboration The Africa Dyslexia Organisation is prepared to collaborate with educational authorities to develop suitable training content for educators. While not all teachers must become experts, foundational understanding and awareness among educators are vital. This approach will steer Ghana towards an inclusive educational system where the needs of all students are acknowledged and addressed effectively. Conclusion There is no room for stagnation in a world that values diversity and inclusion. Implementing mandatory dyslexia training for educators is a leap towards fostering an inclusive and prosperous Ghana where every child can shine. Through collaborative efforts among the government, educational stakeholders and organisations such as the Africa Dyslexia Organisation, we can transition from aspiration to reality, illuminating a brighter, inclusive future for all Ghanaian children and the nation at large. The writer is a Dyslexic & Executive Director of the African Dyslexia Organisation (ADO). Bawumia donates to Kumasi Childrens Home on 60th birthday Daily Graphic Oct - 09 - 2023 , 07:44 The Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, last Saturday donated food items, drinks and toiletries to the Kumasi Childrens Home as part of activities marking his 60th birthday. Accompanied by his wife, Samira, the Vice-President handed over 100 bags of rice, 20 bags 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 GH60,000 to help in running the daily activities of the home and pledged to provide a bus to facilitate their movement. Dr Bawumia, who also spent time with the children, 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. That's why I chose to spend my birthday with the children in this Home, as I am here in Kumasi on my birthday," the Vice-President 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," he said. Appreciation The Manager of the Home, Mabel Amponsah, on behalf of the about 90 children, some with disability, expressed appreciation to the Vice-President for the kind gesture. She said Dr Bawumia's 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 heart's desires. We will continue to pray for you," she said. In lieu of his annual birthday lunch with cured lepers 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 Digital Cedi holds potential to be global leader Fintech expert Maclean Kwofi Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:50 An international financial technology (Fintech) expert, Jason Marshall, has said Ghanas digital currency yet to be fully rolled out holds the potential to become the leading central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the world. He explained that the introduction of the digital Cedi, which would be regulated by the Bank of Ghana (BoG), would further deepen financial inclusion, promote the efficiency and stability of the payment system, and foster competition in the countrys financial sector. That, he said, followed detailed research into the development of the digital Cedi and the central banks willingness to provide fintechs, developers and innovators an opportunity to design innovative solutions that explore various uses of the CBDC. In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Thursday, Mr Marshall, who is the Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Yellow Card, a firm in digital payments, commended BoGs approach towards the development of the digital currency platform. The exciting aspect of this initiative is the central banks approach towards the development of the digital currency also known as digital Cedi. What we are seeing is that the digital Cedi spearheaded by BoG is built on a true blockchain-based solution. It is a currency and not a token issued by the bank, he said. The fintech expert added that unlike mobile money, which was just electronic money backed by cash, digital Cedi was cash in itself. Cryptocurrencies Mr Marshall noted that the digital Cedi had been set up in a way that banking and fintech innovators could build on the platform to design consumer applications that provide value. In an era of cryptocurrencies, the introduction of the digital Cedi would also help Ghanaians who wanted to trade with digital currencies to do so safely, he added. As developers, we think BoG is trying to provide a safe infrastructure and platform for innovation. With this digital currency, the first thing that comes to mind is that people should be able to send money from the United States to Ghana for free instantly, the expert said. Hackathon Mr Marshalls comments follow the decision of BoG and EMTECH Solutions Inc. to hold an eCedi hackathon to provide opportunities for fintechs, developers and innovators to design innovative solutions that explore various use cases of a CBDC. Dubbed eCedi Hackathon, the event is an innovation challenge set to run for a 12-week period, during which innovators will brainstorm to come up with solutions to address financial inclusion challenges in Ghana. It seeks to provide a platform for developers, innovators and blockchain enthusiasts to showcase their creativity by exploring the many possibilities of CBDC technology and contribute to the future of Ghanas digital financial ecosystem. The event will culminate in a conference during which the best solutions will be recognised in an award ceremony. Participation Mr Marshall stated that Yellow Card, just like other fintechs, developers and innovators, would participate in the hackathon. We just learnt a little information about the initiative but our engineers are currently studying the system to be able to fully participate in the eCedi Hackathon competition. From what we have seen so far, we really think that it can be the leading central bank digital currency in the globe, the fintech expert added. Embrace test for breast cancer Prof. Opoku-Agyemang Daily Graphic Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:34 A former Minister of Education, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called on women to be bold to test for breast cancer. She said it was unfortunate that most women refused to partake in breast cancer screenings because of the fear of being diagnosed of the disease. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, the running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama in the 2020 presidential election, made the call at a breast cancer awareness and testing programme organised by the Greater Accra Womens Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Felicia Bortey, at Ashiaman. It was as part of activities to mark October as the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness creation. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang maintained that although she sympathised with women for their natural reaction of fear to voluntary cancer screening, experience showed that it was the best option, which could not be discounted. Status She stressed that, knowing about our health status is a good thing in order to avoid as much as possible, unpleasant situations. She added that it was time for women to obey the advice of medical practitioners who keep telling us about the importance of early detection in healthcare delivery. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), commended the organisers for putting up such a good programme at the doorsteps of women, intented for their benefit. Other officials who participated in the programme included the Member of Parliament for Ashiaman, Ernest Henry Norgbe; the Greater Accra regional vice chairman, Ibrahim Jaja; the Ashiaman NDC constituency chairman, Sadat Jello; the Greater Accra womens organiser, Jessica Braimah; the constituency chairman, W. O. Badatu Iddrisu, and the Constituency Deputy Womens Organiser, Beatrice Agbeko Teye. GRA goes after more businesses - Over tax non-compliance Emelia Ennin Abbey Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:21 The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has said it has identified a number of businesses that are violating the tax law through its ongoing VAT enforcement exercise in the Greater Accra Region. Through the VAT enforcement exercise, the taskforce found out that many businesses had not registered with the authority, while those that had registered were either not issuing VAT invoices or were engaged in selective issuance of VAT invoices. Consequently, the GRA has indicated that it will intensify its enforcement exercises to compel non tax compliant businesses to honour their tax obligations in line with the law. Head of the Accra Central Enforcement Unit of the GRA, Assistant Commissioner, Joseph Annan, speaking to journalists in Accra after one of the enforcement exercises, said: What it means is that, we have to do a lot more compliance checks. Businesses operating in the country that have failed to register with the authority or comply with tax laws will be compelled to do the right thing, he said. Enforcement The GRA has since June, this year, stepped up its tax compliance and enforcement efforts in a bid to meet its target of collecting GH106 billion for 2023, representing a year-on-year growth of 40 per cent. To meet this target, the authority had indicated some of the measures it would employ to include the full automation of its operations and deployment of technology in revenue collection. The latest exercise is the VAT enforcement exercise, which saw the team visiting 10 companies within the La Nkwantanang and Adentan municipalities. The taskforce also included personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service. Invitation All the managers of the various businesses visited were invited to assist the GRA with investigations pertaining to the non-issuance and selective issuance of VAT receipts as part of efforts to ensure voluntary compliance with tax laws. Section 41 of the Value Added Tax Act mandates businesses to consistently issue VAT invoices to their patrons. Failure to comply with the requirement of the law is tantamount to a violation of the law while customers who fail to obtain an invoice over transactions that attract VAT also violate the law. Extended focus Mr Annan said the authority had put in place a number of measures to ensure maximum compliance of all tax laws. He said the taskforce had extended its focus beyond VAT enforcement to ensure complete tax compliance. For now, we are not limited to VAT because in order to achieve the target, we have to look at all tax types. Taxation encompasses VAT, our scrutiny will encompass all applicable taxes for any given taxpayer we visit. We are not limiting our exercise solely to VAT, he said. In line with this, he said the taskforce now conducted a comprehensive examination of the taxpayers to identify their eligibility for various tax categories. This is how we intend to enhance our tax collection efforts . It is not solely about VAT compliance. It's about adhering to all tax categories, he said. He called for citizens' support and collaboration to enable the GRA to meet its revenue collection target as every taxpayer must contribute to build the nation. Partnership with Ghana exemplary Indian Parliamentary Delegation Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:52 The leader of Indias parliamentary delegation to the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), Anurag Sharma, has described the relationship between Ghana and India as an exemplary one which highlights the significance of international collaboration in an interconnected world. He said the partnership which predated Ghanas independence was rooted in shared values and common principles for peace which translated into efforts to bolster cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development, health care and capacity building. Our approach aligns with the principles of South-South cooperation, addressing common challenges faced by all developing nations, and giving all of us a stronger voice on the global stage, he stressed. Event Mr Sharma was speaking at a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission in Accra in connection with the CPC. Organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the CPC is the largest gathering of Commonwealth parliamentarians who come together to discuss and debate key global political issues and developments. It exists to promote knowledge of the constitutional, legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth. The 66th conference is being hosted by the Parliament of Ghana and the CPA Ghana Branch in Accra from September 30 to October 6, 2023. The reception served as a platform for the parliamentarians of the two nations to interact and acquaint themselves with one another. Economic growth Mr Sharma said democratic governance, rule of law and stable political environment across the country had offered Indian businesses and industries promising opportunities for growth and expansion. That, he said, had enticed leading Indian business groups to establish their presence in the country and contributed to the nations economic development, job creation and capacity building in sectors such as agriculture, technology and pharmaceuticals. Education and people to people ties have also played a pivotal role in strengthening our bonds, with India initiating numerous scholarships and training programmes for Ghanaian students and professionals, fostering educational excellence and cultural understanding, he added. Touching on parliamentary collaboration, Mr Sharma said the two parliaments shared a robust connection with regular visits and interactions among fellow parliamentarians, creating stronger bonds encompassing various sectors, including trade, investment, education and cultural exchange. Both our nations collaborate on issues of mutual interest, nurturing economic growth and development, he added. Development cooperation The charge d'affaires of the Indian High Commission, Chinpau Ngaihte, said Indias development cooperation with Ghana was among the largest in West Africa, making India one of the nations top trading partners and largest investors. He said India was committed to further deepen its partnership with Ghana in all sectors towards the adoption of cost effective technologies and shared best practices through capacity building and training programmes that made a difference at the ground level. Our over 150,000 strong community is contributing to the Ghanaian progress and prosperity. They are highly regarded for their professionalism and work ethics. From east to west and north to south, they represent the microcosm of India, and have a footprint in major cities in Ghana, Mr Ngaihte added. Closer ties The Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, lauded India for demonstrating commitment to the CPA and its mission to promote knowledge of the constitutional legislative, economic, social and cultural aspects of parliamentary democracy, with particular reference to the countries of the Commonwealth. The CPA affords us in the Commonwealth a platform for cross fertilisation of ideas. India-Ghana relations have traditionally been warm and friendly, resting on solid foundation anchored in collective values and shared vision, he added. Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is the Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency in the Ashanti Region, urged the two bodies to forge deeper alliances at the national and sub-national levels because parliaments embodied the sovereign will of the people. Kikibees owner's death confirmed by police, woman arrested as key suspect Gifty Owusu-Amoah and Emelia Ennin Abbey Oct - 09 - 2023 , 15:06 The death of Bennet Adomah Agyekum, owner of the popular Noire Lounge formerly known as Kikibees Restaurant at East Legon in Accra has been confirmed by the Police. The 41-year-old was found lying in a pool of blood at a house at Madina Ogbojo in Accra on Sunday (October 8, 2023). The Accra Regional Police Command confirming the death to Graphic Online indicated that a woman believed to be a key suspect in the incident has been arrested in connection with the death of Agyekum. Per the police preliminary report, the deceased was taken to the hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival. The woman, according to the police is in custody and assisting with investigations. The key suspect in police custody The news of Agyekum's [Kikibees] death was announced on social media on Sunday. In a video seen by Graphic Showbiz and purported to be the last video the deceased posted on his snapchat, he wrote: Just imagine say if God na man, like by now them no order execution, Order for Ona. Jehova bu Eze. Ben was said to have arrived in Ghana from Amsterdam on Saturday, a day before his death. A number of tributes have been pouring for the departed who had a close relationship with a number of Ghanaian musicians and comedians. George Britton, Camidohs manager posted this on Facebook. This is one of my friends (BEN Owner of KikiBees n Noire, East Legon) last snaps before he got murdered on his way home from his pub/Restaurant this dawn. Crazy world innit? he posted. Ben left behind a wife and five children. Watch the last video he posted on his Snaphat: Seek public interest over other considerations - Dr Atta-Baffoe urges judges Justice Agbenorsi Oct - 09 - 2023 , 12:00 The Anglican Bishop of Cape Coast, Rt Rev. Dr Victor Reginald Atta-Baffoe, has urged judges in the country to seek the public interest over any other consideration in the delivery of justice. That, he explained, would strengthen the pillars of justice and give hope to the ordinary Ghanaian. In a homily to open the 66th legal year at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra yesterday, Rt Rev. Dr Atta-Baffoe said Jesus Christ in his public ministry acted to reinstate the underprivileged by granting help to the less privileged faction of society such as the blind, the lame, evil possessed and even the dead. He added that the use of justice throughout the holy books was more mandatory than voluntary, hence God demanded of every believer, including judges, to seek justice at all cost without failing the disadvantaged. Consequently, Rt Rev. Dr Atta-Baffoe said the practice of the law was a higher calling, which must not be used to chase after material rewards but to render service of hope to those who sought justice. In our day-to-day practice of the law, we have also been called to pay attention to the cardinal points of justice and act in the interest of the public and not in our own interest, Rt Rev. Dr Atta-Baffoe said in his sermon, premised on Isaiah 1:17, which commands believers to defend the oppressed in the pursuit of righteousness. It was on the theme: Building the pillars of Justice. Service Organised by the Judicial Service, the special service was to officially signify the start of the 2023/2024 legal year. The legal year starts from October to July and it commences after the legal vacation (August-September) when justices of the superior courts go on recess. During the legal vacation, the lower courts and some High courts continue to operate, so that the wheels of justice will not grind to a halt. The special service brought together the clergy, judges, lawyers and other stakeholders in the justice delivery system of the country, with the common purpose of seeking divine intervention during the new legal year. Present at the event were the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame; the President of the Ghana Bar Association, Yaw Acheampong Boafo, among other dignitaries. The service began with a procession of judges and lawyers, led by the Chief Justice, to the church premises, and after the service, there was a cocktail at the forecourt of the Supreme Court building. Pillars Suggesting practical ways to build the pillars of Justice, Rt Rev. Dr Atta-Baffoe said every individual was created in the image and likeness of God, hence the dignity of a person must not be lessened since it formed the basis for all other rights. Additionally, he stressed the need to harmonise and promote the common good of the rights and duties of every group. He further noted that as a requirement for justice to triumph, people must be allowed to participate in decisions that directly affected them and actively shaped their lives and their own destiny. The rich have responsibility for the poor, and national and international structures must reflect this. The poor are not burdens and the strangers who live among us are not alien. They are our sisters and brothers. Be transparent and open in your actions when delivering justice. Be impartial and neutral in the decision-making process because right relationship means giving to others what is owed to them. We must recognise and remember what we owe to those who cannot demand it, he added. CJ In her message to herald her first legal year since assuming office, Chief Justice Torkornoo said the Judicial Service under her tenure would focus on four cardinal pillars law, ethics, assets and due process. That, she said, would help build a more efficient and effective judiciary to advance the course of the country. She, therefore, called on all stakeholders to help her deepen the nexus between law, ethics, assets and due process and the quality of justice delivery. It is my fervent desire and commitment that as we do so, the wheels of justice will stop grinding slowly, and begin to grind efficiently, effectively and with increasing finality, so that court users will appreciate the role of the courts in the stability, wealth creation and security of the nation, the Chief Justice said. SG Ghana marks 20th anniversary Joshua Bediako Koomson Oct - 09 - 2023 , 05:56 Societe Generale Ghana (SG Ghana) has marked its 20th anniversary with a resolve to remain committed to the development and growth of the country and the financial industry through an enhanced service delivery. The bank has assured that it would continue to support the country by financing individuals, businesses and industries, and also provide an enhance strategic measures to resolve any bottle necks that limited economic resilience in the country. The Managing Director of the bank, Hakim Ouzzani, who gave the assurance also challenged the staff to remain committed to the banks vision and continue to provide financial solutions that positively impacted the lives and activities of customers. The celebration The celebration which took place last Thursday under the theme, 20 Years with You, brought together staff of the bank, regulators, captains of industry, members from the diplomatic community and other high-profile individuals. It was thrilled by one of the countrys famous afro pop, highlife and reggae musical artist, Kojo Antwi, who lit up the evening with a dazzling performance for the entertaining pleasure of the guests. The Bank also held an art competition which also brought to a sensational climax at the event. Seth Nah Oklikah won the first place with his art piece dubbed Beautiful Woman, and went home with a cash prize of GH 30,000 while Aminu Salawu and Lanto Kwame Mawunyo Azasime won second and third place with their art pieces Nothing is Waste and Melody of Discord respectively. They were awarded with individual cash prices of GH20,000 and GH 10,000. Appreciation 20 years carry the symbol of youth and strength. At 20, we look at the past with a few nostalgic mood but above all, we have our eyes on the future For the past 20 years our customers have given us the opportunity to support them in your daily lives. Theyve trusted us all these years and they also challenge us to do better. Your expectations, your demands and your claims helped us to continuously improve our solutions and services and we thank you for moving forward with us since the past 20 years, the MD said. He said the vision now was to continue and accelerate the development of the country while integrating more environmental and social responsibility and ensuring a green inclusive, sustainable, equitable and responsible world. Mr Ouzzani further commended the regulatory bodies for the support and guidance throughout the 20 years journey, adding that the bank would continue to rely on them for greater collaborations going forward. Growth SG Groups Deputy Director of Retail Banking for Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, and Overseas, Georges Wega, also expressed his deep-felt gratitude to the local team and the banks stakeholders for making the achievement possible. According to him, Societe Generale had been a part of the Africa economy for over 100 years and had spearheaded major economic and developmental transformations. Societe Generale Societe Generale first entered the Ghanaian financial sector in 2003 when it acquired a 51 per cent stake in the then Social Security Bank. Over the last two decades, the bank has provided innovative financial solutions to individuals, SME and corporate customers. Attack on UTV is a display of arrogance of power, indiscipline - Alan Kyerematen Getrude Ankah Nyavi Politics Oct - 09 - 2023 , 10:40 Presidential aspirant, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen says last Saturday's attack on UTV by some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP was an indication of the wanton display of arrogance of power and indiscipline currently being experienced in Ghana. Mr Kyerematen in a tweet on Sunday October 8, condemned the development saying it is a blatant violation of freedom of the media and free speech, which he noted are two fundamental principles enshrined in Ghanas Constitution. 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., he wrote. Some NPP youth attacked the studios of UTV during a live broadcast last Saturday, October 7. The hooligans stormed the studios, and disrupted the programme. The police have already arrested 16 suspects involved in the incident. The former Trade and Industry Minister commending the swift response of the police in addressing the incident, called for the immediate prosecution of all individuals involved, as we must resoundingly convey that such actions have no place in our democratic society. He added that It is of utmost importance that we protect and uphold the media's independence and hold those responsible for this attack accountable. The Matao, Guams senior mens national soccer team, goes against Singapore in the second leg of the FIFA World Cup 26 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Joint Preliminary Qualification Round 1. In anticipation of Tropical Storm Bolaven's impacts, six emergency shelters will open at 6 p.m. Monday. The Guam Department of Education prepared the emergency shelters for the north, central and southern regions, according to the Office of the Governor of Guam and Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense. The shelters will not open prior to 6 p.m. Northern Astumbo Elementary School Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School Machananao Elementary School Upi Elementary School Central George Washington High School Southern Talafofo' Elementary School Guam is still in Condition of Readiness 2 as it awaits Tropical Storm Bolaven. There is a tropical storm warning activated for Guam, so winds between 39 and 73 mph can be expected within 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service. For those who may need to evacuate to an emergency shelter, residents are advised to shut off incoming electricity at the main breaker or switch before leaving their home. Supplies The following supplies are also advised to bring to the shelter: 7-day supply of food and water for all family members 7-day supply for infants and toddlers, including diapers and formula Valid photo IDs Important documents including birth certificates, passports and medical immunization cards Bedding Personal hygiene products Medication Shelter rules Bring the supplies listed above as it will not be provided by the schools. No alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs or weapons are allowed on shelter grounds. Anyone caught with the banned items will be asked to leave the shelter or possibly turned over to law enforcement. Those determined to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs will also not be admitted or readmitted into the shelter. Public Law 21-139 dictates that there is no smoking allowed on school premises, so smoking is not allowed in the shelter. There are designated smoking areas outside the campus, but cigarette butts must be disposed of properly. No gas stoves or cooking are permitted. Residents must be respectful to others. No foul language, abusive behavior, stealing or destruction of property will be tolerated within the shelter. Sleeping areas should be kept quiet at all times and will have announced quiet hours to be enforced. Parents must maintain responsibility and supervision for their children. Only service animals are allowed at the shelter. Bus transportation Starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, bus transportation to the shelters will be provided to residents at their respective village mayors offices. The village mayors contact information is listed below: Rev. Father Romeo Convocar speaks during the Rotary Club of Guam meeting at the Hyatt Regency Guam on May 18, 2023. Tropical Storm Bolaven was expected to intensify into a typhoon possibly Tuesday morning as it continues to approach Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, both declared by President Joe Biden as disaster areas. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero placed Guam in Condition of Readiness 1 at 10 p.m. Monday, which means damaging winds were expected by mid-day today. Bolaven was expected to pass between Rota and Tinian in the CNMI late Tuesday night. While Guam may be spared from a direct hit, Bolaven is expected to dump torrential rain and bring damaging winds, so the local government opened six emergency shelters Monday night and asked the public to never underestimate Bolaven. GovGuam agencies and schools were closed as of Monday, and more businesses are expected to follow suit with COR 1 in effect. As Bolavens track has gone more toward the CNMI, the governor said she called CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios to offer Guams assistance in any way it can. The likelihood of typhoon-force conditions on Guam is becoming less and less, according to Marcus Landon Aydlett, a warning coordination meteorologist with NWS Monday morning. We can breathe a little bit easier, but do not let your guard down because even a tropical storm can bring a punch. Do not panic, but do prepare, Aydlett said. Aydlett added that residents should wrap up preparations around the home because Bolaven can still bring in a lot of rain to Guam. The showers and thunderstorms will likely start coming in overnight tonight. Even if the winds are not that bad in the morning, weather conditions may not be too favorable to be outside, Aydlett added. The governor said Guam residents should still be concerned about safety. You know the drill, and you know the tips. Please continue on doing so, she said. Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio, in the same video message, also asked that residents extend a helping hand to relatives and neighbors. If you have relatives or friends that are living in threatening conditions, please offer support and check on them, Tenorio said. Do your best to continue to prepare for damaging winds. Lets all hold down together. Rainy than windyAydlett, meanwhile, said the peak of the tropical storm conditions will be felt on Tuesday night and should calm down by sunrise on Wednesday. Were pretty confident about the forecast for Guam. This will most likely be a rain event than windy, but we do not expect the same amount of rain from Mawar, Aydlett concluded. This could be a flood event as we have a conveyor belt of moisture coming in from western Micronesia. As Bolaven is forecast to track northward, Aydlett noted that the CNMI could be bearing the storms direct passage. Nearing typhoon forceAs of 4 p.m. Monday, Bolaven was located near 11.4 degrees north latitude and 149.2 degrees east longitude. Thats about 330 miles east-southeast of Guam, moving west-northwest at 10 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. Bolaven is nearing typhoon force, which is 74 mph. As currently forecast, it could become a typhoon overnight tonight, NWS said as of 5 p.m. Monday. At this time, the closest point of approach to Guam is 8 p.m. Tuesday. This could change, the Joint Information Center said. Tropical Storm Bolaven should not be underestimated. All islands will feel the passage of Bolaven, but any one, or two, islands could face a direct hit (maximum intensity), the statement added. MilitarySimultaneously, Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz were also in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1 at 10 p.m. Monday, JIC said. The Department of Defense will delay implementing some of the TCCOR1 actions to minimize impact to installation services. The Guam Department of Education opened six emergency shelters Monday night: Northern Astumbo Elementary School Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School Machananao Elementary School Upi Elementary School Central George Washington High School Southern Talofofo Elementary School Community First Guam Federal Credit Union celebrated the opening of its newly built $7.5 million Hagatna Headquarters and Members Service Center on Oct. 7, with a dedication and ribbon-cutting event. The new location is positioned along Route 4, between West OBrien Drive and Chalan Santo Papa, in the islands historic capital of Hagatna. Gerard Cruz, president and CEO of Community First, said the opening of the new Community First Headquarters and Members Service Center takes place during a commemorative year for the company. We celebrated our 60th Anniversary in 2022, and the opening of our newly built member service center symbolizes our commitment to the island and our members to continue serving them with excellence well into the future, he said. Construction on the three-story, 15,000-square-foot Hagatna Headquarters and Member Service Center began during the pandemic. Community First broke ground in March of 2021, and construction took two-and-a-half years to complete, with a total investment of $7.5 million. The first floor will serve as the Hagatna Member Service Center; the second floor as the call center, accounting department, and training room; and the third floor as the human resources hub, corporate offices, and Board of Directors conference room. This is the second stand-alone building built by Community First on Guam. It was essential for us to build our new headquarters in Hagatna for many reasons, Cruz said. In addition to providing another centralized location for our members to conveniently conduct their transactions, we felt it was important to contribute to the revitalization of the islands historic capital. Cruz said Community First is proud of its new building as it will allow the company to establish deeper roots while providing a modern facility for our members and employees. Our new headquarters will allow us to better serve our members and community, he added. As part of the build, Community First engaged local artist Joshua Agerstrand to design a mural that honors its multi-generational members while incorporating cultural pride. The mural is located along the drive-up teller lane, and the community is invited to stop in to view it. Photos of the final mural will be revealed on Community Firsts social media pages (@cfirstguam on Facebook and Instagram). The new Community First Hagatna Headquarters and Member Service Center is now open, and members are welcome to conduct their transactions through the drive-up teller line from the Martyr Street entrance next to the Guam Library, walk-up services, and the ATM located at the front of the building, with ample parking and accessible from Route 4 and Martyr Street. Cruz noted that the building was the last project designed by the late and legendary Architect Andrew Andy Laguana. As we open our new headquarters, we recognize the talent and legacy of legendary Chamorro architect Andy Laguana whose expertise has helped us to design a headquarters that we are so proud of, Cruz said. 60 Acts of CommunityDerek Mandell, assistant vice president of marketing for Community First, announced on Saturday that the credit union has officially completed its 60 Acts of Community, a community give-back program that was created to thank members for their 60 years of loyalty and trust while celebrating the companys 60 years on Guam. Last year, when we began celebrating Community Firsts 60th Anniversary, our team wanted to mark this milestone by honoring our members who have supported us for six decades. We established the Community First 60 Acts of Community last summer with the goal of completing 60 acts of kindness and meaningful community support by the time our new headquarters opened. We are proud to announce that we have officially completed our goal, Mandell said. The 60 Acts of Community ranged from the Hagatna clean-up that launched the program to canned foods and supplies to Harvest House to securing match grants that supported housing programs for at-risk women and youth. Each act was selected to expand our community support, and we are a better company for it, Mandell said. We are a company that believes in caring for our community, members, and employees, and the 60 Acts of Community allowed us to show our appreciation while lending a hand where it was needed most. A list of all 60 Acts of Community can be viewed on Community Firsts website, cfirstguam.com. We are so proud that we met our goal of completing all 60 Acts by the opening of our new headquarters. We thank our Board, leadership team, and employees from each of our four Member Service Centers in Hagatna, Tamuning, Mangilao, and Dededo for their support of this meaningful program, Mandell added. Local telecom providers Docomo, GTA and IT&E on Monday said they are working to keep services as stable as possible as Tropical Storm Bolaven approaches Guam. At the top of their storm preparation list is getting enough fuel and backup generator capacity to keep critical network sites up and running if the power goes out. Difficulty getting connected and getting information about storm conditions is a problem many have already experienced this year, in the wake of Typhoon Mawar. The local government reported issues getting information out with radio and television stations knocked off the air, and intermittent cellular service. Down south, where network damage was heavy, mayors office staff resorted to going door to door to communicate with residents in some cases, the PDN reported. As for cellular talk, text and mobile data, power issues kept a large number of customers offline, Federal Communications Commission reports show. Docomo Pacific With the storm approaching, Docomo Pacific customers may expect their cellular services to continue working for as long as the power stays on, according to Docomo Public Relations Manager Jared Roberto. As long as the power is on, everything should be business as usual, he said. A large number of Docomos 100-plus cell towers dont have automatic backup generators, and during Mawar, portable generators had to be kept running, he said. The company has since moved to installing more generators around to keep services running. Fuel tanks were topped off at all critical facilities, and technology and facility teams have been working since Friday on comprehensive storm preparations for mobile and fixed network. IT&E IT&E has likewise moved to start deploying backup generators, according to a statement from the company, and has around-the-clock monitoring to detect any network issues as well as teams on standby to deal with repairs and interruptions as soon as it is safe. Customers can find network updates on ite.net or follow IT&Es official social media pages. We understand the importance of staying connected, especially during times of crisis. Rest assured, we are committed to providing the best possible service and support throughout this storm, IT&E President Jim Oehlerking said in a statement. IT&Es Customer Care team will remain accessible to assist subscribers with any connectivity issues, the company stated. To report service issues, call (671) 922-4483. Callers may experience hold times. GTA GTA lines are securely installed underground, designed to withstand typhoons. However, its important to note that depending on the severity and location of the storm, there may be intermittent service disruptions. We are committed to minimizing service interruptions as much as possible, GTA Teleguam announced in a news release. Besides topping off generator fuel tanks and vehicles, the company has moved to checking batteries at cell sites and remote equipment centers. Recovery equipment such as pumps and generators have also been pre-positioned at secure locations for post-storm efforts, the company stated. Network updates are available on Facebook and Instagram @GTA TeleGuam. Outage and other issues can be reported to (671) 644-4482 during operational times, or by using the live chat feature at www.gta.net. Power outages knocked out cell service Though damage to network equipment did cause problems after Mawar, a large amount of the intermittent phone service residents saw was due to power outages. Just after the storm, a full 70% of the 327 cell sites on Guam were out of commission, the FCC reported. Over 200 of the sites that were out were because of power generation issues, compared to a handful that had been taken out because of damage to the cell site or to the surrounding network. Two weeks after Mawar, the problem persisted. Out of 116 cell sites that were offline as of June 7, 97 were out because of lack of power. Of the 211 sites that were online, by then, 124 were running on backup generator power. With the storm track of Tropical Storm Bolaven shifting slightly to the south, Rota was placed under a typhoon warning and Guam went into Condition of Readiness 1 Monday night. Guam residents can expect high winds and heavy showers to develop overnight, and any last-minute preparations should be completed as soon as possible in the morning, National Weather Service Lead Meteorologist Ken Kleeschulte said. "At the latest have things done by mid-morning tomorrow," he said. "We're looking at things starting to pick up to possible tropical storm-force here as early as 1 to 2 in the afternoon." Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero placed Guam in Condition of Readiness 1 at 10 p.m. Monday, meaning destructive winds were possible within 12 hours. Bolaven was forecast to pass between Rota and Tinian as a typhoon between 7 and 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Kleeschulte said. Although the current forecast calls for Guam to get lower-end tropical storm-force winds, there is still some uncertainty about the track. Forecasters had called for the storm to turn from the west-northwest to the northwest, but the turn has been "just a little slower than what was expected," Kleeschulte said. The less of a turn the storm takes, the closer it will be to Guam and Rota. At 7:45 p.m. maximum winds were at 70 mph, just below typhoon force, which is 74 miles per hour. The storm was at 11.5 north latitude and 149.0 east longitude, or 315 miles east-southeast of Guam. It was moving west-northwest at 12 mph. The forecast is for tropical storm-force winds to last until early Wednesday morning on Guam, peaking in the late afternoon and evening around 40 to 50 mph, gusting to 60 mph. Government agencies and schools have been closed since Monday, and more private businesses are also expected to follow suit by Tuesday. Military bases Simultaneously, Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz will also be in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 1 at 10 p.m. Monday, according to the Joint Information Center. Department of Defense will delay implementing some of the TCCOR1 actions to minimize impact to installation services. President Joe Biden approved the governor's request for a presidential disaster declaration for Guam, ensuring the availability of federal resources to respond to Bolaven. Biden also declared the CNMI as a disaster area because of Bolaven. The presidents action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to save lives and protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the designated areas in Guam. Airport Airlines continued all scheduled flights through Monday evening. Airport, regulatory, food and beverage and retail will prepare to open upon declaration of COR 4 and the first flight arrival after the storm. Passengers are advised to contact airlines for latest updates. United Airlines announced that its Guam-Saipan flights could be affected starting Tuesday. GIAA will be active on Facebook and Instagram to provide updates. Visit www.guamairport.net to view live flight data. Visit the following links for the latest information: Preservation of peace is critical to global security and prosperity, Paul Yin-lien Chen, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, said during Fridays early celebration of the 112th Taiwan National Day that is observed on Oct. 10. Chen was joined by other dignitaries in underscoring the importance of maintaining peace with China. Guam as the frontline of U.S. military power in the region is in the crosshairs of not only China but also North Korea. Taiwan steadfastly pursues peace as the only objective in the face of Chinas escalation of tensions, Chen said at the ceremony organized by TECO Guam. Taiwan contributes to the international order and believes in fostering a prosperous Indo-Pacific region. He expressed appreciation for the celebration of Taiwans sovereignty, which he said holds the democratic values of their 23 million people. Hundreds of government officials, dignitaries and guests across the Pacific region gathered at the Hyatt Regency Guam on Oct. 6 to have an early celebration for whats also known as Taiwans Double Tenth National Day. The national day marks an uprising in 1911 that ended Chinas last imperial dynasty and ushered in Taiwan, formally the Republic of China. Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, at the event, shared the importance of Guams dedication to the Taiwan partnership that has now spanned 50 years. Many leaders in our business community in Guam came from Taiwan to help build Guams economy and now have excellent prosperous businesses. That is what binds us, Tenorio said. Since 1973, Guam and Taiwan have maintained close relations and created many opportunities for cultural exchange, higher education, healthcare services and economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. The Legislature also presented Chen and Taiwan leadership a resolution to highlight Guams close ties with Taiwan politically and culturally. Our two islands share a deep bond stemming from our Austronesian roots, and the CHamoru people of Guam and the Taiwanese Aborigines continue to preserve this relationship through cross-cultural exchanges, the Guam Legislature said in Resolution 193-37. Throughout the United States long standing relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan), Guam shares the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights with Taiwan. Ret. Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui, Guam Homeland Security advisor, reflected on the relationship with Taiwan in helping protect Guam and the Indo-Pacific region. Partnerships are always going to be important factors when considering globalization. Having Taiwan as a partner strengthens that solidarity of protecting our neighbors, Aguigui said. Taiwan has always been a partner with the United States in their desire for sovereignty. What we all really want is world peace, and Taiwan is definitely stepping in that right direction. Jenei Aguon, development coordinator of the University of Guam Endowment Foundation, shared the active efforts by TECO to assist the local educational community. Theyre very involved with UOG, so they helped create the Asia Pacific Studies Center. We now have artwork from UOG and the visiting students from Taiwan, Aguon said. Its just a way of sharing our culture. Were very thankful to TECO for continuing to help in this process. TECO and the UOG Endowment Foundation also held a whisky-tasting fundraiser for a UOG Agriculture and Life Sciences Scholarship. Each donations proceeds would help send UOG students to Taiwan to participate in the Smart Agriculture Technology and Culture Experience Study Abroad program. A tropical storm warning is now in effect for Guam, which means within 24 hours, winds between 39 and 73 miles per hour are expected and typhoon force winds are possible, according to the National Weather Service and the Joint Information Center. Tropical Storm Bolaven was expected to intensify before passing between Rota and Tinian as a typhoon late Tuesday night, NWS said. "Tropical Storm Bolaven should not be underestimated. All islands will feel the passage of Bolaven, but any one, or two, islands could face a direct hit, maximum intensity," according to the latest JIC statement Monday morning. At this time, the closest point of approach to Guam is 8 p.m. Tuesday, JIC said, but this could change. The onset of tropical storm conditions could start as early as mid-morning Tuesday, and lasting through Wednesday, NWS said. A typhoon watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan as all four islands still have the possibility of winds going over 74 mph. It picked up speed overnight and is now moving at a speed of 8 mph. As of 7 a.m., Bolaven was located near 10.9 degrees north latitude and 151.1 degrees east longitude. That's about 460 miles east-southeast of Guam and about 465 miles southeast of Tinian and Saipan, according to the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Guam. Bolaven was moving northwest at 8 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph. It is tracking a northward shift, but it still may land in any of the islands as a Category 1 or 2 typhoon, according to Marcus Landon Aydlett, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Aydlett noted that all islands will feel the passage of Bolaven, but any one or two of the Mariana islands may feel a direct hit and see the greatest intensity. The NWS WFO also issued a local statement on Monday morning to note that seas of 20 to 24 feet are possible. "Hazardous surf conditions are possible beginning this evening and continuing through at least Thursday, NWS said. Surf will increase and likely become dangerous for north and west facing reefs on Wednesday as Bolaven passes to the northwest of the Marianas. A flood watch remains in effect for all of Guam and the CNMI, with 6 to 10 inches of rainfall possible. Guam in COR 2 Guam is in Condition of Readiness 2, and most government of Guam agencies are closed. Schools are also closed. Concurrently, Joint Region Marianas, Naval Base Guam, Andersen Air Force Base, and Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz are in Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 2. The Department of Defense will delay implementing some of the TCCOR2 actions to minimize impact to installation services. All essential and customer services that would normally be open on Columbus Day will remain open on Monday. For installation-specific operations or questions, consult the respective installation Facebook page or reach out to the public affairs officer. 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." Haiti - FLASH : An armed group attacks a church in Haiti in the middle of a religious service Sunday October 8, 2023, around ten hooded and heavily armed individuals dressed in military fatigues and police uniforms, burst into the Rendez-vous Christ church, located in Delmas 75 around 7:30 a.m. during the first religious service officiated by Pastor Julio Volcy. According to some information, the aim of this intrusion was to kidnap Pastor Julio Volcy, but members of the Pastor's security managed to evacuate him before... Despite the failure of the kidnapping, the bandits robbed the faithful of their money, cell phones, wallets, handbags and other valuables. The bandits left with at least one hostage according to testimonies. One of the bandits was fatally injured near the church by the Haitian National Police (PNH) who quickly arrived on the scene, alerted by social networks. Elsewhere, these armed individuals encountered a police officer in his vehicle on Catalpa Street, forced him to get out to steal his vehicle and shot him dead. This is Marc Elie Azael, Agent 3 of the 22nd promotion of the PNH, assigned to the Intervention Corps for Maintaining Order (CIMO). Information confirmed by Lionel Lazare Coordinator of the National Union of Haitian Police Officers (SYNAPOHA) Upcoming religious services at Rendez-Vous Christ Church (RVC) have been canceled until further notice. S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Security : Soldiers from Guyana will participate in the multinational force to assist the PNH Brigadier Omar Khan, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defense Forces, has confirmed that Guyana will send military personnel as a contribution to the multinational assistance force in Haiti approved by the United Nations Security Council https://www .https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40642-haiti-flash-the-security-council-approves-the-intervention-of-a-multinational-force-in-haiti.html in order to fight against criminal groups and restore security internal security. He stressed that the number of Guyanese soldiers who will be part of the multinational force has not yet been determined; their number "[...] will be determined based on discussions with our other partners and will be guided by the logistics services, training and expertise of each force." Guyana thus joins 5 other nations which to date have expressed their interest in the formation of the Multinational Force which will provide operational support to the National Police of Haiti (PNH) to fight against criminal gangs, guarantee the security of installations and key locations and strengthen local action and policing in the long term. In addition to Kenya, which will lead the mission, the Multinational Force will be made up (for the moment) of military and police personnel from Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Suriname. However, it is expected that in the coming days, other countries will join this Mission to help Haiti overcome the serious crisis it is going through. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : Ouanaminthe, gunfire and tear gas at the border Sunday October 8, 2023, following rumors, after the declarations Friday October 6 of President Abinader https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40680-haiti-news-zapping.html, suggesting that the Dominican Republic was going to reopen on Monday October 9 the Dominican borders in order to facilitate commercial exchanges between the two Nations of the island, a group of very motivated individuals, led by the ex-PHTK senator Wanique Pierre (qualified as provocative and banned on Dominican territory https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40507-haiti-flash-9-other-haitians-prohibited-from-entering-dominican-territory-list.html) arrived on the scene with a truck crane loaded with blocks and cement, with which they were preparing to build a wall to prevent the resumption of trade with the neighboring Republic. In order to prevent the protesters from blocking the border bridge between Ounaminthe and Dajabon, the border police PoliFRONT and the Haitian National Police (PNH) to regain control of the situation had to use tear gas grenades and shoot gunshots to disperse these individuals and prevent them from carrying out their project. Very angry protesters against the Haitian police forces. Ounaminthe police seized the truck loaded with construction materials and blocked the perimeter with their units to prevent the entry of new protesters. who, far from being discouraged, announced that they were going to continue their action... Due to this incident, the authorities of the Specialized Land Border Security Corps (CESFRONT) which controls the border bridge on the Dominican side as well as the rest of the border strip, were reinforced by members of the Dominican army, to deal with any type of eventuality in the region. . According to the Spanish Press Agency EFE "[...] the Haitians prefer to ignore the consequences of the border closure ordered by the Dominican Republic in retaliation for the construction of an irrigation canal on the Masacre River, assuming without complaint the shortage caused by this measure." Let's remember that almost half of what Haitians consume comes from the Dominican Republic, according to official figures, food products are among those in demand but Haiti also needs medicine and construction materials (mainly iron and cement). among others... Since the closure, the shortage of food products is visible in public markets and on the tables of restaurants and Haitian homes. There is also a rise in prices as armed gangs ransoming transporters demand "more money to let them pass," further impacting the price at which traders sell their products Dominican products such as coconuts, banana figs and eggs, chicken are rare on Haitian markets, their price has doubled or even tripled in a few days because they are contraband products. SL/ TB/ HaitiLibre (HedgeCo.Net) The Commodity Futures Trading Commission today has filed a civil complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Technical Trading Team, LLC (TTT), its Chief Executive Officer Edwin Carrion, formerly of Pinecrest, Florida, and its Chief Operating Officer and head trader Jason Rodriguez, of Bellerose, New York, charging them with fraudulently soliciting over $5 million for participation in a foreign currency (forex) commodity pool scheme. The complaint charges TTT, Carrion, and Rodriguez, directly and/or derivatively, with fraud in connection with retail forex transactions, fraud in connection with being a commodity pool operator (CPO) and associated persons (AP) of a CPO, and failure to register as a CPO and as APs of a CPO. The complaint alleges the defendants made false and misleading statements regarding their investment track record and the safety of investing in the TTT pool to participants and potential participants. After losing over $3 million by trading retail forex on a leveraged basis, the defendants falsely assured pool participants they could recoup the losses using artificial intelligence-based (AI) trading algorithms. In the complaint, the CFTC seeks a civil monetary penalty, full restitution to defrauded pool participants, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, permanent registration and trading bans, and a permanent injunction against future violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and CFTC regulations as charged. As alleged, the defendants made false and misleading statements and promises about the safety and profitability of becoming a pool participant in the TTT commodity pool, said Director of Enforcement Ian McGinley. As a result of entrusting their money to TTT in light of these false promises, pool participants lost millions of dollars. Todays filing once again demonstrates how the CFTC will hold fraudsters in our markets accountable for their wrongdoing, whether utilizing traditional technical trading techniques or emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence or machine learning. Case Background The complaint alleges that from approximately January 2020 to the present, Carrion and Rodriguez solicited people who were not eligible contract participants to participate in a commodity pool operated by TTT that would trade retail forex on margin. Pool participants investments were structured as loans in which participants were promised they would receive annual interest of 18% to 24%, paid monthly, for a period of one year, and their principal investments would be returned at maturity. To induce people to invest in the TTT commodity pool, Carrion and Rodriguez exaggerated the extent and quality of their track record trading forex; promised pool participants they would maintain a reserve fund equal to the size of participants contributions; promised pool participants they would risk no more than 1% of the pools assets in any trade and not hold trades open overnight; and misrepresented the scope of the assets that would serve as collateral for the participants contributions to the TTT commodity pool. According to the complaint, each of these representations was false or misleading. According to the complaint, the defendants solicited approximately $5 million from 27 pool participants. The defendants lost over $3.13 million trading forex on a leveraged basis, misappropriated funds for personal use, and used new participants funds to pay interest to existing participants. After losing millions trading forex and defaulting on the purported loans, the defendants concealed their fraudulent activity by claiming they would recoup losses and repay the loans by creating a bot that used AI to manage trading. The complaint further charges that TTT acted as a CPO without being registered with the CFTC as required, and that Carrion and Rodriguez acted as associated persons of a CPO, likewise without being registered with the CFTC as required. The defendants are also alleged to have made false statements to a registered foreign exchange dealer regarding the source of TTTs funds and that TTT did not engage in business activities which would require TTTs registration. The CFTC cautions victims that restitution orders may not result in the recovery of money lost because the wrongdoers may not have sufficient funds or assets. The CFTC will continue to fight vigorously for the protection of customers and to ensure the wrongdoers are held accountable. Armed McDonald's employee charged with murder in shooting; victim identified Sam Antwan Ivy The strange sequence of events that led to a deadly shooting at a McDonalds Monday originated when two women had an argument at a nearby bus stop and one fled into the restaurant to get away, the city said in a news release. Hendersonville police detectives began investigating the shooting as a homicide after officers responded at 10:54 a.m. to the call at 1909 Four Seasons Boulevard. In the course of their investigation, detectives learned that the victim later identified as Jacklyn Marie Reed, 30, of Johnson City, Tennessee and the other woman had gotten in a confrontation at the bus stop. The other woman retreated into the restaurant to separate herself from Reed, who followed her into the restaurant. After a McDonalds manager separated the women, Reed left, only to return shortly afterwards, at which time she was met by the manager and a male employee. During the disturbance, Reed reached out and touched the McDonalds employee, a convicted felon named Sam Antwan Ivey. Ivey pulled out a concealed handgun and shot Reed, police said, before fleeing in his vehicle. Reed, who received a single gunshot wound, was pronounced dead at the scene. Just before 5 p.m. the city announced that police had charged Ivey with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting. Ivey, 35, was jailed without bond Monday night. He also faces a charge of possession of firearm by a felon, jail records show. A school resource officer on duty at Edneyville Elementary School who was aware of the incident at McDonalds recognized that Ivy had a child who attended the school. When the suspect arrived at the school, he was quickly apprehended by the deputy in the school parking lot. The school immediately went into secure holding according to Standard Response Protocol. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. The Sheriffs Office issued an alert at noon Monday about an incident that resulted in an abundance of law enforcement units converging at the school apparently the deputys arrest of the shooting suspect. Forty-nine minutes later, the sheriffs office reported the issue had been resolved and that the school was back to regular operations. The Hendersonville Police Department thanked the Henderson County Sheriffs Office for its help apprehending the suspect. Gun possession in direct violation of company rules U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards, who owns the McDonalds where a fatal shooting took place on Monday, issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims family and declaring that the alleged shooter was in direct violation of our organizations rules prohibiting firearms on company property. Our entire restaurant team remains in shock after todays tragic events, and our hearts go out to the victims family during this difficult time, Edwards and his wife, Teresa, an executive with the company, said in a statement. We are concentrating on ensuring our people receive the support they need, and are making crisis counselors available to all employees. We continue to fully cooperate with law enforcement in their investigation and encourage the community to direct any questions to the Hendersonville Police Department. The employee in question was in direct violation of our organizations rules of conduct policy one that he had acknowledged and signed which prohibits firearms on company property, Edwards added. All employees go through conflict-management training as part of their onboarding, and we are looking at expanding that training even further in light of this tragedy. WATER bills for Thames Water customers could increase by 175 a year by the end of the decade if plans submitted by the company are approved. All water companies in England have submitted their five-year business plans to Ofwat, the industry regulator, which detail their strategies for investments from 2025. The suppliers, including Thames Water, are asking customers to help fund a record 96 billion investment to fix sewage leaks, build new reservoirs and reduce leaks. Thames Waters plans show that it could add 14.55 a month to bills over five years. The company wants to spend 18.7billion on replacing 54,000 lead pipes and 500km of ageing water mains, upgrading 150km of sewers and reducing the number of times properties are flooded by sewage by 17 per cent. Cathryn Ross and Alastair Cochran, interim chief executives, said: Our ambitious plan delivers what our customers have told us are their top priorities. We plan 18.7 billion total expenditure to maintain safe high quality drinking water, to ensure security of water supplies now and in the future and to deliver further environmental improvements. Our plan prioritises storm overflows, bathing water status and reducing leaks and pollutions. In parallel, we will introduce an improved social tariff for those who struggle to pay their bills. Jo Robb, a Green member of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: We have already paid water companies to build, operate and maintain a functioning water and sewerage system. Now we hear of their ambitious plans to invest billions to address leaks and sewage. The real question is where has the money gone? The answer is that customers money, rather than being invested in infrastructure to build a legally compliant and resilient sewage and water system, has been systematically siphoned off by shareholders. CAMPAIGNERS have challenged a Thames Water boss to swim in the River Thames in Henley to mark World Rivers Day. Cathryn Ross, the companys interim joint chief executive, has said previously that she would swim in water in which it had discharged fully treated effluent. Open water swimming group the Henley Mermaids and the Henley and Marlow River Action Group have issued an open invitation to her to swim from the Friday Street slipway at 2pm on Friday. Aquarius (20th January to 18th February) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Stand out from the crowd today Stay happy in the relationship today. No major issues in the professional life. Your health horoscope states minor issues including throat infection today. Aquarius Daily Horoscope Today, Oct 10, 2023. Your love life will be free from chaos and you will be more creative today. Your love life will be free from chaos and you will be more creative today. New responsibilities will make you a crucial part of the organization. While minor health issues will be there, your financial status will be good. Aquarius Love Horoscope Today Minor differences in opinions will happen in the romance and this can cause troubles. Show your love through action and you can also expect affection back. You both can strive together to make life a fabulous experience. Do not indulge in the personal affairs of the lover and give them the liberty to decide. Do not be possessive in the relationship as this can dampen the spirit and make the partner uncomfortable and suffocating. Aquarius Career Horoscope Today Attend a job interview to crack it. You may also update the profile on the job website as You will find a good job today. Those who have just left the college will be happy to get the first offer letter today. Your commitment and sincerity will play a major role in accomplishing every assigned task. Avoid office politics and you should be smart enough to negotiate with the team members while handling team tasks. Entrepreneurs can confidently launch a new venture today. Aquarius Money Horoscope Today Though you are fortunate today in terms of money, it is crucial to spend smartly. Avoid binge shopping and spending on high-end goods which will drain the coffer. You need to save for the coming days as you may have an emergency at home. Entrepreneurs will raise funds to expand the business while some seniors will be keen to divide the property among the children today. The day is also auspicious to buy a new vehicle. Aquarius Health Horoscope Today Minor viral infections may hurt you today. Protect your eyes while traveling as dust can cause infection. Females may develop gynecological issues which may need medical attention. Avoid outside food as this may upset the stomach. It is good to skip alcohol for a day. Aquarius Sign Attributes Strength: Tolerant, Ideal, Friendly, Charitable, Independent, Logical Weakness: Disobedient, Liberalistic, Rebel Symbol: Water carrier Element: Air Body Part: Ankles & Legs Sign Ruler: Uranus Lucky Day: Saturday Lucky Color: Navy Blue Lucky Number: 22 Lucky Stone: Blue Sapphire Aquarius Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Good compatibility: Leo, Aquarius Fair compatibility: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Less compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio 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 Aries: You need to organise your skills as a professional. It is important to prioritise your work and reach your office early. One of your colleagues may try to steal your limelight by acting smart. Make sure that you do not react in any way. If you are getting bored at work, taking up tasks like sending emails to prospective employers is better. Students looking for opportunities may get access to fresher jobs. Read daily money and career horoscopes for all zodiac signs and know your fortune for today at Hindustan Times. Taurus: You must take care of your networking group at work. Make sure you participate in social activities at work, like organising a celebration or planning lunch together. Your amazing leadership qualities will be expressed during a meeting. As a result, you will be able to attract the attention of your seniors immediately. Travelling out of your city for work is not a good time. Gemini: Get ready for a hectic day, as you are about to achieve something remarkable today. It might be a promotion or a recommendation from a reputed company. If you are working from home, it is better to clear all misconceptions regarding your working schedule. You need to have a conversation with your colleagues so that there is no chance of disagreements related to joint projects. Cancer: Today is a great time to study your chances of improving your credit score at work. It can either be a wonderful project that you should be a part of or help your colleagues with random opportunities. Whatever it is, your work will be noticed by the higher-ups, leading to higher credibility. Those working in the education industry will receive proud news from their students. Leo: Start your professional commitments early, or else you will not be able to invest time in everything you do. You need to find out things that you can do to improve your interests in your current job. Try interesting things like organising your work according to your skills or taking up projects which are unfamiliar to you. Students need to concentrate on their studies, especially those who are taking their board examinations soon. Virgo: Your positive attitude at work will grab much attention today. It is important to learn from your mistakes rather than disagreeing with your seniors. Your ability to manage risky situations at the last moment will impress your seniors and provide you with an important project. If you are facing any financial issues in your business, it is better to get professional help right now. Libra: Take up productive things at work, even if you are feeling bored. Tasks like managing your workspace and decluttering will bring out a lot of your organising skills. Develop a strong bond with your colleagues so that you can complete tasks as a team and get things done as soon as possible. Start and end your day according to your priorities so you do not have to regret it. Scorpio: Eat healthy so that you can perform to the optimum level. It is better not to show a domineering attitude when talking to higher authorities, or it can cause disruptions. Try to be passive during a meeting so that you do not engage in heated conversations. It is better to organise your day by working from home if possible. Make sure that you can spend some time with your family after a hectic day. Sagittarius: Now is a great time to organise your skills as a professional. You must be aware of your responsibilities and inform your seniors if you face any problems. It is better to approach the seniors during the first half of the day to discuss upcoming events. Rest assured, you can manage your paperwork and spend time with your colleagues late in the evening as well. A good friend or colleague will help you solve emergencies during a meeting. Capricorn: Your relationship with your colleagues will improve, and they will also ensure you complete your tasks on time. Express yourself best during any industry meeting to grab the attention of recruiters from outside. Students engaged in the scientific field will get lucrative career outsourcing links today. Time management is something that you should especially be careful about. Aquarius: Your professional life needs your immediate supervision. If you face any issues with your colleagues, it is better to inform your seniors immediately. Someone may try to harm your reputation as well, so be careful. It is the right time to socialise with people who can give you better work opportunities. Students interested in their family businesses may try to start doing something related to it. Pisces: Today is a great day for professionals who are looking to elevate their career journey. Read about your responsibilities right at the beginning to evolve your skills on the right track. Involve some of your colleagues in the task whenever you are feeling helpless. They will provide much help and support when needed. A striking deal by a reputed institute will help you improve your skills as a professional. ---------------------- Neeraj Dhankher (Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi) Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in Url: www.astrozindagi.in Contact: Noida: +919910094779 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! Scorpio (23rd October to 21st November) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Spread happiness around Today, the love life will be good and despite challenges, youll resolve all professional issues. Health will be good but expect minor issues. Scorpio Daily Horoscope Today, October 10, 2023. Today is good to plan your future. Make the decisions related to your relationship. Youll have a creative love life where youll share the emotions. In addition, youll have a successful professional life supported by good finance and health. Scorpio Love Horoscope Today Today is good to plan your future. Make the decisions related to your relationship. Some Scorpios will have the support of their parents and will decide on marriage. Stay away from arguments today and provide personal space to your lover. Value the person and opinions to ensure the relationship is robust. Some single Scorpios will find an interesting person and can consider proposing. As the stars of romance are stronger, the response will be positive. Scorpio Career Horoscope Today Handle your professional assignments with responsibility. You may be a victim of office politics which may impact productivity. Focus on the job and stay in the good book of the management. Sound positive while in team meetings as this would also boost the confidence of your team members. Entrepreneurs will sign new partnership deals and this will bring in more funds. Scorpio Money Horoscope Today You are prosperous today as wealth will come in from different sources. Today is auspicious to divide the property among children. Some Scorpios will also choose the day to buy a new house or vehicle. The second half of the day is good to donate to charity. Some students will need to pay the tuition fund at a foreign university. You will also win a legal dispute over an ancestral property which may bring in more fortune. Scorpio Health Horoscope Today Minor heart-related complications may develop in the first half of the day and consult a doctor whenever feeling uneasiness. Today is not good to travel to hilly areas and those who have asthma or chest-related issues must avoid it. You need to have a medical kit ready while traveling today. You also need to be careful about your throat and stomach as ailments may trouble you. Scorpio Sign Attributes Strength Mystic, Practical, Intelligent, Independent, Dedicated, Charming, Sensible Weakness: Suspicious, Complicated, Possessive, Arrogant, Extreme Symbol: Scorpion Element: Water Body Part: Sexual Organs Sign Ruler: Pluto, Mars Lucky Day: Tuesday Lucky Color: Purple, Black Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Stone: Red Coral Scorpio Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Good compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio Fair compatibility: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Less compatibility: Leo, Aquarius 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 New Delhi, Delhi, India Business Wire India Dr. Santosh G. Honavar, the Honorary Secretary of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS), Director of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery and Ocular Oncology at the Centre for Sight Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, former Associate Director of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, and the past Editor of the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, has claimed the top spot among researchers in Ophthalmology in India for the third consecutive year. The rankings for the year 2023 were announced by a panel of experts from Stanford University and Elsevier, featuring the top 2% of researchers globally, based on the impact of their work in 2022. Dr. Honavar is an internationally renowned ophthalmologist with expertise in eye cancers, and his illustrious career has earned him accolades such as the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award from the Government of India and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is the sole ophthalmologist from the Indian subcontinent to receive the Honorary Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the UK. Dr. Santosh G. Honavar also holds the second position in the Stanford List based on his lifelong contributions to the field. Heading the list of researchers in ophthalmology in India for career-long impact is Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, the Founder-Chairman of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. Dr. Rao, a highly esteemed ophthalmologist in India, has been honoured with the Padma Shri for his outstanding achievements. Additionally, he has served as the former Secretary-General and Chair of the Board of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, playing a pivotal role in the global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness. Dr. Rao has also been inducted into the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Harbansh Lal, the President of AIOS, extended his congratulations to the Indian researchers featured in the Stanford list. He highlighted AIOS's commitment to promoting Indian research through its Journals, scientific activities, and research as part of the Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to support and nurture the research potential of Indian ophthalmologists. He expressed optimism about witnessing more young Indian ophthalmologists making their mark on the Stanford list in the near future. Forty Indian Ophthalmologists figure in the list of top 2% of world researchers considering the impact of their work in 2022. There are 21 Indian Ophthalmologists who are part of the list of top 2% of researchers in the world in terms of career-long impact. Top 10 Indian researchers in ophthalmology included in the 2023 Stanford list are: 1. Santosh G. Honavar, 2. Philip Aloysius Thomas, 3. Murthy G. V. S., 4. Savitri Sharma, 5. Mohammad Javed Ali, 6. Swathi Kaliki, 7. Gullapalli N. Rao, 8. Rohit Shetty, 9. Virender S. Sangwan and 10. Namrata Sharma. Top 10 in the Stanford 2023 list for career-long impact are: 1. Gullapalli N. Rao, 2. Santosh G. Honavar, 3. Philip Aloysius Thomas, 4. Virender S. Sangwan, 5. Balasubramanian D., 6. Savitri Sharma, 7. Muthiah Srinivasan, 8. Amod Gupta, 9. G. V. S. Murthy and 10. Prashant Garg. Challenges such as the rising disparities in skills, employment, and incomes of the youth are persistent in India. The RightWalk Foundation aims to bridge these gaps by empowering the youth through education and skilling. Samina Bano, the founder of the RightWalk Foundation, is an inspiring and passionate advocate of social justice and equality, who believes in the fundamental right of equal access to opportunities for every individual. Early Life and Motivations Samina was born into an orthodox community where education wasnt a priority. In addition to that, her life took a challenging turn when she contracted polio at the tender age of one. In her family, it was customary for girls to be married off by the age of 16. Having heard the stories of her cousins' early marriages, she lived in fear of a similar fate. To make matters worse, she once overheard her uncle advising her parents to save a dowry for her, one that was 10x larger than what other girls received as a polio survivor, she was defected. Her fight against social discrimination began when she was eight years old.Being the daughter of an Airman, she was not allowed to use a playground that was designated for the children of higher-ranking members of the organization. In confusion and angst, she approached her school teacher andformed a small group of children to protest against the discrimination.This was the beginning of her lifelong battle against injustice. Moreover, the protest worked, and her triumph gave her faith that anyone could unlock the doors to justice. The Entrepreneurial Plunge With her multiple disadvantages, Samina was an exception to pursuing an undergraduate degree in computer engineering and to later graduating from one of the best management schools in the country, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore. After her graduation, she got a corporate job in the United States, and her career was pacing. However, it did not fulfill her inner calling. She recognized her privilege over millions of Indians facing discrimination based on socioeconomic class, religion, gender, or disability, and her thoughts were fixated on the unjust social framework that stops them from attending school and getting quality education. This calling to drive social transformation led her to take a plunge and quit her high-paying corporate career in the US and return to India to establish the RightWalk Foundation. She learned about the Right to Education Act (RTE), which requires every private school to reserve 25% of its places for underprivileged students. However, her preliminary research showed that its execution was far from ideal. With the support of the government, they developed ground-level implementation plans, oversaw state-wide public awareness campaigns, held numerous district capacity-building meetings with local government and private schools, and led policy revisions.Through overcoming these challenges, she forged RightWalk's reputation as a champion in policy implementation and transformed the lives of countless disadvantaged children. RightWalk Today RightWalks mission is to ensure equal access to opportunities for children and youth from vulnerable households whose income is less than INR 8,350/month in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, they have two work verticals: RTE (strengthening implementation of the Right to Education Act) and Apprenticeship (strengthening implementation of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to accelerate livelihoods). In the last seven years, 470,000 rural and urban children from economically weaker backgrounds got admitted into 19,000 schools under RTE with RightWalks support. The presence of girls in private schools increased from 35% to 48%. This was made possible by unlocking 500+ crore of public money. The Apprenticeship Scheme aims to tackle the employability and skilling problem in India. RightWalk has increased the number of signed apprenticeship contracts to 62,000+ within 2 years. The organisation established a Policy Management Unit (PMU) in the Department of Vocational Education & Skill Development of UP and coordinated the system of stakeholders (ITI students, industry representatives, government officials) through it. RightWalk also has 75 District Coordinators present in each district of UP so that access to opportunities can also reach the small cities and villages. Way Forward By 2030, the RightWalk team aims to impact 10 million impoverished households across 5 Indian states through 5 public policies, releasing $10 billion in public funding for public policies. Education, livelihoods, and health are their three main areas of focus. They have also begun to expand geographically this year with the launch of the RTE intervention in Gujarat and the Apprenticeship intervention in Maharashtra. The Apprenticeship Scheme aims to tackle the employability and skilling problem in the country. On being asked about The/Nudge Institute and Metas support, Samina addedOver time, The/Nudge has demonstrated a capacity for risk-taking that has nurtured organisations like ours. Pragati by Meta and The/Nudge has been a vital anchor in our entrepreneurial journey, providing financial resources, capacity building, and invaluable guidance to strengthen our organisation from within. Their advice on product refinement, strategic direction, potential partnerships, and connections has proven immensely valuable. We are grateful for this partnership. Going forward, Rightwalk Foundation aims to focus on introducing scale-informed systems, processes, and functions. Secondly, they aim to establish more robust strategic alliances with governmental and non-governmental entities. Thirdly, they aim to automate internal coordination and processes to make the organization scale ready, and expand the current programme in multiple states such as Maharashtra and Kerala. Disclaimer: This article is a promotional feature and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! What is the most trusted hair transplant in Turkey? Since hair transplant clinics often fluctuate in reputation and quality over time, I am unable to offer you with exact information regarding the "most trusted" hair transplant clinic in Turkey. Nonetheless, Turkey has established a reputation for providing affordable, top-notch hair transplant surgeries, and the nation is home to numerous respectable facilities. When thinking about getting a hair transplant in Turkey or anywhere else, it's important to do your homework and take the following things into account: Clinic Reputation: Seek out clinics that have a solid track record of performing hair transplants successfully. It can be beneficial to read internet evaluations, witness testimonies, and recommendations from friends or relatives who have had the surgery. Certifications and Accreditation: Verify that the clinic complies with international safety and quality standards and is recognized by pertinent medical associations. Experience and expertise: The surgical team's and the medical staff's backgrounds and experiences are crucial. Examine their qualifications and inquire about their hair transplant operation experience. Before and After Pictures: Request to view before and after pictures of past clients. This may help you get an idea of the clinic's operations and the kinds of outcomes you might anticipate. Methods Employed: Learn about the hair transplantation methods the clinic employs, such as Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) or Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), and talk to a specialist about which method would be best for you. Patient testimonies and Reviews: Go through past patients' experiences and feelings towards the clinic by reading their reviews and testimonies. Consultation: Make an appointment for a consultation with the clinic to go over your unique requirements, worries, and expectations. A comprehensive assessment and treatment plan has to be offered by a respectable clinic. Although a concern, it shouldn't be the only one taken into consideration. Clinics with drastically reduced costs should be avoided since this may be a symptom of subpar care or inexperienced personnel Communication: Verify that the clinic provides clear answers to all of your inquiries about the surgery, the recovery period, and any possible hazards. Location and Facilities: Take into account the clinic's location as well as the amenities it provides. Your process should make you feel safe and at ease. Legal and Ethical Considerations: Verify that the clinic complies with ethical standards and the legal framework of Turkey's medical laws. My expertise is not current, therefore in order to make an informed decision based on the current situation of the hair transplant industry in Turkey, I advise doing a lot of research, reading recent reviews, and speaking with several clinics. In addition, think about speaking with a healthcare provider to go over your particular requirements and choices. Who is the most famous hair transplant clinic in Turkey? Sapphire Hair Clinic has only provided hair treatments and hair transplant operations since 1996. One of the top hospitals in the world, as well as the most prominent in Turkey, is where hair transplant procedures are carried out. Top 10 Best Hair Transplant Clinics in Turkey 1. Sapphire Hair Clinic Our goal at Sapphire Hair Clinic is to give our patients the best service possible. Our skilled team can exceed your expectations and complete any plastic surgery, enhance your smile, or encourage your natural hair growth without any problems. We employ state-of-the-art techniques and cutting-edge technology to deliver excellent care and guarantee our patients' utmost comfort and contentment. The sincere testimonials from our patients attest to the unmatched skill and commitment of our specialists to providing flawless outcomes. Get in touch with us for a free consultation if you have any further questions about our clinic or if you are interested in our services. Instagram : sapphirehairclinic Whatsapp : +90 552 396 31 32 2. Hermest Clinic The best hair transplant in Turkey is offered by Istanbul's Hermest Hair Clinic. The greatest technologies and techniques, together with the world's best pros, are all at Hermest Hair Clinic. In addition to practicing a range of aesthetic medical specializations, it is especially well-known for its hair restoration and transplantation services. One of the best things about The Hermest Hair Clinic is its exclusive FUE method, which isn't found anywhere else in the world. Because all of the medical personnel is present throughout every surgery, the hospital is well known for its high standards of safety. Every process is therefore meticulously completed. 3. Buk Clinic Family of Buk Clinic, we have been available to assist you in the Fulya/Istanbul area so that we can duplicate our success both domestically and beyond. At Buk Clinic, we look forward to welcoming you as one of our valued guests and providing you with a hygienic, sterile, and state-of-the-art service, all provided by our knowledgeable and skilled personnel. Our main objective as Buk Clinic, which develops dynamically based on the issue of what we can do better for you, is to give you the finest service possible. The most reputable estheticians in the world work at Buk Clinic, where their clientele includes both domestic and foreign clients. 4. ASMED Dr. Koray Erdogan When it comes to Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE), the best option is Asmed Clinic. FUE involves removing individual hair follicles from the donor location. It is then implanted in the recipient region. The results of Dr. Erdogan's and his colleagues' FUE procedures are well known for being aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking. In order to ascertain whether each patient is a suitable candidate for the procedure and to customize treatment plans accordingly, the clinic also provides comprehensive pre-operative consultations. For their services to track patient development and provide the greatest results, post-operative care and follow-up are crucial. 5. Cosmedica Dr. Levent Acar One of Turkey's most successful physicians, Dr. Levent Acar, has established a stellar reputation for the Cosmedica Clinic. With over 20,000 hair transplants and other treatments completed, the doctor has a solid track record of happy clients. With the availability of the most recent DHI and FUE hair transplant techniques, Cosmedica Clinic does not hold back while providing a variety of hair transplant treatments. 6. Dr. Serkan Aygn Clinic Compared to many other clinics, this one is renowned for having a growth rate of 98% and great hair retention. Dr. Serkan Aygin, the clinic's founder and chief physician, was the first medical expert in Turkey to use the newest technology for FUE and DHI procedures. With years of experience under his belt, he is an expert in both hair transplant procedures. The chief doctor's competent team helps him even more to uphold high standards, and the clinic's top-notch equipment contributes to the rest of its reputation. 7. Smile Hair Clinic Since it was only founded in 2018, Smile Hair Clinic is not the oldest in Turkey, but the professionals that work here have years of expertise. That's why a number of reliable sites, including CNN, Forbes, and others, suggest it. Smile Clinic has made significant progress in the field of hair transplants since its founding in 2018. The clinic's reputation as a dependable choice in the Turkish market and its ability to provide fierce competition for rivals can be attributed to the high standards they uphold. 8. HLC Clinic HLC brand was founded by Ozgur OZTAN, M.D. and his team in Ankara Cankaya in 2003 in the areas of health, aesthetics, hair transplantation and beauty, expanded its area of service within a few years and continued to serve as a polyclinic. In 2014, it incorporated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center, adding all aesthetic and plastic surgery operations into the services provided by the company. 9. Dr. Muttalip Keser Clinic Heading this Ankara-based facility is none other than Dr. Muttalip Keser, a well-known figure in the hair transplant industry. The FUE technique is mostly used by the clinic for its treatments. FUE hair transplant operations might cost anywhere between $4,000 and $5,500 in this area. 10. Clinicana Based in Istanbul, Clinicana provides hair transplant services with a team of skilled specialists that perform their surgeries utilizing FUE and DHI techniques. Hair transplants at Clinicana, both FUE and DHI, typically cost between $1,500 and $3,000. Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! Gautam Adani-led Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, which acquired Israel's Haifa port earlier this year, said on Monday that their business remains safe amidst the recent Hamas attack and ensuing conflict. Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu during a handing over ceremony of Haifa Port to Adani, Israel.(PTI) In a statement, the Indian private port operator said, "We are closely monitoring the action on the ground which is concentrated in South Israel, whereas Haifa port is situated in the North." Israel-Hamas War LIVE Updates The shares of Adani Ports And Economic Zone dropped up to 4.7 per cent on Monday, as investors expressed concerns about the potential escalation of the Israel conflict. On the Nifty 50 index, the stocks were trading at 792, down by 4.6 per cent at 3pm. The company added that it is ensuring the safety of its employees, confirming that all staff members are secure. "We remain fully alert and prepared with a business continuity plan that will enable us to respond effectively to any eventuality," the statement read. The contribution of Haifa port to Adani Ports' overall cargo volume is relatively modest, accounting for only 3 per cent, according to the company's statement. Haifa port, a vital trade and tourism centre on the Mediterranean, handles approximately 99 per cent of Israel's maritime goods. The recent attack by the terrorist group Hamas in Israeli towns marked the deadliest incursion in decades, potentially fueling the longstanding conflict. The Saturday assault has heightened investor apprehensions regarding geopolitical risks and thus Israel-related stocks under pressure. This incident prompted a significant surge in oil prices, exceeding 5 per cent, and led to a decline in US equity futures during Asian trading. The looming possibility of the conflict spreading throughout the Middle East region continues to pose a substantial risk. Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani had previously expressed intentions to make further investments in Israel, aiming to "transform the entire port landscape." Israel has hailed the deal as a significant display of trust by entrusting its strategic assets to Indian companies. ALSO READ: Adani Group paid in full for Haifa port, eyes other projects, says Israeli envoy 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 Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj on Sunday said that the Pro-Kannada organization will block the National Highway near Hoskote toll in Bengaluru over the Cauvery water issue. Pro-Kannada activist Vatal Nagraj. Also Read - The Cauvery water dispute explained According to Nagaraj, the organization will block the highway today (October 10). Earlier, on Thursday, Mandya police detained members of pro-Kannada organizations protesting over the Cauvery Water Issue. The governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been locked in a protracted tussle over the sharing of Cauvery waters. The river is seen as a major source of sustenance for the people in the two states. The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee had ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 till October 15, 2023. Karnataka had filed a review petition against the order both in the Supreme Court and in CWMA (Cauvery Water Management Authority). Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier expressed his disappointment on the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) which has directed Karnataka to ensure the release of 3000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 up to October 15, 2023. "Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) ordered to release of 3,000 cusecs of water, I have already spoken to our advocates. They have suggested us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We will challenge it in the Supreme Court. We don't have water to release to Tamil Nadu. We are challenging the orders of the CWRC," CM Siddaramaiah had said. Meanwhile, the Cauvery water-sharing issue has led to political turmoil in Karnataka with former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai accusing the state government of "lacking" the "will" to protect farmer's interests. It is worth mentioning that the Karnataka government had cited a severe drought in parts of its state to refuse the supply of water to Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government has accused its neighbour of lying to the nation about the supply of water. 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 JD(S) on Monday said it will conduct a three-day event in Kittur Karnataka region from October 11, where the recently formed core committee will hold meetings with cadres to strengthen the party base ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. JD(S) to hold meetings with party cadres in Kittur Karnataka region Also Read - JDS leaders have unanimously approved decision on alliance with BJP: HD Kumaraswamy Addressing reporters here, JD(S) leader Y S V Datta said after the party forged an alliance with the BJP for the Parliamentary elections, a 21-member committee was constituted under the leadership of Chamundeshwari MLA G T Deve Gowda. The core committee travelled to Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari and Vijayanagar in Kalyana Karnataka (erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka region) to boost the morale of our workers, he said. "From Wednesday we will be covering Kittur Karnataka (erstwhile Bombay-Karnataka) region. We will organise an event at Vijayapura district on October 11," the former JD(S) legislator said. On October 12, the core committee will hold a meeting with the party workers and leaders in Hubballi. Apart from Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, leaders and workers from Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag and Uttara Kannada will participate, Datta said. He added that on October 13, the party will organise a meeting at the border district headquarter town of Belagavi, where leaders and workers from Belagavi and Chikkodi will gather. JD(S) MLA Devegowda said during his visit to various parts of the state he noticed that the farmers are in distress due to drought and many have allegedly taken extreme steps. He charged that the agrarian crisis has increased manifold ever since Congress came to power in Karnataka. 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! Karnataka Chief minister Siddaramaiah said that he is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs for the safety of Kannadigas who are stuck in war hit Israel. He also put out the helpline numbers for those who are in Israel amid attacks. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. Also Read - Attibele cracker shop fire mishap case will be handed over to CID, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah In social media platform X, Siddaramaiah wrote, "In view of the current situation in Israel, we are closely working with @MEAIndia towards ensuring safety of our citizens. In cases of any citizens of India hailing from Karnataka in Israel requiring assistance, reach out to Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre Helpline numbers: 08022340676, 08022253707. Also @MEAIndia Helpline number: 97235226748," he added. The chief minister also highlighted that the current situation in Israel is very concerning. "We advocate peace and harmony everywhere for the benefit of humanity," he added. The Ministry of External Affairs has already alerted Indians in Israel amid the latter's "war" with Hamas that intruded into the Israeli territory and mounted an attack, saying "avoid unnecessary movement and stay close to safety shelters". Israeli forces have been fighting Palestinian intruders around the Gaza Strip. Army spokesman Richard Hecht said the Palestinian operatives barged into Israel through paragliders, sea and the ground. Before that, hundreds of rockets were fired into Israel by Hamas operatives. In his first public address, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said the country was at war and they will win it. The Israeli defence minister, meanwhile, warned Hamas that orchestrated the attack that it made a "grave mistake" by declaring war on Israel. Several Israeli's were reported dead or were taken captive by Hamas. 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 quaint village of Dharamkot, also known as the Tel Aviv of Himachal, was sunk in celebrations of Jewish festivals like Rosh-Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot till a while ago. Police said that they were on alert and had reviewed security around Dharamkot. (HT File) It has suddenly turned desolate with most of Israeli tourists having left in the wake of Palestinian group Hamas mega offensive against their country. They say that they want to return to Israel and serve their nation in this time of crisis. An eerie silence hangs over the village overlooking Dharamshala as the few left behind are also readying to return. The Chabad House, the synagogue located at the southern edge of the village, is devoid of its usual hustle and bustle. Most of Israel natives have already returned to New Delhi from where they will head home. Those who are left behind to want to go out at earliest, said Hannah, who wished not to be identified by her full name. She said that the situation is murkier than what the news says and she is worried about her family that lives in a south Israel city. We are getting updates from near and dear ones. The videos coming in are appalling, she added. There are not many people left behind. During Rosh-Hashanah (Jewish new year), more than 300 Israelis had gathered at Dharamkot but now there are very few. Even they are yearning to fly back, said Kangra additional superintendent of police Hitesh Lakhanpal. He added that 15-20 tourists remain in the region. Another Israeli national said they had not anticipated it coming and since Israel is at war, we want to be there for our country. Dharamkot, located about 13 km from Dharamshala and just three km from McLeodganj, headquarters of Tibetan government-in-exile has had turned into a Jewish settlement over the years. Dotted by guest houses, restaurants, yoga centres and makeshift eating joints amid maize fields, it draws a steady stream of the Israelis in Spring and Autumn. Writings and signboards in Hebrew can be found on the walls. Most of the local populace that belongs to the tribal Gaddi community, speak fluent Hebrew. Ashok Pathania, a guest house owner, said that Dharamkot was full of Israeli visitors last month. However, most of them quietly left after the Hamas attack, he said, adding that this also affects the local people as the villages economy is dependent on Israeli tourists. Worst, it happened when they come to the village in large numbers, during their important Jewish festivals, he added. In another part of the state, very few Israeli tourists visited Kasol, another popular destination located in Parvati valley of Kullu district. Now, that a war has broken, those who had stayed back have also left, says Rajesh Both, a travel agent, adding that it would impact the local hospitality industry. Police said that they were on alert and had reviewed security around Dharamkot. Hamas launched a surprise land, air and sea attack on Israel last Saturday, coinciding with Simchat Torah, one of Judaisms holiest days. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" "Exciting news! Hindustan Times is now on WhatsApp ChannelsSubscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here! SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Just hours after it was flagged by the Singapore High Commissioner to India, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Sunday fixed an incorrect spelling of the country on a signage board. The incorrect spelling of Singapore in the signage near the Singapore High Commission in Chanakyapuri. (X (Formerly Twitter)) HC Wong, the Singapore High Commissioner to India, took to social media website X (formerly Twitter) and pointed out an error in the signage near the Singapore High Commission in Chanakyapuri. In the post, where Wong shares two photographs, the signage incorrectly spells the name of the country as Singapur instead of Singapore It is always good to spell check first, Wong posted at around 8.30am on Sunday on the official X handle of the Singapore High Commission The error was corrected by Sunday afternoon. (X (Formerly Twitter)) One of the pictures shows a signage board which reads Singapur High Commission while the other shows Wong sitting in the sun wearing a T-shirt which spells Singapore. NDMC seemingly took cognisance of the issue around 2pm and fixed the spelling error. Necessary corrections have been made, the civic agency responded to the Singapore High Commissions original post. A while after the correction was made, the Singapore High Commissioner thanked NDMC for the quick fix. Thank you for the quick fix... he posted on the High Commissions official X account. However, the error caught the eye of social media users who were critical of the mistake. Sign maker used the Hindi pronunciation and Roman alphabet, posted an individual. Another added, It is what happens when people translate from Hindi words to English...Common mistakes in all regional languages. Harshdeep Rapal, another user, said that the Punjabi translations of many of the signages in Delhi are also wrong and multiple complaints have led to no change in the situation. 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 BJP issues first list of 41 candidates including 7 MPs for Rajasthan Assembly polls. Rajasthan elections (PTI) The list of candidates was officially finalised during a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) on October 1, chaired by BJP President JP Nadda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the meeting. The BJP has nominated Rajyavardhan Rathore, representing Jhotwara, and Diya Kumari, a Member of Parliament from Vidhyadhar Nagar. On being fielded by the BJP as a candidate in the upcoming Rajasthan election, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said, "I am thankful that the BJP workers and PM Modi believed that I will be able to replicate the kind of work that I did as an MP, in Vidhan Sabha. A major change is required in Rajasthan..." Additionally, Baba Balaknath will contest from Tijara, and Kirodi Lal Meena from Sawai Madhopur. Full list here 1. Jaideep Bihani - Ganganagar 2. Sanjeev Beniwal - Bhadra 3. Tarachand Saraswat - Dungargarh 4. Santosh Meghwal- Sujangarh (SC) 5. Bablu Chaudhary - Jhunjhunu Jhunjhunu 6. Narendra Kumar, MP - Mandawa 7. Vikram Singh Jakhal - Nawalgarh 8. Shubhkaran Choudhary - Udaipurwati 9. Shravan Choudhary - Fatehpur 10. Subhash Mahria- Lachhmangarh 11. Gajanand Kumawat - Danta Ramgarh 12. Hansraj Patel Gurjar - Kotputli 13. Prem Chand Bairwa - Dudu (SC) 14. Rajyavardhan Rathod, MP - Jhotwara 15. Diya Kumari, MP - Vidhyadhar Nagar 16. Chandramohan Meena - Bassi (ST) 17. Baba Balaknath, MP - Tijara 18. Devi Singh Shekhawat - Bansur 19. Jairam Jatav - Alwar Rural (SC) 20. Jawahar Singh Bedam - Nagar 21. Bahadur Singh Koli - Weir (SC) 22. Rajkumari Jatav- Hindaun (SC) 23. Hansraj Meena- Sapotra (ST) 24. Bhagchand Dakra - Bandikui 25. Rambilas Meena- Lalsot (ST) 26. Rajendra Meena - Bamanwas (ST) 27. Kirodi Lal Meena, MP - Sawai Madhopur 28. Vijay Bainsla - Deoli- Uniara 29. Bhagirath Choudhary, MP- Kishangarh 30. Shatrughan Gautam- Kekri 31. Arjunlal Garg - Bilara (SC) 32. Balaram Mundh - Baytoo 33. Devji Patel, MP- Sanchore 34. Nanalal Aahri- Kherwara (ST) 35. Bansilal Katara- Dungarpur (ST) 36. Shankar Decha- Sagwara (ST) 37. Sushil Katara - Chorasi (ST) 38. Krishna Katara - Bagidora (ST) 39. Bhimabhai Damor - Kushalgarh (ST) 40. Udayalal Bhadana - Mandal 41. Ladulal Pitalia- Sahara Rajasthan will go to the assembly polls in a single-phase voting on November 23 and the counting of votes will be on December 3, the Election Commission said 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 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 The Election Commission on Monday announced polling dates for five state assemblies including Rajasthan, with voting scheduled for the latter on November 23. The counting of votes will take place on December 3. (Representative file image) The incumbent Congress aims to win the state and break the three-decade old trend of power being shared between Congress and BJP alternately. Riding on Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be hoping to defeat the chief minister Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state. As many as 11 assembly elections have taken place in Rajasthan in the last five decades of which the incumbent government managed to win successive terms only twice in 1985 and 1993, both instances, it was Congress. Also Read: Four pointers explaining the upcoming assembly elections Attempts to topple the government were made in July 2020 followed by mass resignation of Congress MLAs in September 2022 when the party aimed to replace Ashok Gehlot urging him to contest polls for national party president post. BJP, on the other hand, has seen a lot of factionalism with the party having three state presidents in the last five years and the lack of consensus over the chief ministerial face. Former chief minister CM Vasundhara Raje is pitted against senior leaders namely Union Jal Shakti minister Gajender Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the leadership, even as the party has announced that it will contest unitedly under the leadership of PM Modi. The issue of the red diary claims made by former minister in Gehlot government, Rajendra Gudha, is set to dominate the political discourse in the state. Gudha was sacked from his position in July and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on September 10. Before joining the Congress in 2019, he was with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Gudha claimed that the red dairy contained the details of alleged irregular financial transactions of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. While the BJP continues to attack the state government on this issue equating it with corruption, PM Modi has raised the same in at least three election rallies in Rajasthan. PM Modi has visited Rajasthan nine times in the last four months where he addressed rallies and cornered the government over poor law and order. Congress has however, downplayed the entire red diary episode. Riding high on his governments social security schemes like providing subsidised gas cylinders at 500, Chiranjeevi Health Insurance of 25 lakh, among others, Gehlot is confident of winning another term. In 2018, the Congress had won 100 seats and the BJP got 73. Gehlot formed the government with the support of BSP and independent MLAs. In the past five years, the Congress has won five of the seven assembly bypolls, and one each was won by Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and BJP. In 2013, when Gehlot was incumbent CM, the party won its lowest tally of 21 seats while the BJP got 163. Both Congress and BJP will be wary of new parties in the political battlefield. The entry of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Rajasthan and emergence of Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) in the tribal belt of southern Rajasthan could pose a challenge to both Congress and BJP in the region. Law and order situation, crime against women and Dalits, frequent paper leaks, power crisis, communal incidents, corruption, Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, are some of the few issues that is set to dominate the election campaign. Senior Congress leader and chairman of Social Welfare Board Archana Sharma said the government in Rajasthan has worked for the benefit of people. The schemes and policies, be it for gig workers, punishment for those involved in paper leak cases, Chirnajeevi health scheme, unemployment allowance, among others, have proven to be a milestone and no other government could think of what CM Ashok Gehlot has done. This election for us is about the performance and work done, whereas for BJP it has always been to divide and polarise, she said. BJP MLA Vasudev Devnani hit out saying the state governments performance in the last five years has been nil. Their performance has been zero in the last five years. They failed to fulfil promises made and cheated youth and farmers. The atrocities against women in the state isnt hidden, he said. Political experts however feel the upcoming state polls remain important for both the Congress and BJP going forward. Congress is trying to break the trend of three decades, the BJP is hoping to continue it. The big question is whether the trend will change or not? The Congress is counting on the work done, especially related to social sector, while the BJP continues to bank on PM Modi face, political analyst Manish Godha said. Five state assemblies of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will go to polls on different days beginning November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3. 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 Sachin Saini Sachin Saini is Special Correspondent for Rajasthan. He covers politics, tourism, forest, home, panchayati raj and rural development, and development journalism. ...view detail Three bike-borne miscreants shot an auto driver when he resisted attempts to loot his mobile and cash. A case under the relevant IPC sections has been registered and a police team has been formed to nab the accused, the police said. The man took the bullet in his waist. For representation only (HT File Photo) After being shot, the bleeding driver drove the auto rickshaw to the local police station and narrated his ordeal to the personnel, who took him to Lok Bandhu Hospital for treatment, who was later admitted to KGMU Trauma Centre. The incident happened on late on Sunday night at a new railway overbridge built-in Aurangabad near Kila intersection under Ashiana police station area when auto driver, Anil Kumar Pandey, was returning home after work, said deputy commissioner of police (east), Hirdesh Kumar, who also reached the spot after being informed by the local police. He is out of danger now, the DCP said. A case has been registered on the complaint given by the victims brother-in-law, Shashikant Mishra. The police have prepared a route map and are searching for the miscreants on the basis of CCTV camera footage, the DCP said. Pandey, originally from Pratapgarh district, lives in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Kalp City, Bijnor Road and earns his living by driving his own auto rickshaw. Around 12:30 AM, I was returning home, and as soon as I climbed the railway bridge in Aurangabad in front of the Kila intersection, three bike-riding miscreants waylaid him, stopped the auto-rickshaw at gunpoint and started looting and later shot and fled the spot, the victim told 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 A demand for a caste census to ensure distribution of government jobs in proportion to the population of deprived sections of society has come into focus yet again as the Congress launched the Dalit Gaurav Samvad (dialogue) programme to connect with the downtrodden classes on death anniversary of the BSP founder, Kanshi Ram, here on Monday. UPCC president Ajay Rai (HT File Photo) The Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) proposes to connect with 1 lakh Dalit influencers and get 2 lakh Dalit Adhikar Maang Patras (demand list) filled at the Dalit Gaurav Samvad programmes to be organised across the state beginning on the death anniversary of the BSP ideologue and to continue till November 26, the Constitution Day. UPCC president Ajay Rai, who launched the programme at the UPCC headquarters here, got the first Dalit Adhikar Maang Patra filled. A special programme was organised at Laulahi village near Chinhat on the borders of Lucknow and Barabanki to mark the occasion. RB Gautam, an associate of Kanshi Ram, listed five demands for the Mang Patra that included the demand for a caste census. Rai filled up the form on behalf of Gautam and some others. Other demands that Gautam listed for the Dalit Adhikar Mang Patra included free education, leasing of land to the poor, free houses and social security for the poor. Yes, the demands for a caste census for distribution of government jobs in proportion with the population and leasing of the land to the poor came up prominently as the party got the forms filled at the launch of Dalit Gaurav Samvad programme, said Anil Yadav, organisation secretary, UPCC. Rai led partymen in offering floral tributes to Kanshi Ram at a programme organised at the UPCC headquarters. A large picture of BR Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution of India, formed the perfect backdrop, with the party putting up pictures of various Dalit icons in the media hall at the UPCC headquarters here. This is the Congresss first major attempt to make deep inroads into the BSPs support base among the downtrodden classes that were once considered to be the vote banks of the grand old party. The Congress has been out of power in the state since 1989 and the party proposes to make more such attempts to win back its traditional vote banks ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A picture of Kanshi Ram was put up close to the dais while a hoarding focusing on the death anniversary of Kanshi Ram came up in the area around the UPCC headquarters. Following instructions of UPCC, the partys units across the state offered floral tributes to Kanshi Ram at special programmes organised on Monday, said Tanuj Punia, the Congress leader from Barabanki. As part of Dalit Gaurav Samvad programme the Congress proposes to hold 4,000 night Chaupals in Dalit bastis. The party has constituted a control room and social media teams to ensure that the Congresss connection with the deprived classes was successful. 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 Umesh Raghuvanshi Umesh Raghuvanshi is a journalist with over three decade experience. He covers politics, finance, environment and social issues. He has covered all assembly and parliament elections in Uttar Pradesh since 1984. ...view detail AGRA Four Aligarh Muslim University students were booked on Monday for participating in a protest march on the university campus on Sunday night to express solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, West Asia. Aligarh police registered a case at Civil Lines police station against the four students mentioned in the FIR. Representative pic (HT Photo) Approximately 100 students gathered at Duck Point on the Aligarh Muslim University campus for the march. They proceeded to march to the Bab-e-Syed gate of AMU, chanting slogans in support of Palestinians and condemning Israel for its dominance and atrocities against civilians. Professor Mohd Wasim Ali, the proctor of Aligarh Muslim University, acknowledged the protest march but emphasized that it took place without the required permission for such activities on the university campus. No prior permission was sought or granted to the students. We became aware of a gathering of 100 students at Duck Point. A team from the Proctorial department was dispatched to control the students, but by then, they had already moved on, stated Professor Mohd Wasim Ali on Monday. We are still assessing how many of them were AMU students and how many were outsiders who joined them. The university administration is addressing this issue, and related aspects are under discussion, Prof Ali added, confirming that all four students named in the police case were AMU students. Meanwhile, on Monday, the Aligarh police took action after receiving a report from the police outpost in-charge and assigned a circle officer to investigate the matter. Subsequently, a case was registered against the four AMU students. Police at Civil Lines police station in Aligarh received information about a protest march conducted by students on the Aligarh Muslim University campus. These students did not have permission to organise such a protest march, which focused on an international issue and involved the use of provocative and objectionable slogans, explained Mrigank Shekhar Pathak, the Superintendent of Police for Aligarh city. As a result, an investigation was initiated by a police officer at the circle officer level, and a case was registered based on the report submitted by the police outpost in-charge and sub-inspector Azhar Hasan at Civil Lines police station in Aligarh, Pathak continued. The case has been filed under sections 153A (promoting enmity among different groups), 188 (disobedience to orders promulgated by a public servant), and Section 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code, according to SP City Aligarh, Mrigank Shekhar Pathak. Satish Gautam, a two-time Member of Parliament for BJP in Aligarh, strongly criticized the protest march and accused AMU students of disregarding the law and public order. It appears that students of Aligarh Muslim University have a tendency to engage in such activities that foster negativity in the nation. While our Prime Minister Narendra Modis anti-terrorism policy receives worldwide applause, it seems that AMU is still stuck in the times when its students used to become terrorists and were dealt with by the armed forces, Gautam said. He added, Israel is defending its sovereignty, and I stand in support of it, emphasising his support for the country of Israel. 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! Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari on Sunday unveiled the new ensign of the air force to better reflect its values during the spectacular main celebrations of the 91st anniversary of the IAF at Air Force Station-Bamrauli. Its after 72 years that the IAF has got a new ensign. 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 on Sunday. (Anil Kumar Maurya/HT) Fixed on a movable mini stage, the ensign was first brought in front of the Air Chief by four air warriors. As the Air Chief unveiled the new ensign, two drones lifted a larger version of the ensign from behind the curtain wall, which had been put as the background of the parade. The new ensign was then also hoisted at the flag post at the tarmac of the airbase where the parade was held. Also read: Woman officer to lead IAF Day parade for the first time 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 officers of IAF carried the new ensign at the parade. A Mi-17v5 helicopter also flew low, trooping the new Air Force ensign. The new lAF ensign has witnessed inclusion of the Air Force Crest in the top right corner towards the fly side. 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 Bhartiya Vayu Sena. The motto of the IAF-- Nabhah Sprsam Deeptam -- 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. The now old Air Force ensign was blue, containing the National Flag in the first quadrant and a roundel consisting of the colours of the national flag i.e. saffron, white and green, at 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. Last year, a new combat uniform for the Indian Air Force was unveiled on the occasion of Indian Air Force Day-2022. 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 LUCKNOW Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav, invoking the names of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram and SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav in the same breath on Monday, said that these two stalwart leaders successfully combined Lohiaism and Ambedkarism, bringing about a change in power in Uttar Pradesh through their experiment. Akhilesh Yadav (HT Photo) The statement was made as the SP observed the 17th death anniversary of Kanshi Ram. The party will observe Mulayams first death anniversary on Tuesday. Akhileshs reference was to the 1993 experiment of the SP and the BSP coming together in a pre-poll alliance and keeping the BJP out of power as Mulayam Singh Yadav became the chief minister for the second time. Speaking at a ceremony held in Saifai, Etawah, Akhilesh Yadav said, Kanshi Ram played a pivotal role in instilling self-respect and political awareness among Dalits, positioning the Bahujan Samaj prominently in the political landscape. Similar tributes were paid to Kanshi Ram at ceremonies conducted across all SP offices throughout the state. In Lucknow, the SPs state headquarters hosted a ceremony, attended by state president Naresh Uttam Patel, national secretary Rajendra Chaudhary, Samajwadi Ambedkar Vahini chief Mithai Lal Bharati, Samajwadi Scheduled Castes wing chief Rahul Bharati, along with numerous other leaders and party members, all paying their respects to Kanshi Ram. The speakers at these events highlighted the collaborative efforts of Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav in striving for social justice, fostering unity among the OBCs and Dalits. They also pledged to secure victory for the PDA (pichada, Dalits, alpsankhyak -- backwards, Dalits, and minorities) in the upcoming 2024 elections, aiming to displace the BJP from power. Under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, the SP initiated the tradition of commemorating the birth and death anniversaries of prominent Dalit figures, including the architect of the Constitution, Dr. BR Ambedkar, and Kanshi Ram, beginning with the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Although the alliance with the longstanding rival, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), faltered shortly after the election results, the SP utilised the partnership to launch and solidify its outreach to the Dalit community. 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! PATNA: There is no need to review Bihars caste data collected by the state government-mandated survey, a top government official said on Monday, rejecting multiple efforts to question the integrity of the data collected by surveyors during the caste survey. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar listening to the problems of people during 'Janata Ka Darbar' programme at CM Secretariat in Patna on Monday (HT Photo/Santosh Kumar) The need for any review of the caste survey data has not been felt by the government. The first ever survey of this kind and magnitude has been scientifically done, Bihar chief secretary Amir Subhani told Hindustan Times on Monday. Subhanis statement comes against the backdrop of attempts by some political leaders to question the data released by the state government; some even alleged a deliberate attempt to manipulate the data to suit the Nitish Kumar governments politics. On Sunday Rashtriya Janata Dal MLC Ram Bali Singh alleged the caste survey data had been manipulated to suit political interests. There seems to be a political conspiracy in it, Singh said, challenging the government to publish ward-wise data. This will expose the manipulation done sitting in the office to increase the figures of certain caste groups, he said, echoing a charge also levelled by JD-U MP from Sitamarhi, Sunil Kumar Pintu. Pintu has insisted that the population of the Teli-Sahu castes should be significantly higher than 2.81%, shown in the survey data. According to the first tranche of data from the caste survey, extremely backward communities constituted 36.01% of the population, and backward classes made up another 27.12%. Together, the other backward classes (OBC) the umbrella group that consists of backward classes and extremely backward classes (EBCs) in the state were 63.13% of the population. The data has the potential to radically change heartland politics and propel caste into the core of the electoral discourse in the 2024 polls. To be sure, the data on other socioeconomic parameters collected 17 criteria ranging from employment, education and marital status to land holding and property ownership were part of the surveys questionnaire has not been released yet. This data could be crucial in understanding how castes are benefitting from reservations, and how intra-caste bloc divisions are evolving. A senior official of the general administration department (GAD), who did not want to be named, said that the government had compiled the data from across the state and the second stage findings would be released by the government at an appropriate time. 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 Arun Kumar Arun Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He has spent two-and-half decades covering Bihar, including politics, educational and social issues. ...view detail Following reports of discrepancies in the records submitted by electric meter reading agencies, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) has warned them of criminal action for fraudulent practice. The power utility authorities chaired a meeting with 73 meter reading agencies in Pune circle at Rasta Peth on October 6 (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) The power utility authorities chaired a meeting with 73 meter reading agencies in Pune circle at Rasta Peth on October 6. Rajendra Pawar, chief engineer, MSEDCL Pune Circle, who headed the meeting, said that the agencies take photo readings of meters through a mobile app and online submission. He underlined the responsibility of accurate meter reading. The officials have been examining two per cent meter readings every month to check discrepancies. There are around 3.315 million low-tension consumers in Pune Circle and officials claim that 95 per cent billings is accurate. 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! On the flight to Pune from Delhi, Shirish Kamble and his family never thought that they would have to wait for more than an hour to get a cab outside Pune Airport. But they did! The reason being the one-day protest staged by Ola- and Uber- drivers against the low per-kilometre remuneration paid by these aggregator companies. At least 15,000 passengers travel daily from Pune airport. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) We arrived from Delhi to Pune in the afternoon and when we tried to book a cab on the Ola and Uber mobile applications, none of the drivers responded. We had to wait for almost an hour after which I called my friend to pick us up from the airport. Finally, we managed to travel to Hadapsar, Shirish said. With nearly 15,000 passengers travelling daily from Pune Airport, the Kambles werent the only ones who had to face this ordeal. After being unable to call a cab, Megha, an IT professional, took an auto-rickshaw from the airport. Today morning when I arrived at Pune Airport, I started booking a cab online as usual. For 30 minutes, none of the drivers responded so I decided to step out of the airport premises and booked an auto-rickshaw instead, she said. Around 300 Ola and Uber cab drivers staged a protest on Monday over the low fares paid to them. As per the policy of these companies, the drivers are paid 9 to 12 per kilometre which is less than the auto-rickshaw fares in the city. The drivers refused to take passengers from the airport, and demanded a change in policy and increase in per-kilometre fares. We cannot afford to run cab services any more for passengers travelling from Pune Airport as the per km charges paid to us by the companies are very less. From the last several months, we have been demanding a hike in the per kilometre rates but nothing has been done by both companies. Today, we staged a one-day protest and kept our cabs out of service around Pune Airport, said Santosh Shinde, a cab driver. Another cab driver, Rohit Kendre, said, The state government has set fares for auto-rickshaw drivers starting from 23 while we get paid 12 per kilometre so there is a huge difference and we hardly get 40 to 50 even after long-distance journeys as there is a company commission in our total charges. Hence, our demand is that the per kilometre charges be increased to 18 per km. 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! Following the escape of drug haul mastermind and Yerawada Central Jail inmate Lalit Patil from ward number 16 of Sassoon General Hospital, the authorities have sent back five prisoners admitted at the hospital to the prison. Yerawada prison officials confirmed the transfer of the accused to the jail. Jail inmates brought to the hospital are housed at ward number 16 in Sassoon. (HT PHOTO) State prison department officials said inmates Viral Prakash Savala, Anil Shivajirao Bhosale, Shivaji Dnyanoba Dorag, Pravin Prahlad Raut and Hemant Balaji Patil were admitted to ward number 16 for medical treatment. Of the nine admitted inmates, five were sent back by Sassoon General Hospital between October 4 and October 7. We had written many times to the hospital administration, but they said that inmates cannot be returned because of their medical condition. However, after Patil escaped from the hospital, they have sent back five inmates, said a prison department official on condition of anonymity. Patil, who was admitted to the hospital for tuberculosis and hernia treatment, managed to flee from the hospital on October 2. Patil was accused of indulging in illicit narcotics sale and booked on September 30 following a raid by the anti-narcotics cell in which Patils aide, Subhash Janaki Mandal, 29, was arrested for possessing 1.71 kg and 53 milligrams of mephedrone estimated to be worth 2.14 crore. Jail inmates brought to the hospital are housed at ward number 16. Sassoon General Hospital is known for providing medical care to inmates from various correctional facilities in the region, with security protocols in place to prevent such incidents. Saurabh Rao, Pune divisional commissioner, after visiting Sassoon hospital on Friday, appointed a committee to review prison inmates undergoing treatment at the facility. A prison official said that regular updates of admitted prisoners are taken from the hospital authorities. 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! Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has informed that 672 aspirants of the 67th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) have uploaded documents containing errors. A list containing roll numbers of such candidates and the nature of error is available on the commission's website, bpsc.bih.nic.in. BPSC 67th CCE: Commission notifies error in 672 candidates' documents, asks to re-verify (File Photo) The commission has asked these candidates to correct the errors and re-verify it on the interview day along with the main application form. Here is the notification. In a previous notice, the commission said that the last date of downloading unevaluated answer sheets of the BPSC 67th Mains written exam has been extended. Candidates can download it from the website up to October 10. Previously, the deadline was October 6. Result of the Mains exam was announced on September 14. The test took place on December 30, 31, 2022 and January 7, 2023 in Patna. A total of 2104 candidates had qualified in the examination and are eligible for the Interview round. This recruitment drive is being held to fill up a total of 1,052 vacancies. 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! Get latest news on Education along with updates on Board Exams and Competitive Exams at Hindustan Times. Also get latest Job updates on Employment News Actor Amitabh Bachchan will be celebrating his 81st birthday on an upcoming episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati. The episode will be filled with surprises as it's said that the whole nation will unite to celebrate the occasion. A promo from the show featured an emotionally charged Amitabh after seeing all the surprises. Also read: Sony TV warns viewers against fabricated Kaun Banega Crorepati clip on Shivraj Singh Chouhan Amitabh Bachchan will be seen in a special episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 15. Amitabh Bachchan gets teary-eyed on birthday In the clip, Amitabh says with a laugh, "Aur kitna rulayenge aap log? (how much more will you make me emotional)" He also says, Mai logo ko tissue deta hu, aaj meri bari aa gayi (usually I am the one offering tissues to people. It's my turn now). He is seen wiping tears from his eyes. He also thanked everyone and the KBC team for the celebration. Amitabh said, Iss manch me humara jo janamdin manaya jata hai woh sabse uttam hai (The way my birthday is celebrated here is the best). Seeing him smile, those in the audience couldn't help but clap for the veteran. Kaun Banega Crorepati special episode As per a report of ETimes, a series of surprises have been lined up for the veteran. This includes a performance by popular Sarod player Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Several other celebrities including Chiranjeevi, Anupam Kher, Vidya Balan, Vicky Kaushal, R Madhavan and Boman Irani will be sending their best wishes via special video messages for Amitabh, are slated to be displayed. The episode will also be attended by the previous KBC winners, BabiU Tawde from Season 11 and Himani Bundela from Season 13. This season's first crorepati winner Jaskaran Singh will also be a part of the celebration. Besides these, the fans in the audience will bring special gifts for Amitabh, including fan art, sketches and more. A special message from the Indian Army's social services team will also be played during the episode in which they will be thanking Amitabh for his contributions towards the nation. Kaun Banega Crorepati is currently in its 15th season. It airs from Monday to Friday on Sony TV at 9 pm. Viewers can also watch it online as it also streams on the SonyLIV app. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In the aftermath of the recent deadly attacks caused by Hamas on Israel, reality TV personality and makeup entrepreneur Kylie Jenner found herself in the midst of a controversy following a brief Instagram story expressing support for Israel. Kylie Jenner's Instagram Post on Israel Stirs Debate Amidst Middle East Crisis.(kyliejenner/Instagram)(Instagram) In a post shared last Saturday, Kylie shared an image of Israel's flag with a caption that said, "Now and always, we stand with the people of Israel!" However, Kylie immediately removed the post after facing criticism from individuals advocating for Palestine and Hamas. Screenshots of Kylie's deleted Instagram story have been spreading across various social media platforms. Her comments section has been bombarded with harsh and disparaging remarks. ALSO READ: Im not even close to looking, Very single Caitlyn Jenner says she doesn't intend to find a partner Many criticized her for involving herself in political matters and offering support for Israel, and some responded by posting Palestinian flags. Many are calling the star out for deleting the pro-Israel post after the backlash. ALSO READ: 'I havent spoken to them': Caitlyn Jenner shares insight on relations with the Kardashians UNICEF's executive director, Catherine Russell, emphasized the importance of safeguarding children amidst the conflict, underscoring their right to grow up in a peaceful environment. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assured his commitment to make a response to Hamas' actions with force equally as devastating as those faced by them. Via his official social media platform, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "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'." Food Network icon Michael Chiarello died on Friday, September 6, after suffering an allergic reaction leading to anaphylactic shock, his restaurant group said. The celebrity chef was 61. Michael Chairello died at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, surrounded by family and friends (ABC News screenshot/YouTube) We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael, his family said in a statement obtained by The Wrap. 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. What were Michael Chiarellos achievements? Michael was born on January 26, 1962. He hosted shows on PBS and the Food Network, and appeared on Top Chef, Top Chef Masters and The Next Iron Chef. According to his website, he has been acknowledged by the Culinary Institute of America, IACP, Food & Wine Magazine, and many more for his success as both a Chef and restaurant professional. He has developed over 10 restaurants, including his hugely popular and critically acclaimed Bottega Restaurant in Yountville, California (Napa Valley); his new Spanish restaurant Coqueta on Pier 5 in San Francisco which earned a glowing 3.5 star review from the San Francisco Chronicle and was a finalist in the 2013 James Beard awards for Best New Restaurant; and his first in California, Tra Vigne, of which he was executive chef/partner until 2000. Named Esquire magazines Chef of the Year for 2013, Chiarello made his mark by combining his Southern Italian roots with the distinctive hallmarks of Napa Valley living. From his earliest childhood experiences created around his mothers California kitchen with his extended Italian family of butchers, cheesemakers and ranchers Michael Chiarello dreamed of becoming a chef one day. Decades later, he has realized his dream, and much more.He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, NY, the website adds. What did the Gruppo Chiarello restaurant group say? Michael died at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, surrounded by family and friends, New York Post reported. The Gruppo Chiarello restaurant group said in a statement after his death, Chef Michael Chiarellos passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and our hearts. While we mourn Michaels passing, we also celebrate his legacy that continues with his restaurants, Bottega, Coqueta (San Francisco and Napa Valley), and Ottimo. Michael wrote several books, including Bottega: Bold Italian Flavors from the Heart of Californias Wine Country, At Home with Michael Chiarello: Easy Entertaining, and Michael Chiarellos Casual Cooking. Two former servers accused Michael of sexual harassment in 2016. However, a rep called the allegations unfounded, and Michael settled the lawsuit out of court in 2017. Sushmita Sen has often admitted that her character of Aarya Sareen runs parallel to her real life in many ways. Like the titular character of the Ram Madhvani gangster drama, Sushmita is also a fiercely protective single mother. Now, as shown in the teaser of the show's Season 3, Aarya encounters a near-death experience, just like Sushmita did earlier this year. (Also Read: Aarya 3 teaser: Sushmita Sen smokes a cigar, has her guns ready; daughter Renee Sen says 'you are unreal') Sushmita Sen plays a gangster in Aarya Season 3 What's in the teaser? Hotstar dropped a new teaser of Aarya Season 3 on Monday, in which Sushmita narrates her forced rise to power in a gangster world and the cost at which it comes. She points out how she never wanted to be a powerful gangster, but was forced to become one owing to circumstances. Sushmita is seen smoking a cigar and cracking deals with gangsters in the short teaser, besides flashbacks from the previous two seasons. But the teaser ends with her getting shot. She already seems wounded when she gets shot and is seen standing on top of a fortress. Her kids stare in shock as they see Aarya fall down after the gun shot to her chest. Sushmita's voiceover at the end of the teaser states that she never anticipated the end would be anywhere close to this. The official description of the teaser on YouTube aptly sumps up her dilemma, Jiske sar pe taaj hota hai, nishaana bhi uss hi pe hota hai (The one who wears the crown is everyone's target). #HotstarSpecials #Aarya Season 3, streaming from 3rd Nov only on @disneyplushotstar. Sushmita's near-death experience Earlier this year, while filming Aarya Season 3 in Jaipur, Sushmita had a heart attack. She was rushed to the hospital and a stent was inserted in her heart. Sushmita not only recuperated quickly, but also referred to the stent as beautiful since it's now a part of her. Sushmita was last seen in Jio Cinema's Taali, where she played the transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant. Aarya Season 3 also stars Sikandar Kher, who will reprise his role of her right-hand man, Daulat. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail The South China Sea (SCS) has long been a focal point of global concern due to escalating superpower tensions, territorial disputes, and China's belligerent posture in the region, which was recently manifested in Chinas issuance of a new map claiming more areas in the SCS. The map, which also illegally claims parts of India, invited furious responses from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and India. World leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of Philipinnes Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thailand's Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun Charoensuwan, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and others pose for a photograph during the 20th ASEAN-India Summit as part of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta.(Reuters) Chinas two-fold strategy of trying to engage Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states in a protractive dialogue on CoC (Code of Conduct in SCS), while relentlessly pursuing its salami slicing, island reclamation, and increasing Gray zone activities in the SCS pose a challenge to regional stability, which has direct implications for ASEAN especially in the context of its ability to address the issue in a peaceful manner. China's Gray Zone Tactics in the SCS intensified under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. Since 2013, China has made significant advances in its island reclamation and militarisation activities. It is increasingly resorting to the use of maritime militia in intimidating ASEAN claimant States, the latest episode being the one in which the Filipino coast fuards had to face the Chinese water cannons in these troubled waters. The deployment of water cannons against the Philippines sparked international condemnation, prompting strong protests from Manila. China further escalated tensions by releasing a controversial map that included almost the entire SCS, East China Sea, Taiwan, and the sections encompassing vast territories including that of India. Chinas unwillingness to address the concerns raised by Southeast Asian claimants, increasing United States (US) involvement to protect SCS as a global common has led to heightened tensions in the region. Historically, most of the ASEAN member States have employed hedging as a strategy in dealing with China, while collectively ASEAN has preferred conflict avoidance and conflict management has its twin tools to manage the SCS dispute. Both these strategies have yielded sub-optimal results in controlling Chinas behaviour especially its unilateral actions in the SCS. While China has emerged as the most important trade partner for ASEAN countries, the US has remained a crucial security partner for many of the littoral states, with key European Union (EU) countries, Japan, Australia, and India also acting as important security stabilisers in the region. Swiftly changing geopolitical dynamics have led to shifted perceptions about China, which was aptly reflected in the Singaporean Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loongs statement at the Asia Future Summit on October 5, 2023. He stated, the Americans have been dominant in this region, while giving countries space to grow, to develop, to compete with one another peacefully and not to be held down or squatted upon. And that is why they are still welcomed after so many years. And if the Chinese can achieve something like that, I think the region can prosper. This statement encapsulates the perception ASEAN and most of its members hold about both China and the US. China's growing aggression is increasingly seen as an immediate security concern, while doubts about the U.S. as a credible partner have also resurfaced. For one, Joe Bidens absence from the East Asia Summit in Jakarta did not go unnoticed in the ASEAN circle. ASEAN remains hesitant to openly align with the US even though economic interdependence and concerns about triggering tensions with China continue to hinder ASEANs efforts. Furthermore, the bloc encounters difficulties in presenting a cohesive stance to safeguard its shared interests. Following the release of the map, ASEAN did not issue a single joint statement. Instead, several member countries issued their own individual statements. Under the leadership of Bongbong Marcos, the Philippines has embraced a more assertive foreign policy towards China and is revaluating its alliance with the US. Meanwhile, Vietnam has pursued a less assertive approach but is actively strengthening its ties with the US. That Southeast Asian countries find themselves in a dilemma when dealing with China and remain cautious and flippant in expressing their stance on the South China Sea is understandable The Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahims recent statement in this regard is a case in point. Malaysia was critical of China after the latter issued its new map. However, later, PM Anwar found Chinas explanations reassuring. This state of uncertainty and dilemma stems from Chinas actions, which involve both asserting its territorial claims and simultaneously (pretending to) demonstrate a genuine commitment to resolving differences. This is one of the reasons why any statement or attempts to quell the concerns of the Southeast Asian countries is often accepted without significant resistance. Nonetheless, ASEAN is seemingly transitioning into a phase marked by doing more than just hedging vis-a-vis China. Growing bilateral and multilateral defence and security engagements with the US, Japan, the EU, Australia, and India, while concurrently attempting to forge a unified ASEAN stance demonstrate the approach. ASEAN Solidarity Exercise the inaugural joint ASEAN-level military exercise and launch of the ASEAN Maritime Outlook showcase ASEANs resolve to be more mindful of the challenges it has been facing in South China Sea as well as the wider Indo-Pacific region. Chinese leader Yang Jiechis 2010 statement regarding the power differential between China and Southeast Asian nations remains relevant to this day. As the then foreign minister of China, he declared during his address to the ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi, Vietnam, China is a big country, and other countries are small countries, and thats a fact. The China challenges are prompting many countries in the region to reconsider their stance towards China. Chinas activities in the SCS could potentially serve as a cautionary example of how to erode the goodwill of countries that once had a friendly approach towards China. While ASEAN acknowledges the challenges posed by China, finding a satisfactory approach to resolve the SCS dispute remains elusive. Individual member states increasingly rely on external partnerships and formulate individual responses. However, the ultimate resolution to the SCS issue and the China dilemma must come from within the ASEAN bloc itself. This article is authored by Rahul Mishra, principal investigator, Indo-Pacific Research and Outreach Programme and coordinator, European Studies Programme at the Asia-Europe Institute, Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. 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! According to the recent "Call to Action" report by Ernst and Young, the fertility sector has exhibited remarkable growth, averaging an impressive 15-20% annual increase over the past five years. Presently, our nation witnesses approximately 250,000-300,000 in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments annually, signifying substantial demand for assisted reproductive services. Looking ahead, the future appears exceptionally promising for the Indian fertility industry, with projections indicating a continued growth rate of 15-20% over the next five years. This notable expansion can be attributed to the underlying surge in sub-fertility cases, affecting a substantial 15% of couples in India. Alarmingly, approximately 28 million Indian couples confront fertility issues, a figure that is projected to increase due to the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles, elevated stress levels, obesity, and various other medical factors. IVF has emerged as a lifeline for countless couples who have been fighting sub-fertility for an extended duration. The advancement of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), notably In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), has substantially improved the success rates of these treatments, offering more aspiring couples the opportunity to fulfil their dream of parenthood. IVF(Twitter/Mz_enaj) Sub-fertility is a growing problem in India, affecting nearly one in six couples. It is unfortunate that less than 1 percent of those affected seek medical treatment for their condition primarily due to lack of awareness, access, and affordability. There is limited awareness about the condition and the available treatments. There is inadequate understanding to address sub-fertility and inquire about fertility solutions is due to social stigma associated with sub-fertility myths associated with it, such as the misconception that women are solely responsible for conception, and insufficient knowledge about male sub-fertility. Many couples who live in denial or are unaware of the signs and symptoms of a fertility problem. As a result of misconceptions and low awareness around sub-fertility and its treatment options, people are often reluctant to seek medical advice. Accurate diagnosis and treatment planning are paramount in the field of IVF. Every individual or couple facing fertility challenges deserves a precise understanding of their unique situation. This necessitates the development and adoption of advanced diagnostic tools and techniques. Additionally, IVF clinics should prioritise continuous training and professional development for their staff to ensure that the latest and most effective methods are employed. Accurate diagnosis not only enhances the chances of successful treatment but also minimises unnecessary procedures, reducing emotional and financial burdens on patients. The accessibility of fertility treatments remains a critical concern in India. Fertility centres are often concentrated in urban areas, making them inaccessible to individuals in rural regions. This geographical disparity in access to IVF services needs to be addressed urgently. To enhance accessibility, one must expand the reach of fertility clinics to underserved areas and leverage telemedicine to provide remote consultations and guidance. The cost of fertility treatments can be a significant barrier for many couples. While IVF has revolutionised assisted reproduction, the expense associated with the process remains a concern. High costs often lead individuals and couples to compromise or delay treatment, impacting their chances of success. To ensure that IVF is accessible to a more extensive demographic, it is imperative to explore cost-effective treatment options without compromising on quality. This includes streamlining treatment protocols, reducing the cost of medications, and advocating for insurance coverage for fertility treatments. In addition, fostering a competitive environment in the fertility industry can help control prices. Encouraging transparency in pricing and offering clear cost estimates can also empower patients to make informed decisions about their treatment plans. Moreover, public-private partnerships and government initiatives can help subsidise treatments for those with limited financial means, making IVF more accessible to a broader spectrum of the population. Despite the financial challenges, it is important to underscore that IVF remains one of the most effective methods of assisted reproduction available today. As we move forward, addressing the financial barriers and enhancing transparency in pricing will be essential to ensure that more individuals and couples have equitable access to the life-changing benefits of fertility treatments. The continued growth of the fertility industry underscores the urgency of addressing these concerns and working towards a future where parenthood is within reach for all who desire it. In conclusion, the foundation of the IVF industry's future in India rests upon four crucial pillars: Awareness, accuracy, accessibility, and affordability. Elevating awareness, ensuring precise diagnosis and treatment, enhancing accessibility, and making IVF more affordable are the key steps towards positively impacting the lives of numerous individuals and couples who dream of parenthood. This article is authored by Abhishek Aggrawal, chief business officer, Birla Fertility & IVF, CK Birla Group. 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 Chennai: Nine people were killed died and several more injured in an accident in a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadus Ariyalur district on Monday. The accident occurred at the Yaazh FireWorks in the Thirumanur area of the district, police said. The e accident occurred at Yaazh FireWorks in Thirumanur in Ariyalur. (HT photo) Preliminary reports indicate that untrained workers were mixing chemicals when the explosion was triggered inside the factory . As many as 23 workers were inside when the accident occurred on Monday morning, trapping them inside the factory. Just this morning three new women began working here. They are among those dead, a police officer, who did not wish to be named, said. The owner Rajendran and his son-in-law who was in-charge of the factory were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosive Substances Act. Both have been arrested, the officer said. Only seven of the nine victims have been identified so far. It is a licensed unit, the officer said, adding that the unit was operating with a license since 2014, and the permit was recently renewed until 2024. Also Read: 13 charred to death as fire breaks out at firecracker shop in rural Bengaluru Several fire figthers took hours to bring the fire under control. It took more than two-and-a-half hours to put out the fire. It was a very bad accident, said a rescue personnel. The charred bodies were sent to the Ariyalur Government College Hospital. Those critical are being treated at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. Chief minister M K Stalin announced a payment of 3 lakh to the families of each of the deceased, 1-lakh each to those who suffered serious injuries and 50,000 to those with minor injuries. Mondays accident comes less than 24 hours after 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. Many workers hailed from Amnapettai, Kallakurichi district of Tamil Nadu, having arrived for work in anticipation of Diwali. The shop, located near a liquor store, housed an estimated 5 crore worth of firecrackers, an HT report, quoted the police as saying. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully performed a 16-second-long trajectory correction manoeuvre for Aditya-L1 to ensure the countrys first solar observatory is on track towards its intended spot in the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), the space agency said on Sunday, days after the craft left the Earths sphere of influence. A graphic representation of ISROs Aditya L1 mission.(HT_PRINT) The spacecraft is healthy and on its way to L1, Isro said in a statement. The spacecraft is healthy and on its way to Sun-Earth L1. A trajectory correction manoeuvre (TCM), originally provisioned, was performed on October 6, 2023, for about 16 sec. It was needed to correct the trajectory evaluated after tracking the Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) manoeuvre performed on September 19, 2023, the statement said. Also read: IIT Kanpur conducts workshop to train 50 students to use upcoming data from ISRO's Aditya L1 mission The space agency said the manoeuvre ensures that the spacecraft is on its intended path towards the Halo orbit insertion around L1. As Aditya-L1 continues to move ahead, the magnetometer will be turned on again within a few days, it said. On September 2, the Indian space agency launched the Aditya-L1 spacecraft the countrys first mission to study the Sun from the spaceport in Sriharikota. After the launch, a series of Earth-bound manoeuvres were performed to ensure that the craft gathers enough momentum to be launched into its 125-day journey. Such corrective manoeuveres are necessitated due to the long journey 125 days that the spacecraft has to undertake to ensure that it follows its planned track, a senior scientist at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru explained. IISc developed the primary payload being carried by Aditya-L1. it was felt that a slight push was required to correct its path. These corrective manoeuvres might be required in the future as well and is not a cause of any concern. Teams are monitoring the movement of the craft carefully and these are done to ensure that the mission is a success finally, the scientist said, requesting anonymity. In a mission update on September 30, Isro said that Aditya-L1 has traversed a distance of 9.2 lakh km from Earth, successfully escaping the sphere of Earths influence, and is now navigating its path towards L1. Aditya-L1 is only the second spacecraft that Isro sent outside the planets sphere of influence after the Mars Orbiter Mission, the agency said. After a series of trajectory correction manoeuvres, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft will finally be placed at Lagrange Point-1 or L1, from where it will start at least a five-year study to understand various aspects of the Sun the nearest star to Earth. The L1 point of the Sun-Earth system, about 1.5million km from the planet, will ensure that the force of gravity of the nearest celestial entities cancels each other out, helping the craft remain in equilibrium. To be sure, the L1 point is only 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. With the mission, Indias scientists hope to unlock new insights about the centre of our solar system. The spacecraft is meant to be placed in a halo orbit around L1. This point will give the craft the advantage of continuous observations without any occultation or eclipses, providing uninterrupted data to study the Suns corona, its photon release and its environment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Assembly Election 2023 Updates: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday announced the schedule for holding assembly elections in five states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases the first stage of voting will be held on November 7. The second phase will be held on November 17. The legislative election in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. The voting in Mizoram will be on November 7, while Rajasthan will go to polls on November 23 and Telangana on November 30 in a single phase. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar (File Photo) The counting of votes in all five states will be held on December 3, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar announced at a press conference. These were the last set of assembly elections ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Election dates announced in five states in the country The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. The term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17. The Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state. The terms of the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year. Follow full election coverage While the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rules Telangana, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Rajiv Kumar said nearly 16 crore voters will be eligible to vote during the five assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. Kumar said these five states will have 1.77 lakh polling stations. Of these, 1.01 lakh stations will have webcasting facilities. Over 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women. Elections in the five states will have 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters, the Election Commission said. There are 60.2 lakh first-time voters. "We have gathered here after a gap of six months. These elections are significant for the country and after this, we will meet for the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections," Kumar added. "We have met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, while preparing for assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, MP and Telangana," he said. The poll panel added that it has placed special emphasis on making electoral rolls inclusive and the focus will also be on "roll-to-poll" to ensure that all voters come to vote. Assembly elections 2023: Check the full schedule (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a pale blue shirt, sitting on a chair in the centre of a dimly lit room in his home, hands on his knee, the women of his household hovering behind him, 60-year-old Namandilal Meena flashes the smile of an important man. It matters little that in 2020, it was his wife Mohan Bai that was elected the sarpanch of Gambhira village by the Rajasthan state election commission in the Malarna Doongar panchayat samiti. Meena puffs his chest out, and declares with authority, I am the sarpanch of Gambhira. PREMIUM 30 years after the 73rd amendment, while there have been benefits, there is also evidence on the ground that there is a long road to emancipation.(HT file (representative image)) On September 21, both houses of Parliament passed the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, or the womens reservation bill, reserving 33% of seats for women in both parliamentary and legislative assemblies. In some ways, the legislation is the second step of legislative intervention that began in 1992, with the 73rd constitutional amendment which mandated that all state governments must reserve one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj institutions (PRI). Also read: We must have measures to complement the Women's Reservation Bill The principle at play was similar. If women are given the keys to power, it will increase their representation in government bodies, give space to their often-ignored voices, make womens issues central to governance, and in turn, trickle down to upliftment on the ground. Yet, 30 years after the 73rd amendment, while there have been benefits, there is also evidence on the ground that there is a long road to emancipation. Data from the 2011 Census pegs Malarna Doongar as the tehsil in India that has the largest literacy gap between men and women. The average literacy is 60.79%. But 78.79% of the males are literate, with only 41.03% for women, a difference of 37.75 percentage points. In fact, an analysis of the top 5 tehsils with such a difference in India shows that all five are in Rajasthan, with three in the Sawai Madhopur district alone. To be sure, there are districts with considerably lower literacy percentages for women, but those typically some are tribal districts in Chhattisgarh have correspondingly low percentages for male literacy as well. In terms of districts with such a large difference in literacy rates between men and women, it is also clear that Rajasthan has a problem. Eight of the top 10 districts (with Sawai Madhopur the highest) are in the state. The only two exceptions in the top 10 are Ramban in Jammu, and Nuh in Haryana. In Gambhira, one of the villages in Malarna Doongar, asked if women make better sarpanches, and a pall of silence fell across the Meena household. Twenty-three-year-old Jaskaur Meena, who finished a Master of Arts (MA) in history from a college in Sawai Madhopur in 2021, hides behind her father Namandilal with a shy smile. Her mother, Mohan Bai, who never completed formal education, is clearer about the hierarchy in both the home and the panchayat. I only sit there in panchayat meetings. But it is my husband who speaks to people. I sign papers when it is required. But how am I to understand all this administrative work? she says, shifting a long blue veil across her face. The Malarna Doongar panchayat samiti has 27 villages, 13 of which are reserved for women. But in most, it is their husbands, or other male family members, who run local politics. In the voluble opinion of the men, the skew is an outcome of womens eternal lack of interest in politics and social issues. Mazhar Khan, the husband of the Peelvanadi sarpanch Afsana Biwi, said, Rural women keep themselves from politics. Men have a better understanding of the subject which makes it easier for them to handle such work. Khans WhatsApp bio reads, Sarpanch of Peelvanadi. Even though he isnt. His wife says one solitary word when asked why she stood for the reserved seat. Parivaar (family), she says. Sawai Madhopur district collector Suresh Ola says that the poor standards of womens education in turn lead to this manipulation of the intent of the Panchayati Raj legislation. The lack of education means there is limited interest in socio-political issues and men take advantage. We have taken several steps such as conducting door-to-door awareness programmes, setting up free libraries, and conducting free mock tests for exam preparations that have improved the situation but more awareness is required. Often, girl students do not pursue higher education after they finish school, Ola said. At the only senior higher-secondary school in Peelavanadi, there are 80 girls as opposed to 120 boys. In Gambhiras senior higher-secondary school, the situation is a little different, authorities said, with more than 70% of the intake being girl students. But the vice principal of the school, Narendra Verma, says that this number is misleading, for here too there is the shadow of discrimination. Most boys in the village are sent to private schools because of the poor infrastructure here. Most girls are sent to government school, and are married off after schooling ends. People spend lakhs on the education for their sons but will not do that for girls, he said. Professor Lad Kumari Jain, chairperson of the Rajasthan State Commission for Women said, Despite the situation improving with time, patriarchy is deep-rooted including in Rajasthan. People still see women as the holders of the reputation of the family. Therefore, women are not yet allowed to step forward as administrators. A better government monitoring system of the execution of government schemes and also the functioning of the panchayats can only improve the situation. In June 2020, the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj department issued an order threatening action under Section 38 of the Panchayati Raj Act, including a possible suspension of the sarpanch, if husband, relatives, or anyone closely related to the woman sarpanch is found directly or indirectly interfering in her work. We take action when such complaints are lodged. But it is not an easy job to stop such practices. We conduct orientation sessions for the newly elected women sarpanches as well as awareness programmes for villagers. It is also important for women to come forward and fight for their rights, Ola said. But in the village of Abra, Pushpa Devi says it is almost impossible to balance her identities as a sarpanch and a homemaker. A law graduate, Devi says she fought her first panchayat election in 2015 at the insistence of her father-in-law. My family had been contesting the Abra panchayat election for a long time. When it was declared reserved, they asked me to fight. Now that I have become sarpanch, I cannot leave it in the middle of my term despite these difficulties, she said. Like in most other villages, it is Devis husband, a police officer in Sawai Madhopur, who does the job the law intended that she do to bring about change. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is banking on collective leadership and an aggressive campaign in three of the five poll-bound statesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarhwhere it lost power to the Congress in 2018. BJP supporters with party flags. (ANI) In Telangana and Mizoram, the other two states going to the polls next month, it won a seat each in 2018. BJPs ally Mizo National Front (MNF) won 26 of the 40 seats to form government in Mizoram five years back while the Congress lost power to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh in March 2020 after the resignations of 22 legislators. The BJP hopes to retain Madhya Pradesh and wrest Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress even as 26 Opposition parties formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in July. INDIA bloc has cornered the BJP on a host of issues and demanded a caste-based census at the national level on the lines of Bihar. It has raised issues such as unemployment, floundering economy and disharmony. The BJP appears confident of overcoming the challenges on the back of welfare programmes, a muscular foreign policy, landmark legislation for the womens reservation and Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity. Collective leadership The BJP is counting on the collective leadership to buck anti-incumbency, enforce a generational shift and weave a coalition of castes by moving away from personality-oriented elections. BJP functionaries said the partys election campaign will continue to pivot on the social welfare schemes and Modis decisive leadership without chief ministerial faces. There are advantages and disadvantages of going with a face. But the party feels at this stage, it is better to go to the polls as a collective unit and then let the legislative party pick the names of chief ministers, said a BJP leader, who did not want to be named. Recent state elections have highlighted the electors, including supporters of parties, prefer strong faces in the states as well. The BJPs assessment after the loss in Karnataka in May indicated the decision to replace chief minister BS Yediyurappa with BS Bommai had an adverse impact on the poll outcome. The party has been averse to projecting Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the partys face in Madhya Pradesh, where three Union ministers are among the contestants in an indication that the party does not want any leader to be seen as the chief ministerial candidate ahead of the November 7 polls. Party leaders cited the fatigue factor associated with Chouhan, who has been in power since 2005 except for an 18-month period when Kamal Nath ousted him from power in 2018, and the need for newer leadership for the reluctance to project a chief ministerial candidate. A second leader said there is a widespread anti-incumbency associated with Chouhan. The same strategy has been adopted in Rajasthan, which goes to the polls on November 23. The BJP lost the 2018 election to the Congress when it won 73 of the 200 seats. The Congress won 100 seats. In Rajasthan, the BJP has been divided on naming former chief minister Vasundhara Raje as the face even though she is considered a leader with pan-state support. In states such as Telangana and Chhattisgarh, the BJP is struggling to find leaders with mass appeal and support. There are some states where the local leadership is not quite strong for various reasonsfrom caste to governance issues. [In Chhattisgarh] after Raman Singhs exit in 2018, the state unit has been weak. There is no strong OBC [Other Backward Class] or ST [Scheduled Tribe] leader in the state who can be named as the chief ministerial candidate. So the collective leadership strategy will address this problem, said the first leader. Election narrative The elections are being held amid a growing demand for caste-based enumeration, which the BJP has been opposed to. This means the party will have to work harder to retain support from OBCs who want the existing quotas to be revisited. BJPs leaders cited the Bihar governments move to announce the findings of the caste survey and said they fear similar demands would come from other states as well. Modi called the caste enumeration divisive to counter the clamour for it even as the BJP is hoping its social welfare programmes will keep the larger Hindu vote bank together. The party is also relying on its ideological fount Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to steer the campaign on the ground to prevent a split in the Hindu vote. The leaders said the BJP is hopeful of retaining OBC support, which is critical to winning polls in four of the five states. The party is banking on welfare programmes, some of which have been specifically designed for the OBCs, such as the most recent Vishwakarma Yojna for artisans and craftspeople. The first functionary said the BJP has ensured the political empowerment of the OBCs, giving them space in the organisational structure and the government. Similarly, the SC [scheduled castes] and STs have been empowered by giving them avenues for education through scholarships, interest-free loans and opportunities to earn. The oppositions narrative will not stand a chance. In the non-BJP-ruled states, the party has focused on exposing the lapses of the governments. The BJP has identified issues with resonance such as corruption and unfulfilled promises just as the Congress successfully used the allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. Trouble with allies The party does not rely on allies in four of the five states. In Mizoram, its ties with ally MNF have been strained. The BJP won a seat in Mizoram in 2018 even as it fielded candidates on 39 out of 40 seats. Its vote share went up from 0.37% to 8%. The BJP has made promises such as financial aid of up to 5 lakh for those wanting to start their own business and interest-free Kisan Credit Card. MNFs concern over the continued violence in Manipur has cast a shadow on its ties with the BJP. A BJP leader said chief minister Zoramthangas comments against his Manipur counterpart, Biren Singh, did not go down well with the leadership. The BJP wanted the chief ministers in the northeast to not appear adversarial. Zoramthangas decision against collecting biometric data of Chin-Kuki refugees from Myanmar and MNFs support to the no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha in August was also seen as a snub to the ally. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released fresh list of candidates for poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, which will vote between November 7 and 23. With the latest list of candidates, the saffron party has fielded 18 MPs in the assembly polls till now, out of these four are Union ministers. The BJP has fielded seven MPs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan each and four in Chhattisgarh. The BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh, while it is directly competing with Congress in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh On September 25, the BJP had released its second list of candidates, including three central ministers. Union minister for agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar has been fielded from Dimani in Morena district. The seat was won by the Congress in 2018 assembly election. The party's winning candidate Giriraj Dindotiya, a loyalist of Jyotiraditya Scindia, had resigned from his seat to join the BJP. He had contested the seat on a BJP ticket and lost in the bypoll held in 2020. Besides Tomar, Prahlad Patel, minister of state for food processing is contesting from Narsingpur. The seat was won by the BJP in 2018. Minister for state for rural development Faggan Singh Kulaste will fight the elections from Niwas, a seat reserved for scheduled tribes. The seat was won by the Congress in 2018. Rajasthan In the first list released by the BJP, there are seven MPs including prominent faces. Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore will contest from Jhotwara in Jaipur district. Diya Kumari, the sitting MP from Rajsamand, has been fielded from Vidhyadhar Nagar in Jaipur. Vidhyadhar Nagar seat is currently held by BJP MLA Narpat Singh Rajvi, a five-time MLA and son-in-law of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Jhunjhunu MP Narendra Kumar will contest the elections from Mandawa, Alwar MP Baba Balaknath from Tijara, Ajmer MP Bhagirath Choudhary from Kishangarh, Jalore MP Devji Patel from Sanchore, and Kirori Lal Meena will fight from the Sawai Madhopur constituency. When asked about BJP fielding MPs in the assembly elections, Rathore said,""A new zeal comes among the workers that a few people who used to work with PM Modi and who PM Modi has seen carefully are being fielded in the Vidhan Sabha election. We are ready to fight a war, we will leave no seat, no morcha. This is a good message...This is a battle for this country". Chhattisgarh The saffron party released its second list of 64 candidates on Monday, more than two months after it unveiled its first list of 21 faces. In its first list, the BJP had announced the candidature of Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel from Patan. Union minister Renuka Singh, Gomati Sai and state BJP chief Arun Sao are the other MPs fielded for the assembly election. Former chief minister Dr. Raman Singh is contesting from his stronghold of Rajnandgaon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON California governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a landmark but controversial bill passed by the states legislature that added caste to its basket of anti-discrimination legislation, arguing that the administration already barred discrimination across various dimensions, including caste, and the new legislation was unnecessary. HT Image In a sign of the divide in the diaspora on the issue, Indian-American Hindu groups welcomed the governors decision, but prominent anti-caste and minority groups as well civil liberties bodies criticised Newsom. Returning SB403 to the members of the California state senate on Saturday, Newsom, who is a prominent Democratic governor, said that the bill defines ancestry for the purposes of the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Unruh Act and the Education Act to include caste. But, he added, 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. Newsom said that because discrimination, based on caste, was already prohibited under these existing categories, the bill was unnecessary. For this reason, I cannot sign this bill, he noted. In August, SB403 which would add caste as an explicit category for anti-discrimination action in the states civil rights, education, and housing codes passed by a margin of 50-3 in the California House, marking the first time an American legislature considered and cleared an anti-caste legislation. The move was greeted with cheer and criticism. 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. Equality Labs, the anti-caste group that led the efforts to pass the bill, said they were disappointed but not defeated. 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, said Thenmozhi Soundarajan, the founder and executive director of Equality Labs. The development and controversy around the bill is the latest in a string of moves that has spotlighted the presence of caste among the South Asian population in the US with a significant group of activists saying that birth-based biases continue to dog the diaspora. The battleground for several of these cases especially the ones involving tech workers has been California, which is Americas most-populous state with 39.2 million residents, of which nearly a million are Indian-American. The veto came a week after Fresno followed Seattle in explicitly banning caste-based bias in employment, housing, public transport and retail establishments, among others. In December 2019, Brandeis University became the first US institution to include caste in its non-discrimination policy, and was followed by the California State University System, Harvard University, Brown University and the University of California, Davis. But the bill also opened deep rifts within the Indian-American community with groups such as the HAF opposing such moves and expressing concern that it would be used to target Hindus. We at HAF have always said that 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 Suhag Shukla, executive director of HAF. But advocates of the bill said theyll continue to fight for protection against caste discrimination. Though governor Newsom has rejected the bill for now, we will continue to work alongside many Californians in labour, civil rights, and interfaith movements to ensure Californias opportunities are accessible for all going forward, said Nirmal Singh from Californians for Caste Equity. The Andhra Pradesh high court on Monday dismissed the petitions of Telugu Desam Party president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking anticipatory bails in three different cases filed against him by the state polices Crime Investigation Department (CID). Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu ( (PTI) Simultaneously, a special court for Anti-Corruption Bureau cases in Vijayawada also rejected Naidus plea for regular bail in the multi-crore skill development corporation scandal. In the high court, a single judge bench headed by Justice K Suresh Reddy dismissed Naidus petition for anticipatory bail in the case of alleged irregularities in the alignment of Amaravati Inner Ring Road. The bench, which reserved its judgement after hearing arguments of Naidus counsel Siddharth Luthra and that of advocate general S Sriram on Tuesday last week, agreed with the contention of the state government that granting bail was not appropriate at a time when the investigation was at a crucial stage. The high court also dismissed Naidus anticipatory bail petitions in Angallu violence case of August 4 and as well in the case of alleged irregularities in AP Fibernet project. Also Read: Court extends Naidus remand by 2 weeks In the ACB court, Justice Hima Bindu, who reserved her judgement after hearing the arguments from both the sides on October 5, rejected the TDP chiefs petition for regular bail in the 371 crore state skill development scam case. While senior Supreme Court advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey argued on behalf of Naidu, additional advocate general Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy put forth his arguments on behalf of the CID. The ACB court also rejected the CIDs petition seeking the custody of Naidu for further interrogation in the skill development case. On October 5, the ACB court extended the judicial remand of Naidu till October 19. The TDP chief had been in judicial remand in the Rajahmundry Central Jail since the early hours of September 11, two days after he was arrested by the CID in the skill development scam. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Election Commission on Monday announced the poll schedule for five states, including Chhattisgarh. The Chhattisgarh assembly election will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17, with vote counting on December 3, alongside Mizoram, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana. Over two crore voter will vote in Chhattisgarh election. (Image for representational purpose) Seen as the semi-final ahead of the 2024 general elections, these elections will gauge the public sentiment towards the Opposition's Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition of non-BJP parties hoping to put a stiff challenge against the BJP juggernaut. (Election announcement LIVE) The Chhattisgarh election is crucial for the ruling Congress party, as it aims to consolidate its position in the alliance. It is the only party with a pan-India presence in the bloc, which also features Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal among others. Addressing a press conference, the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that nearly 16 crore voters will be eligible to vote during the upcoming five assembly elections. Of these, over 2 crore voters belong to Chhattisgarh. ECI announces election dates in the country. Recap of Congress' comeback in 2018 Currently, the Congress has 71 members in the 90-member assembly in the state while 13 are of the BJP, 3 of the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh and two of the Bahujan Samaj Party. The Congress made an unprecedented comeback in the state after 15 years of BJP rule in 2018 and formed the government with Bhupesh Baghel at its helm. Notably, Baghel is the first OBC chief minister of the state, which forms nearly 40% of the state population -- a key aspect that Congress seeks to make its poll plank amid its push for national census. The party has promised to hold a caste census in Chhattisgarh if the Congress is once again voted to power. Last month, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi promised that the INDIA bloc will also conduct a caste census, if voted to power in the upcoming general elections, echoing his stance of 'jitni abadi, utna haq' (rights proportional to population). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Congress won 68 of Chhattisgarhs 90 assembly seats in 2018, forming a government in the state for the first time since its (the states) creation since 2000, and will be looking to repeat its performance in next months assembly election on the back of its outreach to backward classes and its welfare measures, even as the Bharatiya Janata Party, which ruled the state for 15 years, seeks to target the Bhupesh Basghel-led government for corruption. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel(PTI) Elections to the state will be held on November 7 and 17. Since 2018, after multiple bypolls, the Congress tally has risen to 71, and the BJP now has 13 seats. Also read: Congress to be tested in tribal areas as BJP tries to bridge gap Five years ago, the Congress rode to power on a three-term anti-incumbency vote against the BJP government, that had won every election --2003,2008 and 2013 -- held in the state till that point. Baghel, from an other backward class (OBC) community himself, has looked to reinforce his partys OBC-outreach identity over the past five years, pushing a strong regional identity, putting what he calls Chhattisgarhiyavaad at the front and centre of his politics. The state government has supported the celebration of regional festivals, popular among the OBCs in Chhattisgarhs agrarian plains, such as Teeja Pora and Govardhan Pooja. The Congress has also tried to pre-empt the BJPs Hindtuva appeal, with the creation of a Ram Van Gaman Path, a route that Lord Ram is believed to have taken through parts of the state, and building cow shelters,. The BJP has framed much of its campaign around allegations of corruption against the Congress government, that has faced numerous probes by central agencies over the past three years. These investigations, by the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax department cover alleged corruption in the distribution of coal, excise policy, procurement of cow dung, and admission to the state Public Service Commission. Over the past three years, bureaucrats and politicians, some close to Baghel such as his deputy secretary Soumya Chaurasia have been arrested; the chief ministers political advisor Vinod Verma and two OSDs -- Masnish Banchhor and Ashish Verma -- have been questioned in the alleged Mahadev App racket. The Congress has alleged the investigations are politically motivated. The Congress does face other challenges. There are rumblings of discontent in both the tribal north and the south of the state, areas which the party swept in 2018. In Bastar, the Congress has looked to pre-empt this by appointing young tribal leader and MP Deepak Baij as party president, giving him the reins of the region. In the north however, there may be repercussions of a leadership struggle between Baghel and TS Singhdeo that played out for over four years. While the Congress moved to quell that fire in 2002 by appointing Singhdeo Deputy Chief Minister, parts of north Chhattisgarh where the latter holds sway may not be mollified. Congress is likely to lose seats in all four regions ( Surguja, Bilaspur, Bastar and Durg) in comparison to what we got in the 2018 elections. One issue is the performance of the first time legislators. Some castes like the Sahus who voted for the Congress in 2018, may shift away because it is clear that nobody from their grouping will be Chief Minister. The Congress is still ahead, but it needs to be careful with region, caste dynamics and regional aspirations, a senior Congress leader said, asking not to be named. The BJP, meanwhile, has struggled to find a credible leader after former Chief Minister Raman Singh. While Singh is contesting again from Rajnandgaon, the party has not named a chief ministerial candidate. Beyond corruption, it has also struggled to articulate key issues that it will fight the election on. The BJP workers are not happy with the ticket distribution. They will get around 26 seats and nothing more than that The senior leaders who were the main reasons for the defeat in 2018 were again given tickets. There is huge infighting among them, said RP Singh, Congress spokesperson and senior leader. In this election , we are coming back. As per our estimate we are getting more than 50 seats and issues of Congress on which they are banking are just to misguide the people of the state. Everyone knows what is happening, said Ajay Chandrakar, former minister and chief spokesperson of BJP. If we look at the surveys, as of now Congress seems to be losing some seats but it is still slightly ahead of BJP in Chhattisgarh. The BJP list of candidates shows that it has relied on old faces and not experimented with tickets. The Congress is yet to announce its candidates. But the biggest challenge for BJP and Congress is going to be controlling infighting, which is widely prevalent in both parties, said Rajan Pandey, a political commentator. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday released its second list of 64 candidates for the Chhattisgarh election. BJP FLAG The party has fielded former Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh and its state president Arun Sao, also a Lok Sabha MP, as its candidates. Singh, a three-term former chief minister, is named as the candidate from Rajnandgaon, his traditional constituency, while Sao will contest from Lormi. MPs Renuka Singh and Gomati Sai also figure in the list The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases, with the first round of voting on November 7 and the second round on November 17. The results will be declared on December 3. Here's the full list of candidates announced by the BJP. CONSTITUENCY CANDIDATE Bharatpur-Sonhat Renuka Singh Manendragarh Shyam Bihari Jaiswal Baikunthpur Bhaiyyalal Rajwade Samri Udeshwari Paikra Sitapur Ram Kumar Toppo Jashpur Raimuni Bhagat Kunkuri Vishnu Dev Sai Pathalgaon Gomati Sai Lailunga Suniti Rathia Raigarh OP Chaudhary Sarangarh Shivkumari Chauhan Rampur Nakiram Kanwar Katghora Premchandra Patel Pali-Tanakhar Ramdaya Uikey Kota Prabal Judev Lormi Arun Sao Mungeli Punnulal Mohale Takthatpur Dharamjeet Singh Bilha Dharamlal Kaushik Bilaspur Amar Agarwal Masturi Krishnamuti Bandi Akaitara Saurabh Singh Janjgir-Champa Narayana Prasad Chandel Sakti Khilawan Sahu Chandrapur Bahu Rani Judev Jaijaipur Krishnakant Chandra Pamgarh Santosh Lahre Basna Sampat Agarwal Mahsamund Yogeshwar Raju Sinha Bilaigarh Dineshlal Jagade Baloda Bazar Tankram Verma Bhatapara Shivrata Sharma Dharsiwa Anuj Sharma Raipur Rural Motilal Sahu Raipur City West Rajesh Munat Raipur City North Purandar Mishra Raipur City South Brijmohan Agarwal Arang Guru Khushwant Singh Bindrawagarh Govardhan Ram Manjhi Kurud Ajay Chandrakar Dhamtari Ranajana Sahu Sanjari Balod Rakesh Yadav Gunderdehi Virendra Sahu Durg Rural Lalit Chandrakar Durg City Gajendra Yadav Bhilai Nagar Premprakash Pandey Vaishali Nagar Rikesh Sen Ahiwara Doman Korsevada Saja Ishwar Sahu Navagarh Dayaldas Baghel Kawardha Vijay Sharma Donagargarh Vinod Khandekar Rajnandgaon Raman Singh Donagargaon Bharat Verma Antagarh Vikram Usendi Bhanupratppur Gautam Uikey Keshkal Neelkanth Tekam Kondagaon Lata Usendi Narayanpur Kedar Kashyap Jagdalpur Kiran Singh Deo Chitrakot Vinayak Goyal Dantewada Chetaram Arami Bijapur Mahesh Gagada Konta Soyam Muka Chhattisgarh is among the five states that will go to poll with Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. 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 A 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 chief Mallikarjun Kharge with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at CWC meeting in Hyderabad (Twitter/@kharge)(HT_PRINT) 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. What to expect from CWC meet: Top points 1)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). 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. 3)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. 4)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. 5)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. 6)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. 7)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. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to conduct a nationwide caste census in all Congress-ruled states, and at the Centre, if voted to power in 2024. Congress held a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at the AICC office in the national Capital. (PTI photo) We have unanimously decided that for Indias future a caste census is quintessential, and we (CWC) have decided to do it and we promise that it will be done. But we will not stop at that, we will also conduct an economic survey in the country. What we have not done before, we will ensure it is done this time and to ensure justice to all, caste census becomes a necessity, said CWC member and former president Rahul Gandhi. Addressing a press briefing after the high-level CWC meeting in Delhi, Gandhi said, Congress party had decided to not just support the idea of caste census but force the BJP to carry out of the census or make them get out of the way so that we can carry it out. Most of the parties in the India alliance are unanimous that the caste census should be implemented. There might be a few who have a slightly different position and that is fine we are quite flexible, but I am confident that the vast majority of the India alliance will support the caste census. Also Read: Kharge tells extended CWC not to praise PM unnecessarily Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader claimed that the former was not capable of conducting the caste census. The PM is incapable of doing the caste census. We have four CMs and out of that three are OBC leaders. BJP has 10 CMs and among them 1 is an OBC minister. We have to ask PM Modi what has he done for the OBC community? Modi never spoke a word on this, and this is so because it is acceptable for them. PMs only work is to distract the OBC community and divert their attention, he said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had chaired the CWC meeting today and urged party leaders to work in coordination, discipline and unity to ensure the partys victory in the elections while affirming that if the Congress came to power in 2024, it will immediately implement the women reservation bill. Taking to his official account in X, Kharge said social justice, public welfare and progressive development were the partys guarantees in the upcoming polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. Five states -- Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana -- will vote between November 7 and November 30 and the counting of votes will be held on December 3. Echoing similar sentiments to that of Gandhi, Kharge also raised the demand for conducting a nationwide caste census to ensure social justice and rights to the SCs, STs and OBCs in accordance with their population. The chief ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, besides the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders in the five poll-bound states, attended the CWC meeting. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Election Commission of India (ECI) will on Monday announce the schedule for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram, setting the stage for the last major electoral exercise ahead of the 2024 national elections. The model code of conduct will take effect with the announcement of the schedule. (PTI) The model code of conduct will take effect with the announcement of the schedule. The code governs the conduct of political parties and candidates in the run-up to elections. It bars government functionaries from making any announcements that can influence voters. In 2018, polls in the five states, which account for roughly 15% of Indias population and have around 200 million voters, were held in four phases between November 12 and December 7. Eighteen constituencies in Left-wing insurgency-hit southern Chhattisgarh voted in the first phase of polls in 2018 and the states remaining 72 in the second. Elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly were held on November 28, the same day the smallest of the poll-bound statesMizoramwith 40 assembly seats went to the polls in 2018. Rajasthan, which has a 200-member assembly, and Telangana (119-member House) went to the polls on December 7 five years back. Early polls were necessitated in Telangana in 2018 after chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the assembly in September of that year. Counting of votes was held across all five states and results were declared on December 11, 2018. Controversy marred the announcement of the poll schedule for the five states in 2018. The ECIs deferment by over two hours of a press conference to make the announcement triggered criticism. The Congress alleged that the delay was designed to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi a free hand at an election meeting that he was to address in Rajasthans Ajmer. At the meeting, the then chief minister Vasundhara Raje announced a waiver on electricity bills of up to 10,000 per annum for farmers just ahead of the imposition of the model code. The Congress wrested power from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Hindi-speaking heartland Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarhleading up to the 2019 general elections. TRS, which has since been renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), retained power in Telangana while the Mizo National Front formed the government in Mizoram. The term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17. The terms of the assemblies in the other four states end on different dates in January. The Congress lost power to BJP in Madhya Pradesh in March 2020 after the resignations of 22 legislators. The BJP has since 2003 been in power (barring 18 months between 2018 and 2020) in the state, where it faces anti-incumbency and infighting. Madhya Pradesh is one of the largest states that sends 29 members to the Lok Sabha. In May, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the Congress will form the next government in the state and win 150 of the 230 seats. The BJP lost power to Congress in Himachal Pradesh in 2022 and Karnataka in May. The Congress won Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan polls in 2018 but managed to win only three of the 65 Lok Sabha seats in the three states five months later. It is buoyed by its performance in Karnataka, where the Congress returned to power on the back of an ideological campaign centred on welfare, social justice, and anti-corruption. Telangana is expected to have a three-cornered contest between the BRS, the BJP, and the Congress. In Rajasthan, where the incumbent has not returned to power since 1985, both Congress and BJP have a problem with leadership. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have openly feuded while BJPs Raje has had her differences with the partys leadership. The Congress is hoping to retain power on the back of the welfarism and Gehlots delivery record. Assembly Election 2023 Highlights Updates: The Election Commission of India (ECI) today announced the schedule for assembly polls in five states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. The announcement entailed details of the electoral process dates including filing of nominations, polling days and result declaration for all five states. The Election Commission held a meeting on Friday of observers to develop strategy for smooth conduct of the polls. EC's police, general and expenditure observers met to streamline strategy to ensure the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct and that money does not affect the level-playing field. Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar (PTI). The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases, November 7 and November 17. The polling will be held in a single phase in Madhya Pradesh, coinciding with the second-phase voting in Chhattisgarh on November 17. Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls in a single phase on November 23 and November 30, respectively. Legislative elections in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17. Legislative elections in Mizoram will be on November 7. Read more The Election Commission of India is set to announce today the much-anticipated schedule for assembly polls in five states. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will hold a press conference at 12 noon to announce the poll schedule for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar addresses a press conference.(PTI) The announcement will detail the dates for various stages of the electoral process, including the filing of nominations, polling days, and the declaration of results. The Election Commission held a meeting of observers last Friday and asked them to ensure that the menace of money power is controlled thoroughly. The meeting involved general, police, and expenditure observers for the assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. The Commission, in an official statement, said that the Chief Election Commissioner, while addressing a briefing meeting for observers to be deployed for the forthcoming elections has directed the commission's observers to ensure a level playing field by working in a coordinated manner to ensure free, fair and inducement-free elections. The terms of the legislative assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are set to conclude on various dates in January 2024, while the term of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly will end on December 17 this year. While the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rules Telangana, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the BJP. The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and the Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state. With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just months away, the upcoming assembly elections will not only determine the political landscape at the state level but are also likely to have implications at the national level. Political parties have been actively gearing up for these contests, with high-stake battles expected in several constituencies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is banking on collective leadership, the reach, effectiveness and success of its large welfare schemes, and an aggressive electoral campaign built around Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the outcome of the upcoming polls in five states from being a repeat of 2018 when it suffered a setback, losing power in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. PREMIUM The BJP is focusing an aggressive electoral campaign built around Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the outcome of the upcoming polls in five states (Narendra Modi twitter) It did not have much to show for in Telangana and Mizoram where it won a seat each, although its ally the Mizo National Front won 26 of the 40 seats to form government in the North Eastern state. Also read: 5-state elections in numbers: Check imp dates, demographics, EC announcements Elections to pick new assemblies in these states will begin on November 7 and the results will be declared on December 3. The stakes in 2023 are perhaps higher than in 2018. The BJP-led NDA completes two terms in power in 2024. And with a tally of 303 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party, some political analysts argue, may have peaked. The BJP may also face a united Opposition if the constituents of the INDIA bloc can iron out their internal differences. Finally, the issue of a caste census, a precursor to a political and legal push for proportionate reservation, could fracture the coalition the BJP has built among voters across the upper castes, non-dominant other backward classes (OBCs) and the scheduled castes and tribes on the back of its focus on Hindutva and welfarism. At stake, specifically to these elections, is also its ability to break new ground -- in Telangana, where it has sought to position itself as the natural rival to the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, although most analysts believe the contest is largely between the incumbent and the Congress -- and retain its gains in the North East, potentially at risk from the Union governments and the party-led state governments handling of the Manipur ethnic conflict. The BJP is confident of outperforming its opponents based on the success of its welfare programmes, its foreign policy wins, the passage of landmark bills such as the womens reservation bill and the popularity of PM Modi. The BJP is counting on its collective leadership strategy in these elections to buck anti-incumbency, enforce a generational shift and weave a coalition of castes by moving away from a personality-oriented election. Multiple leaders who spoke about the partys election strategy, said that although its campaign will continue to pivot on social welfare schemes and PM Modi, there will be no chief ministerial face. There are advantages and disadvantages of going with a face. But the party feels at this stage it is better to go to the polls as a collective unit and then let the legislative party pick the CMs name, one leader said on condition of anonymity. Recent state elections have indicated that voters, even loyal ones, prefer strong local leaders. The partys feedback after the Karnataka loss indicated that the decision to replace party strongman and Lingayat leader BS Yediyurappa with BS Bommai had an adverse impact on the outcome. The party, however, has been evasive about naming Madhya Pradeshs incumbent CM in Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan as its chief ministerial candidate -- a departure from the norm for a party that usually names the incumbent CM as its candidate. The decision to field as many as three union ministers and a clutch of members of Parliament in the state is perceived as an indication that the party does not want any one leader to be seen as the face in the state that goes to polls on November 17. There are two reasons that party leaders cite for this: The fatigue factor associated with Chouhan who has been in the seat of power since 2005, except for a 15-month period when Kamal Nath ousted him from power in 2018; and the need to cultivate newer leadership. Though Chouhan was back in the CMs seat in 2020, there is a widespread feeling of anti-incumbency associated with his face, said a second leader. The party has adopted the same strategy in Rajasthan -- though it has rarely named chief ministerial candidates in states where it is not in power. The party is divided on naming former CM Vasundhara Raje as its face even though she is considered a leader with pan state support. Collective leadership is also expected to address the challenge of leadership crises. In states such as Telangana and Chhattisgarh, the party is scrambling to identify leaders with mass appeal. There are some states where the local leadership is not quite strong for various reasons -- from caste to governance issues. (In Chhattisgarh) After Raman Singhs exit in 2018, the state unit has been weak. There is no strong OBC or ST leader in the state who can be named as the CM, so the collective leadership strategy will address this problem, the leader cited above explained. These elections come in the wake of a growing demand for caste-based enumeration, which the BJP has been opposed to, the party will have to work harder to retain support from Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities who want the existing quotas to be revisited. Leaders said following the Bihar governments move to announce the findings of the caste survey there is a fear that similar demands will come from other states as well. The Congress government in Rajasthan has already announced that it will conduct a caste survey, and the party has said that if it wins the elections, it will conduct similar enumeration exercises in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The Prime Minister has already referred to the caste survey as divisive, and the BJP is hoping that its social welfare programmes will keep the larger Hindu vote bank together. The party is also relying on its ideological fount, the RSS, to steer the campaign on the ground to prevent a split in the Hindu vote. Leaders said the BJP is hopeful of retaining OBC support, critical to winning polls in four of the five states based on the benefits of welfare programmes, some of which have been specifically designed for the OBCs, such as the most recent Vishwakarma Yojana. The BJP has ensured political empowerment of the OBCs, giving them space in the organisational structure and the government. Similarly, SC and STs have been empowered by giving them avenues for education through scholarships, interest-free loans and opportunities to earn. The oppositions narrative will not stand a chance, the BJP leader said. In opposition-ruled states, the BJP will focus on exposing the lapses and irregularities of the incumbent government, party leaders said. Just as the Congress successfully used the allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka to build a narrative, the BJP has identified issues with a resonance on the ground such as corruption and unfulfilled promises of housing, jobs and loan waivers in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana Though it is opposed to freebies such as loan waivers, free units of power and reverting to the old pension scheme, the popularity of these promises and the benefits they accrued for the opposition have put pressure on the BJP to out-manoeuvre the opposition. The party is not dependent on allies in four of the five states, but in Mizoram, it is a junior partner of the MNF and ties have come under strain. The parties had contested elections separately in 2018 when the BJP fielded candidates in 39 of the states 40 assembly constituencies but won only one, Tuichawng; it also managed to scale its vote share from 0.37% to 8%. Though the state unit has made promises such as financial aid of up to 5 lakh for those wanting to start their own business and interest-free Kisan Credit Card (KCC), there is no groundswell of support. And MNFs concern over the continued violence in Manipur has cast a shadow on the ties and raised red flags in the BJP. A second BJP leader said Mizoram chief minister Zoramthangas comments against his Manipur counterpart Biren Singh (of the BJP) did not sit well with the partys leadership. His s decision to not collect biometric data of Chin-Kuki refugees coming from Myanmar, and his decision to support the No Confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha in August was also seen as a snub to his ally. He declined to comment on whether the MNF and BJP will continue being allies. Shadows at Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century is a sweeping new book by the historian Joya Chatterji. The book tells the subcontinents story from the British Raj through independence and partition to the forging of the modern nations of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This is no ordinary book of history, however. While there is plenty of politics and an in-depth discussion of citizenship, nationalism, and political leaders past and present, there is equal attention paid to unconventional topicssuch as food, leisure, and household dynamics. Historian Joya Chatterji explores the 20th century South Asia in her latest book. (HT Archive) Chatterji, a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and Reader in International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science, discussed her unconventional new work on last weeks episode of Grand Tamasha, a weekly podcast on Indian politics and policy co-produced by HT and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Although South Asia is often described as a region undergoing significant change, Chatterji sees greater signs of continuity. One of Chatterjis principal arguments is that the challenge of making citizens identify with their nations character and ambition has dominated South Asian politics for the latter half of the twentieth century. Even today, she writes It remains an ongoing project, hotly contested in all three countries, since there is no unanimity about what each nations character really is. From a stylistic perspective, one of the authors unusual choices was to break the fourth wall between the author and the reader, often reverting to first-person narratives while recounting the regions post-1947 history. What I wanted to do was place myself alongside [the readers] as this bug-eyed child, teenager, woman, becoming adult, growing oldstill struggling with an incomprehension, of the complexity of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, explained Chatterji. [South Asia] is a very difficult place to understand so I wanted to put them at ease with that sense of incomprehension. I also wanted to help them engage with the questions that that little girl had about the society around her. Those questions, to some extent, have remained my questions all my life, but I have not been able to ask them quite this way. In addition to her unique narrative style, Chatterji also chose to explore unorthodox issues like food and cinema in this career-spanning volume. In the book, she notes that South Asians care more about whose food they eat than any other people in the world. Asked why she devoted so much attention to this subject, Chatterji told host Milan Vaishnav that food provided a clear way of characterizing the diversity of South Asian society where, on the surface, so much culture appears to be shared. I think this is the darkest chapter of the book, the saddest chapter of the book because you really get to see some of the harshest playing out of caste and tribal [dynamics]and how poverty plays itself out among vulnerable people, explained the author. While there is an enormous celebration of Indian food in the West, I really want to say: Stop! Theres actually a lot that youre not seeing behind this celebration because food and inequality are so deeply intertwined. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON CHENNAI: A third-year undergraduate student at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras was found dead on Sunday night near the railway tracks in Andhra Pradesh, the institute authorities said in an email to its students on Monday. The circumstances around the third-year B. Tech studentss students death are not clear yet (File Photo) The institute said the student enrolled in the Metallurgical & Materials Engineering Departments B.Tech programme was travelling from Delhi to Chennai by train. The circumstances around the students death are not clear yet. The student left the Chennai campus on October 3 and was on his way back. The institute said the railway police were investigating the students tragic and untimely death and expresses its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased student. We request that everyone respect the privacy of the family at this unfortunate moment. The IIT-Madras authorities declined to share details of the incident. The Institute is extending all cooperation to the investigating authorities, the institute said in response to a request by HT. The demise of the young student is indeed a huge loss to the Institute and the society at large. The institute started conducting wellness sessions for students in May this year that involved one-on-one conversations between counsellors and students, staff and faculty of the institute after four students died by suicide from February to April this year. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Congress have dominated politics in Mizoram, the smallest of the five states going to the polls as part of the last major electoral exercise ahead of the 2024 national elections. In 2008, Congress defeated MNF. (PTI) The five statesMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoramwith around 200 million voters account for roughly 15% of Indias population. EC announces poll dates for five states In 2018, the MNF returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years, defeating the Congress in its last bastion in the northeast. The MNF bagged 26 of the 40 seats and secured a majority on its own with a 37.70% vote share. The Congress, which was in power since 2008, came third with just five seats and 30% of the votes. In 2008, Congress defeated MNF, which was in power since 1998, by winning 32 seats. Five years later, Congress won 34 seats while MNF managed to bag just five. Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM), which was formed a year earlier after the merger of seven parties, replaced the Congress as the second biggest party with eight seats in 2018. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to win just one seat in the Christian-majority state. The ZPM secured around 23% of the votes and the BJP eight per cent in 2018. MNF, a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance and North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), contested the polls on its own. The ZPM and the BJP were expected to play a bigger role in the government formation in 2023. Congress lawmaker and former minister K Beichhua last week defected to the BJP in a major boost to the ruling party at the Centre. Another Congress lawmaker K T Rokhaw joined the MNF last month in a jolt to the national party as it seeks to regain its influence. Both MNF and Congress have fielded 13 new candidates while home minister Lalchamliana opted out of the polls. Lalremruata Chhangte will replace Lalchamliana as the ruling partys candidate from the Hrangturzo constituency. The MNF denied the ticket to assembly speaker Lalrinliana Sailo following backlash over his statement calling for the partys merger with the BJP. Sailo was expected to join the BJP. J Doungel, who heads Mizoram Universitys political science department, said the fight was essentially between the MNF and ZPM. Though ZPM has gained momentum in the urban areas, it is not well established in the rural areas which can be their main disadvantage. Doungel added that the MNF has strong and well-established units and branches. To win an assembly election, a strong foothold in the rural areas is crucial. This is where the units and branches of political parties play a crucial role. As many as 8,51,895 voters are eligible to vote in Mizoram, where women voters (438925) outnumber male voters (412969). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rahul Gandhi on Monday announced that the Congress Working Committee, the party's apex decision making body, had decided unanimously to support caste census in the country. Rahul Gandhi addresses a briefing on Monday.(ANI/X) The CWC has decided unanimously to support caste census in the country. It is a powerful progressive step for the emancipation of the poor in the country, the Congress MP said in a briefing after the meeting. Gandhi launched an all out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the caste census. The PM is incapable of doing the caste census. Our 3 out of 4 CMs are from the OBC category. Out of 10 BJP CMs, only one CM is from the OBC category. How many BJP CMs are from the OBC category? The PM doesn't work for the OBCs but to distract them from main issues, he said. The Congress leader's remark comes on a day the Election Commission announced the dates for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. The CWC's resolution on supporting caste census comes days after the Bihar government, of which Congress is a part of, released the caste census survey report. The survey revealed that the extremely backward classes (EBC) comprise 36.01% of the population, the backward classes 27.12% and the general category 15.52% of the covered population. Congress-ruled Rajasthan has also issued an order to conduct caste survey in the state. A new chapter in social justice. The Union government, which is against the deprived, has been evading caste census in the country. This has resulted in social justice facing obstacles. Therefore, the state government has decided to conduct caste survey through its resources for ensuring benefits to all the needy in Rajasthan, chief minister Ashok Gehlot posted on social media platform X. On the basis of the results, we will formulate schemes for the needs of various sections of the society, he added. The state department of planning (Economic and Statistics) has been made the nodal department for the work. However, the order does not provide a time frame for the conduct of the population count. Sharing a copy of the order for caste survey on its official 'X' account, the ruling party said, The Congress government of Rajasthan will conduct a caste-based survey. Congress is working on its resolution of 'whoever participates, so does his participation'. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail India and Tanzania on Monday upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership as visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to expand cooperation in areas ranging from trade and investment to defence and counter-terrorism. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan being welcomed on her arrival, in New Delhi on Sunday (ANI) Tanzania is among countries that have benefited the most from Indias recent focus on Africa, where New Delhi has opened about 15 new missions. Hassans visit comes close on the heels of a pact for setting up the first overseas campus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Tanzania and the African Unions entry into the G20 as a full member during the summit hosted by India last month. Today we are transforming our age-old friendship into a strategic partnership, Modi said at a joint media interaction with Hassan, speaking in Hindi. The two countries identified new initiatives to expand cooperation in trade and investment, including a proposed agreement on increasing trade in local currencies, he said. The two sides have also agreed on a five-year roadmap for defence cooperation that encompasses new areas such as military training, maritime cooperation, capacity building and defence industry. The decision by IIT-Madras to open a campus in Zanzibar is an important milestone in our relations. It will become a hub of high-quality education not only for Tanzania but for students from regional countries, Modi said, describing Tanzania as Indias largest and closest development partner in Africa. As countries connected to the Indian Ocean, we emphasised the need to increase mutual coordination to face challenges like maritime security, piracy and drug trafficking. We view Tanzania as a valued partner in all endeavours in the Indo-Pacific, Modi said. India and Tanzania are unanimous that terrorism is the most serious security threat to humanity and have decided to increase cooperation in counter-terrorism, he added. Hassan described India as an extended family member and said her visit is aimed at reaffirming Tanzanias commitment to deepen friendship and cooperation. Noting that India is Tanzanias third largest trading partner, she expressed her countrys gratitude for Indias role in ensuring the African Unions membership of the G20, debt relief initiatives for vulnerable nations and securing finances for development of clean energy in developing states. The two sides signed six agreements, including a technical agreement between the Indian Navy and Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation on sharing white shipping information, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sharing digital public infrastructure, and a MoU between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Tanzania Investment Centre for setting up of an industrial park in Tanzania. India is the largest destination for Tanzanias exports and two-way trade was worth $6.4 billion in 2022-23, including Indian exports of $3.9 billion. India is the fifth largest investor in Tanzania with investments of $3.7 billion, and Indian companies have executed 630 projects and created 60,000 jobs. Dammu Ravi, secretary (economic relations), external affairs ministry, told a media briefing that India initiated the move for trade in local currencies last year and both sides have opened vostro accounts to facilitate this. Some transactions have already happened, although its a very small amount...about $50 million dollars, he said, describing the move as a work in progress. The MoU on digital public infrastructure will create an opening for Indian companies to offer services in areas such as fintech and digital payments, he said. In the field of security, Ravi said, Tanzania has a significant interest in ensuring that shipping lines are free from piracy or interference. Modi and Hassan discussed cooperation in maritime security, especially controlling piracy, drug trafficking and terrorism, he added. Tanzania also expressed interest in acquiring Indian defence equipment. We have to see how we can take it forward because that requires detailing of the items and...the schedule of payments, Ravi said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail The Indian Navy has completed a review of ranks held by sailors, inherited from the British era, and is set to replace them with Indianised designations as part of a larger drive to jettison colonial military traditions, with gender-neutral changes to the ranks also to be announced shortly, two officials aware of the matter said on Sunday. Indian Navy personnel during a guard of honour ceremony in New Delhi. (Sanchit Khanna/HT File Photo) More than 65,000 sailors will now get new ranks. Seven ranks in the navys personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre will be redesignated, including three existing titles that are not gender-neutral in a service that began inducting women as sailors for the first time earlier this year, one of the officials said, requesting anonymity. The Indianised ranks will be the latest in a series of changes introduced by the navy in the past one year to discard traditions associated with the British empire, including adopting a new ensign, doing away with batons for commanders and allowing traditional Indian wear in officers messes. The ranks that will be made to align with Indian traditions are Master Chief Petty Officer Ist Class, Master Chief Petty Officer IInd Class, Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Leading Seaman, Seaman Ist Class and Seaman IInd Class, HT has learnt. Indianising ranks for the PBOR cadre was on our to-do list, a second official said, declining to be named. The existing terms are an embodiment of British traditions. Also, gender-neutral ranks are a must to make the service environment inclusive. The new designations have been sent to the defence ministry for approval, which is expected soon. Officer ranks will stay. According to internal feedback, ranks with the petty officer nomenclature were particularly disliked by their holders, the second official added. The entry of women into the navys PBOR cadre this year under the Agnipath recruitment scheme necessitated the switch to gender-neutral ranks, the officials said. The first batch of Agniveers, including around 270 women, graduated from INS Chilka, the navys lakeside training facility in Odisha, and joined service in March. The Agnipath model marked a departure from the militarys decades-old recruitment system that ended after the government announced the new scheme last year. It seeks to recruit soldiers for four years, with a provision to retain 25% of them in regular service for 15 more years after fresh screening. Much of the Indianisation began two years ago after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for erasing colonial customs and adopting Indian ways in the armed forces at the Combined Commanders Conference at Kevadia in Gujarat. This led the three services to identify customs that seemed not to fit with their culture in the 75th year of the countrys Independence. The Indianisation of military culture has manifested itself in several moves, including the navy adopting a new ensign, with the flag drawing inspiration from the seal of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Cross of St George being dropped. It also ended the practice of senior officers carrying batons. The defence ministry has launched a drive to rename British-era cantonments as military stations. In a related development, the army recently announced plans to draw on treatises such as Kautilyas Arthashastra, Kamandakas Nitisara and Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvars Thirukkural for lessons on statecraft, strategy, diplomacy and warfare from ancient Indian scriptures. This effort to establish the relevance of these centuries-old strategic doctrines in the 21st century is part of a project named Udbhav, or emergence. These moves come against the backdrop of a flurry of efforts by the government to encourage Indianisation in sectors including education, health and science. In his 2022 Independence Day speech, Modi spoke of the panch pran or five pledges for India to become a developed country by its 100th year of Independence. One of those resolutions was to uproot all signs of colonial slavery from mindset and habits. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Congress Working Committee Monday reiterated its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity while also calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations on all outstanding issues. A boy holds a Palestinian flag during a demonstration to express support for the people of Palestine, in Cape Town, South Africa, October 9.(Reuters) In a resolution passed at its four-hour meeting, the Congress' top decision-making body said the CWC expresses its dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East where over a thousand people have been killed in the last two days. "The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect," the resolution said. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) also called for an immediate ceasefire and for negotiations to begin on all outstanding matters, including the imperative issues that have led to the present conflict. The assertions in the resolution came a day after the Congress condemned the attacks on the people of Israel, saying violence of any type never provides any solution and it must stop. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had on Sunday said his party has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine must be fulfilled through dialogue while ensuring the national security interests of the Israelis. "The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel," he said on X. Ramesh also said his party "has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people". "Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop," the Congress leader said. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel -- the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The executive committee of the Kerala unit of the Janata Dal (Secular) on Saturday passed a resolution stating that it will continue to remain with the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), days after its national leadership decided to align with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Karnataka, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, where the party has much of its strength. Mathew T Thomas, Kerala president of JD(S), said the state executive committee declares that it will continue and strengthen the four-decade-old alliance with the Left, secular forces in Kerala. (Wikimedia Commons) The Kerala unit of the JD(S) has been a member of the LDF for over four decades. Out of the two MLAs from the party in the state, one holds the power ministry portfolio in the state government. Another meeting of state officials and district presidents is scheduled to be held on October 11, to discuss the way forward for the party, a JD(S) leader familiar with the matter said. The question is whether the entity in the state can retain its two MLAs under the JD(S) name and party symbol without the permission of the national unit. Mathew T Thomas, Thiruvalla MLA and the state president of JD(S), said, The state executive committee of the JD(S) fully rejects the decision of the partys national president to align with the NDA. The committee declares that it will continue and strengthen the four-decade-old alliance with the Left, secular forces in Kerala. He said that the state unit will adopt the same stand that it did 17 years ago, when the national leadership of the party led by HD Kumaraswamy had aligned with the BJP in Karnataka. However, the situation is different now as the BJP is in power at the Centre and this development has come up just months ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections. Though the JD(S) does not contest Lok Sabha elections in the state as part of the LDF, questions will be asked as to how a section of the party that is allied with the BJP nationally can be a part of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF government. On September 30, Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan, taunting the CPI(M), said that the government in Kerala is an LDF-NDA government, pointing to the presence of the JD(S). He asked the CPI(M) and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to clarify how an NDA constituent can continue to be a part of the Left-led state cabinet. JD(S) MLA and Keralas power minister K Krishnankutty told HT, As of now, we have decided that we will not join hands with the BJP. We have severed our ties with the national unit of the party and will remain an independent entity here [Kerala]. We will be a part of the LDF. He added, We are holding talks with parties with socialist and Lohia principles and we will take an appropriate decision later. We have not decided on merging with any other party right now. Though there were talks for a merger between the Loktantric Janata Dal (LJD) and the JD(S), the discussions remained inconclusive due to factional differences, people familiar with the matter said. The LJD, which has one MLA and is allied with the LDF, is scheduled to merge with the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on October 12. The ball is now in the court of the CPI(M) on whether it will accept the independent stand of the JD(S) and allow it to remain a part of the alliance as well as the cabinet. The LDF convenor was unavailable for comment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Kerala-based woman working as a caregiver in Israel was injured in the unprecedented multi-front attack by militant outfit Hamas on that country since Saturday. Sheeja Anand, a native of Payyavoor in Kannur district of Kerala, was injured in the missile strikes on Ashkelon, a coastal city in the southern part of Israel on Saturday, while she was on a video call with her husband, her family said. The Indian mission reached out to her for support and has been in touch with her family in the Kannur district of Kerala. "Her family has been informed, and we are in constant contact both with Ms. Sheeja and her family," an embassy source said. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday.(REUTERS) There is no reason for any concern at the moment, informed sources told PTI. Sheeja's sister told TV channels that while on the video call, Sheeja told her husband Anand that she can hear the missile strikes and he told her to be careful and safe. "In the middle of the conversation, the call got disconnected and thereafter, we could not reach her for several hours. Later in the evening some of her colleagues told us that she was injured in the attack and her phone fell somewhere," the sister said. On Sunday afternoon, the family saw Sheeja in a hospital bed from where she told her mom -- "Amma, I am ok", her mother said. "I barely got to see her face for a short time. Thereafter, there was no information. Then yesterday night we were informed by her colleagues that she was being shifted to another hospital for spinal surgery. "I thought only her hands and legs were injured. Now even her spine is injured," she said tearfully. Sheeja's brother-in-law Devan told PTI that she has been working as a caregiver in Israel for the past seven years and that she had come to Kerala last year for a visit. Her husband Anand was on his way to Pune with their child for some exam, Devan added. While most of the hostilities are confined to around 10 per cent of Israel's area, especially its southern part of Ashkelon, there are concerns among people there over rumours of change in the dynamics of certain Palestinian communities living in Israel. According to Anish, a native of Erumeli in Kottayam district of the state, whose wife, brother-in-law and sister are working in that country as caregivers, only around 10 per cent of Israel is affected by the fight between Hamas and the Israeli defence forces. He said that his wife, who is working with a Jewish family in Jerusalem, said that she was safe and secure, but has expressed apprehension over rumours of change in dynamics within certain Palestinian communities in Israel. "She has heard rumours that they are showing leanings towards the Hamas group," he said, while speaking to PTI. Besides that, there were also instances of mobile phones being hacked and cyber attacks on those who claim that the situation is normal in most parts of Israel, he claimed. Anish said that his sister and brother-in-law who are in Ashkelon told him tanks were rolling into that area and while there were sounds of fighting, they were safe. "Defence forces and police are on the streets and are looking for the insurgents who have infiltrated into Israel. The insurgents' presence is also a matter of concern among people," he added. On being asked whether his family members wished to return to India due to the ongoing fighting, he replied in the negative. Anish said that the Israeli government was ensuring their security and the Indian embassy has asked everyone to lay low and be safe and await further instructions. Meanwhile, Rejimon Kuttappan, a migrant rights activist, said that another reason many Indian nationals -- mostly working as caregivers -- may not want to come back would be the huge amounts they have paid to agencies and middlemen to get a visa for going to Israel. "I know of people who have spent 20 lakh for a visa which actually costs only 1.25 lakh. People would have had to take loans or mortgage property to get those amounts. "So they will not want to return as they have to pay off their debts," Kuttappan, author of 'Undocumented: Stories of Indian Migrants in the Arab Gulf', told PTI. They can pay off their debts only if they continue to work in Israel, where caregivers are paid between 1.25 lakh to nearly 2 lakh per month as salary, he said. "Therefore, anyone who has gone to Israel recently and has paid huge amounts for the visa would certainly not want to come back," Kuttappan said. He also said that he was in touch with many of the people from Kerala who have gone to Israel and they said that they were safe and sound. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday took a swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party after the Election Commission announced the dates for assembly elections in five states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. Kharge took to social media platform X and said,"With the announcement of assembly election in five states, the declaration for the farewell of the BJP and its allies has been sounded. The Congress will go to the voters of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram with its full strength. Public welfare, social justice and development are Congress guarantees". ALSO READ: Will right away implement womens quota bill if voted to power: Kharge at CWC Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.(ANI file) Kharge's party colleague and Congress MP Randeep Surjewala told news agency ANI,"People in all these 5 states will take BJP out of power and prove that a huge change will come in the country in 2024. 8.5 crore people in Madhya Pradesh are ready to remove BJP. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan is tired and retired". The Congress had come to power in Madhya Pradesh in 2018 after winning 114 seats and formed the government under Kamal Nath. However, his government was reduced to minority after MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned and joined the BJP. In 2020, Nath resigned ahead of the floor test and the saffron party returned to power under Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Election Commission has announced that the election 230 seats of Madhya Pradesh assembly will be held on November 17. The grand old party is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and is hoping to repeat its 2018 success. While Chhattisgarh will go to polls in two phases on November 7 and 17, Rajasthan votes on November 23. In the northeastern state of Mizoram, the Congress is eyeing a return to power. In 2018, the Mizo National Front had ended its 10-year-long rule. This time, Mizoram goes to poll on November 7. The southern state of Telangana has been ruled by K Chandrashekar Rao's BRS (formerly TRS) since its inception in 2014. In the previous election held in 2018, KCR's party had swept the election by winning 88 of 119 seats. Telangana goes to poll on November 30. The counting of votes in all the five states will take place on December 3. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday said PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti was not wrong in calling for resolution of the long-standing issue of Palestine. Pointing to India's decades-long stance on the conflict, Raut said then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had extended support to Yasser Arafat, the former President of the state of Palestine. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut. (ANI) This is an international issue. As far as Palestine is concerned, our country has had a tradition. Indira Gandhi had extended support to Yasser Arafat at that time. I will not say that Mehbooba (Mufti) ji said anything wrong, but in such global matters, the nation has a role to play, Raut said. Mufti on Sunday said she hoped for an end to hostilities between the Israelis and the Palestinians, adding that it always takes "death & destruction for the world to awaken to the Israel-Palestinian conflict". "Praying for bloodshed to end between Israel & Palestine. May peace prevail," Mufti posted on X. Later in another post, she said, "Unfortunate that it takes such death & destruction for the world to awaken to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. 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," Mufti added. The conflict escalated Saturday after Hamas militants launched a surprise assault on Israel that combined a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip and infiltration into Israeli territory using para-gliders. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas. More than 1,100 people including civilians and combatants have died so far in the latest armed conflict while the fighting continued in several locations Monday. 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 Naresh Kumar was fast asleep when police sirens woke him up around 3am on October 4. A migrant worker, Kumar recalled that fateful night when flash floods hit Sikkim which has claimed at least 82 lives so far with around 140 still missing. A flash flood triggered by an outburst in a glacial lake in north Sikkim on Tuesday night barrelled down the river Teesta. (AP photo) We were told that a dam located upstream of the Teesta river had collapsed and we must rush to safer places. I grabbed a bag and ran up the hill to save my life, Kumar, who had left his home in Jammu and Kashmir and come to Sikkim for work, said. A technician at NHPC Indias Teesta VI hydel power project in south Sikkim, Kumar is among those who witnessed the destruction. Also Read: Over 3,000 people stranded in Sikkims Lachen, Lachung towns; rescue ops underway Kumar was among the 59 migrant workers from different parts of India who reached Bengals Siliguri town on Saturday night after travelling for ten hours in a Sikkim government bus which followed an alternative route through Lava and Gorubathan in Kalimpong district. Recalling the nightmare, Kumar said, We had less than 15 minutes to save our lives. Had we not taken shelter in the hills, our names would have figured today on the list of the deceased or those who are still missing. As the migrant workers prepared to leave for home, Himmat Singh from Punjab said, The residential camp where I lived was washed away along with heavy engineering vehicles. Singh, who used to drive earth movers and cranes for a private company hired to carry out civic work at the 500 MW Teesta VI project, said, The situation in Sikkim is grave to say the least. We thank the government for providing these buses for free despite the challenges it faces. Agam Kumar, a resident of Bihar, was a technician on the same project. I can only thank God for saving my life. After we managed to reach a shelter provided by NHPC, we turned some search lights at the river. It was carrying away trucks that would have otherwise sunk. The vehicles looked like toys. We heard many people crying for help, Kumar said. Sikkim is witnessing new problems in the aftermath of the disaster. There is severe shortage of essential commodities because roads and communication lines have collapsed, he added. Several bridges and dams were destroyed in Sikkim which depends heavily on hydel power. The dam at the 1200 MW project of Teesta Urja Limited at Chungthang was demolished along with a bridge that connected it to the power house. A flash flood triggered by an outburst in a glacial lake in north Sikkim on Tuesday night barrelled down the river Teesta in the early hours of Wednesday killing at least 82 people while at least 140 remain 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 Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram will go to the polls between November 7 and 30 while the results will be declared on December 3, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Monday as it set the stage for the last major electoral exercise ahead of the 2024 national elections. One-sixth of the constituencies in the country will go to the polls in the five states. (PTI) 5 states to go for elections from November 7 - 30 The Congress wrested power from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Hindi-speaking heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh months before the 2019 general elections. But it managed to win only three of the 65 Lok Sabha seats in the three states five months later as BJP returned to power with a bigger majority at the Centre. The fresh elections encapsulate the countrys diversityfrom Rajasthan in the north to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in central India, Telangana in the south and Mizoram in the northeast. They are also the first major polls since 26 Opposition parties formed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance in July to take on the BJP in the 2024 elections. Mizoram, the smallest of the poll-bound states with 40 assembly seats, will go to the polls this year first on November 7. Elections in Left-wing insurgency-hit Chhattisgarh, which has a 90-member assembly, will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will go to the polls on November 7, 23 and 30. The term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17. The terms of the assemblies in the other four states end on different dates in January. One-sixth of the constituencies (679) in the country will go to the polls in the five states, where 82 million male and 72 million female voters are eligible to vote. The ECI has set up 177000 polling stations with 101000 of them having live web-casting facilities. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, who announced the poll schedule, said special efforts were made to register first-time voters, senior citizens, transgender people and those with disabilities to ensure maximum voter participation. Every polling station will have all basic amenities to act as an enabling factor, said Kumar. He added 5.78 million new voters across age groups have been added to the electoral roll. As many as 940 checkpoints have been set up to prevent the transportation of cash, liquor and drugs, which may been used to influence the election results. A new real-time reporting system has also been set up to ensure coordination between different agencies. The model code of conduct, which governs political parties and candidates in the run-up to elections and bars government functionaries from making any announcements that can influence voters, takes effect with the announcement of the poll schedule. In 2018, polls in the five states, which account for roughly 15% of Indias population, were held in four phases between November 12 and December 7. Eighteen constituencies in Left-wing insurgency-hit southern Chhattisgarh voted in the first phase of polls in 2018 and the states remaining 72 in the second. Elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly were held on November 28, the same day Mizoram went to the polls in 2018. Rajasthan, which has a 200-member assembly, and Telangana (119-member House) went to the polls on December 7 five years back. Early polls were necessitated in Telangana in 2018 after chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the assembly in September of that year. Counting of votes was held across all five states and results were declared on December 11, 2018. Controversy marred the announcement of the poll schedule for the five states in 2018. The ECIs deferment by over two hours of a press conference to make the announcement triggered criticism. The Congress alleged that the delay was designed to give Prime Minister Narendra Modi a free hand at an election meeting that he was to address in Rajasthans Ajmer. At the meeting, the then chief minister Vasundhara Raje announced a waiver on electricity bills of up to 10,000 per annum for farmers just ahead of the imposition of the model code in Rajasthan, where the incumbent has not returned to power since 1985. Both Congress and BJP have faced leadership problems in Rajasthan. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot have openly feuded while Raje has had her differences with the partys leadership. The Congress is hoping to retain power on the back of welfarism and Gehlots delivery record. The Congress hopes to return to power in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, the largest of the states going to the polls that sends 29 members to the Lok Sabha. It has set a target of winning 150 of the 230 seats in the state. The Congress lost power to the BJP in Madhya Pradesh in March 2020 after the resignations of 22 legislators. The BJP has since 2003 been in power (barring 18 months between 2018 and 2020) in Madhya Pradesh, where it faces anti-incumbency and infighting. The BJP lost power to Congress in Himachal Pradesh in 2022 and Karnataka in May. The Congress is particularly buoyed by its performance in Karnataka, where it returned to power on the back of an ideological campaign centred on welfare, social justice, and anti-corruption. Telangana Rashtra Samithi, which has since been renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), retained power in Telangana in 2018 while the Mizo National Front (MNF) formed the government in Mizoram, defeating the Congress in its last bastion in the northeast. Telangana is expected to have a three-cornered contest between the BRS, the BJP, and the Congress. The BRS is hoping to return to power after winning the polls in 2014 and 2018 even as a resurgent Congress is expected to put up a stronger fight. A BRS leader, who did not want to be named, said their internal surveys indicated discontentment among the people against the government. In Mizoram, the ruling MNF and the Congress have dominated politics. In 2018, the MNF returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years, defeating the Congress. The MNF bagged 26 of the 40 seats and secured a majority on its own with a 37.70% vote share. The Congress, which was in power since 2008, came third with just five seats and 30% of the votes. The Congress swept the polls in Chhattisgarh in 2018 winning 71 seats in the 90-member assembly after 15 years of the BJP rule. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has over the last five years consolidated Congresss position by promoting regional identity. Over the past two decades, economic growth has pulled millions of workers out of agriculture in India. However, growth has not proved as effective in creating regular salaried employment. That is, most workers leaving agriculture have either left the workforce (in the case of women) or found employment in the informal sector. Moreover, even the salaried jobs created have been largely of the informal kind which do not come with written contracts or benefits. The consequence has been a persistent informal workforce, outside of the agricultural sector, largely in casual wage work and self-employment, and a growing informal economy within the formal sector. HT Image Five days after flash floods struck Sikkim, airborne rescue operations started for the first time on Monday morning to evacuate people stranded in remote locations such as Lachen and Lachung in north Sikkim. The choppers after dropping the stranded people at Mangan returned to Lachen with essential supplies, relief materials. (HT file photo) Airborne rescue operations to evacuate people from Lachen have started this morning for the first time. The first batch of people, who were evacuated from Lachen by choppers of the Indian Air Force, landed at Ringhim helipad in Mangan, a top official of the Sikkim government told HT. The choppers after dropping the stranded people at Mangan returned to Lachen with essential supplies, relief materials, the official said. Lachen is the base for tourists going to Gurudongmar Lake, a high-altitude lake situated at an altitude of 17,000 feet close to the Indo-China border while Lachung is the stopover for tourists heading to Yumthang valley. A flash flood triggered by an outburst in a glacial lake in north Sikkim on Tuesday night barrelled down the river Teesta in the early hours of Wednesday killing at least 82 people while at least 140 remain missing. Mangan district in north Sikkim, where the two towns are located, was the worst hit. Also Read: Sikkim flood toll hits 82 amid slush and debris Around 50 villages and towns have been hit in the district alone and more than 30,000 people have been affected, the latest estimate of the Sikkim government suggests. At least four people have been killed in the district and more than a dozen remain missing. While a relief and rescue team, comprising NDRF personnel, managed to reach Chungthang for the first time on Friday night, the ITBP personnel rescued 56 people using a zip-line on Saturday, said an official. A makeshift bamboo bridge has been built by the army and local volunteers to connect Chungthang with Pegong. The army is constructing another bridge there. The makeshift bamboo bridge will enable transportation of stranded tourists and local people to the other side from Chungthang. A senior official of the state tourist department said that at least 10 Indian tourists, who were stranded at Chungthang, were guided by a homestay owner who led them to Rangrang through treacherous hilly trails, from where they tourists were picked up by the tourism department officials and brought to safety in the states capital in Gangtok. Air-borne operations could not take off till Sunday in the flood-hit regions because of inclement weather conditions. There was rain in Mangan on Sunday. Gangtok too received rain, said an official. Meanwhile, an inter-ministerial central team is expected to reach Gangtok on Monday to assess the damage. The team will meet top officials of the state later on Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joydeep Thakur Joydeep Thakur is a Special Correspondent based in Kolkata. He focuses on science, environment, wildlife, agriculture and other related issues. ...view detail All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday reacted to the ongoing war between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel, saying India historically stood with Palestine. He claimed the shift in India's policy (towards the Palestinian cause) came when the Congress came into power. AIMIM Chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi.(PTI) A late BJP leader once said about Palestine that land worth billions has been acquired. We had released a post stamp for solidarity with Palestine. This shifted when Congress came into power," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Owaisi was ostensibly referring to a viral video of former prime minister and late BJP stalwart, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, in which he speaks in favour of the Palestinian cause. The AIMIM chief also referred to the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995 between Israel and Palestine. "The Oslo Agreement came into existence which said that in theWest Bank and Gaza, an independent Palestinian country would be made. It has been 30 years now... The world knows that there is the Al-Aqsa mosque there. The Gaza Strip has been blocked for the last 16 years... It is an open-air prison," the AIMIM leader said. Israel on Saturday witnessed an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants who fired rocket barrages and stormed Israeli cities. Tel Aviv later announced a war against the militant group. It also initiated a massive airstrike operation in the Gaza Strip and surrounding areas. So far, over 1100 people have been killed in the war and thousands have been injured and displaced. Over 130 Israeli and other nationals are also feared taken hostage by Hamas. Israel-Palestine conflict The Israel-Palestine conflict has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Zionist Jews began immigrating to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, with the aim of establishing a Jewish homeland. This movement eventually led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, resulting in a war between Israel and its Arab neighbors and the displacement of Palestinian Arabs. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A tough political battle between the three major parties the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- is likely in Telangana for the upcoming assembly polls. The Election Commission of India. (File photo) The BRS, headed by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, would like to score an electoral hat-trick of wins while it is a do-or-die battle for the Congress; for the BJP, it is a fresh opportunity to conquer the southern state after failing to retain its hold in the neighbouring Karnataka in May this year. For the BRS, which has won two consecutive electoral battles in 2014 and 2018 after the formation of the new state, the upcoming election will be a challenge. There is no precedence of a chief minister whether it was during the combined Andhra Pradesh regime or after the bifurcation winning three consecutive terms. KCR would like to return to power for the third consecutive term but knows it will be easier said than done; as a BRS leader put it, asking not to be named, internal surveys have indicated that there is large-scale discontent among the people against the government and MLAs. In the 2014 assembly elections, the BRS (then Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS) won only 63 out of 119 assembly seats in the state, but between 2014 and 2018, KCR systematically decimated the Congress despite the fact that the latter had granted statehood to Telangana. Out of 21 Congress MLAs, as many as eight MLAs defected to the BRS. Similarly, 12 out of 15 Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLAs, three YSR Congress party MLAs and two Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs, besides an independent MLA, also defected to the BRS. The BJP, despite having five MLAs in the assembly, did not emerge as a major force to reckon with in the next five years. Between 2014 and 2018, KCR strengthened his position and popularity by launching various welfare schemes like Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and Kalyan Lakshmi besides launching developmental programmes like Mission Kakatiya (restoration of defunct irrigation tanks) and Mission Bhagiratha (bringing piped drinking water to every doorstep) and taking up major irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram on Godavari river. Even as the opposition parties struggled because of leadership crisis and lack of strength and resources, the BRS president sprang a surprise on them by dissolving the state assembly eight months in advance and went in for early elections in December in 2018. The Congress, plagued with internal wrangling and lack of proper leadership, committed a political blunder by joining hands with the TDP, the CPI and a smaller outfit like Telangana Jana Samithi to form an alliance. The campaign by TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu came as a blessing in disguise for KCR, who again exploited the Telangana statehood sentiment. As a result, the BRS won the elections for a second successive term by bagging 88 assembly seats, while the Congress ended up with 19 assembly seats. The BJP, which lost deposits in as many as 103 seats, could win just one assembly seat. That wasnt the end: 12 of the 19 Congress MLAs also defected to the BRS while the party lost one more seat in the by-elections to Huzurnagar seat and another MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, who defected to the BJP also lost to the BRS. With two TDP legislators defecting to the BRS as well, the strength of the ruling party rose to 104. However, the electoral situation seems to have changed in the past five years. Within months of the December 2018 assembly elections, the Congress and the BJP made rapid electoral recovery by winning three and four Lok Sabha seats in the May 2019 parliament elections. The BJP also emerged as a strong force in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections by winning 48 out of 150 divisions, apart from two assembly seats in the by-elections to Dubbak and Huzurabad seats. The party, under the leadership of Bandi Sanjay, expanded its influence at the grassroots. On the other hand, the Congress, too, grew as a powerful party under the leadership of A Revanth Reddy. Reddy, along with other party seniors like Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka travelled across the state to strengthen the partys network. Also Read: Telangana launches breakfast scheme for schoolchildren Though KCR continued with his earlier welfare schemes and introduced new schemes like Dalit Bandhu and KCR kits etc, corruption allegations rocked the party at the constituency level, leading to a lot of discontent among the people, a discontent that was readily exploited by the Congress and the BJP. According to reports, majority of BRS sitting MLAs are facing strong anti-incumbency factors in their respective constituencies. Despite the political headwinds, KCR, did not drop sitting MLAs and retained over than 90% of them in the list of candidates announced in September. The outcome of the recent assembly elections in Karnataka has given a much-needed boost to the Telangana Congress. Several disgruntled senior leaders from the BRS and the BJP defected to the Congress in the last few months, as a result of which the party could overcome the leadership crisis in several districts. Supported by political strategist Sunil Kanugolu of Mindshare Analytics, the Congress came out with six guarantees for the people of Telangana for the upcoming elections. As far as the BJP is concerned, the party seems to be going through problems of its own. The party, which until early this year, was seen as the front runner for the upcoming polls plunged into a crisis with the change of guard in the state Sanjay being replaced by Union minister G Kishan Reddy. Several leaders, who were supposed to join the BJP from the Congress and the BRS, dropped their plans to do so. There is sudden lull in the BJP camp and the party has not been able to organise any mass outreach programmes. Despite the fact that the top leadership of the party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah have been regularly visiting Telangana and addressing meetings, the party has not been able to regain its strength. Among the other parties, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), is as usual confined to the old city of Hyderabad. Though the party has announced that it would field candidates in more than 40 constituencies in Telangana in the coming assembly elections, it is expected to retain its seven traditional seats in Hyderabad. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rajasthan goes to polls on November 23 in a contest between the incumbent Congress, which hopes to break the trend of incumbents being voted out on the back of a slew of welfare schemes, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is hoping to leverage Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity and collective leadership, to come to power. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot Rajasthan has seen 11 assembly elections in last five decades, with the incumbent government managing to win just twice, in 1985 and 1993; both the times, it was the Congress. Also read: Will Congress reverse trend or BJP come to power? Rajasthan to vote on Nov 23 In the last five years the state has seen a rebellion by 22 MLAs led by then deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot in July 2020 (he and the MLAs eventually returned to the fold), and a mass resignation dramaby Congress MLAs in September 2022 when the party tried to replace Ashok Gehlot by asking him to contest the polls for national party president (he stayed CM and the partys central leadership seems to have made peace with him). And at least till August, when they made peace, Gehlot and Pilot were at odds. The BJP has its problems too evident in the fact that the partys state unit has seen three presidents in the past five years ; and evident in the fact that there is no clarity on who will lead the government should the party win. Within the partys local unit, several names have done the rounds -- former two-time chief minister Vasundhara Raje; Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat; Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw; even Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla. The party has simply announced that it will contest unitedly under the leadership of PM Modi. The BJP is hoping to raise the issues of law and order -- especially crimes against women -- and corruption, especially the Red Dairy issue raised by a former minister in Gehlot government, Rajendra Singh Gudha, before he was thrown out of the cabinet. Gudha has joined Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena faction. While the BJP has linked the dairy to corruption by Gehlot and the PM has raised the issue in at least three election rallies in Rajasthan, the Congress has downplayed the incident. The Congress is hoping to cash in on the slew of welfare schemes Gehlot has launched, and the 11th hour announcement of a caste survey similar to the enumeration carried out in Bihar -- a move aimed at attracting other backward class (OBC) votes. Interestingly, both the Congress and the BJP are looking for a generational change. The two parties plan to retire several senior leaders and give chance to younger leaders. According to senior BJP leaders, the party is also expected to field some of the union ministers from the state as candidates, like it has done in Madhya Pradesh, where three union ministers --- Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste --- have been asked to contest. The BJP on Monday announced a list of 41 candidates for Rajasthan, which includes seven sitting Members of Parliament. The importance of Rajasthan polls for the BJP can be gauged from the fact that the PM has visited the state 11 times since January and nine times in last four months, repeatedly targeting Gehlot over law and order and corruption, while highlighting impact of central government schemes in the state. Gehlot has come up with poll slogan of Rahat wali Sarkar (Relief providing government) to push his governments welfarist credentials. The Rajasthan government has announced several social security schemes such as subsidised cooking gas cylinder at 500 for each household; free ration to poor families; Chiranjeevi Health Insurance of 25 lakh to each family; free mobile phones to women; and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for government employees. By some estimates, it spends around 54,000 crore a year on welfare. In 2018, the Congress won 100 seats in the 200-member assembly and the BJP, 73. Gehlot formed the government with support of the BSP and independent MLAs. In past five years, the Congress has won five of the seven assembly bypolls, with the Hanuman Beniwal led Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) and the BJP winning one each. In 2013, when Gehlot was incumbent CM, the party won 21 seats and the BJP, 163. The Congress may face some more trouble with Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM likely to put candidates in 20 Muslim dominated constituencies; the Congress won 18 of these in 2018. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced it will contest all 200 seats in Rajasthan. The Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) is likely to have impact in the tribal belt in southern Rajasthan, posing challenge to the Congress and BJP there. And Gudha will lead Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the state. Senior Congress leader and chairman Social Welfare Board, Archana Sharma, said the government in Rajasthanhas given benefits with both the hands to all sections of the society. We have left no stone unturned to Rajasthan into a welfare state, where the government cares for people. This election for us is about the performance and work done, whereas for BJP it has always been about polarisation and religion. BJP MLA Vasudev Devnani said the people have decided to oust Congress from Rajasthan. They failed to fulfil promises made and cheated youth and farmers. The atrocities against women in the state cant be hidden. Political analyst Manish Godha said: The big question is whether the trend will change or not? The Congress is counting on the work done, especially related to social sector, while the BJP continues to bank on Modis face, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sachin Saini Sachin Saini is Special Correspondent for Rajasthan. He covers politics, tourism, forest, home, panchayati raj and rural development, and development journalism. ...view detail The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider on October 13 a petition moved by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Sharad Pawar, seeking directives to the Maharashtra assembly speaker for a time-bound decision on the disqualification petitions pending against a group of rebel legislators, including Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. The Sharad Pawar camp has filed three petitions for disqualification of rebel MLAs. (PTI photo) A bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, noted that the present petition should be heard with a similar plea demanding quick adjudication of the disqualification petitions against Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and the MLAs who backed him during the rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray in June last year. Also Read: Sharad Pawar led NCP approaches Supreme Court seeking directives for action against rebel MLAs Let this be heard with the other one already pending before us. They involve the same issue, and the prayers are also the same. We had asked the Speaker to lay down a time schedule. We will list this and the other matter together on Friday, the bench, which also included justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said. Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal appeared for the Sharad Pawar-camp, complaining that though the first disqualification was filed before assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar on July 2, not even notice has been issued in the matter till date. Opposing the plea, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the Ajit Pawar faction, arguing that the petition was misleading because the latest disqualification petition was filed only in the first week of September. Both Singhvi and Sibal countered this, emphasising that the first petition was filed before Narwekar on July 2, and nothing has been done in over three months. In July, Sharad Pawar-led camp filed disqualification petitions against 40 MLAs for anti-party activities after Ajit Pawar split the party and joined the coalition government in the state as deputy chief minister. The petition filed by Sharad Pawar loyalist Jayant Patil sought a directive to the Speaker for a time-bound disposal of the disqualification petitions in view of a similar directive passed by the Supreme Court in the case involving intra-party dispute between Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. Last year, Shinde, along with a group of rebel MLAs, caused a vertical split in Shiv Sena, finally leading to Thackerays resignation as chief minister and Shinde taking over at the helm. By an order on September 18, the Supreme Court had fast-tracked the adjudication of the disqualification petitions against Shinde and the MLAs who backed him during the 2022 rebellion, directing Narwekar to start hearing the petitions within a week and set down a time schedule for deciding them. Telling Narwekar that he must abide by the dignity of the Supreme Court, the bench had on the day recording its displeasure against the sluggish pace of adjudication of the bunch of disqualification petitions. While 39 petitions have been filed by the Thackeray faction against Shinde and the MLAs supporting him under the anti-defection law, more than a dozen disqualification petitions remain pending against the MLAs of the Thackeray group too. It asked Narwekar to inform the court on the next date about the stage of the adjudication as well as the timeline to dispose of all 56 disqualification petitions. Patils petition was filed before the Supreme Court on September 24, lamenting that Narwekar had simply been sitting over the disqualification petitions for the last three months. The Sharad Pawar camp has filed three petitions for disqualification of rebel MLAs. The first petition was filed against nine MLAs, including Ajit Pawar; the second petition was against 20 MLAs; and the third against 11 MLAs. Meanwhile, the second hearing by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a petition filed by the Ajit Pawar faction staking claim to the partys name and symbol is scheduled before the polling body for Monday. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre on a petition filed by Yoga guru Baba Ramdev to quash criminal cases lodged against him two years ago over his alleged derogatory remarks on allopathic cure for Covid-19. The Supreme Court of India. (Representative photo) Issuing notice to the Centre and the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the top court bench of justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh also asked states of Bihar and Chhattisgarh governments, where the criminal cases are registered, to respond to Ramdevs plea to club the two cases for investigation and trial at a common place, preferably Delhi. The bench asked Ramdevs lawyer whether he would be seeking quashing of the criminal cases or their consolidation. You cannot have both. If you want quashing of FIR, your remedy lies before a different forum, the bench said. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave appearing for Baba Ramdev gave past instances where the Supreme Court has allowed clubbing of FIRs. He further stated that his client can at best be accused of offending the doctors for not having belief in allopathy, but no offence can be made out of it. Moreover, Dave said that Ramdev had withdrawn his statement the next day. Also Read: Baba Ramdev asked by HC to appear before probe officer in hate speech case The FIRs lodged against him in Patna and Raipur have accused the yoga guru of multiple charges. These include intentionally causing insult to doctors with an intent to provoke breach of peace punishable with a maximum sentence of two years under Section 504 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection), Section 188 (disobedience to order of a public servant) and other provisions under the Disaster Management Act. The FIRs were filed in response to a video that circulated on social media where Ramdev advised his followers not to rely on allopathy for treating Covid-19. This statement was made in May 2021. The IMA served him a defamation notice of 1000 crore and demanded an apology. Later, Ramdev wrote a letter to the then Union health minister stating that he meant no ill-will as he had great regard for doctors. Ramdev in his petition requested the top court to club the cases lodged against him in the two states and sought trial to be shifted to Delhi. His organization - Patanjali Yogpeeth, is already facing a suit filed by Delhi Medical Association in the Delhi High Court. The suit has sought a restraint order against Ramdev for falsely representing Patanjalis Coronil kit as a cure for Covid-19 and spreading misinformation about modern medicine or allopathy. For IMA, senior advocate PS Patwalia told the top court that the criminal cases pending in the two states cannot be transferred to Delhi as no criminal proceedings have been filed in the Capital. The IMA even filed an affidavit to refute all claims by the petitioner. Dave wondered how IMA could file an affidavit in the absence of any notice being issued on the petition. Ramdev claimed in It was then the Court decided to issue notice to the Centre and concerned states, besides IMA. The Supreme Court on Monday revived its order staying the conviction of Lakshadweep Member of Parliament Mohammad Faizal in an attempt to murder case, and stalled a recent order of the Kerala high court on October 3 that refused to stay the conviction. Supreme Court of India. (ANI File Photo) A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol passed the order while hearing an appeal filed by the MP challenging the October 3 ruling. Faizal, belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party, was one of the people convicted in a 2009 attempt to murder incident involving a Congress worker. He was convicted by a sessions court in Kavaratti on January 11 and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. The Kerala high court on January 25 stayed the order of conviction that allowed the Lakshadweep MP to retain his parliamentary seat. This order was challenged by the Lakshadweep administration before the top court, which referred the matter back to the high court for reconsideration. While passing this order on August 22, the top court stayed the conviction for a period of six weeks till the HC decided the matter. On Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for the MP told the court that the top court protected him from disqualification throughout the proceedings in the high court. He further stated that the incident in question is of April 2009 and the victims in the criminal case against him had earlier assaulted him as part of a political rivalry. That case was decided separately, Sibal added, and the assailants were convicted by the trial court. The top court noted these facts and issued notice on Faizals petition seeking response of the UT of Lakshadweep and the victims who had filed the criminal case against the MP, who was then a political worker. Sibal pointed out that Faizals tenure as MP will expire in May and due to the order of disqualification passed against him by the Lok Sabha secretariat pursuant to the October 3 decision, his constituency will go unrepresented in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The bench directed, in the meantime, the operation of order of October 3 is stated. In consequence, the interim order of August 22 passed by this Court is made operational. List after four weeks. Additional solicitor general (ASG) KM Nataraj, appearing for the UT administration, opposed any further stay of conviction as he pointed out that the August 22 order was passed for a limited period of six weeks and ended with the order of the HC order. The August 22 order passed by a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan faulted the high court for adopting a wrong approach as it relied on the fact that the accused being a member of parliament, his conviction will result in automatic disqualification leading to fresh elections and a huge expenditure on the public exchequer. The top court felt that the HC failed to consider the stay of conviction on the merits of the case and directed the matter to be considered afresh. We find the high court has not considered the true position of law in the light of various decisions rendered by this Court on the manner in which a stay of conviction application is to be considered, the order had said. At the same time, the top court observed, Since we are asking the HC to reconsider the application within six weeks, it wont be just and proper to create a vacuum. The court had noted that from January 25 till Augst 22, Faizal continued to remain MP and in that capacity discharged all his duties as member of Parliamentary standing committees. Since we are remanding the matter to the HC and in order to see that there is no vacuum created till the application for stay of conviction is disposed, the benefit of the HC order is extended to the respondent (MP) till then, it said. Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of Peoples Act 1951, a sitting legislator who is convicted for an offence and sentenced to a punishment of two or more years stands disqualified from the date of conviction and for a further period of six years unless he/she can get the order of conviction suspended. The victim in the case was represented by senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, who informed the court that the MP was convicted of serious offences and the injuries sustained were grievous in nature. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear on October 13 a plea moved by the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP over the disqualification of 40 MLAs of the rebel group led by his nephew, Ajit Pawar. The senior Pawar's faction wants an expeditious decision on the petitions filed by it against the rival group, which affected a vertical split in the party. Sharad Pawar(Hindustan Times) The Sharad Pawar group had approached the Supreme Court seeking directives to Maharashtra Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar to take action against MLAs who shifted loyalty to Ajit Pawar. The party had filed petitions against 40 MLAs over "anti-party" activities. This comes days after the Elections Commission began hearing Ajit Pawar's petition claiming the party's name and election symbol. The Sharad Pawar faction is hoping to compel the Speaker to act on its disqualification plea. Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil had filed a writ before the Supreme Court on September 24. A party insider had told Hindustan Times that they had 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." The NCP had 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. Last week Sharad Pawar visited Delhi and attended the Election Commission's hearing. On July 2, Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government. He later declared that he had the support of 40 lawmakers. The Ajit Pawar faction has pleaded before the poll panel that his faction is the real NCP and that it should be allowed to use the official name and poll symbol. With inputs from PTI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Andhra Pradesh high court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former chief minister of state Chandrababu Naidu in three corruption cases: the Inner Ring Road, Fiber Net, and Angallu 307 cases. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu (File Photo)(HT_PRINT) The development followed as Naidu remained in judicial custody till October 19 due to his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in a skill development scam case, where he is accused of misusing funds from the Skill Development Corporation, causing a supposed loss of 371 crore to the state during the TDP regime. The Inner Ring Road, Fiber Net, and Angallu 307 cases are similar alleged corruption cases registered by the YSRCP-led Andhra Pradesh government. against Naidu. What is AP Fibernet case? As per a statement by the CM's office, Naidu, who was also holding the portfolio of energy, infrastructure and investment department during the TDP regime, personally recommended getting the project executed by the energy, infrastructure and investment department, instead of the IT department. Naidu gave approval for the estimates of the project without any market survey done. He used his influence to revoke the blacklisting on M/s Terasoftware and got the contract awarded to the company by silencing the protests from other bidders, the official note said, adding that the loss to the government was around 330 crore," the statement said Inner Ring Road scam explained: Meanwhile, the Inner Ring Road scam pertains to the alleged irregularities in the design of the Inner Ring road around the capital city of Amaravati. Naidu's son Nara Lokesh has also been named as an accused in the case. The CID said that during Lokesh's tenure as a non-executive director at Heritage Foods Ltd from 2013 to 2017, the company acquired a piece of land in Kantheru village in Guntur district in 2014. Additionally, Heritage Foods acquired another land from companies affiliated with industrialists Lingamaneni Ramesh and Lingamaneni Rajashekar. The initial design of the inner ring road of Amaravati was changed so that it would pass adjacent to the piece of lands of Lingamaneni and Heritage Foods towards Kaza and Kantheru villages, the CID said, alleging it was done to enhance the value of these lands. What is Angallu 307 case? The Angallu case involves an incident where the YSRCP-led Andhra Pradesh government registered a police case against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and several TDP leaders, accusing them of instigating an attack on its local leaders. The case alleges that Naidu and other TDP leaders played a role in allegedly inciting violence on YSRCP leaders, who had gone to submit a representation to the former CM at Angallu village in August. Naidu is booked for an attempt to murder (Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) among other sections in the case. Several TDP leaders have termed the cases as a political "witch-hunt" and said that Naidu was held on the basis of false allegations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It was around 10:42 in the night on October 3. Prabhakar Rai, director of Sikkims state disaster management authority (SSDMA), was preparing to go to sleep in his hotel room in Delhi, when his phone started ringing. The caller was the sub-divisional magistrate of Chungthang in north Sikkim. Inside the control room of Sikkims disaster management wing. (HT photo) I had gone to Delhi to attend a meeting and was in my hotel room. The SDM called and informed me that he received a call from the ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) saying that water level in the Teesta river was rising. The river water had almost come up to their campsite at Janak close to Lhonak Lake beyond Chungthang in north Sikkim, Rai said. Rai didnt take much time to gauge the situation and immediately alerted the 24X7 control room of the Sikkim governments disaster management authority at Tashiling secretariat in Gangtok city. At any given time, the control room is manned by three officials even at night. As soon as they received the alert, the SOP (standard operating procedure) was implemented. An alarm was sounded and information was passed onto all the district collectors and the SSDMA officers, said Anil Raj Rai, relief commissioner. The SOP says that once an alert is sounded, all officers of the SSDMA would gather at the control centre on the ground floor of the land revenue and disaster management department. I came in around 3:30 am. By 5:00 in the morning all officers of the SSDMA had gathered. By then the flood had already hit and more information about the devastation had started pouring in. There was no looking back, said an officer. Also Read: Migrant workers in Sikkim recount nightmare as they leave for home states A flash flood, triggered by an outburst of a glacial lake, had barrelled through the Teesta river with huge volumes of water and debris, gobbling up everything in its path villages, towns, roads, bridges and buildings: The Teesta III hydro dam at Chungthang was washed away. The situation began to move from bad to worse fast and by the morning of October 4, the Sikkim government had declared it as a natural calamity and opened up helpline numbers. The number of officials posted in the control room was increased from three to around 60. Officers from several government departments including disaster management, health, tourism, civil aviation joined in; later army officers came in too. Phones started ringing and with each passing minute the frequency of calls doubled and trebled. We started getting calls from people from all corners of the country...enquiring about the safety of their family members and relatives who were in Sikkim and were either working in the state, or lived here or had come as tourists, said a woman officer posted at the control room. Initially a phone call log was maintained but soon officials lost count of the numbers as the phones did not stop buzzing. Not only the help lines but even the mobile phones of every official rang constantly. Though alerts were sent out to all officials posted across the state -- and many panicked citizens made phone calls -- after the first call from Chungthang on October 3, there was absolute silence when it came to communication with north Sikkim, the area worst-hit in the disaster. We couldnt connect with any officials from Chungthang and towns located beyond it such as Lachung, Lachen and Thangu. That was big reason of worry for us because north Sikkim was the hardest hit. Phone lines were down, power lines were snapped and even the polices wireless communication system was not working, said Rai. Officials said that for the first three days there was no time to breathe. We used to come to office by around 7 am and on some days returned home at around midnight only to report around the same time the next morning. Even lady officers, who had kids back home, were working till late hours, said an official. While communication could be established with all districts, all our efforts to communicate with the officials in towns of north Sikkim went in vain. Even army helicopters, could not reach the places due to bad weather. So, when airborne operations finally started on Monday morning and stranded people were evacuated and relief could reach, there was a sense of relief, said a senior official. The job, however, is far from over. Top Sikkim government officials said it could take days to compile detailed data on the loss and damage, and rehabilitation work has only just begun. It may take a few days to temporarily restore a portion of land that has been lost, (but) it would definitely take years and thousands of crores of rupees to permanently rebuild and restore (the infrastructure) again. When I joined the Sikkim government in the 1990s, we had to cross the Teesta on suspension bridges. Now we are back to those days again, an official said SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The death toll in the Karnataka fire incident at a firecracker shop in Attibele on Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border rose to 14, police officers familiar with the matter said on Sunday. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah with deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar at the site where a firecracker shop-cum-godown caught fire on Saturday, at Attibele in Bengaluru district, on Sunday. (PTI) While 12 people had died on the spot during the incident on Saturday, two others succumbed during treatment on Sunday, the officers added. While the seven injured people are being treated at two different hospitals in the city, police said. Three injured people -- Naveen Reddy who is son of the cracker shop owner Ramaswamy Reddy, Rajesh and Venkatesh, are being treated at St Johns Medical College Hospital. They suffered around 17% to 30% burn injuries and internal burn injuries due to inhalation of smoke. The next 72 hours are critical for their recovery, police officials said. Four others Sanjay, Chandru, Rajesh and Paul Kabir are being treated at Oxford Medical college Hospital in Attibele. The fire took place at Shree Balaji Traders -- a firecracker shop-cum-godown -- on Saturday when crackers were being unloaded from a vehicle into the godown, police said. The firecrackers had come from Sivakasi, the fireworks hub of Tamil Nadu, ahead of the festival of Diwali. Eleven of the deceased have been identified as Prakash (20), Vettappan (25), Aathikesavan (23), Vijayaraghavan (20), Ilambaruthi (19), Akash (23), Giri (22), Sachin (22), Prabhakaran (17), Vasantharaj (23) and Appas (23), police said. Police officers in the know of the developments said since the bodies were charred, making it difficult for the authorities to identify them. The three unidentified bodies have been kept at Oxford Medical College Hospital in Attibele. Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams are expected to carry out DNA tests to match with samples of their relatives, in order to identify them, the officers added. According to the police, most of the victims were workers at the factory who are from four districts in Tamil Nadu Dharmapuri, Thirupattur, Kallakurichi and Krishnagiri. What caused the fire? The incident occurred between 3pm and 3.30 pm on Saturday, while the workers were unloading firecrackers from a lorry and two mini goods vehicles into the shop, police said. Around 10 people were unloading boxes containing firecrackers. Eyewitnesses said that they saw a sudden spark at the site, which was followed by a blaze. Several people who were inside the godown were trapped as the fire quickly spread, they added. Alok Mohan, director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP), Karnataka state police said a total of 35 people were working at the shop. Nine fire tenders, including several water tankers, were rushed to the spot to douse the fire, which took more than five hours. While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, fire and emergency personnel suspect that a high-tension overhead electric line may have come in contact with firecracker boxes in the vehicles while unloading, which may have led to the blaze. KA Dayanand, DC, Bengaluru (Urban), said that they had permitted the shop only to sell and not store firecrackers at the godown. The owner has violated the license conditions and stored more than 1,000 kilograms of fire crackers. The licensing authority has not permitted anyone to store crackers, he said. Two people arrested The police on Sunday arrested two people in connection with the fire -- the licensee V Ramaswamy Reddy and the owner of the land where the godown was built at Attibele, Anil Reddy. Ramaswamy Reddys son, Naveen Reddy, who has been hospitalised after suffering severe burns, is the third accused in the case and he has been booked. The Attibele Police have registered a case under sections 337 (causing hurt by endangering the life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous injuries to another person by endangering their life or personal safety), and 304 (punishment for culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code along with section 9 (b) of the Explosives Rules Act. Forensic Science Laboratory teams camping at the accident site and Fire and Emergency Service personnel who doused the fire on Saturday said the shop was also storing fire crackers illegally. There were large quantities of crackers, beyond permissible limits, stored in the shop without any safety guidelines, which led to the accident. Meanwhile, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday ordered a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the fire. There was negligence on the part of the licence holder, the chief minister said, pointing out that it was a big tragedy. Siddaramaiah said that the licensee was permitted to keep only 1,000 kg of fireworks at a time, and not to store large quantities. From what I have seen, no safety measures were followed. No fire extinguishers were kept. It is a very congested area. The godown has also been extended. It needs to be checked if proper permissions were given. The exact reason is yet to be known. The deputy commissioner [DC] told me that he had received a no-objection certificate from the Fire and Emergency services and the police. In my opinion, the DC should have paid a personal visit. Those who gave the report should have checked if proper procedure under the Explosives Act was being followed because the license was issued under it, Siddaramaiah added. Tamil Nadu sends team for relief work Tamil Nadu on Sunday deputed its officials from Krishnagiri district, which is closest to Karnataka, to visit the site. Our chief secretary has spoken to Karnatakas chief secretary, said chief minister MK Stalin. We are supporting the relief and rescue work. Tamil Nadus minister for health M Subramanian and food minister R Sakkarapani met the families of the deceased and those receiving treatment in various hospitals. The ministers also provided a compensation of 3 lakh to each of the families of the victims, 1 lakh for those who have suffered grievous injuries and 50,000 to those who have suffered minor injuries from the chief ministers relief fund. It is common for workers from all over Tamil Nadu to be taken in temporarily to work in firecracker factories in other states, ahead of Diwali, minister Subramanian said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An 18-year-old woman was arrested on Monday, hours after beheaded bodies of her minor sisters aged six and four were found in a village in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh, police officers said. Police arrest 18-year-old woman for allegedly beheading her two minor sisters in a village in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. (Representative Image) The incident took place in Bahadurpur village under the Balrai police station area around 8 pm on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Surbhi (6) and Roshni (4), daughters of one Jaiveer Singh, police said, adding that the mutilated bodies were found in separate rooms of their home. Also read: Relative molests and murder minor girl before dumping body on terrace; arrested The accused, identified as Anjali Pal (18), has confessed to the crime, Kanpur range inspector general of police (IG) Prashant Kumar said. We are trying to ascertain the motive in this case, Kumar, who is heading the probe, added. The police have also questioned three men along with the accused woman in connection with the case registered under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (concealing evidence or giving false information) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We are questioning her, and the reason behind the murder will be ascertained soon, Etawah senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sanjay Varma said. We are also looking at the involvement of the three men. Police said they have recovered the murder weapon a spade from the house, along with the clothes worn by the accused on Sunday. Forensic team found blood stains on the spade and the garments, washed ostensibly to get rid of evidence, officers said. Jaiveer, his wife Sushila, their sons Nand Kishore (12), and Kanhaiya (8) were not present at home when the incident occurred, police said. Initially, Anjali told the police that when she allegedly returned home, she saw her sisters bodies in one room and their heads in another. Jaiveer Pal, whose spade was recovered from the house, told the police that while he had used it in the morning, it appeared to have been cleaned, officers said. Police also found some clothes left outside to dry. When questioned by the police, the accused gave contradictory explanations of her days events, following which she was taken into custody for further interrogation. She admitted to the crime and was taken into custody on Monday afternoon. She told the police that she went to the fields after the murder and returned just as her father and brothers were pulling up, a senior officer said, requesting anonymity. She has also been given medical checkup. Further investigation is underway. The Election Commission on Monday announced the poll schedule of five states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram. Five states will go to the polls between November 7 and 30.(PTI) The election in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases, with the first round of voting on November 7 and the second round on November 17. In Mizoram, the voting will be on November 7, while in Madhya Pradesh, the elections will be held on November 17. Rajasthan will go to polls on November 23 and Telangana on November 30 in a single phase. The counting of votes in all five states will be held on December 3. The polls would set the stage for the last major electoral exercise ahead of the 2024 national elections. While the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rules Telangana, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the BJP. The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan and the Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state. Here's a round of what happened when these states went to elections last time. Madhya Pradesh The 2018 assembly election in the state resulted in a hung assembly after the Congress won 114 seats, two less than the majority mark in the 230-seat member assembly, while the BJP won 109 seats. The Congress formed the government in December 2018 with the support of two Bahujan Samajwadi Party MLAs, one Samajwadi Party and four independent MLAs. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan(PTI) However, after 15 months on March 21, 2020, as many as 22 sitting Congress MLAs resigned under the leadership of Jyotiraditya Scindia and joined the BJP, bringing down the Kamal Nath-led Congress government. On March 23, Shivraj Singh Chouhan took oath as chief minister and formed the BJP government. Rajasthan In the 2018 Assembly election, the Congress defeated the BJP by winning 100 seats. The BJP got 73. Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot formed the government with the support of BSP and independent MLAs. In 2020, Gehlot's government faced a test after his deputy, Sachin Pilot, along with 18 MLAs decamped to neighbouring Haryana, where the BJP is in power. His move led to reports that the saffron party was trying to woo the disgruntled leader and topple Gehlot's government. Pilot was sacked both as deputy chief minister and state Congress chief. The nearly month-long crisis forced the Congress' high command to intervene. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot.(ANI) In 2022, the state again witnessed drama after a majority of the Congress MLAs offered to resign amid speculations of Gehlot being fielded as Congress president. This time, the incumbent Congress aims to win the state and break the three-decade-old trend of power being shared between Congress and BJP alternately. Chattisgarh Congress registered a landslide victory in the 2018 Chhattisgarh polls, winning a massive 68 seats in the 90-member assembly. The BJP, which was in power in the state since 2003, was reduced to 15 seats while former chief minister Ajit Jogi-led Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) managed to win five seats. Jogis ally Bahujan Samaj Party had won two seats. The Congress party appointed Bhupesh Baghel as chief minister. In June this year, the Congress party, in a surprise move, appointed TS Singh Deo as deputy chief minister of the state, just months ahead of the Assembly polls. Singh Deo has been seen as a rival of Baghel and the move was seen as an attempt of the party to avoid a Rajasthan-like situation in Chhattisgarh. Telangana Early polls were necessitated in Telangana in 2018 after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao dissolved the assembly in September of that year. Counting of votes was held across all five states and results were declared on December 11, 2018. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti, now renamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), retained power after winning 88 out of the 119 seats in the Assembly. The Congress won 19, while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen won 2 seats. Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The BRS is now hoping to return to power after winning the polls in 2014 and 2018 even as a resurgent Congress is expected to put up a stronger fight. Mizoram The Mizo National Front (MNF) formed the government in Mizoram in 2018, defeating the Congress in its last bastion in the northeast. The MNF bagged 26 of the 40 seats and secured a majority on its own with a 37.70% vote share. The Congress, which was in power since 2008, came third with just five seats and 30% of the votes. The MNF had returned to power in Mizoram after 10 years. MNF leader Zoramthanga was appointed as the chief minister. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: The Congress will straightaway implement the womens reservation bill and conduct the nationwide caste census if the party comes to power, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in his address to the Congress Working Committee, or CWC, the partys top decision-making body, on Monday. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said public welfare, social justice and progressive development are the guarantees of the Congress (X/kharge) Kharge said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could have right away implemented the bill which seeks to reserve 33% of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies but Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not do this. The Congress and opposition parties wholeheartedly supported the womens reservation bill. If Modiji wanted, womens reservation could have been implemented from this election itself. And OBC women could also get a place. This bill has been brought only for publicity and vote bank, Kharge, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, told the CWC. On September 21, Parliament approved the 106th amendment to the Constitution to reserve a third of the seats in the Lok Sabha and state legislatures for women, a landmark endorsement of a decades-long crusade that was unsuccessful on at least six occasions over nearly three decades. But the law will take some time before being implemented as the next census and the subsequent delimitation exercise (or redrawing of Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies) will ascertain the particular seats being earmarked for women. Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has said the 33% quota for women will kick in any time after 2026. Apart from former party presidents, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, the CWC meeting on Monday was also attended by chief ministers of Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh, besides top party leaders from Madhya Pradesh and Telangana. Kharge countered the BJP charge that the Congress and other opposition parties blocked womens reservations all these years and supported the bill because they could not be seen opposing it. The truth is that Congress has done the most work in giving power to women in India. If we come to power in 2024, we will immediately implement womens reservation along with determining the political participation of OBC women, he added. The veteran Congress leader also asked party leaders to step up efforts to highlight the governments failures and its false propaganda, stressing that the attacks will only get shrill as the election dates approach. They (BJP/Centre) are directly attacking us. Limits are being broken. In such a situation we cannot remain silent. Such attacks and lies will become more intense as we get closer to the general elections. It is important to counter such attacks and propaganda and immediately rebut the lies. The ruling party has realised their situation in the upcoming elections, so they are telling one lie after another to divert people from the issues, LoP Kharge said while addressing the meeting. Kharge also raised the demand for conducting a nationwide caste census to ensure social justice and rights to the SCs, STs and OBCs in accordance with their population, and underlined that the BJP was quiet on this topic. The government is ignoring the resentment among government employees regarding the new pension scheme, he said, accusing the central government of misusing federal investigating agencies to target its political rivals. Kriti Sanon travelled to Delhi today with Tiger Shroff to attend the trailer launch event of their upcoming film, Ganpat. The star recently started the promotions for the movie and captured her fans' attention with her sartorial choices. Her latest look for the Delhi event shows Kriti putting a sultry twist to the evergreen denim on denim trend. She wore a bustier and jeans from the French luxury label Mugler. Scroll through to check it out. Kriti Sanon attends the trailer launch of Ganpat in a denim bustier, jeans and thigh-high boots. (Instagram) Kriti Sanon wears a sultry Mugler look for Ganpat trailer launch in Delhi Kriti Sanon's stylist, Sukriti Grover, took to Instagram to share pictures of the actor with the caption, "@kritisanon in @muglerofficial for the Ganpat Trailer launch in Delhi!" The post shows Kriti striking poses for the camera and showing off the Mugler ensemble styled with statement-making accessories. Fans loved Kriti's look and flooded the comments with compliments. One wrote, "She woke and chose to raise the temperature." Another commented, "And just when I thought I couldn't be more mesmerized, she proved me wrong." A fan remarked, "She is unreal." The Mugler look features a sleeveless denim bustier. It comes in a light blue and black shade and has thin straps, zip closure on the front, a plunging neckline, a bodycon fitting highlighting her svelte frame, and a corseted bodice. She wore it with matching denim jeans featuring a high-rise waist and a skinny-fit silhouette. Kriti styled the ensemble with black leather boots from Saint G. It features a thigh-high length, skinny fit, and killer high heels. She chose silver hoop earrings, statement rings, and a black leather belt with an OTT silver buckle for accessories. Lastly, Kriti chose kohl-lined eyes, subtle brown smudged eye shadow, darkened brows, mascara on the lashes, muted pink lip shade, rouge on the cheeks, a dewy base, and beaming highlighter for the glam picks. Centre-parted open silky tresses gave the finishing touch. About Ganpat Meanwhile, Ganpat is set to release in theatres this Dussehra on October 20. The film also stars Tiger Shroff and Amitabh Bachchan. 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! Samantha Ruth Prabhu's sartorial choices never fail to earn a thumbs-up from fashion enthusiasts. The star has become a firm sartorial fixture with looks that are wearable and sharable in equal measure. While her travel and off-duty wardrobe feature steal-worthy pieces, her on-duty outfits are also covetable looks. For instance, Samantha's latest photoshoot in a stunning saree in the hot pink shade. Scroll through to check out Samantha's pictures in the six yards. Samantha Ruth Prabhu rekindles the hot pink trend in a stunning saree, bralette and cape jacket. (Instagram) Samantha Ruth Prabhu in a hot pink saree Samantha Ruth Prabhu travelled to Dubai recently to attend an event. The actor slipped into a saree, bralette and cape jacket for the occasion and shared the pictures of her look in the six yards on Instagram. "[double heart emoji] Dubai," and "May the fire within keep burning [fire emoji]," she captioned the posts. Samantha rekindled the popular hot pink trend with her steal-worthy ensemble for the event. Read our download on her ethnic yet modern avatar below. Samantha chose a silk saree in the hot pink shade for the event. She wore it traditionally, with pleats neatly placed on the front and the pallu folded on the shoulder. She styled the six yards with a matching hot pink-coloured bralette featuring spaghetti straps, a plunging neckline highlighting her decolletage, fitted bust, and a cropped asymmetric hem to show off her toned midriff. Samantha layered the saree and blouse with a matching cape jacket featuring an open front, half-length sleeves, and a floor-length hem forming a long train. The actor styled her outfit with minimal accessories, including high heels, a shimmering choker necklace, and dainty earrings. Lastly, Samantha chose feathered brows, winged eyeliner to create siren eyes, subtle pink eye shadow, mascara on the lashes, smudged kohl-lined eyes, rouge on the cheekbones, nude lip shade, and beaming highlighter for the glam picks. Side-parted open shoulder-length locks styled in waves gave the finishing touch. What do you think of Samantha's look in the saree? 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! People suffering from mental illness have been treated as outcasts and not considered healthy enough to be involved in our everyday activities for a long time now while being constantly ridiculed with phrases like, Youre overthinking. The issue isnt this big, Just exercise every day, everything will be fine, You are not trying enough. Theres no such thing as depression, Look at everybody else, they all do what you are doing but you are the only one who keeps cribbing hence, World Mental Health Day is important as it acknowledges that explaining that one doesnt feel good from within isnt as easy as it seems to be. The masses dont understand what its like to live with mental morbidity and the apathy people show towards mentally unsound people is unfortunate and devastating. World Mental Health Day 2023: Date, history, significance (Photo by Twitter/ACRA_SouthSudan) Date: October 10 is marked annually as World Mental Health Day. History: World Federation for Mental Health announced October 10 as World Mental Health Day in 1992 and celebrates it with a new theme every year. The day initially did not have a specific theme and its aim was to promote mental health advocacy and educating the public on relevant issues. However, seeing the popularity of the campaign, a theme for the day was used for the first time in 1994, which was Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World. With each passing year, the day's popularity continued to grow. Some of its early themes were Women and Mental Health (1996), Children and Mental Health (1997), Mental Health and Human Rights (1998) and Mental Health and Ageing (1999). Significance: World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity to talk about mental health in general, addressing issues related to how to break the stigma around it and the importance of speaking out when struggling with a mental health issue. Along with the treatment gap, we must address workplace stress, help adolescents in schools along with the caregivers and families of people living with mental health issues and proactively address stigma and discrimination associated with mental ill health that creates barrier to access care and treatment. 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! Excessive social media use among university students has been linked to a decline in their mental health. High numbers of university students are paying a mental health price for bingeing on social media and research shows problems range from depression and low self-esteem to even a phobia of being away from their smartphones. (Also read: 5 interesting activities to help your child get over smartphone addiction) Not all the effects of social media are bad, but studies show the need to help people at risk of social media addiction.(Freepik) Not all the effects of social media are bad, but studies show the need to help people at risk of social media addiction. An online survey of 622 university students from China, Taiwan and Malaysia found those who used their smartphone and social media excessively were also more likely to experience mental health conditions. In particular, students experienced greater levels of nomophobia fear of not having an operating smartphone at hand and weight-related self-stigma where someone devalues themselves because of weight concerns, usually that they are overweight. Symptoms of weight-related self-stigma include low self-esteem, low confidence and negative emotions. Another study of 380 students from Malaysian universities found that high levels of social media use were associated with students experiencing greater levels of depression, anxiety and stress. In the first study, participants on average used social media for 4.8 hours a day and more than 40 percent were identified as at risk of having a social media addiction. In the second study, participants averaged 4.5 hours a day on social media and more than one-third were defined as at-risk of having a social media addiction. Youth and young adults are particularly susceptible to the impacts of social media because they are the biggest users of social media. This isn't always a bad thing. The benefits of social media use have been widely studied. Specifically, social media can help people express love and compassion. P eople use social media to increase their social networks, overcome loneliness and foster a feeling of belonging. It can also compensate people who crave or need company but can't physically interact with their close friends or family members. In those areas, social media use can be seen to have mental health benefits. However, when social media use becomes excessive, research shows problems can emerge and potentially lead to negative mental health outcomes for adolescents. Excessive use of social media is when an individual cannot control his or her craving to use social media. They will spend substantial time using social media, which can cause difficulties for them in other areas of their life. For example, they might not be able to engage in productive work to earn a living. Excessive use of social media can be measured using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, a six-item self-report scale that is a brief and effective psychometric instrument for assessing at-risk social media addiction on the Internet. A score of 24 or above on the scale suggests a person has a social media addiction. The bottom line from all this research is that people should promote the healthy use of social media so that individuals can learn how to use it properly and purposefully. Transparent information on the links between healthy and excessive social media use and mental health could be widely shared. People could self-administer the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale to work out if their level of usage is becoming or already problematic. Governments could prepare programmes for people to access in community, clinical or self-managed settings to help them manage their social media use. These could be lifestyle redesign programs that help addicted youth and adults plan daily activities in advance as a way of reducing their craving for social media. Summer, winter and holiday camps could also be held where participants learn about other activities that could replace unnecessary social media use. Workshops on coping with stress and how to implement time management in daily life could also be introduced, together with cognitive behavioural interventions that could help people identify when their craving for social media is unhealthy. By Chung-Ying Lin, National Cheng Kung University in Tainan, Taiwan 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 famous waterfalls of Jharkhand - Hundru, Jonha, Lodh, Dassam, Sita, Panchghag and Hirni - are brimming with visitors ahead of the festive season. The waterfalls famous for their scenic natural beauty and rolling down of water from high altitude have turned major attraction for tourists, who are coming from different parts of the state as well as other parts of the country, mostly West Bengal, a tourism official said. The famous waterfalls of Jharkhand - Hundru, Jonha, Lodh, Dassam, Sita, Panchghag and Hirni - are brimming with visitors. (Pexels [Representation Image] ) (Also Read | Tourism resuming in West Maui near Lahaina hotels welcome visitors) A Kolkata-based tourist Tarak Nath Sahu, who visited Jonha falls on Saturday, told PTI, "I have never seen such a beautiful place in my life. The scenic beauty, hills and huge quantity of water falling from a height of about 150 feet is magical. If there was a staying facility here, it would have one of the best places in the world." Located around 40 km from the capital Ranchi, Jonha has been a place of tourist attraction owing to its natural beauty. Visitors enjoy the mesmerizing waterfall by stepping down around 700 stairs. Not only Jonha, but other falls in and around Ranchi are also witnessing a huge influx of visitors. On an average 10,000 tourists from different parts of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar are visiting seven falls Hundru, Jonha, Lodh, Dassam, Sita, Panchghag and Hirni per day, Jharkhand Pryatan Suraksha Samiti (JPSS) president Rajkishore Prasad told PTI. JPSS, a wing of the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC), manages and maintains the major waterfalls of Jharkhand. As many as 110 'Prayatak Mitra' (Tourists Friend) are working for JPSS in the water bodies. The inflow of visitors would continue till February next year, he said. Sanjay Kumar, an associate professor (electronics) of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, told PTI, "Jharkhand has immense potential in the tourism sector. The government can earn huge revenue from tourism and generate employment if the tourism sites were promoted properly." Kumar, who visited Jonha falls with his wife Babita Agarwal on Saturday, said, "I have visited many European countries such as Spain and Denmark. They don't have such big things. The natural beauty which Jharkhand has I have rarely seen in any other country. Here, government needs to work with a plan and vision and promote its places." Even though tourist inflow has increased in Jharkhand since its inception in November 2000, the number of visitors is still poor and mostly restricted to religious places, according to experts. In 2000, when Jharkhand came into being, just 4.53 lakh tourists, including 3,111 foreigners, visited the state. Currently, the number would be around 3.60 crore annually, a tourism official said. However, the tourists, who visit the places of natural beauty, complain about the lack of toilets, proper roads, staying and signage facilities. A 'Prayatak Mitra', Harendra Kumar said, "There are six toilets in Jonha Falls but only two are functioning. A changing room had also been built but it is currently lying abandoned." JTDC general manager Alok Prasad told PTI, "Facilities are added to the place of tourist interest from time to time. We will soon install water ATMs in all tourist places in a bid to provide them with purified water." He said toilet and other facilities are being extended. "We received complaints that some of the toilets are closed in Jonha. We have asked the tourism workers to open them and operate them properly so that tourists do not face any trouble," he said. Prasad said a staying facility had been developed in Hundru fall but it hardly found any tourists. In a bid to attract tourists to Jharkhand, several promotional programmes are organized in regular intervals, he said. "Netarhat Monsoon Retreat Festival and Patratu Lake Festival are lined up for this year. Some functions are also scheduled in Waterfall from January 1 to 15 next year," he said. 'Prayatak Mitras', however, claimed that they play a key role in providing services to the tourists but their demands including accidental insurance coverage, provident fund benefits and jobs on compassionate grounds are still unheard of. "The Prayatak Mitras put their lives at risk in case of any drowning incident in the falls. But, we do not have any insurance coverage from the government's side. In the past three years, as many as 12 Prayatak Mitras died in the course of rescuing visitors but they were given nothing," Prasad said. He said that the JTDC has been earning around 30,000 per day from the falls but there is no PF benefit for the 'Prayatak Mitras'. "They are surviving on meagre remuneration of around 9,000. They work for 30 days but get the payment for 26 days," he said. On the 'Prayatak Mitra' issue, a senior tourism official termed it a policy decision 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! Narges Mohammadi, the Nobel peace prize laureate of 2023, has been one of Irans foremost human rights activists for nearly two decades. She was arrested 13 times, convicted five times and sentenced to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes, on charges of plotting and spreading propaganda against the Iranian regime. After completing her engineering studies, Mohammadi joined Defenders of Human Rights Centre, a non-governmental organisation created by Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Mohammadi is currently lodged in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. PREMIUM FILE - Iranian Narges Mohammadi, delegate of the Center for Human Rights Defenders, listens to a question during a press conference on the Assessment of the Human Rights Situation in Iran, at the U.N. headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 9, 2008. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Narges Mohammadi for fighting oppression of women in Iran. The chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the prize Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 in Oslo. (Magali Girardin/Keystone via AP, File)(AP) Mohammadis battles against enforced hijab and the death penalty made her a prime target of Tehran. The harsh and repetitious imprisonments have deprived her for a long time, the company of her parents, husband, and children. Her husband, Taghi Rahmani, 63, a writer and activist who was also jailed in Iran, today lives in exile in France with their children the family has not been together since the children were toddlers. Despite all her sufferings in and outside Evin prison, Mohammadi has refused to bow to the regime, which has turned her into a figure of moral courage and political resistance against the authorities in Tehran. As such, her struggle has been a great inspiration for many young women, who have been fighting the systemic and brutal violation of womens rights in Iran. Recently, Mohammadi wrote about the resilience of the Iranian women on her Instagram page: In my opinion, these women are the true, although agonising, freedom and justice seekers who carry unattributed burdens, and to whom we owe our gratitude. Undoubtedly, the story of Mohammadi is representative of the struggle of Iranian women for civil rights. For decades, women like Mohammadi have spearheaded Iranian civil societys non-violent movement for democracy and equal rights. Ironically, Mohammadis struggle for justice and liberty has mostly been from behind bars she has even managed to organise protests and sit-ins in the courtyard of the notorious Evin prison. To understand better the struggle of Mohammadi and others like her in Iran, we should take a step back and look at the long process of the movements that Iranian women have led for dignity and social justice since the first days of the theocratic regime in Tehran. Millions of Iranian women continue to speak and organise against the regressive social norms imposed by a theocratic legislation dating back to 1979. These women, coming from different age-groups and social backgrounds, have led the fight for a change of morals in Iranian society. For the past 45 years, they have been the steady voice for equal rights and social change. The Iranian regime, unfortunately, has responded with violence, election frauds, lies, corruption, imprisonment, and murder to suppress the just demands of these women. From the demonstrations against mandatory veiling on March 8, 1979, less than a month after Ayatollah Khomeini and the Iranian Islamists captured office, to the Green Movement of 2009 against the fraudulent re-election of Mahmood Ahmadinejad, the 2017 and 2018 urban protests that spread to 140 cities around Iran, and the more recent urban protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, practically every year Iranian women have organised non-violent protests demanding equal rights. The State has sought to put them down with violent crackdowns or extended imprisonments, like in the case of Mohammadi. The fact is the young population in Iran has grown exponentially in the four decades after the revolution. Urbanisation and the rapid expansion of university education have produced new sociological actors in Iran, mostly women, who have become agents of dissent and change. Even though the Iranian revolution of 1979 morphed into a semi-totalitarian regime, women continued to dream of opportunities in politics, and social and cultural life. The most significant action of the new generation of women activists in Iran, including Mohammadi, was the 2006 campaign, One million signatures for the repeal of all discriminatory laws against women in Iran. From acid attacks on women in the streets of Esfahan in 2014 to the 2022 demonstrations against the hijab, Iranian womens mobilisations have continued to cause significant social and political tension in Iran. It comes, therefore, as no surprise that, even as the world was discovering Narges Mohammadi after the announcement of the Nobel prize, a teenage girl, Armita Garawand, was attacked by the Iranian morality police in a Tehran metro. Later, she slipped into a coma and is currently admitted to the intensive care unit of a military hospital in Tehran. The Nobel peace prize to Narges Mohammadi is not merely a recognition of her personal courage, but it is an acknowledgment of all those unknown, voiceless women in Iran who want change. It is also a prize for those forgotten women in Iran who were harassed, and even killed, by a patriarchal government and society. It is a prize in the memory of Mahsa, Nika, Sarina, Hadis and many others, who were killed last year by the Iranian security forces. Narges Mohammadi will most probably not be able to receive the Nobel Peace Award in person, but her voice will certainly be heard across the globe now. That voice will continue to inspire Iranian women, and other oppressed women around the world. Ramin Jahanbegloo, a dissident Iranian philosopher, is director, Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Nonviolence and Peace at OP Jindal Global University. The views expressed are personal Its been three days since the start of the Hamas unprecedented act of war against the State of Israel. A sombre, tragic state of mind of surprise, shock, rage and disbelief still dominates Israel, following the brutal attack on peaceful towns and localities in our countrys southern region. A large number of rockets were launched against Israel and more than a thousand terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory, assaulted our citizens, and executed the elderly, women, children and toddlers. Dozens were kidnapped and held as hostages in Gaza. Video clips have since flooded social media, exposing the despicable war crimes of Hamas. PREMIUM Palestinians gather around the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in the southern Gaza Strip October 9, 2023.(REUTERS) This is Israels own 26/11 moment. This is not another round of hostilities. It is a war waged by Hamas, a fundamentalist group that over the years has become the de facto ruler in the Gaza Strip as well as an army fighting Israel. The inspiration, funds, capabilities, and political backing for the attack originated from Iran, which has vowed the destruction of Israel. There is no Hamas (or Hezbollah) without Tehran. More than a thousand people have died and about 2,000 are injured, many in critical condition. The scars, mental or physical, will remain for the rest of their lives. There is not one Israeli who does not know in one way or another at least one victim of this war. The battlefield in which the terrorists operated now looks like a natural disaster site, with one difference: Nature was replaced by bloodthirsty human beings. Our hearts and thoughts are with the residents of the towns, localities and villages, in some of which the battle is still going on, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officers and soldiers, the police and the para-military and other security forces on the front line, including reservists who reported for duty immediately. While the guns are roaring and before we have even buried the dead, a set of measures should be implemented on a priority basis at all levels. Poignant soul-searching and the drawing of lessons by the government and the security establishment should, and will, be postponed till the end of the hostilities. However, it is already clear that three layers of conceptual and on-the-ground failures, which occurred exactly 50 years to the day after the 1973 war, have repeated themselves: One, an intelligence failure, which did not detect preparations for a large-scale assault; two, an operational failure, when IDF did not properly respond to the challenge and; three, a failure of the political leadership which followed the policy of strengthening Hamas and weakening the Palestinian Authority, while allowing the extremist and messianic Netanyahu governments coalition partners to fuel violence in the West Bank, forcing IDF to dedicate too many personnel for policing tasks, rather than preparing for war. The IDF leadership tried recently to convince the government ministers to listen to the assessment of threats, highlighting the strengthening of Hamas, but were rejected and their suggestions dismissed. There is no doubt that this time, compared to previous short-term rounds of violence culminating in temporary arrangements brokered by Egypt and others, a very firm and forceful Israeli response is called for. It will also demonstrate our determination to protect the citizens of Israel and our sovereignty. In the short-term, it will be necessary to regain control of the few areas where fighting is still going on, forcefully defeat the military capabilities of the military arm of Hamas and eliminate its political role in Gaza and elsewhere, while making sure that the violence does not spill over into other arenas. To this end, one must rely, amongst others, on the legitimacy that the international community has granted to Israel, as reflected in the scores of messages that declare solidarity and condemn Hamas, including from Prime Minister (PM) Modi and millions of our Indians brothers and sisters. Israel should be aware that the harsh military response from Israel to Gaza might result in a large number of civilian casualties. It will, therefore, be necessary to expand the diplomatic activity already in place with our friends and allies, as well as international organisations. United States (US) President Joe Bidens recent public statements are crucial, and so is the immediate aid the US has dispatched, but more diplomacy should be used to win the support of other world leaders for the counter-terrorism activities of IDF within the framework of Israels right to self-defence. Beyond that, an imminent decision is required on a long-term national strategy, followed by the elimination of Hamas military, terroristic and political capabilities, so that Israel will no longer have to rely on the imperfect illusion of buying a fragile, artificial time-out from Hamas by strengthening it, instead of encouraging the Palestinian Authority to rule and ensure stability in Palestinian territories. A continued role for Hamas will allow the so-called political pyromaniacs, including those serving today in the government, to set fire to the West Bank and Jerusalem. Through this new improved, long-term strategy, Israel will also signal to other regional players, friends and foes alike, that nobody should mess with us. These are enormous challenges for PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is surrounded by some extremist ministers. He, undoubtedly, could do with more experienced, moderate partners; he should immediately invite them to join his government. I have no doubt that Israel will learn the lessons of this war, win, and ultimately, prevail. Daniel Carmon is a former ambassador of Israel to India. The views expressed are personal Nagoya, a city in Japan passed a law prohibiting people from walking on escalators. Yes, you read that right. The ban on walking on escalators went into effect in Nagoya on October 1 in an effort to reduce mishaps like falls. People riding on escalators. In Japan, it is customary for passengers to stand stationary on the left side of an escalator while leaving the right side open for passengers to ascend or descend. So, to stop that, the ordinance calls for people to stop moving while using escalators, whether they are standing on the left or right side. Train stations, businesses, and other entities that control escalators must also make visitors aware of this rule, reports The Mainichi. (Also Read: Japan's sleep-deprived employees embrace the workplace nap) This ordinance is the second of its kind in Japan. The first one came in eastern Japan's Saitama Prefecture in 2021. According to Japan Today, the city of Nagoya has been advertising the new law on TV and posting flyers about it at significant train stations. In the recent past, several incidents have been reported of commuters speeding up and down the escalators and causing accidents. Additionally, there have been numerous reports of bag snatching and individuals fleeing the scene. 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 video of a parrot and its human is going viral on social media, and the reason might curl up your lips into a smile. In the video, the parrot impressively answers all the questions asked by its pet parent during a Q&A session. Whats even more impressive is that the parrot correctly answered them all. African grey parrot answering questions posed by its pet parent. (Instagram/@apolloandfrens) Houston, we have a bottle, reads the caption of the video shared on the Instagram page dedicated to the parrot named Apollo. The video opens to show Apollos pet parent holding the letter r and asking it what letter it is. The parrot correctly answers it. Next, he holds up a bottle and asks Apollo what it is. Not only does the parrot accurately identify it as a bottle, but it also uses its beak to determine that it is made of glass. Throughout the video, the pet parent poses questions, and Apollo keeps on answering them. Watch the viral video here: Although the video was shared a while ago on Instagram, it has collected over 32.8 million views and still counting. The video has received over 3.1 million likes and numerous comments. Heres how people reacted to the viral video shared on Instagram: How can I be happy equally every time I hear him say the same words? Such a pretty animal, posted an individual. Another added, He says metal like Mr Bean. You should consider sending him to college, suggested a third. A fourth commented, Easy questions, bro. Ask him his thoughts on global warming. I like that he touched the bottle to be sure its glass and then also touched the bowl without being asked JUST in case he is also asked what the bowl was made of, expressed a fifth. A sixth joked, Bro is ready to learn C++. These videos always make me smile when all the sh*t is going on in my life, joined a seventh. I get so emotional when he answers in a full sentence its a bottle! wrote an eighth. 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 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday revealed that Americans may also have been taken hostage in the surprise assaults launched by the Hamas militants on Israel. Speaking on ABC's This Week, Blinken said as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters were reported to have participated in the attacks, which have left a trail of devastation in their wake. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the White House in Washington, U.S. October 7, 2023.(Reuters) When asked about the implications of the Israeli intelligence failure to the US, Blinken acknowledged saying they have a "very close relationship with Israeli intelligence, as well as with the Israeli military" but stressed that the priority was to deal with the aggression from Hamas. "There remains intense fighting around Gaza. We continue to see that. The rest of the country right now seems to be calmer. But the intensity of the fighting is real 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 Gaza. " The top US diplomat described the attacks as 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." The rampage included an assault on a crowded music festival, where authorities had already removed about 260 bodies by Sunday. A senior Hamas official says the militant group is holding more than 100 people captive after its unprecedented assault on Israel. Blinken emphasized the need for a collective response, stating, "The world should be revolted at what it has seen." He engaged in diplomatic efforts by speaking with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. During these conversations, he encouraged their "continued engagement" and stressed the United States' commitment to halting the attacks by Hamas and securing the release of all hostages. Blinken also discussed the potential involvement of Iran in supporting Hamas. Hamas wouldn't be around in the way that it is without the support that it's received from Iran over the years, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during interviews on the Sunday news shows, but he acknowledged that we have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack. He further linked the attacks to opposition against the efforts to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as Israel's relations with countries in the region and beyond. Blinken noted that Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran are the key opponents of these normalization efforts, suggesting a motive behind the attacks. "So to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes," he remarked. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting behind closed doors Sunday but took no immediate action on a demand from the United States that all 15 members strongly condemn these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas." 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 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". Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau(REUTERS) 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. When Avidor Schwartzman was woken by booming noises on Saturday morning, his first instinct was to grab his one-year-old daughter and his second was to think the disturbance wouldn't last long. People attending a vigil outside Downing Street for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks, organised by The Board of Deputies of British Jews, in London, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, as the death toll rises amid ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza following the attack by Hamas.(AP) The Kfar Aza kibbutz where he and his family live lies close to Gaza, an impoverished Palestinian enclave under Israeli blockade. They were used to militants firing rockets that would either fall short of their thousand-strong collective farming community or be shot down by Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system. When they got a kibbutz-wide text an hour later telling them it was dangerous to be outside, they moved to a safe room, thinking that perhaps one or two militants had entered the compound, where the houses are set among palm trees. For the next 18 hours he felt "complete, paralysing terror", he said. "They didn't stop shooting at our home." "I heard people talking in Arabic. And all in the time, shooting, we heard shooting like automatic fire." To his huge relief, his one-year-old daughter made no sound as he and his wife froze. By evening they had lost phone contact with his wife's parents, who live nearby. Only when the army came to rescue them did reality sink in. "It looked like something between a warzone and pure hell. Bodies everywhere and, and bullet holes everywhere. And my wife's parents are nowhere to be found," he told Reuters in Herzliya north of Tel Aviv, where they are staying with relatives. Expressing disbelief that people had come to the quiet community "just to kill people", he said the militants had taken advantage of divisions among Israelis. In the previous weeks, protests by young men in Gaza, where over half the population lives below the poverty line, have focused economic unrest, the Palestinian national cause and Israeli occupation, and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The Israeli military said on Monday it had called up 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, signs it could be planning a ground assault on Hamas after the group killed hundreds of Israelis and took dozens hostage. Hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in retaliatory air strikes. Schwartzman said he did not want to talk in terms of retaliation or vengeance but wanted the authorities to put an end to the tragedy. "Please stop it, stop the bloodshed," he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Alleging that the agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were involved in the killing of separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada, an independent blogger, Jennifer Zeng, has said that China's "purpose was to frame India creating discord between India and the West". The killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar remains an active and ongoing investigation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has said. She also alleged that it was a part of the CCP's sinister "Ignition Plan" to disrupt the world in line with Xi Jinping's military strategy regarding Taiwan. Jennifer Zeng is a Chinese born rights activist, journalist who is currently living in the US. In a video posted on the social media platform, X, Zeng dubbed the killing of Nijjar as an assassination claiming, "Today shocking revelations about the 'assassination ' of Sikh religious leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the 'assassination' was carried out by CCP agents." On 18 June 2023, Hardeep Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. The independent blogger attributed her allegations to Chinese writer and YouTuber Lao Deng, who according to her, lives in Canada now. "Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative 'Ignition Plan', the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held there...The objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West," Zeng claims in the video posted on X. "The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh leader in Canada. Following the meeting, the CCP agents meticulously executed the killing plan," she claimed. Explaining their modus operandi, the independent blogger alleges, "On June 18th, the agents armed with silenced guns tracked Nijjar. When the deed was done, they destroyed the dash camera in Nijjar's Car to erase any evidence. After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes." She also alleged that the killers even purposely learned Indian-accent English. "Therefore, they purposely spoke in India accent English...In fact, these actions were part of the scheme by CCP secret agent to frame India," said Zeng. She also claimed that Lao revealed that the CCP's 'ignition plan' was devised this year after the CCP's two sessions. There has been no response to Jennifer Zeng's allegations, posted in the video on Sunday afternonn (US time) from either the Chinese foreign ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada soured after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the killing 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. India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Amid escalating tensions, India has called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill on Sunday that would have made free condoms available to all public high school students, arguing it was too expensive for a state with a budget deficit of more than $30 billion. California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks with students in the Career Technical Education Pathways program at River City High School in West Sacramento, Calif., on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool)(AP) California had about 1.9 million high school students enrolled in more than 4,000 schools last year, according to the California Department of Education. This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process, Newsom wrote in a message explaining why he vetoed the bill, known as Senate bill 541. The bill is one of hundreds passed by Californias Democratic-dominated state Legislature before lawmakers adjourned last month. Newsom has been signing and vetoing legislation since then, including rejecting bills on Saturday to ban caste-based discrimination, limit the price of insulin and decriminalize possession and use of some hallucinogens. The bill would have required all public schools that have grades nine through 12 to make condoms available for free to all students. It would have required public schools with grades seven through 12 to allow condoms to be made available as part of educational or public health programs. And it would have made it illegal for retailers to refuse to sell condoms to youth. State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat from Los Angeles and the author of the bill, had argued the bill would have helped youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from (sexually transmitted infections), while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex. Newsom said programs increasing access to condoms are important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health. But he said this bill was one of several measures lawmakers passed this year that, when added together, would add $19 billion in costs to the state budget. With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure, Newsom said. Also on Sunday, Newsom signed a law aimed a electrifying the state's fleet of school buses. Starting in 2035, the law will require any new bus purchased or contracted by school districts to be zero-emission. California's public school districts that provide their own transportation own about 15,800 school buses, of which 10,800 are powered by diesel fuel, according to a 2022 report from the Legislative Analyst's Office. The law is part of California's plan to phase out the use of fossil fuels. State regulations will ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in California by 2035. The stunning attack on Israel by Hamas from air, land and sea represents a staggering failure in Israeli intelligence and what has been regarded as one of the most sophisticated border surveillance system in the world, experts have said. A plume of black smoke rises above Gaza Citys skyline during an Israeli airstrike on Sunday. (AFP) Dozens of Hamas fighters on Saturday crossed into Israel through the heavily fortified border between the two sides under the cover of rocket fire. At least 700 people have been killed in the deadliest assault on the country, surpassing the surprise attack during the Yom Kippur war, which took place exactly 50 years ago and led to the deaths of a little over 300 people. The militant group has also taken several Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage. More than 400 were killed on the Gaza Strip in Israeli retaliation after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war. Hamas's attack multifront infiltration they entered via the land, sea and even air likely required months of highly complex planning. From Israeli response, it appears that it either had no information or missed the signs on an upcoming attack, despite multiple warnings. "The [Israel-Gaza] wall is not just a physical barrier, it's a complex network of sensors, drones and cameras, backed up by a network of informants within Gaza itself. That this entire system failed so substantially and with such a cost in Israeli lives - both civilians and security personnel - is a huge shock to Israelis across the political spectrum," said Dr. Rob Geist Pinfold from Durham University, in an interaction over email with HT. Israel's biggest ally, the US, which has the most widespread intelligence network in the world and sent nearly $3 billion to the country in defence aid last year, had no tactical-level information. Its shocking to me that they were able to do it without Israel or the United States picking up on it, Martin Indyk, a former US ambassador to Israel and a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations told Bloomberg. "There is always tension near the border but nothing that would prompt the scale of attack we have seen. This points to very good operational security on the part of Hamas and excellent deception strategies as this attack would have been months in the planning. For Israel, its a massive intelligence blow. Despite HUMINT (human intelligence), ELINT (electronic intelligence), and COMINT (communication intelligence) superiority, as well as a wealth of open sources to draw on, they did not put the picture together," Clive Jones, director at Durham Universitys Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS) told HT. This crisis comes at a time of political upheaval in Israel. The country is being led by the most right-wing government in history, with Netanyahu having partnered with far-right and ultra-nationalist parties to end a political crisis that led to five elections in four years. Questions are now being raised about whether Israels army and intelligence services were distracted by domestic infighting. In September, opposition leader Yair Lapid had warned that Israel, is approaching a violent, multi-front confrontation, according to all the heads of the security establishment the Israel Defence Forces, the Shin Bet, the police, the intelligence agencies. The new war follows months of rising violence in the occupied West Bank and tensions around Gaza's 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. 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 told Bloomberg. The lack of sufficient Israeli forces in that area was a grievous failure. The failure likely will taint the legacy of Netanyahu, who has posited himself as tough on terrorism. The last intel failure on this scale was 50 years ago, when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on Yom Kippur. That war contributed to the downfall of the government - led by Golda Meir and her Labour Party. Labour had previously led every government in Israel prior to this. Subsequently, it has led government for less than 10 years and now only has 4 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. The same could happen to Netanyahu's Likud, Dr. Pinfold said. He also knows that an Israeli attack in the Gaza strip that produces mass casualties on the Palestinian side will change international dynamic of this war, that is, at present, largely sympathetic to Israel, added professor Jones. (With inputs from agencies) A 19-year-old man from South Florida was arrested after police discovered handwritten threats in his car, where had planned to kill everyone at his former school on his 22nd birthday. He had also expressed his wish to kill others across multiple states. Henry Horton IV has been charged with intimidation with written threats to kill or harm another individual (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office) Police apprehended Henry Horton IV in Jupiter on September 27 for a broken headlight. This is when they searched his vehicle and found out about his alleged plans. They found a note that read, kill everyone at OHS with my guns, referring to Okeechobee High School, where he graduated in May 2022, a probable cause affidavit stated. He has allegedly confessed. According to police, Henry was plotting to kill an administrator at the school, along with 14 others on the campus on January 2, 2026. Police then went on to investigate his phone and Discord account, and found that he had allegedly planned to carry out other mass murders across states, to build a bomb, and murder his stepmother. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said that Henry confessed during an interview that he was in Palm Beach County to do reconnaissance on the El Rey Jesus Church, in Miami, as part of the attack he was planning, according to New York Post. Henry also claimed that he did recon work at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where gunman Nikolas Cruz shot dead 17 people in 2018. Police also seized a 9MM handgun Henry allegedly stole from his mother. He needs to be treated for a mental disability instead of as a criminal Henry has battled mental health problems, and was transported to a hospital under Floridas Baker Act. He has now been arrested. Henrys mother Marcie Horton did not defend her sons actions, but asked officials to let him receive the mental health treatment rather than face charges. She also said that he was a good kid and would not have carried out the attack in reality, according to WPF. Its no excuse for what he wrote, she said. Im not saying that, but he needs help. Henrys stepmother, Alisha Horton, also claimed he was innocent. Henry isnt going to hurt me, she said. He would never He needs to be treated for a mental disability instead of as a criminal. Henry has been charged with intimidation with written threats to kill or harm another individual, and booked at the Palm Beach County Jail. He is being held on a $1 million bond and is set to appear in court on November 6. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Half of the brain of an ailing girl was switched off in order to save her life. According to a report by ABC7, the special surgery operation was performed by doctors at Loma Linda University Health in California. 6-year-old Brianna Bodley was suffering from Rasmussens encephalitis which leads to inflammation of the brain. The disease could further cause permanent damage to her brain and lead to deterioration of motor skills. But thanks to the doctors, Bodley will be able to lead a normal life even though one side of her brain has been shut down. Brianna Bodley(Facebook) The doctors could have also removed one side of her brain but they decided not to do so as it could lead to complications. Dr. Aaron Robison, of Loma Linda University Health who led the operation highlighted that the surgical procedure will help stop the disease. Just disconnecting it is enough to stop the disease completely and essentially, potentially cure it, Dr. Aaron Robison was quoted as saying by ABC7. Robison informed that as a result of the disease, Bodley used to suffer seizures. One side of her brain had shrunk and despite receiving anti-seizure medication and steroids, the disease was not stopping. ALSO READ| Jailed YouTuber Omi in a Hellcat's super luxury cars set to be auctioned The girl's mother Crystal Bodley said, After surgery, her entire left side of her body is turned off. The girl's sister Torie Bodley shared how the 6-year-old was scared about the operation but she encouraged her and calmed her nerves. "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 Torie. Every year, nearly 500 children get diagnosed with Rasmussens encephalitis. Although a rare disease, it affects mostly children and young people. The exact cause of the disease is not known. For Palestinians in Gaza, Israels eyes are never very far away. Surveillance drones buzz constantly from the skies. The highly-secured border is awash with security cameras and soldiers on guard. Intelligence agencies work sources and cyber capabilities to draw out a bevy of information. An Israeli missile launched from the Iron Dome defence missile system attempts to intercept a rocket, fired from the Gaza Strip.(AFP) But Israels eyes appeared to have been closed in the lead-up to an unprecedented onslaught by the militant Hamas group, which broke down Israeli border barriers and sent hundreds of militants into Israel to carry out a brazen attack that has killed hundreds and pushed the region toward conflict. (Israel-Hamas war LIVE) Israels intelligence agencies have gained an aura of invincibility over the decades because of a string of achievements. Israel has foiled plots seeded in the West Bank, allegedly hunted down Hamas operatives in Dubai and has been accused of killing Iranian nuclear scientists in the heart of Iran. Even when their efforts have stumbled, agencies like the Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence have maintained their mystique. But the weekends assault, which caught Israel off guard on a major Jewish holiday, plunges that reputation into doubt and raises questions about the countrys readiness in the face of a weaker but determined foe. Over 24 hours later, Hamas militants continued to battle Israeli forces inside Israeli territory, and dozens of Israelis were in Hamas captivity in Gaza. This is a major failure, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This operation actually proves that the (intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good. Amidror declined to offer an explanation for the failure, saying lessons must be learned when the dust settles. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, acknowledged the army owes the public an explanation. But he said now is not the time. First, we fight, then we investigate, he said. Some say it is too early to pin the blame solely on an intelligence fault. They point to a wave of low-level violence in the West Bank that shifted some military resources there and the political chaos roiling Israel over steps by Netanyahu's far-right government to overhaul the judiciary. The controversial plan has threatened the cohesion of the country's powerful military. But the apparent lack of prior knowledge of Hamas' plot will likely be seen as a prime culprit in the chain of events that led to the deadliest attack against Israelis in decades. Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, stripping it of a close handle on the happenings in the territory. But even after Hamas overran Gaza in 2007, Israel appeared to maintain its edge, using technological and human intelligence. It claimed to know the precise locations of Hamas leadership and appeared to prove it through the assassinations of militant leaders in surgical strikes, sometimes while they slept in their bedrooms. Israel has known where to strike underground tunnels used by Hamas to ferry around fighters and arms, destroying miles (kilometers) of the concealed passageways. Despite those abilities, Hamas was able to keep its plan under wraps. The ferocious attack, which likely took months of planning and meticulous training and involved coordination among multiple militant groups, appeared to have gone under Israel's intelligence radar. Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general, said that without a foothold inside Gaza, Israel's security services have come to rely increasingly on technological means to gain intelligence. He said militants in Gaza have found ways to evade that technological intelligence gathering, giving Israel an incomplete picture of their intentions. The other side learned to deal with our technological dominance and they stopped using technology that could expose it, said Avivi, who served as a conduit for intelligence materials under a former military chief of staff. Avivi is president and founder of Israel Defense and Security Forum, a hawkish group of former military commanders. They've gone back to the Stone Age, he said, explaining that militants weren't using phones or computers and were conducting their sensitive business in rooms specially guarded from technological espionage or going underground. But Avivi said the failure extends beyond just intelligence gathering and Israel's security services failed to put together an accurate picture from the intelligence they were receiving, based on what he said was a misconception surrounding Hamas' intentions. Israel's security establishment has in recent years increasingly seen Hamas as an actor interested in governing, seeking to develop Gaza's economy and improving the standard of living of Gaza's 2.3 million people. Avivi and others say the truth is that Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, still sees that aim as its priority. Israel in recent years has allowed up to 18,000 Palestinian laborers from Gaza to work in Israel, where they can earn a salary about 10 times higher than in the impoverished coastal enclave. The security establishment saw that carrot as a way to maintain relative calm. In practice, hundreds if not thousands of Hamas men were preparing for a surprise attack for months, without that having leaked, wrote Amos Harel, a defense commentator, in the daily Haaretz. The results are catastrophic. Allies who share intelligence with Israel said security agencies were misreading reality. An Egyptian intelligence official said Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had spoken repeatedly with the Israelis about something big, without elaborating. He said Israeli officials were focused on the West Bank and played down the threat from Gaza. Netanyahu's government is made up of supporters of Jewish West Bank settlers who have demanded a security crackdown in the face of a rising tide of violence there over the last 18 months. We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the content of sensitive intelligence discussions with the media. Israel has also been preoccupied and torn apart by Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu had received repeated warnings by his defense chiefs, as well as several former leaders of the country's intelligence agencies, that the divisive plan was chipping away at the cohesion of the country's security services. Martin Indyk, who served as a special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during the Obama administration, said internal divisions over the legal changes was an aggravating factor that contributed to the Israelis being caught off guard. "That roiled the IDF in a way that was, I think, we discovered was a huge distraction, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The world is stunned by the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas militants. While Israel has chosen to retaliate ferociously against the terror activities, Hamas and Palestine are on the receiving end of widespread condemnation from across the world, as well. Sara Foster(Getty Images) American actress Sara Foster, daughter of musician David Foster has condemned the attack on Israel and fired an angry tirade against those supporting Hamas. Sara took to Instagram and shared a heartfelt post while highlighting how Hamas targeted innocent people and didn't even spare young children. I do not support the killing of innocent people. The people dying are not the ones on this radical plight. The loving Palestinians I know do not want this. The loving people of Israel do not want this. Hamas is EVIL. Period. How can ANYONE of any nationality or race defend this? wrote Sara in her Instagram story. If you are too scared to say you stand with Israel or even if you dont, At least stand against 4 year old children being dragged out of their beds by a terrorist organization, Sara wrote in another Instagram story. Sara Foster's Instagram Story(Instagram) And if you dont stand against that, then you are not human, added Sara. ALSO READ| No moral compass: Joe Biden blasted for holding barbeque amid Hamas attack on Israel Notably, more than 700 people have been killed in Israel in the terrorist attack by Hamas, which happened on a Jewish holiday. Out of those killed, around 260 people were massacred while they were attending a music festival in Israel on Saturday. Hamas militants live streamed the gory images of the innocent people killed, in a shocking display of barbarism. Several world leaders have also condemned the planned attack on Israel. Meanwhile, Israel has launched a full-scale military operation to eliminate Hamas and its terror network. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country's response to the barbaric attack by Hamas will change the Middle East. The leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Italy and Britain pledged in a joint statement Monday to "support Israel in its efforts to defend itself" after the surprise attacks by militant group Hamas. People take part in a 'Vigil for Israel' opposite the entrance to Downing Street, the official residence of Britain's Prime Minister, in London on October 9(AFP) They added that they "recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people" but said Hamas "offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed," in the statement released by the White House. The Israeli military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, in a sign it may be planning a ground assault in response to the devastating weekend attack by Hamas gunmen. A fireball erupts during Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on October 9(AFP) After hours of intense bombardment by Israeli jets, Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls Gaza, said it would execute an Israeli captive if civilian houses were bombed. Inside Israel, Palestinian fighters were still holed up in several locations, two days after they killed hundreds of Israelis and seized dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday. Hamas spokesman Abu Ubaida said the group had been acting in accordance with Islam by keeping the Israeli captives safe. But in return for every Israeli bombing of a civilian house without warning, it would begin executing an Israeli civilian captive and broadcast it, he said. Echoing Hamas, the Islamic Jihad armed wing, which said it was holding more than 30 Israeli captives, asked Israel to refrain from hitting civilians if they cared about the fate of Israelis in its custody. In Gaza, Israel pressed on with its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced a tightened blockade, which would prevent even food and fuel from reaching the strip, home to 2.3 million people. As night fell, the Israeli air strikes became more aggressive, and witnesses said several Hamas security headquarters and ministries were hit. The strikes destroyed some roads and houses. Israel also bombed the headquarters of the private Palestinian Telecommunication Co., which could impact land phone, internet and mobile phone services. As it rained, explosions and lightning lit the skies, and thunder mixed with the sound of the bombings. In a further signal of Israel's rapid shift to a war footing, a cabinet member from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party said it could set up a national unity government joined by opposition leaders within hours. Netanyahu told mayors of southern towns hit by Saturday's surprise assault that Israel's response would "change the Middle East". At the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, men clambered on a pancaked building to pull an infant's tiny body from the rubble, carrying it down through the crowd below amid still-smouldering remains of bombed buildings. That air strike killed and wounded dozens, according to the territory's health ministry. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said some 137,000 people were taking shelter with UNRWA, the U.N. agency that provides essential services to Palestinians. FIGHTING SPREAD The prospect that fighting could spread to other areas has alarmed the region. Israeli troops "killed a number of armed suspects that infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory", the military said, adding helicopters "are currently striking in the area". Hezbollah said in a statement that three of its members were killed in Israeli fire on south Lebanon on Monday. An official with Hezbollah earlier denied that the group had mounted any operation into Israel. Hezbollah, a Shi'ite militant group powerful in southern Lebanon, is, like Hamas, backed by Iran. Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon's southern border with Israel, a correspondent for Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said in a post on social media. Israel's Army Radio gave the location as being near Adamit, across from the Lebanese border towns of Aalma El Chaeb and Zahajra. The Al Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, claimed responsibility for an attack at the Lebanon-Israel border. In Israel's south, scene of the deadly Hamas attack, Israel's chief military spokesman said troops had re-established control of communities inside Israel that had been overrun, but that isolated clashes continued as some gunmen remained active. The shocking images of the bodies of hundreds of Israeli civilians sprawled across the streets of towns, gunned down at an outdoor dance party and abducted from their homes were like nothing seen before in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The announcement that 300,000 reservists had been activated in just two days added to speculation that Israel could be contemplating a ground assault of Gaza, a territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago. "We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale," chief military spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said. "We are going on the offensive." Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there. Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, says its attack was justified by the plight of Gaza under a 16-year blockade and the deadliest Israeli crackdown for years in the occupied West Bank. 'A TOTAL MASSACRE' Mainstream Palestinian groups who deplored the attacks said the violence was nonetheless predictable, with a peace process frozen for nearly a decade and far-right Israeli leaders talking of annexing Palestinian land once and for all. Israel and Western countries said nothing justified the intentional mass killing of civilians. The attackers gunned down scores of young Israelis at the desert dance party - media reported 260 killed there. A day later dozens of survivors were still emerging from hiding. The site was littered with wrecked and abandoned cars. "It was just a massacre, a total massacre," said Arik Nani, who had been celebrating his 26th birthday and escaped by hiding for hours in a field. In Gaza, footage obtained by Reuters showed dozens of people climbing over collapsed buildings in search of survivors, the air still dusty from impact. Sirens rang out as emergency teams put out cars that had caught fire. "The Zionist enemy's military targeting and bombing of homes inhabited by women and children, mosques and schools in Gaza amount to war crimes and terrorism," Hamas official Izzat Reshiq said in a statement. Egypt, which has mediated between Israel and Hamas at times of conflict in the past, was in close contact with the two sides, according to Egyptian security sources. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also said his country was ready for a mediator role. Qatari mediators have held urgent calls with Hamas officials to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source told Reuters. An Israeli official said no negotiations were under way. The violence jeopardises U.S.-backed moves towards normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - a security realignment that could have threatened Palestinian hopes of self-determination and hemmed in Hamas backer Iran. "The price the Gaza Strip will pay will be a very heavy one that will change reality for generations," Defence Minister Gallant said in Ofakim, one of the towns that had been attacked. Israel's military faces harsh questions for the country's worst intelligence failure in 50 years. Netanyahu's options may also be curtailed by concern over the fate of Israeli hostages. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 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. A man carries Israeli flags during a pro-Israel rally outside of Israeli Embassy on October 8 in Washington DC.(AFP) 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. Follow Israel-Hamas war LIVE updates here. 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. Israeli police stand guard in an area near the border with Gaza on October 9, 2023. (AFP) "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. Smoke rise above buildings during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on October 9.(AFP) "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. A Palestinian sits on the rubble of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 9.(Reuters) 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 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 that divides Gaza from the settlements and which was 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. 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock, has apologised for asking his social media followers to donate to his Maui wildfire fund aimed at helping people who were affected by the disaster in August, this year. Dwayne Johnson(File Photo) Johnson took to Instagram and shared a video in which he said, "When we first launched the fund there was some backlash." "I get it and I completely understand. And I could have been better. And next time I will be better. And I understand, you know, money ain't fallin' out of the sky, and it's not growing on trees. And there's a lot of people out there living paycheck to paycheck, and I get it, and I know what that's like. I've lived paycheck to paycheck," explained Johnson. "When you are living paycheck to paycheck, I don't want to speak for everybody, I'll speak for myself, but I feel it's connected. When you're living paycheck to paycheck, I was easily p***ed off and I was frustrated. And the last thing you want to hear when you are living from paycheck to paycheck is someone asking you for money, especially when the person asking you for money already has a lot of money," said the wrestler-turned-actor. "So I get it, I understand. I'd never launched a fund before, but I'm a quick study and lesson learned," he said further. ALSO READ| Hamas is EVIL: Sara Foster condemns barbaric attack on Israel Alongside the video, Johnson wrote, "Im so grateful and moved by all the messages Im receiving out of Maui from the survivors of the devastating wildfires who are now getting their personal funding from The Peoples Fund of Maui. "The strength of our people of Maui is beautiful and inspiring. Watching families and community come together after this tragedy is inspirational and Im proud of our Polynesian people. Thank you to everyone who has helped by sending resources, love and prayers to all people affected by the fires and a loving mahalo and RESPECT to our OG cultural leaders, our local community organizations, and all our first responders and every person who came together to help our people," read his post further. Notably, Maui wildfires were the most devastating wildfire incident in the United States, in more than a century. The tragic incident caused massive destruction including loss of life and property in Lahaina town. Rebuilding Maui and restoring it to its earlier state, would take years. And several celebrities including billionaire Jeff Bezos have contributed to the cause. During his visit to Beijing, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called out China for their reaction to Hamas attack on Israel. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that he was very disappointed by China's statement on the recent Hamas attack as it didn't show any sympathy or support for Israel. US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (C) and US Senate Mike Crapo (L) meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai Guest House in Beijing on October 9, 2023. (Photo by Andy Wong / POOL / AFP)(AFP) I was very disappointed to be honest by the Foreign Ministry statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these troubled times," Schumer said near the end of his remarks. Schumer is leading a delegation of six senators to China this week. The delegation, which includes three Democrats and three Republicans, is the first visit by U.S. lawmakers since 2019. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks, said Schumer. On Sunday China had called on both sides to exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities, but failed to condemn Hamas' surprise attack early Saturday that has left more than 1,000 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. Also Read: Israel-Hamas war LIVE: US moves warships closer to Israel In the ministry statement, China also said that establishing an independent state of Palestine is the fundamental way to resolve the issue. The recurrence of the conflict shows once again that the protracted standstill of the peace process cannot go on, the statement said, adding that the international community needs to act with greater urgency and facilitate the resumption of peace talks. China has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. In recent years, it has stepped up its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming Syrian President Bashar Assad on a visit to China. Also Read: American travellers try to flee Israel amid Hamas attack, say airport is a madhouse He said that the top priority for the Senate delegation is seeking fair trade between the two countries. We want the Chinese people to have economic opportunity. That would be good for America, he said. But China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now. Wang urged the United States to respect Chinas core interests and development rights. The Chinese government views American restrictions on trade and technology exports to China as attempts to hold back the countrys economic growth. Schumer also raised the issues of Chinese companies that the U.S. says are supplying chemicals for fentanyl production, ensuring China does not support what he called Russia's immoral war against Ukraine, advancing human rights and releasing detained Americans. (With Agency Inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail A pro-Palestinian rally flocked to Times Square, New York on October 8. The crowd supporting the Hamas attack clashed with Israeli counter-protesters on Sunday afternoon. While one side chanted Palestine will be free, the other fired back with shame on you. The protest was organised by the New York chapter of the Democratic Socialists (NYC-DSA). The organisation stated that the rally was held to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to resist 75 years of occupation and apartheid, as per Politico. Clips from the rally went viral on social media. Palestine and Israel supporters clash in Times Square, New York(X/ @stuartmeissner) During the heated exchange between the rival groups, with the Palestine supporters shouting Resistance is justified, a shocking sight was captured. One of the protesters was spotted pointing the Nazi symbol at the Israeli counter-protesters. The incident went viral on social media, with several users expressing their shock and discontentment. Netizens condemned the display of the Nazi symbol, with one user saying, It's sickening and disgusting the hate everywhere. While another user inquired, Who is going to tell him what it stands for? ALSO READ: Timeline: Israel and Palestine conflict in Gaza Several other clips from the rally took the internet by storm as the chants by the pro-Palestinian protesters can be heard. The protesters cheered Hamas' terror attack on Israel, which made netizens wonder where the line between humanity and justice draws. ALSO READ: Israel orders complete siege on 'beastly' Gaza with no electricity or food However, several X users also condemned the use of the word Swastika in reference to the Nazi symbol and gave clarification on the actual name, which is Hakenkreuz. One user set the facts straight, saying, That's not the Swastika he held in his hand. It's Hakenkreuz. Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks up Kathy Hochul, the New York governor expressed her vexation over the pro-Palestinian rally, calling it abhorrent and morally repugnant. Hochul further noted that Israelis are facing violent terrorist attacks and civilian kidnappings, as per The Independent. Mayor Eric Adams also issued a statement calling Hamas' attack on Israel, a cowardly action by a terrorist organization. Israel escalated measures against the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to a "total blockade" including a ban on admitting food and fuel, country's defence minister Yoav Gallant said, calling this as part of a battle against beastly people. This comes after Israel's army declared that its forces were in "control of communities" in its southern territory near Gaza, two days after Hamas launched a surprise attack. Israel-Palestine Latest: Rockets are fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip.(AP) Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. "We are in control of the communities," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. However, there still might be "terrorists" in the area, he said. This comes after Israel said that it has brought in special forces to try to wrest control of four sites from Hamas after Tel Aviv formally declared war and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate. More than 1,100 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides. Fighting continued in several locations. Israel's chief military spokesman said troops had re-established control of communities that had been overrun while isolated clashes continued. "We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area," chief military spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Earlier, another spokesman, lieutenant colonet Richard Hecht, acknowledged that it was "taking more time than we expected to get things back into a defensive, security posture". Israel has responded with its heaviest ever bombardment of the Gaza Strip, killing some 500 people so far. Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press that the group's fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis. The group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, 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 The U.S. has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the three-day-old war with Hamas, a senior Defense Department official said Monday. U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu(REUTERS) Planes have already taken off, said the official, who declined to provide details on the weapons. The official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive shipments, also warned that the U.S. is closely watching Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, noting that the decision to shift American ships in the region was to deter any of them from entering or expanding the conflict against Israel. The weapons movement came as President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. death toll in the war has gone up to 11. The official said the U.S. is flooding the zone with calls and other messages so that extremist groups and other nations know they should not question America's commitment to supporting the defense of Israel. The official, however, would not comment on whether U.S. military forces would be used at all. While the official said the U.S. has the ability to support weapons needs in Ukraine and Israel and maintain security for America, the rapid delivery of munitions to the new war has raised concerns. Congress must pass more funding quickly for the U.S. to be able to give both Israel and Ukraine the weapons and munitions they both now need, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Monday. The intent is to lean forward in support of Israel, she said. "But in particular with munitions and the ability to support Israel and Ukraine simultaneously, additional funding is needed to increase our capacity to expand production and then also pay for the munitions themselves. It is clear the administration is now facing potentially competing requests from Israel and Ukraine for additional weaponry. And while there is strong bipartisan support in Congress for aid to Israel, the next steps are uncertain, with the House lacking a leader after the ouster of the Republican speaker and the Senate out of town until next week. Also uncertain is whether the debate over further assistance to Ukraine, which is opposed by a group of hard-right Republicans, will complicate efforts to pass assistance for Israel. Wormuth, speaking at the annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, said the administration is still in the early stage of the process of evaluating our ability to support what the IDF needs, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. She did not provide details, but Doug Bush, the Army's assistant secretary for acquisition, told reporters at the conference that conversations are underway about what the U.S. can provide. He said it likely will be a wide range of equipment, from small arms to sophisticated munitions. Most of the weaponry sent already to help Ukraine has come from Army stocks and defense contractors at a rate that has challenged the global supply chain, and while the Army has recently ramped up production of some critical lines, such as 155 mm ammunition for howitzers, they are not yet at full speed. With a new ground offensive in Gaza imminent following the Saturday surprise attack by Hamas, Army officials said Monday they were concerned about the ability to meet additional demand for ground munitions and that Congress needed to act quickly to provide help in time. In addition to the 11 American citizens whose deaths Biden confirmed, an undetermined number of remain unaccounted for. It was not yet clear if the missing are dead, in hiding, or had been taken hostage. Biden said the U.S. believes it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held hostage by Hamas, but officials are working to confirm that. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts, Biden said in a statement. The attack by Hamas and Israel's response have left more than 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, the White House has asked Senate leaders to fast track confirmation of President Joe Bidens nominee to be the next ambassador to Israel, former Obama-era Treasury Secretary and White House chief of staff Jack Lew, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity. The White House has received assurances that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will push forward hearings for Lew, the official added. The U.S. is currently without an ambassador after the departure of Ambassador Tom Nides in July. Biden nominated Lew in September. 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. 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 and conducting surveillance. The senior Defense Department official said worries about Hezbollah opening a second front of violence against Israel was the main reason for moving the ships to the Eastern Mediterranean. The official said the U.S. is deeply concerned Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups will make the wrong decision to try to pile on and widen the war. 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 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel declared war Sunday as it bombarded the Gaza strip with airstrikes in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. As many as 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in the assault(AP) 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 Andrew 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel-Hamas War Day 3 highlights: The United States has moved an aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean in the wake of the war between Israel and Hamas militants in Palestine. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that fighter jets are also likely to be sent. An member of the Israeli security forces stands close to a car hit by a rocket fired from Gaza,(AFP) Tel Aviv formally declared war on Sunday following unprecedented large-scale attacks by Gaza-based Palestinian militant group Hamas a day before. The ongoing conflict, triggered by Hamas' operation known as 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood,' has resulted in over 1,100 deaths on both sides. Thousands have been wounded and displaced. Over 130 Israeli and other nationals are also feared as taken hostage by the Hamas. On Saturday, Hamas launched a triple attack on Israel, firing rocket barrages, conducting a successful infiltration bid into its southern towns and sending armed men via route. In response, Israel initiated a massive airstrike operation, claiming to have eliminated 400 militants, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to reduce the group to rubble". As the escalation entered day two, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah also waged rocket strikes against Israel in its northern region, in solidarity with the Palestinians. Several U.S. nationals have died since the start of Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, a National Security Council spokesman said Sunday, adding that U.S. officials remained in touch with their Israeli counterparts. 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.(AP) Official word of Americans killed in the conflict came as Israel retaliated for the incursion, one of the bloodiest in it history, launching attacks on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. The combined death toll from the Hamas attack on southern Israel has climbed to more than 1,100 as fighting entered a third day. Oil surged as the fighting threatened to inflame tensions in the Middle East, home to almost a third of global supply. (Israel-Hamas war LIVE) 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. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed the most recent developments related to the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel in a call, according to a readout from the State Department. Blinken encouraged Saudi Arabias continued engagement. 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. Amidst the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, Indian IT companies with significant staff in Israel are increasing their efforts to ensure the safety of their employees. An Israeli soldier sits on the roof of an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) near Israel's border with Lebanon, northern Israel, October 9.(REUTERS) Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is closely monitoring the situation and giving top priority to the well-being of its employees and their families based in Israel, according to a report from Live Mint. An unnamed executive mentioned in the report said, "We are monitoring the situation and have been in contact with HR officials there. We are actively assisting with their safety, including employees from India and their families." However, the executive did not provide specific numbers of TCS employees in Israel, including Indian nationals. Israel is home to an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 Indians, comprising both students and professionals, with many IT companies involved in specialised projects in the region. As of April 2023, Tata Consultancy Services had approximately 1,100 employees engaged in its Israel-related services. The tech giant initiated its operations in Israel in 2005, becoming the first Indian IT company to establish a presence in the Middle Eastern country, with employees stationed in the central district of Petah Tikvah and Jerusalem. Earlier today, Adani Ports and SEZ Limited, led by Gautam Adani, which acquired Israel's Haifa port earlier this year, issued a statement assuring the safety of their business amid the recent Hamas attack and ensuing conflict. The company also confirmed the safety of its employees, stating, "We remain fully alert and prepared with a business continuity plan that will enable us to respond effectively to any eventuality." READ HERE- 'All safe': Adani Port on Israel's Haifa Port concerns post Hamas attack The Hamas attack, originating in the southwest from the Gaza-based terrorist group, began on Saturday and has resulted in the deaths of over 700 Israelis, primarily civilians. Palestinian authorities report approximately 500 Palestinian casualties in retaliatory attacks. In response, Israel has announced its largest-ever mobilisation, calling up over 3,00,000 army reservists. 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 Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine's Hamas, the supporters of the two sides held respective rallies in many cities of the United States on Sunday and today. Supporters of the Palestinian people from the Palestinian Youth Movement and other groups demonstrate outside the White House about the conflict between Israel and Hamas, during a protest in Washington, US. (Reuters) These rallies were organised in cities like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Florida and Washington. Clashes were also reported in some places. On Saturday, in a ferocious attack, Hamas militants broke through the blockaded border along the Gaza Strip and stormed Israeli towns, prompting retaliatory bombings on the group's strongholds. Over 1100 people have died from both sides. In Atlanta, over 75 people protested at the Israeli consulate on Sunday, supporting Hamas' move and calling for the United States to stop sending aid to Israel. The pro-Palestine protesters wearing keffiyeh, black and white checkered scarves - which have come to be a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, raised slogans against Israel. Meanwhile, Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a gathering of the Jewish community in support of Israel at a synagogue in San Francisco. In New York, a fight broke out between the protestors near the United Nations compound after a huge group of Palestine supporters conducted a rally in the city's Times Square. In videos viral on X, formerly Twitter, Israeli supporters can be seen pointing towards Palestinian supporters and shouting, Shame on you. As reported by New York Post, the protests were organised by Democratic Socialists of America as they planned stomping on and burning the Israeli flag. Protesters held up signs saying End all US aid to Israel, and Palestine will be free. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, responding to the rally, said that it was abhorrent and morally repugnant. In Washington, dozens of protesters showed up outside the Israeli Embassy to stand in solidarity with Israel. Pro-Palestine supporters gathered outside the White House demanding end of the US aid to Israel. They were heard chanting slogans like Free Palestine and Occupation no more! Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed in Washington's Kirkland. In a video, protestors can be seen snatching each other's flags, hitting each other with flags and shoes and even engaging in verbal fights. In Florida, fighting broke out between Israeli supporters and protesters supporting the Palestinian cause at a rally in Fort Lauderdale. Protestors carrying flags on both sides were seen hitting each other as the Florida police tried to break off the fights. Demonstrations were also held in Florida's Tampa region where protestors clashed from both sides in the presence of the police. The two groups were seen shouting at each other, escalating the tensions. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said in a post on X,The rallies in Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale supporting Hamas are abhorrent. Hamas is a terrorist group that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and commits atrocities to further that end. We are proud of the relationship between Florida and Israel and remember well the support we received from the IDF following the Surfside tower collapse. Florida stands with Israel as it faces one of its greatest challenges. Israel has intensified its attack on Gaza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that the country would destroy the military and governing capabilities of Palestine's Hamas group. Israels defense minister Yoav Gallant announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip on Monday, stating that authorities would cut the supply of electricity and block the entry of food and fuel to Gaza. Gallant said that the move was a part of a war, which was against beastly people. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel-Hamas conflict news updates: The Israeli rescue service Zaka said its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from an all-night nature music festival near the Gaza Strip attended by thousands that came under attack by Palestine-based Hamas militants on Saturday. The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, centre, from Kfar Azza kibbutz into the Gaza Strip on Saturday.(AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed as many as 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in the mass assault. On Sunday, the Israeli government formally declared war 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 death toll passed 1,100 and thousands were wounded on both sides. Follow Live Updates on Israel-Hamas war Latest updates on Israel-Hamas war: More than 40 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations on Monday morning. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in five decades and over 400 have been killed in Gaza. The toll passed 1,100 dead and thousands wounded on both sides. Several US nationals have been killed since the start of Hamas' surprise attack on Israel, a National Security Council spokesman said on Sunday, adding that US officials remained in touch with their Israeli counterparts. 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. The United Nations 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. 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. A video aired on social media and by Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festival goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled. Reportedly, the Hamas militants first targeted the partygoers with rockets followed by bullets after paraglided into Israeli territory. US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 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. The United States will send multiple military ships and aircraft closer to Israel as a show of support, defence secretary Lloyd Austin said. Austin also said the United States had also taken steps to augment US 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. The Israeli military said more than 100,000 reservists have so far reported for duty. Palestinian Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala said his faction is holding captive more than 30 of the Israelis who were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip when Hamas launched attacks on Israel. The captives will not be repatriated till all of our prisoners are released, al-Nakhala said, referring to thousands of Palestinians who are in Israeli prisons. Several international air carriers, including Air India, said on Sunday they had suspended flights serving Tel Aviv in light of the Hamas militant attack. US air carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said they had suspended direct flights, as did Air France. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The surprise assault by Hamas militants on Israel and the retaliatory attack on the Gaza Strip has brought back focus to the long-standing and complex dispute over territory, sovereignty, and identity in the Middle East. The Israel-Palestine conflict has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Zionist Jews began immigrating to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, with the aim of establishing a Jewish homeland. This movement eventually led to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, resulting in a war between Israel and its Arab neighbours and the displacement of Palestinian Arabs. Palestinians carry their belongings as they walk on a debris-strewn street in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack, at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, October 9, 2023.(Reuters) The conflict has since evolved through numerous wars, uprisings, peace negotiations, and continued territorial disputes, making it one of the most intractable conflicts in the world. Hamas the Iranian-backed Islamist militants who run the impoverished, blockaded Gaza Strip has dealt a severe blow to momentum to secure a landmark US-brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Experts believe that Arab states would likely feel obliged to take a harder stance in line with public sentiment following the forceful retaliation by Israel. Check out these five books to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict from various perspectives: 1. "The Gun and the Olive Branch: The Roots of Violence in the Middle East" by David Hirst David Hirst's myth-breaking book explores the historical events, political decisions, and violence that have shaped the Israel-Palestine conflict, with a particular focus on the Arab perspective. Hirst, a former Middle East correspondent of the Guardian, traces the origins of the terrible conflict back to the 1880s to show how Arab violence, although often cruel and fanatical, is a response to the challenge of repeated aggression. 2. From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas L. Friedman 'From Beirut of Jerusalem' is essentially a memoir and an analysis of Thomas Friedman's experiences as a journalist covering the Middle East during the 1980s. The three-time Pulitzer winner, known for his expertise in international affairs and globalization, provides readers with a deep understanding of the historical, political, and cultural complexities of the Middle East. One of the book's strengths is its humanizing approach to the people caught up in the conflicts, whether they be Lebanese, Israelis, or Palestinians. Friedman introduces readers to a wide range of characters and provides their personal stories, adding depth and nuance to the broader narrative. 3. "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" by Ilan Pappe Renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappe's groundbreaking book revisits the formation of the State of Israel. The central thesis of the book revolves around the assertion that the establishment of Israel in 1948 involved a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing by Zionist forces, resulting in the expulsion and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian Arabs from their homes and land. Pappe draws upon extensive archival research and oral history interviews to support his argument, presenting evidence of planned and systematic actions by Zionist militias to depopulate Palestinian villages and towns. 4. "My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel" by Ari Shavit This New York Times Bestseller provides a deeply introspective exploration of Israel's history and identity. Through interviews, historical accounts, and personal narratives, Ari Shavit offers a nuanced view of the Israeli experience, highlighting both triumphs and challenges. 5. "The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood" by Rashid Khalidi Rashid Khalidi, a prominent Palestinian-American historian, delves into the historical roots of the Palestinian struggle for statehood. Drawing upon his extensive knowledge of Middle Eastern history and politics, Khalidi provides readers with a rich and nuanced account of the Palestinian quest for self-determination in the face of numerous challenges and obstacles. The title "The Iron Cage" aptly reflects the overarching theme of the book, which explores how historical circumstances, geopolitical forces, and regional dynamics have confined and constrained the Palestinian people in their pursuit of statehood. Khalidi also sheds light on the role of key actors, including Palestinian leaders, neighbouring Arab states, and the international community, in shaping the course of this ongoing conflict. It's tough to zero in on just five books when the complexity and depth of this long-standing conflict have generated a vast body of literature and perspectives from various angles and historical periods. So here's one more suggestion: "The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East" by Sandy Tolan Sandy Tolan's narrative weaves together the stories of an Israeli and a Palestinian family, providing a deeply personal perspective on the conflict and its impact on individuals and communities. The central narrative revolves around the lives of Bashir Khairi, a Palestinian who was forced to leave his family's home in Ramle during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, and Dalia Eshkenazi Landau, an Israeli who, decades later, moves into the very same house in Ramle. Tolan skillfully uses their stories as a lens through which to explore the broader historical, political, and social issues that have shaped the Middle East. 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 Foreigners have been killed, injured or taken hostage during a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas Saturday which left 700 people dead, mostly Israelis. Many of the missing foreigners were at an electronic music festival in Israel where many revellers were massacred. Here's what we know so far: Israel-Palestine Latest: Rockets are fired from Gaza towards Israel, in Gaza.(Reuters) US: 9 dead, others missing The United States confirmed the deaths of nine US citizens and said others were still unaccounted for. "At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine US citizens," US state department spokesman Matthew Miller said. Thailand: 12 dead, 11 hostages Twelve Thai labourers were killed, eight were wounded and 11 were taken captive, the foreign ministry said. There were around 5,000 Thai labourers working in the areas hit by fighting, it informed. Nepal: 10 dead Ten citizens of Nepal were killed in Kibbutz Alumim, its embassy in Tel Aviv said while four others were being treated in hospital. Ukraine: 2 dead Two Ukrainian women who had been living in Israel for years were killed, Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesman said. France: 2 dead, several missing Two French people have been killed in "Hamas's terrorist attacks against Israel", the French government said. UK: 1 dead, 1 missing Jake Marlowe, 26, who moved to Israel from Britain two years ago, is believed to have been taken hostage. Israel's ambassador to Britain said that there was one British citizen in Gaza, without naming the person. Canada: Reports of 1 dead, 2 missing The Canadian government said on that it was trying to confirm reports that one Canadian had died and two others were missing. Germany: several hostage Several dual German-Israeli nationals were kidnapped, a German foreign ministry source said told news agency AFP. Brazil: 3 missing, one injured Brazil's foreign ministry said that three dual Brazilian-Israeli nationals were missing after attending the festival and a fourth was being treated in hospital. Mexico: 2 hostages Mexico's foreign minister said that two Mexicans, one man and one woman, had been taken hostage, without giving further details. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail The State Department said Monday that at least nine American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel, raising the toll from four. Israel-Palestine Latest: A plume of smoke billows behind highrise buildings in the sky during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City.(AFP) It says an undetermined number of American citizens remain missing and unaccounted for. On Sunday, an official said that number was fluid and had ranged from between six to 12. It is not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or are in hiding. The State Department is in touch with families and providing all appropriate consular assistance, said spokesman Matthew Miller. The attack by Hamas has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. 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. 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 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. 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Qatari mediators have held urgent calls to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source briefed on the talks told Reuters. Israel-Palestine Latest: Smoke billows following Israeli artillery bombing on the outskirts of the Lebanese border village of Aita al-Shaab.(AFP) Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed to Reuters its involvement in mediation talks with Hamas and Israeli officials, including over a possible prisoner swap. The ongoing negotiations, which Qatar has been conducting in coordination with the United States since Saturday night, are "moving positively" said the source, who has been briefed on them. "We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover," foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told Reuters, without elaborating. But there are no signs of breakthroughs as both sides dig in. Qatar has been in touch with Hamas officials in Doha and Gaza, the source said, after the Islamist group assaulted Israel from Gaza on Saturday, storming into towns, killing more than 700 Israelis, and escaping with dozens of hostages. The exact number of Israeli women and children hostages Hamas is offering in the potential exchange of 36 Palestinian women and children prisoners the Islamist group identified is not clear, the source said. Details about negotiations focusing on the release of 36 Palestinians from Israeli jails have not previously been reported. The number of Israeli hostages held in Gaza also remains unclear, but it is widely believed that Hamas seized women, children, elderly people and soldiers on Saturday. A Palestinian official, familiar with mediation efforts with Hamas and Israel in the past, told Reuters that Qatar and Egypt have been in contact with the group but the intensity of the fighting cast shadows over any potential breakthrough. In Hamas-controlled Gaza, Israel has carried out its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, killing more than 500 people since Saturday. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel's blockade would be tightened to prevent food and fuel from being brought into the strip, home to 2.3 million people. Egypt has been in close contact with Israel and Hamas to try to prevent further escalation in fighting between them and to ensure the protection of the Israeli hostages, two Egyptian security sources said. Egypt had urged Israel to exercise restraint and Hamas to hold its captives in good condition to keep open the possibility of de-escalation soon, although Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip made mediation difficult, the Egyptian sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The source who had been briefed on the Qatar-led talks, also speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters: "There has been no agreement on logistics or a mechanism for the release." There was no immediate response to requests for comment sent to Hamas or the U.S. State Department. Israel's prime minister's office said it did not wish to comment. Eran Lerman, a former Israeli deputy national security adviser, said no Israeli would concede to conditions of the hostage takers, citing the brutality of the attack. "We should have to see how long they are going to hold the hostages when over the next few days there is no water, no electricity, no food, no medicine for the entire Gaza population". Israelis are reeling from the assault and by images of captured fellow citizens being bundled into Gaza. Israel has said it will act to free the hostages, adhering to a longstanding principle of leaving no prisoner behind. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's options for hitting Hamas over its 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. Qatar, a tiny but wealthy energy and investment powerhouse that holds ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas. Qatari envoys have previously helped mediate truces between the Islamist group and Israel. Doha has recently been under the global diplomacy spotlight, after hosting more than a year of talks between the United States and Iran, which led to prisoner exchanges and fund releases. While Hamas' power base is in Gaza, some leaders are based in Qatar as well as other Middle Eastern countries. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that creating a Palestinian state was the "most reliable" solution for peace in Israel as fighting terrorism alone would not ensure security. Speaking at a press conference with the head of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who visited Russia after Hamas launched a massive surprise attack, Sergei Lavrov said that creating a Palestinian state that would live side by side with Israel... is the most reliable path to solve (the conflict). Israel-Palestine Latest: Israeli soldiers stand guard near damage caused by a rocket after if was fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel.(Reuters) We cannot agree with those who say that security can only be ensured through a fight with terrorism, he said, adding that Moscow was "deeply concerned that hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians have died and that the Gaza Sector has been declared a target for Israeli retaliation." Lavrov said Russia had "serious questions" about Western policy on Israel as "they say that (fighting) should be stopped immediately, that Israel should destroy the terrorists. But this was done before... and never after the situation calmed down did they come to the fact that the main reason (for the conflict) needs to be eliminated. The Palestinian problem should not be delayed further." Earlier he said that Russia and the Arab League would work to "stop the bloodshed" in Israel and Gaza. Aboul Gheit condemned the violence, but from all sides, saying, We demand the creation of political prospects and a fair resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.. The Kremlin said that it feared a foreign player could enter the conflict after the US moved warships closer to its ally Israel. "The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process in order to reduce this escalation and move away from a military solution. 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 Ten Nepali students have been killed and four others injured in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks in the country's southern region, Nepal's foreign ministry said on Monday. Israel-Palestine War: Israeli troop enforcements take position on the border with Gaza in southern Israel.(AFP) Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. In a press statement, the foreign ministry here said 10 Nepali nationals lost their lives in the recent attack by Hamas in Israel. Out of the 17 Nepali nationals working on a farm at Kibbutz Alumim, an area near the Gaza Strip, two safely escaped, four were injured and one is still missing, it said. "We have received the information of the sad demise of ten Nepali nationals from the site, where the Hamas had launched an attack, Nepal's embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement. All 10 people killed in the Hamas attack were students of agriculture from Sudur Paschim University in Western Nepal, according to ministry sources. There are currently 4,500 Nepali nationals working as caregivers in Israel. A total of 265 Nepali students are studying in Israel under the Learn and Earn programme of the Israeli government. Of them, 119 are from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 from Tribhuvan University and 49 from Sudur Paschim University. All of them are bachelor-level students of agriculture. We are trying to identify those killed in the incident. Efforts are being made to search for one missing student. The bodies will be brought back to Nepal soon after the identification is completed, the embassy said. The Nepal government has also requested the Israeli government that necessary arrangements be provided to the injured people, who are undergoing treatment. The ministry said it was collaborating with the Israeli government and the embassy in Tel Aviv to bring back those nationals who want to return home. Nepal government is committed to evacuate its nationals from the war-torn region at the earliest, said the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A meeting of the coordination mechanism formed under the leadership of Foreign Minister N P Saud is underway at the ministry to take stock of the situation in Israel, to identify Nepalese nationals and to make efforts for rescue Nepalese nationals if necessary, read the statement issued by secretariat of Foreign Minster Saud. Nepal's main opposition CPN-UML has also asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to talk to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to rescue the Nepalis, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. Issuing statements and informing the House is not enough. The government must play the role of guardian of its citizens at this time of crisis, said Padam Giri, the UML chief whip, in Parliament. Meanwhile, hundreds of students have taken out a silent procession carrying placards in Tikapur Municipality of Western Nepal, demanding immediate action from the government to rescue the Nepali students from the war-torn region of Israel, according to government-run Gorkhapatra daily. Some students stranded in a bunker have sent a video message, asking the government to take immediate steps to evacuate them, a media report said. We are not safe in this bunker because earlier, our friends were brutally killed by the Hamas people entering into the bunker and we dont want to have the same fate, the students said in the video message, reported setopati.com, an online news portal. The death toll in Israel is expected to rise as a large number of people have been critically wounded, according to the Israeli military. Palestinian health officials have said that more than 400 people have been killed, with over 2,000 injured. Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Israel's army declared that its forces were in "full control of communities" in its southern territory near Gaza, two days after Hamas launched a surprise attack. Israel-Palestine War: Israeli soldiers ride on a Merkava tank as it drives to an undisclosed location in northern Israel.(AFP) "We are in full control of the communities," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said, adding however that there still might be "terrorists" in the area. This comes as Israel drafted a record 300,000 reservists in its response to a multi-front Hamas attack from Gaza. We are "going on the offensive," the chief military spokesperson said. Daniel Hagari said control of those communities had been re-established but that isolated clashes continued as some gunmen remained active. "We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area," he said. Here are latest updates on Israel-Hamas war: On 300,000 reservists been called up by the military- a number suggesting preparations for a possible invasion- Daniel Hagari said, We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale. We are going on the offensive. He confirmed media reports that 700 people had been killed on Israel's side of the border, including 73 confirmed members of the security forces. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas. More than 1,100 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides as the fighting continued in several locations. Austria's foreign minister said that his country will freeze development aid for the Palestinian areas following the attack by Hamas on Israel. Germany's development minister said her country would review its financial aid for the Palestinian areas. The leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants and agreed on the importance of advancing diplomatic efforts that aim to de-escalate violence, protect civilians, spare blood, a statement from Egyptian president's office said. Meanwhile, Hamas said that it wants to liberate all Palestinian prisoners from Israel and end Israeli provocations in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, a spokesman for the group said as per The Associated Press. He said, We are in an open battle to defend our people and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This battle is linked to the liberation of all Palestinian prisoners and the cessation of this fascist government's activities in Jerusalem. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail The Kremlin on Monday said it was extremely concerned about recent events in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, warning that the situation could escalate into a wider conflict in the Middle East. Israel-Palestine War: Palestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.(AFP) "We are extremely concerned," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We are watching with great concern what is happening around Israel in the Middle East. This situation is potentially fraught with the danger of spillover, and therefore, of course, it is a subject of our special concern these days." 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. "We believe that it is necessary to bring the situation to a peaceful path as soon as possible because the continuation of such a round of violence is fraught with further escalation and the expansion of this conflict," Peskov said. "This is a great danger for the region." Peskov said Russia's embassy had no information yet on how many Russian citizens in Israel might have been hurt or killed there. He also said Russia was in contact with the Palestinians to try to understand if any Russians had been injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been facing heat from India for not taking adequate action against pro-Khalistan elements over the years, has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks by Gaza-based Hamas against Israel. However, videos surfaced online purportedly show some youths on the streets of Mississauga, Ontario, celebrating the Hamas terror attack in Israel waving Palestinian flags. Videos surfaced online purportedly show some youths on the streets of Mississauga, Ontario, celebrating the Hamas terror attacks on Israel waving Palestinian flags.(Rebel News Canada) 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. 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. Follow Live Updates on Israel Palestine confict Similar videos and images of celebrations in other countries such as Sweden, Germany and Turkey have appeared on social media. Visegrad 24 reported that such incidents can be seen in many cities in Western Europe and North America. Trudeau, meanwhile denouncing the Hamas mass assault, said on X, formerly Twitter, "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." Trudeau also said, The images we have seen from Israel are horrifying and shocking. As we continue to learn more about the scale and brutality of these attacks, we extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected. Our hearts break for the hundreds of innocent people whose lives have been taken. Canada unequivocally condemns Hamas barbaric, brutal terror attacks and reaffirms its support for Israels right to defend itself. We also call for the immediate release of those being held hostage, and we demand that they be treated in accordance with international law, he added. The Canadian prime minister, meanwhile, discussed the India-Canada diplomatic row with 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," Trudeau wrote 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. Sunak also reaffirmed the UK's position that all countries should respect the 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 killing of a Khalistani terrorist 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. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Even as Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau dialled leaders in West Asia after to discuss the attacks on Israel, he injected the crisis in relations with India in the conversations. HT Image Trudeau first spoke on Sunday with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE is among Indias closest friends in the region. A readout of the conversation from the Canadian PMO said, Prime Minister Trudeau provided an update on the situation between Canada and India. He also tweeted that he raised the issue of India and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. He subsequently spoke with Jordans King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. Once again, India featured in the conversation, as the Canadian readout said, Prime Minister Trudeau provided an update on the situation between Canada and India, underscoring the importance of respecting the rule of law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The latter portion referred to Indias action in asking Canada to pull at least 40 diplomats from the country, with the deadline being Monday. Reports have stated that several Canadian diplomats have been shifted to missions in Singapore and Malaysia. Trudeau also spoke to Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu but India did not figure in that readout. Trudeau had also raised the matter with British prime minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday. Relations between India and Canada have cratered since the Canadian PM made a statement in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were credible allegations of a potential link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18. Nijjar was gunned down in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara that he headed in the town of Surrey in the province of British Columbia. Nijjar was considered a terrorist by Indian authorities but no charges had been levelled against him in Canada or tested in a Canadian court. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmars southern areas has displaced more than 10,000 people and disrupted traffic on the rail lines that connect the countrys biggest cities, officials and state-run media said Monday. Myanmar Floods: A woman wades through a flooded street in Hpa Yar Gyi township in Myanmar's Bago region.(AFP) A senior official at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said constant rainfall in the Bago region that began last week caused flooding in the low-lying areas of its capital, Bago township. She said there were no casualties reported so far, but that more than 10,000 people had to abandon their homes. Bago township recorded 7.87 inches (200 millimeters) of rainfall, its highest level in 59 years, Myanmars Meteorological Department said Sunday. Rain or thundershowers was forecast for across the country until Monday evening. One of the leaders of an emergency rescue team in Bago told The Associated Press that the flooding was at least 7-8 feet (2.44 meters) deep in low-lying areas and 3-4 feet downtown. Almost the whole area of the town was flooded, That Zin Maung, chairman of the Mizzima Thukha Charity Foundation said by phone on Monday. It is the third flood in the town this year and the worst in many years. All the monasteries in the town have opened relief camps. Charity organizations are evacuating people from low-lying areas as much as they can. A 55-year-old resident of Bagos Pan Hlaing ward interviewed by phone said the flood waters were about 5-6 feet deep in her neighborhood, and her family members were living on the second and third floors of their house. The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Myanmar's military government prefers to tightly control the release of information, said the water was still rising steadily in her neighborhood, which had never flooded badly before. Social Welfare Ministry official Lay Shwe Zin Oo said people were sheltering in 32 relief camps, schools and Buddhist monasteries in Bago, while the authorities were providing food, drinking water and other essential assistance. Reports in the state-run Myanmar Alinn newspaper on Monday said trains that departed from Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city in central Myanmar, and from southern Mawlamyine township were halted en route. Scheduled departures from Yangon, the biggest city in the country, were canceled after rail lines were flooded by the rapid flow of water from mountain torrents and the spillage from dams in the Bago region. Myanmar Alinn also said some neighborhoods in Kyaikto township in southern Mon state were flooded by water from mountain torrents, and 555 people there were taking shelters in three relief camps on Sunday. Myanmar experiences extreme weather virtually every year during the monsoon season. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 people. In July and August this year, floods in Mon, Kayin and Rakhine states and the regions of Bago and Magway killed five people and displaced about 60,000. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Joe Biden is being blasted after he apparently held abarbecue for his staff at the White House amid the Hamas attack on Israel. A pool reporter claimed he heard a band playing from the White House lawn while pro-Palestine protesters chanted Free Palestine at the gates. President Joe Biden is being blasted after he apparently held a barbecue for his staff at the White House amid the Hamas attack on Israel (AP /PTI, photo by Mohammed ABED / AFP) According to the Daily Mail, when the reporter questioned what the sound was, a spokesperson said, The President and First Lady are hosting a BBQ for White House Executive Residence staff and their families. Biden has not made any public statement on the attack. Four Americans have reportedly been killed in the Hamas attack on Israel. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that the US was working overtime to verify reports of dead and missing Americans. The ones who escaped unharmed are now trying to find a way out of Israel. Passengers have flocked Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, trying to flee. An Israeli official has also confirmed thatAmericans are among the scores of hostages Hamas militants are holding in Gaza, according to Forbes. During the attack, Hamas militants infiltratedIsraeli towns and launched missiles, reportedly resulting in the death of hundreds of people. In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack murderous. Joe Biden has no business being in charge of America's business Biden allegedly holding a barbeque drew flak online, with one user writing on X, While countless Americans are being held hostage in Gaza, with attacks on civilians in Israel ongoing, President Biden is hosting a BBQ. Many commented on the post, with one user saying, Any leader as removed from the reality of the past few days, has no business being in charge of America's business. Biden has no moral compass, one user said, while another wrote, My sister's birthday is tomorrow. About 15 of us were going to get together to celebrate. A unanimous decision was made to postpone the dinner to a later date. No one was in the mood to party. My God. Unbelievable, one user wrote, while another said, Gross and a dereliction of duty. One said, This guy is an embarrassment! Another user wrote, it's unbelievable.. worst President EVER.. !!!!!! The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences 2023, officially known as The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel has been awarded to Claudia Goldin for having advanced our understanding of womens labour market outcomes. Claudia Goldin has been awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023.(X/@NobelPrize) Over the years, spanning from 1969 to 2022, a total of 54 Nobel Prizes in Economic Sciences have been awarded. Out of 92 laureates, 25 have had the honour of receiving this prestigious award as sole recipients. Only two women, Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019, have been recognised with the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences for their exceptional contributions. Goldin becomes the third woman to be acknowledged in this field. The Nobel Prize 2023 announcements which commenced on October 2, concluded with the last announcement of the year in the field of Economic Sciences. These latest awards follow those in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, and peace that were announced last week. Nobel Prize in Economics 2022 The laureates of last year's Economic Sciences prize, Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond, and Philip Dybvig, were recognised for their groundbreaking work on bank failures and their profound impact on America's response to the 2007-2008 financial crisis. As per an official announcement from the previous year, these laureates have significantly advanced our comprehension of the critical role that banks play in the economy, especially in times of financial turmoil. A key revelation in their research was the crucial importance of preventing bank collapses. The foundation of their research was established by Ben Bernanke, Douglas Diamond, and Philip Dybvig in the early 1980s. Their analyses have held substantial practical significance in the regulation of financial markets and the management of financial crises. Here's the full list of Nobel winners this year -Nobel Prize 2023 in Medicine: Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman were jointly awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on Monday for their groundbreaking contributions to the development of highly effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19. -Nobel Prize 2023 in Physics has been awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne LHuillier for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter. They were acknowledged for their exploration of the world of electrons within atoms and molecules. -The Nobel Prize 2023 in Chemistry has been awarded to Moungi G Bawendi, Louis E Brus and Alexei I Ekimov for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. -The Nobel Prize 2023 in Literature was awarded to Norwegian author Jon Fosse for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable. -The Nobel Peace Prize 2023 has been awarded to Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. What are Nobel Prizes? The renowned Nobel Prizes recognise outstanding contributions in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and the promotion of peace. Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor known for his invention of dynamite, established this enduring legacy through these prizes before his demise in 1896. In 1968, the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was introduced, with sponsorship from the central bank of Sweden. Alfred Nobel designated the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to confer the Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry, the Swedish Academy for the field of literature, the Karolinska Institute, Sweden's medical university, for physiology or medicine, and the Nobel Peace Prize to be awarded by the Norwegian parliament. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It as been a record year for women in the Nobel prizes season, with Claudia Goldin of the United States swelling their ranks on Monday by winning the Economics Prize. 2023 also stands out because three out of four women laureates won prizes which have been dominated by men.(AFP) Goldin sealed the bumper year for Nobel women, three days after Iranian rights activist Narges Mohammadi, jailed for campaigning against the oppression of women, won the Peace Prize. Franco-Swedish scientist Anne L'Huillier also shared the physics prize and Hungary's Katalin Kariko the medicine prize. If it is a record year it is because the first two did not share the prize with anyone else, meaning that for the first time almost half {47 percent} of the Nobel prizes went to women, against just over two fifths (42 percent} in 2009 and 2004, the previous highest proportion. In another first, Goldin is the first woman to have won the economics prize on her own. 2023 also stands out because three out of four women laureates won prizes which have been dominated by men. Since the first Nobel prizes were awarded in 1901, women have won only five out of 225 physics prizes, three out of 93 economics prizes and 13 out of 227 medicine prizes. In total, 65 women have won prizes, representing only 6.7 percent of the total, with the number on the rise since the early 2020s. Marie Curie was the first woman laureate in 1903 and she is to this day the only woman to have received two Nobel prizes, first for physics in 1903 and then in 1911 in chemistry. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON INDIANA, Pa. (AP) One person was killed and eight were wounded in a shooting during a private party at a Pennsylvania community center early Sunday, authorities said. Mass shooting in Pennsylvania leaves 1 dead and 8 injured(Pixabay) State police in Indiana County said troopers, local officers and emergency services responded at 12:35 a.m. Sunday to the shooting at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Pittsburgh. Nine people between the ages of 18 and 23 were shot, including a 22-year-old Pittsburgh man who died at the scene, police said. Lt. Col. George Bivens said investigators believe more than one shooter was involved but declined to say how many there were. 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. Bivens said, however, that officials believe events were isolated to the attendees at that party and did not believe the threat was directed at the community at large. Bivens said police were originally called about midnight about excessive noise coming from the building, and patrol officers were assured that the noise would be turned down. A state police mounted unit was sent to monitor the situation and for crowd control if needed. Upon arrival, mounted unit members heard gunshots inside, called for backup, and then heard more gunshots and saw people fleeing from doors and windows. Some began to aid to injured people collapsing outside the building, and others went inside and found more victims, Bivens said. No state police or horses were injured, he said. Bivens said more than 150 people were believed to be present at the time of the shooting, and the building wasn't particularly large and would have been very full at the time. When the shooting began, those inside "exited that building in any way possible, he said. You can imagine the chaos that would ensue from a number of gunshots in a relatively confined space, he said. People dove through windows, people ran through doors, ran through porch railings, trying to get away from that scene. An 18-year-old man from Chicago was critically injured, and an 18-year-old man from Florida was also among the victims. The others who were shot were all from Pennsylvania: three men ages 19, 20 and 22; two 19-year-old women; and a 23-year-old woman. The wounded were taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center in Indiana, Pennsylvania; UPMC Presbyterian and UPMC Marcy in Pittsburgh; and Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown. Six remain hospitalized, one critically, while two had been treated and released, police said later Sunday. Officials are tracking down who rented the venue for the party, which required payment of a fee before entry, and who was hosting the event, Bivens said. No suspects were in custody, and police asked anyone with information to contact troopers in Indiana County. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers announced a $10,000 reward for information in the case leading to arrests and prosecution, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has offered up to $5,000 more. The shooting scene is about 2 miles (3 kilometers) from the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which was having its homecoming weekend. The school's vice president for student affairs, Thomas Segar, said two of the injured were students, and officials were working with their families to provide support. Campus activities were going on as scheduled with enhanced police presence, a university official said. We understand that incidents like last nights violence are frightening and may cause continued feelings of fear and worry, Segar said, before providing information about mental health support and counseling. Neighbor Robert Miller 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. 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. Indiana County District Attorney Robert Manzi Jr., who is listed on the center's board of directors, said the center provided meals and a community atmosphere for people in need and has served as a place to help members of our community for many decades. Executive director Brandi Ports said on the center's 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 shouldn't 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Researchers have found evidence of the most powerful solar storm in history within the rings of a tree. This warns us of a fatal catastrophe if a solar storm of this scale occurs today. According to a study, published in the journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Of Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, a radiocarbon spike found within the rings of an ancient tree in the French Alps has now revealed to us the absolute power of the sun. Researchers found a strange increase in radiocarbon within the rings of a sub-fossilized 14,300-year-old tree in the Drouzet River. Subsequently, it was found to line up with patterns in beryllium in Greenland ice cores, indicating that the radiocarbon spike was caused by a huge solar storm. The solar storm evidence found in the rings is said to have been 10 times as powerful as the Carrington Event of 1859, which caused destruction in the telegraph system present at the time. This warns us of a fatal catastrophe if a solar storm of this scale occurs today. Additionally, this could cause trillions of dollars worth of damage. "Extreme solar storms could have huge impacts on Earth," said Tim Heaton, co-author of the paper and professor of applied statistics at the University of Leeds, England. "Radiocarbon is constantly being produced in the upper atmosphere through a chain of reactions initiated by cosmic rays," shared Eduoard Bard, lead author of the study and professor of climate and ocean evolution at the College de France and CEREGE. Recently, scientists have found that extreme solar events including solar flares and coronal mass ejections can also create short-term bursts of energetic particles which are preserved as huge spikes in radiocarbon production occurring over the course of just a single year, added the professor. A solar storm can be understood as an event when the sun has huge bursts of energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. This leads to it sending streams of electrical charges and magnetic fields towards our planet at high speeds. The devastating effect of this is seen in communication systems, power grids and more. "Such super storms could permanently damage the transformers in our electricity grids, resulting in huge and widespread blackouts lasting months," said Tim. "They could also result in permanent damage to the satellites that we all rely on for navigation and telecommunication, leaving them unusable. They would also create severe radiation risks to astronauts," he added. Longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr said Monday he will run for president as an independent and drop his Democratic primary bid, adding a wrinkle to a 2024 race heading toward a likely rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.(AP) Kennedy, a member of one of the most famous Democratic families in politics, was running a longshot primary bid and has better favourability ratings among Republicans than Democrats. It's unclear whether GOP support would translate to a general election when Kennedy would also be running against Trump. Both Biden and Trump allies have at times questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against their candidate. Biden's allies so far have dismissed Kennedy's primary campaign as unserious. Asked for comment on his potential independent run, a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded with an eye roll emoji. Awaiting Kennedy's remarks Monday, hundreds of supporters gathered at Philadelphia's Independence Mall, an apt location for the launch. Campaign signs teased a potential new slogan: Declare your independence. Among Kennedy's fans in the crowd were several voters who said they don't identify as Democratic or Republican and view Kennedy as a truth teller and a breath of fresh air. He tells it how it is, said Julia Hill, a 23-year-old student from New Jersey. He doesn't sound like a politician. Other supporters, such as Brent Snyder, a disabled veteran from south Philadelphia, said they had voted for Trump in the past but were looking for a change. The last couple years I've been noticing the Republican Party's been going a way I didn't like, Snyder said. Not that I agree with everything that's happening to Trump, but I think right now he has more baggage than his country needs. The division right now is just terrible. We need someone to bring both sides together to make us work. Monday's announcement comes less than a week after the progressive activist Cornel West abandoned his Green Party bid in favour of an independent White House run. Meanwhile, the centrist group No Labels is actively securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named candidate. Kennedy has spent weeks accusing the DNC of rigging the party's primary against him and threatening that he might need to consider alternatives. In campaign emails and videos, he blasted the DNC's decision not to host debates between Biden and other candidates and railed against the committee's plan to give South Carolina rather than Iowa or New Hampshire the leadoff spot on the primary calendar this election cycle. If they jam me, I'm going to look at every option, he said in September at a New Hampshire barbecue held by Republican former Senator Scott Brown. Far-right and anti-vaccine influencers close to Kennedy also have sent strong signals on social media suggesting he should or will leave the Democratic Party. Last month, Joseph Mercola, an influential anti-vaccine doctor who is allied with Kennedy, ran a poll on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking if Kennedy should quit the party. While Kennedy has long identified as a Democrat and frequently invokes his late father, Sen. Robert F Kennedy, and his uncle President John F Kennedy on the campaign trail, he has built close relationships with far-right figures in recent years. He appeared on a channel run by the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Polls show far more Republicans than Democrats have a favourable opinion of Kennedy. He also has gained support from some far-right conservatives for his fringe views, including his vocal distrust of COVID-19 vaccines, which studies have shown are safe and effective against severe disease and death. Kennedy's anti-vaccine organisation, Children's Health Defence, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organisations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Longtime environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday he will run for president as an independent and drop his Democratic primary bid, adding a wrinkle to a 2024 race heading toward a likely rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall.(AP) Kennedy, a member of one of the most famous Democratic families in politics, was running a long-shot primary bid and has better favorability ratings among Republicans than Democrats. Its unclear whether GOP support would translate to a general election when Kennedy would also be running against Trump. Allies of both Biden and Trump have at times questioned whether Kennedy would be a spoiler against their candidate. Biden's allies so far have dismissed Kennedys primary campaign as unserious. Asked for comment on his potential independent run, a Democratic National Committee spokesman responded with an eye roll emoji. Awaiting Kennedy's remarks Monday, hundreds of supporters gathered at Philadelphia's Independence Mall, an apt location for the launch. Campaign signs teased a potential new slogan: Declare your independence. Among Kennedy's fans in the crowd were several voters who said they dont identify as Democratic or Republican and view Kennedy as a truth teller and a breath of fresh air. He tells it how it is, said Julia Hill, a 23-year-old student from New Jersey. He doesnt sound like a politician. Other supporters, such as Brent Snyder, a disabled veteran from south Philadelphia, said they had voted for Trump in the past but were looking for a change. The last couple years Ive been noticing the Republican Partys been going a way I didnt like, Snyder said. Not that I agree with everything thats happening to Trump, but I think right now he has more baggage than his country needs. The division right now is just terrible. We need someone to bring both sides together to make us work. Monday's announcement comes less than a week after the progressive activist Cornel West abandoned his Green Party bid in favor of an independent White House run. Meanwhile, the centrist group No Labels is actively securing ballot access for a yet-to-be-named candidate. Kennedy has spent weeks accusing the DNC of rigging the partys primary against him and threatening that he might need to consider alternatives. In campaign emails and videos, he blasted the DNCs decision not to host debates between Biden and other candidates and railed against the committees plan to give South Carolina rather than Iowa or New Hampshire the leadoff spot on the primary calendar this election cycle. If they jam me, Im going to look at every option, he said in September at a New Hampshire barbecue held by Republican former Sen. Scott Brown. Far-right and anti-vaccine influencers close to Kennedy also have sent strong signals on social media suggesting he should or will leave the Democratic Party. Last month, Joseph Mercola, an influential anti-vaccine doctor who is allied with Kennedy, ran a poll on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking if Kennedy should quit the party. While Kennedy has long identified as a Democrat and frequently invokes his late father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, and his uncle President John F. Kennedy on the campaign trail, he has built close relationships with far-right figures in recent years. He appeared on a channel run by the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Polls show far more Republicans than Democrats have a favorable opinion of Kennedy. He also has gained support from some far-right conservatives for his fringe views, including his vocal distrust of COVID-19 vaccines, which studies have shown are safe and effective against severe disease and death. Kennedys anti-vaccine organization, Childrens Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A joint statement issued by 31 Harvard student organizations have held Israel entirely responsible for Hamas' brutal, surprise attack that has killed at least 700 Israelis. Harvard University student groups face backlash for blaming Israel for terror attack on its soil.(Unsplash) A letter titled 'Joint Statement by Harvard Palestine Solidarity Groups on the Situation in Palestine' was released on Sunday to condemn Israel in the wake of the violence. They claim that Hamas' attacks, which are still ongoing, 'did not happen in a vacuum' and the Israeli government has forced Palestinians to live in 'an open-air prison for over two decades.' 'We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence,' the letter read. Accusing Israeli government of forcing Palestine to live in 'an open-air prison' the letter further stated, The apartheid regime is the only one to blame. Israeli violence has structured every aspect of Palestinian existence for 75 years. 'From systematized land seizures to routine airstrikes, arbitrary detentions to military checkpoints, and enforced family separations to targeted killings, Palestinians have been forced to live in a state of death, both slow and sudden.' Ignoring the atrocities done against innocent Israelis, including at least four Americans, the groups' asked for an end to brutalization of Palestinians to conclude the letter. 'Today, the Palestinian ordeal enters into uncharted territory. The coming days will require a firm stand against colonial retaliation. We call on the Harvard community to take action to stop the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians.' The Palestine Solidarity Committee has held inflammatory events in relation to the conflict, including protests, an 'Apartheid Week' and a 'Boycott Israel Trek.' Harvard Student group support for Hamas comes days after its professor was forced to apologize for implying the Hamas attack on Israel was an attempt to distract from Benjamin Netanyahu's 'own corruption.' The statement didn't go down well with many online, Aviva Klompas, Former Head of Speechwriting at Israel Mission to UN elaborated her country's plight on X, 'Israelis - young and old - were slaughtered in their homes. Entire families were butchered in cold blood. In one home, a terrorist shot the parents dead, took a childs cellphone and livestreamed the horrors on the child's Facebook account.' She further added,'Hamas acted with a savagery that can only be described as evil. But these students are so steeped in hate for Israel, that they are cheering on terrorists and denouncing the victims..' SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The night was a getaway. Thousands of young men and women gathered at a vast field in southern Israel near the Gaza border to dance without a care. Old and new friends jumped up and down, reveling in the swirl of the bass-heavy beats. A grab taken from a UGC video posted on the Telegram channel "South First Responders" on October 9, 2023, shows the aftermath of an attack on the Supernova music Festival by Palestinian militants, near Kibbutz Reim in the Negev desert in southern Israel on October 8.(AFP) Maya Alper was standing toward the back of the bar with teams of environmentally conscious volunteers, picking up trash and passing out free vodka shots to party-goers who reused their cups. Just after 6.a.m., as a light-blue dawn broke and the headliner D.J. took the stage, air raid sirens cut through the ethereal trap music. Rockets streaked overhead. Alper, 25, jumped into her car and raced to the main road. But at the intersection she encountered crowds of stricken festival attendees, shouting at drivers to turn around. Then, a noise. Firecrackers? Panicked men and women staggering down the road just in front of her fell to the ground in pools of blood. Gunshots. The open-air Tribe of Nova music festival will go down in Israeli history as the worst civilian massacre in the country's history, with at least 260 dead and a still undetermined number taken hostage. Dozens of Hamas militants who had blown through Israels heavily fortified separation fence and crossed into the country from Gaza opened fire on about 3,500 young Israelis who had come together for a joyous night of electronic music to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Some attendees were drunk or high on drugs, magnifying their confusion and terror. The Associated Press reviewed more than dozen videos taken during the massacre and interviewed survivors to reconstruct how the deadly attack unfolded. The party was held in a dusty field outside of Kibbutz Reim, about 3.3 miles (5.3 kilometers) from the wall that separates Gaza from southern Israel. We were hiding and running, hiding and running, in an open field the worst place you could possibly be in that situation, said Arik Nani from Tel Aviv, who had gone to the party to celebrate his 26th birthday. For a country where everyone in these circles knows everyone, this is a trauma like I could never imagine. While rockets rained down, revelers said, militants converged on the festival site while others waited near bomb shelters, gunning down people who were seeking refuge. Many of the militants, who arrived in trucks and on motorcycles, were wearing body armor and brandishing AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Videos compiled by Israeli first responders and posted to the social media site Telegram show armed men plunging into the panicked crowd, mowing down fleeing revelers with bursts of automatic fire. Many victims were shot in the back as they ran. Israeli communities on either side of the festival grounds also came under attack, with Hamas gunmen abducting dozens of men, women and children including elderly and disabled people and killing scores of others in Saturday's unprecedented surprise attack. The staggering toll from the festival was becoming clear Monday, as Israel's rescue service Zaka said paramedics had recovered at least 260 bodies. Festival organizers said they were helping Israeli security forces locate attendees who were still missing. The death toll could rise as teams continue to clear the area. As the carnage unfolded before her, Alper pulled a few disoriented-looking revelers into her car from the street and accelerated in the opposite direction. One of them said he had lost his wife in the chaos and Alper had to stop him from breaking out of the car to find her. Another said she had just seen Hamas gunmen shoot and kill her best friend. Another rocked in his seat, murmuring over and over, We are going to die." In the rear-view mirror, Alper watched the dance floor where she had spent the past ecstatic hours transform into a giant cloud of black smoke. Festival-goers who managed to make it to the road and parking lot where their vehicles were parked found themselves trapped in a traffic jam, with militants stalking the cars and spraying those inside with gunfire. Drone footage of the scene taken after the attack and reviewed by the AP show chaotic lines of cars where drivers had attempted to flee. Some burned-out vehicles were flipped onto their sides, while others had bullet holes visible in shattered windows. Nowhere was safe, Alper said. The roar of explosions, hysterical screams and automatic gunfire felt closer the further she drove. When a man just meters away shouted God is great!", Alper and her new companions sprung out of the car and sprinted through open fields toward a mass of bushes. Alper felt a bullet whiz past her left ear. Aware the gunmen would outrun her, she plunged into a tangle of shrubs. Peering through thorns, she said she saw one of her passengers, the girl who had lost her friend, shriek and collapse as a gunman stood over her limp body, grinning. I can't even explain the energy they (the militants) had. It was so clear they didn't see us as human beings, she said. They looked at us with pure, pure hate. Videos show the gunmen executed some of the wounded at point-blank range as they crouched on the ground. Some of the militants even rifled through the vehicles of their victims, grabbing purses and backpacks. An unknown number of people from the festival were taken hostage. A video posted to social media by militants and verified by the AP shows an Israeli couple, Noa Argamani and her partner Avinatan Or, being dragged away by their captors. Argamani, her face contorted in panic, shouts No, no! in Hebrew while being forced onto a motorbike, sandwiched between two gunmen. She reaches out for Or, whose hands are bound behind his back as a group of militants march him forward. Their whereabouts are now unknown. But it is believed that Hamas is now holding more than 100 Israelis as hostages. On Monday, the group threatened to begin systematically killing captives if the Israeli military bombs Palestinian areas without warning. For over six hours, Alper and thousands of other concert attendees hid without help from the Israeli army as Hamas militants sprayed automatic gunfire and threw grenades. Her limbs were so contorted into a tangled mess in the bush that she couldn't wiggle her toes. At different points, she heard militants speak in Arabic just beside her. A yoga devotee who practices meditation, Alper said she focused on her breath breathing and praying in every way I knew possible. Every time I thought of anger, or fear or revenge, I breathed it out, she said. I tried to think of what I was grateful for the bush that hid me so well that even birds landed on it, the birds that were still singing, the sky that was so blue. A tank instructor in the Israeli army, Alper knew she was safe when she heard a different kind of explosion the sound of an Israeli army tank round. She shouted for help and soon soldiers were lifting her out of the bush. Around her lay the lifeless body of one of her friends. The girl from her car she had seen collapse was nowhere to be found; she believes that Hamas militants took her into Gaza. Alper said the Israeli army, on its way to fight Hamas militants in the hard-hit kibbutz of Beeri near the Gaza border, was at a loss as to know what to do with her. At that moment, a pick-up truck full of Palestinian citizens of Israel pulled up. The men from the Bedouin city of Rahat were scouring the area to help rescue Israeli survivors. Helping Alper into their car, they drove her to the police station, where she collapsed, crying, into her father's arms. This is not just war. This is hell," Alper said. But in that hell I still feel that somehow, we can choose to act out of love, and not just fear. ___ Biesecker reported from Washington. The Kings have waived veteran guard Jeremy Lamb, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reports. Lamb was signed earliler this month on an Exhibit 10 contract. Hes expected to join Sacramentos G League affiliate in Stockton after clearing waivers, according to Anderson. Lamb would receive a bonus of $75K if he stays with the Stockton franchise at least 60 days. Lamb saw action in Sacramentos preseason opener on Sunday, scoring six points in six minutes. Lamb, 31, is a former lottery pick who has appeared in 573 career regular season games since 2012 for four teams, including most recently the Kings. However, the veteran swingman wasnt in the league last season following a down year in 2021/22. He averaged 7.3 PPG on .383/.324/.840 shooting in 56 games (16.7 MPG) for Indiana and Sacramento in 21/22. Sacramento had a full roster of 21 players entering camp, as our roster count shows. Theyll have to shed two more to get down the 15-man limit (not counting their three two-way players) by opening night. TRYP by Wyndham New Taipei Linkou is located in the bustling city of Taipei, where guests can enjoy convenient access to its downtown area and easily travel to and from Taoyuan International Airport with a 20-minute car ride. The new 85-key hotel is tastefully decorated with vibrant colours, offering a trendy yet elegant abode for urban travellers and families seeking new adventures. Guests can enjoy several dining options throughout the hotel, including the Margarate Buffet Restaurant serving up international fare and Green Hills Japanese Cuisine. The hotel caters to business and bleisure travellers alike with easy access to the urban hub of New Taipei City, fully equipped meeting and conference rooms and access to a host of attractions such as Zhulin Mountain Buddhist Temple, Mitsui Outlet Park Linkou, Taiwan Socks Museum and A9 Global Mall. Hotel website Hilton has unveiled its first Curio Collection property in Melbourne, collaborating with Vista Hospitality Group for the venture. Slated to be a part of the renowned Curio Collection by Hilton's global line-up of 140 unique properties by late 2023, Next Hotel Melbourne is not just another hotel. As Vista Hospitality Group's prime establishment, it's a 255-room luxury hotel that has earned accolades for its design. Nestled in Melbourne CBD's distinguished 80 Collins precinct, the area is synonymous with top-tier fashion and prime hospitality venues. The hotel's design takes cues from international travel as well as local Collins Street fashion, China Town, and the original Horse Bazaar site of the city. With sophisticated rooms, suites, and an Executive Lounge, Next Hotel Melbourne stands as a preferred choice for the choosy business or leisure traveler. The in-house 'La Madonna' restaurant and bar, celebrated with a Chef's Hat award, adds to its charm. This addition positions Next Hotel Melbourne as the third Hilton brand in Melbourne, accompanying Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street and DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne Flinders Street.q Hotel website For its third opening in France, Hotel Indigo, part of the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, has chosen the bohemian city of Bordeaux as its new "pied-a-terre". This design-led boutique hotel is located in the central Chartrons district, a picturesque neighbourhood just a short stroll from the Garonne River. Hotel Indigo is one of the only hotel brands that delivers a beautiful perspective of the neighbourhood, bringing its sights, sounds, and flavours into our spaces. At Hotel Indigo Bordeaux - Centre Chartrons - with its colourful new address, the nearby Bassin d'Arcachon bay on the Atlantic coast with its beachside hues, the famous Dune du Pilat and its authentic oyster huts all serving as design traits throughout the hotel. Much more than just a destination, the hotel's 100 rooms are unique, as is the cuisine of the rooftop restaurant, Tchanque. Hotel Indigo is the world's neighbourhood hotel, celebrating how guests can discover, or rediscover, some of the most inspiring and culturally rich neighbourhoods in and outside of our hotels across the world. When staying at a Hotel Indigo, it is not just to visit a place, it is about being fully immersed into the neighbourhood yourself and wanting to take a little bit of it home with you. Specifically for Hotel Indigo Bordeaux, the neighbourhood of Chartrons is named after a medieval charterhouse and has lived a million lives since. Once a meeting place for the great wine merchants, today it's a popular spot for locals and connoisseurs of design and antiques. The Chartrons' main street, Rue Notre-Dame, is home to numerous restaurants with sunny terraces, wine bars and some of Bordeaux's best bakeries. There are also boutiques selling accessories, bohemian chic fashion, handmade toys and local gourmet products. Every detail, every room in the hotel has been carefully thought out by designer Stella Cadente. Through her choice of materials and colours, the designer tells the story of a family vacation in a guest house on the Arcachon Basin. Each room is an invitation to imagination and family memories. With its warm, reassuring yellow tones, the "Pilat" guest room recalls sunny afternoons spent on the sandy dunes. The "Sunset" room, with its orange and coral colours, is a reference to the sunsets people watch together nearby. The 'Lagoon' room, reminds one of the tranquil blue seas whilst the 'Rotunda' suites encapsulate the very best of the hotel in terms of aesthetic design and visual splendour. For the furniture and decor, designer Stella Cadente wanted unique pieces that spoke for themselves: "We used a lot of high-quality materials. We have several authentic pieces. All the rooftop tables are in zellige tiling and were made exclusively for the hotel. There are also ceramic pieces with little imperfections because they are handmade. The bed headboards are a mix of accessories and decor. When you look at the furniture and decorative objects, you travel. It's this human aspect that stands out in the decor." This quest for authenticity and escape continues right up to the 7th floor. The perfect blend of Bordeaux's Arcachon and Venice Beach in California, the Tchanque restaurant offers a timeless experience at the summit of Bordeaux. For breakfast and dinner, healthy, fresh, and hearty dishes are served using local ingredients inspired by the Bay of Arcachon and the Basque Country. Chef Stacy Williams' menu is generous and gourmet, with seafood a central theme to many dishes. Examples include shrimp rolls or seared tuna bites from the sharing menu to mains such as the seafood linguine, roasted monkfish or Octopus a la Plancha to tempt the tastebuds. Sweet treats range from the signature creamy canneles or choux d'amour as a sharing option. The Tchanque restaurant experience goes even further, with an oyster bar, "the chef's table" to enjoy the convivial spirit over shared plates, signature cocktails and a local wine list built in partnership with local producers. The hotel is accessible by public transport and is located near the Cite des Vins, the Bassin Des Lumieres, the Jardin Public and the majestic Place Des Quinconces. It's right in the heart of the Chartrons district, known as a small "village" within the city. Rooms at Hotel Indigo Bordeaux will feature premium suites with panoramic views, premium family rooms, standard and premium rooms, its rooftop restaurant Tchanque with a breath-taking view of the neighbourhood, a gym, a coworking space open to the public and four conference rooms. Hotel Indigo Bordeaux has opened in partnership with hotel owner group, Grape Hospitality. Along with Hotel Indigo Bordeaux, there are further exciting openings planned for the near future including Hotel Indigo Florence, Hotel Indigo Barcelona Granvia Plaza Espana, voco Madrid Retiro and Crowne Plaza Madrid Centre Retiro. Hotel website "A deep dive into the Hospitality Technology ecosystem" - immersive course designed for hotel operators, owners, vendors, investors, IT professionals, students and lecturers. This deep dive into how to navigate effectively in the complex environment of travel & hospitality technology is brought to you by Ira Vouk, the acclaimed author of industry best-seller Hospitality 2.0, a lecturer, a speaker, and a founder recently recognized as "top 17 technology professionals inspiring innovation in the US hotel industry". I teach hospitality technology at SDSU, and after realizing that theres not a single online learning course on this topic out there, I decided to launch this new course at a very affordable price, to help others learn what my students already know. This knowledge is necessary for every single hospitality professional to be effective and successful in the field, especially considering that so much is changing in our industry and we now live and operate in a completely new environment, which I refer to as Hospitality 2.0. Ira Vouk The course is designed and built in collaboration with the prestigious Payne School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (San Diego State University), ensuring you get the best insights and knowledge. It's created to enhance your success in the hospitality business, whether you're involved in hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, cruises, or any other sector within our industry. This online course is more than just a learning opportunity; it's a must-have resource. You will be able to navigate in the previously confusing mosaic of the hotel and restaurant technology ecosystem: understand its evolution, integration dependencies, hierarchy and what is changing. You will become familiar with the latest disruptions that have transformed hospitality into a whole new realm. You will get a deep dive into the future trends for the next 5-10 years as well as areas of value creation and opportunities for investment, and not only financial investment but also investment of your talent, time, and resources. The course is great for: Hotel operators Owners IT professionals Vendors Investors Professors/lecturers Students Other hospitality professionals Regardless of your current role, you'll emerge as a hospitality technology expert. This course will help you become more successful in the industry by understanding how to navigate in the complex environment of Hospitality 2.0 that has been recently driven by the forces of digital evolution. What is the content? There are 18 mini video lectures, each lasting about 15 minutes on average. These are not your typical lectures, they are highly interactive and include numerous illustrations to make complex concepts easier to understand. In addition, there are PDF handouts that you can save and use in the future. Is previous industry experience required? No previous industry experience is required. This course is designed to cater to everyone, whether you're a seasoned hospitality professional or just starting your journey. You'll acquire invaluable knowledge that can propel your career to new heights. What you'll learn: Navigate in the layout of the hospitality technology ecosystem and integration dependencies. Understand the composition of the industry that affects technology adoption (fragmentation, stakeholders, main categories of decision-makers). Look into future trends and investment opportunities in hospitality technology. Learn about the main factors that have completely transformed the industry into Hospitality 2.0 and how to adapt to this new environment. At the end of the course, there is a bonus lecture that provides an overview of the new groundbreaking hotel tech diagram designed by Ira Vouk that recently went viral on the internet. Ira put together a comprehensive, yet user-friendly outline of our Hotel Technology Ecosystem, which explains the current hotel technology map by arranging existing technology solutions into color-coded categories while also placing them on the spectrum of guest-facing vs back-office. It's an essential tool that's never been available in our industry until now. The course includes a lecture dedicated to a thorough overview of this diagram and offers free access to the high-resolution original PDF. Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to elevate your career and understanding of the hospitality industry. To access the course at the special discounted rate visit this link: "A deep dive into the Hospitality Technology ecosystem". With any questions, please reach out to Ira Vouk at [email protected] or via LinkedIn. Ira Vouk The Washington, D.C., chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International today invited hospitality professionals from throughout the metropolitan area to attend its annual Directors Roundtable & Conference on Oct. 18 at the Washington Marriott Capitol Hill. The program will feature six top minds in the hospitality industry, who will engage the audience with presentations on artificial intelligence, talent acquisition, meeting planners, revenue growth, digital marketing and defining success. The guest speakers will be Michael Goldrich of The Hotels Network and Vivander Advisors, Lori Kiel of The Kessler Collection, Thomas McDermott of Tambourine, Jeff Roark of IdeaS Revenue Solutions, Stephanie Smith of Cogwheel Marketing and Kristi White of Groups360. Source: HSMAI Registration and a networking reception will begin at 8 a.m. The event is free for HSMAI DC members and $50 for nonmembers. Click HERE to register. The event will provide a platform for skill enhancement, networking and knowledge-sharing through interactive discussions, ultimately arming attendees with holistic perspectives that advance both personal growth and organizational success. The Directors Roundtable & Conference will addresses six need-to-know issues in hospitality, specifically for professionals in leadership roles across the disciplines of sales, marketing, and revenue optimization. Whether you are on-property or in a regional role, the content will be relevant to you. Christopher Zindash, HSMAI DC president and Amadeus regional vice president The Washington Marriott Capitol Hill is at 175 L St. NE, Washington, DC 20002, two blocks north of Washington Union Station. It can be reached by the Metros Red Line. About HSMAI Washington DC Chapter HSMAI DC is a chapter of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International, an individual membership organization based in McLean, Virginia, composed of more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region. HSMAI is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing and optimize revenue through programs including the Adrian Awards, Marketing Strategy Conference, HSMAI ROC revenue optimization conferences and Sales Leader Forum. Click HERE to join HSMAI. For more information, go to www.hsmaidc.org. Ellen Wilson HSMAI SYDNEY - InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the world's first and largest international luxury hotel brand, is embarking on an exciting new chapter with the launch of an extensive global brand evolution announced today. As part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, InterContinental is set to yet again reimagine the luxury travel experience, striking a harmonious balance between freedom and familiarity. This transformative journey is driven by the brands long held belief that travel can expand minds and connect cultures, enhanced by cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and the exceptional talents of InterContinentals diverse team members. A FOCUS ON MODERN LUXURY TRAVELLERS AND DIVERSITY InterContinental aims to captivate the imaginations of modern luxury travellers by satisfying their desire for knowledge and culturally rich experiences. This holistic evolution includes new offerings and experiences, a fresh brand culture, unique brand differentiators, and a game-changing food and beverage and hotel design strategy tailored to the traveller of tomorrow. With InterContinental hotels in the worlds finest cities from Rome to Shanghai, and 93 new hotels and resorts in the pipeline, these concepts will shape the future of InterContinental. This isn't a rebrand or repositioning; rather, it's a comprehensive transformation from start to finish of InterContinental, ensuring we stay at the forefront of crafting a luxury experience for the modern luxury traveller. Collaborating with our 215 hotels worldwide, we are committed to delivering precisely what todays and tomorrows guests, owners and colleagues require. At its core, this brand evolution revolves around our exceptional team members globally. Alongside a new brand service platform, we're introducing a fresh brand culture and a range of programmes aimed at attracting and retaining the finest talent in the industry. Our colleague brand culture is grounded in InterContinental's core belief that travel expands the mind. We unite in diversity and wherever you are in the world, you belong at InterContinental. Tom Rowntree, Vice President of Luxury Brands at IHG Hotels and Resorts INTENTIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR MODERN LIFESTYLES Modern travellers lead diverse lives, and InterContinental acknowledges the need for seamless transitions throughout their day. To address this, the brand is committed to helping guests "shape shift" through their day. New initiatives include scientifically backed food and beverage programmes aimed at helping guests reduce travel fatigue while ensuring dining options reflect differing guest needs throughout the day. All guests will also receive access to the Timeshifter, a jet lag app which enables travellers to use the latest circadian science to adjust quickly to new time zones. InterContinental is collaborating with neuroscience-based designer Isabelle Sjovall to revolutionise guestroom spaces to enhance the restorative process needed for travel fatigue and reimagine other versatile physical spaces so they can seamlessly adapt to evolving needs at different times of the day. INSIDER EXPERTISE; UNRIVALLED KNOWLEDGE OF CULTURE InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, with properties in 60 countries, leverages its rich history as a pioneer in hospitality. The brand's colleagues serve as cultural connectors, helping guests embrace and explore cities and local neighbourhoods. The concierge, at the heart of cultural exploration, will play an even more significant role. InterContinental will develop innovative Concierge Galleries in hotel lobbies, transforming them into epicenters of unrivaled local, cultural knowledge. Going far beyond the standard concierge desk, these new outposts will more closely resemble a luxury boutique, bringing together interactive displays, library spaces and informative features, in some cases even art installations or designer pop-ups. From a design perspective, these social spaces will eschew the traditional desk in favour of a more interactive worktable allowing for more natural and engaging interactions between the guest and concierge. INCREDIBLE OCCASIONS; THE VERY BEST MOMENTS IN LIFE Modern luxury travellers place great value on special moments and celebrations but finding time to plan for them can be challenging as life gets busier. Long considered the setting of countless celebrations and special moments, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts will further elevate micro-occasions for guests who wish to enjoy any number of lifes milestones, from birthdays to baby showers, through its brand-new Incredible Occasions program. The Incredible Occasions program will help signpost bookable spaces around the hotel, where groups of guests can enjoy privacy while celebrating memorable moments. Unlike grand settings or spacious ballrooms, each intimate space will include programming and packages, consisting of amenities and experiences, such as beautiful tablescapes, decadent candlelit dinners or private masterclasses which can be offered. Bringing together expertise, infrastructure and imagination, InterContinental will also unveil Celebration Suites across its global portfolio. These are reimagined spaces designed specifically to help guests elevate lifes most special moments, from lavish dinner parties to landmark birthdays. CULTIVATED ELEGANCE; A PORTFOLIO OF FASCINATION InterContinental Hotels & Resorts boasts a diverse portfolio of remarkable properties catering to various travel needs and purposes. The brand evolution focuses on further elevating quality design and timeless style under the umbrella of "Cultivated Elegance." Each InterContinental hotel or resort is an experience-driven bespoke concept, tied together by our new Design Pillars that form the strength of our brand design style, Cultivated Elegance. Melissa Messmer, Global Head of Design for Luxury Brands at IHG Hotels & Resorts InterContinental's diverse style domains cater to different traveller preferences, from idyllic escapes such as InterContinental Maldives to romantic getaways at InterContinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace to unique stays at properties such as Bill Bensley-designed InterContinental Khao Yai. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts' global brand evolution embraces modernity, diversity and the desire for meaningful experiences, ensuring that guests can continue to explore the world while feeling right at home. With acquisitions and new brand launches, IHG Hotels & Resorts has become a significant player in the luxury & lifestyle segment, offering a unique portfolio that spans over 479 properties in more than 70 countries. About IHG IHG Hotels & Resorts [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good. With a family of 17 hotel brands and IHG Rewards, one of the world's largest hotel loyalty programmes, IHG has over 6,000 open hotels in more than 100 countries, and a further 1,800 in the development pipeline. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Approximately 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit us online for more about our hotels and reservations and IHG Rewards. For our latest news, visit our Newsroom and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. EHL Graduate School in Lausanne is excited to announce an exclusive course titled "Achieving Profitable Growth in Hospitality with Revenue Management Strategy" scheduled for Monday, November 13, 2023. As the hospitality industry evolves, revenue management remains a pivotal strategy, ensuring increased profitability and efficiency for businesses large and small. A common misconception persists among small independent hotel operators that revenue management necessitates intricate data analytics and complex systems. This course aims to shatter this misconception. Crafted to offer practical tools and strategies, the course focuses on maximizing profitability using easy-to-understand revenue management principles. Course Highlights Enhanced understanding of revenue management, tailored especially for smaller hotel operations and service organizations. Demystifying the complexity surrounding revenue management. Offering practical applications to attendees to find and optimize revenue opportunities. Expert Instructor at Helm Steering the course is Dr. Cindy Heo, an esteemed Associate Professor of revenue management at EHL. With a rich background that includes teaching at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and providing executive education programs across Asia, Middle East, and Europe, Dr. Heo brings unmatched expertise to the table. Recognized with numerous awards, she specializes in revenue management, pricing, and the sharing economy. Who Should Attend? The course is a perfect fit for: Small Independent Hotel Operators : Ideal for those managing boutique or small-scale hotels and looking for profitability-maximizing strategies. : Ideal for those managing boutique or small-scale hotels and looking for profitability-maximizing strategies. Professionals in Service Organizations : Not strictly for those in the hotel industry, this course is also for professionals from establishments like restaurants, spas, event spaces, and independent consultants. : Not strictly for those in the hotel industry, this course is also for professionals from establishments like restaurants, spas, event spaces, and independent consultants. Students: A special discount is available for students eager to delve into the revenue management sphere. EHL Graduate School, the organizers of this event, encourage interested individuals to register promptly, ensuring they can leverage these valuable insights and tools to further their venture's financial success. Event Info & Registration As hospitality technology continues to evolve and reach higher levels of sophistication Revenue Managers are leaving multitudes of daily decisions in the proficient hands of revenue management systems. This allows Revenue Managers more time to focus on overall strategy and other crucial tasks. With a limited amount of human oversight various systems can forecast demand by segment, manage rate and restriction changes as needed including reacting to sudden high demand and maximize profit. Another exciting key technology component for the hotel industry is GIS Geographic Information Systems which enables hotels to compile geographic information to target and enhance their marketing efforts. As technology evolves machine learning continues and the human element is still key. Let us take a closer look at a few of these points. Forecasting Demand Hoteliers have a wide variety of software and tools at their disposal these days to assist with forecasting demand. A few of the options include Demand 360, OTA Insight and most importantly our own Property or Brand Revenue Management systems and everything in between. Property level demand forecasting tools are only as good as the information we provide so it is critical to communicate to the system any changes, anomalies, or added information vital to decision making. A few of the many key pieces of information include current comp set data about who we price to and how, accurate room type descriptions and premiums on room type pricing, the cost to service a room and even the wash factor by segment. Other key considerations that require input on our part are returning or non-returning events and new events that will drive future demand. The Taylor Swift Eras Tour this year In Nashville (and many other cities) would be a notable example of a demand driver that required advance system communication at our Doubletree Downtown Nashville since the hotel is close to the venue. Another example would be National sporting events that repeat each year, but do not fall on the same dates each year. While providing this system information is a great starting point this is not a "set it and forget it" process and data should be updated periodically. Additionally, while revenue management systems do a phenomenal job analyzing thousands of data points to forecast demand down to a segment there may be situations where we know something that the system does not, and a system override may be required. An example of this would be adjusting the Group Wash on a group that we know is not going to wash out based on history with the group. Another example where an override might be necessary would be adding a minimum stay or other restriction on a day that we have just learned to have outstanding demand to give the system a chance to catch up to that demand. Many systems also allow you to influence the demand if necessary. These overrides should be limited to allow the system to learn from itself. Forecasting tools continue to evolve in our industry promising even higher levels of sophistication in the forecasting process going forward. It would be remiss not to mention how industry reporting has evolved due to digital advancements providing hoteliers with critical and accurate data at the push of a button. Most notably, segmentation reporting innovations from Hotel Brands and within Ownership Companies allow quick access to weekly, monthly, year to date, year over year and future segmentation. This enables us to quickly digest data and find actionable revenue opportunities within segments or use forward looking segmentation for forecasting and budgeting. Managing Rates One of the many benefits of system managed rates is if for some reason your revenue team misses a demand generator or high demand period the revenue system will typically catch it and react quickly. Once the system recognizes competitor rates changing or an increase in demand or reservations it will react appropriately with rate changes or additional restrictions such as minimum stays, maximum stays or limiting less profitable discounts to name a few. Once again, this process is only as valid as the parameters we have set up for it so rate floors and ceilings, hurdle points and additional framework as indicated by each system must be well thought out. These guidelines should be set precisely and reviewed and adjusted as needed on a quarterly basis if not more often. Another benefit of system managed rates is that it takes the guess work and emotion out of rate setting based on data driven decisions to sell rooms at the optimal price. These decisions are based on countless information points that would simply be impossible for Revenue Managers to analyze each day. Along that line this same technology can forecast the number of cancellations and no shows expected to set the daily oversell. It can also perform a profitability analysis on potential groups and once booked successfully forecast the group wash. It can also tell how reservation pace changes as your rates change or competitor rates fluctuate, and this is all based on compiled data. This is another area where overrides should be limited and well thought out and a level of human interaction will always be needed. The future of rate setting looks bright as advancements in rate setting technology continue to evolve. Even with high and reliable levels of automation, rates and restrictions still require daily review by Revenue Managers. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) GIS is surely one of the most exciting and evolving aspects of hospitality technology and a variety of other industries right now. The definition of GIS is a geographic information system consisting of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data. In simpler terms we are targeting customers based on geographic data and focusing marketing efforts based on that data. This geographic data is obtained through IP addresses and helps our marketing teams determine what markets have the most potential for growth. It also allows us to personalize messages and offers to our customers or potential customers based on their location for even greater return on our ad spend. As an example, our Grove Resort in Orlando markets relevant packages to the Florida and Georgia "drive" market that is within driving distance of the hotel, but they execute different more applicable offers to other areas. GIS marketing efforts also include international markets and can be even further refined by country. Geo-fencing can also be employed where a boundary is created within an area to control who is receiving what offers. Some Online Travel Agencies allow you to target specific areas or countries with promotions or offers. These may be areas that are showing growth potential, or you can also target share that is already in the competitive set that you would like to shift. Specific Geographic information is available to you within the reporting section of the OTA extranet. Result tracking is also provided. Another example where GIS is employed is through Meta ads via Facebook where you can define your audience and control who sees your ad. In addition to location, you can further refine your customer search by interests or gender among other options. Huge demand for location-based services in many industries including hospitality continues to drive the success of this field. Virtual Tours are another evolving innovation offering digital tour experiences in advance of booking so each guest can get an intimate and personalized feel for the hotel and what the stay experience will be like once they check in. Panoramic views of guest rooms, event spaces, dining options and various other amenities enable hoteliers to set the guest expectation prior to check in and drive more customers. Additional digital modernization in the reservation process includes the ability to add services while making a reservation. A few examples include dining or spa experiences, early check in or out, specific room locations or views and a litany of other experiences in advance of your stay for an added fee. Wine or chocolate experiences and even local guided tours are other popular enhancements that can be added during the reservation process for an additional charge. Not only does this add to the guest experience, but it also drives ancillary revenue. The future of Hospitality technology continues to evolve at an exciting pace boosting our ability to predict customer behavior, tightening up rate and restriction accuracy and find new areas to market resulting in increased profitability. Hotels are also embracing tools that make the guest's stay more sanitary and convenient, further improving the guest experience. Just a few of these conveniences include mobile check in and check out, contactless payment, mobile apps for food ordering and even smart room innovations such as thermostat control like the innovations that many guests already have in their own homes. Many hotels are even engaging robotic devices for cleaning. Twenty years ago, we could not have imagined many of these advances and it is thrilling to experience the current momentum and see what breakthroughs the upcoming years will bring. As always, the human factor will remain vital in managing these processes. Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from http://www.hotelexecutive.com/. Recently several of the major municipalities around the world passed local regulation curtailing the way in which home stay and vacation rental can be offered in these locations. The regulations range between a full ban of the model to limitations on the amount of time allowed to be rented per annum. In some cases only allowed to be offered if it is the owners primary residence. The municipalities in question aim to improve the local housing markets in locations when residents have been forced away from the central business district. New York, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Singapore and Las Vegas are a handful of examples where regulation and limitation are in place. In your view what are the pros and cons of this for the following aspects of industry; AirBNB, VRBO and Vacation Rental / Home Stay in general The impact on hospitality and hoteling The impact on the traveller Your view on the housing challenges that are driving some of this approach Do you see this development as having a positive or negative impact on destinations moving forward? Simone Puorto Founder | CEO | Futurist The question is fallacious, as it's set up in black-and-white terms. We're stuck in this loop of "traditional hospitality good, alternative hospitality bad." But, you know what? We have to stop thinking like that! Travelers certainly don't; for them, hospitality is hospitality, no fancy labels needed.Do vacation rentals speed up gentrification? Well, should we automatically boo gentrification? A study by those smart folks at AMI House Builders shows that gentrification ain't the villain we make it out to be. It's saved dying cities by bringing in business, jobs, jacked-up property values, better infrastructure, and less crime.Vacation rentals as the bad guys in the hospitality industry? Nah. They ARE hospitality. And clamping down with more rules isn't the answer to whatever problems we're seeing (IMHO: none). The world is changing, and it's high time we change too. There's plenty of room in this sea for all sorts of fish, hotels, and rentals alike. So, let's quit whining and deal with it. The times are a-changin'! The impact of inventory loss within the travel and hospitality sector's key markets is a multifaceted issue with far-reaching consequences for both businesses and their clientele. These markets are often the lifeblood of demand, making any decline in resources a matter of significant concern. This situation simultaneously presents both a challenge and an opportunity. On one hand, displaced demand seeks alternative accommodations, potentially revitalizing sectors like hotels. Travelers with specific needs, such as digital nomads, long-term stayers, or families, require amenities like ample space, functional workspaces, and essential facilities like kitchens and laundry services. Traditional hotels, in many instances, fall short in meeting these diverse demands, leaving a gap that alternative lodging options have traditionally filled. However, navigating this transformation is not without its complexities. Striking a balance between serving the local housing market's needs and harnessing the economic benefits of tourism demands a delicate equilibrium. Tourism-generated revenue often sustains communities, and the emergence of new traveler segments has expanded the hospitality landscape. Nevertheless, within these challenges lie opportunities. Innovative solutions addressing traveler displacement, foster collaboration between the industry and local authorities, and explore new destinations can not only ensure survival but also lead to thriving prospects for the sector. Max Starkov Hospitality & Online Travel Tech Consultant I believe the vacation rental industry is to blame itself for these very restrictive regulations and all of its recent woes. For years it fought against licensing its hosts. Fought against including local hotel taxes in its pricing as if their customers didn"t need public infrastructure and safety, street lighting, etc. Allowed corporate ownership of thousands of units. Dragged their feet to prevent fake listings, disturbances of local noise regulations and huge parties. Not to mention cleaning fees of $150-$350 per stay! In the same time, there is a global trend for housing shortages due to the pandemic and years of no or very limited new home construction, and the rise of the middle class and growing demand for housing (2.5 billion people were elevated from poverty and joined the middle class over the past 30 years), etc. In my book, hoteliers are the ultimate winners from all of these new local regulations. All suite hotels, extended stay hotels, apart hotels and hotels offering an Airbnb-type of a product will flourish at the expense of vacation rentals. Vacation rentals will continue to grow but at a more moderate pace. I have personally encountered accommodation challenges in Amsterdam and can comment from a guest's point of view. Some of these destinations that are listed have severe accommodation challenges. We used Air BNB as it was 50 % more economical than hotels Hotel rooms were not available for a 15-day stretch at the locations I needed We stayed as a family, where it could be rated more of a four-star and not backpacker accommodation. They are, in fact, a more cost-efficient and convenient alternative for guests without compromising their comfort. As such, it also boosts tourism and the tourist economy. While a good blend of local cultures and tourists is healthy, more tourist arrivals benefit the hospitality industry beyond just rooms, food and beverage and wellness services. I also believe some of these regulations would drive up room rates and become unaffordable, negatively impacting the industry. As industry stakeholders, while safety, environmental and sustainable regulations are a must, reducing supply and increasing rates are not healthy for the industry's continuity. Linchi Kwok Professor at The Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona Consumers demand home-sharing and vacation rentals for a reason. Hotels have tried improving their existing offerings. Some also entered the home-sharing market by introducing their version of vacation and short-term private residence rental services. To some extent, short-term residential rentals have pushed more innovations and changes for hotels as the incumbents try to defend their market share. Travelers would like to see more competition. A variety of accommodations in the market usually offers more options to meet different needs and purposes of their trips. Competition could also mean lower prices for consumers. I encourage local governments to also pay attention to the positive consequences of the booming tourism and lodging markets. When more people stay in the city center, either in hotels or residential rentals, local governments can collect more tourism taxes and have a lower unemployment rate. Besides adding more restrictions on short-term residential rentals, governments may find ways to collect more taxes to support additional affordable housing projects. Lastly, we should also assess the potential of empty office and retail space in metropolitan areas. For example, can converting some vacant buildings into hotels, short-term residential rentals, or affordable housing facilities make sense to meet the demand? Related article by Linchi Kwok Guestroom at the Next Hotel Melbourne Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of the first Curio Collection by Hilton property in Melbourne, in partnership with Vista Hospitality Group. Next Hotel Melbourne will join the global portfolio of 140 Curio Collection by Hilton properties around the world, by end of 2023. The flagship property for Vista Hospitality Group, Next Hotel Melbourne is a 255-key premium upper upscale hotel that has received design acclaim for its interiors and is located within Melbourne CBDs prestigious 80 Collins precinct, home to high fashion and hospitality hotspots. It offers a refined aesthetic inspired by world travel and the local neighborhood of Collins Street couturieres, China Town, and the original site for the citys Horse Bazaar. The elegantly understated rooms, suites and Executive Lounge have cemented Next Hotel Melbourne as a commanding city base for discerning business and leisure guests. La Madonna a restaurant and bar housed within the hotel - has also achieved Chefs Hat accolades. Guy Phillips, senior vice president, Development, APAC ex Greater China, Hilton, said, We are thrilled to partner with Vista Hospitality Group for the first time to bring Next Hotel Melbourne into our unique Curio Collection by Hilton brand. Curio Collection by Hilton is a global collection of hotels that are hand-picked to offer guests one-of-a-kind experiences, each with personalities unique to the city they call home. This signing is testament to our belief in ensuring we have a variety of brands in our key destinations that suit the divergent needs of todays travellers and showcases our commitment to growing our portfolio of hotels in Australasia. Advertisement The addition of Next Hotel Melbourne to Curio Collection by Hilton will mark the third Hilton brand to enter the Melbourne market, joining Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street and DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne Flinders Street. Jordan Rodgers, VP operations & development, Vista Hospitality Group, said of the signing, Our renowned Next brand has allowed us to establish a unique business-meets-boutique property and joining the esteemed Curio Collection by Hilton is validation of Next Hotel Melbournes distinct style of hospitality. It also heralds an exciting new chapter for Nexts story, giving us the ability to leverage Hiltons global loyalty program, Hilton Honors as well as Hiltons powerful commercial engine. Next Hotel Melbourne marks the second Curio Collection by Hilton property in Australia, joining West Hotel Sydney, Curio Collection by Hilton and a trading portfolio of 29 Hilton branded properties across Australasia. Vista Hospitality Group is a joint venture between Pro-invest Group and Next Story Group with Pro-invest the managing partner of a seven brand portfolio across 15 properties including luxury brand Next, and its flagship Melbourne hotel. How AI Changes Our Sense of Self - By Stefano Puntoni Instead of focusing on how people feel about technology, marketing research should examine how technology makes people feel about themselves, according to Whartons Stefano Puntoni. Generative AI is advancing so rapidly that market research needs to evolve along with it, by shifting its traditional focus from how people interact with technology to understanding how technology makes people feel about themselves. Wharton marketing professor Stefano Puntoni makes the case for this new research perspective in a co-authored article for Harvard Business Review titled, How AI Affects Our Sense of Self. He also spoke about it with Wharton Business Daily on SiriusXM. (Listen to the podcast here.) Puntoni has been studying the psychological effects of technology for nearly a decade and says its imperative for market research to move in that direction because more and more tasks once done by humans will be handed over to software programs. Employees who derive job satisfaction from using their skills may feel left out of the automation loop like an auto worker who no longer assembles parts by hand or a public relations specialist whose press releases are written by ChatGPT. We often believe cognitive tasks to be quite central to the sense of self, Puntoni said. By [technology] taking on these tasks that are quite self-defining, it raises questions about who am I if Im no longer the person who does this? Puntoni said firms need to consider the psychological effects of automation because the current discourse boils down to one scary word for employees: replacement. He encouraged business leaders to think about how to use technology to make employees more successful and add to their repertoire of skills, rather than take them away. Instead of thinking so much about human replacement, how can we think about human flourishing? he said. Will AI Replace Humans? Easing Consumer Fears Puntoni said companies also need to mind their outward communication around technology. Parsing a product or service as complementary to the consumers skills, rather than a replacement, can help with adoption and sales. In an experiment, Puntoni and his colleagues measured consumer reaction to a new automated cooking machine. Participants were shown one of two advertisements for the same product. One ad said that the appliance would handle all the cooking at the touch of a button, while the other said the machine would prepare the meal with the help of the user. The latter was a more popular choice with the participants. What we found is that people who are really into cooking hated the machine that did everything at the touch of a button because it replaced them, he said, noting that a simple change in the wording of the ad altered consumer perception. Thats an example of how just a small detail in the communication of information on the package of the product or in an advertisement or the website could make a big difference as to whether people find it threatening or not. Stefano Puntoni - Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing, Professor of Marketing, Co-Director, Wharton Human-Centered Technology Initiative. Connect with Stefano on LinkedIn. This article is reprinted with permission from Knowledge@Wharton. HFTP Announces 2023 Paragon Award Recipient Geneva Rinehart Rinehart was selected for her leading role in informing and shaping the communication of hospitality industry technology trends. Geneva Rinehart was selected as the 2023 Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals(HFTP) Paragon Award recipient for her significant contribution to the production of a key hospitality technology information resource for nearly three decades. She is also recognized for inhabiting the role as a central connector amongst industry players vendors, hotel companies, consultants ensuring that all are apprised of current trends and recognized for their contributions to the evolution of hospitality technology. Rinehart is senior vice president and managing editor at Hospitality Upgrade, where she has served in multiple capacities since 1995. HFTP and Hospitality Upgrade are long-time allied partners working together to develop hospitality technology information and resources, and Rinehart has worked closely with HFTP and its network to fulfill this relationship. Rinehart will be honored on October 18 at the HFTP Annual Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana USA. Im honored to be selected as HFTPs 2023 Paragon Award recipient and join an impressive group many of whom are on my personal admiration list. Ive had the great pleasure of collaborating with so many industry groups, leaders and professionals over the years with Hospitality Upgrade Magazine, The CIO Summit and the Executive Vendor Summit, said Rinehart. And it definitely helped to have surrounded myself with amazing people who are dedicated to the cause, always push the bar higher, and are never afraid to try something new. The HFTP team has been absolutely fantastic to work with on our many projects and events, and I thank them for this recognition. Geneva Rinehart's publishing career began in 1995 with the launch of H&A Update, the precursor to Hospitality Upgrade magazine. She has been a driving force behind key industry conferences, including the Executive Vendor Summit and the CIO Summit. Geneva's pioneering spirit led to the introduction of the magazines first digital edition in 2003, which incorporated cutting-edge technologies such as QR codes, augmented reality, video and multimedia. In 2017, she curated a special publication on the history of technology for the hotel industry and compiled Hospitality Upgrade's Marriott Americas' IT edition. She also played an integral role in developing and revamping the Hospitality Upgrade and Hotel Online websites and newsletters. In addition to her industry work, Geneva has logged more than 600 hours of volunteer service to her community. In collaboration with HFTP International Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame inductee Sherry Marek she has created a collection of mentor articles to encourage and inspire industry professionals. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Pennsylvania State Universitys School of Communications. She and her husband, Rick, have two children. During these 29 years Geneva, as managing editor, has helped to keep the industrys leading source of technology information fresh and relevant and in doing so has helped to educate thousands of hoteliers around the world about technology issues and solutions, wrote Robert Bennett, co-founder of Kalibri Labs, LLC, in support of Rineharts nomination. The conferences hosted by Hospitality Upgrade, and organized with Genevas help, have done so much to promote cooperation among vendors and hotel operators. There is no shortage of examples to show how Geneva has contributed to the betterment of hospitality technology. Hospitality Upgrade is the exclusive technology magazine for HFTP and sponsor of HFTP events such as HITEC and the HFTP Annual Convention. HFTP also helps coordinate the annual Executive Vendor Summit and CIO Summit, founded by Hospitality Upgrade in 2002. Established in 1999, the prestigious HFTP Paragon Award recognizes individuals each year who have made a significant and lasting contribution to both HFTP and the hospitality industry. Paragon Award nominees can be HFTP members; representatives of industry-related associations, societies or trade publications; leaders from hospitality businesses, educational institutions and other related disciplines. A panel of industry experts selects the award recipients who are traditionally recognized at HFTP's Annual Convention. Previous Paragon Award winners include: Alice Banks, CHAE (1999); Henry "Buddy" Weeks, CHAE (1999); Frank Santos, CHAE, CHA (2000); Katherine Cavanagh, CHAE (2001); Raymond Schmidgall, PH.D., CPA, CHAE (2002); Frank Wolfe, CAE (2002); Len Bartello, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2003); John J. Cahill, CHA, CHTP (2004); Wendy Zurstadt, CPA, CHAE, CHTP (2005); Richard Braa, CHAE (2006); Robert Patasnick, CPA (2007); George Glazer (2008); Agnes DeFranco, Ed.D., CHAE (2009); Stephen LeBruto, CPA, CHAE, Ed.D. (2009); and Steve Doherty, CHAE, CHTP (2010); Frank Agnello Jr., CMA, CHAE (2011); Howard Field, FBHA, FCA (2012); Joseph McInerney, CHA (2013); Evelyn Adams (2014); Ralph R. Miller, CPA, CA, CBV, CHA, CHAE (2015); Raman (R. P.) Rama B. Com, CHA Emeritus, CHTP, CHAE (2016); Kris S. Shoemaker, CMA, CGFO, CHAE, CHTP, CPFIM (2016); Mary Gerdts (2017); Anna McFarland, CPA, CFE, CHAE, CHTP (2018); Thomas Smith, CHAE (2019); Ian Millar, CHTP (2020); Tanya Venegas, MBA, MHM, CHIA (2021); Sanjay Nadkarni, Ph.D. (2021); and Daniel Conti, Jr., CHAE+ (2022). The HFTP Annual Convention is October 1820, 2023 at the JW Mariott Indianapolis in Indianapolis, Indiana USA. Register to attend. For more information about HFTP events, contact the HFTP Meetings & Special Events Department at education@hftp.org, +1 (512) 249-5333. For more information on the Paragon Award, contact the HFTP Communications Department at publications@hftp.org or +1 (512) 249-5333. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Medieval Faire at Ventfort Hall LENOX, Mass. Join the Barony of Bergental as they share the arts, sciences and culture of the pre 16th century world at Ventfort Hall on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 10 am to 4 pm. The historic Jacobean-Revival estate will revert to days gone by when chivalry and armored tournaments were a way of life. Events and exhibits will include an equestrian demonstration, cooking, knights in armor, fighting, lace making, archery and more. Special event pricing at $20 for adults, $10 for children 5 to 17 and free for 4 and under includes admission to both the fair and the mansion. Berkshire Edward Jones Office Supports Toys for Tots Drive NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Rob Adams, the local Edward Jones financial advisor, is supporting the Marine Corps Detachment 137 Toys for Tots program by using his office as a drop-off location for this year's toy drive. Local residents may help make a difference for children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the office, 71 Main Street, North Adams, during regular business hours beginning Oct. 1 through Dec. 6. Monetary gifts cannot be accepted. "With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready for the festivities," Adams said. "And as this is the season of giving, now is a great time to remember the less fortunate in our community." GCash expressed its full support for the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 10946, also known as "Kontra-Bigay", ahead of the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Seated from left: Committee on Kontra bigay commissioner-in-charge Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr., Comelec commissioner Socorro Inting, chairman George Erwin Garcia, commissioner Rey Bulay and deputy executive director for operations Rafael Olano, together with the GCash legal team (standing) Officials from the fintech company attended the campaigns launch at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila, earlier in September. The launch was also attended by distinguished representatives from lead agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Public Attorney's Office (PAO), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Department of Education (DepEd), as well as prominent election-focused NGOs like National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Legal Network For Truthful Elections (LENTE). COMELEC Resolution No. 10946 aims to combat online vote buying and selling by establishing a Kontra-Bigay Committee and expanding the existing vote-buying regulations under the Omnibus Election Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, as well as the other rules and regulations issued by COMELEC. One of the most significant highlights of the newly passed resolution is its recognition of online banking transactions and the use of e-wallets as potential channels for vote buying under Section 30. During the launch, COMELEC emphasized its authority to scrutinize the financial details of account holders suspected of involvement in such illicit activities. GCash reiterates its unwavering commitment to cooperate fully with the COMELEC in the fight against online vote buying. The company recognizes the critical role fintech companies play in safeguarding the integrity of elections by preventing the misuse of digital financial tools for unlawful purposes, said Martha Sazon, president and chief executive officer of GCash. GCash believes that fostering transparency, accountability, and trust in financial transactions is paramount to ensuring fair, honest, and inclusive elections that reflect the people's will. "We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of transparency and security in financial transactions and will actively support the COMELEC in their efforts to maintain a level playing field for all candidates and voters, added Sazon. As the countrys no. 1 finance super app, GCash embraces its responsibility in ensuring that not only finance but also democracy, is for all. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free 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 Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} MPs and music industry figures have offered their support to an indie band facing legal action from the brand owner of easyJet over their similar names. Easy Life, a five-piece indie group formed in 2017 and signed to Island Records the following year, announced earlier this month that they were being sued by the airlines brand company, easyGroup, after being accused of being brand thieves. EasyJet is not part of the legal action. EasyGroup has claimed that the band, formed of Murray Matravers, Oliver Cassidy, Sam Hewitt, Lewis Alexander Berry and Jordan Birtles, is infringing the rights of online retailer Easylife because their name is too similar. Easylife is an independent website that licenses its name from easyGroup for an annual fee. The legal action intends to force Easy Life to change their name. In an Instagram post shared on Tuesday (3 October), the band members of Easy Life issued a statement telling their followers they had worked hard to establish [their] brand and believe that they have not affected Easylifes business. The band added: Theyre forcing us to change our name or take up a costly legal battle which we could never afford. Although we find the whole situation hilarious, we are virtually powerless against such a massive corporation. In response, several fans and public figures have been sharing messages of encouragement to the musicians, while condemning easyJet and easyGroup for the legal action. Massive PR own goal by easyJet... how about supporting young artists rather than crushing them with corporate greed? Kevin Brennan, Welsh Labour MP for Cardiff West, posted to X/Twitter. Tom Watson, UK Music chair and deputy Labour leader, remarked: If this is true then its an absolute outrage. easyJet, what on earth are you doing? Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Hi @easyJet, why are you suing a young band to change their name? Tom Gray, the chair of music creators association The Ivors Academy, wrote. Theyve been performing as Easy Life for eight years and you trademarked it last year. Theyve traded under it and they dont compete in anything like the same area. So why are you doing it? Seems cruel here. (Getty Images) Harriet Harman, the Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, offered public support for the band on social media. Reposting Grays message, she added a note urging the airline to cease their legal action. Hi easyJet please confirm that you are withdrawing the legal action launched against my constituents band Easy Life forthwith, she wrote. Jon Ashworth, the Labour MP for Leicester South, also threw his weight behind the bands cause, tweeting: This is ludicrous from @easyJet youve got my full support @easylife Ill do all I can to help. Gray also defended the bands use of a font and colour that resembles easyJet for a piece of merchandise. Honestly, folk sharing this thinking @easylife are bang to rights: It is a t-shirt parodying a flight itinerary. EasyGroup said in a statement last week: With reference to the brand thief Mr Matravers and his fellow band members who have decided to use our brand, easyLife, without permission. We have a long established record of legally stopping thieves from using our brands and I am confident we will stop Mr Matravers. The Independent has reached out to representatives for Easy Life and EasyGroup for comment. 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 number of deaths from the devastating earthquakes that struck Afghanistan have surged past 2,400 even as immediate international aid is yet to reach the country due to governments wary of dealing directly with the Taliban. In a press conference on Sunday, Janan Sayeeq, spokesman for the Talibans ministry of disasters, said the death toll from two 6.3-magnitude earthquakes had increased to 2,445, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in the history of Afghanistan. Mr Sayeeq also revised down the number of injured to more than 2,000. Earlier, he had claimed 9,240 people had been injured in the tremors that struck the Herat province. While the world rushed to send aid after earthquakes rocked Syria, Turkey and Morocco this year and killed thousands, the Taliban official said many are still trapped under the rubble in Afghanistan days after the tremors struck one of the worlds poorest countries. The country is yet to receive an immediate global response due to the Taliban regimes actions as well as international attention being drawn towards the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Mr Sayeeq said the earthquakes completely perished several villages, apart from decimating 1,300 houses. The US Geological Survey said the quakes epicentre was about 40km northwest of Herat. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks of magnitudes 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. Almost 36 hours after the first earthquake hit Herat province, there have been no planes of aid flying in and no specialists on the ground. Activists said people have been left to dig through the debris themselves to rescue the injured. The International Rescue Committee warned that the lack of help and rescue equipment could push the death toll higher in western Afghanistan because trapped survivors cannot be freed. Theres not much disaster management capacity and what there is cant cover people on the ground, said Salma Ben Aissa, the director for the international groups Afghanistan mission said. The numbers (of dead) are increasing hour by hour. Ben Aissas colleague Jawed Niamati said Herat city is empty. People are sleeping in the open, on roadsides and in parks, as they fear more quakes. Temperatures drop to 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at night, he said. People injured in the quake on Saturday have been unable to get the treatment they need because of Afghanistans poor medical infrastructure so they are losing their lives. A lack of food, shelter and clean water are increasing health risks among communities. The disaster comes just a year after an earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan in June 2022 and killed at least 1,000 people. Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for the international community to come forward, but only a handful of countries, including Pakistan and China, have publicly offered support. Additional reporting by agencies 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 }} Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, who was once categorised among Asia's most eligible bachelors, will tie the knot with his fiancee in a royal wedding ceremony next January. The 32-year-old prince will marry Anisha Rosnah, the granddaughter of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiahs special adviser. The wedding festivities will begin on 7 January and last for 10 days, according to Radio Television Brunei. Congratulations His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen and soon to be bride, Yang Mulia Dayang Anisha Rosnah binti Adam! Wedding of The Year 2024? News on next tweet pic.twitter.com/XWk6CwY6mG Arif E. (@arfdy12) October 7, 2023 The Islamic ceremony to solemnise the marriage will be held on 11 January and the wedding reception on 14 January. According to reports, the royal couple will embark on a procession in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. To mark the end of the celebrations, a banquet will be held on the evening of 15 January. The couple had been previously spotted at a number of formal engagements, including the wedding of his sister earlier this year. The prince is the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and is sixth in line to the throne. He was named one of Asia's 50 most eligible bachelors by Tatler Magazine in 2016. Prince Mateen is a trained helicopter pilot with 2.5 million followers on Instagram, where he shares glimpses of his luxurious life. He serves as a major in the Royal Brunei Air Force along with conducting diplomatic duties with his father, Sultan Bolkiah. The prince recently visited Singapore, where he was hosted to lunch by prime minister Lee Hsien Loong. The prince graduated from Kings College London with a degree in international politics. He is an avid polo player and won two bronze medals for Brunei at the South Asian Games in 2017 and 2019. 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 }} Dwayne Johnson decided to set the record straight after he experienced backlash for asking his followers to donate to the Maui recovery fund he started with Oprah Winfrey. The Hobbs & Shaw actor originally partnered with Winfrey to launch the Peoples Fund for Maui and together they pledged a combined $10m to kick things off. However, when they released a public plea on 31 August asking for people to donate, the pair received swift backlash. Johnson got candid with his followers in an Instagram video he shared on Sunday 8 October, where he addressed the backlash and promised to be better. When we first launched the fund, there was some backlash that came with launching the fund, and I want to address that backlash, he explained. I get it, and I completely understand, and I could have been better. And next time, I will be better. He also added that he understood that many Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck, and money aint falling out of the sky, and its not growing on trees. The former Hawaii resident continued: I get it. I know what its like. Ive lived paycheck to paycheck. When you are living paycheck to paycheck, the last thing you want to hear is someone asking you for money, especially when the person asking you for money already has a lot of money. Because it was his first time launching a fund, Johnson told his followers that he was taking the backlash as a learning experience. Ive never launched a fund before, but Im a quick study, he noted. He proceeded to thank those who offered him constructive criticism, writing: You always tell me the truth good or bad Ill always appreciate and protect that straight talk between us You have my word to always listen, learn, grow and do better. Besides addressing the backlash and criticism, elsewhere in the video, Johnson had some great news to share with his followers in regard to the fund. I have some great news, some awesome news actually, that Im very grateful to share with you guys, he started. The thousands and thousands of survivors, the families, have now, over the past couple of weeks, started to receive their first round of funds. Theyre receiving their money, and I gotta tell you, its been the most gratifying and moving thing. When he and Winfrey launched the fund, they specified that only adults who lost their primary homes in Lahaina and Kula to the wildfires would be eligible for $1,200 a month through the fund. The goal was to help these homeowners get back on their feet amid the disastrous tragedy. Winfrey, a part-time Maui resident, had been inspired by Dolly Partons philanthropic efforts to start a fund of her own for those affected by the disaster. She explained: I read this article that Dolly Parton had given money in her community, and I said: I think this is the answer. In the video, the duo explained that they wanted to create a fund with real immediacy that would ensure that the money would go directly to the people in need. People being able to have their own agency, being able to make decisions for themselves about what they need and what their family needs thats our goal, is to get that to the people now, the talk show icon added. 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 }} On Saturday 11 November, the US will honour military veterans of the United States Armed Forces for Veterans Day. Every year, Americans celebrate soldiers on what used to be called Armistice Day and which was first enacted by President Woodrow Wilson after the end of World War I. In 1954, President Dwight D Eisenhower signed off on the name change, officially making the day Veterans Day. However, this year, the holiday falls over the weekend, meaning businesses will observe it on Friday 10 November and state and federal buildings will be closed. First introduced by Congress in 1885 when it was decided that federal employees should have certain days off from work, the list of US federal holidays is made up of 11 days of significance that Americans recognise - and celebrate. To ensure that these holidays are observed, certain guidelines have been put in place, with federal holidays that fall on a Saturday observed by federal employees on the previous Friday, while holidays that fall on Sunday are observed the following Monday. On these 11 days, all non-essential federal offices are closed, while banks, post offices and schools may also be closed. However, that doesnt mean that all Americans will receive a day off from work, as employees in the private sector may or may not get the day off, depending on their employer. From Memorial Day to Thanksgiving, these are the dates of the 2023 federal holidays. 2023 federal holidays: New Years Day: Sunday, January 1 (Observed Monday, January 2) Martin Luther King Jr Day: Monday, January 16 Presidents Day: Monday, February 20 Memorial Day: Monday, May 29 Juneteenth: Friday, June 16 Independence Day: Tuesday, July 4 Labor Day: Monday, September 4 Indigenous Peoples Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, October 9 Veterans Day: Saturday, November 11 (Observed Friday, November 10) Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 23 Christmas: Monday, December 25 Other important days to note: Valentines Day: Tuesday, February 14 St Patricks Day: Friday, March 17 Passover: Thursday, April 6 Good Friday: Friday, April 7 Easter: Sunday, April 9 Mothers Day: Sunday, May 14 Fathers Day: Sunday, June 18 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 }} Elizabeth Hurley has issued a reminder to women about getting mammograms, in honour of her partnership with Estee Lauders Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. The model, 58, spoke candidly about mammograms which are X-rays performed on womens breasts to screen for cancer during a recent interview withUs Weekly. While discussing her last 28 years as the ambassador of Estee Lauders campaign, she told women that if they feel something abnormal when examining their bodies, they shouldnt hesitate to get it checked by a doctor. I think the most important thing you can do is familiarise yourself with your breasts because theyre yours and only you know how they feel, she said. You should recognise something when its abnormal, and you should go to the doctor right away. Hurley emphasised that annual screenings for breast cancer are not only vital, but they should be considered a part of looking after your health in every way. She also went on to urge women to be breast cancer bullies by continuing to encourage their loved ones to get checked for the disease. Make sure your friends, your family, your mother, your grandmother, that theyre going for their screenings regularly and urge them to self-check, she said. It doesnt discriminate. It can hit anybody. Some groups are more vulnerable than others. She also made a reference to one breast cancer that can be difficult to treat, triple-negative breast cancer, which differs from other types of invasive breast cancer because it tends to grow and spread faster, has fewer treatment options, and tends to have a worse prognosis, as noted by the American Cancer Society. The type of cancer can also be more common in women younger than age 40, who are Black, or who have a BRCA1 mutation. It disproportionately affects Black women, the Bedazzled star added. Its a diverse disease and it needs to be attacked in a diverse way. According to the American Cancer Society, women between the ages of 45 and 54 should get mammograms every year. Meanwhile, women who are 55 and older can either switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. In addition, women between the ages of 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year. The organisation also noted that breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with estimates of about 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer being diagnosed in women in the US in 2023. Over the years, Hurley has continued to speak about the importance of getting a mammogram. Last year, she joined Loose Women hosts Kaye Adams, Brenda Edwards, Nadia Sawalha, and Carol McGiffin for a self-examination on live TV. During the segment, she also opened up about losing her own grandmother to the disease, and how her attitudes towards breast cancer have shifted over time. At that time nobody talked about it. There was no pink ribbon, no Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Serving Sara star said, adding that when her grandmother first found a lump in her breast, she didnt go to the doctor because she was scared and embarrassed. When she finally went it was quite progressed. But she still never talked about it, the model continued. Its still a life-threatening disease for many women, but times have changed. We talk about it now. During her interview with Us Weekly, she went on to celebrate her 28th year with Estee Lauders Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, noting that Estee Lauders daughter-in-law, Evelyn Lauder, is the one who first asked her to get involved with the mission. Thats how it started, and Im still here. Weve raised $118m, 93 million of which went straight to research, she said. The rest went to education, medical services, support groups [and more]. Its a phenomenal achievement. 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 }} Indigenous Peoples Day is a holiday in the United States that was created in reaction to Columbus Day, a national holiday dedicated to celebrating the explorer who led expeditions to the Americas starting in 1492. Columbus has become a controversial figure and, as a result, many states and cities have decided to rename the holiday for the Indigenous communities who already lived in the Americas when Columbus and his crews arrived on shore - a population that was enslaved and ultimately killed off en masse. Heres what you need to know about the renamed national holiday. How long has Columbus Day been around? Columbus Day is typically observed on the second Monday in October. This year, the holiday will take place on Monday, 9 October 2023. It became US federal holiday in 1937 after an effort by Roman Catholic Italian Americans, who were at the time members of a particularly stigmatised ethnic and religious group. Members of that group campaigned to establish Columbus Day as a holiday in order to establish Christopher Columbus - a Catholic Italian - as an important and central figure in American history. Along the way, their efforts wound up cultivating the false impression among many Americans that Columbus literally discovered the Americas, even though Indigenous communities had established settlements at least 500 years prior to Columbus arrival. Why have many renamed Columbus Day? While much of American history has been written around the conquests of European descendants, there has been increasing recognition that the American narrative has served to only marginalise Indigenous peoples, whose communities were negatively impacted by genocide and colonisation. Columbus Day is not just a holiday, it represents the violent history of colonisation in the Western hemisphere, Leo Killsback, a professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University, told the History Channel. Many American public schools do not teach students in-depth about the 10 million or so people who lived in the Americas before Europeans arrived, and what has happened to that population through the years. Which brings us to Columbus himself: Indigenous Peoples Day highlights the brutal history of the man, and his treatment of the Indigenous people he found already living in the Americas when he arrived. Historians have found evidence that Columbus and his teams enslaved native inhabitants of the West Indies, and subjected them to extreme violence. That treatment started on the first day he arrived, according to his journal, which says that he immediately ordered the seizure of six native people to be used as servants. Some claims state Columbus oversaw the slaughter of Indigenous people, and even ordered peoples hands be cut off for failing to perform tasks for his teams. Is Indigenous Peoples Day a federal holiday? Indigenous Peoples Day has been recognised for decades in different forms and under a variety of names to celebrate Native Americans history and culture, and to recognise the challenges they continue to face. In 2021, US President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. He said in a statement that the day is meant to honour Americas first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. Although it is not a federal holiday, Indigenous Peoples day is celebrated all over the country. Across the US, 17 states - including Washington, South Dakota and Maine, as well as Washington, DC - have holidays honoring Indigenous communities. Dozens of cities and school systems observe Indigenous Peoples Day as well. Several US lawmakers have since reintroduced legislation meant to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day as a federal holiday. How do people celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day? Indigenous Peoples Day is often marked by protests against memorials to Columbus, for environmental justice, for the return of Indigenous lands and in honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. By calling attention to Indigenous Peoples Day and the desire to make it a federal holiday, supporters hope that it will bring attention to the ways Indigenous people are discriminated against and disproportionately affected by climate change and gender violence. Additional reporting from AP. 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 }} Jonathan Scott has explained why his now-fiancee Zooey Deschanel thought hed ghosted her when they first started dating. Deschanel and Scott spoke candidly about the start of their relationship during an interview with People while appearing on the cover of the magazines latest issue. Scott noted that while he and his partner have communicated with each other every day since they started dating in 2019, there was one instance where he didnt have cellphone service, so he couldnt contact Deschanel. We talked or texted every single day, I think, and still have every day since weve met, except for the [time] I went up on a packed trip up into the middle of the Rocky Mountains, where there was no cell service, he said. According to The Property Brothers host, the New Girl star had then believed that she wouldnt be hearing from him again. She thought I was just blowing her off because I didnt respond for, what, three days or something? he said before Deschanel chimed in with Uh-huh." However, Scott went on to recall when he came out of the mountains, the very first text he sent was to Deschanel. He also detailed what the context of the message was. I had recorded a video of a song she sent me and I showed the Rockies and everything. And then weve literally talked every day since, he explained. This isnt the first time that the pair, who announced their engagement in August, have opened up about the unintentional ghosting experience. During a joint interview with Bustle in June 2022, Scott shared Deschanels reaction to him reaching out to her after the trip to the mountains, before praising their relationship. She was like: Oh, this guy likes me. And weve literally talked every single day since. Its been the best three years of my life, he said. The couple met in August 2019 while filming an episode of James Cordens Carpool Karaoke, where they were joined by Deschanels sister Emily Deschanel and Scotts twin brother Drew Scott. That following month, Deschanel announced that she and her then-husband of four years, Jacob Pechenik, planned to divorce. In October 2019, Deschanel and Scott went Instagram official when they posted the same photo from a double date theyd gone on with Scotts twin brother and his wife Linda Phan. During their interview with People, Deschanel opened up about her blended family, as she and Pechenik shared two children, Elsie, eight, and Charlie. Scott also called himself a bonus dad to his fiancees children, before explaining: They have even more people to love them. The (500) Days of Summer star agreed, adding: Our family is very deeply rooted and very blended. In August, Deschanel first shared the news of her engagement on Instagram, where she posted a photo of herself and Scott. In the photo, Deschanel could be seen smiling as she held up her hand to show off her new engagement ring. Forever starts now, the actor captioned the post, along with heart-face emojis and an infinity symbol. During their latest interview with People, Scott recalled how surprised his partner was by the proposal, which took place at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. So when that started happening, Zooey, all of a sudden...You saw this: Whats happening? he recalled. After noting that Deschanels children were a big part of the proposal, Scott also shared Elsies candid reaction to the engagement news. When Elsie turned around and read [the sign], that was the first time she learned, he said. And she immediately goes: Huh, did you just get married?" Scott continued: "And were like: Well, no, not yet, but we got engaged. And shes like: Does that mean I get to be a flower girl? And were like: Yes. Yes you can. So it was really sweet to have them there too. The engagement announcement also came weeks after Deschanel and Scott celebrated their four-year anniversary. 500 days of @zooeydeschanel actually its been a lot more, but whos counting anyway? The HGTV star captioned a photo of the couple on Instagram in August. Four years really flies by. Happy anniversary baby!!! 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 }} UK special forces are accused of unlawful massacres during night raids in Afghanistan. Here, the PA news agency looks at why the inquiry relating to unlawful killings in the war-torn nation has been commissioned and what it will involve. Who commissioned the inquiry? The independent statutory inquiry was commissioned by then-defence secretary Ben Wallace under the Inquiries Act 2005. Why was the inquiry commissioned? The probe was commissioned in the wake of legal challenges from Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families, as well as notable media investigations from BBC Panorama and The Sunday Times newspaper. Who are the Saifullah and Noorzai families? The Saifullah and Noorzai families brought judicial review proceedings against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2019 and 2020, which challenged the MoDs failure to investigate the deaths of members of their families during night raids. Which matters are the inquiry tasked with examining? The probe will look at whether Royal Military Police investigations were effectively and properly conducted, whether there is credible information that unlawful killings were carried out by UK special forces, whether any unlawful killings were covered up at any stage, and what lessons can be learned. What time frame will the inquiry look at? The inquiry will look at incidents between mid-2010 and mid-2013. Which Royal Military Police investigations are being scrutinised? Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro will be scrutinised by the inquiry both of which looked into alleged unlawful executions by special forces during night raids in Afghanistan. How many night raids were referenced in counsel to the inquirys opening submissions? Oliver Glasgow KC detailed seven separate night raids which resulted in 36 deaths. Why might some inquiry hearings be held in private? Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said many hearings would have to be held in private due to reasons to do with national security that are highly sensitive. What will happen if the inquiry finds evidence of unlawful activity? The inquirys chairman said anyone found to have broken the law should be referred to the relevant authorities for investigation. 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 }} UK special forces allegedly had a policy of executing males of fighting age in Afghanistan in circumstances where they posed no threat, an independent inquiry has heard. The central allegation of the probe, which will focus on alleged illegal activity in the war-torn nation between 2010 and 2013, is that special forces abused night raids, or deliberate detention operations (DDOs), to carry out the policy. Here, the PA news agency looks at the seven DDOs at the centre of the Afghan inquiry in detail. November 30 2010 Innocent civilian killed in special forces raid During the course of a UK special forces operation, Afghan citizen Mohammed Ibrahim was killed despite not being its target, the inquiry heard. Special forces said he was killed when he appeared from behind a curtain with a grenade. But Mr Ibrahims family insist he was an innocent civilian who worked as an Afghan government official between 2001 and 2007, firstly as a deputy police chief and then as the Gereshk district governor alongside British Forces in Helmand. They say there were no weapons at the compound, and UK special forces had cleared the compound before singling out Mr Ibrahim to go back inside. February 7 2011 Nine men unlawfully killed in their beds A UK special forces unit carried out a raid in Makati Dashta in northern Helmand. Family members claimed the men were shot most likely while asleep, but the unit said soldiers were acting in self-defence. Habibullah Alizai, who was the head of the family that lived in the compound, said he was awoken by the noise of shouting and gunshots before being taken from his room to be interrogated and beaten by soldiers. February 9 2011 Eight innocent civilians killed in guesthouse A unit conducted a night-time DDO in Khanano, a small village in the Musa Qala district of northern Helmand. Three armed men were shot and killed by special forces before the bodies of four more men were found having apparently been shot by one of their own number. Special forces said a man was sent back into building to pull down the curtains and open the doors, and was shot and killed when he reappeared with a weapon. The family insist that all of the deceased were innocent civilians and that fatal injuries sustained by the men, and the positions in which they were found, suggest they were shot by trained soldiers who were facing them. February 16 2011 Four innocent civilians killed including respected elder According to special forces, during a night time operation in Gawahargin, a small village in the Nawa District of southern Helmand, Abdul Khaliq left a compound having been called out by the unit. He was taken back inside in order to assist with a search of the property when he reached behind a curtain and pulled out a hand grenade which he attempted to throw. He was immediately shot and killed. Attah Ullah had also left a second compound in response to the call out. He too was directed to assist with the search of that second compound and went back inside with the British forces. He picked up an AK-47 assault rifle from behind a table and was immediately shot dead before he could fire it, the unit said. Saddam Hussein was observed running from the compound complex and pursued on foot. He was found hiding underneath a bush and ordered to come out. He did, but was holding a hand grenade, and was immediately shot dead. Ahmed Shah was found hiding under a blanket outside a third compound and was ordered to come out. When he did so he was holding an AK-47 assault rifle and was killed. The family insist that all four deceased were innocent civilians, that they had nothing to do with the Taliban, and that there were no weapons in the compound. Having found out about the incident and met with British Forces, an Afghan partner unit said they no longer wanted to provide any support to operations with the British. March 12 2011 Eight men killed some with their hands still bound During a night time DDO in Khanano, a small village in the Sangin District of northern Helmand, a compound was cleared. When one of the males was escorted back inside to assist with the clearance, he ran off. He was then found armed with a weapon and killed. Seven others were killed when they posed a threat to special forces using guns or grenades, the unit claimed. The family insist that all those killed were innocent civilians. It is claimed that two of the deceased were found shot with their hands still bound with restraints, that several of them were found in the room where they would have been going to sleep, and that each of them appeared to have been killed when they were either lying or sitting down. October 18 2012 12-year-old boy and three teenagers killed The four were killed during a night-time DDO in the village of Loi Bagh, near Nad e Ali in central Helmand. Special forces said the killings were lawful, and found weapons during a subsequent search of the property. The family insists all the deceased were innocent civilians, had nothing to do with the Taliban, and that there were no weapons in the compound. Complaints were raised by the family and large numbers of local residents planned to demonstrate, the inquiry was told. August 7 2012 Family shot while asleep in their beds During the course of a night-time operation in the village of Shesh Aba, in Nimruz province, in southern Afghanistan, two individuals were killed, and two children were wounded. Hussain Uzbakzai, his wife, Ruqquia Haleem, and their two children Imran and Bilal, are alleged to have been shot whilst asleep in their beds. A neighbours compound had also been raided and two males said to be of fighting age were shot and killed. 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 English tourist who was holidaying in Israel when Hamas attacked the country said the British government is dithering in assisting UK citizens trying to escape the conflict. Aaron Barwell, 48, told the PA news agency he has been struggling to leave Israel as flights out of the country were cancelled and he was turned away at the Jordanian border. Mr Barwell, a freelancer working in IT, claimed the British government has been more concerned with political posturing than the actual safety of their citizens. He said: I just want to leave the country as soon as possible. Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv as a result of the ongoing conflict, while British Airways has also made changes to its flight schedule. Mr Barwell, who lives near Newcastle, said he was travelling to Jordan from Israel when Hamas attacked and he was forced to return to Jerusalem. He said he has since booked a flight to Cyprus for Wednesday evening while he stays in Jerusalems Old City. He said: I couldnt get a flight to the UKIve got a ticket just to Cyprus just to get out of the country because everything seems to be sold out or cancelled. Mr Barwell said the British government was not doing enough to help UK nationals in Israel and has been dithering so I think its creating a situation which is putting us more at risk. He said: The official advice on the British Embassy website is just to follow basically what the Israeli authorities said. In other words, it is absolutely useless because were not getting any direction from anybody. The only thing Ive seen, and Ive only seen it online, is that theyre assessing the situation which theyve been doing for days when other countries are actually doing something. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It is advising Britons in these areas to register their presence with the office to receive updates. PA has contacted the Foreign Office for a response. 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 first time a gunman obsessed with mass shootings had fired his own weapon was when he tried to kill himself, a court heard. Reed Wischhusen, 32, said that after failing to take his own life by shooting himself in the head, he ran at armed police officers, pointing the pistol at them and hoping they would finish the job. The police officers shot him three times at he ran down the stairs of his home in Wick St Lawrence, north Somerset. Bristol Crown Court heard police had gone to his home in November last year after getting a tip-off about weapons. Giving evidence, Wischhusen described to jurors the events of that day and demonstrated with his fingers how he cocked the gun and put it to his head and pulled the trigger. I partially lost consciousness and I could hear shots fired on the radio and sounding like someone falling down the stairs, the defendant said. So I knew the police had drawn their guns so I went downstairs and threatened them so they would shoot me dead and finish the job. He added: The only time I have fired my own gun was on November 28 2022. Wischhusen denied he had any intention of shooting the police when he ran down the stairs of the property he shared with his father. He told the court he had bought the tools to build his own weapons after Avon and Somerset Police staff twice rejected his shotgun certificate application and claimed he could make a .22 rifle in a couple of weekends. When they said I had learning difficulties and a childlike attitude I felt like I was being bullied again, he said. I decided if I could not have a shotgun for clay pigeon shooting then I will build myself a sub-machine gun to prove a point. He also told jurors that he never had any intention to make a bomb now or in the future or make explosives. Adam Vaitilingam KC, defending, asked Wischhusen about comments in his journal from his time at college, where fellow students had claimed he was obsessed with guns. The defendant replied: No, I am just an avid collector. I am just interested in them. Jurors heard Wischhusen had fired a range of different weapons during trips to the US and Poland, including Colt pistols, a 357 Magnum, an MP5 sub-machine gun, a shotgun and a Kalashnikov. Mr Vaitilingam asked Wischhusen about his journal entries in which he wrote of being a member of the National Rifle Association and committing a mass shooting in the UK. Wischhusen replied: Its just fantasy to be honest, nothing serious. A psychiatrist found Wischhusen had an autism spectrum disorder and had a lower than average range of intelligence. The jury has previously been told Wischhusen was fascinated with mass shootings and infamous killers such as Dunblane gunman Thomas Hamilton and Raoul Moat. It is alleged he had drawn up plans to carry out a hitman-style attack on his former school in a document he had called Revenge. Wischhusen, of Wick Road, Wick St Lawrence, denies charges of having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, having an explosive substance, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm without a certificate. The trial continues. 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 kosher restaurant in northwest London was vandalised overnight with its cash register stolen. The glass front door of the restaurant Pita on Golders Green Road was smashed during the early hours of Monday morning, with the Met Police called shortly after 6am. The incident comes amid tensions following Hamas deadly attacks on Israel. However, the Met Police has stressed the incident is not currently being treated as a hate crime. The vandalised Pita restaurant was broken into during the early hours of the morning (Reuters) A spokesperson for the Met said: Police were called at approximately 06.10hrs on Monday 9 October to reports of a burglary and damage caused to a restaurant in Golders Green Road, NW11. It was reported that a cash register had been stolen. Officers have attended the scene and examined CCTV at the location. There have been no arrests and enquiries into the circumstances are ongoing. At this stage, the incident is not being treated as a hate crime. Have you been affected by this incident? Email holly.evans@independent.co.uk New pro-Palestinian graffiti has appeared on a bridge near the scene, although it is not clear if it is connected to the burglary. Condemning the burglary, Sadiq Khan tweeted: There is no tolerance for hate in our city. I remain in close contact with the Met Police. Whoever did this will face the full force of the law. I stand with Jewish Londoners, today and always. Police officers stand by the vandalised Kosher restaurant in Golders Green (Reuters) A nearby bridge with 'Free Palestine' painted on it (Reuters) The Met Police increased patrols in certain areas of London after videos circulated of people celebrating the Hamas attack on Israel, with the death toll on both sides reportedly surpassing 1,200. Thousands have also been wounded, while Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant has ordered the complete siege of Gaza, with a complete blockage of electricity, food and fuel. The Met Police also confirmed they were aware of a number of planned demonstrations, including a Stop the War protest outside the Israeli embassy, and is liaising with organisers. Deputy assistant commissioner Andy Valentine 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. 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 parole board has refused to release murderer and serial rapist John Cannan, who is also the prime suspect in the unsolved murder of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. Cannan was jailed for life in 1989 for raping and murdering Bristol newlywed Shirley Banks, 29, whose naked body was found dumped in a ditch. He was convicted of a further sexual offence, an attempted kidnapping and two offences of abduction with intent to engage in unlawful sexual intercourse at the same trial. In 2002 he was also named by police cold case detectives as the chief suspect in the disappearance and murder of Miss Lamplugh, but the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to charge him. Cannan denies any involvement in her disappearance. Ms Lamplugh vanished in Fulham, west London, in July 1986, aged 25, after leaving her office to meet a client known only as Mr Kipper. Her body has never been recovered. Her disappearance has remained one of the UKs most notorious cold cases and she was declared dead - presumed murdered - in 1994. Estate agent Suzy Lamplugh disappeared after going out to meet a client called mr Kipper (Shutterstock) In September, Cannan now 69 and reported to be receiving end of life care faced a parole hearing after serving his minimum term of 33 years and 214 days. However in a decision published on Monday, the parole board refused to release the killer. The board also refused to move Cannan, who is currently incarcerated in a maximum security Category A prison, to open conditions, which would see him downgraded to a Category D facility. The board said Cannan continues to maintain his innocence and has not completed any accredited programmes to address his offending behaviour. The board noted that at the time of his attacks, Cannan was preoccupied with sex and preferred sex to include violence. Assessing risk factors involved in his offending, the panel said: Mr Cannan evidenced feelings of anger and suspicion, struggled to manage extreme emotions and had a distorted perception of appropriate sexual boundaries. He had demonstrated a need for power and control, and had held a derogatory attitude towards women. Announcing their decision, the panel concluded: After considering the circumstances of his offending, the progress made while in custody and the evidence presented at the hearing, the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public. Nor did the panel recommend to the Secretary of State that Mr Cannan should be transferred to an open prison. Mr Cannan will be eligible for another parole review in due course. Cannan is understood to have been released from a hostel at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, where he served a six-year sentence for rape, three days before Miss Lamplugh vanished. He was also connected to the cold case due to his strong resemblance to an e-fit of her abductor, while reports have claimed he was nicknamed Kipper while serving his earlier sentence. In 2018, police carried out excavations at Cannans mothers former home in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, but nothing was found. A team of around 15 officers and staff excavated parts of the site, using ground-penetrating radar and advice from an archaeologist. 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 }} Five years ago, mum-of-five Sarah Wellgreen was murdered by her bitter ex-partner, who bundled her body into his taxi and drove into the night. At trial, jurors were in no doubt that harm had come to the beautician, as they unanimously convicted Ben Lacomba, the angry and controlling father to her three youngest children, of her murder. However, despite years of desperate searching, her body has never been found. Speaking to The Independent to mark the fifth anniversary of her death on Monday, her son Jack Burdett, 26, told how he cannot leave the area where she vanished in New Ash Green, Kent, until he discovers his mums final resting place. All year round, every minute of every day, I drive past bushes and wonder is it there? he said. Its a duty. Shes somewhere here and I have got to find her. Its one piece missing out of the jigsaw puzzle just that last corner. Ben Lacomba was jailed for life for murdering missing mother-of-five Sarah Wellgreen (Kent Police/PA) Police have scoured more than 1,250 locations, equipped with sniffer dogs, drones and sonar, in a bid to find the mother, whose death was the subject of a Sky documentary. Jack and community volunteers have also dedicated hundreds of hours to search parties in the hopes of finally being able to say goodbye all to no avail. I am still doing searches every now and again, said Jack, the second of Sarahs two sons from a previous relationship. I think it was a couple of months ago when I got a phone call from a member of the public because he watched the documentary and something popped into his brain. We went into the woods and started to dig a hole. Literally anything, if any leads pop up thats why Im in Kent to just go there. I just dont want to leave it in someone elses hands. Lacombas not smart hes an idiot hes just got really, really lucky which is annoying. Hes not a criminal mastermind. Sarah, 46, had been preparing to buy Lacomba out of their shared four-bedroom home, where the couple were separated but co-parenting, shortly before her death on 9 October 2018. The taxi driver claimed he was sleeping when she disappeared overnight, leaving her phone, purse and keys behind, and reported her missing two days later. But he became the 18th murderer in Britain to be convicted without a body after jurors heard how he switched off CCTV cameras and drove away in the cover of darkness, returning with his car mud-splattered in the early hours of the morning. He told police a shovel found in his shed was a Christmas present for his frail, elderly mother, before he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 27 years. Lacombas Vauxhall Zafira was picked up on CCTV cameras (Kent Police/PA) A few years ago, Jack and his brother Lewis, 27, tried to visit Lacomba in prison to appeal to him to reveal where he buried Sarah. But he never replied. Jack said the killer was torturing the family and his three younger siblings by refusing to give up the location of her body. But they take what comfort they can from the knowledge that Lacomba could be denied parole under recently passed Helens Law, unless he finally reveals what he did with Sarahs body. Hes got the information that everyone wants. Hes going to hold his cards close to his chest until he can get something out of it, he said. Hes emotionally torturing his own children. Emotionally I think my family is a bit broken. Do I think me, my brother or my nan and grandad will be able to [feel] pure happiness? I dont think we will ever feel that again because of the loss and the shock of it all. Wellgreens son said his late mum was always in his corner (PA/police handout) On Monday, Jack and his siblings will spend the day in church, supported by their grandparents, writing messages to their mum which they usually send up in a balloon. He added: I do miss her. She wont be there when Lewis gets married. She wont be there when I get married. All those important moments of life, all those picture-perfect moments there will always be an empty seat. Everyone thinks that their mum is the best. I suppose I do as well. She was just a good mum. Whether it be her going down to my school and fighting with the teachers over what I had done, she was always in your corner. Right or wrong she had your back. Because thats what you do for family. You trust and you help in the hope that it will all work out. Police search officers have scoured more than 1,250 locations in the search for Wellgreen (PA) Despite the weight of unanswered questions, Jack is focused on rebuilding his life, as he works multiple jobs in landscaping and hospitality, while also building his own photography and photobooth business. But he also faces the battle of selling his mums half of the house she shared with Lacomba, in Bazes Shaw, New Ash Green, to safeguard his younger siblings future. And with Lacombas name on the deeds, he fears he could face a court fight with his mums former partner, even though hes behind bars. That house should be sold for the kids future. Hes in prison, he cant provide for them and he shouldnt be able to profit off it or rent it out, he said. The home of the missing mum shared with Lacomba in New Ash Green, Kent (PA) When he and Lewis briefly returned to the property to collect their mothers things, he felt a mix of emotions. It just felt wrong, to be honest with you, he said. Obviously me and Lewis used to live there when we were kids. Going back there I felt anger. Anger and confusion. Walking around the house was weird because obviously, you have ideas of how it went down and different scenarios pop into your head. It wasnt a fun experience. Whatever the legal challenges he is determined to do what he can to safeguard his younger siblings future and pass on the love he and Lewis, now a soldier, felt growing up with Sarah. My mum always had a plan and Im just trying to make sure there is a plan for everyone else, he said. The kids arent going to feel a mothers love again. How am I going to make sure that the kids feel the good times that I had? It feels like an impossible task, but I hope we are doing alright. On Monday, Kent Police renewed an appeal for information that could lead them to Sarahs whereabouts, adding that Lacomba would almost certainly have moved her body in his red Vauxhall Zafira taxi. Det Ch Insp Neil Kimber, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: We believe it is very likely he then concealed her remains in a rural area, surrounding New Ash Green, Longfield or a location towards Sevenoaks. Urging people to come forward, he added: Any detail, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, could be the clue which one day leads to a breakthrough. 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 }} Scotlands First Minister has said his parents in-law are trapped in Gaza after visiting family, leaving him worried if they will make it through the night. The parents of Humza Yousafs wife, Nadia El-Nakla, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds, according to reports. Speaking to journalists on Monday, a visibly emotional Mr Yousaf said: As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, theyve been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, Im afraid. The couple went to visit the 93-year-old mother of Mr Yousafs father-in-law when the Hamas attack took place. They have been told by Israeli authorities to leave because Gaza will effectively be obliterated, the First Minister said. Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere, Mr Yousaf said. So Im in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we dont know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law who have nothing to do, as most Gazans dont, with Hamas or with any terror attack whether they will make it through the night or not. Mr Yousaf also issued an unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas attack. We cannot sleep we are constantly watching our phones Humza Yousaf, First Minister He said: We cannot sleep we are constantly watching our phones. When our messages do get through, were waiting for a reply. He added: Im worried about my family there will be many people, including in Scotlands Jewish community for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm. My thoughts go out to everybody, because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, they have nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life and theyre the ones often innocent people who are paying the price. Mr Yousafs brother in-law is a doctor and lives in Gaza with his wife and four young children, the youngest being two months old. He said he does not know how many Scots have been caught up in the fighting in Israel and Gaza. The First Minister praised communications with the Foreign Office as good, but said it was not yet clear who was in the region and how they have been impacted. He said: Im afraid not yet. Ive asked both for the situations in terms of any Scottish Israelis that might be affected and impacted and any Scots in Gaza that might be impacted. Ive not got numbers yet but liaison with the Foreign Office, I should say, is good, theyve been helpful in providing information but once I have that Im sure well be able to furnish you with the details. The First Minister also accused the Scottish Conservatives of a crass attempt to undermine the Bute House Agreement between the Government and the Scottish Greens. In a letter to Mr Yousaf on Monday, Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw whose Eastwood constituency boasts the biggest Jewish community in Scotland asked that the agreement be scrapped if he agreed with comments from a Green MSP. On Sunday, Maggie Chapman posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying the Hamas attack was a consequence of apartheid. In his letter, Mr Carlaw said: I would like to ask you if you agree with the comments made by Maggie Chapman and if they reflect the current position of the SNP-Green Government. If not, and given the brutality of Hamas actions, will you dismiss Green ministers from the Scottish Government and terminate the Bute House Agreement because appearing to excuse the actions of Hamas should be unacceptable for any party in Scotland, especially given their recent terrorist attacks. Responding to the calls, Mr Yousaf said: I have seen the tweet, and Maggie Chapman is responsible for what Maggie Chapman says. To somehow equate what is happening in the geo-political situation between Israel and Palestine, to reduce it to an issue about whether the Bute House Agreement can go on or shouldnt go on, I think is terribly crass. He went on to describe the attacks as unjustifiable, expressing his Governments support for a two-state solution. Innocent civilians being killed will not help us towards peace and an innocent Israeli life is worth, of course, the same as an innocent Palestinian life. An innocent child getting killed, it doesnt matter whether theyre Palestinian or Israeli. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} There are persistent and widespread concerns that many in higher education are being silenced, either by the activity of the university or by its inactivity, a new freedom-of-speech champion for English universities claims. Professor Arif Ahmed, director for freedom of speech and academic freedom at the Office for Students (OfS), will give his first major speech at an event at Kings College London on Monday and set out his priorities for the role. His appointment by the Government earlier this year followed the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act and protests surrounding feminist Professor Kathleen Stocks talk to the Oxford Union over her views on gender identity. The core mission of universities and colleges is the pursuit of knowledge, and the principles of free speech and academic freedom are fundamental to this purpose Professor Arif Ahmed In his speech, he is expected to say: Freedom of speech and academic freedom are fundamental to higher education. The core mission of universities and colleges is the pursuit of knowledge, and the principles of free speech and academic freedom are fundamental to this purpose. But there are now persistent and widespread concerns that many in higher education are being silenced, either by the activity of the university or by its inactivity. And that silencing may fall disproportionately on those who are most vulnerable. In a briefing ahead of the speech, Prof Ahmed said he has personal experience of others complaining about comments he has made, but in response he said being shocked and offended is an important part of education. He said: Occasionally I felt hesitant to question certain things, simply because I fear that there will be complaints or therell be some kind of pushback. And then the other sense of what has happened is that people have sometimes complained about things that Ive said, not in terms of formal complaint, theyve sort of said to me, I dont think it was necessary for you to say that, I dont think you should have said that, and my response is very often, an important part of education is you can be shocked, and you can be offended. Prof Ahmed will say the OfS will take a broadly viewpoint neutral approach and will protect the lawful speech rights of speakers at universities. He will add: It makes no difference at all whether you are in favour of Brexit or against it. It makes no difference at all what side you take on statues or pronouns or colonialism, or abortion or animal rights, or Ulez. You can castigate the monarchy or defend it. You can argue that Britain is fundamentally racist or that it never was. You can speak or write as a Marxist, a post-colonial theorist, a gender-critical feminist, or anything else if you do it within the law. It comes after the National Student Survey found one in seven students said they did not feel free to express their own views. Prof Ahmed said in the briefing: That is a matter of concern for us, because it means essentially, that one in seven students is missing out on perhaps an essential part of any form of higher education. He said the OfS worries that students will simply feel that they have to shut up. A generation deprived of that freedom may never truly appreciate what it has lost Professor Arif Ahmed Prof Ahmed is expected to say: It is rare, in any particular debate, for either side to change its mind. But over a period of time you can plant a seed in someones mind; and over numerous conversations with you and with others, their attitudes do change. I know of people who through such a process have profoundly changed their religious and political views. And the view that they reached through this process, whether sympathetic to religion or hostile to it, whether socially conservative or socially liberal whatever it was, it was authentically theirs. For many students, university might be the only time in their lives when they have both the time and the relative freedom to embark on this exploration. A generation deprived of that freedom may never truly appreciate what it has lost. The Governments Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill became law in May. The Act will require universities, colleges and students unions in England to take steps to ensure lawful freedom of speech on campus. This does not include unlawful speech, such as harassing others or inciting violence or terrorism. Prof Ahmed will oversee all the OfS free speech functions, including the new complaints scheme from August 2024 and investigations where universities are accused of breaching their duties under the Act, which also gives the OfS the power to impose fines. Professor Ahmed said the OfS will pursue these duties in a completely impartial and independent way, that it is not about culture wars and the OfS absolutely will not take sides on any of the many contentious topics. 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 Scot is among those killed in the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday, his family have said. Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, died in the surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group on southern Israel. More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing amid the violence, which has reportedly claimed the lives of least 700 people in Israel and more than 400 in Gaza. Mr Cowans family told the BBC: We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed. Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw paid tribute to Mr Cowan. He posted on X, formerly Twitter: Desperately sad & grim news. The family of Bernard Cowan, of late my Eastwood constituent, have confirmed that he was murdered on Saturday by Hamas. Our heartfelt condolences to his family as we respect their privacy in their grief. May his memory be a blessing. Friend Sammy Stein, from Glasgow Friends of Israel, told BBC Scotlands The Nine: It was awful. I mean, it was really, really dreadful. Many people were killed and injured but when its someone who you know personally, its a lot more difficult to understand and comprehend and accept. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: I have just heard the tragic news of the murder of Glasgow-born Bernard Cowan by Hamas. My condolences and prayers are with his family and all those affected by the violence. There is never any justification for terrorism and the loss of innocent life. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} More than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing after Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel, according to reports. Nathanel Young, 20, was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed in the surprise attack by Palestinian militants, which began on Saturday. 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. 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. Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared to be dead. Mr Darlington and his friend Carolin Bohl were in Kibbutz Nir Oz when it was attacked by Hamas fighters. Ms Bohls sister, Anja Pasquesi, wrote on Instagram: Today we learned from Carolins friend on the ground in Kibbutz Nor Oz in Israel that she and her friend Danny were killed in a terrorist attack yesterday. We are broken and are working to cope with this unimaginable tragedy. Ms Bohls brother-in-law Sam Pasquesi said on Instagram there has been no official confirmation but there has been reliable information on the ground. Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. His mother told the Jewish News on Sunday the last message she got from her son was one saying he loved her. He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, Lisa 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. 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 failure to prepare for Hamass attack was a colossal collapse of information gathering, an associate fellow at Chatham House has said. Speaking to the PA news agency, Professor Yossi Mekelberg said Israel failed to understand Hamass motivations and capabilities. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, since Hamas launched its surprise attack on Saturday. This is a colossal collapse, not only of information gathering but the concepts of when Hamas would attack and with what motivations or capabilities, Prof Mekelberg said. How were they able to train despite the blockade? How did they train paragliders? Prof Mekelberg said questions have to be asked about how Hamass fighters were able to enter Israel. Despite (Israel) investing billions and billions of dollars on blocking tunnels and building a sophisticated fence, (Hamas) still managed in a matter of hours to enter into Israel, he said. Israels intelligence definitely wasnt good enough. he said. But also the assumption that this was not going to happen, he added. This is what happened to Israel in 1973, building on the concept that only if certain conditions were fulfilled, that Egypt and Syria would (then) attack. I think the same happened here and they failed to identify the signs. Prof Mekelberg said the West has failed to take the conflict between Israel and Hamas seriously in recent years. Sadly, sadly, no one was taking it seriously, he said. There was complete apathy about it. This is the price of that apathy, of not resolving the conflict. 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 }} Labours shadow chancellor has said a terrorist attack caused the Israel-Hamas conflict as she pushed back against suggestions Israels occupation of Gaza was to blame. Rachel Reeves said she had no time for people cheering for the Palestinian cause on the sidelines of Labours annual conference in Liverpool. She said Israel has every right to defend itself after Hamass deadly surprise assault, which provoked a furious response from Israel, leaving more than 1,100 dead on both sides. What frustrates me so much is that what Hamas has done over the last few days has set back the cause for peace that I am so desperate to see in the Middle East Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves The senior Labour figure insisted the party was standing by the people of Israel as she faced questions about the appearance of the top Palestinian diplomat in the UK at the conference. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, who was reportedly set to attend a reception on Tuesday night, told CNN that Israel knew that this was coming their way Its a consequence. Asked about his comment, Ms Reeves told Sky News on Monday: Im very upset about those remarks. Israel, and the attacks on civilians, the festival goers, the children who have been taken hostage, it is completely unacceptable. And Keir (Starmer), David, myself, the whole of the Labour Party stand by the people of Israel at this moment. Labour leader Sir Keir has clearly labelled Hamas incursion into Israel as a terrorist attack, in contrast to Jeremy Corbyn who resisted explicitly condemning the militant group. Mr Corbyn sought to avoid directly criticising Hamas while being questioned in Liverpool, where he was attending left-wing events outside the Labour conference. The former party leader said he condemned any acts of violence but on the terrible situation in Israel and Palestine the way to end that, I think, is to end the occupation of Palestine by Israel. Ms Reeves told BBC Radio 4s Today programme in response: Gaza is not occupied by Israel. The real cause of what is happening now is a terrorist attack. If Britain or any other country was attacked by terrorists, we would believe, and rightly so, that we have every right to defend ourselves, to get back hostages and to protect our citizens. Israel is no different. It has every right to defend itself. She added: Of course, it has to abide by international rules of engagement. 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. He will absolutely not be welcomed back as a Labour MP, Ms Reeves told LBC. The shadow chancellor hit out at pro-Palestinian fringe events at the conference, telling Times Radio: Ive got no time for that. At one such event on Palestinians rights, Labours shadow minister for the Middle East and North Africa said the UK should not turn a blind eye to the huge injustices committed against the Palestinian people for many years. Wayne David said Israeli settlers have also been guilty of terrorist activity and Israels response to Hamass attack must be proportionate. He also told the event that more UK aid should go to Palestinians who must not be equated with Hamas. But he was later contradicted by shadow international development secretary Lisa Nandy, who said the UK should review aid given to Palestinians following Hamas attack. It came after the European Commission said it was putting all of its development aid for Palestinians under review and suspending all payments, and Germany and Austria suspended bilateral development aid to the territories. Well always support the Palestinian people, Ms Nandy told another fringe event. But in light of current events, its right that the UK considers how British money is being spent and whether that British money is being used appropriately or whether its being used to support acts of terrorism. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner led a moments silence in memory of those killed in Israel on the conference floor on Monday afternoon. Dame Louise Ellman, who rejoined Labour after quitting over Mr Corbyns handling of antisemitism, said the party must not tolerate any group which does not support Israels right to exist. She told a Labour Friends of Israel event that she remains fully behind the two-state solution to end the conflict. But we cannot ignore whats happening in Palestinian society as well, that has to be addressed, she added. There has to be absolutely no tolerance of groups who still to this very day, and at this very moment, and even in this very conference, are supporting the idea that there should not be a state of Israel and that Zionism is racism. The pro-Palestinian fringe event heard that Hamas assault was not a surprise after the humanitarian nightmare faced by Palestinians for two decades. Tayab Ali, director of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, said: The attack in Israel comes amid an ongoing failure to grapple with the dangerous situation for Palestinians in the West Bank where Israels extreme-right government has escalated the brutal daily pain of occupation over the past year. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she supported the police in tackling anti-Jewish incidents in the UK following the truly barbaric attack by Hamas. She told a fringe event: To see scenes on British streets of people apparently celebrating terrorist attacks is just truly appalling and we can never allow those who want to seize on events to pursue antisemitic agendas, to pursue hatred we can never allow that to take place here in the UK. Meanwhile Labour frontbencher Afzal Khan apologised after posing for a photograph in front of a Palestinian flag saying end apartheid now. The shadow trade minister posed for the picture at the Palestine Solidarity Campaigns stand at the Labour Party conference. The Manchester Gorton MP said: I want to apologise for any offence caused by stopping by the PSC stall at this time. I unequivocally condemn the terrorist actions of Hamas and support Israels right to defend itself. Tory chairman Greg Hands questioned when Sir Keir Starmer will take action against those who use the offensive apartheid term in relation to Israel. 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 }} Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK will continue to support Israel after Tel Aviv announced a complete siege on the Gaza strip following Hamas attack. Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting chaired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the situation in Israel, Mr Cleverly said Hamas fighters were shielding themselves among the Palestinian people. It comes after Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a siege on Gaza that would halt the supply of electricity, food and fuel to 2.3 million people living in the Hamas-ruled territory, while Israels forces pound the strip with retaliatory waves of airstrikes. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 are dead in Gaza, more than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack. We will continue to support Israel as it seeks to defend itself against this brutal terrorist attack initiated by Hamas Foreign Secretary James Cleverly A second British man was reportedly among those killed. Jackson Carlaw, Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Eastwood, East Renfrewshire, said the family of Bernard Cowan, a former constituent, had confirmed he was murdered on Saturday by Hamas. Mr Carlaw said it was desperately sad and grim news. Ahead of Mondays Cobra meeting, Downing Street had said it supported Tel Aviv responding with proportionate action to the Palestinian militants bloody weekend incursion. Mr Cleverly, asked by broadcasters in Westminster whether Israels siege on the Gaza strip met that definition, said: Israel has a right to defend itself against attack. The UK completely supports Israels right to defend itself proportionately. The truth of the matter is that this was a terrorist attack, perpetrated by Hamas, who are embedded in Gaza, shielding themselves among the Palestinian people in Gaza. And we will continue to support Israel as it seeks to defend itself against this brutal terrorist attack initiated by Hamas. The Foreign Secretary said, in light of the surprise offensive orchestrated by Hamas, the UK was reviewing its support for Israel. Mr Cleverly also said he was uncomfortable speculating on the numbers of British people affected by the violence after it was reported that more than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing. He said Israels unique status meant there were a large number of British-Israeli dual nationals, with Government estimates suggesting about 50,000 to 60,000 Britons are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza. Among them are the parents-in-law of Scotlands First Minister, Humza Yousaf. The SNP leader said the parents of his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, are now trapped in Gaza, where they were visiting family when the strikes on Israel began. Mr Cleverly, when asked about the case of Mr Yousafs in-laws, said he had been in contact with his Egyptian counterpart to discuss management of its land border with the Gaza strip. Known to be among the dead is 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at 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 believed to be missing. Mr Marlowe was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas. The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region and Mr Cleverly said flights out of Israel are still available for those wanting to leave. There are no plans for a UK-facilitated evacuation of British citizens from Israel, and those in need of support are advised to contact the Foreign Office. Mr Sunak, who spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any support it needs as it hits back at the Palestinian militants. We already have a very long-standing relationship with Israel, were one of their strongest allies, Mr Sunak said on Monday. Weve provided in the past the kinds of equipment that theyve used to defend themselves over the past couple of days. And as I said to the prime minister, we will continue to provide whether thats diplomatic, intelligence or security support, as they need. On Sunday the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. Downing Street said the UK is not planning to redeploy military assets to the Middle East, with warship HMS Duncan already in the Mediterranean as part of Nato patrols. Separately, the European Union announced it would be suspending all payments immediately to the Palestinians in response to the weekends atrocities before it then reversed the decision. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said the UK was reviewing its aid but told ITVs Peston: It is already the case, though, that we go through a very rigorous process for the sort of aid we provide. Its also very important to appreciate that we shouldnt clump together the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip who have carried out these attacks and the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people. The most senior Palestinian diplomat in the UK accused Israel of a war crime against civilians. Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission in London, condemned the killing of civilians by Hamas, but said Israel is seeking sheer vengeance in its retaliation. He said: Those are civilians, families. Its not going to resolve anything. Cutting water and electricity from two million people is a collective punishment. Its a war crime. Its not going to lead anywhere. He told an event on the fringes of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool that he had lost six members of his own family to an Israeli bombardment on Monday. The British Red Cross has launched an emergency fundraising appeal to provide humanitarian support in Israel and Gaza. Mike Adamson, chief executive at the charity, said: In keeping with our principles of neutrality, staff and volunteers have been working around the clock to respond to this crisis, including providing medical treatment for the injured. These efforts are being put at risk by the ongoing violence. With the casualties in their thousands, it is vital that healthcare workers and health facilities are protected so people can get the urgent care they need. 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 }} Families who allege unlawful killings by British special forces in Afghanistan have called on an independent inquiry to provide us with the truth. The inquiry, which is set to begin its substantive hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, is due to focus on alleged illegal activity by special forces in the war-torn nation between 2010 and 2013. The probe will look at allegations that numerous killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP). It was launched in the wake of legal challenges to the Government by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families, as well as a number of significant media investigations. One member of the Saifullah family said since a raid by British forces, they are having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties. Ahead of counsels opening submissions to the inquiry, they said: On February 16 2011, as a consequence of a night raid on our house by the British forces, my father, Haji Abdul Khaliq, my two brothers, Sadam Hussein and Atta Ullah, and my cousin, Ahmad Shah, were killed. Before their killings, our family had a very beautiful life. This was a very difficult, saddening and painful night. Since this raid by the British forces on our house, we have lost our normal sleep and are having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties. When this incident took place, we lost everything. My family and I request the inquiry team to provide us with the truth and explain to us why and on what basis we had to go through this cruelty. The probe is now set to hear submissions on behalf of the families of 33 people, including eight children, who were allegedly killed by special forces. We want to know the truth and why it was our house that was raided Mansour Aziz Mansour Aziz has called on the inquiry to listen to two children who were allegedly severely injured by British forces during a night raid on his family home on 6 August 2012. He said: In 2012, our house was raided by foreigners and my brother and sister-in-law were killed and their two children severely injured whilst they were sleeping in their bed. We want to know the truth and why it was our house that was raided. We are asking for the court to listen to these children and bring justice. Two RMP investigations, codenamed Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro, are set to be scrutinised by the inquiry. No charges were brought under Operation Northmoor a 10m investigation which was set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions by special forces, including those of children. Operation Cestro saw three soldiers referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, but none were prosecuted. Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory said the families involved in the probe hope it will fearlessly uncover the truth of the death of their loved ones. She said: Our clients hope that the opening of this inquiry marks the end of the wall of silence and obstruction that has confronted them over the last decade. The bereaved families look to the inquiry to fearlessly uncover the truth of the deaths of their loved ones and to ensure that those responsible are held to account. Proper accountability must involve those at a senior level in the armed forces and in government who are responsible for the management and oversight of our most elite forces. The independent statutory inquiry was commissioned by then-defence secretary Ben Wallace under the 2005 Inquiries Act. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said: The MoD is fully committed to supporting the inquiry as it continues its work. It is not appropriate for us to comment on allegations which may be within the scope of the statutory inquiry and it is up to the statutory inquiry team, led by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, to determine which allegations are investigated. 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 }} Scotlands First Minister has said his parents-in-law are trapped in Gaza after visiting family, leaving him worried if they will make it through the night. The parents of Humza Yousafs wife, Nadia El-Nakla, were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel this weekend, killing hundreds, according to reports. Speaking to journalists on Monday, a visibly emotional Mr Yousaf said: As many will know, my wife is Palestinian, her mum and dad, my in-laws, who live in Dundee, live in Scotland, theyve been in Gaza and are currently trapped in Gaza, Im afraid. The couple went to visit the 92-year-old mother of Mr Yousafs father-in-law when the Hamas attack took place. They have been told by Israeli authorities to leave because Gaza will effectively be obliterated, the First Minister said. Despite the best efforts of the British Foreign Office, nobody, nobody can guarantee them safe passage anywhere, Mr Yousaf said. So Im in a situation where, frankly, night by night, day by day, we dont know whether or not my mother-in-law and father-in-law who have nothing to do, as most Gazans dont, with Hamas or with any terror attack whether they will make it through the night or not. Mr Yousaf also issued an unequivocal condemnation of the Hamas attack. We cannot sleep we are constantly watching our phones Humza Yousaf, First Minister He said: We cannot sleep we are constantly watching our phones. When our messages do get through, were waiting for a reply. He added: Im worried about my family there will be many people, including in Scotlands Jewish community for example, who will be really worried about their family in Israel that have come to harm. My thoughts go out to everybody, because innocent civilians have nothing to do with the conflict, they have nothing to do with Hamas terror, have nothing to do with the loss of life and theyre the ones often innocent people who are paying the price. He said he does not know how many Scots have been caught up in the fighting in Israel and Gaza. The First Minister praised communications with the Foreign Office as good, but said it was not yet clear who was in the region and how they have been impacted. He said: Im afraid not yet. Ive asked both for the situations in terms of any Scottish Israelis that might be affected and impacted and any Scots in Gaza that might be impacted. Ive not got numbers yet but liaison with the Foreign Office, I should say, is good, theyve been helpful in providing information but once I have that Im sure well be able to furnish you with the details. The First Minister also accused the Scottish Conservatives of a crass attempt to undermine the Bute House Agreement between the Government and the Scottish Greens. In a letter to Mr Yousaf on Monday, Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw whose Eastwood constituency boasts the biggest Jewish community in Scotland asked that the agreement be scrapped if he agreed with comments from a Green MSP. On Sunday, Maggie Chapman posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying the Hamas attack was a consequence of apartheid. In his letter, Mr Carlaw said: I would like to ask you if you agree with the comments made by Maggie Chapman and if they reflect the current position of the SNP-Green Government. If not, and given the brutality of Hamas actions, will you dismiss Green ministers from the Scottish Government and terminate the Bute House Agreement because appearing to excuse the actions of Hamas should be unacceptable for any party in Scotland, especially given their recent terrorist attacks. Responding to the calls, Mr Yousaf said: I have seen the tweet, and Maggie Chapman is responsible for what Maggie Chapman says. To somehow equate what is happening in the geo-political situation between Israel and Palestine, to reduce it to an issue about whether the Bute House Agreement can go on or shouldnt go on, I think is terribly crass. He went on to describe the attacks as unjustifiable, expressing his Governments support for a two-state solution. Innocent civilians being killed will not help us towards peace and an innocent Israeli life is worth, of course, the same as an innocent Palestinian life. An innocent child getting killed, it doesnt matter whether theyre Palestinian or Israeli. 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 }} Retail guru Mary Portas said she is absolutely confident a Labour government would breathe life back into Britains high streets. The broadcaster was appointed by then-prime minister David Cameron to lead a review into the future of British high streets in 2011. But Ms Portas, who presented Mary Queen of Shops, said she has been frustrated by what has happened during 13 years of Conservative rule. Speaking as she introduced shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves to the stage at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, she said: Eight hundred years, over 100 names and all of them men. When Labour forms the next government at the next election, that is going to change, because Rachel Reeves will be Britains first female chancellor. And that is historic, not just for women and for women at the top but also because this will mean that politics will really start to work with business, to propel us forward into the new future we all so desperately need. Ms Portas, turning to the high street, said: Im as frustrated as you all are (over) what has happened to them of the last 13 years of a Conservative government. I am absolutely confident that Labour will breathe life back into our high streets again. Rachel is committed to scrapping business rates and replacing them with a fairer system that will provide critical support to many of the small businesses that make up lets face this 99% of our economy and they are the backbone of Britain. Because Rachel understands just how much our high streets matter. This is not just for the economy but for the vital sense of community and connection that they foster. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves making her Labour conference speech (PA) She understands that if you get your high streets right and thriving, the subsequent financial and social uplift feeds a local economy, it feeds a community and the safety and wellbeing of the people in it. She knows all that because should Labour win she will not just be our first female chancellor, she will be the best-qualified chancellor that Britain has ever had. Mark Carney, a former Bank of England governor, also delivered a video message after Ms Reeves concluded her speech. He said: Rachel Reeves is a serious economist. She began her career at the Bank of England so she understands the big picture. But, crucially, she understands the economics of work, of place and family. And, look, it is beyond time we put her energy and ideas into action. 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 }} More than 400 criminals, including senior kingpins in organised crime, have been sent to prison in a Metropolitan Police operation targeting the EncroChat encrypted messaging platform. The force said 426 people had been jailed for a total of 3,722 years behind bars in the investigation, named Operation Eternal, since it began in March 2020. Led by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and its own Operation Venetic, it used data taken from EncroChat to identify criminals, solve murders and tackle the drug trade, with more than 1,200 people jailed nationally. Commander Paul Brogden, head of specialist crime at the Met, said it was the most significant operation targeting organised crime figures in the Mets history. EncroChat was a secret operating system accessed by a secure password on Android phones, with each user of the platform given a unique handle made up of a noun and an adjective. The handsets, which cost 1,500, could only communicate with other EncroChat devices and could have all their data wiped if handed over to the authorities. Commander Brogden told the PA news agency: These criminals were using what we call a hard and secure communication device, so effectively its like a social media platform that the criminals believed that we couldnt 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 weve never seen before. It was a significant leap forward. The platform messaged users urging them to get rid of their handsets after realising it 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 the kingpins of organised crime networks in London, adding: They were sitting in their leafy enclaves and didnt expect police to knock on their door and we did and brought them to justice, so Im incredibly pleased about that. The Met said 942 arrests had been made in Operation Eternal so far, with 784 of those charged and 426 convicted. Three tonnes of Class A and B drugs and 49 guns were also seized by the force. Naki Aslan, 39, a high-ranking gang member, was sentenced to 23 years in prison for conspiring to import in excess of 20kg of heroin and cocaine as part of the operation. Officers discovered Aslan had an encrypted phone and used the EncroChat handle junglecookie to arrange drug transactions. Messages were also found showing Aslan attempted to source a firearm, a Makarov pistol, to shoot a business associate in May 2020. The EncroChat messages from Aslan read: You got anyone to fire a couple of shots? From the waist down but urgent. I wanna get him popped ASAP. Craig Turner, deputy director for investigations at the NCA, described the operation as yielding one of the most stunning results and said EncroChat gave the organisation an absolute gold mine of intelligence. In the UK-wide Operation Venetic, 3,100 suspects were arrested and 1,867 charged, with 7,000 mobile devices collected and around 18 million messages logged. Detective Chief Inspector Driss Hayoukane, senior investigating officer for Operation Eternal, said there were significant trials coming up with some iconic criminals and the force was still working at a pace to make more arrests, with the operation ongoing. Commander Brogden said the Met was working with the Home Office to look at whether a new legislative framework was needed for encrypted platforms going forward. 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 }} There are only a few hundred spaces left in the adult male prisons in England and Wales meaning we are now bust on prison places, the chair of the Prison Governors Association will warn in her annual conference speech. Andrea Albutt will tell the Prison Governors annual conference on Tuesday that a right-wing lurch by the government has resulted in a populist rhetoric on prisons, leading to unsustainable overcrowding. We have a government intent on locking up more people for longer and making it more difficult for them to be released, she will say in her final conference speech before her retirement from the Prison Service. She will say that previous ministers David Gawke and Rory Stewart had a will to change our sentencing policies but these plans have been abandoned under the current government, which wants to act tough on crime. The prison population is currently at 88,016 people, only 768 free spaces away from capacity. Justice secretary Alex Chalk recently floated the idea of sending prisoners abroad in his Tory conference speech, an idea Ms Albutt will say was an admission of abject failure. Ms Albutt will warn about the dangers of overcrowding, saying: We stumble through each week in the hope that accommodation from new prisons, opening of refurbished wings and rapid deployment units will save us for another couple of weeks. We sit with our fingers crossed, hoping we will have seasonal dips in population to survive another spike. We have a buffer zone of approximately 1400 spaces to allow for unexpected accommodation issues which is now used as business as usual; at the time of writing this speech, we have but a few hundred male adult spaces left and this figure includes Cat D places, not easily accessed. Justice Secretary Alex Chalk said he will explore renting prison space abroad (PA Wire) Ms Albutt will also say that if the crumbling concrete, RAAC, is found in the prison estate there will be nowhere to move prisoners to during emergency renovations. If found and we need to decant, we have literally nowhere to put prisoners because all our prisons are full to bursting every day, she will say. Her comments come as HM Inspectorate of prisons found that HMP Dartmoor was packing in two prisoners per cell despite needing building repairs. HMP Dartmoor is being kept open to ease overcrowding pressures (PA) HMP Dartmoor, one of the oldest prisons in the UK, was due to be closed but was kept open in 2021 due to population pressures. The inspectorate found that the prison had increased its population to 684 people by overcrowding 49 cells, meaning 98 prisoners were living in cramped conditions. Prisoners often missed showers, telephone calls, and exercise sessions because staff shortages meant they couldnt happen. With many prisoners serving long sentences, the inspectorate said they would be very concerned if the number of inmates increased further. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: We are pressing ahead with the biggest expansion of prison places in over a century investing 4 billion to deliver 20,000 extra places. We have already delivered 5,500 of these places and have also taken decisive action to bring on a further 2,600 places in the immediate term. 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 }} Rwanda will treat asylum seekers properly because it would be reputationally embarrassing for the UK if they didnt, the Home Office has told the Supreme Court. The Home Office is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that the multimillion-pound deal which would see asylum seekers deported to the east African nation was unlawful. At the start of the three-day hearing on Monday, Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, told the UKs highest court that the policy to remove people to a country less attractive than the UK, but nevertheless safe, is lawful. Sir James insisted that, despite evidence presented by the UNHCR to the contrary, the Rwandan government would adhere to assurances made to the UK that they would process asylum seekers properly. He told the Supreme Court: The practical incentives to compliance are very powerful. He said: Rwanda knows full well the UK expects compliance, adding that: The reputational consequences of non compliance would be very serious for everyone. The key concern that the Supreme Court will have to consider is whether there is a real risk that asylum claims would receive inadequate consideration in Rwanda. Sir James added that there were pretty strong financial incentives included in the agreement that would encourage Rwanda to treat asylum seekers properly. He also said that an extensive monitoring scheme had been set up by the UK government to oversee the decisions made by Rwanda. There is to be an IT tracking system; tracking each and every case going through the system, he said. The digital system has already been in place for some months and a London team has been put in place to oversee it. There will also be a complaints mechanism that asylum seekers will have access to and a monitoring committee will review 10 per cent of the complaints made, Sir James said. Archbishop of Canterbury condemns Rwanda deportations Sir James argued that Rwandas past track record of treatment of asylum seekers was not relevant, saying: Even if there are concerns about ill treatment in a foreign state, it is still possible for assurances to be provided that are a break with what has occured in the past. What matters is the analysis of the present and the future, in light of the assurances that have been given. He added that it is not necessary to establish that nothing could ever go wrong. Or even that there is no prospect of an individual case being mishandled. Cases are mishandled in the UK and in other European countries, such as France, but this does not mean they are not safe countries, Sir James contested. The appeal is, at its heart, about the judgments made by government about the future conduct of a friendly foreign state Rwanda, he told a panel of five justices. The barrister said both countries are committed to the deal, with very powerful practical incentives for Rwanda to comply with the assurances given. The barrister continued: Both the government and the Rwandan government were fully aware of the likely controversy of the arrangements that were made when the deal was signed. He added: Everyone involved is crystal clear about the reputational impact if this goes wrong. Rwanda has ongoing financial interests and incentives in making this work. Raza Husain KC, representing a number of asylum seekers, said Rwanda was an authoritarian, one-party state with a woefully deficient asylum system. He added: Its marked by acute unfairness and arbitrariness... serious safeguarding and capacity issues. Several asylum seekers who were set to be deported on the first planned flight to Rwanda in June 2022 (Reuters) The UNHCR, which has intervened in the legal challenges over the policy, previously said Rwanda lacks irreducible minimum components of an accessible, reliable, fair and efficient asylum system. In the agencys written submissions to the Supreme Court, Angus McCullough KC said it had consistently expressed grave concerns about the safety and legality of the policy. He continued: UNHCR maintains its unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda under the UK-Rwanda Arrangement. A key UNHCR concern is that Rwanda has a history of refoulement, the forcible return of refugees to a country where they could be subjected to persecution. They raised three cases of two Afghans and one Syrian who were denied asylum and put on flights out of Rwanda in 2022. The UNHCR raised concerns that monitoring committees would not be able to intervene in time to halt cases like these and that the Rwandan government was discriminating against asylum seekers from the Middle East. Sir James said the UNHCR were basing their arguments on a sample size that was too small. Several asylum seekers who were set to be deported on the first planned flight to Rwanda in June 2022 which was grounded minutes before take-off following a ruling by a judge at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg are opposing the appeal. The hearing before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales is expected to end on Wednesday, with a judgment at a later date. 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 }} The Governments legal battle over its Rwanda deportation policy has reached the Supreme Court. The Home Office is bringing a challenge after the Court of Appeal ruled in June that the multimillion-pound deal which would see asylum seekers deported to the east African nation was unlawful. In a three-day hearing starting on Monday, five justices at the UKs highest court will hear arguments over whether two appeal judges were right to find there was a real risk asylum seekers could be returned to their home country and face persecution when they may have a good asylum claim. While Sir Geoffrey Vos and Lord Justice Underhill concluded there were deficiencies in the Rwandan asylum system and ruled the policy was unlawful, former lord chief justice Lord Burnett disagreed and said he would dismiss the challenge. I am confident that our approach complies with our international obligations Rishi Sunak As well as the Home Offices bid to overturn the decision, several individual asylum seekers are set to challenge aspects of the ruling. Immigration featured heavily at the recent Conservative Party conference, with prime minister Rishi Sunak saying he will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats. He said on Wednesday: We are by no means where we want to be but dont let anyone tell you we arent making progress, we are and we will get there. Our new law will ensure that if you come here illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed. Now Im confident that once flights start going regularly to Rwanda, the boats will stop coming. He added: I am confident that our approach complies with our international obligations. But know this: I will do whatever is necessary to stop the boats. The Supreme Court hearing in London, before Lords Reed, Hodge, Lloyd-Jones, Briggs and Sales, is due to begin at 10.30am. 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 mother said she was terrified her 12 year-old daughter would die when she was put into an induced coma after vaping ravaged her lungs. Sarah Griffin was getting ready for bed one evening when she started coughing, but at first her family thought it was a symptom of her asthma. The girl tried to ease her symptoms throughout the night with her inhaler and nebuliser but still felt unwell. The 12-year-olds family were worried she wouldnt pull through (NICHS) In the morning her mother Mary Griffin left to take her other two children to school and Sarah seemed to settle. But later in the day, her daughter called her in a panic as she couldnt breathe properly. Have you been affected by this story? Contact lydia.patrick@independent.co.uk Sarahs father rushed her to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, where she was taken to the resuscitation area. A nurse checked her vitals and found her oxygen levels were extremely low. Sarah was just in a blind panic, she was terrified, Ms Griffin said. She was on oxygen and was linked up to all sorts of machines. There were medical staff all around her assessing her and they said she needed to go to ICU as she was deteriorating very quickly. Sarah spent four and a half hours in intensive care before she was put into an induced coma. The doctor showed Ms Griffin an X-Ray of Sarahs lungs showing one had been seriously injured and she had an infection. Due to the injury, the other lung was working overtime and making her asthma worse. Mary Griffin and her daughter Sarah, who was full of life before she was left fighting for her life in intensive care (NICHS) There were tubes, wires, and machines everywhere- it was heart-breaking to see her like that, Ms Griffin said. As her mum I just felt so helpless- it was a nightmare come true. Sarah has an older brother and two younger siblings and trying to explain to them what was happening was awful. They were asking if she was going to die, and I was saying, Of course not, but in my mind I was terrified that was a real possibility. I had to try and keep it together for them, but I was out of my mind with worry. The anguished mother explained how medical staff worked around the clock to ease Sarahs symptoms. After three days medical staff were able to take Sarah out of the coma and remove the ventilator. The doctors explained to Sarah if she hadnt damaged her lungs by vaping, she would have been in a better position to fight the infection. Ms Griffin hopes to warn others about the dangers of vaping (NICHS) Sarah continues to suffer from lethargy and will be classed as a high-risk patient for the rest of her life whereas before her asthma was under control, her mother explained. She has been through such a trauma, Ms Griffin said. She still has a long road ahead of her, but we are just so grateful to have her back home with us. The family has shared their story as part of Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Strokes new campaign to raise awareness of their concern about young vapers. Fidelma Carter, head of public health at NICHS (Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke), said: . The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true, and this message needs to change to prevent more young people from taking up and getting addicted to vaping because they think they are risk free. The long-term health implications are unknown - just as they once were with tobacco. We have launched our vaping awareness campaign in response to the misunderstandings around the potential health risks associated with vaping and the huge increase in the number of teenagers using vapes. For further information and support about vaping visit, https://nichs.org.uk/vaping 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 cannot categorically rule out blocking Scottish legislation but would seek to repair relations with Holyrood, Ian Murray has said. The shadow Scottish secretary said his partys triumph against the SNP in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election showed voters wanted positive change with both governments working together. He said a veto using Section 35 of the Scotland Act should never be a first resort, in reference to the UK Governments block on gender reform laws. What we need to do is make sure that Section 35 is a very, very last resort and not the first resort Ian Murray The UK Government blocked the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, arguing it interfered with reserved equality laws. The move created a major row with Scottish ministers, who challenged the order in the Court of Session. The outcome of the challenge is still being determined by judge Lady Haldane. Speaking to BBC Radios Good Morning Scotland (GMS) programme from the Labour conference in Liverpool, Mr Murray was asked if he could rule out using a similar block. He said: Well we cant categorically say that because the reason Section 35 exists in the Scotland Act it was developed by Donald Dewar when he was first minister was to make sure devolution could work. And what we need to do is make sure that Section 35 is a very, very last resort and not the first resort and that means youve got to repair relationships and work together. Im determined if I become Scottish secretary to try and resolve some of those relationship problems Ian Murray He told the programme his speech to conference later on Monday would address how to create a better relationship with the Scottish Government. I think the Scottish people want both governments, whatever colour they are, to work together, he said. Im determined if I become Scottish secretary to try and resolve some of those relationship problems. At least until 2026 (Holyrood) elections, we know well have an SNP Government in Scotland and weve got to try and find ways to get working together and make those intergovernmental relationships work properly. However, he also expressed confidence in his partys message ahead of next years general election and beyond to the Holyrood elections following the by-election victory for Scottish Labours Michael Shanks last week. The result on Thursday was just the culmination of that first stage of recovery, he told GMS. Were looking forward to winning every vote on every doorstep across Scotland because we feel as if weve got a real message of change to put forward to people and theyre really responding to it. 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 }} Labour have accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of a desperate attempt to distract people from its party conference by holding high-profile engagements on the day shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves made a set-piece speech. Senior Labour figures were irritated by what they saw as Mr Sunaks bid on Monday to overshadow their conference in Liverpool, but said it was the action of an imperilled leader. Mr Sunak denied he was visiting Newark, Nottinghamshire, before a BBC radio interview, because he was worried about the Conservatives chances at the next election. Weve announced some pretty big things that are going to impact all of you, whether that is on net zero, on HS2, on support for towns like Mansfield, like Newark Prime Minister Rishi Sunak But Ms Reeves spokesman called the move desperate, as observers said it broke an unwritten ceasefire between parties during their party conferences, with the Tories having taken place last week. The Prime Minister spent Monday visiting a Currys repair and customer service centre for a PM Connect event with employees, before appearing on Jeremy Vines BBC Radio 2 show. Mr Sunak was asked by a reporter whether his decision to make a public visit during the Labour conference was a sign of desperation. No, I think that kind of approach to everything is incredibly political, the Prime Minister said. Im here to talk about the plans that weve announced. Just over the past few weeks weve announced some pretty big things that are going to impact all of you, whether that is on net zero, on HS2, on support for towns like Mansfield, like Newark. I wanted to come here to the East Midlands to talk about it and the impact that those decisions (will have) on people, to explain why I think they are the right thing for people here and to hear from them. I think that is the right thing to do in this job. Newark would have been considered a Tory safe seat, having been held by immigration minister Robert Jenrick since 2014, but the wider Nottinghamshire region is considered part of the so-called Red Wall of Labour voting heartlands. The two largest parties have what is said to be an informal agreement to keep a low profile during each others autumn conferences. Both Newark and Mansfield will benefit from the Governments 1 billion investment to improve the UKs towns, which was announced ahead of the Tory conference in Manchester. They are among 55 areas to be given 20 million over a 10-year period to help regenerate high streets and tackle anti-social behaviour. Communities minister Lee Rowley also defended the Government making announcements while Sir Keir Starmers party is hosting its conference. Mr Rowley told LBC the announcements were not because the Tories were worried about their election prospects but rather because ministers were getting on with the job. He said: Were taking the difficult decisions, and the challenging decisions which need to be taken, but were also just doing what is needed. 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 }} Irish president Michael D Higgins has called for a cessation of violence in Israel and Gaza for the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. His comments came as the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs criticised a unilateral announcement from an EU commissioner which said payments under a development portfolio for Palestinians would be suspended. In a statement, Mr Higgins said: May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families. Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible. Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life. Such actions will not lead to such a constructive approach as might achieve the necessary conditions for the co-existence of all in conditions of peace, for which we must all aspire. The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many Michael D Higgins Mr Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to all the families of the victims of the recent violence. He said his thoughts are particularly with the family of 22-year-old Irish-Israel citizen Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for since the attack against Israel. The president also said an ongoing diplomatic failure to address the conflict is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved. Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled. Those international voices who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life, for restraint, realise how difficult this is to achieve. Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure. Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency. What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all. I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has said the protection of civilians has to be the centre of work towards a just and sustainable peace. In a statement, Mr Martin said: I am horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days. I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately. Yesterday, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events Micheal Martin Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: I am working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis, including by speaking today with Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki and with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi. I will discuss the situation with my EU counterparts in an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers tomorrow. These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events. We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was also critical of a tweet from EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi which said all payments for a Palestinian development programme immediately suspended. A spokeswoman said: It is our understanding there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid. The Commission later clarified that it is launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel. It said no payments have been suspended as there were no payments foreseen. The Department of Foreign Affairs also said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Irish funding provides emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic public services. Ireland has also consistently funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which addresses the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestinian refugees. Irelands funding plays a crucial role in the livelihoods and welfare of Palestinian civilians currently up to 80% of the Palestinian population is dependent on international assistance for basic human needs. Ireland remains committed to delivering this vital support to Palestinian civilians and their needs should continue to be a central part of the overall response to this crisis by the international community. 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 }} Foreign Office officials are assessing the situation in Israel and Gaza as the death toll continues to rise, with fierce fighting ongoing in the wake of an attack by Hamas. Among the dead is 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died on the Gaza border on Saturday. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, over two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack. It comes as Israel intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the appalling act of terror by Palestinian militants as the Government continued to establish the status of UK citizens. Two other UK nationals 26-year-old Jake Marlowe, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, and photographer Dan Darlington are believed to be missing. The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, it is understood. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. Mr Young, a former pupil at JFS Jewish School in north London, died after a surprise attack by Palestinian militants caught Israel off-guard on a major holiday. His loved ones said they are heartbroken, while the father of Mr Darlington said he believes his son, who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is missing. Mr Marlowe was reported missing while providing security at a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border. It comes as a Government minister warned any potential protesters not to glorify the violence of Hamas. Communities minister Lee Rowley told Sky News: You cannot support proscribed organisations like Hamas within the United Kingdom and if thats the case then I would expect police to take action accordingly. Ultimately, there is a right to protest but there is not a right to glorify terrorism. On Monday, Labours shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also condemned the violence. She said: I want to see a Palestinian state existing alongside a safe and secure Israel. Terrorism is not the way to get there. Im appalled by what weve seen. Ms Reeves told Times Radio: Israel has been attacked by terrorists. It has every right to defend itself, get its hostages back and protect its citizens. The Israeli government declared war on Sunday and, as of Monday, was believed to be fighting Hamas in several locations in southern Israel. All UK Government buildings were asked to light up in Israeli blue and white on Sunday evening, with the countrys flag projected on to the outside of No 10 in a show of support. 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 UK government is scrambling to find homes for Afghans eligible for sanctuary in Britain who are trapped in Pakistan after authorities announced a brutal crackdown on refugees, The Independent can reveal. Nearly 3,000 Afghans, many of whom worked for the British army, have been stranded in Islamabad for months after the UK stopped chartering flights last year and demanded refugees find their own housing in Britain before travelling. Pakistan police stormed one of the hotels housing the UK-bound Afghans last week and arrested several whose visas had run out. Pakistan has also issued an ultimatum to the 1.7 million Afghan asylum seekers in the country without legal documents, saying they must leave the country by 1 November.The Independent understands that the government is now scrambling to find accommodation for the Afghans in the UK and they will organise flights once this is found. A handful of Afghan families have already been flown to the UK this week on commercial flights and preparations are being made to move more. The government has written to councils that have free service family accommodation spots to see if they can house the Afghan families there. There are around 2300 Afghans in Pakistan who are eligible for the Ministry of Defences Arap resettlement scheme, figures for early September show. A further 700 Afghans trapped in the country are eligible to be brought to the UK on the Foreign Offices ACRS scheme. It is unclear yet how quickly the hundreds of families will be moved, but Afghans living in the Islamabad hotels estimated that 20-30 families have already come to the UK. Many of them are facing deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan if the UK government does not organise their safe travel to Britain before November. Families have seen their Pakistan visas expire because UK politicians have left them to languish in the hotels for months - meaning they now have no legal right to be in the country. This came to a head last week when Pakistan police stormed one of the hotels housing Afghans eligible for relocation to the UK and arrested several people. The refugees were only released from custody after officials at the British High Commission intervened. The Afghans are invited to come to the Islamabad hotels by the UK government after their resettlement applications are approved and their accommodation is paid for by the British. One former interpreter with British forces who is still stuck in the hotels told The Independent: I have been waiting here for nearly two years. New families are going to the UK every day but I am still waiting and I am so bored from life. Life is very hard and tiring and no one listens to us. No one understands our problems. I live with a broken heart like a despondent and lonely person. The Afghans are invited to come to the Islamabad hotels by the UK government after their resettlement applications are approved (MoD Crown Copyright via Getty Im) Charities and campaigners have called for the immediate transfer of these eligible families to the UK in light of the Pakistan governments threats to expel them from the country. Dr Neelam Raina, an academic who has supported refugees who have been forced to flee Afghanistan, said: The new Pakistan ruling is causing panic. The Home Office must expedite these cases. Some of these people have death warrants against them in Afghanistan and face certain execution if deported. Charity The Sulha Alliance said: We are calling for the immediate transfer of Arap and ACRS eligible Afghans waiting in Pakistan to the UK. They are no longer safe. Pakistans crackdown on undocumented Afghans directly affects Afghans in UK foreign office hotels, waiting for UK housing. The Ministry of Defence, Foreign Office and Home Office refused to answer questions about the relocation. A government spokesperson said: We continue to honour our commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK, and we are issuing new visas to people in Afghanistan and other countries for resettlement here. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fewer than one in 10 British voters think Brexit has gone well, a new study has found. Research by the think-tank UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) found that just 9 per cent now say leaving the EU had been a success. Voters are also increasingly pessimistic that the policy will ever turn out well, with fewer than one-third (30 per cent) agreeing. Even among people who voted Leave in 2016, just 61 per cent still think the policy will eventually turn out well. In a hypothetical referendum on rejoining the EU, 48 per cent would vote to rejoin while 32 per cent would vote against it, with the rest unsure. Though the gap in favour of rejoining is now bigger than the original vote to leave, the authors of the report however urge caution when interpreting the results. The almost unanimous dissatisfaction with the policy does not necessarily translate into a matching vote to rejoin the bloc, they say. Anand Menon, director of UKICE, said the results illustrated the constraints on both Labour and Conservative party leaders when it came to their Brexit policies. Rishi Sunak may struggle to weaponise the issue, given that many Leavers now think Brexit has not worked because of government incompetence, he said. Keir Starmer is yet to explain how the limited revisions he proposes to the UK-EU relationship will address the economic problems many voters think have resulted from the decision to leave the EU. Sophie Stowers, researcher at UKICE added: This report shows that many of the assumptions about Leavers who are unhappy with the course of Brexit are false. To assume that unhappiness with the implementation of Brexit directly translates to support for Remain or Rejoin is presumptuous. Rather, many Leavers would still vote as they did in 2016, and think that Brexit can be salvaged with the right political leadership. The research was conducted for the think-tank agency Public First. Rachel Wolf, founding partner of Public First said: Theres a great sense of frustration amongst the electorate, regardless of whether people voted Leave or Remain. This is making it difficult for any of the main parties to use Brexit to their own electoral advantages. While the party leaders natural inclination will be to shut up about the whole thing, theres a lot in it for the leader who can show that theres a route to a bright future outside the EU, no matter how we got here. UK political parties have moved to shut down Brexit as an issue since 2020, despite the groundswell of support for rejoining since the referendum. Labour has ruled out rejoining either the EU or even its single market, while under Rishi Sunak the Conservatives have stepped back from picking fights with Brussels once a favoured approach under Boris Johnson. 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. 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 }} Conservative cabinet ministers spouting Trump-like conspiracy theories are alienating business, the shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said. The Labour frontbencher said Britain needed the best of government to tackle the big issues of the day, including poor economic growth and climate change. But businesses were getting worried that some senior Tory figures are following a populist path of the kind ploughed with Donald Trump in the US, he claims. In an interview with The Independent, Mr Reynolds also said that business wanted an early election, to give them stability after the turmoil of recent years. He predicted dozens of companies would come out to publicly support Labour before voters go to the polls. And he denied they were moving to his party simply because Labour is trouncing the Tories in the polls. Appealing to businesses was a key aim of Keir Starmers leadership. Captains of industry had been alienated by the Corbyn years. His brand of left-wing politics saw some hug the Tories even more tightly than in the past. Corbyns shadow chancellor John McDonnell did embark on a tea offensive - in which he tried to woo business over cups of hot beverages. But one CEO of a water company described it at the time as less tea, just offensive. New shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has been credited with turning the partys reputation around, although Mr Reynolds is seen as central to that as well. The 43-year-old is seen as well-liked and across his brief. On the current Conservative party, he argues: Some of the stuff that we saw last week at Conservative conference - the conspiracy theories, the outright lies, the broken promises on infrastructure, the whole tone of how they're talking about the country. It's not what businesses want. Pressed on which conspiracy theories he was talking about, he said: Mark Harper, a mainstream, sensible, Conservative politician in the cabinet, saying the 15 Minute cities stuff. Which is a pure internet conspiracy theory. I think the ridiculous presentation of a meat tax or seven bins or compulsory car sharing, no-one was planning for these things. At the conference, Transport Secretary Mark Harper was he said he was "calling time on the misuse of so-called '15-minute cities'". Conspiracy theories have erupted amid claims there are sinister plots to keep people in their local areas. His cabinet colleague Claire Coutinho also came under fire when she claimed that Labour was relaxed about taxing meat, when no such policy exists. Mr Reynolds said: This was coming from cabinet ministers in the main. A lot of businesses are looking across to maybe the sort of Trump direction in the Republican Party in the US and they're getting worried, quite rightly, that increasingly that is the kind of evidence, that populist direction that seems to be the direction the Conservative party's going. Businesses want stability ... (and) serious policy. he said. They don't want cabinet ministers reciting internet fringe theories. Labours Jonathan Reynolds is the partys shadow business secretary (Jane Barlow/PA) (PA Wire) He also claimed that in pursuit of stability, and a year after Liz Trusss disastrous mini-Budget businesses want an election. He will use his conference speech on Tuesday to claim that Labour is the undisputed party of business. But with the polls showing Labour far ahead of the Tories, were they just following the way the wind is blowing? I would disagree with that, he said. Labour sources say they have been inundated with interest from business at this years conference in Liverpool. Mr Reynolds predicted that many dozens would come out in support of his party before polling day. More than dozens, he said. Downing Street declined to comment. Sources close to Mr Harper said he later told Times Radio the 15 minute conspiracy theory itself was clearly nonsense but that his speech was referring to specific examples, including one council limiting how many times motorists could drive down a certain street. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Members of Britains opposition Labour Party gather in Liverpool on Sunday for their annual conference with an unfamiliar feeling: optimism. The party has been out of power for 13 years, and in the last national election in 2019, voters handed Labour its worst drubbing since 1935. But with an election due next year, polls put Labour as much as 20 points ahead of the governing Conservative Party, and Labour scored a morale-boosting special election victory in Scotland last week. Power is within the partys grasp as long as it doesnt mess things up. It was a big step in the right direction, an important one, Labour leader Keir Starmer said Friday after the special election result. But we accept this humbly. This is a step on the journey. Labours landslide 1997 election victory under Tony Blair the peak of its popularity was a quarter-century ago, and the party has suffered four straight election defeats. The Conservatives have been in power nationally since 2010, years that saw austerity following the world banking crisis, Britains divisive decision to leave the European Union, a global pandemic and a European war that has triggered the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Those upheavals left both Britains main parties in turmoil and both responded by picking populist leaders. Labour members elected the veteran left-wing lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. The Conservatives, after years of division and wrangling over the countrys EU exit, chose brash Brexit-booster Boris Johnson and won a thumping election victory over Corbyn in 2019. Corbyn quit after that defeat, and amid criticism that hed allowed antisemitism to fester in a party that sees itself as proudly antiracist. Starmer won a party leadership contest in 2020, vowing to restore relations between the party and the Jewish community. He also has steered the social democratic party back toward the political middle-ground after the divisive tenure of Corbyn, a staunch socialist who advocated nationalization of key industries and infrastructure. Starmer's actions angered some grassroots Labour members who want a bolder agenda, but it has revived the partys poll ratings. In a sign that corporate Britain is preparing for a change of government, Labour says companies have been queuing up to buy stands in the conference exhibition hall and to attend a business forum with Starmer and other senior party leaders. In a speech opening the gathering, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner accused the Conservatives of presiding over national decline and being too consumed with internal political chaos to sort out the countrys problems. "Rishi Sunak and his party have taken a sledgehammer to the foundations on which a good life can be built," she said. "And now the simple things in life are crumbling: a decent job, a secure, affordable home and a strong community." The party has to walk a delicate line to convince voters it can ease the U.K.s chronic housing crisis and repair its fraying public services, especially the creaking, overburdened state-funded National Health Service but without imposing tax increases on the public. The Conservatives, who held their own, rather muted conference in Manchester last week, have not given up hope. Conservative officials argue that voters are not sold on Starmer, a lawyer and former chief prosecutor with a cautious, managerial style. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has depicted himself as a force for change, with Starmer as the face of the status quo. But Sunaks party has a big gap to close. The Conservatives are losing support across the country, from affluent southern voters turned off by Brexit to working-class northern voters who switched from Labour in 2019. Labour is also gaining ground in Scotland, where its former dominance had been obliterated in recent years by the pro-independence Scottish National Party. Labour won an emphatic victory over the SNP in a special election Thursday for the parliamentary seat of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, near Glasgow. Starmer hailed it as a seismic result. They said that we couldnt change the Labour Party and we did it, Starmer told local party workers. They said that we couldnt win in the south of England and the north of England, and we did it. They said Youll never beat the SNP in Scotland and, Rutherglen, you did it. Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester, said the polling figures are stark for the Conservatives. But he cautioned that voters remain depressed and very skeptical of all political parties. They are much more enthusiastic about the idea of turfing the Tories out than they are about putting Labour in, Ford said. Starmers own poll ratings remain pretty mediocre. People think hes a bit weak, they think its unclear what he stands for, theyre not really sure what his vision is for government. What Labour really need to do with this conference is to convince people to steal a line from Tony Blairs 1997 campaign that things can only get better. 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 }} Ministers will be blocked from using private jets when they could get regular flights under a Labour government, Rachel Reeves says today. In a bid to get the public to think I can trust her with my money, Ms Reeves said she will commit to treating taxpayers money with the same respect that people treat their own money. You havent had that from this government whether it was the Covid contracts signed off by Rishi Sunak when billions went in fraud or ministers going around on private jets rather than on normal flights, the shadow chancellor told The Mirror. Rishi Sunak regularly travels across Britain and abroad on helicopters or in a private RAF plane, including for journeys that would take just hours by train. In July Labour accused Mr Sunak of breaching the ministerial code for using an RAF jet to fly to Scotland on Monday when scheduled flights were available. The code states private planes should only be used when there is no alternative. Also that month, Labour accused the government of a culture of concealment after it blocked the release of information detailing the prime ministers taxpayer-funded private jet trips around the UK. It came as Downing Street refused a request by The Independent to detail how many flights were taken, how much they cost or how much CO2 they admitted into the atmosphere. Mr Sunak is not the only member of his government known to rely on private planes, with foreign secretary James Cleverly having travelled overseas in a 10,000 an hour luxury jet. In total, ministers including the PM racked up a 4.7m bill for non-scheduled flights in the year to March. Since becoming prime minister, Mr Sunak has taken one flight every eight days, including one journey to Southampton which would have taken a little over an hour by train. 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 }} Rishi Sunak has condemned the horrific violence unleashed by Hamas on the people of Israel, insisting terrorism will not prevail. The prime minister hailed Britains solidarity with the people of Israel, days after Hamas gunmen crossed the border in surprise attacks by land, sea and air. Mr Sunak spoke movingly of the innocent teenagers gunned down in cold blood at a festival of peace, and of the murder of whole families. And he said the inhuman attacks will not stand, promising his support to Israeli authorities and British citizens caught up in the attacks. At least 800 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, local media has reported a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and almost 500 have been killed in Gaza, with thousands wounded. Palestinian militants claimed to be holding over 130 captives. More than 10 British citizens are reported to be feared dead or missing in Israel as more than 260 bodies have so far been removed from the attacked Supernova festival. British citizen Jacob Marlowe is also among the missing. Speaking at security conference the Future Resilience Forum, Mr Sunak said: Last night we flew the Israeli flag over Number 10 to show our solidarity with the people of Israel and our utter condemnation of the horrific violence that Hamas unleashed over the weekend. On Saturday morning terrorists crossed into Israel intent on murder and kidnap. Whole families were killed. Women, children and the elderly were taken hostage. Innocent teenagers at a festival of peace were gunned down in cold blood and the sickening evidence posted online. It is inhuman and it will not stand. Terrorism will not prevail. Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and to deter further incursions. We are working with the Israeli authorities to support them and were doing everything possible to support British citizens who were caught up in the attacks and the families of those who perished. I also want to say a word to Jewish communities here at home: I am with you. And we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that you feel safe. Labour has unequivocally condemned Hamass attacks, with Sir Keir Starmer saying there can be no justification for the operation. 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. Horrifying footage from the attacks showed Hamas militants kidnapping a 25-year-old Israeli woman who had been attending a desert rave. The group claims to have taken more than 100 Israeli hostages and is demanding the release of all Palestinian prisoners, around 4,500 people, in exchange for their release. 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 }} Rishi Sunak is holding a Cobra meeting to discuss the situation in Israel after days of escalating violence following the attack by Hamas. Around 50,000 to 60,000 British nationals are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza, the Government estimates, amid concerns for their safety following the latest upsurge in violence in the region. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, over two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented attack. The Times has reported that more than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing. Among the dead is 20-year-old Nathanel Young, a Briton serving in the Israeli Defence Services who died at 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 believed to be missing. The Government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Foreign Office has advised against all but essential travel to the region due to the conflict. The Prime Minister, who spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, has promised to offer Israel any support it needs as it hits back at the Palestinian militants. We already have a very long-standing relationship with Israel, were one of their strongest allies, Mr Sunak said on Monday. Weve provided in the past the kinds of equipment that theyve used to defend themselves over the past couple of days. And as I said to the prime minister, we will continue to provide whether thats diplomatic, intelligence or security support, as they need. Downing Street said the UK supports Israel taking proportionate action in response to the attack by Hamas, amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. Downing Street said the UK is not planning to redeploy military assets to the Middle East. We do have assets already in the region. HMS Duncan is deployed in the Mediterranean under Nato command, the Prime Ministers spokesman said. There are no plans for a UK-facilitated evacuation of British citizens from Israel, with those in need of support advised to contact the Foreign Office. In a post on Facebook, JFS, a Jewish school attended by both Mr Young and Mr Marlowe in Harrow, said that it was praying for its former pupils. Nathanel Young, a 20-year old ex-JFS student who was serving in the Israel Defence Forces, was killed by Hamas terrorists on Shabbat on the Gaza border, the statement said. We all feel his loss and send our love and condolences to his family. In addition, Jake Marlowe, another ex-JFS pupil, is also currently missing as a result of the terror attacks. We pray he and everyone else missing are swiftly and safely returned home. Mr Marlowe, was providing security at a party in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas. His mother told the Jewish News on Sunday the last message she got from her son was one saying he loved her. He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, Lisa 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. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman are among those attending the Cobra meeting. Mr Cleverly visited the Israeli embassy in London earlier as he said terrorism will not prevail. It comes as Israels defence minister has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Authorities in Israel are said to be in control of the border communities, with no fighting going on as of mid-morning on Monday. 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 }} Ministers have said displays of support for Hamas in the UK are repugnant and urged police action against people celebrating the attack on Israel. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she wants officers to use the full force of the law against glorification of terrorism, while shadow minister Chris Philp denounced a protesters expression of pride at the incursion as sick. Metropolitan Police patrols have been increased in London after Countdown presenter Rachel Riley shared footage on social media showing two cars flying Palestinian flags in Acton. Shadow policing minister Mr Philp later 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, formerly Twitter, Mr Philp wrote: This is sick. Im appalled that anyone holds these repugnant views. 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. Mrs Braverman said she had spoken with Community Security Trust to ensure the Jewish community in the UK is supported, adding: 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. Further protests are expected to take place, with Met officers due to attend a Stop the War demonstration set to be held at the Israeli embassy on Monday evening. The force said it would be present primarily to ensure protests pass off peacefully, but will make arrests if they suspect a criminal offence has been committed. Rileys post on X had 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. Mr Jenrick shared Rileys post and said: These disgusting people are glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas, a proscribed organisation. There is no place for this in the UK. 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. 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. 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. Israel has blockaded Gaza since Islamic militant group Hamas gained control of the territory in 2007 and the two have fought wars ever since. The country was caught off-guard during a major Jewish holiday on Saturday when Hamas sent fighters across the border and fired thousands of rockets in what it said was a new operation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the attack as an appalling act of terror and offered his support to Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu. A group called the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called for people to attend an emergency demonstration on Monday outside the Israeli embassy. 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 }} A childrens book has been flagged for censorship by Alabama officials because the authors surname is Gay. The book, Read Me a Story Stella by Marie-Louise Gay, was placed under review at the Harris County Public Library due to its sexually explicit nature, Al.com reported. But the story has no sexual content, and is in fact about a brother called Sam and sister called Stella reading books together as they spend the day building a fort. Harris County Public Library executive director, Cindy Hewitt, said that the book was incorrectly put on its list of books under review because the authors name Gay triggered a keyword in the facilitys system. Obviously, were not going to touch that book for any reason, Ms Hewitt said. Kristen Brassard, Ms Gays publicist at Groundwork Books, branded the saga laughable. Although it is obviously laughable that our picture book shows up on their list of censored books simply because the authors last name is Gay, the ridiculousness of that fact should not detract from the seriousness of the situation, she said in a statement. Ms Gays book was one of hundreds of titles put under review after 233 books at the library were flagged by the HCPL for containing the words sexuality, gender, sex, and dating. Other books placed on the list include A quick & easy guide to they/them pronouns, A quick & easy guide to queer & trans identities, and The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, a book depicting the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager at the hands of police. The review was based on a list of 102 books compiled by Clean Up Alabama of books containing what it claims to be sexually explicit material in libraries around the state, Ms Hewitt said. However, Read Me a Story, Stella was not on that list. Following criticism that the list targeted the LGBT+ community, the review process was halted. We wanted to be proactive and allow our library staff to look at our collection and make decisions about moving material to an older age group and not have someone from outside dictating that for us, Ms Hewitt said. An Alabama childrens book was flagged for censorship because the authors surname is Gay (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Librarians have now moved some of the books to the adult section, while some have not been re-catalogued. Ms Hewitt insisted that the HCPL was never eliminating any book but Ms Brassard said the review process was designed to send a message to children that some ideas are not worthy of consideration. This proves, as always, that censorship is never about limiting access to this book or that one. It is about sending the message to children that certain ideas or even certain people are not worthy of discussion or acknowledgement or consideration, she said. It comes as a new wave of book bans is sweeping across the United States. A GOP-backed sensitive materials law was passed two years ago requiring school districts to create new pathways for residents to challenge sensitive materials. Since then, libraries and schools in states across the country have seen books banned for their sexually explicit material. In April, Republican lawmakers in Missouri threatened to defund public libraries in retaliation for the ACLU filing a lawsuit against a recent ban on educators providing sexually explicit material. Similarly, Florida recently began removing pornographic, violent or inappropriate books from classrooms after sweeping laws passed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. One such law, passed by Mr DeSantis in March last year, requires a certified media specialist to evaluate all books available in classrooms and libraries and punishes teachers with felony charges if non-sanctioned books are present in classrooms. That has led to teachers stripping their classroom shelves of books in fear of being prosecuted. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, the Age Appropriate Materials Act mandates schools to catalogue all titles in their classroom lest they include any inappropriate content. There were at least 1,477 attempts to ban 874 individual book titles within the first half of the 2022-2023 school year, according to PEN America. The figures mark a nearly 30 per cent spike from book challenges over the previous year. 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 }} At least 22 American civilians have been killed in the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, up from 14, the State Department says. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of at least 22 US citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, the State Department said in a statement on Wednesday. Joe Biden addressed the deaths of Americans in the bloody conflict from the State Dining Room of the White House on Tuesday where he condemned the unadulterated evil unleashed by Hamas. Mr Biden confirmed that his administration now knew that Americans were among the hostages, after saying on Monday it was believed to be likely. Israel says that more than 1,200 people were killed and at least 2,700 injured when Hamas launched a surprise attack by air, sea and land on the country from Gaza on 7 October. At least 1,100 Palestinians, including 326 children, have been killed since the attacks began on Saturday, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. An additional 5,539 have been wounded. In addition, around 150 civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage and are believed to have been removed from Israel and forced back to Gaza. As President, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world, he said. Mr Biden also urged the country to come together as the violence in the Middle East deepens. Palestinians walk through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (AP) This is a moment for the United States to come together to grieve with those who are mourning, Mr Biden said during his 10-minute speech. Lets be real clear, there is no place for hate in America, he adds. Not against Jews, not against Muslims. Not against anybody. We reject this terrorism. And he added: Hamas offers nothing but terror and bloodshed with no regard for who pays the price. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond, indeed, has the duty to respond, to these vicious attacks. On Wednesday the White House said that 17 Americans in Israel were still unaccounted for, but it is unclear if they are being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. We know that a number of those Americans are being held hostage now by Hamas, said John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council. We have to steel ourselves for the very distinct possibility that these numbers will keep increasing. 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 }} Ted Schwinden, a wheat farmer and Word War II veteran who gained national attention for keeping his home phone number listed during two terms as Montana's governor, has died. He was 98. Schwinden died Saturday in Phoenix at his daughter's home, son Dore Schwinden said Monday. The cause of death was old age," his son said: He went to sleep in the afternoon and didnt wake up. Ted Schwinden was a Democrat who served as Montanas 19th governor from 1981 and 1989. He and his wife, Jean, opened the governors mansion to the public for the first time and often welcomed the public tours in person. The governor periodically drew national attention because he answered his own, listed telephone. Radio talk shows throughout the nation would call him at home for impromptu interviews. When Ted was on the phone, it was impossible to tell if he was talking to the governor of Oregon or a custodian at the Capitol. Every caller warranted his respect and full attention, his children wrote in Schwindens obituary. Schwinden was born Aug. 31, 1925, on his family's farm in Wolf Point on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. After graduating as high school valedictorian, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Europe and the Pacific. Returning home he married Jean Christianson, whose family had a farm about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from his own. The couple had known each other most of their lives. Schwinden went to the University of Montana on the G.I Bill and received bachelor's and master's degrees. In the early 1950s the couple returned to the Wolf Point area to help on their family farms after Schwinden's father fell ill. He served on the local school board then in the state legislature, including as House minority whip in 1961, before becoming president of the Montana Grain Growers Association. He was named commissioner of state lands and then elected lieutenant governor under Gov. Thomas Judge in 1976. Four years later, saying his boss had run out of steam Schwinden successfully challenged Judge in the 1980 Democratic primary before going on to win the general election. He won a second term in a landslide, with 70% of the vote and then chose not to seek reelection in 1988, saying he wanted to concentrate more on his farm and family and after earlier pledging to serve only two terms. He stayed in Helena but kept returning to the family farm in Wolf Point to help during harvest time until 1998, his son said. In recent years, Schwinden did volunteer hospice work in Arizona, where he had been living for much of the year, his son said. Schwinden is survived by three children, six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Jean Schwinden died in 2007. No public funeral services are planned. A private family gathering will be held at a later date, Dore Schwinden said. 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 has issued a public plea for the safe return of an American news reporter stranded in Israel. Former PIX11 News reporter Rebecca Solomon was visiting family in the city of Rishon LeZion for the Jewish holidays with her husband and infant child when the Hamas militant group launched an unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, News 12 reports. Rishon LeZion is roughly forty miles from the Gaza Strip. Israel has ordered a complete siege on Gaza in retaliation to Hamas attack. According to local media reports, 900 people have been killed in Israel and 500 others in Gaza, while US officials confirmed at least nine American fatalities in the ongoing conflict. Ms Solomon, who worked as a correspondent for PIX11 until last month, told the network about her desperate attempts to escape the war. Several airlines have cancelled flights and US authorities have yet to announce any plans to evacuate American citizens stranded in the war-torn country. When the sun goes down, and it gets dark again, I get scared. Im scared for whats to come at night. And thats just in this area. We already know in the south near Gaza its a war zone, Ms Solomon told PIX 11. Ms Solomon also told Mediaite that she was sheltering in place in her in-laws apartment, which has a bomb shelter. The veteran news reporter said that although the airport was a short 20-minute drive from her in-laws, she was scared her family would encounter danger while trying to escape the violence. Everything has come to a halt. You have some people who are scared and rightfully so, children who have to stay in the bomb shelters and sleep, and its scary, Ms Solomon told Mediaite, adding that she was hoping to find a way to safely leave Israel by Thursday. She continued: And then you have people who are no longer active military, theyre in the reserves or what have you, and they are like put me in. Im ready to fight. I want to serve my country. Yes, its scary but theres a lot of strength as well. Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement on Monday pleading for Ms Solomons safe return. It comes just a day after the mayor condemned pro-Hamas protesters after one of them was seen brandishing a swastika during a protest in Times Square. Join us in keeping Rebecca Solomon, the @Pix11news family, and all those affected by this weekends terrorist attacks in our thoughts today, the mayor tweeted. The bond between New York City and Israel is so strong. These tragic days are felt deeply in the five boroughs. Mr Adams addressed the Saturday attacks and the subsequent protest held in Manhattan. Supporters of Israel were separated via a police barricade from backers of the Palestinian cause one of whom was spotted on the front line holding up a swastika. Throughout the day, Ive been monitoring the protest that started in Times Square and that moved through our streets to outside the Israeli Consulate Generals Office in New York, Mr Adams said in a statement. 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. On Saturday, Hamas militants broke through the border from Gaza and launched the deadliest attack the country has experienced in recent history. Israel has since ordered a complete siege of Gaza and cut off supplies of electricity, food and fuel to the Palestinian enclave. The White House confirmed on Monday that at least nine Americans have been confirmed dead as a result of the ongoing conflict. At this time, we can confirm the deaths of nine US citizens, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement. We can confirm that there are unaccounted-for U.S. citizens, and we are working with our Israeli partners to determine their whereabouts. Americans who are stranded in Israel can request assistance from the US Embassy here. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The daughter and son-in-law of a Boston college professor died saving their sons life during attacks by militant group Hamas in Israel. Ilan Troen, professor of Israel studies at Brandeis University, told WBZ-TV that his daughter Deborah Matias, 50, and her husband Shlomi were among the more than 700 people killed in Israel over the weekend. He said that his 16-year-old grandson Roten witnessed his own parents murders after Hamas militants broke into the familys home. My grandson has witnessed the murder of his mother by people who rehearsed what they were doing, Professor Troen said. The terrorists came into their place, broke through the doors, shot them. Deborah threw her body on top of her son to protect him as the Hamas militants shot at the family, he said. They made sure to fall on him and thereby saved his life. Although a bullet actually entered his abdomen, but he was saved, he said. Professor Troen, who was in Israel at the time of the attacks, rushed to hospital to be with his grandson, but the boys parents could not be saved. [Deborah and Shlomi] loved music, life, each other, their kids. I would ask him to think of the joy that they sought and had in their lives rather than the focus on that day, Professor Troen said of Roten. Ilan Troen, professor at Brandeiss, daughter Deborah Shahar Troen Matias and her husband Shlomi Matias (Sourced) Brandeis University released a statement following the attacks, saying they were deeply saddened by the death of Professor Troens daughter and son-in-law. The university said it condemned in the strongest way terrorism perpetrated against innocent civilians. The statement read: 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. Ilan Troen (centre), Brandeis University professor, with daughter Deborah Shahar Troen Matias and her husband Shlomi Matias (Sourced) Hamas militants stormed into Israel early on Saturday morning, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border. Israel has said that more than 700 people have so far been killed by Hamas militants, with at least nine Americans among the dead. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a state of war over the weekend and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers. On Monday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Sirens were sounded in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Monday, with witnesses in the latter city hearing explosions that may have been from rocket impacts or from mid-air interceptions. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The family of an American man has revealed his final heartbreaking text messages as Hamas militants launched an attack on a music festival in the Israeli desert. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since early Saturday morning when he was partying with hundreds of other ravers at the Supernova festival in northern Negev. During the celebrations, Hamas militants carried out a surprise attack, killing and kidnapping dozens of people from the site. The Israeli rescue service Zaka said on Sunday that more than 260 bodies had since been found at the music festival site, with the death toll likely to climb higher. Mr Golberg-Polins father Jonathon Polin told The Jerusalem Post that his son was among those partying at the rave. The 23-year-olds birthday was just days earlier and he was also celebrating his release from Army service at the end of April, he said. At around 8am local time on Saturday morning, the 23-year-old sent a couple of ominous messages to his parents. I love you, one of the messages read. Im sorry, read another. No one has seen or heard from him since, with the family now desperately trying to find out what happened to him. We just want him home and safe, Jonathon Polin told the outlet. We love you. Come home to us, he said in a direct appeal to his son. Jonathon Polin said that there were two locations Yishuv Saad and Ofakim that they thought he could have fled to, but he was nowhere to be found there. Hersh Golberg-Polin, 23, has not been seen or heard from since Saturday (The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies/Facebook) He wasnt at any of those places, he said. The desperate father is now holding onto hopes that he could still be in hiding in the area around the festival. [Officials] 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, he said. Mr Golberg-Polin was born in Berkley, California, and moved with his family to Jerusalem when he was a small child. He went on to join the Army, training as a medic and tank driver in the 7th Armored Brigade. On completion of his Army service, Jonathon Polin said his son got a job as a waiter and was saving up for his lifelong dream of travelling to India. Now, he is one of many missing after the attack. Terrifying footage circulating on social media showed dozens of festivalgoers running from Hamas attackers, while some were seen being bundled onto vehicles and taken hostage. As of Monday morning, Israel said that at least 700 people have been killed marking the deadliest attack on the nation in decades. Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. At least nine Americans are among those confirmed to have been killed, with many more believed to be missing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that he had been informed about the US fatalities in an unclassified briefing by Acting Deputy Secretary of State Toria Nuland and Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker on Sunday. Israel music festival attendees flee as Hamas fighters descend (Telegram) 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 Israel, 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. President Joe Biden has vowed that the US stands with Israel and has spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to offer support. 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 }} An Ohio toddler has drowned after he wandered into a neighbours yard and fell into a swimming pool while his mother was asleep inside their home. Two-year-old Marcus Hall, known to his family as Mar Mar, was found in the pool by police after officers were called to the property in the city of Oregon in Ohio on Wednesday, the Oregon Police Division told The Independent. A responding officer performed CPR on the toddler while another officer drove the toddler to hospital approximately one mile away where attempts to save the toddlers life were made by staff, but unfortunately, the child was pronounced dead. He was cool little dude, Marcus father Anthony Hall told ABC13, before breaking down in tears. He was very energetic, he learned quickly, he was very smart. A neighbour had first spotted a child wandering outside at around 10.34am on Wednesday, according to ABC13. The neighbour called 911 to say they could see a baby in a diaper with a dog, later identified as the 4-year-old brother of the 2-year-old victim. The caller stayed with the child and the dog until they both went back inside their home. At the time, Marcus mother was looking after him and his 4-year-old sibling but had fallen asleep inside the home. While it took several minutes for the mother to initially answer the door because she was sleeping, she was alert and coherent while officers spoke with her, police said. An officer responded to the property, at which point the 4-year-old and the dog were back inside the home, and advised her that she should consider putting safety precautions in place. Marcus was found in a neighbours pool (GoFundMe) Around an hour later, at 11.27am the mother then called the police herself as she couldnt find her 2-year-old, Marcus. 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, its only my four-year-old here, the Ohio mother said. The dispatcher replied: So your 2-year-old is missing? Yeah, the mother said in the phone recording obtained by ABC13. Officers returned to the scene where they found Marcus in a neighbours pool a round pool that is set up above ground with a small ladder attached. The yard around the pool, which sits directly behind the property where police were called, was not fully enclosed with a fence. The 4-year-old brother was unharmed during the tragic incident, police said. A violation has been filed over the pool as, according to city law, it should have had a fence around it. The pool has been listed as a violation, as according to city law it should have a fence around it (13ABC) The police said that the matter is currently under further investigation and Child Services is also looking into the case. A GoFundMe page was also set up by Mr Hall to raise funds to help pay for Marcus funeral service on 10 October. I dont know how to explain this but I will try the best way I can, Mr Hall wrote on the fundraising page. He was only two years old I just want my baby to be able to rest, I cant imagine what was going through his mind during all this. 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 }} An investigation is underway after a skydivers body was found in the front yard of a home in Florida. The scene unfolded at a home in Titusville, east of Orlando, at 12.25pm on Saturday. Titusville Police detectives said that the man had attempted a solo parachute jump before his death. The preliminary investigation revealed an adult male outfitted in parachute attire and gear was located on the lawn of a residence on the 2600 block of Merry Lane, a statement read. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The incident was recorded by a surveillance camera on the property next door to where the victim landed, according to CBS affiliate WKMG. James Sconiers, who lives in the neighbourhood, told the TV station that he tried to rouse the man. The sky divers body was found in the front yard of a home in Florida (WKMG) I was asking the person that was laying on the ground, Hey man can you hear me, can you hear me? But he did not answer, he said. Mr Sconiers added: Look at the video and look at what happened. Why did he fall so hard if all the safety mechanism in place? Something tells me theres a problem there. The mans identity is expected to be released to the public on Monday once the investigation is complete. 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 }} European Union Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said Monday the bloc is suspending all payments immediately to the Palestinians because of what he called the scale of terror and brutality during the attacks on Israel by Hamas. The surprise announcement by Varhelyi came just hours after EU officials stressed that no EU money whatsoever was going to Hamas in the first place and that contacts had been frozen for 16 years. The EU considers Hamas a terror group. Queries about what the move entailed and whether it would hit all humanitarian aid to Palestinians were not immediately answered. Varhelyi said that as the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, which he said amounted to 691 million euros. Varhelyi said that the measures include that all payments (be) immediately suspended. All projects put under review. All new budget proposals postponed until further notice. The EU says it is the biggest donor to the Palestinian people and has been advocating for years for the two-state approach that has guided international diplomacy since the 1993 Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. EU foreign ministers are slated to meet in Muscat, Oman, on Tuesday to discuss the situation and see what actions should be taken. Varhelyis announcement seemed to preempt the discussions. There can be no business as usual, Varhelyi said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The foundations for peace, tolerance and co-existence must now be addressed. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many, the commissioner wrote. During an earlier briefing Monday, the EU Commission sought to draw a clear line between Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, and the Palestinian people, who are in need of humanitarian aid. According to the bloc, it has provided humanitarian aid to help meet Palestinians basic needs since 2000 through the European Commissions humanitarian aid department (ECHO) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Since 2000, ECHO has provided 700 million euros of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The EUs most populous member, Germany, and its neighbor Austria also said they were suspending development aid for the Palestinian areas. The Development Ministry in Berlin said there was no direct German financing of the Palestinian Authority, but a total of 250 million euros ($265 million) is currently pledged in German aid half of that for bilateral projects via Germanys overseas aid agency and development bank and the other half for the U.N. agency for the Palestinians, UNRWA. Like the EU Commission, Development Minister Svenja Schulze said in a statement that Germany took great care that its aid for Palestinians serves peace and not the terrorists. But these attacks on Israel are a terrible watershed, so we will review our whole commitment to the Palestinian areas, she added. Schulze said that Germany wants above all to discuss with Israel how we can best serve peace in the region and security for Israel with our development projects. She noted that Israel also has an interest in Palestinians being able to live in long-term stability, and said Germany will also coordinate with its international partners. Germany is not suspending the humanitarian aid it provides separately via international NGOs and the U.N., the Foreign Ministry said. Ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner said Monday that much of the 72 million euros pledged this year has been paid out, and payments will continue because they support life-saving work. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio on Monday that all development aid payments will be put on ice for now. He put the funds affected at about 19 million euros. He said that Austria will review all projects with the Palestinian areas and consult with its international partners on further steps ___ Samuel Petrequin in Brussels and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. 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 }} Flights were suspended at Germanys Hamburg airport this morning after authorities received a threat of an attack against a plane from the Iranian capital Tehran. The airport said that there had been no takeoffs or landings since 12.40pm as police officers conduct a search of the aircraft and its 198 passengers and crew. They have since confirmed that flights have resumed following the security alert. Federal police said they received an email threat on Monday morning of an attack on the Tehran-Hamburg flight and were taking it seriously, though they didnt give details. The spokesperson described the measures, which included interviewing passengers, as normal procedure when a threat is classified as serious. No takeoffs or landings had been possible because the airport fire brigade were involved with the search, the spokesperson added. The Hamburg airport warned on their website that flight delays were still possible. The incident comes against the backdrop of violence between Israel and Palestine, after Hamas militants launched a suprise attack over the weekend. Hundreds have been killed in the violence, including around 260 people at a music festival near the Gaza border. Israel have responded by launching a wave of deadly airstrikes, and have announced a complete siege of the region, with a blockade on electricity, fuel and food. 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 North Korea-Russia border is seeing a sharp increase in rail traffic in likely signs of Kim Jong-un helping Russian president Vladimir Putin by supplying munitions, a US think-tank claimed, citing recent satellite photos. Satellite images from 5 October showed a dramatic and unprecedented level of freight railcar traffic at the Tumangang rail facility, according to Beyond Parallel, a website run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Approximately 73 railcars were visible in the images from last week, whereas previous satellite pictures over the past five years showed about 20 railcars at this facility at the most. It was not immediately clear what the contents of the railway shipments were as the shipping crates were covered under tarpaulin. This was likely a follow-up action after the North Korean leader met with his Russian counterpart in Russias far east last month, according to 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, it said on 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, it said. This comes at a time when leaders and experts have warned against North Koreas plan to assist Russias depleting munition reserves in its continuing invasion of Ukraine. As Mr Kim met Mr Putin in Russia and visited key military sites and discussed strategic cooperation on defence, leaders speculated that North Korea could aid Moscow. The North Korean leader could have sought sophisticated Russian weapons technologies to boost his nuclear programme in barter for the munition, foreign leaders said. Officials in the US and South Korea warned North Korea and Russia of the consequences if they went ahead with the speculated weapons transfer deal. The deal is in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that ban all weapons trade involving Pyongyang which is under heavy sanctions for its nuclear weapons programme. The White House has said Russia wants to buy literally millions of artillery shells and rockets from North Korea. The reports of North Korea aiding Russia in invading Ukraine emerged last year when the US said the hermit kingdom was sending ammunition, artillery shells and rockets to Russia, with many of them copies of Soviet-era munitions. Officials in South Korea said the weapons provided by the North have already been used in Ukraine. While access to such stocks of North may help Russia prolong the conflict, it is unlikely going to change the outcome, according to Joseph Dempsey, a defence researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The size of these stores and its degradation over time is less clear, as is the scale of ongoing production, but these stockpiles could help replenish those severely depleted in Ukraine, he said. Al finalizar la jornada de hoy, @CancilleriaPeru informa que la Seccion Consular de nuestra Embajada en Israel ha comunicado que dos ciudadanos peruanos han sido reportados como desaparecidos, luego de los ataques ocurridos en territorio israeli. 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 }} Watch as Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the Nato Parliamentary Assemblys plenary session on Monday 9 October. Last month, Mr Zelensky said it was only a matter of time before Ukraine becomes an official Nato member as he met the defence blocs chief in Kyiv. The Ukrainian president has pushed to join the alliance despite threats from Russia, and Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg reiterated in September that the bloc would stand with Kyiv as long as it takes. Monday marks the final day of the parliamentary session in Denmark, where 31 Nato member states have addressed key topics on the Euro-Atlantic defence and security agenda and assessed the outcomes and key decisions taken at Julys summit in Vilnius. Mr Zelensky will be speaking to the assembly via video link. Recommended Ahead of his address, parliamentarians from Nato countries on Sunday discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on the energy sector and the importance of helping Kyiv to rebuild even before the fighting stops. 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 }} Russia has significantly bulked up its forces around the devastated city of Bakhmut in the east and has switched its troops from a defensive posture to taking active actions, a Ukrainian military commander said on Monday. Russia captured Bakhmut, the scene of some of the most intense fighting of the 20-month war, in May. Ukraine has been on the counteroffensive since June to try to retake occupied land in the south and east, including the town. In the Bakhmut area, the enemy has significantly strengthened its grouping and switched from defence to active actions, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the ground forces, wrote on Telegram messenger. It comes following reports that Ukrainian forces made advancements near Bakhmut. War monitoring think-tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that geolocated footage indicated that Ukrainian forces advanced over a railway line south of Andriivka - 10km southwest of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces continued assault operations south of Bakhmut and offensive operations towards the key city of Melitopol. A prominent Russian milblogger also claimed that Ukrainian forces established control over unspecified positions in the Zaporizhia direction over the past week. 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 }} Palestinian group Hamas has launched its largest-ever attack on Israel, with militants launching thousands of rockets and storming through the Gaza border in an unprecedented assault. In the deadliest assault Israel has suffered in generations, hundreds of soldiers and civilians living in settlements close to the border have been killed or abducted, after Hamas blew up observation posts and other fortifications and broke out of beseiged Gaza on motorbikes, speedboats and paragliders. Two days after the shock incursion, Israel is still engaged in gunfights with Hamas fighters lodged within eight locations on its territory, with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to root out every last militant and fire on all those hiding in Gaza one of the worlds most densely-populated regions. With Israel reporting at least 260 fatalities at a trance music festival in the Negev desert raided by Hamas militants armed with assault rifles and grenades, the groups actions have been widely condemned internationally, with the United States sending military assistance. Here, The Independent takes a brief look at the groups history and aims: What is Hamas? The Hamas movement was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, shortly after the first of the intifada uprisings by Palestinians against Israel. An acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement, which also means zeal in Arabic, Hamas was created on the three pillars of religion, charity and the fight against Israel also establishing a military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, named after the militant Syrian preacher first active in the 1920s. A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on the third day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel (AFP via Getty Images) Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since winning the most recent elections in 2006, held a year after Israels withdrawal from the enclave, since which time its borders and airspace have been strictly controlled by Israel and Egypt. While much of Gazas young population was born under Hamas rule, some older Palestinians who voted them in many in frustation with corruption in the rival Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) have expressed regret over years of fatal repression from Israel partly stoked by Hamas militance. What are Hamass aims? Unlike the PLO, which has been the internationally recognised Palestinian leadership since its acceptance of Israels right to exist peacefully in 1993 led to the Oslo Accords, Hamas does not recognise the state of Israel. Instead, Hamas advocates for a Palestinian state stretching from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River based on its historical borders. However, since 2017, Hamas has said it accepts a Palestinian state shaped around the borders of 1967, which existed prior to the war in which Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip after it was invaded in a surprise attack by Egypt and Syria, echoed nearly 50 years to the day later by Saturdays incursion. A Palestinian demonstrator throws rocks towards Israeli soldiers during clashes in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images) What has Hamas said about the new attack? Mohammed Deif, the shadowy leader of Hamas military wing, has 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 provocations including at Al-Aqsa mosque which have brought tensions to fever pitch. Weve decided to say enough is enough, said Mr Deif, announcing the launch of the attack on Saturday, adding: This is the day of the greatest battle end the last occupation on earth. Ismail Haniyeh, the exiled political leader of Hamas, said on Saturday that the group was engaged in these historic moments in a heroic operation to defend the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Ismail Haniyeh said the incursion was a heroic operation as hundreds of Israeli civilians were killed (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) He claimed the assault would spread to the West Bank and Jerusalem, adding: This was the morning of defeat and humiliation upon our enemy, its soldiers and its settlers. What happened reveals the greatness of our preparation. What happened today reveals the weakness of the enemy. How is Hamas received internationally? Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Egypt, United States, Canada and Japan. However it has long been provided with funding and weapons by Iran, and has the support of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which on Sunday exchanged rocket and artillery fire with Israel amid fears the conflict could spread. 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 }} The mother of a 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman who is missing after an unprecedented attack against Israel has spoken of her heartbreak as she waits for news about her daughter. A surprise attack was launched by Hamas on Saturday, with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and militants breaking down wire fences surrounding the Gaza enclave and entering Israeli villages. Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site. In an interview with ABC News, her mother Jennifer Damti said her daughter had phoned them shortly after. Kim didnt realise there was like seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, she said. They just shot them, slaughtered them like ducks, and thats the reason Im here, cause I want the world to condemn this behaviour. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is, if shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back, she said. So many other mothers here today. Im not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody. Irish premier Leo Varadkar said they were aware of the case, and consular officials were in touch with the family. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin said the savagery of the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas had shocked people. Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people (were) slaughtered in the most savage way, he said. Mr Varadkar said that the surprise attack 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 on Sunday. 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. 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 }} Israel is at war after Hamas militants broke through the border from Gaza to inflict the deadliest attack the country has suffered in half a century. The surprise and highly sophisticated incursion, a major failure of much-vaunted Israeli intelligence, has claimed the lives of more than 700 civilians and soldiers living close to the Gaza border, with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) still seeking to root out militants embedded in Israeli settlements two days later. In retaliation, Israel has launched relentless air strikes on Gaza and its tightly-packed civilian population among whom Israel says Hamas militants are hiding and has declared a complete siege of the enclave by cutting off supplies of electricity, food and fuel. The unprecedented attack has raised fears of the conflict spilling over, with all eyes on Hamass allies in Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and their backers in Iran, while the United States is sending military assistance to Israel. The incursion unfolded without warning at 6:30am on Saturday, nearly 50 years to the day since the outset of the brutal Yom Kippur war, with Hamas launching thousands of rockets into Israel and sending warning sirens blaring as far afield as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Announcing the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif said the group had targeted enemy positions, airports, and military fortifications with more than 5,000 missiles and shells. Footage released by Hamas suggests they used drones to blow up border observation posts and weapons systems, with one militant filmed flying into Israel on a motorised paraglide, in a possible ode to the night of the gliders incursion during the run-up to the first Intifada uprising in 1987. Minutes later, Hamas used explosives and other means to breach the border fence, with fighters pouring through in at least four locations on foot, in vehicles and on motorbikes reportedly near the northern Erez border crossing, Kerem Shalom in the south, and Nahal Oz and Beeri in the east. View more Multiple military outposts some lying several kilometres from the frontier were stormed, with soldiers reportedly killed and taken captive. Also directly in the path of the militants were thousands of partygoers attending the Supernova psytrance festival, a rave held in the Negev desert, not far from the Reim millitary base, which houses the IDFs Gaza Division and was among the three outposts targeted, alongside bases at Erez and Zikim. Revellers first saw the barrage of rockets fly overhead before militants armed with assault rifles and grenades, gunning down revellers as they tried to flee on foot and in cars, and taking at least one hostage back to Gaza on the back of a motorbike. Israeli rescuers say at least 260 bodies have been recovered from the site of the festival, with aerial footage showing the burnt-out remains of cars apparently abandoned as people attempted to escape. 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 she had hidden under a tree for three hours while gunmen roamed the area shooting all in their sight. View more Elsewhere, militants rampaged through settlements near the border, opening fire as terrified Israeli residents hid in safe rooms commonly installed in their homes. The Independent was told of one family in the neighbourhood of Nirim forced to hide for nine hours with a 10-day old baby. Bodies were pictured lying in the streets in Sderot, and at the height of the incursion on Saturday the IDF said it was fighting to dislodge militants from 22 locations, which it later reduced to eight. By Sunday morning, Hamas said its fighters were still engaged in the towns of Sderot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Azza, Beeri, Yatid, Kissufim and Ofakim, the latter of which sits some 15 miles from the border. Footage broadcast that afternoon showed a gun battle breaking out on the Route 4 highway between Ashdod and Gaza, as terrified motorists ducked for cover. By Sunday, Israel had announced the deaths of 600 people, with 100 taken hostage. Moments after the incursion began on Saturday, Israel said it was responding with hundreds of air strikes on Gaza, as news footage showed missiles raining down on high-rise buildings in the background of reporters live broadcasts. By Sunday, Israeli strikes had targeted old Gaza City, Khan Younis, and the southern city of Rafah, killing hundreds and injuring thousands. One man told the Associated Press that 19 members of his family including his wife were killed when an airstrike hit their home in Rafah. View more As well as housing blocks, Israeli air strikes have now so far hit a hospital, a mosque and the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp. Accusing Hamas militants of deliberately hiding among civilians, Mr Netanyahu on Saturday gave the trapped residents of the 2.3 million-strong enclave just 24 hours to evacuate, despite them being unable to do so due to Israeli and Eygyptian border controls. As the onslaught continued on Monday, Palestines health ministry said that 560 people in Gaza had been killed and some 2,900 wounded, as fears grew of a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. 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 }} Fears are growing over the safety of dozens of hostages being held in Gaza after attacks by Hamas over the weekend. Israels troops are battling to clear out Hamas gunmen more than two days after they carried out the deadly rampage that has left hundreds of people dead. Hostages, including members of the Israeli Defence Forces as well as civilians, some of whom were taken from a nearby music festival on Saturday, are currently being held in the heavily-militarised Gaza area. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, said it was an unprecedented [moment] in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organisation. Below we look at everything we know about the hostage situation. What has happened? On Saturday, members of the al Qassam brigades crossed into Israel via land, sea and air, flooding into nearby civilian towns and engaging in violent clashes with the IDF. In a post on Telegram, a Brigades spokesperson said they had captured dozens of (Israeli) officers and soldiers in the first day of fighting. 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. They have been secured in safe places and resistance tunnels. Noa Argamani was filmed being seized from the festival on a motorbike (Telegram) Avinatan Or was filmed as he was kidnapped by Hamas alongside girlfeind Ms Argamani (Sourced) IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari later confirmed Hamas fighters had taken hostages from the border community of Beeri and the town of Okafim, 20 miles east of Gaza. He described these as the main focal points of the unfolding crisis. Local Channel 12 also reported that infiltrators had taken hostages in Netiv HaAsara. A second Palestinian militant group, Islamic Jihad, said it was also holding more than 30 captives. The hostages are not only soldiers. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, the militarys international spokesperson reported later in the weekend that civilians, children and grandmothers were among those being held captive. An unknown number of civilians who had been attending a music festival near Kibbutz Reim, close to the Gaza border, are also believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. One video shows a woman attending the festival being hoisted onto the back of a motorcycle and driven away by Hamas fighters. Other footage geolocated to inside Gaza showed a barefoot woman being pulled from the trunk of a jeep by a gunman. Her face is bleeding and her wrists appear to be tied behind her back. What does Hamas want and where are the hostages now? Understanding where those hostages have been taken is difficult. Miles of underground tunnels built by Hamas run beneath the enclave, many of which are unmapped. Other hostages might be kept overground with other fighters. They will not be immediately distinguishable from the Palestinian civilians and Hamas fighters around them. This difficulty is one of the main issues facing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu when considering a possible military invasion. The risk of killing Israeli civilians remains incredibly high. What Hamas intentions are for the hostages is also unclear, though it is likely they have been taken to deter an Israeli invasion of the enclave. 26-year-old Briton Jake Marlowe is among those believed to have been taken (Jake Marlowe/Facebook) Who has been taken? There is no definitive list of who has been taken hostage by Hamas. The Israeli forces are being careful not to reveal exactly how many they believe to have been taken. An IDF spokesperson Lt Col Jonathan Conricus said last night: I can only say that we are talking about many many Israelis Women, children, infants, elderly and even disabled people. However, families have shared their concerns for missing loved ones who could either be held captive or killed following the attacks. Among those who have yet to be found is 26-year-old Briton Jake Marlowe, who had been providing security at the music festival near the enclave. Kim Damti, an Irish-Israeli woman, was last in contact with family on Saturday morning (Sourced) Another Briton, photographer Dan Darlington who was visiting from his home in Berlin, Germany, is also missing. Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti, 22, is another young woman among those who have yet to be found. Her mother last spoke to her at 6.30am local time on Saturday. She was last seen at a party in southern Israel the night before. Ms Damtis brother instructed his sister to take shelter but the family has not heard from her since. Shani Louk, a German tatto artist, was captured by Hamas (Sourced) The woman seen being taken away from the music festival on the back of a motorbike has been identified as Noa Argamani. Her boyfriend Avinatan Or was also filmed being apprehended and being made to walk with his hands behind his back. A German-Israeli national, Shani Louk, has been identified as another hostage. A video showed her unconscious at the festival being displayed by armed militants shouting Allahu Akbar. Mexicos foreign minister Alicia Barcena said on Sunday she believed two of their nationals, a man and a woman, had been taken hostage. At least three Brazilian nationals are also missing, according to Brazilian authorities. On Sunday evening, Israelis whose family members are either missing or have been taken hostage held a joint news conference. For many, they only found out their friends and relatives had been taken when they saw videos posted by Hamas on social media and through WhatsApp groups. One father and husband, Yoni Asher, said he found out about his family being kidnapped when he saw a video of a gunman seizing his wife and two small daughters. My two little girls, theyre only babies. Theyre not even five-years-old and three-years-old, Mr Asher said. Another father, Uri David, said he had been on the phone with his two daughters, Tair and Odaya, before they were suddenly cut off. I heard shooting, shouting in Arabic, I told them to lie on the ground and hold hands, Mr David said. I am asking for the whole world to see what I am going through. We have to bring the children home and as fast as possible. 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 }} Loved ones of British citizens believed to have been killed or abducted by Hamas militants in Israel have shared their indescribable pain following the deadly attacks at the weekend. Photographer Dan Darlingtons sister said he was murdered by terrorists alongside his close friend Carolin Bohl on Saturday. At least 800 people have been killed while an estimated 260 bodies were recovered from the concert site Nova, which was just three miles from the Gaza border. Originally from the UK but living in Berlin, Mr Darlington had been exploring the region and had been due to return to Tel Aviv on Friday. The two were meant to return to Tel Aviv on Friday evening but decided to stay an extra day (Instagram) Tragically, he and Ms Bohl decided to stay in the area for another day, unaware their holiday would turn into horror. His family said he spent his last days riding his bike, laughing, taking beautiful photos of sunsets and enjoying lifes simple pleasures. Have you been affected by the attacks? Email holly.evans@independent.co.uk Taking to social media, his sister Shelley Darlington said: My baby brother, Dan, was murdered by terrorists on Saturday morning on our kibbutz, Nir Oz, alongside his beautiful friend Carolin. At this stage, we do not have concrete details or any official information on what exactly happened to them both. Our community has been destroyed. My family are in contact with the embassy and Israeli officials to try to recover his body and bring him home to the UK. Social media images show the pair riding bikes and visiting the beach in the days before Hamas gunmen opened fire (Instagram) Thanking friends and family for their support, she said: Knowing how many people loved and cared for Danny, and reading your memories of him will never bring him back, but it does offer a slither of comfort to the indescribable pain I am feeling. After the first rockets were fired before dawn on Saturday, the scene descended into chaos with gunmen opening fire on crowds at a music festival, ambushing cars and grabbing hostages. The attack formed part of Hamas wider incursion into Israel, which saw a barrage of rocket fire hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Gedera and Ashkelon. Stories shared to Mr Darlingtons Instagram just three days ago show him and Ms Bohl relaxing at the beach, riding their bikes and posing for photographs. Ms Bohls sister also took to Instagram to say they had learned from Carolins friend on the ground that the two had been killed during the attack. Meanwhile, the family of a man from Scotland said that their relative had been killed in his own home. Bernard Cowan, who is understood to have been in his fifties and is from East Renfrewshire in Glasgow, was reportedly shot dead. His cousin Simon Gordon posted on X: And when I thought the shock of what happened in Israel yesterday couldnt get worse. I find out a cousin was killed. Bernard Cowan, nice guy, kids etc. Gone. Murdered in cold blood in his home. His local MP, Jackson Carlaw, said: Desperately sad & grim news. The family of Bernard Cowan, of late my Eastwood constituent, have confirmed that he was murdered on Saturday by Hamas. Our heartfelt condolences to his family as we respect their privacy in their grief. May his memory be a blessing. Also believed to have been taken hostage during the attack on the music festival is security guard Jake Marlowe, who had desperately been trying to evacuate people on a quad bike. Jake Marlowe (right), who is missing in Israel, with friend Daniel Aboudy (Daniel Aboudy) The 26-year-old told his mother at 4.30am he and his friend had seen rockets being fired from Gaza, before his phone stopped ringing 45 minutes later. In a desperate voice message sent to his friend, he said: 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. Israels embassy to the UK has since confirmed that Mr Marlowe is missing, while the Israeli ambassador told Sky News a British citizen was being held hostage in Gaza but did not name the individual. Palestinian militants have claimed to be holding more than 130 captives, while Israeli media has put the figure at more than 100. Nathanel Young had been serving with the Israeli Defence Force when he was killed (Sourced) Another confirmed casualty is Nathanel Young, who was serving with the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed on the Gaza border. The 20-year-old, a 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. Posting on Facebook, his sister Gaby Shalev wrote: Were heartbroken to share that our little brother Nathanel Young was tragically killed on the Gaza Border yesterday. Since the surprise attack was launched on Saturday morning, Israeli forces have retaliated with deadly airstrikes on Hamas targets, with nearly 500 killed and thousands more wounded. Israels defence minister Yoav Gallant has officially announced the blockade of the besieged enclave, stating that authorities would be cutting electricity and preventing the entry of food and fuel. 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. Ahora el premier Alberto Otarola informa los acuerdos y temas abordados en la sesion del Consejo de Ministros de hoy. Anuncia que se declarara estado de emergencia en Lince y Cercado de Lima. pic.twitter.com/QbGfd0D2sk For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} More than 1,500 people have been killed with more than 10 Britons feared dead or missing as Israel on Monday declared a complete siege on Gaza in retaliation for a massive attack by Hamas militants. The decision to cut off water, food and power to the enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians has been backed by hundreds of Israeli strikes from air and sea. Those inside Gaza say it will be catastrophic for people with nowhere to turn. Around 900 people are said to have been killed in Israel and more than 680 Palestinians killed in Gaza. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that there were a a number of Palestinian gunmen in Israel, although the countrys military said that it had largely gained control in southern towns after firefights in the street. On Monday rescue workers found 100 bodies in a tiny farming community after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. Mr Netanyahu said that Israel has only started its campaign in Gaza in an evening televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. He claimed that tied-up children had been executed in the Hamas attack and that the groups actions were on a par with Isis. Rockets also continue to be fired from Gaza into Israel. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding more than 130 people abducted in Israel and dragged into Gaza. The military wing of Hamas threatened late on Monday to kill an Israeli civilian hostage any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without warning. The relatives of Britons they believe have been killed or abducted have shared their indescribable pain at the loss they feel. Nathanel Young, 20, and Bernard Cowan, 57, are the only Britons confirmed to have died, but families of a number of Britons have said they believe their loved ones are dead or missing believed abducted. Clockwise from top left, Dan Darlington with a friend, days before the Hamas attack; Bernard Cowan; Nathanel Young and Jack Marlowe (Sourced) Photographer Dan Darlingtons sister said he was murdered by militants alongside his close friend Carolin Bohl on Saturday. Originally from the UK but living in Berlin, Mr Darlington had been exploring the region and had been due to return to Tel Aviv on Friday, but stayed on an extra day. His family said he spent his last days riding his bike, laughing, taking beautiful photos of sunsets and enjoying lifes simple pleasures. Taking to social media, his sister Shelley Darlington said: My baby brother, Dan, was murdered by terrorists on Saturday morning on our kibbutz, Nir Oz, alongside his beautiful friend Carolin. Thanking friends and family for their support, she said: Knowing how many people loved and cared for Danny, and reading your memories of him will never bring him back, but it does offer a slither of comfort to the indescribable pain I am feeling. The family of Mr Cowan, from Glasgow, said: We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed. Mr Young, who was serving with the Israel Defense Forces, went to the same school North Londons JFS Jewish School as 26-year-old Jack Marlowe, who was providing security at a festival in the desert near Kibbutz Reim when the area was attacked by Hamas. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (AP) The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, said in light of the surprise offensive orchestrated by Hamas, the UK was reviewing its support for Israel. Mr Cleverly also said he was uncomfortable speculating on the numbers of British people affected by the violence after it was reported that more than 10 Britons are feared dead or missing. He said Israels unique status meant there were a large number of British-Israeli dual nationals, with government estimates suggesting about 50,000 to 60,000 Britons are believed to be in either Israel and Gaza. Among them are the parents-in-law of Scotlands first minister, Humza Yousaf. The SNP leader said the parents of his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, are now trapped in Gaza, where they were visiting family when the strikes on Israel began. British-Israeli Ahal Besorai, 60, says he last spoke to his sister Yonat, 50, at 7am on Saturday, when she was hiding in her bomb shelter on Kibbutz Beeri near the border with Gaza. Together with her husband Dror, also 50, and their two children, two girls aged just 15 and 13, Yonat had tried to conceal herself from gunmen, who arrived in the community on the back of a jeep mounted with a large machine gun. She was whispering to me that they were in hiding, that there were terrorists all around and they shouldnt speak, and she hung up, Mr Besorai told The Independent. He later found out that 20 minutes after she hung up the militants set fire to the building forcing the family of four to come out. A member of the Kibbutz saw them being taken out of the house, they were alive, continued Mr Besorai. They didnt shoot them, so we assume they were taken to Gaza. Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City (AFP via Getty) Since then he has had no contact. He now knows between 20 and 30 friends who were killed from this kibbutz alone. So far Yonat and her family have not been included in the list of the dead. Dor Shafir, 30, whose mother Miryam was born and raised in the UK to a British father from Reading, is missing with his girlfriend, kindergarten teacher Savion Kiper, 31. The couple, who were planning on marrying next year, were at a small music festival near to the border with Gaza when Hamas militants stormed into Israel. They ran for cover and sent a text message just before 7am on Saturday morning from nearby the village of Reim. They ran for their car and were trying to drive to get away, but no one knows what happened next, Dors cousin Robin Simmons, an Irish citizen and lawyer, told The Independent. The UK government is helping the families of several individuals in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Eleven US citizens have died in the conflict in Israel, US authorities said on Monday, and an unknown number remain missing, with reports that he told Joe Biden that he has no choice but to invade Gaza. We have to go in. We cant negotiate now, Mr Netanyahu said on the call with the US president, according to Axios citing sources briefed on the call. As for Gaza, Israels defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said: I ordered a full siege on the Gaza Strip, he said in a terse statement shared on social media. No power, no food, no gas, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly. Exchanges of shelling on Israel's northern border raised worries that the conflict could spread to a new front. Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called on the UN to immediately intervene to prevent the occurrence of a humanitarian catastrophe due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, especially in Gaza, the official news agency Wafa reported. Mahmoud Shalabi, acting director of UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians charity, speaking from Gaza City, said that a full siege would be catastrophic. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, signalling the bloodiest battle is ahead after the unprecedented assault by Hamas. Senior Israeli military officials told The Independent that due to the unprecedented nature of the attack, all options are on the table including possible ground assault into Gaza a move not seen since 2005. On the ground, Nizar, a father-of-five who lives in Beit Lahia in the north of Gaza and asked not to be fully named, said a ground invasion would be our worst nightmare for families. We have no shelter, no safe place to go. My house is already hosting two other families of relatives who fled from the border regions. We lost two children in the 2008 war, and have been displaced multiple times. Bombing is taking place every minute, he said in desperation. Close IDF strike Hamas targets in Gaza 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 }} Israel has reportedly warned the al-Quds hospital in Gaza to evacuate immediately, an order which the head of the World Health Organisation called "deeply concerning". The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Sunday it received the warning from Israeli authorities as raids have been taking place 50 yards away from the hospital since this morning. We reiterate - its impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives. Under International Humanitarian Law, healthcare must always be protected, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of WHO, posted on X. It comes after Palestinian officials reported the death toll since the war broke out hit 8,000, as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the next stage of war had begun. The Gaza death toll includes over 3,000 children, according to the health ministry. After Israels three-week blockade of food, water, electricity and fuel into Gaza, thousands of civilians broke into aid warehouses overnight, taking wheat flour and other basic survival items like hygiene supplies. The UNRWA has warned this is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down. 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 young German tattoo artist was caught dancing and laughing on camera, just hours before she was stripped naked and killed by Hamas militants near the Gaza border. Shani Louk, 23, was among hundreds of victims at an outdoor music festival near Kibbutz Urim when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on the crowds during the early hours of Saturday morning. In a video posted on social media, Ms Louk can be seen beaming into the camera with her friends, while music blasts in the background at the Supernova trance event. Shani Louk has been identified as the body paraded in the back of a pick-up truck (Sourced) A short while later, gunmen would send terrified partygoers fleeing into the desert, with Ms Louk becoming caught in the crossfire of the unexpected attack. A video, too disturbing to be published, later showed her naked body being paraded through the streets on a flat-bed truck, while armed fighters shouted Allahu Akbar. Follow our live blog coverage here As her family became aware of Hamass attack on Israel, her family desperately attempted to contact her, only to become aware of a video circulating on social media. While the woman is lying face down, her family and friends identified her from her distinctive tattoos and dreadlocks. Holding a picture of Ms Louk on her mobile phone, her mother Ricarda said that her daughter had been 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 news. Thank you very much." It is currently unknown if Ms Louk is captured or dead, with her cousin Tom Weintraub Louk telling the Washington Post: We have some kind of hope. Hamas is responsible for her and the others. British citizen Jake Marlowe is also missing from the music festival (Jake Marlowe/Facebook) The Palestinian militants have claimed to be holding over 130 captives, while the Israeli forces have placed it at around 100 people. Other people reported to be held hostage by the Palestinian group include British citizen Jake Marlowe, who was working as a security guard at the festival. Videos on social media also appeared to show another woman, identified as Israeli Noa Argamani, being kidnapped and taken on a motorbike by two men. The Israeli authorities said that around 260 people had been killed at the music event, while many were still missing while the rescue service Zaka said it had retrieved hundreds of bodies. The countrys defence minister Yoav Gallant has officially announced the blockade of the besieged enclave, saying authorities will cut electricity and prevent the entry of food and fuel. 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 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 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. Early on Saturday morning, Hamas targeted Nova music festival, a techno rave in the desert near the border with Gaza. Videos shared on social media and by Israeli news outlets showed dozens of festival-goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled. British citizen 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. (Telegram) He is among dozens of festival attendees who are missing, kidnapped or presumed dead, multiple witnesses and family members told The Independent He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over, The 26-year-olds mother, Lisa, told Jewish News. 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. 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. Israeli festivalgoers flee as Gaza strikes begin Videos from Gaza started appearing online on Saturday, including one showing a young woman Noa Argamani being abducted by Hamas militants as she rode with her boyfriend on a motorcycle. On Sunday, another 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. Noa Argamani was abducted by Hamas militants at Nova festival on Saturday morning (Sourced) It is unlike anything we have ever seen, said Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus, the international spokesperson for the Israeli 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. Zaka, in a statement issued on Sunday night, said: We collected over 260 bodies from the nature party. They havent all been collected yet. Israeli military officials told The Independent the attack was completely unprecedented and they were fearful for the lives of the hostages. More than 700 Israelis and 400 Palestinians have been killed since attacks begun on Saturday morning. It is unclear exactly how many Israelis have been kidnapped, but it is thought to be over 100 people are being held hostage by Hamas. Just a week after Slovakia scrambled to deal with an AI-generated recording designed to influence national elections, the UK Labour Party has become the target of deepfake audio. Im sick of this, one of the clips, which appeared to be from a secret recording of party leader Keir Starmer, stated. I f***ing hate Liverpool. Despite being debunked and deleted from some platforms, the fake recordings still received millions of views across social media, and highlighted what Tory MP Simon Clarke described as a new threat to democracy. In Slovakia, the purported audio of candidate Michal Simecka plotting to rig the election emerged just two days before it took place potentially contributing to his loss to his pro-Russia, populist opponent Robert Fico. Unlike Simecka, Starmer isnt facing an imminent election, however in both cases the AI-generated audio appeared convincing enough to fool people into thinking they were real. 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 After hundreds of its citizens were killed in a sudden assault from Gaza, Israel has declared war on Hamas. The conflict is ongoinf, and Israels prime minister has pledged mighty violence and threatened to reduce Gaza to rubble. Israel, long popular with tourists, is still accessible by air but hundreds of flights have been cancelled and cruise ship itineraries have been changed. Over the first 24 hours following the start of the attack, many flights were diverted or returned to their departure airport including a United Airlines flight from San Francisco that went on a 13-hour flight to nowhere. These are the key questions and answers. What does the Foreign Office say? The Foreign Office has strengthened its travel warning to read: The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories [OPTs]. This has the effect of requiring holiday companies with clients in Israel to be brought back as soon as possible, and prevents mainstream tour operators from sending out further groups until the advice against travel is withdrawn. The Foreign Office also says: If you are a British national in Israel or the OPTs, please register your presence which includes recording your up-to-date contact information. Your registration will allow us to share any updates to this travel advice. Anyone who is in Israel continues to be protected by their travel insurance until they leave by the swiftest safe means; conversely, standard travel insurance policies are not valid for people who choose to travel to Israel while the no-go warning is in force. What do the Israeli authorities say? The Israel Ministry of Tourism has issued a statement to The Independent about provisions for UK travellers to Israel: We are deeply shocked and saddened by the events that have taken place in Israel over the weekend. We offer our condolences to those who have been affected by the current situation. We are monitoring the situation and are committed to ensuring that all tourists visiting Israel are safe and informed. Israels Ministry of Tourism will provide all necessary assistance to those who need it and is operating a tourist hotline via WhatsApp for tourists to stay informed on the situation as it evolves. We appreciate the support of the UK and fellow nations in a difficult time for the Israeli nation. The Ministry of Tourism is operating a virtual office contactable by WhatsApp (+972 55 972 6931) or email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il). Travellers currently in Israel can dial 104 for information and advice in several languages or contact Home Front Command on WhatsApp or SMS on +972 52 910 4104. Are Israel flights continuing? Yes. Ben Gurion International Airport, south of Tel Aviv, remains open and operational as does Eilat Ramon airport, outside Eilat in the far south of Israel. These are the key policies of the main airlines from the UK to Israel. British Airways British Airways has suspended flights to and from Israel due to safety concerns, after a flight to Tel Aviv made a mid-air U-turn and flew back to Heathrow. EasyJet A spokesperson said: Due to the evolving situation in Israel, easyJet has taken the decision to temporarily pause operations to and from Tel Aviv on Monday 9 October. As a result two flights from London Luton and one from Manchester and their return flight today will no longer operate. Any customers affected by cancellations are eligible for a refund, voucher, or a free of charge transfer to a new flight. Due to the situation we understand that some customers travelling in the coming days may no longer wish to travel. Any passengers due to fly to Tel Aviv who would like to change their plans can contact our customer service team for assistance with their options. Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJets highest priority. El Al The carrier is telling passengers: El Al Airlines operates in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli security forces. Our flights are operated as scheduled. Passengers who are booked but who no longer want to travel can cancel for a credit voucher. Those who are booked to travel up to 21 October and who want to return early can do so at no extra charge. A dedicated emergency line for those who wish to change the date of their flights due to the situation has been set up on +972 3 940 4040 for phones and +972 3 977 1111 for WhatsApp. Virgin Atlantic The airline says: Due to the ongoing situation in Israel, some of our flights to and from Tel Aviv may face delays or cancellations. We would advise anyone booked to travel to check their flight status on the website before travelling to the airport. Virgin Atlantic cancelled one daily round-trip on each of 7 Saturday to Tuesday 10 October, though the second service will be flying as planned on all those dates. On 17 October, the airline confirm they would be operating flight VS457 from Heathrow into Tel Aviv, and the return, flight VS458, from 20 October. Wizz Air A Wizz Air spokesperson said: Due to the situation in Israel, we have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice. We are continuing to monitor the situation closely and are in touch with the relevant authorities. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is our number one priority and all affected passengers will be contacted via email or text. What are the risks to passenger aircraft? Virgin Atlantic says: The safety and security of our customers and our people always comes first and our flying programme to Israel remains under constant review. The fact that Virgin Atlantic, as well as El Al and British Airways, are continuing to fly to and from Tel Aviv indicates these extremely professional airlines are confident their passengers and crew will be safe. But a flight operations organisation, Ops Group, has issued a warning about the risk of civilian aircraft being shot down following the attacks on Israel. The group warns: Lessons learned regarding civil operations in conflict zones over the last nine years since MH17 need to be applied. The risk of a passenger aircraft becoming a casualty of this war is high. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, a passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over occupied eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a Buk anti-aircraft missile that belonged to the Russian army. All 298 passengers and crew died in the attack. Ops Group, a membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff, added: The ultimate sentiment from MH17 still echoes: What were they doing flying over a war zone? We truly hope the same question doesnt need to be asked in Tel Aviv airspace this week. Going nowhere: Flightpath of United Airlines UA954 from San Francisco, which turned back halfway to Tel Aviv (Flightradar24) open image in gallery What if I have booked a package holiday to Israel? Travellers who have booked packages to Israel and are due to travel imminently can cancel without penalty for a full refund because of the no-go warning from the Foreign Office. This applies equally to customers of British Airways Holidays and easyJet Holidays. A spokesperson for Abta, the travel association, said: We are liaising closely with the Foreign Office and our members to offer help and advice to customers, both those currently on holiday in Israel and those that are due to travel there imminently. Anyone due to travel to Israel imminently should speak to their travel company for the latest advice and monitor updates from the Foreign Office. Are cruise ships to Israel affected? Yes. A cruise ship that was due to arrive at Haifa in Israel in the early hours of Sunday morning changed course to sail to Limassol instead. Celebrity Apex had just begun a Holy Land cruise from Athens to Israel and Egypt. The subsequent departure with the same ship, on 16 October, appears to have been changed so that the two days at Israeli ports will instead be spent at sea. A spokesperson for Celebrity said: Our global security team is closely watching the evolving situation in Israel. For the safety and security of our guests, were adjusting several itineraries in the area. Impacted guests will be notified directly. While the war continues, all cruise ships are likely to avoid Israel. 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 I was put in a boxy single hotel room at the end of a corridor, which I remember being cold and damp. A few days later I had bites in a line, in threes. A GP friend said thats bed bugs. Then I had an allergic reaction. It was horrible, and it took many weeks for the scars to disappear. The hotel in question was in London, not Paris but the experience literally scarred this traveller. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), says: Bedbugs, a problem worldwide, are resurging. Reports from Paris and elsewhere in France talk of an infestation by bedbugs. Some prospective visitors are seeking to cancel their trips and get their money back and there are concerns about the problem getting worse ahead of the Paris Olympics next summer. Whats going on with bedbugs? Cimex lectularius, as they are known medically, are small insects (around 5mm long) that are rarely happier than when feasting on human blood causing itchy bites that can be painful. The NHS warns bedbugs can hide on bed frames, mattresses, clothing, furniture, behind pictures and under loose wallpaper. Reports from Paris and more widely in France talk about an infestation from bedbugs taking hold, with the parasites apparently increasingly resistant to insecticide. They can be transported inadvertently in travellers luggage. Paris is the capital of the worlds most visited country, so bedbugs have a fair chance of a trip to the city. For people booked to the City of Light, what are their options? It is difficult to know the extent by which social media may have exaggerated the current problem in Paris and beyond. But assuming there is genuinely a growing public health threat from the insects, I still cannot see any prospect of the UK government warning against travel to France as a result. Such a move is reserved for very serious health threats. The NHS says with the rare exception of a severe allergic reaction there is no reason to worry if you are bitten. Unlike mosquitoes, which also enjoy dining out on blood meals from humans, bedbugs do not transmit disease. Bites usually clear up on their own in a week or so, the official advice says. Isnt there anything people can do? Some fellow travellers say you should look for online reviews about your intended place to stay and see if bedbugs are mentioned. I am afraid that even if they are, and you are booked to go there, you will not be in a position to insist on a refund. All you can do is travel to the destination and, on arrival at your accommodation, inspect the room for any sign of the nasty creatures. I accept that is not a great way to begin your stay. Check in the fold of mattresses and sheets. Tell-tale signs, according to the CDC, include bedbugs exoskeletons after moulting and rustycoloured blood spots due to their blood-filled faecal material that they excrete on the mattress or nearby furniture. That may not be the start of a much-needed holiday you were dreaming of. But if you can prove the room is infested with bedbugs, you can reasonably expect a refund or a rebooking elsewhere. Can anything be done to reduce the spread of bedbugs? Yes, according to the Australian Youth Hostels Association. It tells prospective guests: Sleeping bags are prohibited by Australian health regulations. Many hostels, particularly in Australia and New Zealand, specifically ban travellers from bringing their own sleeping bags for fear of importing an infestation. Youve stayed in a few unusual places. How often have you encountered bedbugs? Never, to my knowledge. Mosquitoes have always been the problem in terms of night bites and they are much more lethal than bedbugs because of the diseases they transmit. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Welsh delegates at the partys conference in Liverpool it is time for change. As activists gathered for what could be the final Labour conference before the election expected next year, Sir Keir said the party would make the positive case for change with a pitch to swing voters that would weld together competence and the offer of fresh hope after 13 years of Tory rule. The partys members gather in Liverpool enjoying consistent double-digit poll leads over the Tories and buoyed by the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election triumph over the SNP, but Sir Keir also warned against complacency. President Zelensky said Russia is trying to incite war in the Middle East during his video address on Monday, 9 October. Volodymyr Zelensky said: According to the available information - a very clear one - Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe. The Ukraines president has condemned Hamas for its surprise assault on Israel and likened the attack to Russias invasion of his own country. #LoUltimo | Sala Penal de Apelaciones Transitoria Especializada en delitos de Corrupcion de Funcionarios de Junin condena 3 anos y 6 meses de prision efectiva a Vladimir Cerron por el delito de colusion. Caso #Aerodromo Wanka. pic.twitter.com/tpp8JJzoWM 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 }} US politicians frequently say the United States has no greater friend than Israel, while none other than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the United States is Americas greatest ally. The United States was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Israel in 1948 and President Harry Trumans support for the country cemented the Democratic Partys support. Though in recent years, many progressive members of the Democratic caucus including Sen Bernie Sanders, who lived on a kibbutz in his youth have become more critical of the right-wing Israeli government. Meanwhile, while few Jewish Americans vote Republican, the GOPs history of supporting a robust foreign policy combined with the fact that evangelical Christians largely support Israel has meant the party also plays up its support for the country often called the Middle Easts only democracy. Indeed, earlier this year, now-deposed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog to give a joint address before Congress and criticised some Democratic members who boycotted the address. But this weekend, an attack from Hamas in Israel that has left at least 700 people dead came at a time when the countrys closest geopolitical ally is in a state of political limbo. Last week, eight Republicans and every Democrat present filed a motion to vacate, which deposed Mr McCarthy as speaker. While that may seem unrelated, the lack of a speaker makes it all the more difficult for the United States to allocate support for Israel. Prior to the coup led by Rep Matt Gaetz a Republican who incidentally hails from Florida, a state with a large Jewish-American population the House was in the middle of debating funding to keep the government open. That also included funding for the Department of Defense, which offers military support for Israel. Secretary Lloyd Ausitin said over the weekend that the Pentagon will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism. But given that the stopgap funding bill that Congress passed last week would only last for 48 days, there is no guarantee that support could last. In the same token, the state of flux that the House faces means that briefings for top congressional leadership will be just as scrambled. On Sunday, friend of The Independents Inside Washington newsletter Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News reported that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries a staunch supporter of Israel who called the attack violent, calculated and unprovoked was briefed over the weekend. Kevin McCarthy is giving indications he may want his old job back (AP) But intelligence did not have a speaker to brief, although Mr McCarthys former aides were briefed on the situation. The situation underscores that while the chaos in the House of Representatives can come off as childish, petty, puerile and even humourous at times, it has real-life consequences. Unsurprisingly, Mr McCarthy, who for years has wanted nothing more than to be speaker, seems to be moving closer to applying for his old job, telling reporters that 96 per cent of his conference supported him and delivering a sanctimonious and preening address about Israel on Monday, as if to show he is the best man for the job. Of course, this would likely cause even greater chaos and it is not guaranteed he could even get the votes (see also, this January when it took him 15 rounds). Whether Americans or Congress want the responsibility, the country is still the leader of the free world and when crises erupt, its allies and equally, its foes look to see how the United States responds. That makes the Republican civil war simultaneously seem incredibly trivial its hard to care about whatever grievances a handful of hard-right conservatives have when people are dead and hostages have been taken and all the more consequential (other countries will now have to learn who Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise are, how they would work with the Biden administration to provide aide to Israel and how they view Congresss role in the world). In addition, there is little that the Biden administration can do to reassure its allies, given that Republicans control the House and prior to the government funding fight, they were planning to impeach him. The breakdown in communication which, make no mistake, is entirely spearheaded by the GOP makes coordination within the branches of government all the more difficult. 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 }} This weekends heinous massacre of unarmed civilians by Hamas was shocking not just for its unbridled brutality, but because the people in places of power in Israel and the United States appeared blind to its possibility. For the better part of the last 50 years, the Israel-Palestine conflict for want of a better term was a top priority for successive US presidents. From Jimmy Carter to Barack Obama, both Republican and Democrat administrations recognised and often witnessed the costs of allowing this conflict to fester unaddressed. But fester it has. After years of treating the conflict as a low priority, a catastrophic and deadly escalation in violence has left hundreds of civilians dead and risks sparking a regional war that could provoke more direct US military involvement. Joe Biden set the tone for his administration early in his presidency. At a joint meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, Biden spoke about the importance of keeping a diplomatic solution to this decades-long conflict in sight. "There must be a political horizon that the Palestinian people can actually see or at least feel. We cannot allow the hopelessness to steal away the future," he said . He insisted, however, that the ground is not ripe at this moment to restart negotiations. Biden appeared to recognise that hopelessness was where danger lay, but was unwilling to take meaningful action to address it. Hamas has for years exploited this despair to convince young and desperate Palestinians that violence is the only way for them to win their freedom. The absence of a diplomatic solution gives them space to make their argument. The Biden administration did not attempt to initiate any kind of direct talks between the two sides. Instead, like his predecessor, Donald Trump, Biden sought to fiddle around the edges of the conflict by chasing normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia a country which has had no real influence over the primary actors for decades. Trump, for his part, celebrated the Abraham Accords a normalisation pact between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain as the dawn of a new Middle East. Speaking after Hamas carried out its attack on Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back on the suggestion that the US had taken its eye off the ball. Weve said from day one that even as were working toward normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia, that cant be a substitute for resolving the differences between Israelis and Palestinians, he said . But anyone paying attention over the last two years will have witnessed an administration that was at best detached from , and at worst disinterested in, addressing the roots of the conflict. This indifference persisted against the backdrop of a steady drumbeat of violence across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories during his tenure. Before this weekends outbreak of violence, some 227 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli troops or settlers this year, according to the United Nations the majority of those deaths occurred in the West Bank, which is not controlled by Hamas, but the Palestinian Authority. At least 29 Israelis were killed during the same period, also mostly in the West Bank. There was a sense in the White House that the issue could be contained that there was no need to pursue talks because things were calm. A little over a week ago, Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, declared : The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu felt the same , choosing to build a governing coalition of far-right extremists and expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank , seemingly in the knowledge that he could do so without serious pushback from allies in Washington. Biden was not the first to deprioritise the conflict. Trump did much more than nothing. Rather than act as a mediator, as previous Republican and Democratic administrations have sought to present themselves as, he did everything he could to tip the scales in Israels favour, asking nothing in return. But Biden refused to reverse controversial decisions by the Trump administration, such as recognising its annexation of Jerusalem and the Golan Heights , or moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. In Gaza, meanwhile, a crippling blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007 has left the vast majority of Palestinians there dependent on aid to survive and with no hope of escape. If peace talks seem like a foolish enterprise at this current moment, when the dead are still being counted, consider the futility of expecting another massive military operation in Gaza to herald different results than it has before. In the 16 years since Israel blockaded Gaza in an attempt to squeeze Hamas a measure described by the UN as collective punishment of the enclaves more than 2 million inhabitants four devastating military assaults have failed to weaken Hamas in any meaningful way. None of this requires a direct negotiation with Hamas, but rather with rival Palestinian groups that Hamas has sought to eradicate. The US is by no means an impartial broker. It is Israels staunchest ally and delivers billions of dollars in military aid every year to ensure that it maintains an overwhelming superiority of arms over its enemies. But that relationship, and that aid, is precisely why the US role in brokering peace is essential. Of course, Hamas has never needed an excuse to carry out attacks in the past. A peace effort by the Biden administration would likely not have impacted their decision to kill civilians en masse. But a serious effort at peace would weaken groups such as Hamas, not strengthen them. Hopelessness breeds extremism, and never before has the prospect of a just solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict seemed more distant. Charles Francis Chuck Feeney, the Irish American businessman and philanthropist has died. He was 92. Over the course of his life the self-made billionaire gave away an $8bn fortune. Almost a quarter of funds disbursed by his philanthropic vehicle Atlantic Philanthropies were to projects in Ireland, including huge support for universities here and peace projects in Norther Ireland. From 1984, when he established the fund until it was wound up in 2020 it made 6,500 grants of over $8bn, in keeping with Feeneys motto of Giving while Living. Although he eventually became well known, for decades Feeney acted largely in secret and he did not court publicity. In 1984 he quietly transferred his shareholding in Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), a luxury retail chain he had co-founded, to The Atlantic Foundation which later became The Atlantic Philanthropies, and began distributing the bulk of his personal fortune to good causes. The Republic of Ireland has received $1.3bn in grants while $570m went to projects in Northern Ireland. Atlantic Philanthropies said on Monday that Chuck Feeney died peacefully on October 9 in San Francisco. If you give while living, the money goes to work quickly, everyone gets to see the action and the results, thats what were all about, Chuck Feeney explained some years ago. He lived modestly, quipping that travelling at the front of the plane doesnt get you there any faster when asked why he did not book first class tickets, but amassed a vast fortune from his successful business venture. In his later years he didnt own a home or car, preferring to rent as he travelled. None of the around 200 buildings he helped fund in institutions around the world was named after him. Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Irish American parents at the time of the Great Depression. He was the first in his family to attend university, studying hotel management at the prestigious Cornell University thanks to the US GI Bill that funded education for former members of the military. He is survived by his wife, Helga; five children from his first marriage to Danielle Feeney of France: Juliette Feeney-Timsit of Paris, France; Caroleen Feeney of Los Angeles, California; Leslie Feeney Baily of London, England; Diane Feeney of London, England; and Patrick Feeney of Brussels, Belgium; 16 grandchildren and 4 nieces and nephews. The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, especially if you are already in SCEP The National Genotype Programme offers famers the opportunity to genotype their herd at a subsidised cost. Photo: Roger Jones I have decided to sign up to the National Genotype Programme. I didnt fully understand what the scheme involved until I read up on it over the last week or so. It has been well advertised over the last few months, and October 31 is the final deadline. The programme offers farmers the opportunity to genotype their herd at a subsidised cost. It is a collaborative programme, with the cost of the genotyping split three ways between the Department, the farmer and either Dairy Industry Ireland or Meat Industry Ireland, depending on whether you are dairy or beef. It is estimated to cost the farmer around 6 per calf, including the tag. If it was to be carried out on a national scale, genotyping would give the Irish cattle industry 100pc traceability, but for the moment it is hoped around 800,000 animals will be DNA tested next year. It is a voluntary programme over five years. There are a few conditions. As a beef farmer you must be a member of Herdplus, be part of the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) and register the all calves online, which we do on this farm. There are a few major advantages. Because I am in SCEP, I will be able to tag the calves at birth with the double-tissue tags one for BVD and the other for genotype, which is a requirement for SCEP. By sampling them at birth, I wont have to wait for the button tags or hair cards to sample heifers to see their star rating at a later date. This year that the genomics tags arrived after turnout so animals that required tagging had to be gathered up again, and this may not be easy for a few weeks post-housing. So being able to tag the calf as a newborn is labour-saving, and much easier and safer. Secondly, if I am accepted into the programme the remaining females that have not been genotyped for the first year of SCEP or the previous suckler cow scheme (BDGP) will be genotyped at a reduced cost. This is important as going forward a higher number of 4- and 5-star cows or heifers will be required in SCEP up to 75pc in the final year of the scheme. Having all of the potential breeding stock with a genomic evaluation should give me better information on which heifers I can line up for breeding at a younger age albeit that when selecting an animal for breeding I put a big emphasis on the temperament and appearance. It will be a bonus if I have addition heifers with a high rating that I do not require for breeding. These might be suitable for some of the special sales that have been organised to meet the demands by some farmers for their breeding programmes. There will also be a Commercial Beef Value (CBF) available for animals a figure gathered from generations of breeding. It is hoped that this figure will be displayed on mart information display screens for weanlings and store cattle being traded. Youd hope that higher-value animals would have better performance potential, in terms of daily live weight gain, grades and kill-out percentages and would command a premium. The dairy industry have being using the EBI figures for a long time, to good effect. I know some beef farmers are unimpressed by figures, but they do provide information to a bigger picture. And as for this programme, I think the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, especially if you are in SCEP. John Joyce farms at Carrigahorig, Nenagh, Co Tipperary 44ac Tipp farm with development potential guided at 11,250/ac Holding on edge of Toomevara village has frontage on three sides There are some useful sheds with the farm at Toomevara Jim O'Brien Mon 9 Oct 2023 at 11:20 A 44.4ac roadside farm with a yard and sheds at Coolkereen beside the village of Toomevara in Co Tipperary will appeal to farmers and investors alike. My cheating ex-husband left our children nothing in his will now his other woman plans to sell the farm Legislation giving all workers the right to request remote work has not commenced. Photo: PA Employees are being ordered back to the office while long-promised laws to give them the right to request remote work are still not in force. The Government faces the threat of fines and legal action as it is over a year late in meeting an EU deadline to roll out this new right and an entitlement to other forms of flexible work for the parents of young children and carers. Separately, legislation giving all workers the right to request remote work has not commenced. Officials at government departments said they must wait for the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to come up with a code of practice first. It is understood there was a target to roll out the new laws by Christmas, but this is now uncertain. What has happened with the right to request remote work? Its been signed into law, but still nothing, one tech worker who contacted the Irish Independent said. This is a big deal for many of us, especially in tech with the likes of TikTok now digitally monitoring, the anonymous worker said. TikTok recently rankled its workers by rolling out return to office tracking tools. They were asked to use an app to monitor their in-person attendance. It tracks badge swipes. Earlier this year, it emerged that Ireland was among 11 member states that failed to transpose laws to give effect to a work-life balance directive by a deadline in August last year. The European Commission initiated infringement procedures. This is an example of deadlines being missed that shouldnt be missed if its good law and a directive passed in Europe and signed up by all parties, said Fine Gael senator Martin Conway who is chairman of a Seanad committee set up to ensure EU directives are implemented on time. Its an example of many more directives that arent transposed in a timely manner. I sincerely hope there are no further delays so it can be implemented, particularly for carers and vulnerable adults. A Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth official confirmed that the transposition deadline for the directive on work-life balance for parents and carers was August 2, 2022. She said the department notified the EU Commission of measures taken to transpose aspects of the directive into Irish law in July that year. The spokesperson said that the Work Life Balance Act passed in April will introduce a right to request flexible working for parents and carers. She said commencement is awaiting the development of a code of practice by the WRC. The department has continued to keep the commission appraised of progress in the transposition of the directive. A Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment spokesperson said the process for preparing the statutory code is underway. While no set date has been agreed for finalisation of the code, all members of the working group are focused on having the code published as soon as possible, she said. Priestless funerals are likely to become commonplace throughout Ireland before the end of the decade, as lay-led ceremonies become the norm. Thats the stark prediction from the Association of Catholic Priests, which has warned grieving families to expect radical changes at funerals due to the unavoidable impact of declining clergy numbers. Fr Roy Donovan, a spokesman for the 1,000-strong priests group, said he believes ceremonies, led by lay ministers and without funeral masses, will be firmly established in more populated, urban areas across Ireland in as little as a few years. A number of dioceses including Dublin, the countrys largest have already taken the lead by introducing training programmes for parishioners to ease the burden on overworked priests by taking on funeral rites. More than 70 new lay leaders in the two dioceses of Clogher and Down and Connor are due to finish training in the coming months, and take a leading role in funeral liturgies across the two regions parishes. Diminishing priest numbers and the ever-worsening vocations crisis could also soon lead to both grouped and delayed funerals, families have been warned. Fr Donovan, parish priest of Caherconlish, Co Limerick, said: Lay people are being trained at the moment at dioceses around the country to perform funeral duties, and its exactly whats needed because the burden on priests has to be relieved. There are fewer priests than there have ever been and they are getting older, yet people still expect a priest to be available to lead a funeral mass. That simply is starting to become unrealistic. So lay people will start to take a more central role. You already see this happening in some parishes where parishioners will go with the priest to visit a grieving family, or help out at churches. But in a few short years I think itll start to become normal to see lay people leading funeral ceremonies, doing pretty much everything apart from the funeral mass. Unfortunately, there may be far fewer funeral masses in the future, because we wont have the priests to lead them. Certainly by the end of the decade itll become common to see laity and priests sharing responsibilities throughout the country, while in cities well start to see funeral ceremonies without a mass, because there wont be a priest available. He added: I think another trend well see before long are longer delays before funeral ceremonies take place. If people want a priest to lead a funeral mass, we may have to wait a week or two, like what happens in England. And we are also likely to start seeing a couple of funerals taking place at the same time, because of the impact of the priest shortage. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has joined the Taoiseach and Tanaiste in condemning the truly horrific Hamas attacks in Gaza. The opposition leader spoke on RTE Radio 1s News at One, saying the targeting of civilians and taking of hostages by the militant organisation Hamas is to be condemned outright. To meet with such a violent and traumatic death is just truly horrific, she said. Ms McDonald said the retaliatory bombing of Gaza by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) is to be equally condemned in what is now a very dangerous situation. The truth is, that for decades the Israeli state has breached international law with collective punishment, annexation and confiscation of lands, imposing an apartheid regime and denying the Palestinian people their absolute right to self-determination, she added. The Sinn Fein president would not be drawn on whether it her party TD Chris Andrews was right to post a picture of the Palestinian flag in response to news of the Hamas assault, for which he has received criticism. She told Bryan Dobson that she has been to the West Bank and met people from all sides, including the leaders of Hamas. That is the correct way to approach this. We should know in Ireland. If you are serious about achieving a ceasefire, a path to peace and respect for international law in a conflict situation, you meet and talk to everybody, that is the only way forward, she said this afternoon. She stressed that there is a widespread consensus across the Oireachtas to recognise the Palestinian state in the aftermath of the international community looking the other way on the oppression of Palestinians for years. What I would like us to do is move towards action and suppress out international partners and not to simply stand idly by. This situation is far too perilous and dangerous for that, Ms McDonald added. Her condemnation follows a call for an end to the violence from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who said at the weekend: The firing of rockets by Hamas and the loss of life in fighting is appalling, as is the impact on people going about their daily lives. We condemn attacks on civilians unequivocally. The fighting should stop immediately. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said his thoughts are with the families of the deceased and all of those lives who have been impacted. Speaking on Saturday, Mr Martin said Israel under international law has the right to self-defence. Micheal Martin comments on reports that an Irish-Israeli citizen is missing However, it is very important that every effort is made to de-escalate the situation and protect the lives of innocent civilians, the Minister for Defence added. The Green Party has also come out on Monday to condemn the escalation of devastating violence across Gaza and the West Bank, urging for an immediate end to the violence. The appalling attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians are utterly wrong. They do harm to the Palestinian cause as well as to the people of Israel. The attacks must end immediately and any hostages should be released at once, party leader Eamon Ryan said. He also appealed to the Israeli government to exercise maximum restraint in its response to the attacks over the weekend. More violence will only result in further suffering and misery for both sides and push the prospect of a just and peaceful resolution further into the distance. There is always a better way, he said. As her mum I just felt so helpless," says Mary Griffin about her daugher Sarah's ordeal. Photo: NICHS Mary Griffin wants the story of her daughter, Sarah, to warn young people about the dangers of vaping. Photo: NICHS Sarah Griffin (12) had to be placed into a coma after vaping damaged her lungs. Photo: NICHS Sarah spent four and a half hours in intensive care before she was put into an induced coma. Photo: NICHS A mother has told of her terror her 12-year-old daughter would die after she was put into an induced coma because vaping had ravaged her lungs. Sarah Griffin was getting ready for bed one evening when she started coughing, but at first her family thought it was a symptom of her asthma. The girl tried to ease her symptoms throughout the night with her inhaler and nebuliser but still felt unwell. In the morning her mother Mary Griffin left to take her other two children to school and Sarah seemed to settle. But later in the day, her daughter called her in a panic as she couldnt breathe properly. Sarah Griffin (12) had to be placed into a coma after vaping damaged her lungs. Photo: NICHS Sarahs father rushed her to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, where she was taken to the resuscitation area. A nurse checked her vitals and found her oxygen levels were extremely low. Sarah was just in a blind panic, she was terrified, Ms Griffin said. She was on oxygen and was linked up to all sorts of machines. There were medical staff all around her assessing her and they said she needed to go to ICU as she was deteriorating very quickly. Sarah spent four and a half hours in intensive care before she was put into an induced coma. The doctor showed Ms Griffin an X-ray of Sarahs lungs showing one had been seriously injured and she had an infection. Due to the injury, the other lung was working overtime and making her asthma worse. Mary Griffin wants the story of her daughter, Sarah, to warn young people about the dangers of vaping. Photo: NICHS There were tubes, wires, and machines everywhere it was heart-breaking to see her like that, Ms Griffin said. As her mum I just felt so helpless it was a nightmare come true. Sarah has an older brother and two younger siblings and trying to explain to them what was happening was awful. They were asking if she was going to die, and I was saying, Of course not, but in my mind I was terrified that was a real possibility. I had to try and keep it together for them, but I was out of my mind with worry. The anguished mother explained how medical staff worked around the clock to ease Sarahs symptoms. After three days, staff were able to take Sarah out of the coma and remove the ventilator. The doctors explained to Sarah if she hadnt damaged her lungs by vaping, she would have been in a better position to fight the infection. Sarah continues to suffer from lethargy and will be classed as a high-risk patient for the rest of her life, whereas before her asthma was under control, her mother explained. As her mum I just felt so helpless," says Mary Griffin about her daugher Sarah's ordeal. Photo: NICHS She has been through such a trauma, Ms Griffin said. She still has a long road ahead of her, but we are just so grateful to have her back home with us. The family have shared the story as part of Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Strokes new campaign to raise awareness of their concern about young vapers. Fidelma Carter, head of public health at NICHS (Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke), said: The biggest misunderstanding about vapes is that they are harmless compared to cigarettes. This is not true, and this message needs to change to prevent more young people from taking up and getting addicted to vaping because they think they are risk-free. The long-term health implications are unknown just as they once were with tobacco. We have launched our vaping awareness campaign in response to the misunderstandings around the potential health risks associated with vaping and the huge increase in the number of teenagers using vapes. For further information and support about vaping visit nichs.org.uk/vaping The Palestinian ambassador to Ireland has said nobody wanted to see this violence when asked what she thought of the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel. Asked what she thought of the attack by the Palestinian militant group on Saturday, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid said she was shocked that the two million Palestinians who have endured occupation, oppression and humiliation under the Israeli occupation have been ignored. Asked on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland what she thought the attack would achieve for the Palestinian people, she said: For decades the oppression of the Palestinian people. This situation should find a just solution. What do you expect people that are oppressed for decades to do? The death toll is believed to have exceeded 1,100 on both sides following the attack on Saturday, in which hundreds of civilians were killed, while many more including women and children were kidnapped. More than 250 young people who were attending a music festival were killed by the militants as they stormed the event. Israel formally declared war on Sunday following the attacks and retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, with many civilians among the dead. Pressed about what she thought about the Hamas attack, Dr Abdalmajid said: Hamas is part of the Palestinian people. You cannot deny it, whether you accept it or you dont accept it. Whether I agree or disagree what Hamas think, its part of the Palestinian people. Dr Abdalmajid told the programme that she was there to talk about the Palestinian suffering, stressing that nobody wanted to see this violence or talk about killings. She said: I have sympathy for my people. I see the suffering of the Palestinian people who endure this occupation for decades, suffering, displacement. Im talking about 73,000 Palestinians who have been displaced since Saturday and are under attack from Israel from sea, land and air. Dr Abdalmajid, who became ambassador for Palestine to Ireland in 2020, said she was there only to talk about how Palestinians are oppressed. She said: We should find political horizons. When you talk about the suffering of the Palestinian people, they dont see any hope for the young generations, that they didnt see any change for decades. We have a just cause. We have the right to defend ourselves. We have the right to self-determinations. We are human beings. We are not less human beings than anyone else, she said. When asked if the actions of Hamas further condemns more than two million Palestinians in Gaza to another Israeli onslaught, Dr Abdalmajid said: My God, this is the same question that all our representatives have been asked. She said that the situation is both deteriorating and getting more complicated. Im representing the Palestinian people, whether they support other factions or not, she said. Long awaited changes to the way in which judges are appointed could be further delayed due to concerns over the constitutionality of the reforms. President Michael D Higgins is to convene a meeting of the Council of State on Wednesday to consider whether the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022 should be referred to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality. The bill has already been passed by both houses of the Oireachtas and is due to come into force once signed into law by Mr Higgins. A statement issued by Aras an Uachtarain did not specify which part of the bill had given rise to the Presidents decision to convene the Council of State. However, the Irish Independent understands the move has been taken on foot of concerns expressed in some political and legal circles about a section dealing with which candidates the Government can nominate for appointment to the bench. Under the bill, a new Judicial Appointments Commission has to recommend just three candidates to the Justice Minister when a judicial vacancy arises. The minister would then bring this list to Cabinet and the Government would only be able to pick from that list of three when choosing who to nominate for appointment by the President. Concerns have been expressed, most prominently by Senator Michael McDowell and Fianna Fail TD Jim OCallaghan, who are both barristers, that the change may impermissibly limit the Governments constitutionally protected discretion over who it can nominate. It is only the third time President Higgins has convened the Council of State to consider the referral of a bill to the Supreme Court. The President previously convened the Council of State in 2013 to consider the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 and in 2015 to consider the International Protection Bill 2015. On both of those occasions Mr Higgins ultimately decided not to refer the bills to the Supreme Court. Since 1940, the Council of State has been convened to consider the potential referral of 28 previous bills to the Supreme Court. The president of the day subsequently made a decision to refer 15 to the court. The membership of the council comprises the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, President of the High Court, Ceann Comhairle, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Attorney General, previous Presidents, Taoisigh and Chief Justices, as well as six other appointed members. Under the bill, the new commission advising the Government on nominations would comprise four judges and four lay people and be chaired by the Chief Justice. The Attorney General would also sit on the commission without having a vote. It would replace the current Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB), which has a large legal majority and can recommend up to seven candidates for a vacancy, rather than three. Applicants will have to undergo interviews by panel of the commission. While it has been open to the existing JAAB to interview candidates, in practice this has not been happening. Reform of the judicial appointments process has long been a hot topic, particularly under the previous Government when the issue was championed by then Transport Minister Shane Ross. However, a number of measures he had been seeking were dropped after he lost his seat in the last General Election. These included proposals for a lay chair and a lay majority on a new commission. Republican activists have erected a giant Palestinian flag on Black mountain in Belfast in Northern Ireland. 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. 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 on Saturday 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. Radiographers at two hospitals have overwhelmingly backed industrial action in a ballot over staffing levels. Siptu members at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital voted for industrial action that could include strikes. The union says University Hospital Galway is one of a few hospitals and acute stroke centres that does not have an on-site radiographer providing CT scans out of hours. It is concerned that staffing shortages could cause significant safety issues. According to the union, the ballot follows months of frustration over recruitment and retention issues. It says members took on a significant extra workload due to a 20pc staffing deficit. The union claimed management rejected proposals it tabled to address the issue in recent weeks. It said a reluctance to consider extra out-of-hours services is at odds with statements by the Minister for Health and chief executive of the HSE. John McCamley, Siptu sector organiser, said there is a growing demand for qualified radiographers. As a result, fundamental changes must be made to attract radiographers to Galway, he said. If these are not forthcoming, there will be a full-blown crisis in both hospitals. We are calling for immediate action to be taken by management to address recruitment and retention." A spokesperson for the Saolta Hospital Group, which is part of the HSE, said it will continue to engage with staff and the representative body on the issues of concern. "We note the proposed industrial action and are fully committed to engaging with the industrial relations process to achieve a satisfactory outcome," they said. GUH, as with other acute hospitals, is challenged by a global shortage of radiographers and we acknowledge that staff shortages negatively impact our workforce. We are making every effort to fill vacant posts and are actively prioritising ongoing recruitment campaigns which target domestic and international markets. Department admits current NCT rules are inadequate to detect them Illegal fume fixes are believed to be widespread despite the damage that's done to the environment. Photo: Getty Thousands of motorists are believed to be driving around with illegal fume fixes that pose a very serious risk to public health and authorities are powerless to stop them. The Department of Transport is pushing for a clampdown, but admits current National Car Test rules are inadequate to detect or prevent the practice. It also concedes that while it says the practice is illegal, the offence is not specifically referenced in the relevant laws which date back to the 1960s. That leaves the pathway to prosecution uncertain. The problem stems from diesel cars and commercial vehicles that have had the diesel particulate filter (DPF) removed from the exhaust system. Removing a DPF allows toxic pollutants 20 times higher than normal to escape into the air, increasing the threat of respiratory disease, heart attack, stroke and cancer. Yet flouting of the law is widespread. Garages openly advertise the service as a cheap alternative to cleaning or replacing filters, and online platforms feature many cars for sale where prior removal is highlighted as a bonus. The operator of the National Car Test (NCT) admits it struggles to detect removals during inspections. Garages remap software in the vehicles internal computer so that its sensors do not signal a problem. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and a leading air quality expert have expressed concerns about the impact on public health. A diesel vehicle with the filter removed emits particulates that are around 20 times higher than one with it, said Professor John Wenger of University College Cork. This large increase in emissions represents a very serious risk to public health because the particulates in diesel exhaust are highly toxic to humans and contain many cancer-causing chemicals. The EPA, which is charge of monitoring air quality nationally, echoed that view. These filters are in place to reduce particulate emissions from the vehicle and their removal will mean that the vehicle is releasing far higher concentrations of particulate matter, the agency said. Poor air quality has a proven negative impact on peoples health with approximately 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland per year due to fine particulate matter in our air. Air quality in many parts of Ireland, and particularly in built-up areas with high traffic volumes, is in breach of the World Health Organisation standards that Ireland has voluntarily adopted but which will soon become law. Applus, operator of the NCT, said detecting the removal of or tampering with a DPF can be difficult because inspectors carry out visual tests only. The DPF is inside a casing which must be opened to remove it and resealed afterwards. Applus said it did not know how many vehicles had been found to have a missing DPF because such cases were categorised as exhaust system incomplete. We dont break it down to DPF removed as there are also other NCT defect items covered in this failure category too, the company said. The Department of Transport said that while it was an offence to remove the emissions control system from a vehicle. The NCT is not an enforcement tool against unscrupulous vehicle modifications, the Department said. It is a check at a point in time that a vehicle meets a basic standard. The vehicle cannot be dismantled during the NCT so only parts that are accessible can be checked. The Department said driving without a DPF would be covered in general terms by the 1961 Road Traffic Act which requires reasonable steps to be taken to prevent harmful emissions. It said the offence could potentially attract a fine of 1,000. It is not clear, however, if any such prosecution has been attempted. The Department said the type of tests carried out in the NCT were determined by European law under the Roadworthiness Directives which were currently under review. Ireland submitted issues for consideration by the European Commission in 2022 which included a request for the re-examination of the testing of DPF filters at NCT to combat filter removal, it said in a statement. Professor Wenger, who specialises in atmospheric chemistry, said the issue needed more urgent attention. We urgently need to ban the practice of DPF removal and put in place measures to speed up the switch from diesel vehicles to more healthy and sustainable forms of transport, he said. Vehicles that run on diesel have had to be made with DPFs since 2011 to catch and trap particulate matter soot and other residue from the burned fuel so it doesnt escape into the air. Owners complain, however, that DPFs become clogged too easily and are too expensive to replace or repeatedly clean, with replacement costing upwards of 1,500 for a car and more for larger vehicles. Improved torque and fuel efficiency are also often promoted as reasons to remove a DPF. Garages contacted did not respond to queries. Some are upfront about offering the service while others overtly advertise DPF cleaning or replacement but ask prospective customers to make direct contact about other solutions. Online car ads offer many vehicles for sale that have had a DPF removed, with assurances added that remapping has also been carried out. The full number of cars and other vehicles that have been modified in this way is unknown, but the problem has been flagged with transport and public health agencies across the EU repeatedly over the past decade. In Ireland, records from an interdepartmental working group set up by the previous government show it met with transport agencies, the EPA and Dublin local authority officials to discuss the problem in early 2020. It appears to be particularly prevalent in Ireland and the UK which supplies many second hand imports to Ireland but authorities in Belgium and the Netherlands are also pushing to tighten up inspections. The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) said it strongly opposed the practice. "The advertising of a DPF removal service should be banned and the practice made illegal to interfere with the DPF of a car," it said. "It has a significant environmental impact, as well as health implications and air pollution particularly in our cities, especially at a time when we are working towards reducing emissions." SIMI also advised buyers of second-hand cars to check if the DPF has been removed. It said it is likely there would be thick deposits of soot in the exhaust pipe which should be checked when the pipe is cold. It added: "It's best to have a professional mechanic evaluate your car for accurate information about your vehicles emission control systems. "Those who decide to sell a car with a particulate filter removed are obliged to inform the buyer about such a modification, SIMI said. This article was updated on October 9 to include SIMIs response. Imogen Poots plays the ringleader of the 1974 heist at Russborough House in Co Wicklow. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/PA 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 Dugdale in the name of the IRA. Imogen Poots plays the ringleader of the 1974 heist at the private estate Russborough House in Co Wicklow, where the group stole 19 masterpieces. Speaking about the character at the London Film Festival, Lawlor said: 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. Christine Molloy said 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 Dugdale, who was last year reported to be resident in a Dublin nursing home, 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, Mr 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 inspiration for the film was born as Dugdales role in the heist was completely forgotten about as the focus shifted to Martin The General Cahills raid on Russborough House in 1986. The 49-year-old man was found unconscious by the roadside near Cork Airport early on Sunday morning GARDAI have arrested a middle aged woman as part of their investigation into the death of an Eastern European man in Cork. 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 man had visible injuries and his death is being treated as suspicious. A woman in her 40s has been arrested in Cork and is now being questioned at Togher Garda station. She is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Her arrest followed an examination of CCTV footage from around the area where the man was found. The body of the man was found near a vehicle which 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 rushed to Cork University Hospital (CUH), where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The State Pathologist's Office was notified and a full post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted at CUH this 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. Sources have said that the nature of the garda investigation will be determined by the findings of the post mortem and the results of toxicology tests. We 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 said. 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. 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. Several airlines have suspended flight services with Tel Aviv in light of the Hamas militant attack on Israel, saying they were waiting for safety conditions to improve before resuming. Fighters from the Islamist group killed 700 Israelis and abducted dozens in Saturday's attacks, which were the deadliest such incursion since the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. On Sunday, US air carriers United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines said they had suspended direct flights, as did Air France and Finland's Finnair. The US airlines normally run direct services from major cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Miami. In a statement, United said it had run two scheduled flights to the United States from Israel late on Saturday and early on Sunday but had suspended services "until conditions allow them to resume". Delta representatives said flights "have been canceled into this week" while they monitor the situation to make necessary schedule changes. Britain's easyjet said it had halted flights with Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and would adjust the timings of flights in the next few days. Hainan Airlines, the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday, citing the security situation in Israel. It said it would continue flights linking Beijing and the southern tech hub of Shenzhen with Tel Aviv while waiving fees for cancellations before October 20. Cathay Pacific, which said it also cancelled its flight between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv on Tuesday, is to provide further updates about the next flight on Thursday. Korean Air said it cancelled its Monday flight between the port city of Incheon and Tel Aviv and expects future flights to be irregular. Reporting by Douglas Gillison, Sophie Yu, Farah Master, Joyce Lee and Brenda Goh, Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm and Sarah Young in London. On Saturday, Hamas launched a series of unprecedented attacks on Israel, which saw rockets fired and Hamas break down the barriers that surround the Gaza Strip. This led to the shooting of civilians and Israeli hostages taken into Gaza. There are many more missing, including Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti. Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, where over 2 million people live and Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of a long and difficult war ahead. On this extra episode of the Indo Daily, presenter Tabitha Monahan is joined from Tel Aviv by Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent with the UK Independent to look at what has happened in Israel, the international reaction and what could follow. Moscow considers the possibility of organizing a meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan within the framework of the upcoming CIS summit on October 12 in Kyrgyzstan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told RBC in an interview. October 9, 2023, 11:00 Moscow considers possibility of organizing Armenia-Russia-Azerbaijan foreign ministerial meeting STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 7, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The dialogue between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia around the entire complex of the issues of resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict never stopped. We hope such contacts continue. We are discussing the possibility of holding such discussions at the foreign ministerial level within the framework of the upcoming CIS summit in Bishkek on October 12 this year. The Azerbaijani side has already given its principled agreement. And we expect the Armenian side to also approach this issue responsibly and agree to participate in such negotiations, Galuzin said. The new Statkraft Ireland office has been officially opened by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney in Cork Airport Business Park, cementing the organisations commitment to Ireland. The Norwegian state-owned company recently celebrated five years in Ireland, and the number of employees working for the company has tripled to 126 since 2018, when they acquired the Irish and UK wind development businesses of the Element Power Group. Statkraft has invested approximately 450million into the Irish business and is now one of the biggest renewable energy developers in Ireland with more than a 4GW pipeline of onshore, offshore, solar, battery and grid services projects. The company recently relocated from its original office in Cork Airport Business Park to a significantly larger premises nearby to accommodate its rapidly growing workforce. Speaking at the event, Minister Coveney said: Its a very welcome feeling to be back at Statkraft to see the companys investment in Cork and Ireland go from strength to strength. Statkraft has access to top talent in Cork and is proving to be a vital cog in Irelands green transition. I want to congratulate everyone at the company and wish you onward success and growth. Kevin ODonovan, Managing Director of Statkraft Ireland, said: Its great to welcome Minister Coveney back for the official opening of our new office. Over the past five years, weve seen incredible growth in the Irish team, with almost 130 people now working across our offices in Cork and Tullamore. Statkraft is committed to supporting Ireland meet its renewable energy targets through the rollout of a diverse range of renewable energy technologies, onshore and offshore wind, solar, battery and grid services projects. The pieces are all handmade in styrofoam and fibreglass, and painted gold as a nod to the Bronze Age A third sculpture has been unveiled in Cork City as part of the exciting Island City project, Cork's Urban Sculpture Trail, a Cork City Council initiative funded by Failte Ireland under the Urban Animation Scheme. The artwork, titled Face Cup by artist Fiona Mulholland, is a celebration of the countys rich prehistoric heritage and sits on the facade of the historic Exchange Building on the corner of Princes Street and Oliver Plunkett Street. It is part of a unique cultural trail of five contemporary sculptures that are being installed around Cork city this year to encourage locals and visitors to explore new areas of the city and bring art to life on the streets. Fiona Mulhollands artwork is based on a collection of exceptional bronze age ceramic artefacts, a small clay cup decorated with eyes, nose, ears and feet, another pottery vessel with ears and a spoon dating approximately 3,800 years old. I was really inspired by the remarkable archaeological finds that were discovered in Mitchelstown. These three household pottery relics reminded me of the exchanges that we have over tea - and a nod to the buildings name and the streets hospitality culture, Fiona said. Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy, said it is fantastic to see the Face Cup unveiled as part of the growing Island City. Its a real delight to see the Exchange Building take on a new role as host to this beautifully crafted artwork and highlighting the Cork regions rich prehistoric past. The Perfect Immigrant deals with language difficulties, the dating scene and searching for chili peppers in Lucan Poet and playwright Samuel Yakura used aspects of his own life for his new play, The Perfect Immigrant Nigerian poet and playwright Samuel Yakura photographed at Dublins Liberty Lane as he performs a scene from his new show The Perfect Immigrant. A new play showing in Dublin next month explores the culture shock many immigrants experience when first moving to Ireland. The Perfect Immigrant is written and performed by Samuel Yakura and draws from incidents in his own life, such as the time he was asked Whats the craic? and thought he was being asked for drugs. The show revolves around Levi, a courageous young Nigerian who leaves his homeland, with three worn suitcases, to fulfil his dream of studying engineering in a foreign land. When you come to a new country, you want to learn about its history, the people, and the culture, Samuel said. Ireland has become more diverse, but you dont really see that representation. Its relatable to anyone who has moved, left home, and found a better opportunity. Irish people have a rich history of migrating as well during the recession, moving to Australia, America and the UK. I wanted to tell the story and inspire other people to tell theirs. The culture shock, the language for example. Whats the craic? is such a funny line. The character in the play gets such a shock when an old man asks him that, hes so lost. What comes to my mind whenever I hear the word craic, is drugs. As a black man, I thought this Irishman was asking me for drugs. It seems like a very simple thing, but that difference is massive. Poet and playwright Samuel Yakura used aspects of his own life for his new play, The Perfect Immigrant It touches on the theme of racism in some ways. The character grew up in a black community, he always felt welcome and respected there, he was in the majority. Now hes moved somewhere where he is the minority where hes perceived as a second citizen. Its one of the many culture shock themes he faces when he moves here. Stories like this are very important to help us be a community. It gives a level of education and understanding to those who dont have the experience. It lets you see the world through that persons eyes. Itll help you be able to understand, sympathise and appreciate them, Samuel added. Following an award-winning premiere at last years Dublin Fringe Festival, The Perfect Immigrant will now tour venues across the country, including Tallaghts Civic Theatre. From the struggles of job-hunting, navigating the dating scene and searching for red chili peppers in Lucan, the one-man show is about the challenges faced by those in search of a brighter future. Wed the premiere at Dublins Fringe Fest and the reception was absolutely unbelievable. So, we want more eyes to see it, Samuel said. The character physically moves to Ireland but on the other side, hes trying to leave the shadow of his father and become his own man. This story gives the good, bad and ugly. It includes the struggles with the language, food, realising the Irish folk arent excited about having spicy food, the music as well. Theyre new experiences to adjust to and learn about. Samuel believes stories like The Perfect Immigrant will also encourage more minority cultures to engage with Irelands theatre and arts scene. Ireland is undergoing a transformative journey towards a thriving, multi-cultural society. However, there is a noticeable lack of representation in the arts and audience attendance, he said. By sharing stories like The Perfect Immigrant on stage, we hope to encourage minority cultures to explore the vibrant world of theatre and arts in Ireland. Personally, my journey as a poet has been enriched by coming here. I would encourage the general theatre community, but also those outsiders, to come and experience this show. The story is about a young adult navigating manhood, loneliness and self-discovery in a foreign place. The piece draws, in part, from my own experiences as a migrant. Similar to the shows protagonist, I came to Ireland in 2018 to pursue a masters in civil engineering. The piece is quite different from a traditional theatre show. We tell Levis story through a powerful mix of poetry, prose and with an Irish-Nigerian sense of humour that will entertain and resonate with audiences of all backgrounds, he added. The Perfect Immigrant is showing at The Civic Theatre, Tallaght from November 9 to 11 Photos of the walk in memory of Michael OSullivan Black From l-r: Kathleen O'Shea with her pet Dolly, Kitty O'Connor, Miriam O'Shea with Max (dog), Sean O'Shea pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Marie Therese Cahill, Lisa Ragosa, Siobhaun O'Sullivan pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Tim O'Shea, Siobhaun O'Sullivan, Christina O'Shea, and Saoirse Rice pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Mairead and Sinead Fitzgibbon, Eileen McCarthy, Mossie O'Leary and Johnny Tuohy pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Mags Griffin, Michaela Palmer, Lisa O'Shea, Kathleen Palmer, Gareth Barry, Cian Barry, Hollie Palmer and Harrison Barry (at the front) pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Dan O'Connor, Marion O'Shea, Eileen and Sean Daly with their son (senator) Mark Daly pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Michael and Sheila Hallissey with John and Margaret Rice at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Liam and Ciara Randles with Grace O'Sullivan pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Family members of the late Mike OSullivan (Black) pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning from l-r: Matty O'Sullivan, Richard Rice, Maria O'Sullivan (Black), Jeffery and Micheal Rice, Jimmy and Nielie O'Sullivan (Black). Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Mairead and Sinead Fitzgibbon, Eileen McCarthy, Mossie O'Leary and Johnny Tuohy pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Michael and Sheila Hallissey with John and Margaret Rice at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Kathleen O'Shea with her pet Dolly, Kitty O'Connor, Miriam O'Shea with Max (dog), Sean O'Shea pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Imelda Randles, Donal O'Sullivan, Martin Crowley and Phyllis Crowley at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Mary O'Farrell with Robin and Andie pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Dan O'Connor, Marion O'Shea, Eileen and Sean Daly with their son (senator) Mark Daly pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Tim O'Shea, Siobhaun O'Sullivan, Christina O'Shea, and Saoirse Rice pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Family members of the late Mike OSullivan (Black) pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning from l-r: Matty O'Sullivan, Richard Rice, Maria O'Sullivan (Black), Jeffery and Micheal Rice, Jimmy and Nielie O'Sullivan (Black). Photo by Tatyana McGough Sisters Michaela and Hollie Palmer with their cousin Harrison Barry pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Tracy O'Sullivan, Matty O'Sullivan, Michael Rice, Eileen O'Sullivan, Dan O'Sullivan pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Mags Griffin, Michaela Palmer, Lisa O'Shea, Kathleen Palmer, Gareth Barry, Cian Barry, Hollie Palmer and Harrison Barry (at the front) pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Jimmy O'Sullivan, Jimmy O'Brien, Barry Clifford, Nielie O'Sullivan, Pat O'Sullivan pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Liam and Ciara Randles with Grace O'Sullivan pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: David and Deirdre Noonan with Viktoria and Alana Noonan Vitting pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough From l-r: Marie Therese Cahill, Lisa Ragosa, Siobhaun O'Sullivan pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough Quinn, Florence Jnr, Alanna, Fallon, Florence, Padraig, Louise, PJ and Hugh McCarthy pictured at the Michael O'Sullivan Black Memorial Walk in aid of The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust Fund at the O'Neill's Shop/Blackwater Tavern on Sunday morning. Photo by Tatyana McGough The response of the community in Templenoe and Blackwater to a memorial walk in memory of local man Michael OSullivan (Black) has far exceeded expectations with the OSullivan overwhelmed by the support. More than 380 people from not only the local parishes but from Kilgarvan, Kenmare, and Sneem attended the walk with donations and sponsorship flowed in from every corner. "We are amazed and delighted. It far outdid our expectations, said Michaels sister Maria. Read more Heartbreak as Kerry man and wife battling cancer die within days of each other Michael OSullivan passed away suddenly on July 2 the day after the funeral of his beloved wife Debbie. Michael and Debbie were living in her home place of Pearl River in New York, and Michaels family from Kerry had travelled to the US to attend Debbies funeral when tragedy befell the family and Michael too passed away. The 49-year old had been battling cancer as had his wife and both died within eight days of each other. Friends and family organised the inaugural memorial charity walk in memory of Michael OSullivan to raise funds for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund which helped the OSullivan family bring Michael home. The family were very grateful to the support of the charity and this was their way of thanking them and the community rowed in behind them to ensure one of the biggest and most successful events they could possibly have. Funds raised are now at 14,000 and donations are still coming in. "It is was three times what we expected .. I have spoken to the charity and they are astonished at what we raised, added Marie. It was a phenomenal community response. We are genuinely delighted and we eternally grateful to the community. This enhancement is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. Route 982 will now operate seven daily return services Monday to Sunday from Sligo to Mullaghmore with five daily return trips extending from Mullaghmore to Ballyshannon. The route will continue to connect villages and areas such as Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Tullaghan, Mullaghmore, Cliffoney, Grange, Maugherow, Carney and Sligo. The enhanced route will also provide improved morning and peak-time services seven days a week for commuters, as well as enhanced connectivity to the Wild Atlantic Way and regional bus and rail services in Sligo. Speaking ahead of the launch, TFI Local Link Donegal Sligo Leitrim General Manager, Fiona OShea said: We are delighted to announce new enhancements to the 982 Ballyshannon to Sligo service. The higher frequency seven days per week will provide a vital level of connectivity for passengers, which they can rely on to travel to work, social events, colleges, training, accessing the Wild Atlantic Way or connecting to rail services in Sligo. New Ross man nominated to join the board of Chambers Ireland A New Ross man joined the board of Chambers Ireland where he will represent the interests of the county and its chamber which plans to develop the night-time economies of the countys four largest urban centres. Lorcan Kinsella of Brand Nova Digital an international digital marketing agency based in New Ross has been involved in New Ross and District Chamber for six years and more recent County Wexford Chamber. He said: It's been an incredible journey, adding that he was honoured to attend Chambers Irelands 101st AGM at the historic Royal College of Physicians of Ireland in late September, where he was nominated to join the board of Chambers Ireland. "I can't express how delighted and proud I am to be stepping into this role. A huge shout-out to Fiona Candon, President of Chambers Ireland, and Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland, for their warm welcome. It's an absolute pleasure to work alongside them. He said the chambers membership has been growing and currently stands at 320 Chamber members across the county. With 18,500 plus social media followers on three platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and 33,000 website visitors annually, the chamber which represents the county has had a busy year, including several ambassador and ministerial visits, which enabled members to meet and raise issues directly with government ministers and officials. International links were also developed, Mr Kinsella said, pointing to links fostered with Normandy. We have been building on opportunities presented by Rosslare Europort and relationships with our French and Welsh neighbours. The chambers Strategic Plan 2023-2025 was launched in April, outlining the bodys vision, values, and purpose along with five key strategic objectives to guide the organisations activities and actions over the next three years. These objectives will see the chamber promote sustainability in business and the wider community, represent and grow its membership, advance economic development in County Wexford; encourage tourism, culture and the night-time economy; and support workforce development and education initiatives in County Wexford. 20 networking events have been held, affording businesses a variety of opportunities to meet new contacts and copperfasten existing relationships These include B2B meetings in three towns, the annual County Wexford Chamber Business Awards (which had over 400 attendees), the Jobs Fair in Wexford and an information night on New Ross to Waterford Greenway. 1.5m in Shop Local Vouchers have been sold since their launch with over 270 participating outlets in the county. The Small Benefit Exemption Scheme increased to 1000, allowing employers to reward employees and to support retailers across County Wexford selling everything from jewellery to heating oil, groceries to jewellery, food to art. Developing the night-time economies of New Ross, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Gorey are among the top priorities for Co Wexford Chamber. This involves recognizing the unique attributes and challenges of each town. To this end the chamber will collaborate with local businesses, cultural groups and public stakeholders to ensure the growth of the night-time economy. The chamber plan to offer workshops and training sessions for local businesses on maximizing opportunities in the night-time economy through County Wexford Chamber Skillnet. It also plans to collaborate with existing tourism and hospitality bodies to regularly seek feedback from locals, visitors and businesses about what theyd like to see more of during the evening hours. This ensures that initiatives remain relevant and impactful. We will engage with Visit Wexford and Failte Ireland to support effective marketing campaigns that highlight night-time attractions in each town, that inform both domestic and international tourists are aware of what County Wexford has to offer after dusk. The chamber also plans to attend and promote meetings with key stakeholders to discuss challenges, share best practices and brainstorm innovative solutions for enhancing the night-time economy. Ten large properties identified to house Russian war refugees across Co Wexford Refurbishment works are ongoing at Wexfored Garda Station where Ukrainian people fleeing the Russian war are set to be accommodated. TEN or more Ukrainian people are set to move into the old Wexford Garda Station premises before Christmas, as major works continue to make the derelict premises suitable for habitation again. "Wexford County Council have played a very pro-active role in ensuring the delivery of this much-required accommodation for displaced persons and are currently progressing five properties for delivery in the coming months with a further five for delivery in 2024. The first of these properties is the former Wexford Garda Station, said Amanda Byrne of the councils Ukrainian Response Team. Since February 24, 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked to accommodate an unprecedented volume of persons seeking refuge from the invasion of Ukraine, amounting to over 96,000 people. In efforts to assist in this response to the humanitarian crisis, the Government agreed on a programme of work, which included the consideration of commercial properties for refurbishment. A coordinated effort between the Dept of Housing, Children & Taoiseach along with many other stakeholders allowed for the establishment of this new Refurbishment Programme and continues to provide supports to the initiative. The delivery of the programme is, at ground level, driven by the Ukraine teams within each local authority with national coordination managed by the Local Government Management Agency who assist the local authorities in the delivery on the expanded work stream at local level. Nationally, this programme is set to provide accommodation in 53 properties in the current year with over 150 already in the pipeline of delivery for 2024. The buildings on the Garda station site have seen considerable refurbishment works carried out by the provider. The main building will consist of shared sanitary, kitchen, dining and lounge areas with own door bedrooms for family groups. The pair of semi-detached houses which were originally built to house families of the gardai and were subsequently knocked through to form additional office space, have been brought back to their original use and will cater for two families of five persons. A storage area to the rear has been fully refurbished and will now serve as a two bed apartment to house up to 6 persons. "Great thought has gone into the design to ensure optimal use of all areas has been achieved and will comfortably cater for the individual needs of the family groups and single persons which are expected to be in situ prior to Christmas. Speaking in support of this project, Cllr John Hegarty said: I am pleased to see the former Garda station is being brought back into productive use and will be now used to support Ukrainian families fleeing the war in their country. The building has empty for over five years and was becoming rundown and an eyesore, taking away from the character of Wexford Town. "I believe having parents and young children in the area will bring a new energy and life to the local community. Wexford County Councils new Integration Team will work with both the families and the local community to support everyone during the establishment and operation of this centre. With almost 3,400 Ukrainians currently accommodated within Wexford, the majority within fully serviced accommodation, this much needed self-catering offering is a very welcome addition to the provision of accommodation within the county, said Ms Byrne. "The community should be commended for their contribution to the current refugee accommodation crisis. A submission bearing the full support of the elected members of Wicklow County Council will be lodged in opposition to separate bus lane proposals for Bray and the N11 between Fassaroe and Glen of the Downs. The submission will also be sent to the NTA and the Minister for Transport calling for funding to be provided for the major N11/M11 Upgrade scheme, which has been on pause since 2022. Cllr Joe Behan sought a suspension of standing orders at the October meeting of Wicklow County Council held on Monday, so the issues could be discussed. His notice of motion, seconded by Cllr Tom Fortune, stated: That this Council views with extreme concern the fact that two separate and distinct proposals to construct bus lanes on (i)Castle Street, Bray and (ii) on the N11 between Fassaroe and Glen of the Downs have been progressed without ever being formally discussed at any meeting of Wicklow County Council despite the fact that they will have extremely negative repercussions on local Bray people and businesses in the case of Castle Street and on many thousands of motorists and commercial drivers in Bray, Enniskerry, Kilmacanogue and surrounding areas in the case of the N11. It also called on the NTA to remove the bus lane planned for Castle Street, Bray from the Bus Connects scheme submitted to An Bord Pleanala. It also called for the withdrawal of proposals to close permanently the N11 access to and from the Herbert Road, Enniskerry Road and many other minor entrances and the proposal to install traffic lights on Hills Roundabout, and for funding to be instead restored for the main N11/M11 Upgrade scheme. Cllr Joe Behan. Cllr Behan said: We never discussed either of these proposals at either municipal district or council level and it has huge ramifications for people in our district but also for people who travel in and out of Bray, Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue. Its a non-statutory public consultation process in that people are given an email address to express their views. The process ends on Friday, October 13, which may be appropriate. We were told that the preferred route would be published, in other words the result, would also be announced in October, which means that for the many, many people who are currently making submissions they are entitled to ask the question how seriously are their views going to be taken. Cllr Behan added that councillors had already expressed their support for the major N11/M11 Upgrade, which wasnt provided with any funding in 2022 or 2023 to progress the project. He said: Restoring that scheme would help the people on the N11, help to install bus lanes and also ensure that the people of Bray, Enniskerry and Kilmacanogue can still move freely in and out of the N11. Thats being stopped. What we got, in a cynical move in my opinion, was the Minister saying at the beginning of July that you can go ahead and have your bus lane. A bus lane on the N11 that would be put on the hard shoulder, which means all the main entrances that I mentioned earlier would be closed permanently. I am a long time councillor and in my time I have never experienced an issue which has activated so many people and made them so angry at what they look at as an imposition on their lives without them ever having a proper consultation process or having their public representatives involved in any discussion about it. Cllr Tom Fortune stated: I think the NTA is a body that is now unanswerable, yet another body that is answerable to no one. Certainly local public representatives are being totally ignored and it seems they can do as they please. . I am also really interested in this area, because I have got family living in Bray who have been onto me about this particular issue as well. Im fully supportive of Cllr Behan on this issue. Cllr Derek Mitchell said: The main scheme which had been worked on for five years at a cost of in the region of 5 million does contain a parallel road to take the traffic from these two closed junctions, so it can actually move rather than forcing it back into Bray. So this is not just a Bray or Enniskerry issue; it will create in my view enormous traffic jams. Also, Minister Ryan decided to cancel or postpone the main scheme in 2022 and also this year no work has taken place in spite of five years of work beforehand. And I think it is disgraceful to come up with this plan which will create all the problems which we are hearing about. Cllr Melanie Corrigan said: Closing these two arteries in and out of Bray just doesnt make any sense. I agree that some of the smaller exits could be closed, but these are the two main arteries for people getting in and out of Enniskerry. It wont close off the village but it will create huge problems. She added: Last year we carried out lots of works on the Herbert Road and had six weeks of the road being closed. It was utter chaos in Bray but people put up with it because it only lasted for six weeks. But a permanent closure like this just cant happen and I think we need to send out a message from us all that it wont happen. Cllr Dermot Daisy OBrien said: in the language of the website I see a project team doing an exercise to complete a project, and that is where their rationale comes from, to complete the project, and the project says put in a bus lane. So for me it seems very far from the reality on te ground. Cllr Anne Ferris encouraged as many members of the public as possible to lodge their own submissions if they feel strongly about the matters raised. I think this project is being carried out piecemeal and I dont know if the any thought has gone into it at all. I think it has to go back to the drawing board. We are in no doubt of what people are thinking by the amount of correspondence we are getting and the amount of posts that are being out up on Facebook. Cllr Gerry Walsh stated: The main plan was paused indefinitely and we pointed out in this chamber time and time again that it just wasnt acceptable. So I think the original plan needs to be back on the table ASAP. In relation to the closure of Herbert Road and Enniskerry Road, it just doesn't make sense and will just create total mayhem. Parents of children who are due to celebrate the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation next year in the pastoral area of Kilquade and Greystones have been left without the support of the church in providing preparatory meetings, following a decision by the parish priest to dispense with the Pastoral Area Sacramental Preparation Programme. It follows the removal of a 100 financial contribution as a requirement of enrolment from the parish website, on Sunday, September 24. It is understood that Archbishop Dermot Farrell had intervened to have the financial contribution removed. Parents were then informed by email, on Tuesday, September 26, that meetings which were due to take place that same evening, had been postponed. Greystones and Kilquade Parish assured people on their website that an official update regarding subsequent meetings planned to prepare children for the sacraments would be issued. In a statement sent to parents on Friday, October 6, Fr John Daly said the parish would now not be running the programme as planned, due to insufficient support. It added that those families who had paid contributions would be reimbursed. We thank you for your patience over the last couple of weeks while you waited for an update, Fr Daly said. Our hope was to create a strong and dynamic programme that supported you as parents and guardians as you prepare with your children for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion or Confirmation. Unfortunately, we are now unable to run the Pastoral Area Sacramental Preparation Programme as originally envisaged due to insufficient support. We have taken advice and for the purposes of transparency and fairness, we will be returning all contributions by the 31st October 2023. The statement added that celebrations of the sacraments would take place as usual on Saturdays and Sundays in May, 2024 and the exact dates for the celebrations will be made available by Friday 1st December at the latest. One parent, who had raised the issue of the 100 contribution when it was first brought to light at the beginning of September, said parents are now very upset and devastated and the fallout will have the greatest impact on the children, who are now left without any guidance from the church as they prepare. This basically means you get your date on December 1st and you just show up on the day. The parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had contacted other parishes over the weekend and was told that this wasnt the norm. We all just feel now that were on our own. the parent said. There is a lot of preparation involved. The parents can do a lot of it but we cant do the church side of it. When asked about whether the schools are able to assist, she said they all do and have been doing their part by providing religious education classes, but they too were kept in the dark as the events unfolded. The Sacramental Preparation Programme 2024 had been planned for children about to embark on the sacramental preparation journey in the parishes of both Kilquade and Greystones, which includes the schools of St Brigids NS; St Patricks NS; St Kevins NS; Greystones Educate Together NS; Gaelscoil nagCloch Liath; St Laurences Primary School; Delgany NS; Greystones Community National School; Kilcoole Primary School; Newtownmountkennedy PS; St Catherines Special National School; St Francis Primary School and Woodstock Educate Together National School. Were going to have an issue now, the parent said, because a lot of parents hadnt registered because they didnt have the money and they didnt know what was going on. There are now fears among parents that many of the some 800 children who are due to celebrate sacraments next year will be unable to do so. When contacted, the Archdiocese of Dublin referred the matter to the Parish of Greystones. Fr Daly had not responded to requests for information at the time of publication. The Happy Pear was among 12 of County Wicklows food producers to scoop awards at this years Blas na hEireann 2023, the prestigious Irish food awards which rewards the best of Irish food. It brings the total number of awards to four that the food business, which began in 2004 in Greystones as a small vegetable shop, has notched up so far. Taking place in Dingle, Co Kerry, on Friday, September 29, this years Blas na hEireann 2023 saw the best of the countrys food producers take the spotlight with nominees and winners alike proving that Ireland has great taste. The winners from County Wicklow were: Avoca Ireland, Bradys Coffee Company, Clare Anne Taylor Couture Cakes, Coconut & Moo Moo, Ginos Gelato, National Organic, Pilgrims Foods, The Butlers Pantry, The Happy Pear, Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Ltd, Wicklow Way Wines and this years Best Artisan Producer and Best in County, Mienas. Meanwhile, local Wicklow producers were also among the winners that helped ALDI win a total of 46 awards Local Wicklow suppliers National Organic and Pilgrims Foods received top accolades at the awards. Winning products include National Organics Gluten Free Organic Porridge Oats (Silver) and Pilgrims Foods Specially Selected Honey Roast Ham Shavings (Bronze), which are all produced for ALDI. Speaking about this years Blas na hEireann wins, John Curtin, Group Buying Director at ALDI, said: At ALDI, we dedicate ourselves every day to delivering quality local food to our customers at affordable prices. This requires a serious team effort, and we could not do it without the hard work of our incredible Irish suppliers. Thats why it is so gratifying to see so many of them recognised at this year's Blas na hEireann Awards. With many of the winning products available year-round in 160 ALDI stores nationwide, customers can rest assured that they are availing of the best of the best when it comes to Irish food and drink. Congratulations to our producers and buying teams on this fantastic achievement. Now in its 16th year, the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards is the biggest competition for quality Irish produce on the island of Ireland. With more than 150 categories, it recognises and rewards the best of Irish food and drink. The judging process, developed in conjunction with UCC and the University of Copenhagen, is regarded as an industry gold standard worldwide with each product subjected to a blind taste test that sees packaging and identifying features removed to ensure a level playing field. The judging panel is composed of food experts from a variety of backgrounds, including chefs, restaurateurs, academics, journalists, authors, food champions, caterers and enthusiastic home cooks. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is still unresolved, Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin has said. October 9, 2023, 11:17 Armenian-Azeri conflict still unresolved, says Russia STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 9, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: In an interview with RBC, Galuzin praised the Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh for what he described as playing an essential role in providing humanitarian assistance to the civilians after the September 19-20 Azeri attack. He said that the Nagorno-Karabakh authorities decision to disband their government doesnt mean that the conflict situation is over between Armenia and Azerbaijan. And here the complex of the trilateral agreements between the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia is still relevant, Galuzin said, mentioning that the agreements pertain to the unblocking of the transport and economic routes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, border delimitation and demarcation, signing of the peace treaty and establishment of contacts between public figures, expert circles and parliamentarians from both countries. All of this should lead to mutually acceptable conditions of resolution that will be stipulated in the future treaty. And Russia, as an honest broker, that has collegial and allied relations with both countries, will seek to support in order for sustainable and balanced agreements to be reached between the two neighbors, the Russian Deputy FM said. The mass exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh began after the September 19-20 Azerbaijani attack which ended after Nagorno-Karabakh authorities agreed to Azerbaijans terms in a Russian-brokered ceasefire deal. Over 100,600 forcibly displaced Armenians have crossed into Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh. Many residents of Karabakh made a difficult decision to leave. But at the same time, we believe that the Russian peacekeeping contingents mission remains more than demanded, Galuzin said, adding that the peacekeepers would be necessary in the future as well. The terms of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, officially known as the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement by the leaders of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, provide for a repeated extension of the Russian peacekeeping contingents mission by five more years if Armenia and Azerbaijan do not object to that. Delegates from Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB) attended the annual Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) education conference in Cork City Hall to explore the future of learning with the organisation. The theme for this years conference The ETB of the Future explored key topics such as the role of AI and technology in education, the importance of inclusion and diversity, and what learners want for the class of 2033. During the conference Stephen Horan, tutor and IT specialist at Kildare and Wicklow ETB, was awarded best photo at the conference. The event brought together over 300 representatives from across the sector and featured a line-up of over 40 speakers. Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Niall Collins TD opened the conference on Wednesday giving the official Ministerial conference address. Commenting of the future of education, General Secretary of ETBI, Paddy Lavelle said: As we reflect on ten years of ETBs in Ireland, its time for us now to look to the future and focus on what lies ahead for our sector. Ireland is changing, and its important that we move to adapt with it. We need to plan ahead and give real thought to who our learners of the future are: what skills do they need; how do they need or want to be taught; and how can we ensure that we are delivering education to learners of all levels in Kildare and Wicklow and across the country that meets their needs, and the needs of their future employers? It will come as no surprise that we have heard throughout the conference of the potential for technology to revolutionise education for both the teacher and the learner. However, its important that we also highlight other key considerations that will be vital in the future of education. As Ireland continues to become a more diverse and inclusive country, it is essential that we ensure that we have the infrastructure in place to support all learners regardless of any disability, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Kildare and Wicklow ETB and Education and Training Boards across Ireland are already providing multidenominational, coeducational and equality-based education and training services, so are well placed to expand on this delivery and meet potential increased demand. The learners of the future are tech-savvy, culturally diverse, environmentally conscious, and adaptable. It is our responsibility now to ensure that the classroom of the future evolves to support them on their learning journey. The conference took place over two days, with a full line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions. Avondale Community College in Rathdrum invited prospective students and their parents and guardians to their hugely successful open night on Thursday. A series of guided tours facilitated by fifth year mentors and sixth year prefects, showed visitors the outstanding facilities, wide subject range and a flavour of the variety of teaching methodologies employed through multiple lessons. Building on their commitment to the Magenta Principles and IL strategies, students showcased their work, projects and creations alongside interactive displays. The Transition Year programme displayed pieces from last years Junk Kouture, YSI, their portfolios and also screened the Fresh Film winning entries from last years animation module. The P.E. hall hosted sporting demonstrations, while the history department offered visitors an opportunity to become an archaeologist through a cookie excavation activity. The home economics kitchen was also thronged as delicious pancakes were served. Visitors to the well-stocked library shelves were treated to a book-tasting session. The construction and metalwork rooms were equally vibrant as eager future craftsmen and women admired past projects and enthusiastically watched several demonstrations. Matthew Theron in the Metalwork room. The Principal, Ms Elaine Fitzgerald addressed a full audience in the sports hall with visitors to the school then offered the opportunity to meet with all members of staff. Guests also met with many of the student representatives who acted as exemplary ambassadors for the school. All enrolment forms can be accessed online from October 26. The closing date for all applications is November 16. James of Carnew passed away suddenly on Sunday, October 1 and was the son of late Cllr Pat Doran who died in 2021. Speaking in the chamber on the Monday after Jamess death, Cllr John Mullen said: The community of Carnew is in shock this morning and the wider GAA community is in shock at the passing of James Doran, known affectionately as The Bear Doran, on Sunday night. He was heavily, heavily involved in the GAA so everybody who knows anything about Wicklow GAA or Wicklow hurling would know that James Doran was at every match. He was a passionate supporter of all things GAA. He was also heavily involved in Carnew Community Care, as was his father, and up to last week James was involved in day-to-day deliveries of Meals-On-Wheels to vulnerable, isolated people in rural areas, and that's a measure of the man's commitment and heart. It's a very tragic development. Cllr Gerry Walsh also offered his condolences to the family of James Doran. I have known James over a long number of years through his involvement in the Wicklow GAA. I served with him on the Wicklow County Board committee for over 15 years. His sudden passing will be a huge loss to his family and to the Carnew community in general. He was just Carnew through and through. He never missed a match and was an active advocate at county board level at the meetings. He will certainly be missed. A minutes silence was then held in the council chamber in honour of James and others who have departed since the councils last meeting. Cllr Gerry ONeill has questioned the number of foreign trips some councillors have taken over the past year or so, describing the trips as a waste of public money. Cllr ONeill raised the issue at Octobers meeting of Wicklow County Council and cast doubt over the value of such trips abroad. I just want to know if we could get some answers on the amount of councillors who are travelling abroad from the county. There seems to be a huge amount going out of the county every year. There seems to have been a huge amount of comings and goings over the past 12 months. The public are always asking what is the property tax and what is it paying for? I believe there is another trip to Amsterdam tomorrow, where its learning how to cycle, or something like that. I dont know what it is for but in my view thats a complete waste of public money. I can fully understand why officials might travel to these lands to see things like how these cycle lanes are operated, but I dont see the worth in councillors being taken abroad. I believe in the Wicklow Municipal District, they are notorious for the amount of trips abroad. How many trips have been carried out by councillors over te past 12 months? Director of Services Leonora Earls stated that the trip to Amsterdam was fully funded by the NTA at no cost to Wicklow County Council. She added: I would argue that it is more important that the councillors are on it than the officials, because it gives a really good understanding and feedback to the elected members so how it is done and why we are moving towards pedestrian and cycle lanes. Director of Services Lorraine Gallagher stated: Foreign travel normally would just consist of twinning trips, where we have strong twinning relationships with other communities, and St. Patricks Day attendance by elected members. By regulation, they should either go before the council or an appropriate committee, and in Wicklow County Councils instance, it comes before the protocol committee. So all trips or twinning trips are approved by the protocol committee. To the families who have lost loved ones, I pray for you. I pray for innocent civilians on both sides. No innocent people should be killed Claudine Keane has hit back at a troll who criticised her for condemning the devastating scenes" in Israel over the weekend. On Saturday, Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas launched an attack against Israel across the Gaza strip. Israel has responded by saying the country is at war and fired at targets in Gaza in response. It is believed that around 1,300 people have died in the conflict so far. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Claudine Keane expressed her thoughts on the violence by sharing an image reading More Jews were murdered on October 7, 2023 than on any other single day since the Holocaust. The graphic was accompanied by a single yellow candle. Weighing in on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she condemned Hamas' kidnapping of civilians, who are being held hostage across the border, as well as the attacks on an Israeli music festival. She wrote: Absolutely devastating scenes. To all the lovely friends Ive met, to the man who runs the coffee shop my husband has his coffee every morning who lost his son, to the people we know whose kids were at the music festival who were attacked barbarically, to the Holocaust survivors that were kidnapped and brought to Gaza. To the woman who was killed and raped and paraded naked, we see you. The world sees you and the world is disgusted by what it sees. To the families who have lost loved ones, I pray for you. I pray for innocent civilians on both sides. No innocent people should be killed. This attack can never be accepted. It was barbaric and innocent civilians were the target. My prayers are the hostages are released without harm. I pray for peace for all. However, some of her followers were less than impressed by her post and took it to mean that she was showing solidarity with Israel. She shared a response from one person, who called her a f*****g toilet and said, Go read a history book. The same thing happened in Ireland for 800 years and when we fought back, we were called terrorists. They also accused her of only sharing the statement because of her husband Robbie Keanes association with Maccabi Tel Aviv. The former Premier League and Ireland star was appointed manager of the Israeli club this summer and sheltered in a panic room before fleeing to Greece amid this weekends attacks. In the now-deleted Instagram story, Claudine replied: Here we go, waiting for this. Good morning, Gerard. It has nothing to do with Robbies job, Im allowed to have an opinion. I dont believe anyone that I know in Ireland would like to be compared to Hamas, well not the informed educated ones anyway. Have a nice day. Nature has been Aoife McNamaras muse since she set up her sustainable fashion brand in 2019 with a studio in a thatched cottage in Adare, Co Limerick. For the last year, she has conducted a rigorous assessment into her operations equitable supply chain management, careful sourcing, circularity and repair, and treatment of employees. The detailed exercise has paid off and yesterday it was confirmed that the Aoife McNamara brand has achieved B Corp certification. The global award establishes the Limerick woman as Irelands first B Corp fashion label, setting a new standard for sustainable, ethical clothing in Ireland. We are passionate about sustainability and we wanted to prove to ourselves as well as our customers that this isnt just a marketing tool, Aoife told the Irish Independent. B Corp is one of the biggest sustainability certifications recognised around the world. Sustainability was my why and why from the start of the brand: it was all about trying to do better for the planet, trying to really figure out how I can educate and inspire others. It is about working with your local community, governance and being really transparent with every single party in the supply chain. There are 6,000 Certified B Corporations in over 80 countries and over 150 industries, from food and fashion to tech and finance. We are the first B Corp fashion brand in Ireland and we really want to be the leaders of sustainability in Ireland. The 12-month analysis threw up some surprises and she says the exercise showed us that you really need to dive into other companys supply chains and not just believe when someone says it is sustainable or something is recycled. Sustainability was my why and why from the start of the brand A graduate of Limerick School of Art and Design, Ms McNamara showed her rewilding collection at Paris Fashion Week last September with suiting and coats in a pinstripe wool inspired by the Burren landscape and made for her by the John Hanly mill in Nenagh, Co Tipperary. However this season, she is embracing degrowth and made a conscientious decision not to introduce a new autumn/winter collection. She is proud that her previous one remains as relevant and elegant as ever. Fashion is such a fast-paced industry. You are constantly creating and buying more fabric, its all new new new, she said. We dont follow trends, we create enduring designs that withstand the test of time and by choosing degrowth this season, we are taking a significant step towards a more sustainable and responsible future. Weve had natural dyeing and mending classes at the cottage and on October 27 we are hosting a gathering of stakeholders from the Irish fashion industry to engage in a meaningful discussion on driving sustainability and ethical practices forward within the sector and to achieve our shared goals of a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry. Azerbaijans president said yesterday 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 neighbouring Georgia would be a preferable venue for the negotiations. Security personnel and police officers stand near climate activists who stuck themselves to the tarmac at Hamburg Airport, Germany. Photo: AP Germany's Hamburg airport suspended flights on Monday as police, acting on a threat of an attack sent via an email, searched a plane with 198 passengers from Tehran that had landed in the northern city, a federal police spokesperson told Reuters. LATEST | Israel calls up 300,000 army reserves as it orders complete siege of Gaza and death toll climbs Israel strikes more than 1,000 targets in GazaQatari officials reportedly mediate talks for release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian women and children sourceDeath toll passes 1,200 Death tolls rise on both sides after Hamas launches unprecedented attack Irish Independent Newsdesk Mon 9 Oct 2023 at 13:40 The Israeli military said it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and was imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, signs it could be planning a ground assault there to defeat Hamas after it launched a humiliating attack. LATEST | Israel war: More than 900 dead as Hezbollah fires rockets from Lebanon while fighting continues along Gaza border Israeli soldiers battled Hamas fighters in streets in the south of the country on Sunday The prospect of Hezbollah joining the fighting a day after the attack from Gaza raised the chances of a broader conflictHamas takes unknown number of captives back into Gaza including women, children and elderly people Israel strikes Hamas targets on Gaza Strip after a night of intensified airstrikes Josef Federman and Issam Adwan Sun 8 Oct 2023 at 15:00 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says his Security Cabinet has declared the country at war following a deadly Hamas assault in southern Israel that has left hundreds dead, with an unknown number of Israeli citizens taken hostage. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will hold an urgent debate on the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. October 9, 2023, 18:13 PACE to hold urgent hearing on Nagorno-Karabakh humanitarian situation STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: Armenias delegate to PACE, MP Vladimir Vardanyan said the discussion will take place on October 12. Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from Sderot, southern Israel . REUTERS President Biden has scrambled to prevent Hamass assault on Israel from spreading into a multifront, regional war. A U.S. aircraft carrier group has been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean and Washington is rushing arms to the Israeli military in a bid to deter the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and other actors from attacking. Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed. Deepika Padukone at Cannes in retro fashion. Photo courtesy: Deepika Padukone Instagram Sometimes going back makes for happier times with liberal doses of nostalgia. The current trend of Retro fashion is a reflection of that sentiment, says Anju Munshi Nostalgia is a common emotion. Those were the days- you often reminisce with misty eyes, never mind that there were elements of unhappiness or difficulties that you had experienced at that certain period. Psychologists point out that falling back on nostalgia is a means to tackle a currently stressful time. It is a common human tendency as people generally tend to filter out more unpleasant memories and like to retain the happier ones. The current obsession with Retro fashion- in apparels, lifestyle statements, movies, etc. could have a lot to do with this tendency of harking back to times past. Take the recent hit film Rocky aur Rani ki Prem Kahani. Director Karan Johar liberally uses songs of the roaring 60s in Bollywood to build the mature love story between Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi. In fashion, he goes back to the chiffon sarees that heroines wore in that period even in the coldest Kashmiri landscape- as Alia Bhatt does fleeting across in designer retro fashion sarees, (note that not in a single scene she wears a salwar suit or a pair of jeans though she belongs to the urban elite of Delhi). Bhatt with her chiffon saris and low-cut sleeveless blouses recalls an era when Sadhana and Sharmila Tagore draped themselves with sarees with matching sleeveless blouses. The saree is a retro wear, but the blouse is contemporary with a low neck and a front knot creating an instant appeal, says a movie buff, who loves replicating the filmi attires by showing them to her tailor. Styles and fashions of the past are back in our lives, agrees Shrabani Basu of Soundarya, a fashion house and a modelling centre, Kolkata. To resurrect things from the past from our existing wardrobe which we have inherited as family heirlooms, like capes, mufflers, caps and old saree blouses with long sleeves and high necks, is a big challenge. It requires confidence and a firm belief and the films help us establish it till it becomes a trend. The definition of retro is anything that evokes a fashion trend of yesteryears. The contemporary scene in the world of fashion in our fast-changing cultural milieu and overall, in our living and lifestyle, is an interesting amalgamation. Sarees today are also worn with jackets, Kurtis, Tshirts, et al. From an attire that wasnt seen as a very progressive and fashionable one by the current generation to being a show- stopper is a reincarnation of the good old six yarder. Gayatri Desai, a young homemaker, observes that make-up too has become a retold story of the 60s: Kajal lines now stick out beyond the eyelids, making the eyes look winged. Remember Mumtaz, Sharmila Tagore, Helen, etc. of the 60s and 70s when this eye make-up was the raze? Kavita Ahuja, a documentary filmmaker, finds that besides the winged eyeliner, other popular wardrobe statements from that period, polka dots and zebra lines are back in vogue too. The men in the 60s through the 70s had flared pants called bell bottoms and big collars called dog collars; they also wore floral shirts. All these are worn with equal aplomb today and is a testimony to the fact that yesterday is here once more. Palazzos and co-ords with big patterns are also in today, thereby taking us back to the bell bottom days . As for accessories, colourful beads, flowers in the hair, thick chokers, scarves, hair bands, dangler earrings or big round baalis in typical Zeenat Aman style, are also back. Oversized sunglasses and mock spectacles with different coloured frames is another trend. Today such glasses are a rage. They are not expensive as there is no power added as recommended by an optician but are simply worn as a fashion statement, says an avid beautician and a socialite. The shimmery outfits worn by erstwhile actors who enacted disco scenes are back with Sharukh Khan in Jawan, his soon-to-be released movie. Old wine in a new bottle? Image posted by Abhishek Banerjee on Facebook Kolkata/IBNS/UNI: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Monday assured a Trinamool Congress delegation, led by its national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, that he would convey to the Centre about the MGNREGA fund scheme dues to the State Government, official sources said. The Governor, who was in New Delhi and visited the flood-affected North Bengal, including the Hills of Darjeeling, returned on Monday and invited a Banerjee-led TMC delegation to meet him in Raj Bhawan, sources said. The meeting was held for nearly 20 minutes. The TMC leadership has been on sit-in-dharna in front of Raj Bhawan gate for the past five days and insisted that unless the Governor meets them, they would not call off the demonstration. Sources said the Governor after the meeting is expected to leave for New Delhi by tonight. The TMC is believed to have called off the agitation. The TMC delegation called on the Governor at 4 PM and submitted a memorandum on MGNREGA. The Governor listened to what the party leader had to say and said the issue would be conveyed to the central government. Governor Bose told the delegation that whatever is required for the welfare of the people of the state will be done, sources said. We are expecting that the Governor would act as per the interest of the common people in the state," Banerjee told reporters outside the Raj Bhawan gate. It might be mentioned that the TMC workers held a protest against the Union Government for what it claimed was the Centre's alleged failure in disbursing funds to the state for MGNREGA, AWAS Yojana, and other Central schemes. People hold the bodies of children died in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Oct. 8, 2023. Photo Courtesy:UNI/Xinhua 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. Israel has declared war on Hamas and initiated airstrikes in response to their fierce attack. 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. 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 Meanwhile, top UN officials engaged key actors amid the spiraling Israeli-Palestinian conflict while UN peacekeepers detected rocket and artillery fire exchanged across the Israel-Lebanon border ahead of Sundays Security Council emergency closed-door meeting on the unfolding crisis. The UN agency is currently sheltering 73,538 internally displaced people in 64 of its schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip. An UNRWA school sheltering 225 people was "directly hit" and severely damaged, but no casualties were recorded, the agency said. New reports emerged of alarming food scarcity and clashes across the Israel-Lebanon border. The UN chief of the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, is in close contact with the United States, European Union, Qatar, Egypt, and Lebanon to discuss the ongoing war in Israel and Gaza, according to a social media post by his office, UNSCO. ALSO READ: Girl kidnapped by Hamas and seen semi-naked in pickup truck identified as German tattoo artist Priority now is to avoid further loss of civilian life and deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the Strip, the UNSCO post said, adding that the UN remains actively engaged to advance these efforts. Calls to protect civilians Top UN officials have called for an immediate cessation of violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier condemned in the strongest terms the attack by Hamas against Israeli towns, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, urging maximum restraint and that all diplomatic efforts are made to avoid a wider conflagration. Civilians must be respected and protected in accordance with international humanitarian law at all times, the UN chief said in a statement. As the conflict intensifies, civilians, including vulnerable children and families, face mounting challenges in accessing essential food supplies, with distribution networks disrupted and production severely hampered by hostilities, according to the World Food Programme (WFP). WFP urges safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to affected areas, calling on all parties to uphold the principles of humanitarian law, taking every necessary measure to safeguard the lives and well-being of civilians, including ensuring access to food, the agency said. From Gaza, UNRWA reported that food operations remain on hold until further notice, with 14 distribution centres now closed. Some 112,759 families, or 541,640 individuals, had not yet received food assistance, the agency said. (Images Courtesy: UNI/Xinhua, UN News/Ziad Taleb) Screengrab from Youtube video After two days of rocket strikes, the Israeli army Monday said it has regained control of southern areas near the Gaza Strip which was taken over by Hamas on Saturday. "We are in control of the communities," military spokesman Daniel Hagari told the media. However, he cautioned that individual Hamas troops may remain in the region. Israel's military said that it eliminated gunmen who infiltrated from Lebanon. Over the last three days, the toll has surpassed 1300 with Israel alone counting more than 800 dead. Palestinian officials claimed that Israel's barrage of air strikes on Gaza has taken the toll there to 560. The US has confirmed that nine of its citizens have died in the strikes. Meanwhile, more than 1,23,000 Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a "complete siege" on the long-blockaded enclave. It will impact 2.3 million people who will be left with no electricity, no food, no water, and no gas. Palestinians in the impoverished and crowded coastal territory are bracing for an Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate at least 100 hostages. On Day 3 of the war, skies over Gaza were seen blackened by thick plumes of smoke as fighter jets roared above. Hamas kept firing rockets as far as Jerusalem, where air raid sirens blared and detonations were heard. "Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip," a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces said. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Gaza civilians to get away from all Hamas sites which he has vowed to turn "to rubble". 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. The Israeli government announced on Sunday that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country officially entered a state of war. Both sides report hundreds of dead and thousands of injured as a result of the escalation of the conflict. Photo courtesy: X/Recep Tayyip Erdogan Istanbul: 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, but a two-state solution is the only way to achieve peace. "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 said, 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. Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, engaged in discussions with counterparts from the United States, Palestine, Spain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, and Jordan regarding the situation. On Sunday, President Erdogan cautioned against exacerbating the situation and expressed Turkey's willingness to take all necessary steps to mitigate tensions and put an end to the violence. Turkey, which has supported Palestinians in the past, hosted members of the Islamist group Hamas which launched the attack on Israel. (With UNI/XINHUA inputs) Image Credit: Wallpaper Flare Islamabad/UNI: One terrorist was killed by security forces during a clash with terrorists in North Waziristan district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday night. An intense exchange of fire between troops and terrorists took place on Saturday in the Razmak area of the district, resulting in the killing of a terrorist, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorist who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent civilians, the statement said. Sanitization of the area has been carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, according to the ISPR. Photo Courtesy: IOM/Leo Torreton In the aftermath of a powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck northwest Afghanistan, the international community is rallying to provide critical assistance to the affected region. More than 2,000 lives have tragically been lost in the disaster, prompting a swift humanitarian response. The United Nations' humanitarian coordinator has swiftly approved an emergency reserve allocation of $5 million from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF) to aid in relief efforts, Reuters reports. Several nations have stepped forward to offer aid to Afghanistan. Pakistan, Iran, and China have pledged their support in the form of essential supplies, including food, blankets, medicines, tents, and financial contributions. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Anwar ul Haq Kakar, revealed that Kabul had specifically requested medical teams, field hospitals, tents, and blankets. These items are already in the process of being dispatched, with additional relief supplies expected to follow. Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdullahian expressed his commitment to providing humanitarian aid and showed readiness to cooperate closely with Afghanistan during this challenging time. The Chinese Red Cross Society has announced a contribution of $200,000 to the Afghan Red Crescent as part of their emergency humanitarian aid efforts, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported on Monday. This contribution aims to alleviate the dire consequences of the recent devastating earthquakes in western Afghanistan. Suhail Shaheen, the head of the political office of the Taliban movement, reported that ten rescue teams are actively working in Afghanistan's Herat province to assist earthquake victims who are in urgent need of medicines, basic necessities, and tents, stated Reuters. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Center reported multiple earthquakes with a maximum magnitude of 6.4 striking western Afghanistan. Afghan authorities have sadly confirmed that the death toll from these earthquakes has now surpassed 2,400 people. [With UNI inputs] Convicted drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury, also known as 'Cocaine Cassie', has shed light on the horrifying conditions she faced while an inmate at Colombia's notorious El Buen Pastor prison, revealing she'd been "beaten multiple times" and stabbed twice. Now 28, Ms Sainsbury was in 2017 sentenced to six years behind bars after she was caught with 5.8kg of cocaine hidden in her luggage at Bogota Airport. Three years into her sentence Ms Sainsbury was released for "having completed three fifths of my sentence" and due to good behaviour. The drug smuggler-turned-fitness influencer has since moved back to her home city of Adelaide, with wife Tatiana, whom she met in Colombia. Having being diagnosed with PTSD following her ordeal, Ms Sainsbury revealed exactly what it was like living in such a brutal environment, ahead of her appearance on reality series SAS Australia. Convicted drug smuggler Cassie Sainsbury, often referred to as 'Cocaine Cassie', has shed light on the horrifying conditions she faced in Colombia's El Buen Pastor prison. Source: Instagram. Cassie Sainsbury 'beaten a lot, stabbed' "I think it was nothing that I expected. Obviously, everyone goes into SAS thinking, oh, you know, it's not [that] hard. Instantly I was transported straight back to prison," Ms Sainsbury told Fitzy and Wippa with Kate Ritchie on Monday. "I had a lot of beatings. I got beaten up a lot. I got stabbed. I got two stab marks on my arms where I was stabbed. I went through a lot of things that I wouldn't wish on anyone ever." Asked what prompted the attacks, Ms Sainsbury revealed she "had a lot of enemies". Cassie Sainsbury (left) pictured in prison in 2018. Source: News Corp "Obviously being the gringa (a Spanish slur meaning a foreign woman) in a Spanish prison, it just brings that attention of you know, rich white girl. Need to I guess bully her down until that's it," she said. "And I didn't know the language. Like you would have people yelling at me and Im like huh, what?" Story continues Ms Sainsbury went on to explain that she was eventually released from prison due to having served the majority of her sentence, and from good behaviour having taught English inside. "I was released because I had completed three fifths of my sentence," she said. "So between physical time and the discount that I was doing as an English teacher, I managed to obtain a parole, which at the very beginning of my process with my judge, she said she would not give it to me. "So bit by bit, I managed to wear her down a bit and I guess show the real me to her as well, that it wasn't just a process or a case in front of her." Ms Sainsbury is due to appear on the latest season of SAS Australia alongside a dozen other "celebrities", which will air on the Seven Network. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Photo Courtesy: US Centcom X page The US has started moving its carrier strike group to eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas group. "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). We have also taken steps to augment U.S. Air Force F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this posture if required," reads a statement issued by US Central Command. "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 U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday directed American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean. Also Read: #IsraelAtWar: Death toll due to ongoing conflict crosses 1,000 "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," he said in a statement. "I have directed the movement of the 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). 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. The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required," he said. He said: "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." 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. In a terrifying moment, a skydiver plunged to his death in a parachuting accident, authorities said. vuk8691 What happened? A Florida man tragically fell to his death and was later found dead on the lawn of a residence in the coastal town, known for its space launches. Where and when? Authorities said he was pronounced dead on the scene, which was near a local Arthur Dunn Airpark in Florida, a public airport where several skydiving centers are also located. He died on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Mauricio Graiki How did it happen? No certain cause has been established so far. A statement from Titusville Police department read: "Titusville Police Detectives are investigating the death of a man in connection with a solo parachuting incident that occurred on Saturday. "The preliminary investigation revealed an adult male outfitted in parachute attire and gear was located on the lawn of a residence on the 2600 block of Merry Lane," it read. According to Titusville Fire Department a helicopter was also requested for the incident but cancelled after the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. **Skydiver down** Report of skydiver down on Merry Ln. this located just adjacent to Arthur-Dunn Airpark. Titusville Fire Dept (@TitusvilleFire) October 7, 2023 Previous accident In 2020, two skydivers who had taken off from the Dunn Airport were critically injured after an apparent parachute malfunction, authorities said at the time. Video showed the two men in a free fall, spiraling as they plummeted toward the ground before hitting a tree and landing in the yard of another home nearby. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. American Friends Service Committee is pleased to host Yousef Aljamal, journalist and contributor to the anthology, "Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire", on a speaking tour to several west coast U.S. cities.We are grateful to the many hosts and local organizers for making this visit possible!Info: https://afsc.org/light-gaza-speaking-tour OAKLAND: 10/11 at 6:30 8pm PTLakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave, Oakland 94610Co-host: Bay Area World Without WallsSANTA CLARA: 10/12 at 7:00 - 8:15pm PTMCA Khadijah Hall, 3003 Scott Blvd, Santa Clara 95054Co-host: Muslim Community Association Social Committee of Santa ClaraGaza, home to two million people, continues to face suffocating conditions imposed by Israel. For sixteen years Palestinians in Gaza have lived under a brutal blockade, isolated from the rest of historic Palestine and the world.AFSCs new anthology, Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire, imagines the future of Gaza beyond the cruelties of occupation and Apartheid. It imagines what the future of Gaza could be, while reaffirming the critical role of Gaza in Palestinian identity, history, and liberation.Light in Gaza is a wide-ranging anthology that includes new works by eleven Palestinian writers and poets. It constitutes a collective effort to organize and center Palestinian voices in the ongoing struggle for liberation and justice. It explores the central question: can a better future for Gaza be imagined as a part of a broader vision for ending the Nakba through return, restoration of rights, and achieving justice?We hope that Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire will serve as a powerful intervention at an important political moment.ABOUT: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace, and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the Quaker belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.Since 1948, AFSC has worked in the United States, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territory with Palestinians, Israelis, and other committed activists to support nonviolence, challenge oppression, andsince 1970to end Israels occupation of the Palestinian territory.This work is guided by our "Principles for a Just and Lasting Peace in Palestine and Israel." These principles support the implementation of international human rights and humanitarian law and call for an end to Israels occupation of the Palestinian territory, implementation of refugees' right of return, equality, and justice for Palestinians and Israelis. gathering by several groups is being held outside the Embassy of Israel in Athens on Monday evening , following developments in the Gaza Strip and Israel Candidate mayors for Thessaloniki, Patras, and Ioannina will go to runoff elections on October 15, as they did not manage to reach 43% of the vote with partial results as of 21:30 on Sunday. The Greek premier condemend the terrorist attack against Israel and said that Greece, with Europe and all civilized world , condemns the pictures of horrors with firing against civilians. "We recognise Israel's right to self-defence, but this massacre should end as soon as possible," he underlined. "With terrorist attacks, which the Israeli Prime Minister highlighted, is disastrous for Israelis and Palestinians," SYRIZA president Stefanos Kasselakis said in a statement, adding that Greece must host refugees. A group of former Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has backed President Bola Tinubu amidst the controversy surrounding his academic records. Recall that President Tinubu has been accused of certificate scandal by the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. Atiku is challenging Tinubus victory at the February poll and the verdict of the election tribunal upholding the outcome of the vote at the Supreme Court. In an open letter to President Tinubu on Sunday, the leader of the group and a former Kano Senator, Basheer Lado, said it is not uncommon for world leaders to grapple with allegations. Lado said former US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a place of birth controversy and questions over educational qualifications respectively. He said the group of Senators is firmly behind Tinubu and urged all Nigerians to do the same, trusting that the truth will ultimately prevail. He said: It is not uncommon for world leaders or prominent figures to face challenges and allegations during their careers. The former US President Barack Obama, during his tenure, faced unfounded allegations questioning his place of birth and citizenship, notably referred to as the birther controversy. We draw important lessons from President Obamas response to this challenge. Despite the baseless nature of the allegations, President Obama remained steadfast in his dedication to governing the United States. READ MORE: Its Not Alien For Resilient Leaders To Face Baseless Allegations, Be Steadfast Ex-APC Senators To Tinubu The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, faced allegations related to his educational qualifications during his tenure. His focus remained on governance and his commitment to Indias development. These examples from around the world illustrate that challenges and allegations are not uncommon in the lives of leaders, particularly during moments of responsibility. They also demonstrate the power of truth, the strength of character, and the resilience of leadership. We believe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do the same. The Presidency has responded to the new evidence filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, against President Bola Tinubu at the Supreme Court. Recall that Atiku presented the academic records of President Tinubu as new evidence for consideration in his appeal against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court. Speaking with The Punch on the issue, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, accused Atiku of misinforming the public out of desperation and selling lies to galvanize his base. READ MORE: Certificate Scandal: Atiku Seeks Supreme Courts Approval To File Fresh Evidence Against Tinubu He said by ignoring last Tuesdays deposition by the Registrar of Chicago State University, Caleb Westberg, Atiku is selling false hope to his funders and supporters, who are still disappointed in him for losing the February polls. He said: What Atiku is doing is simply misinformation out of desperation. He is selling a lie to galvanize his base. He is giving false hope to his funders and supporters. We know that he got support from different entities from within and outside Nigeria for his election, and he gave them false hope that he was winning the election. Most of his (Abubakar) supporters are disappointed in him that they wasted their money and efforts on him. So hes trying to give those people false hope that he has a chance at the courts. If not, how can he give a different meaning to a deposition to any educated person can understand? Were in the age of alternative truth where people only want to believe the lies they want to believe. And theres nothing we can do about that. So, Atiku can psyche himself up by giving a psychic victory over nothing. He went to America on a voyage of discovery and came back with nothing. He added: After all, he wont be the one to decide his own case. In fact, just last week, the CJN said the court will not decide tonight on the basis of public opinion but based on the law. An Ohio toddler has drowned after he wandered into a neighbours yard and fell into a swimming pool while his mother was asleep inside their home. Two-year-old Marcus Hall, known to his family as Mar Mar, was found in the pool by police after officers were called to the property in the city of Oregon in Ohio on Wednesday, the Oregon Police Division told The Independent. A responding officer performed CPR on the toddler while another officer drove the toddler to hospital approximately one mile away where attempts to save the toddlers life were made by staff, but unfortunately, the child was pronounced dead. He was cool little dude, Marcus father Anthony Hall told ABC13, before breaking down in tears. He was very energetic, he learned quickly, he was very smart. A neighbour had first spotted a child wandering outside at around 10.34am on Wednesday, according to ABC13. The neighbour called 911 to say they could see a baby in a diaper with a dog, later identified as the 4-year-old brother of the 2-year-old victim. The caller stayed with the child and the dog until they both went back inside their home. At the time, Marcus mother was looking after him and his 4-year-old sibling but had fallen asleep inside the home. While it took several minutes for the mother to initially answer the door because she was sleeping, she was alert and coherent while officers spoke with her, police said. An officer responded to the property, at which point the 4-year-old and the dog were back inside the home, and advised her that she should consider putting safety precautions in place. Marcus was found in a neighbours pool (GoFundMe) Around an hour later, at 11.27am the mother then called the police herself as she couldnt find her 2-year-old, Marcus. 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, its only my four-year-old here, the Ohio mother said. The dispatcher replied: So your 2-year-old is missing? Story continues Yeah, the mother said in the phone recording obtained by ABC13. Officers returned to the scene where they found Marcus in a neighbours pool a round pool that is set up above ground with a small ladder attached. The yard around the pool, which sits directly behind the property where police were called, was not fully enclosed with a fence. The 4-year-old brother was unharmed during the tragic incident, police said. A violation has been filed over the pool as, according to city law, it should have had a fence around it. The pool has been listed as a violation, as according to city law it should have a fence around it (13ABC) The police said that the matter is currently under further investigation and Child Services is also looking into the case. A GoFundMe page was also set up by Mr Hall to raise funds to help pay for Marcus funeral service on 10 October. I dont know how to explain this but I will try the best way I can, Mr Hall wrote on the fundraising page. He was only two years old I just want my baby to be able to rest, I cant imagine what was going through his mind during all this. Lawmaker representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, Chinedu Ogah, says the National Assembly is crafting legislation to regulate the spread of fake news across social media platforms in Nigeria. This, he said, once passed, would become law and seek to address the growing concern over the dissemination of false information online. Ogah in a chat with newsmen in Abakiliki, made the submission while responding to allegations of certificate forgery made against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP). READ ALSO: Tinubu Flags Off Kogi APC Guber Campaign, Vows Ajaokuta Steelll Provide 500,000 Jobs His words: We, at the National Assembly, are in the process of developing legislation focused on combating fake news and regulating social media, as it is practiced in several other countries. This means that the content posted on social media platforms will be subject to regulation. People will no longer have free rein to post whatever they wish from the confines of their rooms. Speaking on the calls for Tinubus resignation, Ogah stated, In my opinion, those advocating for President Tinubus resignation are driven by hate. They lack substantial evidence to support their claims and often rely on information propagated through social media. Nigeria operates under established rules and has a constitution that governs the actions of its citizens. Fola Adeniran-Ogunsanya, a pioneer student of Government College Lagos (GCL) and son of the late Nigerian politician and lawyer, Adeniran Ogunsanya (SAN), has reacted to the claim that President Bola Tinubu attended the school. Ogunsanya, who disclosed that he was in the first set of the school, said for the four years in the school, he never met President Tinubu. Recall that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had requested Tinubus record from the Chicago State University in a move to appeal the ruling of the presidential tribunal. READ MORE: Academic Records: Emulate Obama, Modi Ex-APC Senators Defend Tinubu Ogunsanya, in an interview with Rifnote, said Tinubu can not state the names of people he attended the school with if he truly went to the school. He said: It was last week that I read that he attended Government College, Lagos. I called a couple of my friends. I said Government College ke!1970? That was what blew my mind. Government College was not established in 1970, it was established in 1974. I was part of the first set of Government College, Lagos. Im sorry to say, the president was not in our set. For the next four years that I was there, I dont think the president was ever there. I would have met him, known him. Im in the pioneer set of Government College, Eric Moore, so if you want to know most of the people that attended Government College, I can blot out names, Can our president do that? Just asking. There was Solomon Onwukwe, the Shitta Bays, Semiu Ibrahim, I can go on and on. The government colleges were set up in 1974 and I would have gone to Igbobi College or St Gregorys College, but my father was telling me when I was there that he could not start a school for Lagos indigenes and his son would go to a different college. How would that appear? When it was set up, I was one of the first set that attended the Government College, Lagos. There was Government College, Lagos, Government College, Epe, there was one in Ito Ikin, Government College, Badagry, Government College, Ikorodu. Government College, Ojo is the one that is LASU now. It used to be a government college then. The plot by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to dialogue with the Federal Government over a referendum has been rejected by some Igbo leaders. Information Nigeria had reported that IPOB announced its intention to negotiate with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government on a peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a United Nations-supervised referendum. The peaceful agitation for Biafra Independence started in 2012 without violence or criminality according to IPOB. It however, claimed that the Federal Government has continued to attack its members. IPOB is ready to meet with the Nigeria government any day they are ready for negotiations on the Biafra referendum, Emma Powerful, IPOBs spokesperson, had said. However, the South-East leaders who insisted on political dialogue to end agitations, maintained that no sensible Igbo person would want to exit Nigeria. The leaders include a one-time Ebonyi State Information Commissioner, Abia Onyike; President-General of the Coalition of Southeast Youth Leaders (COSEYL), Goodluck Ibem; political analyst, Williams Iheakolam and an Ohanaeze Ndigbo official as well as an elder statesman, who asked not to be named. Onyike, who is also the acting secretary-general of the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), said it was imperative and urgent for the Federal Government to dialogue with all ethnic nationalities in the country to forge a way forward. That (referendum) has always been the view of IPOB, but does the Nigerian Government believe in such (referendum)? The answer is no. The problem now is that the right-wing coalition ruling Nigeria does not believe in negotiating with groups agitating for self-determination. Nigerian rulers should engage the Igbo and others seeking self-actualisation in dialogue since they have continued to show them that they are second-class citizens in the Nigerian federation. There should be a reconstitution of the Nigerian state. We should go away from this monolithic federation for regional autonomy, as was the case in 1960-1966. The present situation is too oppressive and suffocating, he said. Ibem of COSEYL said it is the way Igbo are maltreated that gave rise to agitation. If the resources and political positions in the country are evenly spread, nobody sane would wish to exit Nigeria. READ ALSO: Were Ready For Peaceful Dialogue With FG To Exit Nigeria IPOB It is because of injustice and unfair treatment that is the bane of separatist struggle all over the world. If things are done well everybody will be happy and feel part of the nation. Reacting, Iheakolam said he had submitted on several occasions that the solution to the crisis in the South-East could be solved through political discussion. His words: I am and have been one of the people who believe that the crisis in the South-East and the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu by the DSS will be solved through a political discussion. I want to urge the federal lawmakers and governors from the Southeast to cash into the opportunity to push for a discussion between the Federal Government and the IPOB. It was the same call that the elder statesman, (Sam) Mbadiwe made when some stakeholders from the southeast visited then President Muhammadu Buhari where he asked Buhari to hand Kanu over to him, which never happened. That alone could have helped to quell the agitation, nuisance and bloodletting as seen in the southeast by a splinter IPOB group. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that I know, knows that the only solution to the trouble in the South-East will be settled politically. The South-East has lost a lot, we need to come to a roundtable regardless of our political and religious affiliations to think the peace of the South-East first. The anonymous Ohanaeze official, told The Nation that Ohanaeze had been consistent with calls for the restructuring of Nigeria to end the marginalisation of some sections of the country. For us in Ohanaeze, our interest is for a better and equitable Nigeria, where justice and fair play will reign supreme. Ndigbo have had and are still having unmitigated hatred from other tribes in Nigeria, as a result of their industry and perseverance. So, we believe that a restructured Nigeria will solve some of these. Thats why we are canvassing for restructuring of Nigeria for the collective interest of the people. Any other call is not part of our mandate, the official said We dont want to exit Nigeria but the way things are being handled in the country, you will wonder if Ndigbo have committed an abominable thing that has made them second-class citizens What we need is equity, fairness and justice. Since 1976 till date no Igbo man has occupied any reasonable political position in this country. We are not asking for too much, let every political restructuring be balanced, the elder statesman posited. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Monday, sent a Save Our Soul message to President Bola Tinubu over the deplorable condition of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. The Lagos and Ogun Chairmen of the group, Dr Busari Ademola and Alhaji Jimoh Alao, in a statement, said that the 81km federal highway has continued to be a death trap. We are calling on the Federal Government to revisit the construction of the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway. The road which was first constructed more than 40 years ago by the Muritala-Obasanjo regime linking over 200 communities has made life unbearable for thousands of road users. READ ALSO: 2 Dead, 1 Injured In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Accident The condition of the expressway is embarrassing, and with the return to democracy since 1999, the citizens of our dear States keep wondering if the route is attracting enough government attention. The contract for the reconstruction of the road was re-awarded in 2018 to some construction companies but to date, no significant progress could be seen, they said. The chairmen, in the statement, said that the road experience along the Ijaiye-Alakuko axis of Lagos via tollgate, Sango, Ifo, Itori, Papalanto and Obada near Abeokuta, was brutal and painful with so many deep holes. Therefore, we call on President Tinubu and relevant authorities and agencies to expedite action in constructing a viable, motorable and secure expressway to save the lives of Nigerians. We equally sympathise with thousands of Nigerians who are regular users of the road despite its unbearable state of dilapidation. We urge them to be hopeful, the relief is inevitable as the governments of Lagos and Ogun will find a lasting solution to the deplorable condition of the expressway without further political bureaucracy, the statement said. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has condemned the European Union (EU) over its report on the 2023 presidential election. The former Rivers State Governor faulted the report on Monday during a working visit of the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, to his office in Abuja. INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that EU Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) had, in its final report submitted in June, faulted the conduct of the last Nigerian general elections. Speaking during the meeting, Wike said the report did not give the true position of the last election held, especially in Rivers State and in the country but created a wrong impression on the minds of the electorate. READ MORE: EUs Election Report Reeks Bias Keyamo Wike said that the EU was supposed to serve as an observer during the last election and not to present a report that would not give the true picture of Nigerian democracy. He said: I disagreed with the European Union over the last report on the election in Nigeria. They are to observe. Nigerian laws cant be the same as EU laws because they have different environments. In Rivers State, the EUs report was different from what transpired there. How can people who believe in democracy and practice it, be portrayed as people who dont understand democracy? Our concern should be how to make the economy grow better, we have to cooperate and agree on specific areas of development in the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country. Foreign partners should be concerned with strategic development irrespective of the areas. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, disclosed that the Ajaokuta steel complex will provide 500,000 jobs as soon as it is completed. Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who represented Tinubu stated this when he flagged off the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, Kogi State. Recall that the States governorship election will be held on November 11. This is the reason the President has created a separate ministry and even decided to appoint Kogi-born Alhaji Shuaib Audu as the Minister of Steel Development to hasten the process of reviving the Ajaokuta Steel Company and other steel companies in the country. This is why you must vote for the APC for continuity so that the dream of reviving our steel industry would be a reality. Ajaokuta, when fully operational, will guarantee over 500,000 jobs and over 300,000 employment opportunities for our teaming youths, the Vice-President said. Stanley Nkwocha, media aide to Shettima, noted that the President assured that the complex would boost Nigerias foreign direct investment and provide a conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive. 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. READ ALSO: Buying House For My Dad One Of My Greatest Achievements Osimhen [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. The President said his administration would prioritise the Itakpe crop processing project and make it a dream come true. On his part, Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi, said residents should vote for the APC to consolidate the gains his administration has made. 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 in order to move Kogi State forward, Bello said. In his remarks, the APCs candidate, Usman Ahmed Ododo said he would work to unite the people of Kogi and bring meaningful development to the people. Kogi should not be allowed to be governed by selfish individuals, who are coming out to divide the state and hide under ethnic agenda, the APC candidate said. He hailed Governor Bello for giving the youths a sense of belonging, adding that, Kogi State will witness rapid development and security when the ruling party retains power. Yoav Gallant, Israels defense minister, has ordered a complete siege and blockade on Gaza, cutting off supplies of food, water and electricity to its roughly two million residents. Information Nigeria reports that the Hamas attack, unprecedented in scale and scope, is the deadliest offensive that Israel has experienced in 50 years. According to Gallant, We are putting a complete siege on Gaza No electricity, no food, no water, no gas its all closed. Note that the Gaza Strip is controlled by the Hamas Palestinian militant group and borders Israel and Egypt. Recall that in the early hours of Saturday, Hamas made incursions into Israel in what was an unprecedented assault. Mohammed Deif, Hamas military commander, had said the attacks were a reprisal for Israels desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, while alleging that Israel killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinians this year. According to Times of Israel, the minister said in Hebrew, We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly. Over 700 Israeli civilians and members of the military are reported to have been killed since the attack on Saturday and another 2,150 wounded. More than 400 have also reportedly been killed in Gaza. READ ALSO: Hamas Attacks: We Warned Against Continued Provocations, Death To Israel, Palestine Is Victorious Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar React Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua, Hamas spokesman, had said the groups fighters had captured more Israelis. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israel also bombarded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes Monday, as it continued its response to the surprise offensive by the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. Meanwhile, Iran has rejected allegations that it had a role in the attack by Hamas. There were reports that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault. Nasser Kanani, Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters that the accusations linked to an Iranian role are based on political reasons, adding that the country does not intervene in the decision-making of other countries, including Palestine. The Palestinians had the necessary capacity and will to defend their nation and recover their rights. Talking about an Iranian role aims at turning public opinion (away from the facts) and at justifying the potential future actions of Israel, Kanani said. The Director of Researcher and Strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Don Pedro Obaseki, has revealed that Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka went to the University of Ibadan (UI) but cannot tender the schools certificate. Obaseki argued that Soyinka can not tender the certificate because he was rusticated from the school in the 50s. The PDPs chieftain made this known in a statement on Sunday after he was told that a classmate of President Bola Tinubu had come out to testify that the president was his classmate. In an interview on AIT, Obaseki noted that the main issue is not whether Tinubu attended the Chicago State University or not, but whether he graduated or forged his school certificate. READ MORE: Shehu Sani Slams Wole Soyinkas Critics Over Alleged Fake Academic Records He added that the school disowned the certificate and even went further to say they had never seen such a certificate before. According to him: Look, let me say this: you said he brought somebody that he attended school together; let me just use a very simple example: in the 50s, Prof. Wole Soyinka went to the University of Ibadan, but he cannot tender the University of Ibadan certificate because he was rusticated; he didnt finish. So as a result of that, it is common public knowledge that he attended. It is not whether he attended or whether the person is a female or a male that attended; the issue is the certificate. The certificate, as shown in file 26, file 7, of the same deposition The man states clearly that they do not recognise it, and they even went there to say this was the first time during these proceedings that they have seen that certificate. Following a two-year trial by the Beninese government, campaigner for the Yoruba Nation, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has regained his freedom. According to the agitator, he was now legally free to leave Cotonou, capital of the Benin Republic, to Nigeria and other countries. I am now free to return to Nigeria and visit any country in the world. I have fulfilled all the legal conditions attached to my bail a few years back and I am coming home to Nigeria, my country of origin, any moment from now. I can confirm to you that I am now free to come back to Nigeria. There is no legal encumbrance again. Even though I have been living in Cotonou for some time, I can confirm to you categorically that I have now secured the liberty to leave Cotonou for Nigeria, Adeyemo told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday. Leader of the Yoruba Nation, Banji Akintoye, on his part said Igboho is currently travelling to Germany to be with his family. He stirred the hornets nest when he declared the Yoruba Nations sovereignty in March 2021. READ ALSO: Catholic Church To Canonise 14-Year-Old Nigerian Killed For Resisting Rape Adeyemo started a campaign to chase killer herdsmen and kidnappers out of the South-West states and went on to call on Yoruba in Hausa/Fulani or Igbo territories to return home. He, however, fled Nigeria in July 2021 following a invasion of his Ibadan residence by the operatives of the Department of State Services. The attack led to at least one death, while some of his belongings were vandalised. The DSS claimed that seven AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, and 5,000 rounds of ammunition, charms and other weapons were recovered from his apartment during the invasion. The judgment was later set aside by the Court of Appeal in August 2022. He was later arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic while attempting to flee to Germany. Attempts by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to repatriate him to Nigeria were unsuccessful. Kyle Jones, 19, a student at Kensington CAPA High School, went missing on Sept. 28 after he left the school alone. Kyle has intellectual disabilities and autism and is considered an endangered missing person. Read more Rocquel Jones is sick with fear for her son, Kyle, a 19-year-old with a warm smile. He has autism, speech issues, and anxiety. Hes 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, but in many ways has the openness of a child. He ran away from his Philadelphia high school 12 days ago and no one knows where he went. Hes very trusting, easy to try to start a conversation, Jones said of her son. Hes very friendly, and thats the part that scares me. On Sept. 28, Jones took her son from their home in Port Richmond to Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts via the El. Shortly after arriving at school, Kyle put his hands on another student the first altercation hes ever been in, Jones said. Advertisement Jones still doesnt know what sparked the conflict because of what happened next: Kyle paced the vestibule, pushed open the schools doors and walked onto North Front Street. He left the school, which is close to the Berks Street El station, shortly after 8 a.m and has not been seen since. His mother worries about what he was thinking when he walked through the doors and where he went. When Kyles upset, its really hard to calm him down, Jones said. I dont know how his emotional state was. I just know I havent seen him. Jones was not informed her son had left the school until about an hour after a staffer watched him walk out, she said. That staffer called her just after 9 a.m., she said. The staffer said he had told Kyle to stay outside an office while he called Jones after the altercation, she recalled. Jones suspects Kyle likely grew upset because he thought he was in a lot of trouble. Jones, who was aghast, said that written into Kyles individualized education plan the federal document that all students with special needs have were clear notes that he was a risk for escaping from buildings. Everybody was well aware of the [risk] said Jones. He was supposed to have a one-on-one aide, but I was told he was too old. He is not to be left alone. Jones said she asked the staffer why Kyle was not stopped from leaving. He said, Its not that type of school that stopped that type of student, its against the law, said Jones, who rushed to KCAPA when she finished dropping her other children at their respective schools and, ultimately, filed a police report that afternoon. A school district spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the matter because it involved protected student information but noted that officials have been working with the Philadelphia Police Department and other agencies to support the investigation. Our hearts are with the family and friends of the student and we are confident that authorities are working diligently to find this student so they can be safely returned soon, spokesperson Christina Clark said. The search for Kyle Jones Police have labeled Kyle a missing endangered person and are now looking for him alongside Jones and many family members. Shes poring through social media, trying every avenue she can think of. This isnt the first time Kyle encountered school-related trauma. In April, a bus driver dropped Kyle off at the wrong stop, Jones said, and he was missing for three days. He was locked in a cage, hit and sexually assaulted. That time, Jones said, a man and woman approached him and told him his mother said Kyle was supposed to go with them. Kyle has a cell phone, but it appears to be off; Jones is frustrated and struggling to get answers from authorities, she said. Its been 11 days, and hes still not home, said Jones. And as the days tick by, Jones said her worries mount. She and her family continue to search for Kyle. Everybody is upset, but nobody can sit around and cry, she said. Crying is not getting us no answers. Kyle has black hair and brown eyes. He wearing a burgundy sweat jacket, black Adidas pants and white sneakers the day he disappeared. Police have asked anyone with information to call East Detectives at 215-686-3243, or to dial 911. Rescue workers have scrambled to pull out survivors and the dead from beneath the rubble two days after the city of Herat and its surroundings were struck by the deadliest earthquakes to rattle Afghanistan in years. The Taliban administration said at least 2400 people were killed and many more injured in the quakes, which were among the world's deadliest this year after tremors in Turkey and Syria, in which an estimated 50,000 people were killed. Neighbours Pakistan and Iran have offered to send rescue workers and humanitarian aid, while China's Red Cross Society offered cash relief aid. "The operation is still going on, still some people are being pulling out of the rubble," the spokesman of Herat's governor, Nissar Ahmad Elyias, told Reuters, adding that more than a dozen villages around Herat were also affected. Many buildings in Herat city were relatively unaffected, but the medieval minarets of its famous mosques sustained some damage, photographs on social media showed. "Many of our family members have been martyred, including one of my sons, and my other son is also injured," Herat resident Mir Ahmed told Reuters at a hospital that was treating many survivors. "Most of the people are under the rubble." A rescue and recovery operation is continuing in Herat with some people being pulled from the rubble 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. In a statement late on Sunday, the UN Humanitarian Office put the death toll from the quakes at 1023, with an additional 1663 people injured, and more than 500 missing. It said all the homes in the Zindajan district in Herat were destroyed. Afghanistan's 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. Story continues 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. Pakistan said its disaster management authority had put a search and rescue team on standby to assist in the disaster hit area. It is also preparing to send in relief items including food, medications, tents and blankets. Iran, whose border is less than 90km from the site of the worst hit area, also pledged humanitarian aid, the Taliban administration said. West Chester University saw its largest ever enrollment of first-time students, including freshmen and transfers. Read more Pennsylvanias state universities continued their more than decade-long decline in overall enrollment this fall but saw the number of new students increase for the second consecutive year. And state system leaders say thats cause for hope. More freshmen and transfer students are choosing state system universities, and that is a very encouraging trend for the state-owned universities and our efforts to address worker shortages in Pennsylvania, said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the systems board of governors. The state system has frozen tuition and aligned academic programs to in-demand jobs, and two straight years of new-student enrollment growth shows that is what students want. READ MORE: We surveyed 20 local universities about enrollment. Heres what theyre seeing. Advertisement First-time enrollment across the systems 10 schools climbed 3.4% or 527 students, to 16,203. But overall enrollment in the system fell 2.2%, to 82,688. Thats a much smaller percentage decline than last year, which was 4.6%, and the year before in 2021, which was 5.4%. This years enrollment slide was more on par with percentage declines from most pre-pandemic years, going back to 2012. Notably, the biggest overall declines in enrollment came at the two universities that were the result of mergers over a year ago, signaling continuing challenges there, though one of them, Commonwealth University, at least was bolstered by an 11.8% uptick in freshmen. Since 2010, when enrollment was nearly 120,000, the system has lost more than 30% of its students. Daniel Greenstein, system chancellor, said the system should hit its enrollment bottom this year or next, but nationally another dip in high school students is expected in 2025. What impact that will have is uncertain. READ MORE: Widener University notes 67% increase in freshman enrollment, its largest first-year class in history If were able to work closely with the General Assembly to come up with more affordable four-year pathways, I think we can grow substantially, he said. If we cant, at the cliff, were going to get smaller probably. READ MORE: Attention Pa. state students: Your tuition costs will remain the same for another year Cost definitely matters, he said, which is why the system has frozen tuition for five consecutive years at $7,716. Enrollments at many other colleges have fallen in recent years due in part to the pandemic and a lower numbers of high school students. The Inquirer surveyed 20 local colleges earlier this fall and slightly more than half were up in overall enrollment from last year. Here are some other takeaways from the enrollment numbers Noah Sokoloff holds up a diamond of clear ice in his warehouse in Ambler. Read more Chris Vandegrift donned noise-canceling headphones and safety glasses, positioned himself behind a 300-pound block of ice, and switched on the industrial bandsaw. Noah Sokoloff held the block steady as fine snow sprayed in all directions. The two co-owners of the new Philadelphia Craft Ice company were in the painstaking process of making 2-inch ice cubes but not the cloudy, low-brow kind you get from a freezer mold. Their ice is absolutely clear. It shimmers like a mountain creek and looks like a diamond, especially when carved in the shape of a diamond. Sokoloff and Vandegrifts meltable product takes roughly three days plus a host of water filters and industrial freezers and razor-sharp bandsaws to get from tap water to final product. Such ice has become an obsession in the cocktail world in recent years, a reality which Sokoloff and Vandegrift are hoping to both capitalize on and further spur, first among Philadelphias upscale bars and soon among the masses. The company started selling cubes for 70 cents each at the beginning of September, and already has accounts with Martha and Post Haste in Kensington and Devon Seafood Grill in Rittenhouse Square. They hope clear ice stamped with a logo or pressed with brass plates to look like a honeycomb will one day become the standard. Advertisement When a lot of people have been making their ice for free, Im trying to tell them on the benefits of adding the clear ice to the cocktails, said Sokoloff, 41, who is a bit of a ice nerd. Before founding the company, he used to transport clear ice cubes for events from Washington to Philadelphia in a cardboard box packed with dry ice. He argues that clear ice makes drinks taste better, dilutes a cocktail more slowly, and looks prettier, too. Because its an extraordinarily labor-intensive process, only a few bars in Philly use it regularly; Sokoloff sees an opening for a company to sell it relatively affordably on a large scale. His ice evangelism appears to be working; it has even inspired some new aesthetic aspirations. Marthas chef has become very excited about the idea of freezing a Slim Jim in one of the clear ice cubes, said Daniel Miller, the general manager at Martha. (Sokoloff is now working to perfect freezing things inside cubes). In a typical ice tray, a thin layer of ice forms on top and air bubbles get trapped inside, which makes ice look cloudy. The Craft Ice machine constantly circulates water at the top of the tank, which allows air bubbles to escape. Sokoloff then cuts and discards the cloudy top layer, leaving behind a giant block of perfectly transparent ice. Its easy to say peoples desires for these things are absurd or a mark of a society going into decline, said Cait Lamberton, a Wharton professor who studies luxury products. But the truth is that people always seek ways to make their lives a little bit more beautiful and a little bit more enjoyable. In a crowded marketplace, small touches allow bars to differentiate themselves and charge a premium for their product, Lamberton said. At the same time, people with deep expertise about whiskey, for example, come to notice even small differences between products. (Air bubbles cause ice to melt faster, which especially matters if youre drinking a $500 bottle of scotch). During the pandemic, when many people began mixing cocktails at home, interest in clear ice spiked. Now that people are back in bars, they want the same luxury, Lamberton said. A few pioneering Philly bars have been crafting their own clear ice for years. The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company, which has been selling cocktails with clear ice for 14 years, used to buy its cubes from a D.C. company for 75 cents a cube, operating partner Jason Elliott said. Then, during COVID, the price went up to $2 a cube. Elliott bought a butcher saw and a chest freezer and now every few weeks sources a giant block of clear ice, soon to be delivered by Philadelphia Craft Ice. Franklins head bartender and whomever he can wrangle then chops it to pieces in the basement; bartenders stamp the Franklin logo on with brass. Customers love it, Elliott said, and have come to expect it. It can be a problem when someone wants cheap whiskey, he joked. The cube costs more than the whiskey. Ultimately, it doesnt matter if clear ice makes a drink taste better or dilutes it more slowly, Lamberton said. What needs to be the case for this to succeed is that people feel that it is a little bit special, said Lamberton. That it completes an experience that they dont have every day. New Jersey is one of 10 states that allow terminally ill patients to obtain lethal doses of medications to use to end their lives. Read more Since Andy Sealy was diagnosed with breast cancer, she has hosted a series of parties, including fundraisers and a mastectomy farewell party with a tatas cake and the slogan thanks for the mammories. The celebrations helped the 43-year-old from South Philly to enjoy life at a time when much of her health felt out of her control. She learned in 2017 that the cancer had spread to her bones and was terminal. Now, before sending out the invites to her last party, she needs to know when shell die. Sealy wants to host a funeral for herself, where friends and family share what they love most about her. She envisions it as a send off before retiring somewhere quiet to take medications that enable her to die at the time and place of her choosing, with loved ones and a faith leader by her side. Advertisement READ MORE: A mutated gene. A rare hereditary disease. A Philly-area teen battles three cancers at once The option is legal in New Jersey, a 10-minute drive from her home, but not in Pennsylvania. Sealy is among a group of patients and doctors who are suing New Jersey in an effort to expand access to its medical aid-in-dying law. New Jersey is one of 10 states that allow terminally ill patients to obtain lethal doses of medications to use to end their lives. But the law prohibits doctors from prescribing these medications to anyone who is not a resident, a significant hurdle for people from neighboring states including Pennsylvania and New York where its not permitted. The complaint, filed in federal court in late August, alleges that the residency requirement violates patients right to equal protection under the U.S. Constitution, because it forces doctors to treat them differently if they live out of state. Opponents of these laws, including some disability advocates, argue that the provision is a critical safeguard to an irreversible procedure. For Sealy, the medications represent a chance to have control over her body. Just having that option to die when she chooses would give her comfort in her final days rather than uncertainty. I do very much want to live, but the cancer is whats killing me, Sealy said. Its just the option that I want to have. The process In 1994, Oregon became the first state to enact a medical aid-in-dying law. Since, nine other states and Washington D.C. followed. Gov. Phil Murphy signed New Jerseys aid-in-dying bill into law in 2019. The law allows adults who are residents of New Jersey and are expected to die within six months from a terminal illness to obtain a prescription for a lethal drug cocktail that involves between four and six medications. They must be able to make their own decisions and administer the medication by themselves. Two physicians must confirm the prognosis. Then patients must make two verbal requests, 15 days apart, and sign a written request with witnesses present. Last year, 103 New Jersey residents used the law to obtained such prescriptions, and 91 of them took the medication to end their lives, according to the New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner. Cancer and neurological diseases, such as ALS, were the most common types of illness among people who sought a medical aid-in-dying prescription. Safeguard or barrier? Deborah Pasik, a New Jersey physician who assists terminally ill people in dying, joined the lawsuit challenging the residency requirement because she frequently receives calls from patients in Pennsylvania or New York asking for help. A lot of these patients hit a brick wall, because they either dont have resources to establish residency or they dont have the time, said Pasik, who is also the president of New Jersey Death With Dignity, a medical aid-in-dying advocacy organization. Critics say that removing the residency requirement and making aid-in-dying prescriptions more accessible could make states with aid-in-dying laws destinations for medical tourism. And some disability advocates worry that as these laws become more common, the eligibility criteria would expand beyond the terminally ill. READ MORE: Penn Medicine is going all in on proton therapy, a costly treatment that is unproven for most common cancers These laws are supposed to be for people who are terminally ill, but doctors often make mistakes, said Anita Cameron, a disability activist and director of minority outreach for Not Dead Yet, a national nonprofit that opposes aid-in-dying laws. When Camerons mother was diagnosed with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2009, physicians told her she had six months to live and placed her in hospice care. She lived for another for another 12 years. Cameron worries that other people in her mothers position would choose to end their lives, wrongly thinking they are in their final days, she said. Cameron said she also worries that racial bias among doctors may make them more likely to prescribe the lethal medications to people of color than to white patients. She fears patients with disabilities may be particularly at risk since people including medical professionals can be quick to assume they have a poor quality of life because of their physical condition. Last party The New Jersey lawsuit was organized by Compassion & Choices, a national nonprofit that advocates for aid-in-dying legislation and is a named plaintiff. The group succeeded in bringing similar cases in Oregon and Vermont. Both of those cases ended in settlements in which the states agreed not to enforce the residency requirement. And lawmakers in both states went on to remove the provision from the law. READ MORE: What to know about breast cancer screening recommendations | Five questions with Penns chief of breast surgery New Jersey has not indicated whether it would agree to such a settlement. The Office of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said it does not comment on ongoing litigation. Sealy, the breast cancer patient from South Philadelphia, isnt sure if she would end her life with medication, even if New Jersey law allowed it. But she would obtain the prescription, knowing that the final act of control over her body is in her hands. Having that with me would be a comfort, she said. Five University of Pennsylvania faculty were elected to the National Academy of Medicine. Clockwise from upper left: Kurt T. Barnhart, Christopher B. Forrest, Susan L. Furth, Robert H. Vonderheide, and Desmond Upton Patton. Forrest and Furth also are affiliated with CHOP. Read more Five University of Pennsylvania faculty are among 100 new members of the National Academy of Medicine announced on Monday. Said A. Ibrahim, who starts Dec. 1 as medical school dean at Thomas Jefferson University, also was elected to the nonprofit honorary society. Two of the five new academy members from Penn are affiliated with Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. More than 90 Penn and CHOP faculty have been named to the academy since it was established in 1970, then called the Institute of Medicine. Five were elected in 2022 as well, including Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, the two newest recipients of the Nobel Prize in medicine. Advertisement The academy provides scientific guidance on matters of health policy, operating independently of the U.S. government. Jefferson hired Ibrahim in August as dean of Jeffersons Sidney Kimmel Medical College. A physician-researcher who studies health disparities, he was a senior vice president at Northwell Health, the largest health care system in New York state. He previously worked at Penn and was chief of medicine at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center. Penns five electees for 2023 are: Kurt T. Barnhart, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Penns Perelman School of Medicine. Also a professor of epidemiology, Barnhart studies ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and infertility. He researches the use of biomarkers to predict and diagnose disease. Christopher B. Forrest, a professor of pediatrics and the director of the Applied Clinical Research Center at CHOP. Forrest is executive director of PEDSnet, a national research network that has created a database of more than 13 million children for the study of health outcomes. He coedited the new Handbook of Life Course Health Development, which has been downloaded more than 900,000 times. Susan L. Furth, chief scientific officer and an executive vice president at CHOP. Furth oversees more than 1,000 researchers and 2,600 employees at the hospitals research institute, and she is a principal investigator for a national study of children with chronic kidney disease. At Penns Perelman School, she is a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology. Desmond Upton Patton, a professor in Penns School of Social Policy & Practice and the Annenberg School for Communication. Patton is the founding director of SAFElab, a research project that examines how to support youth of color in coping with grief and violence in social media environments. Robert H. Vonderheide, director of Penns Abramson Cancer Center. Vonderheide studies ways to harness the immune system as a weapon against cancer, and has developed new treatments for pancreatic and breast cancer. Marcie Lyons-DiCamillo, 69, of Southampton, Bucks County. Asked about dating over age 65, she said, "I havent met anybody who wants relationships." Read more Now that the nation has met Gerry Turner, the septuagenarian stud and star of ABCs The Golden Bachelor, the idea of older Americans hooking up is percolating in everyday discourse. You might not like thinking of grandma going out on the town, but some flames blaze on, constant as a pilot light. Seeing older people on TV demonstrating interest in others, along with sexual desire, shows that we dont change much as we age, said Ilene Warner-Maron, a professor in the department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. If you want to ride a bike and you still can, who says youre too old? In life, theres no such thing as a dirty old man or woman. Advertisement When younger people think of older people having sex, they often picture their parents, a difficult scenario to contemplate, Warner-Maron acknowledged. She added, A person said to me, Older people having sex is disgusting. I asked him, At what age would you stop having sex? Oh, never, he said. And thats the answer. With his thick hair, subtle Midwestern magnetism, and insouciant sporting of ear candy elder-speak for his two hearing aids Turner, a 72-year-old grandfather and widower, gifts America by conveying the message that romance at any age is possible. I know that when younger people see us, they think we cut off all desire, said Marcie Lyons-DiCamillo, 69, of Southampton, Bucks County. We dont. Dating around In fact, said Lyons-DiCamillo, who taught kindergarten and first grade for 38 years in Philadelphia schools, certain carnal male behaviors have persisted through the decades: Ive gone on a few dates since my husband of 36 years died five years ago. I havent met anybody who wants relationships. They just want sex. Men are still the same. She meets men online or at the senior center at the KleinLife community center in Northeast Philadelphia. A lover of aerobics and travel, Lyons-DiCamillo says shes a doer, but that many guys can be absolute sluggards. They arent available because they need to watch Eagles games, said the mother of two and grandmother of five. Or, you do manage to go out with someone and try to connect, but then they ghost you. It gets lonely. Active older people like Lyons-DiCamillo are quite common, said Allen Glicksman, a social gerontologist and researcher at NewCourtland, an agency headquartered in Germantown that helps seniors find housing and health care. For certain people, theres sometimes risk in activities, he said. But some would rather die having fun than sit for 20 years. Because there are 124 elderly women aged 65 to 84 for every 100 similarly aged men (over 84, its 176 to 100), federal figures show, women understand it can be difficult to find partners. In Philadelphia, its even harder, where there are 90,000 more women than men, the widest gender gap among American big cities. Glicksman said a TV program like The Golden Bachelor with 22 women between ages 60 and 75 competing for Gerrys love goes a long way toward battling ageism, which dictates all seniors are frail. Or that older sex is cringeworthy. Or rare. There are, in fact, retirement homes in Philadelphia resembling college dorms, with people hopping in and out of each others apartments at night, Warner-Maron said. One result of unrestrained activity such as that, experts say, is that half of all adults living with HIV are over 50. I started doing research in HIV in older adults, but nobody was interested, Warner-Maron said. I was told: Sex and older people. Why would anyone bother studying that? Chemistry Alcira Laurenzi, 79, of Center City, said she and her husband had enjoyed 45 beautiful years of marriage, until a friend liked what I had and took it away from me. I got divorced. Lately, shes been finding datable men online, or at the Philadelphia Senior Center in Center City, part of NewCourtland. If the chemistry is there, that feeling is not much of a change from when youre younger, said Laurenzi, a mother of two with four grandchildren. She used to work in a hospital office. With the wisdom that age bestows, Laurenzi said she can quickly size up a mans personality and decide whether she and he are simpatico. When I notice something I dont care for, I dismiss him gently. If I dont have a ring, I dont have to stick around. Cloud nine Sandy Levin, 79, of Northeast Philadelphia, said her philosophy has been: Its better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Her husband of 44 years died 12 years ago. Then Levin was with a man for more than a decade who moved to Boston. After that, she dated a man with whom shed host trivia games in various nursing homes. He died recently. A former high school and college administrator, Levin, the mother of one, said her relationships fostered indescribable feelings when youre on cloud nine. Its just wonderful. Detailing intimacy at an older age, she said, For most men, Viagra was heaven-sent. And, not to diminish the sex act for a woman, but having a man just hold and kiss you makes you feel special. You feel vital, seeing someone look at you like youre a beautiful, young woman. And Ive learned something important over time: Its not over until its over. Hili Chakhansuri (left) is seen here with her husband, Hari Heerekar, and their son, Muhammad Chakhansuri Heerekar, near the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia in July. Upon the fall of Afghanistan in 2021, she was among the American war allies who were evacuated to a military base in South Jersey. Two years later, she is building a new life in California and working to help women and girls in Afghanistan. Read more When Hili Chakhansuri arrived on a military base in South Jersey, having survived a dangerous, chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan, she looked at the white tents and rolling woodlands and wondered what would happen to her. Two years later she has some of the answers: Hard things. Good things. The unexpected. She now has a husband. And a son, eight months old. She and her family live in Los Angeles, a place she hopes will be, at least for now, the end stop of a resettlement that bumped her from New Jersey to Oklahoma to Washington, D.C. She started a foundation thats providing online English classes to about 1,600 girls in Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban has erased 20 years of progress on womens rights. Those classes have expanded to include workshops on business, computers, and embroidery the latter a useful craft, so young women can create something they can sell. Advertisement I will never forget who I am, where I came from, how I came, Chakhansuri, 33, said in an interview. The goal is not to just make money and just enjoy life. The first goal is to try to help my people. First stop: South Jersey Chakhansuri, a chief of staff in the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was among the 76,000 war allies brought to the United States when Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021. Their work with the U.S military put their lives in danger. The Philadelphia region took a leading role in what became the largest evacuation since the Vietnam War. The airport served as the nations main arrival point for evacuees, welcoming more than 30,000 Afghans. About 11,000 newcomers lived temporarily on the grounds of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst before being resettled in cities around the country. The size of the local Afghan community doubled to about 1,500 people, many of whom live near family or friends in Northeast Philadelphia. In Afghanistan, the last two years have been severe, with women and girls excluded from public life and the country stalked by starvation. The United Nations World Food Programme said last month that it had been forced to drop two million people from assistance there because of a massive funding shortfall, bringing to 10 million the number of those cut from support this year. About three million now receive emergency food help. We are obliged to choose between the hungry and the starving, Hsiao-Wei Lee, WFPs country director and representative in Afghanistan, said in a statement. In this country, said Mustafa Babak, executive director of the Afghan-American Foundation, a national advocacy-and-research organization, the good news is the vast majority of evacuated Afghans are in long-term housing. Most children are in schools. Many evacuees have found jobs that match their skills. Yet challenges abound around employment, isolation, and family separation, he said. Some people have struggled to find steady, reliable work, taking jobs behind the wheel at Uber or DoorDash to get fast money. Many suffer from trauma and mental-health issues, having lost family, friends, jobs and homes in their flight from danger. The biggest difficulty for many, Babak said, is their immigration status remains in limbo. In June the Biden administration extended the right of evacuees to stay in the U.S. for another two years, but Congress failure to pass the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act has left relocated American allies without a means to stay permanently in the United States. How can we make long-term investments in a home, for our children, for ourselves, if we dont know if in two years well be kicked out? Babak said. The lack of answer to that question frustrates veterans groups, humanitarian workers, and many elected officials who say the nations war allies need and deserve durable, final legal status. A new family and new vocation Chakhansuri is among those who have secured permanent-resident status and who worry for those in Afghanistan, a country of 40 million thats slightly smaller than Texas. She arrived at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Aug. 26, 2021, having never heard the words New Jersey. And she came alone, lacking what in humanitarian circles is called an American tie, that is, a close contact in the United States who could assist in her resettlement. READ MORE: I hope to see the stars soon: A day in the life of an Afghan woman who fled to America | Opinion On the base, she assigned herself a big task, as a means to both keep busy and be useful. She helped U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services staffers with translations, and handled interpretation during town-hall-style meetings, aided by her ability to speak six languages: Pashto, Dari, Baluchi, Urdu, Farsi, and English. Helping others, she said at the time, brought her a sense of peace. And it fulfilled an important tenet of her Islamic faith to provide aid to those in need. From South Jersey, the government resettlement process delivered her to Oklahoma, which she soon realized was not for her. She found little Afghan community, and even less opportunity for a multilingual former government official. She moved to the Washington, D.C., area, getting work as an Afghan-support specialist with the city of Alexandria. She faced challenges there, too. She needed an immigration attorney. A friend put her in touch with a California lawyer, Hari Heerekar, who, driven by faith and humanitarian impulses, was working to help Afghans. She got in touch after hearing that he was offering free consultations and low fees to evacuees. I was looking for an attorney. He was looking for a wife, Chakhansuri laughed. Today she and her husband are parents to a son, Muhammad Chakhansuri Heerekar. Her husbands income enables them to help girls and women in Afghanistan, a project she recently formalized into the Helay Chakhansuri Family Foundation. So far shes hired 30 teachers to lead online English classes aimed at improving lives, educations, and incomes. Thats the start, she said, not the end. We believe Afghan women are strong, and they can do more, she said. Im sure more will come because my plan is bigger than this. 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) Read more Surprise attacks by Hamas in Israel on Saturday prompted strong reactions in the Philadelphia region by supporters on both sides of the long-simmering conflict. By Sunday, the Israeli government formally declared war against Hamas, retaliating against attackers along the Gaza Strip, according to the Associated Press. With thousands wounded on both sides of the conflict, at least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel, plus another 400 in Gaza, AP reported. Further, Hamas claims to have taken captive more than 130 people... saying they would be traded for the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Locally, advocates for both Israel and Palestinian people, as well as elected officials, made their voices heard. Michael Balaban, president and chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, said in a statement on Sunday: We will act immediately and comprehensively to support our brothers and sisters as they defend Israel. Advertisement READ MORE: Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and scours south for Hamas fighters as death toll nears 1,200 Officials at Congregation Rodeph Shalom on North Broad Street released a statement that said in part: We stand with Israel and with the statement of the Reform Movement, and we add our voices in prayer. The statement to which they referred Saturday, by the New York-based Union for Reform Judaism, said in part: We stand in complete solidarity with the people of Israel, so many of whom are directly in harms way. The Philadelphia-based Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History declared, An attack on Jews for being Jews is an attack on us all. On Sunday, around 220 people participated in what organizers from the Philly Palestine Coalition called an emergency solidarity rally in Center City. Nour Qutyan, a spokesperson for the coalition, said the event was not just about Palestine. It was about all oppressed people. There were people there of all ages and all races, and they came together to protest the oppression they have seen, Qutyan said. We need to connect the dots to all of these people who are oppressed around the world. Meanwhile, the New York-based Anti-Defamation League said in a statement: We call on responsible members of the international community to take concrete actions both in support of Israel and against those who support the Palestinian terrorists. Gov. Josh Shapiro and other elected officials took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express their views. I condemn the horrific acts of war in Israel by Hamas and their enablers, Shapiro said. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) said the United States must stand with Israel and its right to self-defense. Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.) said: This violence against civilians is reprehensible, and I will work with the administration to ensure the people of Israel have what they need to defend themselves against these atrocities. New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew said: The U.S. must stand with Israel against such barbarism and pledge unwavering support in their fight for peace and security. Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.) was in Jerusalem on Saturday for an economic summit, and the New York Times reported that he and others sheltered in place during the attacks and left Israel on Sunday. On Saturday, New Jersey attorney general Matthew J. Platkin said precautions were being taken throughout the state to protect congregations as people celebrated Jewish holidays over the weekend. This is completely unprecedented, said Jason Holtzman, director of the local Jewish Federations Community Relations Council. People here have friends and family in Israel who have been murdered or kidnapped. They are so scared now they are afraid to take their kids to preschool on Monday. Sundays pro-Palestinian rally in Rittenhouse Square; a Jewish Federation rally on Monday Sundays rally was organized by the Philly Palestine Coalition mostly through its Instagram page and other social media, and protesters decried what they called Israeli aggression. The demonstration began at Rittenhouse Square, where speakers called on the crowd to support Palestinian people and to cheer for Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, which launched rocket strikes and sent fighters into southern Israel on Saturday. As people spoke, some people on the edge of the crowd interrupted, shouting, Boo! and Murderers! The demonstrators in the park chanted, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, and raised signs and banners, including one that urged an end to U.S. support for Israel. From Rittenhouse Square, the crowd marched north, west, north and east, eventually circling City Hall and pausing at 15th and Market Streets. There, speakers mounted the bed of a pick-up truck, surrounded by Palestinian flags, to condemn Israel and to support the Palestinian cause. The marchers were occasionally confronted by pedestrians who accused them of supporting terrorism. Philadelphia police officers who moved with the demonstrators on bike and foot sometimes stepped up to make their presence plain to activists and bystanders who became angry with one another. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia scheduled a rally for 6 p.m. Monday at the Kaiserman Jewish Community Center in Wynnewood. Holtzman said Mondays rally is designed to mourn the victims and show solidarity with Israel. Palestinians in this situation will suffer, too, because they have invited a drastic response from Israel, he said. You can argue Israeli policy, but to celebrate murder, there is nothing good about that. President Joe Biden speaks to supporters during a Labor Day rally at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 office along Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023, in Philadelphia. The president is scheduled to visit the city again this Friday. Read more President Joe Biden will return to Philadelphia on Friday, the White House announced, in what will be his eighth trip to the city this year. Few details were available Monday about where in the city he is scheduled to visit, but officials said he will deliver remarks about his Bidenomics agenda, his support for organized labor, investments in infrastructure, and combatting climate change. The visit, less than six weeks since Biden last traveled to the city, is at least his 14th to Philadelphia since the start of 2021. No other place outside of Washington, D.C., and his home state of Delaware has hosted the president more frequently over the last two years. Vice President Kamala Harris has also traveled to the city several times this year. Bidens attention on the city underscores how critical Democrats see Philadelphia to the presidents reelection prospects ahead of the 2024 election. It is the largest city in a key swing state, and there are nearly 800,000 registered Democrats living in the city. Advertisement In 2020, Bidens campaign was headquartered in Philadelphia. This time around, his reelection staff is based in Wilmington, Del.. READ MORE: A timeline of President Biden's trips to Philadelphia Biden last visited Philadelphia on Labor Day and attended the AFL-CIO Philadelphia Councils Tri-State Labor Day Parade and Family Fun Festival and delivered remarks at a rally at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 office on Columbus Boulevard in Pennsport. During his speech, he drew a contrast between himself and former President Donald Trump, the Republican front-runner. When the last guy was here, he looked at America from Park Avenue, Biden said. I look at it from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I look at it from Claymont, Delaware. The president has made his support for organized labor a key tenet of his economic agenda and his reelection campaign. He has also frequently promoted the $1 trillion federal infrastructure spending law, saying it will create thousands of jobs for building trades and construction workers. Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Were in for a mostly sunny Monday. Expect mild temperatures with a high of 62. Millions of borrowers are rearranging their budgets now that student loans payments have resumed. The restart comes after the promise that $10,000 or $20,000 of their debt would be wiped under President Joe Bidens plan, only to see the plan get struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Im one of them and paid my first in a while this past weekend. I wont lie, it stung. We spoke to Philly-area residents about what this means for their pockets and how they plan to cut back. Advertisement Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. The student loan payment pause is really over. Philly-area borrowers spoke to The Inquirer about what the resumption of student loan payments will mean for them. Most said they plan on cutting back on the fun stuff like eating out and going to concerts. Some have already canceled streaming and gym memberships. Others expressed regret, wishing they chose a less expensive option like community college. One man admitted he didnt know how hell be able to pay. Read how five Philadelphians are planning to find the funds to repay their loans. Since getting a breast cancer diagnosis, Andy Sealy has hosted various parties including fundraisers and a mastectomy farewell party with a tatas cake that had the slogan thanks for the mammories. The celebrations help her enjoy life, even much of it seems out of her control. The 41-year-old from South Philly learned in 2017 that the cancer had spread to her bones and is terminal. Before sending out her last invitations to her final party, she needs to know when shell die. She wants to host a funeral for herself, where friends and family share what they love most about her. After that, she plans on retiring somewhere quiet to take medications that will allow her to die, with loved ones and a faith leader by her side. Her plan is legal in New Jersey, but not in Pennsylvania. Its why she is among a group of patients and doctors who are suing New Jersey in an effort to expand access for those out-of-state to its medical aid-in-dying law. Read more to learn why theres an intense debate on whether the residency requirement is a safeguard or a barrier. What you should know today Israel formally declared war on Sunday and battled Hamas for a second day after Saturdays mass incursion. A father went on a mission that included seven record requests, countless card catalog searches, and one court case to find out if Pennridge School District is secretly banning books. The nurses who staff Temple University Hospitals outpatient clinics filed a class action lawsuit over alleged unpaid overtime. It suggests tensions are escalating as their union and the health systems management negotiate a new contract. The University of Pennsylvania rejected Katalin Kariko for a tenure-track position, telling her she didnt measure up. Her work there helped pave the way to COVID-19 vaccines and just won a Nobel Prize. New moms in Philly ask for everything from hoagies to breast implants as so-called push presents, or gifts given to commemorate the birth of a child. The Eagles are in the booze business with Birds Gang Spirits vodka and bourbon. Trivia time How old was Ben Franklin when he first arrived in Philadelphia 300 years ago? A) 17 B) 20 C) 23 D) 25 Think you know? Check your answer. What were... Listening to: Sam Smiths Tiny Desk Concert. Craving: The borrego pizza at Tonalli Philly. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Hayrides in Langhorne STORY CHARRED Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Rick Eynon, who correctly guessed Sundays answer: Kyle Schwarber. Photo of the day That should get you started for the day. Im starting my morning figuring out my Halloween costume. Thanks for starting yours with The Inquirer. At Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., 162 miles from Philadelphia, alumni launched the Open Discourse Coalition in 2021. Their goal? To bring diverse viewpoints to campus after their alma mater was ranked last in the state for freedom of speech. Today, the Open Discourse Coalition is thriving, with national thought leaders including Edward Snowden, Jennifer Yuengling, and Jordan Peterson headlining events. And, most importantly, Bucknell students from the left and right actively seeking out diverse perspectives come to the Open Discourse Coalition and appreciate its commitment to civil discourse. Its a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal censorship landscape on American college campuses. Conservative students cannot speak freely in the way their liberal counterparts can. According to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the University of Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression, just 20% of adults believe that conservatives have a lot of freedom to express their views on college campuses, while 47% of those polled believe left-leaning students have such freedoms. Advertisement These findings are no surprise to advocates at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the nations preeminent civil liberties organization dedicated to free speech on college campuses. The foundations national headquarters have been located in Philadelphia since its founding in 1999. Each year, along with suing on behalf of students whose free speech rights have been suppressed on campus, FIRE also highlights the Dumpster Fires universities that are the worst of the worst in practicing censorship. This year, two Pennsylvania colleges, the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University, were included on this ignominious list. Penn State made the list for canceling a conservative student groups event for fear of backlash, claiming that it could be a safety risk. Penn Law made the list for relentlessly trying to oust tenured professor Amy Wax for her controversial views on race and immigration. Of the attacks on Wax, Penn Law dean Theodore W. Ruger said, Wax has caused profound harm to our students and faculty, and her escalating pattern of behavior raises risks of increased harm and escalating damage going forward. To be sure, Wax has views that reasonable people can agree are offensive. But Rugers conflation of words with physical harm or violence repudiates the long-held democratic norm that disputes are best settled through discourse, not violence. Its much stronger to refute Waxs claims on their truthfulness and merit, not on feelings of offense. Worse, a growing body of social science is proving this approach is having a deleterious effect not just on student discourse, but also on the students themselves. As censorship of conservative ideas has grown, so has the college mental health crisis. The most recent assessment of health at colleges by the American College Health Association in 2021 found nearly 50% of college students experience moderate or serious psychological distress. In the Healthy Minds Study, which collects data from 373 campuses nationwide, in 2020-21 more than 60% of college students met the criteria for a mental health problem. Thats a nearly 50% jump from 2013. Correlation is not causation, and certainly, the impacts of the pandemic are partly to blame for this rapid decline in students mental health. But in a now famous 2015 article in the Atlantic, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and free speech legal expert Greg Lukianoff, the CEO of FIRE, argued there is a growing body of evidence that censorship-driven academic elites can mentally damage the people they seek to help. In their 2018 best-selling book, The Coddling of the American Mind, Lukianoff and Haidt repudiate the idea of trigger warnings and safe spaces. They debunk the three concepts that have become sacred amongst Americas academic elites: what doesnt kill you makes you weaker, always trust your feelings, and life is a battle between good people and evil people. The insistence on these ideas, they argue, is making college kids more fragile and more likely to suffer from catastrophizing and black-and-white thinking that, they say, can lead to greater instances of anxiety and depression. Lukianoff and Haidts work is amongst the most powerful rebukes of what they call the lefts vindictive protectiveness, which seeks to marginalize and denigrate those they ideologically oppose, under the guise of protection for vulnerable students. READ MORE: Affirmative action is about diversity. But campuses wont allow diverse opinions about it. | Jonathan Zimmerman Chloe Carmichael, clinical psychologist and author of the book Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety, told me that censorship and the pervasiveness of safe spaces make it harder for students to feel social trust. Your social support network is strongest when your social relationships are authentic, Carmichael said. We cant have truly authentic relationships that are built on trust when everybodys hiding their true viewpoint for fear of being canceled. Without social trust, its hard for people to move from fragility to strength, leaving students even more vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes. Rather than practicing censorship, leaders on college campuses should refocus their energy on teaching students the art of rhetoric and debate. This, in turn, will strengthen their students minds and ideas. I am a nerd. For as long as I can remember, I have been enamored by the Nobel Prize. That Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established an international prize in the fields of STEM, and literature to recognize those whose curiosity, innovation, and determination set new boundaries, forged new paths, and created new realities seemed magical. Nobel wanted to acknowledge those who changed the world. Early in my teens, I daydreamed that my loftiest goal would be to win the Nobel Peace Prize, together with a group of like-minded do-gooders. I knew that even if I failed, my work and career would be on an altruistic and fulfilling path. What a thrill it was to wake up on Oct. 2 to learn that two Philadelphians had been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their groundbreaking work in mRNA technology that led the way to the COVID-19 vaccine and revolutionized their field. As an emergency physician on the front lines of the pandemic, the release of the vaccine was a lifeline literally and figuratively. It helped both our patients and the health-care system as a whole, which was buckling from the waves of the sick and dying. But as a female physician and academic within the Philadelphia world of eds and meds, the accomplishment of Katalin Kariko despite so many doubts, detractors, and barriers is nothing short of heroic. Karikos journey had garnered attention long before the announcement that she and her coresearcher, Drew Weissman, had won the Nobel. Even the Nobel organization referenced it when it quoted her the morning of the announcement: Ten years ago I was kicked out and forced to retire. Indeed, when Kariko first proposed the idea of mRNA-based vaccines, few took her seriously, and she struggled to get funding and support from other scientists. Many women, not just in the sciences, have experienced variations of the same who left or were pushed out of the realms in which they dedicated so much of their lives. They were forced to realize the limiting factor in their trajectories was not their lack of competency, work product, or innovation, but instead the shortcomings of the people and systems around them. Wendy Dean poignantly recounted similar stories in her book, If I Betray These Words, about when doctors have to compromise their oath to put patients first because of financial constraints on science and medicine. Advertisement Plenty of Nobel Prize winners tell similar stories, about how their groundbreaking ideas were initially dismissed. The difference between a trailblazer and a charlatan may only lie in the comprehension, vision, and creativity of the beholder. READ MORE: With Nobel Prize in medicine, a new laurel for eds and meds in Philadelphia | Editorial For Kariko, like other trailblazers, it was her determination that kept her going she didnt give up on mRNA technology, no matter how many doors slammed in her face. For others, it required someone to get it and support their work. That support can be hard to come by, especially when a dominant culture prevails. Just look at Philadelphia medicine, which has a notable lack of diversity and with it, differing lived experiences and points of view in leadership. This is exacerbated by the prevalence of academic inbreeding, a common practice of hiring and promoting from within, and the decades-long tenures of the top tier, who may no longer be ideally suited to those they lead or the students they serve. This further propagates and deepens the established culture. In these environments, the outliers may face disproportionate scrutiny, dismissiveness, or gaslighting. In 1995, with no money coming in for her research, Kariko was demoted. Usually at that point, people just say goodbye and leave because its so horrible, she told STAT in 2020. I thought of doing something else. I also thought maybe Im not good enough, not smart enough. Luckily for all of us, she remained steadfast and determined and did not let the self-doubt forced upon her to divert from her North Star. With the help and support of her family, she persisted and found new avenues for her work. In so doing, she changed the world even saved the world in the midst of a ravaging pandemic. To me, she now belongs in the pantheon of Philadelphias greatest heroes personifying relentless grit and resilience, unflappable work ethic, unapologetic spirit and determination, and a track record that whispers bring it in the most Philly way. She now belongs in the pantheon of Philadelphias greatest heroes. Kariko could be the patron saint to all who have been undervalued, unappreciated, and unrecognized by those who were too narrow-minded or too threatened to recognize the potential for greatness that might be in their midst. As a nontraditional scientist and physician, as a working parent filled with mom guilt, as a recovering academic, as a nerd, and as one who still dreams of changing the world or at least having an impact that benefits others far beyond my realm I am grateful to Kariko. She showed me and others how self-belief, pure intentions, willingness to start anew, and unwavering resolve can make all the difference. It is an honor to walk in the shattered glass she has left in Philadelphia and beyond. Priya E. Mammen is an emergency physician and public health specialist. She is senior medical director of clinical integrity and a fellow of the Lindy Institute of Urban Innovation at Drexel University. Editors note: An earlier version of this essay misidentified the founder of The Nobel Prize in economics; it was established in 1968 by the Central Bank of Sweden as a memorial to Alfred Nobel. The author writes that the debate over special admissions schools suggests that the citys neighborhood schools arent good enough. Which can make those of us who stay at those schools feel inferior. Read more I go to my local catchment middle school, located five blocks from my house. Its not one of the so-called magnet schools families have to apply to get into, or one of the few city schools people consider the best. And I love it. I live in South Philadelphia, and people often give me a confused look when I tell them I go to my school (which I would rather not name here because of privacy concerns). To my very privileged neighbors and friends, it may seem odd. I get good grades and have a very nice life. Im sure some people expect me to say, I go to the best middle school in Pennsylvania, or I go to the best-performing arts magnet school in Philly. And, if Im being honest, thats exactly what fourth-grade me wanted. After spending years at my local school, I thought it was a rite of passage for me to apply to a magnet in fifth grade, as all my older school friends did before me, as thats when admissions to Masterman and other top schools open up. That was a path most of my friends and I were set on. But in the fall of my fourth-grade year in 2020, when the application process began, my parents told me I was not allowed to apply. Advertisement They showed me the racial, economic, and English language-learning stats for all the magnet schools. My neighborhood schools statistics were higher in diversity than most others (the majority of the kids at my school are students of color), lower in economics (most students are low-income), and higher in the percentage of students learning English. They explained how the magnet school system influences the citys racial dynamics, as white families bypass local schools to send their kids to other schools instead. My fourth-grade brain couldnt exactly process what that meant, but I didnt fight it because I knew I wasnt going to change their minds. Still, I didnt want my friends to leave me. No one cared I remember more than once sitting at the park with one of my friends trying to explain to her how the school admission process contributed to systemic racism, and how it was the way Philadelphia got rich parents to stay in the district, instead of sending their kids to a private or charter school. It didnt change her mind. I preached this segment to every classmate who said they were switching, and it didnt do much besides making me known for it. No one cared. For the rest of fourth grade, all my friends would talk about the schools they recently looked at, where they applied to, where they got accepted, their audition tapes, and their first picks. Almost all my classmates who decided to leave were happy about it and spent the rest of their time at our local school bragging, boasting, and gloating about the schools they were attending next. As I watched them leave one by one for a magnet school, I cried, more than once. Combined with the pandemic depression, the thought of never seeing my friends again haunted me. And worse, I began to believe I was stupid and worth less than my peers. When Ive asked people about Philly schools, the word that comes up the most is failing. Most of what I hear about is falling test scores, concerns about safety, and kids not even showing up. So its not a surprise to me that many families want options for their children, and engage in debates over school choice whether that means magnet schools, charters, or vouchers to attend private schools. I dont want to debate the merits of school choice. But I do want to point out that it creates a system that pits kids against each other and makes them value their self-worth based on where they attend school. And the unspoken message underneath the debate over special admissions to magnet schools or the merits of school choice is loud and clear: The citys neighborhood schools arent good enough. Which can make those of us who stay at those schools feel inferior. On the first day of fifth grade, after one of my teachers took attendance, I saw that one-quarter of my previous classmates were no longer there. Even though I know teachers likely expect many kids to leave after fourth grade, each time my teacher said a name and we told him the student had left or transferred, he seemed surprised and saddened by the news. I hoped that the start of fifth grade would mean the end of being tormented by who was leaving and where they were going, but one of my classmates transferred the third week of school, and another boy couldnt stop talking about getting into the Girard Academic Music Program GAMP for sixth grade, and how he was so happy to leave. Needless to say, I didnt start fifth grade with high expectations. I had an amazing year But to my surprise, I had an amazing year. I made friends with people I hadnt spent time with before and reconnected with old friends, learned back all I had lost during the pandemic years, joined a band, and left a band. All in all, I enjoyed my fifth-grade year at my local neighborhood school. Sixth and seventh grades have been even better. Ive come to appreciate the fact that my school is just a school. You dont need to apply there or fight to get in. Its not top anything, but is that really needed? I learn. I have a good social life. And theres something I get from my school that would be hard to get anywhere else: a neighborhood community. Because I go to my local school, I frequently see my classmates and their families in my neighborhood. Most Thursdays and sometimes Fridays I head to my local park right after school. There, I hang out with my friends, and even some classmates I dont know as well. But because we go to the same school, theres a comfort and familiarity. Last year, in sixth grade, I regularly sat with two boys at my classroom table. They were incredibly annoying, and yet, I remember when they were 6 years old and we were all in kindergarten. I cant help but care about them, because we got to grow up together. Even though they made me face-palm at their stupid comments over the years, now that we are in different classes, I miss them. Thats kind of what I love about my school. Everybody knows everybody. We may not have close connections, but theres something special about seeing someone every day who youve known for eight years. I recognize, of course, that not all neighborhood schools are the same. I dont have to step over bullet casings or dirty needles on my walk to class, our building isnt full of mold or crumbling asbestos, and I dont ever feel unsafe at school. For some students, staying at their local school is less of an option. But there are many neighborhood schools in Philadelphia that are just like mine no blue ribbons, no wait list, no families crawling over each other to get in. Just neighborhood kids whove known each other for years, who want the same thing everyone else does: a good education, a good life, and a better Philadelphia. Philadelphia students deserve a better school system. School choice may be part of that, but I dont want that debate to drown out the voices of those of us at local schools, who have the power to create the strong communities our city needs. Being part of a community can teach you so many things and make you feel like you belong somewhere, like you will have someplace to go back to. Going to a neighborhood school for this long has given me that, and I wouldnt change it for the world. Rebecca Buse-Morley is a seventh-grade student at a Philadelphia neighborhood school. A Palestinian apartment tower explodes following an Israeli air strike in Gaza City Saturday. Understanding the intelligence failures preceding the Hamas attacks cannot be postponed until the end of the fighting, Trudy Rubin writes. Read more Crazy, crazy, crazy! were the words of an Israeli friend on the phone, describing the massive, Hamas attack on Saturday that is still playing out as I write. An attack that was deliberately conducted on the day after the 50th anniversary of the surprise Arab attacks that began the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It was the shocking implausibility and the personal immediacy of what had happened, that shook my friend to her core. Many others told me this was worse than 1973, which mostly took place in the Sinai or on the Golan Heights because this attack happened inside Israel proper, and was mainly aimed at civilians. Everyone I reached in Israel either had personal connections with someone killed or injured, or had immediate relatives or friends who have been called up by the military since the attack. How was it possible, they all asked, that hundreds of Gazan terrorists on motorcycles, bicycles, and foot could cross a supposedly well-protected border, kill at least 700 Israelis in a day, and injure more than 2,000? How were they able to take scores of people back to Gaza as hostages including U.S. citizens long before help arrived? How is it that Hamas militants could run wild without any immediate Israeli military response? I, like everyone have watched phone videos of Israeli children cowering before Hamas gunmen who had just killed their sister, as their mother screamed this cant be real. And of a young Israeli woman being dragged away between two gunmen on a Hamas motorcycle, kidnapped from a mass desert concert near the Gaza border at which at least 260 young people were slaughtered. Israelis are desperate for answers. This failure of Israeli intelligence and security is an earthquake that is likely to precipitate upheaval inside Israel and in the wider Middle East region. The horrors behind these questions are too overwhelming for the answers to be postponed until the end of the fighting, especially if Israel hopes to rescue the hostages and crush Hamas. Advertisement I put these queries to Boaz Tamir, a tech executive with a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of the most thoughtful Israelis I know. He was a young tank commander in the Golan who was temporarily blinded when the Syrians attacked in 1973, but managed to hold the line. A week ago he delivered a speech on the lessons to be learned from the 1973 Yom Kippur War, in which he recalled how his brigade commanders were all wiped out. There was a reason we found ourselves alone there facing overwhelming forces, Tamir told his audience. The Israeli political leadership and the top-tier military brass committed the sin of hubris, displaying a failure to acknowledge the boundaries of their power. We were betrayed by those who sent us into [war]. Yet, he added, The Yom Kippur War generation managed to block the attack because it knew what it was fighting for. Today, Israelis are enraged at the hideous killing of older people, children and families, yet the public is split over what kind of country they want and whether they are fighting for a democracy or a wannabe authoritarian/religious regime. However, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu will need a united country and a painfully clear-eyed strategy to wage an as yet unclear war to rescue hostages and put down Hamas. A massive ground operation in Gaza risks not only trapping Israeli troops in preplanned Hamas killing zones, but also resulting in the murder of scores of Jewish hostages. Meantime, Israel must maneuver to avoid a wider war with Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon that have 150,000 mostly Iranian missiles, especially as their vaunted Iron Dome missile defense system proved unable to block all of the estimated 4,000 rockets and missiles fired by Hamas. Nor does Israel want the Palestinian West Bank to explode into a third uprising, with guns. Yet the political and military blinders that enabled the Hamas militia to cause unprecedented casualties inside Israel could lead to further disaster, if they are not removed. The Netanyahu government, noted Tamir, was focused militarily on the Iran military threat, and on efforts to expand West Bank Jewish settlements and pushing through a so-called judicial reform that would remove the last check on annexing the West Bank with its two million Palestinian residents. The entire strategic mindset, Tamir said, was that we had invested $1 billion in technological barriers [to seal off Gaza], so we didnt need many military to guard them. We thought we had the best intelligence in the world, but that was a big strategic mistake. The near total reliance on technological means ignored the possibility that Hamas could use simple means to knock out the limited number of soldiers guarding the entry to Gaza. READ MORE: Middle East report: Is there a solution for Israel and the West Bank? | Trudy Rubin Moreover, said Tamir, the assumption of Netanyahus government was that the Palestinian status quo could be managed forever because of technology. That, as I have written repeatedly, was a flawed expectation. I expected the explosion to come in the West Bank, due to increased settler violence and open government talk of annexation. Instead, it came from Hamas (probably with organizational help from Iran) using hideous but simple means. Going forward, this former soldier warns, the Israeli government needs a totally different mindset if it is to avoid entangling Israel in a wider war it cannot win. We have to understand we were too arrogant, and need more critical thinking, he said. And you cant ignore the Palestinian question. Critical thinking has been anathema so far on the Netanyahu team and its hard to imagine therell be much improvement even if opposition parties join a wartime unity government. It is hard to imagine that team relinquishing its attacks on the pro-democracy movement, even though that movement has stood down for now to fully join the war effort. Yet without a different mindset its hard to imagine how the Netanyahu government will rescue the hostages and crush Hamas without widening the conflict. No one could write such a script as yesterday, Tamir said wearily. Reality exceeds all imagination. It is very hard to watch it. May sane and critical thinking prevail. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his wife Cheryl Hines on stage at the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall on Monday, after he announced he will drop his Democratic primary bid and launch an independent party run for the presidency in 2024. Read more Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped his Democratic bid for president Monday, coming to Philadelphia to announce that he would instead seek the White House as an independent. Political prognosticators were already doing the math before Kennedy made his announcement in front of a crowd of supporters on Independence Mall. But none of that adds up to a solution with Kennedy as the 47th president of the United States of America. Advertisement Rather, the odds are being calculated on whether Kennedys independent run helps or hurts President Joe Biden as he runs for a second term, or former President Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican nomination. In key swing states like Pennsylvania, an independent candidate could have a significant impact on the result of the presidential race. And Kennedy, who descends from a long line of Democratic politicians but espouses views more popular with conservatives such as opposition to vaccinations could pull votes away from both parties. Kennedy, 69, declared his campaign independent of Wall Street, big tech, big pharma, big ag, military contractors, lobbyists, the mercenary media, and the two-party system. Speaking to a crowd of supporters cheering and waving Kennedy 24 signs, he repeatedly accused the countrys two-party system of orchestrating hatred and division among voters, warning that the opposing sides use demagoguery to lean toward fascism or feed a pipeline of endless wars. In a polarized country, its easy for corrupt powers to manipulate and to control and to strip the wealth, its freedoms, its equity, its dignity, he said. The most hateful voices are, of course, always the loudest. But there are a lot of quiet Americans out there who are looking with disgust at the vitriol, the name-calling, and the venom. They want it to stop. Kennedy can expect serious scrutiny from the Democratic Party as he tries to get his name listed on 2024s presidential ballot. Democrats learned a lasting lesson in 2016, when Jill Stein ran as the Green Partys nominee, winning 49,941 votes in Pennsylvania, where Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton by 44,292 votes. The Democrats were ready in 2020, exploiting Green Party miscues in Pennsylvanias processes to become a candidate, winning a legal challenge that removed the Green Party nominee from the ballot. Before Mondays announcement, he had been polling at about 14.6% among Democratic voters in the primary, while Biden was at a comfortable but not impervious 61.4% and Marianne Williamson was at 3.8%, according to an average of polls compiled by the website RealClearPolitics. RFK Jr. embraced by some conservatives, but GOP is speaking out against him Kennedy has been running as a Democrat since mid-April, when he infused his campaign announcement with anti-science attacks on vaccines. That stance and others makes him seem more welcome on the conservative end of the political spectrum than in the Democratic Party. The Conservative Political Action Committee, known as CPAC, announced Friday that Kennedy would be among the key influencers speaking at one of the groups conferences next week, along with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon, who is facing a four-month prison sentence, and Kari Lake, who refused to accept her defeat last year in Arizonas race for governor. CPAC chair Matt Schlapp cast Kennedys appearance as a reflection of the splintering of the left-wing coalition that has gone full-woke Marxist to the point that traditionally liberals dont feel welcome anymore. Kennedy had been scheduled to speak in Philadelphia over the summer at a national summit held by Moms For Liberty, a hard-right conservative group that advocates for banning books about LGBTQ issues in public schools. He backed out of that event, citing a scheduling conflict. Alicia Crabbe, 74, rode a bus from Massachusetts to Philadelphia with 30 other RFK Jr. supporters to hear him speak at the National Constitution Center. I believe 100% in him, she said. I have not campaigned for anyone since McGovern ran against Nixon. pic.twitter.com/2Oo65V4hZ7 Chris Brennan (@ByChrisBrennan) October 9, 2023 A super PAC supporting Kennedy, American Values 2024, has raised $9.8 million this year, with $5 million coming from Timothy Mellon, an heir to a gilded-age Pittsburgh family that amassed a fortune in banking and other industries. Mellons self-published 2015 autobiography used racial stereotypes and claimed social welfare programs make Black people even more belligerent. He contributed $20 million in 2020 to a political action committee trying to help Trump win a second term and $1.5 million to a pro-Trump super PAC last October. But there were signs of attacks looming on the right for Kennedy. Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, greeted his announcement by calling him a typical elitist liberal. Make no mistake a Democrat in Independents clothing is still a Democrat, McDaniel said in a statement Monday. A vow to spoil the election for both Trump and Biden Kennedy said American voters want to move away from tribal thinking and a uni-party thats constantly bickering with itself as it leads us over a cliff. He dismissed suggestions that his candidacy has no chance and can only impact the campaigns of Biden or Trump. They say my campaign is only going to draw votes from the other candidates, Kennedy said. The Democrats are frightened that Im going to spoil the election for President Biden. And the Republicans are frightened that Im going to spoil it for President Trump. The truth is theyre both right. Kennedy spent most of 2023 in a political Goldilocks zone, taking no criticism from the president he wants to unseat or the former president he wants to prevent from returning to the White House. In Bidens world, talking about Kennedy just gives his campaign more air. Trump, who always like a good ego stroking, has enjoyed a back-and-forth flow of compliments with Kennedy. That has left Kennedy and his campaign to largely be a creature of media coverage good and bad, focused either on the storied branding of his last name or on the odd and controversial things hes said. Kennedys speech Monday involved the type of security typical for a visit from a president or front-running nominee, with his campaign footing the bill. One of several speakers ahead of him drew a roar of approval by declaring that the U.S. Secret Service should be protecting him. Kennedys father, former U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr., was assassinated in 1968 in Los Angeles while running for president, five years after his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated during a visit to Dallas. Zurich Financial Services Australia is the local arm of Zurich Insurance Group a leading multi-line insurer that serves global and local markets. For 100 years, Zurich has combined global expertise with local care to provide leading wealth and insurance solutions. Zurichs general insurance business is dedicated to a fully intermediated broker advice model. This approach is paired with a state and regional presence, empowering local teams to make local decisions on the ground. We are passionate about our purpose to create a brighter future together and use our resources to contribute to communities through disaster resilience, community partnerships and sustainability. According to information from ARAG, the firm made payments of approximately 70 million for 36,000 cases in connection with the diesel scandal. The ARAG customers had purchased vehicles from VW and other manufacturers that used the same emissions-cheating device and were able to use their LEI policies to pursue compensation. If they can do it, why cant I? I succumbed to a brief Dominic Cummings workwear phase a few years ago its not something Im proud of, but it did happen. After all, then me asked myself, if Cummings can do it, why cant I? Why should I huddle over a computer sweating buckets in the itchy polyester nightmares that were in budget if not in vogue at the time while he got to unleash a plethora of policies on the nation, all while enjoying breathable cotton jogging bottoms? Perhaps some Americans belonging to one of the 49% of workplaces that have historically had a dress code were asking themselves similar questions about Fetterman. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd. ("Changan Automobile") on October 9 unveiled its sales figures for September 2023, highlighting robust growth. The company reported total sales of 236,808 vehicles for the month, representing a 9.9% year-on-year increase and a 13.1% month-on-month rise. In the first nine months of this year, the automakers cumulative sales amounted to 1,869,608 vehicles, climbing up 11.24% from a year ago. Of the vehicles sold in the Jan.-Sept. period, 1,549,245 units were under the automakers wholly-owned brands, which jumped 17% from the previous year. Meanwhile, Changan's self-owned brands excelled in the new energy vehicle segment, with 50,990 units sold in September, representing a year-on-year surge of 69.7% and a 27.1% month-on-month jump. In the overseas markets, Changan's wholly-owned brands achieved substantial growth with September sales of 19,314 units, marking a 91.8% soar from the earlier year and a 6.3% rise from the previous month. SL03; photo credit: Deepal In terms of performances of individual brands, Deepal, Changans new energy vehicle dedicated brand, delivered 17,370 vehicles in September, which resulted in cumulative sales surpassing 100,000 units within 14 months. The Deepal S7 model, which has been on the market for just two months, consistently delivered over ten thousand units each month. Additionally, the Changan Qiyuan A07 new energy model received 10,032 orders last month. The AVATR brand continued to make its mark, with 3,083 AVATR 11s delivered in September, while the AVATR 12 is set to commence deliveries later this year. As to Changan Automobiles joint venture brands, Changan Fords September sales came in at 25,693 vehicles, down 15.62% year-on-year. In the same period, Changan Mazda boasted a 45.97% year-on-year surge in sales, which reached 10,345 units. In an interview with Insurance Business, Kaufman spoke about the need for stricter focus on specialty lines, why the company has been able to operate in states in which other insurers are dropping out and why smaller businesses are considering M&A. From my experience, I know that well-tailored insurance is critical to individual and company outcomes in securities disputes, Newell said. Woodruff Sawyer represents many of the most innovative companies in the world and has an exceptional management liability team. Im excited to leverage my background in litigation and government investigations to help our clients manage complex risks. Cork is a city full of history and good food, so it only makes sense to combine these two aspects for visitors to the Rebel County. A new walking tour has been set up in the city centre and it combines facts and fun about Cork with one of its rising delicacies: doughnuts. The Underground Donut Tour stems from an American concept that sees tours promote local food producers while sharing riveting information about their environs. It started eight years ago in Chicago and has since grown to include food tours across the United States and Canada before expanding to Europe. The chain has recently set up in Ireland, with tours starting in Cork and Dublin, and we joined guides Paddy and Chloe, two proud Cork residents with reams of stories ready to go, on a drizzly autumn morning to see what the craic is with the unusual combo of doughnuts and history. Our meeting point was The Dulce Bun Bakehouse on Oliver Plunkett Street in the heart of the city. The poor weather did not deter us from indulging in a treat at the beloved local cafe that makes all its cakes and pastries in-house. We sampled some delicious buns with a Kinder Bueno filling before starting our stroll around the city. Paddy led us down Oliver Plunket Street towards Grand Parade, pointing out interesting landmarks and sharing insights of historical significance along the way. Each person on our tour that morning was a Corkonian so we enjoyed every Cork persons favourite pastime: sharing stories about Cork. For each point Paddy made, someone else would ask but did you know and share another anecdote. It really added to the experience when you could combine an interesting piece of information with some personal experience from a local, which Paddy and Chloe were also well able to contribute to as they clearly had a gra for all things Cork. We turned towards South Mall and sauntered to stop number two, Cameron Bakery on Parnell Place. Cameron Bakery is a much-loved institution in Cork, a French bakery established in 2016 on Washington Street and later expanding to other locations, including Blackrock and Parnell Place. The city centre site was a mouth-watering choice and the croissants were were presented with were sheer perfection, perfectly crumbly and satisfying. It was also an example of Cork's multicultural food offerings, Paddy noted, with Cameron offering cakes, pastries, sandwiches and bread with a French twist. You may have noticed we have yet to try a traditional doughnut. The hole-y gospel: Offbeat Donuts, just off Patrick Street Paddy explained they chose their route and stops carefully, realising the average person may struggle to eat one doughnut, never mind four, and they sprinkled in some lighter choices like pastries and churros for this reason. However, our next stop takes us onto Patrick Street with a wave to Father Matthew, through Emmet Place and along Paul Street to pick up a truly Cork doughnut: the Mi Daza from Offbeat Donuts. Brian and Sandra OCasey opened the first Offbeat store in Dublin in 2016 and Brian, a native of Cork, was thrilled to open the doors to a branch in his hometown last year and the Mi Daza is a nod to his own roots. The ring doughnut is dipped in Tanora orange icing, topped with a creamy swirl and finished with popping candy for added zing. The tour includes a coffee so we chose to shelter from the downpour upstairs at Offbeat with cappuccinos before leaving for our final stop. We wove through the Coal Quays bustling Saturday Market and turned left on Kyle Street to visit Golden Bites for a range of Brazilian-style churros. This was the highlight for us, a surprise sweet treat that was just light enough to enjoy after a morning of indulgence. We were presented with a box of both caramel and Nutella churros and they were exceptionally moreish. Of course, for anyone intimidated by the volume of food on offer, takeaway containers are supplied throughout so you can finish off any leftovers at home and many of the more filling buns are pre-sliced in two so you can enjoy some in the moment and the rest in the comfort of your own home cutting down on potential food waste. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by our experience of the Underground Donut Tour in Cork. As proud Corkonians we feared we wouldnt enjoy the experience as much as a tourist might but, as mentioned, Cork people love talking about Cork so we had a great time. Similarly, we worried two hours would be hard to fill but the time flew by as we were entertained by Chloe and Paddy and learned more about our city than we expected we would and added a few new favourite cafes and bakeries to the list. For visitors to our fair city, it is a gentle introduction to our history and traditions with the added bonus of a full belly at the close of the tour. Denise was a guest of Underground Donut Tours. Tours can be booked at undergrounddonuttour.com. Insider tips from a doughnut master Lisa Quinlan of the Rolling Donut What makes the perfect doughnut? It depends! We make two types in the Rolling Donut a sourdough base in our bakery and a cake mix base in our original kiosk. My personal favourite is a filled sourdough doughnut, and the perfect sourdough doughnut takes time. Yeast doughnuts are very tricky to perfect and one small thing going wrong in the process and the whole batch could be ruined. Temperature of the water used for the mix, the temperature outside, every single thing matters. For me, the fillings are all about freshly made custards, ganaches & caramels. For that you need the best quality ingredients. For our Strawberry cheesecake doughnuts we blend fresh strawberries and roll the doughnut in our biscuit crumb made in-house theyre pretty perfect. Why do Irish people love doughnuts? I think Instagram has a huge part to play as they are incredibly photographable! But I think people just love a little treat with a cup of tea to give them a boost, especially through the winter months! We have the perfect doughnut climate. My dad used to always say cloudy weather is perfect doughnut weather and Ireland has lots of cloudy days. Are there any new flavours we should look out for? For Halloween we are putting our very popular Chocolate Orange back on for a limited period as well as a brand new flavour Caramel Apple. We have over 30 varieties of doughnuts. Im always looking at new food trends, different flavours and coming up with new ideas. We have our Christmas flavours planned but its a secret until December! Lisa Quinlan from Dublin is the owner of The Rolling Donut, a chain of seven doughnut shops in Dublin and Kildare. The Rolling Donut started in 1978 with Lisas Dad and a kiosk making fresh cake doughnuts dipped in sugar, cinnamon, or chocolate, on OConnell Street which is still there today. In 2016 Lisa expanded the range and developed the brand creating the sourdough and vegan doughnuts you see in the other stores today. Canadian writer Alexander MacLeod is in Cork for three months as this years Frank OConnor International Short Story Fellow. As well as reading from his work and being interviewed by writer Billy OCallaghan at the Cork International Short Story Festival (October 11-14), MacLeod is mentoring four Cork-based writers whose submissions jumped out at me". They are Fiona Ennis, Neil Tully, Patrick Holloway and Deirdre Crowley. MacLeod, in his early fifties, first visited Cork in 2011 as a finalist in the short story award which was won that year by Edna OBrien. Last year, his most recent collection, Animal Person, won widespread praise. A son of the late acclaimed writer, Alastair MacLeod, he teaches at St Marys University in Nova Scotia. He's also a former national track and field runner, and is getting to know Cork through running along the main routes in and around the city. Initially, the solitude of living alone in an apartment in Nano Nagle Place as part of his fellowship bothered him. But now, Macleod says that it is proving to be of great benefit to his writing. He comes from a big family of seven children (one of whom died in infancy) and is married with three children aged 21, 18 and 16. Ive never been alone like this in my life, so it took a little time to adjust. But it is absolutely a treat. When I was trying to get my bearings, I was lonesome I think. My family was worried about how we would swing this. But the phones are great, says Macleod. Having published two short story collections, MacLeod is currently working on his debut novel. Its a contemporary story about the nature of intimacy, family and work. It has a bit to do with the oil sands of Alberta which is a great employer in Canada. Its precarious employment. You fly out to the site, work and then come home. Im interested in the idea of home and away, and money. MacLeod says that moving from short stories to a novel is a different experience. The intensity of poetry is there in the short story. There was some idea before that reading the big Victorian novel or a beach book had duration as part of the experience. Short stories dont have better powers, just different powers like poems. As Patrick Cotter of the Munster Literature Centre and director of the Cork International Short Story Festival, writes in the programme of this years Cork International Short story Festival: The short story is back in vogue. Today publishers more easily take on short story collections, even if they occasionally, venally, try to hide the fact that they are not novels. MacLeod heaps praise on his Cork hosts. The short story writers of the world owe Patrick Cotter a debt. I myself am benefiting. The Munster Literature Centre is doing something that nobody else is doing, says Macleod. At one stage, the Frank OConnor International Short story Award for best short story collection offered the biggest prize in the world at 50,000. That prize is no longer in existence but the Munster Literature Centre continues to encourage and celebrate short story writing through its festival. The economics of short story writing are challenging, says MacLeod. I would not be alive but for my job. He says that his father, who also taught at a university, imparted the lesson to his creative children that art is not necessarily going to give you a living. If I look at one of my short stories and talk to it, I might say you better pay the mortgage. And you need to do this and this. Its nine pages of prose and its supposed to keep us all alive! That has always been impossible throughout history. This is what Sophocles was facing down. And its what faced Chekov. Its not the storys job to give you a middle-class life. The day before we met, MacLeod had taken the bus to Dungarvan library because he spotted a poster advertising Irish writer Claire Keegan reading her latest short story there, entitled 'So Late in the Day'. We talked about an editor we both have at the New Yorker and the challenges of making language do tricky intellectual work. You have only one instrument and its the same instrument we use to order our chips, says MacLeod. As part of Cork International Short Story Festival, Alexander MacLeod will read from and discuss his work on Wednesday, October 11, at the Cork Arts Theatre. See www.corkshortstory.net Cork International Short Story Festival programme Beverly Parayno Wednesday, October 11 2.30pm, Cork City Library | Two Edna OBrien Interviews (videos) 4.00pm, Cork City Library | Southword Showcase 8.00pm, Cork Arts Theatre | Orfhlaith Foyle & Beverly Parayno 9.30pm, Cork Arts Theatre | Alexander MacLeod Eilis Ni Dhuibhne Thursday, October 12 2.30pm, Cork City Library | Kate OBrien & William Trevor Interviews (videos) 4.00pm, Cork City Library | From the Well Showcase 8.00pm, Cork Arts Theatre | Thomas Morris & Niamh Mulvey 9.30pm, Cork Arts Theatre | Leon Craig & Eilis Ni Dhuibhne Friday, October 13 2.30pm, Cork City Library | HOWL New Irish Writing Showcase 4.00pm, Cork City Library | The Four Faced Liar Showcase 8.00pm, Cork Arts Theatre | Sheila Armstrong & Alice Jolly 9.30pm, Cork Arts Theatre | Sidik Fofana & Gothataone Moeng Saturday, October 14 The mother of a 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman who is missing after an unprecedented attack against Israel has spoken of her heartbreak as she waits for news about her daughter. A surprise attack was launched by Hamas at daybreak on Saturday, with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and militants breaking down wire fences surrounding the Gaza enclave and entering Israeli villages. Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site. Israel's rescue service Zaka said it removed about 260 bodies from the festival, and that number was expected to rise. Read More Israel vows complete siege of Gaza amid wave of strikes after incursion by Hamas It was not clear how many of those bodies were already included in Israels overall toll. In an interview with ABC News, her mother Jennifer Damti said her daughter had phoned them shortly after. Kim didnt realise there was like seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, she said. "They just shot them, slaughtered them like ducks, and thats the reason Im here, cause I want the world to condemn this behaviour. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is, if shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back, she said. So many other mothers here today. Im not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody. Rockets were fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday (AP) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said they were aware of the case, and consular officials were in touch with the family. Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs minister Micheal Martin said the savagery of the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas had shocked people. Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people (were) slaughtered in the most savage way, he said. Mr Varadkar said that the surprise attack 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 on Sunday. 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. A group of Irish pilgrims visiting Israel are trying to "get home as soon as possible" after Hamas launched a surprise attack against the country on Saturday. Michael Kelly, editor of The Irish Catholic newspaper, said the group were on the outskirts of Jerusalem when they heard sirens indicating that there had been rocket attacks. The attack caught Israels military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard, bringing heavy battles to its streets for the first time in decades, and Israel formally declared war on Sunday. So far, around 700 people have been killed in Israel, and nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza. Palestinian militant groups also claim to be holding more than 130 captives from the Israeli side. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Mr Kelly recalled the "nerve-wracking" experience. "People were getting messages from home, from family members who were seeing the attacks on television and were obviously concerned. So we moved very, very quickly to try to get everyone back to the hotel and keep everyone calm. And everyone was able to contact loved ones at home," he said. It was a very grim experience, one could feel the tension in the air, one could feel the uncertainty. Local people really were just shaking their heads. Mr Kelly said everyone he had spoken to was expecting more Israeli casualties and he said it was also obvious that there would be more casualties in Gaza too. People are looking at the whole thing with trepidation because the situation is so unprecedented. "Normally, there's a certain rulebook around these things. Normally one would say Hamas will fire rockets into Israel, Israel will fire some rockets back. And then usually very quickly it calms down again. Egypt intervenes, Qatar intervenes, the United States. But because of the nature of this, I think no one really knows where this is going to go. It's very obvious on the highways and the roads, even in the north of Israel, that there's an enormous troop mobilisation. We passed a very long line of two convoys yesterday [Sunday] in the Galilee region. "And you can see bus stops at various junctions a lot of young men and young women reserve soldiers who have been called up and are waiting there at the junction, one presumes to be to be taken to the army bases or to the front at Gaza, because the Israelis think they've already amassed 100,000 troops there on the southern border," he said. Mr Kelly said his group had been scheduled to return to Ireland on Thursday, but they were trying to get home on Tuesday. People are anxious. They have never been in a situation like this. So we're doing our best to try to keep people calm, but obviously we don't want to expose people to the risk as well. "There was a consensus when we met with the groups last night that people would like to try to get home as soon as possible. When Tiernan Yeates compares his rent to that of his Irish friends, theres not much difference but when he gets his pay packet, thats when he sees the real benefits of living in the US. Tiernan, who is 22 and from Dublin, decided to move to Seattle in 2019 when he realised he could earn almost three times more money doing the same job as a bartender there. He said while the cost of living in Ireland and America is pretty much the same, there is a major difference in his wages. I could save more in America, he told the Irish Examiner. I saw that despite having similar costs of living, people were making two, sometimes three times more money in America for the same job. That, to me, was an eye-opener, because I knew that basically any job in America was going to pay better than Ireland and I have the same costs of bills, so why would I stay in Ireland and have a poorer quality of life than in the States? This is true for a lot of ex-pats who left Ireland in the last couple of years, across Canada, Australia, and the United States. Its quite shocking you make twice the amount of money here and still have the same cost of living. Tiernan went to America shortly after completing his Leaving Cert and went from working in bars to engineering for a large healthcare organisation. 'Mind-boggling' I was 18 at the time when I emigrated, so I hadnt a lot of work," he said. "But living in the States now and this being what I know, really, in adulthood, it is mind-boggling to me how the Irish population makes it through every week, makes it through every month. People in America are struggling with money I can only imagine what the Irish people are struggling with. Their problems must be two or three times over and they must be watching their account every day. That is no way to live, that is survival. A lot of what the Irish population are doing, they are not enjoying life, going on holidays, and doing what they want to do, theyre doing what they have to do. Tiernan is currently renting in the US and says there are some things the Government here could do to change things. They could do their best to adjust the cost of living to your income, and make sure that the average wage, people can survive on it," he said. "People can survive on it here versus people being crippled on the same wages in Ireland. 'More ambition' He added that entry-level wages are also higher in America, meaning there is a better quality of life in America, which gives people more ambition. Even in high-paying positions, if you are making for 80,000 to 90,000 in Ireland, youre doing well for yourself," he said. A bartender is pretty much an entry-level job in Ireland and in America. Almost anyone can do it with a few months of training, but if you are making 400 to 500 a week in Dublin, youd make that almost in the day in America, and you only work three days a week or weekends. Mr Yeates said buying a house in Ireland remains a huge issue for his friends who remain at home. You have people saving five or six years just for the down payment for their mortgage, he said. That is no way to live. Youre saving your wages to line up with 30 other people who are doing the same thing. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has said a claim that Ireland refused to call Hamas a terror organisation is "categorically false". Israeli-based iNews24 made the claim on Sunday in a tweet that said the EU "wanted to issue a harsher statement but Luxembourg, Ireland and Denmark refused to call Hamas a terror organisation", crediting a diplomatic source. Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion into Israel over the weekend which was met with an Israeli response that has left nearly 1,200 people dead across both sides. The EU's High Representative for Neighborhood issued a statement on behalf of the bloc on Saturday, saying that 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 called for "an immediate cessation of these senseless attacks and violence, which will only further increase tensions on the ground and seriously undermine Palestinian peoples 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." In response to queries, DFA confirms it is categorically false that Ireland refused to agree a reference to Hamas as a terrorist organisation in the EU statement in response to attacks in Israel. Hamas is listed by the EU as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all MSs Irish Foreign Ministry (@dfatirl) October 9, 2023 In a statement tweeted in response to media queries, the DFA stated: "In response to queries, DFA confirms it is categorically false that Ireland refused to agree a reference to Hamas as a terrorist organisation in the EU statement in response to attacks in Israel. Hamas is listed by the EU as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all MSs [Member States]." The claim has also been rejected by both Denmark and Luxembourg. Denmark's foreign ministry stated: "DK firmly rejects the false information that DK should have objected to qualifying Hamas a terrorist organization in negotiating an EU declaration. DK would never do that. Hamas is listed a terror organization by the EU and DK has on several occasions referred to Hamas as such." Luxembourg's foreign ministry stated that it had "participated constructively in the EUs negotiations of a statement condemning the horrible terror attacks by Hamas against Israel". The Irish Government has come out strongly against a suggestion that the European Commission would end development funding to Palestine, following comments made by Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Varhelyi said that the EU would put 691m in development funding under review and that all payments to Palestine would be immediately suspended. In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that Ireland did not support any withholding of aid and that there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision by a single commissioner. Our understanding is that there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid. We are formally requesting the Commission to clarify the legal basis for this announcement, said the spokesperson. A separate commissioner, Janez Lenarcic, who is responsible for crisis management, said that EU aid would continue as long as needed. 'Inhumane and senseless attacks' It comes as Tanaiste Micheal Martin condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel, saying that the deliberate and systematic attacks on civilians is never justified. In a statement this evening, Mr Martin said that he had been horrified at the attacks seen in recent days. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable, said Mr Martin. "They must be released immediately." Mr Martin said that he spoke with the Palestinian foreign minister, Riad Malki, and with the deputy prime minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi. The Tanaiste added that he wrote to Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen yesterday to express deep condolences. What's your view on this issue? You can tell us here With the crisis deepening, Mr Martin said that he will attend an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers tomorrow. These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza," he said. "Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events. "We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. This requires us to put the protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace. The Tanaiste visited Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank last month, with Mr Martin meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence, said Mr Martin. Irish troops safe In an update, the Defence Forces said that all Irish troops serving on UN missions abroad, including those in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, are currently safe. However, earlier on Monday, Irish troops stationed in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL sheltered in place at approximately 1.25pm, following exchanges of fire over the Blue Line. While they remain in 'Groundhog' position, all Irish and Maltese soldiers are accounted for, with fire now dissipating. In total, there are 342 Defence Forces personnel serving in Lebanon as part of UNIFIL. President Michael D Higgins. Picture: James Warwick President Michael D Higgins described the attack by Hamas deeply reprehensible and called for the immediate end to the violence. Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible, said President Higgins. "Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life." Ciara Kane gets upset when her staff dont photocopy on both sides of the page. Its a small thing but she has to literally watch the pennies like a hawk. She is the CEO of the Northside Family Resource Centre in Limerick City. Running a major service that improves the lives of hundreds of families in the socially disadvantaged area of Ballynanty is a job in itself, but ensuring that the money never runs out takes up an inordinate amount of her time. This article is part of the Care crisis series about the funding of voluntary and community care organisations published online here from Sunday, October 8 and in the 'Irish Examiner' from October 9 Occasionally, she has to ask some of the staff whether they would be up for bag-packing at the local supermarket in order to collect enough money to pay for the electricity. Some of her staff are qualified to masters degree level. Others have shown the kind of dedication that elevates a job into a vocation. There was also the time when, at the end of the financial year, she went through the figures with her financial manager, sat on the floor of her office and cried, trying to figure out how to juggle the budget, deciding on whether any service might have to be cut, any life pushed closer to a place which may be beyond hope. Care workers in the community and voluntary sector including those employed by 'Section 39' organisations want pay parity with HSE and Tusla staff restored. File picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Kane is running one of the largest family resource centres in the State. She oversees a staff of 70, providing all manner of services for newborns right up to those heading for the finish line in the life cycle. In total, over 1,000 people avail of the services. Many who do so are living on the margins and the centre provides a support, sometimes a lifeline, to keep lives and families intact. The staff are highly qualified and dedicated to the work yet they find themselves often being diverted into fundraising. From our perspective we are chronically underfunded, Kane says. We are contracted to provide social services on behalf of the State but I have seen instances where staff have had to bag-pack for their own salaries or to pay the electricity bill. A huge part of my job is to find money and I have highly-qualified and experienced staff spending time generating income. The network of family resource centres (FRCs) doesnt fill gaps as much as provide the basics to ensure that sections of society can function on a daily basis. For many of the 30,000 people who avail of their services, its the difference between living and existing. Tusla, the main funder for FRCs, is perfectly aware of the value of the work that is being done. Two weeks ago, Kane, along with 120 other managers in the network, received a letter from Tusla pointing out that the agency deems that the services they provide to children, young people and their families as essential services. This wasnt the agency just letting everybody know how valued they are it was a warning. The FRC network, along with a host of other agencies in the community and voluntary sector, has announced that they will strike on October 17 to protest at the lower salaries they are expected to work with compared to those doing equivalent jobs in State agencies. Tuslas response to the family resource centres was not to assure, but to warn them that they have obligations. While we can empathise and appreciate the sometimes difficult experiences of staff along with their right to strike, Tusla nevertheless expects that services provided under the SLA [service level agreement] will be maintained. We would need reassurances that no child or young person will be harmed or experience hardships throughout or as a result of any strike action. Some among the FRC managers didnt know whether to laugh or lash out. Tusla pays its own personnel according to national agreements. Yet it was warning the underfunded sector where equivalent staff work for less as a matter of routine, that they need to put the children first. Northside Family Resource Centre CEO Ciara Kane: 'We are contracted to provide social services on behalf of the State but I have seen instances where staff have had to bag-pack for their own salaries or to pay the electricity bill.' Picture: Brian Arthur Im spending thousands on recruiting, Kane says. Every time I try to recruit for what were all agreed is an essential service, Tusla or the HSE can outstrip me with salaries. So Im hoping that a certain person may be looking for a different work/life balance or an innovative place to work and they might come our way. But thats a fluke because most people need to pay the mortgage and particularly now in a cost-of-living crisis. Chris OLeary, the co-ordinator of the Cobh Family Resource Centre in Cork knows all about the problem with recruiting and retaining. A year ago we lost three core staff, all went one after the other, he says. It was a combination of the stress, the aftermath of covid, and especially being enticed to better paid jobs. As with most FRCs, his staff include family support and community workers, counsellors, play and art therapists, admin staff, and a whole range of personnel who contribute to easing the difficult circumstances facing adults and children. We have a huge amount of work going on but the outcomes are fantastic, he says. For instance, children come in for an assessment. We do that and then the therapist can begin work with them. You can see improvements happening. There is, however, no getting away from the big issue. Retaining staff is just so difficult, he says. With the cost of living today some wouldnt survive on it. You put in a lot more hours than you get paid for. Anybody working in an FRC doesnt do it solely for the money. We do it because we believe that what we do can pay off for the people we work with. A demonstration last year by Forsa members working for Enable Ireland outside the Lavanagh Centre in Cork. The 'Section 39' workers want restoration of their pay rates, like their colleagues in the HSE and Tusla. Picture: Denis Minihane The lagging pay scales in the community and voluntary sector, along with a corresponding difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff, is what has led to the unprecedented strike action announced last month. Eighteen agencies, backed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, are taking the action after the breakdown of talks at the Workplace Relations Commission. Pay cuts reversed for some The gap in pay opened up following the economic collapse in 2008. Legislation to reduce salaries and wages in State bodies was introduced. Those in the community and voluntary sector were told their pay would be hit by an equivalent amount. Eventually, pay was restored for workers in places like the HSE and Tusla, but those on the outside were not lifted on the rising tide. A gap opened up and with it a recruitment crisis. Forsas head of health and welfare Ashley Connolly: 'Theres a yawning pay gap of more than 10%. Services cannot be sustained as long as that continues.' File picture Forsa health and welfare official Ashley Connolly said on the announcement of the strike that the workers in question had been left with no option. Their colleagues are walking out the door for better terms elsewhere, and waiting lists for the services these agencies offer continue to grow as a result, she said. Theres a yawning pay gap of more than 10%. Services cannot be sustained as long as that continues. The pay difference is bad enough but, for some agencies in the voluntary and community sector, there is an even bigger issue. The bodies which are funded primarily by Tusla, as opposed to the HSE, do not receive funding specifically for salaries. Instead, they are governed by the Child and Family Act which provides for funding a service, rather than linking the funding to employment terms and conditions. Managers have to chase funding The result is that agencies such as the family resource centres are forced to employ staff on lesser terms and conditions in order to ensure that they can continue providing the range of services for those most in need of support from the State. Mangers of the centres are constantly having to chase funding from wherever they can in order to maintain the level of service. Fergal Landy, the CEO of the Family Resource Centre National Forum, says things have changed from the days when all agencies in the sector were under the HSE and the salaries of all sections of the community and voluntary sector were linked to the public service. Today the Section 39 agencies funded primarily by the HSE are lagging in pay scales but those primarily funded by Tusla dont even have scales. With Tusla, its a service-level agreement out of which staff and services must be funded whatever way you can, Landy says. Tusla will say its just buying a service from you and this is the type of service they want and how you pay is up to you. They dont want to be an employer of any kind, they dont want to be on the hook for paying salaries. What happens is that we are losing staff constantly. If, for instance, a social worker could come and get the same pay at one of our centres, some definitely would. But thats not possible. "I know the level of funding within government isnt down to Tusla, but what is happening is they are providing very limited funding on which they know we cant offer proper salaries. Thus the scrambling for money wherever it can be found for what the State openly acknowledges is a service that is essential to keeping together the more fragile elements of society. In Cobh, Chris OLeary asks how the State would fare without the FRC network. Funding is in the gift of the government, he says. If you didnt have the FRCs tomorrow, the State would be paying out a lot more for the services and supports we are providing. Family Resource Centre National Forum CEO Fergal Landy highlights that Section 39 agencies funded primarily by the HSE are lagging in pay scales but those primarily funded by Tusla dont even have scales. File picture: Brian Farrell Now a strike looms on October 17. Services will inevitably be affected, although the nature of the work ensures that all will do what they can to minimise any disruption. Management in step with staff Unlike your average strike, it is not the management or employers who are targeted here. Management are in step with staff: The employers are, for the greater part, voluntary boards made up of people from the community. What is really at issue is the governing ethic which dictates that costs can be saved by taking advantage of a vocational element in a service irrespective of the harm and blatant unfairness at play. Ciara Kane is a passionate defender of the community and voluntary sector, notwithstanding the disadvantages in being outside the states tent. The sector ensures that the service and support they provide is of the community rather than imposed on it. The community and voluntary sector is very necessary, she says. The State [agencies] are like the rocks in society, there to give a solid base where you know what to expect. What should happen is there should be narrow gaps between the rocks and the flowers that spring up [community and voluntary organisations such as the FRCs] between to meet the extra needs of community. But the rocks have gotten smaller and the mud has got bigger and we are drowning in the mud because we cant fill the gaps. We are now becoming basic service providers of what the State is not doing, whereas we should be here to support the community. LOS ANGELESGrooby on Monday launched its newest membership site, TGirlX.com, a satellite site to its popular TGirls.xxx brand. Inaugural scenes feature performers Emma Rose, Eva Maxim, Taylor Isabella, Brittney Kade, Bailey Archer, and Angellica Good. Weve been wanting to produce some scenes that were outside of our normal scope, with different producers and styles, but production costs are high and launching a completely new site would cost in the $100,000s with no guaranteed return, says Grooby CEO Steven Grooby. TGirlX.com was an opportunity for creativity by keeping it connected to our larger brand. So what to expect on TgirlX.com? We're starting with some more involved, themed shoots featuring stars who you should recognize. These are all from some new producers in Canada. We aim to start featuring scenes produced, directed, and scripted by some of our trans models, as well as invite other producers to create scenes that we think would fit. Current members of TGirls.xxx will also get complimentary access to the new TGirlX.com. Scenes added to TGirlX.com will double as the hardcore update featured that week on TGirls.xxx. Additionally, members of TGirlX.com will receive full access to TGirls.xxx. At the UN in New York last month, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Michael Martin announced that the coalition favoured recognising Palestine as a state in its programme for government. Mr Martin added that the timing of the decision would be critical and the "impact of taking such a decision has to be weighed up". It was a sharp U-turn from what he told reporters during his official visit to Israel/Palestine two weeks before when he said he believed that Ireland recognising Palestine alone would have little impact compared with collective EU recognition. Co-ordinated EU action on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, particularly regarding the mass expansion of illegal settlements, has become increasingly difficult as the Israeli government strengthens its alliance with Hungary. Martin was right: Timing is indeed everything. On Saturday morning, Hamas, the Islamist militant group which has controlled the Gaza Strip with an authoritarian grip since it took control in 2007, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. So far, rockets and armed attacks by Hamas militants have killed 600 mostly civilian Israelis. Hamass wide-reaching operation involved land, sea, and air crossings and almost certainly required outside assistance, likely from Iran and its sponsored militia, Hezbollah. The Hamas attack took place in the context of a 16-year blockade that has crippled the Gazan economy, a recent uptick in settler violence and lethal military operations in the West Bank, and repeated violations of an agreement surrounding the use of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, one of the holiest sites in Islam. With fighting still ongoing in South Israel as of Sunday, Hamas has unquestionably demonstrated its strength over Fatah, its political rival which controls the increasingly weak Palestinian Authority which administers the West Bank. As images of Palestinians bulldozing the security fence along the Gazan border appeared, crowds lined the streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah in celebration. In the aftermath of the attack, US President Joe Biden quickly emphasised Israels right to defend itself, while EU buildings in Brussels were lit up with the Israeli flag in solidarity. Meanwhile, 370 mostly civilian Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli military began retaliatory aerial strikes on the densely populated Gaza strip, which lacks bomb shelters or any easy means of escape for Palestinians. Already sensitive, the political mood for discussions surrounding Palestinian statehood will undoubtedly become even more tense, as videos of Hamas militants taking Israeli citizens hostage circulate online. Germany has already said it is reviewing its aid to the Palestinian territories. Against this backdrop, it would be surprising if the Irish Governments plans to recognise Palestinian statehood were not stalled although, hopefully not shelved completely. There had also been a quiet debate in some EU diplomatic circles in Ramallah and Jerusalem about whether there could be some relaxation of the EU's strict no-contact policy with Hamas. In Ramallah during his official visit, Martin rejected any change to the longstanding no-contact policy with Hamas, but some diplomats view even limited dialogue with Hamas as a more effective way to influence the militant group than a no-contact policy. An Israeli soldier walks outside the police station that was overrun by Hamas militants in Sderot, Israel. Picture: Ohad Zwigenberg?AP Its hard to know yet whether the recent attack will extinguish that debate, or force the EU to begin a dialogue with a group that has viscerally demonstrated that it cannot be ignored. So far, Israeli and Palestinian civilians have paid the biggest price for the decisions and failures of their ruling class (and in the case of the Palestinians, a ruling class that has long since lost its democratic mandate after 16 years without elections). The Hamas attack represents a major security breach for Israel which is, in part, explained by the large military resources currently deployed in the West Bank to safeguard illegal settlements. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Breaking the Silence, a group of former Israeli soldiers who campaign against the occupation of the West Bank, said: We send soldiers to secure settler incursions into the Palestinian city of Nablus, to chase Palestinian children in Hebron, to protect settlers as they carry out pogroms. "Settlers demand that Palestinian flags are removed from the streets of Huwara; soldiers are sent to do it Our country decided decades ago that it's willing to forfeit the security of its citizens in our towns and cities, in favour of maintaining control over an occupied civilian population of millions, all for the sake of a settler-messianic agenda. The international community have enabled a status quo where the primary price has been paid by Palestinians but violent occupation has been revealed as an unreliable security policy and the resources required to occupy the West Bank and to maintain the Gaza blockade no longer seem tenable. But at the same time, the most right-wing government on record is in power in Israel and its people are now overwhelmingly unified by the mass attacks which have struck directly in their heartland. No one knows exactly what will come next. On Sunday, two Israeli tourists were shot dead by a policeman in Egypt, a country which since 1979 has had a peace deal with Israel; while in the coming days, many more Palestinians in Gaza are likely to lose their lives, as Israel mounts its counterattack on the besieged enclave. Hamass long-term goal remains unclear but the immediate fallout from its strike seems likely to involve more chaos in the region than any prospect of peace although, its worth noting that there wasnt a genuine peace process for them to derail. Some media commentators have referred to Hamass attack as Israels 9/11. Its worth reminding ourselves that what followed 9/11 was a devastating and misguided war on terror that cost millions of lives and destabilised the Middle East and Central Asia until the present day. With the death toll still rising in Israel and Gaza, the decisions made by Netanyahus coalition will likely dictate the scale of the latest cycle of violence, or whether some elusive political will can be found for an alternative. The United Nations Security Council opted for no immediate action after an emergency meeting over the growing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The United States had called on all 15 members to strongly condemn heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas which has seen Israel declare war on the Palestinian organisation. US deputy ambassador Robert Wood said a good number of countries had condemned the Hamas attack, telling reporters they could probably figure out one of those which had not. He said Hamas must end its violent terrorist activity against the Israeli people and said there will be a time to restart talks on a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We condemn all the attacks on civilians The time right now is weve got to deal with the hostage taking, the violence that is going on thats being perpetrated by Hamas, he said. Weve got to deal with first things first. Russias UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said US efforts to say Russia was not condemning the attacks were untrue. He said: We condemn all the attacks on civilians. Its important to stop the fighting immediately, to go to a ceasefire and to meaningful negotiations, which were stalled for decades. Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun said Beijing condemned all attacks on civilians as he headed into the meeting, although he did not mention Hamas. He said: Whats really important is to prevent the further escalation of the situation and further casualties of civilians. Whats also important is really to come back to the two-state solution. Mr Jun said it is important for the Security Council to have its voice heard although Mr Nebenzia said no country put forward a statement for the councils consideration. Maltas UN ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who called for the meeting, said she did not know if the council would adopt a statement, but added that any condemnation must be mostly against Hamas. Palestinian civilians are also victims in this and Hamas put them in this position, she said. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh of the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council, said all members understand it is key for everyone to work for calm and de-escalation, with a priority on protecting civilians on both sides. Australians appear likely to reject the creation of an advocate for the Indigenous population in a referendum outcome some see as a victory for racism. Two opinion polls published in newspapers on Monday are the latest to show that most respondents oppose enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in Australias constitution. Creating the Voice would aim to give Australias most disadvantaged ethnic minority more say on government policies that affect their lives. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not concede defeat before voting on the referendum ends Saturday. We'll save money and get better results with a Voice. On October 14, a Yes vote will deliver practical change. pic.twitter.com/NjxFAGFJPt Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 8, 2023 He told Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Well wait and see when they cast their vote. Im not getting ahead of the Australian people. I know theres some arrogance has crept into the no-side campaign, but its a campaign based upon fear. The prime minister has said the world will judge Australians on how they vote at their first referendum since 1999. Indigenous Australians account for 3.8% of the population and have worse outcomes on average than other Australians in various measures including health, employment, education, incarceration and suicide rates. Indigenous Australians die around eight years younger than the wider community. The Yes campaign argues that a Voice, a representative body elected by Indigenous people, would lead to better outcomes. It will be bad, divisive and unhappy for Australians the next day, Human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson has warned that the referendums failure would be interpreted by outsiders as the vote of an ignorant and racist populace. The opposition conservative parties argue that the Voice would be risky because the courts could interpret its powers unpredictably. They also argue that the Voice would divide Australian people racially. Deputy leader of the conservative opposition Liberal Party Sussan Ley said either result would have a negative impact on Australia. Its a lose-lose, whatever the result is on Saturday, she told Sky News. It will be bad, divisive and unhappy for Australians the next day, so we do need to bring the country together. A poll published in The Australian newspaper on Monday showed 58% of respondents opposed the Voice and only 34% supported it. A poll published in The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday found that 56% of respondents rejected the Voice and only 29% supported it. More than 2.2 million people had already cast their ballots in early voting by Monday, while a further 1.9 million intended to make postal votes. Israel intensified its bombardments of the Gaza Strip on Monday after declaring war and vowing to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the enclaves Hamas rulers, as Israeli soldiers fought to secure the border and dislodge Gaza gunmen from areas of southern Israel. At least 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding more than 130 captives from the Israeli side. More than two days after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling militants holed up in several locations. As Monday began, the military said it was fighting Hamas in seven to eight places in southern Israel. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Military spokesman Richard Hecht said it was taking longer than expected to repel the incursion because there were still multiple breaches in the border, which Hamas could be using to bring in more fighters and weapons. We thought this morning wed be in a better place, he said. The Israeli Defence Forces said 70 additional militants infiltrated the Beeri kibbutz, which the military has been unable to wrest from Hamas, overnight. Meanwhile, Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including air strikes that flattened much of the town of Beit Hanoun in the enclaves north-east corner. Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters that 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 are likely to have fled beforehand. We will continue to attack in this way, with this force, continuously, on all gathering (places) and routes used by Hamas, Rear Admiral Hagari said. 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. An Israeli military spokesman said the army had called up around 100,000 reservists, and said in a statement that Israel would aim to end Hamass rule of Gaza. Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel with this, said spokesman Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israels military. And in addition to that, we will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon which was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Erik Marmor/AP) After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak on Saturday, the Hamas 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. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. The high figure underlined 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. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claimed to have taken more than 130 people captive from inside Israel and moved 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. Civilians on both sides were already paying a high price. The Israeli military was evacuating at least five towns close to Gaza, while the United Nations said more than 123,000 Gazans have been displaced by the fighting. 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. As of late on Sunday, Israeli air strikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, the UN said. The UN 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. In the Palestinian city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli air strike early on Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. He said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Palestinian civil defence staff look through a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Over the weekend, another air strike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Outa family, including women and children, when they were huddling on the ground floor in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, survivors said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said at least 700 people have been killed in Israel, including 73 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 declaration of war was largely symbolic, said Yohanan Plesner, the head of the Israel Democracy Institute 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 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 ceasefire, but Israel was not open to a truce at this stage, according to the official. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. 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 at Israeli positions in a disputed area along the border on Sunday, and Israel fired back using armed drones. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers around the West Bank on Sunday. 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. Indian air force helicopters were able to land on Monday to rescue people in the Himalayan north-east where a six-year-old hydroelectric dam cracked open last week in intense rain, flooding a valley with glacial lake water and washing away bridges and homes as thousands fled. Police said rescuers have found 52 bodies so far, and the search is continuing with around 100 people still missing. As weather conditions improved in Sikkim state, helicopters arrived in the worst-hit Mangan district to help some 3,000 stranded tourists. The design and placement of the Teesta 3 dam, the biggest hydroelectric dam in Sikkim state, has been controversial since the time it was built. A 2019 report identified Lhonak Lake as highly vulnerable to flooding that could breach dams and cause extensive damage. It was not clear what triggered the deadly flood that began early on Wednesday, the latest to hit north-east India in a year of unusually heavy monsoon rains. Indian army personnel dig along the Teesta River as they search for possible survivors (Anupam Nath/AP) Experts said possible contributors were the intense rain and a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck neighbouring Nepal on Tuesday afternoon. The flood began when the glacial lake overflowed, cracking open the Teesta 3 dam. The icy water then cascaded through towns in the valley below, carrying some bodies miles downstream, where they were found in the neighbouring state of West Bengal and in Bangladesh. On Sunday evening, as the skies cleared and rain subsided, 89 tourists stranded by washed-out roads were airlifted out of northern Sikkim. Some 10 other tourists, including five Thai nationals, were able to trek to safety with assistance from rescuers. Police said on Monday that they would continue to fly the helicopters if the weather permits. The flood destroyed multiple bridges, hit pipelines and damaged hundreds of houses in northern Sikkim. Of 23 Indian soldiers reported missing earlier, officials said one was rescued and nine were confirmed to have died, while the search for the others continued. There is no land access or mobile connectivity in the area, complicating rescue efforts and sharing of information. Thousands of people are sheltering in relief camps set up by the state. Experts said the flooding disaster underscores a climate dilemma that pits local environmental activists who believe dams in the Himalayas are too dangerous against Indian authorities pursuing green energy agenda. A man tries to recover a vehicle submerged in mud along the Teesta River (Anupam Nath/AP) 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. Several towns, including Dikchu and Rangpo in the Teesta basin, were flooded. Rangpo resident Muhammad Karim has been searching for his father, brother and sister-in-law for five days. I am clueless I have asked the police for help, but theres been no progress so far, he said. Homes and buildings in the town were covered by mud as excavators dug through debris to recover bodies over the weekend. 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. Himalayan glaciers could lose 80% of their volume if global warming is not controlled, according to a report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. Israels military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, halting entry of food, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of air strikes in retaliation for the militants bloody weekend incursion. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack from Gaza, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Israels military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilisation in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. On Sunday, strikes flattened much of the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, which Israel said Hamas was using as a staging ground. On Monday, the Israeli military blared messages to residents to evacuate Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City where offices of the Associated Press and other international media are located, a signal that heavy strikes were to come. A major question remains whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group. As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage from the latest bombardment. Israeli soldiers on a tank near the Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Civilians pay a high price 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. The armed wing of Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli air strikes. That could not be independently confirmed. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. He said Israel is at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanising language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza of varying strictness since Hamas seized power in 2007. In recent years Israel has provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and some consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out. The Israeli seal will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighbouring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official said more than two tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are under way to organise food, and other deliveries, but the question of allowing in fuel has not yet been decided. Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israeli bombardment is moving from district to district to destroy houses and buildings Israel says are being used by Hamas. Israel is planning to hit thousands of targets, he said. He added that hundreds of Hamas militants have been buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours. His claims of the numbers and his characterisation of the dead as Hamas could not be confirmed. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli air strike early on Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. He said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Over the weekend, another air strike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, and five neighbours, said a survivor, Nasser Abu Quta, adding that there were no militants in the family house. The United Nations said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon which was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Erik Marmor/AP) The UN 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. Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Rear Admiral Hagari said the military has control of its border communities in southern Israel. Despite some isolated incidents early on Monday, at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities. He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the Associated Press that the groups fighters continue to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group is aiming to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said on Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. Palestinian civil defence staff look through a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak on Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem, and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. United Nations (UN) secretary-general has said that he is "deeply alarmed" by the imposition of a "complete siege" on the territory of Gaza following Hamas' assault on Israel. Speaking from the UNs headquarters in New York, Antonio Guterres called for an end to the "vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarisation." Mr Guterres said he was alarmed by reports of the deaths of more than 500 Palestinians, including women and children, with these numbers rising by the minute. "I recognise the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people," he said. "But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians." UN chief Antonio Guterres. Picture: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer He called for an immediate cessation of attacks and the release all hostages. "While I recognise Israels legitimate security concerns, I also remind Israel that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law," he said. Civilians must be respected and protected at all times. Civilian infrastructure must never be a target. The UN chief described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as already extremely dire before the latest hostilities. He added that medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are now desperately needed in Gaza, which is home to 2.3m people. "An entry of essential supplies into Gaza must be facilitated, and UN will continue efforts to provide the aids to respond to these needs," he said. "I urge all sides and relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza strip." Israel vows complete siege of Gaza Earlier, Israels military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, halting entry of food, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of air strikes in retaliation for the militants bloody weekend incursion. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack from Gaza, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Israels military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades. (PA Graphics) Tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilisation in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. On Sunday, strikes flattened much of the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, which Israel said Hamas was using as a staging ground. On Monday, the Israeli military blared messages to residents to evacuate Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City where offices of the Associated Press and other international media are located, a signal that heavy strikes were to come. A major question remains whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Israeli firefighters extinguish a blaze at a site in Ashkelon hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group. As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage from the latest bombardment. Israeli soldiers on a tank near the Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) Civilians have already paid a high price. 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. The armed wing of Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli air strikes. That could not be independently confirmed. Smoke rises in Gaza City after an Israeli air strike on Monday (Hatem Moussa/AP) Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. He said Israel is at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanising language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza of varying strictness since Hamas seized power in 2007. In recent years Israel has provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and some consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out. The Israeli seal will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighbouring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official said more than two tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been sent to Gaza and efforts are under way to organise food, and other deliveries, but the question of allowing in fuel has not yet been decided. Palestinian civil defence crews try to extinguish a fire in a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israeli bombardment is moving from district to district to destroy houses and buildings Israel says are being used by Hamas. Israel is planning to hit thousands of targets, he said. He added that hundreds of Hamas militants have been buried under the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours. His claims of the numbers and his characterisation of the dead as Hamas could not be confirmed. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli air strike early on Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. He said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building in Ashkelon which was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip (Erik Marmor/AP) Over the weekend, another air strike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, and five neighbours, said a survivor, Nasser Abu Quta, adding that there were no militants in the family house. The United Nations said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. The UN 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. Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Rear Admiral Hagari said the military has control of its border communities in southern Israel. Despite some isolated incidents early on Monday, at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities. He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Palestinians remove a body from the rubble of a building after an Israeli air strike on the Jebaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip (Ramez Mahmoud/AP) Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the Associated Press that the groups fighters continue to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group is aiming to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said on Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Palestinian civil defence staff look through a house hit by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip (Yousef Masoud/AP) Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak on Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem, and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, the US dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it will send additional military aid. The UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, says it is near maximum capacity in accommodating internally displaced people in Gaza. The agencys director of external communications, Tamara Alrifai, said on Monday that nearly 137,000 people have sheltered so far in around 70 UN schools in Gaza. Ms Alrifai said the agency can host up to 150,000 people at up to 79 schools around the territory. She added there is fuel in Gaza that could last for up to 10 days. A British Army veteran who fought against the Japanese in the Burma Campaign during the Second World War has laid flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Tokyo in a memorial ceremony to stress the importance of reconciliation. Richard Day, 97, who survived the decisive 1944 Battle of Kohima in north-east India where Japan fought to capture the then British-controlled territory stood up from a wheelchair, placed a wreath of red flowers on a table, and saluted the souls of the unknown Japanese soldiers at Tokyos Cihdorigafuchi National Cemetery. It was very moving, but it brought back some terrible memories, he said after the ceremony. British Army veteran Richard Day shakes hands with Tokai University professor Yukihiro Torikai (Mari Yamaguchi/AP) He said that when he was laying the flowers I was remembering the screams of people they were crying out after their mothers. He shook hands at the memorial and later conversed with relatives of the Japanese veterans who also attended the event. You cant carry hate, Mr Day said. (Otherwise) You are not hating each other, you are hurting yourself. Mr Day was in his late teens when he was sent to the notoriously severe battle, where he also faced harsh conditions, including contracting malaria and dysentery simultaneously while fighting the Japanese. About 160,000 Japanese were killed during the battle, many from starvation and illnesses due to insufficient supplies and planning. Some 50,000 British and Commonwealth troops were also killed, nearly half of whom perished in brutal prison camps. British Army veteran Richard Day, far left, attends a memorial ceremony at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo (Mari Yamaguchi/AP) Hard feelings toward Japans brutal treatment of prisoners of war remained in Britain years after the fighting ended. Yukihiko Torikai, a professor of humanities and culture at Tokai University, attended on behalf of his grandfather, Tsuneo Torikai, who returned from the campaign alive after his supervisor ordered a withdrawal. The academic shook hands with Mr Day, expressing his appreciation of the British veterans trip to Japan. He later said he is aware that not everyone is ready for reconciliation and that it would have been even better if a Japanese veteran who survived the battle could have been at the ceremony. As we foster friendship, it is important to remember the past, not just putting it behind, he said. Military officials salute the unknown Japanese soldiers who died overseas during the Second World War, at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo (Mari Yamaguchi/AP) Military officials from the embassies in Tokyo of former allied countries, including the United States, New Zealand and Australia attended the ceremony. Event organiser Akiko Macdonald, the daughter of a Japanese veteran who also survived the Battle of Kohima and now heads the London-based Burma Campaign Society, said the joint memorial in Japan for those lost in the battles of Kohima and Imphal was especially meaningful. Mr Day was also set to visit and pray at Yokohama War Cemetery, where many of the buried were PoWs, as well as Yamagata, Hiroshima. He also wanted to visit Kyoto to find the hotel where he stayed while on post-war duties to thank them for their hospitality. Border trade with Thailand through Karen States Myawaddy crossing has plummeted by more than a third, or US$ 363.034 million, over the past five months from the same period last year, according to the Myanmar juntas Commerce Ministry. Myawaddy border trade from April 1 to September 29 this year was worth $782.644 million, down from $1,145.678 million last year. Traders blame the juntas frequent policy changes, red tape for import license applications, and tighter checks along the Asian Highway. Myanmar exports corn, rubber, peppers, onions and fishery products to Thailand through Myawaddy. However, the Thai governments tax exemption on Myanmar corn exports has expired, so merchants are only exporting cabbages, cauliflowers, peppers and onions for now. Myanmar uses Myawaddy to import materials for its cut-make-pack (CMP) industry, consumer goods, foodstuffs, construction materials, machinery, vehicle spare parts, pharmaceuticals and electronics. Imports have also declined, with traders citing red tape in the import license application process. Trade is declining due to [junta] policies, one local business owner remarked. They are changing trade policies frequently in response to the political situation. In border trade, if something bad happens on our side, [Thai] buyers respond by offering lower prices or changing their orders. So, we are forced to sell at their prices. Junta policy changes and restrictions have hit high-season corn exports especially badly, he said. Corn exporters have even been arrested, he added. [The regime] is not facilitating trade or transportation it is not providing any support that enables us to gain an advantage with buyers, said the business owner, who spoke on condition of anonymity. We also have to make a lot of payments along the route. Policies are not stable. In some cases, orders that are issued one day take effect the next day. Goods are being seized by authorities during transportation. Normally, we export corn and rice powder at this time. But, no merchant can export because of low profitability. Adding to high fuel and other transport costs, cargo trucks face payments on various tariffs charged by different groups along the route. Meanwhile, Thai buyers are currently offering lower prices for corn powder, he said. A business owner from Myawaddy said: It is difficult to get an import license. We have to seek approval from various levels to import certain goods. In some cases, they dont grant licenses at all. So, imports have declined by around 80 percent. The regime imposes tight checks on Myawaddy No. 2 Friendship Bridge, which is mainly used by cargo trucks involved in border trade. The Indivisible exhibition in the Thai city of Chiang Mai highlights medics working among Myanmars resistance forces and displaced civilians in Kayah State. The exhibition runs at the Alliance Francaise de Chiang Mai until October 14 and is available online. Khin Sandar Nyunt, an ethnographer and a documentary photographer, spent two years in Kayah State documenting medical students who fled Yangon after the 2021 coup to treat displaced civilians and the public in Kayahs war zone. She documented their daily challenges while establishing a functional hospital which was later targeted by junta airstrikes on May 20. Medical units and hospitals in the resistance stronghold are frequently targeted by the junta, disrupting medical access for resistance fighters and civilians. Khin Sandar Nyunt told New Burma, which organized the exhibition: When the first bombs were dropped, I felt like I was in a killing field. I thought I was dead. I felt that this time I wasnt going to survive. The medics emerged from their bomb shelters and were forced to move for a third time. I want to be actively involved and consider myself as a part of this revolution. I appreciate that Ive had the experience and have witnessed different aspects of this movement, she said, adding that the exhibition is her way of resisting the junta. The photographer said she wanted to detail the extent to which the junta targets civilians and healthcare and how inhumane that is. Curator Som Supaparinya told The Irrawaddy: They are very powerful images because they show the hardness of the people. Those students help people to live longer or feel a little bit more comfort throughout difficult times. I think this is what most Thais dont see. We should see it and we should understand and support it more. New Burma said the exhibition aims to raise awareness and funds to rebuild healthcare services in Kayah State. Medic Ko Htoo told New Burma that they were determined to keep going and break free from repression. We face life-threatening situations. I dont believe Ive done anything wrong so far. I have no regrets. Im still committed to this revolution, he said. This summer, the first of four dams on the Wests Klamath River was destroyed, unleashing a torrent of cold water that had been held back for a century. By the end of 2024, three more dams nea Read moreCommentary: American dams are being demolished. And nature is pushing that along Junta troops and allied Pyu Saw Htee militia have cut electricity supplies and driven more than 10,000 civilians out of their homes in Sagaings Kantbalu over the past week. Around 120 junta soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 361 and militia have been attacking southern Kantbalu since the last week of September, forcing civilians from 10 villages to flee. The troops looted Nga Pyaw Tine village last week, two days after they occupied its electricity supply station, according to local charity Kyun Hla. On Thursday, some 40 soldiers from the temporary outpost raided three neighboring villages and arrested three civilians from Inn Lae Gyi village. The troops returned to their artillery base in Kantbalu Town on the same day, taking the civilian detainees with them but leaving a substantial force in Nga Pyaw Tine. The displaced civilians urgently need emergency supplies such as food and tarpaulins for shelter, the charity group said. Some troops remain stationed at the power station, so we dont know when we can go back home, one villager said. Electricity was cut to Kantbalu and neighboring Taze Township after the troops occupied the power station, the Infinity Charity group reported. There has been no electricity for five days. People are facing hardships because of the power cut, said a villager. The military also conducted an airstrike in Kantbalu Township on Monday, according to locals. Reports that the military launched an airstrike are correct but we are not disclosing details due to military conditions on the ground, a resistance member told The Irrawaddy. Sagaing Region is a resistance stronghold where junta troops and allied militia are conducting a terror campaign of attacks and atrocities against civilians to deter local support for resistance groups. Pyu Saw Htee militias are active in Kantbalu and neighboring Kyun Hla township, where they are forcing residents to undergo military training. In early September, more than 10,000 residents of southern Kantbalu fled junta raiders amid heavy monsoon rain. Torrential rainfall caused by a tropical depression in the Bay of Bengal has caused widespread flooding in Bago, Mandalay and Yangon regions, displacing residents and disrupting transport, rescue teams and residents said. Widespread flooding in Bago Region has displaced more than 10,000 people since October 8, while many more people remain stranded in inundated homes, residents of the region said. Unrelenting downpours caused the Bago River to breach its banks in Bago City, flooding roads and homes, local volunteers said. Two wardsZyaing Ga Naing (North) and Kyauk Gyi Suwere the worst affected. Many residents, including the elderly and children, remain trapped in houses inundated by floodwater as rescue teams have not yet been able to reach low-lying areas, according to local volunteer groups. Lack of manpower, rescue equipment and lifeboats delays the rescue operation and many people are still trapped in their homes, a volunteer delivering food to stranded residents of the town said. Downtown Bago was shown submerged by floodwater in a video posted by a resident on Facebook on Monday morning. Floodwaters were nearly six feet in height in some parts of the town. The flood in regions capital is the worst in 40 years, a resident of Pan Hlaing ward said. We never experienced this before in our lifetime. Our house is located on high ground, but the entire first floor has been completely inundated with flood water. We have no choice but to rely on volunteers for food until the water recedes, she said. Blackouts, communication breakdowns and transportation difficulties are hindering rescue operations and the delivery of food supplies, while the military regime has failed to provide urgent evacuation and assistance to flood victims, residents said. Trains between Yangon and Mandalay and Bago and Mawlamyine have been suspended due to the massive flooding in Bago Region. People have been evacuated in Hlegu and Hmawbi townships on the outskirts of Yangon Region due to flooding, according to the Myanmar Red Cross Society. Floods continue to wreak havoc near the 39-mile mark on Yangon-Naypyidaw Highway and on the Union Highway between northern Shan States Naungcho and Mandalays Pyin Oo Lwin townships, causing delays in transportation. In August, non-stop rain and flash flooding caused landslides on the Asia Highway between Myawaddy and Kawkariek townships in Karen state, causing some elevated sections to collapse, which disrupted trade and transportation in the state. Nearly 400 villages in seven townships were inundated by massive flooding in Rakhine State in August. Thailand has postponed a regional summit, to which Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has controversially been invited, until next year, citing the need for more time to prepare for the event. Thailand is the current chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative, a regional organization that links South and Southeast Asian countries on the rim of the Bay of Bengal including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. It had planned to host the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit on November 27-30. However, the Pattaya Daily reported on Monday that, according to Kanchana Patarachoke, director-general of the Department of Information and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand has decided to reschedule the 6th BIMSTEC meeting until next year to allow for better preparation. The rescheduling follows a report from Thai PBS World that all BIMSTEC leaders, including Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, have been invited to attend the summit. Its not clear whether the postponement is the result of problems caused by the invitation to the Myanmar regime boss, who has been shunned internationallyincluding by regional leadersfor his 2021 coup against Myanmars democratically elected government and his forces atrocities against civilians for rejecting military rule in the country. With its BIMSTEC invitation to Min Aung Hlaing, Thailand became just the second country in the world after Russia to welcome the Myanmar junta leader. Even the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, has excluded Min Aung Hlaing from its summits for his failure to honor the blocs peace plan for the country. China, despite being one of the juntas major allies, has not invited him to visit. Thailands previous government led by Prime Minister Parayut Chan-o-cha was frequently accused of being too cozy with the junta, but did not invite Min Aung Hlaing to visit the country after his coup. Regarding the decision to delay the meeting, the Pattaya Daily reported that the Thai government felt it was necessary in order to ensure a smooth and well-planned execution in terms of both content and logistics, and to make the most effective use of the allocated budget. At least 15 Myanmar junta troops were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations continued to attack regime targets across the country. Incidents were reported in Shan and Chin states and Magwe, Sagaing and Bago regions. The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs and EAOs. Some military casualties could not be independently verified. Clashes erupt in northern Shan A junta soldier was killed and two others injured in Hseni Township, northern Shan State on Saturday when the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and regime forces shelled each other using heavy explosives, according to local media reports. A monastery and a house were destroyed when shells struck Kon Kauk Village, where KIA troops are stationed. Last Friday, a firefight broke out in the same area when a military unit invaded the territory of the Shan State Army (SSA), the armed wing of the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP), in Hseni Township, reported local media outlet Shan News. Regime forces bombed while preparing for census in Sagaing Ba Thu Kyawal Column said it and two other resistance groups used improvised mortar rounds to bomb regime forces escorting junta immigration officers who were planning to collect household lists in Tha Pyay Taw Village in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region last Friday. There were military casualties, the group added. Military bases bombed in Sagaing Kyauk Lone Gyi PDF (KLG PDF) said it used improvised remote-controlled airplanes to bomb the bases of regime forces and pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militias in the pro-regime village of Alal Kyun in Kani Township, Sagaing Region last Friday. Details of damage and casualties were unknown. Military unit bombed in Sagaing Civilian Defense and Security Organization of Myaung (CDSOM) said it and five resistance groups jointly used three makeshift remote-controlled airplanes to drop six bombs on a military unit of 30 troops from Kyauk Yit Police Station in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday night. The regime forces were bombed while returning to the police station after patrolling nearby areas. A firefight continued for an hour after the drone attack, said CDSOM. Regime forces are believed to have been killed or injured. Junta troops killed in mine ambush in Sagaing Three regime forces were killed in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region on Saturday when Brother Defence Force and other resistance groups jointly triggered land mines to ambush a military unit near a 16-bed hospital in the township, resistance groups claimed citing military informants and witnesses. Junta-controlled administration department attacked in Magwe The local resistance group Myingyan Black Tiger (MBT) said it conducted a surprise attack on regime forces stationed at the junta-controlled township General Administration Department office in the center of Yesagyo town, Magwe Region on Saturday afternoon. The group said one of its 40-mm explosives detonated directly in front of the regime sentry group during the clash. At least six regime forces are believed to have been killed in the attack, claimed MBT. Military unit ambushed in Bago Two regime soldiers were killed and five injured in Paungde Township, Bago Region last Friday when Paungde PDF, which forms Pyay District Battalion 3601, and Pyay District PDF Battalion 3602 jointly ambushed a military unit of 25 troops from a base on Tower Taing hill, the resistance groups said. The regime forces were attacked while patrolling between two villages. They responded with firearms and heavy explosives, but all resistance forces retreated without casualties. Paungde PDF also claimed to have killed the pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia leader Phoe Wa at his house in Aung Thapyay Village in the township for repeatedly failing to comply with its warnings. The militia leader urged regime forces to take up a position in his village and also guided regime forces in raids on resistance areas, the PDF group said. Clash erupts in Chin State Chinland Defense Force (Matupi) said it clashed with a military unit of 80 troops from a junta district administration department office on the Matupi-Hakha highway in Matupi Township, Chin State last Friday, killing two regime soldiers. JERUSALEMIsrael relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip early Monday as fighting raged with Hamas around the Gaza Strip and the death toll from the war against the Palestinian militants surged above 1,100. The Israeli army said it hit more than 500 targets in the blockaded and impoverished Gaza Strip in overnight clashes, while fighting persisted in seven to eight locations inside Israel around the enclave. It came two days after Hamas launched a barrage of rockets and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages in a massive attack that took Israel by surprise. Sunday the government officially declared war on the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel to prepare for a long and difficult conflict. More than 700 Israelis have been killed since Hamas launched its large-scale attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Monday. Another 1,200 people have been wounded, many critically. In retaliation, Israeli air strikes have hammered the impoverished and blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave of 2.3 million people, with officials there reporting at least 413 Palestinian deaths. Overnight IDF fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip, the military said in a statement. Were still fighting. There are between seven to eight open places around Gaza [where] we have still warriors fighting terrorists, military spokesman Richard Hecht told reporters. We thought by [Sunday] we would have full control. I hope we will by the end of the day, he added. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from the Palestinian enclave as the strikes continued in the early hours of the morning, an AFP correspondent reported. Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus estimated around 1,000 Palestinian militants had participated in Hamass assault on Saturday, which he called 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, he said. He likened it to a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbor wrapped into one. Conricus said around 100,000 reserve troops were deployed to the south as the army battles to expel Hamas fighters from Israeli territory. A very large amount of Israeli civilians and soldiers were being held inside Gaza, he said. Foreigners killed, abductions Israels allies have responded by pledging fresh support, to confront what US President Jo Biden branded an unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas. Washington dispatched the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and group of warships to the eastern Mediterranean, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington said more equipment and resources will be on their way. The conflict has had global impact, with several countries reporting nationals killed, abducted or missing. At least four US citizens were killed in the attack, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement, adding that the toll was likely to rise. Thailand said at least 12 of its nationals were also killed while Nepal reported 10 deaths. They were all laborers working in Israel. Israel was stunned when Hamas launched its multi-pronged offensive on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, with at least 3,000 rockets raining down as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave where many revelers were shot dead. Panicked Israelis hiding in their homes told reporters that militants were going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. At least 100 citizens were captured by Hamas and abducted into Gaza, with images circulating on social media of bloodied hostages. Yifat Zailer, 37, said she was horrified to see video footage from Gaza that showed her cousin and the womans children, aged 9 months and 3 years. Thats the only confirmation we have, she said. Israel also came under attack from the north when Lebanons Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells Sunday in solidarity with Hamas, without causing any casualties. Israel responded with artillery strikes across the UN-patrolled border. We recommend Hezbollah not to come into this, army spokesman Richard Hecht said. If they come, we are ready. Situation is unbearable Netanyahuwho leads a hard-right coalition governmenthas vowed to turn Hamas hideouts to rubble and urged Palestinians there to flee. Israeli attacks have leveled several Gaza residential towers and destroyed a mosque in Gazas Khan Yunis, as well as hitting the central bank. More than 20,000 people in Gaza have been displaced due to fighting, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said. The situation is unbearable psychologically and economically, said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, as she took shelter in a classroom with her terrified children. Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the US and EU consider a terrorist group. Oil prices soared more than 4 percent Monday, sparking concerns about possible supply shocks from the crude-rich region. Israels foes have praised the assault, including Iran whose President Ebrahim Raisi voiced support when he spoke with the leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations took place in the United States, Iraq, Pakistan and other countries, while 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. We will not give up Dubbing its attack Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas called on resistance fighters in the West Bank and Arab and Islamic nations to join the battle. Its attack comes half a century after the 1973 invasion by Egyptian and Syrian forces, a conflict known in Israel as the Yom Kippur War, and has sparked bitter recriminations for what was widely seen as an 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. An Israeli survivor of the attack on Sderot, Yitzhak, 67, said he now expected the army to conquer Gaza house by house, clean the area there properly, and not leave Gaza until they get the very last rocket out of the ground. 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. Israel strikes and seals off Gaza after incursion by Hamas, which vows to execute hostages 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 That both Israel and Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, said on Saturday that they are "at war" after Palestinian militants launched an early morning assault on southern Israel which was unprecedented in its intensity, shows how serious the situation is there. Unlike previous conflicts between the two sides, Hamas' attack this time was unprecedentedly fierce, and Israeli casualties were far more than many had imagined. Israel seems to have made two fatal mistakes this time. The first was a gross miscalculation on the part of its intelligence wing. Such a large-scale attack by Hamas, especially on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, was apparently carefully planned over a long period of time, but surprisingly Israeli intelligence had no inkling about it. The second was the Israeli army's slow reaction to Hamas' sudden assault, possibly because it was caught unawares. The Israeli army not only failed to protect civilians, but also lost some of its personnel who were either killed or taken as "prisoners of war" by Hamas. Perhaps the relative calm of the past few years had pushed the Israeli army into a state of rest, or the fierce internal strife in Israel had further lowered the morale of the famed Israeli intelligence. The attack revealed the fighting power and strategic prowess of Hamas. The most frightening aspect for Israelis is that Hamas broke through Israel's supposedly impregnable separation wall, and breached the Israeli-made border. It will take a long time for Israeli citizens to overcome the psychological shock now that they know the barrier is not secure. The retaliation of the Israeli side is almost predictable, and the Palestinian side has to prepare for a renewed and massive counterattack by Israel. No peace-loving person would like to see that happening, though. Both sides should realize that war does not solve any problem; instead, it sows more seeds of hatred, extending conflicts and feuds to future generations. Moreover, the conflict is a big blow to the Joe Biden administration which has been working to broker a rapprochement between Israel and Palestine in line with the United States' "commitment" to peace in the Middle East. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo 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. 10/09/2023 International Students in front of International House by Buffy Lockette Counted among JSUs historic enrollment figures this fall is an increase in international students. As the world continues to rebound from the pandemic, international student enrollment is recovering in the US, including at Jax State. According to the Institute of International Education, the number of international students enrolled in American colleges and universities dropped 40 percent in 2020 and 2021. The trend reversed in 2022, growing six percent. While 2023s numbers are still being calculated across the country, the results are in at JSU and its good news. International first-time freshman applications increased by more than 300 percent for Fall 2023 from 313 to 1297 applicants with 109 enrolling at the university. The overall headcount of JSU international students, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, increased by 140 students this fall to 251 students reflecting a 39 percent total increase. I attribute most of this success to our office being able to centralize application processing and, in doing so, establishing electronic and student friendly processes across the board, said Lauren Findley, Director of Admissions, whose office began processing international undergraduate applications this year. This allowed us to also identify areas where we could improve communications for students and recruitment agents in the admission process. The top country of origin for international students is currently Nepal, likely due to the recruiting efforts of JSUs former director of the International House and Programs, Chandni Khadka-Walsh, who is native to the country. There are currently 79 students from Nepal studying on campus which has led to the creation of a Nepalese Student Association. Nepalese students appreciate JSU for its welcoming campus environment, strong international program, campus events, friendly staff and professors, and the similarity of the weather to Nepal, said Sudeep Joshi, president of the Nepalese Student Association. Ingrid Galinat, who joined JSUs staff as International House and Programs director in April, kicked off her departments international recruitment efforts this fall. Working with international recruiting partners approved by the US Department of State, JSU participates in international recruitment fairs at accredited schools abroad. In September, Galinat attended a recruitment fair in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which was attended by more than 1,500 prospective students. She also visited with an elite high school and met with representatives from local universities to explore exchange program opportunities. Also in September, Byron Nichols, assistant director of the International House and Programs, attended a recruitment fair in Nassau, Bahamas. More than 1,600 prospective students registered for the three-day event, with two Bahamian JSU graduates stopping by for a visit: Quentin Percenti and Marvin Henfield. Over the next year, Galinat said JSU will focus on recruiting students in Vietnam and Latin and South America, as well as building partnerships in France and Argentina. JSUs international student population is highly diverse, representing 50 countries, but Galinat said theres room to grow. I envision JSUs potential for international student growth doubling in size with an increased diverse international population, Galinat said. The university is also working to grow study abroad opportunities for students. JSU has active exchange programs with partner universities in Sweden, Japan, South Korea and United Arab Emirates. Two faculty-led programs are also planned for early 2024: London/Paris and Mexico City. Pell Grant recipients are encouraged to apply for a Gilman Scholarship through the US Department of State, which sends US undergraduates abroad for little to no cost. For more information, contact Javier Burrows at jburrows@jsu.edu. With international travel returning to pre-pandemic levels, JSU is once again hosting international alumni reunions. The university invites alumni to campus Oct. 20-21 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the International House which was postponed until now due to the pandemic. The registration deadline is Oct. 13. This summer, an international reunion will be held in Paris in conjunction with the Marching Southerners trip to France. Mark your calendar for June 12-13. Registration will open soon. US President Joe Biden has approved an emergency military aid package to Israel worth $8 billion. The move came hours after 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, killing dozens and stunning the country. https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-president-biden-approves-emergency-military-aid-package-to-israel-worth-8-billion-13217722.html 80 Reddit Email 40 Shares ( Middle East Monitor ) Following security cabinet meeting held early on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the Israeli occupation will halt electricity, fuel and goods transfer to Gaza. Netanyahu said that the security officials, who met and discussed the situation, decided to destroy the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas. The head of the most extremist Israeli government said: We are heading into a long and gruelling war, claiming that the war was forced upon us by a murderous attack by Hamas. He added: The first stage is coming to a close at this time with the destruction of the majority of enemy forces that have infiltrated into our territory. Netanyahu noted that they have started the offensive formation which will continue without reservation and without respite until the goals are achieved. We will restore security to the citizens of Israel and prevail. Article continues after bonus IC video Bloomberg: Explosions as Israel Strikes Gaza, Building Collapses Via Middle East Monitor Reddit Email 420 Shares William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law! Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? William Roper: Yes, Id cut down every law in England to do that! Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Mans laws, not Gods! And if you cut them down, and youre just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, Id give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safetys sake! Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts [Film streaming here.] Most of the public reaction to the fighting in Israel/ Palestine since Saturday has frankly had a tribal character. Israel and its partisans are sickened and angry to their cores about the targeting of civilians by Hamas. They are right to be. Although I doubt Hamas has very many genuine partisans, the Palestinian cause does, and many of these supporters are circling their wagons around Hamass attacks, justifying them against the background of Israeli occupation and Apartheid. They also now focus on the deaths of civilians under Israeli bombardment of Gaza. Not being willing to join in the emotional reactions of tribalism makes a person unpopular in most quarters. But I would like to argue that not only the events of the past few days but the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be understood in the framework of international law, which is also the only framework within which it ever has a chance of being resolved peacefully, as I argued yesterday. From 1939 to 1945 the world plunged into a paroxysm of unprecedented, industrialized violence that left an estimated 65 million people dead. When it was all over, horrified diplomats assembled in 1945 in San Francisco to craft a charter for the United Nations, hoping to forestall further such orgies of mass murder. Further instruments were crafted over time, including the Geneva conventions and most recently the Rome Statute that has underpinned the International Criminal Court since it was ratified by over 100 countries in 2002. The UN Charter says that countries are henceforth not to acquire territory by force. That article is the whole basis for the US and NATO and European Union condemnation of Russias invasion and occupation of part of Ukraine. Israels seizure of the Palestinian West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1967 was therefore illegal. Its annexation of Palestinian East Jerusalem was illegal, and was branded such by the United Nations Security Council. The laws of military occupation envision a time-limited occupation during the shooting war. Since the Hague Regulations of 1907 occupiers have been forbidden to alter the lifeways of the people who are occupied. They may not expel them arbitrarily from their homes. And they may not send their own citizens into the occupied territory to settle it. These actions were proscribed in the Geneva Convention of 1949 and in the Rome Statute. These actions were made illegal in international law to forestall a repetition of Nazi Germanys policies in Poland, where Berlin made a concerted attempt to remove Poles and replace them with Germans so as to aryanize the territory and make it part of Germany. Israel has violated all of these provisions of international law, in a concerted and deliberate manner for over half a century. It has been actively and consistently aided in doing so by the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Canada and other industrialized democracies, under the cover of a phony peace process supposedly working toward a two-state solution, which has never amounted to more than weasel words and ways of avoiding any confrontation with Israel over its lawlessness. An undertone of white nationalist racism toward the brown Palestinians tinged this outrageous insouciance toward international law, this profound betrayal of post-war ideals. The same impulse to avoid further crimes of the sort the Axis made infamous also led to legislation on laws of war and the specification of war crimes. Hence, the principle of proportionality you cant launch a full-scale war because of a minor skirmish for instance. You may not deliberately target or recklessly endanger the lives of innocent noncombatants. These are war crimes. The Rome Statute summarizes some of the agreed-upon war crimes from the Geneva Convention of 1949: Wilful killing; (ii) Torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments; (iii) Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health; (iv) Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly (vii) Unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement; (viii) Taking of hostages. (b) Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts: (i) Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities; (ii) Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives . . . So although Hamas has the right to mount resistance to being unlawfully occupied by a foreign power, it doesnt have the right to shoot down 260 attendees at a music festival, to take grandmothers and children hostage, or to fire thousands of unguided rockets at populated areas. Since these munitions have no guidance systems, shooting them off inevitably recklessly endangers noncombatant civilians, as witness the large number of Israeli casualties, with hundreds dead and thousands wounded. With the exception of attacks on Israeli military personnel and bases, most of the actions taken by Hamas since Saturday have been war crimes, for which its leaders should be tried at the International Criminal Court. At the same time, disproportionate use of force by the Israeli military, indiscriminate bombardment of inhabited apartment buildings, and reckless endangerment of large numbers of Palestinian noncombatants by directing fire at densely inhabited neighborhoods, are all potential war crimes on the Israeli side. However, there is no prospect that any Israeli official will ever be held accountable for war crimes in any international tribunal, because the US and other patrons of Tel Aviv will intervene to prevent it. Indeed, it is unlikely that Israeli war crimes will so much as be described in that way by any North Atlantic leader. Unless international law is given some teeth by the international community, these episodes of violence will continue to break out from time to time, and the tribes will gnash their teeth, and more people will be killed or deprived of their right to live a normal life. You see, the law is the only thing that protects us from the devil, as the great playwright Robert Bolt had Thomas More say. Tribalism, now that is the countenance of Satan himself. Exploration Drilling Intersects Widespread Precious and Base Metal Mineralization To Significant Depth Below Historic Mining Levels Exploration Drill Hole HHD-005 Intersects 311 Meters Containing 0.35 g/t Gold, 22.89 g/t Silver, 0.36% Lead, and 0.55% Zinc, from 162 to 473 Meters Ivanhoe Electric's Proprietary Typhoon Geophysical Survey System Deployed to Advance the Search for Additional Epithermal Mineralization and Deep Porphyry Source at Hog Heaven PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Ivanhoe Electric Inc. ("Ivanhoe Electric") (NYSE American:IE)(TSX:IE) Executive Chairman, Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer, Taylor Melvin are pleased to provide an update on the status of ongoing exploration efforts, including the initial results of Ivanhoe Electric's exploration drilling, at the Hog Heaven exploration Project located on private land approximately 50 miles southwest of Kalispell, Montana. Mr. Friedland commented: "We have a wonderful opportunity at the Hog Heaven Project, located on private land in the silver-rich state of Montana, to pick up where legendary miners like Anaconda left off. This region is well known for its long and rich history of silver production, and we believe there is more to the story. Our recent drilling efforts have returned promising initial results, and our geologists see potential for mineralization to continue to great depths." Mr. Melvin commented: "We are excited by the initial results of our exploration drilling program at Hog Heaven, a high-quality exploration project on private land in Montana. The early presence of high-grade precious metal mineralization along with base metal mineralization, at depths much greater than the historical drilling and mining operations in the district, is encouraging as our team advances to the next phases of exploration drilling. The Hog Heaven Project is emerging rapidly as one of our most interesting exploration projects in the United States." The Hog Heaven district consists of several high sulfidation epithermal mineral deposits and prospects as well as several now-closed mines, including the Flathead Mine. The Flathead Mine was mined by Anaconda Mining Inc. from 1929 to 1946, producing approximately 241,000 short tons of direct-ship ore averaging 26.6 troy oz/ton silver. Another operator mined the Flathead Mine from 1963 to 1975 producing 49,700 short tons averaging 9.35 troy oz/ton silver. Other previously mined high sulfidation epithermal mineral deposits within the bounds of the Hog Heaven Project include the Ole Hill and West Flathead Mines located 1 mile west of the Flathead Mine; the Margarite Mine, south of Flathead Mine; and the Martin Mine just northwest of Margarite Mine. Ivanhoe Electric's exploration team believes that the Flathead Mine is part of a much larger mineralized system that has remained unrecognized by past miners and explorers. 2023 Hog Heaven Drilling Program Ivanhoe Electric's 2023 drill program at Hog Heaven commenced in June 2023. The program to date has consisted of six holes totaling 6,147 meters. Partial assays have been received for the first three holes: HHD-003, HHD-004, HHD-005, with assays pending for HHD-006, HHD-007 and HHD-008. HHD-001 and HHD-002 were drilled in early winter 2022 for a total of 1,582 meters. Ivanhoe Electric has been drilling with two rigs at the project over the summer. The current drilling campaign is designed to search for additional silver, gold and copper-rich high sulfidation epithermal mineralization, which was the focus of these previous mining activities; and to search for potential porphyry copper mineralization located at depth, which may represent the heat and fluid source to this epithermal system. Ivanhoe Electric's diamond drill hole HHD-005 was collared near the Flathead Mine, and oriented to test the extent of known mineralization by drilling along the margin of the volcanic pipe to depth. Observations and assay results demonstrate that mineralization is widespread, extending from surface to over 900m depth. Initial drilling returns encouraging early results with widespread precious and base metal mineralization Mineralization intersected in HHD-005 is typified by disseminated pyrite typically carrying gold grades of 0.15 - 0.75 g/t, cut by a series of flat-lying 0.05 - 0.5-meter pyrite-sulfosalt veins that carry high-grade silver, copper and other base metal mineralization. This mineralization is interpreted to be outboard to one or more structural feeder zone(s) which may exist laterally to the west or east with potential to contain higher-grade mineralization. Drilling has been underway with two drill rigs. The drill rigs are currently being exchanged for track mounted equipment more appropriate for winter conditions. Drilling will continue at the Hog Heaven Project with two drill rigs subject to winter conditions, which may necessitate a slowdown in operations. This change in equipment will allow for continued exploration for high-grade feeders, and testing porphyry target areas as further assay results and data continue to be received. Figure 1. Hog Heaven Project map showing geophysical data and location of Ivanhoe Electric exploration drilling. Figure 2. Cross section showing geology, drill hole locations and historical mine workings. Drilling provides increasingly stronger evidence supporting the existence of a deeper porphyry copper system Mineralization at the Hog Heaven Project area is comprised of gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc high sulfidation epithermal replacement, veins and breccia deposits. One of Ivanhoe Electric's goals, in addition to discovering additional base and precious-metal rich high sulfidation mineralization, is to search for the porphyry copper source believed to be the source of these systems and the deposits that were historically mined. Diamond drillholes HHD-003, HHD-004, and HHD-005 all intersected increasing copper as a proportion of mineralization with increasing depth. Copper mineralization is dominantly comprised of enargite and chalcopyrite, which are approximately 48% and 35% copper by weight, respectively. HHD-004 notably intersected quartz-molybdenite veins at depth. Molybdenite is approximately 59% molybdenum by weight. Furthermore, copper-molybdenum mineralization was observed as early stockwork veins present within clasts hosted in breccia, which were subsequently mineralized by later gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc rich fluids. These relationships point to multiple mineralizing events over extended periods of time, reflecting the potential for a robust mineralizing system at depth. Stockwork quartz, chalcopyrite, and molybdenite veins are common features of porphyry copper systems globally. These observed geological features support the potential for porphyry copper mineralization at depth at the Hog Heaven Project. Photo of HHD-005 drill core at 903.5 m displaying a sub-vertical pyrite-enargite vein cutting diatreme breccia. The presence of gold- and copper-rich veins at depth in HHD-005 are indicative of a vertically extensive hydrothermal system and suggests proximity to a high-grade feeder zone. Photos of a breccia fragment comprised of a porphyritic intrusion cut by porphyry stockwork quartz-pyrite veins observed in drill core from HHD-003 at 943.9 meters depth (left) and HHD-007 at 772 meters depth (right). Stockwork veins in fragments provide strong evidence of a potential deep porphyry system at Hog Heaven. Typhoon deployed at the Hog Heaven Project to advance the search for deep porphyry sources In late September 2023, Ivanhoe Electric deployed Typhoon at the Hog Heaven Project site to conduct surface electromagnetic surveys to better map the semi-massive and massive sulfide epithermal mineralization that contains the precious and base-metal mineralization down to over 700 meters below surface. Typhoon will continue surface electromagnetic survey loops, which will be followed by additional 3D induced polarization surveying and the downhole electromagnetics. Typhoon is Ivanhoe Electric's proprietary electrical geophysical surveying transmitter system. The Typhoon system can detect the presence of sulfide minerals containing copper, nickel, gold and silver (as well as water and oil) and was specifically developed to conduct large surveys and identify deep geophysical anomalies in environments that have highly resistive surface conditions, where potential deposits are hidden by gravel cover and where target depths exceed 1 kilometer (0.62 miles), considerably deeper than the range of conventional geophysical surveying systems. Typhoon achieves its results through its unique specifications, which include an electrical output of up to 200 amps and 10,000 volts. The transmitter uses switches and capacitance systems in a proprietary platform that generates a very pure and stable transmitted signal, resulting in an extremely high signal-to-noise ratio. Typhoon is also capable of transmitting both induced polarization and electromagnetic signals, meaning that the same transmitter can be used to search for a wide variety of mineral deposit types. Typhoon's ability to identify mineralization at these depths has already been proven in the United States. In November 2022, Ivanhoe Electric announced that it had identified deep copper mineralization at the Far Southwest Anomaly (now known as the Southwest Exploration Area) at the Santa Cruz Project near Casa Grande, Arizona. The anomaly was identified by Typhoon and confirmed by exploration drilling with the exploration hole collared approximately 1,000 meters (0.62 miles) southwest of the nearest drill hole in the Santa Cruz resource area. At 1,059 meters deep (over 3,400 feet) of basin-fill gravel cover, Ivanhoe Electric's drill crossed a fault and entered primary chalcopyrite and pyrite mineralization within intrusive rocks in the anomaly identified by Typhoon. Ivanhoe Electric's proprietary electrical geophysical surveying system Typhoon in action at the Hog Heaven Project, Montana Lucas Forster, Geologist (foreground) and Kurt Tagliareni, Geologist (background), logging drill core at the Hog Heaven Project, Montana Table 1. Highlighted intercept from Hog Heaven exploration drill hole HHD-005 (refer to Ivanhoe Electric's website for complete details of all reported drill holes https://ivanhoeelectric.com/electric-metals/hog-heaven) *The following long term metal prices were used: 3.80$/lb Cu, 1,707$/oz Au, 22.42$/oz Ag, 0.93$/lb Pb, and 1.19$/lb Zn. *The specific formula used to report AuEq(g/t) is Au(g/t)*(0.65) + ((1.87875425724906) * Cu (%)) ((0.0121238339867514) * Ag(g/t)) + ((0.431062860010269) * Pb (%)) + ((0.551575057432494) * Zn (%)) *Recoveries are informed by historical preliminary metallurgical flotation tests and are considered conservative: 80% Cu; 65% Au; 60% Ag; 75% Pb, 75% Zn. *Intervals were derived on a AuEq basis with a cutoff of 0.25g/t AuEq *Maximum internal dilution of 5m was applied *These are not true widths, and the system is interpreted to be plunging sub-parallel to the trace of the drill hole HHD-005. Ivanhoe Electric is earning into a 75% interest in the Hog Heaven Project Ivanhoe Electric and Brixton Metals Corporation ("Brixton") entered into an earn-in agreement in 2021 covering an area of approximately 24 km2 of the Hog Heaven Project. Under the earn-in agreement, Ivanhoe Electric may earn up to a 75% interest in the Brixton land constituting the Hog Heaven Project by making cash payments totaling $4.5 million and incurring an aggregate of $40 million in exploration expenditures by 2032. Ivanhoe Electric will earn an initial a 51% interest by making a total of $4.5 million in cash payments and incurring $15 million in exploration expenditures. Qualified Persons Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature included in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and technical data underlying the information, have been reviewed, verified and approved by Shawn Vandekerkhove, P.Geo, who is a Qualified Person as defined by Regulation S-K, Subpart 1300 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Vandekerkhove is an employee of Ivanhoe Electric. Other Technical Information Ivanhoe Electric employs industry standard QA/QC and data verification protocols. The diamond drill holes were completed using PQ and HQ diameters. The drill core was cut lengthwise into halves using a diamond-bladed saw, with one-half used for the assay sample and the other half retained in core boxes and archived at site. Pulps and rejects are also stored on site for archival purposes. Mineralized zones were generally sampled on 2m intervals. Each core sample was placed into a bag with a unique numbered sample identification tag. Quality control samples were inserted between core samples using the same numbering sequence. Then samples were grouped into batches for shipping and laboratory submissions. Chain of custody records are maintained for sample shipments and the custody is transferred from Ivanhoe Electric expeditor to the laboratory upon delivery. Samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories in Twin Falls, Idaho, for sample preparation and analysis. Samples were analyzed using customary four acid digestion and ICP-MS finish. A standard gold fire assay package was used to analyze for gold. Silver content was assessed using either HCl leach and ICP-AES finish or fire assay with gravimetric finish was performed depending on silver values. A limited amount of core was shipped, logged, cut, and sampled at Ivanhoe Electric's Santa Cruz Project in Casa Grande, Arizona. Sampling methods were identical at both the Hog Heaven and Santa Cruz locations. Samples were then shipped to ALS Laboratories in Tucson, Arizona, where they were subjected to the same preparation and analytical methods. ALS Minerals Tucson and ALS Minerals Twin Falls are both independent laboratories certified under ISO 9001:2008 and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Standards Council of Canada. About Ivanhoe Electric We are a U.S. company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. We use our accurate and powerful Typhoon geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc., to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of electric metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona and the Tintic Copper-Gold Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States, we intend to support United States supply chain independence by finding and delivering the critical metals necessary for the electrification of the economy. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km2 of underexplored Arabian Shield in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Website: www.ivanhoeelectric.com. Contact Information Investors: Valerie Kimball, Director, Investor Relations 720-933-1150 Follow us on Twitter Ivanhoe Electric's Executive Chairman Robert Friedland: @robert_ivanhoe Ivanhoe Electric: @ivanhoeelectric Ivanhoe Electric's investor relations website located at www.ivanhoeelectric.com should be considered Ivanhoe Electric's recognized distribution channel for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation FD. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Ivanhoe Electric, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Ivanhoe Electric's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such statements in this news release include, without limitation, timing and results of drilling operations, the timing of receipt of assay results, the potential for porphyry copper mineralization and source at depth at the Hog Heaven Project, the potential to find higher-grade mineralization, the number of drill rigs operating at the project, and other planned or potential developments in the businesses of Ivanhoe Electric. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including changes in the prices of copper or other metals Ivanhoe Electric is exploring for; the results of exploration and drilling activities and/or the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations; the final assessment of exploration results and information that is preliminary; the significant risk and hazards associated with any future mining operations, extensive regulation by the US government as well as local governments; changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with Ivanhoe Electric to perform as agreed; and the impact of political, economic and other uncertainties associated with operating in foreign countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risk factors described in Ivanhoe Electric's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Ivanhoe Electric cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable securities laws, Ivanhoe Electric does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, and Ivanhoe Electric expressly disclaims any requirement to do so. Grand Baie, MAURITIUS, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alphamin Resources Corp. (AFM:TSXV, APH:JSE AltX)( Alphamin or the Company), a producer of 4% of the worlds mined tin1 from its high grade operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is pleased to provide the following update for the quarter ended September 2023: Tin production of 3,104 tonnes for the quarter , in line with the previous quarter , in line with the previous quarter Q3 2023 EBITDA 3, 4 guidance of US$38.3m , up 8% from the previous quarter , up 8% from the previous quarter Mpama South development projected to increase annual tin production by 60% progressing well progressing well Additional debt facilities secured Operational and Financial Summary for the Quarter ended September 20232 1Data obtained from International Tin Association Tin Industry Review 2022 2Information is disclosed on a 100% basis. Alphamin indirectly owns 84.14% of its operating subsidiary to which the information relates. 3Q3 2023 EBITDA and AISC represent managements guidance. 4This is not a standardized financial measure and may not be comparable to similar financial measures of other issuers.See Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures below for the composition and calculation of this financial measure. Operational and Financial Performance Contained tin production of 3,104 tonnes for the quarter ended September 2023 was in line with the previous quarter. Tin production of 9,442 tonnes for the nine months ended September 2023 exceeds the run-rate to achieve market guidance of 12,000 tonnes for the year ending December 2023. The run-of-mine and crushed ore stockpiles ahead of the processing plant were at record levels at quarter-end, being 30,393 tonnes at an average tin grade of 4,79% (Q2: 27,439 tonnes at 6.74%). Sales volumes of 3,111 tonnes of tin for Q3 2023 were slightly higher than the previous quarter and averaged a tin price of US$26,557/t (Q2 2023: US$25,587/t). Guidance for AISC per tonne of tin sold is US$14,812, 6% above the previous quarter. Approximately half of the AISC cost increase relates to the timing effect of sustaining capital expenditure. The remaining variance in AISC follows the impact of the higher tin price on off-mine costs, higher diesel prices and a 7% increase in underground development metres at Mpama North. The higher underground development rate at Mpama North is expected to increase developed ore reserves and improved mining flexibility. Stable production and sales volumes at the slightly higher tin price resulted in expected EBITDA of US$38.3 million for the quarter ended September 2023 (Q2 2023: US$35.4 million). Alphamins unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2023 are expected to be released on or about November 17, 2023. Funding structure and capital allocation Alphamins vision is to become one of the worlds largest sustainable tin producers. From a capital allocation perspective, the Board considers the combination of investment in growth, ongoing exploration, and a high dividend yield a robust value proposition. From a FY2023 capital allocation perspective, the funding of the Mpama South expansion project, DRC income tax payments and shareholder distributions remain the priority. By quarter-end, the Company had spent US$99 million of cash resources on the Mpama South project of which US$24.5 million was spent in Q3 2023. The project is forecasted to be substantially completed within the budget of US$116 million. The Company has signed an amended and restated credit agreement to raise an additional US$10m in senior debt finance. The additional funding is subject to certain drawdown conditions. Under the amended and restated credit agreement, the current senior debt balance of US$5m together with the new funding of US$10 million will be repayable over two years commencing in January 2024. Under the revised terms there is no requirement for political risk insurance or a debt service reserve account and there are no restrictions on dividends, provided covenants have not been breached. The terms are otherwise substantially the same as the existing facility. In addition, the Companys banking institution in the DRC has increased its short-term facility by US$15 million to US$55 million. The additional debt facilities provide bridging finance towards the previously reported high final and provisional DRC tax payments during 2023 not expected to repeat in 2024 as well as additional liquidity optionality while the Mpama South project approaches completion. In late September 2023, a bridge on the primary export/import route was damaged. As a result, inbound and outbound trucks had to be re-routed resulting in longer than normal transit times and delays in revenue receipts. Additional road maintenance teams have been mobilized to ensure the efficient passage of inbound and outbound traffic via alternative routes which have been proven to be effective in the past. The negative liquidity impact from the damaged bridge is expected to reverse during Q4, 2023. Mpama South development progress A total of 2,448m of underground development at Mpama South has been completed to date, of which 988m was achieved in Q3 2023 (Q2: 603m). The underground development rate increased by 64% during Q3 2023 as additional underground equipment arrived on site and more development ends became available. The Mpama South adit from surface successfully advanced beyond the previously reported area of poor ground conditions and is expected to connect with the Mpama South underground workings by early November 2023. The year-to-date development metres at Mpama South are in line with the Companys updated two-year underground mine plan to achieve the targeted tin production expansion from FY2024. This plan requires ~1,200m of underground development at Mpama South during the quarter ending December 2023. The erection of the new processing facility is progressing well, albeit poor road conditions and the impact of the damaged bridge have delayed container deliveries by approximately three weeks. As a consequence, the commissioning of the new processing plant may be delayed to January/February 2024. The Alphamin project team, together with the existing site team, remains focussed on operational readiness preparation. This primarily involves recruitment and training of personnel, expansion of the laboratory and accommodation facilities and infrastructure, and increasing the supply chain to meet the additional production. The Mpama South project is expected to increase combined annual tin production from ~12,000 tonnes to ~20,000 tonnes. Qualified Person Mr. Clive Brown, Pr. Eng., B.Sc. Engineering (Mining), is a qualified person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. He is a Principal Consultant and Director of Bara Consulting Pty Limited, an independent technical consultant to the Company. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Maritz Smith CEO Alphamin Resources Corp. Tel: +230 269 4166 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, statements relating to expected EBITDA and AISC guidance for Q3 2023; annual production guidance for 2023; planned production expansion resulting from Mpama South; the timing for commissioning of the Mpama South processing plant; timing and plans regarding underground development and the total development cost of the Mpama South project; expected allocation of capital for 2023; expected benefits of the higher underground development rate at Mpama North; and expected reversal of negative liquidity impact from the damaged bridge on the primary import/export route in Q4 2023. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Alphamin has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding Mpama North and Mpama South estimates of the expected mined tin grades, processing plant performance and recoveries, uncertainties regarding the underground conditions for development, uncertainties regarding supply chain and logistics for purposes of Mpama South equipment deliveries and the impact on the timing thereof, uncertainties regarding global supply and demand for tin and market and sales prices, uncertainties with respect to social, community and environmental impacts, uninterupted access to required infrastructure and third party service providers, adverse political events and risks of security related incidents which may impact the operation or safety of its people, uncertainties regarding the legislative requirements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which may result in unexpected fines and penalties, impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic or other health crises on mining operations and commodity prices as well as those risk factors set out in the Companys annual Management Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Alphamin disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. USE OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES This announcement refers to the following non-IFRS financial performance measures: EBITDA EBITDA is profit before net finance expense, income taxes and depreciation, depletion, and amortization. EBITDA provides insight into our overall business performance (a combination of cost management and growth) and is the corresponding flow driver towards the objective of achieving industry-leading returns. This measure assists readers in understanding the ongoing cash generating potential of the business including liquidity to fund working capital, servicing debt, and funding capital expenditures and investment opportunities. This measure is not recognized under IFRS as it does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. EBITDA data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. AISC This measures the costs to produce and sell a tonne of contained tin plus the capital sustaining costs to maintain the mine, processing plant and infrastructure. AISC includes mine operating production expenses such as mining, processing, administration, indirect charges (including surface maintenance and camp and tailings dam construction costs), smelting costs and deductions, refining and freight, distribution, royalties and product marketing fees and corporate costs. AISC does not include depreciation, depletion and amortization, reclamation expenses, borrowing costs and exploration expenses. Sustaining capital expenditures (Sustaining capex) are defined as those expenditures which do not increase contained tin production at a mine site and excludes all expenditures at the Companys projects and certain expenditures at the Companys operating sites which are deemed expansionary in nature. The United States on Sunday led calls for condemnation of a Hamas assault on Israel as the United Nations Security Council opened an emergency session on the crisis. "I expect to hear from the other Council members very strong condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism committed against the Israeli people and their government," senior US diplomat Robert Wood told reporters as he entered the closed-door session. Brazil, which holds the Security Council's rotating presidency, called the meeting after Hamas on Saturday launched a massive surprise attack, with the death toll a day later surpassing 1,000. A closed-door session would not bring a formal resolution, but diplomats said that talks on even reaching a non-binding statement were difficult. China said it would support a statement. "We condemn all attacks against civilians," Ambassador Zhang Jun said, while adding that China also wanted a return to the Middle East peace process. Israel's ambassador, Gilad Erdan, showed graphic pictures of Israeli civilians being taken captive by Hamas. "These are war crimes -- blatant, documented war crimes," Erdan said. "This unimaginable -- unimaginable -- atrocity must be condemned," he said of the Security Council. "Israel must be given steadfast support to defend ourselves -- to defend the free world." The Palestinian ambassador -- who represents the West Bank-centered Palestinian Authority and not rival Hamas -- called on the Security Council to focus on ending Israeli occupation. "Regrettably, history for some media and politicians starts when Israelis are killed," said the envoy, Riyad Mansour. "This is not a time to let Israel double-down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed." In August, Angola's government-led Reconciliation commission (CIVICOP) stirred up controversy by taking yet another contentious step. A CIVICOP delegation, closely accompanied by a group of journalists from state television broadcaster TPA, set out on a journey to search for victims in an area that was, during Angola's civil war (1975-2002), controlled by current opposition party UNITA. The delegation, headed by the director of Angola's intelligence service, was on a specific mission: locating the remains of disfavored UNITA members who were allegedly killed during the civil war on the orders of Jonas Savimbi, UNITA's founder and former leader. The commission's initiative triggered significant outrage within UNITA and exposed a reconciliation process that has become increasingly politicized and polarized. Established by presidential decree in 2019, Angolas Reconciliation commission aims to reconcile Angolans and honor victims of political conflicts during the civil war. We previously wrote about its work in contributions in 2020, 2021 and in April of this year. Although officially not a government commission representatives of civil society organizations, churches and opposition parties are also members CIVICOP operates under clear influence of the Angolan government. This is evidenced by the fact that the commission was created by presidential decree, is chaired by the minister of justice and human rights, and has several ministries represented in it. In addition, Angola's president, Joao Lourenco, has the final say on the interpretation and application of the decree in which the commission was established. When the commission was established, reactions were mixed. Some criticized the way the initiative was given form, focusing for example on the over-representation of government officials in the commission. Others commended the initiative and praised the president for finally addressing Angola's turbulent history, which had long been overdue. Initially, the commission was given a two-year period to achieve its objective of reconciling Angolans and honoring victims of political conflicts during the civil war. Observers who deemed this timeframe extremely brief, considering the magnitude and duration of Angola's 27-year civil war, were proven right. The commission is still active today, while it is unclear when its mandate will end. The damaged reputation of the Reconciliation commission The principal reason for setting up the commission lies in years of pressure exerted on the Angolan government by one victim group: relatives of an internal purge within the ruling party MPLA that started on 27 May 1977. Despite the dominance of 27-May, the president opted for a commission that would deal with all victims of political conflicts during the civil war. In practice, however, 27-May remained the central issue, as evidenced by the CIVICOP's progress reports and publications in Angolan and Portuguese media. A public apology and request for forgiveness for the "great evil" of summary executions in 1977 expressed by President Lourenco on 26 May 2021 further illustrate the prevailing focus on this issue. The commission's reputation has progressively worsened over time. Criticisms include the lack of transparency and communication, excessive government influence, the dominance of the 27-May issue and the lack of attention for other civil war victims. Furthermore, the commission seems to have been largely inactive since the August 2022 elections. Since then, it has only been prominently visible due to an extremely embarrassing incident: the disclosure by international DNA experts that the remains of a number of prominent 27-May victims CIVICOP had returned to their family members, turned out not to be related to them at all. Renewed criticisms after shifting focus During the recent field mission CIVICOP visited Jamba and the province of Bie, in Central Angola. In Jamba, the former headquarters of UNITA, the commission went out to search for human remains of victims of the 'witch burnings' that had taken place at the orders of Savimbi during public rallies in the 1980s. UNITA's historical leader who was killed in 2002 had purportedly accused fellow UNITA members of being ''witches'' and subsequently burned them alive in public bonfires. The field mission also visited a location where, in the year 2000, UNITA's troops allegedly executed several disfavored UNITA members, including one of Savimbi's wives. With this recent unexpected decision to change its focus, venture into former UNITA-held territory, and publicly exhibit the search for victims of alleged internal strife within UNITA, the commission has ignited a fresh storm of criticisms. The manner in which the news was disclosed, through a series of televised reports, some of which carried an air of sensationalism and featured detailed close-up shots of human bones, has rubbed many observers the wrong way. In addition, the fact that CIVICOP's delegation was headed by the director of Angola's intelligence and security service (SINSE) is generally perceived as a sign of excessive government interference in the process. The intelligence chiefs leading role is even more delicate, as Angolas secret service played a leading role during the 27-May massacres, while it has never accounted for this black page of its history. Finally, much criticism was levied against the procedure that was followed to prepare for the mission. At least part of the reconciliation commission members notably those representing UNITA claim to have been completely unaware of the plan and stated that they had to learn about it via the televised reports on the evening news. UNITA reacts furiously In a press conference early September, UNITA leader Adalberto Costa Junior reacted furiously to the unfolding events. He fulminated against the decision to set up the searches in areas "once under UNITA control" without involving the commissions UNITA representatives and family members of the victims. Costa Junior also called the display of the bones of alleged victims in the national broadcasters televised reports of the mission reprehensible and in "every respect a desecration." He continued by claiming that the commission had been hijacked by the head of the intelligence service and that it had misused the commission's name to conduct the operation. UNITA's leader then publicly questioned who had given the mandate to set up and carry out the searches, wondering out loud if it might have been Angola's President Lourenco. Thereby suggesting that the search mission might have been set up to divert attention away from an impeachment procedure UNITA had initiated against the president for subverting the democratic process in the country and consolidating an authoritarian regime that undermines peace" in July of this year. Costa Junior further suggested that UNITAs commission members, upon inquiring with CIVICOP's coordinator (the minister of justice and human rights), had discovered that he had been bypassed and relieved from his role in supervising the recent search efforts. UNITA's leader subsequently urged the Reconciliation commission to return to its original working methods, wherein decisions are made during commission meetings convened by the coordinator. He then said that UNITA's continued involvement in the commission was contingent on a return to these initially approved working methods. After stressing that UNITA had in the last two decades already apologized several times, Costa Junior then addressed the victims of the civil war and "humbly" offered his "sincere apologies" for UNITA's part in the conflict. This appears to be a reaction to Lourenco's apologies for the mass executions of 27 May 1977 and his subsequent appeal to other responsible leaders to follow his example. A few days after Costa Juniors press conference an anonymous source representing the commission dismissed most of the allegations, claiming that CIVICOP had followed normal procedure and was not instrumentalized in any shape or form. The source claimed that there were no hidden motives, and the aim was not to attack political opponents, but that the excavations in former UNITA held territories were a result of requests from family members linked to UNITA who expressed their wish to find their loved ones and to hold a dignified funeral. The source claimed that the opposition party knew this and that any fuss made by UNITA was intentional. He then continued stating that CIVICOP's members, including those appointed by UNITA, had been actively participating in the meetings and were aware of the commission's agenda, which included the issue of victims in former UNITA territory. It is just a continuation of the [commissions] work and nothing more," the anonymous source explained. An increasingly politicized process If anything is clear from these latest developments, it is that a commission that was once set up to reconcile the Angolan population, currently only seems to further polarize and politicize the countrys reconciliation process. Twenty-one years after the civil war has ended, the former warring parties and present-day political rivals continue to cast blame on each other. The question is whether and how the largely derailed reconciliation process can be put back on track. Even if CIVICOP would return to its original working methods, which is UNITA's condition for further participation, little has been resolved, as political tensions and polarization between the parties remain unabated. Civil society organizations and churches, arguably the most neutral actors which are also represented in the reconciliation commission, in the meantime remain largely silent and have not acted. As the Angolan reconciliation process has thus far been an exclusively domestic affair no international actors have given advice or support it is up to the very same Angolan political elites who are now diametrically opposing one another, to get the commission back on track. Whether they can indeed lift themselves out of the swamp by their own hair, remains to be seen. The Google global search engine home page is black and white now, while the google.ca is still colored. Is it only me? or everyone is the same? What is the story behind such striving performance by Hamas at the relatively calm moment in the Middle East? Appearantly the financial backers had paid big price to Hamas to work so hard. It is the first time for Hamas breaking into the Iseralie check-points, breaching of fences, capturing military base, heavy equipments and some 100 Iseralie and more Palestinian civilian hostages , meanwhile drone attacks, 5000 long range rockets attacks. The fact is that any production that could possibly lead to explosive was banned in Hamas occupied territory, even sugar and salt. What needs to be done for such massive scaled attacks? Hamas and the attack organizer will be the ones paying the death price. Do the financial backers really care about Hamas's wellbeing? No they don't. Could be someone wants to shift the world's attention? "Moving" lead star Ryu Seung Ryong once again made headlines after taking home a major award at the 2023 BIFF Content Awards & Global OTT Awards. Following his remarkable performance in the hit Disney+ K-drama, the 52-year-old star scores a new achievement as an actor. Ryu Seung Ryong Wins Best Lead Actor at 2023 BIFF Content Awards, Global OTT Awards On October 8, the night was filled with glitz and glam as celebrities from different countries gathered to witness a spectacular event. Held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae, Busan, the ceremony showcased 17 categories instead of the usual 12 like the previous years. "Moving" proved that they are this year's biggest series after sweeping six categories at the ceremony. The Disney+ series bagged Best Creative, Best Visual Effects, Best Newcomer Actor and Actress by Lee Jung Ha and Go Yoon Jung, Best Writer for Kang Full, and, of course, one of the night's major awards, Best Lead Actor for Ryu Seung Ryong. Ryu Seung Ryong, Overwhelmed By His Recent Achievement: 'I feel like my heart will explode' As he accepted his awards, the actor expressed his gratitude for giving him such remarkable recognition. In a report cited by a media outlet, he began his speech by saying, "I feel like my heart will explode," adding, "Regardless of whether you received an award or not, everyone who made each other shine is beautiful and wonderful." READ MORE: 'Moving' Stars Go Yoon Jung, Ryu Seung Ryong, More Reign the Popularity List For Drama Actors Sharing that one of the challenging parts of filming moving was when they shot the bloody scene in Busan, but says he was "deeply moved" and "honored to receive such a big award." Thanking his co-stars, Kwak Sun Young, Go Yoon Jung, Kim Hee Won, and more, Ryu Seung Ryong ended his speech with a message for everyone. "I hope that the miracle of superpowers will happen in your daily life every day." Internet Celebrates Ryu Seung Ryong's Success Following the announcement of the 2023 BIFF Content Awards & Global OTT Awards winners, netizens took to social media to express happiness for the actor's achievement. The majority of the users lauded Ryu Seung Ryong for receiving such a deserving award and said that they were not surprised that he won the Best Actor category. ryu seungryoung wins best actor at asia content awards & global ott awards for #MOVING nobody is surprised, we knew it was happening pic.twitter.com/48pOHJ7ZzG pras (@hyovrse) October 8, 2023 Twitter was flooded with congratulatory messages for the actor for his amazing portrayal of the doting father, Jang Joo Won. On the other hand, others are hoping that he will also take home the same category at the Baeksang Arts Awards 2025. Congratulations to my ahjussi #RyuSeungryong for winning best lead actor for #Moving.No one is suprised though cause his acting in the drama is truly moving.This is just the start more awards to come. It's always an honor & pleasure to watch you act SIRpic.twitter.com/z5k5ITkfHn Kdrama_Ahjumma (@kdrama_ahjumma) October 8, 2023 a very well deserved Best Lead Actor award for #RyuSeungRyong and im rooting for his daesang next year on Baeksang #ACA2023 pic.twitter.com/6TQmsBZdl3 (@kdramasfangirl) October 8, 2023 IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Best Appa' Ryu Seung Ryong Surprises THESE 'Moving' Co-Stars With Special Gift For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Kang Ha Neul and Jung So Min reunited as a couple in the romantic comedy film "30 Days," much to fans' delight. In an interview, the two actors talked about their relationship which piqued the interest of the public. Did the two date one another before? Read to know more. Kang Ha Neul & Jung So Min Get Candid About Offscreen Relationship This fall, Kang Ha Neul and Jung So Min returned to the silver theaters with their brand new film "30 Days." It follows the story of a married couple who suffers from amnesia due to an accident, 30 days before their fateful divorce. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kang Ha Neul & Jung So Min's '30 Days' Predicted To Enjoy Blockbuster Success- Here's Why In the film, they portrayed the realistic struggles of a married couple in the romantic world, which resonated with the public who are also struggling within their own relationships. Kang Ha Neul and Jung So Min told Vogue Korea that "30 Days" is a project that they didn't want to pass up as they both enjoy working with one another. "Jung So Min and I used to date back then," Kang Ha Neul jokes, shocking the fans. "We were a couple in "Twenty," which was released in 2015. Our chemistry was built after doing the drama." Kang Ha Neul also complimented Jung So Min's looks, even comparing her to Snow White due to her fair complexion and beauty. '30 Days' Cast Shows Appreciation To Friendship Fans then grow curious about the real deal between them. Curiosity was doubled when Jung So Min revealed that Kang Ha Neul is close with her mother due to his energetic personality. One fan commented that they'd support both stars if they decided to date, even complimenting how "cute" the two are together. However, they clarified that they are just friends. Since the beginning, they have built a strong connection as actors who were born in the year of the snake. 20 30 mood 30 pic.twitter.com/o8tRqacBqm p (@pipipiip_77) October 7, 2023 Listen here!! Kang Haneul is the most precious actor to me I love him so so sooo much and support him to the fullest BUT if he choose to date Somin or be in any kind of relationship with her I will support them with all my heart !!! I mean look at them pic.twitter.com/zH3m28vp8v Sonia (@soni262em) October 8, 2023 Jung So Min also expressed her appreciation for Kang Ha Neul who didn't change at all even after seven years of friendship. She said, "He's still friendly and all the same." With their unbeatable chemistry and hilarious portrayal of their roles in "30 Days," many fans look forward to seeing them in another project together. On the other hand, the rom-com film "30 Days" is now screening in theaters. Stay tuned for the news and announcement about its international release. ALSO READ: Jung So Min Once Hesitant To Do '30 Days' Film- Here's Why Have you watched "30 Days" yet? Tell us what you think about the film in the comments below! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Despite being on hiatus to fulfill his military service, K-heartthrob Nam Joo Hyuk went viral on various online communities as the public noticed THIS from the actor. Curious of what happened? Then read on! Nam Joo Hyuk Sets Internet Into Frenzy With His Impressive Weight Loss Beginning October 7, Nam Joo Hyuk has become a hot topic among fans after some of his photos in the military circulated online. The lead actor impressed many with his striking visuals when he attended a public event while serving in the military. The snaps were posted and shared on a community forum and titled "Nam Joo Hyuk's Impressive Weight Loss." In one of the pictures, the "Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo" star was seen holding a microphone while clad in his military uniform. Social media users couldn't help but swoon over his good looks and his well-toned physique. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Nam Joo Hyuk Military Update: Actor Surprises Fans With New Photo Even though the actor lost weight, he still looks impressively handsome according to fans and they even shared their sentiments online. "Nam Joo Hyuk looks amazing!" "He really suits the military uniform." "Wow! He's even more attractive now." "It's clear why he's a celebrity. He is so handsome." "Nam Joo Hyuk is incredibly good-looking...It's frustrating!." Other stars who were present at the military event were GOT7's Jinyoung, MONSTA X's Minhyuk, Ong Seong Wu, and more Nam Joo Hyuk Receives Praise From 'Vigilante' Director While in the army, the actor is ready to meet the viewers with his new series "Vigilante." Ahead of its debut in November on the famous online streaming platform Disney Plus, the drama already gave a slice of its thrilling story as episodes 1 to 3 were screened at the 28th Busan International Film Festival. ALSO READ: Nam Joo Hyuk Lives Dual Life in 'Vigilante' + Drama Reveals Release Date The cast and director of the series attended the open forum and were surprised by the loud cheers from the audience after watching the first three episodes of "Vigilante." During the talk, the director of the drama praised Nam Joo Hyuk for his strong immersion in his character. In particular, he liked the actor's eyes as it delivered the right emotions that the role required. 'Vigilante' Starring Nam Joo Hyuk is Gearing up for November Debut The webtoon-based series "Vigilante" is an action-thriller drama that narrates the story of Kim Ji Young, a model police academy student by day who transforms into a dark hero at night that punishes criminals who escape the law. Nam Joo Hyuk will finally meet the fans and viewers through this project beginning November 8. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Nam Joo Hyuk's Dark Hero Role in 'Vigilante' Receives Anticipation - Here's Why What can you say about the news? 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. Nebraskans husk corn, but in Iowa they pick the corn and Kansans shuck corn. These different terms for the same process were one of many lessons learned at the Filley Stone Barn Harvest Festival on Saturday. Visitors also saw demonstrations in blacksmithing, corn husking and shelling, wood carving and marble making. Gage County Historical Society Director Cassandra Dean said there was a good turnout. We have a great antique tractor show, she said. There are several interactive activities for kids. They can use the corn shellers or try several of the pioneer chore activities like pumping water. Dean said the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday they had approximately 600 fourth grade students from multiple schools for Pioneer Days. They sawed logs with crosscut saws, husked corn by hand in the field and took wagon rides with Kevin Naber and his team of horses, she said. Most had also gone to the Homestead National Historical Park for activities, she said. The Blue Valley Antique Collectors help with Pioneer Days and the Filley Stone Barn Harvest Festival each year. President Kenny Moss described the process of harvesting corn with antique equipment. We take the pickers out to the field and bring back the wagon, he said. Then we dump the corn in the elevator that takes it to the corn sheller. The corn goes into one wagon and the cobs in another. Moss said this is fun to do, but its educational for the students that come out to the barn. Kurt Schroeder said he has been coming to the barn to help since the 70s when he was a kid with his dad. The Filley Stone Barn will celebrate the 150th anniversary on July 13-14, 2024, at Cottage Hill Farm. Saskatchewan's elected members are heading back to legislature Tuesday, preparing for a pronoun fight that some political observers say could alter the electoral landscape. The Saskatchewan Legislative Building at Wascana Centre in Regina on Saturday, May 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor 16 Shares Share What is a legitimate medical reason to prescribe an opioid medication today? For pain or addiction? Who decides which patients are worthy of treatment? This question is not just of academic interest. Any prescribing medical provider today must constantly live in fear that a law enforcement agent somewhere will disagree with the prescribers answer to these questions. On its face, it seems simple. If a patient has severe pain, a prescriber can treat that pain with medications approved for that purpose. The same for addiction. Simple, right? Not really. There is a fundamental disconnect between the way law enforcement sees people and the way good health care providers see them. In short, law enforcement hopes to find a reason to lock someone up. Making arrests gets them awards and promotions. Its what they do. They look at people as potential targets of prosecution. Physicians and health care providers, on the other hand, see these patients from a diametrically opposite perspective. In order to help them heal, we must see them as human beings. We must give them the benefit of the doubt. We must form a bond of trust. The forging of this bond is absolutely critical to successful medical care. As much as amazing advances in medical science have improved the life spans of the average person, the belief that your doctor cares for you, and is doing their best to help you, is absolutely critical to the healing process. How many times have we seen a technically proficient physician become absolutely estranged from the patient as a person? No one feels like they have received proper medical treatment if they get the distinct impression that their doctor does not care. And nothing will preclude the formation of this bond more than physicians having to look at every patient as a suspect, as a threat, not just to the doctors practice, but to their very liberty. It is my absolute belief that not only should physicians see through a lens of humanity but that we must. We know from history where doing otherwise leads. Physicians in East Germany and throughout the Soviet Union were coopted by the state to diagnose dissident and divergent thought as a sign of mental illness and a threat to the community. Declaring a belief in free speech was enough to get you thrown into a dungeon-like asylum and treated with terrible procedures like insulin comas and hypothermia, until most had indeed lost their grip on reality. In China today, if you need an organ and have the money, a matching one will mysteriously quickly appear, and physicians that have escaped that regime tell us that a prisoner somewhere, a person with hopes and dreams and family, consequently disappears. We cannot allow our system to become more like theirs. We must not allow ourselves to be coopted into the current political panic regarding pain and addiction treatment. We must not be forced to be arms of the federal or state government, looking at every patient through a lens of suspicion. We must be allowed to do what we believe is best for our patients according to our education, training, and experience. Not according to the prevailing political sentiment or the opinions of law enforcement. The war on drugs may have started off trying to protect Americans from the dangers of drug abuse, that statement itself is debatable, but it has clearly ended up destroying many foundational principles of our nation, through policies like civil forfeiture and mass incarceration. Does five grams of methamphetamine do more harm to someones life than a mandatory ten years in prison? Is the damage to a childs life when they lose meaningful contact with a parent or caregiver of no value? These questions can reasonably be argued from both sides, but what cannot be argued is that physicians have an ethical and moral obligation to treat pain and suffering. The problem is that law enforcement has no such mandate. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Warren v. District of Columbia, 1981, that police officers have no specific duty to protect individuals. They can stand around laughing while teenage girls drown in a flooded car, as they did in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 2016, and not be prosecuted or even sued. Doctors and other medical professionals may clearly have a different set of ethical and moral obligations. But these obligations dont protect us from those who clearly do not. How do we get out of this morass? How do we extricate ourselves from the battlefield and start to rebuild? Sometimes, I think that all physicians should refuse to treat pain or addiction until the dictates of Ruan are enshrined into federal law, precluding prosecution, and not just providing grounds to appeal. As anyone caught up in the federal conviction system knows, the wheels of justice in America turn slowly and almost always in only one direction. There is no way to be made whole after you have been targeted. Everything in your life is attacked and destroyed. On the other hand, if we turn our backs on those suffering from pain and addiction to ensure our own safety. How are we any better than those physicians, now reviled by history, that participated, or just looked the other way, while human beings were treated as unworthy of the most basic medical care? I am encouraged by the example of the White Rose committee founded in Germany in the 1940s. Not because things went well for them, but because they tried. This group, started by one professor and five university students, opposed the abominable crimes their country was committing, including the forced sterilization and even murder of disabled patients and the mentally ill. The names of Willi Graf, Kurt Huber, Christoph Probst, Alexander Schmorell, Hans Scholl, and Sophie Scholl should be engraved at the entrance to every institute of higher education in America. All were eventually arrested. Hans, Sophie, and Christoph were executed by guillotine four days after their arrest. Followed later by Alexander, Willi, and Professor Huber. Im not saying that things are that dire here. At least not yet. But we are not on a good trajectory. I also want to mention Drs. Karl Brandt and Julius Hallervorden. A physician and psychiatrist respectively. They initially spoke out against the regimes medical mandates, but then decided to go along with the flow. Dr. Brandt had played a key role in implementing euthanasia and medical experiments on helpless prisoners, and Dr. Hallervorden did also. Brandt was tried at Nuremberg and hanged, but Hallervorden was not put on trial, and continued his medical career until his death in 1965. I dont know if anyone asked the last two doctors if surviving a few extra years was worth the betrayal of everything a physician should stand for. But it is a question we must ask ourselves today. If we are convinced that our patient has severe chronic pain, do we not then have a legitimate medical reason to prescribe that patient a medication approved for severe pain? If we are convinced that our patient suffers from an addiction, can we not then treat them with medication and other therapies approved for that purpose? Without needing to listen for the boot against the door? I would argue that we have not just the right to do so, but an absolute obligation. I hope you will too. L. Joseph Parker is a distinguished professional with a diverse and accomplished career spanning the fields of science, military service, and medical practice. He currently serves as the chief science officer and operations officer, Advanced Research Concepts LLC, a pioneering company dedicated to propelling humanity into the realms of space exploration. At Advanced Research Concepts LLC, Dr. Parker leads a team of experts committed to developing innovative solutions for the complex challenges of space travel, including space transportation, energy storage, radiation shielding, artificial gravity, and space-related medical issues. He can be reached on LinkedIn and YouTube. Industrialists have been advised to extend their reach and explore business opportunities beyond Uganda. The call has been made by Mr. Deo Kayemba, the Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) board chair ahead of an eight-day Industrial bench marking tour to Turkey, scheduled to take place from the 12th to 19th October 2023. Kayemba says in so doing, manufacturers will not only secure markets for their local products but also gain exposure to international best practices, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative ideas that can fuel our industrys growth. We aim to create markets for raw materials and machinery, foster investment partnerships, build essential business contacts, and facilitate the exchange of valuable knowledge and experience. We are taking a significant step forward in connecting Ugandan manufacturers and traders with the global market and establishing partnerships that will drive economic growth in our nation, noted Mr. Kayemba In 2021, Ugandas exports to Turkey stood at USD11.7 million, with key commodities including coffee, tea, tobacco, and fruits. Turkish exports to Uganda, including; machinery, electronic products, and home appliances, amounted to US$53.1 million. The tour is jointly organized by UMA, in collaboration with the Uganda Embassy in Ankara Turkey, the Embassy of Turkey in Uganda, and the Uganda National Council of Commerce and Industry (UCCI). The ActionAid Uganda Country Director, Xavier Ejoyi has called for deliberate efforts by legislators to ensure political tolerance as Uganda celebrates the 61st Independence Day today. His remarks come as some opposition party leaders such as National Unity Platforms (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi decry moves by the state to block its meetings and tours across the country. We need to ensure that as a country, we are really working on our political advancement especially our democratization should be inclusive to reflect free and open competition for political power and should reflect tolerance of all political views, Ejoyi said. He has also appealed to government to respect civic space that has been shrinking over the years with some NGO Bank accounts frozen over alleged compliance concerns. Ejoyi says democracy calls for civic participation. The National Independence Day celebrations are being hosted in Kitgum district under the theme, Sustaining a united and progressive nation: Taking charge of our future as a free nation. North Dakota elected officials are issuing statements of support for Israel in the wake of a surprise attack from Hamas, an Islamic militant group which is in control of Palestine. The assault, which included the deployment of around 1,000 troops alongside hundreds of rockets fired at Israel, is the latest escalation of a decadeslong conflict relating to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. It also marks the start of the fifth such war between Israel and Hamas since the latter took power in Palestine 16 years ago. As of Monday evening, Israeli authorities had reported at least 900 deaths and more than 2,500 injuries as a result of the Hamas attacks, with at least 100 civilians and soldiers taken hostage. In Gaza, Palestinian authorities said at least 687 had been killed by Israeli retaliation, and 2,600 had been injured. Hamas launched its initial attack Saturday, with Israel responding in a series of retaliatory airstrikes. The Israel Defense Forces said over 1,500 military targets were hit in Gaza. American politicians have responded by affirming their support for Israel as the federal government prepares an initial round of aid to its longtime ally. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., condemned Hamas attack against Israel, calling the move horrific. We stand with our ally and remain committed to supporting Israel as it defends itself, Hoeven said in a statement. Further, we must hold Iran accountable for its sponsorship of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. The land rights conflict between Israel and Palestine stems from the 1922 Mandate for Palestine, which required the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people while also calling for the protection of non-Jewish communities in the region. The U.S. formally recognized Israel as a state after the 1948 Israeli Declaration of Independence, a declaration that also sparked the Arab-Israeli War that year. The war expelled many Palestinians from their homes. Since the Six-Day War in 1967, which included Israels capture of east Jerusalem from Palestinian control and marked its complete hold on the city, members of both parties have also reiterated competing claims over various holy sites in the region. Israel and Hamas have been at opposition for the better part of two decades, with Israel and Egypt enforcing an ongoing land, air and sea blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized power over Palestine in 2007. Palestinian territory in the region has consistently decreased since Israel was first recognized as a state in 1948, while Israeli occupancy has expanded. Gaza has been a flashpoint in this conflict, according to The Associated Press. Over two-thirds of the citys residents previously lived within Israeli borders or are descendants of those who were forced from their homes or fled in the wake of Israels creation. U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., also decried the attack on Saturday. Cramer, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, cast blame on longtime Hamas ally Iran. Senior Hamas official Ali Barakeh, however, told The Associated Press Monday that Iran was not involved in the planning of the attack. I stand with our ally in the face of this naked aggression by Iran and its pawn, Hamas, and condemn these terrorist acts, Cramer said in a statement. The United States must unequivocally support Israels right to defend itself from brutal terrorists and those who support their immoral actions. Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II, according to Congressional research. It is the 15th-highest military spender in the world as of 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. America provides about $3 billion in annual military aid to what it describes as its closest partner in the Middle East. U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., reiterated that commitment in a post on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday, stating that America stands with Israel. President Joe Biden has already approved initial assistance for Israel that's to include a variety of military weapons. But any attempts at approving further aid may face a delayed approval process in the House of Representatives, which is currently without a Speaker of the House. At least 11 Americans were killed in the initial Hamas attack on Israel, Biden said Monday, with others unaccounted for as residents and visitors alike attempt to flee the region. Among those looking to return to America is a group of 85 North Dakota residents on a religious trip that is stuck in Palestine-controlled Bethlehem. The cohort includes many from Fargo, West Fargo and Grand Forks. The group has received multiple reports of potential departure timelines, but the evolving situation has left airlines in a state of flux as they navigate service to the region. We stand with our democratic ally Israel while lifting up in prayer the victims of these horrific attacks, Gov. Doug Burgum said in a statement Monday. We also pray for the safe return of the priests and parishioners from North Dakota congregations who are anxiously waiting to board flights home. Mityana Bishop William Tomusange is one of the people who were arrested at the National Unity Platform (NUP) party offices in Kamwokya on Monday morning. This is according to the party president, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi commonly known as Bobi Wine. Businesses in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb came to a standstill after the military and the police stopped NUP members from holding national prayers for their people who were allegedly killed, arrested, and kidnapped. The arrested were moved to Kira Road Police Station in Kampala including NUP Secretary General, David Lewis Rubongoya, the party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, and Fred Nyanzi, the Secretary for Mobilization. Bishop William Tomusange who had come to join us in prayer for the souls of our comrades whose lives the regime ended has also been arrested. He joins comrade Pastor Muwanguzi Andrew, and other leaders who were taken in earlier, Bobi Wine posted on X, the former Twitter on Monday. Before their arrest, Ssenyonyi said they were surprised by the security deployment. Police and the UPDF cordoned off our offices, beating people and anybody who was trying to access our offices was arrested. It is ironic that this is Independence Day, which means we have independence to operate politically, independence in any sense, Ssenyonyi said before his arrest on Monday. BY PRECIOUS DELILAH The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has deployed the 100 newly recruited state attorneys to different courts across the country. The DPP, Justice Jane Frances Abodo, while flagging off the new government lawyers last Thursday, urged them to exhibit integrity, faithfulness and hard work while executing their constitutional mandate. The DPP informed them that they were going to serve the people from whom they derive prosecutorial au- thority. She also cautioned them that since they are on probation, their evaluation would be personal.The deployment of the state attorneys takes immediate effect. It is hoped that with the additional 100 government lawyers, the existing staffing gap will be narrowed, leading to improved service delivery. The DPP has also transferred 12 current prosecutors. Prosecutors assess evidence, draft criminal charges and provide legal advice and help investigators such as police with evidence gathering. The staffing gaps prior to recruitment, the office of the DPP had about 300 prosecutors and yet the approved staffing structure is 853. Despite the appointment of the 100 additional prosecutors, the DPP says the staffing gap is still big since the Judiciary is always getting new judicial officers, hence the mismatch. The Judiciary has been recruiting almost every month; so the staffing gap is still bad. For example, in some stations, we used to have one state attorney against six judicial officers, so in such stations, we have taken about three state attorneys, DPP Abodo said. She added:The ideal situation should be that the prosecutors should be more than the judicial officers but as it is as of now, the judicial officers are more and actually, we are not present in more than 41 districts even with these 100 new ones. Officials at the Uganda AIDS Commission say they are working to reach a largely youthful population that is now complacent about HIV infections. Some world leaders once hailed Uganda for the fight against the epidemic but Dr. Nelson Musoba, the Director General for the Uganda Aids Commission tells KFM that the present-day youth who never witnessed the initial stages of HIV patients before the introduction of ARVs are complacent. He was however quick to note that the target to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030 is on course in Uganda with the average prevalence rate at 5% and less than 1% in some local government constituents. Weve had a prevalence rate that has come down to an average of 5% but we have districts with a prevalence of less than 1% our challenge has been the rapidly growing population but we continue ensuring that we communicate to them the risks of acquiring new infections, Dr. Musoba said. His remarks come as Uganda celebrates milestones made and lessons learnt as an independent state since 1962. The National Independence Day celebrations are being hosted in Kitgum district under the theme, Sustaining a united and progressive nation: Taking charge of our future as a free nation. By Robert Muhereza & Andrew Bagala Former Inspector General of Police, Gen (Rtd) Kale Kayihura, has said he will not join elective politics but rather will concentrate on farming after retiring from the army. Gen Kayihura made the remarks at his homecoming event organised at Saaza Grounds in Kisoro Municipality at the weekend to celebrate his retirement from the army. I am not interested in elective politics as some people had started speculating that I was eyeing the Bufumbira East parliamentary seat in Kisoro District. I fear elective politics; even if it is an LC1 post, I fear it. I have a lot of things to do in my retirement, especially things to do with farming, he said. Gen Kayihura retired from the army a day after he was acquitted of criminal cases of illegal repatriation of Rwandan refugees and failure to protect war materials in the court martial. At the weekend, Gen Kayihura said the cases were trumped up against him. He said President Museveni detected lies made by people, whom he didnt name, who wanted to blackmail him. I am grateful that President Museveni does not act on rumours and lies but he takes his time to investigate. By the time my issues ended, he was already aware of the truth that I had no case to answer. It is not true that I was pardoned, the fact is I had no case to answer, Gen Kayihura said. He listed some people who supported him during his trial. They are; Kisoro District chairperson Abel Bizimana, the former chairman of the court martial, Gen Andrew Gutti, Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbadi, State Minister for Internal Affairs Gen David Muhoozi, Maj Gen James Mugira, Maj Gen Sam Kavuma and his lawyers. Special comrades during my troubles include the first son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Gen Salim Saleh Akand- wanaho and his wife Jovia. These comrades were there for me then and today, he said. I have since established that love is a strong weapon for promoting unity. In the Bible, the ten commandments are summarised as love God and love your neighbours as you love yourself. Love is important for humanity. I am grateful to my family members, my wife and children for being with me in my troubles, Gen Kayihura said. He added that he will remain a proud retired military officer till his death. Muhabura Diocese Bishop Godfrey Mbitse, Fr Emmanuel Safari from Kabale Diocese and Sheikh Bakore-Shafi Kahuba from Kisoro Muslim district led the ecumenical prayers at Gen Kayihuras homecoming. By AFP The UK government on Monday insisted that Rwanda is an appropriate place to deport failed asylum seekers, as it tried to overturn a court ruling that the policy is unlawful. Three appeal court judges in London blocked the controversial plan in June, assessing that the African nation could not be considered a safe, third country. At the start of a three-day hearing at the Supreme Court on Monday, lawyer James Eadie, representing the interior ministry, conceded that Rwanda was a country less attractive than the UK. But he told a panel of five judges in the countrys highest court that it was nevertheless safe. Both London and Kigali were committed to ensuring the deal they signed would work, and assurances had been given about how the scheme would work in practice, he added. The Rwanda deportation policy, which has outraged human rights campaigners and groups representing asylum seekers, is at the heart of a UK government drive to cut migrant numbers. Migration is likely to be a major issue on the doorstep as campaigning gets under way for a general election expected next year. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his ruling Conservative government have been under sustained pressure to stop so-called small boats crossings of migrants from northern France, and tackle a record backlog of asylum claims. Eadie told the judges in central London that the government placed considerable importance on the policy, and there was a serious and pressing need to introduce it as a deterrent to the Channel crossings. More than 25,000 people have been intercepted on dinghies and other unsuitable craft on the busy shipping lane so far this year. Sunak has made stopping the boats one of his five key pledges. More than 100,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by the route since records began in 2018. It has become an embarrassment for a pro-Brexit government that promised to take back control of the countrys borders after leaving the European Union. The Rwanda deal was signed under Conservative former prime minister Boris Johnson but the first removal flights were successfully blocked in June last year by legal challenges. Wrangling has gone on ever since. Two High Court judges in London dismissed claims about the legality of the deportation scheme in December 2022. That prompted 10 asylum seekers from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan and Albania, plus the charity Asylum Aid to appeal. At the appeal court, the judges agreed the UK government could not guarantee that asylum seekers sent to Rwanda would not be deported back to the country from which they were fleeing. The deficiencies in the asylum system in Rwanda are such that there are substantial grounds for believing that there is a real risk that persons sent to Rwanda will be returned to their home countries, where they faced persecution or other inhumane treatment, the judges said in their ruling. Ministers, however, are now said to be privately confident of winning the case and are reportedly already drawing up plans to remove over 4,000 migrants before the election, The Times daily said. The Home Office is understood to be aiming for February 2024 for the first deportation flight to send a signal to people smuggling gangs that crossing via the Channel will likely lead to removal. Britains main opposition Labour party, which is well ahead of the Conservatives in the polls, on Sunday said it would drop the Rwanda plan if it was elected. Party leader Keir Starmer a former human rights lawyer and chief state prosecutor said Labour would not pursue the hugely expensive and wrong scheme even if the Supreme Court ruled in the governments favour. By Franklin Draku President Museveni used a televised Independence Day eve address last night to rally Ugandans to reject tribalism,saying the country needs unity to glue it together and expand markets to enable citizens to prosper. You should reject the serial idea of politics of identity, but join politics of value and ideas. Those who emphasise tribes, religion, sectarianism, and gender chauvinism want to turn us into a Latin America in Africa and yet we the freedom movement want to build a United States of Africa in Africa. Latin America is very rich in terms of natural resources, much richer than the United States but they are fragmented and not organised. This environment doesnt encourage business, Mr Museveni said. He outlined eight areas, among them fighting corruption and protecting the environment, where he said progress will make Ugandas socio-economic transformation unstoppable. We insist that in order to ensure the economic and social prosperity of our people, we must not forget their needs; food, jobs, market for their products, sources of raw materials for their industries. The prosperity of our people will come from our people selling their products to the Ugandan and African markets; that is why we encourage patriotism and Pan-Africanism and reject, he said. To protect nature, the President said he planned to issue a detailed Executive Order, which would be his second this year, to end environmental degradation and encroachment on ecologically fragile areas. PORTLAND, Maine Whales, dolphins and seals living in U.S. waters face major threats from warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels and decreasing sea ice volumes associated with climate change, according to a first-of-its-kind assessment. Researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration examined more than 100 stocks of American marine mammal species and found more than 70% of those stocks are vulnerable to threats, such as loss of habitat and food, due to the consequences of warming waters. The impacts also include loss of dissolved oxygen and changes to ocean chemistry. The scientists found large whales such as humpbacks and North Atlantic right whales were among the most vulnerable to climate change, and that other toothed whales and dolphins were also at high risk. The study, published last month in the journal PLOS ONE, is evidence that the way the U.S. manages whales and dolphins needs to adapt in the era of climate change, advocates for marine mammals said. The news is bleak, but the assessment also is the first to look solely at marine mammal stocks managed by the U.S. and the results can help inform federal ocean managers about how to safeguard the vulnerable animals, said Matthew Lettrich, a biologist and lead author of the study. As the climate's changing, we're seeing some of the effects already, and some of our marine mammal populations are more vulnerable to those changes than others, Lettrich said. Based on this study, we see a good proportion are highly and very highly vulnerable. The researchers studied marine mammals living in the western North Atlantic ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. The animals are managed by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the arm of the federal government responsible for stewardship and protection of marine resources. The scientists looked at the animals' degree of exposure to climate change and sensitivity and capacity to adapt to it. They found 72% of the stocks were highly or very highly vulnerable to climate change, with a little less than half falling in the very high category. The warming ocean primarily harms marine mammals by altering their ability to find food and reduces their amount of suitable habitat, the study said. However, the scientists said changes to ocean temperature and chemistry also can change sound transmission. That can affect the sonarlike echolocation marine mammals such as dolphins use to communicate and hunt. Climate change must be considered to adequately manage species, the study states. The NOAA study is significant because it's the first to look broadly at U.S. marine mammals and attempt to predict their resiliency to climate change, said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, a biologist with Massachusetts-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation who was not involved in the study. The whales will benefit from the study if the information is used to implement laws protecting them, Asmutis-Silvia said. The U.S. is one of the most data-rich countries when it comes to marine mammals, and those data should be driving what are arguably some of the worlds strongest laws to protect marine mammals," she said. "However, data are meaningless without the political will to implement management measures. The impact of climate change on whales around the world has grown as a subject of scientific inquiry in recent years. Many studies about whales and climate change look only at a single species or a narrower geographic area, said Laura Ganley, a research scientist with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium in Boston. But the way climate change affects the giant animals is global in nature, so the broader approach is helpful, she said. Many scientists have said the vanishing right whale that lives off New England in the summer is made more vulnerable by changes to its food availability caused by warming waters. But climate change also clearly affects less-studied species, Ganley said. "This isn't just impacting North Atlantic right whales or bottlenose dolphins. This is impacting most stocks in the United States, and not just the ones in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Maine, said Ganley, who was not involved in the study. Climate change also could affect the distribution and behavior of marine mammals, the study states. Whales such as the right whale, which travels north every year from the waters off Georgia and Florida, migrate hundreds of miles annually to breed and feed. Many also migrate across international boundaries, which could require new kinds of cooperation between countries. That is true of seals with large populations in the U.S. and Canada, such as the gray seal, the study says. The federal government has tried numerous methods in recent years to try to protect declining whale species, including implementing new restrictions on commercial fishing and new vessel speed restrictions. Whales are vulnerable to entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with large ships, and scientists have said both threats are made more severe by warming waters because ocean changes cause whales to move outside of protected zones. Photos: How one country is working to protect vulnerable sea turtles Waterways Ireland has extended a public consultation on proposed by-laws changes, with a second phase of public consultation also added to facilitate further engagement with the public and stakeholders. They relate to waterways including the Barrow which flows through Kilkenny. The initial consultation period (phase 1) has been extended to October 27, having originally been due to close on October 2. Following the initial consultation period, Waterways Ireland will review all submissions during November and December 2023. Waterways Ireland will endeavour to proactively and equitably deal with legitimate matters of concern raised during the initial public consultation process, publish its consultation document and re-issue amended draft Byelaws. Phase 2 of the public consultation will then run from January 15, 2024 to February 26. This phase of the process will offer all stakeholders an opportunity to consider the modifications to the proposed revised Byelaws. Thereafter Waterways Ireland will consider all new feedback received, to best address the views of all stakeholders and ultimately, update Byelaws which are undisputedly, out-of-date, and unfit for purpose. There will be no changes to the existing by-laws, permits, or charges/fees until revised by-laws are approved. Waterways Ireland encourages everyone to read the draft by-laws and to participate in the public consultation, and are keen to hear from anglers, boaters, cyclists, paddle-sport enthusiasts, runners, walkers, members of communities along the waterways and the public at large. The drafts can be found on waterwaysireland.org and in local libraries along the waterways corridors. Submissions to the public consultation can be made through the online survey on the website, by email to corporate@waterwaysireland.org and by post to Waterways Ireland Inspectorate, The Docks, Athlone. The proposed changes relate to Shannon Navigation Byelaws (including the River Shannon, Shannon-Erne Waterway, River Finn, and Ulster Canal) and Canal Byelaws (including the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, and Barrow Navigation). Much has changed in the 30 years since the by-laws were last updated. The proposed by-laws reflect the substantial change in Waterways Irelands responsibilities to maintain safe shared public spaces on our waterways, Blueways and Greenways and to reimagine waterways for the future. The Government will only achieve the best possible outcomes for their people in Kilkenny if they invest in their health. Healthier populations are more resilient, get better results from education, and contribute to greater economic growth. Thats according to public health expert, Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who addressed a special event in Dublin on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Institute of Public Health (IPH). In his keynote address, Should governments make us healthier? Shifting the focus of public policy, Professor McKee made the case for a Health For All Policies approach - ensuring that every government department looks at all its policies through a health lens and commits to investing in healthier and more resilient communities in Kilkenny and across Ireland. An investment in health, he argued, can achieve other policy goals, pointing to evidence of increased labour force productivity, a more secure labour market, and better education outcomes as examples of potential social and economic benefits. Professor McKee said all government departments have a role to play in health: Weve long known that policies in other sectors - housing, transport, education and so on - can safeguard and improve population health. But we now recognise how better health is essential if we are to achieve success in other sectors. Healthier people stay longer in the workforce and are more productive. Healthier children get better educational outcomes. Healthier families invest more in small and medium enterprises. Governments, Professor McKee added, have no alternative but to reorient their investments in health with a broader cross-sectoral approach: Everything affects health, but not everybody thinks health is their problem. Economic growth, security, social cohesion or wellbeing whatever the goal, governments wont achieve it if they fail to invest in health. IPH Chief Executive Suzanne Costello said a policy shift could include greater emphasis on health improvement and illness prevention: Healthcare services are of critical importance but so too is investing in health improvement, illness prevention, and finding solutions to the wider social and economic factors that influence health. Shifting the policy focus has the potential to secure a healthier economy, healthier communities, and a healthier future for all. A panel of invited guests responded to Professor McKees address and discussed the potential to reframe health policy and investment. The panel of speakers included Sinn Fein TD and Health Spokesperson David Cullinane; SDLP MLA and Health and Wellbeing Spokesperson Colin McGrath; CEO of Empower Adeline OBrien; ESRI health economist Dr Anne Nolan; and Director of the Community Development and Health Network Joanne Vance. The special gathering also heard contributions from the Chief Medical Officers for Northern Ireland and Ireland, Professor Sir Michael McBride and Professor Breda Smyth. The event marks the 25th anniversary of IPH, set up in 1998 a short time before the signing of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement. The Institutes establishment as a North / South agency recognised that a geographical border offered no protection against disease or ill-health. The North Dakota State Crime Lab has caught up on testing its backlog of hundreds of sexual assault examination kits in one year, Attorney General Drew Wrigley says. Wrigley told The Forum that additional funding, overtime put in by staff and a new lab director have helped cut the backlog of roughly 270 kits to 80 as of Sept. 1, a level he called "current." They have made tremendous strides, Wrigley said. The backlog did not result in cases being dismissed or delayed, but it was at a red alert level, Wrigley said. There is no question that that backlog was troubling, he said. Wrigley said he asked then-State Lab Director Robyn Quinn to address it. Quinn was fired in January for not addressing the backlog, along with other performance issues, Wrigley said. Quinn told The Bismarck Tribune that her dismissal was a witch hunt" because she didn't support Wrigley's agenda. Jennifer Penner, a 20-year veteran with the State Lab, replaced Quinn first as interim director before being given the long-term post a few weeks ago, Wrigley said. Under new leadership, and with federal funding to help pay for overtime, State Lab technicians worked to cut the backlog, Wrigley said. As of Sept. 1, 26 kits were awaiting final review. Testing was completed on 21, but those kits were awaiting a written report for finalization, he said. Another 10 were in the process of testing, and nine more were in the initial screening phase. We are so thankful that funding was secured, he said, adding that staff worked hard to catch up. The North Dakota Legislature also allocated funds that allowed the Attorney Generals Office to hire three scientists for the State Lab, as well as two latent fingerprint technicians and two staff for firearms testing. The State Lab hasnt had firearms testing capabilities for roughly seven years, Wrigley said. He noted that law enforcement brought up concerns about sex assault kit processing and the lack of firearms testing. He brought it up to the Legislature, adding he is grateful lawmakers saw the need for additional staffing. The lab has been updated significantly with the boost of personnel, Wrigley said. The additional resources have also boosted morale, Wrigley said in noting employee turnover has been significantly reduced. Processing evidence in a timely manner is important for law enforcement, the court system and victims of crime, Wrigley said. Delays can happen, but solid communications and protocols can make sure testing doesnt impede investigations, he said. Its an important law enforcement matter, he said. The victims of crime deserve to know that these cases are going to be handled in a timely manner. Strengths Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the best performer for the week was Trust Wallet, rising 17.91%. Banks will have to disclose cryptocurrency holdings under new plans floated Thursday, as international regulators partly blamed banking collapses on the sudden popularity of crypto, writes Bloomberg. Coinbase Global received a full license to operate as a digital payment token service provider in Singapore. Coinbase will take a cautious approach to growth and seek to have sustained a viable business both globally and in individual markets, writes Bloomberg. Weaknesses Of the cryptocurrencies tracked by CoinMarketCap, the worst performer for the week was Frax Share, down 10.68%. Blockchain data company Chainalysis implemented another round of layoffs, the latest job cuts to hit the crypto sector. The company had about 900 staff after layoffs earlier in 2023, according to Bloomberg, that it said affected less than 5% of workers. Sam Bankman-Fried lied to the world as he built his cryptocurrency empire at FTX, telling only his friends and girlfriend the truth about what was happening, prosecutors said on the first day of a historic fraud trial. Nathan Rehn, an assistant U.S. attorney, painted a picture of the 31-year-old as a calculated criminal who used investor deposits at FTX as a personal bank account before the company collapsed a year ago, writes Bloomberg. Opportunities Bitcoin retreated from a six-week peak after a jump in bond yields dented demand for riskier investments. Bitcoin shed as much as 2% on Tuesday before paring some of the drop to trade at about $27,400 in New York, writes Bloomberg. Binances spot market share fell for a seventh consecutive month as a dearth in volatility and lingering regulatory woes weighed on the largest cryptocurrency exchange, reports Bloomberg. Tim Grant, the former head of crypto investor Galaxy Digital Holdings European business, is to spearhead a new investment and operating firm backing companies in areas including digital assets, fintech, and institutional capital markets, writes Bloomberg. Threats All 15,000 ether (ETH) sitting in a wallet associated with last years $600 million attack on FTXs wallets have now moved through privacy tools and bridges. About $26 million worth of ETH sat in a single wallet until earlier this weekend, when a first tranche of 2,500 ETH ($4 million) began moving, ultimately ending up at the Thorchain bridge, the Railgun privacy wallet, or intermediary addresses, writes Bloomberg. The criminal trial of former Celsius Network CEO Alex Mashinsky has been scheduled for September 17, 2024. Mashinsky was charged in July with securities fraud, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to manipulate the value of the Celsius token, writes Bloomberg. The DOU targeted several Chinese businesses and their employees Tuesday in the latest round of charges tied to productions and trafficking of fentanyl. Alongside the criminal case, the U.S. OFAC also sanctioned the list of Chinese nationals, identifying 16 associated crypto wallets, writes Bloomberg. By Frank E. Holmes Contributing to kitco.com Follow @bulldogholmes www.goldnewsletter.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Israel said on Monday it had called up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists and warned residents of parts of the Gaza Strip to leave, in the latest signs it could be planning a ground assault to defeat Hamas. Fighters were still holed up in several locations inside Israel two days after they burst across from Gaza killing 700 Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages in a raid that shattered Israel's reputation of invincibility. In Hamas-controlled Gaza, Israel pressed on with its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, which have killed some 500 people since Saturday. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel's blockade would be tightened to prevent food and fuel from being brought into the strip, home to 2.3 million people. Israel's chief military spokesman said troops had re-established control of communities inside Israel that had been overrun, but that isolated clashes continued as some Palestinian gunmen remained active. "We are now carrying out searches in all of the communities and clearing the area," chief military spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said. Earlier, another spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht, acknowledged that it was "taking more time than we expected to get things back into a defensive, security posture". The shocking images of the bodies of hundreds of Israeli civilians sprawled across the streets of towns, gunned down at an outdoor dance party and abducted from their homes were like nothing seen before in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The announcement that 300,000 reservists had already been activated in just two days added to speculation that Israel could be contemplating a ground assault of Gaza, a territory it abandoned nearly two decades ago. "We have never drafted so many reservists on such a scale," Hagari said. "We are going on the offensive." Palestinians reported receiving calls and mobile phone audio messages from Israeli security officers telling them to leave areas mainly in the northern and eastern territories of Gaza, and warning that the army would operate there. Hamas, an armed Islamist group that calls for Israel's destruction, says its attack was justified by the plight of Gaza under a 16-year blockade and the deadliest Israeli crackdown for years in the occupied West Bank. "A TOTAL MASSACRE" Mainstream Palestinian groups who deplored the attacks said the violence was nonetheless predictable, with a peace process frozen for nearly a decade and far-right Israeli leaders talking of annexing Palestinian land once and for all. Israel and Western countries said nothing justified the intentional mass killing of civilians. The attackers gunned down scores of young Israelis at an outdoor desert dance party - media reported 260 killed there. A day later dozens of survivors were still emerging from hiding. The site was littered with wrecked and abandoned cars. "It was just a massacre, a total massacre," said Arik Nani, who had been celebrating his 26th birthday and escaped by hiding for hours in a field. In Gaza, footage obtained by Reuters showed dozens of people climbing over collapsed buildings in search of survivors, the air still dusty from impact. Sirens rang out as emergency teams put out cars that had caught fire. "The man you see is one martyr of dozens. This place is packed with residents and people who were displaced," a man said in the video as people pulled a body from the rubble. EGYPTIAN, QATARI MEDIATION Egypt, which has mediated between Israel and Hamas at times of conflict in the past, was in close contact with the two sides, trying to prevent further escalation, according to Egyptian security sources. Qatari mediators have held urgent calls with Hamas officials to try to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza, in exchange for the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons, a source told Reuters. The violence jeopardises U.S.-backed moves towards normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - a security realignment that could have threatened Palestinian hopes of self determination and hemmed in Hamas's backer Iran. Fighter jets, helicopters and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, with targets including Hamas and Islamic Jihad command centres and the residence of a senior Hamas official, Ruhi Mashtaa. "The price the Gaza Strip will pay will be a very heavy one that will change reality for generations," Defence Minister Gallant said in Ofakim, one of the towns that had been attacked. Israel's military faces harsh questions for the country's worst intelligence failure in 50 years. A ground assault would be a major step for Israel, which has sent troops back into Gaza twice since it abandoned the territory nearly two decades ago, but has tried to avoid reimposing any long-term occupation there. Israeli officials have not confirmed any plans for a ground assault but have discussed what it might entail. Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, likened a possible operation to a 2002 sweep of the West Bank in which Palestinian cities were encircled and then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat besieged in his headquarters. "Israel cannot agree to a situation in which military terrorist organizations will exist at a proximity of a few hundred meters, a kilometer, and so all of these capabilities will be destroyed," he told Israel's Channel 12 TV late on Sunday. Netanyahu's options may also be curtailed by concern over the fate of Israeli hostages. In a statement, the Israeli Air Force said it dropped some 2,000 munitions and more than 1,000 ton bombs on Gaza aimed at over 8,000 targets in Gaza in the last 20 hours. Among the targets were three rocket launchers directed at Israel, a mosque where militants were operating and 21 high-rise buildings that served militant activity. Since Saturday, at least 493 people were killed and more than 2,750 people were wounded, said the Health Ministry in Gaza. "The Zionist enemy's military targeting and bombing of homes inhabited by women and children, mosques and schools in Gaza amount to war crimes and terrorism," Hamas official Izzat Reshiq said in a statement. Hamas's main international ally Iran congratulated Hamas on the attack, while denying involvement. Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia exchanged artillery and rocket fire. The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign ran from Aug. 18 to Sept. 4. There were 309 total citations attributed to it, including 26 arrests or citations for minor in consumption of alcohol, minor in possession and open container in a vehicle. There also were 17 drug-related arrests, according to the state Department of Transportation. The internal memo says the State Department is aware of three US citizens killed in the Gaza periphery. Bell Bank boosted its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 0.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 314,418 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the quarter. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF comprises about 3.3% of Bell Banks investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Bell Banks holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $30,797,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Key Financial Inc grew its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Key Financial Inc now owns 1,370 shares of the companys stock worth $137,000 after buying an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Gries Financial LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 1.0% during the first quarter. Gries Financial LLC now owns 10,703 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,066,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Benin Management CORP raised its position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 4.4% in the 1st quarter. Benin Management CORP now owns 2,611 shares of the companys stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. VAUGHAN & Co SECURITIES INC. boosted its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.7% in the 2nd quarter. VAUGHAN & Co SECURITIES INC. now owns 4,277 shares of the companys stock worth $419,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pathstone Family Office LLC grew its position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 6,033 shares of the companys stock worth $581,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the last quarter. 83.21% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Trading Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSEARCA AGG traded up $0.70 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $93.45. The company had a trading volume of 1,887,913 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,402,752. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 1 year low of $92.37 and a 1 year high of $101.15. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $95.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $97.51. About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. See Also Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS Group upgraded shares of BHP Group (NYSE:BHP Free Report) from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Thursday, MarketBeat reports. BHP has been the topic of a number of other research reports. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of BHP Group in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. They set a buy rating on the stock. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of BHP Group from an underperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. Berenberg Bank lowered shares of BHP Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded BHP Group from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, September 25th. Finally, Liberum Capital upgraded BHP Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, July 6th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, BHP Group currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $1,950.00. Get BHP Group alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BHP BHP Group Stock Down 1.5 % BHP Group Cuts Dividend BHP Group stock opened at $56.11 on Thursday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $57.30 and its 200 day moving average is $59.00. BHP Group has a one year low of $46.92 and a one year high of $71.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th were given a dividend of $1.60 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.9%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 7th. Institutional Investors Weigh In On BHP Group Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. boosted its position in shares of BHP Group by 1.1% during the 1st quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 19,463 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $1,504,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its position in shares of BHP Group by 70.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 79,400 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $6,134,000 after purchasing an additional 32,699 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in shares of BHP Group by 62.9% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 8,865 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $685,000 after purchasing an additional 3,424 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of BHP Group by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,821,564 shares of the mining companys stock worth $140,716,000 after purchasing an additional 283,915 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of BHP Group by 71.7% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 39,175 shares of the mining companys stock worth $3,026,000 after purchasing an additional 16,359 shares during the period. BHP Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) BHP Group Limited operates as a resources company in Australia, Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, the rest of Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company operates through Copper, Iron Ore, and Coal segments. It engages in the mining of copper, silver, zinc, molybdenum, uranium, gold, iron ore, and metallurgical and energy coal. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BHP Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BHP Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Out of War: Girl Becomes TV Inspiration in Troubled Middle East SAT-7 KIDS TV presenter Christina Issa draws on Syria war experiences to bring hope to others on Int'l Day of the Girl, Oct. 11 INSPIRING GIRLS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST: SAT-7 KIDS (www.sat7usa.org) presenter 21-year-old Christina Issa draws on her own childhood war experiences in Syria to bring hope to others on Int'l Day of the Girl, Oct. 11. NEWS PROVIDED BY SAT-7 Oct. 9, 2023 EASTON, Md., Oct. 9, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- As a young girl, Christina Issa found a way to block out the horror of war raging in her homeland of Syria by watching a faith-based television channel for kids, broadcast in her native Arabic. She never dreamed that a few years later she'd be a presenter on the same channel, SAT-7 KIDS, encouraging other girls and boys living amidst war, violence and devastating loss. To watch her story, click here. On International Day of the Girl a global awareness event held on Oct. 11 each year Issa, now age 21, is using her platform to show girls living in even the most desperate circumstances that faith in God can change their lives. Television: 'Source of Hope' "Growing up in the middle of war in Syria, life was full of uncertainty and fear," Issa recalled. "But in the chaos, there was a source of hope that brought comfort to us... a sound coming from our small television set." Issa and her siblings crowded around their television set every day to watch SAT-7 KIDS (www.sat7usa.org), a free-to-view channel broadcasting Bible-based content in regional languages with local presenters across the Middle East and North Africa. As Syria plunged deeper into civil war a brutal conflict that has claimed an estimated 350,000 lives since 2011 Issa says it was "hard to keep our faith strong when everything around us was falling apart." Issa's own life fell apart at age 14 when her father died of cancer. She lost her faith "in God and everyone." After her family moved to Lebanon to escape the war, Issa's faith slowly began to return. "Deep down, I knew all I ever needed was one more gathering around that television set," she recalled. 'Challenge Accepted' When SAT-7 KIDS auditioned for new presenters for its "Challenge Accepted" show, Issa jumped at the opportunity and was hired. "I found myself working for the same television channel that brought so much comfort to me as a child in Syria," she said. "At that moment, I remembered little me, wishing to go into that television in our living room, never knowing that it might actually come true one day." Now in the show's third season, Issa shares her faith and experiences with a generation of young viewers across the Middle East facing their own struggles and heartaches. "I want to reassure them that their pain is understood and they are never alone," she said. "With Jesus, they have the strength to overcome life's storms." Launched in 1996, SAT-7 USA (www.sat7usa.org) -- with its international headquarters in Cyprus -- broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television and online programs in the Middle East and North Africa. Its mission is to make the gospel available to everyone, and support the church in its life, work and witness for Jesus Christ. SAT-7 broadcasts 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi (Persian), Dari, and Turkish, using multiple satellite channels and online services. SOURCE SAT-7 CONTACT: Nicole Ponder, 321-586-2332, nponder@inchristcommunications.com Share Tweet North Dakota state officials are still grappling with the aftermath of a more than $1 million cost overrun on a building leased by the late attorney general, a more than year-old controversy that could reach a prosecutor's desk for review for potential charges. The issues involve a Bismarck state lawmaker who was in a position to benefit from the lease, as well as the deletion of the late attorney general's official email account days after his death last year. The overrun shocked lawmakers, who raised concerns about trust and how the building project was handled. The project was for consolidating divisions of the Attorney General's Office in one location in Bismarck. The Legislature's audit panel last year sought an outside investigation into the overrun incurred under late Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who died in January 2022 at age 68 from cardiac arrest. Current Attorney General Drew Wrigley tapped Montana's Division of Criminal Investigation for the probe. An investigator returned a lengthy report last month, nearly a year after the panel sought further investigation following a critical report by the state auditor. The Montana investigator wrote that any North Dakota legal decisions are outside his scope. State Rep. Emily O'Brien, R-Grand Forks, who chairs the panel, said she plans to schedule a meeting on the report before Thanksgiving. The committee is expected to decide whether to forward the Montana report to an outside prosecutor for evaluation for potential charges, she said. O'Brien told The Associated Press the report is incomplete and confusing," that some details conflict and its timeline is difficult to follow for people unfamiliar with the issues. The Montana report indicates that the initially estimated $1.7 million overrun resulted from change orders and pandemic-related issues, according to emails and interviews the investigator cited. The overrun was covered in 2021 by various attorney general's office funds and by rolling $400,000 into future lease payments. Wrigley declined to comment on the report. His office, after reviewing invoices, has recouped about $625,000 from the overrun, including the $400,000 rescinded from future lease payments, said Wrigley, who made clear the full amount isn't final. Building owner Stealth Properties LLC last year gave a nearly $225,000 check to the attorney generals office for overpayment after reconciliation, and it no longer required the $400,000 that had been absorbed into the lease rate, according to the Montana report. Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Wrigley in February 2022 to fill out the remainder of Stenehjem's term. Wrigley in June 2022 disclosed the cost overrun to state lawmakers in a public meeting. State Auditor Josh Gallion's office subsequently probed the issue, presenting an investigative report in September 2022, when the audit panel sought more investigation. Gallion's report detailed state Rep. Jason Dockter's status as a co-owner of the companies that own the building and that worked on the building project. Dockter, a Bismarck Republican, was a past campaign treasurer to Stenehjem, as well as a friend. He said his relationship with Stenehjem was not a factor in obtaining the lease. He declined to comment on the Montana report. Dockter said the state's small population means many people, including lawmakers, have crisscrossing relationships. How does anyone do anything around here without really knowing someone? Dockter said. His attorney, Lloyd Suhr, told the AP, We're not going to make any comments until the process has played itself out, whatever direction it ends up going. Dockter's business partner C.J. Schorsch, who managed the project's construction, did not immediately respond to an email for comment on the report and the recouped costs. Stealth attorney Monte Rogneby said the company will respond to the Montana report and answer lawmakers' questions at the future meeting of the Legislature's audit panel. We want to make sure no one has an opportunity to make an Open Record request for his emails, especially as he kept EVERYTHING. This was approved by Troy, Brocker said in her email directing Stenehjem's account be deleted days after his death. A woman who answered the phone at the Burleigh County State's Attorney's Office, where Brocker now works, said Brocker does not take press calls. Brocker did not immediately respond to a Facebook message or a phone message at a number believed to be hers, or to a message passed along by her supervisor. Wrigley replaced Seibel, who left his job in March 2022. Seibel did not respond to a phone message. An attorney who has previously represented him did not immediately respond to a phone message. Wrigley, a Republican, won election to a full term as attorney general last year. Dockter won reelection, unopposed. North Dakota's Republican-controlled Legislature passed laws earlier this year to increase transparency of who owns state-leased property and to set requirements for retaining state government emails. The state Office of Management and Budget will be hiring a property administrator and a statewide contract manager in coming months, and it will be drafting administrative rules concerning leasing, spokeswoman Jen Raab told the AP. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of BOX (NYSE:BOX Free Report) in a report published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the software makers stock. Several other research firms also recently weighed in on BOX. KeyCorp dropped their target price on shares of BOX from $35.00 to $33.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Craig Hallum lowered shares of BOX from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an underperform rating and issued a $21.00 price target on shares of BOX in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $32.00 price target on shares of BOX in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. Finally, Oppenheimer restated an outperform rating and issued a $35.00 price target on shares of BOX in a report on Wednesday, August 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, BOX presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $32.25. Get BOX alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on BOX BOX Stock Performance BOX opened at $25.05 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $3.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 133.32, a PEG ratio of 15.20 and a beta of 1.04. BOX has a one year low of $23.91 and a one year high of $34.98. The businesss fifty day moving average is $27.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $27.90. BOX (NYSE:BOX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 29th. The software maker reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.01. BOX had a net margin of 4.86% and a negative return on equity of 6.51%. The business had revenue of $261.43 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $261.32 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned ($0.05) EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that BOX will post 0.08 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Transactions at BOX In other news, CFO Dylan C. Smith sold 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total value of $336,440.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 1,507,165 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,005,430.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Dylan C. Smith sold 13,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.88, for a total transaction of $336,440.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 1,507,165 shares of the companys stock, valued at $39,005,430.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Aaron Levie sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, September 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.70, for a total transaction of $257,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 3,068,653 shares in the company, valued at $78,864,382.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 36,000 shares of company stock valued at $991,890 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 4.90% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of BOX A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BOX. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of BOX during the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of BOX during the first quarter worth about $206,000. Natixis Advisors L.P. grew its stake in BOX by 54.5% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 22,540 shares of the software makers stock worth $655,000 after purchasing an additional 7,953 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in BOX by 55.3% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 74,326 shares of the software makers stock valued at $2,160,000 after buying an additional 26,459 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in BOX by 18.6% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,091,273 shares of the software makers stock valued at $31,713,000 after buying an additional 170,949 shares in the last quarter. 87.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. BOX Company Profile (Get Free Report) Box, Inc provides a cloud content management platform that enables organizations of various sizes to manage and share their content from anywhere on any device. The company's Software-as-a-Service platform enables users to collaborate on content internally and with external parties, automate content-driven business processes, develop custom applications, and implement data protection, security, and compliance features to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, internal policies, and industry standards and regulations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BOX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BOX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of TopBuild (NYSE:BLD Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the construction companys stock. Several other brokerages have also weighed in on BLD. Seaport Res Ptn restated a buy rating on shares of TopBuild in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price objective on TopBuild from $262.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Loop Capital raised their target price on TopBuild from $225.00 to $285.00 in a report on Friday, June 30th. Benchmark restated a buy rating and set a $320.00 target price on shares of TopBuild in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on TopBuild from $255.00 to $305.00 in a report on Friday, July 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $281.00. Get TopBuild alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on BLD TopBuild Stock Performance TopBuild stock opened at $245.09 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $274.66 and a 200 day simple moving average of $244.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.86, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. TopBuild has a 12-month low of $140.66 and a 12-month high of $307.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 1.62. TopBuild (NYSE:BLD Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The construction company reported $5.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.30 by $0.95. The business had revenue of $1.32 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.26 billion. TopBuild had a net margin of 11.61% and a return on equity of 29.75%. TopBuilds revenue for the quarter was up 3.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.43 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that TopBuild will post 18.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Robert M. Buck sold 4,500 shares of TopBuild stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.76, for a total value of $1,357,920.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 73,830 shares in the company, valued at $22,278,940.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Steven P. Raia sold 1,300 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $299.34, for a total value of $389,142.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,670 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,193,957.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Robert M. Buck sold 4,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $301.76, for a total transaction of $1,357,920.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 73,830 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,278,940.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 7,576 shares of company stock worth $2,263,881 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.46% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On TopBuild Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BLD. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in TopBuild by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 75,512 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $13,697,000 after purchasing an additional 1,891 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in TopBuild by 26.1% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 1,598 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $290,000 after acquiring an additional 331 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in TopBuild by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 4,993 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $998,000 after acquiring an additional 184 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its stake in TopBuild by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 12,067 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,189,000 after acquiring an additional 1,151 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in TopBuild by 9.1% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 18,097 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $3,375,000 after acquiring an additional 1,503 shares during the period. 95.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About TopBuild (Get Free Report) TopBuild Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the installation and distribution of insulation and other building material products to the construction industry. The company operates in two segments, Installation and Specialty Distribution. It provides insulation products and accessories, glass and windows, rain gutters, afterpaint products, fireproofing products, garage doors, fireplaces, closet shelving, roofing materials, and other products; and insulation installation services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TopBuild Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TopBuild and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pictured in front are the Divan (officers) of Mizpah Shrine of Fort Wayne. They include, from left, John Coleman, chaplain; Chris Sanders, treasurer; Andy Fracica, Oriental guide; Brooks Targgart, assistant rabban; Steven Bates, potentate; Aaron Murray, chief rabban; and Keith Jacobsen, high priest. Steuben County Shriners and members of the Pokagon Shrine Club are in the back row and include, from left, Brant Moore, Paul Friend, Jeff Stanford, John Tchinski, Don Shively and Mike Votaw. There were about 30 Shriners from a variety of counties who also attended the event. The current officers of the Pokagon Shrine Club are Stanford, president/treasurer, and Tchinski, secretary. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. North Dakota's sole food bank provided 23,270 meals for children through its Youth Summer Meals Program, a sharp increase from 5,402 meals the previous summer. The summer program was created to help children who rely on the school lunch and breakfast program during the school year. This year locations were operated in Cannon Ball, Dickinson, Elgin, Enderlin, Fargo, Jamestown, West Fargo and Williston. Children will always be a high priority for us in the work we do, Great Plains Food Bank Child & Senior Program Manager Jenae Meske said. Children dont choose their circumstances, and we always strive to offer the best programs we can to feed children in need." Great Plains is based in Fargo, with a distribution center in Bismarck. The food bank distributes food to 200 food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and other charitable feeding programs in nearly 100 communities across North Dakota and into eastern Minnesota. For more information, go to www.greatplainsfoodbank.org. It could take more than a year for Summit Carbon Solutions to get approval in South Dakota for its proposed carbon dioxide pipeline. Thats because the company, which was denied a pipeline permit by utility regulators in that state last month, will reapply after it identifies a new route that complies with county ordinances, South Dakota Searchlight reported. Moving forward, we are committed to working with the counties in South Dakota to find a mutually agreeable path through each county, said Sabrina Zenor, a spokesperson for the company. This means working within ordinances regarding applicability of waivers, etc., and more dynamic conversations around routing. Summit applied for a permit to construct a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline in that state in February 2022. The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission denied the application about 19 months later in September, citing the routes conflicts with ordinances in four counties. Summit had asked the commission to overrule those ordinances but withdrew that request after the commission upheld the ordinances in regard to another pipeline proposal by Navigator CO2. That company has since suspended its negotiations for land easements in South Dakota and requested to suspend its permit process in Iowa. Both companies have sought permission to build multistate pipeline systems to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and other facilities. South Dakota is crucial for Summits proposal because it has eight of the 31 ethanol plants that would connect to Summits system and because it is a link between North Dakota and most of the remaining plants in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. The company plans to sequester the greenhouse gas underground in North Dakota. South Dakota law allows counties to adopt restrictions on the pipelines, but state regulators can overrule them if they are unreasonably restrictive. The state has four counties -- Brown, McPherson, Minnehaha and Spink -- that have adopted ordinances that require the pipelines to be certain distances from residences, livestock facilities, nursing homes and other buildings. But they also have exceptions to those restrictions in some cases if county officials and landowners approve of them. We issue conditional use permits for lots of things that people dont like, said Scott Anderson, director of planning and zoning for Minnehaha County. I dont think it was the intent of the county commission to set up an ordinance to block anything. It is a complicated situation with lots of people having strong emotions. Summit has begun discussions with Minnehaha and other counties to plot a new route. A company representative who spoke to county officials in Brown basically said, Were starting at ground zero, we have to look at it like we dont have a route, according to Scott Bader, planning and zoning director for Brown County. Tracey Millar, zoning administrator for Spink County, said the company is seeking the countys input on its route and has indicated it is moving the pipeline path farther away from people who oppose the project. A Spink ordinance precludes the pipeline from being built within a half mile of a property line of a residence, but it can be built closer if the owner signs a waiver. Its unclear when Summit might reapply for a South Dakota permit. We plan to refile our application once we have a path through the state, Zenor said. State law requires the Public Utilities Commission to make a decision about permit requests within a year of the application. Summits first permit request took longer because the company sought a deadline extension for submitting its evidence and updating its application. North Dakota approach Summit has renewed its request with North Dakota utility regulators to nullify the effects of two county ordinances that restrict the placement of its proposed carbon dioxide pipeline. The company recently filed the motion with the state Public Service Commission, which denied its permit request in August. At that time, the commission did not issue a ruling about the county ordinances because it was denying the permit for other reasons. The commission has since agreed to reconsider the companys permit request, and Summit wants a ruling on the ordinances before any further hearings are held for the reconsideration. This threshold issue will affect the evidence presented in the upcoming hearing by both (Summit) and intervenors, and thus a pre-hearing decision will save both the parties and the commission time and resources, wrote Lawrence Bender, an attorney for Summit. The company has argued that the Burleigh County and Emmons County ordinances are so restrictive that they prevent any possible pipeline route through them. It further points to part of state law that says: Except as provided in this section, a permit for the construction of a gas or liquid transmission facility within a designated corridor supersedes and preempts any local land use or zoning regulations. Opponents of the pipeline route argue that other elements of the law -- and the intent of legislators who adopted it -- give counties a right to restrict the siting of pipelines. They also say Summit is exaggerating the effects of the ordinances. Its unclear when state regulators will rule on Summits request. They have not yet scheduled a new hearing to reconsider the companys proposal, which is being modified to allay some of the concerns about the route. Iowa update An evidentiary hearing for Summits hazardous liquid pipeline permit request in Iowa began its seventh week last Tuesday with the Iowa Utilities Board. Landowners who have declined to give Summit land easements to build its pipeline -- and who are subject to eminent domain requests -- testified about their concerns about the project. That included safety threats posed by pipeline ruptures, damage to farmland, potential inability to get liability insurance and other concerns. Also on Tuesday, the IUB granted Navigators request to suspend its permit proceedings. The company wants to pause its process in Iowa until Illinois utility regulators decide whether to approve the project in that state, which is where Navigator plans to sequester carbon dioxide. The Sierra Club of Iowa resisted Navigators request to cancel a meeting this week to discuss the project. The IUB was poised to hold a scheduling conference to help determine a timeline for the remainder of the companys permit process. The Sierra Club argued the meeting should be used for a public update on the status of the project. The landowners impacted by Navigators project, the public, and for that matter, the board, deserve to know the facts surrounding the status of the Navigator project, wrote Wally Taylor, a Sierra Club attorney. There has been some indication that Navigator is dropping the portion of its proposed project in South Dakota, and even some portions of the project in northwest Iowa. But Navigator has been less than transparent about the situation. The IUB denied Taylors request for the meeting because it would not provide substantive information. PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 9: Mumbai-based BSE SME listed company Growington Ventures India Limited promoted by CA Vikram Bajaj is soon likely to migrate to the main board of BSE Ltd from the SME Platform of BSE. The company also received the shareholders' approval for the same. The company in the board meeting dated July 15 had approved the migration of listing/trading of equity shares of the company from the SME platform of BSE to the main board of BSE Ltd. The resolution was passed through a postal ballot by the shareholders. Also Read | Tata Punch EV To Launch in India Soon: From Expected Design To Specifications and Price, Heres Everything You Should Know. Growington Ventures Ltd is engaged in the business of supply chain from import of Fresh Fruits and distribution to corporate in hospitality and E-commerce company. The Company is professional managed with the vision to serves the fresh fruits in pan India market by sourcing of fruits from farms with tie up in Turkey, Vietnam, South Africa, Greece, Chile etc. Company's USP is to source the fresh fruits from farm with quality check with international standard packaging and quick logistic facility to deliver finest of quality fruits to valued customers. We have developed goodwill and brand for quality fruits. The Company has established a brand named as "GROWFAMIO" The company has recently approved the conversion of the remaining 1.58 lakh Convertible warrants into 1.58 lakh equity shares of face value of Rs. 10 each. Consequent to the conversion of warrants/allotment of equity Shares, no any warrants remain pending for. Pursuant to conversion, the Issued, Subscribed and Paid-up Equity Share Capital of the Company stands increased to Rs. 16.05 crore consisting of 1.60 crore fully paid-up Equity Shares of Rs. 10 each. For FY23, the company has reported multi-fold growth in the business. Sales for FY23 grew to Rs. 19.63 crore as compared to sales of Rs. 1.23 crore in FY22. Company earned net profit of Rs. 1.26 crore as compared to loss of Rs. 3 lakh in FY22. Company has performed well post covid and also declared bonus shares (24:100) in March 2023. Company has wide portfolio of fruits like Apple, Orange, Mandarin, Pear, Kiwi, Dragon Fruit, Avocado, Red Globe Grapes, Plum, Nectarines, Peaches, Cherries, Blueberries, Grape Fruit, Mangosteen, Ram Bhutan, Longan, Dates, Tamarind, Dates and so on. Considering the health awareness and life style of Indian public, demand for variety of imported fruits has increased such as avocado, blueberry & dragon fruits. Company has created a highly Competent, Strong Procurement & Distribution Support team within and outside the India. Considering the growth in business, management has plans for business expansion by having leased cold storage facility and setting up of Fruits & Spice processing unit near in MIDC, Navi Mumbai. It has plans for a FASSAI-approved spice processing unit with automatic grinding, separation and packing facility. Products will be Turmeric, Coriander, Cumin, Chili powder and other variety of Spices powder. Capital investment along with additional working capital will be approx Rs. 1000 Lacs. It has plans to have own E- Commerce portal for B 2 B and B 2 C along with own distribution network with cold chain to cater on national level. It has plans to become supply chain partner to cater company like Reliance, Big Basket, Godrej Fresh, More, Amazon and others for fruits, spices powder under own brand name. Company has tied up with Vietnam & Turkey based company to source fresh fruits on long term basis. It is also planning to do a long term business in Joint Venture with Company of Vietnam. It has developed the regular customers in India to provide regular supply in Wholesale Market, Retail Stores, Hotels, Chain of Restaurant and online distributors of fresh fruits. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Oil Prices Jump on Concerns Over Middle East Supply Disruptions. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) India's New Market for 'Green Credits': A Promising Initiative for Environmental Sustainability Insight by LIBF India PNN New Delhi [India], October 9: In 2023-2024 budget speech, the announcement of the inception of a transformative era, referred to as 'Amrit Kaal' or the golden age, set to span the next 25 years. A central pillar of this initiative is a dedicated push for green growth, manifesting in the form of a groundbreaking 'green credit programme' under the purview of the Environment (Protection) Act. The program aims to "incentivize environmentally sustainable and responsive actions by companies, individuals, and local bodies while mobilising additional resources for such activities." Also Read | Brucellosis Case in Kerala: Father and Son Test Positive for Bacterial Infection in Thiruvananthapuram. India, as the world's most populous country, has made significant strides in environmental consciousness, with initiatives like the "Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)" introduced at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021. This grassroots movement endeavours to promote environmentally conscious lifestyles, setting a target for at least 80 per cent of all Indian villages and urban areas to become "environment-friendly" by 2028. The 'green credit programme' represents a pivotal step forward in this environmental journey, uniquely incentivizing eco-friendly actions across a spectrum of stakeholders. Notably, this program extends beyond traditional carbon credits, assigning monetary value to a diverse range of pro-environment endeavours. Also Read | Indias Norms Against Dark Patterns May Hurt Ease Of Doing Business With Asia Internet Coalition Having Meta, Amazon, Twitter, Google and Others As Its Members. "Green Credit Programme is a significant leap towards a sustainable future, which broadens the scope of environmental incentives. Despite challenges, these innovative pursuits are imperative as we strive to align economic progress with the well-being of our planet." says Aastha Arora, Learning and Development Consultant at The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF) India. Key Program Features - Voluntary Participation: A standout feature of the green credit program is its voluntary nature, designed to foster demand for green credits. - Diverse Stakeholders: The program seeks to engage a wide array of participants, including individuals, cooperatives, private sector industries, farmer groups, forestry enterprises, and urban and rural local bodies, encouraging environmentally responsible choices. - Fungibility and Allocation: Allocation of green credits will consider factors such as resource requirements, scale, scope, and size, ensuring fungibility across all sectors. A technical committee may be established to develop methodologies for credit allocation, measurement, reporting, and verification. - Trading Platform: The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) will spearhead the design of a trading platform for green credits in collaboration with a steering committee comprising domain experts and representatives from concerned ministries and industry associations. An accredited trading service provider will oversee the operation of this platform. - Administration and Auditing: ICFRE will administer the green credit program, establishing transparent reporting mechanisms, including annual returns and progress reports submitted by certification agencies, green credit verifiers, and trading service providers. A government-appointed panel of auditors will periodically assess the program's integrity. - Digital Infrastructure: A robust digital infrastructure will underpin the program, facilitating registration, self-assessment of eligible activities, and performance monitoring. - Beyond Carbon Credits: Although the green credit program extends beyond carbon credits, it enables participants to accrue carbon credits in the carbon market, aligning economic activities with national climate goals. Accredited Activities The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) plans to implement the program in phases, initially focusing on two to three activities from identified sectors: 1. Air Pollution Reduction: Promoting measures to reduce air pollution and other pollution abatement activities. 2. Eco-mark: Encouraging manufacturers to obtain the "Eco-mark" label for their goods and services. 3. Mangrove Conservation and Restoration: Promoting measures for the conservation and restoration of mangroves. 4. Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting natural and regenerative agricultural practices, land restoration, and improved agricultural productivity. 5. Sustainable Building and Infrastructure: Encouraging sustainable construction using eco-friendly technologies and materials. 6. Tree Plantation: Promoting activities to increase the tree cover across the country through plantation and related efforts. 7. Waste Management: Promoting sustainable waste management practices, including collection, segregation, and treatment. 8. Water: Encouraging water conservation, harvesting, efficiency, and wastewater treatment and reuse. Thresholds and benchmarks will be established for each green credit activity to enable the generation and issuance of green credits. Challenges and Opportunities The global landscape is evolving with numerous ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reforms underway, and India's green credit program sets a commendable precedent by encompassing a wide spectrum of environmental and societal considerations. However, challenges lie ahead, including the assessment of the relative value of diverse green credits and the risk of greenwashing. Rigorous strategies for demand generation and the establishment of a credible trading platform are pivotal for the program's success. Scale and trust will be integral factors in its effectiveness. The interaction of the green credit system with existing carbon markets and sustainability reporting frameworks remains an intriguing aspect. Careful assessment and capacity building, informed by global best practices and critical feedback, will be imperative to ensure the program's resilience. As India embarks on this ambitious journey towards environmental sustainability, the 'green credit programme' stands as a beacon of innovation, offering a holistic approach that goes beyond carbon to encompass the broader well-being of society and the environment. For media inquiries and further information, please contact: info@zexprwire.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (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 9 (PTI) As five states go to polls, data compiled by a think tank showed that these state assemblies -- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram -- met for less than 30 days a year and the number of sittings have been going down over the years. The Rajasthan assembly met for 29 days in a year on an average and the Telangana assembly for 15 days, according to a report by PRS Legislative Research. Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: BJP Issues First List, Seven MPs Among 41 Candidates; Polling To Take Place on November 23. Between 2019 and 2023, average sittings of the assembly in Chhattisgarh was 23 days a year, with average sitting time being five hours. The Madhya Pradesh assembly had sittings for 16 days, around four hours a day on average, and the Mizoram assembly sat for 18 days, with each sitting being around five hours, it stated. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 52-Year-Old Farmer Commits Suicide Over Dispute With Wife in Kaushambi. The Election Commission on Monday announced the assembly poll schedule for these five states, to be held between November 7 and 30. Single-phase assembly polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30 and Mizoram on November 7, while Chhattisgarh will vote in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats). According to the PRS Legislative Research report, the Rajasthan assembly had the highest number of sittings among these five states - around 29 days per year, and each sitting was around seven hours long. In four of the five states for which long-term data is available, sittings have reduced over time, it stated. In their first 10 years, the Rajasthan assembly, on average, met for 59 days a year, while the MP assembly met for 48 days a year. In the last 10 years, the average annual sitting days have declined to 29 in Rajasthan and 21 in MP. Telangana had its highest sittings in 2017 37 days. However, in every year since then, it met for less than 20 days. Around 48 per cent of bills in these state assemblies were considered and passed on the same day or the day after introduction. Mizoram passed 57 bills during its current term, all on the same day or the day after introduction. Citing examples, the report stated that in 2020, the Chhattisgarh assembly passed 14 bills in a single six-hour sitting. In Madhya Pradesh, 13 bills were introduced and passed over two days in 2022, and both sittings together lasted for five hours. A large number of ordinances were also issued by these states. Between 2019 and 2023, Madhya Pradesh issued 39 ordinances, followed by Telangana (14) and Rajasthan (13). In MP, 11 ordinances were issued in 2020, when the assembly met for only six days. Of these, six lapsed without being replaced by bills. Ordinances issued increased to 14 in 2021, when the assembly met for 20 days. States issue ordinances when the assemblies are not in session. The report also stated that the Rajasthan assembly did not elect a deputy speaker through its term. Madhya Pradesh has not had a deputy speaker since March 2020 when there was a change in the government. The report also said 17 per cent of members in the Chhattisgarh assembly are women. This proportion is 13 per cent in Rajasthan and less than 10 per cent in Madhya Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, women MLAs had 93 per cent attendance, men had around 88 per cent; in Madhya Pradesh, women MLAs had 79 per cent attendance, and men had 81 per cent, while in Rajasthan, women MLAs had 77 per cent attendance on average and men had 82 per cent. In Rajasthan, the average participation of male and female members in debates is almost equal, it stated. (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 9 (ANI): BJP leaders on Sunday submitted a memorandum to Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra demanding strict action against the Ashok Gehlot-led government over increasing crimes against women in the state. Many senior leaders of BJP including Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, Dr Kirori Lal Meena, Rajsamand MP and State General Secretary Diya Kumari, BJP national spokesperson and MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP Ramcharan Bohra, National Secretary Dr Alka Singh Gurjar were present. Also Read | West Bengal: Man Dies by Suicide in Salt Lake After His Mother Goes Missing, Body Found Hanging From Fan at Home. 'Within the last 48 hours, incidents of women's atrocities and rape have taken place at 13 different places in Rajasthan. Every 48 hours, a case of women's harassment is coming to light in some corner of the state. A terrible incident has happened in Pipalkhunt of Pratapgarh district". Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said in an address to the media. "It is surprising that the Chief Minister, during whose rule Rajasthan is at the top in the country in terms of rape and crime against women, is pretending to be on Mission-2030 instead of maintaining the police. A memorandum in this regard was submitted to the Governor today", Senior BJP Leader Kirori Lal Meena posted on X. Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: 24-Year-Old Woman From Kaushambi Raped in Hotel After Being Given Sedatives; Accused Arrested Within 12 Hours. During an address in the monsoon session of parliament, Rajasthan BJP Spokesperson Rajyavardhan Rathore took potshots at the ruling Ashok Gehlot-led party over increasing cases of crime against women in Rajasthan. The BJP MP also lambasted the Congress for their selective silence on women's safety. During his recent visit to Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed deep regret over the five-year tenure of the Congress government in Rajasthan, citing a tarnished reputation for the state due to rising crime, anarchy, riots, stone pelting, and atrocities against women, Dalits, and backward classes. "The Congress government in Rajasthan has destroyed the state in the past 5 years. It pains me that the state tops in crime list... A maximum number of cases of crime against women are from Rajasthan... Is this why you voted for Congress?... Congress left no stone unturned in looting the state," he said. As per the NCRB (National Crime Record Bureau) data, Rajasthan stood second in crime against women in 2021. The state reported maximum rape cases in the year 2021. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sikar (Rajasthan) [India], October 9 (ANI): The last rites of slain soldier Sajjan Singh Khichad who died in the Sikkim cloudburst incident, were performed with military honours on Sunday at Rajasthan's Sikar. Visuals from the spot showed that a huge crowd had assembled at his residence when he was laid to rest. The army officer presented the Indian flag to the mother of the deceased. Also Read | Cauvery Water-Sharing Dispute: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin To Move Resolution in Assembly Asking Centre To Direct Karnataka To Release Cauvery Water. "I had last spoken to him on video call. He said that he will have his meal and sleep," the deceased soldier's son said to ANI on the last time he spoke to his father. Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha MP Sumedhanand Saraswati offered his condolences to the family of the deceased. Also Read | Sensex Slumps 407.19 Points, Nifty Down By 142.70 Points in Early Trade Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict. "Our soldiers protect our borders and during any disaster, they come forward. It is sad that some soldiers died in the disaster. Being a representative from this parliamentary constituency, I pay respect to his departed soul. I pray to god to give strength to his family to overcome this loss. We promise to help them in future," the Sikar Lok Sabha MP said. The Indian Army on Saturday said that search and rescue efforts are underway to locate and rescue the remaining 14 missing soldiers and other civilians in recent Sikkim flash floods. The Army in a statement said that Army Chief General Manoj Pande and all ranks of the Indian Army express heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of eight Indian Army soldiers in the unfortunate incident of flash floods arising out of a glacial lake burst in Sikkim. "We stand firm with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. COAS and all ranks Indian Army also expressed grief at the loss of civilian lives in this tragic incident,' it said. "Concerted search and rescue efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining 14 missing soldiers and other civilians," the release further 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) Jalandhar, October 9: A devastating fire incident in Avtar Nagar, Gali No. 12, Jalandhar, has resulted in the loss of five lives, all members of the Ghai family. The incident occurred on Sunday night and is believed to have been caused by a gas cylinder leak within the house. Around 9:30 at night, as residents of the house went to the terrace after their evening meal, they noticed smoke billowing from within their home. Investigating Officer Hardev Singh provided further insights into the tragedy, explaining that the fire's origin could be traced back to a refrigerator explosion. Maharashtra Cylinder Blast Video: Fire Breaks Out in Pimpri Chinchwad Following Multiple LPG Cylinder Explosion. Singh said, "The blast has happened in the fridge. As a result, gases were produced and caught fire. The gases were inhaled by the people. Five people have died." The blast resulted in the release of gases, which subsequently ignited, causing the fire. Tragically, the inhaling of these gases proved fatal for the five family members. Quick-thinking bystanders promptly alerted both the local police and the fire department. Despite the swift response, the blaze had already claimed five lives. The victims have been identified as Yashpal Singh, his daughter-in-law Ruchi, granddaughter Diya, as well as Mansha and grandson Akshay. According to Akshay Kumar, a resident of Avtar Nagar, the incident occurred due to a gas leak from a cylinder stored in the kitchen of the family home. He recounted that the residents were unaware of the fire until they noticed the smoke emanating from their house. It was only then that the authorities were alerted to the dire situation. Pune Fire Video: Massive Blaze Erupts After Gas Cylinder Blast in Pimpri Chinchwad's Tathwade Area, Some Buses Damaged. The incident has cast a pall of grief over the Avtar Nagar neighbourhood and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures when handling gas cylinders and appliances. (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 9 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday directed all State Information Commissions (SICs) to provide litigants with hybrid mode as well as to hear complaints and appeals under the Right to Information Act, 2005 (RTI Act). A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra directed SICs across the country to ensure that e-filing of complaints and appeals is provided to all litigants. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Factory Blast: Two Killed, Eight Injured in Firecracker Explosion in Ariyalur (Watch Video). The bench said the use of technology is no longer an option. It observed that access to justice is a part of the fundamental right under Article 21 and a necessary concomitant to freedom of speech. "All State and Central Ministries shall take steps within a period of one month to compile the e-mail addresses of the Central and State PIOs which shall be furnished to all the SICs and the CIC. For implementation of this order, DoPT shall convene a meeting of all State and Central Information Commissioners to prepare a timeline to adhere to the above directive. State to provide funds wherever required," the bench ordered. Also Read | Telangana Assembly Election 2023: Jobs, TSPSC Paper Leak, BRS Government Performance Likely to Take Centre Stage in Upcoming Polls. The top court passed the order while hearing a plea seeking directions for better functioning of SICs. The petition said SICs should hear complaints as well as appeals by giving an option of both physical as well as virtual hearing through digital platforms. The bench disposed of the plea as it ordered all SICs to ensure hybrid hearings and electronic filing of cases are implemented. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) In a 1970 issue of the student newspaper at Niles West High School in suburban Chicago, senior Merrick Garland, the class valedictorian, offered the following advice to younger students: Be sure to be a monitor and get in control of the (mimeograph) room, he wrote, because the person who controls the mimeo room controls the school. Well, not quite. But considering how Garland has ended up as the nations attorney general during some of the biggest legal firestorms since Watergate, it is just as well he learned a few things at an early age about the power of the press. And the White House. Garlands Justice Department is prosecuting both former President Donald Trump and the son of President Joe Biden. Four criminal indictments with a total of 91 felony charges have been filed against Trump this year two on state charges in New York and Georgia and two on federal charges. Separately, Biden is the subject of a special counsel investigation into whether he improperly held classified documents following his time as vice president, though the charges pale in comparison to Trumps. His son, Hunter Biden, is the target of a four-year investigation into the younger Bidens business deals and taxes. Hes been indicted on the accusation he lied about his drug abuse when he sought to buy a gun. Now Republicans accuse special counsel David Weiss of slow-walking the Hunter Biden investigation. In a rare for him sit-down interview on CBS 60 Minutes," Garland denied that allegation, among other suspicions of partisanship or favoritism. Garland said he would resign if asked by Biden to take action against Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner. I am sure that that will not happen, but I would not do anything in that regard, he said. And if necessary, I would resign. Thats serving notice on any overenthusiastic White House partisans. The Trump and Biden investigations are being handled independently by special prosecutors, Garland also pointed out. In accordance with long-standing DOJ policy, Garland declined to discuss the particulars of the cases, except to declare, We have only one rule: Follow the facts and the law, and we reach the decisions required by the Constitution, and we protect civil liberties. In other words, he pledged he would do his job without fear of, or favor to, either side of the aisle. Good for him. Still, Garlands reassuring pronouncements are especially impressive because if anyone has reason to be cynical about Washington politics, it is him. Garlands nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court was stalled by Republicans for a breathtaking 10 months until Trump was sworn in. ... Garland has shown he's a sober, decent, evenhanded, nonideological law enforcer that the American people so badly need as we face down elections and depressing trials aplenty. Agartala (Tripura) [India], October 9 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday said that teachers have a major responsibility in guiding the students in the right direction in the spirit of nationalism. The Chief Minister said this while attending the inaugural session of Tripura Rajya Mahavidyalaya Shaikshik Sangh's Annual General Meeting 2023 at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Auditorium, Tripura University. Also Read | Dalai Lama Not Admitted to Hospital, Say AIIMS Delhi Officials Amid Talks of His Medical Checkup. "Educational institutions are sacred places. Here, children are taught to become true human beings. So, the state government will not tolerate chaos in educational institutions. In this case, teachers also have important duties to perform," Saha said. "Due to the strong efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is progressing in every field, including the education sector. At the recently held G-20 summit in India, the Prime Minister strongly expressed the desire to make India a global leader. For this reason, special importance has been given to the expansion of quality education," Saha added. Also Read | Balasore Train Accident: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Likely to Dispose of 28 Unclaimed Bodies on October 10. On the occasion, the Chief Minister also stated that the state government is working diligently towards the expansion of quality education in alignment with the central government. "But at one time, extreme anarchy was created in educational institutions in the name of movements in the state. At present, a healthy environment has been established in all educational institutions in the state," added Saha. During the event, Dr. Gangaprasad Prasain, Vice-Chancellor of Tripura Central University, General Secretary of Tripura Rajya Mahavidyalaya Shaikshik Sangh, Tirtharam Reang, and Organising Secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Sangh, Mahendra Kapoor, also spoke on the occasion. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Etawah (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 9 (ANI): Two minor sisters were found murdered in Etawah district's Bahadurpur village in the Balarai police station area, an official said on Sunday. The two girls were identified as Shilpi (7) and Roshni (5), police said. Also Read | Dalai Lama Not Admitted to Hospital, Say AIIMS Delhi Officials Amid Talks of His Medical Checkup. A heavy police force has been deployed in the village after the incident, and the police are investigating the matter, they said. The incident took place on Sunday evening, when Jaiveer, the father of the deceased, who has three daughters and four sons, left with his sons to work in the fields. Anjli (18), Shilpi (7), and Roshni (5) were alone at home. Around 5:30 pm, Anjli left the younger sisters at home and went to the field to put a bundle of fodder. When she came back after about 10 minutes, the sisters were not seen. When she went inside the room, she saw the bodies of both her sisters lying in a pool of blood with their throats slit, the police said. Also Read | Balasore Train Accident: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Likely to Dispose of 28 Unclaimed Bodies on October 10. The police are investigating the cause of the murders, but it is too early to say whether they were committed by someone known to the family or by a stranger, the police 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) New Delhi [India], October 9 (ANI): Yoga guru Swami Ramdev has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking protection from criminal FIRs filed against him across various states regarding his comments on the efficacy of allopathy in treating the COVID-19 pandemic. A bench comprising Justices AS Bopanna and MM Sundresh issued notices to the Central government and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in response to Ramdev's plea. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2023: All Eyes on These 29 Key Assembly Constituencies in MP Vidhan Sabha Polls. In his petition, Swami Ramdev has requested the consolidation of FIRs and the transfer of these cases to Delhi. Additionally, the plea seeks a halt to the proceedings in multiple cases against Ramdev and protection from coercive actions related to FIRs filed by the IMA's Patna and Raipur branches. Also Read | Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023: From Patan to Raipur City South, List of 13 Key Constituencies to Watch Out for. The aim is to have these FIRs transferred to Delhi for further examination. Ramdev's counsel argued that he is a public figure and expressed his viewpoint at a private event, asserting that Ayurveda is superior to allopathy. The council emphasized that Ramdev has nothing against doctors and has the right to express his opinion regarding the effectiveness of various medical approaches, be it allopathy, homoeopathy, or Ayurveda. The FIRs against Swami Ramdev have been filed under various sections, including Section 188 (disobedience to a public servant's order), Section 269 (negligent acts likely to spread dangerous diseases), and Section 504 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of the peace), among others, of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The controversy erupted in 2021 when a video surfaced in which Ramdev allegedly disparaged allopathy, claiming that medicines such as Remdesivir and Fabiflu, approved by the Drugs Controller General of India, had failed to treat COVID-19 patients. His comments sparked outrage, and the IMA subsequently issued a legal notice to him. In response to the legal notice, an FIR was registered against Ramdev in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, based on a complaint filed by the local IMA unit. The complaint alleged that Ramdev had propagated false information and made threatening statements on social media regarding medicines used by the medical community, the Government of India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and other frontline organizations in the treatment of COVID-19. The complaint highlighted several social media videos in which Ramdev had allegedly made misleading statements about these medicines. (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 9 (PTI) Exporter status certificate will now be issued based on the available electronic data, and traders will not have to apply to get the recognition, the commerce ministry said on Monday. These certificates provide certain privileges, including simplified procedures under foreign trade policy (FTP) and priority custom clearances on a self-declaration basis, exemption from compulsory negotiation of documents through banks, and exemption from filing bank guarantees for FTP schemes. Also Read | Indian Air Force Day 2023 Date, History and Significance: Everything To Know About the Day That Celebrates the Formation of the IAF. Upon achieving prescribed export performance, status recognition as one, two, three, four and five-star export houses is accorded to the eligible applicants as per their export performance. The new system-based automatic 'Status Holder' certificates under the FTP 2023 were unveiled in a meeting of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal with the Export Promotion Councils here. Also Read | HPPSC Recruitment 2023: Vacancies Notified for 56 Veterinary Officer Posts, Apply Online at hppsc.hp.gov.in. "Now, the exporter will not be required to apply to the office of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for a Status Certificate and the export recognition will be provided by the IT system based on available Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) merchandise export electronic data and other risk parameters," it said. The move, it said will help in reducing compliance burden and promote ease of doing business. At present, the exporter is required to file an online application along with an export certificate from a chartered accountant for a grant of status. The DGFT Regional Offices are supposed to issue the certificate in three days. The ministry said that the new arrangement will lead to a simplified regime where no applications are invited from exporters and the certification is granted every year in August based on annual export figures available with the partner government agency - DGCIS. Exporters who are eligible for a higher status based on additional export data relating to services export, deemed exports or double weightage to some entities like MSME, which is not getting captured in disaggregated form presently, can apply online for a status modification also at a later date. With the launch of this new system, the ministry will be recognising about 20,000 exporters under FTP as Status Holders, which will be a quantum jump from the earlier number of 12,518 exporters. The biggest increase in status certification is seen in the 1 Star category, which is the lowest category and requires an export performance of at least USD 3 million in the last three preceding financial years plus the three months of the current financial year. "This will enable the government to handhold a larger number of small exporting entities and create a vibrant export ecosystem and help reach our export target of USD 2 trillion by 2030," it said. Commenting on this, the Federation of Indian Export Organisation said that now the certificate will be issued without any application and documents based on the details of shipment and e-BRC (bank realisation certificate) from banks online. "This is a major step toward reducing transaction cost and time and a further step in automation. Over 15,000 exporters will be benefitted from this facility which will get 1 Star to 5 Star recognition on a real-time basis," the organisation said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mangaluru, Oct 9 (PTI) The Customs officials at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) have seized gold worth Rs 20 lakh that was being smuggled in kheer mix packets from a passenger who arrived from Dubai. The confiscated gold weighs 347 gm and is of 24 carat purity, valued at Rs 20 lakh, a Customs release said here on Monday. Also Read | Indian Air Force Day 2023 Date, History and Significance: Everything To Know About the Day That Celebrates the Formation of the IAF. The passenger arrived on an Air India Express flight from Dubai on Friday. In his check-in baggage, there were five packets of kheer mix of the Kitchen Treasures' brand. On suspicion, the officials opened the packets and found the gold hidden in them. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, October 9: Ten Nepali nationals have been killed and four others injured in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks in the country's southern region, Nepal's foreign ministry said on Monday. Hamas carried out a barrage of airstrikes in Southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. In a press statement, the foreign ministry here said 10 Nepali nationals lost their lives in the recent attack by Hamas in Israel. Out of the 17 Nepali nationals working on a farm at Kibbutz Alumim, two safely escaped, four were injured and one is still missing, it said. Israel-Palestine War: 10 Nepali Students Killed in Hamas Attack in Israel, Say Nepali Embassy Officials. "We have received the information of the sad demise of ten Nepali nationals from the site, where the Hamas had launched an attack, Nepal's embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement. We are trying to identify those killed in the incident. Efforts are being made to search for one missing Nepalese national. The bodies will be brought back to Nepal soon after the identification is completed. the embassy said. Israel-Palestine War: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Visits Airforce Control Centre During Air Strike on Gaza. The Nepal government has also requested the Israeli government that necessary arrangements be provided to the injured people, who are undergoing treatment. The ministry said it was collaborating with the Israeli government and the embassy in Tel Aviv to bring back those nationals who want to return home. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jerusalem, October 9: Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a "complete siege" of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, two days after shock attacks by the militant group killed more than 700 Israeli civilians. Gallant is currently conducting an operational assessment at IDF (Israel Defence Forces) Southern Command, together with the Head of Southern Command Maj.-Gen. Yaron Finkelman. "I have given an order - Gaza will be under complete siege. There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza]. We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly," Gallant was quoted in a statement as saying. Gaza depends on Israel largely for its basic supplies and such a decision will have far-reaching consequences for 2.3 million people living in the densely populated area. Israel-Palestine War: Tensions Running High in West Bank As Israeli Army Imposes Complete Closure. 'No Food, No Water, No Electricity and Fuel' The #Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said "we are fighting human animals", referring to Palestinians, and vowed to "act accordingly". He announced a "complete siege" of the #Gaza Strip, saying there will be "no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed" pic.twitter.com/SFY7DcxkWc Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 9, 2023 'No Food, No Water' While Hamas activists looked celebrating on the street of the coastal territory on Saturday, wary commoners were seen looking to stock up basic needs speculating about the imminent harsh attack. The streets of Gaza for the last two days have looked completely deserted, much like most Israeli towns in the south. The "complete siege" of the coastal Strip comes amid unabated air strikes being carried out by Israel in which some 500 Palestinians are said to have been killed. The spokesperson for Hamas's Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, going by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida, claimed that Israel's bombing in the Gaza Strip has killed four Israeli hostages. More than 100 Israelis, old, young and children have been taken captive by Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the attack which started on Saturday. "The occupation's bombing tonight and today on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of four enemy prisoners and the martyrdom of their captors, the Qassam Mujahideen, Abu Obeida said in a statement on his Telegram channel. Israel-Palestine War: Rocket From Gaza Hits and Damages Vicinity of Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel, Video Surfaces. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 700 people, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel -- the deadliest war for the country in at least 50 years. Israel's Minister of Defence has been issuing stern warnings of a protracted fight since Saturday. "Today we saw the face of evil. The Hamas [terrorist organization] has launched a brutal attack against the citizens of the State of Israel - attacking men, women, children and the elderly, indiscriminately. Hamas will understand very quickly that it has made a mistake - a grave mistake, and will pay a [heavy] price", he said soon after the brutal attacks. "Fifteen years ago, as Head of the Southern Command, I came close to 'breaking the neck' of [destroying] Hamas. I was stopped by the political echelon. This phenomenon will not continue. We will change reality on the ground in Gaza for the next 50 years. What was before, will be no more. We will operate at full force", Gallant asserted. After more than 50 hours of firefight, the Israeli army claimed that it has regained control of all Gaza border towns, but said that some militants who infiltrated may be remaining around. Israel has imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. (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 9 (ANI): Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday said that India and Tanzania are growing in terms of trade and investment "The numbers are satisfying," further noting that India is the third largest trading partner in Tanzania. While addressing the media after the exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Tanzania, she said, "On trade and investment, the numbers are satisfying. We are growing. In investment Indian investors in Tanzania, the number is growing. The value of the projects is growing as well. On trade volumes, the numbers are growing. As we're speaking up to 2022, our figures were USD 3.1 billion. So this makes India the third largest trading partner in Tanzania and the fifth largest investor in our country." Also Read | Israel-Palestine Conflict: Israeli Defense Forces Regain Control of All Communities Around Gaza Strip, Says IDF. She further added that through this visit, both countries have managed to open more avenues of cooperation for economic development as well as political development. "To us, Tanzania India is like an extended family member which is just a cost away. There's a story that before Gandhi's return to India he made a stop to Zanzibar on his way to South Africa. This and many more other tells signifies the historical brotherly ties and brotherly ties and friendship that span a century," she said. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Oil Prices Jump on Concerns Over Middle East Supply Disruptions. Tanzanian President further lauded PM Modi for successfully hosting the G20 Summit. "My visit is occurring just a few weeks after the G 20 summit...I wish to commend honourable Modi and the government of the Republic of India for the successful hosting of the G 20 summit," she said. This visit is to reaffirm the commitment by Tanzania to enhance and deepen the historic friendship and bilateral cooperation that has existed over decades. "It is also an opportunity for us to express our sense of gratitude for the invaluable support rendered by the government and the people of India to our socio-economic endeavours. Over decades we have been working together in the development of various sectors, as they have been mentioned by His Excellency," Hassan said. The Tanzanian president also expressed gratitude for the opening of the IIT Madras campus in Tanzania. "The decision by the Indian Institute of Technologies to establish the first-ever overseas campus in our country is an honour and a privilege to us," she said. We have been working in the supply of clean and safe water as well as defence and security. Also, issues of our concern have been adequately worked out. She further noted that Tanzania will be fully participating in the India-Africa Summit. "We are aware of the coming India-Africa Summit and Tanzania has pledged that we'll be participating fully in this summit and we are ready to play the role that will be required to play to make the summit successful," she added. Concluding her statement, Hassan stressed that Tanzania wishes to retreat further the commitment to closely work with India, "innovating our bilateral cooperation to a strategic partnership that will advance our development agenda to greater hates." Tanzanian President who is in India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. President Hassan was earlier today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Earlier in the day, Samia Suluhu Hassan appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit would open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. (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, Oct 9 (PTI) Noted Indian Americans, including two Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, have rallied behind Israel following unprecedented attacks on it by the Hamas militant group that has left hundreds dead. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks in southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. Also Read | US Shocker: Woman Undergoing IVF Mistakenly Given Abortion Pills by CVS Pharmacy, Loses Two Unborn Babies. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple airstrikes targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. Hamas and the backers who support them, the Iranian regime, were chanting 'Death to Israel, death to America.' That's what we have to remember. We are united with Israel because Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Iranian backers hate us," Republican presidential candidate Haley told NBC News on Sunday. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Israel Air Force Destroys Headquarters Linked With Senior Hamas Naval Force Muhammad Kashta. "We have to remember that what happened to Israel could happen here in America. And I hope that we all unite and stand with Israel because they really need us right now, she said. In a post on X, Haley told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finish them (Hamas). Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It ia a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Haley said she had introduced a resolution denouncing Hamas when she was the US ambassador to the UN. America was the only member of the Security Council to vote for it. This is what Israel is up against a world that denies the evil in front of them. We did not bow to world pressure thenwe won't now, she said. Other Indian American Republican candidate Ramaswamy said the key lesson for America to learn from the attack on Israel was that it cannot be complacent about defending its own borders. "If it can happen there, it can happen here. Our own border is near-completely porous right now. The Southern Border is a disaster and I visited the Northern Border yesterday which is wide open for invasion. Hamas picked a moment when Israel is deeply divided over domestic politics, as we are now here at home, he said. Our own foreign policy establishment has focused on distant foreign priorities while leaving us badly vulnerable on border defence, cyber and super-EMP defence, nuclear missile defence, and space-based defences. We can't lose sight of that and should use the attacks on Israel as a wake-up call here at home, Ramaswamy said on Sunday. Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) posted on social media platform X on Sunday: I stand with Israel with the flag of India in the backdrop. Bharat Barai, Indian Indian-American community leader, said Hamas and Hezbollah are the most barbaric terrorist organisations in the world. Israel has every right to destroy this brutal terrorist outfit for attacking Israel, murdering, abducting, raping and torturing innocent Israeli citizens. The entire civilised world must condemn Hamas and other similar barbarians, he said. The terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel are absolutely "horrific", said community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria. I stand with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself. My prayers are with the dead, reported hostages, and hundreds injured and all affected by these horrific attacks. I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks 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 innocent life must be protected on both sides including in Palestine, Bhutoria said. Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the United States unequivocally stands with the people of Israel against this "gruesome" terror attack and strongly supports its right to defend itself. Sunday's war crimes carried out by Hamas against Israeli women and children were inhuman and appalling, said Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna. My heart breaks for the victims, and I stand in solidarity with the people of Israel at this dark moment, he said. Strongly condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas, Indian American Congressman Dr Ami Bera said that it is more important than ever that the United States stands with Israel and its right to defend its sovereignty. America stands firmly with Israel, said Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar, adding that Congress must rally behind Israel until this threat is addressed and security is restored. (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, October 9: Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan the deadly attack on Israel in which the death toll has risen to thousands the Wall Street Journal reported. According to senior members of terrorist groups Hamaz and Hezbollah, Iran gave approval for the assault at a meeting held in Beirut last Monday, according to the WSJ report that was cited by the Israel Foreign Ministry statement on X app. According to them, officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursions, marking the most significant breach of Israel's borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Details regarding the operation were refined during several meetings that were held in Beirut. IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah attended these meetings, according to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal. Israel-Palestine War: Kerala Woman Working As Caregiver in Israel Injured in Rocket Attack. The attack was planned to coincide with Israel's internal political turmoil surrounding Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. In addition, the attack was planned to disrupt the rapidly progressing US-brokered negotiations aimed at normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a development considered as a threat by Iran, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, Wall Street Journal reported. A European official and an adviser to the Syrian government gave the same account of Israel's involvement in the lead-up to the attack on Israel, the US daily reported. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated 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. In an interview with ABC News, Blinken 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." Blinken 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." Meanwhile, in the statement shared on X, Israel Foreign Ministry said, "According to the Wall Street Journal Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas's Saturday surprise attack on Israel Iran gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group. Officers of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursions--the most significant breach of Israel's borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur War--those people said." It further said, "Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended by IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon, they said. In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack. In another post, the Israel Foreign Ministry said, "A European official and an adviser to the Syrian government, however, gave the same account of Iran's involvement in the lead-up to the attack as the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members. Asked about the meetings, Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, said the group planned the attacks on its own." It added, "This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision," he said. The IRGC's broader plan is to create a multi-front threat that can strangle Israel from all sides--Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the north and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank, according to the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members and an Iranian official. Israel-Palestine War: At Least 12 Thai Nationals Killed, 11 Others Held Hostage During Hamas-Israel Conflict. At least 700 Israelis are confirmed dead, and Saturday's assault has punctured the country's aura of invincibility and left Israelis questioning how their vaunted security forces could let this happen." Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday vowed to turn all known hideouts of the terrorist outfit into "rubble". He warned all Gaza residents to leave, adding that the country would immediately use all its strength to destroy Hamas's capabilities. Netanyahu said the 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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week. Down It was a week of tragedy in Mandan, in particular for the school system. Republican state Sen. Doug Larsen, his wife, Amy, and sons Christian, 11, and Everett, 8, died in a plane crash in Utah returning home from a family trip to Arizona. The next day, 12-year-old Max Schaf died in an apparent bicycle incident at the Mandan Skate Park. Mandan is North Dakota's eighth-largest city, with nearly 25,000 people, but it still has kind of a small town atmosphere. And back-to-back tragic incidents like the community experienced resonate with everyone. Mandan Public Schools has made additional counseling services and support available to students and staff. The district also has developed a symbol with the Mandan Braves logo inside a series of hearts. Max Schaf's funeral was Saturday, and the Larsen family will be laid to rest on Tuesday. Up There's no truer service to one's country than putting your life on the line to defend it. Those who do deserve the ultimate gratitude from the rest of us. The Western North Dakota Honor Flight helps honor veterans and the families of veterans through an all-expenses-paid trip to the nations capital to tour war memorials. There were more than 100 people who took part in the nonprofit's third flight last week. For many veterans it's a chance to grieve, a chance to heal, or both. The community also showed its support by packing the Bismarck Airport for a welcome-home party. That's a true showing of respect and patriotism. Down Urban Harvest has been a fixture in downtown Bismarck in the summer, but it's no more. The nonprofit that has run the popular market featuring vendors, musicians and community organizations has disbanded after nearly 20 years. Vendor Coordinator Stacy Sturm says there were a few reasons. There was competition for vendors from other area events, which in turn led to financial problems. And Sturm says it was hard to find enough volunteers. The shutdown of the market that began in 2005 is disappointing given that the event remained popular, with up to 2,000 people attending each week. And it's one less event to support the local economy. Up The Bismarck Police Department has launched the use of body-worn cameras. Police Chief Dave Draovitch says it will boost transparency, and he's right. There have been instances in the recent past in which bodycam video might have provided better perspective on events. Draovitch says bodycams protect members of the public and officers as well, in cases of frivolous complaints. It's a win all around, and well worth the $1.2 million the city has invested in the technology over the next five years. New Delhi [India], October 9 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan on Sunday extended wishes for the grand opening of the US' largest hand-carved Hindu temple, Akshardham in New Jersey. In a congratulatory message, he wrote on X, "Congratulations on the grand opening of #Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey! This moment is a source of great pride for India, symbolizing collective dedication and unity. I extend my warmest congratulations to everyone involved. Akshardham's creation is a testament to the visionary guidance of revered Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj". Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Israel Air Force Destroys Headquarters Linked With Senior Hamas Naval Force Muhammad Kashta. The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 and is set to be inaugurated by Mahant Swami Maharaj, and dignitaries on October 8, 2023. Minister of State for I&B, DL Murugan also extended wishes for the opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Jersey. Also Read | Hardeep Singh Nijjar Killing: Independent Blogger Jennifer Zeng Alleges China Hand in Khalistani Leaders Murder in Canada After Justina Trudeau Blamed India (Watch Video). "Congratulations on the grand opening of Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey! This is a moment of immense pride for us Hindus, marking another instance of Indian excellence on the global stage. The fruition of this project, which demanded 12 years of tireless dedication from over 12,500 volunteers across North America, is a testament to our collective strength. Spread across 185 acres, Akshardham stands as the largest Hindu temple on American soil, adorned with symbols of Sanatan Dharma. Our hearts swell with pride. We extend our warmest congratulations to all. This achievement elevates the reputation of Indians worldwide, a testament to the visionary guidance of Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj", he wrote on X. The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 with the help of 12,500 volunteers across North America. The temple is known as BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. After 12 years of relentless effort of the volunteers, the large temple covering 183 acres of land will be open to the public from Monday. The stone Mahamandir, set to become the centerpiece of the Akshardham campus, is a marvel of craftsmanship and devotion, blending intricate artistry with spiritual significance. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], October 9 (ANI): After at least 10 students from Nepal were killed in the ongoing attack by Hamas terrorists in Israel, the Nepal government has called on its citizens residing in Israel to register themselves online as it plans to repatriate them. The Israeli Police confirmed the deaths of the 10 Nepal students. The toll is expected to go up as some of the injured are in serious condition and there are others who are yet to be contacted. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Kerala Woman Working As Caregiver in Israel Injured in Rocket Attack. The Embassy of Nepal issued a notice, calling on distressed Nepal citizens to register themselves as operations at the Tel Aviv-based airport are proceeding without disruption enabling passage of flights, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a late-night release issued on Sunday stated, "We have requested the Israeli government to promptly identify and arrange for repatriation of the deceased Nepal nationals, as well as to ensure the rescue and appropriate medical treatment for the injured." Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Over 1,100 Dead As Conflict Escalates; Israeli Warplanes Keep Bombing Targets in Gaza (Watch Videos). To make the process smoother, online registration is being prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nepal Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israel government. "This registration will collect crucial details from Nepali citizens wishing to return to Nepal from Israel," the statement added. "As the fighting enters the third day, about 10 Nepali students has been confirmed killed who were in Israel under the "Learn and Earn" program supported by Israeli government. The deceased- students from Sudur Paschim University of Nepal fell victim to an attack by the Palestinian militant group- Hamas," according to the official statement. According to Israeli local media cited by the Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since October 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack in Israel. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack. According to the Government Press Office, a body that operates under the Israeli PM's office, over 100 people have been taken as hostages in Gaza. On Sunday, Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud while addressing the house session announced the formation of a mechanism to coordinate and rescue the distressed citizens from Israel. "The mechanism formed under the supervision of the Foreign Minister has been assigned to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and rescue of Nepali citizens in Israel," the statement noted. To further extend help, the ministry also released contact details for officials from the Nepal Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "urging affected individuals to remain in contact with them and maintain vigilance during this challenging period." The Israeli citizens can contact them on +972(0)35168085, or the Ambassador Kanta Rizal at +972545864423, or First Secretary Arjun Ghimire at +972528289300. They can also email them to "nepal.embassy@012.net.il". Earlier, In a post shared on X, NP Saud said, "The latest update on the 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." Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has condemned the unprecedented attack by Hamas terrorists while extending his sympathies to the injured Nepalese citizens in Israel.. 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." 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. (ANI) (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, October 8: 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." Israel-Palestine War: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Visits Airforce Control Centre During Air Strike on Gaza. 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. Israel-Palestine War: Intense Fighting in Gaza Area, Focus on Helping Israel Recover Territory Taken by Hamas, Says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. 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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Oct 9 (PTI) Indian-American Republican politician Nikki Haley has raised USD 11 million in the third quarter, bringing her total fundraising for her US presidential campaign to USD 26 million, her campaign said on Monday. Releasing the latest fundraising figures, the Haley campaign known as "Nikki Haley for President" said that the amount raised in the third quarter was higher than the previous two quarters. Also Read | UFO Spotted in UK: People, Three Pilots Reported Seeing Bizarre Objects in Essex, Here's What Happened. "This is a sign of her growing momentum. USD 11 million, her campaign said, outpaces Haley's impressive first and second quarter hauls, and brings her total fundraising to USD 26 million from more than 100,000 donors since she launched her campaign," her campaign said. The 51-year-old former two-term governor of South Carolina and former US Ambassador to the United Nations has seen an increase in her nationwide support after her impressive performance at the second Republican presidential debate last month. Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: Heavy Rocket Fire ono Central, Suthern Israel (Watch Video). Haley's campaign will report USD 11.6 million cash on hand USD 9.1 million of which can be spent in the primary ahead of the presidential election in November 2024. Haley has seen an explosion in donor interest, with nearly 40,000 new donors in the third quarter alone, the media release said. We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum, said Haley's spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas. Nikki is emerging as the candidate who can move America beyond the chaos and drama of the past and present, and we have the resources we need to do it, the spokesperson said. However, she is well behind former president Donald Trump who is the leading Republican presidential candidate. He raised more than USD 45.5 million in the third quarter, with over USD 37.5 million cash on hand. In an impressive testament to the overwhelming grassroots support behind President Trump that will lead to dominating victories, close to USD 36 million of the total cash on hand is designated for the primary, the Trump campaign said in a statement. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad/Lahore, Oct 9 (PTI) Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan and his close aide Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be indicted in the cipher case on October 17, a special court here announced as hearing in the case officially began on Monday. Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain presided over the hearing at the high-security Adiala jail. Both Khan and Qureshi were present and they were provided with the copies of the charge sheet. Also Read | Scorpion Kills Girl in Brazil: Toddler Suffers Cardiac Arrest, Dies After Scorpion Bites Her in Sleep in Ribas do Rio Pardo. Prosecutor Zulfiqar Abbas Naqvi, Khan's counsel Salman Safdar and Qureshi's daughter and son were also present at the hearing at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. Khan, 71, was arrested in August after a case was filed against him for allegedly violating the Official Secrets Act by disclosing a secret diplomatic cable (cipher) sent by the country's embassy in Washington in March last year. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: Tensions Running High in West Bank As Israeli Army Imposes Complete Closure. During Monday's hearing, copies of the charge sheet were distributed among the lawyers of Khan and former foreign minister Qureshi. The PTI chief's lawyers also met him briefly in the prison van. Prosecutor Naqvi informed the court that all the necessary copies had been provided to the court. After hearing the arguments by the lawyers, the court decided that both leaders would be indicted during the next hearing on October 17, which would mark the official start of the trial. Khan had already challenged in the Islamabad High Court the trial inside the Adiala jail where he was shifted on September 26 from the Attock jail. Previously, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had claimed that Khan was guilty of breaching the Official Secrets Act of 1923 and deserved to be punished as per the law. The charge sheet submitted by the FIA to a special court also accused Khan's key ally Qureshi of facilitating the former prime minister. The cipher case concerns a diplomatic cable, which reportedly went missing from Khan's possession. Khan had repeatedly said before and after the no-confidence motion against him last year that the cipher pointed to a conspiracy to remove him from the prime minister's office. Khan was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022. He was incarcerated on August 5 this year, after an Islamabad court sentenced him to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was lodged in the Attock District Jail to serve his prison term. Later, his sentence was suspended by the Islamabad High Court, but then he was arrested in the cipher case and remained in the Attock jail on judicial remand. PTI Vice Chairman Qureshi, the foreign minister in the Khan-led government, is also implicated in the case. In the last hearing of the case on September 26, their judicial remand was extended till October 10. The FIA on September 30 submitted a charge sheet in the Special Court established under the Official Secrets Act, declaring Khan and Qureshi as the principal accused in the case. Meanwhile, Khan's lawyer in a chat with journalists outside the Adiala jail protested against what he called the inhumane treatment meted out to the former premier who wanted facilities as per the jail laws. Safdar said that Khan in protest refused to accept or sign the copies of the cipher case and the lawyer announced to challenge the one-sided order of distributing copies of the charge sheet. He also said that Khan was having high blood pressure due to the injustices. Later, special court judge Zulqarnain made a surprise visit to the jail rooms where Khan and Qureshi have been kept and said that 60-70-feet-space would be made to let Khan walk. "A bathroom is also connected with the cell. There is a clean environment, the judge said. He also said that the duo would be indicted on October 17 but the process can be delayed in case the IHC issued some order to stop the indictment. (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 9 (ANI): President Droupadi Murmu on Monday met her Tanzanian counterpart Samia Suluhu Hassan and her delegation at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The national anthems of both India and Tanzania were played at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as the Tanzanian delegation was welcomed. After that, both the Indian and Tanzanian delegations got seated at the dinner table. Also Read | India and Tanzania Sign Six MoUs on Maritime Cooperation, IT, Sports in Presence of PM Narendra Modi, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The Indian delegation also included Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and several other leaders. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Hassan held a bilateral meeting and the two leaders exchanged multiple Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) between the two nations. Also Read | Israel-Palestine War: CNN Journalist Clarissa Ward, Her Team Takes Cover From 'Barrage of Rockets' During Live Reporting at Israel-Gaza Border (Watch Video). He called Tanzania India's largest and the closest development partner of India in Africa, noting that today marks a historic day in India-Tanzania relations. PM Modi also stated that the two nations have decided to work together to form a five-year roadmap in the defence sector. In a post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, PM Modi stated, "Had an excellent meeting with President @SuluhuSamia. We reviewed the full range of India-Tanzania relations and have elevated our time-tested relation to a Strategic Partnership. The areas of our discussion included trade, commerce and people-to-people linkages." Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said that India and Tanzania are growing in terms of trade and investment. Tanzanian President who is in India at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. President Hassan was earlier today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. She also appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit would open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Vienna [Austria], September 9 (ANI/WAM): The UAE is chairing the 2023 International Conference on Climate Change and Nuclear Energy, organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 9th to 13th October. The conference aims to provide a platform for Member States, representatives of low-carbon energy sectors, international organisations, and other relevant bodies to exchange information on the role of nuclear energy in the path to eliminating carbon emissions, in line with the goals of limiting global warming. Also Read | Israel: What Was Tel Aviv Like During the Hamas Attacks?. Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the IAEA, said that this event is an ideal opportunity to discuss relevant policies and strategies with various international bodies and exchange expertise on the role of peaceful nuclear energy in addressing climate change. Notably, the United Arab Emirates will host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai Expo City. The decision of the UAE to host the international conference affirms its commitment to working to mitigate the effects of climate change at multiple levels. Also Read | US: Largest Hindu Temple Outside India Opens Its Doors for Public in New Jersey (Watch Video). Christer Viktorsson, Director General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, explained during his participation in a panel discussion titled "High-Level Committee on Nuclear Safety and Climate Resilience" that the Authority supports the UAE government's efforts to address the impacts of climate change by working to protect the environment and promote a peaceful and sustainable nuclear energy programme. The Authority plays a central role in protecting the environment and ensuring the development of a peaceful and sustainable nuclear energy programme by implementing strong regulatory systems, ensuring investment in research and development projects, and also enhancing national capabilities and adopting modern technologies. (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ahmedabad, October 9: In what can be seen as a surprising turn of events in Gujarat, a man who lost his daughter a few months ago recently discovered the reason behind her death. The deceased woman had reportedly died by suicide after she hanged herself at her husband's place. The man learnt that a fight with her husband had led his daughter to end her life. The distraught father found the reason when he charged his late daughter's phone. According to a report in the Times of India, the man learnt about the reason behind his daughter's death nearly two-and-a-half months after her demise. After finding the reason behind his daughter's death, the man from Patan approached police on Saturday, October 7, and logged a complaint against her husband and his mother. Gujarat Shocker: 5-Year-Old Boy Hides in Car to Avoid Bath, Suffocates to Death. In his complaint, Mohan Nadoda said that his late daughter, Aarti, had married Pankaj Parmar from Sola. The couple tied the knot on May 12, last year. Nadoba alleged that after her wedding, his daughter often complained about being harassed by Pankaj and his Ramila Parmar. The duo used to harass Aarti over petty domestic issues. This year, in the first week of July, Aarti visited her parents' place and informed them about being harassed by her husband and mother-in-law. However, Nadoda and other family members consoled Aarti and sent her back to Pankaj's home. On July 31, Nadoda learned that his daughter ended her life by suicide at her husband's home. Later, the family attended her funeral. As it was a suicide case, the Bodakdev police registered a case of accidental death and handed over Aarti's cell phone to her Nadoda. As he was in shock over his daughter's death, Nadoda did not check her phone. On Friday, he charged her phone, and on checking her messages, he found the reason behind her drastic step. Gujarat Shocker: 20-Year-Old Man Held for Killing Private Bank Manager, Taking Away Rs 1.17 Crore Cash From His Car in Mahisagar District. Nadoda said that as per the messages, Aarti sent several messages to Pankaj on July 30, saying that she would end her life due to the harassment. The next day, she again sent him messages informing him about her decision to end her life. He even produced the messages to cops, who then booked Pankaj and Ramila were booked for abetment to suicide. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2023 11:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The storm prompting authorities in Hong Kong to issue the highest rainstorm warning for the second time in a month. Koinu has now arrived in China's Guangdong province.Many parts of Hong Kong saw flooding on Monday as Typhoon Koinu brought torrential rains during the night, forcing authorities to issue the highest level of alert for six hours. Also Read | Assembly Elections 2023: Five Assembly Polls to Have 8.2 Crore Male, 7.8 Crore Female Voters, Says Election Commission. It was the second time in a month the city's authorities had sent out a "black" rain warning the highest in Hong Kong. Also Read | Assembly Elections 2023 Dates: Election Commission Declares Polling Schedule for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. Most of the region saw more than 150 millimeters of rainfall in the early hours of Monday, and rainfall exceeded 300 millimeters over some parts of urban Hong Kong island, according to data. Koinu was moving west-southwest at around 10 kilometers per hour (6 miles per hour) as it crossed the western coast of China's Guangdong province, Hong Kong's observatory said. The typhoon was downgraded at 10:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT). Koinu disrupts life in Hong Kong Strong gusts of wind and a heavy downpour brought the city to a standstill, causing schools and the city's stock exchange to shut down. There were no reports of major damage but the rainstorm and typhoon warnings disrupted operations at Hong Kong's international airport where hundreds of travelers were stranded. Where is Koinu headed next? Early Monday, the eye of the typhoon was located in Taishan city in China's populous Guangdong province, packing windspeeds of 28 meters (0.02 miles) per second, or around 100 kilometers per hour. The cities of Zhuhai and Jiangmen in Guangdong issued a Level III emergency warning, according to the Xinhua news agency. That meant more than 35,500 fishing boats had to return to port, while dozens of coastal scenic areas and schools were temporarily closed in the region. After Guangdong, Koinu is expected to reach the eastern part of Hainan island in a weakened state. mfi/nm (AFP, Reuters) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2023 01:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Jaipur, October 9: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for assembly elections in five states: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram today, i.e. on Monday, October 9. The statement included information on the election process dates for all five states, including nomination filing, polling days, and result declaration. Previously, on Friday, the Election Commission convened a meeting of observers to devise a plan for conducting the elections smoothly. The EC's police, general and spending observers met to simplify tactics to guarantee Model Code of Conduct implementation and that money does not impact the level playing field. Meanwhile, Rajasthan will vote on November 23, with the results being announced on December 3. The state will hold elections in a single stretch. The state has a total of 200 seats. In Rajasthan, where the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party will face off on November 23, anti-incumbency happens to be a major element in the polls. Rajasthan Assembly Election 2023: BJP Issues First List, Seven MPs Among 41 Candidates; Polling To Take Place on November 23. Polling, Alliances And Results of 2018 Polls in Rajasthan The state has alternated between the Congress and the BJP since 1993, when the BJP came to power following a period of President's rule. In the 2018 Assembly elections, Congress won 100 seats. The BJP came in second with 73 seats, while the BSP received six. The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) received three seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) each received two, while there were 13 independent candidates. In the last assembly election, the BJP received 38.77% of the vote, while the BSP received 4.03% and the RLP received 2.40%. CPM received 1.22% of the vote, BTP received 0.72%, and RLD received 0.33% of the vote. Meanwhile, independent candidates received 9.47% of the vote. Assembly Elections 2023 Dates: Election Commission Declares Polling Schedule for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. The BJP also has the benefit of being in the Centre, which allows it to gather voters on its "double-engine" capabilities, which promises more growth if the governments in Delhi and the state are led by the same party. But, for months, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been hard at work, fighting the predicted anti-incumbency with a slew of social projects - and going all out to publicise them as part of his vision for the state. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2023 06:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). MAGA is on a book-banning tear, already banning and challenging more books in 2023 than any other year in the last two decades since the American Library Association started keeping track. And one such book is Read Me a Story Stella, a sweet children's book, which was just flagged by Alabama authoritarians not for the usual reasons books either "written by or about a person of color or a member of the LGBTQIA+ community" but simply because of the author's name: Marie-Louise Gay (gasp!). From the Independent: The book, Read Me a Story Stella by Marie-Louise Gay, was placed under review at the Harris County Public Library due to its "sexually explicit" nature, Al.com reported. But the story has no sexual content, and is in fact about a brother called Sam and sister called Stella reading books together as they spend the day building a fort. Kristen Brassard, Ms Gay's publicist at Groundwork Books, branded the saga "laughable". "Although it is obviously laughable that our picture book shows up on their list of censored books simply because the author's last name is Gay, the ridiculousness of that fact should not detract from the seriousness of the situation," she said in a statement. The review was based on a list of 102 books compiled by Clean Up Alabama of books containing what it claims to be "sexually explicit" material in libraries around the state, [Harris County Library's executive director] Ms Hewitt said. However, Read Me a Story, Stella was not on that list. Rio De Janeiro, October 9: In a tragic incident, a three-year-old girl died after suffering a Scorpion bite while she was sleeping at her home in Brazil. The shocking incident occurred on September 25, 2023, when Maria Fernanda Brito da Silva was sleeping on her bed, and a Scorpion crawled under her clothes and stung her while she slept at her residence in Ribas do Rio Pardo. She died at a hospital after battling for life for six days. Vanessa Ramirez da Silva, Marias mother, was horrified when she discovered a scorpion attacking her daughter. According to a translated report from Primeira Pagina, the 27-year-old said, The image will stay in my head forever. She sat on the bed, turned around, and saw the scorpion stuck to her back. It wasnt a small scorpion, it was a big scorpion. I hit her, and she, even though she was in pain, raised her little finger and showed that the scorpion ended up on my shirt. I hit my hand, threw it on the ground, and killed it. Brazil Shocker: Woman Dies After Eating Chocolate Given by Palm Reader in Maceio Who Said She Had 'Few Days To Live'; Toxicology Report Finds Presence of Pesticides in Body. Maria's mother went outside after killing the scorpion and screamed for help as she started vomiting. Soon, the girl was rushed to a hospital. As per the report, the toddler suffered a cardiac arrest while fighting for her life at the Hospital Regional de Mato Grosso do Sul in Campo Grande. She was treated with antivenom antibody therapy but died in an intensive care unit on October 1, 2023. Brazilian Woman Dies After Being Struck During Brawl Between Palmeiras and Flamengo Fans. According to the health department data, more than 3,000 cases of scorpion stings have been reported this year in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The yellow scorpion, Tityus serrulatus, is considered the most dangerous scorpion in South America. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 09, 2023 08:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Film Critic Mid90s, the first feature written and directed by Jonah Hill, is set in Los Angeles sometime during well, take a wild guess. One of the first things we see is a bed covered with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sheets, followed by shelves neatly lined with CDs and cassette tapes. The sheets belong to a skinny 13-year-old kid named Stevie (Sunny Suljic), and the old-school music collection to his rough-edged older brother, Ian (an excellent Lucas Hedges). But really, Mid90s insists, they belong to us. They are precious pop-cultural totems of a decade that, it may shock some in the audience to learn, now counts as period-piece material, or at least grist for a Gen-Y nostalgic trip. And since spotting the throwback references in a movie like this is part of the putative fun, I did my best to comply. I dutifully scribbled the words Street Fighter II T-shirt in my notebook and nodded my head appreciatively at the blips of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cypress Hill and Wu-Tang Clan on the fastidiously arranged and undoubtedly expensive soundtrack. By the time Stevie starts riding with a ragtag group of young skateboarders, hanging out at a local shop when theyre not out practicing their moves, you will be hard-pressed not to mentally check off Kids, Larry Clarks seminal 1995 portrait of troubled New York youth. Think of Mid90s as that films kinder, more naive but also more calculating West Coast stepbrother. Its the scrappy coming-of-age punk-hangout movie at its most ingratiating mildly charming, unapologetically derivative and naggingly fuzzy-headed. Advertisement Derivative, of course, is not entirely a bad thing, and neither for that matter is fuzzy-headed. A nostalgia trip, in the truest sense, produces disorientation as well as recognition. It invites your willful surrender to a kind of haze, one that the movie evokes by shooting in a lyrically rough-hewn style on grainy 16 mm film, with every image framed in a boxy 4:3 aspect ratio. (The cinematography is by the gifted Christopher Blauvelt, whose work includes such fine-grained independent dramas as Kelly Reichardts Meeks Cutoff and Certain Women.) Hill is of course known primarily as a boisterous staple of mainstream American comedy, which is why theres something disarming about his attempt to tell a sincere and highly personal story (though not an autobiographical one, as he has said in interviews). In unwieldy but admirably bold fashion, he seeks to merge his natural comic flair with an unvarnished look at a teen culture gripped by lower-depths cycles of poverty, neglect and substance abuse. It helps that Suljic, whose unforgettable eyes you may have seen glaring out from the screen in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, is such an immediately compelling screen presence. The early scenes of Stevie being beaten up by his brother, or later attempting a dangerous skating stunt to impress his friends, immediately awaken your protective instincts. You may find yourself echoing the concern of Stevies mother, Dabney (Katherine Waterston), who is a loving but mostly ineffectual authority figure for reasons that the movie alludes to without really exploring. The authenticity argument is one I might be more inclined to buy from a documentary or a more rigorous piece of realism. At the same time, against your better judgment, you might begin to relax alongside Stevie in the infectious company of his skater posse, who are played by a fresh and likable group of unknowns. Stevie is befriended, if thats the word, by Ruben (Gio Galicia), a swaggering little bully whos eager to pass off his status as the runt of the group. Rubens attitude stands in sharp contrast to that of their awesomely cool leader, Ray (Na-kel Smith, a charismatic find), who welcomes Stevie with real warmth and affection. Rounding out the bunch are an aspiring filmmaker named Fourth Grade (Ryder McLaughlin) and a rowdy, blond-maned dude who will be referred to simply as FS, his nickname being unprintable in a family newspaper. Perpetually drunk and/or high, FS is played by the skater and model Olan Prenatt, whose expletive-laden performance is both the most extreme and the most emblematic expression of the movies aggressive grunge-bro vibe. Advertisement About those expletives: The common defense of all this gleefully foul language, which in this case includes numerous anti-gay slurs, is that its an authentic expression of how these kids would talk and interact in this particular setting. The authenticity argument is one I might be more inclined to buy from a documentary or a more rigorous piece of realism, which Mid90s, for all its self-consciously gritty texture, is not. At a certain point, its hard not to wonder if the aggressive banality of much of the dialogue represents a sign of integrity or a simple failure of imagination. A coy and cavalier scene in which Stevie experiences his sexual initiation at the all-too-obliging hands of an older teenage girl one of the few female characters, besides Dabney, who are given anything to do raises a similar question about the storys perspective or lack thereof. That these things happen in real life feels less like a reason than an excuse, an attempt to keep the audience from thinking too hard about a scenario that the filmmakers dont seem to have given their full consideration. Less satisfying or fully formed than Minding the Gap or Skate Kitchen, the years other two noteworthy movies about skating subcultures, Mid90s possesses just enough sensitivity and feeling to make you wish it had more. Hills script aims for, and often achieves, a fleeting, fragmentary portrait of group dynamics, but its stymied in its attempts to distinguish Stevies pals as individuals rather than types. It longs to be received as an impeccable found artifact of its chosen decade, but also as a sly, knowing synthesis of its many obvious influences. It may be a more accurate reflection of its protagonist than it realizes: a movie that seems willing to reinvent itself constantly in an awkward, touching attempt to fit in. ------------ Mid90s Rated: R, for pervasive language, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, some violent behavior/disturbing images all involving minors Running time: 1 hour, 24 minutes Playing: ArcLight Cinemas, Hollywood See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Jonah Hill discusses why it took four years for his directorial debut to get made and Mid90s stars Sunny Suljic and Na-Kel Smith shine some light on his directorial style. justin.chang@latimes.com @JustinCChang On 6 October the presidents of Costa Rica and Panama,andrespectively, met in Panama where they discussed migration. End of preview - This article contains approximately 374 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 8 October two members of the Xokleng indigenous community were injured in a clash with the military police of Santa Catarina state, in the south of Brazil, during a protest over the authorities decision to close the floodgates of the Barragem Norte, a deactivated dam located in the Xoklengs demarcated indigenous territory. End of preview - This article contains approximately 393 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Mexican food is one of the most celebrated cuisines on Earth, with foodies around the world flocking to food hotspots around Mexico, such as Oaxaca and Mexico City. However, as we here at Latin Post previously talked about, Mexican cuisine is much more than just tacos. From mole to tamales to tortas, Mexican food varies from region to region. Each regional flavor is unique with its own unique ingredients, making Mexican cuisine much more diverse than most other national cuisines. Interesting Facts Regarding Mexican Food With the uniqueness of Mexican food, we have gathered five interesting facts that many Americans may or may not know about Mexican cuisine, and here they are: Caesar's Salad Is Mexican Food While Caesar's Salad may sound Roman and therefore Italian, the dish was actually not invented in Europe, but in North America. To be exact, it was invented in Tijuana of all places, at the Hotel Caesars, according to Lola's Cocina. The story goes that it was created in 1924 when the hotel's chefs were running low on ingredients to serve guests. To make up for this, they came up with a salad with the only available ingredients they had at that time, namely romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a dressing made with olive oil, lime (not lemon) juice, garlic, and anchovies. The salad has since become a classic, though people have mostly forgotten its Mexican roots. Chocolate Originated in Mexico When the Spaniards arrived in the New World, they were offered a brown-colored beverage that they immediately fell in love with. This was chocolate and as many already know, it comes from the cacao plant that grows all over Mexico. However, in Mexico, chocolate is not just used as a dessert but also an ingredient in savory meals. Of course, the most popular example is mole, which uses chocolate as an important base. READ MORE: Lechon: The Iconic Roasted Pork From Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Spain The Interesting Origins of Nachos While many view nachos as more of an Americanized dish, this one actually does originate in Mexico. According to On the Border, it was invented by a man named Ignacio Anaya Garcia, whose nickname, was "Nacho." He made the dish with crispy fried corn tortillas, cheese, and jalapenos. However, much like Caesar's Salad, the dish exploded more outside Mexico, particularly in the US. Chiles en Nogada Reflect the Mexican Flag During Mexico's Independence Day, they often serve chiles en nogada, which is a green chili pepper stuffed with ground meat. However, it is smothered with a white nutty sauce, pomegranate seeds, and some greens. This makes the dish white, green, and red, which are, of course, the colors of the Mexican flag. Insects Are Regularly Eaten in Mexico In Mexico, eating bugs is not an uncommon practice. According to Villa del Palmar, grasshoppers are a common ingredient in some regions. They are often served with lime juice and chili peppers and added to tacos. Grubs and mezcal worms are commonly eaten around Mexico as well. READ NEXT: Aztec Culture Still Alive in Mexico Even After 500 Years This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Food History: Nachos - Mental Floss Yet another school shooting in the US has happened, this time in Maryland as shooters shot up Bowie State University on Saturday, injuring two teens. The incident occurred just a few days after another school shooting at the nearby Morgan State University. Bowie State University is an HBCU, and the school invited students over at Morgan State University, another HBCU, to join in on their homecoming, especially after the shooting that happened at their school. According to CNN, the two teens who were injured were both 19 and from Morgan State University, not Bowie State. Maryland State Police also believe there was more than one shooter in this particular incident. A firearm has also been recovered at the scene. It is noted that the shootings in both schools just underscored the epidemic of gun violence happening in the US, which has been experiencing a rise in attacks involving firearms all over the country. Troopers have been assigned to the university to guard the homecoming activities but the school shooting still happened. Bowie State University Temporarily Cancels All Classes After Maryland School Shooting Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux acknowledged the concerns raised by students regarding their safety after the horrific incident and said that she understands their concerns. "I understand their fear," said the university's president. "This is not normal. This is not Bowie State University." She then added that on Monday, all classes have been canceled and all students will have access to counseling services. READ MORE: Sandy Hook Controversy: Alex Jones' Wild Spending Criticized Amid Non-Payment To Conspiracy Theory Victims Students have expressed their concerns to local media. "I heard it from my room," student Madison Stephens told WTOP News. "People are definitely concerned and people are definitely pointing fingers at who or what happened." Another student also stated that the entire student body is worried. "It is concerning that this is the second shooting to happen at an HBCU in the last two weeks," said sophomore Credence Jackson. No Bowie State University student was hurt in the attack but it has left its mark on the students. Other Maryland School Shooting at Morgan State University Resulted in 5 People Injured The Morgan State University shooting happened last Tuesday, just a few days before the one at Bowie State. Much like this new one, it also happened during their homecoming, resulting in Bowie State inviting their students to attend their homecoming. According to NBC News. five people were injured during the Morgan State school shooting, with four of those injured being students. The attack was caused by an apparent dispute between two groups, authorities say. Four of the victims have already been released, but the HBCU has already postponed or canceled its own homecoming activities after the attack. However, it is unclear if the Bowie State University shooting is related to the Morgan State school shooting. Investigations into their connections are still underway. No arrests have been made so far. READ NEXT: Nashville School Shooting: Autopsy Report Reveals Concerning New Details on Gunman This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Updates on Bowie State University shooting: 2 injured, police believe multiple shooters involved - FOX 5 Washington DC US President Joe Biden extended his support to Israel Saturday following a deadly attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. He offered "all appropriate means of support" to Israel and issued a warning to "any party hostile to Israel" against seeking any advantage. This morning, I spoke with @IsraeliPM to express my full support for the people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists. We will remain in close contact over the coming days. The U.S. will continue to stand with the people of Israel. President Biden (@POTUS) October 8, 2023 US and Israeli officials are in close coordination to address Israel's military needs in the wake of this attack, with a decision expected imminently, as stated by a senior US official, Reuters reports. The United States is working in collaboration with other governments to ensure that the crisis remains contained to Gaza following the Hamas attack. An official emphasized the goal of keeping the situation localized, away from broader conflict. The attack by Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist group, occurred amid ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to negotiate a historic normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and establish a US-Saudi defense pact. President Biden had a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday to offer US support. The two leaders, who have had strained relations in the past, met in New York last month as a display of solidarity. READ NEXT: President Joe Biden's Statement on Israel's 75th Independence Day Israel War In a surprise attack early Saturday, Hamas militants entered several Israeli towns and military bases, taking civilians and soldiers as hostages. Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif publicly declared that 5,000 rockets were fired into Israel, marking the commencement of "Operation Al-Aqsa Storm." World leaders also expressed their concern about the ongoing violence and called for an end to the fighting. The conflict has resulted in the loss of lives on both sides, with at least 100 Israelis and 198 Palestinians reported killed. Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to exact a "huge price" on Hamas in response to the attacks. Israel initiated retaliatory strikes in Gaza and called up reservists and regular armed forces. The surprise attack has raised questions about Israeli intelligence, given the nation's extensive surveillance of the Gaza Strip. The conflict also falls close to the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and may have broad implications on civilian lives, internal Israeli politics, and ongoing attempts to find a long-term resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. US Politicians Support Joe Biden's Stance, Blame Iran for Israel War US politicians swiftly condemned the attacks, with many attributing blame to Iran, according to Turan. Several US officials joined in condemning the Hamas offensive, per The Independent. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States stands in solidarity with Israel and supports its right to self-defense. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell connected the conflict to the situation in Ukraine and stressed the need for solidarity among democracies. Other prominent figures, such as former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Rick Scott, and Senator Lindsey Graham, expressed strong support for Israel while condemning the attacks and holding Iran accountable for its role in supporting Hamas. Senator Lindsey Graham additionally praised President Joe Biden for his support and urged continued strength in the face of potential pressure to limit Israeli actions. READ MORE: Texas Border Wall Construction Gets Joe Biden Greenlight This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: President Biden speaks on the war between Israel and Hamas | ABCNL - From ABC News Republicans are getting more and more criticism regarding their idea of invading Mexico to hunt down drug cartels. This came after several Republican presidential candidates suggested such an idea in the second Republican Presidential Debate. During that debate, Nikki Haley promised to send US special forces to Mexico, while Vivek Ramaswamy accused Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of treating drug cartels as his "sugar daddy," claiming that if he wins the presidency, "there will be a new daddy in town." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also interested in the plan, and so is former President Donald Trump, who, during his presidency, infamously floated the idea of bombing Mexico to attack the drug labs controlled by the cartels. However, many pointed out that even if the US military were only targeting the cartels, it would still be a potential act of war to send troops to an allied country without its consent, as this would be a challenge to Mexico's sovereignty. Despite this, Republican candidates are still saying they would do it. Analysts and nonpartisan experts have pointed out 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," former Mexican Ambassador to the US Arturo Sarukhan told the Associated Press. "That's a very combustible mixture." Despite all the criticism, Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, stated that people must take what the Republican presidential candidates are saying seriously. "But they are pretty much going off the rails. They are engaged in political theater, and they find Mexico an easy target," he added, as these ideas are potentially dangerous. READ MORE: US Congressman Fights Back on Calls To Invade Mexico Over Fentanyl Problem Republican Presidential Candidates' Suggestion of Invading Mexico Could Backfire The Miami Herald presented several scenarios that might happen should the US send troops to Mexico to fight the drug cartels. This includes a likely response by Mexico by expelling the DEA and other US law enforcement and intelligence agencies as a protest to the US violating Mexican sovereignty. Another potential scenario would be Mexico finally deciding not to cooperate on the migration crisis and not help stop migrants from going to the US-Mexico border. In addition, sending troops might also cause trade issues with the US's top trade partner, which is, of course, Mexico. This might slow down trade and would negatively impact the US economy. Should the US also send troops to Mexico, it would be a mockery of the country's criticisms against Russia for invading Ukraine. Republican Presidential Candidates Posturing With Idea To Send Troops To Mexico Some critics say that the Mexico invasion idea may just be a gesture of being "strong on crime" and "strong on border security." However, dismissing these ideas as purely political would be a mistake. According to VOX, "Many of these proposals conflate drug trafficking, undocumented migration, and violence as various problems caused by cartels that could be solved with sufficient amounts of American ordnance." While experts find the idea absurd, the idea might become a reality, especially with Donald Trump as the Republican presidential frontrunner. READ MORE: Trump Organization Convicted of 17 Felonies, Gets Maximum Punishment This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: US Republicans call for military intervention into Mexico's drug war | DW News A seventh individual accused in Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio assassination back in August met a grim fate, authorities said Saturday, AP reports. This incident occurred just a day after six other suspects, allegedly connected to the same crime, were killed in a different prison. The seven suspects were eliminated under mysterious circumstances, raising concerns as Ecuador approaches a presidential runoff election in a little over a week, with officials struggling to provide an explanation for these events. The deceased individual was being held at a prison in Quito, Ecuador's capital. The authorities released minimal information regarding the incident, merely identifying the individual as "Jose M." without specifying his nationality. In response to these incidents, President Guillermo Lasso convened an emergency meeting of his security Cabinet, which resulted in the decision to transfer the remaining six suspects connected to the assassination to an undisclosed prison for security reasons. Additionally, the government took decisive action by relieving the prison system director and the police chief of investigations of their duties. These tragic developments come at a critical juncture, as the Prosecutor's Office is on the verge of announcing the conclusion of the investigative phase into the Fernando Villavicencio assassination, who was killed while leaving a political rally on August 9. READ NEXT: Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso Asks FBI for Help Following Fernando Villavicencion Assassination Six Sain Fernando Villavicencio Assassination Suspects Were Colombians It is worth noting that the six suspects previously killed in the Litoral Penitentiary in Guayaquil were all Colombian nationals and were accused of the murder of the former Ecuador presidential candidate, Fernando Villavicencio, as confirmed by the SNAI prisons agency. Ecuador's government has unequivocally condemned the prison killings, and President Guillermo Lasso publicly pledged to ensure that there would be "neither complicity nor cover-up" in the pursuit of justice for the suspects involved in the Villavicencio case. "Here, the truth will be known," Lasso emphasized, according to Al Jazeera. The president also made the decision to temporarily cancel his visit to Seoul and return from his trip to New York, where he had arrived on Thursday, to address this incident. Ecuador's government remains resolute in its determination to identify those responsible for Fernando Villavicencio assassination. Fernando Villavicencio Assassination Fernando Villavicencio, a renowned journalist known for his unrelenting exposes on corruption and organized crime, met a tragic end in August. On the day of the assassination, six individuals were apprehended, and one suspect lost his life. Subsequently, an additional seven suspects were arrested in connection to the case. Villavicencio had built his career on fearless reporting, exposing corruption within political circles and among influential business figures. Prior to his untimely demise, he had openly confronted the Albanian mafia and an individual known as Fito, a leader of the Los Choneros gang, per Reuters. The Minister of the Interior announced on Friday that a comprehensive investigative police report concerning Fernando Villavicencion assassination had been completed. However, this report has not yet been made public. Despite not being considered one of the frontrunners in the initial round of the election on August 20, the brazen daylight killing of the 59-year-old politician was a stark and unsettling reminder of the surge in crime plaguing Ecuador. Villavicencio had disclosed receiving threats from associates of the Mexico-based Sinaloa drug cartel, one of several international organized crime entities operating within Ecuador. Ecuador is now preparing for its upcoming runoff presidential election scheduled for October 15. This runoff will feature the two leading candidates from the initial August vote: leftist Luisa Gonzalez and former lawmaker Daniel Noboa, who happens to be the son of a prominent banana magnate. READ MORE: Ecuador Gang Held 50 Prison Guards, 7 Police Officers Hostage for Over a Day This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Ecuador Presidential Candidate Assassination: One suspect dead, six arrested - From WION Members of a Florida family have now been sentenced to prison for selling fake COVID-19 cures and using their fake church as a front to sell these dangerous fake medicines to the public. The father, Mark Grenon, 66, has been sentenced along with his three sons on several charges. The elder Grenon and his second son, Joseph Grenon, 36, who fled to Colombia with his father but were later arrested and extradited, were each sentenced to five years in prison. According to the New York Post, this was the maximum sentence that the US agreed with Colombia over the father-son duo's extradition. Both men, along with the two other defendants, were also fined $2,000 each in restitution. The other two sons, 37-year-old Jonathan Grenon and 29-year-old Jordan Grenon, were each sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison. Their charges include conspiracy and contempt for trying to "defraud the United States by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug." "The defendants preyed on many vulnerable populations," said Assistant US Attorney Michael Homer during the sentencing hearing. The Florida family members were all accused of using their Genesis II Church of Health and Healing to sell their fake COVID-19 cures that they claim can cure not just COVID but cancer and other illnesses as well. In reality, however, it was just bleach and may actually poison those taking it. Florida Family Patriarch Accused the US Government of Kidnapping Them Meanwhile, the father, Mark Grenon, who also fled to Colombia and was extradited, accused the US government of kidnapping them. During the sentencing hearing, he argued that he had already spent 1,152 days in custody and that this already amounted to kidnapping. READ MORE: Florida Man and Sons Found Guilty of Selling Fake COVID-19 Cures Through Online Church Mark Grenon then claimed that the US government should compensate him $5.76 million for being "held unlawfully." However, the Miami Herald reported that US District Judge Cecilia Altonaga shot him down and called his argument "nonsensical." She also ordered the elder Grenon to pay an additional $1,948 in restitution to the victims of his family's fake COVID-19 cure scheme. The Florida family members were all portrayed as "con men who used a phony religious front on a website" to sell the "Miracle Mineral Solution," which they claim can cure all sorts of ailments. Florida Family Called 'Snake Oil Salesmen' and 'Con Men' for Selling Fake COVID-19 Cure The Grenon family's Genesis II Church of Health and Healing made around $1 million by selling their so-called Miracle Mineral Solution. The church itself released videos endorsing the false cure, claiming that it can treat "95% of known diseases, including COVID-19, Alzheimer's, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis." This led the US Food and Drug Administration to issue warnings against their so-called "cure-all" and told the public that taking it could have dangerous side effects, including severe vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening low blood pressure. According to CBS News, it got so bad that after the FDA received reports of people getting hospitalized after taking the fake COVID-19 cure, a Miami federal judge ordered the church to stop selling it in 2020. However, the order was ignored as the church continued to sell the substance. This led to warrants being approved against the members of the Florida family, with two of them escaping to Colombia. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Tried Undermining FDA by Pushing Discredited COVID-19 Treatment, This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: 'Church of Bleach' family found guilty of selling fake COVID-19 cure through online church - ABC7 A deeply religious gentleman marched through a museum in Israel and smashed 2,000-year-old statues with a stick because he disapproved of them. After his arrest, the 40-year-old American told Israeli police that he considered the statues to be "idolatrous and contrary to the Torah." The smashed statues were a marble head of the goddess Athena and another statue of a pagan deity. Both were from the 2nd century and have now been removed for restoration. The arrested man's lawyer said his client is suffering from "Jerusalem Syndrome," a mental condition that causes religious delusions in some visitors to Jerusalem. AP reports that the condition is a "form of disorientation believed to be induced by the religious magnetism of the city, which is sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslim," and "is said to cause foreign pilgrims to believe they are figures from the Bible." "This is a shocking case of the destruction of cultural values," Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, told AP. "We see with concern the fact that cultural values are being destroyed by religiously motivated extremists." Dwayne Johnson has acknowledged the public backlash that he and Oprah Winfrey faced when they requested donations for a Maui wildfire recovery fund last month, according to CNN. In a video shared on his Instagram account, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson acknowledged the initial criticism, stating, "When we first launched the fund, there was some backlash. I get it, and I completely understand, and I could've handled it better. And next time, I will do better." He further expressed his understanding of many's financial challenges, recognizing that money is not readily available and that many individuals live paycheck to paycheck. The Rock empathized with the difficulty of hearing a request for money, particularly when the person making the request already possesses substantial wealth. READ NEXT: Dwayne Johnson Says His Mother Survives Scary Car Crash Dwayne Johnson and Oprah Winfrey's People's Fund of Maui Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson jointly established the People's Fund of Maui in August, each contributing $5 million from their finances per Vanity Fair. They made a public appeal for additional donations, expressing their concern for the residents of the fire-ravaged island. Winfrey emphasized their gratitude for the support and outlined the initiative, stating, "All these people who were calling me and texting me and messaging me and saying, 'What do I do? What do I do?' This is what you do." The response, however, took them by surprise. Social media users swiftly criticized the wealthy celebrities for seeking donations, given their substantial financial resources. Oprah Winfrey, whose estimated net worth is $2.5 billion, was taken aback by the immediate backlash. In a subsequent interview with CBS, Winfrey explained that she and The Rock, a long-time philanthropist, believed initiating the fund with $10 million would be a positive step. Their goal was to inspire others to contribute and directly assist those affected. Winfrey referred to the successful model of Dolly Parton's donor-backed My People Fund, which aided those who suffered losses in the 2017 Gatlinburg, Tennessee fires. However, the vitriolic reactions on social media took them by surprise. Oprah Winfrey mentioned that many people were seeking information on where to make contributions, prompting her to establish a donation platform. Yet, the unexpected backlash and criticism emerged soon after. Dwayne Johnson had initially remained silent regarding the backlash but later addressed the issue in a video update. In the video, apparently recorded by Johnson at a poolside, the former wrestler and action star, with an estimated net worth of $800 million, provided an update on the fund's progress. He announced that the survivors and affected families had started receiving their first round of funds over the past few weeks. The People's Fund of Maui aimed to provide much-needed financial assistance to those impacted by the devastating wildfires on the island. Maui Wildfire Recovery Fund The wildfires had significant consequences, with over 100 casualties, making them the deadliest in the United States in over a century, PINKVILLA noted. The fund created by Johnson and Winfrey sought to provide meaningful support to the affected individuals, offering financial assistance to help them recover from the losses they endured. Meanwhile, eligible recipients were set to receive $1,200 per month from this fund. READ MORE: Columbus Day Facts This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson thanked people for "love and support" - From BBC News A 12-story, mixed-use building with 189 apartments and a college campus proposed for West Hamilton Street in Allentown is set for review by city officials starting this week. The Allentown Planning Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 10, is scheduled to review the redevelopment plans from Blackstone Structures LLC that require demolishing three buildings home to residents and active businesses at 960, 962 and 966 W. Hamilton St. The developer plans to replace the buildings with a market-rate apartment building that includes offices, a fitness center, classrooms and several restaurants spread across 199,300 square feet. The building would be a collaboration between the developer and Lehigh Carbon Community College, according to a report by The Morning Call. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission on Sept. 28 said the development, as presented, conforms with the regions planning goals to encourage reuse and redevelopment within urban areas. The properties directly abut The Nines at CityPlace, a 78-unit apartment complex located at 950 Hamilton St. that offers studio, one-and two-bedroom apartments ranging from $1,200 to $1,800. In its comment letter, the Lehigh Valley planners recommended the project to the city, but encouraged the developer to reconsider its policy on housing attainability, parking and the affordability for local businesses. G&E Smoke Shop and Cigar Lounge, Lords and Ladies hair salon and Beijing Wok restaurant are the current retail tenants of the properties. The development plans designate space within the proposal for commercial use, however the change from older, historic buildings to a newly constructed building will likely cater to commercial businesses that can afford higher rents, which smaller, locally owned establishments may not be able to afford, the commission stated. No new parking is being built to accommodate the new building. Instead, tenants will be directed to park in the citys Maple Street parking garage. The garage on Linden Street would also be used by customers at the nearby hotel and attendees at the concert hall being built by City Center Development Corp. on the same block of Hamilton. According to the Censuss 2021 5-Year American Community Survey, residents in this area earn a median yearly income of $26,369 and pay a median rent of $830 before utilities. An estimated 60% of renter households in this neighborhood are cost-burdened, which means that they pay 30%, or more, of their monthly income on housing costs. The Allentown Planning Commission reviewed the proposal, called Edison Lofts-West, from Blackstone Structures LLC and developer Gary Newman at its Sept. 12 meeting, but no action was taken in order to allow the citys zoning hearing board to make a decision on the application to demolish the three buildings, The Morning Call reported. The architectural plans associated with the land development were revised to address feedback given from staff and the Allentown Planning Commission. These are what will be shown on October 10 to the Allentown City Planning Commission, said Director of the Bureau of Planning and Zoning Jennifer Gomez. Tuesdays Allentown Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 435 Hamilton St. The zoning hearing board is now scheduled to review the plans on Oct. 16, starting at 7 p.m. also in council chambers. Read the Lehigh Valley planners full comment letter here, beginning on page 17. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. The former home of the scandalized Order of Fleas Club on South Side Easton is proposed to become a 98-unit self-storage center. Eastons planning commission on Wednesday voted 4-0 to endorse the proposal for 601 Reynolds St. It now heads to the citys zoning hearing board for an additional approval Oct. 16. Two regional wineries that already have put themselves on the list of top East Coast producers were given even more credibility this summer following tastings by reviewer Stuart Pigott, a senior editor on wine critic James Sucklings highly regarded staff. Galen Glen Winery in Pennsylvanias Schuylkill County earned scores of 90 or above on the 100-point scale on seven of their wines while Beneduce Vineyards across the Delaware River in New Jerseys Hunterdon County was awarded 90 or more points to 11 of the wines that Pigott tasted. Both are family-owned and operated wineries that combine outstanding wines and venues along with picturesque vineyards that visitors can see from the tasting room. They epitomize the best of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey wine industries in the attention they give to their vineyards and their wines, seemingly raising the bar with each passing year. Both are estate wineries, meaning that all the wines they make are sourced from their vineyard. In some areas, that is becoming less prevalent with each passing year. Its also a testament to the quality of both operating in places that dont normally get the recognition given to surrounding states that Suckling reviewed them. Galen Glen is located at 255 Winter Mountain Dr., Andreas, and is open noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Three of Galen Glens Stone Cellar wines, its highest-tiered collection, scored above the 90-point rating. Gruner Veltliner 2022, 94 points; Riesling 2021, 92 points; and Cabernet Franc 2021, 91 points. Receiving the highest praise was the Gruner Veltliner, which Pigott noted might well be the best wine from Austrias signature grape variety that has ever been made in the United States. Galen Glen was among the first American vineyards to produce Gruner, putting in the countrys second planting of the grapevine in 2003. Starting with 450 vines, the grape covers more than 3 acres of the hilly terrain that surrounds one of the regions top wineries, and the wine has not only won Galen Glen national recognition but also international accolades. Winery founders Sarah Troxell and Galen Troxell, and daughter Erin Troxell, certainly have earned the title of first family of Gruner. A peek at a portion of Galen Glen's lineup of wines. Other wines that scored in the 90s were the Vinology Gruner Veltliner 2022 and the Vinology Fossil Vineyard Riesling 2021 (93). Vinology is the winerys house label. Galen Glens newest wine is also its first signature label, named after the vineyards head winegrower and seventh-generation farmer, Erin Troxell. Featuring two of their most prominent grapes, Erin Elizabeth sparklings are wines with what the producer calls feminine fluency. Erin Elizabeth Gruner Veltliner Sparkling 2021 earned 90 points and 2021 Erin Elizabeth Riesling Sparkling 2021 was awarded 92 points from Pigott. Prices range from $10.99 to $25.99 for Galen Glens lineup of wines, so the bang for the buck is about as good as youll find in the mid-Atlantic. Beneduce has been featured several times over the last couple of months on PennLive, including on a list of East Coast wineries worth visiting and in a piece about sustainability. Its located at 1 Jeremiah Lane, Pittstown, and is open noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays and noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Featuring an Italian hand gesture on the label, here are two of the wines in Beneduce Vineyards' Craft Series. During Pigotts visit to Beneduce Vineyards in late June, he tasted through the entire lineup and awarded 90 or more points to 11 out of 12 wines, while the 2021 Chardonnay earned an 89. Its the highest aggregate score a New Jersey winery has ever received from one of the worlds major wine publications, the winery said. Beneduces signature red grape is an Austrian native called Blaufrankisch, which scored 93 points, followed by four wines at 92 points, including the Dry Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Rose Pet Nat, and Intermezzo (a skin-contact Gewurztraminer). As for the others that scored at least 90 points: 2022 Hunterdon County Pet-Nat Rose, 92, comments: Lovely nose of peach puree, almost like a bellini. Juicy and properly dry with an excellent interplay of gentle tannin, lees creaminess and peach skin flavor. Spot on balance makes this very easy to enjoy. Drink now. Crown cap. 2021 Hunderdon County Pet-Nat Chambrusco, 91, comments: Explosive wild blackberry and sour cherry fruit with crisp acidity makes this so enjoyable. Normally I hate the term pizza wine but here it makes so much sense. Long juicy finish. Made from the hybrid chambourcin grape. Drink now. Crown cap. 2021 Pinot Noir Hunterdon County, 91, comments: A very pretty pinot noir with a lot of red fruit and floral aromas. Crisp, cool and elegant, this reminds me of Savigny-les-Beaune from a cool vintage. The beautifully crafted, moderately dry tannins support the long finish where there is a touch of dried orange peel character. Drink or hold. Overlooking some of the vines growing at Beneduce Vineyards in New Jersey's Hunterdon County. 2021 Riesling New Jersey Dry 2021, 90, comments: Cool and crisp with medium body and plenty of white tree fruits, this is an attractively crisp and lively dry riesling with a long harmonious finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap. 2022 Riesling Hunterdon County, 90 points, comments: Lots of lemon and green apple character, but also a nice juiciness and a well-judged touch of unfermented grape sweetness make this attractive and refreshing. Stacks of fruit salad aromas at the long clean finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap. 2021 Cabernet Franc Hunterdon County, 90, comments: Plenty of redcurrant fruit, married to moderate tannins with a lively acidity and plenty of savory character. Good length. Not a jot too dry. Drink or hold. Beneduce Vineyards is a 77-acre farm that planted its first vines in 2009 and opened its tasting room doors in July 2012. Owner and winemaker Mike Beneduce farms 25 acres that you can view from the tasting room and outdoor seating (and even from the bocce court, where the annual league just finished its season), and will be harvesting his first grapes in 2024 from another vineyard across the road that was purchased a couple of years ago. He also plans to put in two new varieties next year: Barbera and Dolcetto. The long tasting bar at Beneduce Vineyards in Pittstown, New Jersey. Beneduce, named New Jerseys Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year in 2022, has become one of the faces for the states wine industry, recently appearing in a CBS News report in addition to putting together a 15-minute TEDx talk in 2021, both of which focused on climate and sustainability. Many of the James Suckling-recognized wines are currently available at Beneduces tasting room in Pittstown as well as through the winerys online shop at BeneduceVineyards.com. Seasonal tastings of five wines are $15/person and local pairings of five wines and locally made cheese and salumi are $30. Click this link for more information on both tastings. Online reservations are strongly encouraged for weekend visits, including events such as the winerys lively Saturday evening Group Therapy and family-friendly Sunday Picnics. More: For 11-year-old Napa urban winery, everything to this point has aligned perfectly Future firmly in place for family-run central Pa. winery that already has tasted much success Winery owner, 37, battles cancer while cultivating family business Visiting the Pa. winery with a treehouse tasting room, and other notes Get ready to pay more to mail that letter of yours. The U.S. Postal Service announced Friday that the price of a Forever stamp will increase by 2 cents starting Jan. 21, 2024. The price of the Forever stamp will increase from 66 cents to 68 cents. The Postal Regulatory Commission received notice of the price hike. Here are the other fees that the Postal Service is proposing: Letters, metered, 1 ounce - increase from 63 cents to 64 cents Domestic postcards - increase from 51 cents to 53 cents International postcards - increase from $1.50 to $1.55 International letter, 1 ounce - increase from $1.50 to $1.55 The last time the Postal Service increased the price of a Forever stamp was July 9, 2023, when it went up from 63 to 66 cents. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. The intellectual wing of the MAGA party has learned who was responsible for the deadly attack against Israel over the weekend. It's not Hamas, as the deep-state controlled media wants you to think. No, it's the U.S. Government itself! Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist, xitted: "Imagine what our intel agencies could have done to prevent an act of war against our ally Israel if they spent their time spying on our enemies like Iran instead of spying on Catholic churches, tagging school board parents as terrorists, and jailing their political opposition." ("Spying on Catholic churches" refers to far-right members of the Catholic Church aligning with the white nationalist "groyper" movement.) To which 2000 Mules propagandist Dinesh D'Souza replied in agreement: "They were so busy building a #PoliceState to shut down the Biden regime's internal political opposition that they didn't bother keeping track of Islamic terrorists the same group that struck the US on 9/11 and now Israel." The irony is that the same MAGA figures now blaming the "deep state" for somehow allowing an attack on Israel are the ones who remained silent when Trump himself compromised Israeli security. As reported in 2017 article in Foreign Policy titled, "Israeli Intelligence Furious Over Trump's Loose Lips": Thousands of Lower Macungie workers plan to strike Monday morning after the United Auto Workers union announced it rejected a tentative labor agreement with Mack Trucks. Mack Trucks employs about 4,000 union workers, including thousands at its Lower Macungie Township plant, as well as other workers in Maryland and Florida. The United Auto Workers posted around 6:40 a.m. Monday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that workers planned to go to strike at 7 a.m. Im inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it, UAW President Shawn Fain said in the post. Volvo Group-owned Mack Trucks representatives said in a statement to Reuters and the Associated Press the company was disappointed and surprised the UAW had chosen to strike. Mack President Stephen Roy called the move unnecessary. Fain additionally shared a letter on social media sent this past Sunday to Holly Georgell, Mack Trucks director of employee and labor relations. The same letter is posted on the UAW Local 677s website, which represents the regional workers. The letter states the union rejected the five-year, tentative deal with 73% of members voting it down. Workers planned to walk off jobs in an orderly manner after performing necessary tasks to prevent damage to the companys equipment or products, according to the letter. Sticking points in the contract have been better wages, benefits and better job security. The two sides on Oct. 2 announced they reached the tentative agreement the previous evening. The contract was set to expire on Oct. 2, according to the companys website about the 2023 labor negotiations. We clearly demonstrated our commitment to good faith bargaining by arriving at a tentative agreement that was endorsed by both the International UAW and the UAW Mack Truck Council, Roy stated. Mack, Roy added in the statement, is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the U.S., competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries. The tentative deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification; no increases on health insurance premiums; and a $3,500 bonus if ratified on the first vote, according to the company. Over the last three months, we have met with company representatives in an effort to address issues raised by our members, the unions letter goes on to say. The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but clearly we are not there yet. We are confident that we can secure a fair contract that reflects our members sacrifice and contribution to Mack Trucks, it added. Both parties now plan to reconvene bargaining. Mack Trucks is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the companys future, the companys statement added. The regional site, which in 2021 employed 2,500 workers, on Aug. 28 reached a tentative agreement for the Local 677 Lehigh Valley Operations Office, Shop, and Engineering Bargaining Units. The next day, the company and the United Auto Workers kicked off bargaining in the Lehigh Valley for the Mack Master Contract, according to bargaining updates. When no agreement was reached on that contract, the union authorized the strike last month among Mack workers at various facilities. The strike marks the second time in four years workers have gone out on strike at the Lower Macungie plant. They join another 25,000 United Auto Workers union workers already striking at selected factories run by automakers General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis. Those strikes began on Sept. 15, starting with one assembly plant for each company, then spread to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later, according to the Associated Press. The union has since reported progress with all three automakers. Founded in 1900, Mack trucks are sold and serviced in nearly 30 countries worldwide. The company is one of North Americas largest manufacturers of medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, proprietary engines and transmissions. The company in 2020 completed an $84 million overhaul of its Lehigh Valley Operations site. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Fall enrollment in Pennsylvanias 10 state universities continued its downward slide for a 13th consecutive year but leaders of the State System of Higher Education see signs of progress as they work to reverse that trend. The number of first-time students increased for a second consecutive year with seven of the 10 universities seeing a rise in the number of new students this fall, said system Chancellor Dan Greenstein. Total enrollments at East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Cheyney, Slippery Rock and Shippensburg showed growth but it was not enough to offset the declines at the other system universities. The systems overall enrollment this fall totaled 82,688, a 2.2% decline from the previous fall and a far cry from its 2010-11 high-water mark of about 119,500 students. But that is the smallest year-to-year percentage decline in four years as the student count continues its recovery from the impact the coronavirus had on higher education enrollments in Pennsylvania and nationally. Among other highlights from the enrollment report shared by the system include: Cheyney, the nations first historically Black college and university, has its largest total enrollment since 2017. East Stroudsburgs total enrollment of underrepresented minority students increased 1.3% (to 40.8%). Kutztown set record highs for its incoming freshman grade-point average and new-student diversity. Shippensburgs dual enrollment program, Ship Start, increased 35%, and the university saw 20% growth in new graduate students. Slippery Rock had its largest first-year class since 2019 and record enrollment of graduate students. West Chester had its largest ever first-year class and had a 4% increase in out-of-state students. Very promising numbers almost everywhere, said Sen. David Argall, R-Schuylkill County, who chairs the Senate Education Committee and sits on the system board. I hope this is evidence of better days ahead. Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery County, another system board member, also sees good news in the enrollment report and attributes that in part to the more than $100 million boost in the annual appropriation the system has received from the state over the past two years. The appropriation stands at $585.6 million this year. While we are still facing challenges from COVID, the increased investments from the commonwealth and ongoing system redesign efforts have allowed for the fifth consecutive year of tuition freezes, he said. We are headed in the right direction and the new student enrollment growth for the second year in a row is the result. Greenstein agrees holding the base tuition at $7,716 for six years has made the system universities more attractive to students as that has opened up the gap between their cost to attend and the least expensive four-year option. In 2020-21, the most recent year data is available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, the gap in the net average price for first-time students attending system universities compared to those attending Pitt, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities was $3,600 and compared to private universities it was $9,000. The work that made that possible is paying off, he said. Its good for staff, faculty, the people who had a long spell of very difficult times but obviously there is more to do but this shows its worth it, he said. The universities that saw the biggest declines were the two consolidated institutions Commonwealth University, which includes the former Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities, and Pennsylvania Western University, which includes the former California, Clarion and Edinboro universities. Those universities were combined as part of the systems redesign to bring spending in line with revenue while serving the commonwealth and its workforce needs and expanding opportunities for students. Commonwealths total enrollment declined by 985 students to 11,108 although its first-year student count this fall rose by 11.8%, to 2,441 and its number of graduate students increased. PennWests total student count dropped to 11,305, down 1,473 students. Its first-year student numbers also declined by more than 20% to 1,617. System spokesman Kevin Hensil said its important to remember that before those six universities were consolidated, or integrated as the system calls it, all of them were experiencing enrollment declines. Enrollment had been falling for a long time and it will take time to reverse, Hensil said. Integration was never intended to be the sole solution to the enrollment challenges. Instead the creation of Commonwealth University and PennWest University allowed those new universities to offer more students, more academic majors and choices than they could offer alone with smaller enrollments. Despite the enrollment declines, Greenstein remains confident both of those universities are on track to show improvement. Faculty union president Ken Mash, meanwhile, sees the enrollment data at the two consolidated universities as reason to be concerned. But he agrees with Greenstein that keeping costs to students low makes a difference. Indiana University lowered its tuition by almost 20% last year for undergraduate students both in-state and out by dropping the per-credit tuition model and going with a flat tuition rate for students taking up to 18 credits. It saw its highest number of new, first-time students since 2018 and itsoverall enrollment increased for the first time in 11 years. Millersville University, which saw slight declines in its first-time students as well as overall enrollment, is returning to the flat tuition model next year. Shippensburg University is the only other system university that charges students on a per-credit basis. Shippensburg saw no negative impact on its first-time students or its overall enrollment this fall by using that tuition model. Beyond the focus on affordability, Greenstein also thinks the publics view of the state universities has changed. Were getting better at not just telling our story but delivering on it, he said. I think thats beginning to show up. It makes a difference. The fall enrollment at each of the 10 universities and the percentage change from last fall: Cheyney: 724, a 2.5% increase Commonwealth: 11,108, a 8.1% decrease East Stroudsburg: 5,463, a 6% increase Indiana: 9,254, a 4.8% increase Kutztown: 7,427, a 0.6% decrease Millersville: 6,752, a 1% decrease PennWest: 11,305, a 11.5% decrease Slippery Rock: 8,362, a 1.4% increase Shippensburg: 5,185, a 0.4% increase West Chester: 17,108, a 1.2% decrease * This post was updated to include some additional highlights from the fall enrollment report provided by the State System of Higher Education. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @JanMurphy. Editors note: This story has been updated with new details from the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office. An 18-year-old Allentown woman has been pronounced dead following a shooting last Monday in the city. The incident unfolded at 5:38 a.m. at a home in the 2000 block of West Green Street. The Lehigh County Coroners Office has identified the woman as Sian A. Cartagena. Cartagena was pronounced dead at 2:48 p.m. Wednesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest Hospital in Salisbury Township. Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio said an autopsy was conducted Monday. Buglio said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the body and the manner was ruled a homicide. Lehigh County First Assistant District Attorney Gavin Holihan told lehighvalleylive.com that 21-year-old Ethan Bastien of Allentown has been charged in the case. Bastien prior to the death was facing a felony count of attempted homicide, and two felony aggravated assault charges, including one involving a deadly weapon. Bastien on Oct. 2 was arraigned on the charges before District Judge Amy Zanelli. Court records show bail was denied in the case and Holihan confirmed Bastien remains at the Lehigh County jail. Prior to his arrest, Bastien lived at the same West Green Street address, in which the shooting took place, Holihan said. The relationship between the pair remains unclear as the case remains under investigation. The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released shortly, Holihan said. The Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County Coroners Office and Lehigh County District Attorneys Office are handling the case. Last weeks shooting marks the 16th homicide in the city since the start of the year. More recently, a 58-year-old man on Sept. 23 was fatally shot in the 500 block of West Allen Street. That incident was followed by 35-year-old Giselle Karen Trabal on Sept. 29 being shot and killed at an apartment in the 600 block of North Law Street. Obadiah Whack, 29, of Allentown has since been charged with homicide in the Sept. 29 shooting, authorities said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. The family of a prisoner who scalded his cellmate with boiling water before strangling him had tried to get him committed before his fatal attack and had contacted gardai with concerns that there might be "an incident" if his mental health further deteriorated, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Meanwhile the victim's family, in an impact statement to the court, described him as a "gentle soul" who was the "apple of his mother's eye", adding that his mother died of a "broken heart" before the case came to trial. Michael Connolly (55), of no fixed abode, scalded Mark Lawlor with hot water using a borrowed kettle from a next-door cell before strangling him. He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in August. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. The jury had heard that Connolly, who is originally from Louth, believed that Mr Lawlor (37), from Drumcondra, had some kind of exalted identity like a king and was "a kingpin of Dublin" when he killed him in a cell in the prison. The jury had been told that a disagreement on the findings of two psychiatrists was the nub of the case over whether or not Connolly was sufficiently mentally ill to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. At the Central Criminal Court on Monday, October 8, Mr Lawlor's sister, Sharon Brennan, read an emotional victim impact statement to the court, written by her father, Sean, on behalf of the family. Ms Brennan said the family's lives were "shattered" on the day they were informed of Mr Lawlor's death. She said that her brother's mental health had deteriorated before his death and that he had been taken away from the family while in the prison system. Ms Brennan said that her brother had a "gentle soul" and a "heart of gold" and that "all of our lives were changed" by his death. She said that Mr Lawlor was the only son in the family and was the "apple" of his mother's eye, "who died of a broken heart after Mark's death". She read that the family hoped that "justice be served for the people of Ireland", adding that the Lawlor family "should never have had to go through the pain of losing our son in the way that Mark died". In outlining the evidence heard at the trial, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tony McGillicuddy SC, said that the attack took place in Cloverhill Prison on the night of Friday, November 22, 2019, into the early hours of Saturday, November 23, 2019. Mr McGillicuddy said Mr Lawlor and Connolly had both been remanded to the prison on unconnected matters and the two men were alone sharing the three-prisoner cell on the night. Mr McGillicuddy said that at 11.35pm on the night, a call light was activated by prisoners in the adjoining cell, who heard a scuffle and someone calling out Davey or David. The prisoners thought it was Mr Lawlor and that he sounded hoarse and may have been choking. A prison officer responded and when he looked into the cell, he saw Connolly on top of Mr Lawlor with his hands around his neck. The cell door was opened and prisoner officers took Connolly off Mr Lawlor. Mr Lawlor was pronounced dead at 12.55am. Counsel said a psychiatrist found that Mr Connolly had delusional beliefs, including that the prisoners were in league with prison officers in a homosexual conspiracy. Mr McGillicuddy said the psychiatrist noted that Mr Connolly had formed the delusional belief that Mr Lawlor had some kind of exalted identity, like a king. The barrister said prison officer Adrian Richmond gave evidence that when he looked into the cell, he saw Connolly on top of Mr Lawlor and that Mr Connolly showed no reaction to the light of his torch shining into the cell and that he also made no sound. Mr McGillicuddy said the officer's evidence was that it was as if the accused was in a "trance" when removed. Colm Burke, an assistant chief prison officer, gave evidence that he saw Mr Lawlor lying on the bed with a chair across his chest and Connolly lying across the chair with his hands around Mr Lawlors neck. Mr Burke said he saw blood smears on the window in the cell and on the wall, and that directly under Mr Lawlors head there was a massive pool of blood. Detective Garda Inspector Darragh Kenny confirmed to Mr McGillicuddy that a post-mortem revealed that Mr Lawlor had sustained multiple superficial burns with blistering on his face, neck and arms, which were consistent with having been scalded by having boiling or hot water thrown at him at him. The detective told Mr McGillicuddy that the kettle had been borrowed from a next-door cell by Connolly. Det Insp Kenny said that Connolly had also used the kettle itself "as a weapon" to attack Mr Lawlor and that blood had also been found on it. Mr Lawlor was placed in a recovery position, attended to and CPR was performed but he was pronounced dead at 12.55am on November 23, 2019. Over the course of four interviews, Connolly admitted that he caused the death of Mr Lawlor and had poured the scalding water over him to "get an advantage" before getting on top of Mr Lawlor. Mr McGillicuddy said that Connolly returned to Ireland from the US around 2007 and then engaged with mental health services from around 2012. Mr McGillicuddy said the "nub" of the case for the jury was the evidence of two consultant psychiatrists, who differed on whether or not Connolly was mentally impaired enough to have a possible verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. Det Insp Kenny said Connolly was being held in Cloverhill at the time for a suspected arson attack on a Louth B&B and that he had two previous convictions, one for criminal damage and one for the possession of an axe. Mr McGillicuddy said it was the prosecution's submission that the offence committed by Connolly fell into the higher bracket for sentencing which would result in a sentence between 10 and 15 years. Defence barrister Donough McDonough BL said his client had studied furniture-making in Dundalk Institute of Technology for a year, emigrating to the UK and then the US before returning in 2008. Mr McDonough said Connolly had received a fully-suspended sentence in 2013 for attacking what he believed to be "blasphemous" art works in a Louth church gallery with an axe and was then admitted to a mental health institution in Ardee, Co Louth. Mr McDonough said Connolly's sister had been attempting to get him committed to an institution before his attack on Mr Lawlor and had contacted gardai by phone and email about her concerns that there might be an incident if Connolly's mental health further deteriorated. Counsel said Connolly had admitted his actions caused the death of Mr Lawlor, had co-operated with gardai, expressed his remorse and apologised to the Lawlor family. Mr McDonough said Mr Lawlor was "entirely blameless" in the matter and had done "nothing wrong". Counsel also commended the Lawlors for "as dignified a victim impact report as I have ever heard". Mr McDonough submitted to Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford that his client would endure a "more onerous" time in prison due to his mental health issues and asked for the judge to take this into account when sentencing. Counsel said that Connolly had come from a "difficult background" and that his suffering of serious mental illness reduced his culpability in the death of Mr Lawlor. Ms Justice Lankford said she would need time to consider the matter for sentencing in what she described as an "important" case and offered her condolences to the Lawlor family. Ms Justice Lankford then adjourned the matter to October 27 for sentence. Evidence at trial The trial heard that a post-mortem revealed two lacerations to the back of Mr Lawlors scalp, which may have been caused by a sharp edge such as his head being struck against the bar or leg of the bed. He suffered manual strangulation and straddling of the chest, causing asphyxia leading to death. Detective Garda Ronan Coffey gave evidence at the trial to Fionnuala OSullivan BL, prosecuting, of Garda interviews with Connolly, in which Connolly said he thought Mr Lawlor was a kingpin of Dublin. I thought I would get revenge. I thought of boiling the kettle and pouring it over him; I thought it would be enough, but it escalated to murder. Cloverhill is as bad as Shawshank, theyre all at it, the accused told gardai. Det Gda Coffey went on to confirm to defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that Connolly also made references to the Norse god Odin, Jewish conspiracy and to the Catholic Church. Prosecution consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks gave evidence to Mr McGillicuddy that Mr Connollys first contact with the mental health services was in 2013, and he was assessed as being psychotic due to substance-induced psychosis. Dr Monks said that Mr Connolly was again admitted to the mental health services in 2015 after he set fire to his own house, and on that occasion the diagnosis was schizophrenia. Dr Monks said that in 2019, the accuseds diagnosis was schizoaffective disorder. Dr Monks gave evidence that following the killing of Mr Lawlor, Mr Connolly was assessed by a psychiatrist who said Mr Connolly had apparent thought disorder. Dr Monks said that his colleague Dr Brenda Wright said Mr Connolly presented as floridly psychotic at that time. In her charge to the jury, Ms Justice Lankford said that in order to meet the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, the jury had to be satisfied that the accused did not know the nature and quality of the act, did not know that what he was doing was wrong, or was unable to refrain from committing the act. The judge said that both consultant psychiatrists agreed that Mr Connolly was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of these events, and they both agreed with the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, but they disagreed on the matter of whether he was entitled to the defence of the "special verdict" of not guilty by reason of insanity. Ms Justice Lankford said that while Dr Monks said that the accused did not understand the nature and quality of the act, Dr Linehan said that, after reviewing the accuseds interviews with the gardai, she found he understood he had killed another person. This is the most significant issue you must resolve. The nub of the case is which psychiatrists evidence do you prefer, the judge told the jury. Ms Justice Lankford went on to say that Dr Linehan had given evidence that it would be appropriate for the jury to consider a verdict of guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. On August 1 last, after almost four-and-a-half hours of deliberation, the jury returned at 10-2 verdict that found Connolly guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. The Laois mother of a 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman who is missing after an unprecedented attack against Israel has spoken of her heartbreak as she waits for news about her daughter. A surprise attack was launched by Hamas at daybreak on Saturday, with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and militants breaking down wire fences surrounding the Gaza enclave and entering Israeli villages. Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damti was attending a music festival near the Gaza border when gunmen arrived at the site. In an interview with ABC News, her mother Jennifer Damti who is from Laois, said her daughter had phoned them shortly after. Kim didnt realise there was like seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, she said. They just shot them, slaughtered them like ducks, and thats the reason Im here, cause I want the world to condemn this behaviour. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is, if shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back, she said. So many other mothers here today. Im not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody. The Israeli government says Hamas militants have kidnapped more than 100 people, many of them now in Gaza. Children, grandmothers and young people are reportedly among the hostages. @JamesAALongman reports from Israel. https://t.co/8oqvihiywm pic.twitter.com/J9vwsjSbfz World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 8, 2023 Irish premier Leo Varadkar said they were aware of the case, and consular officials were in touch with the family. Irelands deputy premier and foreign affairs minister Micheal Martin said the savagery of the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas had shocked people. Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people (were) slaughtered in the most savage way, he said. Mr Varadkar said that the surprise attack 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 on Sunday. 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. An aunt of an Irish Israeli woman missing following a raid by Hamas in Israel has spoken of her devastation. 22-year-old Kim Damti remains missing, having last spoken to her mother on the phone as Hamas gunmen who crossed the border from Gaza, attacked a music festival she was attending in Israel at the weekend. Her aunt Pat Cooper, who is from Coolrain, issued a statement about her niece and the familys devastation. Kim Damti is our gorgeous, beautiful niece a bright intelligent young woman with a big heart full of kindness and compassion. Her mother is Jennifer Cooper - our wonderful and dearly loved sister. Kims most recent visit to Ireland was just this summer when she and her mother joined the family to celebrate the wedding of her cousin Alan. The whole Cooper clan, their neighbours and friends are devastated and for now all we have is hope. Our hearts and minds are in Israel with Jennifers family and Kims friends. We have nothing further to add," she stated. The surprise attack was launched by Hamas at daybreak on Saturday, with thousands of rockets fired into Israel and militants breaking down wire fences surrounding the Gaza enclave and entering Israeli villages. They attacked the festival where it is reported that 260 people were killed. In an interview with ABC News, Kims mother Jennifer Damti who is from Laois, said her daughter had phoned them shortly after. Kim didnt realise there was like seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere, she said. They just shot them, slaughtered them like ducks, and thats the reason Im here, cause I want the world to condemn this behaviour. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is, if shes suffering, if shes still alive. I just want her back, she said. So many other mothers here today. Im not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody. In a very emotional video, she told an interviewer that her husband and son are visiting hospitals with a hairbrush containing Kim's hair which has her DNA as they attempt to find her. Kim is one of five siblings, all of whom were born in Israel. President Michael D Higgins joined described the attack on the music festival as deeply reprehensible. "What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all. I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians," he said. "I send my deepest condolences to all of the families of the victims, and our thoughts at this time are, in particular, with the family of Kim Damti our fellow citizen, said President Higgins. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said they were aware of the case, and consular officials were in touch with the family. In response to a query from the Leinster Express, the Department of Foreign Affairs said: The Department is aware of this case, we are in touch with the family directly and providing consular assistance. We dont comment on the detail of individual cases. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said the savagery of the indiscriminate attacks by Hamas had shocked people. Hundreds and hundreds of innocent people (were) slaughtered in the most savage way, he said. Mr Varadkar said that the surprise attack 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 on Sunday. 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. More non-national people seeking the safety of Ireland could be coming to stay in Laois. Portlaoise Municipal District councillors have announced that more refugee accommodation has been offered to the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS). They have however received no detail on the location, how many it can accommodate or when the extra refugees might arrive. The councillors met on Monday morning, October 9, after they were informed of the news by IPAS. They issued a statement through Laois County Council later that day. Councillors in the Portlaoise Municipal District have been informed that IPAS have been offered additional refugee accommodation in Portlaoise. "We ask that IPAS keep the Councillors of Portlaoise Municipal District informed of developments, they said. Laois now hosts 1,119 Ukrainian refugees, two thirds of them in private homes. Up to 750 more are in tents in Stradbally, for a contract that ends on October 13. Another 102 refugees from war in Syria are to be welcomed and housed in Laois, starting in 2024. Laois County Council says that it continues to assist the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth DCEDIY with the temporary accommodation of Ukrainian arrivals to the county, as well as providing liaison locally in relation to vacant buildings and sites suitable for medium to long term accommodation solutions. The Council also continues to allocate privately pledged/offered accommodation to Ukrainian families, with 50 households having been provided with accommodation through these mechanisms to date. Site works are also continuing at the 42 Modular Homes project in Rathdowney. The department have indicated that the handover of the site to them from OPW is anticipated by the end October. The death has occurred of Liam O'Farrell Landen Park, Naas, Kildare / Sallins, Kildare / New Ross, Wexford. October 6, 2023. Beloved husband of Mary. Dearly loved dad of Brid, Liam and Sarah. Sadly missed by his loving family, daughter-in-law Trish, sons-in-law Michael and Daragh, his much loved grandchildren Alanna, Elizabeth, Millie , Austin and Olly, his sisters Maureen, the late Kathleen, Breeda, Annette, Betty, Phyllis and Irene, brothers Johnny and Patsy, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and a circle of close friends. May he rest in peace. Reposing at Oliver Reilly's Funeral Home, Woods House, Clane, (W91 YPX4) on Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm, with prayers at 7pm Removal from Oliver Reilly's Funeral Home, Woods House, Clane, (W91YPX4) on Wednesday at approx. 10.30am to arrive at the Church of the Guardian Angels, Sallins, for 11am Funeral Mass, followed by burial in Bodenstown Cemetery. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to the Irish Cancer Society via the following link: https://www.cancer.ie/ways-to-help/donate?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpompBhDZARIsAFD_Fp9y0I6KDEBrg47rakMTZEoPLAvrAYOuGW42bNtPHySgsr4YOEVfohQaAiOYEALw_wcB The Funeral Mass can be viewed live here: https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/sallins-webcam/ Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors accept no responsibility for any live webcam interruptions or issues. For all enquiries, please contact Oliver Reilly Funeral Directors on (045) 868230. The death has occurred of Tommy Kinane Punchestown, Kildare / Tipperary. October 7, 2023, (peacefully), surrounded by his loving family, at home, Tommy, beloved husband of the late Frances and dear father of Thomas, Michael, Jayo, Suzanne, Kathryn, Paul and Janette. Sadly missed by his loving sons, daughters, sister Nancy, sons-in-law Mark, Stephen and Mark, Suzannes partner Richard, daughters-in-law Bridget, Catherine, Antoinette and Amy, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, grandchildren Sinead, Brid, Aisling, Niall, Thomas, Dean, Tom, Sarah, Heleena, Zoe, David and Sophie, great grandchildren MJ, Chloe, Jack, Alex, Molly and Mack, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and friends. Removal on Tuesday to the Church of Our Lady and St David, Naas, arriving for 10am Mass. Funeral immediately afterwards to Ardmayle Cemetery, County Tipperary, arriving at approximately 1pm. Family flowers only please. Donations, if desired, to The Irish Cancer Society. House strictly private please. Enquiries to Murphy Brothers Funeral Directors, Church Lane, Naas Ph: 045 897397. The Funeral Mass can be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/naas-webcam/ "Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis." The death has occurred of Tommy Dalton 3 Bothair Bui, Athy, Kildare. Predeceased by his parents and sister. Deeply regretted by his loving sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchild, partner, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Rest in Peace Reposing at Rigney's Funeral Home, Athy, on Tuesday evening (October 10) from 6pm until 8pm. Removal at 10.30am on Wednesday morning to arrive at St Michael's Parish Church, Athy, for Requiem Mass at 11am, see livestream link http://www.parishofathy.ie/. Burial afterwards in St Michael's New Cemetery, Athy. The death has occurred of Thomas (Tom) Ryan Mill Road, Mullingar, Westmeath / Athy, Kildare. October 8, 2023. Peacefully, in the tender care of Cloverlodge Nursing Home, Athy. Tom was predeceased by his beloved partner Margaret Lawless, his sister Rosemary, his parents Tom and Lanna, his nephew Ben and his brother-in-law Noel. Tom will be very sadly missed by his loving siblings Una, Veronica, Barbara and Billy, his sister-in-law Mary, brothers-in-law Peter, Lenny and Con, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives and friends. May he rest in peace Reposing at Shaw's Funeral Home, Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar, on Monday, October 9, from 4.00 o'c. concluding with prayers at 6.00 o'c. Removal to the Cathedral of Christ the King arriving at 6.30 o'c. Funeral Mass on Tuesday morning at 11.00 o'c. followed by burial in Ballyglass Cemetery. Mass can be seen on the live webcam at www.mullingarparish.ie To leave a message of sympathy for the family, please use the Condolence Book section. The death has occurred of Timothy (Tim) O'Leary Leixlip, Kildare / Dunboyne, Meath. October 6, 2023 (peacefully) in the loving care of the staff at Rose Lodge Nursing Home, Killucan. Beloved husband of the late Carmel and dear brother of Maurice, Mary and the late John and Brigid. Sadly missed by his loving family, brother, sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, relatives and friends. May Tim rest in peace. Reposing at Cunninghams Funeral Home, Lucan, on Tuesday evening (October 10) from 5pm to 8pm. Removal to the Church of Our Ladys Nativity, Leixlip, on Wednesday morning (October 11) arriving for Requiem Mass at 11am followed by cremation in Newlands Cross Crematorium. Tims Funeral Mass can be viewed by following this link on Wednesday morning (Live only). Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, please leave your personal message at www.cunninghamsfunerals.com. Family flowers only, donations, if desired, to the Kildare Hospice or the Irish Heart Foundation. "Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dilis." The death has occurred of Eileen O'Shea (nee O'Connell) Leixlip, Kildare / Athlone, Westmeath. Peacefully on Friday, October 6, 2023. Leixlip, County Kildare and formerly of St. Francis Terrace, Athlone, County Westmeath. Predeceased by her beloved husband Fred. Sadly missed by her loving daughter Anne, son Mel, daughter-in-law Patricia, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends. May She Rest In Eternal Peace. Reposing at Cunningham's Funeral Home, Lucan, on Sunday from 2pm until 4pm. Reposing at Flynn's Funeral Home, Athlone, on Monday from 2pm until 4pm. Requiem Mass in the Church of S.S. Peter & Paul, Athlone, on Tuesday morning at 11am followed by burial afterwards in Coosan Cemetery. If you wish to livestream Eileen's Funeral Mass, please click the link below on Tuesday at 11am: https://www.churchservices.tv/athlone The family greatly appreciates your sympathy and support at this very difficult time. Due to increases in viruses and vulnerability of family members, the family asks that those attending the funeral be vigilant and hand sanitise where appropriate. A Naas District Court judge jailed three men for theft offences committed in a Tesco store in County Kildare. Judge Desmond Zaidan made the ruling at the courthouse on Thursday, October 5 last. He convicted the following three men for the offences: Ionut Raducan, 27, his brother Claudiu Raducan, 26, and their friend Razvan Ciobanu, 27, all with an address given as 18 Castlecurragh Park, Mulhuddart Road, Dublin 15, County Dublin (however, all three men are remanded in custody on other matters). Solicitor Seamus Boyle represented Ionut Raducan and Razvan Ciobanu, while solicitor Brian Larkin represented Claudiu Raducan. Gardai told the judge that the men carried out the theft at the Tesco store in Newbridge, while Mr Ciobanu carried out a separate theft at the Tesco store in Kildare town. For the first offence, the trio went into the store in Newbridge on February 23 last, and stole a trolley full of alcohol worth just 944.89. These items were not recovered. Then, later that same day, Mr Ciobanu went into the Tesco store located in Kildare town and stole groceries to the value of 116. These items were recovered. All three men pleaded guilty to the offences. Mr Ciobanu has nine previous convictions, while Ionut and Claudiu Raducan have nine and four previous convictions respectively (all these convictions are for theft offences). When it was heard that no violence was used during the thefts, Judge Zaidan accepted jurisdiction over the case. Mr Boyle told the judge that his clients had learned their lesson, and wished to return to their native country of Romania once they were done serving their current sentence. He added: "One of them even asked if he could be deported back to Romania, but I told him the courts arent allowed to." The judge agreed, and responded: "No, we cant, because Romanians are EU citizens." Mr Larkin added: "They are apologetic, for what its worth." When the judge asked what happened to the alcohol that the men stole, Mr Larkin replied: "Well, someone might have had a good night whether it was them or not, I dont know!" Judge Zaidan said that he took onboard the lack of violence, their co-operation with gardai and the guilty pleas submitted, but pointed to the trios previous convictions for theft offences. "I have to be realistic here, I dont think they are learning from their past behaviour," he added. He imposed an 11 month custodial sentence on each of the men, and took Mr Ciobanus solo charge into consideration for his verdict. The judge also set an appeal bond at 500 for each of the men. One would think the comic strips "Nancy" and "Zippy the Pinhead" are at opposing ends of the comics spectrum. Ernie Bushmiller's "Nancy" is an old-time, 1930s-era comic strip, constrained and consistent to the point of obsession, and beholden to the traditional "gag" payoff, whether situational, verbal, or visual. Its author, Bushmiller, was an Eisenhower Republican who claimed no artistic pretensions, and saw his role as a workaday businessman/entertainer. "Zippy the Pinhad" comes from the underground comics scene of early 1970s San Francisco. The humor is freewheeling, experimental, eccentric, and littered with Dadaist non sequiturs. Its author, Bill Griffith, uses the strip as a vehicle to express his views on life, art and philosophy, and to criticize American commercial and consumerist life. Yet "Zippy's" author Griffith has long worshipped Bushmiller's "Nancy," and has just written/drawn a graphic biography of Bushmiller extolling the strip's well, perfection. It's Three Rocks: The Story of Ernie Bushmiller, The Man Who Created Nancy. Three Rocks is a fascinating analysis of "Nancy," and it's amazing to see Griffith not only tell the story of Bushmiller's life, but explore why he finds "Nancy" such a profound, perfect embodiment of the comic strip, or even if of art itself. Griffith exalts Bushmiller's uncompromising commitment to the gag, often surreal, often subverting the form of comics, but always a "snapper," conveyed with a sparse and appealing composition. In drawing this comic about a comic, Griffith allows Bushmiller's world to insinuate into his own work on every level, satirically, sincerely, surreally, and metaphysically. Griffith even uses Bushmiller's actual Corona typewriter to letter some captions. Griffith reprints many actual "Nancy" comics in the book, and much of the book is a pretty straightforward, lavishly illustrated biography of Bushmiller's life. But many of the book's passages are audacious flights of imagination: Griffith repurposes Bushmiller drawings of Nancy and her friend Sluggo to inject them into scenes of Bushmiller's life, into Bushmiller's studio, into Griffith's own life, and even into Bushmiller's ascension to heaven. At the book's end, Griffith incorporates Bushmiller's drawings into his own to create a bizarre, surreal interaction with the characters in old age. (The Super Hero's Journey, by Patrick McDonnell is another fantastic new book in which a celebrated cartoonist repurposes art from cartoonists of another era, in this case the Marvel comics of the 1960s, to create a dazzling new and very personal meditation on his relationship to the material.) Griffith also creates an imaginary Bushmiller Museum of Comic Art where Griffith ("Griffy") himself gives tours, pontificating on the genius of "Nancy." It seems that to Griffith, "Nancy" is the platonic ideal of the comic strip. It's a comic strip that exists in a comic strip world. Griffith says, "Nancy doesn't tell you what it's like to be a child. Nancy tells you what it's like to be a comic strip." I've got to say, this feels like a masterwork for Griffith, using "Nancy" to deliver his Final Thesis on what comics and art mean to him after almost a lifetime of brilliantly creating them. Images posted with the permission of Abrams ComicArts Leitrim runner Liam Cox completed a remarkable 2,400km and consecutive 43 day journey running around the coastline of Ireland in aid of mental health charity North West Stop, last week Starting on Saturday, 26 August, Liam began his run from Carrick-on-Shannon making his way to towards Strandhill in Sligo. He then continued clockwise around the map returning to his native Leitrim on Saturday. The challenge involved running over 2,400km in total averaging over 55km per day and Liam went through four pairs of runners and lost 9kgs during his adventures. Reflecting on his extraordinary experience, Liam said: Im genuinely in shock! I cant believe this amazing experience has come to an end. I starting training for this event at the beginning of the year so it has been a long journey full of ups and downs but Im over the moon to get it done. It really pushed me mentally and physically to my limits but I was never going to give in as raising funds for this cause was so important to me Unfortunately our mental health services in Ireland are really lacking, so I believe North West STOPs services are really important in our region and I am really passionate about doing my bit to help raise as much funds as we can! North West Stop have been providing a free and confidential counselling service for anyone in need of support for almost 20 years in the North West region. North West STOP is voluntary community-based organisation that works to prevent suicide by informing, educating and promoting positive mental health. To date Liam has raised over 40,000 for the charity. If you would like to kindly donate you can do so via https://northweststop.enthuse.com/pf/lapofthemap You can Liams adventures on Instagram @Liamcox93. More coverage and photos of the story in this week's Leitrim Observer... Irish president Michael D Higgins has called for a cessation of violence in Israel and Gaza for the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. His comments came as the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs criticised a unilateral announcement from an EU commissioner which said payments under a development portfolio for Palestinians would be suspended. In a statement, Mr Higgins said: May I, as President of Ireland, lend my voice to those internationally that have called for an immediate end to the killing which has, since Saturday following Hamas attack on Israel and the response to it, included so many civilians, young people and children, as well as older members of families. Any attacks on innocent civilians, such as those horrific scenes witnessed at the Supernova music festival and elsewhere, are deeply reprehensible. Further attacks, and reprisals of the same degree, will lead to further loss of innocent life. Such actions will not lead to such a constructive approach as might achieve the necessary conditions for the co-existence of all in conditions of peace, for which we must all aspire. Mr Higgins expressed his deepest condolences to all the families of the victims of the recent violence. He said his thoughts are particularly with the family of 22-year-old Irish-Israel citizen Kim Damti, who is unaccounted for since the attack against Israel. The president also said an ongoing diplomatic failure to address the conflict is bearing a terrible fruit for all those involved. Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled. Those international voices who have called for an end to the further loss of civilian life, for restraint, realise how difficult this is to achieve. Yet, if out of the worst of circumstances something is to be achieved, it requires an immediate urgent engagement by neighbours and the international bodies so as to achieve the ceasing of attacks on communities and their civilian infrastructure. Any response, and indeed the resolution to what is an ongoing conflict, one that has been neglected and is now manifesting itself with new horrific consequences, must be in accordance with international law, humanitarian needs and respect for the decisions of the United Nations, whom I would call upon to act with urgency. What the families of the civilians entrapped in these circumstances are going through must be of concern to us all. I join with the Irish Government in their concern for all of the civilians at risk in Israel and in Gaza and join in their call for a ceasing of the violence and the protection of the lives of innocent civilians. Meanwhile, Irelands deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has said the protection of civilians has to be the centre of work towards a just and sustainable peace. In a statement, Mr Martin said: I am horrified by the scenes that we have witnessed over the past few days. I again unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable. They must be released immediately. Yesterday, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. It is scarcely imaginable how the lives of so many people that I met during that visit will be irrevocably scarred by this violence. Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, added: I am working closely with EU and international partners to contribute to addressing this crisis, including by speaking today with Palestinian foreign minister Riad Malki and with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Jordan, Ayman Safadi. I will discuss the situation with my EU counterparts in an emergency meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers tomorrow. These inhumane and senseless attacks have unleashed new horror upon innocent people in Israel and Gaza. Nothing could alleviate the heartbreak and outrage of those who have been affected by these events. We now have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs was also critical of a tweet from EU commissioner Oliver Varhelyi which said all payments for a Palestinian development programme immediately suspended. A spokeswoman said: It is our understanding there is no legal basis for a unilateral decision of this kind by an individual commissioner and we do not support a suspension of aid. The Commission later clarified that it is launching an urgent review of the EUs assistance for Palestine to ensure that no EU funding indirectly enables any terrorist organisation to carry out attacks against Israel. It said no payments have been suspended as there were no payments foreseen. The Department of Foreign Affairs also said Ireland has a long-standing commitment to supporting humanitarian aid and development projects in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Irish funding provides emergency humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable, while also supporting the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic public services. Ireland has also consistently funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which addresses the humanitarian and development needs of 5.7 million Palestinian refugees. Irelands funding plays a crucial role in the livelihoods and welfare of Palestinian civilians currently up to 80% of the Palestinian population is dependent on international assistance for basic human needs. Ireland remains committed to delivering this vital support to Palestinian civilians and their needs should continue to be a central part of the overall response to this crisis by the international community. 360Learning Acquires AI-powered Skills Platform eLamp to Revolutionize Skills-based Learning 360Learning, the global collaborative learning SaaS leader, has acquired eLamp, a disruptive AI-powered skills platform. The acquisition is part of 360Learning's mission to be the go-to learning platform for global businesses reskilling and upskilling their teams from within. Skills are the major challenge for businesses of all sizes, acting as a bottleneck to growth and preventing them from competing with challengers. This problem is only set to grow in complexity: the World Economic Forum predicts that 50% of employees will need new skills by 2025. As well, older generations with coveted skills and knowledge are now retiring and leaving a vacuum that is expensive for HR teams to try and fill. eLamp was founded in 2015 as an AI-powered skills platform serving manufacturing and highly technical industries with customers including construction and engineering companies, Artelia and Bouygues Construction, and nuclear company, Naval Group. The company's use of AI to transform skills management in companies brought 360Learning and eLamp together to power upskilling from within. Goodbye outdated skills matrixes, hello AI and solving skill gaps Mapping knowledge gaps in companies is often manually conducted, which takes years to carry out, costs millions of dollars to implement and are out-of-date by the time they reach team members. Already, AI is making it faster and more effective to discover gaps and create the right learning paths to transform an organization from the inside through upskilling (ensuring employees have the right skills to perform in the current or next role) and reskilling (preparing employees to transition to a job in a different career path due to a change in company strategy or workforce re-allocation). But AI can do so much more in supporting L&D teams. Following the acquisition of eLamp, 360Learning will integrate the company's technology into its platform from day one providing skills-based capabilities to solve the continuous challenges facing modern businesses through upskilling and reskilling. Having this seamless connection between skills-based initiatives and 360Learning's advanced learning experience platform will ensure companies can deliver the right skills-based learning to the right employee at the right time, all while tracking emerging skill gaps in dedicated dashboards. 360Learning customers will also be able to leverage AI-powered skills ontology or connect their platform to existing skills ontology in systems such as SAP, where 360Learning is a Spotlight partner, or Workday. By connecting skills-based learning to their company's skills strategy, HR and L&D teams will unlock the skills needed for their business to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Combining collaborative learning with best-in-class AI Since 2013, 360Learning has been using technology to accelerate the power of collaborative learning and help teams upskill from within. AI will help supercharge this - by identifying skills gaps and the internal subject-matter who have these skills and can help others upskill and reskill. This follows the introduction of 360Learning's new AI tools including an AI sidekick, Robyn, that enables these subject-matter experts to confidently build their own courses and transform their skills into accessible learning for others to upskill and reskill. 360Learning's exclusive AI certification for L&D will guide L&D professionals in adopting innovative AI solutions that will multiply their impact on their business. With the acquisition of eLamp, 360Learning is taking AI one step further with skills-based learning. When combined with collaborative learning, L&D teams will be able to spot content gaps in their own skills-based learning paths and identify the best internal experts to develop this content. Nick Hernandez, co-founder and CEO of 360Learning, said: "The recent progress in AI makes a dynamic approach to mapping employee skills now possible. It's revolutionizing how companies think about skills and learning. With our acquisition of eLamp, 360Learning is the first learning vendor to integrate the whole value chain of upskilling on one platform: from understanding skill gaps to designing and delivering the right training plan that optimizes each employee's career evolution. Unlike lagging skill matrixes of the past, AI now does it for you in real time. It's the biggest revolution in the history of HR tech." Olivier Rohou, co-founder and CEO of eLamp, said: "Over the last eight years, we've built and successfully deployed skills management workflows for companies of all sizes. We have become experts on skills and how to leverage the latest advances in AI to understand skills at scale. What's exciting with 360Learning's acquisition is that we'll now be able to fully unlock the value of becoming a skills-based organization ? from understanding skill gaps to launching upskilling and reskilling initiatives powered by collaborative learning. It's what our customers have been clamoring for and we're delivering it. We need to learn new skills and we need to know what those skills are to receive the right education - it's a perfect match!" Valerie Guyot, VP People EMEA at Arkance (Groupe Monnoyeur), joint customer of 360Learning & eLamp, said: "We look forward to harnessing the dynamic synergy between eLamp's cutting-edge skills management and 360Learning's collaborative learning solutions. This powerful partnership not only propels our employees' career growth through seamless skills development but also supercharges our internal mobility, propelling us to amplify our market impact tenfold." ENDS About 360Learning: 360Learning fosters internal mobility to solve the talent shortage by empowering companies to upskill from within. By turning their experts into champions for employee, customer, and partner growth, companies upskill their workforce fast to meet tomorrow's business demands. 360Learning's comprehensive learning platform combines LMS and LXP capabilities coupled with collaborative learning Academies to power your business's upskilling flywheel. Discover the easiest way to onboard and upskill employees, train customer-facing teams, and enable customers and partners?all from one place. 360Learning powers the future of work at 1,700 organizations. Founded in 2013, 360Learning has raised $240 million with 400+ team members across the US and EMEA. To find out more, please visit www.360learning.com 9 october 2023 at 02:05 News published onand distributed by: AM Best to Sponsor and Participate in 2023 Turkiye Rendezvous AM Best will sponsor and participate in the second annual Turkiye Rendezvous, which will take place 10-11 October 2023 in Istanbul. The event, which is hosted by Middle East Insurance Review in partnership with the XV.International Istanbul Insurance Conference, is themed as "Sitting on the Cusp of a New Dawn for Turkiye and the Region," recognizing the regional impacts and recovery following the 2023 February earthquake. Vasilis Katsipis, general manager, MENA, South and Central Asia, AM Best, will moderate the opening panel session at the conference, on the "Sustainability of the Turkiye Market: a 5-year Outlook for a New Dawn." On the panel will be Ferhan Ozay, president, Association of Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers, Turkiye; Atinc Yilmaz, regional CEO and chairman, Howden Turkiye; Andrew Woodward, regional head, Middle East and Turkiye, Lloyd's Limited; and Melda ?uayipo?lu, executive board member and deputy general manager, QNB Sigorta. The discussion is scheduled for 10 October at 10:30 a.m. AST. AM Best is a sponsor of the conference, which will be held at the Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi. Nick Charteris-Black, managing director, market development, EMEA, will also attend and is available for meetings. To schedule a meeting with the AM Best delegation, please email [email protected]. For more information on the Turkiye Rendezvous, please visit the official event page and agenda. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 9 october 2023 at 03:05 News published onand distributed by: R.J. O'Brien Promotes Matt Heidkamp to COO, U.S., Gemma Lloyd to COO, EMEA CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-based R.J. O'Brien & Associates (RJO), the oldest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, today announced the promotions of Matt Heidkamp to Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer (COO), U.S. for RJO and Gemma Lloyd to Chief Operating Officer, EMEA for the firm's UK-based affiliate R.J. O'Brien Limited (RJO Limited). Both executives bring decades of relevant experience to the roles ? with Heidkamp spending nearly his entire 29-year career at RJO in trading and operations and Lloyd joining earlier this year with more than 25 years of experience in client service and sales management roles in the listed derivatives space with brokerage firms, investment banks and asset managers. Terry Gilhooly, Global COO, said: "Matt has tremendous expertise and experience in the space, particularly in operations, and his contributions to what we do have been invaluable. He and Gemma ? who are both highly respected in the industry ? will lead our teams in the respective regions, ensuring we find and implement optimal operations solutions, as well as achieve target objectives throughout our continued growth into new asset classes and locations." Mark Phelps, Managing Director, EMEA for RJO Limited, said: "As we further build out our Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and add products, asset classes and capabilities beyond our robust listed derivatives offering, Gemma will play a vital role in support of our traditional markets while helping to fuel that expansion in EMEA from an operations perspective. She has already proven herself a tremendous asset to the organization." Heidkamp started his career at RJO on the CBOT trading floor. He worked his way up with progressively more responsibility, managing all trading floors and back-office operations as the firm grew dramatically in the 29 years since he joined, including delivering solutions on several key acquisitions. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Operations. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois. Lloyd joined RJO Limited in early 2023 as Chief Commercial Officer. Previously, since 2018, she was Chief Business Development Officer for G.H. Financials Group, serving on the management committee and leading all client-facing areas globally. She joined the firm in 2013 as Global Head of Service Delivery and was named Managing Director in 2016. From 2010 to 2013, she was Vice President, Derivatives Sales and Business Development for State Street GmbH, where she helped establish a new client clearing business for listed and over-the-counter derivatives. Prior to that role, Lloyd was responsible for technical sales and business development at SEB Investment Management. Earlier in her career, Lloyd was a Clearing Supervisor at Chase Manhattan Bank and at Goldman Sachs. She began her career working on the trading floor of the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) for ED&F Man. Lloyd earned her Bachelor of Science degree in financial services from the University of Greenwich. About R.J. O'Brien & Associates and R.J. O'Brien Limited Founded in 1914, R.J. O'Brien & Associates is the oldest independent futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, serving more than 80,000 institutional, commercial and individual clients globally, in addition to a network of approximately 300 introducing brokers (IBs). RJO services the industry's most expansive global network of IBs, a vast array of middle market firms and many of the world's largest financial, industrial and agricultural institutions. The firm offers state-of-the-art electronic trading and 24-hour trade execution on every major futures exchange worldwide. RJO received the FOW International Award for Non-Bank FCM of the Year for five consecutive years, and the firm and its UK affiliate have earned eight honors from the HFM Global publications in recent years. R.J. O'Brien Limited provides execution, clearing and settlement services to professionals and eligible counterparty clients who transact business on the world's leading futures and options exchanges. RJO Limited offers anonymous electronic and voice access to markets across multiple asset classes, including futures and options on all major global exchanges, and over-the-counter cleared commodities. It also provides real-time risk management across asset classes; tailored post-trade services; proximity and colocation services; and state-of-the-art front-, middle- and back-office solutions for sell-side clients wanting to outsource technology and facilities management. R.J. O'Brien Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 114120). Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/363183/r_j__obrien___associates_logo.jpg 9 october 2023 at 07:00 News published onand distributed by: Corero Releases Major DDoS Protection Platform Update with Edge Router Integration, DNS Protection, and Expanded Software Appliances MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Corero Network Security (LON: CNS), the specialists in distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection solutions, today announced a significant milestone in the evolution of its SmartWall ONE DDoS protection solution. SmartWall ONE advances with this latest version to a modular architecture integrating with industry-leading routers, increasing protection against DNS-based attacks, and adding 100G software appliances. "We continually enhance our platform to stay ahead of rapidly evolving cyber threats. This major update empowers our customers to take control of their DDoS protection like never before," said Ashley Stephenson, Corero's Chief Technology Officer. Among the key benefits: Market-leading edge router integrations. Corero's direct integration with routers such as Juniper's MX and PTX routers transforms edge devices into real-time security sensors, blocking DDoS attacks at the edge with surgical precision. This unprecedented control allows rapid, automated threat response and uncompromising protection of vital assets. Additionally, Corero's support of BGP FlowSpec provides multi-vendor flexibility, enabling unrivaled DDoS protection within any network environment. These integrations underscore Corero's commitment to adaptively protect their customers' environments and bring added value to existing infrastructure investments. Advanced protection against increasing DNS infrastructure attacks and TCP exploits . Corero SmartWall ONE introduces new protections countering the growing trend of DNS infrastructure and TCP-based threats. . Corero SmartWall ONE introduces new protections countering the growing trend of DNS infrastructure and TCP-based threats. Unmatched throughput for SmartWall ONE 100G software appliances. Corero sets the industry benchmark for performance, extending 100G DDoS protection into a software-driven future, delivering unmatched throughput. As providers increasingly embrace software-based network infrastructure deployments, Corero is ready to scale with software-based SmartWall ONE DDoS protection solutions. To learn more, visit www.corero.com. About Corero Network Security Corero Network Security is a leading provider of DDoS protection solutions, specializing in automatic detection and protection solutions with network visibility, analytics, and reporting tools. Corero's technology protects against external and internal DDoS threats in complex edge and subscriber environments, ensuring internet service availability. With operational centers in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, and Edinburgh, UK, Corero is headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker: CNS). For more information, visit: https://www.corero.com SOURCE Corero Network Security 9 october 2023 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: Middle East Adventure: GWM TANK 500 Sets New Performance Standards BAODING, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the GWM TANK 500 underwent a series of rigorous performance trials across the Middle East, spanning urban landscapes, deserts, and mountainous terrains, perching on the edge of the world area. The audacious escapades of the GWM TANK 500 in the untamed Middle Eastern desert have captured the attention of local markets and media alike. It is well know the beaches in Dubai, the deserts of Jeddah, and the mountainous terrain near Riyadh, including the famous 'Edge of the World,' offer complex and ever-changing landscapes that serve as ideal natural testing grounds for challenging a vehicle's off-road capabilities. To meet these demands, the GWM TANK 500 is equipped with a specially designed 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbocharged engine and a longitudinal 9-speed automatic transmission, delivering an impressive 265 kW of rated power and a maximum torque of 500 Nm. In terms of driving control, the GWM TANK 500 adopts intelligent four-wheel drive design to provide a thrilling driving experience. It can be effortlessly switched between city and wilderness, allowing drivers to conquer any terrain with confidence. Safety is paramount in high-performance pursuits, and the GWM TANK 500 features a non-load-bearing body structure capable of withstanding substantial impacts. This reinforced structure provides peace of mind and a heightened sense of security. The vehicle boasts an array of active safety features, showcasing over 20 advanced safety technologies. These features not only enhance driver protection but also elevate stability and reassurance, offering up to L2-level intelligent driving assistance. As a global off-road stronghold, the Middle East is making it an ideal arena for performance vehicles. The arrival of the GWM TANK 500 provides a platform for Middle Eastern elites to display their economic strength and individuality. Its product characteristics have been aligned seamlessly with the local demand for SUVs and combined striking aesthetics and formidable performance. With its imposing front grille, large brand emblem, segmented headlamp assembly and rugged off-road capabilities, the GWM TANK 500 has quickly become a favourite of the Middle Eastern automotive market. Since its introduction in the Middle East, the GWM TANK 500 has garnered enthusiastic reviews from influential local media, lauding its grand looks, smooth driving experience, and intelligent off-road configuration. Presently, GWM is showcasing the impressive performance of its vehicles through a series of off-road tests in diverse terrains across the Middle East. The results of these tests will be gradually unveiled via GWM's official platforms and major social media networks. Off-road enthusiasts are encouraged to stay tuned and witness the fearless explorations of the GWM TANK 500. CONTACT INFORMATION: Tyler Qian Great Wall Motor Company Limited Baoding, Hebei Province Website: www.gwm-global.com Email: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241902/image_5028817_38584452.jpg 9 october 2023 at 08:49 News published onand distributed by: Global PC Shipments Decline Again in the Third Quarter of 2023 Amid Signs of Market Improvement, According to IDC Tracker The downward spiral for PC shipments continued during the third quarter of 2023 (3Q23) as global volumes declined 7.6% year over year with 68.2 million PCs shipped, according to preliminary results from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker. Though demand and the global economy remain subdued, PC shipments have increased in each of the last two quarters, slowing the rate of annual decline and indicating that the market has moved past the bottom of the trough. PC inventory has also become leaner in the past few months and is near healthy levels in most channels. However, downward pressure on pricing persists and will likely remain an issue within the consumer and business sectors. While most of the top 5 vendors experienced double-digit declines during the quarter, Apple's outsized decline was the result of unfavorable year-over-year comparisons as the company recovered from a COVID-related halt in production during 3Q22. Meanwhile, HP's growth was largely due to the normalizing of inventory. "The PC industry is on a slow path to recovery as a device refresh cycle and end of support for Windows 10 will help drive sales in the second half of 2024 and beyond. In the meantime, the PC industry will unfortunately experience more pain," said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. "The slowness in the industry is giving the supply chain an opportunity to explore procurement and production options outside China and this will likely remain a key issue going forward, second only to the advancement of AI within PCs." "Generative AI could be a watershed moment for the PC industry," said Linn Huang, research vice president, Devices & Displays at IDC. "While use cases have yet to be fully articulated, interest in the category is already strong. AI PCs promise organizations the ability to personalize the user experience at a deeper level all while being able to preserve data privacy and sovereignty. As more of these devices launch next year, we expect a significant boost to overall selling prices." Top 5 Companies, Worldwide Traditional PC Shipments, Market Share, and Year-Over-Year Growth, Q3 2023 (Preliminary results, shipments are in millions of units) Company 3Q23 Shipments 3Q23 Market Share 3Q22 Shipments 3Q22 Market Share 3Q23/3Q22 Growth 1. Lenovo 16.0 23.5% 16.9 22.9% -5.0% 2. HP Inc. 13.5 19.8% 12.7 17.2% 6.4% 3. Dell Technologies 10.3 15.0% 12.0 16.2% -14.3% 4. Apple 7.2 10.6% 9.4 12.7% -23.1% 5. Asus 4.9 7.1% 5.4 7.4% -10.7% Others 16.3 23.9% 17.4 23.6% -6.3% Total 68.2 100.0% 73.8 100.0% -7.6% Source: IDC Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker, October 9, 2023 Notes: Traditional PCs include Desktops, Notebooks, and Workstations and do not include Tablets or x86 Servers. Detachable Tablets and Slate Tablets are part of the Personal Computing Device Tracker but are not addressed in this press release. Some IDC estimates prior to financial earnings reports. Data for all companies are reported for calendar periods. Shipments include shipments to distribution channels or end users. OEM sales are counted under the company/brand under which they are sold. In addition to the table above, a graphic illustrating the worldwide market share of the top 5 PC companies over the previous five quarters is available by viewing this press release on IDC.com. IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker gathers detailed market data in over 90 countries. The research includes historical and forecast trend analysis among other data. For more information, or to subscribe to the research, please contact Jackie Kliem at 508-988-7984 or [email protected]. About IDC Trackers IDC Tracker products provide accurate and timely market size, company share, and forecasts for hundreds of technology markets from more than 100 countries around the globe. Using proprietary tools and research processes, IDC's Trackers are updated on a semiannual, quarterly, and monthly basis. Tracker results are delivered to clients in user-friendly Excel deliverables and on-line query tools. Click here to learn about IDC's full suite of data products and how you can leverage them to grow your business. About IDC International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets. With more than 1,300 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 110 countries. IDC's analysis and insight helps IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. Founded in 1964, IDC is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com. Follow IDC on Twitter at @IDC and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights. All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. 9 october 2023 at 09:05 News published onand distributed by: Arrive Working with Indiana Hospitals to Improve Efficiency, Safety and Security Smart Mailbox-as-a-Service provider leveraging AI and automation to optimize healthcare logistics and supply chains INDIANAPOLIS and VINCENNES, Ind., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Arrive, the global market leader in the smart mailbox space, is working with Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind., and Community Health Network in central Indiana to pilot the use of its Mailbox-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform and will demonstrate its use at both facilities in early November. The Arrive team will collaborate with autonomous ground robotics provider Ottonomy for the demonstrations that will involve moving a package representing a medical sample via drone miles away from each hospital. The drone will drop the samples into an Arrive smart mailbox outside the hospitals. The sample will be retrieved by a ground robot that will transport the package inside the facilities, to an elevator and directly to its final end user. The demonstration is believed to be the first of its kind. The company says this helps illustrate the value of bringing MaaS to the $75 billion diagnostic and medical laboratory industry and the $3.6 trillion hospital industry. "We are very pleased to be working with innovation-focused healthcare executives to showcase just how transformational an autonomous delivery system can be," said Arrive President and CEO Dan O'Toole. "The use-cases go far beyond what I had originally envisioned for these devices." Companies in remote parts of the world have been using drones to deliver medicine and supplies to patients in need. Zipline and Michigan Medicine are partnering to provide free drone delivery of prescription medicine next year. Some hospitals rely on robots to deliver medications from hospital pharmacies to nurses. Aerial and ground robotics are increasingly being considered for last-mile delivery options by many organizations. But what Arrive and Good Samaritan are doing is transforming the healthcare supply chains of how medicines, samples, and other items are moved between labs, clinics, and healthcare offices to improve processes and patient outcomes. "We are thrilled to be on the cutting edge of innovation" said Good Samaritan COO, Adam Thacker. "This technology will allow us to provide efficient, timely care while also providing some relief to our most precious resource: our people." Good Samaritan, located in the city of Vincennes, operates more than two dozen facilities in southwestern Indiana and employs seven full-time drivers who currently make deliveries among those facilities, some near the hospital campus but some as far as 75 miles away. Thacker said this pilot project with Arrive will enable him to determine how autonomous delivery could bring efficiencies and improve service delivery. The Arrive MaaS platform leverages breakthrough technology in automation and AI to deliver both cost-savings and service improvements. The company's smart and secure mailboxes provide safe, climate-assisted space for pick-ups and deliveries of all types with access by authorized users only. "We are continually searching for ways to increase efficiencies and improve patient outcomes, so we are extremely interested in learning more about innovations like Arrive's MaaS platform. We see enormous potential and hope to have units on campus soon," said Dr. Patrick McGill, Community Health Network executive vice president and chief transformation officer. About Arrive: Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Arrive is revolutionizing autonomous last-mile delivery and pickup with its smart and secure mailboxes and Mailbox-as-a-Service platform. The company empowers autonomous logistics to operate more efficiently by leveraging secure and climate-assisted cargo space, smart alerts and chain of custody. Pllatform's apps and APIs make it easy for partners and customers to use its features. Arrive has raised over $9 million from nearly 5,000 investors and forged strategic partnerships with several industry leaders. Learn more: https://arrive.tech. Contact: Cheryl Reed 317-446-5240 366620@email4pr.com SOURCE arrive.tech 9 october 2023 at 09:05 News published onand distributed by: ALLSTATE PROTECTION PLANS TESTS THE MOST EXPENSIVE PHONES OF THE YEAR AS NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS GREATLY UNDERESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIRS Premium Apple, Samsung and Google smartphones are still prone to damage when dropped despite space age materials and hefty price tags SAN FRANCISCO , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With the recent Apple iPhone 15 launch, this year has seen devices with $1,000+ price tags introduced from three of the biggest U.S. smartphone brands: Apple, Samsung, and Google. They boast advanced capabilities, come in different form factors, and feature premium materials like the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro titanium design. However, according to a 2023 mobile survey by Allstate Protection Plans, the U.S. has spent over $17 billion repairing and replacing smartphones within the last year?with the most common issue being damaged screens.1 To test the durability of the most premium devices on the market today, Allstate Protection Plans put four smartphones through its Drop and Dunk Tests at the same time: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (starts at $1,199), Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (starts at $1,199), Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 (starts at $1,799), and Google Pixel Fold (starts at $1,799). While all of the devices survived the Dunk Test (30 mins under six feet of water), all were damaged after a single drop from six feet onto a sidewalk. The Allstate Protection Plans Breakability video can be found here and reveals: Front Screen-Down Drop Tests: Both the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra shattered on their first face-down drop from six feet onto a sidewalk and were unusable. Both phones suffered raised and loose glass. Both the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra shattered on their first face-down drop from six feet onto a sidewalk and were unusable. Both phones suffered raised and loose glass. Main Screen-Down Drop Tests : Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Google Pixel Fold survived two main screen-down drops from six feet onto a sidewalk with only minor frame damage, corner scuffing, and small screen dents. This could be in part due to the raised lip around the interior edge of both Fold main screens. Both were fully functional and usable. : Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Google Pixel Fold survived two main screen-down drops from six feet onto a sidewalk with only minor frame damage, corner scuffing, and small screen dents. This could be in part due to the raised lip around the interior edge of both Fold main screens. Both were fully functional and usable. Back-Down Drop Tests: Both the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra shattered on their first back-down drop test from six feet. The S23 Ultra was still fully functional but was only safe to handle when in a case that covered its back panel. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was fully functional except for its Main Camera and Ultra-Wide Angle Camera, which were shattered. Like the S23 Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was only safe to handle when in a case that covered its back panel. Both the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra shattered on their first back-down drop test from six feet. The S23 Ultra was still fully functional but was only safe to handle when in a case that covered its back panel. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was fully functional except for its Main Camera and Ultra-Wide Angle Camera, which were shattered. Like the S23 Ultra, the iPhone 15 Pro Max was only safe to handle when in a case that covered its back panel. Outer Screen-Down Drop Tests: Both the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and the Google Pixel Fold shattered on their first outer screen-down drop from six feet onto a sidewalk. Both outer screens were unusable. Both Fold phones main screens were still fully functional but were only safe to handle when the outer screen panel was not in contact with the skin. "Even though the most advanced smartphones today are made with space age materials like titanium, Armor Aluminum, and Ceramic Shield screens, they're still susceptible to damage when dropped on a concrete sidewalk. That's especially troubling considering that our most recent survey shows that nearly half of Americans vastly underestimate the cost of smartphone repairs," said Jason Siciliano, vice president of marketing and global creative director at Allstate Protection Plans. "That said, it looks like we may be retiring our Dunk Test. Liquid damage was once a leading cause of smartphone repairs and replacements. Today, it doesn't rank in the top five." According to the Allstate Protection Plans 2023 Mobile Damage Survey, 93 million Americans have damaged a smartphone in the past 12 months, collectively spending $17.4 billion on repairs and replacements. Almost half (47%) of Americans think that smartphone repairs cost $150 or less, yet the average cost for repairs and replacements was $209. For the premium phones tested in the latest Allstate Protection Plans Breakability test, those costs are much higher. Despite the costs involved, 27% of Americans who crack a screen have it replaced in one day or less, which, given the fact that 45% of Americans admit spending five or more hours a day glued to their screens, is a testament to how central smartphones have become in daily lives. To help keep devices safe and minimize cost should accidents happen, Allstate Protection Plans advises consumers to use a protective case and a screen protector. For added peace of mind, protection plans can also safeguard against expensive repairs or replacements. For more information, visit www.AllstateProtectionPlans.com . About Allstate Protection Plans For over a decade, Allstate Protection Plans has transformed the extended warranty industry with service innovation and an obsessive focus on customer experience. Today, Allstate Protection Plans is trusted by over 140 million customers in addition to major retailers and mobile operators in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Allstate Protection Plans are available for mobile devices, furniture, appliances, electronics, and more than 20 other product categories. Allstate Protection Plans is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation. 1Allstate Protection Plans Mobile Damage Survey Methodology and Data Sources The Allstate Protection Plans 2023 Mobile Damage Survey was conducted in May 2023, from 1,500 responses from the U.S. using Cint. Population figures cited in this report are based on the 2021 U.S. Census Population & Household Estimates. Contact: Ian Twinn, [email protected] SOURCE Allstate Protection Plans 9 october 2023 at 12:00 News published onand distributed by: Bucknell put on a valiant effort against Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference rival No.19 Navy in a Sunday match-up, but the Midshipmen took home a 14-12 win. The Bison went 3-1 on a busy weekend of conference action.Bucknell and Navy were neck and neck throughout the first half of play, with neither team leading by more than a goal. The Bison did not trail until the last three minutes of the half when Holden Seybold and Aiden Day scored a pair of goals to pull Navy ahead 5-3.Sophomore attackertook a shot that ricocheted off the post, where it ended up in the hands of fellow Bison sophomore attacker, who pulled back to rocket a shot into the far end of Navy's net to close the gap to just one goal at the end of the half.The Bison kicked off the second half when Stefanovic won the swim-off to earn first possession. Navy ultimately tallied the first two goals of the half to extend its lead. The Bison tried to get a shot up but was defended by Navy. Shortly after, on the return, first-year goaliemade a massive save for the Bison to keep the Mids from extending its lead.The Bison finally found the net at the 5-minute mark of the third quarter to close the gap when senior centerscored. With less than 50 seconds on the clock, first-year attackermade a successful play on the net to pull the Bison within 11-7.The Bucknell offense slowed down and worked the ball around more in the final period, hoping to make a play on goal. The Bison succeeded when a pass from Stefanovic found its way to junior attacker, allowing him to skip the ball into the back of the net. Bucknell went on a roll and scored its second goal in a row when junior center defender, amidst multiple defenders, managed to receive a pass and skip the ball into the back net.The Bison defense caused three straight turnovers for the Midshipmen in the fourth period. Shultz, off one of those takeaways, found Stefanovic, who tallied his third goal for the Bison with less than three minutes of play remaining.Later in the half, junior attackerhit the net after a pass from Stefanovic put him in the ultimate scoring position. Later, senior attackerfound junior centerin the middle to close the gap to 14-12. BUSAN IN THE RUNNING TO HOST THE WORLD EXPO 2030: LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE FOR THE SOUTH KOREAN CITY PARIS and BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the date for the selection of the host country for the World Expo 2030 has been announced for November 28, Busan, the second-largest city in Republic of Korea after Seoul, wishes to reaffirm its desire to host this unique event more than ever. Korea aims to turn the World Expo 2030 Busan into a significant milestone that shifts the paradigm of the international community from competition to solidarity by offering unique experiences for global citizens to share and explore various ideas, rather than intensifying competition in the fields of science, technology and cutting-edge industries. For the 2030 edition of the World Expo, Busan aims to engage in dialogue and reflection on the theme "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future," at the intersection of technology, humanity, and the environment. A candidacy that looks into the future "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future" is the theme proposed by Busan for its bid to host the World Expo 2030. A theme rooted in the identity of South Korea, which has undergone significant transformation over the past century, overcoming war, national divisions, and poverty. Today, it is one of the world's largest economies. Having transformed from a developing nation to an advanced one, Korea now aspires to solidify its position as a global pivotal state for freedom, peace, and prosperity - a fundamental cornerstone of Korea's diplomacy. Situated at the heart of this remarkable transformation, Busan is a gateway to a better future and reflects the essence of the World Expo itself. Through this theme, Busan places great emphasis on conveying a collective message of hope and responsibility. As the United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda, an ambitious sustainable development program by 2030, the World Expo in Busan has a major role to play in assessing progress on environmental matters and continuing the collective effort for a more sustainable future. "We are in a key transition period towards a more sustainable future, which involves collective responsibility to achieve the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda. We are very proud that Busan is a candidate to host the World Expo 2030 to further the discussion on actions for the benefit of humanity and sustainable development. Busan 2030 will be an expo of solidarity, a festive space to share the history, culture, products, and future visions of countries around the world. South Korea is now one of the world's largest economies, a hotbed of technological and cultural innovation. We have a role to play in bringing nations together and showing the way", says Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of Korea and Co-Chair of the Bid Committee. An exhibition that aims to be the most inclusive and transformative ever organized Busan wants to convey messages of inclusivity and enable as many countries as possible to participate in its World Expo. To achieve this, the city will provide an allocation of $520 million, the highest ever recorded by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). In an effort to include as many countries as possible to represent all cultures at this 2030 edition, Busan is committed to funding the construction of pavilions and implementing skills sponsorship to assist beneficiary countries in organizing their exhibitions and making better use of digital technologies. In addition to inclusivity, this exhibition aims to be unique in focusing on four other differentiation angles: the commitment to a carbon-neutral exhibition, the use of new technologies, data preservation, and, of course, the promotion of culture. Because South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, AI, 6G, holograms and IoT will take pride of place at the heart of the Busan World Expo. "As Chairman of the largest business organization in Korea, we are proud to play an essential role in Busan's bid for the World Expo 2030. Korea's innovation aligns with the inspiring vision that Busan carries for this World Expo. We firmly believe that humanity's prosperity will also come through intelligent use of technology. The presence of UAM today in Paris is a means to demonstrate the benefit of technology in our daily lives", says Chey Tae-won, President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Co-Chair of the Bid Committee, and President of the SK Group. To find out more about Busan's candidacy and the sub-themes selected to shape future reflection, visit the official website . Korea, a passionate candidate determined to host World Expo 2030 Korea is putting forth extensive efforts to secure the hosting of the World Expo 2030. President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a remarkable display of dedication, engaged in bilateral meetings with 61 countries in a single month during September to promote Korea's bid to host World Expo 2030. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has also played a pivotal role by making three trips to Paris since June last year, participating in various World Expo hosting activities. These activities include delivering a presentation at the General Assembly of the BIE and continuing to garner international support through attendance at the annual conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and visits to member countries of BIE in Africa. Furthermore, Korea is hosting Korea Week in Paris this month, featuring a symposium on October 9, and a K-pop concert on October 15, as part of its comprehensive campaign. Korea's unwavering commitment to hosting the World Expo 2030 arises from its desire to make a significant leap forward as a prominent nation that shares its transformative development experience, actively participates in the global agenda, and seeks solutions with numerous countries. Having transitioned from a developing nation to an advanced one, Korea aims to leverage the World Expo not solely as an exhibition event but as a platform for tackling common challenges such as climate change and seeking viable solutions. Hosting the World Expo stands as a central pillar of Korea's strategy for achieving these goals. Meanwhile, hosting the World Expo 2030 Busan serves a key objective of fostering balanced regional development. Busan is the second-largest city in Korea, however, the regional gap between Busan and the Seoul Metropolitan Area remains large. Korea envisions leveraging the World Expo to serve as a catalyst for promoting more balanced regional development. Busan, a city of resilience Throughout its history, Busan has embodied unwavering resilience. The city became an economic hub after the war, leading to the industrialization of the country and the development of the local culture, which until then had been ignored. Today, Busan is committed to the education and enrichment of its population. As South Korea's financial hub, it was elected as the second-largest transshipment port in 2021 and accounts for 75% of domestic trade in South Korea. Busan is the epicenter of K-pop and K-content, which have captured the hearts of Korean culture enthusiasts around the world. Looking to the future, in 2030, Busan will see the completion of an unprecedented construction supported by the United Nations: a floating city that can accommodate 12,000 citizens and aims to contribute to environmental preservation and a sustainable future. "We are committed to making Busan a sustainable city, focused on technology, to combat climate change. Sustainability is at the heart of our proposal for the World Expo, as we plan to transform the central district of Busan into an environmentally friendly site. At the end of this unique event, the infrastructure will be made available to citizens and businesses, in line with our ambition to navigate towards a better future," concludes Park Heong-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City. SOURCE World EXPO 2030 BUSAN, KOREA 9 october 2023 at 11:57 News published onand distributed by: LATEST "CHICAGO DRIVES ELECTRIC" EV TEST DRIVE AND EDUCATIONAL EVENT SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDES Organizers Plan Return of Chicago Drives Electric to the 2024 Chicago Auto Show OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), the area's new-car dealer association and producer of the Chicago Auto Show, successfully concluded its second annual fall Chicago Drives Electric experiential test drive and educational event last week. Organizers plan to, once again, bring Chicago Drives Electric indoors to the 2024 Chicago Auto Show this February 10-19, at McCormick Place. There's no other event quite like Chicago Drives Electric where people are able to test drive an array EVs back-to-back. In alignment with National Drive Electric week, Chicago Drives Electric aimed to raise awareness of the many benefits of all-electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles and help consumers understand how electric vehicles (EVs) can fit individual needs and lifestyles. Featured brands available for test drives included: Audi, Cadillac, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo. In addition to putting interested parties behind the wheel of a wide array of the latest EVs, event organizers brought in a variety of experts to help break down the various aspects of EV ownership and tackle complex topics such as range anxiety; at-home charging solutions; on-the-go charging and infrastructure; tax credits and incentives; and where people can begin their search. On-hand experts included Cars.com, ComEd, Drive Chicago and Powering Chicago. Once again, Powering Chicago's mobile field trip truck was onsite, a 73' semi-truck and trailer outfitted with current and emerging electrical technology, including EV chargers, which provided a classroom for licensed electricians and contractors to offer knowledgeable insights. Between test drives, attendees enjoyed freshly grilled tailgate food courtesy of Chicago-based grill company, Weber, who demonstrated its Lumin all-electric grill and was powered by two different EVs, a Ford F-150 Lightning and a Kia EV6. This activation was a perfect example of how the EV lifestyle extends beyond the daily commute. Over the course of the weekend, the event attracted 1,437 total registered drivers and netted more than 5,800 in-vehicle experiences, doubling the attendance from the previous year. The buzz generated from the event carried over to social media; Chicago Drives Electric reached more than 4.6 million, according to initial results from media measurement firm Meltwater. "We are thrilled to see this event grow and involve more brands for consumers to test drive and experience," said CATA Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts. "It's clear, based on sold out registrations, that interest in EVs is still prominent among today's new-car buyers. In fact, nearly 50 percent of Chicago Drives Electric attendees indicated that they are likely to consider purchasing an EV." "There's no other event quite like Chicago Drives Electric where people were able to test drive a wide range of EVs back-to-back, speak directly with product specialists about the vehicles and meet with experts who addressed questions about EV ownership and charging ? all in one place," Webb Roberts continued. "We're planning to bring back the large Chicago Drives Electric indoor test track and EV education hub to the 2024 Chicago Auto Show," said Chicago Auto Show Co-General Manager Jennifer Morand. "Last year's test track featured models from five different brands. We look forward to continuing that experience at the 2024 show." "There are brand-new EV options coming to the market at a rapid pace, which makes an event like Chicago Drives Electric and the Chicago Auto Show an ideal place to see all of the options side-by-side," added Morand. "We understand that consumers have questions, and we believe it's our mission to help provide those resources and answers." For more information on the 2024 Chicago Auto Show, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com. For additional information on Chicago Drives Electric and the resource hub, click here. About the Chicago Auto Show First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the nation's longest running auto exposition in North America. The show is produced by the Chicagoland's new-car dealer association, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, which has staged the show since 1935. The 2024 public show is Feb. 10-19 at McCormick Place. For more information and the latest updates, visit ChicagoAutoShow.com or Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.com. About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association Founded in 1904 and located in Oakbrook Terrace, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is comprised of more than 400 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information, please visit www.CATA.info. SOURCE Chicago Automobile Trade Association 9 october 2023 at 13:29 News published onand distributed by: A FAST-FOOD trader has objected - through his holding company - to plans to build a drive-thru restaurant less than 500 metres from his own outlet in Limerick. Fast-food outlet owner John Lyons, has appealed against proposals to build a drive-thru half a kilometre from his branch of Hungry Lyons near University Hospital Limerick in Dooradoyle. Maxol is awaiting a decision from council over whether it can extend its service station at St Nessans Road to provide for a drive-thru food outlet. A spokesperson for the service station firm said its too early in the process to confirm which company will run the drive-thru. Agents for Watchford Ltd, for which Mr Lyons is a director along with his wife, have put together a detailed document opposing the development. Take-away restaurants and drive-thru facilities operate late at night and the impact of same on residents due to noise and possible anti-social behaviour is not acceptable, the agents wrote in the objection to council. The introduction of a take-away and drive-thru will be detrimental to the amenity of the existing residents and will create a nuisance. They also argued the extension to the service station, the drive-thru element and the additional seating this will bring does not comply with the Limerick development plan. The aim of the development plan is to promote and support Limerick city, they stated. In simple terms, the development plan is a document which governs what can be built in Limerick and where, and forms the basis of what planning applications are approved in areas. The agents for Watchford also argued the Crescent Shopping Centre lies in close proximity to the Maxol service station and highlighted a number of food outlets in that facility. Council planners were due to make a decision on the proposals by this Wednesday. But its understood a decision could be delayed. In a letter to agents for Maxol, a council planner said there are serious concerns a drive-thru, if permitted, could lead to a negative impact on the amenity of neighbouring developments. They also noted an excessive concentration of food outlets in the vicinity. In response, agents acting for Maxol noted council did not define what negative impacts these are. They also disputed the claims made over food providers. CONCERNS are surfacing regarding the potential for e-scooters to outpace traditional motor vehicles on Limerick city roads as a result of future speed limit changes. At Septembers Joint Policing Committee meeting, Councillor Kevin Sheahan expressed his reservations about the impending speed limit changes in Limerick city centre. It has been reported that speed limits in the central area of the city are to be significantly reduced from the current 50 kilometres per hour (kph) to a new limit of 30kph, set to take effect on Thursday, November 30. As studies have shown that lower speeds can significantly reduce stopping times for vehicles, thereby enhancing road safety within city limits, the decision to implement these speed limit reductions was made. Cllr Sheahans concerns about the reduction in speed limits are rooted in the belief that e-scooters and bicycles might soon outpace motorised vehicles on city streets due to their higher average speeds. Most electric scooters on the market have top speeds ranging from 24 to 40kph, faster than the average commuter bike manages. Reducing to 30 kph is ridiculous because those scooters, if not the bicycles, would be overtaking the cars, said the Fine Fail councillor. They'll overtake us as we are driving along, he added. The absence of taxation and insurance requirements for e-scooters also poses an issue as the vehicles are growing in popularity in Limerick city. Chief Superintendent, Derek Smart, addressed these concerns and emphasised the need for clarity regarding the licensing requirements for e-scooters. As there are now a diverse range of vehicles on Limerick roads, he acknowledged the challenges in ensuring that all road users comply with road regulations. AN IRISH-American philanthropist who was the catalyst behind the establishment of the University of Limerick Foundation has died. Dr Chuck Feeney "made a massive difference to this country" through his billion euro contribution to the education sector in Ireland. He gifted in the region of 150m to the UL Foundation, which has been transformational to the campus, the city and wider region. The New Jersey native passed away this Monday, October 9 in San Francisco, California. He was aged 92. Born Charles F. Feeney to Irish American parents, 'Chuck' lived by the philosophy of 'giving while living'. In March of this year, UL dedicated the main thoroughfare on their Castletroy campus to Dr Feeney and erected a sign Feeney's Way. UL President Professor Kerstin Mey has paid tribute to the late Dr Feeney, saying: I am sure I speak on behalf of the entire University of Limerick community past and present in expressing our sorrow at the loss of one of the most giving-of-men in Chuck Feeney. I was fortunate to meet him and his wife Helga as recently as March in San Francisco and it was a privilege to spend some time with him. I want to offer my sympathy on behalf of the institution to his family and to celebrate a truly extraordinary legacy that he leaves behind as an inspiration to all. As well as being the catalyst behind the establishment of the University of Limerick Foundation in 1989, he was a long-time Foundation Board Member. UL President Professor Kerstin Mey has paid tribute to Chuck Feeney. I want to offer my sympathy on behalf of the institution to his family and to celebrate a truly extraordinary legacy that he leaves behind as an inspiration to all. Read more here: https://t.co/dCU6qInYjQ pic.twitter.com/KLMfE1LmmN University Of Limerick (@UL) October 9, 2023 Dr Feeneys giving while living philosophy is at its heart an exceptional story of giving around 8 billion towards philanthropy, for education, youth, health, and human rights globally, Professor Mey said. As the son of Irish American parents, maybe it is no surprise that over 1 billion of philanthropic support went to Ireland, and UL has been one of the main beneficiaries. At its simplest, the University of Limerick campus, over 18,000 students and 2,000 staff would not have been possible were it not for Chuck Feeneys generosity. Dr Feeney pioneered the concept of duty-free shopping in the 1960s, and gave more than 1.5 billion to projects in Ireland via The Atlantic Philanthropies. His "life-long ambition" was to invest his fortune of some 8bn in funding to education, including that of gender equality in third level institutions. In tributes paid to Dr Feeney online this Monday, he has been described as remarkable and very down to earth. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain says his unions strike is about the working class fighting corporate greed" and elites. President Biden seems to agree. Yet this facile narrative is betrayed by the UAWs fast-growing membership at elite public and nonprofit universities where academic workers are bargaining for living wages." Californias public universities now employ about 58,000 UAW membersmore than any of Detroits Big Three auto makers. In 2021 the union boasted about 100,000 academic members nationwide. It may soon have more members on college campuses than in car manufacturing. While the UAW has struggled to organize employees of foreign auto makers and Tesla, it is recruiting new members in graduate-student employees, who earn far less than those in the auto industry. Greedy universities exploit graduate students for cheap labor, leaving many unable to find gainful employment after finishing their degrees. On Sept. 21, more than 3,000 Northeastern University grad students voted to join the UAW. Five days later, graduate and postdoctoral students at the California Institute of Technology announced they had collected enough UAW authorization cards to unionize. On Sept. 29, the union won an election to represent more than 1,000 graduate student workers at the University of Maine. Graduate student workers at Harvard, New York University and Columbia have also joined the UAW. This growing academic proletariat is demanding higher pay for teaching undergraduates, grading coursework and conducting research for tenured professors who earn multiples more and work less. A six-week strike last fall by UC graduate workers ended shortly before Christmas when the university agreed to increase pay and benefits. Under the new labor deal, teaching assistants at the University of California, Berkeley earn $31,275 for two semesters of work, up from $23,246. Graduate-student researchers make $32,495 annually, a $10,490 increase. Auto workers are paid considerably more. About 80% of Ford UAW-represented hourly employees earn at least $32 an houror $66,787 annuallynot counting overtime and benefits. Ford has offered to increase wages 20% over four years and provide annual cost-of-living adjustments, which could lift average pay to more than $80,000 a year. General Motors says that about 85% of its UAW employees would earn a base wage of roughly $82,000 a year under its proposal and more than $150,000 with overtime and benefits. Unlike their academic counterparts, most UAW auto workers dont owe tens of thousands of dollars in student debt. The UAW complains that temporary workers at Detroit auto makers earn poverty wages"typically around $16 to $20 an hourbut thats about as much as teaching assistants earn. But living costs in university cities like Berkeley, Calif., and Boston are higher than in such auto-factory towns as Flint, Mich. While workers at foreign auto makers earn less than those at the Big Threeabout $25 an hour on averagethey too make more than academic employees. Universities might argue that graduate students will eventually earn more after theyve completed their advanced degrees. This may be true for those in the hard sciences who go on to work in industry, but it isnt for students in humanities ($53,000) or social sciences ($64,000) who get jobs in academia. A surfeit of doctorates has depressed their pay. Most cobble together adjunct positions at different colleges that dont provide benefits or job protection. Non-tenure-track jobs account for more than 70% of college teaching positions. By contrast, temporary workers make up about only 3% to 12% of Detroit auto makers workforces. The mismatch between the supply of Ph.D.s and demand for their labor is partially because research universities rely on graduate-student employees to teach classes. As the American Association of University Professors explains, grad students operate as a source of cheap labor for the academy, teaching section after section of introductory or developmental courses." But when they finish their doctoral degrees, they cant find remunerative employment in academia. They could go to work in private industry, where jobs are more plentiful and pay more, but many dont want to. Its hard to feel too sorry for them, though its also hard to pity auto workers on the picket lines. If auto workers are being exploited, its by union leaders whose costly demands could result in their jobs being destroyed or moved to southern states or Mexico. If that happens, the UAW will be fine as its academic-worker membership continues to grow. The union might even consider renaming itself the United Academic Workers. Unlike auto makers, colleges face little risk of financial failure, since they can always raise tuition to reel in more money from federal student loans, which the government will later forgive on the backs of the working class. Both parties seem uninterested in tackling rising prices in higher education and the administrative bloat thats driving them. If Mr. Fain wants to fight economic injustice, he might try picketing the politicians in Washington. The Delhi Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Hero MotoCorp alleging forgery. The complainant is Brains Logistics. As per the FIR seen by Mint, the complainant has alleged that the accused colluded to cheat and falsify the books and manufactured fake month wise bills debited against the complainant totaling 5,94,52,525 ( 5.95 crore) for 2009 and 2010." Brains Logistics further alleged that its contract with Hero MotoCorp ended on March 31, 2009 and thus all bills claiming debits to them post that date are falsified. Brains Logistics has also named Pawan Munjal, two other officers at Hero MotoCorp, Vikram Kasbekar and Hari Gupta; Manjula Banerji (auditor for the company in 2009 and 2010), identified as a partner in Deloitte Haskens & Sells. After the news came out, the Hero Moto share price fell about 3 percent but later pared some losses to close at 2,960, down 75.8, or 2.50%. This is to inform that it is an old matter pertaining to the year 2009-10 with a disgruntled service provider, Brains Logistics Pvt. Ltd. (Promoter - Roop Darshan Pandey). It may also be noted that while the complainant has mentioned company officials in the complaint, however, no official has been named in the FIR. In 2013, Hero MotoCorp also registered an FIR against them and the matter is ongoing before the competent court," Hero MotoCorp said in an exchange filing clarifying on Mint story. Also Read: Who is Pawan Munjal? Hero MotoCorp confirms ED visit at Chairman's residence; here's what we know Trouble brewing In August of this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches related to a money laundering investigation involving Munjal and others, according to official sources as reported by PTI. The searches took place at the 69-year-old billionaire businessman's residential and business premises in Delhi and neighbouring Gurugram, as well as at locations associated with some linked entities. The ED initiated these raids following the registration of a case against them under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources added. Also Read: Hero MotoCorp informs about Sunil Munjal's exit, family settlement agreement as per 2016 plan The company issued a statement acknowledging the ED's visit to two offices in Delhi and Gurugram, along with the residence of their Executive Chairman, Dr Pawan Munjal. The statement emphasized the company's commitment to cooperating with the agency. The allegations The ED case originates from a complaint filed against Munjal by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), an investigative branch of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), the report added. According to reports, Customs authorities apprehended the executive based on information from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). During security checks just before the executive and Munjal were to board a British Airways flight to London from the Delhi international airport on August 20, 2018, CISF discovered foreign currency exceeding 81 lakh in his hand baggage. The Customs seized this currency under foreign exchange management laws, and the legal proceedings for this case are reported to be ongoing. Follow our LIVE markets coverage here In March 2022, the Income Tax Department conducted raids at the premises of Munjal and Hero MotorCorp as part of an investigation into tax evasion. The Central Board of Direct Taxes, the administrative authority for the I-T Department, reported that during these searches, the tax officials uncovered alleged illegal business expenses exceeding 800 crore. Additionally, they found records indicating the use of 60 crore in "unaccounted" cash for the purchase of land in Delhi and the involvement of certain shell companies. In response to these findings, the automobile company stated in a regulatory filing that it is a "law-abiding corporate, with robust internal financial controls" and highlighted that its "financial statements are duly audited." The company Hero MotoCorp is the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer based on unit volume sales in a calendar year since 2001, holding on to this title for the last 20 consecutive years, as per its website. With a presence in 40 countries across Asia, Africa, and South and Central America, the company has established a significant global footprint. As stated on its official website, Hero MotoCorp highlights that "over the past 10 years, the company has rapidly expanded its capacity, geographic footprint, customer touchpoints, and R&D capabilities to emerge as a truly global brand." Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. BENGALURU : Former India head of Xiaomi Manu Kumar Jain is joining G42 as the chief executive officer (CEO) of its India business. Abu Dhabi-based G42 is an artificial intelligence(AI) and cloud computing company that is set to expand to India. After building the largest smartphone company and one of the biggest fashion e-commerce companies in India, I am embarking on a new and exciting adventure. I am delighted to announce that I am joining G42, a leading global AI company, to kickstart a new AI business in India!," Jain said in his LinkedIn post. Jain left Xiaomi in January, ending his nine-year stint with the company. He joined the smartphone company at the time it was finding its foothold in the Indian market. At the time of his departure from Xiaomi, he was the global vice president and was based in Dubai. In his exit announcement, Jain said he would love to build something new, ideally in a new industry. In the past, he co-founded the fashion and lifestyle e-commerce portal Jabong. We are thrilled to share that we will be soon expanding our operations into India, as we continue our journey towards becoming a global leader in AI. Leading us into this new chapter of G42s growth story is Manu Kumar Jain, a name synonymous with transformative leadership and ground-breaking success in the consumer technology sector," G42 posted on its social media handles. On 30 August, Inception, a G42 company announced the open-source release of Jais, an Arabic large language model (LLM). The model was built in collaboration with Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and Cerebras Systems. Jais is a 13-billion parameter model trained on 395-billion-token Arabic and English dataset, as per the company statement. Further, in September, G42 and Microsoft expanded their partnership to include cloud offerings and AI capabilities. The two firms will also be working together to expand existing data center infrastructure in the UAE. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. What to know about the week ahead The New York State Department of Labor will host a career fair 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Williamsville Career Center, 4175 Transit Road in Amherst. Attendees are asked to bring several copies of their resume and to wear professional attire. Mercy Flight will dedicate its newest helicopter at a ceremony at 2 p.m. Wednesday at its Cheektowaga headquarters. The helicopter, N505TJ, will be dedicated to the late Douglas H. Baker, the founder of Mercy Flight. Critically, it also gets Mercy Flight back to its full fleet of four helicopters, after a difficult last couple of years. Steve Case, the co-founder of AOL and now the chairman and CEO of investment firm Revolution LLC, will give a presentation at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Seneca One tower. Case will join 43North president Colleen Heidinger to discuss how noncoastal cities such as Buffalo can become tech hubs. The event is free but seating is limited. The annual 43North finals night takes the stage at 6 p.m. Thursday at Shea's. Five startups will be awarded prizes of $1 million each. The event is free, but seating is limited. In Buffalo, Daniel Adams is asking the Buffalo Planning Board on Tuesday to rezone a 1.25-acre property at 163 Kerns Ave., which houses a bowling center, restaurant and bar that he has owned since 2008, to neighborhood commercial. He plans to continue the business but "further use" the property "to better serve the community" with live music, outside events, tailgates and vendors. The panel is also considering special-use permit applications for: Mattie L. Scrivens, who wants to continue operating Leatrice's Bar at 1614 Broadway as the new owner, as a bar and restaurant with outdoor dining. Kaled Munassar, to continue running his seven-year-old Elevate retail gift shop at 2939 Bailey Ave., selling tobacco, hookah and vape products, as well as general merchandise. Davide Costanzo, to open Edison's Proof and Provision bar at 44 Allen St., in the former "Q" space, with 30 seats and maximum occupancy of 54 people. The building features a historic mural celebrating Stonewall on the side. The space has "been vacant and in disrepair for some time," he wrote in his application. "A bar/tavern for the LGBTQ+ community will serve to provide a safe space and honor the people of the Stonewall movement." THE LATEST The owner of the Buffalo Grand Hotel is facing a big fine from Ontario securities regulators. A big apartment project on Transit Road is starting to open. The fallout from the UAW strike is spreading to GM's plant in Lockport. Robert E. Rich Jr. is the highest ranking local person on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans. How Buffalo Niagara bars and restaurants are gearing up for Sunday morning's Bills game. Spectrum is offering set top boxes to turn 'dumb' TVs into smart ones for a price. Bills Mafia is looking to make its mark on London. It won't cost nearly as much to turn up the thermostat this winter. The state is making big changes to the struggling legal pot market. The new Niagara County hospital is on the verge of opening. An Oishei Children's Hospital nurse is accused of possessing child sex abuse images. The LaSalle Street Station redevelopment project now includes more land. Want to buy a college campus? There's one for sale in Buffalo Dunn Tire has a new owner. Developer Douglas Jemal wants to use tax payments for downtown improvements. A comic book store is closing its two Buffalo Niagara locations. A Town of Tonawanda manufacturer says its expansion could expand. The ECIDA is debating clawbacks for two companies that didn't meet job targets. ICYMI Five reads from Buffalo Next: 1. Get to know the 15 companies that will be competing for five $1 million prizes in the 2023 edition of the 43North competition. 2. How Western New York colleges are adapting to a shrinking student population. 3. How Mighty Taco grew into a Buffalo food icon. 4. In 'tipping point,' Buffalo's tourism market emerges from Niagara Falls' shadow. 5. Kaleida wants to build a new hospital in Fredonia, but getting money for it has been difficult. The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435. Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group is in talks with private credit funds to raise about $800 million to back the acquisition of Reliance Capital, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private. As the the parties havent yet struck a deal, the terms could still change. India has become a hotbead for private credit activity, in part because regulation forbids local banks from extending loans for mergers and acquisitions. Over the last five years, the country notched up the highest investment volume in Asia, according to research from the Global Private Capital Association, a body representing investors. Reliance Capital is a shadow bank once controlled former billionaire Anil Ambani, which was taken over by the central bank in 2021 after more than five large non-bank financiers defaulted within the span of just a few years. Hinduja, whose business interests range from financial services to chemicals and real estate, sought to raise $1 billion from a group of financial institutions for a potential acquisition of Reliance Capital, Indias Economic Times reported in July, citing people familiar with the matter. A Hinduja Group representative did not offer an immediate comment. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Amid the war like situation between Israel and Palestine, Adani Ports said is fully alert regarding the situation in Haifa port and taking measures to ensure safety of employees posted there. In a media statement, Adani Ports said, At a time like this, our thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel. We are closely monitoring the action on ground which is concentrated in South Israel, whereas Haifa port is situated in the North. We have taken measures to ensure safety of our employees and all of them are safe. We remain fully alert and prepared with a business continuity plan that will enable us to respond effectively to any eventuality." The overall contribution of Haifa in APSEZs numbers is relatively small at 3% of the total cargo volume. For the current financial year (Apr 23-Mar 24), we have guided for Haifa Cargo volumes range of 10-12 MMT and APSEZs total cargo volume guidance of 370-390 MMT. In the initial six months (Apr-Sep 23), APSEZs total cargo volume was ~203 MMT, of which the Haifa share is ~6 MMT. We stay confident of APSEZs business performance," it added. Israel vs Palestine war situation Israel said at least 700 were killed in the country since Hamas attacked, as fighting continued for a second 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. The Israeli army has regained control over some areas that were breached by militants from the Gaza Strip in violence that erupted Saturday. At least 370 Palestinians have been killed in fighting and retaliatory attacks. 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. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. New Delhi: Lenders to Jet Airways Ltd on Monday informed the Supreme Court that they have requested Jalan-Kalrock Consortium (JKC) to officially confirm, through an affidavit, whether their investor Florian Fritsch faced fraud investigations by European authorities. Senior lawyer Harish Salve appearing on behalf of the lenders expressed concerns over the banks funds being stuck while the accused Florian Fritschpromoter of Kalrock Capitalis employing tactics by depositing 200 crore in two instalments. In response, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, representing JKC, argued that lenders have been demanding money at each stage, despite JKC depositing 350 crore. The lenders sought to consolidate all pending matters related to the case in the apex court for a joint hearing, while JKC requested separate hearing for this specific petition. The court, at the request of both parties, has deferred the hearing to 12 October. Jet Airways investor Florian Fritsch is under investigation for fraud and money laundering by authorities in a small principality located between Austria and Switzerland. According to media reports, the supreme court of Liechtenstein said that the authorities seized luxury watches and cars during the investigation of fraud linked to the investors investment in reviving Jet Airways. On 4 October, during the proceedings at the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), lenders alleged that the money deposited by JKC may have been sourced through illegal means. The lenders also filed a new application before the Mumbai NCLT bench questioning the source of money paid by JKC. They claimed JKC had not disclosed the source of funds, asserting that according to the resolution plan, funds should come from legitimate sources. On 29 September JKC said it had fulfilled the financial commitment of 350 crore and the new promoters are determined to resume operations of the airline in 2024. The JKC had completed the transfer of money to the lenders as per the NCLAT instruction. According to the payment schedules, approved by the NCLAT on 28 August, JKC was required to pay 200 crore to the lenders. The NCLAT had instructed them to pay the due amount of 350 crore to the lenders by 30 September, with 150 crore to be encashed from the performance bank guarantee. This is not the first instance of lenders flagging a flaw in JKCs proposal. On 5 July, the committee of creditors had told the Supreme Court that it might be more prudent to wind up the airline, given they have not been repaid and no funds have been infused into the debt-laden airline. Lenders have infused approximately 400 crore of public money into the airline, which includes settling airport dues. According to the January order by the Mumbai bench of the tribunal, the effective date of the resolution plan was taken on 16 November. As a result, the consortium has six months from the said date to make payments to lenders. On 22 June 2021, the NCLT in its order approved the resolution plan for Jet Airways submitted by the Jalan-Kalrock consortium. The consortium comprises UAE-based non-resident Indian Murari Lal Jalan, who will hold shares in Jet Airways in his personal capacity, and Florian Fritsch who will hold shares through his investment holding company Kalrock Capital Partners Ltd, Cayman. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. In the wake of alleviating risk from UK Operations, the Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of Tata Steel was upgraded to BBB- from BB+ by Fitch Ratings on Monday. The upgrade came after Tata Steel Limited's standalone credit profile (SCP) was revised to bb+ from bb. The revision was made on the account of the reduction in uncertainty and financial risk from its UK operations. Fitch Ratings expects that Tata Steel's UK operations' cost competitiveness will improve in the coming months. The company will replace its blast furnaces with more cost-efficient and environment-friendly electric arc furnace (EAF)-based steel making capacity. We expect EBITDA leverage to decline over the next three years on higher capacity, output and EBITDA. TSL aims to roughly double its capacity in India by 2030, but we think risks to its financial profile are mitigated by its focus on maintaining net debt/EBITDA, based on its calculations, of 2.0x or lower," said Fitch Ratings on Monday. Key factors that led to improvement of Tata Steels ratings Signals of increase in UK Profitablity was the major highlight in Fitch's rating remark for Tata Steel. TSL's plan to install EAF based steel making capacity of 3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) at Port Talbot, UK, within the next three-four years is expected to generate profit for the industry even during industry downturns, hightlighted Fitch in its report. Other than improving profitibality of its UK unit, TSL's strong cost base in India will prove to be a major boost for the company. The company is expected to push its capital expenditure in the coming years. TSL's average annual capex over FY24-FY26 to be around 30% higher than the FY23 level of INR141 billion (FY22: INR105 billion)," stated Fitch in its report. Other than capex pus, TSL's consolidated sales volume is also expected to rise by 2% in FY24 after falling in FY23 due to lower sales in Europe. Other than this, Fitch expects Tata Steel's EBIDTA leverage to decline 2.5x by FY26, and further thereafter, from 2.9x in FY24 and 2.8x in FY23. Due to this, TSL's lower leverage with EBITDA growth and Tata Group's Support the company is expected to perform well in the coming years. The Tata Group owns a 34% stake in TSL. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. To ensure quality education to school students of in India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched its new programme,Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (SHRESHTA). Under this scheme, students of Scheduled Castes (SC) will be provided with high quality school education by different method. It will also help the government to expand the reach of its development initiatives in SC-dominant areas within the education sector. The scheme will be operated in selected grant-in-aid institutions run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and residential high schools offering high-quality education. Schooling under CBSE/State Board Affiliated Private Residential Schools Under this mode, meritorious students will get admission in selected private schools of CBSE and State Boards. These students will be selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Selected students will be admitted to private residential schools in the 9th and 11th grades, enabling them to complete their education up to the 12th standard. Eligibility Under this scheme, around 3000 SC students with parents' annual income up to 2.5 lakh are selected annually based on their merit. Benefits of the scheme -For the students taking admission under this scheme, their entire fee including school fees (tuition fees) and hostel fees (mess charges) will be waived off. Admissible fees for each class are specified as follows- 9th: 1,00,000, 10th: 1,10,000, 11th: 1,25,000, 12th: 1,35,000, said the press release. -Students can also take the benefit of a bridge course within the selected schools, targeting the individual academic requirements of students and aiding their adjustment to the school environment. The cost of bridge course, equivalent to 10% of the annual fee, is also covered under the scheme. The progress of these students under the scheme will be constantly monitored by the Ministry of Education. Admission in NGO operated schools Under this mode of education , schools and hostels run by voluntary organizations (VOs) and NGOs, will offer education up to class 12, read the release. Schools and hostels receiving grant-in-aid and demonstrating satisfactory performance will continue to benefit under this mode. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. The markets are in a tizzya fallout of the war between Israel and Gaza after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. Oil prices surged and markets tumbled in early trade on Monday, even as the death toll from the Middle-East conflict rose to more than 2,000. For investors, such global geopolitical events typically have a negative impact on their investment portfolios. And that is the reason why financial experts always promote diversification of assets to counter risks. Yet, it is not uncommon for fund managers to allocate 100% of their personal investments in equity. Porinju Veliyath, founder and portfolio manager, Equity Intelligence, does just that. But, his equity portfolio stands apart for one reason. It is concentrated in small- and micro-cap stocks, the most volatile segments in the markets. The reason for Veliyaths confidence in the small-caps stems from, what he says, abundant value opportunities in the space. He believes that growth is imperative and not a choice for small companies. He also avers that it is among these small companies that one can find the multi-baggers. Among his small-cap picks, Hindware Homes, Tata Elxsi, CDSL, PDS, Raymond, Gati, and West Coast have proved to be multi-baggers. In line with the ongoing small-, mid-cap rally, some of his stock holdings have increased in value by up to 30 times in the last three years. The same is playing out in the PMS (portfolio management services) and AIF (alternative investment fund) schemes of his firm Equity Intelligence. We have stuck on to our strengths, delivering 61% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in PMS and 69% CAGR in AIF since March 2020 (when the covid pandemic was at its peak)," he said in an interaction with Mint for the Guru Portfolio series. In this series, leaders in the financial services industry share how they manage their own money. View Full Image Graphic: Mint I have no plans to retire. When you enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy, there is no need for retirement," says Veliyath. Edited excerpts from an interview: How is your personal equity portfolio divided in terms of market segments? Im invested 100% in small-caps. We (Equity Intelligence) have been traditionally oriented towards small- and mid-caps as that is the space where we find abundant value opportunities. This is against the general advice given by financial experts against keeping all the eggs in one basket. How do you carry on during bear markets? I will never advise others to follow my investing style. Investing ones savings differs from person to person; every person and family has different challenges, requirements and financial goals. If you are reasonably wealthy and well-invested in equities in India, travelling is a good option during the bear markets, which is short and medium-term corrections. With 100% equity exposure, how do you cope with volatility? If you are betting on the fundamentals of the company, then volatility is not a risk but an opportunity to buy at a bargain pricejust that you should have the mindset to buy when others are panicking, and sell when others are euphoric How has your personal portfolio performed in the last one year? My personal money is mostly invested in micro- and small caps, which have been doing very well. In fact, some of them have gone up 20-30 times since the covid pandemic. But, to be honest, I dont calculate annual performance and all that. How much has your firms AUM (assets under management) increased in the last one year? How have your firms AIF and PMS schemes performed in the last one year? Our AUM as of September is 2,100 crore. For the one year ending September, PMS is up by 39% and AIF by 31% against Niftys 16%. Investors are flocking to small-, mid-cap funds given the current rally. Are you seeing the same play out in Equity Intelligences case? Is there heightened interest from new clients or keenness in existing clients to invest more? If yes, how do you manage such situations? Yes, we are happy to see both happening. I would say we are more cautious this time around, having gone through the winners curse in 2018 and having learned from that experience well, I would say we are better equipped this time around. What caution are you practising? Shifting from richly valued, currently fancied stocks to some of the underpriced, ignored stocks due to temporary headwinds is a good strategy to be cautious in this market. In a tweet, you said this is the first time in your career you have seen such a sustained bull phase in small and mid-caps. How long do you expect the euphoria to last? Well, the keywords were robust and sustained"never ever have the hopes around India down, and it is unlocking its potential as an economic superpower and is being backed by the fundamentals on ground. I am not talking about the numbers , but the body language, the confidence that we see around. If there is a will, everything else follows. Its not just about the stock markets . The pendulum will always swing to the extremes but remember its still morning as far as the India story is concerned and there is still a long way to go to reach noon. Do you think small caps are now overvalued and a correction is due in small-, mid-cap space? I cant generalise and say all small caps are overvalued. Yes there are pockets of froth in fancied segments like defence and public sector units. But at the same time there are a lot of good, ignored ideas with real potential. So, I would say there are a lot of opportunities for smart stock picking left. Corrections have been happening in the small-cap space for a while. Some of them will do time-correction. I am focusing on select stocks that have symptoms of structural changes, especially in governance. Which sectors are you bullish on and which ones do you feel bearish about? We are sector agnostic, bottom-up value investors. In general, we avoid sectors which are too hot and fancy and focus on sectors which are not in the limelight due to temporary headwinds. Do you have any small-cap picks that turned multi-baggers in the last three years rally? Many of them. Investors, small or big, have experienced multiple multi-baggers in the last three years. In the personal account, Orient Bell, Hindware, PTC Industries, Thejo Engineering, and Raymond are some of the past multi-baggers. I prefer not to mention the micro-cap names. Do you have any unique money ideas to share? There is a cultural change happening in Bharat, thanks to the ongoing governance reforms and good work by the regulator. There are no more incentives for those family-run listed companies to remain unprofessional. In fact, many new generation scions want to go professional, creating wealth through the market cap route, than traditional ways. Investors should explore wealthy companies with a future relevant business model turning around. If everything is perfect about a company, it will be richly valued and you cant make alpha. You have said you dont maintain an emergency fund. How do you use equities for liquidity? Just pluck the ripened fruits when you need. Now, with T+1 settlement you get the payout the very next day if at all there is an emergency. And some money will always be there in my wifes handbag. Do you consider your real estate properties as investment? I have zero investment in real estate. I own and live in my apartment in Kochi and a weekend home with farmland in the village where I was born and raised. Did you ever consider renting a house instead of buying one? I prefer to own a house like all my fellow Indians. However, renting a house could make better economic sense for the youngsters who change jobs and cities often. By renting houses, young entrepreneurs and startup guys, too, could save capital for building their business in the initial phase. What does your retirement kitty look like? I have no plans to retire. When you enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy, there is no need for retirement. Life is a flow; you swim as it goes. However, I would advise all to plan it well, especially if you are a salaried professional. My deceased mother was a non-resident Indian (NRI) and during her work abroad, she invested $20000 in a fund falling in the Isles of Man in 2002. This was invested from the funds earned abroad from her foreign bank account. She then retired in 2016 and did not redeem her funds and she became a resident Indian. Now the fund has appreciated to $50000. If I, being a resident Indian, have to redeem this and bring it to India, what will be my taxation? I am a tax payer and fall in the 30% bracket. Name withheld on request Inheritance of foreign assets under a will is not a taxable event whereas the sale of such assets by the legal heir would attract capital gains tax in the hands of the legal heir. The investment in the Isle of Man fund would be considered as a long-term capital asset and while computing the total holding period of the capital asset, the period of holding by your deceased mother is also to be included. Similarly, the cost of acquisition paid by your deceased mother would be treated as cost of acquisition in your hands too. Capital gains arising from the sale of this investment would be computed by deducting the indexed cost of acquisition from the full value of consideration that would be received. As per judicial precedents, indexation should be available from the year 2002 (assuming fiscal year 2002-03) till the fiscal year 2023-24 i.e. period starting with the date when the asset was acquired by your deceased mother till the date of sale. The indexed cost of acquisition comes to $66,286 ($20,000 / 105 * 348). Since the indexed cost of acquisition is higher than the sale value, it would result in a capital loss of $16,286, which you may convert into Indian rupees at the SBI buying TT (Telegraphic Transfer) rate prevalent on the last of previous month of sale. TT rate is the rate at which a bank will convert foreign currency sent to India, into Indian rupee. The capital loss can be set-off against any other long-term capital gains arising during FY2023-24 and pending set-off, it can be carried forward for subsequent 8 years to be set-off against any future long-term capital gains. Harshal Bhuta is partner at P.R. Bhuta & Co. Chartered Accountants Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. The Biden administrations decision to build 20 more miles of Donald Trumps border wall has both sides of the political aisle howling. Try as he might to deny it, Mr. Biden has surrendered to Trump tactics out of desperation ahead of the 2024 election. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says Texas Rio Grande Valley is so vulnerable to unlawful entry" that it presents an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers." Mr. Biden told reporters he doesnt think more wall will control the border. But his government will do it anyway. I am reminded of the observation attributed to Winston Churchill that Americans will always do the right thing, after having exhausted all the alternatives." The right thing to do about the migration crisis is to return to a U.S.-led pro-growth agenda for the Western Hemisphere. Unfortunately all other alternatives arent yet exhausted. Open markets, sound money, light tax and regulatory policies and the rule of law were once standard U.S. advice for the neighbors. Today both Democrats and Republicans are protectionist. Thats bad enough. But the priorities of Americas far left have become top foreign-policy priorities for the Biden State Department and White House: LGBT initiatives, income equality, labor activism and the end of fossil fuels. Profit is a dirty word. When the National Security Councils adviser for Latin America, Juan Gonzalez, called the Guatemalan business community a predatory elite" in 2021, he captured bidenista hostility toward capitalism everywhere. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai spends her days harassing Mexican businesses on behalf of the AFL-CIO while refusing to defend American oil, gas and renewable investors suffering discrimination by the Mexican government (which, by the way, is her job). Because it has abdicated free-market leadership, Washington has had to go on the defensive in a destabilized hemisphere. It doesnt have to be this way if the U.S. would return to a foreign policy that aims at fast growth. The idea may appear quixotic in the Biden-Trump era. But every paradigm shift starts with vision. Each migrant who turns up at the Mexico-U.S. border has a story about why he or she wants to cross. Because those wishing to enter the U.S. using the asylum process must assert a credible fear" of returning to their home countries, thats the most popular claim. The reality suggests something different: Risk-takers are fleeing economic disarray. Its for a better future," as one young man accompanied by his pregnant wife told a reporter in the dangerous Darien jungle. Even democracies that are growing dont offer opportunities as appealing as the U.S. Short of digging a moat and pulling up the drawbridge, which would be costly for American economic dynamism, it will be tough to hold back the human tsunami crashing on U.S. shores. Economic freedom and development are the only humane solutions to the poverty driving these huddled masses. Its been done before. In the aftermath of the 1982 Latin debt crisis and the stagnation that lingered, it became obvious that without significant economic liberalization, the region wouldnt grow fast enough to satisfy its expanding populations. In 1990 the George H.W. Bush administration launched the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative, a soft-power approach to promoting wealth creation south of the border. The 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement was one achievement. Nafta was so successful at boosting continental commerce and raising living standards in northern Mexico that President Trump failed to strangle it 25 years later. He had to settle for burdensome new labor regulations drafted by Democrats in Congress and a new name for the pact. But its substance largely survived. The Washington Consensus was another product of the 1990s. It was a blueprint for fiscal discipline, privatization, tax reform, deregulation and trade and investment liberalization. Contrary to conventional wisdom, as former World Bank economist William Easterly showed in a 2019 paper, its remedies bore fruit over time and growth was good after reform in Africa and Latin America, in contrast to the lost decades of the 80s and 90s." Unfortunately many governments also committed policy errors that undermined the reforms and, inevitably, political support for them. Regaining the momentum for modernization is now the challenge. Trade is the best U.S. tool to advance development, but nearshoring in Mexico isnt enough. Creating wealth and opportunity throughout the hemisphere requires regional trade integration that allows free-trade partners to add value, duty free, all along the chain of production. The first step to restoring immigration order is to recognize that neither protectionism nor the antidevelopment ideology of socialism is cost-free. The hardship hitting all sides in the migrant crisis is the high price of getting the economics of development wrong. Write to OGrady@wsj.com. New Delhi: Over 14,000 companies were incorporated in September, marking a rise of over 3% over a year ago, official data from the ministry of corporate affairs showed. The numbers hint at steady interest in entrepreneurship, and stabilizing company registration process after a technological upgrade to the governments digital registry. A majority of the new companies, or about 40% of firms incorporated during September, have an authorized capital of 100,000, indicating that micro and small enterprises are the fastest expanding segment within the industry. The services sector is witnessing the fastest growth in terms of economic activity. Small businesses play a significant role in India, contributing approximately one-third to economic output and making substantial contributions to exports. In September, the highest number of new business ventures, totalling 3,828 registrations, were in the community, personal, and social services sector. Business services followed with 2,170 registrations. Besides, 2,142 trading companies set up shop. The manufacturing sector added 1,957 businesses, while farm and allied sectors welcomed 855 newcomers. Additionally, 848 new construction companies and 649 real estate renting businesses emerged during the period. Two central public sector entitiesKallam TransCo Ltd and Khavda IV C Power Transmission Ltdwere also established for building and maintaining power, telecom, and transmission lines,according to data from the ministry. Indias services sector has emerged as a key contributor to economic growth in recent years. In June quarter, it was the fastest-growing segment. Gross value added in hotels, trade, transport, communication and broadcasting-related services posted 9.2% growth in Q1 FY24. Besides, financial, real estate, and professional services sector grew by 12.2%, according to data from the statistics ministry. In September, Maharashtra led with the highest number of new companies formed, with 2,352 registrations, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,642 new companies, and Delhi with 1,271 registrations. Gujarat reported 1,161 new registrations during the month. Between April and September, 79,300 new firms were established, up 2% from a year earlier. Growth in new company formation signifies an expanding corporate sector and creation of legal entities for investments. However, starting their operations will depend on a host of economic conditions. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Following reported threats to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the Maharashtra government has decided to amplify his security to Y+ level, ANI reported. SRK, freshly coming from the massive success of Jawan that crossed 1,100 crore in revenue, sought the state's intervention after allegedly receiving death threats, following the release of his movies Pathaan and Jawan, according to Maharashtra Police. The latest update comes after Shah Rukh Khan's wife and interior designer Gauri Khan celebrated her birthday on October 8. They cut the cake which featured Gauri Khan as the queen and took a photo with a poster that read Team Shah Rukh Khan Fan Club Wishes Happy Birthday Gauri Khan, ANI reported. Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here! On Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, King Khan paid a heartfelt tribute to him by remembering all his teachings. Taking to Instagram, SRK wrote, "Mahatma GandhiJis teachings are timeless and have underlined the importance of compassion, unity and love. He taught us how to never lose spirit and heart in the face of adversity. Lets remember him and celebrate his legacy on the special occasion of Gandhi Jayanti." Jawan's political message Many have termed Jawan as a mainstream Bollywood movie with a deep-rooted political message, something that is extremely rare in traditional Hindi films. The protagonist of the movie asks people to vote sensibly while many believe that the movie sends a message of anti-establishment". Director Atlee said at India Today Conclave Mumbai 2023, You can take it whatever way you want. It is a common audience voice. It is the voice of Indian emotion. I am not specifying anything but I am talking about real issues. One should know who to vote for and how to vote and read the manual." Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. The phone of infectious diseases expert Dr. Thomas Russo has been a little busier recently as he has heard of more people testing positive for Covid-19. I get a lot more calls and a lot more people telling me, Im positive. What am I going to do? said Russo, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. I know a lot more people now that are positive over the last, certainly, month or so. State data show that positive tests and hospitalizations have been ticking up a Covid creep, as Russo called it since around mid-July in a Western New York area that includes Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua and Allegany counties. Still, figures remain low compared with prior years and, crucially, fewer people are getting severely sick from Covid-19. Lets hope it remains a creep, and not a wave, Russo said. Health care providers and experts are paying close attention to what comes next, especially as Western New York saw balmy summer-like high temperatures last week that have now descended to a touch above 50 degrees, meaning we are now entering the more typical respiratory virus season and all the indoor gatherings that come amid the colder months. Some hospitals have already taken steps. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is now requiring masks in its hospital and outpatient clinical areas due to increasing Covid-19 infection rates and in anticipation of cold and flu season, the cancer center said on its website Sept. 28. Were taking proactive steps to protect our patients, staff and visitors as we approach the winter months, when cases have trended higher, Roswell Park said in a statement. Other area hospitals are in wait-and-see mode, though masking in some units with high-risk patients never went away, even as cases dipped. The state reported 122 positive tests in Western New York on Oct. 3, a figure that has fallen over the last couple weeks since 226 positive tests on Sept. 25 and 253 on Sept. 18. The actual number of cases, however, is presumably higher because most people likely do not report positive home tests to the state. A better gauge at this point could be hospitalizations. There were 86 Covid-19-positive patients hospitalized, including seven in the intensive care unit, in Western New York on Thursday, the highest daily hospitalization figure recorded since late March, but still a long way away from the peak of 701 hospitalizations in mid-January 2022, according to state data. Providers also continue to find Covid-19 incidentally in patients. Of those 86 hospitalizations reported Thursday, 57 of the admissions were due to Covid-19, while the other 29 were patients admitted for a reason other than Covid-19, but who happened to test positive, state data show. Anxiously sitting tight Erie County Medical Center, which was once slammed with nearly 150 Covid-19-positive inpatients in its hospital on certain days back in mid-January 2022, is starting to see a few more hospitalizations, but is right now typically running between 10 and 12 inpatients, said Charlene Ludlow, senior vice president of nursing. On Thursday, ECMC had 13 Covid-19-positive patients in its hospital, though only four of them were admitted due to Covid-19 and none were in the ICU. A lot of people are having very mild symptoms, which is good in one way, Ludlow said. But on the other hand, some people with mild symptoms arent testing, and I think they could be the ones that are spreading it. That community spread also is affecting ECMCs staffing. Of late, Ludlow said, ECMC has had roughly 25 employees who have been out with Covid-19. While ECMC is seeing only one to three new employee cases in a day or over a weekend, Ludlow said a positive case keeps those employees out of work for 10 days before they return. So far, were able to manage it, she said. Were able to get through it, and the numbers are not big right now. So we havent had to do any changes in any staffing or anything like that at this point. Ludlow said ECMC hasnt instituted mandatory masking in its facility, though masks are available to staff and visitors. She said ECMC has daily huddles, where leaders look at Covid-19 numbers and trends to see if any changes need to be made. It is a similar situation at Kaleida Health. Dr. John Sellick, an infectious disease expert and hospital epidemiologist with Kaleida, said there is no official mask requirement, but physicians are encouraged to wear a mask while with patients. Sellick, for one, said he doesnt wear a mask when coming to work or sitting in his office, but he wears one when he actually sees patients in the hospital. Were not seeing a big increase in hospitalized patients, were not seeing any real increase in patients who are sick enough with Covid to wind up in the ICU, he said. So were kind of anxiously sitting tight with all of this. One metric Sellick keeps a close eye on is the reported Covid-19 new hospital admissions rate per 100,000 people, released weekly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And for the week that ended Sept. 30, Erie County had 10.5 new Covid-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people, just barely crossing into the medium level of new admissions that ranges from 10 to 19.9. For that week, a little more than 91% of U.S. counties were in the low level (fewer than 10 new admissions per 100,000 people), almost 8% were in the medium level, and just 20 counties, or 0.6%, were in the high level, which is at least 20 new admissions per 100,000. Certainly, if we were ever to get to that CDC high level of new admissions per 100,000, we would be looking much more seriously about getting proactive with the masking and the visitation, Sellick said. But were a long way from that right now, hopefully. So were just going to keep watching it and following it. Steps to take Russo, Sellick and Ludlow agree that there is enough Covid-19 out there that those in high-risk groups need to be careful. And many of the steps they recommend are unchanged from prior messaging. For one, they recommend people get the updated Covid-19 vaccine, which was released last month and is tailored against circulating variants. For those who recently had Covid-19, its recommended they wait roughly 90 days after infection to get vaccinated. And while theyre at, Sellick said folks should consider getting the flu vaccine by Halloween or flu by boo, as one of Sellicks peers refers to it. What you should know as Covid-19 cases again tick up in Western New York While Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are beginning to tick up, both remain low versus prior years. Still, officials are taking precautions as school returns and colder weather nears. Further, those in high-risk categories may want to be cautious before going into poorly ventilated indoor settings or consider masking if they go. Experts also say it is a good idea to have a supply of home tests, with every U.S. household once again able to place an order to receive four free Covid-19 rapid tests at covidtests.gov. In addition to Covid-19, Ludlow, at ECMC, said providers havent seen much flu yet this year, but they are starting to see more respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. I always remind people if youve got a respiratory illness, you need to stay home dont go out in the community and offer it to others, especially those people that are immunocompromised, she said. The Assembly Elections will be held in Telangana on November 30, the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared. The date of counting is December 3. Assemble Election dates 2023 LIVE The election schedule of the general elections to legislative Assemblies of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana were announced, the ECI informed. Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS managed to win 88 seats out of 119 and had a dominant vote share of 47.4%. Congress came at a distant second with 19 seats. Its vote share was 28.7%. On October 6, The Election Commission held a meeting of observers ahead of announcing the schedule for assembly elections in five states with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asking them to ensure that the menace of money power is controlled thoroughly. The meeting involved general, police, and expenditure observers for the assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. If the Narendra Modi government comes to power for a third time, it will lead the country to destruction, the opposition Congress in Kerala said on October 9. Therefore, the grand old party decided to unify all secular groups to defeat the BJP. Former Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala made the statement while speaking to reporters in New Delhi. Chennithala said Congress took the initiative to create the INDIA bloc or front with the deliberate intention of ensuring, at any cost, that the BJP does not return to power for a third time. "If the Narendra Modi government comes to power for a third time, it will lead the country to destruction. There is no doubt about that," he said. (This is breaking news. Check back for more updates.) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Addressing a National Sindhi Convention in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday said if Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, then there is no reason why we cannot take back Sindhu, a province now in Pakistan, PTI reported. A press statement issued by the Uttar Pradesh government, the chief while addressing the two-day convention, said, "After 500 years, a grand temple of Lord Ram is being constructed in Ayodhya. Ramlala will be seated again in his temple by the Prime Minister in January." "If Ram Janmabhoomi can be taken back after 500 years, then there is no reason why we cannot take back Sindhu," PTI quoted the UP chief minister as saying. Pointing out that the Sindhi community suffered the most after the partition in 1947, the UP chief minister said the community must tell its present generation about its history and suffering during the partition, adding that the stubbornness of just one person led to the partition of the country. "Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!" Click here! "When 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," PTI quoted Yogi Adityanath as saying at the National Sindhi Convention organised by the Sindhi Council of India. No civilised society can ever recognise terrorism, extremism or any kind of anarchy," 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," he added. He said, "Where there is a country, there is a religion too and when there is religion, there is a society in which we all exist." The UP chief minister urged the people of the country 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," he added. "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," the chief minister reported as saying. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. At least seven people, including five women, one man, and one child, died in a major bus accident in Uttarakhand's Nainital district on Sunday. As many as 28 people have been rescued till now and rescue operations are still underway. The bodies of the deceased have been recovered and handed over to the civil police by the SDRF, they said. Official said, the bus was coming from Haryana and crashed into a ditch in Nainital. According to the officials, the Disaster Control Room in Nainital notified SDRF on Sunday that a bus thought to be carrying 30 to 33 people had crashed into a ditch at Nalni on Kaladhungi Road. On the above information, as per the instructions of Commandant SDRF Manikant Mishra, SDRF rescue teams from Post Rudrapur, Nainital, and Khairna immediately left for the spot for rescue. After reaching the spot, it was found that there were 33 people in the said bus that came from Hisar, Haryana, to visit Nainital. The bus went out of control at the spot and crashed into a ditch about 200 metres deep, the officials said. The SDRF rescue team reached the spot and conducted a joint rescue operation with the NDRF, local police, and other rescue units. 26 injured people aboard the bus were rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment in the pitch dark and extremely adverse conditions of the night. Calling it very unfortunate news, Uttarakhand CM Psuhkar Singh Dhami in a post on X, wrote, Very unfortunate news was received of a bus accident on Kaladhungi Road in Nainital. Relief and rescue work is going on by the local administration and SDRF team, the injured have been admitted to the nearest hospital for treatment. I pray to Baba Kedar for the safety of all the passengers." World Post Day is celebrated each year on 9 October. The event was declared by the 1969 Universal Postal Congress in Tokyo as a means to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union's (UPU) creation in 1874. Post offices play a crucial role in fostering cohesive, inclusive, connected communities. Presently, over five million postal employees are entrusted with a variety of essential and personal items, from messages, gifts and goods, to money and medicines. World Post Day 2023: Date World Post Day is observed every year on October 9. World Post Day 2023: Theme Theme for World Post Day 2023 is "Together for Trust: Collaborating for a safe and connected future." This year's theme urges governments and their postal services to support the development of a digital single postal territory that complements the extensive physical network developed over centuries. It also extends an invitation to all of us to collaborate with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) to ensure that people everywhere need look no further than their local post office to find access to the digital economy. World Post Day 2023: History The history of post is older than its written history. It is said that the first postal service was organized in the time of Augustus Caesar (62 BCE - 14 CE) in Rome. According to British Postal Museum, the oldest functioning post office is in the High Street in Sanquhar, Scotland. This post office has functioned since 1712 AD. World Post Day is celebrated to remember the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in Switzerlands capital, Bern. Celebrated across 151 countries, it was first declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. India too acknowledges the date with the beginning of National Postal week, celebrated from October 9 to October 15 World Post Day 2023: Significance The purpose of World Post Day is to bring awareness to the Post's role in the everyday lives of people and businesses, as well as its invaluable contribution to global social and economic development. Postal operators provide some 1.5 billion people worldwide with access to basic financial services (payments, money transfers, and savings). With a network comprising more than 650,000 offices and 5.3 million staff globally, and a public service mandate from many governments, the Post is unparalleled in its ability to deliver services to anyone, anywhere. World Post Day 2023: Celebration The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. The member nations also 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. Some Posts also use World Post Day to reward their employees for good service Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Israel condemns war crimes of Hamas terrorists who killed hundreds of innocent Israelis. Gilad Erdan, Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations on October 9, condemned the severity of war crimes of Hamas terrorists who killed hundreds of innocent Israelis in a "surprise attack," reported ANI. He described the terrorists' actions as ruthless, with gunmen targeting civilians and even breaking into homes to shoot people, he said, "Ruthless terrorists gunned down innocent Israeli civilians in the streets, murdering anything that moved... These terrorists broke into homes and shot people point blank as if they were stomping on insects...," he said. Erdan stressed that these acts constitute blatant documented war crimes. He further mentioned that Hamas terrorists attacked an outdoor party where young Israelis were celebrating a holiday weekend. In this incident, babies were separated from their mothers, he said, "Babies separated from their mothers were brutally taken hostage. These are blatant documented war crimes but tragically the abomination doesn't end here. Hamas terrorists happened upon an outdoor party of young Israelis celebrating the holiday weekend," he said. According to latest reports death toll in Israel surpassed 1,100. In a post on X Israel Defence Force stated that 3,284 rockets have been fired from Gaza, over 2,150 civilians have been injured and 653 Hamas militant group's targets have been struck. Erdan pointed towards the severity of the recent attack on Israel, describing it as unprecedented that resulted in catastrophic casualties, with hundreds of fatalities in just two days. He recounted how Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel and fired thousands of rockets. He said, Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets into Israel but this was only the beginning as rockets rained down indiscriminately upon Israeli towns and cities. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel." In response to the Hamas attack, the Israel Air Force launched retaliatory airstrikes targeting Hamas leaders, operational headquarters and assets. The airstrike attacked militant headquarters spread over an area of three floors and a headquarter linked to senior Hamas naval force Muhammad Kashta, according to the Israel Air Force. These strikes included the destruction of an operational asset located within a mosque in the Jabaliya area. In a post by IAF, it said that their jets struck the military headquarters belonging to the Hamas group that were used by the militants for recent operations. The largest Hindu temple outside India, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, has been inaugurated in New Jersey, the United States in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj following a nine-day celebration that commenced on September 30. Swaminarayan Akshardham is spread over 185 acres. At the inauguration ceremony, Mahant Swami Maharaj conducted the 'Pran Prathistha' ritual at the temple, surrounded by traditional ceremonies and rituals. Construction of the temple, devoted to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, commenced in 2011 and was successfully completed this year. It was a collaborative effort of 12,500 volunteers hailing from various parts of the globe. Notably, one of its distinctive attributes is the largest elliptical stone dome ever built. We were waiting for this moment for the last several years," Volunteer Lenin Joshi said. He added that people from all across the world, irrespective of their religion, would be able to visit the temple. ABOUT THE TEMPLE The temple reportedly has been built by nearly 12,500 volunteers - men, women and children - who took a break from their jobs and studies and dedicated themselves for days and months to construct the temple. To construct the temple, 1.9 million cubic feet of stone was used and it was brought from over 29 different sites around the world that includes granite from India, sandstone from Rajasthan, teakwood from Myanmar, marble from Greece, Turkey and Italy and limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey". There are 10,000 statues in the temple and elements from Indian architecture and culture have been used to construct the temple. Globally, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardhams are landmarks of Hindu art, architecture, and culture and serve as spiritual and community hubs, open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005," a statement said. During the week, Indias Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj led a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from the United Nations to the temple ahead of the grand dedication ceremony on October 8. Actor Akshay Kumar also tweeted about the grand inauguration of the Akshardham temple in New Jersey. He said, Congratulations on the grand opening of Akshardham in New Jersey! Its a moment of pride to see it become the largest Hindu temple in America and second largest in the world. Ive had the pleasure of meeting and seeing the vision of Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj into making this happen. Absolutely brilliant!" (With agency inputs) Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. STOCKHOLM : Claudia Goldin became the third woman to receive the Nobel Prize in economics as the US professor was awarded for her research into the factors that explain pay gaps between men and women. Goldin will receive a 11 million-krona ($1 million) award, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm said in a statement Monday. Understanding womens role in the labor market is important for society," Jakob Svensson, chair of the Committee for the Prize in Economic Sciences said in a statement. Thanks to Claudia Goldins groundbreaking research, we now know much more about the underlying factors and which barriers may need to be addressed in the future." Born in 1946 in New York, Goldin is a professor at Harvard University who used more than 200 years of data to show that while the pay gaps could historically be explained by differences in education and occupational choices, they now exist mainly between men and women in the same jobs, and arise with the birth of the first child. That understanding provides a basis for policymakers globally to address the situation, Randi Hjalmarsson, a professor of economics at the University of Gothenburg, told a press conference after announcing the award. You cant treat an illness with a medication without knowing what it is and what causes it," she said. She has provided this underlying foundation that has different policy implications in different countries and different contexts around the world." Goldin combined innovative methods in economic history with an economic approach, demonstrating that the supply and demand for female labor have historically been influenced by their opportunities for combining paid work and a family, decisions relating to education and childrearing, technical innovations such as the contraceptive pill, laws and norms, and the structural transformation of the economy. She also revealed a surprising new historical fact: prior to the rise of industrialization in the nineteenth century, women were more likely to participate in the labor force," the academy said. That was in part because industrialization made it harder for many married women to work from home and so combine work and family," compared with life on the family farm. The difference in pay between men and women could be reduced if employers allowed employees more flexibility in choosing the hours when they work, Goldin said in a 2014 address to the American Economic Association. Wage gaps are smaller in industries with more flexible schedules, such as healthcare and technology, she said. Goldin follows two other women Elinor Ostrom in 2009 and Esther Duflo in 2019 in being awarded the prize in economic sciences. Last years laureates were Ben Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip H. Dybvig for research on banks and financial crises. Previous recipients of the accolade include Paul Krugman, Joseph Stiglitz, Milton Friedman and Robert J. Shiller. Annual prizes for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature and peace were established in the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, who died in 1896. The economic sciences award was added by Swedens central bank in 1968, called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Israel declared war against Hamas after its fighters breached the border from Gaza in a surprise attack on Saturday that killed nearly 1,000 people and wounded several others. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza after the rocket attack. Following the attack, several airlines were cancelled to Tel Aviv this weekend. American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates and Ryanair are among those pulling flights to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. Here's a 10-point update on Israel-Palestine news 1) Israeli bombing on Sunday targeted the homes of Hamas officials, but also hit housing blocks, tunnels, and a mosque, killing nearly 1,000 people. The retaliation was complicated by an unknown number of Israeli hostages held in the area. 2) Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's 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. 3) The Palestinian Foreign Ministry denounced Israel's attacks on Gaza as a barbarous campaign of death and destruction", Reuters reported. 4) Iran helped Hamas plot the rocket attack on Israel and approved of the assault during a meeting in Beirut last week, according to The Wall Street Journal report. 5) 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 the Israeli PMO on Sunday. 6) A military official of the United States Sunday said the US Navy is moving its warships and aircraft to the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel amid an unprecedented assault on the country from Hamas killing. 7) 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." 8) Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah admitted that it fired large numbers of artillery shells and guided missiles at Israeli positions in a contested border area. 9) Hamas claimed of firing 5,000 rockets in an offensive under the attack it named as "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel. Its chief Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday vowed to press ahead with "the battle to liberate our land and our prisoners languishing in occupation prisons". 10) Shiite millitant group Hezbollah launched missiles and artillary shells into northern Israel "in solidarity" with the Hamas offensive, the Lebanon's Iran-backed group said on Sunday. Milestone Alert!Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Alleging that the agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were involved in the killing of separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada, an independent blogger, Jennifer Zeng, has said that China's "purpose was to frame India creating discord between India and the West". She also alleged that it was a part of the CCP's sinister "Ignition Plan" to disrupt the world in line with Xi Jinping's military strategy regarding Taiwan. Jennifer Zeng is a Chinese born rights activist, journalist who is currently living in the US. In a video posted on the social media platform, X, Zeng dubbed the killing of Nijjar as an assassination claiming, "Today shocking revelations about the 'assassination ' of Sikh religious leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the 'assassination' was carried out by CCP agents." On 18 June 2023, Hardeep Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. The independent blogger attributed her allegations to Chinese writer and YouTuber Lao Deng, who according to her, lives in Canada now. "Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative 'Ignition Plan', the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held there...The objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West," Zeng claims in the video posted on X. Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here! "The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh leader in Canada. Following the meeting, the CCP agents meticulously executed the killing plan," she claimed. Explaining their modus operandi, the independent blogger alleges, "On June 18th, the agents armed with silenced guns tracked Nijjar. When the deed was done, they destroyed the dash camera in Nijjar's Car to erase any evidence. After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes." She also alleged that the killers even purposely learned Indian-accent English. "Therefore, they purposely spoke in India accent English...In fact, these actions were part of the scheme by CCP secret agent to frame India," said Zeng. She also claimed that Lao revealed that the CCP's 'ignition plan' was devised this year after the CCP's two sessions. There has been no response to Jennifer Zeng's allegations, posted in the video on Sunday afternonn (US time) from either the Chinese foreign ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs. The diplomatic ties between India and Canada soured after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the killing 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. India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it 'absurd' and 'motivated'. Amid escalating tensions, India has called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. 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. 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. The Pentagon is dispatching an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean as a sign of support for Israel during its ongoing battle with the Palestinian militants. Gaza is a densely populated territory with over 2 million people, most of whom are Palestinians. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Egypt to the southwest and Israel to the northeast and southwest. Gaza has been under Israeli blockade since 2007, which has severely restricted the movement of people and goods into and out of the territory. The armada led by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford includes five guided missile destroyers. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that Washington would also deliver ammunition and other military equipment to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). 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 in a statement. President Joe Biden earlier promised to offer all appropriate means of support to Israel, which came under a surprise attack from Hamas and other Palestinian groups on Saturday morning. Palestinian armed group Hamas launched thousands of missiles at Israel and deployed its militants to infiltrate Jewish settlements near the countrys border with Gaza on Saturday morning. Although the IDF thanked the US for its support. The militant groups began their attack on the Jewish state by infiltrating Israel from the Gaza Strip by land, sea and air. Some 2,500 rockets were fired and multiple Israeli soldiers and civilians were killed or kidnapped. Israel responded with airstrikes on Gaza and has redeployed troops toward its southern border. The Israeli government has officially declared a state of war on Sunday, invoking Article 40 of its Basic Law. Over 700 Israelis and at least 413 Palestinians have been killed since Saturday morning, according to officials from both sides. Shayne Heffernan The Israeli government formally declared war and greenlighted significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military labored into Monday to crush fighters still in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip. More than 1,000 people have been killed, with thousands wounded on both sides. The latest death toll from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza has risen to 413, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, with more than 2,300 others injured, while Israels state-owned Kan TV news reported the death toll in Israel has reached 700. The fighting continued at several locations Monday morning. An injured child is carried into a hospital after wounded in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) RESPONSES FROM MIDDLE EAST Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, on Sunday held a phone conversation, expressing deep concern over the continuation of the current escalation and the ensuing severe deterioration of the security and humanitarian conditions. The two presidents highlighted the danger of the absence of a political prospect and the exacerbation of the current conditions, which threaten civilian lives as well as the regions security and stability, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement. 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 Palestinians and Israelis to exercise self-restraint. In a separate phone call with Abbas on Sunday, the Jordanian king stressed Jordans unwavering position on the Palestinian cause, underlining the need to find a political solution that guarantees all the just and legitimate rights of the Palestinians. 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. Syrias ruling al-Baath party condemned Israeli practices and reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian struggle. People walk past the entrance of a school destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) WESTS STANCES However, the Wests take on the conflict is quite another picture. The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza, and I made clear to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that we stand ready to offer all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel, U.S. President Joe Biden said during talks with Netanyahu on Sunday about the ongoing attacks in Israel, according to a White House statement. Later on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington is looking at additional requests for assistance that the Israelis have made, and there could be developments on that front. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he spoke Sunday with Netanyahu and assured him that Israels security is a cornerstone of German policy. We will act accordingly, he pledged, saying he planned to speak to al-Sisi and will support Egypt in efforts to mediate and de-escalate. It is clear that we condemn the actions of Hamas in the strongest terms, but above all, we are doing everything so that this attack doesnt turn into a conflagration with incalculable consequences for the whole region and we warn everyone in this situation against fueling terrorism, he added. People and civil defense workers search for survivors among rubble of a building after it was destroyed during an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday strongly condemned the attacks against Israel. I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks which are currently hitting 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. He followed this up with a confirmation that he had spoken to both Israeli President Issac Herzog and Prime Minister Netanyahu. France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves. 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 of Lebanon. Shayne Heffernan 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. Niagara Falls police say two recent sexual assaults in two different parts the city, including one Friday, may be related. The attacks both happened at night and victims were approached in store parking lots, police said in a Facebook post. While these two cases have yet to be positively connected, there are similarities among them, police said. The first attack happened at about 11:30 p.m. Sept. 19 near the Pine Plaza, at Niagara Falls Boulevard and Military Road. A man, armed with a handgun, confronted a woman in the parking lot, forcing her behind one of the businesses in the plaza. The man sexually assaulted the victim and then left the scene on foot toward Military Road, police said. The second attack happened just before 8 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of Tops Markets on Portage Road. A man confronted a teenager, displayed a handgun and forced the victim behind a nearby business. He sexually assaulted the victim and left the scene on foot. He was last seen walking next to the Rainbow store along Ashland Avenue headed toward the parking lot, according to police. The suspect was described as either Hispanic or Black with a light complexion and a medium build. His approximate height is 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-11 and hes possibly in his 20s. He was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, dark pants, a dark facemask and he was carrying a backpack. His firearm was a semi-automatic handgun. We realize that this description is rather vague, however we are releasing the best information available to inform the public for their safety and hopefully to generate information that can lead to an arrest, police said. Because the suspect was armed, police said anyone who believes they come in contact with him should exercise extreme caution. Police ask anyone who may have information about these incidents or who may have seen someone in the area of the crimes matching the description to call Niagara Falls detectives at 716-286-4553 or the departments main line at 716-286-4711. USE THE ARROWS ABOVE OR NEXT BUTTON BELOW TO SEE MORE PICTURES Former Presbyterian Church & House, Millpark Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford 700,000 A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire a Church and house situated in the heart of Enniscorthy town. The Presbyterian Church was built in 1866 and was an important component of the mid nineteenth-century heritage of Enniscorthy town and forming part of every day life in the town up until recent times. The building itself is in good order built with a granite ashlar wall to entrance (east) front on cut-granite plinth with rusticated cut-granite pilasters to corners. Internally you enter into a worship area with kitchen and WC to the rear while you walk up the beautiful-rounded staircase to the balcony area overlooking the worship area. The dwelling house has only recently undergone extensive refurbishment standing at 158.5sq. m approx. and offers generous accommodation, briefly comprising of entrance hallway, sitting room, a kitchen/dining room, living room, office, utility, guest WC and a garage on the ground floor. A staircase raises to the first floor which comprises a family bathroom and three bedrooms including the master bedroom which has an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. The property has an abundance of character and huge potential with off street parking while there is a beautiful iron railing to the front along with road. The properties are approx. 100 metres from the Bank of Ireland the Post Office while is approx. a 5 minute walk to the heart of the town. This is certainly a opportunity not to be missed. Church Main Floor Area Porch 1.38m x 6.93m Main Church 13.60m x 6.93m Kitchen 4.61m x 3.18m at widest point Guest WC 1.30m x 1.45m Main House Entrance Porch 1.55m x 2.30m Hallway 2.36m x 2.28m at widest point Sitting Room 6.33m x 3.30m Living Room 3.46m x 3.25m Kitchen/Dining Room 2.70m x 4.65m at widest point,. laminate wood flooring, fitted kitchen units, electric oven and hob, fridge freezer Utility Room 2.80m x 5.84m at widest point. laminate wood flooring, in-built storage units, plumbed for washing machine and dryer WC 1.01m x 1.99m. laminate wood flooring, WC, wash hand basin Office/Study 5.15m x 3.28m. laminate wood flooring, in-built shelving Garage 3.68m x 2.44m First Floor Landing 4.42m x 2.25m at widest point Master Bedroom 4.34m x 3.30m Walk in wardrobe 1.84m x 1.47m En-suite 1.84m x 1.70m. tile flooring and walls, shower, WC, wash hand basin Bedroom 1 2.76m x 3.57m Bedroom 2 3.45m x 3.26m at widest point Bathroom 1.81m x 2.66m at widest point. tile flooring and walls, bath, WC, wash hand basin Property Features Detached three bedroom dwelling 1706 sq ft, Church building 1513 sq ft Town centre Location Walking distance of all amenities Call Sherry Fitzgerald/O'Leary Kinsella on 0539237322 for more information. Waterways Ireland has extended a public consultation on proposed Byelaws changes, with a second phase of public consultation also added to facilitate further engagement with the public and stakeholders. The initial consultation period (phase 1) has been extended to October 27, 2023, having originally been due to close on October 2, 2023. Following the initial consultation period, Waterways Ireland will review all submissions during November and December 2023. Waterways Ireland will endeavour to proactively and equitably deal with legitimate matters of concern raised during the initial public consultation process, publish its consultation document and re-issue amended draft Byelaws. Phase 2 of the public consultation will then run from 15th January 2024 to 26th February 2024. This phase of the process will offer all stakeholders an opportunity to consider the modifications to the proposed revised Byelaws. Thereafter Waterways Ireland will consider all new feedback received, to best address the views of all stakeholders and ultimately, update Byelaws which are undisputedly, out-of-date, and unfit for purpose. There will be no changes to the existing Byelaws, permits, or charges/fees until revised Byelaws are approved. Waterways Ireland encourages everyone to read the draft Byelaws and to participate in the public consultation, and are keen to hear from anglers, boaters, cyclists, paddle-sport enthusiasts, runners, walkers, members of communities along the waterways and the public at large. The draft Byelaws can be found on waterwaysireland.org and in local libraries along the waterways corridors. Submissions to the public consultation can be made through the online survey on the website, by email to corporate@waterwaysireland.org and by post to Waterways Ireland Inspectorate, The Docks, Athlone. The proposed changes relate to Shannon Navigation Byelaws (including the River Shannon, Shannon-Erne Waterway, River Finn, and Ulster Canal) and Canal Byelaws (including the Grand Canal, Royal Canal, & Barrow Navigation). Much has changed in the 30 years since the Byelaws were last updated. The proposed Byelaws reflect the substantial change in Waterways Irelands responsibilities to maintain safe shared public spaces on our waterways, Blueways and Greenways and to reimagine our waterways for the future. Local Enterprise Office Longford, as part of Longford County Council, is delighted to be hosting the first major business exhibition and networking event to take place in County Longford in recent years, this week. The occasion, which takes place this Wednesday, October 11 in The Longford Arms Hotel, offers a star-studded line up of speakers, panellists, and networking opportunities for small business owners as well as the opportunity for them to link in with 12 large Longford businesses who will be exhibiting on the day. Host Fran McNulty of RTEs Prime Time programme will take attendees through a day of engagement and conversation between large and small local businesses, starting with opening speaker, renowned economist, writer, and journalist David McWilliams. Following that, a lively and informative panel discussion will feature prominent business leaders, including Founder of Supermacs Pat McDonagh; Supply Chain Manager with Abbott Diagnostics Sarah Adams; Head Engineer with Kiernan Structural Steel John Kiernan, and Director of Services with Longford County Council Barbara Heslin. Pre-booked appointments for small business owners to meet with exhibiting business leaders will then take place while a general networking session will be held over lunch. Registration to attend is mandatory and Longfords small business owners are urged to register to attend this free event as soon as possible, in order to secure their place. Attendees will also have an opportunity to secure appointments to meet with exhibiting business leaders during the registration process. Local businesses exhibiting on the day include: Abbott Diagnostics; Avery Dennison; Center Parcs; C&D Foods; Framespace; Glennon Brothers Timber Ltd; Kiernan Milling; Kiernan Structural Steel Ltd; Longford County Council; Mulleadys; Panelto and Technimark. Coordinated by Local Enterprise Office Longford and funded by Enterprise Ireland, the event will run from 12 noon to 2:30pm. Welcoming the gathering, Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Colm Murray said, I understand that this is the first major business event in County Longford since the pandemic and Im delighted to see things like this taking place again. Its a fantastic opportunity to recognise the dedicated and motivated businesspeople that have helped to keep Longford thriving over these challenging last few years. I look forward to it showcasing the range and breadth of businesses operating in Longford. Chief Executive Paddy Mahon added, This is a great opportunity for potential investors to see that Longford has a vibrant economy with plenty of business potential to offer and excellent business supports in the form of our Local Enterprise Office team. Michael Nevin, Head of Enterprise in Longford County Council said, This event provides a valuable opportunity for our business leaders, big and small, to meet and exchange information about the products and services produced and sold here in Longford. It will help create relationships between our larger employers and smaller companies, building awareness around opportunities for sub-supply and giving smaller businesses the opportunity to pitch directly to potential business partners. Not only that, importantly, it may help inform businesses on how they can improve their environmental sustainability by sourcing services closer to home instead of from outside of the region. Don't miss this opportunity to network and strengthen your business relationships, and to establish connections with sustainable local support services and supply chains within the Longford business community. Secure your spot at 'Connecting Our Business Community,' by logging on to Localenterprise.ie/Longford and finding the event under the Upcoming Events section. LGBT Ireland are encouraging Longford people to get involved in their new campaign . The aim of this campaign is to support and empower members of the LGBTQI+ community in Longford ahead of National Coming Out Day this Wednesday. Empowering anthems is calling on the people of Longford allies and members of the community alike - to choose their most inspiring song, share it on social media and make a donation to support the work of LGBT Ireland. All funds raised will go towards supporting LGBT Ireland deliver its quality services for the LGBTQI+ community in Longford and across Ireland. Paula Fagan the Chief Executive of LGBT Ireland stated that " We all know the positive impact music can have on emotional well-being, and so this year we are encouraging people in Longford to support their LGBTQI+ friends and family by choosing an empowering anthem that motivates them and makes them feel good about themselves; share the song on Instagram or any other social media and tag LGBT Ireland; and make a donation to support our services''. A number of well-known faces are supporting the campaign and have chosen their empowering anthems, including ,Comedian Shane Daniel Byrne, whose anthem is La Roux, Bulletproof; Designer, business-woman and entrepreneur Sonya Lennon, whose anthem is Im Coming Out by Diana Ross. Post about your empowering anthem and tag LGBT Ireland Facebook @LGBT.ie, Instagram @lgbtireland_ie X @LGBT_ie ,LinkedIn lgbtireland. Use the hashtags #EmpoweringAnthems, #ShareYourAnthem when posting to social media . People can donate to LGBT Ireland via social media channels, Revolut or via the LGBT Ireland website(https://lgbt.ie/. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 09 2023 Nicholas Analitis and his Corporation, Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC, Possessed a Forged Bank Check, a Forged Surety Bond, and other Forged Documents. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Nicholas Analitis, 45, of Massapequa, and his corporation Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC, were sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing forged documents including a bank check, a Surety Bond, and an Apprenticeship Program agreement, and then submitting the forged documents to municipalities in the Village of Babylon and the Town of Islip. Forgery and fraudulent business activity are not victimless crimes, said District Attorney Tierney. The kind of deceit that these defendants engaged in hurts the workers whose livelihoods depend on trusted business dealings. If you do business in Suffolk County, you have to pay your workers what they are entitled to and otherwise comply with the law. District Attorney Tierney needs to be commended for the aggressive pursuit of this crime for it harms hard working men and women who expect honesty and integrity from their employer, said William Duffy, President of International Union of Operating Engineers Local Union 138. This prosecution also sends a powerful message to every company owner who believes the law is meant to be ignored, skirted, or broken. Not in this county. "Contractors have been cheating workers and municipalities on Long Island public work projects for too long, said Joseph Montalbano, President of Labors Union Local 66. The hard-working men and women of labor applaud District Attorney Tierney for his campaign against wage theft. Everyone cheating workers and taxpayers on construction projects should know that they are not above the law and that more prosecutions are coming from District Attorney Tierney's office." According to the investigation and the defendants admissions during the guilty plea allocutions, from June 2018 to July 2018, Analitis possessed a forged Comerica Bank Check in which the value amount and the name of the payee, were altered. The check was instead made payable to Nick Consulting Services Inc., which is one of Analitis corporations. Additionally, between August 2020 and September 2020. Analitis possessed a Surety Bond with a forged signature, which was submitted to the Village of Babylon for a public works project. Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC was found in possession of an Apprenticeship Program agreement with Union Local 1298 which falsely indicated that the corporation was a participant of its Apprenticeship Program, when they were not. On February 25, 2021, Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC submitted the forged agreement to the Town of Islip in its bidding package for a public works project. On March 14, 2022, Analitis and Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC both pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro. Analitis pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a Class D felony, and Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree. On October 5, 2023, Judge Ambro sentenced Analitis to three and a half to seven years in prison. Analitis and Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC are also required to pay $106,359.15 in restitution to Road and Heavy Construction Laborers Union Local 1298, and $32,562.63 in restitution to the International Union of the Operating Engineers Local Union 138, 138A, and 138B. Both Analitis and Gorilla Contracting Group, LLC were represented by Lawrence Carra, Esq. This case was prosecuted by Bureau Chief Lucie Kwon and Assistant District Attorney Adriana Noyola of the Financial Crimes Bureau, with investigative assistance from Suffolk County Police Department Financial Crimes Unit Detective Daniel Pagano and Suffolk County District Attorney Investigative Unit Detective Dennis Marcel. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: October 09 2023 Event is designed to highlight an academic career path to fill a national need. Driven by the shortage of dental school faculty in New York and across the United States, Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine hosted its inaugural Dental Educators Day on October 5. The event was held in conjunction with World Teachers Day, and will be celebrated at Stony Brook on the first Thursday in October each year. By sharing the innumerable benefits of being a dental educator, we hope to inspire students to pursue such a pathway, whether their career is here at Stony Brook or elsewhere, said Patrick M. Lloyd, DDS, MS, Dean of the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. We also hope that other dental schools in the U.S. and beyond recognize the value of such a forum and that they consider hosting a dental educators event in the coming years. With the increase in class size of many dental schools as well as the emergence of more than a dozen new dental schools in the last 15 years, the need to reinforce the faculty workforce has never been greater. According to an article in the Journal of Dental Education, over 40 percent of full-time dental faculty in the United States reported to be over 60 years of age. Recruitment of faculty is challenged as well by private practice opportunities that often provide greater levels of compensation. Stony Brook is uniquely positioned to help dental students interested in an academic career get a head start. It is one of few institutions where students can earn an education degree a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration while in dental school with no additional tuition costs. Furthermore, Stony Brooks general practice residents may complete a second year of training that is focused on developing their skills as didactic and clinical instructors. There are many tangible and intangible rewards that I have enjoyed as a faculty member at Stony Brook, said Thomas Manders, DDS, Director of Stony Brooks Division of Endodontics, who was one of four panelists to speak with students attending the afternoons question-and-answer session with dental faculty. Dental Educators Day has been a great opportunity to share what motivated me to stay in education at my alma mater, as well as advice for current students who are considering a similar path. Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: October 09 2023 Last year, the Thanksgiving Food Drive provided hearty Thanksgiving meals to more than 1,250 families in Brookhaven Town. The Brookhaven Youth Bureau INTERFACE Programs Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive will run from October 16 to November 17. INTERFACE is a partnership between individuals, generous corporate neighbors and the Town of Brookhaven united in a shared effort to give assistance to Brookhavens less fortunate residents all year round. Last year, the Thanksgiving Food Drive provided hearty Thanksgiving meals to more than 1,250 families in Brookhaven Town. Without the generous donations received during the drive, this would not have been possible. Drop off points for this years Thanksgiving Food Drive include: Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville Brookhaven Town Highway Department, 1140 Old Town Road, Coram Brookhaven Town Parks & Recreation Department, 286 Hawkins Road, Centereach Brookhaven Town Vehicle Control Building, 550 North Ocean Ave., Patchogue New Village Recreation Center, 20 Wireless Road, Centereach Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai College 101 Resource Center, 290 Main St., East Setauket Modular Devices, 1 Roned Road, Shirley Village of Lake Grove, Village Hall & Recreation Building, 980 Hawkins Ave., Lake Grove Coram Fire Department, 303 Middle Country Road, Coram Suggested food items for donations include all non-perishables, including, but not limited to canned soups, canned cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, stuffing mix, instant potatoes, canned sweet or white potatoes, rice, canned vegetables, jar or canned sauce, macaroni, canned fruit, pudding, jello, cookie mix, cake mix, icing and juice. Due to refrigeration requirements, the Town cannot accept frozen turkeys. However, residents can donate $10 gift cards from local supermarkets, enabling families to purchase turkeys. Hours of operation for the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau INTERFACE Programs Thanksgiving Food Drive are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, or to donate gift cards, cash or checks please call Josie Lunde at the Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau at 631-451-8011 or 631-451-8026. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 09 2023 Markus Effinger allegedly received more than $72,000 in fraudulent disability benefits; Gloria Sevilla allegedly wrongfully collected more than $137,000 in retirement benefits. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that two individuals have been arraigned for separate incidents in which they defrauded the Social Security Administration out of a total of more than $200,000 in disability and retirement benefits. Markus Effinger, 55, of Uniondale, was arraigned on Monday before Judge Marie McCormack on one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a C felony). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison. Effinger is due back in court on October 18, 2023. Gloria Sevilla, 58, of Valley Stream, was arraigned on Monday before Judge McCormack on one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a C felony). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison. Sevilla is due back in court today. Both investigations were referred to NCDA by the Social Security Administrations Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG). Millions of people rely on Social Security disability and retirement benefits every day to make ends meet, said DA Donnelly. These defendants allegedly took advantage of a system designed to protect the most vulnerable from financial stress and stole tens of thousands of dollars of benefits to which they were not entitled. We must protect these vital services for the people who need them most. These arrests demonstrate that my office will continue to pursue those who obtain, or retain, Social Security benefits fraudulently, said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. Our duty is to protect taxpayers funds for those who are truly entitled to receive them. I appreciate the Nassau County District Attorneys Office for their work and support of our investigations. According to the charges and investigation, in May 2012 Markus Effinger began collecting Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for retinal detachment and other vision issues. According to SSA regulations, an individual is eligible to collect SSI benefits if they are deemed to have a disability and the applicant has less than $2,000 in monthly resources, and recipients are required to report any income or asset changes. In June 2014, March 2015, and November 2018, Effinger provided information to SSA and continued to receive benefits. Effinger claimed to live with family, pay $500 a month in rent, and have just over $100 in bank account resources. The investigation revealed that Effinger and his fiancee were 50% managing members of a company called Dash Xpress as well as drivers for the company, which had submitted documents to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) for enrollment as a Medicaid transportation provider. DOH and bank records revealed that DOH paid Dash Xpress more than $2.2 million since 2015. Effinger never reported this work activity, or the income being derived from the business. Between January 1, 2015, and June 24, 2022, Effinger allegedly fraudulently received approximately $72,839 in Social Security Disability benefits to which he was not entitled. Effinger surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators on October 2, 2023. In a separate SSA fraud case, according to the charges and investigation, Obdulia Renkowski received monthly Social Security retirement benefits since 1981. Beginning in 2013, the payments were made through direct deposit into Renkowskis bank account. An investigation by SSA OIG revealed that since 2019, SSA mailed multiple correspondence to Renkowskis address in Valley Stream attempting to verify information regarding her benefits and did not receive a response. SSA OIG referred the case to NCDA. NCDA investigators confirmed that Renkowski had died in January 2015 at her home in Valley Stream, however, monthly benefits continued to be deposited into the bank account, which was jointly controlled by Renkowski and defendant Gloria Sevilla, the significant other of Renkowskis son. Sevilla allegedly failed to report Renkowskis death to SSA and between her death on January 19, 2015, through October 3, 2022, Sevilla allegedly wrongfully received approximately $137,109 of Renkowskis Social Security benefits to which she was not entitled. Sevilla allegedly made withdrawals from the bank account during this time for debit card charges at Home Depot, Aboff Paints, and at local lumber yards. In 2016 and 2017, Sevilla held a New York City Department of Consumer Affairs home improvement salesperson license. Sevilla surrendered to NCDA Detective Investigators on October 2, 2023. The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Christine Burke of the Revenue, Auto, Insurance and Labor Crime Bureau. Effinger is represented by Scott Limmer, Esq. Sevilla is represented by Michael Ricca, Esq. For the second straight year, Buffalo Schools may not be able to fully offer a key recovery strategy to overcome learning loss experienced by students during the two years disrupted by Covid-19. Superintendent Tonja M. Williams said last week at a school board work session that the districts after-school instruction called Extended Learning Time faces a teacher shortage about two weeks before its Oct. 23 start. If the district cannot find more teachers to work after school or collaborate with community partners to fill the positions only limited seats will be available to students and the program might not be offered daily. Were looking at four days and then maybe having our community partners prepare work to send home on Fridays, Williams said. The superintendent said the shortage more severely affects elementary students who are developing basic skills. Extended Learning Time for high schoolers is geared toward credit recovery in specific subjects. Last year, Extended Learning Time was hamstrung by a lack of bus drivers to transport students, a local symptom of a nationwide problem. Only those who could walk to their destinations or have their parents provide transportation could receive extra help, which Williams has admitted is an equity issue. Busing is available for students staying after school this year, the superintendent said. Unpacking Buffalo Schools' new three-bell schedule Buffalo Schools Chief Operating Officer David Hills calls the three-bell schedule to be intr This year, even with a new three-bell schedule that has increased the number of bus routes completed by roughly the same number of drivers, the 18 elementary schools that dismiss at 4:15 p.m. 20 minutes later than last year have had trouble attracting teachers for after school. Both Williams and Buffalo Teachers Federation President Rich Nigro said late dismissals were a major sticking point. In a brief interview Friday, Nigro said staffing a two-hour program from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. could interfere with a teachers plans to pick up children from child care or complete other family obligations. He said many teachers are already spending a few hours working after the final bell to prepare for the next day. That Buffalo would again be unable to present a robust academic recovery option outside of the school day bothered the Buffalo School Board president. Its not new that we dont have staff for this, but its worse this year than ever, Sharon Belton-Cottman said. We earmarked money for learning and may not be able to pull it off. After-school instruction has been funded by American Rescue Plan and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief money from the federal government. Buffalo spent about $12 million of Covid-19 relief funds toward after-school endeavors last year, according to budget information shared by the district. The vast majority of those funds will expire by September 2024. Buffalos Extended Learning Time is split into three categories: academic enrichment, in which students receive help on homework from tutors or focused reading and math instruction; health and wellness, which focuses on recreation, nutrition and stress management; and positive youth development, touching on conflict resolution and the arts. Buffalo Public Schools' plan to curb learning loss goes beyond normal school day State assessment results, even without comparing them to the 2019 tests, were alarming indicators of the status of post-pandemic education. Because of the districts goals and low proficiency rates after the pandemic-affected years, a particular emphasis has been placed on the academic portion for students who fell behind in 2020 and 2021. Further complicating matters is a lack of staff from Buffalos community partners, who collaborate with the district to provide after-school instruction. Williams did not specify which organizations were shorthanded, but BestSelf Behavioral Health, the Belle Center and Parker Academy are among district partners for 2023-24. Buffalo Schools job posting in mid-September for after-school teachers requires candidates to be employed by Buffalo Schools as a tenured, probationary or temporary teacher. If the shortage persists, board members floated alternative solutions such as using teaching aides, building staff or bus aides to meet the need. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 09 2023 Cricel A. Santamaria, 24, allegedly fraudulently accessed check images and posted them for sale on the social media platform Telegram. The Major Case Bureau reports the arrest of a Hauppauge woman for a Grand Larceny that occurred on Friday, February 4, 2022 in Jericho at 8:10 pm. According to detectives, the Nassau County Police Robbery Squad Unit conducted an investigation with the assistance of the Nassau County District Attorneys Office that led to the arrest of defendant Cricel A. Santamaria, 24, of 716 Devonshire Road on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Defendant Santamaria, while employed at the Webster Bank, located at 1 Jericho Plaza, fraudulently accessed check images without any legitimate business purpose. They were subsequently posted for sale on the social media platform Telegram, resulting in a loss of approximately $108,000.00. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: October 09 2023 Carlos Sanchez-Benitez was Allegedly Driving While Intoxicated When He Caused a Head-On Collision, Killing His Brother and Significantly Injuring Two Other Motorists. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Carlos Sanchez-Benitez, 44, of Wyandanch, was indicted for Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and other related charges, for allegedly driving while intoxicated and causing a head-on collision that killed his own passenger and brother, Jose Ruben Sanchez-Benitez, 62, of Wyandanch, and seriously injuring two others in a separate vehicle. This defendant made the horrible decision to allegedly drive while intoxicated, causing the tragic collision with another vehicle, killing his brother and seriously injuring other motorists, said District Attorney Tierney. We continue to see these preventable tragedies time and time again. I will continue my push for tougher penalties for those that decide to drive irresponsibly in Suffolk County. According to the investigation, on July 16, 2023, at approximately 12:27 a.m., Carlos Sanchez-Benitez left a deli where he had allegedly been drinking alcohol. While he was allegedly driving 2016 Honda CRV westbound on Long Island Avenue in Wyandanch, he crossed over the double-yellow lines into the oncoming eastbound traffic, and collided head-on with another vehicle. The collision was captured on video surveillance from a nearby business. The driver and passenger of that vehicle that was hit head-on were transported to local hospitals and treated for their injuries. The defendants brother and front seat passenger, Jose Ruben Sanchez-Benitez, was transported to South Shore University Hospital where he was pronounced dead from injuries he sustained in the crash. On October 5, 2023, Sanchez-Benitez was arraigned on the indictment before County Court Judge, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski, for the following charges: One count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony; One count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony; One count of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, a Class C felony; One count of Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class D felony; One count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony; One count of Vehicular Assault in the Second Degree, a Class E felony One count of Assault in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, Unclassified misdemeanors; and One count of Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor. Judge Pilewski ordered Sanchez-Benitez held on $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, or $1 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Sanchez-Benitez is due back in court on October 17, 2023, and he is being represented by Anthony Rutkowski, Esq. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Curtin of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Timothy Cohen of the Suffolk County Police Departments First Squad. Please find video attached below associated with this indictment. On Friday, photos emerged of Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force, in conquered eastern Aleppo, Syria (photos 1, 2). Another photo showed him by the Citadel of Aleppo (photo 3). It was not immediately clear when the photos were taken. Following rapid advances this month, pro-Syrian government forces entered the Old City on Dec. 6, and ousted insurgents by the following day, as reported by major media outlets. After pro-regime forces squeezed rebels into a small pocket, both sides reached an agreement for civilians and fighters to leave eastern Aleppo in exchange for the territory. Negotiations are underway to evacuate tens of thousands, according to The Guardian. Backed by Russian air power, the IRGC and foreign Shiite militias under Soleimanis command have been instrumental in imposing siege on Aleppo in a 15-month long operation, and deflecting two major offensives spearheaded by Islamist-led coalitions. Pro-regime Syrian militias, such as the Desert Hawks and Tiger Forces, alongside the Syrian Arab Army led the breakthrough from Aleppos northern sector this past month. Russian special forces also played a pivotal role in the ground offensive to retake Aleppo, as covered in The Wall Street Journal. Reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Soleimani has executed Iranian strategy in Syria since the popular uprisings in 2011. He was the point man who personally negotiated with President Vladimir Putin Russias military intervention in September 2015, according to unnamed security officials who spoke with Reuters. After more than five years, Soleimani has succeeded in preventing the fall of Bashar al Assad, protecting Irans supply route to Lebanese Hezbollah, and laying siege to Aleppo, Syrias largest urban area prior to the war. He has mobilized thousands of Iranians, Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, Afghans, and Pakistanis to fight in Syria, forming an international Shiite expeditionary force. [Update: the earlier version of this report said that the photos surfaced yesterday, while it was Friday.] Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. The police bus that was targeted by an IED near Manama last month, as released by social media affiliated to the Islamic Resistance in Bahrain Officials in Bahrain recently placed blame on Iran for training a militant cell on how to manufacture bombings and other attacks in the small Gulf kingdom. Last month, one police officer was killed, while another eight were wounded by an improvised explosive device on the Khilafa bin Salman highway near Manama on Friday, Oct. 27. Yesterday, Bahrains interior ministry said that the terrorist cell received extensive training in Iranian Revolutionary Guard camps on the use and manufacture of explosives and firearms, as well as material and logistical support. Bahrain did not say which group was responsible for the bombing, but Saraya Waad Allah, a Shia militia in Bahrain, claimed the attack according to social media pages linked to the Islamic Resistance in Bahrain. In addition, Saraya al Mokhtar, an Iranian-supported militia that also operates in Bahrain, praised the terrorist attack on Bahraini policemen. The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain Saraya al Mokhtar congratulates our comrades in Saraya Waad Allah in their proper and blessed operation which tasted the enemies of Godwho have long been tormented by our resistant people and the oppressed, Saraya al Mukhtars statement reads. It also called on people to join their resistance to save us from the cowardly occupation that hired foreign mercenaries to kill our rebellious Muslim people. The Oct. 27 attack was the second bombing claimed by Saraya Waad Allah last month. On Oct. 2 it claimed another IED bombing which wounded five policemen on the Budaiya highway near Manama. Both Saraya Waad Allah and Saraya al Mokhtar are among several Iranian-backed militias operating in Bahrain. Bahraini authorities have accused Saraya Waad Allah of being a front group for Saraya al Ashtar, one of the largest Iranian-supported groups in Bahrain, but that remains unconfirmed. Saraya al Mokhtar has been very vocal about its support of various Iranian proxies in Iraq on social media. Last October, it tweeted in support of Saraya al Khorasani, as well as photos of one of its commanders visiting the graves of killed Kataib Imam Ali fighters. Members of Saraya al Mokhtar were also photographed parading with these same proxies in Iraq, while other photos allege to show Bahraini militants on the battlefield in Iraq. Earlier this year, the US State Department designated two members of Saraya al Ashtar as global terrorists. State noted that one of the individuals, Hasan Yusuf, is an Iran-based senior member of the group. Bahraini officials have accused the group of receiving training in improvised explosive devices (IED) from the Hezbollah Brigades, a US Treasury designated Iranian-backed Shiite militia in Iraq. In Jan. 2016, a cell linked to Ashtar Brigades was arrested by Bahraini authorities. According to officials, the two-person cell was planning to execute a series of dangerous bombings in Bahrain. They traveled to Iran on several occasions for financial and logistic support with the IRGC. In 2012, Bahraini authorities allege the Ashtar cell members met with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon and received $20,000 in support of their organization. In recent years, Iran has redoubled sponsorship of militant groups in Bahrain. Bahraini security forces have intercepted large quantities of advanced Iranian weapons shipments and explosives, including armor-piercing explosively formed penetrators (EFPs). Since 2015, Manama has detained dozens of Bahraini nationals linked to the IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah. In March, Bahrain announced the arrests of 25 suspects who were part of a terrorist organization that had operations in Iraq and Iran, according to Bahraini officials. Those arrested included 10 former inmates who escaped Jaw prison in a sophisticated operation in January in which perpetrators employed reconnaissance drones. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, US designates Iran-backed Bahrainis as terrorists.] Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Hamas political member Mousa Abu Marzouk during an interview with al Mayadeen on July 15. Against the backdrop of two al Qassam Brigades commanders killed during the 2014 Gaza war, Hamas senior political member, Mousa Abu Marzouk, admitted in an interview with al Mayadeen that a Palestinian collaborator had recently fled to Israel. On July 11, Israeli and Arab media reported that a senior commander of Hamas military wing fled to Israel after spying on the militant group for one of Israels intelligence agencies. The reports stated the militant who fled to Israel was a commander in al Qassam Brigades secretive frogman unit. The frogman unit is best known for its raid at Zikim Beach in 2014. Five commandos from the unit infiltrated the beach from the Mediterranean Sea and clashed with IDF soldiers and a Merkava IV tank. The Merkava narrowly avoided serious damage when the fighters attempted to destroy it with an IED. The Palestinian fighters were eventually killed by a combination of IDF airstrikes and naval gunboats. Initially, it would have been easy to dismiss the report about an al Qassam Brigades commander fleeing to Israel due to the information being sensitive and unlikely to leak from Gaza. However, the story gained traction when a Saudi news network, al Arabiya, confirmed the story and included additional details about the event. The fugitive leaked detailed information about the movements of Hamas leaders, the movements [Al Qassam Brigades] storage sites for its weapons, training sites for its cadres, and the location of political and military leaderships, the al Arabiya report stated. The report further elaborated saying Israels Mossad was involved and that Hamas arrested members of its military wing in connection to the commanders spying and escape. The al Arabiya report compelled Hamas to publish a statement on July 14 denouncing the Saudi news network and other media parties for publishing information the group considered false. The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas condemns the campaign of misinformation and distortion led by al Arabiya with other media parties, based on lies and slanders from the Zionist security services industry, aiming to harm the resistance of the Palestinian people and its confidence in the resistance and liberation project, the Hamas publication stated. The condemnation from Hamas increases tension between the movement and Saudi Arabia due to Hamas recent effort to persuade the Saudis to release its members currently serving prison sentences in Saudi Arabia. The following day, senior political member Mousa Abu Marzouk appeared on Hezbollah-affiliated al Mayadeen and admitted that a collaborator fled to Israel but denied it was a leader in Hamas political or military wings. Marzouks acknowledgement that a collaborator fled to Israel added legitimacy to the reports in Arab and Israeli media. The public statements of condemnation and the al Mayadeen interview indicated Hamas was in damage control-mode after suffering an embarrassing setback against the groups self-aggrandized security apparatus. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Over the last several weeks, Gaza-based factions Mujahideen Brigades and the Popular Resistance Movement (PRM) have issued statements claiming they have established a presence in the West Bank amid a surge in shooting attacks against Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops and Israeli citizens. On Sep. 14, Mujahideen Brigades announced its presence in the West Bank and claimed several attacks on IDF sites at Mount Gerizim, the Deir Sharaf and the Hawara checkpoint. We announce our adoption of several operations carried out by a group of heroes from the Mujahideen Brigades in Nablus, the statement said. The claim was supported by documentation purportedly showing a Mujahideen Brigades fighter shooting at the Hawara checkpoint in Nablus. However, the video was heavily censored and did not show the checkpoint coming under fire. In the following weeks, the organization made five more claims of attacks against Israeli military sites in the West Bank. Evidence supporting their claims was also published, but much like the Sep. 14 video, they did not clearly demonstrate IDF positions being attacked. On Oct. 8, the PRM an offshoot of the Popular Resistance Committees announced it established a presence and carried out attacks in the West Bank in response to IDF operations. We announce, with Gods blessing and success, the launch of the first jihadi actions of the al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades [PRM] in the occupied West Bank from the city of Jenin, which today repelled the Zionist aggression with valor of its brave sons and men who did not accept submissiveness or humiliation and succumb to the enemy and its dictates, the statement said. The PRM claimed the Brigades of Yusef al-Quqa (named after former PRM leader) targeted the al-Jalama checkpoint in the northern West Bank with an IED on Oct. 7. Video evidence was provided to support the claim. However, based off the documentation of the alleged targeting, it wasnt clear an IED was used against an Israeli military site. On Oct. 11, the organization published a statement and video evidence claiming it fired at IDF soldiers and a civilian bus in the Jenin area, respectively. While both organizations have provided documentation supporting their claims, it remains unclear if they are genuinely operating in the West Bank like other Gaza-based militant groups. Though there is some evidence of previous operational activity by Mujahideen Brigades in Israel. On May 30, the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) arrested Shehadeh Abu al-Qian for promoting terrorist activity and gathering intelligence in Israeli territory on behalf of Mujahideen Brigades. The ISA alleged that after al-Qian joined the IDF he began to collect intelligence and perform other activities on behalf of the Gaza-based organization. At the present time, the organizations claims of establishment in the West Bank is likely to be comprised of a few individuals receiving instructions from Gaza to carry out minor military operations in the West Bank. Though the claimed attacks are likely exaggerated or outright fabricated with the aim of promoting military operations against Israel. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Statement from Saraya Waad Allah Saraya Waad Allah, an Iranian-backed militia in the island Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced its support for Hamas slaughter of Israelis and called for similar mobilization inside Bahrain. Despite the threat of violence, however, similar calls to action by the militia, or other Iranian-backed groups on the island over the last few years, have failed to materialize. According to Saraya Waad Allah, the Hamas-led assault on Israel revealed the internal defeat of the house of spiders, as God has fulfilled his promise. Moreover, the militia states that what the Israeli occupation is experiencing is the inevitable divine promise that this great act of resistance will overshadow this bastard entity and God will decree their evacuation sooner than later. The militia goes on to congratulate Hamas and other groups within the so-called Islamic Resistance, or other militant groups within Irans orbit, and calls on them to continue until the adhan [call to prayer] and calls of takbeer can be heard from within. Turning more locally, Saraya Waad Allah also states that this is evidence that the current ruling Al-Khalifa family of Bahrain should turn against Israel and not pursue normalization. Calls against normalization with Israel have been a common refrain for Bahraini militias for several years. The Shia militant group then states that the Hamas-led assault should be the call for Bahrains own mobilization against Zionists on the island and calls for a popular resistance uprising against the Bahraini state and Israelis. Despite the fresh threat, this is not the first time Saraya Waad Allah has issued such a communique against Israel. For instance, in 2020 it stated it created a dedicated sub-unit to target Israeli interests in Bahrain. It also took credit for threats against an Israeli delegation meeting with Bahraini officials in 2019. Other Iranian-backed Bahraini militias, such as Saraya al-Ashtar and Saraya al-Mokhtar, have also threatened Israelis on the island. And despite this call for renewed violence in Bahrain, similar calls from other groups since 2019 have fallen on deaf ears, with little to no violence being reported on the island from such militias since the same year. Bahraini security has effectively rendered these Iranian-backed groups largely dormant, though many maintain activity online where they release coordinated messages with other Islamic Resistance groups in Bahrain and around the wider-Middle East. Saraya Waad Allahs statement thus acts more within the realms of Irans larger propaganda game against Israel, whereby it seeks to present the image of a wide, united multi-front threat against the Jewish state. While some threats around the Middle East may be more real, threats from Bahrain are typically more bark than bite. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. 9th October 2023 Runtime 10:43 GreenRoc Mining (GROC) has been awarded a 250,000 grant from the UKs Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF) to establish the first graphite processing facility outsider of China. ATF is a programme to develop an end-to-end electrified automotive supply chain for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the UK. In this latest interview with focusIR, Stefan Bernstien, CEO of GreenRoc mining, highlights that all the Worlds EV battery ready graphite is currently entirely processed in China and explains to investors how GreenRoc Mining could become a significant player in the supply chain of graphite for EV batteries for the UK in terms of security of supply and achieving resilience in the EV battery sector. In particular, Stefan explains how this grant will part-fund the Company's feasibility study to assesses the economic viability of building a graphite spheronisation processing plant, close to sources of renewable energy, at the Companys World Class graphite project in Southern Greenland. Luc Frieden is set to become Luxembourg's next prime minister, a triumphant return to politics after a ten-year absence Luc Frieden is set to become Luxembourg's next prime minister, a triumphant return to politics after a ten-year absence Photo credit: Christophe Olinger Luc Frieden is set to become Luxembourg's next prime minister, a triumphant return to politics after a ten-year absence Photo credit: Christophe Olinger The CSV and DP on Monday evening agreed to begin coalition talks, with the Christian Democrat candidate for prime minister, Luc Frieden, set to become the head of the next government. The CSV on Sunday emerged victorious from the parliamentary election, holding onto its 21 seats in parliament while the DP-LSAP-dei Greng coalition crumbled as the Greens lost five of their nine seats in parliament. Grand Duke Henri earlier on Monday after talks with all parties voted into parliament had tasked Frieden with conducting coalition talks. This came after Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and his government formally resigned, although they remain in caretaker positions until a new cabinet is sworn in. Grand Duke Henri on Monday appointed Frieden to lead coalition talks Photo credit: Photo: Maison du Grand-Duc "The CSV's national committee unanimously accepted my proposal to first conduct talks with the DP," Frieden told reporters late on Monday. "It would be a strong majority if negotiations are successful." The CSV and DP together would hold 35 out of 60 seats in parliament. There will be no parallel negotiations, Frieden said. The CSV would also reach a majority in parliament if it partnered up with the LSAP, but already ahead of Sunday's vote, Frieden had expressed a preference for the DP, saying there is significant overlap between both parties' election programmes. The DP for its part also agreed to enter talks with the CSV after a meeting of its national leadership committee. "We are ready to take responsibility in the next government in which Mr Frieden will be premier," Bettel told broadcaster RTL. "It's not about ego. I always said it's not about me," he said about losing the post as prime minister, adding that he would be ready for a role in the next government. Bettel received the highest personal score in Sunday's election with 34,018 votes to his name, compared to Frieden's 30,999. Bettel in a 2015 referendum had campaigned for ministers' mandates to be limited to two terms. A majority of voters rejected the idea at the time. In the run-up to the election Bettel had repeatedly denied claims he was seeking a job in Brussels, saying he would be running for prime minister and, if elected, serve that term. Also read: Frieden could lead more pro-business coalition say chamber heads The CSV's kingmaker role in the next government marks a triumphant return to politics for Frieden who served as justice and finance minister under Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker but turned to the private sector after Juncker's CSV-LSAP coalition was ousted in 2013. Frieden went on to work for Deutsche Bank and BIL, among other appointments, and most recently served as the president of Luxembourg's Chamber of Commerce. "It's a great honour for me, and a great responsibility. I will carry out this task with seriousness over the coming weeks, and keep the head of state updated on the progress of these negotiations," Frieden said emerging from his audience with the grand duke. It is up to the grand duke to appoint a so-called formateur who leads coalition talks and usually ends up being the country's prime minister. In 2013 and 2018, Luxembourg's head of state gave that role to outgoing PM Xavier Bettel. "The role of the formateur is then to bring the two parties together and negotiate the content of the coalition programme," Frieden said. Download Image: Web Lycoming College Art Gallery in downtown Williamsport will feature an exhibit by fine artist and photographer Gerald Slota entitled, FReNzY. The show will run Oct. 27-Nov. 25 with a gallery reception scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3, at 5:30 p.m. The show is free and open to the public. Slota has been widely exhibited across the United States and abroad. He has had solo shows at the George Eastman House in Rochester, N.Y., and Langhans Galerie in Prague, Czech Republic, as well as been shown at Recontres D Arles in Arles, France. Slota has had multiple solo exhibits at Ricco/Maresca Gallery in NYC and is represented by the Robert Berman Gallery in Los Angeles. His images have appeared in numerous publications including The New York Times Magazine, Vice, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, Harpers, and Scientific America, as well as in BOMB, Artforum, ARTNEWS, Art in America, and Aperture. Slota has garnered many awards including a Polaroid 20x24 Grant, a MacDowell Artist Residency, and a Mid-Atlantic Fellowship Grant in 2001, 2009 and 2021. Slotas photographs are in collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, NYC, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA, Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach, FL, George Eastman House, Rochester, NY The Lycoming College Art Gallery, located in downtown Williamsport at 25 W. Fourth St., contributes to the citys arts culture and allows the College to become more involved with the surrounding community. Lycoming art students have the opportunity to interact with visiting artists and learn first-hand the inner workings of an art gallery. The gallery is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 4-8 p.m. For more information, please visit the gallery online at: https://www.lycoming.edu/art/gallery/22-23.aspx. Tonawanda Council President Jenna Koch bills herself as the candidate who has the right experience and who isnt afraid to buck her own party when she thinks its the right thing for city residents. Her challenger, Mary Ann Cancilla, is campaigning on a message that change is needed at City Hall and she is the best person to help find new solutions to rising taxes and other challenges. The contest for Council president highlights Tonawandas 2023 elections, where control of the closely divided Common Council is up for grabs. The spirited Koch-Cancilla race is the culmination of years of divisions within the citys Democratic Committee. Koch fell out with fellow committee members and they declined to endorse her for re-election. Instead, city Democrats backed Cancilla and she comfortably beat Koch in the June Democratic primary. Cancilla also holds the Working Families Party line in the November general election. People are ready for change, Cancilla told The Buffalo News. Theyre ready for a new direction for the city. Koch, who resigned from the Tonawanda Democratic Committee, holds the Republican and Conservative ballot lines. I am very confident that we will prevail in November. The residents of the City of Tonawanda deserve an experienced leader, deserve someone who has had the background in leading the Council and who can collaborate with the mayor, Koch said in an interview. And thats what they will get. Koch, 41, a human resources manager in an area health care system, is seeking a third term as Council president. She points to her constituent service and her willingness to work across the aisle as reasons she deserves voter support for re-election. Koch was asked whether, as the better-known incumbent, the contest is at its heart a referendum on her. This is my home. And I will certainly work hard for every single resident, whether they support me or dont support me. My mission is to serve the community to the best of my ability, Koch said, and I think my record shows that Ive done just that. She said her accomplishments include bringing to fruition a streetlight conversion that will save the city $200,000 annually in energy costs and helping to forge closer relationships with Republican Mayor John White and the Tonawanda School District. Her split with fellow Democrats began when she declined their request to challenge Democratic Mayor Rick Davis in a primary. Koch and other Council members had clashed with Davis, who went on to lose the 2021 general election. Tonawanda Council president, rejected by her party, wages Democratic primary fight Jenna Koch said she refused to do the party's bidding and that's why committee members have rebuffed her. Democratic Party leaders blame Koch for Davis loss, she said, and the rift widened when Koch voted to appoint Republican Monica L. Ljiljanich to fill a Common Council vacancy. Koch said her primary election loss followed mailers featuring personal attacks that went to city Democrats. She also was pained by Facebook posts made by Maria Kowalski Zwiefka, then Cancillas campaign treasurer, that portrayed Koch as a cow and stated that Koch suffers from narcissistic personality disorder. Koch said Cancilla never personally apologized for the posts, which she called below the belt. Cancilla, for her part, called them absolutely unacceptable and emphasized that the statements had no connection to the campaign. But I do think my opponent, you know, used it to her advantage and tried to spin it, Cancilla said. So that was unfortunate. She said Zwiefka resigned as her treasurer but, because of a paperwork mix-up, was needed to submit the latest campaign finance report to the state Board of Elections on Friday. Cancilla said she has a new treasurer and, after The News asked about it Monday, has updated the address on her website for mailed campaign donations. I take responsibility for it. It fell off my radar, she said. Cancilla, 40, manages a data team for a mortgage banking company and runs the nonprofit COT Neighbors United. This is her first run for office and she said she worked to get her message out before the primary. Obviously, I had an uphill battle, Cancilla said. My name is not nearly as well known as my opponents. So, to me, I think door knocking was key. Cancilla said she most often hears concerns from voters about pocketbook issues. She said city officials for too long have relied on raising taxes and dipping into reserve funds instead of taking a hard look at Tonawandas financial picture. Last years budget added four new positions, and it took $800,000 from our reserve fund, Cancilla said. So if youre gonna hit the reserve fund, lets not add additional costs. So its not about cutting services or positions, to me, its about holding the line until revenue catches up. Koch has outraised Cancilla this year. Koch has $6,195 in hand as of last week, while Cancilla has just $1,206. The Council president serves for four years, while ward-based members serve two-year terms. There are competitive elections for every ward seat Democrats and Republicans each hold two and some of the candidates faced off in June. 1st Ward: James M. Shiesley, the endorsed Democrat, is challenging Ljiljanich, the GOP incumbent. Hes a registered Conservative and retired city police officer. Ljiljanich, a civil service manager at Erie County Medical Center, was appointed in 2022 before winning a special election unopposed last fall. She was the endorsed Conservative candidate but handily lost that primary to Shiesley. Vote to fill Tonawanda Council vacancy splinters city Democrats Council President Jenna Koch broke ranks with the Democratic Party to support Monica Ljiljanich, a Republican, for the seat vacated after the death of Thomas A. Newman. 2nd Ward: Incumbent Carl F. Nocera has the Republican and Conservative ballot lines in his campaign for another term. Christopher C. Fisher, an Army veteran and retired New York City police officer, has the Democratic ballot line and an independent party line named Residents First. Fisher won the Democratic line over former Councilwoman Dawn M. Kammerdeiner in a primary. Kammerdeiner, who lost to Nocera in 2021, has the Working Families line. 3rd Ward: Council Member Sean M. Rautenstrauch, a Democrat, also has the Working Families ballot line in his bid for re-election. His challenger is Raymond T. Schultz, a retired Goodyear auto mechanic and store employee, who also has the Conservative line. 4th Ward: Incumbent David R. Mileham has the Democratic and Working Families lines as he seeks another term. Strategies that provide smokers with less harmful alternatives to cigarettes are far more likely to reduce smoking than the World Health Organizations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) recommendations to prohibit them while cigarettes remain widely available, according to Quit for Gooda non-profit organization promoting tobacco harm reduction (THR) in the Philippines. To remain at the forefront of adopting effective strategies to reduce smoking, countries that have experience regulating these new products, including the Philippines, must continue to advocate at the global stage for science to guide policy response, not vice versa, Dr. Lorenzo Mata, president of Quit For Good, said in a recent global forum. Mata was one of the panelists who joined the hybrid 6th Summit on Tobacco Harm Reduction: Novel Products, Research & Policy organized by SCOHRE (the International Association on Smoking Control & Harm Reduction) on September 25 and 26, 2023 with physical presence in Athens, Greece. The summit was held as member countries of the WHO FCTC prepare for the 10th Conference of the Parties (C0P10) in Panama in November 2023 to discuss WHOs recommendations to ban novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products such as vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches or regulate them the same as cigarettes. Dr. Fernando Fernandez Bueno, a Spanish physician, agreed with Dr. Mata: The debate on tobacco control must be based on scientific arguments and clinical data, moving away from mere opinions and emotional responses. This is the only way to make progress in the fight against tobacco, he said. Professor Andrzej Fal, president of Polish Society of Public Health in Poland, in his keynote speech exploring the financial aspects of smoking, said that at an era when health expenditures keep growing, prevention is the most effective way of investing in future health. To stop the smoking pandemic and its financial and health effects, we need to raise funding for primordial prevention, as well as introduce a less harm, less tax regulation, he said. Prof. David Sweanor of the University of Ottawa said the FCTC and the WHO failed to acknowledge the merits of using less harmful tobacco and nicotine products to displace cigarettes. Failure to do it is this continued carnageunnecessary death and disease. We also see government bodies, UN bodies destroying their credibility. When we lose the trust of the public, it affects us on a far broader range of issues than just tobacco and nicotine, he said. People are buying cigarettes every day, every day we have a chance to intervene by offering a product that is massively less hazardous, doesnt harm the people around you, and is less addictive; and we can make sure that it is available more widely than cigarettes, at a lower price than cigarettes, with more accurate information about relative risk, Sweanor said. Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos, a Greek physician and researcher, said countries that support less harmful products now have the lowest smoking rates in the world. We can see data from places like Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Japan. Look at Japan, one of the largest cigarette markets in the world. Half of the market for cigarettes in Japan disappeared in the last seven years, with the rise of a single viable alternative, he said, referring to heated tobacco product (HTP). Mata said the FCTCs tobacco control strategies are failing as the number of smokers globally is not decreasing. In response, different countries have embraced policies to make less harmful products available to smokers to replace cigarettes. Using safer nicotine products offers new choices to millions of people worldwide who want to move away from smoking or other dangerous forms of tobacco use, he said. The Philippines response has been to enact Republic Act 11900, known as the Vape Law. At the heart of the Vape Law is the objective to regulate vapor products and heated tobacco products in order to promote a healthy environment, protect its citizens and reduce the harm caused by smoking, Mata said. Mata said that by offering safer avenues, we have given smokers a chance to make better choices for themselves, which is exactly what the WHO and the FCTC should do. An economist said on Monday that the war between Israel and Hamas will have little effect on remittances from Filipino workers in the Middle East. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort told Manila Standard remittances from Filipinos working in Israel reached $66.7 million from January to July this year, or 0.5 percent of the total remittances for the period. He said that in 2022, remittances from Israel amounted to $110.6 million, or 0.3 percent of the total, based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Ricafort said, however, there might be some reduction of new OFW deployment. The impact on remittances could be manageable since there are many caregivers/domestic helpers in Israel and in nearby Middle Eastern countries, Ricafort said. They are the last to go Provided [that] no evacuations or repatriation back to the country, Ricafort said. Ricafort said Israel has a good track record in managing conflict as seen in recent years. He said, however, that many flights or tours were cancelled for now to the Holy Land. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to locate and account for all Filipinos in Israel, where attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday triggered Israeli airstrikes over the Gaza Strip. Hamas launched a massive surprise attack at daybreak Saturday, firing thousands of rockets into Israel and its fighters entered Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip, killing residents and taking hostages. The attacks prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war on Hamas, ordering airstrikes that killed hundreds in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave. There are about 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, according to the governments estimates. Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that cash remittances in July 2023 rose 2.6 percent to $2.99 billion from $2.92 billion posted in the same month last year. This brought cash remittances in the first seven months to $18.79 billion, a 2.9-percent increase from $18.26 billion registered in the same period last year. The growth in cash remittances from the United States, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates contributed mainly to the increase in remittances in the first seven months of 2023, the BSP said. Cash remittances rose 3.6 percent in 2022 to a record $32.54 billion from $31.42 billion in 2021 on sustained demand for skilled Filipino workers overseas. The Bangko Sentral expects remittances to grow 3 percent in 2023. Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC sold its 16.8-percent stake in restaurant chain Shakeys Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. for P2.69 billion. Shakeys said in a disclosure to the stock exchange GIC, through affiliate Arran Investment Pte. Ltd., sold 283 million shares in the food company at P9.50 apiece. This represented a 3.26-percent premium over the stocks closing price of P9.20 on Friday. Shakeys shareholders Century Pacific Group Inc. (CPG), the holding company of the Po family and JE Holdings Inc. (JE) a privately-held investment company of the Gokongwei family, acquired the shares from GIC. CPG purchased 185 million shares to increase its holdings in Shakeys to 62 percent, while JE Holdings took up 98 million shares to boost its share to 14.9 percent. Shakeys chairman Christoper Po expressed appreciation for GIC, which invested in Shakeys prior to its initial public offering in 2016. As strategic investors, they have been big supporters and have added value to the company. Thus, in turn, I am pleased that the company was able to generate gains for them. I am also grateful for the opportunity to increase our investments in PIZZA [Shakeys] as we are firm believers and are excited by our future prospects. We are also grateful to the Gokongwei family for their belief in our company and the additional investment, Po said. JE Holdings chairman and president Lance Gokongwei expressed willingness to support Shakeys expansion plans. Since being elected in 2021 as a board member of PIZZA, I have seen the company navigate through a pandemic and emerge from it a better, more diversified group. This gives me confidence in the groups vision and capability to execute. We are pleased with the opportunities that lie ahead, strongly support PIZZAs expansion in the years to come, and look forward to creating synergies with the Gokongwei Group, Gokongwei said. JE Holdings became a strategic investor of Shakey in 2021, via P1.25-billion capital infusion. Since its entry in Shakeys, the food company expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Potato Corner, the leading kiosk-based flavored fries chain in the country. Shakeys has nearly 2,000 stores and outlets globally across its brands. On an uncharacteristically warm and sunny October morning, parents pushing children in strollers and retirees carrying bulging shopping bags perused the lines of vendors at the North Tonawanda City Market. Bushels of apple varieties sat next to fall squashes and gourds. Baskets of peppers and beans overflowed. Boxes of ripe, locally grown tomatoes were ready to be turned into homemade sauce. Kirk Canfield stood behind the tables full of rainbow produce grown on his familys Wilson farm, which spans four generations. The Canfield family has been selling their crops at the market in North Tonawanda for more than 50 years, said Canfield. But thats not even half the lifespan of the historic market that, last month, was named the best farmers market in the nation. The markets history dates to 1897, when taxpayers voted on whether or not the city would take out a $10,000 bond to buy the site for the market. Women were given special permission to vote on the matter, the Tonawanda News reported at the time. After the city bought the property at the corner of Robinson Street and Payne Avenue, it sat unused for nine years until August 1908 when the North Tonawanda Public Market opened to thousands of shoppers and vendors. Over 40 loads of produce were sold Saturday and every stall did a thriving business, the Tonawanda News reported on Aug. 24, 1908. Since that day, the market has been a North Tonawanda staple and 115 years later, it still sits on the same parcel of land, just a couple of blocks from the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum. Whats given the market its staying power for more than a century is the farmers who come week after week, month after month, year after year to sell their crops. Theyre the ones that kept this market going, North Tonawanda City Market manager Chris Delprince said of the farmers. You cant find all these Niagara County farmers in one spot except the North Tonawanda market. Jim Miller of Millers Farm in Rapids a hamlet in the Town of Lockport said hes been a farmer all his life, which, as he put it, is a long time. Among the grapes, peppers, tomatoes and garlic Miller had for sale that day was an occasional squash or gourd with a cute painted face and little hat. My sisters the artist, Miller said. She does vegetable art every week. Under the markets large green pavilion, Kimberly Hanzlian was in her usual spot with a refrigerated truck full of her familys freshly made sausages. Hanzlians father and uncle started Hanzlians Sausage in 1999 and have been selling at the North Tonawanda City Market ever since, she said. Over the years, shes gotten to know the market regulars who come every week to do their grocery shopping. You can get anything you really need, Hanzlian said. Theres meats, theres fruits, vegetables, theres baked goods, theres plants. People dont want to go to the supermarket to get those things because they know that what they can get here is better. Such was the case with Kathy Duke, who came to the market with her sister, Chris Rosky. North Tonawanda natives, the sisters have been visiting the market since they were children. They regularly do their shopping at the market because they like supporting local farmers and the quality of the food they get at the market is better than at the grocery store. Selling the North Tonawanda farmers market before and after becoming No. 1 Appointed in January 2022, Chris DelPrince went to work fixing up the market securing tens of thousands of dollars of monetary and in-kind donations from the retail contacts he had made in Western New York over the years. Theres a big selection of everything here, said Duke, who came prepared with a small cart to carry her purchases, which included half a bushel of red apples. Shes no rookie, Rosky said with a laugh. With 146 stalls, the market regularly adds new vendors, like Marina Naples, also known as the Bread Lady. Naples has been selling her homemade sourdough bread and other baked goods at the North Tonawanda City Market on Thursdays and Saturdays for the past two months, she said. The NT market is open year-round from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Of all the markets Naples has sold her bread at, the North Tonawanda spot has been her favorite. The vendors, everyone Ive met are really great, Naples said. (Market manager Delprince) has really done a great job here. This is a good market. Its big and theres a lot to offer here. The government on Monday inaugurated the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase III (ARBP III) in Bulacan. The project is primarily funded through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It has a total project cost of P5.26 billion. President Marcos, in a speech read by Special Assistant to President Antonio Ernesto Floirendo Lagdameo Jr., said the road is an important step toward a better Philippines. The President also said the inauguration is a call to action, and a call to work tirelessly toward the Bagong Pilipinas vision for a more progressive Philippines. President Marcos also said the project would also help boost the production of the farming industry and attract investments in Bulacan. The 22.4-kilometer ARBP III is an infrastructure flagship project (IFP) under the Build-Better-More Program. It involves widening the existing Plaridel Bypass Road in Bulacan from two to four lanes. The ARBP III aims to reduce travel time from Balagtas to San Rafael in Bulacan from one hour to just 24 minutes. Contract Packages 3 and 4 were completed on March 31, 2021, and April 30, 2023, respectively. Contract Package 3 was opened to traffic in July 2021. Meanwhile, Contract Packages 1 and 2 are targeted to be completed by March 2024. Herat, Afghanistan -The death toll from a series of earthquakes in western Afghanistan rose sharply on Sunday to more than 2,000, the Taliban government said, as bodies continued to be pulled from demolished villages and buried in mass graves. More than 1,300 homes were toppled when Saturdays 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 the rural Zinda Jan district, village households were reduced to jumbles of broken masonry, where makeshift rescue teams continued to dig trenches on Sunday. Aid gradually trickled into the disaster zone including food, water, tents and coffins for the dead who were pulled from the rubble by excavators and men with pickaxes and shovels. Some of the bodies were shrouded in fleece blankets, as workers used those same tools to excavate their communal graves in the gravelly brown earth. Everyone is busy searching for the bodies everywhere, we dont know if there are others as well under the debris, said 32-year-old volunteer rescue worker Khalid, who goes by one name. These people got destroyed, he said. Disaster management ministry spokesman Mullah Janan Sayeq said the nation witnessed an unprecedented earthquake, putting the number of dead at 2,053 across 13 villages around midday on Sunday. 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 also gave a figure of more than 9,000 injured but later retracted that, saying it referred to the number of residents in the affected area. Everything turned to sand Amir Hussain, 33, toiled through the night as hopes faded and the rescue effort turned into a recovery operation in Kashkak village of Zinda Jan district. We took out several dead bodies, three of them were little children, and one of them was split apart, he said. They had just came from their school. One of them was killed in the street and two others in their home. In nearby Sarboland village, an AFP reporter saw houses 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. 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. Casualties set to rise Most rural homes in Afghanistan are made of mud 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 Saturdays 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 Talibans return to power in 2021. Save the Children called the quake a crisis on top of a crisis. The scale of the damage is horrific. The numbers affected by this tragedy are truly disturbing, said country director Arshad Malik. 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. The surprise Hamas attacks across Israel on Saturday Oct. 7 made for one of the most violent chapters the region has seen in decades. Israeli officials have been blunt in saying "this is our 9/11", and have retaliated with force against the militant group that controls Palestine's Gaza strip. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Monday the country is imposing a total blockade on Gaza. Thus cutting fuel supplies, electricity and food as part of "a complete siege" on the Hamas-controlled enclave. As of Monday, the death toll in Israeli territory has risen to 800 victims, with more than 2,200 wounded. While over 500 Palestinians have died as a result of the Israeli retaliation, placing the total estimated death toll at 1,300 so far. The violent attacks have put the efficiency of Israel's intelligence agencies into question, while these have said that "not having feet on the ground" and the "archaic planning methods" made predicting the attacks difficult. The rocket strikes hit major cities across Israel, and send fighters by air, sea and land into southern Israeli lands. The first offensive by Hamas took place on Saturday at 6:35 am (local time), with thousands of rockets hitting major cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Just over 4 hours later, (10:46 am) Israeli fighter jets strike the first targets in Gaza. The barbaric initial attacks on the ground shocked the world, with graphic images of civilians being kidnapped and killed. Including hundreds of 'Supernova' festival attendees who had the misfortune of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. While many were initially killed, the fate of many of those who were kidnapped is still in the balance. The conflict has flared tensions on a local and international level as well, with Palestinian officials in the West Bank (with no relation to Hamas) not openly condemning the attacks. Their reasoning being that the killing could have been avoided had the cries of help from Palestine's people throughout the years been heard. Israel - Hamas war LIVE: follow the latest updates on Gaza conflict Update narration On Saturday, after the initial attack, the leader of the military wing of Hamas said (in a recorded message) that the group had decided to launch an "operation". Muhammad Deif's message said that the purpose of the attack was so "the enemy will understand that the time of their rampaging without accountability has ended." The militant group leader's world fell on deaf ears in Israel, where Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reduced the attacks to "fighting with human animals". The conflict, sadly, keeps escalating with no end in sight. Thousands of protests have emerged internationally, with tension arising on the streets there as well. The flames of Hamas, Israel, apartheid, and Palestine The Israeli-Hamas War is a logical result of 50 years of failed military policies. Assertive pledges of national security will not achieve peace in the Middle East. That requires inclusive economic development. On Saturday, Palestinian militant groups, reportedly led by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other groups, launched a coordinated offensive against nearby Israeli cities, Gaza border crossings, adjacent military installations, and civilian settlements. Hostilities were initiated by a rocket barrage literally thousands of rockets - against Israel and vehicle-transported incursions into Israeli territory. The offensive has already caused hundreds of Israeli casualties, up to 2,000 injured and dozens of captured, leading Israel to declare a state of emergency and war.This is the first major direct conflict within widely recognized Israeli territory since the country's founding. It is a game-changer in the Israeli-Palestine conflict.The war is also manna for heaven for Netanyahus far-right government, which has escalated the suppression of Palestinians as international attention has focused on the proxy war in Ukraine. And it certainly did not come out of the blue. The 50-year time bomb In the early hours of the offensive, Hamas spokesperson Khaled Qadomi said that the groups military operation is in response to all the atrocities the Palestinians have faced over the decades, and in response to the recent "desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli far-right. The offensive took place during the Jewish holiday and a day after the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and its aftermath when the first Jewish settlements were established in Occupied Territories. Half a decade ago, I wrote a commentary for Robert Parry's investigative Consortium News on "Israels 50-Year Time Bomb" (Oct. 16, 2018), arguing that the status quo was untenable and another war just a matter of time. At the time, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had warned that deepening rifts between key stakeholders and surging violence in Gaza further imperil prospects for peace. As the Trump "peace initiatives" pushed the region closer to an abyss, I warned that the situation was even worse. Under Netanyahu, Israel was morphing into an apartheid state. Those South African blacks, who lived under apartheid, had more to hope for than Palestinians. That should no longer come as a surprise. Last year, Israels former attorney general, Michael Ben-Yair, said that my country has sunk to such political and moral depths that it is now an apartheid regime. Recently, the former speaker of the Israeli parliament, Avraham Burg, and the renowned Israeli historian, Benny Morris, were among more than 2,000 Israeli and American public figures who signed a public statement declaring that Palestinians live under a regime of apartheid. And more recently, Tamir Pardo, the former chief of Mossad (2011-16), stated that Israels mechanisms for controlling the Palestinians, from restrictions on movement to placing them under military law while Jewish settlers in the occupied territories are governed by civilian courts, matched the old South Africa. There is an apartheid state here, Tamir said. In a territory where two people are judged under two legal systems, that is an apartheid state. Yet, the Democratic Biden administration has continued Trump's Middle East policies, which effectively ignore the Palestinian nightmare. Washington's bipartisan consensus is driven by the priorities of the Pentagon and the Big Defense. In the past 5 years that has pushed Israel's democracy at the edge of autocracy fostering an apartheid state, as I warned in 2018. Dangerous polarization revisited In 1994, amid the peace talks in Oslo, Palestinian per capita income, adjusted to purchasing power parity, was barely 15% relative to the Israeli level. At the time, the hope was that peace would bring stability, which would raise living standards in the West Bank and Gaza. The hopes died with the Jewish far-right assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, which triggered a new cycle of devastation. In 2017, Palestinian per capita income had slowly climbed to 16.2% relative to the Israeli level. After more than two decades, barely 1 percentage point. So, what about progress in the past 5 years? Despite all the hoopla by the Trump and Biden administrations that the Middle East is at the "cusp of peace and prosperity, Palestinian per capita income has actually fallen behind. Its now 12.9% compared to the Israeli level. Thats over 2 percentage points lower relative to where it was over two decades ago. Things have not got any better in the Palestine; theyve got a lot worse (Figure). Figure Per capita income in Israel and West Bank/Gaza, 1995-2023 GDP Per Capita PPP: Israel Vs West Bank and Gaza (1995-2023). Data from World Bank This conclusion is supported by the new IMF report warning that amid a deteriorating security, political and social situation, [Palestinian] per capita income is projected to decline over the medium term. So, how does the Palestinian stagnation compare with that of black South Africans in the days of institutionalized racism? During the period of apartheid (1948-94), the per capita income of South Africas blacks relative to the whites climbed from 8.6% to 13.5%. Compared with South African blacks, the Palestinians starting point was almost twice as high in relative terms. But now it is lower than that of South Africas blacks at the end of the apartheid. The reversal has occurred during the Trump and Biden administrations. In absolute terms, Israeli per capita income is today at par with the UK and higher than in Italy. By contrast, Palestinian per capita income is estimated at $5,700, which is lower than that of Nigeria and Cambodia; barely ahead of Myanmar. And worse looms ahead. Israels drift toward autocracy The Israeli judicial reform is a series of changes to the judicial system and the balance of powers in Israel that was proposed in January. The arguments concern the so-called Reasonableness Amendment, which was passed by Israels parliament, the Knesset, in late July. This amendment seeks to curb the judiciary's influence over lawmaking and public policy. It reflects Israel's descent toward autocracy. Under the Netanyahu government, Israel has experienced a deepening divide, as the coalition teeters on a precarious electoral majority. It comprises the conservative Likud party, along with Orthodox and the nationalist religious and the controversial Jewish supremacist factions, which advocate ethnic cleansing in Occupied Territories and a Greater Israel. After a year of unprecedented events, Israels political and constitutional turmoil came to a head on Sept. 12, when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the critical case that will determine the future of the Netanyahu governments judicial overhaul. However, it will also have chilling implications for Palestinian rights. After all, Israel's judiciary, mainly its Supreme Court, has regularly upheld policies, practices and laws that help enforce "Israel's system of apartheid against Palestinians," including upholding administrative detentions, green-lighting the destruction of villages, upholding a law imposing restrictions on family reunification. In the past, the Supreme Court has intervened in protecting Palestinian human rights on few occasions. But if the institution loses power to the government, even this "slim and inconsistent" protection would likely disappear. Autocracy would codify apartheid. Thats another motive for the ongoing offensive. No peace without development Today, there are some 5.4 million Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza, and millions more in the proximate countries, such as Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and internationally. But it is the Palestinians in the Israeli Occupied Territories that find themselves at the edge of an abyss. Israel has a right to defend itself, and so do the Palestinians. With the ongoing war, the Israel/Palestine status quo has entered an entirely new, potentially far more desperate, lethal and coordinated stage. From an economic perspective, the apartheid conditions are pushing Palestinians to a nightmare thats purely and simply untenable. Worse, the militarization of the crisis is likely to make things far worse before they get any better. Half a century of policy mistakes in the Middle East by the key stakeholders should be an adequate warning. Assertive pledges of national security will never achieve an enduring peace in the region or elsewhere. That requires inclusive economic development. Dr. Dan Steinbock is the founder of Difference Group and has served at the India, China and America Institute (US), Shanghai Institute for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more, see http://www.differencegroup.net/ 2023 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Dan Steinbock Archive 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Matt Hebert will join his friend Jerry Brookman for a song-swapping evening of music at Abandoned Building Brewing in Easthampton on Oct. 21. Hebert, the founder of Ware River Club, Haunt, and now The Matt Hebert Band, returned to Massachusetts in 2021 after moving to Austin, Texas, for a dozen years. He first landed in the Boston area, but then made his way back to the Pioneer Valley, where he has been busy working on various musical projects. The Oct. 21 gig will be an early one, running from 6 to 8 p.m. Abandoned Building Brewing is at 142 Pleasant St. Ukrainian band Kommuna Lux will play the Divine Theater at Gateway City Arts on Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. The ensemble was founded in 2014 by seven artists who performed in noisy flash mobs across the city of Odessa, Ukraine. The group performs what it calls Odessa Gangsta Folk, a unique take on klezmer music. The bands appearance at Gateway City Arts is part of their worldwide tour. They have performed in Slovakia, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Israel, and the Netherlands. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kommuna Lux has been collecting money at all its concerts to honor their city, Ukrainian heroes, and to support humanitarian aid. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are available at gatewaycityarts.com. In the restaurant industry, just as in almost any line of business, being aware of - and adapting to - trends is essential to long-term survival. The problem is, however, that sometimes what look like trends instead turn out to be fads. Two recent dining-out innovations illustrate the problem restaurant people can have when trying to respond to trends - and finding out those trends are most likely just fads. Back in 2018, the industry was abuzz with chatter about plant-forward foods. At the heart of it all was the work of two food industry start-ups, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, both of which had developed realistic meat substitutes made from vegetable protein. Over the next year, many major fast-casual and quick-service chains rushed to put impossible burgers and similar items on their menus in the belief that such meat wannabes were a growth opportunity they couldnt afford to ignore. Today, however, those meat replacements are languishing, their manufacturers reporting lackluster sales and the restaurant chains themselves finding that meat-free burgers are a definite non-starter with most of their customers. Barely 18 months ago, bitcoin-like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were being touted as the next big thing in funding restaurant ventures. Entrepreneurs and developers were selling NFT memberships in new restaurants and nightlife experiences while existing operators were promoting NFT-based loyalty programs. To date, none of these NFT offers have fully delivered on the promises made, and some have never even gotten off the ground. For now, at least, NFTs in the restaurant world are another trend thats looking a lot like a fad. ********** Side Dishes: Late last month, IHOP introduced a new fall menu, and leading off this updated bill of fare are four new Belgian waffle entrees. Available all day, the waffle options include a Strawberry Cheesecake Belgian Waffle, an Oreo Cookie Crumble Belgian Waffle, a Nashville Hot Chicken & Waffles plate, and a Waffle Breakfast Combo. New main dish selections this fall at IHOP include a slow-braised pot roast and a country fried steak entree. Tomato basil soup and two plant-forward alternatives, an Impossible steakburger and a side order of Impossible sausage patties, have also been introduced. The latter two items were created for IHOP by Redwood City, California-based Impossible Foods. There are IHOP restaurants locally at the Five Town Plaza in Sixteen Acres and on Riverdale Street in West Springfield. ********** Caffeines Midtown in West Springfield has announced new operating hours, effective immediately. The restaurant will be serving dinner on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m. Starting Oct. 15, Sunday brunch will return, with service scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Caffeines Midtown invites guests to BYOB; the cafe charges a wine service fee of $5 per person. The restaurant answers at 413-363-1202. ********** Taco Bells new product team has developed a Vegan Nacho Sauce, which it is featuring as part of another limited-time-appearance by the chains now-familiar Nacho Fries. The vegan sauce is served with the fries as a guest-selected option and both will be available as long as supplies last. As part of a Taco Lovers Pass promotion, Taco Bell has also introduced a Toasted Breakfast Taco. The tortilla fold-over is stuffed with scrambled eggs, a choice of sausage, bacon or crispy breakfast potatoes, and shredded cheese. Company executives have suggested that the Toasted Breakfast Taco is part of a long-term effort to reposition Taco Bell as more than a late-night brand. ********** On Saturday, Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Barstows Dairy Store and Bakery in Hadley will be hosting an Open Farm Saturday. During the Open Farm hours, there will be walking tours, several wagon rides, and a guided visit to the calf barn. The Dairy Store and Bakery will convert its drive-thru to a Mac & Cheese Window for the duration of the event, offering homemade mac & cheese as well as beverages. The inside service counter will continue to serve the operations full sandwich menu, baked goods, and ice cream. Live music by Old Country Road, a vintage country bluegrass group, will be part of the Open Farm fun. Barstows Dairy Store and Bakery answers at 413-586-2142. ********** The Rail Trail Ale House in Southwick will be holding their Oktoberfest 2023 on Oct. 14,starting at 1 p.m. The festivities will include German music, food specials, and plenty of beer. Attendees are encouraged to get into the spirit of the occasion by showing up in costume. The menu for the Rail Trail Ale House can be viewed online. For more details on Oktoberfest, call the Rail Trail Ale House at 413-998-0555. ********** Chicago-based McDonalds Corp. recently announced that, over the next decade. the chain will be phasing out its self-service drink stations. In a statement released in early September, the company said it will eliminate the stations across the U.S., with the change expected to be complete by 2032. According to McDonalds, the rationale is to create a consistent experience for both customers and crew across all ordering points, whether thats McDelivery, the app, kiosk, drive-thru or in-restaurant. The change evidently reflects the extent to which customer traffic at McDonalds has shifted away from dine-in to off-premises ordering channels, which now easily account for more than three-quarters of the chains total traffic. The high levels of maintenance self-serve drink areas require is likely an additional motivation for the modification, as is the sharing of drinks and other beverage pilferage by customers. ********** If youre a fan of Alaskan king crab, youve probably noticed that the price of that delicacy has climbed to astronomic levels over the past several years. As a result, king crab legs have more or less disappeared from restaurant menus. The cause of this price uptick is tight supplies. Like all wild-harvested seafood, king crab faces growing global demand and dwindling wild stocks. The crab population has declined so markedly in recent years that fishing for the species had to be cancelled for the most recent harvest season. However, Nofima, a Norway-based research group, is currently researching how king crab might be raised in captivity, with the objective of eventually farming king crab along the Arctic coast of that Scandinavian country. To date those researchers are reporting good progress with their efforts. Perhaps as a farmed species, king crab legs will be making a return to restaurant kitchens. ********** The Hardwick Vineyard & Winery is holding another of its wine-and pairing sessions, this time matching cake pops with five of Hardwicks wine varieties. Led by wine educator Missa Capozzo, a Wine & Autumn Cake Pop Pairing will take place on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. Participants will be presented with a series of five cake pops by X&M Treats and tastes of five Hardwick wines. Capozzo will guide the tasting and use the experience to illustrate how food and wine can be successfully paired. Tickets, which can be ordered on Eventbrite.com, are $49 plus a convenience fee. Hardwick Vineyard & Winery answers at 413-967-7763. ********** Though the leaves have just begun to fall, restaurants across the Pioneer Valley are already planning for the 2023 holiday season. Some, like the Delaney House in Holyoke, have begun publicizing their Thanksgiving dinner menus, both a la carte and buffet, as well as opening their reservation books. With demand for dinner out on Nov. 23 expected to be strong this year, mid-October is not too early to make plans and book a table, especially if you prefer an early afternoon seating, the peak time for holiday dining. Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community Colleges hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com. A Brandeis University professor is speaking out after his daughter and son-in-law were were among numerous civilians killed in a conflict between the Israeli military and the militant Palestinian group Hamas. In a statement sent to MassLive, Ilan Troen said that his daughter Deborah and her husband Shlomi were killed by Hamas fighters who invaded their home on Saturday morning, Oct. 7. Troen, who is a professor of Israel Studies at Brandeis, said Deborah, Shlomi and their son Rotem were attempting to lock their home after they heard shooting and voices speaking in Arabic in her neighborhood in southern Israel. That was the last time Troen heard directly from his daughter. There was repeated texting with Rotem, who survived first under his parents bodies and notified us of their death, and then spent the next twelve or so hours hiding under a bed and later under a blanket in the laundry room, Troen said. His rescuers found him covered in a grey to black film from smoke in his house, that like others, was set on fire in the expectation that survivors could then be shot. Rotem is recovering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, but is expected to survive. The family visited the 16-year-old at Soroka Hospital in Beer-Sheva on Saturday night, Troen said. The professor added that talking about the incident has been somewhat therapeutic and brings attention to the bigger issue. Deborah and Shlomi Martias were not murdered in a mere attack. It was a pogrom, Troen wrote. We heard the shots and shouts, and were present for the tragedy and relief in real time. It makes for a determined and engaged country resolved to confront the evil visited on us by an enemy who must be vanquished. The conflict started Saturday when Palestinian militants from the territory of Gaza invaded multiple Israeli communities and military bases by firing thousands of rockets at the country. The surprise attack killed more than 700 people, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the countrys worst civilian massacres, according to officials. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities during a Jewish holiday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. Read More: What to know as Israel declares war after unprecedented Hamas attack After officially declaring war on Sunday, the Israeli government promised Monday to punish the Gaza Strip and crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza. The death toll on both sides has surpassed 1,200, with at least 11 Americans among the dead, WBZ-TV reported. 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, Brandies University President Ron Liebowitz said in a statement sent to MassLive Sunday. 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. In an online statement, Liebowitz said Brandeis has been in touch with students who are studying in Israel this semester and will continue to support them, as well as the rest of the community, during this turbulent time. We are also communicating with faculty in the region, and monitoring the situation to help community members who may need assistance, Liebowitz said. My thoughts are with all of those who are suffering in the wake of this outburst of violence. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize campus resources for additional support. Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has once again expanded its statewide network of community practices and affiliated locations. The Roswell Park Care Networks newest practice opened in September at 6000 Brockton Drive in Lockport. It offers general dermatology, surgical oncology and breast surgery consultations, treatment and follow-up care. We continue to see a need for community-based practices, especially in northern Western New York, Dr. Thomas Schwaab, Roswell Parks chief of strategy, business development and outreach, said in a news release issued Wednesday about the new location. It is the latest growth for the Care Network, which allows patients to be treated closer to where they live and also boosts Buffalo-based Roswell Parks geographic reach. The Care Network is a mix of community practices, such as the one in Lockport, as well as partnerships and affiliations with existing health systems including Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Upper Allegheny Health System in Olean and Bradford, Pa., and Catholic Health of Long Island. With the addition of Lockport, the Care Network now has 17 locations. Other recent moves for the Care Network have included opening a community physician practice at 2150 Wehrle Drive in Amherst, the relocation of a downtown Niagara Falls site from Fourth Street to a larger space at 10175 Niagara Falls Blvd. and the addition of a location at 23 N. Main St. in Middleport. Roswell Park adds another Care Network location this one closer to home Roswell Park on Tuesday announced the Care Network's newest location is at 2150 Wehrle Drive in Amherst, which opened to patients Aug. 1. Similar to our move earlier this year to Niagara Falls Boulevard in Niagara Falls, the Roswell Park Care Network is dedicated to bringing our expertise where it matters most, said Schwaab, a urologist. The Care Network gives many patients more convenient locations to receive most of their care, though it is also possible they may have to travel to the downtown Buffalo campus if additional or more advanced treatment is needed. It fits into an important business strategy for Roswell Park, helping it build a pipeline of patients and revenue that it otherwise might not reach. What's driving Roswell Park's expansion across New York? The Roswell Park Care Network now has more than a dozen locations: six community practices and a growing roster of affiliated sites at existing health care facilities. RPCI Oncology, the entity that owns the community physician practices within the network, has seen an increase in net patient revenues in recent years, logging about $60.6 million for the year ended March 31, and $53.1 million in the prior fiscal year, according to Roswell Parks most recent annual financial statements. Physicians at the Lockport practice are Dr. Daniel Bax, a board-certified dermatologist who recently completed a Mohs surgery fellowship at University of Vermont Medical Center, and Dr. Zachary Stiles, who completed a fellowship in complex general surgical oncology at Roswell Park. Surgical oncologist Dr. Helen Cappuccino, on staff at Roswell Park for about 25 years, consults with patients in Lockport once a month. CHICOPEE Chicopee school leaders are getting behind an effort to cover the cost of community college for anyone whos 18 and up. MassReconnect is a new program established by Gov. Maura Healey that makes a Massachusetts community college education free for state residents who are 25 and older. At Wednesdays School Committee meeting in Chicopee, board members decided to ask the governor to include students ages 18 to 24 to the program. Healey has invested $20 million for the first year of the program, which covers the full cost of tuition and fees, including an allowance for books and supplies, at each community college in Massachusetts. Western Massachusetts has four state community colleges. MassReconnect awarded $100,000 to the states 15 community colleges to ensure that each implements the program this fall. Each community college also will receive an additional $100,000 from the fund to address student and community program awareness, staffing and program administration. Chicopee School Committee member Tim Wagner. (Courtesy of Tim Wagner) School Committee member Tim Wagner, a recent graduate of Springfield Technical Community College, introduced the petition to his colleagues at a prior meeting. Witnessing other students around his age struggle to stay in school motivated Wagner to encourage the state to make community college free for younger students. If there were to be an additional cost, I think that it would be worth it to give our students a chance at a successful career, Wagner said during the meeting. At the end of the day, we want to support our students, and I think that cause is more important than anything. Other members gave similar reasons as to why its important to approve this petition, which they did in a 10-2 vote. Committee members Samuel Shumsky and Jason Dout voted against. Dout, reflecting on his own experience with college when he was younger, noted that he wasnt ready to pursue higher education at the age of 18. We want whats best for everyone, but at the same time, I think about my 18-year-old self, who prioritized playing Frisbee on the green of Westfield State over going to class, Dout said before voting. In support of the petition, committee member Ronald Bernard said he wishes this program had been available when he was younger, since his family wasnt the wealthiest, and he had to work while he was in college. Its about opportunity, Bernard said in response to Dout. Some people will take an opportunity and run with it. Some people will take an opportunity and blow it. Thats just part of life. He added, I think we should still put those opportunities out there for people. The next step for the petition is to have other school boards in other communities sign off on it, said Wagner, who added that a representative from the governors office will be asked to advance the measure, as well. Columbus Day, also celebrated in some communities as Indigenous Peoples Day commemorating the earliest inhabitants, is the second Monday in October. That falls this year on Monday, Oct. 9. Heres a look at whats open and whats closed that day and what travelers need to be aware of. Government Local government offices: Closed State government offices: Closed Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed Federal offices, including U.S. district courts in Springfield, Worcester and Boston: Closed Massachusetts state parks: Open Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Closed on Mondays Cape Cod National Seashore: Open Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area: Open Post office: Closed. Retail services will be unavailable and there will be no street delivery of mail on Oct. 9. Full retail and delivery services will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Finance Stock market: Open Banks: Most banks are closed for Columbus Day. But check with your branch to make sure. Grocery and retail Liquor stores: Open in both Massachusetts and Connecticut Big Y: All Big Y supermarkets are open regular hours on Monday. Stop & Shop: All Stop & Shops are open regular hours on Monday. Arnolds Meats: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 90 Meat Outlet: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holyoke Mall: Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hampshire Mall, Hadley: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastfield Mall, Springfield: Open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Lee Premium Outlets: The outlets on Route 20, off Exit 2 of the Massachusetts Turnpike, are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aldi: Open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Atkins Farms Country Market, Amherst: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Randalls Farm, Ludlow: Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Trader Joes: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Whole Foods: Open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Malls around Massachusetts Travel & Transportation Peter Pan Bus Lines Springfield-based Peter Pan Bus Lines warns that there will be heavy traffic this weekend and passengers should expect delays. This especially applies to riders heading into the Boston area. Peter Pan suggests travelers take an earlier bus if the trip involves connecting service, traveling to an airport or time-sensitive plans. There will be a series of schedule changes, outlined on the bus companys website. MBTA Subway, bus, and The RIDE will run on a Saturday schedule for Columbus Day while the Commuter Rail and Ferry will run normally. The CharlieCard store is closed. Anyone traveling on the MBTA should check schedules: www.mbta.com/holidays. PVTA Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses on Springfield and Northampton service operate on a Sunday schedule. UMass Amherst service will have reduced or canceled bus service Monday for Indigenous Peoples Day. More details are available on the PVTA website. WRTA The Worcester Regional Transit Authority runs on a Saturday schedule on Columbus Day. CTrails Hartford Line All CTrail Hartford Line and Amtrak trains will operate on their regular schedules during Columbus Day weekend. No special adjustments will be made. The full schedule can be seen here. Travelers can check the website for any alerts. Airports Bradley International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and Worcester Regional Airport all warn travelers to expect crowds and prepare for delays. Traffic The Massachusetts Department of Transportation warns motorists that Columbus Day weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year for travel. Travelers are encouraged to drive in off-peak hours if possible, utilize the appropriate technology tools to make informed decisions, and consider public transportation to reach destinations. Construction shut down Scheduled construction outside of fixed work zones will be shut down beginning at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6. Scheduled road work will then resume at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Drivers may dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions. Drivers may also visit mass511.com, a website that provides real-time traffic information, follow MassDOT on X, formerly known as Twitter, or dial 511 to hear real-time conditions. High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will be closed on Monday. The additional swing lane on Route 1A southbound at the Sumner Tunnel not be deployed. The Summer Tunnel The Sumner Tunnel in Boston is open after it reopened on Sept. 1. The Swing lane will not be deployed and there is no scheduled roadwork throughout the day Monday, MassDOT said. Foliage We are starting to see peak fall foliage in parts of Massachusetts as well as the rest of New England. WEST SPRINGFIELD Ask Peter Mosijchuk how long the United States should continue supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia and he points to the most recent headline. Fifty-one people, including an 8-year-old boy, were killed Thursday in a Russian missile attack on a cafe. Father and daughter Marty and Simma Lamb, of Holliston, spent this weekend in shock, glued to the news and seeking any information on the safety of their family in Israel. Their cousins, the descendants of Holocaust survivors, spent parts of this weekend holed up in their residence in Sderot, a western Israeli city a stones throw from the Gaza Strip, as Palestinian militants breached the border and rampaged through the community hunting for Israelis. From their MetroWest home, some 5,500 miles from Sderot, the Lambs said they felt helpless. For them, and for the many other Massachusetts residents with a personal or religious connection to Israel, the weekend attacks there felt deeply personal. Thank God our family is physically unhurt, Marty Lamb said. But there are thousands who dont know where their family is or if their family is alive, Simma Lamb added. Read more: What to know as Israel declares war after unprecedented Hamas attack Massachusetts is home to a vibrant Jewish population of roughly 300,000, a large portion of which is concentrated in the Greater Boston area. On Monday, hundreds of Jewish community members rallied with state and local politicians on the Boston Common in a show of local solidarity with Israel. The states capital city has always measured our connection with Israel deep in our hearts, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu told the gathered crowd. Its the bonds across every aspect of our lives and community and economy. But in recent days, our connection has been felt in those frantic repeated phone calls, just trying to find any information to see if our loved ones are OK, Wu continued. In the searching and asking and gathering of information to try to find some comfort in our hearts, watching our loved ones, watching our family and friends and neighbors suffer. Rabbi Marc Baker woke Saturday morning to an explosion of texts. His 19-year-old daughter is spending the year studying and volunteering in Israel. She spent the night in and out of a bomb shelter as the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, rained rocket fire on Israeli cities. This is not just a crisis happening far away or over there, said Baker, the president and CEO of Combined Jewish Philanthropies, which helped organize Mondays rally. This is personal. It touches all of us. By the time the crowd gathered midday Monday, an estimated 900 people were presumed dead in Israel since the surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday morning. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, the Associated Press reported, citing Palestinian authorities; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Hamas is widely designated as a terrorist organization. Among those slain in Israel were at least 11 Americans, the U.S. State Department said Monday. Israeli authorities also said an estimated 150 people had been taken as hostages into Gaza, including children, according to the New York Times. Sapir Reznik, who was born and raised in Israel, told the rally crowd her friends father was being held captive in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militants. She said a friends younger brother was also missing after Saturdays attack. Whole families have been wiped out completely, said Reznik, the Jewish Agencys Israel fellow at the Harvard University chapter of Hillel, a Jewish campus organization. These are friends and families. There are young students, like me, brutally murdered. Young children who hid for hours. They were unarmed. They were not soldiers. There were just children. As someone who does have family and friends there, its been terrifying, said Rabbi Marcia Plumb, of Congregation Mishkan Tefila. Unable to reach them over the weekend, and unaware they were sheltering in a safe area without Wi-Fi, she feared the worst. And that was terrifying. Thinking they could be lying on the street somewhere. Just horrible. No one in the world can allow terrorists to attack and murder so many civilians regardless of whether youre Jewish or not Jewish, regardless of whether youre pro-Israel or whatever, Plumb said. Israel formally declared war on Sunday. And over the weekend, the government called on around 300,000 military reservists to report to duty. For many in the crowd at Mondays rally, the conflict was not just a geopolitical challenge but a deeply personal reality, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, said. Some of you, I fear, may know one of the victims or one of the hostages, he continued. Many of you I expect have friends and family being called up from the reserves. Scores of hands rose above the crowd when Auchincloss asked if anyone assembled on the Common had a loved one who had been called to military duty. Dan, a Boston-area resident who declined to give his last name, and his daughter, Jessie, both were at Mondays rally. Jessie told MassLive her husband is a reservist in the Israeli Defense Force, and that he had been called to duty. Everyone I know has been called up, she said. In Boston, it is personal, Wu said. These are our family members. We mark each and every one of these innocent civilians with our own heartbreak. And so Boston stands with our Israeli community here locally. Boston stands with our greater Jewish community and Boston stands with Israel. More: The people are you and me: At Boston rally, Mass. pols stress solidarity with Israel Brandeis professor describes final moments before daughters death in Israel U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton: Congress pretty much paralyzed on Israel without a new House Speaker A man who thought he was meeting someone he met on a dating site found himself at knifepoint and had to send $1,000 to his assailants Venmo account, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office said on Monday. That suspected assailant, Joshua Alves, 22, of Taunton, was arraigned on Thursday, Oct. 6, and was charged with masked and armed robbery with a knife in Central Boston Municipal Court, Haydens office announced in a statement. The unidentified man entered a Boston police station on Jan. 29 to report that he was robbed at Cleveland Place in the North End, Haydens office said. He arranged to meet after midnight with a woman he met on seeking.com, where he was expected to pay her $400. He stopped at the Margaret Street meeting area, when two men with ski masks walked up behind him, with one holding a knife, Haydens office said. One of the masked men yelled at the man that the woman he spoke with on the dating site was his underage sister. At first, the men forced the man against a wall and demanded he hand over his money, Haydens office said. He gave them $60 but the men said thats not good enough. They searched his pockets, asking him how he would have given the woman $400 if $60 was all he had. Then the man said he planned to pay using the transaction app Venmo. After that, the men demanded he open his phone and send $1,000 from his account to Alves account. When the man gave Boston police screenshots of the transaction and the conversations with the woman, investigators were able to identify Alves, Haydens office said. This is a good example of the caution one should exercise whenever meeting someone for the first time, whether from this dating site or any other site. Technology is continually advancing, and the methods of bad actors are advancing right along with it. This was a very digital-aged crime in that it contained elements of two online entitiesa dating site and a Venmo account. Im grateful there were no injuries and that the victim reported everything to the police, Hayden said at the end of his statement. Judge James Coffey let Alves go on personal recognizance and ordered him to stay away from the victim and the area where the incident happened, Haydens office said. Alves is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 4. (This story was updated at 4:27 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023 with additional reporting.) U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., was loudly booed during a pro-Israel rally on the Boston Common on Monday as he called for deescalation of violence in a bloody cross-border conflict launched over the weekend by the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel. ... the United States and the international community must keep pushing for diplomacy and the ending of civilian casualties on all sides, Markey said. There must be a deescalation of the current violence, he added, as the crowd erupted in boos. Markeys comments came as Massachusetts politicians and leading Jewish groups rallied before a crowd of hundreds on the Boston Common in a show of local support for Israel. The senator prefaced his remarks by telling the crowd, which included hundreds of members of Massachusetts Jewish community and its allies, that as President [Joe] Biden and all the elected officials here reaffirm this weekend, Israel has the support of the United States. That is a bond that will never be broken. We stand with Israel. Israels people have the right to live in their rightful homelands free from fear, free from violence, Markey said. No family should go to bed at night frightened that a rocket will land on their roof simply because of who they are and where they live. He added, I have been to Israel many times and we condemned the heinous attack this weekend on Israel that saw the targeting and vicious murder by Hamas of innocent civilians, of children and of seniors. The continued civilian casualties and the taking of innocent hostages is reprehensible. Fifteen minutes later, one of Markeys Capitol Hill colleagues, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, seemed to hit back at the Democratic senators remarks. Now is not the time for equivocation, Auchincloss said. Hamas is an internationally recognized terrorist organization that is executing and raping civilians. Israel is a liberal democracy with the right and responsibility to defend itself and its citizens. Deescalation is not possible when they are taking hostages. And Israel did not ask America to deescalate on September 12, 2001, he said. By midday Monday, when the crowd rallied on the Boston Common, an estimated 1,500 people were presumed dead in Israel and the Gaza Strip since Hamas invasion Saturday morning. In Israel, 900 people, including 73 soldiers, are believed to have been killed, the Associated Press reported. Among the dead were at least 11 Americans, President Joe Biden said. Israeli authorities also said an estimated 150 people had been taken as hostages into Gaza, including children, according to the New York Times. For many in the crowd at Mondays rally, the conflict was not just a geopolitical challenge, but a deeply personal reality, Auchincloss continued. Some of you, I fear, may know one of the victims or one of the hostages. Many of you I expect have friends and family being called up from the reserves. Markey seemed to recover the crowd as he concluded his remarks, telling them the United States would not condone antisemitism in any form, and that many of you have family in Israel now and many more have those who have lived through brutal wars to ensure the ongoing survival of the Jewish state. We grieve with you. Rep. Jake Auchincloss was among the political leaders to speak at a rally of hundreds of people on the Boston Common in support of Israel after an unprecedented cross-border attack by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Will Katcher/MassLive). In an interview with MassLive after the rally, Auchincloss, a former Marine, called his remarks a prebuttal to a narrative that I dont want to build that both sides need to lay down their arms. And that both sides have equal responsibility. Israel is still battling for control over its own territory, Auchincloss told MassLive. Israel is trying to recover hostages. Israel needs the military latitude to reestablish deterrence and to root out ... terrorism in Gaza. Deescalation would be premature. A pedestrian was hit and seriously injured by a vehicle in Peabody Sunday night, according to the Essex County District Attorneys Office. The pedestrian was crossing the road on Summit Street near Christina Drive when they were hit by a car around 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, the office said. The pedestrian was identified as a man possibly in his 60s by Boston25. The man was brought to Salem Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the district attorneys office. The driver remained on scene. So far, no charges have been filed, the office added. The investigation is ongoing. A veteran pilot has died after the helicopter he was flying crashed in New Hampshire while heading to Rhode Island Sunday, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has said. Officials learned about a possible helicopter crash at 10:20 p.m. on Oct. 8, the department said. JBI Helicopter Services, which is based in Pembroke, N.H., said that one of their helicopters took off from their Croydon location around 7:30 p.m. Soon after, the helicopter could not be tracked on radar. The helicopter was expected to land at a job site in Quonset, R.I., that evening, according to N.H. Fish and Game officials. Crews searched the woods off Pine Hill Road in Croydon for the missing helicopter. It was found at around 1:50 a.m. on Monday, the department said. The helicopter had sustained substantial damage. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was found dead. He was identified as 73-year-old Carl Svenson, of Loudon, N.H. Read More: Pedestrian seriously hurt after reportedly being hit by car in Peabody Sunday Svenson had been a pilot for roughly 50 years and started working for JBI Helicopter Services in the 1980s, N.H. Fish and Game said. His body was brought to Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home. The crash remains under investigation. The pedestrian who was hit by a car in Peabody Sunday night has died, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tuckers office announced Monday. Robert King, 61, of Peabody, died at Brigham and Womens Hospital, Tuckers office said in a statement. King was crossing the road on Summit Street near Christina Drive when they were hit by a car around 7:40 p.m. on Oct. 7. The drivers name has been withheld pending the completion of an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, along with Peabody police, Tuckers office said. Read more: 2 women rescued after being washed off Dog Bar breakwater in Gloucester Harbor No charges have been filed against the driver. The Israeli government promised Monday to hunt down Hamas fighters and to punish the Gaza Strip following a surprise weekend attack killed more than 700 people in Israel, including at least 260 at a crowded music festival that became the scene of one of the countrys worst civilian massacres. A day after formally declaring war, Israels military worked to crush Hamas fighters who might remain in southern towns and intensified its bombardment of Gaza, where more than 400 people have died since Saturdays unprecedented incursion. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one that flattened a 14-story tower that held Hamas offices. Here are some key takeaways from the conflict: WHAT DOES THE WAR DECLARATION MEAN? The declaration gives the green light for Israel to take significant military steps against Hamas. But a major question was whether Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza, a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that he has ordered a complete siege on Gaza and that authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. The announcement came after the Israeli military said it had regained control of border communities taken by Hamas. Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said there were some isolated incidents but no fighting going on Monday morning. He cautioned, however, that there could still be militants in the area and that forces were conducting searches. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. 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, Hagari said. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which participated in Saturdays 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 held an emergency meeting about the situation and took no immediate action on a U.S. demand that its 15 members condemn the Hamas attack. Russias U.N. ambassador told The Associated Press that long-stalled negotiations between the two sides need to resume. Chinas ambassador said it was important to come back to a two-state solution, where Israel and Palestine live side-by-side. But U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said the ongoing violence needed to be dealt with first. 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 c lashes between Israel and Palestinian militants. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO PROTECT CIVILIANS? The number of displaced Gazans staying at schools converted into shelters jumped by tens of thousands, to some 123,000, the U.N. said. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said a school sheltering more than 225 people took a direct hit but there were no casualties amid heavy shelling and airstrikes in different parts of the crowded territory of 2 million people. Associated Press video Sunday showed a large crater in the middle of the school. 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 tensions including a dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque 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 Palestinians claim for a future state and Ben-Gvirs efforts to toughen restrictions on Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Tensions escalated with recent violent Palestinian protests. 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. 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, with hundreds of reservists threatening to stop volunteering to report for duty in protest. Read more: Hamas militant group launches unprecedented operation against Israel with rockets and infiltration 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. A Buffalo attorney and his family were sightseeing in the ancient port of Jaffa, Israel, when Hamas-fired rockets started exploding nearby and air raid sirens went off just after dawn Saturday. Two bombs exploded in the water about 60 feet from us and shells were exploding overhead, Steven Cohen said. At the beginning, everyone just assumed this was part of typical terrorist attacks that are almost a daily event in Israel. But then, when the sky was filled with hundreds of missiles, and not just one or two stragglers, it became clear this was something else. It was an all-out surprise attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas, which fired thousands of rockets on four cities, including Tel Aviv, killing hundreds of people and wounding thousands. Cohen, an attorney with Tiveron Law in Amherst, was vacationing with his family in Tel Aviv since Wednesday, their first family trip in years. With him are his wife, Pam, sons Scott and Marc and Marcs wife, Emily, who is six months pregnant. After three days stuck in Tel Aviv, the family made it out on a flight Monday morning to Dubai and were hoping to head back to Buffalo, Cohen said. When the bombing started, the Cohens quickly drove back to their hotel in nearby Tel Aviv, where they and dozens of other tourists were directed to take shelter in stairwells as mortars exploded in the distance. They were staying on the 10th floor, but walked down the stairs as low as they could, around the third floor until it was jammed with people, Cohen said via text message because phone service was compromised. The first time we were in the stairwell bomb shelter, it was for the longest time, he said. The fact that I had my phone and had 80% power put me in a position to help. I had the ability to let people borrow my phone to notify loved ones that they were OK, and whoever had a lot of battery life left on their phones were letting other people use them to help our bunker mates contact family members. Israel has since declared war on Hamas and launched a counteroffensive that reportedly has killed hundreds inside Gaza. Cohen said he and his family continued to hear mortars bursting, air raid sirens and the constant sound of helicopters transporting wounded civilians to the hospital in Tel Aviv since the Saturday attacks. Other choppers were patrolling the beaches in case the terrorists made an incursion by water, he said. Many of the people weve been interacting with are in tears, because their loved ones have been injured or killed, or are missing or have been conscripted back into the Israeli military, he said. After repeated trips to hunker down in the hotels lower stairwells, Cohen said the family would go back to their rooms to recharge, and finally stayed in the 10th floor stairwell until the sirens would stop. He called it a bit unnerving. While texting with a Buffalo News reporter Sunday evening, Cohen was packing and trying to get a flight out of the country. Flights to the United States from Israel with American carriers have been canceled, he said. We are trying to get a flight elsewhere in the world because the situation is escalating. Hamas, the Islamist organization that rules Gaza, has called for the destruction of the State of Israel through jihad, or holy war. This is the deadliest attack by Hamas on Israel in its 36-year history. The BBC reported that Hamas fighters invaded Israeli communities and went door to door executing people as well as taking hundreds of prisoners back to Gaza. Cohen said his familys initial reaction was not to leave Israel because we didnt want the terrorists to win, he said. We wanted to continue to stay and spend money in this country, but weve been told that the State Department would just have to use its resources to look after Americans still in this country, and by getting out, we are freeing up resources to turn their attention to the diplomatic personnel who need to stay here as part of their work, he said. He said there was no place to spend money anyway because everything is closed and the streets are eerily quiet. He said their plan was to try to get out to a neighboring country, and then figure out the rest from there. At 7:18 a.m. Monday morning, Eastern Standard Time, Cohen texted, Just landed safe and sound in Dubai. Figuring out the rest as we go along. The facts at Springfields public schools offer a different story than one told last week at the Statehouse. Advocates from across Massachusetts testified before lawmakers that the MCAS the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System has been 20-year failure and the test, which stands as a graduation requirement for high school seniors, should be abolished. Lets examine one of the central arguments for those pushing for adoption of the Thrive Act, a bill lawmakers are considering. Having to pass the MCAS test in high school, advocates say, harms the states most vulnerable students, those who have recently immigrated here and do not speak English as a first language, others with disabilities, and students living in poverty. Together these students are considered high needs. In addition to this proposed law, the future of the MCAS tests may appear as a referendum question in 2024. It is time for voters to start paying attention. Members of Massachusetts Jewish community, their allies, and the Bay States elected leaders gathered in their hundreds on Boston Common on Monday to offer their support to Israel as the nation entered its third day of war against the Islamist terrorist group Hamas. These are the sights and sounds of that rally. Before it began: On Boston Common, people rally in support of Israel. pic.twitter.com/MyrT3kYpjT ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 The crowd gathering on Boston Common before the rally. One attendee tells me hes worried something similar could happen here. pic.twitter.com/dZ8FPPYUAf ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 Remarks by Rabbi Marc Baker CEO of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, one of the events organizers: Rabbi Marc Baker evokes the memory of the murderers at Tree of Life in Pittsburgh, which was 5 years ago at just about this time. Its reminiscent of the darkest moments in Jewish history. ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 I have faith in the spirit and the resiliency of the Jewish people, Rabbi Marc Baker, of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies, says. ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey: The scale and cruelty of attacks on Israeli civilians are hard to comprehend. Weve seen atrocities that shock the soul. They are an affront to humanity itself. I join people across Massachusetts, across America, and all over the world in condemning these indefensible attacks. pic.twitter.com/qUxNjc9JuG Maura Healey (@MassGovernor) October 9, 2023 Massachusetts stands with Israel now and always, @MassGovernor Maura Healey says. pic.twitter.com/iACoEnto3Y ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.: Standing in solidarity does not mean standing still, @SenWarren says, adding she is committed to Israels safety and security. pic.twitter.com/63g3rM0js1 ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.: No one should have to live in fear, @SenMarkey says. Hamas must release the hostages - they must. pic.twitter.com/QXsSYseAFs ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 Ed Markey was strongly booed by Boston crowd for calling for deescalation. 15 mins later, @JakeAuch seemed to respond directly: "Deescalation is not possible when they are taking hostages. Israel did not ask America to deescalate on September 12, 2001. We stand w/ Israel. Gabby Deutch (@GSDeutch) October 9, 2023 U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District: U.S. @RepAuchincloss says Congress has to shake off its paralysis to help an important ally. pic.twitter.com/DqBBilY71m ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 Boston Mayor Michelle Wu The Testaments of Faith: A moment of prayer - and song - on Boston Common. pic.twitter.com/PgbHvBDSTh ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 Activist and advocate Colette Philips evokes the late Elie Wiesel - theres only one side to be on. pic.twitter.com/JqBb7vYNTK ByJohnLMicek (@ByJohnLMicek) October 9, 2023 Partisan paralysis on Capitol Hill is undermining the United States ability to help Israel as it enters the third day of fighting with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, a key Massachusetts lawmaker has said. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, made his comments Sunday in an interview with MSNBC. He told anchor Katy Tur that the Republican-controlled chamber is pretty much paralyzed without someone in the Speakers rostrum. This is unprecedented in American history to not have a speaker like this, Moulton said. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted last week by disgruntled Republicans and Democrats who said they could no longer work with the Houses presiding officer. Republicans are expected to name a new nominee this week. But until that happens, business in the House has ground to a halt. .@RepMoulton told @MSNBC's @KatyTurNBC that Congress was "paralyzed" by the lack of a House speaker to respond to the Israeli crisis and detailed how the U.S. could provide intelligence aid and long-term support to Israel. https://t.co/LSFQVS4jPG Charlie Davis (@CharlesPDavis) October 8, 2023 Hamas, the Islamic fundamentalist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, overran Israels border defenses Saturday morning, and launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory. Hamas, which the United States and many other countries consider a terrorist organization, attacked Israeli troops and massacred Israeli civilians in communities near the Gaza border, including at a music festival where more than 260 people were reported killed. By Monday, at least 700 people were presumed dead, some of them Americans. Speaking to MSNBC on Sunday, Moulton, a former Marine, said the fighting in Israel just highlights how important it is to have a functioning government here at home to deal and respond to these international crises. Moulton expressed skepticism that Republicans will be able to marshal the votes to name a replacement for McCarthy. Some Democrats have suggested that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., should be elevated to the speakership. Meanwhile, the United States must offer whatever support it can to Israel as it mounts a counter-insurgency operation, Moulton said. One of the most important things that we can deliver to Israel immediately is intelligence support. Lets be honest here. This is a massive Israeli intelligence failure under [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus] government, Moulton said. That this unprecedented attack could happen without any warning whatsoever. The United States, from what I understand, was also taken by surprise. But we have intelligence assets all around the world, Moulton continued. We have intelligence assets throughout the Middle East. Thats immediate support we can provide the Israelis to help them in neutralizing immediate threats; to finding the hostages; tracking down these terrorists, and also coming up with a real long-term plan so this doesnt happen again. MassLive Reporter Will Katcher contributed to this story. Private Jones, a new musical, has its premiere at Goodspeeds Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut, Oct. 13 through Nov. 5. The innovative new musical, inspired by the true story of a deaf Welsh sniper in World War I, was conceived at the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove on the Goodspeed campus in 2019, presented in Goodspeeds 2020 Festival of New Musicals, continued developing through creative workshops since and will now make its stage debut at the Terris Theatre. Private Jones features book, music and lyrics by Marshall Pailet, who directs. Private Gomer Jones will be played by Johnny Link. For details: www.goodspeed.org. Two Days in the Village, a new film from local artist David Horgan, based on Horgans short story and directed by Jessika Nguyen, will be released nationally this fall, after a premiere at New Yorks Five and Dime Tribeca on Oct. 13. The film follows the lives of two New York City residents who meet by chance, only to reunite three years later with an unknown fate. Horgan is a veteran film producer with an impressive portfolio that includes Will Smith and Mark Wahlberg music videos. He has also directed Emmy Award winners Peter Scolari and Colin Mochrie. For details: bit.ly/rp22gu. Peace and security in Africa must be an aim of investment decisions, the African Development Bank President told delegates at a forum aimed at exploring ways to strengthen the resilience of the continents people and states. The Africa Resilience Forum is a call to action to work together and make a transition from policy dialogue to investment, and then from investment to impact, said Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group. Mr Adesina was speaking in a video message to participants at the 5th Africa Resilience Forum, which is being held in Abidjan from 3 to 5 October. The theme of this years Forum is Financing Security, Peace and Development for a Resilient Africa. We need to reverse current trends and establish an alliance of partners so that we can adopt a new investment approach that favours peace, he said. This will truly change the development-peace-security paradigm on our continent. Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, the African Development Bank Groups Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, emphasised that by adopting peace-based actions, we can actually eliminate violence. As development actors, we must put the communities we serve at the heart of our actions, she continued, noting that the Bank was the first development finance institution to incorporate the issues of peace and fragility into its programmes. The institution has a Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa (https://apo-opa.info/3KNLlGe), the aim of which is to bring an end to, in particular, the triangle of disaster rural poverty, youth unemployment and environmental degradation mentioned by Dr. Adesina in his speech. There is a need for innovative approaches to financing peace, security and development in African countries that find themselves in situations of fragility, sometimes driven by conflict. This can only be achieved through governments, the private sector, civil society and development partners cooperating closely, say the Banks leaders. As part of this commitment, the African Development Bank is working with the African Union and the continents Regional Economic Communities to develop Security-Indexed Investment Bonds (SIIBs), which will require a minimum of US$5 billion dollars by 2030. SIIBs offer a holistic investment strategy that combines peacebuilding and development expertise to offset the fiscal implications of high security sector spending. Noura Hamladji, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Africa Bureau, said a coordinated approach should be taken to addressing humanitarian, developmental, peace and security needs. Development aid, aid for income-generating activities for communities affected by conflict, and the establishment of basic social infrastructure (schools, health centres, water and sanitation) are just as valid as humanitarian action, she said during a panel discussion. We need massive investment in countries in conflict. Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), welcomed the burgeoning partnerships between development finance institutions and humanitarian actors, pointing to the agreement between the ICRC and the African Development Bank to strengthen the resilience of communities in the Sahel, especially in Niger, Chad and Mali. Hope has created an environment that is conducive to peace, he said. In conflicts, we must protect civilians, but also infrastructure (schools, health centres, etc.) that constitutes a public asset. The African Development Bank signed a Peace Financing Facility with the peacebuilding organisation Interpeace at the Forum. There are children who are born and grow up in refugee camps, where they become adults all these people ask of us is to lead a normal life, said Elhadj As Sy, a member of the governing board of Interpeace. Nearly 200 people humanitarians, development, peace and security actors from the public and private sectors, politicians, investors, academics and members of civil society are attending the Africa Resilience Forum in person, which can also be followed by videoconference. SaudiVax, a leading biopharmaceutical company in Saudi Arabia, Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, a premier biopharmaceutical company and global provider of proprietary technologies headquartered in Egypt with multiple subsidiaries in Berlin, and MiGenTra GmbH , a healthcare transforming medicines company headquartered in Berlin, today announced the signing on 26th September 2023 of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the companies to jointly pursue potential business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Countries (Region). The partnership is intended to leverage the companies strengths, matching Minapharms and MiGenTras cutting-edge development and manufacturing technologies and translational experience of high-quality affordable bio-engineered products with SaudiVaxs industrial capabilities and commercial reach in the Region. This landmark MOU marks a significant step towards ensuring national health security and achieving biomanufacturing autonomy in Saudi Arabia, ultimately contributing to the overall healthcare ecosystem. Together, the Parties are committed to advancing healthcare solutions and meeting the growing demand for high-quality biologics in the Region. It is not often that church doctrine rises to the level of broad and obvious public interest, but such is the case today as Catholic bishops from around the world assemble at the Vatican to discuss issues that are highly sensitive, at least within the church. Among them are the ordination of women, marriage among priests and the blessing of gay couples. None, however, is more important than the ancient church policy demanding celibacy among priests. This is not merely an issue for the church but, based on history and credible research, a matter of compelling public concern. The reason: The requirement helped enable the terrible abuses some clerics committed against children, here in Western New York and around the world. That was the conclusion of the late Richard Sipe, a former priest, researcher and psychotherapist who became a leading expert on the subject of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. His research produced two primary conclusions: 6% to 9% of priests were sexually involved with minors, with many of them molesting young boys. Only half of priests were actually celibate (though the church disputed that figure). The two factors, he concluded, were intertwined: They created an atmosphere of tolerance of behaviors you keep my secrets and Ill keep yours. And with that, it became easier for pedophiles within the church not only to go publicly undetected, but for their sexual abuses to continue over years, victimizing untold thousands of children. As Buffalo learned, those abuses victimized children in Western New York, sentencing them to decades of pain and suffering. They led to the Buffalo dioceses declaration of bankruptcy and to the dismissal of a bishop, Richard J. Malone, who was not accused of any such misconduct, but whose hesitancy in confronting those evils cost him the faith of many local Catholics. The church appears to have learned important lessons in recent years, though its willingness to change, its fair to say, came only after its secrets had been involuntarily bared. In that, it shows that any organization composed of flesh-and-blood humans is prone to weakness, regardless of its spiritual mission. In this case, the weaknesses were terrible. Change is possible. Heres an analogy: Americas Founding Fathers, determined to shed the abuses of monarchy while understanding the frailties of human nature, crafted a governing system that recognized those problems and was, to some extent, self-monitoring and even self-correcting. For the church, the task of recognizing the frailties of human nature includes learning the hard lesson of the unnatural demand for celibacy. As bishops gather at the Vatican, they should be ready to consider shedding that requirement. And, to extend the analogy, the admission of women into the priesthood would go a long way toward establishing a de facto system of self-monitoring. Does anyone think the assaults on children would have been allowed to continue so long if women had been woven more deeply into church culture? No church is supposed to be a place to bury secrets. It cant be restorative if its own policies encourage deception. It is clear that that has been the case for the Catholic Church and that it helped pave the road to decades of child sexual abuse. Change is never easy not for people, and especially not for organizations as enduring and as entrenched as the Catholic Church. But with the assembly at the Vatican, already underway, bishops should take the time to examine the possibility of adopting new and healthier policies. Some still-suffering Buffalonians would surely celebrate that acknowledgment of reality. So might children yet to be born. Global Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market Forecast 2023-2030 Global Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market is valued at USD 1.7 Billion in 2022. Global Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market valuation to reach USD 4.31 Billion by 2030. Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis sales to account for a significant CAGR of 7.8% during 2023 2030. The Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market has been witnessing substantial growth due to several factors, including: Growing Prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease: With a significant patient population globally, there is an increasing demand for accurate and early diagnosis. Advancements in Diagnostic Techniques: Continuous research and development efforts have led to more precise diagnostic methods, improving patient outcomes. Government Initiatives and Awareness Programs: Governments and organizations are actively promoting awareness and funding research to combat SCD. Get Access to A Free Sample Report with List of TOC, Charts, Figures @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/sickle-cell-disease-diagnosis-market-0209/request-sample ***Note The Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Industry Sample Report Includes: Scope For 2030 A brief introduction to the Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis latest research report. Leading players in the Market Research framework (structure of the report) Short term market dynamics Marketing Channel Market Segmentation List of Figures, Charts. List of Tables [TOC] Research methodology adopted by Vantage Market Research Top Companies in Global Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market Alpha Labs Atlas Medical BioMedomics Inc Mayo Clinic Fisher Scientific Cigna ASI Silver Lake Research Corporation LABS Inc. AND MORE. Buy Now this Premium Research Report at a Special Price against the List Price @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/buy-now/sickle-cell-disease-diagnosis-market-0209/0 Market Dynamics: The market dynamics of the Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market are influenced by various factors, such as: Rising Healthcare Expenditure: Increasing healthcare budgets worldwide are contributing to the expansion of diagnostic and treatment options. Technological Advancements: Innovations like gene therapy and newborn screening are enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Collaborations and Partnerships: Pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and healthcare providers are forming strategic alliances to accelerate research and development. Key Highlights: In-depth analysis of the global market for Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis. Updates on every quarter are free Number of market tables and statistics, charts. Power BI Report (Dashboard) Assurance of lowest price and best quality report. Fastest Delivery Available subscription-based model User-Friendly Format Guaranteed post-purchase research assistance Immediate Access to Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy Top Trends: Gene Editing Technologies: CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies are offering promising solutions for SCD treatment and diagnosis. Point-of-Care Testing: Portable diagnostic devices are becoming more accessible, allowing for quicker and on-the-spot testing. Telemedicine: The integration of telemedicine is improving access to healthcare services, including SCD diagnosis and management. Top Report Findings: Recent reports on the Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market have unveiled essential insights, including: Increasing Demand for Genetic Testing: Genetic testing for SCD risk assessment and carrier screening is on the rise. Focus on Newborn Screening: Many countries are prioritizing newborn screening programs to ensure early diagnosis and intervention. Rising Investments in Research and Development: The industry is witnessing a surge in R&D investments to develop more effective diagnostic tools and treatments. Challenges: Limited Access to Healthcare: In some regions, access to advanced diagnostic facilities and treatments for SCD remains limited. High Cost of Treatment: The cost associated with advanced diagnostic tests and treatments can be prohibitive for many patients. Opportunities: Despite challenges, there are significant opportunities in the Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market: Global Awareness: Increased awareness campaigns can drive early diagnosis and encourage funding for research. Collaborative Efforts: Collaborations between governments, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies can lead to innovative solutions. Global Sickle Cell Disease Diagnosis Market Segmentation By Type Test Service Test Kits By End User Newborn Adult Read Full Research Report Here @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/sickle-cell-disease-diagnosis-market-0209 Key Questions Answered in the Report: What is the current global prevalence of sickle cell disease? How are advancements in genetic testing impacting the diagnosis of SCD? What are the key challenges faced by patients in accessing SCD diagnosis and treatment? How is telemedicine contributing to the SCD diagnosis landscape? What are the most promising gene-editing technologies for SCD treatment? Which regions are investing the most in SCD research and development? What role do government initiatives play in addressing SCD? How are pharmaceutical companies contributing to SCD diagnosis and treatment? Regional Analysis In the Middle East and Africa, Sickle Cell Disease presents a significant healthcare challenge. The region has a high prevalence of the disease, and many countries are focusing on improving diagnosis and treatment. Access to healthcare varies across countries, with some regions facing infrastructure limitations. However, there is growing awareness about SCD, and initiatives are being taken to enhance diagnostic capabilities and patient care. Browse More Research Reports: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market-1099 https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients-market-1099 Monoclonal Antibodies Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/monoclonal-antibodies-market-1673 https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/monoclonal-antibodies-market-1673 Multiple Sclerosis Drugs Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/multiple-sclerosis-drugs-market-1859 https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/multiple-sclerosis-drugs-market-1859 Healthcare Distribution Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/healthcare-distribution-market-1704 https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/healthcare-distribution-market-1704 Sports Nutrition Market Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/sports-nutrition-market-1532 Contact Us Eric Kunz 6218 Georgia Avenue NW Ste 1 564 Washington DC 20011-5125 United States Tel: +1 202 380 9727 Email: sales@vantagemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/ Global Breast Cancer Screening Market revenue is set to rise from US$ 7,461.8 million in 2022 to US$ 16,340.5 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.1% During the Forecast Period From 2023 to 2031. Due to its increasing frequency and the potential for catastrophic results if not detected early, breast cancer continues to be a significant problem for global health. Due to factors like increased awareness, improvements in screening technology, and government measures to support early diagnosis, the need for breast cancer screening has been steadily rising in recent years. Get a Free Sample Report Here- https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/breast-cancer-screening-market The rising incidence of breast cancer will cause the market to grow throughout the forecast period. Breastcancer.org estimates that there were 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer in the United States in 2022. Due to the rising demand for breast cancer screening tests in both developed and emerging nations, the market is likely to grow throughout the projected period. There are regional variations in the prevalence of breast cancer, with some locations having greater incidence rates. With over 40% of all new cases worldwide, Asia is the region most affected by breast cancer. The advantages of early screening are being actively promoted by governments, healthcare institutions, and advocacy groups in todays breast cancer awareness campaigns. These programs seek to enhance womens involvement in screening programs by educating them about the value of routine mammography and clinical breast examinations. For instance, in October 2023, the Estee Lauder Companies will reprise their yearly campaign during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Estee Lauder Companies are launching several new campaigns this month as part of their ongoing efforts to fight breast cancer. These campaigns are intended to raise money for research, continue their efforts to educate the public, and raise awareness of a disease that will claim 685,000 lives worldwide in 2020 and be diagnosed in 2.3 million people. Diagnostics Center Contributed Over 35% of Market Revenue Share The main end user in the global market is the segment of diagnostic centers. In 2022, the segment contributed the highest revenue share of 35% and is likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% during the forecast period. One of the primary factors supporting the establishment of diagnostic facilities is the increasing need for early detection and consultation among patients with breast cancer. Diagnostic facilities are a useful and easily available option for patients, especially in urban areas, due to their accessibility. Many diagnostic centers now participate in breast cancer awareness campaigns, partnering with charities to enhance screening programs and educate the public on the need for early detection. North America to Generated About 33% of Market Revenue Share Due to its advanced healthcare system and large breast cancer research initiatives, North America dominated the global breast cancer screening market. The regions ability to generate revenue is likely to have improved from its present level of over 31% market share to over 32.6% by 2031. In the competitive healthcare market, North America stands out as a model of innovation and achievement. Its commanding position in the global battle against breast cancer is backed by its significant research programs, first-rate medical facilities, and sizeable market share. In the US, cancer is the second biggest killer. As a result, there has been a significant rise in revenue for breast cancer screening in this country. The American Cancer Society predicts that in the US alone, 1.9 million new cancer cases were diagnosed, and 609,360 people died from cancer in 2022. That works out to a shocking daily average of around 1,670 fatalities. The United States National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) announced funding of more than US$ 12.4 million for 20 research initiatives in May 2022. The NBCFs stated objective is to achieve zero fatalities from breast cancer by 2030. It is projected that initiatives to reduce breast cancer will stimulate market growth in the region. Additionally, the regions free breast cancer screening clinics and awareness efforts are anticipated to fuel market expansion throughout the course of the projection year. For instance, in October 2022, Pennsylvania Hospital collaborated with the American Cancer Society, the Consulate of Mexico in Philadelphia, and Univision 65 to hold a yearly breast cancer screening event, offering free mammograms to women without insurance or with inadequate insurance in the Philadelphia neighborhood. For the full report, please follow this link- https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/breast-cancer-screening-market List of Prominent Companies Profiled Siemens Healthcare Hologic, Inc Myriad Genetics Metabolomic Technologies Inc Biocrates Lifesciences AG A&G Pharmaceuticals Provista Diagnostics Inc Roche Diagnostics Lineage Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Biotime Inc.) General Electric Company Quest Diagnostics Agendia NV Oncocyte Corporation Allengers Medical Systems Ltd. Other Prominent Players Segmentation Outline The global breast cancer screening market segmentation focuses on Test Type, End User, and Region. By Test Type Imaging Tests Ultrasound MRI Mammogram Film mammography Digital mammography Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) Genetic Tests Other screening Tests (Breast Exam, Thermography, Tissue sampling) By End User Research Labs Cancer Institutes Diagnostics Centers Others By Region North America The U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Western Europe The UK Germany France Italy Spain Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Poland Russia Rest of Eastern Europe Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia & New Zealand South Korea ASEAN Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa (MEA) Saudi Arabia South Africa UAE Rest of MEA South America Argentina Brazil Rest of South America The request of this Sample Report Here- https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/breast-cancer-screening-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company that has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in-depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well-calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment-wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us. : + : sales@astuteanalytica.com : https://www.astuteanalytica.com/ LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook The Conjugate Vaccine Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 18,012.08 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.6% over the forecast period 2022-2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Market Overview: Conjugate vaccines are composed of a bacterial or viral antigen chemically linked to a carrier protein, enhancing the immunogenicity of the antigen. These vaccines are highly effective in preventing infectious diseases, such as meningitis, pneumonia, and septicemia in infants, children, and adults. They stimulate a stronger immune response, resulting in longer-lasting immunity as compared to traditional vaccines. Conjugate vaccines have been widely adopted in immunization programs across the globe due to their ability to provide protection against a range of pathogens. These vaccines are used for routine immunization of infants and young children, as well as for targeted vaccination in high-risk populations. Request Here For The Sample Copy Of The Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/2697 Market Dynamics: The Conjugate Vaccine Market is driven by the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly among infants and children. The rise in bacterial infections, such as pneumonia and meningitis, has necessitated the development and adoption of conjugate vaccines. Additionally, the growing focus on immunization programs by governments and healthcare organizations worldwide is expected to drive market growth. The increasing awareness about the benefits of vaccination in preventing diseases and reducing the burden on healthcare systems is also contributing to market growth. Furthermore, technological advancements in vaccine development and production, such as the introduction of combination vaccines that offer protection against multiple diseases in a single dose, are expected to fuel market growth. The development of novel conjugate vaccines targeting emerging infectious diseases also presents significant opportunities for market players. Market Drivers: Increasing Focus on Preventive Healthcare In recent years, there has been a significant shift in healthcare priorities towards preventive measures. Governments and healthcare organizations are increasingly emphasizing the importance of vaccination as a crucial aspect of preventive healthcare. Conjugate vaccines, with their ability to provide long-lasting immunity against infectious diseases, are gaining traction in this context. These vaccines are designed to enhance the immune response by coupling a bacterial or viral antigen with a carrier protein, thereby boosting the effectiveness of the vaccine. The rising awareness about the importance of preventive healthcare and the effectiveness of conjugate vaccines is driving the growth of the conjugate vaccine market. Conjugate vaccines have proven efficacy in preventing serious bacterial infections, such as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal diseases, and meningococcal infections. Governments and healthcare bodies across various countries are implementing immunization programs to prevent these diseases, further driving the demand for conjugate vaccines. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of conjugate vaccines for routine immunization to combat Hib and pneumococcal diseases. This endorsement from global health organizations is positively impacting the growth of the market. Growing R&D Investments in Vaccine Development The conjugate vaccine market is witnessing a surge in research and development (R&D) investments by pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. The pharmaceutical industry recognizes the potential growth opportunities in the vaccine market, and many companies are focusing on developing new and improved conjugate vaccines. These investments are driven by the increasing prevalence of infectious diseases, the need for effective prevention strategies, and the growing demand for advanced vaccines. Rising investment in R&D is leading to innovations in conjugate vaccine technology. Manufacturers are developing vaccines with improved immunogenicity, reduced side effects, expanded disease coverage, and increased convenience of use. For example, advancements in vaccine technology have enabled the development of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines with a broader spectrum of protection against multiple serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Moreover, collaborations between pharmaceutical companies, research institutes, and academic institutions are further fueling the development of novel conjugate vaccines. These collaborations help in sharing knowledge, expertise, and resources, resulting in faster development of new vaccines. Market Restraints: High Manufacturing Costs and Complex Production Processes One of the major challenges faced by the conjugate vaccine market is the high manufacturing costs and complex production processes associated with these vaccines. Conjugate vaccines require sophisticated manufacturing techniques and specialized equipment, which increase the production costs. The need for strict quality control measures and rigorous testing adds to the overall cost. These high production costs limit the affordability and accessibility of these vaccines, especially in developing countries with limited healthcare budgets. The higher prices of conjugate vaccines pose a significant burden on healthcare systems and might hinder widespread adoption, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Cold Chain Requirements and Storage Limitations Conjugate vaccines, like many other vaccines, require strict temperature control throughout the distribution and storage process. These vaccines often need to be stored and transported under refrigerated conditions, known as the cold chain. Any deviation from the recommended temperature range can lead to a loss of vaccine potency and effectiveness. Maintaining the cold chain can be challenging, particularly in regions with limited infrastructure and resources. Inadequate cold chain systems can result in vaccine wastage and compromised efficacy. The logistical complexities and the cost associated with cold chain requirements pose a significant restraint to the widespread adoption and distribution of conjugate vaccines. To overcome these challenges, efforts are being made to develop temperature-stable conjugate vaccines that do not require stringent cold chain storage and transportation. Such innovations would improve the accessibility of these vaccines in resource-limited settings and contribute to overcoming the market restraint posed by cold chain requirements and storage limitations. We Offer Customized Report, Click @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/2697 Table of Content Chapter 1 Industry Overview 1.1 Definition 1.2 Assumptions 1.3 Research Scope 1.4 Market Analysis by Regions 1.5 Conjugate Vaccine Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030 11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Conjugate Vaccine Industry Impact Chapter 2 Global Conjugate Vaccine Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries 2.1 Global Conjugate Vaccine (Volume and Value) by Type 2.3 Global Conjugate Vaccine (Volume and Value) by Regions Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis 3.1 Global Production Market Analysis 3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis Chapter 4 Global Conjugate Vaccine Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2017-2023) Chapter 5 North America Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 6 East Asia Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 7 Europe Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 8 South Asia Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 10 Middle East Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 11 Africa Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 12 Oceania Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 13 South America Conjugate Vaccine Market Analysis Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Conjugate Vaccine Business Chapter 15 Global Conjugate Vaccine Market Forecast (2023-2030) Chapter 16 Conclusions Research Methodology Direct Buy This Premium Research Report, Click Here @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/2697 About US Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame, CA 94010, United States Phone: US +12067016702 / UK +4402081334027 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com The Global Spinal Surgery Devices Market is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 5.65% from 2023 to 2028. This growth is driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of spinal disorders worldwide, rising road accidents, and the growing demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures. Moreover, the market is propelled by the rising demand for advanced spinal surgery devices and increased investment in spinal surgery products, including new product launches and approvals. As a result, the spinal surgery devices market is poised for substantial growth in the coming years. Some of the leading players in the market include Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, NuVasive, Zimmer Biomet, Globus Medical, Inc., Alphatec Spine, Inc., Orthofix Holdings, Inc., RTI Surgical Holdings, Ulrich GmbH & Co. KG, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Seaspine Holdings Corporation, and others. DelveInsights Spinal Surgery Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2028 research report provides the current and forecasted Spinal Surgery Devices market size, share, and trends analysis for the next five years. Moreover, it highlights the ongoing innovations in the segment, major market drivers & barriers, key competitors, and emerging devices in the domain. Spinal Surgery Devices Market: Overview Spinal surgery devices are medical instruments and equipment used during surgical procedures on the spine to treat various spinal conditions and disorders. These devices are essential tools that help surgeons access the spine, stabilize it, correct deformities, and promote healing. Types of Spinal Surgery Devices: Implants: These are permanent devices placed within the spine to provide stability, such as spinal fusion implants, interbody cages, and pedicle screws. Navigation Systems: These advanced technologies assist surgeons in planning and executing precise spinal procedures by providing real-time imaging and guidance. Surgical Instruments: These include a wide range of tools like retractors, drills, and microscopes, which help surgeons access and work on the spine effectively. Biologics: These are substances like bone grafts or synthetic materials used to promote bone growth and fusion during spinal surgery. Orthopedic Hardware: Devices like plates and rods are used to stabilize the spine and correct deformities in conditions like scoliosis. Spinal surgery devices find critical applications across a spectrum of spinal conditions and disorders, revolutionizing the treatment landscape. One primary application lies in herniated disc repair, where these devices enable surgeons to remove or repair damaged discs with precision, alleviating pain and restoring spinal functionality. Additionally, spinal surgery devices play a pivotal role in spinal fusion procedures, utilizing implants and bone grafts to stabilize the spine and promote fusion, particularly in cases of degenerative disc disease. Furthermore, these devices are instrumental in the correction of conditions like scoliosis, offering orthopedic hardware that aids in realigning and stabilizing the spine to correct abnormal curvature. Patients with vertebral fractures, often linked to osteoporosis, benefit from spinal surgery devices as they provide stability to fractured vertebrae, reducing pain and enhancing mobility. For those facing the challenge of spinal tumors, navigation systems, and precision instruments facilitate tumor removal while preserving vital healthy tissue. Lastly, spinal surgery devices help alleviate symptoms in individuals with spinal stenosis by creating more space in the spinal canal, relieving pressure on nerves, and improving their quality of life. In essence, these devices are indispensable in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of spinal conditions, enhancing patient outcomes and overall quality of life. To provide a better understanding of the market dynamics, DelveInsights Spinal Surgery Devices Market report provides a detailed assessment by product type (thoracic fusion and lumbar fusion devices [posterior and interbody]), (cervical fusion devices [anterior, and posterior]), spine biologics, vertebral compression fracture treatment devices, spinal decompression devices, spinal bone stimulators), non-fusion devices ([dynamic stabilization devices, artificial discs, annulus repair discs, and nuclear disc prosthesis]), by technology (spinal fusion & fixation, vertebral compression fracture treatment, spinal decompression, motion preservation), by surgery type (open surgery and minimally invasive surgery), and end-user (hospitals, specialty clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers). In the spinal surgery devices market, the posterior lumbar fusion devices segment is poised for significant revenue growth. This is attributed to the increasing availability of advanced products, a surge in product launches and approvals, and the numerous benefits associated with posterior lumbar fusion devices. These devices offer technological advantages like improved mechanical stability, optimized sagittal parameters, and enhanced fusion potential. Moreover, they provide a minimally invasive approach that requires only two small incisions, potentially reducing the need for disrupting back muscles. Additionally, these devices are known for their ability to minimize blood loss and post-surgical incisional pain, making them a preferred choice in the market. A prominent driving force behind the growth of the spinal surgery devices market is the escalating incidence of permanent or temporary disabilities, primarily attributable to the surging rate of road accidents resulting in spinal cord injuries. Additionally, the market is further propelled by the increasing frequency of workplace injuries, contributing to the expanding landscape of spinal surgery device applications. This uptrend underscores the critical role these devices play in addressing the consequences of traumatic events and occupational hazards, reinforcing their significance in healthcare and patient rehabilitation. The growing acceptance of minimally invasive medical interventions, particularly laser-based spinal surgery procedures, is fueling the demand for technologically advanced laser spinal surgery devices. This trend not only underscores the current market dynamics but also presents promising opportunities for the future expansion of this segment. As patients and healthcare providers increasingly prioritize less invasive treatment options, the development and deployment of innovative laser spinal surgery devices become essential, ensuring improved patient outcomes, shorter recovery times, and enhanced overall surgical experiences. Consequently, the evolving landscape of minimally invasive techniques stands as a significant catalyst for the growth and evolution of laser spinal surgery devices in the healthcare domain. Moreover, the consistent stream of new product introductions by prominent market players is exerting a substantial positive impact on the expansion of the spinal surgery devices sector. These ongoing efforts to innovate and bring cutting-edge solutions to the market not only reflect the industrys commitment to advancement but also contribute significantly to meeting the evolving needs of healthcare professionals and patients alike. These new offerings, driven by technological advancements and refined design, enhance the overall quality of spinal surgeries, offering improved precision, safety, and outcomes. As such, the frequent launch of novel products emerges as a key driver in propelling the growth trajectory of the spinal surgery devices market. Hence, the aforementioned factors, when taken into account collectively, are poised to exert a substantial influence on the trajectory of the global spinal surgery devices market over the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2028. As innovation, technological advancements, and a growing need for effective spinal solutions continue to shape the healthcare landscape, the spinal surgery devices market stands as a dynamic and pivotal component in addressing these evolving demands. Nevertheless, several challenges may hamper the growth of the spinal surgery devices market. Notably, the elevated cost associated with spinal surgery procedures and the devices used therein could present barriers to access and affordability for some patients and healthcare systems. Additionally, the potential adverse effects linked to spinal surgery devices must be vigilantly monitored and managed to ensure patient safety and satisfaction. Interested to know more about the ongoing developments in the market? Visit to get an in-depth insight @ Spinal Surgery Devices Types and Emerging Products Out of all the geographical regions, North America is poised to assert its dominance in the global spinal surgery devices market to maintain the leading position throughout the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2028. This sustained dominance is attributed to several factors. North America boasts advanced healthcare infrastructure, a high prevalence of spinal disorders, and a robust presence of key market players actively engaged in research, development, and innovation within the field of spinal surgery devices. Moreover, the regions proactive adoption of cutting-edge medical technologies continues to drive growth and reinforces its pivotal role in shaping the global landscape of spinal surgery device utilization. Europe and the Asia-Pacific region are emerging as promising growth hubs for the global spinal surgery devices market. Several factors contribute to their future potential in this sector. In Europe, supportive government policies, including streamlined approval processes for new products and favorable reimbursement policies in various countries, are creating an environment conducive to market growth. Similarly, select Asian nations are experiencing these advantages, propelling the adoption of spinal surgery devices. Furthermore, the availability of a diverse range of options within the market is boosting popularity and adoption rates in both regions. Patients and healthcare providers have access to a variety of advanced solutions, enhancing the overall quality of spinal surgical procedures. Additionally, the prevalence of spinal diseases in Europe is on the rise, making it one of the leading chronic health challenges. This surge in spinal conditions is driving the demand for spinal surgery devices as healthcare systems seek effective treatments and interventions to address this growing health concern. These collective factors underscore the potential growth and significance of Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in shaping the global landscape of spinal surgery device utilization. Interested in knowing how the market will grow by 2028? Click to get a snapshot @ Spinal Surgery Devices Market Trends and Developments Over the years, the Spinal Surgery Devices market has evolved significantly, owing to the active participation of the global MedTech companies and technological advancements in the domain. Similarly, several clinical, commercial, and regulatory developments have also been registered in the domain. Some of the major advancements in the Spinal Surgery Devices market in recent years include On October 3, 2023, Amber Implants, an innovative medical technology company developing next-generation implants for spinal injuries, announced the official start of the clinical trials for the VCFix Spinal System. This first-in-human clinical trial will assess the safety and effectiveness of the VCFix implant for patients suffering from vertebral compression fractures without bone cement. The implant is provided with a user-friendly, single-use sterile surgical kit, ensuring perfect traceability and reducing the risk of infection. On June 07, 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted the 510K clearance for the Aurora Spines Interbody fusion device. The DEXA SOLO-L ALIF device allows doctors to match the implant to patients bone density and quality. On October 05, 2021, Amber Implants VCFix spinal system received the United States Food and Drug Breakthrough Designation. It aims to improve the treatment of vertebral fractures. On June 22, 2022, Medtronic reinforced the spine surgery portfolio with the Food and Drug Administration nod for the ligament-augmenting implant. On May 31, 2021, Cork Medtech company Intelligent Implants received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its device that monitors recovery after surgeries such as spinal fusion. Learn more about major clinical and commercial development in the market @ Spinal Surgery Devices Market Clinical and Commercial Development Activities Globally, some of the leading MedTech giants working in the Spinal Surgery Devices market include Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, NuVasive, Zimmer Biomet, Globus Medical, Inc., Alphatec Spine, Inc., Orthofix Holdings, Inc., RTI Surgical Holdings, Ulrich GmbH & Co. KG, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Seaspine Holdings Corporation, and others. Due to increasing demand and favorable revenue generation prospects, a number of new entrants are expected to join the market, resulting in heightened competitiveness within the sector. Learn how new players entries will transform the market dynamics in the coming years @ Spinal Surgery Devices Competitive Landscape Scope of the Spinal Surgery Devices Market Report: Study Period 2020-2028 Geography Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World Spinal Surgery Devices Market Assessment By Product Type Thoracic Fusion and Lumbar Fusion Devices (Posterior And Interbody), Cervical Fusion Devices (Anterior, and Posterior), Spine Biologics, Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment Devices, Spinal Decompression Devices, Spinal Bone Stimulators), Non-Fusion Devices (Dynamic Stabilization Devices, Artificial Discs, Annulus Repair Discs, and Nuclear Disc Prosthesis) By Technology Spinal Fusion & Fixation, Vertebral Compression Fracture Treatment, Spinal Decompression, Motion Preservation By Surgery Type Open Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery By End-User Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, And Ambulatory Surgical Centers Porters Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOLs Views, Analysts Views Table of Content 1 Report Introduction 2 Executive Summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis 4 Spinal Surgery Devices Market Key Factors Analysis 5 Spinal Surgery Devices Porters Five Forces Analysis 6 COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Spinal Surgery Devices Market 7 Spinal Surgery Devices Market Layout 8 Spinal Surgery Devices Global Company Share Analysis Key 35 Companies 9 Spinal Surgery Devices Product Profiles and Key Companies 10 Project Approach 11 KOL Views 12 DelveInsight Capabilities 13 Disclaimer 14 About DelveInsight Reach out to us to get a more detailed overview of the market and the key offerings of the report @ Spinal Surgery Devices Market Insights and Competitive Landscape Other Trending Healthcare Reports by DelveInsight Schizophrenia Market | Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV-1) Market | US Healthcare Outlook | Bulimia Nervosa Market | Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection Market | Pancreatic Cancer Market | Hepatitis C Market | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Market | Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infections Market | Spinal Fusion Devices Market | Gastro Intestinal Bleeding Market | Giant-Cell Arteritis Market | Travelers Diarrhea Market | Hemophilia A Market | Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure Devices Market | Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Market | Echocardiography Devices Market | Primary Immune Deficiency (PID) Market | Narcolepsy Market | Periodontal Disease Market | Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) Market | Helicobacter Pylori Infections Market | Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Market | Alport Syndrome Market | Foot And Ankle Devices Market | Car T Therapy For Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia All Market | Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis Market | Nipah Virus Infection Market | Postsurgical Pain Market | Ventricular Dysfunction Market | Scleroderma Market | Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumors Market | Capnography Device Market | Chemotherapy Induced Anemia Market | Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Market | Neuroblastoma Market | Abetalipoproteinemia Market | Acute Pulmonary Embolism Market | Aesthetic Implants Market | Atheletes Foot Market | Cardiac Amyloidosis Market | Cardiotoxicity Market | Cluster Headache Market | Crohns Disease Cd Market | Ctcl Market | Dermal Erythema Market | Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Market | Neuroprosthetics Market | Nsclc Market | Osteoarthritis Market | Urolithiasis Market | Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis Market Healthcare Consulting and Market Research Services by DelveInsight Upgrade your industry insights with our comprehensive medical devices market assessment reports. 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Contact Us Shruti Thakur Manager (Marketing & Branding) info@delveinsight.com www.delveinsight.com Savory Snacks market: Savory Snacks Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Increasing Popularity of Healthy Snacking and Growing Demand for Ready-to-Eat Food Products The Savory Snacks market is estimated to be valued at US$ 267.2 billion in 2021 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 2.9% over the forecast period 2022-2032, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Market Overview: Savory snacks refer to a wide variety of salty and savory food products that are consumed as snacks. These snacks are known for their distinct flavors and textures, which make them a popular choice among consumers. The market offers a range of products, including chips, pretzels, popcorn, nuts, and others. Savory snacks are widely consumed as a quick and convenient snack option, especially in urban areas where the demand for ready-to-eat food products is high. Moreover, the growing trend of healthy snacking has led to the introduction of innovative and healthier options in the savory snacks market, such as baked chips, low-fat popcorn, and protein-rich nut bars. Get Sample Copy Of Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/3091 Market Dynamics: The savory snacks market is primarily driven by the increasing popularity of healthy snacking. With the rising awareness about the health risks associated with unhealthy snacking, consumers are shifting towards healthier alternatives. This has fueled the demand for savory snacks that are made from natural and nutritious ingredients, free from artificial flavors and preservatives. Moreover, the growing urbanization and changing lifestyles have significantly influenced the snacking patterns of consumers, leading to a higher consumption of ready-to-eat food products, including savory snacks. Another key driver for the savory snacks market is the convenience factor offered by these snacks. The busy and fast-paced lifestyles of consumers, coupled with the need for on-the-go snacking options, have propelled the demand for savory snacks. These snacks are easily portable, require no preparation, and are available in a variety of flavors, making them a Market Drivers Increasing demand for healthy and convenient snacks The savory snacks market is being driven by the growing consumer preference for healthier food options. As more people become health-conscious, there is a rising demand for snacks that are low in calories, fat, and sodium. Healthy savory snacks such as baked potato chips, vegetable chips, and roasted nuts are gaining popularity among health-conscious individuals. These snacks are perceived as a better alternative to traditional fried snacks as they offer the same flavors and textures but with reduced fat content. Additionally, the busy lifestyle of consumers has led to an increased demand for convenient snacking options. Savory snacks that are easy to carry and consume on-the-go, such as portion-controlled snack packs and single-serve bags, are gaining significant traction in the market. Manufacturers are responding to this trend by introducing a wide range of healthier and convenient savory snack options in the market. This includes products with organic and natural ingredients, gluten-free and non-GMO options, as well as innovative packaging formats for convenience. Growing popularity of global flavors and ethnic snacks The savory snacks market is benefitting from the rising popularity of global cuisines and flavors. Consumers are increasingly seeking new and exotic taste experiences, and this trend is driving the demand for international and ethnic snacks. Snacks inspired by flavors from countries like India, Mexico, Japan, and Italy are gaining traction in the market. These snacks often feature unique seasonings and ingredients that cater to consumers desire for new and exciting taste sensations. The increasing global travel and exposure to different cultures are also influencing consumers snack preferences. People now expect their snacks to reflect the diverse flavors and ingredients they have encountered during their travels, leading to the emergence of fusion snacks that combine elements of different cuisines. Market players are capitalizing on this trend by introducing a wide variety of global and ethnic snacks. They are incorporating authentic flavors and ingredients into their products to cater to the growing demand for unique and flavorsome snacks. Buy this report here: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/3091 Market Restraints Health concerns associated with savory snacks Despite the growing demand for healthier options, savory snacks continue to face criticism due to their high fat, salt, and calorie content. Regular consumption of such snacks has been linked to health issues like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure. Health-conscious consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the negative impacts of consuming excessive unhealthy snacks and are opting for better alternatives. This has led to a decline in the consumption of traditional savory snacks and a shift towards healthier snack options. Manufacturers are facing the challenge of developing savory snacks that have reduced sodium and fat content without compromising on taste and texture. They are investing in research and development to create healthier recipes and production methods to address this concern. Intense competition in the savory snacks market The savory snacks market is highly competitive with a large number of players competing for market share. This leads to constant price wars and aggressive marketing strategies among manufacturers, which can squeeze profit margins for the industry. With the growing demand for healthier snacks and the emergence of new players in the market, incumbents are facing increased competition. Established brands need to constantly innovate to stay ahead and retain their consumer base. The wide availability of substitutes, including fruits, vegetables, and other healthier snack options, pose a threat to the savory snacks market. Consumers can easily switch to other options that they perceive as healthier and more nutritious. Manufacturers are focusing on product differentiation and diversification to stay competitive. This includes introducing new flavors, packaging formats, and healthier ingredients to attract consumers and differentiate themselves from competitors. In conclusion, the savory snacks market is being driven by the increasing demand for healthy and convenient snack options, as well as the growing popularity of global flavors and ethnic snacks. However, the market also faces challenges in terms of health concerns associated with savory snacks and intense competition. Manufacturers need to address these concerns by developing healthier varieties and investing in product differentiation to stay competitive in this highly saturated market. About Coherent Market Insights Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients. Contact Us Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd, 533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame, CA 94010, United States Phone: US +12067016702 / UK +4402081334027 JAPAN:+81-50-5539-1737 INDIA:+91-848-285-0837 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com ASSISTANT FINANCE & Administration DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Job Description The Rainforest Alliance is creating a more sustainable world by using social and market forces to protect nature and improve the lives of farmers and forest communities. To achieve our mission, we partner with diverse allies around the world to drive positive change across global supply chains and in many of our most critically important natural landscapes. Our alliance spans 70 countries and includes farmers and forest communities, companies, governments, civil society, and millions of individuals. Together we work to protect forests and biodiversity, take action on climate, and promote the rights and improve the livelihoods of rural people. As an international nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of experience in sustainability transformation, we understand that the social and economic well-being of rural communities is tightly connected to ecosystem health. This knowledge has shaped our rigorous programs to advance sustainable land-use and commodity production. At the Rainforest Alliance we combat climate change, protect forests and biodiversity, promote human rights, and improve livelihoods. The enormity of the social and environmental challenges we are facing requires working together in a broad alliance. This is why we bring farmers, forest communities, companies, and consumers together to change the way the world produces, sources, and consumes. Why To protect nature and improve lives its becoming increasingly urgent that we approach the way we use our land and produce food and other products in more sustainable ways. For this to succeed we need to fundamentally change the way that businesses operate and source, and the choices we all make as consumers. How Our growing global alliance aims to transform our relationship with our natural resources and each other, to create a better future for people and nature together. The Rainforest Alliance encourages diversity and inclusion across the global organization. With this commitment to diversity, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, ages, disability and any other protected group. Vacancy Reason: select the appropriate: Replacement due to an employee leaving; New Position; Maternity leave replacement; To deliver on an existing project Fixed term position to fulfill an immediate need Job Function: Staff Position Location: KINSHASA, DRC Reports to: Senior Associate Finance and Administration, DRC Department: Programs - Africa Status (Full-time / part-time (with hours): full time POSITION SUMMARY: Rainforest Alliance seeks to engage a committed individual as Assistant Finance and Administration (F&A). The Assistant F&A will work under the supervision of Senior Associate Finance & Administration to provide financial, administrative, and logistical support to the team and projects in DRC. Responsibilities: The Rainforest Alliances Core Values are Impact, Change, Collaboration, Openness and Trust and as such they form the basis of the behaviours we demonstrate; Perform accounting activities including the reviewing of invoices, payments, vouchers, receipts for a set of activities; Provide budget, organizational, logistical and cash payment support for workshops, events, meetings and trips; Support the approval and payment process of invoices and expenses; Support the procurement and inventory processes; Keep the archive (hard copy and digital) up to date; Monitor and order office supplies and equipment; Assist in updating office asset register; Responsible for tagging office assets; Receive and direct visitors; Support the maintenance and cleanliness of the office premises; Support equipment management and maintenance; Performs any other duties that may be assigned from time to time. Qualifications: Bachelors degree in Finance or Accounting or Business Administration or their equivalent; At least one-year work experience (including traineeship/internship) in Finance and/or Administration; Excellent computer, communication, planning and organizational skills; Ability to multitask and cope with changing priorities; Ability to work independently and in a team; Willingness to work to meet tight deadlines; Verbal and written fluency in French and working knowledge of English; Ability to travel locally at least 20% of the time. JOB LEVEL: 6 SALARY: Commensurate with experience. Deadline: October 20, 2023 Notes: Only candidates authorized to work in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be considered. To apply please click on this link : Assistant, Finance & Administration (DRC) | Rainforest Alliance | Kinshasa (hirehive.com) If you have any questions about the job vacancy, please contact the HR department: recruitment@ra.org by Fern Siegel , October 9, 2023 Rye whiskey was Don Draper's beverage of choice on "Mad Men," but a new generation of drinkers likes it with a twist. That explains Mash & Mallow, a newcraft whiskey brand. It contains chocolate, toasted marshmallow and graham cracker flavors. Think s'mores in a bottle, with added kick. The whiskeys mash bill features 97% corn whiskey and 3% rye whiskey. According to the company, the target audience is men and women in their 20s and 30s, outdoor lovers with a playful spirit for adventure. Mash & Mallow is utilizing its social-media presence on Facebook and Instagram and activating influencer partners to gain buzz. Founded by Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame Whiskey Maker, Kaveh Zamanian, in partnership with Pernod Ricard, Mash & Mallow is pushing the boundaries of whiskey making. advertisement advertisement "Todays whiskey drinkers continue to embrace nontraditional and classic culinary recipes in spirits," said Zamanian. "I wanted to create a smooth, irreverent whiskey that is so good youll take it with you anytime adventure calls." This is the second launch in a series of collaborations between Zamanian and Pernod Ricard. In August, the Mary Dowling Whiskey Company debuted its premiere whiskey lineup, featuring two distinctive expressions: Tequila Barrel and Double Oak Barrel. The brands commercial support in the U.S. is led by Castle Brands. A leader in the spirits and wine industry, Pernod Ricard's portfolio includes numerous brands, such as Absolut vodka, Ballantines, Chivas Regal, Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac and Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes. by Fern Siegel , October 9, 2023 London-based Amplify is opening a New York Office. As a U.S. partner, Zoe Lewis will set up the new office, created to address East Coast-based clients, including Bloomberg, Meta and Pinterest. Formerly head of client services in London, Lewis will report to Marcus Childs, U.S. president and chief client officer, global. She reports to Marcus Childs, chief client officer (global) and president (U.S.). Lewis said she would build on "Amplify's incredible portfolio of work globally and stateside, as our footprint and cultural impact continues to grow." She joins two U.S. partners, Bonnie O'Hara and Mark McDermott, in heading up American operations. In June, the creative agency expanded its Los Angeles-based team with three senior appointments. Following Lewis move to New York, Hannah Partridge joins the U.K. leadership team as the new head of client services. Previously, Partridge spent time at various agencies, including Mr President, Mullen Lowe and most recently The Marketing Store, where she was the lead on the Adidas, H&M and Virgin Media accounts. Amplify's client roster includes Airbnb, Amazon, Converse, Google, Lego, Nike, Pinterest and PlayStation. The agency also has hubs in Paris, Barcelona, Sydney and Los Angeles. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, October 9, 2023 Adobe, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other technology companies have begun to churn out artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can build software code and ad creatives, as well as optimize targeting, as the IAB Tech Lab AI subcommittee works to design standards and tools to support adland. The IAB Tech Lab AI subcommittee will meet fortnightly. It had the first meeting in late September to plan its focus on everything from protecting publishers' intellectual property to consumer privacy implications. Were a shiny penny industry, Anthony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab, told Media Daily News. It was the year of mobile in our industry for 12 years. Weve seen other massive hype cycles, but it doesnt mean its not a valid focus. Clearly, today, we spend more time on our phone. advertisement advertisement The metaverse is something different, and will have a 10-year progression, Katsur said. AI is not new to the industry. Google, Microsoft and others have used the technology to support advertising for years. The basic demand-side platform (DSP) services are built on the fundamentals of machine learning (ML), which is a subset of AI. Supply-side platforms (SSP) yield curves and yield engines used to maximize revenue are built on ML concepts. With advancements come setbacks. Generative AI (GAI) and deepfakes have become a real challenge for the advertising industry. How do I know that content was created by a human and ensure media companies there wasnt intellectual property theft,? he asks. Media companys greatest IP is their content. AI represents a threat to publishers. Katsur also cited many benefits, but the subcommittee needs to create business standards and technical frameworks. Focusing on protecting publishers is Katsurs top priority, and then moving to generative artificial intelligence (GAI) and content authenticity and determining the benefits and the risks as well as privacy implications. Creative optimization is one of the latest services to build in AI technology. Meta has introduced its first generative AI features for ad creatives in Meta's Ads Manager, with the global rollout scheduled for completion by next year. The new features -- Background Generation, Image Expansion, and Text Variations -- will add to the AI-powered experiences and tools Meta continues to build for businesses around creativity, productivity, personalization and performance. Microsoft is expected to debut an AI chip design at its annual developer conference next month. The chip, which is known as Athena, is designed for data-center servers that train and run large language models (LLMs), such as the software behind OpenAIs ChatGPT. Aparna Chennapragada, a longtime Google employee, board member at eBay and most recently chief product officer of stock trading app Robinhood, wrote in a LinkedIn post about joining Microsoft as corporate vice president leading GAI efforts in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Designer. This shift continues to occur not just in advertising technology, but in other areas such as finance and healthcare. Happy Columbus Day everyone. Yes, there will always be a Columbus Day in spite of the radical movement to downplay the courageous voyage of Christopher Columbus, who sailed the ocean blue in 1492 to become the discoverer of America. President Biden's signing of Indigenous Peoples Day will never shadow the Columbus Day celebration. How can anyone dispute the magnitude of his historic voyage that changed the entire course of history, glory and riches. Imagine three wooden ships some 30 feet long during a three-month voyage across the stormy Atlantic Ocean. Upon his arrival in San Salvador, Columbus dropped to his knees, eyes raised and thanked god for his successful journey. My passionate interest in Columbus stems from my late father, Mariano A. Lucca's role in a federal Columbus Day holiday. The following congressional resolution tells it all. SJ Resolution .46 in the Senate of the United States in part reads as follows: Where as... The national Columbus Day Committee with membership in every state played an important role in establishing Columbus Day as a national holiday. Where as... Under the act known as the Monday Holiday Bill Law, Columbus Day is to be celebrated as a national federal holiday for the first time in 1971. Fran Lucca Kenmore by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, October 9, 2023 Privacy authorities in the United Kingdom could soon order Snapchat to halt processing data collected through its new artificial intelligence chatbot, My AI. The nation's Information Commissioner's Office on Friday issued a provisional finding that the social platform didn't sufficiently evaluate potential risks to users under 18 before rolling out My AI earlier this year. If a final enforcement notice were to be adopted, Snap may be required to stop processing data in connection with My AI, the agency wrote. This means not offering the My AI product to UK users pending Snap carrying out an adequate risk assessment. Information Commissioner John Edwards stated that the provisional findings suggest a worrying failure by Snap to adequately identify and assess the privacy risks to children and other users before launching My AI. advertisement advertisement The agency added that the findings are only preliminary, and don't mean that Snap violated any laws. When the company debuted My AI, it said the tool could recommend birthday gift ideas for your BFF, plan a hiking trip for a long weekend, suggest a recipe for dinner, or even write a haiku about cheese for your cheddar-obsessed pal. Snap also warned users at the time to avoid sharing secrets with the chatbot, or relying on it for advice. A 2021 law in the UK requires tech companies to follow sweeping privacy regulations when handling data of users under 18, and also requires companies to design services with minors' best interests in mind. California recently passed a comparable law, the Age Appropriate Design Code, that aims to regulate how online companies display content to minors, as well as how companies collect data from those users. Last month, a federal judge in California blocked enforcement, ruling that the statute appears to violate the First Amendment. Dengue Hotspots: North 24 Parganas Tops the List with Over 11,000 Cases The other districts where the impact had been serious include South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah and Malda.At the beginning of this month, a Public Interest Litigation, was filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking its invention in ensuring proper administrative initiatives in arresting further spread of the disease. Advertisement The PIL has been filed at a time when the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has accused the West Bengal Health Department of suppressing the actual figures relating to the number of affected people or the deaths. On the other hand, the state government has accused the Union government of denying the necessary financial assistance on this count. Reference : Dengue Case Management - (https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/uploaded_files/ticker/den.pdf) Source: IANS The other districts where the impact had been serious include South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah and Malda.At the beginning of this month, a Public Interest Litigation, was filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking its invention in ensuring proper administrative initiatives in arresting further spread of the disease.The PIL has been filed at a time when the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has accused the West Bengal Health Department of suppressing the actual figures relating to the number of affected people or the deaths. On the other hand, the state government has accused the Union government of denying the necessary financial assistance on this count.Source: IANS However, BJP Legislators, like the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, have claimed that the toll has crossed the 100-mark considering that in several cases dengue deaths have been reported as "death due to unknown fever ." Health department insiders fear that going by the current situation the possibility of the forthcoming Durga Puja festival being held under the shadow of the dengue outbreak cannot be ruled out.As per health department statistics, the worst affected areas are North 24 Parganas, where the total number of cases as on date touched 11,244, state capital Kolkata is in the second position with the figure touching 6,070 and Murshidabad is in the third place with 5,791 cases. Real estate has always held my interest. Not because I love properties or infrastructure but simply because of the exorbitant amount that goes into buying and selling a property, especially in a city like Mumbai. Mumbai is known to have some of the costliest properties in all of India and the same extends to peripheries that are even put out for rent. The plight of Mumbai people where they talk about paying a gigantic amount for a security deposit over and above the money they pay for a small 1BHK is no news. So to imagine the kind of a rent that would amount for a plush and luxurious apartment owned by the likes of Salman Khan, would definitely blow our minds and it rightly has. The Bollywood superstar owns a four-floor commercial space in the heart of Mumbai on Linking Road in Santacruz. The property was purchased by the Tiger 3 actor back in 2012 for a whopping Rs 120 crores. Of course, years later, the same property is fetching him unbelievable amounts of cash in form of rent. As per Economic Times, LandCraft Retail leased out the property to Foodhall to open a gourmet store. The space spans across 25,000 sq ft. and was initially leased out at a rent of Rs 90 lakhs to Future Group. Now, it seems like the rent has been revised to a whopping Rs 1 crore. The actor also owns many other prime properties in Mumbai including several apartments spanned across Worli, Bandra and Carter Road. On top of that he owns an apartment in the world famous Burf Khalifa, Dubai as well as a plot in Carter Road where he plans to construct a 19 storey building. On the work front, he will next be seen in Tiger 3 which will be part of the YRF Spy universe. This film will also star actors like Emraan Hashmi and Katrina Kaif. The film is slated for a Diwali 2023 release. Source: ET An interesting Another Voice submission on early voting I believe was not totally honest regarding recent efforts as it relates to early voting. A recent New York State vote to allow no excuse voting by mail was turned down by New York State voters, yet state lawmakers passed a law and Gov. Kathy Hochul signed it, allowing no excuse early voting. The writer, who happens to be President and CEO of Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections (whatever that means or refers to) clearly was not happy with what the lawmakers and governor did by passing the will of the voters. What the writer failed to mention was that the effort to vote this measure down was funded by right-wing money in an effort to reduce the number of voters who are eligible to cast their ballot. One has to wonder why anyone would want to limit the people who are eligible to vote by making it illegal and/or difficult to do so by mail. There are currently eight states in which all voting is done by mail and several other states where no excuse voting by mail is lawful. Recently, Republican state legislatures have gone out of their way to make it harder for voters with less means and/or ability to cast their voters. Minority districts have had their polling places severely limited so that long lines to vote are the norm, producing hardships for many. Laws have been passed making it illegal to offer voters in line to vote, food or drink for fear of being arrested. Many more efforts to discourage voting have been implemented but space does not allow me to continue. And let's not forget that the organization for which the writer is President and CEO, is nothing more than a front for a solution looking for a problem. Numerous court cases claiming fraud had been brought up after the 2020 election and have been thrown out of court for lack of fact based evidence. Even the former president's chief of election security stated that the 2020 election was the most secure in history shortly before he was fired apparently for being honest. The point is that those who are crying the loudest regarding election integrity and trust are actually the ones who are doing the most to destroy that same integrity and trust in our elections. Gerald Scott Buffalo Soldiers aiming to get their stripes will soon need to brush up on their map-reading skills and grid plotting. The Army plans to increase the length of its Basic Leader Course, or BLC, in fiscal 2026, which starts in October 2025, Sgt. Maj. Jason Stadel, a service spokesperson told Military.com. Among the plans is adding about three days to the school, fundamentally shifting the course from mostly sticking to academics and policy to reintegrating combat training, with land navigation taking center stage. "It builds personal confidence when you go out in the woods, and you got to use the old stuff," Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer told Military.com in an interview. Read Next: 'Last Stop USA': How the Army Is Trying to Fill in for a Broken Education System The Army cautioned on Monday that the plans were still being finalized, and the total number of days added to the BLC could change. The move has long been in development for the service because adding even just a few days to a school course creates significant financial costs. The change also makes it more difficult for part-time troops in the National Guard or reserve to attend as they juggle civilian jobs. Service leaders have been aiming to add fieldcraft and combat tactics to the training as part of a larger effort to get non-combat arms troops brushed up on basic soldiering skills. Land navigation has been central to that effort, tasking soldiers with plotting points on a map with a protractor and finding spots in the woods using a compass. Even for noncommissioned officers in support units, land navigation is a critical task for resupply and other basic logistics. The now 22-day BLC is a requirement for soldiers to be promoted to sergeant. It marks a key career transition toward holding leadership roles and effectively being responsible for the professional development and well-being of others. Currently, virtually all of that required schooling is spent in the classroom learning writing skills, how to process awards and Army regulations. The Army tested out bringing back land navigation to BLC in the spring of 2022. Out of roughly 900 soldiers in that pilot, half failed. "[That] confirms to me, the soldiers aren't doing it in their units, or they're not doing it to the standard," Weimer said, highlighting the relatively low use of fundamental land navigation without GPS during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "When you keep going back to the same valley, and you're driving the same route, and the same vehicles, and you're using the same GPS technology you've got first sergeants, battalion [command sergeants major] that have never actually used land nav." Army officials have reported a degradation in the quality of land navigation skills from units going on Combat Training Center, or CTC, rotations. Land navigation is also among the top reasons soldiers fail elite courses such as Ranger School and Special Forces Assessment and Selection. Even for soldiers in combat arms roles, such as infantryman or cavalry scouts, using a map and compass has become less prevalent since the Global War on Terror conflicts saw the heavy use of GPS tools. But those may be less useful in a conventional war, with cyber attacks expected to play a key role in disrupting units. The Army has made several major recent efforts to make combat skills training a higher priority, especially for soldiers who are not in combat roles. The service introduced the Expert Soldier Badge in 2019, which requires the same test infantrymen have been taking for years to measure proficiency in basic combat skills such as land navigation and weapon competency. This year, those badges have become more valuable in terms of points toward promotion. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on X @StevenBeynon. Related: Have Soldiers Forgotten How to Use a Map and Compass? HROZA, Ukraine U.N. and local investigators searched for answers on Saturday at the site of a Russian missile strike on a small Ukrainian village that days earlier turned its sole cafe to rubble and killed nearly 52 people gathered for a dead soldiers wake, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials in Kyiv. Local residents that same day began laying their lost friends to rest. Representatives from the United Nations Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) spent much of the day speaking with local residents and survivors in Hroza, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to a statement shared with the Associated Press. 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, Danielle Bell, who led the team that visited Hroza on Saturday, was cited as saying in the U.N. statement. What happened here is yet another tragic reminder of the deadly impact Russias invasion has had on Ukraines civilians, Bell added. The village cafe was obliterated and whole families perished after the missile strike on Thursday cut short a wake for Andriy Kozyr, a soldier from Hroza who died last winter fighting Russia's invading forces in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukrainian news reports, he was initially laid to rest elsewhere in Ukraine, as his native village remained under Russian occupation. Kozyr's family decided to rebury him in Hroza more than 15 months following his death, after DNA tests confirmed his identity, and the cafe reopened especially to let residents honor his memory. His son Dmytro Kozyr, also a soldier, was among those who died in the attack alongside his wife Nina, who was just days short of her 21st birthday. As of Saturday, Ukrainian law enforcement and the regional prosecutor's office put the number of victims at 52. Only six people in the cafe survived, and the town is trying to fathom why and how the wake was targeted. Dmytro Chubenko, spokesman for the regional prosecutor, said on Friday that investigators are looking into whether someone from the area transmitted the cafes coordinates to the Russians a betrayal to everyone now grieving in Hroza. Among them are Kateryna Tarannyk and her brother Dmytro Androsovych, whose parents were killed at Kozyrs wake and buried on Saturday at a small cemetery on the villages outskirts. Relatives of Tetiana Androsovych, 60, and Mykola Androsovych, 63, gathered alongside Hroza residents under a grim grey sky, as rain kept falling into the fresh open graves nearby that had been dug for other victims. Tarannyk and her brother stood embracing each other, gazing at their parents closed caskets, throughout the Orthodox service. It feels like youre in a bad, incomprehensible dream, waiting to wake up. Its just unbearable, Tarannyk told the AP. Tarannyk had come to the funeral from Slovakia, where she had fled with her child in the early days of the war. She set off immediately upon hearing the news of the missile strike. Just a week ago, her parents had visited her in Slovakia. They were so happy, she recalled. Together, they had made plans for Tarannyk's child to visit the grandparents in spring. Before the couple was laid to rest, Tarannyk approached each casket in turn and silently said her goodbyes, gently stroking the dark green velvet fabric covering the coffins. The missile strike was treacherous, cruel, and unjust, she said with anger in her voice. Oleksii Androsovych, Mykolas brother, rushed to the village cafe immediately after the missile hit. He found his brother's body next to that of his wife, whose head was missing. For Oleksii, it was likely the first of many funerals for his friends and neighbors that will be held in Hroza over the coming days and perhaps months, as not all victims' bodies have been identified yet. Mykola and his wife were buried several rows on from Kozyr, the soldier whose wake they had attended. The tiny village cemetery has grown substantially in the last two days, as fresh graves keep appearing. Ukrainian police have identified 48 out of the 52 civilians killed by the missile blast, according to the chief police investigator for Kharkiv province. In a Facebook post, Serhii Bolvinov said that investigation teams were gathering up dead bodies, literally piece by piece." Hroza, which had a population of about 500 before the war, was seized by Russia early in the war before being recaptured by Ukraine in September 2022 along with neighboring areas. Its only 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Kupiansk, a key focus of the Russian military effort. Zelenskyy visited the area Tuesday to meet with troops and inspect equipment supplied by the West. Ukrainian officials said the village was hit by a precision Iskander-style missile, which is said to have an accuracy of 5 to 7 meters (yards). Elsewhere, a pro-Kremlin politician in Ukraines Russian-occupied south died of his injuries Saturday after his car was blown up, local Moscow-installed authorities reported. A Telegram post by Vladimir Saldo, a Kremlin-appointed regional leader, identified the politician as Vladimir Malov, the secretary of a local branch of Russian President Vladimir Putins political party, United Russia. It was not immediately clear who was behind the deadly attack on Malov. But guerrilla forces loyal to Kyiv have for months operated behind enemy lines, killing pro-Moscow officials, blowing up bridges and helping the Ukrainian military by identifying key targets. Civilians were killed and wounded by Russian shelling and missile strikes across Ukraines south and east on Saturday, local Ukrainian officials reported. A 52-year-old man died after a Russian shell fell in his yard in the southern Kherson region, local Gov. Roman Mrochko said on Telegram. Four people were injured by broken glass as Russian missiles struck the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk overnight, the regional prosecutors office reported Saturday. The missiles hit holiday accommodation and grain storage facilities along the coast, with debris later setting nearby cars and garages on fire, the prosecutors office said. Kozlowska reported from London. Associated Press writers Jamey Keaten in Geneva also contributed. A former Army soldier who specialized in intelligence collection has been arrested by federal officials on charges that he tried to offer classified information to China, court records show. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, who, according to court documents, served in the Army between 2015 and 2020, "betrayed his promise and potentially placed our nation at risk in his attempts to pass national defense information to Chinese security services," Suzanne Turner, the assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division, said in a statement released Friday. Schmidt, 29, was arrested in San Francisco's airport after returning from China last week and was charged with attempting to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information, according to the statement. Read Next: The Marine Corps Starts Tracking Demographics for Victims of Low-Level Offenses as Part of Justice Overhaul The case comes after two Navy sailors were charged with espionage in August after allegedly passing information to Chinese officials. Couples in two other recent criminal cases were also charged with attempts to share U.S. secrets with foreign governments. Investigators said Schmidt's Army career was mostly comprised of a posting to the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, where he first served as a human intelligence collector before gaining rank and being made a team leader. Schmidt had risen to the rank of sergeant by the time of his arrest. As part of his job, he was granted a top secret security clearance and given access to "sensitive compartmented information" -- one of the nation's most restrictive clearances. Army spokesman Maj. Guster Cunningham told Military.com that Schmidt never deployed and had been awarded the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal, among other awards, during his service. Court documents say that Schmidt's first foray into China was in 2017 while he was still on active duty. That winter, he traveled to the country while on leave, noting on his visa application that he planned to go every year and "many times over the course of the next ten years." However, despite these intentions and two more leave requests in 2017 and 2018, he wouldn't make any more trips while in the Army. Instead, his next trip -- a four-day jaunt -- came in January 2020, just six days after he left the military. It was the first in a series of trips that investigators say were efforts to connect with Chinese security service officials. The following month, in February 2020, the now-former soldier traveled to Istanbul, where he allegedly tried to make contact with the Chinese consulate. "I also am trying to share information I learned during my career as an interrogator with the Chinese government," Schmidt wrote in an email that is cited in court documents. The note went on to say that he had "a current top secret clearance" and experience in interrogation training "running sources as a spy handler, surveillance detection, and other advanced psychological operation strategies." Schmidt allegedly ran a number of Google searches around this time for details about the diplomatic missions of Russia, China and Iran, as well as phrases like "countries that don't extradite" and "can you be extradited for treason," court documents allege. He also looked up an article on Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency employee who leaked U.S. secrets before fleeing to Russia. "On Feb. 26, 2020, Schmidt created a Word document entitled, 'Important Information to Share with Chinese Government,'" the court documents say. It would eventually grow to 22 pages in length. In early March 2020, Schmidt came back to the U.S. only to leave several days later for Hong Kong. He returned to his arrest and indictment on Friday. During his time in China, Schmidt continued to create documents that, according to investigators, showed his intent to share military secrets with Chinese officials. "On or about March 16, 2020, Schmidt created a Word document entitled 'High Level Secrets,'" that was 23 pages long and discussed various aspects of human intelligence training and collection, prosecutors are alleging, according to the court record. Army officials told investigators that both documents contained information that would be considered classified at the "secret" level -- a midlevel classification. During his stay in China, Schmidt created more documents and reached out to companies that are affiliated with the Chinese government in an effort to pass on information like his encryption keys and ID badge. However, much of that information appears to have been relatively trivial and unclassified. For example, court documents note that one such report -- in which Schmidt describes how Google Earth could be used to find U.S. military bases -- was unclassified despite his belief that it was "an invaluable look in discovering adversary locations and activities." Schmidt is just the latest in a string of service members and veterans to be indicted for attempting or succeeding in passing on secrets to China and other countries. In August, federal prosecutors announced that they had arrested two U.S. Navy sailors in California on espionage charges after they allegedly provided classified documents and information to Chinese agents in exchange for money. Both sailors, Jinchao Wei and Wenheng Zhao, successfully managed to pass controlled information to China in exchange for money. In Wei's case, court documents allege that he entered into a formal "handler/asset" relationship with a Chinese intelligence agent and even told "another U.S. Navy sailor that he had been asked to spy" for China. However, unlike that pair of cases, court documents don't say anything about Schmidt's outreach as being answered or returned by Chinese officials. In fact, by the fall of 2020, Schmidt began to run into issues with immigration authorities in Hong Kong and had overstayed his visitor visa. As a result, his case bears more resemblance to a pair of recent incidents where individuals with access to controlled information were actually feeding it to federal agents. One of these incidents was the case of Jonathan and Diana Toebbe -- a couple who were found guilty of trying to sell nuclear submarine secrets to Brazil -- and who were sentenced to 19 and 22 years, respectively. Also, Maj. Jamie Lee Henry, and his wife, Anna Gabrielian, were accused last fall of trying to provide the personal health information of service members to Russia. The pair is set to be retried in November after a mistrial was declared in their initial trial. In the cases of both couples, federal agents were impersonating officials from the respective countries. According to an email Schmidt sent to his sister a few months after arriving in China, in May 2020, his efforts to turn spy for the Chinese were due to "a disagreement with American policy." "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," the former soldier wrote in the email cited by court documents. The Justice Department said in its statement that both of the charges Schmidt faces are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on X @ktoropin. Related: Chinese Agents Allegedly Paid 2 US Sailors for Info on Ships, Facilities, Exercises In a now-deleted Twitter post, Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone revealed that his parents, Sal and Judy, members of First Naples, a Baptist church, are currently part of a church group stranded in Jerusalem, seeking evacuation amid the ongoing violent conflict between Israel and Palestine. Anzalones parents are among the 53 constituents of U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds from Florida, who had embarked on a trip to Israel as part of this group. Anzalone took to X (formerly Twitter) in response to a video featuring an interview with Rep. Byron Donalds. My parents are among those in this group. Please, @POTUS, help bring them back home, Anzalone posted after Donalds appearance on Sunday Morning Futures. I have 53 members of my constituency in Jerusalem right now, Donalds said on Fox News. Obviously, they are panicked, trying to find their way back to America We need to provide every possible assistance to Israel to get Americans back. On Saturday morning, Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization in control of the Gaza Strip, initiated an unexpected assault on Israel, reigniting the long-standing and deadly conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has endured for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is now engaged in a state of warfare and pledged to respond with retaliation. According to The Detroit News, Anzalones parents are active members of First Naples, a Baptist church, which was part of the group that toured Israel. They originally had a flight scheduled to leave the country on Thursday from Tel Aviv. According to Pastor Alan Brumback from the church, the group is doing good and is currently residing at their hotel in Jerusalem. Anzalone shared the news regarding his parents with reporters following the Lions 42-24 win over the Carolina Panthers, where he finished with 11 tackles. GROSSE POINTE WOODS, MI -- Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged a Grosse Pointe Woods man with the murder of his 19-year-old brother. Police were called to a home in the 1800 block of Brys Drive around 12:43 a.m. Friday for reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found the alleged shooter, 29-year-old Edmond Doheny at the scene and once police were inside the home, they found Dennis Doheny with a gunshot wound to the head. Dennis was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Police found the suspected weapon used in the shooting in the second floor of the home and Edmond was arrested at the scene. Edmond is charged with one count of open murder and one count of felony firearm. The open murder charge carries a first and second degree murder charge, but a jury will determine which charge is appropriate once evidence and facts in the case are presented. This is yet another case of deadly intrafamilial violence. This time it is allegedly brother upon brother, Worthy said. Bond was set at $1 million cash/surety and a probable cause conference is set for Oct. 18. WAYNE COUNTY, MI A Michigan man has been found guilty of murder. A Wayne County jury found Lashawn Wells, 46, of Detroit, guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm on Monday, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. Wells shot and killed Marquell Scholar, 41, formerly of Sterling Heights, nine times during a dispute that began during a card game. The murder charge carries a potential life-sentence. That a game of cards should result in murder is a tragedy, and I am grateful to see the jury bring accountability to this senseless crime, Nessel said. Wells will return to the 3rd Circuit Court in Detroit for sentencing before Judge Charise Anderson on Oct. 25. The case was investigated by the Michigan State Police. READ MORE: Man arrested in U.P. for child sexual assault may have victims in other states, police say Father arrested after boy, 8, was shot in head Michigan man, 22, in critical condition after getting hit by slow-moving train LEVERING, MI Police are switching tactics in the investigation and search for a Northern Michigan man who has been missing for 11 days. The Emmet County Sheriffs Office announced Monday that it is switching to a clue-based investigation into the disappearance of David Moffett, 70, of Emmet County, was reported missing around 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29. He was last seen with his loyal dog Stella who came home on her own Wednesday. Moffett suffers from Alzheimers. That means deputies are no longer out daily searching for Moffett. Instead, they are taking tips and following up on leads, Sheriff Pete Wallin told MLive. We will search if we get a lead, he said. I never give up hope on anything. I just want closure for the family, community and my office. Volunteers continue to search, Wallin said. In the news release, the sheriffs office thanked the community for its unwavering support and assistance. The sheriffs office is continuing its relentless pursuit to unravel the circumstances surrounding David Moffetts disappearance. The team is now using a clue-based approach and following up on evidence and tips. Anyone with information related to the disappearance or whereabouts of Moffett is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 231-439-8900. The Emmet County Sheriffs Office remains fully committed to leaving no stone unturned in the search for David Moffett, the release said. The Michigan State Police say they have numerous pieces of unclaimed property that were recovered during an investigation and may belong to victims who had the items stolen from them. MSP say people in the Manton area of Wexford County and in the Lake City area in Missaukee County should check their homes, g garages, pole barns, and sheds to determine if anything is missing. Police recovered the items during an investigation of a string of larceny and breaking and entering complaints in Missaukee and Wexford counties. Two suspects were eventually arrested in the matter, but police did not identify them in the release. Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim in the case is asked to contact the MSP Cadillac Post at 231-779-6040 or the Missaukee County Sheriffs Office at 231-839-4338 in order to report and identify any stolen items. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Diane Wilson and Nancy Bates have made it their mission to help others feel connected to Ann Arbor. The two townies recently launched Ann Arboristas, a business aiming to connect Ann Arbor residents and newcomers with the city and its local businesses. These local businesses are sort of the heart of the town, Wilson said. I think its important that people find those in order to feel like a part of (Ann Arbor). Ann Arboristas offers 2-hour personalized car tours tailored to a persons interests. Each tour starts with a Zoom call so Wilson and Bates can compile a unique list of places for each person to visit. The pair then takes people to the spots they think theyll love, while introducing them to some local business owners. Anyone can take a tour, whether theyve been in Ann Arbor for years, recently moved to the area or want to check out the city before they attend the University of Michigan. Wilson and Bates bring nearly 40 years of friendship to Ann Arboristas, along with the experience of living in the city since the 1970s. The new business gives them not only the opportunity to work together, but a chance to share Ann Arbor with others. Its helping people see the Ann Arbor that we really love and know, Wilson said. Over the years, Bates said Wilson has made a lot connections within the city considering she was the face of the Ann Arbor Ice Cube skating rink for 25 years during her time as general manger. After Wilson left her job, Bates decided it was finally time to start a new venture with her friend. Wilson said her experience at the Ice Cube helped her come up with the Ann Arboristas when she witnessed many other local businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to do something fun, worthwhile and helpful and I do believe that this is helpful to not only people relocating, but to small businesses. Its sort of giving back, Wilson said. When it comes to a favorite spot in town, Wilson loves YORK and said the eatery is the epitome of Ann Arbor. The business was just one spot the two stopped at during a recent tour. Kyle Dunaway recently went on a tour with the Ann Arboristas visiting places like YORK, Comet Coffee, Knights Steakhouse, Found and Bivouac. Ann Arboristas made sure to reflect some of Dunaways interests in the tour, including his love for coffee, eclectic gifts and supporting local artists. Dunaway was hired as the director of operations and player development for University of Michigan swimming and diving programs in August and just moved to Ann Arbor within the last month. The pride Wilson and Bates feel for Ann Arbor is infectious, Dunaway said, adding he would absolutely recommend the Ann Arboristas experience to others. I think they are champions of all things in Ann Arbor, and I think that is a great way to welcome new people into the city, he said. An experience like Ann Arboristas helps Dunaway become more of a local resource, he said, adding this is beneficial in his job since he often works with parents and recruits. Wilson and Bates agree their favorite part of Ann Arboristas is meeting new people and helping them really get to know Ann Arbor beyond Main Street. You feel like youve really contributed something thats important, Bates said. Eventually, Bates and Wilson want their business to grow beyond tours to serve as a platform sharing all types of local business events and news. The heart of this town runs so deep with families that have been here for generations, that I think that you just cant lose sight of it, Wilson said. 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 ANN ARBOR NEWS: Go! Ice Cream closing after a decade of serving sweet treats in Ypsilanti Of Rice and Men restaurant closes in downtown Ann Arbor Original Cottage Inn location is up for sale in Ann Arbor CHELSEA, MI -- All lanes of eastbound I-94 near Chelsea were blocked Monday morning due to a traffic crash. The blocked lanes are near Old US-12, Exit 162, in Lima Township, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. The right lanes reopened around 8:40 a.m., leaving only the left lane blocked, MDOT officials said. The crash was reported at 7:45 a.m. The crash was cleared around 9 a.m., MDOT officials said. Michigan State Police did not respond to a request for comment. This story will be updated as information becomes available. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Original Cottage Inn is for sale, Go! Ice Cream closes and other Washtenaw County business news Break dancing to basketball: Group founded in Ypsilanti is getting kids moving This is Peanut, the oldest chicken in the world who lives in Michigan Editors note: This story has been updated with additional information about how the federal court later vacated a ruling on the nationwide cease and desist order initially imposed on Starbucks. ANN ARBOR, MI -- The Starbucks location at Main and Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor is set to close on Saturday, Oct. 28, the company confirmed Monday. Management said the doors will close for good at 2 p.m. that day. Andrew Trull, a spokesman for Starbucks, said via email that the store is closing due to operational and performance challenges. Weve gone to extraordinary efforts to staff, hire and support our Main & Liberty store so that our partners and customers are able to enjoy the Starbucks experience they deserve, Trull wrote in an email. ... Persistent issues have made it unsustainable to maintain operations and to deliver the experience our partners and customers expect. The location has been operating since 2004, according to Starbucks. The decision had nothing to do with recent unionization efforts, according to Trulls statement. To be clear: We respect the rights of all partners to make their own decisions about union representation and to engage in lawful union activities without fear of reprisal or retaliation, he wrote. Outcomes of a regular business review announced last week were made without regard to union status and are intended to advance the Starbucks experience we deliver for our partners and our customers in stores across our global footprint. Trull said the company has informed Starbucks Workers United as required, and has scheduled a meeting for Oct. 11 to discuss a bargaining agreement outlining employment and transfer considerations for the 14 employees at the Main and Liberty location. Trull said Starbucks closed 116 stores for a variety of reasons in fiscal year 2022. Four stores -- approximately 3% -- were represented or petitioned stores. Each year as a standard course of business, we evaluate the store portfolio to determine where we can best meet our community and customers needs, Trull wrote in the statement. This includes opening new locations, identifying stores in need of investment or renovation, exploring locations where an alternative format is needed and, in some instances, re-evaluating our footprint. The store was at the center of a recent controversy after the termination of Hannah Whitbeck, according to previous reporting. A federal judge in Michigan deemed her firing unlawful and initially ordered a nationwide cease-and-desist against Starbucks from firing employees for supporting unionization efforts. A federal court judge later rejected the National Labor Relations Boards (NLRB) request for a nationwide cease-and-desist order, however, according to Starbucks. In February, the court ruled the NLRB failed to demonstrate that Starbucks has implemented a corporate-wide anti-union policy such that a cease-and-desist order should apply to every Starbucks location in the country, according to the release from Starbucks. Whitbeck led the stores unionization efforts throughout 2022 and was fired from her position as a shift supervisor at the downtown location in April 2022 where she had worked since 2019. The store voted to unionize in June 2022. Whitbeck returned to work at the store in May of this year. ...It was very nice to see all of our regulars again, that I got to know very well over the three years I was there, she told MLive/The Ann Arbor News on Monday. It was actually quite nice to be back in the store. Whitbeck will go on maternity leave at the end of the month and is unsure if she will transfer to another store when she is back. Whitbeck added that customers came into the store saying, I cant believe youre closing. Its now, once again, up in the air, she said. 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. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: 2 Ann Arbor townies are sharing their love for the city with a new business Hes had season tickets for 50 years. Now this Wolverine football fan has a maize & blue barn Change of weather pattern for Michigan, see how long we are stuck in cooldown Peek inside Michigan Stadiums recycling operations and more on Trash Talk Tour WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- There have been a few business closures in Washtenaw County lately from Go! Ice Cream in Ypsilanti to Of Rice and Men in downtown Ann Arbor. But, while some are closing, other businesses in the area are opening and celebrating anniversaries. Heres a roundup of recent Washtenaw County business stories you might have missed. Original Cottage Inn location is up for sale in Ann Arbor The Original Cottage Inn Pizza in Ann Arbor is on the market. The 11,200-square-foot-building at 512 E. William St. is currently listed on Colliers website for sale for $3,400,000 or for lease for $23,000 a month. Read the full story here. Of Rice and Men restaurant closes in downtown Ann Arbor ORAM, previously known as Of Rice and Men, recently announced it is closing its downtown Ann Arbor location on South Main Street. Of Rice and Men opened at 312 S. Main St. in 2020 after starting as a pop-up restaurant through Blue LLama Jazz Club before rebranding a few months ago. Read the full story here. Go! Ice Cream closing after a decade of serving sweet treats in Ypsilanti A popular Ypsilanti ice cream shop is set to close later this month. Go! Ice Cream Shop announced on social media it is closing its location at 10 N. Washington St. in Ypsilanti on Sunday, Oct. 15. Read the full story here. Unicorn Feed & Supply closing Ypsilanti storefront, moving business online A downtown Ypsilanti gift shop known for unicorns is closing its storefront and moving online. Unicorn Feed & Supply has announced its moving its operations entirely online at the beginning of January 2024, with the shops last day in its 114 W. Michigan Ave. store set for Dec. 24. Read the full story here. Madras Masala Restaurant will reopen in new Ann Arbor location after fire Madras Masala Restaurant is returning to Ann Arbor after facing a devastating fire in late January. Owner Gopal Ramanujam confirmed the business, known for serving a mixture of South Indian and Indo-Chinese flavors, will reopen at 2016 Packard St. in the former Chia Shiang building. Read the full story here. Zingermans Roadhouse celebrates 20 years of bringing comfort food to Ann Arbor Zingermans Roadhouse has officially been a go-to barbecue spot on Ann Arbors west side for the past two decades. The restaurant at 2501 Jackson Ave. recently celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier in September. Read the full story here. Michigans first Wag N Wash is opening as flagship store in Ann Arbor A new pet store recently opened its first location in Michigan in Ann Arbor. Wag N Wash is known for self-wash pet facilities, full-service grooming and being a spot for pet supplies. The business now has 25 locations across the country with its Ann Arbor addition. Read the full story here. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. More Ann Arbor business news: Dexter barbecue spot closes, Olgas Kitchen is in the Big House and other Washtenaw County business news Big Boy is in the Big House, new restaurant set to open and other Washtenaw County business news Dunkin coming to Ann Arbor, chef in global competition and other Washtenaw County business news Animal Urgent Care opens, Seva celebrates 50 years and other Washtenaw County business news Monahans Seafood gets new owners, Blank Slate Creamery expands and other Washtenaw County business news New discount store, 4 award-winning wine lists and other Washtenaw County business news Culvers eyes former TGI Fridays, Sweetwaters celebrates 30 years and other Washtenaw County business news Briarwood Malls new stores, big deals in Ypsilanti Township and other Washtenaw County business news Indie coffee shop receives huge victory, Saline cafe being sold and other Washtenaw County business news Angelos is closing, Crazy Wisdom is reopening and other Washtenaw County business news Chick-fil-A may be coming to Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti Running Co. is closing and other Washtenaw County business news Independent coffee shop opposes Starbucks, wine now fills The Cellar and other Washtenaw County business news OTTAWA COUNTY, MI For the second time in less than a week, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies are investigating a burglary at another party store in Allendale Township. Large rocks were used to smash out windows at the Market Express convenience store, at 4773 Lake Michigan Drive, to gain access to the building. Sheriffs deputies were called shortly before 2:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9, for a breaking and entering that just occurred at the store. Upon arrival, police learned the suspects took several items and fled the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer 877-887-4536. Last week, thieves broke into the GVL West party store, at 11233 68th Avenue near Lake Michigan Drive, and stole multiple items. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Read more on MLive: Fly over a field towering with lush cannabis plants, as Michigan harvest begins Shooting after Michigan high school football game injures 2 students 2 children die in Kalamazoo house fire JACKSON, MI Its been more than a year since the Bright Walls Mural Festival finale took place in downtown Jackson. It left behind 75 murals painted by international artists, as well as some local talent. However, as some were disappointed to see the festival make its end, many residents have been asking organizers Whats next? Related: Bright Walls finale leaves behind beautiful murals, big impact on Jackson A new festival featuring lights, projections and other forms of technology aims to be the answer. The event called Emerging Technology in Art Festival is planned for 3 p.m. to sunset Saturday, Oct. 14, in the parking lot behind Veritas, 151 W. Michigan Ave., which was also where the first Bright Walls festival took place. The event is free and open to the public. We felt that Bright Walls helped start a lot of conversations around public art in Jackson, and really opened the community up to all sorts of new ideas to whats possible for large scale arts and cultural events in Jackson, Festival Technical Coordinator Matt Rozenski said. The new event is being organized by volunteer members of the Jackson Young Professionals, the same organization that also helped run Bright Walls. Plans for this festival began back in February with the hope to keep the art scene alive in downtown Jackson, Rozenski said. While there wont be permanent murals like Bright Walls left in downtown, unique art displays focused around media and technology will take up parts of downtown. Around nine outdoor installations are planned from artists throughout Michigan and other parts of the U.S. Light installations, projection mappings and an interactive augmented reality display will be part of the new event. People can also expect to find a 3D printing demonstration inside Jackson School of Arts, 135 W. Cortland St. There will also be a collaborative community floral installation, where residents can either bring their own flowers, or use the ones provided to help build an art piece from Detroit-based artist Lisa Waud, Rozenski said. An additional Detroit-based artist, Yazmin Dababneh, will also arrive Monday, Oct. 9 to install her work early. Dababneh will be coating the lights used for the murals and the alley by Jackson City Hall, 161 W. Michigan Ave., in dichroic film, that will turn them from white to a rainbow glow. Its going to be interesting to look at and create this mystery of whats to come, Rozenski said. Aside from the art installations, Rozenski is also excited to offer live music at the festival. The lineup features One More Time, a Daft Punk tribute band; Command Prompt, a Jackson-based electronic band, and Ann Arbors Ki5. While Clay McAndrews, Jacksons Bright Walls founder and co-director, is not involved with the project, he is excited to see the art scene continuing in downtown Jackson. He hopes Jackson residents welcome this event with open arms, just like they did Bright Walls. Its something new, something different and something unique to allow community members to experience what might otherwise be featured maybe in a larger city in Jackson, McAndrews said. More information can be found on Emerging Technology in Art Festivals website and Facebook page. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter More from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: This is Peanut, the oldest chicken in the world who lives in Michigan Pets of the week: Kapone is a happy, active guy. Peggy has stunning eyes 24-year-old man killed in I-94 crash west of Jackson Happy birthday! New nonprofit will help kids celebrate their special day with cakes Jackson College seeks first successful millage renewal since 1964 ZILWAUKEE, MI Three decades ago, fishermen stumbled upon a horrific scene under the Zilwaukee Bridge the body of a college student within a burned-out vehicle. Investigators determined the woman inside, 21-year-old Michelle L. LaLonde, was the victim of a homicide. Their probe soon went cold, but in recent years, its been reinvigorated and may soon result in criminal charges, thanks to an unusual court procedure. Zilwaukee Police Chief Jason Wise in late September was notified by Saginaw County and federal prosecutors that they had worked out an arrangement to bring their case before a grand jury. Theyre going to be issuing criminal subpoenas to primary witnesses, Wise said. Some of the witnesses were not cooperating during the investigation as others did cooperate. Typically, in Michigan state criminal cases, a prosecutor issues charges. The case then proceeds to a preliminary examination, where a District Court judge hears evidence to determine if there is probable cause a crime was committed and that the charged defendant committed it. With a grand jury, the prosecution presents their evidence and witness testimony to a panel of civilians, which then offers recommendations on charges. Preliminary examinations are public, while grand juries convene in secret. Wise said the last time a grand jury convened in Saginaw County was likely in the late 1970s or early 1980s. This is a tool for us to try to get this solved and bring it in front of a real jury, he said. They are the ones to determine if we have enough evidence to proceed to regular jury trial. Theyll also tell us what charge best fits our evidence. Fishermen found LaLondes body on Feb. 10, 1992. Pathologists determined she had died on Feb. 5. LaLonde was a native of Alma who was living in a rental property in Saginaw and attending Delta College. No one was ever arrested or charged in LaLondes death. Wise reopened the matter around 2020, interviewing witnesses in various states. This, he said, gave new life to the case. A task force formed around the case, involving the FBI, ATF, and behavioral analysts, Wise said. That got this moving so quick, he said. Now, were at a standpoint where we need that extra step of a grand jury to bring it to a conclusion. Wise declined to specify how LaLonde was killed or if a motive has been determined. He said there are two potential suspects in the case, the primary one of which was previously incarcerated for an unrelated offense. He added several witnesses have since died and others currently live outside of Michigan. Federal authorities will assist with serving them with subpoenas, he said. Wise could not give more specifics on when the grand jury might hear the case, but said hes crossing his fingers criminal charges result. BAY CITY, MI A Sebewaing man accused of making public threats against LGBTQ+ people, the president, and Michigans governor is to pursue an insanity defense in his federal trial. Defense attorney Robert J. Dunn, representing Randall R. Berka II, on Sept. 20 filed a notice with U.S. District Court that he intends to rely on an insanity defense. In support, Dunn submitted a motion seeking to have Berka receive a psychological evaluation. Dunn wrote that Berka has a substantial mental health history and was involuntarily committed by the Saginaw County Probate Court in 2012. As a result of that commitment, Berka is prohibited from possessing guns. A grand jury in April indicted Berka on single counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of an unregistered firearm. In August, a grand jury indicted Berka on two additional counts, that of making an interstate communication containing a threat to kill or injure and influencing a federal official by threat. Berka on Feb. 20 allegedly posted a threat online to kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, writing, you could be like me and get guns and threaten to kill politicians. Im more than willing tot kill whitmer and I do live in Michigan. Ill assault her ugly face with my bullets. FBI agents arrested Randall Berka at his and his parents home on Rose Island Road in Sebewaing on March 9, two days after they began investigating a person making threats on YouTube. The threats came to the FBIs attention after Google submitted a tip to its National Threat Operations Section, according to an affidavit penned by a special agent who investigates domestic terrorism. When the FBI began investigating, the YouTube account had a display name of kill all federal agents on sight and hang biden with a URL of @killthefeds420. Subscriber information indicated the account was attributed to Michelle Berka. Agents determined that between Feb. 18 and March 7, the account published at least 14 posts stating a desire to kill President Joe Biden, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Democrat politicians in general, law enforcement, and LGBTQ+ people. [I]m going to kill these democrats biden deserves to die, stated one post. I dont work I refuse to i buy guns though and plot to kill people in dc openly f*** the feds ill shoot the fbi if they ever show up, stated a third. Several posts featured ire directed toward gay and trans people, their author saying they should be genocided and that hes going to kill lgbt freaks and same America. In another post, Berka addressed the FBI directly and gave them details on who and where he was. [H]ey fbi! My name is randall the 2nd and I live in sebewaing Michigan and I am willing to kill these people, he allegedly wrote. Im not mentally ill for needing to be violent towards these people, call the ccops, f*** them. Ill shoot the too. Ill kill anyone who tries to take my guns. ANYONE. I AM DONE. TRY TO CONFISCATE THEM FROM ME AND I WILL KILL. Despite his online posturing, Berka did not shoot the FBI when they came to his home. Agents on March 9 interviewed Berkas mother, Michelle M. Berka, at her work. She told them she bought three long guns and one handgun for her son in the past year and that he keeps the guns in his room. She added he has fired them and has body armor. Michelle is scared of (her son), does not think the mental health treatment is working, and believes (he) should be arrested and put in prison, the FBI agent wrote. A grand jury in August indicted Michelle Berka on five counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. According to the indictment, Berka purchased four guns on separate days in March, April, June, and August 2022. She bought a Masada 9mm semiautomatic handgun from Showtime Guns & Ammo at 3621 Bay Road in Saginaw Township, a Zastava M70 7.62x39mm assault rifle from Williams Gun Sight Company at 7389 Lapeer Road in Davison, and a Kalashnikov 12-gauge shotgun, a Galil Model Ace Sar .556 caliber rifle, and a Fostech Model Tech-15 lower receiver from Sheridan Arms at 8259 Tittabawassee Road in Saginaw Township. In each instance, Berka knowingly made false written statements to the sellers, representing herself as the guns owner when in fact she was acquiring them for her son, the indictment states. Michelle Berkas trial is set to commence Jan. 9. Her sons next court date is pending. SAGINAW, MI At a chilly morning gathering Monday, Oct. 9, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe members gave about 100 Ojibway Island visitors a peak into the past. The very distant past. As part of Indigenous Peoples Day, Saginaw officials unveiled an 8-foot-tall land marker on the northern end of the island that informs passersby about the Anishinaabe people who populated the region centuries ago. Tribe members at the Monday ceremony performed a powwow dance and addressed the crowd both in English and Anishinaabemowin, the language spoken by the Anishinaabe people. Frank Cloutier, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, called the markers recognition of the regions Anishinaabe origins a long time coming. Its a very storied history for the Anishinaabe people and what transpired here so many years ago, Cloutier said. Were very, very proud to say we survived we persevered and were here. Cloutier gave a history of the Anishinaabes time living in the region, including when American settlements pushed the tribes out. The tribes never owned land; we were caretakers of that land, he said. They took our language and they took our culture, but Im very happy to say, today, were celebrating efforts like this to bring that back. Joseph Sowmick, a spokesman with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, said the land marker on Ojibway Island will remind future generations about the regions indigenous history. Acknowledgement is very special to us, but more special than that are the teachings that are connected to that acknowledgement, he said. To have people in leadership coming out and supporting that acknowledgement thats important to our tribe. When we can go ahead and find common ground and acknowledge truth, then we can go ahead and reconcile with each other. At one point Monday, three performers from the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinaabe Culture and Lifeways in Mount Pleasant led a powwow dance that involved most attendees. Participants included Saginaw Mayor Brenda Moore; Mayor Pro Tem Annie Boensch; Saginaw City Council members George Copeland and Bill Ostash; Saginaw Future Inc. President JoAnn Crary; and Saginaw Valley State University President George Grant Jr. The Ojibway Island marker was donated to the city by the SVSU-based Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum. The marker includes writing in English as well as Anishinaabemowin. The marker reads, in English: We acknowledge that we are in the homeland of the Anishinaabe People, the Indigenous People of this land, which include the Odawa, Ojibwa, and Pottawatomi. We specifically acknowledge the Anishinaabes Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, whose land the City of Saginaw resides on. We thank them for their hospitality as the Aboriginal People of this land, and for our continuing use of the natural resources of their Ancestral Homelands. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. KOCHVILLE TWP, MI Saginaw Valley State University is hosting an education career fair this October with dozens of employers planning to attend. The universitys Fall Education Fair will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, on SVSUs campus in the Curtiss Hall banquet rooms. Dozens of school districts and other employers are planning to attend, including Bay City Public Schools, Carrollton Public Schools, Dearborn Public Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Genesee Intermediate School District, Midland Public Schools, Saginaw ISD, Traverse City Area Public Schools and others. See a list of participating employers here. This is a great opportunity for those in the College of Education or looking to work in a school setting (social work, etc.) to explore school districts from all around the state and see what positions they have available, reads an event description on SVSUs website. This and all SVSU career fairs are open to the public, so job seekers need not be students to attend. Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally, plan to meet with multiple employers and bring many copies of their resumes. For more information about this and other upcoming job fairs, visit www.svsu.edu/careerservices. SAULT STE. MARIE, MI The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians says it will appeal an agreement struck between four other tribes, federal regulators and state of Michigan to govern Great Lakes commercial and sport fishing. The tribe said Monday, Oct. 9 that it would appeal the agreement, which was approved by a federal judge on Aug. 24, with the U.S. Sixth Circuit court of appeals by Oct. 23. The tribe did not join the agreement, which was reached in December between the state and federal governments, and the Bay Mills Indian Community, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa, the Little River Band of Ottawa and Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa. The agreement divvies up fishing rights in parts of lakes Michigan, Huron and Superior; extending until 2047 a longstanding regulatory framework which has been under negotiation since it expired in 2020. The deal covers Great Lakes that fall within Michigan waters in which the tribes reserve fishing rights per the 1836 Treaty of Washington. The Sault Tribe has been deeply disappointed in the courts order which restricts our rights as a sovereign nation, affects the livelihood of our citizens, and limits the ability of our people to feed themselves, said Austin Lowes, Sault Tribe chairman. Our tribe would never take actions to harm the fishery, Lowes said. Our members represent the largest commercial fishing operation in Michigan, and we also represent the largest number of subsistence fishers among the tribes. Thats why the Sault Tribe Board of Directors is committed to protecting the treaty reserved fishing right for many generations to come and will take the necessary legal steps to do so. In an August ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Maloney overruled all of the tribes two general and 137 specific objections to the agreement, which the judge wrote were raised without affidavits from expert witnesses or other documentary evidence. The Sault Tribe claims the state does not have the authority to regulate tribal fishing in treaty waters under a 1976 federal case. Maloney disagreed, writing that the standard established by that case does not apply because the agreement was the product of negotiation and not a unilateral state regulation. Other tribal objections relate to the fishing agreement, among other things, harvest reporting requirements, restrictions on the use of spears and set hooks, disputed fishing zone boundaries, bag limits on lake trout caught using trap nets, incidental catch policies for salmon, areas open to commercial walleye harvest, closure of the St. Marys River to commercial fishing and prohibitions on the commercial sale of fish caught by tribal subsistence fishermen. In September, the Sault Tribe moved to have its in-house attorneys take over the case from an outside firm after other tribes, the state and federal government filed an objection to the tribes submission of factual evidence to support its opposition to the agreement months after the deadline. The agreement replaces a fishery management pact called a Consent Decree which was last updated in 2000. The agreement was originally made in 1985 amid rising tensions between tribal commercial fishers and sport anglers. Like past versions, the new agreement establishes zones where tribal fishing crews can operate and areas where commercial fishing is prohibited. The Proposed Decree respects and promotes Tribal fishing rights and opportunities, yet it also preserves the Great Lakes fishery and recognizes the shared nature of the resource, wrote Maloney in a 139-page opinion. In addition to overruling Sault tribe objections, Maloney overruled objections from a conservation group, the Coalition to Protect Michigan Resources, which sought to intervene in the agreement negotiations over concerns that sport fishing would be harmed by expanded tribal catch of struggling species like lake trout. The coalition has not said whether it would file an appeal. Tribal use of large-mesh gill nets, an effective tool that hangs in the water column like a wall, has been a controversial point in negotiations. Critics say gill nets indiscriminately catch and kill too many fish. The new deal allows for their use in more places, with restrictions on depth in the water theyre placed, the times of year theyre used and how much netting is deployed. The conservation coalition argues that expanded gill netting could cause further whitefish and lake trout population drop-offs. Both species have plummeted in recent decades as invasive quagga and zebra mussels have unraveled food chains. Under the 2000 pact, Michigan spent more than $14 million paying tribal operations to transition from gill nets to trap nets, which are more selective. But the latest version continues catch ceilings to keep populations from dropping too low, so the type of net the tribes use is irrelevant, Maloney wrote. - The Associated Press contributed to this story The undefeated Michigan Wolverines return home this weekend looking to keep rolling against the Indiana Hoosiers. Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster have tickets to the noon kickoff starting around $100. The Wolverines are 6-0 overall (3-0 Big Ten) coming off a 52-10 victory over Minnesota while Indiana (2-3) is still looking for its first Big Ten win. Fans can still get home and away game tickets for all Wolverines games at Stubhub, Vivid Seats, SeatGeek, and Ticketmaster. With Michigan-Ohio State tickets already going for more than $500 and both teams on a collision course for the Big Ten title, fans might want to snatch them up now before they go higher. If youre looking for tickets for the annual rivalry game with Michigan State, those prices are hovering around $126. Check out the MLive Wolverines shopping page for deals on the latest Michigan Wolverines styles. Heres where to find tickets for Michigan vs Indiana and every game on the Michigan Wolverines 2023 regular season schedule. Michigan Wolverines vs Indiana Hoosiers Saturday, Oct. 14, 12:00pm, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Stubhub Vivid Seats SeatGeek Ticketmaster Heres where to find tickets for every game on the Michigan Wolverines 2023 regular season schedule. Stubhub Vivid Seats SeatGeek Ticketmaster Related topics: Takeaways, observations from Michigans victory vs. Minnesota Michigan commit tracker: 4-star RB breaks school record Kickoff time, TV network set for Michigans Oct. 14 game vs. Indiana Michigan another double-digit favorite vs. Nebraska, oddsmakers say Michigans defense answers the bell vs. Bowling Green Michigan 3-0 after owning Bowling Green in second half: Live updates recap UNLV coach says Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy as good as advertised How to get season tickets for Michigan football starting for less than $800 09.10.2023 LISTEN Nigerian actress Funke Akindele has noted that the road to fame wasn't simple. According to the well-known actress, filmmakers frequently labeled her as ugly. She noted that producers cast her in unusual movie roles she doesnt like. She talked about how she struggled with her identity at one point in her professional life. During an episode of the TokeMoments podcast, hosted by Toke Makinwa, the actress revealed that she faced rejections because people deemed her not attractive enough for major roles. The Jennifer's Diaries actor described how there were times when she had to go cry in the washroom to deal with the stress while playing her part in the movie. Akindele disclosed that, even in Yoruba indigenous movies, she encountered difficulties due to her physique. I remember people telling me, You are not fine. You dont have ass. You dont have boobs. You will not be in this film and I remember crying. A lot of times I would cry, break down, get into the bathroom and cry, Funke Akindele stated. Despite these difficulties, Akindele eventually achieved some success in the Nollywood showbiz, where she established herself as a major personality and a role model for aspiring actors and directors. When you have a specific goal in mind, it helps to have a system in place that can help you achieve it more efficiently. Setting and achieving goals is an important element of career development. Understanding how you can reach your goals can help you to advance your career. It is important to stay determined even when it feels difficult. Assess your goals and decide if you can commit to achieving them by taking the necessary steps. Focus is also important when striving for success. Focus on your goals and why you want to achieve them to keep yourself motivated and reaffirm your commitment. Those were the words of Ruth Borteley Bortey, the young enterprising entrepreneur behind the popularly Butter Kenkey (Ga Komi). The self-motivated lady who hails from Nungua in the Greater Accra region of Ghana believes her purpose on earth is to be a change maker. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Melbs Saucy Foods, which is revolutionising the kenkey (Ga Komi) business. It is incredibly important for us to recognize that life does indeed happen sometimes, which simply means that we may encounter situations in life that are beyond our control. Such experiences may leave us feeling helpless or anxious with emotions that we may not yet know how to process in a healthy way. At nine (9) months, when she had started crawling and yet to firmly raise herself to sit, a tragedy struck her family - she lost her dad, the breadwinner of the family. Left with no other option, her poor mother, Agnes Borquaye, had the scary task of raising her only daughter all by herself with proceeds from her kenkey business. Life they say is not a bed of roses, rather, a journey through rocky roads and according to Ruth, one ought to watch every step he or she takes, as it may either result in pain or comfort in the long run. With all the ups and downs in her life, she admitted that it seemed impossible at a point to go on with life. However, with the support of her mum, who she considers as a pillar and her life support, rose through it all to get a tertiary education. We all must accept the fact that fortunes and misfortunes are both part of our lives. We must embrace the reality that nights are the darkest before the sunrise. All we need is the strong belief, that all our problems are temporary; all the darkness is just here for a short time, it will soon come to an end, and we will be able to praise and enjoy the sunlight again, she elaborated. After elementary school, Ruth attended the Presbyterian Senior High School in Teshie Accra for her High School education and was a General Arts student. She then proceeded to the Data Link Institute of Business And Technology to pursue a Degree programme in Human Resources Management. She graduated with high hopes of getting employed by a multinational company to start her career but that was not the case unfortunately. Having a degree is a distinguishing factor when applying for a job and serves as a signal to employers that you have acquired technical skills and academic knowledge in addition to your ability to follow through on a goal and tasks. Ruth indicated that being a degree holder is certainly not a guarantee that you are going to get a flying job. Have you wondered about the percentage of university graduates that get jobs after they graduate? From my experience, getting a degree does not automatically mean that you are guaranteed a job though it certainly plays a large role in finding employment. Your ability to find a job upon graduation sometimes largely depends on some variables. Securing a job after college is not a one-size-fits-all approach, she further explained. When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade! In her desperation to find unavailable jobs, she decided to make a business out of her passion, cooking. From her formative years, she has been assisting her mother in preparing kenkey and was very conversant with the dynamics of the business. After consulting her mum, she was convinced the best way to go is to bring her knowledge to revamp and give their kenkey business a new phase. That was the genesis of Melbs Saucy Foods, heavily driven by social media. Ruth revealed the first two years were very challenging as she made some mistakes due to her lack of planning and preparation before setting up the business. However, she eventually learnt from her mistakes which resulted in a turnaround for the business, from financial viability, growth to operations. Starting a business requires a lot of planning, hard work, and dedication. It also involves taking risks, making difficult decisions, and dealing with financial issues. The first step in starting a business is to come up with a great idea and have a sustainable plan. As a first-time entrepreneur, it is unlikely you will know everything about running a business. A lack of knowledge can lead to avoidable mistakes that could cost your business money. You will also need to overcome enormous demands on your time and energy setting up a business, she added. To transform the business, she thought to focus on the experience she will be giving to her clients. Her clients were the heart of the business and she tried to make them happy with quick and unique services. Up to date, I ensure that whatever my customers buy from me is worth more than the money they are paying and we give them a great service as well, from taking their orders to the delivery guys who send their orders to them. Beyond serving them very healthy and delicious food, it is also important to see them happy, that is when they will come back to order more and also recommend the business to other people, she emphasised. At Melbs Saucy Foods, you can order your Butter kenkey with fish, chicken, shrimps, egg, pork, octopus, turkey, all cooked under hygienic conditions and delivered to you in neat and attractive packages. She believes in excellence and brings that to her business. According to Ruth, her philosophy in life is to never give up in spite of the challenges and circumstances she finds herself in. She said the challenges were enormous when I started the business, however, I have tried to find solutions rather than complain about them. I have a plan to grow the business into an empire and these are the necessary steps to take to achieve that. We have come a long way and it is not the time to look back. Her advice to her fellow young ladies who have passion for cooking is to develop it and make it another source of income even if not full time. We are sometimes led into doing certain things which are not necessary to our growth and development. I will urge all my fellow young ladies to keep their focus and do their best wherever they find themselves, it is certainly going to pay off when you put in the work and work smart as well, she concluded. In a surprising turn of events, Kennedy Agyapong, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential aspirant and Member of Parliament for Assin Central has publicly expressed remorse for his marred relationship with former President John Mahama. He described the former president as a "fine gentleman." During a candid one-on-one interview on Neat FM's "Me Man Nti" program, Kennedy Agyapong revealed that he had taken the initiative to apologize to John Mahama. He acknowledged that although former President Mahama may have had his flaws, he sees him as a person of genuine character. "Yesterday, I was bold to apologize to (Former) President Mahama...the man (Mahama), naturally, he's a fine gentleman to me. He may have his shortcomings but I feel so guilty about how our relationship got destroyed," Agyapong stated during the interview. Kennedy Agyapong cited the once-admirable relationship he shared with John Mahama, expressing regret over the series of events that led to the friction. Joyce Bawa Mogtari, Special Aide to former President John Mahama, has slammed Bank of Ghana Governor Ernest Addison over his description of protesters as "uncivilized hooligans." In a post on X Saturday, October 7, Bawa Mogtari noted that "the phrase 'uncivilized hooligans' used by the Governor reflects this administration's intolerance towards the people who helped the NPP come into power through their actions and inactions." She added that "The same civil disobedience or 'uncivilized hooliganism' led to this incompetent governor's appointment." Bawa Mogtari was reacting to comments made by Dr. Addison in an interview where he dismissed calls for his resignation following the #OccupyBoG protest last week. The protesters were demonstrating against Ghana's economic crisis and the central bank's mismanagement under Dr. Addison's leadership. In the interview, Addison referred to the protesters as "hooligans" and said grievances should be addressed in a "civilized" manner rather than demonstrations. However, Bawa Mogtari argues, "Do you remember how those who referred to others as uncivilised in school or at work often, rather, lacked civility and manners?" 09.10.2023 LISTEN Hon. Wisdom Akpabli, who serves as both the Assemblymember for the Wute electoral Area and deputy treasurer for the Akatsi South NDC, also joins hundreds of Ghanaians to speak out against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Ernest Addison for describing the #OccupyBoG protesters as hooligans. In a statement copied to the media, Mr. Akpabli, a communication team member of the Akatsi South branch of the opposition NDC and the Volta/Oti Regional coordinator of Duffour's Ahotor project specifically criticized Dr. Addison for making what he described as an irresponsible comment that had the potential to create disunity within Parliament. Mr Akpabli cautioned that Dr. Addison's words could be harmful to parliament as a whole. He noted that public officials should strive to promote unity and avoid making comments that could cause divisions between factions. He emphasized the importance of consultation and collaboration in the decision-making process in the common interest of Ghanaians. Mr. Akpabli's remarks were a reminder that responsible leadership requires thoughtful reflection and a commitment to promoting unity and collaboration. By criticizing Dr. Addison's comment, he demonstrated his dedication to moral values and his belief in the importance of maintaining a harmonious Parliament. A Ghanaian lecturer with the Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), Professor Yarhands Dissou Arthur, has shared his view on the country's struggling tertiary educational systems. The Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Mathematics Education (FASME) at the University of Lille in France examined the various educational reforms implemented in Ghana, spanning both pre- and post-colonial eras. The renowned Mathematician discussed the significant progress and development that Ghana's educational system has undergone throughout the year. Prof. Yarhands Dissou Arthur also engaged and had a thoughtful discussion with students of the University of Lille regarding one of his published papers, which focused on "Student Mathematics Interest in Ghana, The Role of Parent Interest, Gender, Basic School Attended, and Fear of Basic School Mathematics Teacher." Prof. Arthurs insights into educational reforms, coupled with discussions on students' interest in Mathematics Education and disciplinary practices, underscore the importance of continuous improvement and innovation within the realm of education. This exchange of knowledge and ideas serves as a testament to the global importance of addressing educational challenges to nurture a brighter future for all. Prof. Arthur explored opportunities for exchange programs between the University of Lille and the University of Altos with AAMUSTED. This initiative aims to foster collaboration and cultural exchange between these institutions, with the strengthening of partnerships through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). France has suspended visas for students from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, which leaves many stranded. Ophelie Oudedrago, an 18-year-old university student from Burkina Faso, hunches over her laptop in the capital Ouagadougou, reviewing her notes from the first few weeks of medical school. In the corner of her bedroom, against a wall, sits the suitcase she was meant to take to France, where she was admitted to the university of Montpellier. But, like many students from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Ouedraogo has seen her plans disrupted by a diplomatic crisis between Paris and the juntas that rule the three Sahelian countries, preventing her from obtaining a student visa and forcing her to follow along online. France has suspended the issuance of visas from its consulates in Ouagadougou, as well as in Mali's capital Bamako and Niger's capital Niamey, citing security reasons. "We can't control the situation, so we're stuck here and we try as best we can to be positive, even if it's complicated", Ouedraogo said. The visa complications are just one impact that the deterioration of relations between the Sahel states and their former colonial power has had on people's lives. All three countries have undergone coups over the past three years. All are facing jihadist insurgencies and have blamed France, historically an ally, for many of their struggles. France's troops and ambassadors are being pushed out of the Sahel countries. Following hostile demonstrations in the capitals, France in August updated its travel advisories to include the three cities in its "red zone", which already covered most of the region. The decision to stop issuing visas by consulates on site is one aspect of what Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna called the "reduced operation of our embassies" in those countries. It affects students, but also researchers and artists, and led to accusations by artists in France that Paris was retaliating at the expense of culture. Dashed hope No figures have been obtained from French or Sahelian authorities as to how many students have been affected, but according to the Council of Nigeriens of France (CONIF), a Paris-based organisation, an estimated 380 people in Niger alone have been affected. In the 2022-2023 academic year, there were some 3,000 Malian students, 2,500 Burkinabe students and 1,200 Nigerien students in France, according to Campus France, a government agency for promoting French higher education abroad. Colonna stressed that the suspension did not concern students or artists already in France. "It was a hope we were led to believe in, and in a flash, it fell through", said Hassane Doulaye Abdoul-Kassoum, a doctoral student in geography at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey, who was awarded a six-month scholarship to complete his thesis on pastoralism in Angers. "Our authorities have not denounced scientific accords, they have denounced military accords. I don't see why the French authorities have cut all links with no exceptions", he said. "We contribute to and influence the French-speaking world, we speak French and we will speak French, our references are in French. Abandoning that risks radicalising the discourse, and leaving a different image of France", said CONIF president Aboubakar Lalo. 'Always welcome' In the face of street protests in the Sahel countries, French authorities cited the safety of staff and claimed that the reduced presence on the ground was making it more difficult to issue visas. They denied they were taking advantage of the situation. "Artists, researchers and students from these countries are always welcome in France, in our cultural institutions as well as in our universities, and contrary to what has been said here and there, there has never been any question of it being otherwise", Colonna said. She said it was not possible for Burkinabe, Malian or Nigerien students to obtain visas in neighbouring countries because consulates can only accept applications from people who legally reside in the country where the consulates are located. France has hinted that the situation would be reassessed in the light of security developments. Students have little hope that the situation will be resolved, given that the school year has already started. "Just because this incident happened doesn't mean I have to change my programme, I have to finish my thesis, whether I'm able to move or not", said Baharou Sarimou Abdoulahi, a doctoral student in sociology at Niamey's Abdou Moumouni University who was due to complete his thesis at the Institut des mondes africains (IMAF) near Paris. He pointed out that French academics may also be prevented from coming to Niger for their work. "So I think the consequences are on both sides". (AFP) The New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates at Sunyani East have endorsed Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, pledging to secure him at least 98 per cent of their votes, in the upcoming delegates conference. Alhaji Dr Bawumia is one of the four aspirants vying to lead the NPP in Election 2024. The other aspirants are Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Francis Addai-Nimoh, former MP for Asante Mampong. The NPP has set November 4, this year, for the primaries to elect the flagbearer for the 2024 general election. Mr Bartholomew N. Incoom, the Sunyani East Constituency Chairman of the NPP, said the executives had already met the more than 1,300 delegates comprising polling station and electoral area coordinators and had unanimously agreed to give their votes to the Vice President. We have already taken the decision to guarantee the vice president at least 98 per cent of our total votes on November 4, he stated at a meeting with Alhaji Dr. Bawumia and the delegates in Sunyani. The Vice President touted some of his achievements in government, including the One-Constituency-One Ambulance policy, the national digitalisation drive, Gold for Oil policy, drone delivery and the Agenda 111 hospital project. He appealed to the delegates for their support, not only to win the primaries but also to defeat the former President John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate. Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, the MP for Sunyani East, said the entire NPP constituency members were behind the Vice President in his bid to lead the Party in Election 2024, and that they would leave no stone unturned to ensure he won the primaries. The Party in the Constituency will always stand true with the Vice President since his vision for the Party and the country is distinct and coherent, and remains the only vision the country needs now to leapfrog it into the fourth Industrial Revolution, he said. Earlier, hundreds of the delegates, including Mr John Ansu Kumi, the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, who wore branded T shirts of the Vice President, gave Dr Bawumia a rousing welcome at the Sunyani Wesley Methodist Cathedral, the venue for the meeting. GNA Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has appealed to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) delegates for the November 4 presidential primaries to endorse him to lead the Party in election 2024. The Vice President said he had the track record and the ability to defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama to ensure the NPP's victory. Dr Bawumia is one of the four aspirants vying to lead the NPP in next year's election. He said he knew Mr Mahama very well and was ready to contest and defeat him for a monumental victory for the NPP. The Vice President made the appeal when he addressed the about 1,300 delegates in the Sunyani East Constituency at a meeting to canvas for their votes. The NPP has set November 4, 2023, to elect a flagbearer for the Party for the general election next year. Other aspirants in the race are Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Minister of Food and Agriculture, and Francis Addai-Nimoh, former MP for Ashanti Mampong. Touting his achievements in government, the Vice President mentioned the one-constituency-one ambulance policy, Agenda 111 hospital projects, Gold for Oil policy, the Drone Delivery Project, as well as the national digitalisation drive among other policies and social intervention programmes, which put the NPP ahead of the NDC. He threw a challenge to former President Mahama to outline any legacy he had left in his 30 years of politics from an Assembly member to MP, a Deputy Minister to Minister, and Vice President to President. The November 4 polls, Dr Bawumia indicated, was an internal affair, and asked the delegates and all party members to be decorous in their campaign, avoid personality attacks and insults to ensure unity and a formidable front to win election 2024. GNA The 2020 Vice Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang has admonished women to take their lives into their own hands and muster the courage to go for breast cancer screening. She said it will help early detection of any issues in the breast for action to be taken than wait for the cancer to advance to incurable stages. Speaking at a breast cancer screening program organized by the Greater Accra Womens Wing of the NDC, she said cancer is something that scares us all because it does not only bring financial burden in terms of its treatment but more significantly it comes with excruciating pain and suffering which sometimes lead to death among those affected. It is always good to go to the hospital for screening. The doctors say early detection is very critical, now that there is screening, Im appealing to all women to avail themselves of early detection and treatment. She also noted the reaction of fear of voluntary cancer screening but encouraged all women to participate as it is essential to prevent breast cancer. The 2023 Annual Conference of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana Meridian Presbytery Men's Fellowship, was conducted under the subject "Revive us again, O Lord, Heal Us!" "Men's Strategic Role." The purpose of the conference was to provide the men a chance to take stock, assess, and evaluate their activities over the course of the year, and make decisions that would contribute to the development and progress of the fellowship. The chairman of the conference, Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency Tema, described the theme as highly gripping, as revival is a powerful notion in the Christian religion, referring to a time when believers experience a revitalised sense of faith and loyalty to God. He explained that revival is often associated with times of spiritual awakening, both individually and collectively, and can be a time of great transformation and growth in the Christian life. He tasked the men to move away from analogue to digital fellowship to make their quest for a revival meaningful. He noted that the Bible contains many passages that speak to the idea of revival, both as a historical event and as a present reality that believers can experience only if they move away from the old way of doing things and adopt more pragmatic programmes to revamp the fellowship. Mr. Ameyibor explained that moving from analogue to digital men's fellowship requires that the goal of the Men's Fellowship be set to enable each man to reach his full potential as a kingdom man for the glorification of God and the benefit of others. He noted that the intention of setting up mens fellowship in a church, among others, is to provide men with advice on how to make Christ the centre of their lives and how to live more virtuously every day. Men's fellowship is essential to a man's spiritual health, so all men in the churchregardless of age, demographic, or stage of lifemust make it a priority. In order to perform their obligations and responsibilities to God, the Church, their families, and communities, all men have the option to gather together through the Men's Fellowship to encourage and strengthen their faith in Christ, Mr. Ameyibor noted. Justice Isaac Douse, a former Appeal Court Judge who spoke on the strategic role of men, noted that men are mandated to drive innovation and contribute to economic growth. He said men often play a significant role in building and maintaining a critical family system while serving as church leaders, directing the family towards godly leadership, serving as role models, and being guidance giversnot only for your church members but for everyone else in the community too. Justice Douse, who was the guest speaker noted that men are to mentor and encourage people, furthering their faith and ensuring that they have a positive church experience. Mr. Samuel Akoetey, President of the Meridian Presbytery Mens Fellowship, charged the men to sit up and take up the mantel of leadership at home, church, community, and nation. The conference was graced by the Reverend Wilson Dumasi, Meridian Presbytery Synod Clerk and Rev. Sena Quarcoo, Meridian Presbytery Mens Fellowship Facilitator. -CDA Consult || Contributor Vice-President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed his policies will focus on making life easier for the poor and vulnerable in society when elected as the next President of Ghana. The flagbearer hopeful of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said he is determined to build a nation that works for everybody and not a privileged few. He has therefore called on Ghanaians to give strong backing to his candidature as as he plans to roll out carefully thought out policies and programmes to fight poverty and make things better for all. Marks 60th Birthday with Orphans Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia said this when he joined the children at the Kumasi Children's Home to mark his 60th birthday on Saturday, October 7, 2023. Accompanied by the 2nd lady Samira Bawumia and some stalwarts of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) including the Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah, the Vice President handed over a number of items including 150 cartons of water, 100 bags of rice, 20 bags of sugar, 50 packs of diapers, 100 sacks of detergents, 200 cartons of assorted drinks among others. Dr Bawumian again donated GHS60,000 to help in the running of the Home and pledged to provide a Coaster bus for the Home as well. "I have always been passionate with the needy and poor in society because they are the ones who need help the most, that's why i choose to spend my birthday with the children in this Home," he stated. Appreciation The Manageress of the Kumasi Children's Home, Mabel Amponsah expressed gratitude to the Vice President for his kind gesture. On behalf of the over 90 children present here, some with disabilities, I thanked Dr Mahamadu Bawumia for deciding to celebrate his birthday with the vulnerable children some whom were abandoned at birth. "Indeed his gesture is a clear indication of his love for humanity and our prayer is for God to guide and make you victorious of all your dreams," she said. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah said in the next few months Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia will lead Ghana as the next President of the country. "You are only a few months away from being selected as the next president of Ghana," he said while extolling Dr Mahamadu Bawumia on his 60th birthday. The minister said this after joining Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia to mark the 60th birthday celebrations of the second gentleman of the land, at the Kumasi Children's Home on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The minister predicted a massive win for the Vice President in both the presidential primaries of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in November and the 2024 presidential elections. "Those of you who know Dr Mahamadu Bawumia will side with me that, he is not only humble and down to earth, but competent as well, he has demonstrated why he should lead the country with his never-life-changing policies in the current NPP administration. "I am of firm believe that, Ghanaians will vote him as the next man to lead the country based on his vision and competence, its just a matter of, thats why I am saying that in few months, he will be president of Ghana," he stated. The Ejura Traditional Council led by Ejurahene Barima Osei Hwedie II is set to commission the Ejura Divisional Police Headquarters as part of activities to mark the 2023 edition of the Ejura Yam Festival on Thursday October 26, 2023. This was revealed when the Ejura Traditional Council announced dates for the 2023 edition of their annual Yam Festival. This year's event, according to the traditional council will focus on the commissioning of the state-of-the-art Ejura Divisional Police Headquarters which was constructed by chiefs and residents of Ejura with support from the Vice President Dr Mahamadu Bawumia and other stakeholders. Speaking to this reporter, Ejurahene Barima Osei Hwedie II said the climax of the festival which will be the official opening of the Police headquarters will attract top dignitaries from political, traditional and business sectors. He has therefore called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to support the event which is aimed at improving the welfare of residents in the area. About the festival The Festival called "Sekyerene" is marked every year by the chiefs and people to thank God, ancestors and the traditional stool for providing them with bumper harvest of fresh yams in the year just gone by. Dates for the Festival Addressing a press conference on Sunday, October 8, 2023, the Nkonsohene (Development Chief) of Ejura Traditional Area and Secretary to the Central Planning Committee of the Yam Festival, Nana Agyeman Prempeh, disclosed that, the festival will commence on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 and end on the 29th day of the same month. He noted that this year's event is under the theme "Creating a Secure Environment for Economic Development of Ejura," aimed at collaborating with stakeholders to raise educational standards in the Ejura Traditional Area. Below is the full schedule of activities for the Festival as announced by the chiefs: Ejura Sekyerene (Yam) Festival Barima Osei Hwedie II, Ejurahene, Nana Akua Tiwaa II, Ejurahemaa and entire elders of Ejura Divisional Council invites general public to witness 2023 Sekyerene (Yam) Festival at Ejura from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 29th October, 2023. Main event: Commissioning of police divisional headquarters at Ejura. Date: Thursday 26th October, 2023, Venue: Forecourt of police divisional headquarters, Ejura Time: 10:00am prompt Theme: Creating a secure environment for economic development of Ejura Target: To collaborate with stakeholders to raise educational standards in Ejura Other activities: Wednesday 25th October, 2023: Gospel night: (church singing groups and identifiable gospel Musicians would be invited to sing and give praise to God for a successful year) Venue: Forecourt of Ejura Palace Time: 6:00pm to 10:00pm Thursday 26th October, 2023: Commissioning of divisional police headquarters at Ejura. Venue: Forecourt of police divisional headquarters, Ejura Time: 10:00 a-m prompt Thursday 26th October, 2023: Traditional performance by Nananom Akomfuo on the same Thursday after the commissioning of the divisional police quarters Venue: the forecourt of Nana Ejurahenes palace Time: 2:pm to 6:00pm Friday 27th October, 2023 Performance of traditional rites at 4:00am to 10:00am (Strictly private) Friday 27th October, 2023 MINI DURBAR on Friday at 12:00pm Venue: Nana Ejurahenes old palace Time: 12:00pm Sunday 29th October, 2023. Thanks giving service at Ejura at St. Marys Anglican Church, Ejura Morning. INVITED DIGNITARIES His Excellency Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president of Ghana Hon. Ambrose Derry: Minister of interior Dr. George Akuffo Dampare: Inspector General of Police Ashanti regional minister: Hon Simon Osei-Mensah Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, Mampongmanhene Sekyedumasehene Nana Antwi Boasiako II Anyinasuhene, Nana Akwasi Awobaa II Students and staff of Worawora Senior High School in the Oti Region have extolled the Minister of Education Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum for the introduction of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in Ghana. According to them, their involvement in STEM-related activities which have been introduced at second-cycle institutions in the country has helped them to provide lifesaving solutions to deprived communities around the school. The students of Worawora SHS in an interview with this reporter on Sunday October 8, 2023, said they have been able to develop solar-powered charging systems for residents of Abotuoase who are not connected to the national grid. The innovation they noted has saved residents in the area from walking several kilometres to charge their mobile phones and other rechargeable equipment. The students led by one Engineer Aboagye Daniel, a tutor at the school have also developed a solar-powered irrigation system for farmers in the area something that has been implemented for farmers. Through their STEM activities, Worawora SHS has also provided locally assembled solar-powered lights for Odometor clinic which affords nurses at the facility to work even at night. Wining STEM School of the Year Following pragmatic and problem-solving innovations, Worawora Senior High School was adjudged as the National STEM School of the Year at the 2023 edition of the Ghana Education Awards organized by the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS). Dubbed "Hon. Adutwum STEM Institution of the Year" the award recognises individuals, groups or institutions who have distinguished themselves in the area of STEM-related methodologies to solve everyday problems. The school was ultimately awarded for being the most innovative STEM institution of the year on August 29, 2023. Courtesy Call on Oti Regional Minister The School after winning the enviable award paid a courtesy call on the Oti Regional Minister, Josuah Makubu. They presented the trophy to the Minister and called for support from the Minister and stakeholders in the education sector in order to continue their work. In his address, Mr Josuah Makubu commended the students and staff of the school for winning the award. He pledged the governments commitment to supporting students who are into STEM-related activities. For his part, the Headmaster for Worawora SHS Mr Michael Gyamasi appealed to stakeholders in the education sector to support the school. He noted that the school is in dire need of infrastructural projects to help accommodate the growing population of the school. Minority in Parliament is demanding an unqualified apology from the Ministry of Health (MoH) for its failure to clear donated antiretroviral drugs at the ports. The Minority described the MoHs excuse for the non-clearance as untenable, saying the ministry had ample time to prepare the necessary documentation or secure funding warrants for the timely clearance of the essential consumables upon their arrival. The Minority also took issue with the MoHs two to three-month delay in taking steps to secure extra funds for clearance, calling it incompetence of the highest order. The Ministry of Health had refuted claims that the delay in clearing antiretroviral drugs at the ports was due to the lack of tax waivers. It said in a rejoinder on Saturday, October 7, 2023, that the high volumes of the drugs required extra resources and that it was working to secure the necessary funds to clear the drugs by Friday, October 13, 2023. But the Minority said PLHIV cannot and should not be made to wait beyond October 13, 2023, for drugs that arrived in the country three months ago. The Minority in a statement signed by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, said At this juncture, the least it can do is offer an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for its failure to perform the simple function of clearing donated goods for Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). As the Minority, we firmly believe that Ghana deserves better, and the excuses must cease. READ THE FULL STATEMENT FROM THE MINORITY MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S RESPONSE TO THE DELAYS IN CLEARING HIV DRUGS AT GHANA'S PORTS INAPPROPRIATE AND HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE MINORITY The Minority in Parliament vehemently denounces the Ministry of Healths response, or lack thereof, to the extended delay in clearing HIV antiretroviral drugs at Ghanas ports. We consider the Ministrys press statement issued on October 7, 2023, as highly inappropriate and a dereliction of its duty to safeguard the health and well-being of Ghanaians. First and foremost, the Ministrys press statement fails to offer any valid reasons for the prolonged delay in clearing the consignment of HIV antiretroviral drugs at the ports. The excuse citing the high volume of the consignment requiring additional funds for clearance is utterly untenable. Such consignments do not appear suddenly at ports of entry without prior notice to receiving agencies. The Ministry had ample time, spanning weeks if not months, to prepare the necessary documentation or secure funding warrants for the timely clearance of these essential consumables upon their arrival. The Ministrys statement comes across as an insult to our donor partners, implying that they irresponsibly failed to provide prior warning of a high volume of support, thereby catching Ghanaian authorities off guard. This insinuation is highly reprehensible and an irresponsible attempt to jeopardize the generosity of our donors towards Ghana and its Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). It is also mind-boggling that the Ministry of Health would take two to three months, from the receipt of a shipping consignment in July to a press statement in October, to claim that it has finally taken measures to secure extra funds for clearance. This smacks of incompetence of the highest order. Even if we were to assume, though not conceding, that the Ministry only became aware of the volume of the consignment in July, what prevented it from taking these so-called necessary steps in July itself, rather than waiting until October? Moreover, extending the already three-month delay by another week is not only highly insensitive but also utterly irresponsible. PLHIV cannot and should not be made to wait beyond October 13, 2023, for drugs that arrived in the country three months ago. With the advancements in port operations, including 24-hour clearance of goods, there is no valid reason why these vital medical consumables cannot be cleared within 24 hours, should the government genuinely prioritize the health of PLHIV. While the Ministry concluded its statement with mere rhetoric about its steadfast commitment to safeguarding the health of all citizens, it inconsiderately downplayed the impact of the current health crisis caused by the shortage of antiretroviral drugs. By stating that only 4% of PLHIV are affected by the shortage, the Ministry overlooks the fact that this 4% represents some 15,000 fellow Ghanaiansbrothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and professionals from all walks of life. Their health concerns should not be ignored by an institution entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of all Ghanaians. Furthermore, the Ministrys press statement fails to address several critical issues. The Ministry claims to have applied for and obtained tax clearance waivers for the antiretroviral drugs at the ports. However, it is insufficient to merely claim to have received these waivers. The Ministry should, at the very least, provide evidence of receiving these waivers by specifying the date when these waivers were acquired. We previously recommended, in our press statement, that the Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of Finance to automate tax waivers for medical consumables and equipment, thereby preventing delays caused by tax waiver issues. Regrettably, the Ministry has chosen to ignore this important recommendation. We also expressed concerns about the widening funding gap in addressing Ghanas National HIV/AIDS program and how the non-payment of counterpart funds is exacerbating this situation. The Ministry has remained conspicuously silent on this matter, providing no responses regarding its commitment to fulfilling its funding obligations moving forward. In conclusion, the Ministry of Health must be proactive in addressing the health challenges of Ghanaians and residents and stop acting like a rudderless storm-tossed ship or a fire service responding only to emergencies. At this juncture, the least it can do is offer an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for its failure to perform the simple function of clearing donated goods for PLHIV. As the Minority, we firmly believe that Ghana deserves better, and the excuses must cease. Signed Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (Ranking Member Parliamentary Committee on Health) citinewsroom 09.10.2023 LISTEN Kwabre District branch of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Ashanti region has fully operationalized its cashless payment system and is no longer receiving cash payments. Customers are now required to either purchase power or pay their bills through digital payments via mobile money or make payments at the bank. As part of activities marking the global 'Customer Service Week,' the management and staff of the branch embarked on a sensitization drive to educate their customers on the cashless payment system. The event took place on Friday, June 6, 2023, as staff of ECG at Faowade Business Unit in the Kwabre District engaged customers in areas like Mamponteng, Ahwiaa, Fawoade, and other neighboring communities. Customer Service Week is an international celebration of the importance of customer service and of the people who serve and support customers on a daily basis. The Kwabre District Engineer, Alexander Jaker, explained that one needs to download the ECG PowerApp on both iOS and Android platforms to access the cashless payment system anytime and anywhere. He also explained that customers without smartphones can access the system through *226#. Alexander Jaker stated that the latest intervention formed part of the overall plans by the ECG to improve service delivery, especially, the services that involve payments. With this new digital payment platform, we will no longer receive cash here at our office and it will also help to ease the stress our customers go through to pay their bills," he said. Customers had to travel a considerable distance to conduct business with us before the implementation of this system, which was inconvenient for them given the expense of transportation and the inherent risk, he noted. Alexander Jaker added that the introduction of the ECG PowerApp for the cashless payment system is geared towards improving their operations and services to the customers. "Our clients are always at the center of everything we do since without them we would not be in business, so we will constantly improve our operations to make it easier for them to use our services and more convenient for them, he posited. Alexander Jaker urged users to exercise caution and double-check that the meter or account numbers they enter into the system are accurate before tapping the app's "This is Correct" button. Customers who have used the App have thanked the ECG for their intervention, saying that it is now easier to purchase power or pay bills without physically visiting an office. They acknowledged that the procedure was time-consuming, though, and expressed the hope that the method might eventually become more practical. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that it did not authorize or sanction the invasion of UTV studios by some of its members. These individuals entered the studio to disrupt a live show in protest against comments made by one of the panellists. The police have already arrested 16 persons allegedly involved in the incident. The Director of Communications for the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah, said in an interview with Citi News, that the party will cooperate with the police to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The party did not sanction anyone to go and disrupt the United Showbiz programme as was reported. We have moved swiftly to make an apology to them [UTV], and we are going to cooperate with the police to investigate the matter. We think that the attack is unacceptable, and its condemnable, he said. Meanwhile, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has condemned the attack and called on the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to prosecute the attackers. The GJA in a statement issued on Sunday said it was informed that about 30 hooligans attacked the studios of the Accra-based private television station, and although the Police arrested some of them, others managed to escape. Citi Newsroom Minority in Parliament has expressed strong disapproval of the Ministry of Health's response to the prolonged delay in clearing HIV antiretroviral drugs at Ghana's ports. The Ministry's press statement issued on October 7, 2023, was criticized by the Minority as highly inappropriate and a dereliction of its duty to prioritise the health and well-being of Ghanaians. The Minority highlighted that the Ministry's statement failed to provide valid reasons for the extended delay in clearing the HIV antiretroviral drug consignment at the ports. They deemed the Ministry's excuse of citing a high volume of consignment requiring additional funds for clearance as unreasonable and untenable. In their press release, signed by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the ranking member on the committee of health, the Minority stressed that such consignments are not unexpected arrivals, and the Ministry had ample time, spanning weeks if not months, to prepare necessary documentation or secure funding warrants for timely clearance. Moreover, the Minority viewed the Ministry's statement as an insult to donor partners, implying irresponsible failure to provide prior warning of a 'high' volume of support, thus catching Ghanaian authorities off guard. They strongly condemned this insinuation, considering it highly reprehensible and an irresponsible attempt to jeopardize the generosity of donors towards Ghana and Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). Additionally, the Minority expressed astonishment that the Ministry of Health took two to three months, from the receipt of the shipping consignment in July to issuing a press statement in October, to claim it had finally secured extra funds for clearance. They labeled this delay as a sign of severe incompetence. Read details of the Minoritys statement below: MINISTRY OF HEALTHS RESPONSE TO THE DELAYS IN CLEARING HIV DRUGSS AT GHANAS PORTS INAPPROPRIATE AND HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE - MINORITY The Minority in Parliament vehemently denounces the Ministry of Health's response, or lack thereof, to the extended delay in clearing HIV antiretroviral drugs at Ghana's ports. We consider the Ministry's press statement issued on October 7, 2023, as highly inappropriate and a dereliction of its duty to safeguard the health and well-being of Ghanaians. First and foremost, the Ministry's press statement fails to offer any valid reasons for the prolonged delay in clearing the consignment of HIV antiretroviral drugs at the ports. The excuse citing the high volume of the consignment requiring additional funds for clearance is utterly untenable. Such consignments do not appear suddenly at ports of entry without prior notice to receiving agencies. The Ministry had ample time, spanning weeks if not months, to prepare the necessary documentation or secure funding warrants for the timely clearance of these essential consumables upon their arrival. The Ministry's statement comes across as an insult to our donor partners, implying that they irresponsibly failed to provide prior warning of a 'high' volume of support, thereby catching Ghanaian authorities off guard. This insinuation is highly reprehensible and an irresponsible attempt to jeopardize the generosity of our donors towards Ghana and its Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV). It is also mind-boggling that the Ministry of Health would take two to three months, from the receipt of a shipping consignment in July to a press statement in October, to claim that it has finally taken measures to secure extra funds for clearance. This smacks of incompetence of the highest order. Even if we were to assume, though not conceding, that the Ministry only became aware of the volume of the consignment in July, what prevented it from taking these so-called 'necessary steps' in July itself, rather than waiting until October? Moreover, extending the already three-month delay by another week is not only highly insensitive but also utterly irresponsible. PLHIV cannot and should not be made to wait beyond October 13, 2023, for drugs that arrived in the country three months ago. With the advancements in port operations, including 24-hour clearance of goods, there is no valid reason why these vital medical consumables cannot be cleared within 24 hours, should the government genuinely prioritize the health of PLHIV. While the Ministry concluded its statement with a mere rhetoric about its steadfast commitment to safeguarding the health of all citizens, it inconsiderately downplayed the impact of the current health crisis caused by the shortage of antiretroviral drugs. By stating that only 4% of PLHIV are affected by the shortage, the Ministry overlooks the fact that this 4% represents some 15,000 fellow Ghanaiansbrothers, sisters, wives, husbands, and professionals from all walks of life. Their health concerns should not be ignored by an institution entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the well-being of all Ghanaians. Furthermore, the Ministry's press statement fails to address several critical issues. The Ministry claims to have applied for and obtained tax clearance waivers for the antiretroviral drugs at the ports. However, it is insufficient to merely claim to have received these waivers. The Ministry should, at the very least, provide evidence of receiving these waivers by specifying the date when these waivers were acquired. We previously recommended, in our press statement, that the Ministry collaborates with the Ministry of Finance to automate tax waivers for medical consumables and equipment, thereby preventing delays caused by tax waiver issues. Regrettably, the Ministry has chosen to ignore this important recommendation. We also expressed concerns about the widening funding gap in addressing Ghana's National HIV/AIDS program and how the non-payment of counterpart funds is exacerbating this situation. The Ministry has remained conspicuously silent on this matter, providing no responses regarding its commitment to fulfilling its funding obligations moving forward. In conclusion, the Ministry of Health must be proactive in addressing the health challenges of Ghanaians and residents and stop acting like a rudderless storm-tossed ship or a fire service responding only to emergencies At this juncture, the least it can do is offer an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for its failure to perform the simple function of clearing donated goods for PLHIV. As the Minority, we firmly believe that Ghana deserves better, and the excuses must cease. ---Signed--- Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (Ranking Member Parliamentary Committee on Health) 08.10.2023 -Classfmonline News / National by Staff reporter USAID's Dr. Nevers Mumba, who recently served as Zambian President @HHichilema's appointee to head @SADC_News Electoral Observation Mission [SEOM] in Zimbabwe for the 2023 harmonised general election! pic.twitter.com/CDnl56nKoy Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) October 9, 2023 This Fellow is also working for USAID then it explain itself. ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) October 9, 2023 Former Zambian Vice President, Nevers Sekwila Mumba, putting on a shirt with a USAid logo has sparked debate on social media.Dr Mumba recently headed the Southern African Development Community Electoral Observer Mission to Zimbabwe where his team became the first SADC observer mission to call out shortcomings in the electoral processes in the just-ended August elections.Zimbabwean authorities were not happy with Mumba's report and believed that the SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM) and the countrys opposition were pawns in the European Union (EU) grand scheme to effect regime change in the country.To disguise its regime change agenda, the EU is said to have recruited elements in the SADC region, in particular the SEOM, which was led by Dr Mumba who turned out to be a willing tool of, and for the Western worlds devious agenda.Professor Jonathan Moyo posted Dr Mumba's photo and wrote, "USAID's Dr. Nevers Mumba, who recently served as Zambian President Hichilema's appointee to head SADC Electoral Observation Mission [SEOM] in Zimbabwe for the 2023 harmonised general election!"ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula also commented on the thread saying, "This Fellow is also working for USAID then it explain itself." 09.10.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has said it is "disappointed" with Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah's "wobbly" press statement issued on the recent thuggery against UTV by some members of the governing New Patriotic Party. The thugs, numbering about 30, disrupted a live programme on Saturday, 7 October 2023 during which they demanded representation on the programme and assaulted some staff while demanding the whereabouts of one particular regular panellist. In a statement signed by General Secretary Kofi Yeboah, the GJA said it "finds this act barbaric and medieval, and it is very much consistent with the building blocks in recent times to establish a state of impunity against the media, one that is worse than the infamous Culture of Silence". "We wish to inform such evil minds, both orchestrators and actors, that the media in Ghana have survived all forms of clampdown in the past, even under dictatorial regimes, and that we shall never be intimidated or silenced by any form of attack", the GJA warned. In Mr Oppong Nkrumah's statement on the matter, he said the Ministry of Information, on Saturday, 7 October 2023, lodged a report with the Ghana Police Service to intervene in the incidentm which followed reports to the Media Monitoring Center of the Ministry that a group of people had entered UTVs studios, allegedly without authorisation, to express displeasure at the content of a live programme. The statement continued that "subsequently, the police arrested 16 people at the premises of UTV, and investigations are currently ongoing". The Ministry said it "condemns, in no uncertain terms, any unauthorised entry into media organisations, in protest at media content, or interference with media work". It said "the right to free expression and the freedom of the media are key pillars of our democracy and must be fiercely protected". The Ministry said it "stands with the police and the courts in the conduct of their duties". The Ministry 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". In the GJA's statement, however, the group said, "we are highly disappointed in the Minister for issuing that wobbly statement". "In the second paragraph of the press statement, the Minister tries to justify the barbaric attack by holding that the hooligans entered UTV 'allegedly without authorisation' when he was the very person who reported to, and called in, the police", the association said. It noted: "In the fourth paragraph, the minister avoids direct condemnation of the hooligans and conveniently makes his condemnation general, and, worst of all, in the last paragraph, the minister imposes a burden on the media to promote national cohesion, regardless of the incessant attacks against them". "The ministers press statement is in sharp contrast to another one issued by the PR Unit of his Ministry on May 4, 2023, in respect of the attack on a radio presenter on Dagbon FM in Tamale by a communicator of the National Democratic Congress (NDC)", the GJA compared. It explained: "The ministrys May 2023 press statement was very direct: the ministry described the attack as assault without any 'allegedly' clothing; the ministry condemned the act, specifically without giving it general direction; the ministry called for 'severe and speedy response from law enforcement agencies' to avoid future recurrence; the minister had a telephone conversation with [the] victim of assault, and the minister 'offered the support of the ministry if he will require any'". The GJA oberved: "Between the two cases Dagbon FM and UTV, the Minister of Information and/or the Ministry of Information, has or have not been even-handed in addressing the critical issues at stake, and we find that very worrying". "The GJA calls on the media to be bold and never be intimidated by such acts of hooliganism, knowing that we serve the larger interest of the public", the association charged, and urged "media practitioners and institutions to act professionally at all times in the discharge of their duties". - Classfmonline French President Emmanuel Macron is in Germany on Monday to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. French-German ties are instrumental for stability within the European Union, but there are a growing number of issues on which Berlin and Paris don't agree. Macron will travel to the German port city of Hamburg where he will meet German leader Olaf Scholz and other members of the German government. According to German TV station Nord Deutsche Rundfunk, the two leaders will visit Airbus factories in Finkenwerder. The aircraft manufacturer, which has its main location in the French city of Toulouse, is key to industrial cooperation between Germany and France. High on the agenda may also be the joint development of a German-French "main ground combat system" (MGCS) battle tank. According to Defense News, defence ministers of France and Germany are set to begin negotiations in 2024 for the next-generation tank project with industry leaders KNDS, a Franco-German joint venture, and Dusseldorf-based Rheinmetall. After that, other European countries such as the Netherlands or Italy could join the initiative. The visit may also be aimed at giving new impetus into the Franco-German relationship, which has been marred by friction since the end of Angela Merkel's chancellorship. From treaty to tension France and Germany, the EU's two richest and most influential members, are at odds on a number of issues, from the bloc's defence strategy to its response to the energy crisis, relations with China and even fiscal policy. In 1963, post-World War II leaders Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle signed the Elysee Treaty, which was meant to prevent any further hostilities like the Napoleonic Wars, the 1870 Franco-German War and the two World Wars of the 20th century that cost the lives of millions of people. A "reinforcement" of that treaty was signed by Macron and then German leader Merkel in 2019. But Scholz, who took the helm in Germany in 2021, wasn't inclined to sail the European ship with Macron as smoothly as his predecessor. The friction started last year, after a standoff between the two leaders while the EU struggled to reach an agreement on whether to cap gas prices in response to Russia's war in Ukraine. That also impacted Europe's plans to build its next generation of fighter jets, and tensions grew over German plans for gas pipeline projects across the EU and increasing Chinese investment in Germany's harbours and airports. Germany also seems unhappy with the role Macron is playing and may see a shift from Berlin as the EU's pre-eminent power to Paris underscored by Macron's plans for a "sovereign Europe" that would be less dependent on Washington. The latest glitch came when Germany quietly decided to close down two of its five Goethe Institutes in France, in Bordeaux and in Lille. Leaders of the Bordeaux region wrote an open letter to the cultural organisation to express their "astonishment and dismay" over the closure, underlining the importance of the centre in Bordeaux in supporting "the dynamics of Franco-German relations". The Goethe Institute said in a press release that it was closing nine outlets worldwide due to "significant changes in the geopolitical and financial conditions" in other words, nothing personal. Lack of chemistry Be that as it may, personal chemistry or the lack of it between the leaders of the EU's two most powerful countries counts for a lot. After Scholz came to power in 2021, Macron was reportedly disconcerted to find that his new German counterpart showed little interest in putting in personal time with the French president, unlike his predecessor Merkel. Instead Scholz has cultivated links with the leaders of Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. After warning Germany in vain over the risk of depending too heavily on Russia for its gas, Macron felt vindicated in his push to strengthen European self-reliance, from energy to defence and trade, French officials told Reuters last year. But a mysterious explosion in the Nord Stream pipeline last September rendered Russian gas distribution to north-west Europe impossible, while Germany's China policy hardened considerably. (with newswires) A former Deputy Information Minister in the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama government, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has condemned the attack on UTV by a group of New Patriotic Party (NPP) members. In a post on social media, he said the madness and impunity exhibited by members of the NPP while the party is in government is proof of President Akufo-Addos terrible leadership. According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the full effect will be seen when the National Democratic Congress defeats the NPP in the 2024 General Elections. The growing spate of madness and impunity exhibited by the NPP in government, reflect the terrible leadership offered by Prez Akufo Addo since 2014. That party has spiralled into an abyss and is rotten at the core. The damage will be felt after they have been booted out of power, the former Deputy Information Minister said. Felix Kwakye Ofosu was reacting to the invasion of United Television by thugs who identified themselves as members of the NPP over the weekend. Following a complaint from the Despite Media Group and Ministry of Information, the Police proceeded to the scene and arrested sixteen (16) persons in connection with the incident. Vice Chairman of the Elections Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Joshua Alabi has asserted that the current happenings at the electoral commission clearly shows that President Akufo-Addo led administration and the NPP is bent on holding on to power at all cost. In a ceremony to swear in the National Youth Working Committee of the party, Professor Alabi tasked the youth ad hoc committees to go around the country and canvas votes for NDC to win the election 2024. According to him, there is a need for the youth of NDC to put all the antics by the electoral commission aside and propagate the hope message of NDC. Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the general secretary underscored that the country needs principled, patriotic, and pro-actively creative people to change the narrative of the country. "The problem of this country is not policies. The problem of this country is about three things; principled people, patriotic people, and pro-actively creative people. If we have these three people, we will be gone. But without these three, we can rocket science from Jupiter or anywhere and we will continue to be in this asshole we are in," he said. He entreated the NDC youth to take up the mantle and propagate the good news of the party and the good of Ghana to vote for the NDC come the 2024 general elections. The National Youth Organizer for the NDC, Lawyer George Opare Addo, on his part said it is time the youth of NDC go out into the dungeons to preach the message of hope to Ghanaians. He was of the view that the youth working committee Inaugurated will bring all the expertise together, ensuring that the Great NDC party returns to the seat of Government come January 2025. "Help bring John Mahama back as President because he is the only candidate who has the youth of this country at heart," he said. 09.10.2023 LISTEN Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has asserted that his ministry has been consistent in its condemnation of attacks on media houses perpetrated by thugs affiliated with political parties. His remarks come in response to the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), which expressed disappointment with Oppong Nkrumahs statement regarding the assault on United Television (UTV) in Accra. In a statement signed by the General Secretary of GJA, Kofi Yeboah, it was pointed out that the Minister had failed to directly denounce the attack on UTV. The GJA deemed the Ministers statement as lacking in decisiveness and criticized his attempt to justify the attack by mentioning alleged unauthorized entry by the assailants. They noted that the Minister himself had reported the incident to the police. The GJA also highlighted the disparity between the Information Ministers response to the UTV incident and a previous incident where a journalist at Dagbon FM was assaulted by an NDC activist. In response to these claims, Oppong Nkrumah defended his position on the Citi Breakfast Show, asserting that the allegations by the GJA were unfounded. He explained that his ministry reports information as obtained from its monitoring centre and updates its stance as more information becomes available. He further clarified that the ministrys condemnation was in line with their previous responses to attacks on media houses and journalists. My view is that I think we have been consistent, we dont need to break ranks, we need to put the attention where attention needs to be put [and] that is prosecution and the courts, that we stand together with them and we use them to ensure that there is deterrence. -Citi Newsroom A Pressure Group, Arise Ghana has described the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Ernest Addison, as the most incompetent head in the history of the central bank. We wish to remind Dr Ernest Addison that he remains the most incompetent and inept Governor of the Bank of Ghana and the worst in the history of the Central Bank, a statement issued by the pressure group, Sunday, 8 October 2023, said. According to the group, the monumental losses accrued by the Bank coupled with its colossal negative equity position bears ample testimony, to its description of the central bank governor. The group which condemned the BoG governors referral to the #OccupyBoG protest which took place to call for his removal together with his two deputies from office, as unnecessary, noted: Instead of concentrating on the reasons for which the protestors had to endure the unpleasant duty of marching to demand for his resignation, Dr Ernest Addison has been emboldened by unknown reasons to exhibit such belligerence and disrespect for the good people of Ghana. The group says, the BoG governors comments cannot derail them from their goal of having him removed from office. Dr Ernest Addisons comments cannot in any way sway us to depart from our quest to keep his feet to the fire of accountability until he does the needful by resigning to save the Bank from any further plummeting. His contribution to the collapse of the Ghanaian economy which has inflicted unimaginable suffering and hardship on the innocent Ghanaian cannot be taken lightly and he must not be allowed to superintend over the Central Bank anymore, the statement said. The pressure group hence added that it shall continue to liaise with other civil society organisations, political parties and progressive forces to explore all legitimate means to kick Dr Addison and his reckless syndicate out of the Bank of Ghana not as hooligans but as citizens. The Minority in Parliament organised a protest dubbed #OccupyBoG to call for the removal of Dr Addison and his two deputies from office. But the BOG governor unequivocally stated that he will not resign from his position despite demands from the Minority NDC caucus. He dismissed the recent calls for his resignation, labeling the demonstration on October 3 in Accra as "completely unnecessary". He made it clear that neither he nor his deputies have any intention of leaving their positions, emphasising that the Minority in parliament has alternative channels to address their grievances. "The Minority in Parliament have many channels to channel their grievances in civilised societies, not through demonstrations in the streets as hooligans," Dr Addison added. -classfmonline 09.10.2023 LISTEN As said, coming events cast their shadows in advance. This highly nepotistic government run by President Akufo-Addo is the undoing of this highly insensitive and unpopular regime. To always blame Ghanas appalling economic situation on exogenous variables such as the subdued COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine invasion instead of correcting the self-inflicted economic situation by this government is disingenuous. The near collapse of Ghanas economy when COVID-19 visited the country in 2020 is a testament that the fundamentals of the economy were not solidly anchored to withstand any unforeseen economic headwinds contrary to claims made by the Finance Minister and the solid Economic Management Team led by Dr. Bawumia. If Nana Akufo-Addo didnt sack Ken Ofori-Atta for all the wrong reasons and he refused to resign himself, hasn't that emboldened failed Dr. Ernest Addison at the Central Bank of Ghana (BOG)? I think that singular act of the President emboldened Dr. Addison! To refresh our recent memories, the economic woes of this country under the touted Yale-trained Investment Banker, Ken Ofori-Atta by President Akufo-Addo culminated in the censure of Ken Ofori-Atta and numerous calls on him to vacate his post to allow for fresh ideas and energy at the Ministry of Finance. Looking at the precarious economic health of the country in terms of the climbing national debt, draconian DDEP implementation, as well as the proud nation claim, which turned out to be a U-turn IMF bailout to salvage the sinking economic ship under Ken Ofori-Attas direct watch, he should not have survived in a reshuffle let alone to stay in office from 2017 until now. The economic haemorrhage via numerous corruption scandals under this government is not helping matters too! Unsurprisingly, President Akufo-Addo is unable to reshuffle or sack his cousin, Ken Ofori-Atta for reasons of familial relationship but not because he is performing his ministerial duties excellently well. What moral right does President Akufo-Addo have to have left his cousin untouched and wants to sack other appointees? None! When the pressure on the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta was at its crescendo coming from about 90 dissenting NPP MPs to boycott government business together with the Minority in Parliament, President Akufo-Addo promised his NPP MPs he would relieve Ken Ofori-Atta of his post after the IMF loan approval. It is common knowledge Ken Ofori-Atta said he would not resign and would only lose his post if the President sacked him. Till now, Ken Ofori-Atta has stayed put in his position as Finance Minister! The sins of this current BOG Governor and his two deputies are numerous and cannot be overlooked by well-meaning Ghanaians. In fact, does it make any sense that the very BOG that closed over 400 domestic banks and other deposit-taking institutions for financial indiscipline and mismanagement also engaged in even worse financial malpractices? The BOGs 2022 annual report revealed GHc60.8 billion losses recorded by the BOG and negative equity together with weak reserves for a very short period of import cover and other financial and economic challenges that the country is faced with. Despite these challenges, the GOB decided to embark on an expensive new Headquarters building project of almost $250 million at this wrong time. Is this not misplacement of priorities? The Dr. Addison-led BOG team together with the Finance Ministry is accused by the Minority in Parliament of exceeding the threshold of 5% of lending (printing money) to the government and writing off billions (GHc) of debts owed by the government of Ghana without recourse to the Parliament for prior approval, which contravenes the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918) and the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) of the country. These are serious infractions, which require serious attention from the citizenry. Therefore, the Minority-led #OccupyBOGProtest on 03.10.2023 was an appropriate conduct to demand accountability and justice for the people of Ghana by asking the BOG and his deputies to resign for fresher ideas and energy at the Central Bank of Ghana. Instead of the BOG boss, Dr. Addison to resign or at least keep quiet, he rather unpalatably characterized the #OccupyBOG Protesters as hooligans coupled with his show of disrespect to the demonstrators for asking BOGs head of security to receive the petition on his behalf. Enough is indeed enough! Although Dr. Addisons irresponsible and nauseating comment is condemnable, he is simply emboldened to do and say whatever he prefers because he is confident his Appointor, President Akufo-Addo will not sack him like Ken Ofori-Atta. Additionally, several infractions caused by the BOG team are enabled by the Finance Minister, i.e., exceeding the 5% limit without prior Parliamentary approval. It was the duty of the Finance Minister to have informed Parliament but no official record in Parliament showing that indeed happened. What stopped Nana Akufo-Addo from replacing the BOG Governor since he is not performing satisfactorily on his job? This clearly shows that we have an insensitive government and the actions of the President, and his cousin, Ken Ofori-Atta emboldened the BOG Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, to act with impunity, call the bluff of the demonstrators who are a critical mass of Ghanaians, and remain at the post. This can only happen in a defective democracy, which Ghana is, unfortunately, witnessing under this governing NPP government led by Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia for the past 7 years. The power of the thumb should not be taken for granted. Oliver Barker Vormawor, a lead convener of the #FixTheCountry Movement, has lamented an alleged injustice against one of the group's members. In a social media post on Monday, October 9, Mr. Barker Vormawor said one of their activists has been fired by his boss. Mr. Barker Vormawor reported that the employer is a member of a certain political party who dislikes the activities of #FixTheCountry Movement. "This morning I had a conversation with one of our activists. He has been let go by his employer. A self-acclaimed party person who abhors #FixTheCountry, he wrote. He revealed that the laid-off activist was told to go to that hungry Oliver villager for him to employ him. The #FixTheCountry group recently partnered with the Democracy Hub to organize the 3-day OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration to voice out their displeasure about the misrule and high cost of living in the country. Kennedy Agyapong was once regarded by NPP politicians, including Ghanas president, Nana Akufo Addo, as the party's warrior, heartless intrepid, unafraid of anyone, and prepared to fight for the party. Akufo Addo recruited Mr. Agyapong to carry out most of his criminal actions because no NPP politician would dare to carry out such assignments. Today, things have changed, and the wild man the NPP trained to become a vicious lion is now devouring them. It is not overstated to say that the NPP took pleasure in Ken Agyapong's threats and insults directed at the opposition, political foes, and former Ghanaian president John Mahama. What Agyapong has done in Ghana and is currently free to do, such as run for president of Ghana, would not be accepted in any civilized nation. Threatening someone can put one in jail right away, yet Agyapong was able to stay out of jail even though the person he threatened with death was killed. Since the late journalist was viewed as a saw in the flesh for embarrassing and exposing the NPP government, neither Akufo Addo nor any NPP official denounced Agyapong's threat to kill Ahmed Hussein-Suale. Agyapong was not also warned for making such an offensive statement when he threatened to burn the home of the former president of Ghana, John Mahama. The NPP appreciates Agyapong's actions as long as they advance the party. The NPP administration and the president took daily pleasure in Agyapong's defense. For example, he has a reputation for defending Akufo Addo's extravagant spending, corruption, and other immoralities. Unfortunately, the NPP overlooked that without thinking that since Agyapong's wildness has no limit, he would eventually turn that rage against them. He angrily attacked the judiciary, insulted NPP politicians by calling them dumb, and at one point launched a vicious attack on Inspector General of Police George Dampare. Ken Agyapong is the only NPP politician that I am aware of who started opposing his administration before the financial crisis. Does anyone remember the article titled "Ken Agyapong's Lamentation Shows Akufo Addo Is Responsible for the Corruption at the Ports?" He asserted that Ghana has "heavy duties" that make life challenging and highlighted once more that hefty port fees in Ghana are a danger to the future of the NPP government. Even though this man is not an economist, what he said is exactly what we are witnessing in Ghana today. Kennedy Agyapong further revealed Akufo Addo's corruption by asserting that he visited the Ghana Revenue Authority because the government had told them to collect 39 billion annually, but just because they gave them the order doesn't mean they had to boost the CTC charges. That is how Ken Agyapong exposed Akufo Addo as one of the perpetrators of the pervasive corruption taking place at the ports in this manner. Who among the political leaders of the NPP would say such a thing? Kennedy Agyapong once more made headlines by threatening to name those in charge of the country's illegal mining business. Another illustration of his honesty is this. He is the only NPP politician I feel is smarter and more likely to succeed in politics when examining and assessing NPP politicians. Sadly, he has tarnished his image with crimes he may not have directly played roles in them. In any civilized world, he doesnt stand the chance to be in politics, let alone to be president. His recent "showdown" remark against Akufo Addo and Bawumia has deeper implications than most people realize. Someone must possess all of the president's and vice president's secrets to be able to say that about them. Knowing a person's secret is the best tool for subduing or defeating the powerful. Thats why whenever he makes threats to divulge the party's secret, nobody fights him and instead makes an effort to negotiate with him. He now blames the government's widespread corruption for the deterioration of the country, but because he is airing the party's dirty laundry, many people now see him as a traitor. Others assert that Agyapong is a member of this destructive regime and is behaving in this manner to win support. Whatever the case, the NPP should stop condemning Agyapong because they are harvesting the rewards of the violent seeds they planted in him. 09.10.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Police Service has updated the public on the suspected murder case at Madina in the Greater Accra Region. The deceased, Adomah Agyekum at Madina was found lying in a pool of blood at a house in Madina on Sunday, October 8. He was rushed to the hospital for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival. In the release from the Ghana Police Service today, it confirmed the arrest of Yandeh Joof who is believed to be the girlfriend of the deceased. The Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of one Bennet Adomah Agyekum at Madina in the Greater Accra Region. The Police have arrested one Yandeh Joof, believed to be the girlfriend of the deceased, in connection with the matter and she is assisting the investigation, parts of the release issued by the Police said. Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy while the investigation continues. The final phase of negotiation of the European Union's Media Freedom Act has begun after two different draft versions were adopted by the European Union Council and the European Parliament. The future law aims to promote EU-wide media pluralism without political interference. The European Commission introduced the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) on 16 September 2022. It was borne from the need to fight political interference in editorial decisions, foster pluralism in the bloc's media landscape, and boost transparency on media ownership. A year on, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says that Europe needs a law that safeguards the independence of media companies. "Commissioner Vera Jourova was brave. It was a delicate task for the Commission to devise laws that can be implemented by each member-state. It is not just a text of good intentions and some member states were very reluctant to see it through," Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, a French European Member of Parliament (MEP) from the Greens group told RFI. The Council of the European Union agreed on its version of the EMFA's text on 21 June 2023. The European Parliament adopted its version of the EMFA on 3 October 2023. Now, three-way negotiations, involving the main EU institutions, Council, Parliament and Commission will kick off. They are aimed at reaching an agreement on a common framework for the legislation which will be enforced by the EU's 27 member-states on a national level. The first political 'trilogue' is expected on 19 October, while the process is to be finished before the upcoming European Parliament elections due in June 2024. Shocking attacks "In the last decade, we have seen incredible attacks against the media in Europe, especially in Hungary and Poland," Delbos-Corfield told RFI. "In Hungary, the ruling Fidesz party has seized control of 80 percent of the country's media, while the Polish government faces criticisms for attempting to control information on sensitive subjects". "In Malta, journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed [in 2017] and Slovak journalist Jan Kuciak murdered [in 2018] because they were reporting on corruption stories linking the government and the mafia," Delbos-Corfield adds. Investigative Greek reporters Sokratis Giolas, working on corruption, and Giorgos Karaivaz, reporting on organised crime, were executed in 2010 and 2021 respectively by unknown gunmen. In France, journalist Ariane Lavrilleux was detained for 39 hours in September facing questions by the national intelligence agency (DGSI). Her home searched and documents seized. France's Ministry of the Armed Forces filed a complaint, in 2021, for "violation of national defence secrecy" following her reports published on Disclose - a French news website - dating back to 2019. Lavrilleux reported on French arms sale, and on leaked documents claiming that a French counterintelligence operation in Egypt, codenamed Sirli, was used by the Egyptian government to carry out air strikes on suspected smugglers. Controversial use of national security "We will now enter the final and toughest part of the negotiations," Julie Majerczak, the European Union (EU) representative of, media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) told RFI of the EMFA. "The usual suspects, Hungary, Poland, will oppose resistance. Viktor Orban has already made two declarations," echoes Delbos-Corfield. "But we also expect pressure from the big publishers in Germany. The French government will raise problems over the issue of national security". According to RSF, the text adopted by the EU Parliament offers better protection to journalists than the one proposed by the EU Council, or even that of the European Commission. "This text includes very strong safeguards towards any possible derogations, such as detention of journalists, access to their computers and other materials. The derogations may be applied but only under very strict circumstances and cannot lead to disclosing the journalists' sources," RSF's Majerczak told RFI. Under the EU Parliament's version of the EMFA, surveillance or the use of spyware is admissible as a last resort, when journalists are involved in "serious crimes" such as terrorism or human trafficking for example. And, only after a judge gives clearance. "This is not enough. We want a total ban on using spyware against the press," says Carine Fouteau, journalist for the French online news outlet Mediapart and a member of its editorial board. "We want full protection of press independence and confidentiality of journalistic sources without any limitations". The text approved by the EU Council allows for surveillance of journalists in the name of national security. "Defence of national security must not be used as a blank check allowing for the surveillance of journalists and opening the way to all kinds of abuses," RSF's Majerczak continues. Cases of surveillance have been reported in Greece and Hungary using the Israeli Pegasus and Greek Predator spyware. The French exception France successfully introduced an exception allowing for the use of "intrusive surveillance software" for journalists in the name of national security, raising concerns. "We are not surprised by the position of France, Mediapart's Fouteau told RFI. "Under Emmanuel Macron's presidency, a number of journalists have been detained and interrogated by the intelligence service". She cites the case of Alex Jordanov, questioned in 2022 because his book allegedly revealed defence secrets. Mediapart's offices were searched in 2019 following articles on Alexandre Benalla, a former president security aide. Under President Francois Mitterand's presidency in the 1980s, Edwy Plenel, now Mediapart's director, was one of several journalists who were wiretapped. Meanwhile, on 3 October, President Macron launched a nationwide public consultation on information whose report is to be published in June 2024. It is a public discussion on the right to reliable information for all. "A perfect example of the French paradox. Something we've seen throughout our history," comments Alexis Levrier, media historian at Reims University. "We want to be the country of human rights but at the same time we sometimes err towards an authoritarian rule". Fouteau believes that this public consultation on information is just a publicity stunt. Fierce final round The three EU institutions now have to agree on a final text, but MEP Delbos-Corfield fears that it may be watered down. "However, the worst is never sure. We've seen that, on this sort of topic, we, Commission and Parliament together, do manage to resist some member states. But we only have a few months left," she says. Majerczak said that RSF intends to pressure France over its national security exemption. "It is not going to be easy to convince them that sources confidentiality is the backbone of press freedom. It goes beyond journalism. It is about democracy and the right to information for all of us," she added. Kennedy Agyapong, Member of Parliament for Assin Central and an aspiring flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has disclosed that he was shocked by a decision made by the party in the lead-up to the 2008 presidential election. Speaking on NEAT FM's political show, 'Me Man Nti,' Mr Agyapong revealed his surprise at the NPP's choice of a running mate for then-presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. According to Mr Agyapong, the NPP had initially deliberated and settled on an 'elderly Muslim,' specifically Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, as the running mate to complement Akufo-Addo's candidacy. He disclosed that he was in full support of the choice of running mate during engagement with some senior members of the party. Mr Agyapong revealed that just three days after the meeting in Ghana, he came across news publications featuring images of young Muslims as potential running mates for Akufo-Addo, with no mention of the proposed elderly candidate, Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula. He disclosed to the shows host, Adakabre Frimpong Manso that, "Just after the meeting, three days, when I was in Ghana, I saw publications, all the pictures I saw were young Muslims, and not a single elderly man among them. Based on the conversations in London we focused our attention on Alhaji M.N.D. Jawula, then all of a sudden the shock came. Germany needs qualified people. German Minister for Development, SPD, Svenja Schulze today informed us today (08.10.2023) in a party meeting in Hamburg, that the German government had signed a contract with Ghana not to accept nurses from Ghana as our government thinks Ghana itself has a shortage of medical staff and it would be unfair to accept their nurses or doctors. Such people could only enter Germany on different grounds like marriage or family reunion. When in Germany based on these grounds they are free even to pick up careers in the medical field. For other qualified professionals Germany is in need of the German JobCenter Arbeitsagentur has an office in Ghana. Location can be found by contacting the German Embassy in Accra. Minister for Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyemang Manu has stated that Ghana is positioning itself as a future local vaccine manufacturer. This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at a one-day meeting last Friday in Accra to discuss the successful transition to a vaccine manufacturer and self-financing of vaccines by 2030. According to him, the importance of having a transition roadmap to ensure financial sustainability would increase vaccine equity and access. The objective is to start manufacturing vaccines from 2025 and to manufacture 600 million doses of various vaccines a year, including vaccines for malaria, HPV, pneumonia, rotavirus and cholera, he said. The Minister commended the Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) for supporting approximately 80 per cent of the cost of vaccines and their delivery, including health systems over the years. With their support, Ghana has been implementing commendable high-quality preventive and reactive vaccination campaigns in response to public health emergencies, he said. On his part, Dr Kelechi Ohiri Chief, Strategy Policy and Innovation Officer at GAVI, commended Ghana for achieving a remarkable milestone in maintaining a solid programme for immunization. He underscored the need for Ghana to develop a clear transition plan that would ensure co-financing to avoid a shortage of vaccines. The Chairman of the meeting, Dr Anarfi Baah, stressed the need for financial mechanisms that are sustainable, reliable and recurrent. He also called for a transparent procurement system, motivated workforce and strategic communication that would tackle misinformation and disinformation to ensure a smooth transition. Ghana is due to transition out of GAVI support by 2030 in line with the Vaccine Alliance transition policy that aims to move countries from development assistance to domestic financing of immunization programmes. As per the model, Ghana entered accelerated transition in January 2022 and was expected to transition out of Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVIs) support in 2027. During this phase, the government is expected to increase its share of vaccine costs to 100% and become fully self-financing. However, under the revised policies approved in December 2022, Ghana will now stay in accelerated transition until 2029 and definitely must transition in January 2030. A delegation from the Briphildon Foundation, a registered non-governmental and humanitarian-based organisation, has paid a courtesy call on former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his family to commiserate with them following the death of former First Lady Theresa Kufuor. The team which visited the Kufuor family on Sunday, October 8, 2023, was led by its founder and the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Bright Philip Donkor. Other key executive members included Precious Aba Kwansma, Charles Commodore, Stanley Sitso Gbadegbe, and Ericson Novieku. Their visit was marked by a traditional display of condolence as they greeted members of the Kufuor family from right to left before entering the family's residence. Mr. Donkor conveyed his deepest sympathies and wished former President John Agyekum Kufuor strength and resilience during this difficult period. He also underscored the profound loss that the nation had suffered with the passing of the former First Lady. He described the late Mrs. Theresa Kufuor as a tireless advocate for the rights and welfare of women and children saying her departure is a significant loss for the causes she championed. Mr. Donkor further highlighted Mrs. Kufuors role as a unifying figure, referring to her as a mother for all who played an instrumental role in establishing President Kufuor as one of Ghana's distinguished leaders. Warm reception Welcoming the delegation, former President Kufuor inquired about the Briphildon Foundations mission and work, expressing his encouragement for their continued efforts. He offered constructive pieces of advice to the team on the need to continue with their pursuits. Kufuor further commended the organisations commitment to giving back to society and urged them to persevere in their noble endeavours. Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, the former Manhyia Member of Parliament and the brother of the former President, also inquired about the Foundation's mission and expressed his support for its objectives. He echoed the sentiment that charitable organisations like Briphildon Foundation play a vital role in society and extended his well wishes for their future initiatives. During their visit, the delegation exchanged pleasantries with the Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central Constituency, Patrick Yaw Boamah. The issue that took centre stage was how best the Foundation could collaborate in terms of extending its philanthropic deeds to the area to strengthen the bonds of goodwill and support within the Ghanaian community. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Savannah Region has accused the opposition National Democratic Congresss (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, of undermining the countrys democracy. This comes on the back of comments made by the former president expressing his disappointment over the abandonment of the Buipe Shea processing factory by the current NPP administration, which he noted had rendered most of the youth who were employed in the factory unemployed. Mr Mahama stressed that the government cannot focus on its 1D1F project when the factories it inherited had been abandoned. He called on the government to recapitalise the factory to enable the people of the area find employment. Mr Mahama, however, indicated that if the current government should fail to recapitalise the factory, if elected as President in 2024, he would ensure that it is one of the things that receives his attention. Mr Mahama had touted his achievements of two senior high schools, a hospital at Buipe, the asphalting of the Buipe-Tamale, among others. As his achievements. But reacting to Mr Mahamas comments in a statement signed by Secretary Mohammed Issah, the NPP's Savannah arm stated that Mr John Mahama and the NDC do not offer any credible alternative to the governing New Patriotic Party." John Mahama and the NDC are simply feeding on sentiments, emotional blackmail, mind games and deceit without concrete deliverables apart from the usual Cock & Bull secured funding rhetoric, the Savannah Regional NPP intimated. According to the party, the former President once again missed the glorious opportunity to demonstrate allegiance to the Kingdom but turned it into a campaign ground by creating erroneous impressions while pontificating blatant and deliberate distortions about developments in the Buipe Traditional Area. In what it referred to as, setting the records straight, the party indicated: The Mpaha Community Senior High School was 40% complete in 2017. It was completed in 2018 and admitted its first students that same year". Today, two [2] more big dormetaries have been built for the school to accommodate boarding students. Never mind that this [Mpaha SHS] and the other E-Blocks were an Atta Mills project and not John Mahama. Facts are sacred. On the Buipe accident and emergency centre, the Savannah Regional NPP noted that the facility, whose construction commenced in 2018, is one of six medical installations for which the Government secured an 80-million-euro facility from Raiffeisen Bank of Austria. The hospital, together with five others in Somanya, Sawla, Bamboi, Tolon, and Ketu North, was constructed by Vamed Engineering GmbH of Austria. Also, it noted that the Ntereso water plant was constructed without any distribution lines, but rather standpipes at Fufulso-Damongo Junction 4, Ntereso 2, Nyawuripe 1". At the time the NDC left office in 2017, the said plant had been destroyed by flood, and the floating pump was completely destroyed. The facility equally owed NEDCO over 1 million Ghana cedis in electricity bills." It continued that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led government installed hybrid pumps, constructed solar power plant for the facility, constructed over 10 km of transmition lines to Yapei, constructed 14 km distribution lines and provided 10 standpipes within Yapei Township. High level Concrate tank with a capacity 450 cubic Liters of storage was added. This feat cannot be attributed to a man whose only legacy for his own people continue to be securing funding. It indicated that while in office, Mr Mahama, did not complete a single hospital for the entire 8 years he was in government, while Nana Addo and Bawumia, in less than seven years, have started and -classfmonline.com Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has called on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to work with his ministry to address the recent invasion of UTV studios and stop criticising its statement. The GJA issued a statement expressing disappointment in the minister's handling of the UTV incident in comparison to similar attacks on journalists in the past. Minister Oppong Nkrumah defended his ministry's handling of the situation, noting that reports from various statements issued have been accurate and consistent. He said the GJA did not do proper fact-checking before making such allegations. Contrary to the claim that we described the incidents differently, if the GJA secretary had taken time to read the 4 statements issued so far he would have realized that we never labeled any incident. We shared with the public the report we received. Where we received reports of assault we said so. Where we received reports of attacks we said so. Where we received a report of alleged unauthorized entry we said so. We have not been the ones to label any incident. So the GJA goofed on that. Secondly contrary to the claim that we did not call the presenter like we did in other incidents, if the GJA secretary had bothered to check, he would have realized that even the Presenter acknowledged on air that I as Minister personally called her to enquire if she and guests were harmed in anyway and to offer our support. How could the GJA make such statement without checking the basic facts? he quizzed. One of the fundamental principles of journalism is to ensure the accuracy of every event reported. To date, no executive from the GJA has reached out to me to inquire about what actually transpired before issuing their statement, the Minister added. While acknowledging that he personally contacted the police and UTV presenter about the incident, Oppong Nkrumah urged the GJA to collaborate instead of accusing it wrongly. The GJA should also remember that it was actually me as Minister who called the IGP to make a report and ask for Police to intervene. The GJA should be collaborating with us to solve the problem instead of seeking to score points by attacking us, he said. The police have since arrested 16 people in connection with the unauthorized invasion of the media house, while the investigation continues. Ghana is developing a rescue plan to address priority areas of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly poverty and inequality reduction. Ghana's proactive steps align with a global trend as more countries are developing rescue proposals worldwide. On a global scale, the progress towards achieving the SDG targets has been less than satisfactory, with only 12% of these objectives currently on track. This lag is attributed to a myriad of challenges, including the adverse impacts of climate change, ongoing conflicts, economic downturns, and the far-reaching consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. To tackle this issue head-on, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) organised a stakeholder meeting to deliberate on strategies for advancing the SDGs within the Ghanaian context. To streamline the efforts, a task team was appointed to draft a comprehensive plan with a sharp focus on five priority SDG areas that have the potential to expedite progress. The Director-General of NDPC, Dr. Kodjo Mensah-Abrampa, emphasised the significance of shifting attention to the real implementation phase of the SDGs. Dr Abrampa stated that Ghana's overarching aim was to garner the support of policymakers, encouraging them to wholeheartedly commit to the realisation of the five priority SDG targets. These mutually reinforcing objectives, once attained, have the potential to catalyze broader sustainable development throughout the nation, he added. Dr Abrampa acknowledged the slow pace of progress in the past, despite a clear understanding of where the focus should lie, stressing that the time has now come to address the "how" to effectively execute the SDG rescue plan. The five priority areas include target 16.6, which focuses on developing effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, target 8.5, which focuses on achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including persons with disabilities and equal pay for work of equal value by 2030 and target 7.3, which focuses on doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. Others include target 6.2, which focuses on achieving access to adequate equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and ending open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations as well as target 4.1, which focuses on ensuring that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes by 2030. The United Nations is poised to compile these initiatives to create a comprehensive global SDG recovery strategy that can unite nations in their commitment to achieving these critical sustainable development goals. The Chiefs and People of Klikor Traditional Area in the Ketu South Municipality have called on authorities, especially the Municipal Assembly, to make the ban on sand winning for export permanent. There is currently a temporary ban on commercial sand winning across the Municipality to allow for investigations into concerns raised by a youth group, Concerned Citizens of Klikor, regarding sand winning and its attendant health, environmental and security challenges to residents. The group some weeks ago, petitioned Ghana's Minerals Commission asking it to move to stop the winning of sand in the area for export into neighbouring Togo, noting that the act, which had taken major proportion of the area's agricultural lands at Kpoglu, Bodzakope, Dzogbenu, Tsivoli, Akato and Lotakor for the past four years, was recently being extended to new communities including Satsimadza-Glidzi Junction and AME Junction-Sovie. In the petition which had 85 signatories, the Klikor youth suspected that individuals in powerful places were behind the nefarious act claiming, they use heavy-duty earth moving equipment to collect the sand under heavy police protection and transport same to Togo making about 500 trips daily. They were concerned that the current sites of operation by these contractors could serve as safe grounds to relocate to in times of disaster such as floods, currently affecting residents of the Satsimadza suburbs. The Ghana News Agency's (GNA) visit to communities along Kpoglu-Klikor stretch confirmed the concerns of the residents as there were evidence of farmlands that had been mined and degraded and with pits created as a result, left to collect rainwater. The visit, however, showed no steps being taken to restore the mined land to its approximate original form to save the environment, enrich the land and turn it (the non-arable land) into an agrarian land for food production. An elderly man in one of the communities who would not disclose his identity to the GNA suspected that illegal sand winning which he termed as sand galamsey was contributing to the flooding situation currently being experienced in Agbozume of Some Traditional Area and in parts of Klikor Traditional Area. He said: Agbozume, parts of Klikor are submerged because of these illegal activities. You'll see that they dug pits right under people's homes for the sand. Houses are hanging. We're dying. We call on the government for an end to this. Torgbui Akpalu Agbali II, Dufia of Glidzi who recounted an encounter with sand winners said it was not enough to temporarily ban sand winning for export, but it must be made permanent to save the area from being further destroyed. Some unknown men came into my land at Alagashito-Dzogbeto and used a day to excavate large volumes of sand without any recourse to me. When we got there, we realised they were all Togo-registered trucks collecting sand. Communities along Glidzi Junction-Agbozume Police Junction were the recent targets. These are Klikor lands and for anyone to connive with foreign trucks to collect sand and export same beats our imagination. Our farmlands have been taken and so are lands for buildings. Besides, water now spills from pits left to collect rainwater and that is contributing to the flooding were experiencing. Government must act to put an end to this illegality, he said. GNA Former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Cecilia Dapaah has filed a lawsuit against the Multimedia Group at the High Court over several publications by the media house which she says defamed her through inference, according to her lawyer Victoria Barth. The publications claimed the Office of the Special Prosecutor had disclosed specific amounts of money found in Mrs Dapaah's bank accounts, including $5 million and GHC48 million. However, the former Ministers lawyers stated in the suit document filed on September 29 that "Not only had the Office of the Special Prosecutor not disclosed any amounts found in her accounts, but the assertion that the Plaintiffs accounts contain $5m and GHC48m is false." Ms. Dapaah is seeking "a retraction and apology by Multimedia Group and its news outlets with the same means, coverage, and prominence with which the defamatory publications were published." She is also demanding "general damages for the injury to her reputation," "exemplary damages for the reckless and malicious reportage," and "an order of perpetual injunction restraining Multimedia Group and its news outlets from publishing any further defamatory material." The lawsuit, according to the Ministers counsel, comes after the media house failed to apologize and retract even after the Office of the Special Prosecutor had denied the context of the publication since August 11. Social activist Kwame Asare Obeng popularly known as Kwame A-plus has condemned the recent invasion of the studios of the United Television by some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) last Saturday. A-plus described the incident as unwarranted and uncalled for. The outspoken panelist said it is worrying that certain NPP supporters used violent means to respond to his criticisms of the government but were afraid to touch Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central, who frequently insults and criticizes the party members including the president. Accepting without admitting, why havent they gone to attack Kennedy Agyapong, is Kennedy Agyapong not a member of their party? Is he, not the same person who threatened the president and the vice president to give them a showdown? I will never insult Nana Akufo-Addo and I know he knows it, what they dont know is criticizing people and insulting people, Kwame A- plus stated in an interview on GH One TV. Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, has expressed concern over the increasing number of churches being established across the country, juxtaposed with the pressing issue of youth unemployment. Speaking at the 2023 Yam Festival of the Asogli State and the 20th-anniversary celebration of his enthronement, held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, Togbe Afede XIV emphasised the need for job creation and the potential societal consequences of an excess of places of worship without corresponding economic development. Togbe Afede XIV stressed on the critical importance of job opportunities for the Ghanaian youth. He questioned the proliferation of churches, stating that it should be accompanied by socio-economic and national development to address the unemployment crisis. Togbe Afede XIV said: People now convert factory premises into churches. We have become more believing than those who brought Christianity and religion to us. Those have been part of our downfall, and as chiefs, let us remember that no success can be achieved except through hard work. The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State also criticised the powers vested in the President by the 1992 Constitution, stating that it hinders efforts to combat corruption, transparency, and accountability in national affairs. He, therefore, called for a comprehensive review of the constitution to introduce necessary checks and balances and curtail excessive powers, emphasising that without such amendments, significant national development would remain elusive. The Dormahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who served as the special guest of honour at the event, encouraged fellow chiefs to continue speaking out against societal issues. He stressed that such actions would hold public officials accountable and ensure that the nation's resources benefit all citizens. -classfmonline Kennedy Agyapong 09.10.2023 LISTEN Kennedy Agyapong, one of the flagbearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has issued a stern warning to the Central Regional executives and Chairman, Mr Robert Kutin Jnr. Mr Agyapong vowed to deal with them if Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia win in the region he has supported with his resources. During an interview on Neat FM's "Me Man Nti" program, Agyapong did not mince words as he challenged the Central Regional executives. He stated, "If they fool, they will see what I'll do." Mr Agyapong, who is also the Member of Parliament for Assin Central in the Central Region, expressed his determination to prove that Chairman Kutin is a "nobody." He warns the regional executives and Chairman Kutin, asserting that if Dr. Bawumia wins in the Central Region, they will face the consequences in the 2024 elections. "I am daring Chairman Kutin and the Regional executives; if they're men, they should try and see what will happen. I'll give them a showdown..." Agyapong boldly declared. The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has reacted to the Ghana Journalists Association's (GJA) criticism of his statement regarding the recent assault on United Television (UTV) in Accra. Mr Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that his ministry has consistently condemned attacks on media houses and journalists by individuals, political parties and organisations. His remarks were made in light of the GJA's disappointment with his initial statement, which they believed lacked decisiveness in denouncing the attack on UTV. In a statement signed by Kofi Yeboah, the General Secretary of GJA, it was noted that the Minister's response did not directly denounce the attack. The GJA also pointed out the difference in the Minister's handling of the UTV incident compared to a previous incident where a journalist at Dagbon FM was assaulted by an NDC activist. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah defended his position during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show, stating that the allegations by the GJA were unfounded. The Minister reiterated that the ministry's condemnation of such attacks aligns with their consistent response to previous incidents involving media houses and journalists. He stated, My view is that I think we have been consistent, we dont need to break ranks, we need to put the attention where attention needs to be put [and] that is prosecution and the courts, that we stand together with them and we use them to ensure that there is deterrence." Former United States President, Donald Trump has strongly condemned the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel, describing them as acts of savagery that demand a forceful response. During a presidential rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Trump criticised his political rival, President Joe Biden, for what he described as weak leadership. In his address to the crowd, Trump expressed his unwavering support for Israel and vowed to cut off funding to Palestinian terrorists on his first day should he be re-elected. "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," Trump declared. He added, "As president, I will once again stand with Israel, and we will cut off the money to Palestinian terrorists on day one." Trump later reiterated his criticism of President Biden, asserting that the Israeli attack was a result of the perception that the United States is weak and ineffective under current leadership. "The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader," Trump stated during another rally in Waterloo, Iowa. He emphasised the severity of the situation, referencing the several casualty resulting from the attacks. Over 300 people were reported dead and 1,590 injured in the first 24 hours of the conflict. "This is our 9/11," Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said in a Fox News interview. "Babies, women, the elderly were dragged outside of their homes and were taken hostage." Erdan pledged that those responsible for the attacks would pay a heavy price and learn that such atrocities against civilians cannot be committed with impunity. Hamas militants launched a coordinated attack on Israel, using land, air, and sea forces, leading to widespread destruction and casualties. Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel, causing air raid sirens to blare in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The situation has resulted in broken border fences, immobilised tanks, the reported taking of hostages, and airstrikes targeting residential buildings. The loss of civilian lives has drawn condemnation from leaders worldwide, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the country is at war. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12606613/Trump-calls-Hamas-CRUSHED-act-savagery-Israel-blames-weak-Biden-emboldening-terrorists-rousing-Iowa-rally.html#v-6694215126792555055 The Teshie Nungua Magistrate Court presided over by H/H Bianca Adwoa Osei Sarfo has remanded into police custody a notorious land guard Adayoro Patrick Tettey, also known as Kofi Soldier for the offences of attempt to commit murder, use of offensive weapon and possession of ammunition without an authority. The incident in question dated August 22, 2023 happened at Teshie in the Greater Accra Greater during the celebration of the Teshie Homowo Festival when the accused Kofi Soldier deliberately and unlawfully shot Eric Adjetey Sowah with a pistol, causing harm to him. The victim, Eric Adjetey Sowah, a farmer and a resident of Teshie reportedly received several threats from the landguard and his accomplices who are currently at large. On the said day about 7:30am, the notorious land guard pulled a pistol in the full glare of the public and shot his victim on the hip. The Teshie Homowo festival, known for its vibrant cultural displays and joyful gatherings, took a dark turn when Kofi Soldier and his gang descended upon the celebrants. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with festival-goers fleeing for their lives amid gunshots. Our sources have revealed that Kofi Soldier, who is also wanted by the National Operations Department of the Ghana Police Service, fled from Accra to seek refuge in Atimpoku, in the Eastern Region. Determined law enforcement officers, working tirelessly to bring him to justice, conducted extensive investigations that led to his arrest. During Kofi Soldier's arrest, the police retrieved crucial evidence. Among the items recovered were one round of GR 32 AAA live ammunition, suggesting a continued threat to public safety, and a camouflage jacket believed to have been worn during the heinous act. Kofi Soldier has been remanded into police custody and is scheduled to appear before the Teshie Nungua Magistrate Court on the 23rd of October, 2023. This development underscores the commitment of the Ghanaian legal system and law enforcement agencies in addressing land-related disputes and criminal activities that endanger the lives and security of citizens. The case has generated significant public interest and serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilant policing and the enforcement of the rule of law to maintain peace and order in communities. 09.10.2023 LISTEN Africa Centre for Tax Policy Research (ACTOR) is calling on the government to scrap taxes on dialysis consumables. The Centre bemoans that the additional expenses on the importation of dialysis consumables are usually transferred to patients at higher prices. In a statement issued on October 4, ACTOR said that currently, dialysis consumable items such as dialyzers, introducer needles, AV fistula needles, blood tubing sets, transducer protectors, single-lumen hemodialysis catheters, double-lumen hemodialysis catheters, and triple lumen hemodialysis catheters incur a minimum of 5% import duty and taxes under the First Schedule of the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891), as amended, classified under the HS Code heading 90.18. ACTOR said that the added expenses due to these taxes are often transferred to patients in the form of higher prices. The center firmly believes that these consumables should be exempt from all taxes and levies to make dialysis treatment more affordable for all individuals suffering from kidney malfunction. ACTOR further entreated the Ministry of Finance to submit proposals for the amendment of the Customs Act and any other relevant legislation that imposes charges on dialysis consumables. Considering this, ACTOR urges the Ministry of Finance to promptly submit proposals for the amendment of the Customs Act and any other relevant legislation that imposes charges on this essential commodity. There is a growing public concern among Ghanaians over the new dialysis fee for renal patients. -citinewsroom Chairman of the Board of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr David Nkansah, has called on Parliament to expedite the process of legalising organ harvesting and transplanting within the country. Dr Nkansah stressed that such a move could potentially save the lives of thousands of Ghanaians who are in dire need of organ transplants. The Chairman of the Board of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital made the appeal during the launch of the hospital's centenary anniversary celebrations in Accra on Monday, 9 October 2023. He emphasised the critical importance of parliamentary support for the hospitals mission to attain international recognition as a healthcare institution known for providing urgent health interventions within the West African sub-region. We are, therefore, calling on parliament and other relevant agencies to support the drafting and passage of legislation concerning tissue donation, organ harvesting, and organ storage. These laws can be instrumental in saving the lives of numerous sick Ghanaians who require organ transplants, Dr Nkansah stated. He also indicated the hospital's aspiration to transform into a hub for medical tourism, with the ultimate aim of achieving universal health coverage. He suggested that corporate entities could play a pivotal role in this endeavor by adopting specific hospital wards for renovation, thereby contributing significantly to the enhancement of the hospital's infrastructure. -classfmonline The Reverend Mrs. Barbra Asempa, an Attached Minister at the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Victory Congregation, Ashaiman North District, has reminded Christians that Gods blessings have conditions. Rev. Mrs. Asempa said biblically that anytime God gave a promise, there was a condition attached to it. She said this when she was preaching on the topic Producing Fruit during her send-off service at the Redemption Congregation, PCG, Tema Community Nine. She stated that to be fruitful, Christians must obey the rules and work hard. She stressed that you cant get the blessings of God without working for them; this is a biblical truth that Christians must stick to. According to her, Christians must not only jump and claim blessings without working hard to get them fulfilled. Rev. Mrs. Asempa emphasized that there was no shortcut or compromise to blessings; Christians must be focused on the work just as Paul did. She encouraged Christians to reach out to more people and make them disciples of God, observing that it was worrying that many bore Christian names but did not know Christ due to the inability of Christians to minister to them. GNA 09.10.2023 LISTEN The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources in collaboration with the World Bank Supervisory Team will embark on a monitoring visit to the ongoing Greater Accra Metropolitan Are (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project from today, October 9 to October 13, 2023. The USD 125 Million Project is a sequel to the parent GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, which was successfully implemented in Accra and completed in December 2020, exceeding most of the project targets. The four-year project, which was launched in November 2921, has been implemented for 22 months and the objective of the monitoring/mission is to review the status of implementation of all components of the project to ensure all activities are on track to be completed by the project closing date of December 2024. This was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry and said the components of the project include the provision of environmental sanitation services to priority low-income areas of the GAMA and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA) USD 40.95 million. This helped in increasing access to sanitation services in priority low-income areas; supporting the provision of 42,000 household toilets and 150 school/healthcare sanitation facilities. The statement said the second component comprised expansion of the water distribution network in the GAMA and GKMA, and improvement in operational efficiency USD 54.75 Million. It supported the expansion of water distribution network in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Areas to provide piped water to an estimated 150,000 people living in low-income urban communities. About 120 km of pipeline will be laid and 5,000 new households will be connected to Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) water system, it stated. The third component involved planning, improvement, and expansion of environmental sanitation services USD 16 Million. It supported the improvement of sanitation services, including wastewater and septic sludge management investments, planning of liquid waste management and drainage as well as investment in biodigester sludge processing plants, the statement said. It stated that the fourth component catered for project management and institutional strengthening USD 13.3 Million. The statement said it supported in institutional strengthening, providing technical assistance to metropolitan, municipal, and national institutions, promoting Behaviour Change Communication Campaigns to GKMA metropolitan, Municipal Assemblies and Schools. It further supported in consultations and workshops, project management, monitoring and evaluation as well as promoting private sector initiatives in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The statement said the total cost of the four-year project, which became effective in 2021 with full funding and technical assistance from the World Bank, was US$125 million. It stated the status of project implementation as household toilets completed 26,720, institutional (schools and healthcare) toilets completed 103, household water connections 5,000 direct household connections, and rehabilitation of Asafo Sewerage Plant ongoing. The rest were; the treatment of biodigester sludge processes for construction of plant on-going, review of National Environmental Sanitation Policy ongoing, development of Ghana WASH Sector Development Plan completed and launched, and hygiene promotion, capacity building and training activities ongoing. The statement announced that the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Dr. Freda Akosua Prempeh, with support from the World Bank Team, will commission 38 completed institutional sanitation facilities in eight municipalities in the GKMA as part of the monitoring. GNA The chairperson of the African Union (AU) expressed deep concern over the escalating tension between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza and southern Israel. In a statement from Addis Ababa, Moussa Faki Mahamat called on both sides to "put an end to military hostilities and return, without conditions, to the negotiating table." Faki Mahamat said the outbreak of fighting has had "grave consequences for the lives of Israeli and Palestinian civilians in particular, and for peace in the region, in general." In his statement, Faki Mahamat said "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." He urged the international community, especially major world powers, to "assume their responsibilities to impose peace and guarantee the rights of the two peoples." The AU chief "urgently appeals 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." His statement comes after Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas launched coordinated strikes against Israel on October 7, breaking through the border barrier and penetrating deep into southern Israeli towns. It was the largest militant operation within Israel since the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Israel responded with a major military operation dubbed "Iron Swords" aimed at rooting out militant cells. The intense fighting has so far caused dozens of civilian casualties on both sides. Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, Isaac Adongo has refuted the notion by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Ghanas economic woes have gotten better. Speaking at a joint press conference with the Ministry of Finance on Friday, October 6, the MFs Chief of Mission, Stephane Roudet said after a review of the programme with Ghana the countrys macroeconomic stability has improved. We also have the adjustment and fiscal position the Minister mentioned the numbers for June much better than the target. The external position, in general, is stronger, the currency has become much less volatile than what Ghana has experienced at the end of last year when it was a very challenging situation. So, clearly there is a turnaround, there is an improvement and signs of macroeconomic stability are now emerging, Stephane Roudet said. This the Minority in Parliament says is not the case. Addressing a press conference today, its spokesperson on Finance, Isaac Adongo said the available data makes it clear that the situation is worse today than it was last year. According to him, governments programme with the IMF appears more of a lobbyist activity where a public relations approach has been adopted to play with the emotions of Ghanaians. It has become necessary because it does appear to me that this IMF programme is not a programme that is targeted at doing the hard work to help the people of Ghana get out the difficulty that we are in. But it is one that for me appears to be more of a lobbyist activity, treated with kids gloves and a child who is not willing to take the bitter pill in order to heal faster and all that has been going on is basically playing with the emotions and the livelihoods of Ghanaians and using PR to foster that, Isaac Adongo said. Meanwhile, Ghana is expected to receive $600 million from the IMF in November as the second tranche of the $3 billion extended credit facility secured from the Fund. Democracy Hub, the organizers of the recently held OccupyJulorbiHouse protest has announced plans to hold another protest in December to demand President Akufo-Addo's resignation. The pressure group said the protests, themed #OccupyJulorbiHouse and #JustResign, are in response to "incompetence, lack of integrity, abuse of power, and greed" under Akufo-Addo's administration. "We are perturbed by high levels of unemployment among the youth; and economic mismanagement that has jeopardized the future of young people and pushed nearly a million Ghanaians into poverty," said Anita Shafa Musah, Director of Communications at Democracy Hub in a statement dated Monday, October 9. It added that the group is "further concerned about deteriorating press freedom, extra-judicial killings and the persecution of activists calling for democratic reforms." The protests will take place from December 1-31 at Jubilee House in Accra to call on President Akufo-Addo to "resign immediately or be impeached by Parliament," according to the statement. It stressed, "We demand the urgent prosecution of corrupt officials, including persons in the president's family and inner circle who have contributed to what has been described by a former cabinet Minister as a 'Friends, Family and Concubines Government.'" Democracy Hub said the protests will also advocate for constitutional reforms, noting "progressive Constitutional Reforms that will provide a better framework for social equity and economic justice for our people." The organization pledged to publish guidelines to ensure the protests are smooth and peaceful. The statement said Democracy Hub is "committed to upholding the principles of rule of law and constitutional accountability." Pastor Maxwell Kumi of Christ Embassy Church, Obuasi Mawuli who was the guest speaker of the Living Right Conference in an interaction with the media called on churches to intervene to stop the increasing attrition rate among teachers and nurses in Ghana. Experts are predicting a worrying future for Ghana in the wake of a high rate of migration of professional medical practitioners. Nurses and doctors have been abandoning the country for developed countries for better working conditions. Early this year, it is estimated that a little over 16,000 Ghanaian teachers applied to the Department of Education in the UK for employment and by June 13, 2023, 10,000 of the applicants with Ghana Teacher Licenses had been certified to work in the UK without any further assessment (qualified teacher status test) by the UK government. The situation according to Pastor Kumi was worrying and called on religious leaders to speak against the phenomenon and advised government to put in measures which would encourage trained professionals to stay and work in the country. "Ghana is a beautiful country with beautiful laws. It is rather unfortunate that some of us are running away to countries whose laws encourage all forms of homosexuality and polygamy contrary to what the Bible teaches us," he stated. He seized the opportunity to advise the youth to remain steadfast in the Lord by obeying the teachings of the Bible while they strive to pursue academic excellence. The participants who attended the program, mostly drawn from first and second-cycle institutions in Obuasi lauded Girls Shall Grow for their efforts in empowering the girl child over the years. 09.10.2023 LISTEN Officials from the Northern Electricity Distribution Company of Ghana (NEDCo) clashed with the irate youth of Wanchiki in the Chereponi district of the North East Region on Monday, October 9, during a disconnection exercise. The youth claimed that they had not been adequately informed about the impending disconnection and respectfully requested the supervisor to grant them a two-day grace period to settle their outstanding bills. However, to their dismay, the officials declined the request and directed their team to proceed with the disconnection. The youth were incensed by this decision and confronted the NEDCo team, eventually forcing them to leave the community. Frustrated by the turn of events, the NEDCo team returned to Chereponi and disconnected the electricity in the entire Wanchiki area, regrettably affecting even those residents who had paid their bills on time. -citinewsroom Catholic Relief Services (CRS) recently organized a two-day training program on the Prevention of Violent Extremism/Terrorism (PVET) for selected journalists in Accra. The training, which took place from October 5 to October 6 at the Mensvic Grand Hotel, aimed to equip journalists with the necessary skills to responsibly report on PVET issues in the country. During the training, journalists were urged to uphold their ethical values and exercise caution in their reportage. They were specifically advised to carefully select panelists for talk shows, ensuring they avoid inciteful comments that could potentially lead to violence in the country. The CRS emphasized that media spaces often contribute to the spread of violent extremism, particularly due to the absence of proper regulations. Colonel Felix Korbieh Esq, speaking on the legal foundations of violent extremism and terrorism, emphasized the importance of properly defining terrorism and related activities. He highlighted that for an offence to be deemed as a crime, it must be against an existing law. Colonel Korbieh referred to the UNSCR 1373(2001), which urges countries to define and criminalize terrorism, emphasizing that terrorism is a global threat. Madam Irene Elorm Hatsu Fierbor, e-learning Project Lead at KAIPTC, addressed the role of media in violent extremism and terrorism. She pointed out that extremists often rely on media channels, particularly social media, for recruitment due to its cost-effectiveness and wide reach. Madam Hatsu Fierbor stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration among media practitioners to facilitate fact-checking, prevent the spread of fear and panic, and promote accurate reporting. She also urged the media to educate the public extensively about violent extremism and its far-reaching effects in order to prevent its occurrence in the country. The facilitator highlighted the role of gender in violent extremism and terrorism, dispelling popular stereotypes. Contrary to common belief, women can be both victims and perpetrators, while men are sometimes victims. The facilitator cited the infamous Nairobi Westgate Mall attack, which claimed numerous lives, including that of Ghana's Professor Kofi Awoonor, and was believed to have been led by a white widow. However, the facilitator acknowledged that women can also play a crucial role as peacebuilders in resolving such cases. Commander Odoi Narh, Acting Director of Strategic Intelligence EU and NATO Desk Officer, emphasized the media's responsibility to raise awareness and exercise caution in their operations to avoid inciting extremist activities. He highlighted the media's unfortunate role as a source of information for extremists, who are often empty on their own. Commander Narh urged the media to shape public opinion in a positive manner, promoting effective dialogue and engaging with bodies such as the intelligence force, whose work aligns with that of the media. He emphasized the need for unbiased reporting, respect for diverse voices, conflict sensitivity, and balanced reporting. The training program provided journalists with valuable insights and tools to counter misinformation and uphold professionalism in their reporting on PVET issues. The Accra Circuit Court Four has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a civil servant who allegedly took GHC100,000.00 from a businessman under the pretext of securing him a road contract. Mercy Lillian Danquah, 38, failed to appear before the Court when summoned hence the arrest warrant. When arrested, she would be brought before the Court on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Inspector Wisdom Alorwu giving the facts said Mr Bright Asante-Appiah, the complainant, was a businessman and resident of East Legon whilst Mercy Lilian Danquah, the accused person, was a civil servant residing at Batsona. He said in May 2021, the complainant approached Renaissance African Group to assist him fund his projects. During the deliberation it was detected that he was below their minimum funding requirement and needed an additional contract to meet the minimum funding. Inspector Alorwu said Renaissance African Group, therefore, introduced the complainant to the accused person at the Octagon Towers, who described herself as the in charge at the Ghana Mining Sector Road Rehabilitation Secretariat and that she could assist him secure a Cocoa Road contract of USD10 million. The prosecution said the accused then demanded and collected GHC100,000.00 as a contract fee under the pretext of securing the complainant with the contract in September 2021. The Court heard that the accused person after receiving the money failed on her promise and kept giving excuses to the complainant. He said on July 31, 2022, a complaint was lodged at the Adabraka Police station and the accused was subsequently arrested. During investigation the accused person admitted having received the said amount from the complainant but stated that the money was paid to facilitate the establishment of the said Ghana Mining Sector Road Rehabilitation Secretariat as a new office to secure the contract for him. Inspector Alorwu said investigation established that there was no such Secretariat under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources as alleged by the accused person neither was it registered at the Registrar General. The accused, the prosecution said, requested for some time to refund the amount collected. Inspector Alorwu said on January 24, 2023, the accused refunded GHC 10,000.00 and same was being kept as exhibit. GNA 09.10.2023 LISTEN The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, in collaboration with the World Bank Supervisory Team, is embarking on a monitoring visit to the ongoing Greater Accra Metropolitan Area Sanitation and Water Project from Monday, October 9, to Friday, October 13. The USD 125 Million Project is a sequel to the parent GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, which was successfully implemented in Accra and completed in December 2020, exceeding most of the project targets. The four-year project, which was launched in November 2021, has been implemented for twenty-two months (22) and the objective of the planned monitoring/mission is to review the status of implementation of all components of the Project to ensure all activities are on track to be completed by the project closing date of December 2024. The components of the Project include the following: Component 1 - Provision of Environmental Sanitation Services to priority low-income areas of the GAMA and GKMA USD 40.95 million: Increasing access to sanitation services in priority low-income areas; MAINLY supporting the Provision of 42,000 household (HH) toilets and 150 school/healthcare Sanitation facilities. Component 2 - Expansion of the water distribution network in the GAMA and GKMA and Improvement in operational efficiency USD 54.75 Million: Support the expansion of water distribution network in the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Areas to provide piped water to an estimated 150,000 people living in low-income urban communities. About 120 km of pipeline will be laid and 5,000 new households will be connected to Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) water system. Component 3 - Planning, improvement, and expansion of environmental sanitation services USD 16 Million: Support the improvement of sanitation services, including wastewater and septic sludge management investments, planning of liquid waste management and drainage as well as investment in biodigester sludge processing plants. Component 4 - Project Management and Institutional Strengthening USD 13.3 Million: Institutional strengthening, providing technical assistance (TA) to metropolitan, municipal, and national institutions, promoting Behaviour Change Communication Campaigns (BCC) to GKMA MMAs and Schools, support consultations and workshops, project management, Monitoring and Evaluation as well as promoting Private Sector Initiatives in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The total cost of the four-year project, which became effective in 2021 with full funding and technical assistance from the World Bank, is US$125 million. Current status of project implementation: Household Toilets completed - 26,720. Institutional (Schools and Healthcare) Toilets completed 103. Household water connections 5,000 direct household connections Rehabilitation of Asafo Sewerage Plant - ongoing Treatment of Biodigester Sludge - Processes for construction of plant on-going Review of National Environmental Sanitation Policy ongoing Development of Ghana WASH Sector Development Plan completed and launched. Hygiene promotion, capacity building and training activities ongoing The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Dr. Freda Akosua Prempeh, with support from the World Bank Team, will commission thirty-eight (38) completed institutional sanitation facilities in eight municipalities in the GKMA as part of the monitoring. ASA Savings and Loans as part of its efforts to give back to society has supported the education of needy but brilliant students in the Bono Region. The Sunyani Area of ASA Savings and Loans through the move has given 19 brilliant but needy students in the Bono Region various amounts of money as financial support for their educational needs. The students were selected from communities such as Fiapre, Penkwase, Abesim, and Sunyani. Each student selected from the basic school level received an amount of GHS700 totalling GHS13,300. The Area Manager for ASA Savings and Loans in Sunyani, Mr. Isaac Agyapong after presenting the money to the parents of the selected students encouraged the brilliant beneficiaries to keep to their studies so they excel. Madam Emilia Boadi, one of the parents of the beneficiary students, was grateful to the company for such a kind gesture and thanked the company on behalf of the parents. A beneficiary student, Rachelle Oppong Pokuaa, on behalf of all beneficiaries, assured that they will make good use of the support. The Branch Manager, Mr. Charles Kweku Akpenor, said this forms part of the companys Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and emphasised the companys commitment to give back to society. The Area Manager added that education, healthcare, and women empowerment is the core concern of the company. Clashes have intensified in DR Congo's east where the national army has deployed in areas it was chased out of at the start of the year, the United Nations and local sources said Monday. After a six-month lull, fighting resumed this month between local armed groups and the M23 rebel movement in North Kivu province, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). At least 20 civilians have been killed and 30 more wounded since "the resurgence of violent clashes" in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), OCHA said. "More than 84,700 people had been forced to flee their homes," OCHA said, noting access to aid "remained greatly restrained" due to the "intensification of the fighting". Fighting is centred on areas where an East African force of several thousand deployed in early 2023, in theory to patrol a buffer zone between the armed groups. Kitshanga, a strategic town 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the provincial capital Goma, passed without a fight from East African military control last week to the M23 rebel group, which had chased the army out of the town last January. Residents and a military source on site told AFP by telephone that the rebels had since pulled out and "hundreds of FARDC" national army troops had entered Kitshanga. However, one local inhabitant said, "This evening, fighting resumed after the FARDC arrived." In New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said peacekeepers were "reinforcing their presence in Kitshanga in North Kivu province to protect civilians caught in clashes between the M23 and members of other armed groups." As a result of the fighting, "approximately 2,000 people have sought refuge within the UN mission base in Kitshanga, and 18,000 men, women and children have taken shelter just outside the base," Dujarric said. Further south at Kilolirwe, which had also come under M23 control last week, residents said army soldiers had arrived "on foot and with two jeeps" and distributed food to militiamen opposed to the M23. Witnesses said fighting was underway Monday afternoon. The army "respects the ceasefire", the spokesman for North Kivu's military governor, lieutenant-colonel Guillaume Ndjike, told AFP. The main armed groups operating in the province had met in Goma at the end of September and declared themselves ready to lay down arms. Within days, coordinated attacks were launched on villages in Masisi and Rutshuru territory. M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, have captured swathes of North Kivu, displacing more than a million people since re-emerging to launch an offensive in late 2021. Dozens of armed groups are active in eastern DRC, a legacy of regional wars that raged in the 1990s and 2000s. Commenters were fiercely divided about the utility of the top sheet. tiktok.com/@ericastolmandowdy, tiktok.com/@sejsejlija The "Scandinavian Sleep Method" has garnered millions of views on TikTok. It involves using two twin-sized duvets instead of one and airing them out in cold temperatures. Purveyors also advise getting rid of the top sheet which sparked a heated debate. Amid the arrival of chillier temperatures this autumn, TikTokers are going viral by sharing a cozy hack: the so-called "Scandinavian Sleep Method." The term refers to sleeping practices popularized in the region, namely using two comforters instead of one and letting your bedding air out in the cold. And while it's resonating with uninitiated American viewers, it's also sparked a heated debate about whether top sheets are necessary (which Scandanvians largely do without). In her video last week sporting the hashtag, the Swedish creator Cecilia Blomdahl whose bio notes she lives in a cabin on an island near the North Pole suggested hanging duvet inserts outside in the cold to let them air out, calling it a "great way to remove moisture and potential allergens." Her video received 1 million views. This embedded content is not available in your region. Blomdahl also said she doesn't bother using a top sheet, and "swears by" using two separate comforters for her and her partner (as opposed to one big blanket on the bed). This means no fighting for covers, she said in her viral video, and enables each to pick a duvet insert suited to their own temperature preferences. Non-Scandanavian commenters largely endorsed the sleeping lifestyle and advice. "As a German I gasp when American influencers say 'first thing in the morning I make my bed' like what!?!? You don't let it air out ." "*adds second duvet to the single bed I share with my cats*," another commenter joked. Other accounts have also recently posted about Scandinavian sleeping hacks, with some TikToks also garnering millions of views. An American named Erica Stolman Dowdy shared her "Scandinavian Sleep Method" process late last month, nabbing 6.2 million views and a mention by Whoopi Goldberg on "The View." Stolman Dowdy explained she was conducting a bedroom makeover after a recent trip to Denmark. Story continues She started by switching out her white sheets for pink linen, saying, "There are no sad beige houses in Copenhagen." Then, she removed her comforter and replaced it with two twin-sized duvets. "No top sheet," she continued. "Those things are absolutely useless getting rid of that." This last piece of advice sparked a heated debate in her comments. This embedded content is not available in your region. "I have to have a top sheet because if I get hot, I still want to be covered! The monsters will get me otherwise," one commenter argued. Another countered: "You lost me at no top sheet- just thinking about washing the comforters weekly is exhausting." All in all, top sheet advocates argued they were a stellar comforter alternative when it gets hot at night. They also said the top sheet serves as an extra barrier of fabric to keep comforters clean. Non-top-sheet users, however, reminded people that there are products designed to cover the duvet. "Are Americans confused about what duvet covers are?? We just wash it. Then pop it back on. It's not hard," one top commenter wrote. In a follow-up video, Stolman Dowdy echoed the same response. She said she was surprised that top sheets had become "the most controversial topic," adding that hers typically gets pushed to the bottom of the bed. To viewers concerned about hygiene, she said she also regularly washes her duvet covers. This isn't the first time that Scandinavian sleeping practices have divided TikTok. In February, a creator ignited another viral debate about Nordic parents leaving their babies outside in the cold to be able to sleep in public spaces. Read the original article on Insider 09.10.2023 LISTEN Koforidua Effiduase District Police Command is investigating the deaths of three technicians who suffocated in a reservoir at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) office in Koforidua in the Eastern region on Monday. The three, identified as Mr. Ashie, Octopus, and Jonathan, were among five technical experts hired by the PBC workshop to maintain the fuel reservoir at the COCOBOD office. It is unclear how the incident occurred, but two workers in an attempt to rescue one of the workers who entered the reservoir and suffocated also suffocated to death while trying to rescue their colleague. Two witnesses, who were colleagues of the victims and present at the scene, reported the incident to the authorities. A response team comprising officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Municipal Secretariat, Effiduase Police Command, Ghana Ambulance Service, and Ghana National Fire Service arrived at the scene to help extricate the bodies of the victims from the underground tank. The Deputy Municipal Director of NADMO for New Juaben North, Kankam Twumasi Daniel, confirmed the incident to Citi News and said that the police have begun their investigation. He added that the bodies have been taken to the St. Josephs Hospital Mortuary in Effiduase for preservation and autopsy. Around 11 oclock, NADMO received a call about an incident at PBC yard. So we had to rush there. When we got there, per our investigations, five gentlemen were contracted by the management of the facility to do some maintenance work on their reservoir tank containing fuel and unfortunately, three of them had drowned. So we had to call other departments, thus the Ghana Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, and Ambulance Service so that we could extricate the bodies from the tank. -citinewsroom Stakeholders in the cocoa value chain believe that highly hazardous pesticides pose grave dangers to cocoa farmers, their families and communities in Ghana and across West Africa. In Ghana, pesticides are used by most farmers to boost and increase production of food and crop yields. However, overuse and improper use of chemical pesticides are having adverse effects on the environment, human health, and social capital. In a communique to the media, both state and non-state actors agreed that though pesticide use boosts cocoa production in the short term, the persistent misuse of pesticides adversely pose a great risk to the health of farmers and the environment in the long term. The partners want government agencies and local authorities (MMDAs) to ensure that certified retailers sell only approved pesticides to cocoa farmers and all actors on the value chain go through routine medical check-ups to reduce the health-related risk associated with contact with pesticides in the agriculture sector. These unapproved pesticides contain active ingredients classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as highly hazardous due to the dangers they pose to human health and the environment. Effects Speaking at a multistakeholders conference on the theme: Human Rights and Environmental Issues of Pesticides Use in Cocoa Production Landscapes of Ghana, organised by Conservation Alliance International, SEND Ghana and INKOTA Network which brought together policy makers, academia, scientists and farmers to discuss how to address the consequences of over-dependence of some farmers on highly hazardous pesticides. Executive Director of Conservation Alliance, Dr Yaw Osei-Owusu said although pesticides helped farmers to produce safe, high-quality foods at reasonable prices, they have serious effects on human health and the environment. This is the only reason we cannot continue to overlook the continued dependence of pesticides, especially the unapproved ones, any longer, he said. Project coordinator for INKOTA Network, Juliane Bing mentioned that many of the pesticides being applied on farms in Ghana and other neighboring countries have been banned in the European Union because of their grave dangers to human health and the environment, yet they are still being exported from European countries to Africa. Pesticides such as chlorpyriphos, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid are used by cocoa farmers in Ghana and other West African cocoa growing countries to fight pests and disease on their plantations, why are they still being imported to Ghana and West Africa?" she quizzed. Natural Resource Manager for Conservation Alliance International, Raymond Owusu-Achiaw explained that the use of highly hazardous pesticides in cocoa production also damage soils, poison water bodies and destroy biodiversity. This can only be addressed with a collective effort of both state and non-state actors in Cocoa producing and consuming countries, he mentioned. Alternatives The Chair of the Ghana National Biodiversity Committee, Professor Alfred Oteng-Yeboah urged farmers to put a stop to the use of harmful pesticides no matter how effective they are in agricultural productivity. We have done a lot of tests and found out that some chemicals are persistent on the environment after they have been used, therefore, we must stop using them. The use of biological techniques was one of the most reliable ways to address the excessive use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture, particularly in the cocoa sector, he added. The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Kwaku Afriyie in a statement read on his behalf urged farmers to seek for more training, skills and knowledge in the usage and application of these pesticides. I think its time for CSOs to intensify their ongoing community education initiatives on the socioecological risks of using unapproved pesticides, he said. Country Director for Rainforest Alliance Ghana and Nigeria, Kwame Osei Boateng explained that the use of highly hazardous pesticides can be replaced by various alternative methods such as Integrated Pest Management, biopesticides and organic farming. My research indicated that farmers often have little or no information about the adverse impacts of highly hazardous pesticides or alternative methods, or the financial means to access the less hazardous alternatives or even reluctant to adopt improved methods of production and this is the time they need our help and support in terms of education, he said. Proposal The Stakeholders believe that the human and logistical capacity of agencies statutorily responsible for the enforcement of laws and regulations in respect of the production, importation, supply and use of pesticides in the country should be strengthened immediately. We want the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Research, Academia, and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) should be strengthened, they mentioned. The stakeholders believe that Government in collaboration with the private sector should invest more into alternative pest control methods such as Integrated Pest Management, biopesticides and agroecological approaches in order to enhance their availability and affordability. This may likely reduce the patronage of low cost unapproved and often highly hazardous pesticides on the local market, they added. BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. increased its holdings in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI Free Report) by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,803,000 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 93,320 shares during the period. iShares China Large-Cap ETF comprises 7.2% of BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda.s investment portfolio, making the stock its largest holding. BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. owned approximately 0.92% of iShares China Large-Cap ETF worth $49,024,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares China Large-Cap ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $30,000. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new stake in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 332.3% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,431 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 197.3% during the second quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 1,781 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,182 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 118.3% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,799 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 975 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares China Large-Cap ETF alerts: iShares China Large-Cap ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA FXI traded down $0.18 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $26.05. 8,756,434 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 32,426,088. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $27.31 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.84. The company has a market cap of $4.88 billion, a PE ratio of 9.27 and a beta of 0.44. iShares China Large-Cap ETF has a twelve month low of $20.87 and a twelve month high of $33.38. About iShares China Large-Cap ETF iShares China Large-Cap ETF (the Fund) is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the FTSE China 25 Index (the Underlying Index). The Funds portfolio of sectors include Financials, Telecommunication, Oil & gas, Technology and Consumer goods. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FXI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 20.5% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,628 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 959 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $549,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of PM. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.5% during the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 120,884 shares of the companys stock worth $11,801,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. First American Trust FSB acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the second quarter worth $248,000. Simplicity Solutions LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 7.8% during the second quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 81,092 shares of the companys stock worth $7,916,000 after purchasing an additional 5,859 shares during the last quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 9.1% during the second quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,380 shares of the companys stock worth $330,000 after purchasing an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Janney Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.6% during the second quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 93,406 shares of the companys stock worth $9,118,000 after purchasing an additional 555 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE PM traded down $0.54 during trading on Monday, hitting $91.63. The company had a trading volume of 526,047 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,233,021. The company has a market cap of $142.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.83, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $84.00 and a 52 week high of $105.62. The businesss 50-day moving average is $94.93 and its 200 day moving average is $95.63. Philip Morris International Increases Dividend Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.76 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.84% and a net margin of 11.63%. The firms revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.48 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be paid a dividend of $1.30 per share. This is an increase from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 26th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 100.58%. Analyst Ratings Changes PM has been the topic of several analyst reports. 22nd Century Group restated a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. Citigroup upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $109.00 to $117.00 in a report on Tuesday, June 20th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Monday, October 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, UBS Group reduced their target price on Philip Morris International from $116.00 to $112.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $109.92. Get Our Latest Stock Report on PM About Philip Morris International (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. Further Reading 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. Sylvamo (NYSE:SLVM Get Free Report) is one of 17 public companies in the Paper mills industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Sylvamo to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, dividends, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations and valuation. Dividends Sylvamo pays an annual dividend of $1.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.9%. Sylvamo pays out 17.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Paper mills companies pay a dividend yield of 3.8% and pay out 58.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Get Sylvamo alerts: Insider & Institutional Ownership 89.1% of Sylvamo shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.7% of shares of all Paper mills companies are owned by institutional investors. 0.3% of Sylvamo shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 5.5% of shares of all Paper mills companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Volatility and Risk Profitability Sylvamo has a beta of 1.05, indicating that its share price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sylvamos competitors have a beta of 1.31, indicating that their average share price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500. This table compares Sylvamo and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sylvamo 7.87% 55.02% 12.80% Sylvamo Competitors 7.59% 18.89% 6.66% Earnings and Valuation This table compares Sylvamo and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sylvamo $3.63 billion $118.00 million 6.15 Sylvamo Competitors $5.57 billion $686.61 million 29.23 Sylvamos competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Sylvamo. Sylvamo is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and target prices for Sylvamo and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sylvamo 0 1 1 0 2.50 Sylvamo Competitors 113 718 474 49 2.34 Sylvamo presently has a consensus price target of $52.50, suggesting a potential upside of 25.48%. As a group, Paper mills companies have a potential upside of 33.39%. Given Sylvamos competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Sylvamo has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Summary Sylvamo competitors beat Sylvamo on 8 of the 15 factors compared. Sylvamo Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sylvamo Corporation produces and markets uncoated freesheet, cutsize, offset paper, and pulp in Latin America, Europe, and North America. The company operates through Europe, Latin America, and North America segments. The Europe segment offers copy, tinted, and colored laser printing paper under REY Adagio and Pro-Design brands; and high-speed inkjet printing papers under the brand Jetstar; as well as produces uncoated freesheet papers. This segment also operates paper and pulp mill. The Latin America segment focuses on uncoated freesheet paper under Chamex, Chamequinho and Chambril brands, as well as produces HP papers. This segment also operates integrated mills and nonintegrated mills. The North America segment offers imaging, commercial printing, and converting papers, as well as uncoated papers under Hammermill, Springhill, Williamsburg, Accent, DRM and Postmark brand names. It distributes its products through a variety of channels, including merchants, e-commerce, agents, resellers, and paper distributors. The company was founded in 1898 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. Receive News & Ratings for Sylvamo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sylvamo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bell Bank lifted its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 20.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 2,414 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 403 shares during the period. Bell Banks holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $1,132,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Towerpoint Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Towerpoint Wealth LLC now owns 4,239 shares of the companys stock worth $1,988,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC lifted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1.4% during the second quarter. Pacific Sage Partners LLC now owns 1,591 shares of the companys stock valued at $746,000 after buying an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.4% in the first quarter. Oxler Private Wealth LLC now owns 6,050 shares of the companys stock worth $2,078,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 774 shares of the companys stock valued at $266,000 after acquiring an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IFG Advisors LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 3.8% in the second quarter. IFG Advisors LLC now owns 654 shares of the companys stock valued at $307,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 204,409 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $523.74, for a total transaction of $107,057,169.66. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 100,823,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $52,805,462,249.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 204,409 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at $52,805,462,249.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total value of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,586,004.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LLY has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $630.00 price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Monday. Bank of America lifted their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research note on Friday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $565.00 to $633.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a 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 given 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 target price of $538.65. Read Our Latest Report on LLY Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of LLY traded up $5.92 on Monday, reaching $571.14. 2,453,550 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,006,317. The firm has a market cap of $542.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 79.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $309.20 and a 12 month high of $601.84. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $542.00 and its 200-day moving average price is $463.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.87. Eli Lilly and Company (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, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates 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 quarterly revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.25 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current fiscal 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. 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. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (NYSE:HASI Get Free Report)s stock price was up 6.4% during trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $15.68 and last traded at $15.34. Approximately 654,043 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 48% from the average daily volume of 1,266,845 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.42. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts recently commented on HASI shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital in a report on Thursday. They set a sell rating on the stock. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital in a report on Thursday, August 17th. They issued a neutral rating and a $24.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital from $26.00 to $23.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Bank of America upgraded shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $27.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital from $49.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $37.75. Get Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on HASI Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Price Performance The companys fifty day moving average price is $22.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $24.88. The company has a market capitalization of $1.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.43, a PEG ratio of 0.72 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a quick ratio of 20.65, a current ratio of 20.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (NYSE:HASI Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.06. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital had a net margin of 19.94% and a return on equity of 10.20%. The company had revenue of $74.33 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $32.13 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.60 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. will post 1.96 EPS for the current year. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 11th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.395 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, October 3rd. This represents a $1.58 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.19%. Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capitals dividend payout ratio is presently 282.15%. Insider Activity at Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital In other news, CAO Charles Melko acquired 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 18th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $21.24 per share, with a total value of $42,480.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 22,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $479,238.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Charles Melko acquired 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 18th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $21.24 per share, with a total value of $42,480.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 22,563 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $479,238.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jeffrey Lipson bought 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The stock was bought at an average price of $21.09 per share, for a total transaction of $84,360.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,925 shares of the companys stock, valued at $778,748.25. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have bought 22,025 shares of company stock valued at $458,814 over the last three months. 2.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Portside Wealth Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital during the second quarter worth $448,000. California State Teachers Retirement System lifted its holdings in shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital by 14.6% during the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 126,705 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,168,000 after purchasing an additional 16,128 shares during the period. Resources Management Corp CT ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital by 497.3% during the second quarter. Resources Management Corp CT ADV now owns 7,388 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 6,151 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital during the second quarter worth $161,000. Finally, Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital by 24.6% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 144,550 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,614,000 after purchasing an additional 28,524 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.96% of the companys stock. About Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (Get Free Report) Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc provides capital and services to the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable infrastructure markets in the United States. The company's projects include building or facility that reduce energy usage or cost through the use of solar generation and energy storage or energy efficiency improvements, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), as well as lighting, energy controls, roofs, windows, building shells, and/or combined heat and power systems. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hannon Armstrong Sustainable Infrastructure Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Inc. ID lifted its position in shares of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL Free Report) by 13.5% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 124,360 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 14,775 shares during the quarter. Charles River Laboratories International accounts for approximately 1.7% of Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Inc. IDs portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Mountain Pacific Investment Advisers Inc. ID owned about 0.24% of Charles River Laboratories International worth $26,147,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Charles River Laboratories International during the first quarter worth about $25,000. Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Charles River Laboratories International during the first quarter worth about $30,000. Tsfg LLC grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 49.1% during the second quarter. Tsfg LLC now owns 158 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 52 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 100.0% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 174 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 87 shares during the period. Finally, HighMark Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Charles River Laboratories International in the first quarter valued at approximately $45,000. 98.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Charles River Laboratories International alerts: Insider Activity In other Charles River Laboratories International news, Director Richard F. Wallman purchased 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $198.79 per share, with a total value of $198,790.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 1,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $198,790. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, EVP Joseph W. Laplume sold 700 shares of Charles River Laboratories International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $216.52, for a total value of $151,564.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,983 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,409,319.16. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Richard F. Wallman acquired 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 24th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $198.79 per share, for a total transaction of $198,790.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 1,000 shares in the company, valued at $198,790. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 7,934 shares of company stock valued at $1,722,048. Company insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently commented on CRL shares. Citigroup lowered shares of Charles River Laboratories International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price target for the company from $260.00 to $225.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $245.00 to $230.00 in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $280.00 to $275.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 10th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Charles River Laboratories International in a research note on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles River Laboratories International currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $237.09. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Charles River Laboratories International Charles River Laboratories International Stock Down 0.2 % CRL stock traded down $0.34 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $193.12. 87,957 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 518,346. The company has a market capitalization of $9.90 billion, a PE ratio of 20.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has a twelve month low of $181.22 and a twelve month high of $262.00. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $203.07 and a 200 day simple moving average of $201.56. Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 9th. The medical research company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.63 by $0.06. Charles River Laboratories International had a net margin of 11.58% and a return on equity of 18.99%. The company had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.05 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.77 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. will post 10.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Charles River Laboratories International Company Profile (Free Report) Charles River Laboratories International, Inc, a non-clinical contract research organization, provides drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Solutions (Manufacturing). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles River Laboratories International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles River Laboratories International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 5.4% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 89,291 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 5,124 shares during the quarter. Pallas Capital Advisors LLCs holdings in TJX Companies were worth $7,599,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 79,610,111 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $6,238,248,000 after purchasing an additional 2,579,986 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 11.0% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 48,901,281 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $3,831,904,000 after purchasing an additional 4,862,540 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 88.1% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 26,619,778 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $2,118,935,000 after purchasing an additional 12,468,119 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 20,891,507 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $1,632,900,000 after purchasing an additional 209,152 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in TJX Companies by 90,089.8% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,788,543 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $1,575,168,000 after purchasing an additional 19,766,602 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.28% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other TJX Companies news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 45,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.04, for a total value of $4,006,800.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 642,098 shares in the company, valued at approximately $57,172,405.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 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, Chairman Carol Meyrowitz sold 64,817 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.13, for a total transaction of $5,906,773.21. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 135,050 shares in the company, valued at $12,307,106.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 114,014 shares of company stock worth $10,291,303 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. TJX Companies Trading Down 0.4 % TJX stock traded down $0.36 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $88.20. The company had a trading volume of 1,262,201 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,953,632. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.20 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The company has a market capitalization of $100.91 billion, a PE ratio of 25.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.89. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $89.21 and a 200 day moving average of $83.27. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $62.25 and a 12 month high of $93.78. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 16th. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $12.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.45 billion. TJX Companies had a net margin of 7.77% and a return on equity of 62.61%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.69 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 3.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. TJX Companies Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, November 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 9th will be paid a $0.3325 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 8th. This represents a $1.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.51%. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 39.00%. Analyst Ratings Changes TJX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $90.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 17th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $93.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. They set an overweight rating and a $110.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $104.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, TJX Companies currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.42. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on TJX Companies 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. Recommended Stories 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. University of Roehampton's Kochi Event: Shaping Future Leaders New Delhi [India] Published : October 7, 2023 The Meet and Greet event hosted by the University of Roehampton at Hotel Marriott in Kochi received an overwhelming response. The event featured Priya Prakash Varrier as the chief guest, who delivered a motivating talk to the students. One of the highlights of the event was Vidhi Mistry, the Associate Director of Business Development at Oxford International, who posed a crucial question to the attendees: "Are we future-ready?" She emphasized the ever-evolving corporate world and the necessity to keep pace with change. Vidhi stressed that skills currently in demand may not hold the same relevance in the future. In her enlightening speech, Vidhi discussed the top 10 key future skills that will be indispensable: Digital literacy, Data literacy, Critical thinking, Emotional intelligence, Creativity, Collaboration, Flexibility, Leadership skills, Time Management, and Understanding feedback. She provided in-depth insights into each skill, encouraging students to start working towards acquiring them. She cautioned against waiting until it's too late, as seizing future opportunities requires proactive preparation. The University of Roehampton (UoR) was showcased as a world-class educational institution committed to helping students achieve their full potential and secure their dream jobs. Comprising four colleges, each with its own values in teaching, research, and community engagement, UoR maintains a strong partnership with its diverse student body. The university fosters an inclusive environment where students are empowered to succeed, with a strong focus on well-being and personal growth. UoR offers an array of programs across six academic schools and faculties: a. Faculty of Business and Law b. School of Arts c. School of Education d. School of Humanities and Social Sciences e. School of Life and Health Sciences f. School of Psychology With a rich history spanning 180 years, the university's diverse community represents approximately 10,000 students from 145 countries, including 1,800 postgraduate students. This demographic makes UoR the third fastest-growing university globally. Offering over 85 postgraduate courses across various fields, UoR provides diverse options for career enhancement or further education. Its 54-acre parkland campus in south-west London offers excellent facilities and combines the benefits of a traditional university campus with the opportunities, culture, and nightlife of a global city. UoR is dedicated to assisting all students, regardless of their background, in developing the skills needed for a successful graduate career and a fulfilling life. The university places the student experience at the forefront of its mission, collaborating closely with students to ensure that their time at Roehampton is meaningful. Here, students have the chance to work with academic staff known for pioneering research. UoR believes that education goes beyond acquiring a degree; it's about broadening experiences, preparing for a chosen career, and forming lasting friendships. Students have numerous opportunities to get involved in various aspects of university life. For more information about the University of Roehampton, visit their website at Campus University | University of Roehampton Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions Harsh Dubey is a political commentator based in Raipur. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of the publication. Shekhar Iyer is former senior associate editor of Hindustan Times and political editor of Deccan Herald. Views are personal. you are here: Gali Nagaraja is a senior journalist, formerly associated with The Hindu, The Times of India, and Hindustan Times for over three decades. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Dinesh Unnikrishnan is Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday. Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years. The market failed to extend the momentum seen last week and wiped out all the previous two days' gains on October 9, especially after conflict escalated between Israeli and Palestine, which ultimately boosted oil prices in the international market. The Nifty50 has managed to defend 19,500-19,450 area amid volatility and selling pressure, which if it holds in coming sessions then the resumption of upward rally towards 19,600-19,800 will be seen again, whereas the crucial support for the index remains at 19,300 levels, experts said. The BSE Sensex declined 483 points to 65,512, while the Nifty50 climbed 141 points to 19,512 and formed bearish candlestick pattern with long upper and minor lower shadow on the daily scale. "On the daily charts, we can observe that the positive momentum from the previous week could not continue on Monday and the Nifty has witnessed a correction. We believe that the Nifty is in the process of retracing the rise it has witnessed from 19,333 19,676," said Jatin Gedia, technical research analyst at Sharekhan by BNP Paribas. On the way down, he feels the support is placed in the 19,500 - 19,460 zone, which coincides with the gap area formed on October 5 and the 61.82 percent Fibonacci retracement level. The Nifty is likely to resume its next leg of up move from the support zone and hence in case of a gap down opening or a dip it should be used as a buying opportunity, he advised. On the broader markets front, the Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 indices were down 1.3 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively, on weak breadth, while the volatility index, India VIX jumped sharply by 12.11 percent to 11.40 levels, giving discomfort for bulls. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks are the aggregates of three-month data and not just the current month. Key support and resistance levels on Nifty The pivot point calculator indicates that the Nifty may be taking support at 19,486, followed by 19,460 and 19,419. On the higher side, 19,569 can be an immediate resistance, followed by 19,594 and 19,636. Nifty Bank On October 9, the Bank Nifty opened with around 300 points loss and closed below 44,000 mark, forming bearish candlestick pattern on the daily timeframe. All banks in the Bank Nifty were under pressure, dragging the index down by 474 points or 1.07 percent to 43,887. "The weakness is expected to persist in the short term as the index remains below the crucial moving average," Rupak De, senior technical analyst at LKP Securities said. He feels immediate support is situated at 43,800-43,500 on the lower end, while resistance is positioned at 44,000 on the higher end. As per the pivot point calculator, the banking index is expected to take support at 43,811, followed by 43,737 and 43,616. On the upside, the initial resistance is at 44,053, then at 44,128 and at 44,249. Call options data The weekly options data indicated that the maximum Call open interest (OI) was at 19,800 strike with 77.48 lakh contracts, which can act as a key resistance for the Nifty. It was followed by the 20,000 strike, which had 72.78 lakh contracts, while 19,600 strike had 69.49 lakh contracts. Meaningful Call writing was seen at 19,800 strike, which added 37.99 lakh contracts followed by 19,600 and 19,500 strikes, which added 34.8 lakh and 20.69 lakh contracts. Maximum Call unwinding was at 20,500 strike, which shed 28.76 lakh contracts followed by 20,100 strike and 20,200 strike, which shed 23.68 lakh contracts and 14.52 lakh contracts. Put option data On the Put side, the maximum open interest remained at 19,500 strike with 75.64 lakh contracts. This can be an important support for the Nifty in the coming sessions. It was followed by 19,000 strike, comprising 54.25 lakh contracts and 19,400 strike with 45.55 lakh contracts. The meaningful Put writing was at 19,200 strike, which added 8.75 lakh contracts, followed by 18,700 strike and 19,100 strike, which added 8.06 lakh and 6.06 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was at 19,600 strike, which shed 39.64 lakh contracts, followed by 19,000 strike and 19,700 strike, which shed 12.95 lakh and 11.73 lakh contracts. Stocks with high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in the stock. ACC, Deepak Nitrite, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, and ICICI Bank saw the highest delivery among the F&O stocks. 11 stocks see a long build-up A long build-up was seen in 11 stocks namely, HCL Technologies, Aurobindo Pharma, Metropolis Healthcare, Tata Consumer Products, and L&T Technology Services. An increase in open interest (OI) and price indicates a build-up of long positions. 85 stocks see long unwinding Based on the OI percentage, a total of 85 stocks, including SBI Life Insurance Company, Bosch, Granules India, Indraprastha Gas, and Bajaj Finserv saw a long unwinding. A decline in OI and price indicates long unwinding. 79 stocks see a short build-up A short build-up was seen in 79 stocks, including United Breweries, Ipca Laboratories, Persistent Systems, Atul, and Hero MotoCorp. An increase in OI along with a fall in price points to a build-up of short positions. 9 stocks see short-covering Based on the OI percentage, nine stocks were on the short-covering list. These included Delta Corp, Dr Lal PathLabs, Laurus Labs, ONGC, and Alkem Laboratories. A decrease in OI along with a price increase is an indication of short-covering. Bulk deals For more bulk deals, click here Results on October 10 Stocks in the news GR Infraprojects: Dibang Power (Lot 4) consortium, the joint venture between GR Infraprojects and Patel Engineering, has executed the contract agreement for the project worth Rs 3,637.12 crore with the NHPC. The share of GR Infraprojects in the Dibang multipurpose project in Arunachal Pradesh is 50 percent and the project including construction of civil works for Lot 4 is expected to be completed within 86 months. Genus Power Infrastructures: The electricity metering solutions company said Its wholly owned subsidiary has received two letters of awards (LOA) worth Rs 3,115.01 crore for appointment of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Service Providers (AMISPs). Glenmark Life Sciences: The pharma company has declared an interim dividend of Rs 22.50 per share for the financial year 2023-24. The record date for reckoning the list of shareholders who will be entitled to receive the said interim dividend will be October 17. The interim dividend will be paid by October 23. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders: The state-owned shipping company has signed Letter of Intent (LOI) with an European Client for Construction of 06 firm and 04 optional units of 7500 DWT multi- purpose hybrid power vessels. The prices for the units would be firmed up at the time of signing of contract. Dilip Buildcon: The infrastructure company has signed an agreement with the Water Resources Zone, Udaipur, Rajasthan, for construction of Dewas III and IV Dams in Gogunda on engineering, procurement and construction single responsibility turnkey basis, including 10 years operation and maintenance. The project worth Rs 396.93 crore is expected to be completed within 44 months. Bhageria Industries: The company has received one turnkey international solar engineering, procurement, and construction (Solar EPC) project with comprehensive operation & maintenance and water proofing in APM terminal, Kingdom of Bahrain. The project with a capacity of 11.40 MWp has a total order value of Rs 104.49 crore. Indian Oil Corporation: The state-owned oil retailer has appointed Anuj Jain as Director (Finance) with effect from October 9. Anuj Jain has over 27 years of rich and varied experience in the field of finance, taxation and commercial aspects of the oil & gas industry. Sanjay Kaushal has ceased to be CFO of the company. Fund Flow (Rs Crore) FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FII) offloaded shares worth Rs 997.76 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DII) purchased Rs 2,661.27 crore worth of stocks on October 9, provisional data from the National Stock Exchange (NSE) showed. Stocks under F&O ban on NSE The NSE has added L&T Finance Holdings, and MCX India to its F&O ban list for October 10, while retaining Delta Corp, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Manappuram Finance, and Punjab National Bank. Securities banned under the F&O segment include companies where derivative contracts cross 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Daily and weekly insights bundled and sent to your inbox to keep you ahead in the race. Exclusive access to live webinars from market experts on trading and investment strategies Have a Global edge with access to content from world renowned experts and journalist Access to 230+ exclusive stories per month from our editorial and Experts Limited Period offer on Moneycontrol PRO. Subscribe to PRO and get up to Access the exclusive stories, weekly investment ideas and daily technical calls in an Ad free experience In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: IT sectors refusal to take risks affects jobs, whats firing up the IPO mark... Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Fed skips again, but are rate hikes behind it? Ashish Gupta, the new Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Axis Asset Management Company (AMC), Indias 8th largest fund house with assets roughly worth Rs 2.60 trillion (2.6 lakh crore), has his work cut out. Along with new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) B Gopkumar, Guptas main task is to get investors and distributors to trust Axis Mutual Fund (MF) once again after the recent front-running case where its chief dealer was pulled up, first following an internal investigation, and later by the capital... USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide, with millions diagnosed each year. During Octobers Breast Cancer Awareness Month, HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals remind patients and communities about the importance of mammograms and breast health. Many women with breast cancer have no symptoms, and nearly 80% who are diagnosed have no family history, said Corrie Wajek, manager of radiology services at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals. Regular screening mammograms are important because it can detect tissue abnormalities before the patient is even aware there may be a concern. And breast cancer is more likely treatable when caught early. HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Josephs hospitals offer screening and diagnostic imaging through 2-D and 3-D mammography. Wajek says women should talk with their provider to determine which is the best option. Traditional 2-D mammograms take two-dimensional X-ray images of the breast tissue, which is displayed in a single image. Because all the overlapping breast tissue is displayed in this one image, it can be difficult to differentiate between normal breast tissue and potential abnormalities. 3-D mammograms, which are now widely available, are more advanced. This type of X-ray captures multiple images of the breast from different angles, creating a 3D view of the breast tissue. This allows radiologists to examine each layer of tissue, providing a clearer and more detailed view. Either type of mammogram is better than no mammogram, says Wajek. However, it is nice to have a very clear breast tissue image as a baseline so we can monitor any changes or developments in follow-up screenings. All women should talk with their health care provider about the appropriate timing for screening mammograms, especially women at high-risk. A mammogram schedule will be based upon an individuals health. At age 40, women should have a screening mammogram and continue to have one at least every other year. Additional breast procedures may be necessary as a result of findings from a mammogram, such as ultrasound, ultrasound guided biopsy/FNA, breast MRI, wire localization, lymphoscintigraphy or sentinel lymph node mapping. It is also important to be aware of factors that can contribute to the cause of breast cancer. These include: Increasing age: The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Personal history of breast cancer: Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop a second breast cancer. Inherited breast cancer: Doctors estimate 5 to 10% of breast cancers are linked to gene mutations passed through generations of a family. Dense breasts: Women who have a high percentage of breast tissue that appears dense on a mammogram have a higher risk of breast cancer than women of similar age who have little or no dense breast tissue. Having never been pregnant: Women who have never been pregnant have a greater risk of breast cancer than women who have had one or more pregnancies. Body weight: The chance of getting breast cancer is higher in women who are overweight or obese than in women of a healthy weight. Physical activity level: Women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer. Race: In the United States, breast cancer is diagnosed more often in white women than in African American/Black, Hispanic/Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian/Alaska Native women. Radiation therapy: Women who had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Alcohol: Studies indicate the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer. Reproductive and menstrual history: Women who had their first menstrual period before age 12 or who went through menopause after age 55 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy: Women who used combined estrogen and progestin menopausal hormone therapy for more than five years have an increased chance of developing breast cancer. To make an appointment for a mammogram at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire or HSHS St. Josephs Hospital please in Chippewa Falls, please call (715) 717-1461. Abhishek Sahu covers HR and Education (Careers) at Moneycontrol. He can be reached at Abhishek.Sahu@nw18.com and @Abhishek44sahu. Javier Blas is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. He previously was commodities editor at the Financial Times and is the coauthor of "The World for Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earths Resources." Sunday October 8th, 2023 with Dick Altavista Big Rude Jake brought his excellent brand of Swing Punk from the dive bars of Toronto across North America. His music was a mix of Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Rockabilly and Cajun all delivered with exuberance Daily and weekly insights bundled and sent to your inbox to keep you ahead in the race. Exclusive access to live webinars from market experts on trading and investment strategies Have a Global edge with access to content from world renowned experts and journalist Access to 230+ exclusive stories per month from our editorial and Experts Limited Period offer on Moneycontrol PRO. Subscribe to PRO and get up to Access the exclusive stories, weekly investment ideas and daily technical calls in an Ad free experience In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: IT sectors refusal to take risks affects jobs, whats firing up the IPO mark... Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Fed skips again, but are rate hikes behind it? The new movie Dumb Money tries to turn Wall Streets pecking order on its head, casting professional investors as the dummies and amateurs as the smart ones. Set during the meme stock craze of 2021, the plot ends before the real life story did with losses for the retail investors who tried to outsmart big hedge funds. Sorry Hollywood, the underdogs did not win. The movie did, however, leave me pondering a bigger question: is there such a... Oct 9, 2023 / 01:23 PM ISTAll Rights Reserved. FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times Limited Not to be redistributed, copied or modified in any way. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr is a New Delhi-based journalist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Pallavi Singhal is a Correspondent at Moneycontrol.com covering commerce, agriculture and education. With a total experience of four years, she has reported on varied subjects covering crime, courts, civic affairs, health & politics. Human interest and feature stories have always piqued her interest. Crypto Exchange Upbit Faced Over 159,000 Hacking Attempts in H1 2023: Report Source: Timon/Adobe South Koreas largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, was reported to be the target of hacking attempts on over 159,000 occasions during the first half of 2023. As reported by a South Korean local news agency, according to data provided by Dunamu, the firm that owns and operates Upbit, to Rep. Park Seong-jung of the National Assemblys Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee, there were a total of 159,061 attempted cyber infringements on Upbit in the first half of the year. This represents more than double the number of attempted infringements in the first half of the previous year (73,249 cases). The report indicates a substantial surge in hacking attempts on Upbit, with a 117% increase from the first half of 2022 and an astounding 1,800% surge from the same period in 2020. The progression of hacking attempts on Upbit has been notable, escalating from 8,356 cases in the latter half of 2020 to 34,687 in the first half of 2021, followed by 63,912 in the latter half of 2021 and 73,249 in the initial half of 2022. This figure continued to rise, culminating in 87,242 cases. Dunamu Bolsters Security Measures, Maintains 70% of Assets in Cold Wallets Notably, Upbit suffered approximately 58 billion won in damages from a hacking attack in 2019. A Dunamu official said: After the hacking incident in 2019, we took various measures to prevent recurrence, such as distributing hot wallets and operating them, and to date, not a single cyber breach has occurred. Dunamu has disclosed its strategy of maintaining over 70% of assets in cold wallets to fortify security. Moreover, it employs multiple structures for hot wallets rather than relying on a single framework. 1/ Crypto Deposits Security Thread Todays Upbit incident highlights a crucial aspect that is often overlooked the security of crypto deposits. While a lot is discussed around private key management & withdrawals security, deposits have a similar attack surface. pic.twitter.com/5NEAyJB63N Nass Eddequiouaq (@nassyweazy) September 25, 2023 Hot wallets are typically more susceptible to hacking as their private keys are stored online, in contrast to cold wallets, where the keys are kept offline on external hard drives and USB devices. By strengthening security for both cold and hot wallets, Upbit aims to fortify the protection of user assets. Representative Park emphasized that with the increasing frequency of virtual asset hacking both domestically and internationally, the severe nature of hacking incidents targeting major exchanges like Upbit, which handles over 2 trillion won in daily trading volume, cannot be underestimated. Although hacking of virtual assets at home and abroad is increasing and hacking attacks targeting exchanges such as Upbit with a daily trading volume of more than 2 trillion won are serious, the role of the Ministry of Science and ICT in managing and supervising them is ambiguous. Furthermore, he stressed that the Ministry of Science and Technology should conduct comprehensive white mock hacking tests and assess information security conditions to prepare for cyber attacks targeting virtual asset exchanges, as well as other critical sectors like hospitals and subways, which handle substantial amounts of personal information. South Korean Virtual Asset Market Thrives Amid Upbit Hacks, Reaching $21.1 Billion in Market Cap Despite the large number of hacks and tremendous amount of money lost by Upbit, in the first half of 2023, South Koreas virtual asset market grew significantly, reaching a total market cap of $21.1 billion, marking a 46% increase compared to the previous six months, as reported by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). South Korean virtual marketplace operators reported an impressive 82% rise in operating profits, totaling $168 million, with deposits in crypto exchanges increasing by 11% to about $3 billion. Despite a slight dip in the average daily transaction value at the 26 exchanges, decreasing by 1.3% to $2.1 billion in the first half of the year, the market demonstrated overall growth. Interestingly, the number of individual and corporate crypto traders decreased by 210,000 to 6.06 million by the end of June, with traders in their 30s constituting the largest segment and over 67% holding virtual assets valued at less than 500,000 won. During this period, South Korea facilitated the trading of 622 types of cryptocurrencies, including popular options like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and Dogecoin. The market also witnessed the listing of 169 new crypto coins, although 115 coins experienced trading suspensions for various reasons. October 09, 2023 / 09:18 PM IST Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik has unveiled extensive security measures, including at key traffic points. GS Malik says, "For that, more than 7000 Police personnel are being deployed. We are also deploying Home Guard jawans...We have also requested for SDRF and NDRF jawans. Besides them, we will also get NSG Bomb Disposal Team, NSG Hit Team and Anti-Drone Team. There are 9 bomb disposal squads. Besides them, we also have sniffer dogs...We are also monitoring threats being received through mail..." India to Push Crypto Regulation Talks at Final FMCBG Meet in Morocco Source: PTI Finance ministers and central bank governors are all set to meet for the final time under Indias G20 presidency on October 12 and 13 in Marrakesh, Morocco. The roadmap for crypto regulations is expected to be one of the major key agendas during the meeting. India will seek to ensure that the issues that were part of the New Delhi Declaration are pushed thorugh, including a crypto regulatory framework. Before the 4th G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting, Indain Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a meeting with the heads of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and co-conveners of the G20 independent expert group, NK Singh. G20 Members Expected to Discuss Clear Road Map for Crypto Regulations Finance ministers and central bank governors are expected to discuss the roadmap intended to lay the foundation for a well-coordinated and all-encompassing policy and regulatory framework specifically tailored for crypto assets. The discussions surrounding this topic are of paramount importance, given the evolving landscape of digital currencies and the need for international collaboration to address the challenges and opportunities they present. As reported earlier, G20 nations also called for the swift implementation of the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and amendments to the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). CARF establishes a standardized method for reporting tax-related information concerning transactions involving cryptocurrency assets. The primary objective is to facilitate the automatic exchange of this information with the taxpayers resident jurisdiction on an annual basis. Indian Crypto Exchanges Expect Clear Regulations After G20 Declaration The G20 declaration on crypto assets has sent a wave of optimism to local crypto platforms who have been waiting for clear crypto regulations for a long time. However, there is still time before some concrete regulations are implemented in India, but the government has shown its interest in moving in that direction. Indian crypto platforms are calling for self regulatory organizations. Earlier, while delivering the keynote address at the Global FinTech Fest 2023, the Reserve Bank of Indias Governor Shaktikanta Das also urged fintech firms to establish a self regulatory organization themselves. Despite regulatory uncertainty and heavy tax policies, India emerged as the top ranked nation Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index. Carolinian dance troupe Island Warriors, adorned with coconut fronds, perform at the opening of the Gangwon Forestry Exhibition in South Korean on Sept. 23, 2023. The Marianas Visitors Authority attended the exhibition opening. The United States Department of Labor is seen in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 30, 2020. An increase to the federal minimum wage for exempt workers in the territories, a first for Guam since 2004, has been proposed. As Dickinson Colleges Trout Gallery moves into its 40th year, its anniversary provided an opportunity to pause and reflect on the countless ways it has touched the lives of those who viewed the works exhibited. In this celebratory exhibit, PerspectivesThe Trout at 40, rather than a traditionally curated exhibition with scholarly object labels, the Trout asked a broad spectrum of over 30 Trout Gallery audience members to select a piece of art from the gallerys permanent collection for display, and then share in the display label what meaning that object has to them. Dickinson faculty, staff and students are amply represented in the selection of guest curators, as are local educators and students, community members and donors. Each chosen object is paired with their prepared statement providing insight, interpretation and personal significance. With over 11,000 pieces in its permanent collection, the Trout Gallery gave curators a wide variety from which to choose, and the result is a wonderful representation of the eclectic nature of that collection. The works selected range from ancient to modern, drawing from the diversity of the worlds cultures. Thomas Sullys oil painting, Benjamin Rush, was painted for Rushs family in 1813 and remained with them until it was purchased by the college in 2009. This historical portrait in its ornate gold frame is an important piece to represent the founder of Dickinson College and hangs majestically at the exhibitions entry. Another locally significant oil painting, Susquehanna at Duncannon by Edmond Darch Lewis, is a luminous landscape depicting the forest and mountains that surround the mighty Susquehanna River. In the vein of the Hudson River School, this painting from 1872 pays homage to the natural beauty of our region. One can often be surprised at pieces owned by the gallery; such as a lithograph by abstract sculptor, Alexander Calder. The Untitled Calder is a print in primary colors that evokes the shape of a circus tent. Though best known for his 3-D sculptures and mobiles, seeing such an unexpected creation from such a well-known artist is another reason the Trout is such a treasure. Another non-traditional medium, embraced by contemporary artist Kara Walker, is large-scale black silhouette cut-outs. In Freedom: A Fable these silhouettes are miniaturized in a book on display. Her use of silhouettes is significant and ironic as she juxtaposes traditional Victorian silhouettes with depictions of violence, hyper-sexuality and racism, dealing directly with African-American history in the Antebellum South. Her ability to mix historical with contemporary issues is both relevant and topical to todays climate and is an important part of the collection that deals with socially active art. The visually striking ceramic sculpture, Man Standing on Frog by Li Chao, depicts a bald man wearing a long trench coat standing on a flattened frog. This is Chaos rendition of the Buddha, paired with a traditional icon of prosperity the frog. The red glaze gives the sculpture an eye-catching, engaging quality and is a unique example of contemporary, non-Western art that one may not see anywhere but the Trout. As community members, we were asked to select a piece for inclusion. Our selection was Two Views by Shan Goshorn, a double-woven basket featuring the story of a Navajo student taken to the Carlisle Indian School. Its significance to the Carlisle community, as well as the pieces own artistic merit, made it clear that it was appropriate for Perspectives. Two Views captures several aspects that inspire our interest in art; the use of unconventional materials in a work that both honors and educates. Our personal connection to the piece is particularly poignant as Goshorn was very ill at the time of her 2018 exhibition at the Trout Gallery. She was able to travel to the exhibition opening, and we were honored to meet her and share our respect for her work. She sadly succumbed to her illness later that year. The concept for this show is to offer a more intimate view of the diverse ways that audiences respond to works of art. Each of us brings our own life experiences, as well as our distinctive sensibilities and interests. The results provide an array of perspectives on why art is important, how it is viewed and what it means to individuals. Visitors thus have the opportunity to consider different approaches to thinking about and interacting with art objects on display. This offers an alternative to the single curatorial voice that is typical in museum exhibitions, providing instead a multitude of viewpoints. Thus, Perspectives has no theme, yet has many themes, and it is up to the visitor to decide upon which to focus. This uncommon type of exhibition is the ideal way to celebrate a gallery and its collection, which proves once again how much the Trout Gallery is a treasure amidst our community. PerspectivesThe Trout at 40 is on display until Oct. 16 at the Trout Gallery located in the Emil R. Weiss Center for the Arts on the Dickinson College campus, 240 W. High St., Carlisle. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The gallery is free and open to the public. For more information on the exhibition, visit www.troutgallery.org. Heavy flooding in southern Myanmar displaces more than 14,000 people View Photo BANGKOK (AP) Flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains in Myanmars southern areas has displaced more than 14,000 people and disrupted traffic on the rail lines that connect the countrys biggest cities, officials and state-run media said Monday. State television MRTV reported Monday evening that the number of displaced people in Bago township, about 68 kilometers (42 miles) northeast of Yangon, the countrys biggest city, had climbed to that figure, and they were taking shelter in 36 relief camps. It said almost 1,000 more people in Mon states township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations in a northern part of Yangon. A senior official at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Lay Shwe Zin Oo, said that constant rainfall in the Bago region that began last week caused the flooding in the low-lying areas of its capital, Bago township. She said there were no casualties reported so far. Bago township recorded 7.87 inches (200 millimeters) of rainfall, its highest level in 59 years, Myanmars Meteorological Department said Sunday. Rain or thundershowers was forecast for across the country until noon on Tuesday. One of the leaders of an emergency rescue team in Bago told The Associated Press that the flooding was up to about eight feet (2.3 meters) deep in low-lying areas and four feet (1.2 meters) downtown. Almost the whole area of the town was flooded, Thant Zin Maung, chairman of the Mizzima Thukha Charity Foundation said by phone on Monday. It is the third flood in the town this year and the worst in many years. All the monasteries in the town have opened relief camps. Charity organizations are evacuating people from low-lying areas as much as they can. A 55-year-old resident of Bagos Pan Hlaing ward interviewed by phone said the floodwaters were as much as six feet (1.8 meters) deep in her neighborhood, and her family members were living on the second and third floors of their house. The woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Myanmars military government prefers to tightly control the release of information, said the water was still rising steadily in her neighborhood, which had never flooded badly before. Social Welfare Ministry official Lay Shwe Zin Oo said Bago evacuees were sheltering in relief camps, schools and Buddhist monasteries, while the authorities were providing food, drinking water and other essential assistance. Reports in the state-run Myanmar Alinn newspaper on Monday said that trains that departed from Mandalay, the countrys second-largest city in central Myanmar, and from southern Mawlamyine township were halted en route. Scheduled departures from Yangon, the biggest city in the country, were canceled after rail lines were flooded by the rapid flow of water from mountain torrents and the spillage from dams in the Bago region. MRTV said almost 1,000 people in Mon states Kyaikto township, just east of Bago, were sheltering in three relief camps, and there some evacuations as well in a northern part of Yangon. Myanmar experiences extreme weather virtually every year during the monsoon season. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 people. In July and August this year, floods in Mon, Kayin and Rakhine states and the regions of Bago and Magway killed five people and displaced about 60,000. By GRANT PECK Associated Press Without water, there is no life: Drought in Brazils Amazon is sharpening fears for the future Without water, there is no life: Drought in Brazils Amazon is sharpening fears for the future View Photo MANAUS, Brazil (AP) Communities dependent on the Amazon rainforests 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 waters 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 Brazils Amazon, do Carmo typically retrieves water untreated from the biomes 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 states 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, Brazils 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 years 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 Madeiras 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. Its 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. Brazils 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 droughts impact is already rippling beyond the Amazons 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. By EDMAR BARROS Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Californias top education official, Tony Thurmond, on Tuesday announced his bid for governor in 2026, a move that comes amid debates about the rights of students and parents, and what role the state should play as school boards approve class materials. If elected, Thurmond, the state superintendent of public instruction, would be the first Black person to become Californias governor. He says he wants to address income inequality, ensure schools are better funded and speed up the states transition to renewable energy. Our campaign isnt about any one person. Its about people who are struggling across our state, the Democrat said in an advertisement announcing his campaign. California should be a place where everyone has a chance to succeed. He joins an already crowded race for governor, though the election is more than three years away. California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former state Controller Betty Yee, both Democrats, have also announced their own bids, and Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta said he is considering joining the race. Current Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, cannot seek a third term. Before Thurmond became the states superintendent in 2019, he served on the West Contra Costa School Board, on the Richmond City Council and in the state Assembly. In 2021, he came under criticism after helping to hire his friend, a psychologist who lived in Philadelphia, as the states first superintendent of equity, Politico reported. The official later resigned. Thurmond has become involved recently in several debates over school board policies, and he was kicked out of a Southern California school board meeting over the summer for opposing a policy to require school staff to notify parents if their child changes their pronouns or gender identity. Bonta sued the Chino Valley district over the policy, saying it discriminated against students. A judge then halted the policy while the litigation plays out. Thurmond supported a bill Newsom signed into law Monday to ban school boards from rejecting textbooks because they teach about the contributions of people from different racial backgrounds, sexual orientations or gender identities. The legislation garnered more attention this summer when a Southern California school board rejected a social studies curriculum for elementary students with supplemental material mentioning Harvey Milk, who was a San Francisco politician and gay rights advocate. Newsom threatened the board with a $1.5 million fine. The school board later reversed course. President Biden delivered remarks on the terrorist attacks in Israel. 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. Well 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 oclock 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. Its 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 administrations support for Israels 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. Ive 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. Its hurting innocent people seeing the lives that have been broken by this, the families torn apart. Its 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 were 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. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. California State Capitol Building View Photo Sacramento, CA A bill that would have provided free condoms to high school students at all public schools was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Senate Bill 541 was approved in both the California Assembly and Senate, with most Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. Mother Lode lawmakers, Democratic Senator Marie Alvarado Gil, and Assemblymembers Jim Patterson and Heath Flora, were among those who voted no. In a veto message, Governor Newsom stated that California lawmakers had to close a $30-billion shortfall this past session, and he is opposed to the additional spending. Newsom says, With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure. For this reason, I cannot sign this bill. California has an estimated 1.9 million high school students at 4,000 schools. Newsoms veto message added, While evidence-based strategies, like increasing access to condoms, are important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health, this bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process. The Mechanicsburg Area School Board last week authorized the purchase and installation of a hydroponics lab as part of the high schools renovation project. The school board initially reviewed Tuesday nights accepted proposal for a Freight Farms Hydroponics Lab during a presentation by district administrators Sept. 26. The lab will be located in a self-contained shipping container connected to the high school building. This lab is intended as a hands-on student experience that has practical connections to a variety of curricular areas. This will build on some of our existing STEAM initiatives, said Greg Longwell, the districts director of business operations/CFO. According to last months presentation, the system will run from planting to harvested produce in weeks through computer controlled automation and nutrient monitoring, as well as maintaining low water use through reclamation. Students will be able to grow a variety of plants using hydroponics, Longwell said. As part of the process, they will able to adjust variables like lighting intensity to learn about a variable of concepts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines hydroponics as the technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrients solution rather than soil. The district plans to use the lab as a science application that extends beyond existing course levels for high school biology, earth and space, chemistry, physical science, Advanced Placement environmental and more. The lab also is expected to provide students with long-range connections to technology education, social studies, and family and consumer science. The estimated cost of the project is $160,000. The lab structures forecasted cost is $75,000, while installation and build-out is set at $85,000. The district plans to finalize details of the labs operations over the next several months before installing the self-contained facility and building tie-in next spring. The lab is scheduled to open in fall 2024. In a related matter, construction remains on schedule for the high school renovation project that began earlier this year, Longwell said. Contractors are demolishing the schools existing swimming pool for planned construction of a new facility. The entire building renovation project is expected to wrap up in December 2024. Also Tuesday, the board appointed Ryan Hartman as assistant recreation director for the districts recreation department. Hartman previously served on the school board until recently resigning as a result of his appointment Tuesday night, Longwell said. Hartman didnt attend Tuesdays meeting as a board member. School directors are scheduled to acknowledge his resignation from the board Oct. 24. He previously represented the districts Region I in Upper Allen Township. Hartmen is expected to begin employment with the recreation department effective with the release by (his) current employment, according to Tuesdays meeting agenda. He replaces Nicole Singlser. Longwell said that the district is advertising for applicants to fill the boards Region I vacancy. Based on the applicant pool, the board will determine the process for appointing a replacement at the Nov. 14 board meeting, he said. Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Sign View Photo Sonora, CA A special Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting has been called for Tuesday. The meeting will be held on the fourth floor of the county administration building. The first three items on the agenda will be in closed session, meaning that members of the public are not allowed to take part. The first is a conference with legal counsel about unidentified potential litigation, the second item is in relation to labor negotiations, and the third is to discuss hiring a new Animal Control Director. The only item open for public discussion is a 1:30 pm appointment in which County Health Officer Dr. Kimberly Freeman will provide a presentation on The state of the Opioid Epidemic in Tuolumne County. Meeting documents provided to the board of supervisors ahead of the meeting, note, While opioid prescriptions have declined over the last ten years in California, statistics from the California Department of Public Health reflect that Tuolumne County is disproportionately affected. An ad hoc committee made up of several community organizations has been meeting in response to the ongoing issue to move forward projects and to help with education and recovery resources. The presentation is anticipated to last about 45 minutes. UN airs concerns for civilians as Israel steps up military response in Gaza to deadly Hamas attacks UN airs concerns for civilians as Israel steps up military response in Gaza to deadly Hamas attacks View Photo GENEVA (AP) The United Nations, aid groups and public health experts expressed growing concerns Monday about humanitarian needs in Palestinian areas as Israel ratchets up a muscular military riposte and a lockdown of Gaza, after the weekend attack by Hamas militants who killed and kidnapped hundreds of civilians in Israel. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres led the clarion call, endeavoring to put the focus on civilians in both Israel and Gaza and renewing his condemnation of the fatalities and hostage-takings by Hamas. He also warned of the prospect of more innocent lives lost. In a statement to reporters in New York, Guterres said that more than 137,000 people in Gaza or about 6% of its population were now sheltering in sites run by UNRWA, the aid agency for Palestinians. He cited reports of Israeli missile strikes on places like schools, health facilities and high-rise apartment buildings. I am deeply distressed by todays announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in no electricity, food, or fuel, he said. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially, Guterres said. The U.N. chief was careful not to underplay the devastation and intense suffering among Israelis since Saturday, decrying the launching of thousands of indiscriminate rockets that have reached central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and how hundreds of Israelis were killed and many more wounded. I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people. But nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians, Guterres said. He also noted how Israeli airstrikes had pounded Gaza and cited reports of hundreds of Palestinians killed and thousands injured. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, or OCHA, said damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in Gaza has hindered services for more than 400,000 people or about one-sixth of the total population. Israel controls most water resources in the Palestinian territories, in one of the worlds most water-stressed regions. Experts say the bombing and destruction of Gazas already weak water infrastructure will only make matters worse in an area where gastrointestinal, liver and skin problems exist already due to a severe lack of clean water. Every drop of water counts, said Amira Aker, a postdoctoral fellow of environmental health at the University of Laval in Quebec City, Canada, who has researched water issues in the Palestinian territories. She noted health issues such as rising rates of infectious disease and gastrointestinal, liver and skin problems due to a severe lack of clean water. With Israeli air strikes cutting off power in Gaza, taps running dry are an immediate problem, Aker said. There is literally no way for them to clean their water. Dr. Wael Al-Delaimy, a professor of public health at the University of California, San Diego, said that as Gazans are forced to consume water of lower quality, more disease will follow. Its the common people who suffer, Al-Delaimy said. As of late Sunday, OCHA said that Israeli authorities had halted supplies of electricity to Gaza, cutting power to no more than four hours per day. The Gaza Power Plant was the only source of electricity in the area, and it could run out of fuel within days, OCHA said in a brief statement on Monday, adding that cash assistance was urgently needed for Palestinians. Humanitarian relief and essential supplies must be allowed to reach people in need, rapidly and without impediment, OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said in a text message. All parties must ensure freedom of movement for humanitarian workers. The agency also noted displacement in Israel because of the violence and damage to civilian homes and infrastructure. Separately, the World Health Organization said that a 16-year-blockade of Gaza had already left its medical system under-resourced, and the increased hostilities are compounding an already dire situation. The U.N. health agency reported Monday a total of 11 attacks on health care which included medical facilities, ambulances and care providers in the first 36 hours of the new conflict in Gaza. There is an urgent need to establish a humanitarian corridor for unimpeded, life-saving patient referrals and movement of humanitarian personnel and essential health supplies, WHO said. Many humanitarians voiced a simple hope: An end to the violence. These unprecedented hostilities and rapidly mounting death toll underscore the urgency for all parties to stop the violence and ensure civilians are protected, says Ana Povrzenic, country director in Palestine at the Norwegian Refugee Council. In a statement, the Norwegian organization said the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in Gaza and Israels announcement of a siege of the area represents a grave violation of international law. Access for humanitarians to Gaza is on many U.N. minds. I urge all sides and the relevant parties to allow United Nations access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped and helpless in the Gaza Strip, Guterres said. I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort. ___ Suman Naishadham in Washington and Melina Walling in Chicago contributed to this report. By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press Meta and X questioned by lawmakers over lack of rules against AI-generated political deepfakes View Photo Deepfakes generated by artificial intelligence are having their moment this year, at least when it comes to making it look, or sound, like celebrities did something uncanny. Tom Hanks hawking a dental plan. Pope Francis wearing a stylish puffer jacket. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul sitting on the Capitol steps in a red bathrobe. But what happens next year ahead of a U.S. presidential election? Google was the first big tech company to say it would impose new labels on deceptive AI-generated political advertisements that could fake a candidates voice or actions. Now some U.S. lawmakers are calling on social media platforms X, Facebook and Instagram to explain why they arent doing the same. Two Democratic members of Congress sent a letter Thursday to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X CEO Linda Yaccarino expressing serious concerns about the emergence of AI-generated political ads on their platforms and asking each to explain any rules theyre crafting to curb the harms to free and fair elections. They are two of the largest platforms and voters deserve to know what guardrails are being put in place, said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota in an interview with The Associated Press. We are simply asking them, Cant you do this? Why arent you doing this? Its clearly technologically possible. The letter to the executives from Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York warns: With the 2024 elections quickly approaching, a lack of transparency about this type of content in political ads could lead to a dangerous deluge of election-related misinformation and disinformation across your platforms where voters often turn to learn about candidates and issues. X, formerly Twitter, and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, didnt respond to requests for comment Thursday. Clarke and Klobuchar asked the executives to respond to their questions by Oct. 27. The pressure on the social media companies comes as both lawmakers are helping to lead a charge to regulate AI-generated political ads. A House bill introduced by Clarke earlier this year would amend a federal election law to require labels when election advertisements contain AI-generated images or video. I think that folks have a First Amendment right to put whatever content on social media platforms that theyre moved to place there, Clarke said in an interview Thursday. All Im saying is that you have to make sure that you put a disclaimer and make sure that the American people are aware that its fabricated. For Klobuchar, who is sponsoring companion legislation in the Senate that she aims to get passed before the end of the year, thats like the bare minimum of what is needed. In the meantime, both lawmakers said they hope that major platforms take the lead on their own, especially given the disarray that has left the House of Representatives without an elected speaker. Google has already said that starting in mid-November it will require a clear disclaimer on any AI-generated election ads that alter people or events on YouTube and other Google products. Googles policy applies both in the U.S. and in other countries where the company verifies election ads. Facebook and Instagram parent Meta doesnt have a rule specific to AI-generated political ads but has a policy restricting faked, manipulated or transformed audio and imagery used for misinformation. A more recent bipartisan Senate bill, co-sponsored by Klobuchar, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri and others, would go farther in banning materially deceptive deepfakes relating to federal candidates, with exceptions for parody and satire. AI-generated ads are already part of the 2024 election, including one aired by the Republican National Committee in April meant to show the future of the United States if President Joe Biden is reelected. It employed fake but realistic photos showing boarded-up storefronts, armored military patrols in the streets, and waves of immigrants creating panic. Klobuchar said such an ad would likely be banned under the rules proposed in the Senate bill. So would a fake image of Donald Trump hugging infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci that was shown in an attack ad from Trumps GOP primary opponent and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. As another example, Klobuchar cited a deepfake video from earlier this year purporting to show Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren in a TV interview suggesting restrictions on Republicans voting. That is going to be so misleading if you, in a presidential race, have either the candidate you like or the candidate you dont like actually saying things that arent true, said Klobuchar, who ran for president in 2020. How are you ever going to know the difference? Klobuchar, who chairs the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, presided over a Sept. 27 hearing on AI and the future of elections that brought witnesses including Minnesotas secretary of state, a civil rights advocate and some skeptics. Republicans and some of the witnesses they asked to testify have been wary about rules seen as intruding into free speech protections. Ari Cohn, an attorney at think-tank TechFreedom, told senators that the deepfakes that have so far appeared ahead of the 2024 election have attracted immense scrutiny, even ridicule, and havent played much role in misleading voters or affecting their behavior. He questioned whether new rules were needed. Even false speech is protected by the First Amendment, Cohn said. Indeed, the determination of truth and falsity in politics is properly the domain of the voters. Some Democrats are also reluctant to support an outright ban on political deepfakes. I dont know that that would be successful, particularly when it gets to First Amendment rights and the potential for lawsuits, said Clarke, who represents parts of Brooklyn in Congress. But her bill, if passed, would empower the Federal Election Commission to start enforcing a disclaimer requirement on AI-generated election ads similar to what Google is already doing on its own. The FEC in August took a procedural step toward potentially regulating AI-generated deepfakes in political ads, opening to public comment a petition that asked it to develop rules on misleading images, videos and audio clips. The public comment period for the petition, brought by the advocacy group Public Citizen, ends Oct. 16. - Associated Press writer Ali Swenson contributed to this report. By MATT OBRIEN AP Technology Writer California governor vetoes bill to make free condoms available for high school students, citing cost View Photo SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected a bill on Sunday that would have made free condoms available to all public high school students, arguing it was too expensive for a state with a budget deficit of more than $30 billion. Legislative staff estimated it would have cost in the low millions of dollars each year. California had about 1.9 million high school students enrolled in more than 4,000 schools last year, according to the California Department of Education. This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process, Newsom wrote in a message explaining why he vetoed the bill, known as Senate bill 541. The bill is one of hundreds passed by Californias Democratic-dominated state Legislature before lawmakers adjourned last month. Newsom has been signing and vetoing legislation since then, including rejecting bills on Saturday to ban caste-based discrimination, limit the price of insulin and decriminalize possession and use of some hallucinogens. The bill would have required all public schools that have grades nine through 12 to make condoms available for free to all students. It would have required public schools with grades seven through 12 to allow condoms to be made available as part of educational or public health programs. And it would have made it illegal for retailers to refuse to sell condoms to youth. State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat from Los Angeles and the author of the bill, had argued the bill would have helped youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from (sexually transmitted infections), while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex. Newsom said programs increasing access to condoms are important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health. But he said this bill was one of several measures lawmakers passed this year that, when added together, would add $19 billion in costs to the state budget. With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure, Newsom said. Also on Sunday, Newsom signed a law aimed a electrifying the states fleet of school buses. Starting in 2035, the law will require any new bus purchased or contracted by school districts to be zero-emission. Californias public school districts that provide their own transportation own about 15,800 school buses, of which 10,800 are powered by diesel fuel, according to a 2022 report from the Legislative Analysts Office. The law is part of Californias plan to phase out the use of fossil fuels. State regulations will ban the sale of new gas-powered cars in California by 2035. By ADAM BEAM Associated Press Israel strikes and seals off Gaza after incursion by Hamas, which vows to execute hostages Israel strikes and seals off Gaza after incursion by Hamas, which vows to execute hostages View Photo JERUSALEM (AP) Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday 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 the conflict, 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. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy. Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israels southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house. In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp. Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries. Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gazas 2.3 million people have left their homes the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed. New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N. ___ Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. By JOSEF FEDERMAN and ISSAM ADWAN Associated Press In a recent incident in Harare, a woman appeared before a magistrate to voice her concerns about alleged mistreatment by her daughter-in-law. Betty Chinyangare accused Mercy Mutonono of subjecting her to emotional abuse by referring to her as ED, the initials of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. According to Chinyangare, this nickname was intended to belittle and insult her, as Mutonono accused her of being ruthless and desiring to be treated like a president. Chinyangare expressed her desire for her daughter-in-law and son to vacate her house due to the disrespectful behavior. Additionally, Chinyangare claimed that Mutonono used vulgar language to insult her and conspired against her with other tenants. She says I am ruthless and want to be regarded as a president, hence she calls me ED, Chinyangare said. I want them to move out from my house because she is disrespectful. Mutonono, on the other hand, denied the allegations and counterclaimed that her mother-in-law was troublesome. She alleged that Chinyangare had physically abused her in the past, resulting in injuries. However, Chinyangare would often be the first to report the incidents to the police. My mother in law is troublesome, Mutonono said. She has previously physically abused me and I sustained injuries, but she runs to the police station to report me first. Magistrate Nyasha Marufu granted Chinyangares request for a peace order and ordered Mutonono to move out of her in-laws house. Breaking News via Email On Saturday, Brains Muchemwa, the chief executive officer of OXLINK Capital, appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo on charges of threatening to shoot his wife. He accused her of allegedly bewitching him. Muchemwa, 44 years old, was granted bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on November 7. According to court documents, the incident occurred on September 2 at around 5 PM when Blessing Muchemwa, the accuseds wife, was on her way to pick up their children from school. During this time, Brains Muchemwa tried to reach her through phone calls, but she missed them due to poor network coverage. Upon Blessings return home around 10 PM, her husband confronted her, accusing her of using witchcraft to bewitch him. Allegedly, he threatened to physically assault her and even mentioned that he would publicize their fights on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), displaying no fear of consequences. In response, Blessing apologized and explained that she was not involved in any form of witchcraft against him. However, this only seemed to anger Brains Muchemwa further. He reportedly punched her four times on her shoulder before mocking her, stating that he could continue the abuse because she needed to be freed from the alleged demon possessing her, which he believed required the use of force. Furthermore, Muchemwa allegedly threatened to shoot his wife and even disclosed his intention to commit suicide after murdering her. Following the incident, Blessing reported the matter to Highlands Police Station, and she was subsequently referred to a hospital for a medical examination. Breaking News via Email Fugitive suspected killer Peter Dube, who had been on the run for two years, has been apprehended in Mozambique and will soon be extradited to Zimbabwe. Dube, also known by the alias Armando Quenete Muchanga, was recently convicted in Ireland for immigration law violations and subsequently deported to Mozambique. It has come to light that he had obtained a fraudulent passport under his new alias, claiming a birthdate of June 21, 1985. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has been pursuing Dube in connection with two fatal shootings and an attempted murder case that occurred in Gweru on April 23, 2021. Currently, he remains in the custody of Mozambican authorities while they investigate how he obtained the passport that allowed him to assume a new identity. Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the police spokesperson, confirmed the recent developments and stated that Dube would undergo further investigations and legal processes before being extradited back to Zimbabwe. The Southern African Development Community has a protocol on extradition among member states, which governs the transfer of suspects for prosecution or enforcement of sentences related to extraditable offences. Efforts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, with the assistance of Interpol, have been underway to secure Dubes extradition from Mozambique. Last week, Assistant Commissioner Nyathi confirmed these efforts. The incident in question occurred on April 23, 2021, when Dube, a car dealer, encountered his second wife, Nyasha Nharingo, and her suspected lover, Shelton Chinhango, who was seated in a minibus parked outside Nharingos residence in Gwerus central business district. Allegedly, Dube shot Chinhango at close range, resulting in his death, before turning the gun on Nyashas best friend, Gamuchirai Mudungwe, whom he also shot in the chest, causing immediate fatality. Dube then allegedly proceeded to shoot Nyasha and her sister Nyaradzo, who were later hospitalized. Following the shootings, Dube reportedly fled to South Africa before eventually relocating to Eswatini, where he assumed the identity of Xolile Mtsali. From Eswatini, he travelled to Ireland and sought asylum. However, he was arrested on June 14, 2023, after an expose by The Sunday Mail highlighted his identity changes and asylum-seeking activities. Dube was convicted by the Dublin District Court for violating Irelands immigration laws. During his court appearance, he claimed to be Mozambican, presenting his passport bearing the name Armando Quenete Muchanga as evidence of his nationality. Sources reveal that Dube took advantage of delays in proving his Zimbabwean citizenship, as the necessary documentation arrived after he had already been deported to Mozambique. Consequently, the warrant for his arrest issued by Zimbabwe was superseded by these events. Dube exploited the bureaucracy in document processing and claimed Mozambican nationality, supported by some identification documents from that country. It is believed that after fleeing Zimbabwe in 2021, Dube became involved with a syndicate engaged in producing counterfeit identity documents in South Africa and Eswatini. Breaking News via Email A three-day induction workshop for Members of Parliament elected in the August 23 harmonised elections began in Harare, Monday to acquaint them with parliamentary procedures among various issues. The workshop was officially opened by the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda who urged the MPs to work hard as they were entrusted by ordinary Zimbabweans to be their representative. I cannot, therefore, over-emphasise how crucial it is for us to constantly remember that we are here because of the trust bestowed on us by the Zimbabwes electorate. Thus, the electorate entrusted us to be bearers of a torch that casts its radiant light upon the aspirations, hopes and dreams of the Zimbabwean people in their search for consummated prosperity. This seminar should, therefore, sharpen your abilities and energise you in fulfilling your legislative, oversight and representation roles as the undoubted servant leaders of the people of Zimbabwe whose voice is your mantle to translate into positive development action, he said. Breaking News via Email Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. We are again in the fog of (mis)information phase of reporting on a conflict that has the potential to escalate in a serious way. But well pick through various accounts and speculation about Hamas striking from Gaza into Israel and its potential to set off a wider Middle East conflagration. Lets first dismiss the idea that somehow Israel ginned up the attack (as opposed to triggered a reaction to a provocation) or that Mossad was aware but chose to let it proceed so as to provide a better excuse for a ferocious retaliation. Israelsresponse has been way too flat-footed for that to be credible. And Hamas massive rocket attack, which has overwhelmed the vaunted Iron Dome and continued last night, punctures one of the hallmarks of Israels prowess. Readers have argued that the resulting damage to the sense of day-to-day safety has the potential to weaken Israels economy, since recent immigrants and expat workers in its tech industries could decamp. Let us also remember the elephants in the room. Israel, even more so as it has become more right wing and ultra-Orthodox continue to increase as a percentage of its citizenry, has no end game for the Palestinians other than continued oppression and the hope that the current resident population leaves and/or otherwise shrinks. They have relied on policing and when the Palestinians have attacked Israel, the use of the IDF to contain the eruptions. On the other side, there are militant forces in the Middle East that want Israelis expelled from Muslim holy areas, and potentially all of Israel. These desires have not gotten much of anywhere due to Israel having nukes and being perceived to be too formidable, particularly with US backing, for a hot conflict to have had good odds of success. However, Israels opponents have noted that Israel did not fare very well when it attacked Lebanon in 2006 to try to root out Hezbollah and instead failed abjectly. However, an offensive operation is also much more demanding and risky than defense. In other words, the Israeli government has maximalist aims but has been implementing them slowly, and a meaningful contingent in the neighborhood also has maximalist aims. Also keep in mind, given the need for Israel to project that it is undefeatable, both to deter attack and to maintain confidence at home, that just as in the Yom Kippur War, a battlefield win can still be a strategic loss. As reader Lex pointed out yesterday: Hamas doesnt need to win. It only needs to drag Israel into a protracted and bloody struggle. Nor does it have anything to lose. Israels internal contradictions were boiling over before this, a conflict may plaster over them in the short term but not the medium. Thats especially true if the IDF does not produce a quick and overwhelming victory. And hk: The talk of IDF responding overwhelmingly is meaningless because they have effectively run up to the top of escalation ladder. What more can they do now? Kill all the Gazans? If they escalate beyond what they already have in the past, the diplomatic consequences will be intolerably high for no gain beyond satiating crazies bloodthirst. Netanyahu has promised a ferocious response yet has also warned of a long war. Netanyahu is following through on his threat by bombing homes, mosques and schools in Gaza. With the enthusiastic support of the most powerful countries in the world he has murdered hundreds of Palestinians who are trapped in a concentration camp. Disgusting criminal behavior on https://t.co/6JsNyYafxH Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) October 9, 2023 And the scale of the deaths so far also mean Netanyahu will feel, given his generally sanguinary inclinations, that he has to crush Hamas and to a large degree, Gaza, whatever he considers crush to mean in practice: The October 2023 #Israeli killed goes beyond the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war. The initial number of Israelis killed in October 2023 is beyond 700, and the wounded 2200. More bodies are discovered in illegal settlements around #Gaza. So the number is increasing by the hour. Elijah J. Magnier (@ejmalrai) October 8, 2023 However, Netanyahus long war warning suggests he is not confident he will be able to contain Hamas quickly. Even though Israel has been shelling Gaza (some internet sources claim in including the use of white phosphorus), and troops are also reported to be massing, there does not yet seem to be a ground operation in Gaza. LIVE: Israel launches repeated air strikes on Gaza as the besieged enclave is under non-stop bombardment. Updates: https://t.co/NlhMhmbCxl https://t.co/2uIlkwGM5M Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 9, 2023 Recall that Hezabollah warned through Egypt that it would saddle up if the Israel retaliation were de trop. One can only guess what that threshold might be, but pounding Gaza into Bakhumt-style rubble would probably lead Hezbollah to enter the fray. Hamas was shelling targets in Israel last night and appears to have started again, and at first blush, the scale looks similar: Massive rocket barrage flying out of Gaza now pic.twitter.com/8XVWLQKTLN War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 9, 2023 There are also claims Hamas has taken ground and is moving towards the West Bank. This is clearly not confirmed but would amount to a plan: Hamas is moving to link West Bank with Gaza. That would be not only a psychological and symbolic victory but also a strategic from the military point of view. West Bank has a population of 3 million, meaning a lot of new recruits. pic.twitter.com/2bc5HFPynk S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) October 8, 2023 Note also that the Twitterverse claims that Hamas has considerable support in the West Bank and the PLO would be voted out of Abbas were to elections. A friend said she could have financed the Hamas operation from her checkbook. That may not be an exaggeration: Many rockets fired at Israel by the Palestinian factions were repurposed from the many US-made Israeli missiles dropped on neighborhoods across Gaza which failed to explode during past assaults on the besieged enclave. Something to think about. pic.twitter.com/4q0dtAL4nH Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) October 8, 2023 But we dont have the rumors that Hamas also bought weapons shipped to Ukraine on the black market confirmed or not. Recall also that Hamas captured the Israeli base next to Gaza. What sort of goodies did it seize beside tanks? There are also claims that Israel is getting the ground situation back in hand outside Gaza proper: Israeli military Spokesman says we are still fighting at 7-8 points near Gaza War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 9, 2023 Aljazeera reports that Israel says it has reclaimed all towns outside the Gaza fence, as of roughly 5:45 AM EDT. The Wall Street Journal claimed in an exclusive report that Irans Revolutionary Guard helped Hamas plan its attack and even gave it the go-ahead. Per Aljazeera: The accusations linked to an Iranian role are based on political reasons, foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani told reporters. Palestinians had the necessary capacity and will to defend their nation and recover their rights without any help from Tehran, Kanani added. The conventional wisdom seems to be that Israel will quickly contain this uprising and the rest of the Arab world will sit on its hands. Given that the Hamas attack has been far more successful than past uprisings and shelling from Gaza continues, its not clear that past performance is a predictor of future results. China has brokered a deal between Iran and the Saudis that was on the way to normalizing relations; the US effort to get the Saudis to recognize Israel was to reassert US relevance in the region and specifically to pry the Saudis and Iran back apart. The Saudis have already said Israel has only itself to blame for the Hamas invasion, which will not go down well in Tel Aviv. There are reasons to harbor doubts about how effective the IDF will be in a ground operation in the heavily urbanized Gaza, as opposed to retaking the surrounding territory. Regularly militaries and insurgent operations are not a happy mix. Weve seen reports of reservists in Israel refusing orders to be called up, on the assumption that theyd be asked to serve in a clearing operation and that would be a suicide mission. Again this amounts to rumors. However, even if true on only a small scale, it would not be a good sign. Jacob Dreizin is a forceful voice for the contrarian position. From a recent post: Israeli army (IDF) is **NOT COMBAT-CAPABLE**, cannot handle enemy tactical drones & obviously has not learned new threats/tactics from Ukraine war. (Probably, U.S. Army in same shape.) Having facilitated Azerbaijans success against Armenians Israel finds itself as potentially another Karabakh 2020, unprepared for modernity. Any conventional showdown with a real opponent such as Hezbollah (with its extensive Syrian experience), at the same time as Gaza, will lead to the IDF getting UTTERLY WASTED & WRECKED BEYOND COMPREHENSION. This is why tactical nuclear weapons would almost certainly be used in a war with Hezbollah, which may content itself with merely sending over a stream of cheap (perhaps even unarmed) drones to wear out Israels Patriot missile stores (Israels short-range native [Raytheon/Boeing-assisted] anti-rocket defenses can sometimes but are not intended to target & hit straight-line trajectory craft) So in one sense, Dreizin confirms the idea that the Gazans will be largely abandoned, not due to the strength of the IDF in conventional war, but due to the fact that its actually so fragile that Hezbollah could make great inroads in an attack, leading to a Israel to deploy nukes. Dreizin contends Hezbollah is too aware of that risk to take the chance. Another data point suggesting that Israel does not have a lot of depth, materiel-wise, right now: USAF flies (a short flight!) Syrian Civil War-era prepositioned small arms munitions (or certainly nothing heavier than mortar shells) by C-17A Globemaster III from Amman, Jordan to Ben Gurion Airport, Israel, on Sunday. Another Globemaster III took off from Amman at about the same time, and flew to Rammstein Air Base, Germany (well see if it comes to Israel on Monday.) If they have to fly this petty junk to Israel, you know its BAD Indirect confirmation comes from the fact that Hamas was able to seize the Israeli base next to Gaza. That speaks to poor discipline and motivation. Now having said all that, this is clearly an overly dynamic situation. For instance, despite the past record of inaction when Israel punished Gaza for uprisings, its not clear that would happen in the event Israel is as brutal as Netanyahu promised to be, particularly in an era of intense social media coverage. One take, from Black Mountain Analysis, is that the elite Iran Revolutionary Guards forces, known as the Quds Forces, dedicated to the liberation of Palestinians, looks to have been activated. The author then admits that take is speculative (and IMHO he draws his yarn diagram too tight) but the warning at the end of the post rings true: Israel will mobilize everything and destroy Gaza. It remains to be seen whether it will be occupied or simply leveled with other means, but it will be destroyed. The destruction and/or occupation of Gaza is unacceptable for the Arab neighbors. My friends We can expect the region to be blown up pretty soon. Mind you, I really hope to be wrong, but the odds of this sort of outcome are uncomfortably high. Yves here. The recent explosion of UFO sightings is all too convenient. I have long though but have not stuck my neck out and said that the UFO talk was to cover for experimental aircraft tests. Note we tend to assume they are manned, when Larry Johnson and others have pointed out that piloted warplanes are about as modern as cavalry. By John P. Ruehl, an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. His book, Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With an Economy Smaller Than Texas, was published in December 2022. Produced by Globetrotter Could the decades-long pursuit of unraveling the UFO mystery potentially function as a cover for advanced government research and testing programs for innovative forms of propulsion and craft design? Moreover, might the recent rollout of official government hearings signal a gradual disclosure of some of those capabilities? This scenario is worth considering, as the process of investigating UFOs comes into sharper public focus. In 2023, fascination with Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) has spiked. David Grusch, a former intelligence official who led the analysis of UAPs within the U.S. military, told a Congressional hearing in July that the United States had been collecting non-human craft for decades. At the first Republican debate on August 23rd, candidates were asked about the presidents responsibility to provide information to the public about UFOs. And on August 31st, the Pentagon launched a new website providing the public with declassified information about sightings. Mainstream intrigue surrounding UFOs was born following the 1947 Roswell incident, the crash of what was initially described by the U.S. military as a flying disc in Roswell, New Mexico, but later attributed to a weather balloon. To quell public fear and speculation, official government studies to investigate UFO/UAP reports, including Project Blue Book, Project Sign, and Project Grudge, were launched. While the government feared air warning systems could be overwhelmed by reports, it was also wary of Soviet attempts to boost false sightings and promote conspiracy theories that could instigate panic and allegations of a coverup. During the Cold War, UFO reports became common, often coinciding with missile and rocket tests (a habit which continues today). Several Sovietand U.S. military personnel also testified that UFOs were able to temporarily take control over missile and nuclear facilities. However, in 1997, the CIA revealed that the military had lied to the public throughout the Cold War about many UFO sightings to obscure its black projects and keep Moscow in the dark about technological advancements. Blaming sightings on natural phenomena like ice crystals and temperature inversions fueled public distrust toward the government and its claims about UFOs/UAPs. Many secret military aircraft were frequently mistaken for UFOs, such as the U-2 reconnaissance plane, introduced in the 1950s, which featured a gray frame that often reflected the sun. The SR-71 Blackbird meanwhile started service in 1966 and wasnt declassified until the 1990s. Its distinctive shape, speed, and altitude capabilities were often mistaken for a UFO. The B-2 Spirit, introduced in the late 1980s, also had a unique aerodynamic design and its ability to control lift, thrust, and drag at low speeds often gave the appearance that it was hovering. Since the Cold War, secretive experimental military aircraft have continued to generate UFO reports. But unexplained phenomena have also fueled conspiracy theories. In November 2004 off the coast of San Diego, Navy pilots filmed UFOs demonstrating rapid acceleration, physics-defying sudden changes in direction, and other feats in videos eventually released to the public in 2017. And despite formalizing a UFO/UAP reporting process in 2019, Navy pilots and other military personnel who have witnessed them have been hesitant to come forward due to fear of ridicule or professional repercussions. The U.S. militarys reluctance to disclose UFO/UAP information is often linked to the need to protect classified technology. Military agencies can choose to neither confirm nor deny such information exists. But when the government transparency website, the Black Vault, submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Navy for more UFO/UAP videos, it was denied because it would harm national security and may provide adversaries valuable information regarding Department of Defense/Navy operations, vulnerabilities, and/or capabilities. Releasing these videos without additional information may also be an effective way for the U.S. military to hint at its own new technological capacities for various strategic, political, and scientific reasons. Suddenly revealing these technologies could result in rising geopolitical tensions and trigger a reaction, while merely hinting at it may also serve as a deterrence to adversaries. Gradually preparing the public for emerging technologies is equally as important, while encouraging speculation about UFO/UAPs could divert attention away from classified projects. By clandestinely testing experimental new technologies on their own defenses without resorting to lethal forces, military agencies can also gain valuable insights into their capabilities and vulnerabilities in real-world scenarios. A 2021 report by the DoDs intelligence agencies also noted that many UFOs/UAPs were technologies deployed by China, Russia, another nation, or a non-governmental entity. The New York Times broke the story days before an updated version was provided to Congress in 2022. An ongoing investigation by The Warzone meanwhile suggests there are a large number of hostile drones mistaken for UFOs/UAPs that the government has until recently failed to confront. Being unable to properly identify another countrys experimental aircraft, by labeling it a UFO/UAP, would also demonstrate shortcomings in U.S. air defense systems. Similarly, releasing documentation of U.S. surveillance of other countries stealth aircraft and other technology would give them a better idea of U.S. military capabilities and would alert these countries that they were being surveilled. In addition to other countries, companies are also responsible for a significant number of UFO/UAP reports. The first drones were manufactured more than a century ago in the UK and U.S., and the capabilities of the private sector have grown considerably since then. Camouflage technology has made commercial drones increasingly difficult to clearly identify, and hundreds of drones by Chinas largest drone maker DJI, were noted to have entered restricted airspace in Washington D.C. in 2022 alone. And, of course, commercial drones can be purchased and used by other governments. Nonetheless, much of the technological developments concerning advanced aircraft stem from the U.S. military and other agencies. Since the 1970s, NASA has expanded on ideas developed by scientist and engineer Arthur Kantrowitz to use lasers to launch satellites without fuel or an engine, with successful tests carried out in the late 1990s. The U.S. Air Force and NASA have both continued developing this technology in the 21st Century, while NASA has also explored plasma propulsion technologythat may have caused numerous UFO/UAP reports. The U.S. Navy has pushed the boundaries of technology further with the development of laser-induced plasma technology, patented in 2018. This innovation can generate extremely high temperatures in the air, creating plasma that can be harnessed to form intricate shapes and lifelike optical illusions, even simulating aircraft performing seemingly impossible maneuvers. Additionally, the U.S. military has developed the ability to produce sound out of lasers, which would add an additional layer of realism to UFO/UAP sightings. Over the last few years, increasing attention has also been brought to projects by Salvatore Cezar Pais, an aerospace engineer and scientist who has worked for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). Despite lacking empirical evidence and rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific scrutiny, his alleged breakthroughs in propulsion and energy generation would serve as some of the most groundbreaking technological breakthroughs in history. Paiss patents with the U.S. Navy relate to the development of advanced propulsion systems that could potentially lead to rapid thrust technology and an abundance of clean energy generation. This includes a craft using an inertial mass reduction device, which was patented in 2018, while a patent for a plasma compression fusion device was also filed but later appeared to be abandoned. Nonetheless, documents retrieved by The Warzone through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that his inventions are being considered for the Air Force, NASA, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Of course, like U.S. President Ronald Reagans proposed Star Wars missile defense system in the 1980s, Paiss patents could be designed to bait adversaries into a costly arms race. That is not to say that these countries are not already developing their own fascinating projects. China has been drastically increasing its development of plasma technology in recent years, and alongside the UK, Germany, and Japan, is developing Active Flow Control (AFC) technology to improve aerodynamic performance in aircraft. European entities have also recently made breakthroughs in plasma propulsion technology, which may boost UFO/UAP reports across the continent. Amid these developments, it remains crucial for the public to stay engaged and informed about UFOs/UAP the more publicly observed the evidence is, the harder it becomes to manipulate. Considering the history of government audacity in crafting political and war propaganda, we should remain skeptical of the entities shaping narratives about extraplanetary intelligent life. A shift toward destigmatizing and embracing a public approach to UFOs/UAP, both domestic and foreign, is essential. Alongside the Black Vault, initiatives like the open-data Galileo Project, spearheaded by Avi Loeb from Harvard Universitys Astronomy Department, are actively seeking evidence of extraterrestrial life and pushing our understanding of outer space. By involving the public in the search for answers, we can bridge gaps in understanding and move closer to demystifying these phenomena. Canadas WILDFIRES choke Miami and South Florida with smoky air and haze The smoky conditions from more than 300 lingering and unrelenting wildfires burning out of control across Canada have drifted to Florida reaching as far south as Miami, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) reported. According to CIFFC monitoring data, Canada's wildfire season has left a total burned area of over 18.4 million hectares (45.5 acres) this year, about 6.5 times Canada's 10-year average burned area. The smoke, which was also visible from the Florida Panhandle to Jacksonville, shrouded much of the Sunshine State. This led to hazy conditions and air quality that had been rated "unhealthy" by AirNow on Tuesday, Oct. 3. "When air quality reaches unhealthy levels, everyone must take precautions, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions," said Emergency Room (ER) Medical Director Dr. Sarah LaRosa, at HCA Florida University Hospital. People and children who have a long history of lung problems, like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or any other lung conditions and respiratory illnesses, were urged to stay indoors until the air quality improves. (Related: Ways to keep indoor air clean when theres wildfire smoke in your area.) Hidden health risks of wildfire smoke Wildfires expose the population to environmental and health hazards from the combustion of natural organic matter due to the fire itself to air pollution from smoke and byproducts of combustion, such as ash. Additionally, when wildfires move into communities, toxic chemicals can be released from burning structures and furnishings from household cleaners and plastics to asbestos sidings. University of California San Francisco (UCSF) professors of medicine Dr. Arianne Teherani and Dr. Sheri Weiser explain that the bulk of wildfire smoke is composed of particulate matter, which is about 30 times smaller than a human hair. Exposures to these fine particles can affect both healthy people and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Healthy people exposed to high concentrations of air particulate pollution for days or weeks can experience breathing difficulty, eye irritation, persistent cough, phlegm, pulmonary inflammation, respiratory irritation, transient reductions in lung function and wheezing. Additionally, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), also referred to as toxic air contaminants (TACs) by the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), are also present in wildfire smoke, which may contribute to adverse health effects in infants, children, pregnant women and their fetuses, elderly persons, persons engaging in physical activity and those with existing lung, heart or liver diseases. According to data from the Stanford Environmental Change and Human Outcomes Lab, the average person in the U.S. has been exposed to far more smoke-related air pollution in 2023 than during any other year since 2006. Why Canada can't simply put out all the fires Daniel Perrakis, a fire research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service in British Columbia, said Canada most certainly does not have enough firefighters for the wildfires many of which have sprung in very remote areas. Quinn Barber, a fire science analyst at the Canadian Forest Services in Alberta, said that almost half of Canada is forest remote and untouched wilderness with no road access or any of the infrastructure needed to support firefighting activity. Driven by strong winds, wildfires can spread out 50 to 70 meters (about 164 to 230 feet) a minute in those perilous locations. "What's important to understand is that the only fires that are allowed to burn are those which do not threaten human lives, communities or other critical values," Barber said. A 2020 paper about wildfire management in Canada stated: "All provinces follow one rule above all the No. 1 priority is human life and safety. There are other protected values, such as communities, infrastructure, and natural resources and environmental values. If a wildfire doesn't put those values at risk, it could be monitored and left to burn." Visit Disaster.news for more stories like this. Watch the following video about Canadian wildfire smoke in Black Mountain, North Carolina. This video is from the Mary Hollowell channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Canadian wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality in US cities. Smoke from Canadian wildfires darkens skies, triggers health warnings for millions. Just one day of bad air can negatively affect childrens health, caution scientists. Sources include: CBSnews.com AirNow.gov UCSF.edu ClimateCentral.org NPR.org ScienceDirect.com Brighteon.com ENERGY STAR appliance program EXPOSED as massive pay-to-play scheme tied to the UN Thirty-one years ago, then-President George H. W. Bush created the ENERGY STAR program, a certification of "energy efficiency" scheme that you have probably noticed emblazoned on at least one of your home appliances. Well, it turns out that ENERGY STAR, like most things in the United States, is a total scam The very concept of "certified" energy efficiency is a myth that hinges on another myth known as "climate change," which back in 1992 when the ENERGY STAR program first began was more often referenced as "global warming." The whole thing is, as usual, a money-making scam that serves to tighten the noose on American freedom. When Papa Bush first launched ENERGY STAR, his regime claimed that government scientists had somehow developed new technologies to reduce electrical consumption in consumer products. The problem is that these alleged scientists never published any actual evidence to back their pie-in-the-sky claims. "As the government made extraordinary claims about their new premium-priced brand, very few knew it was supposedly part of a voluntary program," explains Conor Coughlin, writing for Lid Blog. "That was simply not true. The ENERGY STAR brand has been mandated for use by the government since early 1993, and the program had connections to the UN since day one." (Related: Beware of smart appliances, too evidence suggests the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] is using them to harvest data on Americans.) ENERGY STAR designed to funnel TRILLIONS of dollars to select "stakeholders" From the start, Bush lied about what ENERGY STAR even was. It was never a strictly government program designed to benefit the public interest. Instead, it was crafted in such a way to enrich the one percent while destroying the lives and liberty of everyone else. The "science" behind it came from foreign sources using what Coughlin describes as "a Multi-Agent System (MAS) known only to a few high-level Globalists." The multinational corporation that was chosen to be an authorized ENERGY STAR provider is South Korea-based Samsung. When Bill Clinton became president after Bush's reign of terror, he passed an executive order mandating that every subdivision of the government purchase only EPA-approved products with an ENERGY STAR label and approval. "That set up a massive Pay-To-Play scheme, which allowed national, regional, and state bureaucracies to act as power brokers for corporate partners that could operate under the UN's new business-driven agenda," Coughlin explains. "When considering the EPA's delusional energy-saving claims, the media supplied their own subjective judgment. They were getting paid well to portray their business partners as the UN's protector for the world's poor and downtrodden. In a process that is literally known as Virtue Signaling!" Unfortunately for Americans, the ENERGY STAR program is still evolving to become an even worse threat to the country. Just this year, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a media release stating that the program has now "advanced" to include a new energy management system for so-called "smart homes" that will supposedly help Americans to save energy, money, and of course, the climate. Since ENERGY STAR at its very inception forced the country into the United Nations' Agenda 21 Development Plan Bush was, of course, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director it only makes sense for the program to continue morphing into the wealth redistribution scam it always was. The UN Agenda 21 Development Plan, as Coughlin explains, is all about "forcing rich industrialized nations to pay the UN to protect poorer nations." And all the while, those running the show are funneling as much cash into their own pockets as possible while everyone else gets poorer. If they say it "saves energy" or provides more "efficiency," chances are it is a money-making "green" scam. Learn more at GreenTyranny.news. Sources for this article include: LidBlog.com NewsTarget.com Republican-controlled House of Representatives CUTS FUNDING to GLOBALIST institutions and the climate hoax The U.S. House of Representatives, which is dominated by the Republican Party, has cut funding to the United Nations and several other globalist institutions The House Appropriations Committee (HAC), led by its chairperson Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), approved HR 4665 on Sept. 28. The proposal determined the budget for the Department of State, U.S. foreign operations and other related programs for the 2024 fiscal year. According to a Sept. 28 statement by the HAC, the lower chamber approved the measure in a 216-212 vote. "The bill claws back $11.14 billion of the Democrats' wasteful spending over the last two years, resulting in new net spending of only $40.4 billion," the statement said. "[It also] prioritizes agencies and programs that strengthen our national security; counter the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party; provide support to our allies; and promote American values at home and abroad while cutting spending for low-priority activities and programs." According to the Daily Expose, mainstream media outlets zoomed in on the bill's allocation for Ukraine. Items in the bill worth noting, however, include prohibition of funding to several agencies under the United Nations. Such organizations include the World Health Organization, UN Population Fund and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. With the elimination of funding for the UN's regular budget under the bill, Washington is set to save $707 million an amount which can then be allocated to other needs. Moreover, it also seeks to increase accountability at the UN and other multilateral organizations, including by requiring written agreements for oversight access by American inspectors general. The Expose also mentioned that HR 4665 "prohibits funding for Special Envoys, Special Representatives, Special Coordinators and Special Advisors unless such positions are expressly authorised or have affirmatively received the advice and consent of the Senate." This prohibition eliminates 33 special envoys and special representatives at the State Department, including: Special Climate Envoy John Kerry Special Racial Equity and Justice Representative Desiree Cormier Smith Special LGBT Rights Envoy Jessica Stern Special International Labor Affairs Representative Kelly Fay Rodriguez Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr HR 4665 also cuts climate-related funding Aside from depriving globalist endeavors of much-needed funding, HR 4665 also removes allocations for the sham "climate change" narrative. According to the measure, "no funds are to be given toward the Green Climate Fund (GCF) or the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)." Established in 2010, the GCF is the world's largest climate fund that "accelerates transformative climate action in developing countries." Its funds are administered by the World Bank. Meanwhile, the CTF is one of two funds alongside the Strategic Climate Fund under the Climate Investment Funds framework. It promotes scaled-up financing for demonstration, deployment and transfer of low-carbon technologies. The World Bank also administers the CTF's funds, in the same manner as that of the GCF. Its funds are then channeled through various financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank. HR 4665 also prohibits the Department of the Treasury from carrying out the Biden administration's climate agenda at the World Bank and other multilateral development banks. This, according to the bill, harms developing countries and opens the door to predatory financing from Communist China. The measure also mandates the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on climate funding during the Biden administration to demonstrate that it has had no measurable impact on temperatures and merely wasted taxpayer funds. Lastly, the bill which is currently in the U.S. Senate after the lower chamber's approval eliminates counterproductive climate programs that harm energy security and economic development in underdeveloped countries. Such programs, it warns, leaves nations "even more dependent on U.S. aid and more vulnerable to the malign activities" of both China and Russia. Head over to Liberty.news for more similar stories. Watch Dr. Pam Popper discussing how the U.S. government has stopped funding for virus hunters below. This video is from the Wellness Forum Health channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill contains "sinister" depopulation provisions: $575M to be spent on abortions in areas with high population growth. BILLIONS in taxpayer-funded subsidies are going to foreign corporations thanks to Biden's signature climate law. Ukraine received $1.25 billion grant from US taxpayers to pay the wages of government employees. US govt is FUNDING invasion camps in Central America exclusive interview with Michael Yon. Sources include: Expose-News.com Appropriations.House.gov Brighteon.com WSJ: Iran helped Hamas plan its surprise attack on Israel, shortly after Biden handed them $6 billion When Hamas launched its horrific surprise attack on Israel, invading it by land, air, and sea, many observers immediately believed that Iran was involved somehow. While Hamas has always had the desire to obliterate Israel, they havent had the means to do so. However, the sophisticated tactics used this weekend and the unprecedented scale of the attack have made it painfully obvious that Iran was involved, and now the Wall Street Journal has confirmed this suspicion The publication reported that Iranian security officials not only helped with the planning of the attack, but they also green-lit the plan during a recent meeting in Beirut. Moreover, sources from Hamas and another terrorist group backed by Iran, Hezbollah, said that officers from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been working with Hamas for several months to plan sea, land and air incursions. Numerous meetings were held in the Lebanese capital to come up with the details of the attacks, and they were attended by officers from the IRGC as well as Hamas and Hezbollah. Not surprisingly, the Biden administration has been reluctant to admit what the Wall Street Journal and other publications have already confirmed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview on Sunday with CNN: We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship. This could be due, at least in part, to Bidens desire to protect his chances of being reelected and keep the price of gas from climbing too much before election day. However, other officials without these concerns have confirmed the WSJs assertion that Iran was involved, including a Syrian government adviser and a European official. In addition, a spokesperson for Hamas, Ghazi Hamad, told the BBC that they received support from Iran. Unfortunately, the reports say that the IRGC has an overarching plan to develop a threat to Israel from all sides, with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza and the West Bank and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Hezbollah in the north. Extremists in Lebanon fired a dozen rockets into Israel today, spurring fears that Hezbollah is about to join the attack. The Washington Institute for Near East Policys Michael Knights told NBC News that any time an Iranian proxy like Hamas or the Shiite militias in Iraq suddenly show a big advancement in the sophistication of their attacks, it generally turns out that Iran has been helping them. This would also answer the question of how the militants managed to make it over the heavily fortified border from Gaza into Israel despite cutting-edge security measures and protection from one of the best military forces in the world. Backing from Iran could equip Hamas fighters with the technology and intelligence they need to breach this security. Brutal attacks have killed hundreds and injured thousands So far, the attacks have left more than 800 Israelis dead, with thousands more injured, and these numbers are expected to rise. Many Israelis have been taken hostage, with the attackers showing no mercy and kidnapping small children and elderly people. Americans are among the dead and hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to unleash a mighty vengeance against Hamas. Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus noted: Without Iran's funding, weapons, training, guidance and political incitement, Hamas would not have the capability nor the capacity. $6 billion recently handed to Iran by the Biden administration freed up more money to fund terrorism While Iran has long been in a position to support its proxies, the $6 billion that was unfrozen just weeks ago in a prisoner swap between the U.S. and Iran undoubtedly emboldened them. The Biden administration agreed to transfer the funds to Tehran in exchange for the release of five U.S citizens detained there. While Blinken has claimed that Iran hasnt been able to spend the money yet and there are stipulations on its use, no one can deny that knowing these funds are now available to them could have made them more willing to dig deep into their pockets in funding the Hamas attacks. Representative Dan Bishop (R-North Carolina) wrote on X: Biden just gave Hamas sponsor Iran $6 billion. Today, innocent Israeli citizens have paid with their lives for his and the Obama holdovers' venal incompetence. America must unflinchingly support Israel's right of self defense in all its fullness. God bless and save Israel. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NBCNews.com TimesOfIsrael.com LA City Council backs ban on cashless retail businesses Los Angeles, California has moved a step closer to banning cashless retail businesses after its city council proposed that cash should remain a viable option for in-person transactions. This motion initially presented in August by Councilwoman Heather Hutt and supported by three other council members seeks to protect people in LA from complying with going cashless. Hutt emphasized that "millions of Americans do not hold bank accounts or otherwise fall outside the non-cash financial system." "Some do this by choice because they are concerned about privacy and do not want their every financial transaction recorded by banks and credit card companies. Others may not be able to participate in the formal banking system, or may be excluded from that system against their will," Hutt said. "Physical cash [still] remains the most accessible anonymous medium of exchange in this country." Her colleagues endorsed the motion in a unanimous 13-0 vote on Oct. 3. Moreover, the councilwoman pointed out that transitioning to a cashless system could exclude the majority who may not meet credit card age requirements yet, and those who have no plans on adopting digital payment methods. Similarly, Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) noted that 55 million Americans still lack access to digital payments for essential goods and services. As a response to the issue, Payne along with other members of Congress introduced the Payment Choice Act in June 2023 to prohibit businesses from refusing to accept cash for in-person retail purchases. (Related: British activist threatened with arrest for using CASH in cashless Aldi grocery.) Cashless payment another form of surveillance and attack on privacy Advocates argue that cashless payments could reduce crime, save on currency production costs and minimize the spread of germs. But in reality, the push to eliminate cash as a form of payment is just another step to increase government and Big Tech surveillance. Writing for the Epoch Times, Stormwall Advisors founder Michael Wilkerson, pointed out that cashless payment benefits financial institutions and government agencies more than the public. "Financial institutions greatly benefit from the billions of dollars made every year on credit card and payment transaction fees. Government agencies certainly also benefit, as the tax authorities, intelligence agencies, and other three-letter entities are able to fully surveil digital transactions, not just for tax compliance but, more ominously, for political compliance," he wrote in a February 2023 op-ed. According to Wilkerson, the push for cashless payment gained traction during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Eliminating the need for hard currency, such as coins and paper bills, reportedly reduced the risk of passing contagious germs at the time. People fear that the implementation of cashless payment is driven by a desire to control financial assets and may pave the way for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), according to the wealth manager. "The greatest danger here is that total surveillance of all financial transactions provides governments with enormous persuasive power over their citizens. Social credit scores are the next step. Thinking of spending on opposition political parties or perhaps buying a firearm? Only if youre allowed to, and then at great risk to yourself," Wilkerson wrote. Visit Resist.news for more stories about pushbacks against a cashless society. Watch this video about British activist Piers Corbyn's refusal to comply with Aldi's cashless policy by paying for strawberries using hard currency. This video is from the MEGA (Make Earth Great Again) channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Cashless society: Panera Bread debuts "frictionless" palm payment system. CASHLESS TYRANNY: EU launches testing of biometric payments from digital wallets. DIGITAL PRISON: ALDI grocery stores in London now requiring digital, cashless purchases. No cash or cards allowed: Major supermarkets set to accept only BIOMETRICS payment. Dozens of Whole Foods stores in California unveil cashless payment system using the palm of your hand. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 PayneHouse.gov TheEpochTimes.com 2 Brighteon.com Thousands of fish are dead downstream of Green Peter Reservoir, and its a direct result of an action that was supposed to encourage the survival of another fish species, officials say. Sweet Home resident William Kenyon goes fishing at Sunnyside Park every weekend. But he didnt get beyond the banks on Saturday, Oct. 7. A Place to Sleep - episode 2: Albany, part II Last week we introduced Dusty Bryant, who police evicted from Albany's designated resting site for homeless individuals. This week, we check in to see what's happening with Dusty. The first thing I noticed was the water was muddy, and I didnt think anything of it, Kenyon said. When he got closer, though, what he thought may have been debris became more apparent. Hundreds of dead fish. They looked to be the very species he had come to catch that morning: kokanee. Its a species of landlocked, sockeye salmon that looks similar to a trout, he said. Some of them were still twitching, he said. Kenyon felt a rush of anger. It felt like something could have been done to prevent whatever happened, he said. Kenyon isnt sure what exactly happened that caused thousands of fish to die. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the entity responsible for maintaining the site, has figured it out. Back in June, the Green Peter and Lookout Point reservoirs were drawn down to historically low levels. The action was done with the intent to aid the survival of passing endangered salmon species. But now another species of salmon, the kokanee, is dying in the process. In 2021, a federal court required Army Corps officials to improve the fish passage and water quality for chinook and steelhead salmon, both of which are designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The two fish species hatch in river freshwaters and then migrate to the ocean. After several years they return to the river from which they hatched to spawn and continue the life cycle. Changing the operations of Green Peter Reservoir was done to grant the fish a safer passage to move downstream through the Santiam River and eventually back to the ocean. To abide by the ruling, the Army Corps of Engineers has gotten away from encouraging migration via a turbine system, opting instead for what's called regulating outfits which involve a hole with a gate. After moving through the regulating outlets, the kokanee become injured by the dramatic change in water pressure. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife determined they had died from barotrauma, Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Kerry Solan said. Its essentially what human divers experience when they change water depths too quickly, referred to as the bends. We havent seen this historically, Solan said. The entity became aware of the fish mortality Friday morning, Oct. 6. Its true that there are always some fish that get barotrauma, which affects fishs swim bladders, an organ used to regulate water pressure. But the amount of fish is unprecedented, said Greg Taylor, supervisor fisheries biologist for the Army Corps of Engineers. He oversees fish operations in the Willamette Valley. Weve never seen this many fish pass, Taylor said. The reason we are seeing the fish pass is related to the drawdown. The drawdown was meant to help the two endangered species move more safely downstream. The regulating outlet is essentially a hole with a gate on it in the depths of the reservoir. The water levels were lowered, so that the chinook and steelhead salmon could access this point of entry, which is normally too deep for them. Taylor called the kokanee a victim of circumstance. The casualties were not linked to the species of fish but had more to do with timing. It could have happened to another species if they were in those depths at the time of year, he said. The kokanee just werent able to handle the rapid change in pressure. Some Linn County officials are condemning the U.S. District Court's order. We are disappointed and devastated, said Linn County Commissioner Roger Nyquist. This is the result of the judge's order. Sweet Home residents have expressed concerns about their drinking water. In response, the city wrote a Facebook post. We are constantly testing the water and our treatment facility for quality. Sweet Homes drinking water is still safe to drink and use as normal, the post reads. Since Friday morning, Linn County Parks & Recreation Director Stacey Whaley has received numerous calls about the thousands of dead fish downstream of Green Peter reservoir. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help (copy) Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. We are concerned for many reasons, Whaley said, We are concerned about public health, and we are concerned about recreation and people being able to use the space. Some of the thousands of dead fish are beginning to show up downstream of Green Peter, at Foster Reservoir and Sunnyside, she said. Whaley said dogs visiting the area should not eat the dead fish. She cautioned owners to keep their pets on a leash. As for cleanup, it seems like the strategy is to let nature take its course and allow the nutrients to return to the water, she said. Whaley has been in close contact with the Army Corps of Engineers, she said. The Army Corps of Engineers is taking data and monitoring the incident and may set forth changes to improve the operation, Taylor said. Corporate media hypes Pope Francis support of SAME-SEX MARRIAGE Two mainstream media (MSM) outlets have hyped Pope Francis' expression of support for same-sex marriage , which aligns with the globalist agenda he is pushing. The pontiff held a meeting with Catholic bishops on the future of the Catholic Church last Oct. 4. Among the proposals was to "not stand in the way of blessings of same-sex unions in the church" something that directly opposes its teachings. Paragraph 1614 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions marriage as "the union of man and woman" not woman and woman, or man and man. According to the New York Post, the pope's remarks came as a response to five conservative cardinals who penned a letter challenging him to affirm certain church teachings. Some of the teachings the cardinals brought up include the LGBT community, women's ordination and papal authority. But two MSM outlets in the U.S. ABC and CBS even lauded the heresy pushed by Pope Francis, and even uncritically promoted the idea of allowing "same-sex marriage" in the church. Such an idea espoused by the leftist news networks would be tantamount to the desecration of the world's greatest religion. David Muir, an anchor on ABC's "World News Tonight" provided a news brief on what happened in the Vatican during a broadcast on the same day as the meeting. "[Meanwhile] at the Vatican, Pope Francis [is] actually signaling change when it comes to same-sex couples at a gathering to discuss the future of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis [is] making it clear he would not stand in the way of blessings of same-sex unions in the church the pontiff stressing 'everyone is welcome in the church.'" (Related: Pope Francis endorses LGBTQ marriage in new documentary film.) CBS went the extra mile in promoting heresy While ABC simply reported the news straightaway, CBS went the extra mile in rationalizing the heretical idea of same-sex marriage. The Argentinian pontiff born Jorge Mario Bergoglio has previously expressed his acceptance of homosexuality, which is likewise pushed by the globalist overlords he often mingles with. "Pope Francis opened an important meeting of Catholic bishops on the future of the church," reported Norah O'Donnell, anchor for "CBS Evening News" on the CBS network. "Among the controversial topics whether priests can marry, women can become deacons and if priests can bless same-sex marriages." She then handed the segment off to CBS correspondent Chris Livesay, who reported on the meeting from Rome. He said the pontiff drafted a letter in response to the five cardinals, adding that this correspondence "opens the door for priests to bless same-sex unions." "'We cannot be judges who only deny, reject and exclude,' declared the pontiff," Livesay reported. "This summer, Pope Francis called some of his conservative critics in the U.S. backwards." Livesay then provoked a back-and-forth between two individuals on opposite sides of the argument. He interviewed Jamie Manson, a lesbian and president of the group Catholics for Choice. Canon lawyer Fr. Gerald Murray, a conservative priest who hails from Manhattan, was also interviewed. The CBS correspondent described Manson as a "women's rights activist and devout Catholic." According to Livesay, Pope Francis' remarks "opens the church tent for LGBT couples, like [Manson] and her partner of four years." "As queer people, we want to believe that God blesses our love," she told Livesay. "Affirming and embracing everyone only makes the church stronger. It is a very slim minority of Catholics who are opposed to same-sex unions." "That's what they wish, but it's not," Murray remarked. "For the pope to say that priests and bishops can find a way to do this, it's wrong. He shouldn't do it." The canon lawyer also referenced Manson's remarks about the tent being opened for LGBT couples, which Livesay brought up in his question. "The harm is that it contradicts Catholic teaching," Murray said. Visit GayMafia.news for more stories about same-sex marriages. Watch Fr. James Altman warning that Pope Francis is not the pope in the video below. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Pope Francis declares 'Jesus is Satan', vows to usher in 'One World Religion.' Pope Francis' American cardinals are pro-LGBT revolutionaries with a radical agenda for the Church. False prophet? Pope Francis hosts bizarre drag queen-like circus performance in creepy reptilian-shaped Vatican Hall. Sources include: NewsBusters.org SCBorromeo.org NYPost.com Brighteon.com 6 New cases of DEADLY Nipah virus infection reported in India Six new laboratory-confirmed cases of the deadly Nipah virus infection have been reported in Kozhikode, a city in the state of Kerala in India. Kerala is no stranger to the virus, having reported several cases exclusively since 2018 This is now the sixth outbreak of the Nipah virus in India, which reported its first case in 2001. According to news released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the six new cases were all males aged between nine and 45 years. The first case, whose source of infection could not be determined, died back in August a few days after being admitted to a hospital. The other five cases were all close contacts of the deceased, two of whom were family members. The rest happened to be at the same hospital where the deceased was treated. A second individual who was only accompanying another patient at the same hospital was reported to have died of the infection. As of Sept. 27, the four remaining confirmed cases were all declared to be clinically stable. Kerala officials have traced 1,288 people who have had close contact with the six confirmed cases. These included healthcare workers who have come into contact with the patients or their samples. The local government has ordered all to remain in quarantine for 21 days. Similar to what many countries did during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, officials in Kerala imposed movement restrictions to prevent further spread of the Nipah virus. Nine villages in Kozhikode were declared to be containment zones where schools and offices were forced to shut down. Social distancing and mask-wearing were once again mandated in public places, and public events were restricted. According to the National Institute of Virology in Pune, India, the recent outbreak was caused by the Indian Genotype (I-Genotype) of the Nipah virus, which bears similarities to the strain reported in neighboring Bangladesh. (Related: Next PLANDEMIC? CDC warns Marburg virus is coming.) Facts about the Nipah virus Like the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19, the Nipah virus came from bats, specifically fruit bats from the genus Pteropus known as the flying foxes. The virus is described as zoonotic, meaning it can be transferred from animals to humans. The Nipah virus is related to the Hendra virus, which is known to cause respiratory and neurologic diseases in horses and humans. Like the Nipah virus, the Hendra virus' natural reservoir is the flying fox. Symptoms of Nipah virus infection in humans range from asymptomatic to mild or severe acute respiratory infection or fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain's active tissues). The virus has an incubation period of four to 14 days, although longer incubation periods of up to 45 days have been reported. Initial symptoms of the infection are non-specific, making detection quite challenging. Infected individuals have reported developing fever, headaches, muscle pain, sore throat and vomiting, followed at times by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness and early signs of acute encephalitis. Others have manifested signs of atypical pneumonia and acute respiratory distress. In severe cases, brain inflammation, which causes the organ to swell, leads to seizures that can progress to coma within 24 to 48 hours. Based on a tally of reported cases in South and Southeast Asia, the Nipah virus has a case fatality rate of 40 to 75 percent, depending on where the outbreak occurs and local capabilities to handle the disease. There are currently no specific medications or vaccines for the Nipah virus. Treatment options typically include pain management, respiratory support, hydration and rest for mild cases, or intensive supportive care for patients with severe respiratory or neurological symptoms. Nipah virus outbreaks in Asia First discovered in Malaysia in 1999, the Nipah virus caused an outbreak among local pig farmers, who caught the disease due to unprotected contact with secretions from infected pigs. The outbreak resulted in 265 cases and 108 deaths. (Related: British government sounds alarm over alleged spread of new killer virus in Europe.) During this first outbreak, the Nipah virus also spread to neighboring Singapore, which reported 11 infections and one death. Since then, there have been no recorded cases of Nipah in both countries, but outbreaks have been reported almost annually elsewhere. In 2001, Bangladesh saw its first Nipah outbreak, with a total of 237 reported cases. But unlike what happened in Malaysia, infections occurred without an intermediate animal host (pigs). Instead, they were linked to the consumption of fresh or fermented sap from silver date palm trees contaminated with bat saliva or urine. Human-to-human transmission also took place and helped spread the virus. That same year, India also reported its first Nipah outbreak in the city of Siliguri in West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh. The virus infected a total of 66 people and killed 45. According to reports, 75 percent of the cases occurred among hospital staff and visitors, suggesting that most of the infections were caused by human-to-human transmission. Bangladesh has since reported Nipah cases almost every year. Between 2001 and 2012, the virus infected a total of 209 people, 161 (77 percent) of whom did not survive. Meanwhile, India's West Bengal state reported a second outbreak in 2007, which also had a high mortality rate. The Nipah virus killed 70 percent of those infected during the two outbreaks. The state of Kerala in the southernmost part of India reported its first Nipah outbreak in 2018, which claimed 21 lives. Subsequent cases in 2019 and 2021 were only individual cases, but the latter a 12-year-old boy succumbed to the disease due to acute encephalitis. The recent outbreak in Kerala is the first time since 2018 that the virus has managed to infect more than one individual in the state. On Sept. 27, unconfirmed reports of a Nipah virus outbreak in the city of Cagayan de Oro in the southern part of the Philippines prompted local officials to suspend classes at all levels. The order was issued after several students and personnel from different universities and colleges in the city reported "flu-like" symptoms that included fever, coughs and colds. The Philippine Department of Health quickly assuaged fears of a Nipah outbreak the following day, noting that the symptoms exhibited by infected individuals were typical of common viral infections. Nevertheless, the agency has ordered surveillance to monitor possible cases. Although the Philippines has not confirmed a single case of Nipah infection, it reported an outbreak of the related Hendra virus in 2014. Like Nipah, this henipavirus is transmitted by fruit bats and can cause severe encephalitis. The case fatality rate among those who developed acute encephalitis was reported to be 82 percent. Read more stories about viral outbreaks at Plague.info. Watch the following video to learn more about the Nipah virus. This video is from the The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Chlorine dioxide found to halt African swine fever virus: STUDY. UK public health authorities incite fresh fears about tick-borne brain disease virus. Marburg virus kills 5 in Tanzania; over 100 feared to be infected. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com ThePrint.in WHO.int 1 NatureWorldNews.com CDC.gov 1 CDC.gov 2 WHO.int 2 UTMB.edu MDPI.com Journals.LWW.com Reuters.com FrontiersIn.org ManilaTimes.net GMANetwork.com CDC.gov 3 Brighteon.com Globalist-parroting pope blames Western lifestyles, particularly Americans, for bringing the climate crisis to a breaking point Pope Francis just proved how he favors the left cult's drive to promote fear in relation to the current "climate crisis" via his ecology-focused encyclical , which is being called his strongest statement yet on the issue. On Oct. 4, the Vatican released the 7,000-word new apostolic letter called "Laudate Deum," which directly translates to "Praise God." Critics agreed that Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg would be "happy" that the pope lambasted Western lifestyles and big industries that are bringing the world to a "breaking point," pointing to Americans in particular. According to him, it is verifiable that specific climate changes provoked by humanity are notably heightening the probability of extreme phenomena that are increasingly frequent and intense. "For this reason, we know that every time the global temperature increases by 0.5 C, the intensity and frequency of great rains and floods increase in some areas, severe droughts in others, extreme heat waves in some places, and heavy snowfall in others," the head of the Catholic Church said. "[The] heat waves will be much more frequent and with greater intensity. If it should rise above two degrees, the icecaps of Greenland and a large part of Antarctica will melt completely, with immensely grave consequences for everyone." With these, Francis pointed out that the world is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point. The pontiff wrote: "Some effects of the climate crisis are already irreversible, at least for several hundred years, such as the increase in the global temperature of the oceans, their acidification and the decrease of oxygen." Globalists, environmental advocates and the mainstream media are lauding the pope for his statement, and are also denouncing those who do not believe in the climate change scam. (Related: MSM receives billions of dollars from globalists to fabricate coordinated, fearmongering-based climate change propaganda pretending to be "news.") "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," Francis wrote, adding that ignoring the accelerating climate change process will only advance "the probability of extreme phenomena that are increasingly frequent and intense." He was also after the U.S. and the Americans, criticizing them in particular while appearing to give China somewhat of a pass: "If we consider that emissions per individual in the United States are about two times greater than those of individuals living in China and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries, we can state that a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact." Pope Francis rebukes 'irresponsible' US on climate change compared to China, says world's at 'breaking point' https://t.co/1mpuqNMcNj Fox News (@FoxNews) October 5, 2023 His statement is a follow-up to his 2015 pontifical writing titled "Laudato Si" (Praised Be To You), which has been a "cornerstone of his papacy." It also came ahead of the UN COP28 climate conference, which starts at the end of November in Dubai, where countries will undergo a "global stocktake" to assess how quickly they are progressing towards climate goals. Woke Pope is open to blessing same-sex unions Meanwhile, reports revealed earlier this week that conservative Catholics have been frustrated by Pope Francis' "liberal" yet vague statements which make the church depart from longtime doctrine. Some traditional Catholics are warning that his agenda is to 'revolutionize' the Vatican in a decidedly leftward direction. The latest one is that he said he would be open to having the Catholic Church bless same-sex couples when asked by a group of cardinals for clarity on the issue. His answer was that any request for a blessing should be treated with "pastoral charity. "We cannot be judges who only deny, reject, and exclude." In the Catholic Church, a blessing is a prayer or plea, usually delivered by a minister, asking for God to look favorably on the person or people being blessed. BBC reported that bishops in a number of countries, including Belgium and Germany, have begun to allow priests to bless same-sex couples, but the position of Church authorities remained unclear. "Pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or more persons, that do not convey a mistaken concept of marriage," he said. To others, this meant that blessing should be case-by-case basis and should not necessarily become a norm. However, the pope may have forgotten that as recently the spring of 2021, he approved a decree from the Vatican's doctrinal office forbidding priests from blessing same-sex unions. He also stressed that such partnerships are sinful and as such could not be blessed. Earlier this year, when Pope Francis talked of homosexuality not being a crime, he still talked of it as being a sin. Conservatives are now confused about the pontiff's real stance on this issue. Visit ClimateAlarmism.news for more stories about the climate hoax. Sources for this article include: Press.Vatican.va ZeroHedge.com Edition.CNN.com BBC.com The 'superbolt' lightning, which is extremely rare and has a 1000x increase in force over regular lightning, is the strongest in the world. A team of scientists investigated what makes it so powerful. Rare 'Superbolt' Lightning Superbolts are extremely rare and intense lightning strikes that account for fewer than 1% of all lightning strikes. A recent study has shed more light on why these incredible voltage surges can deliver up to a thousand times more energy than typical blows. Through the aid of the World Wide Lightning Location Network of radio sensors, researchers from the University of Washington and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel examined data from worldwide lightning strikes that occurred between 2010 and 2018. The key discovery is that superbolts are more likely to occur the closer the electrical charging zone of a storm cloud is to the land or ocean's surface. The higher part of the cloud, where electrification occurs, is known as the charging zone. The results are consistent with other studies that showed that superbolt lightning was more frequently observed near the Mediterranean Sea, the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and the Altiplano plateau that runs across Bolivia and Peru. The distances between the charging zones and the chilly ocean or high-altitude mountain surfaces are all relatively small in these places. Charging Zone and Freezing Temperature The charging zone generates above the level where the air temperature is 32 F, which explains this. Higher altitude mountains compel the air to rise, which cools it and moves the level of 32 F closer to the surface. Cold air over the ocean also contributes to this effect. Shorter distances are thought to have less electrical resistance, resulting in stronger currents and more violent lightning strikes. The association seen is quite significant and evident, according to physicist Avichay Efraim of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and it happens in the three zones. The team plotted a variety of data against lightning intensity, including the height of the charge zone, the height of the land and ocean surface, the temperatures at various cloud formation levels, and the concentrations of aerosols, or small particles, in the clouds. Although these correlations have been examined in earlier studies, no one has ever put these findings together in a comprehensive manner. Unlike previous studies, the scientists did not find a connection between superbolt lightning and the mixture of aerosols, such as desert dust. When one of these superbolts strikes, it can seriously harm nearby structures as well as seagoing vessels. By being able to pinpoint the locations where supercharged lightning is most likely to strike, these new discoveries should be helpful. Also Read: Strange Blue Glow with Lightning Bolts: Warning For Then-Impending Deadly Morocco Earthquake? Climate Change and Solar Cycle Climate change is another topic that is relevant here, according to the scientists. It is important to determine whether or not superbolt lightning will occur more frequently as the earth warms, as well as how changes in temperature and moisture will affect the weather. These are concerns that will require further study, and the team is eager to continue looking into potential influences on superbolt generation, such as modifications to the solar cycle or the Earth's magnetic field. Although there is still a lot that is unknown, what they have learned here is a significant piece of the picture, according to Efraim. Related Article: Gigantic Jets of Lightning 50x Stronger Than Regular Bolts Shoot Upwards From Hurricane Franklin - Puerto Rico Tigers are majestic and endangered animals that face many threats from human activities, such as poaching, habitat loss, and conflict with villagers. To protect these magnificent creatures and the people who live near them, conservationists are turning to artificial intelligence (AI), a set of technologies that can mimic human reasoning and decision-making. TrailGuard: An AI camera system for tigers One of the most innovative projects using AI for tiger conservation is TrailGuard, a camera system developed by experts from Clemson University in South Carolina and several NGOs. TrailGuard is a tiny device that can be placed around enclosures or corridors where tigers roam, both to protect villagers from the predators-and the predators from poachers1. It uses AI to distinguish between tigers and other species, and relay images to park rangers or villagers within seconds. This way, the authorities can respond quickly to any potential threats or incidents involving tigers, such as poaching attempts, attacks on livestock, or human-tiger encounters. According to the research published in the BioScience journal, TrailGuard was the first AI camera to identify and transmit a picture of a tiger, and it has almost eliminated false alarms-when traps are triggered by passing boars or falling leaves. "We have to find ways for people and tigers and other wildlife to coexist," Eric Dinerstein, one of the authors of the report and the tech team leader at the Resolve NGO, told AFP. "Technology can offer us a tremendous opportunity to achieve that goal very cheaply." The research said that TrailGuard was immediately effective, picking up a tiger just 300 meters from a village and identifying a team of poachers on another occasion. The camera system is currently being deployed in India and Nepal, two countries that host more than half of the world's tiger population. Also Read: Tiger Stripes: Mathematical Models Explain Pattern, Orientation Other AI applications for wildlife conservation TrailGuard is not the only example of how AI can help wildlife conservation. Many other projects use AI to enhance the established methods of wildlife surveillance, such as camera traps, acoustic sensors, drones, and satellite imagery. For instance, researchers in Gabon use AI to sift through their camera trap images and identify different animals. They are also testing a warning system for elephants that can alert villagers when the animals are approaching their crops or settlements. In the Amazon rainforest, teams are piloting equipment that can detect the sounds of chainsaws, tractors, and other machinery associated with deforestation. The devices can send alerts to local authorities or NGOs that can intervene to stop illegal logging activities. Another initiative is Wildlife Insights, a project launched by Google in collaboration with researchers and NGOs four years ago. Wildlife Insights collects millions of images from camera traps around the world and uses AI to automate the process of identifying species and labeling images. This saves many hours of tedious work for researchers and allows them to access and analyze large amounts of data faster. Dinerstein believed that technology is crucial for achieving the goal of ensuring that 30 percent of the Earth's land and oceans are designated as protected zones by 2030, as agreed by dozens of governments last year. The researcher hopes that technology can help monitor these zones and facilitate the movement of animals between them. Related article: Tiger Population On The Rise For The First Time After 100 Years Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a serious and growing threat to global health, sickening an estimated 2 million people in the United States each year. There is strong evidence that some resistance in bacteria is caused by antibiotic use in food animals (cattle, poultry, swine). Antibiotics are used in animal feed for various purposes, such as treating diseases, boosting growth, improving feed utilization, and reducing mortality. However, this practice can lead to the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in the environment and the food chain. In 2017, the Chinese government banned the use of colistin, a last-line antibiotic for human infections, as a growth promoter in animal feed in response to the rapid spread of colistin-resistant E. coli carrying mobile colistin resistance (MCR) genes. The ban led to a 90% reduction in colistin consumption, and scientists expected to see a corresponding drop in rates of AMR. However, large-scale surveillance studies across China following the ban found that the decline in the MCR-1 gene was slower than anticipated. A new study led by the University of Oxford has found that the natural evolution of ARGs has maintained resistance in bacteria despite a reduction in the use of antibiotics. How evolution stabilizes resistance genes The researchers at the University of Oxford focused on the regulatory region of DNA that controls the expression of the mcr-1 gene. They found that this region shows high levels of variation and that certain variants were able to offset the fitness costs of the mcr-1 gene. By "fine tuning" mcr-1 expression to a lower level, these variants enabled the bacteria to achieve high growth rates while simultaneously increasing colistin resistance. The researchers then analyzed DNA sequence data from E. coli carrying mcr-1 from before and after the colistin ban. They found that the frequency of low-expression variants increased significantly after the ban, indicating that natural selection favored these variants in the absence of antibiotic pressure. The researchers also performed laboratory experiments to confirm that low-expression variants had higher fitness and resistance than high-expression variants. The study demonstrates how evolution can rapidly stabilize resistance genes in pathogen populations, reducing the impact of restricting antibiotic consumption. Professor Craig Maclean, the lead author of the study, said: "Our study shows how evolution can rapidly stabilize resistance genes in pathogen populations, reducing the impact of restricting antibiotic consumption. Limiting consumption is one of the most widely advocated strategies to combat AMR, and the main lesson of our work moving forward is that we need new, innovative strategies to actively eliminate AMR bacteria." Also Read: Babies' Health: Antibiotics Can Cause Gut Microbiome Disturbances in Infants What are the alternatives to antibiotics in animal feed? The most straightforward measure for reducing the use of antibiotics in animal production is to ban or minimize the use of antibiotics as growth promoters. The Codex Alimentarius specifically advises that antibiotics should not be used in feed for growth-promoting purposes in the absence of a public health safety assessment, and that, in any case, their use should be minimized. But other critical measures must also be pursued. One is the development of alternatives to antibiotics that work via similar mechanisms, promoting growth and increased production yield whilst enhancing the efficiency of feed conversion and promoting animal health and welfare. Some examples of potential alternatives are probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, organic acids, enzymes, phytogenics, bacteriophages, and vaccines. These alternatives may have different modes of action, such as modulating gut microbiota, enhancing the immune system, inhibiting pathogen growth, or enhancing nutrient digestion. Another is ensuring good hygiene, biosecurity measures, and general conditions on farms to prevent the need for any medicines in the first place. If animal production and transport environment and conditions are improved, for instance by reducing stock density and stress, or by increasing hygiene and by introducing disease control techniques, then the actual need for growth promoters may be removed. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) works to promote these measures with a variety of stakeholders in the livestock sector. Reducing antibiotic usage in animal feed is not enough to combat AMR. It is also necessary to understand how resistance genes evolve and persist in bacteria and to develop and implement effective alternatives and preventive strategies. This will require a coordinated effort from governments, researchers, farmers, veterinarians, and consumers to ensure a sustainable and healthy future for both humans and animals. Related article: Continuous-Flow Cefazolin: A New Method for Producing Antibiotics That Can Meet the Demand and Reduce Waste Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest freshwater lake in the world. It is home to more than 500 species of cichlid fish, which are among the most diverse and colorful freshwater fishes on the planet. Cichlids are known for their remarkable ability to adapt to different ecological niches and rapidly diversify into new species. However, the origin and evolution of Lake Victoria's cichlids have been a mystery for a long time, as the lake itself is relatively young (less than one million years old) and has experienced dramatic environmental changes in its history. Mud cores as a window to the past To unravel the secrets of Lake Victoria's cichlids, a team of biologists from Switzerland and Tanzania used a novel approach: they collected and analyzed mud cores from the lake bottom. Mud cores are cylindrical samples of sediment that contain layers of organic and inorganic materials that accumulate over time. By examining the mud cores, scientists can reconstruct the past environmental conditions and biological communities of the lake. The researchers extracted mud cores from different locations and depths of Lake Victoria, covering a time span of about 15,000 years. They used various methods to date the sediment layers and identify the fossils, pollen, algae, and chemical elements present in them. Moreover, they compared the mud cores with those from other nearby lakes, such as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Malawi, which are much older and have more stable environments. Diversification of cichlids led to their success The results of the mud core analysis revealed that Lake Victoria's cichlids underwent a rapid diversification event about 14,600 years ago, coinciding with a period of low water level and high salinity in the lake. This event resulted in the emergence of many new cichlid species that occupied different habitats and fed on different resources. The researchers found that the diversification of cichlids was driven by ecological opportunity and natural selection, rather than by geographical isolation or hybridization. They also discovered that the diversification of cichlids enabled them to survive and thrive in the deep waters of Lake Victoria, which were previously dominated by other fish groups. The deep-water cichlids developed adaptations such as large eyes, long snouts, and bioluminescence to cope with the low-light and high-pressure conditions. According to the study, it is estimated that about 60% of Lake Victoria's cichlid species live in the deep waters, making it one of the most diverse deep-water fish communities in the world. The study of mud cores from Lake Victoria suggested that the diversification of cichlid fish led to their success in colonizing and exploiting a dynamic and challenging environment. The study also highlights the importance of preserving Lake Victoria's biodiversity, which is threatened by human activities such as overfishing, pollution, and invasive species. Also Read: Sting Rays and Cichlids: These Clever Animals Can Do Basic Addition and Subtraction! Cichlids as a model for evolutionary biology The extraordinary diversity and rapid evolution of cichlids have attracted the attention of many evolutionary biologists who seek to understand the mechanisms and patterns of speciation and adaptation. Cichlids are considered a model system for studying these processes, as they offer several advantages: they are easy to breed and observe in captivity, they have relatively small genomes that can be sequenced and manipulated, they exhibit a wide range of phenotypic traits that can be measured and quantified, and they have multiple independent radiations that can be compared and contrasted. Recent advances in genomic technologies have enabled researchers to sequence and analyze the genomes of several cichlid species from different lakes and regions. These studies have revealed some of the genetic features that may have facilitated or accelerated the evolution of cichlids, such as gene duplication, gene conversion, transposable elements, chromosomal rearrangements, hybridization, epigenetics, and gene expression regulation. These features may have increased the genetic variation and plasticity of cichlids, allowing them to adapt rapidly to changing environments and ecological opportunities. Another intriguing aspect of cichlid evolution is the phenomenon of convergent evolution or parallelism, which occurs when different lineages evolve similar traits independently in response to similar selective pressures. For example, many cichlid species from different lakes have evolved similar body shapes, mouthparts, teeth, color patterns, or behaviors to exploit similar resources or habitats. This suggests that there are common evolutionary pathways or constraints that shape the diversification of cichlids. However, it also poses a challenge to identifying the true phylogenetic relationships among cichlid species based on morphological or molecular data. Cichlids are an amazing example of how nature can generate biodiversity through evolutionary processes. By studying their genomes, phenotypes, ecology, and behavior, scientists can gain insights into the origins and maintenance of biological diversity, as well as the factors that influence the tempo and mode of evolution. They also provide an opportunity to test and refine evolutionary theories and models, as well as to discover new evolutionary phenomena and mechanisms. Cichlids are not only fascinating fishes, but also invaluable tools for advancing our knowledge of evolution. Related article: Female Cichlids Eat Their Offspring To Alleviate the Stress of Protecting Them, a Study Typhoon Koinu is threatening Hongkong with heavy rains and this prompted authorities to cancel flights and suspend school operations. Weather officials have raised wind alerts, which effectively shut down the entire city and restricted the services of subway trains. Due to the bad weather, more than 70 flights were cancelled and other transport services have suspended their operations. Furthermore, operations of schools have been cancelled and weather experts have already advised locals to avoid low-lying areas. Effects According to the Hongkong Observatory, the rainbands associated with Koinu will still bring squally showers and thunderstorms to Hongkong. Weather experts warned that the rain showers would be heavy at times. Moreover, the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3 will remain in effect for quite some time. This means that winds with mean speeds of 41 to 62 kilometres per hour are still expected. At noon, weather experts said that Koinu was estimated to be at about 160 kilometers west-southwest of Hong Kong (near 21.6 degrees north 112.8 degrees east) and is forecasted to move west-southwest at about 12 kilometers per hour across the western coast of Guangdong. Meteorologists said that when the threat posed to Hongkong by Koinu is further reduced, the Observatory will issue the Standby Signal, No. 1 or it will cancel all tropical cyclone warning signals. In the past hour, the maximum sustained winds recorded at Waglan Island was 69 kilometers per hour, with maximum gusts exceeding 82 kilometers per hour. Authorities said that Koinu continues to depart from Hongkong and the local winds are weakening gradually. Koinu pounded Taiwan with massive rains and powerful wind last week and over the weekend, it moved towards the south area over the sea off the coast of China's Guangdong province. It moved towards the resort island of Hainan, with its intensity nearly unchanged from a day earlier. Authorities said that Koinu killed one person and injured almost 400 people in Taiwan. Read Also: Typhoon Koinu: 1 Dead, Over 300 Injured As Koinu Pounds Taiwan With Heavy Rains Precautions Amid the bad weather, precautionary measures and announcements have been released by authorities to ensure the safety of the residents. They noted that the tropical cyclone brought different degrees of damages to Hongkong, adding that there could be hidden danger. Residents and the general public should remain on heightened alert for assurance of personal safety. Furthermore, the public is advised to avoid staying in areas where they could be exposed to high winds. Drivers using highways and flyovers should be alert to violent gusts. The construction and property management practitioners should make sure that overhanging facilities and temporary structures outdoors are securely fastened or placed on the ground, and complete precautionary measures as soon as possible. Meteorologists also said that seas are still rough and the threat of swells have remained. Residents are also advised to stay away from the shoreline and low-lying areas, and not to engage in water sports. Authorities also urged residents to listen to radio, watch TV or browse the Hong Kong Observatory's website and its mobile app for the latest information on the tropical cyclone. Related Article: Typhoon Koinu: Alerts Issued As It Approaches China With Massive Rains, Waves Related Video: Polar bears are one of the most iconic animals of the Arctic, but they are facing a serious threat from climate change. As the sea ice that they depend on for hunting, mating and resting melts away, they may also have trouble producing enough milk for their cubs. How does sea ice affect polar bear milk production? Polar bears are highly specialized predators that feed mainly on ringed and bearded seals, which they catch from the sea ice. These seals are rich in fat and calories, providing polar bears with the energy they need to survive the harsh Arctic conditions. Polar bears store this energy as body fat, which they can use during periods of food scarcity or fasting. One of the most critical times for polar bears to have enough body fat is during lactation, when they nurse their cubs in a snow den. Female polar bears usually give birth to two cubs every two to three years, and they stay with them in the den for about four months, without eating or drinking. During this time, they rely solely on their body fat to produce milk for their cubs, which can consume up to 2 liters of milk per day. The quality and quantity of polar bear milk depends on the mother's body condition, which is influenced by the availability of sea ice and seals. Studies have shown that polar bear milk is very rich in fat (up to 31%) and protein (up to 11%), and that it varies seasonally and geographically. Polar bear milk is also one of the most contaminated animal milks in the world, due to the accumulation of pollutants in the Arctic food chain. If sea ice declines, polar bears may have less access to seals and less time to hunt them, resulting in lower body fat reserves and lower milk production. This could affect the growth and survival of their cubs, as well as their ability to reproduce in the future. Also Read: Consequences of Climate Change: Polar Bear Population Shrinking Due to Arctic Sea Ice Melt What are the impacts of climate change on polar bear populations? Climate change is having a clear negative impact on polar bears, say scientists, making it harder for them to hunt, mate and breed. Polar bears live in 19 key regions across the Arctic, all of which have experienced some degree of ice loss. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), polar bears are classified as vulnerable, with a high risk of extinction in the wild. The IUCN estimated that there are between 22,000 and 31,000 polar bears in the world, but this number is uncertain and may be declining. Some polar bear populations have already shown signs of decline, such as those in the Southern Beaufort Sea and Western Hudson Bay. Polar bears have shown some ability to adapt to changes in their environment, such as by foraging for food on land, or swimming more to hunt for prey. However, these adaptations may not be enough to cope with the rapid and widespread loss of sea ice projected for the future. Scientists predicted that as sea ice diminishes, polar bears will find it harder to survive and populations will decline. What can be done to protect polar bears from climate change? The most effective way to protect polar bears from climate change is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down global warming. This would help preserve the sea ice ecosystem that polar bears rely on for their survival. However, this requires global cooperation and action from governments, businesses and individuals. In addition to reducing emissions, there are other measures that can be taken to help polar bears cope with climate change. Some of these include: Identifying and protecting the "last ice areas", the parts of the Arctic that are projected to retain sea ice farthest into the future. These areas could serve as refuges for polar bears and other wildlife that depend on sea ice. Increasing monitoring of polar bear populations, particularly their responses to declining sea ice. This would help improve scientific knowledge and inform conservation decisions. Managing human-polar bear conflicts, which may increase as polar bears spend more time on land. This would involve educating local communities, implementing deterrents and coexistence strategies, and enforcing regulations. Combating other threats that affect polar bears, such as poaching, pollution, oil spills and habitat fragmentation. These threats could exacerbate the effects of climate change and reduce the resilience of polar bears. Polar bears are remarkable animals that have adapted to one of the most extreme environments on Earth. However, they are facing unprecedented challenges from climate change that threaten their existence. By taking action now, we can help ensure that these magnificent creatures continue to thrive in the Arctic for generations to come. Related article: Sea Stars Replace Polar Bears as Top Predators Along the Arctic Coast The Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's most important environmental and economic assets. It is estimated to contribute A$56 billion per year and supports about 64,000 full-time jobs. However, the Reef is facing multiple threats, such as climate change, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and pollution. Among these, excess nutrients from land-based sources are considered to be one of the major causes of degradation of the Reef's health and resilience. What are the sources of nutrients to the Reef? Nutrients are essential to support the incredible biodiversity of the Reef. They provide food for the primary producers, such as algae and seagrasses, which in turn sustain the higher trophic levels, such as fish and corals. 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. The main sources of nutrients to the Reef are river runoff and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). River runoff is the water that flows from the land to the sea, carrying sediments, nutrients, and other pollutants. SGD is any water released to the ocean below the waterline from various sources, including underground aquifers and the seafloor. Also Read: Great Barrier Reef Not 'in Danger,' UNESCO Says How much nutrient is delivered by SGD? Until recently, SGD was largely overlooked as a source of nutrients to the Reef. Most of the efforts to mitigate the impact of nutrients on the Reef were focused on reducing river runoff. However, a new study by Southern Cross University and other institutions has revealed that SGD exceeds river inputs as a source of nutrients to the Reef. The study used natural tracers, such as radium isotopes, to track how much nutrient is transported from the land and shelf sediments via invisible groundwater flows. The researchers collected data from offshore transects, rivers, and coastal bores in an area from south of Rockhampton to north of Cairns. They found that SGD was 10-15 times greater than river inputs, something previously unaccounted for. The study estimated that SGD accounted for approximately one-third of new nitrogen and two-thirds of phosphorus inputs to the Reef. This means that nearly twice the amount of nitrogen enters the Reef from SGD compared to river waters. Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two most important nutrients that affect the growth and productivity of algae and seagrasses. What are the implications for Reef management? The discovery of invisible nutrient discharge on the Reef raises concerns about the current management approaches aimed at safeguarding the Reef from the effects of excess nutrients. The study suggests that reducing river runoff alone may not be sufficient to restore the health and resilience of the Reef. It also highlights the need for a long-term perspective, as nutrients in groundwater could be stored for decades underground before being discharged into coastal waters. The study calls for a strategic shift in management approaches that consider both river runoff and SGD as sources of nutrients to the Reef. It also recommends further research to understand the spatial and temporal variability of SGD, its impact on different regions and habitats of the Reef, and its interaction with other stressors, such as climate change. The study sheds new light on the complex nutrient dynamics within the Reef. It also underscores the importance of using natural tracers to monitor and quantify SGD in coastal ecosystems. By improving our understanding and ability to manage the sources of nutrients, we can hope to preserve the Reef for generations to come. Related article: Ocean Acidification Diminishing Great Barrier Reef Corals Satellite view of burned area and wildfires in Greece, 19 August 2023 14 September 2023. More than 672 square miles had burned through September 2023. Photo: European Union / Copernicus Sentinel / EO Browser By Mithil Aggarwal and Jiachuan Wu 8 October 2023 (NBC News) 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. Area burned by wildfires in Greece, 2007-2023. In the year 2023 to mid-September, 51 fires burned more than 672 square miles in Greece. Data: European Forest Fire Information System. Graphic: NBC News 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. Satellite view of flooding in Greece, 10 September 2023. Photo: European Union / Copernicus Sentinel / EO Browser 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. [more] Two months of fire and flood: Greeces climate disasters, visualized Rakesh Kumar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine will not create an energy issue for India, and the country will navigate through it, said Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday. However, the minister also warned that situations like these encourage countries to opt for cleaner energy use. Let us be absolutely clear that the place where the action (Israel and Palestine conflict) is taking place is, in many respects, the center of global energy. We are watching it very carefully. As we move forward, we will navigate through this; there's no issue. But I was merely making the point that these kinds of uncertainties only encourage people to transition towards sustainable and cleaner energy use, said the minister, said the minister. Puri, while speaking on the sidelines of the Energy Technology Meet on October 9, also mentioned that India is closely monitoring the developments. He mentioned that the country will handle the situation with maturity. Meanwhile, industry analysts believe that if the conflict spreads, there is a risk to supplies, as the Middle East region produces almost a third of the global oil supplies. According to Prashant Vashisht, Vice President and Co-Head at ICRA, the currently affected regions are not oil-producing, but this conflict is raising geopolitical risk premiums on oil, resulting in rising oil prices. "However, if the conflict spreads, there is a risk to supplies, as the Middle East region produces almost a third of the global supplies. About 20% of the global oil supply would be impacted if the Strait of Hormuz is affected," added Vashist. ALSO READ | Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, over 1,100 dead in fighting India exports petroleum products to Israel. As per the commerce ministry data, India exported petroleum products worth USD 511 million from April to July 2023. Crude oil prices have been highly volatile over the past month due to the production cuts by major oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia. The announcement resulted in Brent crude futures reaching as high as USD 97 per barrel before settling at USD 83 last week. Following the conflict between Israel and Palestine, oil prices surged once again by USD 3 per barrel on Monday. On Monday, the Brent Crude Futures, a benchmark of crude price, was trading at USD 85.86 a barrel on Monday, up by 3.71% or USD 3.07 at 12:50 PM IST. Meanwhile, US WTI crude was trading at USD 87.40 a barrel, reflecting a gain of USD 2.82 or 3.33%. ALSO READ | 'Never witnessed such barbaric assault on civilians', Mangaloreans stranded in Israel share plight Puri batted for the crude oil price to be around USD 80 per barrel or slightly lower, as this would be a convenient price range for countries. While speaking at the ADIPEC oil and gas conference in Abu Dhabi, he emphasized that a price of USD 100 per barrel of oil is not in the interest of either the producing countries or the consumers. Therefore, the increasing crude oil prices could potentially lead to organized chaos and devastation in several parts of the world. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas conflict: Indian exporters may face higher risk premiums, shipping costs Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine will not create an energy issue for India, and the country will navigate through it, said Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday. However, the minister also warned that situations like these encourage countries to opt for cleaner energy use. Let us be absolutely clear that the place where the action (Israel and Palestine conflict) is taking place is, in many respects, the center of global energy. We are watching it very carefully. As we move forward, we will navigate through this; there's no issue. But I was merely making the point that these kinds of uncertainties only encourage people to transition towards sustainable and cleaner energy use, said the minister, said the minister. Puri, while speaking on the sidelines of the Energy Technology Meet on October 9, also mentioned that India is closely monitoring the developments. He mentioned that the country will handle the situation with maturity.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, industry analysts believe that if the conflict spreads, there is a risk to supplies, as the Middle East region produces almost a third of the global oil supplies. According to Prashant Vashisht, Vice President and Co-Head at ICRA, the currently affected regions are not oil-producing, but this conflict is raising geopolitical risk premiums on oil, resulting in rising oil prices. "However, if the conflict spreads, there is a risk to supplies, as the Middle East region produces almost a third of the global supplies. About 20% of the global oil supply would be impacted if the Strait of Hormuz is affected," added Vashist. ALSO READ | Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, over 1,100 dead in fighting India exports petroleum products to Israel. As per the commerce ministry data, India exported petroleum products worth USD 511 million from April to July 2023. Crude oil prices have been highly volatile over the past month due to the production cuts by major oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia. The announcement resulted in Brent crude futures reaching as high as USD 97 per barrel before settling at USD 83 last week. Following the conflict between Israel and Palestine, oil prices surged once again by USD 3 per barrel on Monday. On Monday, the Brent Crude Futures, a benchmark of crude price, was trading at USD 85.86 a barrel on Monday, up by 3.71% or USD 3.07 at 12:50 PM IST. Meanwhile, US WTI crude was trading at USD 87.40 a barrel, reflecting a gain of USD 2.82 or 3.33%. ALSO READ | 'Never witnessed such barbaric assault on civilians', Mangaloreans stranded in Israel share plight Puri batted for the crude oil price to be around USD 80 per barrel or slightly lower, as this would be a convenient price range for countries. While speaking at the ADIPEC oil and gas conference in Abu Dhabi, he emphasized that a price of USD 100 per barrel of oil is not in the interest of either the producing countries or the consumers. Therefore, the increasing crude oil prices could potentially lead to organized chaos and devastation in several parts of the world. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas conflict: Indian exporters may face higher risk premiums, shipping costs Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Online Desk Crude oil prices jumped 3.5% on Monday as markets worried about the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran, which is widely seen as backing the Hamas which unleashed a torrent of attacks on the Jewish nation. Hamas attack has IRAN written all over it, said analysts from Incred Equities. Israel has been pushed back so ferociously that overreaction is high probability. Its a desperate fight for him [Netanyahu] now and chances of mistake are high, it added. On October 7, over 2,000 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel by the Hamas militants. In the chaos that ensued, multiple terrorists crossed border fencing from Gaza Strip and moved into Israel, attacking civilians and soldiers and taking them hostage. As the conflict enters into the third day, Israel is clearly on the backfoot. Their senior commander has been captured, civilians are being killed (and filmed), and dead bodies of soldiers are being desecrated. Oil prices jumped on the concern that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict could disrupt the global oil supply. Israel and Palestine are not major oil producers but the Middle East region accounts for almost one-third of the global oil supply. The conflict sits at the doorstep of a key oil-producing and export region for global consumers. The biggest concern is whether Iran, one of the biggest producers of crude oil, will be dragged into the conflict, given that its president, Ebrahim Raisi, has been openly expressing his support for continued attacks on Israel. Middle east is boiling again, and supply of crude will be a problem. An attack on Iran will lead to massive problems and a spike in crude, said the analyst. Moreover, on Monday, Israel ordered US oil giant Chevron to pause production at the Tamar natural gas field off the country's northern coast. Israel may strike back even harder Hamas's assault on Israel was the biggest escalation between the two sides for decades. Israel will have to show disproportionate punishment to a nation that funded and trained Hamas in this operation Most likely Iran, said Incred Equities. Israel has to give a disproportionate response. Theres no way the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, can be seen as weak, they noted. There are possibilities of Israel being attacked from other fronts as well. Most likely from the North as they are embroiled in the South fighting Hamas, they noted. While all this is happening on the southern border of Israel, the northern part is highly vulnerable. Hezbollah and Palestine have a golden opportunity to attack Israel, they noted. Who knows Jordan and part of Syrian terrorists also get a golden pass to attack Israel. Middle east is on the boil, we fear hugely disproportionate action by Israel. It may attack Iran as well, the analysts said. Perhaps to preclude such a possibility, the US has sent aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean sea. This will be the second time in two years that oil prices will spike in response to international hostilities. In February 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February oil prices soared. The oil prices traded at as high as USD 120 a barrel in June last year. The oil prices cooled down and fell back to USD 70 a barrel in May this year, but have steadily risen since then as producers have tried to restrict output to support the market. Saudi Arabia with other members of Opec+ said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day in July in an attempt to shore up flagging prices. Watch video Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Crude oil prices jumped 3.5% on Monday as markets worried about the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Iran, which is widely seen as backing the Hamas which unleashed a torrent of attacks on the Jewish nation. Hamas attack has IRAN written all over it, said analysts from Incred Equities. Israel has been pushed back so ferociously that overreaction is high probability. Its a desperate fight for him [Netanyahu] now and chances of mistake are high, it added. On October 7, over 2,000 rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel by the Hamas militants. In the chaos that ensued, multiple terrorists crossed border fencing from Gaza Strip and moved into Israel, attacking civilians and soldiers and taking them hostage. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As the conflict enters into the third day, Israel is clearly on the backfoot. Their senior commander has been captured, civilians are being killed (and filmed), and dead bodies of soldiers are being desecrated. Oil prices jumped on the concern that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict could disrupt the global oil supply. Israel and Palestine are not major oil producers but the Middle East region accounts for almost one-third of the global oil supply. The conflict sits at the doorstep of a key oil-producing and export region for global consumers. The biggest concern is whether Iran, one of the biggest producers of crude oil, will be dragged into the conflict, given that its president, Ebrahim Raisi, has been openly expressing his support for continued attacks on Israel. Middle east is boiling again, and supply of crude will be a problem. An attack on Iran will lead to massive problems and a spike in crude, said the analyst. Moreover, on Monday, Israel ordered US oil giant Chevron to pause production at the Tamar natural gas field off the country's northern coast. Israel may strike back even harder Hamas's assault on Israel was the biggest escalation between the two sides for decades. Israel will have to show disproportionate punishment to a nation that funded and trained Hamas in this operation Most likely Iran, said Incred Equities. Israel has to give a disproportionate response. Theres no way the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, can be seen as weak, they noted. There are possibilities of Israel being attacked from other fronts as well. Most likely from the North as they are embroiled in the South fighting Hamas, they noted. While all this is happening on the southern border of Israel, the northern part is highly vulnerable. Hezbollah and Palestine have a golden opportunity to attack Israel, they noted. Who knows Jordan and part of Syrian terrorists also get a golden pass to attack Israel. Middle east is on the boil, we fear hugely disproportionate action by Israel. It may attack Iran as well, the analysts said. Perhaps to preclude such a possibility, the US has sent aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean sea. This will be the second time in two years that oil prices will spike in response to international hostilities. In February 2022, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February oil prices soared. The oil prices traded at as high as USD 120 a barrel in June last year. The oil prices cooled down and fell back to USD 70 a barrel in May this year, but have steadily risen since then as producers have tried to restrict output to support the market. Saudi Arabia with other members of Opec+ said it would make cuts of a million barrels per day in July in an attempt to shore up flagging prices. Watch video Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Jaison Wilson By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to October 11 the final hearing on pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots. While posting the matter for Wednesday, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said the apex court has received written submissions of the petitioners and they have been taken on record. The court will conclude the hearing of the matter on the same day, it was stated by the bench while listing the matter for October 11 at 2 PM. Eleven persons, convicted in the case and had been serving jail terms, were prematurely released on August 15, 2022, following a decision by the Gujarat government. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said that it was only considering the correctness of the Gujarat governments decision to release the convicts early. Last month, the apex court had observed whether the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case had the privilege of being released on parole for several days and several times while considering the batch of pleas challenging their early release. On August 25, raising doubts about the concurring opinions of competent authorities regarding the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, the Supreme Court had said that the opinion should show "independent application of mind" even if it is not backed by elaborate reasons. ALSO READ | Bilkis Bano case: SC doubts on concurring opinions over convicts release The court also observed that Bilkis, along with other petitioners, were not deprived of the right to move court just because the Supreme Court had earlier left it on the Gujarat government to decide on the convicts remission applications. The top court had on August 17 said state governments should not be selective in granting remission to convicts and the opportunity to reform and reintegrate with society should be given to every prisoner, as it told the Gujarat government which defended its decision of premature release of all 11 convicts. ALSO READ | Law is supposed to be noble profession, says SC when informed a Bilkis Bano case convict is lawyer Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned to October 11 the final hearing on pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in the gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra Gujarat riots. While posting the matter for Wednesday, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said the apex court has received written submissions of the petitioners and they have been taken on record. The court will conclude the hearing of the matter on the same day, it was stated by the bench while listing the matter for October 11 at 2 PM. Eleven persons, convicted in the case and had been serving jail terms, were prematurely released on August 15, 2022, following a decision by the Gujarat government. A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said that it was only considering the correctness of the Gujarat governments decision to release the convicts early.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Last month, the apex court had observed whether the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case had the privilege of being released on parole for several days and several times while considering the batch of pleas challenging their early release. On August 25, raising doubts about the concurring opinions of competent authorities regarding the release of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, the Supreme Court had said that the opinion should show "independent application of mind" even if it is not backed by elaborate reasons. ALSO READ | Bilkis Bano case: SC doubts on concurring opinions over convicts release The court also observed that Bilkis, along with other petitioners, were not deprived of the right to move court just because the Supreme Court had earlier left it on the Gujarat government to decide on the convicts remission applications. The top court had on August 17 said state governments should not be selective in granting remission to convicts and the opportunity to reform and reintegrate with society should be given to every prisoner, as it told the Gujarat government which defended its decision of premature release of all 11 convicts. ALSO READ | Law is supposed to be noble profession, says SC when informed a Bilkis Bano case convict is lawyer Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Parvez Sultan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: People in five states Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will vote for their new government in the month of November as the Election Commission (EC) of India announced the assembly election schedule on Monday. The counting of votes in all states will take place on December 3. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that polling in Mizoram would be in one phase on November 7. The nominations will start on October 20. The voting in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases; on November 7 and 17. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will also have polling in a single phase. People in Madhya Pradesh will exercise their franchise on November 17 and in Rajasthan on November 23. The voting in Telangana will happen on November 30. Kumar said that the process to hold free and fair elections to five assembly elections had started six months during which the elections officials made several visits to the poll-bound states. He added that the electoral rolls were revised with an aim to include each and every eligible voter. Meetings were held with the representatives of enforcement agencies such as state police, income tax, narcotics, and railways to prevent malpractices having potential to influence the election process, said Kumar. The term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17. The Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state. The terms of the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year. While the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rules Telangana, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. With the announcement of election schedules, the model code of conduct (MCC) also comes into effect. With just a few months left to 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the forthcoming assembly elections will be watched closely as they will not only decide the political landscape at the state level but are likely to have an impact at the national level politics and may result in strategic alignment and alliances of political parties. These elections are being seen as crucial contests in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP will make bid for their third consecutive government at the Centre. The contests in different constituencies are likely to have high-octane battles as the parties are expected to nominate their senior leaders to join the fray especially in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The president of Mizo National Front (MNF) was sworn in as chief minister of the state for the third time in 2018 as his party had captured 26 seats in the 40-member House. The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) has six and Congress has five members in the assembly while the BJP and TMC have one MLA each. Bhupesh Baghel took oath as the chief minister as the Congress had romped home to power in Chhattisgarh after 15 years with a two-third majority. It had secured 68 seats in the 90-member House. At present, it has 71 MLAs and the BJP has 15 members in the House. In 2020, senior BJP Shivraj Singh Chouhan took charge of the state as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for the fourth time though his government was voted out of power in the 2018 elections. The Congress secured a narrow majority in the December 2018 elections, after which Congress leader Kamal Nath became the CM. However, following the rebellion by his party colleague Jyodiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP, and resignations of 22 Congress MLAs, Nath had to resign thus Chouhan returned as the CM. Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot is at helm in Rajasthan since 2018. In the last assembly elections in Rajasthan, the Congress won 99 seats of the 199. Then ruling BJP bagged 73 seats and the BSP six. BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao led his party to a resounding victory in the assembly elections for a second straight term in Telangana. BRS won 88 seats in the 119-member assembly defeating the Congress-led People's Front, which could only manage a tally of 21. On Friday, the Commission held a meeting with police and observers in states and asked them to ensure a level-playing field by working in a coordinated manner to ensure free, fair and inducement-free elections. Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said that the election should not only be fair but also seen to be fair. He instructed the observers to keep an eye on social media and ensure corrective actions. The attendees were also briefed the observers on various important subjects related to election such as electronic voting machines (EVMs), electoral rolls, model code of conduct (MCC), expenditure, legal provisions, IT initiatives, Media Certification and monitoring Committee (MCMC) and standard operating procedures related to social media. Around 1,180 officials including bureaucrats and accounts services officers attended the sessions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: People in five states Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will vote for their new government in the month of November as the Election Commission (EC) of India announced the assembly election schedule on Monday. The counting of votes in all states will take place on December 3. Chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that polling in Mizoram would be in one phase on November 7. The nominations will start on October 20. The voting in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases; on November 7 and 17. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana will also have polling in a single phase. People in Madhya Pradesh will exercise their franchise on November 17 and in Rajasthan on November 23. The voting in Telangana will happen on November 30. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kumar said that the process to hold free and fair elections to five assembly elections had started six months during which the elections officials made several visits to the poll-bound states. He added that the electoral rolls were revised with an aim to include each and every eligible voter. Meetings were held with the representatives of enforcement agencies such as state police, income tax, narcotics, and railways to prevent malpractices having potential to influence the election process, said Kumar. The term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17. The Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state. The terms of the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year. While the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) rules Telangana, Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Congress is in power in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. With the announcement of election schedules, the model code of conduct (MCC) also comes into effect. With just a few months left to 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the forthcoming assembly elections will be watched closely as they will not only decide the political landscape at the state level but are likely to have an impact at the national level politics and may result in strategic alignment and alliances of political parties. These elections are being seen as crucial contests in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP will make bid for their third consecutive government at the Centre. The contests in different constituencies are likely to have high-octane battles as the parties are expected to nominate their senior leaders to join the fray especially in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. The president of Mizo National Front (MNF) was sworn in as chief minister of the state for the third time in 2018 as his party had captured 26 seats in the 40-member House. The Zoram Peoples Movement (ZPM) has six and Congress has five members in the assembly while the BJP and TMC have one MLA each. Bhupesh Baghel took oath as the chief minister as the Congress had romped home to power in Chhattisgarh after 15 years with a two-third majority. It had secured 68 seats in the 90-member House. At present, it has 71 MLAs and the BJP has 15 members in the House. In 2020, senior BJP Shivraj Singh Chouhan took charge of the state as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for the fourth time though his government was voted out of power in the 2018 elections. The Congress secured a narrow majority in the December 2018 elections, after which Congress leader Kamal Nath became the CM. However, following the rebellion by his party colleague Jyodiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP, and resignations of 22 Congress MLAs, Nath had to resign thus Chouhan returned as the CM. Congress veteran Ashok Gehlot is at helm in Rajasthan since 2018. In the last assembly elections in Rajasthan, the Congress won 99 seats of the 199. Then ruling BJP bagged 73 seats and the BSP six. BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao led his party to a resounding victory in the assembly elections for a second straight term in Telangana. BRS won 88 seats in the 119-member assembly defeating the Congress-led People's Front, which could only manage a tally of 21. On Friday, the Commission held a meeting with police and observers in states and asked them to ensure a level-playing field by working in a coordinated manner to ensure free, fair and inducement-free elections. Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said that the election should not only be fair but also seen to be fair. He instructed the observers to keep an eye on social media and ensure corrective actions. The attendees were also briefed the observers on various important subjects related to election such as electronic voting machines (EVMs), electoral rolls, model code of conduct (MCC), expenditure, legal provisions, IT initiatives, Media Certification and monitoring Committee (MCMC) and standard operating procedures related to social media. Around 1,180 officials including bureaucrats and accounts services officers attended the sessions. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Were delighted to welcome John Tanner to the Editorial team at Developing Telecoms. Based in Hong Kong, John is joining our team as a Reporter, having until recently held the role of Editor in Chief at Disruptive Asia for seven years. He has covered the Asia-Pacific telecoms industry since 1996, and we look forward to John sharing this wealth of experience with our readers. With two degrees in telecommunications and an extensive background in radio and satellite equipment maintenance, were confident that John has the authority to provide expert commentary and insight into the telecoms sector in developing and emerging markets. By Express News Service BHOPAL: Amid the possibility of ruling BJP fielding more sitting Lok Sabha members in the coming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, seventh-time sitting MP and Union minister Virendra Kumar said he doesnt want to contest assembly elections. Talking to media recently in Chhatarpur district (which forms part of his Tikamgarh-SC Lok Sabha seat) about the possibility of him being fielded by the party in the Vidhan Sabha polls, the Union minister for social justice and empowerment said, BJP is an organisation, where it decides who will be fielded as candidates in the elections, spanning from civic polls to parliamentary polls. Many of the sitting MPs and Union ministers who have been fielded as candidates for the coming assembly polls wanted to contest the Vidhan Sabha polls. But I dont desire to contest the assembly polls. The rest will be decided in the future, he said. Kumar has won the Lok Sabha polls seven times in a row from two separate seats from the Bundelkhand region, including Sagar (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004) and Tikamgarh-SC (2009, 2014 and 2019). He won the 2019 LS polls from Tikamgarh-SC seat by a margin of 3.48 lakh votes, which was 1.40 lakh more than the 2014 margin of 2.08 lakh votes. He had won the seat for the first time in 2009 by just 41,000-plus votes. According to sources within the MP BJP, the possibility of Kumar being fielded from Bina-SC seat of his native Sagar district cannot be ruled out, particularly as the winning margin of the second-time sitting MLA Mahesh Rai shrunk to 732 votes in 2018 against 18,769 in 2013. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BHOPAL: Amid the possibility of ruling BJP fielding more sitting Lok Sabha members in the coming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, seventh-time sitting MP and Union minister Virendra Kumar said he doesnt want to contest assembly elections. Talking to media recently in Chhatarpur district (which forms part of his Tikamgarh-SC Lok Sabha seat) about the possibility of him being fielded by the party in the Vidhan Sabha polls, the Union minister for social justice and empowerment said, BJP is an organisation, where it decides who will be fielded as candidates in the elections, spanning from civic polls to parliamentary polls. Many of the sitting MPs and Union ministers who have been fielded as candidates for the coming assembly polls wanted to contest the Vidhan Sabha polls. But I dont desire to contest the assembly polls. The rest will be decided in the future, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kumar has won the Lok Sabha polls seven times in a row from two separate seats from the Bundelkhand region, including Sagar (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004) and Tikamgarh-SC (2009, 2014 and 2019). He won the 2019 LS polls from Tikamgarh-SC seat by a margin of 3.48 lakh votes, which was 1.40 lakh more than the 2014 margin of 2.08 lakh votes. He had won the seat for the first time in 2009 by just 41,000-plus votes. According to sources within the MP BJP, the possibility of Kumar being fielded from Bina-SC seat of his native Sagar district cannot be ruled out, particularly as the winning margin of the second-time sitting MLA Mahesh Rai shrunk to 732 votes in 2018 against 18,769 in 2013. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI KOTTAYAM/KANNUR: A Kerala-based woman working as a caregiver in Israel has been injured in the unprecedented multi-front attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, on that country since Saturday. Sheeja Anand, a native of Payyavoor in Kannur district of Kerala, was injured in the missile strikes on Ashkelon, a coastal city in the southern part of Israel on Saturday, while she was on a video call with her husband, her family said. The Indian mission reached out to her for support and has been in touch with her family in the Kannur district of Kerala. "Her family has been informed, and we are in constant contact both with Ms.Sheeja and her family," an embassy source said. There is no reason for any concern at the moment, informed sources told PTI. Sheeja's sister told TV channels that while on the video call, Sheeja told her husband Anand that she can hear the missile strikes and he told her to be careful and safe. "In the middle of the conversation, the call got disconnected and thereafter, we could not reach her for several hours. Later in the evening some of her colleagues told us that she was injured in the attack and her phone fell somewhere," the sister said. ALSO READ | Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, over 1,100 dead in fighting On Sunday afternoon, the family saw Sheeja in a hospital bed from where she told her mom -- "Amma, I am ok", her mother said. "I barely got to see her face for a short time. Thereafter, there was no information. Then yesterday night we were informed by her colleagues that she was being shifted to another hospital for spinal surgery. "I thought only her hands and legs were injured. Now even her spine is injured," she said tearfully. Sheeja's brother-in-law Devan told PTI that she has been working as a caregiver in Israel for the past seven years and that she had come to Kerala last year for a visit. Her husband Anand was on his way to Pune with their child for some exam, Devan added. While most of the hostilities are confined to around 10 per cent of Israel's area, especially its southern part of Ashkelon, there are concerns among people there over rumours of change in the dynamics of certain Palestinian communities living in Israel. EDITORIAL | Senseless Hamas massacre harms its cause in Israel According to Anish, a native of Erumeli in Kottayam district of the state, whose wife, brother-in-law and sister are working in that country as caregivers, only around 10 per cent of Israel is affected by the fight between Hamas and the Israeli defence forces. He said that his wife, who is working with a Jewish family in Jerusalem, said that she was safe and secure, but has expressed apprehension over rumours of change in dynamics within certain Palestinian communities in Israel. "She has heard rumours that they are showing leanings towards the Hamas group," he said, while speaking to PTI. Besides that, there were also instances of mobile phones being hacked and cyber attacks on those who claim that the situation is normal in most parts of Israel, he claimed. Anish said that his sister and brother-in-law who are in Ashkelon told him tanks were rolling into that area and while there were sounds of fighting, they were safe. "Defence forces and police are on the streets and are looking for the insurgents who have infiltrated into Israel. The insurgents' presence is also a matter of concern among people," he added. On being asked whether his family members wished to return to India due to the ongoing fighting, he replied in the negative. Anish said that the Israeli government was ensuring their security and the Indian embassy has asked everyone to lay low and be safe and await further instructions. Meanwhile, Rejimon Kuttappan, a migrant rights activist, said that another reason many Indian nationals -- mostly working as caregivers -- may not want to come back would be the huge amounts they have paid to agencies and middlemen to get a visa for going to Israel. "I know of people who have spent Rs 20 lakh for a visa which actually costs only Rs 1.25 lakh. People would have had to take loans or mortgage property to get those amounts." "So they will not want to return as they have to pay off their debts," Kuttappan, author of 'Undocumented: Stories of Indian Migrants in the Arab Gulf', told PTI. They can pay off their debts only if they continue to work in Israel, where caregivers are paid between Rs 1.25 lakh to nearly Rs 2 lakh per month as salary, he said. "Therefore, anyone who has gone to Israel recently and has paid huge amounts for the visa would certainly not want to come back," Kuttappan said. He also said that he was in touch with many of the people from Kerala who have gone to Israel and they said that they were safe and sound. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOTTAYAM/KANNUR: A Kerala-based woman working as a caregiver in Israel has been injured in the unprecedented multi-front attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, on that country since Saturday. Sheeja Anand, a native of Payyavoor in Kannur district of Kerala, was injured in the missile strikes on Ashkelon, a coastal city in the southern part of Israel on Saturday, while she was on a video call with her husband, her family said. The Indian mission reached out to her for support and has been in touch with her family in the Kannur district of Kerala.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "Her family has been informed, and we are in constant contact both with Ms.Sheeja and her family," an embassy source said. There is no reason for any concern at the moment, informed sources told PTI. Sheeja's sister told TV channels that while on the video call, Sheeja told her husband Anand that she can hear the missile strikes and he told her to be careful and safe. "In the middle of the conversation, the call got disconnected and thereafter, we could not reach her for several hours. Later in the evening some of her colleagues told us that she was injured in the attack and her phone fell somewhere," the sister said. ALSO READ | Israel intensifies Gaza strikes and battles to repel Hamas, over 1,100 dead in fighting On Sunday afternoon, the family saw Sheeja in a hospital bed from where she told her mom -- "Amma, I am ok", her mother said. "I barely got to see her face for a short time. Thereafter, there was no information. Then yesterday night we were informed by her colleagues that she was being shifted to another hospital for spinal surgery. "I thought only her hands and legs were injured. Now even her spine is injured," she said tearfully. Sheeja's brother-in-law Devan told PTI that she has been working as a caregiver in Israel for the past seven years and that she had come to Kerala last year for a visit. Her husband Anand was on his way to Pune with their child for some exam, Devan added. While most of the hostilities are confined to around 10 per cent of Israel's area, especially its southern part of Ashkelon, there are concerns among people there over rumours of change in the dynamics of certain Palestinian communities living in Israel. EDITORIAL | Senseless Hamas massacre harms its cause in Israel According to Anish, a native of Erumeli in Kottayam district of the state, whose wife, brother-in-law and sister are working in that country as caregivers, only around 10 per cent of Israel is affected by the fight between Hamas and the Israeli defence forces. He said that his wife, who is working with a Jewish family in Jerusalem, said that she was safe and secure, but has expressed apprehension over rumours of change in dynamics within certain Palestinian communities in Israel. "She has heard rumours that they are showing leanings towards the Hamas group," he said, while speaking to PTI. Besides that, there were also instances of mobile phones being hacked and cyber attacks on those who claim that the situation is normal in most parts of Israel, he claimed. Anish said that his sister and brother-in-law who are in Ashkelon told him tanks were rolling into that area and while there were sounds of fighting, they were safe. "Defence forces and police are on the streets and are looking for the insurgents who have infiltrated into Israel. The insurgents' presence is also a matter of concern among people," he added. On being asked whether his family members wished to return to India due to the ongoing fighting, he replied in the negative. Anish said that the Israeli government was ensuring their security and the Indian embassy has asked everyone to lay low and be safe and await further instructions. Meanwhile, Rejimon Kuttappan, a migrant rights activist, said that another reason many Indian nationals -- mostly working as caregivers -- may not want to come back would be the huge amounts they have paid to agencies and middlemen to get a visa for going to Israel. "I know of people who have spent Rs 20 lakh for a visa which actually costs only Rs 1.25 lakh. People would have had to take loans or mortgage property to get those amounts." "So they will not want to return as they have to pay off their debts," Kuttappan, author of 'Undocumented: Stories of Indian Migrants in the Arab Gulf', told PTI. They can pay off their debts only if they continue to work in Israel, where caregivers are paid between Rs 1.25 lakh to nearly Rs 2 lakh per month as salary, he said. "Therefore, anyone who has gone to Israel recently and has paid huge amounts for the visa would certainly not want to come back," Kuttappan said. He also said that he was in touch with many of the people from Kerala who have gone to Israel and they said that they were safe and sound. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: The National Conference-Congress alliance defeated the BJP and swept the 26-member Kargil Hill Council polls in Ladakh Union Territorythe first poll to be held after scrapping of the Article 370. National Conference emerged as the single largest party by winning 11 seats while Congress won eight seats. Independents won three seats and BJP bagged two seats. Counting is on in two more seats. PDP did not contest the election. There were 85 candidates in fray including 17 from NC and 22 from Congress. BJP contested on 17 seats. The NC-Congress had the backing of two powerful religious institutionsJamiat Ulema Kargil and Imam Khumaini Memorial Trust. The clerics of two religious institutions have appealed to people to vote against the BJP. Reacting to peoples verdict, NC VP Omar Abdullah said the BJP was dealt a resounding defeat by the NC-Congress alliance. This result sends a message to all forces and parties that have, undemocratically and unconstitutionally, divided the state without the consent of its people. He said the election results should serve as a wake-up call for BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp SRINAGAR: The National Conference-Congress alliance defeated the BJP and swept the 26-member Kargil Hill Council polls in Ladakh Union Territorythe first poll to be held after scrapping of the Article 370. National Conference emerged as the single largest party by winning 11 seats while Congress won eight seats. Independents won three seats and BJP bagged two seats. Counting is on in two more seats. PDP did not contest the election. There were 85 candidates in fray including 17 from NC and 22 from Congress. BJP contested on 17 seats. The NC-Congress had the backing of two powerful religious institutionsJamiat Ulema Kargil and Imam Khumaini Memorial Trust. The clerics of two religious institutions have appealed to people to vote against the BJP.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Reacting to peoples verdict, NC VP Omar Abdullah said the BJP was dealt a resounding defeat by the NC-Congress alliance. This result sends a message to all forces and parties that have, undemocratically and unconstitutionally, divided the state without the consent of its people. He said the election results should serve as a wake-up call for BJP. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Divya Cutinho By Express News Service MANGALURU: "I have been working as a caretaker in Israel for the last 14 years but have never experienced such a situation where civilians are mercilessly killed and kidnapped. The current situation is totally different and worrisome however we have hopes in the Israel force which will defend strongly," said Lenard from Vamanjoor near Mangaluru who lives in Herzliya, a city on the central coast of Israel. Many Mangalureans working in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramat Hasharon, Ga'ash Kibbutz and other parts of Israel shared their plight with The New Indian Express amid the Hamas Militant group attack on Israel and said they have been asked to remain vigilant and not to venture outside. "Though the place where I live is safe as of now, we witnessed missiles being fired from Gaza. Few missiles landed near my place but at least 15 of them were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces(IDF) with the help of Iron Domes. We had to rush towards Mammal, a reinforced security room required in all new buildings by Israeli law or shelter rooms. I never heard of such an attack ever since I started working here. They never targeted civilians before. But this time, they have entered homes and streets and mercilessly killed civilians including women and children and held them hostage. It is horrible," Lenard told TNIE. Alwyn, a Mangalorean showing destroyed structures at Tel Aviv in Isreal Fr Santhosh, who is living in Jerusalem, close to the Old City said that the situation is tense but under control as of now. "We are in touch with the embassy and are following their guidelines. Most of the explosions have taken place in the southern cities of Israel. The present situation is such that we have been asked to remain indoors." READ MORE | 'Indian nationals in Israel and Gaza safe,' claim officials Praveen Pinto from Kirem near Mangaluru has been working in Tel Aviv for the last 16 years and said there was a firing on Saturday night and one of the missiles hit a building just 1 kilometre away from his house and injured two Israeli citizens. His wife Neetha said she is in constant touch with her husband and he is safe as of now. "He told me that on Sunday afternoon, the Israeli government declared a red alert and there are approximately over 500 people from Mangaluru, Udupi and Kundapur region, Neetha, who was also working in Israel, told TNIE. Prakash, another Mangalorean also living in Tel Aviv, has been stuck inside the bunker since Saturday due to missile attacks and back home, his family is worried for his safety. "Hamas militants were very close to our room and Israeli forces captured them and we were safe in a nick of time," said Godwin, a resident of Taccode. In cases of any citizens of India hailing from Karnataka in Israel requiring assistance, reach out to Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre Helpline numbers: 08022340676, 08022253707. Also @MEAIndia Helpline number: +97235226748. pic.twitter.com/6c3thphjGq CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in an appeal to Kannadigas stranded in Israel urged to remain inside bomb shelters."They can reach out to Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre on helplines - 08022340676 or 08022253707 and also Ministry of External Affairs of India helpline number +97235226748," he posted on his X handle. READ MORE | After a shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for the devastating fallout Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp MANGALURU: "I have been working as a caretaker in Israel for the last 14 years but have never experienced such a situation where civilians are mercilessly killed and kidnapped. The current situation is totally different and worrisome however we have hopes in the Israel force which will defend strongly," said Lenard from Vamanjoor near Mangaluru who lives in Herzliya, a city on the central coast of Israel. Many Mangalureans working in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramat Hasharon, Ga'ash Kibbutz and other parts of Israel shared their plight with The New Indian Express amid the Hamas Militant group attack on Israel and said they have been asked to remain vigilant and not to venture outside. "Though the place where I live is safe as of now, we witnessed missiles being fired from Gaza. Few missiles landed near my place but at least 15 of them were intercepted by the Israel Defense Forces(IDF) with the help of Iron Domes. We had to rush towards Mammal, a reinforced security room required in all new buildings by Israeli law or shelter rooms. I never heard of such an attack ever since I started working here. They never targeted civilians before. But this time, they have entered homes and streets and mercilessly killed civilians including women and children and held them hostage. It is horrible," Lenard told TNIE.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Alwyn, a Mangalorean showing destroyed structures at Tel Aviv in Isreal Fr Santhosh, who is living in Jerusalem, close to the Old City said that the situation is tense but under control as of now. "We are in touch with the embassy and are following their guidelines. Most of the explosions have taken place in the southern cities of Israel. The present situation is such that we have been asked to remain indoors." READ MORE | 'Indian nationals in Israel and Gaza safe,' claim officials Praveen Pinto from Kirem near Mangaluru has been working in Tel Aviv for the last 16 years and said there was a firing on Saturday night and one of the missiles hit a building just 1 kilometre away from his house and injured two Israeli citizens. His wife Neetha said she is in constant touch with her husband and he is safe as of now. "He told me that on Sunday afternoon, the Israeli government declared a red alert and there are approximately over 500 people from Mangaluru, Udupi and Kundapur region, Neetha, who was also working in Israel, told TNIE. #Mangalorean Neetha Saldanha, wife of Praveen Pinto who is working in Tel Aviv, #Israel from last 16 years talks to the New Indian Express about the situation.#IsraelPalestineWar @NewIndianXpress @Cloudnirad @santwana99 @ramupatil_TNIE @KannadaPrabha pic.twitter.com/VRJ16n538b TNIE Karnataka (@XpressBengaluru) October 9, 2023 Prakash, another Mangalorean also living in Tel Aviv, has been stuck inside the bunker since Saturday due to missile attacks and back home, his family is worried for his safety. "Hamas militants were very close to our room and Israeli forces captured them and we were safe in a nick of time," said Godwin, a resident of Taccode. In cases of any citizens of India hailing from Karnataka in Israel requiring assistance, reach out to Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre Helpline numbers: 08022340676, 08022253707. Also @MEAIndia Helpline number: +97235226748. pic.twitter.com/6c3thphjGq CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah in an appeal to Kannadigas stranded in Israel urged to remain inside bomb shelters."They can reach out to Karnataka State Emergency Operation Centre on helplines - 08022340676 or 08022253707 and also Ministry of External Affairs of India helpline number +97235226748," he posted on his X handle. READ MORE | After a shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for the devastating fallout Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region. However, the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from citizens stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit. The requests have come from Indian tourists and businessmen. Meanwhile, Air India has cancelled all its flights to Tel Aviv till October 14. Israels Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said that some volunteers from India had reached out to him for any assistance required in Israel. Bollywood actress Nushrat Bharucha was in Israel when the war broke out. She had gone there to attend the Haifa International Film Festival and was not reachable for a few hours. However, she could finally board a flight and return to Mumbai. She appeared visibly shaken when she landed but there are no further details on how she returned. Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi said the Prime Ministers Office is closely monitoring the situation in Israel and is concerned about the safety of the Indians there, specially the students. It is early to state when we will begin evacuation, but we could manage these tough exercises well, a source said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: There have been no untoward incidents involving Indians living and working in Israel so far amid escalating tensions in the region. However, the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv received requests from citizens stranded in the country to facilitate their safe exit. The requests have come from Indian tourists and businessmen. Meanwhile, Air India has cancelled all its flights to Tel Aviv till October 14. Israels Ambassador to India Naor Gilon said that some volunteers from India had reached out to him for any assistance required in Israel. Bollywood actress Nushrat Bharucha was in Israel when the war broke out. She had gone there to attend the Haifa International Film Festival and was not reachable for a few hours. However, she could finally board a flight and return to Mumbai. She appeared visibly shaken when she landed but there are no further details on how she returned.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi said the Prime Ministers Office is closely monitoring the situation in Israel and is concerned about the safety of the Indians there, specially the students. It is early to state when we will begin evacuation, but we could manage these tough exercises well, a source said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Parvez Sultan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Buoyed by its successful pilot programme usage of segregated solid waste retrieved from sanitary landfill sites for construction of highways the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to introduce a national policy to hand over urban trash to the road construction agencies in a systematic manner and engineered disposal of garbage. Besides minimising environmental pollution and protecting public health, the move aims to reclaim 10 hectares of land, which has been rendered useless, across states. Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed that modalities had already been identified following consultation with the stakeholders, other ministries and municipal agencies in states. The policy is almost finalised. After segregation removal of plastic, glass and metals we will use waste for road construction. At some places, we cant extract soil because of environmental issues and at some locations, we have problems with aggregates (gravel, crushed stone and sand), where we undertake soil stabilisation. Usage of garbage waste will have multiple benefits. Garbage at 10 hectares of land is damaging the environment, said Gadkari, while briefing about the initiative recently. On an experimental basis, the ministry had used inert material from municipal solid waste in road construction under the Dholera project in Ahmedabad, first stretch of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and Urban Extension Road II that connects NH 44 and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway on NH 48 in Delhi. Gadkari said the policy deals with basic issues such as whether the municipal corporations or councils are to be given incentives for providing solid waste and investment in segregation plants. Segregation is extremely important. Plastic, glass and metals are retrieved from the waste. Organic waste is also recovered. From plastic, we will get crude petrol and recycle glass. Segregation unit can be set up at a cost of Rs 40 lakh. We tried to use municipal waste in construction of Delhi-Meerut Expressway. Meetings with stakeholders were convened in the ministry. Unfortunately, it didnt happen. The idea is to bury the entire municipal waste available in the country under roads, said Gadkari. The ministry is also considering a policy to use recycled waste water and mixing of plastic and old tyres in bitumen for road construction. The ministry is hopeful that following the policy, demand and consumption of solid waste will increase like it happened in the case of fly ash usage. Initially, when it was proposed to utilise coal ash, there were a few takers. However, the situation has changed and now fly ash is not easily available. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp NEW DELHI: Buoyed by its successful pilot programme usage of segregated solid waste retrieved from sanitary landfill sites for construction of highways the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is set to introduce a national policy to hand over urban trash to the road construction agencies in a systematic manner and engineered disposal of garbage. Besides minimising environmental pollution and protecting public health, the move aims to reclaim 10 hectares of land, which has been rendered useless, across states. Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari informed that modalities had already been identified following consultation with the stakeholders, other ministries and municipal agencies in states. The policy is almost finalised. After segregation removal of plastic, glass and metals we will use waste for road construction. At some places, we cant extract soil because of environmental issues and at some locations, we have problems with aggregates (gravel, crushed stone and sand), where we undertake soil stabilisation. Usage of garbage waste will have multiple benefits. Garbage at 10 hectares of land is damaging the environment, said Gadkari, while briefing about the initiative recently. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On an experimental basis, the ministry had used inert material from municipal solid waste in road construction under the Dholera project in Ahmedabad, first stretch of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, and Urban Extension Road II that connects NH 44 and Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway on NH 48 in Delhi. Gadkari said the policy deals with basic issues such as whether the municipal corporations or councils are to be given incentives for providing solid waste and investment in segregation plants. Segregation is extremely important. Plastic, glass and metals are retrieved from the waste. Organic waste is also recovered. From plastic, we will get crude petrol and recycle glass. Segregation unit can be set up at a cost of Rs 40 lakh. We tried to use municipal waste in construction of Delhi-Meerut Expressway. Meetings with stakeholders were convened in the ministry. Unfortunately, it didnt happen. The idea is to bury the entire municipal waste available in the country under roads, said Gadkari. The ministry is also considering a policy to use recycled waste water and mixing of plastic and old tyres in bitumen for road construction. The ministry is hopeful that following the policy, demand and consumption of solid waste will increase like it happened in the case of fly ash usage. Initially, when it was proposed to utilise coal ash, there were a few takers. However, the situation has changed and now fly ash is not easily available. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By Express News Service PATNA: The recruitment of constables in Bihar has come under the scanner of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) following the leakage of the question paper, leading to the cancellation of the examination conducted on October 1. Keeping its wide ramifications in mind, the state police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the leak of question paper in connection with the constable recruitment examination. The team comprises two IPS officers, six DSPs, 13 inspectors and two sub-inspectors. As many as 75 FIRs have so far been registered in 22 districts of the state and 150 people were arrested in this connection. The cases registered in various districts have also been reviewed by ADG, Economic Offences Unit (EOU) Nayyar Hasnain Khan. EOU is carrying out a scientific and technical investigation into the case, a senior police officer involved in the investigation informed. Examination for the recruitment of constables was held in all 38 districts of the state on October 1. Sources said that the question papers were leaked allegedly from the printing press by the racketeers and sold to candidates. The Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC) which had conducted the examination on October 1 cancelled it after the leak was reported. CSBC had also postponed examinations scheduled on October 7 and October 15. At least 150 impostors and members of solver gangs were arrested on Sunday from various districts in Bihar. The main accused Kamlesh Kumar was arrested from Nawada last week. The cancellation of the examination came as a rude shock for lakhs of candidates who had worked hard for the examination. Several individuals, commonly referred to as Munna Bhais, have been placed under custody, they were arrested following the recovery of answer keys from them. Candidates were also taken into custody for attempting to use electronic devices and cheating materials to copy answers. In the state capital, some candidates were caught red-handed with handwritten answer sheets. As per the recruitment notification, a total of 21,391 constables have to be appointed. In 2022 too, the question paper of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) was leaked. The government had cancelled the examination. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp PATNA: The recruitment of constables in Bihar has come under the scanner of the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) following the leakage of the question paper, leading to the cancellation of the examination conducted on October 1. Keeping its wide ramifications in mind, the state police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the leak of question paper in connection with the constable recruitment examination. The team comprises two IPS officers, six DSPs, 13 inspectors and two sub-inspectors. As many as 75 FIRs have so far been registered in 22 districts of the state and 150 people were arrested in this connection. The cases registered in various districts have also been reviewed by ADG, Economic Offences Unit (EOU) Nayyar Hasnain Khan. EOU is carrying out a scientific and technical investigation into the case, a senior police officer involved in the investigation informed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Examination for the recruitment of constables was held in all 38 districts of the state on October 1. Sources said that the question papers were leaked allegedly from the printing press by the racketeers and sold to candidates. The Central Selection Board of Constables (CSBC) which had conducted the examination on October 1 cancelled it after the leak was reported. CSBC had also postponed examinations scheduled on October 7 and October 15. At least 150 impostors and members of solver gangs were arrested on Sunday from various districts in Bihar. The main accused Kamlesh Kumar was arrested from Nawada last week. The cancellation of the examination came as a rude shock for lakhs of candidates who had worked hard for the examination. Several individuals, commonly referred to as Munna Bhais, have been placed under custody, they were arrested following the recovery of answer keys from them. Candidates were also taken into custody for attempting to use electronic devices and cheating materials to copy answers. In the state capital, some candidates were caught red-handed with handwritten answer sheets. As per the recruitment notification, a total of 21,391 constables have to be appointed. In 2022 too, the question paper of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) was leaked. The government had cancelled the examination. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden ordered US ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel in a show of support on Sunday while sending fresh military aid after attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 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. US Central Command confirmed Sunday afternoon that ships and planes had begun moving to their new posts. The White House, which said that "several" American citizens had been killed in the violence, has moved quickly to affirm US backing for Israel after Saturday's surprise attack from the Gaza Strip, vowing "rock solid" support and warning other parties to stay out of the conflict. Biden on Sunday spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days," the White House said. "The leaders 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. The US president further "pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists." Hamas later accused the United States, a major supplier of arms to Israel, of "actual participation in the aggression against our people" by moving the aircraft carrier. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict's worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 700 lives on the Israeli side, according to the military, while Gaza officials reported at least 400 deaths in Israeli air strikes. Israel's Netanyahu has steeled his shocked nation for what he called a long war ahead, with tens of thousands of Israeli forces already deployed to battle holdout Hamas forces and prepare a possible Gaza ground offensive. READ MORE | After a shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for the devastating fallout Ironclad support The conflict has stoked fears of a wider conflagration. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said Sunday it had fired shells and missiles at Israeli positions. With tensions rising, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was sending forces to "bolster regional deterrence efforts" after discussions with Biden. As well as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, this deployment includes a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, Austin said in a statement. "The United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," added Austin, who also spoke with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday. The movement of US ships and planes and the aid to Israel "underscores the United States ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people." The United States on Sunday afternoon led calls for condemnation of a Hamas assault on Israel at the United Nations Security Council. "I expect to hear from the other Council members very strong condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism committed against the Israeli people and their government," senior US diplomat Robert Wood told reporters. READ MORE | World reacts to Israel-Gaza war World should be revolted A number of Americans were killed in the violence, a US National Security Council spokesperson said Sunday evening, without giving any further details. "We can confirm the deaths of several US citizens," the spokesperson said, offering "deepest condolences" to victims and their families. Earlier Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Americans may also have been taken hostage in the attacks. He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as weve 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." State and local authorities throughout the United States -- including in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston -- said there would be increased security presence at US synagogues in the coming days, though there was no specific threat. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden ordered US ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel in a show of support on Sunday while sending fresh military aid after attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 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. US Central Command confirmed Sunday afternoon that ships and planes had begun moving to their new posts. The White House, which said that "several" American citizens had been killed in the violence, has moved quickly to affirm US backing for Israel after Saturday's surprise attack from the Gaza Strip, vowing "rock solid" support and warning other parties to stay out of the conflict.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Biden on Sunday spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days," the White House said. "The leaders 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. The US president further "pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists." Hamas later accused the United States, a major supplier of arms to Israel, of "actual participation in the aggression against our people" by moving the aircraft carrier. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict's worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 700 lives on the Israeli side, according to the military, while Gaza officials reported at least 400 deaths in Israeli air strikes. Israel's Netanyahu has steeled his shocked nation for what he called a long war ahead, with tens of thousands of Israeli forces already deployed to battle holdout Hamas forces and prepare a possible Gaza ground offensive. READ MORE | After a shocking Hamas assault on Israel, both sides brace for the devastating fallout Ironclad support The conflict has stoked fears of a wider conflagration. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said Sunday it had fired shells and missiles at Israeli positions. With tensions rising, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was sending forces to "bolster regional deterrence efforts" after discussions with Biden. As well as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, this deployment includes a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, Austin said in a statement. "The United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," added Austin, who also spoke with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday. The movement of US ships and planes and the aid to Israel "underscores the United States ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people." The United States on Sunday afternoon led calls for condemnation of a Hamas assault on Israel at the United Nations Security Council. "I expect to hear from the other Council members very strong condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism committed against the Israeli people and their government," senior US diplomat Robert Wood told reporters. READ MORE | World reacts to Israel-Gaza war World should be revolted A number of Americans were killed in the violence, a US National Security Council spokesperson said Sunday evening, without giving any further details. "We can confirm the deaths of several US citizens," the spokesperson said, offering "deepest condolences" to victims and their families. Earlier Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Americans may also have been taken hostage in the attacks. He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as weve 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." State and local authorities throughout the United States -- including in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston -- said there would be increased security presence at US synagogues in the coming days, though there was no specific threat. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By PTI BENGALURU: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday said the state government has appealed to the Centre to increase the employment days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 100 days to 150 days in view of the severe drought prevailing in the state. Addressing reporters, Gowda said the Central team recently visited the state to inspect the drought situation. The state government has demanded that the Union government release approximately Rs 475 crore, which has not been paid to the labourers who were employed under the MGNREGS. Those who work as labourers are leading their lives in extreme poverty, the minister said and added that we will be putting them in further distress by not paying them. Regarding increasing the employment days in the distress year, Gowda said there is a provision in the law that a labourer should get a job for 150 days instead of 100 days during drought. So, the state government sent a request letter to the Centre on September 23 that it should issue an order in this regard to extend the number of employment days from 100 to 150 in view of drought in the state. "The Central team conducted the field inspection of the prevailing drought situation in the state. In the next one week, the team will submit its report to the officers concerned. We are expecting that their report will do justice to the people of the state," the minister said. Gowda said the cabinet sub-committee, which has already declared 195 taluks of the state as drought, has now directed the district authorities to carry out ground verification of 21 taluks from Tuesday and submit a report by Friday. After the ground-truthing, eligible taluks will be declared as drought-affected, he added. Ground truthing refers to a survey of crops and other conditions in the region. Though the Centre said there were 46 per cent small and marginal farmers in Karnataka, the minister said it is not so. Their number was more than 60 per cent, he added. "We are gathering supportive information to substantiate our assertion that the state has more than 60 per cent small and marginal farmers. We will submit this information to the Central team in the form of a supplementary memorandum," Gowda said. He said the Karnataka government has appealed to the Central team that the state is witnessing a peculiar climatic condition. There was 56 per cent deficient rain in June, 28 per cent excess rain in July, 73 per cent less rain than average in August and 28 per cent deficient rain in September, the minister pointed out. "The Centre should take this strange climatic condition, especially the erratic monsoon, seriously. They should see whether other states too are witnessing the same trend. We have asked the Central team that they should pay special attention to address this erratic monsoon issue," he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp BENGALURU: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday said the state government has appealed to the Centre to increase the employment days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 100 days to 150 days in view of the severe drought prevailing in the state. Addressing reporters, Gowda said the Central team recently visited the state to inspect the drought situation. The state government has demanded that the Union government release approximately Rs 475 crore, which has not been paid to the labourers who were employed under the MGNREGS.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Those who work as labourers are leading their lives in extreme poverty, the minister said and added that we will be putting them in further distress by not paying them. Regarding increasing the employment days in the distress year, Gowda said there is a provision in the law that a labourer should get a job for 150 days instead of 100 days during drought. So, the state government sent a request letter to the Centre on September 23 that it should issue an order in this regard to extend the number of employment days from 100 to 150 in view of drought in the state. "The Central team conducted the field inspection of the prevailing drought situation in the state. In the next one week, the team will submit its report to the officers concerned. We are expecting that their report will do justice to the people of the state," the minister said. Gowda said the cabinet sub-committee, which has already declared 195 taluks of the state as drought, has now directed the district authorities to carry out ground verification of 21 taluks from Tuesday and submit a report by Friday. After the ground-truthing, eligible taluks will be declared as drought-affected, he added. Ground truthing refers to a survey of crops and other conditions in the region. Though the Centre said there were 46 per cent small and marginal farmers in Karnataka, the minister said it is not so. Their number was more than 60 per cent, he added. "We are gathering supportive information to substantiate our assertion that the state has more than 60 per cent small and marginal farmers. We will submit this information to the Central team in the form of a supplementary memorandum," Gowda said. He said the Karnataka government has appealed to the Central team that the state is witnessing a peculiar climatic condition. There was 56 per cent deficient rain in June, 28 per cent excess rain in July, 73 per cent less rain than average in August and 28 per cent deficient rain in September, the minister pointed out. "The Centre should take this strange climatic condition, especially the erratic monsoon, seriously. They should see whether other states too are witnessing the same trend. We have asked the Central team that they should pay special attention to address this erratic monsoon issue," he said. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Anu Kuruvilla By Express News Service KOCHI: With West Asia in the grip of another Israel-Palestine conflict, travel companies that organise tour packages to the Holy Land are feeling the heat. Cancellation of tours could see many of them taking losses to the tune of Rs 25 lakh per group. Most of the companies had just started to see traffic return to pre-pandemic levels. On average, around 20,000 passengers, mostly Malayalis from across the country, depend on tour companies to travel to the Holy Land every year. The upcoming booked trips will depend upon the fallout from the current scenario, said Thomas Mathai, director of Riya Travel, which has been organising tours to the Holy Land for 25 years. Starting from October 12, we had planned trips that would see around 1,000 passengers from all over India visiting Christian pilgrimage sites in Israel, Jordan and Egypt. But things have been put on hold. We will proceed with the tours only if the situation on the ground improves and we can ensure the safety of passengers, he said. The Tour Company organises tours comprising 40-50 passengers each. Our customers are worried about the situation and this has led to cancellations. This would hit us badly because flight tickets are not refundable. So, if a tour for 50 passengers is cancelled we stand to lose around Rs 25 lakh, said Saji Kurian, owner of the Kochi-based agency, which already has one group in Jordan. Tour companies had a packed itinerary for the Holy Land from this week. Saji, a 30-year veteran in the sector, said, This is a conflict-prone region. Things have returned to normal in a day or two during previous conflicts. We will get a clear picture only after 72 hours, he said. Thomas expects matters to normalise and passenger traffic to the Holy Land to return to pre-Covid levels. Before the pandemic, we used to take on average 10,000 passengers from around the country. In Kerala, the numbers were around 6,000 to 7,000. We have seen a return to these numbers, he added. Even as we get worrying news from Israel, those on the ground say the situation in Gaza has been contained. But things might get tricky with Israel closing the borders, Saji said. Echoing his views, Thomas said the itinerary followed by tour companies in India takes passengers to Jordan first. They then cross into Israel and then into Egypt, both via road. From Egypt, groups catch the flight back home. Tour companies that have weathered such situations in the past are hoping for a quick return to normalcy. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp KOCHI: With West Asia in the grip of another Israel-Palestine conflict, travel companies that organise tour packages to the Holy Land are feeling the heat. Cancellation of tours could see many of them taking losses to the tune of Rs 25 lakh per group. Most of the companies had just started to see traffic return to pre-pandemic levels. On average, around 20,000 passengers, mostly Malayalis from across the country, depend on tour companies to travel to the Holy Land every year. The upcoming booked trips will depend upon the fallout from the current scenario, said Thomas Mathai, director of Riya Travel, which has been organising tours to the Holy Land for 25 years. Starting from October 12, we had planned trips that would see around 1,000 passengers from all over India visiting Christian pilgrimage sites in Israel, Jordan and Egypt. But things have been put on hold. We will proceed with the tours only if the situation on the ground improves and we can ensure the safety of passengers, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Tour Company organises tours comprising 40-50 passengers each. Our customers are worried about the situation and this has led to cancellations. This would hit us badly because flight tickets are not refundable. So, if a tour for 50 passengers is cancelled we stand to lose around Rs 25 lakh, said Saji Kurian, owner of the Kochi-based agency, which already has one group in Jordan. Tour companies had a packed itinerary for the Holy Land from this week. Saji, a 30-year veteran in the sector, said, This is a conflict-prone region. Things have returned to normal in a day or two during previous conflicts. We will get a clear picture only after 72 hours, he said. Thomas expects matters to normalise and passenger traffic to the Holy Land to return to pre-Covid levels. Before the pandemic, we used to take on average 10,000 passengers from around the country. In Kerala, the numbers were around 6,000 to 7,000. We have seen a return to these numbers, he added. Even as we get worrying news from Israel, those on the ground say the situation in Gaza has been contained. But things might get tricky with Israel closing the borders, Saji said. Echoing his views, Thomas said the itinerary followed by tour companies in India takes passengers to Jordan first. They then cross into Israel and then into Egypt, both via road. From Egypt, groups catch the flight back home. Tour companies that have weathered such situations in the past are hoping for a quick return to normalcy. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Digital systems integrator BCX has launched an Africa Local Public (ALP) cloud service, with Alibaba Cloud, aimed at delivering innovative technology solutions to businesses across the continent. The partners say that South African local enterprises can now access secure and resilient infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) offerings like cloud compute, storage, network, and security services with low latency and high efficiency offered by BCXs ALP cloud. The initial capacity will be made available to enterprise clients and will be further expanded with additional products and capacity. The ALP cloud service is powered by Alibaba Cloud the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Chinese multinational technology company Alibaba Group. BCX has opted to charge for services in the local currency, the South African rand, thus ensuring cost predictability for South African enterprises, allowing them to effectively manage their cloud service expenses. ALP cloud has been deployed in two data centres in South Africa. BCX intends to launch a third data centre in Cape Town, along with another disaster recovery data centre in one of South Africas neighbouring countries, to mitigate the impact of load shedding (a term referring to major interruptions to South Africa's electricity supply). Headquarted in South Africa, BCX describes itself a digital transformation partner for enterprises and public sector organisations across various industries and sectors in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia, as well as the United Kingdom. Service provider Telkom acquired the company in 2015. B Anbuselvan By Express News Service CHENNAI: The union government has rejected Tamil Nadus demand for additional subsidised kerosene for distribution through PDS shops, claiming that 2.27 crore households, which is more than 100% of households in the state, have LPG connections. While the state government says 30 lakh households in TN do not have LPG connections, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, in an RTI reply, said the LPG coverage in Tamil Nadu stands at 102.9%. There are 2.2 crore households and 2.27 crore domestic LPG connections (excess of seven lakh cylinders) in the state, the IOCL said in its RTI reply. The estimated number of households for every state is arrived at based on the decadal population growth between 2001 and 2011 as per the 2011 census, the RTI reply said. As per this methodology, Tamil Nadus LPG coverage stands at 102.9%, the IOCL said. Kerosene allocated based on LPG coverage, rural electrification The Union Petroleum Ministry allocates kerosene to states based on factors such as LPG coverage, rural electrification, and lapsed quota. Kerosene supply has been rationalized across India since 2010-11, the reply pointed out. Currently, the state receives an average of 2,700 kilolitres (KL) per month against the average allocation of 12,700 KL it received per month during 2019-20. Consequently, only one to two litres of kerosene is being given to 17 to 20 lakh PDS cardholders a month residing in hilly regions of the state, sources said. In April, the state food and civil supplies minister wrote to the union government urging it to enhance the allocation of subsidised kerosene under PDS but the centre has not accepted. A civil supplies department official said a huge section of residents in rural and hilly areas still rely on kerosene for cooking. The issue has been escalated. Whatever the allocation we get from the centre is being distributed among needy cardholders, another official said. Kerosene is provided through PDS to cardholders who dont have an LPG connection and to those with a single LPG cylinder connection. The quantity of kerosene supplied varies between three and 15 litres per month depending on the place of residence. Out of 2.27 LPG connections, IOCL and HPCL serve 28 lakh BPL families under the PM Ujjwala Yojana. Supply of kerosene to single-cylinder cardholders in Chennai city is nearly zero, a source said. S Govindarajan of Korattur said, I used to receive three litres of kerosene until 2018 as an alternative fuel for my family from ration shops, but that has stopped now. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp CHENNAI: The union government has rejected Tamil Nadus demand for additional subsidised kerosene for distribution through PDS shops, claiming that 2.27 crore households, which is more than 100% of households in the state, have LPG connections. While the state government says 30 lakh households in TN do not have LPG connections, the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, in an RTI reply, said the LPG coverage in Tamil Nadu stands at 102.9%. There are 2.2 crore households and 2.27 crore domestic LPG connections (excess of seven lakh cylinders) in the state, the IOCL said in its RTI reply. The estimated number of households for every state is arrived at based on the decadal population growth between 2001 and 2011 as per the 2011 census, the RTI reply said. As per this methodology, Tamil Nadus LPG coverage stands at 102.9%, the IOCL said. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Kerosene allocated based on LPG coverage, rural electrification The Union Petroleum Ministry allocates kerosene to states based on factors such as LPG coverage, rural electrification, and lapsed quota. Kerosene supply has been rationalized across India since 2010-11, the reply pointed out. Currently, the state receives an average of 2,700 kilolitres (KL) per month against the average allocation of 12,700 KL it received per month during 2019-20. Consequently, only one to two litres of kerosene is being given to 17 to 20 lakh PDS cardholders a month residing in hilly regions of the state, sources said. In April, the state food and civil supplies minister wrote to the union government urging it to enhance the allocation of subsidised kerosene under PDS but the centre has not accepted. A civil supplies department official said a huge section of residents in rural and hilly areas still rely on kerosene for cooking. The issue has been escalated. Whatever the allocation we get from the centre is being distributed among needy cardholders, another official said. Kerosene is provided through PDS to cardholders who dont have an LPG connection and to those with a single LPG cylinder connection. The quantity of kerosene supplied varies between three and 15 litres per month depending on the place of residence. Out of 2.27 LPG connections, IOCL and HPCL serve 28 lakh BPL families under the PM Ujjwala Yojana. Supply of kerosene to single-cylinder cardholders in Chennai city is nearly zero, a source said. S Govindarajan of Korattur said, I used to receive three litres of kerosene until 2018 as an alternative fuel for my family from ration shops, but that has stopped now. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp Naveen Kumar Tallam By Express News Service RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: A youth, hailing from Konaraopet, has returned home after spending 18 years in a jail in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for his alleged involvement in a murder in 2005. This was made possible due to the intervention of IT & Industries Minister KT Rama Rao, who had requested the authorities in UAE to release him and four others. The youth, Dundagula Laxman, left for Dubai in search of employment in the early 2000s. However, in 2005, he found himself embroiled in a murder case involving a Nepali citizen, along with four others: Shivaratri Ravi, Mallesham, Nampalli and Hanumandlu. A court in Dubai had sentenced them all to 25 years in prison for their involvement in the crime. A few months ago, Rama Rao visited Nepal and handed over Rs 15 lakh in compensation to the murder victims family. He also made a plea to the government in UAE for a pardon. However, due to the seriousness of the crime, the UAE government authorities did not initially accept the request. In September, as part of his efforts to attract investments to Telangana, Rama Rao visited Dubai. During this visit, he made efforts to secure the release of the five convicted persons. He engaged in discussions regarding their release with Indian consulate authorities and UAE government authorities. Eventually, a Dubai court granted a pardon to Laxman, considering his good conduct during his time in jail. However, the four others remain incarcerated in Dubai. Laxman, upon returning to his native place, was joyfully reunited with his family amidst emotional scenes. His family members shared that the long period of imprisonment had taken a toll on Laxmans psychological well-being. His brother, Raju, expressed their gratitude to the minister for his efforts in securing Laxmans release from jail. The families of the remaining four individuals are now appealing to Rama Rao that he initiate efforts to secure their release from jail. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: A youth, hailing from Konaraopet, has returned home after spending 18 years in a jail in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for his alleged involvement in a murder in 2005. This was made possible due to the intervention of IT & Industries Minister KT Rama Rao, who had requested the authorities in UAE to release him and four others. The youth, Dundagula Laxman, left for Dubai in search of employment in the early 2000s. However, in 2005, he found himself embroiled in a murder case involving a Nepali citizen, along with four others: Shivaratri Ravi, Mallesham, Nampalli and Hanumandlu. A court in Dubai had sentenced them all to 25 years in prison for their involvement in the crime. A few months ago, Rama Rao visited Nepal and handed over Rs 15 lakh in compensation to the murder victims family. He also made a plea to the government in UAE for a pardon. However, due to the seriousness of the crime, the UAE government authorities did not initially accept the request.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In September, as part of his efforts to attract investments to Telangana, Rama Rao visited Dubai. During this visit, he made efforts to secure the release of the five convicted persons. He engaged in discussions regarding their release with Indian consulate authorities and UAE government authorities. Eventually, a Dubai court granted a pardon to Laxman, considering his good conduct during his time in jail. However, the four others remain incarcerated in Dubai. Laxman, upon returning to his native place, was joyfully reunited with his family amidst emotional scenes. His family members shared that the long period of imprisonment had taken a toll on Laxmans psychological well-being. His brother, Raju, expressed their gratitude to the minister for his efforts in securing Laxmans release from jail. The families of the remaining four individuals are now appealing to Rama Rao that he initiate efforts to secure their release from jail. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP QAMISHLI (SYRIA): A Turkish air strike on Monday killed 20 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training centre for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said. Turkey has been bombing sites in the area since Thursday, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, said that 20 people had been killed and around 50 wounded after a Turkish warplane targeted a training centre belonging to Kurdish internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyah. The Kurdish force acknowledged the strike, saying that "a number of our forces were killed and others wounded". AFP correspondents said that authorities in the area have called for blood donations, while witnesses said that hospitals were full of casualties. Amid the chaos of Syria's long-running civil conflict, Syria's Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the country's northeast. Turkey's defence ministry said on Friday that it had launched the new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel. A branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies -- claimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016. Turkey launched strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq hours after the October 1 attack, with foreign minister Hakan Fidan saying days later that the assailants "came from Syria and were trained there". Kurdish denial The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces spearheaded the battle to dislodge Islamic State group fighters from their last scraps of territory in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) that dominate the SDF as an offshoot of the PKK. The SDF, the Kurds' de facto army in the northeast, denied that those behind the Ankara attack had passed through the area. Turkish bombings had mostly subsided over the weekend after strikes hit energy infrastructure, including power stations and oil facilities on Thursday and Friday, killing at least 15 security personnel and civilians, according to the Kurdish authorities. Since 2016, Turkey has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened a new incursion. Turkey supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country which angers Damascus. In November last year, Turkey launched air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria and Iraq in response to a bombing in Istanbul that killed six people. The conflict in Syria has killed more than half a million people since it began in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, spiralling into a devastating war involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp QAMISHLI (SYRIA): A Turkish air strike on Monday killed 20 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training centre for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said. Turkey has been bombing sites in the area since Thursday, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, said that 20 people had been killed and around 50 wounded after a Turkish warplane targeted a training centre belonging to Kurdish internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyah.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Kurdish force acknowledged the strike, saying that "a number of our forces were killed and others wounded". AFP correspondents said that authorities in the area have called for blood donations, while witnesses said that hospitals were full of casualties. Amid the chaos of Syria's long-running civil conflict, Syria's Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the country's northeast. Turkey's defence ministry said on Friday that it had launched the new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel. A branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies -- claimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016. Turkey launched strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq hours after the October 1 attack, with foreign minister Hakan Fidan saying days later that the assailants "came from Syria and were trained there". Kurdish denial The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces spearheaded the battle to dislodge Islamic State group fighters from their last scraps of territory in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) that dominate the SDF as an offshoot of the PKK. The SDF, the Kurds' de facto army in the northeast, denied that those behind the Ankara attack had passed through the area. Turkish bombings had mostly subsided over the weekend after strikes hit energy infrastructure, including power stations and oil facilities on Thursday and Friday, killing at least 15 security personnel and civilians, according to the Kurdish authorities. Since 2016, Turkey has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened a new incursion. Turkey supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country which angers Damascus. In November last year, Turkey launched air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria and Iraq in response to a bombing in Istanbul that killed six people. The conflict in Syria has killed more than half a million people since it began in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, spiralling into a devastating war involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp By AFP JERUSALEM: Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip Monday and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Reeling from the Islamist group's unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have killed 560 people there. The skies over Gaza were blackened by plumes of smoke from deafening explosions as Hamas kept launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared. Hamas -- whose militants surged into Israeli towns on Saturday, sprayed gunfire at civilians and dragged off about 100 hostages -- claimed on Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of the captives. Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists, and truck convoys were seen moving tanks to the south, where its forces had dislodged the last holdout Hamas fighters from embattled towns. "We are in control of the communities," said military spokesman Daniel Hagari, cautioning that some "terrorists" may remain after about 1,000 militants swarmed into the region on the Jewish Sabbath. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a "complete siege" on the long blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed." Palestinians in the impoverished coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Gaza civilians to get away from all Hamas sites, which he vowed to turn "to rubble". Middle East tensions have spiked as Israel's arch-enemy Iran and their Lebanese ally Hezbollah have praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran rejected any role in the military operation. ALSO READ | Oil spikes as chances of a mistake run high in the Middle East Hamas has called on "resistance fighters" in the occupied West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join its "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", launched half a century after the 1973 Arab-Israel war. The United States has pledged "rock solid" support for Israel and said it would send munitions and military hardware to its key ally and divert an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean. 'They butchered people' Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamas's unprecedented attack. It now faces the threat of a multi-front war after Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells from the north Sunday "in solidarity" with Hamas, in what some observers considered a warning shot. Israel has voiced alarm and revulsion after more than 1,000 militants broke through the Gaza border fence Israel had deemed impregnable and swarmed out into nearby Jewish communities. Among the hostages they took back into Gaza were children and a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israeli officials have said. Up to 250 bodies were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, mostly young people, while other revellers were feared to be among the hostages. "They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way," said Moti Bukjin, a spokesman for the Zaka volunteer group which helped collect the bodies. Israelis have voiced anger at the intelligence failure that blindsided the nation, but have attempted to put aside for now deep political divisions of recent years as they braced for what Netanyahu has warned would be a "long and difficult war". 'Worst in Israeli history' "Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day," said army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus. EDITORIAL | Senseless Hamas massacre harms its cause in Israel The multi-pronged attack had brought "by far the worst day in Israeli history", he said, likening it to a combination of the "9/11 and Pearl Harbour" attacks. The situation was also dire inside Gaza, which has been blockaded by Israel since Hamas assumed control there 15 years ago, a period that has seen multiple wars with Israel. Air strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, mosques and the central bank. More than 120,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, said the United Nations. "The situation is unbearable," said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, as she took shelter in a school classroom with her terrified children. Children's sense of safety has been "ripped away" said Jason Lee of charity group Save the Children. "Our teams and their families are terrified, they feel like sitting targets. "Children across the region are in constant fear." Global shock waves Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces in violence that has killed 15 Palestinians since Saturday. Anti-Israel activists have demonstrated in Iraq, Pakistan, the United States and other countries, while security was stepped up around Jewish temples and schools worldwide. The spiralling conflict has sent shock waves around the world amid fears of a wider escalation, sparking a surge in oil prices on fears of tightening supplies. Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. ALSO READ | Kerala-based woman caregiver injured in Hamas attack on Israel Foreign or dual nationals have been reported killed, abducted or missing by countries including Brazil, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States. 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. Israel, which has struck a series of US-brokered normalisation deals with several Arab nations in recent years, has issued a travel warning for its citizens, especially in the Middle East. Watch video Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp JERUSALEM: Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip Monday and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Reeling from the Islamist group's unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have killed 560 people there. The skies over Gaza were blackened by plumes of smoke from deafening explosions as Hamas kept launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Hamas -- whose militants surged into Israeli towns on Saturday, sprayed gunfire at civilians and dragged off about 100 hostages -- claimed on Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of the captives. Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists, and truck convoys were seen moving tanks to the south, where its forces had dislodged the last holdout Hamas fighters from embattled towns. "We are in control of the communities," said military spokesman Daniel Hagari, cautioning that some "terrorists" may remain after about 1,000 militants swarmed into the region on the Jewish Sabbath. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a "complete siege" on the long blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed." Palestinians in the impoverished coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Gaza civilians to get away from all Hamas sites, which he vowed to turn "to rubble". Middle East tensions have spiked as Israel's arch-enemy Iran and their Lebanese ally Hezbollah have praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran rejected any role in the military operation. ALSO READ | Oil spikes as chances of a mistake run high in the Middle East Hamas has called on "resistance fighters" in the occupied West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join its "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", launched half a century after the 1973 Arab-Israel war. The United States has pledged "rock solid" support for Israel and said it would send munitions and military hardware to its key ally and divert an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean. 'They butchered people' Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamas's unprecedented attack. It now faces the threat of a multi-front war after Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells from the north Sunday "in solidarity" with Hamas, in what some observers considered a warning shot. Israel has voiced alarm and revulsion after more than 1,000 militants broke through the Gaza border fence Israel had deemed impregnable and swarmed out into nearby Jewish communities. Among the hostages they took back into Gaza were children and a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israeli officials have said. Up to 250 bodies were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, mostly young people, while other revellers were feared to be among the hostages. "They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way," said Moti Bukjin, a spokesman for the Zaka volunteer group which helped collect the bodies. Israelis have voiced anger at the intelligence failure that blindsided the nation, but have attempted to put aside for now deep political divisions of recent years as they braced for what Netanyahu has warned would be a "long and difficult war". 'Worst in Israeli history' "Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day," said army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus. EDITORIAL | Senseless Hamas massacre harms its cause in Israel The multi-pronged attack had brought "by far the worst day in Israeli history", he said, likening it to a combination of the "9/11 and Pearl Harbour" attacks. The situation was also dire inside Gaza, which has been blockaded by Israel since Hamas assumed control there 15 years ago, a period that has seen multiple wars with Israel. Air strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, mosques and the central bank. More than 120,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, said the United Nations. "The situation is unbearable," said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, as she took shelter in a school classroom with her terrified children. Children's sense of safety has been "ripped away" said Jason Lee of charity group Save the Children. "Our teams and their families are terrified, they feel like sitting targets. "Children across the region are in constant fear." Global shock waves Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces in violence that has killed 15 Palestinians since Saturday. Anti-Israel activists have demonstrated in Iraq, Pakistan, the United States and other countries, while security was stepped up around Jewish temples and schools worldwide. The spiralling conflict has sent shock waves around the world amid fears of a wider escalation, sparking a surge in oil prices on fears of tightening supplies. Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. ALSO READ | Kerala-based woman caregiver injured in Hamas attack on Israel Foreign or dual nationals have been reported killed, abducted or missing by countries including Brazil, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States. 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. Israel, which has struck a series of US-brokered normalisation deals with several Arab nations in recent years, has issued a travel warning for its citizens, especially in the Middle East. Watch video Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp The speaker for the Dale County Republican meeting Oct. 16 is Justice Sarah Stewart who is an Associate Justice on the Alabama Supreme Court and is running in the Republican Primary for the Chief Justice position. Stewart was first elected as an associate justice to the Alabama Supreme court in 2018 In 2006 Stewart was appointed as a Circuit Judge in Mobile. She was the first female jury trial judge in Mobile. Stewart ran unopposed as a Republican three times in 2006, 2010 and 2016 for the Circuit Judge position. While she served as Mobile Circuit Judge, Stewart was active in the leadership of the Circuit Judges Association and served as the first female President. Stewart received the Trailblazer Award in2022 recognizing her leadership and achievements by the Mobile Bar Association. Prior to Stewarts appointment to the Circuit Bench, she was in private practice for 14 years. As a lawyer, Stewart was the first female president of the Mobile Young Lawyers and was active in the Mobile Bar Association. Stewart earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts degrees in Communication at the University of Arkansas in 1985 and 1986. While in college, she was Student Government Association President, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Order of Omega. Stewart earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in 1992. She received the American Jurisprudence Award for the highest grade in two classes and graduated in the top ten percent of her class. Stewart is married to Craig Stewart who is originally from Selma, They have two adult children, four dogs, and three cats. She has been active in the Mobile community as a member of Leadership Mobile, Junior League of Mobile, 15 Place Homeless Service Center Board, Girl Scouts of the Magic Empire Board, and Ashland Place Methodist Church. The Dale County Republican meeting will meet at Hoppergrass Restaurant in Ozark at 6 p.m. Following the speaker there will be refreshments and door prizes. Everyone is welcome to attend this meeting. Washington, October 8 A ccording to new research, some people may be able to receive a type 2 diabetes diagnosis earlier. The study was presented at this year's European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting in Hamburg (2-6 October). According to this research, a number of common ailments significantly increased in the years preceding and right before a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. "These novel insights into the onset and natural progression of type 2 diabetes, suggest an early phase of inflammation-related disease activity long before any clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is made", says senior author Dr Adrian Heald from Manchester University, UK."These findings hint at the potential for type 2 diabetes to be diagnosed earlier, and we hope that the distinct clinical trajectory could become a predictive tool for people at risk of the disease." Type 2 diabetes is frequently linked to a rising complexity of various diseases and connected therapies. Even though there has been considerable success in identifying the genetic and non-genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, knowing a person's long-term clinical history before and after a diagnosis may offer new insights into the disease's aetiology and the complex trajectories of numerous other health issues. To find out more, UK researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester University and Salford Royal Hospital analysed longitudinal data from the Diabetes Alliance for Research in England (DARE) Study to examine the accumulation of the most common clinical conditions in 1,932 adults with and without type 2 diabetes matched by age and gender. Data on 1,196 individuals who were eventually diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 736 without diabetes were analysed over a period of up to 50 years (25 years pre-diagnosis and 25 years post-diagnosis). The average age at type 2 diabetes diagnosis was 53 years. The trajectory analysis revealed that for individuals eventually diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a number of common conditions increased consistently in the years leading up to diagnosis, specifically: high blood pressure, respiratory tract infections, heart conditions (i.e., heart failure, heart attack, angina, coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft, and heart disease), asthma, and eye, nose, and throat infections (e.g., pharyngitis, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis; see figure 1a in notes to editors). Additionally, researchers found that immediately prior to type 2 diabetes diagnosis, more than 1 in 3 individuals experienced high blood pressure and respiratory tract infection, while around 1 in 5 had a heart condition or eye, nose, and throat infection, and 1 in 10 developed asthma. The corresponding trajectory over time was much less dramatic in those without type 2 diabetes, with fewer than 1 in 20 individuals being diagnosed with any of these conditions, apart from respiratory tract infections that were experienced by around 1 in 10 (see figure 1b in notes to editors). After a type 2 diabetes diagnosis, the proportion of individuals experiencing high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), retinopathy (a complication of diabetes when the retina is damaged), and infections, climbed rapidly for around 15 years before plateauing. Similarly, both heart conditions and asthma continued to increase in those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (see figure 1a in notes to editors). "Understanding the long-term clinical history of type 2 diabetes years before diagnosis means that, in the future, people could have the time to make lifestyle changes to prevent this lifechanging disease from arising", says co-author Dr Adrian Heald from Salford Royal Hospital, UK. "This study demonstrates that subacute inflammation which manifests as the onset of hypertension, asthma or an acute infection, regardless of whether it is caused by the genome, demography or comorbidities, may serve as a precursor to the later onset of type 2 diabetes." He continues, "These observations offer a fascinating and fresh perspective on the beginning and normal development from pre-type 2 diabetes to type 2 diabetes diagnosis and beyond, implying a possible early stage of disease activity that is linked to, but not yet clinically diagnosed as, diabetes. The matter of metabolic control and how this relates to a broad range of treatment factors (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) will be addressed in a future work." Despite the important findings, this is a small, retrospective observational study and cannot prove causation, and the authors acknowledge that they cannot rule out the possibility that other unmeasured factors may have influenced the results. In addition, the authors note several other limitations, which may have affected the results, including the accuracy of the coding at the level of GP and the potential for bias through misclassification/missing data; that type 2 diabetes is a diverse disorder and the study has not examined all its possible subgroups; and that some multimorbidity may be related to socio-economic deprivation. More insight into type 2 diabetes diagnosis: Study Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, October 8 T anzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Sunday arrived in Delhi on a 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." Samia Suluhu Hassan visited 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. While speaking on the IIT Campus in Zanzibar, Makamba 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, "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." Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan arrives in India on State visit Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, October 8 I ndia and Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Riyadh on Sunday afternoon in the fields of Electrical Interconnections, Green / Clean Hydrogen and Supply Chains. As per the Ministry of Power, "The MoU was signed between the visiting Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, R.K. Singh and the Minister of Energy, Government of Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week in Riyadh on Sunday. 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. "It was also decided between the two energy ministers that B2B 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" Ministry added Earlier, an Indian delegation led by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, R.K. Singh 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 during October 8 - 12, 2023. MENA Climate Week 2023 will discuss climate solutions ahead of COP28 and is being hosted by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This important event brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss many topics, including the Global Stocktake, and the economic and energy security aspects of climate action in the context of the Paris Agreement. It provides a valuable opportunity to share insights and best practices, and to develop ambitious climate strategies for the rest of this critical decade. 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 in Riyadh today, the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy said that MENA Climate Week is extremely important in exploring and sharing opportunities to shape the future of energy production, consumption and sustainability on a global scale. He said that the gathering at MENA CW holds great significance for the MENA region and collectively possesses immense potential in influencing the current and future narrative of energy transition. The Minister told the global community that India today is one of the world's 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 world's 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 recalled that India's energy sector has undergone a remarkable transformation, aimed at providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to its people. "The country has made significant strides in enhancing power generation capacity from non-fossil fuels, established a unified national grid and has strengthened distribution network, promoting renewable energy, expanding access to energy and achieving 100% household electrification, and implementing innovative policies." Singh 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 US $ 2.3 billion for this Mission." The Minister called upon MENA countries to join the Global Biofuel 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 Minister underlined that India firmly believes that all nations must recognize that the energy transition will have different challenges and opportunities for developing countries and the global south in particular. "Therefore, it is imperative that we work together to support each other in this transition." Singh asserted at the MENA Climate Week that individual actions and sustainable behavioural choices are crucial to achieving the energy transition in a sustainable manner. "In this regard, I call upon MENA region to join India's initiative on Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE)", said the Minister. The high-level GST (Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement) regional dialogue at the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week will bring together policymakers, key stakeholders and partners in the intergovernmental process to discuss key messages from the region with a view to shaping the GST outcome. The dialogue will further serve as a platform to discuss the challenges, barriers, solutions and opportunities for enhancing climate action and support within the context of MENA and for enhancing international cooperation. The GST allows countries to periodically take stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement to assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the Agreement and its long-term goals. It is done in a comprehensive and facilitative manner, considering mitigation, adaptation and the means of implementation and support, and in the light of equity and the best available science. The first GST started in Glasgow in 2021 and will conclude at the climate change conference in Dubai, UAE (at COP 28). The outcome of the GST shall inform Parties in updating and enhancing, in a nationally determined manner, their action and support, as well as in enhancing international cooperation for climate action. The conclusion of the first global stocktake is an important political moment to highlight collective progress made globally towards the achievement of the Paris Agreement provisions and goals. It is an important moment to underscore challenges, but also the plenitude of opportunities to accelerate climate action including various regional priorities. It will also be critical to signal a positive message of unity and cooperation to the world, to enable ownership of the outcome and subsequent buy-in for effective implementation. India, Saudi Arabia sign MoUs on Electrical Interconnections, Green-Clean Hydrogen and Supply Chains Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Kit Harrington confesses to be being self-obsessed in the past Los Angeles, Oct 8 K it Harrington, who is known for playing Jon Snow in 'Game of Thrones', feels fortunate to have been surrounded by "truthful" people throughout his career to humble him. Harrington told Candis magazine: "There are times when I've been an idiot. When I've been wrapped up in myself. But I've always had people around me who've been truthful." The actor said he's learned from his past mistakes, reports femalefirst.co.uk. He said: "There's not much I'd change, because the mistakes I've made in the world I've found myself in have made me who I am today. And at the moment, I'm happy with myself." He also appreciates the support he's received from his parents. The actor explained how his mum encouraged him to pursue his ambitions "in a really intelligent and sensitive way." He shared: "Their genius in parenting was not to push us into anything but to look at what we were intrinsically drawn by. So I was never pushed into acting, just as my brother was never pushed into what he did. "For instance, when I was a kid and liked dinosaurs, my mother would buy me everything about dinosaurs. "So when I got older and drama came along, it was her who guided me, 'OK, do you want to go to drama school? Do you want to join the National Youth Theatre, or maybe you want to do this course at RADA?' She was always there, delicately puppeteering my young life, but in a really intelligent and sensitive way. She's a fantastic woman." Kit Harrington confesses to be being self-obsessed in the past Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 8 E -commerce giants Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and others on Sunday began the festive season sales in India which is expected to reach Rs 90,000 crore worth online gross merchandise value (GMV) in the festive month -- up 18-20 per cent from last years festive month sales. Driven by about 140 million shoppers, online sellers, especially small ones, expect at least a 15 per cent jump in festive sales year-on-year, with the median growth figure of 26 per cent sales increase expected, according to market intelligence firm Redseer Strategy Consultants. Amazon India has created more than 100,000 seasonal job opportunities across its operations network for the festive season. The opportunities include direct and indirect jobs in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai, among others. Myntra's Big Fashion Festival, is now live with more than 23 lakh fashion, beauty and lifestyle products from over 6,000 leading international, domestic and D2C brands. During the event, customers will have access to unmissable offers on thousands of domestic and international brands, as well as an additional 15 per cent off on using Myntra's co-branded credit card in association with Kotak Mahindra Bank, to unlock more value on their festive purchases. Additionally, the shoppers can avail payment offers through partners like ICICI, Kotak, Paytm and Cred. Snapdeal has also launched the first sale of the festive season called the Toofani Sale-Festive Dhamaka, from October 8-15. Consumer electronics brand Samsung has rolled out mega deals on a wide range of its televisions for the much-awaited festive season. The offers are on Neo QLED TV, OLED TV, Crystal 4K iSmart TV, Crystal Vision 4K TV, QLED 4K TV, The Frame TV and more. At Samsung, we are committed to enhance this festive cheer for our customers through exciting offers on our televisions. We are confident that our unique offers will add more joy to this festive season, said Mohandeep Singh, Senior Vice President, Visual Display Business, Samsung India. On purchase of select Neo QLED 8K & 4K TVs, consumers can get a free Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G worth Rs 124,999, a 50-inch The Serif TV worth Rs 69,990, The Freestyle projector worth Rs 59,990 or a Soundbar worth Rs 49,990, along with a 3-year comprehensive warranty on the Neo QLED TVs. In exclusive partnership with top online retailer Flipkart, Blaupunkt, a German electronics brand, has announced hefty discounts on the whole range of TVs during the Flipkart's Big Billion Days. Blaupunkt will offer customers incredible savings of up to 80 per cent on Smart TVs and appliances. The all-new TVs will start at an attractive price of Rs 6,299. The newly-launched 43-inch QLED is available at Rs 28,999. Flipkarts The Big Billion Days accompanying the festive season is a great opportunity for us to provide our customers with Blaupunkts exceptional TVs to experience premium affordability, said Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL), exclusive brand licensee of Blaupunkt TVs in India. According to Jagjeet Harode, Vice President - Electronics, Appliances and Private Brands at Flipkart, the customers across India can elevate their viewing experience by upgrading their TVs. This collaboration with Blaupunkt's new range is a significant addition to our marketplace, bolstering our offerings as we approach the festive season, he said in a statement. SPPL aims to do an overall business worth Rs 500 crore this festive season. In the smartphone segment, all major players have announced exciting promotions. Around 42 per cent Indians plan to buy a premium smartphone (Rs 30,000 and above) this festive season, and 5G, latest processor and RAM are the top specifications while making the purchase, according to Counterpoint Research. Samsung, Apple and OnePlus are the most preferred brands this festive season. HTech, a comprehensive solutions provider, has announced their first festive sale offer for the latest HONOR 90 5G in India, offering discounts up to Rs 11,000. According to the company, HONOR 90 can now be purchased at Rs 26,999 this festive season. OnePlus has extended offers to the recently launched OnePlus 11, OnePlus 11R, including the new OnePlus 11R Solar Red, as well as OnePlus Nord 3, the new OnePlus Pad Go and many more. Starting October 7, the offers on the entire product portfolio are now live. Amazon has announced exciting offers on Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle devices during its 'Great Indian Festival 2023. Customers can avail up to 55 per cent off on Echo smart speakers, Fire TV devices, Kindle e-reader, and Alexa smart home combos, said the company. Amazon, Flipkart begin festive season war as India looks at Rs 90K cr worth sales Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! OZARK A means to prevent the illegal abandonment of newborn infants is coming to Alabama and Ozark is among the first cities to proactively give the project the green light. At the first council meeting of the month the Ozark City Council unanimously voted to enter into a five-year lease and service agreement for installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box in the city. A baby box is a designated location where parents can anonymously and safely leave an infant they are unable or unwilling to care for, said Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship as he introduced the project as a proactive measure. In Alabama, the safe haven law recently expanded the babys age to 45 days during which a mother can relinquish a newborn to a hospital or to a safe haven box, he said. The temperature controlled boxes containing a bassinet can be installed into an external wall of a facility manned round the clock, such as a fire station or hospital. The mission of the Safe Haven Baby Box organization is to prevent illegal abandonment of newborns by raising public awareness, offering a 24-hour hotline for mothers in crisis and offering the Safe Haven Baby Boxes as an alternative option for women who want to maintain complete anonymity. A baby box legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender if they are unable to care for their newborn, Ozark City Administrative Assistant Heather Cohen told the council. A baby box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital. It has an exterior door that automatically locks upon placement of a newborn inside the Baby Box, and an interior door which allows a medical staff member to secure the surrendered newborn from inside the designated building. The process involves opening the boxs secure door, placing the baby inside, and then closing the door. Once the door is shut, a sensor alerts authorities to retrieve the baby, Cohen said. These boxes aim to prevent unsafe abandonment and ensure that infants are placed in proper care, following legal protocols. The Safe Haven Baby Box takes face-to-face interaction out of the surrender and protects the mother from being seen, Cohen said. On the boxes is a national 24-hour hotline1-866-99BABY1 where callers can receive counseling and assistance free of charge. As the grandfather of two adoptees, Blankenship said that the project is dear to his heart not only because of his grandsons but because it is a proactive measure for the city that it exists to assist not only the baby and birth mother but also to those seeking to adopt. The woman who started the baby box project in April 2016 was herself an abandoned infant. Monica Kelsey started the baby box project after learning she had been abandoned as an infant and after seeing a baby box operation in action at a church in Cape Town, South Africa. The Indiana-based company, with 100 baby boxes in the state, has also expanded to Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Mississippi, North Carolina, and is now coming into Alabama. The Dothan City Council also approved contracting for safe haven baby boxes to be installed at a fire station at their most recent city council meeting. Gurdas Mann cancels Canada tour in light of rising tensions between India and Canada Mumbai, Oct 8 P unjabi legend Gurdas Manns 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. Gurdas Mann cancels Canada tour in light of rising tensions between India and Canada Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 8 I ndia 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. India, Saudi Arabia sign pact on clean hydrogen, supply chains Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, October 8 E xternal 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. EAM Jaishankar meets Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! We both share experience of being superstar's spouse: Saira Banu to Gauri Khan Mumbai, Oct 8 V eteran actress Saira Banu, who often shares intriguing stories from the past on her Instagram, took to the social media platform on Sunday to send her best wishes to producer Gauri Khan on the latters birthday. Gauri is also the wife of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. She took to the story section of her Instagram and shared an image of Gauri and wrote on the picture, "Many happy returns of the day, Gauri. We both share the remarkable experience of being a superstar's spouse. I have closely seen you transitioning from a bubbly, effervescent young wife to an elegant, hardworking, and a trendsetting woman. She further mentioned, The way you handle this precious feeling truly resonates with me. It brings back memories of my time with Dilip Sahib. @iamsrk and you have always stood by Dilip Sahib and me in good and bad times. Sending you an abundance of love and blessings on this special day. We both share experience of being superstar's spouse: Saira Banu to Gauri Khan Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 8 E xternal 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 @narendramodis initiative towards African Unions 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. Jaishankar calls on visiting Tanzanian President Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! MoS Muraleedharan extends wishes on opening of US' largest hand-carved Hindu temple in New Jersey New Delhi, October 9 U nion Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan on Sunday extended wishes for the grand opening of the US' largest hand-carved Hindu temple, Akshardham in New Jersey. In a congratulatory message, he wrote on X, "Congratulations on the grand opening of #Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey! This moment is a source of great pride for India, symbolizing collective dedication and unity. I extend my warmest congratulations to everyone involved. Akshardham's creation is a testament to the visionary guidance of revered Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj". The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 and is set to be inaugurated by Mahant Swami Maharaj, and dignitaries on October 8, 2023. Minister of State for I&B, DL Murugan also extended wishes for the opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Jersey. "Congratulations on the grand opening of Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey! This is a moment of immense pride for us Hindus, marking another instance of Indian excellence on the global stage. The fruition of this project, which demanded 12 years of tireless dedication from over 12,500 volunteers across North America, is a testament to our collective strength. Spread across 185 acres, Akshardham stands as the largest Hindu temple on American soil, adorned with symbols of Sanatan Dharma. Our hearts swell with pride. We extend our warmest congratulations to all. This achievement elevates the reputation of Indians worldwide, a testament to the visionary guidance of Guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj", he wrote on X. The construction of this Mahamandir began in 2015 with the help of 12,500 volunteers across North America. The temple is known as BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. After 12 years of relentless effort of the volunteers, the large temple covering 183 acres of land will be open to the public from Monday. The stone Mahamandir, set to become the centerpiece of the Akshardham campus, is a marvel of craftsmanship and devotion, blending intricate artistry with spiritual significance. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005. MoS Muraleedharan extends wishes on opening of US' largest hand-carved Hindu temple in New Jersey Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Biden's 2024 campaign in risk of losing corporate funding, CEO support due to his pro-labour stance Washington, Oct 8 U S 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 youre 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. Biden's 2024 campaign in risk of losing corporate funding, CEO support due to his pro-labour stance Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 9 I n 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. Trudeau reignites diplomatic row with India Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! There is no reason why India cannot take back 'Sindhu': Yogi Adityanath Lucknow, Oct 9 U ttar 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. 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 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. There is no reason why India cannot take back 'Sindhu': Yogi Adityanath Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! San Francisco, Oct 9 A mazons smart assistant Alexa has reportedly claimed that the 2020 US presidential election was stolen by a massive amount of election fraud, as concerns rise over artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots and virtual assistants spreading misinformation. Asked about fraud in the election race, in which Joe Biden defeated former president Donald Trump with 306 electoral college votes, Alexa said it was stolen by a massive amount of election fraud, citing Rumble, a video-streaming service favoured by conservatives, reports The Washington Post. Amid concerns that the rise of artificial intelligence will supercharge the spread of misinformation comes a wild fabrication from a more prosaic source: Amazons Alexa, which declared that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. The 2020 races were notorious for many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud taking place in major metro centers, according to Alexa, referencing subscription newsletter service Substack. Alexa contended that Trump won Pennsylvania, citing an Alexa answers contributor". However, multiple investigations into the 2020 US election found no evidence of fraud. Yet Alexa disseminates misinformation about the race, even as parent company Amazon promotes the tool as a reliable election news source to more than 70 million estimated users, the report said late on Sunday. An Amazon spokesperson said that 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, said the company. After the report, Alexas responses changed. Voice assistants and advanced chatbots are only as accurate as the websites, news reports and other data they draw from across the web. These tools risk baking in and amplifying the falsehoods and biases present in their sources, the report mentioned. In recent years, Amazons Alexa has proliferated across a number of devices. Amazon's Alexa claimed 2020 US Prez election was 'stolen': Report Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! One organization is looking to connect all areas of Alabama in a unique way. Sweet Trails Alabama involves connecting all 67 counties in the state through a statewide trail system, Dr. John Kvach, executive director of Sweet Trails Alabama, said. For us, this is all about getting people to understand what these trails do. From what weve learned so far, that connectivity is what people and the community want as a way of developing tourism, and boosting the economy. Last week, the group hosted listening sessions in Huntsville, Florence, Mobile, Jacksonville, Tuscaloosa, Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Dothan as part of a statewide tour to get feedback from the general public and educate people on why the state is interested in a trail system. The projects four focuses include working with local partners to identify existing and planned trails across the state, engaging with stakeholders, using long-distance and local trails to form a network, and creating a five-year implementation plan. Aside from working with the Sweet Trails Alabama initiative, Kvach, a former history professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, serves as executive director of the Singing River Trail, a 225-mile proposed trail system that connects north Alabama. While working on the Singing River Trail, Kvach has seen some of the perks of having a trail system nearby. Improvement in health and wellness, increased property values, and entrepreneurial growth are just some of those benefits. What were seeing around the state as trails begin to grow and build, developers want to be a part of these trail systems, Kvach said. Large landowners recognize the value of your property goes up when connected to a trail system. The value of property connected to a trail is up 30% per neighborhood. We also want to help those with a passion for the outdoors start businesses and put them in a place where they are owners as opposed to employees. Founded in 2023, Sweet Trails Alabama began after Sen. Andrew Jones wanted to create state legislation to support the outdoors. The legislation passed in June, and the initiative was born. I got interested in all of this because I grew up near the Chief Ladiga Trail, Jones said. On that trail, you can ride it into Atlanta. Its a little outside my district, but I saw the opportunity the trail provided and the impact it made on the community. Jones said the process of getting the legislation passed was painful in the beginning. In the end, it was easy because it was unanimously voted on by both the Senate and the House, Jones said. At the start, we had several challenges to overcome. We had to deal with property rights issues and other organizations looking to put in trails. Jones believes this statewide trail plan will allow tourists to see the story of Alabama. Were not what people think we are, Jones said. The image of Alabama that people mightve had 60 or 70 years ago doesnt add up with what we are now. Were top five in airspace, aviation, and shipbuilding, and we have a lot of tourism opportunities here. We want people to learn about our state and see the story we have to tell. Alta Planning and Design is in charge of designing the trail. Sweet Trails Alabama hopes to start drafting its plan by Spring 2024 and put it into action later that same year. For more information about Sweet Trails Alabama, visit www.sweettrailsalabama.org or go to @sweettrailsalabama on Instagram and Facebook. Visit will open new avenues for political and economic development of our countries: Tanzanian President New Delhi, October 9 T anzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. who is on a state visit to India, on Monday, appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit will open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. "I would like to express Tanzania's appreciation for the excellent existing relationship between our two countries which has been there for decades. My expectation from this visit is going to open new avenues for political and economic development and economic cooperation that will lead to strategic partnerships of our two countries," she said. Samia Suluhu Hassan further highlighted that her country expects the bilateral ties founded by our forefathers to continue for decades. "My country is expecting that our bilateral ties that were founded by our forefathers, Mahatma Gandhi are going to continue decades after decades...," she added. The Tanzanian President was accorded a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu welcomed President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Taking to his social media 'X', Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, " A ceremonial welcome for our esteemed guest. President Droupadi Murmu @rashtrapatibhvn and PM @narendramodi received President @SuluhuSamia of Tanzania at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan." Samia Suluhu Hassan also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and laid a wreath at Delhi's Rajghat. Earlier on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with Samia Suluhu Hassan and thanked her for appreciating PM Modi's initiative for the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member in the G20. 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. Adding the African Union as a member of G20 was among India's key aims to achieve during the ongoing G20 summit. The move to include the African Union in the G20 grouping was proposed by PM Modi earlier this June. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan arrived in Delhi on Sunday and the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi received her in New Delhi. On October 10, the Tanzanian President will participate in a business and investment forum in New Delhi. She will depart from India on October 11. The MEA in a 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 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. Visit will open new avenues for political and economic development of our countries: Tanzanian President Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, October 9 P resident of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan who is on a State visit to India on Monday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Tanzanian President Hassan at Hyderabad House in the national capital. During the meeting, Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) will be exchanged in various areas between the two sides. Tanzanian President who is in India on the invitation of President Drapupadi Murumu was received by the Union Minister of State for Education Annapurna Devi at the Delhi airport on Sunday. President Hassan was earlier today accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan and participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. Earlier in the day, Samia Suluhu Hassan appreciated the excellent existing relationship between the two countries, noting that her visit would open new avenues for the political and economic development of India and Tanzania. "I would like to express Tanzania's appreciation for the excellent existing relationship between our two countries which has been there for decades. My expectation from this visit is going to open new avenues for political and economic development and economic cooperation that will lead to strategic partnerships of our two countries," she said. President Hassan further highlighted that her country expects the bilateral ties founded by our forefathers to continue for decades. Earlier on Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with the Tanzanian President and thanked her for appreciating PM Modi's initiative for the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member in the G20. A Presidential visit from Tanzania is taking place after a span of over eight years and will further invigorate and strengthen the "historic and friendly relations" between India and Tanzania, according to a statement by the ministry of external affairs. After holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi, President Tanzania will also meet President Droupadi Murmu. A state banquet will also be hosted by President Murmu in honour of the Tanzanian President. Moreover, the Tanzanian President will participate in a business and investment forum in Delhi on October 10. She will depart from India on October 11. On Saturday, Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation January Yusuf Makamba said that during President Hassan's India visit, the two countries will elevate their defence relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. PM Modi holds bilateral meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 9 D uring the auspicious period of Navratri, devotees honour the divine feminine energy and engage in spiritual practices such as fasting, prayer, and meditation. The Navratri meal suggestions shared with IANSlife by Hansaji, Director of The Yoga Institute and President of the Indian Yoga Association, not only conform to fasting traditions but also support a yogic lifestyle, boosting physical and mental well-being. By including these Navratri meal options into your fasting schedule, you may tap into the transformational force of this sacred festival to strengthen your yoga path. These dishes not only honour history but also provide the nourishment required to power your inner light. RAJGIRA THALIPEETH Ingredients: 1 cup Rajgira (amaranth) flour cup grated boiled sweet potatoes cup fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped Sendha namak (rock salt) to taste tsp cumin seeds (jeera) tsp black pepper powder (optional) Ghee or oil for cooking Instructions: Prepare the Veggies: Grate the boiled sweet potatoes and chop fresh coriander leaves. Set them aside. Make the Thalipeeth Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the Rajgira flour, grated sweet potatoes, chopped coriander leaves, cumin seeds, black pepper powder (if used), and Sendha Namak (rock salt). Knead the mixture into smooth dough. You can add a little water if needed, but usually, the moisture from the potatoes is sufficient to form the dough. Divide and Shape the Thalipeeth: Partition the dough mixture into little divides and shape them into balls. Take a plastic sheet of parchment paper and place one dough ball on it. Flatten it gently using your fingers to form a round, flatbread (Thalipeeth). You can wet your fingers slightly to prevent sticking. Cook the Thalipeeth: Heat a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat and add a little ghee or oil to grease it. Carefully transfer the shaped Thalipeeth onto the hot griddle. You can use a plastic sheet or parchment paper to assist you in transferring it. Cook until the bottom side turns golden brown and crispy, which takes about 2-3 minutes. Flip the Thalipeeth and cook the other side until its golden brown and crisp. Drizzle more ghee or oil around the edges as needed. Serve Hot: Remove the Rajgira Thalipeeth from the griddle and serve hot with yogurt, Vrat ke aloo (potato curry), or any fasting chutney of your choice. BARNYARD MILLET PATTIES: Ingredients: 1 cup barnyard millet (samak rice), cooked and cooled 2 medium-sized potatoes, boiled and mashed cup roasted peanuts, coarsely crushed cup fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped Sendha namak (rock salt) to taste tsp cumin seeds (jeera) Ghee or oil for pan-frying Instructions: Prepare the Barnyard Millet: Cook barnyard millet (samak rice) and let it cool completely. Mix Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled millet, mashed potatoes, crushed peanuts, finely chopped coriander leaves, Sendha Namak (rock salt), and cumin seeds (jeera). Partition the dough mixture into little divides and shape them into balls. Shape the Patties: Divide the mixture into small portions and shape them into patties or tikki. You can adjust the size according to your preference. Pan-Fry the Patties: Heat a non-stick skillet or pan and add a little ghee or oil for shallow frying. Place the millet patties in the hot pan and cook them on medium heat until they turn golden brown and crispy on both sides. You can drizzle a little ghee or oil around the edges for added flavor and crispiness. Serve Hot: Once the patties are cooked and crisp, remove them from the pan and place them on a paper towel to remove excess oil/ghee. Serve the barnyard millet patties hot with yogurt or any fasting chutney of your choice. ARBI SAUTE Ingredients: 250 grams arbi (colocasia) 2-3 tbsp ghee or oil (use ghee for a sattvic option) 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera) tsp ajwain seeds (carom seeds) Sendha namak (rock salt) to taste tsp black pepper powder (optional) tsp roasted cumin powder (optional) Fresh coriander leaves for garnish Instructions: Prepare the Arbi: Wash the Arbi thoroughly to remove any dirt. Place the Arbi in a pressure cooker or a pot of water and boil them until they are soft and can be easily pierced with a fork. Cooking time may vary, but it usually takes around 15-20 minutes in a pressure cooker. If using a pot, it may take a bit longer. Once boiled, allow the Arbi to cool slightly, then peel the skin off. It should come off easily. Cut the Arbi into rounds or cubes. Temper the Arbi: Heat ghee or oil in a pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds (jeera) and ajwain seeds (carom seeds) to the hot ghee or oil. Allow them to sizzle for a few seconds. Add Arbi: Add the boiled and peeled Arbi to the pan. Stir well to coat them with the tempered spices. Seasoning: Sprinkle sendha namak (rock salt) over the arbi. You can also add black pepper powder and roasted cumin powder for additional flavour, but these are optional. Cook Until Crispy: Cook the arbi on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until they become golden brown and crisp on the outside. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes. Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and remove from heat. Serve Hot: Serve the crispy Arbi immediately as a side dish for your fasting meal. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Navratri meals for a yogic lifestyle Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! New Delhi, Oct 9 P rime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday. The two leaders reviewed various facets of India-Tanzania ties and also discussed ways to further deepen the close and historic relations between the two countries. After the bilateral talks, both the sides held delegation-level talks in which they covered a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X that the agenda included trade and investment, Defence and maritime security, development partnership, higher education and people-to-people ties. Hassan is currently on a three-day visit to India on the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. She had arrived in New Delhi on October 8. Earlier in the day, the visiting dignitary was given a ceremonial reception by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi holds bilateral talks with Tanzanian President, discusses areas of mutual interest Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! India, Tanzania agree to turn ties into strategic partnership, says Modi New Delhi, October 9 P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that India and Tanzania have agreed to turn their bilateral relations into a strategic partnership. In a joint press statement after bilateral and delegation levels talks between the two nations, Modi said in the presence of visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, that they are working on an agreement to trade in local currencies. Tanzania is India's largest development partner in Africa, Modi said, adding that India is providing support to it in fields like skill development, capacity building, vocational training, agriculture, health, water supply and other sectors. A five-year roadmap on defence ties between India and Tanzania has been worked on, under which maritime cooperation and defence industry development will be the key focus areas, he informed. The Prime Minister informed that Tanzania has agreed to join the biofuel alliance, which was announced during the G20 summit in New Delhi last month. In addition to this, the African country has also decided to join the Big Cat alliance, which will help in exchange of felines like leopards and cheetahs, Modi added. Modi also said that the opening of an IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar will open up new dimensions of quality education for students in Tanzania as well as of othernations. The two sides also inked pacts on cooperation in the fields of space, digital payments, maritime security, combatting piracy and drug trafficking. India, Tanzania agree to turn ties into strategic partnership, says Modi Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Dwayne Johnson's contract clause for action films keeps tight leash on number of blows he sustains Los Angeles, Oct 9 H ollywood actor Dwayne Johnson is well known for his beefy roles and action hero characters, which see the star escape near impossible disasters and go into combat. Yet the actor doesn't just land all his action heroes by pure luck, the star reportedly also has a 'no lose' contract added into all his movie roles that means the actor is never beaten, reports Mirror.co.uk. The actor, who has starred in various films including as Agent Luke Hobbs in the Fast and Furious franchise, reportedly has legal terms and conditions that limit how 'badly' he can be beaten up and ensure that he always comes out on top. As per Mirror.co.uk, he follows in the footsteps of other action hero actors including Vin Diesel and Jason Statham, who also keep a tight leash on how many punches they sustain and how their fight scenes are played out on screen. According to the Wall Street Journal, Johnson took heed from Vin Diesel who reportedly developed a system where he assigned a numerical value to each punch he received while on screen and kept track of how many punches he had taken whilst filming. 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." Johnson also took the contract to the next level for Fast and Furious, as he allegedly had the script changed to ensure that after one on screen brawl he was left sitting up instead of lying down and seemingly less hurt. Dwayne Johnson's contract clause for action films keeps tight leash on number of blows he sustains Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Hailing from Lima, Peru, Guzman was raised by a single mother in a middle-class neighbourhood and remains close with his family and brother, who also works as a chef back in Peru. With his family seeing more opportunities in Australia, Luis came here to stay with his Auntie. It was very tough at first because I didnt have good English at all and didnt know anyone other than my uncle and auntie. It was a very lonely time until I started making some meaningful friendships. He worked as a house cleaner and labourer for the first couple of years until his English improved. In 2012 he landed a job a TimeZone and worked his way up from guest service to supervisor, venue manager then Operations Area Manager for TimeZone NSW overseeing existing venues and opening of new ones in NSW. This is where I developed most of my professional career and knowledge. During this time I was proactively educating myself in leadership and management and anything that could help me do my job better. Entrepreneurial and ambitious, he launched a side-hustle growing Instagram accounts in the early days of the apps launch. Then, in 2016, he received shocking and devastating news that his mum had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer which she succumbed to. He had to sell the Instagram pages hed been growing to raise enough funds to return to Peru and spend the last moments with her. This was definitely the hardest thing for me to overcome but gave me a huge purpose once I had gotten through it. My passion for food was instilled in me by my mum; she was always happy cooking and I could see how she enjoyed watching everyone loving her meals. She cooked with love. Id never considered being a restaurant owner before, but was always passionate about hosting, which I got from my mum and grandma. Everyone that came to visit had to be well fed and taken care of. That homely hospitality has always been with me since growing up. Hospitality came naturally to me. When Covid hit, like many others his job was put on Freeze. I really took on this cooking phase as was the only thing I could do really confined to home, I was watching videos on how to cook in Youtube from other Peruvian chefs, and following the recipes, my partner and I were impressed with the results. When restrictions eased he began inviting groups of friends over to try the meals, which impressed and were shared on Social Media. From there, it snowballed. Luis was getting Facebook requests from friends of friends asking if they could buy the food he was making, so began regularly hosting groups of 10-12 people in his home for a small fee to cover the cost of goods. I really enjoyed getting people to try Peruvian food and loving it, it was something very personal for me to see them have that first bite and close their eyes in enjoyment. Demand grew too big and he decided to lease a restaurant in the wake of the pandemic when rents had dropped significantly. Before signing a lease however, his cousin, restaurant manager at Nikkei in Surry Hills stepped in and said Youre crazy convincing him to try a pop-up first to make sure this was really what he wanted to do. In October 2020 he ran his first pop-up out of Nikkeis kitchen on a Sunday, getting a crash course in restaurant operations on the job. I had to go to the Flemington markets early every Saturday to prepare for the pop up, spending most of the Saturday doing the prep for the next day, and leaving early in the morning on Sundays to the fish market to grab the freshest fish for the pop up ceviches. It ran just over a year, with live Peruvian music added to the mix to the complete the cultural experience. Booked out a week in advance and reaching a growing audience with every pop-up, demand was high for a permanent restaurant. With an investor on board, Luis finally took the plunge and signed a lease, only to have the investor pull out at the last minute due to pandemic fears. Still working their full-time jobs, Luis and his wife Valeriya managed to negotiate rates on the early months of the lease and DIYd the restaurant fit out, laying concrete, painting and building furniture themselves. Living paycheck to paycheck, investing back into the restaurant, Warike, eventually paid off when they were customer ready. Today, Luis Guzman and co-owner/head chef Hector Chunga run two successful operations: Warike and Lima (formerly Folklor) introducing Sydney-siders to Peruvian cuisine with bright dishes that are as colourful as they are flavourful. Stand-out dishes on their menus include a wide range of ceviches the hero being the Clasico made with kingfish and sweet potato puree and a melt-in-your-mouth charcoal octopus. Guzman credits his family as his main source of inspiration, saying I want to be an example for my kids that good things happen to those that work for it. I am also very driven by the thought of leaving a positive mark. I value that my actions towards other can have a lifelong impact, so I try be a positive influence in everyone I come in contact with. Lifes too short as I learnt from my mums sickness. I just try to do my best day by day to be remembered as someone that did something good for my family and society, like she did. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 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 Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is cautioning businesses to address their tax and super obligations prior to exposing their debts to credit reporting agencies. As of July 2023, as part of its return to normal debt collection operations, the ATO has issued Notices of Intent to disclose tax debts to over 22,000 businesses with overdue tax debts exceeding $100,000, outstanding for more than 90 days. In the coming month, over 9,000 businesses are anticipated to have their debts made public. According to ATO Assistant Commissioner Jillian Kitto, the sole way to prevent a businesss tax debt from affecting their credit rating is by paying or engaging with the ATO. She stated, We are eager to collaborate with businesses to help them manage their debts. We encourage anyone with a debt to contact us promptly. We provide businesses with ample opportunities to reconnect with us. However, those who persistently disregard their tax and super obligations will have their debts disclosed. While we take this step seriously, there will be consequences for businesses that refuse to pay or cooperate with us. To prevent disclosure, businesses must settle their debt or establish a suitable payment arrangement within 28 days of receiving the Notice of Intent to disclose. A disclosed debt can hinder a businesss ability to secure financing and may lead to supplier loss. The ATO foresees issuing more than 50,000 Notices of Intent in the 2023-24 fiscal year. Ms. Kitto remarked, During the pandemic, our focus shifted from debt collection to providing stimulus payments and tax assistance. However, the time has come to reestablish a culture of timely tax payment. She added, There is over $5 billion owed by businesses who currently meet the criteria for disclosure. We must draw a line in the sand to protect the Australian community and other creditors, and to ensure a level playing field for businesses who do the right thing. If you have an outstanding tax debt, we strongly urge you to pay it or reach out to us or your tax professional so we can provide the right support, Ms Kitto concluded. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Inhaled nitric oxide gas widens blood vessels in the lungs and is used to treat severe cardio-pulmonary conditions in newborns and adults. A recent multicenter international phase II clinical trial led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) has revealed that inhaled nitric oxide can benefit patients with respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia. The investigator-initiated multi-center trial, which commenced recruitment in March 2020, stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit that prevailed even at the height of the pandemic. The findings are published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Prior clinical trials have shown that low-dose (120 parts per million) inhaled nitric oxide boosts blood oxygen levels in critically ill patients with acute lung injury. Low-dose inhaled nitric oxide also improved oxygenation during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003, and recent laboratory experiments showed that nitric oxide inhibits replication of SARSCoV2. To test the potential of inhaled nitric oxide gas to treat SARSCoV2infected patients who develop lung complications, investigators randomized 193 adults with COVID-19 and respiratory failure who were on ventilators at four hospitals in the United States and one in Sweden to receive high-dose (up to 80 parts per million) nitric oxide for 48 hours or to receive usual care. Patients who received nitric oxide experienced improved oxygenation and had fewer risks of long-term sensory and motor neurologic symptoms (such as weakness or pain in the extremities) compared with patients receiving usual care. They also had lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 in their blood and sputum, suggesting that nitric oxide has anti-viral activity. Inhaled nitric oxide was well tolerated and was not linked to any serious adverse events. Despite these findings, the duration of ventilation and the rates of death at 28 and 90 days did not differ significantly between patients on nitric oxide and those receiving usual care. In addition to the well-documented effects on oxygenation, these findings suggest new and promising advantages of utilizing high-concentration inhaled nitric oxide as an antimicrobial agent." Lorenzo Berra, MD, cosenior author, medical director of Respiratory Care at MGH and the Reginald Jenney Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School "These results highlight the importance of planning future dose-response investigations into the anti-microbial and clinical properties of high-dose inhaled nitric oxide therapy in adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure." "The outcomes of this trial will serve as a critical reference for future research, shedding light on specific subgroups like Black and obese individuals, in whom high-dose inhaled nitric oxide may yield more substantial clinical benefits," said co-senior author Pankaj Arora, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Clinical and Translational Research Program and the Cardiovascular and Genetics Clinic Program at the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. "This is especially relevant given the underlying suppression and relative deficiency of the nitric oxide-cGMP signaling system in these populations." The investigator-initiated multi-center trial, which commenced recruitment in March 2020, stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit that prevailed even at the height of the pandemic. Additional authors include Raffaele Di Fenza, MD; Naman S Shetty, MD; Stefano Gianni, MD; Vibhu Parcha, MD; Valentina Giammatteo, MD; Bijan Safaee Fakhr, MD; Daniel Tornberg, MD, PhD; Olof Wall, MD, PhD; Piotr Harbut, MD, PhD; Peggy S. Lai, MD; Jonathan Z. Li, MD; Sabrina Paganoni, MD PhD; Stefano Cenci, MD; Ariel L. Mueller, BA; Timothy T. Houle, PhD; Oluwaseun Akeju, MD; Edward A. Bittner, MD PhD; Somnath Bose, MD; Louie K Scott, MD; Ryan W Carroll, MD, MPH; Fumito Ichinose, MD, PhD; and Magnus Hedenstierna, MD. Each institution provided funding for costs related to the trial. Integrated health care for chronic high-burden conditions in sub-Saharan Africa is feasible and health services could deliver high-quality services for less cost than with the current approach of separate vertical care for each condition, a new study led by UCL researchers shows. Presently, health care services for non-communicable conditions such as diabetes and hypertension are fragmented and the quality of care is inequitable when compared with services for HIV. Much less than half of the people who start treatment for diabetes or hypertension on the continent remain in care one year later and about 2 million premature deaths are attributed annually to the effects of these two conditions. In contrast, the vast majority of people living with HIV are in regular care and virally suppressed. Mortality rates of people with HIV have fallen over 5-fold since their peak in the early 2000s. There has been growing interest to establish one stop integrated service delivery clinics using the platforms developed for and the learning acquired by HIV programmes to improve outcomes for people with non-communicable conditions. However, high quality evidence on the feasibility of such clinics, their potential effect on HIV outcomes and their costs, was lacking. The paper, which has been published by The Lancet, addresses this evidence gap. It reports a large study led by the National Institute for Medical Research in Tanzania, MRC/UVRI/LSHTM Uganda Research Unit and initially by LSTM, and later by the UCL Institute for Global Health. The study involved multiple institutions from Tanzania, Uganda and Europe. It showed that integrated care was associated with high levels of retention in care for people with diabetes or hypertension, that it did not adversely affect the rate of viral suppression among people with HIV, and that it was cost-saving for health care providers. The World Health Organisation recommended integration of diabetes and hypertension care with HIV services in 2021, but at the time there was limited data on outcomes.This study supports the WHO's recommendation, which also called for more data on health outcomes, cost, and preferences. Dr Meg Doherty, Director of the World Health Organisation Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes, said: "This was a large, ambitious and well-conducted study with the potential to change policy and practice. It is the first study to test successfully the concept of a fully integrated one-stop clinic for people with HIV or non-communicable conditions, with excellent HIV and NCD outcomes. It is exciting to see that by including hypertension and diabetes screening into the HIV clinic in these two countries, there was no change in HIV viral load suppression outcomes." This study is the culmination of more than six years of research, conducted in partnership with the Ministries of Health. It demonstrates that integrated management is effective and cost-saving. The findings will inform future control of non-communicable diseases on the continent." Dr Gerald Mutungi, Assistant Commissioner for Non-Communicable Diseases in Uganda Professor Tumaini Nagu, Chief Medical Officer of Tanzania, said: "Our study provides clear evidence for policymakers to consider scale up of integrated care for HIV, diabetes and hypertension. With the high burden of non-communicable conditions now in Africa, and more and more people living with multiple chronic conditions, integrated management will be an essential and cost-effective approach for the continent." Stephen Watiti, a patient representative based in Uganda and an author on the study, said: "Patients are interested in their overall health and do not look at diseases individually. Integrated management will be a big welcome going forward, thanks to the findings of this study". Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance, said: "We need the same powerful and coordinated global response to tackle NCDs that we've seen for HIV. We know how to do this, and this time, we can build on existing infrastructure. Integrated care is a win-win opportunity to make NCD care more accessible for people living with HIV and cost-effectively strengthen our health systems." Professor Shabbar Jaffar (UCL Institute for Global Health), the corresponding author, said: "I am very proud of all of the investigators. We worked as equal partners and because of this were able to pull off this most challenging of research studies." In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers evaluate the influence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics at primary health clinics (PHCs) in the eThekwini district of South Africa. During the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak quickly disrupted the provision and utilization of health facilities across the globe. The inadequacy of effective treatments prompted the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The repurposing of human resources and health facilities to mitigate COVID-19 had devastating impacts on the management of other diseases, especially TB. Study: Impact of COVID-19 on TB diagnostic services at primary healthcare clinics in eThekwini district, South Africa. Image Credit: Ground Picture / Shutterstock.com About the study In the present study, researchers investigate the magnitude of COVID-19-related disruption of TB diagnostic services at PHCs in South Africa. The District Health Information System (DHIS) monthly aggregated data were used to perform an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis to assess changes in the investigation and verification of TB throughout COVID-19. These data were classified into different time periods, including the pre-pandemic period between January 2018 and February 2020, followed by April 2020, which was the initial COVID-19-related lockdown period, as well as sequential COVID-19 waves. Clinics with missing data and outlier values were excluded from the analysis. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression modeling was performed in addition to segmented-type linear regression modeling, the latter of which was used to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on TB investigations and verifications during the lockdown and subsequent COVID-19 waves. The first exposure period reflected the level five lockdown in April 2020, followed by the second exposure period during the first COVID-19 wave peak in July 2020. The third exposure period reflected the second COVID-19 wave peak in January 2021, whereas the fourth exposure period denoted the third COVID-19 wave peak in July 2021. The fifth exposure period was the peak of the fourth COVID-19 wave in December 2021. Study findings A total of 94 and 76 PHCs were included in the study to analyze tuberculosis investigations and confirmed cases, respectively. The mean monthly counts of TB investigations and confirmed cases at the PHCs were 9,965 and 754, respectively. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak significantly affected both tuberculosis indicators; however, the effects were heterogeneous throughout the pandemic. The lockdown period resulted in a 45% reduction in diagnostic investigations and a 40% reduction in confirmed cases of TB. Before the pandemic, TB investigations at PHCs were increasing marginally by 23 tests each month from the baseline count of 8,860 tests. However, during the initial level five lockdown period, there was a reduction of 4,165 investigations. A significant recovery was observed in both indicators after the initial COVID-19 wave. TB investigations sustained smaller reductions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; however, they rebounded and exceeded pre-pandemic levels towards the end of the study period. TB diagnostic services at PHCs were considerably affected by the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, with TB case confirmations most adversely affected throughout COVID-19. TB investigations during the first COVID-19 wave in July of 2020 increased by 16% compared to during the level five lockdown. However, after the initial COVID-19 wave, TB investigations increased by 712 monthly. The second COVID-19 wave was associated with a 23% decrease in January 2021, with these reductions persisting month-by-month. During the third COVID-19 wave, dominated by the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant, TB investigations were associated with non-significant reductions. By December 2021, the fourth COVID-19 wave showed a 33% reduction in TB investigations. Although monthly trends slightly reduced following the fourth peak, graphical representations indicated more investigations for TB were conducted during this period as compared to before the start of the pandemic. Month-wise, TB case confirmations were stable pre-pandemic and slightly deviated from the count of 803 at study initiation. During the lockdown in April 2020, TB confirmations were significantly reduced by 334, a 40% reduction that continued each month by seven cases after level five lockdown. During the first wave of COVID-19 cases, TB confirmations increased marginally by 7%; however, after the lockdown, TB confirmations increased by 47. During the second COVID-19 wave, TB confirmations reduced by 12% and remained consistent at these lower levels in the following months. At the peak of the third COVID-19 wave, TB confirmations decreased by 29% but increased by an average of 46 cases monthly following the peak. By the fourth COVID-19 wave, TB confirmations reduced by 26%. Conclusions The study findings highlight the impact of COVID-19 on TB diagnostics in PHCs in South Africa. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for the persistent reductions in TB detection and inform the development of sustainable diagnostic systems that can withstand future pandemics. How can the propagation of influenza viruses be stopped? For a new approach in the therapy of influenza infections, Prof. Hiroki Kato from the Institute of Cardiovascular Immunology at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 of the University of Bonn receives an Open Philanthropy grant of 2.2 million US dollars. Together with his team, he found a compound that inhibits the body's own methyltransferase MTr1 and thus prevents the replication of influenza viruses. The funded project now aims to identify further MTr1 inhibitors with influenza-inhibiting activity that could be considered for clinical trials in the near future. When a virus enters our body, it binds to the host cell and introduces its genetic information in form of ribonucleic acid (RNA). Using these blueprints, the host cell is now forced to produce numerous new viruses. "This is because viruses have evolved various mechanisms, including modifications of the viral genetic material, to successfully replicate in the host," explains Prof. Hiroki Kato from the Institute of Cardiovascular Immunology at UKB, who is a member of the ImmunoSensation2 cluster of excellence at the University of Bonn. One of these mechanisms is so-called "cap snatching," which avoids recognition by the innate immune system and thus enables efficient viral replication. To be able to distinguish foreign from its own genetic information, the human cell marks, for example, its own RNA for the immune system with a molecular cap at the end of the RNA chain. RNA without this cap is recognized and combated by the immune system. To avoid this, viruses steal this molecular cap from the cellular RNA during a process called "cap snatching". RNA methyltransferases are the key to flu therapy The enzyme methyltransferase MTr1 provides the cap structure of cellular RNA. Prof. Kato's team found out how much influenza viruses depend on the activity of this enzyme for their replication and have already described this in a publication in the journal Science. This is because, unlike other viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, they are not able to cap their RNA molecules independently. Therefore, they rely on "cap snatching". If the function of MTr1 is disturbed, however, there are no molecular caps that could be transferred to the viral RNA. The researchers in Bonn want to exploit this relationship for the therapy of influenza infections and are looking for inhibitors that specifically inhibit MTr1. So far, they have been able to find a candidate in the form of a derivative of the natural product, trifluoromethyl tubercidin (TFMT), which is produced by bacteria of the streptomycin genus. Insights From Industry Prof Janet Hemingway Founding Director of iiCON and Professor of Tropical Medicine at LSTM Enter text here In this interview conducted in anticipation of ELRIG UK's Drug Discovery 2023 Conference, we spoke to Professor Janet Hemingway, founding Director of iiCON and Professor of Tropical Medicine at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Here we discussed what attendees can expect from Drug Discovery 2023 and gained insight into her perspective on the current drug discovery landscape. Please could you introduce yourself and tell us about your career to date? I am Janet Hemingway. I'm the CEO of iiCON, the Infection Innovation Consortium, a partnership for industry, academia, and the National Health Service (NHS), trying to get new infectious disease products through to the market more rapidly. I've had a 40-year career working in infectious diseases, from bench molecular biology to operational impact and helping run large-scale disease control programs throughout Asia and Africa. It has been announced that you will be a keynote speaker at Drug Discovery 2023. What can attendees expect to gain from coming along to Drug Discovery 2023? What are you personally looking forward to the most? From my perspective, attendees can look forward to being a part of exciting conversations concerning brand-new platforms that we've brought from early-stage drug discovery through the preclinical stages. These innovative platforms speed up preclinical activity and human challenge testing before phase one testing. We don't do phase two testing, but once you get a little bit further down the track and are aiming to put products onto the market, we've got some large-scale randomized control trials that we're doing in a very different format. These trials reduce the cost of getting products into market and positively impact the products once they get there. In sum, we're really interested in early-stage discovery all the way through that pipeline, trying to ensure that we speed up this process and that the products that come to market will have the greatest impact on reducing disease transmission. I look forward to seeing firsthand how the landscape in this area has been changing rapidly, probably more rapidly than any time in the last 40 years I've been involved in this process. Additionally, I look forward to understanding how the industry is moving in this space, how the regulators are getting to grips with that new regulatory environment, the shift to biotech from small molecules, what that means for discovery, what it means for formulation, and really to share some of my experiences from the different people who are going to attend. Image Credit: Urbanscape/Shutterstock.com Can you share the primary focus of your keynote address at Drug Discovery 2023 and how it aligns with the conference's theme of 'diverse thinking and new perspectives'? I will start talking about the early-stage discovery work we've got moving through into the organoid testing. We've been trying to triage molecules coming into our system. I will also discuss moving away from animal models, although they are needed in some parts of the program. We are looking at developing state-of-the-art organoids where the organoids are talking to each other immunologically to get a real handle on whether the molecules we're bringing through the program will work in human tissues early in the process. Then, we've got a couple of new exciting developments within iiCON. One of them has been announced in the press already, the other of which I guess you've got the scoop on now is that Life Arc has joined us as a partner, so we can now offer humanized antibody services within iiCON and the platform there. We've also got the Center for Long Lasting Formulations, which joined us last week and will bring new formulation technology to our platforms. So not only can we help companies with that early-stage discovery, but we can also help them get the best formulation for the disease they want to control. As the Founding Director of the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), could you elaborate on how collaborations between academia, industry, and clinical partners can accelerate the discovery and supply of anti-infective treatments? I think collaboration is essential. If you look at the infectious disease landscape, you realize very quickly that it's been an area that has been under-invested for a very long time by the industry because the profit margins haven't been there. Thus, a lot of the expertise in this area migrated and stayed in the academic base, and then there was a disconnect between the academic base and the industry. This means you didn't get the pull-through that you should have of new anti-infectives coming through. And where industry did start picking up the challenges to develop new anti-infectives, it tended to be small companies rather than big multinationals. They don't have the resources or the depth and breadth of expertise to take these molecules through. So iiCON was born out of understanding those issues and making sure that we could connect up the right academic expertise in the right format with the expertise that we've got in the small and large company base where it's still engaged and pull that through into the NHS and the clinical trial testing. So, by putting all those elements together and getting them to work together very closely, we have brought 28 new products to market through a series of grants and other programs in the three years we've existed. We've got four products entering phase one clinical trials already, and we've got three huge randomized control trials operating, one of which has already done its interim reporting. On the back of that, we've already changed the WHA policy over how those products should be used globally. So I think you can see just in a very short period of time, by putting together those different elements in a network, you can do way more than any of those elements could do independently. One year of iiCON Play With your extensive experience as a senior technical advisor on Neglected Tropical Diseases for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, what insights can you provide about the biggest challenges faced in drug discovery? How can events like Drug Discovery 2023 benefit researchers in the field? Funding is always a problem, not particularly in the early stages, but to support later stage trails. Many products are coming into the pipeline, but how do you triage those down to a very small number that you can actually take into clinical trials? Then, we find that many things get stuck after you've done a phase one clinical trial. Even if it's successful, the cost of phase two is completely out of reach, or many of the funding mechanisms available for them to go through to that next stage. So we're working very hard at the moment to see how we can reduce that cost, how we can broker partnerships, how we can look at new funding mechanisms to actually start and pull some of these things through because we can't afford to lose things at that stage given the need that is out there globally for some of these molecules coming through. I think that's exacerbated because as you now get the new biotech molecules coming through and new modalities, making sure that the regulators are up to speed and can take those through the regulatory process and understand what is needed isn't straightforward. So we thought we would be doing much academic and industry work. In fact, a huge amount of our work over these last six months has been with different regulatory agencies, understanding where they are, how we can work with companies to get their dossier in the right shape, and how to align molecules. For example, those primarily aimed at the African market need to get through the European or US regulatory systems in the right format to access those African or Asian markets. Events like Drug Discovery help researchers break communication and collaboration challenges, especially since the pandemic. I think it's bringing people together and getting people talking together. We all lived through COVID. We were very busy and were beavering away in the labs over that period, but we spent much time looking at our computers and talking with people we largely knew on teams meetings. I think it's great getting back to face-to-face meetings and putting people together in the same room so we can start and spark a lot of that creativity that got lost a little bit as we were going through that lockdown period. When you look back at it several years later, you didn't get that one-to-one interaction that starts a whole chain of events. The concept of "diverse thinking" is a central theme of this year's conference. How do you believe diverse perspectives contribute to advancements in drug discovery, particularly in the context of combating infectious diseases? So I think we've thought about different ways of doing things, and I think there were, again, going back to the COVID-19 pandemic, huge breakthroughs in other molecules were coming through, particularly for the vaccines. We know that there's been a drive for a long time in drug discovery away from that small molecule, small organic molecule starting points into biotech. There is a lot of hype around AI and machine learning and what can go on there, but that needs to tie up with reality and how we can tap into that expertise and that knowledge base and a new way of doing things in the biotech space. So I think it's rapidly moving at the moment. By actually getting different constituencies together, we can start and feed off each other and see how we make the best of these new modalities as we go forward. The current landscape of drug discovery is influenced by technological advancements and interdisciplinary collaboration. How do you envision these factors shaping the future of drug development and therapeutic innovation? I think they will become increasingly important as we go forward. So you can see that the landscape is changing right now. It's a really exciting time to be in. I always say to the youngsters coming through in the lab, I would love to be back in the lab and working, but it wouldn't be lab science as I knew it 40 years ago when I was starting down this track. It's changed so much since then. So, looking at the skill base people need and how that will change over the next few years, I think, is a really fun thing to do. Hopefully, by the time we get to ELRIG, we will know a little bit more about the investment zone also coming to Liverpool. Much of that will be around driving new investments into this space through better laboratory facilities and more up-to-date laboratory facilities for the drug discovery and development areas. That really will put a big market down in terms of ongoing state-of-the-art activity in the UK because we need to compete in that area. But also, we're looking at a global need here. So we're part of a UK network and a broader global network that is moving these activities forward that's really exciting. It's great to be part of an industry that is changing and diversifying quickly. As a respected figure in the field, what advice would you offer to early career professionals who are aspiring to make meaningful contributions to drug discovery and that might be considering attending Drug Disovery 2023? I think talk to people. Don't be shy about doing that. If you're a junior person, I know sometimes it can be daunting when you think you don't know somebody, but it's a great kickstart for your career if you really sort of link up with people there who are doing things that you are interested in and where you can bring something to their team. So use it as a great networking event, find out what is going on, and work out how to get involved because you never know where your career track will take you. As a genetic student back in Sheffield in the 1970s, I certainly didn't believe I would be doing what I'm doing now 50/60 years later. So it's a great opportunity, and I think make the most of it. Image Credit: Maksim Shmeljov/Shutterstock.com We look forward to seeing you at Drug Discovery 2023. Beyond this, what is next for you and your work? While I'm enjoying what I'm doing, we are looking at trying to make sure that we get new technologies coming through to market. I need to make sure that iiCON is a big, sustainable program. It's already been running for three years. We had a five-year grant from UKRI to get it moving, but I see this as a long-term consortium that will be there not just for five years but for the foreseeable future. So I need to make sure I've got that sustainability in place. Then we set up a small company and a spin-out from that, looking at getting new diagnostics to market with some new technology that I think will be game-changing. Regarding these new potentially game-changing diagnostics, we've been looking at new sensor technology that will allow you, without needing to take a blood sample, to measure microfilaria circulating in peripheral blood. What we want to do with that technology is take it to the operational interface. So you can take the device into villages, for example, in India, where filariasis is a problem, you can get people to wear it as they might wear a glucose patch or something like that, and you can track whether or not they're still infected with active filariasis. That then allows you to look at the treatment. But if we can do that for microfilaria in peripheral blood, we can also do it for other things circulating in peripheral blood. So it's looking at how we develop that technology platform further to avoid needing clinical samples that have to go back to a laboratory to get that diagnosis moved to the patients or populations where the need is greatest. So we need to ensure that we actually get that to commercialization, and it doesn't just stay in the lab. Where can readers find more information? About Professor Janet Hemingway Founding Director of iCON and Professor of Tropical Medicine at LSTM, Professor Hemingway was appointed the Director of LSTM in 2001 and stepped down in 2019 having overseen a period of exceptional growth of the organisation. This included the awarding of Higher Educational Institution Status & Degree Awarding powers to LSTM. She was awarded the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to the Control of Tropical Disease Vectors 2012. She is a senior technical advisor on Neglected Tropical Diseases for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and has 40 years' experience working on the biochemistry and molecular biology of specific enzyme systems associated with xenobiotic resistance. She has been Pl on projects in excess of 200 million including the BMGF funded Innovative Vector Control Consortium, the ERDF funded Formulations programme and the BMGF funded Visceral Leishmaniasis Elimination programme. Three decades after discoveries linking mutations in the BRCA1 gene to breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility, research led by Mays Cancer Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) has pinpointed the molecular mechanism by which a large portion of these mutations cause cancers in women. The discovery, unveiled in an Oct. 4 research article in the journal Molecular Cell, is poised to assist researchers in developing drugs to battle breast and ovarian cancers and to help identify women who are at an elevated risk of developing these cancers, according to the authors. The article is titled, "Crucial Roles of the BRCA1-BARD1 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Activity in Homology-Directed DNA Repair," with lead author Weixing Zhao, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry and structural biology, the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI) and Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. Other corresponding authors include Sandeep Burma, PhD, professor and vice chair (research) of neurosurgery at UT Health San Antonio and Mays Cancer Center, and Rachel E. Klevit, PhD, professor of biochemistry at the University of Washington. Additional researchers are from GCCRI and the departments of biochemistry and structural biology, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and molecular medicine at UT Health San Antonio; University of Washington; Dartmouth College; Colorado State University; and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. While it's established that BRCA1 (Breast Cancer Gene 1) in conjunction with an essential partner gene BARD1 (BRCA1 Associated Ring Domain 1) act as a safeguard against cancer, how exactly it accomplishes this has been a matter of debate. One vital function of BRCA1, known as E3 ligase activity that was first reported in 1999, has been particularly spotlighted. This activity allows BRCA1 to regulate key proteins involved in DNA repair and other biological processes by tagging these proteins with "ubiquitin moieties," which refer to tiny molecular tags that can be attached to proteins inside our living cells. These tags are like little flags that signal different actions for those proteins. However, in 2011, researchers using a specially designed variant of the BRCA1 gene (I26A), which was thought to lack the E3 ligase activity, concluded that this activity wasn't necessary for BRCA1's ability to prevent cancer. This conclusion remained at odds with the fact that a large number of BRCA1 mutations seen in patients actually fall within the E3 ligase domain of BRCA1. That work and many subsequent studies using the same mutant have shaped the field and its research for more than a decade, with more than 200 papers published using the BRCA1-I26A mutant. However, critical validation showing that the mutant is indeed 'ligase-dead' in a physiological context has never been reported." Weixing Zhao, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry and structural biology, the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI) and Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio So, the team set about generating highly purified full-length BRCA1-BARD1 and several of its known cellular substrates that allowed them to establish robust BRCA1-BARD1-mediated in vitro ubiquitylation reactions. "This essentially not only allowed us to finally put underlying assumptions that had gone unquestioned for decades to the test," Zhao said, "but we also sifted through a bunch of mutations to find the one that really shuts down the E3 ligase activity." Using this approach, the researchers found that the mutant that was used in previous studies and believed to lack E3 ligase activity actually retains a strong level of this activity, challenging the longstanding belief that this activity of BRCA1 is not required for suppressing tumor formation. Furthermore, by finding a truly inactive mutant, they re-examined whether and how this activity is involved in DNA repair and tumor suppression. "With this specific non-working mutant, our experiments clearly demonstrated that this enzyme is crucial in several stages of DNA repair," Zhao said. "Additionally, we found that the process of BRCA1-BARD1 adding ubiquitin to histones plays an important role in repairing DNA breaks, further strengthening our conclusion about this E3 ligase activity of BRCA1." Burma added, "Our findings necessitate reinterpretation of scores of previous studies involving the BRCA1-I26A mutant and provide us with a fresh perspective on the tumor-suppressor roles of BRCA1." Leading telehealth provider, Asda Online Doctor, conducted a nationwide survey to gauge public perceptions and usage of AI in relation to medical issues. The results revealed a concerning trend, with a staggering 60% of respondents admitting that they struggle to talk about their health concerns with doctors, and more than half do not turn to a doctor first when seeking medical advice. The issue has significant implications for public health, as the study finds that UK adults who struggle to talk to their doctor are turning to alternative sources such as Google Search and ChatGPT, leading to potentially serious health consequences. Asda Online Doctor asked their team of GMC registered doctors to review answers from AI to discover the possibly harmful advice the British public is consuming on a daily basis. The majority of UK adults dont go to a doctor when they have a medical issue Less than half of UK adults (48%) report that they turn to a doctor first for advice. Instead, many turn to alternative sources such as NHS 111 (13.5%) or a family member (6.5%), and 1 in 5 (19.9%) go online. 1 in 7 UK adults first port of call when they feel unwell is Google. Gen-Z is also very sceptical of professional medical advice, with 42% stating that they have questioned a doctors diagnosis based on information they found online. Over a quarter of UK adults struggle to discuss STIs with their doctor According to the survey, 26.1% of UK adults struggle to broach the topic of STIs with their healthcare provider, and almost 1 in 3 men (28.6%) find it difficult to talk about erectile dysfunction, a condition that affects 55% of men aged 40 to 70. Women also find it tough to speak to their doctor about their sexual health. A quarter of UK women report that they find it difficult to discuss thrush with their doctor, and 1 in 8 (12.8%) say they find it hard to talk about menopause. Young adults struggle as well, with 81.9% of those aged 18 to 24 finding it difficult to discuss their health with doctors. 1 in 3 (30.2%) say they find it hard to talk about their mental health, and nearly 1 in 4 (23.9%) struggle to talk about their body weight. Over three-quarters of the British public found medical advice from an AI helpful The anxiety that prevents UK adults from talking to medical professionals has led many to look for medical advice elsewhere. Many are now turning to the Internet for information, perhaps as a way of avoiding those difficult conversations. Around 1 in 3 people (30.1%) admit to taking medical advice from Google, and 1 in 10 aged 18 to 44 an estimated 2.3 million UK adults say they have taken medical advice from an AI platform like ChatGPT or Google Bard. 82% of those who have used AI for medical advice say they found the information helpful. In fact, AI proved to be the online source people found most helpful, beating out Instagram (81.4%), Google (78.3%), TikTok (76.6%), X (formally known as Twitter) (70.1%) and Facebook (69.7%). A fifth of all medical queries on AI platforms could be potentially harmful Researchers at Asda Online Doctor went to ChatGPT and Google Bard with a range of symptoms to learn more about the medical advice that they provide. Their medical team then analyzed the results to determine how helpful, unhelpful or potentially harmful the advice was. The analysis revealed that two-thirds (65.7%) of the advice was helpful, and a much smaller share (11.4%) was unhelpful. However, the investigation also found that a significant proportion of the advice - 22.8% - was potentially harmful, the doctors noting that symptoms of ovarian cancer, ectopic pregnancy and HIV infection had been missed. In response to the study, Dr Crystal Wyllie said: With more people using AI platforms on a daily basis, this might seem like a quick and easy way to get medical advice, especially for sensitive issues like sexual health. However, the information platforms like ChatGPT provide isnt always the most accurate and can lead you down the wrong path. Even if youre short on time or feeling nervous to talk about tricky topics, nothing replaces talking to a trained medical professional. Targeting Microbiota 2023 will be a ground-breaking experience that will introduce you to the latest advancements in the microbiota field. Join the International Society of Microbiota, at Isola di San Servolo on October 17-19, to benefit for this comprehensive gathering of experts shedding light on the multifaceted roles of microbiota. Over 2 days, 62+ Communication will be shared in the presence of 100+ industrials and academics. From health and disease to environmental impacts and cutting-edge technology, Targeting Microbiota 2023 captures the essence of current microbiota research trends and its implications for the future. What to expect at Targeting Microbiota 2023? Diversity of Topics: The talks span a wide range of topics, from specific diseases to broader environmental and anthropological considerations. Health & Disease Focus: A significant portion of the talks delve into the link between microbiota and various diseases, which increases the recognitions of the gut microbiome's potential for therapeutic interventions. Environmental & Anthropological Considerations: The "Environment, Lifestyle & Microbiota: A "One Health" Approach" session shows a move towards understanding the microbiome beyond the clinical setting. Technological & Therapeutic Approaches: Some presentations delve into the use of technology and innovative techniques, which highlights the field's evolving nature, where cutting-edge technology meets biology for potential health benefits. Global Representation: The list of speakers represents institutions from around the world. This global perspective emphasizes the universal importance and relevance of microbiota research. Emerging Topics: Talks like "Microbiota and Cancer Immunotherapy" and "Effect of Gut Microbiota Regulation on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" point to newer areas of microbiota research, expanding beyond traditional gut health topics. Translational Research: While many talks are research-focused, others hint at potential real-world applications, suggesting an emphasis on translating research findings into practical medical or therapeutic applications. Join Targeting Microbiota 2023 online or in-person: Targeting Microbiota 2023 will be live streamed. Online attendees will have access to the abstracts book and conference replay after the conference. Come and network with Targeting Microbiota 2023 attendees Industrials and academics will assemble at Targeting Microbiota 2023 to discuss their latest developments in the field of microbiota. Among the attending industries: BellaVie, BIOCODEX, Bioscientifica, Clinical Microbiomics, Copan Italia SpA, Dr. Schar, Gnosis by LeSaffre, ImmunoBiome, L'Oreal R&I, MedibiotiX GmbH, SYNLAB MVZ Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Unifarco Spa, Uwe Zeeb Gebaudedienste & Umwelttechnik, Vet-Med-Labor Zrt. Among the attending Academies: Academy of Silesia, Gyncentrum sp. z o.o., Acibadem Maslak Hospital, Dept Obstetrics & Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Baylor College of Medicine, BiomedicalCenter Speyer, BMR GENOMICS SRL, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, DPC Hospital, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Evomed Luxembourg, FISABIO, Florida International University, Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences, INIBIC, INRAE, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Instituto Nacional de Saude Dr Ricardo Jorge, Institutul Clinic Fundeni, Kaiserlautern University of Applied Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Korea Food Research Institute, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience & Biotechnology, KU Leuven, LAMPOVET SRL, LUHS Hospital Kaunas Clinics, Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, Masarykova univerzita, Massachusetts General Hospital, and many more Phage-Microbiome Consortium: This year, a newly launched Phage-Microbiome Consortium aims to offer new insights into the complex interplay between phages and the human microbiome and to pave the way for innovative, effective, and personalized phage therapies. You can submit proposals & join the consortium. Test tube labelled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken May 22, 2022. Photo by Reuters/Dado Ruvic Four people were confirmed to have monkeypox in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, raising the total number of cases in Vietnam's largest city to 13. The city's Department of Health said the four patients are being treated at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases and their conditions are stable. Vietnam has recorded 15 monkeypox cases, including two in Binh Duong Province that neighbors HCMC. Vietnam's first two cases of monkeypox were confirmed in October 2022. They contracted the virus during trips to Dubai, and were immediately quarantined upon return to the country. The rest of the cases were recorded domestically. Health authorities have been able to confirm the source of transmission of just one domestic patient, a woman in Binh Duong, who got it from her boyfriend in HCMC. According to HCMC Center for Disease Control, monkeypox is determined to be a group B infectious disease and is no longer an emergency, and therefore, health authorities will not announce individual cases but only report the total number of cases weekly and monthly. Health experts said it is not easy for monkeypox to spread in the community as the virus is mostly transmitted through sexual contact and those with symptoms of rashes, blister, fever, aches and fatigue should be checked. The incubation period is between 5-21 days. On May 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that monkeypox is no longer a global public health emergency, almost a year after the threat was raised. A partnership between Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC), the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Innovate UK will deliver scientific breakthroughs with the launch of the UK's first-of-its-kind national total-body positron emission tomography (PET) imaging platform for drug discovery. The National PET Imaging Platform (NPIP) will deploy total-body PET across the UK, bringing together transformational research from two state-of-the-art total-body PET imaging scanners. It will transform medical research and industrialize cutting-edge technology, enhancing the quality and speed of drug discovery. By facilitating access to total-body PET imaging for clinicians, academics and industry, NPIP will help accelerate discoveries, leading to more advances for UK researchers and better outcomes for patients, improving the calibre of healthcare now and in the long term. PET scanning is a crucial, non-invasive imaging technique that can detect diseases' early onset. With higher sensitivity than existing technology, NPIPs total-body PET scanners will provide new insights into anatomy that have never been seen before, improving our detection, diagnosis and treatment of complex, multi-organ diseases. Current PET technology is less sensitive and requires the patient to be repositioned multiple times to achieve a full-body field of view. Total-body PET scans are quicker, exposing patients to considerably lower doses of radiation, meaning more patients, including children, can participate in clinical trials to improve researchers understanding of diseases. The speed of total-body PET scanners means that NPIP will be able to facilitate more patient scans, enhancing the scale and impact of clinical research projects. This richer picture of human health will help us develop drugs and diagnostics more effectively and bring them to market quicker, benefiting patients and enabling the UK to unlock new opportunities to treat complex diseases like cancer and cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Supplied by Siemens Healthineers, the two total-body Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT scanners capture outstanding image clarity of a patients entire body in near real-time. The scanners will be situated in Scotland and London, serving the length and breadth of the UK. Each facility will be jointly managed by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland and by Kings College London and Imperial College London in London, and the scanners are expected to be operational as soon as April 2024. NPIPs network of infrastructure and intelligence will provide a complete picture of patients and how they respond to novel drugs and treatments. Uniquely, it will also connect insights from many research programmes and trials. In doing so, it will begin to build a rich bank of data that the PET community can access for the benefit of patients. The UK Government, through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund, has invested 32 million into the groundbreaking total-body PET technology that will help drive the UKs reputation as a global life science superpower. George Freeman MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: Advances in imaging and informatics pioneered here in the UK have led to a step-change in how we diagnose and treat diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's, bringing hope to patients and their families. "Our 32 million backing for this Platform will give British clinicians and researchers access to a never-before-seen breadth of data, pushing forward new innovations from drug discovery to screening, strengthening our life sciences sector, and ultimately transforming lives." Dr Juliana Maynard, Director of Operations and Engagement for the National PET Imaging Platform and Head of Translational Imaging at Medicines Discovery Catapult, said: PET scanning is nothing short of transformational for patients who need it the most. Total-body PET scanners can detect serious diseases with unprecedented speed and accuracy. The launch of NPIP and provision of these state-of-the-art total-body PET scanners is a testament to the UK's expertise and strength as a life sciences superpower and the collaborative efforts of the entire UK PET community. The value of NPIP is huge for the UK life sciences sector, providing researchers with access to superior clinical data, not just from their own trials but from every research programme that joins the platform. NPIP will allow the kind of collaboration in imaging research the likes of which the UK has never seen before. It will set a new standard of excellence for UK medical imaging research, unlocking innovative discoveries and attracting the international research community to conduct clinical trials on British soil. It means that, collectively, we can power forward drug discovery with renewed confidence and drive world-leading capabilities in detection, diagnosis, and treatment. Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Health and Social Care and CEO of the National Institute for Health and Care Research, said: This new platform represents a huge step forward for clinical research, enabling more patients to take part in clinical trials, delivering more scans, and enhancing our understanding of diseases. Ultimately this could help lead to the development of new drugs and treatments to tackle some of the biggest health challenges of our time, from cancer to dementia. Backed by 32 million through the UK Research and Innovation Infrastructure Fund, this demonstrates once again the UKs commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology to boost research and cement our reputation as a life sciences superpower. Dr Adam Staines, Project Director for the National PET Imaging Platform and Associate Director at the Medical Research Council, said: Total-body PET imaging represents a significant technological advancement which will unlock many health advances in the next decade. The scientific advancements that will be enabled through the creation of NPIP will allow academic researchers, UK industry, and health professionals across the UK to all benefit from the investment. This will, in turn, maintain the UKs position at the forefront of human imaging research and benefit many patients directly across key societal challenges such as dementia and cancer. This is yet another excellent example of how UKRI Infrastructure funding is maintaining the UK as a science superpower by providing our researchers with the necessary tools to work at the cutting edge. Innovate UK is delighted to have been part of the collaboration delivering this cutting-edge technology, ensuring that the UK lead in this field. The National PET Imaging Platform will open opportunities for SMEs operating within the drug discovery sector, giving them access to state-of-the-art equipment and invaluable data to progress their innovations faster and deliver better outcomes for patients. This advance strengthens the UK's capabilities and will support many businesses in the pharmaceutical R&D space. Dr Stella Peace, Innovate UK Executive Director for Healthy Living and Agriculture Dr Samana Brannigan, Head of Health Technologies at Innovate UK, said: Through our collaborative efforts and embracing this cutting-edge technology, we will ensure the UK is leading this field. NPIP will open opportunities for SMEs operating within the drug discovery sector, giving them vital access to state-of-the-art equipment and invaluable data to progress their innovation faster. Our commitment to establishing and nurturing a national PET imaging network will strengthen the UK's capabilities, providing robust support for clinical research initiatives and businesses in the pharmaceutical R&D space. Professor Chris Molloy, CEO of Medicines Discovery Catapult, said: This programme is a great example of a Catapult in action: industrializing and driving adoption of innovative technology. MDCs work helps NPIP bring the community together and reshape drug discovery for patient benefit." Takeda today announced that the World Health Organizations (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization shared recommendations for use of QDENGA (Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine [Live, Attenuated]) (TAK-003). In the coming months, the WHO will consider the SAGE recommendation and update its position paper on dengue vaccines to include final guidance on the use of QDENGA in public vaccination programs. SAGE made the following recommendations: The vaccine to be considered for introduction in settings with high dengue disease burden and high transmission intensity to maximize the public health impact and minimize any potential risk in seronegative persons. The vaccine to be introduced to children aged 6 to 16 years of age. Within this age range, the vaccine should be introduced about 1-2 years prior to the age-specific peak incidence of dengue-related hospitalizations. The vaccine should be administered in a 2-dose schedule with a 3-month interval between doses. The vaccine introduction should be accompanied by a well-designed communication strategy and community engagement. Dengue fever is among the most common mosquito-borne viral diseases worldwide.1 It is endemic in more than 100 countries and causes an estimated 390 million infections each year.2 While many dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, dengue can occasionally cause more severe disease, and even death.2 Dengue is also a leading cause of fever among travelers returning from Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.3 The global impact of dengue cannot be overlooked as the incidence continues to rise. This week, the World Health Organizations (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) provided important recommendations for the use of QDENGA in preventing dengue. Were encouraged by their feedback and look forward to the final position from the WHO in the coming months. Gary Dubin, M.D., President of Global Vaccine Business Unit, Takeda SAGE reviewed data across 19 Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials with more than 28,000 children and adults, including the pivotal Phase 3 Tetravalent Immunization against Dengue Efficacy Study (TIDES) trial, which was designed according to the WHOs guidance for a second-generation dengue vaccine. The pivotal TIDES trial met its primary endpoint of overall vaccine efficacy (VE) against virologically-confirmed dengue (VCD) with 80.2% efficacy at 12-months follow-up.4 The trial also met all secondary endpoints for which there were a sufficient number of dengue cases at 18-months follow-up.5 The VE result in preventing hospitalization due to VCD fever was 90.4%.5 Through four and a half years (54 months after the second dose) in an exploratory analysis, QDENGA demonstrated continued overall protection, with sustained overall VE of 61.2% and 84.1% VE against VCD and hospitalized dengue, respectively.6 Observations of VE varies by serotype and remained consistent with previously reported results. QDENGA has been generally well tolerated and no important safety risks have been identified in the TIDES trial, to date. QDENGA is currently available for children and adults in the private market in countries in Europe, Indonesia and Brazil, and will be available in Argentina and Thailand soon. Becoming the third woman among the 93 economics laureates to win the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2023 so far, Harvard professor Claudia Goldin has been recognised for having advanced our understanding of womens labour market outcomes. A US-based economic historian and a labour economist, Goldins research covers a wide range of topics, including the female labour force, the gender gap in earnings, income inequality, technological change, education, and immigration. Most of her research interprets the present through the lens of the past and explores the origins of current issues of concern, according to Harvard Universitys website, where Goldin is the Henry Lee Professor of Economics. She is best known for her historical work on women in the US economy. Born in New York, US, in 1946, Claudia Goldin attended the Bronx High School of Science. Passionate about detective work, Goldin planned to study microbiology as a student at Cornell University. But, it wasnt long before she discovered economics as a tool to delve into lifes mysteries, and since then she has become known as an economic historian whose research sheds new light on the roots of present-day policy questions, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Goldin was a bright student. Between 1963 and 1967, she attended Cornell University where Goldin did a BA in Economics. Immediately after this, she pursued an MA in Economics and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Chicago between 1967 and 1972. In 1976, she wrote her first book Urban Slavery in the American South, 1820 to 1860: A Quantitative History. Her book, Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women, written in 1990, was the first detailed account of how womens labour force participation and earnings evolved in the US. Till now, she has written 10 books covering gender gap, economic history of women, income inequality, corruption and reform. Apart from this, she has also written a large number of articles and book chapters. Before joining Harvard University, where she was the first woman to earn tenure in the economics department, Goldin taught at Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania. She is the recipient of several teaching awards. She served as president of the American Economic Association (AEA) from 2013-2014 and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. Jessie Romero interviewed Goldin at the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Mass., in December 2014. From 1984 to 1988, she was editor of the Journal of Economic History. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank (Swedens central bank) established the Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. The first prize in economic sciences was awarded to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen in 1969. Last years winners were former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, Douglas W Diamond and Philip Dybvig for their research into bank failures that helped shape Americas aggressive response to the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Eleven laureates were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2023, for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. Their work and discoveries range from effective mRNA vaccines and attosecond physics to fighting against the oppression of women. For the last two years, the world has been restricted to homes. Daily activities that couldnt be managed without stepping out, came indoors all at once from office to grocery shopping and schools. As the world accepts the new normal, News18 launches weekly classes for school children, explaining key chapters with examples from happenings around the world. While we try to simplify your subjects, a request to break down a topic can be tweeted @news18dotcom India, a country rich in varied cultures and customs, has emerged as an industrial powerhouse. The countrys manufacturing industry, which has a long history spanning centuries, has seen a remarkable metamorphosis, expanding into a number of industries and being crucial to the countrys economic growth. Indias primary manufacturing sectors cover a diverse range of industries, each of which has its own distinctive traits and economic benefits. From minerals to information technology, from textiles to automobiles, India has a thriving and active manufacturing sector that serves both home and foreign markets. In this weeks Class with News18, we are discussing the major manufacturing industry of India, and their impacts on the economy as well as the environment. Agro-based Industries: Nourishing Indias Economy Given the nations deep agricultural origins, agro-based sectors are essential to Indias economic landscape. These sectors are crucial to the nations economic structure since they are closely related to the production and processing of agricultural goods. The value of agricultural products is greatly preserved and increased by the food processing sector. Food products, such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, are processed and packaged as part of this process. Food processing, vegetable oil, sugar, cotton, and textiles are a few significant agro-based categories. The manufacturing of textiles has a long and illustrious history in India. One of the biggest employers in the nation, the textile sector employs both skilled and unskilled employees. Both local and foreign markets are served by major textile centres including Surat, Ahmedabad, and Tirupur. Mineral-based Industries: Indias Natural Wealth Mineral-based industries constitute a vital part of Indias economic landscape owing to the countrys abundant mineral reserves. The mining industry involves the extraction of important materials such as coal, iron ore, and bauxite. These raw materials are subsequently processed by the metallurgy industry to produce finished goods like steel and aluminium, which are crucial in construction and infrastructure. Mineral-based industries focus on the mining and processing of mineral resources, which taps into Indias tremendous geological wealth. Automobile Industry India has experienced a staggering expansion in the automobile industry over the past two decades. It covers the production of automobiles, motorbikes, and commercial vehicles as well as the components that constitute such vehicles. Additionally, several Indian automobile companies have made major advancements both domestically and internationally in terms of market presence. Increasing consumer demand, technical developments, and initiatives from the government have all contributed to this industrys noteworthy expansion. A huge network of suppliers, dealerships, and service facilities are supported by the automotive industries, which supports numerous employment opportunities for individuals. Electronics and Information Technology Industries The electronics and information technology (IT) business in India is a fast-rising industry that is critical to the countrys financial landscape. It includes the manufacture of electronic items, designing and developing software, and IT services. India has established itself as a worldwide IT outsourcing centre with cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Coimbatore being significant locations for the production of electronic goods. With programmes like Make in India, the electronics manufacturing industry has also experienced significant expansion. Impact of these manufacturing industries on Indias economy Manufacturing industries are critical to the Indian economy, contributing significantly to its GDP. Their expansion triggers an economic domino effect that benefits several industries. Furthermore, these sectors are major job creators, employing millions of professional and unskilled employees. This is especially important when it comes to combating unemployment and eliminating poverty. Indias exports are also significantly influenced by sectors including textiles, food processing, IT and automobile, which helps to close trade gaps and strengthen foreign exchange reserves. The creation of essential infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and buildings, especially those for the steel and automobile industries, also contributes to the expansion of the broader economy. Environmental Challenges Economic growth is significantly influenced by the manufacturing sector. However, they have important environmental repercussions that go hand in hand with their relevance. Pollution is among the top issues. Pollutants from these industries are frequently released into the air, water, and soil, severely degrading the ecosystem. Resource depletion is a further urgent problem. Mineral-based enterprises in particular need enormous quantities of energy, water, and other natural resources. Hence, overexploitation can lead to scarcity of these resources as well as long-term detrimental effects on the environment. The positive outlook is that many sectors are increasingly supporting green projects and sustainable and ethical practices. Therefore its important to recognise the importance of governmental rules and laws protecting the environment. These rules are critical in minimising the detrimental impact of manufacturing businesses, and compliance with them is required for long-term growth. In essence, the manufacturing sector has enormous economic potential, but a harmonious relationship between industry and the environment is critical for a sustainable future. Paper leaks: Papers of government recruitment exams, like REET, for teachers have leaked in recent months, an issue which impacts lakhs of unemployed youths. Apart from the BJP, Congress dissident Sachin Pilot too has targeted the Gehlot government on this. Farm loan waiver: The BJP accuses the Congress of not fulfilling the loan waiver poll promise. The government claims it has written off loans taken from cooperative banks, and it is now the Centres responsibility to get commercial banks waive what farmers owe them. Transfers of teachers:About one lakh Grade 3 school teachers are demanding transfers to districts of their choice. The states Congress government says it will come up with a policy on this. The Election Commission of India on Monday announced the schedule for the upcoming assembly polls in five states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. The polling for the elections in these five states will begin on November 7 and go on till November 30 while the counting of votes for all states will be held on December 3. Assembly Election 2023 Dates LIVE: Telangana, MP, Mizoram, Rajasthan To Vote From Nov 7 to 30; Chhattisgarh Polling in 2 Phases; Result on Dec 3 The Mizoram assembly term is set to end in December while the terms of the legislative assemblies of Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end in January next year. Heres the schedule of polling for the assembly elections in five states: Telangana Assembly Elections 2023: Schedule Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: November 3 November 3 Last Date of Making Nominations: November 10 November 10 Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures Date of Poll: November 15 November 15 Date of Polling: November 30 November 30 Date of Counting: December 3 Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2023: Important Dates Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: October 30 October 30 Last Date of Making Nominations: November 6 November 6 Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures Date of Poll: November 9 November 9 Date of Polling: November 23 November 23 Date of Counting: December 3 Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: Schedule Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: October 21 October 21 Last Date of Making Nominations: October 30 October 30 Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures Date of Poll: November 2 November 2 Date of Polling: November 17 November 17 Date of Counting: December 3 Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023: Schedule Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: October 13 October 13 Last Date of Making Nominations: October 20 October 20 Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures Date of Poll: October 23 October 23 Date of Polling: November 7 November 7 Date of Counting: December 3 Chhattisgarh Assembly Polls 2023: Dates Date of Polling: Phase 1 November 7, Phase 2 November 17 Phase 1 November 7, Phase 2 November 17 Date of Counting: December 3 The upcoming assembly elections will be a major political test, especially for the newly formed joint opposition bloc INDIA as it will not only determine the standing of the opposition against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also set the tone for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Out of five states slated to go to polls this year, the Congress is in power in two of them Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the BJP is the ruling party in Madhya Pradesh. Telangana, on the other hand, is ruled by KCR-led Bharat Rashtra Samiti and the Mizo National Front (MNF) is in power in Mizoram. Ahead of announcing the schedule for assembly elections in five states, the Election Commission on October 6 held a meeting with the police and expenditure observers chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asking them to ensure that the menace of money power is controlled thoroughly. The ECI announced that around 1180 observers will fan out across the five states to monitor and ensure free and fair elections. These observers will be deployed for the forthcoming elections to the legislative assemblies of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana. In other poll-related developments, the Indian government is mulling over introducing the One Nation, One Election policy and for that purpose, the Centre constituted a committee headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind. Meanwhile, addressing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday said, In 40 days we visited all 5 States and held discussions with political parties, Central and State enforcement agencies. The EC also added the commission will set up new booths in remote and inaccessible areas to facilitate voter participation. New Polling booth to be set up in desert areas of Barmer, Rajasthan & on Tulsi Dongri Hill in Chhattisgarh-Odisha border. Polling stations will be set up in reserve forest areas/ sanctuaries for tribals in Madhya Pradesh Polling teams in Mizoram will travel on foot through 22 non-motorable PS and 19 riverine polling stations by boat, he added. A caste census and poll strategies are set to dominate the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting 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 partys firm pitch for a nationwide caste census and its implications. There are concerns within the Congress with respect to the articulation of the partys 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 Gandhis 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 BJPs 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 Mondays CWC meeting is firming up the partys 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 Partys (AAP) Sanjay Singh in the Delhi excise policy case. The Congress has condemned Singhs 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. As the Election Commission (EC) announced the poll date for Telangana (November 30), senior leaders of all parties have come forward to declare that they are confident of victory. ALSO READ | Assembly Election 2023 Dates LIVE HERE While Congress president A Revanth Reddy said the suffering of the people in Telangana is going to end in December with his party coming to power, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that it is surely going to be a hattrick for the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Kishan Reddy said there was a need to liberate Telangana from corruption and family rule. Owaisi said: We have announced three candidates in Rajasthan and will declare the same in Telangana soon. I am positive that the BRS is going to form government again. When asked about the Congress allegations that AIMIM is the B-team of the BRS, Owaisi replied: Where were these opportunists and pseudo-secular people when I praised Dr Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2012? When the communists deserted them in 2008, I supported them for the nuclear deal, when the former CM of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy, brought a no-confidence motion in the Assembly, my party supported him. The Congress does not speak about these instances because of their political arrogance and intellectual dishonesty. Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy said CM K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) contracted fever after hearing about the six guarantees of the Congress. When the Congress announced six guarantees, KCR got fever. Its time for KCR to take rest. He doesnt need to come out of the farm house. The people of Telangana have already decided the winners in this election. He added that the BJP is trying to split the anti-incumbency vote. People have understood the Fevicol bond between the BJP and BRS and it is the responsibility of every son of Telangana to smash the conspiracies of these two parties, he added. At a press meet at their office in Nampally, BJPs Kishan Reddy said that people have seen the rule of Congress and BRS parties. The BRS did not respect the wishes of 1,200 martyrs. All the traitors of the movement are in ministerial positions or in Pragati Bhavan, he added. Alleging that KCR encouraged the use of money power and liquor in elections, senior leader Etela Rajender said: KCR is credited with giving Telangana the worst culture of spending the highest amount of money in the country. The influence of money and alcohol was less in Telangana elections before. KCR decided to sell thousands of acres of land illegally and win the election with that money. While there was no communication from the chief minister at the time of publishing the report, BRS working president K Taraka Rama Rao attended public programmes in various districts and reiterated that the pink flag will keep flying in the state. ALSO READ | Assembly Election Dates for 5 States Out | Know Full Schedule, Counting and Result Day After inaugurating an integrated collectorate building in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, KTR said: People know that the BRS is coming to power again. The people sitting here should once try to recall what their condition was 10 years ago, and how it has changed for the better now. What is the condition of farmers then and now? Has the amount of irrigation water changed? KCR took up a fast unto death to realise the dream of separate statehood for Telangana. He is the right person to continue walking on the path of progress. The Congress is asking for another chance now. The people gave them 11 chances in the past 75 years since independence. What change did they bring? People can see it for themselves. We are prepared, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal after dates for assembly elections in five states were announced by the Election Commission of India on Monday. We will fight elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh with all our strength. Candidates list will be out soon, he said. Kejriwal reiterated what his party has been saying all alongthat AAP will contest on all the seats in these three states. Speaking to News18, AAP MP and national secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak said, It is very clear from day 1 that our alliance (INDIA) is for national politics, for Lok Sabha elections only. And, AAP being a national party, we are fighting elections independently at the Vidhan Sabha level. So it is very clear to people as well, that in Vidhan Sabha, we are fighting independently. Our coalition or understanding with the Congress is specifically and squarely for Lok Sabha elections. Asked again whether there will be no seat-sharing in assembly elections, Pathak said, Well, elections are already announced. Elections are round the corner. There isnt much time in any case. I am again repeating, AAP is fighting elections independently, alone. And, there is no question of any understanding for Vidhan Sabha elections. Pathak also said that he does not think there have been any talks with the Congress regarding this. In fact, AAP has already declared the names of 39 candidates for Madhya Pradesh and 22 for Chhattisgarh. Incidentally, Sandeep Pathak, who is credited to a great extent with AAPs extraordinary win in Punjab, hails from Chhattisgarh. The party is yet to announce any candidates for Rajasthan. Led by Pathak, the party is working aggressively on the ground to have a presence at the district and village levels. Apart from that, the party has also conducted its trademark surveys to gauge the energy in different parts of these election-bound states and will focus on those areas where it elicits the maximum response. AAP supremo Kejriwal, along with Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, has already sounded the bugle for assembly polls in these three states with campaigns in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. The Delhi chief minister has reached out to the electorate with Kejriwals Guarantees, including free electricity and water, reforms in government schools, and corruption-free governance. In all his campaigns, Kejriwal has targeted the Congress, along with the BJP. Over the next couple of days, Mann will campaign in Madhya Pradesh. After the arrest of AAP MP Sanjay Singh by the ED in a liquor scam case, the top leadership of the Congress took time to extend support to AAP, and when it did, it came with a reminder of the Punjab governments arrest of the grand old partys leaders. Responding to this support that came with a rider, Kejriwal had remarked wryly, Let them not support; what difference does it make. Incidentally, the AAP chief had expressed solidarity with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi when the latter was suspended from Parliament. We are fighting elections in all these three statesChhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthanand ours is a people-based election. So, people will fight elections on their own. So we have a huge and strong organisation in all these places, Pathak said, brushing aside concerns of top AAP leaders facing the heat of investigating agencies. Our bench strength is very strong. It will not harm us in any way. So, our elections are very simple. We bring aam aadmi to the centre stage, aam aadmi participates in the campaign, aam aadmi becomes the candidate and wins the elections. Pathak said, I will be very candid in responding that our organisational strength is uniform everywhere. In every single village and ward in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, we have committees. So our organisation is very strong. It is just a question of candidate selection now, which we have identified. It is just a matter of campaign and candidates; results would come. On whether AAP would declare CM candidates in these election-bound states, Pathak said, The party has not taken any call on whether chief ministerial candidates will be declared. The Congress and AAP are both part of the INDIA bloc that has resolved to put up joint candidates against the BJP-led NDA in as many seats as possible to ensure that the votes of the opposition are not divided. The INDIA bloc had its fourth meeting at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founder Sharad Pawar where seat-sharing in election-bound states was on top of the agenda but no headway could be made. According to sources, there have been no talks at all on any kind of seat-sharing, for state elections or general elections. In the absence of that, AAP, always quick to get its campaign off the ground, has gone ahead and done just that. However, this could be a worry for the Congress. Elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh have been bipolar fights between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party. The entry of AAP in these states threatens to turn them into triangular contests, at least in some regions, thus splitting the opposition votes. This would be a worry for the Congress, which is in the incumbent governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, and the principal opposition in Madhya Pradesh. While the Congress is wary of AAPs foray when it comes to spoiling its chances, it is also not keen on sharing space with the party in its strongholds. So far, there hasnt been any attempt at either seat-sharing or even friendly fights. Indias Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Monday announced the assembly poll schedule for five states. Gazette notification for the elections in Telangana will be issued on November 3, and the last date to file nominations is November 10. The scrutiny of the nominations will be taken up on November 13 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is November 15. Voting will take place in a single phase on November 30 and the results will be out on December 3. The entire election process would be completed by December 5. Major political parties in the state have already started campaigning across the state. The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithis working president KT Rama Rao and minister T Harish Rao have been leading the partys electioneering with whirlwind tours and by launching populist government schemes and programmes across the state. The Congress has been criticising the ruling party on all fronts even as it is busy finalising candidates for the polls. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also campaigning across the state on par with the BRS and Congress, and is preparing its list of nominees. All the parties vying to rule the state have their own strengths and weaknesses. The ruling BRS, which came to power after Telangana was carved out of united Andhra Pradesh in 2014, has been telling voters that it played a key role in achieving statehood. The party won power in the state twice in the last two elections. It bagged the required seats to form the government in the 2014 elections, and later welcomed rebel MLAs from the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to strengthen it shold. The BRS went for early polls in 2018, citing a positive atmosphere in its favour. It won 88 of the states 119 assembly seats, proving its might once again in Telangana politics. Later, it admitted several Congress MLAs one by one into its fold, depriving the grand old party the status of main opposition in the state assembly. With more than 100 MLAs in its kitty, the BRS has been ruling the state unchallenged. This time, it started poll preparations six months ago. On the governance front, the pink party announced a slew of populist development programmes and welfare schemes to lure voters and also declared the names of its candidates about one and a half months ago. It has taken the lead in electioneering among all the key players, say observers. BRS in poll position Starting with the ruling BRS, its strengths include direct money transfer to the accounts of beneficiaries through Rythu Bandhu, Dalit Bandhu, and Chethivruthulaku Cheyutha (a helping hand to traditional handicraftsmen of backward classes with Rs 1 lakh), completion of irrigation projects, early announcement of candidates, taking the lead in campaigning, welcoming deserters from opposition parties and allotting nominated posts to some of them. When it comes to drawbacks or weaknesses, the present MLAs once again being in the poll fray can further fuel anti-incumbency sentiments. Some leaders who played a prominent role in the Telangana movement and those in the second rung have been expressing displeasure against party bigwigs after not getting election tickets. This time the party has to allot tickets to me. If not, I will see how the sitting MLA wins the seat. How long do we have to wait? The sitting MLA was elected twice, and if he scores a hat trick, there could be a danger of me having to disappear from the political arena. If he loses this election, the party will come to know about my capabilities and at least I will get the ticket the next time, a BRS leader who occupies a powerful post told News18 on the condition of anonymity. Though present MLAs Thatikonda Rajaiah and Muthireddy Yadagiri Reddy have not been nominated for the polls, efforts to mollify dissidents are yet to completely succeed. The non-implementation of the promise to provide monthly stipend to the unemployed, three acres of land to Dalits, non-completion of 2BHK houses, and completed houses allegedly allotted to followers of party leaders are some of the allegations against the BRS. The criticism on commissions to the ruling party leaders under the Dalit Bandhu Scheme, which provides Rs 10 lakh each to Dalits, and that the followers of MLAs have benefitted from the scheme meant to provide Rs 1 lakh each to the backward classes have come as setbacks for the pink party. There will be anti-incumbency against a 10-year-old government. The ruling party has been doing so many things to overcome it. Let us see how far the efforts will work out in favour of it. There are allegations that government bigwigs have done a lot of corruption in programmes such as Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya, and Regional Ring Road. It is also alleged that the chief ministers office (CMO) gets a large chunk of the funds whenever a major project has been launched. The opposition parties brought the evidence on the allegations to light in some instances. Though the election schedule has been announced, there is a lot of time before the polls. Anything can happen in the meantime, senior journalist Marthi Subrahmanyam told News18. He also said that the autocracy of MLAs in their respective constituencies may bruise the BRSs poll prospects. Congress counts on anti-incumbency The Congress, the main opposition in the state, hopes to benefit from the anti-incumbency sentiments against the BRS government. It has also been trying to bring BRS dissidents into its fold. After the joining of former MP Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and former minister Tummala Nageswar Rao from the undivided Khammam district and Jupalli Krishna Rao from the undivided Mahabubnagar district, the Congress has gained strength in these areas. The party has been suffering from internal disputes, but there appears to be unorganised unity among leaders after being deprived of power for almost 10 years. Having tasted victory in the recent Karnataka elections has motivated the party to secure a victory in Telangana at any cost. State Congress leaders feel they should move forward by reaching a consensus and maintaining coordination with the party high command when it comes to allotment of tickets and poll campaign. BJP losing steam? Though the BJP and BRS have been making allegations against each other, after the BJP government at the Centre seemingly failed to act tough towards KCRs daughter Kavitha in the alleged Delhi liquor scam case, many observers are of the opinion that the two parties may have a tacit understanding with a common agenda. The appointment of central minister G Kishan Reddy as BJPs state chief, replacing Bandi Sanjay, has tempered its aggressive activities against the ruling pink party. The BJP, which had five MLAs in its kitty in 2014, appears to be backing Raja Singh from the Goshamahal constituency after he was suspended for anti-party activities. Though Raghunandan Rao and Etela Rajender were elected as MLAs in by-elections, the BJP has been struggling to field candidates for the upcoming elections. The BJP has made so many allegations against the BRS. Congress state unit chief Revanth Reddy has submitted evidence to the CBI and the ED in this regard. But no action was taken against the BRS. When it comes to Kavithas role in the liquor scam, they (BJP) created an atmosphere that she would be arrested at any moment. But they finally didnt do anything. This has generally created a feeling among the public that the BJP and the BRS are sailing in the same boat, said analyst Marti Subrahmanyam. Others in the fray The AIMIM, which has been supporting the BRS since the day of the formation of Telangana, has been focusing on the seven seats it won in the last elections. The other parties in the state also left these seven seats to the AIMIM, competing with each other for the rest. The same may happen this time as well, say observers. But there is a chance that the AIMIM may contest all 119 seats in Telangana to split the anti-government votes. The BSP under the leadership of former IPS officer Praveen Kumar and the YSRTP under YS Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, are also in the fray for the November 30 Telangana polls. On the second Monday of October, many in the United States commemorate the voyage of discovery by Europeans to the Americas and the man who led it, Christopher Columbus. On October 12, 1492, the three ships under his command landed in todays Bahamas archipelago and claimed the land for Spain. The purpose of the voyage was to find a shorter, safer route to the Far East, thus eliminating the long trip around Africa. Such a shortcut would be of immense economic value to the Spanish crown, which financed what proved to be the most daring and momentous voyage in history. But although he undertook his voyage on behalf of Spain, Columbus himself was an Italian navigator from Genoa, and for that reason, Columbus Day came to be recognized as a celebration of people of Italian descent and their accomplishments. But not everyone was happy to celebrate Columbus and his voyage of discovery, as it was quickly followed by an influx of European conquerors and colonizers, and that spelled disaster for the native populations. Columbus, his men, and many of those who followed in their footsteps were brutal to the local populations, enslaving and exploiting them, and unknowingly infecting them with European diseases for which they had no immunity. That pattern repeated itself elsewhere as Europeans settled in the Americas. So, while today many people, particularly those of Italian descent, celebrate Columbus Day on that second Monday in October, 26 States and numerous cities and organizations around the country hold a counter-celebration: Indigenous Peoples Day. This dichotomy reaches all the way to the White House. Last year, President Joe Biden issued two holiday proclamations. The first one was for Columbus Day, in which he noted that [Columbuss] voyage inspired many others to follow and ultimately contributed to the founding of America, which has been a beacon for immigrants across the world. The second stated that On Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor the sovereignty, resilience, and immense contributions that Native Americans have made to the world. On Indigenous Peoples Day, we recognize that some of those who call themselves Americans are descendants of peoples who have lived on this continent for thousands of years. Others have come, or are descended from those who came, from many cultures and from all over the world, seeking a better life. And all of them contributed to who we are today. Make way as Aarya Sareen (Sushmita Sen) flaunts her claws and takes on the throne as the new don in town in Aarya Season 3. After receiving an International Emmy Award Nomination for Season 1 and two successful seasons, the wait ends as the fan favorite franchise returns with its third season with newer challenges, newer enemies and with a newer ambition. Created and co-directed by the visionary Ram Madhvani and co-produced by Amita Madhavni, Ram Madhvani, Ram Madhvani Films and Endemol Shine India, the dawn of a fearless reign unfolds with Aarya Season 3 exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar on 3rd November Sushmita Sen added, Aarya Sareen has now become a very integral part of my life. Her experiences across seasons have touched my heart. Its an honor to step back into her shoes for Aarya Season 3. This season explores the profound power of Aarya, as she strikes down her enemies and begins to create an empire of her own, while grappling the threats to her loved ones. Aaryas story is a testament to a woman who defies lifes constraints and will go to any lengths to protect the ones close to her. Aarya Season 3 isnt just a show on Disney+ Hotstar; its an emotional journey that fills me with love and pride. Sushmita Sen announced the third season of Aarya on social media earlier this year. The filming for the new season of her Emmy-nominated thriller series wrapped up only recently. Sushmita told India Today about Aarya Season 3: Its a new day for Aarya Sareen, and shes ready for it. In Season 3, she is going places and writing her own story, free of her past. Replacing Aarya is like slipping into old jeans for a brand-new adventure. Helmed by Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi, Aarya is an official remake of the popular Dutch crime-drama Penoz, which revolves around a middle-aged woman and her struggle to save her family while battling all odds. India is finally bidding adieu to the legendary Russian-origin MiG-21, which was once an integral part of Indias defence legacy in the last six decades. The iconic MiG-21 jets, which were once the backbone of the Indian Air Force (AIF), participated for the last time at the annual Air Force Day parade in Prayagraj on Sunday. The event, which celebrated the 91st anniversary of the IAF, marked the end of an era as the Indian Air Force is rolling out the process to phase out the remaining three squadrons of the aircraft. The Russian-made aircraft is set to be replaced with indigenously-developed Tejas Mark-1A aircraft from 2025 onwards. A timeline has been finalised to phase out the Mig-21s. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhary suggested that the remaining squadrons of the MiG-21 jets will be phased out by next year. All About MiG-21 The MiG-21 is a Soviet-era single-engine, single-seater multirole fighter that once formed the backbone of the IAF fleet. The MiG-21s were initially designed as interceptor aircraft and underwent numerous upgrades to perform various fighter aircraft roles including ground attack. Currently, the IAF has three MiG-21 squadrons with a total of around 50 aircraft. After its induction in the early 1960s, the IAF procured more than 870 MiG-21 fighters of different versions to boost its overall combat prowess. The MiG-21 Bison, an upgraded version of the MiG-21bis, was first inducted into service in 1976. According to a report in Hindustan Times, over 100 MiG-21s in the IAF were upgraded to Bison in 2006. Apart from India, the fighter jet has served in 60 countries over the course of 60 years. It holds the record for being the most-produced supersonic jet aircraft in aviation history, the most-produced combat aircraft and the longest production run of a combat aircraft. Longest Serving Fighter Jets MiG-21 has been designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau of the then Soviet Union and Indias longest-serving fighter plane. India got its first MiG-21 in 1963 and to bolster the combat potential of the country, 874 variants of the supersonic fighters were inducted, making the country one of the largest operators of MiG-21s outside the USSR. In February 2019, then Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman of the No 51 squadron based in Srinagar had downed a Pakistan Air Force F-16 aircraft while flying a MiG-21 Bison. The MiG-21s have demonstrated their effectiveness in several wars including the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, the 1965 war and the 1999 Kargil War with Pakistan. Why is India Phasing out MiG-21? After its induction in the early 1960s, the IAF procured more than 870 MiG-21 fighters to boost its overall combat prowess. However, the aircraft has a very poor safety record. Several MiG-21s have crashed in the recent past turning the spotlight on Indias longest-serving fighter plane, its safety record, and the plans to replace the ageing jets. As of May this year, the IAF lost 400 MiGs in crashes since 1971, losing over 200 pilots and close to 50 civilians. In 2012, former Defence Minister AK Antony had said in Parliament that more than half of the 872 MiG aircraft purchased from Russia had crashed, in which, more than 200 persons had lost their lives. Due to the high rate of accidents and the maximum number of peace-time killings by any fighter jet, the aircraft earned the nickname of Flying Coffin. As per the data compiled by the IAF, the accident rate of the MiG-21s in the 1990s was 2.89 per 10,000 flying hours. However, military experts claim that MiG-21s have crashed more than any other fighter jets because they comprise the bulk of the IAFs inventory. Tejas Mark-1A aircraft to take over The Indian Air Force is set to replace the ageing Mig series fighters with around 100 additional Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets. This is in addition to the Rs 48,000-crore deal signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in 2021 to procure 83 such jets. Tejas Mark-1A is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured modern 4-plus generation fighter aircraft with more than 65 per cent indigenous components. It is also deployed with an indigenously developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile, modern Electronic Warfare (EW) Suite and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capabilities to meet the operational requirements of the IAF. As per reports, around 300 Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets are going to be inducted into service in the next few years. Palestinian armed group Hamas on Saturday launched an unprecedented assault on the Israeli territory, leading to over 700 deaths in Israel. Israel, which has long enjoyed a high-tech military edge in its many conflicts, was shaken to the core by Hamass unprecedented ground, air and sea attack during which more than 1,000 militants broke through the border fence Israel had deemed impregnable and swarmed through into nearby Jewish communities. The lack of preparedness in the military, Israeli domestic intelligence Shin Bet and external spy agency Mossad points to a massive intelligence failure. Israels intelligence services Unaware Israel boasts of an extensive and well-funded intelligence services in the Middle East. It claims to have informants and agents inside Palestinian militant groups, in Lebanon, Syria and other nations. Hamas surprise attack surprised many Western intelligence agencies as none of the Israeli intelligence had any inputs that the Palestinian militant group was planning a sophisticated attack, according to a report in The New York Times. Israel, which has been into decades-long war with Palestinian territories, had set up a network of electronic intercepts, sensors and human informants throughout Gaza, which is about 365 square kilometres of land. Israel has invested heavily in the past trying to track and block Hamass networks, often intercepting shipments of missile components. However, the Israels intelligence didnt have any clue that the Hamas is preparing a sophisticated attack that required coordinated land, air and sea strikes. The conflict is being compared to another surprise attack by the Palestinian groups- the Yom Kippur war of October 1973. Failed Israels Iron Dome The Iron Dome, considered among the most advanced defence systems in the word, proved no match for the heavy explosives unleashed by Hamas militants as they burst into Israel. The Hamas attack on Saturday raised a question on how the million-dollars Iron Dome failed against the barrage of inexpensive but deadly missiles fired by Hamas. As per reports, the Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system intercepted around 90% of Gaza rockets. 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 weapon systems interceptors to handle all targets. According to the report in The New York Times, the Iron Dome has a limited number of Tamir interceptors and reloading the system can take time. Hamas, took advantage of the systems vulnerabilities and fired over 5,000 rockets were launched in just 20 minutes. Moreover, military experts suggested that new weapons fired by Hamas could have been harder to intercept and Hamas may have used a new missile system known as Rajum. Weapons smuggled into Gaza In order to prepare and carry out such a coordinated and complex attack firing thousands of rockets must have taken extraordinary levels of operational security by Hamas. The Israelis clearly missed keeping track of the wide variety of Iranian-made rockets and missiles that were fired by Hamas. These rockets were smuggled into Gaza as components and then assembled later. According to former US intelligence officials, both Israel and Egypt try to monitor and deter Hamas militants from smuggling components from Iran through the Sinai Peninsula in underground tunnels. However, officials predict that the missile and rocket components might be smuggled through the legal crossings apart from underground and sea routes. Though Israel uses extensive human networks in Gaza and intercepts electronic communications to generate warnings of potential attacks, this time Hamas fighters avoided discussing the plans over mobile phones or other means that could have been intercepted. As the conflict rages between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas for the third day on Monday, countries around the world have come in solidarity with Israel while many others have backed the Palestinian armed group. Israel-Palestine Conflict Explained Israels foreign ministry has claimed that around 84 nations have released statements supporting Israel condemning the Hamas attacks and backing Israels right to self-defence. Many countries, especially in the Middle East have praised the Hamas surprise assault that led to several casualties in Israel. As the evacuation from the border areas continues with the death toll rising above 1,100, heres a list of countries supporting Israel and Hamas. Countries Supporting Israel United States US President Joe Biden has maintained that the US support for Israel was rock solid and unwavering. In a show of support, Biden has also ordered US ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel and sent 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 also spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days, the White House said. Britain UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that Britain was standing with Israel unequivocally and working to ensure the world speaks in one voice. (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, the Downing Street office said in a statement. France French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack carried out on Israel and affirmed Frances support for the country. He also held talks with Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 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, Macron said on X (formerly Twitter). The country has also reinforced security around places of worship and Jewish establishments. Australia Australia has urged restraint to protect civilian lives in the Gaza conflict and expressed support for Israel and its right to defend itself. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese blamed the Hamas for violence and condemned the indiscriminate targeting of civilians by Hamas. Albanese said that the unprovoked attack was aimed at creating terror and added that the hundreds of people killed in Gaza was a real concern. Norway Norway has condemned the surprise Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians with Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt saying that the country condemns the attacks on Israeli civilians in the strongest of terms. Norway condemns in the strongest of terms the attacks on Israeli civilians and calls for an immediate halt to the attacks and violence, Huitfeldt said. Norways surprise support comes a month after Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt met with both Israeli and Palestinian officials and claimed it was tragic for both sides that a Palestinian state still hadnt been established, NewsInEnglish, a Norway-based news website reported. Other countries supporting Israel Several other countries including Austria, Germany, India, Canada, Poland, Spain and the European Union have also expressed support for Israel. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday Israel has the right to defend itself against barbaric attacks and to protect its citizens and to pursue the attackers. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he has spoken with 17 foreign ministers, mostly from Europe. Meanwhile, Israeli diplomats have also conducted 180 interviews with foreign press since the war started, according to The Times of Israel. Countries Supporting Palestinian Group Hamas Iran Iran has historically been in support of the Palestine cause and Iranian-backed group Hezbollah is currently involved in the conflict attacking Israel near the Lebanon border. Irans President Ebrahim Raisi spoke with leaders of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad and 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 Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. South Africa The ruling African National Congress issued a statement saying, It can no longer be disputed that Apartheid South Africas history is occupied Palestines reality. As a result, the decision by Palestinians to respond to the brutality of the settler Israeli apartheid regime is unsurprising, it added. The statement added that it was clear that the degenerating security situation is directly linked to the unlawful Israeli occupation. Yemen In Yemen, the Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa expressed their support for the heroic jihadist operation. In a statement 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. Saudi Arabia Amid the ongoing conflict, Saudi Arabia has called for a two-state solution and appealed for an immediate halt of war. #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 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. The Palestinian conflict has been a point of contention in the normalisation talks between the Saudi and Israel for a long time. In recent months, Biden and senior White House officials have attempted to negotiate with both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel a normalization deal. However, the ongoing conflict will likely impact the talks. Qatar Qatar, which has been hosting the Hamas Political office since 2012, said Israel alone was responsible for the ongoing escalation of violence with the Palestinian people. Israel alone bears the responsibility for the current escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which being the repeated raids on al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police, Qatars foreign ministry said in a statement. The Maharashtra polices Anti-Narcotics Cell has seized a large stock of Alprazolam tablets and banned cough syrups worth Rs 8.88 lakh and arrested two persons in this connection, officials said on Monday. On September 18, the police caught a man in Mira-Bhayander area with 300 bottles of a cough syrup mixed with codeine phosphate valued at Rs 1.5 lakh and 10,800 tablets of Alprazolam worth Rs 2.16 lakh, ANCs senior police inspector Amar Marathe said. The police then registered an FIR against him under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. During his interrogation, it came to light that he had procured the banned drugs from a person at Valsad in Gujarat, the official said. A police team was sent and the person was traced to a shop in Valsad and arrested on October 6, he said. During a search, the police recovered 969 bottles of codeine phosphate-mixed cough syrup valued at Rs 4.84 lakh and 1,930 Alprazolam tablets worth Rs 38,600 from his possession, the official said. He was also booked under provisions of the NDPS Act, the police added. Gagan Singh, 19, has changed four places of accommodation since he came to Canada from Ludhiana, Punjab, in the summer intake. From staying with a relative for the initial months to moving out to a basement and then to a friends house, Singh is still not sure when he will have to pack his bags next. He has been looking for a part-time job to be able to get a rented room after his employer hired someone else on a low wage and asked him to leave. Extremely low wages, sky-high rents, basement shared by groups of new students, buses packed with passengers not stopping by on some routes, especially in Ontario, dependence on food banks for groceries are some of the observations of the young and freshly out-of-school Indians about the living standards for international students in present-day Canada. Indians comprise 40% of international students living in Canada, that is, roughly 2.4 lakh. The ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada has brought the spotlight on the working and living conditions for international students in Justin Trudeaus country. Over the past few months, there has been an acute problem of housing, food and jobs for the new students who got enrolled in Canadian colleges and universities this summer, and it has got only worse by the fall (September) intake. Students blame colleges for expanding classes without having any accommodation facilities for international students as well as unscrupulous agents in India who have been selling a false dream to young students who just prepare to leave for Canada right after completing school. Also, the Justin Trudeau government has been facing flak at allowing its educational institutions to issue study permits to as many students without having enough infrastructure to support them. International Student Influx Post-Pandemic Canada has seen a rush of international students after the Covid-19 pandemic. But the acute housing and work crisis started to unfold only in July-August this year, said immigration experts. Canada has not been able to handle the influx of international students, as it doesnt have the infrastructure in terms of housing or enough jobs to support the number of people that have joined its colleges and universities. While the Canadian government is looking at how to address the housing issue and strengthen its visa office reining in colleges issuing fraudulent letters of intent to students, a lot of responsibility also lies with India to rein in its unlicensed, unscrupulous agents who dupe parents showing them a fake picture. So, many students get a reality check of the situation only when they come here while they were promised something totally different, said Manan Gupta, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB) from Skylake Immigration, Brampton, Ontario. Gupta also said there are talks of putting a cap on the number of students a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) an educational institution approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students can enrol. But there is a huge variation in the quality of DLIs in Canada with a number of small, private career colleges, often running from a floor in a building, partnering with known universities just to lure students. Of late, there have been talks on how to strengthen the college-recognition system. Despite the issues, students from India still want to move out to Canada. A lot of it has to do with parents as well, who just want to see their children settled here at any cost. Amid the recent tension between the two countries, there has been little second thought over the study destination while the majority still is the same. Only some parents have called asking us to pause study permit applications for a while, said Gupta. Unregulated Private Colleges, False Promises Study abroad experts said 90% of those going from India, most of whom are from Punjab, followed by Gujarat, Haryana and Delhi, enrol in a college only to enter Canada and later get a work visa here. Most of these colleges offer one or two year diplomas in non-futuristic courses such as community studies and business management. The students enrolling in such colleges with random courses are not pursuing any careers as such, but looking at ways of settling in. However, they are paying the fee for even such colleges four times of what Canadian students are paying, as the fee structures are different for international and domestic students. I came down to Canada in May. The college I enrolled in for a business diploma said they have no housing facility for international students. I stayed at my uncles house for a month or so, but then I had to move out. I shared a one-room basement with three others for 1,400 CAD, which is way too high for a student. There was some issue with the landlord and we moved to another and then I again moved out to stay with a friend, who lives with his brother, said Gagan Singh who left Ludhiana for Canada after Class 12. And, suddenly, there are just no jobs available, Gagan added. I got one at a packaging unit at really low wages, but they got someone to work at even lesser salary, and I lost my job. I thought I would shell out for rent on my own and would not have to ask my parents for the same, but I am just not getting one. Its a struggle running around from one point to another, none of the agents back in India, who said Ill get a job soon after landing here, told me the current scenario, he explained. Running Around for Food, House, Work Rattanjyot Sohi, 21, currently on work permit, said he came to Ontario in 2021 and at that time the situation was not half as bad. I did a business management diploma and then got a work permit. At that time, within four days of coming down, I got a job with a bakery. Also, housing was not a crisis until then. I and my friends got a two-room basement for 1400 CAD, which now is available for a little less than its double. Too many students have come in this year and even getting a job has become almost impossible, said Sohi, who now shares an apartment with others on rent. Nowadays, when he gets a call from relatives in India asking him to guide or support a fellow student from there to Canada, Sohi, said he tries hard to convince them to change their study destination to another country or the least look for cities such as Calgary, which is still better in terms of housing. But the advice often falls flat or backfires as parents are not ready to listen, they just believe that if a relative is in Canada, their children can also go out and manage. I keep telling them to change the place, but they get after me instead and say why didnt I change my place of stay. Now, who will tell them that its become extremely difficult for new students to settle in without a house or a job to sustain. The agents dont tell half the truth and parents are just ignorant of this, said Sohi, who came to Canada after his Class 12. From this year, the Canadian government again changed the work hour policy for international students back to 20 hours per week. Students can work part-time during sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. But the wages have gone as low from 20 CAD an hour to 15-16 CAD an hour, he said, but thats when you do land a job. With savings running out, its getting even harder for students to survive of late because of not getting work, said Manjinder Singh, 24, who too came as a student in Canada and now has a work permit. Most students who come here just want to get a visa to finally settle here. They are from middle or low-income-families and want to have a better life in Canada. But, over the past year, it has become increasingly difficult for new students to survive. Running out of savings and the guilt of parents having taken loans to send their children to Canada weigh heavily on them. Even the groceries are so expensive. Students rely on food banks, which give you groceries like bread, jam and other packaged food once a week, which is hardly enough when they are running around in search of work or a house. Often students get depressed while the colleges dont even bother if they are attending classes or not, they just take the fee and hand out those diplomas at the end, said Manjinder. The issue of the Deoria killings in which six people were brutally murdered and several others got injured on October 2 over a longstanding land dispute between two families boiled over on Monday when locals along with Samajwadi Party (SP) activists registered a strong protest against administrative officials who reached Prem Chandra Yadavs house to proceed with a demolition order. The residents accused the Uttar Pradesh government of playing caste politics and of one-sided action. On October 2, district panchayat member Prem Chandra Yadav was beaten to death and later Satya Prakash Dubey from a rival group was lynched by Yadavs supporters along with his wife, two daughters, and a son, said police. After the incident, police made more than 20 arrests, and the district administration pasted a notice on Yadavs house, stating that a portion of the structure was illegal as it was on agricultural land, and hence it would be demolished. Also, a fine of Rs 32,000 was imposed on Yadav for encroaching on government land. On Monday, when police and administrative officials reached Yadavs house to carry out the land measurements, people from the Yadav-dominated Fatehpur village in Rudrapur tehsil launched a strong protest. We wont let the administration demolish Yadavs house. Its completely illegal, a local said. The protest, which was initially small, snowballed when around 200 people including Yadavs supporters and Samajwadi Party (SP) workers joined in. Its completely unjust. Both the families have lost their near and dear ones in the incident and hence action should be initiated against both Yadav and Dubeys families, an SP worker said while staging the protest. The development came a day after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the governments action in the Deoria killings extreme injustice and said, Itna anyay nahi karna chahiye ki log sehan na kar sakein, aur khud khade ho jayein sarkar ke khilaaf (Government should not take such unjust action against the people that they start standing up against the government). He also blamed UP government for biased action in the matter and said, Such Injustice amounts to crime. There are reports that BJP leaders are trying to gain political mileage out of the Deoria killings. He had also announced that an SP delegation would visit the village and try to bring justice to both families. However, sensing law-and-order concerns, the police tried to disperse the crowd and cordoned off the area. Authorities also restricted the entry of outsiders, including the media, in the village, and also stopped another group of SP leaders who were trying to reach there on Monday. We just tried to disperse the crowd since section 144 has been imposed in the area, said Dr Sankalp Sharma, superintendent of police (SP), Deoria. What lies in wait as the next pathogen to trigger an outbreak? Could it be quietly present among us, lurking in various animal hosts, or perhaps it has already made its subtle presence felt in ways we have yet to uncover? The mysteries of our microbial cohabitants beckon us to delve deeper into the world of infectious diseases. Worldwide, scientists are working to find solutions and connect the dots, all in a collective effort to forestall the emergence of Disease X or the impending pandemic. Amid the evolving climate change landscape, the spectre of zoonotic diseases looms ever larger. Bats, guardians of an astonishing trove of some 40 viruses, have unveiled just a handful to us, including the notorious Coronavirus and Nipah leaving countless mysteries yet to be unravelled by the world of humans. While some believe that pandemics happen every 100 years, scientists disagree, saying there is no discernible pattern or established trend. As we engage in ongoing conversations about the next potential pandemic, here are the four key focal points that India should promptly initiate action on to pre-empt the emergence of Disease X. 1. Intensify One Health Surveillance One Health Surveillance often appears to be more of a buzzword than a dedicated programme. The concept of One Health promotes the de-compartmentalisation of human, animal, and ecosystem health. It involves the gathering, interpretation, and sharing of data gathered not only on humans but also on animals and the environment. In India, the programme suffers from a lack of financial assistance and seriousness. The interplay among humans, animals, and ecosystems is inescapable, and it is a well-established reality that the interconnectedness of these three entities is vital for survival. As we talk about the possibility of zoonosis a disease that has jumped from animal to human the need to intensify efforts to strengthen One Health is more than ever. 2. Drive community engagement Many health experts believe that one of the key reasons behind Keralas success stories in dealing with health emergencies is community involvement. Dr Raman Gangakhedkar, the countrys top epidemiologist and former head of the communicable disease wing at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), once told me that one of the crucial things he did while heading the effort to curb the spread of the Nipah outbreak in 2018 was to drive community involvement in Kerala. Kerala is a unique state. We must prepare such an environment across the country where the community should know how to come together in times of adversity and act in an intelligent manner, he told me earlier. There exists a significant lack of awareness about zoonotic diseases among the general population. Hence, it is imperative to target communities, including school children, to create awareness. Involving diverse community health workers or training the on-ground cadre such as ASHA workers is essential to promote community engagement. The goal of this cadre should be to cultivate an informed public which is capable of responding effectively to health emergencies. 3. Find effective antivirals While India proudly boasts of being the worlds pharmacy, it should channel all its efforts towards the challenging yet very significant task of developing a range of effective antiviral drugs or line of newly emerging segment of monoclonal antibodies. This mission has the potential to save numerous lives worldwide during pandemics. The Union government recently rolled out the national policy to boost Research & Development and Innovation in the Pharma-MedTech Sector and the Scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech (PRIP). The scheme which has a total outlay of Rs 5,000 crore for a period of five years till 2028 has the capability of providing financial support to top Indian pharma companies to enter new categories of drug development. From mRNA, DNA to inactivated, protein, subunit or more India already has mastered the vaccine platforms. The focus should be on fixing the challenges faced during the vaccine manufacturing drive apart from expanding the high-security BSL-4 labs and centres similar to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. 4. Expand genomic surveillance & act swiftly Top government official Dr NK Arora told News18 last week that India is planning to expand the scope of its genomic surveillance body INSACOG with the aim of preventing the outbreak of Disease X. Arora is co-chair of INSACOG (Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium) which is a national multi-agency consortium of Genome Sequencing Laboratories (RGSLs). The plan is to expand its scope beyond Covid-19 so that it could look for more pathogens. Dr Vishal Rao, a member of the Genomic Surveillance Committee of Karnatakas Covid-19 Task Force, told me that a team at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with the Bengaluru Bio-innovation Centre, the Department of Biotechnology, the government of Karnataka and the state department of health, has identified 32 potential pathogens. In order to monitor these pathogens at the district level and enhance surveillance, the team will collaborate with various state departments, including urban development, rural and panchayat raj, and other agencies. The state is building the programme for future applications. For instance: Rao told me that the initiative will help in understanding the public health burden caused by pathogens in South Karnataka. It will provide estimates of prevalence and herd immunity that can be used for disease forecasting and analytics apart from assisting in the development of vaccines and in determining which candidate vaccines to prioritise. Also, it will facilitate the creation of a Karnataka Serology Bank to measure and identify the immunity landscape of many infectious diseases. Similar to Karnataka, India should encourage additional states to formulate and begin implementing plans. Over time, successful models can be adopted by other states too. Overall, India is making comprehensive preparations in anticipation of the next pandemic. The key is to maintain the momentum and keep the ball rolling. In what can be termed a fresh provocation amid the India-Canada diplomatic row over Nijjars killing, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sparked tension with his social post about the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. In the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Trudeau said he held a phone call with UAE President Mohamed Bin Zayed and discussed the ongoing crisis with India and the importance of upholding the rule of law. The Canadian PM added that he also raised the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and discussed the need to protect civilian lives. 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. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 8, 2023 This comes just days after the Canadian prime minister held a similar discussion about the diplomatic standoff with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, who said he hoped to see de-escalation of the issue as soon as possible. According to a Downing Street statement, the British Indian leader spoke to Trudeau on Friday evening during which he was updated on the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India. Both leaders agreed to stay in contact as Sunak reaffirmed the UK position of respect for the rule of law after Canadas allegation of Indian involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan wanted terrorist. In recent developments, India in a firm stand on Canadas allegation regarding Nijjars killing said it has been coordinating with its mission in Ottawa and consulates in other Canadian cities over safety concerns. We have been taking up concerns of security of our diplomats and premises from people there who are wanted by our security and our judicial systems, and we will continue to do that as that is a continued conversation. The issue is about security, and our diplomats are safe and the community is not targeted, said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in New Delhi. India has also asserted that Canada must reduce its diplomatic presence in the country to achieve parity in strength and alleged that some of the Canadian diplomats are involved in interfering in New Delhis internal matters. A 51-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to three years in jail for voluntarily causing hurt to the chief warder of Singapores Changi prison, a media report said on Monday. Kaliappan Kumarasamy, a narcotic abuser, was undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation centre located within Changi Prison when on December 21 last year he punched prison officer Lim See Chuan in an unprovoked attack, causing a fracture to the 41-year-old mans face, The Straits Times reported. Later in the court, Kaliappan said that he was feeling angry at the time because of an internal investigation against him and another inmate over an unrelated dispute. Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew told the court, While they were talking, the victim touched the accuseds right upper arm as a friendly gesture. However, a moment later as they continued walking, the accused suddenly punched the victims face forcefully with his left fist. The victim fell to the ground. As the victim was picking himself up, the accused stood in front of him and threw another punch at the victims head with his left fist. This punch missed the victims head. Lim, who was bleeding from his nose and mouth, activated his communication device for assistance, prompting his colleagues to rush over. Despite this, Kaliappan continued to assume an aggressive fighting stance and had both his fists raised. A prison officer deployed pepper spray on Kaliappan and he was subdued. For voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a public servant, an offender can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined or caned. But Kaliappan cannot be caned as he is over 50 years old. As a sub-recipient on nine awards through the Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) funding opportunity, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will be diligently working with a variety of partners to advance building technologies and retrofit practices that enable healthier households and communities. Twenty-nine projects across 15 states were selected in total by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) through a competitive process that rigorously evaluated applications on their technical merit. The $46 million investment aims at developing advanced technologies and retrofit practices for buildings that will benefit both occupants and the grid through efficient, affordable, sustainable, and resilient building operation to advance cost-effective buildings electrification efforts and improve energy efficiency. "The variety of NREL projects selected are an outstanding representation of our multifaceted approach to building decarbonization," said Roderick Jackson, laboratory program manager for buildings research at NREL. "Meeting our net-zero carbon emissions goals requires the creation of affordable, easy-to-implement solutions that are accessible to everyone, in buildings and homes of all ages and types, and with the potential to be replicated in communities all over the country. It's not an easy ask, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer." Transforming Energy Through Integrated Building Science The new NREL projects maximize impact by using integrated approaches that combine modeling and analysis, lab and field validation, technology innovation, and engaging with key stakeholder groups. Bethany Sparn, a senior research engineer specializing in residential buildings with NREL, is the principal investigator on a project that is developing a small-tank heat pump water heater to reduce the need for peak electricity use in low-income housing in Colorado. The project is in partnership with Colorado School of Mines, A.O. Smith Corp., and TCPoly Inc. and is looking at using phase change materials (PCMs) with a heat pump water heater that runs on 120V. "Multifamily buildings can be challenging places to electrify, especially when it comes to water heating," Sparn said. "There are a lot of apartments with gas water heaters in small closets and limited electrical service. PCMs can store a lot of heat inside the tank, which allows us to shrink the overall size, and the 120V power requirement means they won't need any special electrical outlets installed. We've been kicking around this idea for a while, but funding from DOE allows us to explore the idea fully with a great team of partners." Jason Woods, a senior research engineer with NREL's Building Energy Science Group, is the principal investigator on three of the BENEFIT projects funded by DOE. "We have been discussing with commercialization partners several ideas about how to integrate thermal energy storage into HVAC systems in a simple way, with low installation costs," Woods said. "These awards give us the opportunity to explore these new integration approaches, which we hope will lead to new products that reduce homeowners' utility costs and provide a flexible resource for utilities to manage the supply/demand on their grid." NREL-Supported BENEFIT Projects HVAC/WH Cost Compression Solutions Award Amount: $2.1 million Principal Investigator: Bethany Sparn Description: In partnership with Colorado School of Mines, this project will develop a small-tank (30-40 gallon) heat pump water heater for low-income housing that uses a PCM heat exchanger to allow for fast installation and flexible demand, reducing the need for peak electricity use. Commercial Low GWP Cold Climate Rooftop Heat Pump Award Amount: $2.3 million Principal Investigator: Jiazhen Ling Description: In partnership with the University of Maryland, College Park, this project will design a cold-climate heat pump rooftop unit that uses low-GWP refrigerants and advanced compression techniques to enable low-temperature heating capacity. Thermal Energy Storage (TES): Development and validation of next-generation plug-and-play TES products with improved cost and performance and ease of installation to accelerate adoption of TES in HVAC applications Award Amount: $2.5 million Principal Investigators: Jason Woods, Ransisi Huang Description: In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this project will develop a plug-and-play, multi-split HVAC system for heating and cooling that incorporates modular thermal storage units that can reduce electricity power consumption by up to 50% for four hours at a time during peak demand periods. Multifunctional HVAC Platform with Modular Thermal Storage Award Amount: $2 million Principal Investigators: Jason Woods, Eric Kozubal Description: In partnership with the Copeland Corporation in Ohio, this project will connect an outdoor heat pump charged with propane (a low-global-warming-potential refrigerant) with plug-and-play thermal energy storage modules to create an integrated residential HVAC platform for cooling, heating, and water heating, which will reduce the amount of energy needed for space conditioning and water heating by 40% overall. Design and Integration of Thermochemical Energy Storage (TCES) into Buildings for Load Shedding/Shifting Award Amount: $2.4 million Principal Investigators: Jason Woods Description: In partnership with Georgia Institute of Technology and the Georgia Tech Research Corporation, this project will develop a new high-energy, closed-cell thermochemical energy storage module that connects with a residential heat pump to improve efficiency and store energy during periods of peak demand year-round. Innovative BESS Integration and Coordination Strategies Award Amount: $1.5 million Principal Investigators: Xin Jin Description: In partnership with the Eaton Corporation in Ohio, this project will develop an uninterruptible power supply that uses grid-interactive controls, which could provide over 5 GW of load-shifting capacity as grid services. Net-Zero-Emissions BESS Demonstration and Analysis Award Amount: $1.5 million Principal Investigators: Jeff Cook Description: In partnership with Johns Hopkins University, this project will evaluate the dispatch and emissions impacts of thousands of battery energy storage systems in support of development of more efficient, equitable, and effective dispatch schedules. Plug Loads/Lighting: Integration of plug load controls with connected lighting systems in commercial buildings with minimal cost and complexity to support building electrification Award Amount: $600,000 Principal Investigators: Kim Trenbath, Amy LeBar Description: In partnership with University of California, San Diego, this project will develop an open-source commercial building control algorithm to integrate plug load and lighting controls, targeting energy savings of 25%. R5+ Insulated Cladding for Residential Field Applied Applications Award Amount: $1.2 million Principal Investigators: Ravi Kishore, Chuck Booten, Marcus Bianchi Description: In partnership with Liatris Inc. in Maryland, this project will develop an insulated cladding system that uses composite insulation to provide a thickness similar to standard insulated vinyl siding at a lower cost per square foot, reducing homeowner utility costs. Learn more about NREL's building research and opportunities to partner. An Indian nurse from Kerala, who was deployed as a caretaker in Israel was reportedly injured in an airstrike by the Hamas terror group amid the Israel-Palestine war. Sadly, at the time of the attack, the woman was on a video call with her husband. According to news agency ANI, the 41-year-old Sheeja Anand received injuries in the attack and had undergone surgery. Her condition is now said to be stable and she is safe. The woman, who has been working in Israel for over 7 years reportedly called her family in India to inform them that she was safe when a thundering loud sound, apparently from a rocket strike, disrupted the call. Anands family was unable to contact her after that. However, a fellow Keralite later informed Anands family that she was injured in the attack and underwent surgery. He also informed Anand would be shifted to another hospital for another surgery. Anands husband and two children live in Pune. She hails from Keralas Kannur district. Notably, several people in Kerala are reportedly stuck in Israel amid war with Palestine. A pilgrim group from Kerala was struck in the war-struck country after conflict broke out following the attack of Hamas. 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. Meanwhile, Israel on Sunday strongly retaliated at Gaza after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive surprise attack on the country. The countrys security cabinet officially declared that the country was at war with Palestine. The conflict has led to the death of over 700 Israelis and thousands of others have been left injured. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza has also risen to 493, suggest reports. ISIS operative Shehnawaz, who was nabbed by the Delhi Police, has revealed to investigators that he carried out test blasts at five locations across India Nuh, Mewat, Delhi, Lucknow and Rudraprayag to launch a 26/11-like terror attack but was busted before his team could execute their sinister plan. Shehnawaz said he recced 15 premises of Hindu-affiliated organisations, including RSS, in Ahmedabad, Surat and Baroda, admitting to the investigators that he wanted to attack Right-wing establishments and leaders, top Intel sources told CNN-News18. The ISIS operative hails from Delhi and did his engineering from NIT Nagpur. He was a frequent visitor to the Capital and his father is a teacher in Hazaribagh. Shehnawaz regularly attended Dars and slowly got radicalised. It was during this time that he met Rizwan. In 2019-20, he started learning how to make IEDs and got in touch with a foreign handler. The handler helped both Rizwan and Shehnawaz learn IED-making with the help of online classes. Sources said the duo, apart from carrying out trial runs of explosives, began finding out hideouts and targets. The handler then asked Shehnawaz to move to Pune where two people arrested from Chittorgarh were stationed. Both groups stayed in different places in Chittorgarh but met regularly. They were regulars in learning IED and explosive making. However, when the group got busted in Pune, the duo ran away to Delhi. According to sources, Shehnawaz was the common link between the Delhi and Pune module of the ISIS. Shehnawaz is a hardened terrorist. Over the past few months, he had conducted recces across north India. His task was finding locations to set up training camps in India. The recruitment was supposed to be done by his handlers, said sources. He had also conducted several recces to locations that were to be attacked during this festive season, said sources. He was trained to make improvised explosive devices (IED) and was an expert. Incriminating documents, along with chemicals (liquid) used to make IEDs, were recovered from his house. Irked by atrocities against Muslims, the group believed that Kafirs must not be spared. They were also in touch with Indian Mujahideen and wanted to kill Hindu leaders and Jews in public places. It is possible that Pakistan-based handlers were behind the group but that thread is still being explored. Probe into the Pune ISIS case has also revealed to CNN-News18 that the case is a mix of SIMI-Indian Mujahideen and ISIS where terror outfits of the past Indian Mujahideen and SIMI have joined ISIS cadres. As per the agencies, there are direct links emerging between Hazaribagh, UP, and Maharashtra and Shehnawaz is the most important link in the entire terror game plan so far. The sources said if the lid wasnt blown off the terror conspiracy, the merged groups could have inflicted damage. This is because they are all hard-core terrorists trained in IT, cyber warfare, and making explosives and IEDs. Second, ideological differences between all terror outfits have merged and they have decided to start work again. Third, the important part of the entire investigation is the role of the foreign handler sitting in Iraq or Syria. Fourth is the funding which is coming at different times and is ISIS-style. Sources said it is clear that all terror groups are regrouping themselves under one umbrella. PUNE MODULE REVELATION Sources said the ISIS Pune module wanted to carry out a much bigger attack than 26/11, as revealed during the interrogation, and sought to target areas that would not only kill more people in numbers but also make for optics. The locations they recced in Mumbai include Chabad House, and Naval Helipad near Colaba slum area. They wanted to attack major temples in Mumbai where the footfall is very high as well as hydraulic projects which are important for the development and growth of the country. Data on their laptop also suggests they have researched VIP movement. Intelligence sources say this is a great catch in terms of arrest because they were at a very initial stage and arrested at the right time. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) termed the attack carried out on Israeli by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Saturday as a serious and grave escalation, news agencies AFP and Reuters said in a report. The ministry stressed that attacks by Hamas against Israeli towns and villages near the Gaza Strip, including the firing of thousands of rockets at population centres, are a serious and grave escalation. The ministry is appalled by reports that Israeli civilians have been abducted as hostages from their homes, the statement said. Civilians on both sides must always have full protection under international humanitarian law and must never be a target of conflict, the UAE foreign ministry statement further added. The UAE and Israel normalised relations in 2020. UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also held a telephonic conversation on Sunday where they discussed latest regional developments and the ongoing escalation between Israelis and Palestinians. Zayed Al-Nahyan and Blinken discussed international efforts to manage the conflict and agreed that Abu Dhabi and Washington will coordinate and consult and work together to avoid further escalation in the region. The death toll from the Israel-Hamas conflict following the surprise attack on southern Israeli cities bordering the Gaza Strip on Saturday has crossed the 1,100-mark. Reports by news agencies said that over 700 Israelis and 400 Palestinians have died in the ongoing conflict. The tone of the condemnation of Hamas from the UAE is notably less neutral than its earlier reaction on Saturday, which simply expressed great concern regarding the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, according to an AFP report. The UAE expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and urged all diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional confrontation, the latest statement said, sending a warning against nihilistic destruction. Meanwhile, the Israeli armed forces on Monday afternoon declared that it was in full control of communities in its southern territory near Gaza, 48 hours after Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack. We are in full control of the communities, military spokesman Daniel Hagari told journalists. He, however, highlighted that there still might be terrorists in the area. As many as nine people were killed and several others injured in an explosion inside a firecracker factory in Tamil Nadus Ariyalur district on Monday. The incident took place at the Yaazh FireWorks in the Thirumanur area of the district, police said. The bodies were sent to the Ariyalur Government College Hospital, while those critically injured are being treated at Thanjavur Medical College Hospital. According to preliminary reports, untrained workers were mixing chemicals when the explosion occurred inside the factory. At least 23 workers were inside when the explosion occurred on Monday morning. It took around two-and-a-half hours to extinguish the fire, a fire rescue personnel said. A police officer, on the condition of anonymity, said three women workers who started the job today itself, were among those who were killed. Seven of the nine victims have been identified so far. The officer further noted that the unit had been operating with a license since 2014, and the permit was recently renewed until 2024. Police arrested the owner of the factory, Rajendran and his son-in-law who was in charge of the unit under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosive Substances Act. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin announced an ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh to be provided to the families of each of the deceased Rs 1 lakh each to those who suffered serious injuries and Rs 50,000 to those who sustained minor injuries. A similar incident happened less than 24 hours ago in Karnatakas Bengaluru. At least 13 people were killed and four others 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. In Telanganas Rajanna Sircilla district, an artist has made India proud. So much so, that New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins appreciated the handloom artist. Reports suggest New Zealand NRIs presented a shawl, made by Veldhi Hariprasad the chief weaver of Rajanna Siricilla district to Chris Hipkins. The PM felicitated Neeta Vijay founder of Brand Telangana with the Pride of Telangana award. This award is given to inspire people for their exemplary work in promoting artists. Along with this, Bhav Dhillon, who is a well-known community leader and an established business leader of repute, and other dignitaries were felicitated. Founders of the brand Telangana felicitated the PM with the shawl, designed by Neeta Vijay and intricately woven by Hariprasad, to reflect Telanganas rich artistic heritage. On this occasion, Hariprasad spoke to News18. He said the shawl for Chris Hipkins was woven with silver and gold. It is two and a half metres long and 48 inches wide, with silver and gold lace and silk thread. He worked hard for a week to weave the shawl on the handloom. He said that he feels lucky to have been part of this project. However, Sircilla handloom artisans also congratulated Hariprasad for this. Along with this, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan also invited Hariprasad to Raj Bhavan. Veldhi Hariprasad has been in the headlines earlier as well. Last year, in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the 95th episode of his monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat also hailed Hariparsad for his self-woven logo for the ongoing G20 Summit. A weaver from Rajanna Sircilla district of Telangana Veldhi Hariprasad garu has sent me a self-woven logo of G20. I was surprised to see this amazing gift. He has such mastery over his skills that it attracts everyone, he said. PM Modi also mentioned that Hariprasad has sent him a letter, which reads that hosting the G20 Summit is a matter of immense pride for India. To celebrate this achievement, Hariprasad had made this logo. He inherited this talent from his father. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has extended the UKs steadfast support to Israel in the face of a terrorist attack from Hamas and reassured his Israeli counterpart of the safety of the Jewish community in the UK, as the police in London recorded some offences as a fallout of the conflict in the Middle East. During a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, Downing Street said Sunak reaffirmed that the UK stands with Israel unequivocally against the deadly acts of terror. Sunak later tweeted an update of his call with Netanyahu to declare that terrorism will not prevail. The Prime Minister [Sunak] offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs, Downing Street said in a readout of the call. The Prime Minister outlined the diplomatic work the UK is doing to ensure the world speaks with one voice in opposition to these appalling attacksThe 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, it said. In a video message on X, formerly Twitter, Sunak added: 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. It came as Scotland Yard warned that it will be adopting a zero tolerance approach towards any reports of criminality on the streets of London as a fallout of the conflict. 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, said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine, the Met Police officer in charge of policing London this week. 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, he said. The Met Police said a small number of low level public order incidents in different parts of London have been reported and highlighted on social media, and that its officers had attended all of the incidents and were able to resolve them without arrests being made. Meanwhile, the Opposition Labour Party also reiterated its condemnation of the terrorist attacks and said the party stands with the people of Israel. Israel has a right to self-defence against terrorism, said David Lammy, Labours shadow foreign secretary, at a fringe event for the partys ongoing annual conference in Liverpool. Later, Labour leader Keir Starmer expressed solidarity with the family of British man Nathanel Young, who was serving with the Israel Defence Force and was killed in the conflict in Israel, and with all those whose families and communities have been touched by this terrible violence. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK, launched attacks on Saturday. The UK government believes around 50-60,000 British nationals are in either Israel or Gaza. and the Foreign Office has since advised against all but essential travel to the region. Hundreds of innocent Israeli citizens are dead or abducted. They were killed or kidnapped in targeted attacks by Hamas gunmen on one of the most consequential Jewish holidays. As Hamas fired rockets and its gunmen barbarously danced on the bodies of their Israeli captives, Tel Aviv dubbed the attack as the worst by Hamas on Israeli soil. The Hamas was elected by Palestinians and has governed Gaza since 2008. It has been declared a designated terror organization by many nations. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that, the enemy will pay a heavy price" and Israels forces have launched a punishing counter offensive. ALSO READ | Opinion | Weve Got It All Wrong. Israel Is the Victim of Intolerance Here, Not Hamas-Voting Palestinians In response Mohammad Deif, the shadowy leader of the Hamas military wing, declared enough is enough". Deif, is of course, menacingly alluding to his frustration with what many in the Muslim world believe is a never-ending occupation" of Palestine and East Jerusalem the third holiest site in Islam. Theres no doubt that Israel has been in occupation of Palestine since 1947 and has been at times, self-admittedly, high handed in its treatment of Palestinian Arabs. Israel has often taken pre-emptive action. Going into Gaza in hot pursuit of Palestinian insurgents" with little regard for co-lateral damage or even due process. But there can never be any justification for terrorism. And Hamas cross-border murder and kidnapping of ordinary Israelis qualifies as a gross outrage against humanity. Islamo-leftists" wont tell you that Hamas isnt fighting a mere independence movement. The war being waged on Israel isnt about liberating Palestine but its about liberating land from infidels." This is admitted by the Hamas itself. Well come to that in a few moments. Naturally then, most of the leading democracies around the world have backed Israel over the past few days. This includes India. But no sooner had the Modi sarkar condemned Hamas that a section of the Opposition and some elements in civil society began to rationalize the attack on Israel. This vilification of Israel flies in the face of hard facts. HAMAS TARGETS CIVILIANS. CAN THIS BE OVERLOOKED? First, the Hamas may have a problem with the Israeli state, but does that give it the right to target innocent Israeli citizens? Will Indian leftists justify the cold-blooded murder of non-combatants? A look at the recent incidents as per media reports. At Kibbutz Reim: An Israeli music festival was targeted ahead of Jewish holiday of Sukkot. At least 260 were killed in rocket attacks and gunfire. Noa and her boyfriend, who were attending the festival, were abducted and sent to Gaza. An Israeli music festival was targeted ahead of Jewish holiday of Sukkot. At least 260 were killed in rocket attacks and gunfire. Noa and her boyfriend, who were attending the festival, were abducted and sent to Gaza. At Kibbutz Beeri: An Israeli child was killed in front of his siblings. Parents and crying family were filmed by terrorists. Hamas shot dead a paramedic who was waiting for medical aid. An Israeli child was killed in front of his siblings. Parents and crying family were filmed by terrorists. Hamas shot dead a paramedic who was waiting for medical aid. Gaza: A naked womans body paraded by Hamas in a pick-up truck. Family identifies her as Shani Louk, a German citizen. A naked womans body paraded by Hamas in a pick-up truck. Family identifies her as Shani Louk, a German citizen. Shejaiya: A woman was abducted and tortured by Hamas fighters. THE 1988 HAMAS CHARTER A look at the Hamas charter. This is what its preamble and Charter declares: Article 13: Initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement. Abusing any part of Palestine is abuse against part of religion. There is no solution to the Palestinian question except by Jihad." Article 7: The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews) when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say: O Muslims () there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him." Article 28: Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Muslim people: May the cowards never sleep." The Charter Preface: Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." The Hamas Charter, that outlines the organizations goals is a shocking document that drips with a vengeful xenophobia. If the conflict was merely a battle for azaadi" why would that freedom have to come at the cost of the total annihilation of the Jewish race? Why would Taliban fighters want Iran and Syria to open their borders so that the Afghan Mujahideen can fight someone elses war? It isnt as if U.S. based-Christian supremacists are calling upon the EU to open all its land borders so that they can get a clear passage all the way over to Nagorno-Karabakh to fight with Armenian Christians against Azeri-Muslims. Make no mistake, Hamas is fighting a 21st century version of the medieval crusades and whats scary is that it has been voted to govern Gaza by ordinary so-called peace-loving Palestinians. There are no parallels between the Israeli Constitution and the Hamas Constitution. Today, those that lecture Tel Aviv must ask themselves what would truly happen if Israel were to suddenly open the Gaza border and allow the free passage of Palestinians into Jewish neighborhoods. Can these human rights lobbies guarantee that Israelis wont be exterminated by many of their Palestinian neighbors? Especially those who voted in a mindset that Moslems must fight Jews and kill them. Doesnt this hateful Hamas mission statement expose the diabolism of tagging Israel as the sole oppressor? For anyone still in doubt about who is the victim here and who is the oppressor, the hard facts in a nutshell. A recent research shows that the increase in mental health disorders among school-aged children and teens is linked to a lack of opportunities for children and teens to play, roam and engage in activities independently, without the direct oversight and control by adults. The research further states that parents depriving children of independence contributes to record levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide among young people. Recently, a South Indian actors teenage daughter too ended her life owing to depression for which she was under treatment. Chennai police had discovered a suicide note in the room of Meera, the daughter of Tamil actor and music composer Vijay Antony, who tragically took her own life on September 19. The note, written in English, expressed her feelings of love and missing loved ones, including friends and teachers. It also mentioned concerns about her family suffering without her. The police have seized the letter as part of their investigation. Meera, a Class 12 student at a Chennai private school, had been undergoing treatment for emotional issues. Despite immediate medical attention after being found hanging at home, her life could not be saved. Dr Anupam Jaiswal, Consultant Pediatric Intensivist & Pediatrician, Rainbow Childrens Hospital, Bannerghatta, Bangalore, says, Children today are growing up in a world thats quite different from what previous generations experienced, where they are increasingly spending more time indoors due to factors like screen addiction, over-scheduled lives, sometimes academic demands, sun safety concerns, and limited access to safe outdoor spaces. This is leading to all sorts of developmental problems, with the most noticeable impact being on mental well-being. The benefits of outdoor play are extremely important for a childs well-being, especially when it comes to nurturing their mental health. Dr Sumaira, Consultant Paediatrics, SPARSH Hospital, echoes the same sentiment, In our modern, tech-driven society, children are increasingly found themselves indoors resulting in playtime decline. Playtime, particularly outdoors allows children to explore their surroundings, experiment with different scenarios, and develop their own unique perspectives about the world around them. Also, playing outdoors gives, essential exposure to sun and adequate Vitamin D levels which are low in children who stay indoors. When playtime is limited, these opportunities for social growth are curtailed, leading to several mental constraints. Through interactions with peers during playtime, children learn important lessons in communication, cooperation, negotiation, and empathy. These skills are vital for building healthy relationships, managing conflicts, and developing self-esteem. Furthermore, playtime provides an outlet for emotional expression. Children often use this time to process complex emotions, whether it be through role-playing or storytelling. When playtime is restricted, children may struggle to balance with their emotions, leading to heightened stress, depression, anxiety and increased feelings of isolation. This can have long-term consequences for their mental health, potentially manifesting as mood disorders or behavioral issues, adds Dr Sumaira. The absence of playtime exerts far-reaching consequences on a childs mental well-being, impacting their emotional resilience, social aptitude, creativity, physical health, and sleep patterns. Recognizing the importance of playtime and incorporating it into your childs daily routine is crucial in helping them develop into well-rounded, emotionally stable individuals. Benefits of playtime outdoors Children should be active for at least an hour each day, and the best way to do this is by stepping out and playing. Whether theyre running, biking, or just goofing around, outdoor play is the ultimate mood-enhancing workout for kids. But its not only about physical health benefits. Outdoor play also supercharges their brains. It encourages them to think creatively, solve problems, and develop essential life skills like planning, negotiating, and multitasking. Socialization is another big win. Outdoor play is a fantastic classroom for children to learn how to make friends, share, cooperate, and treat others kindly. These are skills they wont learn from screens or structured activities alone. Interacting with other children teaches them to become well-adjusted adults in society by helping them develop crucial skills like language development, cooperation, conflict resolution, working in a team, and empathy. This is important as the opposite of this is a child who has never interacted much with other children exhibiting signs of being withdrawn, taking very little interest in what is around them, unable to socialize successfully, and lacking social cues, adds Dr Jaiswal. So, remember, outdoor play isnt just fun and games; its a prescription for a happier, healthier, and mentally resilient generation. NATIONAL POST DAY 2023: Technology, including smartphones and computers, has greatly expedited communication across vast distances. However, this convenience wasnt universal in the past and remains inaccessible to many less fortunate individuals. For them, sending physical mail remains a vital means of connecting with loved ones. Every year, on October 10, India observes National Post Day, an extension of World Post Day on October 9. This day serves to raise awareness about the enduring role of the Indian Postal System, which has served the nation for over 150 years. National Post Day 2023: History In 1854, Lord Dalhousie laid the foundation for India Post. Today, it operates under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and stands as one of the worlds most extensive postal networks. India boasts 23 Postal Circles and 9 postal zones, encompassing military post offices. Notably, the Indian postal system employs a 6-digit PIN Code System, a concept introduced by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar on August 15, 1972. Each digit in the PIN code carries specific significance. The first digit designates the region, the second pinpoints the sub-region, the third marks the district, while the last three digits pinpoint the specific post office serving a particular address. This meticulous system has greatly streamlined postal operations in India, facilitating efficient mail delivery and enhancing the accessibility of postal services to citizens across the nation. National Post Day: Significance National Post Day serves as a tribute to the vital role played by the national postal service in connecting people across the country. The establishment of the India Post marked a pivotal moment in Indian history, transforming communication. In earlier times, letters were the sole means of connection, but with technological advancements, communication has evolved. Now, individuals can easily connect regardless of distance. During diverse challenges, such as the ongoing pandemic, postal workers have risked their own safety to provide essential services. National Post Day stands as an occasion to honour and show gratitude to the dedicated employees in the postal industry. Various events are organized on this day to recognize their contributions. Its also an opportunity for individuals to brainstorm innovative ideas that can further enhance India Posts services and capabilities, ensuring it continues to evolve and serve the nation effectively. National Post Day 2023 Quotes SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023: Sky enthusiasts are in for a thrilling astronomical experience this year, as a remarkable celestial event is set to grace the skies today on Saturday, October 14. Today, a partial solar eclipse, often called a "ring of fire" eclipse, will be observable across most of the Americas for the first time since 2012. The Ring of Fire solar eclipse will not be visible in India, but it will still be a spectacular event. On this occasion, the moon will move in front of the sun, concealing a significant portion of it while leaving behind a dazzling ring or annulus. SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023 LIVE SOLAR ECLIPSE OCTOBER 2023: DATE AND TIME SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023 DATE: Saturday, October 14. SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023 START TIME: The eclipse will start at 8: 34 PM. SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023 END TIME: 2: 25 Am on October 15. SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023 DURATION: Surya Grahan will will continue for almost six hours. SUTAK KAAL: Solar Eclipse will not be visible in India so there will be no Sutak period. This extraordinary phenomenon will be visible in various regions of the United States, Mexico, and numerous countries in South and Central America, offering millions of people in the Western Hemisphere the opportunity to witness this rare celestial spectacle. Peg Luce, the acting director of NASAs Heliophysics Division, expressed that this dazzling celestial event will allow countless individuals to experience the awe and the wonder of seeing a beautiful ring of fire eclipse." SOLAR ECLIPSE IMPACT ON ZODIAC SIGNS Todays Surya Grahan is expected to benefit these 5 zodiac signs. GeminiThe people who have this sun sign will have a chance to get a lot of money. Their skills at the workplace will be valued and they will be praised by their co-workers. They may also get promoted, and can also get new opportunities. LeoThe people with the Leo sign can expect themselves to overcome and dominate their enemies. Their family life is going to be filled with happiness. This is going to be a good time for businessmen. They will get opportunities to make a lot of profits, and their work will expand. LibraLibra people are going to experience good luck. They will achieve success in their jobs, their reputation will go up, as well as their position. Their careers are going to reach a good point, and all the pending work is going to be completed. ScorpioPeople with the Scorpio sign will experience increased confidence, and their family life will be better. Their hard work is going to give them good and positive results. They will get good gains, and they will get stronger financially. CapricornThose under the Capricorn zodiac sign will have good luck during this time. They can expect money gain, but their expenses will remain the same. They could buy a new house or a car in this period. Sutak Time In India The Sutak period usually commences 12 hours prior to a solar eclipse. However, given that the solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, wont be visible in India, astrologically, the Sutak period is not applicable in such instances. Consequently, it can be concluded that there wont be a Sutak period this time. WHAT IS AN ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE? Every solar eclipse necessitates the moons intervention in blocking sunlight from reaching Earth. However, the moon follows an elliptical orbit around Earth, causing its distance from Earth to fluctuate. Consequently, its apparent size in our sky also varies. According to a report by the Washington Post, both the moon and the sun appear to be of similar size in our skies. Despite the suns immense width being 400 times greater than the moon, the moon is approximately 400 times closer to Earth. During apogee, the farthest point in the moons orbit, the moon appears smaller, approximately 14 per cent smaller, and about 30 per cent less luminous. In contrast, perigee occurs when the moon is at its closest to Earth, resulting in super moons." ALSO READ: These 5 Zodiac Signs Are Expected To Benefit During The Last Solar Eclipse Of 2023 On October 10, the moon will reach apogee, positioning itself about 251,919 miles away from Earth. (During perigee, on October 26, the moon will be 25,198 miles closer.) Given that the eclipse is occurring closer to apogee, the moon will be more distant and appear smaller in our sky, preventing it from completely obscuring the sun, as per the Washington Post. Consequently, even though the moon is passing directly in front of the sun, the suns edges remain visible. If the moon were closer, it would result in a total solar eclipse. WILL THE RING OF FIRE BE VISIBLE IN INDIA? The ring of fire" solar eclipse will not be observable from India. Individuals in India and across the globe can watch it through the official NASA broadcast available on their YouTube channel, with the streaming set to commence at 4:30 p.m. on October 14, 2023. RING OF FIRE TO BE VISIBLE IN As per Space.com, the most picturesque locations to witness the ring of fire" phenomenon can be found in the southwestern United States and at the Mayan temple in Edzna on Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula. Different locations and cities will observe the ring of fire at different places at the events local time and duration. Keep in mind that all the places will also experience an extended period of partial solar eclipse before and after the brief occurrence of the ring of fire." The duration of the ring of fire experience is determined by their proximity to the centerline of the path of annularity. SOLAR ECLIPSE IN LIBRA On October 14, 2023, there will be a solar eclipse in the sign of Libra. This is a powerful astrological event that can bring new beginnings and transformations in our lives. Libra is the sign of relationships, so this eclipse may have a significant impact on our personal and professional partnerships. SAFETY MEASURES DURING AN ANNUAL ECLIPSE During an annular solar eclipse, the Sun is never entirely obscured by the Moon. Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution and avoid direct unprotected viewing of the Sun. To safeguard ones eyes from permanent damage, it is imperative to use specialized eclipse glasses designed for solar observation. According to NASA, these eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than regular eyewear and should bear the ISO reference number 12312-2. Looking at the Sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any optical instrument is strongly discouraged, as this can not only damage the protective filter but also pose a significant risk to ones eyes. An alternative method for observing the eclipse safely is by employing a pinhole projector. WHEN IS THE NEXT ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE (RING OF FIRE)? Following the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, the subsequent annular solar eclipse is scheduled for October 2, 2024, as reported by Space.com. During this event, a ring of fire" will be observable from the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile, and southern Argentina. At the moment of maximum eclipse over the ocean, the ring of fire will endure for 7 minutes and 25 seconds. However, the most optimal viewing location will be Easter Island (Rapa Nui), positioned approximately 2,000 miles (3,200 km) west of the Chilean coast. On Easter Island, observers will have the unique opportunity to stand amidst the islands remote volcanic landscape, adorned with numerous carved moai statues, and witness the ring of fire for up to 6 minutes and 9 seconds. SOLAR ECLIPSE 2023 FAQs What Is a Solar Eclipse? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking out the Sun partially or completely. Types of Solar Eclipses Solar eclipses include total, partial, annular, and hybrid types, each with unique characteristics. Solar Eclipse 2023-2024 Info There will be two solar eclipses visible in 2023-2024: October 14, 2023: Annular solar eclipse visible from a narrow path that crosses the United States from Oregon to Texas. April 8, 2024: Total solar eclipse visible from a narrow path that crosses the United States from Texas to Maine. Solar Eclipse 2023 Live Stream NASA and other organizations will be providing live streams of both the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. What Is a Total Solar Eclipse? A total solar eclipse is when the moon entirely covers the Sun, creating a captivating darkened sky and revealing the Suns corona. The American Petroleum Institute (API) today (Oct 6) released new analysis that outlines the potential consequences of new vessel restrictions on American oil and gas workers in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The study, conducted by EIAP, finds that recently proposed restrictions on oil and natural gas vessels operating in the Gulf of Mexico would have a major impact on jobs, industry investment, government revenue and oil and natural gas production in the region, leading to a nearly one-quarter decline - which is more than 500,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day - in energy production in the Gulf of Mexico by 2040 even as demand continues to rise. The analysis was submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) alongside joint comments from API, EnerGeo Alliance, Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) in response to the agency's proposal to designate Rice's whale critical habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. In the comments, the associations highlight the industry's commitment to environmental stewardship and habitat conservation in the areas in which they operate but argued that the proposal is not supported by the best available science, lacks a comprehensive evaluation of known economic costs and fails to comply with the Endangered Species Act. "Energy production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is critical for not only meeting current and future energy demand, but also for supporting conservation programs, driving state and local economies and helping the U.S. meet our emissions reduction goals. At a time when offshore production in nations around the world is needed, this proposal could increase reliance on foreign regimes for our energy and may compromise U.S. energy security," said API Vice President of Upstream Policy Holly Hopkins. Energy production in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico generates nearly 15% of crude oil production and supplies among the lowest carbon-intensive barrels in the world. The industry also supports thousands of American jobs along the Gulf coast, generates billions in federal and state revenue and contributes significant funding for conservation efforts. As argued in API's successful motion for preliminary injunction on unjustified restrictions to Lease Sale 261, there is insufficient information to warrant a far-reaching ban on vessel operations after extensive data collections. The analysis found that the recommended restrictions would severely impact the industry's ability to supply the necessary materials to conduct oil and natural gas development in the Gulf. According to the new analysis, if the vessel restrictions are implemented: Average oil and natural gas production is projected to decline to just under 2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 24 percent reduction from projected levels, between 2023-2040. reduction from projected levels, between 2023-2040. Average oil and natural gas industry employment supported by Gulf of Mexico activities is projected to fall by 13 percent to just under 310,000 jobs nationally. to just under 310,000 jobs nationally. Industry investment in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is expected to decline by 14 percent from 2023-2040. In 2024 alone, industry investment in the region declines by approximately $ 6.8 billion, a 19 percent reduction. from 2023-2040. In 2024 alone, industry investment in the region declines by approximately $ 6.8 billion, a reduction. Government revenue from oil and natural gas production is projected to fall by 22 percent to $5.7 billion annually. View the report here. API represents all segments of America's natural gas and oil industry, which supports more than 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Our approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation's energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability. Akshay Kumar has returned as the brand ambassador of Vimal over a year after he faced backlash for being associated with the brand. A new advertisement confirmed that Akshay reunited with Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn as the brands ambassador. In the video shared online on Sunday, SRK, Ajay and Akshay were seen promoting the brand. In the video, Shah Rukh and Ajay were seen seated in a car, calling for Akshays attention with the cars honks. Akshay had his headphones and was seen enjoying music, unaware that SRK and Ajay are waiting for him. Shah Rukh and Ajays numerous calls were left unheard by him. Eventually, Ajay opened a packet of the pan masala which managed to grab Akshays attention. The ad has now gone viral. Vimal brothers are back pic.twitter.com/DyljYbXcUG Syed Irfan Ahmad (@Iam_SyedIrfan) October 8, 2023 For the unversed, in 2022, Akshay had stepped down as the brand ambassador of Vimal after facing backlash. The actor apologised to fans for associating himself with the brand as well. I am sorry. I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi, the OMG 2 star wrote on Instagram in an April 2022 post. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause. The brand might continue airing the ads till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making my future choices. In return I shall forever continue to ask for your love and wishes, he added. On the work front, Akshay was seen in the recently released Mission Raniganj. He has a slew of upcoming movies, one of which is Singham 3. Alia Bhatt referred to Deepika Padukone as a friend and praised her for her international achievements in a new interview. The Gangubai Kathiawadi star appeared on the cover of Vogue Singapore in which she spoke about her recent milestones, including her international debut with Heart of Stone. Alia starred in the film with Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, playing a pregnant hacker. During the interview, she was asked what it means to her to be a beacon of South Asian representation on a global stage, Alia said she takes it seriously. She creditted Deepika, Priyanka Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai for paving the way. I take that compliment seriously because I know how much of a struggle its been for many people all over the world, she said. And I think well always feel like, Okay, are we the last people at the table? But that is slowly changing. My friends such as Priyanka [Chopra], Deepika [Padukone], even Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have done big things. The power we share is unique. Its a cultural hot mine, she added. Explaining the importance of South Asian representation, Alia said, Its one world that we share. I also feel that local content can find a place on the map if it has widespread storytelling. Its happened with various pieces before, from Money Heist to Squid Game. Whether its content from India like Made in Heaven, theres so much stuff thats there for people to consume that its going to be harder to pick. When it comes to putting together the big pieces, I think its on the makers and the people creating to try and put them together with as much sensitivity to people from all walks of life and cultural representations. And its on us too to take that narrative forward. Alia has been busy with her work lately. She has a number of projects in the making. These include the rumoured Baiju Bawra film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and her film with R Balki, titled Jigra. Alia Bhatt made her Bollywood debut with the film Student of the Year, helmed by Karan Johar as the director, in 2012. In the 11 years since, the actress has worked with many big names in the industry when it comes to actors and directors. Even her filmography has some variety to offer, from serious films like Gangubai Kathiawadi to good-for-the-soul films like Dear Zindagi. In a recent interview, she addressed how working with industry stalwarts has shaped her as an actor. In an interview with Vogue Singapore, Alia was asked as she journeyed from lighter films like Dear Zindagi to more emotionally charged films like Gangubai Kathiawadi, what impact that had on her as an actor. She said, Each directorial experience has taught me something. With Dear Zindagi, I learnt so much from Shah Rukh Khan. He made such an impact on the way I am and how I behave on set. His behaviour, respect, inclination towards everything in a sceneI learnt a lot from that. For Gangubai Kathiawadi I felt like I went back to school all over again but this time it was acting school. Once you walk out of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali set, youre no longer the same person. Like Ranveer [Singh] says, youve been Bhansali-fied (laughs), she said. Alia added, Its working with the people who make you more prepared for the next journey, but its not like youll ever have the answers. Youll learn with each film as long as youre open and youve walked onto the set deciding that you dont have all the answers. Meanwhile, the National Award-winning actress is currently shooting for her upcoming film Jigra. Alia is not just playing the lead in the film but is also co-producing it with Karan Johar. The film is directed by Vasan Bala of Monica, O My Darling fame. She is also rumoured to be collaborating with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Baiju Bawra. Fighter, billed as Indias first aerial action film, would have famous film industry personalities Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, and Anil Kapoor on screen together for the first time. The film revolves around the Indian Air Force. October 8 is regarded as Air Force Day and was formally created in 1932. On this special occasion, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, and Anil Kapoor paid tribute to the warriors of Indian Air Force Day with a heartfelt post. Sharing a photo with the words Air Force Day inscribed on it and the song Vande Mataram playing in the background. In the caption, the actors wrote, pride & glory and carry with them an unwavering commitment to ensure our nations safety & security. This Air Force Day, team #Fighter salutes the Warriors of our glorious Indian Air Force! View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@deepikapadukone) Many of their fans took to social media and expressed their eagerness for the film. One of them wrote, Absolutely cant wait for fighter, while another remarked, Just start the promotions already. Many are also rooting to see Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone on screen together. A fan wrote, Cant wait to see Hripika. Others also wished the warriors on the occasion and said, Once again salute to our brave air warriors and rajrakshaks Touch The Sky With Glory. Recently, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone wrapped up their shoot schedule in Italy. A snapshot of the actors from the set of Fighter had surfaced online. Although Hrithik and Deepika have not revealed much about the shoot routines, the picture indicated that the cast and crew were in full production mode. Hrithik wore a blue tee with a black jacket in the photo, while Deepika wore a white outfit with kohl-covered eyes. The duo was drinking coffee with director Siddharth Anand and other Fighter crew members. As per a Mid Day report, the duo was filming two songs for the movie with choreographer Bosco Martis. Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjianis song would be a peppy dance number, akin to Hrithiks song Ghungroo from the 2019 film War. The second song is a romantic ballad between the two actors. The first look for Fighter was shared on Independence Day this year. The motion poster shows three combat planes flying through the sky as the three main actors, Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor, approach one by one, dressed in their Air Force uniforms. View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@deepikapadukone) Directed by Siddharth Anand, the aerial action-packed thriller film will hit the big screen on January 25, 2024. Mouni Roy on Monday treated her fans to a delightful glimpse of her trip as she attended the Formula 1 race in Doha, Qatar. What added an extra dose of glamour to her outing was her BFF and actress, Disha Patani, who also accompanied her. Mouni Roy took to her Instagram account to share a series of captivating photos from their F1 race experience. In the photos, we can see her posing with Tiger Shroffs sister Krishna. Mounis husband also joined them on this trip. What a day at the f1 yesterday! Now back to reality, she wrote as the caption. Disha also dropped heart emojis in the comment section. Mouni Roy recently celebrated her 38th birthday with her husband Suraj Nambiar and close friends in Paris. Meanwhile, her BFF, Disha Patani expressed her love for the actress with a heartfelt birthday message on Instagram. Disha shared a delightful collection of photos and videos that captured their friendship. Take a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by mon (@imouniroy) In the caption, Disha wrote, My Monz. You are so special and you really have changed my life this year in the most amazing way, all my happiest memories are with you. Happiest birthday to the most beautiful woman inside out. I love you so much. Keep spreading your infectious love and positive energy everywhere you go. I love you. Mouni Roy has come a long way ever since she made her television debut with Ekta Kapoors Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. She became a popular name after she starred in Naagin. Mouni made her Bollywood debut with Akshay Kumars Gold in 2018. Last year, Mouni was seen in Ayan Mukerjis magnum opus, Brahmastra. Recently, she was also seen in a music video titled Dotara along with Jubin Nautiyal. Next, Mouni will share the screen space alongside Sanjay Dutt, Palak Tiwari, and Sunny Singh, in the upcoming sci-fi horror comedy flick The Virgin Tree. Salman Khan is currently gearing up for the trailer release of his next film Tiger 3. Well, ahead of the release, he decided to create some excitement among fans and shared a photo with a mystery girl. The photo went viral in no time and fans were curious to know who she is. And today the actor has finally revealed the face of the girl. She is none other than his niece Alizeh Agnihotri. For more info: Salman Khan Finally Reveals Mystery Girl Face; Shares Photos With Niece Alizeh Agnihotri Earlier in the day, a viral news broke out stating that Akshay Kumar has returned as the brand ambassador of Vimal, exactly after a year when the actor received flak for endorsing the famous Pan Masala brand along with Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn. The source of the news being a new advertisement that featured the Mission Raniganj star alongside the two stars. Now Akshay Kumar has come forward with clarification. For more info: Akshay Kumar Clarifies He Hasnt Returned As Vimal Ambassador, Says Ads Shot In 2021 Actor Shah Rukh Khan has been granted Y+ security in view of the threat perception after his two consecutive hits Jawan and Pathaan this year. As part of the security detail, Khan will get six police commandos as his bodyguards at all times. The armed bodyguards will be from the special protection unit of Maharashtra Police. The security will be given to him across India and they will be armed with MP-5 machine guns, AK-47 assault rifles and Glock pistols. His residence will also be guarded by four armed policemen at all time. For more info: Shah Rukh Khan Granted Y+ Security Cover Amid Threat Perception After Jawan, Pathaan Success Pakistani actress Mahira Khan has been making headlines ever since videos of her wedding to long-time partner and entrepreneur Salim Karim went viral on social media earlier this week. Mahira, also known for her role in the Bollywood movie Raees alongside Shah Rukh Khan, has been regularly treating fans to pictures from her wedding and pre-wedding festivities. The actress did nothing different today. Recently, Mahira Khan shared new dreamy pictures from her Mehendi ceremony in her latest Instagram post. For more info: Mahira Khan Shares Pics From Dreamy Mehendi Ceremony, Fans Say Simple Is Beautiful The highly anticipated trailer of sci-fi dystopian action thriller Ganapath, starring Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon, has released. Fans seem to be loving Tiger Shroffs powerful appearance in the trailer. In the trailer, that has now released, Tiger can be seen in dual roles Guddu and Ganpath. It appears that he fights for the right, loses his life only to resurrect as Ganpath. He is supported by a sword-wielding Kriti Sanon. The voiceover is by Amitabh Bachchan, who also makes an appearance in a rugged look, as Ganapaths mentor. The film. according to reports, tells the story of a martial arts enthusiast who battles unexpected challenges to his dream career. The teaser began with Tigers character meditating in a mystical location, where he skillfully defends himself against attacking soldiers, showcasing his signature action style. For more info: Ganapath Trailer: Tiger Shroff, Amitabh Bachchan, Kriti Sanon Take On Criminal Empire In The Sci-Fi Film; Watch Shahid Kapoor doesnt need any introduction. He has carved a niche for himself through his acting and dance. Well, in an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, the Farzi actor recently opened up about his journey in Bollywood, expressing that despite being the son of acclaimed actor Pankaj Kapur, he still identifies as an outsider. He even revealed why he becomes selective when it comes to movies. Talking to the portal, Shahid said, I ask myself very often. But everybodys destiny is different. Everybodys life is different. The way things come to you will be different. I am an outsider in the industry from the point of view that my father (Pankaj Kapur) was an actor but I never told anybody that he was my dad because I lived a lot in Delhi and I came to Bombay later in life and my father had always told me that, Beta maine kabhi kisi ko nahi bataya ki mere father kaun hai, toh tum kyu bologe. Kaam se dikhao. Let your work prove to people that you are worthy. Not your name. He further adds, So of course I have come from a family of acting but my father was the first actor in the family, first of all. My grandfather, my dadaji was a professor in a college and extremely supportive of my dad. He had an amazingly open mind for that time, to let my dad to come to Bombay and want to be an actor. It was like What are you talking about but he did it. To note, Shahid worked with his father Pankaj in Mausam. His father has directed the film which also stars Sonam Kapoor. Well, in the same interview, Shahid even revealed that he had asked Udta Punjab director Abhishek Chaubey why he considered Shahid for the role. Shahid asked him, Why did you offer me this role? Bro, maine life mein kabhi sharab nahi pi hain. Aaj tak nahi pi hain. Maine life kabhi koi substance nahi ki hain. I dont know what it is to be high. K-dramas often witness fluctuations in ratings after their initial episodes, due to which many series see a dip in viewers in the following episodes. However, JTBCs latest drama, Strong Girl Namsoon, has challenged this trend, as the series featuring Lee Yoo-mi has impressed the viewers. This show, which premiered on October 7, seems determined to surpass the previous records set by its predecessor, Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. According to Nielsen Korea, the second episode achieved an average nationwide rating of 6.1 per cent, a significant jump from the pilots 4.3 per cent rating the previous night. This strong start suggests a promising future for Strong Girl Namsoon. Interestingly, the latest series surpassed the 3.8 per cent rating set by its predecessor in 2017. This humorous spin-off series revolves around three generations of women gifted with extraordinary strength as they investigate drug-related crimes happening in the Gangnam region, Seoul. Lee, playing the titular character, has a unique charm and incredible physical ability. In an interesting turn of events, her character is shown visiting South Koreas capital city from Mongolia, with a mission to reunite with her parents. Meanwhile, the final matches of the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games might have impacted the ratings of Strong Girl Namsoons episode 1. While other dramas were delayed or cancelled due to the popularity of the Asian Games. Despite these factors, the show managed to make a strong debut and stood out as other competing programs like The Escape of the Seven, Live Your Own Life and Arthdal Chronicles 2 were on a break for the evening. KBS 2TVs Live Your Own Life made a dominant return after a weeklong break, as it secured the top spot in ratings. Its fifth episode achieved an average nationwide rating of 13.7 per cent, making it the most-watched program on Sunday. Meanwhile, tvNs Arthdal Chronicles 2 also experienced a ratings boost after a two-week hiatus. The latest episode of this fantasy drama achieved an average nationwide rating of 3.6 per cent. Strong Girl Namsoon features a talented cast, including Lee Yoo-mi, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Hae-sook, Ong Seong-wu, and Byeon Woo-seok, each bringing this humorous series to life with their acting skills. The excitement was further escalated by special appearances from Park Bo-young and Park Hyung-sik, who also starred in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. While South Koreans can watch the comedy show on JTBC, international viewers can enjoy the episodes through streaming on Netflix. Kangana Ranaut starrer Tejas trailer is out and it promises thrilling aerial sequences. On October 8, which marks Air Force Day, the makers unveiled the trailer for this highly-anticipated film. Among the scenes, one showcases Kangana Ranaut in the role of a courageous Air Force officer ready to take on the most challenging missions. Tejas is the story of the courageous female IAF officer Tejas Gill, whos determined to safeguard the nation at all costs. Its Indias first air action film which also showcases Indias first indigenous fighter jet Tejas. With the motto of Bharat Ko Chhedoge, Toh Chhodenge Nahi, the makers of Uri are set to bring another ultimate patriotic film! the note along with the trailer read. The trailer has garnered widespread praise, with fans and Bollywood celebrities applauding both the storyline and Kangana Ranaut for her performance. Filmmaker Aanand L Rai lauded the actress on his Instagram handle. Kangana Ranaut On the front foot. It suits you always, he wrote. Even Anupam Kher watched and reviewed the trailer. He wrote, BRILLIANT!! Absolutely BRILLIANT! Dearest Kangana Team ! You are MAGIC. Absolute MAGIC! Looking forward to Tejas! Jai Ho. BRILLIANT!! Absolutely BRILLIANT! Dearest @KanganaTeam ! You are MAGIC. Absolute MAGIC! Looking forward to #Tejas! Jai Ho! https://t.co/cKgwS2Pzp4 Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) October 8, 2023 Producer Shaailesh R Singh joined the chorus of praise for Kangana Ranaut and the trailer. He wrote, He expressed his excitement for the film by sharing the trailer on his Instagram stories with the caption: Zaroori Nahi Hai Baar Baat Ho Cant wait to watch this. The films trailer has undeniably generated significant excitement among fans, with many expressing their enthusiasm. Cant wait to watch, wrote a fan. Wow !! Just amazing. Kangana you only can do this. Pranam, another comment read. Some fans have even gone as far as to declare it a superhit after watching the trailer. Here are some more reactions. Breathtaking and Mind-blowing !!Kudos to entire team of #Tejas The KR Lens (@kr_lens) October 8, 2023 Damn goosebumps what a powerful trailer Kangana Ranaut in an as #Tejas ..she is coming on this 27 oct near your cinema when in a doubt think about the nation what a dialogue it carries very havey means of chetan Pednekar (@iamchetanpednkr) October 8, 2023 Kangana Ranaut reportedly dedicated four months to rigorous training to master the specialised combat techniques employed by the Indian forces, for her film. Produced by RSVP, the film boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Anshul Chauhan, Varun Mitra, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Vishak Nair in pivotal roles. The movie is directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced by Ronnie Screwvala. Tejas is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 27. In this article, I will attempt to find out who benefits from the recent attack on the sovereign state of Israel. Since former US President Jimmy Carter brokered a peace agreement titled Framework for Peace in the Middle East, known as the Camp David Accord, signed between Egypt and Israel on September 17, 1978, and which led to the signing of a peace treaty between the two countries, Israel has been working studiously to broaden the scope of achieving regional peace by diplomatic means. On October 26, 1993, Israel managed to get Jordan to sign the Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty thereby extending peace to a second neighbouring country. However, Israel had to wait until 2020 before it could convince another Arab country to join its endeavour to establish peace in the region. This time it was the Persian Gulf nation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Peace with the UAE was a landmark achievement. It is known as the Abraham Accord. This accord furthered the cause of peace, established diplomatic ties and full normalisation of relations between the UAE and Israel. Bahrain joined the UAE in signing the peace deal as well, which then led to the normalisation of relations between Morocco and Israel, formally establishing diplomatic relations between the two. In February 2023, Sudan also made peace with Israel by establishing diplomatic relations. Next in line is Saudi Arabia which is expected to broker peace with Israel and establish full diplomatic relations. If it establishes full trade and diplomatic relations with Israel, then many Sunni Muslim states are bound to follow suit. In September 2023, at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi, Saudi Arabia and Israel joined hands to establish the super-ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe by creating a new economic passage. In his speech delivered to the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2023, referring to the normalisation of relations with Saudi Arabia, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the following, I believe that we are at the cusp of an even more dramatic breakthrough: a historic peace with Saudi Arabia. Bringing peace in the Middle East has been the primary goal of Israel since its inception on May 14, 1948. The fact that the state was established after the Second World War itself is testimony to the desire to find safety and peace in a hostile world where hundreds of thousands of Jews faced persecution and death simply because they belonged to a different faith. The surprise attack conducted on the sovereign state of Israel by Irans proxy, the Islamic Jihadist terrorist organisation Hamas, has nothing to do with the desire to establish a Palestinian state along with Israel and everything to do with sabotaging the growing activities to bring peace and prosperity to the region. The Islamic jihadi organisations such as the Hamas and Hezbollah and others that are active in keeping the Middle East and West Asia politically unstable are, in reality, the extended arm of the Islamic states such as Iran and the communist China. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China which is a maritime Silk Road project connecting China, Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe is in actuality a Chinese economic expansionist project designed to trick poor Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries into its debt trap and usurping their ports and strategic locations with the sole purpose of hegemonising trade routes. In Pakistan, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of BRIs most ambitious and crucial projects. However, it runs through at least one disputed territory called Gilgit-Baltistan, which was annexed by Pakistan after the first India-Pakistan war in 1947. The second part of the CPEC route passes through an insurgency-stricken Baluchistan where armed Baloch rebels are engaged in a guerrilla war to liberate their land that was captured by the Pakistan army and forcefully annexed to Pakistan on March 27/28, 1948. Therefore, the IMEC poses a direct threat to the hegemonic economic designs of China and the fact that Chinese President Xi Jinping failed to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi speaks volumes in this regard. The IMEC will create a shipping route connecting Mumbai and Gujarat with UAE while a rail network will connect UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan with the port of Haifa in Israel, therefore reaching the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and from there onward to Europe. The first country to oppose this ambitious plan was Turkey. Erdogan proposed an alternate route, the Iraq Development Project, that would connect the Persian Gulf with Europe through a network of railways, highways and ports in the UAE, Qatar and Iraq. Iran also proposed an economic connectivity route for countries bordering the Caspian Sea. On October 6, during the Second Caspian Sea Forum held in Moscow, Iranian first vice president Mohammed Mokhber came up with the idea of a Green Corridor with simplified customs procedures. Russian government proposed that Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan will work on a joint project that would use the Caspian Sea as a trading outpost for markets in Europe and beyond. This economic corridor would include Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, which are oil and gas-rich countries. The post-new-liberal era of globalisation that was abruptly brought to a halt after the 2008 global economic crisis leading to protectionism is now evolving in regional economic alliances. Today, from the protectionism, we see a world that is once again trying to evolve toward a free, open and integrated global economy by strengthening regional trade alliances. The main feature of this new world order has yet to consolidate itself. However, initial features of this yet-to-be-established new world order are manifesting as countries decide to trade in local currencies rather than in the traditional dollar. The main challenge is how to make this transition from national protectionism to regional to global economic integration a peaceful process. The global economic prosperity that could benefit humanity can only be made possible if evil regimes such as the ones in Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China and their proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and various other Islamic jihadi proxies are brought down and the will of the people in these countries is honoured. Today, the attack on Israel, most probably engineered in Tehran, Islamabad and Beijing is an attack on G20 nations that on September 20 this year gathered in New Delhi to sign the India-Middle East- Economic Corridor agreement. And therefore it becomes an obligation for G20 nations to support Israel against an attack conducted by the terrorist proxy of Iran and China, known as the Hamas. As Hamas continues with its vicious terrorist campaign in the cities and towns of Ofakim, Sdreot, Yad Mordechai, Kfar Aza, Beeri, Yated and Kissufim, killing more than 350 innocent civilians including women and children and taking dozens of Israeli men and women hostage and rains rockets on Israel, the world cannot remain a silent spectator. The time has come when once and for all, the menace of Islamic jihadi terrorism has to be flushed out of Gaza and the rest of the Middle East. In the final analysis, only those forces will reap benefits by sabotaging the Israel-initiated peace process in the Middle East that thrive in war and chaos. Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author and a broadcaster. He currently lives in the UK. He can be reached at amjadshabmir@gmail.com. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. The vehicles have been developed based on the BYD T7 truck, implementing their own characteristics in accordance with the needs of the project. Iberdrola, through its Brazilian subsidiary Neoenergia, uses electric trucks to carry out maintenance and construction work on electricity grids in the country. In just over a year, the company's fleet of electric trucks has travelled 29,000 kilometres in the cities of Limeira, Mairipora, and in the interior of Sao Paulo. The initiative, which reinforces Iberdrola's commitment to sustainable mobility, is a Research, Development and Innovation project that forms part of the investment strategy to develop electric mobility in Brazil in different areas. Among the initiatives developed, the implementation of a control system through telemetry, a technology that allows the remote measurement of physical magnitudes and the subsequent sending of information, stands out. By monitoring battery information automatically and in real time, it is possible to calculate the need for recharging and the points available along the route planned for the lorry. The vehicles have been developed based on the BYD T7 truck, implementing their own characteristics in accordance with the needs of the project. Thus, the trucks have been fitted with electro-hydraulic overhead baskets and the opportunity recharging system in the distribution network itself. The charger, installed in the body of the truck, can be connected to predetermined points of the distributor's electrical network. The project also includes the promotion of electric mobility in Brazil in various areas, such as the development of charging infrastructure in the country. The company is building the Green Corridor, a road of more than 1,200 kilometres between the states of Bahia and Rio Grande in which 17 charging points have been installed, 12 of which are fast charging points. "In Brazil, Neoenergia is committed to an Electric Mobility Programme that includes projects to expand the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and develop new solutions. With our electric truck, we have not only contributed to the creation of a new national product, but we have also innovated in the management of charging and achieved a safe and efficient charging system on the network itself," says Renato Morais, Corporate Fleet Manager at Neoenergia. DECARBONISATION OF THE ECONOMY Iberdrola is committed to the electrification of transport as part of its transition strategy towards a decarbonised economy. In its drive for sustainable mobility, the company and the Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Mobility (AEDIVE) created in July the first alliance for the electrification of heavy road transport in Spain. This is the first initiative that brings together all sectors involved in the electrification of heavy road transport: manufacturers, charging infrastructure, logistics operators and end customers. It aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of heavy road transport and combat climate change. At the same time, it aims to improve fuel efficiency, limit high fuel consumption, and reduce the cost for logistics operators and the country. The premeditated surprise attack, named Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, by Hamas on Southern Israel by launching nearly 7000 rockets since October 7, 2023, morning has been the biggest and unprecedented attack on Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years back. The attack has killed over 700 Israelis and wounded more than 2,000. The Israelis retaliated with air attacks that have killed 425 Palestinians and injured another 2200 in Gaza. The numbers of dead and wounded on both sides are increasing by the hour. The rocket attack was supported by a ground attack wherein around 100 Israelis were taken as prisoners. In solidarity with the Hamas attack, Hizbullah, a Sunni-Muslim militant and political group in Lebanon, commenced rocket attacks in Northern Israel along the Green Line, on the morning of October 8, and Israel retaliated by artillery fire. With thousands of residual trained and armed fighters in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, the situation has the potential to escalate into a regional war. Gaza Strip and West Bank, including Eastern Jerusalem, have been the mutually agreeable parts of the future independent Palestinian state with the UN and the international community being in agreement. Ariel Sharon, the then PM of Israel, in a bold action as per stated land for peace policy, had removed the Jewish settlements from Gaza in 2005 under tremendous resistance from settlers and resettled them in Southern Israel in close vicinity of Gaza Strip. Hamas, the most prominent militant group in Gaza, won the elections in 2006 and came to power. The Fatah is the most prominent militant group in the West Bank and had a sizeable presence in the Gaza Strip but they were pushed out from Gaza after the bloody internecine clashes once Hamas came out victorious. Gaza is a 40 km long and at best 12 km deep strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea in the Western part of Israel. It is the worlds third most densely populated area with a population of over 2.3 million and has been under land, sea and air blockade by Israelis for the last 16 years. On its Southern side, Gaza shares 11 km of border with Egypt which is also sealed under pressure from Israelis. In 2020, a United Nations study had predicted that Gaza was facing an economic collapse and Covid-19 only accentuated the despondent state. Unlike the previous rounds of rocket fires from Gaza in 2008, 2014, 2021 and 2022, yesterdays attack was well-rehearsed and premeditated. Hamas also had the media ready to cover the attack in real-time and named it Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, an action against Israel for desecrating the holy shrine and carrying out punitive excesses on the Palestinians. A record 200 Palestinians have been killed in clashes in the West Bank this year so far, including 140 killed in Jenin in April. In addition to the rocket attacks, the Qassam Brigade of Hamas militants breached the fence between Gaza and Southern Israel and attacked Israeli soldiers and civilians, including a group of 200 young Israelis partying in a rave trans musical dance party in a Kibbutz. In addition to the ground attacks, militants also came by air using paragliders. Around 750 Israeli settlers around the Gaza Strip in Israel are missing. Benjamin Netanyahu came back as the Prime Minister of Israel for the sixth time with the support of extreme right and religious parties. He continued the process of Jewish settlements in the stated Palestinian areas of the West Bank. The Israeli government, responsible for the security of the area, had further imposed restrictions on the number of people visiting Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a complex revered by both religions. Muslims consider it the third most holy mosque after Mecca and Madina because of their belief that Mohammed had ascended to heaven from this place. Jews consider the place as Temple Mount where Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac but God intervened, and pray traditionally on the Western Wall of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Netanyahu has also been facing corruption charges since his previous tenures and has recently curbed the powers of the judiciary through a parliamentary act in the Knesset. There have been nationwide protests in Israel in the last nine months against the unpopular policies of the present government. Although the Hamas attacks have united the nation and the Opposition is also backing the government to overcome the security crisis; the internal situation of Israel is far from stable and some members of the intelligentsia blame Netanyahu and his government to have brought the nation to this pass. The security situation is very volatile and it may be the beginning of the Third Intifada. The Second Intifada started in 2000 and lasted till 2005 when Ariel Sharon entered the Al Aqsa Mosque with Israeli soldiers. During the 1948 Arab-Israel War, two million Palestinians became refugees and settled down in the neighbouring Arab countries of Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. This number has now grown to six million and the right of Palestinians to have a nation of their own and the return of these refugees to their homeland is the fundamental problem. The two-nation solution propagated by the UN stated a Palestinian nation to come up in Gaza and the West Bank with half of the land mass and the return of all Palestinian refugees. The population of Israel today is over nine million, of which 20 per cent are Arabs including Muslims and Christians. Successive Israeli governments have shown resistance to the return of the refugees and have also promoted Jewish settlements in Arab-majority areas of the West Bank. The Palestinians are treated as second-grade citizens and are confined to their areas by security walls and check posts. The Arab-dominated areas are also less developed in Israel while the rest of the country can put any Western country to shame in terms of development and infrastructure. Israeli PM Netanyahu has called it an act of war and his government has declared a national emergency. He has vowed to punish the Palestinians responsible for the violence and also get all the Israeli prisoners released. In addition to the air attacks, ground attacks have also been launched. The situation is very complex as the Israeli prisoners would be kept in different locations and it will be very difficult to ensure their safety while taking action against Hamas and Palestinian civilians. The levels of violence in the coming days are unfortunately likely to increase. Wanton killings on both sides in the coming days and weeks are likely to leave the country devastated. The peace process that had already been kept in cold storage by the Netanyahu government will further get marginalised. PM Netanyahu has invited Opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid to join him in the emergency unity government. If the situation is not controlled and stabilised in the desired manner to minimise further casualties, the Netanyahu government may have to step down. The scale and magnitude of the clashes is unprecedented and may mark the beginning of the Third Intifada which could last for years. The author was Head of the Mission and Force Commander of United Nations Peacekeeping Mission at Golan Heights between Israel and Syria from 2012 to 2014. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Thousands of rockets peppered several locations across Israel on one of the most consequential Jewish holidays. As the rockets exploded and mayhem broke loose, dozens of Islamist terrorists took advantage of the confusion to slip into Israeli towns bordering the Gaza strip. Dozens of Israelis died in what is being called the worst attack by Hamas the terrorist group that governs the Gaza strip on Israeli soil, triggering Tel Aviv to declare that it was in a state of war. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thundered that the enemy will pay a heavy price and that Israels forces will return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known. In response and with an ominous air of finality, Mohammad Deif, the shadowy leader of the Hamas military wing, declared that enough is enough. Deif, is of course, menacingly alluding to his frustration with what many in the Muslim world believe is a never-ending occupation of Palestine and, in particular, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem the third holiest site in Islam. Theres no doubt that Israel has been in occupation of Palestine since 1947 and has been at times, self-admittedly, high-handed in its treatment of Palestinian Arabs. Israel has often exhibited a predilection verging on paranoia for pre-emptive action, going into Gaza in hot pursuit of Palestinian insurgents, with little regard for co-lateral damage or even due process. It has also undertaken the wholesale annexation of more and more Palestinian lands in contravention of painfully negotiated peace agreements undermining trust. Then there is the seconding of Palestinians to Israelis and other forms of discrimination. It isnt surprising that Israels excesses have spawned a cycle of retribution that now seems unending. But to be sure, there can never be any justification for terrorism. And Hamas cross-border murder and kidnapping of ordinary Israelis no matter the provocation qualifies as a gross outrage against humanity. But then Hamas is a terror organisation. Islamo-leftists will take offence to Israels apartheid against Palestinians and illegal occupation of Palestine, but they wont tell you that Hamas isnt fighting a mere independence movement. The war being waged on Israel, much like in Indias Kashmir, isnt about liberating Palestine, but its about liberating the land from infidels. The Hamas Covenant, that outlines the organisations goals, is a shocking document that drips with a vengeful xenophobia. Its a call to every Muslim to strive for the annihilation of all Jews. Sample Article 7 of the foundation document of Hamas. It advocates a veritable Final Solution of Hitlerian proportions, The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him. If the conflict was merely a battle for azaadi, why would that freedom have to come at the ghoulish cost of the total annihilation of the Jewish race? Why would Taliban fighters want Iran and Syria to open their borders so that the Afghan Mujahideen can fight someone elses war? It isnt as if U.S. based-Christian supremacists are calling upon the EU to open all its land borders, so that they can get a clear passage to all the way over in Nagorno-Karabakh to fight with Armenian Christians against Azeri-Muslims. Make no mistake, Hamas is fighting a 21st-century version of the medieval crusades and whats scary is that it has been voted to govern Gaza by ordinary, so-called peace-loving, Palestinians. Its not even as if the state of Israel was set up to wage a holy war upon Muslims, so that theres not a trace left of them on Earth. There are no parallels between the Israeli Constitution and the Hamas Constitution. Today, those that lecture Tel Aviv must ask themselves what would truly happen if Israel were to suddenly open the Gaza border and allow the free passage of Palestinians into Jewish neighborhoods. Can these human rights lobbies guarantee that Israelis wont be exterminated by many of their Palestinian neighbours? Especially those who voted in a mindset that claims, The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him. Hamas has been voted by a majority of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to cleanse the Holy Land in their Gods name. They voted with an open mind for, The Islamic Resistance Movement whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine. The Hamas mission statement leaves no room for compromise, no pull back to pre-1967 status or a two state solution, where Israelis and Palestinians can live side-by-side in an eternal peace. Hamas rejects any lawful solution. It believes, [Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement Those conferences are no more than a means to appoint the infidels as arbitrators in the lands of IslamThere is no solution for the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility. Indeed, this fear of a looming genocide is what keeps Israel up at night. It is this fear of genocide that makes it retreat into a carapace of exclusivism. It is the same fear that forces Israel to raise the metaphorical drawbridge of human intercourse to distance the blood-thirsty rabble at its border. In the face of such existential peril, is it fair to place the onus of peace on Israelis alone? To grudge them the right to defend their nation? Havent the majority Palestinians who have voted for the modern-day iteration of a mid-20th century version of the Final Solution surrendered their right to be called victims? 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 News18s views. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis support for Israel amid the ghastly terror attack mounted by Hamas, the Palestinian terror group controlling the Gaza Strip, is a significant shift in how India sees the Israel-Palestine conflict. The prime minister referred to the incursions as terrorist attacks and affirmed that India stands in solidarity with Israel in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that came within a few hours after the news of the attacks broke out. The statement calling it a terrorist attack is a confirmation that India has taken a side and this position is consistent with Indias anti-terrorism stand. PM Modis statement was similar to his Western counterparts with the unambiguous reference to Hamas transgressions as terrorism. While India maintains its position in favour of the Palestinian cause, the nature of the attack bearing resemblances to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack with infiltrators massacring civilians, appears to have compelled India to take a swift and unequivocal position in favour of Israel at this juncture, in consistence with Indias anti-terrorism stance on all global platforms. India is familiar with the wrath of Islamist terror, with thousands of lives lost to innumerable attacks including major bomb blasts and terror attacks emanating from Pakistan. The sheer scale, sophistication and brutality of Hamas attack has the potential to embolden Islamist terrorists across the border in Pakistan. It is also important to tell apart the radical Islamist Hamas leadership in Gaza, southwest of Israel, which is in stark contrast with the moderate Fatah leadership of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah in the West Bank in the east. Hamas expelled the Palestinian Authority in Gaza in a coup in 2007, two years after Israel pulled out its forces from the exclave. While extremist supporters of the Palestinian cause around the world stepped out to celebrate the unprecedented and barbaric attacks on Israelis, the cue from Prime Minister Modi in India was that such a horrific terrorist attack aimed at civilians women, children and the elderly alike cannot be justified with past or pre-existing grievances. However, there is much more at play as India has a direct stake here. Israel is a crucial part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor or IMEC, an ambitious transcontinental transit infrastructure project launched on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi. IMEC hinges on a peaceful West Asia, and more particularly on the normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which was almost imminent until Hamas deadly attack provoked Israel to declare an all-out war. The window for Saudi Arabia to sell this progressive measure to its people while restricting Palestine to the periphery is quite possibly closed with the Palestine question taking centre stage. Given the heightened polarising reactions, especially in the Muslim world, the possibility of a Saudi-Israel Abraham Accord has been effectively scuttled. And with this, so is the IMEC. In fact, Hamas attack is meant to sabotage this very geopolitical development. It is another matter that Hamas savagery may have axed the worlds sympathy for the Palestinian cause, denting the movement for the long haul. Indias response shows the deepening of strategic and military ties with Israel, as they are collaborators alongside the United States and the United Arab Emirates in the I2U2 infrastructure and strategic partnership. While India was one of the first non-Arab supporters of the Palestinian cause and has sent millions of dollars in aid for Palestinians, it has been gravitating closer towards Israel in the last three decades since the fall of the Soviet Union and improved relations with the United States. That has accelerated since PM Modis historic visit to Israel in 2017, which was the first time an Indian prime minister travelled to Israel. Today, defence ties between the two are soaring with India also becoming Israels top defence buyer. India has watered down the balancing act between Israel and Palestine, in this case, taking a clear side and calling Hamas act terrorism. India is drawing closer strategically towards Israel as it is only natural. Hamas is backed by not just Iran, but Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan. The same forces are inimical to India. And therefore, it makes sense for India to stand with Israel against Hamas. Indias support for the Palestinian cause stems, in part, from the terms dictated by Arab nations, who have historically felt strongly about the issue. In hindsight, even as India began with an anti-Israel position, it found limited gains from Arab states. What ultimately defined Indias support for the Palestinian cause to the detriment of Israeli sensibilities is the internal political compulsions of previous dispensations in the country. In fact, the Congress party has left a legacy of pro-Palestine passions which it flamed to win favour with the Muslim vote bank. However, of late, Indias relations with much of the Arab world have been flourishing, especially with Saudi Arabia and the UAE and the issue of Palestine has been perceptibly marginalised from the larger equation. The UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have already officially embraced Israel. More nations were in the offing to follow, including Saudi Arabia. All in all, India is drawing closer to Israel having aligned strategically with the country on trade, defence and counter-terrorism. The two have a common enemy in Islamist terror and share a similar vision of a peaceful West Asia with IMEC and I2U2. Prime Minister Modi is allowing Indias relations with Israel to take their natural course, without outrightly dumping the Palestinian cause, while also calling out the radical methods deployed by its purveyors. This is yet another sign of confidence and clarity in the foreign policy renaissance that India has witnessed in the last few years. India is tending towards scaling down the vague prevarications of its foreign policy and disassociating internal politics with external, all in the pursuit of national interest. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. The cost of development of the Iron Dome is estimated to be around $210 million. This cost was borne jointly by the Israeli government and the US government. It has been a major supporter of the Iron Dome program, providing over $1.6 billion in funding for its development and deployment. CPI MP Binoy Vishwam urged the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure that the central government stays committed to Indias traditional stand of supporting the legitimate interests of Palestine for a life of dignity, respect and human rights. In a letter to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, the Member of Parliament sought his intervention regarding the safety and security of Indian citizens stranded in the West Asian region amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He requested MEAs intervention in an immediate evacuation process to safely rescue Indians from the war-like situation. There are thousands of Indian citizens in the region as workers, small businessmen, students and tourists. A significant number of them are from the state of Kerala. In the event of recent attacks and counterattacks by Israeli security forces and Hamas, the lives of these Indian citizens are in danger, the letter said. Its painful for Indians that the Indian Government was quick in announcing support to Israel instead of ensuring the safety of Indian citizens first, it added. Vishwam said, in his letter, that Indias historic ties with countries in West Asia and our championing of the cause of self-determination have earned traditional goodwill for us. I also urge you to ensure that the Government stays committed to Indias traditional stance of supporting the legitimate interests of Palestine for a life of dignity, respect and human rights. Indias efforts on legitimate forums to ensure permanent peace in the region by upholding relevant United Nations resolutions for the two-states solution with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine will prove valuable in ensuring lasting tranquillity in the region, it said. Earlier in the day, the Congress extended support for Palestinians, a day after it condemned the brutal attacks on the people of Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. A resolution passed during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today expressed anguish on the conflict and called for a ceasefire. The resolution supported the rights of the Palestinian people. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday. An official statement by the Congress party stressed the process of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The Congress on Monday extended support for Palestinians, a day after it condemned the brutal attacks on the people of Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. A resolution passed during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today expressed anguish on the conflict and called for a ceasefire. The resolution supported the rights of the Palestinian people. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday. An official statement by the Congress party stressed the process of dialogue and negotiations to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop, an X (formerly Twitter) post by Congress said. The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel.Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop. pic.twitter.com/LzXGf3PAz9 Congress (@INCIndia) October 8, 2023 Israels army declared Monday it had regained control of southern areas near the Gaza Strip on the third day of gruelling gun battles to dislodge holdout Hamas fighters whose surprise attack the shocked nation has likened to 9/11. (With inputs from agencies) The Israel-Palestine War has triggered a political war in India, with the BJP citing how the country is safe under the Narendra Modi government compared to the UPA days when terror attacks and bomb blasts were common. The Congress, in turn, listed out over 30 terror attacks since 2014. The war in the Middle East and the stand of Indian political parties has highlighted the trouble related to political alignments and ideologies of the constituents, who are part of the INDIA alliance. Hours after the Modi government extended its support and solidarity for Israel post the attack and infiltration by Hamas terrorist groups from the Gaza strip, Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of CPM, talked of Israeli aggression of the most Right-wing government. Congress came up with a careful statement, condemning the violence against Israel but supporting the Palestinian cause. The BJP has been quick to advise the INDIA alliance to take a cue from the Opposition in Israel which has fully backed the Israel PMs counter-attack on Palestine. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the Opposition in Israel put the nation first but our opposition says Modi Virodh me Nation Virodh is okay questions surgical strikes, Balakot and even gives clean chit to Pakistan on terror attacks. BJP leaders also took on the Congress tweet on over 30 terror attacks since 2014, citing strong steps like surgical strikes undertaken in response to any misadventures from Pakistan. The INDIA Dilemma The current controversy comes after Congress had to recently politically handle Udhayanidhi Stalins comment on Sanatan Dharma. Sitaram Yechury has expressed his opinion which is okay with all of us. Every constituent of INDIA bloc has its own ideologies and political alignment. We cannot control them, said a senior Congress leader on Yechurys statement on the Israel-Palestine war which may soon be on BJPs target for being out of line with the countrys stand. Strongly condemn these attacks and counter-attacks in the Gaza Strip of Palestine. UN must ensure the rights of the Palestinian people for a Home Land, withdrawal of all Israeli illegal occupation of Palestine lands & implementation of UNSC resolution of a two-nation solution, said Yechury. He expressed his alignment towards the Palestinian cause, mentioning the death figures on the Palestinian side in his statement, but he remained silent on the long list of casualties in Israel due to the attack. The statement by Congress followed later and was a careful one, said political observers. Congress in its statement condemned the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. But it also maintained that the party had always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people. Violence of any type never provides a solution and must stop. No other constituents of INDIA have reacted. The Politburo of CPM later issued a statement, saying it condemned the attacks and counter-attacks between Hamas and the Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip of Palestine. Already, many human lives have been lost and the situation is poised to escalate causing more deaths, and miseries. This confrontation must end. The most right-wing Netanyahu government in Israel has been indiscriminately occupying Palestine lands and establishing Jewish settlements in the West Bank. So far this year, prior to this conflict, 248 Palestinian lives have been lost including 40 children, it said. The Politburo also said that it called upon the UN and the international community including the government of India to ensure the immediate cessation of this conflict and act for the implementation of the UN. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member MA Baby has called out the Israeli government for being extremist, and even accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for engineering the bombardment in Gaza. Baby, who is former education minister of Kerala, told News18 in an interview that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have given the statement to the effect that hostilities must end on both sides in the Israel-Palestine war but instead he chose to support Israel. When asked if the INDIA bloc, whose sub-committees have CPI-M as member, agrees with his statement on Israel, Baby said the alliance does not have to come to conclusion on all issues. We have a lot of differences that need to be discussed. Edited interview Q: What is the reason that you have criticised the decision of the Narendra Modi government to express solidarity with Israel? A: The question of Palestine is not something new to the Government of India. Even during the freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi had opined on this issue and extended solidarity to the freedom movement of the Palestinian cause. The first government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru after Independence had also extended solidarity to the Palestine cause. Not just that, we did not recognise Israel nor did we have any diplomatic relationship with it. Q. But that has changed subsequently? A: That has changed subsequently, no doubt. But during the major part of the existence of independent Indian, we did not have any diplomatic relationship with Israel. Indian passport was not used to travel to that country. Let me not go into the technical details. Later, during the early 90s, when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister, there were certain exchanges (with Israel). Then, during Atal Bihari Vajpayees BJP government, further closer moves have happened (with Israel). Now, the relationship is that PM Modi is embracing Netanyahu who is under the scanner of the investigative agencies of Israel. If that due process moves in the right track, he will be convicted and go to the jail. To avoid that, he has brought in a constitutional change in Israel where by Parliament with a simple majority can overturn the Supreme Court verdict. Something the Modi government is also willy-nilly trying to do in a different manner. And the Supreme Court judges, political parties and media have been opposing this. So, for Netanyahu, aggravating the relationship with Palestine is something that he needs for managing his internal political difficulties. He has formed the most rabid right-wing government with all sorts of extremist forces. Hamas is a militant organisation, and you can call it extremist as well. By the same yardstick, you have to define the Netanyahu government as an extremist government because how people speak about the Hamas attack on October 7. People write that Israel is supposed to have the most efficient and powerful secret investigative agency Mossad. How could they carry out this assault? Even India is buying spyware from Israel. Q: Why do you think it was wrong on the part of Modi to express solidarity with Israel? What else could he have done? A: He (Modi) could have had a different position or approach (on the issue). He could have said the hostilities should come to an end. Armed attacks and counter attacks will not solve Palestinian problems or what the Israelis are facing. They are also facing problems for which negotiations should take place. Our point is people are talking about Hamas carrying out the attack. Yes. They did. Q. Do you condone that? A: No, I dont condone that. But I cannot turn a blind eye towards the fact that this year, 248 Palestinians, including 40 children, have been murdered by Netanyahu and his people. No media talks about that. Nobody is asking a question. What Hamas did was a reaction to the systematic attack and murder of Palestinian people. This Gaza is like an open jail. They dont have any access to the outside world. So, people of Gaza, including people of Hamas, just like Netanyahu government is an extremist, have managed to develop this missile but is of a very poor quality. But they have been able to strike. So, what should to be done? There was a UN resolution on Palestine, which was adopted with the support of many countries including India. Who is violating it? Israel. What is the crux of the UN resolution on Palestine? Israel should withdraw from all the occupied land of Palestine. Then, Israel should cooperate with the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. This is the crux of the UN resolution. Now, you know if you have to go to Gaza, or West Bank, the so-called areas under Palestinian authority, that is a dubious term, is being used. If you have to go there, what is the travel certificate visa? You have to take visa from Israel. How ridiculous it is. If somebody wants to come to India, do they have to take their visa from Sri Lanka, Burma, Nepal or Bangladesh or Pakistan? No. But this is the reality of Palestine nobody notes. In such a situation, PM Modis statement should have been drafted by him. We never abandoned the Palestinian cause but supported only Israel. When we (CPI-M) supported Israel on some issues, we would say we uphold the legitimate rights of Palestinians, we sympathise with them and support them. But Narendra Modi did not do that. Q: Do you think your statement is going to cause friction within the parties that call themselves the INDIA bloc? A: No. The INDIA bloc parties have not come to any conclusion on each and every issue. We should have a common approach. We have a lot of differences. For example, Congress has been following economic policies which CPI-M never accepted. The economic policy is important for the lives of peasants, workers, unemployed youth and women. We have differences there. But we have total unanimity in seeing that this RSS-controlled government led by Modi should be removed sooner than later. There we agree. On many other issues, we have differences, which we will discuss when it can be. Q: Election dates for the five states Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana have been announced. What is the position of CPI-M? How vigorously is it going to contest in these states? A: CPI-M will discuss with other parties. If there are possibilities to discuss with other non-BJP political parties, we would do that. This has to be done from the objective situation in each state. This is done by the state committees. On the basis of the state committees discussion and consultation with other parties, a report will be made. We would be in the electoral fray. We would be explaining to the people if we are contesting as the Left cooperation, how the party is different from BJP and othes. Our primary consideration would be to ensure BJP is not coming back to power in the states ruled by them. Q: Would there be seat-sharing talks for state elections? A: All that will be discussed in each state. We do not directly interfere with that. There will be differences from state to state. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has warned the Mahayuti government (consisting of BJP, Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawars NCP faction) to repair Mumbai roads or else face the wrath of his party workers who will burn down all toll plazas. Raj Thackerays ultimatum comes at a time when the people of the state are frustrated with bad conditions of roads, which have increased their travel time and other related problems. The Opposition parties have been cornering the government over the pathetic conditions of motorable roads. Thackeray also showed media on Monday the statements of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on toll-free roads. What happens to the toll money ultimately? How are the same companies getting the toll continuously? asked Raj Thackeray at the presser in Mumbai. For the past few weeks, MNS has had silent protests at toll plaza on city borders, but the state government had not taken any cognisance. Therefore, todays MNS press conference pressed the civic issues, and threatened the state government of strict action over non-compliance. The MNS chief also said he will be meeting the CM in the coming days, and will raise the issue with him. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat targeted the state government over the same issue in Nasik today, and said, All major roads in the state have potholes. It has become risky to drive the vehicle on these roads. If this government does not want to fix these potholes and make road conditions better, then why are they collecting the toll? This triple-engine government has made Maharashtra miserable. Thorat raked up the issue of traffic jams and potholes on the Mumbai-Nasik highway again after the last assembly session. The condition of Mumbai-Nasik highway is so bad that for 2.5 hours journey, it takes 4 hours. Traffic is stuck for an hour. Bottleneck near Bhiwandi, on the same highway, creates more havoc. If you travel on this road, it becomes difficult to identify where is the road and where is the pothole. Despite all, no-one from the state government is talking about the potholes on this road but regular toll collection is underway. Five major highways of the state have similar conditions. He also dared the people in power to use the highway to understand the plight of the common man. Several Upper Midwest energy companies filed plans Sept. 29 with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to move forward with a critical transmission project in Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota that will deliver reliable energy to customers as older fossil fuel-based plants retire in the coming years and open new pathways for additional renewable energy proposed in the Upper Midwest. The 345-kilovolt (kV) Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks project consists of two segments, with one running from Big Stone City, South Dakota, to Alexandria, Minnesota (western segment), and the other running from Alexandria to Becker, Minnesota (eastern segment). The transmission project will provide additional capacity to mitigate current capacity issues, maintain electric system reliability, relieve congestion on the grid, and allow more low-cost wind power from western Minnesota and the Dakotas to reach customers throughout the region. Renewable energy has no fuel costs and contributes to a diversified energy mix, which helps energy companies provide cost-effective electricity for customers. "This project will allow us to continue to operate a reliable transmission grid, bring low-cost renewable energy to homes and businesses, further reduce carbon emissions, and focus on meeting our customers' energy needs," the utilities said. "We look forward to working with our state regulators, landowners and local officials to make this project a reality." The Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks project will help ensure continued electric reliability and improved system resilience in the Upper Midwest. In recent years, utilities have added new renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and several fossil fuel plants are expected to retire in the coming years as they reach the end of their expected useful lives. As plants are retired, new transmission is needed to deliver energy from where it is generated, particularly widespread renewable energy, to where it is consumed. The project also supports efforts to meet each energy company's carbon-reduction goals and will help move toward meeting Minnesota's carbon-free energy standard. The eastern segment proposes stringing a new transmission circuit primarily on existing structures originally built as part of the CapX2020 Fargo-St. Cloud and St. Cloud-Monticello projects between Alexandria and a new substation on Xcel Energy property near the Sherco power plant in Becker. The western segment from Big Stone South to Alexandria proposes a new transmission line between Otter Tail Power's (OTP) Big Stone South substation in South Dakota and the Alexandria substation owned by Missouri River Energy Services (MRES). The utilities jointly filed a Certificate of Need application for both segments and a Route Permit application for the eastern segment. The western segment Route Permit application is expected to be filed in 2024 following a robust public outreach process, which is ongoing. Project participants include Great River Energy, Minnesota Power, MRES, OTP and Xcel Energy. Planning for future transmission needs Broad changes in the region's generation fleet and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events have created the need for new transmission infrastructure across the region. To address the future need for continued reliable and resilient operations, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. (MISO) collaborated with energy companies and other stakeholders to develop the Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) process that resulted in the identification and recommendation of 18 new transmission projects across the Upper Midwest region. This first set of projects, approved in mid-2022 and including the Big Stone South-Alexandria-Big Oaks project, is the initial step to build the necessary transmission infrastructure that will enable energy companies to reliably integrate new resources and effectively operate the changing grid. More than 95% of the eastern segment of the proposed project will not require changes to the existing transmission line, which began operation in 2015 as part of the CapX2020 project from Fargo to Monticello and a joint project with several other utilities. At that time, the PUC and the CapX2020 companies agreed there would likely be a need for new transmission in the future. As a result, the Fargo-St. Cloud and St. Cloud-Monticello projects were constructed as double-circuit capable, enabling the companies to meet customers' energy needs at the time while anticipating growing demand in the future. The PUC will review the energy companies' proposal, which generally takes approximately one year and includes opportunities for input from customers, landowners and other interested stakeholders. Learn more about the Big Stone South to Alexandria and Alexandria to Big Oaks projects on their websites at bigstonesouthtoalexandria.com and alexandriatobigoaks.com. Both websites include maps of the project areas and opportunities to provide feedback. "Transmission is the backbone of the electric grid, and it is essential for integrating renewable energy resources into the grid and maintaining reliable electricity service to homes and businesses in the region," said Terry Wolf, vice president of power supply and operations at MRES. "By investing in these projects, we can create a more resilient electric grid for everyone, including our member municipals, while also making a significant step toward achieving our clean energy goals." For more information, contact MRES Vice President of Member Services and Communications Tim Blodgett at 605-338-4042 or info@mrenergy.com. Google has released eight generations of its Pixel devices since 2016, starting with the original Pixel and Pixel XL, and now launching the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro last week. During this time, it has managed to sell nearly 40 million devices, with 10 million sold just last year, as revealed by IDC. According to IDC VP Francisco Jeronimo, Google has sold 37.9 million Pixel devices since the inaugural lineup was launched back in 2016, almost eight years ago. Moreover, he notes that Google Pixel sales have been growing at double-digit rates in recent years. This is certainly good news for Google Pixel fans who want the lineup to succeed, and with the Pixel 8 series just launched, it could contribute further to this figure. Notably, Googles Pixel main lineup was absent from markets like India for three generations after the Pixel 3, as Google skipped launching the Pixel 6 series, the Pixel 5, and the Pixel 4 series in India. However, it did introduce A-series models like the Pixel 3a and the Pixel 4a. The companys renewed focus on the Indian market only came in 2022 when it brought back flagships to the country with the Pixel 7 series. Pixel devices have also been performing well in other Asian regions, such as Japan, where they have reportedly taken market share from Apple. According to Counter Point, as reported by Bloomberg, Google Pixel devices now hold 12 percent of the smartphone market in Japan, while iPhones share dropped from 58% to 46% as of Q2 2023. Additionally, reports suggest that most of the thermal issues related to its Tensor chipsets have been resolved with the Pixel 8 series. With Google committing to 7 years of OS updates, this may create further incentive for people to start buying Pixel devices, especially in developed economies like Japan and the US. However, its worth noting that the Pixel 8 series has seen a significant price increase this year, with the Pixel 8 priced at Rs 75,999 and the Pixel 8 Pro at Rs 1,06,999 in India, and $699 for the Pixel 8 and $999 for the Pixel 8 Pro in the US. It remains to be seen how the markets will react to these price hikes, as expectations for these phones have grown considerably, now that they are in the same flagship territory as Apple and Samsung. A 40-year-old woman based in Pune has reportedly fallen victim to an online scam in which fraudsters managed to steal Rs 11 lakh from her bank account. This happened after they gained access to her bank account by installing remote access software under the pretext of assisting her in obtaining her online bank statement, as reported by The Times of India. This incident highlights the growing frequency of such scams in India. Many similar scams involve fraudsters masquerading as bank agents or other officials who reach out to individuals through phishing websites. Unfortunately, unsuspecting victims often fall prey to such tactics.. In this particular case, the woman, who hails from Shivaji Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra, was looking for her online bank statement. Failing to do so, she turned to the internet to find customer care numbers that could help her. Little did she know that she would encounter a phishing website with fraudulent numbers. When she contacted themthe fraudstersposing as bank agents, instructed her to install remote access software, giving them access to her phone. She conducted an online search for the helpline number and contacted the number. The person who answered her phone promised to help her out and asked her to download remote access software, Inspector Ankush Chintaman of Chatushrungi police was quoted as saying by TOI. The woman ended up doing exactly what the fake bank officers asked her to do, The woman did the same and even shared her bank account credentials. The fraudsters then requested that she try to obtain the bank account statement using the banks website, Inspector Ankush Chintaman added. The fraudsters, having gained access to her account, stole Rs 11 lakh. A FIR has been registered and the police are investigating the matter. To avoid being scammed, dont install foreign APKs or apps when someone asks you to, and dont give out your OTPs to anyone, especially if they claim to be a bank officer. Its also important to make sure that you only dial numbers or send emails to verified sources. Always double-check a website to make sure its legit and belongs to the real entity it claims to represent. Bengaluru Metros purple line is now fully operational. The line spans for an impressive 42.85 km, connecting Challaghatta to Whitefield. The line not only adds to the citys infrastructural achievements but also is a big win for people who had to deal with the cumbersome traffic daily. Who does not know about the Bengaluru traffic? The city is making headlines every day for its traffic tales. From people ordering food while being stuck in traffic to school students reaching home late in the evening Bengaluru traffic does not fail to surprise us anytime. Also Read: Men Dangerously Entering a Mumbai Local Even Before Door Opens Has Internet Feeling Anxious However, now, with the opening of the purple line, there is a respite in traffic. Many people took to their official X handles and shared how traffic can be evaded using the purple line. An X user mentions how he reached his office in just 45 minutes using the metro. Otherwise, it used to take him 2 hours and 45 minutes. New Metro line inaugurated in Bangalore. Public transport is the answer. If Singapores richest can travel in Metros, why not Bangaloreans, mentioned X user Gabbar. Many people also shared images and videos from the much awaited new line. Here, have a look: New Metro line inaugurated in Bangalore. Public transport is the answer. If Singapores richest can travel in Metros, why not Bangaloreans. pic.twitter.com/ibMHsYB0o7 Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) October 9, 2023 My flat neighbour in Mumbai has 3 cars including two Mercedes. Was surprised to know that he takes local train daily to travel to his business shop in Ulhasnagar. Something you can see only in Mumbai. https://t.co/ierN0H5Lr8 Don Grieshnak (@DGrieshnak) October 9, 2023 Good Morning, Bengaluru!Its so nice to see people send videos of Namma Metro #PurpleLine chugging along the whole stretch, while roads are choking with traffic underneath. Its an important reminder that the answer to traffic congestion is not building more roads, but pic.twitter.com/yH2k5zdoJH Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 9, 2023 Also Read: Bengaluru Consultant Hasnt Received Salary For 3 Months, Heres What People Suggest She Should Do I think Metro isnt just a mode of transport; its a bridge to equity, accessibility, & a greener city. Singapores richest riding the Metro is a reminder that public transport transcends wealth; its about efficiency, environmental stewardship & accessible mobility for all, commented an X user. Another person wrote, Public transport is indeed the way forward for all cities, and this development is a positive step. Meanwhile, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited in a statement informed of the opening of passenger services on the two sections between Krishnarajapura and Baiyappanahalli, a distance of 2.10 km, and the other beyond Kengeri to Challaghatta, a distance of 2.05 km, starting from today. Three police officers in Bihar were suspended on Sunday after being filmed disposing of the remains of an accident victim into a canal near the Dhodhi canal bridge in the Fakuli outpost area of Muzaffarpur district. The video quickly spread online, sparking anger among the public. An official statement from the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muzaffarpur, confirmed the videos authenticity. Authenticity of the video was examined and it turned out to be genuine. Its an unfortunate incident and the cops who were present there failed to perform their duty properly. The driver constable involved has been suspended, while the contracts of two home guard jawans on duty has been terminated, stated the official statement. The entire incident was recorded on camera and subsequently gained widespread attention on social media platforms. The viral video, provoking intense criticism, depicts two police officers dragging a blood-soaked, unidentified man across the road. Shortly thereafter, another police officer joins them, and together, they dispose the body into the river. The video also captures them using their batons to push the body, presumably the victim, into the canal. Check out the full video of Bihar cops disposing the body into the river here: What is this @bihar_police even the dead are not treated with dignity @NitishKumar pic.twitter.com/02F0LeqNqk Tejinder Singh Sodhi (@TejinderSsodhi) October 8, 2023 A senior police official has told that the officers captured in the video were actually disposing of certain body parts and clothing belonging to the victim. These items had become affixed to the road and were impossible to recover. An elderly man was crushed to death by a speeding truck on the Dhodhi Canal Bridge and parts of the victims mangled body and clothes were stuck to the road, explained Fakuli OP in-charge Mohan Kumar, as reported by India Today. According to Fakuli OP in-charge Mohan Kumar, some portions of the victims body and clothing were successfully recovered by the police and subsequently sent for post-mortem examination. However, certain body parts and clothes belonging to the deceased were firmly affixed to the road and deemed impossible to retrieve. Consequently, these items were disposed of into the canal. The incident, as detailed by Muzaffarpur Police in an official statement, occurred when the man was tragically struck by a truck on a Sunday morning. In response to the accident report, a police team promptly arrived at the scene and arranged for the victims body to be transported to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) for autopsy. After the video went viral, the Muzaffarpur Police took action to remove the remaining body parts from the river, intending to subject them to post-mortem examination. Many individuals frequently turn to the online realm to voice their grievances and opinions, making the expression of views on social media a familiar sight. However, a recent incident took this trend to new heights when a man decided to make a fuss about a coworker failing to return his charger on the micro-blogging platform X. This left observers wondering whether such a trivial matter warranted such a commotion! The saga commenced when a user, @ssganesh035, initiated a thread discussing how possessing an esteemed educational degree doesnt necessarily translate to having basic manners. He emphasised a recent workplace encounter as he began, So this person (IIT Bombay graduate) borrowed my charger in the office but I had to leave early that day so couldnt take it back from her because she wasnt there at her desk and the next three days were holidays and when asked her about my charger, she said mene toh table pe rakh diya tha so casually even though it wasnt there on my table when I came back after three days and the worst part was she wasnt even sorry for that. He proceeded to express his frustration about the decline in basic life skills, stating, How come people become so unaccountable when dealing with other peoples belongings. This clearly reflects how fancy degrees arent only enough for getting through life, people need to learn basic interpersonal skills and the art of living. Also Read: Plain Rice, Spaghetti: Woman Rants About Bland Vegetarian Food Served in French Restaurant Predictably, the post gained traction, accumulating over 357K views on the platform. As is customary on social media, commentators began to mock him for making a fuss over such a trivial matter. One individual wrote, Bro why are you so pressed its just a charger. Another expressed, Bhai hadh hogayaa yaar. Dont get charged up for charger. A third user quipped, Saayad charger macbook ka hoga. Nonetheless, there were those who empathised with him, with one individual stating, This is so true, I have stopped giving any such thing to others. Another commenter suggested, Never give away your chargertell them to charge at your work station. Eventually, the original poster called out those who criticised his post for fixating on a minor issue, underscoring the main message behind his rant: It was never about the charger or the college and the message was intended to be RAW, SIMPLE, and UNPROBLEMATIC. People often correlate degrees with their potential, so the point was colleges might/ might not necessarily define YOU. Also Read: TikToks Viral Kitchen Restocking Videos Have This Chef on Twitter Writhing in Pain As for whether he eventually recovered his charger or not, that remains a mystery! Whenever we talk about research in space, we often hear about the International Space Station. Do you know what is it? The space station is a unique science laboratory; it is stationed in space. Several nations worked together to build and use the space station. Have you ever wondered how far is the International Space Station from Earth? Can we see it with our naked eyes? Some users asked these same questions on Quora, which has received various intriguing answers. Let us take a look. International Space Station: According to reports, the International Space Station is a large spacecraft in orbit around Earth. Crews of astronauts and cosmonauts reside there. It orbits Earth at an average altitude of approximately 250 miles. It has a speed of 17,500 mph. It orbits Earth every 90 minutes. The space station is being used by NASA to learn more about living and operating in space. History: Reports suggest the construction of the International Space Station started in the year 1998. America prepared it in collaboration with Russia. Later, a total of 15 agencies including Japans space agency JAXA, European agency ESA and Canadas CSA joined it. Meanwhile, NASA and its partners from around the world completed construction of the space station in 2011. Why is the Space Station important? The space station is important as it makes it possible for research in space to be conducted. Since the first crews arrival, people have been residing in space in this space station. The laboratories enable crew members to do their research. As per reports, a few days ago, NASA said that the space station will work until 2031; and only after that, its removal will be considered. At present, there is no thought of decommissioning it. The space station has faced threats many times; since 1999, its location has changed more than 30 times due to space debris. Mousa Abu Marzouk, the chief deputy of Hamas political bureau, told Arabic news channels that the terrorist group has taken more than 100 hostages in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has not revealed how many Israelis have been taken hostage but according to a report by CNN, the death toll in Israel has passed 700. 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 Palestinian health ministry said over 313 Palestinians have died and nearly 1,990 wounded in the past 24 hours, including 20 dead and 121 wounded children. IDF spokesperson Major Ben Wahlhaus said that over 700 Israelis have been killed in the last two days but remained tight-lipped on the number of hostages. Were still fighting down south. People are still inside their homes, inside their safe rooms, inside their bomb shelters, Wahlhaus said. It is becoming tough for Israel to establish how many hostages have been taken inside Gaza. Gaza is an isolated coastal enclave of more than 2 million people crammed into 140 square miles and is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. It is unprecedented in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organisation, lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, told CNN. A separate report by the news outlet said that dozens of young Israelis and foreigners who were attending the Nova music festival in the Negev desert were taken hostage by Hamas. At least 260 bodies were later found at the festival site. Brazilian and Mexican authorities have said that their citizens are among the hostages. Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, warned Israel that their attacks in the area could impact hostages. Abu Obaida, the spokesman of the Al Qassam Brigades, told Israeli authorities that they are present in all axes in the Gaza Strip. Israel has been pounding Gaza with airstrikes and IDF forces have entered Gaza to rescue those kidnapped. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing retaliation, asked Israelis to prepare for a long and difficult war ahead. The IDF said that it has struck over 653 targets inside Gaza, including 10 towers used by Hamas. Israel compared the current situation to 9/11 attacks in the US and said Hamas is more brutal than ISIS. Hamas was more barbaric and more brutal than ISIS. Hamas murdered hundreds of Israelis, men, women, and children, and took dozens hostages into Gaza. This horrific terror act demands a forceful, determined and sustained response, which is exactly what we are doing, the IDF said. The IDF further added that Hamas wants the annihilation of the Israeli state. The Hamas have also taken hostages from the border communities of Israel. The terrorist group took hostages in the border community Beeri, and the town of Ofakim. Residents in Beeri said Hamas terrorists are going door-to-door and trying to break into homes of Israelis. Hamas is taking hostages in the hope that it will be able to use them as a leverage to free some of the Palestinians lodged in jails. I dont even know what the situation is regarding the hostages, and the situation is not looking good, Yoni Asher, an Israeli citizen, whose wife and young daughters may have been abducted while visiting Nir Oz, said. The 2023 Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded to Claudia Goldin on Monday for advancing our understanding of womens labour market outcomes. Claudia Goldins research has given us new and often surprising insights into womens historical and contemporary roles in the labour market, the Nobel Committee said in its press release. BREAKING NEWSThe Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2023 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel to Claudia Goldin for having advanced our understanding of womens labour market outcomes.#NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/FRAayC3Jwb The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 9, 2023 It pointed out that Goldin was awarded for her comprehensive approach to explaining the source of significant gender differences despite the proportion of women in paid work tripling in many high-income countries. The academys secretary-general, Hans Ellengren, announced this years winners. Goldin is a professor at Harvard University in the United States. Goldin is the third woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics, aka the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. The three women who have been awarded the prize in economic sciences are Elinor Ostrom in 2009, Esther Duflo in 2019 and Claudia Goldin in 2023. The first Nobel Prize in Economics was awarded in 1969 to Ragnar Frisch and Jan Tinbergen for their pioneering work in the field of econometrics. 54 prizes in economic sciences have been awarded 1969-2022. Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip H. Dybvig received the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2022 for research on banks and financial crises. The Nobel Prize in Economics, which is officially known as the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, is an international award recognizing outstanding contributions to the field of economics. Unlike the other, original five Nobel Prize which commemorate the outstanding contributions made to the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, peace and literature over the course of the year, the Nobel Prize in Economics was created later, in 1968, by the central bank of Sweden, the Sveriges Riksbank, to honour Alfred Nobels memory. The Nobel Prize in Economics or the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences is awarded to individuals or groups of individuals who have made a significant impact on the field of economics through their research, discoveries or contributions. The laureates are selected by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences based on recommendations from a committee of experts in the field. Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 on October 2. The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne LHuillier for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter on Tuesday. On October 4, Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery and synthesis of quantum dots. This years Nobel Prize in Literature went to Jon Fosse for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on Monday with US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his delegation of lawmakers in Beijing, Chinese state-run media outlet Xinhua and AFP said in a report. During their meeting, Xi Jinping told the top Democrat senator that the future and destiny of mankind depends on China, US relations. How China and the United States get along with each other in the face of a world of change and turmoil will determine the future and destiny of mankind, Xi Jinping said. He described the China-US ties as the most important bilateral relationship in the world. Xi Jinping said China has no reason to ruin the Beijing-Washington relationship and said the logic of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States remains unchanged. I have said many times, including to several presidents, that we have 1,000 reasons to improve China-US relations, but not one reason to ruin them, Xi Jinping said. China and the United States must demonstrate the broadmindedness, vision and responsibility of major countries, enhancing the well-being of the two peoples and promoting progress of human society, he further added. He said that despite several ups and downs the general direction of India-China ties have been forward. The world is developing and times are changing, but the historical logic of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States has not changed, the Chinese President said. US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to Asia. He said the main objective of his and the bipartisan delegations China visit is to seek economic reciprocity and the creation of a level playing field for US businesses in China. The senator was accompanied by Republicans Mike Crapo of Idaho, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy of Louisiana, as well as Democrats Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Georgias Jon Ossoff. They will also meet South Korean and Japanese government officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, as well as Climate Envoy John Kerry, have all visited China this year. Aside from calling for a level playing field for American business and workers. Schumer urged the Chinese government to hold accountable China-based companies supplying deadly chemicals fuelling the fentanyl crisis in America. He also urged China to support Ukraine and not stand with Russia. Advancing human rights was an additional priority, Schumer said. However, Schumer said he was disappointed that the Chinese government did not condemn Hamas and urged Beijing to stand with Israel in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel following the latters surprise attack on Israel. Hamas fighters have captured dozens of innocent civilians, settlers, children and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel and have held them in locations across Gaza. This has complicated Israels plan to eliminate the terrorists with brute force in retaliation to Saturdays attack. ALSO READ | Hamas Attack: Heres How Hostages May Complicate Netanyahus Vengeance Plan Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world and the Israeli forces are finding it hard to establish how many people have been taken hostage. The IDF in its tweets and press releases have also avoided giving out an approximate number of people taken hostage. However, reports from several media outlets signalled that most hostages were taken from towns bordering the Gaza Strip, from a rave party in Negev desert and dozens of IDF soldiers were also taken hostage. It is unprecedented in our history that we have so many Israeli nationals in the hands of a terrorist organisation, lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, was quoted as saying by CNN. Heres what we know about the Israeli captives of Hamas: Negev Rave Party Hundreds of Israeli youngsters and young people from other nations who were attending a rave party in the Negev desert, near areas where Israel has set up settlements, were kidnapped by Hamas. Police said they found over 260 bodies at the rave party site. Videos released on social media showed party attendees running for safety as Hamas terrorists descended on them using paragliders and pickup trucks, near Urim, a community close to the Gaza Strip. Some of the partygoers were killed while many were taken hostage. Details of hostages from the attack are emerging as family members are recognizing their relatives from the clips circulating online. A video showed one Israeli woman and her boyfriend being kidnapped. News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. A German-Israeli national Shani Louk was also confirmed as being held hostage by Hamas by CNN. Ofakim and Beeri Hamas terrorists are holding Israeli citizens from the border community Beeri, and the town of Ofakim hostage. IDF spokesperson brigadier general Daniel Hagari said these two places are the main focal points of the unfolding crisis, while speaking to CNN. He further added that fighting was ongoing in 22 locations. A report by the CNN said that Hamas militants in Beeri were spotted taking multiple Israelis captive. Israelis living there told local media outlets that assailants were going door-to-door trying to break into the homes of the Israelis. Hostage situations were also reported from Netiv HaAsara by news outlets. The Israeli government is yet to issue a public statement on the kidnappings. Concerned residents are using viral videos to find out and identify their loved ones and ascertain if they are being held hostage. One man recognised his wife in a viral video where a group of people are being loaded on the back of a truck flanked by Hamas militants chanting Allahu Akbar, the CNN said in a report. I dont even know what the situation is regarding the hostages, and the situation is not looking good, the man, Yoni Asher, told CNN. He confirmed that his wife was located in Gaza. Soldiers 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, Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said on social media. Injured soldiers were seen in viral videos being taken hostage by Hamas militants. A video, geolocated and authenticated by CNN shows soldiers being pulled out of a tank and being taken prisoners. The Hamas terrorists pulled out soldiers from a disabled tank and took them hostage. One soldiers motionless body was being stomped on by Hamas terrorists. RES, the world's largest independent renewable energy company, is proud to announce the official inauguration of Rodene Wind Farm in Alingsas, Sweden. RES, together with Mirova and Octopus Energy Generation, invited the local communities on 27 September to take part in the festivities. The inauguration celebrates the 13 turbines with a total installed capacity of 85.8 MW, the equivalent of powering 40,000 homes in Sweden or the entirety of Alingsas municipality. The newly established Rodene Wind Farm, situated outside Alingsas in Vastra Gotaland, Sweden, is developed and operated by RES and owned by Mirova, the affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers 100% dedicated to sustainable finance, and Octopus Renewables - two major investors in renewable energy and driving forces accelerating the transition to net zero. The project consists of 13 Siemens Gamesa turbines with a total installed capacity of 85.8 MW, the equivalent of powering 40,000 homes in Sweden, resulting in a yearly saving of 230,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. Rodene Wind Farm is unique in its location, it is situated close to the city, and the construction of the wind farm has enabled a rich outdoor experience for the local communities. Matilda Afzelius, CEO of RES in the Nordics, commented: "The inauguration of Rodene Wind Farm marks an important milestone for the energy mix in Sweden. It is also a testament to the dedication and collaboration that we've had with the local communities as well as our long time partners Mirova and Octopus Renewables. Rodene Wind Farm is situated close to Alingsas city and has opened up and created accessibility for the local community. Today we see it being used for mountain biking, mushroom picking, hiking and many more outdoor activities as well as producing renewable energy into the system." The project has been successful and one defining key is the close collaboration with the municipalities and partners. Olena Reznik, Investment Director at Mirova, added: "We are delighted to celebrate Rodene's inauguration as it is a flagship project for Alingsas community and for RES. It is furthermore remarkable as it is one of the first projects to be built using the state of the art wind platform developed by Siemens. All parties have done a great job to make Rodene a success and to make another step towards decarbonization of the Alingsas area." The inauguration was attended by over 500 residents of all ages from Alingsas and Vargarda municipalities, local politicians and partners. The ceremony featured many outdoor activities as well as speeches highlighting the significance of wind farms such as Rodene in the transition towards a sustainable energy future. Ian Dunn, Asset Director for Wind at Octopus Energy Generation, commented: "Officially inaugurating this wind farm is an absolutely fantastic milestone. Onshore wind farms like these are generating much-needed clean green power for Sweden, and helping to drive the energy transformation which is a key priority for us." For more information, please contact: Adrian Holmgren Senior Asset Manager M +46 (0) 70 6337733 adrian.holmgren@res-group.com About RES RES is the world's largest independent renewable energy company and is active in onshore and offshore wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, transmission and distribution. As an industry innovator for over 40 years, RES has delivered more than 23GW of renewable energy projects across the globe and supports an operational asset portfolio exceeding 12GW worldwide for a large client base. Understanding the unique needs of corporate clients, RES has secured over 1.5GW of corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) enabling access to energy at the lowest cost. RES employs over 2,500 passionate people and is active in 14 countries. www.res-group.com About Octopus Energy Generation Octopus Energy Generation, part of the Octopus Energy Group, is a specialist clean energy investor. Launched in 2010 its mission is to accelerate the transition to a future powered by renewable energy. It has a diverse portfolio of assets with a capacity of over 2.8GW, making it the largest commercial solar investor in Europe and a leading investor in onshore wind. About Mirova Mirova is a management company dedicated to sustainable investments and an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. Through conviction management, Mirova's goal is to combine long-term value creation and sustainable development. Pioneers in many areas of sustainable finance, Mirova's talents aim to continue innovating in order to offer their clients solutions with high environmental and social impact. Mirova has been active in the energy transition infrastructure sector for 20 years and has financed more than 330 projects for a total of over 6.5 GW of potential generation capacity across Europe and Asia. Reaffirming its position as a major European player in renewable energy, storage and low-carbon mobility, the company has recently completed the raising of 1.6 billion for its fifth energy transition infrastructure equity fund. MIROVA Portfolio Management Company - Anonymous Company RCS Paris No.394 648 216 - AMF Accreditation No. GP 02-014 59, Avenue Pierre Mendes France - 75013 - Paris Mirova is an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers. Website - LinkedIn About Natixis Investment Managers Natixis Investment Managers' multi-affiliate approach connects clients to the independent thinking and focused expertise of more than 15 active managers. Ranked among the world's largest asset managers with more than $1.2 trillion assets under management2 ( 1.1 trillion), Natixis Investment Managers delivers a diverse range of solutions across asset classes, styles, and vehicles, including innovative environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies and products dedicated to advancing sustainable finance. The firm partners with clients in order to understand their unique needs and provide insights and investment solutions tailored to their long-term goals. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit Natixis Investment Managers' website at im.natixis.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/natixis-investment-managers. Natixis Investment Managers' distribution and service groups include Natixis Distribution, LLC, a limited purpose broker-dealer and the distributor of various US registered investment companies for which advisory services are provided by affiliated firms of Natixis Investment Managers, Natixis Investment Managers S.A. (Luxembourg), Natixis Investment Managers International (France), and their affiliated distribution and service entities in Europe and Asia. NATIXIS INVESTMENT MANAGERS French Public Limited liability company RCS Paris n453 952 681 Registered Office: 59, avenue Pierre Mendes-France - 75013 Paris Natixis Investment Managers is a subsidiary of Natixis. Twelve Thais have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, the kingdoms government said Monday as it prepared a plan to evacuate its citizens. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke said the Thai embassy in Israel learned of the deaths from the victims employers. She said a further eight Thais had been wounded and 11 taken captive since the war erupted when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Saturday. There are around 30,000 Thai workers in Israel, according to Bangkoks labour ministry, many of them working in agriculture. Labour minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said Israeli forces had begun to move workers away from danger zones. There are 1,099 who have registered to return home, Phiphat said in an interview on Thai television. We have about 5,000 labourers working in the fighting zone. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Kanchana said Thai air force planes were on standby to fly citizens home, though the date and other details of any evacuation were still being worked on. More than 1,100 people have been killed in the conflict in Israel and Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning of a long and difficult fight ahead. As Israeli operation Swords of Iron continues against Hamas for the third straight day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a grim dilemma amid a high-stakes situation. With over 700 Israelis killed and dozens held hostage, his response is crucial. Israels retaliation is said to have already resulted in more than 400 Palestinian casualties, as warplanes strike Gaza. Netanyahu has vowed vengeance but the fate of the Israeli citizens taken into Gaza complicates how Israel delivers on its promise to hit back hard and fast while keeping up with the longstanding principle of leaving no one behind. Though the Israeli side has not talked about the number of hostages, Hamas senior official Moussa Abu Marzouk was quoted saying by The Times of Israel that the terror group was holding over 100 Israeli hostages. No Easy Choices We dont know where Israelis are sheltered, said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu, according to the Israeli newspaper. So the army would have to bomb everything. Hamas already has said it seeks the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in exchange for Israeli captives. 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 was quoted as saying by Reuters. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it would act to free the hostages, seriously damage Hamass terrorist infrastructure and ensure no terrorist group in Gaza could harm Israeli citizens again. However, experts believe that there are no easy choices. Attempting to rescue all individuals held in several locations might put their lives at risk. But engaging in extended negotiations with Hamas for a prisoner exchange would represent a significant win for a longstanding adversary of Israel. Painful Memories 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 looks like a tough bargain when dozens of people may be held this time, which includes soldiers, elderly people, women and children. 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. In that operation, Israeli military officer 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. (With agency inputs) Security officials from Iran helped Hamas plan Saturdays surprise attack on Israel, the Wall Street Journal said in a report. The green light for the attacks were given on Monday during a meeting held in Lebanons capital Beirut, the report further added, citing senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed terrorist group. Israel-Hamas Conflict LIVE: Catch All the Latest Updates The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) worked with Hamas since August to plan the air, land and sea incursions, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said, citing people familiar with the developments. The IRGC and four Iran-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah and a political faction from Lebanon attended the meeting. ALSO READ | Hamas Attack: Heres How Hostages May Complicate Netanyahus Vengeance Plan The US has refrained from commenting directly on Irans involvement in the deadliest attack on Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur War or the Fourth Arab-Israeli War. We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship. We dont have any information at this time to corroborate this account, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State said. ALSO READ | Civilians, Kids, Grandmothers: Heres What We Know About the Israeli Citizens Held Hostage by Hamas The WSJ report said that a European official and an adviser to the Syrian government gave the same account of Irans involvement in the lead-up to the attack like the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Hamas publicly claims this is a decision taken by the armed group. This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision, Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, said. Iranian officials at the United Nations said Iran supports Gazas actions but did not direct them. The decisions made by the Palestinian resistance are fiercely autonomous and unwaveringly aligned with the legitimate interests of the Palestinian people. We are not involved in Palestines response, as it is taken solely by Palestine itself, the Iranian official said. ALSO READ | Israel-Hamas Conflict: Which Countries are Supporting Tel Aviv & Nations Backing Palestinian Group Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi talked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and the WSJ report also said that Tehran is now devoting the IRGCs foreign resources toward coordinating, financing and arming militias antagonistic to Israel, which also includes Hamas and Hezbollah. However, the people familiar with the developments told the news outlet that Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist leaders have met with the Iranian Quds Force leaders at least biweekly in Lebanon since August. The meetings were held under the leadership of Ismail Qaani, the leader of the IRGCs international military arm, the Quds Force. The other attendees of these meetings were Hezbollahs leader Hassan Nasrallah, Islamic Jihad leader al-Nakhalah, and Saleh al-Arouri, Hamass military chief, the leaders of the terror group said. They further added that Iranian foreign minister Amir-Abdollahian attended at least two of the meetings. The WSJ report also said that the Iranian IRGC wants to create a multi-front threat and strangle Israel from all sides. Hamas and Hezbollah members and Iranian officials speaking to the WSJ said that Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine would operate from the North and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank. Israel previously has warned that if they find Iranian leadership is found responsible for killing Israelis it will strike Irans leadership. This will also bring a new age of unrest in West Asia and the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel, who were eyeing a normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab nations, will now have to wait before signing any deal. The total tally of dead from the Israel-Hamas conflict rose to above 1,100 within 48 hours since the onset of the hostilities, with thousand others injured. We know that there were meetings in Syria and in Lebanon with other leaders of the terror armies that surround Israel so obviously its easy to understand that they tried to coordinate. The proxies of Iran in our region, they tried to coordinate as much as possible with Iran, Israels ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, said Sunday. Israel has ordered an immediate cut to water supplied to the Gaza Strip, the energy minister said, as the countrys military bombed the Palestinian enclave with air strikes. I ordered to immediately cut off the water supply from Israel to Gaza. Electricity and fuel were cut off yesterday, he said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Katzs order came soon after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, which receives about 10 percent of its annual water from Israel. Israel controls the air space over Gaza and its shoreline and monitors who and what goods are allowed in and out through its border crossings. Earlier today, Gallant said Israel is putting a complete siege on Gaza. No electricity, no food, no water, no gas its all closed, Gallant said in a video message, referring to the enclave that is overcrowded with 2.3 million people. . , . pic.twitter.com/FhDizBKOSX Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) October 9, 2023 On Sunday, Israeli authorities announced that they would cut off the supply of electricity, fuel and goods to Gaza in the wake of the deadliest day of violence in nearly 50 years. This decision was taken by the countrys Security Cabinet, which informed the Israeli forces have begin the offensive phase to restore the security of their citizens. So far, 700 people have been killed in southern Israel, two days into Hamas attacks across the border that started on Saturday, shooting people in the communities and towns near Gaza. Around 493 people have also been killed in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli military launched air strikes on the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas attack. The Israeli military has reportedly regained control of border communities taken by Hamas fighters during the attack. But Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. (With agency inputs) The White House is working with regional partners to warn anyone who might try to take advantage of the situation in Israel, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday. Sullivan spoke on Monday with his Israeli national security counterparts, the official said in an X post. Israel brought rain fire on Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip on the third day of its war against the Palestine-based terror group. The casualties rose to over 1200 including 560 on the Gaza side as Israel kept bombing targets in the crowded Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Plumes of smoke from deafening explosions blackened the skies of Gaza as Hamas kept launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his response to Hamas will change the Middle East. Meanwhile, Hamas has called on resistance fighters in the occupied West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join its Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, launched half a century after the 1973 Arab-Israel war. Here Are Latest Updates on Israel-Palestine Conflict: Fighting continued in southern Israel early Monday after the government declared war and intensified its bombardment of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a major surprise attack by Hamas. Special forces soldiers were brought in to try to retake four Israeli sites held by Hamas following its unprecedented weekend incursion, which officials said involved as many as 1,000 fighters. The militants blew through a fortified border fence and gunned down civilians and soldiers in Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier during a Jewish holiday. The rampage included an assault on a crowded music festival where authorities had removed about 260 bodies by Sunday. Israel struck back with airstrikes, including one 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. Thousands were wounded and some 123,000 displaced people in Gaza were in shelters, the UN said. Amid the carnage, an assessment by Indias Intelligence sources listed several options both good and bad before Israel. To begin with, Israel can increase air strikes where they will get nothing but will be more vulnerable to future attacks from all sides. Another option is to begin a ground offensive inside Palestine but that will trigger the problem of civilian killings and put a question mark on the success of the mission. There is also no guarantee of where the ground offensive will go and once it is opened, Hezbollah will definitely enter the ring. Alternatively, as a compromise formula, they can exchange prisoners for their own citizens. The flip side is that it will release thousands of Hamas terrorists who may turn around and engineer more attacks in the future. Another option is to negotiate for something else where the Arab world is also comfortable and gives space to Israel. In one of the impossible-looking scenarios, they may be able to recover their own captives deep inside Gaza. In the best-possible scenario, where they can have gain some positive results, Israel should ignore the threat and attack Hamas without assessment, making it an international threat. By doing this, they would polarise the worlds sympathy and create an atmosphere against Islamic terror threat. They will be able to identify Hamas funders and push pressure on the tilted world order to sanction Hamas. More than 123,000 people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the conflict between Palestinian militants and Israel, the United Nations said on Monday. Over 123,538 people, have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes, said the UNs humanitarian agency, OCHA. More than 73,000 are sheltering in schools, OCHA said, some of which have been designated emergency shelters. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on Gaza since Saturday, when Hamas militants launched deadly attacks in Israel and fired thousands of rockets at the country. Adnan Abu Hasna, a spokesman for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said he expected the numbers to rise further. Theres electricity in these schools, we provide them with a meal, clean water, psychological support and medical treatment, he told AFP. Gaza is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, who have lived under a crippling Israeli blockade imposed after Hamas took power in 2007. Unbeknownst to the horror awaiting him, Yoni Ashers life took a tragic turn early on Saturday morning during a phone call with his wife, Doron Asher Katz. Yonis wife was visiting her mother in the community of Nir Oz near the Gaza Strip with their two young daughters when Hamas attacked. 34-year-old Asher whispered down the phone line to Yoni, telling the chilling news that she, her mother, and their two young daughters were trapped inside a secure room in a village near the Gaza border. She told me the terrorists are in the house, he said, according to Reuters. Then the call got cut off. Soon after, the nightmare intensified when Asher Katz informed Yoni that her mothers life partner, Gadi Moses, had left the safety of the room to confront the intruders. She somberly added, They left and they took him with them. Desperately, Asher clung to hope that his wife and children remained safe. But their brief connection was cut abruptly as the phone lines went dead. It was the last time Asher would hear his wifes voice. He remotely tracked the location of his wifes phone, discovering that it had been taken to Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza. The ordeal took another turn when a video began spreading on the internet. The footage showed abducted Israelis being driven through the territory, crammed into the back of a pickup truck. In the video, a gunman was seen attempting to blindfold a woman. To Ashers anguish, he recognised the woman in the videoit was his wife, Doron. Alongside her were their young daughters, Raz and Aviv, aged 5 and 3, as well as his mother-in-law, Efrat Katz. 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. Now sleep eludes him as he grapples with the surreal nightmare. I have two little babies, two little girls, he said in an interview. These little babies should not be held or kept by terrorists. Yonis family is not the only one. Israeli authorities estimate that around 150 hostages are now being held captive in Gaza, with the majority seized from small Israeli border towns. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Netanyahu has vowed vengeance in the wake of an unprecedented assault. However, the fate of the Israeli citizens taken into Gaza complicates how Israel delivers on its promise while keeping up with the longstanding principle of leaving no one behind. (With agency inputs) Israeli intelligences inability to anticipate and prepare for a surprise attack comes under scrutiny as the country grapples with a large-scale Hamas offensive, which is the biggest escalation in the last 50 years. An Egyptian intelligence official has disclosed that Israel paid little heed to numerous alerts regarding a substantial impending move by the Gaza-based terrorist organisation. The Egyptian official said that Cario had spoken repeatedly with the Israelis about something big that was coming soon. He went on to claim that Israeli officials were focused on the West Bank and played down the threat from Gaza. We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings, the official told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity. So far, more than 700 Israelis have been killed in the countrys worst losses since the 1973 Yom Kippur war and over 400 Palestinians killed as Israel continues to bombard Gaza. Moreover, the capture of dozens of Israeli soldiers and civilians elderly women, children, entire families by Hamas, has added to the urgency for strong response. In Gaza, Palestinians are under constant surveillance, with drones overhead, extensive border security, and a vigilant military presence. Israeli intelligence agencies typically employ various sources and cyber capabilities to gather information. However, in the lead-up to the recent unprecedented attack by Hamas, where hundreds of terrorists breached Israeli borders, Israels intelligence apparatus seemingly faltered. Given the nature of this audacious attack, Israeli intelligence agencies, known for their past achievements, now face scrutiny over their perceived invincibility. As per analysts, the surprise assault against Israel was a meticulously planned offensive that Hamas is capable of keeping up, with a risk of even greater escalation. It was a huge failure on the Israeli side and a huge achievement for Hamas, said Kobi Michael, senior researcher at the Tel-Aviv-based Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). In order to launch such an operation, you have to do a lot of preparation, planning, coordination and you have to have a very meaningful, significant, essential strategic prospect or objective that you are seeking to achieve, he was quoted as saying AFP. Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that this is a major failure. This operation actually proves that the (intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good. Not only Amidror, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, also acknowledged the army owes the public an explanation. But he said now is not the time. First, we fight, then we investigate, he said. As Israel continues operation Swords of Iron against Hamas for the third straight day, Netanyahu has promised vengeance. However, the fate of the Israeli citizens taken into Gaza complicates how Israel delivers on its promise to hit back hard and fast while keeping up with the principle of leaving no one behind. (With agency inputs) RENO Broadbent & Associates Inc., an environmental, water resource, and civil engineering firm, announced the recent signing of a Restoration of Abandoned Mine Sites contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We are thrilled to collaborate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and RAMS stakeholders on this project, said Randy Miller, president of Broadbent. This opportunity reflects our commitment to environmental stewardship and safety, and we are eager to execute the work entrusted to us by the program managers. Our dedicated team is well prepared to make a positive impact, and we look forward to exceeding expectations. This project involves providing essential services to enhance and expand Abandoned Mine Land database processes and facilitating communication between Restoration of Abandoned Mine Sites stakeholders. The contract extends one year with four succeeding optional years, according to Broadbent. Broadbent stated that it has been entrusted with the task of supporting and enhancing AML databases through the implementation of cutting-edge Geographic Information System and database platform standards. This project aims to connect RAMS stakeholders, including the Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation Department, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, and Nevada Division of Minerals with valuable data sharing practices. Broadbent said it brings a highly qualified team to this project, including Holly Miller as project manager and GIS analyst, David Brickey as GIS manager, Layth Grangaard as software engineer, and Jeramie Memmott as GIS system administrator. This contract win underscores Broadbents ongoing commitment to providing sound scientific solutions for comprehensive resource management challenges, the company said. Broadbents website is www.broadbentinc.com. A number of Americans were killed in the surprise attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, a US official confirmed on Sunday, without giving further details. We can confirm the deaths of several US citizens, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council said. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected. Cody J. Kapphahn. 33, was arrested Sept. 29, 2023, at 3944 Mountain City Hwy. for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence, two counts of possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance, using or possessing drug paraphernalia, resisting a public officer and making a false statement to obstruct a public officer. Bail: $11,000 Dawne E. Croy, 46, was arrested Sept. 29, 2023, at Monroe County Jail in Illinois for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Kelly L. Albiani, 39, was arrested Sept. 29, 2023, at 479 Parkridge Pkwy. for reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm or death, assault with a deadly weapon, battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. Bail: $30,000 Robert L Martinez OBrien, 39, was arrested Sept. 29, 2023, for violation of conditions of suspended sentence. Braulio V. Rodriguez, 30, was arrested Sept. 30, 2023, at 1750 Mountain City Hwy. for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence and two counts of possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance. Bail: $30,000 Moises Alvarado Jr., 24, was arrested Sept. 30, 2023, at 960 Panorama Dr. for using a credit or debit card or identification without cardholders consent and petit larceny. Bail: $15,640 Jesus Lopez-Gerra, 37, was arrested Oct. 2, 2023, at 5921 Kale Dr. on a felony warrant for failure to appear after bail for a felony crime. Bail: $5,000 Anthony R. Delmondo, 47, was arrested on Oct. 2, 2023, at the Elko County Jail on a felony warrant for failure to appear after bail on a felony crime. Bail: $10,000 Joseph B. Garcia, 33, was arrested Oct. 2, 2023, at the Elko District Court on two counts of conspiring to possess, receive or transfer a stolen vehicle. Eric S. Grossnickle, 38, was arrested Oct. 3, 2023 at Metzler Rd. for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Eric W. Whitney, 31, was arrested Oct. 3, 2023, on the 400 block of Silver St. for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence and resisting a public officer. Bail: $355 Kody Hassel, 34, was arrested Oct. 4, 2023, at 674 Cimarron Way for possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance. Bail: $10,000 Bryce A. Johnson, 18, was arrested Oct. 4, 2023, on Interstate 80 mile marker 297 on a felony warrant for fugitive from another state. Edward G. Kay, 54, was arrested Oct. 4, 2023, at the Elko Parole and Probation office for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence. Thomas C. Kent, 52, was arrested Oct. 4, 2023, at 1951 Idaho St. for domestic battery by strangulation. Bail: $100,000 Ernesto Vasquez Jr., 41, was arrested Oct. 4, 2023, at the Elko County Courthouse on a felony warrant for failure to appear after bail for a felony crime and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $26,790 Tyrell M. Holley, 39, was arrested Oct. 5, 2023, at 687 6th St. Apt. 3, for violation of probation or condition of suspended sentence, four counts of burglary of a structure, grand larceny, and destroying property of another. Bail: $450,355 One big factor in the looming question of how Israel and its allies in the West failed to anticipate the Hamas attack that launched a war? Iran. Senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, both of which are Iran-backed militant groups, anonymously confirm to the Wall Street Journal that Iranian security officials helped Hamas plan Saturday's attack. (A spokesperson for Hamas had previously said the same to the BBC.) Representatives of Hamas, Hezbollah, two other militant groups backed by Iran, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps planned the attacks during a series of meetings in Beirut, the sources say, and the green light was apparently given at a meeting there last Monday. American mountaineer Anna Gutu and a Nepalese guide, Mingmar Sherpa, were confirmed dead Sunday after avalanches struck the slopes of a Tibetan mountain, while two others remained missing, according to Chinese media reports. The avalanches struck Tibet's Mount Shishapangma on Saturday afternoon at about 25,000 feet and about 26,000 feet in altitude, according to state-owned Xinhua News Agency. American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and a Nepalese mountain guide, Tenjen Sherpa, went missing, the AP reports. Sherpa was one half of a duo who shattered the record for the fastest climb of the world's 14 highest mountains 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 US, 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. October is a popular time to trek the Himalayas as it's 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. (Read more Himalayas stories.) Gavin Newsom has been putting his veto pen to good use in recent days, earning criticism from fellow Democrats on two bills specifically. First, on Saturday, the California governor nixed legislation that would've barred insurance companies from making consumers pay more than $35 per month out of pocket for prescription insulin, which some diabetics need daily to survive, per the AP . Newsom defended his decision by citing California's plans to soon manufacture its own affordable insulin under the brand name CalRx. Under a contract with Civica Rx, insulin vials via this initiative would cost just $30 each. "With CalRx, we are getting at the underlying cost, which is the true sustainable solution to high-cost pharmaceuticals," Newsom explained after his veto. "With copay caps, however, the long-term costs are still passed down to consumers through higher premiums from health plans." On Sunday, Newsom then vetoed a bill that would've made free condoms available to the nearly 2 million public high school students in the state, as well as made it illegal for retailers to refuse to sell condoms to those youths, reports the AP. Although Newsom agreed that such a measure was "important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health," it was simply too expensive of a prospect. State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat who sponsored the insulin bill, called Newsom's veto a "missed opportunity" and "major setback" for California's diabetics. Meanwhile, in a statement to the Los Angeles Times, state Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat who authored the condoms bill, called Newsom's veto of her legislation a "setback" for sexual health equity, per UPI. "We need to meet high school students where they are to properly address the STI crisis in California," she noted. Newsom also over the weekend vetoed bills that would've decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms and banned caste-based discrimination. (Read more Gavin Newsom stories.) Marie-Louise Gay's children's books often pop up on various recommended lists, like "books to watch for" and books that "inspire a love of reading." At one Alabama library, however, one of the award-winning Canadian author and illustrator's picture books was placed on a list of potentially "sexually explicit" books that needed to be reviewed and possibly moved to the adult section, though not because of its actual content. AL.com notes that Read Me a Story, Stella, a book about "a pair of siblings reading books together and building a doghouse," ended up on said list within the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library due to the writer's last name, Gay. HCPL's executive director, Cindy Hewitt, tells the news outlet that "gay" was one of the keyword triggers used to flag more than 200 books, a move she insists was a "proactive" one to get ahead of what she predicts to be an "unprecedented" year of book challenges. Hewitt adds that the library system used a list compiled by Clean Up Alabama to guide its review process, and that keywords she'd asked branch managers to employ in search of books to potentially move included "sexuality," "gender," "sex," and "dating." She also concedes Gay's book shouldn't have been flagged at all. "Obviously, we're not going to touch that book for any reason," she notes. Some of her own employees are upset that any books at all are being preemptively reviewed, before criticism had even been logged from the public. "Why are we just unilaterally moving all of this before anyone's even complained about these books yet?" says Alyx Kim-Yohn, a circulation manager at the library system's Madison branch who refused to take part in the review process. story continues below "The decision had been made," Kim-Yohn added. "There was no debate." AL.com got its hands on the library's "to be reviewed" list and found 91 of the 233 titles on that list, or about 40%, targeted books with LGBTQ+ themes, including with words like "lesbian," "gay," "transgender," "gender identity," or "gender non-conforming" in the subject header. Kirsten Brassard, Gay's publicist at Groundwood Books, calls the situation "laughable," but also a serious one. "This proves, as always, that censorship is ... about sending the message to children that certain ideasor even certain peopleare not worthy of discussion or acknowledgement or consideration," she says. (Read more censorship stories.) UPDATE Oct 10, 2023 12:30 AM CDT US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday he was grateful for a strengthened statement from China condemning the killing and kidnapping of Israeli and foreign civilians by Hamas, issued during a bipartisan congressional visit to Beijing, the AP reports. Schumer told Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier in the day that he had been very disappointed by China's failure to strongly condemn the attack. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said later Monday that China is "deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict between Palestine and Israel." "China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians," along with actions that "expand conflict and undermine regional stability," Mao said, going beyond an initial Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday. "I'm gratified the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement that did condemn the loss of civilian life," Schumer later told reporters. Oct 9, 2023 8:40 AM CDT US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Chinese President Xi Jinping in a rare meeting Monday that he was "very disappointed" by China's failure to strongly condemn the recent Hamas attack on Israel and show sympathy for the country and its people. Schumer is leading a delegation of six senators to China this week. The delegation, which includes three Democrats and three Republicans, is the first visit by US lawmakers since 2019 and comes at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijing's rise as a global power. "I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks," said Schumer, per the AP. A Florida man and his three adult sons were sentenced Friday for selling a toxic industrial bleach as a fake COVID-19 cure through their online church. A federal judge in Miami sentenced Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, to 12 years and seven months in prison, while Mark Grenon, 66, and Joseph Grenon, 36, each received five years, according to court records. A jury found all four guilty in July of conspiring to defraud the United States and deliver misbranded drugs, per the AP . The Grenons represented themselves but declined to speak during the two-day trial. Prosecutors called the Grenons "con men" and "snake-oil salesmen" and said the Bradenton family's Genesis II Church of Health and Healing sold $1 million worth of their so-called Miracle Mineral Solution. In videos, it was pitched as a cure for 95% of known diseases, including COVID-19, Alzheimer's, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, prosecutors said. What the Grenons were selling was actually chlorine dioxide, officials said. When ingested, the solution becomes a bleach that's typically used for such things as treating textiles, industrial water, pulp, and paper, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Authorities said it's the same as drinking bleach and can be fatal. A Miami federal judge ordered the church to stop selling the substance in 2020, but that order was ignored. Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were arrested in Bradenton, just south of the Tampa Bay area. Mark and Joseph Grenon fled to Colombia, where they were arrested and extradited back to the United States. Besides the fraud convictions, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were also convicted of violating federal court orders requiring them to stop selling Miracle Mineral Solution in 2020. US authorities agreed to drop those same contempt charges against Mark and Joseph Grenon as a condition of their extradition from Colombia. (Read more COVID-19 stories.) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has abandoned his bid for the Democratic nomination to run for president as an independent and while polls show that the anti-vaccine activist is more popular with Republicans than Democrats, analysts suspect he might take more votes away from President Biden than Donald Trump. Matt Bennett at left-leaning political strategy firm Third Way tells Reuters that Trump's support is "limited" but "very stable," while Biden supporters might be more likely to pick a third-party candidate. "Voters who would reluctantly pick Biden in a head-to-head with Trump might jump at the chance to vote for a Kennedy, even if they don't know much about him," Bennett says. According to Reuters/Ipsos polling from last month, Kennedy has a higher favorability rating than either Biden or Trump, with 51% compared to 45% for Biden and 40% for Trump, though RealClearPolitics found that Biden had a 50-point lead over Kennedy in the Democratic race. Kennedy's poll numbers have declined in recent months, though he still has support among what the New York Times describes as a "particular cross-section of skeptical Democrats, political conservatives, and independents." Kennedy is one of the 11 children of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated while running for president in 1968. In a statement posted on X Monday, four of his siblings condemned his decision to run as a third-party candidate as "dangerous to our country," Mediaite reports. "Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision, or judgement. Today's announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country," said the statement from Kerry Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy II, and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend. (Read more Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stories.) Sen. Cory Booker was jogging in Jerusalem on Saturday when he received a call from his staff saying that Israel was under attack. Get back to the hotel, he was told. When he got there, Booker hid with other "frightened faces" in a stairwell. "There were children, elderly, families, many Americans," Booker said. "There was a sense of fear and worry, and a knowledge to many of us that there were horrific things going on around the country at the time." The New Jersey Democrat returned Sunday to the US, as did Rep. Dan Goldman, who was in Tel Aviv for a family bar mitzvah, NPR reports. Booker, who arrived in Israel on Friday for meetings, described the moment in a video on X, which USA Today posted here. Goldman said on Today that he, his wife, and their children were awakened by sirens and retreated to stairwells several times Saturday. "Our experience was traumatic," the New York Democrat said, "but of course it is nothing compared to so many Israelis down in the south, just massacred with barbarism that we have not seen." Booker also condemned the Hamas attack, saying he was more committed now to working in the Senate for Israel's security and stability in the region. (Read more Israel-Hamas war stories.) Native Americans celebrated their history on Monday with events marking Indigenous Peoples Day, from a sunrise gathering in Minneapolis to a rally at the Maine Statehouse and traditional dancing, music, and food in Arizona and Alaska. The ceremonies, costumed performers and speeches came two years after President Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day, the AP reports. At the time, he said the day is meant to "honor America's first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive." At a gathering in Phoenix where dancers performed in traditional Aztec costumes, Sifa Matafahi said it was an opportunity to "pay respect to indigenous cultures ... to reflect on our past and history while also acknowledging our cultural presence." In Minnesota, about 150 people, including the governor, attended a sunrise prayer and ceremony at Bde Maka Ska, a lake surrounded by parkland on the south side of Minneapolis. "Today, we recognize our ancestors and predecessors who really laid the foundation for us to stand," said Thorne LaPointe, a Native American organizer. "And we will always recognize our elders who are here and those who have gone on before us, who really kicked open the doors in their time, nationally and internationally." Seventeen states and Washington, DC, have holidays honoring Native Americans, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of them celebrate it on the second Monday of October, pivoting from a day long rooted in the celebration of explorer Christopher Columbus to one focused on the people whose lives and culture were forever changed by colonialism. Dozens of cities and school systems also observe Indigenous Peoples Day. In Augusta, Maine, several hundred people rallied outside the Statehouse in support of a Nov. 7 statewide vote on an amendment that would require the restoration of tribal treaties that were omitted from printed versions of the state constitution. Maulian Bryant, Penobscot Nation ambassador and president of the Wabanaki Alliance, said once people understand the importance to Native Americans, they will support it like they did when towns, and then the state, enacted Indigenous Peoples Day. Bryant recalled the successful grassroots conversations that took place about the legacy of Columbus, whose arrival brought violence, disease, and suffering to Native Americans. "We want to honor the true stewards of these lands," she said. story continues below Some gathered in Anchorage, Alaska, said such a celebration would have been unheard of there six decades ago. Gina Ondola, a Dena'ina Athabascan, said she graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1962 with only four or five other Alaska Natives in her class and certainly no Indigenous culture club for Native students. "We didn't learn much about our history," she said, per the AP. Instead they were taught how white Europeans who came to North America were slaughtered by Native Americans. "When I was growing up, I didn't feel too much pride in being Native. I always heard about 'drunk Natives,'" said Odola. "It feels good for me to be able to feel pride in who I am." (Read more Indigenous People's Day stories.) JERUSALEM Israel's military ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on Monday, halting deliveries of food, water, fuel and supplies to its 2.3 million people as it pounded the Hamas-ruled territory with waves of airstrikes in retaliation for the militants' bloody weekend incursion. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, the Israeli military said it had largely gained control in its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. Israel's vaunted military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard by Hamas, resulting in heavy battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. Already, civilians on both sides have suffered a terrible toll: around 700 people, including 73 soldiers, have been killed in Israel, and 493 people have been killed in Gaza, according to authorities on each side. Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters have been killed. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. In response to Israel's bombardment, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said in an audio released Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza "without prior warning." Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, "This war crime will not be forgiven." A major question remains whether Israel will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory, a move that in the past has brought even greater casualties. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive, and both sides talk of shattering with violence a years-long Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. Israel has been stunned by a surprise attack and death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That is fomenting calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject any Palestinians statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy. "I ask you to stand firm because we are going to change the Middle East," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told authorities from the south Monday. "I know you have been through terrible and difficult things. What Hamas will go through will be difficult and terrible we have only just begun." In the early evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamas's reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Monday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Gallant said Israel was at war with "human animals," using the kind of dehumanizing language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza of varying strictness since Hamas seized power in 2007. In recent years Israel has provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and some consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israel's siege would spell "utter disaster" for Gazans. "There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law," he told The Associated Press. "If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because lack of energy, electricity, and supplies, it could amount to war crimes." The Israeli seal will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food, and other deliveries, but the question of allowing in fuel was not yet decided. Egypt expressed fears of a possible exodus of Gazans onto its soil. The state-owned Al-Qahera news channel, which is close to security agencies, quoted an anonymous high-level official warning against "pushing Palestinians toward the Egyptian border." Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters that Israeli bombardment was moving from district to district to destroy houses and buildings Israel says are being used by Hamas. Israel is planning to hit thousands of targets, he said. He said "hundreds" of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours. His claims of the numbers and his characterization of the dead as Hamas could not be confirmed. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Barhoum said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The U.N. said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. 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. Meanwhile, after about 48 hours of pitched battles, Hagari said the military has "control" of its border communities in southern Israel. He said 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP over the phone that the group's fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The armed wing of Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli airstrikes. That could not be independently confirmed. Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israel's prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. Bahrain success story as Manama is named capital of Gulf tourism for 2024 Bahrain success story as Manama is named capital of Gulf tourism for 2024 TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) CEO Dr. Nasser Qaedi lauded the selection of Manama as the capital of Gulf tourism for the year 2024 during the 7th meeting of the ministers responsible for tourism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on 5 October in Jabal Al-Akhdar, the Sultanate of Oman. The Kingdom of Bahrain earned this prestigious designation due to its outstanding contributions and discernible impact on elevating the Gulf tourism sector. HE Mr. Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Acting Minister of Tourism, led the delegation of Bahrain participating in the ministerial meeting, with the attendance of Dr. Qaedi. We take immense pride in this achievement in the Kingdoms tourism sector, which stands as a testament to a series of successful tourism endeavours at local, regional, and international levels. The Kingdom has positioned the tourism sector at the forefront of its developmental agenda, Dr. Qaedi stated. This strategic position acknowledges the sectors pivotal role in driving the sustainable development. Under this vision, substantial investments have been channeled into expanding tourism infrastructure, refining tourism services, and establishing high-quality facilities. These endeavours are aimed at attracting a greater influx of tourists worldwide. Dr. Qaedi added: Collaborating closely with its public and private sector partners, BTEA persistently crafts success stories, aiming to fulfill the ambitious tourism goals outlined in the 2022-2026 strategy. This intensive effort has transformed Bahrain into a beacon of adaptability, diversity, and consistent tourism growth within a remarkably brief timeframe. This achievement was evident last year when the Kingdom welcomed approximately 10 million tourists, surpassing the targeted numbers by an impressive 20%. We assure our GCC visitors of an exceptional tourism year ahead. Anticipate the launch of several high-quality tourism initiatives and an array of exclusive travel packages tailored for GCC citizens and residents; these offerings are meticulously designed to attract a broader audience, enhancing tourism appeal across all sectors. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Labour Funds (Tamkeen) announced its support for the participation of Bahraini startups and small, and medium enterprises in the renowned GITEX Global Exhibition for the ninth consecutive year. GITEX, a flagship event in the technology and emerging enterprise landscape, is scheduled to take place from 16 to 20 October at the Dubai World Trade Center. In partnership with the Bahrain Economic Development Board, Export Bahrain, and ila Bank, Tamkeen will sponsor the Kingdom of Bahrains pavilion at GITEX Global 2023, along with the participation of 30 small to medium-sized Bahraini tech enterprises within the pavilion. Additionally, Tamkeen will support the participation of promising tech startups in the Expand North Star exhibition. Scheduled to be held from October 15 to 18 in Dubai Harbour in conjunction with GITEX Global, it is one of the largest global events for startups and hosted by the Dubai Chamber for the Digital Economy. Tamkeen Chief Executive Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez said, Over the past eight years, Tamkeen has facilitated the participation of 265 Bahraini enterprises in GITEX Global, and we are delighted to continue this support. The presence of our local enterprises at this exhibition reinforces Bahrains position as a leading technology and innovation hub in the GCC and offers them opportunities to engage with international industry players, exchange knowledge, and foster partnerships. It allows them to stay abreast of the latest technological advancements, while showcasing their innovative products and services to a global audience. Highlighting the role of the ICT sector in the national economy, Her Excellency added, The information and communications technology sector is a vital pillar of our economy, contributing significantly to the GDP at 6.8% in 2022. In line with the Kingdoms digital economy strategy, we have launched an array of initiatives and programs to bolster tech businesses, nurture entrepreneurs, and drive digital transformation. Our aim is to foster innovation, create high-quality job opportunities, and elevate the Kingdoms global standing. AFP | Jerusalem The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Israel imposed a total siege on the Gaza Strip Monday and cut off the water supply as it kept bombing targets in the Palestinian enclave in response to the Hamas surprise assault it has likened to the 9/11 attacks. Reeling from the Islamist group's unprecedented ground, air and sea attacks, Israel has counted over 700 dead and launched a withering barrage of strikes on Gaza that have killed 560 people there. The skies over Gaza were blackened by plumes of smoke from deafening explosions as Hamas kept launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared. Hamas -- whose militants surged into Israeli towns on Saturday, sprayed gunfire at civilians and dragged off about 100 hostages -- claimed on Monday that Israeli air strikes had killed four of the captives. Israel said it had called up 300,000 army reservists, and truck convoys were seen moving tanks to the south, where its forces had dislodged the last holdout Hamas fighters from embattled towns. "We are in control of the communities," said military spokesman Daniel Hagari, cautioning that some "terrorists" may remain after about 1,000 militants swarmed into the region on the Jewish Sabbath. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel would impose a "complete siege" on the long blockaded enclave and stressed what this meant for its 2.3 million people: "No electricity, no food, no water, no gas -- it's all closed." Palestinians in the impoverished coastal territory braced for what many feared will be a massive Israeli ground attack aiming to defeat Hamas and liberate the hostages. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Gaza civilians to get away from all Hamas sites, which he vowed to turn "to rubble". Middle East tensions have spiked as Israel's arch enemy Iran and their Lebanese ally Hezbollah have praised the Hamas attack, although Tehran rejected any role in the military operation. Hamas has called on "resistance fighters" in the occupied West Bank and in Arab and Islamic nations to join its "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood", launched half a century after the 1973 Arab-Israel war. The United States has pledged "rock solid" support for Israel and said it would send munitions and military hardware to its key ally and divert an aircraft carrier group to the eastern Mediterranean. - 'Worst in Israeli history' - Israel, which has long prided itself on a high-tech military and intelligence edge in its many conflicts, has been shaken to the core by Hamas's unprecedented attack. It now faces the threat of a multi-front war after Hezbollah launched guided missiles and artillery shells from the north Sunday "in solidarity" with Hamas, in what some observers considered a warning shot. Israel has voiced alarm and revulsion after more than 1,000 militants broke through the Gaza border fence Israel had deemed impregnable and swarmed out into nearby Jewish communities. Among the hostages they took back into Gaza were children and a Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair, Israeli officials have said. Up to 250 bodies were strewn across the site of a music festival in a Negev desert kibbutz, mostly young people, while other revellers were feared to be among the hostages. "They butchered people in cold blood in an inconceivable way," said Moti Bukjin, a spokesman for the Zaka volunteer group which helped collect the bodies. Israelis have voiced anger at the intelligence failure that blindsided the nation, but have attempted to put aside for now deep political divisions of recent years as they braced for what Netanyahu has warned would be a "long and difficult war". "Never before have so many Israelis been killed by one single thing, let alone enemy activity in one day," said army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus. The multi-pronged attack had brought "by far the worst day in Israeli history", he said, likening it to a combination of the "9/11 and Pearl Harbour" attacks. The situation was also dire inside Gaza, which has been blockaded by Israel since Hamas assumed control there 15 years ago, a period that has seen multiple wars with Israel. Air strikes have levelled residential tower blocks, mosques and the central bank. More than 120,000 people in Gaza have been displaced, said the United Nations. "The situation is unbearable," said Amal al-Sarsawi, 37, as she took shelter in a school classroom with her terrified children. Children's sense of safety has been "ripped away" said Jason Lee of charity group Save the Children. "Our teams and their families are terrified, they feel like sitting targets. "Children across the region are in constant fear." - Global shock waves - Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have rallied in support and clashed with Israeli security forces in violence that has killed 15 Palestinians since Saturday. Anti-Israel activists have demonstrated in Iraq, Pakistan, the United States and other countries, while security was stepped up around Jewish temples and school worldwide. The spiralling conflict has sent shock waves around the world amid fears of a wider escalation, sparking a surge in oil prices on fears of tightening supplies. Western capitals have condemned the attack by Hamas, which the United States and European Union consider a terrorist group. Foreign or dual nationals have been reported killed, abducted or missing by countries including Brazil, Britain, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Panama, Paraguay, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States. 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. Israel, which has struck a series of US-brokered normalisation deals with several Arab nations in recent years, has issued a travel warning for its citizens, especially in the Middle East. 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) Editor: WXL 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. 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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 A woman sets afloat a lantern on water during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) Lanterns float on water during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) A girl sets afloat a lantern on water during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) People set afloat lanterns on water during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) People set afloat lanterns on water during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) People carry lanterns adorned with their wishes during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) A woman takes a photo of her lantern adorned with her wishes during the water lantern festival held in Foster City in California, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua) Editor: JYZ A high court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Drambi Vandi, the officer involved in the killing of Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer, to death by hanging. Ibironke Harrison, the trial judge, in her ruling on Monday, convicted Vandi of a one-count charge of murder. "The court finds the defendant guilty on one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead," the judge ruled. On December 25, 2022, Raheem who was pregnant at the time, was shot dead in an incident involving Vandi and other police officers at the Ajah underbridge, Lagos. Vandi was said to have pulled the trigger, with the bullet piercing the chest of the deceased. The lawyer was declared dead at the third hospital she was taken to after the shooting incident. The incident elicited widespread outrage, with many Nigerians calling for investigation into the activities of police officers attached to the Ajiwe police station, Ajah. Subsequently, the Lagos state government arraigned Vandi on a one-count charge of murder. The officer pleaded not guilty. Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the commission of the African Union, says the denial of the fundamental rights of Palestinians is the reason for the conflict between them and the Israelis. In the early hours of Saturday, the Palestinian Hamas militant group infiltrated Israel from the Gaza strip and took dozens of Israelis hostage. The Israeli death toll from the attack has surpassed 100, with more than 200 killed in Israeli reprisal attacks in Gaza, as of late Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since declared the attack an act of war. In a communique issued on Saturday, Mahamat said both sides should put an end to the conflict without conditions and return to the negotiation table. The Chairperson 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 communique reads. 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. Many world leaders and foreign governments, including Nigeria, have called for a de-escalation of the latest hostilities between both nations and an immediate ceasfire. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has flayed the report of the European Union Election Observation Mission EU-EOM to the 2023 general election in Nigeria, describing it as in inaccurate reflection of what transpired. According to him, the report did not give the true position of the last election, especially as it concerned his state, Rivers. The minister expressed his dissatisfaction on Monday in Abuja when he received in audience, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi. He said the EU was supposed to serve as an impartial observer during the polls and not to present an inaccurate report of Nigerias electoral democracy. The EU-EOM, through its chief observer, Barry Andres had in June presented its final report on the last Nigerian general elections, and highlighted six priority areas with recommendations. Wike, however said Nigerian laws cannot be same with that of the EU because of the peculiarities of both environments. I didnt agree with European Union over the last report on election in Nigeria. They are to observe, Nigerian laws cant be the same with EU laws because they have different environments. In Rivers state, the EU report was different from what transpired there. How can people who believe in democracy and practise it, be portrayed as people who dont understand democracy?. Our concern should be how to make the economy grow better, we have to cooperate and agree on specific areas of development in the Federal Capital Territory and the entire country. Foreign partners should be concerned on strategic development irrespective of the areas, he counselled. In her remarks, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi said the election report was put together by a delegation of independent observers and has nothing to do with her own operations. She however pledged the Unions continued commitment to working with the Minister to boost development in the territory and beyond. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it is not seeking the permission of the federal government for its personnel to carry arms. Shehu Zaki, a deputy corps marshal, who represented Dauda Biu, the corps marshal, at a passing out parade of cadets in Kotangora, Niger state, had reportedly said there is a need for FRSC officers to bear firearms in discharging their duties. He said allowing FRSC officers to carry arms would ensure adequate protection of the personnel who are often attacked while on duty by some road users or suspected criminals who take advantage of the security challenges in the country. It is left to the political leaders to arm the FRSC, but what we do know is that the issue of the FRSC bearing arms has been on our status since 1992, Zaki was quoted as saying. We are still waiting for us to be given the go-ahead to start using arms. Right now, looking at the level of insecurity in the country, it is not out of place for the FRSC to start using arms to enable us to protect ourselves when the need arises. But in a statement on Sunday signed by Bisi Kazeem, corps spokesperson, the FRSC said the statement did not reflect the corp marshals position or that of the management. The attention of the FRSC has just been drawn to a report that the Corps Marshal is seeking the permission of the Federal Government for the personnel of the Corps to bear arms, the statement reads. The said erroneous statement credited to the representative of the Corps Marshal at the Passing Out Parade of Cadets at the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kotangora, Niger State, does not reflect the current position of the Corps Marshal and the management team. Members of the public should therefore take note. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has expressed concern over the rising cases of insecurity ahead of the November 11 governorship elections billed to take place in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. In a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, he appealed to political parties and their candidates to avoid actions and utterances capable of heating up the polity. The commission is concerned about the spate of insecurity and violence, including clashes among supporters of political parties and candidates in the forthcoming elections, he said. The commission appealed to all political parties and candidates to avoid utterances and acts that may heat up the polity, adding that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and sustain its engagement with security agencies and stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of elections in the three states. The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, has announced the suspension of academic activities following the refusal of workers to call off their strike action. Recall that both the academic and non-academic staff of MAPOLY on Thursday embarked on an indefinite strike due to nonpayment of their July, August and September salaries. In an internal memorandum sent to all students by the Registrar, Olubunmi Elewodalu, the management said it is suspending academic activities for one week, starting from Monday, October 9. The internal memo tagged, MAP/REG. 486/VOL I/188 and dated 8th October, 2023, urged all students to stay off campus until otherwise directed. The management of the Polytechnic on behalf of the Academic Board is hereby announcing the suspension of all Academic activities for a period of one (1) week. The temporary suspension of academic activities is as a result of the need to address the prevailing circumstances in the Polytechnic. The suspension of academic activities will be effective from Monday, 9th October to Friday, 13th October, 2023. During this period, all students are enjoined to stay off the campus until otherwise directed. The above directive of Management is hereby conveyed to you for your information and necessary action, the internal memorandum read. Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of MAPOLY, Yemi Ajibola, confirmed the suspension of academic activities. He said: Yes. Management issued that (memo). It is important for students to go home since their lecturers will not be available to meet them in classes. Meanwhile, students of the polytechnic have threatened to stage a peaceful protest on Monday over the situation of things in MAPOLY. Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, was on Sunday flown to Kano in a presidential jet to watch the finals of this years edition of the Kano International Polo Tournament. Witnesses say the presidential jet conveying Seyi Tinubu and his friends landed in Kano around midday on Sunday. He was said to have been received at the airport by some officials of the presidency, the Kano State government and the Kano Polo Club. He was thereafter chauffeured to the Usman Dantata Polo Ground amidst tight security provided by gun-wielding detachments of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service. After the final matches of the two-week tournament were played and awards handed to winners, the waiting presidential jet then transported Seyi Tinubu and his party back to Abuja, the nations capital, where he currently lives. The presidents son attended the event simply to watch a sport he loves. He is a polo enthusiast and is the patron of the STL Polo Team in Lagos. He was part of the players that represented the club at last years Lagos Polo Tournament. His use of the presidential plane for a private event to satisfy his personal passion immediately triggered a firestorm of criticism by some Nigerians. Jaafar Jaafar, a London-based Nigerian journalist, brimmed with anger on X (formerly Twitter), saying, Heres Tinubus golden child, Seyi, travelling in a presidential jet to watch polo in Kano Even if our laws are vague on this, one thing is clear: this is an offence to the moral code of leadership. Reacting to the journalists comment, another user of the micro-blogging platform, who identified himself as Aliyu, said, The use of presidential jets for personal or non-official purposes by public officials can raise concerns about transparency and accountability. Its essential for leaders to uphold ethical standards and set a good example for the public. Transparency and adherence to rules can help combat corruption and ensure that government resources are used responsibly. What about the misuse of a special forces unit as his bodyguards? another X user, Bello Anka, said. See them in the pictures. The other day, he went skateboarding in Abuja with them running by his side. This is just a continuation of the culture of impunity from the previous government, perhaps on an even grander scale this time. But even before Sundays Kano trip, the younger Tinubu is known for travelling regularly and extensively with the presidential jet either in the company of his father or in those of his associates, a behaviour that has continued to irritate not a few taxpayers who lament inappropriate deployment and abuse of a key national asset. In July this year, he was photographed as he made to board a presidential jet. His destination and those he was travelling with remained unknown. The controversy over the inappropriate use of the planes in the presidential air fleet first emerged on January 9, 2020, when Hanan, the youngest daughter of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, flew to Bauchi, North-east Nigeria, on a presidential jet, in what was clearly a private trip. She and the presidency were roundly condemned over the matter, with Farooq Kperogi, an American-based Nigerian professor, describing the act as an unprecedented abuse of presidential powers. Recalling what happened during the Buhari era vis-avis Seyi Tinubus Sunday pleasure trip to Kano on the presidential jet, another X user, Bashar, said, Buhari merely sought the title of President without understanding or respecting the sanctity of the office. The audacity to let his daughter, Hanan, use a presidential jet for a mere photo tour in Bauchi was the beginning of this mockery. Now we see Tinubus protege, Seyi, hopping on the same jet for a polo match in Kano. Its not just about the laws, its about ethics, morals, and respect for the position. Our leaders must do more than just occupy an office; they must uphold its dignity. Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko and Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Andriy Pyshnyy, together with his deputy Serhiy Nikolaychuk, went on a working visit to the capital of Morocco, Marrakech, for the Annual Meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the press services of the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank told Interfax-Ukraine. "The purpose of the visit is to participate in the Annual Meeting of the World Bank Group and the IMF, in particular, in the Plenary Meeting and the Fourth Ministerial Roundtable Discussion for Support to Ukraine (to be held on Wednesday, October 11)," it is said, in particular, on the NBU page on Facedook. It is indicated that during the events, representatives of Ukraine will discuss the implementation of the provisions of the Memorandum with the IMF and the progress of preparations for the second revision of the EFF extended financing program, the consequences of Russian military aggression, current macroeconomic trends, as well as the necessary steps to strengthen the stability of the financial sector and the economy of Ukraine. As the central bank notes, the interlocutors will also pay attention to the issue of increasing sanctions pressure against Russia. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Benue State has knocked Governor Hyacinth Alia for the escalating insecurity in the state. The PDP said criminal elements are leveraging the incompetence of the governor to carry out their nefarious activities. This was contained in a statement distributed to journalists on Monday in Makurdi by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Bemgba Iortyom. In the statement, Iortyom said, PDP notes with much sadness that, as a consequence, no day passes in Benue currently without one act of terror or another against the people by either Fulani herdsmen or bandits, resulting in deaths, destruction, hunger and deepening impoverishment of ordinary citizens. Last night alone, there were reports of Fulani herdsmen having blocked the Makurdi Naka Road forcing motorists to avoid it while bandits are reported to have maintained an all-night-long spell of terror in parts of the Sankera axis. After over four months in office, Governor Alia is yet to appoint a Security Adviser and the signs are evident of incompetence and an absence of professionalism in the handling of security issues under his administration We recall that the governor had openly confessed to knowing and having a pact with bandits in the state whom he fondly referred to as my brothers in the bush. He further said: Equally a number of umbrella groups of Fulani herdsmen on several occasions claimed having rendered support to his election efforts, in return for his pledge to relax anti-open grazing restrictions against them in the state. PDP charges Governor Alia to put the lives of Benue people above whatever such pacts he must have had with any group of terrorists by coming out of his lethargy to move decisively against them. The blanket of silence being cast over the insecurity by the governor coupled with his lethargy and inaction must be torn off as it directly emboldens the terrorists and portends nothing but doom for the state and her people. The senate committee on finance has proposed the sale of government-owned moribund oil refineries, describing them as bottomless pits, despite turnaround maintenance. Sani Musa, the chairman of the committee, on Saturday, said the proceeds from the sale could be invested in the mining sector to create jobs for Nigerian youth. For me, my candid advice to the Federal Government on the nations apparently moribund oil refineries is for them to be privatised, Musa told journalists. The lawmaker said should the mining and agricultural sectors be repositioned, the youth who he said constitute 70 percent of Nigerias population would be productive. The Not too young to run opportunity given to the youth in the political terrain should be practically extended to the realm of innovation by providing them with a conducive environment and enablement to innovate as it is in most developed countries, Musa said. His comment followed similar calls from Taiwo Oyedele, the chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, Clement Isong, the chief executive officer of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), and Muda Yusuf, the founder of Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE). Oyedele had said the federal government has pumped about N10 trillion into the rehabilitation of the refineries, yet, they have made no contribution to the Nigerian economy. Spain said on Monday that it disagrees with a decision by the European Union to suspend development aid to the Palestinians in the wake of the Hamas assault on Israel. (Foreign Minister) Jose Manuel Albares, called European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi to say he disagrees with this decision, Spains foreign ministry said, adding that Albares called for this to be discussed at Tuesdays meeting of European foreign ministers. The EU had halted development aid payments to the Palestinians on Monday. All payments are immediately suspended. All projects are put under review. All new budget proposals, including for 2023 postponed until further notice. Comprehensive assessment of the whole portfolio, European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi posted on X. He added, The scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point. There can be no business as usual. As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of EUR 691m. Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has thanked former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, Professor Banji Akintoye, Ayo Adebanjo and several traditional rulers for the roles they played in securing his release from Beninese custody. Igboho gave his appreciation in a statement on Sunday he read via his Instagram handle titled, My Release in Benin Republic. Igbohos statement partly read, First of all, my sincere appreciation goes to God almighty, the master of the universe for making this day. I give special thanks to President Talon of Benin Republic and to all members of his cabinet. My gratitude goes to my heroic father, Professor Banji Akintoye, and Professor Wole Soyinka for their support in the course of the struggle. May God reward you Baba for your standing courageously for our Yoruba nation and me. You promised to stand by me through my ordeal in Benin Republic and you have fulfilled your promise. I will not forget to appreciate former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Baba Ayo Adebanjo for their roles, even though only God gives freedom. Let me use this opportunity to say thank you to all religious leaders, pastors, Muslim clerics and traditional worshippers for their prayers day and night. Recall that Igboho was arrested on July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjehoun Airport in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin on his way to Germany. The activist had fled Nigeria following a bloody raid on his Soka residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital by the Department of State Service (DSS), which accused him of hoarding arms. Yoav Gallant, Israels defense minister, has ordered a complete siege and blockade on Gaza. Gallant said authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel into Gaza. The Gaza Strip is controlled by the Hamas Palestinian militant group and borders Israel and Egypt. At the time of reporting, a barrage of rockets from Israel are being launched into Gaza. In the early hours of Saturday, Hamas made incursions into Israel in what was an unprecedented assault. Mohammed Deif, Hamas military commander, had said the attacks were a reprisal for Israels desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, while alleging that Israel killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinians this year. According to Times of Israel, the minister said everything in Gaza will be closed, adding that there will be no electricity, no food, no fuel. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly, he said. Over 700 Israeli civilians and members of the military are reported to have been killed since the attack on Saturday and another 2,150 wounded. More than 400 have also reportedly been killed in Gaza. Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua, Hamas spokesman, had said the groups fighters had captured more Israelis. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Meanwhile, Iran has rejected allegations that it had a role in the attack by Hamas. There were reports that Iranian security officials helped plan Hamas surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault. Nasser Kanani, Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, told reporters that the accusations linked to an Iranian role are based on political reasons, adding that the country does not intervene in the decision-making of other countries, including Palestine. The Palestinians had the necessary capacity and will to defend their nation and recover their rights, he said. Talking about an Iranian role aims at turning public opinion (away from the facts) and at justifying the potential future actions of Israel. President Bola Tinubu says the Ajaokuta steel complex will provide 500,000 jobs once it is completed. Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, said this on Sunday when he flagged off the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi. The governorship election will be held in the state on November 11. According to a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, media aide to Shettima, the president said the Ajaokuta steel complex would boost Nigerias foreign direct investment (FDI) and provide a conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive. 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, the statement reads. We must be partners in progress and work hand in hand to develop this great nation. [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. The president said his administration would prioritise the Itakpe crop processing project and make it a dream come true. On his part, Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, said residents of the state should vote for the APC to consolidate the gains his administration has made. We have done a lot in the area of security, education and health, among others. We want to consolidate on that, Bello said. I am, therefore, calling on the people of our dear state to vote for our candidate in order to move Kogi State forward. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakars Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, has alleged that the administration of President Bola Tinubu-led administration has perfected a sinister plot to gag the media ahead of the release of the records containing his investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He said the threat by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to sanction Arise Television News was only the tip of the iceberg. Shaibu said in a statement on Sunday that the NBC had been watching as media platforms like Television Continental (TVC) had been constantly attacking Atiku and had refused to even air opposition views. He said that Tinubus administration had become frustrated with the Chicago State University scandal and was planning a massive offensive in the coming days. Shaibu added, Back in February, the NBC tried to show a bit of fairness and fined TVC for unprofessional broadcasts, including the airing of the Joint Media Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council press briefing, where Festus Keyamo said Obasanjo and Atiku ran a criminal enterprise and an empire of fraud in Abuja. However, since Tinubu became president on May 29, the NBC has become more partisan than ever. The NBC boss, Balarabe Ilelah, is obviously seeking to retain his appointment and is now dancing to the tune of the APC and their master at the Presidential Villa. The NBC has now been co-opted into a grand plot to gag the media over Tinubus certificate scandal. Having lost the battle in the court of public opinion, they are now trying to use the powers of the state to browbeat the media into silence. This is indeed shameful for a man who claimed to be a hero of the June 12 struggle. Shaibu noted that this is not the time for the Nigerian media to show any weakness. He stressed that the trove of documents that the FBI was set to release this month would expose details of the investigation on Tinubu. Atikus aide added that the dissemination of this information must not be left to social media alone. The media must rise up to its role as the watchdog of society as enshrined in Section 22 of the 1999 constitution. The Jersey City chapter of the NAACP will hold its first membership meeting in more than two and half years Tuesday, newly appointed leaders of the local branch said. The chapter was suspended by the national organization early in 2021 over controversies surrounding then-President Rev. Nathaniel Legay and various alleged violations of the organizations bylaws. Earlier this year, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission noted that of 1,600 applications more than 400 are women-owned business. This year, just about half of the nearly 50 new dispensaries that opened are founded, owned or run by women. During Womens History Month this year, NJ Cannabis Insider put a spotlight on several emerging women-owned businesses at its March conference. For its fall conference on Oct. 12, more than a dozen will be featured on the vendor floor, including dispensaries, laboratories, manufacturers, delivery services and ancillary businesses such as consulting and insurance firms. The fall 2023 Womens Discovery Area will feature these companies: Other women-owned cannabis operators exhibiting at the conference are: Women holding executive positions in the national cannabis industry grew by only a percentage point, to 23.1%, according to MJBizDailys 2022 report, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry. Thats down nearly 15% to 36.8% in 2019, a year before the pandemic, the report found. At NJ Cannabis Insider events, weve made it a point to ensure at least half of our speakers are always women and that we provide several points of entry for women-owned businesses to amplify their brands, said Enrique Lavin, publisher and editor of NJ Cannabis Insider. We aim to reflect the diversity of New Jersey and its marketplace. Its why women-to-men parity is a priority. Doors open at 9 a.m. with cannabis trailblazer Wanda James keynote address opening the all-day event at 10 a.m. The conference ends at 5 p.m. Attendees can join an official after party later that night minutes away in Downtown Newark. Tickets ($295) are limited for the conference. A select number of discounted tickets were made available for social equity applicants. Click here for more details and to purchase tickets. Heres the full lineup, presentation topics, sponsors, vendors and special discovery areas: Keynote Wanda James, founder and CEO of , founder and CEO of Simply Pure CannaTalks & Presentations Government Meet Your Regulators: Understanding How CRC Works For You Dianna Houenou , chairwoman of the , chairwoman of the N.J. Cannabis Regulatory Commission Wesley McWhite III, CRC director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Government Services Grants & Training: What the N.J. Government Is Doing to Help You Tauhid Chappell , NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC), , NJ Business Action Center (NJBAC), Cannabis Training Academy Genna Jones , program manager at New Jersey Economic Development Authority ( , program manager at New Jersey Economic Development Authority ( NJEDA Donald Newman, manager of Small Business Advocacy, , manager of Small Business Advocacy, NJBAC Applications The Road to License Approval Is Never a Straight Line Ellie Siegel , CEO and founder of the cannabis consulting firm , CEO and founder of the cannabis consulting firm Longview Strategic Mollie Hartman Lustig, an attorney, is the chair of , an attorney, is the chair of McLaughlin and Stern s Cannabis Practice Group Wholesale, Distribution & Delivery: Following the Road to Success Manufacturing & Edibles: Expansion is Here. Infusion Demonstration Tara Misu , CEO of , CEO of Blazin Bakery and Green Alchemy Rob Mejia, author, founder of , author, founder of Our Community Harvest , professor at Stockton University Cultivation Essentials of Growing Indoors and Outdoors Smrita Choubey , founder and CEO of , founder and CEO of Veda Farms Spencer Belz, marketing director at Veda Farms Municipalities Talk to The Mayor and Council President: Insights on Municipal Approval Supply and Demand From Seed to Sale: Why Its Vital to Know Your Supply Chain Suzan Nickelson , founder of , founder of Holistic Solutions , NJ Cannabis Insider sponsor of Social Equity Discovery Area Kate Juliano, senior account manager, head of Social Equity-NJ at , senior account manager, head of Social Equity-NJ at Ascend Wellness Holdings Commerce Readiness Safeguarding Success: Compliance, Security and Commerce Readiness Tony Gallo , CEO of , CEO of Sapphire Risk Advisory Group Jacob Hicks, associate Vice President at associate Vice President at Tenax Strategies Capital & Spending Funding Your Build: Knowing the Costs Before Raising Money Special Sessions Ask This Attorney Anything: Licensing, Strategic Planning, SOPs, etc. Chirali Patel, founder and CEO of founder and CEO of Blaze Responsibly and Blaze Law Local and federal policy: Whats Next For N.J.s Cannabis Marketplace? presented by Simply Pure The Speed Networking Session presented by Tenax Strategies NJ Cannabis Insider has partnered with marketing and PR firm THCIAAB to moderate the 40-minute, intense speed-networking session designed to help license-holders meet other license-holders and all the other businesses they need to build and grow their operations. Sponsors and exhibitors Strategic Partners Rob Mejia , provides curious adults clear, researched information, stories from the cannabis community and products that offer confident, safe, and smart ways to experience cannabis. Mejia writes the Prof. Mejias Weed Corner for NJ Cannabis Insider. Our Community Harvest , founded by, provides curious adults clear, researched information, stories from the cannabis community and products that offer confident, safe, and smart ways to experience cannabis. Mejia writes the Prof. Mejias Weed Corner for NJ Cannabis Insider. Ellie Siegel , provides advisory services and industry insights to public, private and not-for-profit entities throughout the country. With years of active experience, Longview has been able to provide top quality counsel, secure hallmark resources and connections, and contribute writing services for client projects and developments. Longview Strategic , founded by, provides advisory services and industry insights to public, private and not-for-profit entities throughout the country. With years of active experience, Longview has been able to provide top quality counsel, secure hallmark resources and connections, and contribute writing services for client projects and developments. Josh Alb , hosts free community education events on cannabis and how individuals can enter the industry. Cannademix is NJ Cannabis Insiders Cannademix , founded by, hosts free community education events on cannabis and how individuals can enter the industry. Cannademix is NJ Cannabis Insiders After Party partner. Ken Wolski. CMMNJ , is the all-volunteer not-for-profit Coalition for Medical MarijuanaNew Jersey, which established in 2003 by co-founder Cannabis Insider Jobs , in collaboration with NJ Cannabis Insider, is dedicated to helping individuals find a career in the cannabis industry, leveraging its digital presence through NJ.com s parent company Advance Local Click here for more details and to purchase tickets. (Note: Availability is limited. As others will tell you, we have had to turn people away from our last several large-scale events.) NJ Cannabis Insider is a weekly subscriber-based online trade journal and events group produced by NJ Advance Media, which also publishes NJ.com, The Star-Ledger and other affiliated papers. Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for insider exclusives. Follow us on LinkedIn. Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor turned Republican presidential candidate, has worked for the New York Mets out of the goodness of his heart because he loves them and their owner, Steve Cohen so much, it appears. According to a Bloomberg report that cited his financial disclosure, the Mets have not paid Christie for his role as a director. The report by the Federal Election Commission on Thursday confirmed that Christie officially joined the Mets board of directors in March 2021. Cohen bought the Mets for $2.4 billion in November 2020. BUY MLB POSTSEASON TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER Christies son, Andrew, has been with the Mets front office since 2018 and currently is working as assistant director, player development. Cohen announced Chris Christie and Jeanne Melino, a former assistant district attorney and executive director of the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, in March 2021. Melino, the vice president of the Amazin Mets Foundation, was put in charge of the Mets community engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Christie did not have an official job description. Chris and Jeanne are friends and trusted advisers with decades of leadership experience, Steve Cohen said in a statement. I welcome them both to the Board and I look forward to working with them on behalf of our fans, our community and the team. The Mets board also includes chairman emeritus Fred Wilpon, who previously owned the team, and vice chairman Andrew Cohen, who has no relation to Steve. Cohen and his wife, Alexandra, gave $6 million to Christies PAC in 2016, but Cohen has not donated to Christies current campaign. Cohen donated $1 million to President Donald Trumps 2017 inauguration. According to the Bloomberg report, Christie, New Jerseys governor from 2010-18, earned $2.4 million from his law practice and consulting firm. I am honored to be named to the Mets Board of Directors, Christie said in March 2021. Steve and Alex Cohen have been great friends to me and Mary Pat for years and we thank them for including me in this new challenge and opportunity. As a Mets fan for the last 53 years, I am looking forward to helping Steve, Alex and the New York Mets organization bring a great experience to Mets fans and the community. MORE SPORTS - Giants Saquon Barkley (who told Evan Neal not to mess with fans) feuds with fans after Daniel Jones injury - Yankees relievers offseason will be full of bull - Eagles locker room infiltrated, leaving star fearing for his life Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Jimmy Hascup may be reached at jhascup@njadvancemedia.com. IMF mission for second review of EFF program for Ukraine will take place in first half of Nov NBU head The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission for the second review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is scheduled for the first half of November, Andriy Pyshnyy, Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), said in an interview with Forbes Ukraine. Then, approximately a month later, the IMF board [will consider the issue]. Access to financing will be immediately after a positive decision. If everything happens as we plan, Ukraine will receive a total of $4.5 billion from the IMF this year. In total, the program provides for 11 reviews," the head of the NBU noted. Pyshnyy believes that Ukraine is not in ideal, but in fairly good shape regarding the implementation of structural benchmarks. The issues of tax audits, REP, and changes to the state budget of the current year to finance defense needs by UAH 317 billion are problematic and need to be discussed. And the budget for next year, and the issues of anti-corruption, added the head of the NBU. However, he is optimistic that the PEP financial monitoring issue will be resolved. I see the political freedom of the countrys top leadership to fulfill this structural benchmark. Regarding other issues, I have great hope that the parliament will make the necessary decisions. At least on the part of the NBU, everything necessary has been done for this, Pyshnyy explained his position. The head of the National Bank also emphasized that for the first time in a long time, the list of problematic issues in Ukraine does not include an item on the independence and institutional capacity of the NBU. IMF Mission Chief for Ukraine Gavin Gray in an interview with NV on Monday noted that for the second review of the EFF program, Ukraine needs to adopt a new charter of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine, legislatively resolve the issue of tax audits of business and financial monitoring of PEP, so that the law is fully consistent with the FATF guidelines and implements the risk-oriented approach. According to him, among the necessary tasks is also to develop a concept note on the Affordable Loans 5-7-9% preferential lending program, which should set out a vision for improving its monitoring and preventing negative consequences for the financial sector as a result of its implementation. An important issue is the changes that will be made to the legislation on the SAPO (the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office), giving it more institutional autonomy, Gray added. He pointed out that the draft state budget 2024, already submitted to parliament, in its final version, must comply with all the goals that Ukraine has set as part of the program, including debt sustainability and realism. He summarized that significant progress had been made, but important work remains. He also recalled that by the end of this year, Ukraine, within the framework of the EFF program, plans to launch the so-called National Revenue Strategy. Everyone understands: over time and gradually, international support will decrease, so Ukraine needs to develop its own internal resources for self-financing, the head of the mission emphasized. He added that with the extension of the war beyond the baseline scenario, that is, into the second half of 2024 and beyond, there will be a need for additional fiscal measures. In addition to external funds, the Ukrainian leadership must take policy measures to balance all necessary financial needs, said the head of the IMF mission. A day filled with lights, hundreds of performers and fireworks converged on Robbinsville Sunday night to celebrate the grand opening of Akshardham Mahamandir, currently the largest Hindu temple in the U.S. and likely the second largest Hindu temple in the world. The event drew hundreds of visitors and officials from Maryland, Delaware and elsewhere, according to BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham. I found the front-page Oct. 8 Star-Ledger article from the Associated Press, headlined Hamas attack stuns Israel, to be slanted against Israel. On Page A-13, where the article is continued, a huge picture of a fire in Gaza from an Israeli air strike is featured. There are no pictures of the damage done to Israel or of the civilians brutally taken hostage by gleeful Hamas terrorists. The headline emphasizes that Israeli was stunned, instead of emphasizing the horrific, unprovoked attack itself. These days, youll often hear people offer Indigenous land acknowledgments, recognizing that prior to European colonization, it was the Lunaape (an alternate spelling of Lenape) that lived here. But on this years Indigenous Peoples Day, we have a chance to go far beyond land acknowledgments and far beyond tokenistic approaches to recognizing Lunaape history. Lets create a Lunaape cultural center in Liberty State Park. Karen Fluharty exhaustively searched 40 places across the country where her son Ryan could go when he fell off the services cliff, as a young adult with autism. None of them were a fit. They were either group home-like settings where individuals needed higher 1:1 support. Or located in neighborhoods that werent walkable, said Fluharty, of Montville So she decided to create neuro-diverse housing project in Red Bank through a nonprofit she founded called Parents with a Plan. The groups mission is to unite families, legal and housing professionals with a goal of creating homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The housing project, dubbed Thrive, was recently given site plan approval and variances from Red Bank for a property located at 273 Shrewsbury Ave. Construction is expected to begin next year and be completed in 2025. The current retail and apartment building on the site will be demolished and a three-story, 35,891-square foot building with 32 one-bedroom units and one ground floor studio apartment will be built. Access to this type of housing will reduce costs, said Christopher Manente, founding executive director of Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services. The idea here is to do things up front. It will also result in less of a need to be so reactive and waiting for people to fail, which is the current system. Only people who lapse into crisis get attention. There are at least 200,000 people in New Jersey who have intellectual or developmental disabilities, according to a market analysis study commissioned by Parents with a Plan last year. About 73% live with family and 38,000 of them live with a caregiver who is over the age of 60. Fluharty, who did eventually find a place for her son to go in Arizona, reached out to her former boss John Klein, with whom she worked in retail real estate for Simon Premium Outlets and his wife, Robin. Using Fluhartys background in marketing and communications and Kleins as a former chief executive officer for Simons shopping center division, the two have partnered as developers. A few years ago Karen met with us and said she was looking at starting Parents with a Plan, Klein said. She described how with so many parents who have autistic children, as theyre aging and turning towards 21, the parents start to get to worried. What would happen if something happens to them? They joined forces with Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services and Manente. This will be a first in New Jersey, he said of Thrive. Thats not to say there arent other excellent examples of supportive housing. But none that have gone to this length. And theres never been a private-public partnership like this. Fluhartys son Ryan has been living at First Place in Arizona for more than two years. The developers of Thrive have used it as inspiration for what they want Thrive to be. Were really taking the best in class in the sector and putting them all together, Fluharty said. It creates more independent adults that need less support from the government. A navigator will live in a studio apartment on the ground level of the building be available to help guide residents. For example, Fluharty said, if a resident were to get injured, the navigator could help them determine if the injury requires a bandage or a trip to the emergency room. Similar support staff in Arizona have helped her son Ryan become more independent. Two years ago, I never would have imagined Ryan doing the things hes doing, Fluharty said.. He flies into Newark airport by himself now. Gets an Uber to the airport, checks his bag. He also volunteers two days a week at the Phoenix Zoo. When he started there, he struggled with his locker. The amenities coordinator from First Place met him at the zoo and showed him how to problem solve, how to introduce himself and tell others that he needs help with his locker, Fluharty said. Im doing this because as a single parent, I shouldnt have to make the decision of having my son in the best program and remaining at home, she said. The choice between geography and the best program was a major catalyst for me creating Thrive. Manentes center is providing training on how to support people with autism and will provide assistance to Thrive. Thrives Red Bank project is a natural extension of that mission, he said. A chief quality officer will oversee residents general support and individual services that they get from the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. There will be a community concierge that helps with job opportunities, recreational activities, transportation and other issues. Theres also a community room where things like yoga classes and movie nights can be held. This is not for people with significant and complex needs, Manente said. Its limited to people who are independent and dont need someone to stay overnight. People who can do personal hygiene, dress themselves, and maintain a neat and tidy apartment. The special needs of the residents are also being figured into the design. We came up with important design features auto turn-off for faucets and stoves. The lighting should not be flourescent. Sound attenuation throughout the building, Klein said. Fluharty and Klein researched several cities including New Brunswick and Ridgewood before deciding on Red Bank as the best place for their first project. It was chosen because of its walkability, transportation options, arts and culture, abundance of non-profits, job opportunities and access to education. Also important is that the city is welcoming to this population. I am thrilled that this project will be happening in Red Bank, said Red Bank Mayor Billy Portman. We already offer so many services to underserved and in-need populations, so it makes perfect sense to have Thrive, the first of its kind facility for neuro-diverse residents in the state of N.J., opening in our borough. Makes me proud to be a resident of Red Bank. Fluhartym who has already had 70 calls and emails from parents who are interested in the concept, hopes that Thrive Red Bank is the first of many. We are creating a social impact fund where other investors can get involved, she said. Its our goal to scale this throughout New Jersey.. Special needs housing, she said, is where senior housing was 65 years ago. The marketplace of options has expanded tremendously, Fluharty said. Our goal is to pioneer housing in this category so that 15 to 20 years down the road, parents wont have to face the challenges I faced. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 37F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 37F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 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. They're not harming anyone. Leave them be. Food vendors are fine as long as it's fair and they're inspected It's getting too crowded on the neutral ground. The city should crack down I spend all my time in Metairie Vote View Results Two citizens of Ukraine were killed in Israel, measures are being taken to organize the repatriation of the bodies of the dead, information about the presence of Ukrainian citizens among the wounded or missing is not yet available, the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel told Interfax-Ukraine. "The Ukrainian embassy has received confirmation from the Israeli police regarding the death of two Ukrainian citizens. Measures are being taken to organize the repatriation of the bodies of the dead. There is no information yet about the presence of Ukrainian citizens among the wounded or missing," the embassy said in a statement. Reportedly, the Ukrainian embassy continues to coordinate with the police, the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Institute of Forensic Medicine. "Starting from October 7, the Ukrainian Embassy received more than 100 requests from Ukrainians. Assistance was provided to three families in finding housing, one family in leaving Ashkelon, the location of five Ukrainian citizens in the south of Israel was established. Ben Gurion Airport continues to operate as usual," the embassy said. In turn, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleh Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine that information about the death of two Ukrainian women in Israel has been confirmed. "Both citizens have lived in the country for a long time. Consuls provide the necessary consular assistance and maintain contact with relatives," Nikolenko said. As noted in the statement, the IDF forces are currently continuing stabilization measures in the territories of the liberated cities. According to reports, the death toll as a result of the combined HAMAS attacks is almost 300 people, about 1,900 people were injured, and over 700 people are still missing. The Ukrainian Embassy in Israel also informs about the situation in the Gaza Strip. "According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of deaths as a result of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip has increased to 313 people since the morning of October 7, 2023, and more than 1,990 were injured. As of 15.00, Ukrainian citizens in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank were not injured. Recorded one appeal about the possibility of organizing evacuation (October 7, 2023, resident of Gaza City)," the embassy said. As noted in the statement, constant contact is maintained with activists of the Ukrainian community in the Gaza Strip. "The Representative Office of Ukraine to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is taking measures to establish communication with partner countries that have representations in the PNA to take joint evacuation measures," the embassy said. MFA: Diplomats take wounded Ukrainian boy from Sderot; checking info on possible death of two more Ukrainians nearby and one in Gaza Strip Ukrainian diplomas took a wounded Ukrainian boy from the city of Sderot, information about the possible death of two more Ukrainians near the Gaza Strip and one in the Gaza Strip is also being verified, five citizens who were considered missing in the south of Israel have been found, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said. "Ukrainian diplomats carried out a successful rescue operation they took a Ukrainian boy who was injured during a militant attack from the city of Sderot. He is now safely in the care of the embassy. He received medical and psychological assistance. We managed to find five citizens who were considered missing in the south of Israel," Nikolenko said on Facebook. The Foreign Ministry said at the same time, information appeared about the possible death of two other Ukrainians near the Gaza Strip. "We are checking," the spokesman said. Diplomats also received information about the possible death of a Ukrainian in the Gaza Strip. "We are waiting for official confirmation," Nikolenko said. He said the Diplomatic Office in Ramallah maintains constant contact with the Ukrainian community, and potential evacuation routes are being developed. In total, over the past 24 hours, the operational headquarters of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry processed more than 200 requests from citizens. "We are recording massive cancellations of flights. We are looking for a solution to help our people leave the country," the Foreign Ministry said. Hopes are rising that the bells will be able to ring again at Abbotsham's St Helens Church. Deterioration of the tower at St Helens has been occurring for some time. With serious fractures to the masonry of the south and west walls, rainwater is penetrating the tower and causing substantial water damage to the church. This is causing the bell tower to be flooded during periods of heavy rain, as well as rotting the supporting timbers and damaging the fabric of the church. It is featured on Historic Englands Heritage at Risk Register. The bell chamber is now structurally unsafe meaning that the church can no longer ring the church bells. But help may be at hands for the much-loved North Devon church - it is to share in a 473,750 urgent funding pay-out from the National Churches Trust. The church will receive a 10,000 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation for urgent tower repairs. Securing the tower will enable the church to reinstate its bell ringing team and enable them to train up new bell ringers a skill they are keen to promote and preserve. The work to repair the tower needs to start soon before the condition of the tower worsens. Failure to make the tower safe again threatens the Grade II Listed building and could damage many of the architectural features within the church. If the tower becomes unsafe the future of the entire church building will be compromised. This would probably mean the church could no longer be used as a place of worship and for other activities, which would be a devastating loss to the community. Claire Walker, Chief Executive of the National Churches Trust, said: "Im delighted that the National Churches Trust is able to support St Helens church to get funding for urgent tower repairs. This will safeguard unique local heritage and keep it open and in use for the benefit of local people. Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow. Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said: "As well as being places of worship and buildings of beauty, churches sit at the heart of the community. In many ways they stand between the past and present. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to support the preservation of these significant, much-loved historic buildings across the UK. Martin Wilson, Churchwarden for St Helens, said: "This generous grant from the National Churches Trust and the Wolfson Trust is welcome news and will help to secure the long-term future of our beautiful church. The total cost of repairs to the tower is approximately 150,000, which is a huge sum for a small rural church to raise. The financial support of the National Churches Trust has been absolutely crucial to our project and means that our church can continue to fulfil its important role both as a place of worship and within the wider Abbotsham community. The funding will facilitate structural repairs to church tower and associated works. St Helens has a number of important architectural features. These include an impressive wagon roof dating from the 15th century. At the foot of each rafter is a carved wooden angel bearing a coloured shield. There is also a fine carved wooden reredos installed in 1921. In the nave there are 39 pews with richly decorated bench ends each one depicting a different scene or emblem. Many of these date from the 16th century. In the chancel there are two rows of elegant misericords. There is a beautiful carved Norman font near the entrance door. The church also boasts some handsome Victorian stained-glass windows. The bell tower contains a peal of six bells, one of which was cast in 1385 and is reputed to be the oldest in the county. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Ukrainian citizens in Israel to be careful and follow the instructions of local security forces. "There is all the necessary cooperation between the Ukrainian Embassy and the Israeli police to find out the details about Ukrainians who found themselves in the areas of hostilities and shelling. Unfortunately, the deaths of two Ukrainian citizens have been confirmed. My condolences to the families and friends. The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel, all our diplomats who are in charge of this region, together with the intelligence service, are working around the clock to help all our people who need help," he said in a video address on Sunday. "The Embassy has already received more than a hundred appeals from our citizens. The whereabouts of five of our people in southern Israel have been established. I once again address all Ukrainian citizens in Israel: please be careful and follow the instructions of the local security forces," Zelenskyy also said. BEVERLY SHORES The homes displayed at the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair were slapped together to be displayed for the throngs that flooded in to see the latest and greatest in homebuilding, among other marvels. The pioneering houses, often showcases for new building materials, were temporary structures that were never meant to be actually lived in. But five remnants of the Century of Progress Worlds Fair line Lake Front Drive in Beverly Shores, looming over the vast, shimmering, bright blue expanse of Lake Michigan. The retro-futuristic Cypress Log Cabin, Florida Tropical, Armco Ferro and the Wieboldt-Rostone house all have been preserved by long-term lessees in one of the Regions great historic preservation stories. The House of Tomorrow, perhaps the most audacious of all in its conception, is currently undergoing a $2 million renovation as the Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Landmarks look for a lessee to move in and take care of the pioneering property. All of the homes are part of the Indiana Dunes National Park and not far from other National Park sites. like Dunbar Beach, Kemil Beach, Lake View Beach, Dune Ridge Trail and Great Marsh Trail. Theyre opened to the public once a year, for the recent Century of Progress House Tour that sold out in about an hour. The one-of-a-kind houses overlooking Lake Michigan hail from Century of Progress Worlds Fair, which took place in Chicago opening in 1933 and 1934. It sought to highlight the importance of science and its role in industrial advancement, Tour Minder Jared Kolka said. These five homes are remnants of the fairs Home and Industrial Arts Group that hoped to display new techniques in architectural design, experimental materials, pre-fabricated construction and new technology such as central air conditioning and dishwashers. They were also designed for mass production and to be affordable for the average American family, he said. The Home and Industrial Arts Group was the most popular venue at the fair with over a million visitors. It spread revolutionary ideas of home construction far and wide. The Century of Progress homes were meant to have a short shelf life. After most worlds fairs, a few monumental buildings may remain. The Museum of Science and Industry is from the 1893 Worlds Fair for example, Kolka said. Most buildings are sold off or demolished, having only been built for temporary use. Enter the developer Robert Bartlett, who was in business with his brother in Chicago before striking out on his own to develop a resort town. Recognizing the popularity of the houses during the fair, he counted on their draw to entice prospective buyers to his new resort community of Beverly Shores. It was essentially one big real estate gimmick, Kolka said. Visitors arriving via the South Shore Line would arrive at the station and be transported via limousine to the houses for a tour and then to purchase property to build a new house in Beverly Shores. Bartlett ferried four of the houses by barge across Lake Michigan to the Porter County shoreline. The Cypress Log Cabin was disassembled, shipped by truck and reassembled. He owned the houses until the early 1940s when he sold them to private individuals. The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was created in 1966 as a grand bargain to create an industrial area and shipping harbor on a portion of the Indiana Dunes. It was meant to protect one of the worlds most diverse dunes landscapes, where University of Chicago Professor Henry Chandler Cowles studied biodiversity and ecological succession. The first effort to create a National Park predated World War I and was derailed by the war itself, Kolka said. Other people saw huge industrial potential with mills rising in and around Gary, sand mined for glass and major transportation routes that were offered around and by the lake. The park eventually grew to 15,000 acres, purchasing the Century of Progress Homes in the 1970s along with other properties it sought to restore to nature. Over the years, the houses slowly deteriorated, Kolka said. In 1993, Indiana Landmarks put them on their 10 Most Endangered List. The park had little use for the houses. It didnt want to operate five new museums and faced an even bigger deficit than would be needed to restore the houses. So the National Park Service and Indiana Landmarks crafted a unique lease agreement in 1996. The National Park Service leases the hopes to Indiana Landmarks, which subleases them to people with the financial and technical capacity to restore the homes. The lessees have to get a renovation plan approved by the National Park Service and then are responsible for funding the renovation and maintenance themselves. They get to live there for decades. The program successfully connected private funds with a public need in preserving these one-of-kind buildings, Kolka said. There are no grants, no tax credits, no government funds that went to the restoration of the houses. The work has all been done by the families doing the lease. All five of them have undergone extensive rehab, one of them being the House of Tomorrow, which needs a lot more extensive rehab. It sits prime for a bright future tomorrow. The Wieboldt-Rostone house was clad with an artificial stone Rostone Inc. of Lafayette made from limestone, shale and alkali and boasted would never need repairs, though it actually needed to be renovated within a few decades. Ross Gambril and his son have been restoring the house for decades. The guys worked really hard to refurbish it, Indiana Landmarks volunteer Phyllis Montgomery said. It was all concrete floors when they moved in. It was absolutely a disaster. But hes fixed it and it looks really nice now. It now has all original fixtures. Thats the deal with Indiana Landmarks. You have to make it like it used to be, she said. The house has a third-floor solarium with expansive views of Lake Michigan. I could just live up in that room because the view is so breathtaking, her husband and fellow volunteer Mark Montgomery said. Its extremely unique architecture. It was very original for its time. Its been a labor of love like with the parquet floors. He had to glue a lot of them back into squares before he put them back down. Gambril, a real estate developer and general contractor said it required more work at a higher cost than initially anticipated. You could just walk away and say, screw it, Im done and regret it the rest of your life or you can bite the bullet and finish it and I bit the bullet and finished it, he said. I fabricated all these third-floor windows. It was my first fabricating job in more than 35 years. The neighboring Florida Tropical House is leased by Bill and Lisa Beatty, the first to lease the house. Designed by architect Robert Law Weed of Miami, the bright pink home was designed to promote Florida beach living and is so unique its often used by mariners as a point of reference. The flat roof doubles as a deck for outdoor entertaining and enjoying the coastal views. It was supposed to be built with poured concrete to withstand hurricanes. But they didnt want to use poured concrete for a Worlds Fair House because they were going to tear it down. This one was built with a wood frame and stucco. Now in Northwest Indiana on Lake Michigan in the winter thats not going to make it. Its had a lot of help, National Park Ranger Penny Callahan said. The Florida Tropical House was the first Century of Progress home to come over on a barge in 1935. When they brought it over, they did not put it on a great foundation, Callahan said. They put it up here on the sand. Over the course of many years, sand blows away and washes away and now the house is starting to tip, so it needed to be jacked up. It took them months to find a contractor who could make a replica toilet to replace the cracked original, which along with the bathtub is bright pink. All of these things take a lifetime to take care of, Callahan said. Volunteer Greg Coulter was impressed by the artwork and how the colors of the interior walls goes with the color of the lake. I really like the way the building interacts with its environment, down to the color of the walls, he said. It looks like a seafoam green, so it works out. Its 100% a magical space to be in. The Armco Ferro across the street overlooking Lake Michigan is the only remaining home from the Worlds Fair that both could be mass-produced and affordable for the average American family, Indiana Dunes National Park Historical Architect Judy Collins said. Its a very unique structural system. If you were to cut it in cross-sections it actually looks like a big corrugated box, she said. The steel panels, which were two stories high, were flat and were rolled and pressed into corrugated panels that were laid onto the ground and assembled when they got on site. They were bolted and welded together and lifted up using manpower and ropes. If OSHA would see something like that today, theyd be horrified. It was a very dangerous situation but they did it. The Cypress Log Cabin down the street was made by cypress wood. Neither insects nor weather affect it, Park Ranger Cookie Ferguson said. It was to be the building material of the future, she said. But 10 years in the future it became scarce and the government protected it. Theres no cypress cutting or anything now. So that was a very short-lived business. The house cost $3,500 to $4,000 to build back in 1933. It was the only Century of Progress home to be moved by truck around the South Shore of Lake Michigan. They built a foundation for it and put the fireplace up first and then built the house around it, Ferguson said. When they were building it, it was actually two houses. The first part that went up was the caretakers house, which was just this little end with a small room and a bathroom. The rest of it was a museum that was open to the public in 1933. It had all kinds of displays of cypress. It even had a piece of cypress that was 2,000 years old. We dont have that. We dont know where it went. The lessee got approval to connect the two houses to make it easier to live in. They allowed that because the connection was made in the same style as the houses so that was okay, Ferguson said. The lessee also got permission to install glass windows in the screen-in porch given the harshness of Region winters that close to Lake Michigan. That is a wonderful thing. Thats the room I would like to live in the rest of my life, Ferguson said. Its a beautiful room. PORTAGE A 25-year-old driver nabbed with nearly 6 ounces of commercially packaged marijuana with names such as Thrax and Runtz also had two handguns with several high capacity magazines, Porter County police said. Montrell Cole, of Michigan, faces a felony count of dealing in the illegal drug and possession of paraphernalia, police said. A county police officer said he pulled over Cole's Range Rover around 12:10 a.m. Monday along Crisman Avenue and noticed the smell of burned marijuana. Cole reportedly told police he was visiting the area and thought he was in Gary rather than Portage. While claiming there was no marijuana in the vehicle, police said they found both unopened and empty commercially packaged marijuana bags, as well as a digital scale. Cole provided police with a Michigan firearms permit for the guns found in the vehicle. Police discovered Cole had a 2020 conviction in Michigan for controlled substance use, according to the arrest report. Cole was taken to the Porter County Jail. EAST CHICAGO Former state Rep. Donna Harris, a wife and mother who never planned to be a state legislator but ably served East Chicago in the Indiana House during two legislative sessions, died Sunday. She was 75. Harris was selected in April 2015 by Democratic precinct leaders in House District 2 to complete the term of her husband, state Rep. Earl Harris Sr., who died March 23, 2015, at age 73, following 33 years in the House. She was perhaps more prepared than any replacement representative having spent hour upon hour in the House visitor seats on the chamber floor since Earl Harris began serving in 1982. Early in his tenure, while Donna Harris still was working at her 45-year career as a unit secretary at St. Catherine Hospital, she would travel to Indianapolis a couple days a week. After retiring in 2011, and while Earl Harris was undergoing treatment for cancer, she was by his side every day the House was in session. State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, who continues the 41-year Harris family legacy of House service after being elected in 2016 to succeed his mother when she opted against running for a two-year term in her own right, said his parents both were "devoted to bettering the lives of Hoosiers throughout the state and in our hometown of East Chicago." "My life has been enriched by her love and her guidance, and there are no words to accurately reflect how much she'll be missed. My parents' passion for public service led me to seek election into the Indiana House of Representatives. Im a better man because Earl and Donna Harris are my parents, and the state of Indiana is better because of their service." House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said the heart of the entire Democratic caucus goes out to Earl Harris Jr. as he mourns his mother's death. "Donna Harris was a dedicated public servant who represented East Chicago and the rest of her district with strength and grace. Though her time at the Statehouse was brief, she made a lasting legacy here and in Lake County," GiaQuinta said. In 2016, four measures sponsored by Donna Harris focused on teacher training, minority student scholarships, gender equality and end-of-life care were enacted into law: House Enrolled Acts 1034, 1173, 1179, and Senate Enrolled Act 272. She said that year during her House farewell ceremony that in all the time she spent in the chamber's visitor seats while her husband was representing the Region, she never truly realized how much work and effort representatives put into enacting laws. "In these 11 months I have learned so much," Donna Harris said. "You have a very, very important job to do for the state of Indiana." Harris' funeral arrangements are pending. Northwest Indiana 2023 early voting sites, hours Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center, 3711 Main St., East Chicago Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond Hobart Police and Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd., Munster Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville St. John Township Assessor's Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John Wicker Park Social Center, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave., Valparaiso Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway, Chesterton State Street Community Church, 209 State St., LaPorte LaPorte County Office Complex, 302 W. 8th St., Michigan City The surprise attack on Israel Saturday by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the adjacent Gaza Strip, prompted strong expressions of support for the Jewish State from leaders in Northwest Indiana and across the Hoosier State. State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, whose 12th House District includes the Munster-based Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana, said following the devastating attack that his "prayers and heart go out to the people of Israel suffering from this heinous act of terrorism." "While the terror in the Middle East may seem distant, many of our neighbors have children and loved ones in Israel. I can't begin to imagine the fear that they are feeling tonight and send my sincerest hopes that their loved ones stay safe," Andrade said. "I want to make it abundantly clear: I stand in firm solidarity with the Jewish community in Northwest Indiana and will continue my work to ensure their safety and ability to live peacefully and without fear in Munster and throughout Indiana." "Violence against innocent civilians will never lead to peace, and we are all called to condemn these cowardly acts whenever and wherever they occur," he added. U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, likewise condemned the attack by Hamas on Israel, an American ally, as "beyond reprehensible." "Innocent lives have been lost and Hamas bears full responsibility," Mrvan said. "I support our nation's full and unwavering commitment to defend Israel and the Israeli people's right to live peacefully." Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb said the Hamas attack was especially personal to him because it killed Ofir Libstein, the mayor of Israel's Sha'ar HaNegev regional council, who visited Indiana and dined with Holcomb at the Governor's Residence in August. "The mayor was murdered today as he exchanged fire with the infiltrators defending his neighbors. I pray for his family and all the other Israeli families living during this reign of terror," Holcomb said. "The brutally directed Hamas land, air and sea invasion into Israel brings the cruel reminder that terrorism seeks war not peace." Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said she is praying for a speedy resolution to the violence so Israel once again can experience peace. "Having visited Israel just last year, I am deeply saddened by the attacks that have taken place over the course of the day. My heart goes out to the Israeli people and the families of those who have already lost their lives to these senseless terrorist attacks," Crouch said. In Washington, U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., and U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., both issued statements saying America stands by its ally, Israel. Though Young also called on Congress and the Biden administration to quickly approve and fulfill any urgent Israeli requests for assistance and to do all America can to fully support Israel. It's not clear how quickly Congress will act, however. The Republican-controlled House is unable to do much of anything until the narrow Republican majority elects a new speaker following last week's removal of U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as chamber leader. The Democratic-controlled Senate also has been stymied for months on confirming the promotions of more than 300 U.S. military officers, as well as filling a host of U.S. diplomatic posts in the Middle East, due to holds placed by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., that the 98 other senators so far have been unable to dislodge. Meanwhile, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican originally from Munster, declared he believes the United States, and particularly Democratic President Joe Biden, is to blame for the attack on Israel perpetrated by Hamas. "The attack on Israel is a direct result of America's current weakness on the world stage," Rokita said. "Biden is weak to the world, but he overreaches into our own state sovereignty and the personal lives of Hoosiers daily. I will keep successfully fighting him off when it comes to our state." Northwest Indiana 2023 early voting sites, hours Lake County Government Center, 2293 N. Main St., Crown Point Judge Lorenzo Arredondo Justice Center, 3711 Main St., East Chicago Gary Public Library, 220 W. 5th Ave., Gary Lake County Courthouse, 232 Russell St., Hammond Hobart Police and Community Center, 705 E. 4th St., Hobart Lowell Town Hall, 501 E. Main St., Lowell Munster Town Hall, 1005 Ridge Rd., Munster Schererville Town Hall, 10 E. Joliet St., Schererville St. John Township Assessor's Office, 9157 Wicker Ave., St. John Wicker Park Social Center, 8554 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland Winfield Government Center, 10645 Randolph St., Winfield Porter County Administration Building, 155 Indiana Ave., Valparaiso North Porter County Government Complex, 3560 Willowcreek Road, Portage Valparaiso Fire Training Center, 355 Evans Ave., Valparaiso Chesterton Town Hall, 790 Broadway, Chesterton State Street Community Church, 209 State St., LaPorte LaPorte County Office Complex, 302 W. 8th St., Michigan City The Center for Reconstructive Surgery Superhumans Center signed memorandums with two French clinics in Kyiv. According to Superhumans Center, the medical director of the Superhumans Center Andriy Vilensky signed two memorandums with French clinics the UGECAM North-East regional institute of physical rehabilitation and Assistance publique - Hopitaux de Paris (AP-HP). The memorandum was signed within the framework of the French medical mission under the patronage of Ukraine's Ministry of Health and France's Ministry of Health. In addition, Superhumans Center agreed with one of the largest manufacturers of prosthetics in the world, Ottobock, to expand cooperation in the field of training and the introduction of new technologies. "We have received a new solution for upper limb prostheses, specially developed for Ukraine," Superhumans Center reported. As reported, investments in the launch of the Superhumans rehabilitation medical center in Lviv are estimated at $54 million. Funds to finance the project are raised in Ukraine and abroad through fundraising. The project has already been supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Richard Branson's Virgin Unite Foundation, Cargill, Payoneer, Freedom Finance, Loro Piano, Mastercard, SD Capital and others. The first building of the Superhumans Center for Rehabilitation, Prosthetics and Reconstructive Surgery opened in April in Lviv on the basis of one of the local hospitals. The Superhumans clinic will focus on prosthetics for adults and children, surgery to reconstruct and restore disfigured parts of the body, particularly the face, and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. The clinic will have 100 beds, two operating rooms, a laboratory for the production of prosthetics and a physiotherapy department. A memorandum of cooperation was signed between Superhumans and the Ministry of Health. The project is being created on the initiative of Ukrainian businessman Andriy Stavnitser. Another of its founders is Filip Hrushko. The devastating surprise attack by Hamas on Saturday represented an equally stunning intelligence failure by Israel that involved undetected warnings, overwhelmed missile defenses and a slow response by apparently unprepared military forces, former and current U.S. officials said. American officials said Hamas had achieved a complete tactical surprise, reflected in a death toll of at least 700 Israelis. The Palestinian militant group sent hundreds of fighters through breached walls, breaking through with bulldozers and then killing civilians and soldiers in shooting sprees that went on for hours. None of Israels intelligence services had specific warning that Hamas was preparing a sophisticated attack that required coordinated land, air and sea strikes, according to an Israeli defense official and American officials. While the attack also surprised many Western intelligence agencies, they do not track Hamass activities as closely as Israel or Egypt do. The success astounded American officials with experience in the region. Over the years, Israel has set up a network of electronic intercepts, sensors and human informants throughout Gaza, which is about half the area of New Yorks five boroughs. Israel and its neighbors have in the past invested heavily in trying to track and block Hamass networks, often intercepting shipments of missile components. But American officials have been unable to make headway on that for decades. So in both the Trump and Biden administrations, a main diplomatic effort in the Middle East has been promoting normalization between Israel and Arab nations, with Palestinian officials and representatives playing no real role in the talks. The theory for some American and Israeli officials and Arab leaders was that such deals, in the form of the Abraham Accords, would help isolate and suppress the Palestinian issue, which they saw as an intractable problem. Jared Kushner, former President Donald J. Trumps son-in-law and a White House adviser who helped forge the accords, was a main proponent of that thinking. To critics, that has been the crux of the problem, and one reason the United States and Israel were blindsided by the Hamas attack on Saturday. The crowds of civilians in Gaza cheering the Hamas fighters underscored the extent of anti-Israel hostility among Palestinians hostility that American, Israeli and Arab officials have tried to ignore for years as they pushed normalization talks and what the Biden administration has called regional integration. Prior to the Hamas attack on Israel, there was bipartisan agreement, shared by most of the U.S. foreign policy establishment, that the question of Palestine no longer matters in the Middle East, said Nader Hashemi, a professor of Middle East politics at Georgetown University. He added that he believed Arab leaders have relayed that same message in private because they dislike how their citizens mobilize around Palestinian issues. The masses of Arabs and Muslims had a different view of this equation but who in D.C. cares about them? Mr. Hashemi said. All of the assumptions that informed U.S. policy toward the Middle East have now been upended by recent events. The question of Palestine is now back on the top of the regional agenda and the world agenda. I think this was the goal of the Hamas attack. Between network, cable and streaming, the modern television landscape is a vast one. Here are some of the shows, specials and movies coming to TV this week, Oct. 9-15. Details and times are subject to change. Monday THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) 8 p.m. on HBO. As the leaves start changing and pumpkin-flavored items hit grocery shelves, it is clear that spooky season has arrived. And what better way to get into the spirit than with one of the most revered psychological thrillers? Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a top student at the F.B.I. academy, is sent in as bait to interview Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), in prison for murder and cannibalistic acts. Meanwhile, another serial killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill is on the loose and has a penchant for skinning his victims. Tuesday BET HIP-HOP AWARDS 9 p.m. on BET and VH1. Hosted by the Grammy-nominated artist Fat Joe, BETS Hip-Hop Awards, which happened live on Oct. 3 are being broadcast this week, with performances by DaBaby, Fivio Foreign and Glorilla, to name a few, in honor of 50 years of hip-hop. There will also be a celebration for the 30th anniversary of the record label So So Def. In terms of awards, 21 Savage and Cardi B are tied for the most nominations with 12 each; Drake is right behind with nine. NO ACCIDENT 9 p.m. on HBO. In August 2017, hundreds of white nationalists rallied against the removal of a confederate statue in Charlottesville, Va. When they marched into town and were met by counter protesters, a brawl ensued, leading to the death of one person and dozens injured. In 2021, a civil trial began to determine if the far-right organizers had plotted for violence at the rally. This documentary looks at the stories of plaintiffs and their injuries as well as an examination into the intentions of organizers. Israel orders a complete siege of Gaza Israels defense minister ordered a complete siege of the long-blockaded Gaza Strip yesterday, as Israeli forces battled Palestinian assailants in border towns for a third day and launched retaliatory strikes that hit hundreds of sites in Gaza, including mosques and a marketplace. Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, threatened to execute a civilian hostage every time an airstrike hit Gazans in their homes without warning. At least 150 Israelis have been taken hostage by Palestinian assailants since the brazen incursion on Saturday. A Hamas spokesman added that the group will not negotiate the issue of prisoners while the fighting with Israel is ongoing. Heres what we know about the captives. Israels army regained control of border communities, the countrys chief military spokesman said, but he acknowledged that there may still be terrorists in the area. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht of the Israel Defense Forces said in a briefing yesterday that the fighting continued, adding: We thought by this morning wed be in a better place. Israels defense minister said that no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel would be allowed into Gaza, in effect cutting off a crowded coastal territory that is already under a 16-year blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. Charlotte Banks lives in a house that just about anyone would envy. Hempnalls Hall, a pink structure dating to the 16th century, rises above an even older moat, dug to keep marauders away in ancient times. Now, a different type of threat looms. National Grid, Britains electricity system operator, proposes building a 110-mile transmission line through the countryside of eastern England where Ms. Banks lives. The overhead wires would bring clean electricity generated by nearby offshore wind farms and a new nuclear plant to London and other population centers in the southeast of the country. That means a 160-foot-tall, high-voltage pylon would stand in a farmers field about an eighth of a mile from her house. Ms. Banks supported efforts to tackle climate change, she said, but she questioned whether erecting a ribbon of steel towers through an area known for its quiet, rural beauty is the right solution. The company expects to invest an estimated $1.5 billion over the next seven years money that it would recoup through electricity rates. The utility said the investment was justified by the growing sum it had to spend on storm recovery and to trim and remove trees around its power lines. The utility said it would continue offering battery leases to customers who want them sooner. It will take until 2030 for the company to install batteries at most homes under its new plan if regulators approve it. Green Mountain says its goal to do away with power outages will be realized by that year, meaning customers would always have enough electricity to use lights, refrigerators and other essentials. We dont want the power to be off for our customers ever, Ms. McClure said. Peoples lives are on the line. That is ultimately at the heart of why were doing what were trying to do. Green Mountain would control the batteries, allowing it to program them to soak up energy when wind turbines and solar panels were producing a lot of it. Then, when demand peaked on a hot summer day, say, the batteries could release electricity. Under the proposal, the company would initially focus on delivering batteries to its most vulnerable customers, putting some power lines underground and installing stronger cables to prevent falling trees from causing outages. The flu typically kills the very young, the old and the sick. That made the virus in 1918 unusual, or so the story goes: It killed healthy young people as readily as those who were frail or had chronic conditions. Doctors of the time reported that, among those in the prime of their lives, good health and youth were no protection: The virus was indiscriminate, killing at least 50 million people, or between 1.3 and 3 percent of the worlds population. Covid, in contrast, killed 0.09 percent of the population. But a paper published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenges that persistent narrative. Using evidence in skeletons of people who died in the 1918 outbreak, researchers reported that people who suffered from chronic diseases or nutritional deficiencies were more than twice as likely to die as those who did not have such conditions, no matter their age. The 1918 virus did kill young people, but, the paper suggests, it was no exception to the observation that infectious diseases kill frail and sicker people most readily. Terence Davies, a British screenwriter and director known for his poetic, intensely personal films like Distant Voices, Still Lives and literary adaptations like The House of Mirth, died on Saturday at his home in the village of Mistley, Essex, on the southeast coast of England. He was 77. His manager, John Taylor, confirmed the death but did not specify the cause, saying only that Mr. Davies had died after a short illness. An obituary from the British Film Institute said, No one made movies like Davies, who precisely sculpted out of a subjective past, creating films that glided on waves of contemplation and observation. The very specific Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988) starred Pete Postlethwaite as a violently abusive Liverpool father who terrorizes his wife and children. When the film was rereleased in 2018, The Guardian called it the directors early autobiographical masterpiece and declared it as gripping as any thriller. Of all of the revelations to emerge from the federal prosecution of Representative George Santoss treasurer, the most outrageous is the existence of a $500,000 loan that did not in fact exist. The fictional loan goes to the heart of one of the most vexing questions surrounding Mr. Santos since he was elected to Congress last year: How did a man of seemingly modest means suddenly accrue enough money to lend his campaign a half-million dollars? The answer, it turns out, is simple: He did not. And that fact could have serious ramifications for his case. In May, Mr. Santos, a New York Republican, was charged with 13 felonies in three unrelated financial schemes, to which he has pleaded not guilty. On Thursday, his campaign treasurer, Nancy Marks, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy related to her oversight of Mr. Santoss finances. The air raid sirens began screaming at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, rousing Representative Daniel Goldman and his family from sleep inside their Tel Aviv hotel room. Then came a voice over the intercom, commanding them in English and Hebrew to immediately seek shelter. Mr. Goldman had just joined his wife and three young children, who had traveled to Israel a week earlier for a relatives bar mitzvah. He stayed behind because of the latest crises in Congress. On Saturday, they had planned to spend the day on a tourist trip to the Dead Sea. Instead, they hurried out of their room in their pajamas, bewildered and fearful, to crowd into an interior stairwell in the Hilton Tel Aviv. We waited for about 10 minutes till we got the all-clear, Mr. Goldman said in an interview Monday, the day after his family returned to New York. That happened maybe three or four more times Saturday morning, where we went back to our hotel room and then sirens came and we had to go to the stairwell. Mr. Goldman, 47, who represents Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn in Congress, was among a host of officials from the New York area who happened to be in Israel when Hamas launched its surprise multipronged attack from the Gaza Strip, taking at least an estimated 150 Israeli soldiers and civilians to Gaza as hostages. The conflict has within days resulted in hundreds of deaths on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. The operational situation in the area of responsibility of the Defense Forces of southern Ukraine remains steadily tense, as a result of shelling in Kherson region, another 15 civilians were injured, and in the Black Sea, due to a powerful storm, it was reduced to two units. "During the day, the enemy carried out 37 artillery attacks using more than 180 shells, including seven shelling of populated areas: Kherson, Antonivka and Poniativka. As a result of shelling in Kherson region, another 15 civilians were wounded, including two children, three high-rise buildings, nine households, a gas pipeline, a garage, a store building, and two units of automotive equipment were damaged," the Southern Defense Forces said in a Telegram channel. According to the Defense Forces, the occupiers continue to carry out drone strikes and drop fragmentation ammunition from them on populated areas of Kherson region. Thus, as a result of the shelling of the church, two believers were wounded. Over the past 24 hours, the enemy launched an air strike using two guided bombs on the village of Beryslav, Kherson region. As a result of the strike, one civilian was injured, six households, an educational institution building and a storage building at one of the enterprises were destroyed and damaged. It is noted that the enemy's naval group in the Black Sea has been reduced to two units due to a powerful storm. There is one underwater launch vehicle on combat duty, equipped with up to four Kalibr missiles. "The southern defense forces continue to carry out fire missions. But with worsening weather conditions, reconnaissance results are difficult. Let's clarify for now. We will report back later," the forces said. As a society, we tend to trivialize the impact of psychiatric disorders. If the problem isnt something that is clearly physical, its often seen as conquerable by force of will. Those who suffer from mental illness and disabilities that arent visible are told to suck it up; their medications are sometimes dismissed as unnecessary or attacked as performance enhancers used by people who just are too lazy or entitled to do hard work unassisted. But few people without personal experience can appreciate how transformative appropriate medication can be. Even fewer realize that effective early treatment of conditions like A.D.H.D. and childhood depression may actually help to prevent addiction, or be critical to successfully overcoming it. This is life or death for me, said Mr. Krumpotich, emphasizing how much of a difference A.D.H.D. treatment makes for him and how it aids his recovery. But because of the current shortage, he spends hours contacting pharmacies, switching between medications when the ones he takes arent available and taking lower doses of what he can get. All of this puts him at risk for relapse. When I reached out to doctors and patients about the A.D.H.D. medication shortage, it yielded an inbox full of pain. Dozens of people contacted me, describing lost jobs, difficulty working, elementary school meltdowns, failing grades in children and suicidal thoughts. Many people said they were struggling financially because their insurance wouldnt cover the medications that are available and alternatives can cost dozens to hundreds of dollars more per month. Dr. David Rettew, a child psychiatrist and the medical director of Lane County Behavioral Health, in Eugene, Ore., told me that many, many families are struggling with their pharmacy not having a supply of various kinds of stimulants. His patients and their parents often spend hours or days calling different stores. Sometimes one store said they have stock, but it was out by the time they arrived to pick the medication up. Primaries did not create our polarized culture war. They have been widely used to select congressional candidates in most of the country for over a century, and since the 1970s they have also dominated presidential candidate selection in both parties. But party primaries have come to interact with our embittered political culture in destructive ways. As Nick Troiano argues in a forthcoming book, primaries are bad for voters, bad for parties and bad for the country. We cant go back to the preprimary system in which party professionals deliberated about candidate selection. No politician wants to tell his or her most intensely devoted voters that they are the problem, and in any case that older approach had its own grave deficiencies. So reformers have to look for ways forward within the primary system. They should structure primary elections in ways that incentivize actual legislative work and draw into politics a type of officeseeker inclined to appeal to a broader range of voters and to build coalitions. Ranked-choice voting in primaries could be particularly promising. A ranked-choice election allows voters to select multiple candidates in order of preference and then have their vote count on behalf of their second or third choice if their first or second choice is not among the top vote getters. In most forms, it is essentially an automatic runoff. From the point of view of candidates, such a system creates a strong reason to be many voters second choice, as well as the first choice of some. That naturally invites a coalition-building mind-set and could do a better job of attracting candidates capable of broad appeal both on the campaign trail and in office. It would compel politicians to feel accountable to a broader swath of voters, even in safe districts where only the primary matters. This was the experience of the Virginia Republican Party, which turned to a ranked-choice process to select its gubernatorial nominee in 2021 and through it landed on a candidate, Glenn Youngkin, capable of winning in a purple state. Similar reforms at the primary stage could plausibly help both parties, though there is reason to think that Republicans would have more to gain from deploying them, because at this point they appear to suffer more from the tendency of primaries to yield candidates who turn off winnable but uncommitted voters in the general election and who have little interest in the jobs they are elected to perform. Republicans tend to be more staunchly opposed to such proposals and to assume they would only benefit the left. The evidence so far does not support that assumption. As my American Enterprise Institute colleague Kevin Kosar argued in a recent paper, Republicans have particularly strong reasons to consider such reforms at least in primaries. Our voice should be heard, and not just to safeguard our rights and interests. Modern society, with its individualism and alienation, has much to learn from the sharing, generous and harmonious nature of Indigenous ways. Im a Torres Strait Islander, from the turquoise waters off northern Australia. I grew up immersed in our culture fishing sustainably on the shallow reefs, cooking what we caught in a traditional oven dug out of the ground, and celebrating our way of life in song and dance. As do many Indigenous peoples, we believe there is a moiety, a kinship, between everything between land and sea, earth and sky, and of course between people. It is a culture of sharing and respect, of laws designed not to punish but to resolve conflict. One of our most important beliefs is that you cannot touch things or walk upon places that are not yours. If only our British colonizers had believed that, things might be different for us today. The storehouse of knowledge that we accumulated in caring for this ancient land of ours also remains more relevant than ever. The bushfires of 2019-20, which were so widespread and destructive that they are known here as the Black Summer, awakened new interest in what could be learned from the First Peoples, such as how we sustainably tended to the land for millenniums, understanding when and where to use fire to protect the land and its animal and plant life. Surely only good can come from listening. But the campaign against the referendum has caused confusion and fearmongering. In May, an opposition party leader, Peter Dutton of the Liberal-National coalition, said that approval would reracialize Australia. The online trolls emerged from beneath their bridges, and fake accounts and hateful keyboard warriors viciously attack those who express support for the Voice to Parliament. In my years of using social media to campaign for Indigenous communities, I have never seen such toxicity. Israel responded to this aggression with strikes in Gaza, killing at least 687 Palestinians so far, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israelis that this will be a long war. President Biden is right to express Americas full support for Israel at this painful moment. The United States, as its closest ally, has a critical role to play. Moderate Israeli opposition leaders said they were prepared to join Mr. Netanyahu in an emergency government. The Biden administration, and all of Israels friends and allies, should encourage such a broad coalition. A unity government is the best chance Israel has to come together to defend itself against aggression, as it has at so many times in its history, and emerge from this war able to keep working toward a stable, secure future that includes peace with the Palestinians. It is also the administrations duty to work to prevent this terrible eruption of violence from spreading from Gaza to involve Palestinians in the West Bank. Mr. Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and others have an invaluable role to play in maintaining open communication with leaders of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and of neighboring Arab states to urge calm. For Republicans in Congress, this is an occasion to rise above political dysfunction and stand with the Biden administration to show resolve, in support of Israel and for peace and stability in the region. Israel and Hezbollah, an armed group based in Lebanon, exchanged fire on Sunday across Israels northern border. Hezbollah, like Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, is sponsored by Iran. Representatives of Hamas and Hezbollah have claimed that Iran helped prepare the attack, and while those reports are so far unconfirmed, the danger of a wider war is real and significant. The U.S.-brokered efforts to establish relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a potential breakthrough in bolstering the security of the Middle East, are suddenly in jeopardy. Iran opposes that step toward peace, and if it was, in fact, behind the Hamas attacks, derailing this rapprochement may have been a major goal. Israel and Saudi Arabia should continue this effort and deny terrorists a veto over the nations futures. The history of Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh was ended in the old manner of conflict resolution: siege, conquest, expulsion. After a 10-month blockade, Azerbaijan launched an attack on Sept. 19, claiming the enclave in a day and causing nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population to flee. Give war a chance, as the saying goes. For Armenians, a classic relic ethnic minority whose Christianity and peculiar alphabet date to the epic struggles between the Romans and the Parthians, it was another genocide. For the Azerbaijanis, Turkic in language and historically Shia Muslim, a great triumph. Yet despite appearances, the conflict is not a Samuel Huntington-style clash of civilizations. Instead, in its emboldening of traditional regional powers like Turkey, scrambling for geopolitical spoils after the retreat of superpowers, its a harbinger of the coming world disorder. Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region in the South Caucasus, is perennially contested. Ceded by Persia to Russia in the 19th century, it fell into dispute with the emergence of the Soviet Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan both claiming it. In 1921, Stalin attached the enclave to Azerbaijan, home to oil resources and a thriving intellectual culture. Yet the thin crust of Azeri modernist intelligentsia was eliminated in Stalins purges of the 1930s and replaced by corrupt functionaries overseen by the formidable K.G.B. general Heydar Aliyev. (His son, Ilham Aliyev, is the dynastic president of Azerbaijan.) In 1988, Mikhail Gorbachevs dreams of achieving a more rational, humane Soviet Union emboldened Armenian intellectuals to start a tremendous popular movement for uniting the Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh with mainland Armenia. This seemed deceptively easy: transfer a province from one Soviet republic to another. But the Armenian demands ran into protests in Azerbaijan that almost immediately turned violent. Gorbachev looked impotent in the face of disasters he had provoked. From there to the end of the superpower, it took just three years. Ten days after the designer Gabriela Hearst presented her last show for Chloe at Paris Fashion Week, the French fashion house confirmed the appointment of her successor, Chemena Kamali. News of the hire had been long expected: When Ms. Hearst announced her departure in July, reports were circulating that Ms. Kamali was already running a parallel studio at Chloe in preparation for taking over the role of creative director. It also comes at a time when many in the industry have renewed urgent questioning about why so few top-tier luxury brands are led by women. For Ms. Kamali, who is 41 and was born in Germany, the new job is a homecoming of sorts. A graduate of Central Saint Martins in London, she began her career at Chloe as part of Phoebe Philos design team, returning there in 2013 to work for Clare Waight Keller. She also has been the womens design director for Saint Laurent and most recently worked as a consultant for the contemporary line Frame. My heart has always been Chloes, Ms. Kamali said in a statement released Monday. It has been since I stepped through its doors more than 20 years ago. Returning feels natural and very personal. John Riccitiello, the chief executive of Unity Technologies, abruptly stepped down on Monday, less than a month after a change to the companys pricing structure infuriated thousands of software developers who rely on the video game companys tools. Unity, which makes the underlying software that powers video games, has long imposed an annual licensing fee on developers. But in September, the company said it would begin charging developers additional money each time someone downloaded one of their video games. That meant developers would pay more as their games increased in popularity. Mr. Riccitiello was one of the main proponents of the change. Its been a privilege to lead Unity for nearly a decade and serve our employees, customers, developers and partners, all of whom have been instrumental to the companys growth, Mr. Riccitiello said in a news release. I look forward to supporting Unity through this transition and following the companys future success. Unity did not give a reason for Mr. Riccitiellos departure after nine years at the company. He was also the companys president and the chairman of its board of directors. Unity did not respond to a request for comment and Mr. Riccitiello could not be immediately reached for comment. For the first half of 2023, the position of second to Mr. Trump had been held by Mr. DeSantis. But Mr. DeSantiss campaign momentum stalled over the summer, and his support has deteriorated. In some surveys in New Hampshire and in her home state of South Carolina, Ms. Haley has taken the second spot. As he retools his campaign, Mr. DeSantis recently announced he was shifting staff from his Tallahassee headquarters to Iowa after raising $15 million in the third quarter. On Monday, the Des Moines Register reported that Ms. Haleys campaign was expanding its operations in Iowa, opening a headquarters in Clive and hiring staff and advisers. Advisers to both Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Haley are headed to Texas this week for an important gathering of major Republican donors, a group known as the American Opportunity Alliance, to convince those contributors of their path forward against Mr. Trump. The former presidents apparently impermeable poll numbers and robust grass-roots fund-raising have led to desperation and frustration among some donors. Among the talking points that Ms. Haleys team will arrive armed with in Texas is that her fund-raising has ticked up while Mr. DeSantis has gone down in recent months, and that he remains more strapped than her overall. Both have supportive super PACs, but Mr. DeSantiss allies have reported far more money a $130 million war chest that is more than everyone else in the field and have created a robust infrastructure in Iowa that is unrivaled in the race. Ms. Haleys recent rise in the polls has been accompanied by television ad spending from her super PAC, Stand for America, a major advertiser in the early states over the summer. For Ms. Haley, the coming report will show that her campaigns overall cash on hand grew to $11.6 million from $6.8 million at the end of the previous quarter. Most of that money, $9.1 million, is eligible to be spent in the primary; the rest is earmarked for her only if she becomes the Republican nominee. The sensitivity of that was made clear by mixed signals sent by Mr. Bidens own administration. The State Departments Office of Palestinian Affairs posted a message on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday pressing all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks, and the account of Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken posted a message on Sunday encouraging Turkeys advocacy for a cease-fire. Both posts were subsequently deleted following an outcry from Israel supporters who said it was too soon to urge Israel to stand down. Both Mr. Biden and Mr. Blinken have otherwise steadfastly declared that Israel has a right to defend itself. The administration has begun shipping military equipment to Israel to replenish its supplies and moving American warships and planes to the region to deter Iran or other enemies of Israel from escalating the fight. In a written statement on Monday, Mr. Biden implicitly compared the Hamas strike to the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives, he said. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms. With more than 900 Israelis reported killed and about 150 taken hostage, including women and children, administration officials agreed that Mr. Netanyahu had no choice but to respond with overwhelming force. Any country in the world would retaliate if its territory were invaded by land, sea and air and its citizens massacred at a concert or dragged out of their homes to be shot or hauled off as captives. For Mr. Biden and the United States, the fact that at least 11 Americans were killed and an unknown number possibly taken hostage makes it an American crisis as well. On Monday, Hamas threatened to execute a civilian hostage every time an airstrike hits Gaza in their homes without warning, raising the stakes for Washington. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy floated the possibility on Monday that he might be open to reclaiming the post from which he was ousted less than a week ago, even as two other Republicans vied to replace him in a contest that has highlighted the partys deep divisions. With the House rudderless and paralyzed following Mr. McCarthys removal last week, the California Republican worked to project normalcy and leadership in the face of the war unfolding in Israel, after an invasion by the Palestinian militant group Hamas that has led to hundreds of deaths and the capture of scores of civilian Israeli hostages. He summoned reporters to the Capitol to lay out a plan to defend Israel and rescue American captives. The appearance had all the trappings of the job he just lost; Mr. McCarthy spoke from behind a podium in the Rayburn Room, where the speaker often holds official ceremonies, and used the language of a party leader during a crisis. Now is the time for action, he said, adding, We must be there for our friend Israel. But Mr. McCarthy is no longer the speaker, and the event only underscored the disarray among House Republicans, who are set to gather on Tuesday to discuss whom to nominate as his successor. A party vote is scheduled for Wednesday, to be followed by a formal election on the floor. About 40% of medical institutions experience shortage of specialists, particularly acute shortage in de-occupied territories study Currently, 39% of Ukrainian medical institutions are experiencing a shortage of specialists, a particularly acute shortage in the de-occupied territories. Experts from the National Agency humanitarian aid ZDOROVI came to this conclusion based on the results of the next wave of the Barometer quarterly study of the state of medicine in Ukraine. "The shortage of personnel is especially noticeable in the de-occupied territories, since there is a low percentage of specialists returning to their jobs," the agency said in a press release. At the same time, according to the agency's press release, in approximately 47% of medical institutions the number of personnel has not changed compared to the pre-war period. Researchers said that 76% of medical institutions operate in conditions of partial shortage of resources, and 11% define the level of shortage as critical. At the same time, more than 60% of respondents noted a significant impact of the work of humanitarian organizations on the level of provision of medical institutions. At the same time, according to the survey, 69% of respondents rated the level of training of doctors to work in a difficult security situation as average, 20% of respondents called their level low, 45% of survey participants identified a critical need for personal protective equipment and special equipment for working in conditions of a disaster. "When specifying the material needs for personal protective equipment and special equipment, respondents most often noted individual anti-chemical bags, gas masks, chemical protection suits, special vehicles, oxygen stations, generators, gabions, body armor, helmets, and equipment for bomb shelters. 73% of respondents are interested in undergoing training in disaster medicine," the press release said. Some 180 representatives of medical institutions and health departments from different regions of Ukraine, including front-line and de-occupied territories, took part in the new wave of the Barometer study. Zdorovi cooperates with international partners, including ISAR Ednannia, RAZOM for UKRAINE, NOVA Ukraine, Americares, the Dutch Council for Refugees and other charitable foundations and organizations. In a move that could alter the dynamics of the 2024 election, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Monday that he would continue his presidential run as an independent candidate, ending his long-shot pursuit of the Democratic nomination against an incumbent president. Speaking to a crowd of supporters outside the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Mr. Kennedy, a leading vaccine skeptic and purveyor of conspiracy theories, said he represented a populist movement that defies left-right division. The Democrats are frightened that Im going to spoil the election for President Biden, and the Republicans are frightened that Im going to spoil it for Trump, he said. The truth is, theyre both right. My intention is to spoil it for both of them. Since announcing his candidacy in April, Mr. Kennedy, 69, has been a sharp critic of Democratic leadership, which he has accused of hijacking the party machinery to stifle his challenge to Mr. Biden. He has also said, in interviews and in public appearances, that the party has abandoned its principles and become corrupted. Former President Donald J. Trump, while addressing the fighting in Israel on Monday, attempted to stoke fear of attacks taking place on U.S. soil and suggested that a travel ban like the one he implemented as president could stop such violence. Mr. Trumps comments, at a campaign rally in Wolfeboro, N.H., echoed the anti-Muslim rhetoric that he successfully tapped during his 2016 presidential run, harnessing sentiments that have lingered in the post-9/11 era. While discussing a series of surprise attacks launched over the weekend by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, Mr. Trump promised to stand strongly with the state of Israel and said, to cheers, said that he had imposed a strict travel ban to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States. He called to reimpose the travel ban on terror-afflicted countries. The bloodshed and killing that we saw this week will never, ever be allowed to happen on American soil, he said. Except for the fact that we have now allowed tens of thousands of probable terrorists into our country. Will Hurd, a Republican former congressman from Texas who was once seen as a rising star in the G.O.P., announced on Monday that he would suspend his campaign for president. He endorsed Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and governor of South Carolina. Mr. Hurd entered the 2024 Republican primary race in June with a video that directly criticized former President Donald J. Trump, positioning himself among a handful of explicitly anti-Trump candidates. But he struggled to gain traction with voters and failed to qualify for both the first and second Republican National Committee debates. While I appreciate all the time and energy our supporters have given, it is important to recognize the realities of the political landscape and the need to consolidate our party around one person to defeat both Donald Trump and President Biden, Mr. Hurd wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I urge donors, voters, and other candidates to unite around an alternative candidate to Trump. If the Republican Party nominates Donald Trump or the various personalities jockeying to imitate his divisive, crass behavior, we will lose, Mr. Hurd wrote. When Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle in 2018, Calhoun County schools were ravaged. Winds of 160 miles per hour destroyed an elementary school and ripped high-school bleachers from the ground. It was complete devastation, said Darryl Taylor Jr., superintendent of the district. It was like a nuclear bomb had gone off. The Calhoun schools are still trying to rebuild what they lost five years ago. A new elementary school is not yet finished, and some students are still in temporary classrooms. The process of assessing the damage for insurance, along with the pandemic, has been arduous. It was long and slow, Mr. Taylor said. As climate disasters become more commonplace, school districts are learning that a strong storm can put learning in a state of disarray. In New York, a driving rain recently flooded the city, with water seeping into more than 300 schools. Cafeterias and kitchens were unusable; students 45-minute commutes turned into two hours; one school was temporarily evacuated. Chinas top leader, Xi Jinping, met with Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, in Beijing on Monday and expressed hopes of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States, even as escalating violence in the Middle East threatens to deepen a wedge between the two powers. We have 1,000 reasons to make China-U.S. relations work well and not a single reason to make China-U.S. relations bad, Mr. Xi said while meeting with the Democratic senator from New York. Mr. Xis amicable tone is likely to increase expectations that he will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in San Francisco in November and meet with President Biden. Doing so would cap a tumultuous year for U.S.-China relations that reached a low in February after the discovery of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the United States. Still, the specter of a growing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians could complicate any bid to improve ties between Beijing and Washington. The authorities at the Hamburg Airport in Germany suspended all flights for roughly 90 minutes on Monday after receiving what they called a credible threat that mentioned a specific flight coming from Tehran. The plane in question landed safely and was parked in an isolated section of the airport. All 198 passengers and 16 crew members left the plane without incident. The police then took the travelers to an isolated gate and subjected them to vigorous security screenings, similar to those carried out before takeoff, said Marcus Henschel, a spokesman for the federal police at the airport. The threat was determined to be credible and so we initiated the appropriate response, Mr. Henschel said. The threat against the plane came in an email sent to several recipients, including the federal police at the airport, early Monday morning, Mr. Henschel said in a phone interview. The British government began its appeal on Monday of an earlier court decision that determined a policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful, opening the latest chapter in a legal saga that has played out since the highly contentious plan was announced in 2022. The policy, which Britains Conservative government has maintained would act as a deterrent to the dangerous boat crossings made by thousands of asylum seekers across the English Channel, would allow the government to send anyone arriving by these types of irregular means to Rwanda. The plan has been repeatedly challenged by rights groups, so far halting any planned deportations, and is now being heard in the Supreme Court. Heres what to know as the new appeal gets underway. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Monday condemned Hamas for its surprise assault on Israel and likened the attack to Russias invasion of his own country. In a speech to NATO, he also criticized Iran for its support of Hamas and Moscow. It is the second speech that Mr. Zelensky, who spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday, has delivered in support of Israel since Hamass incursion into Israel. In another sign of the Ukrainian governments strong backing for Israel, electronic billboards in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, were lit with the Israeli flag on Sunday night. Mr. Zelensky said that Hamas and Moscow were the same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine. If the world unites whenever someone takes women hostage and condemns the children of another nation, terror will have no allies, he said in a speech delivered by video link to a meeting in Copenhagen of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Since its founding, Hamas has declared that Israel has no right to exist, that there are no Israeli civilians and that every Israeli citizen is a soldier of the state, and thus a legitimate target. Still, if Western nations considered Hamas a terrorist organization, they also thought that it was preoccupied with governing Palestinians crammed into Gaza. Hamas provided social services. It was even thought of as a restraint on what were considered even more radical groups. In Israel, successive governments cut quiet deals with Hamas, hoping to keep a form of stability in the Gaza Strip, which the group controls, especially after the Israelis withdrew unilaterally from the territory in 2005. But the assault launched by Hamas this weekend, with more than 900 Israelis listed as killed so far and more than 150 believed taken as hostages and human shields into Gaza, has now stripped away any remaining illusions about the group or its intentions. The attack by Hamas into Israel proper is notable for its terror, targeting not only uniformed soldiers, but also civilians, including women and children. I am looking on Instagram and I see a video, Ms. Kalderon recalled. And its my brother. Erez, 12, and four other members of the Kalderon family are feared to be among an estimated 150 Israelis, many of them civilians, taken hostage by Palestinian militants during the broadest invasion of Israeli territory in 50 years. About 900 other Israelis were killed, according to a government statement. Image Erez and Sahar Kalderon. They are feared to be among an estimated 150 Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Credit... via Kalderon family The hostages were seized from homes in towns along Israels border with Gaza including the Kalderons small village of Kibbutz Nir Oz as well as from military bases and an enormous outdoor dance party. They include civilians, soldiers, people with disabilities, children, grandparents and even a 9-month-old baby. The hostages are also believed to include at least one Palestinian resident of Israel, a bus driver who spent the night near the outdoor party after driving Israelis there, his family said. The capture of so many Israelis by Palestinian militants has taken the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into uncharted territory not only in the sheer number of hostages, but also in the dire threats Hamas is making against them. On Monday night, the Hamas military wing warned that it would execute a civilian hostage every time an Israeli airstrike hits Gazans in their homes without warning. Russia is using the attack of Hamas terrorists on the State of Israel to discredit Ukraine, in particular, by spreading false information about the alleged sale of Western weapons to terrorists by the Ukrainian side, the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said on Monday. "The Russian intelligence service has already transferred to HAMAS terrorists captured weapons made in the United States and EU countries captured during the fighting in Ukraine. The next step, according to the Russians' plan, should be fake accusations of the Ukrainian military of selling Western weapons to terrorists on a regular basis," the intelligence said in the Telegram channel on Monday. It is noted that as part of the disinformation campaign, these fakes should form the basis for a number of "revelatory publications" and "investigations" in the Western media. "For credibility, the Russian special services intend to use the relevant comments of the traitor from the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, senior lieutenant Ruslan Syrovoy, who recently fled to Moscow. Another provocation of the enemy is aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the complete cessation of military assistance to our state from Western partners," the intelligence said Defense Ministry. A former spokesman for Israels military gave a blunt assessment of the situation in Israel on Sunday, warning that it would take hours or longer to reclaim all the towns in southern Israel where the military was still battling Hamas militants. The picture and the situation in Israel is a dire one, the former spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Hours later on Monday morning, Israels chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, declared that Israeli forces had regained control of the communities along the Gaza border even as he acknowledged that there were still pockets of fighting. Mr. Conricus, a reservist in the Israel Defense Forces, has been actively updating Israelis about the war and the IDF account has been reposting information from him. In one video statement on Sunday that the IDF reposted, he claimed that the military had sent at least 100,000 reservists to the southern border and he appeared to suggest they were preparing for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. That posting by the IDF called Mr. Conricus a spokesman, without explaining if that was now an official role. Yoni Ashers nightmare began early on Saturday morning during a phone call with his wife, Doron Asher Katz. Whispering down the phone line, Ms. Asher Katz, 34, said that she, her mother, and their two small daughters were trapped inside her mothers safe room in a village near the Gaza border. She told me, There are terrorists inside the house, Mr. Asher said in an interview. Then came worse news: Ms. Asher Katzs mothers life partner, Gadi Moses, had left the safe room to reason with the intruders. She said they left and they took him with them, Mr. Asher said. Mr. Asher, 37, hoped that his spouse and children were safe, at least. But then the phone lines went dead. Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip and staged the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and other Palestinian groups are believed to be holding more than 240 hostages people taken after Hamas stormed across the border in a brazen assault that killed at least 1,400 people. Heres what we know about the captives. How many hostages are there? The Israeli military has notified the families of 242 people kidnapped during Hamass attack, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the militarys chief spokesman, said on Thursday. The count has risen as the army has collected more intelligence and accounted for the many foreign citizens who were kidnapped, Admiral Hagari said. At least 33 children are among the hostages, according to the Israeli government. On Monday, the Israeli military said that it had rescued an Israeli soldier who was taken hostage from her army base on Oct 7. Hamas has released four hostages: an American Israeli mother and daughter on Oct. 20 and two Israeli women three days later, which raised hopes about the effectiveness of hostage negotiations. The Biden administration had advised Israel to delay a ground invasion of Gaza, hoping to buy time for such talks and allow more humanitarian aid to reach the sealed-off enclave. When Sarit Kurtzman heard rocket sirens early Saturday morning, she grabbed her 14-month-old daughter, Zohar, and quickly made her way with her husband, Yonatan, to the safe room in their home in the kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel. As a resident of a kibbutz only a few miles from the Gaza Strip, it was an experience she has grown accustomed to. Ms. Kurtzman, a modern Orthodox Jew, typically leaves her phone off on Saturdays but turned it on when she realized something was wrong. The barrage of rockets and sirens continued for longer than usual. Were used to hearing the missiles, were used to hearing the Iron Dome, were used to hearing even planes and tanks and helicopters, but this was the first time we heard gunshots right outside our window and we understood that something is going on that the terrorists are nearby, Ms. Kurtzman, 28, said. Her kibbutz, which has a volunteer security team and several methods of communicating warnings, alerted residents that the community had been infiltrated by attackers and that residents needed to seek shelter. When the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco announced that they were establishing relations with Israel in 2020, Emirati officials said the deals were symbols of peace and tolerance, while then President Donald J. Trump declared the dawn of a new Middle East. Those words rang hollow to many in the region, though. Even in the countries that signed the deals, branded the Abraham Accords, support for the Palestinians and enmity toward Israel over its decades-long occupation of their land remained strong, particularly as Israels government expanded settlements in the Palestinian West Bank after the agreements. On Saturday, when Palestinian gunmen from the blockaded territory of Gaza surged into Israel, carrying out the boldest attack in the country in decades, it set off an outpouring of support for the Palestinians across the region. In some quarters, there were celebrations even as hundreds of Israelis and Palestinians were killed and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel threatened a long and difficult war ahead. This is the first time that we rejoice in this way for our Palestinian brothers, said Abdul Majeed Abdullah Hassan, 70, who joined a rally with hundreds of people in the island kingdom of Bahrain. In the context of the Israeli occupation and blockade, the Hamas operation warmed our hearts, he said, calling his governments deal to recognize Israel shameful. Where This Summer Was Relentlessly Hot The planet just experienced its hottest months on record, and by a large margin, scientists said. The exceptional heat, driven in part by a warming climate, has exacerbated extreme weather events around the world, including wildfires, heat waves and dangerous flooding. Degrees warmer or cooler than 1979-2000 average Average daily temperatures, June 1 - Sept. 23 0 +2 F +4 F +6 F +8 F See temperatures as... f c A global map shows where average daily temperatures from June 1 to Sept. 23 were warmer or cooler than average based on a 1979-2000 average. Much of North America was warmer than average, with some areas including northern Canada, the southwest U.S. and northern Mexico, showing temperatures more than 6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius) above average. Hot, dry and windy conditions fueled an early and intense wildfire season in Canada that, by mid-July, had already become the countrys worst on record. Much of the wider Arctic region experienced warmer-than-normal temperatures that accelerated ice melt. The global map spins and focuses on the Arctic region, most of which was warmer than average. Some areas, including northern Canada and some of Greenland, show temperatures more than 6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius) above average. In many places, the heat persisted for days and days on end. Phoenix saw 31 straight days at or exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and a total of 55 days above that mark from June through Sept. 23. Daily maximum temperature Phoenix The global map spins and focuses on the Southwest region of the United States, which shows much warmer temperatures than normal. Phoenix, which is known for its extreme heat, shows temperatures more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) above average. El Paso faced 44 consecutive days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, beginning in the middle of June. The punishing heat in the borderlands between Texas and Mexico became deadly for some migrants on their journey to the United States, officials said. Daily maximum temperature El Paso The global map spins and focuses on the United States-Mexico border region. A large swath of southern and western Texas, as well as northern Mexico, experienced temperatures more than 6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius) above average. Parts of the southeastern United States like Louisiana also sweltered under seemingly endless hotter-than-normal days, accompanied by high humidity that made the air feel swampy and suffocating. Daily maximum temperature Baton Rouge, La. The global map spins and focuses on the southeastern region of the United States. Parts of Louisiana, like Baton Rouge, show temperatures more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit above average. One of the years most unusual heat waves happened in the middle of South Americas winter. Temperatures in parts of the Chilean Andes soared to more than 20 degrees Fahrenheit above normal during a heat wave in late July and early August. The global map spins to South America, where average daily temperatures were higher than normal for much of the continent. Temperatures in parts of the Chilean Andes were more than 8 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) higher than normal, with much of Paraguay with average temperatures more than 6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius) above normal. Europe saw wave after wave of blistering heat that rolled across the region for an exhausting four months, as firefighters battled blazes in Croatia, Switzerland and across the Mediterranean. Daily maximum temperature Marseille, France The globe spins to Europe, where countries stretching from Spain to Romania show average temperatures more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2.2 degrees Celsius) higher than normal. Even in the Middle East which has come to expect hot summers the unrelenting heat, combined with high humidity and parched conditions, made it dangerous to do daily tasks. In Africa, large swaths of Sudan, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo were much warmer than normal. The map spins to focus on northeastern Africa and the Middle East. Areas of Sudan and Ethiopia show temperatures greater than 6 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius) higher than normal. The heat was particularly pronounced in northwestern China, where the dry desert climate regularly makes it one of the hottest parts of the country. In the city of Turpan, temperatures reached nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit in mid-July. Daily maximum temperature Turpan, China The globe spins to focus on northern China and Mongolia, where a large area shows temperatures more than 4 degrees higher than normal since June. Police in Northern Ireland have asked the public to help them trace the whereabouts of four children who are missing. The PSNI said the siblings, aged between 16 and eight, may be with their parents Kathleen and Martin Maughan, and may have travelled to the Republic of Ireland. The missing children are Louise, 16, Marie Theresa, 15, Owen, 12, and Christina, eight. They were reported missing from the County Fermanagh town of Lisnaskea on October 5. Chief Inspector Lynne Corbett issued an appeal to the public on Sunday evening to help them locate the children. She said: We are asking that Kathleen or Martin, the children, or anyone who knows of their whereabouts, get in touch with police and let us know where the children are and that they are safe. I would also ask that they be returned to Northern Ireland as soon as possible. Police can be contacted by calling 101, quoting reference 1181 05/10/23. In Velyka Novosilka sector (in Vuhledar area of Donetsk region), despite the decrease in the intensity of hostilities, Russian forces will most likely continue to take a defensive position to protect against possible future offensive operations by Ukraine and keep a significant number of troops there, according to British intelligence. "The Velyka Novosilka sector, west of the Donetsk Oblast town of Vuhledar, has become relatively quiet over the last four weeks, with fighting much less intense from its height in June-July 2023. Over the summer, Ukraine almost certainly liberated at least 125 square kilometres of territory on this axis," the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said in the statement published on the X social network on Sunday morning. As British experts note, Ukrainian operations in this sector have tied down elements of the 36th and fifth Combined Arms Armies of Russia's Eastern Military District, preventing them from reinforcing other areas. It has also drawn in 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. It is unlikely there will be a significant drawdown of Russian forces from this axis in the next six weeks," the experts said. Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections May Be Held In March 2024, Says CM Jagan Reddy Amaravati oi-Madhuri Adnal The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday announced the possibility of holding early assembly elections in March 2024. He revealed that the party's manifesto is set to be unveiled in February during a public gathering with ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) supporters at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada. In his recent address, Reddy urged party leaders to prepare for the upcoming elections. He also expressed his unwavering faith in the people, the party cadre, and a higher power, asserting that he does not rely on alliances to secure electoral victories. He expressed strong confidence in the party's ability to secure another resounding mandate in the elections. Furthermore, he unveiled plans for four extensive outreach programs, including "Why AP needs Jagan," "Jagananna Arogya Suraksha," and a bus tour, all scheduled for launch in November. The bus tour aims to inform the underprivileged about the government's initiatives on their behalf. Reddy also announced a series of public meetings featuring leaders from SC/ST/BC/minority communities in all 175 constituencies, taking place from October 25 to December 31, with three meetings each day. He framed the upcoming contest as a class struggle rather than a caste conflict, pitting the impoverished against the affluent elite. Telangana Pre Poll Survey: Not BJP, Congress To Unseat BRS Reddy shared that his government plans to allocate Rs 31,000 crore to women's groups through various schemes, and starting from January 1, 2024, the welfare pension will be increased to Rs 3,000. He also disclosed that the YSR Cheyutha scheme will be initiated from January 10 to 20, disbursing Rs 19,000 crore to women. In the same timeframe, they will also disburse Rs 26,000 crore through the Asara program to provide financial assistance. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2023, 15:54 [IST] Caught On Camera: Man Crushed To Death In Bengaluru After Intense Car Chase On Busy Road Namma Metro Purple Metro Line Opens, PM Modi Says It's A Significant Step In Enhancing Ease Of Living Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal After a much-anticipated wait, the opening of two new stretches on Bengaluru's purple metro line, namely Krishnarajapuram - Baiyappanahalli and Kengeri - Challaghatta lines, is now fully operational from today i.e October 9. With the inauguration of these vital metro lines, the entire purple line is now fully operational, marking a significant development expected to alleviate the notorious traffic congestion in East Bengaluru. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed his delight at the commencement of services on two key stretches of the Purple Line of the Bengaluru Metro. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), PM Modi said,''Absolutely delighted by the commencement of services on two key stretches of the Purple Line of the Bengaluru Metro. This marks another significant step in enhancing 'Ease of Living' for the residents of Bengaluru.'' Absolutely delighted by the commencement of services on two key stretches of the Purple Line of the Bengaluru Metro. This marks another significant step in enhancing Ease of Living for the residents of Bengaluru. https://t.co/CMpe0FnjiE Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2023 Calling the new Bengaluru metro line "momentous", Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wrote on X, "For the convenience of people, services on two stretches of Purple Line of #BengaluruMetro have been started without waiting for any VIP or elaborate opening ceremony to provide seamless connectivity on the entire length from Challaghatta to Whitefield." Replying to PM Modi tweet, Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan wrote,''Bengaluru extends its heartfelt gratitude for your pivotal role in initiating services on the Purple Line stretches, Sir. This milestone represents a significant leap forward in augmenting the 'Ease of Living' for the residents of Bengaluru. We are immensely grateful.'' Bengaluru extends its heartfelt gratitude for your pivotal role in initiating services on the #PurpleLine stretches, Sir. This milestone represents a significant leap forward in augmenting the 'Ease of Living' for the residents of Bengaluru. We are immensely grateful. https://t.co/HyGZTn4dig pic.twitter.com/pWeKw7n0MJ P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) October 9, 2023 "With this, the total length of India's second largest metro rail network, India's preferred mode of green, efficient & affordable urban commute, has now increased to 73.81 kms," the union minister added to his X post. The 2.1-kilometer Baiyappanahalli-KR Pura and the 2.05-kilometer Kengeri-Challaghatta segments is now thrown open to the public at 5 am. These segments are integral parts of the 42.85-kilometer Purple Line, which links Whitefield in the east to Challaghatta in the west. The Metro Rail services on the two sections began at 5 am without any formal inauguration. In an official statement, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has announced, "BMRCL wishes to notify the public about the commencement of passenger services on two sections: the 2.10 km stretch between Krishnarajapura and Baiyappanahalli, featuring one station at Benniganahalli in between, and the 2.05 km extension from Kengeri to Challaghatta, starting from October 9." With the inauguration of these crucial sections, the entire East-West corridor, known as the Purple Line, connecting Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta, is now fully operational. This comprehensive line spans a total length of 43.49 km and comprises 37 metro stations, marking a significant milestone in Bengaluru's public transportation network. BMRCL's operational network will expand from 69.66 km to 73.81 km, encompassing 66 metro stations, further enhancing the city's metro connectivity. The line is mostly elevated, with 29 elevated stations, 5 underground stations, and 1 at-grade station. The metro journey from Challaghatta to Whitefield is estimated to take 76 minutes (approx) and cost Rs 60, according to a News 18 report. Travel time: According to BMRCL, the operational headway on the East-West Corridor will be as follows: Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Patandur Agrahara (10 minutes), Patandur Agrahara to Mysore Road (5 minutes), and Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Station - Majestic to MG Road (3 minutes) during morning peak hours. The travel time from Mysore Road to Challaghatta will be approximately 10 minutes. The last train departing from Whitefield (Kadugodi) is scheduled for 10:45 pm, and from all other terminal stations, it will leave at 11:05 pm, ensuring extended service hours for commuters. Fare: According to media reports, the metro train ride from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Challaghatta is expected to be priced at approximately 57 to 60. Good Morning, Bengaluru! Its so nice to see people send videos of Namma Metro #PurpleLine chugging along the whole stretch, while roads are choking with traffic underneath. Its an important reminder that the answer to traffic congestion is not building more roads, but pic.twitter.com/yH2k5zdoJH Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) October 9, 2023 Happy #NammaMetro day #Bengaluru #PurpleLine metro commercial services from Challaghatta to Whitefield with the missing link have begun today at 5:00AM Done with my first ride Total ride: 43.49kms Total stations: 31 elevated, 5 Underground & 1 at-ground/grade Total pic.twitter.com/qGl04JIetX Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) October 9, 2023 #WATCH | Bengaluru: The Purple Line metro service started between KR Pura (Krishnaraja pura) to BYPL - (Byappanahalli) at a cost of Rs 363.48 crores. The line also connects Whitefield. pic.twitter.com/JTZL5KXzNR ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023 Recently, Tejasvi Surya, the Member of Parliament for Bengaluru South, criticised the Congress party-led state government for the ongoing delays in opening the KR Puram-Baiyappanahalli metro line. He highlighted the potential benefits for thousands of daily metro commuters and expressed frustration with the government's persistent delays, despite having obtained the necessary approvals and safety clearance from CMRS. Surya further commented, "Unfortunately, it appears that the state government is delaying the start of public operations, possibly in anticipation of a visit from either Rahul Gandhi or another Congress leader for the project's inauguration." Previously, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had aimed to inaugurate the KR Puram - Baiyappanahalli line by mid-July. The purple line is expected to significantly improve public transportation in Bengaluru, particularly as it will make Whitefield more accessible, home to several tech parks employing people from various parts of the city. This development is also likely to alleviate traffic congestion in the Whitefield area, as more commuters will opt for the metro for their daily work commutes. Will Karnataka Assembly Elections Happen Early? Speculation Mounts Bengaluru oi-Madhuri Adnal In the wake of his recent entry into the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), HD Kumaraswamy, the JDS legislature party leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, has made a startling prediction of fresh Assembly elections in the state next year. During a gathering with Ramanagara party workers at his Bidadi farmhouse, Kumaraswamy also suggested that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar may soon find himself back in Tihar Jail. Going by Kumaraswamy's statements, it looks like that Karnataka Assembly elections will take place in 2024 itself, not 2028. He also expressed confidence that no one can prevent the imminent polls and called upon his supporters to initiate preparations. Although Kumaraswamy refrained from mentioning DK Shivakumar by name, he urged party workers to fortify the JDS in Kanakapura, suggesting that the current Congress candidate may not participate in the upcoming elections. In his words, "In the next elections, that person might not be able to contest polls. God is watching everything, do not worry. I know what is going to happen. He has already been there (Tihar Jail) once, and I will not be surprised if he goes there again. At most, we can be sent to Hassan, but not Tihar Jail," the former CM remarked. Karnataka To Not Open More Liquor Shops, Says CM Siddaramaiah Kumaraswamy also said that the downfall of the Congress-JDS coalition government, asserting that Shivakumar's interference in Belagavi politics was the root cause of the government's collapse. He said, "I didn't have any animosity against Ramesh Jarkiholi. He (Shivakumar) intervened in Belagavi DCC Bank politics, and I had to become its victim. He portrayed in public as if he was trying to save the government. He brainwashed people by saying he was trying to protect the government, but it was due to him that the government collapsed." Since aligning with the BJP, Kumaraswamy has been vocal in his criticism of DK Shivakumar. His future plans include a meeting with BJP leaders to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, slated for the end of the month. While the JDS is planning to contest elections in six seats, the BJP has reportedly offered only four, with the final decision expected post the Navaratri festival. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2023, 14:23 [IST] After Spending Over 40 Days In Jail, YouTuber TTF Vasan Will Be Finally Out Of Prison Two Decades Without Power, Now Lit Up In Just One Week Will Vijay Enter TN Politics In 2026? BJP's Annamalai Says 'Democracy Is All About Choice' Drowning And Dying With Your Thoughts: Vijay Antony In Heart Wrenching Post On Daughter's Death Chennai oi-Prakash KL Producer Fatima Vijay Antony has shared an emotional tweet to express her struggle to overcome the death of her daughter Meera. Meera Vijay Antony died by suicide on September 19 at her residence in Chennai. In the latest post on X, Fatima said, "I would have just kept u very very close to me, not even shown you to the sun and moon,am drowning and dying with ur thoughts,can't live without you ,come back to babba and amma.laara keeps waiting for u,love u Thangam." Her post has gone viral even as her followers are requesting her to "stay strong" at this tough phase of her life. 'Love You All, Miss You All': Suicide Note Of Meera Vijay Antony Found 'Stuck' In Her Textbook "Stay Strong Mam. All our thoughts are with you & Sir. Pls Be strong," one user said. If Id known u will live only for 16 yrs, I would have just kept u very very close to me,not even shown you to the sun and moon,am drowning and dying with ur thoughts,cant live without you ,come back to babba and amma.laara keeps waiting for u,love u Thangam@vijayantony pic.twitter.com/7PAQ5Ji9qp Fatima Meera Vijay Antony (@mrsvijayantony) October 9, 2023 Another person stated, "Heart Broken to see such painful words Stay strong mam." The third netizen said, "Mother's love is deeper than the deepest ocean.. no words to describe your grief Fathima mam.. sending you and your family all the strength to bear this loss. Meera is always with you." "Stay strong madam and vijay antony... she's now your guardian angel watching you all every single day," fourth person added. The fifth user said, "Stay strong mam mother is the strength of a family you have two more kids to take care of spend time with them." 'I Carried You In The Womb': Vijay Antony's Wife Bids Tearful Adieu To Daughter Reports had claimed that Meera, who was studying Class XI, was under pressure which led her to end her life. Responding to her loss, Vijay Antony, on X, said,"My dear people, my daughter Meera is an affectionate and bold girl. She has now gone to a peaceful world where there is no caste, religion, money, jealousy, pain, poverty, or spite. She is still speaking with me. I too have died with her. I have begun spending my time with her. I will now carry out good deeds on her behalf and she will kickstart them. Yours Vijay Antony." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2023, 17:05 [IST] AAP Demands Proactive Measures from Haryana Government to Control Farm Fires The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) urges the Haryana government to take proactive steps in curbing the increase of farm fires. The party accuses the BJP-JJP government of negligence and demands Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's resignation. India -Krishna Kripa The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has recently called for more proactive measures from the Haryana government to control farm fires, which have reportedly tripled in the state this year compared to past years. This sharp increase is alleged by AAP as a significant contributor to Delhi's escalating air pollution problem. However, these claims have been disputed by Harish Khurana, Secretary of Delhi BJP. AAP Accuses Haryana Government of Inaction Anurag Dhanda, the senior vice-president of AAPs Haryana unit held a press conference where he accused the BJP-JJP government in Haryana of failing to effectively manage and control this situation. He demanded that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar should resign due to his perceived inability to address this ongoing issue. The rising trend in farm fires was confirmed through satellite images despite claims from the government that they have implemented several measures aimed at controlling them. "The Haryana government needs to take steps to ensure that people do not face the ill-effects of pollution," Dhanda stated during his address. According to him, there were 277 reported incidents of stubble burning in Haryana so far this year, whereas during the same period last year and two years ago there were only 62 and 80 such incidents respectively. Delhi BJP Secretary Refutes Claims However, these allegations were strongly refuted by Harish Khurana, Delhi BJP secretary who accused AAP of spreading misinformation regarding crop residual burning and its impact on Delhi's air quality. According to Khurana, AAPs claim about a three-fold rise in crop residual burning contributing majorly towards air pollution in Delhi is unfounded. AAP Highlights Measures Taken Priyanka Kakkar, chief national spokesperson for AAP enumerated various steps taken by the party to combat the issue of stubble burning and air pollution. However, she did not provide specific details about these measures during her address. In conclusion, as Delhi grapples with worsening air quality, political parties are seen pointing fingers at each other over the responsibility of escalating farm fires in neighbouring Haryana. While AAP insists on a three-fold increase in such incidents causing severe pollution issues in Delhi, BJP refutes these claims as baseless. Amidst this political blame game, it is evident that a comprehensive and effective strategy needs to be devised and implemented urgently to curb stubble burning incidents and mitigate their detrimental impact on air quality. After Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan To Get Y+ Security Cover India oi-Prakash KL Following death threats, the Maharashtra government has increased the security of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan to the Y Plus category. The Hindi star had given a written complaint to the state government that he had been receiving death threat calls after the films 'Pathan' and 'Jawan', Maharashtra Police said on Monday. In the Y Plus security category, Khan will be provided with a total of 11 security personnel, comprising six commandos, four police officers, and a vehicle for traffic clearance. The police officers will be stationed at his residence, Mannat, due to threats related to his song and film releases. The actor Bollywood actor to have the Y Plus security category is Salman Khan after he received threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan Makes History, Crosses Rs 1100 Cr Mark Worldwide On October 5th, the state's home department sent a communication to senior police officials and various departments, including the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The communication conveyed the message: "Considering the recent and potential threat to actor Shah Rukh Khan, all unit commanders are urged to offer Y+ level security on a paid basis, effective immediately. This arrangement should continue until the next high-level committee recommendation and review committee decision. This security provision is applicable during his visits, engagements, and residence within your jurisdiction, aimed at preventing any unfortunate incidents." The Times of India has obtained a copy of this communication. The Maharashtra government revised its police protection policy in 2017. According to the revised policy, private citizens will receive security only if there is a genuine threat to their lives, and they will be responsible for covering the associated costs. Sources have told The Times Of India that Shah Rukh will be required to cover the expenses for police security until a decision is made by the review committee regarding his protection. Assembly Elections 2023: Five States To Go To Polls Between November 7-30, Counting On December 3 India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Election Commission has announced the dates of assembly elections of five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram on Monday. In Mizoram, polling will take place on November 7, marking the commencement of the electoral process. Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, is set to hold its elections in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for November 7 and the second phase on November 17. Madhya Pradesh will conduct its elections on November 17, while Rajasthan is slated for polling on November 23. Lastly, Telangana will hold its elections on November 30, completing the lineup of important state elections in the country. These elections are particularly noteworthy as the terms of the legislative assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are set to conclude on varying dates in January of the upcoming year. Notably, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) governs Telangana, while the BJP holds power in Madhya Pradesh. In contrast, the Congress is currently in authority in both Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Mizoram - November 7, 2023: The state of Mizoram will kick off the electoral process on November 7. Voters will cast their ballots to choose their representatives in the state assembly. Recommended Video Election Fever is On | Election Commission releases poll dates | Parties in a huddle | OneIndia News Lok Sabha Election Prediction: Can BJP Repeat Its 2019 Success In Bengal Today? Chhattisgarh - November 7 and 17, 2023: Chhattisgarh's electoral exercise spans two days, with polling scheduled for November 7 and 17. This extended polling schedule allows voters in various constituencies to participate in the democratic process. Madhya Pradesh - November 17, 2023: Madhya Pradesh will hold its state elections on November 17. The state's voters will decide the future composition of their legislative assembly on this day. Rajasthan - November 23, 2023: Rajasthan's turn to vote will come on November 23, 2023. The state's citizens will have their say in shaping the state's political landscape. Telangana- November 30 Telangana will vote on November 30, 2023. Counting of Votes - December 3, 2023: Following the culmination of the electoral process in these states, the much-anticipated results will be officially announced on December 3, 2023. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar has emphasized the pivotal role of citizens' awareness and cooperation in ensuring elections that are free, fair, and devoid of inducements. In this endeavor, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced the cVigil App, providing citizens with a direct channel to report any Electoral Malpractices. Notably, for every complaint received through this platform, the ECI pledges a response within a mere 100 minutes. With the forthcoming Assembly Elections of 2023 on the horizon in five states, preparations are in full swing. An impressive total of 1.77 lakh polling stations will be established across 679 Assembly Constituencies (ACs). Among these, over 1 lakh polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities, a clear demonstration of the ECI's unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability in the electoral process. Chhattisgarh Election 2023: Opinion Poll Predicts Clear Win For Congress One crucial measure of a fair election is the elector-to-polling station ratio, and in all five states, this ratio comfortably falls well below the ECI's norm of 1500 electors per polling station. This underscores the ECI's determination to ensure accessible and efficient voting for citizens throughout these regions. In a remarkable show of dedication to inclusive democracy, polling stations will be set up even in reserve forest areas and sanctuaries dedicated to tribal populations in Madhya Pradesh. This reflects the ECI's commitment to ensuring that the democratic process reaches even the most remote and challenging locations. Mizoram, too, presents an extraordinary electoral challenge. Here, polling teams are gearing up to access 22 non-motorable polling stations on foot and reach 19 riverine polling stations by boat. These extraordinary efforts underscore the commitment to inclusivity and a fair election, irrespective of geographical or logistical hurdles. As the Assembly Elections of 2023 draw near, the Election Commission of India, under the stewardship of Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, remains steadfast in its resolve to facilitate a democratic process that encourages citizen vigilance and ensures that every voice is heard, all while upholding the principles of freedom, fairness, and inducement-free elections. Across 5 states, there are 679 Assembly Constituencies (ACs), representing approximately one-sixth of the total ACs in the nation. These 679 ACs collectively encompass 16 crore electors, constituting almost one-sixth of the total elector population in the country. The Election Commission convened a meeting of observers last Friday, instructing them to diligently address the issue of monetary influence. This meeting brought together general, police, and expenditure observers for the upcoming assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. The terms of the legislative assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh are scheduled to conclude on various dates in January 2024, while the Mizoram Legislative Assembly's term will end on December 17 this year. Notably, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) governs Telangana, the BJP holds power in Madhya Pradesh, while the Congress governs Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, and the Mizo National Front leads the northeastern state. With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections just months away, these impending assembly elections hold significant importance. They will not only shape the political landscape at the state level but also carry implications at the national level. As political parties actively gear up for these contests, high-stakes battles are anticipated in numerous constituencies. Case filed against 271 people for violence in Hazaribag district, Jharkhand India -Krishna Kripa The Indian state of Jharkhand has been rocked by a recent outbreak of violence, resulting in the filing of a case against 271 individuals. According to police reports, the incident occurred in the Pelawal region of Hazaribag district on Sunday night and involved a bus carrying Bajrang Dal activists returning from an event in Ranchi. Details of The Incident Hazaribag's Superintendent of Police Manoj Ratan Chothe detailed how events unfolded that fateful night. Upon stopping near a mosque, the activists allegedly began shouting "Jai Shri Ram" along with some objectionable slogans. This act reportedly incited a mob which responded by hurling stones at the bus. In the ensuing chaos, at least ten Bajrang Dal activists were injured. Police Response and Legal Proceedings In response to this violent episode, an FIR (First Information Report) was lodged at Pelawal police station against 271 people involved in the incident. Although 71 individuals were specifically named in the report, others remained unidentified but implicated nonetheless. Despite these developments, no arrests have been made yet concerning this matter. Government Intervention and Future Measures Superintendent Chothe reassured that current conditions are under control thanks to intensive police patrolling being conducted within the area to prevent any further disturbances or potential flare-ups. Similarly echoing his sentiments is Deputy Commissioner Nancy Sahay who assured that stringent action would be taken against those found guilty for their involvement. The Superintendent also credited prompt police action for bringing about swift resolution amidst escalating tensions as they managed to escort the targeted bus safely to its destination at Katkamsandi. Conclusion This unfortunate incident highlights once again India's ongoing struggle with inter-communal harmony and respect for religious sentiments. It underscores the need for greater societal tolerance and understanding, coupled with stringent legal measures against those who incite or participate in such violent acts. As investigations continue into this incident, it is hoped that justice will be served swiftly and fairly to deter future occurrences of such nature. "Inhuman Treatment of Children": Uttarakhand CM Orders Madrassa Verification "Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a verification drive of all madrassas in Nainital district following allegations of inhuman treatment and illegal operation. Immediate legal action will be taken against any unethical practice found." India -Krishna Kripa The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has taken serious note of the alleged inhumane treatment of children at an unauthorized madrassa in Nainital district. Reacting promptly to these disturbing allegations, he ordered a comprehensive verification drive for all madrassas operating within the state. The move comes as part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring that educational institutions adhere to ethical standards and legal requirements. Verification Drive Initiated On Monday, Dhami directed the additional chief secretary home to initiate a thorough verification process for all madrassas across the state. Any institution found engaging in unethical practices is to face immediate legal action under his directive. This measure underscores the governments commitment to safeguarding children's rights and ensuring their welfare in educational environments. In line with this order, instructions have been issued by the Home Department to all district magistrates throughout Uttarakhand. They are required to verify all madrassas within their respective jurisdictions as per the chief minister's directives. This official statement serves as an affirmation of accountability towards protecting minors from any form of abuse or exploitation. Allegations of Inhuman Treatment The decision was triggered by a complaint lodged by a parent on Sunday concerning one particular madrassa located in Veerbhatti near Jeolikot in Nainital district. Following up on this complaint, local police conducted an investigation into conditions at this religious school. Dismayingly, they discovered evidence supporting claims of physical abuse and substandard living conditions for students attending there. Preliminary reports indicate that not only were students subjected to cruel treatment but also suffered from poor health due largely inadequate access to hygienic food and clean water sources. Unregistered Institutions Under Scrutiny Further compounding these disturbing revelations was the fact that this madrassa was operating without official registration. The existence of such unregulated educational institutions poses a significant challenge to ensuring child welfare. This incident underscores the urgent need for stringent oversight and regulation of all educational establishments, particularly those dealing with vulnerable minors. In conclusion, the swift action taken by Uttarakhand's Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in response to allegations of child abuse at an unregistered madrassa is commendable. It not only sends out a strong message against any form of mistreatment towards children but also highlights the importance of regulatory compliance by educational institutions. Furthermore, it serves as a reminder to society about our collective responsibility towards safeguarding children's rights and well-being. The verification drive across all madrassas in Uttarakhand will hopefully bring any unethical practices to light and ensure that appropriate legal measures are taken promptly. As of Monday morning, law enforcement officers managed to identify 49 people killed as a result of a missile attack on Hroza (Kupiansk district, Kharkiv region) on October 5, Dmytro Chubenko, press secretary of the Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office, said. "In the morning, 49 people were identified based on external signs and with the help of rapid DNA tests. Based on the number of remains of bodies found, at least 51 deaths were recorded. There are also appeals from relatives of five people who were probably in the cafe, but now they are not among those identified. These people are now considered missing. There are no children among them," Chubenko said. According to him, the death toll may increase. "Based on statements from relatives, the number of deaths may increase by another three," Chubenko said. As reported, at about 13:25 on October 5, the occupiers launched a missile attack, presumably with Iskander-M, on a cafe-shop in the village of Hroza, where a funeral was being held on the occasion of the reburial of a Ukrainian military man, a native of this village. The strike killed 51 people and injured six. Locals Oppose Measurement of Gram Sabha Land in Fatehpur Village India -Krishna Kripa The small village of Fatehpur in Deoria/Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, has been the site of a brutal land dispute that claimed six lives earlier this month. On October 2nd, former district panchayat member Prem Yadav was murdered by Satyaprakash Dubey and his family over a contentious plot of gram sabha land. This incident sparked off a cycle of violence and retaliation which resulted in the deaths of Dubey and five members of his family. Dispute Over Gram Sabha Land Prem Chand Yadav was accused by Satyaprakash Dubey of illegally constructing his house on gram sabha land. The Revenue department team visited Fatehpur village to investigate this allegation six days after the violent incident. However, their attempt to measure the disputed property was met with resistance from local villagers who were supporters or relatives of Yadav. Imposition Of Section 144 In an effort to maintain law and order following these tragic events, authorities imposed Section 144 in the Fatehpur Gram Sabha area of Rudrapur with immediate effect for one month. This legal provision prohibits assembly or gathering of more than four people in an area. Heavy police force has also been deployed in the village to prevent any further escalation or outbreak of violence. A Grim Tale Of Retaliation The initial attack on Prem Yadav took place when he went to visit Satyaprakash Dubey's house. Armed with sharp-edged weapons, Dubey and his family attacked Yadav leading to his death. In response, supporters from Abhaipur loyal to Yadav launched a violent counter-attack on Dubey's residence resulting in him and five members from his family including children being killed. Land Disputes And Violence: A Recurring Issue Land disputes have been a recurring cause of violence in many rural parts of India. The lack of clear land titles and boundaries, coupled with the absence of an efficient dispute resolution mechanism often leads to such unfortunate incidents. In this context, the role of revenue department becomes crucial as they are responsible for ensuring that land rights are respected and any disputes arising out of them are resolved amicably. In conclusion, the incident at Fatehpur village is a stark reminder of how unresolved land disputes can lead to tragic consequences. It underscores the urgent need for effective mechanisms to resolve such conflicts peacefully without resorting to violence. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of government departments like Revenue in maintaining law and order while dealing with contentious issues related to property ownership. Congress Leader Hooda Urges All-Party Meeting on SYL Canal Issue in Haryana India -Krishna Kripa In a recent development, Haryana Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda has urged the BJP-led state government to promptly convene an all-party meeting on the contentious Satluj Yamuna Link Canal issue. This demand comes in response to the latest directives issued by the Supreme Court regarding this ongoing dispute. Hooda, who serves as the Leader of Opposition in Haryana's assembly, made this statement while addressing media personnel in Rohtak. Supreme Court Intervention The Supreme Court, on October 4th, directed the Central Government to carry out a survey of land allocated for constructing part of the SYL canal within Punjabs territory. The apex court also asked for an estimation of how much construction work had been completed thus far. This move by the judiciary has invited mixed reactions from political parties across both states involved. Punjab's Stance Political entities within Punjab have adamantly maintained that their state does not possess any surplus water that can be shared with other states. They argue that diverting water through this proposed canal would severely strain their already limited resources and disrupt local ecosystems. Haryana's Response In stark contrast to Punjabs stance, political outfits in Haryana have welcomed these directions from India's highest court. They believe that securing additional water via this canal is a rightful claim for their state and crucial for its overall growth and prosperity. Hooda's Position "SYL water is Haryanas right," asserted Hooda during his interaction with reporters at Rohtak. He further criticized both state and central BJP leaders for allegedly stalling progress on this critical matter due to what he described as their "negative attitude". According to him, no significant steps were taken by either administration towards resolving this issue during past tenures. Hooda's Assurance Despite his criticism of the BJP, Hooda has pledged that the Congress Party will fully support any decision taken by the state government in Haryanas interests. He believes that an all-party meeting would be a crucial step towards achieving consensus and resolving this long-standing dispute. In conclusion, the Satluj Yamuna Link Canal issue continues to be a hotbed of political controversy between Punjab and Haryana. While both states continue to assert their own interests, it is apparent that finding a solution acceptable to all parties involved will require dialogue, negotiation, and compromise. The call for an all-party meeting by Bhupinder Singh Hooda represents a positive move towards fostering such productive discussions. It remains to be seen how the BJP-led government responds to this proposal and what steps are taken next in order to resolve this contentious issue. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Warns Maharashtra Govt, Threatens To Set Fire To Toll Booths India -Krishna Kripa In a recent statement, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has issued a stern warning to the state government. He declared that his party workers are prepared to set fire to toll booths across the state if they face any hindrance in their mission of ensuring small vehicles are exempted from paying toll charges. Accusations of Toll Collection Scam While addressing reporters in Mumbai on October 9th, Thackeray expressed his belief that toll collection in Maharashtra is the largest scam in the history of the state. He stated, "I have sought an appointment with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the next couple of days. Will see what comes out of that meeting, otherwise, keeping Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' statement in mind, MNS workers will gather at every toll booth and ensure that four-wheelers, three-wheelers and two-wheelers are not charged tolls. If we are stopped, we will set it ablaze." Political Promises Unfulfilled The MNS leader was referring to Fadnavis' comment made on Sunday where he asserted that small vehicles would be exempted from paying tolls. However, according to Thackeray's allegations, despite various political parties coming into power over recent years none have fulfilled their promise of making Maharashtra a toll-free state. Toll Booths: A Lucrative Source for Politicians? Raj Thackeray went further by accusing politicians of using these toll booths as a means for personal gain. In his view many politicians profit daily from their share collected at these booths. This accusation adds another layer to this ongoing controversy surrounding road taxes and its implementation within Maharashtra. In conclusion, this issue has sparked fierce debate within political circles and among the general public. The MNS chief's strong words reflect the intensity of this dispute over toll charges in Maharashtra. As Thackeray awaits a meeting with Chief Minister Shinde, it remains to be seen how the state government will respond to these allegations and threats. Regardless of the outcome, this controversy has shone a spotlight on the broader issue of political accountability and transparency within toll collection practices. The story so far in Karnataka: Will it be caste or anti-incumbency? Pre Poll Survey Chhattisgarh: Congress Expected To Win 45-51 Seats, Predicts ABP-CVoter Opinion Poll India oi-Madhuri Adnal As the Chhattisgarh Assembly election 2023 is slated to be held in two phases on November 7 and 17, the ABVP-CVoter Pre-Poll Survey for Chhattisgarh predicted a tough battle between Cogress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). According to the latest ABP-CVoter survey, out of the total 90 seats, BJP is poised to secure between 39 to 45 seats, making a formidable bid for power. On the other side of the political spectrum, the Congress is expected to win an estimated 45 to 51 seats, seeking to strengthen its hold on the state's governance. Others are projected to win only 0 to 2 seats. The ruling Congress, according to the ABP-CVoter survey, is poised to gain over 45 per cent of the total vote share. This marks an upswing of 2.2 per cent showing that the party is retaining its electoral support. In contrast, the BJP is projected to secure around 43 per cent of the vote share, marking a significant increase of over 10 per cent. This suggests that the BJP has made substantial inroads and is posing a strong challenge to the incumbent Congress. Pre Poll Survey Telangana: ABP-CVoter Opinion Poll Predicts Neck-And-Neck Fight Between BRS, Congress Others are projected to secure 11 per cent of votes, a decline of nearly 13 per cent of votes. In 2018, the Congress achieved a remarkable comeback in the state, ending 15 years of BJP rule by securing 67 out of the total 90 seats. (This tally increased after the party's victories in bypolls.) Bhupesh Baghel assumed the role of the state's first OBC (Other Backward Classes) chief minister, in a region where this community comprises over 40% of the total population. The Congress's victory five years ago was primarily attributed to factors such as anti-incumbency, rural distress, and the apparent dissatisfaction of BJP workers with the party's senior leadership. Rajasthan Assembly Elections: Top 15 Seats To Watch This Time India oi-Prakash KL Voting for all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on November 23, the Election Commission on Monday announced. Apart from Rajasthan, the polling for four state assemblies of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana were also announced. The nomination process will begin on October 30 and the last date for filing nominations is November 6. The counting will take place on December 3. As the the EC announced the poll schedule, let us take a look at the top 15 constituencies to watch out for this election: Sardarpura: This has been a stronghold for Congress. Since 1999, it has sent Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to the assembly. In 2018, he garnered 63 per cent of the vote. Congress government orders caste survey ahead of assembly polls in Rajasthan Churu: A stronghold for the BJP, this constituency has been represented six times since 1990 by Rajendra Rathore, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly. Congress leader Dotasra asserts that the sentiment in the constituency has shifted and challenges Rathore to contest from this seat once again. Jhalrapatan: This seat has been a stronghold of the BJP. Former CM Vasundhara Raje has been elected from this seat since 2003. Raje won a closely contested election in the last term, defeating Manvendra Singh Jasol, son of former Union minister Jaswant Singh, by approximately 35,000 votes. Tonk: Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who has been challenging Ashok Gehlot's leadership in the state, emerged victorious in this constituency during the 2018 elections. The seat holds a significant number of Gurjar, Scheduled Caste, and Muslim voters. Laxmangarh: Rajasthan Congress president, Govind Singh Dotasra, has continuously held the seat since 2008. The BJP had clinched the seat in 2003. Jhunjhunu: Represented thrice by Jat leader Sis Ram Ola, the constituency has been under the winning streak of his son, Brijendra Ola, since 2008. Narottam Lal, Rajasthan's first Assembly Speaker from the Congress, hailed from this region. Another former Speaker, Sumitra Singh, secured victory here six times, with four of those wins attributed to her time as a Congress candidate. Udaipurwati: Rajendra Gudha, recently dismissed from the Ashok Gehlot ministry, secured victory in this constituency in 2008 and 2018 on a BSP ticket but later switched to the Congress. Gudha, who alleges corruption by Gehlot and claims to possess incriminating evidence in a "red diary," is currently aligned with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. Kota North: Since 1993, this seat has been alternately won by the BJP and the Congress. In 2003, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla emerged victorious. Rajasthan minister and incumbent MLA Shanti Dhariwal has been nurturing this constituency and eyeing this seat this time for his son. Khinvsar: Situated in the Jat heartland Nagaur, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief and MP Hanuman Beniwal could be a contender for this seat. Former Nagaur MP and BJP member Jyoti Mirdha, a bitter rival of Beniwal, may also stand as a candidate. Osian: Represented by first-time Congress MLA and Sachin Pilot-supporter Divya Maderna, this seat may face a challenge from RLP's Beniwal, who has conducted several rallies in the area. The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party could present a formidable competition for the incumbent. Anta: Represented by Rajasthan Mines Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya, this constituency may witness a tough contest if renominated by the Congress. Party colleague Bharat Singh Kundanpur has persistently criticized Bhaya over alleged corruption and could pose a significant challenge. Udaipur: Gulab Chand Kataria vacated the seat, which he had won six times, upon assuming the position of Assam governor earlier this year. There is speculation that the BJP might now field a member of the erstwhile Mewar royal family in this constituency. Khajuwala: Speculations suggest a potential contest between Dalit leader and Rajasthan minister Govind Ram Meghwal and Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in this constituency. Pokaran: Often influenced by religious affiliations, this constituency saw Muslim religious leader Gazi Fakir's son, Saleh Mohammad, defeat Hindu seer and BJP candidate Pratap Puri in 2018. The possibility of a rematch between the two is anticipated. Bikaner West: While Education Minister B D Kalla currently represents this seat, Lokesh Sharma, the CM's Officer on Special Duty, has been frequently visiting and might compete for the party ticket. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2023, 16:56 [IST] SC Fixes Oct 13 To hear Sharad Pawar's Petition Against Maha Speaker India oi-Prakash KL The Supreme Court said on Monday it will hear on October 13 a plea by the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for a direction to the Maharashtra assembly speaker to expeditiously decide the disqualification petitions against deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and party MLAs loyal to him. The matter came up for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, which said it will be heard along with a separate pending petition on Shiv Sena MLAs. The bench said in the pending matter, the apex court had asked the assembly speaker to spell out the timeline for adjudication of the disqualification petitions against Shiv Sena MLAs owing allegiance to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "What we will do is we will list that matter and this matter on Friday (October 13)," said the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. On September 18, the apex court had asked Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar to fix a timeline within a week for adjudication of the disqualification petitions filed against Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena MLAs loyal to him who had tied up with the BJP to form a new government in June 2022. During the brief hearing on Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for petitioner Jayant Patil, said the disqualification petitions were filed with the speaker on July 2 but no notice was issued on them till date. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the opposite faction, said one disqualification petition was filed in September and notice has been issued on it. Cyrus Poonawalla Advices Sharad Pawar To Retire, Here Is Why The bench said it will hear the matter on October 9 along with the pending petition. In July, the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP had moved the Maharashtra assembly speaker seeking disqualification of Ajit Pawar and eight other MLAs, who had taken oath as ministers of the Shinde government. On September 18, the apex court, while hearing the matter pertaining to Shiv Sena MLAs, had referred to its May 11 verdict on last year's political crisis in Maharashtra and the direction it issued to the speaker to decide the disqualification petitions within a reasonable time. The court had asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta to apprise the bench of the time schedule to be fixed by the speaker for deciding the pleas for disqualification of 56 MLAs including lawmakers belonging to the Shinde faction. The Election Commission had on October 6 met the warring factions of the NCP led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar over claims to the party's name and poll symbol. Thackeray-Pawar Meet Precedes First Opposition Alliance INDIA Coordination Committee Gathering Ajit Pawar, who had moved the Election Commission staking claim to the party name and election symbol, asserted he had the support of 42 of the 53 NCP MLAs in Maharashtra, six of the nine MLCs, all seven MLAs in Nagaland and one member each in the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The Sharad Pawar-led faction had told the poll panel there was no dispute in the party and that a few mischievous individuals have defected from the organisation for their personal ambitions. Ajit Pawar, then the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, had rebelled against Sharad Pawar in July this year, and joined the Shiv Sena-BJP government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2023, 17:23 [IST] A British Army Veteran's Emotional Tribute to Japanese Soldiers in Tokyo Memorial Ceremony International -Sathish Raman Richard Day, a 97-year-old British army veteran, recently made an emotional journey to Japan to lay flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Tokyo's Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery. The act was part of a memorial ceremony held on Monday and served as a poignant reminder of the importance of reconciliation. Day is a survivor of one of Britain's most brutal battles - the Burma Campaign against Japan during World War II. The Battle Survivor Day was barely out of his teens when he fought in the decisive 1944 Battle of Kohima in northeast India. This crucial conflict saw Japanese forces attempting to capture what was then British-controlled territory. Despite enduring harsh conditions and witnessing unspeakable horrors, Day survived this notoriously severe battle. A Moving Ceremony At the memorial ceremony, Richard Day stood up from his wheelchair and placed a wreath of red flowers on a table before saluting the souls of unknown Japanese soldiers who had perished during World War II. "It was very moving," said Day after the ceremony, "but it brought back some terrible memories." He recalled that while laying flowers, he remembered hearing "the screams of people...they were crying out after their mothers." An Act Of Reconciliation The veteran also spent time at the event shaking hands with relatives of Japanese veterans who attended it. His actions underscored not only his personal courage but also his belief in forgiveness and reconciliation between former enemies. Speaking about this later, he said: "You can't carry hate... Otherwise you are not hating each other; you are hurting yourself." These words reflect wisdom gained from lived experiences and underline how carrying hatred for others ultimately harms oneself more than anyone else. Reflections On The Past And Future This visit by Richard Day serves as a reminder of the futility and devastation of war. It also highlights how reconciliation is an essential part of healing and moving forward. By laying flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Day not only paid his respects to those who lost their lives but also sent out a strong message about the importance of peace and understanding. In conclusion, Richard Day's journey to Japan was more than just a personal pilgrimage; it was a powerful statement about forgiveness, reconciliation and peace. His actions speak volumes about his character and courage - qualities that made him survive one of Britain's harshest battles. His story serves as an inspiration for all, reminding us that even in times of conflict, it is possible to find common ground and foster mutual respect. Israel-Hamas Conflict: Death Toll Rises To 900 International -Sathish Raman Israeli media outlets reported on Monday, October 9, that over 900 individuals were killed in a multi-pronged attack by Hamas on the southern region of the country. The death toll continues to rise as Israel has imposed a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, from which Hamas initiated its assault. Complete Siege and Retaliation In response to Hamas's bloody weekend incursion, Israels military has enforced a total blockade on the Gaza Strip. This includes halting deliveries of food, water, fuel and supplies to its population of approximately 2.3 million people. The Israeli forces have countered with waves of airstrikes pounding the territory governed by Hamas. The Surprise Attack and Its Aftermath Hamas launched this unexpected attack more than two days ago. However, according to reports from the Israeli military, it has largely regained control over its southern towns where it had been engaged in combat with Hamas gunmen. Despite having a renowned military and intelligence apparatus at their disposal, Israeli forces were caught completely off guard by Hamas's offensive strategies resulting in intense street battles for the first time in decades. Mobilization Efforts In an effort to prevent new incursions into their territory following breaches in Gaza border fence caused by these attacks; Israeli tanks and drones have been deployed extensively along these areas. In addition to this defensive strategy; large-scale evacuation efforts have also been undertaken involving thousands of Israelis from more than twelve towns located near Gaza. A massive mobilisation was witnessed within a short span as around 300000 reservists were summoned by the military for duty amidst these escalating tensions between both sides. Declaration Of War This sequence of events culminated with Israel formally declaring war against Hamas on Sunday marking another significant escalation in this ongoing conflict between the two sides. In conclusion, the recent multi-pronged attack by Hamas on Israel's southern region has resulted in a significant escalation of conflict between the two sides. The Israeli military response, involving a complete siege on Gaza Strip and massive mobilization of reservists, reflects the severity of these attacks. This situation is further intensified by Israel's formal declaration of war against Hamas. As both sides remain engaged in this escalating conflict, there remains an urgent need for international diplomatic intervention to prevent further loss of life and restore peace in the region. Hamas Threatens To Kill Hostage If Israel Doesn't Stop Airstrikes On Gaza International oi-Sushmita Halder Hamas On Monday said it would kill a hostage if Israel continues to attack civilians in Gaza. It further said that it would post the video of the execution of a hostage online. Hamas armed wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said they have been acting in accordance with Islamic instructions by keeping the Israeli captives safe and sound, blaming the intended move on Israel's stepped-up bombing and killing of civilians inside their homes in air strikes without warning them. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted his response to Hamas would "change the Middle East". A video was shared by Prime Minister Netanyahu on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption "We started. Israel will win." The video showed a building turned into rubble after airstrike. On the other hand, Defence Minister of Israel Yoav Gallant directed a "complete siege" of the Palestinian militant group Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. "I have given an order - Gaza will be under complete siege. There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza]. We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly," Gallant was quoted as saying. The deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas claimed over 900 lives in Israel while as many as 560 people lost lives on the Gaza side. A spokesperson said the Israeli military regained control of border communities taken by Hamas fighters during the attack. But Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel on Sunday declared war and directed the Israeli military to take firm action to retaliate against Hamas for Saturday's surprise attack. The skies of Gaza are blackened with thick smoke from deafening explosions as Hamas kept launching rockets as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where missile defence systems fired and air raid sirens blared. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 1:05 [IST] It Is "Extremely Important" For Canada And Its Allies To Engage With India: Canada PM Justin Trudeau In Fresh Provocation, Canada PM Talks To UAE About India On 'Importance Of Upholding Law' International oi-Prakash KL In a fresh provocation against India, 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". On X, the Canadian Prime Minister said, "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. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding - and respecting - the rule of law." His remarks come at a time when India and Canada's relationship has taken a toll following the murder of Khalistani gangster Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Last month, Trudeau's administration expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in Nijjar's death. India-Canada Row: Canada Relocates 41 Diplomats From India To Singapore, Malaysia Hardeep Singh Nijjar was the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and one of India's most-wanted terrorists who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen outside a gurdwara in Surrey in the western Canadian province of British Columbia in June. Recommended Video Canada vs India: Justin Trudeau speaks of India-Canda row with UAE President. Why? | Oneindia News In a tit-for-tat move, India expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. 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. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 8, 2023 Meanwhile, UK PM Rishi Sunak called for de-escalation of the India-Canada row in a call with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. As per a statement from Downing Street, Sunak had a conversation with Trudeau on Friday evening during which he received an update on the status of Canadian diplomats in India. Indian Envoy To UK Stopped From Entering Scotland Gurudwara Amid India-Canada Tensions "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," the statement said. Sunak reiterated the United Kingdom's stance, emphasizing the importance for all nations to uphold sovereignty, the rule of law, and adhere to the principles outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, October 9, 2023, 10:56 [IST] UNICEF handed over 15 mobile security classes to the State Emergency Service and the National Police to raise public awareness of mine threats, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. "We are starting to implement an initiative to raise public awareness of mines and other threats, in particular in de-occupied and front-line territories. As part of this project, UNICEF handed over 15 mobile safety classes to the State Emergency Service and the National Police. These are specially equipped vehicles in which they will inform and train people, including children," Shmyhal wrote on the Telegram channel. The Prime Minister said that as of today, 174,000 square kilometers of territory in Ukraine are contaminated with mines or unexploded shells. As a result of explosions involving explosive objects, almost 250 people were killed and about 500 more were injured. "The initiative of mobile safety classes is designed to protect people from this threat and other wartime challenges. Such classes will go to communities in ten regions of Ukraine. In the future we will expand and attract even more communities," he added. In the Shadow of a Deadly Earthquake: Economic Policymakers Turn Their Focus to Africa The International Monetary Fund and World Bank prioritize Africa at their annual meetings in Marrakech as they aim to stabilize the global economy amidst war, inequality, and climate change. International -Sathish Raman The city of Marrakech, Morocco recently played host to a significant gathering of global economic policymakers. This meeting took place in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that caused nearly $12 billion worth of damage in the country. The world's most influential economists made it clear that their focus would be on Africa as they strategize ways to stimulate growth and stabilize the global economy amidst challenges such as war, inequality, and climate change. Historic Meeting Amidst Criticism The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank held their annual meetings in Africa for the first time in 50 years. This historic occurrence comes at a time when these two institutions face mounting criticism over allegations that poorer nations are inadequately represented within them. In response to this criticism, both organizations have stated their intentions to give Africa additional seats on their executive boards. The conference theme was evident during Mondays gathering in Marrakech, although specific details were yet to be discussed. Africa Takes Center Stage "We're here, Africa," announced IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva while participating on a panel with African entrepreneurs. The IMF and World Bank often function as lenders of last resort by providing billions in loans and assistance to struggling economies while encouraging countries operating under deficits to implement reforms promoting stability and growth. Critiques from African Officials However, these policies have not been without detractors - many officials across Africa have criticized the policies which deny economies access to credit and loans unless balanced budgets are presented. These critics argue that such stringent conditions can stifle development efforts within these countries. In conclusion, this landmark meeting between leading global economic policymakers marked an important shift towards acknowledging and addressing concerns about representation within international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank. While there is still much work to be done, the commitment to giving Africa a more significant voice on their executive boards is an encouraging step forward. However, it remains crucial for these institutions to continue listening and responding to criticisms from African officials about policies that could potentially hinder economic development in their countries. Gaza Strip Cut Off from the World as Israel Expands Ground Operations Gaza Strip Cut Off from Outside World as Israel Expands Ground Operations No Food, Fuel Supply: Israel Announces 'Complete Siege' On Gaza International oi-Sushmita Halder Israel on Monday announced a complete ban on food supply and fuel to Gaza following the attacks by the Hamas terrorists on Israel on Saturday. Gaza has already been deprived of electricity supply by Israel. "I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was quoted as saying. This came after the Hamas terrorists killed more than 1100 people with more than 700 killed in Israel, including 44 soldiers. Gaza has been facing backlashes since 2007 from Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces. Earlier on Sunday, a war was declared by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas with an aim to eradicate the terrorist group's hideouts. Meanwhile, officials have reported a loss of 493 lives in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes on Sunday. As Israel-Palestine War Rages On After Hamas' Attack, Death Toll Crosses 1100, Over 100 Kidnapped "There is no fighting going on between Israel Defense Forces troops and Hamas inside Israel, and the IDF has re-taken control of all communities around the Gaza Strip," IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was quoted as saying on Monday morning. Amid the deadly Israel-Hamas conflict, US President Joe Biden extended his support for Israel to overcome the crisis caused by the unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier and group of warships to the eastern Mediterranean and said that Washington was augmenting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. euronews (in English) 01 Nov 2023 The aim of the Israeli forces might be to cut off Gaza City from the south, by threatening Salah Ad Deen Road, the main transport.. Israel's ambassador to the UN said it is time to "obliterate Hamas's terror infrastructure." US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated support for Israel as the US bolsters its forces in the Middle East. DW has more. 32 years after an arson attack on a refugee shelter, the arsonist has been convicted of murder. In September 1991, 27-year-old Samuel Yeboah from Ghana died in the southwestern town of Saarlouis. The White House is coming under fire after a pool report noted President Biden and the first lady are hosting a BBQ with live music while the war in Israel rages. On a monsoon night in 1913, the sleepy town of Ettumanoor, near Kottayam, woke up to noise and commotion. A murder suspect by the name of Burton Swinny had managed to escape from police custody was on the run with two swords that he stole from the armoury. A policeman chased Swinny down and finally managed to catch him with the help of a large group of residents who witnessed the commotion. The escapee, an Anglo-Indian, was one of two suspects in the murder of Buckingham Stephens, a 35-year-old dentist, who was shot in his bed. Until he tried to make a daring escape, Swinny was given special privileges in lock-up, as he had convinced the Kottayam District Magistrate that he belonged to a respectable family and was used to certain comforts. He complained that he was confined to a narrow ill-ventilated and damp room, and consequently he became subject to cramp and fits of rheumatism, and prayed that he might be allowed all the comforts he was enjoying when he was in the lock-up in Vaikkom, and that food supplied to him might be allowed to be prepared by his own relatives, subject to medical examination, before being served, the Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle, said in August, 1913. A medical exam revealed that Swinny was under the influence of alcohol when he escaped from lock up. This attempted breakaway led to his trial getting expedited. At that time, Benjamin Bertram Buckingham Stephens, a prominent member of the Anglo-Indian community, had been married to Florence Gunther for 11 years. Unbeknownst to him, however, his wife was having an extra-marital affair with Swinny. On the night of June 11, 1913, Florence Stephens approached the Kottayam Police and said her husband had shot himself. After investigating the case, the police arrested Mrs Stephens and Swinny. The police claimed Mrs Stephens shot her husband, while he was asleep in bed. Like Swinny, Mrs Stephens appealed to the magistrate to be kept in better conditions. Her father, Albert M Gunther hired P Gopala Menon, one of the most illustrious lawyers of the Cochin Chief Court to represent Mrs Stephens. Indian Bungalow Murder The trial kept getting delayed as Mrs Stephens was pregnant and Swinny was in and out of hospital for a host of reasons. The case was covered by several Indian and foreign publications, as the Western media was intrigued by the English-sounding names. The case became known across the world as the Indian Bungalow Murder. The prosecution led by Sircar Vakil Thomas Varghese successfully argued the case and both Mrs Stephens and Swinny were sentenced to life imprisonment. The woman was found guilty of the murder and Swinny with abetment, a wired report that appeared in several newspapers on March 7, 1914, said. The report added, Evidence was given of Swinnys having been seen in the act of cleaning the gun the day before the occurrence, and that it was taken to his room. Experts declared it was impossible for Mr. Stephens to have shot himself, as he was alleged for the defence. Both Mrs Stephens and Swinny appealed the conviction and were acquitted. Another family feud The duo left Kottayam and moved to the Straits Settlements (modern day Malaysia and Singapore). Mrs Stephens made headlines, once again in 1916, as she was involved in another court case. Her father Albert Gunther took her to court to recover the legal expenses he incurred during the murder trial. Gunther said he spent the then princely sum of Rs 3,000 for his daughters case and approached the court to recover Rs 3,332. The court ruled in his favour and asked Mrs Stephens to pay Rs 2,754. After Mrs Stephens was acquitted in the murder case, she received several thousands of rupees that were bequeathed to her in her husbands will. She used this money to start life afresh and left India with Swinny and her two children. This writer did not find any further information about the infamous Indian Murder Bungalow in the archives. The death may just have been ruled as a suicide when the case went into appeal. It is impossible now to know what exactly happened on that fateful night in 1913. An Anglo-Indian family-tree website mentions Buckingham and Florence Stephens but has no information about their children. The secret probably stayed with the family in their new home in the Straits Settlements. (Ajay Kamalakaran is a multilingual writer, primarily based in Mumbai) Washington: President Joe Biden ordered US ships and warplanes to move closer to Israel in a show of support on Sunday, while sending fresh military aid after attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The death toll in Israel and Palestine touched 1,100 on Monday as the former strongly retaliated against Hamas. 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.US Central Command confirmed Sunday afternoon that ships and planes had begun moving to their new posts. The White House, which said that "several" American citizens had been killed in the violence, has moved quickly to affirm US backing for Israel after Saturday's surprise attack from the Gaza Strip, vowing "rock solid" support and warning other parties to stay out of the conflict. Biden on Sunday spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "conveyed that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days," the White House said. US president Joe Biden. Photo: AFP "The leaders 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. The US president further "pledged his full support for the Government and people of Israel in the face of an unprecedented and appalling assault by Hamas terrorists." Hamas later accused the United States, a major supplier of arms to Israel, of "actual participation in the aggression against our people" by moving the aircraft carrier. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict's worst escalation in decades has claimed more than 700 lives on the Israeli side, according to the military, while Gaza officials reported at least 400 deaths in Israeli air strikes. Israel's Netanyahu has steeled his shocked nation for what he called a long war ahead, with tens of thousands of Israeli forces already deployed to battle holdout Hamas forces and prepare a possible Gaza ground offensive. 'Ironclad support' The conflict has stoked fears of a wider conflagration. Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said Sunday it had fired shells and missiles at Israeli positions. With tensions rising, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was sending forces to "bolster regional deterrence efforts" after discussions with Biden. As well as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier, this deployment includes a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, Austin said in a statement. "The United States government will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," added Austin, who also spoke with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday. The movement of US ships and planes and the aid to Israel "underscores the United States ironclad support for the Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli people." The United States on Sunday afternoon led calls for condemnation of a Hamas assault on Israel at the United Nations Security Council. Israel army personnel on duty. Photo: AFP "I expect to hear from the other Council members very strong condemnation of these heinous acts of terrorism committed against the Israeli people and their government," senior US diplomat Robert Wood told reporters. World should be revolted A number of Americans were killed in the violence, a US National Security Council spokesperson said Sunday evening, without giving any further details. "We can confirm the deaths of several US citizens," the spokesperson said, offering "deepest condolences" to victims and their families. Earlier Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Americans may also have been taken hostage in the attacks. He told ABC that "this is a massive terrorist attack that is gunning down Israeli civilians in their towns, in their homes, and as weve 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." State and local authorities throughout the United States -- including in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston -- said there would be increased security presence at US synagogues in the coming days, though there was no specific threat. The struggle between Israel and Palestine is NOT a religious one as the mainstream western media always claims. It is a legitimate NATIONAL LIBERATION struggle by the occupied and oppressed Palestinians, against a European neo-colonial style domination and apartheid settler-state. In this scenario Israel is NOT the innocent attacked bystander party, and the hapless victim, as the United States claims that "the Hamas attack was unprovoked." Israel, that is the state of Israel, was born out of the former British empire's influence over the League of Nations, that allocated Palestine as Israel's new home, despite the fact that people lived there. So, in 1948 the ethnic cleaning of Palestine began with the mass murder and forcible expulsion of a people who had occupied and lived in this part of the world for centuries. In an eerie and quixotic program of the Nazi era "lebensraum" - creation of "living space" millions of Palestinians were killed, expelled and displaced to make room for the usurping Jewish settlers population backed by the world's superpowers. In an era where white might was always right, this brutal and inhumane pogrom also included the "right of no return for expelled Palestinians" - something that exists today, in 2023. This has resulted in the undeniable fact that over six million Palestinians live in refugee camps scattered in a number of Middle East countries like Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. They are stateless people with no home to call their own and unable to return to the land of their birth because of Israeli laws that prohibit their return. Today, internationally reputed organizations like Amnesty International and UNICEF have documented the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, domination and humiliation calling it a modern system of apartheid. For example, today there is a 46.6% unemployment rate in Gaza, 65% of the youths in this blockaded territory have no jobs, no prospects and no future. 1.3 million Palestinians out of a 2.3 million population are food insecure. There is one power plant in Gaza. Israel routinely bombs it causing daily black outs, and other related problems. 80% of pipe borne water in Gaza is not fit for human consumption. And yes, in any conflict no matter how minor, Israel bombs the only water treatment plant to exact more collective punishment on Gazans. Against all international laws food is used as a weapon of war by Israel because it controls what Gazans eat and how much of it by allowing into this besieged strip of land only what it approves. That is why international icons of resistance against apartheid long ago fully supported the right to self-determination of the people of Palestine. Desmond Tutu the Nobel Prize laureate called Israel's treatment of the Palestinians apartheid and humiliating - as was the experience of Black South Africans during their apartheid system. Nelson Mandela, branded a terrorist by the United States and other western nations, was also an unabashed and unapologetic supporter of the right of the people of Palestine to defend themselves and to pick up arms to fight back against the oppressive rule of the Israeli settler regime. Amnesty International called the brutality of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people a crime against humanity. Moreover, a United Nations resolution in 1980 reaffirmed and crystalized the right of the Palestinian people to "armed resistance" against their Israeli oppressors. Of course, when Palestinians resist its always "terrorism" but the stultifying, organized systematic daily slaughter of a people for the past 16 years is never ever catalogued by the mainstream media. Now to deflect the totally embarrassing shock attack by a small Palestinian armed group, Israel and its international enablers are pointing accusative fingers at Iran - another always convenient western enemy. And to give Israel the cover and green light to do whatever it wants to do to exact revenge against Hamas and the Palestinian people, the United States is not only sending more arms to Israel but threatening regional nations, and sending its warships to the region. Gaza has been under a complete and total blockade of land, air and sea since 2007. Now Israel has cut electricity, water and stopped food deliveries into the strip effectively starving 2.3 million people. With indiscriminate bombing of what Israeli ultra-right-wing defense minister "rats and human animals" with nowhere to hide, Israel's total collective punishment is tantamount to a war crime by an angry, retributive government intent on ethnically cleansing a strip of land that it wants to rid of "rats." While the western world encourages the bloodshed by its media (CNN, BBC et al) showing what Israel's citizens suffered at the hands of Hamas, there is absolutely no understanding or sympathy for a people enduring the most brutal occupation in modern history. Of course, dehumanizing the Palestinian people and Hamas and systematically levelling the homes, hospitals and other non-military infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, Israel is making sure that once the dust settles this long-suffering people will be worse off and even more dependent on Israel's financial, social and crumbs. And the international community in Europe is joining in the genocidal and criminal actions of a superior state against a defenseless people by cutting off the financial pittance that it doles out to them. The European Union, the amalgamation of jaded imperialist nations that have long exacted global carnage on Black and Brown peoples, cannot bring its collective self to even show an ounce of empathy for a people held under a yoke of brutality for decades, but shows "solidarity with Israel." There are very few calls for a ceasefire or mediation or anything that would stop the wholesale slaughter that is unfolding before the world's eyes. The United Nations, that toothless paper tiger and willing enabler of rogue governments and regimes, expressed its condemnation of the Hamas attacks and sympathy of the Israelis killed. But the Secretary General could not even bring himself to do the same for Palestinians now under an obliterating bombardment in a small enclave. Even after the Israeli defense minister said publicly "no, no water, no food and no electricity for Gaza." What more proof does the UN want to act? But the world is watching. Yes. Thanks Joe Biden: the world is indeed watching. Of course, it's also a great time and a godsend for the most right-wing and unpopular Israeli government in its history that was facing serious internal resistance and teetering on the brink of collapse to appear tough. Cowards with big guns now swagger and strut spewing belligerent rhetoric after getting the war clause article that allows the Israeli defense minister to prosecute this war in any way he sees fit without the hindrance of getting government approval. The Hamas attack now puts Israel's internal political stresses on the back burner. Any dissent will be seen and unpatriotic as a scared and emotional population looks to the deliverance of a tough, angry and revengeful "war prime minister" defending the people of Israel. Milking the Hamas scapegoat to the hilt while killing thousands of "human animals" in the process is the "right thing" to do. We have seen this before: a besieged government, detested by its own people, uses a legitimate issue or event to re-invent itself and take advantage of the emotion and anger over said incident to posit itself as the defender of the people. Remember: Hitler's rise to power started with the Beer Hall Putsch and ended with the burning of the Reichstag - the German parliament. Two incidents that ultimately led to World War II and its deadly consequences - especially for Europe's Jews. In parallel to a series of 50 articles in OpEdNews I am writing a book, which is based on these Op Eds, peer-reviewed journal papers, and other research. "Industrial Murder for Profit" has been turned down by a number of publishers so far, but this whistleblower work proceeds. A publisher is wanted to produce this work to save lives. The following Introduction to this book summarizes this ground-breaking research, which confronts those who kill us for profit. Introduction to Industrial Murder for Profit 'There is something grossly wrong with our society when we stand by and watch people die - needlessly. Our governments kill people through their cover-ups of industrial disasters, and my goal for a new book is to compel our governments to kill less people. Stop these murders.' Figure 1. A Carlsbad gas pipeline explosion burned 12 people to death. An 80-feet-tall tower is shown - flames shot hundreds of feet into the air. ('Stop the Burn Deaths from Gas-Pipeline Explosions', 'Gas Pipeline Explosions and Deaths can be Stopped'). (Image by US government) Details DMCA 'To protect industrial profits, our governments lie to us - over and over - during official investigations, and our governments thereby risk our lives. Money before the lives of citizens is government policy and priority. 'A readable story of massive government cover-ups that kill our people and destroy our environment will be uncovered in this book. These cover-ups result in the unjustifiable killing, or murder, of our citizens. To knowingly kill people when industrial disasters can be stopped constitutes murder. 'Science topics will be briefly introduced in this book to explain very complicated disasters. In fact, these scientific complications are the fabric that is used to cover-up disasters and near-disasters. 'This work looks at numerous industrial disasters to prove the extent of government cover-ups and the extent to which the mainstream press and professional organizations support these cover-ups. Disasters that are affected by these cover-ups include: Cross-country gas pipeline explosions burn a dozen people to death every year, and burn and injure an additional 50 to 60 people every year (Figure 1, click here). Cross-country oil pipeline breaks spill oil into our waterways to kill fish and wildlife (Figure 2, click here). The Three Mile Island disaster shut-down the nuclear power industry for decades in the U.S (Figure 3, click here). Fukushima explosions shuttered the nuclear industry completely in Germany, and affected nuclear power in many other countries as well (Figure 4, click here). The Fukushima explosion disaster spewed radioactive dust across the northern hemisphere, and caused deaths of the elderly during evacuations (Figure 5, click here). The next, preventable nuclear power plant disaster is expected before 2039 (Figure 6, click here). Offshore oil-rig explosions have killed hundreds of workers and caused massive oil spills (Figure 7, click here). Trillions of dollars in expected water main breaks kill people due to gastrointestinal illnesses (Figure 8, click here). Bridges collapse due to inadequate designs and maintenance (Figure 9, click here). Global warming errors in technology and resultant misguided policies threaten lives and our planet (Figure 10, click here). Unnecessary X-rays cause cancers, but make a lot of money (Figure 11, click here). U.S. nuclear weapon defenses are inadequate, and these inadequacies threaten our safety if a nuclear conflict ever arises (Figure 12, click here). 'Similar, ongoing disasters can be stopped, or minimized, but our governments cover-up the causes of these disasters to protect industrial interests, and the Press typically supports such cover-ups. Our lives and our environment are at risk, where industrial profits overrule government actions that could stop disasters. Our lives and our money are of no consequence to our governments. Industrial profits alone are the protected territory of governments.' Figure 2. A common, preventable oil pipeline leak ('The Keystone Pipeline Oil Spill in Kansas - The Mushroom Theory - Stop the Oil Spills'). (Image by US government) Details DMCA Figure 3. Three Mile Island nuclear power plants, where explosions ignited during a nuclear reactor meltdown ('From Water Hammer to Ignition, The Spark That Ignited Three Mile Island Burst From a Safety Valve'). (Image by Anerican Society of Mechanical Engineers) Details DMCA Figure 4. An exploded, 6-inch-diameter steel pipe in a German nuclear power plant ('The American Nuclear Society Covers-up Nuclear Power Plant Explosions, Endangering Lives and the Environment'). (Image by German government) Details DMCA Figure 5. Fukushima explosions and a radioactive dust cloud could have been stopped ('Nuclear Threats - Part 5 - An Incoming Nuclear Plant Explosion Disaster- Zaporizhzhia Near Missed This Next Disaster'). (Image by US government) Details DMCA Figure 6. Fukushima explosions and the next predicted nuclear power plant explosion ('Deceit is the Core of Nuclear Power Explosion Safety'). (Image by US government and Leishear Engineering, LLC) Details DMCA Figure 7. A Cover-up of the Piper Alpha explosion that killed 167 men ('What Really Happened at the Piper Alpha Oil-Rig Explosions - New Findings - Stop Killing Oil-Rig Workers'). (Image by UK government) Details DMCA Figure 8. Killer E. Coli due to water main breaks ('The CDC Should Stop Drinking-Water Dangers - Stop E. Coli and Listeria Disease Outbreaks and Lead and Copper Poisonings!'). (Image by US government) Details DMCA Figure 9. Bridge dangers can be stopped ('The U.S. Bridge-Safety Cover-up - Bridge Collapses Kill People'). (Image by Arkansas Department of Transportation) Details DMCA Figure 10. Global warming happens over and over on our planet. We are facing the next cycle ('The Global Warming Fallacy, Polar Warming, Energy Use, and Continental Shifts''). (Image by Adapted from Illinois state government.) Details DMCA Figure 11. X-rays cause skin cancer like the cancers shown here ('X-rays, Cancer, and a U.S. Medical and Dental Industry Cover-up Equal No Patients' Rights'). (Image by Government Agency) Details DMCA Figure 12. The nuclear bomb at Nagasaki killed tens of thousands. Bombs of this size are considered acceptable as tactical nuclear weapons ('Nuclear Threats - Part 4 - Take Action against U.S. Cover-ups in Nuclear Power and Nuclear Missile Defense'). (Image by US government) Details DMCA (Article changed on Oct 09, 2023 at 5:25 PM EDT) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Romania on Tuesday, October 10. According to the press service of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, the leaders of the countries will hold a meeting at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest. "This visit confirms Romania's continued unconditional support for Ukraine in the context of Russia's illegal war against this country, as well as the special nature of bilateral relations between Romania and Ukraine, their potential and the need to discuss projects and issues of mutual interest at the highest level," the message states. It is expected that as part of the political consultations between the presidents, the measures taken and implemented by Romania in support of Ukraine will be analyzed with a view to strengthening them, as well as the security situation in the region and the Black Sea and the necessary steps to regulate it. In addition, the parties will focus on constructive and pragmatic approaches in priority areas of bilateral cooperation and common interests, in particular, the expansion of cross-border ties, the development of economic relations, European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, as well as full respect for the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "In Bottom-Up, Rob Kall offers a blueprint for human surviving and thriving that everyone can follow. Using personal stories from his many famous contacts (from Capra to Quinn), he shows how in every aspect of life we can reconnect with that which is in our DNA by replacing our artificial and oppressive hierarchical priorities via a return to a consciousness based on the kind of egalitarian relationships that we honored for most of human history." Four Arrows, aka Don Trent Jacobs, PhD, EdD, author of Unlearning the Language of Conquest and Teaching Truly: A Curriculum to Indigenize Mainstream Education Where have our national "leaders" been all these years? To judge by their statements concerning the current crisis in Israel-Palestine, they haven't been following the news about Israeli-Jews' treatment of Palestinians in the territories the former have illegally occupied for decades. Are mainstream politicians unfamiliar with international law, with President Carter's concept of apartheid in Israel-Palestine or of Gaza as the world's largest open-air prison? Or are they just completely dishonest? Listen to what they've said in response to the recent massive expression of Palestinian resistance to Jewish-Israeli oppression. Listen to the Biden administration and even Volodymyr Zelensky. Then consider what's really happening in Israel-Palestine in both legal and moral perspective. Our Leadership's Comments Once again, our "leaders" are talking about an "unprovoked" attack by a long-designated official enemy - in this case not Russia, but the Palestinians and Hamas "terrorists." Leadership's reactions are predictably ahistorical, contrary to international law, and (in the case of Zelensky) shockingly self-contradictory. Here's what the White House had to say: The U.S. "unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. . .. There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks. . .." Say what? "Unprovoked?" There's that loaded, ahistorical word again. Historically speaking, such perception is even more short-sighted and historically ignorant than calling Russia's invasion of Ukraine "unprovoked." Which brings us to Volodymyr Zelensky. Despite his objections to an outside force (Russia) invading a supposedly innocent Ukraine (which he insists has the right to defend itself) he sides with Israel. Yes, he sides with the invaders and illegal occupiers. Zelensky says, "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. Our position is crystal clear: anyone who causes terror and death anywhere on the planet must be held accountable. 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." Is the TV-comedian-turned-president trying to be funny? Does he not see that according to the logic of his perceptions, Palestine is like his Ukraine - a country invaded and occupied by foreigners in contravention of international law and in possession of the inalienable right to defend itself? Imagine the West's response if Ukraine's repeated attempts to invade Russia and if its frequent drone attacks had the same effect in terms of lives lost and property damaged as the current Palestinian attacks on Jewish settlements. What do you think the response of Zelensky and the West would be? Would it be unqualified sympathy for Russia's innocent women and children? Or would it be to blame Putin for the whole thing? I think everyone knows the answer to that one. Legal Considerations Now consider international law and the current crisis. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). An Oregon judge has sided with a U.S. Army veteran who petitioned for better treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder while incarcerated at Snake River Correctional Institution. Michael LaSeur, an inmate at the prison, filed his habeas corpus petition at the end of December, flagging concerns about how Snake River was handling his medical conditions, health screenings and PTSD treatment. The judges opinion, issued last Monday, is one of the first of its kind in Oregon, according to LaSeurs attorney Tara Herivel. The judge ordered them to provide PTSD treatment and care for him individually, but also for the Department of Corrections to consult with the Veterans Administration, Herivel said. Thats never happened. LaSeur sustained multiple injuries while deployed in Iraq, including a crushed cervical disc and traumatic brain injury, according to court records. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2014 for three armed robberies of pharmacies in Clackamas County, court records show. In addition to PTSD, LaSeur has hypertension, pain related to his cervical injury, headaches and chronic pain, among other conditions, court records show. And he said he was not getting proper treatment for them. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LaSeur told the court he was in a prison support group with other combat veterans that helped manage his PTSD symptoms. He has not been since, Herivel said, and while he has been prescribed proper medication, the court found there was a lack of mental health support, records show. Jenefer Grant, a senior Oregon Circuit Court judge who heard the case in Malheur County, ordered Snake River to provide monthly counseling and dialectical behavior therapy used to manage conditions like PTSD through conversation in a support group or individually. Grant told the prison to consult experts with Veterans Affairs on best practices for alleviating PTSD, according to court records. Grant also ordered the prison to provide MRIs for follow-up care, new pain relief medication and a stationary bike to help manage LaSeurs blood pressure. It is noteworthy that our society claims to value highly the lives and welfare of our nations military veterans, Grant wrote in her court opinion. It follows, then, that the suffering in prison of a 90% combat-disabled American military veteran, from injuries incurred in the course of his service, and but for the consequences of which he might never have been incarcerated after his service, must be particularly offensive to the general public. The Oregon Department of Corrections declined to comment on the case. Herivel said the department will likely appeal the ruling. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. I attended last months Oregon State Board of Education meeting. (Oregon board delays vote to freeze math, reading grad requirement for four more years after pushback, Sept. 28). While waiting for my turn to testify against Oregons new sex-ed state standards, I heard Board Chair Guadalupe Martinez Zapata explain her support for suspending the essential skills test grad requirement using an analogy of a thermometer. Does a thermometer cure a patient of their illness? she asked rhetorically and then continued, An assessment does not provide learning for a student. It diagnoses whether the student has been able to learn or not. In other words, the board chair wants to award high school diplomas based on whats been taught rather than whats been learned. A high school diploma that is little more than a participation trophy does no one any favors. A standard high school diploma has always been proof to the public and employers that a graduate has learned essential basic reading, writing and math skills. In 2021, the president of the Oregon Business Council explained that the requirement was crucial. Today it is even more necessary given valid concerns about equitable grading and increased opportunities for plagiarism, especially using new artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and the like. Oregons future, which likely includes $40 billion of federal CHIPs act-related investment and 6,300 new jobs, depends on its educated workforce. Its time for the governor-appointed education board to take the temperature in the room. Mary Miller, Beaverton To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Real estate agents tell potential buyers the merits and amenities of a home for sale, but few can explain the provenance of a property as well as Portland broker Dan Volkmer. For example, the story of a 1907 tri-level house in the Goose Hollow neighborhood parallels Oregons pioneering progress. For 84 years, the property at 1442 S.W. Vista Ave. has been owned by the Rinehart dynasty of doctors. In 1882, Oregon Trail pioneer Emily Belle Cooper married Willard Ellis Rinehart, a graduate of the original Willamette Medical School. She then became one of the first woman physicians in the state, specializing in obstetrics and womens health. After her first husband died, she married Dr. Elmer Ellsworth Ferguson in 1900 and they moved into the Vista Avenue house. As a widow for the second time, she sold the property in 1921, but one of her sons, Jackson Carle Rinehart, purchased it back in 1939. Jackson was a family physician and surgeon in Portland. His brother Harvey Rinehart founded The Rinehart Clinic in Wheeler in 1913 after his arthritis treatments attracted patients from all over the country. The Vista Avenue property is known as the Doctors House, according to research conducted by the Dan Volkmer team at Windermere Realty, but it has another claim. Built in 1907, it is believed to have been designed by architect Emil Schacht, who a few years earlier introduced Portland to the then cutting-edge Craftsman house. The style proliferated during the citys population boom around the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. The asking price for the 3,920-square-foot property is $695,000. The house, with 4,131 square feet of living space across three levels, has not been updated for several years, Volkmer told The Oregonian/OregonLive. The floor plan and many of the original features have been preserved: Honduran mahogany pocket doors, diamond-pane leaded windows, inlaid oak floors and picture railings under coved ceilings. The butlers pantrys cabinetry has direct venting to the outside to keep items cool. The sunroom, added in 1916, opens to the main floor deck with views of downtown Portland, the Broadway Bridge and Larch Mountain. A staircase with hand-forged railing is used to reach the second story, which has two bedroom suites, each with a dressing room and bathroom. The lower level has two more bedrooms and the third bathroom. Buyers to verify structural integrity of garage, states the listing description. Janet Eastman jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. More Oregon homes for sale Architect Robert Oshatzs 5 new vertical homes are rising near Portlands Forest Park Architect Herman Brookmans midcentury modern home in SW Portland for sale at $3,450,000 This Clackamas County farm with 2 homes, a rare find, is for sale at $2.95 million LA Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp selling off-season Oregon home for $3.5 million Four mansions near Elk Rock Garden are for sale on Dunthorpes Military Road Iconic Lake Oswego cottage for sale at $4.3 million with owner offering 4.5% loan rate Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired house in Happy Valley on the market for the first time at $6 million NW Portland midcentury modern, restored after awkward remodels, for sale at $1.6 million Portland homes for sale with alluring landscapes Steiner cabin on Mount Hoods Zigzag River for sale at $595,000 If SCOTUS recent ruling striking down President Bidens relief plan still has you reeling, then the Broke & Bothered newsletter is for you. Join Reckons Alexis Wray as she questions the legitimacy of student loans, gives you tools to take action and shares stories from real people most impacted: Enter your email to subscribe. For a lot of people, resuming student loan debt payments will mean their lives are turned upside down and inside out. In short, people are worried about their finances, future, family and more. Understanding the weight of this debt, Reckon has asked readers to tell us what debt relief would mean for them and how paying back their loans would shake up their world. They appear weekly in the Broke & Bothered newsletter and regularly on our site. Austin J. is 25 years old, lives in Pennsylvania and has $25,000 in federal student loan debt. A student loan debt story, as told to Reckon. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Growing up you hear about your parents budget and the financial decisions they have to make, including student loans but, as a child, it might not hit you in its totality. I have four parents in my life. While my mom and stepdad did not go [to] or finish college, my dad and stepmom are both college graduates with masters degrees and a substantial amount of student loan debt that theyve been paying on for decades. In college, my dad and stepmom were able to help with my books, clothes, food and a few dollars every now and again, all while being in their late 40s and still paying off their own student loans. This is a systemic issue that has punished the past couple of generations and mine too for pursuing a higher education. Austin J. is 25 years old, lives in Pennsylvania and has $25,000 in federal student loan debt. What they say is true: it takes a village to raise a child. I was fortunate and privileged to have a mom and stepdad who were able to assist me in keeping my loans lower than otherwise. Now that Ive graduated and Im working as a district staffer in Pennsylvania with $25,000 in student loan debt, I have had to make plans to contend with my own loans. I recently found out that I qualify for only paying $20 a month under the Biden Administrations new rates for repayment based on salary. I just keep thinking, What if I didnt qualify and made more than I currently do? Would my payments jump to $100 or $150? These financial factors restrict my options for living within my means to a degree, especially since Im in the process of saving to go back to school and get a new(er) car. Money that could be going to these big life changes will now have to be sacrificed for my student loans, no matter how small. - Want to read more student loan debt stories like Austins? Click here to read real stories of people most impacted by the student loan debt crisis. The Ukrainian defense forces repelled Russian occupation forces' attacks in the Kupiansk-Lyman, Bakhmut, Maryinka, Shakhtarsk, and Zaporizhia directions over the past 24 hours, and continued the offensive operation in the Melitopol direction, exhausting the enemy, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). "In the Kupiansk direction, our defenders repelled five enemy attacks in the vicinity of Synkivka and Ivanivka, Kharkiv region... In the Lyman direction, the defense forces repelled seven enemy attacks in the Makiyivka area, Luhansk region," it said on Facebook post on Monday evening. According to the General Staff, in the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled four enemy attacks near Klischiyivka, Donetsk region. In the Maryinka direction, they "successfully repelled 15 enemy attacks in the areas of Maryinka and Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region." In the Shakhtarsk direction, an attack by the Russians was repelled in the Staromayorsky district, Donetsk region, in the Zaporizhia direction in the Levadny district. "At the same time, the Ukrainian defense forces continue the offensive operation in the Melitopol direction, offensive (assault) actions in the Bakhmut direction, inflicting losses on the occupation forces in personnel and equipment, depleting the enemy along the entire front line," the General Staff said. In the Volyn and Polissia directions, the operational situation did not change significantly. No signs of the formation of offensive groups were found. In the Siversky and Slobozhansky directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, continues shelling settlements from the territory of Russia, and increases the density of mine and explosive barriers along the state border of Ukraine. Brussels, Belgium (PANA) The European Council on Monday adopted a decision on the signature of the sustainable investment facilitation agreement (SIFA) between the European Union and Angola Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libya's prime minister in the government of national unity, Abdulhamid al Dbaiba, has announced that great progress has been made in the project to rehabilitate Tripoli international airport, with plans to open it by the middle of next year Photo: (Photo : Maria Oswalt on Unsplash) In a sunlit house in El Salvador's capital, a sign reads, "You must enter smiling." Teodora Vasquez, the woman behind this comforting message, has herself faced decades of sorrow. El Salvador criminalized abortion in all circumstances 25 years ago, with no exceptions. The country later adopted a constitutional amendment asserting that life begins at conception. Vasquez was among 180 women unjustly accused and convicted after obstetric emergencies, revealing the extreme measures taken in criminalizing abortion. From Ilopango Prison to the Sanctuary of Mujeres Libres After serving more than 10 years in prison for aggravated homicide, Vasquez's conviction was finally commuted by the Supreme Court in 2018. But memories of her time in the cramped Ilopango women's prison contrast sharply with her serene home. Now free, Vasquez resides in the headquarters of Mujeres Libres El Salvador, a group she founded, meaning "free women." The organization offers a place for women, like Vasquez, who've faced similar convictions, to find refuge and healing. The battle against societal stigma is evident in Vasquez's words: "We've been living through a double conviction. You are going to die, and they are going to remember you because you were a prisoner." Global advocacy for Vasquez and others alike has surged in recent years, drawing attention from the UN and Hollywood. Yet, Salvadoran legislators sustained the abortion ban in 2021. To combat this, Vasquez and her peers continue sharing their traumatic experiences, aiming to safeguard future generations from repeating history. In a harrowing account from 2007, Vasquez recounts the severe pain she experienced while nine months pregnant. Despite her repeated calls to 911, assistance never arrived. She fainted and gave birth in a bathroom, unconscious. When the police arrived, instead of helping, they took her into custody, accusing her of abortion. This incident wasn't isolated. Research by Jocelyn Viterna, a Harvard University professor, shows that impoverished women in El Salvador, many of whom were alone during labor and faced stillbirths or infant deaths, were prosecuted. Legal processes, according to Viterna, often involve outdated and debunked forensic methods. Read Also: Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Signs Fetal Heartbeat Law, Banning Most Abortions Education and Healing: The Core of Mujeres Libres Mujeres Libres offers more than shelter. It's a beacon of hope, healing, and education. From computer classes to workshops on women's rights, the organization empowers women for a brighter future. Since 2009, over 60 women prosecuted for obstetric emergencies have been released in El Salvador. In a unique collaboration, Jocelyn Viterna is now educating Mujeres Libres members via Zoom, shedding light on gender, sexuality, and reproductive health. Vasquez believes this education is vital to dispelling misconceptions that led to her and many others' wrongful convictions. Even as the nation's views on abortion evolve and some legal protections increase, Vasquez stresses that change must occur from the grassroots. The key, she says, is "educating the population." In a poignant reminder of their strength, Mujeres Libres recently presented a play titled "Mujeres de Acero," or "Women of Steel." Despite facing threats and public opposition, Vasquez remains undeterred in her mission, driven by a desire to ensure that future generations live better lives. For Vasquez, true freedom lies in finding strength in adversity and building a community where hope, not sorrow, is the defining narrative. Related Article: Abortion Advocates Fight Back: Planned Parenthood, ACLU Sue Utah Over Restrictive Clinic Ban Although we really didnt have time last night too many urgent things to do we attended a performance of Puccinis La boheme. Im sad to report that Mimi died, once again. Every time we see La boheme, I root for her, hoping that shell make it. But she never does. *** Were watching the situation in Israel with particular interest. Were scheduled to be there, leading a tour, in about three weeks or so. By then, I think that the instability in Israel itself is likely to be over. But if, as seems likely, the Israelis launch a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza, thats going to be extremely ugly for all concerned. Street-to-street fighting in an urban setting especially one that is as densely packed as Gaza is extraordinarily difficult. Already, Israeli airstrikes are very probably causing innumerable civilian casualties. And yet, I sadly think that Israel needs to do something like this. If they hold off, Hamas will simply strike again. Yes, Gaza is a miserable and impoverished place, and I regret the situation of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation, Moreover, Im mindful of Americas role in supporting Israel, which often permits Israel to be intransigent and to decline to budge from the status quo. But butchering members of the audience at a music festival? Kidnapping mothers and children? Executing people in their homes? Slitting the throats of young children along the roadside? This is scarcely the way to claim the moral high ground. Years ago, a student in my Middle East Studies (Arabic) senior seminar submitted an intriguing paper in which she proposed not a two-state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, as is commonly suggested, but a three-state solution. Israeli, she said, should begin immediately to negotiate full state recognition for the West Bank, which is administered by the Palestinian Authority (the lineal successor of the Palestine Liberation Organization, principally controlled by Fatah). This should be done, she wrote, quite independently of Hamas, which is based in the Gaza Strip. Doing so, she reasoned, would put just the right kind of pressure on all three parties (Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas): Hamas is far and away more violent than the PA and refuses to acknowledge the legitimate existence of Israel. Moreover, even before the events of the past few days, the rocket attacks and the most brutal terrorist violence have tended to come out of the Gaza Strip. Israel has often said that it cannot negotiate with the Palestinians because of Palestinian violence. But that violence comes disproportionately (though not quite entirely) from Gaza, and not from the West Bank. Offering recognition to the PA and the West Bank would reward them for their relatively moderate stance and their apparent willingness to acknowledge Israels right to exist, and would encourage them to behave in a still more responsible fashion. Not offering recognition to Gaza would make clear to those residing in Gaza the price they pay for Hamas adventurism and intransigence (and imminent Israeli military operations are going to raise that price quite a bit higher in the next few days.) Israel would be forced to indicate whether its really serious about making peace with the Palestinians and about recognizing a Palestinian state, or whether its merely engaging in rhetoric to play for time. *** We were in St. George a few days ago, and we passed by the St. George Tabernacle. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to speak there, at the pulpit where, Im told (and find plausible), every president of the Church except Joseph Smith has spoken. That was a bit of a thrill for me. Theres an interesting story about that pulpit that I think Ill relate here: Miles Romney, who was, yes, an ancestor of Mitt Romney, was a master builder who had been schooled in English architecture. He was also the supervisor of construction for the St George Tabernacle. As part of his work, he designed two elegant free-standing circular staircases that were attached to either side of the foyer-type rooms at the entrance to the Tabernacles main hall. He was quite proud of them. In fact, he called them his crowning achievements. But Brigham Young was not so satisfied with the design. Specifically, he requested that the gallery be installed a few feet lower than the original plans specified. Why? Because the balcony was so high that people sitting in it could not see the pulpit. However, Brother Romney had already completed the two circular stairs and he refused to move them. In response, Brigham Young who was himself a master carpenter and builder devised an ingenious plan to lower the balcony by means of jacks and braces. With a workforce of two hundred men, the Tabernacles pillars were cut, a section was taken out, and the balcony was lowered fully five feet. As a result, Tabernacle audiences who climb the staircases today step down eight steps to the balcony, and can see the pulpit. Both men got what they wanted; neither backed down. And theres another St. George story to which I want to call attention here: As the St. George Temple neared its dedication date in 1877, President Young was not satisfied with the way the steeple of the temple looked. He commented on this to his son Brigham Young, Jr. The tower is wooden and very unsatisfactory piece of work, Brigham, Jr. wrote in his journal. Father remarked he would keep the tower locked, that he was ashamed of the framing and the design. It was is some 1218 feet too low to look well. Prest [Brigham Young, Sr.] says they will have that remided [remedied] some these days, (Brigham Young Jr., Journal, May 10, 1876, 83). However, the temple tower was left as it was and the temple dedicated on time. This was fortunate, because President Young died just a few months later. Had the construction on the temple continued, he probably would not have seen the completed temple. Things continued as they were for about a year. Then, in October 1878, a severe thunderstorm struck St. George. Lightning struck the tower during the storm, completely destroying the tower but leaving the rest of the temple quite undamaged. (Brigham Young had clearly arrived in the heavenly courts!). The tower underwent repairs for a considerable period of time until the Saints finally decided to heighten it, thus giving the temple the look that Brigham Young had preferred from the start. I hear claims from time to time that Brigham Young was a tyrant and a bully. I dont believe that the historical record really supports that assertion. (More on that yet to come.) Ill particularly mention two meetings in the St. George Tabernacle: In the 1880s, Father Lawrence Scanlon, the Catholic bishop of Utah, visited the area where miners were digging for silver north of St* George. He wanted to say mass tor the miners, and was delighted when Latter-day Saint leaders offered him the use of the Tabernacle. The St. George choir, which was directed by John Menzies Macfarlane (18331892), Latter-day Saint composer of the Christmas carol Far, Far Away on Judeas Plains, learned the mass in Latin and performed it for the miners and the townsfolk. More than a decade later, President Lorenzo Snow famously visited St. George in the midst of a serious economic depression and a local drought. The Church was deeply in debt and President Snow had been praying for guidance and help. While in St. George, he felt inspired to preach the law of tithing, encouraging the people to pay a full tenth of their income to the Church and promising them rain for their crops if they did. He returned to Salt Lake City preaching the same message along the way. The people responded obediently, the rains came, and, within a few years, the Church was out of debt. Gotta run. Its good to be back in Istanbul, one of my very favorite cities. One of my favorite places on Earth. (We flew in just a few hours ago, via Amsterdam.) Im not sure how long its been since we were here last, but it could possibly have been as long as eight years. And my last visit to Turkey beyond Istanbul was probably eleven years ago. So Im very happy to be back. I love the setting of the city, virtually surrounded by water. (I can see water from my hotel window right now, bejeweled with the lights of the city.) Istanbul reminds me just a tiny bit of San Francisco or Seattle. I also love the fact that you can walk through very modern urban areas, then (in some parts of the city) turn a corner and find yourself very much in the Middle East. Most of all, though, I love its rich, layered history notably from its time as the capital of the Christian eastern Roman Empire (eventually known to many, though not to its own residents, as the Byzantine Empire) and then as the capital of the Ottoman Empire, ruled over by Muslim Turks who had originally come from distant central Asia. According to the classical historians, there has been a city here since its founding by Byzas of Megara in 667 BC. From him comes its original name, Byzantium, which eventually, even after the citys refounding and renaming, gave us the Byzantine Empire. He is said to have been advised by the famous oracle of Apollo at Delphi to settle opposite the land of the blind, on the other side of the water by which, supposedly, the area of Chalcedon was intended (because they blindly failed to notice the superior territory directly adjacent to them). Between 512 BC and 488 BC, the Persians held Byzantium until it was liberated by the Spartan general Pausanius. When Philip II of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great) besieged the city in 340-339 BC, the residents of the city took many defensive measures. Among them was an appeal to the goddess Hecate, which included putting her symbols, the crescent moon and the star, on its coinagewhich, some say, led to the adoption of those symbols, centuries later, by the Ottoman Turks and even by Islam more generally. The Roman emperor Constantine Iyes, Constantine the Greatwas acclaimed emperor by his troops in York, in the British Isles, after the death of his father, Constantius, and spent the first period of his reign fighting in what his now Germany and then in conflict with his co-emperors. Once he was established as the sole ruler of the Empire, though, his attention had shifted to the east, where the biggest and longest lasting threat was that posed by, essentially, the Persians. Since the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Empire (which occurred essentially under Octavian or Augustus Caesar), the Senate had become more or less irrelevant, and the emperors, often out on military campaigns, rarely resided in Rome. Practically speaking, the capital was wherever the emperor happened to be. Unlike the Chalcedonians of a thousand years before, during the lifetime of Byzas, Constantine recognized the enormous advantages conferred by Byzantiums location. Located on a peninsula, it was protected by the sea on three sides. It sat on a sundered land bridge connecting Europe with Asia (offering an east-west trade route), and astride a series of easily defensible narrow water channels (the Bosporus and the Dardanelles or Hellespont) connecting the world of the Black Sea to that of the Mediterranean. Its astonishing to me that it hadnt already become the capital of an empire. So Constantine established (Nea Roma, Nova Roma, or New Rome) as his capital. Conveniently, like the original Rome, it included seven hills. Soon, though, it began to be called (Konstantinoupolis; city of Constantine). By AD 476, one of the traditional dates for the fall of Rome, the authority of the government in Rome itself wielded, at most, negligible military, political, or financial power, and it held little if any sway over the scattered Western domains that could still be described as Roman. So, when the city fell, its fall had very little effect over the actual empire, for which the center of gravity had long since shifted eastward. The West is fascinated even today with the fall of Rome, perhaps, but those in the east still thought of themselves as Romanssignificantly, using Greek rather than Latin: Romanoiand the Muslim peoples called the Byzantine Empire Rum (Rome). In a very real sense, then, the Roman Empire actually survived until AD 1453. That was the year that the armies of the Ottoman Turks finally took the city under the twenty-three year-old sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and renamed it Istanbul. The Muslims had been at war with the Byzantines since the days of Muhammad in early seventh-century Arabia, and there had been at least two serious prior sieges by the Ottomans themselves. This time, though, they brought gunpowder and cannons with them, rendering the famous defensive walls of the city obsolete, and soon rendering large portions of them little more than rubble. I quote from chapter 68 of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon: From the first hour of the memorable twenty-ninth of May [1453], disorder and rapine prevailed in Constantinople till the eighth hour of the same day, when the sultan himself passed in triumph through the gate of St. Romanus. He was attended by his vizirs, bashaws, and guards, each of whom (says a Byzantine historian) was robust as Hercules, dexterous as Apollo, and equal in battle to any ten of the race of ordinary mortals. The conqueror gazed with satisfaction and wonder on the strange though splendid appearance of the domes and palaces, so dissimilar from the style of Oriental architecture. In the hippodrome, or atmeidan, his eye was attracted by the twisted column of the three serpents; and, as a trial of his strength, he shattered with his iron mace or battle-axe the under jaw of one of these monsters, which in the eyes of the Turks were the idols or talismans of the city. At the principal door of St. Sophia he alighted from his horse and entered the dome; and such was his jealous regard for that monument of his glory, that, on observing a zealous Musulman in the act of breaking the marble pavement, he admonished him with his scimitar that, if the spoil and captives were granted to the soldiers, the public and private buildings had been reserved for the prince. By his command the metropolis of the Eastern church was transformed into a mosque: the rich and portable instruments of superstition had been removed; the crosses were thrown down; and the walls, which were covered with images and mosaics, were washed and purified, and restored to a state of naked simplicity. On the same day, or on the ensuing Friday, the muezin, or crier, ascended the most lofty turret, and proclaimed the esan, or public invitation, in the name of God and his prophet; the imam preached and Mohammed [Mehmet] the Second performed the namaz of prayer and thanks giving on the great altar, where the Christian mysteries had so lately been celebrated before the last of the Caesars. From St. Sophia he proceeded to the august but desolate mansion of a hundred successors of the great Constantine, but which in a few hours had been stripped of the pomp of royalty. A melancholy reflection on the vicissitudes of human greatness forced itself on his mind, and he repeated an elegant distich of Persian poetry: The spider has wove[n] his web in the Imperial palace, and the owl hath sung her watch-song on the towers of Afrasiab. Yet his mind was not satisfied, nor did the victory seem complete, till he was informed of the fate of Constantine [XI Palaiologos, the last of the Byzantine emperors]whether he had escaped or been made prisoner, or had fallen in the battle. Two Janizaries claimed the honour and reward of his death: the body, under a heap of slain, was discovered by the golden eagles embroidered on his shoes; the Greeks acknowledged with tears the head of their late emperor and, after exposing the bloody trophy, Mohammed bestowed on his rival the honours of a decent funeral. Posted from Istanbul, Turkiye Russia is interested in inciting war in the Middle East, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message on Monday following a meeting on the situation in the Middle East. "Today was a very busy day, various meetings, among which the new international situation was especially important. I held a meeting with the heads of the Main Intelligence Directorate and foreign intelligence, with our diplomats on the situation in and around Israel and on the general situation in the Middle East. This is important for us, not only for Ukraine, but for all of Europe," he said. According to available information, Zelenskyy said, "Russia is interested in inciting war in the Middle East. So that a new source of pain and suffering will weaken world unity and add splits and contradictions." "We see how Russian propagandists gloat, we see how Moscow's Iranian friends quite openly offer their shoulder to those who attack Israel. And all this is a much greater threat than the world now perceives," the president said. Leading agro-commodities trading and travel and tour company, Kingdom Exim Group Ghana, has warmly hosted the Speaker Of Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly of India, Hon. M. Appavu. Hon. Appavu was hosted at the Accra Office of Kingdom Exim Group as part of his visit to Ghana for the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference 2023. During his visit to Kingdom Exim Group, he was received by senior officials of the company including Dr. James Rajamani, the President of Kingdom Exim Group, and Dr. Immanuel Rajamani, Managing Director of Kingdom Exim Group. The officials of Kingdom Exim Group while warmly welcoming the Honourable Speaker, wished him a successful mission during his stay in Ghana. Meanwhile, Hon. Appavu has as part of his visit, met members of the Tamil community in Ghana. His historic meeting with the Tamil Nadu Community in Accra began with the State Anthem of Tamil Nadu (Tamil Thai Valthu). The President of the Kingdom Group of Businessmen in Ghana, Dr. James Rajamani, the Managing Director of Kingdom Exim, Dr. Immanuel Rajamani and the President of the Ghana Tamil Association, Mr. Mohan, Indian Association Secretary, Ex-President Mr. Chandrasekhar, Mr. Jayachandran, Assembly Secretary Tamil Nadu State, India Mr. Srinivasan and Mr. Paramanayagam Muthukumar, all attended the meeting. During the meeting, Hon. Appavu took time to listen to some challenges being faced by Tamils living in Ghana. Later during a meeting with the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the Hon. Speaker promised to address the challenges faced by Tamils in Ghana. About the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference served as an opportunity for parliamentary delegations from across the Commonwealth to meet and to participate in plenary sessions and workshops on topics of pan-Commonwealth interest. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly United Kingdom delegation held in-country meetings relating to the UK-Ghana bilateral relationship. 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 Anglican Bishop of Cape Coast, Rt. Rev. Dr. Victor Reginald Atta-Baffoe, has called for fairness in the process of justice delivery across the country during a special church service marking the opening of the 66th legal year. The service, which was held at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra, on Saturday, 7th October, 2023, under the theme "Building the Pillars of Justice," emphasized the importance of upholding justice in accordance with scriptural values. Bishop Atta-Baffoe's sermon resonated with the legal community and the public as he stressed that the foundation of Ghana's justice system should be built upon principles outlined in the scriptures. "The level of Justice you show unambiguously determines and describes your level of relationship with God. Remember it is not the Prayers and fastings or the speaking in tongues that builds Justice. It is about what you do for the disadvantaged," Bishop Atta-Baffoe admonished the Congregation. In her message to herald the new legal year which happens to be her first since assuming office as Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo said, the judicial service under her watch will focus on four (4) main pillars. She noted that, as the service strengthens the four Pillars, the wheels of Justice will begin to grind efficiently and effectively. "The pillars of justice that will be in focus are Law, Ethics, Assets and Due Process giving the acronym LEAD' which is easy to remember. The theme has been chosen to draw all stakeholders into engagement with these four elements in justice delivery, in order to enhance the quality of work done in our courts. "As we focus on building the Pillars of Law, Ethics, Assets and Due Process, increased attention will be given to consistent training and capacity building for all staff and strategic regulatory interventions with external support service providers. For the citizenry, there will be a focus on demystifying the work of courts, to increase integrity and accountability of the court system to those that we are required to serve," Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo wrote in her new legal year message. Source: Philipa Ayilimah Atanga/Peacfmonline.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 authorities have arrested two police officers who were found trafficking 13 people from Ethiopia using a police vehicle. According to local media, the officers were transporting eight Ethiopians, four Eritreans and a Sudanese national in a vehicle belonging to Kenya's Border Police Unit. The officers, who were armed with police-issued firearms, were intercepted in Kenya's north-western county of Turkana, which borders Ethiopia. Authorities say that they also detained the foreigners, who will likely be arraigned in a Kenyan court or repatriated to their countries. The foreigners said that they were transiting through Kenya on their way to South Africa. 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 Niger's government has been forced to cut its budget by 40% over the impact of sanctions and suspension of aid after the 26 July coup. There are fears that the sanctions may worsen the economic situation in Niger - one of the worlds poorest countries. In a statement on Saturday, the military junta announced a 2023 budget cut from $5.3bn (4.3bn) to $3.2bn, although details of the cuts are lacking. At least 40% of the West African country's budget support this year was expected to come from external partners. The coup which ousted President Mohamed Bazoum attracted regional and international sanctions including border closures, frozen assets and halted aid supplies. The import-dependent country has recorded soaring food and commodity prices and a limited supply of medicines, owing to trade restrictions. Though the coup received widespread condemnation in the region, there have been several rallies to support the junta in the country. Neighbouring military governments, including Mali and Burkina Faso, also supported the coup. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The houseboy, John Allister, who is on trial for the death of his madam in Kumasi, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for stealing in another case. The Asokwa District Court convicted him on his plea of guilty on two counts of stealing a mobile phone worth GH4,000 and withdrawing GH167,666 from his former employers bank account. The judge, Vida Achiaa Yeboah, sentenced John Allister to 20 years in jail on each count, but the sentences will run concurrently. It was an emotional day in court, as the young guy broke down in tears after learning his fate following the sentencing. The inmate, who appeared depressed and remorseful, pleaded with the court to be lenient and decrease his sentence, but his pleas were ignored. Case Facts The prosecution told the court that complainant, Gloria Morrison, who owns a hotel at Bantama, employed John Allister as a receptionist in 2022. According to the prosecution, the accused surprisingly left his post after one month. Allister was said to have returned to his ex-employer to seek a job at the same hotel in July 2023, which he was given. The prosecution said on August 6, 2023, the complainant gave her Infinix Note 8 mobile phone to John to do configuration, but he bolted with the cell phone. Whilst in the possession of the cell phone, John withdrew GH167,650.09 from the complainants Absa Bank account, using a mobile app on the phone. The complainant reported the case to the police and John was arrested from his hideout in Accra. He admitted the offence in his caution statement and told police he used the money to rent an apartment. After investigation, he was arraigned subsequently. Presiding Judge Before pronouncing her verdict, the judge openly expressed concern about a new wave of crime committed by persons who pretend to be looking for work but end up robbing their employers. Even though Allister John did not waste the courts time by pleading guilty to both counts, the judge concluded that the case was premeditated. 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 video has surfaced on the internet showing the moment a Nigerian national escaped from police custody during a drug raid in Navi Mumbai, India. In a major crackdown against drugs, Navi Mumbai police had arrested the 44-year-old Nigerian national identified as Julius O Anthony Onyekachukwu from the Sector 24 area of Ulwe on Friday, October 6, 2023, and seized drugs worth 84.8 lakh. The police also seized mobile phones, digital weighing tools and other materials to be used for selling the contraband. This is the second major crackdown within six weeks by Navi Mumbai police against the sale of drugs in the city. Based on information received regarding the sale of drugs in the Ulwe node, the NRI police carried out raids at 12 locations in sectors 3, 5, 18, 24 and 25 in Ulwe node and arrested the accused Nigerian. The police seized 706 grams of mephedrone drugs worth 70.6 lakhs and 95 grams of Cocaine worth 14.25 lakhs from Onyekachukwu. During the raids, the police found that 14 foreign nationals have been living illegally in the country. They have been issued notices to leave India under the Passport Act. Of the 14, 7 of them were female and 7 males and they all are from Nigeria and Uganda. One of the accused also tried to escape from the police when he was being taken in a police van in sector 24 in Ulwe node. However, the police personnel chased him and caught him after some distance. In the viral video shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the accused Nigerian was seen being held by a policeman. As soon as they start walking towards the police van, the accused somehow lets loose off the cop's grip and launches a sprint away from the police. The cops present at the spot wasted no time and started chasing the accused, however one of them fell on the ground during his attempt. Others can be seen making ways in different directions to catch a hold of the accused running in the neighbourhood. However, there are no reports about whether the police successfully nabbed the accused, A total of 350 police personnel, officials from NRI, the Anti-Narcotic Cell, officials of the Foreign Citizens Registration Department of NRI Police Station and other senior officers were present. The raids were carried out under the guidance of DCPs of both zones one and two including DCP (crime). A case has been registered against all the arrested accused under sections 8C, 21B and 22C of the NDPS Act 1985 at NRI police station. Watch the video below Viral | Nigerian national Julius O Anthony Onyekachukwu tries to escape police custody at sector 24 of Ulwe, Navi Mumbai after being caught with drugs worth 84 lakhs. Policemen chasing him caught up & rearrested him. Our Indian police...all tummy, unable to run fast ..no plans pic.twitter.com/Ki3zjmqA4y (@_Ashwamedha) October 8, 2023 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video NPP Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah has expressed disappointment in the Governor of Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, for referring to the #OccupyBoG protesters as "hooligans". The Minority together with some Ghanaians thronged the Bank of Ghana on Tuesday, October 3 demanding the resignation of the Governor and his deputies over accusations of mismanagement and financial malfeasance. The Governors are accused of steering the bank to lose over 60 billion cedis, so they are asked to step down immediately. But the Governor is quoted by Central Banking website to have said in an interview that the Minority in parliament have many channels to channel their grievances in civilised societies, not through demonstrations in the streets as hooligans and described their protest as "completely unnecessary. Tackling this subject on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Hon. Adomako-Mensah, in a brief comment said "I think he really really went overboard". He hoped Dr. Addison had been measured in his response, stressing the Governor's remarks were "out of his character". 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 Emmanuel Okai Mintah, a former Eastern Regional Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has assumed the role of Chairman for the party's National Youth Working Committee. Joining him in this vital leadership role is Kweku Asiedu Nketiah Jnr, who has been appointed Vice Chairman of the Committee. These appointments were formalized during a succinct inauguration ceremony held at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra on a Friday. Hon. Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, had the honor of inaugurating the Committee, emphasizing the importance of upholding the party's principles and constitution. He challenged the committee members to approach their responsibilities with diligence, ensuring that their efforts align seamlessly with those of the Youth Wing and the broader party. Speaking at the ceremony, Lawyer George Opare Addo, the NDC National Youth Organizer, underscored the pivotal role the working committee will play within the Youth Wing's administration. He stressed that the committee's efforts would work in synergy with the Youth Secretariat to advance the Youth Wing's objectives. Mr. Okai Mintah, in his acceptance speech, expressed deep gratitude to the National Youth Organizer and the entire party leadership for entrusting them with this important role. He reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to working tirelessly to secure victory for the NDC in the 2024 general elections. He stated, "This is a significant responsibility, and we are fully dedicated to fulfilling our mandate. On behalf of the entire committee, we pledge our utmost efforts to secure victory for the NDC and HE John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 general elections." The committee members boast diverse backgrounds across various industries. Chairman Okai Mintah emphasized that each member would bring their unique experiences to bear in fulfilling their mandate. The NDC National Youth Working Committee will be at the forefront of Youth Wing operations, particularly in campaign efforts leading up to the 2024 general elections. As part of the inauguration ceremony, other ad-hoc committees and directorates within the Youth Wing were also sworn in. Mr. Okai Mintah's longstanding service to the party, spanning roles as a TEIN Activist, Constituency Executive Member, Deputy Eastern Regional Treasurer, and Eastern Regional Youth Organizer, reflects his commitment to the NDC. He is an accomplished entrepreneur with interests primarily in the mining sector. He holds certifications as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (ISACA) and a Project Management Professional (PMI). His academic credentials include a Bachelor of Laws degree from Brunel University London, Executive Development in Supply Chain Management and Logistics from the University of Ghana Business School, and a BSc in Business Administration from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology. Source: Peacefmonline 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 Progressive People's Party(PPP) has waded into the recent attack on United Television (UTV) studios by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). A statement signed by its National Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu said "the attack on UTV studios by NPP members is a disgraceful act that undermines our democracy and threatens our security. We must stand united in condemning such actions and upholding the principles of freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, participation, inclusiveness, and equality." Read below full statement ATTACK ON UTV STUDIOS: AN AFFRONT TO DEMOCRACY Introduction: The recent attack on United Television (UTV) studios by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised concerns about the state of our fragile democracy and the threat it poses to our security. This essay condemns the actions of the group, which we believe were sanctioned by the partys leadership, and calls for a united response to uphold the principles of freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, participation, inclusiveness, and equality that are the foundations of our democracy. Body: 1. The Importance of Democracy: Democracy thrives on dissent and the ability for different voices to be heard. When a group feels entitled to control the media and determine what information is broadcasted, it undermines the very essence of democracy and leads to chaos. 2. Condemning the NPPs Actions: As stakeholders in our democracy, it is imperative that we call out the NPP as a party and disown their actions. Their inability to uphold the principles of democracy, as demonstrated through this attack, should not be tolerated in our political landscape. Instead, we should encourage free speech to ensure peace, security, and development for our nation. 3. Media Accountability: The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) strongly encourages the media to hold the government accountable. The media should not feel threatened by state or party actions aimed at silencing them. It is through a free and independent media that we can ensure transparency, address grievances, and work towards the common good of all citizens. 4. Media Freedom and Democracy: The PPP firmly believes in media freedom as a way to consolidate our democracy. When given the opportunity, our party will provide the media with the necessary support and resources to effectively carry out their role in fostering development and serving the interests of the people. Conclusion: In conclusion, the attack on UTV studios by NPP members is a disgraceful act that undermines our democracy and threatens our security. We must stand united in condemning such actions and upholding the principles of freedom of speech, rule of law, tolerance, participation, inclusiveness, and equality. The PPP reiterates its commitment to media freedom and encourages the media to continue holding the government accountable. Together, we can ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for Ghana. Awake Ghana!!! Sign: Nana Ofori Owusu National Chairman 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 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 universitys 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. More: 1 dead, 8 injured in shooting at community center near Pa. college: police 1 person dead after Dauphin County crash BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Since Azerbaijan has restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity just recently, as a result of anti-terror measures undertaken in Karabakh, a completely new political situation will emerge in the South Caucasus. One of a kind opportunity has presented itself today for Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia - a chance to start cooperating in a trilateral format. Thanks to President Ilham Aliyev's strong political determination and decisive actions, this is already a reality. The next step now is a signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. And here, Georgia's role as a mediator, as President Ilham Aliyev pointed out, is "the most correct option". Certainly, within the present geopolitical context, Georgia likely stands as the sole viable mediator. This is primarily because of the strained Moscow-Yerevan relations, the Western stance being influenced by France's bias, and the ongoing confrontation between Russia and the West. Regular high-level visits between Azerbaijan and Georgia have become a consistent practice. President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Georgia on October 8 marks his 11th visit to the country. Before this, on October 24, 2022, President Ilham Aliyev conducted a working visit to Georgia's Mtskheta. At the same time, on April 7 of this year, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili visited Azerbaijans Gabala. Both countries, especially in today's era of conflict and division, recognize the importance of bolstering their relationships with their nearest neighbors. Strong bonds of friendship between Georgia and Azerbaijan have a deep-rooted history. The relationship between these two nations is founded upon principles of friendship, brotherhood, and mutual respect. 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, President Ilham Aliyev said during a joint press conference with PM Garibashvili. Azerbaijan and Georgia are now also connected through multiple projects spanning various sectors of the economy. In 2022, the two countries saw a trade turnover of $771 million, with a positive balance of $500 million in bilateral trade. During the period from January through August 2023, the bilateral trade turnover surpassed $612.87 million, and the positive balance in bilateral trade remained at $444 million. Moreover, Azerbaijan hosts 815 companies backed by Georgian capital, out of which 533 are currently operational. Georgia has invested a total of $279 million in Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan has invested $3.4 billion in Georgia. 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, PM Garibashvili said in his press statement. Amid a sweeping global crisis that has ushered in substantial transformations in the global energy and transportation sectors, the South Caucasus, with Georgia and Azerbaijan at its core, has gained immense significance. 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, President Ilham Aliyev said. Indeed, as substantial projects loom on the horizon, including the enlargement of the Kulevi port on the Black Sea coast, the development of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway's carrying capacity, and the "Green Energy Corridor" project, Azerbaijan and Georgia are poised not only to bolster regional energy and transportation capabilities, but also to provide substantial benefit to the broader Eurasian continent. Azerbaijan and Georgia serve as an exemplary model for fostering harmonious neighborly relations, and, as Georgias PM Irakli Garibashvili noted, President Ilham Aliyev has made a great contribution to this cause. 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 [President Ilham Aliyev] has made a great contribution to this cause. He has done a lot for the strengthening of this friendship and brotherhood, the PM added. Azerbaijan and Georgia's cooperation across multiple domains is yielding fruitful outcomes. Envisioning the progress and prosperity that the South Caucasus can attain becomes quite straightforward once Armenia takes that final stride toward a peace treaty. Regional countries should be the primary architects of peace in the South Caucasus. President Ilham Aliyev's proposal for trilateral cooperation is not just justified, logical and correct, but also indisputable. The critical point is to seize this exceptional and historic opportunity. By Elizabeth Estrada of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds the power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG On Nov. 7, Pennsylvanians will cast their vote for a new state Supreme Court justice, as well as for new judges to sit on Commonwealth and Superior Courts. Voters will also decide whether two appellate judges on Superior Court should get another term. Across the state, depending on where you live, there might also be municipal races on the ballot, for offices like mayor and school board, along with ballot questions. To help you prepare for Election Day 2023 in Pennsylvania, weve answered some of your most frequently asked questions below: When is the 2023 Election Day in Pennsylvania? Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Mark your calendar! When do polls open for Pennsylvanias 2023 election? Polls open at 7 a.m and close at 8 p.m. As long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you are entitled to cast a ballot. When is the last day to register to vote? The last day to register is Oct. 23. You can register online here, or submit a registration form in person or through the mail to your county election office by the same date. Online voter registration applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m that day. The county board of elections must receive mail and in-person applications by 5 p.m. How can I check my registration? You can check your registration here. You can search using your name, county, ZIP code, and birthday, or by entering your drivers license or PennDOT identification card number. How do I change parties? To change your party affiliation, fill out the same voter registration form that you used to register the first time. When filling out the form, select the box that says change of party. If you register less than 15 days before the election, the change will not take place until the next election cycle. Im a registered independent. Can I still vote on Nov. 7? Absolutely! Unlike during Pennsylvanias primaries, during the general election all registered voters can vote for any candidate. How do I find my polling place? You can find your polling place here by entering your address. What else do I need to know to vote in person? If this is your first time voting or your first time voting since changing address, youll need to bring proof of identification. This can include any government-issued ID such as a drivers license or U.S. passport, a utility bill or bank statement that includes your name and address, or a military or student ID. See the full list of options. Can I still request a mail ballot? You can apply for a mail ballot until Oct. 31, either online or through the mail. However, your complete application must be received by the county office by 5 p.m. that day. Heres the application. Youll need to provide your name, date of birth, proof of identification, and signature. How do I vote absentee? The process to request an absentee ballot is similar to that for requesting a mail ballot. You can apply online or download the form and send it to your county election office. However, the application requires you to list a reason for your absence, unlike a mail ballot. You can find the application here. Applications are due Oct. 31 by 5 p.m. and must be received by the county office by that time. If you miss the Oct. 31 deadline, you can still request an emergency absentee ballot from your county election office if you experience an unexpected illness, disability, or last-minute absence. You can request one here. I applied but still havent gotten my absentee or mail ballot. What should I do? You can check the status of your absentee or mail ballot here. If youre worried your ballot wont arrive with enough time to return it, you can call your county election office for advice on how to proceed. You can also go to your county election office to request a ballot and fill it out on the spot, or go to your polling place and vote in person on Election Day. Ive received my absentee or mail ballot. How do I return it? First, make sure youve filled it out completely and followed all instructions, including dating the ballot envelope properly. Otherwise, your ballot may not be counted. Everyone can return their ballot through the mail or by dropping it off at their county election office. Some counties also have drop boxes available. Find county contact information here. Your county election office must receive your ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you have a disability that prevents you from returning your own ballot, you may fill out a form to designate someone else to return it for you. You must turn in the form with your mail ballot application, and the designee must have a copy on hand when they return your ballot. Otherwise, you must return your own ballot. The exterior of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center. Which races will I be voting on? Voters statewide will decide the next state Supreme Court justice, select which judges will join the Supreme and Commonwealth Courts, and also determine whether two judges will get additional terms on Superior Court. The candidates who win these seats will have tremendous impact across the commonwealth, potentially for decades, and be able to shape the future of the state when it comes to pressing issues like abortion, education, and the environment. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the state. Comprised of seven justices, the court is responsible for interpreting Pennsylvanias laws and constitution to make final judgments on legal questions. Democrat Daniel McCaffery and Republican Carolyn Carluccio are both running for the vacant seat. Carluccio serves as a judge on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. She was elected to the seat in 2009. Throughout Carluccios career, she has worked as both a prosecutor and a defender. She spent some time in private practice before becoming assistant U.S. attorney in Delaware in 1989. After working in that role for almost a decade, she worked as chief public defender of Montgomery County for four years, and later chief deputy solicitor for Montgomery County. She is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party and PA Pro-Life Federation, which opposes abortion access. Carluccio says her diverse court experience is an asset. McCaffery has been a judge on Superior Court since 2019. He began his professional law career as a prosecutor at the Philadelphia district attorneys office in the 1990s, where he worked for six years. From there, he moved to a private practice for several years and then unsuccessfully ran for Philadelphia district attorney in 2009 before joining the Court of Common Pleas in 2013. He is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party and various trade organizations. McCaffery says his decades of experience on the bench make him the ideal candidate for state Supreme Court. Both candidates are highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Read more about the candidates and their positions. Superior Court Superior Court is one of the commonwealths two intermediate appellate courts. The court is made up of 15 judges and handles criminal, civil, and family cases that are appealed from lower courts. It is the statewide court that an average Pennsylvanian is most likely to interact with. There are four candidates vying for two seats on the bench two Republicans and two Democrats in addition to two current judges who are seeking to extend their terms. Maria Battista is a Clarion County resident running as a Republican. Battista has served as assistant general counsel for the health and state departments for two Pennsylvania governors Republican Tom Corbett and Democrat Tom Wolf. She currently works as vice president of state and federal contracting for a Wayne-based consulting firm. She left the Department of Defense to run for office. Battista is not recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association because she opted to not participate in their evaluation process. Harry Smail is running as a Republican. Smail has been a judge on the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas since 2014, when he was appointed by Corbett. Hes worked as a private practice attorney, served as a solicitor for two county row offices, and ran unsuccessfully for several county offices. Smail was recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Democratic candidate Jill Beck is an attorney based in Pittsburgh who works in commercial litigation. Beck clerked for Judge Christine Donohue on the state Supreme and Superior Courts for several years, and says she drafted over 500 opinions in that time. This is not the first time Beck has run for Superior Court. She ran in 2021, but lost the primary to Timika Lane of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Beck is highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Timika Lane has served as a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas since 2013, when she was elected to the role. She previously clerked for Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, worked for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, and served as legal counsel for state Sen. Anthony Williams (D., Philadelphia). Lane ran in 2021 for Superior Court. While she won the Democratic primary, she lost in the general election. Lane is highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. In addition to the four candidates running, there are two sitting Superior Court judges seeking to serve another 10-year term. On the ballot, there will be a separate section labeled Judicial Retentions and voters will be asked to select yes or no for each judge. Judge Vic Stabile, who was elected as a Republican in 2013, is seeking a second term. President Judge Jack Panella, who was elected as a Democrat in 2003, is seeking a third. Read more about the candidates and their positions. Commonwealth Court Commonwealth Court is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the state and is made up of nine judges. The court specifically presides over civil actions brought against the commonwealth, including state and local governments, and regulatory agencies. Two candidates are running for the courts one vacant seat. Republican candidate Megan Martin is a Cumberland County resident and former secretary and parliamentarian of the state Senate. She has worked as an attorney for former Republican Govs. Tom Ridge and Corbett, as well as the U.S. Navy. She was also a law clerk for a Lancaster County judge. Democrat candidate Matt Wolf has been a judge on the Philadelphia Municipal Court since 2017, where he has presided over civil and criminal cases. He worked as a trial attorney for 25 years at various firms, including his fathers and his own. He also was an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked as a legal advisor to the Army. The Pennsylvania Bar Association recommended both candidates. Read more about the candidates and their positions. What else will be on my ballot? All Pennsylvania voters will be able to select judges in the statewide judicial races, but certain parts of the state will also vote in municipal elections for various offices, which may include mayor, city council, controller, judges for Court of Common Pleas, and more. There are no statewide ballot measures this year, but some voters may see local ballot questions, including residents of Chester County, Lehigh County, and Philadelphia. Check with your county election office to be sure. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. More: Former news anchor Janelle Stelson launches bid for Congress in Pas 10th District Gov. Shapiros automatic voter registration plan gets both love and hate in the political world Keanu Reeves, right, posed for a picture with Steve Brancato, left, owner of the Downriver Brewing Co. in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Reeves was in Stroudsburg prior to his performance with the band Dogstar at The Sherman Theater. Photo courtesy of Steve Brancato. BEIJING (AP) American mountaineer Anna Gutu and a Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa were confirmed Sunday dead after avalanches struck the slopes of a Tibetan mountain, while two others remained missing, according to Chinese media reports. American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo and a Nepalese mountain guide Tenjen Sherpa are 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 (about 26,000 feet) high in July this year. He wanted to become the youngest climber to scale all 14 peaks twice. FILE- Nepal sherpa guide Tenjen Sherpa, 35, during an interview with the Associated Press in Kathmandu, Nepal, Aug. 9, 2023. Tenjen Sherpa and American climber Gina Marie Rzucidlo are reported missing after avalanches struck Tibets Mount Shishapangma. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File)AP The avalanches struck Tibets Mount Shishapangma on Saturday afternoon at 7,600 (about 25,000 ft) and 8,000 meters (about 26,000 ft) in altitude, according to state-owned Xinhua News Agency. The avalanches also seriously injured Nepalese mountain guide Karma Geljen Sherpa, who was escorted down the mountain by rescuers and is 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 more than 8,027 meters (26,335 feet) 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. By Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafa, The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli government formally declared war and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for its surprise attack, as the military labored into Monday 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 40 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still battling with militants holed up in several locations. 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 Israeli sites from Hamas fighters, including two kibbutzim that militants entered earlier in their attacks. Footage released by Israeli police from one area showed forces kneeling in tall grass as they exchanged fire with Hamas militants across an open field. 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. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. 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. 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 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. 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 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. Another strike in the same city early Monday killed 11, including women and children. As of late Sunday, the retaliatory Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across Gaza and severely damaged 1,210 others, the U.N. said. It said the number of displaced Gazans had jumped by tens of thousands, to more than 123,000. 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. 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. Fire and smoke rise following an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) 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. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank. 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. 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. More: 1 dead, 8 injured in shooting near Pa. college: police Two wounded in shooting on Maryland campus Both of Pennsylvanias Democratic United States senators have come out in support of Israel after Hamas launched a wave of attacks over the weekend. The United States must stand with Israel and its right to self defense, Sen. Bob Casey wrote on Twitter/X on Saturday morning. This is a tragic day, Casey said. Hundreds are already dead and countless Israelis and Palestinian civilians are at risk because of this needless slaughter. CBS News reported Monday that the death toll on both sides in the new war was nearing 1,300, including 250 civilians killed by Hamas at a music festival in Israel. Sen. John Fetterman released a statement Monday morning condemning the cowardly attack on Israel and unequivocally pledging his support for the Jewish state. We now know this was a wide-sale, premeditated, cowardly, terrorist campaign against Israeli civilians that also claimed the lives of American citizens, Fetterman said. The U.S. Department of State said Monday that it has confirmed so far that nine Americans were killed Hamas attack. I unequivocally support any necessary military, intelligence, and humanitarian aid to Israel. The United States has a moral obligation to be in lockstep with our ally as they confront this threat, said Fetterman, who added that he will fully support Israel neutralizing the terrorists responsible for this barbarism. Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry also shared his support for Israel via Twitter/X over the weekend. My strongest condemnation goes to the murderous Hamas, Perry wrote on Saturday. The US must stand with our great ally, Israel, as she eradicates these terrorists. #StandWithIsrael On Sunday, Perry said, Words cant adequately describe my disgust, my rage, my thoughts of the horror, what I really think of the animals that plan for, participate in, revel in and rejoice in these barbaric acts. Nor can it express the full breadth and depth of my antipathy for those causing this. By Monday, Perry was calling for accountability from the Biden administration following reports that weapons and military equipment left behind by U.S. forces in Afghanistan were used by Hamas to attack Israel. Continued support from Comcast NBCUniversal is bolstering Youth Advocate Programs (YAP), Inc.s efforts to deliver effective alternatives to youth incarceration, residential care and other services that make neighborhoods safer. Comcast NBCUniversal is making the national nonprofits new But Im Not PSA available to its nationwide network. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Harrisburg, YAP partners with youth justice, child welfare, education, public safety, and other systems in 35 states and Washington, DC., delivering rehabilitative and neighborhood safety services in homes, schools, and other community sites. YAPs evidence-based model reduces communities reliance on placing young people in youth justice and treatment facilities and helps cities curb neighborhood violence. Produced in partnership with The CauseWay Agency, YAPs new PSA is the second of the nonprofits But Im Not series, which features former program participants with the staff Advocates and behavioral health professionals who empowered them and their families to thrive. The donated airtime, valued at more than $540,000, extends Comcast NBCUniversals in-kind support which began in 2022 when the YAP PSA series made its debut across the nationwide network. The YAP model focuses on hiring staff from the neighborhoods they serve and providing ongoing training to equip them with skills to connect program participants and their parents/guardians with individualized wraparound services educational, emotional, and economic tools -- to firm their family foundation. Among those tools is the YAP Tom Jeffers Endowment Fund scholarship, funded primarily by employee donations, which provides program participants with tuition for college and trade schools and laptop computers. Partnering with nonprofits, Comcast NBCUniversal seeks to advance efforts for people to live better lives by providing them more opportunities to achieve success, with a particular focus on promoting how technology is a key to economic mobility. Guided by its no reject, no eject policy, YAPs decades of service include working with many young people whose histories include serious offenses, multiple arrests, and lengthy out-of-home placements. John Jay College of Criminal Justice research found 86% of YAPs youth justice participants remain arrest-free, and six 12 months after completing the program, nearly 90% of the youth still lived in their communities with less than 5% of participants in secure placement. The new YAP PSA directs viewers to learn more about YAPs work at www.YAPInc.org. More: Former Penn State receiver guides student gardeners to grow, eat their own greens | Jones Price of a Forever stamp is going up. Heres how much they will cost in January Hellertown Borough Council wants the state 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. Efforts to reach Shupp for comment were unsuccessful Marcincin said at the special meeting that the borough would have no further comment and that the matter would be handled by state investigators. Lehighvalleylive.com reached out to the borough solicitor, borough manager, mayor, council president and Marcincin for further clarification. None of those officials responded. An email sent to the state attorney generals press office didnt elicit a response, either. Marcincin said council held a closed-door executive session on Thursday night to discuss personnel matters. Council postponed naming an interim chief pending further deliberation. In the meantime, officer Dominick Fragano is in charge of the police department. Shupp was named chief in 2009. His predecessor also left amid controversy. Former Chief Robert Balum was evasive when asked to discuss why he resigned in February 2009. Immediately after his resignation, his secretary was suspended for three days for misconduct. About a month later, council accepted her resignation and never said why she had been suspended. Two months after he resigned, Balum blamed borough council for not consulting him on issues and treating him like a patrolman. I cant run the department that way, Balum told lehighvalleylive.com. I told them Im taking my pension (and resigning). Balum received $6,844 to rectify an underpayment in 2008 and $48,000 for unused sick days in addition to his annual pension, according to the lehighvalleylive.com archives. Its unclear whether Shupp is in line to receive any severance or pension. Heres Marcincins full statement: Recently the borough discovered some discrepancies with its now former police chiefs payroll. Following this discovery the borough council conducted a preliminary investigation, which revealed that these discrepancies were not caused by clerical errors but were more serious. This matter, the borough council takes very seriously. At this time the borough council believes the best course of action is to have further investigation conducted by outside officials to that end we are referring this matter to the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals office Because this matter has been turned over to state authorities, we will have no further comment until the investigation is completed. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. More: What is brushing? This mail scam could indicate identity theft Realtors warn Pa. landowners about scammers stealing IDs to fraudulently sell vacant lots Over 30 years have passed since the fall of communism and the establishment of democratic governments in Central and Eastern Europe. They had never been forced to openly confront their own Holocaust-era past and the role of local collaborators and perpetrators. In fact, many first saw independence as an opportunity to rehabilitate wartime fascist leaders, honoring their anti-communist struggles while ignoring their documented role in the murder of Jews. In the years since, many have come to recognize that this was wrong, and with the help of international historical commissions and Holocaust scholars, they are correcting these misconceptions. Unfortunately, one of the worst examples of this can be found here in Philadelphia in St. Marys Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, where 30 years ago a memorial was erected to a Ukrainian Waffen SS division that fought alongside the Nazis. We trust our Ukrainian friends and colleagues recognize that this cannot remain. We urge them to act in the same spirit that motivated Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to correct these historical myths at home and remove this memorial stone from our community. AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey has a 30-year relationship and partnership with the Ukrainian Federation of America and the Ukrainian community in Philadelphia and has worked together to advance democracy and support our communities and shared values. We look forward to being a resource to our partners as they explore how best to condemn and remove this statue. Hilary Levine, Associate Director, Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey, American Jewish Committee (AJC) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Russia is considering the possibility of holding discussions among the foreign ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on October 12 this year in Bishkek on the sidelines of the CIS summit events, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said, Trend reports. He emphasized that the dialog between Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia on the whole range of issues is ongoing. "We hope that such contacts will be continued. We are considering the possibility of holding such discussions at the level of foreign ministers on October 12 this year in Bishkek on the margins of the CIS summit events. The Azerbaijani side has already given its agreement in principle. And we expect that the Armenian side will also approach this issue responsibly and agree to participate in such negotiations," he said. Under the chairmanship of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov the session of the CIS Council of Heads of State will be held in Bishkek on October 13. During the upcoming event, important decisions will be taken aimed at expanding and strengthening cooperation between the CIS member states in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The 1973 Yom Kippur War proved a watershed moment in Middle East conflict and Israels politics. aniel Rosenblum/Keystone/Getty Images The parallels were striking and surely not coincidental. Exactly 50 years and a day after being taken completely off guard by a coordinated military attack by its neighbors Egypt and Syria Israel was again caught by surprise. Early on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas militants invaded southern Israel by land, sea and air, and fired thousands of rockets deep into the country. Within hours, hundreds of Israelis were killed, hostages taken and war declared. Fierce Israeli reprisals have already taken the lives of hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza, and many more will surely be dead by the time this war is over. Because war it is. After the Hamas attacks began and the Israeli death toll grew, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country is at war, just as it was 50 years ago. And that is not where the parallels end. Both wars began with surprise attacks on Jewish holy days. In 1973, it was Yom Kippur, a day of atonement for Jews. This time it was Simchat Torah, when Jews celebrate reading the Torah. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group in control of the densely populated Gaza Strip that adjoins Israel, seemingly hopes to send the same message that Egypt and Syria delivered in October 1973: They will not accept the status quo, and Israels military might will not keep Israelis safe. The 1973 war proved to be a watershed moment not only in the Arab-Israeli conflict but also for the politics of Israel. Will this war be the same? Caught flat-footed both times Certainly, the sudden outbreak of war has again left Israelis deeply shocked, just as it did 50 years ago. This war, like the one in 1973, is already being framed as a colossal intelligence failure. Although Israeli military intelligence had warned the government that the countrys enemies believed Israel vulnerable, the intelligence establishment did not expect Hamas to attack. Rather, the intelligence assessment was that Hamas was most interested in governing the Gaza Strip and didnt want to have a war with Israel, at least not for a while. The assumption was that Hamas would be deterred from carrying out major attacks in Israel out of fear of Israels potential disproportionate retaliation bringing more devastation to Gaza. The enclave, home to 2 million Palestinians, many living in poverty, has still not recovered from the last major round of fighting in May 2021. Instead, the intelligence establishment, and many analysts, believed that Hamas preferred to export Palestinian violence to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where it could help to undermine the already weak and unpopular Palestinian Authority, led by Hamas political rival. Their intelligence assessment has proved to be terribly wrong, just as it was prior to the outbreak of the 1973 war. Then, as now, Israels adversaries were not deterred by its military superiority. Israeli intelligence not only misjudged the willingness of adversaries to go to war, but it also failed both in 1973 and now to recognize their enemys preparations. This time, that failure is even more glaring given Israels extensive and sophisticated intelligence gathering capabilities. Hamas must have been carefully planning this attack for many months, right under Israels nose. This is undoubtedly Israels worse intelligence failure since the 1973 war. But it is not only an intelligence failure, it is also a military failure. The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, was clearly not prepared for an attack of this magnitude indeed, most IDF units were deployed in the West Bank. It is true that IDFs top brass had repeatedly warned Netanyahu that its military readiness had been diminished by the wave of Israeli reservists refusing to serve in protest of the governments attempted judicial overhaul. Nonetheless, the IDF was confident that its defensive fortifications especially the expensive hi-tech barrier that had been built around the Gaza Strip would prevent Hamas militants from entering Israel, as they had previously done in a May 2021 raid. But just as the so-called Bar-Lev defensive line along the Suez Canal failed to stop Egyptian soldiers from crossing the canal in 1973, the Gaza barrier did not stop Hamas militants. It was simply circumvented and bulldozed through. The blame game begins There will surely be the same blame game after this war as there was after the 1973 war. A commission of inquiry will probably be established, as happened after the 1973 war the Agranat Commission which published a scathing report, pointing the finger of blame firmly in the direction of Israels military and intelligence establishment. But it is not Israels military and intelligence establishment that deserves most of the blame for this war. It is Israels political establishment above all, Netanyahu, who has led the country since 2009, save for a one-year exception between 2021-2022. The 1973 war was also due to a political failure, not only an intelligence failure. In fact, it was Israels political leadership, chiefly Prime Minister Golda Meir and her defense minister Moshe Dayan, that was primarily to blame because in the years before the war they had spurned diplomatic overtures from Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. The Israeli government was determined to retain parts of the Sinai peninsula which Israel had captured in the 1967 war even at the price of peace with Egypt. Similarly, Netanyahu has ignored recent Egyptian efforts to broker a long-term truce between Israel, Hamas and fellow militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad. And Israels current far-right government prefers to retain the occupied West Bank rather than pursue the possibility of peace with the Palestinians. Moreover, the Netanyahu government has been preoccupied with its widely unpopular attempt to reduce the power and independence of Israels Supreme Court, a move seemingly aimed at removing a potential obstacle to a formal annexation of the West Bank. The domestic turmoil and deep divisions that the proposed judicial overhaul have created in Israel is almost certainly one reason why Hamas decided to attack now. More broadly, with the latest attack it is clear that Netanyahus strategy to contain and deter Hamas has failed catastrophically. It has been catastrophic for Israelis, especially those living in the south of the country, and even more so for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Maintaining a blockade of Gaza for 16 years, crippling its economy and effectively imprisoning its 2 million residents, has not brought Hamas to its knees. Rather, Hamas control over Gaza, sustained by repression, has only tightened. Innocent civilians on both sides of the border have paid a high price for this failure. In the wake of the 1973 war, Meir was forced to resign, and a few years later, the ruling Labor Party which had been in power, in various guises, since the countrys founding in 1948 was defeated by Menachem Begins right-wing Likud Party in the 1977 general election. This was a watershed moment in Israeli domestic politics that was brought about in large part by the publics loss of confidence in the then-dominant Labor Party as a result of the 1973 war. Will history repeat itself this time around? Will this war finally spell the end for Netanyahu and Likuds long dominance of Israeli politics? Most Israelis have already turned against Netanyahu, repelled by the mix of corruption scandals that surround him, his attempts to downgrade the power of the judiciary and the lurch to the right that his ruling coalition represents. More Israelis may now do so because this devastating surprise attack surely contradicts any claim by Netanyahu of being Israels Mr. Security. Whatever the outcome of this new war and its political repercussions in Israel, it is already clear that its outbreak will be long remembered by Israelis with great sadness and anger, just like the 1973 war still is. Indeed, it will probably be even more traumatic for Israelis than that war was because while in 1973 it was members of the military bearing the brunt of the surprise assault, this time it is Israeli civilians who have been captured and killed, and on sovereign Israeli territory. In this crucial respect, then, this war is unlike the one in 1973. Dov Waxman, Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Professor of Israel Studies, University of California, Los Angeles This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. By David Thornburgh Momentum is building in Harrisburg for a proposal to move Pennsylvanias presidential primary elections forward by several weeks, starting next year. The proposal has bipartisan support in both chambers and from the governor. Next years presidential primary election will coincide with the start of Passover, which would make it impossible for some Jewish voters to participate on election day. Moving the primary forward could also offer Pennsylvania voters a larger say in next years presidential nominating contest. Moving the primary to ensure that our Jewish friends and neighbors can exercise their franchise while remaining observant to their religious beliefs is the right thing to do, and if Pennsylvania voters gain extra clout in the presidential primaries, so much the better. But theres another group of 1.2 million voters who have been shut out of primary elections for far too long. Who are they? Voters who choose to register as independent or unaffiliated with a political party. Its past time to make things right with them as well. I believe that every Pennsylvanian deserves the right to participate fully in our democratic process. If we all shoulder the $50 million cost of holding elections, we all ought to be able to participate. Otherwise, independent voters are paying for a party theyre not invited to, which sounds an awful lot like taxation without representation. This arcane policy puts our Commonwealth out of step with the vast majority of other states. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Pennsylvania is now one of only 7 states in the entire country that operates with a closed primary system; this is down from 9 in 2021. Most recently, Maines legislature welcomed independent voters into their primaries, and now Florida is moving towards a similar system. Even with super majorities in the North Carolina General Assembly, Republicans there are seeking to permanently open their primaries to independent voters. Almost every other state seems to have grasped that primary elections are better and their parties are stronger and more vibrant when all voters can participate. Is Pennsylvania really going to wind up as the last state still clinging to this fundamentally anti-democratic practice? Two years ago, when I was CEO of the Committee of Seventy, I founded our Ballot PA campaign with one simple goal in mind: to end the practice of denying any registered voter the chance to vote in primary elections. Thats simply unconscionable in the state that is the birthplace of American democracy. Its not a new ideabills have been introduced in each of the last four legislative sessions, and a bill actually passed the Republican Senate in 2019. But the idea has picked up a real head of steam. Thousands of Pennsylvanians have signed our petition calling for change, and the idea has attracted support from hundreds of community leaders across the commonwealth. Twenty six local newspapers have now endorsed the proposal.Bipartisan bills have been introduced and been heard in both the House and Senate. Allowing all voters to vote in every election is not a partisan issue; its just plain old Pennsylvania common sense. Democracy works better when more voices are heard and more people participate. And its very popular with Pennsylvanians across the political spectrum. Research shows that 74% of all Pennsylvania voters support allowing independents to vote in primaries, including 69% of self-identified Trump Republicans, 67% of traditional GOP voters, 85% of progressive Democrats, 80% of Black voters, and 75% of centrist Democrats. Pennsylvania veterans are hit particularly hard by this out of date policy. According to the Pew Research Center, half of all veterans identify as political independents, and given that Pennsylvania is home to 800,000 veterans, that means as many as 400,000 Pennsylvanians, people who have put their lives on the line to serve their country, are being denied their fundamental right to express themselves at the ballot boxeven to choose their own Commander-in-Chief. How could anyone in good conscience challenge the right of our veterans to vote in every election? As my good friend and partner in this fight, Steelers legend (and decorated US Army veteran) Rocky Bleier likes to say, our service members dont fight for the Red team or the Blue team. Our military members fight for the Red, White, and Blue team. I applaud the members of both parties who have put aside their political differences and come together to ensure that Jewish voters wont be excluded from the primary process next year. I urge them to build on that momentum and that logic by sending a bill to Governor Shapiro that will allow every Pennsylvanian to participate fully in our democracy. Its both the right thing and the smart thing to do. David Thornburgh is senior advisor, and former president and CEO, of the Committee of Seventy, a government reform group in Philadelphia, Pa. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The UN mission has once again arrived in Azerbaijan's Karabakh, Trend reports. Members of the mission passed through Aghdam this morning and moved towards Askeran-Khankendi. The purpose of the mission is to familiarize with the situation on the ground and determine the humanitarian needs of the residents. The mission includes representatives of various UN agencies. The UN mission, after visiting on October 1, refuted Armenian claims of the so-called "ethnic cleansing" in Karabakh. "A UN mission led by UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva visited Azerbaijan's Karabakh region on Sunday, October 1. Departing from Aghdam, the mission visited Khankendi, where it met with the local population. At the locations visited, the mission found no damage to civilian public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and housing, as well as cultural and religious sites. The mission saw that the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is preparing to resume medical services and some public utilities in the city," the mission said. Alexandre Le Vaillant Triumphs in 2023 UDSO Marrakech Main Event (MAD 625,000/57,926) October 09, 2023 Ryan Lashmar Live Reporter After a heads-up battle that lasted just over an hour, Alexandre Le Vaillant has emerged victorious in the 2023 Unibet DeepStack Open Marrakech Main Event at the majestic Es Saadi Resort. Le Vaillant defeated Tristan Forge in an exciting heads-up battle that saw the chip lead exchange several times before Le Vaillant seized the victory to collect the first place prize of 625,000 Moroccan Dirhams (57,926). Le Vaillant began the day as the chip leader and was firmly in the driver's seat for the early stages of the day as the field dwindled from 16 players down to the nine-handed final table. Le Vaillant did fall to the middle of the pack a few times during the final table but always managed to surge back up to the top of the chip counts each time. The French Pro has just over $500,000 in career tournament earnings with tonight's win being his second-biggest career cash. 2023 UDSO Marrakech Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize (in MAD) Prize (In EUR) 1 Alexandre Le Vaillant France 625,000 57,926 2 Tristan Forge France 420,000 38,926 3 Henri Dupont France 290,000 26,877 4 Julien Vecchioli France 210,000 19,463 5 Soufiane Messadek Belgium 160,000 14,829 6 Kaddour France 126,700 11,742 7 Alexandre Hobam France 103,000 9,546 8 Jeremie Canetti France 85,500 7,924 9 Adrien Amorella France 70,000 6,487 Winner's Reaction Le Vaillant mentioned that he almost didn't make the trip to Marrakech for this event and that he decided to come at the last minute after a suggestion from DeepStack Open founder Alexandre Henry. "It wasn't all planned. It was actually Alexandre Henry who suggested I come at the last minute. In truth, I had already been to Marrakech twice this year, and with the earthquake, I thought it would dissuade me a little. But it's true that Marrakech is a superb destination, and all of this last-minute planning for this event is thanks to Alex. So thank you, Alex". When asked what the win means to him, Le Vaillant mentioned he has already had many close encounters in big-field events and that it is nice to finally book a win in Morocco. "I have already been runner-up twice in main events, once third in Divonne, one sixth. Its really nice that its happening here in Morocco, where were always well-received. There was a big field and ultimately a very good turnout." "It went well in the end, and I haven't had the misfortune of having bad encounters. And obviously, in multi-table tournaments, you need some luck. But there is this structure which allows for quite extraordinary stack management on this type of buy-in. I'm used to playing them, and I know how to adapt to the different types of players there are." When asked about the long, hard-fought heads-up match against Tristan Forge, Le Vaillant was complimentary of his opponent. "Tristan Forge? I get along very well with Tristan. But there was no arrangement, and we played it straight. He's a player who is very competent but more cash-oriented, so I thought I could have a little edge on him. I didn't know what it was worth in heads-up. I missed the first big all-in; it frustrated me a little, but I stayed focused. I gained the upper hand, and he had a bit of a tight strategy. I took advantage of it a little, and I had some play too." Final Day Action Yoan Blanc became the first casualty of the day, getting his last chips in with pocket-eights only to run into the pocket-tens of Soufiane Messadek. He was followed shortly out the door by Azzedine Smie, who turned an open-ended straight draw to go along with his top pair only to fall to Forge, who had flopped a set. Salem Sahed and Mathieu Di Meglio were next to be eliminated in 14th and 13th place respectively. The former lost a flip preflop with ace-jack versus the pocket sevens of Henri Dupont while the latter would also lose a flip against pocket sevens, this time holding king-ten offsuit and being up against Le Vaillant. The most prolific player remaining in the field to start Day 3, Guillaume Darcourt, fell in 11th place after running into the pocket-aces of Samuel Baruk. Play would then remain 10-handed for over an hour before Baruk himself would be the next to go out after making a move against Forge at the wrong time after Forge had turned the nut straight. Baruk's elimination would mark the beginning of the nine-hand final table. Final Table Adrien Amorella came into the final table with the short stack and would be the first to be eliminated from the final table after losing a flip with ace-king against the pocket fives of Julien Vecchioli. He was followed by Jeremie Canetti, who went out in eighth. Canetti had a roller-coaster final day that included several big wins and big losses that saw him moving up and down the chip counts throughout the day. His run finally came to an end when he ran ace-six preflop into Vecchioli's ace-queen. Alexandre Hobam was next to fall after losing a flip with pocket jacks against the ace-king of Soufiane Messadek. Messadek had an excellent run today that saw him among the chip leaders for much of the early stages of the final table. He would end up losing a few big pots at the final five before moving in with a low-suited ace and running into the pocket jacks of Le Vaillant to bow out in fifth place. Vecchioli was perhaps the most aggressive player at the final table today, and it served him well on several occasions where he was able to get his opponent to fold the better hand. In a reversal of fortune, he would end up getting his last chips in very well with top-pair against the pocket sevens of Le Vaillant on a nine-high flop, only for Le Vaillant to drill a seven on the turn to send Vecchioli packing. Dupont would be eliminated in third place after running king-ten into Le Vaillant's ace-king to mark the start of heads-up play. Le Vaillant came into heads-up play with nearly a 2:1 chip advantage over Tristan Forge, and during the first several hands, it seemed like everything was going his way, and he was connecting with every board. That all changed when Forge moved all in with a double-gutshot straight draw against Le Vaillant's top pair and turned straight to bring the two players nearly even in chips. From there, the gruelling heads-up battle lasted over an hour and saw the chip lead exchange several more times. Le Vaillant finally got the best of his opponent in a very similar hand to the one where he originally lost the chip lead during heads-up play. Le Vaillant had a strong made hand, this time two pair, and once again, Le Vaillant called when Forge moved in with a double-gutshot straight draw. This time, Le Vaillant held to win the tournament while Forge had to settle for second place. Sharelines Le Vaillant defeated compatriot Tristan Forge in heads-up play to seal the victory. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Kevin McCarthy blamed President Biden for the attack on Israel while he offered to come back as Speaker of the House. Bloomberg reported: Sounding like he still had the job he lost last week, McCarthy called for swift action to aid Israel. He also tied the attack to President Joe Bidens policies on Iran and used it as fodder to call for conservative priorities like securing the US southern border and scrutinizing aid to Ukraine. This is about a moment in time. This is about what America is going to do, McCarthy told reporters Monday. Ill allow the conference to make whatever decision, McCarthy added. I can lead in any position it is. President Biden had nothing to do with the attack on Israel. His policies had nothing to do with the attack on Israel. The attack had been in the planning stages for a very long time. Biden didnt give Iran $6 billion, and no policy decisions that he made were the cause of what is happening in Israel. Kevin McCarthy doesnt seem to know that he is no longer the Speaker of the House, and he is not going to be the Speaker again. McCarthys time is over. even if he hasnt accepted the reality yet. Cedar Fair has owned the 400-acre park straddling the SC-NC border between Fort Mill and Charlotte since 2006 Read moreCarowinds parent to merge with theme park rival Six Flags CLEMSON U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham was in the Upstate for a planned visit when his agenda for the weekend shifted due to the attacks in Israel. The Republican senator, who calls Seneca home, likened the event to 9/11 on steroids for Israeli and Jewish people around the world. Im a thousand percent convinced that this attack, orchestrated by Iran was designed to stop the peace process moving forward between Saudi Arabia and Israel, Graham told reporters before he spoke at the Clemson Rotary Clubs lunch meeting. Israel declared war against militant group Hamas on Oct. 8 following a surprise attack during the major Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret on Oct. 7. Nearly 1,600 people were killed including at least 11 Americans and Hamas claimed at least 100 Israeli citizen as hostages after breaking through the countrys borders, the Associated Press reported. Graham said he prays for the hostages and is hopeful they can be helped, but negotiating with terrorists isnt an option. The solution to this attack, he said, is to give Israel the time, space and aid to dismantle the Palestinian group Hamas. Israel clearly had a major intelligence failure. We need to find out how that happened and how did we miss it? That needs to happen, Graham said. Graham also took the opportunity to draw a parallel between the Israeli-Palestinian border and the U.S. border with Mexico. Our border is beyond broken. If this does not spur Congress to provide stronger border security, what would?" Graham said. In the quiet corridors of My Sister's House, a shelter that has long stood as a beacon of hope for those escaping domestic violence, a profound shift has been unfolding. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous pregnant women have sought refuge within the shelter's walls after many found themselves living in their cars with their toddlers and grown children. The rise is especially concerning for My Sister's House CEO Tosha Connors. "Over the past few years, we've had some babies that were born in the shelter," Connors told The Post and Courier. The recent uptick has prompted the organization to forge new partnerships to better support these types of clients, including increasing domestic violence awareness training to OB/GYN offices at the Medical University of South Carolina. The organization also attained a new partnership with Front Porch Family Practice in Charleston to help train its staff on ways to step in and offer resources to victims. According to preliminary data from the shelter's domestic violence awareness survey, more than 95 percent of people believe that domestic violence is a serious and life-threatening issue in the tri-county area. Even more sobering, more than 80 percent of survey respondents report that either they or someone in their life has been affected by domestic violence. Domestic violence in South Carolina The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence paints a stark picture of domestic violence in South Carolina. More than 40 percent of women and nearly 30 percent of men in the state have experienced intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes. And according to the State Law Enforcement Division's 2021 annual crime report, the most recent data available, intimate partner murder increased by nearly 14 percent from 2020 to 2021. The number of female victims during that period increased over 30 percent. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. An official meeting headed by Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has been held, the Defense Ministry told Trend. "The meeting was attended by deputy ministers, commanders of the branches of the armed forces, heads of the main departments, departments and services of the Ministry, as well as commanders of military units and formations," the ministry said. "Relevant instructions were given to clarify the tasks set for the future activities of the Azerbaijani Army and update the relevant plans." The meeting also emphasized the importance of further increasing the quality of intensive training and classes of troops in interoperability. Besides, the importance of effective use of high technology and the capabilities of specially trained personnel in the combat training events held in the Azerbaijan Army was pointed out. "The high results achieved in the Khazri-2023, Eternity-2023 joint exercises and NATO re-evaluation level 2 (NEL-2) of the OCC (Operational Capabilities Concept) battalion and reconnaissance company of the Azerbaijan Army within the framework of the NATO OCC Program were noted," the ministry also said. "The commanders of the types of troops were given relevant instructions on combat training and comprehensive support of units during the winter period, as well as on compliance with safety rules," the ministry added. Previously, an official meeting under the leadership of Zakir Hasanov was held on July 29. As you wander through the South Carolina Aquarium, you experience the states ecosystems from the mountains to the sea, all of which are woven together by an intricate network of waterways. This is reflected in every region of our state; there's no doubt that there's an intrinsic relationshi Read moreSC Aquarium Fights Plastic Pollution Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Mainly clear skies. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. A developer plans to convert the nearly 60-acre site of Inlet Square Mall into a new commercial center that includes hotels and retail space. Read moreA Myrtle Beach area mall is ready for redevelopment. What will be built there? A community activist has released video recordings that purportedly capture Charleston County school board member Carlotte Bailey stating that there is no such thing as gay children and that Black parents are mostly to blame for racial achievement gaps in the schools. Activist Elvin Speights made the recordings and posted them on Facebook on Oct. 6. He attended a morning press conference at North Charleston City Hall on Oct. 9 with two other community leaders to condemn Baileys alleged remarks and ask for her resignation. Bailey did not respond to multiple calls, text messages and emails seeking comment. In the videos, the woman Speights identified as Bailey is heard saying that being gay was "not God's desire." Theres no such thing as gay children; those children are confused about who they are and what they are," she said. "Those children, if theyre not of legal age to vote, and youre not of a legal age to vote until youre 18, cannot make conscious decisions about what gender they are." Speights said he recorded Bailey during an Oct. 3 meeting that she requested at North Palm Church in North Charleston. He said he recorded her remarks for his own protection. The Post and Courier reviewed the recordings prior to the press conference. Though most of the video footage captures the churchs ceiling, Speights provided screenshots of text messages that he said showed the two of them arranging the meeting. He also provided a video that wasn't posted on social media showing a woman who looks like Bailey sitting across from him at the table. In the recordings, the woman says that discussions about sexuality have no place in the classroom, which should be for teaching children English language arts, math and other academic subjects. The woman also said that she opposed Pride month and that people in the LGBTQ community are "trying to make something that's personal a civil right." She also spoke about the racial achievement gaps between Black children in the district and their White peers. She said Black children are behind academically because most Black families have a "different concept of the value of education." She said Black parents often don't help their children with their homework after school or read to them. A Charleston and Berkeley County judge has been deemed unqualified by the legal community, according to a report released Oct. 6 from the South Carolina Bar. Judge Bentley Price has presided over Circuit Court cases in the Ninth Judicial Circuit since 2019, according to his biography on the state court's website. Before that, he served as a municipal court judge in Folly Beach. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The state bar's ranking is one of the first steps in the judicial selection process, but it doesn't disqualify him from remaining on the bench. The General Assembly ultimately elects judges. The bar's Judicial Qualification Committee surveys its members, evaluating each candidate in these categories: constitutional qualifications, physical health, mental stability, ethical fitness, character, professional and academic ability, experience, reputation and judicial temperament. Based on the anonymous responses, the committee finds a candidate either well qualified, qualified or unqualified in each category. Price was found unqualified in reputation. Being unqualified in just one category affects a candidate's overall qualification, per committee rules. But his name will still go before the legislatures Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which will hold public hearings starting Nov. 6 to elicit more feedback from the candidate, their supporters and critics. The commission will also consider Brent S. Halversen, who is running for the seat Price currently holds. Halversen and his wife have a partnership in their own Mount Pleasant firm that specializes in legal and medical malpractice, zoning and land use regulations, and real estate law. The State Bar's Judicial Qualification Committee found Halversen qualified. On four prior occasions, Price had been deemed qualified or well qualified in bar reports regarding his judicial role in Folly Beach in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018. He was nominated for the Circuit Court judgeship after the 2018 qualification. It was a day Frank Larkin will never forget. In April 2017, his son Ryan F. Larkin, a Navy SEAL who was struggling following his return to civilian life, committed suicide in the basement of the familys home. Read moreCommentary: Let's take care of those who served and protected us Roughly 40% of households in our tri-county area live on the verge of financial instability, struggling to cover their basic needs as the cost of living continues to outpace earnings. That's almost 128,000 households. Read moreCommentary: SC households work hard but never get ahead. We aim to change that. FORT MILL Despite the school board giving approval to a calendar based on parental feedback, an online petition has amassed nearly 2,000 signatures from parents who said they want a different schedule. Mom-of-two Rachel Fesko drew up the Change.org petition, which garnered its tally in nine days. Her goal is to have the Fort Mill School District Board of Trustees take another look at the calendar it passed for 2024-25. The key difference, she said, is the schedule Fesko and other families want put some full weeks off in October and March. "I'm fearing for burnout for the students, teachers and the parents," said Fesko, who has two students at Tega Cay Elementary School. "What they passed isn't what they showed us." Schools spokesman Joe Burke said the first version of the calendar was sent to parents in January, and they were polled on it. The administration used the feedback to design the version approved by the school board in May. "We understand that no one calendar is ideal for everyone, but we believe this calendar best meets the needs of the students, staff and community," Burke said in a statement. "We will continue to research and evaluate modified calendars moving forward and may make additional changes as part of our 202526 calendar." The first version sent to parents featured: An Aug. 5, 2024, start date, with a May 29, 2025, end date. Vacation weeks for the third week of October 2024 and third week of March 2025. The revised and approved version: BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. An official meeting was held under the leadership of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, on October 9, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan. The meeting was attended by deputy ministers, commanders of the branches of the armed forces, heads of the main departments, departments and services of the Ministry, as well as commanders of military units and formations. "First, the memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, was honored with observing a minute of silence," the ministry said. "The defense minister delivered the tasks set to the Azerbaijan Army by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev." The meeting pointed out that all the tasks assigned to the Azerbaijan Army in the implementation of necessary issues arising from the speeches of the head of state must be performed on time, the ministry noted. Besides, the meeting emphasized that further strengthening of the Azerbaijan Army is one of the main factors in ensuring security, which is one of the priority issues of the country. The meeting analyzed current operational situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border. Specific tasks were given to strengthen air defense, intelligence and counter-intelligence, radio-electronic combat and other units. Relevant instructions were given to clarify the tasks set for the future activities of the Azerbaijani army and update the relevant plans. The meeting also emphasized the importance of further increasing the quality of intensive training and classes of troops in interoperability. The importance of effective use of high technology and the capabilities of specially trained personnel in the combat training events held in the Azerbaijan Army was emphasized. The high results achieved in the Khazri-2023, Eternity-2023 joint exercises and NATO re-evaluation level 2 (NEL-2) of the OCC (Operational Capabilities Concept) battalion and reconnaissance company of the Azerbaijan Army within the framework of the NATO OCC Program were noted. The commanders of the types of troops were given relevant instructions on combat training and comprehensive support of units during the winter period, as well as on compliance with safety rules. Hasanov set instructions for relevant officials on improving the moral-psychological training of personnel and strengthening discipline in military units. The minister noted the importance of awarding servicemen, who distinguished themselves in combat training and fulfillment of combat tasks, including the sensitive attitude towards the adaptation process of new conscripts and other military personnel. Furthermore, he gave instructions on strict compliance with safety rules during the seizure of military equipment, ammunition, especially mines and improvised explosive devices, including the clearance of territories in the Karabakh region. "In the end, reports regarding measures on further improving social and living conditions and meeting needs of servicemen and their family members were heard, as well as the other issues were discussed in detail," the ministry added. Previously, an official meeting under the leadership of Zakir Hasanov was held on July 29. GAFFNEY Boston Annie's owner Annie Yelton never doubted she would reopen her soup, salad and sub shop after it flooded in May when a hot water heater burst. After months of repair work to the floors, walls and electrical system, Philip Miller of Gaffney was at the shop when it reopened Oct. 2. He moved to South Carolina in 2020 and began going to Boston Annie's every week for lunch. "The food is always fresh and tastes good," said Miller said, who loves the soups there. "The staff is very accommodating. It's a place where if you are regular, they get to know you. When she closed, I hoped that she would reopen. I am thrilled for her because she is a great asset to the community and I am glad my lunch place is back." The business originally opened on Oct. 5, 2017, after Yelton was among the winners of the Gaffney Main Street Challenge. The contest provides businesses with funds to cover start up costs with at least a one year commitment. Yelton's business at 416 Wall St. is tucked away near a set of railroad tracks. At first, business was slow since it's not visible from downtown's Main Street. Over the past six years, it's become a popular destination with food that can't be found at other places. "I have really enjoyed building relationships with the community," Yelton told The Post and Courier. "I wasn't sure how they would accept a Bostonite coming down here. I have things here they have never tried before like rare roast beef." Yelton said preparing for the reopening was challenging. Water had gushed out of the broken water heater that holds 80 gallons onto the floor. It took nine hours to move the water out of the building and weeks for the interior to dry. "Over the past couple of months I have had some tough days," Yelton said. "The most challenging thing was not knowing what was happening with the insurance company and not knowing what was covered." Yelton said the cost to repair the damage was not completely covered by the insurance company. Fundraisers were held to cover some of the expenses to repair the shop. Students from Limestone University helped repaint the walls. From the Times of Israel: The Hamas terror group is threatening to begin executing hostages in response to Israeli strikes in Gaza carried out without warnings, the spokesperson for Hamass Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades says, according to Gazas Shehab news outlet. From this hour, any targeting of our people in the safety of their homes, without warning, will be met with the execution of civilian hostages, which will be broadcast with video and audio, says the spokesperson, who goes by the nom de guerre Abu Obeida. Civilian casualties are inevitable, given Hamass use of Gazans as human shields. Hamas has long sited its own command facilities and weaponry in schools, apartment buildings, and so on. More broadly, though, when you start a war you can expect civilian casualties. According to Wikipedia, somewhere between 850,000 and over two million German civilians were killed during World War II. Between 350,000 and 500,000 were killed by the Allies strategic bombing alone. When a regime like the Nazi Party or Hamas starts a war and loses it, that is what they must expect. Gazas rulers can murder captives if they choose to do so. The question is, how far is Israel willing to go to eradicate the Gaza menace once and for all? Lawrence Person suggests that all Palestinians should be removed from Gaza and placed on the West Bank, while Israelis move into Gaza. That may be necessary. But that is a subject for another day. On Twitter, Victor Davis Hanson draws together several threads relating to the Gazans invasion of Israel. How does it fit into the broader currents of Middle Eastern Politics? Why now? What was Irans role? And how relevant is the Biden administrations incompetence and anti-Israel bias? Victors tweet is embedded below, but I have taken the liberty of reproducing its text: A 50th Anniversary War? Why did Hamas stage a long-planned, carefully executed and multifaceted attack on Israeli towns, soldiers, and civiliansone designed to instill terror by executing noncombatants, taking hostages, and desecrating the bodies of the dead? And how were the killers able to enter Israeli proper in enough numbers to kill what could be hundreds and perhaps eventually wound what could be thousands? a) Ostensibly, radical Palestinians wanted to stop any rumored rapprochement between the Gulf monarchiesthe traditional source of much of their cashand Israel, by forcing the issue of Arab solidarity in times of war, especially through waging a gruesome attack aimed at civilians and encompassing executions and hostage taking. Iran likely was the driving force to prompt the wargiven its greatest fear is a Sunni Arab-Israeli rapprochement. b) Arab forces have had only success against Israel through surprise attacks during Israeli holidays, as in the Yom Kippur War (i.e., was it any accident that the present attack began 50-years almost to the day after the October 6, 1973 beginning of the Yom Kippur War?). And so they struck again this Saturday during Simchat Torah, coming at the end of a weeklong Jewish celebration of Sukkotin hopes that others will join in as happened in 1973. (So much for the Arab warnings not for Westerners to conduct war during Ramadan). c) Hamas may have reckoned that recent Israeli turmoil and mass leftist street protests over proposed reforms of the Israeli Supreme Court had led to permanent internal divisions and thus a climate of domestic distraction if not an erosion of deterrence. But, more importantly, in a larger sense the Biden administration has contributed both to the notion that Hamas was a legitimate Middle East player, and to the perception that the U.S. was backing away from its traditional support for Israelto the delight of Hamasbased on the following inexplicable policies: 1) In February Secretary of State Blinken had bragged that not only had the Biden administration resumed massive aid to the PLA cancelled by Trump, but cumulatively had transferred $1 billioneven as Palestinian authorities bragged that they would continue to pay bounties to the families of martyrs (i.e., those killed while conducting terrorists attacks against Israel). And millions of American dollars also went into Gaza, run by Hamasdespite the Biden administrations efforts to keep mostly quiet the resumption of such inexplicable support. In this regard, note the current shameful State-Department (U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs) website news release that was posted after todays attack. It ended with this quite embarrassing, morally equivalent admonition: We urged all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing. All sides? Refrain from retaliatory attacks? So Israel is the moral equivalent of terrorists executing civilians and brutalizing their corpses? And the IDF then is not supposed to retaliate against these killers? This Biden State Department insanity cannot stand. So expect some apparatchik to take down this Munich-like posting as soon as possible. Ed.: That has happened. 2) The Biden administration had recently released some $6 billion to Iran through a prison swap deal that saw South Korea hand over embargoed Iranian money to Qatardespite Tehrans increased anti-Israeli rhetoric and its loud brag about the escalation. We should assume money for rockets (Hamas claims they have launched 5,000, and have received 100,000 of them via the Damascus airport) and weapons in general for Hamas were supplied by Iran, which again is likely the chief catalyst for this surprise attack. 3) Almost immediately, after his inauguration Biden mobilized to resume the bankrupt Iran deal. And in unhinged fashion he appointed the anti-Israeli bigot, pro-Iranian journalist Robert Malley as Americas chief negotiator. Note that Malley is now under FBI investigation for security breaches, involving disclosing classified U.S. documents and also for allegedly helping pro-Iranian activists and propagandists land influential billets inside the U.S. government. In short, there was a general Hamas and Iranian perception that the Biden administration had resumed the discredited Obama madness of empowering Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas. This discredited agenda was to balance the power of Israel and the moderate Arab Gulf governments to achieve creative tension, exacerbated by Bidens loathing of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu (who has been snubbed by Biden and never invited for an official visit). Note as well that the Biden administration has siphoned off key weapons and munitions from stockpiles inside Israel to transfer them to Ukraine. The so-called War Reserve AmmunitionIsrael is all but depleted of just the sorts of weapons needed in the present crisis. In this regard is there not a pattern here? Upon the ascension of Biden and his woke military agendas, we saw the following: the complete humiliation of the U.S. in Kabul in its most shameful flight in 50 years and greatest abandonment of equipment in its history; followed by Vladimir Putins opportunistic invasion of Ukraine; followed by Chinas new belligerence and escalating threats to Taiwan; followed by Turkeys new de facto alliance with Russia and recent drone encounter with the U.S. air force in Syria; followed by the Hamas/Iranian inspired attack on Israelwith more to come unfortunately. And will Biden finally get the message from the attacks on the Ukraine and Israeli borders, that borders matter and we too are being invaded, with the encouragement of the Mexican government and to the advantage of the cartels whose fentanyl exports kills 100,000 Americans a year? What to expect in Israel? Expect the following: the usual Hamas/terrorist selling and/or execution of Israeli hostages, the use of Israeli hostages as human shields in Gaza, the bargaining/sale of the remains of Israeli dead, occasional killings of Jews inside Israel by Arabs who falsely believe there will be a winning Middle East-wide existential war against Israel. And finally, a devastating Israeli counter-response that will eventually earn a U.S. rebuke. What should the U.S. instead do? It should quit talking to Iran and restore full sanctions against it. It should cut off all aid immediately to all the Palestinians. It should undertake a 1973-like massive arms lift of key munitions to Israel and warn Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and others in the Middle East not to intervene or else, given that Israel will need several weeks to deal with Hamas and Gaza. And if it shows any hesitation or weakness, other terrorist groups will opportunistically jump in. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus has served as the international spokesman for the IDF. He has returned to duty in connection with current events. He is working overtime to provide public and private briefings for those who seek reliable information on the war. Last night he posted the video briefing at the bottom on the IDFs X/Twitter feed (his own feed is here). RealClearPolitics has posted this transcript: Shalom from Tel Aviv, this is reserve Lt. Col. Jonathan and Im here to give you a nightly update. Were almost 48 hours into the fighting, a little bit less, and the picture of the situation in Israel is a dire one. There is still fighting on in Southern Israel, our troops are still fighting and hunting down the last terrorists that are still inside Israeli territory. That is something that will take a few more hours, or maybe even more than that. We assessed that there were approximately 1,000 terrorists who participated in yesterdays invasion of Israel, about 1,000 bloodthirsty Palestinians who went house to house and building to building in search of Israeli civilians, and massacred approximately 700 Israelis killed that is civilians and military included and more than 2,100 have been wounded. Unfortunately, there is a high number of critically wounded people who may not make it, so the astronomical figure of 700 dead Israelis will not remain that. 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, on one day. If youre American and want to compare this to something in American history, this could be a 9/11 and a Pearl Harbor wrapped into one. Were a small country with about 8-9 million Jews living here, and out of that population, weve had 700 killed and 2,100 wounded. Unfortunately, and this is probably the most dominant factor that will shape the activities for the future, there is a very large amount of Israeli civilians and soldiers held inside Gaza. And that number, I think in the coming days, will be revealed officially, but at this time I can only say that we are talking about many, many Israelis. Israelis who were forcefully taken from Israel, women, children, infants, elderly, and even disabled people. Ive seen stories of a grandma Holocaust survivor who was taken across the border from Israel to Gaza by Hamas militants with two toddlers behind her in a special vehicle. That is the extent of the brutality, cynicism, and the monsters that we are facing. We have amassed around 100,000 reserve troops who are currently in Southern Israel preparing to execute the task that the Israeli government has designated the IDF to do. 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 are also to make sure that Hamas will not be able to govern the Gaza Strip. Because you see the situation today is fundamentally different than what it was two days ago, and at the end of this war, we will change the situation for the better around our border in Gaza, and it will be much better for Israeli civilians, and it will be better for the Palestinians as well. But that is yet to come, that is in the future. As of now, we are focusing on burying the dead, grieving with the families, rallying our troops, preparing ourselves for the military tasks to come, and focusing on what needs to be done with Hamas after their unprovoked, barbaric attack against Israel. I hope you find this information useful. If you do share it with others Were in for a long, difficult, and gruesome task, at the end of which I am sure we will prevail. Despite how difficult these first few days have been and how horribly we started this war, Israel has proven time and again to all of our enemies, whether it was in the past armed gangs of Arabs and nation-states, and no non-state actors and terrorist organizations, to all of them who have tried to annihilate us have failed. So shall Hamas and so shall anyone else attempting to do that to us. We shall prevail and we trust the good people in the world will support us. The role of Bidens foreign policyespecially his administrations financial support of Hamas and the $6 billion giveaway to Iranhas been widely pointed out the last 48 hours. The stock market is going to slump hard at the open today, and the price of oil is going to spike. Just what the American economy needs right now. Well, at least if there is a general war in the Middle East in the coming weeks, we have our Strategic Petroleum Reserve for just such emergencies. Oh, wait: Thats right: Biden drained it for political reasons the last two years, and hasnt bothered to refill it. He probably thought wed all be driving solar-powered cars by now. At least our revitalized domestic oil industry can help out. Oh, wait: BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has given instructions on strict compliance with safety rules during the mine clearance of territories, the seizure of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, especially mines and improvised explosive devices in the Karabakh region, Trend reports. Hasanov gave the relevant instructions at the official meeting held today. He also set instructions for relevant officials on improving the moral-psychological training of personnel and strengthening discipline in military units. 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. Some questions and observations: Democrats and their leftist media allies are all concerned about threats to democracyTM , which they say presents chiefly from MAGA Republicans. Like Matt Gaetz, one might think. People who trash the norms of democracyTM. So why did House Democrats just vote unanimously to trash a norm of never ousting a Speaker of the House, and empower ultra-MAGA Matt Gaetz? If they wanted to preserve norms, they could have voted against Gaetz, as it was rumored Democrats had pledged to do back in January. But I guess the temptation to create chaos was just too great. Its almost like they dont believe their own horse manure. Does anyone think any of the current aggressionsespecially Ukraine and against Israel just nowwould have happened if Trump was still president? This is a good time to recall the observation of Robert Gates, the mainline foreign policy honcho who worked for presidents of both parties for more than 40 years: I think [Biden] has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades. Why should we expect anything different now? Which brings up another question: is the fact that American warships are sailing for waters near Israel, ostensibly to aid any evacuation of Americans that might be thought necessary at some point, actually good news? One can easily imagine the Biden Administration utilizing American force to stop Israeli actions in Gaza. Who doubts the anti-Israel factions in the State Department will want to do this after the international community is ginned up to criticize Israels coming campaign in Gaza? Since today is Columbus Day, worth noting how CNN is reporting it: Americans celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day on the second Monday of October each year. Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes the contributions and legacy of those who lived here long before Christopher Columbus erroneously claimed to have discovered America. President Joe Biden formally recognized Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021 by signing a proclamation stating that federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures. Some states officially celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day and others commemorate it through proclamations. More than 100 cities have replaced Columbus Day altogether with the holiday. Hey CNNyour forgot your land acknowledgement! Should your Atlanta HQ give back the stolen land it occupies? Chaserhow the left views the matter: Who is the most crazed or demented lefty over the Hamas attack? Youd have to give early pole position to Larry Tribe: And just how could you tell the difference between Jen Rubin and a Jen Rubin parody account? Trick question. The real Jen Rubin is impossible to parody. Shes figured out who is really to blame for the Hamas attack: Matt Gaetz and the lack of officer promotions in the U.S. military. Seriously, she thinks this: Meanwhile, curious, isnt it, that Barack Obama has apparently made no statement yet on the events in Israel. Sometimes the silences of eminent men are more revealing than their utterances. Submitted for your analysis, the tweet of Secretary of State Antony Blinken (below). In it he discloses the upshot of his conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Turkey is of course a supporter of Hamas. Blinken relates that he encouraged Turkeys advocacy of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel now that Israel is undertaking its right to defend itself from Hamas. For some reason Blinken has since deleted the post. Interested observers may want to compare it with the official readout of Blinkens call with Fidan. Those who have been following along know that Blinkens train of thought here comports with the tweet of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem urging all sides to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks on the very day of Hamass invasion of Israel. That post too was deleted. Once might have been a mistake. Doubtful, but possible. Twice is more than enough to make one wonder if the Biden administration is pursuing the policy that dare not speak its name. UPDATE: The New York Post has much more here. One of the lingering controversies over here in Hungary is the actions Prime Minister Viktor Orban took several years ago to kick Central European University (CEU) out of the country. CEU was founded by George Soros in the early 1990s. As The Atlantic described it, Soros had conceived the school during the dying days of communism to train a generation of technocrats who would write new constitutions, privatize state enterprises, and lead the post-Soviet world into a cosmopolitan future. The university, he declared, would become a prototype of an open society.' In other words, Soros intended it to become another leftist university, with very little openness to truly diverse views. Which in due course it became. As such it became a partisan political organization inside the country. Hungary passed a law in 2016 that imposed new conditions for accreditation that CEU wasnt able to meet, so it moved to Vienna. To which sensible people said, Good riddancedont let the the door hit you on the way out. Naturally all correct-thinking leftists declared that this was a war on intellect, just as the same braying wokesters are decrying the long overdue moves by red state legislatures to rein in our out of control leftist public universities in America. (By the way: Faster, please.) All of this is preface for asking: is it time to shut down Harvard University? It is beyond dispute that Harvard is an adjunct of the Democratic Party, with something like 95 percent of faculty political contributions going to Democrats, and almost no political diversity among its faculty. But in the last 48 hours Harvard has exposed itself as a nest of rabid anti-Semites, with 57 student groups (so far) taking the side of Hamas against Israel, and blaming Israel for the violence in the region. Of course, Harvard is a private institution, and cant be shut down by legislative act, though Congress could certainly impose a tax on Harvards enormous endowment. But heres a better idea: the next Republican president, on day one, should simply halt all federal funds for Harvard, and declare it ineligible to participate in government-backed student loans, on grounds that it is a partisan organization not deserving of its tax exempt status, and that it promotes anti-Semitic hate speech. Let George Soros make up the shortfall. After all, he pledged nearly $1 billion to help CEU relocate to Vienna. He could easily help relocate Harvard to a more congenial location, like Venezuela. Or Gaza. ChaserYes, we should close down the other ivies while were at it. They seem to be reverting to their anti-Semitic practices of the 1920s and 1930s anyway: Anyone think this is just a coincidence? The Biden administration promotes the line that the $6 billion ransom it has posted for the benefit of Iran has nothing to do with Irans support for terrorism and this line is faithfully parroted in the mainstream media, including Jennifer Griffin on Fox News. Gabriel Noronha has comprehensively refuted this assertion in an informative thread on Twitter/X. Readers can access Noronhas thread via the Xeet below. 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 Secretary of State Antony Blinken also parrots this line, but he isnt stupid. He is wrong and even he knows it. He occasionally lets his guard drop on this point, as in the clip below. Waldheimers Disease made the late United Nations boss forget he was a Nazi. The Waldheimers Variant spreads willful ignorance of National Socialism, and it can compel Canadian parliamentarians to hail Yaroslav Hunka, a veteran of the Nazis Waffen-SS Galicia Division, as a Canadian hero. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for this malaise: historical truth. As the great Malcolm Muggeridge explained, German National Socialism and Russian Communism were Teutonic and Slavonic versions of the same thing. For the best book on the subject, he recommended Unto Caesar, by F.A. Voigt, who exposes National Socialism and Marxism-Leninism as political religions with a common demonology. After World War II, Stalin swung the Soviet Union back to traditional Russian anti-Semitism, branding Jews rootless cosmopolitans. Anti-Semitism also prevailed in nations under Soviet control. Rudolf Slansky and 13 other senior officials of the Czechoslovak Communist Party were arrested and charged with ideological deviation. Ten of them were Jews, including Slansky and eleven, including Slansky, were hanged. In his testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), director Robert Rossen (All the Kings Men) said the victims were all hung, in my opinion, for being Jews and nothing else. The Soviet Union knew that by raising the word Jew and raising the word traitor it was specifically inciting the people of these various countries, which had been hotbeds of anti-Semitism for hundreds of years. Also after WWII, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Nazis made their way to Canada. During the 1980s Prime Minister Brian Mulroney set up the Deschenes Commission to probe Nazi war criminals living in Canada. Trouble is, the key part of the commissions report remains off-limits to the public. After the Hunka affair, it emerged that Peter Savaryn, former chancellor of the University of Alberta, honored with the Order of Canada in 1987, served in same Nazi unit as Yaroslav Hunka. Savaryn, who died in 2017, was also awarded theGolden Jubilee, and Diamond Jubilee medals. It is entirely possible that the Deschenes Commission report, surely accessible to Prime Minister Trudeau, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, and Speaker Anthony Rota, would have exposed Savaryn, Hunka and many other Nazi SS members safely living in Canada. After the Hunka affair, Justin Trudeau claimed that senior bureaucrats were reviewing the Deschenes Commission report with an eye to making more of it public. At this writing, it remains classified, and so does information about a former Prime Minister. As David Frum recalls, Pierre Trudeau opted not to serve in World War II, although of age and in good health. Though derided as zombies, some of those who declined to serve were genuine conscientious objectors with no soft spot for Josef Stalin. After World War II, Frum explains, Trudeau traveled to Josef Stalins Soviet Union to participate in regime-sponsored propaganda activities. At a time when Stalin was targeting Jews, persecuting writers and artists, and remaining in control of Eastern Europe, that takes a special kind of person. Canadian intelligence officials had a file on Trudeau, but theres a problem. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police had been responsible for counter-espionage, but in 1984 the RCMP was replaced by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). In 1989, the CSIS, destroyed a Cold War dossier on Pierre Trudeau, instead of turning it over to the national archives. If anybody thought it was a deliberate coverup it would be hard to blame them. On the other hand, Trudeau offered clues. He wrote in praise of Maos murderous regime in China, David Frum recalls. Trudeau lavishly admired Fidel Castro, Julius Nyere, and other Third World dictators. It takes a special kind of person to duplicate that record, but Justin is up to the task. Hes an admirer of Chinas basic dictatorship, and on his watch Parliament praises a Nazi SS trooper as a Canadian hero. With no apology to Walter Sobchak (John Goodman) in The Big Lebowski, this is what happens when a Stalinist zombie becomes Prime Minister. As a political wrecker, David Frum explains, Pierre Trudeau was truly world class. This is what happens when a former blackface performer, with no merit beyond his last name, becomes Prime Minister. As Edward Gibbon noted, hereditary rule is always the most risible. Meanwhile, if you want a real Canadian hero, find a soldier who landed on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944, or find a member of the First Special Services Force (FSSF). In their first combat assignment, these Canadian and American commandos scaled Monte la Difensa at night, in the rain. In fierce fighting, the FSSF took down a heavily armed Nazi force and cleared the way for the Allies to move north. If you want a real Canadian hero, find a member of Canadas Eighth Reconnaissance Regiment, known for being first in, last out. On April 12, 1945, the regiments C company liberated the Westerbork transit camp, which had sent thousands of Dutch Jews to Auschwitz and Sobibor. The 876 who remained were glad to see the Canadians. Remember their plus brillants exploits and thank them for their service. Secretary of State Antony Blinken professes not to have seen any evidence that Iran planned and instigated Hamass war on Israel. Evidence is not hard to find. It is available on open sources and elsewhere. The trouble is obvious. Blinken is being briefed by President Biden. The two have no clue. The Wall Street Journal now reports Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks. Subhead: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gave the final go-ahead last Monday in Beirut. This is the top of the story: DUBAIIranian security officials helped plan Hamass Saturday surprise attack on Israel and gave the green light for the assault at a meeting in Beirut last Monday, according to senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militant group. Officers of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had worked with Hamas since August to devise the air, land and sea incursionsthe most significant breach of Israels borders since the 1973 Yom Kippur Warthose people said. Details of the operation were refined during several meetings in Beirut attended by IRGC officers and representatives of four Iran-backed militant groups, including Hamas, which holds power in Gaza, and Hezbollah, a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon, they said. U.S. officials say they havent seen evidence of Tehrans involvement. In an interview with CNN that aired Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: We have not yet seen evidence that Iran directed or was behind this particular attack, but there is certainly a long relationship. A European official and an adviser to the Syrian government, however, gave the same account of Irans involvement in the lead-up to the attack as the senior Hamas and Hezbollah members. Asked about the meetings, Mahmoud Mirdawi, a senior Hamas official, said the group planned the attacks on its own. This is a Palestinian and Hamas decision, he said. Well, you be the judge. Taking note of the story, Gabriel Noronha lends a hand to Blinken and Biden in setting the timeline. This is Irans war, but its also Bidens. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 15:01:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 445 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 In Recognition of Yale University's 322nd Foundation date, Oct. 9, 1701, and the 191st year of its infamously private and prestigious secret society, Skull & Bones, otherwise known as Club 322, the author celebrates his own anniversary with the release of this debut publication.OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Author James J. Michaels announces the release of his new book, "Old Habits for the New World," whose introduction explores several events that led to the discovery of America, recapping some from as early as the beginning of Christianity, and depositing the reader into America's struggle for independence. The book focuses on the decades of 1770-1820 AD.Old Habits for The New World Five Decades of Deceit: Book One Cover ImageWith a thorough insight into the country's history, including several European occurrences, the book encompasses a panoramic perspective of both popular and little-known events and explores the similarities that connect many of them together, free from the influences of those dominant in the era discussed. From Paul Revere's infamous ride to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the volume serves as a brainstorming session for its readers.Mr. Michaels thanks his family, historians, researchers, and several critical thinkers through whom he has been able to interpret these historic events and write his historiography ever more clearly. Mr. Michaels acknowledges several published authors, along with the many resources from which he drew his inspiration: from Fr. Amiot's translation of "The Art of War" to Zachary K. Hubbard's "Number Games", this work has been strengthened and solidified to present history as an interwoven mosaic of time and space. With much gratitude, the author thanks Mr. Hubbard for his keen insight and credits him for his assistance in titling this volume "Old Habit for the New World".Suitable for all readers, this book is a unique addition to the literary works of history, particularly for world history students and individuals pursuing American history, international relations, and independent journalism.About James J. MichaelsJames J. Michaels is an American Air Force veteran, family man, and independent researcher of world history. His debut book, "Old Habits for the New World" reviews interesting historical connections which otherwise may have continued to remain random and obscure, and wholly unconnected to each other.Please visit: https://annatek.ca/james-j-michaels-1 Enjoy revisiting historical events with a new perspective that reveals their enduring interconnectedness in Five Decades of Deceit: Book One, "Old Habits for The New World", available in paperback at Amazon.com Contact InformationAnna Cabbela Marketing Manager annatek@ annatek.ca 819-684-5310James J. Michaels Author jamesjmichaels23@ gmail.com 819-918-5310SOURCE: James J. Michaels, author PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 22:45:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 412 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 STORM LAKE, IA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Brew MEX, LLC (Brew, Brew Oil), an Iowa-based, family-owned company, donated over $170,000 worth of merchandise to several Eastern Iowa food banks after the termination of Brew's leases at 15 area convenience stores.This unexpected development had significant repercussions for Brew's lease agreements and rents. Despite Brew's earnest efforts to negotiate a new long-term lease with the owners of these properties, negotiations ultimately failed, and Brew was directed to exit the properties.Brew ceased operations in Eastern Iowa in September, which included convenience stores in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, Eldridge and Davenport, Iowa. At no time did Brew own or acquire these convenience store properties; Brew signed an operational lease to manage these locations under the Brew convenience store brand."As a company, we were really looking forward to serving these vibrant and dynamic neighborhoods and communities in Eastern Iowa," says Joe Kelly, a spokesperson for Brew. "We were disappointed that we couldn't come to an arrangement with the new property owners and were forced to vacate these properties." With thousands of dollars of inventory remaining in the stores, Kelly commends Brew owner, Inder Singh's, decision to donate most of this merchandise, including food and personal care items, to food banks and nonprofits in the affected communities and surrounding areas to support Iowans in need. Donations were provided to HACAP Food Reservoir in Hiawatha, Iowa, and the River Bend Food Bank in Davenport, Iowa, who, in turn, supports local initiatives like the Davenport Community School Food Pantry."The Davenport Community School Food Pantry (DCSFP) is overjoyed by the generous donation from Brew that has been given to our guests at the JB Young Opportunity Center over the last month. We had lines of people who were very appreciative," says Ralph Kelly, Director of the DCSFP.Brew will continue to serve as a convenience destination at its 28 locations throughout Iowa with expansion plans underway. Brew remains committed to providing the best modern convenience store experience to its customers across Iowa.For media inquiries, please contact:Joe KellyBrew Oil Media Relationsjoe@ k-scopemarketing.com(712) 299.3321About Brew OilBrew, LLC (Brew, Brew Oil) is a 100% Iowa family-owned company dedicated to offering premium coffee, fuel and convenience items to travelers and Iowa residents. With a commitment to delivering the best modern convenience store experience, Brew proudly serves communities across Iowa.Contact InformationJoe Kelly AOR joe@ k-scopemarketing.com 712-299-3321Related FilesVine Thank You.docx SOURCE: Brew, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 02:40:40 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1054 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE AND AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGENot for release to US wire services or distribution in the United StatesHighlights:Extensive field work program highlights encouraging gold and copper mineralisation along 6.5km of skarns and new structures within Chanach. High-grade trench sampling assays include:2m @ 4.05g/t Au and 1.56% Cu from Cut 11m @ 1.10g/t Au and 0.76% Cu from Cut 17m @ 2.94g/t Au (including 4m @ 4.87g/t Au) and 1.12% Cu from Cut 25m @ 5.53g/t Au from Cut 5 (Outcropping Quartz vein in Central Area)RTG continues to advance progress on Mabilo Project in Philippines - budget discussions with project partners progressing well.SUBIACO , WESTERN AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2023 / The Board of RTG Mining Inc. (" RTG ", or the " Company ") ( TSX Code:RTG)(ASX Code:RTG ) is pleased to provide an update on the exploration activities at their 90% owned Chanach Gold & Copper Project ( Chanach ) in the Kyrgyz Republic.Recent exploration activities at Chanach have included ground truthing, the collection of 1,154 soil samples concentrating on 6.5km of skarn and new structures identified in the eastern end of the tenement in last year's structural survey, the digging of seven dozer cut trenches across the identified skarn and outcropping quartz and a magnetic survey over the tenement.Management Commentary:Commenting on these positive results, RTG's CEO Justine Magee said : "These results further increase our confidence that Chanach can evolve into both a high-grade, large Copper - Gold Porphyry Skarn system, similar to or even better than the Mabilo Project, combined with a high-grade epithermal gold system. Follow up work next field season is planned to include a 3DIP survey and drilling of defined targets.Whilst we are excited to see the excellent results coming from Chanach, progress at our Mabilo Project in the Philippines continues to gain momentum with the new partnership with the Villar controlled TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. working well, with the current focus on updating budgets for start up so we can refresh the financing plans for the project. We have again been approached by a number of parties who have expressed a keen interest in both the financing and offtake arrangements for the project." High-Grade Trench Sampling Results:Skarn area:2m @ 4.05g/t Au and 1.56% Cu from Cut 11m @ 1.10g/t Au and 0.76% Cu from Cut 17m @ 2.94g/t Au (including 4m @ 4.87g/t Au) and 1.12% Cu from Cut 21m @ 1.26g/t Au from Cut 3 (remainder of trench still in sedimentary cover)1m @ 2.05g/t Au from Cut 46m @ 1.56% Cu (including 3m @ 2.11%Cu) from Cut 45m @ 1.70g/t Au and 1.6% Cu from outcropping skarn in eastern endOutcropping Quartz vein in Central Area:5m @ 5.53g/t Au from Cut 52m @ 2.18% Cu from Cut 5Grades above 0.7g/t Au and 0.3% Cu have been included in the High-Grade Sampling Results.Historically, under the previous ownership, there had been limited mapping and no detailed work done on the skarn areas, the extent of which was only identified in the last field season, supporting the current program to now focus in on these exciting new areas and potential. The channel samples confirm the high-grade nature and strong prospectivity of the skarns combined with high grade epithermal quartz veins within the tenement.Results from dozer cuts 6 and 7 and the soil sampling are being processed at the fully accredited Information Research Centre Laboratory in Kara Balta in the Kyrgyz Republic with results pending.The magnetic survey was flown with drones by Geoscan Ltd on 50m line spacing at an altitude of 50m. The data collected will be processed by Southern Geoscience Consultants in Perth, and overlayed with the results from the soil sampling, to be used for 3DIP and drill targeting.Figure 1: Tenement Map showing area of 2023 Field Season Geochemical Samples and Magnetic SurveyFigure 2: Tenement Map showing location of 2023 Field Season Trenches and Mapped Skarn StructureABOUT RTG MINING INCRTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. RTG is currently focused primarily on progressing the Mabilo Project to start-up having now received a mining permit for the Project, with a view to moving quickly and safely to a producing gold and copper company.RTG also has a number of exciting new opportunities including the Panguna Project in Bougainville, which it remains committed to while also considering further new business development opportunities.RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited. RTG has some of the most respected international institutional investors as shareholders including Franklin Templeton, Equinox Partners and Sun Valley.ENQUIRIESPresident & CEO - Justine MageeTel: +61 8 6489 2900Email: jmagee@ rtgmining.com US Investor Relations ContactJaime Wells: +1 970 640 0611jwells@ rtgmining.comAustralia Investor and Media ContactSam Burns: +61 400 164 067 sam.burns@sdir.com.au COMPLIANCE STATEMENTDate: 9 October 2023Authorised for release by: By the Board of DirectorsQUALIFIED PERSON AND COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENTThe information in this release that relates to Exploration Results and Mineral Resource Estimates of the Chanach Project is based upon information compiled, reviewed and approved by Viktor Zabolotny who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves' who is a Member and Chartered Professional of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Viktor Zabolotny is employed by BW Three Holdings Ltd and is a consultant to RTG. Viktor Zabolotny has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person and a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101. Viktor Zabolotny consents to the inclusion in the release of the matters based on her information in the form and the context in which it appears.The information in this release that relates to Exploration Targets of the Chanach Project is based upon information compiled, reviewed and approved by Greg Hall who is a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edit PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 15:02:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 442 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Comerica Incorporated ("Comerica " or the "Company") (NYSE:CMA) 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 Comerica securities between February 9, 2021 and May 29, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: www.bgandg.com/cma Case Details:The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose, among other things, that: (1) Comerica failed to provide meaningful oversight over the vendors to whom it contracted out day-to-day operations of the Direct Express program, a system through which it is contracted to provide federal benefits to millions of Americans without bank accounts; (2) as a result of violations in the day-to-day operations of Direct Express, including handling fraud disputes and allowing sensitive data to be handled out of a vendor's office in Pakistan, Comerica was not in compliance with the Federal Contract, and knew it was not in compliance; (3) Comerica knew and failed to disclose that it was in potential violation of Regulation E due to inadequate fraud prevention in the Direct Express program and responses to instance of fraud; and (4) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.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/cma 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 Comerica you have until October 20, 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The appeal against the arrest of Ruben Vardanyan, who held the "position" of the so-called "state minister" of the separatist regime in Karabakh, and now is imprisoned in Baku, was not granted, Trend reports. Vardanyan's lawyer Afet Gaziyeva filed an appeal against the court's ruling to impose a preventive measure of arrest against him. The appeal was considered in the Baku Court of Appeal chaired by Judge Habil Mammadov. The court did not satisfy the complaint, considering the first instance court's decision to be justified. As a result of vigilance of servicemen of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan on September 27, Vardanyan, who was heading from Azerbaijan towards Armenia, was detained at the Lachin border checkpoint. Substantial suspicions were established that Ruben Vardanyan, currently a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, had committed criminal acts under Articles 214-1 (financing of terrorism), 279.3 (participation in the establishment and activities of armed formations or groups not provided for by law) and 318.1 (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Azerbaijan) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. A measure of restraint in the form of detention for 4 months was chosen against him. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 08:00:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 979 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Eco," "Eco Atlantic," "Company," or together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins in South Africa, Namibia, and Guyana, is pleased to announce the following Board changes.Director AppointmentsEco Atlantic is pleased to announce the appointment of Miss Alice Carroll and Miss Selma Usiku as directors of the Company with immediate effect.Miss Alice Carroll is currently the Company's Head of Corporate Sustainability and joins the Board as an Executive Director. Alice is an experienced international stakeholder and external relations professional, with over a decade of experience within the oil & gas industry. Alice is skilled in marketing strategy and project execution, leading communications, and external relations on country entries, asset acquisitions, and monetisation across a global portfolio. Alice previously worked with Azinor Catalyst, the UK focused Oil and Gas exploration company, before becoming the Global Marketing and Investor Relations Manager for the Seacrest Azimuth Group, managing all external and stakeholder relations across UK, Ireland, Namibia, South Africa, Brazil, Honduras and Indonesia. Miss Carroll holds a BSc First Class honours in Biology with Science and Society from the University of Manchester.Miss Carroll joins the Board as an Executive Director with immediate effect and will continue her role as Eco's Head of Corporate Sustainability.Miss Selma Usiku is an experienced exploration geologist with a history of working in South Africa and in both the Namibian Oil & Energy and diamond industries. Selma's experience is predominantly in exploration geoscience, geophysics, basin modelling, petroleum geology and earth sciences, from almost 10 years as an exploration geologist with Brazilian HRT and Azinam. Selma was directly involved in the wild cat wells that made Namibia's first technical discovery of hydrocarbons at the Wingat-1 Walvis Basin play opener in 2013. Selma is an active member of the Namibia Petroleum Operators Association and currently Exploration Geologist with Debmarine Namibia.Miss Usiku holds a Master of Science (MSc) focused in Petroleum Geoscience from Royal Holloway, University of London. In 2018, Selma received the Global Women Petroleum & Energy Club Award for Excellence in Africa, and she was an Ambassador for the Geoscience Council of Namibia in 2021.Miss Usiku joins the Board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.Retirement of Non-Executive DirectorMr Helmut Angula will retire as a Non-Executive Director of the Company, having served on the board since November 2011, with immediate effect. Mr Angula will remain with the Company in the role of a senior advisor to the Board.Peter Nicol, Chairman of Eco Atlantic, commented:"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome both Alice Carroll and Selma Usiku to the Board of Eco Atlantic, both bring fresh thinking and impressive skill sets. I am looking forward to the contribution of stakeholder and technical expertise Alice and Selma bring as we build on our latest pivotal transaction in Guyana and very busy continuation of our workstreams across the Company's exploration portfolio in Namibia and Orange Basin South Africa." Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, commented:"Helmut Angula joined the Board of Eco at inception in 2011, serving on both the Audit and Compensation Committees. We have benefitted greatly from his understanding of the financial and energy sectors in Namibia. We wish him all the best with his well-deserved retirement and are grateful he will continue to support us as a senior advisor to the Board." **ENDS**For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following:Eco Atlantic Oil and Gasc/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 7770 6424Gil Holzman, CEOColin Kinley, COOAlice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability+44(0)781 729 5070Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser)+44 (0) 20 7409 3494James HarrisJames BellmanBerenberg (Broker)+44 (0) 20 3207 7800Matthew ArmittDetlir EleziEchelon Capital (Financial Adviser N. America Markets)Ryan Mooney Simon Akit+1 (403) 606 4852+1 (416) 8497776Celicourt (PR)+44 (0) 20 7770 6424Mark AntelmeJimmy LeaAbout Eco Atlantic:Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil & gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure.Offshore Guyana in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company holds a 15% Working Interest in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block Operated by Tullow Oil. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin.Offshore South Africa, Eco is Operator and holds a 50% working interest in Block 2B and a 26.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B operated by Africa Oil Corp., totalling some 20,643km2.AIM Rules for Companies, Schedule 2(g) DisclosuresThe following additional information is provided in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies.Miss Alice Mary Sweeney Carroll (aged 34)Current DirectorshipsPast Directorships (in the last five years)VIM Advisory LimitedVIM Property Group LimitedMiss Carroll holds 1,366 common shares of no par value in the Company ("Common Shares"). Miss Carroll also holds 175,000 Restricted Share Units under the Company's Restricted Share Units Plan and holds 500 options over Common Shares.Miss Selma Ndatega Usiku (aged 37)Current Directorships*Past Directorships (in the last five years)CEVITEG Investments CCNIEUCO Trading 1093 CCEdutech Academy CCPwaame Investment (Proprietary) LimitedGrace Unlimited Investments CCTEGRIS Trading Enterprises CCWindhoek Shelfco Commercial Twenty-Seven (Proprietary) Limited* It is noted that the list of directorships above does not include 21 companies incorporated in Namibia at which Miss Selma Usiku has been registered as a director without her knowledge or consent. This matter has been reported to the Namibian police and the Business and Intellectual Property Authority ("BIPA"), and a BIPA investigation is underway. The companies in question are as follows: Market Day Television, GlobalNet ITV Africa Operations PTY, Te PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 19:31:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 423 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BY: CRISTINA DEL CANTO, SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Entergy CorporationA finger lickin' success for education initiatives in Orleans ParishThis year's National Fried Chicken Festival brought together thousands of people around a shared love of great food, music and culture - and amongst many of those festivalgoers were public school educators.As part of Entergy's ongoing commitment to investing in our communities, we hosted the first-ever complimentary Teacher's Lounge - an exclusive area at the festival for teachers and staff to enjoy VIP seating, live music, food and drinks."Entergy has long been committed to supporting education and we are thankful to our teachers for everything they do to invest in the future of our students," said Patty Riddlebarger, Entergy vice president of corporate social responsibility. "The Teacher's Lounge is our way of saying thank you to our educators who work tirelessly to make our communities a better place." During the festival, Entergy New Orleans president and CEO Deanna Rodriguez, presented a $2.2 million check to support public education in Orleans Parish for the 2023-2024 academic school year."With this investment, we will support initiatives that focus on empowering school leaders and educators, equipping students with tools and technology and fostering an inclusive learning environment," said Rodriguez. "We will strive to nurture the talents and aspirations of our students, ensuring that they have the tools they need to succeed in our communities." Since 2006, Entergy shareholders have invested more than $26 million in supporting public education in Orleans parish. In addition to this investment, Entergy also launched Kids to College earlier this year, a free child savings account program, for low-to-moderate income families across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, designed specifically for post-secondary education.Through Entergy's Kids to College program, families can open a savings account free of charge, invest their savings and watch it grow. When a family plans for their child's future by setting aside funds for college, the child is four times more likely to complete a degree. Eligible families can sign up for a Kids to College my529 account here with the help of our community partners and receive a $50 deposit from Entergy.Together, we continue to invest in the future of our students and communities, to build a brighter tomorrow.Learn more about our commitment to our communities here.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Entergy Corporation on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Entergy CorporationWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/entergy-corporationEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Entergy Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 22:00:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 364 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Brushstrokes for History is a non-profit organization that promotes community connection and art that features historical records.Yana Danzig is a Broward high school senior who founded this organization that transforms history into art. Artists have developed a bond with the residents of the Sistrunk area that has enhanced the artists' abilities to highlight the community's lesser-known stories. The 17-year-old teen founded this non-profit 501(c) (3) organization in 2023 to raise awareness for the communal history and its celebration through art.Society has a habit of overlooking different communities and stories from their past. This non-profit organization is becoming a brush that paints histories and gives them a spotlight in Broward County, including Sistrunk Blvd. Led by Yana, Brushstrokes for History has created a connection between residents and artists whose conviviality transforms broken doors and windows into beautiful pieces of art. Over the summer, the founder, Yana Danzig, reached out to the community and ran summer camps that taught participants about the area's history and how art can be created to celebrate these past events. The students and artists were joined by their common passion for art and painted large panels that would go over broken doors and windows to elevate the area. Brushstrokes for History held a display show featuring the artworks on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. In this exhibition,the work of around 20 local artists was displayed at the main public library of Fort Lauderdale at 100 South Andrews Avenue,which ran from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. The show had 20 painted boards on display, and visitors met with many of the artists.With over 80 attendees, the exhibition was a successful start to something great. The goal of connecting communities with art and history has made Brushstrokes for History one of the most promising non-profit organizations in the region.Anyone who would like to join this journey of painting history can sign up at https://brushstrokesforhistory.org where they will be provided with all needed supplies. Follow the company on Instagram @ brushstrokesforhistory.org for more updates.Media ContactOrganization: Brushstrokes for HistoryContact Person: Yana DanzigWebsite: https://www.brushstrokesforhistory.org/Email: Yana@ brushstrokesforhistory.orgAddress: Fort Lauderdale FLCity: Fort LauderdaleState: FloridaCountry: United StatesSOURCE: Brushstrokes for History PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 20:16:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 580 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE) equity and bond investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Feb. 28, 2019 - Aug. 16, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Oct. 23, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/HE Contact An Attorney Now: HE@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges that, unknown to investors, (1) Hawaiian Electric's wildfire prevention and safety protocols and procedures were inadequate to meet the challenges for which they were ostensibly designed, and (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.On Aug. 12, 2023 (after historic wildfires broke out in Maui, killing dozens of people and causing billions of dollars of damage), The Washington Post reported that "[b]efore the Maui wildfires, Hawaiian Electric did not have a plan - adopted widely in California and other states - to shut off power in certain lines in advance of dangerous winds." According to the Post "Hawaiian Electric was aware that a power shut-off was an effective strategy, documents show, but had not adopted it as part of its fire-mitigation plans, according to the company and two former power and energy officials interviewed by The Washington Post." Citing a former member of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, the Post reported that the decision to avoid shutting off power "is reflective of the utility's struggles to bolster its aging and vulnerable infrastructure against wildfires[.]"Then, on Aug. 16, 2023, The Wall Street Journal reported that Hawaiian Electric is in talks with restructuring firms and is exploring options to address its financial and legal challenges arising from the Maui wildfires.The next day, the WSJ reported that, while knowing of wildfire threats, Hawaiian Electric spent less than $245,000 between 2019 and 2022 on Maui wildfire-specific projects.This news drove the price of Hawaiian Electric shares and bonds sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Hawaiian Electric misled investors about its operational safeguards necessary to comply with state safety requirements," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Hawaiian Electric and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, submit your losses nowIf you'd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Hawaiian Electric case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Hawaiian Electric should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email HE@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 16:02:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 367 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 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 & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 16:05:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 499 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Wision A.I., a cutting-edge software medical device startup, is proud to announce the launch of our latest innovation at the annual meeting of College of American Pathologists 2023: PathoCruz 3D, an automated histological 3D reconstruction tool. Designed to elevate the art of tumor histopathological assessment, this groundbreaking device promises to reveal the spatial characteristics of tumors.PathoCruz 3D Histopathology has long relied on two-dimensional (2D) representations of tissue samples to diagnose and understand diseases, particularly cancer. However, with the PathoCruz 3D Viewer, Wision A.I. is ushering in a new era of diagnostic precision. This innovative device utilizes advanced imaging technology and artificial intelligence to generate three-dimensional renderings of tissue samples with a granularity of 500um3, providing a comprehensive and spatially accurate view of tumors and surrounding tissues.The key benefits of PathoCruz 3D include the following:Spatial Accuracy for Enhanced Diagnostics: By synchronizing maps of cancerous regions across adjacent slides from a tumor, the software provides a unique perspective on factors such as size, shape, invasion depth, volume, and other spatial metrics. This breakthrough significantly improves diagnostic precision, paving the way for the development of personalized treatment plans for patients.Automated Post-Procedure Assessments: Many procedures, especially those involving serial sectioning and meticulous assessment of surgical resection margins, such as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), demand careful evaluation of remaining risks. This software offers the advantage of automating post-procedure pathological assessments, thereby saving valuable time.Educational Value: Medical institutions can use this technology to enhance education and training in the fields of histology and pathology, ensuring the next generation of professionals is equipped with the latest tools and knowledge.Research Advancements: Researchers and scientists can accelerate their studies by gaining deeper insight into the spatial characteristics of tumors, potentially leading to breakthroughs in cancer treatment.Dr . Sophie Xiao, Chief Scientist at Wision A.I., emphasizes the importance of this groundbreaking innovation, stating, "PathoCruz 3D relies on precise cancer localization AI algorithms operating at the 2D whole-slide imaging level. Recognizing histological features across various cancers has always presented technical challenges; however, investment is justified. Accurate 2D localization and 3D reconstruction enable healthcare professionals to perceive tumors in their complete spatial context, enabling more precise and effective treatments. We are confident that this technology will profoundly impact patient care and advance medical research." The PathoCruz 3D is set to bring new understanding to professionals about tumor characteristics. Its potential applications extend beyond oncology to various fields, making it a versatile tool for the pathology community.PathoCruz 3D is now for research and educational use only in the United States. For more information about PathoCruz 3D and its capabilities, please contact ai@ wision.com About Wision A.I.Wision A.I. has extensive expertise in mathematics and algorithm development. The company integrates medical knowledge into flexible and scalable models that leverage cutting-edge deep neural networks and general-purpose computing to achieve stable detection efficacy in diagnostic imaging.Contact Information:Min Yang ymin@ wision.com +8613910308383SOURCE: Wision A.I. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 20:00:58 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 506 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Inviting diverse audiences with varying political viewpoints to a national dialogue on the future of AI. Kordestani aims to explore its transformative impact on society and discuss solutions before it's too late.LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Milan Kordestani, renowned entrepreneur and author of the #2 Wall Street Journal Bestselling book, "I'm Just Saying: A Guide to Maintaining Civil Discourse in an Increasingly Divided World," announces a 25-city tour to ignite the conversation about the future of Artificial Intelligence and its profound effect on the economy and society.Kordestani, revered as America's "AI-for-Good" Ambassador, is traveling the country offering engaging, interactive, town hall-style and fireside conversations. He'll offer a dive deep into the landscape of Artificial Intelligence as he addresses topics ranging from its economic implications to its role in upholding societal equilibrium.With his unique insights, Kordestani stands at the forefront of understanding the convergence of technology, civil discourse, and generational perspectives.His book has resonated with readers globally and has become a beacon for those seeking a more harmonious way of discussing divisive topics.This tour is set to be more than just a series of book signings. Kordestani will kick off the tour on October 10. Milan will be helping to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Silicon Harlem in New York City, an organization helping close the digital divide in communities by providing access to technology and education. He then plans to take the tour around the country, including Washington, DC, on October 24 with government leaders on Capitol Hill, November 6 and 7 in New York at Beryl Investment Conference, and November 8 at Fordham University. On December 6, the tour will make its way back to Texas at University of North Texas for a conversation with corporate executives, students, faculty, and members of the greater Dallas community. Other cities include Las Vegas, Ann Arbor, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Madison, Wis., Minneapolis, Nashville, Palo Alto, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Dubai, UAE.In anticipation of his next book focused on AI, the tour serves as a platform for essential conversation and innovation at the crossroads of technology and human connection. Additionally, Kordestani has an AI white paper set to release this fall that analyzes how we can ensure Artificial Intelligence is rolled out in a way to address the social and economic risks of this rising technology. A copy of the paper is available to the media upon request.For more details on the tour dates, locations, and tickets, please visit Milan Kordestani's official website.About Milan KordestaniMilan Kordestani is a social entrepreneur, author, and advocate for common-ground solutions to systemic socioeconomic problems. Known for his insightful perspectives published in HuffPost, Entrepreneur, and Rolling Stone, Kordestani consistently encourages the next generation to find solutions that drive positive societal change. His varied professional experiences have given him unique insights into humanity's impact on global systems, informing his successful business ventures and his thought-provoking writing.Contact InformationSophia Lange Public Relations sophia@ ascendantgroupbranding.com 302.450.4494SOURCE: Milan Kordestani, author PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 15:01:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 613 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CARTERET, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Leading warehousing firm NIWO Partners Inc. recently facilitated an enlightening session where Dr. Chong Liu, a distinguished figure in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and a vanguard in 5G outdoor localization, was interviewed by Yuping Chao, a prominent journalist from China National Radio. The interview took place on Sept. 19, 2023, providing deep insights into the BeamMaP system - a groundbreaking development in 5G outdoor localization.Dr. Liu's 5G Research Presentation in RomeThe world is at the cusp of the 5G era, a time where every meter and millisecond can dramatically alter outcomes. From everyday lives to intricate business operations, the contemporary realm is experiencing a 5G-driven metamorphosis. As urban landscapes get increasingly complex, traditional outdoor localization methods such as GPS grapple with challenges. This is where Dr. Liu's BeamMaP system, with its innovative combination of machine learning and adaptive beamforming, shines as a beacon.In an exclusive conversation with Yuping Chao, Dr. Liu elaborated on the intricacies of his magnum opus - "An Improved Adaptive Beamforming-based Machine Learning Method for Positioning in Massive MIMO Systems." The current landscape, inundated with technological marvels like Virtual Reality (VR), autonomous vehicles, rapid data center networks, and the pervasive Internet of Things (IoT), mandates robust outdoor localization solutions. Dr. Liu elucidated, "GPS and conventional systems often falter in cityscapes due to issues distinguishing between Line-of-Sight (LoS) and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) signals. These challenges often lead to inaccuracies which can be detrimental for applications relying on precise location data. BeamMaP, however, harnesses the prowess of machine learning to predict mobile user locations, allowing base stations to manage beam distributions seamlessly." While traditional systems predominantly lean on GPS, they often falter amidst cityscapes replete with towering skyscrapers and intricate infrastructure. Dr. Liu, in his discussion, underscored the challenges inherent to these methods. "Conventional systems grapple with distinguishing Line-of-Sight (LoS) and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLoS) signals, resulting in frequent inaccuracies. BeamMaP leverages machine learning to predict user locales, empowering base stations to fine-tune beam distributions," commented Dr. Liu. Housed under the vast umbrella of Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, BeamMaP is designed to cater to the nuanced requirements of 5G applications. It promises unparalleled localization accuracy, which, in testing, pinpointed Mobile Users (MUs) with a deviation of a mere five meters. Such precision not only outperforms traditional methods but also paves the way for future localization paradigms.Dr. Liu's innovative system has garnered attention from various quarters, especially for its adaptive capabilities. "Our BeamMaP system constantly updates its input datasets, ensuring it remains attuned to real-time changes. This could range from the ever-changing heartbeat of a city to unpredictable weather patterns," remarked Dr. Liu.Toward the end of the interview, Dr. Liu expressed, "5G promises unparalleled localization accuracy for connected mobile devices. With technologies such as Massive MIMO acting as gateways to enhanced spectral efficiency and spatial diversity, we're ushering in a future where precision in outdoor localization isn't just desired - it's paramount." The in-depth interview with Dr. Chong Liu is available for viewing here.NIWO Partners Inc., always at the forefront of technological innovations, sees this research as a game-changer for 5G applications. "Dr. Liu's relentless pursuit of excellence aligns perfectly with our ethos at NIWO. Together, we envision a future where 5G outdoor localization is not just a luxury but a standard," said a spokesperson from NIWO.About NIWO Partners Inc.:With roots in New Jersey, NIWO Partners Inc. Offers from state-of-the-art warehousing to top-notch trucking and distribution, NIWO's commitment is to precision, efficiency, and innovation.Contact Information:Chong Liu Pioneering Expert in 5G and Next-Gen Wireless Positioning longyin802@ outlook.com SOURCE: NIWO Partners Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-10-09 17:25:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 640 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ENGLEWOOD, CO / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / The metaverse business is constantly evolving. Nonetheless, the pursuit of Web3 technology has become a beacon for worldwide enthusiasts. It has now had an impact on every aspect of the crypto sector. Recent events, however, have placed a cloud of controversy over Pi Network, forcing consumers to seek a dependable alternative.WOW EARN is a startup that has quietly been educating customers through the complexities of decentralized apps while avoiding the legal quagmires that have beset its competitors. WOW EARN belongs to a unique niche, providing consumers with a complete crypto experience.WOW EARN has not only emerged as a rival to Pi Network but is fast gaining popularity as a favored alternative among crypto fans, for those who may not have kept up with current market changes. Its strategic partnerships with top-tier cryptocurrency exchanges and payment providers solidify its position in the crypto scene.As cryptocurrency trading regains popularity as a passive income, Pi Network finds itself in a dangerous situation owing to unexpected and extensive governmental scrutiny. Vietnamese authorities have expressed worry about the intricacy of Pi Network's financial model, creating uncertainty about its operational goals. These regulatory problems have caused users to be concerned, casting doubt on the platform's long-term viability.WOW EARN: a regulated alternative to Pi NetworkWOW EARN, on the other hand, has actively focused on regulatory compliance, establishing itself as a beacon of stability in the volatile crypto world. The platform runs smoothly and without substantial regulatory obstacles, establishing a sense of security and trust in its user base. WOW EARN's dedication to openness and regulatory compliance has enabled it to traverse the complicated legal landscape without generating suspicions or questions.While most of its competitors focus on mobile applications, which first received significant attention, this platform focuses on the power of integration, acting as a portal to the vast Web3 ecosystem. WOW EARN's distinct positioning enables it to smoothly interact with a wide range of decentralized apps (dApps) while providing users with a diversified set of features and functions.Building a thriving community within the WOW EARN ecosystemDespite Pi Network's substantial user base of 47 million members, its growth trajectory has plateaued, primarily due to the aforementioned regulatory challenges and concerns. In contrast, WOW EARN is experiencing exponential growth, despite its relatively recent entry into the market. WOW EARN's user-friendly interface, simplicity, and affordability have resonated with crypto enthusiasts worldwide, resulting inThere are over 650,000 active wallet users.3,000 to 7,000 new daily registrationsWOW EARN's Diverse OfferingsWOW EARN's multifunctional approach extends beyond other things, making it an all-encompassing crypto ecosystem. WOW EARN users benefit from a vast DApp ecosystem, boasting over 10,000 certified dApps listed on its open-source platform. This comprehensive solution enables customers to fully realize the promise of blockchain technology and decentralized applications.Educational ConsiderationWOW EARN differentiates itself with its educational endeavors, in addition to its remarkable technological features. The site offers extensive instructional information on a variety of topics, such as blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, DeFi, and DApps. WOW EARN users are not only active players in the crypto sector but also well-informed individuals equipped to manage the complexity of the digital world, thanks to this commitment to user education.Finishing upThough Pi Network deserves credit for pioneering a lot of things, subsequent regulatory squabbles have put it behind newer alternatives like WOW EARN. Its significant development has positioned it as a strong rival. WOW EARN's rapid user growth, versatile wallet, and persistent dedication to transparency distinguish it as a prominent participant in the mobile application field. WOW EARN is a promising alternative for anyone looking for stability, compliance, and a forward-thinking approach to cryptocurrency ownership.Wow Earn Official Links:Website Twitter Telegram DiscordCONTACT:Name: Yara Georgina Company Name: WOW EARN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Location: Englewood, COLORADOEmail: yara.georgina@wowearn.com SOURCE: WOW EARN Aisha Dahir-Umar, the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), says the revolution Nigeria has recorded in its pension industry cannot be reversed despite the various challenges and ongoing pushbacks. In her groundbreaking book, Fighting for the Future: Nigerias Pension Reform Journey, which can now be downloaded free of charge on the PenCom website, Mrs Dahir-Umar provides the first authoritative account of the history of Nigerias pension reform, which former president Olusegun Obasanjo launched with the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2004. The book, published by Cable Books, an imprint of Cable Newspaper Ltd, provides an in-depth analysis of Nigerias intricate landscape of pension reform and offers invaluable insights into the nations evolving pension system. Nigerias pension reform can be summarised in two stats. In July 2004, when the reform was kickstarted, the national pension deficit was N2.4 trillion. By February 2023, accumulated pension assets had grown to N15.45 trillion. It was miserably in the red and now abundantly in the black. That is the Nigerian pension revolution in summary, she writes. In the history of economic reforms in Nigeria, pension easily ranks among the most definitive and successful. It has opened up a new economy, creating a cluster value chain, expanding the financial markets and providing funding for infrastructural development. Only the telecoms reform can claim to produce more results during the same period. She argued that the success of pension reform in Nigeria indicates that the country has the capacity for change contrary to popular notions. Less than 20 years after the landmark pension reform, the success stories are phenomenal, putting a lie to the notion that it is impossible to make a fundamental policy change in Nigeria. All it takes to achieve success is the formulation of feasible policies and fidelity to implementation by the relevant institutions. Compared to the previous pension system when pensioners went through an unpleasant experience while trying to claim their entitlements, the turnaround is worth celebrating and, most importantly, sustaining, she writes. Worthy expose In his Foreword to the book, Mallam Muhammad K. Ahmad, the pioneer DG and CEO of PenCom in 2004, writes: I consider this book to be an informative, educative and honest account of the evolution of pensions in Nigeria, and I have no doubt that every reader will find it valuable and highly insightful as well. Fighting for the Future provides an in-depth perspective on the evolution of Nigerias pension system over the years. It highlights the key policies that have shaped the pension industry since 2004. It also exposes the challenges that have beleaguered implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme, the numerous media wars against the Commission, and how the reform has been sustained. A section is devoted to the Glossary of standard terms used in the pension industry. Dahir-Umar, a 1983 graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), became a pioneer member of staff of the Commission in 2004 after serving as the Secretary of the Fola Adeola Pension Reform Committee that birthed the pension revolution. She was appointed the substantive DG of PenCom in October 2020. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. A meeting of high-ranking officials of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states was held today under Azerbaijan's chairmanship, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry told Trend. "The meeting was chaired by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev. Issues of preparation and organization of the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) countries, which will be held tomorrow in Shusha, as well as documents included in the agenda of the event were discussed," the ministry said. The 26th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The Council of Ministers (COM) is the highest policy and decision-making body of the ECO. It comprises the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Member States who meet in regular, informal, and extraordinary sessions. The Council of Ministers may, if deemed necessary, propose the convening of meetings of other ministers in the formulation of plans and projects in their respective fields through sectoral or joint ministerial meetings. The Kano State Films and Censorship Board has confiscated over one thousand copies of Queen Primer textbooks used in teaching nursery and primary schools in the state. Earlier on Sunday, the Kano State Government issued a statement announcing a notification to operators of schools in the state of its intention to prohibit the use of six textbooks in nursery, primary and secondary schools. Director of the censors board, Abba Al-Mustapha, in a statement on Monday, said, Praise be to God, everyone in Kano knew that we all woke up to a menace about a book, which is being used to teach our children in primary schools titled Queen Primer. Mr Almustapha said the books contain vulgar language and are unsuitable for our childrens hearing or learning. Ive mobilised my operation team to swing into action, and they have confiscated about 1,200 copies of the book so far from bookstores and open markets. We will not relent in our investigation to get to the root of the matter to make those responsible face the full wrath of the law. The position of the Kano State Films and Censorship Board is that we have banned the use and sale of this book and all related to it in Kano State. We have also banned the use of the book for learning purposes in all primary schools in the State. Justification The Kano State Government, through the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Private and Voluntary Institutions, on Saturday, issued a statement announcing a notification to operators of schools in the state of its intention to prohibit the use of six textbooks in nursery, primary and secondary schools. The statement gave the list of the banned books as The Queen Primer (all editions), A Royal School Series Published by Nelson Publishers Limited; Basic Science Junior Secondary School by Razat Publishers, 2018 edition (JSS3) and Active Basic Science, 2014 edition By Tola Anjorin, Okechukwu Okolo, Philias Yara, Bamidele Mutiu, Fatima Koki, Lydia Gbagu. Others are Basic Science and Technology for Junior Secondary Schools 1, 2 and 3 by W.K Hamzat, S. Bakare; New Concept English for Senior Secondary Schools for SSS2, revised edition (2018 edition) by J Eyisi, A. Adekunle, T Adepolu, F Ademola Adeoye, Q Adams and, J Eto and Basic Social Studies for Primary Schools by BJ Obebe, D M Mohammed, S N Nwosu, J A Adeyanju and H Carbin. As educators and role models, it is our shared responsibility to provide quality education while nurturing a virtuous character among our students, the statement reads. Meanwhile, parents observed that the books contain sexual and vulgar content that could damage the behaviour of school children. They applauded the Kano State government and called other state governors to do the same. A mother, Ummi Tsalha, in Kaduna, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, said the books are vulgarly written and could expose childrens sexual acts at a young age. She mentioned one of the banned books which is also taught in schools, Stigma by Samson O. Shobayo. Mrs Tsalha said it was revealed that the book encourages sexual relationships with HIV patients, kissing, etc. Likewise, in the book Basic Science and Technology for Junior Secondary Schools 1, 2, and 3: By W.K Hamzat, S. Bakare, under pages 29 to 47, pages 48 to 52, pages 64, pages 67 to 73 and page 86 of the three books are said to have content that promotes abortion, LGBT, masturbation and safe sex with condoms. Parents who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said they are not happy that schools are taking advantage of them, putting their childrens lives at risk. I dont know what to trust again. These books contain immorality. Since the Kano government got to this, I started checking on some of the books. I think a holistic approach is needed to review what is being taught in our schools. Fatima Abdullahi said. I think it should go beyond the state; it should be a national thing, Maryam Hambal said Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The ocean is central to global illicit trade. Criminal networks plunder marine resources, scour shipping lanes for vessels to hijack, and traverse coastal state waters and the high seas to move commodities to distant destinations. Covering 70 per cent of Earths surface, the ocean is likely the worlds most extensive transnational crime scene and Africas location between multiple global demand and supply markets makes it a significant site of organised crime. Africas east and west coasts are major narcotic transit hubs and global piracy hotspots. Deadly migrant smuggling from North Africa is rife, and to the south, marine resources like abalone and rock lobster face collapse due to illegal harvesting. In the early 2000s, West Africa became a key axis for cocaine trafficking from Latin America through countries like Guinea-Bissau and Mali en route to global consumer markets. Similar trends soon emerged in East Africa, where Afghan heroin and methamphetamines are moved via the Indian Ocean. Both developments reflect globalisation and the displacement of trafficking routes by law enforcement to lower-risk areas. Although most consignments are destined for onward shipment, narcotics consumption in Africa is increasing, and corruption has become intrinsically linked to the continental drug trade. Also in the early 2000s, the Western Indian Ocean experienced a spike in Somali pirate attacks. A massive international counter-effort contained piracy in a few years. However, attacks in the Gulf of Guinea soon escalated, replacing the Indian Ocean as the most dangerous region for seafarers globally, and again leading to international counter-efforts. Although these crimes and regions are distinct, the under-policed ocean is central to perpetrators business model. The struggle faced by African coastal states in protecting their territories from global criminal networks has led to an increase in maritime offences. African states navigate the inherent difficulties of pursuing criminals at sea by increasing maritime surveillance, building criminal justice capacity and discouraging coastal communities from engaging in crime. These efforts often involve partnerships with other countries, international organisations and private actors. The shipping industry, for example, deploys private security onboard vessels, and non-governmental organisations rescue distressed migrant boats in the Mediterranean and pursue illegal fishing vessels. Yet policing the sea is difficult, and most African countries have inadequate assets such as ships and aircraft to patrol their maritime domain. Coastal state jurisdiction also diminishes further away from land, and around 60 per cent of the ocean forms part of the high seas the waters outside national jurisdiction. On the high seas, with few exceptions, a ships flag state must respond to criminal activities onboard that vessel. This requires the will to act and the ability to pursue vessels. Often the assistance of other states is needed. These factors, coupled with unpredictable weather and sea conditions, pit states against better-resourced criminal networks not bound to borders or laws. Criminal networks exploit states limited presence at sea in various ways. Fishing boats tranship illegal catches to avoid port controls, ship-to-ship oil transfers evade sanctions, and vessels sail without discernible flag states or avoid accountability by remaining on the high seas. States may also lack the will to exercise jurisdiction over their waters or vessels, and state or private industry elements may partake in or condone maritime crime. But mitigating organised crime at sea is possible, as counter-piracy responses show. Piracy declined once national, regional and international state and private actors combined forces. Although counter-piracy focuses on law enforcement, it also seeks to improve criminal justice capacities on land and recognises the need to develop local coastal communities. The response to piracy also highlights the importance of public-private partnerships. Since the shipping and fishing industries are the most prominent actors at sea, they are vital to safeguarding it. The transnational nature of organised crime necessitates an equally borderless, cooperative response both on land and at sea. Many African instruments affirm this, including the 2050 Africas Integrated Maritime Strategy, and the Djibouti and Yaounde codes of conduct. Cooperation in protecting the global commons of the ocean is also evident in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the High Seas Treaty signed in March. However, giving effect to these instruments has been challenging, and most efforts result in suppression, not prevention or eradication. Private industry and flag states are often absent from or play a minimal role in, initiatives to combat maritime crimes that dont affect them to the same extent as piracy. The large number of counter-piracy actors, especially from the global north, can be attributed to piracys perceived threat to world trade. Crimes like illegal fishing and drug trafficking are (incorrectly) perceived as primarily impacting national rather than global interests. Consequently, theres little accountability for vessel owners and flag states whose ships are engaged in organised maritime crimes, despite a legal obligation to control their vessels. This has seen maritime crimes expand, bringing a wave of willing deckhands and corruption as everyone seeks to profit. Tim Walker, Maritime Project Leader at the Institute for Security Studies, says it is time for a dedicated session at the African Union Peace and Security Council on the implications of organised crime around Africa. The UN Security Council frequently holds such discussions, some of which were initiated by Africas three council members. This months meeting of Africas Indian Ocean states to discuss the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct is an opportunity to spotlight organised crime on Africas coast. Member states should reassess their collective efforts and identify future priorities. The International Maritime Organization is also electing council members in December. With the council set to expand by 12 states, Africa could field more members and elevate the continents maritime interests. But just as the international community should hold the shipping industry and flag states accountable for illicit activities at sea, African states must prioritise the land-based socio-economic causes of maritime crime. Perhaps once these push-pull factors receive the attention they deserve, we may see a decline in organised crime around Africas coast. Dr Carina Bruwer, Senior Researcher, Southern Africa, ENACT, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Niger reduced its projected spending for 2023 by 40 per cent as a result of international sanctions imposed after the military overthrew the government in a coup in July 2023, Reuters reports. The announcement stated that the budget for this year, which was originally estimated to be $5.3 billion (3.29 trillion CFA francs) had been reduced to $3 billion (1.98 trillion CFA francs) but did not specify where the budget cuts would occur. READ ALSO: On 26 July, soldiers from the presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum and installed a transitional administration, one of several recent coups in the Sahel area of West Africa. The regional ECOWAS bloc, the European Union, and the US all denounced the coup and responded by imposing penalties, freezing assets, or stopping aid. Food prices have increased and there is a shortage of essential items, such as life-saving medicines, as a result of a trade blockade. However, it doesnt seem to have lessened the juntas popularity at home, where many people were tired of the suffering and apparent corruption they had to deal with under the Bazoum administration. France is to end its military cooperation with Niger and pull its 1,500 troops out of the African country by the end of the year after a military coup there, French President Emmanuel Macron said in September 2023. Previously, the military government in Niger, which seized control in July 2023, accused France of stationing troops in various West African countries in preparation for military interventio.reduced its projected spending for 2023 by 40 per cent as a result of international sanctions imposed after the military overthrew the government in a coup in July 2023, Reuters reports Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu, was on Sunday flown to Kano in a presidential jet to watch the finals of this years edition of the Kano International Polo Tournament. Witnesses say the presidential jet conveying Seyi Tinubu and his friends landed in Kano around midday on Sunday. He was said to have been received at the airport by some officials of the presidency, the Kano State government and the Kano Polo Club. He was thereafter chauffeured to the Usman Dantata Polo Ground amidst tight security provided by gun-wielding detachments of the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service. After the final matches of the two-week tournament were played and awards handed to winners, the waiting presidential jet then transported Seyi Tinubu and his party back to Abuja, the nations capital, where he currently lives. The presidents son attended the event simply to watch a sport he loves. He is a polo enthusiast and is the patron of the STL Polo Team in Lagos. He was part of the players that represented the club at last years Lagos Polo Tournament. His use of the presidential plane for a private event to satisfy his personal passion immediately triggered a firestorm of criticism by some Nigerians. Jaafar Jaafar, a London-based Nigerian journalist, brimmed with anger on X (formerly Twitter), saying, Heres Tinubus golden child, Seyi, travelling in a presidential jet to watch polo in Kano Even if our laws are vague on this, one thing is clear: this is an offence to the moral code of leadership. Reacting to the journalists comment, another user of the micro-blogging platform, who identified himself as Aliyu, said, The use of presidential jets for personal or non-official purposes by public officials can raise concerns about transparency and accountability. Its essential for leaders to uphold ethical standards and set a good example for the public. Transparency and adherence to rules can help combat corruption and ensure that government resources are used responsibly. What about the misuse of a special forces unit as his bodyguards? another X user, Bello Anka, said. See them in the pictures. The other day, he went skateboarding in Abuja with them running by his side. This is just a continuation of the culture of impunity from the previous government, perhaps on an even grander scale this time. But even before Sundays Kano trip, the younger Tinubu is known for travelling regularly and extensively with the presidential jet either in the company of his father or in those of his associates, a behaviour that has continued to irritate not a few taxpayers who lament inappropriate deployment and abuse of a key national asset. In July this year, he was photographed (as shown below) as he made to board a presidential jet. His destination and those he was travelling with remain unknown. The controversy over the inappropriate use of the planes in the presidential air fleet first emerged on January 9, 2020, when Hanan, the youngest daughter of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, flew to Bauchi, North-east Nigeria, on a presidential jet, in what was clearly a private trip. She and the presidency were roundly condemned over the matter, with Farooq Kperogi, an American-based Nigerian professor, describing the act as an unprecedented abuse of presidential powers. Recalling what happened during the Buhari era vis-a-vis Seyi Tinubus Sunday pleasure trip to Kano on the presidential jet, another X user, Bashar, said, Buhari merely sought the title of President without understanding or respecting the sanctity of the office. The audacity to let his daughter, Hanan, use a presidential jet for a mere photo tour in Bauchi was the beginning of this mockery. READ: Use Of Private Jet By Buharis Daughter: What The Law States Now we see Tinubus protege, Seyi, hopping on the same jet for a polo match in Kano. Its not just about the laws, its about ethics, morals, and respect for the position. Our leaders must do more than just occupy an office; they must uphold its dignity. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Atiku Abubakar, in his quest to overturn President Bola Tinubus election, has asked the Supreme Court for permission to file some Chicago State University (CSU) documents concerning Mr Tinubu as fresh evidence to support his appeal challenging the outcome of the disputed 25 February poll. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), based his application for leave to file fresh evidence on Order 2, Rule 12(1) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985 and section 137(1) of Nigerian constitution. The former Vice President, through his team of lawyers led by Chris Uche, filed the application on 5 October, urging the Supreme Court to grant him leave to produce and for the court to receive fresh and additional evidence documents, including a deposition on oath of an official of the Chicago State University (CSU) concerning Mr Tinubus academic records. Atiku had questioned the authenticity of President Tinubus CSU certificate submitted to the electoral body, INEC, as a candidate for the 2023 presidential election. Alleging forgery of the said certificate, Atiku argued that Mr Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election. The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, in its decision delivered in September, dismissed the certificate forgery allegation in the separate petitions filed by Atiku and Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The court affirmed the election of the president, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election. Unrelenting, both Atiku and Mr Obi filed separate appeals at the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the presidential election court, with each of them insisting that the court declare them them winner of the election or order a fresh one. Atiku went a step further to obtain an order of a United States court to compel CSU to release Mr Tinubus academic records. A cache of documents was released to Atiku on 2 October on the order of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America. In a deposition made at the court on 3 October, Caleb Westberg, the registrar of CSU, confirmed that Mr Tinubu graduated from the university in 1979. Also confirming Mr Tinubus identity, Mr Westberg confirmed that the same person with the name who graduated from the university in 1979 is the current Nigerian president. But he prevaricated, neither confirming nor denying the authenticity of the certificate Mr Tinubu submitted to INEC. We were not qualified to verify whether this document is authentic, given that it is not in our possession, he said in a response to a question by Atikus lawyer. But insisting on the allegation that Mr Tinubu forged the certificate under reference, Atiku is now seeking to tender the university registrars deposition with other relevant documents released to him by the university in support of his appeal at the Supreme Court. Why Im tendering additional evidence Atiku argued in his fresh application filed at the Supreme Court that forgery and perjury are a serious constitutional issue; hence the court should order the removal of Mr Tinubu as president. He added that the deposition which the CSU official made on oath and deposed to in the presence of Mr Tinubus attorneys is credible and believable, and ought to be believed. He therefore asked the Supreme Court to receive the said deposition in evidence as exhibit in the resolution of this appeal. Why Supreme Court should accept our fresh evidence Atikus legal team now faces an uphill task of introducing an exhibit, not tendered at the trial court, for the first time at the Supreme Court. But his lawyer, Mr Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), explained in their application that the deposition from CSU was only made on 3 October after the trial ended at the Court of Appeal. 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. Mr Uche reminded the Supreme 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. He noted that the original certified deposition was forwarded to the Supreme Court by a letter addressed to the chief registrar of the court. The lawyer contended that the Supreme Court had the power, the jurisdiction and the discretion to approve an application for bringing additional evidence on appeal, citing Order 2 Rule 12 (7), (2) and (3) of the Supreme Court Rules. The part of the rules cited reads: A party who wishes the court to receive the evidence of witnesses (whether they were or were not called at the trial) or to order the production of any document, exhibit or other thing connected with the proceedings in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 of the Act, shall apply for leave on notice of motion prior to the date set down for the hearing of the appeal. The application shall be supported by affidavit of the facts on which the party relies for making it and of the nature of the evidence or the document concerned. lt shall not be necessary for the other party to question the additional evidence intended to be called but if leave is granted the other party shall be entitled to a reasonable opportunity to give his own evidence in reply if he so wishes, the court filings showed. Atikus legal team also cited a Supreme Court precedent in a 2011 case of UZODINMA Vs IZUNASO in which the court allowed Wole Olanipekun, who is currently Mr Tinubus lead counsel, to bring fresh evidence based on the constraints he faced obtaining the documents. Learned counsel for the Appellant, Chief W. Olanipekun SAN, observed that trial took just three days and judgment was delivered on 28/1/2011, he thus had very little time to assemble relevant documentary evidence, including exhibit HU2, He further observed that it was on 7/4/11 that he obtained from the PDP Secretariat the extract of the NWC meeting of 5/1/2011 Exhibit HU2. He submitted that the documentary evidence (Exhibit HU2) is clear and unambiguous and no further evidence is to be adduced on it, Atikus lawyers quoted the Supreme Court as saying in the case cited. According to the lawyers, in granting Mr Olanipekuns application, the Supreme Court held, The discretion to grant leave to admit new evidence, fresh evidence or additional evidence is properly exercised if it is for the furtherance of justice. Judges must exercise that power sparingly and with caution. This is so because granting the application could amount to allowing the applicant to reopen his case or present a new case. But the Supreme Court gave a caveat. It ruled that such application should be granted if the applicant is able to satisfy the court that it was extremely difficult or not possible to obtain the evidence before trial and it is in the interest of justice that the said evidence is led. Meanwhile, Mr Uche informed the Supreme Court that they would be relying on the record of appeal already transmitted to the court from the lower court. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian government has approved the appointment of doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers as contract staff after attaining their compulsory retirement age or years in service. This is part of efforts to mitigate the mass exodus of health workers to developed countries, which has led to an acute shortage of health professionals in the nations health sector. The approval was contained in a circular dated 5 October and issued by the Federal Ministry of Health. In the circular, the government directed all chief executive officers of agencies, chief medical directors, medical directors, and heads of regulatory bodies and schools to ensure strict compliance with a previous circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff within their respective institutions. Prior circular This development follows a prior circular dated 30 August from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF). The circular, titled Re: Review of retirement age to 65 and 70 years for health professionals and medical/dental consultants, with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S./145, was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health. The circular, signed by Olufemi Oloruntoba, the Permanent Secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office, on behalf of the HCSF, expressed the rejection of the proposed increase in retirement age for medical and dental consultants and other health professionals. It cited several reasons for the rejection including the fact that healthcare professionals were leaving the country not due to their retirement age but primarily because of financial considerations and unfavourable working conditions. READ ALSO: Some state government had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers and this has not addressed the spate of brain drain, it said. The circular expressed dissatisfaction with the work ethic of healthcare workers, despite the governments efforts to encourage them. However, in a significant move, the circular also approved that clinical health workers who have reached their compulsory retirement age or years of service may be offered contract appointments. These contract appointments would be on the same salary scale level that they retired on, provided the healthcare worker desires and deserves it. Relevant engagements The circular calls on the government to engage with relevant bodies, such as the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian Medical Association, to secure a commitment from medical doctors. It also calls for the establishment of an effective performance management system within the public service to enhance the work ethics of medical officers, consultants, and doctors. To address the observed dissatisfaction with the attitude of health workers to work, there is a need to institutionalise an effective performance management system in the public service in order to improve the work ethics of the medical officers and consultant, and medical doctors should show more patriotism in the discharge of their duties and avoid holding the system to ransom, the circular also said. The circular emphasised the importance of medical professionals showing greater patriotism in the discharge of their duties and refraining from actions that could disrupt the healthcare system. Health workers exodus Nigerias health sector is currently grappling with severe shortage of skilled personnel, resulting from the mass departure of healthcare professionals. A 2022 UK immigration report showed that 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers (including doctors) were granted working visas in the past year, making the country second only to the 42,966 from India. As of October 2022, the Nigeria Medical Association disclosed that only 24,000 licensed medical doctors were available in the country, lamenting that only one doctor is available to treat 30,000 patients in some southern states, while in the north, it is one doctor to 45,000 patients. Recently, at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, a medical doctor identified as Michael Umoh, died under a circumstance that was blamed on stress by his colleagues. In September, within the space of five days three senior medical doctors at Alimosho General Hospital (ALGH), Igando, in Lagos, died under what some of their colleagues described as demeaning circumstances. There have been consistent reports of adverse effects of brain drain across the Nigeria health sector. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State government has reopened four markets previously sealed off over environmental infractions. Following full compliance with requisite conditions, the state commissioner of environment, Tokunbo Wahab, on Monday announced that Ladipo, Oyingbo, Alamutu Ologede, and Ile Epo markets have been re-opened. The commissioner made the announcement via his X handle. The popular auto spare parts Ladipo market was sealed for several environmental offences, including reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non-payment of waste bills, among others. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Greg Cilliers, a veterinarian and executive board member of the World Veterinary Poultry Association, warns that chicken meat will be scarce in South Africa in the coming weeks due to a shortage of broiler chicks, reports IOL. The HPAI H7 avian influenza outbreak is devastating, affecting every adult bird in Gauteng and resulting in the egg shortage consumers are now observing at retailers. Cilliers said that the spread of the virus appears to be slowing down, but only because there are no more birds left to infect. Recovery will depend on the availability of a vaccine, but there is a lengthy timeframe for the entire supply chain to return to normal. Mr Cilliers said that the government needs to finalize the guidelines for emergency registration of the H7 vaccine and implement a realistic monitoring protocol for vaccinated flocks. The industry is currently facing significant challenges, including the high cost of production and load shedding, making it more vulnerable to cheap imports. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The lawyer that defended Drambi Vandi, a police officer who fatally shot Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, to death last year, has said he was divinely instructed to represent the now convicted killer cop. Adetokunbo Odutola spoke to journalists on Monday shortly after his client was sentenced to death by hanging. The state high court in Lagos had found Mr Vandi guilty of murder. The court found the defendant guilty on one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead, the judge Ibironke Harrison said. Backstory PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Vandi allegedly killed Mrs Raheem, an expectant mother, on Christmas Day in 2022 at the Ajah roundabout in Lagos. The police officer is attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state. He was suspended two days after the incident. No regrets Despite the outcome of the case, Mr Odutola said he has no regret taking up the case. He also said that he will request the court judgement and look through it, noting that his client has the right to appeal. When asked if he would appeal, he said that after going through the judgement they would decide on the next action to take. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Olusade Adesola, says the administration will audit its personnel records come November, This was contained in a statement by the media aide to the permanent secretary, Emmanuel Tortiv, on Monday in Abuja. Mr Adesola said the FCTA will delist any personnel that fails to participate in the exercise. He said it is necessary to carry out the exercise to expunge ghost employees as well as non-existent workers who were infiltrated into the payroll of the administration. He also said there will be a personnel audit in November to weed out non-existent workers or ghost workers because the wage bill has been pushed to the rooftop by various reforms, directives, approvals and agitations by the Trade Unions, a National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the Presidency respectively, he stated. The permanent secretary noted that the audit exercise will take one week and it is going to be the staff that are going to upload their necessary data into the system by themselves. He advised staff of the FCTA to ensure they come out en masse for the exercise. He however warned that anyone who fails to participate will be delisted. The Payroll Audit according to the Permanent Secretary will be technologically driven such that individuals would upload their data by themselves to indicate that they are alive. The period of verification for the entire exercise is not going beyond one week to avoid excuses. Any staff who is not verified at the end of the exercise will be withdrawn from the payroll, Mr Adesola said. 2024 Budget: To be performance-based Mr Adesola said the 2024 budget is going to mark a total departure from previous budgets since those situations were beyond the administrations control. He said the recently concluded FCTA budget officers training was intended to improve their skills in managing the administrations budget. He stated that the FCTA budget will henceforth be streamlined to enable viable projects to be admitted since the administration wants to complete target projects. The Permanent Secretary said the 2024 Budget will be a marked departure from what appears to be our tradition in the past years where our budgets are submitted very late occasioned by situations beyond our control. The training became very important for prompt rendition of the FCT budget to prepare Budget Officers with the capacity required for budget Preparation. READ ALSO: FCTA demolishes illegal market used for criminal activities The Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) provided funds based on their anticipation of achievements. However, the 2024 budget will be performance-based because fewer projects will be admitted into the budget. Those fewer projects will be kept with their achievement targets and this will be the basis for determining how far the administration has gone in the course of the year. The era of carrying too many projects with little achievement is no longer tenable. We will have fewer projects but there will be change, he added. In a remark, the Acting Director of Treasury, Nanre Emeje, stated that budgeting is the beginning of every plan as God himself is the Master Planner. She added the 2024 Budget was going to be aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present federal administration. We brainstorm together, dont forget your critical role as a Planner to bring out the Best in all of us to put them together for the betterment of the organisation, Ms Emeje said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Today, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Louis Bono, Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations at the U.S. State Department, the Foreign Ministry told Trend. During the meeting the sides exchanged views on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries, the current situation in the region, the process of normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, steps taken by Azerbaijan towards the reintegration of Armenian residents living in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region. Will be updated Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has regained freedom after over two years of incarceration in the Republic of Benin. A video clip showing Mr Adeyemo announcing his freedom and appreciating his supporters circulated on social media platforms on Sunday. I am now free to return to Nigeria and visit any country in the world, he also told Tribune Newspaper. I have fulfilled all the legal conditions attached to my bail a few years back and I am coming home to Nigeria, my country of origin, any moment from now. I can confirm to you that I am now free to come back to Nigeria. There is no legal encumbrance again, he added. Mr Adeyemo was decked in white and seated on a plastic chair as he read out a prepared speech in the video clip circulating online on Sunday. He thanked sons and daughters of Yoruba all over the world for their support, and also singled out a leading figure of the Yoruba nation agitation, Banji Akintoye; Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for their roles in securing his release. He also acknowledged the sympathetic gestures he received over the death of her mother during his incarceration. He said that her body was still being kept in the morgue for him to return to give her a befitting burial. Mr Adeyemo came to the limelight after he, in January 2021, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Fulani residents in Igangan in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State to leave to check kidnappings allegedly perpetrated in the area by herders linked to the ethnic group. He would later lead a mob to burn down the house of the Seriki Fulani of Oyo State, Saliu Abdulkadri, in the community. He soon became a target of the State Security Service (SSS) as he became more aggressive in his campaigns against herdsmen accused of kidnapping in South-west states, and agitation for the Yoruba nation. He touted his agitation as the only way to liberate Yoruba people from insufferable attacks and being shortchanged in the Nigeria nation. He was declared wanted by the State Security Service (SSS) over his agitation for Yoruba nation sovereignty. SSS operatives would invade Sunday Igbohos house, located in Soka, Ibadan, capital of Oyo State was invaded around 1:00 a.m. on 1 July 2021. The spokesperson for the SSS, Peter Afunnaya, later said seven AK 47 rifles, pump action guns and 5,000 rounds of ammunition and other weapons were recovered from the apartment. His vehicles, including his G-wagon, and Prado Jeep, and some valuable properties including furniture, and windows were destroyed. He said security operatives recovered the weapons after a hot gun duel between them and Igbohos guards. The SSS also admitted that two of Mr Igbohos men were killed in the process while a security agent was shot in the right hand and hospitalised. Mr Igboho later said the weapons were not his and that security operatives planted ammunition in his house to implicate him. The secret police also declared Mr Igboho wanted. On 19 July 2021, the campaigner for Yoruba self-determination was arrested in neighbouring Cotonou, Benin Republic, while trying to travel to Germany. A local newspaper in the neighbouring country, Banouto, quoted Beninise authorities as saying Mr Igboho was nabbed at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou. He was disembarked from his plane, arrested by the Beninese police while he was trying to travel to Germany and then transferred to the Cotonou Criminal Brigade. On 17 September 2021, a judge of the Oyo State High Court awarded N20 billion cost as exemplary and aggravated damage against the State Security Services (SSS) over the invasion of Igbohos residence on 1 July 2021. However, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan in August 2022 nullified the N20 billion judgement because the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Indigenous contractors to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), who are kicking against the ongoing acquisition of the company by Oando Plc, have threatened to occupy all facilities belonging to Agip in the Niger Delta over contract debts. The contractors said it would be inhuman and lack of global best practices to allow the deal to sail through without settling all debts owed them by the company. The contractors, under the auspices of the Coalition of Indigenous Contractors of Agip, wondered why Agip would embark on such a deal without first discussing the modalities to pay all their outstanding debts. The coalition of contractors, in a statement on Sunday by its Chairperson, Ifeanyichuku Olisa, and Secretary, Felix Alumona, lamented that Agip owed its members huge amounts of money for jobs they did for the company. The contractors called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to wade into the transaction and ensure that all outstanding debts were paid before the conclusion of the acquisition. They also appealed to security agencies to prevail on Agip and NNPC to settle the outstanding debts to avoid forcing the host communities and others to resort to self-help. The contractors said: We recently heard that NAOC has been acquired by Oando and the acquisition process is ongoing. Whilst we hold no objection to the purported acquisition, we are concerned about what happens to the monies NAOC owes all its contractors. It is also worrisome to hear from NAOC that the other joint venture partners, NNPC and OANDO, have not consistently remitted their joint venture contributions, cash calls, which invariably has led to humongous sums of money being owed to local contractors, comprising landlords to NAOC facilities, service contractors and general contractors, who provide services to NAOC. The contractors said some of the debts had been owed since 2020, adding that loans were obtained from the banks by contractors to execute the jobs. Government regulatory agencies, as well as all security agencies, should please prevail seriously on NNPC/OANDO to please save the contractors from impending calamity and to forestall landlords and host community contractors from resorting to self-help which will include, but not limited to, ensuring the stoppage of all NAOC operations in our host communities. Although NAOC officials declined comments on the development, a spokesperson at Eni, the Italian parent company to NAOC, pledged to revert with a response but had yet to do so at the time of filing this report. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State High Court has sentenced Drambi Vandi, who fatally shot Bolanle Raheem, a Lagos based lawyer, to death by hanging. The judge Ibironke Harrison on Monday found the police officer guilty of murder. The court found the defendant guilty on one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead, Back story PREMIUM TIMES reported how Drambi Vandi allegedly killed Mrs Raheem, an expectant mother, on Christmas Day in 2022 at the Ajah roundabout in Lagos. The police officer is attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state. He was suspended two days after the incident. The state government had preferred a one count of murder of the lawyer against the defendant and subsequently arraigned him. Since the court trial started in January, the deceaseds husband, sister, police armourer, pathologist and seven others have testified against the defendant. The prosecution tendered 27 exhibits. Mr Vandi was the only witness who testified in his own defence. In his testimony before the court, Mr Vandi told the judge that the bullet presented in court, which was said to have killed the deceased, did not come from the rifle he carried on the day of the incident. He also claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State Government has marked two popular markets in Lagos Island, Jankara and Bombata, for demolition as part of its measures to contain flooding on the state. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Sunday during a visit to the markets, both of which were flooded due to blocked drainage. The governor blamed lack of compliance with environmental laws for the floods with indiscriminate dumping of refuse and building on drainage channels the two main infractions. There will be zero-tolerance (for breach of environmental laws) and as from Monday, the Ministry of Environment will start giving demolition notices to all the stores that have been built on the drains and on all existing drains. They have built shops on all the drains and that is why we are having these problems of flooding and environmental pollution. We cannot let a few people risk the lives of the larger number of us, the governor said. He said illegal structures in the markets had blocked the drainage channels and caused flooding in the environment. The governor insisted that Jankara and Bonbata markets must give way to allow for urban regeneration and to end perennial flooding in the area. He told squatters and those involved in illegal activities that the government would take over and clean up the markets to enforce its zero tolerance for illegal activities. Mr Sanwo-Olu also observed that the Pelewura Market, also in the area, was currently harbouring a large number of squatters. We are going to give them adequate notice. We are going to work with our concessionaires and the local government, and all the stakeholders will be brought on board. We will all agree as to when that demolition and evacuation will start. I have given them the first notice already and I will give them the opportunity as stakeholders for us to know when that final demolition will take place, Mr Sanwo-Olu said. Lagos is one of the states that have experienced heavy flooding in Nigeria since the rainy season started this year. The state government has shut some markets in its bid to enforce environmental laws which breaches officials said had worsened the flooding. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Campaigns for Tuesdays elections in Liberia came to an end Sunday as some supporters of two political parties clashed. Supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and those of the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP) clashed on Sunday along the Japan Freeway, just outside Monrovia, where the CDC held its final campaign on the same day. A video seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed a group of youth hauling stones at each other along the road. One of those in the video was stoned and beaten to death by the others while trying to run away. Rita Jlogbe-Duoe, a journalist who was visiting the area, told FrontPageAfrica, a Liberian newspaper, that the stone-throwing between the two groups caused pandemonium in the area, and many had to flee. She told the newspaper that the clash erupted at St. Michael Junction along the Freeway. According to her, supporters of the ALCOP were wrapping up their campaign on one side of the four-lane freeway, while the supporters of the CDC were on the other side of the freeway marching through the freeway to their party headquarters in Congo Town. Both groups were carrying out their respective rallies amicably without any interference until ALCOPs supporters made a U-turn at New Georgia Junction and entered the side of the road where CDC supporters were marching. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify who started stone-throwing. According to FrontPageAfrica, Liberia National Police arrived at the scene and dispersed the crowd using tear gas. There were also reports of an attack on the convoy that was escorting President George Weah to his final campaign. No official comments have been made on the clash as of the time of this report. Liberians will elect a new president among the 20 candidates including Mr Weah, who is seeking reelection. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Pan-African Banking Group, Ecobank Group, has announced Koree, a fintech company based in Cameroon, as the overall winner of the 2023 Ecobank Fintech Challenge. The announcement was made by a distinguished panel of judges during the competitions Grand Finale at the banks headquarters at the Pan African Centre in Lome, Togo. Koree emerged the winner after facing fierce competition from seven other fintechs, all of whom pitched their innovative fintech solutions to an independent panel of five judges. These eight finalists were carefully selected from an initial pool of over 1,400 fintechs from 64 countries, underscoring the significant growth in popularity of the competition since its inception six years ago, as well as the wealth of innovation and ingenuity, particularly on the African continent. The eight finalists are Flexpay Technologies (Kenya), IPOXcap AI (South Africa), Kastelo (South Africa), Koree (Cameroon), Kori Tech (Senegal), Smart Teller Technologies (Nigeria), Rubyx (Belgium) and Wolf Technologies (DRC). Koree was declared the ultimate winner after three judging rounds and will receive a cash prize of $50,000 for this outstanding achievement. Wolf Technologies, who were the first runner-up, will take home $10,000, while Flexpay Technologies, second runner-up, receives $5,000. The Ecobank Fintech Challenge cash prize is one of the most substantial no-strings-attached fintech cash prizes available in Sub-Saharan Africa, specifically aimed at encouraging innovation within the fintech sector. With their card wallet payment solution that digitizes merchant payments, Koree impressed the judges, securing their well-deserved victory. The winner, along with the other seven finalists, was inducted into the prestigious Ecobank Fintech Fellowship. This unique programme offers fintech companies the opportunity to explore potential commercial partnerships with Ecobank, including the possibility of seamless integration with the banks platforms and the potential for scaling up their fintech ventures across Ecobanks 35 African markets. Jeremy Awori, chief executive officer of Ecobank Group, said: This years eight finalists have demonstrated exceptional innovation and promise. We look forward to collaborating with them to develop groundbreaking products, services and solutions that will ultimately benefit our valued customers and contribute to the advancement of our continent. We are convinced that forging sustainable partnerships with fintechs and the overall tech ecosystem remains a viable strategy in our pursuit of delivering convenient, affordable services to our customers. Acknowledging the winner, Mr Awori added, We extend our warmest congratulations to Koree, the first ever female-led fintech winner of our challenge, for their outstanding victory and innovative contributions to the fintech landscape. We look forward to a greater collaboration. Mr Awori delivered his remarks during the Grand Finale, which was also attended by Cina Lawson, minister of Digital Economy and Transformation, Republic of Togo. In his speech, Mr Awori expressed Ecobanks profound gratitude to the jury and conveyed appreciation to the sponsors and partners, including Huawei, this years gold sponsor, Arise, Proparco, Asky Airlines, Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report. Of special note, sponsor Asky Airlines, which flies to 28 destinations across Africa, awarded free roundtrip tickets to the top three winners. Asky CEO, Esayas Woldemariam, handed over the tickets to the winners during the event. Magalie Gauze-Sanga, CEO of Koree, expressing her excitement about winning the Fintech Challenge, commented: Koree winning the Ecobank Fintech Challenge is a triumph for innovation and for diversity. We are very proud that the technological innovation we have been implementing in Cameroon for many years has been rewarded, and it is also noteworthy that this is the first time a woman has won the Ecobank Fintech Challenge prize. Were excited to work with Ecobank Group across its large footprint to further transform the financial landscape in Africa by digitizing cash-based payments while simultaneously empowering millions of consumers and bringing value to local brands and retailers. Since its inception in 2017, the Ecobank Fintech Challenge has attracted over 5,500 submissions from fintech innovators representing 64 countries across its six editions. Out of this impressive pool of talent, 60 exceptional fintechs have been inducted into the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship. Other partners in this years challenge include Konfidants, TechCabal, Africa Fintech Network, ALX Ventures, Afrilabs, MEST Africa, Africa Business Angels Network, BlueSpace, and Naija Start-ups. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ahead of tomorrows general elections, Liberias election umpire, the National Elections Commission (NEC), said it is prepared for the countrys fourth election since the end of the civil war. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES in an exclusive interview on Monday, NEC Chairperson Davidetta Lansanah said the commission has put in place mechanisms to make sure these elections are held tomorrow (10 October) and will employ all Liberians who have registered to vote on election day. She noted that both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials are already being deployed across the country. This is the first election Liberia will hold without the presence of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) since the end of the civil war. UNMIL exited the West African country after 15 years, in 2018, after what it termed a successful peacekeeping mission in Liberia. We will say that we are ready. We feel great that we can handle our own electoral process, Mrs Lansanah said. When asked if there were gaps as a result of UNMILs exit, the NEC boss said she would not say there are gaps because the last elections were held without UN troops on the ground; the last election happened during the withdrawal phase of the UNMIL. READ ALSO: We have conducted presidential and legislative elections on our own, with our own security, so we know that our security is in charge of this process because they are deployed with us as escorts of our various electoral materials to the field but also the security at the state level are taking care of the country, she told PREMIUM TIMES. Speaking on violence, she said the commission is concerned about everything that happens in the electoral process. there will be mechanisms put in place to ensure that this process is conducted peacefully, Mrs Lansanah said. PREMIUM TIMES reported a clash on Sunday between supporters of two political parties participating in the elections which led to the death of at least one person. Responding to a question about the clash, she said NEC does not have any official details. All we hear are rumours. Official details usually come from the Liberian National Police which I am told is deployed in the area. Mrs Lansanah added that her commission has condemned any acts of violence regardless of when they happened because violence tends to prevent the exercise of the democratic franchise. All Liberians have been advised to abide by the Farmington River Declaration which has been signed by all candidates in the election. Liberians will Tuesday elect the president, members of the House of Representatives, and half of the Senate. There are 20 candidates on the ballot including incumbent president George Weah and former vice president Joseph Boakai. The winning candidate must secure at least 50 per cent plus one of the total votes cast to avoid a runoff. No candidate has ever managed that feat. There are 2.4 million (2,471,617) registered voters for the current elections. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Monday said that the Nigerian government has not resumed payment of subsidy on petrol. The NNPCL group chief executive officer, Mele Kyari, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market and we understand why the marketers are unable to import, Mr Kyari said. We hope that they do it very quickly and these are some of the interventions the government is doing. There is no subsidy. President Tinubu had announced the removal of fuel subsidy in his inaugural speech on 29 May. Following the announcement, the NNPCL directed its outlets nationwide to sell fuel between N480 and N570 per litre, an almost 200 per cent increase from the initial price below N200, leading to a significant increase in transportation fares and prices of goods and services. Again in July, petrol pump prices rose to N617 per litre at various outlets of the NNPCL in Abuja and other parts of the country. At the time, the NNPCL attributed the rise in the petroleum pump prices in the country to market forces. Mr Kyari noted that with the deregulation of the oil sector, market realities would force the price of petrol up sometimes and at other times force it down. In August, Mr Tinubu assured Nigerians that there would be no further increase in the pump price of petrol, despite the deregulation of the product. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with the president. The president wishes to assure Nigerians, following the announcements by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) just yesterday, that there will be no increase in the pump price of petroleum motor spirit anywhere in the country, the spokesperson said. We repeat, the president affirms that there will be no increase in the pump price of petroleum motor spirit. Mr Tinubu also acknowledged that there are inefficiencies within the downstream sector that are contributing to the fuel price controversy. He assured that all loopholes associated with the smooth delivery of petroleum products in the country will be addressed immediately. Last Friday, the National President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Festus Osifo, said the Nigerian government had restored the subsidy on petrol, despite the official government policy of ending the subsidy regime. Mr Osifo, who is also the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), one of Nigerias two largest workers union coalitions, while featuring on a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said due to the cost of crude oil in the international market and the exchange rate, the government still pays subsidies on petrol. The government has to come clean. In reality today, there is subsidy because as of when the earlier price was determined, the price of crude in the international market was somewhere around less than $80 to a barrel. But today, it has moved to about $93/94 per barrel for Brent crude. So, because it has moved, then the price (of petrol) also needed to move, Mr Osifo said. Cost recovery Speaking on Monday Mr Kyari explained that the government was recovering its full costs from the imported products. He explained that the occasional queues and lower fuel prices observed in some states were not indicative of a return to the fuel subsidy regime, noting that the full deregulation of the sector had led to competition among marketers, resulting in reduced fuel prices at some stations. We have seen in very few states pockets of very low queues. Not unconnected with the road situation that were seeing the number of blockades on our road crossing products from the southern depots into the northern part of the country and it takes them a much longer time than they do now. They have to reroute the trucks around many, many locations for them to be able to reach and that created delays and some supply gaps. But that has been filled and we do not see any of such problems again. And secondly, because of the full deregulation that we have in this sector, marketers are now competing amongst themselves, Mr Kyari said. He argued that some fuel stations will reduce prices by two Naira and three Naira so customers will naturally run to the places where you have that reduction in prices and that creates panic because those who dont know why they are doing it will think that theres something wrong happening, or theres an ominous sign of scarcity. Otherwise, there is no challenge. Supply is robust. We have over 1.4 billion litres of product in our hands both marine and land. Also, there are no issues around the delivery of those products into the land. So there is no fear, nothing to bother about, he said. But we are also happy that the market forces are now playing out and marketers are competing and of course, there are a few issues were engaging them to resolve alongside other agencies of government and critical issues around access to foreign exchange. Mr Kyari explained further that the government is doing so much to ensure the supply of FX into the market. We know that this FX market will stabilize and the current I&E window is around 770. And we know that with those inputs that are already happening, the inputs of the government today will crystallize and also they will come to an equilibrium position in the FX market and this is a dream of this country. So they will have a stable FX market, a stable product market where the prices of products will also speak to prices of other commodities. And this is already manifesting and we think this is the economic revolution that this country needs, he said. The NNPCL had last Friday said it has no intention to increase the pump price of petroleum. The NNPCL made this known in reaction to speculations in the public domain about the companys plan to raise the petrol pump price from the current N617 per litre to above N700. Dear esteemed customers, we at NNPC Retail value your patronage, and we do not have the intention to increase our PMS pump prices as widely speculated. Please buy the best quality products at the most affordable prices at our NNPC Retail Stations nationwide, the oil company said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February election, has slammed President Bola Tinubu for appointing more media aides, saying the appointments would not save the sinking reputation of the president. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, on Monday, Atiku said the appointments were a confirmation that the Tinubu administration was on the verge of unleashing a propaganda unit. Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, announced in a statement on Monday that Mr Tinubu had approved the establishment of a new media directorate and the appointment of five new aides. The new aides are Fela Durotoye (Senior Special Assistant to the President National Values & Social Justice); Fredrick Nwabufo (Senior Special Assistant to the President Public Engagement); Linda Akhigbe (Senior Special Assistant to the President Strategic Communications); Aliyu Audu (Special Assistant to the President Public Affairs) and Francis Adah Abah (Personal Assistant to the President Special Duties). The statement said Mrs Akhigbe, who was until her appointment the Senate correspondent for Channels Television, will also serve as the communications adviser to the President of the ECOWAS Commission. Atiku is currently challenging Mr Tinubus election at the Supreme Court after losing at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in September. Last week, he got Mr Tinubus academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU) in the United States and filed the same documents in his quest to overturn the presidents victory. He claimed that the president forged the documents he filed at INEC for the election. Not even a thousand media aides can save the reputation of President Bola Tinubu, which is currently drowning in scandals, Mr Shaibu said in the statement while reacting to the appointment of an additional five aides by the Tinubu administration. He said the appointments were a confirmation of his 18 September statement, where he revealed that Tinubus government was on the verge of unleashing a propaganda unit. He said, I warned on 18 September that the Tinubu government was getting frustrated after being exposed for their many lies and that they would set up a propaganda unit. Now they have established a media and publicity directorate. This brings to 20 the number of media advisers appointed by Tinubu. In fact, about three of these appointees hold the exact same portfolio. We understand the desperation by Tinubus government which is currently facing a huge certificate forgery scandal and is about to be drowned by the files that the FBI will release regarding his heroin case in the United States. For a government that claims to be focused on fiscal discipline, it has appointed the largest number of non-statutory appointments. Isnt it ironic that Tinubu has more media advisers than economic aides? It is obvious that he plans to use propaganda to rule. No wonder he has held only one cabinet meeting in five months. Tinubu and his lackeys must, however, understand that no matter the air freshener you use in spraying excreta, the stench can never go away. No amount of image laundering can save his sinking image. His list of media aides include Ajuri Ngelale (Special Adviser Media and Publicity); Tunde Rahman (SSAP Media); Tope Ajayi (SSAP Media and Publicity); Abdulaziz Abdulaziz (SSAP Print Media); Otega Ogara (SSAP Digital/New Media); Segun Dada (SAP Social Media); Nosa Asemota (SAP Visual Communications); Sunday Moses (PA Videography); Taiwo Okonlawon (PA State photography); Moremi Ojudu (SAP, community engagement southwest); Tanko Yakasai (SAP, community engagement northwest); Chioma Nweze (SAP, community engagement southeast)., Abiodun Essiet (SAP, community engagement north-central); Abdulhamid Yahaya Abba (SAP, community engagement northeast); Emmanuella Eduozor (SAP Multimedia content production). This is apart from the Minister of Information and others appointed in the ministry to drive the propaganda. With the latest appointment, Tinubu now has over 20 media aides, the highest in the history of Nigeria. But propaganda can only go so far. Propaganda cannot put food on the table of the poor; it cannot make their infrastructure better; it cannot solve insecurity, and it definitely cannot bring in circumspect foreign investors. They can only like the character, Squealer, in Animal Farm, succeed at increasing the quantities of food available to the community only on paper. Signed: Phrank Shaibu Special Assistant to Atiku Abubakar on Public Communication 9th October, 2023 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Katsina State arrested 1,005 suspects in connection with 853 reported cases from June to September this year, according to a statement from police command on Monday. There are also 395 criminal cases being prosecuted in various courts across the state, the command said in a statement by its spokesperson, Abubakar-Sadiq Aliyu. The Command has recorded tremendous successes against the menace of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other forms of crime and criminality in the state, he said. The police spokesperson said in the period under review, 53 suspected armed robbers, 82 suspected kidnappers, 73 murder suspects and 90 suspected rapists were arrested. And a total number of seven hundred and seven (707) suspects were arrested for various offences such as criminal force, intimidation, being in possession of hard drugs/ dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, cultism, inciting disturbance and belonging to a gang of brigands, among others, Mr Aliyu added. Mr Aliyu said the command rescued 171 kidnapped victims, neutralised five suspected kidnappers and recovered four AK 47 rifles, six locally made guns, 517 live rounds of ammunition and 600 suspected rustled animals. Other items recovered from the suspects, according to the police, included 12 suspected stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles, 17 suspected stolen motor vehicles and motorcycles, 568 sachets of D5 tablets, 180 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 23 packets of Exzole tablets, 411 packets of rebozel tablets, and five packs of Diezole tablet. Mr Aliyu quoted the state police commissioner, Aliyu Musa, commending the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his undaunted support to the Command, without which this quantum of successes would not have been achieved. Notwithstanding the modest achievements, more still needs to be done starting from this moment. It is absolutely imperative to warn recalcitrant criminals to either surrender or be dealt with according to the extant laws of the land, Mr Aliyu added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. October 7 will be remembered as the darkest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, George Deek said, Trend reports. 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 and men, our sons and our daughters. The toll of this aggression is staggering, with over 700 Israelis dead, over 100 individuals abducted, and over 2,000 more injured, said the ambassador. According to Deek, while the timing was a surprise, the cruelty wasnt. Hamas is a genocidal organization whose leaders openly speak about killing all Jews. Its written in their charter. This culture of hate is the cause of this barbarism, said the ambassador. What happened today is unprecedented in Israel and we will make sure it will not happen again. The IDF will immediately use all its force to destroy Hamas's capabilities. We will eliminate the threat of Hamas. This is war, he said. Unfortunately, it will not be the first war in Israeli history in which we must rise from tragedy. We were attacked before, outnumbered, taken by surprise. We just marked 50 years to the Yom Kippur war when the armies of the Arab world invaded Israel. In the end, the Israeli army was at the gates of Cairo and Damascus. This time as well, we will change the reality of the Middle East, said Deek. In addition, Deek noted that there are hundreds of Israelis waiting to donate blood. Hundreds of Israelis volunteering to help the people of the South in their time of need. People flying back from all over the world to join the army and fight the battle of justice. We are a nation of lions who will defend their families and their land. We are determined. We are united. And we will win, he said. We were impressed by messages of support from our brothers and sisters in Azerbaijan. I stopped counting how many messages, emails, whatsapps and calls we received from people from all walks of life. The flocks of people laying flowers at the gate of the embassy is truly heartwarming. On behalf of the people of Israel, I want to say to the Azerbaijani people you touched our hearts, thank you, said the ambassador. In addition, the ambassador, addressing the international community, said that this is a war between good and evil, between right and wrong. Be sure to be on the right side and support Israels right to defend itself with all means necessary. This war will be long, it will be tough but we will do what we need to do, and win back the peace, he said. A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. 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 rocket attack killed more than 700 people and injured 2,315. The Israeli army declared a "state of readiness for war" and fired back with the launch of the "Swords of Iron" operation. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Monday said Nigeria is ready to become a net exporter of petroleum products by 2024. The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, disclosed this during the Energy Labour Summit organized by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) in Abuja. Speaking on Monday, Mr Kyari gave assurances on Nigerias readiness to become a net exporter of petroleum products in 2024, adding that it is in line with the governments objective of delivering immediate benefits of sufficient in-country volumes while creating export revenue. Today, we export 100 per cent of our productions, no resource-dependent country does this and that is why we must deliver on our mandate. I dont want to speak about it; when it is done, you will see it. So, I dont want to tell you we are going to revamp our refineries. That is too much of PowerPoint talks. So, it will be done and you will see it. I dont want to speak about it, we are tired of speaking about it. But what we must achieve is that this country must be a net exporter of petroleum products and this is within sight. J strongly believe now, without giving you a date so that people dont get angry again, but in 2024, this country will become a net exporter of petroleum products, he said. Mr Kyari said this means Nigerians will have sufficient volumes of petroleum products in the country and those that can leave the country. He, however, explained that refining crude oil in the country would not necessarily bring down the local price of petrol, which he noted was controlled by the international price. Mr Kyari called for the deployment of an inclusive and just energy transition in such a way that resource-dependent countries like Nigeria can be protected and enabled to make use of their resources to build the infrastructure of tomorrow and to create shared prosperity. He posited a shift in focus, especially in mass transportation, while stating the urgent need to mainstream the usage of CNG in the sector to further align with the federal governments choice of gas as the energy transition fuel. Government is putting money into this and NNPC is investing with partners and we believe in 2024 the revolution will become very manifest and people will have access to cleaner and cheaper fuel in 2024. Its already happening, a number of buses have been converted and a number of state governments have bought buses that are running on CNG. We are carrying out significant projects that will bring CNG into the market with our partners and we believe that this will work for our country, he said. In September, the Executive Director of the Dangote Group, Devakumar Edwin, in an exclusive interview with S&P Global Platts, said the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery will receive its first cargo of crude next month. Mr Edwin explained that the refinery will be launched in phases, beginning with 350,000 370,000 barrels per day of diesel and jet fuel by October. By November, Mr Edwin said, the refinery will start the phased ramp-up to 650,000 barrels per day, around half of it gasoline, the key area of Nigerian fuel demand. He explained that the companys refined products are not only targeting the Nigerian market. Basically if you look at our production profile, 50 per cent of my production will meet 100 per cent of the requirements of the country. Excess gasoline which will be 10 ppm sulfur Euro 5 quality will be exported to other African markets as well as the US and South America, although the volumes will be relatively small, he said. In May, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, in an interview with a special edition of London-based, the Economist Magazine, said with the commencement of operation at the refinery, Nigeria could save up to $10 billion in foreign exchange and generate another $10 billion in exports. The Nigerian government has also assured that the Port Harcourt refinery will become functional by December while Warri and Kaduna will be ready by the end of next year. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has kicked against what he termed interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria by the European Union (EU). He also rejected the position of the EU Observation Mission on the recently concluded general election in Nigeria. Mr Wike who is also the immediate past governor of Rivers State, spoke on Monday while receiving the EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, in his office in Abuja, Nigerias capital. A statement by Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the Minister, said Mr Wike observed that the Mission did not have adequate personnel in the country to cover the elections, particularly in Rivers State where he was governor. He described the EU Missions position that the government stifled the opposition in the state at the time as inaccurate. Even though we have passed that era, I think that I sincerely do not agree with the European Union on their stand on the past election in Nigeria. I do seriously take exception to their stand because we thought there was no need for you to interfere in Nigeria. Rather, you observe and make a recommendation. And your interference came when there were electoral tribunals going on. Like in Rivers State, I asked how many of you were in Rivers State to visit the 6,886 or thereabout number of polling units. Sometimes, you send in one or two persons and I ask you, how do you know? So, if you have seen some infractions in about 20 polling units, is that enough to make a general conclusion? I felt that as a sitting governor, you were trying to indict me for not allowing the state to have a free democratic process. That is not correct. In her response, Ms Isopi explained that the report on the outcome of the elections in Nigeria was that of the EU Election Observation Mission, which is an independent observation mission deployed by the EU at the request of the Nigerian government. The ambassador stated that the purpose of the mission and many other missions in other countries, is to assess the process of the elections against international agreements and treaties signed and ratified by Nigeria. The purpose, she said, was not to determine whether the elections were legitimate or not but to analyse the process and afterwards make recommendations, adding that the report had offered 26 recommendations. On the areas of cooperation with Nigeria and the FCT, Ms Isopi said the EU was refocusing its cooperation on improving agricultural value chains to assist with the economic diversification agenda of the country and is also working on renewable energy projects in the country. Mr Wike called for partnerships and viable economic relations with the EU in the areas of Agriculture, tourism and security to grow the economy of the nations capital. He said the FCT is open to cooperation and investments in these areas to address the economic challenges of the Territory. The minister, who expressed the hope that increased cooperation and partnership in these areas would help to unlock the economic potentials of the FCT and create jobs for the teeming populace of the city, said, I wholeheartedly invite your member countries to pay us a courtesy call. Mr Wike stated further: When I was governor, one of the things Ive always said is that I dont believe in mere visits. I want us to concretize whatever we are going to do, not just come to tell me we are here to partner with you, we are here to work with you. Its good, but at the end of the day, the people will want to see what are the achievements, which for me is a priority. You know that Abuja is one of the best cities in terms of available facilities. The landscape is beautiful, its a tourist and agricultural area. These are areas we can partner with you sincerely. Maybe, when we meet with the member countries, it becomes specific, which of these areas we can deal with, maybe agriculture, tourism and security as the case may be, he added. Mr Wike stressed that the priority now is how the EU can support Nigeria to grow her economy and create jobs to positively impact the lives of the citizens. The minister said that as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the FCT Administration has submitted a proposal for the establishment of a Secretariat that would deal with womens development issues, to ensure inclusivity and promote the participation of women in governance. He said, One of the priorities of Mr President is inclusivityI also know that the First Lady, the wife of the President, is also championing the development of women in terms of participating in governance. So, I know Mr President will approve the establishment of the Women Development Secretariat in FCT which was never there. There was no such secretariat which we will say is devoted to women and I felt that was wrong. It is because the present government attaches so much importance to women and thats why we are thinking of establishing it, the minister said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The people of Niger State are discerning and well-informed, capable of distinguishing facts from fiction, and will undoubtedly recognise the truth behind the contestations between the two political figures. While political office breeds all sorts of envy and sense of competition, however the truth needs to be painstakingly separated from fiction. It is quite interesting to consider the campaign of calumny going on in the contestations between two former governors of Niger State an earlier governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu and the immediate past helmsman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello with the former having launched a vile tirade against the latter. Yet, in asmuch as politics could most times be a vicious blood sport, it is worth bearing in mind that the dedicate politician ought to truth of Winston Churchills famous quip that, You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks at you, rings true. This wisdom translates to the path to ones destination is often obstructed by distractions and unwarranted attacks While I am not personally enamoured of politicians, I find much of the tirade of Dr Aliyu against Senator Bello quite distracting and having lived in Minna for the greater part of the past two decades, and experienced the respective administrations of the two gladitors, I find the posturing of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu quite unnecessary and unfortunate. If one had to make a choice, I would rather consider the now Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, the immediate past governor of Niger State, as the more astute administrator, who appeared more committed to public service for the advancement of Niger State. And, that is despite the anomalies carried out before he assumed office. I am aware that there have been a number of instances in which Dr Muazu Aliyi antagonised Bello politically and tried to bring him to ridicule through what many consider as the misrepresentation of facts. This has been most untoward. Hence, it would be important to set some of the records straight by interrogating some of the claims propagated through the agency of the former Governor of Niger State, the self-styled Chief Servant, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, which hordes of people in the state regard as fallacious. In relation to his predecessor, it is easier to admit that the tenure of Senator Sani Bello stood more as a testament to prudent governance that left an indelible mark on the state. This is what a number of commentators think is the source of frustration for former Governor Babangida Aliyu, who has had to watch Senator Abubakar Sani Bello embody his unattained aspirations. Bello, a two-time governor, seamlessly transited to the National Assembly, having achieved the remarkable feat of securing the 2023 presidential, gubernatorial, and parliamentary elections for his partys candidates, in feats that eluded others before him. Ironically, there is also the convenient manner in which Dr Babangida Aliyu seems to have forgotten his own administrations shortcomings, which he criticises his successor in power, but the Niger people have always done him the honour of refreshing his memory. It has been pointed out that despite labelling himself as Chief Servant, he lived extravagantly and acted like an Emperor, collecting a staggering annually house rent, while neglecting the State Government House. This could rightfully be considered as a wastage of taxpayers money. However, it was fairly well known that throughout his administration, Senator Sani Bello refrained from employing any deceptive title but instead opted for a modest life without noise, residing in a three-bedroom government lodge, and prudently managing taxpayers funds. He left behind a state-of-the-art Government House, a symbol of responsible governance. There are also serious public allegations pertaining to the sale of the State House of Assembly and Commissioners Quarters by the Babangida Aliyu administration, with the former governer also being said to have allocated some units of the latter accommodation to himself, in a manner that violated the ethics of public office, while alternative housing was not provided for the state legislators and the cabinet members. More so, there is also the issue of the so-called ultra-modern stadium at Maikunkele, and the 5-Star hotel along U.K Bello Art Theatre Road, which many allege that despite the substantial budget allocations to these projects, there was no tangible infrastructure on the ground to show they were all done under the administration of the Chief Servant. Thus the foregoing tends to suggests that Dr Aliyus legacy projects were merely white elephant projects, initiated and disbursed in the manner of many public projects, which are essentially patronage for loyalists and cronies. It could thus be said that the Aliyu administration had negligible impact on the lives of Niger State people. The few road projects undertaken by his administration in Minna and other parts of the state are considered as not up to standard and they lacked proper drainage systems, which defeated their purposes and placed a huge burden of reconstruction on his successor. There are the other allegations of mismanagement of the 7.5 per cent Contributory Pension Funds, claimed as responsible for a missing N7 billion Naira meant for pensioners. Additionally, the mismanagement of over N500 million SUBEB funds. These unfortunate situations happened during eight years in office. There are issues with Ecological Funds that have become entangled in legal battles, etc. Notably, despite the challenging economic and security conditions faced by Senator Sani Bellos administration, it displayed fiscal prudence. Redirecting funds towards projects that directly benefited the people. Senator Bellos economic expertise and business acumen played a pivotal role in elevating the states Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N5.7 billion annually in 2015 to an impressive N15.8 billion in 2023, a testament that he was a responsible and accountable Governor. Contrary to this, I for one see the greater impact of the Sani Bello administration on the level of the states infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, transformation of the state and repositioning it as a key player in Nigerias journey towards food security and self-sufficiency. There was the meticulous rejuvenation of the Kampanin Bobi Grazing Reserve to provide herders with a secured grazing area, coupled with the collaborative alliance with FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria for milk production. The people of Niger State are discerning and well-informed, capable of distinguishing facts from fiction, and will undoubtedly recognise the truth behind the contestations between the two political figures. While political office breeds all sorts of envy and sense of competition, however the truth needs to be painstakingly separated from fiction. Inasmuch as Dr Muazu Aliyu has run his race, it actually seves no purpose to try to muddle or heat up the public space through vile tirades against his successor in office towards settling political scores, particularly when your own records can be subjected to scrutiny in a way that shows that there few angels left in heaven. Senator Sani Bello has equally run his race and his records should be allowed to testify for how well he has managed and delivered on public expectations. Bilal Umar Etsu Is a Social Critic and Writes From Minna. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print sadly over the next few months and years, each of these events are likely to happen. We are very close to World War III and guess what: The whole thing was planned and contrived many years ago by those who wish to establish a New World Order. 1. Hamas attacks Israel in a savage and brutal manner, killing thousands of Israeli civilians. 2. Israel declares war on Hamas, flattens and occupies Gaza and kills thousands of terrorists and innocent Palestinian women and children. 3. Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad fires rockets into Israel in solidarity with Hamas. 4. Israel launches devastating a counter attack against Hezbollah and unleashes a brutal and vicious ground offensive in Southern Lebanon and occupies it. 5. Israel launches air strikes against Iran for consistently providing 70 per cent of funding and lethal weapons to Hamas and for consistently providing 90 per cent of funding and lethal weapons to Hezbollah. 6. Iran hits back with air strikes and the declaration of war against Israel. 7. The Arab world declares an Intifada against Israel and declares war against it. 8. America, the EU, the UK, Australia, Canada, India and their allies stand with Israel. 9. Russia, China, North Korea, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Arab world and their allies stand with Hamas, Hezbollah, the Palestinians and Iran. 10. The war in Ukraine gets even worse as Russia crushes the Ukrainian forces and takes more territory. 11. NATO finally jumps into the fray in the Ukraine and Europe is plunged into total war with the use of tactical nuclear weapons. 12. China, Iran, North Korea, the Arab world and their allies side with Russia whilst America, NATO, the EU, the UK, Canada, Australia and their allies side with Ukraine. 13. China invades and occupies Taiwan making good their threat and claim on the island and asserts her power in the South China sea. 14. America responds and all hell breaks loose on earth. Ladies and Gentlemen, sadly over the next few months and years, each of these events are likely to happen. We are very close to World War III and guess what: The whole thing was planned and contrived many years ago by those who wish to establish a New World Order. May God save the world from the shape-shifting reptilians, Satanists, Lucifereans and Illuminati cult members behind this frightful and utterly demonic agenda. Pray hard and have a great day! Femi Fani-Kayode, the Sadaukin Shinkafi, is a former Nigerian Minister of Aviation and the former Minister of Culture and Tourism. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Chukwuma Soludos recent declaration of free and compulsory basic education in Anambra State ticks all the right boxes in the quest for a solid foundation for a knowledge-driven society and better citizenry. In demonstrating this resolve, he suspended four school principals three days after he had warned against the collection of fees from students. While his action is commendable, he has only echoed what is Nigerias extant policy on education, as espoused in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act 2004, but which is sadly observed only in the breach across the states of the country. Soludos avowal is interesting because of his incarnation of academic excellence. All eyes are, therefore, on him to see how this will be pulled off in concrete terms. More importantly, it will sustain the states momentum or steady progress in the education sector, re-kindled by one of his predecessors, Peter Obi, through a series of reforms. From the 26th position, the state had leaped to number one in education performance, under Obis eight years in office. This is exemplified in Anambra States constant top feats in public examinations like the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSSC), the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), NECO and the Federal Government Colleges entrance examinations. In emphasising the dawn of massive infrastructure in public schools and activation of the machinery for effective implementation of the vision, Soludo said, The aim is to go back to the basics when education was used as the equaliser, such that children from poor and rich backgrounds will attend the same school and compete favourably. At the end of the civil war in 1970, the Yakubu Gowon administration took the decision to provide universal and compulsory primary education, leading to the launch of the Universal Primary Education Programme (UPE) in 1976. The Olusegun Obasanjo administration replaced the programme with Universal Basic Education in 1999, in an overhaul of the old UPE, to establish greater access to quality primary education throughout the country. The policy was legalised through the UBE Act 2004, which created a nine-year formal education framework, comprising six years at the primary level and three years of junior secondary instruction. It was made free and compulsory for every child of school age. To drive the programme, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) was set up, where two percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund is channelled annually. States draw funds from UBEC by providing their statutory counterpart funding, among other criteria that must be met. Unfortunately, governors have the predilection for approbating the policy and, at the same time, engaging in governance missteps that undermine its effective implementation in their respective states. This is the import of the N46.2 billion UBE funds not accessed by states as of 30 April, which UBECs Acting Executive Secretary, Bala Zakari, revealed to a Senate Committee during its oversight visit to the Commission. Ironically, Anambra was the only state not to have accessed its 2019 grant, and along with Abia, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Kwara and Ogun states, it is yet in default in collecting the 2020 grant. UBECs records show that annually some states are in remiss, simply by not providing the counterpart funding that enables them to draw the UBE funds. Besides, some governors see the grants as funds to be looted. One of them from the North-East zone, who later became a senator, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for this abuse of office. But he was let off the hook as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) subsumed public morality and national interest under its dirty politics of expediency, in its desire to control the leadership of the Senate in 2019. Before Soludo, other former governors in Kano, Imo, Osun, Akwa Ibom and Delta states, among others, had made similar pronouncements on free and compulsory primary education, without being faithful to the policy or showing consistency in its implementation. Delta State was entangled in such crossroads in 2019, when a Primary 1 pupil, identified simply as Success, of Okotie-Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele, was sent home for her parents inability to pay her second term school fees and the cost of books. But the little girl protested and preferred being flogged to going home. A JSS 2 student, named Chinyere, of Community Secondary School, Adazi-Ani in Anambra State, was crushed to death after being sent home for non-payment of fees in 2017. These are evidences of how oblivious the authorities in these states had been in relation to the manner in which their head teachers were administering the schools. Legally, it is settled that education at the basic level is an inalienable right of every Nigerian child. An Abuja Federal High Court Judge, John Tosho, had in 2017, in a suit filed by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project, on the enforceability of Section 18 (3) in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which states that the State, shall as when practicable, provide free and compulsory and universal primary education, declared that by the combined effects of this Section and Section 2(1) of Free and Compulsory UBE Act 2004, free and compulsory education is non-negotiable in the country. The Supreme Court had ruled in 2002 that this constitutional provision could only be enforced through legislation; and the UBE Act provided just that. Prior to these interventions, the Western Region government, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the First Republic, proved that free education is possible in Nigeria. ALSO READ: Nigerian minister constitutes committee to develop education roadmap In implementing this education policy, governors should be aware of squalid school environments, which negate the programme. There is a lot of proof of pupils sitting on bare floors or under trees to learn, even in Abuja; in addition to schools with caved roofs, no water and the lack of toilet facilities. Certainly, such dilapidated classrooms or environments do not promote effective learning. It is for this reason that the UNESCOs director in Nigeria, Hassana Alidou, during the launch of Education for All, Global Monitoring Report in Abuja, in January 2014, said the country had the worst education indicators globally. It joined 36 other countries that lose $129 billion annually to education without learning in Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America. From 10.5 million out-of-school children in 2010 to 13.2 million by 2015, the figure has presently risen to over 20 million in Nigeria, still the worst in the world. This is so because laws are not enforced here. The situation could not have been worse if states had given effect to Section 2 (2) of the UBE Act, which provides that a parent who fails to enrol a child, or withdraws him/her from school, faces a fine of N2,000 or one-month imprisonment; or both. A N5,000 fine or two months imprisonment or both, awaits any parent who is subsequently convicted for the same offence. The immediate past Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, once put it succinctly, Unless not sending children to school is made a crime, and parents who refuse to send their children to school are prosecuted, we may not see the desired changes. Children of school age in Nigeria cannot, in this 21st century, be allowed to function as house-helps and street hawkers, while their mates are in school. With Soludos knack for taking hard decisions, seen in the consolidation of the financial bases of banks during his tenure as governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), he should give consequence to this critical provision of the UBE Act in order to revolutionise school enrolment, not only in the state, but all over the country. Model schools with classroom desks, lockers, books and other instructional materials, as some former governors provided, do not in themselves morph into quality education without qualified teachers. National surveys show a disturbing shortage of qualified teachers across the 36 states of the country, thus giving room for quacks to be engaged. As the public school system has collapsed, private schools have proliferated for mercantile reasons. This does not serve the national interest at all. In Kaduna, Kwara, Edo, and Sokoto states, among others, thousands of teachers in public schools flunked primary school tests. Assessment or competence tests have been avoided in many states. A former Executive Secretary of UBEC, Mohammed Modibbo, in his testimony to a Senate Committee on Education in 2012, painted how horrible the picture is: I have given them UBE books in Sokoto State. But more than 50 per cent of the entire teachers in the state cannot read because they are not qualified. It is axiomatic that the quality of education in any country cannot rise above the quality of its teachers. Therefore, the training and retraining of teachers must be vigorously pursued, just as the enhancement of their welfare packages, especially the salary, is imperative. Nigeria cannot effectively key into the Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) of the United Nations for a better future for all without a solid springboard that basic education provides. Governors must henceforth be held to account for the quality of primary education in their states, in the interest of Nigerias overall human capital development. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The overwhelming response to the Communications Commissions offer of new MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) licences has been more than positive and can be considered a success story that positions Nigeria as one of the major economic powerhouses on the African continent. In a few months, Nigeria will go from having four mobile operators MTN, Globacom, Airtel and 9Mobile to almost 30 new ones, a milestone that will revolutionise the countrys telecom sector. The strategy aims to boost competition in the mobile sector and help bring mobile telecommunications services to rural, remote and underserved areas of the country. The continents most populous country has more than 226 million mobile lines, representing just over 100% mobile penetration. However, on the other side of the coin, barely 60% of the population has access to mobile internet and only 4% of the population has access to 4G. It is in this scenario, undoubtedly, where MVNOs make the most sense as drivers of the mobile market. The new MVNOs are finalising their mobile business strategies as they decide which mobile technology to operate on, inevitably thinking ahead to find a solution that allows them, on the one hand, to offer service on 4G and 5G, and at the same time, to cope with the disconnection of legacy networks. MVNOs will help boost the countrys economy and reduce the digital divide by bringing connectivity and mobile services to all segments and all corners of the country, creating jobs directly and indirectly and democratising technology with new offers and competitive prices, says Juan Carlos Buitrago, Chief Sales Officer of JSC Ingenium, a telecommunications engineering company specialising in the creation of infrastructure and network services for mobile operators. The figure of MVNOs thus becomes an asset for the country, which is committed to boosting the mobile industry as one of the main drivers of the economy. These new players face the exciting challenge of meeting the strong demand for mobile connectivity in the country, which in less than a year has grown by 13.33% to more than 26 million mobile lines. Their success will depend on having a differentiating mobile business strategy, with a flexible commercial model and state-of-the-art technology that allows them to distinguish themselves in terms of value and compete on equal terms with other players in the sector, Buitrago adds. According to him, technology is becoming a key element for these new MVNOs, which are no longer just looking for a turnkey solution Core + BSS to operate in 3G, 4G or 5G, but also for a technology partner to help them make decisions on how to grow in the future and to accompany them throughout the process. Buitrago emphasises: We are committed to being strategic partners of our customers. Our deployed solutions, depending on the country, support 3G, 4G and now also 5G, whether standalone, non standalone, or what is now being called advanced 5G. Our company strategy differentiates itself by offering a single solution to support all technologies.We are talking about a solution that is interoperable backwards, so operators no longer need to deploy multiple platforms for each of the access technologies, with the consequent cost savings that this entails. The other great advantage of our technology offering is that our solutions are agnostic to the physical infrastructure on which they operate, supporting, in addition, any public cloud such as AWS or Azure, Buitrago stresses further. Concluding, Buitrago states: Our experience in launching and operating MVNOs, with more than 100 virtual ones deployed and operational and more than 500 sub-brands internationally, positions us as a reference technology vendor for these new projects. In addition to this experience, we also have a strong commitment to R&D and a strategic focus on the customer, which we believe, without a doubt, is a formula for success. JSC Ingenium, Telco vendor specialising in MVNOs The company, a subsidiary of Grupo Ingenium Tecnologia, a Spanish-based telecommunications holding company, is celebrating 27 years in October, developing network technology and services for mobile, network and virtual network operators. It currently has operational deployments in 20 countries and is focused on strengthening its efforts to meet the strong demand that has arisen on the African continent. It has state-of-the-art proprietary technology, fully developed in house and ready to deploy 5G SA and NSA, IMS VoLTE/VoNR, eSIM -, as well as a strong presence in the African continent. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kano State House of Assembly on Monday passed a supplementary budget of N58 billion, based on the request of the governor, Abba Yusuf. The state governor had, on 25 September, sent a supplementary budget to the lawmakers for approval barely after four months of his assuming office. Mr Yusuf had said the 2023 supplementary budget was needed to sharpen the focus of the states budget to deliver on its objectives by accelerating the execution of priority projects in the state. At its Mondays plenary presided by the speaker, Jibril Falgore, the lawmakers passed the supplementary budget into law after it was reviewed at the committee of the whole, the House of Assemblys spokesperson, Uba Abdullahi, said. The House has passed the bill into law to pave the way for the execution of more meaningful projects across the state by the executive governor, Mr Abdullahi said, adding, The size of the supplementary budget is over N58 billion. READ ALSO: Though the lawmakers did not release the details of the budget, they said 92 per cent of the supplementary appropriation would be expended on capital expenditures while eight per cent would be for recurrent expenditures. The withholding of the details of the supplementary budget is a break with the tradition of the disclosure of the breakdowns of the states budgets under previous administrations. Abdullahi Ganduje had signed a budget of N268 billion for 2023 before leaving office in May. With the supplementary budget of N58 billion, the 2023 budget of the state now stands at N326 billion. Mr Ganduje had, in November last year, presented N245 billion estimates for 2023. However, the lawmakers reviewed the budget upward to N268 billion, to cater for what they referred to as the social and economic developments of the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov has met with his counterpart from Tajikistan Sirojiddin Mukhriddin, who had arrived on a visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries in Shusha, Trend reports. During the meeting current issues on the bilateral cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and Tajikistan, cooperation on multilateral platforms, as well as regional issues were discussed. Minister Bayramov noted that there is potential for developing cooperation between the two countries in the field of transport and logistics. It was emphasized that direct flights from Baku to Dushanbe play a big role in this regard, as well as in strengthening ties between countries in the field of tourism. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Mukhriddin, in turn, thanked for the warm welcome and noted that Azerbaijani-Tajik fraternal ties are successfully developing both bilaterally and multilaterally; there is wide potential for cooperation between the two countries in the field of logistics, transport, tourism and others spheres. During the meeting, views were also exchanged on other regional issues. WUHU, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In mid to late October, OMODA and JAECOO brands are set to host the Global User Ecosystem Summit in Wuhu, China. These two global automotive brands will bring together users, media, KOLs, and experts to discuss the future of green travel and low-carbon living. Revolutionizing Green Travel OMODA and JAECOO, recognize the importance of the "digital intelligence + low-carbon" era. They believe that a harmonious collaboration with users is key to creating the ultimate travel experience. The Global User Ecosystem Summit, an exclusive annual gathering for OMODA and JAECOO car owners, will serve as a unique platform for sharing insights on green travel and low-carbon living, shaping new low-carbon ecosystem. Thousand-Person "Charity Bike Ride" Event & "Ecological Product Expo" During the conference, OMODA will host a thousand-person "charity bike ride" with the theme "New Journey New LifeRide Green Life." This event combines fashion with a mission: promoting low-carbon living. OMODA aims to lead a new journey towards green environmental protection with users. Additionally, they will showcase related biking products, including bicycles, at the "Ecological Product Expo" during the conference. The "Ecological Product Expo" will highlight OMODA and JAECOO user collaborative creation philosophy, featuring its customized vehicle and premium peripherals like outdoor power sources, tents, drones, VR goggles, and more, enabling users to explore new lifestyles. Unveiling Core Technologies for a Smarter, Safer Ride At the summit, OMODA will present its latest new energy vehicle, the OMODA 5 EV, equipped with smart features like voice control, a new generation ADAS system, and a dual-screen immersive smart cockpit for an intelligent and comfortable driving experience. JAECOO, a new urban off-road SUV brand, is committed to green sustainable development and collaborative ecology. It will showcase breakthroughs and innovations in green technology and off-road culture. JAECOO will also unveil the four core technologies behind its latest product, JAECOO 7, which include a 14.8-inch panoramic screen, a 10.25-inch full LCD instrument panel, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, and the in-house developed ARDIS all-road intelligent system. These technologies will deliver a smarter and safer driving experience to users. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241828/image_5011064_28924406.jpg SOURCE OMODA The 21st edition of CACLP and the 4th edition of CISCE will take place from 16 - 18 March at Chongqing International Expo Center, China . Concurrent with the tradeshows, the 9th China Experimental Medicine Conference and Series Sessions, the 11th China IVD Industry Development Conference and Series Forums and a diverse range of activities will kick off from 15-17 March in Chongqing as well. CACLP & CISCE 2024 have already confirmed over 1,100 global exhibitors since the sales kick-off in August, showcasing a strong confidence from the market and active engagement from the industry. CHONGQING, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As a remarkable start with more than 1,100 exhibitors already registered, CACLP & CISCE 2024 are set to take center stage to present the latest achievements within the in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) industry. CACLP & CISCE 2024 Exhibitors Preview As one of the most welcomed host cities, Chongqing, strategically positioned as a gateway to China's west, adds to the allure of the premier event. What's more noteworthy is that, starting from August 30th, China has removed all pre-entry COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound travelers, essentially reverting the entry process to pre-pandemic standards. This full reopening of China, coupled with the gradual recovery of international flights direct from the world's major cities, make the event a global focal point for discovering the dynamic landscape and emerging opportunities of the industry. In 2022, as reported by the China Association of In-Vitro Diagnostics (CAIVD), China's IVD market size reached USD 23.7 billion, up 30% year-on-year. This rapid growth signals the IVD industry's pivotal role in China's healthcare sector but also brings forth challenges and opportunities. In response to the increasing need for continuous innovation and adaptation, both Chinese and international IVD players fervently explore new development methods and strategies. Danaher Corporation, Roche, Abbott and other leaders in IVD globally have moved beyond the traditional model of investing in China for R&D centers and production bases. Instead, international companies now discover the more multifaceted strategy that involves deepening collaborations with local IVD companies, medical institutions, university research centers, and local governments. Being a part of CACLP & CISCE and concurrent activities plays a crucial role in the strategy for China's IVD market. This event not only offers a valuable platform to showcase advancements, but also helps engage with the world's most promising IVD community. As emphasized by the upcoming edition's slogan Shaping A Smarter Future Through Collaboration, CACLP & CISCE aims to facilitate the worldwide participants to gain access to essential talents and resources through their participation and fostering further development in the Chinese market through collaboration. Looking forward, China's IVD market is expected to sustain its impressive growth trajectory over the next 5 - 10 years, driven by factors such as the aging population and the rising healthcare needs of a rapidly developing nation, as highlighted in The Annual Report. As the industry continues to evolve, all parties within the industry are ready to make significant contributions to its ongoing innovation and development. CACLP & CISCE is no exception and will continue to serve as one of the largest exhibitions in the IVD industry worldwide, welcoming IVD players from around the globe. For further information about the event, please visit https://en.caclp.com On 26 October 2023, a webinar titled 'Perspectives on the IVD Market in China', jointly organized by CAIVD & CACLP, will be launching to assist international IVD companies in exploring more possibilities in the Chinese market. Please visit https://en.caclp.com/webinarOverviewSchedule/5.html for more information. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241652/CACLP___CISCE_2024_Exhibitors_Preview.jpg SOURCE GL EVENTS RUIHE (SHANGHAI) EXHIBITION CO., LTD. Julia Cooper, a Neonatal Lead Care Coordinator from Ipswich, was nominated following a dedicated career of over 30 years in neonatal nursing. Julia was praised for demonstrating "excellent collaborative leadership of her team/ODN colleagues in relation to implementing various initiatives" that have made a real difference to the support of parents. June Adams, a Nurse Team Leader from Rotherham, was nominated by Gemma Woolley, who spent three months in June's care following the birth of her second child at 26 weeks. Gemma shared that June was their "biggest support and champion," providing excellent support for her husband and helping her son to bond with his little sister during a very difficult time. Maria Flannery O'Boyle, a public health nurse from Ballina, received an astounding twenty-two nominations for her work. Maria was praised for her wealth of knowledge and support for mothers on their breastfeeding journeys, as well as going above and beyond running a breastfeeding mother and baby group. Mary Meade, a midwife from Sligo, was nominated by Mary Keating, who whilst pregnant with her second baby was diagnosed with placenta previa which resulted in a hospital stay for four weeks prior to delivery. Mary quoted: "I would never have got through those 4 weeks last November without Mary Meade." WaterWipes encouraged parents and healthcare professionals to nominate individuals who played crucial roles in pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care and made a difference in the lives of parents and babies in Ireland and the UK. They received 395 nominations for this year's Pure Foundation Fund. The winners were selected by an expert panel with representatives from the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance (INHA), Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), The Neonatal Nurses Association (NNA), and UK premature and sick baby charity, Bliss. For more information about this year's winners and the WaterWipes Pure Foundation Fund, please visit here. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238671/WaterWipes_June_Adams.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238668/WaterWipes_Julia_Cooper.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238669/WaterWipes_Maria_Flannery_O_Boyle.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238670/WaterWipes_Mary_Meade.jpg SOURCE WaterWipes HIGHLIGHTS Data from preclinical studies in ovarian cancer presented at premier international conference in Boston , USA. Results indicate that Amplia's proprietary FAK inhibitor narmafotinib (AMP945) performs better than standard-of-care in models of chemotherapy-resistant high-grade serous ovarian cancer Data from these studies support clinical study of narmafotinib in ovarian cancer with plans now commencing with leading international cancer specialists MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: ATX), ("Amplia" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that a poster, detailing a series of preclinical studies in ovarian cancer models, was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Special Conference In Cancer Research: Ovarian Cancer meeting, held in Boston, USA over the weekend. The poster describes research with narmafotinib (AMP945) conducted by the company's collaborators at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and was presented by lead researcher Prof Dwayne Stupack. The data presented clearly demonstrates that narmafotinib is active in mouse models of chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer with improved tumour growth inhibition activity and tolerability compared to a PARP inhibitor (niraparib), the current standard-of-care agent for this chemotherapy-resistant patient population. Moreover, narmafotinib showed promising activity in a model where niraparib therapy is ineffective. These results build on previous research by Prof. Stupack and his collaborators showing that activity of the FAK enzyme is upregulated in chemotherapy-resistant ovarian cancer and that FAK inhibition resensitises the cancer to standard-of-care chemotherapy and immunotherapy as well. Lead researcher Prof Dwayne Stupack stated: "PARP inhibitors are now widely used in the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and work well in a subset of patients with what's known as homologous recombinant deficient (HRD) HGSOC at least until drug resistance occurs. We have shown in our preclinical models that narmafotinib (AMP945) has better activity across the non-HRD disease, and importantly works in PARP inhibitor-resistant disease as well. Moreover, it appears to be very well tolerated, which is important for a drug that will be taken daily." A copy of the presentation, entitled 'Maintenance therapy inhibition of ptk2 [FAK] yields decreased disease in preclinical models of HRP/HRD models of recurrent HGSOC' is available on the Company's website here. Amplia CEO and MD, Dr Chris Burns commented: "The research results presented today by Prof. Stupack are extremely exciting and clearly demonstrate that our best-in-class FAK inhibitor narmafotinib has significant potential in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Given that over 1000 women in Australia die each year of this disease, there is a clear need for better treatment, and plans are now underway to work with local and international ovarian cancer specialists to initiate a clinical trial of narmafotinib in ovarian cancer patients. "The clinical potential of FAK inhibition in ovarian cancer was demonstrated earlier this year with the first-generation FAK inhibitor defactinib showing promising activity in patients with low-grade serous ovarian cancer. Our preclinical results in models of high-grade disease, which represents over 90% of all ovarian cancer patients, further underscore the potential role of FAK inhibitors in treatment of this disease." This ASX announcement was approved and authorised for release by the Board. Investor Contact: Dr Chris Burns Chief Executive Officer [email protected] Media Contact: H^CK Director, Haley Chartres [email protected] +61 423 139 163 About Amplia Therapeutics Limited Amplia Therapeutics Limited is an Australian pharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitors for cancer and fibrosis. FAK is an increasingly important target in the field of cancer and Amplia has a particular development focus in fibrotic cancers such as pancreatic cancer. FAK also plays a significant role in a number of chronic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). For more information visit www.ampliatx.com and follow Amplia on Twitter (@ampliatx), Threads (@ampliatx) and LinkedIn. SOURCE Amplia Therapeutics Kamux Corporation, Stock Exchange Release, 9.10.2023 at 18:00 HAMEENLINNA, Finland, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aino Hokeberg appointed as Kamux's Chief Marketing and Concept Officer Aino Hokeberg (40, M.Sc. Econ.) has been appointed as Kamux Corporation's Chief Marketing and Concept Officer, responsible for marketing and business concept, and a member of the Group Management Team as of January 1, 2024. She will be based in Upplands Vasby, Sweden and report to CEO Tapio Pajuharju. Hokeberg joins Kamux from Fazer, where she has held various commercial positions since 2017, most recently as Director, eCommerce. Prior to Fazer, she has worked for e.g. at Arken Zoo, ICA and KPMG. CEO Tapio Pajuharju: "I am very happy to welcome Aino Hokeberg to Kamux. We want to enhance customer experience across all channels, as well as improve our productivity, competitiveness and profitability. Aino has a strong track record of business development in an omnichannel environment, and she also brings to our management team valuable additional experience in developing an international omnichannel business." Aino Hokeberg: "I am thrilled to embark on this new journey with Kamux where innovation meets opportunity. It is exciting to further develop the customer experience across all customer touch points, the Kamux brand and the already strong business concept. I am looking forward to working with the team to unlock the next gear of growth." After the change, the members of the Group Management Team are: Tapio Pajuharju, CEO; Marko Lehtonen, CFO, Risks, IR & Communications and Legal; Jani Koivu, Country Director for Finland; Kerim Nielsen, Country Director for Sweden (at least until Dec 31, 2023); Martin Verrelli, Country Director for Germany; Aino Hokeberg, Marketing and Business Concept (as of Jan 1, 2024); Jarkko Lehtismaki, Chief Digital Officer; Marjo Nurmi, People, Culture and Sustainability; Juha Saarinen, Purchasing, Logistics and HUB; and Vesa Uotila, Strategy, Innovations, Data and Analytics. For more information, please contact: Tapio Pajuharju. CEO, tel. +358 50 577 4200 Marjo Nurmi, Chief People and Sustainability Officer, tel. +358 50 632 16 Kamux Corporation Communications Kamux is a retail chain specializing in the sale of used cars and related integrated services that has grown rapidly. Kamux combines online shopping with an extensive showroom network to provide its customers with a great service experience anytime, anywhere. In addition to digital channels, the company has a total of 77 car showrooms in Finland, Sweden and Germany. Kamux was founded in Hameenlinna, Finland, in 2003 and by the end of June 2023 the company had already sold over 490,000 used cars, 62,922 of which were sold in 2022. Kamux's revenue in 2022 was EUR 968.7 million and its average number of employees was 883 in terms of full-time equivalent employees. Kamux Corporation is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. For more information, please visit www.kamux.com SOURCE Kamux DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Balega, a leading performance running sock brand, proudly announces its release of their tenth annual, limited-edition Grit and Grace collection. One dollar from every purchase of their limited-edition Grit and Grace socks benefits Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP), the leading national science-based and advocacy organization working to eliminate toxic chemicals and other environmental exposures linked to breast cancer. The socks in this collection feature Balega's world-class quality of exceptional comfort, fit and durability. Grit and Grace collection This partnership reinforces Balega's widely recognized commitment to purpose-driven initiatives. Balega's mission has always been to deliver unmatched excellence in the fit, feel and technical performance of their running socks, while simultaneously forging connections with communities, retailers and charitable organizations like Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. "We are proud to reach this ten-year milestone for our Grit and Grace collection," said Michael Polk, Chief Executive Officer of Implus. "From early on, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners aligned with Balega's mission to develop superior products with purpose. We resonated with their unique proposition to identify the causes of breast cancer as a pathway to a cure and are honored to support this cause." Grit and Grace socks will retail for $17 per pair and can be purchased at specialty run stores and online at www.balega.com. To learn more about the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, visit www.bcpp.org. About Balega A leading performance sock brand in the run specialty market, Balega is a designer and manufacturer of technical performance running socks and part of the Implus family of brands. With a proud American-South African initiative, the company develops its product in several countries, utilizing the best performance yarns produced across the globe. Crafted for a superior fit and unmatched comfort, Balega is committed to the technical excellence, quality, and performance expected in the Balega brand. A brand with 'sole,' Balega prides itself on its commitment to the community with projects aimed at enriching those less fortunate than ourselves. For more information, please visit www.balega.com. About Implus Implus is home to 18 brands in the footwear accessories, hosiery, specialty running, outdoor, fitness and movement categories. As an industry leader in active accessories, Implus is committed to enabling people to live active, healthy, and fulfilled lives, providing innovative products to more than 80,000 retail outlets worldwide. Distributing across more than 70 countries, Implus is headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, with five international offices. Key brands within Implus' portfolio include Balega, SKLZ, Yaktrax, TriggerPoint, Sof Sole, RockTape and Spenco. To learn more, please visit www.Implus.com . SOURCE Implus LLC BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, within the framework of the upcoming 27th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO Council of Foreign Ministers), has received Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Mehdi Safari, Trend reports. During the meeting, a number of issues on the agenda of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations were discussed, and it was emphasized that the mutual visits and high-level meetings carried out in recent years have made a positive contribution to the further development of relations. The parties exchanged views on measures to implement the North-South transport corridor, as well as the implementation of communication links between the East Zangezur economic region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. The growth in the dynamics of trade and economic relations was noted with satisfaction, in particular, the activities of the intergovernmental commission between the two countries were highly appreciated. Minister Bayramov provided detailed information on local anti-terror measures carried out in order to put an end to the political and military provocations of Armenia and ensure the withdrawal of illegal Armenian armed forces from the territory of Azerbaijan. It was noted that Azerbaijan is implementing appropriate measures for the reintegration of Armenian residents within the framework of the Constitution and legislation of Azerbaijan and is interested in establishing lasting peace with Armenia based on the principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. During the meeting, views were also exchanged on other regional issues. DEWAR'S Double Double 37 Year Old is the first in the collection, honoring the whisky-making traditions of Speyside. A blended malt it was made from a combination of single malt whiskies it has been finished in Oloroso sherry casks that once held AULTMORE Single Malt, a Speyside whisky. The result is a profile rich with notes of cinnamon, honey, and vanilla, with a finish that borders on decadent. The natural color and non-chill filtered whisky has been bottled at a natural strength of 48%. Created by DEWAR'S award-winning Master Blender Stephanie Macleod and her team, the new whisky has already achieved remarkable recognition, scoring #12 on the International Whisky Competition's list of Top Whiskies of 2023 , and is the highest rated Blended Scotch at 93.8 points. Available for $1,799, every 375ml bottle of this rare, limited-edition whisky will be presented with two exquisitely crafted Baccarat Massena Tumblers to further elevate each tasting experience into a celebration. Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for DEWAR'S commented: "The team and I are driven by creating new and exciting whiskies interesting flavors and experiences that make our loyal drinkers excited for what we might come up with next. With the Collector's Series we wanted to take our award-winning Double Double series to the next level with a set of blended malts and, with this first expression, to pay homage to the style of a specific Scotch whisky region, all in one bottle. We're excited to hear what our whisky connoisseurs think, and to reveal more about the rest of the collection in due course." The four rare whiskies in the Collector's Series will be released over consecutive years, with the second in the series due to launch in 2024, the third in 2025, and the fourth and final in the series in 2026. Brian Cox, Vice President of DEWAR'S North America commented: "This extraordinary whisky is a testament to the talent of Stephanie Macleod and the team of blenders. Exquisite whisky also deserves exquisite glassware and so each bottle of Double Double 37 Year Old comes with a matching pair of Baccarat crystal glassware to savor every drop in luxury. So, raise a glass of DEWAR's Double Double 37 Year Old this season and toast to the bonds that whisky helps us forge, the stories it helps us share, and the joy it brings to our lives. Slainte mhath." Inclusive of the Baccarat Massena Tumblers, the set is available in limited quantities, sold at select fine wines and spirits retailers as well as online HERE . The Dewar's Double Double range, introduced in 2019, boasts a distinctive four-stage aging process. Double Double 37 is the latest addition to this award-winning range, which already includes the acclaimed Double Double 21 Year Old, 27 Year Old, and 32 Year Old, with Double Double 32 Year Old named World's Best Whisky by the International Whisky Competition in 2020. About DEWAR'S Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR'S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR'S WHITE LABEL, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR'S 12-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 15-Year-Old, DEWAR'S 18-Year-Old, DEWAR'S Double Double Series, DEWAR'S Caribbean Smooth and the exclusive DEWAR'S 25. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR'S oak marrying ageing process, which involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR'S the world's most awarded blended Scotch. The DEWAR'S brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. About Bacardi Limited Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held international spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDI rum, GREY GOOSE vodka, PATRON tequila, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON'S Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF vodka. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 10 countries, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or X, formerly known as Twitter. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY 2023 DEWAR'S BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY 43% ALC. BY VOL IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR'S & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL Media Contact: Shaun McKinley Nike Communications 516.428.0052 [email protected] SOURCE DEWAR'S DPC Dash opened 700 th China store in Wenzhou last month The Company subsequently entered a new city in China , with two new stores opening on the same day in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Company remains on pace to achieve goal of opening about 180 and 240 new stores in 2023 and 2024, respectively DPC Dash named one of the 2023 Top 10 Most Favorite Brands in the food and beverage Industry for Generation Z by National Business Daily HONG KONG, Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DPC Dash Ltd ("DPC Dash" or the "Company") (HK: 1405), Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China, continues to see rapid expansion in China, with the opening of its 700th store in September. The opening of the Company's 700th store in the city of Wenzhou is an important milestone demonstrating expansion in China remains on track. The Company subsequently entered a new city in China, with two new stores opening on the same day in Jiaxing, Zhejiang. With these latest additions, the Company remains on pace to achieve its targets of opening about 180 and 240 new stores in 2023 and 2024, respectively. As rapid expansion in China continues, the Company was also named one of the 2023 Top 10 Most Favorite Brands in the food and beverage Industry for Generation Z by National Business Daily. This popularity among young people in China shows the Company's success in adapting and building on the proven business model of its franchisor Domino's by localizing its key features for China and its consumers, focusing on serving Chinese consumers delicious, value-for-money pizzas through online channels, with an emphasis on delivery, enhanced by technology. Ms. Aileen Wang, executive director and chief executive officer of DPC Dash, said, "This important milestone in our growth demonstrates our success as we continue executing tailored localization strategies, and implementing our actionable store expansion plan. We remain focused on a delivery-centric business model, and on strengthening our development capabilities in regards to both menu and technology." About DPC Dash DPC Dash is Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Domino's Pizza, Inc., DPC Dash's global franchisor, is one of the most widely-recognized global consumer brands and the world's largest pizza company. Led by a seasoned and visionary management team, DPC Dash is a market leader that differentiates from competitors with, among others, a continually developed and localized pizza-focused menu, unique expertise and leadership in delivery, technology focus and scalable and replicable store economic model. DPC Dash directly operates 716 stores across 21 cities in China mainland as of 30 September, 2023. The Company is the fastest growing among China's top-five pizza brands, as well as the third-largest in terms of 2022 revenue, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan in March 2023. For more information, visit www.dpcdash.com Contacts Media Relations DPC Dash Public Relations: ICR, LLC [email protected] SOURCE DPC Dash Ltd CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND BRINGS EXTRAORDINARY SEASONAL EXTRAVAGANZA TO TROPICAL PARK UNPARALLELED FAMILY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCE OPENS ON NOVEMBER 16 CLICK HERE FOR PRESS ASSETS: Christmas Wonderland Media Kit MIAMI, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Holidays in Miami will dazzle more than ever with Christmas Wonderland, a brand new, one-of-a-kind holiday experience that has all the beloved traditional way to celebrate, as well as cutting-edge elements and only in Miami-Dade County moments. It's filled with family-focused holiday festivities, carnival attractions, cultural delights, spectacular lighting and live shows, and an inclusive celebration of our vibrant and diverse community. MIAMI HAS A WONDERFUL NEW WAY TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS. CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND COMES TO TROPICAL PARK Post this Christmas Wonderland at Tropical Park Nov 16 - Jan 7 Upon arrival, guests will venture into a captivating 3D dome and be transported into a holiday spectacular, savor delectable delights, see breathtaking live performances, be immersed in a world of wonder within interactive zones, indulge in thrilling games and exhilarating rides, and embrace an abundance of picture-perfect moments, all sure to delight. "As a global city, it was time for Miami to have a world-class Holiday destination and Christmas Wonderland is the pinnacle of holiday experiences all in one place,' said Tony Albelo, CEO, EngageLive! "Guests will enjoy a unique combination of the expected and the very unexpected, with holiday traditions and innovative, contemporary elements including highlighting the diversity of Miami-Dade County in a dynamic and remarkable way." The centerpiece of Christmas Wonderland is Tinsel Trail, with half a mile of holiday displays, light shows, and immersive experiences. Guests will encounter six unique worlds as they walk through the park, each with its own theme, sights, sounds, and activities. They are: HoliDade , a celebration of Miami-Dade County's diversity, people, culture, and neighborhoods with more than a dozen Instagram'able spots with exhibits by award-winning designer and creator of the Museum of Ice Cream , Moyano Productions. , a celebration of diversity, people, culture, and neighborhoods with more than a dozen Instagram'able spots with exhibits by award-winning designer and creator of the , Moyano Productions. SweetStreet, the popular board game, comes to life through a whimsical explosion of color, candy, cookies, and sweets. Grab something warm at Mrs. Claus' Bake Shop or make your own gingerbread creation at Ginny's Gingerbread Lab. the popular board game, comes to life through a whimsical explosion of color, candy, cookies, and sweets. Grab something warm at Mrs. Claus' Bake Shop or make your own gingerbread creation at Ginny's Gingerbread Lab. ToyTown , where everyone gets to be a kid again with the Elf Brigade and larger-than-life toys. Children can enjoy kid-sized rides and build their own ornaments at Pinky's Ornament Workshop. , where everyone gets to be a kid again with the Elf Brigade and larger-than-life toys. Children can enjoy kid-sized rides and build their own ornaments at Pinky's Ornament Workshop. Arctic Delight, enter through a wall of snow and enjoy the sensation of winter. Adults can enjoy the Ice Bar for a cold refreshment as kids explore displays and activities. enter through a wall of snow and enjoy the sensation of winter. Adults can enjoy the Ice Bar for a cold refreshment as kids explore displays and activities. Town Square a throwback to holiday classics with Tony's Tree Lot, a classic Christmas truck, the hometown feel of Main Street and fireside Storytime with Mrs. Claus for kids. a throwback to holiday classics with Tony's Tree Lot, a classic Christmas truck, the hometown feel of Main Street and fireside for kids. Santa's Village. Check out the reindeer at the stables, see what the elves are up to, and make sure to visit the Big Guy himself and grab a commemorative Santa photo, a must! Once an hour, the entire Trail goes dark and syncs up for an incredible light show encompassing all six worlds. Light Up the Night is a spectacular combination of lights and music that fills the entire park uniting all visitors through one simultaneous shared experience. The action continues at Christmas Wonderland's Magnificent Midway - a collection of the country's top carnival rides and games. Featuring over 50 carnival rides, including three roller coasters and the largest traveling Ferris wheel in North America, the iconic "Eye in the Sky," which towers at over 150 feet and allows guests to see for miles at this Christmas Wonderland exclusive. Completing the midway experience, a plethora of delicious carnival food, an array of local food trucks and vendors. Nestled within the Magnificent Midway is a first-in Miami experience, the IG'loo 360-Dome. The 3D-mapped immersive adventure will surround you with sights and sounds for the ride of your life. Join us for Holiday Hijinx as this unlikely pair of friends thrills the audience with holiday-themed antics and aerial feats. Our Sugarplum Princess dangles 40 feet in the air as she masterfully maneuvers herself through the air. You'll be on the edge of your seat as she defies gravity and physics. To settle you down, her best-bud, the Elf Who Fell off the Shelf, will lighten the mood with his acrobatics and comedy. But he has a big, giant surprise ending his triple somersault. Will he land it this time? (Daily Shows at 6:30pm) Don't miss our world-class troupe of artists, WonderCirque, as they perform cirque-style acts using their bodies, hoops, balance boards, and swords. Swords? Yes, real sharp and long swords! You don't want to miss WonderCirque! (Daily Shows at 8:30pm) The Christmas Ball of Thrills! is our giant steel Christmas ball, but it is not for hanging on a tree. It was built for THRILLS! Our death-defying motorcycle riders will risk life and limb as they race inside the giant ball, crisscrossing and missing each other my mere inches. Why do they even do this? We don't care. It's the most thrilling Christmas Ball ever! (Daily Shows at 7:30pm and 9:30pm) Christmas Wonderland will be open Thursday, November 16, 2023, through Sunday, January 7, 2024, at Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th St, Miami, FL 33155. Online ticket pricing starts at $29 for children 3 to 10, adults at $39 for ages 11 and up, and free admission for infants 2 and under. Prices do not include taxes and fees. Free parking on the property with complimentary shuttles. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://miamiwonderland.com/ Christmas Wonderland Details: Dates: Thursday, November 16th - Sunday, January 7th Hours of Operation: 5:00PM - 12AM (1AM on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day). Closed on Monday, November 27th, Monday, December 4th, Monday, December 11th, Monday, December 18th Christmas Wonderland Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=198SWhvA2BM Follow Christmas Wonderland on Social: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christmaswonderlandmia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christmaswonderlandmia Website: https://miamiwonderland.com/ Pricing ONLINE Adults (11+): $39 ++ Kids (3 to 10): $29 ++ Infants 2 & Under: FREE DOOR Adults (11+): $45 ++ Kids (3 to 10): $35 ++ Infants 2 & Under: FREE ++ does not include taxes and fees ABOUT ENGAGELIVE! EngageLive! a Loud And Live company, is a leading live events company focused on owning and operating premiere lifestyle events in South Florida, including across music, sports, fashion, boating, arts, and entertainment. Headquartered in Miami, EngageLive! is committed to delivering unforgettable experiences for its local audiences, and authentically engaging brands with consumers. Additionally, EngageLive! provides event production, logistics and food & beverage concessions services across a wide range of industries.www.engagelivellc.com SOURCE Loud and Live, Inc. The BUSY BEES' GREAT ADVENTURE World premiere musical educates elementary school students about environmental conservation MIAMI, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is buzzing about the new addition to the Center's Learning through the Arts program THE BUSY BEES' GREAT ADVENTURE. Featuring a diverse Miami-based team of creatives and cast, the original new musical centers around time-traveling, hip-hop performing honeybees on a quest to save the planet. 30,000 Miami-Dade elementary school students were invited to experience this live theater initiative, for free, at the Arsht Center while learning about the importance of environmental conservation. Atrevis McCullough (center) as Sir Lancelot Jones in The Busy Bees' Great Adventure - Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography The cast of The Busy Bees' Great Adventure - Photo by Morgan Sophia Photography THE BUSY BEES' GREAT ADVENTURE will have its world premiere run through October 13, 2023 at the Arsht Center and will continue to be performed annually. The storyline follows four honeybees on a quest to save the planet once they learn about the threats to the environment, including their own possible extinction, and what actions can be taken to prevent our planet's destruction. The show is envisioned as an engaging lesson in environmental literacy, a topic close to home for children who live in one of the most susceptible areas in the country. Large-scale projections transform the theater into the oceanside, a time machine and historic locations, such as Florida's Biscayne National Park. Students are also invited to the stage for a "Recycle Relay" competition and a "Recycle Bop" dance-a-long at the end of the musical presentation. PHOTOS AND BROLL can be found here. For most students, this will also be their first live theater experience at their local performing arts center. Everything, including the transporting of students to the Arsht Center, is provided free to Miami-Dade County Public Schools and students through the generosity of Arsht Center supporters. This original new work was commissioned and produced by the Arsht Center, written by Miami-based playwright Ashlee K. Thomas with music by Nico Raimont and is directed by musical theater educator Tanisha Cidel. THE BUSY BEES' GREAT ADVENTURE is made possible with the support of The Jorge M. Perez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Wells Fargo, Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, MONAT Gratitude Foundation and Ocean Reef Community Foundation. More information at arshtcenter.org. THE ARSHT CENTER'S ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS The Arsht Center offers 12+ education programs and free arts opportunities to 80,000 students across South Florida each year. The Busy Bees' Great Adventure is the latest installment of the Arsht Center's Learning Through the Arts program, a partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools that uses live theatrical performances as the primary path for learning traditional subjects. This program, which also includes productions for middle and high school students, has reached more than 300,000 students since its inception in 2010. Other Arsht arts education programs include Accessing the Arts Residencies, art workshops for children with disabilities; Jazz Roots: Sound Check and other behind-the-scenes access for students; virtual performances year-round; numerous teacher training workshops and many others. Media Contact: Suzette Espinosa Fuentes 786-468-2228 [email protected] SOURCE Adrienne Arsht Center SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Reliance Real Estate Advisors (RREA), San Francisco's premier boutique real estate firm, has announced Max Rattner and Blake Miller have joined the market-leading agency as Partners. "As we continue to expand our presence in San Francisco and the northern Peninsula, it is crucial for us to bring aboard talented individuals who share our passion for real estate and possess the skills to drive our success even further," RREA Founder Joe Harney said. "In Blake Miller and Max Rattner, we have found just that." Joe Harney, Max Rattner, Blake Miller Blake Miller specializes in industrial leasing and sales in San Francisco and San Mateo County. Over the past 10 years, Blake has worked on a broad range of assignments including Landlord and Tenant representation of warehouse, flex and office properties for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to private individuals. In addition, Blake has advised both institutional and private, Buyers and Sellers accomplish their investment strategies across multiple asset classes. His success is derived from utilizing his extensive experience, knowledge and ingenuity to advise and strategically execute his clients' real estate needs. Joining alongside Blake is Max Rattner, who specializes in leasing and sales of commercial properties in the San Francisco Bay Area, with an emphasis on industrial, land, fleet management, public parking, and EV infrastructure. The son of a transactional real estate attorney, Max believes that success is founded upon strong relationships, diligent work, and creative problem solving. As a result, he works with private, corporate, and institutional clients with a variety of requirements and investment strategies. "At Reliance Real Estate Advisors, we firmly believe that a team's success lies in its diversity and collaborative spirit. By combining our talents together, we are poised to achieve remarkable growth and deliver unparalleled results to our clients," Harney added. "As we move forward, we remain committed to our core values of integrity, transparency, and excellence. With Max and Blake on board, we are more equipped than ever to deliver exceptional service, create value for our clients, and contribute positively to the communities we serve." Media Contact: Nikol Plass 415-235-8214 [email protected] SOURCE Reliance Real Estate Advisors CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Peakstone served as exclusive M&A advisor to Corporate Technology Solutions. LLC ("CTS") in connection with its sale to APIC Solutions, a Tower Arch Capital portfolio company. Corporate Technology Solutions, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a leading integrator of security, A/V and low voltage infrastructure solutions in the Southwest. CTS designs and installs advanced systems for hospitals, universities, schools, state and local municipal governments, hotels and casinos and other commercial enterprises. APIC Solutions ("APIC") is a trusted full-service electric services and specialty systems integrator serving the Southwest region. The Company provides electrical services, low voltage infrastructure and specialty systems, security and life safety, as well as service and preventative maintenance. Brian Rhynas, CEO and founder of CTS said, "We have worked with the Peakstone team on a number of transactions over the past 10 years including add-on acquisitions and debt financing and they know our business and strategy very well. At every turn, they provided thoughtful advice to navigate through the sale process and evaluate our alternatives. Ultimately, we are very happy to be a part of APIC Solutions. They are committed to helping us grow in the Southwest and expand our team and capabilities." Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. For additional information please contact: Stephen Sleigh, Managing Director, [email protected] About Peakstone Peakstone is a leading investment bank that specializes in mergers and acquisitions, advisory, and capital raising for middle market clients. Our team is comprised of senior investment banking professionals who have decades of experience and have executed hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars. For additional information, visit www.peakstone.com. To receive investment and proprietary acquisition opportunities, please register at www.peakzone.com. SOURCE Peakstone Industrifonden and Navigare Ventures fund $7.3 million round STOCKHOLM, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pixelgen Technologies , a leader in spatial proteomics for single cells, announced today that it has closed a Series A financing of approximately $7.3 million. The round was led by new investor Industrifonden, Sweden's venture capital fund, and Navigare Ventures, an investor in Pixelgen's Seed round . Proceeds from the financing will support the commercial expansion of Pixelgen's recently launched spatial proteomics tool for analyzing cell surface proteins on single cells to transform drug discovery and basic science. "Pixelgen has made great progress since we emerged from stealth less than a year ago. Last month we shipped our first product to advance drug development and research in immunology, and we've expanded our team with top talent," said Pixelgen CEO Simon Fredriksson, Ph.D. "As we enter this next phase of growth, we are grateful and honored to have the support and expertise of Industrifonden and Navigare Ventures and look forward to their contributions." In conjunction with the financing, Industrifonden Senior Investment Director Patrik Sobocki, Ph.D., will join Pixelgen's board of directors. Sobocki brings decades of experience in healthcare, technology, and entrepreneurship to the board, in addition to his background in international research and development and commercial leadership roles in global pharmaceutical companies. "We are extremely excited to back Pixelgen. Its team of strong serial entrepreneurs with unicorn outcomes and a unique technology foundation combining advanced molecular research and computational innovation fit perfectly with Industrifonden's deep tech investment strategy and expertise in computational biology. We are honored to support Simon and his team to become a category leader within spatial proteomics in the coming decade," said Sobocki. "With category-defining technology and applications in rapidly expanding markets, Pixelgen is well positioned for growth," added Navigare Ventures Investment Manager Alex Basu, Ph.D., a Pixelgen board member. "We look forward to continuing to support Pixelgen as it expands and builds its portfolio of products for drug research and development." About Pixelgen Technologies Pixelgen Technologies AB was founded in 2020 by a team of passionate, experienced innovators and entrepreneurs with a vision to bring a new spatial understanding to biology by mapping cell surface proteins and their spatial inter-relationships. The company has developed Molecular Pixelation, a DNA-based visualization technology for analyzing cell surface proteins, to gain novel insights into cellular activity that will advance better medicines and diagnostics. Pixelgen is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Contacts Corporate: Annika Branting [email protected] +46 762-69 68 46 Media: Susan Thomas [email protected] +1 (619) 540-9195 SOURCE Pixelgen Technologies LOS ANGELES , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- RW Digital, a leading diverse-owned programmatic solutions provider, announced today they have entered into a strategic partnership with Neutronian, the leading provider of data privacy and quality verification, to verify and validate minority owned and operated publishers. This collaboration is aimed at enhancing visibility and accessibility to minority-owned media, further strengthening RW Digital's commitment to diversity and inclusion in the advertising industry. RW Digital offers brands and agencies innovative programmatic solutions to connect with diverse audiences. The company also empowers minority-owned publishers by amplifying their presence and impact in the digital advertising landscape. Through this partnership, RW Digital aims to bolster its efforts to validate existing media partnerships. This partnership will also allow RW Digital to confidently identify additional minority-owned websites that can be leveraged for clients seeking to diversify their media spending strategies. "We're thrilled to partner with Neutronian to validate our diverse minority owned and operated publisher partners, enabling us to amplify minority voices and drive scale and performance for our advertisers," said Mike Collado, Director of Account Operations for RW Digital. "It can be time consuming and cumbersome to navigate the programmatic landscape and Neutronian efficiently validates RW Digital's supply path so we can find accurate and verified inventory sources to empower publishers, meet client demand, and connect consumers to relevant content and brands. It's a 360 win." Neutronian has developed a rigorous framework for validating and scoring publishers that identify as minority-owned, including Black, Hispanic, and female-owned businesses. This validation process begins with an initial manual review and is complemented by ongoing automated monitoring to ensure the credibility of the data. Media owners are also able to self-submit details and documentation for verification. The Neutronian Minority Ownership Verification solution aims to enable support for businesses that identify as being owned by a disadvantaged minority, as accurately as possible. "We are excited to partner with RW Digital to increase visibility and accessibility to minority owned media," said Lisa Abousaleh, CEO and Co-Founder of Neutronian. "This effort will not only benefit the brands and agencies that are looking to diversify their media spend but it will also help minority owned publishers, especially the smaller self-owned and operated websites, have more opportunities to be included on campaigns that they might not otherwise have access to." Through this partnership with Neutronian, RW Digital reinforces its dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in advertising, working diligently to ensure that minority-owned media receives the recognition and support it deserves. About RW Digital RW Digital is a programmatic solutions provider powered by creative minds and advanced technology. Our advertising experts leverage data to build authentic relationships within an ever-evolving media landscape. We combine relentless work ethic with an earnest pursuit to uplift global communities. Certified by the Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council as a Minority Owned Business, the responsibility to uplift other diverse-owned businesses and support under-served communities is central to each venture Russell Westbrook introduces to market. Alongside it's 501(c)3 registered charity, the Why Not? Foundation, our core focuses are in creating both educational and employment pathways through investments in both digital and physical infrastructure. About Neutronian Neutronian is a SaaS company providing the industry's most comprehensive approach to data privacy and quality verification. Using a standard evaluation framework, Neutronian produces independent data privacy "credit scores", minority ownership verification and in-depth data quality certification. These solutions provide marketers with the transparency they need to confirm that their data and inventory partners are privacy compliant and align with data privacy policies or DE&I campaign spending goals. High quality, privacy compliant data providers and publishers that work with Neutronian to improve their data privacy scores or achieve certification can be rewarded via faster sales cycles and increased customer trust. For more information, please visit neutronian.com. Contact: Sayeh Hirmand Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications 818.554.0001 [email protected] SOURCE RW Digital The global semiconductor foundry market is driven by factors such as increase in consumption of consumer electronics devices around the world and surge in internet of things (IoT) technology. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Semiconductor Foundry Market by Node Type and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032". According to the report, the global semiconductor foundry market was valued at $106.9 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $231.5 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 8.1% from 2023 to 2032. Download Research Report Sample & TOC: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/125371 A semiconductor foundry, commonly referred to as a 'foundry,' is a specialized facility dedicated to the manufacturing of integrated circuits (ICs) or microchips. Unlike integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) that oversee both chip design and production, foundries focus solely on the production process. They provide a vital service to companies and designers who may lack the required resources or infrastructure to produce semiconductors independently. Typically, foundries operate under contractual arrangements, producing chips according to the specifications and designs provided by their clients, who are often referred to as fabless semiconductor companies. Prime Determinants of Growth The semiconductor foundry market analysis is expected to expand significantly during the forecast period owing to increase in utilization of consumer electronics, and surge in internet of things (IoT) technology. On the contrary, the complexities in manufacturing associated with semiconductor foundry restrains the market growth during the forecast period. In addition, the semiconductor foundry market is anticipated to benefit from increase in investments in semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and materials, during the forecast period. Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $106.9 billion Market Size in 2032 $231.5 billion CAGR 8.1 % No. of Pages in Report 289 Segments covered Node Size, Application, and Region. Drivers Increase in utilization of consumer electronics Surge in internet of things (IoT) technology Opportunities Increase in investments in semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and materials Restraints Complexities in manufacturing Covid-19 Scenario The positive pandemic impact for semiconductor foundries was witnessed in the increased demand for automotive components. Semiconductor foundries played a crucial role in critical applications, contributing to improved medical equipment and patient care as the healthcare sector rapidly adapted to new challenges. The 7/5nm segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on type, the 7/5nm segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-fourth of the global semiconductor foundry industry revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, as it is known for its small size & flexibility, and it is widely used in cameras, for industrial end users and in consumer electronics sector. The same segment is estimated to cite fastest CAGR of 9.0% throughout the forecast timeframe. The consumer electronics segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on application, the consumer electronics segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the global semiconductor foundry market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2032 due to increase in use of smartphones. North America to maintain its dominance by 2032. Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifth of the global semiconductor foundry market revenue and is expected to rule the roost throughout the forecast timeframe. The growth is attributed to the increase in use of charging points, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and industrial systems. However, Europe region is estimated to showcase a notable CAGR of 9.1% from 2023 to 2032. Inquiry before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/125371 Leading Market Players: - Globalfoundries Inc. Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited Intel Corporation Micron Technology, Inc. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited Texas Instruments Incorporated United Microelectronics Corporation X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global semiconductor foundry market. These players have adopted different strategies such as product development, and product launch to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Key Benefits for Stakeholders: This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the semiconductor foundry market analysis from 2022 to 2032 to identify the prevailing semiconductor foundry market opportunity. The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network. In-depth analysis of the semiconductor foundry market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities. Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market. Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players. The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global semiconductor foundry market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies. Semiconductor Foundry Market Key Segments: By Node Size 180nm 130nm 90nm 65nm 45/40nm 32/28nm 22/20nm 16/14nm 10/7nm 7/5nm 5nm By Applications Telecommunication Defense and Military Industrial Consumer Electronics Automotive Others By Region North America (U.S., Canada , Mexico ) (U.S., , ) Europe ( France , Germany , UK, Rest of Europe ) ( , , UK, Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , Africa ) Procure Complete Report (289 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3RNeIMy Trending Reports in Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount + COVID-19 Scenario): Compound Semiconductor Market is projected to reach $347 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2022 to 2031. SiC GaN Power Semiconductor Market is projected to reach $7.05 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 27.1% from 2021 to 2030. Embedded Die Packaging Technology Market is projected to reach $370.7 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 18.3% from 2022 to 2031. Semiconductor Market is projected to reach $1,033.5 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.21% from 2022 to 2031. Organic Semiconductor Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research New interactive, generative AI-powered tool assists users in accomplishing decision management tasks SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sparkling Logic today announced the creation of AI Assistant, an interactive, generative AI-powered tool that assists users in accomplishing decision management tasks. This new tool utilizes a language learning model (LLM) that has been pre-trained on various decision management tasks. Embedded in the SMARTS decision management platform, AI Assistant will provide smart support throughout the decision management lifecycle. AI Assistant will transform natural language into executable logic. As a result, users will be able to chat with AI Assistant and get on-demand help in areas such as the following: Interactively retrieving contextual and precise information from SMARTS Documentation Creating data, decision flows, tables, rules and other project assets Providing explanations for decision logic "Generative AI has been a game-changer as companies race to integrate it into their products and services. Our Augmented Intelligence initiative aims to apply generative AI and other emerging technologies to make decision management even easier and more intuitive for non-technical business analysts," said Carlos Serrano-Morales, Co-Founder and CTO of Sparkling Logic. "Through AI Assistant, business users new to decision management will be able to onboard quickly, author and modify rules in a truly no-code manner, and gain more transparency into decision logic." Sparkling Logic plans on releasing AI Assistant in SMARTS in 2024. As a sneak preview, Sparkling Logic will host an exclusive webinar in the fall to demonstrate how business users can collaborate with AI Assistant throughout the development cycle. To learn more about AI Assistant and the AI Assistant Preview Webinar, contact Sparkling Logic at [email protected]. About Sparkling Logic Sparkling Logic Inc. is a Silicon Valley-based company dedicated to helping organizations automate and optimize key decisions in daily business operations and customer interactions in a low-code, no-code environment. Our customers include global leaders in financial services, insurance, healthcare, retail, utilities, and IoT. SMARTS by Sparkling Logic is a modern, enterprise-level, application-agnostic, decision-management platform that enables non-technical analysts and SMEs to easily manage business-critical decisions, whether explicit or AI-driven, with minimal IT resources. Learn more at www.sparklinglogic.com. Contact: Sparkling Logic ***@sparklinglogic.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12984749 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Sparkling Logic, Inc. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The number of appeals to the hotline among Azerbaijanis living in Israel is minimal, Azerbaijani Embassy in Israel told Trend. "The embassy's hotline works round the clock. Appeals are mainly related to the general situation in the country and air flights. There is no panic among the population. There will be an AZAL flight tomorrow. Israir Airlines has flights today, as well as on October 11 and 13. There are currently regular flights between the two countries," the diplomatic mission said. A combined attack was carried out on Israel in the morning of October 7. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron". ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SUPCON (688777.SH, SUPCON.SW) exhibited at ADIPEC 2023, one of the largest and most inclusive gathering for the energy industry, which took place in Abu Dhabi on October 2-5 with the theme Decarbonising. Faster. Together. Over 2,200 exhibitors including 54 NOCs, IOCs, NECs and IECs and 160,000 energy industry professionals across the world came together uniting under a common goal while presenting diverse perspectives and ideas to discuss this common topic of the whole human community. In line with the event's theme of Decarbonizing, SUPCON showcased star products and solutions under the newly introduced Process Automation(PA) + Business Automation(BA) Smart Enterprise Architecture, including Intelligent Operation Management & Control System featuring Ethernet-APL network and Industrial Operating System equipped with SaaS APP, cutting-edge instruments including Hobre analyzers, as well as the industrial cybersecurity solution and MetaPlant solution. Many industry leaders such as ADNOC, NPCC, PDO, CPECC, Fauji, visited SUPCON's stand and had sparkling dialogues that forge partnerships and explore game-changing solutions. Visitors showed great interest in the Intelligent Operation Management & Control System and expressed strong confidence in its potential to revolutionize industrial practices from automation control to autonomous operation. By leveraging the latest technologies such as digital twin, AIoT, model-based predictive control, and machine learning, the system has been pushing beyond the limits of traditional DCS in terms of system openness and intelligence, and empowering the end users to realize ultimate interconnection, virtual-physical control and global optimization. Another spotlight of SUPCON's stand was the MetaPlant interactive experiencing using 3D AR glasses. The MetaPlant is essentially a digital twin of the physical plant with identical production process and assets models, which can provide a real-time presentation of production status, equipment health status, and personnel performance status. This can help the end user to realize virtual-real integration and human-machine collaboration, thus facilitating full-scenario and full-process transparency and intelligence of the plant, bringing the future plant into reality. SUPCON's new star product line, the Hobre analyzer, received broad acknowledgment during the event. With 40 years of industry experience in delivery of innovative process analyzer solutions, Hobre has been recognized as a most valued partner to support the industry in green process and sustainable development. After SUPCON's full acquisition of Hobre Instruments BV this spring, the combination of SUPCON's extensive experience in automation & digital transformation solutions with Hobre's exceptional capabilities in analytical solutions has forged a more complete business line from global intellisense, autonomous operation to synergistic optimization, solidifying the overall construction of SUPCON BA+PA architecture and providing stronger impetus for the further expansion of business ecosystem. During ADIPEC, vibrant idea exchanges were made regarding the SUPCON BA+PA Smart Enterprise Architecture. This architecture made its debut in the Gulf at the MEICA 2023 4th Edition, a leading process automation, instrumentation and industrial cybersecurity conference that took place in Saudi Arabia on September 12th to 14th. Guan Xiaogang, CEO of SUPCON Saudi, introduced it during the panel discussion that focused on "Achieving Autonomous Operation" and had enlightening discussions with the industry professionals. At ADIPEC, the top industry event for the regional pillar industry, SUPCON has listened to more voices and received more inspirations for the intelligent and green development of the energy industry. Moving forward, SUPCON will continue to focus on the voices in the industry and strive to solve the unresolved challenges. Contact Meifang Wang [email protected] SOURCE SUPCON A roundup of the week's most newsworthy consumer and retail industry press releases from PR Newswire, including a Mean Girls-inspired coffee creamer and a fragrance made from extinct flowers. NEW YORK, Oct. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the consumer and retail industries stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Consumer Press Release Roundup, Oct. 2-6, 2023. Photo provided by Nestle USA. https://prn.to/45hX9XZ Read more of the latest consumer-related releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNcnsmr, @prnfood, @prnbeauty, and @prnfashion on Twitter. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story. Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles. Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. SOURCE PR Newswire BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Another drug plantation was found on an area of five hectares in Azerbaijan's Gushchular village (Shusha district), the Interior Ministry told Trend. The ministry said that after the anti-terrorist activities in the country's Karabakh region against Armenian illegal armed groups [which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], reports began to be received about the discovery of plantations in the region on which drug-containing plants were planted en masse. Azerbaijani police officers discovered a hemp plantation on one of the household plots. The drug-containing plants grown on a plantation operating under the name of a farm were inspected with the participation of specialists. The inspection revealed that in this area, sativa and other mixed varieties of cannabis were grown using an agro-technical method with special care. Previously, narcotic plantations were discovered in Azerbaijan's Khojaly and Aghdam districts. In order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Statement, 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. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The concept of the Karabakh University is currently being developed, the Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, Emin Amrullayev said at the International Conference on Medical Education, Trend reports. The minister said that the university building will be built in Azerbaijan's Aghdam. "We want medicine to be taught there. In this regard, we are ready to cooperate," Amrullayev said. In addition, about six general education institutions will start working in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation in 2023. The minister emphasized that 94 teachers will work in these schools and 780 pupils will be studying. Colombo, Oct 9 : A Sri Lankan has gone missing while another is undergoing treatment for gunshot injuries after Hamas launched a major attack on Israel. Sri Lanka's Ambassador in Israel said that a Sri Lankan youth had gone missing after the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine and details are being collected about his whereabouts. "If we cannot find any information about the missing person we would share his details with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to find him among those were taken by Hamas," Sri Lankan Ambassador, Nimal Bandara told media. Sri Lanka expressed deep concern and called for an immediate halt to violence. "Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the attacks and escalation of violence and the resulting loss of life in Israel and Palestine. Sri Lanka calls for an immediate halt to violence and calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further civilian casualties," issuing a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. "Sri Lanka remains committed to supporting a negotiated settlement in line with internationally agreed parameters of two states living side by side on the basis of the 1967 borders. We extend our deepest condolences to all those who lost loved ones and express our sympathies to the affected families," it stated. The Sri Lanka Missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah are monitoring the situation closely and are in contact with Sri Lankans living in the affected areas, the Foreign Ministry stated. Nearly 8,000 Sri Lankans are working in Israel and the government has urged them to follow the instructions issued by the Israeli government related to the current conflict situation. Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau has set up hotlines and has urged families to contact them if any of their family members in Israel are facing any issues due to the violence. United Nations, Oct 9 : Israel has warned at the UN that the Hamas attack on the nation is "a war on the free world" and the world will lose if Israel fails to counter it. Calling the Hamas attack on Israel its "9/11" moment, the country's Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan on Sunday said: "Now is the time to obliterate Hamas terrorist infrastructure, to completely erase it so that such horrors are never committed again." "Israel may be under attack today, but this is not only a war against Israel, this is a war on the free world, it is a war on civilisation," he told reporters before the Security Council held a closed-door meeting on the Hamas attack on Israel on Saturday and its aftermath. "Israel is at the forefront of the war on terror and if we do not succeed, the whole world will pay the price," he said. "Israel has one sole demand: Hamas's war crimes must be unequivocally condemned," he added. However, the polarised Council failed to issue a statement on the Hamas attack that killed at least 700 and took scores, including babies and the elderly as hostages. Outside the UN and on streets around it phalanxes of several hundred police kept supporters of both Israel and Palestine from approaching the organisation's headquarters and away from each other while police helicopters hovered overhead. Erdan showed pictures and videos of the killings and kidnappings by the Hamas. He called the Hamas "a genocidal Islamic jihadist terror organisation" that is no different from ISIS and al Qaeda. Just as there can be no dialogue with al Qaeda, there can be no dialogue with the "genocidal jihadist" Hamas, he said. He said that Iran was using Hamas to disrupt the efforts of the moderate countries in the region to come together. "What Iran wants to achieve is separate us all," he said. "They definitely want to derail the chances of having normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel." "We still want it to happen (and) we'll do everything that we can" to make it possible, he said. Palestine's Permanent Representative Riyad Mansour said before the Council meeting that 370 Palestinians have been killed in the air strikes by Israel in Gaza. In what sounded like a justification for the Hamas attacks, he said that if the Israeli air strikes are "about vengeance then many Palestinians will feel they have much to avenge". "We know only too well that the messages about Israel's right to defend itself will be interpreted by Israel as 'License to Kill', to pursue on the very path that led us here," he said "This is the time to tell Israel it needs to change course and that there is a path to peace where neither the Palestinians nor Israelis are killed," Mansour added. United Arab Emirates Permanent Representative Lana Zaki Nusseibeh said after the Council meeting that its members were "concerned about the potential for regional inflammation spillover". "And so it's clear that we have to do everything we can to prevent that," she said. "We understand that right now we're in a very dynamic situation, in the complex situation and in a state of flux, and that all council members have to use both their international but also their bilateral channels to try for common de-escalation, with a focus and a priority around the protection of civilians on both sides," she added. While "our thoughts are with all civilians that are hurt", Robert Wood, the Alternate Permanent Representative of the US said that "what we need to focus on is this ongoing terrorist violence being committed by Hamas. And this cannot be ignored". "I'm glad today we heard from a number of council members that these attacks should not happen, they need to end and they condemn them," he said. He declined to go into the proceedings of the Council meeting which could not agree on a joint statement. China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun said: "We are in favour of issuing statements on this worrying situation." "It is important for the Security Council to have its voice heard," he added. "Also important is really to come back to the two-state solution under the peace process," which envisions Israel and an independent Palestine living side by side. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) Cairo, Oct 9 : Secretary-General of the Arab League (AL), Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, has headed to Russia to discuss developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip. Aboul-Gheit on Sunday flew to Moscow on a working visit at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by Gamal Roshdy, spokesman for the AL Secretary-General. The visit will include an expanded session of discussions with Lavrov on regional and international issues, most notably the ongoing escalation in the Gaza Strip. The visit came after Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, which has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 700 Israelis, while the death toll from Israeli retaliatory attacks on Gaza Strip has risen to 413. Lucknow, Oct 9 : Lucknow reported a total of 31 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, marking a slight decline from the 33 cases reported the previous day, according to data provided by the health department. Among the new cases on Sunday, Aliganj witnessed the emergence of three new dengue infections, with four cases each reported from Chandar Nagar and Sarojini Nagar, and five from Indira Nagar, according to Yogesh Raghuvanshi, the district health education information officer. While the drop in new cases is a positive sign, experts emphasise that it should not lead to complacency among authorities. Sheetal Verma, a senior faculty member at King Georgeas Medical University, stressed the importance of continued vigilance. Manoj Agrawal, Chief Medical Officer of Lucknow, appealed to the public to contact the control room and the integrated command control centre if they experience fever or encounter difficulties in accessing medical assistance. San Francisco, Oct 9 : DreamWorks Animation has laid off 4 per cent of its workforce -- or about 70 employees -- amid rising production costs and strikes this year. A company spokesperson told Deadline that DreamWorks Animation has reduced its workforce by approximately 70 positions. "Roles affected were across corporate functions, feature, television and technology departments as part of an overall cost-reduction," the company spokesperson added. DreamWorks Animation has laid off staff because of a business downturn and increased costs. Earlier this year, DreamWorks Animation and Netflix partnered for Orion and The Dark, an animated feature written by Charlie Kaufman that is set for release in 2024. DreamWorks Animation or DreamWorks is a subsidiary of Universal Pictures, a division of NBCUniversal, which is itself a division of Comcast. Their catalogue includes several of the highest-grossing animated films of all time, with Shrek 2 (2004) having been the highest at the time of its release. The studio's first film, Antz, was released on October 2, 1998, and its latest film was Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken on June 30. Their upcoming slate of films includes 'Trolls Band Together' next month and 'Kung Fu Panda 4' in March 2024. NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion in 2016. Jersusalem, Oct 9 : At least 10 Nepali nationals have been killed as Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7, the Himalayan nation's envoy to the Jewish state confirmed on Monday. In a statement to CNN, Ambassador Kanta Rizal said the victims were agriculture students and one remains unaccounted for. Since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, more than 700 people have been killed in the Jewish state, while over 400 Palestinians were also dead, according to authorities, reports CNN. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are still reported missing. Among the victims are at least 260 people whose bodies were found at the site of a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border. Besides Israeli nationals, the US has claimed at least 7 American have been killed, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that two Ukrainians have also lost their lives in the attack. Mexican and Brazilian nationals are also believed to be among the dead. In a separate incident, Israel's Ambassador to Colombia Gali Dagan has claimed that the Embassy in Bogota was vandalised with graffiti including swastikas, CNN reported. The envoy posted photos on X in whicha pillar of the embassy building is seen with a swastika next to the Star of David and pro-Palestinian slogans. Kochi, Oct 9 : The Kerala High Court has asked the State Police chief to take note and act against the vloggers who play truant with vested interests against new movies. Justice Devan Ramachandran was hearing a petition filed by Mubeen Rauf, the director of the film 'Aromalinte Adyathe Pranayam' who brought to fore the negative impact the of the vloggers' "foul play" on the film industry and sought action. Stressing on the need for checks and balances, Justice Ramachandran said, "The State Police Chief, through the learned Government Pleader, will also inform this court as to if an individual or an entity can file a complaint against such activities, including unlawful and motivated aReview Bombinga; and the modus for such, leading to the manner of investigation and its conclusion, apart from other suggestions. "It must, however, be specifically kept in mind by the State Police Chief that, what he is now being called to respond to, is regarding action only in the cases of motivated and calculated reviews made solely to extort and blackmail; and not those which are made bona fide," the court said. The court wanted to see if something can be done after the petitioner alleged that there are vested interests engaged in such an act. The amicus curiae after looking into it said the petitioner had raised a valid point. "Every movie is an intellectual property. Apart from being so, it also entails reputation, sweat, blood, and aspirations of several people, not merely the producers, lead stars, or the directors," Justice Ramachandran observed and further added that, "a fair criticism of an intellectual property - be that a movie or otherwise; in contradistinction to a pernicious attempt to blackmail and extort, are two different aspects, which have to be clearly distinguished and dealt with distinctly," the court said. It further pointed out that directors, producers or other persons associated with movies can make complaints to trigger a proper investigation under the penal law and under the laws relating to cyber crimes and posted the hearing for Tuesday. Seoul, Oct 9 : South Korea has issued a special travel advisory for Israel and urged South 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 advisory issued on Sunday 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, Yonhap News Agency quoted the Ministry as saying 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 South Korean nationals in Israel. A total of 570 South Koreans are estimated to be living or staying in Israel, in addition to some 360 traveling in the country. Flag carrier Korean Air Co., which runs flights connecting Seoul and Tel Aviv three times a week, cancelled a flight that was scheduled to depart for the Israeli capital on Monday. The company said it plans to operate a flight departing from Ben Gurion International Airport 15 hours later than the normal schedule, upon checking local airport safety circumstances, to assist people returning to South Korea. Flight schedules for Wednesday and onward have not been confirmed. A Transport Ministry official said the ministry will closely cooperate with the foreign ministry and Korean Air to assure the safe return of South Korean nationals. The Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched rocket attacks on central and southern areas of Israel during a major Jewish holiday on October 7 and Israel staged retaliatory air strikes against it, leaving more than 1,100 people dead on both the sides. Jerusalem, Oct 9 : As airstrikes continued to pound the Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have "severely degraded the capabilities" of the Palestinian Hamas militant group. In a statement, the IDF said that it targeted a structure that housed Hamas operatives and several of the militant group's operational command centres, including a three-floor facility, reports CNN. According to the IDF, the other targets include a command centre belonging to a senior Hamas naval forces operative named Mahmad Kashta; a Hamas operational asset in a mosque in Jabalia city; and an intelligence and additional asset used by the militant group. Since Israel declared war on Hamas on Sunday a day after the militant group launched an unprecedented surprise attack on southern Israel, the Jewish state has continued pounding the besieged coastal enclave with airstrikes. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are still reported missing, while thousands others were injured in the attacks. In its latest update, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said the violence has displaced 123,000 Palestinians in Gaza with close to 74,000 seeking shelter in schools, "as heavy shelling and airstrikes continue including on civilian areas". "UNRWA school sheltering displaced families in the Gaza Strip was directly hit today (Sunday). The school, sheltering more than 225 people, was severely damaged. No casualties were recorded among the displaced," the Agency said in a statement late Sunday. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency has published a weekly report on humanitarian demining operations carried out in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation on X (Twitter), Trend reports. According to the information, 67 anti-tank and 31 anti-personnel mines were discovered and neutralized last week. An area of 426.5 hectares was demined. Moreover, a total of 315 people became victims of mine terror in the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation between November 10, 2020, and September 19, 2023. Of them, 62 people (civilian: 49; military: 13) were killed and 253 (civilian: 101; military: 152) were injured. Chennai, Oct 9 : The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly session will begin on Monday and will be the first session after AIADMK broke from its alliance with BJP. The AIADMK has 66 legislators while the BJP has four MLAs. The BJP has won the seats in the 2021 Assembly elections piggybacking on the popularity of the AIADMK and it is now to be seen how the AIADMK will be reacting to BJP in the House after the split. The session is expected to discuss in detail the Cauvery water issue with Karnataka. The Kuruvai paddy farmers of Delta districts of Tamil Nadu are facing the heat after the crops withered following a fall in the water level in Mettur dam. Mettur dam has recorded water level at 32 feet against its capacity of 120 feet, and as theCauvery water flow reduced, the Kuruvai paddy has withered. The Tamil Nadu government has already announced compensation of Rs 5,500 per acre for the Kuruvai paddy farmers which the opposition AIADMK, PMK and TMC has said to be inadequate. The Assembly session is slated to be brief and Cauvery would take centre stage in the discussions. The Tamil Nadu finance minister, Thangam Thenarasu is slated to present the first supplementary estimates for the Financial year 2023-24 on Monday. Guwahati, Oct 9 : At his native village in Assam's Baksa district, the deceased Army jawan Mitul Kalita's mortal remains were cremated with military honour, officials said on Monday. Kalita went missing in the recent flash flood that ravaged Sikkim. According to officials, his body was found on Sunday morning. The mortal remains of the jawan were then sent to Anandbazaar Hatkhula area in the Baksa district. As per reports, a large crowd gathered at Mitul's residence to pay their respects. Assam cabinet Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass visited the jawan's residence and paid respects. Dass posted on X, "Saddened to hear about the unfortunate demise of Indian Army jawan Mitu Kalita in the devastating floods in Sikkim while he was undergoing a practical training session in Borong." Earlier, Assam Chief Minister also expressed his grief on the demise of Kalita and wrote on his X handle, "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. My prayers for the departed soul & condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief." Guwahati, Oct 9 : At least 160 students from Assam who were stranded in the flood-ravaged Sikkim, were successfully evacuated and have returned to the state, officials said on Monday. Six buses from the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) were reportedly used to transport the students back to Guwahati on Sunday night. According to officials, the majority of the students who were evacuated were studying in the Sikkim Manipal University. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier said that representatives of the state government travelled to Sikkim to safely evacuate the stranded students. "Two senior officials of the Assam government had been sent to supervise the evacuation of the students who were trapped in Sikkim. At least 160 students were stranded in Sikkim's Rongpo and Majitar regions," Sarma told reporters. Los Angeles, Oct 9 : Oscar-winning actress Jamie Lee Curtis has quietly responded to backlash over her post which saw her showing support for Israel following the Hamas attack. The actress has deleted the controversial post as it's no longer on her Instagram page, reports aceshowbiz.com. In the Saturday post, Jamie shared a picture of several children looking terrified while staring missiles in the sky. "Terror from the skies," the 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' actress wrote alongside an Israel flag. The actress also tagged Samar Abu Elouf, the photographer behind the image. Samar, however, clarified that the picture actually featured Palestinian children in Gaza. They were running from bombs being counter-launched by Israel. "Palestinian families seek refuge with their children from the northern Gaza Trip to UNRWA schools inside Gaza City. Children are afraid of the sound of bombing who hear it during their presence due to events on the Strip's borders," the photographer wrote on her own Instagram page. It didn't take long for Internet users to slam Jamie as she used the wrong picture to show solidarity to Israel. ]"Just to clarify, this picture is from Gaza.The children looking up at the rockets are Palestinian," an Instagram user wrote in the comments section. "That's Arabic in the back there, look at the store signs. If that was in Israel, it would be Hebrew," someone else pointed out. "In fact, this is a picture from Gaza! The children are Palestinian children from Gaza and they are under Israeli terror and heavy airstrike!" "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," someone else fumed. A user on X (formerly Twitter), wrote: "Jamie Lee Curtis posting a pic from Gaza and thinking it's from Israel is kinda funny ngl." "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," another tweeted. "Jamie Lee Curtis posted the picture to get sympathy for Israel when it's literally Palestinian kidsa you can't make this upa," another tweet read. Jamie wasn't the only celebrity who was under fire after showing support for Israel. Kylie Jenner landed in hot water as she was calledby online users for sharing a pro-Israel post even though her best friends, including Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid, have been advocating for palestine for years. Beginning on Saturday, militant group Hamas launched thousands of rockets from Gaza in a surprise ambush. Since the ongoing conflict, more than 1,100 people have been killed from both sides and over 2,300 people have been injured, according to the media. Chennai, Oct 9 : The Tamil Nadu Assembly session, which will commence on Monday, is slated to be stormy with the combined opposition likely to bring up the Cauvery issue and the 'failure' of the state government to convince Karnataka to provide adequate quantity of the river water to the state. The Kuruvai paddy farmers of Tamil Nadu are facing hardships due to shortage of water in Mettur dam that supplies water to the delta districts, including the rice bowl of the state, Thanjavur. The Mettur dam reported on Saturday 32 feet of water as against the 120 feet capacity it has. The lack of Cauvery water has led to the dip in storage in the Mettur dam and this has affected the Kuruvai farmers of the state. Around two lakh hectares of Kuruvai cultivation has been affected due to the shortage of water from Cauvery and the state government has announced a compensation of Rs 5,500 per acre for the Kuruvai paddy farmers whose crop suffered withering. The opposition AIADMK, PMK and TMC have demanded a hike in the compensation amount and are likely to raise the issue in the House to corner the government. The AIADMK, according to sources is also likely to issue the case of the Muslim prisoners in Tamil Nadu who are languishing in prisons, including the 1998 Coimbatore blast prisoners. The likely spat between the AIADMK and its former ally BJP will also be witnessed in this session of the House. Tamil Nadu legislative secretariat sources told IANS that the duration of the session will be decided by the Business Advisory Committee meeting which will be held after the presentation of the Supplementary estimates for the financial year 2023-24 by Tamil Nadu finance minister, Thangam Thenarasu. Jerusalem/Gaza, Oct 9 : The Palestinian Hamas militant group which launched an unprecedented surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, has claimed that it was currently holding more than 100 Israeli nationals as hostages, including high-ranking army officers. In an interview with Arabic news outlet al-Ghad TV late Sunday night, Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of the group's political bureau, said the number of Israeli hostages "hasn't been counted yet but they are over a hundred", CNN reported When queried if Israeli army officers were among the hostages, Marzouk replied: "There are high-ranking officers." Israel authorities have said that dozens of Israelis are being held hostage in Gaza but have not confirmed exact numbers. Also on Sunday night, Islamic Jihad, a militant group that operates in Palestinian territories, announced that it has taken 30 Israelis as hostages. In a televised address, Ziad al-Nakhalah, the group's secretary-general, said: "The Islamic Jihad Movement currently has more than 30 prisoners, and they will not return to their homes until our prisoners are liberated." The Islamic Jihad and Hamas are separate organisations, but they both operate in the Gaza Strip and are aligned in their opposition to Israel. The Islamic Jihad has called for Israel to release some of its fighters in exchange for the hostages' release. The total number of hostages taken during Hamas' assault this weekend is not yet clear, but Israeli officials have said there are dozens of captives. Mexico's Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena said on Sunday that two Mexican nationals, a woman and a man, have "presumably" been taken hostage by Hamas. Meanwhile, at least three Brazilian nationals are also missing, according to Brazilian authorities. The Hamas launched the surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza. During the attack, Hamas militants broke through the security fence that separate the Gaza Strip from Israel and stormed nearby communities, killing and capturing Israelis. On Sunday, Israel declared a war on Gaza, attacking the besieged coastal enclave with airstrikes that were still continuing as of Monday morning. Since the conflict erupted, more than 700 people have been killed in the Jewish state, while over 400 Palestinians were also dead, according to authorities,. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are still reported missing. Among the victims are at least 260 people whose bodies were found at the site of a music festival near the Israel-Gaza border. New York, Oct 9 : Standing "firmly" with Israel, top Indian-American leaders have condemned the surprise terror attack by the Palestinian Hamas militant group, saying that an "attack on Israel is an attack on America". Palestinian militants launched the attack on southern Israel on October 7, firing rockets from Gaza as its fighters crossed over the border, killing over hundreds and wounding several others. Israel then carried out retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Hamas, declaring Israel was now "at war". "Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Iranian backers -- they hate Israel and they hate America. We can't be distracted. We have to remember that what happened to Israel could happen here in America," former South Carolina Governor and Republican presidential candidate, Nikki Haley, told NBC News. "This is not just an attack on Israel -- this was an attack on America. Finish them @Netanyahu (Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu). They should have hell to pay for what they have just done," Haley wrote on X. Congressman Shri Thanedar said in a statement posted on X that he "stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Israeli people in condemning this recent attack by Hamas". "I condemn these violent attacks against the Jewish people and the state of Israel. The calculated aggression targeting innocent civilians is heartbreaking and cannot be tolerated. America stands firmly with Israel," Thanedar said. He urged the Congress to rally behind Israel until the threat is addressed and security is restored. Congressman Ro Khanna called the crimes carried out by Hamas against Israeli women and children "inhuman" and "appalling". "My heart breaks for the victims, and I stand in solidarity with the people of Israel at this dark moment," Khanna wrote on X. Republican presidential aspirant and biotech entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy said that the US should use the attacks in Israel as a wake-up call and strengthen its borders. "Key lesson for America to learn from the attack on Israel: we cannot be complacent about defending 'our own' borders. If it can happen there, it can happen here. Our own border is near-completely porous right now," Ramaswamy wrote on X, stating that the northernBborder of the US is "wide-open for invasion". "Our own foreign policy establishment has focused on distant foreign priorities while leaving us badly vulnerable on border defense, cyber and super-EMP defense, nuclear missile defense, and space-based defenses. We can't lose sight of that & should use the attacks on Israel as a wake-up call here at home," Ramaswamy said. Meanwhile, the US government suspects that "several Americans" may be among those killed or taken hostage in Israel following the attacks and strikes, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. "We have reports that several Americans may be among the dead," Blinken told NBC News on Sunday, adding he was verifying the reports and also stories that some have been taken hostage. 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 had said earlier. Blinken said the US is "working overtime" to verify reports of missing and dead Americans overseas after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel. Israeli officials confirmed early on Monday that over 700 civilians and members of the military have died and 2,150 others wounded since Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. The country has warned at the UN that the Hamas attack on the nation is "a war on the free world" and now is the time to obliterate the Hamas terrorist infrastructure to ensure that "such horrors are never committed again". --IANS mi/ksk Mumbai, Oct 9 : Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's security is being beefed up to Y+ level. The actor has asked for security cover from Maharashtra government after he received death threats over the aBesharam Ranga song from his blockbuster film aPathaana, which released earlier this year. Various fringe outfits had taken offence to the use of saffron colour in one of the actress Deepika Padukoneas dresses in the song. These groups equated the use of saffron colour in the song with the title and took offence saying the song mocks the saffron colour which is associated with the Hindu sentiment. Following the row over the song, Paramhans Acharya, an Ayodhya-based seer, had allegedly issued death threats to the actor. As per a media report, the actor had written to the state government seeking the security cover. Under the Y+ category, SRK will get 11 security personnel, including six commandos, four police personnel and a traffic clearance vehicle. The Y+ security is provided by the state to those citizens who face a threat to their lives. In response to the state government's directive, the IG VIP Security scaled up the actoras security for which he will have to deposit a certain sum of money. Earlier, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was provided Y+ security cover last year following threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. Lawrence Bishnoi Gang is the same gang that was involved in the day-light murder of Punjabi music star Sidhu Moosewala. Shah Rukh Khan has had run-ins with the Mumbai underworld earlier and has been known to stand up to threats. Washington, Oct 9 : At least four Americans have been killed in the attacks on Israel by the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip, a media report said citing informed sources, who added that the death toll is expected to increase. The sources, familiar with a Sunday briefing to key House committees, told of the development to CNN after Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US was "working overtime" to verify reports of missing and dead Americans in the wake of the October 7 attack. "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 earlier on Sunday. CNN had reported earlier 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. Since the conflict began, more than 1,100 people have been killed on both the sides. Besides the US, Nepal has confirmed that 10 of its nationals were killed, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that two Ukrainians los thir lives as a result of the violence. Meanwhile, over 2,300 were wounded by ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which includes 213 children and 140 women. Athens, Oct 9 : Greek conservatives of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party won seven out of 13 regions in the first round of the regional elections, according to the preliminary results released by the Interior Ministry on Monday with about 40 per cent of ballots counted. The regional elections came as a political test for the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who won a second term in office in this summer's general elections, reports Xinhua news agency. "We are here to work with each governor and mayor. After all, this is what we did in the previous four years because problems have no (political) color," the premier said on Sunday night after the announcement of the results, sending a message of cooperation. Candidates for regional governors, as well as mayors in the 332 municipalities nationwide, needed to secure 43 per cent of votes to win the seat outright, otherwise the 1st and 2nd runners will contest in a runoff on October 15. In the region of Attica, where the capital Athens is located and is the most populous region, ND candidate Nikos Hardalias won the election with 46.53 per cent of votes after 50.37 per cent of votes were counted. "All together we will fight in the next five years and together, undoubtedly, we will make it," he said. Athens' incumbent Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis gained 41.27 per cent of votes with 44.49 per cent of votes counted, and thus will face a candidate backed by the socialist PASOK-KINAL party in the second round. In Piraeus, the incumbent mayor Yiannis Moralis achieved a clear victory with 69.8 per cent of votes. A clear picture of the results of municipal elections is expected later on Monday. The local administration officials are elected for a five-year term. Some 9.7 million Greek citizens aged above 17 were registered to vote on Sunday. In addition, 17,957 citizens of 26 EU member states, who are living in Greece and have registered for the elections, could also cast their ballot, according to the Interior Ministry. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. A number of media outlets have reported on the transfer of the Khankendi city polyclinic to the Azerbaijani Management Union of Medical Territorial Units (TABIB), the TABIB told Trend. In the published information, it is noted that inventory work will begin in the coming days. Activities related to the organization of medical services, along with other vital areas, continue in Azerbaijans Khankendi. In Azerbaijan's Khankendi, since October 1 of this year, an outpatient polyclinic and seven ambulance and emergency medical care teams, provided with medical facilities, have been functioning. The activities of the polyclinic operating in the 7/24 mode are carried out on a duty basis. The polyclinic has three rooms for general examination, a room for minor surgical operations, a dressing room, and two rooms for medical supervision. In addition, the polyclinic began to do an electrocardiogram. Los Angeles, Oct 9 : Celebrated filmmaker Martin Scorsese is pleased with the influence he has had on other filmmakers, not just through his own work but by recommending movies made by other people, and in turn he is inspired by them too. "I've always considered myself a teacher more than a filmmaker. I've felt a sense of pride that I've influenced a couple of people not necessarily with my work but by recommending films." "And then from their films, I get inspired. It opens up a whole new world," he said during a Q+A session at the London Film Festival hosted by Edgar Wright. The 'Killers of the Flower Moon' filmmaker also told how he struggled to be accepted in the industry even when he tried "to be a Hollywood guy." He said: "They asked me to leave around 1978/79. And not just because of the filmmaking. We were younger, and I was going through teenage rebellion at the age of 27," reports aceshowbiz.com. The 'Taxi Driver' director insisted he doesn't want to be seen as the "last line of defense" for cinema in the digital age and encouraged the industry to embrace the "extraordinary time" we live in due to technological advancements. He said: "I didn't want to be the last line of defence. I don't know where cinema is gonna go. Why does it have to be the same as it was in the last 90-100 years? It doesn't. Do we prefer what's been happening for the last 90 years? I do but I'm old. Younger people are gonna see the world in a different way..." "If I had digital or even good video, I would've shot 'Mean Streets' on that, and I wouldn't have had to pay for cameras. It would have given us a sense of freedom. Now there's so much freedom that you really have to rethink what you're saying and how you're gonna say it. I hope that serious film can still be made with this new technology and this new world we're a part of." Bangkok, Oct 9 : At least 12 Thai nationals were killed and 11 others kidnapped since the Hamas-Israel conflict erupted in the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok announced on Monday. Addressing the media at a press conference here, a Ministry spokesperson said that eight Thai nationals were also injured, CNN reported. The spokesperson added that the names of all the victims were withheld until their families were informed. More than 1,000 Thai workers have requested help to be evacuated, CNN quoted spokesperson as saying. According to the Foreign Ministry, there are approximately 30,000 Thai workers in Israel. Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Air Force is on standby to evacuate Thai citizens from Israel, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has confirmed. A number of foreign or dual nationals have been confirmed killed or captured by Hamas militants, including Mexican and Brazilian nationals taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group. US Senator Chuck Schumer said on Sunday that four Americans had been killed, adding: "We know the toll will rise," CNN reported At least 10 Nepali citizens and two Ukrainians were also killed, according to their respective authorities. Los Angeles, Oct 9 : Celebrity chef and former Food Network star Michael Chiarello has died. He was 61. Chiarello died on Saturday at Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, where he was being treated for an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, his company Gruppo Chiarello announced in a statement, reports Variety. "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael. 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," the Chiarello family shared in a statement. "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." Chiarello hosted shows on PBS, Food Network, Fine Living and Cooking Channel for a decade, as well as appeared as a guest chef on the 'Today' show and 'The View'. His Emmy-winning cooking show 'Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello' ran for 10 seasons on Food Network. Chiarello served as a judge on Bravo's 'Top Chef' and 'Top Chef Masters'. In 2011, he participated in Food Network's "Next Iron Chef" competition. Chiarello was born on January 26, 1962, in Red Bluff, Calif. He opened his first restaurant, Tra Vigne, in Napa Valley in 1987, and later opened such restaurants as Bottega, Ottimo and Coqueta He ventured into winemaking in 1999, creating Chiarello Family Vineyards. Chiarello was named Chef of the Year from Food & Wine magazine in 1985, and later received CIA's Chef of the Year award in 1995. "Chef Michael Chiarello's passion for food and life will forever be etched in our kitchens and our hearts. While we mourn Michael's passing, we also celebrate his legacy that continues with his restaurants, Bottega, Coqueta (San Francisco and Napa Valley), and Ottimo," said his longtime partners in Gruppo Chiarello. "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 life's most precious treasures." Washington, Oct 9 : The collapsed crypto exchange FTX used hidden Python code to misrepresent the value of its insurance fund, according to court testimony by FTX co-founder, Gary Wang. Sam Bankman-Fried-run FTX claimed in 2021 on Twitter that "the 5.25 million FTT (FTX tokens) we put in our insurance fund in 2019 now makes the fund worth over 100 million USD". Now, FTX's former chief technology officer Wang said during his testimony that FTX's so-called $100 million insurance fund in 2021 was actually fabricated, reports Cointelegraph. Instead, the figure shown to the public was calculated by multiplying the daily trading volume of the FTX Token by a random number close to 7,500. "For one, there is no FTT in the insurance fund. It's just the USD number. And, two, the number listed here does not match what was in the database," Wang said. FTX's insurance fund was designed to protect user losses in case of huge, sudden market movements. In addition to revealing the allegedly fraudulent nature of FTX's insurance fund, Wang claimed that he and Nishad Singh were prompted by Bankman-Fried to implement an "allow_negative" balance feature in the code at FTX. "It allowed Alameda Research to trade with near-unlimited liquidity on the crypto exchange," he was quoted as saying. ]Wang had admitted to committing wire fraud, commodities fraud and securities fraud with Bankman-Fried, former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison and former-FTX director of engineering, Nishad Singh. Wang earlier told the court that a tweet sent by Bankman-Fried assuring that the cryptocurrency exchange was "fine" was false. "FTX was not fine. Assets were not fine, because FTX did not have enough assets for customer withdrawals," said Wang. The FTX trial is expected to last six weeks. FTX -- once the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange -- filed for bankruptcy in November last year. Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas on December 12, 2022 and extradited to the US on December 21. Kolkata, Oct 9 : West Bengal government, on Monday, filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) at the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's order rejecting death penalty for three convicts, acquitting one of them while sentencing the other two to life imprisonment in the 2013 Kamduni gang-rape and murder case. "After the Calcutta High Court's division bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Ajay Kumar Gupta, on last Friday, passed the order, the state government had taken an in-principle decision to challenge that order at the apex court. Now taking a step forward we have filed the SLP at the apex court on this count," a senior official from the state law department said. He also said that in the SLP, the state government, besides seeking a stay on the order of the division bench, has also sought a fast-track basis hearing in the matter at the apex court. On Friday, the division bench acquitted Amin Ali, who was given death penalty by a lower court in Kolkata in 2016, of all charges and changed the punishment for Saiful Ali and Ansar Ali to life imprisonment instead of death. The other three convicts -- Imanul Islam, Aminul Islam ad Bholanath Naskar -- who were earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by the lower court, were set free on Friday as they have already completed ten years behind bars. The parents of the victim, who was 20 years of age then, have already accused the public prosecutor for lackadaisical argument in the high court and said that they will move the apex court. They also said that they will take the help of the lawyer who led the argument in case of the Nirbhaya rape and murder case in Delhi. This is our 9/11, they got us: Israeli military. Image Source: IANS News Jerusalem, Oct 9 : As Israeli forces are still fighting Hamas gunmen, the Jewish state's military on Monday termed the unprecedented attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group from Gaza as "this is our 9/11, they got us". This was in reference to the September 11, 2001 terror attacks carried out by the Al Qaeda against the US. In a statement on Monday, military spokeperson Major Nir Dinar said: "This is our 9/11... They got us," the BBC reported. The spokesperson's comment echoed Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus's remark in which he not only compared the Hamas attacks to 9/11 but also to Pearl Harbor -- the surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the American naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941. "This could be a 9/11 and and a Pearl Harbor wrapped into one," he said. "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 on one day." As airstrikes continued on the Gaza Strip on Monday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) claimed that more than 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the coastal enclave were hit overnight, the BBC reported. The IAF said that fighter jets, helicopters, aircraft and artillery struck the targets, adding that seven Hamas command centres and an Islamic Jihad command centre were hit. In its latest update on Monday morning, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said they were still fighting Hamas gunmen at seven to eight sites in southern Israel close to the Gaza Strip. These sites include Beaeri, an agrarian community, which was infiltrated by Hamas fighters overnight. Many of the militants have been killed, but others are still hiding in homes in the kibbutz, the BBC quoted the IDF as saying. The Israeli military added that it has attacked more than 1,000 targets in Gaza. "The scope of this operation is something completely different... Itas taking more time than we expected to get things back to a defensive, security posture," Lt Col Richard Hecht told reporters. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza has increased to 436, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Monday. The Ministry said that 81 children and 61 women were among the fatalities. At least 2,271 people have been injured in Gaza, including 244 children and 151 women, it added. Meanwhile, the IDF has put the death toll in Israel at 700. New Delhi, October 9 : Amid heightened stand-off between Israel and Palestine, India has said that it will adopt a cautious approach as far as the conflict's impact on the energy sector is concerned. "India will handle it with maturity. As far as the energy sector is concerned, the place where the action is taking place is in many respects the centre of global energy. We will watch very carefully. We will navigate our way through this. These kinds of uncertainties only encourage people for sustainable and cleaner fuel," Union Petroleum Minister HardeepPurisaid on the sidelines of an event on Monday. The conflict between Israel and Palestine during the weekend unnerved global markets and saw crude oil futures prices jump 5 per cent in early trade today. Experts have said that if Iran joins the conflict, then it could disrupt oil supplies, which may cause a spike in crude prices. Iran is a supporter of Hamas, whose rocket attacks on Israel had triggered the war. New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan during the latter's ceremonial reception. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Monday. The two leaders reviewed various facets of India-Tanzania ties and also discussed ways to further deepen the close and historic relations between the two countries. After the bilateral talks, both the sides held delegation-level talks in which they covered a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X that the agenda included trade and investment, Defence and maritime security, development partnership, higher education and people-to-people ties. Hassan is currently on a three-day visit to India on the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. She had arrived in New Delhi on October 8. Earlier in the day, the visiting dignitary was given a ceremonial reception by the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Patna, October 9 : Around 25 to 30 armed dacoits targeted the house of a businessman in Bihar's Madhubani district and decamped with cash worth Rs 20 lakh and valuables, police said on Monday At least six people were injured in the attack that took place at about 1 a.m. on Monday in Saharghar village under the Saharghat police station located on the India-Nepal border. Of the six people, two were police personnel. They were admitted in the Sadar hospital Madhubani and are out of danger. The armed dacoits struck on the house of Raj Kumar Gami and beat the family members, including his wife and son. "They took the victims at gunpoint and robbed the house. The family members are suspecting that the accused have taken away valuables and cash worth more than 20 lakh," said the official spokesperson of Madhubani police. "When the incident was informed to district police, a patrol van of Saharghat police station was the first to respond to the incident. While the police team approached the house, the dacoits threw a bomb on them which exploded. "Two home guards were injured in the attack," the spokesperson said, adding that the criminals escaped to Nepal by crossing the porous international border. An investigation is currently underway. Gadwal : , Oct 9 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Water is a priceless commodity for the farmers living in villages beyond the barrage across river Tungabhadra in Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana. Located along the state borders with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, many villages in Rajoli block do not receive water from the interstate Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme (RDS). Though agriculture is the mainstay, farmers depend on samidoddi kunta (a mini irrigation tank) to water their crops and quench the thirst of livestock. Around 26,000 acres in Rajoli block depend on rain-fed agriculture. The Tummilla Lift Irrigation Project coming under the RDS was supposed to ensure supply to these lands. However, delays in project execution have been hampering the release of water. Irony is that all the affected villages are located within 30 km of the canal that gets its supply from the RDS barrage. Water shortage has always been an issue, despite the Krishna and Tungabhadra crisscrossing the semi-arid lands of Jogulamba Gadwal, Wanaparthy, Narayanpet, Nagarkurnool and Mahabubnagar districts. This is because Telangana forms the northeastern part of the Deccan Plateau.The Telangana Plateau is located around 600 m above the sea level. Take the case of Pacharla village coming under the village panchayat of the same name. Pacharla can irrigate its 100 acres only by storing rainwater in the mini irrigation tank managed by the Rajoli block and Pacharla panchayat authorities. The remaining 25,900 acres in the other five villages -- Mondoddi, Tanagala, Tandrapadu, Uppal and Tummilla -- are irrigated in the same manner. Besides growing only rain-fed crops, the villagers fulfill their water needs by drawing water from wells, borewells and ponds. However, they have better options like Mission Bhagiratha and hand pumps when it comes to drinking water. "We have developed the mini tank on the village outskirts," said Pacharla sarpanch P Tirumal Reddy. Panchayat secretary K Vijayalaxmi added that farmers cultivated chillies and onions. "At least 500 small and marginal farmers benefit from the tank," she said. Recognising a need The people of Pacharla recognised the importance of a water retention structure after a drought hit the region in the 90s. They approached the Mandal Development Office seeking a solution. The natural tank was present in the area for over two decades. However, the mud from it was removed only in 2014 to enhance its water capacity. After that, no further work happened until 2022. Measures like planting trees around the tank began on April 10, 2022. Of the Rs 10 lakh funds made available to the panchayat, Rs 6.67 lakh came from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme. The state irrigation department accounted for the rest. Beautification measures, including planting of saplings, were completed using the Central funds. Twenty MGNREGA job card holders worked on this initiative, while field assistants, panchayat secretary and village sarpanch offered all possible assistance. However, the work is not yet over. It is likely to be completed only by 2027. "Almost 20 per cent of the tank renovation work that began in 2014 is complete. The remaining activities, including construction of a compound wall, culverts and approach roads, are pending. In 2022-23, we spent Rs 3.4 lakh of the sanctioned Rs 6.67 lakh MGNREGA fund, thus creating 3,467 person-days," Rajoli block Technical Work Inspector Mamata Kaluva told 101Reporters. What turned out to be a lifeline for the pond was the 2014 launch of Telangana government's Mission Kakatiya project, which aimed at restoring the lost glory of minor irrigation structures in the state with community participation. In July the same year, the state irrigation department carried out its first census on minor irrigation sources in Telangana. It assessed the presence of 46,531 tanks in the state. As a follow-up, the department tried to restore/renovate all of them the next five years, taking up 20 per cent of the tanks each year. Now, the Pacharla tank brims with water when the village sees good rains. During the dry months, it is a cool shade for both humans and cattle. Delayed promises Tummilla Lift Irrigation Scheme under RDS is meant to cater to the whole of Rajoli, Manopad, Ieeja and Undavelli blocks in Alampur taluk. The farmlands of Pacharla and surrounding villages are bound to benefit from the project's second phase involving construction work on Mallamma Kunta Reservoir. The Tummilla project was announced by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in 2016, for which a grant of Rs 834.60 crore was promised then. It was meant to make up for the incomplete Tungabhadra water supply initiative under the RDS for the last ayakattu farmers. However, delays in work, increasing material costs and corruption have affected it. The first phase of the project was completedinJune 2021 at a cost of Rs 389 crore, with two pumps of 5.5 MW capacity installed to pump 340 cusecs of water, and another pump with a capacity of 10.5 MW installed to pump 392 cusecs. Already 55,600 acres have been irrigated in the first phase, while another 31,900 acres will get water in the second phase. In total, the Telangana Irrigation Department is working with the target of irrigating 87,500 acres as part of the Tummilla scheme in two phases, but proper monitoring and supervision are not happening. For example, the work related to the Tummilla scheme on Mallamma Kunta Reservoir, Julakal and Vallur villages were to be completed in the second phase, for which the state government had sanctioned Rs 394 crore in administrative grants. Though the deadline lapsed in July, there has been no progress in the work even now. An exemplary effort Pacharla serves as a model for many semi-arid villages in Telangana, where migration due to lack of water and resources has always been high. Medikunda Hanumanthu (49) has two acres of cotton crop that gets water from the village's mini irrigation tank. His family members tend to the crop. "We are glad that the mini tank helps us to cultivate our land," he said. "In our village, we collectively take decisions regarding developmental works. We discuss farmers' problems in a meeting at Rythu Veddika Bhavan monthly. For us, the mini irrigation tank is a god's gift. It is a symbol of our happiness. That is why we even hoist a national flag on the tank on August 15," said Patcharla Raithu Samithi president Peddi Reddy (65). Earlier, Independence Day celebrations were held at Pacharla village panchayat office. Since last year, the official flag-hoisting and recital of the national anthem have been held on the tank premises also. "A fair is organised every year at avvagudi (a temple) near the tank. We have installed Lord Hanuman's statue in the nearby Guntirangayya temple to appease Lord Varuna to have mercy on us, bringing good rains and thus filling our tank with water. Farmers celebrate Dussehra with joy on its premises," said Pacharla sarpanch Tirumal Reddy (48). The people of the village want to convert the tank into a tourist spot and facilitate those who come there for the annual fair. Tirumal hoped a park would come up along the banks of the tank within the next two years. (Venkateshwarlu Boya is a Telangana-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The program of the 74th International Astronautical Congress was intense, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan said, Trend reports. In five days, 423 interactive presentations, 168 technical sessions, 7 plenary sessions, and 20 global networking forums were held. Many topical topics were discussed at the events, such as space exploration, achievements in the field of space navigation systems, services, and applications, and international cooperation in the field of earth sensing. In addition, round tables with representatives of the USA and Africa were held for the first time at the Baku Congress. One of the memorable moments of the Baku Congress was the online speech of the founder of SpaceX, Elon Musk, on October 5. On the first day of the congress, Mask was awarded the "World Space Prize" of the International Astronautical Federation for achievements in the space industry. During his online speech, Musk answered questions about SpaceX's space activities and shared details of projects currently being implemented. He noted that the Starship spacecraft and the crew of a superheavy SpaceX rocket called Starship are fully reusable transport systems designed to deliver cargo to near-Earth orbitthe Moon, Mars, and beyond. The Starship is the most powerful launch vehicle ever created by mankind and is capable of carrying up to 150 metric tons of fully reusable payload and 250 metric tons of consumable load. According to Musk, the Starship ship can land on Mars unhindered in 34 years and can also be used as a space laboratory. He is able to stay in space for a long time. In addition, Musk's speech was watched by a record number of people. On X (Twitter), where Masks 60-minute speech was published, it was watched by more than 40 million people. The 74th International Astronautical Congress was held in Azerbaijan from October 2 through October 6. Baku hosted this prestigious event for the first time in 1973, during the leadership of the country by the great leader Heydar Aliyev. After 50 years, the congress was held in Azerbaijan again. More than 5,300 representatives from 136 countries took part in the international event. Amaravati, Oct 9 : Arrested former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Chief N. Chandrababu Naidu's anticipatory bail petitions in three cases were dismissed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday. The bench headed by Justice Suresh Reddy passed the orders. The cases are the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam case, the AP FibreNet scandal case and the Angallu violence case in the Annamayya district. Naidu is currently in judicial custody in Skill Development Scam while the Crime Investigation Department (CID) is seeking his custody for questioning in the Inner Ring Road and FibreNet case. Andhra Pradesh High Court on September 26 had reserved its orders on Naiduas anticipatory bail petition in the Angallu violence case. Naidu and other leaders of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were booked for anattempt to murder by the police in connection with the violent incidents that occurred in Angallu village in Annamaya district on August 4. The incidents at Angallu and in Punganur town in the Chittoor district occurred when the TDP chief was visiting the region to see the status of irrigation projects. During the hearing, Naiduas lawyer P. Venkateshwarlu argued that a false case was booked against him. He said leaders of the ruling party YSR Congress attacked the TDP men during Naiduas visit. He submitted to the court that NSG commandos protected Naidu during the stone pelting by the ruling party leaders. Naiduas counsel also brought to the courtas notice that several persons named accused in the case were already released on bail. Earlierthe High Court granted bail to 79 leaders of TDP in the Punganur and Angallu violence cases. Another 30 TDP leaders, including Naidu, have filed anticipatory bail petitions in these two cases. On August 9, police booked Naidu and other TDP leaders for an attempt to murder, rioting and criminal conspiracy in connection with the Angallu incidents. Chandrababu Naidu has been named accused number one in the FIR registered at Mudivedu police station. The development is seen as a setback to Naidu and TeluguDesamparty. Advocate Krishna Murthy statedto the mediathat the Andhra Pradesh High Court had rejected the bail petition of Naidu in casespertaining to casesin connection with the inner ring road, fibre net scams and the Angallu rioting case in Annamayya district. The High Court had rejected two regular petitions on technical grounds. The High Court opined that in the fibre net scam case, the bail could not be granted as it is in the final stages of the investigation. Naidu was arrested in a skill development scandal case. His advocate argued that regular bail could be granted to him in other cases when he is arrested in another case and sent to judicial custody. However, the court refused to accept the argument. The agencies maintained that his judicial custody in another case cannot be considered as deemed custody in other cases for granting regular bail. Ahmedabad, Oct 9 : At the Shaurya Yatra event in Ahmedabad, Surendra Jain, the National Joint General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), has reiterated the organisation's long-standing appeal to reinstate the city's historical name, Karnavati. Jain is in Ahmedabad to address public gatherings and meet VHP members. In an event he addressed on October 8, Jain expressed his concerns over the city bearing the name of an invader, remarking, "Ahmed Shah was an attacker, a looter. It's improper for Gujaratas premier city to carry his name. This doesn't project the right image." He emphasised the city's deep historical connection to Karna, who founded Karnamukteshwar Mahadev in the region. Dwelling upon the reluctance of the current saffron government in Gujarat to make the name change, Jain voiced his belief in the power of the people, stating, "If the populace unites and voices its desire for this change emphatically, any governing body will be compelled to heed it." Bengaluru, Oct 9 : Karnataka Police have launched a probe into threat calls made to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) from two different prisons in the state, officials said on Monday. According to the police, the calls were made to DIG Prisons (North Range) T.P. Sheha from the central jail in Parappana Agrahara in the outskirts of Bengaluru and the Hindalaga Prison in Belagavi. The caller threated Sheha that he would get his residential quarters exploded and stated that he knows underworld don Bannanje Raja as he had helped the latter when he was in prison, police said. The caller further maintained that he knows Hindlaga prisonas head wardens Jagadish Gasti and S.M. Gote. He further threated to orchestrate a ruckus inside the prison and the senior police officer would be assaulted. DIG Sheha had registered a case with the Belagavi Rural Police Station and demanded action against the culprit. Threat calls were also made to Union Minister Nitin Gadkarias Nagpur office in Maharashtra from the Hindalaga prison of Belagavi. The caller had demanded a Rs 10 crore ransom or else the office would be blown up. The investigations had revealed that Jayesh Poojari a.k.a Jayesh Kanth, a prisoner at Hidalaga prison , had made calls from a cellphone on January 14 and March 21. His connection with terrorist Afsar Pasha had also come to light in the investigations. RBI sucks out over Rs 1 trillion liquidity, banks to be affected. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : India's state-owned lenders posted the best-performing bank stocks among the country's Asia-Pacific peers in the quarter ended September 30, reflecting growing investor interest and the banks' stronger financials metrics, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Indian state-owned banks occupied 10 of the top 15 slots, dominating the rankings for the second straight quarter. Indian Overseas Bank's share price rose 91.60 per cent in the quarter to sit atop the list of 15 Asia-Pacific banks, while Central Bank of India was in second spot with a rise of 76.59 per cent, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Indonesia's PT Bank Nationalnobu Tbk ranked third, with share price growth of 74.80 per cent. Two Japanese banks and one each from Pakistan and Sri Lanka filled the remaining slots. Ten banks from East Asia ranked among the 15 Asia-Pacific bank stocks with the lowest total returns,with the remaining slots taken by three banks from Indonesia and one each from the Philippines and Vietnam, S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows. Share prices of Indonesia's PT Bank Jago Tbk and PT Bank Neo Commerce Tbk dropped 37.65 per cent and 34.87 per cent, respectively, in the quarter. Seven banks in mainland China featured in the list, which was broadly in line with the performance of the stock markets there, where the Shanghai stock exchange's SSE Composite Index fell nearly 3 per cent and the Hang Seng Mainland Banks Index fell 11 per cent in the third quarter. Kochi, Oct 9 : The Kerala High Court on Monday refused anticipatory bail to a mother for allegedly facilitating the rape of her minor daughter by the stepfather. Justice P. Gopinath termed the allegation against the mother "grave" and an "insult" to motherhood, if it's proved true. "I am of the view that the petitioner is clearly not entitled to anticipatory bail. The allegations against the petitioner are very serious and if true they are an insult to motherhood," read the order. The prosecution in the case pointed out that during the period from 2018 to 2023, the stepfather had, with the consent and knowledge of the petitioner, indulged in conversations of a sexual nature with the minor girl. Other grave and explosive charges, including rape, was also pointed out and in all these, the petitioner mother had a role and the court opined that if granted bail, it could have a bearing on the victim. "The apprehension expressed by the learned Public Prosecutor appears to be real. The petitioner being the biological mother of the minor victim may be in a position to influence or intimidate the victim if she is granted bail," said the High Court and dismissed the petition. Mumbai, Oct 9 : Celebrity chef Ranveer Brar, who is set to host the food reality show 'Star Vs Food Survival', cooked a chicken delicacy for the 'Jubilee' actor Aparshakti Khurana at roughly 18,000 feet above sea level. He shared that the actor's reaction was exactly what a true blue Punjabi has for their love for chicken. 'Star Vs Food Survival' sees celebrity guests tackling the wilderness as they navigate the culinary journey. Bollywood actors Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt, Aparshakti Khurana, Mouni Roy, and Nakuul Mehta will explore the essence of India's culinary legacy. Talking about his experience on the show, Ranveer said: "It was a fun experience shooting the show. It was an interesting mix of challenges that were thrown at us along with cooking, conversations and difficult terrain. The days were physically tiring. It was very invigorating. The show is very stimulating. What really stands out for me are the conversations between Nakuul and myself." He further mentioned: "There was on the spot poetry that happened on the sets. The most memorable anecdote has to be Aparshakti's reaction when he ate chicken that I cooked for him at like 18,000 feet above sea level. His reaction showed true Punjabi's love for chicken." Ranveer leads the star-studded cast on an adventurous journey through the vibrant flavours and culinary treasures of two unique Indian locales: Coorg and Spiti. The show promises to unravel the flavours and stories behind each dish. 'Star vs Food Survival' drops on Monday on discovery+ and Discovery Channel. Sunday Special-- Rajbhar factions queer the pitch for Ghosi bypoll in UP. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, Oct 9 : Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) President, Om Prakash Rajbhar, an ally of the BJP, will hold his first mega rally in Patna against the Bihar caste census which was released by the Nitish Kumar government recently. The rally will be held at Gandhi Maidan on October 10. The rally, Vanchit Shoshit Jagran Maha rally, is likely to be attended by Bihar BJP President Samrat Chaudhary and other leaders. This would be the first occasion when Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and BJP leaders would be seen together at a political event after Rajbhar returned to NDA after snapping ties with the Samajwadi Party. SBSP national general secretary Arun Rajbhar said the rally will expose how the Bihar caste census has left out many OBC castes like Bhar and Rajbhar who have significant presence in over two dozen districts in Bihar. "It was like a fake census and done arbitrarily," Rajbhar said. The Bihar caste census report has stoked churning in political circles. He said the rally will also focus on the inclusion of the 'most' backward communities among the OBCs in the overall socio-political development of the state. Rajbhar said the rally will also highlight JD(U)-RJD government's anti-people measures including displacement of poor from their land. The most backward caste account for over 36 per cent of Bihar population, followed by OBC (27.12 per cent), SC (19.65 per cent) and ST (1.68 per cent). The upper caste/general category constitutes 15.52 per cent of the population. BJP leadership, meanwhile, has been cautious over the issue, with several senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only accusing the opposition of being casteist. Analysts said the party does not want to annoy Dalits and OBCs, who form a formidable electoral bloc, by speaking directly against the caste census. New Delhi, Oct 9 : ndeed the wheel of time never stops for anyone and metaphorically it also unfolds completely unthinkable or unfathomable events. Similarly, history also has a peculiar way of repeating itself and it was repeated once again after 50 years plus a day, when the Iran-supported Hamas launched a well-coordinated and bold land, sea and air invasion into the Israeli territory. The fighting is still ongoing, and the number of casualties is rising, but political statements calling for a unity government in Israel are already being heard. In addition, just within a day of the onslaught, the western media was replete with analyses and comments comparing the October 7 onslaught with the Yom Kippur War (also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Araba"Israeli War, or the Fourth Araba"Israeli War) and drawing parallels with Palestinians not honouring the Yom Kippur Day of the Holy Month of Ramadan in 1973 and timing of the attack this time with the joyous celebration of the Torah, which marks the concluding holiday of the Feast of Tabernacles. These articles claim that in both cases, the enemy (Palestinians and Arabs) chose one of God's appointed holidays for the assault; a time when people are typically enjoying the festivities with their families, so most of the Israeli and western newspapers described the attacks as inhuman. They further tried to justify the supposed Israeli unpreparedness saying that religious and traditional Jews gather in synagogues for prayer, where they are forbidden to bear arms, and their electronic devices, television and radio are turned off. Public transportation is halted, and communication with reservists and their mobilisation becomes problematic. But additionally, we also have to realise that not every Arab Muslim child is aware or is made aware repeatedly about the Yom Kippur War, unlike Israeli children who from a young age are taught and their brains instilled with hatred towards the Arabs. Instead the common Arab, or for that matter, every Muslim is more concerned with the Israeli repression in the in the occupied territories, besides their hostile attitude to the faithful visiting the Al Aqsa mosque for prayers. How the fully armed and heavily reinforced Israeli soldiers treat the common Palestinians and faithful from elsewhere, everyone knows. In just two days videos of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas gained huge traction on various social media platforms, and their traction completely outruns the traction, which the video of a deaf Palestinian girl being mistreated by Israeli soldiers is getting. At the political level, the attacks also immediately led to calls from the opposition to exclude cooperation with far-right parties that are part of the Netanyahu government. Suddenly, a country that was badly divided over Netanyahuas judicial reforms reunited in the wake of the attacks. Yair Lapid has now called for an emergency unity government, one without Ben-Gvir and other extremist ministers, and Netanyahu seems amenable. At international level, except Iran and PLA President lauding the attack, most of the so-called Islamic nations and organisations have used the diplomatique route and have urged for caution and restraint by both the parties. An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on October 7 congratulated Palestinian fighters, the semi-official ISNA news site reported. "We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem," it quoted Yahya Rahim Safavi as saying. This cautious attitude is perhaps due to the fact that after the signing of the Abrahams Accord, most of the Arab nations have shown their inclination to normalise their diplomatic relations and off course trade relations with Israel, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Meanwhile, the litmus test is for the Biden administration. As of now, the US might be forced to directly engage in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, working to ensure that regional stability can be restored, to keep the normalisation process started between Arabs and Israel at its behest on the tracks. Additionally, the question uppermost in everyoneas mind is how the current conflict will impact the Middle Eastern politics and what transformation the relations between the US and various Arab states may takes place and how the international community is going to respond to Iran, and its supposed support to Hamas. But equally it is uncertain how this will end. How long this current crisis will last, whether and how the current Israeli and Palestinian leaders survive it, and what comes next for the Israeli and Palestinian people, are all mired in future tense. But one thing is certain, the latest conflict will hugely impact the Arab world and certainly a change is bound to happen. (Asad Mirza is a Delhi-based senior political and international affairs commentator.) Hong Kong, Oct 9 : As severe tropical storm Koinu has weakened, the Hong Kong Observatory issued the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 on Monday to replace No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal. As of 2 p.m. on Monday, Koinu was estimated to be about 190 km west-southwest of Hong Kong and is forecast to move west-southwest at about 12 km per hour across the western coast of Guangdong province and weaken gradually, Xinhua news agency quoted the observatory as saying. With Koinu continuing to depart from Hong Kong, local winds are weakening gradually. The Hong Kong Observatory will issue the Standby Signal, No. 1 to replace the Strong Wind Signal, No. 3. Since midnight, most parts of Hong Kong have recorded rainfall exceeding 200 mm, with certain areas experiencing rainfall exceeding 300 mm. As the weather conditions improve, various transportation services in Hong Kong are gradually resuming. The rainbands associated with Koinu will still bring squally showers and thunderstorms to Hong Kong. Showers will be heavy at times, said the observatory. The Hong Kong Observatory issued No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal on Sunday afternoon, the third-highest warning under Hong Kong's weather system. Mumbai, Oct 9 : Actor Nishant Dahiya, who plays the role of R.P. Singh, opened up about his experience working on a Milan Luthria directorial. Nishant said: "Working with Milan sir was an absolute blast and obviously a learning experience. He has this very positive, endearing and welcoming persona and has this knack of making things very easy for his actors. He knows exactly what he wants on set and when he explains things, he makes it so very easy to go ahead and perform the scenes." "He is also someone who gives you a lot of space to do your own thing with your characters and experiment ourselves. If there is something that probably he thinks we could change, he comes up to his actors and discusses the same." Nishant said: "He is very fluid and one of those directors who listens to his actors and tries to understand what we want to say. If he likes someone's thoughts, he will try to incorporate it in the scene. This is definitely one of his great qualities. He is also extremely funny on set and most of our time is enjoyable on set because of his jokes. We've had great laughs and it's an absolute joy to work with him. "From watching Kacche Dhaage as a kid to working with him in Sultan of Delhi, is quite a surreal journey for me." 'Sultan of Delhi' is set to stream on October 13 on Disney+ Hotstar. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Due to the unstable situation and missile attacks in Israel, including the area of Ben Gurion International Airport, Azerbaijan Airlines flight en route Baku-Tel Aviv-Baku scheduled for October 10 has been canceled, the Press Service of Azerbaijan Airlines told Trend. The safety of passengers and crew members is the airline's highest priority. Note that passengers of AZAL flights to/from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, with tickets issued before October 7 inclusive, with a departure date from October 8 to November 1, are allowed to refund the tickets under the involuntary procedure or re-issue for any other dates until November 30, 2023, inclusive, said Azerbaijan Airlines. Information about subsequent flights will be provided to the public additionally through the media or the airline's official social network pages. For more detailed information, it is also recommended to contact the call center of Azerbaijan Airlines at [email protected]. Bhopal, Oct 9 : Soon after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced November 17 as the date for Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, state Congress president Kamal Nath on Monday appealed to the party workers to get ready for yet another poll battle. The veteran Congress leader asked party workers to start their preparations for the elections keeping the future of Madhya Pradesh in their mind. He also urged the people of the state to support the Congress. In a social media post, Kamal Nath stated that the people of Madhya Pradesh have been waiting for this date (polling date) for the past many years. On November 17, he said, the people would give a befitting reply to those who disobeyed the public mandate and toppled the Congress government. "The people have been waiting for this date (November 17) for the past many years. This will be a day to teach a lesson to those who hijacked democracy and restore the rule of truth," Kamal Nath said. He was referring to the March 2020 incident when his government was toppled after 22 MLAs switched over to the BJP. Notably, in the last Assembly elections, the Congress led by Kamal Nath had won 114 seats against the BJPas 109. The Congress had formed the government with the help of independent MLAs, however, Kamal Natha government was toppled within the next 15 months. Now, the BJP and the Congress are once again ready to take on each other to grab the power in the state. While the ruling BJP has so far announced its 79 candidates for 230 Assembly seats, the Congress has yet to announce its list and is likely to release the list soon. According to the ECI, the process for the elections will begin with the issue of notification on October 13. The last date of nomination for the candidate will be on October 20. Their candidature will be scrutinised on October 21. As per the rules of the election commission, candidates can withdraw their candidature by October 23, while the results of the elections will be announced on December 3 along with four other states a" Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned pleas filed by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and several charitable trusts against the transfer of their tax assessment from faceless assessment to the central circle. The bench comprising Justices Khanna and S.N.V. Bhatti adjourned the hearing as the solicitor general was unavailable. The issue will come up agian on Friday. Last week on Tuesday while referring to pleas filed by Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra against the transfers, the apex court said that the central assessments may be required if there were cross-transactions between individuals. Senior Advocate Arvind Datar, who was appearing for the Gandhi family and trusts associated with them, said that because of a search in fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari's case, the I-T authorities have tagged all these as supplementary cases because of Robert Vadra, Priyanka Gandhi's husband. The Gandhis have said that they had nothing to do with Bhandari groupas cases and there has been no instance of search or seizure in their cases. Bhandari is wanted in India on charges of corruption and money laundering. He has been allegedly linked to Robert Vadra over a London-based flat. Robert Vadra has, however, denied any business dealings with Bhandari. Justice Khanna also questioned Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the AAP as to why there was a five-month delay in filing of the writ petitions. The court also observed that there must be some justification for removing faceless assessment, and the bench was only concerned with the legal issue and not the politics. Earlier on May 26, the Delhi High Court had dismissed petitions by AAP, the Gandhi family, and the five trusts challenging the orders of the I-T Department to transfer their tax assessment from the faceless assessment to the central circle. The High Court bench ruled that there was no fundamental legal right to be assessed under the faceless assessment scheme. The faceless assessment scheme removes physical contact between the taxpayer and the taxman by using artificial intelligence and machine learning to randomly select tax cases. Dark spots in UP to be lit up soon. Image Source: IANS News Lucknow, Oct 9 : Uttar Pradesh Principal secretary Amrit Abhijat has pulled up the municipal corporations across the state for not addressing the problem of dark spots. He has also written to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) and all other local bodies to light up dark zones of the city under the Safe City Scheme so that women may feel safe. Under this, street lights will be installed at identified dark spots in the urban area. On the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the work of making 18 cities of the state safe cities has been started. There have been reports of street lights not functioning on major routes of the city which has been taken seriously by the government. Not only this, street lights are not installed at many places. Abhijat said, "Special arrangements have to be made for the safety of women in cities. In the first phase, the work of connecting the cameras installed at public places in all major cities with the Integrated Traffic Management System control room has started. "The police department has identified 1,913 dark spots and sent them to the urban development department. On the basis of this, the civic bodies will have to install the street lights." The street lights will be installed in Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj Aligarh, Bareilly, Jhansi, Saharanpur, Moradabad, Ayodhya, Mathura- Vrindavan, Firozabad, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad, Shahjahanpur and Gautam Buddha Nagar. All the municipal commissioners have been directed to identify dark spots and ensure the installation of street lights. Apart from this, instructions have also been given to identify those places where there is no provision of pink toilets. Toilets will be constructed at such places under the Swachh Bharat Mission scheme. Kolkata, Oct 09 : Dengue has reached alarming proportions in West Bengal, with the total number of affected people crossing the 50,000-mark. As many as 56,707 cases have been recorded till date, with over 10,000 being affected in the last seven days, till Sunday evening, as per statistics available with the West Bengal Health Department. Although the health department has not revealed any figures on dengue-related deaths till now, unofficial estimates put the casualties at 60. However, BJP Legislators, like the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, have claimed that the toll has crossed the 100-mark considering that in several cases dengue deaths have been reported as "death due to unknown fever." Health department insiders fear that going by the current situation the possibility of the forthcoming Durga Puja festival being held under the shadow of the dengue outbreak cannot be ruled out. As per health department statistics, the worst affected areas are North 24 Parganas, where the total number of cases as on date touched 11,244, state capital Kolkata is in the second position with the figure touching 6,070 and Murshidabad is in the third place with 5,791 cases. The other districts where the impact had been serious include South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Howrah and Malda. At the beginning of this month, a Public Interest Litigation, was filed in the Calcutta High Court seeking its invention in ensuring proper administrative initiatives in arresting further spread of the disease. The PIL has been filed at a time when the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has accused the West Bengal Health Department of suppressing the actual figures relating to the number of affected people or the deaths. On the other hand, the state government has accused the Union government of denying the necessary financial assistance on this count. New Delhi, Oct 9 : Actor Varun Sharma, who is currently riding high on the success of his latest release 'Fukrey 3', spoke about what makes his endearing character Choocha a common man's reflection. Varun told IANS: "I think Choocha is a common man's reflection because he derives happiness from the smallest of things. He just wants to be happy with his friends at that moment." "I think every individual wants to just do that. Be happy in that present moment that he or she is, and be comfortable and spread love amongst the group that one is in," he added. The 33-year-old actor made his Bollywood debut in 2013 with Fukrey. He was then seen in Dolly Ki Doli, Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon, Dilwale,Raabta, Fukrey Returns, Khandaani Shafakhana, Chhichhore and Roohi. Guwahati, Oct 9 : Assam class 10 board examinations will be conducted in the month of February next year, officials said on Monday. According to a notification issued by Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA), the theory examinations will begin on February 16, 2024. The exams are scheduled to end on March 4 next year. However, the practical examinations will be conducted before the commencement of theory examinations. The notification from SEBA mentioned, "The practical exams of the concerned subjects will take place on February 2 and 3." Notably, the science and Assamese subject question papers for the class 10 board examinations were leaked the previous time which created a huge controversy in the state. The authority had to cancel both examinations. The SEBA conducted the two examinations on fresh dates. Chennai, Oct 9 : Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging the Centre to direct the Karnataka government to release water to Tamil Nadu on the basis of the final judgment of Supreme Court. The resolution moved by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was supported by all political parties except the BJP whose MLAs walked out of the House. The BJP legislators while walking out of the House demanded the modification of the resolution moved by Chief Minister Stalin. AIADMK general secretary and leader of the opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) welcomed the resolution. He, however, called upon the state government to ensure that drinking water was supplied to the people in the districts which were affected after Karnataka failed to release Cauvery water. The Kuruvai farmers of the Delta districts of Tamil Nadu are facing a major crisis after paddy crops withered due to shortage of water. The Tamil Nadu government has announced a compensation of Rs 5,500 per acre. However, the opposition political parties of Tamil Nadu, including AIADMK and PMK, have called upon the government to increase compensation amount for the farmers. New Delhi, Oct 9 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) -- the party's highest decision making body -- has unanimously decided in favour of caste-based census and the party-led governments in states will hold the exercise. Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, Gandhi said, "We discussed caste census for four hours. We have a historic discussion. It was a unanimous decision. No one in the meeting was there who opposed it." He said that the Chief Ministers (Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot) sitting here have also said that they will take the caste census forward in the states. It is worth to be noted that Rajasthan on Saturday night announced to hold the caste based survey. To a question if Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) parties are together and will they support the caste-based census, he said, "The Congress has decided that it will wholeheartedly support the caste census and force the BJP to hold the caste census and if they fail then they should go as the country wants it and we will do it after coming to power." "Most of the INDIA parties support it. There might be a few who have slightly different opinions. But I am confident that the vast majority will support it. We are not fascist force and will not force them," he said. To a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Congress of dividing the country, he said, "The Prime Minister is making unconnected statements. The Prime Minister is incapable of doing caste-based census. Congress has four Chief Ministers, out of that three are OBCs, while BJP has 10 CMs, and they have one OBC which will not be there after elections in Madhya Pradesh." He said, "The Prime Minister did not utter a single word after what I mentioned in Parliament that out of 90 only three are OBC officers. "The Prime Minister should say that we will release the caste-based census and he should say that the next census will be caste based. But he does not have the guts. He has created a distraction system. PM Modi is the main instrument and they only want to divert the issue," he added. New Delhi, Oct 9 : A New York-based activist and independent blogger has claimed that agents from China, not India, were involved in the killing of Canadian Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June this year. China-born Jennifer Zeng said in her blog, 'Inconvenient Truths' that the killing was carried out by the agents of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with an intent to "frame" India and "create discord between India and the West". "Today, shocking revelations about the assassination of the #Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the assassination was carried out by CCP agents," Zeng said in a video, which she shared on X on Monday. She also said that the move was part of CCPas "sinister ignition plan" to disrupt the world in line with Chinese President Xi Jinping's military strategy regarding Taiwan. Zeng, who is a member of the International Press Association according to her X bio, attributed her allegations to Canada-based Chinese writer and YouTuber Lao Deng. "Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative 'ignition plan', the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held there. The objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West," Zeng was heard saying in the video. "The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Sikh leader in Canada," she said, adding that following the meeting, the CCP agents "meticulously executed the assassination plan". She said that when the "deed" (killing) was done on June 18, the agents destroyed the dash camera in Nijjar's car to erase any evidence. "After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes," Zeng alleged. In addition, she said that the assassins "purposely learned Indian-accent English", which waspart of the scheme by CCP secret agents to frame India. The bilateral ties between India and Canada went downhill after the latter accused New Delhi of killing Nijjar, and both nations expelled a diplomat each. In a fresh provocation by Canada on Sunday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he has discussed India "and the importance of upholding -- and respecting -- the rule of law" with the UAE President, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. New Delhi, Oct 9 : A 57-year-old Hungarian diplomat's bag was snatched by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in south Delhi, an official said on Monday. The officials said that the incident occurred on Sunday when the Hungarian national was on her way to the Embassy in an auto-rickshaw. According to police, she was going from Humayun Tomb toEmbassy via Lodhi Road in an auto-rickshaw on Sunday, around 3 p.m, and when she reached near Dayal Singh College, suddenly two persons on a motorcycle came from behind. "They snatched away her bag containing Rs 12,000, one mobile phone, and bank cards," said a senior police official. "After receiving the information regarding the incident and complaint, a police team was dispatched for the spot along with the complainant," said the official. "A case under section 356 (Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft) and 379 (punishment for theft) of IPC has been registered and police teams are scanning the CCTV cameras in the area to identify the culprits, " the official added. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Two test positive for Brucellosis in Kerala. Image Source: IANS News Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 : A father and son in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has tested positive for Brucellosis disease on Monday. The most commonly affected animals include cattle, goats, sheep and dogs. The father and son living at Vembayam, in the capital city outskirts turned feverish but despite medical attention it did not help them. On further investigations and detailed tests it was revealed both were found to be positive for brucellosis disease. According to the authorities, while the son has recovered, the father is still under treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital. The family has cattle at their home. Brucellosis, is a bacterial infection, and human beings can get affected from infected animals or animal products contaminated with the bacteria. People with brucellosis do have fever, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness and some cases it affects other organs. Strong antibiotics are recommended but the recovery may take some time. The animal husbandry and the health departmentas have been put on high alert in the area. Los Angeles, Oct 9 : Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson is well known for his beefy roles and action hero characters, which see the star escape near impossible disasters and go into combat. Yet the actor doesn't just land all his action heroes by pure luck, the star reportedly also has a 'no lose' contract added into all his movie roles that means the actor is never beaten, reports Mirror.co.uk. The actor, who has starred in various films including as Agent Luke Hobbs in the aFast and Furiousa franchise, reportedly has legal terms and conditions that limit how 'badly' he can be beaten up and ensure that he always comes out on top. As per Mirror.co.uk, he follows in the footsteps of other action hero actors including Vin Diesel and Jason Statham, who also keep a tight leash on how many punches they sustain and how their fight scenes are played out on screen. According to the Wall Street Journal, Johnson took heed from Vin Diesel who reportedly developed a system where he assigned a numerical value to each punch he received while on screen and kept track of how many punches he had taken whilst filming. 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." Johnson also took the contract to the next level for Fast and Furious, as he allegedly had the script changed to ensure that after one on screen brawl he was left sitting up instead of lying down and seemingly less hurt. London, Oct 9 : Oil prices rose on Monday while airline shares fell as markets reacted to the surprise attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas, according to a media report. Investors on Monday appeared to be pricing in the prospect of further instability in the Middle East, The Guardian reported. Oil prices jumped by 3 per cent on Monday morning. Futures prices for Brent crude oil, the North Sea benchmark, rose to $89 (A73) a barrel at one point, recovering some of the losses of the last week. London-headquartered FTSE 100 rivals BP and Shell rose by 3 per cent and 2.7 per cent, respectively, while on the FTSE 250 Harbour Energy was up 2 per cent. Airlines were among the biggest stock market fallers on Monday morning, with international air travel already affected by the war. The share price of British Airways owner International Airlines Group was down 3.4 per cent, while easyJet fell by 4 per cent. The Paris-listed Air France-KLM lost 4.5 per cent, while Germanyas Lufthansa lost 3 per cent, The Guardian reported. Several airlines have stopped flights to Tel Avivas Ben Gurion airport, Israelas main international travel hub. They included the US carriers United, Delta and American, Air Canada, Germanyas Lufthansa and Air France. British Airways adjusted departure times and said customers can change their travel dates free of charge, Bloomberg reported. About 16 per cent flights into and out of Ben Gurion on Monday were cancelled, according to the data company FlightAware. BAE Systems rose by 4.4 per cent, making it the biggest riser on the FTSE 100. The company makes a wide range of weaponry, from tanks and fighter jets to ammunition and missiles. The German tankmaker Rheinmetall rose by 6.2 per cent, while the Italian defence and aerospace company Leonardo gained 5.7 per cent, The Guardian reported. Gold prices rose by 1 per cent, as investors bought the traditional safe-haven asset. Israelas central bank stepped in to support its currency after the shekel fell to a near-eight-year low against the US dollar in early trading, The Guardian reported. Imphal, Oct 9 : The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, on Monday reiterated its demand for a separate administrations (equivalent to separate state), saying that it is increasingly apparent that coexistence with the Meiteis is an untenable proposition. Highlighting some recent incidents of violence, senior ITLF leader and spokesman Ginza Vualzong claimed that Meiteis have "driven us out of their valley, subjected us to violence, and attacked our villages... Coexistence with the Meiteis is an untenable proposition". "The ITLF denounces the grave injustice inflicted upon the Kuki-Zo people in the strongest terms. The selective application of justice further reinforces our demand for a separate administration," he told the media. Vualzong said that on October 8, a video had surfaced on the internet depicting the horrific burning alive of an unidentified man belonging to the Kuki-Zo community. "In the distressing seven-second video, a man dressed in a black T-shirt and camouflage pants is seen being burnt, while voices in the background converse in Meitei language. Gunshots can also be heard in the video. The video is a harrowing testament to the ethnic cleansing campaign against the Kuki-Zo community by the majority Meiteis," Vualzong said. The ITLF vehemently condemns the shocking and barbaric incident that has recently come to light, he added. Vualzong also said that the complicity of the Manipur government has emboldened the Meiteis to take the law into their own hands. He said that acts such as the burning of the Anglo-Kuki War Centenary gate, the destruction of over 20 houses in Kangvai, and the killing of a pastor in Phoughakchao on May 3 ignited an ethnic war that has lasted for more than five months. "During this period, Kuki-Zo individuals were relentlessly pursued and subjected to horrific violence. The free transfer of more than 6,000 sophisticated weapons and over five lakh rounds of ammunition into the hands of a few organisations further fuelled the aggression against the Kuki-Zo community," the ITLF leader said. Numerous incidents of inhumane killings of Kuki-Zo people have already garnered attention, he said. Vualzong also highlighted some alleged incidents of attacks, including the electrocution of MLA Vungzagin Valte (the tribal legislator belonging to BJP) and the murder of his driver, the killing of Dallamthang Suantak, who was pulled out of the ambulance he was driving, the beheading of David Thiek, and the burning alive of elderly women Chingjaluan and Thiandam. All the brutal acts against the Kuki-Zo community cannot be overlooked, Vualzong said, adding that the Manipur government's failure to address the heinous crimes underscores its bias and exclusionary approach, which only serves the interests of the Meiteis. New Delhi, 09 October : The annual joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise (AJHE-23) 'Chakravat' started on Monday in Goa. The 2023 edition of the exercise is being hosted by the Indian Navy from 9 to 11 October. The exercise has been conducted by Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force in rotation since 2016, The Ministry of Defence said that the AJHE-23, planned over three days includes a seminar, a Table-Top Exercise and a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration. The exercise will witness participation from various national agencies namely, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM), Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, DRDO and from friendly foreign countries. Ministry of Defence said thatthe Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations form a key component in the Indian Navy's Benign Role, as climate change has significantly increased vulnerability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to natural disasters. The challenge posed by climate change is accentuated by the limited capacity of littoral IOR states to address this rapidly growing threat. Therefore, Indian Armed Forces have been frequently called upon to render assistance to our friends and partners in the Region, thereby, strengthening the need and our resolve to be the 'First Respondera in the region. While the three Services continue to provide relief in the event of a calamity, a whole of government approach would further enhance our preparedness and response to such unfortunate events, the official added. The Defence Ministry said that discussions on emergent topics namely, Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction: Practical Solution, Disaster Response in IOR: A Collaborative Approach, and NGO Collaboration in Disaster Reduction and Response: An Integrated Approach will be undertaken by Subject Matter Experts during the seminar planned on 09 Oct 23. An industrial display has been planned on 10 and 11 Oct 23 wherein various HADR equipment will be showcased by FICCI, Army, Navy, Air Force, ICG, NDRF, SDMA and NSRC. Additionally, a Multi-Agency Capability Demonstration will be conducted on Oct 11, which will showcase drills on rescue and relief to highlight the nuances and important lessons, they added. The Ministry of Defence saidthat AJHE is an outcome of PMas directive promulgated during Combined Commandersa Conference-2015. Since its first edition in 2015, the Annual Joint HADR Exercise, CHAKRAVAT, has transformed itself into a multi-agency endeavour involving participation of all three Services, Paramilitary Forces, as well as several disaster response organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and international organisations, official said. The official said that the 2023 edition would further synergise efforts at the national level among all stakeholders, as well as witness participation from eight countries of the Indian Ocean Region. New Delhi, Oct 9 : Facing its biggest threat since the Yom Kippur War half a century back, Israel has declared a state of war as it scrambles to counter the Hamas gunmen who poured out of Gaza Strip to create havoc in the south of the nation. But how responsible was Israel itself for the rise of the Palestinian Islamist extremist group? Quite so, as various episodes over the last five decades reveal, and the most of this was done in the various governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu over the last three decades. His approach was to divide the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, so as to cripple Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas while propping up Hamas as a "counterweight". The intent was to prevent Abbas -- or anyone else in the Palestinian Authorityas West Bank government -- from advancing toward the establishment of a Palestinian state, as per a report in the Times of Israel. Senior Israeli officials have disclosed that various governments had supported quadriplegic Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who would go on to set up Hamas in 1987 amid the first Intifada, right from 1973, when Golda Meir was the Prime Minister. Sheikh Yassin had then founded charity 'Islamic Centre' in Gaza, after hiving off from the Muslim Brotherhood over its political stance. It was then the Israeli authorities supported and even funded Yassin's as a move to build up a rival to the secular Palestine Liberation Organisation, as then Military Governor of Gaza Yitzhak Segev revealed. Avner Cohen, who was in charge of religious affairs in Gaza, also admitted that his country had contributed quite a bit to the group's creation, despite his fervent warnings not to back the Islamists. After the creation of Hamas itself, Israel committed another blunder in December 1992, soon after Yitzhak Rabin had replaced hardliner Yitzhak Shamir. In wake of the killing of a border police officer, over 400 members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad were sent to (then Israel-occupied) Southern Lebanon. This was intended as a punishment, but achieved the opposite - as Israel would learn to its cost later. The "deterrent action" only enabled the Hamas deportees to establish contacts with Shia militant group Hezbollah, as well as Palestinians living in refugee camps in Lebanon, and learn the art of suicide and car bombing, before they were allowed to return home late next year after a global outcry. Netanyahu, who became Prime Minister for the first time in June 1996, committed his first miscalculation vis-a-vis Hamas when his government ordered the assassination of Hamas leader Khaled Mishal in Jordan in September 1997. Mishal, then chairman of Hamas' political bureau, had an unknown poison squirted in his ear on Amman's streets and slipped into a coma but the assailants - Israeli agents using faked Canadian passports - were caught. An enraged King Hussain demanded Netanyahu furnish the antidote, and on his refusal, threatened to scrap the 1994 peace treaty with Israel and hang the assailants in public. The row drew in the US - and even President Bill Clinton lost his temper at Netanyahu's evasions. Ultimately the antidote was furnished, a prisoner swap - including for Sheikh Yassin, then serving a life term in an Israeli jail, arranged. All the botched operation led to was the rather marginalised Hamas emerging as the new face of Palestinian resistance and the hitherto-obscure Mishal became a household name in the Middle East as "the martyr who did not die". Though the organisation would be expelled from Jordan two years later and forced to relocate to Syria, two decades later, despite many challenges and changes, Hamas remains a power to reckon with. Its victory in the 2006 Palestinian elections and then control over Gaza, after driving out Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah, showed that it had become a factor in Palestinian politics. Its efforts to control the rampant crime and dismal services in Gaza made it popular among the enclave's residents. Hamas is likely to be defeated in the current conflict but will not fade away. Arab governments may not like it much, but cannot ignore it - and the Arab street is much in its favour. Israel is also faced with the realisation that ignoring the aspirations for a Palestinian state cannot be wished away. It must also be considered that while India joined the Western powers in strongly condemning the attack, the response from the rest of the 'Global South', including Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia, as well as Russia and China, was much more nuanced and called for both sides to stop fighting and exercise restraint. Also, while Western powers term Hamas a terrorist organisation, a bid to obtain UN backing for this stance could not pass the General Assembly. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) Singapore, Oct 9 : A 51-year-old Indian-origin drug offender was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday for punching a prison officer in 2022 and causing a fracture on his face, a media report said. Kaliappan Kumarasamy, who was undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation centre located within Changi Prison, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing grievous hurt to chief warder Lim See Chuan, 41. Kaliappan told the investigators that he did so as he was feeling angry because of an internal investigation against him over an unrelated dispute, The Straits Times newspaper reported. The court heard that in December 2022, Lim was escorting Kaliappan back to his cell, and the pair started talking as they walked down a corridor. "While they were talking, the victim touched the accusedas right upper arm as a friendly gesture. However, a moment later as they continued walking, the accused suddenly punched the victimas face forcefully with his left fist," Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew told the court. "The victim fell to the ground. As the victim was picking himself up, the accused stood in front of him and threw another punch at the victimas head with his left fist. This punch missed the victimas head," The Times quoted Chew as saying. Lim, who was bleeding from his nose and mouth, activated his communication device for assistance, prompting his colleagues to rush over. The report said that an officer had to use pepper spray on Kaliappan as he continued to attack Lim. Lim, who was taken to Changi General Hospital, continued to suffer from facial numbness, Chew told the judge as he asked for more than a three-year jail-term for Kaliappan. "The accused had brazenly assaulted the victim despite being completely unprovoked. He had done so because he was angry at (the Singapore Prison Service) for a separate investigation against him. Such arevengea attacks... simply cannot be allowed or tolerated," Chew said in the court. For voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a public servant, an offender can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined or caned. According to Singapore law, Kaliappan cannot be caned as he is over 50 years-old. --IANS mi/vd Mumbai, Oct 9 : The success of 'Jawan' and 'Pathaan' has proven to be a double edged sword for the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The actor has been receiving death threats following the blockbuster success of his recent films, and has sought an enhanced security cover from the state of Maharashtra. SRKas security has been beefed up to Y+ level. The actor has asked for security after he received death threats following the success of his two films which have breathed new life in Hindi cinema in terms of its economy. As per a media report, the actor had written to the state government seeking the security cover. Under the Y+ category, SRK will get 11 security personnel, including six commandos, four police personnel and a traffic clearance vehicle. The Y+ security is provided by the state to those citizens who face a threat to their lives. In response to the state government's directive, the IG VIP Security scaled up the actoras security for which he will have to pay and deposit a certain sum of money. The actor receiving threats is nothing new as earlier this year, aPathaana stirred the pot over with its song aBesharam Ranga as various fringe outfits took offence to the use of saffron colour in one of Deepika Padukoneas dresses in the song. These groups equated the use of saffron colour in the song with the title and took offence saying the song mocks the saffron colour which is associated with Hindu religious sentiment. Shah Rukh Khan has had run-ins with the Mumbai underworld in the past and has been known to stand up to threats. Last year, another Khan superstar - Salman Khan was also provided Y+ security cover after he received threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. Lawrence Bishnoi Gang is the one that was involved in the murder of Punjabi music star Sidhu Moosewala. Chennai, Oct 9 : Madras High Court's Justice Sundar Mohan has recused himself from hearing a writ petition filed by Shanthan alias T. Suthendarraja, a convict in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Shanthan had filed a petition seeking a direction to the Union Home Ministry as well as the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate steps for his deportation. The case was listed before a division bench of Justices S.S. Sundar and Sundar Mohan and the later recused himself from hearing the case, stating that, as an advocate, he had appeared in Supreme Court in a case connected with this. The bench then directed the High Court registry to list the case before a Bench led by Justice D. Krishnakumar as per standing instructions. Shanthan, in an affidavit filed through his counsel P. Pugalendhi, stated that he was a Sri Lankan national and that he had been detained in a special camp (foreigners detention centre) under the Foreigners Act, 1946 ever since he was released from prison on November 12, 2022, on the basis of a Supreme Court order. In the petition, he pleaded that he had to go urgently to Sri Lanka as his 75-year-old mother residing in Valvetti in Jaffna was seriously ill. He also stated that the Union Home Ministry had passed an order on November 11, 2022, ordering that he should not move out of the boundaries of the special camp till his deportation to his home country. Bengaluru, Oct 9 : Former Prime Minister H.D Deve Gowda on Monday said that the discussion on seat sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be held with the BJP leadership after the Dasara festival. "After the Parliamentary session, if my health recovers, I will discuss the matter with Home Minister Amit Shah or Kumaraswamy (his son) will hold the discussions," Gowda told media persons after visiting Hindu pilgrimage centre Kukke Subramanya. Kumaraswamy has already held a meeting with the Home Minister. "No final decision on the constituencies including Mandya Lok Sabha seat has been taken as of yet. Presently, the Hassan Lok Sabha seat is held by JD (S) and Ramanagara is with Congress. Otherwise, BJP candidates had won. The Congress is working towards winning all 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka and in this backdrop, it has been decided that JD (S) and BJP should go together," Gowda said. He said that he will not make any statements in connection with the polarisation of votes on caste lines. Replying to a question on whether the NDA alliance will come back to power at the centre, Gowda said that in the last assembly elections in the state, Congress got 40 per cent, BJP 30 to 33 per cent and JD (S) 20 to 22 per cent of votes. He said that the voter will decide as to whom they should vote this time. "I am residing in Bengaluru. I have not met anyone. I don't care much about NDA, UPA or any other matter. I am 91-year-old, please excuse me," he said. Deve Gowda visited the Hindu pilgrimage centre Kukke Subramanya in Dakshina Kannada district and offered special prayers. Jerusalem. Oct 9 : Tensions are running high in the occupied West Bank -- where some 2.8 million Palestinians live -- as the Israeli army imposes a complete closure, a media report said. Residents say that the entrances to towns and cities have been shut with iron gates, cement blocks and mounds of earth, BBC reported. New military checkpoints have been set up in some places. Through the day there have been long queues at some petrol stations as supplies of fuel have run out, the report said. "This is something we've seen before through long decades of occupation," said a tour guide in Beit Sahour, who is now without work. "This is a policy that Israel's been using for decades simply to punish the entire population for the acts of certain groups of people," complained another resident. On Sunday, shops and businesses in the West Bank were shuttered as a general strike was called in response to Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas. The evening saw angry protests. Four Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers at Qalandiya checkpoint in Ramallah on Thursday night, BBC reported. In Hebron, a man was killed apparently trying to ram Israeli forces with a bulldozer. New Delhi, Oct 9 : A batch of 28 students from 15 Business Blasters teams from the Delhi government schools had a one-to-one mentoring session on branding and marketing hosted by the e-commerce platform Amazon in Bengaluru. During the one-day session, students received mentoring on different aspects of their business such as marketing, scaling growth, sales, financial management, etc. The mentorship session with Amazon India covered marketing, branding, scaling growth, sales, and financial management. Speaking about the mentorship session with Amazon, Education Minister Atishi said that 'Business Blasters' focuses on preparing future business leaders who can lead the country as well as the world. "They need to have global exposure and technical knowledge to make their businesses successful. The recent mentorship session was organised with the Amazon India Leadership," she said. She said that by connecting these young entrepreneurs with renowned companies and experts, we are equipping them with the skills to thrive in the global business landscape. Previously, Business Blasters teams of students have received mentorship from experts from companies such as Dell, TCS, NatWest, BCG and others New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order on pleas by NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty challenging their arrest in a case lodged under the provisions of the UAPA, even as senior advocate for the petitioners Kapil Sibal, argued that "all facts are false and not a penny came from China". The Delhi Police's Special Cell had arrested Purkayastha and Chakravarty on October 3, and the next day, they were sent to seven-day police custody by a Delhi court. The petitioners then moved the high court challenging not just their arrest but seeking quashing of the First Information Report in the matter. The high court on October 6 sought Delhi Police's response on the pleas. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had sought time to file an affidavit, which has now been filed. Appearing for Purkayastha before the bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, Sibal started off by saying that even till today, no grounds for arrest have been supplied to them, and that only the arrest memo is the document which has been produced. Sibal made various claims against their arrest saying that the remand order was passed by the trial court in the absence of their lawyers, while the remand order was passed at 6 a.m., Purkayastha's lawyer received it through WhatsApp only at 7 a.m. It was argued that the arrests made were in violation of the Supreme Court's recent judgement, which had made it compulsory for the police to supply "written" grounds of arrest to the accused at the time of being arrested. Appearing virtually for Delhi Police, SG Mehta said that the case involves serious offences. He further argued that one of the email exchanges between the accused individuals and somebody sitting in China shows that they will prepare a map and not show Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of India. The SG's claim was then denied by Sibal. Sticking to his argument, Mehta said that the arrest was legal as per the textual requirement of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since the accused persons were informed about the grounds of arrest. Mehta went on to say that since the police remand is coming to an end, the accused can be sent to judicial custody, post which they can apply for regular bail . After hearing the matter at length, the judge reserved the order. On October 3, in a statement regarding the search, seizure and detentions carried out in connection with the UAPA case registered by the Special Cell, the Delhi Police had said that a total of 37 male suspects were questioned at office premises, while nine female suspects were questioned at their respective places of stay. The police said that digital devices, documents, etc., were seized or collected for examination. The Special Cell had registered an FIR in the case on August 17 under different sections of the UAPA and the Indian Penal Code against NewsClick. In August, a New York Times investigation had accused NewsClick of being an organisation funded by a network linked with US millionaire Neville Roy Singham, to allegedly promote Chinese propaganda. Kochi, Oct 9 : The Enforcement Directorate, probing the loan scam of Karuvannur Service Cooperative Bank and a few others, on Monday informed the Kerala High Court here that state agencies and such banks are not cooperating. The ED made this statement while seeking custody of two accused P.R. Aravindakshan and Gils, a former employee at the Karuvannur bank, for further interrogation. The ED said the Crime Branch police which was probing the scam and the Karuvannur bank are not cooperating with them and not giving the information and clarifications that they have been asking. The court, after hearing the ED's demand, granted the custody of the two accused for two more days. The two have been injail, along with two others who were also arrested last month soon after the ED began their probe. The CPI-M has come under huge duress after top CPI(M) leaders like senior CPI-M legislator and former State Minister A.C. Moideen came under the ED radar. His house was also raided, and he failed to turn up for a second day questioning at the Kochi office of the ED. Another top leader, a former CPI-M legislator M.K. Kannan was also questioned on two occasions and on the second occasion he was let off quickly after he said his health was worsening. But what has hurt the CPI-M badly was while Vijayan and state party secretary M.V. Govindan slammed the ED, top party leaders including ruling LeftDemocratic Front convenor E.P. Jayarajan, former State Ministers G. Sudhakaran and Thomas Isaac have taken a different position. Both the Congress and the BJP have charged the CPI(M) and its leadership with being the kingpins in the scam. Incidentally, the arrested have nowbeen identified by the ED to have close links with Moideen and thatas the reason why both Vijayan and Govindan have turned jittery and have been attacking the ED. It has also come to light that many 'benami loans' were disbursed on the instructions of Moideen. Jerusalem, Oct 9 : Five people were wounded on Monday, two of them are said to be critical, as heavy barrages of rockets were fired by terrorists in the Gaza Strip at towns in southern and central Israel, including one that exploded near Ben Gurion International Airport, media reports said. The Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service said it treated four people wounded in Ashkelon by rocket impacts, including a 75-year-old man, two men aged 55 and 30, and another person. In Ashdod, MDA said its medics treated a woman in her 50s who was seriously wounded as a result of a rocket impact. Sirens were heard in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Raaanana and as far north as Baqa al-Gharbiyye, Times of Israel reported. It was the first time sirens were heard in many of the locations since Saturday. There were multiple explosions, caused either by impacts or interceptions by the Iron Dome missile defense system, Times of Israel reported. One rocket fell in an open area near Ben Gurion Airport. However, the airport said it was operating normally. The barrages came a day after Israel formally declared a state of war as the death toll from the massive Hamas attack rose above 700 and was expected to rise further, with the fate of over a hundred people abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip still unclear, Times of Israel reported. Kolkata, Oct 9 : In a brief 20-minute meeting with West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose at the Raj Bhavan on Monday, the Trinamool Congress delegation has sought three-point intervention by the Governor in getting central dues released to the state government, especially for the 100-day job scheme under MGNREGA. The Governor, who is flying to Delhi on Monday night, reportedly assured the delegation led by Trinamool Congress' national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee to take up the matter with the Union government. Trinamool MP Saugata Roy said the meeting with the Governor was held in a cordial atmosphere and was fruitful. Sources aware of the proceedings of the meeting, which was kept out-of-bounds for mediapersons, said the delegation members pointed out that around 21 lakh people in West Bengal have been denied their legitimate dues under the 100-day job scheme during the financial year 2021-22. This is the first point wherein the delegation sought the intervention of the Governor. Secondly, the delegation has sought the Governor's intervention in getting clarification as to why the dues under this head have not been released for a long time. Finally, the delegation has also sought the Governor's intervention in ensuring that the pending dues are paid along with the interest accrued on it. The delegation pointed out that this is necessary since under the MGNREGA rules, the dues to the workers have to be paid within 15-days since the last day of the masterroll, else 0.05 per cent interest has to be paid from the 15th day. After meeting, Abhishek Banerjee announced the withdrawal of the sit-in demonstration in front of the Raj Bhavan that started last Thursday. "The Governor has assured us to take up the matter with the Union government within the next 24 hours. I hope that a solution in this matter will evolve soon," he said. 'Will return to India if situation worsens', says Indian national in Israel. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : The dawn of an otherwise tranquil Saturday morning at the Ben Gurion University in Beersheva, South Israel, took an unexpected turn when warning sirens shattered the peace. Sweta Trishna, a Ph.D. scholar (cancer biology) at the university, vividly recalls the harrowing moments that followed. "It was 6 a.m. when suddenly the warning siren started. As we ran towards the bunker from our hostel, which is around 100 metres away, there was bombardment of rockets, and we could see flames," Sweta recalled. For Sweta and other students at the hostel, it was a terrifying ordeal. They sought refuge in a bunker, remaining there from from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Emerging from the shelter, the true extent of the bombardment became painfully apparent. Sweta said there are approximately 400 Indian students at the Ben Gurion University, and she herself has spent four years in the area. During this time, she has witnessed occasional rocket attacks, which, until now, were typically handled by Israeli defence forces without causing significant disruptions to the city. However, this time it was different. Sweta recalled. "This time the bombardment was very loud." The situation appears to have stabilised for now, but the lingering uncertainty has left an impact on Sweta and her peers. She said, "Now the situation seems normal, but if it worsens, we will definitely consider returning to India." A total of 1,23,538 people have been internally displaced in Gaza in the three days since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on October 7, according to the UN. In a statement, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said: "More than 17,500 families, comprising over 1,23,538 people, have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes." In the latest update, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said it is currently sheltering 73,538 internally displaced people in 64 of its schools in all areas in the Gaza Strip. Of those, 45 are designated emergency shelters. Aizawl, Oct 9 : Mizoram's ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and main opposition Congress on Monday opposed the date of counting for votes in the Assembly polls being fixed for December 3 as the day (Sunday) is a prayer day for Christians. Both the Congress and the MNF separately wrote letters to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to change the counting date. State Congress chief Lalsawta, in his letter, said that Sunday is a sacred day for the people of Mizoram, which is devoted solely to the worship of God. "No official programmes or business are transacted on Sunday in Mizoram. We know that not only the Congress party but also the entire Christian community in Mizoram would not like the counting of votes to be held on Sunday. I, therefore, request you to respect the sentiments of the Mizo people and fix the date for counting votes, preferably between Monday to Friday," he said. MNF General Secretary T. C. Kaphmingthanga, in a letter, also urged the CEC to change the date of counting of votes. Synod Moderator and Chairman of Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitu Committee (MKHC), the largest conglomerate of churches in the State, Rev Dr. C. Chawnghmingliana said: "Sunday is our sacred day reserved for worshipping the whole day. "It is most unfortunate that the counting of votes shall take place on a Sunday. We feel that this is a discrimination against the Christian community. Moreover, December 3 is not just a normal Sunday for Christians in India, it is a date reserved for 'Bible Sunday'. We hope that EC will shift the counting day." The CEC on Monday announced the schedule of elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly along with Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana Assemblies. As per the schedule, the notification would be announced on October 13, the last date of filing nominations is October 20, scrutiny of candidatures would take place on the next day and the last date of withdrawal of nominations is October 23. The counting of votes would take place in all the five states on December 3. The MNF, Congress, BJP, Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and other local parties have already started their election campaign since last month while MNF and the ZPM have announced their candidates for all the 40 seats. The BJP and Congress said that they would soon announce the names of the candidates. --IANS sc/vd New Delhi: Media briefing regarding the outcome of the 52nd Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council Meeting. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will leave on October 10 for an official visit to attend the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), along with G20 meetings at Marrakech in Morocco. During the visit, the Finance Minister will also hold bilateral meetings with Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany and France, besides other associated meetings, scheduled to take place from October 11-15 in Marrakech. The annual meetings will be attended by Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world. The Indian delegation will be led by the Finance Minister and will comprise officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India. Finance Minister Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will co-chair the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting which will witness the participation of 65 delegations from G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations in multilateral discussions centered around a broad spectrum of important global issues. The fourth G20 FMCBG meeting will discuss ways to strengthen Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address shared challenges of the 21st Century and also take up the issue of crypto assets. During the meeting, the Volume 2 of the Report on strengthening MDBs by the Independent Expert Group will also be released. Volume 1 was release during the 3rd FMCBG held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. On the sidelines of the fourth G20 FMCBG meeting, principals from Indian G20 Presidency, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank will co-chair Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable on 12th October 2023. The roundtable will discuss the progress made on debt restructuring and explore ways and means to support work of G20 countries. In a high-level event organised by USA Treasury, Union Finance Minister will engage in a Roundtable Discussion on "IMF policy priorities and how the institution should support its membership". The Union Finance Minister will also participate in a discussion on Partnership for "Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement" (RISE) with the World Bank Group, organised by the G7 Japan Presidency. On the margins of the IMF-WB Annual Meetings in Marrakech, finance minister Sitharaman will participate in a discussion on macroeconomic outlook during a G7 Africa Ministerial Roundtable. Sitharaman will also deliver the keynote address at a session on "MDBs evolution," co-hosted by German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Center for Global Development. --IANS pannu/dan Thane, Oct 9 : In a shocking development, the Thane Police have said that payment gateway of Safexpay Technology Pvt Ltd (STPL) was allegedly hacked, revealing a massive scam of siphoning off Rs 18,180-crore, including some money transferred abroad, is now being probed, here on Monday. The Shrinagar Police Station has lodged an FIR and probing the matter along with the Thane Police Cyber Cell, said top officials. As per the investigations, the ongoing fraud came to light after a complaint that some persons had allegedly hacked into the 6-year-old STPLas payment gateway, and the monies were then transferred to hundreds of bank accounts. An amount of Rs 25-crore, which was siphoned off, found its way into the HDFC Bank account of a Thane-based company, Real Enterprises with five branches in the city and Navi Mumbai suburbs, said the investigators. A probe into Real Enterprises revealed at least 260 accounts with various banks that were used for carrying out the financial frauds, said the officials. A perusal of the bank statements of these 260 accounts pointed to an estimated misappropriation of a massive Rs 16,180-crore, a part of which has been transferred to foreign accounts. Though the scam was reportedly going on since sometime, it came to light after a complaint was lodged in April when an amount of over Rs 25-crore was siphoned off illegally. The probe after the complaint revealed that the Rs 25-crore scam was merely the tip of the iceberg and the total mega-fraud could be over Rs 16,180-crore that is being investigated now. The Naupada Police last Friday lodged an FIR against some of the known accused Jitendra Pandey, Sanjay Singh, Amol Andhale alias Aman and Sameer Dighe alias Kedar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act. The matter is being investigated by teams of the Thane Police and its Cyber Cell, but no arrests have been made so far, though an accused Pandey is believed to be one of kingpins with a banking background of nearly 10 years. Police suspect that there could be many more persons involved in the huge racket involving opening bank accounts with fake documents, floating five partnership firms with bogus papers intended to cheat the government. Islamabad, Oct 9 : In a major blow to Pakistan's efforts at inviting international investments in Balochistan, project manager of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) Shabahat Mirza was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Balochistan's capital Quetta on Sunday. Pakistani newspaper, The News International reports that the PMDC official was traveling to the Sor Range in a car along with his driver, Muhammad Zakir, when a bicycle bomb exploded in a crowded market area near a police station in Quetta. While Mirza died on the spot, his driver was critically injured. Balochistan's interim government announced an "all-out war" against terrorists in the province. The Pakistani Army and the government had recently identified minerals as one of the critical areas for investment through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). With a serious downturn in the country's economic progress, the army has taken over the important task of steering the economy by inviting investors, hyphening off strategic assets like airlines, airports, ports and government-run hotels. The government had in early August organised the mineral summit to invite foreign investors to exploit the mineral riches in its largest but poorest province. Saudi Arabia had shown interest in picking up stake in the Reqo Dik mines which are partly owned by Canadian mining corporation Barrick Gold along with the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan. In a latest development, the Pakistan government has said that it will sell off its stake to the Saudis. Even Western countries like Germany and the US have shown interest in investing in Balochistan, ostensibly to reduce the Chinese influence over Islamabad. Meanwhile, the Baloch armed organisations are clear that they will not allow their minerals to be exploited by Pakistan or by foreign investors. The alienated and estranged Baloch community feels that Pakistan is generating a huge amount of revenue by looting their minerals gas from Sui region, gold and copper from Saindak and the Reko Dik mines, uranium from Dera Ghazi Khan, precious stones from Wadh and Khuzdar, coal from Mach, Chamalang and harnai regions. The rebels have launched multiple attacks on the Hub cement factory as well as attacks on Chinese engineers and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The attacks on Chinese nationals have also led to frosting in diplomatic relations between the two nations. An unhappy and angry China has reportedly decided not to invest further in Pakistan. The Baloch feel that any foreign investor or country that seeks to invest in Pakistan should first check with the local community and grant them a substantial stake in the projects. The armed insurgency has taken a heavy toll on Pakistani security forces who have been losing their personnel almost every day to IED attacks, ambushes, as well as fire raids on security camps as they resist the Pakistan government and its agencies from ethnic cleansing, mass enforced disappearances, kill and dump strategies. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative --IANS New Delhi: Xiaomi India Managing Director and Global Vice President Manu Kumar Jain addresses during the launch of Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 and Note 5 Pro smartphones in New Delhi on Feb 14, 2018. . Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : Former Xiaomi India head Manu Jain on Monday announced that he has joined Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company G42 as its India CEO. "I am delighted to announce that I am joining G42, a leading global AI company, to kickstart a new AI business in India! Together, we will innovate, disrupt, and drive forward the frontiers of Artificial Intelligence," Jain posted on X. "#AI is transforming our lives and industries, and its potential is limitless. There is a great opportunity to harness this power and make a significant impact on India's tech landscape," he added. G42 also shared the appointment of Jain on X, saying, "Leading us into this new chapter of G42's growth story is Manu Kumar Jain, a name synonymous with transformative leadership and ground-breaking success in the consumer technology sector". The development comes about eight months after his departure from the Xiaomi Group. Jain exited Xiaomi earlier this year after serving for nine years, saying the "end of a journey also marks the beginning of a new one, full of exciting opportunities". He joined Xiaomi in 2014, taking on multiple roles at the consumer electronics company. In 2017, he was appointed Global Vice President. Previously, he co-founded Jabong, an ecommerce portal that sells fashion and lifestyle products. --IANS shs/vd Patna, Oct 09 : RJD MLC Rambali Chandravanshi is questioning his own government's caste survey and casting doubts on its claim that conducting and releasing the survey was a big achievement. Chandravanshi claimed that the data released by the Bihar government following the caste-based survey was not accurate. He said that there should be more transparency regarding the survey by the state government. "If the data of the caste survey was transparent, then questions would not be raised. When the caste survey was released on October 2, I welcomed it, but when I saw the data of my Chandravanshi community (Kahar and Karmkar), the number was very low," Chandravanshi said. "The general administration department of the Bihar government had taken the help of the AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies in 2013 and done the ethnography. In that report, the number of the Chandravanshi communities was over 30 lakh. "The recent caste-based survey report has pegged the number of the Chandravanshi communities at a little over 21 lakh. I want to ask how did the numbers of our community decline by more than nine lakh in the last 10 years?" he asked. "The common people belonging to the Chandravansi community are upset. I want to request the state government to be transparent. There are two ways to rectify things. One is that the Centre conduct the caste census in the country and the other is that the state government rectify its own errors and be transparent," he said. New Delhi, Oct 9 : In Sikkim, troops of Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army are undertaking operations at a massive scale to reconnect villages cut off post the flash floods on the night of October 3-4. An Army official said that the focus of the operations are on restoring connectivity to North Sikkim through Chungthang, which was the worst affected during the devastating floods. Troops of the Army have rescued of 150-200 civilians so far. In the immediate, account has been taken of all tourists and locals in the areas of Chaten, Lachen, Lachung and Thangu in North Sikkim. A list of 2,000 tourists, including 63 foreign nationals, has beencompiled and assistance is being provided in terms of food, medical aid, accommodation and telephone connectivity, the official said. According to the Army, a helpline has also been established through which relatives of all the tourists are being informed about the wellbeing of their near and dear ones. This effort will continue till they are evacuated. With the improvement in weather, air evacuation of tourists started on Monday. Another action being undertaken by the Army is to reconnect the villages that have been cut off. Towards this end, a log bridge over Lachen Chu connecting Chungthang to Pegong has been completed by the Army troops along with the ITBP personnel and locals. Meanwhile, the Indian Army and the BRO, with assistance from ITBP troops, are launching a foot bridge from the Chungthang side. Special teams were deployed for opening the route to Chaten via Rabom. The teams have moved over difficult terrains under inclement weather and reached Rabom village on the night of October 8. A foot link-up has thus been established and assistance is being provided to the 150-200 civilians stranded in the area, the Army official added. The Chief Minister of Sikkim, P.S. Tamang, has assured of all assistance in terms of availability of land, forest clearance etc. for the reconstruction works. To ensure sustenance of the people at Chungthang, ration has been provided to the local gurdwara. Medical aid is being provided at all locations and so far more than 1,500 patients have been treated by the Trishakti Healers, the official said. New Delhi, Oct 09 : The NIA Special Court in Mumbai on Monday sentenced two persons to five years' imprisonment in the Pune Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) case for harbouring terrorists. According to the NIA officials, Maharashtra Police had initially registered a case on March 16, 2018, on inputs that several Bangladeshi nationals were staying in Pune without valid documents. They were involved in abetting and aiding members of the ABT, a front organisation of the Al Qaeda. "Acting upon the information, police intercepted Mohamed Habibur Rehman Habib a.k.a Raj Jesub Mondal at Pune, Maharashtra and subsequently arrested five Bangladeshi nationals. The NIA had taken over the investigations of the case as of May 18, 2018," said the official. The NIA probe had revealed that the arrested Bangladeshi nationals had illegally infiltrated into India. "They had fraudulently obtained PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, and ration cards under fictitious names by providing fake documents and intentionally used the said Aadhaar and PAN cards for procuring Indian SIM cards, opening bank accounts, and seeking employment in India," said the NIA official. "Furthermore, they had harboured Samad Mia a.k.a Tanvir a.k.a Saiful a.k.a Tushar Biswas and other ABT members at a construction site in Pune. They also gave money to Tushar Biswas, a member of ABT and other members," said the official. The NIA had filed charge sheets against all the arrested accused on September 7, 2018. "On Monday, two accused persons namely, Ripen Hussain and Mohmmad Hasan Ali were convicted by NIA Special Court under relevant sections of the IPC and Foreigners Act. The court sentenced them to imprisonment of five years and a fine of Rs 2,000 each," said the official. "The trial against the remaining three accused is ongoing," the official added. Chennai, Oct 9 : IT company Web Werks and Iron Mountain Data Centers on Monday announced to build two new data centres here with over Rs 1,800 crore investment. The two data centres (CHE-1 and CHE-2), to be built on a four-acre plot in Ambattur, will support 36 megawatts of IT load, further enhancing the company's rapidly growing pan-India footprint, which will support more than 90 megawatts of new development across Pune, Bengaluru, Noida, Mumbai and Hyderabad. "As Chennai is one of India's most important connectivity hubs, we are thrilled to be building capacity to meet hyperscale, network, content, public sector undertakings and enterprise customer demand," said Mark Kidd, EVP and Global General Manager, Iron Mountain Data Centers and Asset Lifecycle Management. Web Werks has put together an extensive range of colocation and hosting services, designed to deliver wholesale, retail and hyper-scale hosting facilities via strategically planned Tier 3 data center facilities in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Pune. Web Werks is now expanding with new data centre facilities in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai. "Data centre ecosystems require submarine cables, local consumption and internet traffic to proliferate. Chennai is a desired location for data centers for those reasons plus ample land, power and connectivity options," said Nikhil Rathi, Founder and CEO of Web Werks. Founded in 1951, Iron Mountain is trusted by more than 225,000 customers worldwide. Nepal announces national mourning on Tuesday over death of Nepalese in Israel. Image Source: IANS News Kathmandu, Oct 9 : The Nepal government has declared national mourning in honor of killing of ten Nepali nationals in Israel. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, wrote on X, that a special meeting of council of ministers declared the national day of mourning on 23rd of Ashoj (Tuesday), to mourn the loss of lives. At least ten Nepali students, who were in Israel with regards to the scheme "Learn and Earn", were killed on Saturday during the Hamas offensive against the Israel. The students were pursuing higher education in Israel. The Nepalese government has also decided to hoist the national flag in government offices and Nepali missions abroad. Rekha Sharma, the spokesperson of the Nepal government, said that the entire nation is in shock and the government has decided to provide Rs 10 lakh as compensation to the families of the deceased. The government has also decided to bring back the dead bodies in coordination with Israeli authorities and asked the Nepali citizens to register their names at Nepali Embassy in Tel Aviv if they want to return back from war torn country. Sharma said that with the support of Nepal Airlines and Himalaya Airlines, the government will bring back the Nepali citizens those who wish to return. It is estimated that over 4,600 Nepali citizens are living and working in Israel mostly. On Tuesday alone, the Israeli army evacuated at least 32 Nepalese and shifted them to safe locations. The Cabinet has also decided to repatriate the dead bodies as soon as possible in coordination with the government of Israel. Earlier, the Prime Minister Dahal had also called a meeting of all political parties representing in house where leaders had urged him to repatriate the Nepalese citizens from Israel as soon as possible and arrange the possibility of shifting the Nepalese citizens to the safe places. Nepalese Embassy in Israel said that it is preparing to repatriate the dead bodies in coordination with Israeli authorities. It said that four Nepalese are taking treatment in a local hospital, two have been rescued and one citizen has gone missing. Around 200 Nepalese citizens have registered their names with the Embassy who want to return back to Nepal. --IANS giri/dan New Delhi, Oct 9 : Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Monday launched a new initiative to issue IT system based automatic 'Status Holder' certificates to exporters under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023. Now the exporter will not be required to apply to the office of Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for a Status Certificate and the export recognition will be provided by the IT system based on available Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) merchandise export electronic data and other risk parameters. At present, the exporter is required to file an online application along with an export certificate from a Chartered Accountant for grant of Status. The DGFT Regional Offices, as per the laid down timelines are supposed to issue the certificate in three days. The new arrangement will lead to a simplified regime where no applications are invited from exporters and the certification is granted every year in August based on annual export figures available with the DGCIS. With the launch of this new system, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be recognising about 20,000 exporters under FTP 2023 as Status Holders which will be a quantum jump from the earlier number of 12,518 exporters, according to an official statement. The biggest increase in Status certification is seen in the 1 Star category, which is the lowest category and requires a export performance of at least US$ 3 Million in the last 3 preceding financial years plus the 3 months of the current financial year. This will enable the Government to hand hold a larger number of small exporting entities and create a vibrant export ecosystem and help reach our export target of US$ 2 Trillion by 2030. Exporters who are eligible for a higher status based on additional export data relating to services export, deemed exports or double weightage to some entities like MSME etc., which is not getting captured in disaggregated form presently, can apply online for a Status modification also at a later date, the official statement explained. The Status Holder certification program provides credibility to the Indian exporters in the international markets. In addition, it provides certain other privileges including simplified procedures under FTP 2023 and priority custom clearances on self-declaration basis, exemption from compulsory negotiation of documents through banks, exemption from filing Bank Guarantee for FTP schemes etc. --IANS pannu/dan Delhi HC asks CBI to place copy of chargesheet against businessman in Excise policy case. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Delhi High Court on Monday set aside the transfer of the disciplinary proceedings case against 1998-batch IPS officer of the Bihar cadre, Amit Lodha, from the Patna bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to New Delhi. The court said that it was incumbent upon the CAT Chairman to pass a reasoned order in the interest of justice and directed the CAT to reconsider the issue by issuing a speaking order. Lodha faced disciplinary proceedings in Bihar related to allegations of corruption, gross irregularities, and arbitrariness, among others. He challenged these proceedings before the Patna bench of the CAT and sought a transfer of the case to the principal bench in New Delhi. In its decision, the court stated that one of the principles of natural justice is the requirement to pass a reasoned or speaking order, especially when the parties involved present opposing arguments. The court directed that no proceedings shall be held in the matter pending before the principal bench until the CAT Chairman issues a fresh decision. Guwahati, Oct 9 : Assam Police arrested district president of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for allegedly running an illegal job nexus, officials said on Monday. The AAP leader has been identified as Sainul Haque, who is the president of Karimganj district unit of AAP. He was arrested on Sunday night from his residence at Patiala village in Karimganj. Partha Pratim Das, the Superintendent of Police at Karimganj told IANS: "Haque has been collecting money from many individuals on the assurance of engaging them in the home guard duties. "Every home guard is engaged on a six month contract basis. The individual was taking one month's salary from the home guards who were getting this job through his network." Police said that at least 50 home guards have launched complaints against Haque for running an illegal network. "Haque was produced in the court, however, we could not get his custody yet for technical reasons. We shall get his remand on Tuesday. Once we can interrogate him, other people involved with the network can be traced," Das said. Patna, Oct 9 : A madarsa teacher in Bihar's Saharsa was arrested on Monday on the charge of raping a 13-year-old girl, police said. The victim's parents are in Delhi where they work as wage labourers and she was living with her maternal grandmother in a village that comes under Sadar police station. Police said that the incident came to light on October 7 when the victim approached Sadar police station and registered a written complaint against the accused. Accordingly the FIR was registered under POCSO act against the accused on October 8 and he was arrested him on Monday. The victim used to go to the nearby madarsa to study. Three months ago, she was raped by a teacher there and he had threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed the incident to anyone. Since then, the accused was regularly raping her whenever she went to madarsa for the study. The health of the victim deteriorated a few days ago and when her maternal grandmother took her to a clinic for treatment, the doctors scanned her abdomen and found her pregnant. The baby however died inside the womb. After following the legal procedures, the doctors operated upon and removed the dead foetus from her abdomen. Her parents were informed and returned to Saharsa and called for a panchayat but did not get justice. The accused offered Rs 10,000 as a compensation to the victim which her family refused. The victim finally reached Sadar police station and lodged a complaint against the accused. "We have registered an FIR on the basis of a complaint lodged by the victimas parents. We have conducted the medical checkup which confirms rape. We have arrested the accused under POCSO act," Sadar police station SHO Sudhakar Kumar said. Vijayawada, Oct 9 : In another setback to TDP supremo and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Skill Development Corporation scam, the Vijayawada ACB Court on Monday dismissed his bail petition. However, the court also dismissed the petition by the CID seeking Naiduas custody for another five days for further questioning in the case. Judge, B.S.V. Himabindu, who had completed the hearing on both the petitions on October 6, pronounced the orders on Monday. The CID, which questioned Naidu in the case in Rajahmundry Central Jail on September 23 and 24, had sought his further custody saying Naidu did not cooperate during the two-day interrogation. Supreme Court lawyer Pramod Kumar Dubey had argued the case on behalf of Naidu while Additional Advocate General P. Sudhakar Reddy had presented the arguments on behalf of the CID. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief is now likely to approach Andhra Pradesh High Court for bail. Meanwhile, the ACB court also took up hearing on Prisoner Transit (PT) warrants issued by the CID against Naidu in Amaravati Inner Ring Road alignment and AP FiberNet scam cases. It heard the arguments from both sides and adjourned the hearing to Tuesday. The ACB courtas judgment came as a second blow to Naidu in his legal fight on Monday. Earlier, the High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail petitions in Amaravati Inner Ring Road case and FiberNet case. Justice K. Suresh Redy also rejected Naiduas plea for anticipatory bail in the Angallu violence case. Naidu and other TDP leaders were booked by the police in connection with the violence that took place in Angallu village in Annamayya district during his tour of irrigation projects in August. The CID had arrested Naidu on September 9 in the Skill Development scam which allegedly took place when he was the Chief Minister. The next day, the Vijayawada ACB court sent him to judicial custody. Last week, his custody was extended till October 19. He remains lodged in Rajahmundry Central Jail. On September 22, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had dismissed Naiduas petition to quash the FIR registered against him and to set aside his judicial remand. Naidu has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court order. The petition was taken up for hearing by the apex court on Mondaybut adjourned to Tuesday. Largest Hindu temple outside Asia to open for public in New Jersey on Oct 18. Image Source: IANS News Robbinsville : , Oct 9 (IANS) The largest Hindu temple outside Asia -- Swaminarayan Akshardham -- will be thrown open for public in New Jersey on October 18. It is claimed that the temple is larger than the Bridgewater Lord Venkateshwara temple in New Jersey and the Pittsburgh temple of the same name. The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple was inaugurated on October 8. Sitting on a massive 185-acre plot in Robbinsville county of New Jersey, the temple was built by 12,500 volunteer workers from all over the world. The temple was in the works since 2011, but hit the headlines only a decade later for the wrong reasons, media reports said. Swaminarayan Akshardham was built with 2 million cubic feet of stone, a spokesperson of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known as BAPS, which has temples around the world, told NBC Asianews. Placing 2 million cubic feet of stone in Robbinsville township was no small feat. And the temple itself is a cultural mix with materials sourced from all over the world. It also gives historical nods to American history on its walls, a spokesperson said. For Indian Americans, it's a massive milestone of an achievement, the spokesperson said. Along the temple walls are carvings of historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. "When you come to the mandir, you will see people of all genders, all castes and social backgrounds eating, praying, loving and serving together," he said. But the temple is not without controversies created by the labour force that built it. The impressive construction prompted a labor lawsuit, now on hold, with some saying it "raises questions about the thin line between religious service and labour exploitation". "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. "It's like being transported to another world, specifically to India." "This is the American Dream," he said, adding: "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." To withstand cold New Jersey winters (anything between -5-degree C to -20-degree C), the outside of the temple has been built with non-traditional Bulgarian limestone. The inside features of the temple bear testimony to the stones imported from all over the world, ranging from Greece, Italy to India. Atraditional Indian stepwell contains waters from 300 sacred river bodies in India and all river waters from all 50 US states of the union. Women were also actively engaged in key roles in running the project. Something rarely seen in temple construction. "Now people who visit here from the American community will realise that the brown family two houses away from them is not all that different," Trivedi said. Trivedi said 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, it's actually seen on the walls," he said. Built by 12,500 volunteers from all over the world, the Akshardham has been in the works since 2011. But it made headlines in the US media a decade later, sometime around 2021, when a group of immigrant labourers suedthe global temple faith organisation.The lawsuit alleged "shocking" conditions, including forced labour, gruelling 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 the defendants took illegal deductions," the initial complaint said. "Their hourly pay rate came to approximately $1.20 per hour." Many of the manual labourers involved in the temple's construction came to New Jersey from India on religious visas and were Dalits, meaning they fell into historically marginalised groups in South Asia's caste system. The lawsuit alleges that the temple leadership enforced that caste hierarchy at work, NBC reported . The lawsuit has, however, 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, claims Sakshi Venkatraman who filed the report for the NBC that has been circulated widely in the US media. A spokesperson for BAPS was quoted by the NBC report as saying, "There's a distinction between employment and religious volunteer service, known as seva." Some activists say the allegations still raise questions about the thin line between "religious service and work exploitation", which Dalit communities are especially vulnerable to. "The artisans who helped build our mandir came to the US as volunteers, not as employees," spokesperson Ronak Patel said in a statement. "We took care of the artisans' needs in the US, 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 US." "A place of worship, a temple, is such an important space, especially for an immigrant community who's 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 labour and human rights violations," he added. New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Ministry of Home Affairs as approved the premature retirement of DANICS officer, A.V. Prem Nath, who has been accused in several cases including of corruption and under the POCSO Act. "I am directed to refer to the subject mentioned above and to say that the Competent Authority has approved the premature retirement of A.V. Prem Nath, an Entry Grade officer of DANICS (1997) in public interest under sub-rule 1 of Rule 56(j) of the Fundamental Rules and Rule 42 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1965 with immediate effect by giving three months pay and allowances in lieu of notice," read the order by Deputy Secretary, Home, Kshitish Kumar. The Anti-Corruption Branch previously lodged an FIR against Prem Nath, a former Joint Commissioner of the Delhi Labour department, on the grounds of purportedly "acquiring illicit properties across the nation under the guise of his family members." This FIR was registered on June 16 by the ACB after receiving a complaint that had been transferred from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Economic Offences Wing, in December 2019 for an investigation. Allegations suggest that the officer had connections and dealings in the real estate industry. It was uncovered that he had even sold properties registered in his wife's name. Additionally, he was accused of establishing a school in Almora, Uttarakhand, in 2017, under a foundation where his wife served as the Chairperson, with his mother-in-law as one of the members. The officer allegedly held the position of Vice President within this foundation. Furthermore, it is claimed that he had acquired five properties in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. In addition to this, a POCSO Act was registered against him at Kotwali police station in Uttrakhand's Ranikhet. Agartala, Oct 9 : Tripura BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee on Monday served a show cause letter to a sub-divisional party leader reportedly for terming Chief Minister Manik Saha as "Failed Minister". Bhattacharjee, in his show cause letter to Debraj Deb Biswas, the General Secretary of Kamapur Mandal Assembly constituency in Dhalai district, directed him to reply in five days why disciplinary action would not be taken against him for making comments against the Chief Minister on social media. Local media reported that Biswas, in a reply to a query of Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman fans club Facebook account, said that Chief Minister Saha is a "Failed Minister". The Facebook account has asked who is the all time "Failed Minister of Tripura", and Biswas replied Saha. --IANS sc/vd Whether a resolution professional can be subject to prosecution under the PC Act, SC seeks CBIs response. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Supreme Court on Monday said that it cannot interpret the provision requiring mandatory prior sanction to prosecute any public servant in a manner to frustrate the objective of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The observation was made by a bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M. Trivedi while hearing a plea filed by Telugu Desam Party supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu seeking quashing of proceedings initiated against him in connection with the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam case. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the TDP chief, argued that any proceedings against Naidu could not have been initiated without getting a sanction from the Governor of the state. The top court said that it will continue to hear the matter for October 10 after proceedings remained inconclusive on Monday. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday declined to grant anticipatory bail to Naidu in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam case, the AP FibreNet scandal case and the Angallu violence case in the Annamayya district. The Vijayawada ACB Court also dismissed his bail application while refusing to grant his further custody to CID in the alleged Skill Development Corporation scam. So far, the Supreme Court has refused to pass any interim relief to Naidu. In the previous hearing, it has asked the state government to place before it compilation of all documents filed before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. Naidu has approached the Supreme Court by filing a Special Leave Petition after a single judge bench of Justice S. Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on September 22 dismissed his petition to quash the FIR registered against him and to set aside his judicial remand. Washington, Oct 9 : Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a complete siege of Gaza vowing to cut electricity, food and fuel -- the lifeline to an impoverished home to over two million Palestinians in Gaza. The US State Department has confirmed that the death toll on each side has risen to 1200, while also confirming the deaths of nine Americans. The death toll includes over 700 in Israel and more than 500 in Gaza. The Israeli Health Ministry said more than 2,500 people were wounded in the attacks in Israel; Palestinian authorities estimated a similar number of injured in Gaza, media reports said. Israel intensified its military's offensive against the Hamas while the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to "defeat Hamas forcefully", media reports said. The Israeli military, which called up 300,000 reservists, pounded Gaza with an aerial assault aimed at halting Hamas rockets targeting Israel border towns, USA Today reported. Netanyahu, while talking to local leaders in the towns bordering Gaza, assured his government would "leave no stone unturned" to help them. "I know that you have undergone a difficult and terrible ordeal," he said adding, "What Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible. We are all with you and we will defeat them forcefully." Palestine's Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh took to the social media to air his grievances claiming "massacres were taking place and entire families wiped out" in Gaza, and more than 100,000 have been displaced. He blamed Israel for the war, claiming years of "occupation and aggression." Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari claimed that the military took full control of communities bordering Gaza and that sporadic fighting is now on. Meanwhile, the militant groups claimed to hold over 100 as hostages who have been abducted from Israel. Hamas also claimed that four hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes. No hostage negotiations Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua, a spokesman for the militant group, said that the Hamas is holding at least 130 hostages and demanded that all Palestinians held in Israeli prisons be released forthwith. Israel said as of now it was not involved in any negotiations aimed at securing the release of any hostages. The Egyptian news website Al-Ahram, said Egyptian authorities were attempting to secure a deal to free Palestinian women and children prisoners held in Israeli custody in exchange for Hamas releasing Israeli "civilian women" who were taken captive since the violence began Saturday. "The Egyptian government is presently awaiting responses from both parties regarding the proposed prisoner exchange and a temporary cease-fire," Al-Ahram said. The Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing claimed hundreds of houses were destroyed and over 1,200 severely damaged. The U.N Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, said 137,000 people who fled in fear of their lives were being given shelter in over 70 U.N schools in Gaza. UNRWA Spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai said the agency can house 150,000 people, adding that fuel in Gaza can last for up to 10 days. The United Nations humanitarian affairs office said Israeli strikes have targeted houses and apartment buildings in Gaza, without warning for residents to evacuate. Four large residential towers with multiple floors of residential units in Gaza city were completely destroyed. Israeli forces reportedly provided prior warnings in these cases, the agency said. The US airlines have also suspended flights with the State Department issuing the travel warnings. The State Department has issued travel advisories for the region, asking Americans to use caution while they were headed to Israel and the West Bank, clearly suggesting cancelling any trip to Gaza, USA today said. Bhopal, Oct 9 : The BJP on Monday ended the uncertainty as to whether its longest serving Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will contest the polls by fielding him from his home seat Budhni in Sehore district for the sixth time. Chouhan has won the Assembly elections from Budhni five times, including four times in a row (2006, 2008, 2013 and 2018) after winning for the first time in 1990. Until the fourth list of the candidates was released, the political circles were abuzz with possibilities of the five-time former Vidisha MP either being fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, or being shifted to some challenging seat in the November 17 Assembly polls. The speculation also become rife after the party fielded several heavyweights, including three Union ministers, for the Assembly polls in its second list, which was released on September 25. Even Chouhan during his recent speech in Dindori district had asked people whether he should contest the Assembly polls. The fourth list of 57 candidates also features 24 Cabinet ministers and even those who have crossed 70 years of age. Notably, several ministers of Chouhan's Cabinet are facing huge anti-incumbency, including Home Minister Narottam Mishra, PWD Minister Gopal Bhargava and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bisahulal Singh (both aged above 70), along with Prem Singh Patel, Om Prakash Saklecha, Prabhuram Chowdhary, Kamal Patel, Govind Singh Rajput and Bhupendra Singh. Assembly Speaker Girish Gautam (70), who had failed to get his son elected in the 2022 panchayat polls in Rewa district, has also been fielded from Deotalab seat, which he managed to retain by just 1,080 votes in 2018. The fourth list also includes the names of Jyotiraditya Scindia-loyalist ministers and MLAs, including Govind Singh Rajput, Prabhuram Chowdhary, Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, Pradumn Singh Tomar, Tulsi Silawat (all ministers), and Manoj Chaudhary (MLA from Hatpipliya). With the fourth list released on Monday, the BJP has so far named candidates on 136 out of the 230 seats, while the Congress is yet to name any of its candidates. The Congress may release its list during Navratri starting October 15. Meanwhile, state BJP President V.D. Sharma took a jibe at the prime opposition Congress for the delay in announcing its candidates for the Assembly elections. "Congress has no land left in Madhya Pradesh, which is why they are not able to even declare candidates," Sharma said. State Congress President Kamal Nath, meanwhile, criticised the ruling party's fourth list of candidates, saying the BJP has once again fielded the same faces "whom the people of Madhya Pradesh consider to be symbols of corruption". "The people of Madhya Pradesh are fed up with these tired faces and wants to get rid of them. By putting them forward, the BJP has accepted defeat before the fight. This is not preparation for elections, it is preparation for farewell," he added. Patna, Oct 9 : :A doctor of a government hospital in Bihar's Munger alleged that BJP MLA Pranav Kumar threatened him with dire consequences and tried to strangulate him on Monday. Dr Kumar Shanu, who is posted at the Sadar hospital, claimed that the BJP MLA barged into his cabin in the emergency ward and threatened him. A video in this regard went viral on social media where the verbal spat between the doctor and MLA was taking place inside the emergency ward. "A neuro case came to the emergency ward and I referred it to the higher centre for better treatment. The patient's kin asked me to talk to the MLA which I refused. Then they asked my name, and I told them that revealing my name is not required here. I did my job," Shanu claimed. "After a few minutes, MLA Pranav Kumar, along with his two bodyguards and supporters, reached the hospital and barged into the emergency ward. They have held my neck in a bid to strangulate me. He threatened me with dire consequences. The hospital has a shortage of doctors. I was on duty. I became frightened after the incident. What is my fault? There is no medicine to treat neuro patients and hence I referred him. I cannot do the job in such scary circumstances," he added. On the other hand, the MLA said: "I wanted to interact with the doctor to take his suggestions about a patient but he refused to talk to me. He misbehaved with me and the patient. I did not hold his neck. He was beating the table. I was just asking his name." United Nations, Oct 10 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday reiterated his "utter condemnation" of the "abhorrent" attacks by Hamas on Israel and cautioned the country to ensure that its military operations are in accordance with international humanitarian laws. "I recognise the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people, but nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians," he said. As the situation escalates in the region, he said that it is "vital to lookto the long-term horizon and avoid irreversible action that would embolden extremists and doomany prospects for lasting peace". Guterres said that over 800 Israelis have been killedand more than 2,500 injured in the attacks. "In addition, over one hundred, possibly more, Israelis - civilians and military - have been reported captured by armed groups, including women, children and the elderly," he said. The hostages must be released immediately, he added. Guterres said that "in the face of these unprecedented attacks, Israeli airstrikes have pounded Gaza" and reminded Israel "that military operations must be conducted in strict accordance with international humanitarian law". The Israeli missiles have struck health facilities inside Gaza, multi-storied residential towers and a mosque as well as two schools run by the UN aid agency for Palestine which is known as UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). He said that about 137,000 people were sheltering in UNRWA facilities. He said that he was "alarmed" by the toll on Palestinians from the Israeli strikes that have killed 500 in Gaza and over 3,000 injured. Guterres also said that he was "deeply distressed" Israel's "complete siege" of theGaza Strip and added that the already "dire" situation there will "deteriorate exponentially". He appealed to the international community to mobilise immediate humanitarian support for Gaza. He said thathe and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East,Tor Wennesland,are in touch with regional leaders in the region "to advance efforts to avoid any spillover to the wider Middle East". Meanwhile, General Assembly President Dennis Francis in statements to two Assembly committees expressed his "deepest concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East". Francis said: "I join the Secretary-General in stating, unequivocally, that violence is not a viable path forward; it offers neither sustainable peace nor prosperity for any involved." "The attacks by Hamas on Saturday resulted in an escalation that left hundreds dead and scores more wounded, in Israel and in the State of Palestine," he said. In a post on the X platform on Saturday, he wrote: "Istrongly condemn the attack by Hamas militants against Israel." Guterres's Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that UNRWA had 13,000 employees and that of them 300 were international staff. They could not move out because of the lockdown. (Arul Louis can be contacted atarul.l@ians.inand followed at @arulouis) Statement by Dr. Robert J. Pacienza Regarding the Terrorist Attacks on Israel NEWS PROVIDED BY Dr. Robert J. Pacienza Oct. 9, 2023 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 9, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Robert J. Pacienza, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Founder of the Institute for Faith & Culture and President of Coral Ridge Ministries, offers the following statement regarding the terrorist attacks on Israel: "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." ABOUT DR. ROBERT J. PACIENZA Dr. Robert J. Pacienza is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the President of Coral Ridge Ministries, and the Founder of the Institute for Faith and Culture. He also serves on the council of the Gospel Reformation Network and is a Senior Fellow at the America First Policy Institute. Pacienza is host of the weekly television program, "Truth That Transforms," and podcast, "The City of God." He is also the author of numerous books including his newest, "How Firm A Foundation." For additional information, visit https://crpc.org/about/. SOURCE Dr. Robert J. Pacienza CONTACT: Kristin U. Cole, kristin@kcolecommunications.com ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 9. Kazakhstan will organize evacuation of its citizens from Israel following the ongoing armed clashes with Hamas militant group, said the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Aybek Smadiyarov, Trend reports. As Smadiyarov noted, at the moment there are 77 people registered at the consular registration at the Kazakh Embassy in Tel Aviv. "The Embassy of Kazakhstan, together with Air Astana, is working to compile a list of citizens who have expressed a desire to return to Kazakhstan, and to work on organizing their further transportation to a safe place. By this time, 118 Kazakhs had expressed a desire to return to Kazakhstan. Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv continues to operate as normal. Along with this, at the government level we are working on the issue of organizing a special repatriation flight, which will be sent to Tel Aviv in the coming days," he said. According to estimates from the Kazakh Embassy in Tel Aviv, there may be more than 400 Kazakh citizens in Israel who are not registered with the embassy. He added that at the moment there is no information about the possible dead, injured hostages among Kazakhs. A combined attack was launched against Israel on October 7. 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. New Delhi, Oct 10 : The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC) and Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to deposit Rs 30 crore in an escrow account for the creation of civic infrastructure. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and S.V.N. Bhatti asked the GMC and the GDA to deposit Rs 10 crore and Rs 20 crore, respectively, within six weeks. It said that the amount would be used to manage solid waste and the setting up of sewage treatment plants. The bench was initially of the view that both GMC and GDA deposit Rs 50 crore. It, however, reduced the amount after the GMC counsel said that except for the collection of house tax, they don't have any other source of revenue. On February 6, the top court sought a detailed report from the GDA on the amount collected by it over the years from the district's residents as 'development charges' and where it was spent. A bench of Justices Khanna and M.M. Sundresh had then said that the amount collected as 'development charges' must be deposited by the Authority in an escrow account and the amount must be used only for creating civic infrastructure and provide clean environment and not for any other purpose. A three-member National Green Tribunal (NGT) bench, headed by Chairperson, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (retd), had on September 6 last year, directed the civic agencies to pay Rs 200 crore as compensation. The GMC was directed to pay Rs 150 crore and GDA the rest. It had directed them to deposit the amount with the District Magistrate and be utilised for remedial measures by a committee. The tribunal had passed the order on a report of the Central Pollution Control Board. Challenging the tribunal order, the GMC had moved the apex court. New Delhi, Oct 10 : BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with party leaders on Monday to prepare a strategy for promoting the Centre's Vishwakarma Yojana across the country. According to sources, the party high command has entrusted the responsibility of publicising the scheme to different state leaders and directed them to go to people belonging to the Vishwakarma community and apprise them about the scheme before October 20. The meeting, held at the BJP headquarters' extension office, was attended by party's national general secretaries Dushyant Gautam, Tarun Chugh, and Vinod Tawde, BJP OBC Morcha national president K. Laxman, former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb, Union Minister B.L. Verma, former Uttar Pradesh Minister Shrikant Sharma, ministers from several BJP-ruled states and MPs. Sources said that all these leaders have been given the responsibility to promote the scheme in different states. New Delhi, Oct 10 : A Delhi court has granted permission to Hemant Patil, accused in a money laundering case related to the alleged Rs 60,000 crore ponzi scam, to travel abroad to explore higher secondary educational institutions in Switzerland for his daughter. Special Judge Rajesh Kumar Goel allowed Patil to travel from October 14 to 22. Notably, Patil was not arrested during the investigation, and the supplementary complaint was filed against him without his arrest. The court took into consideration that there was no record of the accused trying to abscond during the investigation or avoiding court appearances. The Enforcement Directorate opposed the application, citing the seriousness of the economic offences involved and the concern that the accused might not be available to stand trial if permitted to travel abroad. The Pearls Group case involves alleged violations of SEBI Act provisions and regulations in a ponzi scheme that reportedly illegally mobilised around Rs 60,000 crore. FIR lodged against AMU students for marching in support of Hamas. Image Source: IANS News Aligarh, Oct 10 : A First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against four students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for taking out a march in support of Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Besides the four students who have been named, a case has also been registered against several unidentified people. The students who have been named in the FIR are Khalid, Kamran, Naved Choudhary, and Aatif. The case was lodged on Monday night after a video of the march, with students chanting slogans in support of Palestine, went viral on social media. The FIR mentioned that the march was taken out without permission. Aligarh SP (City) Mrigank Pathak said that they received a tip-off about the students' protest inside the AMU campus over an international issue without prior permission. The FIR has been filed under Sections 155A, 188 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for hatred and enmity between different communities. The AMU administration said it would also take strict action against the students and those involved in the march as per the law. Hamas terrorist group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, which included unprecedented infiltration into Israeli towns and gunning down citizens. Several videos on social media showed Hamas terrorists killing people in Israel, with some being butchered inside their homes. The Hamas terrorists have also taken several hostages, including foreign citizens. Israel, meanwhile, has initiated 'Operation Iron Swords' in retaliation. More than 1,100 people have so far died in both Israel and Palestine amid the ongoing war. Mexico's Pacific Coast gem ranks #4 in the Small Cities category as it welcomes a record number of international visitors NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Puerto Vallarta, situated along Banderas Bay on Mexico's Pacific coast, has been named one of the Best Cities in the World in Conde Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards. Recognized for its exquisite blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and warm hospitality, Puerto Vallarta secured the impressive #4 spot in the Small Cities category, as voted by over 520,000 Conde Nast Traveler readers. The accolade follows a record-breaking first half of the year, marked by significant increases in international visitors, hotel occupancy rates, and overall tourism revenue, solidifying Puerto Vallarta's reputation as a must-visit destination. The Readers' Choice Awards, with their unparalleled legacy as the travel industry's longest-running and most prestigious accolades, remain the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector. The full list of winners can be found here. "We are honored to be included in this exclusive list of international destinations," said Luis Villasenor, Puerto Vallarta's director of tourism. "This recognition speaks to the warm, inclusive, and friendly atmosphere that defines Puerto Vallarta. Our city embodies a truly authentic Mexican experience alongside a remarkable diversity of attractions and activities, and we are grateful to every visitor who shared their love for Puerto Vallarta by voting for us." With its perpetual sunshine, breathtaking mountain-to-ocean vistas, abundant cultural offerings, and world-class dining options, this coastal paradise welcomed nearly 3 million international visitors from January to August this year, marking an impressive 12.2 percent increase compared to the previous year. During the first half of 2023, hotel occupancy rates also soared to 77 percent, reflecting a notable 3 percent uptick from last year. Adding to Puerto Vallarta's allure is its diverse array of wellness resorts and spas, creating a haven for rejuvenation of mind and body. The city's progressive LGBTQ+ inclusive culture seamlessly blends with its rich heritage, evident in the picturesque cobblestone streets that intersect with the modern Malecon esplanade and the vibrant nightlife of the Romantic Zone. Its pristine beaches and reputation as a destination that embraces everyone who visits makes Puerto Vallarta a truly welcoming haven for all. With a lineup of upcoming events showcasing the town's unique charm and culture, Puerto Vallarta deserves the top spot on every holiday traveler's itinerary. From November 1 to 2, visitors can immerse in the vibrant Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos during the Day of the Dead festival, featuring the World's Tallest Calavera Catrina and poignant cemetery visits. Next up, from November 9 to 19, culinary enthusiasts can savor fine dining at the Festival Gourmet International, boasting a 10-day culinary festival with innovative dishes and captivating Chef's Table dining experiences. From December 1-12, visitors can experience the visually rich Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival, a celebration honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe with vibrant processions, folkloric dancers, and a cultural significance designated as the "Intangible Heritage of the State of Jalisco" in 2018. The 2023 Readers' Choice Awards are published on Conde Nast Traveler's website at cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue. For more information on Puerto Vallarta, visit https://visitpuertovallarta.com. About Puerto Vallarta Nestled between the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay on Mexico's balmy Pacific coast, Puerto Vallarta is the quintessential Mexican beach destination. Puerto Vallarta's year-round warm climate, easy direct access from major markets in the United States and Canada, and a range of accommodation options have made it a top choice for a stress-free tropical escape. Authentic culture can be discovered around every corner in Puerto Vallarta, from the charming cobblestone streets downtown to the art-filled Malecon, and the lively Romantic Zone a favorite enclave amongst LGBTQ+ travelers. Puerto Vallarta's picturesque beaches and aquatic activities lure travelers, and its welcoming hospitality, top-notch gastronomy, and outdoor adventures keep them coming back time and time again. Media Contact Allyson Doyle, PTG Consulting, 1 646-465-9789, [email protected], https://ptgconsulting.com/ SOURCE Puerto Vallarta ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 9. The 8th meeting of the Ministers of Tourism of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is planned to be held in the Kazakh city of Turkestan, said the official representative of the Kazakh MFA Aybek Smadiyarov, Trend reports. As he noted, at the meeting, issues of increasing direct flights between large cities of member states and observers of the OTS, increasing the tourism potential of "Zhibek Zholy" (a village in the Turkestan region), as well as the development of the tourism industry will be discussed. "At the same time, within the framework of the event, the International Tourism Forum "Turkestan the tourist capital of the Turkic world" will be organized," he added. OTS is an intergovernmental organization comprising prominent independent Turkic countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan. Hungary, Northern Cyprus and Turkmenistan are observer states to the organization. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 9. A delegation of the Republic of Lithuania, which includes Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jovita Neliupsiene and Director General of Lithuanian Customs Darius Zvironas, will visit Kazakhstan on October 9-10, 2023, said the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan MFA Aybek Smadiyarov, Trend reports. "The Lithuanian delegation will hold meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan and other relevant departments to discuss current issues of bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, investment and other areas," he said. Since 2017, Lithuania has been among the ten largest trading partners of Kazakhstan in the EU countries and among the thirty largest partners in the world. According to the Lithuanian Department of Statistics, Kazakhstan is Lithuania's 15th largest trading partner. In 2022, bilateral trade turnover amounted to $584 million, an increase of 30 percent compared to 2021. About 170 Lithuanian companies are represented in Kazakhstan. Hector Gomez, a professor in Purdue Universitys School of Mechanical Engineering, and his international collaborators have developed a patent-pending method and algorithm to predict the recurrence of prostate cancer in patients treated by radiation therapy. (Purdue University photo/Vincent Walter) International researchers have created an algorithm that uses data available through standard patient monitoring practices WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. A Purdue University mechanical engineer and his international collaborators have developed a patent-pending method and algorithm to predict the recurrence of prostate cancer in patients treated by radiation therapy. Hector Gomez, a professor in Purdue Universitys School of Mechanical Engineering, said data indicates the model-based predictors can identify relapsing patients a median of 14.8 months earlier than the current clinical practice. Gomez said radiation is an effective treatment for patients of all ages to treat tumors ranging in risk from low to very high. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, between 20% to 30% of patients will experience a recurrence after the five-year period, post-therapy. The detection of prostate cancer recurrence after radiation relies on the measurement of a sustained rise of the serum levels of a substance called prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, Gomez said. However, the recurrence may take years to occur, which delays the delivery of a secondary treatment to patients with recurring tumors. Gomez and his collaborators at the University of Pavia in Italy and the University of Castilla La Mancha in Spain have developed novel, patient-specific forecasts of PSA dynamics to predict cancer recurrence. Their research has been published online in iScience, an open access journal. The algorithm is based on a patient-specific mechanistic model, informed by the periodic PSA measurements for an individual patient. These measurements are part of the standard monitoring for prostate cancer patients who have undergone radiation. The PSA data is used in conjunction with the model to obtain patient-specific parameters that determine the PSA dynamics and serve as classifiers for recurrence, Gomez said. In addition to recurrence identification, our model can be used for designing personalized PSA monitoring strategies. It can tell physicians the right time to investigate tumor recurrences and maximize the window of curability. Gomez and his collaborators tested the method using retrospective data from a cohort of 166 patients. For each of these patients, we compared the time when our model first identified the recurrence with the standard medical practice, Gomez said. We found that our method predicted recurrence a median of 14.8 months earlier. Gomez said the model will be further developed to expand the population of patients who can benefit from it. Our current model can be used only for patients who do not receive any treatment additional to radiation, Gomez said. Some patients receive radiation and hormone therapy simultaneously and cannot benefit from our method right now. We plan to extend the method to make it applicable also to patients who receive radiation and hormone therapy simultaneously. Gomez disclosed the innovation to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, which has applied for a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the intellectual property. Industry partners interested in developing and commercializing the innovation should contact Patrick Finnerty, senior business development and licensing manager in life sciences, at pwfinnerty@prf.org. Hector Gomez is among the Purdue University faculty whose work is supported by the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research. There is an important need for prognostic technology like Hectors to be further developed to begin to predict which prostate cancer patients are at high risk so they can be followed more closely and monitored to verify the recurrence, said Timothy Ratliff, former director of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research and Distinguished Professor of Comparative Pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine. I am proud that Purdue University has outstanding organizations like the Institute for Cancer Research that bring together faculty to generate new technologies that impact peoples lives. Facts about prostate cancer In its Cancer Facts & Figures 2023 report, the American Cancer Society estimates that more than 288,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2023. It estimates more than 34,000 American men will die from prostate cancer in 2023. Early-stage prostate cancer usually shows no symptoms. The five-year survival rate of men with distant-stage disease is 32%. The American College of Surgeons reports 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Prostate cancer is the No. 2 cause of cancer-related death among men. About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes, at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives. About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the universitys academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. In fiscal year 2022, the office reported 157 deals finalized with 237 technologies signed, 379 disclosures received and 169 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information. Writer/Media contact: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org Source: Hector Gomez, hectorgomez@purdue.edu Purdue President Mung Chiang and Roberto Gallardo, Purdue vice president for engagement and director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development, announced on Oct. 9 the Purdue Broadband Team, which will help Indiana residents, businesses and leaders expand broadband access, adoption and use across the state. (Purdue University photo) President Chiang discusses how Purdue can help with accurate broadband mapping during his 92-county tour WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University continues to fulfill its land-grant responsibilities, this time by serving the state in its broadband initiative. Through its presence in every county in the state, the university is taking a leading role to help ensure all Indiana families and businesses have access to affordable broadband internet service which is crucial for success in the 21st century while also helping to ensure data accuracy that will help the state of Indiana in deploying the $868 million in federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program for high-speed internet improvements. Purdue President Mung Chiang announced on Monday (Oct. 9) the launch of the Purdue Broadband Team, a collaborative effort between Purdue, the Indiana Broadband Office, and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Coordinated by Purdues Office of Engagement, the Purdue Broadband Team will include Purdue Extension, 4-H, the Purdue Center for Regional Development and the Purdue for Life Foundation. The lack of affordable high-speed broadband affects economic development and quality of life in various communities in our state, Chiang said. Continuing our long-standing tradition as Indianas land-grant institution, Purdue is honored to play a small and hopefully useful role as the state government plans the next-level broadband deployment. Additional Information: The Purdue Broadband Team is part of Chiangs ABCD plan to better serve the state through four initiatives: Airport for the Greater Lafayette region, Broadband for rural counties, (hard-tech) Corridor for central Indiana, and Purdue@DC, which brings unique capabilities to our nations capital. The Purdue Broadband Team focuses on raising awareness of available tools but does not have oversight on the speed test outcomes or challenges submitted. And while it is obviously not a service provider or infrastructure builder, it will work with communities in education about the ways to use broadband for businesses and families The announcement was made as Chiang continued toward his goal to visit all 92 Indiana counties. During his tour, Chiang has seen firsthand and heard from residents, community leaders and business owners what impact insufficient broadband can have on a community. By visiting every region of the state, he says he hopes to send a message that Purdue is a resource for addressing challenges, including bridging the digital divide. It is part of our mission as a land-grant university to use resources, knowledge and scope of reach to aid in this critical endeavor, Chiang said. Broadband means better health care, better schools, stronger infrastructure and more jobs for people to choose from. This is about translating why it matters and helping make that linkage for people in communities. Working at a community level, the Purdue Broadband Team will help residents, businesses and local leaders expand broadband access, adoption and use by: Increasing awareness of: Tools to verify service, including tools for community members to conduct speed tests and validate broadband service maps. Programs (state and federal) to expand broadband access. Providing training to residents and businesses on digital literacy. Supporting community-led broadband task forces/working groups. With this mission, the Purdue Broadband Team is launching at a critical time, when the state of Indiana has made expansion of broadband service a top priority. Access to fast, reliable internet is a major contributor to quality of life and is one of the great equalizers in todays society, said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indianas secretary of agriculture and rural development. I applaud Purdues commitment to investing in broadband by educating Hoosiers on tools to improve their own broadband access. As a state, we have seen a direct connection between the number of people requesting broadband services in a certain area and the areas providers are most likely to invest in. I am confident that this partnership with Purdue will accelerate state efforts to ensure that all Hoosiers, in every community, will have broadband access. The Purdue Broadband Team will be led by Roberto Gallardo, Purdue vice president for engagement and director of the Purdue Center for Regional Development, and include Purdue Extension personnel, students, 4-H members and alumni. Gallardo says the core component of this initiative is for team members to educate the public and spread the word with family, friends and colleagues about the importance of broadband in their local communities. Purdue is a long-standing and trusted partner across Indiana. With those community relationships, we want to increase awareness about the tools that are available to improve high-speed broadband access, adoption and use by making broadband data more accurate, Gallardo said. The Federal Communications Commission map is a key metric in determining where funding is allocated for broadband projects. Gallardo said the more accurate the data at the local level, the better the chances for resources to reach unserved and underserved areas of Indiana. Accurate and up-to-date information is a critical piece of the puzzle. Local broadband groups and the state can run into challenges with the data that is needed to support grant applications, Gallardo said. For broadband funding to be allocated to Hoosier communities needing it the most, data must accurately reflect gaps in broadband connectivity. Helping communities to improve the quality of available broadband data is just one of many efforts that the Purdue Broadband Team will undertake to help Indiana close the digital divide. About Purdue University Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes, at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives. Writer/Media contact: Wes Mills, wemills@purdue.edu Sources: Mung Chiang, Roberto Gallardo Israel forced Bruno Mars to cancel his much-awaited performance at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar during the F1 show. Due to the ongoing situation, the star couldn't get his concert equipment out of Israel on time. Read More: Global Superstar Bruno Mars to Perform at the F1 Qatar Grand Prix 2023 Fans eagerly waiting for Mars were informed at the eleventh hour that he would not be taking the stage. However, to fill the void, famed French DJ and music producer, DJ Snake, will perform in his place. The stadium's official announcement stated, "We had to make last-minute changes and are thrilled to share that DJ Snake will be entertaining fans at the stadium tonight." Adding to their statement, they mentioned, "While we're saddened by the change, we're excited to welcome F1 enthusiasts. We hope everyone enjoys the climax of the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix. Property details: 2.5 ACRES IN DELANDVOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDANEAR DAYTONA PARK ESTATES High bid wins! Cash sale! ABOUT THE PROPERTY:Parcel Number: 613301150150, Alt key 2506237Off Hwy I-4 in University HighlandsSize: 2.5 AcresUtilities - Not to lotProperty Type: Vacant ResidentialTaxes: Approx $70/yearHOA: NoneDocument Fee $299 Payment/Terms: Payment accepted via Zelle, Venmo, cashiers check, or wire transfer. We do not take Paypal, as they will no longer allow real estate transaction payments thru them. Paymen... Price: $ 3,850 Seller State of Residence: California Zip/Postal Code: 32724 Zoning: Residential City: Deland State/Province: Florida Location: 305**, Cleveland, Georgia You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Florida Property details: INVESTMENT PROPERTYLUNA COUNTY, NEW MEXICOI own a nice 1/2 acre lot in Deming, Luna County, New Mexico with close access to Interstate 10. This land is in an excellent location near Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX. 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Conveniently situated just a short 5-mile drive from the iconic Yosemite National Park, this claim provides ... Price: $ 3,249 Seller State of Residence: California State/Province: California Location: 952**, Angels Camp, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby California Bachelor in Paradise couple Kevin Wendt and Astrid Loch are celebrating the birth of their second child. ADVERTISEMENT The television personalities welcomed a son, Nash Lochland, on Saturday ahead of Thanksgiving in Canada. Wendt and Loch shared the news Sunday on Instagram alongside photos of their family of four. The couple also have a son, August, who turns two years old in November. "Happy CA Thanksgiving from our now family of 4 everyone meet our son Nash Lochland Wendt 10.7.23," Wendt captioned the post. "Astrid and baby boy are doing great and ready to come home today. Our new favourite moment in life was watching August meet Nash, smiling the whole time and kissing his new baby brother." Fellow Bachelor Nation stars Becca Kufrin, Raven Gates and Vanessa Grimaldi were among those to congratulate the couple in the comments. "Congrats to your beautiful, growing family! Enjoy these moments as a fam of 4," Kufrin wrote. "Congrats you guys! @astridloch were just meant to be boy moms," Gates added. "AH!! Congratulations!!!! So much to be thankful for!!!!!!" Grimaldi said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Wendt and Loch met and started dating in Bachelor in Paradise Season 5, which aired in 2018. The couple welcomed son August in November 2021 and married in October 2022. Wendt and Loch announced in February that they were expecting their second child. Prior to Bachelor in Paradise, Wendt appeared on The Bachelorette Canada and Bachelor Winter Games, while Loch competed in The Bachelor Season 21. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE The very first booth we laid eyes on at SHOT Show 2023 was Foxtrot Mike. They had a rifle we found so outrageous as to be compelling: the Mike-102. It has a mix of features of both the AR and AK, but not in the ways youd think. Folding stock but still direct impingement. 5.56mm but eats from AK mags. It also shared features with many advanced carbines, like a swappable, forward charging handle and some ambidextrous controls. DESIGN Because the stock both folds and can fire when folded, one would expect an operating system similar to an AR-180, but here the design more resembles the original shorty, no-stock AR, the Olympic Arms OA-93. The standard AR bolt carrier group is truncated, and instead of a buffer and long recoil spring assembly going into a buttstock, theres a pair of nested coil springs riding on a rod inside the upper receiver. Theres a spring for the firing pin and the cam pin is mono-directional, only able to be installed and removed in one direction. The gas is tapped at the barrel like a standard AR, moving from the gas block to the carrier key via a gas tube. A non-reciprocating four-position charging handle (left, right, angled up, angled down) sits north of the upper receiver and above the gas block itself. Because of this, both the handguard and the upper receiver are taller than a standard AR more like an HK416. The brass deflector is replaceable rather than integral. The 4150 1/8 twist barrel is black nitrided, chambered in .223 Wylde, and held in place via a tapered barrel nut that features flats for easy installation. There are also flats on the muzzle end for easy swapping of non-permanent devices. Initial barrel lengths available for the Mike-102 are 9, 12.5, 13.9, and 16 inches. We went with a 13.9-inch barrel with a permanently attached SureFire Warcomp to not only allow for legal length but also to accommodate a SureFire silencer. The handguard indexes on the upper receiver to ensure alignment and a monolithic look and attached with a pair of Torx screws (and theres even torque values in the manual). There are M-LOK slots galore here, with attention paid to 45-degree flats. The lower receiver looks standard, but not. The front of the receiver is angled to accommodate rock-n-lock AK mags, with a steel pin acting as the front pivot point. The magazine release is AK-style, with a generously proportioned, elongated paddle that sits behind the magazine well. The skeletonized trigger guard is integral, the 90-degree safety selector is ambidextrous, and standard AR-15 grips can be used. Theres no bolt-hold-open, or ability to lock the bolt to the rear. In lieu of a normal AR-15 buttstock, the Mike-102 has a cap/folding stock adapter thats held in place with the buffer retention pin. In order to show off the AK-ish-ness, our example is rocking a folding Zukhov stock. OUTFITTING & ON THE RANGE Rolling with the theme, we thought wed get a little weird with the optic selection ourselves. A programmable, rechargeable Meprolight Foresight would serve as the primary optic, complete with a custom reticle we designed ourselves. An EOTech flip-side G45 magnifier rides behind if more clarity is needed at distance. The 95,000 candela SureFire M340DFT-PRO would serve as a stubby weapon light, articulated to snug the handguard. A Strike Industries LINK Angled Handstop was placed for easy access to light activation. The silencer, a SureFire SOCOM762-MINI2, was used instead of the 556RC2 as a nod to the AK-ish roots of the rifle. Normally rifles that mix AR/AK attributes feature a short or long-stroke gas piston system, adding to the forward weight of the rifle, but the Mike-102 balances well due to the being DI. The charging handle is a bit stiff, likely due to the shorter recoil springs. Once we found appropriate magazines (more on this in a moment), recoil was AR-soft, with the dual coil recoil springs doing their job well as we popped 1/2 IPSC targets at range. Dont let that lack of AR charging handle fool you, however. Even unsuppressed there was some gas to the face, and when equipped with a can it was downright burdensome. Were already looking at ways to use an adjustable gas block with this rifle. PROBLEMS & PROBLEMS Some of the problems are merely problems, while others are definitely going to be deal-breakers for many. The first one is aesthetics, but not likely in the way youre thinking. When someone first lays eyes on the Mike-102, theyll think AR-15. And indeed, it isnt difficult to see why: the two-piece receiver arrangement, handguards, barrel attachment, and basic gas system are all more than inspired by. The problem is that when people see an AR-15(ish) gun, they expect there to be a number of interchangeable parts. With the Mike-102, there are very few, and it starts and ends with the trigger group (Hiperfire recommended), grip, and safety selector. In and of itself, this isnt necessarily a problem if the Mike-102 looked more like it was a separate rifle entirely. No one really complains that an FN SCAR doesnt accept AR-15 parts, at least no one worth listening to. What you get with the Mike-102 is an expectation that more parts will interchange than actually do; it sets up customers for disappointment, because the wheels in their heads were already churning. Similarly, while the charging handle can be configured in multiple ways, its not terrible easy to do so. You either need an extremely long hex key to make the swap, or jam a small one in the cavity and unscrew it a smidgen at a time. MAGAZINE WOES 5.56mm AKs suffer similar problems to the AR-10/.308 AR, in that there were never any widespread set standards for these calibers. While many 7.62x39mm AKs allow for a lot of parts to interchange due to similar dimensions, the same cannot be said for 5.56 AKs. Every country that made one (Russia, China, Yugoslavia, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Israel, arguably South Africa and Switzerland, and probably more) did so to slightly different standards, to say nothing of the imported weirdness and associated conversions here in the United States. The result is that while its probably possible to get a 5.56 AK magazine from one country working in a rifle produced by another, invariably it involves modification of either the rifle or the magazine. And so we have this issue here. There was a lot of early reporting that the Mike-102 would work with any 5.56 AK magazine. In reality, that isnt true. To be fair to Foxtrot Mike, in their own media and literature, they make no such claims. In fact, the two types of recommended magazines in the manual are AC-Unity and Bulgarian Circle 10 (with FB Radom mags unceremoniously crossed out). And this is for a reason: We couldnt get most other magazines (Russian, Chinese, Yugoslavian, etc.) to even lock into the magwell, and those that did (like Galil magazines) had feeding angles that were too low for rounds to strip off the top. We also had some problems with Bulgarian Circle 10 magazines, where the magazine would have to be loaded above 10 rounds to have the spring tension required for initial charging; though, curiously it would chug the rest of the magazine after that first shot. Now, one might be tempted to blame the magazine for this, but as these magazines work just fine in the rifle they were intended (a 5.56 Bulgarian AKM), that would be off the mark. Ultimately, the part of the rifle that first caught our eye and attracted us to it, a rock-n-lock 5.56 magazine, became one of the larger detractions. This isnt a problem unique to Foxtrot Mike, however. Nearly all of the 7.6239 non-AK rifles (especially AR-ish ones) on the market suffer similar issues, working with one magazine (usually Magpul or US Palm, which makes sense) while being hit-and-miss with others. Once again, this is an issue with expectation management rather than something tangible. Combloc countries werent exactly known for their consistent manufacturing, and while the reliability of AKs is mythical (as in, myth: overstated), their ability to operate within a wide range of dimension variance is quite exceptional. Eventually, the 7.6239 AR magazine problems were largely solved by C-Products Duramags, and here the solution would be (drumroll) the ability to operate with STANAG 5.56mm magazines. And Foxtrot Mike already has those rifles with all of the features of the Mike-102, in the form of the Mike-15. Were not saying every rifle sharing calibers should have to eat from the same magazines, but AR magazines are a global standard for good reason. Thankfully, the Bosnian AC-Unity magazines that the Mike-102 runs well with are under $15 each. SPRINGS Though parts interchange is more about expectations, the real kick in the crotch for the Mike-102 are its springs and small parts. We saw a hint of what was to come when the manual came complete with a little baggy stapled to it containing a pair of spare extractor pins. Even though the bolt is a fairly standard 5.56 affair, the extractor pin is both proprietary and apparently more subject to failure, due it to having to accommodate a firing pin spring. NGL, spare parts are a good thing to have, and there are a lot of non-AR rifles out there with parts that are hard to source. Kudos to Foxtrot Mike for including them. But its the words that accompany them that are more concerning. The anticipated lifespan of each pin is a mere 1,000 rounds, or after each time you totally strip down the bolt. Parts swap schedules are a good thing to know, and something very, very few companies release with rifles outside of military contracts, but 1,000 rounds and/or regular maintenance is a steep price to pay here. And its not just the extractor pin, but also the firing pin retracting spring. This little guy fits on the firing pin, which has a retention groove built-in. The anticipated service life is 3,000 rounds, which is better than the extractor pin but still falls short of standard AR-15 parts by a country mile. LOOSE ROUNDS The rock-n-lock magazine stuffed into an AR is what first caught our eye, though the Mike-102 ultimately received some of our ire for the same reason. That said, the magazine issues will only be annoying for those who already have a bevy of 5.56 AK magazines, which is to say: not that many people. We are spoiled by the price and availability of STANAG AR magazines (as well as 9mm Glock magazines) but once you step outside of that realm (price out FN or SIG mags sometime) youre going to have to step up and pay a bit more. When we were going over all of the proprietary parts at 2023s SHOT Show, we were adding up everything in our heads. The immediate conclusion was about $2,200, so it was shocking to hear the complete Mike-102 would be priced comfortably below a grand. The fact that this rifle can be produced at that price and paired with this feature set is nothing short of astounding. Weve come across a great many novel designs at price points we knew would be failures, but Foxtrot Mike hit the beer-money mark. To fix the parts life issues, there will probably need to either be even more proprietary pieces, driving up the price, or a removal of features. This possibly isnt a case where you can simply swap the bolt and be safe because it likely was put in place for a reason. But stay tuned, because our gears are turning. Is the price low enough to make up for the woes? For a rifle used for any offensive or defensive purposes, no. For a cool, weird rifle you show off at the range, yes. If you have a stack of boring ready-to-go rifles already, this may be worth it to you in order to grab some eyes, but everyone else should probably wait for Gen 3. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Her first years in the United States came with a debilitating amount of Islamophobia. My family's last name, "Mohamed," became a red flag and a target for discrimination. "Go back to your country" became a familiar phrase upon entering grocery stores, going to parks, being anywhere really. Most surprising was that these hateful sentiments were not by conservatives or ultra-right nationalists but by average Americans, hurt and overtaken by a hunger for vengeance. As I do not belong to any of the communities involved, I find it extremely important to educate myself on the entirety of the conflict and try to understand the complexities the best I can. As allies, we should sympathize with all innocent Israeli and Palestinian citizens that face violence despite their own actions. To fully understand their struggles, its important to start by learning about the history of the conflict and lend support to those who need it. 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. Torrents' 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. 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. Samantha is everybody's darling... Sanjana shoots in Turkey... Plabita finds her favourite pasta in Assam... Photograph: Kind courtesy Sara Ali Khan/Instagram Sara Ali Khan enjoys 'coffee, culture and sunsets' in Paris. 'A frothy almond milk cappuccino, walks to the Louvre with mandatory coffee, chocolate and pop up art gallery stops, gym sessions & jam binges... 'Sunsets and moon rises behind the Eiffel Tower, and under the Eiffel Tower and on!!! 'Afternoon strolls with mommy & Monet evening ones with Shakespeare & Co.. And our extremely embarrassing and hazardously heavy exit Au Revoir Paris.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Samantha/Instagram Samantha feels she's 'Everybody's darling' in Vienna, 'Or not.... I can live with both,' she adds. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sanjana Sanghi/Instagram Sanjana Sanghi is 'currently in Istanbul for a hot second shooting for something super fun. Cannot wait to share more from what we've been up to here with you all! #Gratitude #NomadLife.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Plabita Borthakur/Instagram Plabita Borthakur had 'finally found my favorite kinda pasta in Jorhat. The ambience is gorgeous, and I loved everything else we ordered at Alchemy Jorhat.' The actor is currently in her native Assam. Photograph: Kind courtesy Tina Datta/Instagram 'If there was heaven on earth, this would be it! Truly the photos don't capture the real beauty which the eyes have seen! I love the blues, the infinite water and the calm silence!' declares Tina Datta from the Maldives. Photograph: Kind courtesy Raai Laxmi/Instagram 'A little escape is always good for soul, on my way to unknown things,' says Raai Laxmi. Photograph: Kind courtesy Avneet Kaur/Instagram Avneet Kaur shares a candid moment from Rome. Photograph: Kind courtesy Gul Panag/Instagram Gul Panag takes a dip in Phuket. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Kyrgyzstan, Finland are considering establishment of Finnish-Kyrgyz Business Council or Association, the Honorary Consul of Kyrgyzstan in Finland, Petri Numminen, told Trend in an exclusive interview. He highlighted the significant untapped business potential that exists between Finland and Kyrgyzstan, particularly regarding the export of Kyrgyz products to Finland and the EU, with an advantage of Kyrgyzstan's GSP+ (EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences) status. Economic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Finland are steadily growing. The trade turnover between the two countries reached $5.992 million from January through July 2023, which is an increase of 5.4 times compared to the same period in 2022 ($1.1 million), according to the State Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan. The majority of this trade consisted of Kyrgyzstan's imports from Finland, amounting to $5.909 million, up by 5.6 times compared to the same period in 2022. Kyrgyzstan's exports to Finland reached a total of $82,600, showing a year-on-year increase of 1.5 times. Numminen further mentioned that Kyrgyzstan and Finland are exploring the possibility of conducting bilateral high-level visits in the coming years. Both sides have also planned several business delegations from Kyrgyzstan to Finland in 2024, in addition to organizing a Finnish-Kyrgyz Business Forum scheduled to take place in Bishkek in the same year. Numminen emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the Consulate and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, as well as the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Germany, aimed at fostering stronger ties within the business communities of both countries. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of focusing on cooperation among small and medium-sized companies and exploring opportunities in the health and well-being sector. Numminen noted that various business delegations from Kyrgyzstan have visited Finland, and vice versa. Currently, several Finnish companies, including Metso, Kone, Honka, and Econet, are actively operating in the Kyrgyz market. Additionally, numerous small and medium-sized enterprises, especially in the high technology sector, have become involved in Kyrgyzstan. Introducing UCC is a challenging task for any government. The complexities are real and difficult to negotiate as it deals with sensitive religious and cultural sentiments. How can it strike an easy balance between individual rights and community interests?, asks Ramesh Menon. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi inspects the guard of honour before addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, August 15, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The prospect of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) being introduced has kicked up a lot of dust and is being fiercely debated in all corners of India. All debates wonder if Prime Minister Narendra D Modi will use it as an election plank or move to bring it. As it would raise hackles in every religion and community, it is unlikely that he would risk doing something like this in a crucial election year. No one seems to know what it actually is as there is no draft of the bill yet. The dominant perception is that it is to corner Muslims and further relegate them from the mainstream by targeting them. At best, this optic will help the BJP to further polarise votes. But the truth is that it will also have consequences for the majority Hindu community in ways it has not imagined now. Can it change the existing norms of the Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) that presently enjoys a lot of tax exemptions? It will lose out unless there is a special provision for the HUF. If such a provision is carved out, Muslims, Christians, and others will feel discriminated against as they may not get such favours. Though the media is discussing it as politicians are frequently raising the bogey of the UCC, it is doubtful that it can be implemented before the next parliamentary elections as the Law Commission has received over 10 million suggestions on it. It will take long to process them and table a report to the government. But be ready for a barrage of debates on a non-existent UCC as polls are on the horizon. Right-wing foot soldiers are going to rake it up to ignite passions in an election year. The UCC proposal is to bring in a single set of civil laws to replace existing religion-based personal laws for all communities, dealing with marriage, divorce, inheritance, adoption and other things. At the moment, there are different laws for different religions and communities. One country, one law. It sounds good on the face of it. Why should there be different laws for different religions? One law for all sounds logical. As societies progress, old laws that are regressive need to change and ensure that social inequities are removed and contemporary realities and values are weaved in. Even our Constitution promised equality. But hidden in the deep crevices of Indian society are many small truths of faith, belief and tradition that underline individualism and diversity. Any UCC will trigger anger in the Hindus, Muslims, Christians and other tribal communities who want the present status to continue. Drafting a common code for all religious entities is almost a Herculean task as it is very complex. Queer rights have to be considered. Tribals have their own laws and customary practices that differ from state to state. Moreover, there are over 6,700 castes in India. IMAGE: A protest against the UCC. Photograph: Reuters Five years ago, the 21st Law Commission, after poring through 75,378 representations, had categorically stated that a UCC was not necessary or desirable at this stage. It said that the differences were indicative of a throbbing functional democracy and what needed to be done was to fix laws that discriminated between men and women. These recommendations have been put in a deep freezer as there are no political dividends to reap from it. Why is the UCC hitting the headlines now? With election winds blowing in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, Modi has raked it up, stressing that a country cannot run with multiple laws on the same issue. These states are crucial to win in the run-up to the parliamentary elections next year. How did the country run for seven-and-a-half decades? No one has an answer to that other than BJP cadres saying that the Congress was not interested in a UCC as it was pandering to minorities. Last year, in an affidavit in the Supreme Court, the government had taken a clear stand: 'Citizens belonging to different religions and denominations following different property and matrimonial laws is an affront to the nation's unity.' Since 1989, the BJP has been promising to bring in a UCC. Two other promises -- of building the Ram Temple and the abrogation of Section 370 in Jammu and Kashmir -- have been met. So, expect a lot of UCC chatter in the election campaigns. The CPI-M has said that Modi's UCC will target Muslims to polarise voters before elections. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asks why the government wants to push for a UCC when the Law Commission cautioned against its implementation and underlines that it is part of the BJP's game plan to polarise. Political parties are hesitant to take a firm stand, fearing it will affect their electoral prospects. While the BJP is not counting on the Muslim vote, all other parties are keen to get it. Modi knows this too well and will play it, saying that the Opposition is out to appease Muslims. The Bharat Rashtriya Samiti, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bahujan Samaj Party are not amenable to the idea. Union Home Minister Amit A Shah has already said that if voted to power in 2024, the government would bring in aN UCC. IMAGE: People attend the Independence Day parade and celebrations at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, August 15, 2023. Photograph: Imran Nissar/ANI Photo If an UCC is on the anvil, where is the draft? What is the government proposing? How will it affect each religion or community? No one has answers to these, but the nation is debating a code that does not exist and whose parameters are unknown. It is a fact that there are personal laws among Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis and tribals, which are at complete variance with each other. In some societies, only men get the right to inherit; in others, women inherit. In Meghalaya, for instance, a newly wedded man goes to live in his wife's house. The woman runs the household with inheritance rights that are denied to men. If a Parsi woman marries outside her community, she loses the right to inherit family property. Christians fear an UCC will interfere with their personal laws pertaining to divorce and property. The LGBTQIA community wonder how the UCC is going to determine their laws around marriage, inheritance, custody and adoption of children. India is a very diverse country, and each state is like a different country with different accepted and established norms. All this will come apart when a UCC arrives. Is India ready for it? It does not seem so, as we are getting increasingly polarised and inward-looking by the day. There is no environment at present for any such radical reform, even if it seems to grant gender justice, which is sadly lacking in the present laws. Those in support of the UCC argue that it will eliminate disparities and promote gender equality with a consistent legal framework. If the UCC does not consider the diversity and plurality of India's complicated social fabric, it is bound to fail. It will end up dividing people, making them both angry and insecure. Muslims are apprehensive that the UCC by the current right-wing slanting government will affect their religious practices, marriage, divorce and inheritance norms governed by Islamic Sharia law. Those in support of the UCC argue that it will eliminate disparities and promote gender equality with a constant legal framework. Numerous organisations of Christians, Sikhs, Parsis and Muslims have voiced their apprehension that the UCC threatens to upturn their established cultural norms and religious identity. They argue that Articles 25 and 29 of the Constitution protect their sacred right to manage their affairs and preserve their distinct culture. North East tribals are uneasy with the idea of an UCC, fearing it will dilute their rituals, traditions and faith. Many of them are animists, and India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had ensured special protection for them. The Constitution also provides them provisions to protect their culture and tradition. The governments in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram have already said they do not want the UCC. Other tribal-dominated states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have also voiced concerns. As the BJP shares power with allies in the northeastern states, it is treading carefully. It was no surprise when Home Minister Amit Shah said that Christians in the north-east would not come under the provisions of the UCC. IMAGE: Children at a madarsa in Bhopal at Independence Day celebrations, August 15, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo While the Centre has no draft UCC as yet, BJP-ruled Uttarakhand has one ready. It focuses on gender equality, equal rights for daughters in ancestral property, raising the age of marriage of women to 21, legal rights for LGBTQ couples and even population control. By implementing it in the state soon, the BJP will test the waters and gradually get the other BJP-ruled states to follow suit. While formulating an UCC, lawmakers should consider the cultural tapestry and the nature of the pluralistic society that India is known for. Or was known for. Introducing an UCC is a challenging task for any government. The complexities are real and difficult to negotiate as it deals with sensitive religious and cultural sentiments. How can it strike an easy balance between individual rights and community interests? How easy is that? A well-conceptualised UCC without narrow political interests can be a winner in creating a more inclusive and modern society. But, these are Utopian ideas in today's polarised India where logic has sadly no respect. A sensitive, nuanced, and inclusive UCC that respects religious diversity, cultural identity, gender equality and legal reforms may address this issue. However, this may not happen as UCC seems like political ammunition for political parties, while the BJP will use it to emerge victorious in 2024. Ramesh Menon, award-winning journalist, educator, documentary film-maker and corporate trainer, is the author of Modi Demystified: The Making Of A Prime Minister. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com With changes to Delhi's architectural map, a re-naming rash, and more Hindu symbolism in secular spaces, the government is making it clear it wants a clean break with post-colonial India, asserts T N Ninan. IMAGE: Kartavya Path in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo Towards the end of his first term in office, Prime Minister Narendra D Modi said his regret was that he had not been able to win over Lutyens Delhi -- the usual short-hand for India's version of the Establishment, or entrenched (mostly English-speaking) elite. Now, approaching the end of his second term, what Mr Modi has been able to do is not so much win over the Establishment as displace it, as part of the larger plan to re-make the nation, not just the capital city. At the Delhi end of this larger effort, there is the capture or demolition of the habitats of the old elite. Think-tanks and various civil society outfits inclined to do their own thing have been squeezed dry of funding or are manned by people oriented towards the government's ways of thinking. Others have been asked to have government people on their boards and on their discussion panels. The Gymkhana Club (whose members had converted it into a closed club open only to their own progeny) is now administered by the government. Jawaharlal Nehru University has been placed in the successive care of vice-chancellors who would change its character if they could, while the liberal education-imparting Ashoka University has been taught the limits of liberalism. School textbooks are being rewritten, while a recalcitrant 'baba-log' TV station has been bought by a friendly businessman. One could argue that this is less a story of Lutyens Delhi being invaded by Bharat, as capture by the State. Still, it does include restating the dominant 'Idea of India'. Through changes to Delhi's architectural map, Hindi names for new laws, a renaming rash and increasing the space for Hindu imagery and symbolism in secular spaces, the government is making it clear that it wants a clean break with the language and idiom of post-colonial India, and the birth of a more culturally rooted 'new India'. Correction, new Bharat -- though since 'India' and 'Hindu' have the same linguistic origin overseas, one wonders about the implications of the name change. The issue goes beyond name change, regime change, and identity politics. What is being advanced is a challenge to the notion that the European Enlightenment produced ideas with universal validity, such as individual freedom, equality, and the broader 'Rights of Man', drawn up during the French Revolution and reflected 150 years later in the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights. India's Constitution through its listing of Fundamental Rights reflects those Enlightenment values. But thinkers in Russia (like Aleksandr Dugin, reputedly a Putin favourite) and elsewhere have posited Western universalism against populist nationalism, and individual rights against the collective good. The argument is that universalism seeks to eliminate cultural differences; the counter would be that liberalism provides a way to deal with those differences. Cultural relativism is naturally attractive to many tradition-bound elites, even though no one now advocates 'Asian values'. The problem is that the beauty of culturally rooted political systems lies often in the eye of the beholder. Tamil Nadu politicians have just attacked the traditional hierarchies of the sanatan dharma. China would like the Confucian idea of harmony flowing from an ordered hierarchy to prevail in international relations; smaller countries in the region might object to such hierarchical ordering. Meanwhile, the consequences of Vladimir Putin's understanding of Russian and Ukrainian history, culture, and identity are on display right now. When one looks for culturally rooted solutions or systems, one should be careful where it might lead. If one turns to the Inglehart-Welzel cultural map of the world, pictured along two axes (worldvaluessurvey.org) (external link), India has reversed the 'natural' transition from traditional to secular-rational values, and is focused on survival values (often linked to an ethnocentric outlook) as different from self-expression values. This analytical framework could explain why the Modi government's cultural push is likely to strike a chord with those who are not part of a self-actualising elite. But India is never free of contradictions. Pew Research reported from a 2017 survey that while the overwhelming majority of Indians valued democracy, the majority also favoured autocratic, strong-man rule and even military rule. So Mr Modi, very much the strong leader, talking of the 'mother of democracies' is pitch-perfect. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'Israel has received an extremely hard and rude reminder that it cannot talk of normalisation of relations with other Arab countries without addressing the issues pertaining to Palestine.' IMAGE: Fires burn in Ashkelon, Israel, October 7, 2023 after rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters On October 7, 2023, as the Israelis celebrated Simchat Torah, an important Jewish holiday, hundreds of armed Palestinians crossed over from the Gaza Strip and began firing on Israeli civilians and military personnel. At last count, Israel said 400 Israelis had been killed in the attack; at least a hundred Israelis have been captured and taken to Gaza as hostages to barter in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel Never before in Israel's 75-year history have its citizens been subjected to such attacks by Palestinian militants, kindling memories of the Yom Kippur War exactly 50 years ago. How did Israel, which always had the upper hand in the conflict with Palestinian militants, suffer such humiliation at the hands of Hamas? Why did Mossad, known as the best intelligence agency in the world, fail to foresee the attacks? And what does the future hold? Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com spoke to Talmiz Ahmad, who served as India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, to understand more about the conflict. Ambassador Ahmad's book, West Asia at War, that examines the Israel-Palestine issue in detail, was published last year. Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007 and is called the world's largest prison. And yet Hamas penetrated inside Israel territory and carry out such a massive attack. How did Mossad fail to anticipate such an attack? This is a subject for a detailed inquiry that will take place after peace has returned to the region. Yes, given the large number of Israeli casualties, there will certainly be serious concerns in Israel about possible intelligence failure. But there is a certain irony in that Saturday's attacks recall what occurred exactly 50 years ago when Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal and broke the Bar Lev Line to enter deep inside Israeli-controlled territory. As of now, it is too early to discuss the reasons for Israel's intelligence failure. What was the reason for this attack by Hamas? Was it building up from their side for long? Yes, several observers, both within the region and even in the US, have been anticipating such a major attack for quite some time. I personally believe that most of the blame falls personally on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In order to save himself from criminal prosecution, he took a series of initiatives that have harmed Israeli and Palestinian interests and have led to the present conflict. He formed the government and became prime minister by putting together an extreme right wing government. These right wing forces -- representing ultra-religious and ultra-nationalist elements -- had been on the margins of Israeli politics earlier; he brought them into the national mainstream and gave senior positions to some of them. He appointed Itamar Ben-Gvir as the national security minister and Bezalel Smotrich as his finance minister. They have a long record of deep hostility towards Palestinian interests and the Palestinians as a people. They have encouraged and even led the most offensive provocations against the Palestinians, particularly through their aggressive settler supporters. There has been a surge in attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank. The second provocations have come from Israel's ultra-religious zealots who have deliberately marched through the Al-Aqsa complex and desecrated the shrine that is venerated by Muslims the world over. They have also offended the Christian community recently by spitting on the Via Dolorosa which is sacred for Christians. And, of course, the security forces of Israel have invariably supported these extreme elements in their society by attacking and arresting Palestinians resisting the assaults upon them. Last year, more than 200 Palestinians were killed by security forces and this year by August 2023 the number was over 250 Palestinians dead. And nobody was punished for these acts. Even Americans condemned one or two episodes of violence by settlers as acts of terror; this term was till recently applied by the US only to the Palestinians. IMAGE: Israeli soldiers look at the remains of a police station which was 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 But the terrorists are killing ordinary Israeli citizens, so how can you blame Netanyahu's government? You are making a mistake by using the word 'terrorist'; the Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza are living under foreign occupation; they have suffered occupation for the last 50 years. They are fighting for their freedom. As for attacking civilians, please note that Israel has been indiscriminately killing Palestinian civilians for decades. These atrocities are well documented. Again, Israeli prisons are filled with thousands of Palestinian prisoners who experience extraordinary abuse on daily basis, with no recourse to law or justice. Now, the Israelis are for the first time getting a taste of their own medicine. Hamas says it is killing Israeli 'settlers' and not civilians. What is the difference? The attacks in Israel is barely 24 hours old and it is too early for us to know who is being killed over there. We are still in the fog of war. I am sure a large number of civilians are going to be killed. When Netanyahu says Gaza will be reduced to rubble, do you think he is looking for (Hamas) soldiers to be killed? I fear that hundreds of Palestinian civilians will be killed, as they have been on earlier occasions. What happens to the Israeli hostages taken to Gaza? As far as the current Israeli prisoners and civilian 'hostages' are concerned, I think there will be negotiations at some point later; but right now the Israelis have said they are in a state of war. Their ministers are saying they will exterminate Hamas, while Netanyahu is saying that Gaza will be reduced to rubble. We are looking at a painful and destructive conflict in coming days. One week ago there was talk that Saudi Arabia, which has been an enemy of Israel, will establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Here in India, during the G20 summit, we were talking about a Middle Eastern Corridor that will pass through Saudi Arabia and then Israel. Was the international community so blind that nobody could see these attacks coming? There is no doubt that several officials and commentators were aware of the anger simmering among the Palestinians due to the aggressive provocations by Netanyahu's extremist government and the zealots who support it. But most of them turned a blind eye, particularly because large sections of the Western media are pro-Israel or are afraid of criticising that country for fear of being branded anti-Semitic. The normalisation of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel has been actively promoted by the US for the last few months. Saudi Arabia has submitted some conditions to the Americans, but there are no indications that a deal was imminent. Several observers have noted that the proposed deal seemed to deliberately ignore Palestinian concerns and interests. Netanyahu rejected outright the idea of a two-State solution; he was not even willing to consider a freeze on settlements or the dismantling of illegal outposts. In his speech at the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu welcomed the normalisation process with Arab States, but insisted that the Palestinians should not have a veto on the so-called peace process. My own view is that Israel has received an extremely hard and rude reminder that it cannot go ahead and talk of normalisation of relations with other Arab countries without addressing the issues pertaining to Palestine. I have just read an article by the editor in the Jeddah-based Arab News that the international community should now robustly focus on the realisation of the two-State solution of Israel and Palestine. I am not sure how Israel can expect to have normal ties with its Arab neighbours while ignoring the Palestinian issue. IMAGE: Men hold Palestinian flags ride on their motorbikes during a rally to express solidarity with Palestinians in Kfar Kila village, southern Lebanon, October 8, 2023 near the border with Israel. Photograph: Aziz Taher/Reuters Do you think the world has forgotten that the two-State solution is the answer to the Israel-Palestine problem? Nobody has forgotten the Palestinian issue. Israel would like to ignore it since it has no interest in an arrangement that would concede to the Palestinians their right to a sovereign and viable State. Instead of sincerely addressing the Palestinian issue that has been festering for so many decades and has generated so much violence, Netanyahu has sought to protect himself from criminal proceedings with the support of rabid extremists in his country. Their priority is to dilute their country's democratic order and deprive the judiciary to uphold national law through judicial review. The Americans offer no effective leadership, either; their political order is deeply dysfunctional and the presidency is falling apart. The Palestinians have suffered the deprivation of their rights since 1948. Since then, they have suffered extraordinary violence and abuse, but they have never given up their resistance to occupation and their struggle for freedom. What does the future hold for Netanyahu, and how will history remember him after the October 7 fiasco? Netanyahu is a survivor. He is the sharpest and cunning leader Israel has ever had. He is totally focused on his personal interests. He is totally focused on coming out of any crisis with his interests well-served. Whenever he faces adversity he is able to cobble together a coalition that will see him through. I will call the present Israeli government the result of a Faustian bargain. It is something that has been cobbled together by Netanyahu for his personal interest and personal survival, but it has damaged both Israeli and Palestinian interests. In the eyes of the Israeli political mainstream, however, Netanyahu is thoroughly discredited. In the near future, when there is truce, you may find serious questions being asked within Israel about the culpability of the leadership, particularly of Netanyahu, in regard to intelligence failure. I would also hope they will look into his political failure which deliberately provoked this round of conflict. At the same time, we must also blame the Palestinian side since they have been a divided house since 2007. For 15 years they have been divided between Fatah and Hamas. They need to get their act together. They have a Palestine Authority that is barely functional. They have a so-called president (Mahmoud Abbas) who is past his use-by date. If there is some wisdom left in the region, this wisdom must address the crucial issues that have been ignored for so long. I honestly don't believe this can be done so long as you have the right wing zealots who are ruling Israel today. You need a moderate and accommodative government in Israel. You need effective leadership in the United States of America that can pursue a settlement of the Palestinian issue. You need an Arab world that is able to genuinely and effectively champion the cause of Palestinians. Only then you will be able to move forward. I fear we have a very long way to go. Ten Nepali students have been killed and four others injured in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks in the country's southern region, Nepal's foreign ministry said on Monday. IMAGE: A convoy of Israeli military vehicles drives on a road near Israel's border with Lebanon, northern Israel, October 9, 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 700 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel defense forces in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. More than 500 people have been killed in Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. In a press statement, the foreign ministry here said 10 Nepali nationals lost their lives in the recent attack by Hamas in Israel. Out of the 17 Nepali nationals working on a farm at Kibbutz Alumim, an area near the Gaza Strip, two safely escaped, four were injured and one is still missing, it said. "We have received the information of the sad demise of ten Nepali nationals from the site, where the Hamas had launched an attack, Nepal's embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement. All 10 people killed in the Hamas attack were students of agriculture from Sudur Paschim University in Western Nepal, according to ministry sources. There are currently 4,500 Nepali nationals working as caregivers in Israel. A total of 265 Nepali students are studying in Israel under the Learn and Earn' programme of the Israeli government. Of them, 119 are from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 from Tribhuvan University and 49 from Sudur Paschim University. All of them are bachelor-level students of agriculture. "We are trying to identify those killed in the incident. Efforts are being made to search for one missing student. The bodies will be brought back to Nepal soon after the identification is completed, the embassy said. The Nepal government has also requested the Israeli government that necessary arrangements be provided to the injured people, who are undergoing treatment. The ministry said it was collaborating with the Israeli government and the embassy in Tel Aviv to bring back those nationals who want to return home. "Nepal government is committed to evacuate its nationals from the war-torn region at the earliest, said the statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs. A meeting of the coordination mechanism formed under the leadership of Foreign Minister N P Saud is underway at the ministry to take stock of the situation in Israel, to identify Nepalese nationals and to make efforts for rescue Nepalese nationals if necessary, read the statement issued by secretariat of foreign minister Saud. Nepal's main opposition CPN-UML has also asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to talk to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to rescue the Nepalis, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported. "Issuing statements and informing the House is not enough. The government must play the role of guardian of its citizens at this time of crisis, said Padam Giri, the UML chief whip, in Parliament. A cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister 'Prachanda' decided to observe a national day of mourning on Tuesday over the death of Nepalis in Israel. The cabinet meeting also decided to provide Rs. one million compensation each to the families of the victims, Government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said. Meanwhile, hundreds of students have taken out a silent procession carrying placards in Tikapur Municipality of Western Nepal, demanding immediate action from the government to rescue the Nepali students from the war-torn region of Israel, according to government-run Gorkhapatra daily. Some students stranded in a bunker have sent a video message, asking the government to take immediate steps to evacuate them, a media report said. We are not safe in this bunker because earlier, our friends were brutally killed by the Hamas people entering into the bunker and we don't want to have the same fate, the students said in the video message, reported setopati.com, an online news portal. The death toll in Israel is expected to rise as a large number of people have been critically wounded, according to the Israeli military. Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. As Israel reels under the massive attacks by Hamas militants, Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon on Sunday said his country will need very strong support from India as it is an influential country and knows the challenge of terrorism. IMAGE: Israel's Ambassador to India Naor Gilon addresses a press conference, in New Delhi . Photograph: ANI Photo Describing the attacks by Hamas militants as totally unprovoked and unacceptable, Gilon said Israel will deal with the challenge on its own and punish the perpetrators. The attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday killed more than 600 Israelis and injured over 2,000. Palestinian officials said retaliatory attacks by Israel left around 200 people dead in the Gaza Strip. Talking to reporters, the Israeli envoy alleged that Iran has a hand in the attacks and suggested that the country supplied weapons to Hamas. "It's clear to us that Iran is involved with it. We know for sure about supplying of weapons and training," he alleged. Gilon said his country will need the very strong support of "our Indian friends" and that "India is 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," he said. Gilon said India's support to Israel at this time is based on a deep understanding of terrorism rather than ignorance. "We have received huge support from India," he said. "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, and children. This is unacceptable," Gilon said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed solidarity with Israel following the strikes by Hamas. Modi condemned it as "terrorist attacks". "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," Modi said. To a question, the Israeli envoy said there is no time for mediation and now is time to take action against terror. The deceased from the deadly attack launched on Israel by Hamas, included at least nine US citizens, US national security council spokesperson said, CNN reported on Monday. 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 October 7, 2023. Photograph: Ammar Awad/Reuters "At this time, we can confirm the death of nine US citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery. We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities," the spokesperson said in a statement. He added, "We continue to monitor the situation closely and remain in touch with our Israeli partners, particularly the local authorities." US authorities have been scrambling to establish how many Americans have been killed or taken hostage in the conflict. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN on 'State of the Union' Sunday that the US was "working overtime" to verify reports of missing and dead Americans, and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer said Americans are among the "scores" of hostages being held in Gaza, CNN reported. State department spokesman Matt Miller told CNN on Monday that US authorities are in close contact with Israel's government and the families of those affected by the attack. The US has pledged to provide additional military support in the coming days, though domestic political dysfunction could hamper the response. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday stated that he has ordered the US Navy's Ford carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean, near Israel. The USS Gerald Ford is the Navy's most advanced aircraft carrier and it is being deployed to the area, along with a guided missile cruiser and four destroyers, as a deterrence measure, CNN reported. But the current commander of the US Navy's 5th fleet, which is responsible for US naval operations in the Middle East region including the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman, is still awaiting promotion to deputy commander of US Central Command, which oversees US forces and operations in the region following a hold by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville over military confirmations. Meanwhile, as the Biden administration looks to provide additional assistance to Israel, officials were unsure over the weekend about what could be accomplished without a sitting speaker. Acting Speaker Patrick McHenry has little power outside of recessing, adjourning or recognizing speaker nominations, and it's unclear whether he can participate in intelligence briefings on the crisis, according to CNN. It further reported citing administrative 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 per CNN. Riding high on a bevy of welfare schemes and popularity of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the ruling Congress is hoping to protect its citadel Chhattisgarh in the upcoming assembly polls, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is making an aggressive push to regain lost ground and force a close contest to avoid a 2018-like rout. IMAGE: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Photograph: ANI Photo The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress remain the most dominant political forces in Chhattisgarh, though the state has several regional outfits that have pockets of influence, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making a determined bid to challenge its well entrenched rivals and make a mark in polls to the 90-member House. The otherwise weak opposition in Chhattisgarh is fast emerging as a serious challenger to the Congress which would like to retain a state which it won five years ago by a landslide after a 15-year-long wait. Just a year ago, the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh looked comfortably placed, riding high on its populist schemes and regionalism rhetoric. However, the scenario seems to have changed in the past few months with the Baghel government facing opposition heat over alleged scams, politics of appeasement and religious conversions. The opposition BJP has redesigned its poll strategy and is trying hard to corner the Congress over issues of corruption and misrule. The saffron outfit is banking heavily on the popularity and mass appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to turn the tide in its favour. The BJP's star campaigner, during his visits to the state, has been making frontal attacks on the Congress government on a range of issues, especially corruption. The BJP state's unit, which appeared in disarray and riddled with factionalism, has turned aggressive in the past few months. A series of meetings organised by BJP's master strategist Amit Shah and well attended rallies of star campaigner Modi seemed to have boosted the morale of party workers. During his four rallies in the last three months, Modi has targeted the Congress over corruption and alleged scams in every sector and government schemes, including coal, liquor, cow dung procurement and District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund utilization, among others. The PM has also promised to get the alleged scam in the state public service commission (PSC), which conducts recruitment exams, probed if the BJP came to power. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, which failed to make a mark in the 2018 assembly elections and drew a blank, is once again trying to make inroads in the state which has traditionally witnessed a bipolar contest between the BJP and the Congress. The entry of Sarva Adivasi Samaj, an umbrella body of tribal organisations, in the poll arena has turned the contest interesting, with political observers saying it may damage the ruling party's prospects in rural and tribal pockets. The Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), which also works for tribals, is a key regional player. Tribal communities comprise about 32 per cent of the state's population. Even before the announcement of poll schedule, top leaders of the Congress, the BJP and the AAP made frequent visits to the state to address rallies and fine-tune their election strategies. While political parties' social media machinery has become active, cities and villages of the state are dotted with banners and posters of leaders and their parties. The elections are crucial for the Congress, which ended the 15-year-long rule of the BJP in 2018 by registering a landslide victory. In the last polls, the Congress won 68 of the total 90 assembly seats, while the BJP finished a distant second at 15. The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh-J, founded by former CM late Ajit Jogi, bagged five seats and its ally Bahujan Samaj Party won in two segments. The Congress had polled 43.04 per cent votes, around 10 per cent more than the BJP (32.97 per cent) in 2018. The ruling party further consolidated its hold in the state with victory in bypolls held for five assembly seats after 2018. The Congress tally currently stands at 71. The BJP currently has 13 seats in the House, JCC-J has 3 and the BSP has 2 seats. One seat is currently lying vacant. The Congress is aiming to win 75 seats in 2023 by riding high on the popularity of Baghel, who has a significant hold over OBC and rural voters, and impact of the government's welfare schemes focused on farmers, tribals and the poor. The Congress' move to appoint senior leader T S Singh Deo, locked in a turf war with Baghel for months, as deputy CM in June and induct MLA Mohan Markam in the cabinet after replacing him as the Chhattisgarh PCC president in July were seen as attempts to stem infighting in the state unit and prepare it for the polls. The Chhattisgarh government's direct cash transfer schemes covering farmers, landless labourers, unemployed youths and cattle owners are being considered a potent tool to win over large sections of voters by the Congress. At the same time, Baghel's move to arouse feelings of sub-nationalism and promote regional pride during the last five years to counter the BJP's nationalism agenda has also become a talking point in the elections. The Congress has often accused the BJP of neglecting Chhattisgarhiya people during its 15-year rule under the leadership of Raman Singh. The BJP is cornering the ruling party over alleged corruption, religious conversions and unfulfilled poll promises, including a ban on liquor, in a bid to make a comeback and wrest power. The saffron outfit has accused the Congress dispensation of practising appeasement politics and claims it to be a government of Bhupesh-Akbar-Dhebar' (referring to state minister Mohammad Akbar and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar). The opposition party has also alleged that religious conversions are taking place in tribal-dominated areas and claimed the government has failed to curb them. The BJP has so far announced candidates for 21 assembly seats, while the ruling Congress is yet to declare its nominees. Both the leading parties have said they will fight the elections on the basis of collective leadership and not on the face of one politician, consciously avoiding naming their respective CM candidate. The AAP, an ally of the Congress in the national opposition bloc INDIA, has also announced 22 candidates so far, indicating the coalition will not work in the state. The Kejriwal-led party is eyeing to make inroads by securing votes of regional outfit JCC (J) which has been virtually pushed to the margins after the death of its founder Ajit Jogi in 2020. Jogi's outfit polled 7.6 per cent votes in the previous elections and won five seats, registering the best-ever performance by a regional party in the state. Its alliance partner BSP got 4.27 per cent votes and won two seats in 2018. This time the Mayawati-led BSP has joined hands with the Gondwana Gantantra Party, which enjoys influence in certain areas. The Sarva Adivasi Samaj (SAS) has floated a political outfit named Hamar Raj' and announced it will field candidates on 50 seats, including all the 29 segments reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities. Both the AAP and the SAS are likely to eat into the rural and tribal voter base of the Congress. NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, arrested in a case lodged under anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly receiving money to spread pro-China propaganda, told the Delhi high court on Monday that the allegations against him were "false" and "bogus", and "not a penny has come from China". IMAGE: NewsClick editor Prabir Puryakastha arrives at the Delhi police special cell's office, October 3, 2023. Photograph: ANI on Twitter Justice Tushar Rao Gedela reserved the order on pleas by Purkayastha and the news portal's human resources department head Amit Chakravarty challenging their arrest and the subsequent seven-day police remand after the investigation agency defended its action claiming NewsClick received Rs 75 crore from a person in China to ensure the country's stability and integrity were compromised. Arguments heard. Order reserved, said Justice Gedela said after hearing the rival sides for around two hours. The court said any further remand of the accused will be subject to its order on the petitions by the two senior executives of the news portal. Purkayastha and Chakravarty, who were arrested by the special cell of the Delhi police on October 3, had moved the high court last week challenging their arrest and subsequent police custody, and sought immediate release as interim relief. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, appearing for the investigation agency, said the case involves serious offences and the probe was still going on. "About Rs 75 crore odd... investigation is on and I can show it from case diary... came from a person staying in China and the purpose is to ensure that the stability and especially the integrity of this country is compromised," he said. "One of the most serious allegations found in the e-mail exchanges between accused persons with somebody sitting in China is that we will prepare a map where we will show J&K and what we call Arunachal Pradesh... They use the expression which Chinese use namely 'northern border of India' and not show that (Arunachal) to be a part of India," SG Mehta told the court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Purkayastha, refuted the claim. "All facts are false. Not a penny has come from China...The whole thing is bogus," Sibal said. Sibal, along with senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, contended their arrest and remand in the present case cannot be sustained on several legal counts, including that they were not told about the grounds of arrest at the time of arrest or even till date. The remand order was passed by the trial court in a mechanical manner, in the absence of their lawyers, they said. Purkayastha's lawyers argued the arrests were in violation of a recent Supreme Court decision which made it mandatory for police to supply written grounds of arrest to an accused at the time of being apprehended. Sibal said there was "obvious discrepancy" in the trial court's remand order because while the order recorded 6 am as the time of pronouncement, in terms of the high court rules, Purkayastha's lawyer was sent the remand application through WhatsApp only at 7 am. Krishnan added that supplying grounds of arrest and having a lawyer of choice was a "constitutional requirement" under Article 22 of the Constitution, which enables an accused to object to remand. SG Mehta maintained the arrest was legal as per the textual requirements of UAPA because the accused were "informed" about the grounds of arrest. He said a legal aid counsel was present before the trial court when the remand application was taken up for hearing. Mehta asserted mere quashing of the remand order will not result in the accused "walking free" and suggested since the police custody was coming to an end, the accused can be sent to judicial custody, after which they can apply for regular bail. The senior law officer also submitted that the Supreme Court's decision pertaining to supply of grounds of arrest in written form was for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, which was distinct from the UAPA, and that the ruling will have a "prospective effect" and not be applicable to this case. "We intimated him the grounds of arrest. It is not disputed. He was informed about grounds of arrest and produced before the special court within stipulated time," SG Mehta said. "Tomorrow, police custody is getting over... It is a wrong proposition of law that quashing remand will result in accused walking free... Remand is curable. I can place him in judicial custody and apply for remand afresh," he added. Sibal contended a remand order cannot validate an arrest which has not been made as per the legal requirements. Mehta argued the reference to 6 am in the remand order was in the context of production of accused and not pronouncement of the order. Case diary is given for your perusal and "we have nothing to hide", Mehta told Justice Gedela. The counsel for Chakravarty told the court that he suffered from polio and his arrest was not required as he was neither a journalist nor an editor who would be responsible for the content on the portal. He said Chakravarty has always cooperated with the probe. Besides challenging their arrest, the two have also sought quashing of the FIR in the case. The court said it will deal with issuance of notice on this aspect at the time of its decision on challenge to arrest and remand. According to the FIR, a large amount of funds to the news portal came from China to "disrupt the sovereignty of India" and cause disaffection against the country. It also alleged Purkayastha conspired with a group -- People's Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) -- to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. A raid was conducted on October 3 at 88 locations in Delhi and seven in other states on the suspects named in the FIR and those that surfaced in the analysis of data, the police said. A total of 46 journalists and contributors to NewsClick were questioned on Tuesday and their mobile phones and other electronic gadgets seized. Police also sealed the NewsClick's office in Delhi. A fierce competition among parties to offer freebies and guarantees, a scramble for tribal, OBC, women votes and a touch of Hindutva -- all have combined to make the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls a high-stakes battle with main rivals BJP and the Congress pulling out all the stops to gain power. IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife Sadhna Singh seek blessings from priests during the inauguration of the second phase of the Mahakal Mahalok, Ujjain, October 6, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo After a close contest in 2018, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress are marshalling all resources at their disposal to notch a clear majority in the 230-member house to avoid post-result complications. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is on a freebies announcing spree, mostly targeting women, and playing temples-centric Hindutva card, while state Congress president Kamal Nath is countering his rival's doles with his own pre-poll guarantees and wooing OBC voters. With a long history of bipolar politics, dominated by the Congress and the BJP, Madhya Pradesh -- located in the geographic heart of India -- will also see the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) trying to make its presence felt in the state this time around. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is trying to regain its lost voter base in the state, where it had committed Dalit electors and pockets of influence for decades. At a time when four-term BJP chief minister Chouhan (64) and his astute rival Nath (76) are fighting the toughest electoral battle of their political careers, Delhi CM and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is going all out to see that his outfit puts up a convincing show and wins a good number of seats. Kejriwal along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has visited MP and addressed four rallies since March and announced plenty of freebies like free education, medical care and electricity to win over voters and take on the well entrenched parties like the BJP and the Congress. The BJP is pinning hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma to get voters on their side with MP Ke Man Mein Modi slogan and theme song of electioneering focused on him. Modi has addressed seven rallies in just six months. The saffron outfit is avoiding projecting Chouhan as its chief ministerial candidate in an attempt to blunt anti-incumbency against him. But this has not dampened the spirit of Chouhan, the saffron party's longest-serving chief minister and a leader from LK Advani's era who is still active in Modi's BJP. Undaunted by the central leadership's lack of open support for him, Chouhan, known for his caring mama' (maternal uncle) image, has been announcing a slew of sops to woo voters, especially women. He has already hiked the financial aid under the `Ladli Behna Yojana' from Rs 1,000 a month to Rs 1,250 and then to Rs 1,500 (proposed) for 1.32 crore women in the state. The state government has earmarked a whopping Rs 16,000 crore for the scheme targeted at women from financially weaker sections. It has promised to raise the financial aid to Rs 3,000 per month gradually. Chouhan has reached out to more than half of the 2.6 crore women voters, who outnumber their male peers in at least 18 assembly seats, as per an estimate. The CM launched the Ladli Behna Yojana barely two days after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra kickstarted her party's campaign with a rally in Jabalpur on June 12 where she announced Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women under the 'Nari Samman Nidhi' if her party is voted to power. She also announced 100 units free electricity to every household and LPG cylinders at Rs 500 each. Priyanka Gandhi said the old pension scheme would be brought back for MP government employees if the Congress came to power. Months after Priyanka Gandhi's promise, Chouhan also announced to provide a cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500. Besides, the CM is spending more than Rs 3,000 crore on building, rebuilding or sprucing up temples, including the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, and museums attached to them. On September 21, Chouhan unveiled a 108 feet tall statue of Hindu saint Adi Shankaracharya at Omkareshwar in Khandwa district. For the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi and her brother Rahul Gandhi are leading the campaign. Priyanka Gandhi, who opened the Congress campaign in June, has addressed two rallies since then. IMAGE: Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath and party leaders during the party's Central Election Committee meeting to finalise candidates for Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, at the AICC office, New Delhi, October 7, 2023. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo Priyanka Gandhi started her visit by worshipping the Narmada river in Jabalpur amid chants of Jai Narmada' and Jai Bajrang Bali'. The day she sounded the poll bugle, the replica of Lord Hanuman's mace dotted busy road crossings in Jabalpur city. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, according to party insiders, will focus on 35 seats reserved for SC candidates. Kharge addressed a rally in Sagar district in August. Besides PM Modi, other top BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a key poll strategist, and party president JP Nadda are also focusing on the state. In the Congress camp, party veteran Digvijaya Singh has already thrown his weight behind Kamal Nath and backed him as the CM face. Last time around, Nath proved his mettle by leading the Congress to power in 2018 and then becoming the CM though he could not complete his term due to a rebellion by MLAs supporting now Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Nath has been aggressively wooing the OBCs, who account for 45 per cent of MP's population. During his 15-month-long stint as CM, he raised the quota for the OBCs from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. Although the court overturned the decision citing 50 per cent cap on reservation, the political move made it clear the Congress is banking heavily on the OBCs. Knowing the OBCs were overwhelmingly with the BJP in the last three assembly polls, Nath is nurturing the formidable vote bank in the current elections. Apart from promising to restore 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs, the Congress has assured a caste-based census in MP and support for OBC quota within the Women's Reservation Bill. Nath and his party are also taking on the BJP over corruption. The opposition party has been raising slogans like 50 per cent commission ki sarkar to allege massive graft under the BJP rule. To counter BJP's Hindutva, Nath organised mega religious events in his home turf Chhindwara where Hindu preachers Dhirendra Shastri and Pradeep Mishra delivered sermons to tens of thousands of devotees. The former Union minister also projected himself as an ardent devotee of Lord Hanuman and reminded people he had built a 102-feet- tall idol of the Hindu god in Chhindwara. The BJP has stolen a march on the Congress by declaring 79 candidates so far. The saffron party has fielded three Union ministers -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Prahlad Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste -- and four other Lok Sabha MPs besides general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. Tomar, Patel and Vijayvargiya, according to political observers, nurse the dream of becoming CM. Besides them, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra is also seen as a CM aspirant. According to Congress leaders, the party has received more than 4,000 applications for the 230 assembly seats, making selection of candidates a cumbersome and tricky affair. The Congress has launched Jan Aakrosh Yatras' (public outrage marches) to cash in on what it sees as voter resentment against the BJP. The BJP has already completed its Jan Ashirwad Yatras' (marches to seek people's blessings) and come up with the slogan Abki bar 150 par' (victory in more than 150 seats this time). In the November 2018 polls, the Congress had won 114 seats, while the BJP finished second with 109. Gilad Erdan, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations on Monday highlighted the severity of war crimes of Hamas terrorists, who in a "surprise attack" killed hundreds of Israelis, "killing them at will and stomping on them as if they were insects." IMAGE: An aerial view shows vehicles on fire as rockets are launched from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel October 7, 2023. Photograph: Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters "Ruthless terrorists gunned down innocent Israeli civilians in the streets, murdering anything that moved. These terrorists broke into homes and shot people point blank as if they were stomping on insects," he said. Erdan further emphasised that these are "blatant documented war crimes." "Babies separated from their mothers were brutally taken hostage. These are war crimes, blatant documented war crimes but tragically the abomination doesn't end here. Hamas terrorists happened upon an outdoor party of young Israelis celebrating the holiday weekend," he said. Erdan said that the country has suffered an unprecedented attack. "The past days have been devastating for each and every Israeli. Israel suffered an unprecedented attack and the number of casualties is catastrophic, truly unfathomable. Over the past two days following the Hamas's surprise attack on Israel, my country has suffered hundreds of fatalities," he said. Highlighting the Hamas surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, Erdan said that hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel, firing thousands of rockets into Israel. "Yesterday in the early morning, Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets into Israel but this was only the beginning as rockets rained down indiscriminately upon Israeli towns and cities. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel," he added. On Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday killed more than 600 Israelis and injured over 2,000. Palestinian officials said retaliatory attacks by Israel left around 200 people dead in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, several Israelis have also been taken as hostages in Gaza. In a retaliatory move against the Hamas attack in Israel, the Israel Air Force on Monday attacked various buildings where the leaders of the terrorist organization Hamas were staying, along with several operational headquarters. According to the Israel Air Force, the air force also attacked a headquarters spread over an area of three floors and a headquarters associated with the senior Hamas naval force, Muhammad Kashta. Moreover, the Air Force also destroyed an operational asset used by the terrorist organization, which is located in the heart of a mosque in the Jabaliya area. In a previous post by IAF, it said that their jets struck the military headquarters belonging to the Hamas group and were used by the organization for recent operations. A Kerala-origin woman working as a caregiver in Israel was injured in the unprecedented multi-front attack by militant outfit Hamas on that country since Saturday. IMAGE: A man carries a crate as he looks at a damaged car following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel on October 8, 2023. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters Sheeja Anand, a native of Payyavoor in Kannur district of Kerala, was injured in the missile strikes on Ashkelon, a coastal city in the southern part of Israel on Saturday, while she was on a video call with her husband, her family said. The Indian mission reached out to her for support and has been in touch with her family in the Kannur district of Kerala. "Her family has been informed, and we are in constant contact both with Ms. Sheeja and her family," an embassy source said. There is no reason for any concern at the moment, informed sources told PTI. Sheeja's sister told TV channels that while on the video call, Sheeja told her husband Anand that she can hear the missile strikes and he told her to be careful and safe. "In the middle of the conversation, the call got disconnected and thereafter, we could not reach her for several hours. Later in the evening some of her colleagues told us that she was injured in the attack and her phone fell somewhere," the sister said. On Sunday afternoon, the family saw Sheeja in a hospital bed from where she told her mom -- "Amma, I am ok," her mother said. "I barely got to see her face for a short time. Thereafter, there was no information. Then yesterday night we were informed by her colleagues that she was being shifted to another hospital for spinal surgery. "I thought only her hands and legs were injured. Now even her spine is injured," she said tearfully. Sheeja's brother-in-law Devan told PTI that she has been working as a caregiver in Israel for the past seven years and that she had come to Kerala last year for a visit. Her husband Anand was on his way to Pune with their child for some exam, Devan added. While most of the hostilities are confined to around 10 per cent of Israel's area, especially its southern part of Ashkelon, there are concerns among people there over rumours of change in the dynamics of certain Palestinian communities living in Israel. According to Anish, a native of Erumeli in Kottayam district of the state, whose wife, brother-in-law and sister are working in that country as caregivers, only around 10 per cent of Israel is affected by the fight between Hamas and the Israeli defence forces. He said that his wife, who is working with a Jewish family in Jerusalem, said that she was safe and secure, but has expressed apprehension over rumours of change in dynamics within certain Palestinian communities in Israel. "She has heard rumours that they are showing leanings towards the Hamas group," he said, while speaking to PTI. Besides that, there were also instances of mobile phones being hacked and cyber attacks on those who claim that the situation is normal in most parts of Israel, he claimed. Anish said that his sister and brother-in-law who are in Ashkelon told him tanks were rolling into that area and while there were sounds of fighting, they were safe. "Defence forces and police are on the streets and are looking for the insurgents who have infiltrated into Israel. The insurgents' presence is also a matter of concern among people," he added. On being asked whether his family members wished to return to India due to the ongoing fighting, he replied in the negative. Anish said that the Israeli government was ensuring their security and the Indian embassy has asked everyone to lay low and be safe and await further instructions. Meanwhile, Rejimon Kuttappan, a migrant rights activist, said that another reason many Indian nationals -- mostly working as caregivers -- may not want to come back would be the huge amounts they have paid to agencies and middlemen to get a visa for going to Israel. "I know of people who have spent Rs 20 lakh for a visa which actually costs only Rs 1.25 lakh. People would have had to take loans or mortgage property to get those amounts. "So they will not want to return as they have to pay off their debts," Kuttappan, author of 'Undocumented: Stories of Indian Migrants in the Arab Gulf', told PTI. They can pay off their debts only if they continue to work in Israel, where caregivers are paid between Rs 1.25 lakh to nearly Rs 2 lakh per month as salary, he said. "Therefore, anyone who has gone to Israel recently and has paid huge amounts for the visa would certainly not want to come back," Kuttappan said. He also said that he was in touch with many of the people from Kerala who have gone to Israel and they said that they were safe and sound. Around 1,200 people in total have died in the fighting between Hamas and Israeli defence forces since Saturday. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple in the United States spread over 185 acre, has been inaugurated in Robbinsville, with devotees underscoring the temple's message of unity, peace and harmony for people living across America and the world. IMAGE: A view of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Jersey, US. Photograph: Courtesy BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham online The grand dedication ceremony of Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey was conducted on Sunday in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj following a nine-day celebration that commenced on September 30. Swami Maharaj performed the 'Pran Prathistha' ceremony at the temple amid rituals and traditional ceremonies. The construction of the temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, started in 2011 and concluded this year. It was created by 12,500 volunteers from around the world. Among the several key unique features of the temple is the largest elliptical dome ever constructed from stone. Volunteer Lenin Joshi noted that Swaminarayan Akshardham presents India's heritage and culture to modern America. Created by volunteers around the world, this masterpiece stands as an enduring symbol of love while preserving traditions and spreading messages of peace, hope, and harmony across generations, he said. We were waiting for this moment for the last several years, Joshi said, adding that the day has finally come when people from all around the country, irrespective of their faiths and religions, will be able to visit the temple and see the grand symbol of Indian Hindu tradition, peace, devotion and architectural marvel. He said the temple has been built by nearly 12,500 volunteers - men, women and children from all walks of life - who took a break from their jobs and studies and dedicated themselves for days and months to construct the temple. Highlighting some of the unique aspects of the temple, Joshi said 1.9 million cubic feet of stone was used in its constriction. The stone was sourced from over 29 different sites around the world, including granite from India, sandstone from Rajasthan, teakwood from Myanmar, marble from Greece, Turkey and Italy and limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey. He said the temple was designed to incorporate elements from ancient Indian art, architecture and culture, including 10,000 statues, carvings of ancient Indian musical instruments and dance forms as well as water from the holy rivers of India. Deputy commissioner at the New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs, Dilip Chauhan told PTI that the inauguration and dedication of the Akshardham temple is a dream come true for devotees, volunteers and followers across the US. He said the Akshardham in Robbinsville is a temple not just for any one community but this cultural complex is going to bring all communities together and will be a bridge between the local, state, and federal government and the faith-based community. We can see real diversity here, Chauhan said. Chauhan said US Congresswoman Grace Meng has dedicated October 8, 2023, as Akshardham Day' in the Congressional District 6 of New York City borough of Queens, including west, central, and northeast Queens. He said though Akshardham is based in New Jersey, New York also wants to be part of it. New York, New Jersey, and the entire United States want to celebrate the significance of Akshardham which is why Congresswoman Meng has dedicated October 8, 2023, as Akshardham Day'. Underlining New York City Mayor Eric Adams's message of breaking bread and building bonds, Chauhan said the temple underscores the message of unity in diversity and harmony. Yogi Trivedi from New York, a scholar of media and religion, underscored that the spirit of selfless service and devotion are the foundation of the temple. This spirit will speak to not just Hindu-Americans, Indians and Indian-Americans but to America and the world at large. It is that sense of inclusivity and the sense of bringing people together that will speak to those who visit the temple, said Trivedi, who is also an author specialising in Bhakti Studies and a volunteer at the temple. He said while the architectural innovation is awe-inspiring in itself, the innovation in the temple's messaging is unique and path-breaking. Akshardham Mahamandir is embedded in tradition and at the same time embracing innovation, he said, pointing out that as one walks around the Mahamandir's base plinth one will see messages from the lives of Sri Krishna and Lord Ram, the Vedas and Upanishads as well as messages of democracy, liberty, equality and freedom from iconic leaders of American society and the western world that will resonate with visitors. These include Socrates, Albert Einstein, Rumi, former President Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. These messages which are universal now speak to the Americans, the Hindu Americans and the international visitor that comes here in a way that is familiar to them. This is a Sanatan Hindu Mandir with an articulation of that universal message that speaks to the world, he said. Trivedi said at a time when the world is really divided and there are divisions among people in American society also, this Mandir is a step in that direction to bring those people together, to help people realise that we need to celebrate humanity, need to celebrate the things we share, have in common and not those that divide us. That is the message of our Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj and that is the central theme and message of this inclusive Mahamandir Akshardham. Globally, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardhams are landmarks of Hindu art, architecture, and culture and serve as spiritual and community hubs, open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005, a statement said. During the week, India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj led a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from the United Nations to the temple ahead of the grand dedication ceremony on October 8. 'Unless she joins one of the coalitions, she has a bleak future.' 'The NDA option is suicidal, but INDIA could help her.' IMAGE: Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati at Dr B R Ambedkar's 133rd birth anniversary celebrations in Lucknow. Photograph: ANI Photo The third angle of the triangle determining the cycle of Uttar Pradesh politics, namely the Bahujan Samaj Party, remains inscrutable. Its leader, Mayawati, rarely plays by the rules of conventional politics. She avoids striking alliances with other parties, making exceptions, as in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when she teamed up with the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Lok Dal. She rarely contests by-polls when other parties view the exercise as a trial of strength, never addresses public meetings or workers' conventions when she is out of power, and seldom reveals her plans to the media. However, Mayawati waived aside her own commandment on August 23 when she announced that the BSP would independently contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls without forming an alliance or understanding with the Opposition's big-tent Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) or the Bharatiya Janata Party-helmed National Democratic Alliance (NDA). A BSP statement quoted her as stating that whenever she aligned with a party, her votes got transferred to the partner, but she gained nothing. However, this was not the case in the parliamentary election when the BSP was part of the SP-RLD mahagatbandhan or Grand Coalition in UP. The BSP picked up 10 of the 80 seats, the SP just five, while the RLD drew a blank. The statement came days before the INDIA bloc met in Mumbai. Mayawati criticised INDIA and the NDA for 'doing little for the welfare of the bahujan samaj', to validate her decision. "How can we go with the Congress, which constantly falls into the BJP's trap?" asks the BSP's Bijnor MP Malook Nagar and cites the party's opposition to the BJP's move to rename India as Bharat and the kerfuffle over Sanatan Dharma raised by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, an INDIA constituent, as examples of how it "alienated 80 per cent of the Hindu population". "But we can't go with the BJP because we fight for the Dalits and farmers, and the BJP works against them," says Nagar, adding cryptically, "Politics is a game of possibilities." Out of power in UP since 2012, the BSP has been on a downslide, unable to leverage its purported Dalit vote bank to its advantage as in the past. The recent by-election to the Ghosi assembly seat in eastern UP partially confirmed Mayawati's slackening command over Dalit votes, especially those of the Jatavs who make up the BSP's core base. The party did not field a candidate, turning the contest into a BJP versus SP (supported by the Congress) face-off. Against all odds, the SP pulled off a spectacular win, defeating the BJP's contestant by 42,759 votes and mobilising a vote share of 57.19 per cent, compared to the BJP's 37.54 per cent. Significantly, in the 2022 assembly polls, the SP won Ghosi but with a smaller vote percentage of 42.21 per cent, while the BJP polled 33.57 per cent. The BSP had put up a candidate who secured 21.12 per cent of the votes. S R Darapuri, a former UP top cop who was later a close associate of BSP founder Kanshi Ram but fell out with Mayawati, says, "She asked Dalits to go for NOTA (none of the above), but evidently, they rejected her call and voted for SP." Darapuri's party, the All India People's Front, backed the SP in Ghosi. "The Jatavs are in large numbers in the east. My feedback was that they made up their minds to defeat the BJP because they are Ambedkar-ites to the core and less influenced by Hindutva than other Dalit sub-castes," says Darapuri. "This is not to say that the Jatavs have not voted for the BJP since 2014, but they are disillusioned with the Centre's attempts to undermine public undertakings such as phone companies and the Railways. "Except for senior levels, these companies are mostly staffed by Dalits due to statutory reservation. Mayawati's father was a P&T employee, so she should understand the situation." Chandra Bhan Prasad, an advisor to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a political commentator, unequivocally states that this is Mayawati's now-or-never moment. "Unless she joins one of the coalitions, she has a bleak future. The NDA option is suicidal, but INDIA could help her because the Dalit middle class fears the BJP and will vote for a party or coalition that can defeat the BJP." Nagar rejectes the idea, saying, "We have nearly a 14 per cent intact vote. If we go with the BJP, the NDA will begin with a tally of 103 seats. Conversely, we can get 60 seats for INDIA in UP." Prasad's rejoinder to Nagar's claim is, "A fixed vote quantum won't convert into seats." However, Mayawati demonstrated her potential to damage an anti-BJP force repeatedly. For instance, in the 2022 Azamgarh by-poll -- one of the few by-polls the BSP contested -- her candidate, Shah Alam, polled 266,210 votes with a 29.27 vote percentage and ensured the defeat of SP contestant Dharmendra Yadav, who lost to the BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav by 8,679 votes in a Yadav-Muslim-strong constituency, which the BJP had never won before. Alam took away a considerable chunk of the minority votes from the SP. Currently, the BSP is focused on rural and young voters and is looking for ways to strengthen its once-solid booth and sector committees. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com As India's diplomatic tensions with the Land of the Maple Leaf escalate, so do the anxieties of countless Punjabis. IMAGE: What a difference 5 plus years makes! Prime Minister Narendra D Modi teases Ella Grace, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's daughter, at their meeting in New Delhi in 2018. Photograph: @narendramodi/Twitter Nestled in the heart of the royal city of Patiala, Leela Bhawan Square is more than just a location; it's a gateway to a regal lifestyle for locals. This thriving square has become a symbol of hope for those aspiring to venture abroad, as it hosts a multitude of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academies and visa agencies. This once lively square, where cheerful conversations and hopeful farewells were the norm, now finds itself immersed in uncertainty, all due to India's deteriorating relations with Canada -- a destination seven out of 10 Punjabis pursue for foreign education and employment opportunities, according to travel and visa agencies. As India's diplomatic tensions with Canada, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, continue to escalate, so do the anxieties of countless Punjabi individuals. "Mainu lagada Modi (Narendra Modi) ate Trudeau sade supne di bali denage (I think Modi and Trudeau will sacrifice our dreams)," says Armaanjeet Singh, a 19-year-old who is preparing for the IELTS exam at Hope Institute. Armaanjeet's father sold two acres of land a year ago to fulfil his son's dream of going to Canada. Although he has also applied to Australian universities, Canada holds a special place in his heart because his cousin resides there. "Nobody from my family is there in Australia. Canada would have been like a second home to me," he explains. Canada isn't just a second home for the Singhs; it's home to hundreds of thousands of Punjabis. Canada has the largest Sikh population outside of India, with approximately 950,000 Punjabi Canadians making up roughly 2.6 per cent of the country's population. The influence of this community is so evident that in 2019, 18 Sikhs became members of Canada's House of Commons. Gurpreet Singh (name changed on request), who has plans to commence his studies at a college in British Columbia in January, finds himself in a state of uncertainty. "I have already paid my fees, but I am unable to reach the college administration," says Gurpreet, adding, "I find it difficult to sleep as uncertainty looms over the dream I've been working towards." Gurpreet emphasises that both governments should permit students who have secured admissions to travel, as their prospects hang in the balance. While students have alternative options like the US, Australia, and New Zealand, they favour Canada due to lower tuition fees and living expenses. The cost of pursuing a bachelor's degree in Canada typically ranges from Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million) to Rs 60 lakh (Rs 6 million), whereas in the US, the expenses can amount to twice that amount. Additionally, the prospect of obtaining a work permit and permanent residency in Canada is notably more accessible compared to these other countries, making it an attractive choice. According to the data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the number of Indians becoming permanent residents in Canada rose from 32,828 in 2013 to 118,095 in 2022 -- a 260 per cent increase. Jaswant Brar, a resident of Mohali, is deeply concerned about his daughter, who is currently pursuing a computer science degree in Canada. He has taken out a substantial loan with the hope that she will establish herself abroad and help him pay it back. "Politicians may be battling for their interests, but it's us who will bear the consequences of this," Brar says with a whiff of worry. Brar also implores both governments to accelerate efforts towards resolving the ongoing issue, expressing his concerns about his daughter's prospects of obtaining permanent residency. Tensions between the two countries intensified when Trudeau, during an emergency session of Canadian Parliament, stated that 'agents of the Indian government' had killed Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan supporter who was labelled a terrorist by the Indian government in 2020. For students currently residing in Canada, the situation appears relatively stable. "We have not faced any scrutiny here, but the way this matter is dealt with, however, I'm afraid people might start categorising us as terrorists. We are here in search of a better life, not Khalistan," says a Sikh student who is studying at a top university in Canada. Parry Sandhu, founder of Global Guide, a consultancy that assists Punjabis in obtaining visas, believes the present circumstances will eventually find stability. He asserts that Canada has to support Indians as its economy relies significantly on Indian immigrants, who contribute approximately 40 per cent to the nation's economic growth. "While the current situation may benefit a select few, it has the potential to adversely affect millions of Indians," Sandhu says. Reading The Maple Leaves Of the 32,100,340 overseas Indians, 5.26% (1,689,055) are in Canada. These include 178,410 Non-Resident Indians and 1,510,645 Persons of Indian Origin, according to the data available from the ministry of external affairs. In 2022, of the estimated 1,324,954 Indian students abroad, 13.83% (183,310) were in Canada, according to MEA data. Canada accounted for 5.3% (80,437) of foreign tourist arrivals in India during 2021, according to India Tourism Statistics, 2022. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com As Hamas terror groups continued their attack on Israel for the third consecutive day, at least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2000 injured, reported The Times of Israel. IMAGE: Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel . Photograph: Amir Cohen/Reuters Israel has declared a state of war on 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. According to the Government Press Office, a body that operates under the Israeli PM's office noted that over 100 people have been taken as hostages in Gaza. However, Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Sunday said that they have been holding some 130 Israeli hostages and claimed that this includes high-ranking army officials, the Times of Israel reported. Following the announcement by the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that the country is at war, Israeli jets carried out "intense" airstrikes on targets in Gaza on Sunday afternoon. As per Palestinian Health Ministry, close to 400 Palestinians were killed in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. IMAGE: Palestinians inspect a mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters According to the reports by Jerusalem Post Senior Military and Intelligence Analyst, Yonah Jeremy Bob, the IDF has undertaken 1149 airstrikes on Gaza as of Monday morning, marking a jump of around 800 since Sunday midday, reported The Jerusalem Post. Additionally, there are still six ongoing fights with Hamas in Israeli villages on the Gaza corridor, his report added. Moreover, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer told CNN in an interview that the death toll was "well north of 600 people," adding, "There will probably be more hundreds, several hundred more." IMAGE: Palestinians search for victims trapped under the rubble of a house destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. Photograph: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters 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. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple airstrikes targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. IMAGE: Israeli border police take cover by a vehicle following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, near Sderot in southern Israel . Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters In the Gaza Strip, there are more than 300 deaths and about 1,500 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said on Sunday. Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. The Delhi police special cell has questioned about 25 journalists and contributors of NewsClick for a second time in connection with a UAPA case registered against the online news portal for allegedly peddling "anti-national" agenda in the country, sources said on Monday. IMAGE: Senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta addresses a gathering against the arrest of news portal NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and HRD head Amit Chakraborty in an alleged terror case, at the Press Club, New Delhi, October 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo An officer said that the investigation into the case is still on and no one has been given a clean chit so far. About 46 people, including nine women journalists, were questioned on October 3, the day the special cell raided several locations connected to the website in Delhi and NCR. "Since the arrest took place, everyone was called for the second round of questioning. About 25 of them have appeared so far," said a police officer. On October 3, the Delhi police arrested portal's editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha and human relations head Amit Chakravarty and seized more than 300 electronic gadgets from the office of NewsClick and residences of its journalists. An official said these gadgets were sent to the FSL (forensic science lab) for examination and extraction of any content related to the matter. According to the Delhi police's remand copy which was submitted before the court on October 4 when it produced Purkayastha and Chakravarty, the analysis of the e-mails shows that Neville Roy Singham, Prabir Purkayastha, and Amit Chakravarty were in direct touch with each other and were found to be discussing how to create a map of India without Kashmir and to show Arunachal Pradesh as disputed area. "To achieve the above objective the accused persons in the guise of foreign funds received money of more than Rs 115 crore in the companies named as PPK NewsClick, GSPAN India, JJ Enterprises, Virtunet System," said the remand copy. The seven-day police remand of Purkayastha and Chakravarty granted by the court ends on Tuesday. The officer said both accused are likely to be produced before the court on Tuesday morning and the IO (investigating officer) may seek for extension of their remand. The Delhi police had in the matter registered a case under sections 13, 16, 17,18 and 22 of the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act invoked and sections 153A (promoting enmity between two groups) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC on August 17. Polling day in Rajasthan coincides with Dev Uthani Ekadashi, an auspicious occasion when more than 50,000 weddings are likely to take place in the state, and the people involved in the business claim that this could hurt the voting percentage. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo Dev Uthani Ekadashi will be observed on November 23, when voting for the 200-member Rajasthan assembly will also be held. Dev Uthani Ekadashi is the most preferred occasion for weddings. It also marks the beginning of the wedding season. Trade stakeholders believe that this could affect the voter turnout in the desert state, where the election department has set a target of 75 per cent voter turnout at all the 51,756 polling booths. The voter turnout in the 2018 Rajasthan Assembly polls was 74.71 per cent. The Election Commission announced on Monday that voting for all 200 Assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on November 23 and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 3. "Dev Uthani Ekadashi is the most auspicious occasion for weddings and all Hindu castes prefer to hold weddings on this day. More than 50,000 weddings are expected to take place this year on Dev Uthani Ekadashi," Ravi Jindal, president of the All India Tent Decorators' Welfare Association, told PTI. He said the voting could be affected due to the involvement of a large number of people in the wedding ceremonies, from traders to family members and relatives. Jindal said nearly four lakh traders, including tent dealers and event managers, are engaged in the wedding industry in Rajasthan and around 10 lakh people are directly or indirectly involved in it, including catering service providers, florists, band parties, choreographers etc. He said many "baraat" or wedding parties travel to different districts or states for wedding-related functions and the labourers also move from place to place, depending on their work. "In such a situation, a few lakh people will be directly or indirectly busy on the day of polling. Many may not be able to cast their votes due to being engaged in work or not being present at their polling booths on the day of voting," Jindal said. Event manager Manish Kumar said, "On Dev Uthani Ekadashi, people go to other cities and districts as part of wedding parties. Similarly, caterers, electricians, florists, band parties and all others engaged in wedding-related work remain busy throughout the day and many of them may skip voting due to this." He said the wedding venues are already booked and full-scale wedding ceremonies will be held on November 23. Former state BJP chief Satish Poonia, however, said the situation will not have much of an impact on polling and expressed confidence that the party workers would succeed in bringing the voters to the polling booths. He said elections are a festival of democracy and there is great enthusiasm among the workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "Voting will be on the day of Dev Uthani Ekadashi, but I do not think that it would have much of an impact because our workers are committed and would ensure that each vote is counted," Poonia said. He said there is a large number of migrant Rajasthanis who are expected to come home for the wedding ceremonies and this would balance the situation in a way as they too would exercise their franchise. The election department has made concentrated efforts to increase the voter turnout in the Assembly election. The chief electoral officer has set a target of ensuring a 75-per cent voter turnout at all the 51,756 polling booths across the state. A few new booths have been set up for a small number of voters in order to encourage people to vote. More than 5.27 crore voters, including 2.75 crore male and 2.51 crore female voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise in this election, according to the final voter list. About 22 lakh voters aged between 18 and 19 years will cast their votes for the first time. Since Mizoram became a separate state in 1987 after years of insurgency, it has been ruled by either the Mizo National Front or the Congress. IMAGE: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga calls on Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, March 21, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo However, the binary equation in the northeastern state is being threatened by the emergence of a new political force, the Zoram People's Movement, which upset many calculations in a key civic body election earlier this year. Voting for all 40 assembly seats in Mizoram will take place on November 7, the Election Commission said on Monday. The ruling Mizo National Front led by Zoramthanga is looking for a second straight term in the 2023 assembly polls. In all, it has ruled for three terms since Mizoram became a state after the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi signed the Mizo peace accord, while its principal rival the Congress has had four terms in power. Analysts believe the Zoramthanga-led party may have an edge over rivals because of its performance in distribution of financial assistance under the state' flagship programme, the socio-economic development policy, handling of refugees and displaced people from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Manipur, and the rising tide of Zo sun-nationalism as a reaction to the ethnic displacements the community has faced in recent times. The MNF will gain from the refugee issue, especially how it handled the displaced people from Manipur, said Prof J Doungel, of the Mizoram University's political science department. Even opposition parties have not found any reason to pin any blame on Chief Minister Zoramthanga in the way he handled the situation, he said. In the 2018 assembly election, where MNF ousted the Congress government, the Mizo National Front bagged 37.7 per cent of the votes polled and won 26 seats. The Congress managed just five seats, though it received nearly 30 per cent of the votes. The Congress, under its new president Lalsawta, is fighting for reforms within the party by bringing in youngsters under its fold. However, the grand old party has seen its shine stolen by Zoramthanga's espousal of Zo refugee cause on the one hand and by the rise of the alternative ZPM. The ZPM emerged as a player in urban areas, winning eight seats despite garnering a far lower 22.9 per cent of the vote share. In 2018, ZPM came up as an alternative, especially in urban areas and replaced Congress as the principal opposition. The ZPM has preached the introduction of a new political system, a system which is completely different from the existing system in the state. ZPM working president K Sapdanga claimed that people, including the government employees, are anxious to see a new government and new political system. In the Lunglei Municipal polls held in March this year, ZPM had swept the town's council, the second largest in the state, by getting the lion's share of 49 per cent of the votes. MNF came second with 29.4 per cent and Congress third with 20 per cent votes. However, since then, much water has flown down the river Tlawng, and the Manipur ethnic riots that sent hordes of refugees into Mizoram have taken up news space here, as has moves by the Centre to identify Myanmar refugees and obtain their biometric information. This time, besides its handling of the refugee crisis, the Zoramthanga government's bold stand in defying the Centre's order to deport Myanmar nationals, and refusal to collect biometric data from them is likely to be viewed positively by voters not only in rural areas where MNF is strong, but also in the urban centres where ZPM has held sway. Zoramthanga has himself, too, expressed confidence that his party will retain power. We have been able to work on many development projects despite several hurdles and financial constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, he told newspersons. Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Maria Gigliello is the communications coordinator for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media. Palestinians inspect the destruction in a neighborhood heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes on the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Oct. 9, 2023. At least 12 Thais have been killed in Israel following attacks launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas at the weekend, Thailands foreign ministry said Monday. As of late Monday, the fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military the deadliest between Palestinians and Israelis in 50 years had left more than 1,100 dead and thousands more injured on both sides, reports said. The death toll has been confirmed at 12 [Thais], based on information from employers that was provided to the embassy, Kanchana Patarachoke, a spokeswoman for the Thai foreign ministry, told a press briefing on Monday. She said eight Thais were being treated for injuries in hospitals and an additional 11 citizens were being held captive, but Kanchan did not elaborate. We have been informed that the Israeli defense force has begun to evacuate Thais to safety from flash points, she said. Israels military has hit back hard with the Jewish state formally declaring war on Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist and Palestinian nationalist group, after the militants launched rocket strikes and raids into southern Israel near the Gaza Strip at dawn on Saturday. Israel has retaliated by fighting with Hamas militants to regain control of areas near the Gaza border and pounding the densely populated Palestinian enclave with airstrikes, reports said. On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a complete siege of Gaza, according to reports. The Royal Thai Air Force, meanwhile, has readied five C-130 transport planes and an Airbus passenger jet to bring citizens home once it was clear to fly, Kanchana said. While responding on Monday to parliamentary questions about the situation in Israel, Jakkapong Sangmanee, Thailands deputy minister of foreign affairs, said his department was still awaiting clearance from Israel to allow in Thai flights to evacuate Thai nationals. As for the nearly one dozen Thais believed to be in Hamas custody, he said the government was negotiating with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt to help secure the release of the captured people. At least 100 people of various nationalities, including Thai nationals, had been taken hostage, Jakkapong said. As of August 2023, more than 4,533 Thais were working in Israel, where many are employed as farm hands, according to the Thai Ministry of Labor. In May 2021, a Hamas rocket attack on an agricultural estate near the Gaza Strip killed two Thai nationals and injured eight others. A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike, Oct. 9, 2023, as Israels military relentlessly pounded the Palestinian territory overnight and into the day as fighting with Hamas continued. [Mahmud Hams/AFP] Early Saturday morning, Hamas launched multi-front attacks that coincided with the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah and came a day after the 50th anniversary of the start of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, reports said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has estimated that about 1,000 Hamas militants took part in the initial assault. Subsequent fighting has killed at least 700 people in Israel and more than 400 have been killed in Gaza, according to a report by the Associated Press. Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said at a public ceremony in Phnom Penh that the government wont be sending a special transport plane to bring students back to Cambodia unless the Israeli government says it is necessary. There are more than 400 Cambodian students in Israel, he said. Many of them are working on farms and studying agriculture near the conflict zone. One Cambodian student was killed in clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants on Saturday. Sum Phirun, who works on a dairy farm along with two other Cambodians in Israels Karmia region, told Radio Free Asia on Monday that he was leaving the area, which is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Now, I am a bit busy, he said. I have to move from one location to another, thank you very much. Meanwhile, the Israeli army has secured the area around the Sedot Negev Agricultural Center, about 10 miles (17 km) from the Gaza Strip, where Cambodian students are studying agriculture, according to student Du Suchin. The violence has also affected scores of Filipinos working in Israel. Seven Filipinos remained unaccounted for while 20 others had been rescued by Israeli forces amid the fighting, officials with the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Monday. One of those rescued was being treated for moderate injuries at a hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva, said department spokeswoman Maria Teresita Daza. The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv had also received a report from a Filipina about the possible abduction of her husband by armed individuals after she said she had recognized him in an online video, Daza told BenarNews. The matter had been urgently relayed to Israeli military authorities, she said. [Seven] remain unaccounted for and cannot be contacted via their mobile numbers and social media accounts, the embassy said. The Embassy is working non-stop with Israeli security authorities and community contacts to ascertain their condition. We continue to await feedback from them. There are approximately 40,000 Filipinos in Israel, but only 25,000 are legally documented, according to labor and migrant groups. The Philippine Embassy in Amman, Jordan had begun receiving requests for repatriations, Daza said. We pray for them Since the fighting began, U.N. officials and Western countries have condemned the attacks by Hamas, while parts of Muslim Southeast Asia have expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people. In criticism clearly aimed at the West, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the international community continues to take one-sided action regarding all forms of cruelty and oppression to the Palestinian people. Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation, said it was deeply concerned with the escalation of conflict between Palestine and Israel, but added: 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. A digger removes rubble from a police station that was overrun in attacks by Hamas militants, in Sderot, Israel, Oct. 8, 2023. [Ohad Zwigenberg/AP] Although Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined many other international leaders in condemning the attacks by Hamas, some Malay-speaking Muslims in the countrys insurgent-hit Deep South said they felt for Palestinians. We feel the pain of our Palestine brothers and sisters when they are at war, said Hazim Salae, a resident of Yala city. We pray for them to stay safe during this war. Abdullah Yusof, a resident of the southern province Pattani, said Muslims at several mosques in the region were praying for both Palestenians and the Thais in captivity. We are the same beings as Palestinians, Abdullah said. We have also raised some funds for them. BenarNews staff in Manila contributed to this report. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. Chinese dissident Chen Siming, who refused to board a flight to China while transiting through Taiwan, has been granted political asylum in Canada. In an exclusive interview with Radio Free Asia after arriving in Vancouver on Oct. 5, Chen said he hopes to adapt to life in Canada as soon as possible and find a job to make a living. If he takes good care of himself, he said he will be more powerful to help the pro-democracy movement and overthrow the power of the Chinese Communist Party. "After I got out of the airport [in Vancouver], I was very happy, my heart was at peace, and I was in the free world," said Chen, an outspoken activist who recently published an open letter commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen massacre a banned topic in China. The Hunan province native fled from China in July to Laos, despite a travel ban imposed on him. He arrived in Laos just as the Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei was detained by the local authorities, and was subsequently repatriated to China. A fearful Chen therefore headed to Bangkok, but remained concerned he would be arrested by Thai authorities who have previously sent Chinese political refugees back. So he bought a flight ticket for the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, routed through the democratic island of Taiwan on Sept. 22. Chen remained under the care of Taiwans Immigration Department for more than 10 days at the airport in Taipei. A few days after arriving in Taoyuan airport, Taiwan's New School for Democracy sent someone to check on his daily living needs and help him apply for a temporary entry permit as he awaited asylum in a third country. At the same time, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees contacted him to help find a country that would officially accept him. Chen said he received backing from U.S. and Canada-based activists such as Sheng Xue, Jie Lijian and Wang Dan, which helped him arrive in Canada in a record 14 days. While Chen felt uncertain about the future when staying in Taiwan, he was not worried. "The first is not to be deported to mainland China, and the second is not to be deported to Thailand. It doesn't matter if the [waiting] time is longer. In Taiwan, I feel very safe, even in prison, let alone the immigration office." Chinas long arm in Southeast Asia Human rights lawyer Lu is now being held in the Xindu Detention Center in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan. He was repatriated to China in early September after being arrested in Laos en route to join his family in the United States. His detention in Laos and subsequent repatriation is another example of transnational "long-arm" law enforcement by Beijing, rights activists and commentators have warned. A number of prominent activists have also been sent back from Thailand to China, which has increased the pursuits of dissidents and peaceful activists even when they have fled overseas. Chinese journalist Li Xin and human rights defender Tang Zhishun were kidnapped in Thailand and Myanmar respectively, while Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai was taken from his holiday home in Phuket, Thailand. Another Chinese national, Wang Jianye, was executed after being extradited from Thailand in 1995 despite assurances that he wouldn't face the death penalty. And in July 2018, authorities in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing jailed rights activist Dong Guangping and political cartoonist Jiang Yefei after they were sent home from Thailand as they were awaiting resettlement as political refugees, prompting an international outcry. Good news Chen received the good news on Oct. 2 when Taiwanese authorities informed him in the morning that Canadian officials would come to him later with a Canadian visa. Despite his excitement, he also took to heart Canadian officials caution that he didnt disclose the information to the outside world until he landed in Canada to avoid causing complications. He arrived at Vancouver airport on the evening of Oct. 5, and the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia immediately arranged for him to stay in a hotel. Chen was worried that he would not be able to pay. When he learned that the bill would be taken care of, I felt relieved and even more touched. But he said that he isnt wasting a minute even though he could relax. Learning English. Credit: Fei Liu for RFA Apart from eating and sleeping, he spent most of the time reading the Bible and learning English. He wants to become stronger and contribute more to China's democratic movement. "The challenges I will face in the future are not small. For example, I need to learn English and find a job. I must first arrange my life. Only after these things are arranged can you participate in some democracy movement activities." Chen said that the tens of thousands of human rights fighters in China are in his mind, and he hopes that they can all work together, within and outside the wall to overthrow the totalitarian dictatorship of the Chinese Communist Party. "I hope our friends at home will take care of themselves first and wait for opportunities. We will do whatever we can abroad. Let's work hard together for China's freedom and democracy and the progress of China's civilization." Chen also thanked the Taiwanese and Canadian governments, human rights organizations and pro-democracy activists. Translated by Elaine Chan. Edited by Mike Firn. Big questions remain over the alleged deaths on a Chinese nuclear submarine in August. A Chinese Navy submarine (not the type mentioned in the article) takes part in a naval parade off the eastern port city of Qingdao, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, China, April 23, 2019. Submarine experts and observers are casting doubt on reports by British media, citing leaked intelligence, that a Chinese nuclear submarine had an accident in late August, resulting in the deaths of 55 sailors. The tabloid Daily Mail reported last Tuesday that the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy submarine '093-417' apparently got caught in a trap intended to ensnare British sub-surface vessels in the Yellow Sea. The incident is understood to have happened on Aug. 21. '093-417' indicates a Chinese Navy Type 093, or Shang-class, nuclear-powered attack submarine with hull number 417. The Shang-class submarine is typically 107-meters long, 11-meters wide, and 7.5-meters high. It has a submerged displacement of more than 6,000 tons, and can accommodate a crew of 100. China currently has six of them in its submarine force. According to a secret UK report the seamen died following a catastrophic failure of the submarine's oxygen systems which poisoned the crew, the Mail said. The Times picked the story up a day later, saying that the Chinese vessel was said to have run out of oxygen near Shandong province, north of Shanghai. Our understanding is death caused by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) due to a system fault on the submarine, both papers quoted the leaked report as saying. The submarine hit a chain and anchor obstacle used by the Chinese navy to trap US and allied submarines. This resulted in systems failures that took six hours to repair and surface the vessel. The on-board oxygen system poisoned the crew after a catastrophic failure. It is unclear whether both the Daily Mail and the Times saw the same report, believed to be held in high classification but leaked to the media. The British Defence Ministry declined to comment on the reports. The 55 crew members who are feared dead included 22 officers, seven officer cadets, nine petty officers and 17 sailors. The captain Col. Xue Yong-Peng is believed to be among the dead. A new type 094A Jin-class nuclear submarine Long March 10 (not the type mentioned in the article) participates in a naval parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's PLA Navy near Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein The media reports left submarine experts and military observers perplexed. Ive never heard of submarine nets being used on the high seas, and I dont understand why snagging one would cause a failure of atmosphere control equipment, said Thomas Shugart, a retired submariner and adjunct senior fellow at the think tank Center for a New American Security in Washington D.C. However, China has had atmosphere control problems on its submarines before, so maybe there is something there but the details are off, he added. Six hours is not enough to result in hypoxia without something else consuming the oxygen first, like a fire or explosion, Shugart told Radio Free Asia. Torpedo explosion Two days after the Daily Mails report, a Chinese-language media outlet based in Taiwan UP Media quoted anonymous sources in Beijing as saying that the real cause of the accident was serious problems of the Yu-3C torpedoes on the submarine. The submarine was on a mission from Aug. 19 to 27 to conduct underwater weapons tests" near Dalian Port in the Liaodong Peninsula, Liaoning province, UP Media said. However, not long after the mission began, a torpedo exploded in the launch tube, it said, causing the crash that killed all the people on board. The media outlet said an investigation was launched after the Central Military Commission determined that the accident was directly caused by serious problems in the fire control design of the Yu-3C improved torpedo. Investigators are looking into allegations of procurement fraud and corruption involving not only officials in the submarine force but also at much higher levels, it said. Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who has been missing from public view since late August, and Vice Admiral Wang Dazhong, commander of the PLAN North Sea Fleet, are believed to be involved, according to Shen Ming-Shih, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) in Taiwan. Shen said he understood from his sources that Wang was sacked over the August submarine incident as it happened in the area within his command. Li meanwhile is being investigated for responsibilities in the armament procurement, including for the submarine force, and personal graft, he said. Wait and see Some other experts remain more cautious. I'm taking a wait-and-see approach as several of the articles have now provided data that should be able to be verified, Chris Carlson, a retired submariner and U.S. naval intelligence analyst, told RFA. Is Col. Xue Yong-Peng the commanding officer of Type 093A hull 417? Is that the right hull number for a Type 093A? Is he dead? Did the Northern Theater Commander, Vice Admiral Wang Dazhong get relieved for cause? If these claims are found to be truthful, that would be sufficient evidence to say an accident on a PLAN Type 093A submarine occurred, Carlson said. Chinese navy sailors stand in formation on board the naval training ship, Qi Jiguang, as it docks at Manila's port, Philippines June 14, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Basilio Sepe Rumors of the alleged accident first emerged on Aug. 21 on an anti-Chinese Communist Party activist social media account called Lude Media. Its original post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, said a Type 093 nuclear-powered attack submarine of the Communist Party of China had an accident while performing a mission in the Taiwan Strait. Lude Media is a YouTube channel broadcast from the United States run by activist Wang Dinggang, who has in the past been accused of spreading unsubstantiated right-wing messages. The problem is the vast majority of the reporting [on the alleged incident] is from Taiwanese sources that have some credibility issues, said Chris Carlson. It would be really helpful to get an official announcement, he said. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said on Aug. 22 that military intelligence and surveillance did not detect any evidence of a Chinese submarine crash in or near the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese Defense Ministry on Aug. 31 also rejected the reports, which it called completely false. The ministry has so far not reacted to the claims in the British media nor acted to prove them wrong. China can easily show this submarine to the world and stop the speculations, said Shen Ming-Shih from INDSR in Taipei. Why dont they do that? In April 2003, a Chinese Ming-class diesel submarine experienced a mechanical failure during a training exercise in the Yellow Sea, resulting in the deaths of all 70 crew members aboard. Chinese state media did not cover the incident, believed to be the countrys worst known peacetime military disaster, until the following month. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. The app offers migrants the chance to connect with others from the city after Beijings crackdown sparks exodus. The HongKonger app is aimed at more than 172,000 Hong Kongers who have settled in the country since the British government launched its British National Overseas visa pathway to citizenship. A Hong Konger in the United Kingdom recently launched an app to help other migrants from the city find pro-democracy businesses and services in exile amid ongoing threats and surveillance from agents and supporters of Beijing. The Hongkonger app is similar to the Mee app that once helped supporters of the 2019 protest movement find and support businesses in the city that were sympathetic to their cause, but which have since been targeted by the authorities under a draconian national security law. With a welcome screen showing a bunch of cheerful and bespectacled young people in front of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the app welcomes users to "connect with professionals" and "plant the seeds of kindness." It then offers the user classified ads, shop and small business listings, restaurants, artists and craftspeople, healthcare, emotional support and personal services, based on the user's geographical location. It is aimed at more than 172,000 Hong Kongers who have settled in the country since the British government launched its British National Overseas visa pathway to citizenship, which prompted China to stop recognizing the Hong Kong BNO passport in protest in January 2021. A group of people bid farewell as their friend leaves for the United Kingdom at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, June 30, 2021. Credit: Tyrone Siu/Reuters Classes and things to do are also in among the listings, which app author Jay said are intended to create a sense of community among Hong Kongers who have recently emigrated to the United Kingdom. "We all crossed mountains to get to the U.K.," said Jay, who gave a pseudonym for fear of reprisals. "I hope we will now support each other and that we will now be able to see each other." "Everyone is scaling the mountain in their own way," he said, in a reference to a strategy of the 2019 protest movement allowing people to take different approaches to working for freedom and democracy. Long arm law enforcement The escalating crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, which saw warrants and bounties placed on the heads of eight prominent overseas activists in early July, has sparked international criticism of the authorities' ongoing attempts at "long-arm" law enforcement overseas. Hong Kong's three-year-old national security law bans public criticism of the authorities as incitement of hatred, and applies to speech or acts committed by people of any nationality, anywhere in the world. It has prompted a mass exodus of permanent residents from the city. In the United Kingdom, Hong Kongers have been calling on the British government to sanction officials linked to human rights violations in the city they once called home, despite apparent attempts at sabotage and the threat of violence by supporters of the Chinese Communist Party. Against that background, Jay's project is a call to stand together and to boost Hong Kongers' visibility at least to each other. Jay, who once taught math in a Hong Kong school and now works for a government-funded organization, wrote the code and produced the artwork with the help of the ChatGPT AI chatbot and the AI artmaker Midjourney, he said. "I'd been paying close attention to the way artificial intelligence was developing for the past seven years," he said. "I had no knowledge or experience in this area, so when the app was successfully launched, I was moved to tears." Yellow Pages Jay said the app is intended as a kind of "Yellow Pages" for Hong Kongers in Britain to find each other. The parallel also plays on the "yellow economic circle" of pro-democracy businesses in Hong Kong, that has been increasingly targeted under the national security law and colonial-era sedition laws. "People from all walks of life have come to the U.K., including a lot of teachers, healthcare workers, accountants, utilities workers, builders and decorators," he said. "There are a lot of people like me who weren't able to continue in their old jobs." "It's not always so easy for Hong Kongers to find services, so I hope this will be a platform that helps everyone find each other," Jay said. Chief Superintendent of Police (National Security) Li Kwai-wah speaks during a press conference to issue arrest warrants for eight activists and former lawmakers, in Hong Kong, July 3, 2023. Credit: Joyce Zhou/Reuters Asked if he sees himself as part of the "yellow economic circle," Jay said he hopes his app doesn't put anyone at risk. "Clearly there is an erosion of freedom in Hong Kong, and I'm unhappy watching the news," he said. "We all see ridiculous things, and they keep happening every day." "Our app only works in the United Kingdom and doesn't extend to Hong Kong for now," he said. "I hope that makes it safe for the time being." But he said uptake of the app, which came soon after Hong Kong officials likened the eight wanted overseas activists to "rats crossing the street" and vowed to pursue them for the rest of their lives, had been less than enthusiastic. Under scrutiny U.K.-based Finn Lau, who is among the eight, said he feels he is under constant surveillance, even overseas. "I have to be more careful, both online and in real life, and check to see if I'm being followed," Lau told Radio Free Asia in a recent interview. "I rarely reveal my location on social media." "This is something I do every day now," he said, adding that he had been approached by a person claiming to be a reporter for Radio Free Asia during the 20th party congress in October 2022, but had declined after finding out that the "reporter" was fake. He has also been targeted on social media, with 60 or 70 attempts to steal his identity on X, including his profile photo. "There was a campaign to spread false information [about me] that initially deceived some people who knew me, who thought I had a new account," Lau said. "Then they asked me about it later, so it was exposed [as fake]." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Chuck Schumer also said he was pleased China ultimately rebuked Hamas attack on Israel. Visiting U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping before their bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appealed for authorities to ensure a level playing field for American businesses in China during a meeting in Beijing on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The New York senator also welcomed the belated statement of sympathy issued for Israel by China in the wake of Saturdays deadly attacks by the Palestinian group Hamas, after earlier expressing disappointment with an initial muted response from Beijing. Schumer is leading a delegation of six U.S. senators three Democrats and three Republicans on a weeklong tour of China, Japan and South Korea this week. Its the first delegation of American lawmakers to visit China since before the COVID-19 pandemic. After Schumer met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier on Monday and expressed his concerns about the lack of response to Saturdays attacks by Hamas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters China opposed the attack by Hamas. We are deeply concerned over the escalation of tensions and violence and saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn acts harming civilians, Mao said. Senate leader gratified Schumer said he was satisfied with Maos reply. Im gratified the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement that did condemn the loss of civilian life, Schumer told reporters after meeting with Xi, according to a report by the Associated Press. Visiting U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., fourth from left, talks to Zhao Leji, chairman of China's National People's Congress, fourth from right, during a bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Wong/Pool/AP) China has had a historically close relationship with Palestine, which it has recognized as an existing state since the late 1980s. Even as it has in recent years tried to cultivate better ties with Israel, Beijing has still kept formal ties with the Palestinians. President Mahmoud Abbas in June himself met with Xi in Beijing and voiced support for Chinas harsh treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority. But the attack on Israel was not the only item on the agenda during the Senate delegations trip to Beijing, which is meant to focus on trade. Schumer said business-focused talks were fruitful, even if China and the United States still have their differences, with both countries for months embroiled in a dispute over microchip imports and exports that has centered on the national-security uses of advanced chips. U.S. companies are now banned from exporting high-end chip-making technology to China on national security grounds, while Beijing has banned American chipmaker Micron from selling in China. Both countries have decried the policies of the other as politically motivated. The United States in August also warned its citizens about the prospect of exit bans and extended arrest when trying to leave China. But the Senate leader called for China to ensure a level playing field in trade for American businesses, despite such geopolitical tensions. Both sides, the Chinese and us, said unless we have sincere conversations about our differences and not pull any punches, that we would never solve these problems, Schumer said. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Experts speculate images may indicate the transfer of weapons following the Kim-Putin summit. Trains and cargo are seen at the Tumen River rail depot in North Korea, Sept. 22, 2023. Satellite images show a sharp increase in activity at a railway yard in North Korea on the Russian border, prompting experts to speculate that Pyongyang may be sending trainloads of weapons to its northern neighbor. Photos of a depot just north of North Koreas Tumen River Station separated by just 5 kilometers (3 miles) of track from Khasan Station in the Russian Far East taken Sept. 22 by U.S. commercial satellite operator Planet Labs show an abundance of rail cars appearing to carry cargo. The area was completely empty in photos taken on Sept. 14. The activity ramped up following the conclusion of Kim Jong Uns Sept. 13-17 summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which the two leaders agreed to boost their military cooperation amid Russias war of aggression in Ukraine. Experts said this would most likely occur through Russias weapons technology transfer in exchange for North Koreas conventional ammunition. Satellite photos taken Sept. 24 show that the cargo was more organized, with two lines of rail containers on the track, one line extending about 200 meters (220 yards) and the other 300 meters (330 yards). Additionally there are several loaded trains parked on the track, about 20 meters in length each. The Tumen River rail depot in North Korea is empty, Sept. 14, 2023. Credit: Planet Labs Experts say there is no clear evidence in the photos that North Korea is shipping munitions to Russia. But the proximity to the summit and the increased level of cooperation between Seoul and Moscow over the past year suggest that is what is happening, experts said. Jacob Bogle, a private satellite imagery analyst and curator of the AccessDPRK project, told RFA that when compared to the period between 2020 and early 2022, exchanges between the two countries have increased over the past year. It cannot be ruled out that the activity seen is arms trading, but it could also be more benign cargo as well, Bogle said. Russia expends around 10 million artillery shells a year in Ukraine, so rapid transfers by North Korea would help relieve those shortages. Artillery ammunition? North Korean exports to Russia have traditionally included minerals such as coal and seafood, and suspicions of arms trade between North Korea and Russia were first raised in late 2022. North Korea could be supplying Russia with older artillery shells based on Soviet-era weapons, Gary Samore, a former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction, told RFA. North Koreans have a very large stockpile of ammunition for artillery and tanks and rockets, he said. It has been manufacturing ammunition for its own military forces, especially artillery for decades. if they're sending old ammunition to Russia, from Russias standpoint, it's better than having nothing. Changes in the quantity and location of trains and cargo are seen between Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 at the Tumen River rail depot in North Korea. Researcher Bruce Songhak Chung assessed that the train was carrying cargo to Russia. Credit: Planet Labs photo with RFA analysis The images appear to show that North Korea loaded cargo onto a train and transported it to Russia, Bruce Songhak Chung, a researcher at the Seoul-based Korean Institute for Security and Strategy, told RFA Korean. If the cargo had been coming from Russia, it would have been unloaded at Tumen River Station instead of at the depot in between the station and the border, he said. Chung said the latest imagery is not the first that indicates rail shipments from North Korea to Russia, as the depot is the same area identified by the United States in December 2022 as having a train being loaded with weapons heading to Russia. The operation of cargo-laden trains at Tumen River Station was confirmed several times, even as far back as before the Russian minister of defense visited North Korea on the Day of Victory on July 27, said Chung, referring to the anniversary of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. Chung said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigus visit to North Korea and Kims visit with Putin suggest that arms trade using logistics exchanges between North Korea and Russia is likely to increase. The Beyond Parallel website, run by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, reported Friday that satellite photos likely showed weapons shipments from North Korea to Russia. 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 report said. 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. A State Department spokesperson told RFA on Oct. 2 that previous arms discussions between Russia and North Korea likely continued during Kim Jong Uns trip to Russia. A burgeoning military relationship between Russia and the DPRK, including additional transfers of weapons from the DPRK to Russia and technology transfers from Russia to the DPRK, will further undermine the global non-proliferation regime, the spokesperson said, using an acronym to refer to North Korea and urging the two countries to suspend military cooperation. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh and Leejin J. Chung. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. Tibetans are told they will lose their jobs or be expelled from schools if they visit religious sites. Jokhang Temple, shown, and other religious sites in Tibets capital Lhasa were closed to the Tibetan public and pilgrims during the observation of Chinas National Day. Chinese authorities have closed some of Tibets holiest Buddhist sites during the National Day holiday week and have been searching people on the streets of Lhasa, two Tibetans inside the region said. Tibetans and others have been shut out of the Jokhang Temple, Potala Palace and monasteries in Lhasa, capital of the western region, during the observation of the holiday marking the 74th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, the sources said. Officials declared 8 days of public holiday beginning Oct. 1. The Chinese government has always imposed restrictions on Tibetans and conducted propaganda campaigns in Tibet during the National Day holiday period. But this year, authorities also began searching people traveling on public transportation. Those without proper documents were not allowed to stay in Lhasa, the sources said. Officials also made Tibetan Buddhist monks in monasteries celebrate National Day on Oct. 1 and undergo political re-education. Chinese authorities have placed a growing number of restrictions on Tibetans in or entering Lhasa and increased police presence there since 2008. In March of that year, police violently suppressed peaceful Tibetan protests, leading to the destruction of Han Chinese shops in the city and deadly attacks on Han Chinese residents. The event sparked a wave of demonstrations against Chinese rule that spread into Tibetan-populated regions of western Chinese provinces. Security forces quelled the protests and detained, beat or shot hundreds of Tibetans. Sacred site Built in the 7th century by King Songtsen Gampo of the Tibetan Empire, the Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. Authorities in Tibet warned government officials, office staff and students not to visit religious sites or go on pilgrimages, or else risk losing their jobs and pensions, or be expelled from their schools, if caught, the two Tibetans said. Though it is normal for party cadres not to participate in religious activities in the Lhasa area, these days special restrictions are placed on students from taking part in religious activities, said one source who declined to be named out of fear of retribution. Yet at the same time, more than 1.9 million tourists have visited Lhasa during the National Day holiday, stopping in museums and historical places that have been open, though places of worship remained closed to the general public as of Sept. 30, according to Chinese state media. Since the end of September, the Chinese government has cited a pretext of maintaining public safety and security during the National Day holiday period, said a second Tibetan source who declined to be named for the same reason. Officials deployed police in and around Lhasa and began screening and searching the public, he said. The Lhasa Tsuklakhang Management Committee, which runs the Jokhang temple, issued a notice on Monday, widely read on social media in Tibet, declaring Oct. 10th an additional holiday during which religious sites would remain closed to the public, said the source. Translated by Rigdhen Dolma for RFA Tibetan. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster. Under Vietnamese law, Le Van Manh was allowed to record final words before his execution last month. The family of a death row prisoner who was executed last month despite pleas from diplomatic missions and Amnesty International has yet to receive a tape recording containing his last words, his mother told Radio Free Asia on Monday. Le Van Manh, 42, was executed with a lethal injection on Sept. 22, according to a death notice posted by the Peoples Committee of Thu Phong commune, Cao Phong district, Hoa Binh province. We have only received the execution notice and the courts judgment extract and nothing else, Manhs mother, Nguyen Thi Viet, told RFA. When my two children went to the prison to get his belongings, they received only his blanket and mosquito net, clothes and a mat. No letters or any other papers. Vietnams execution law states that prior to being taken out for execution, the sentenced person shall be given food and drink, be entitled to write letters and have their last words recorded for their relatives. But it doesnt state when the judgment enforcement agency has to send the recording and letters to the executed persons relatives. According to Viet, when the family asked for the letter and tape recording, the prison said the items were being kept by the police and the court and will be sent to the family as soon as possible. RFA has attempted to contact officials at Thanh Hoa provinces Peoples Court and the Vietnam Supreme Peoples Court, but no one has answered the phone. Questionable confession In 2005, Manh was charged with the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl in Thanh Hoa province. He confessed to the crimes but later retracted his statement, saying that he had been severely beaten by police. The case occurred on March 21, 2005, but it was not until April 20 that police arrested Manh on a robbery charge in another case. After four days of detention he was prosecuted for murder and child rape. During the trial, lawyers requested an examination of the defendants body to determine whether he had been tortured, but the court refused. Manh repeatedly proclaimed his innocence after his sentence and dismissed the death penalty as an acceptable form of punishment. In 2015, London-based Amnesty International sent an open letter to then-President Truong Tan Sang, calling on him to stay Manhs execution and to order an investigation into accusations that he had been tortured. Following the letter, the Thanh Hoa Peoples Court halted the execution to review the case. A day before the execution Sept. 21 the European Union delegation along with the embassies of Canada, the United Kingdom and Norway in Vietnam issued a joint statement calling on Hanoi to again stay the execution. But the execution took place as relatives were in Hanoi to submit another round of petitions to the presidents office and other government agencies. Amnesty Internationals death penalty expert Chiara Sangiorgio called the execution sickening. The UNs Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, condemned the execution and called for Vietnam to adhere to its international commitments to ensure the rights of death-row inmates and transparency in implementing death sentences. Translated by Anna Vu. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. Volunteers are frantically searching for survivors in Afghanistan's Herat Province after hundreds of homes were reduced to rubble in a massive October 7 earthquake. Some 13 villages in the province's Zindah Jan district have reportedly been destroyed, while about 100 homes were flattened in the village of Sarbaland. 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. After escaping Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, some 14,000 Ukrainian nationals who fled to Israel have found themselves under attack again as Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on the country. A Ukrainian refugee who fled Russia's notorious Bucha occupation told RFE/RL that the attack "was like deja vu." In the Gaza Strip, a Ukrainian mother and her family have asked for safe passage out of a territory that has been pounded with Israeli air strikes. Russia's decision to station nuclear weapons in Belarus is part of a campaign to "threaten" and "scare" neighboring countries while highlighting Moscow's dominance over Minsk, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said. Speaking to RFE/RL's Belarusian Service in an interview, Lithuania's top diplomat echoed comments from many Western governments over the signing of documents in May by Belarus and Russia that allow for the placement of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus -- the first relocation of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union. "It is saber-rattling, it is the possibility to show and try to scare small countries like Lithuania and other Baltic countries into, maybe, changing their positions," he said. NATO, to which Lithuania is a member that brings the alliance's border to Belarus, has called the move "dangerous and irresponsible." In June Russian President Vladimir Putin said the first nuclear warheads were delivered to Belarus. While Minsk has not sent forces to join Moscow's war against Ukraine, it has allowed the Kremlin to use its territory as a staging ground for the full-scale invasion it launched in February 2022. Lithuania, a former Soviet republic that regained its independence from Moscow in 1990, and other the two other Baltic countries -- Latvia and Estonia -- as well as Poland, have been among Ukraine's most vocal supporters in Europe. Landsbergis said that while "the potential danger that moving nuclear arms brings" cannot be underestimated, "more dangerous than the weapon is the intention to bring it to Belarus." He added that "the whole information campaign shows first of all Putin's disregard to whatever is left from Belarus' sovereignty, disregard to their constitution norms, or what is left of them." In a resolution adopted on September 13, the European Parliament called Belarus "a satellite state of Russia" and expressed concern about "the rampant political, economic, military, and cultural subordination of Belarus to Moscow." Belarus has welcomed closer relations with Moscow since a wave of crushing sanctions were imposed on it by the West after a deadly government crackdown on massive protests following a disputed 2020 presidential election that handed authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth term. The opposition and most Western governments dispute the results, saying the voting was rigged. Lukashenka showed his loyalty in late June when he took part in talks to end a mutiny by the private Wagner Group, claiming he helped halt the revolt by agreeing with the mercenary group's leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and Putin to host Wagner troops in Belarus. 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 Amid international concerns over Russia's intention to de-ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on October 10 that Moscow would resume nuclear tests "only after the United States carries out similar testing." Russian lawmakers and the Foreign Ministry are expected to set a schedule for debate by October 18 on the de-ratifying of the CTBT. The CTBT has been signed by 187 countries and ratified by 178 but cannot go into force until eight holdouts -- China, Egypt, Iran, Israel, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and the United States -- have signed and ratified it. The United States has observed a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions since 1992 and says it has no plans to abandon the treaty. The head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) on October 9 expressed concern over the latest moves by Russian lawmakers on revoking Moscow's ratification of the treaty. "I am concerned that the Russian Federation is taking steps towards revoking its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)," Robert Floyd said in a statement. Floyd said he has been in contact with senior Russian officials to make the case that "ratifying the CTBT remains both in Russia's national interest, as well as in the interest of all humanity." The State Duma Council announced its decision after its members convened to discuss the issue amid heightened concerns over the possibility that Moscow may resume nuclear tests while waging war against Ukraine. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin initiated the council's discussions after last week saying that the Russian parliament's lower chamber at its next session would discuss revoking Moscow's ratification of the 1996 treaty and after Russia's envoy to the CTBTO, Mikhail Ulyanov, said Moscow would revoke it. "The aim is to be on equal footing with the #US who signed the Treaty, but didn't ratify it," Ulyanov said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The U.S. State Department responded on October 6, saying de-ratification of the treaty "by any State Party needlessly endangers the global norm against nuclear explosive testing." Russia should reach an "equal footing" with the United States "by not wielding arms control and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric in a failing attempt to coerce other states," the State Department's spokesman said. Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov reacted to the U.S. Departments statement, saying on October 9 that Washington's inaction forces us to reinstate the balance within CTBT. Disruption of the global strategic parity is unacceptable. Since the beginning of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, various pro-Kremlin politicians and public figures, including government officials, have spoken about the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons or at least resuming nuclear testing. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last week that the possible de-ratification of the treaty did not mean that Russia would resume nuclear tests. With reporting by TASS and Reuters Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied his son had anything to do with a deadly armed attack on police in neighboring Kosovo last month that caused European shock waves, after Kosovar authorities cited documents found at the scene belonging to a close acquaintance of 25-year-old Danilo Vucic. Kosovo police are still investigating what they describe as a "terrorist" operation with alleged Serbian support involving around 30 heavily armed gunmen at the Banjska monastery in a mostly Serb-populated northern municipality on September 24. But Kosovar Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla on October 8 made public identity documents of a Serb he described as one of the younger Vucic's "closest associates" and said investigators are looking for a possible link between Danilo Vucic and the attack. One ethnic Albanian policeman died and another was injured before three Serb suspects were killed in the siege and firefight before many of the assailants reportedly escaped into the rugged terrain around Banjska. Milan Radoicic, a Belgrade ally whose Serbian List is Kosovo's main ethnic-Serb party, has admitted to organizing and taking part in the incident after spending two days in Serbian custody earlier this month. Kosovar police had shown images of him heavily armed among the monastery assailants along with identity documents from the scene. He is still thought to be in Serbia. Svecla has shown documents found at the scene belonging to Milorad Jevtic, whom he described as "one of the closest associates of Danilo Vucic, son of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic." He said the documents proved Jevtic "was in the unit that attacked Kosovo police." Svecla said Jevtic had accompanied the Serbian president's son on four of his last five visits to Kosovo. "It remains for security authorities and investigations to discover whether aside from Vucic and senior Serbian state structures, his son was also involved in the planning and organization of the terrorist attack in Banjska," Svecla said. President Vucic parried any suggestion of his son's involvement and lashed out at Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti by name, suggesting he was "a coward" for "targeting" Vucic's family. "Danilo, of course, has nothing to do with anything, except that he loves Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija as its part, in accordance with the UN Charter," the Serbian president said on social media alongside a photo of himself with his son. Serbia rejects sovereignty for its former province, which it calls Kosovo and Metohija, since Pristina declared independence in 2008 in a move now recognized by more than 100 countries. Danilo Vucic has been photographed alongside ultranationalist Serbs accused of ties to organized crime, prompting President Vucic to defend his son and lash out at media for intruding on his family. In July, Serbia's defense minister accused Kosovar authorities of trying "to humiliate" the younger Vucic at gunpoint after stopping his vehicle on the way to a commemoration days earlier of the epic 14th-century Battle of Kosovo, a source of Serb national pride. In his post, President Vucic mentioned the June incident and went on to accuse Kurti of also "insulting" his daughter. He repeated an accusation he leveled soon after the September 24 incident, saying Kurti and his government's policies were "killing and terrorizing the Serbian people." Kurti, Svecla, and Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani have all alleged official Serbian involvement in the Banjska attack -- a charge Vucic has vehemently denied. As fears skyrocketed of a sharp escalation between the tense Balkan neighbors, Western officials earlier this month welcomed Serbia's pledge to reduce its military presence near the border but also reinforced NATOs KFOR peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Dozens of KFOR troops were injured in violence that accompanied Serb protests in Zvecan against the Kurti government's attempt in late May to forcibly install ethnic Albanian mayors after elections in mostly Serb areas that were boycotted by all but about 4 percent of locals. Sveclja said on October 8 that Jevtic was also among those who committed violence in May, unrest that prompted Pristina to outlaw two informal Serb groupings known as Northern Brigade and Civil Defense. EU-mediated talks to normalize Serbia-Kosovo relations have foundered for more than a decade, and Vucic and Kurti have seemingly dug in further since EU officials touted as a breakthrough oral commitments each purportedly made in February. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called for Western unity and more engagement in solving international crises, drawing a parallel between the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas militants and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. "The only difference is that Israel has been attacked by a terrorist group while Ukraine was attacked by a terrorist state," Zelenskiy told NATO's Parliamentary Assembly in Copenhagen via video link on October 9. "The intentions declared are different, but the essence is the same," he added. "This is not the time to withdraw from the international arena into internal disputes. This is not the time to isolate ourselves. This is not the time to remain silent or pretend that the terror on one continent does not affect global affairs," the Ukrainian president said. He was referring to a weekend attack by the militant group Hamas inside of Israel that killed some 250 people at a music festival, triggering a massive battle that has seen hundreds more killed both in the Jewish state and in the Gaza Strip. Zelenskiy said later in his evening address that a war in the Middle East would be in Russia's interests. "Based on available information -- very clear information -- it is in Russia's interests to inflame war in the Middle East to create a new source of pain and suffering that would weaken global unity, create divisions, and help Russia in undermining freedom in Europe," Zelenskiy said. "And we know how to counter this threat. We are preparing the appropriate steps. Most importantly, we defend the need for maximum world unity," he said. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier without providing evidence that Russian foreign intelligence was attempting to use the conflict in the Middle East to act against Ukraine. Russia's military intelligence (GRU) has given Hamas weapons seized during fighting in Ukraine with the aim of later accusing Kyiv of trafficking Western arms to terrorists, the Intelligence Directorate said on Telegram. Earlier on October 9, the Ukrainian military claimed some success in its operations in the eastern and southern regions of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya as regional officials reported that Russian strikes have continued to cause victims among civilians over the past day. "Partial success in the areas of Klishchiyivka and Andriyivka [south of Bakhmut]," the General Staff said in its daily report early on October 9. Since the start of their counteroffensive, Ukrainian forces have been engaged in offensive operations in the area of Bakhmut, a town captured earlier this year by Russian forces after months of some of the bloodiest fighting in the war. The Ukrainian military also reported that it had successfully conducted attacks in the Melitopol direction of Zaporizhzhya in the south. Ukrainian troops have been attempting to reach the city of Melitopol in an attempt to cut off a land bridge that links Russian-occupied territory in the east to the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. In total, Ukrainian forces fought 37 close-quarter battles over the past 24 hours along the entire front line, the military said. The claims could not be independently verified. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional military administration of the southern region of Kherson reported that one person was killed and 18 others, including two children, were wounded by Russian shelling in the region. The previous day, a Russian attack left a dozen people wounded, including a 27-year-old woman and her nine-month-old baby, the regional governor said. Russia has regularly shelled the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kherson since Moscow withdrew from the regional capital last year. Meanwhile, UN and local investigators are searching for answers at the site of a Russian missile strike on the small Ukrainian village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region that killed more than 50 people earlier in the week. The investigators have made a preliminary conclusion that nearly all those killed were civilians, according to a UN statement shared with the Associated Press. 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, Danielle Bell, who led the team that visited Hroza on October 7, was cited as saying in the UN statement. What happened here is yet another tragic reminder of the deadly impact Russias invasion has had on Ukraines civilians, Bell added. With reporting by AP and Reuters Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two issues: The upcoming Polish elections and what they mean for Europe, and the meeting of NATO defense ministers amid concerns about dwindling support for Ukraine. Brief #1: The Lowdown On Poland's Crucial Elections What You Need To Know: On October 15, Poland holds parliamentary elections in what might be the most closely watched European vote this fall. Opinion polls point to a nail-biter. Will the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, which has dominated Polish politics since its election victory back in 2015, secure an unprecedented third term? A third term that could spell more sparring with Brussels and Berlin and a continued socially conservative domestic agenda. Or will a clutch of opposition parties seize power, attempt to mend relations with various European capitals, and push to roll back some of the previous controversial reforms, such as the politicization of the judiciary? Like so many other times in recent political history in Poland, the two biggest parties fighting it out are the conservative PiS and the center-right Civic Coalition (KO). Polls show that PiS is likely to finish first with roughly 35 percent of the vote and KO a bit behind with close to 30 percent. Both will be looking for potential coalition partners among three political groupings that are all polling around 10 percent of the vote: The Left political alliance; the Third Way, a political coalition between the agrarian Polish People's party and a new centrist force called Poland 2050; and the far-right Confederation party. The first two look primed to join forces with the Civic Platform, so the party to watch here is Confederation. At first it appears that it would be a natural partner for PiS with its hard-line stance on migration, the EU, and social issues. But there are clear hurdles to overcome. Confederation likes to portray itself as a "political outsider," keen to revamp the entire system rather than just joining government as a junior partner. Its "pro-business" agenda with lower taxes and social-spending cuts also runs counter to PiS's lavish benefits payouts in recent years. That could mean a hung parliament, which has spawned predictions that, in case of a stalemate, snap elections might be called in early 2024. Deep Background: As well as being a fight between old rivals PiS and KO, these elections are yet another round in the ongoing battle between the two men that have dominated Polish politics this century: Law and Justice's Jaroslaw Kaczynski and the Civic Platform's Donald Tusk. Both sprang from the Solidarity movement that ousted the country's communist regime and ushered in democracy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and both have enjoyed stints in power and remain their parties' leaders and biggest stars. Kaczynski served as prime minister in 2006 and 2007, but, since PiS returned to power in 2015, he has avoided running for premier, preferring to remain deeply influential behind the scenes. Tusk, on the other hand, was prime minister from 2007 to 2014 before becoming president of the European Council, which sets the direction and priorities for the European Union, and heading the center-right European People's Party (EPP), the biggest political grouping in the European Parliament. In 2022, Tusk returned to Poland to head the Civic Coalition again as, without him, the party had taken one electoral beating after another. The fact that there is no love lost between the two men only spices up the rivalry. The two men's issues with each other go back to the Smolensk air crash in 2010, where the president at the time, Jaroslaw's twin brother Lech Kaczynski, was killed along with many senior Polish politicians and officials. Kaczynski continues to blame the death of his brother on Tusk, who was prime minister at the time. He has often pushed the widely discredited conspiracy theory that it was Tusk, working with the Kremlin, who was behind the plane crash, which claimed 96 lives. Drilling Down Foreign observers often warn about political backsliding in Poland under the Law and Justice party, pointing to severely restricted abortion rights, the emergence of "LGBT-free" local municipalities, and, crucially, the politicization of the judiciary. That has led to EU funds being withheld, numerous cases in the European Court, and the possibility of Warsaw losing voting rights in the Council of the European Union, which can amend or veto European Commission proposals. But despite all that, PiS remains popular in Poland. The party's popularity can be explained by much of the electorate identifying with the party's socially conservative agenda, which plays up the country's nationalist and Catholic character and regularly airs historical grievances, especially toward Germany. But the party has also overseen healthy economic growth, helped by a steady stream of EU funds (Poland is the biggest net recipient of Brussels cash), and increased social spending. One of the biggest criticisms of the Civic Coalition's time in power, between 2007 and 2015, was that it only catered for cosmopolitan city folk and neglected the countryside and the less well-off. Law and Justice has taken note. Its flagship child benefits program -- named 500+ after the 500 zlotys ($115) per month per child it offered parents -- has proved popular, with the allowance now increased to 800 zlotys. While in power, the PiS has promised not to increase the pension age and has banned the selling of state companies to foreign concerns -- both of which have been well received. But don't expect a sudden rollback of many of these reforms if the more liberal opposition wins. The current president, Andrzej Duda, is largely seen as loyal to PiS and wields a veto that can only be overturned by a three-fifths parliamentary supermajority, which is unlikely to be reached by KO and any potential partners. And then there is a constitutional tribunal, which tests the legality of laws passed in parliament , and whose appointees are thought to be supportive of PiS; plus a potentially hostile prosecutor-general and other levers of political power that have been put in place by PiS over the last eight years. and whose appointees are thought to be supportive of PiS; plus a potentially hostile prosecutor-general and other levers of political power that have been put in place by PiS over the last eight years. Then there is the issue of Poland's war-torn neighbor Ukraine. In the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, Poland was perhaps Ukraine's biggest supporter. It hosts the largest number of Ukrainian refugees, has pushed in Brussels for strong EU sanctions against Russia and generous aid packages for Kyiv, lobbied hard for Ukraine's EU and NATO memberships, and Poland remains the main conduit for arm deliveries to the front. But the run-up to these elections has also seen a radical change from Warsaw. It started with Poland (and other eastern EU member states) in May blocking the passage of certain Ukrainian agriproducts entering the EU, complaining that a glut of food jeopardized the livelihoods of its own farmers. Despite mediation by Brussels, to this day Warsaw is only allowing the transit of a few Ukrainian products. Most EU diplomats I have spoken to see the whole affair as Law and Justice's cynical attempt to win rural votes, a crucial segment of the Polish electorate. It doesn't stop there. Recently Poland wanted to postpone an EU decision to allow Ukrainian refugees in the bloc to continue to have access to local labor markets, housing, and health care. Polish officials on various political levels have been reluctant of late to meet their Ukrainian counterparts and Warsaw has hinted that no new Polish arms deliveries to Kyiv are forthcoming. With the dialing down of rhetoric and vote-seeking populism, Polish-Ukrainian relations are likely to improve after the elections, regardless of who gets into power. But will it return to the peak of good relations seen in the immediate aftermath of the Russia invasion? One thing is certain: The closer Ukraine gets to EU membership, the more Poland and Ukraine will become political rivals. Yes, trade between the pair will likely soar, but they will also compete for the same EU funds designated for farmers and poorer regions. And Warsaw will wield its EU veto powers in Ukraine's EU accession process if it feels its economic or political interests are threatened. On the same day as the parliamentary elections, there is also a referendum asking four questions about the potential privatization of state-owned enterprises; increases to the retirement age; the admission of migrants under the EU relocation mechanism; and the removal of the barrier on Poland's border with Belarus, which was put up to stop migrants, usually from non-European countries, that Warsaw says Minsk is pushing into the country. The referendum questions have been heavily criticized for being leading, aimed at exploiting the opposition, and designed to increase voter turnout for Law and Justice. It has also been compared to similar referendums held under the ruling right-wing Fidesz party in Hungary in recent years, which critics also said were designed to drum up support for the government. More than 50 percent of all registered voters have to participate for the result to be valid and, with the opposition urging a boycott, it will be interesting to see if that number is reached and how this referendum will be used politically in the future. Brief #2: With Support For Ukraine Flagging, NATO Defense Ministers To Take Stock What You Need To Know: The NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on October 11-12 will focus mainly on two things: further support for Ukraine and how well NATO is prepared to defend itself. This is the first NATO ministerial since the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July and it is very much a stocktaking exercise, looking at the state of the military alliance ahead of its 75th anniversary summit in Washington, D.C., in July 2024. The big elephant in the room, however, will be the question of whether the member states are as committed to Kyiv as before, notably with the United States not approving further funding for Ukraine to avert a government shutdown and European countries focusing more and more on other issues, such as increased migration into the bloc. The first test will come just before the actual ministerial starts with another meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, commonly known as the "Ramstein format" after the German military base where more than 50 nations committed to arming Ukraine usually convene. Expect some announcements about more demining equipment, ammunition, armored vehicles, military spare parts, and longer-range rockets for air defense systems. Other business will be Ukrainian pleas to get more longer-range offensive missiles, such as the U.S.-made ATACMS and German-made Taurus, but a NATO official speaking on background told me that these would be "big ticket items" that likely won't be announced this week. Germany has already ruled out supplying its Taurus missiles for now and, even though there have been media reports for weeks that White House officials expect a positive announcement regarding the ATACMS soon, nothing so far has materialized. Deep Background: There will also be a new face in the crowd as the recently installed Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will come to Brussels for the NATO-Ukraine Council (NUC), which is also being held this week. No major decisions are expected at the NUC and Umerov will likely be quizzed on the Ukrainian counteroffensive and the chances of breaking through Russian defensive lines in the eastern and southern parts of the country. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recently assessed the offensive by saying it was "gradually gaining ground," but a NATO official I spoke to on condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to speak on the record said the mood in the military alliance is gloomy about the prospects of a substantial breakthrough before the winter sets in. "Russia has really deep defensive lines, so I can't say I am very optimistic at the moment," the NATO official said. The NUC will also focus on Ukraine's defense reforms. Kyiv will be expected to draw up a so-called adapted Annual National Program by the end of the year that will detail what the country needs to do to get closer to the miliary alliance. This largely concerns reforms in four areas: interoperability with NATO; procurement in the military sphere; civilian oversight of the armed forces; and credible anti-corruption measures in the defense sector. At the same time, there is also a push from Kyiv and its supporters within NATO to increase the alliance's presence in Ukraine. The alliance's liaison office in Kyiv is currently staffed by only two people. Drilling Down In terms of Ukraine's path to NATO membership, the communique from July's NATO Summit in Vilnius was rather vague about the next steps: "NATO foreign ministers will regularly assess progress through the adapted Annual National Program. The alliance will support Ukraine in making these reforms on its path toward future membership. We will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when allies agree and conditions are met." That means that most of the talk about Ukraine's potential membership will be deferred to when the alliance's foreign ministers meet in Brussels at the end of November and then every time they meet. My understanding is that defense ministers this week aren't keen to devote too much time to the question of membership. And is there really any appetite to bring Ukraine closer to NATO anytime soon? NATO sources I have spoken to on the condition of anonymity have told me that there hasn't been any shift in positions since Vilnius, when the United States and Germany were reluctant to move further on the question of accession, especially given that Ukraine is a country still at war. The NATO Summit in Washington next July comes just four months before the U.S. presidential election. NATO officials I have spoken to on condition of anonymity predict that the meeting in the U.S. capital will hardly be "an open-door summit." They point to a general skepticism within parts of the Republican Party about aiding Ukraine militarily and politically, sentiments that will likely prevent the United States from giving a green light for Ukrainian membership anytime soon. Several NATO ambassadors were recently in Washington and, while they got a commitment from both Democrats and Republican lawmakers that support for Ukraine will remain high and money will still flow to Kyiv, there is concern among NATO members that the United States will lose interest and reduce its military and political support. It is not only across the Atlantic that support for Ukraine might be weaker than before. A group of Central and Eastern European member states, referring to themselves as the Bucharest Eight (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia), have been the most vocal supporters of Ukrainian membership so far. That could change, though, with Ukraine fatigue increasing across the continent. For example, after the recent parliamentary elections in Slovakia , it's now a question of how committed to Ukraine Bratislava will be. It looks likely that the next Slovak government will be led by the Smer party, which indicated on the campaign trail that it is against more arms deliveries to Ukraine and has struck a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow. , it's now a question of how committed to Ukraine Bratislava will be. It looks likely that the next Slovak government will be led by the Smer party, which indicated on the campaign trail that it is against more arms deliveries to Ukraine and has struck a more conciliatory tone toward Moscow. It's not all bad, though. While Poland has seemed to have become tougher on several issues pertaining to Ukraine in the run-up to its parliamentary elections (see other briefing), Warsaw is still expected to support Kyiv's NATO aspirations going forward, even if Polish-Ukrainian relations aren't as warm as before. A large section of the meeting will also go to NATO's "deterrence and defense" -- meaning its own defense plans. Agreed in Vilnius, these top-secret documents spell out how every part of NATO territory will be defended in case of an attack. While the plans on paper have been described to me by one NATO official as "top quality," there are questions the alliance will have to answer this fall: Are the plans realistic? And are they executable? Or in simpler terms: Are there enough soldiers and equipment available for the "NATO pot" that the alliance is demanding each ally contribute to? It might not hog the headlines, but these are the types of issues that will be keeping the military alliance's officials busy. Recent events in northern Kosovo will also be discussed. The military alliance already announced last week that it will boost its KFOR peacekeeping force from 4,500 troops to about 5,000, mostly utilizing British forces. That is a response to an armed attack at a monastery in northern Kosovo on September 24 that killed a Kosovar police officer and three attackers. Looking Ahead On October 12, the members of the European Parliament's development and foreign affairs committees will vote on the three finalists for this year's Sakharov Prize. Over the last three years, the prestigious human rights prize has been awarded to the Belarusian democratic opposition, the jailed Russian opposition activist Aleksei Navalny, and the people of Ukraine. This year it is likely to go posthumously to Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian woman who died in police custody in September 2022 after an alleged hijab infraction. Her nomination is supported by the three biggest political groups in the chamber. The winner will be announced on October 19 after a closed-door decision by the European Parliament president and the leaders of all political groups in the house. That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. Accident Authorities are working to gather all the essential details surrounding the accident RUPNAGAR: A Horrific accident unfolded in Rupnagar, resulting in the tragic loss of three young lives. The victims lost their lives in a devastating collision. Sub-inspector Ranjit Singh, in charge of Bharatgarh police post, along with A.S.I. Baljinder Singh, confirmed the distressing incident. One of the injured individuals was admitted to Civil Hospital Rupnagar, while two others were rushed to P.G.I. Unfortunately, they succumbed to their injuries in Chandigarh. As per the available information, the three youths were walking towards their trolley after having a meal at a local dhaba. The deceased individuals hailed from Alwar, Rajasthan. Their identities are yet to be officially confirmed, and the bodies will be released to their respective families. Further actions will be determined based on statements provided by the concerned family members. The accident serves as a somber reminder of the pressing need for road safety and vigilance while traveling. Advertisement TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 9. Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan, Russian Gazprom energy company are discussing medium- and long-term gas supply contracts, Trend reports. On October 7, Presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Russia launched Russian gas supplies to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the launch of this gas transportation corridor is of strategic importance. Firstly, this is an important factor in the energy security of our country and the entire region. Secondly, the supply will provide for additional volumes of gas for the uninterrupted supply of carbon to economic sectors and the population, he noted. As per Uzbekistans Ministry of Energy, supplies of Russian gas within the framework of a long-term partnership will help cover part of the gas shortage in Uzbekistan during the autumn-winter period, taking into account the growth of the economy, population and demand for energy resources in Uzbekistan. In June, Uzbekistan and Gazprom signed an agreement on the supply of Russian gas to the country, as well as a roadmap for preparing the gas transportation system for acceptance and transportation of fuel. Gazprom also signed an agreement with Kazakhstans QazaqGaz to provide services for the transportation of Russian natural gas through Kazakhstan for consumers in Uzbekistan. The two-year agreement assumes a supply volume of 9 million cubic meters per day, almost 2.8 billion cubic meters per year. Photo Rising number of Indian students in Canada worry about limited job prospects amidst ongoing India-Canada diplomatic tensions TORONTO: With India-Canada relations facing ongoing strain following accusations made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Indian students studying in Canada now find themselves grappling with another worry - the scarcity of job opportunities. The tension has heightened anxieties among Indian students, who are concerned about their future prospects in the country. According to data from the international education research forum 'Erudera,' a substantial influx of Indian students arrived in Canada in 2022, making India the leading country of origin for new international students in Canada last year. In 2022, a staggering 226,450 Indian students pursued higher education in Canada, constituting a significant portion of the total international student population, which stood at 807,750. Among these, 551,405 students were granted study permits in Canada last year, with Indians being the largest group to receive these permits, as per Erudera data. Advertisement Expressing his concerns, a student named Harvinder, who chose to remain anonymous due to security reasons, emphasized, "I am more worried about my future than the India-Canada tension. There is a significant job shortage, and uncertainty looms over my employment prospects post-graduation." This sentiment resonates with numerous Indian students, particularly those residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Mayank, a student pursuing health services, shed light on the prevalent anxiety among students like him. He mentioned that while the diplomatic tensions haven't directly impacted their daily lives, the looming fear of inadequate job opportunities post-graduation in Toronto is causing sleepless nights. Mayank highlighted a prevalent issue - even students with medical degrees are struggling to secure well-paying jobs, resorting to driving cars or working in shops and restaurants to make ends meet. The high cost of living in cities like Toronto adds to the distress, forcing many students to share accommodations and limit expenses to cope with financial challenges. Advertisement Notably, The combination of diplomatic tension and job market uncertainties has put Indian students in a challenging position, making it crucial for stakeholders to address these concerns and work towards creating a more promising future for international students in Canada. Israel-Hamas War Conflict's escalation & the subsequent humanitarian crisis remain a matter of global concern TEL AVIV: The Israel-Hamas conflict enters its third day, marking a devastating toll on both sides. Recent reports from the BBC indicate that in just 72 hours, 700 Israelis have lost their lives, with another 2100 sustaining injuries. Simultaneously, Israeli airstrikes persist in Gaza, resulting in 413 Palestinian casualties and over 2000 injuries. The conflict has led to an alarming displacement crisis, with the United Nations revealing that 123,000 Gazans have been compelled to flee their homes due to the Israeli attacks. Presently, 74,000 individuals have sought refuge in schools. Israel has undertaken a robust offensive, targeting 426 Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip and reclaiming 29 areas from the grip of Hamas fighters. Hamas, in retaliation, has taken 163 individuals hostage, encompassing soldiers, women, children, and the elderly. These captives are being held in tunnels along the Gaza Strip, effectively being used as human shields by Hamas to deter Israeli attacks. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has affirmed support for Israel, offering naval ships and fighter jets. Advertisement -- Global Concerns & Assurance for Indian Community While the conflict ensues, nations worldwide express their concerns. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed the safety of all 18,000 Indians residing in Israel. Indian tourists have appealed for a secure evacuation through the embassy. Conversely, America, France, Germany, and Ukraine have reported the deaths of their citizens. Nepal's Foreign Minister conveyed that 11 Nepalese students lost their lives, with four sustaining injuries. Hamas, in a distressing turn of events, took around 100 Israelis hostage, including women and children, transporting them to Gaza. Additionally, reports from the Times of Israel outlined Hamas's attack on a Friday rave party, resulting in multiple hostage situations. The conflict's escalation and the subsequent humanitarian crisis remain a matter of global concern, urging diplomatic efforts to find a resolution and restore peace in the region. The international community calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding civilian lives amidst the ongoing turmoil. Gurpreet Singh Gurpreet Singh, a 30-year-old youth from Hoshiarpur has been reported missing in Portugal's Aveiro city HOSHIARPUR: A Distressing case of a missing Punjabi youth has emerged from Aveiro city in Portugal, leaving his family deeply worried and desperately seeking help to locate him. The missing individual, identified as Gurpreet Singh (30), has been absent for the past few days, leading his family to reach out for support in their search for him. Gurpreet hails from the village of Mukhliana in Hoshiarpur. According to family members, Gurpreet Singh had returned home after work a few days ago, and since then, he has gone missing under suspicious circumstances. Expressing their distress and concern, the family highlighted that this incident is not isolated, and several Punjabi youths have faced similar situations in the past. Consequently, they have appealed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Government of India to intervene and assist in resolving this concerning matter. Advertisement Industrial production from Germany and investor confidence from the euro area are due on Monday, headlining a light day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's industrial production for August. Output is expected to fall 0.1 percent on month after easing 0.8 percent in July. In the meantime, GDP from Norway and foreign trade from Denmark are due. At 2.30 am ET, the Hungarian Statistical Office is scheduled to release preliminary foreign trade data for August. At 3.00 am ET, the Czech Statistical Office releases industrial production and foreign trade data. Economists forecast industrial output to fall 2.8 percent annually, the same pace of decrease as seen in July. At 4.30 am ET, Eurozone Sentix investor confidence survey results are due. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH) on Monday announced that it has recently expanded its agreement with German-based climate tech startup, 1KOMMA5, to offer its Energy Systems powered by IQ8 Microinverters and IQ Batteries, to the Swedish and Danish solar . The Energy System offers a range of configurations, from 3.5kWh to an aggregate of 42kWh, and can be upgraded throughout its lifetime. The IQ Batteries used in the system have Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, providing excellent thermal stability and a long cycle life. Additionally, the batteries can be upgraded with over-the-air software upgrades, ensuring their longevity. Dave Ranhoff, chief commercial officer at Enphase Energy said, "The rollout of IQ8 Microinverters and IQ Batteries will give homeowners resilient, reliable, and safer energy solutions, backed by a comprehensive warranty with full 24x7 customer support for an exceptional customer experience." The company stated that its system does not expose installers or homeowners to high-voltage DCs, making it a safer and more reliable option. Furthermore, in select European countries, including Sweden and Denmark, the IQ Batteries come with a 15-year limited warranty, ensuring the reliability and safety of the system for years to come. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News On October 23rd, Uzbekistan, Central Asias most exciting market for opportunities in the IT sector, will host ICT Week 2023 in Tashkent. Over the last 5 years, Uzbekistan has seen rapid development in the field of Business Process and IT Outsourcing, achieving an 82-fold increase in the export of IT services. The event, which will bring together companies, investors, thought leaders and policy makers, will explore opportunities in IT outsourcing and provide access to some of the regions most exciting investment opportunities and potential partners. The development of Uzbekistans IT and BPO sector has been led by IT Park, a regional hub that offers investors unique privileges to enter the market and access the countrys natural advantages. The total volume of services exported by IT Park residents of Uzbekistan came to $145.3 in the first 6 months of 2023. This is up from a total $140.9 million in 2022. By becoming a resident of IT Park, companies receive exemption from all corporation taxes, and incoming founders, investors and specialists may access the preferential IT Visa for up to 3 years. This simplifies acquisition of residence permits and access to a full range of social services, including in healthcare and education. In addition, in 2023, IT Park launched the Zero Risk program, designed to streamline the relocation of foreign businesses to the market. Its advantages include: Free office space for up to 12 months; Assistance with the technical setup of the office; and Reimbursement of up to 15% of payroll expenses for Uzbekistan citizen employees, and of up to 50% of costs incurred in attracting international mentors to the country. Furthermore, a One Stop Shop program facilitates the easy and swift establishment of a legal entity in Uzbekistan and the opening of a bank account. A Virtual Office service also enables companies to work remotely, saving on physical office space rent and maintenance costs while minimizing tax risks. Since inception, over 1400 companies have taken advantage of the benefits and opportunities provided by IT Park. Among them are major international companies including EPAM Systems, Exadel, East Games, Itransition, Vention, Dyninno, Abcbridge, Qulix, all of whom successfully export their services to the USA, the UK, the UAE, and other countries in Europe and Asia. All companies benefit from Uzbekistans natural advantages, including a young, dynamic population of over 36 million people and high education and literacy standards. The October conference builds on the Digital Leadership Forum which was held in Tashkent in July. The event bought together over 300 BPO companies worldwide, defining a target to increase the export volume of IT services from Uzbekistan to $5 billion by 2030. For more information about the event and the opportunities available in Uzbekistans IT sector, please visit centralasia.tech An office manager who admitted stealing more than $500,000 from her Escondido employer money authorities say ended up in slot machines was sentenced Friday to six years in prison. Sheila Jo Jackson, 46, pleaded guilty last month to embezzlement, forgery and grand theft charges linked to the theft from Betz Concrete Inc., where she had been in charge of the keeping the books for nearly 15 years. The Temecula woman was sentenced to state prison by Vista Superior Court Judge Michael Washington. Advertisement Deputy District Attorney Anna Winn said the thefts happened over at least a four-year period, and were uncovered in April 2016 when a bank contacted the companys owner after suspecting his signature had been forged on a $2,500 check to Jackson. The owner called police. During the investigation, Escondido police detectives discovered Jackson had left open a company bank account she had been instructed to close and then used it to deposit customer checks, withdrawing the money for herself, according to Winn. And with a smile and a hug, she would embezzle over $565,000 from our small business. James Betz, owner of Betz Concrete, Inc. Investigators reached out to area casinos, and learned that Jackson had gambled all of the money away at slot machines. In a statement read in court, company owner James Betz told the judge he felt betrayed by the woman hed hired so long ago, a decent young gal from the Midwest with two young kids to support. The company had fewer than 10 employees, Betz said, and Jackson insisted on ending each day with a smile and a hug. And with a smile and a hug she would embezzle over $565,000 from our small business, Betz said. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT After five seasons of being the first face that an average 13 million Americans see when they tune into Downton Abbey, Darlene Shiley is still struck by how many people recognize her from a 10-second introductory spot. They come up to her in airports and on cruise ships to thank her for her financial support of the public television cultural phenomenon. A friend attending a convention sent her a video of strangers exclaiming, Louisiana loves Darlene Shiley! Shes been approached in restaurants, at her hair salon in Valley Center, and was greeted a few weeks ago with Hi Darlene, Im such a fan! as she was leaving the doctors office. Now Shiley is bracing for a different kind of onslaught. Tonights episode of Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece marks the beginning of the end for the British costume drama, which enters its sixth and final season. Im scared to death, Shiley, 69, said only half kidding, predicting those same admirers will turn on the benefactor as fast as the Dowager Countess can say What is a weekend?. Im going to take the hit for it going off the air. Im going to get nasty, terrible letters saying, Why did you stop supporting it? For decades as one of San Diegos most high-profile and prolific philanthropists, Shiley with her late husband, heart-valve inventor Donald Shiley has given away upward of $100 million to science, educational and arts organizations. The Shiley name is everywhere including the UCSD Shiley Eye Center, the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at The Old Globe Theatre, the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimers Disease Research Center, San Diego State Universitys Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center, and as of last month, The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre (MFA) Program. But its been the one-time actress record-breaking gifts to the fundraising Masterpiece Trust, more than $5.2 million to date, that have made Shiley nearly as famous as a Crawley family member. Along with other major local contributors, notably Conrad Prebys and Debbie Turner, about $8 million of the $12 million-plus that Masterpiece has raised since it was created in 2011, has come from here, making San Diego a virtual sister city with the fictional Downton country estate in Yorkshire, England. Darlene Shiley Born: Aug. 23, 1946 Education: San Jose State University, theatre arts and humanities Work experience: Acting, semiconductor industry, television public service director, accounting firm, public relations., President, Shiley Foundation Family: Married Donald Shiley, who died in 2010, in 1978; four children from his previous marriage. Civic involvement: Founding donor of the County of San Diegos Alzheimers Project. Past service on boards of national Alzheimers Association, National Corporate Theatre Fund, Old Globe Theatre, Scripps Clinic, KPBS, UC San Diego, Salk Institute, and San Diegos Arts and Culture Commission. Current member of University of San Diego Board of Trustees (past board chair emeritus), and a regent for University of Portland. And in that rarefied, aristocratic world, Shiley, who has traveled to the set, mingled with the cast and is contributing to the preservation of one of the buildings used as a location, would be San Diegos unofficial Duchess of Downton. Darlene is a wonderful ambassadress for the show. People recognize her everywhere and she handles it with such warmth and grace, said Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of Masterpiece and one of Downtons executive producers. Its television and millions of people see her image every week, which is a very powerful thing. As many people go past the Shiley Eye Center or the Old Globe in San Diego every day, its exponential. Thats exactly why former University of San Diego President Mary Lyons said she hopes Shileys generosity that extends beyond the TV screen isnt overshadowed. The fact that shes become so well known for her philanthropy because of Downton Abbey, she (Shiley) kind of shakes her head. But shes had such a long history in our region for philanthropy if that were only the thing she was known for, it would really miss the point of her and Donalds focus, Lyons said. In recent years, its been very much in the national media, the pledges for giving wealth away, with Bill Gates and others. Donald and Darlene did it before it was quote unquote the thing to do. Long before, just a handful of people had already begun a long history of generosity, without attention. Irwin and Joan Jacobs come into that category, she said. The example that these folks have shown for many years shouldnt be lost. Hes still everywhere Darlene and Donald Shiley were married for 32 years, until his death in 2010 from vascular dementia. She was almost 30 years younger than him when they met after a performance in Berkeley of The Lion in Winter, in which she played the role of the wealthy and powerful Eleanor of Aquitaine. This 2006 photo of Darlene and Donald Shiley, taken on the terrace of their San Diego penthouse, is the first image guests see when they visit the home. Crissy Pascual San Diego Union-Tibune file photo (Crissy Pascual San Diego Union-Tibune file photo) She was just acting. While Donald Shiley was already a successful engineer and self-made businessman with a Ferrari and a private plane, Darlene grew up in working class Alameda County and considered her five-year-old yellow Karmann Ghia to be the epitome of luxury. It wasnt only their income levels that differed. A widower, he was reserved, quiet, deeply religious and not particularly happy. She was the show-woman, gregarious, funny and outspoken. But they clicked and after a false start when he didnt call for six months between their first and second dates (he was afraid shed say no), the couple was all but inseparable for the decades to come. Darlene Shiley, as well as several of her longtime friends, say theirs was a love story that not even Downton creator Julian Fellowes could have concocted. Everyone could see what a great relationship we had, Shiley said, sitting in the living room of a two-story San Diego penthouse apartment she shared with her husband. Hes still everywhere for me. Whether in casual conversation, delivering testimony at a government meeting or addressing a group of Alzheimers researchers, Shiley is quick to tear up when talking about my Donald. People say, Look, you had 32 years. You should be happy about that. No. I wanted more. I didnt want to lose it. Its crushing. Everybody talks about wanting that one great love I got it, she said, her voice cracking. I dont know how it happened. We were on such different paths. ... We were so different. But we shared the same philosophies and values. About six months after they were married, Donald Shiley, creator of the groundbreaking Bjork-Shiley heart valve, sold his company to the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, netting the newlyweds a sizable, but undisclosed, fortune. The joke at the time was that Shiley couldnt handle both the company and Darlene at the same time and he was going to have to get rid of one of them. And he kept me! she cracked. The Shileys enjoyed traveling, particularly cruises, that took them to all corners of the globe. (Today, when she goes on a cruise, she wont get off the ship in cities the couple visited together so as not to tarnish the memory, she said.) Bucking the fineries of their lifestyle his luxury cars, her Steinway grand piano chosen by the Old Globes Jack OBrien himself it was decided early in their marriage that their riches would all be given away. Darlene Shiley, with the Steinway piano chosen for her by The Old Globes Jack OBrien. Eduardo Contreras (Eduardo Contreras) And it was Darlene, whose mother instilled in her an ethic of giving back, who suggested they not wait until after they were gone to bequeath their wealth. He agreed, as long as she would be the one to research and vet their philanthropic causes. It was at their Queen Anne Victorian ranch house in Julian where the couple shared their simplest moments and made some of their biggest decisions. Those quiet times, when it would be snowing out, we would sit by the fireplace, where we loved to laugh and read and have our coffee, and we decided as a team where the money should go, she said, her voice disappearing into a whisper. We were a great team. Former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who became close to Shiley through his wife, Rana Sampson, described her as a down-to-earth, self-deprecating, master raconteur, whose life continues to be committed to her relationship to her husband. Shes still very passionate; I can tell she misses him incredibly, Sanders said. It informs a lot with her giving, whether to caregivers, or to Alzheimers, or biotech, he said. She thinks its her job to live up to the standards that he set that they set as a couple and I just find that really heartwarming. Steely steward Sanders and Sampson have Shiley over for dinner about once a month and one of the things they like to rib Shiley about when they make the occasional visit to her in the Pauma Valley is how she doesnt even know where her kitchen gadgets are. We love to tease her, Hey, did you find your spatula yet? Sanders said. In fact, she did find her spatula. And she used it just a few weeks back as a fireplace poker. Local PBS affiliate KPBS, which shares in the largess Shiley donates to Masterpiece, was there to shoot some promos. They wanted a fire in the fireplace. I bought this house three years ago and had never used the fireplace and I had to use a spatula to move the logs around, Shiley said. Yep, thats me. A self-described goofball who is quick with a one-liner but who also has a penchant for dissolving into tears wouldnt appear on the surface like a steely steward of donated millions. Philanthropist Darlene Shiley (right), talking with USD president Jim Harris at a recent USD Trustee Dinner, is a boardroom powerhouse with a deceptively gregarious persona. Eduardo Contreras (Eduardo Contreras) Underestimate me at your own peril, Shiley says with eyebrows raised. It fools people into thinking Im fluff because Im approachable. It makes some people think Im not strong because Im very outgoing. Thats a very, very bad thing to think. In the boardroom, shes not afraid to be the lone no vote. Shell go up against organizations who keep coming to her with their hand outstretched even though they didnt hold up their end of the donation deal. If you say, If you give me this, Ill do X, you better do X, said Shiley, with frustration. And dont get her started on people trying to pitch her. I worked in charitable organizations before, so Im hell and a half for some poor development director to come after because theres nothing they can say to me that I havent said to somebody, Shiley said. Im a nightmare when it comes to being a donor. Generally speaking, youve only made it through the front door because Ive already decided to give you the money. Nobodys ever worked me for a donation. Im either going to do it or not do it and you wont be talking to me unless Im going to do it. Masterpieces Eaton learned that one night at dinner with Shiley at the San Diegans favorite restaurant, Mr. As. Shiley had already given the public television station $250,000 because she loved such programming as Prime Suspect, with Helen Mirren. The Cosmos were flowing and Eaton broached the topic of Shiley renewing her pledge and upping it to a $1 million donation to help finance PBS costly Edwardian drama Downton Abbey (which producers decided to end after six seasons). Thats a lot of money, Eaton recalled Shiley responding. Well, that didnt go well, the TV producer thought. Then, using a phrase that would surely make the irascible, high-brow Dowager Countess shudder, Shiley simply answered, Lets do it. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. There is a clear perspective on economic relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Co-Chairman of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission Mehrdad Bazrpash told Trend in an exclusive interview. New bridge over Astarachay river to be commissioned soon In the coming two months, a newly constructed bridge spanning the Astarachay River is set to become operational. This bridge is poised to open up fresh avenues for trade and the seamless transit of goods between the two nations. The construction of the Astarachay River bridge has already been successfully completed. Presently, customs facilities are being established on both the Iranian and Azerbaijani sides. The initial plan is to inaugurate the bridge for temporary use, with the intention of transitioning to permanent operations thereafter. Importance of the North-South International Corridor for Azerbaijan-Iran relations Iran shares a 700-kilometer-long border with Azerbaijan. The geographical positioning of both Iran and Azerbaijan within the North-South International Corridor has paved the way for strong economic ties between the two nations. During my visit to Azerbaijan, a prominent topic of discussion revolved around enhancing the North-South and East-West corridors, as these routes play a pivotal role in bolstering economic relations between the two countries. These corridors hold the potential to significantly contribute to the economic growth and development of both countries. Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia signed the declaration on the development of the North-South International Transport corridor in Baku on September 9, 2022, which aims to enhance the efficiency and capacity of the corridor in all aspects (road, rail, sea). The declaration is expected to be ratified at a higher level in the near future. Development of trilateral cooperation between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia The primary emphasis lies in fostering trilateral collaboration among Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. Meetings are scheduled to take place to advance this cooperation. Among the joint initiatives involving these regional nations is the synchronization of their electricity grids. Several strides have already been made in this endeavor, paving the way for future electricity exchanges among the three countries. Joint shipping company may be created between Iran and Azerbaijan The Iranian side proposed to establish a joint shipping company with Azerbaijan during a meeting with Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijans Minister of Digital Development and Transport. The Azerbaijani side welcomed this proposal and said that they will coordinate with their shipping companies. The ports of both countries have great opportunities and have been improved by investments in recent years. There are facilities for mechanical loading and unloading of cargo. Iran has set the development of its ports as one of its main future goals. The joint shipping company will enable the two countries to use their maritime potential more effectively. Cooperation on building hydroelectric junctions Cooperation between the two countries for the construction of hydroelectric facilities is currently underway. Among these projects is the impending filling of the Khudafarin hydrojunction with water. Additionally, progress on the Giz Galasi hydrojunction is nearly complete, with construction work expected to wrap up in the next three months. However, there are environmental concerns surrounding the Ordubad hydrojunction, which both countries are actively working to address. Prospects for trade relations development One strategy to promote economic development in both nations is the implementation of discounts through preferential trade. A joint decision has been made to facilitate trade in goods that are commonly used in both countries, with a list of specific products and corresponding discounts in the planning stage. The announcement of this preferential trade agreement is expected to come from the relevant authorities in both countries within the next two months. Furthermore, another economic aspect in the Iran-Azerbaijan relationship involves the expansion of air travel. Given the considerable potential of both nations, there is a concerted effort to increase the number of flights, particularly to facilitate travel for business professionals, students, and citizens. This aims to create easier and more accessible travel options between the two countries. There is a promising outlook for economic relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. The ongoing misunderstandings between the two countries will soon be resolved, leading to a higher level of trade than in the past. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. There is no timetable for resuming negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany), spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanaani said at the press conference in Tehran on October 9, Trend reports. The spokesman stressed that Iran has always kept the door open for dialogue, but rejected the accusations of the US and some European countries that Iran has violated its commitments under the JCPOA. Kanaani added that the JCPOA is a multilateral agreement and all parties should abide by their obligations. He also pointed out that if the US and Europe fulfill their obligations, Iran will also return to full compliance. The US withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, affecting its oil exports and freezing its assets abroad. Iran responded by gradually reducing its adherence to the JCPOA, increasing its uranium enrichment level and stockpile beyond the limits set by the deal. Iran wants all parties to return to the JCPOA simultaneously and expects the sanctions against it to be lifted. The US and some European countries want Iran to scale back its nuclear activities and ensure that its nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. Iran has been seeking various ways to restart talks with the other parties on its nuclear issue and revive the JCPOA. The main goals of Iran are to end the sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, access its funds frozen abroad, and resume its crude oil exports. Iran claims that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, but according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has increased its highly enriched uranium by 27 percent in the last three months, and currently has 4,745 kilograms of enriched uranium. This is 15 times more than the amount allowed for Iran in the JCPOA. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shot this image of a barred spiral galaxy called NGC 1087. NGC 1087 is a barred spiral galaxy located some 80 million light-years away in the constellation of Cetus. Also known as IRAS 02438-0042, LEDA 10496 and UGC 2245, it has a diameter of about 87,000 light-years, a very small nucleus and a very short stellar bar. Unlike most barred spiral galaxies, the galaxys bar has some new star-formation taking place. The galaxys dust lanes, seen in dark red, help define its spiral structure, Hubble astronomers said. Its stellar bar the elongated, bright-white structure at the galaxys center is also shorter compared to other barred galaxies. Typically, in barred galaxies, the gravity of the center pulls in large quantities of gas, causing a burst of star formation followed by a slow decay. Uniquely, NGC 1087 shows signs of new star formation, making it of special interest to scientists. NGC 1087 was discovered on October 9, 1785 by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel. It lies near the M77 galaxy group, a small gathering of galaxies that also includes NGC 936, NGC 1055, and NGC 1090. However, because of its distance, NGC 1087 probably is not an actual member of this group. NGC 1087 sits just south of the celestial equator, making it visible from both hemispheres, the astronomers said. They observed NGC 1087 to study the connection between young stars and cold gas, and especially to determine what happens to gaseous regions after stars are formed within them. In 1995, astronomers discovered a Type II supernova within this galaxy, they said. Type II supernovae occur when a massive star uses all of its nuclear fuel and its iron core collapses, then explodes. Named SN 1995V, it is the only supernova ever seen in this galaxy. In the new ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light image from Hubble, the dark red streaks are cold molecular gas, the raw material from which stars form, they said. The spots of bright pink signal areas where new stars are forming, characterized by the presence of ionized hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur. The bluer regions hold hot, young stars formed earlier in the lifetime of this galaxy. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The UN Security Council discussed the situation around the Gaza Strip, but at this stage no common document was adopted, the meeting participants said, Trend reports. "We did not discuss a general statement, but no one proposed any text," said Vanessa Fraser, Malta's permanent representative to the UN. She emphasized that the discussion was about what the parties can do to protect civilians and stop violence in the current situation. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The Israeli city of Ashkelon was subjected to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip, Trend reports, referring to the Israeli media outlets. More than 3000 rockets were launched at Israel in the past 24 hours alone. As a result of continuous shooting, the ammunition of the missile defense system "Iron Dome" has been significantly depleted. In this regard, Tel Aviv appealed to the United States for help in increasing supplies. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The Israeli army neutralized more than 500 targets in the Gaza Strip belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad radical groups last night, the press service of the Israeli army said, Trend reports. According to the press service, Israeli army's fighter aircrafts and helicopters, as well as artillery, struck the targets overnight. According to The Times of Israel newspaper, the fight against radicals continues in six regions of southern Israel, on the border with the Gaza Strip. A combined attack was carried out on Israel in the morning of October 7. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. Gold explorer and developer Panthera Resources announced assay results from its recent drilling programme at the Kalaka Project in Mali on Monday. The AIM-traded firm said the results, extracted based on two-metre sampling intervals, spotlighted an auspicious presence of gold at Kalaka. It said the data included 76 metres at 0.53 grams of gold per tonne, with a section of 10 metres at 1.16 grams per tonne in hole KRC 23 005; 34 metres at 0.5 grams per tonne in hole KRC 23 006; and 85 metres at 0.52 grams per tonne, which encompassed 12 metres at 1.62 grams per tonne towards the end of hole KRC 23 007. The board said the gold grades mentioned generally indicate potentially viable mineralisation, although comprehensive economic evaluations would be required to confirm the commercial viability of any future mining operation. Under the projects umbrella, eight reverse circulation drill holes were completed, amounting to a drilled length of 705 metres. The drilling was designed to complement the existing diamond and reverse circulation drilling, particularly at the K1A mineralisation. Additionally, the results from the twin hole aligned with historical drill hole assays, bolstering the reliability and consistency of the exploration data accumulated so far. However, the drilling programme proceeded with challenges, as heavy rainfall caused a disruption, imposing a halt and leaving the proposed northern exploration holes untested. The company was yet to announce when the drilling would resume or if the delay would significantly impact the projects timeline and subsequent operations. Panthera and DFR Gold each have 40% interest in Kalaka held through their interest in Maniger, the company explained, adding that the remaining 20% interest is owned by local partner Golden Spear Mali, with Panthera, the projects operator. The project is located in southeast Mali, between Morila and Syama gold mines and is approximately 260 kilometres southeast of Bamako. It lies approximately 80 kilometres south of the Morila gold mine and 85 kilometres northwest of Resolutes Syama gold mine and is situated adjacent and to the east of the regional Banifin Shear Zone. Panthera said modern exploration included airborne geophysical surveys, soil sampling, structural interpretations, geological mapping, and drilling activities. That included diamond, air core, reverse circulation and rotary air blast drilling. During 2021, Panthera completed 2,430 metres of shallow air core drilling. On the K1A prospect, multiple intersections exceeding 150 metres at 0.5 grams per tonne have been identified by diamond and reverse circulation drilling. Panthera explained that the primary mineralisation at the K1A prospect is associated with an intrusive tonalite and micro granodiorite in contact with altered metasediments. The alteration envelope is dominantly characterised by silica-feldspar flooding and sulphide mineralisation. Elsewhere there are also numerous artisanal workings within the Kalaka tenement, mainly targeting eluvial gold. At 1203 BST, shares in Panthera Resources were down 11.95% at 7p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Thermal processing services group Bodycote has announced it is spending $145m on two specialist tech companies and opening a new facility to expand its reach in North America. The company said it is using existing credit facilities to buy: Lake City HT, based in Indiana, which is a medical market hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and vacuum heat treatment business serving the orthopaedic implant and civil aerospace industries; and Stack Metallurgical Group, based in the Pacific Northwest, which provides HIP, treat treatment and metal finishing services to the civil aerospace, defence and energy markets. The investments will be made on a cash and debt-free basis, will come with tax benefits worth $15bn so the combined consideration is expected to be closer to $130m, which equates to less than nine times estimated operating profits for 2024. The businesses will be accretive to Bodycote's group margins and earnings from the first year after completion. Bodycote also announced plants to open a new HIP plant serving the Space and Civil Aviation markets at one of its existing sites in greater Los Angeles, which is expected to become operational next year. The company said it will require "only modest investment". "Optimal allocation of capital to drive shareholder value remains a top priority for the group and these investments reflect this," said chief executive Stephen Harris. Bodycote's shares were up 1% in early deals on Monday at 615.05p. India and Saudi Arabia signed an 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. 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 percent 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 percent 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 to inform 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 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. Looks like you typed in the wrong url. To visit the SiliconIndia Home page click here To view the SiliconIndia blogs page click here What is SiliconIndia? SiliconIndia is one of the largest content and community networks for Indian professionals, entrepreneurs and students worldwide. Since 1997, we have inspired successes for Indian professionals through our thought provoking SiliconIndia career events and magazines. Now, through the addition of the online professional network, we combine the power of news, magazine and events, with an online network that can exclusively help you develop deep professional and social relationships with the SiliconIndia member community. Some of the member benefits are: Your own trusted network, discussion groups, Messages and the Lounge to interact with and expand your professional and social network. Write on what you are passionate about and publish to the entire internet using our professional Blogs. Special web seminars and career events on topics of interest exclusive to SiliconIndia network members. Oportunities to get personalized one on one advice from experienced professionals for career growth, entrepreneurship and higher education through our unique mentorship program. Mentors are invited from within the SiliconIndia network. The opportunity to contribute to our leading magazine, online news and events, to help enhance your professional profile in the growing SiliconIndia community. E-commerce giants Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra and others began the festive season sales in India, which is expected to reach Rs 90,000 crore worth of online gross merchandise value (GMV) in the festive month, up 18-20 percent from last years festive month sales. Driven by about 140 million shoppers, online sellers, especially small ones, expect at least a 15 percent jump in festive sales year-on-year, with a median growth figure of 26 percent sales increase expected, according to market intelligence firm Redseer Strategy Consultants. Amazon India has created more than 100,000 seasonal job opportunities across its operations network for the festive season . The opportunities include direct and indirect jobs in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai, among others. Myntra's Big Fashion Festival is now live with more than 23 lakh fashion, beauty and lifestyle products from over 6,000 leading international, domestic and D2C brands. During the event, customers will have access to unmissable offers on thousands of domestic and international brands, as well as an additional 15 percent off on using Myntra's co-branded credit card in association with Kotak Mahindra Bank to unlock more value on their festive purchases. Additionally, the shoppers can avail of payment offers through partners like ICICI, Kotak, Paytm and Cred. Snapdeal has also launched the first sale of the festive season, called the Toofani Sale-Festive Dhamaka, from October 8-15. Consumer electronics brand Samsung has rolled out mega deals on a wide range of its televisions for the much-awaited festive season. The offers are on Neo QLED TV, OLED TV, Crystal 4K iSmart TV, Crystal Vision 4K TV, QLED 4K TV, The Frame TV and more. At Samsung, we are committed to enhancing this festive cheer for our customers through exciting offers on our televisions. We are confident that our unique offers will add more joy to this festive season, said Mohandeep Singh, Senior Vice President, Visual Display Business Samsung India. On purchase of select Neo QLED 8K & 4K TVs, consumers can get a free Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G worth Rs 124,999, a 50-inch The Serif TV worth Rs 69,990, The Freestyle projector worth Rs 59,990 or a Soundbar worth Rs 49,990, along with a 3-year comprehensive warranty on the Neo QLED TVs. In an exclusive partnership with top online retailer Flipkart, Blaupunkt, a German electronics brand, has announced hefty discounts on the whole range of TVs during Flipkart's Big Billion Days. Blaupunkt will offer customers incredible savings of up to 80 percent on Smart TVs and appliances. The all-new TVs will start at an attractive price of Rs 6,299. The newly-launched 43-inch QLED is available at Rs 28,999. Flipkarts The Big Billion Days accompanying the festive season is a great opportunity for us to provide our customers with Blaupunkts exceptional TVs to experience premium affordability, said Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL), an exclusive brand licensee of Blaupunkt TVs in India. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) has released its October application schedule for civil service exams. Open, competitive, computer-based tests are administered throughout each month for various positions. If you meet the basic requirements of the job, you can apply for your exam online at Online Application System (OASys) or at one of the Computer-Based Testing and Application Centers (CTAC). This months application period opened Oct. 4 for the following positions: call center representative; emergency medical specialist - EMT; emergency medical specialist - trainee; occupational therapist (DOE); physical therapist (DOE); project manager; resident buildings superintendent; senior consultant (public health social work); traffic enforcement agent; and welder. There is a range of deadlines for these exams from Oct. 24 through Nov. 21. Some exams that opened last month remain open through early October, including correction officer with a deadline of Oct. 16 and police communications technician with a deadline of Oct. 10. New York City employs hundreds of thousands of people in its 80 agencies. Taking a test is the way to get started in the hiring process for most of these positions. Application fees range from $40 to $101. For more information about registering for these and other tests, log onto the DCAS website. To apply for a civil service exam open during this application period, go online via the OASys at www.nyc.gov/examsforjobs. To receive monthly exam updates, sign up for the DCAS newsletter at nyc.gov/examsforjobs and click the Exams tab. As of March 1, 2021, all examination and eligible list-related notifications will be sent by email only; you will no longer receive notifications via U.S. mail. On Staten Island, the testing center is located at 135 Canal St., Stapleton. Additional testing centers are located at: 2 Lafayette St., Manhattan; 210 Joralemon St., Brooklyn; 118-35 Queens Blvd., Queens; 1932 Arthur Ave., the Bronx. After an exam is administered, it generally takes nine to 12 months for an eligible list of passers to be established from which agencies can hire, according to DCAS. Inquiries regarding the status of an eligible list can be e-mailed to the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services at: LMAcustomerserviceunit@dcas.nyc.gov. YOU MIGHT LIKE: Looking for remote work? Here are 10 jobs with the most opportunities, according to data. Want to work from home and make six figures? These in-demand side hustles pay $100K or more. Whats needed to be in top 1% of earners in New York? Heres minimum income required in each state, study shows. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. As a result of clashes between Israel and Hamas, the number of injured Israelis has increased to 2,382 people, Trend reports via the Israeli Ministry of Health. It is reported that the injured are hospitalized. A combined attack was carried out on Israel in the morning of October 7. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron". STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. North Shore-based activist and mentor Bobby Digi is still trying to process the death of Syles Ular, the 13-year-old boy who was stabbed to death aboard a bus in Eltingville while riding home from school Friday afternoon. Digi told the Advance/SILive.com that he came to know Ular, a Clifton resident, through mentoring sessions he held at Dreyfus Intermediate School (I.S. 49) in Stapleton. The sessions were intended to empower students and try helping them through some of the life challenges they may have been facing. Digi recalled Ular as funny and witty, adding: He was the youngest, the smallest, he was just a sweet kid. At one point during the program Digi asked his students to write in a journal. Although Ular wasnt initially interested in participating, the more he wrote, the more his attitude and personality changed. Digi said he is concerned there may be retaliation for Ulars death in the community, and hes hoping to avert such a situation. The last thing I want to see is an escalation of his death, Digi said. As a community leader, someone that had him and kind of understands some of the stuff that was going on, I feel like we must use this opportunity now to mediate it. Ular was not the first child to die in an act of violence this year. In May, at a playground steps from I.S. 49, a 13-year-old died after another teen allegedly shot the younger boy in the head. Digi said he thinks there must be a systemic approach by the organizations that have been working with young people who come from North Shore communities. As a father of four sons, I see [Ular] like he could have been one of my sons, Digi said. FATAL ENCOUNTER Fridays fatal encounter began with a confrontation between at least two males, Ular and the 14-year-old suspect, on an MTA bus, Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a press briefing held Friday evening at One Police Plaza, Manhattan. Officers responded just after 2:20 p.m. to the scene and found Ular suffering from multiple stab wounds. They transported him to Staten Island University Hospital in Princes Bay where he was pronounced dead, according to a police statement. The suspect was taken into custody. 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. 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. A community prayer vigil in memory of UIar is set to be held Monday evening in Clifton. RELATED COVERAGE: Fatal stabbing of boy >> Student, 13, fatally stabbed on Staten Island; cops say Good Samaritan made arrest >> NYPD identifies 13-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed on Staten Island; 14-year-old boy arrested >> Gas station worker details stabbing on Staten Island: Kids were crying; 13-year-old boy was lying on floor of MTA bus >> Sobering numbers show more kids falling victim to gun violence in NYC STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Betty Stallone was on her last day of chemotherapy and was weeks away from receiving radiation when she received the phone call. Unfamiliar with Diva For a Day, Stallone had been nominated by a friend to experience a day of self care and relaxation. The Princes Bay mother of two was diagnosed with breast cancer in Sept. 2012. It was a day that makes you forget about cancer, said Stallone. Ten years ago, Stallone was the first Diva. Now, the foundation, founded by Debbie Sestokas and Peggy Matzen, approaches its 10th anniversary on Staten Island, where it has impacted the lives of more than 125 women across the borough. Diva For a Day Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to acknowledging the everyday challenges encountered by women battling cancer. Divas can be nominated by family or friends and are eligible if they were recently diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, or less than six months out from the completion of their treatment. On the left, holding a plaque, is one of the Diva For a Day founders, Debbie Sestokas.(Her cofounder, Peggy Matzen, was unable to attend.) Christina Swiderski is on the right, is holding the certificate from the Zoo. Betty Stallone is on the far right. The others are members of the North Shore Rotary Club. They recognized Diva for a Day at the Staten Island Zoo on Sept. 21, 2023. (Courtesy of Christina Swiderski). The Diva outing starts with a day at the spa, where the Diva gets a manicure, pedicure, massage and a facial. Divas with hair have their hair styled, those who have regrowth get a trim, and those with a wig have the wig styled or groomed. Stallone still recalls her outing as a beautiful experience. I just didnt really think about taking care of myself and it was such a bliss of a day, said Stallone. Im always good at taking care of myself, but its just something that you dont think about because you just want to stay alive. Now cancer free, Stallone volunteers for Diva For a Day and operates her jewelry shop, M B Altman. Keeping in touch with all the women shes met, Stallone also donates jewelry to be raffled off for the foundation, saying that she loves to pay it forward. Christina Swiderski has also been a volunteer for the foundation since 2013 and said the Divas are treated to an exhausting day of relaxation. Its not just about putting makeup on somebody and making them feel better because they look better, said Swiderski. Its really like a whole personal experience, where they actually look at themselves in the mirror and say, Oh yeah, Im still there and not just this patient. Diva For a Day is active nationwide in all 50 states, and Swiderski says they try to help all nominees, regardless of whether or not a representative like herself is present in the nominees city. In this situation, the organization will remotely contact the spa that is willing to host the Diva, with an option of donating services or setting up fundraising efforts. Most of the time, services are provided by sponsors who have supported Diva For a Day ever since its inception on Staten Island. Notable sponsors on Staten Island include New Dorp Lane spa, A.F Bennett, Mancini Giuffre Salon & Spa in Tottenville, as well as various restaurants that donate lunch and florists that donate bouquets. If they cannot find vendors, services are provided at the expense of the foundation. Services will never be at the expense of a Diva. Brighton Collectibles, at the Staten Island Mall, is just one of the key supporters of Diva For a Day and has kicked off a chain-wide Power of Pink campaign that runs through October 2023. Brighton Collectibles has donated a portion of its proceeds to the foundation for many years. Recently, the organization was recognized by the North Shore Rotary for service to the community at the Staten Island Zoo on Sept. 21, 2023. To learn more about how to nominate a diva, click here. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. There was plenty of pizza, pasta, prosciutto and other fare to be consumed and enjoyed by the hundreds of attendees who showed up to the Italian Festival on the Mount at Mount Loretto on Sunday. Staten Island Advance/SILive.com photographer Owen Reiter captured images of youngsters and their families enjoying a Sunday out. See the dozens of pictures in our gallery above. JERUSALEM (AP) Israel vowed to lay total siege to the Gaza Strip on Monday, as its military scoured the countrys south for militants, guarded breaches in its border fence and pounded the impoverished, Hamas-ruled territory in the wake of an unprecedented weekend incursion. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack, the military said the fighting had largely died down for now. Israels vaunted military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard, bringing heavy battles to its streets for the first time in decades. Palestinian relatives mourn over the body of Ahmad Awawda, 19, who was killed in clashes with Israeli troops near the city of Nablus the previous day, during his funeral in the West Bank city of Jenin, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) Israel formally declared war on Sunday and the army called up around 300,000 reservists, portending greater fighting ahead and a possible ground assault into Gaza a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group, which is deeply rooted in Gaza and has ruled unchallenged since 2007. As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and its tanks and drones guarded openings in the border fence to prevent more infiltrations, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. A Palestinian inspects the rubble of a high rise building destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City early Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. 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. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) But civilians have already paid a high price. Around 700 people have been killed in Israel a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts. Nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza, an enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians bordering Israel and Egypt. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 people captured in Israel and dragged to Gaza. The armed wing of Hamas said on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli airstrikes. That claim could not be independently confirmed but underscored the dilemma facing Israels government as it bombards a territory where its own citizens are held captive. A man looks at destruction made by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) In an effort to further ratchet up the pressure on Hamas, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and prevent food and fuel from entering the territory. He said Israel was at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanizing language often heard on both sides at times of soaring tensions. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power, but in recent years Israel had provided limited electricity and allowed the import of food, fuel and consumer goods, while heavily restricting travel in and out. People look at destruction made by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) After about 48 hours of pitched battles inside Israel, the chief military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters Israel has control of its border communities. He said there had been some isolated incidents early Monday, but that at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities. But he added that militants may remain inside Israel, and said that 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press over the phone that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. An Israeli soldier prays next to an APC at a staging ground near the Israeli Gaza border, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 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/Tsafrir Abayov) He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to painful, lopsided exchanges in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Egypt is trying to mediate an initial deal in which Hamas would release captive women in exchange for Israel freeing female Palestinian prisoners, Egypts state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper reported. It said that if both sides agree, there would be a temporary cease-fire to facilitate the exchange. Among the captives that Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claim to have taken are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The Israeli military has said only that the number of captives is significant. Relatives mourn people killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair) 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 taken inside her ex-husbands home, showing gunmen, her two girls ages 8 and 15 and their father. In its airstrikes, Israels military said it leveled much of Beit Hanoun a town in northeast Gaza that military spokesperson Hagari said Hamas was using the 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. Israeli firefighters extinguish fire at a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Hagari reiterated that the goal is to decimate Hamas military and governing capabilities a massive task given that the group has ruled Gaza through the 16-year blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. Israelis inspect a damaged residential building after it was hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 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/Erik Marmor) The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. In Gaza, where the U.N. said more than 123,000 people had been displaced by the fighting, residents feared further escalation. As of late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across the territory and severely damaged 1,210 others, the U.N. said. 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. Palestinians inspect the rubble of the West mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday, as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the (AP Photo/Adel Hana) In the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Barhoum said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. Over the weekend, another airstrike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, survivors said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said those killed on the Israeli side include at least 73 soldiers. 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. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. Palestinians inspect the rubble of the West mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday, as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the (AP Photo/Adel Hana) On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. 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. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank. Property tax officials arrive to estimate damage made by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Israel's military battled to drive Hamas fighters out of southern towns and seal its borders Monday as it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Israeli tanks are transported along a road near Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, Oct. 9, 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/Tsafrir Abayov) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. An annular total solar eclipse will soon sweep through the sky creating a ring of fire effect visible to millions across the world. On Saturday, Oct. 14, the eclipse will move across the northwestern United States, through Mexico and Central America, and into South America before exiting the continent in Brazil. Even if youre not in the path of annularity, youll still be able to see a partial eclipse if weather conditions are right, according to NASA. Solar eclipses are classified as total or annular which depends on the distance between the moon, sun and the Earth. A total eclipse is when the moon completely covers the sun, and an annular occurs when the moon obscures all but an outer ring of the sun. An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth while its close to or at its farthest point from Earth. Since the moon is farther away from Earth than on average, it appears smaller than the sun and creates a ring of fire effect in the sky. And since the sun is never completely covered, observers must still wear proper eye protection at all times while watching an annular eclipse. If youve ever wondered how to track an eclipse down to the exact second, NASA has you covered. As the countdown to the eclipse continues, NASA unveiled its Eclipse Explorer an interactive map designed to enhance your eclipse-viewing experience. Crafted to complement its existing static eclipse maps, this tool enables users to dive into this amazing celestial event. The interactive map is a web application developed by NASAs Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS). Visit https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/webapps/eclipse-explorer/ for the interactive map. It offers layers of details that space enthusiasts can toggle on or off to explore each facet at their own pace. Here are some key features: Dynamic Layers : Toggle lines showing what percentage of the sun will be covered at the peak of the eclipse, outlines of areas where the duration of annularity (when the moon is entirely in front of the sun) is highest, and the path and shapes of the antumbra (the darkest part of the shadow and where annularity occurs) and penumbra (the brighter parts of the shadow, where only a partial eclipse is visible). Time Slider : See the motion of the eclipse shadows across the United States. City Information : Click city labels to access detailed local data, including current weather conditions and a simulated image of the eclipse for that particular location. For each city, buttons for different phases of the eclipse automatically skip to the time on the map when each of those events happen in that city. Countdown Widget : Count down to the moment of maximum coverage for each city. Auto-Play: Automatically play the eclipse forward in time at varying speeds. Clicking the follow toggle button will move the map to track the shadow as it moves across the landscape during the eclipse. On Oct. 14, youll need a clear sky to see the eclipse. To see all phases of an annular eclipse, including the ring of fire, you must view it from somewhere within the path of annularity. In the United States, that path is from Oregon at 9:13 a.m. Pacific Time, ending in Texas at 12:03 p.m. Central Time. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As tradition dictates, each year a White Mass is celebrated for the medical community doctors, nurses, other health-care professionals and students with the special offering named after the traditional white jackets worn by physicians and nurses. The White Mass is usually offered in hospitals, chapels, parish churches, cathedrals, and everywhere doctors routinely gather with their chaplains. This year the White Mass, that also celebrates the contributions of all health care workers and of all faiths, will be celebrated by Rev. Arthur Mastrolia on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11:30 a.m. in St. Clares R.C. Church, 110 Nelson Ave. in Great Kills. The Mass will also include a blessing of the healing hands. Those being recognized are Kathryne Giovinazzo, Nancy Tricorico, Linda Rizzotto and Adam Zaher. ITS ORIGINS The Mass, sponsored by the Catholic Mental Health Professionals, is annually celebrated each October to honor St. Luke, who was a physician and a writer of one of the Books of the Gospel. The Mass is also associated with St. Luke the Evangelists Feast Day, and Beloved physician remembered for being one of the four authors of the canonical gospels who also is the patron saint of physicians and surgeons. It is sponsored by the Catholic Mental Health Professionals of Staten Island. 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! Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Say hola to Four Hundred, the latest restaurant to open in so-hot-right-now North Sydney. Having poured his first drinks at North Sydney in the early 1990s, Nick Wills, co-owner of hospitality giant Tilley & Wills, has witnessed three decades of twists and turns for the postcode. And the industry veteran has never been more bullish on North Sydney in late October, Tilley & Wills will open 250-seat Mexican-inspired bar and kitchen Four Hundred. Mexican-inspired dishes and cocktails on the menu at Four Hundred. Fabiola Zamora Theres a real resurgence here (in North Sydney), a real energy. We want to do something cool and aspirational, he says of the incoming standalone venue, which will serve tacos and ancho spatchcock. Itll slide into the former site of Hunter Gatherer restaurant on the rooftop of Greenwood Plaza. Four Hundred takes its name from an Aztec myth about 400 rabbits going a little too hard on the agave, a moniker its owner describes as a cheeky acceptance of different drinking personalities. And Wills has seen a few. In 1992, while still at university, he worked as a part-time barman at North Sydneys Greenwood Hotel, a pub that is now part of Tilley & Wills sprawling portfolio, which also includes Verandah Bar in the Sydney CBD, and The Buena in Mosman. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Israel will win, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen wrote on "X" (Twitter), Trend reports. According to him, Israelis living in different countries of the world are applying to return to the country as soon as possible. "This makes us very happy," Cohen added. A combined attack was carried out on Israel in the morning of October 7. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron". Woollahras new mayor has been rolled in his attempt to stop a ban on gas appliances in new homes and renovations, with the council following in the footsteps of other Sydney municipalities phasing out the fossil fuel. Councillors voted eight to five on Monday evening to progress the ban to public exhibition, which would apply to stoves, hot water systems and pools in some of Sydneys most prestigious suburbs, including Paddington, Rose Bay and Vaucluse. Residents of the Woollahra local government area face a ban on gas stoves and hot water systems in new builds and major renovations. Credit: Getty Images Liberal mayor Richard Shields, who is also the new director of the NSW Liberal Party, said natural gas should not be vilified and was an important part of the transition to net-zero emissions, but was overruled by the majority, which included one Liberal. I am a supporter of choice, and I am against unnecessary intervention into the affairs of the free market, Shields said, while also citing British Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks recent backtracking on planned gas prohibitions. Thats where well leave our live updates. Well be back with you tomorrow morning. Here are the headlines you might have missed today: 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. Three major airlines using Brisbanes international airport can now arrive and depart over Moreton Bay at night more frequently. Thousands of fines have been issued to drivers blocking clearways, bus or taxi zones, or not complying with parking hours in Brisbanes busiest streets. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is concerned about a police report that reveals most Queenslanders dont feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhood at night. In other news further afield, the horrific Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza has escalated, with Israels Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon saying the death toll has risen to 700 with more than 2300 injured and that babies and toddlers are among those taken hostage by Hamas. A pro-Palestine rally has begun at Sydneys Town Hall, with hundreds attending, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying this afternoon that he did not want the event to go ahead. A Coalition-led inquiry into Australias aviation sector has called for reforms that could include the power to break up Qantas amid outrage over stifled competition and the airlines potential influence over government decision-making. Men dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels in western Afghanistan Sunday in desperate attempts to pull victims from the wreckage left by powerful earthquakes that killed at least 2000 people. And the Wallabies World Cup campaign is emphatically over despite slim hopes a Portugal upset over Fiji could catapult them into an unlikely World Cup quarterfinal. The historic win by Os Lobos (The Wolves) was not enough to stop Fiji advancing to the knockout stage for the first time. Thats where well leave our live updates. Brisbane Times live news blog will be back with you tomorrow morning. Here are the headlines you might have missed today: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed details of the new 30-year water security plan prepared by government-owned water authority Seqwater. More than 16,500 people sought help from specialist homelessness services in Queensland in May, the highest monthly figure since July 2017. New AFL boss Andrew Dillon is in Queensland as a decision on the Brisbane Lions temporary new home remains up in the air. A man has been charged after an alleged serious assault while people were voting in the Voice referendum last week at a south-east Queensland booth. The world reacts to the violence in the Middle East. Credit: The Age Elsewhere, Israel has retaken control of the Gaza border fence breached by Palestinian Hamas gunmen who carried out a weekend mass-incursion, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the government has contingency plans in place for Australians in Israel. A clear majority of Australians have turned against the Indigenous Voice despite a small swing towards the Yes campaign over the past month. We reveal the biggest factor turning people towards a No vote. And its like Festivus for Seinfeld fans Jerry Seinfeld has hinted that he and his fellow cast members might make a return to the classic 90s sitcom. High-profile lawyer Michael Bosscher has pleaded not guilty to involvement in his former Brisbane-based firm allegedly taking illegal cash payments from clients, including $250,000 handed over in a shopping bag. On another occasion, a client allegedly stopped on a busy Brisbane street outside the firms office and handed $3000 through a car window as payment. Lawyer Michael Bosscher. Credit: Bosscher Lawyers The firms alleged fraud, between 2011 and 2016, was uncovered during a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation. On Tuesday morning, the second day of the trial, the case was adjourned, with the jury discharged because of an unforeseeable issue raised by a juror. A new jury was expected to be empanelled next week. A Coalition-led inquiry into Australias aviation sector has called for reforms that could include the power to break up Qantas amid outrage over stifled competition and the airlines potential influence over government decision-making. The opposition and Greens have teamed up to accuse the Albanese government of being too close to the national carrier in the findings of an inquiry launched after Transport Minister Catherine King rejected a bid by Qatar Airways to double its flights into Australia. Travel industry and competition experts have argued the extra Qatar flights would have brought down airfares. Credit: Brook Mitchell After hearing allegations of anticompetitive behaviour within Australias aviation market, the inquiry found the government should consider regulatory reforms to strengthen competition, including potential divestiture powers to remedy any misuse of market power. Former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Allan Fels told the inquiry he was strongly in favour of divestiture powers. I believe it would have a very big effect on behaviour, including by Qantas, he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have called for restraint in targeting civilian lives as the death toll mounts from the Israel and Hamas war, while continuing to assert Israels right to respond to the deadly attack. Wong on Monday repeated that Australia unequivocally condemned the assault on Israel by the militant Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, and described the indiscriminate rocket fire, civilian attacks and taking of hostages over the weekend as abhorrent acts. Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip. Credit: AP She also continued calling for restraint as the conflict escalated, despite criticism from Opposition frontbencher Michael Sukkar, who posted on X that Israel has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required. I think it is always the right thing for Australia to urge restraint and the protection of civilian lives, Wong said in her Monday morning doorstop. If you really want to rein in spending, then supermarkets, street markets, bakeries and delis in Europe will supply quality goodies for a budget-priced picnic or hotel-room meal. Sit-down meals will always cost more but you can save if you make smart choices. All you have to do is shift your main meal to lunchtime and youll save 30 per cent or more. Do as the locals do. Credit: Greg Straight How? By selecting the menu of the day (also called a fixed-price menu) commonly offered in European restaurants even those with Michelin stars on weekdays. The standard remains the same as that of the restaurants a la carte dishes, and might even include a selection of them. In Geneva, one of the worlds most expensive cities, you can find menus of the day for 50 Swiss francs ($82) a bargain considering a single main dish in the evening might be similarly priced. In Barcelona, more basic menus of the day can be 15 ($25) or less. Israel says it is at war as its soldiers battle Hamas fighters in the streets of southern Israel and launch airstrikes on Gaza, after an unprecedented surprise Hamas attack. 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. Hamas claims 100 Israelis held hostage Senior Hamas politician Mousa Abu Marzouk said more than 100 people were captive in remarks to Arabic language news outlet al-Ghad on Saturday. The figure is in addition to more than 30 people said to be held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. Israel has amassed 100,000 Israeli troops plus tanks and armoured personnel carriers near the border with Gaza, stoking speculation of a full-scale ground invasion in retaliation for the attacks and hostage takings waged by the Hamas militant group. Three days after the first Hamas assault, Israel has launched the largest army mobilisation in its history: on top of 170,000 active soldiers, the defence force has called up 300,000 reservists. An injured man as a result of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Gaza. Credit: Getty At least one airline has added new flights to bring overseas reservists back to Israel to serve. Late on Monday evening (AEDT) the Israeli military said it had re-established sovereign control of its southern towns where it had been battling Hamas gunmen. However, the desperate search for at least 130 hostages taken across the border to Gaza remains ongoing. The death toll in Israel has surged to 900, of which the overwhelming majority are civilians. More than 680 Palestinians are confirmed dead and more than 3700 have been wounded since Israel launched its retaliatory aerial campaign. During one three-hour period on Monday night, Israeli fighter jets made 130 air strikes on Gaza. Earlier, a US carrier strike group was ordered to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the attack by Hamas. In an expansion of the conflict, Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets into northern Israel. Two security sources told Reuters the move was a response to at least four of its members being killed in Israeli shelling on Lebanon. Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. Credit: Getty Speaking to mayors of southern towns overcome by the Hamas assault, Netanyahu vowed that Israels response would change the Middle East. I know you have been through terrible and difficult things. What Hamas will go through will be difficult and terrible we have only just begun, he said. Late on Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities would cut all electricity and prevent food and fuel from entering the territory, which is home to more than two million people. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply distressed by the announcement of a complete seizure of the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities, he said. Relief and entry of essential supplies into Gaza must be facilitated. Loading Guterres said he recognised the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people but said nothing could justify acts of terror. The killing, maiming and abduction of civilians. I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages. The US has begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, the White House said Monday, as the Pentagon reviews its inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the three-day-old war with Hamas. John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, confirmed Monday evening that the first batch of military aid in the wake of the violent assault by Hamas militants is making its way to Israel. University of Oxford Professor Eugene Rogan said the taking of hostages from Israel and bringing them back to Gaza was likely to impose limits on what Israel can do in retaliation. I think as horrible as the human shield concept is, Hamas anticipates that there will be global support for an Israeli response that will be extraordinarily violent for Palestinians and this is their insurance policy, said Rogan. How it plays out moving forward from here is anyones guess. Rogan, who is the director of the Middle East Centre at Oxfords St Antonys College, said the Hamas attack had revealed a failure at the level of the Israeli government that would drive Netanyahu and the cabinet to extraordinary measures to demonstrate their responsibility. This has been a national shock for Israelis, he added. Johns Hopkins University Professor of Political Science Adria Lawrence said the nature of the violence employed by Hamas, like kidnappings and executions against civilians and non-Israelis, made it less likely that outsiders would demand a restrained response. Hamass brutal acts likely remind Americans of the 9/11 attacks and the war on terror and render a strong counter-attack by Israel understandable, she said. One thing to keep in mind is that brutal violence on either side does little to solve the long-term question of the status of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who have long been living in an untenable situation. How did we get here? Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday local time, with barrages of rockets and cross border attacks, killing hundreds. Israel in turn has killed hundreds Palestinians in airstrikes. Hamas now holds 130 Israelis hostage. Tensions have been increasing between Israel and Hamas with rounds of rocket fire followed by Israeli airstrikes. The two sides clashed as recently as 2021. However, there was no sign an attack of this scale and sophistication was pending this week. The ability of Hamas to circumvent Israels intelligence services to stage the attack has raised suspicion it had help from outside. It also comes as plans for an IsraelSaudi Arabia diplomatic normalisation deal come closer to reality, which displeases Iran. Meanwhile, hardline Islamists, such as those involved in Hamas, resist the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia, home to Muslim holy sites, with Israel. Why it matters The political order of the Middle East itself is in flux, unsettled by the rise of China and the transition away from fossil fuels among other things. A war that involves Israel fighting against forces with backing from Iran raises the risk of a larger conflict in the region. Palestinian medics inspect a damaged Ambulance hit by an Israeli air strike inside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. Credit: AP There are large diasporas of pro-Palestinian Arab communities, as well as pro-Israel Jews around the world, including in Australia. So the conflict between Hamas and Israel can shape and affect local politics. The surprise attack suggests not just a failure of Israels intelligence community to prevent it, but raises questions about whether Hamas had outside help in planning and coordination to evade detection. This raises suspicions for Iran, which helps elevate the risks around this war. Key players Israel Formed in 1948 as a homeland for Jews, many fleeing persecution, Israels creation has brought it repeatedly into conflict with Palestinians, who claim the same land and with whom its Arab neighbours historically support. Loading Hamas A Palestinian Islamist militant group which operates from and controls the Gaza Strip, a 40km long parcel of land between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, home to more than 2 million. It is backed by Iran. Palestinian territories Two regions of the former British Mandate for Palestine, namely: the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah The Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired artillery and rockets into territory Israel controls. Hezbollah was founded by Irans Revolutionary Guards to export its Islamic Revolution. Turkey The country has historic links through the region and has offered to increase diplomatic effort for peace, at the same time requiring a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Saudi Arabia The Kingdom is reportedly close to a landmark deal to recognise Israel diplomatically. However, the historic shift has been met with alarm by the Middle East regional competitor Iran. Iran Tehran has long opposed Israel, threatened and funded terrorism and paramilitaries aimed at Israel. It sees Israel as an outpost of Western imperialism. STATEMENT OF SENATE PRESIDENT JUAN MIGUEL ZUBIRI ON THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL We strongly condemn the violence committed by terrorists against innocent civilians in the ongoing conflict in Israel. We deplore the taking of hostages and seek their immediate release. Neither freedom nor justice can truly be won through this kind of violence. We call upon the Department of Migrant Workers, the Department of Foreign Affairs and other Philippine government agencies to secure our overseas Filipinos and ensure safe passage if necessary. We urge the full utilization of the Assistance to Nationals Fund for this purpose. I pray for all who are affected by this conflict- particularly the thousands of our Filipino brothers and sisters. May the LORD cover you all. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Footage has been released of Hamas attacking Israel during the Nature Party music festival in Kibbutz Raim (a special agricultural community) on the border with the Gaza Strip, Trend reports. The footage shows hundreds of festival attendees fleeing, while those who cannot escape are beaten and shot. Most of the participants of the Nature Party peace festival have been taken hostage or are missing, and some have been killed. A combined attack was carried out on Israel in the morning of October 7. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron". The Middle East has a long, complex and bitter history of conflict, but there is absolutely no justification for slaughtering hundreds of civilians in a street or at a music festival. Those who make excuses for the indiscriminate murder of innocent people in Israel on the weekend should be ashamed. They not only anoint terror as an acceptable weapon, but play into the hands of extremists on both sides of the conflict. They also help erase attempts at resolution through moderation. Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel. Credit: AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov Incredibly, they profess support for people whose actions are beyond the pale: the Hamas militants who carried out the weekends incursion into Israel showed a brutal contempt for humanity, with the release on Monday of hostage footage showing an unidentified Holocaust survivor and grandmother forced to pose with a Hamas rifle. The Herald would like to think that those who hold the view that the Hamas attack was provoked must at the same time recognise the slaughter was entirely unjustified. Yet social media has been littered with comments from users pointing out how long the people of Palestine had been oppressed, or that they live in the worlds biggest open air prison. All of this may be true and reasonable to point out. But to wilfully ignore or explain away the massacre of hundreds of civilians by a proscribed terrorist organisation is deeply alarming. As Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov and her husband Johny huddled inside their safe room with their three young children, they had faith that their cocoon of concrete would shield them from whatever horrors lay outside. Tamar sent a WhatsApp message from the bunker inside her home in the Nir Oz kibbutz, in southern Israel, reassuring her close friends in Sydney that the family was unharmed as their village came under missile attack. Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov along with her husband, Johny, and their three children: Shahar, 6, Arbel, 6, and Omer, 4. Posting this picture to Instagram three weeks ago, Tamar wrote: It should be a good year for all of us. Credit: Instagram Hi guys, we got into the shelter in our house, were all going okay, the message at 2.45pm on Saturday (AEDT) read. An hour later, Tamar had stopped responding to messages. Her friends in Sydney, Yishai and Mor Lacob, began to panic. At first glance, the war in the Levant is simply a savage new round in the same old struggle between Israel and the Palestinians. The first glance is misleading. A much bigger contest is afoot, with much bigger stakes. Irans strategy has been all along to encircle Israel, just as the US has sought to encircle Iran, explains ANU professor emeritus of Middle East studies, Amin Saikal. Illustration: Dionne Gain. Credit: In recent months, the US has been edging closer to achieving its aim. The last piece of the puzzle was nearing completion under Washingtons aegis, Israel has been negotiating a normalisation of ties with Saudi Arabia, bringing the two traditional foes together. This is a nightmarish prospect for Tehran. Friendly ties between Israel, the Saudis and the Americans would represent an entente cordiale between Irans three greatest enemies. Or, from Tehrans point of view, it would be an axis of its enemies. PHILIPSBURG:--- Team Service is an essential reminder that no matter where frontline reps work, their job titles, or how they serve customers, everyone is on the same team this is the spirit carried across the region as CIBC FirstCaribbean celebrated Customer Service Week under said theme. Internationally celebrated annually during the first full week in October and devoted to recognizing the importance of client relations and the people who serve and support customers daily. The bank showed appreciation and thanked its staff, who exceeded expectations in exuding clients. We are excited to join the global effort to commemorate Customer Service Week. You already know how I feel about our fantastic and formidable team! Customer Service Week reminds us that no matter our role, whether client-facing or in a support role, we are one team and one bank, working together towards a common goal of being first for our clients. stated the banks Chief Executive Officer, Mark St.Hill Staffers engaged in several exciting activities throughout the week, such as Blue True Day as they wore blue because their love for customers is true. They partook in daily quizzes, received daily tips and motivational messages, and closed the week wearing orange to gain customer knowledge. Frederica Green-Brazier, Customer Service Officer in St. Maarten, was recognized as one of the banks Customer Service Heroes. "One element that motivates me to go above and beyond for customers is knowing I'm helping make a difference in their lives. I am most successful when I help a customer achieve their goal and desire." she shared. Frederica insists that Customer Service is in her blood, recognizing from her early teenage years that she was blessed with a passion for helping others. "Today, I still love the idea of bringing a smile to the faces of those I meet. And age doesn't matter. I love the idea of being considered a dependable person. Knowing who I am, I consciously decided to live a life of purpose." She continues to do just that in her role as customer service officer at Emmaplein in St. Maarten. Even when I can't fully resolve an issue, customers understand that I would have done my utmost and gone above and beyond. I aim to ensure that each customer leaves the bank feeling valued. Seeing the direct impact, I can have on any customer is indescribable and rewarding to me. This also applies to my personal life and other service-related activities outside of banking. she stated. Frederica is also a CIBC FirstCaribbean 2023 First Star recipient. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands:--- CCRIF is collaborating with The University of the West Indies (The UWI) to reduce the impacts of wildfires on the people, communities, and economy of Barbados. CCRIF has provided a grant of approximately US$25,000 to the Centre for Biosecurity Studies at The UWI, Cave Hill Campus for a project focused on understanding the impact of climate change and wildfires in Barbados. Wildfires are common during the dry season and pose a risk to human health, lives, crops, and property, and can deplete scarce water resources. To date, project funds have been used to purchase drones to collect data on wildfires (for example sugarcane, grass, and rubbish fires) to enable the Barbados Fire Service to develop evidence-based strategies to address fire-related risks. On September 28, The UWI handed over four drones to the Barbados Fire Service to aid in their firefighting efforts. Through the project, Fire Service officers will participate in training on how to use this drone technology, to better coordinate wildfire monitoring from an aerial view. CCRIF has also provided funding for the procurement of 10 air pollution sensors, which will be donated to the Ministry of Health to assist in their monitoring of air pollution levels and to determine the impact of wildfires on air pollution. The contribution of wildfires to air pollution is known to exacerbate respiratory illnesses, especially in persons with health conditions such as asthma. The sensors will be installed at strategic locations (e.g., wildfire hotspots) near residential communities that are at risk of wildfires. CCRIF CEO, Mr. Isaac Anthony in commenting on the project, indicated that At CCRIF we will continue to provide resources for the implementation of projects like these across the Caribbean. These projects that are part of our Small Grants Programme are key to building the resilience of our people, communities, and organizations to natural hazards and climate change. Since 2015, CCRIF has provided over US$3 million for projects being implemented by civil society organizations, academic institutions and governments across the region. The focus of our funding includes the rehabilitation of ecosystems; climate-smart agriculture; hazard-resilient construction; nature-based solutions; and climate change adaptation with all projects including capacity building components. We are desirous of doing more under our small grants programme and scaling up our support and we encourage NGOs from across the region to apply for grants throughout the year via our small grants platform at https://www.ccrif.org/ccrif-small-grants-programme. An important component of the project with The UWI will be to conduct risk communication training for media and other organisations such as the Barbados Water Authority, The Asthma Association of Barbados, Barbados Cancer Society, Barbados Heart & Stroke Foundation, and the Barbados Diabetes Foundation. This training is being designed to increase public awareness about 2 | P a g e the relationships among climate, fires, water infrastructure vulnerability, and environmental and human health impacts and actions that persons can take to safeguard their health. This current project with The UWI is being implemented as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between The University of the West Indies and CCRIF. This longstanding partnership has been in place since 2010 and the MOU provides a framework for collaboration on disaster risk management and climate change adaptation projects, delivery of courses on disaster risk financing as well as capacity building through provision of scholarships and internships to students. Since 2010, CCRIF has provided The UWI with resources surpassing over US$1.6 million inclusive of US$1 million for undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to 148 Caribbean nationals. Other projects that CCRIF has supported The UWI with include the provision to the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of 15 strong motion sensors in Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Vincent, and Jamaica to establish and maintain a new accelerometric network in the Eastern Caribbean and Jamaica. BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Israel's 35th "Tsanhanim" Airborne Brigade is clearing residential areas, including the city of Sderot, near the border with the Gaza Strip, from Hamas militants, Trend reports. The Israeli army has declared that the brigade commander, Colonel Ami Biton, his deputy, Lieutenant Colonel Gidi Eliastam, and the commander of the 890th "Efe" parachute battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Dor Menshauf, are directly involved in the operation. The army also added that soldiers of the 98th "A-Esh" reserve airborne division are involved in the liberation of the border areas. A combined attack was carried out on Israel in the morning of October 7. 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 Israel Defense Forces 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. The Israeli Army's operation against Hamas goes by the codename "Swords of Iron". BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of 691 million euros, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi wrote on his page on X, Trend reports. "The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people is a turning point. There can be no business as usual. All payments immediately suspended," he said. Varhelyi added that all projects envisaged will be put under review, while all new budget proposals, including for 2023, will be postponed until further notice. At the same time, comprehensive assessment of the whole portfolio will be carried out. A combined attack was carried out on Israel on the morning of October 7. 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 rocket attack killed more than 700 people and injured 2,315. The Israeli army declared a "state of readiness for war" and fired back with launch of the "Swords of Iron" operation. He said that the decision to delay or water down net zero measures such as the shift away from petrol and diesel cars showed that instead of making decisions in the long-term interest of the UK, the Government is in danger of making decisions in the short-term interest of opening up divides for the purpose of an election. At the time regulators had been pushing for more competition in the market in the wake of the financial crash, allowing Metro to become the first new high street bank in the UK for more than 150 years. An FCA spokesperson said: We are aware of Odey Wealth Managements intention to wind-down the business. We will work closely with the firm as it winds down, to ensure clients are treated fairly. It is unfathomable that Israels security services did not get wind of an operation on this scale that must have been months, if not years, in the making. Once the military retaliation is done there will have to be a day of reckoning for Israels military and intelligence leadership. The country will demand it. And what about Prime Minister Netanyahu? Will there also be a day of reckoning for him and his Right-wing government? Security is their thing after all. It is what they are about. Well they have failed this time. So many questions about putting the whole issue of Gaza on the back burner. About the settlement policy and much more that contributes to the tensions. The names of serial killers terrify those who are even slightly familiar with the crimes they have committed. Often, the stories of such psychopaths become the basis for films and TV series, where viewers are told in a fictional or documentary style about their path to murder and punishment for it. ADVERTISIMENT As a result, the faces of the inhumans are erased from people's memories, and only the images of their heroes remain. OBOZREVATEL decided to show what Jack the Ripper, Chikatilo, and other prisoners who were convicted of mass murder or were not caught actually looked like (to see the photos, scroll to the bottom of the page). Chikatilo One of the most notorious Soviet serial killers, a rapist, pedophile, and cannibal who committed more than 50 proven murders between 1978 and 1990 was executed in Novocherkassk prison in 1994. The killer was once played by Dmitry Nagiyev in the TV series of the same name. Charles Manson ADVERTISIMENT The American serial killer, criminal, and leader of a gang that called itself the Family died in prison in 2017. The role of Manson was played by actor Jeremy Davis in the movie Helter Skelter. "The Sacramento Vampire" The American serial killer Richard Chase was nicknamed the "Sacramento Vampire" because he drank the blood of his victims and was known for cannibalism. In 1980, he committed suicide in his prison cell. In the movie Frenzy, actor Alex MacArthur played Charles Reese, whose prototype was Richard Chase. ADVERTISIMENT Jack the Ripper Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote that AI showed what Harry Potter, Hermione, Voldemort, and other wizards would look like in the style of a 90s sitcom. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! In the past day and a half Israeli planes have hit 800 targets in Gaza, according to the IDF. Some 600 Israelis have died since Saturday morning, according to the lead daily Haaretz. Figures are harder to establish from Gaza City where the main hospital was reporting at least 2,000 injured and 350 dead early last night. The Israeli hostages are being held by Hamas and their ally Islamic Jihad. They are believed to be dispersed into small groups probably confined to cellars and basements. Hamas has made it clear that they will be exchanged for all Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails. Negotiations, even if they get under way soon, could take years, based on previous experience. The air waves are thick with the rhetoric of revenge and retribution. Both sides have been remarkably, and ominously, consistent in their stated belief that they have been wronged historically and the way forward is to double down on violence. Irans proxies child murderers and abductors of grandmothers are a global menace with the potential to provoke a conflagration with profound consequences for London and the UK. So before you start celebrating decolonisation you might also want to consider that this conflict poses a bigger threat to world peace than the war in Ukraine. If thats something you can get behind then I hope you sleep well at night. In a post-Cold War world of pluralistic powers, with an isolationist US, an isolated UK and spineless EU, what is left are players who share none of the values Londoners take for granted. These powers only common objectives are to undermine democracy, personal freedom and pull weaker nations into their thrall. Iran, China and Russia and others will play their game of Risk without good faith or alliance to anyone except in their own notions of state Darwinism. The abhorrence of the weekends attacks makes the need for a lasting peace more urgent, yet it has never felt so distant. Israel has every right to defend itself from terrorism, and to protect its people from the thousands of rocket attacks fired indiscriminately into its territory. At the same time, we fear for civilians living in Gaza, who have nowhere else to go and no say over the government that rules over them. Meanwhile, the threat of a regional war looms large. Its day two of Labours conference in Liverpool as the party faithful congregate in the hope it will be their final gathering before Sir Keir Starmers installed in Downing Street. Researchers, led by the Planets Laboratory, Carnegie Institution for Science, Washington, DC, say the test uses artificial intelligence to determine with 90 per cent accuracy whether a sample is biological or not. The technique looks for small differences in the molecular patterns of samples using different kinds of analysis. According to Carl, once convicted, Peter often tried to shirk responsibility for his crimes. He would say, I didnt know what I was doing and It was the voices in my head and all that. Why would you get yourself alibis if you didnt know what you were doing? It was so quiet and peaceful, the girls loved playing on the beach even though it was quite cold and they were in coats and wellies. It felt like the kind of place I could live. Nerd note: its buttons come from the last button factory we have and are made from nuts. Nuts! I love its ruffled vests which are sweet on their own or layered over a T-shirt or shirt when its colder; there are also very good collared knits (do take Colin Farrell in The Banshees of Inisherin as a reference, here) and pleasing patchwork pieces; knitters note you can also buy its yarn to fashion your own (8.50, herdwear.co). The news confirms a burgeoning trend in the industry, which has seen luxury conglomerates bet on designers with smaller public profiles, but who are important forces behind the scenes. Examples of this have included the recent appointments of Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta, Sabato De Sarno at Gucci, and Sean McGirr at Alexander McQueen. It also comes after intensified industry questioning around the deficit of female designers in leading positions at luxury houses, as McGirrs appointment this month made Kerings stable of creative directors all white men. The probe will look at whether Royal Military Police investigations were effectively and properly conducted, whether there is credible information that unlawful killings were carried out by UK special forces, whether any unlawful killings were covered up at any stage, and what lessons can be learned. Russian tourists in civilized countries, to which they are mostly denied entry, resort to shameful tricks: pretending to be Ukrainian refugees in order to get free food, clothing, money, or any other assistance. This was noticed, in particular, by Ukrainian writer and teacher Andriy Kurkov. ADVERTISIMENT The writer wrote about the unpleasant incident he witnessed on his personal Facebook page. As it turned out, this was not an isolated case, as other Ukrainians wrote in the comments. Kurkov did not specify where the incident took place, but it was probably in France or the UK. "After the event, I was going to dinner and passed a restaurant where a guy of about 25 was trying to enter, but the restaurant employee wouldn't let him in. I heard the guy explain in broken English that he was from Ukraine and was hungry and asked for a free meal. I decided to help him somehow and stopped. I told the employee that I was also from Ukraine and could translate so that it would be easier for the guy to explain his situation. When I spoke to the guy in Ukrainian, his mouth twisted a bit. He whispered something in a completely different, but also Slavic language and walked away. That is, he turned out to be not Ukrainian at all. I was a little caught off guard and explained to the restaurant employee that the guy was not Ukrainian. The man looked at me as if he knew it himself," the writer shared. ADVERTISIMENT This story prompted other netizens to recall similar incidents from their own experience. It turned out that in Poland, Germany, Austria, and many other European countries, there are many absolutely brazen citizens of the terrorist state who call themselves Ukrainians for the sake of profit. For example, one commentator recalled how he met women in Warsaw with signs saying that they were refugees from Ukraine. When the man approached the "fellow citizens" and addressed them in their native language, they got scared, hid the signs and ran away. Another user told a similar story. It happened in Spain, where two Russian families cynically lied that they were from Ukraine in order to get a free stay at a hotel. The hotel administration agreed, but a week later they were faced with loud and indecent behavior from the guests. When the police were called, it turned out that these were not refugees, but citizens of the aggressor country. ADVERTISIMENT Commentators also said: "In August, I also witnessed such an incident in Stuttgart, when a guy with a Ukrainian refugee sign asked for help, but did not understand Ukrainian at all." "When I was in Germany at the very beginning of the war, a friend wrote that she met a rather young guy on the street who was bothering passing Germans and Germans (mostly) and asking for money for food, showing a sign that he had hung on his chest that he was a Ukrainian. An acquaintance came over and heard him trying to communicate with passersby in Russian. She asked him, also in Russian, if she could help him in any way. The guy heard her, and his expression changed completely, and he asked: "What do you understand in Russian?" Then she spoke in Ukrainian: "I understand Ukrainian too!" As soon as he heard Ukrainian, he ran away from her. So she guessed that he was Russian and was just asking for money from Germans under the guise of a Ukrainian." "These are not isolated cases in different European countries when Russians (and not only Russians) say something pretending to be Ukrainians." ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote that a tourist from Moscow spent a month on vacation in Georgia and was not satisfied with the trip. The citizen of the terrorist country, you see, was annoyed by the "nationalism" of Georgians and their pro-Ukrainian sentiments. She also complained about "Russophobia". Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Detectives are working at pace to gather as much information as possible and I would ask anyone who was in the area and saw events unfold, or anyone who has captured this incident on phone or doorbell footage, to contact police immediately. Last year, 45,755 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats and a further 25,000 are believed to have made the journey this year. It has become a key battleground in the looming general election, and the PM has made stopping the boats is one of the five key pledges. In his opening submissions, he said: Let there be no misunderstanding for those who have something to hide the inquiry will use all its powers to make sure that if there is credible information of wrongdoing no matter how senior their position, they are referred to the relevant authorities. Speaking in front of the damaged restaurant, Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said: The local community feel they are under siege, and my job is to make sure their views are fed back into the heart of government and the PM wants to be kept fully informed. The doctor said staff treating Indi who has mitochondrial disease, a genetic condition that saps energy from the bodys cells at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham had done the best they could and were very sad. Detective Constable Emma Price of the Metropolitan Polices Central Specialist Crime team, said: Hossain exploited and took advantage of a vulnerable child and abused the position of trust he had been given. She showed commendable bravery in providing evidence to police and at the trial. I hope that this conviction will bring her a small measure of comfort and a sense that justice has been done. PC Rahman attacked (him) including kicking him on his left side, punching him, and throwing him against the shutters of his garage, said the panel, in its ruling. (The victim) subsequently called out in panic for help and that fellow shopkeepers came to his assistance and beat the masked attacker. Virtosu tried hard to give the impression that he wasnt responsible for his actions due to a mental health disorder, but his actions were not the result of delusions, they were the actions of an angry violent man who launched a murderous attack on Svetlana as he had threatened to do on so many occasions. The NCAs operation Venetic covers the overall startegy of how to snare criminals using the data from EncroChat. Arrests are still being made on a day to day basis as millions of hours of recordings continue to be trawled through. Under the operation 1,200 offenders have been jailed for a total of nearly 8,000 years. Those figures include the Met results. Derek Alexander, head of Archaeology at the National Trust for Scotland, said: The work undertaken in Gleann Leac-na-muidhe, and the range of artefacts recovered, in particular the discovery of the coin hoard, will make a lasting and significant contribution to our understanding of the history and archaeology of Glencoe. Kyiv will not talk to Moscow until Russian troops are withdrawn from all Ukrainian territories. This will signal that the Kremlin is ready for a real dialog. ADVERTISIMENT Foreign politicians should not suggest that Ukraine cede its territories to the aggressor country. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba commented on the topic of negotiations with Russia in an interview with Forbes. "Until the Ukrainian border guard returns to the last border point in eastern Ukraine or on the island of Tuzla (where the Kerch Bridge pylons stand - Ed.), my message to those who dare to offer any territorial concessions is not even to think about it," Kuleba said. He added that if someone dares to talk to him about this, they will have an "unpleasant conversation." Kuleba said that for him, the actual withdrawal of Russian troops from our territory would signal that the aggressor is willing to engage in dialogue. "But this does not mean that Ukraine automatically agrees to negotiate. Too often Russia has deceived us, Europeans, Americans, to be trusted from the first word or step," the Foreign Minister emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZREVATEL previously reported: - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently said that Ukraine needs more weapons because the stronger it is on the battlefield, the more powerful Kyiv's position will be at the negotiating table. - U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that if Russian President Vladimir Putin shows interest, Ukraine will be ready to join the negotiation process. Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Police Scotland said communities faced some of the most challenging conditions ever over the weekend, with 10 motorists airlifted to safety on Saturday due to landslides on the A83 in Argyll and Bute, which dislodged 2,000 tonnes of debris. Another four were airlifted in Kilmartin, Argyll and Bute. Mr Higgins added: The absence of positive engagement has made a stone of the heart of so many. It should remind us that it is the responsibility of all of us to return and to engage with all of the sources of conflict, accepting the right of Israel to defend itself, and of Palestinian people to enjoy the rights to which they are entitled. Extra 100 off holidays under 14 nights using a unique TUI discount code 15% off all orders over 100 using this ASOS discount code 5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code 15% of all orders with The Perfume Shop birthday discount - VIP Rewards Members 20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code There has to be absolutely no tolerance of groups who still to this very day, and at this very moment, and even in this very conference, are supporting the idea that there should not be a state of Israel and that Zionism is racism. Mr Corbyn has hinted he will run as an independent in the Islington North seat he has held for 40 years after he was booted out of the parliamentary party over his response to a report on anti-Semitism. My problem with some of the more leftwing union leaders, people like Sharon Graham of Unite and one or two others, is that she seems to think that the size of the union strike funds are going to deliver as much if not more for her members living standards and workplaces as a Labour government will do, he said. Ms Kendall, who unsuccessfully ran for the leadership in 2015 against Jeremy Corbyn and is considered to be on the right of the party, was promoted to shadow work and pensions secretary in Sir Keir Starmers latest reshuffle after impressing in her former social care brief. Rabbi Romain told the PA news agency: Everyone had a story, everyone was worried. In terms of the overall picture, everyone just felt the situation at the moment is absolutely dire. But also, and this was even worse in a sense, no hope at all for the future, feeling that the future (in that area of the Middle East) was very, very bleak indeed. There is currently no diplomatic conflict between Poland and Ukraine. Negotiations between the countries are ongoing. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Polish President Andrzej Duda on the air of "Rymanski's Breakfast" on Polsat News and Interia . He emphasized that the contracts of Polish defense companies for the supply of Rosomak vehicles, Krab and Piorn systems, and Grotto carbines to Ukraine are also still in effect. "They are not suspended at all (negotiations between the countries - Ed.). There is no diplomatic conflict," the Polish leader emphasized. He also added that he communicates with President Volodymyr Zelensky if necessary. However, Duda expressed disappointment that "Ukraine does not focus on the fact that grain transit through Poland is constantly working." Earlier, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau announced a decline in Polish-Ukrainian relations. That is why, according to the diplomat, he refused to come to Ukraine for the EU Council of Ministers, although he was invited. ADVERTISIMENT The minister emphasized that the criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly against Poland has shaken the trust of Polish society in the current policy of the Ukrainian government. As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal called the statements of the authorities of a number of countries, including Poland, about the negative impact of Ukrainian grain on their markets speculations. He emphasized that Ukrainian farmers are in a much worse situation. - Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine is ready to develop positive relations with Poland, negotiate and consult in the context of Ukrainian grain exports. Our country has never deviated from the strategy of constructively resolving issues related to grain exports. - Duda said that his country would continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine. However, he clarified that this would be possible only if the Polish army receives new weapons. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Stressing that global economics had been changed by the pandemic, Ukraine and other threats, Ms Reeves was due to outline her concept of securonomics to protect Britain and families up and down the country from financial shocks. In short: globalisation, as we once knew it, is dead, she was set to say. A new business model would mean we must rebuild our ability to make, do and sell here in Britain. He added: I know all of you want to see change change in the direction of our country I want to see that too, Im hungry to deliver that change for you, but Ive got to tell you, that change is not just a function of which party is in power. In the Court of Appeal ruling blocking the policy, Sir Geoffrey Vos noted the UK Government has huge experience of diplomatic relations with the Rwandan authorities. But he added: I do not accept that the past and the present can either be ignored or sidelined as the Home Office suggests. The Metropolitan Police has said more officers will be on the streets across London to provide reassurance and that it has an appropriate plan in place to deal with a pro-Palestine rally outside the Israeli embassy on Monday. 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. Another sharing images of the incident online said there was a major police operation at Terminal 5, while a third said: Scenes at Heathrow T5 as the BA flight from Barcelona has had its crew fall sick upon landing, and the passengers are being held on the runway. And also, I have been inundated with so many messages of support and solidarity from so many people throughout Britain, and I sense that there is no civilised person who can be unmoved, who cant be deeply shocked by these scenes, by seeing what has transpired. I also want to say a word to Jewish communities here at home: I am with you. And we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that you feel safe, Mr Sunak was expected to say in his speech at the Future Resilience Forum. His parents, Lisa and Michael, from Potters Bar, launched an appeal for information. Mrs Marlowe said: He 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. An Israeli embassy spokesman said: We dont know for sure that he is taken hostage or dead or in a hospital. It came on the first day of a special meeting of the German and French governments in Hamburg, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Emmanuel Macron both attending. The Russian terrorist army has started moving Grad-1 multiple rocket launchers in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Rare weapons were spotted in the area of Yevpatoria. ADVERTISIMENT The equipment was unloaded at the railway station and sent to the front line. This was reported in Telegram by the military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars "Atesh" (to see the photo, scroll to the bottom of the page). The unloading of the 9K55 Grad-1 MLRS from open-type freight cars was recorded at the Yevpatoria-Tovarna railway station. After that, the occupiers began to prepare the equipment for the transportation of the missile systems to the front line. It is worth noting that Ukrainian soldiers systematically destroy new copies of the Russian army's multiple launch rocket systems. Therefore, the occupiers' command decided to engage rare samples of Grad MLRS in combat. Atesh emphasized that such decisions of the Russian occupiers indicate the inability of the military-industrial complex of the terrorist country of Russia to conduct long-term hostilities. ADVERTISIMENT The 9K55 Grad-1 multiple launch rocket system is a lightweight version of the BM-21 Grad, which is widely used in the Russian army. The base is a ZIL-131 army truck. A machine with a set of 36 guides is installed on the truck's cargo platform. In the 1970s, the Soviet Union produced no more than 600 copies of the 9K55 Grad-1 MLRS. ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, Ukraine's defenders have eliminated a quarter of a hundred tanks of the Russian army operating in the Liman sector of the frontline in a few days. Among them was the Volodymyr, a third-generation T-90 main battle tank. Earlier it was reported that the defenders of Ukraine eliminated 350 Russian soldiers during the day on October 8. Since the beginning of the invasion, the number of enemy manpower killed on Ukrainian soil has already exceeded 282,630. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! So you can imagine the impact this is having throughout Israel, and the world should be revolted by what it has seen, he added. As the shock and recriminations continued, expectations were mounting that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has already declared that his country is at war, will soon give the go-ahead for a ground attack into the Gaza Strip. One aim will to be free the estimated 100 or more hostages, including women, children and the disabled, seized by the militants and taken into Gaza. The other objective will be to attempt to destroy Hamas and to stop any potential for a repeat of Saturdays attack. One of them said he had lost his wife in the chaos and Alper had to stop him from breaking out of the car to find her. Another said she had just seen Hamas gunmen shoot and kill her best friend. Another rocked in his seat, murmuring over and over We are going to die. Officials updated the Governments travel advice to Israel on Sunday afternoon saying Britons should avoid all travel to Gaza and the surrounding region, as well as within 500m of the border with Lebanon - the Blue Line - and within 500m of the border with Syria known as the Alpha Line. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that he had ordered a large deployment including the USS Gerald R Ford with its deck of warplanes, alongside cruises and destroyers, to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support with Israel. Whether youve come across A Court of Thorns and Roses via social media platforms such as TikTok, or are simply in the market for a new erotic fantasy series to devour, youre in the right place. The first of Sarah J Maas five-book series, A Court of Thorns and Roses follows the plight of a huntress named Feyre who kills a wolf in an act of survival to feed her family. However, the wolf that Feyre killed was not what it appeared, and her violent act has untold consequences for the young huntress and her people. If youve geared yourself up to cook something new but you arent actually sure where to start, then this is the perfect cookbook. As the name spells out, all the recipes are super simple to follow (yes, even for the most basic of cooks) and take relatively little time, so you can spend more time eating and less time faffing in the kitchen. Alec Baldwin was joined by his wife Hilaria and the couples seven children as the star made one of his first public appearances since the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of movie, Rust. He shared: Over the course of the last 20 years Ive heard him say, because I can. It was a mantra of his and him just saying that because I can. Because I can, why not? The Russian occupation forces stationed in the occupied Crimea are afraid to move military boats by sea, which is why they are forced to look for more difficult ways. The transportation of one of them was recorded from the port of Feodosia deep into the occupied peninsula. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Atesh military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. "Russians are afraid to move military boats by sea. Agents of "Atesh" recorded the transportation of a military boat from the port of Feodosia deep into Crimea," the movement's Telegram channel said. The guerrillas added that the exact type of the enemy boat could not be identified due to camouflage. At the same time, Atesh noted that the Russian invaders fear for their boats even on the eastern side of Crimea. "And rightly so," the guerrilla movement said. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - Earlier, Atesh showed how the occupiers are moving their Raptor combat boats in Crimea by land, fearing Ukrainian drone strikes. "The Raptors were being transported in the direction of Sevastopol, where they patrol the coast. - The Odesa Regional Military Command said that Ukrainian Armed Forces Bucephalus kamikaze drones sank three enemy boats in Kherson region. - According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, 20 enemy ships/boats and one submarine have been destroyed. Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! It is also said he encouraged the other man to travel to the UK to carry out a kidnap plot, and had assembled a kidnap and restraint kit capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap of Holly Willoughby. Schofield and Willoughby were once best friends but had not spoken for five months after he sensationally quit the ITV daytime show after admitting to having had an unwise, but not illegal affair with a younger colleague which he lied about. According to reports, when the couple met to discuss their separation on September 7 after Jonas had filed for divorce, he refused to hand over the childrens passports so they could return to the UK with Turner. She then filed the legal petition days later. Unfortunately, information about when Android 14 is set to be available for most non-Pixel phones has yet to surface at the time of writing. This includes almost all of the most popular Android-based smartphones, from Samsung, OneTouch, Motorola, iQOO, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, or vivo. These changes saw PlayStation Plus Essential rise to 59.99 for UK users, roughly a 10 increase, while the price of PlayStation Plus Premium rose from 99.99 to 119.99, and the price of PlayStation Plus Extra rose from 83.99 to 99.99 for a 12-month subscription . During the shelling on October 8, the Russian occupiers hit the territory of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Antonivka near Kherson. There were many people in the small church at the time of the attack, and two of the parishioners were injured. ADVERTISIMENT The believers, who had gathered for a Sunday service, covered each other with their own bodies during the shelling. This was reported by the local publication Most. Yes, several shells exploded near the church building, one of them caused destruction. First aid was provided to the wounded women right in the church. ADVERTISIMENT As of 13:26 on Sunday, the press service of the Kherson Regional Military Administration reported that there was a hit near a church in Kherson. " 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 help on their own," the report said. On the morning of October 9, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration Oleksnadr Prokudin said that over the past day, the occupiers fired 53 times at Kherson region, firing 288 shells from mortars, artillery, Grad, AGS (automatic grenade launcher), tanks, aircraft, and drones. Kherson was hit by 96 shells. ADVERTISIMENT The enemy hit residential areas in the region, a parking lot and a critical infrastructure facility in Kherson; the territory of a church in Kherson district. One person was killed, 18 others were wounded, including two children, the head of the JFO said. As noted by Most, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was the first community of the UOC of the Moscow Patriarchate to join the autocephalous OCU after the de-occupation of Kherson. 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The meeting between the two officials took place in the context of the conclusion of the mission of the British official in our country. The distinction was offered to the diplomat "in recognition of his merits and for the support given to the MApN activities", agerpres reports. "All the recent events have proven that Romania and Great Britain have similar views on the challenges they face and we will make the necessary efforts to continue developing the bilateral relationship. It is obvious that only together we can face the multiple crises we are confronted with," the Romanian minister declared. The discussions focused on the security situation in the Black Sea area in the context of the latest developments in Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, ways to strengthen the Romanian-British bilateral relationship, but also on the expansion of cooperation between the two armies, especially in the context of the development of the military industry, defense and endowment programs of the Romanian Army.Great Britain's contribution to the consolidation of the allied posture on the Eastern Flank was also appreciated, a concrete proof of allied solidarity and unity. Great Britain will continue contributing to the NATO Consolidated Air Police (eAP) missions in Romania, a new contingent being scheduled to be deployed in our country in 2024.The British ambassador congratulated Romania for its role as a factor of regional stability and for providing with troops to the missions in the Western Balkans and Africa. Press Release October 9, 2023 Bong Go emphasizes importance of promoting tourism for job creation as he expresses support for DOT's 2024 proposed programs Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed, during a Committee on Finance hearing on Tuesday, October 3, his strong support for the proposed budget and programs of the Department of Tourism and its attached agencies for next year, emphasizing the vital role that tourism plays in job creation and economic growth. "Tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, and it's imperative that we allocate sufficient funds to sustain and grow this sector. That's why I am in full support of the Department of Tourism's ongoing programs," said Go. The senator's support for DOT's budget was put on record by Senate Tourism Committee Chairperson Nancy Binay. Go's endorsement comes at a time when job creation is a pressing concern for Filipinos. A recent Pulse Asia survey conducted from September 10 to 14 revealed that 27% of respondents identified the creation of more jobs as their third most urgent concern. This data underscores the importance of a well-funded tourism sector in addressing the public's employment concerns. "Being a member of the Senate Committee on Tourism, we must work together to improve our efforts to promote our country to the world as a prime tourism destination we must support the efforts being done by the present administration in uplifting our economy and the lives of the poor," said Go in a previous statement. "Ang pinakamahalaga ay ang ating sinseridad na pagbutihin ang ating trabaho na maglingkod sa bayan at siguraduhing walang nasasayang na pera na dapat ay magamit para sa ikabubuti ng taumbayan," he added. Go has also been vocal about the need for sustainable tourism in the Philippines. He has hailed the opening of new and improved social and tourism infrastructure throughout the country, and has emphasized the need to complete the Duterte administration's Build, Build, Build projects for the continuity of benefits for Filipinos. For example, he has supported the development of various airports and seaports in the country to boost tourism and economic opportunities in the provinces. Go has also provided assistance to the tourism sector in various parts of the country, including Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Batangas, and Antique, particularly at the height of the pandemic. He has been pushing for greater government support to revive the tourism sector and speed up economic recovery. In the previous administration, Go has been actively involved in various tourism-related initiatives, including the rehabilitation of Boracay Island. Go's multifaceted approach to tourism and infrastructure development underscores his commitment to not only reviving the tourism sector but also providing sustainable economic opportunities for Filipinos. As he works closely with local leaders and the current administration, Go said he remains steadfast in his mission to improve the lives of his fellow countrymen by supporting the tourism industry. Footage of militants of the Hamas terrorist right-wing Islamist group demonstrating their arsenal of weapons and thanking the Ukrainian leadership for them is being shared online. In this way, propaganda is trying to create an image of Kyiv that sympathizes with terrorists and helps them continue bloodshed on the territory of sovereign Israel. ADVERTISIMENT One of the first people to become a "peddler" of the 12-second fake video was former MP, traitor and collaborator Ilya Kiva. It is not surprising that the origin of this video was questioned by all thinking people, and the obvious propaganda was exposed on the media platform of the Defense Forces. "The Russians have begun to accelerate the information and psychological operation very actively. They say that the Hamas organization is armed with weapons provided to Ukraine, or somehow Ukraine is transferring weapons it received from its allies. This is unrealistic in principle and in reality. First of all, purely in a geopolitical sense, Israel is a strategic ally of Ukraine, despite the fact that it does not directly provide weapons to Ukraine? ADVERTISIMENT He added that the transfer of weapons to Hamas from Kyiv is impossible not only from a political but also from a practical point of view. Deliveries to the Middle East are only possible by sea or by land. "We can't do anything like that through Iran, because we have imposed sanctions on that country for at least fifty years. It is also impossible to do this through other states, such as Egypt, Syria or Jordan, because you need to have appropriate logistical routes. ", Chernyk explained the absurdity of the Kremlin's information and psychological manipulation. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, not only the direct enemy of the state, Iran, but also Russia is happy about the escalation of hostilities in Israel. It is possible that Moscow and its intelligence services are behind the sudden attack by the Palestinian group on Israelis. ADVERTISIMENT Western analysts are convinced that Russia immediately took advantage of the unprecedented military invasion of Israel by Hamas militants. Therefore, it seeks to promote several information operations aimed at reducing the support and attention of international partners to Ukraine. President Klaus Iohannis on Monday issued a National Holocaust Remembrance Day message in which he says that the authorities must make all the necessary efforts to prevent and effectively combat anti-Semitic and xenophobic display, including by penalising those who are responsible for such behaviours and actions. "We are currently in a difficult context in our region, in Europe and in the world. In such times, populism has fertile ground to easily manipulate consciences, and extremism easily finds followers. Anti-Semitic and xenophobic attacks are intolerable and they must be strongly condemned and swiftly penalised! We must not forget that the Holocaust was also the consequence of the untimely propagation of hate speech, racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, against the background of economic, political and security crisis between the two world wars. The authorities must make all the necessary efforts to prevent and effectively combat anti-Semitic and xenophobic displays, including by penalising those who are responsible for such behaviours and actions. We must never allow Romania to be the place of hatred and humiliation of the human being!" Iohannis says in his message delivered by state adviser Catalina Galer to a ceremony at the Holocaust Memorial in Bucharest. Iohannis also recalls the events that took place 82 years ago."Today, we pay tribute to all the victims of the Holocaust, their families and descendants, as well as those who risked their lives to save those who were subjected to unimaginable horrors during WWII. 82 years ago years, on October 9, the then Romanian authorities took a decision whose tragic repercussions will remain imprinted in history and in our collective memory forever. The deportation of Jews to Transnistria was the peak of hatred and intolerance on the part of the Romanian state and a part of the citizens. The attacks to which the Jewish communities and their places of worship were subjected, the persecutions and the barbaric crimes against the Jews are an indisputable testimony of the consequences that prejudice, discrimination and ignorance have, a harsh and shameful lesson, for us to understand that the only guarantee we have that such a tragedy will not be repeated is the knowledge of the past and the cultivation of the memory of the victims of the Holocaust." In the opening of Monday's plenary sitting, the deputies followed the invitation of Chamber of Deputies' interim Speaker Alfred Simonis and observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack against the State of Israel. In their turn, the senators held a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, at the request of Liberal floor leader Daniel Fenechiu, agerpres reports. "Today, by dint of Government Decision No. 672/2004, is Holocaust Day and I would invite you to observe a moment of silence for the victims of the Holocaust in Romania and everywhere," Fenechiu said at the start of the Senate plenary sitting. A number of 115 Romanian citizens were brought home from Israel by a private airline, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) informed on Sunday evening. "Considering the deterioration of the security situation in the State of Israel and the Gaza Strip, the MAE informs that the Crisis Cell operating at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv and Romania's Representative Office in Ramallah, continued with the efforts to identify other possibilities for the repatriation of the Romanian citizens and groups of Romanian pilgrims from the area. In this context, the MAE specifies that a number of 115 Romanian citizens identified by the Crisis Cell or by the Romanian Embassy at Tel Aviv returned to the country on October 8, 2023, on board of a flight operated by a private airline," the same source said. Also, the MAE reiterates the recommendation addressed to the Romanian citizens who intend to travel to the State of Israel to reschedule their trip and follow the "Travel Alerts" section on the MAE website (https://www.mae.ro/travel-alerts /2938).Romanian citizens in Israel can contact the Embassy of Romania in Tel Aviv and announce their presence in the region, communicating their identification data and their coordinates to the e-mail address telaviv@mae.ro and to the telephone line 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.MAE also recommends visiting the Internet pages http://telaviv.mae.ro, https://consular-protection.ec.europa.eu/travel-advice_en and www.mae.ro - "Travel Advice." Romanian citizens travelling abroad can use the SMS alert service related to the information campaign "A text message can save your life!" Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was in Varna, Bulgaria on Monday, said that the Government could propose new fiscal-budgetary instruments regarding expenses, but emphasized that it is not about new taxes. He mentioned that, although in this period many people "rushed" at the Minister of Finance, he is a "very responsible" man, agerpres reports. The prime minister clarified after being asked what the Government will do in case the Constitutional Court of Romania postpones its ruling on the package of fiscal-budgetary measures or if it will accept the notification of unconstitutionality. "CCR decisions are not discussed, they are implemented. If there will be such a decision, we will come up with changes very quickly. (...) We made a mechanism and stopped a lot of spending in the budget system and we still have it under control. I know that a lot of people, during this period, rushed at the minister of Finance, but you must know that he is a very responsible man and had a totally professional approach and we have the necessary tools at this moment. It is possible that we will come, not with new taxes, but with other fiscal-budgetary instruments, especially regarding expenses, so that we maintain this balance," the PM added. President Klaus Iohannis will welcome, on Tuesday, at the Cotroceni Palace, his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who will be on an official visit to our country, at the invitation of the Romanian head of state, the Presidential Administration informed. According to the source, the visit reconfirms the continuation of Romania's unconditional support for Ukraine, in the context of Russia's illegal war against this country, as well as the special character of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, its potential and the need to discuss, at the highest level, the projects and topics of common interest, agerpres reports. "The in-depth political consultations, in Bucharest, between president Klaus Iohannis and president Volodymyr Zelenskyi will thus allow the analysis of the extensive measures decided and implemented by Romania in support of Ukraine, in order to strengthen them, as well as the discussion of the security situation in the region and the Black Sea and the steps necessary for its management," the source said. Klaus Iohannis will also focus on "constructive and pragmatic approaches in the priority areas of bilateral cooperation and common interest, especially on the expansion of cross-border connections, the development of economic relations, the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine, as well as the full observance of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities".According to the agenda of president Klaus Iohannis, the Ukrainian counterpart will be received at 1:00 PM at the Cotroceni Palace.The two presidents will have one-on-one and official talks, at the end of which they will make joint press statements. The Prime Ministers of Romania, Bulgaria and Greece have renewed their firm joint call for a positive decision at the JHA Council related to the accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen in 2023. The call was reaffirmed in the Joint Declaration agreed upon by the three heads of government at the Trilateral meeting Romania - Bulgaria - Greece, agerpres reports. ''The full accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen area will undoubtedly contribute to EU safety. It will facilitate the free movement and ensure equal rights for all EU citizens, which is a fundamental principle of our Union. It will clearly benefit the business sector and commerce and reduce harmful traffic emissions. Moreover, it will limit the room for foreign malign influence feeding anti-European or anti-Western narratives in the region as a whole,'' the Declaration reads. Furthermore, the three heads of government agreed to strengthen cooperation as regards combating illegal migration, as well as breaking human smugglers' networks and disrupting their financing and supply chain, as part of the common effort at EU level towards managing illegal migration.''In this context, we recall the importance of pursuing the implementation of the European Council conclusions of 9 February 2023, on all dimensions, and we condemn the attempts to instrumentalise migrants when used as leverage or as part of hybrid destabilizing actions,'' the Declaration also reads. Romania's Ministry of Health, together with the Romanian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, is mobilising healthcare professionals who want to be part of medical teams available to travel to the affected areas upon requests from the Israeli side. According to a press statement, a blood donation campaign was organised for the victims of the attacks who needed transfusions. "Immediately after the attacks in Israel, Health Minister Alexandru Rafila contacted Israel's ambassador to Romania Azar Reuven to express his solidarity and offer support in these critical moments. Romania and Israel have had a lasting relationship in time in terms of co-operation in the medical field and we are convinced that through solidarity we will overcome these difficult moments. The Ministry of Health, together with the Romanian Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, is mobilising healthcare professionals who want to be part of medical teams available for travelling to the affected areas, upon requests from the Israeli side. At the same time, a blood donation campaign was organised for the victims of the attacks who needed transfusions."More information about the registration of doctors and nurses as volunteers for the teams required to provide medical assistance and about the locations for donating blood intended for the victims of the attacks can be found on the web page: www.ms.ro. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) 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 enclave's 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 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. 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. 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. On October 8, the Ukrainian defense forces continued counteroffensives near Bakhmut and in Zaporizhzhia region, where they made a slight advance to the west. The occupiers, trying to prevent Ukrainian soldiers from advancing, intensified mining on the Robotyne-Verbove line. ADVERTISIMENT The propagandists are also spreading "fake news" that the weather will stop the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive, but the defenders emphasize that this is not the case. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analyzed the course of the fighting. Analysts noted that on October 8, Ukrainian forces made limited progress north of Novoprokopivka. The Russians claimed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had also advanced near Kopani. The General Staff confirmed partial successes of the Defense Forces northeast of Andriivka (7 km southwest of Bakhmut), while Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued to attack near Andriivka and Kurdyumivka. ADVERTISIMENT Russian propagandists claimed that the deteriorating weather conditions on the Bakhmut and Zaporizhzhia directions were affecting Ukraine's offensive operations, as well as the work of Russian aerial reconnaissance. Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Tauride group of Ukrainian troops, confirmed that the activity of Russian drones and aircraft had indeed decreased in recent days due to the bad weather. For his part, Captain Ilya Yevlash, spokesman for the Eastern Military Group, emphasized that bad weather may affect the work of UAVs and aviation, but it will not stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive. According to ISW, Russian troops are intensifying mining in the area of Robotyne - Verbove and are trying to consolidate Ukrainian forces in frontline areas away from the western part of Zaporizhzhia region. ADVERTISIMENT Russian bloggers reported that the Russian Armed Forces had begun to mine previously cleared areas on the line of these settlements to "achieve tactical surprise." The propagandists claimed that intensive Russian mining and development activities had prevented the movement of heavy Ukrainian cargo and equipment in these areas in recent days. A prominent Kremlin-linked blogger claimed that Russian troops had intensified tactical offensives on several frontline areas outside Zaporizhzhia region to "stretch the Ukrainian defense and divide the attention of Ukrainians." Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Tauride group of Ukrainian troops, said that Russian troops are trying to fix the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Avdiivka and Maryinka directions and prevent them from moving their reserves to the Zaporizhzhia direction. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, 33 combat engagements took place on the Ukrainian front on October 8. The defense forces successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Kupyansk and Lyman sectors. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Chaumette Vineyards and Winery has been listed for sale at $7.3 million. Located in Ste. Genevieve about 67 miles south of St. Louis, the 151-acre property includes a wine production facility, office building, tasting room, restaurant, wedding venue, gazebo, swimming pool, fitness center, horse pasture and shed, three small lakes, an Episcopal church and multiple lodging options. Established in 1990, the boutique winery produces between 3,000 and 5,000 cases of mostly dry wine annually. According to Whitetail Properties Real Estate, which is handling the sale, the property has won multiple national awards for its wine and food from the Grapevine Grill, Chaumettes on-site restaurant. The property has also been recognized by wedding planning website The Knot for its barn venue. The property has been on the market for about three weeks now, and while there have been some inquiries, no deals have been made yet, said Jeff Heil, the White Tail Properties Land Specialist representing the property. A property of this caliber tends to take longer, he said Monday. Id be happy with six months on the market but million-dollar properties can take a couple of years. Were just looking for a buyer who has a passion for wine, Heil said. This is a turnkey setup. On the property are four guest villas and six suites, which are included in the sale, and 14 privately owned villas that are available for rent through the winerys rental program. These accommodations were designed to be reminiscent of the buildings built by the first French settlers in Ste. Genevieve in the 1750s. The sale also includes a one-bedroom home with a separate three-bedroom and bath addition, which is used to house short-term staff; a two-bedroom, one-bath home; and a second-floor two-bedroom loft apartment in a separate building. All winemaking equipment in the wine production facility including tanks, a destemmer, crusher, pumps and a chiller was purchased new in 2022. The office building houses eight executive offices, five smaller offices, a large gathering space, a kitchen, a dining area, a fitness center and a commercial laundry room. The vineyards and winery has been owned and operated for over three decades by Hank and Jackie Johnson. More details can be found at the property listing. The property is located at 24345 State Route WW in Ste. Genevieve. Joe Holleman Metro reporter Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS U.S. Rep. Cori Bush joined other elected officials this weekend by reacting to Hamas surprise attack on Israel. But unlike statements issued by others, Bushs drew sharp condemnation, including from fellow lawmakers. The St. Louis Democrat went past the general decrying of the violence and seemed, at least in the view of some pro-Israel politicians and organizations, to lay the blame for the aggression on Israel. 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 said on social media. 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. Bushs statement, issued Saturday night as the death toll was continuing to climb, was consistent with her past positions. She has steadfastly been among a minority of Democratic lawmakers who have strongly opposed Israeli policy in Gaza and other Palestinian areas in the Middle East. My statement on the ongoing violence in Palestine and Israel pic.twitter.com/NIt9G7aLMI Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) October 8, 2023 On Monday, U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, slammed Bushs statement by calling it reprehensible and offensive. Israel has the absolute right to defend itself and we stand with them unequivocally as they protect their nation against this unprovoked act of war, Wagner said. Locally, the Anti-Defamation Leagues St. Louis-based chapter, which covers Missouri, Southern Illinois and a portion of Kansas, also strongly condemned Bushs stance. More than 800 Israelis have been murdered, more than 2,000 injured, and countless are being held hostage by the terrorist organization Hamas, the ADL said in a statement. To take this moment to slander our ally Israel and suggest the U.S. cut off military assistance is tone-deaf, heartless, and beyond reason. In a separate interview, Jordan Kadosh, ADL regional director, further criticized Bushs statement. Hamas is a terrorist organization and theyre just massacring people, killing children and murdering families, Kadosh said. The Jewish Federation of St. Louis issued a statement which said, Jewish lives should be protected, supported, and honored in St. Louis and in Israel, and condemns Hamas and their abhorrent terror attack on Israel. Rori Picker Neiss, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council in St. Louis, said she was dismayed by Bushs statement, given that members of the local Jewish community are trying to find out about the well-being of family and friends in Gaza. Rather than focus her statement exclusively on the lives lost and the need for a peaceful resolution following the horrific attacks that sent shockwaves across the world, Congresswoman Bush chose to add implicit blame upon Israel, Neiss said. Bushs office on Monday declined to comment further on her statement. Bushs weekend message echoed that of another member of The Squad, a group of progressive legislators that has consistently supported Palestinian interests. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., condemned the unconditional funding by the U.S. to support Israel, which she called an apartheid government. One of the first to fire back at Bush and Tlaib was another liberal Democrat, U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York. Torres called their remarks reprehensible and repulsive. Israel is the victim of a terrorist attack. Hamas is the perpetrator. Its as simple as that. There are no both sides, Ritchie said. Israel is the victim of a terrorist attack. Hamas is the perpetrator. Its as simple as that. There are no both sides. Yet here you have 30+ student organizations from Harvard University, blaming the victims, Israelis, for their own murder, rape, and abduction, rather than pic.twitter.com/uePk86oAQa Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) October 9, 2023 Shame on anyone who glorifies as resistance the largest single-day mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, Torres added, according to national news sources. A local group, Progressive Jews of St. Louis, echoed Bushs statement with its own release on Monday. While mourning the loss of life, the group said it stood in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance and said that the Hamas attacks are not unprovoked and blamed them on U.S. aid to the Israeli military. Progressive Jews of St. Louis (ProJoSTL) continues to stand in solidarity with Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation. As we witness the ongoing events, we are devastated by the brutality and mourn all loss of life. pic.twitter.com/FAurgoWZfd Progressive Jews of St. Louis (@ProJoSTL) October 9, 2023 The Council on American-Islamic Relations also came out Monday in defense of Bushs statement, calling her remarks absolutely right. To save lives in Israel and Palestine, we need a lasting peace, said Robert S. McCaw, CAIRs government affairs director. And theres no peace without justice, including (for) Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This is not the first time Bush has embraced anti-Israel stances. In April, Bush voted against a resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Then in July, Bush and other members of The Squad boycotted a speech by Israel President Isaac Herzog. In 2021, Bush twice voted against funding Israels defense. First, she introduced a resolution seeking to block a $735 million sale of precision-guided weapons made by Boeing Co. in St. Charles. Later that year, she opposed sending $1 billion to Israel for its Iron Dome defense system. Bush was first elected in 2020, upsetting longtime incumbent Democrat William Lacy Clay. In 2022, she was reelected by a wide margin after defeating her Democratic primary opponent, state Sen. Steve Roberts. Unlike Bush, other St. Louis-area lawmakers have uniformly condemned Hamas attacks. Over the weekend, Wagner, said, Make no mistake, these are innocent civilians in Israel being targeted and slaughtered by Hamas terrorists. U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said on Saturday, These brutal terrorist attacks have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded, and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas. Israel has every right to defend itself. Americans are waking up to shocking news as Israel was attacked last night. These brutal terrorist attacks have left dozens dead and hundreds wounded, and were carried out by Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas. Israel has every right to defend itself. Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) October 7, 2023 U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said, Hamas terrorists are deliberately targeting innocent civilians in Israel in despicable acts of war. I stand with Israel and support Israels right of self-defense as they defend their people and their homeland. Hamas terrorists are deliberately targeting innocent civilians in Israel in despicable acts of war. I stand with Israel and support Israels right of self-defense as they defend their people and their homeland. Now as ever, the United States must support Israel https://t.co/gQQGPS5rpJ Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) October 7, 2023 St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, also a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, said, I strongly condemn Hamass unprovoked attack on Israel. We mourn the loss of innocent life and pray for their families. I strongly condemn Hamas's unprovoked attack on Israel. We mourn the loss of innocent life and pray for their families.https://t.co/B550zqtJ4A Wesley Bell (@WesleyBell4MO) October 7, 2023 Gov. Mike Parson also weighed in on the situation, saying, I stand with Israel. Missouri stands with Israel. The United States must stand with Israel. Editors note: A sentence saying members of the progressive Democratic group known as the Squad have consistently supported Hamas and other Palestinian groups has been revised. While they have all opposed the blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza, they have not explicitly voiced support for Hamas. ST. LOUIS Police say a 17-year-old boy was shot and killed early Sunday morning near Gravois Park, and they identified another 16-year-old boy as the suspect. The boy who died was Iarvera Hale, of the 1400 block of Stonebury Court in Florissant, police said. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The 16-year-old was not identified. He was shot in the leg, according to police, and is in stable condition at an area hospital. Officers responded to the shooting at 3:34 a.m. near the intersection of Compton Avenue and Potomac Street at the northeast corner of the park, police reports show. Anyone with information can call St. Louis homicide detective directly at 314-444-5371. Those who want to remain anonymous and are interested in a reward can contact CrimeStoppers at 866-371-8477. This story was updated at 3:30 p.m. with information about the victim and suspect. ST. LOUIS Thomas Sandersons Halloween festivities were a neighborhood tradition. For more than two decades, the Hazelwood resident put together a lavish display featuring animatronic figures and creatures, lights, music, fog machines, a bonfire and of course candy. But on Halloween in 2022, a half-dozen police cars descended upon Sandersons property and asked to search his home. Sanderson had been convicted of a sex offense in 2006, and police argued he had violated a state law that prohibits people on the sex offender registry from interacting with children. He also hadnt posted a required sign stating, No candy or treats at this residence. Now, just weeks before Halloween, Sanderson has filed a lawsuit seeking to throw out the sign requirement. His attorneys say it is an arbitrary, politically motivated act that violates Sandersons First Amendment right to freedom of expression. The Halloween sign posting mandate compels (Sanderson), his family and all registrants to use their own property as billboards for the governments false message that they pose a risk to children on Halloween, the suit says. The lawsuit names Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and the Hazelwood police chief, both of whom are tasked with enforcing the law. The Hazelwood police Chief James Hudanick declined comment, and Baileys office did not respond to a request for comment. Sanderson and his family moved to Hazelwood in 2000. Shortly thereafter, a 16-year-old family friend accused him of inappropriate sexual touching, according to the lawsuit. He was charged in Phelps County with second-degree statutory sodomy and convicted by a jury. In 2006, he was sentenced to two years in prison and required to register as a sex offender for 25 years. Sanderson still denies the allegations, according to the lawsuit. In 2008, Missouri lawmakers passed a bill requiring sex offenders to avoid contact with children on Halloween, remain inside the house, turn off all outside lights and post a sign. Sanderson asked county police if he was subject to the requirements, and they told him he was not because he was convicted before the law went into effect, the suit says. He was questioned by Hazelwood police in 2012 about his decorations but again was told he did not need to comply, the suit says. For the next decade, the Halloween festivities went off without a hitch. Sanderson set up decorations all around the home and hosted more than 100 people on any given night. One year, local firemen even set up trucks in front of the house to hand out candy. Then, last year, the trouble started: Multiple tipsters reported that a registered sex offender had been handing out candy at Sandersons home. Hazelwood police arrested Sanderson, put out a news release, and Sanderson was charged. He eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to probation, according to court records. Last Tuesday, Sanderson filed suit arguing the states sign requirement is based upon myths and unfounded fears about sex offenders. The complaint references studies and papers that have found no significant increases in sex crimes on or around Halloween and says that the sign mandate may, in fact, put Sanderson and his family in danger from people who target him for being a registered sex offender. Multiple courts have struck down similar sign mandates in recent years, finding in one case that it was a classic example of the government compelling someone to express things they dont want to say in violation of the First Amendment, according to the suit. In Sandersons case, the sign forces him and his family members to communicate to the public the governments view that they ... are immediate threats to public safety, despite the complete absence of any evidence for this assertion, the suit says. Beyond that, the signs are completely unnecessary, said Janice Bellucci, a lawyer representing Sanderson who also serves as the executive director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, because registry information is already public for all to see. All you have to do is look at the (state) website, she said in an interview Wednesday. You dont have to go to their front door. A hearing has not yet been set in Sandersons case. JEFFERSON CITY Ongoing staffing woes within Missouris prison system have officials considering a plan to begin monitoring inmates electronically, saving time on time-intensive head counts. In documents submitted to Gov. Mike Parson, the Missouri Department of Corrections is asking for $12.5 million to place tracking devices on all inmates that can identify a prisoners location within the states 19 lockups. Along with saving time on head counts, which are necessary to ensure no one has escaped or is hiding, the devices could lead to improved reaction times during medical emergencies. In addition, the system will help us identify a staff members location in order to improve staff reaction time when a staff member is under duress, the request notes. Budget documents show the plan could reduce the time for a head count within a prison to 19 minutes, down from an average of about 45 minutes currently. The request for funding comes as the states prison system continues to face staffing challenges, despite efforts by Parson and state lawmakers to boost the pay of state workers. Over the past two years, wages for state employees have increased more than 13%, but employee turnover remains an issue. The department currently has about 5,400 workers at its adult facilities, home to about 23,500 inmates. The goal is to bring the number of guards up to more than 6,300. The push to switch to an electronic inmate tracking system got underway last year. In August, the department asked for companies to demonstrate technology used for monitoring the whereabouts of inmates, leading to the request submitted by the department last week. A handful of companies provide such services. Some of the programs require inmates to wear wristbands that can track an inmates heartbeat, determine their location every 30 seconds and, in some instances, create three-dimensional images showing who comes into contact with whom. In some cases, if a wristband is cut or removed, prison staff are notified within 15 seconds. Its not clear whether a wristband or other tracking device would have helped authorities find the location of a sex offender who escaped from a hospital in St. Louis County in September. The proposal is the latest attempt to use technology to address problems within the prison system. With inmate deaths up by an estimated 25% last year, the department eliminated physical mail in an attempt to stop deadly drugs from entering prisons. Instead of reading letters on paper, the materials are scanned in order to be read on an electronic tablet. The request for a monitoring system also comes as the department faces a civil lawsuit by parents of an inmate who died but was allegedly left unattended in his cell. Parson and state lawmakers could consider the funding as they work to piece together a spending plan for the fiscal year beginning next July. Editor's note: This story has been revised with updated information provided by police. ST. LOUIS One person was killed and four others injured Sunday night in a crash on the border of the city's Dutchtown neighborhood. The crash happened about 10:50 p.m. at Keokuk Street and South Broadway, police said. A 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix was driving south on South Broadway when it collided with a 2008 Volvo S40 in the intersection. The Pontiac landed in the southbound lanes, and the Volvo landed in the northbound lanes, police said. The 48-year-old driver of the Pontiac and one of his three passengers, an unidentified woman, were taken to the hospital. The driver was critically injured, and the woman was pronounced dead. The other two passengers were injured and arrived at a hospital, but police said it was unclear Monday how they got to the hospital responding officers did not find them at the crash site. The Volvo's driver, a 17-year-old boy, was also injured. ST. LOUIS Public safety officials have made progress filling the vacancies in the understaffed 911 dispatch system, beginning to cut down on dangerous hold times that have raised questions about the citys ability to perform one of the most basic services of local government. While that is welcome news for a city struggling to staff everything from the airport to zoning, an important structural fix to St. Louis 911 system has largely been put on hold. The hires the city has made recently are largely police dispatchers, who still serve as the primary call-takers in a disjointed system. Police dispatchers field all calls and must decide whether to transfer them to either EMS dispatchers for medical emergencies or fire dispatchers for fires. Major reports on St. Louis public safety infrastructure have called out the system for years. It delays the dispatch of first responders, overburdens one type of call-takers and dispatchers (the police), and risks the drop of emergency calls as theyre transferred to EMS or fire dispatchers. This does not represent a best practice, a 2014 study of the citys fire and EMS services said bluntly, underlining the statement for emphasis. But integrating the system is not as simple as training employees to answer all calls. One union represents police dispatchers, and another represents EMS and fire dispatchers. The unions have demanded bargaining over any dispatcher cross-training. Uncertainty about which union would represent a combined dispatcher position slowed attempts by Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and her former public safety director, Dan Isom, to allow dispatchers to handle all types of emergency calls. The unions complained Jones and Isoms plans for consolidation were made without consulting them and that the changes in job duties were clearly something that should be covered in contract negotiations. Richard Frank, the citys personnel director at the time, agreed with the unions. But the city tried to move forward with a new combined dispatcher position a few months later. The police union responded by threatening a lawsuit. Since then, the city hasnt filled the combined public safety dispatch positions it created, and cross-training has taken a back seat to the immediate staffing crisis. Jones and interim Public Safety Director Charles Coyle say they still envision a fully integrated 911 dispatching system, with cross-trained dispatchers housed in a combined dispatch center the city hopes to have built and open by 2026. Were still pursuing that, but we wanted to make sure we can staff up first, and so were vigorously working on decreasing our vacancies, the mayor told the Post-Dispatch late last month. Because weve lifted the city residency requirement and increased the pay, weve got a lot of new applicants. Coyle, in an interview, said the department will begin cross-training once it fills 75% of the open positions in its 911 dispatching ranks and new hires have enough experience, generally eight to 10 months, to work on their own. That is not a short-range plan by any means, Coyle said. After that, the city will look at hiring for its new public safety dispatcher position it created last year. The unions and employees will have to work out whether the police or fire union will represent the position, Coyle said. The Missouri State Board of Mediation may need to help resolve the matter. Frank, the former personnel director, said it could require a runoff election of affected members. Coyle said the city has a long-term plan for the future of its 911 operations and will work with the unions on cross-training and the combined position once staffing levels recover. Were going to try and get them in the door, Coyle said. We know that some of the negotiating partners, we have some work to do. We know that. But I dont know if were going to have much of a problem about just cross-training from one to another. Dan Clark, president of Local 73 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said the combined position and cross-training came up briefly with the city during a bargaining session, but there were no changes made. He said the union supports anything that improves 911 dispatching, but members want to be part of negotiations. He anticipates it will be a part of contract negotiations in the future, adding the union has a good working relationship with the new personnel director, Sonya Jenkins-Gray, who serves as the citys chief negotiator with its employee unions. It does sound like theyre willing to bargain, Clark said. The St. Louis Police Officers Association reasserted that any changes to dispatcher duties need to be negotiated with the union. But Joe Steiger, business manager of the union, said it hasnt begun talking with the city about it or with the fire union about which union would represent combined dispatchers. Our main focus has been getting a meaningful raise for dispatchers to help replenish the shortage of dispatchers, Steiger said. Not going to deter us Coyle has touted the more than 100 applications for dispatcher positions since the city has instituted big pay increases. Since early 2020, the city has nearly doubled the starting salary for police dispatchers, to $47,000. The latest, a 13% raise, took effect in July. Also this summer, the state law ending the requirement that city employees must live in the city increasingly difficult in shrinking St. Louis has expanded the citys labor pool by over a million. Soon, the number of police dispatcher vacancies will be down to 22 from a recent high of 39, Coyle said, out of 74 non-trainee police dispatcher positions and 13 managers. The city also has cut vacancies among EMS dispatchers, with about five open positions left, the public safety director said. Half of the citys 19 EMS dispatcher jobs were open this summer. There, the city raised salaries to match those of police dispatchers, a major jump. Police and EMS dispatchers last year were also moved into the same building, enabling more collaboration and cross-training. Fire dispatchers are already fully staffed. Were not going to have a problem with fire dispatchers, I believe, Coyle said. Theyre going to always be close to full staffing. Thats because fire dispatchers are the highest paid, and their pay is protected by the St. Louis City Charter in the same section that requires firefighters and the fire chief be paid as much as police officers and the police chief. The highest-paid fire dispatcher of the 10 employed by the city pulls in $65,000 in regular salary and close to $90,000 with overtime. Coyle acknowledged the pay disparities complicate combining positions, but he said the city still plans to move ahead and negotiate with the unions for a combined dispatcher job. To be more efficient, we think we have to take that route, he said. We know that there may be bumps and bruises along the way, but well continue to move and improve the system as we go. One of those improvements will be the combined 911 dispatch center, planned to be built next to the existing fire department headquarters on North Jefferson Avenue. The $43 million project has $20 million secured from the city and $10 million from the state, though Missouri Gov. Mike Parson vetoed the rest of the funds the city requested to finish the project. Coyle said Parsons veto hasnt slowed the projects timeline, and design work is largely complete. Thats not going to deter us, Coyle said. Were working to raise the money, and planning is continuing. In the meantime, Coyle said the new hires will help the city inch closer to the national standard of 90% of all 911 calls answered within 10 seconds, a number that had dropped as low as 64% in recent years. I am anticipating a rise in the percentage of calls we can get to within 10 seconds, Coyle said. That number has already started to rise a little bit. Were not there yet. Its better, but it needs to get much, much better. GREENE COUNTY, Ill. Foot-deep gullies scar parts of Scott Turmans farmland where crops used to grow. The field is littered with rocks as big as hubcaps and jumbled piles of debris left from construction of the Spire STL Pipeline. Years after the pipeline began delivering gas to the St. Louis region, Turman and other Illinois farmers say its construction has rendered portions of their land too damaged to plant and too risky to run farm machinery through. Fertile topsoil has been removed or lost in places, reducing soybean and corn yields. These rocks, they call em combine killers, Turman said. They were dredged up to the surface when the pipeline went in underground, he said. Some landowners also still question why the St. Louis-based gas utility had to go through their properties the way it did sometimes through the middle of their farmland or woods, instead of hugging existing roadways, power lines or property edges. The pipeline, mired in legal and regulatory controversy since its inception, was completed in 2019. Now, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed a petition against Spire, saying the company hasnt made good on its promise to limit the impact and damage from the pipeline. Accounts vary on how widespread the problems are. Nate Laps, a consultant representing landowners, said he is aware of about 40 damaged properties. Spire, in a statement, said 15 landowners have outstanding concerns about the pipeline. Raoul cites at least seven affected properties. The Post-Dispatch interviewed a half-dozen landowners who say theyve been harmed. Spire is pushing to dismiss the latest legal petition, arguing the allegations are outside the bounds of its agreement governing impacts from the pipeline, that it hasnt violated any laws or regulations and that some of the property owners wont allow the company access to their land for repairs. The Illinois attorney generals office is preparing to file a response Tuesday, and a court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20. Spire said in a statement that it is ready and willing to address any and all landowner concerns with restoration issues, and that nearly all of the 179 landowners along the pipeline have already seen their property restored with revegetation comparable to pre-construction conditions. The company added that it will continue to work in good faith by being proactive and transparent in resolving outstanding restoration concerns. But some residents say they dont trust the company or its contractors to properly do the job or avoid causing further damage. When I let them try to fix it, they made it worse, said Jay Gettings, who owns farmland near Turman. Theyve just destroyed it The Spire STL Pipeline has attracted controversy throughout its short history, in part because of a now-disallowed tactic that federal energy regulators used to postpone challenges to it, even as construction began. That left questions about the pipelines necessity and impact unaddressed until after it was completed. The following year, in December 2020, the Illinois attorney general filed a legal complaint seeking relief and penalties related to the pipelines construction across Jersey, Greene and Scott counties. The case went dormant for about two years, after a June 2021 agreement with Spire over the restoration of land affected by the pipeline. The newest legal petition cites evidence from two rounds of inspections in 2022, when the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency documented many of the problems that landowners still call attention to from water drainage problems to stray debris. It asks that Spire establish adequate erosion measures, amid other actions, and that the court levy monetary sanctions to ensure compliance. Some residents say the latest legal actions have been a long time coming. Near Jerseyville, in one part of a field left barren, Turman has large hunks of rock strewn where crops would ordinarily be material he said had been underground before pipeline excavation. Nearby are large portions of wooden, bolted-together mats used during construction to provide a hard surface for machinery, essentially serving as a temporary roadway. But some of the material has lingered, with farmers finding entire mats remaining on their land or buried underneath. Every time we work a field, we find stuff like that, Turman said. Like other local landowners, he has piled a heap of recovered mat debris several feet high. In a bare area, next to where Turman had hoped to build a home, he pointed out light soil where dark topsoil belongs. He said when the pipeline was put into his ground, the topsoil and the lower-quality lighter soil beneath it were supposed to be kept in separate piles and then dropped back into place. But he said that didnt happen correctly in some places, and drainage and erosion problems have washed some topsoil away. The same goes for Ray Sinclair, who farms land near Jerseyville. He says topsoil built up over centuries is gone from parts of his land, robbing the ground of valuable nutrients and organic matter. Thats going to take years and years to grow that back, he said. Thats something that you cant make. Its Mother Nature it takes a while. At another nearby farm, Gettings says his land was not properly restored either. He once had some of the most productive farmland in the state, even winning awards for the best soybean yields in Southern Illinois, before the pipeline was built across his land. Theyve just destroyed it destroyed the productivity, Gettings said. To the north, near Winchester, Ken Davis says he wasnt opposed to the pipeline but has issues with how Spire and its contractor put the project right down the middle of a 40-acre tract of his land. The line cuts through wooded areas he had prized for hunting land that previously accounted for a good number of his trophy deer mounts, he said. But the pipeline project has upended deer and turkey hunting there. Now my paradise that I bought is just totally changed, Davis said. Under pressure Landowners say theres plenty of blame to go around and shouldnt be solely fixed on Spire. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, was responsible for inspecting the line and approving the project. But it tabled a complaint until the pipeline was already built and running part of an approval that the agencys own leadership has since blasted as flawed. Gettings and others say the pipeline construction seemed rushed and that work crews even entered fields that were saturated with water, when crop land is especially prone to damage. They put it in so hastily, in my opinion, knowing that it could be stopped at any time, Gettings said. He added that, at times during the construction on his property, he saw bulldozers pulling work buses through standing water, getting workers to the site. You think that didnt do long-term damage to my soil? he said. Michels, the project contractor, and FERC did not comment when contacted by the Post-Dispatch. Some landowners are still hoping to see some kind of fix or, they say, to be treated fairly. Im not against the pipeline. I just want them to treat me right, and that hasnt happened, said Davis. The guys that own the land are getting screwed over big time. ST. LOUIS The embattled listener-supported community radio station KDHX (88.1 FM) says people hoping for a return to the old days can stand down: It isnt going to happen. The station has been embroiled in controversy since Sept. 22, when 10 of its on-air volunteer DJs were fired. Since then, at least 13 more DJs have resigned or gone on strike in protest, and at least one more has been fired. The volunteers who were removed will not be reinstated no matter how many strike. Volunteers are not entitled to be a part of any organization they are actively causing harm to, including our station, Gary F. Pierson, president of the KDHX Community Board of Directors, said in a statement. The controversy began with the February dismissal of Tom Papa Ray, who had a show on the air since a month or two after the stations founding in 1987. According to the station, Ray was removed for a long-standing pattern of bullying, aggression and harassment. In September, Pierson said Ray was dismissed after "we made some decisions that had to be made if we were going to be a less racist and less sexist organization." Ray denies all the accusations. In August, DJs Drea Stein and Andy Coco were fired for vocally and disruptively supporting Ray, including asking supporters to withhold donations. Stein and Coco deny the claims. Last week, Stein withdrew a lawsuit fighting her dismissal. When fully staffed, KDHX has 80 volunteer DJs, each with a two- or three-hour shift playing music ranging from the blues to bluegrass to rap to R&B to music by American Indians. After the recent events, the staff is down to 54. That means 37.5% of the DJs are gone including one, DJ sheBEATZ, who left for what she calls a divine opportunity unrelated to the controversy. According to Pierson, 47 people have applied to fill those empty slots. One position has been filled. DJ Kut, who has been in St. Louis radio for more than 30 years, has been brought on to play funk, hip-hop, reggae, R&B and soul Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. His show will begin this month. In the week immediately following the mass firings, the station held its annual fall fundraising drive. The station typically does not release how much money it brings in during its drives, but Executive Director Kelly Wells said our annual fundraising is projected to be down about 28%, and these are important resources we need to maintain operations. According to an independent audit, in 2022 the station brought in nearly $978,000 in individual gifts and corporate underwriting, including donations from two fundraising drives. In his statement, Pierson said that the staff and potential future members of the staff have been targeted by a small group who are determined to derail the stations future. He did not specify who this group is, but there is an active group on Facebook called Save KDHX 88.1, which was formed to protest the mistreatment of the DJs, employees and affected community. That group, which has nearly 2,900 members, generally advocates for the resignation or dismissal of Pierson and executive director Kelly Wells, and for the reinstatement of the DJs who were fired or have left of their own accord. Under no circumstances will the station meet this groups demands, Pierson said. The 593rd day of full-scale war has begun in Ukraine, as Ukrainian defenders continue to defend themselves in the east and south, conducting offensive operations at the Melitopol and Bakhmut directions, destroying the occupiers and liberating territories. Over the past day, 37 combat engagements took place at the frontline. ADVERTISIMENT During this time, the troops of the Russian aggressor country attacked from the air six times and fired 29 times from multiple rocket launchers at the positions of Ukrainian forces and civilian objects. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on the military situation in its morning report for October 9. It is noted that the day before, the occupiers attacked Grabovske in Sumy region; Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region; Novodanylivka, Robotyne and Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Beryslav in Kherson region. At the same time, more than 90 villages and towns in Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Sumy regions were shelled with artillery. ADVERTISIMENT The situation remains unchanged in the Volyn and Polissya sectors. In the Siversky and Slobozhansky sectors, the enemy continues to carry out sabotage and mine the territory along the border in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation. In the Kupiansk sector in Kharkiv region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled three enemy attacks near Synkivka and Ivanivka; in the Lyman sector in Luhansk region, they repelled four attacks near Makiivka. The occupants were also prevented from attacking north of Bohdanivka, Klishchiyivka and Andriivka in the Bakhmut sector. At the Avdiivka and Maryinka directions, the Russian army conducted about 15 unsuccessful attacks near Avdiivka, Maryinka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region. ADVERTISIMENT Theenemy did not conduct any attacks in the Shakhtarsk sector. However, in the Zaporizhzhia sector, it attacked north of Novoprokopivka, which was repelled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Currently, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are continuing their offensive towards Melitopol and are having partial success in this area, particularly west of the village of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia region. The defenders are also conducting assault operations in the Bakhmut region, where they are also having success - near the villages of Andriivka and Klishchiyivka. The defenders are gaining a foothold in the occupied lines and are exhausting the Russian army, causing losses in manpower and equipment. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, in the Kherson sector, our soldiers continue counter-battery combat, eliminating enemy depots and conducting targeted strikes on the enemy's rear. Over the course of October 8, the aviation of the Defense Forces carried out three strikes on the areas of concentration of the invaders. For their part, units of the Armed Forces' missile forces hit three artillery vehicles, two radar stations, two areas of manpower concentration and two ammunition depots of the Russian Armed Forces. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the Institute of War Studies noted that the Russian occupiers had intensified mine work on the Robotyne - Verbove line in Zaporizhzhia region, trying to prevent the Ukrainian Armed Forces from moving further. They are also spreading fake news that the weather will stop the Ukrainian counteroffensive. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ZINDA JAN, Afghanistan (AP) People dug through the rubble of the quake in western Afghanistan for their few possessions but the material losses seemed unimportant. Saturdays 6.3 magnitude quake killed and injured thousands when it leveled an untold number of homes in Herat province. Picking through the rubble on Monday, Asadullah Khan paused to think about a future marred by grief. Khan lost three daughters, his mother and his sister-in-law. Five members of his uncles family have died. His neighbors are grief-stricken, too. We have lost 23 people in this village, Khan said. Mounds of rubble flank the road winding through Zinda Jan district. Some door frames remain standing. There were few people in sight on Monday. The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team visited the quake-affected region Monday to deliver immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable and accurate distribution of aid, authorities said. Top U.N officials also went to Zinda Jan to assess the extent of the damage. And in neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food, medicine, tents and blankets. The Taliban's supreme leader has made no public comments about the quake. Afghanistan has few reliable statistics but a spokesman for Afghanistan's national disaster authority, Janan Sayiq, told reporters in Kabul that around 4,000 people were killed or injured by the disaster. He did not provide a breakdown, but the United Nations estimates that 1,023 people were killed and 1,663 people injured in 11 villages in Zinda Jan alone. Nearly 2,000 houses in 20 villages were destroyed, the Taliban has said. The area hit by the quake has just one government-run hospital. Saturday's epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Several of the aftershocks have been strong, including one Monday that again caused residents of the city to rush out of their homes. More than 35 teams from the military and nonprofit groups are involved in rescue efforts, said Sayiq, from the disaster authority. The fast-approaching winter, combined with the new disaster, is likely to exacerbate Afghanistan's existing challenges and make it even harder for people to meet their basic needs, like adequate shelter, food, and medicine, aid groups warn. Vital infrastructure including bridges was destroyed and emergency response teams have been deployed to provide humanitarian assistance, the International Rescue Committee said. The global response to the quake has been slow, with much of the world wary of dealing directly with the Taliban-led government and focused on the deadly escalation between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called his Afghan Taliban counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to express his condolences, according to a post on X by Hafiz Zia Ahmad, the deputy spokesman for the foreign ministry in Kabul. The Iranian diplomat "promised humanitarian aid to victims, said Ahmad. Meanwhile, the justice ministry has urged national and international charity foundations, businessmen and Afghans to mobilize and gather humanitarian aid for needy people in the province. Due to the extent of damages and casualties caused by this incident, a large number of our compatriots in Herat province need urgent humanitarian aid," the ministry said in a statement. Afghans are still reeling from recent natural disasters. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March struck much of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and an earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, flattening stone and mud-brick homes and killing at least 1,000 people. JERUSALEM It was, they thought, an ironclad social contract. Israeli citizens would serve in the military and live along enemy borders. In exchange, the army would defend them. That contract was shattered Saturday when hundreds of Hamas militants breached Israels defenses from the Gaza Strip, pouring in by air, land and sea on a rampage that would leave hundreds dead. The infiltration caught Israels storied high-tech army completely unaware and stunned a country that prides itself on military prowess. Further shocking Israelis was how long it took the military to respond. As thousands in southern Israel suddenly found themselves besieged, their cries for help went unanswered for hours. Holed up inside homes and safe rooms as militants sprayed bullets, torched homes and hurled grenades, they turned in desperation to social media, to journalists and to friends, beseeching the army to save them. The weekend attacks and the militarys response brought an unsettling new sense of vulnerability and abandonment. Thousands of families had no idea whether loved ones were alive or had been taken as captives to Gaza. At the height of the violence, there was no one to turn to for guidance or information. Contact centers were eventually set up, but the focus was on soliciting information from families rather than offering it. Six members of Jonathan Silvers family are missing, and he approached authorities for help. At least three relatives are captive in Gaza, he said, and the others are assumed to be there, too. He saw video of a cousin and two children taken hostage from their kibbutz, Nir Oz. But the family has received no information, Silver said. We tried to reach everybody the homeland command, police, friends, acquaintances, people on the kibbutz, he said. And for hours, there was no one to talk to. Hes particularly concerned for his aunt, who has Parkinsons disease and needs her medication. Hes frustrated, but he also said now is not the time to criticize too deeply. I have a lot of questions and a lot to say. The day of reckoning will come, he said, but now I prefer to stand beside the army. In Israel, military service is compulsory for most Jewish men and women. In the eyes of many citizens, it is the glue that keeps the country together in a region widely hostile to its presence, and its recognized worldwide for its technological advances and intelligence-gathering capabilities. That it could be taken so completely by surprise by a militant group is something Israelis are hard-pressed to fathom. For Merav Leshem Gonen, a feeling of helplessness gripped her when her daughter called in a panic from a music festival that was attacked. "Mommy, we were bombed. They shot at us. The car was shot, we cannot drive, everybody here is hurt, Gonen recounted her daughter saying. She was talking to me and said, Mommy, help us, we dont know what to do. And Im saying, We love you, and its OK. We are trying to find a way to take you out of there. We are sending people," Gonen told a news conference outside Tel Aviv. "And I know Im lying because we dont have answers, and we didnt have any answers. Nobody had. Journalist Amir Tibon had good fortune that many others didnt: While the army struggled to regroup, his 62-year-old father, a retired general, entered the breach. Noam Tibon headed from his home in Tel Aviv to Nahal Oz, a kibbutz where his son, his wife and their two young daughters were hunkering in a safe room. On the way, he connected with another retired general and a group of commandoes. After firefights with militants along the way, the elder Tibon extricated his son and family. More than a dozen others at Nahal Oz did not survive. The terms of the contract between us and the state had always been clear: We protect the border, and the state protects us, Amir Tibon wrote in an article retelling the rescue for his newspaper, Haaretz. We fulfilled our share of the deal heroically. For all too many of our beloved friends and neighbors, on this black day of Saturday, October 7, the state of Israel did not fulfill its share. Maayan Zin said she learned that her two daughters had been abducted when a relative sent her photos from a Telegram group appearing to show them sitting on mattresses in captivity. Shes among dozens of distraught families who say theres been a lack of support from Israeli authorities about their loved ones held in Gaza. There is no information. No one has contacted me since yesterday. Not the army, not the government, not the police, she said. At first, she couldnt believe what she saw in the images. I thought it was Photoshopped, she said. But videos she found online confirmed her worst fears. Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8, were shown weeping and terrified. Their father, her ex-husband, was seen being taken across the border into Gaza, his leg bleeding heavily. Just bring my daughters home, Zin pleaded. Bring everybody home. Associated Press writer Josef Federman contributed from Jerusalem. NEW YORK Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and scion of the storied Democratic dynasty, is expected to launch an independent or third-party presidential bid on Monday. Cornel West, a philosopher and Black social leader, made the same choice last week. And No Labels, a new political party, is intensifying candidate recruitment efforts. While the politics are murky, the fresh frenzy of outsider candidates threatens to weaken both major parties as Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump tighten their grip on their parties presidential nominations. Theres little concern that the independent or third-party candidates would actually win the presidency, but they could siphon support from the ultimate Democratic and Republican nominees. A heightened sense of concern is spreading especially among Democratic officials, who see the outsiders as a dangerous wildcard that harkens back to 2016, when Green Party nominee Jill Stein may have enabled Trumps razor-thin victory by winning a small portion of the vote. Those associated with the third-party efforts make no apologies for their work. The American people have been hungry for options. So, get ready, Stein said in an interview. What were seeing is a voter rebellion. Its been a long time coming. The rise of outsider candidates is an acute reminder of the intense volatility and uncertainty that hangs over the 2024 presidential election. Both of the major parties most likely nominees Biden and Trump are extraordinarily unpopular. Theyre running as the nation grapples with dangerous political divisions, economic anxiety and a deep desire for a new generation of leadership in Washington. Much more activity is expected soon. Kennedy will outline his plans in Philadelphia on Monday. Stein said the Green Party will likely make an announcement about its presidential aspirations later this month. No Labels, meanwhile, plans to make a formal decision about its presidential nominee in the spring. The efforts face steep hurdles beyond winning more than a small fraction of voters. Simply qualifying for the ballot in every state will be a gargantuan task for outsider candidates without the benefit of existing political networks. Jim Messina, who managed President Barack Obamas 2012 reelection campaign and is now a prominent Biden ally, didnt downplay the possibility that the new candidates could weaken Bidens coalition. I am a campaign manager so I am wired to plan for everything and panic about nothing, and the threat of a third party needs to be planned for seriously, Messina said. Noting that no independent or third-party candidate has ever won even a single electoral vote never mind the 270 needed to claim the presidency he said Biden and his team still need to be aggressive in warning voters about the threat that long-shot outsider candidates present. You need to tell people that a vote for a candidate without a path to 270 means theyre lighting their ballot on fire, Messina said. That may be easier said than done. Gallup released new polling last week showing that 63% of U.S. adults currently agree with the statement that the Republican and Democratic parties do such a poor job of representing the American people that a third major party is needed. It was among the highest figures since Gallup first asked the question in 2003. Still, its far from certain that dissatisfied voters would ultimately cast a ballot next fall for Kennedy, West or a centrist No Labels candidate. Historically, polls showing that people want a third party to exist have rarely translated into substantial support for actual third-party candidates. On paper, Kennedy may be most likely to draw support from Trumps coalition given his embrace of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and positive attention from far-right media. Aware of the risk, Trump allies have begun circulating opposition research against Kennedy designed to damage his standing among would-be conservative supporters. In addition to highlighting his past support for Hillary Clintons Senate and presidential campaigns, Trump allies in recent days have also circulated a pre-pandemic video clip of Kennedy declaring himself fiercely pro-vaccine in a message to Black religious leader Louis Farrakhan. Kennedy campaign spokesperson Stefanie Spear said the clip has obviously been removed from its context. Mr. Kennedy is and has always been against mandates for any and all medical interventions," she said. Mr. Kennedys position is that he is in favor of vaccines that have undergone unbiased scientific testing for safety and efficacy. Such testing has been impossible because of the corrupt influence of the pharmaceutical industry." Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita downplayed any internal concerns about Kennedys impact on the race. The most intriguing thing about this is, you have an incumbent president of the United States, and all of the elements of the third-party run are coming out of his coalition, not ours, LaCivita told The Associated Press. The Trump and Biden campaigns are quick to note that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for the political outsiders with no major funding sources or political infrastructure to get their name on the ballot in most states. No Labels is the big exception, having already secured a presidential ballot line in 11 states backed by an army of paid signature collectors. In Arizona, alone, minor party candidates must collect more than 34,000 signatures to qualify for the general election ballot. Signatures must be collected in at least five different counties, and at least 10% of signatures must be from counties with populations of less than 500,000. An independent candidate must collect more than 43,000 signatures. Michigan requires a minor party candidate to collect 44,619 signatures and independents to collect 12,000. And in Nevada, a minor party or independent candidate must collect 10,095 signatures to qualify for the ballot. At least 2,524 signatures must be collected in each of Nevadas four congressional districts. But an outsider candidate does not need to qualify for the ballot in every state to have a profound political impact. Just ask Brendan McPhillips, the state director for Bidens Pennsylvania efforts in the last election. Like many Democrats, he still blames Stein for helping Trump win the battleground state in 2016. While its impossible to say for sure, Trump carried Pennsylvania that year by just 44,000 votes, while Stein, an outspoken progressive, won nearly 50,000 votes in the state. Its dangerous," McPhillips said of the independent and third-party candidates. But I also think the Biden campaign is going to be smart about this. Theyre going to make sure everybody knows the consequences of throwing your vote away on some egomaniacs vanity project. For now, Bidens team has allowed two Democratic-aligned groups, MoveOn and Third Way, to take the lead in public attacks against the outsiders. Leaders from the groups recently hosted private briefings with senior aides on Capitol Hill to raise the alarm about No Labels especially. Third Way co-founder Matt Bennett said Kennedy is also a problem. Anything that divides the anti-Trump vote is dangerous, Bennett said. Kennedy divides it on the fringes. And No Labels divides it from the center. ... Its seriously worrying. Anxious Democratic officials comfort themselves by pointing to a trend in recent elections in which young people and suburban women have turned out in strong numbers for Democratic candidates. But looking to 2024, recent polls suggest that a Trump-Biden rematch would be competitive. The 2024 outsiders likely wont make it any easier for Biden. In fact, theyre actively challenging his core message on democracy, which the presidents team says is essentially on the ballot next fall as Trump and his supporters undermine the rule of law and integrity of the vote. We are out there proudly giving people a choice and fighting for real democracy, not the democracy where the Democratic Party says, Yeah, were saving democracy from the Republican Party by squelching any chance of a primary, by shaming voters who want to vote for a third party or an independent, said Wests campaign manager, Peter Daou. No, the true fight for democracy is to finally give people choices." And while West will rely on grassroots volunteers and small-dollar donations to secure his place on the November 2024 ballot, the No Labels movement is making almost exactly the same argument and is backed by tens of millions of dollars in anonymous donations. In an interview, former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, the No Labels founding chairman, said the organization will begin a candidate recruitment and selection process in the next two to three weeks. The group would decide to move forward with a centrist candidate, he said, only if Biden and Trump appear likely to win their partys presidential nominations after the batch of primary contests known as Super Tuesday next March. A final decision will be made by delegates at a convention scheduled for April in Dallas, but a process for choosing those delegates has not been announced. The parties have such a stranglehold on American politics and government for too long and its really hurting our country, Lieberman said. The public is crying out for a third choice, and maybe we need to listen to the public." AP writer Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) 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. Get the rest here: Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war WASHINGTON (AP) The State Department said Monday that at least nine American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel, raising the toll from four. It says an undetermined number of American citizens remain missing and unaccounted for. On Sunday, an official said that number was fluid and had ranged from between six to 12. It is not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or are in hiding. The State Department is in touch with families and providing all appropriate consular assistance, said spokesman Matthew Miller. The attack by Hamas has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. 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. 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 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. 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. Lynn Schmidt, columnist and editorial board member with the Post-Dispatch, talks with former Congressman Mickey Edwards, author of The Parties Versus the People. How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans. Edwards was a member of Congress for 16 years, serving as the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. He was also a founding member of the Heritage Foundation. He is now a registered Independent. Edwards worries about the rise of authoritarian populism and about the lack of responsiveness and dysfunction of our government. Luckily, Edwards has some suggestions and shares that the power rests with all of us. Hamburg International Airport in Germany has been closed in an emergency on the afternoon of October 9. The reason for this decision is the fear of a possible attack on the plane that arrived in the morning from Tehran. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the airport administration. Since 12:40, there have been no takeoffs or landings. "Due to the measures taken by the federal police, takeoff and landing are not possible for a short time. There may be flight delays. Please follow the status of your flight," the airline's employees addressed passengers. However, the real situation is that the federal police received an email threatening to attack the Tehran-Hamburg flight. Against the backdrop of the military escalation in the Middle East between Israel and Palestine, this threat is being taken very seriously. The flight from the Iranian capital landed in Hamburg at about 12:20 p.m. and is now in a special zone. The 198 passengers and 16 crew members have already left the plane and are now undergoing security checks in a separate area. The plane and luggage will be searched. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Hamas terrorists kidnapped and probably killed a German citizen during an attack on Israel. The girl named Shani Luk was recognized by her hairstyle - dreadlocks and tattoos. Only verified information on our Telegram channel Obozrevatel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE AND AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE Not for release to US wire services or distribution in the United States Highlights: Extensive field work program highlights encouraging gold and copper mineralisation along 6.5km of skarns and new structures within Chanach. High-grade trench sampling assays include: 2m @ 4.05g/t Au and 1.56% Cu from Cut 1 1m @ 1.10g/t Au and 0.76% Cu from Cut 1 7m @ 2.94g/t Au (including 4m @ 4.87g/t Au) and 1.12% Cu from Cut 2 5m @ 5.53g/t Au from Cut 5 (Outcropping Quartz vein in Central Area) RTG continues to advance progress on Mabilo Project in Philippines - budget discussions with project partners progressing well. SUBIACO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2023 / The Board of RTG Mining Inc. (" RTG ", or the " Company ") ( TSX Code:RTG)(ASX Code:RTG ) is pleased to provide an update on the exploration activities at their 90% owned Chanach Gold & Copper Project ( Chanach ) in the Kyrgyz Republic. Recent exploration activities at Chanach have included ground truthing, the collection of 1,154 soil samples concentrating on 6.5km of skarn and new structures identified in the eastern end of the tenement in last year's structural survey, the digging of seven dozer cut trenches across the identified skarn and outcropping quartz and a magnetic survey over the tenement. Management Commentary: Commenting on these positive results, RTG's CEO Justine Magee said : "These results further increase our confidence that Chanach can evolve into both a high-grade, large Copper - Gold Porphyry Skarn system, similar to or even better than the Mabilo Project, combined with a high-grade epithermal gold system. Follow up work next field season is planned to include a 3DIP survey and drilling of defined targets. Whilst we are excited to see the excellent results coming from Chanach, progress at our Mabilo Project in the Philippines continues to gain momentum with the new partnership with the Villar controlled TVI Resource Development (Phils.) Inc. working well, with the current focus on updating budgets for start up so we can refresh the financing plans for the project. We have again been approached by a number of parties who have expressed a keen interest in both the financing and offtake arrangements for the project." High-Grade Trench Sampling Results: Skarn area: 2m @ 4.05g/t Au and 1.56% Cu from Cut 1 1m @ 1.10g/t Au and 0.76% Cu from Cut 1 7m @ 2.94g/t Au (including 4m @ 4.87g/t Au) and 1.12% Cu from Cut 2 1m @ 1.26g/t Au from Cut 3 (remainder of trench still in sedimentary cover) 1m @ 2.05g/t Au from Cut 4 6m @ 1.56% Cu (including 3m @ 2.11%Cu) from Cut 4 5m @ 1.70g/t Au and 1.6% Cu from outcropping skarn in eastern end Outcropping Quartz vein in Central Area: 5m @ 5.53g/t Au from Cut 5 2m @ 2.18% Cu from Cut 5 Historically, under the previous ownership, there had been limited mapping and no detailed work done on the skarn areas, the extent of which was only identified in the last field season, supporting the current program to now focus in on these exciting new areas and potential. The channel samples confirm the high-grade nature and strong prospectivity of the skarns combined with high grade epithermal quartz veins within the tenement. Results from dozer cuts 6 and 7 and the soil sampling are being processed at the fully accredited Information Research Centre Laboratory in Kara Balta in the Kyrgyz Republic with results pending. The magnetic survey was flown with drones by Geoscan Ltd on 50m line spacing at an altitude of 50m. The data collected will be processed by Southern Geoscience Consultants in Perth, and overlayed with the results from the soil sampling, to be used for 3DIP and drill targeting. Figure 1: Tenement Map showing area of 2023 Field Season Geochemical Samples and Magnetic Survey Figure 2: Tenement Map showing location of 2023 Field Season Trenches and Mapped Skarn Structure ABOUT RTG MINING INC RTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. RTG is currently focused primarily on progressing the Mabilo Project to start-up having now received a mining permit for the Project, with a view to moving quickly and safely to a producing gold and copper company. RTG also has a number of exciting new opportunities including the Panguna Project in Bougainville, which it remains committed to while also considering further new business development opportunities. RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited. RTG has some of the most respected international institutional investors as shareholders including Franklin Templeton, Equinox Partners and Sun Valley. ENQUIRIES President & CEO - Justine Magee Tel: +61 8 6489 2900 Email: [email protected] US Investor Relations Contact Australia Investor and Media Contact Jaime Wells: +1 970 640 0611 Sam Burns: +61 400 164 067 [email protected] [email protected] COMPLIANCE STATEMENT Date: 9 October 2023 Authorised for release by: By the Board of Directors CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation including, among others, statements made or implied relating to the interpretation of exploration results, accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, parameters and assumptions used to estimate mineral reserves and mineral resources, realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, estimated economic results of the Mabilo Project, future operational and financial results, including estimated cashflow and the timing thereof, estimated expenditures, expansion, exploration and development activities and the timing thereof, including expectations regarding the DSO, plans for progressing Stage 2 development, completion of a debt funding package, the negotiation of contracts for start up works and offtake arrangements and the completion of merged documentation, RTG's objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, RTG's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "objective", "may", "will", "expected", "likely", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "plans", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RTG's expectations include uncertainties related to fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of RTG's mineral projects; the need to obtain additional financing to develop RTG's mineral projects; the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for RTG's mineral projects and other risks and uncertainties as discussed in RTG's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2022 and detailed from time to time in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. The forwardlooking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. RTG will not release publicly any revisions or updates to these forwardlooking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority. NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES This announcement has been prepared for publication in Canada and Australia and may not be released to US wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws. Appendix 1 - JORC Code, 2012 Edition - Table 1: Chanach Project Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data (Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.) Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Sampling Techniques Nature and quality of sampling (e.g. cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc.). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (e.g. reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (e.g. submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Sample bags were visually inspected for volume to ensure minimal size variation. Sampling was carried out under standard industry protocols and QAQC procedures. A 50-gram sample is digested for gold analysis by Fire Assay and Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), and for copper analysis via pressed pellet X-ray florescence (XRF). A 0.2-gram sample is digested for multi-element analysis by Fire Assay and Inductive Coupled Plasma (ICP) using Mass Spectroscopy (MS) or Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES). The trench samples in 2023 were undertaken by an experienced geologist who determined from mapping of bedrock and trenches the areas to be sampled. All samples were dried and crushed to 90% passing 2mm. A 300g split was taken and pulverised to 80% passing 74 microns. The samples were analysed using Atomic Absorption. Drilling Techniques Drill type (e.g. core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc.) and details (e.g. core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc.). N/A Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. N/A Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc.) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. Logging is considered qualitative. All 2023 trench grab samples were logged and recorded on primary documents and maps. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. At this stage of the exploration no sub sampling is undertaken during the collection stage. The sample sizes are considered to be appropriate to correctly represent the mineralisation style. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc., the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (e.g. standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. The analytical techniques Fire Assay, Atomic adsorption Spectrophotometry for gold analysis and ICP MS or OES for multi-element analysis are considered suitable for the reconnaissance style sampling undertaken. Gold analysis was carried out using Fire Assay with finishing on a Thermo Scientific Solar S2 AA-Spectrometer. Multi-element analysis was carried out by aqua regia digest with ICP MS and OES analysis using an iCAP 6300 ICP-instrument manufactured by Thermo-Scientific. Laboratory QAQC involves the use of internal lab standards using certified reference material, blanks, splits and replicates as part of the in-house procedures. All samples from the 2023 trench sampling program were analysed at Information and Research Centre Laboratory, which has all international standards certification and were subject to in-house QAQC procedures. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. The use of twinned holes. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. An executive director of Chanach LLC has visually verified significant intersections in rock samples from the Chanach project. N/A Primary data was collected using a set of standard Excel templates on paper and re-entered into laptop computers. Assay data is received in digital and hard copy directly from the laboratory and imported into the database. No adjustments or calibrations were made to any assay data used in this report. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. Specification of the grid system used. Quality and adequacy of topographic control. Sample locations were recorded using handheld Garmin GPS60s. Elevation values were in AHD RL and values recorded within the database. Expected accuracy is + or - 3 to 7 m for easting, northing and 10m for elevation coordinates. The grid system is WGS84 UTM (zone 42 north). Topographic surface uses handheld GPS elevation data, which is adequate at the current stage of the project. Location of the 2023 trench samples were recorded using a handheld Garmin GPS. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. Whether sample compositing has been applied. N/A N/A The 2023 trench samples were composited in meter intervals across the trenches dug. 3 to 4 kg samples were taken from each meter width. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. N/A N/A Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Sample security is managed by Chanach LLC. Samples are collected by Company employees and transported by Company vehicles to the Laboratory in Kara Balta. The sample processing facility has Security Officers on duty 24 hours per day. The Company stores all mineralised intervals and all laboratory samples in a secured steel vault within the secured processing facility. The 2023 sample security was managed by Site management. Samples are collected by Company employees and transported by Company vehicles to the Laboratory in Kara Balta. The processing facility has security officers on duty 24 hours per day. The Company stores all mineralised intervals and laboratory samples in the secured sample store. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. The Company carries out its own internal data audits. No problems have been detected. Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results (Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.) Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The mineralisation is located within Exploration License AP6771 which is a Joint Venture between RTG Mining Inc (90%) and BW3 Pty Ltd (10%) There are no other material issues. The tenement is in good standing and no known impediments exist. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. No other exploration has been carried out Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. The geological setting is of Cambrian to Permian aged intrusive porphyry systems, bounded by overlying basaltic, and sedimentary rocks. Mineralisation is mostly situated within granitic porphyry units as broad alteration containing copper sulphides and within narrow quartz veins and faults. Skarn mineralisation consists of magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, malachite, azurite, limonite, haematite, epidote and granular andradite. Drill Hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in meters) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. N/A Data Aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. No length weighting has been applied due to the nature of the sampling technique. No top-cuts have been applied in reporting of the intersections. No aggregate intercepts are used. No metal equivalent values are used for reporting exploration results. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (e.g. down hole length, true width not known'). The 2023 trench samples were taken from meter length samples taken at right angles across the mapped vein and represent true widths of the mineralisation. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Appropriate maps and sections are included in previous announcements. Photos and regional map showing mapping locations and trenches for the 2023 program are included in this update. Balanced Reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Representative reporting is included within the body of this report and in previous announcements. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Exploration targeting has been enhanced by a structural study completed by Orefind in 2017, a ground magnetics study by Southern Geoscience in 2016 and a geophysical study completed by Baoding Geological Engineering Institute in 2011. The project is a target rich environment with 2019 planned exploration focussing on multiple targets. This has been further enhanced by a structural survey completed by Vaulin in 2022. No metallurgical test work has been conducted on the 2023 sampling. Further Work The nature and scale of planned further work (e.g. tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Ongoing reverse circulation and diamond drilling will be used to further define the nature and extent of the geochemical anomalism, and to gain lithological information. Most mineralisation is open both along strike and down dip. Further structural mapping, geophysical interpretation, trenching and drilling will be required to develop the resource model following the 2023 sampling regime. SOURCE: RTG Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Brushstrokes for History is a non-profit organization that promotes community connection and art that features historical records. Yana Danzig is a Broward high school senior who founded this organization that transforms history into art. Artists have developed a bond with the residents of the Sistrunk area that has enhanced the artists' abilities to highlight the community's lesser-known stories. The 17-year-old teen founded this non-profit 501(c) (3) organization in 2023 to raise awareness for the communal history and its celebration through art. Society has a habit of overlooking different communities and stories from their past. This non-profit organization is becoming a brush that paints histories and gives them a spotlight in Broward County, including Sistrunk Blvd. Led by Yana, Brushstrokes for History has created a connection between residents and artists whose conviviality transforms broken doors and windows into beautiful pieces of art. Over the summer, the founder, Yana Danzig, reached out to the community and ran summer camps that taught participants about the area's history and how art can be created to celebrate these past events. The students and artists were joined by their common passion for art and painted large panels that would go over broken doors and windows to elevate the area. Brushstrokes for History held a display show featuring the artworks on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. In this exhibition,the work of around 20 local artists was displayed at the main public library of Fort Lauderdale at 100 South Andrews Avenue,which ran from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. The show had 20 painted boards on display, and visitors met with many of the artists.With over 80 attendees, the exhibition was a successful start to something great. The goal of connecting communities with art and history has made Brushstrokes for History one of the most promising non-profit organizations in the region. Anyone who would like to join this journey of painting history can sign up at https://brushstrokesforhistory.org where they will be provided with all needed supplies. Follow the company on Instagram @brushstrokesforhistory.org for more updates. Media Contact Organization: Brushstrokes for History Contact Person: Yana Danzig Website: https://www.brushstrokesforhistory.org/ Email: [email protected] Address: Fort Lauderdale FL City: Fort Lauderdale State: Florida Country: United States SOURCE: Brushstrokes for History View source version on accesswire.com: ST. PETERSBURG, FL / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2023 / This year, sleep publication Sleep Junkie announces its list for the Best Columbus Day Mattress Sales. Each mattress and offer has also been carefully evaluated by Sleep Junkie's team of sleep and mattress experts. Dr. Miho Tanaka, a sleep expert and surgeon, explains the significant health benefits of foam mattresses. "Studies have shown that foam mattresses can help reduce the development of pressure injuries when compared to standard mattresses." Chiropractor Dr. Jordan Burns shares one of his favorite mattresses: "The medium-firmness of the Amerisleep AS2 mattress, coupled with its five zones of targeted support, makes this mattress an ideal choice for individuals who need spinal alignment across various sleeping postures." Dr. Burns also recommends the AS2 for individuals suffering from spinal stenosis: "Firmer mattresses like the Amerisleep AS2 are known to provide pressure-relief support, which can be instrumental in alleviating pain associated with spinal stenosis." For a well-rounded and more affordable sleep solution, Dr. Burns likes the Vaya Mattress, explaining, "The Vaya Mattress fosters a healthy spinal alignment for all sleepers, making it a top pick for those with spinal stenosis aiming to minimize pain and optimize sleep quality." Fiberglass has been a hot topic recently too. For families that want a healthier sleep, Sleep Junkie also highlights the best fiberglass-free mattress brands. Contact Information Harrison Wall Sleep Analyst [email protected] 347-709-5499 SOURCE: Sleep Junkie View source version on accesswire.com: Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT), a leading digital bank and fintech committed to powering consumers and businesses with seamless and affordable banking and payment tools, today announced the appointment of Michelleta (Mich) Razon to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Ms. Razon is a proven and highly respected technology executive and strategist, and we look forward to benefitting from her insights and guidance as Green Dot evolves as a growth-focused financial technology platform company, said William I. Jacobs, Chairman of the Board, Green Dot. Ms. Razons background in technology and financial services and her deep experience working for innovative and world-class brands will be extremely advantageous to the company going forward. Ms. Razon most recently served as Vice President, General Manager and Head of Commerce at Google Cloud, Googles suite of cloud computing tools and services used by consumers and businesses to enhance productivity and workflow. Before joining Google in 2021, Mich worked for Mastercard, where she most recently served as Executive Vice President of Software Engineering for Commercial and B2B Services. Prior to joining Mastercard, Mich held various technical leadership positions at Teradata from 2008 to 2014. I am thrilled to join Green Dots board and help advance its mission to make banking and payments more inclusive for everyone, said Mich. Green Dot has a tremendous opportunity ahead of them, and I look forward to helping the company capitalize on its strengths and differentiators and continue growing as a leaner, more powerful, more profitable organization for years to come. In addition to Michs appointment, Green Dot announced that Peter Feld will be resigning from the Board of Directors, effective immediately. We appreciate the contributions Peter made during his tenure, and wish Peter the best in his future endeavors, said Mr. Jacobs. For more information, visit https://ir.greendot.com/. CLICHY, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CorWave, a French company that develops and manufactures innovative cardiac assist devices, held the grand opening of its new facility on the banks of the Seine in Clichy, next to Paris, on Monday, October 9th. The company occupies over 2,400m of production, laboratory, and office space, bringing together its headquarters, R&D center and its first manufacturing facility of almost 1,000m. This world-class manufacturing facility will support the clinical trial phase and commercial scale-up. Today, CorWave's urban factory is entirely dedicated to the production and assembly of heart pump systems. Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry, and Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Sector, were among those present at the event. Founded in 2012, CorWave's mission is to provide healthcare professionals with solutions to save heart failure patients and offer them an active life, by developing and manufacturing innovative cardiac assist devices. Today CorWave held the grand opening of its manufacturing facility in Clichy, next to Paris. The facility contains close to 1,000m dedicated to the production and assembly of heart pump systems. Featuring world-class equipment and layout, the facility is divided into two main areas designed for efficient and controlled operations. The first area contains several high precision CNC machining centers, enabling the meticulous manufacture of components required for heart pump development. The second area is dedicated to heart pump system production including an ISO 7 cleanroom to provide a clean, controlled assembly environment, a dedicated inspection area for quality control of parts and assemblies to ensure product compliance with the strict quality requirements, and high-density warehousing storage for components and finished products. This facility supports CorWaves goal to become a world-class medtech with its next-generation cardiac pumps (mechanical circulatory support devices), based on a breakthrough technology, the undulating membrane pump. The facility is designed to produce up to 1,000 pumps a year, representing potential sales of around 100 million euros. A possible extension within the same site could increase production capacity to 10,000 pumps per year, representing potential sales of around one billion euros. Michael Webb, CorWave's Vice President, Manufacturing, who has worked on the process development and the production of over 18,000 heart pumps during his career, comments: The opening of our world-class medical device manufacturing facility marks a milestone in CorWave's mission to help patients in their fight against heart failure. The facility is the outcome of a great team effort and I thank all involved in support of CorWave's mission. Louis de Lillers, CEO of CorWave, continues: "We are delighted to be taking a new strategic step for CorWave, the fruit of many months of hard work. We chose to set up in the heart of Greater Paris, in Clichy, in particular to be as close as possible to our talents and to bring together Research & Development and production in a single location. Our journey is a symbol of the reindustrialization underway, which we need to encourage, as evidenced by the presence of Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry, and Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Sector. We were a Research & Development company, we are now also a manufacturing company, with the same ambition to help healthcare professionals save heart failure patients and give them an active life. About CorWave CorWave is a French company developing innovative cardiac assist devices. CorWaves wave membrane is a breakthrough technology that differs from todays commercially available left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) by its physiological operation, designed to mimic a pulse and blood flow rates similar to those of a healthy heart. Ultimately, CorWaves membrane pump technology is expected to reduce the complications associated with current devices and improve the management of heart failure patients. A member of the French Tech 120, CorWave was founded in 2012 by start-up studio MD Start and is funded by renowned investors including Bpifrance, Exor Ventures, EIC Fund, Financiere Arbevel, M&L Healthcare, Novo Holdings, Seventure Partners, Sofinnova Partners, Ysios Capital and Vlerick Group. The company has secured over 80 million in equity and employs over seventy people. For more information: www.corwave.com | twitter.com/corwave | www.linkedin.com/company/corwave This project has received funding from the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 954151. The SPI fund's investment in CorWave is part of the France 2030 program. CorWaves R&D program is supported by the French state through the Programme dInvestissements dAvenir (PIA). CorWaves Industrialization program is supported by the Paris region through the call for projects Relance Industrie. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009961584/en/ Press: TADDEO Camille Duchiron +33 (0)6 50 52 44 43 [email protected] Source: CorWave Major increase in world-class1 deposit of EU Critical Raw Materials in Norway 400 million tonnes in the Indicated category for the first time Beneficiation work shows a high level of recovery of target compounds LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Norge Mining plc, the Anglo-Norwegian mineral exploration company with a world-class resource of Critical Raw Materials in southwest Norway, announces an updated JORC2 compliant mineral resource statement for its Storeknuten Deposit of phosphate, vanadium, titanium and iron ore of some 1.94 billion tonnes, substantially increased from the 910 million tonnes reported in February 2022 and further endorsing the global significance of the discovery. In addition to a more than two-fold increase in the total resource, this updated estimate includes resource in the Indicated category for the first time, totalling some 400 million tonnes, along with further positive data on mean grades of the EU Critical Raw Materials phosphate, vanadium and titanium. The magnetite (iron ore) grade of the deposit has also been included owing to the role of iron in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, a potential end market. Storeknuten is part of the Hyland Exploration Area in the Companys Bjerkreim Exploration Project, which is currently at the pre-feasibility study stage. Highlights Updated JORC mineral resource estimate for Storeknuten totalling 1.938 billion tonnes, with 400 million tonnes in the Indicated category and 1.538 billion tonnes in the Inferred category, representing an increase of 113% in the total resource tonnage compared with the mineral resource estimate announced in February 2022 Mean grades of 2.19% phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), 0.07% vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), 4.68% titanium (TiO2) dioxide and 3.89% magnetite (Fe3O4) for the Indicated mineral resource and 1.70%, 0.07%, 4.50% and 3.57% respectively for the Inferred mineral resource, representing an average mean grade of 1.81%, 0.07%, 4.54% and 3.63% respectively This substantial increase and upgrading of the resource is a result of infill and expansion drilling undertaken during 2022 and early 2023 For comparison, the mineral resource estimate published last year for Storeknuten totalled 910 million tonnes, with mean grades of 1.55% phosphorus pentoxide, 0.07% vanadium pentoxide, 4.80% titanium dioxide and 7.24% magnetite, all in the Inferred category The increase in P2O5 grade (1.81% compared with 1.55% ) and the slight decrease in average TiO2 grade (4.54% compared with 4.80% TiO2) is mainly due to the inclusion of more zones with higher P2O5 grades and lower TiO2 grades than in February 2022 The change in average magnetite grade (3.63% compared with 7.24%) reflects additional mineralogical information, which has changed the calculation used to estimate magnetite content The updated resource estimate has been prepared to the JORC reporting standard by SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd (SRK), part of the SRK Group, an independent international mining, exploration and environmental consultant Storeknuten Mineral Resource Estimate The updated JORC compliant mineral resource estimate for Storeknuten is detailed below: Mineral Resource Classification Tonnes (millions) P2O5 (%) V2O5 (%) TiO2 (%) Fe3O4 (%) Indicated 400 2.19 0.07 4.68 3.89 Inferred 1,538 1.70 0.07 4.50 3.57 Total 1,938 1.81 0.07 4.54 3.63 The data cut-off used to produce the above estimate was 6 April 2023 and the data derives from a total of 15,171 assayed samples from 64 drill holes part of a programme that began in September 2020. Last years JORC compliant mineral resource estimate, which was announced on 9 February 2022, is reproduced below for comparison: Mineral Resource Classification Tonnes (millions) P2O5 (%) V2O5 (%) TiO2 (%) Fe3O4 (%) Indicated - - - - - Inferred 910 1.55 0.07 4.80 7.24 Total 910 1.55 0.07 4.80 7.24 In reporting the Mineral Resource Statement, SRK notes the following: In reporting a Mineral Resource, there is a requirement that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction (RPEEE). In this case, the requirement has been achieved by limiting the tonnage reported to that falling within an open pit outline which was generated assuming selling prices of USD 515/t of TiO2, USD 600/t of P2O5, USD 10.2/lb of V2O5 and USD 107/dmtu Fe. The tonnage reported has also been restricted to those blocks which exceeds a Net Smelter Return (NSR) cut-off of USD 16.3/t. SRK has treated the Storeknuten Hillfort and Eiaveien Road as limiting factors in reporting open pit Mineral Resource (i.e. SRK has assumed these will need to remain in-situ). No other environmental and social risks and issues have been used to limit the reporting of Mineral Resource according to the RPEEE criteria at this stage. Mineral Resources are not Ore Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability, nor have any mining Modifying Factors been applied. Tonnages are reported in metric units, grades in percent (%). Tonnages and grades are rounded appropriately. Rounding, as required by reporting guidelines, may result in apparent summation differences between tonnes, grade and contained metal content. Where these occur, SRK does not consider these to be material. In addition to the much larger number of drillholes and assayed samples used to derive the updated resource estimate, enabling significantly more domains to be modelled, the current resource estimate reflects the potential need to preserve certain cultural heritage sites identified by the Companys ongoing environmental and social impact assessment programmes. The mineralisation at Storeknuten occurs in steep dipping layers that are extremely continuous down dip and along strike and consists of primary magmatic mineral assemblages in which apatite, vanadium-bearing magnetite and ilmenite represent the minerals of interest. A summary of SRKs full mineral resource report will be made available on the Companys website in due course. Beneficiation work Beneficiation work carried out on representative samples by SGS Canada yielded recoveries of 64.5% of the titanium dioxide into an ilmentite concentrate with a grade of 45.0% TiO2, 71.9% of the apatite into an apatite concentrate with a grade of 40.4% P2O5 and 65.8% of the vanadium pentoxide into a magnetite concentrate with a grade of 1.03% V2O5. Testwork was also conducted on the extraction of vanadium from the magnetite concentrate, which yielded a recovery of 92%. John Vergopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Norge Mining, said: This latest mineral resource estimate of almost 2 billion tonnes at Storeknuten further reinforces the world-class status of the Bjerkreim Exploration Project and its potential to become the European supply source of the EU Critical Raw Materials phosphate, vanadium and titanium. The improvement in the phosphate grade at Storeknuten is particularly encouraging, given phosphates key role in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and in the security of food supply. The new data from the Storeknuten mineral resource estimate, and the positive beneficiation data, are being incorporated into the Bjerkreim Exploration Projects pre-feasibility study, which is currently underway. 1 World-class deposit is used in the context of this announcement to mean a deposit of very large size with the potential to provide major economic and strategic benefits. 2 The reporting standard for this statement is the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves as published by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia (the JORC Code). The JORC Code is a reporting code which has been aligned with the Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standards (CRIRSCO) reporting template and is an internationally recognised reporting standard that has been adopted worldwide for market-related reporting and financial investments. The Competent Person who has overall responsibility for the Mineral Resource is Dr Mike Armitage, C.Eng, C. Geol, FGS, MIMM, PhD. Dr Armitage is a Chartered Geologist via the Geological Society which is a Recognised Professional Organisation (RPO) included in a list promulgated by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) from time to time. He is an associate corporate consultant of SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd and has over 35 years experience in the mining and metals industry and also has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. Dr Armitage has been responsible for the reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves on various properties internationally during the past 30 years. About Norge Mining plc Norge Mining plc is an Anglo-Norwegian natural resources company focused on mineral exploration in Norway. The Companys JORC resource estimates from the Bjerkreim Exploration Project in southwest Norway have confirmed world-class deposits of the EU Critical Raw Materials phosphate, vanadium and titanium, materials with key roles in the clean energy transition, security of food supply and other areas. The provenance of these materials is also of significant strategic importance for net carbon zero and ESG commitments, a key requirement for which is supply chain transparency. Norge Mining, which owns 61 exploration licences totalling more than 520 square kilometres in Norway, is conducting a programme of exploration work, building on earlier studies by the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU). Founded in November 2018, the Company is headquartered in the UK and has a 100%-owned Norwegian subsidiary, Norge Mineraler AS. The Companys ambition is to become a substantial, sustainable and strategically important exploration and mining business in Europe. For further information, please visit www.norgemining.com. About the Bjerkreim Exploration Project The Bjerkreim Exploration Project is located in southwest Norway in the large Bjerkreim-Sokndal Layered Intrusion, which has been widely studied by the Geological Survey of Norway (NGU) and other researchers. Norge Mining is focusing on the Bjerkreim Lobe of this intrusion, which forms a large synclinal trough structure. This trough extends at outcrop for some 20km northwest-southeast and up to 10km northeast-southwest. It is known to extend for several kilometres in depth. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231008520386/en/ Buchanan Communications +44 (0) 20 7466 5000 Mark Court / George Pope [email protected] Source: Norge Mining plc Nearly 50 percent of all marketing budgets within the region are set to be allocated to carbon-neutral partners within the next 12 months. LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Despite the deprecation of third-party identifiers and global economic turbulence, sustainability is a key focus for professionals within the Japan and Asia-Pacific (JAPAC) region. This is according to a new research report, Sustainability in Advertising - JAPAC 2023, published today by ExchangeWire, in association with OpenX. The overriding majority of those surveyed deemed sustainability metrics to be important to their business, while simultaneously converting these theoretical applications into tangible business outcomes, with nearly half (47%) of all marketing budgets across the JAPAC region set to be allocated to carbon-neutral partners within the next year. Building upon studies conducted annually through 2020-2022, media professionals across the digital advertising supply chain in Australia, India, Indonesia, and Japan were surveyed. The importance of programmatic advertising within the region continues to grow hand-in-hand alongside efforts to reduce carbon emissions, with 64% of surveyed professionals reporting an increase in programmatic spend and revenues. Sustainability is an incredibly important initiative for the JAPAC market as a whole. As a result, weve seen earlier adoption of sustainability measures and actions across both buy-and-sell-sides, with clear expectations and timeframes for when these are to be implemented, commented John Harvey Faurholt, director, advertising and retail media partnerships - JAPAC, China, Microsoft Advertising. This has also been reinforced through legislation and policy changes, in addition to industry groups like the IAB, establishing clear guidelines, best practices, and framework. This holistic response has created a greater sense of urgency (and collaboration) to address an important initiative while minimising revenue impact or disruption. Key findings from the report for Japan include: Japan: Factors impeding carbon reduction goals 46% cite increased operational costs 36% cite scarcity of expertise 22% cite lack of external pressure Japan: Percentage of budget allocated to carbon neutral partners 26% of budget allocated in the next 12 months 28% in the next 24 months Japan: Direct approaches from DSPs and SSPs 38% open to working directly with DSPs or SSPs 18% already worked directly 44% prefer to work with an intermediary Japan: Concern over fraud and quality-related issues 28% very concerned over fraud issues 18% somewhat concerned 54% not concerned Access the full report here. About OpenX OpenX is a supply-side platform that is a leader in advertising technology, and is helping to create a world where the open web thrives. The company powers advertising on web, mobile, and connected TV formats, enabling marketers to reach their target audience across OpenXs global network of publishers. OpenX works with more than 130,000 premium publisher domains and receives more than 300 billion ad requests every day. OpenX is a certified CarbonNeutral company and is verified for having fulfilled their SBTi Net-Zero targets. Visit the companys website at www.openx.com About ExchangeWire ExchangeWire provides news and analysis on the business of media, marketing and commerce, with a specific focus on data and technology. We offer actionable market intelligence on the trends and innovations that are shaping the media, marketing and commerce industries. Were always interested in any technology and business-related news globally, and in particular across EMEA and APAC. Relevant companies are encouraged to get in touch. Were also interested in hearing from PR people working with companies in any of the areas named above. For more information, please visit www.exchangewire.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231008656772/en/ [email protected] Source: OpenX NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Pershing Square Foundation has announced the opening of applications for the 2024 MIND (Maximizing Innovation in Neuroscience Discovery) Prize. Since the Prize launched in 2023, it has been awarded to seven multidisciplinary investigators from institutions across the country. The annual prize awards $250,000 per year for three years ($750,000 total) to at least six scientists looking to uncover a deeper understanding of the brain and cognition. The Prize is meant to enable the most talented early-to-mid-career investigators to pursue bold, creative projects that could have transformative impacts on the field of brain research. Neurodegenerative diseases are like the Eldredge knot, nearly impossible to untie. Stemming from compromised cellular pathways, neural circuit dysfunctions, genetic risk factors, pathological epigenetic landscapes; these networked ailments are tightly coupled and profoundly intertwined, said The Pershing Square Foundation Co-Trustee Neri Oxman, PhD. The MIND Prize calls for the creation of a road map to enable the understanding of related pathologies at a cellular and molecular level; to develop a single yet holistic theory blending genetics, environmental insults, and viruses, and to comprehend the bodys natural defenses against NDDs. Through MINDand its communitywe seek to disentangle cause-and-effect and offer radically novel insights into disease prevention and treatment. We believe in unforeseen visions made possible by interdisciplinary and trans-modal approaches that combine genetics with mobility, applied physics with neurodegeneration, memory and AI, and more. The Pershing Square Foundation remains fueled by the urgency of this vast problem, and the individualsacross ages and disease stateswhose lives this work could and should transform. We are humbled to support this Prize and are proud of the bold work set forth by the first cohort of grantees, continued Oxman. Applicants must have between one and ten years of experience running their own laboratories by the award start date (May 2024), hold a PhD, MD, or MD-PhD (or degree equivalent), and be affiliated with a research institution in the United States of America. The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is November 13, 2023 at 5:00pm EST. For more details on the MIND Prize and the application process, including the full eligibility criteria, a link to FAQs, and a link to the application submission platform, please visit: https://pershingsquarefoundation.org/portfolio-organization/mind-prize/. The highly competitive MIND Prize will catalyze novel and daring interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work by facilitating collaborations across academic departments and institutions and amongst the academic, biomedical industry, philanthropic, and business communities. These breakthroughs in basic, fundamental research will help augment the toolkit for, and knowledge of, neurodegenerative and neurocognitive disorders. Projects may range from the invention of novel tools, techniques, and technologies for mapping and analyzing the brain to bold approaches that demonstrate extraordinary therapeutic potential. Our first year of the MIND Prize impressed us with the remarkable talent across the country, said Olivia Tournay Flatto, PhD, President of The Pershing Square Foundation and Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Research Alliance. This year, we are looking forward to receiving more bold proposals from researchers who arent afraid to tackle an old problem in a new way, that compel us to find new paths forward in the fields of neurobiology, immunology, engineering, computational biology, and more. We are grateful to our Scientific Advisory Board, which includes experts spanning across scientific disciplines, ready to help The Pershing Square Foundation uncover transformative and novel projects from investigators ready to change the field as we know it. "The MIND Prize is allowing me to start projects that otherwise I wouldn't be able to do with traditional funding sources, said 2023 MIND Prize winner Sergey Stavisky, PhD, Assistant Professor at University of California, Davis, It's letting me do something that's very hard, that's risky, that hasn't been done before, and to do it at a much earlier stage of my career." The MIND Prize is proud to rely on the guidance of a highly accomplished scientific advisory board: Paola Arlotta, PhD, Golub Family Professor and Chair of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University Richard Axel, MD, Nobel Laureate; Co-director, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Columbia University; University Professor, Columbia University; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Ed Boyden, PhD, Y. Eva Tan Professor in Neurotechnology, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT; MIT McGovern Institute for Brain Research; Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Ali Brivanlou, PhD, Robert & Harriet Heilbrunn Professor, Head of Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, and Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University; Co-founder, Rumi Scientific Inc. Navdeep Chandel, PhD, David W. Cugell Professor of Medicine & Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University Moses Chao, PhD, Professor of Cell Biology, Physiology & Neuroscience, and Psychiatry, NYU Langone School of Medicine George Church , PhD, Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School; Founding Core Faculty & Lead, Synthetic Biology, Wyss Institute at Harvard University Mikael Dolsten, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and President, Worldwide Research, Development and Medical, Pfizer, Inc. Juan Enriquez, Managing Director, Excel Venture Management; Bestselling Author; TED All-Star Fred Rusty Gage, PhD, Professor, Laboratory of Genetics, Vi and John Adler Chair for Research on Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disease, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies Richard Isaacson, MD, Director of Brain Health, Atria Institute; Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine Dean Kamen, Founder, FIRST; President, DEKA Research & Development Corporation Sergiu Pasca, MD, Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Bonnie Uytengsu and Family Director of the Stanford Brain Organogenesis Program, Stanford University James Rothman, PhD, Nobel Laureate; Sterling Professor of Cell Biology; Chair, Cell Biology; Professor of Chemistry; Director, Nanobiology Institute, Yale University Bernardo Sabatini, MD, PhD, Alice and Rodman W. Moorhead III Professor of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School Joshua Sanes, PhD, Jeff Tarr Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology; Founding Director, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University Scott A. Small, MD, Director, Alzheimers Disease Research Center; Boris and Rose Katz Professor of Neurology, The Taub Institute, The Sergievsky Center; Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, Radiology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center Beth Stevens, PhD, HHMI Investigator; Institute Member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Lavine Family Research Chair, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Childrens Hospital Bruce Stillman, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Richard Tsien, PhD, Director, Neuroscience Institute; Chair and Druckenmiller Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, NYU Langone Medical Center Stacie Weninger, PhD, President, FBRI George Yancopoulos, MD, PhD, President and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron Michael Young, PhD, Nobel Laureate; Vice President for Academic Affairs, Richard and Jeanne Fisher Professor, Head of Laboratory of Genetics, The Rockefeller University Feng Zhang, PhD, Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Core Member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Investigator, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT; James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience, MIT; Departments of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Biological Engineering, MIT About The Pershing Square Foundation The Pershing Square Foundation (PSF) is a family foundation established in 2006 to support exceptional leaders and innovative organizations that tackle important social issues and deliver scalable and sustainable global impact. PSF has committed more than $600 million in grants and social investments in target areas including health and medicine, education, economic development and social justice. Bill Ackman and Neri Oxman are co-trustees of the Foundation. For more information visit: www.pershingsquarefoundation.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009169210/en/ Press Christy Hudson [email protected] Emily Hotaling [email protected] Source: The Pershing Square Foundation MUNICH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Usercentrics, a global leader in the field of Consent Management Platforms (CMP), has once again been awarded multiple badges by G2, the worlds largest and most trusted software marketplace. For Fall 2023, Usercentrics has been awarded an overall Leader Badge for Consent Management Platforms, as well as the European Leader Badge in this category. These Badges are particularly meaningful to the team as they represent the experiences of real business professionals and software buyers around the world who are implementing Usercentrics solutions. Rankings on G2 reports are based on data provided to us by real software buyers, said Sara Rossio, Chief Product Officer at G2. Potential buyers know they can trust these insights when researching and selecting software because theyre rooted in vetted, verified, and authentic reviews. Usercentrics is well established as the leading European provider of consent management solutions. It is also gratifying to also receive an overall Leader badge in recognition of the companys substantial global growth. Usercentrics is committed to empowering organizations to embrace data privacy while building trust with their users through freedom of choice. This will continue to be accomplished via innovation and strategic partnerships. In September 2022, Google launched a new CMP Partner Program for their Consent Mode solution, which featured the Usercentrics and Cookiebot Consent Management Platforms (CMPs). Then in June 2023, Usercentrics also announced that it was one of the first CMP providers certified by Google to meet Googles new requirements for publishers. Usercentrics CEO Donna Dror noted, We are thrilled to receive this recognition of our hard work to delight our customers and help them achieve and maintain seamless, reliable compliance with data privacy regulations around the world. We are committed to relentless innovation in our Consent Management Platform (CMP), adapting to new data protection regulations such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), industry standards like TCF 2.2 and other emerging legislations, to ensure that our solutions continue to lead the privacy ecosystem. Learn more about Usercentrics on usercentrics.com Check out what reviewers have to say about Usercentrics on G2. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009037746/en/ Hannah Sinz Sr. PR Manager [email protected] Source: Usercentrics FILE PHOTO: Oil rigs are seen at Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas drilling, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, Argentina January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices surged 4% on Monday, recouping some of last week's steep losses, as military clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas ignited fears that a wider conflict could hit oil supply from the Middle East. Brent crude settled $3.57, or 4.2%, higher at $88.15 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $86.38 a barrel, up $3.59 or 4.3%. At their session highs, both benchmarks spiked by more than $4, or over 5%. Last week, Brent fell about 11% and WTI retreated more than 8%, the biggest weekly decline since March, as a darkening macroeconomic outlook intensified concerns about global demand. On Saturday, Hamas launched the largest military assault on Israel in decades. Israel retaliated with a wave of air strikes on Gaza. "The most serious outcome for crude is that the conflict escalates into a more devastating proxy war which could affect crude supply," said Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth US. Israel's port of Ashkelon and its oil terminal have been shut in the wake of the conflict, sources said. The eruption of violence threatens to derail U.S. efforts to broker a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, in which the kingdom would normalize ties with Israel in return for a defense deal between Washington and Riyadh. Saudi officials reportedly on Friday told the White House they were willing to raise output next year as part of the proposed Israel deal. Goldman Sachs said the conflict reduced the likelihood of normalization of Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia, and the associated boost to Saudi production over time. It does not see any immediate major effect on near-term oil inventories from the attacks. Riyadh and Moscow have agreed to a combined 1.3 million barrel per day (bpd) voluntary cut until the end of 2023. New disruptions would exacerbate an expected supply tightness for the rest of the year. Analysts suggested the implications of the conflict could include a potential slowdown in Iranian exports, which have grown significantly this year, despite U.S. sanctions. "If the U.S. were to judge that Iran is involved in Hamas' attack, this could lead it to 'turn the screws' on Iran's oil exports by enforcing sanctions more strictly," said Caroline Bain, chief commodities economist at Capital Economics. Iran's production has risen by close to 600,000 barrels per day during the past year while crude stored on and offshore has been sold into market, mitigating some of the tightness being orchestrated by Saudi Arabia and Russia, said Saxo Bank's Ole Hansen. Meanwhile, Venezuela and the U.S. have progressed in talks that could provide sanctions relief to Caracas by allowing at least one additional foreign oil firm to take Venezuelan crude oil for debt repayment if President Nicolas Maduro resumes negotiations with the opposition in Mexico, sources said. The conflict is likely to lead to higher volatility and speculation in oil markets, the CEO of Brazil's Petrobras said. On the demand side, major international air carriers have suspended or scaled back flights to or from Tel Aviv after the attack. High oil price due to the conflict could bolster inflation, analysts said, forcing rate hikes that could dampen demand. (Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston, Natalie Grover in London and Andrew Hayley in Beijing; Additional reporting by Emily Chow in Singapore; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Lisa Shumaker and David Gregorio) The Polish Forest Protection Service seized the recreation center in Skubianka from the Russian Embassy. It was decided to transfer it to serve the needs of the Polish army. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the Ministry of National Defense of Poland. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak called the decision a landmark. Thus, on October 9, in Skubianka, the head of the Ministry of Defense took part in the transfer of state forest land plots of the former recreation center of the Russian Federation for the needs of the Territorial Defense Forces. "We are in a symbolic place. The state forests returned this land plot and this property from the Russian Federation. Then they decided to transfer this property to the Polish Army," Baszczak said. The agreement on the lease of this place by the Russian embassy was terminated amid Russia's aggression against Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced the start of the deployment of the Patriot missile defense system over the country's capital, Warsaw. The operation is scheduled to begin on October 6. As previously stated by Polish President Andrzej Duda, the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel will contribute to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as it will divert the world's attention from it. And the European Union may experience another wave of migration from the Middle East. According to the leader of Poland, events in the Middle East will have the effect of "taking our eyes off Ukraine." ADVERTISIMENT Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX) today announced that it has signed, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, a Memorandum of Agreement to sell to an unaffiliated third party, the 2007-built vessel Boston, with delivery to the buyer latest by December 20, 2023, for a net sale price of approximately US$18 million. Upon completion of the aforementioned sale, Diana Shipping Inc.s fleet will consist of 40 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 9 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 6 Kamsarmax, 7 Panamax and 9 Ultramax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Companys fleet, including the m/v Boston, is approximately 4.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.51 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Companys website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Companys website does not constitute a part of this press release. MISTRAS Group, Inc. (NYSE: MG), a leading "one source" multinational provider of integrated technology-enabled asset protection solutions, today announced a series of key leadership transitions that promise to guide the company into its next phase of growth and innovation. Dr. Sotirios J. Vahaviolos is retiring as Executive Chairman after nearly 40 years of exceptional leadership and has been appointed Chairman Emeritus while remaining an active member of the Board of Directors. Succeeding him, the Board has appointed Mr. Manuel (Manny) N. Stamatakis as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Dennis M. Bertolotti will be departing MISTRAS as its CEO, and the Board has asked Mr. Stamatakis to serve as the Interim CEO until a successor CEO is found. Mr. James J. Forese, the current Chairman of the Audit Committee, has been named Lead Director and Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee. Board of Directors Commends Dr. Sotirios J. Vahaviolos for Distinguished Service On behalf of the entire MISTRAS Board of Directors and all the shareholders who have benefited from his hard work, I congratulate Sotirios on his remarkable 40-year career, said Mr. Stamatakis. We thank him for his vision, his pioneering spirit, his steadfast determination, and the enduring legacy he leaves to the company he founded, the industry he helped advance, as well as the countless people he has positively impacted. We are grateful that he has agreed to remain on the Board of Directors, where we will all continue to benefit from his vision, experience, and wisdom. Dr. Sotirios J. Vahaviolos Acknowledges a Milestone Transition For over four decades, I've had the honor of leading a remarkably talented team that transformed MISTRAS Group from a small operation in Princeton, New Jersey, to a global leader in the field of nondestructive testing. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Manny as our Lead Director and the advancement of the Project Phoenix initiative, it is an appropriate time for a leadership transition to advance my legacy and build upon our strong foundation. I'm especially pleased and grateful that Manny has agreed to also take on the role of interim CEO until a successor is found. Mannys many years of service to the MISTRAS Group as a member of every Committee and most recently as the architect and primary driver behind Project Phoenix has given him a deeper understanding of our Company and our growth opportunities. I, along with the entire Board of Directors, have full confidence in Mannys leadership and thank him for taking on this role. I also want to extend my thanks to Dennis for his 20 years of service, including his years as my first successor as CEO of the Company. I want to wish Dennis all the best as he enters the next phase of his journey. As we turn the page on a new chapter, I have full confidence in our leadership and management's ability to generate shareholder value, which is why collectively, my family, family trust, and I continue to remain the largest owner of MISTRAS Group's outstanding common shares, said Dr. Vahaviolos. Statement from Outgoing President and CEO Mr. Dennis M. Bertolotti Having had the privilege to work alongside Sotirios and to lead a talented team at MISTRAS Group for many years, I believe the Company is now exceptionally well-positioned for future success. With key leadership roles filled and Project Phoenix well underway, my most important objectives have been met, said Mr. Bertolotti. Mr. Manuel Manny N. Stamatakis Provides Strategic Outlook I am honored to succeed Sotirios as the next Chairman of the Board of this great Company. I look forward to continuing to work with him and our Board Directors. My immediate priority is to make sure that the focus of our management team is to improve shareholder value with the full implementation of Project Phoenix and to identify and engage the next CEO of the Company. The Board of Directors will initiate a search with a leading executive search firm to help the Board find its next CEO. We will also be expanding the duties and responsibilities of our Chief Financial Officer, Ed Prajzner, as well as promoting an experienced MISTRAS manager, John Smith, to head our largest division, Services, while adding an experienced business development professional, Gennaro (Jerry) DAlterio as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. I am very excited about the new changes, and I look forward to working with them, said Mr. Stamatakis. Mr. Manuel Manny N. Stamatakis Background: A Tenure of Strategy and Governance Mr. Stamatakis has been a pivotal member of the MISTRAS Group Board since 2002, serving as Chair of the Governance Committee and Lead Director for the past decade. He has also served on the Audit and Compensation Committees. Mr. Stamatakis currently chairs the Project Phoenix Steering Committee, an initiative where he is both the chief architect and driving force. As a result, Mr. Stamatakis possesses significant knowledge of and insight into the organization, which has given him an understanding of how to leverage these strengths to unlock MISTRAS Groups inherent value. An accomplished entrepreneur for over 30 years, Mr. Stamatakis is an executive officer of Capital Management Enterprises, Inc., a financial services and employee benefits consulting firm based in Pennsylvania. Mr. Stamatakis has held multiple board and chairmanship positions over the years, including Chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority, The Drexel College of Medicine, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Investment Advisory Board, and the Philadelphia Shipyard Development Corporation which was the catalyst to bringing shipbuilding back to the Philadelphia region. He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Drexel University. Mr. James J. Foreses New Governance Role Mr. Forese, Director and Chair of the Audit Committee, has been appointed Lead Director and Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee, filling the roles vacated by Mr. Stamatakis appointments and reinforcing the Boards governance structure. Mr. Forese has a long history serving on the MISTRAS Group Board and its Committees. Mr. Forese has vast experience and demonstrated success as an executive, possessing knowledge and experience in business leadership, banking, finance, and technology, along with public and private company board experience. Mr. Foreses experience with audit committees and his tenure as Vice President of Finance and Controller at IBM provides the MISTRAS Group Board with an audit committee financial expert, which further strengthens key functions of the Board and its Committees oversight. Key New Executive Management Appointments Mr. Edward J. Prajzner was appointed Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in March 2023 and joined MISTRAS Group in January 2018. He leads all of MISTRAS financial and IT areas and Investor Relations. In addition, he also oversees all commercial functions initiated under Project Phoenix. Before joining MISTRAS Group, Mr. Prajzner was Executive Vice President of Corporate Development, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of CECO Environmental Corp, a publicly traded global diversified and energy technology company. He began his career with Ernst & Young and held senior financial positions with several large public companies. Mr. John A. Smith was appointed Executive Vice President and President of Services, effective October 1, 2023. Since 2017, Mr. Smith has served as Senior Vice President of Operations, managing the strategic plan and financial performance for operations primarily in the East and Midwest regions. He played a crucial part in broadening MISTRAS Groups footprint in the aerospace and defense sectors, notably through the successful acquisition and integration of aerospace inspection provider West Penn Testing Group. Additionally, the MISTRAS aerospace hubs in Heath, Ohio, and Ellabell, Georgia, saw significant growth in service lines under his leadership. Gennaro (Jerry) DAlterio was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer in September 2023. This strategic hire supports MISTRAS' ongoing commitment to commercial transformation and builds on the foundational work of Project Phoenix. Mr. D'Alterio has over 20 years of proven executive leadership, driving commercial transformations. He will focus on accelerating profitability, defining go-to-market strategies, and implementing best-in-class commercial operating models to enhance growth across the organization. Special Conference Call In connection with this release, MISTRAS will hold a special conference call on October 10, 2023, at 10:30 am Eastern Time. To listen to the live webcast of the conference call, visit the Investor Relations section of MISTRAS Groups website at www.mistrasgroup.com. Oceaneering International, Inc. (Oceaneering) (NYSE: OII) announced that one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Marine Production Systems do Brasil Ltda., has secured a five-year contract from Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) for the operation of three existing drill pipe riser (DPR) systems to support intervention and completion operations in Brazil. Petrobras also has the option to add a fourth DPR system by notifying Oceaneering prior to mid-December 2023. The contract value could be worth up to $75 million in revenue during the five-year contract period. Under the terms of the contract, Oceaneering will continue to provide Petrobras with services utilizing three existing drill pipe riser (DPR) systems with installation workover control systems, or IWOCS, along with project management, engineering and support services. The company will be replacing the umbilicals on the existing systems in 2024. The replacement umbilicals are planned to be manufactured at Oceaneerings facility in Niteroi, Brazil. Field operations under the contract are anticipated to commence when the current contract expires, or 18 months after award. Should Petrobras elect to add a fourth system, Oceaneering will have an additional 18 months to build the system, which would be expected to go on hire in June 2025. Roderick A. Larson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oceaneering, said, We are very pleased to continue providing Petrobras with DPR services over the next five years. Since winning the initial contract in 2018, we have greatly expanded our presence in Brazil and have leveraged our portfolio of services and products into other areas of the growing Brazilian market. We believe our strong performance under the original DPR contract and our expertise in control systems and umbilicals for the subsea industry were key elements to winning this contract. We look forward to supporting Petrobras in connection with this and future projects. Seaboard Corporation (NYSE AMERICAN: SEB) ("Seaboard") today announced that it has agreed to repurchase 189,724 shares of its common stock, $1.00 par value per share ("Common Stock"), at a purchase price of $3,162.50 per share. This represents a 15.7% discount to the 180-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Stock as of October 6, 2023 , a 14.9% discount to the 30-day volume weighted average trading price of the Common Stock as of October 6, 2023 and a 13.5% discount to closing price of the Common Stock as of October 6, 2023 . The Common Stock will be repurchased for an aggregate purchase price of $600,002,150 from entities affiliated with Ellen S. Bresky , the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Seaboard, and other members of the Bresky family (collectively, the "Bresky Group"), in a privately negotiated transaction. The repurchased shares will be retired. Seaboard expects the repurchase transaction to close on or about October 10 , 2023.The repurchase will be funded with a combination of cash on hand, cash from the sale of marketable securities and a draw on Seaboard's existing credit facilities. Seaboard further expects that the repurchase will be accretive to its earnings per share and that it will retain sufficient liquidity for execution of its business plan. Douglas W. Baena , Lead Independent Director of Seaboard, said, "The strength of Seaboard's balance sheet allows it to execute this accretive repurchase transaction and retain significant liquidity for execution of its current business plan." Ellen Bresky , Chairwoman of the Seaboard Board of Directors, commented "The Bresky Group appreciates the work by Seaboard on this transaction in connection with certain internal family planning and structuring objectives. As has been the case for many decades, the Bresky family remains fully committed to and confident in Seaboard, its performance, and its future success. We look forward to continuing as long-term shareholders and partners of Seaboard." The repurchase was negotiated and approved by a special committee of the Board of Directors of Seaboard (the "Special Committee"), comprised solely of disinterested, independent directors, including Seaboard's Lead Independent Director. The Special Committee was advised by Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP as its independent legal counsel and Kroll LLC and Kroll Securities, LLC (collectively "Kroll") as its independent financial advisor. The Special Committee received an opinion from Kroll as to the fairness of the consideration paid for the repurchased shares from a financial point of view to Seaboard and stockholders of Seaboard unaffiliated with the Bresky Group. The Special Committee's grant of authority provided that no repurchase or alternative proposed capital return transaction involving Seaboard and the Bresky Group could be consummated without the prior favorable recommendation of the Special Committee. The Bresky Group was advised by Latham & Watkins LLP as its legal counsel and BDT & MSD Partners as its financial advisor. Grand Baie, MAURITIUS, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alphamin Resources Corp. (AFM:TSXV, APH:JSE AltX)( Alphamin or the Company), a producer of 4% of the worlds mined tin1 from its high grade operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is pleased to provide the following update for the quarter ended September 2023: Tin production of 3,104 tonnes for the quarter , in line with the previous quarter , in line with the previous quarter Q3 2023 EBITDA 3, 4 guidance of US$38.3m , up 8% from the previous quarter , up 8% from the previous quarter Mpama South development projected to increase annual tin production by 60% progressing well progressing well Additional debt facilities secured Operational and Financial Summary for the Quarter ended September 20232 __________________________________________________________________________________________ 1Data obtained from International Tin Association Tin Industry Review 2022 2Information is disclosed on a 100% basis. Alphamin indirectly owns 84.14% of its operating subsidiary to which the information relates. 3Q3 2023 EBITDA and AISC represent managements guidance. 4This is not a standardized financial measure and may not be comparable to similar financial measures of other issuers.See Use of Non-IFRS Financial Measures below for the composition and calculation of this financial measure. Operational and Financial Performance Contained tin production of 3,104 tonnes for the quarter ended September 2023 was in line with the previous quarter. Tin production of 9,442 tonnes for the nine months ended September 2023 exceeds the run-rate to achieve market guidance of 12,000 tonnes for the year ending December 2023. The run-of-mine and crushed ore stockpiles ahead of the processing plant were at record levels at quarter-end, being 30,393 tonnes at an average tin grade of 4,79% (Q2: 27,439 tonnes at 6.74%). Sales volumes of 3,111 tonnes of tin for Q3 2023 were slightly higher than the previous quarter and averaged a tin price of US$26,557/t (Q2 2023: US$25,587/t). Guidance for AISC per tonne of tin sold is US$14,812, 6% above the previous quarter. Approximately half of the AISC cost increase relates to the timing effect of sustaining capital expenditure. The remaining variance in AISC follows the impact of the higher tin price on off-mine costs, higher diesel prices and a 7% increase in underground development metres at Mpama North. The higher underground development rate at Mpama North is expected to increase developed ore reserves and improved mining flexibility. Stable production and sales volumes at the slightly higher tin price resulted in expected EBITDA of US$38.3 million for the quarter ended September 2023 (Q2 2023: US$35.4 million). Alphamins unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2023 are expected to be released on or about November 17, 2023. Funding structure and capital allocation Alphamins vision is to become one of the worlds largest sustainable tin producers. From a capital allocation perspective, the Board considers the combination of investment in growth, ongoing exploration, and a high dividend yield a robust value proposition. From a FY2023 capital allocation perspective, the funding of the Mpama South expansion project, DRC income tax payments and shareholder distributions remain the priority. By quarter-end, the Company had spent US$99 million of cash resources on the Mpama South project of which US$24.5 million was spent in Q3 2023. The project is forecasted to be substantially completed within the budget of US$116 million. The Company has signed an amended and restated credit agreement to raise an additional US$10m in senior debt finance. The additional funding is subject to certain drawdown conditions. Under the amended and restated credit agreement, the current senior debt balance of US$5m together with the new funding of US$10 million will be repayable over two years commencing in January 2024. Under the revised terms there is no requirement for political risk insurance or a debt service reserve account and there are no restrictions on dividends, provided covenants have not been breached. The terms are otherwise substantially the same as the existing facility. In addition, the Companys banking institution in the DRC has increased its short-term facility by US$15 million to US$55 million. The additional debt facilities provide bridging finance towards the previously reported high final and provisional DRC tax payments during 2023 not expected to repeat in 2024 as well as additional liquidity optionality while the Mpama South project approaches completion. In late September 2023, a bridge on the primary export/import route was damaged. As a result, inbound and outbound trucks had to be re-routed resulting in longer than normal transit times and delays in revenue receipts. Additional road maintenance teams have been mobilized to ensure the efficient passage of inbound and outbound traffic via alternative routes which have been proven to be effective in the past. The negative liquidity impact from the damaged bridge is expected to reverse during Q4, 2023. Mpama South development progress A total of 2,448m of underground development at Mpama South has been completed to date, of which 988m was achieved in Q3 2023 (Q2: 603m). The underground development rate increased by 64% during Q3 2023 as additional underground equipment arrived on site and more development ends became available. The Mpama South adit from surface successfully advanced beyond the previously reported area of poor ground conditions and is expected to connect with the Mpama South underground workings by early November 2023. The year-to-date development metres at Mpama South are in line with the Companys updated two-year underground mine plan to achieve the targeted tin production expansion from FY2024. This plan requires ~1,200m of underground development at Mpama South during the quarter ending December 2023. The erection of the new processing facility is progressing well, albeit poor road conditions and the impact of the damaged bridge have delayed container deliveries by approximately three weeks. As a consequence, the commissioning of the new processing plant may be delayed to January/February 2024. The Alphamin project team, together with the existing site team, remains focussed on operational readiness preparation. This primarily involves recruitment and training of personnel, expansion of the laboratory and accommodation facilities and infrastructure, and increasing the supply chain to meet the additional production. The Mpama South project is expected to increase combined annual tin production from ~12,000 tonnes to ~20,000 tonnes. Qualified Person Mr. Clive Brown, Pr. Eng., B.Sc. Engineering (Mining), is a qualified person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. He is a Principal Consultant and Director of Bara Consulting Pty Limited, an independent technical consultant to the Company._________________________________________________________________________________________ FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Maritz Smith CEO Alphamin Resources Corp. Tel: +230 269 4166E-mail: [email protected] CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained herein include, without limitation, statements relating to expected EBITDA and AISC guidance for Q3 2023; annual production guidance for 2023; planned production expansion resulting from Mpama South; the timing for commissioning of the Mpama South processing plant; timing and plans regarding underground development and the total development cost of the Mpama South project; expected allocation of capital for 2023; expected benefits of the higher underground development rate at Mpama North; and expected reversal of negative liquidity impact from the damaged bridge on the primary import/export route in Q4 2023. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Alphamin has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: uncertainties regarding Mpama North and Mpama South estimates of the expected mined tin grades, processing plant performance and recoveries, uncertainties regarding the underground conditions for development, uncertainties regarding supply chain and logistics for purposes of Mpama South equipment deliveries and the impact on the timing thereof, uncertainties regarding global supply and demand for tin and market and sales prices, uncertainties with respect to social, community and environmental impacts, uninterupted access to required infrastructure and third party service providers, adverse political events and risks of security related incidents which may impact the operation or safety of its people, uncertainties regarding the legislative requirements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which may result in unexpected fines and penalties, impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic or other health crises on mining operations and commodity prices as well as those risk factors set out in the Companys annual Management Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure documents available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and Alphamin disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. USE OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES This announcement refers to the following non-IFRS financial performance measures: EBITDA EBITDA is profit before net finance expense, income taxes and depreciation, depletion, and amortization. EBITDA provides insight into our overall business performance (a combination of cost management and growth) and is the corresponding flow driver towards the objective of achieving industry-leading returns. This measure assists readers in understanding the ongoing cash generating potential of the business including liquidity to fund working capital, servicing debt, and funding capital expenditures and investment opportunities. This measure is not recognized under IFRS as it does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and is therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. EBITDA data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. AISC This measures the costs to produce and sell a tonne of contained tin plus the capital sustaining costs to maintain the mine, processing plant and infrastructure. AISC includes mine operating production expenses such as mining, processing, administration, indirect charges (including surface maintenance and camp and tailings dam construction costs), smelting costs and deductions, refining and freight, distribution, royalties and product marketing fees and corporate costs. AISC does not include depreciation, depletion and amortization, reclamation expenses, borrowing costs and exploration expenses. Sustaining capital expenditures (Sustaining capex) are defined as those expenditures which do not increase contained tin production at a mine site and excludes all expenditures at the Companys projects and certain expenditures at the Companys operating sites which are deemed expansionary in nature. Source: Alphamin Resources Corp. ATHENS, Greece, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (NYSE: DSX), (the Company), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels, today announced that it has signed, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, a Memorandum of Agreement to sell to an unaffiliated third party, the 2007-built vessel Boston, with delivery to the buyer latest by December 20, 2023, for a net sale price of approximately US$18 million. Upon completion of the aforementioned sale, Diana Shipping Inc.s fleet will consist of 40 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 9 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 6 Kamsarmax, 7 Panamax and 9 Ultramax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Companys fleet, including the m/v Boston, is approximately 4.7 million dwt with a weighted average age of 10.51 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Companys website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Companys website does not constitute a part of this press release. About the Company Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership and bareboat charter-in of dry bulk vessels. The Companys vessels are employed primarily on short to medium-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, anticipate, intends, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, may, should, expect, pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Company managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, including risks associated with the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and related sanctions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FameEX, a secure and global crypto exchange, has hosted a 'new crypto era' talk seminar featuring its founder, Lee BoonGin. Born from the relentless vision and deep-rooted experience of its founder, Lee BoonGin, FameEX emerged as a game-changer in the digital asset trading landscape. Lee BoonGin's journey in cryptocurrency, spanning several years filled with industry black swan events, famous platforms hacked or collapsed, and projects rug pulls, has equipped him with unparalleled insights. With the primary goal to address challenges stemming from information asymmetry, unexpected trading downtimes, and other potential pitfalls, FameEX is fervently committed to democratizing the world of professional digital asset trading. By providing intuitive, user-friendly tools and platforms, FameEX aspires to ensure even the most casual users can navigate the complexities of the trading world with ease and confidence. "Our mission is to advance digital currency derivative trading tools, foster a fair and transparent trading environment, and simplify the process so that over 90% of everyday users can execute easy and professional trades," said Lee BoonGin, founder of FameEX Exchange. Quality Over Quantity: A Testament to FameEXs Integrity The inception of FameEX in 2018 marked the beginning of a transformative journey in the digital trading sphere. For almost two years, the dedicated FameEX team meticulously refined and honed their product, ensuring it met the highest standards of quality and user-friendliness. The platform's official launch in 2020 stood out in a crowded market, owing to its unique approach to simplifying professional trading. While many other trading platforms in the digital arena opt for the mass inclusion of various coins, FameEX has charted a different course. Prioritizing the safety and satisfaction of its users, the platform has been discerning in its coin selection process. Every coin listing undergoes a rigorous review from the public blockchain coding details to future development roadmaps. This unwavering commitment to integrity is evident in their selective portfolio which boasts only 98+ coins as of September 2023. FameEXs Rise: Amassing Trust and Loyalty Amidst Global Adversities Despite the challenges posed by the global epidemic and the volatile nature of the crypto industry, FameEX's resilience is commendable. This year, FameEX has proudly formed partnerships with a range of notable and promising market makers, enhancing the depth and liquidity of the FameEX platform. Due to the relentless efforts and collaboration of these partners, FameEX has not only witnessed a surge in its user base but has also celebrated a remarkable doubling in liquidity. This significant achievement highlights FameEX's dedication and commitment to excellence in the industry and showcases the results of their synergistic teamwork with an expanding network of market makers. Through their steadfast commitment to the user experience, the platform has garnered the trust and loyalty of nearly 1 million user bases across the globe. Their distinguishing features include round-the-clock customer support and state-of-the-art trading tools in order to continue to endear them to both newbies and experienced traders alike. As the world starts to recover and the crypto market witnesses renewed enthusiasm, FameEX is optimally positioned to offer an unmatched user experience. With its sights set on the horizon, the company looks forward to expanding its offerings, always with a keen emphasis on simplifying professional transactions. Under the guiding principle of "reducing the risk of user trading and guaranteeing a fair and free competitive environment", Lee BoonGin and his formidable team are geared up to redefine the boundaries of digital asset trading. FameEX Balances User Demand with Greater Market Depth and Optimizes Trading Liquidity FameEX, in its persistent efforts to enhance the trading journey and adapt to the dynamic market environment, has made strategic adjustments in its offerings. The platform has observed a notable increase in market depth, leading to better trading liquidity for its users. This is indicative of a matured trading landscape, where more participants are engaging, ensuring smoother trade executions and reduced slippage.In tandem with this market evolution, and responsive to the needs voiced by its vast user community, FameEX has made calibrated modifications to its leverage provisions. While leverage has been a tool employed by traders, it's FameEX's recognition of the burgeoning market depth and liquidity that has driven this change. For select assets, they've introduced a 50X leverage, whereas for mainstream and high-demand assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, 100X leverage is available. This move showcases FameEXs endeavor to balance trading opportunities with the overarching market conditions and always keeping the safety and integrity of user investments in the forefront. FameEX's commitment isnt just about catering to traders' leverage preferences but more about recognizing and harnessing the deeper and more liquid market. Their approach exemplifies a harmonious blend of community feedback and ensuring the platform's foundational values are upheld. About FameEX Launched in 2020. FameEX is a global cryptocurrency exchange that currently provides fiat-crypto, crypto-crypto, grid trading, futures, options, margin, spot, and a hugely popular referral and affiliate program. With more than 1,050,000 registered users across 50 countries and regions. FameEX provides a secure, stable, and efficient 24/7 trading platform. In addition, FameEX keeps pushing the boundaries of the crypto exchange industry, exploring frontier growth opportunities and strengthening core competencies, expanding into adjacent product offerings, and developing innovative business models that lead the way in bringing Web3 solutions into the crypto ecosystem including recruiting more Web3 developers and researchers to enrich the Web3 product that will support those visionary traders. Find FameEX on: Website: https://www.fameex.com/ X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FameEXGlobal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FameEX Telegram: https://t.me/fameexgroup Discord: https://discord.gg/V8yvKPxVCk Trade on-the-go with the FameEX app (iOS/Android) Mia Shi FAMEEX mia at fameex.com Source: FAMEEX Deal Strengthens Emerson Rogers Midwest Carrier Representation and Resources for Broker Partners BLUE BELL, Pa., Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emerson Rogers, the nations largest employee benefits wholesale general agent, today announced the acquisition of Chicago, Illinois-based Flexible Benefit Service LLCs (Flex) wholesale employee benefits division. Founded in 1988, Flex is a regional employee benefits wholesale general agency as well as a benefits administration firm. Flex will continue to own and operate its benefits administration division, providing FSA, HSA, HRA, COBRA, Commuter and other products and services nationwide. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Commenting on the announcement, Flexible Benefit Service President and CEO, John DiVito, stated: Since 1988, our firm has earned a strong reputation for delivering innovative and cost-effective health care solutions for agents and brokers, employers, employees and individuals, backed by a superior level of personalized service and support. This exciting partnership with Emerson Rogers will expand the support and service offerings we bring to clients by providing our teams access to Emerson Rogers expanded set of industry-leading tools, solutions and expertise. We look forward to welcoming John and the general agency team of professionals from Flexible Benefit Service to Emerson Rogers, added Emerson Rogers President, George Rosiak. This partnership further strengthens our firms Midwest-based presence and industry expertise, and we look forward to aligning our core business strategies and capabilities to further enhance the value we deliver to our current and future broker partners. About Emerson Rogers Founded in 1974, Emerson Rogers is the largest employee benefits wholesale general agent in the United States. Emerson Rogers assists brokers in differentiating themselves from their competition by introducing new and innovative programs while providing the tools, knowledge and support necessary to expand and protect their business. Emerson Rogers manages over $9.5 billion in insured premiums on behalf of its more than 10,000 broker partners. To learn more, visit www.emersonrogers.com or follow us on LinkedIn. ### The venture capital firm has raised over $80 million targeting Fintech, Supply Chain and DevOps companies GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grand Ventures today announced the closing of a $50 million second fund to invest in early-stage companies. This Fund II received significant support from its existing investor base while adding new limited partners, including family offices. The fund is managed by General Partners Tim Streit, Camila Noordeloos, and Nathan Owen. The close of Fund II brings Grand Ventures' total funds raised to over $80 million. With this capital, they look to invest in Seed stage companies within the Fintech, Supply Chain, and DevOps sectors, typically based in fast-growing tech communities within the US and Canada. The firm prides itself on leading the first institutional venture rounds for companies and helping to provide the resources to catalyze growth, from strategy and fundraising to culture and talent development. We are thrilled to grow our investor base and see the trust weve built both with our new and long-standing limited partners, says Co-Founder and General Partner Tim Streit. Investors realize the potential for outstanding returns in both venture capital funds and tech companies based outside of Silicon Valley. We are immensely proud, and humbled, by the exceptional investors who have supported Grand Ventures and the visionary founders who have selected us to be their trusted advisors. Since its inception, the firm has expanded geographically to better serve founders with the resources to unlock exponential growth. In parallel with expanding geographically, it has focused more intensely on its core sectors to deepen its expertise and access to strategic partners and thought leaders for portfolio companies. Over time, we started to offer to founders professional development and access to Grand Ventures community of limited partner advisors and realized the potential for massive value-add, says Tim Streit. Our co-founder approach has become one of our biggest differentiators in sourcing and winning deals, as well as helping founders to realize their most ambitious goals. Grand Ventures' current portfolio includes 25 companies that have already added over $2 billion of enterprise value. Fund I companies include Astronomer, the driving force behind the Apache Airflow project; Tealbook, the leading master supplier data platform; and InvestNext, an all-encompassing real estate investment management platform. Fund II has already made several notable investments. These include iink Payments, a fintech company that provides quicker payments after storm damage; Payload CMS, an open-source headless CMS and application framework; and Terminal 49, a container visibility platform and API provider. About Grand Ventures Russia is planning to use the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel as a pretext to launch a large-scale provocation against Ukraine. Russian intelligence services have already handed over trophy weapons captured during the fighting in Ukraine that were manufactured in the United States and the European Union. ADVERTISIMENT Thus, Russia wants to accuse the Ukrainian military of allegedly providing Western weapons to terrorists on a regular basis. This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. As part of the Kremlin's disinformation campaign, these false reports are to be used as the basis for a series of "exposes" and "investigative journalism" in Western media. To strengthen the credibility, Russian intelligence services intend to use relevant comments from a former employee of the Ukrainian Border Guard Service, Senior Lieutenant Ruslan Syrovyi, who recently fled to Moscow. This latest provocation by the enemy is aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and may lead to the termination of military support for our country from our Western partners. As a reminder, Hamas militants staged a massive attack on Israel on the morning of October 7, launching 5,000 rockets, then broke through the fence near the Gaza Strip and began committing atrocities, killing civilians. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the IDF continued to strike the Gaza Strip during the night of October 9 to destroy the military capabilities of the Hamas terrorist group. At the same time, the terrorists continue to attack civilian targets, and the number of victims of Hamas attacks in Israel has already exceeded 700. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! ICG Enterprise Trust plc (the Company) 9 October 2023 Transaction in Own Shares The Company announces that on 6 October 2023 it bought back 10,000 of its own shares, to be held as treasury shares, at an average price of 1167 pence per share. Further details are set out below: Number of shares held as treasury shares following this purchase: 5,402,292. Total shares in issue excluding treasury shares following this purchase: 67,510,708. The Company has bought back these shares under the authority granted by shareholders at its Annual General Meeting in June 2023, which permits the Company to repurchase a maximum of 14.99% of its ordinary shares. The actual number of shares repurchased by the Company will depend on market conditions. This authority lasts until the next shareholder authority granted (expected to be at the Annual General Meeting in 2024), or until expressly revoked by shareholders. The above figure 67,510,708 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. No maximum consideration payable has been determined by the Company, but the Company is unable to pay a price for any shares pursuant to the buyback which would equate to a premium to the net asset value. It is the Companys current intention to hold any shares bought back in treasury. The Company has instructed Numis Securities Limited as its broker in respect of its buyback transactions. This arrangement is in accordance with the UKLA Listing Rules and the Companys general authority to repurchase shares. Analyst / Investor enquiries: Chris Hunt Shareholder Relations, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 2020 Andrew Lewis Company Secretary, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1344 Media: Clare Glynn Corporate Communications, ICG +44 (0) 20 3545 1395 RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE: MLM) (Martin Marietta or the Company) will host its third-quarter 2023 earnings conference call on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company will release results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, that morning before the market opens. A live, listen-only webcast and supplemental information will be accessible on the Investors section of the Companys website at www.martinmarietta.com. The conference call may also be accessed by dialing 206-962-3782 and using conference ID 87720189. Please dial in at least 15 minutes in advance to ensure a timely connection to the call. An on-demand replay will be available on the Companys website approximately two hours following the conclusion of the live broadcast and will be available for one year. Martin Marietta, a member of the S&P 500 Index, is an American-based company and a leading supplier of building materials, including aggregates, cement, ready mixed concrete and asphalt. Through a network of operations spanning 28 states, Canada and The Bahamas, dedicated Martin Marietta teams supply the resources necessary for building the solid foundations on which our communities thrive. Martin Mariettas Magnesia Specialties business provides a full range of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and dolomitic lime products. For more information, visit www.martinmarietta.com or www.magnesiaspecialties.com. Investor Contact: Jacklyn RookerDirector, Investor Relations (919) 510-4736[email protected] MLM-E. Source: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Houston, TX, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announced today that it will partner with Conservation International, a nonprofit environmental organization working to protect forests, oceans and other living ecosystems, for its 2023 Global Charitable Initiative (GCI). This years GCI theme is protecting our planets biodiversity. The firms 2023 GCI theme is an extension of the 2022 GCI focus building sustainable communities with an increased commitment to reversing environmental degradation. Along with worldwide fundraising, volunteering and pro bono activities, Norton Rose Fulbright intends to collaborate with clients and other private and public sector organizations to support biodiversity protection. This year, the firm is pledging to help protect and restore 10,000 acres of forest and 3,000 square kilometers of ocean. Forest and ocean restoration is a simple and powerful way of capturing carbon dioxide and mitigating climate change, which benefits communities and biodiversity. Scott Atkins, Global Chair and Australia Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright who selected this years GCI theme, said: In joining forces with Conservation International, Norton Rose Fulbright has an opportunity to become a global private sector advocate for biodiversity protection and ecosystem conservation. Our Global Charitable Initiative is focused on helping to shape a sustainable future where people and nature can thrive, ensuring the viability and sustainability of our planet. Dr. M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International, said: Norton Rose Fulbrights focus on biodiversity comes at a crucial moment: just last year, world leaders pledged to safeguard nature. Now, we must all act to turn this shared commitment into action. I love the all-in spirit of the GCI, and Im excited to have Conservation International be a part of it. Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, said: We believe that this years Global Charitable Initiative will truly resonate with our clients and our communities, as both are showing a commitment to helping the health of our planet. Our actions today impact our world tomorrow; focusing on forest and ocean restoration will benefit generations to come. The firms GCI focus is part of a broader global movement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. It follows the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark agreement signed by 188 countries in December 2022 that included a 30 x 30 pledge that seeks to protect 30 percent of the worlds land and 30 percent of the worlds oceans by 2030. Since the inception of Norton Rose Fulbrights Global Charitable Initiative in 2012, the firm has chosen a specific cause each year for focusing its fundraising and charitable efforts. This is part of the firms overall commitment to give back to its local communities and beyond. Norton Rose FulbrightNorton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including Houston, New York, London, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. With its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its client service in key industries, including financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; technology; transport; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. For more information, visit nortonrosefulbright.com. Dan McKenna Norton Rose Fulbright 7136513576 [email protected] Source: Norton Rose Fulbright Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - Bluberi (or the "Company") today announced it will debut brand new product lines and product vertical entries on October 10 at the Global Gaming Expo ("G2E") at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas at booth 3359. "Our tagline this year is 'We Believe'," said Bluberi's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Burke. "It's a statement of belief in our ability to continually produce great products as we execute our growth plan. It also references a series of specific concepts we believe in: our core values and design philosophies like 'Quality over Quantity.' Our philosophies, personalities, and great products will all be displayed during what we believe are the three most important days of the year for us: G2E." Bluberis tagline for G2E 2023 is We Believe& To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8162/183263_bluberi-digitalshowguide-full.jpg At G2E, Bluberi will showcase brand new titles for the Novus B49, one of the best-performing core cabinets in the industry. Titles include Rocket Rumble", a current top-indexing theme, plus Shark's Lock", a highly anticipated spinoff of Bluberi's industry staple Devil's Lock". "We are thrilled to debut Shark's Lock," said Michael Brennan, Bluberi's Chief Product Officer. "It exemplifies how we make games, using player research, data, and creativity within confines. Shark's Lock is a strategic intellectual property extension and features impactful twists and surprises all within the boundaries of what made the original game, Devil's Lock, so strong." "Fu Frenzy" is another title that is a milestone for Bluberi," adds Brennan. "It is the debut theme from our new Bluberi Pi studio in Reno, as we expand our game studio footprint." Bluberi will also debut two brand new product lines, Beacon Elite" and Phoenix Stepper". Phoenix Stepper is driven by the Jackpot Star Trio" launch theme, bringing modern game mechanics to the unique jumbo cabinet and targeting high denomination mechanical reel players, while Beacon Elite is a potential game-changer for the company. "We believe that Beacon Elite is going to be one of the top-anticipated products coming out of G2E," says Burke. "It's our first entry into the true premium video vertical, and we're launching it with a highly anticipated and well-executed sequel, Devil's Lock All In"." The Beacon cabinet is defined by a high-contrast ultra-bright J-curve screen, an EZ-service player panel with gel-capped comfort buttons, and many other features born from 400 hours of research. The Elite launch package includes broad overhead signage, strata LED dividers, and light-enhancing Fresnel lenses. "Our trade show is 50% larger this year than last year, and next year will be even bigger," says Burke. "It's symbolic of our growth trajectory and our future goals. Plus, G2E is a chance for our most talented employees to come together for three days and celebrate as a team." Bluberi is rapidly ascending in North America, growing its market share monthly and adding more jurisdictions to its base daily. This includes the recent addition of Historical Horse Racing that Bluberi will debut at G2E, a substantial gaming market covering states like Kentucky, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Wyoming. "A key statement that we believe in is that we are the new school," said Casey Whalen, Bluberi's Chief Commercial Officer. "We approach many decisions with this in mind, which drives us to be authentic and somewhat irreverent. We can't wait for G2E to demonstrate how we are different and how being new school translates into success within the industry." ### About Bluberi Backed by more than 25 years of industry experience, Bluberi is an established and reliable company with an expansive vision to deliver the highest quality casino gaming experience to players in Class II and Class III markets across the globe. We strive to provide industry-leading customer service by being the easiest company to do business with and are proud to be an agile supplier, able to respond to customer feedback quickly as we grow to become a best-in-class gaming partner. To learn more, visit bluberi.com. About Global Gaming Expo For over 20 years, Global Gaming Expo (G2E) has been the leader in uniting the global gaming community. Whether engaging in-person or digitally, G2E offers industry leaders a productive, educational, and rewarding way to connect year-round. G2E's strong foundation and location in Las Vegas continue to showcase innovation while highlighting transformation in the gaming industry. Click here for a free pass to G2E. Bluberi Media Contact: Christian Smith, Sr. Director of Product & Marketing, [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183263 Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - SLM Holdings, a leading fintech startup, is pleased to announce strategic collaborations with influential Chicago investors, signaling a significant milestone in the company's mission to redefine the future of digital banking. These strategic alliances are poised to reshape the way consumers interact with cash, ensuring a seamless integration into the modern digital economy. While cash circulation in the United States reaches unprecedented levels, its usage is experiencing a steady decline as consumers increasingly adopt digital payment methods. Existing solutions for digitizing cash, such as bank ATMs, cash-to-crypto ATMs, coin-counting kiosks, and in-store retail deposits, have proven to be restrictive, costly, and inconvenient, impeding the full transition to a digital economy. Operating discreetly under its private holding entity, SLM Holdings, the company has been diligently crafting a disruptive fintech ecosystem. This ecosystem reimagines cash management and payment services typically offered by banks and large financial institutions. SLM Holdings leverages AI-powered hardware and enterprise software solutions to rejuvenate cash-related services for consumers, retailers, and banks. The company is set to unveil its transformative product in early 2025. Co-Founders Gabriel Stone, Andre Battles, and Lester Larry To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10027/183002_0d318b8c847c49a8_001full.jpg Raising capital is a formidable task, particularly for tech ventures headquartered in Chicago. Nevertheless, SLM Holdings has experienced early success and remains optimistic about Chicago's potential as a burgeoning tech and innovation hub. Co-founders Andre Battles and Lester Larry, both originating from Chicago's south side, boast strong connections within the city. Completing the formidable trio, Gabriel Stone, hailing from the North Shore, shares close ties with Larry from their time at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. Co-Founders Gabriel Stone, Andre Battles, and Lester Larry To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10027/183002_slmfigure2.jpg "At SLM Holdings, we merge our diverse backgrounds in finance, technology, and entrepreneurship to create a nexus of intelligent banking innovations and solidifying strategic collaborations in Chicago's fintech landscape," Andre said. In the quest for initial backers, the co-founders enlisted Chicago-native Peter Thompson, Chairman of Midwest Advisory of Lazard and a respected figure within the Chicago business community with deep family ties to the city's political landscape. In addition to Thompson, the company has been backed by angel investors who helm some of the most prominent financial institutions in the city, including a prominent Chicago-based cash management firm. As SLM Holdings charts its course, co-founder Lester Larry believes in fostering cross-sector collaboration, stating, "We're optimistic that by initiating some cross-sector collaboration and cohesion amongst the biggest tech and non-tech players in the city, we might be able to create an ecosystem here that can compete with the larger tech hubs out there." Contact Info: Lester Larry SLM Holdings [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183002 Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - XIX International trade management consulting firm led by partners, Swapnadip Roy and Paulius Stankevicius, is getting engaged in ESG project development and consulting under the COP28 mission in the United Arab Emirates. (Photo: Dubai Financial Center) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10006/183340_337cd84124006bf4_001full.jpg As international trade progresses, carbon credits are taking big role in global markets. "Countries in GCC and Africa, where physical trade business is actively engaged with emissions, participating in ESG project developments and consulting is the right corporate path for XIX International," says Partner, Swapnadip Roy. XIX International consults trading companies and international buyers for various commodities and with ESG being a global trend, XIX International is taking a lead forward as one of the consulting firms to enhance more sustainable business environment in global markets. XIX International is currently operating in the Middle East and is set to open operations in Asia, US, Europe in 2024. XIX International mission is to be involved in building sustainability in a new ecologically governed business environment. XIX International puts their success of unique value proposition toward ability to provide micro-process management solutions to buyers and sellers which is the ultimate edge of business offering. XIX International helps clients to negotiate trade deals and possibly increase revenue in global business. About XIX International XIX International is a trade management firm that helps buyers and sellers to find reasonable agreement, through professional negotiation process, to agree on trade deals. XIX International provides guidance and advice on trade matters for both sellers and buyers. Contact XIX International [email protected] https://xix.international To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183340 SAN FRANCISCO , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A class action lawsuit claims that Plaintiffs paid more for JUUL products than they otherwise would have paid if they had been given accurate information about JUUL products' addictiveness and safety, and that JUUL products were unlawfully marketed to minors. Following the $255 million settlement with JUUL Labs, Inc. and related individuals and entities, a $45 million settlement with the remaining defendant, Altria, has been reached to resolve the class action litigation. The group of people who Altria has agreed to pay is called the Settlement Class and it includes everyone who purchased JUUL products from brick and mortar or online retail stores or from JUUL directly before December 7, 2022 . Those who are in this group and want to get paid must file a claim. Class Members who previously submitted a claim in the earlier settlement with JUUL Labs do NOT need to submit a new claim for the Altria settlement to receive payment. Class Members will receive a single payment that includes their share from both settlements. Millions of Emails and Mailed Notices have been sent and continue to be sent to identified Class Members with information about the Settlement. Recipients can click a link in the email or scan a QR code in the Mailed Notice or simply return the postage pre-paid, return postcard to file a claim. Those who do not receive an email or postcard about the Settlement can file a claim by visiting the website at www.JUULclassaction.com or obtain a paper claim form by contacting the Settlement Administrator at 1-855-604-1734. Payments will be based on how much each claimant spent on JUUL products compared to other Settlement Class members. How much each claimant will receive is unknown at this time because it depends on how many claims are submitted. More information about how payments will be calculated is available in the Plan of Allocation at www.JUULclassaction.com. In addition to filing a claim, class members may object to the Settlement. If they have not filed a claim, class members may request exclusion from the Settlement Class. Class members who do not exclude themselves may be bound by the Settlement, which may impact their rights. Full details about Class Member rights and options, including the deadlines to exercise them, are available at www.JUULclassaction.com. A full list of the products included in the Settlement and the ongoing litigation, as well as other important documents, are also available at www.JUULclassaction.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-45-million-settlement-has-been-reached-with-altria-adding-to-the-money-available-for-those-who-bought-a-juul-product-before-december-7-2022-301948789.html SOURCE United States District Court for the Northern District of California ORLANDO, Fla. , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ThinkAndor has expanded the inpatient virtual care capabilities at Orlando Health, a nonprofit healthcare provider in the Central Florida region, with the deployment of virtual nursing through ThinkAndor Virtual Hospital. This technology provides nurses with more time to focus on patients and earmarks the completion of another piece of Orlando Health's approach to efficiently virtualizing hospital operations. Orlando Health's IT/Digital strategy is to provide one platform for virtual care, instead of separate niche solutions, to reduce dependencies on proprietary, closed hardware systems by leveraging AI-driven software to rapidly scale programs, which has transformed patient care and optimized workflow efficiency. ThinkAndor Virtual Hospital uses cutting-edge technologies, including advanced artificial intelligence, like Open AI and ChatGPT, and machine learning algorithms to provide real-time insights into patient needs and staff coordination. This pioneering approach brings a unified virtual command center to enhance interventions, improve outcomes and scale resources by well more than 100 percent, and gain significant operational efficiencies. By leveraging this technology, Orlando Health aims to streamline processes, improve patient outcomes, and maximize resource utilization. AI-powered, ThinkAndor's virtual nursing module uses generative and transformative AI models to automate more than 40% of nursing workflows. Using large language models, ThinkAndor virtual nursing module proactively curates automated triages for patient registration, in-patient nurse engagement, and discharge planning. The platform provides real-time expert assistance in an automated manner to help all nurses perform at the levels of senior experienced nurses. ThinkAndor's virtual nursing module is able to tailor patient care by automatically prompting users to complete documentation, follow-up, and other administrative tasks. In addition, ThinkAndor actively listens to patient events and configures EMR-driven signals to automate intervention opportunities such as approaching admissions, double medication verification, timely discharge, and LOS reduction, as well as coordinating care with the patient's caregivers and family. "Orlando Health embraces AI-powered technologies through our commitment to delivering exceptional patient care," said Darius Love , DNP, MHA, RN, CENP, Orlando Health's Assistant Vice President of Workforce Optimization and Redesign. "The use of this technology will provide patients with an extra layer of support under our care and assist our dedicated team members by putting a virtual set of eyes and ears in every room, which enables a safer environment for everyone." Pritesh Patel , Chief Operating Officer of Andor Health, expressed his excitement about the growing partnership stating, "We are proud to collaborate with Orlando Health to scale AI-powered virtual nursing across all its hospitals. Through this expanded partnership with Orlando Health and Microsoft, we aim to empower healthcare providers with actionable insights, enabling them to deliver at-scale, personalized care and support to patients, while optimizing staff workflows through the ThinkAndor Clinical Co-pilot." To learn more, visit Andor Health at HLTH booth 5030 October 8-11 to learn how you can achieve more with AI-powered virtual care experiences. About Andor Health At Andor Health, our mission is to change the way care teams connect and collaborate. By harnessing machine and human intelligence, our cloud-based platform unlocks data stored in electronic medical records to deliver real-time actionable intelligence to care teams inside and outside their enterprise. By optimizing communication workflows, our solutions accelerate time to treatment, decrease clinician burnout, and drive better patient outcomes. For more information, visit Andor Health or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter . Media Contacts Andor Health Jennifer Skitsko - SVP, Marketing Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-driven-thinkandor-virtual-nursing-module-expands-virtual-care-capabilities-at-orlando-health-301950139.html SOURCE Andor Health CHICAGO , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today marks the 10 year anniversary of Copado and the beginning of DevOps for enterprise SaaS solutions. Over the past decade, DevOps has transformed the way organizations develop, deliver, and maintain software, enabling them to achieve faster time-to-market, improved quality, and increased collaboration. At the same time, SaaS adoption has skyrocketed and software providers have added more and more capabilities. This has increased the complexity of SaaS deployments, requiring multiple development teams and collaboration tools to manage them. Copado was founded to solve this challenge and the founders embraced a mission to end release days. In the last 10 years, the Copado team has built a market-leading solution that enables enterprises to automate, extend and customize their DevOps processes by offering CI/CD, data deployments, monitoring, agile planning, testing, compliance and omnipresent AI right out of the box. A timeline of key events: 2013: Federico Larsen and Philipp Rackwitz built the tools to bring early DevOps capabilities to the Salesforce platform and Copado was born . "We thought the initial release management tool could be easily downloaded via the AppExchange with a self-service model, but we quickly realized that it was ideal for enterprises and so it required implementation, training, conversations around security and compliance, and more," said Philipp Rackwitz , co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Copado. "We needed to build a more robust sales operation to help get customers on board. It was time to adapt because we knew we were on to something." The founders adjusted their go-to market strategy and Sanjay Gidwani , who four years later would become Copado's Chief Operating Officer, signed on as the company's first paying customer. In the first five years Copado grew annual revenue to $4 million with a customer list of notable Fortune 500 enterprises without any outside investment. 2018: After the first round of financing in 2018, Copado began to focus on scale and technology innovations that would set the pace for development on SaaS platforms. The founders hired Ted Elliott as Chief Executive Officer to drive the next stage of growth for the company. 2019: Copado opened its new North American headquarters in Chicago and added offices in London , Paris and Munich to serve customers throughout Europe . The company also announced an office in India and launched its Salesforce DevOps certification program to support in-demand skills. Achieving accredited certification to ISO 27001 established that Copado's business operations have met the gold standard for enterprise level data security. This was the first step in the company's security and compliance journey. By May 2023 , Copado would become the only DevOps platform for Salesforce to achieve FedRAMP , ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 1, and GDPR compliance. 2020: Copado acquired ClickDeploy , a free DevOps tool for customers just starting on their DevOps journey. This acquisition expanded the company's product set to better serve individual admins and small teams. 2021: Copado raised $140 million in Series C financing , bringing the total funds invested in the company to $257 million . The company entered partnerships with Accenture, IBM, Softbank Robotics, Veeva and more. Understanding that DevOps success is also rooted in people, Copado launched its community , which is now the largest DevOps community in the world with more than 83,000 active members. Copado's investment in education and learning has added 26,500 certified DevOps professionals to the Salesforce ecosystem. As testing became critical to the DevOps process, Copado acquired Qentinel to expand its key capabilities. The company would now offer AI-enabled software testing for all major enterprise software platforms. 2022: The Copado DevOps Exchange launched, becoming the first DevOps marketplace for enterprise SaaS solutions. The DevOps Exchange now offers more than 65 pre-built solutions from Copado, its partners and the Copado community to extend and enhance the features of Copado's DevOps platform for Salesforce . The DevOps Exchange has hundreds of downloads and installs each month to support more than 17 million customer deployments. Copado acquired Qualibrate and IOVIO to bring deeper robotic testing capabilities to the platform. Now with multi-cloud, automation and AI expertise Copado sets its sights on democratizing testing in low-code environments. 2023: At 10 years old, Copado has become the market leader and transformed its initial release management tool into a full-featured DevOps and testing platform for enterprise SaaS. The company continues to innovate at breakneck speed. With the launch of Copado AI from the Copado Labs team in spring 2023, enterprise SaaS development is faster, easier and more accessible. Copado AI Companion offers User Story Enrichment, a generative AI co-pilot that grooms requirements to ensure user stories are complete for development and testing. The company was also granted two U.S. patents for leveraging AI in scripting, coding, and editing. "Looking ahead, the future of DevOps holds immense potential, with increased automation, enhanced security practices, and the continued adoption of cloud-native and multi-cloud strategies and it will be framed by the opportunity for innovation with AI," said Federico Larsen , co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Copado. "Generative AI has captured the imagination of the software industry and will help us realize our mission of making release days obsolete. The last 10 years have been an amazing ride, but it's still getting better and more interesting with each year. I am excited to see what the next 10 years will bring." Follow Copado: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/copado-solutions-s.l/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CopadoSolutions Blog: https://www.copado.com/devops-hub/blog About Copado Copado is the leading DevOps and AI-driven test automation platform for enterprise SaaS applications. Backed by Insight Partners and Salesforce Ventures, Copado helps development teams build end-to-end digital transformation for more than 1,200 global brands including Coca-Cola, Medtronic, T-Mobile and Volkswagen. Copado has a 4.99 star rating on the Salesforce AppExchange and is proven to drive 20X more frequent releases, 95% less downtime, 10X faster testing and 20% greater productivity. Each month, Copado processes 50 million DevOps transactions and upskills more than 80,000 tech professionals in the world's largest DevOps community. More information can be found at: http://www.copado.com . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/copado-celebrates-10-years-of-devops-for-enterprise-saas-solutions-301950297.html SOURCE Copado DPC Dash opened 700 th China store in Wenzhou last month The Company subsequently entered a new city in China , with two new stores opening on the same day in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Company remains on pace to achieve goal of opening about 180 and 240 new stores in 2023 and 2024, respectively DPC Dash named one of the 2023 Top 10 Most Favorite Brands in the food and beverage Industry for Generation Z by National Business Daily HONG KONG , Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DPC Dash Ltd ("DPC Dash" or the "Company") (HK: 1405), Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China Mainland , the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China , and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China , continues to see rapid expansion in China , with the opening of its 700th store in September. The opening of the Company's 700th store in the city of Wenzhou is an important milestone demonstrating expansion in China remains on track. The Company subsequently entered a new city in China , with two new stores opening on the same day in Jiaxing, Zhejiang . With these latest additions, the Company remains on pace to achieve its targets of opening about 180 and 240 new stores in 2023 and 2024, respectively. As rapid expansion in China continues, the Company was also named one of the 2023 Top 10 Most Favorite Brands in the food and beverage Industry for Generation Z by National Business Daily. This popularity among young people in China shows the Company's success in adapting and building on the proven business model of its franchisor Domino's by localizing its key features for China and its consumers, focusing on serving Chinese consumers delicious, value-for-money pizzas through online channels, with an emphasis on delivery, enhanced by technology. Ms. Aileen Wang , executive director and chief executive officer of DPC Dash, said, "This important milestone in our growth demonstrates our success as we continue executing tailored localization strategies, and implementing our actionable store expansion plan. We remain focused on a delivery-centric business model, and on strengthening our development capabilities in regards to both menu and technology." About DPC Dash DPC Dash is Domino's Pizza's exclusive master franchisee in the China mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Domino's Pizza, Inc., DPC Dash's global franchisor, is one of the most widely-recognized global consumer brands and the world's largest pizza company. Led by a seasoned and visionary management team, DPC Dash is a market leader that differentiates from competitors with, among others, a continually developed and localized pizza-focused menu, unique expertise and leadership in delivery, technology focus and scalable and replicable store economic model. DPC Dash directly operates 716 stores across 21 cities in China mainland as of 30 September, 2023. The Company is the fastest growing among China's top-five pizza brands, as well as the third-largest in terms of 2022 revenue, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan in March 2023 . For more information, visit www.dpcdash.com Contacts Media Relations DPC Dash Public Relations: ICR, LLC [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dpc-dash-achieves-700th-store-milestone-in-china-as-rapid-expansion-continues-301950304.html SOURCE DPC Dash Ltd On the night of October 6-7, the Nova Festival music festival was taking place in Israel near the border with Gaza. At the time of the Hamas attack, the festival participants were dancing and having fun, not knowing that in less than an hour many of them would be killed or captured by terrorists. ADVERTISIMENT At the site of the festival, in Kibbutz Re'im, 240 bodies of brutally murdered civilians were found, and the few survivors talk about the horror they experienced. Details are reported by CNN. The footage that appeared on the network shows guests of the Nova Festival in southern Israel dancing carefree, not realizing that very soon many of them will be brutally killed. In the background, Hamas fighters can be seen parachuting into the sky. As one of the survivors of the massacre, the militants attacked the festival half an hour after thousands of rockets began flying at Israel. The girl recalled how she and hundreds of other people tried to escape while the terrorists were shooting civilians in the back. ADVERTISIMENT The Nova Festival dance party near the border of the Gaza Strip and Israel was timed to coincide with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot and lasted all night. At dawn, people who had gathered for the festival in the countryside heard sirens and rockets. "We didn't even have a place to hide because we were in the open... Everyone panicked and started taking their belongings," the eyewitness said. The video provided to the publication by the girl shows people quickly running away from the concert venue. Explosions and screams of frightened people can be heard. According to the eyewitness, most people rushed to their cars. But there were so many people who wanted to leave that traffic was paralyzed. Then many people panicked, left their cars and ran across the open field. Later, horrifying footage of hundreds of people running and being shot in the back by Hamas militants appeared on the Internet. Some of those running are falling. ADVERTISIMENT The CNN interviewee said she ran to the forest and was able to get into a passing car. "She saw many dead and wounded people on the sides of the road, but one scene in particular stuck in her mind: one concertgoer was shot near a van, and another was lying dead in the passenger seat of the car... "It was so scary, and we didn't know where to go to avoid meeting these evil... people... Many of my friends got lost in the woods for several hours. They were shot as if in a shooting range," the journalists quoted the girl as saying. She is still trying to contact her friends who disappeared after the attack. She does not know if they are alive. ADVERTISIMENT Meanwhile, relatives began to recognize their loved ones in the videos filmed by the militants and posted online. Thus, in the footage of the terrorists taking away the terrified girl on a motorcycle, who was begging for help, they identified a 25-year-old Israeli citizen, Noa Argamani. Her boyfriend, 30-year-old Avinatan Ora, was also seen in the video: the militants twisted his hands behind his back and forced him to go somewhere. ADVERTISIMENT "She was so scared, so scared. I always protected her, but at that moment I couldn't. I pray that everyone will come back," Yaakov Argamani, the father of the kidnapped girl, told reporters. Noah's boyfriend's brother, Avinatan, also immediately recognized both of them in the horrific footage. "I saw his girlfriend Noa on the video, frightened and terrified, I have no idea what is happening to her - she is screaming in panic on a motorcycle when some thugs are holding her and won't let her go... My brother, a big guy, two meters tall, trains four times a week, he is a very strong guy. I think they held him with maybe four or five people and just took him to the border," Moshe Or told reporters. Before being captured by the militants, the couple hid for several hours and saw numerous Hamas killings. The young people managed to write about this to their friends in messengers. ADVERTISIMENT In another horrific video, which shows a stripped almost naked girl lying face down unconscious in the back of a terrorist vehicle, she was also recognized by her relatives. The militants who mocked the body of the unconscious or dead woman called her an "Israeli soldier." The girl was identified as a 20-year-old German citizen, Shani Luk, by a tattoo on her leg, which can be seen in the video. ADVERTISIMENT The girl's relatives confirmed that Shani was at the festival. "We recognized her by her tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks. We have some hope... Hamas is responsible for her and the others," the girl's cousin told the Washington Post. A source at the German Foreign Ministry told CNN that "the Federal Foreign Office and the German Embassy in Tel Aviv are in close contact with Israeli authorities to determine whether and to what extent the attack affected German citizens." And Bild published a video with the girl's mother. "This morning, my daughter, Shani Nicole Luk, a German citizen, was kidnapped by Palestinian Hamas along with a group of tourists in southern Israel... We were sent a video in which I clearly saw our daughter unconscious in a car with Palestinians traveling through the Gaza Strip... I am asking for help and any information," said Ricarda Luk. ADVERTISIMENT At the festival site, 240 bodies of murdered people were found. Presumably, all of them were participants of the festival. Some of them had their hands tied behind their backs, and their bodies showed signs of torture. Meanwhile, footage of dozens of people leaving the shelters near Netivot and walking home has also been posted online. However, these could be not only festival participants, but also foreign workers who were hiding from Hamas. The day before, 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. ADVERTISIMENT In response, Israel announced the launch of Operation Iron Swords, and the Israeli Security Council unanimously approved a ground operation in the Gaza Strip. OBOZREVATEL also covered what happened in Israel overnight and whether Hamas attacks were stopped and monitors the current situation online. HOUSTON , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- French Cuff Boutique, a cornerstone of Houston's women's fashion boutique community, proudly marked its 15th anniversary with an evening of style, philanthropy, and community celebration on September 27, 2023 . The festivities began at all three of French Cuff's distinct boutique locationsBellaire, Woodway, and Town & Countrywhere 15% of the day's sales were generously donated to Kids Meals, a charity devoted to ending childhood hunger. "Thank you so much for your big hearts for hungry children," said Cynthia Stielow , Chief Development & Communications Officer of Kids Meals. The charity was chosen through a voting process, where dedicated customers nominated, and selected organizations close to their hearts. Later that evening, French Cuff hosted a glamorous 15th Anniversary Party at Georgia James, one of Houston's most upscale steakhouses located within the Regent Square mixed-use development. Founder Kairy-tate Barkley welcomed longtime customers, new clients, dear friends, family, and dedicated employees to celebrate the milestone. Guests were treated to delicious bites and cocktails and could capture the memorable evening in a 360-photo booth. The celebration also included a raffle where attendees had the opportunity to win a $1,000 gift card to French Cuff Boutique. VIP gift bags were distributed to express gratitude to all attendees for their ongoing support. "We couldn't have reached this 15-year milestone without the unwavering support of our customers, staff, and various community organizations that share our values," said Barkley. Thankful for the Houston Community French Cuff's longstanding success is also credited to the generous Houston community that has supported Barkley's vision from the very beginning. French Cuff stays committed to giving back to the neighborhoods through active and passionate involvement in local and national charitable organizations. "Cheers to fifteen years of French Cuff Boutique. We owe our journey to the Houston community and look forward to many more years of serving and styling you," concludes Barkley. For more information on French Cuff Boutique's 15th Anniversary Celebration or to view their latest collections, visit https://frenchcuffco.com or any of the three store locations. Click here for: French Cuff Boutique 15 Year Anniversary Photos About French Cuff Boutique Since opening its doors in July 2008 , French Cuff has experienced remarkable growth, fueled by Kairy-tate Barkley's vision of creating an unmatched shopping experience. Over the last 15 years, French Cuff has provided a warm friendly ambiance, expert personal styling, and a commitment to community involvement. This style destination, located at three key Houston areasWest University, Tanglewood and Memorial offers a thoughtfully curated collection of designer labels across various price points, allowing every woman to beautifully express her personal style. About Kids Meals Kids Meals is a charity organization committed to ending childhood hunger by delivering free meals to underprivileged children. For more information, visit https://linktr.ee/kidsmealshouston. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/french-cuff-boutique-celebrates-15-years-of-fashion-and-philanthropy-in-houston-301951104.html SOURCE French Cuff Boutique SEOUL, South Korea , Oct. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanwha Aerospace and its US subsidiary Hanwha Defense USA will exhibit artillery and other defense products at the upcoming Association of the U.S. Army's Annual Meeting & Exposition, taking place from October 9 to 11 , at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. In response to the increased demand for artillery driven by the Ukraine War, Hanwha will present adaptive and dependable ordnance and munitions intended to provide the United States Army and Canadian Army with critical cutting-edge capability in support of NATO's effort to stabilize the global arms supply chain. The following are Hanwha's key products and solutions that will be displayed at the event. K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer: The K9 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) is the most widely used SPH in the world due to its firepower, high mobility, and survivability. It can engage targets at a range of 40 kilometers with currently available conventional ammunition and has demonstrated a range of 50+ kilometers with new rocket assisted projectiles. Over 1,800 K9 vehicles, including localized variants, are in service with eight nations, including Poland , Norway , Finland , and Estonia . Australia and Egypt are planning to produce and operate hundreds of additional K9s in the next several years. Modular Charge System: Hanwha's 155mm Artillery Modular Charge System (MCS) is designed for use in NATO standard 39 and 52 caliber gun configurations with associated projectiles that comply with the Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understanding (JBMoU). The system has an operational temperature range of -46C to +54C. Hanwha has the world's greatest MCS production capacity, which can be supplied directly from Korea . The MCS burns very cleanly upon ignition leaving little or no reside, thereby eliminating the need for swabbing the barrel between fires, increasing the system's high rate of fire. Ammunition Resupply Vehicle: The K56 Ammunition Resupply Vehicle is a robotic unit designed for the swift and safe automated resupply of projectiles and propellant into the K9 and other systems such as the M109 Paladin in order to expedite ammunition transfer and reduce crew fatigue. TAipers: A guided air-to-ground missile designed for the Light Armed Helicopter (LAH) of the Korean Army, TAipers has been converted for use as a vehicle-launched surface-to-surface missile. It features offensive anti-vehicle capabilities as well as qualities that increase stand-off and improve combatant survivability in high-risk areas. 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar Carrier: The carrier places an automated 120mm mortar on a tracked armored vehicle, improving the shell's performance and range beyond those of traditional mortars. It has an automated fire control system for speedier and more accurate fire support. BIHO Air Defense System: BIHO is a hybrid short range (SHORAD) anti-aircraft weapon that combines an automatic cannon and a missile system to intercept low-altitude targets that have penetrated outer air defenses. The system combines a 30mm cannon with surface-to-air guided missiles, allowing for superior tracking and targeting capabilities combined with rapid 8x8 wheeled mobility. ARION-SMET UGV: The Arion-SMET (Autonomous and Robotic systems for Intelligence Off-road Navigation Small Multi-purpose Equipment Transport) is a 6x6 fully electric vehicle designed to support infantry operations, such as ammunition transport, medical evacuation, reconnaissance, and fire support. The vehicle can drive up to 100km when fully charged and has a maximum payload of 550kg, offering a significant improvement in combat support and maneuvering capabilities. Hanwha Arion SMET is highly flexible and offers easy integration of future payloads and technology insertions such as Hybrid, RWS, and Surveillance Kit. Arion-SMET will undergo field tests with USMC/Army at the U.S. Marine Corps training center later this year. As we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the US-ROK alliance, Hanwha Group has established itself as a reliable partner to the US through significant investments and the employment of nearly 5,000 Americans thus far in multiple industries, including energy and defense. Hanwha has established a record of cooperation with European nations such as Poland , Finland , and Norway . In particular, the company has proven a dependable partner with Poland , providing a total of 48 K9PL SPHs to the Polish Armed Forces as part of three tranches to fill the gap arising from the transfer of artillery systems to Ukraine . "We intend to perform all major design, prototyping, and manufacturing work locally, in the United States , as demonstrated by Hanwha in numerous NATO, EU, FVEY, and other allied nations," said John Kelly, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA. John Kelly, CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, underscores Hanwha's commitment to the US market. He states, "The bulk of the manufacturing being done in Korea today are the initial units urgently needed by our client countries while we are standing up in-country manufacturing capabilities as most recently demonstrated in the case of Poland where 48 units were delivered within the span of a few months". About Hanwha Aerospace Hanwha Aerospace is a global aerospace and defense company that offers a broad portfolio of products and services. These include land combat vehicles such as the world-renowned K9 Self-Propelled Howitzer and the Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle, various other weapons systems, munitions, aircraft engine parts, and technology products and services. As South Korea's largest aerospace and defense company, Hanwha Aerospace is engaged in the research, development, and manufacture of advanced technology systems and is spearheading the country's space projects. More information about Hanwha Aerospace is available at www.hanwhaaerospace.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hanwha-at-ausa-showcasing-artillery-solutions-to-north-american-partners-301949526.html SOURCE Hanwha Aerospace IDology solution increases player acquisition, loyalty, and revenue while complying with AML/KYC regulations. ATLANTA , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDology , a GBG company, a leading identity verification provider in the Americas for over 20 years, today announced an expanded portfolio of gaming solutions designed to optimize player acquisition, loyalty, and revenue while fortifying operators against fraud and money laundering through strategy and automation, ensuring compliance with both state and federal regulations. Today's gaming landscape presents both remarkable opportunities and significant challenges for operators. With the gaming industry facing an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, IDology's full-lifecycle AML compliance solutions come at a pivotal time. IDology's expertise addresses these challenges head-on, ensuring that operators can focus on growth without compromising on security, compliance, or the customer experience. IDology's enhanced gaming solution includes: Expanded Data Coverage and Increased Pass Rates: Comprehensive access to new data sources ensures more customers, including thin-file and hard-to-identify populations, can be successfully verified and onboarded at a higher level of speed and accuracy. Robust and reliable age verification checks simplify compliance procedures, while protecting underage individuals from creating accounts and placing bets. Comprehensive access to new data sources ensures more customers, including thin-file and hard-to-identify populations, can be successfully verified and onboarded at a higher level of speed and accuracy. Robust and reliable age verification checks simplify compliance procedures, while protecting underage individuals from creating accounts and placing bets. Step-Up Verification: Patented technology automates in-line authentication of government-issued IDs to increase acquisition and enhance the customer experience using a global document library covering all 196 countries and territories with over 8,000 document types. Forensic and CVML tests ensure detection of expired, stolen, forged, and tampered with IDs, while biometric protection with a simple ID to selfie face match provides an added layer of identity assurance. Patented technology automates in-line authentication of government-issued IDs to increase acquisition and enhance the customer experience using a global document library covering all 196 countries and territories with over 8,000 document types. Forensic and CVML tests ensure detection of expired, stolen, forged, and tampered with IDs, while biometric protection with a simple ID to selfie face match provides an added layer of identity assurance. Orchestration and Contactability: Full stack orchestration of a player's identity journey by IDology. Technology solution for the implementation of customizable workflows for onboarding and cost optimization that assert contactability of your player through every step of the workflow while building ROI. Full stack orchestration of a player's identity journey by IDology. Technology solution for the implementation of customizable workflows for onboarding and cost optimization that assert contactability of your player through every step of the workflow while building ROI. PEPs and Sanctions Screening: Comprehensive checks against 450+ global sanctions lists, including individual country, OFAC, Interpol , and UN Sanctions, during onboarding and beyond, for continuous monitoring and risk assessment without human intervention. Advanced algorithms and match filters ensure accuracy and reduce false positives. Comprehensive checks against 450+ global sanctions lists, including individual country, OFAC, , and UN Sanctions, during onboarding and beyond, for continuous monitoring and risk assessment without human intervention. Advanced algorithms and match filters ensure accuracy and reduce false positives. Fraud Prevention: Tenured fraud prevention solutions for identifying and managing risk in-line including Velocity Rules engine and Fraud Consortium of more than 15 million attributes, preventing piracy, multi-accounting, unfair gameplay, bonus abuse, account take-over and chargeback fraud . All backed by ML and dedicated Fraud Analyst support to keep operators proactive in their fraud mitigation needs. Tenured prevention solutions for identifying and managing risk in-line including Velocity Rules engine and Consortium of more than 15 million attributes, preventing piracy, multi-accounting, unfair gameplay, bonus abuse, account take-over and chargeback . All backed by ML and dedicated Analyst support to keep operators proactive in their mitigation needs. End-to-End Compliance: Comply with state and federal regulatory requirements and promote responsible gaming with a comprehensive, full-lifecycle compliance and risk management ecosystemall with one provider. "Today's gaming landscape presents both remarkable opportunities and significant challenges for operators. As criminal techniques evolve, so must our strategies to combat them," said Heidi Hunter , Chief Product Officer, IDology GBG. "We understand the complexities faced by the gaming industry and have dedicated ourselves to building robust, sophisticated solutions that prioritize both user experience and regulatory compliance. In this era of rapid online expansion, we're proud to empower operators to tap into new growth opportunities confidently and securely." For more information or to talk to a Trust Expert today, visit https://www.idology.com/ . About IDology GBG IDology, a GBG company, delivers a comprehensive suite of identity verification, AML/KYC compliance solutions and fraud management to help businesses drive revenue, deter fraud and maintain compliance. IDology provides end-to-end coverage of the customer identity lifecycle, offering standalone or multi-layered capabilities, with thousands of diverse data sources and leading technology for document authentication and ID + selfie verification. Under GBG, Acuant and IDology recently united to form the largest pure play identity verification provider in the Americas . Listed on the London Stock Exchange, GB Group plc ('GBG') is a global leader in developing and delivering digital identity, address verification, fraud prevention and compliance software to businesses globally with over 30 years' experience. To learn more about GBG visit https://www.gbgplc.com . Media Contact: Kathy Berardi Carabiner Communications 678.644.4122 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idology-gbg-protects-online-gaming-market-with-robust-kycaml-solution-301950100.html SOURCE IDology Lottie is a free service that helps families understand, find and fund later life care Rated the UK's best eldercare search service, Lottie provides care seekers with access to 4,000+ UK -wide care homes, home care services and retirement living communities Company brings transparency to the industry by ensuring all listings are clear about pricing and service availability Lottie already has 500,000+ monthly users and recorded 300% customer growth in last 12 months LONDON , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lottie, the free online marketplace that connects care seekers and retirees to UK care homes, home care services, and retirement living communities, today announces that it has raised a $21M (16.35M) Series A funding round led by Accel, with participation from previous investor General Catalyst. This brings the total amount raised by the company to $31M (25M). Lottie will use the investment to confront the growing social care crisis and elevate the standard of later living by further investing in its suite of technology products that significantly improves the care seeker experience. The company will expand its 50-strong team based in London , with the aim of doubling headcount in 2024. Across the UK , care home availability has reached its lowest point in over a decade, amid a backdrop of an ageing population and stagnant state funding: new government data suggests there is a 2.3bn shortfall in England's care home funding. Moreover, the experience for care seekers is complicated, stressful and time consuming, with people contacting an average of six services before finding a provider that fits their personal care needs. Most have no real sense of how much care should cost, little up-to-date information on services, and no support throughout what can be a distressing time. Lottie was founded in 2021 by Will and Chris Donnelly , who experienced firsthand the struggles of finding affordable care services for family members. The brothers launched Lottie with the goal of elevating later life for the older generation, modernising the process of finding care, and ensuring that standards of care are improved across the whole sector. Lottie will become the UK's first end-to-end marketplace experience for finding care, simplifying the search process so anyone can seamlessly book care online in a similar way to reserving a hotel room via Booking.com or Expedia. With Lottie, care seekers can find, compare and enquire directly with more than 4,000 high-quality care, home care and retirement living services, as well as having the support of Lottie's team of care experts through each stage of the search process. Lottie also grants full transparency of pricing and service availability, an industry first that means care seekers can see exactly how much their care will cost and whether the service is accepting new clients. Beyond its core marketplace, Lottie has developed Found by Lottie - a suite of technology tools it acquired in 2022, designed to upgrade the outdated services offered within care homes themselves. Found offers care providers powerful tools to effectively manage enquiries, customer relationships, networking, occupancy, finance and billing, and to show real-time bed availability. By working towards "instant bed bookings", Found has the potential to massively relieve the winter pressures on the NHS, where discharge nurses and social workers still have to manually find care homes for patients ready to be discharged. This leads to expensive rates and an inefficient process, as well as a 'bed-blocking' crisis in which patients who could be discharged remain in hospital. Lottie has already matched tens of thousands of families with care and retirement service providers. The London based start-up recorded a 300% growth in customers and revenue over the last 12 months, with more than 500,000 monthly users. Lottie also recently added home care as a new category to its marketplace, including its Direct to Carer solution, which allows families to find and book a high-quality carer without having to go through an agency, giving them more choice and control of the carer selection process. The fresh investment will be used to expand Lottie's marketplace coverage in the UK and to continue developing the platform's innovative software offerings for care homes. The company will also invest in artificial intelligence and has plans to develop a data insight tool aimed at helping the industry's key stakeholders make better informed decisions and to help the sector become sustainable in the long-term. Will Donnelly , Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Lottie, said: "We set out to build Lottie after experiencing firsthand the fundamental issues in the UK social care sector: namely a lack of high quality affordable care and an outdated, emotionally taxing process for individuals and families urgently looking to find care for their loved ones. Everyone deserves the best possible quality of life in their later years, and Lottie is helping to drive real change in the care search process, while supporting our provider partners in delivering better health outcomes for residents, improved operational efficiencies and huge cost savings via our software products. Our goal for Lottie is to become the trusted adviser to care seekers throughout the world - helping families best understand, find and fund later life care. Over 500,000 Britons now visit Lottie every month, and we're incredibly excited to have Accel join General Catalyst and Kindred on our journey, helping to fuel our next stage of growth and continue in our mission to elevate later life for everybody." Sonali De Rycker , Partner at Accel, said: "Digital marketplaces have transformed our lives. We expect glossy, transparent, low-touch experiences when booking holidays, buying groceries and doing everything in-between. For some reason, eldercare has been left behind. Will and Chris are on a mission to level up an industry stuck in the dark ages. Lottie offers consumers the modern discovery and booking experience they deserve when finding help for loved ones. In parallel, they offer care providers a suite of tools to shift online and upgrade their operations. Meeting Will and Chris is an experience you don't forget: they're an ambitious, high integrity team chasing a significant and important opportunity. We're excited to be part of their journey." Chris Bischoff , Managing Director at General Catalyst, said: "We believe the Lottie team has made great strides in their mission to provide transparency and support for families searching for quality care. They have demonstrated the ability to collaborate with care partners who share their commitment to modernising home care with sustainability, safety, and quality of life in mind. These values align with our Health Assurance thesis and we are excited to participate in their positive impact and continued growth." About Lottie Lottie is a digital marketplace that connects care seekers to the UK's best care homes at a fair price. Blending smart technology with market leading human expertise, Lottie makes finding the perfect care home for yourself or for a loved one less stressful, quicker and more affordable. The company is leading the global transformation to a modern and sustainable care sector and has raised capital from investors including Accel, General Catalyst and Tom Blomfield . Choose a Lottie care home today via: www.lottie.org About Accel Accel is a global venture capital firm that is the first partner to exceptional teams everywhere, from inception through all phases of private company growth. Atlassian, Bumble, Celonis, CrowdStrike, Deliveroo, Fiverr, Freshworks, Miro, Qualtrics, Scale, Segment, Slack, Spotify, Supercell, and UiPath are among the companies Accel has backed over the past 40+ years. We help ambitious entrepreneurs build iconic global businesses. For more, visit www.accel.com or www.twitter.com/accel. About General Catalyst General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco , Palo Alto , New York City , London , and Boston , the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lottie-raises-21m-series-a-led-by-accel-to-confront-the-social-care-crisis-and-elevate-the-standard-of-later-living-301949817.html SOURCE Lottie World's Leading Language and Technology Solutions Provider Showcases Global Insights, AI-Powered Innovation, and Digital Transformation NEW YORK , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TransPerfect, the leading global provider of language and technology solutions for businesses, hosted its eighth annual GlobalLink NEXT US conference in New York City . Held last year in San Francisco , 2023 marked the event's return to the east coast and its first time in New York . The largest-ever turnout for GlobalLink NEXT US included more than 500 attendees representing 300-plus organizations, all of whom came together for in-person discussions focused on the latest trends, new technological developments, and best practices for multilingual content management. The GlobalLink NEXT program featured innovation spotlights, case studies, product workshops, and industry-specific breakout tracks in retail, life sciences, finance, and digital across two days. Key themes included maximizing the impact of Generative AI, strategies for leveraging machine translation (MT), tips for engaging multicultural and multinational audiences, and digital innovation and transformation. A total of 48 sessions featured speakers from organizations including Amazon, UPS, TED-Ed, Hilton, Royal Caribbean, PNC, Zaplox, and NYC Tourism + Conventions. Each shared details of their individual business cases and provided insights on how their use of global content, digital marketing, and technology played a pivotal role in connecting with audiences worldwide. Tatiana Barrera , Lead Product Manager at Royal Caribbean Group and a GlobalLink NEXT speaker, said, "This is my third time at GlobalLink NEXT. It was well organized, with interesting content in a fabulous venue. But what truly stood out were the TransPerfect peoplewelcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to help. We have complex translation needs, and TransPerfect has been a great partner in crafting customized solutions. I appreciated the opportunity to share my story with other attendees." Matt Hauser , TransPerfect's Senior Vice President of Technology Solutions, noted, "The positive energy among our attendees at GlobalLink NEXT in New York was infectious. Clients and partners took full advantage of the conference as a platform for benchmarking their global content strategies with peers and thought leaders." TransPerfect President and CEO Phil Shawe stated, "GlobalLink NEXT continues to be a valuable opportunity to bring together our technology team, industry thought leaders, and our clients with the shared goal of streamlining multilingual content management and shaping the product roadmap for GlobalLink." Upcoming GlobalLink NEXT events include GlobalLink NEXT EMEA, October 1112 in Amsterdam , and GlobalLink NEXT Hong Kong on October 24 . About TransPerfect TransPerfect is the world's largest provider of language and technology solutions for global business. From offices in over 100 cities on six continents, TransPerfect offers a full range of services in 170+ languages to clients worldwide. More than 6,000 global organizations employ TransPerfect's GlobalLink technology to simplify management of multilingual content. With an unparalleled commitment to quality and client service, TransPerfect is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 17100 certified. TransPerfect has global headquarters in New York , with regional headquarters in London and Hong Kong . For more information, please visit our website at www.transperfect.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-city-plays-host-to-transperfects-largest-ever-globallink-next-us-conference-301950902.html SOURCE TransPerfect MILWAUKEE , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Regal Rexnord Corporation (NYSE: RRX) announced today that it plans to release its third quarter 2023 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 . Regal Rexnord will host a conference call to discuss the earnings release at 9:00 am CT ( 10:00 am ET ) on Thursday, November 2, 2023 . To listen to the live audio and view the presentation during the call, please visit Regal Rexnord's Investor website: https://investors.regalrexnord.com. To listen by phone or to ask the presenters a question, dial 1-877-264-6786 ( U.S. callers) or +1.412.317.5177 (international callers) and enter 0006739# when prompted. A webcast replay will be available at the link above, and a telephone replay will be available at 1.877.344.7529 ( U.S. callers) or +1.412.317.0088 (international callers), using a replay access code of 5146574#. Both will be accessible for three months after the earnings conference call. About Regal Rexnord Regal Rexnord Corporation is a global leader in the engineering and manufacturing of factory automation sub-systems, industrial powertrain solutions, automation and mechanical power transmission components, electric motors and electronic controls, air moving products, and specialty electrical components and systems. Through longstanding technology leadership and an intentional focus on producing more socially conscious and environmentally-friendly products and sub-systems, the Company is regularly addressing increasingly relevant secular demands of customers in the medical, alternative energy, aerospace, food & beverage, general industrial and warehouse/intralogistics end markets, among others. In short, Regal Rexnord's 36,000 associates around the world are proud to be working each day towards fulfilling the Company's purpose helping create a better tomorrow for its customers and for the planet. Regal Rexnord is comprised of four operating segments: Automation & Motion Control, Industrial Powertrain Solutions, Power Efficiency Solutions and Industrial Systems. Regal Rexnord is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has manufacturing, sales and service facilities worldwide. For more information, visit RegalRexnord.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/regal-rexnord-corporation-to-host-third-quarter-2023-earnings-conference-call-on-thursday-november-2-2023-301951354.html SOURCE Regal Rexnord Corporation -Meeting the evolving needs in immunology, cell biology and oncology- TOKYO , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation ("Sony") today announced the launch of FP7000 spectral cell sorter that supports high-speed, high-parameter sorting with more than 44 colors with simple workflows, leveraging its patented spectral technology-based optics, advanced electronics and fluidics. The new high-parameter spectral cell sorter is configurable with up to 6 lasers and 182 detectors enabling the detection and sorting of cell populations of interest, using complex panels comprised of more than 44 colors. It also supports multiple nozzle sizes for optimized sorting of a wide range of cell types. Its high-speed, real-time spectral unmixing capability, which separates the emission signature of each fluorophore from the composite spectral signal from the multi-color sample analyzed, combined with high sheath pressure and reliable drop-delay calibration, enables up to 6-way sorting of populations at event rates of 25,000 events per second. The FP7000 brings together the superior spectral technology and the versatile workflows from the Sony cell sorter portfolio to provide reliable system automation and guided workflows that enable researchers to obtain results in an unbiased manner as well as improve operational efficiency. This meets the needs of busy laboratories pursuing simple to complex high-parameter applications. "Sony's life science business is a pioneer in the development of advanced, microfluidics chip-based flow cytometers used for cell analysis leveraging its spectral technologies." said Katsunori Ogawa , Head of Life Science & Technology Business Unit at Sony Corporation. "FP7000 has the core design philosophy of integrating simple operations with these innovative technologies that enable deep profiling and sorting of heterogeneous cell populations for isolating multiple subsets, including dim and rare cell populations. With the expanded flow cytometer portfolio, Sony will support a wide range of solutions in fields such as immunology, cell biology and oncology, and further contribute to the advancement of research in those fields." FP7000 spectral cell sorter is scheduled to be available in autumn 2024. Main features Sony's patented spectral technology supports detection of more than 44 colors and autofluorescence signals from 6 lasers (320nm*2/349nm/405nm/488nm/561nm/637nm) and 182 PMT detectors. Optical capability is matched to Sony's ID7000 Spectral Cell Analyzer thus enabling multicolor assay portability from the cell analyzer to the cell sorter. Additionally, the system will support the detection of particles as small as 100 nm. Sheath excitation technology delivers robust operation of different types of nozzles and forms stable droplets at a frequency range of 12kHz to 100kHz and at a pressure range of 70 kPa to 600 kPa, enabling stable, multiway sorting into tubes and single cell sorting into plates. Patented unmixing algorithm delivers real-time unmixing at high speed and accuracy to resolve closely spaced fluorochromes, eliminates subjectivity of compensation and provides high-quality data. Cellular autofluorescence, the natural fluorescence emitted by cells, can present a complication in flow cytometry, as it can hinder detection of the fluorescence information of cells of interest. As individual samples have different autofluorescence levels, it has been a challenge for researchers to identify the emission spectrum of autofluorescence in advance. Autofluorescence Finder enables researchers to identify and unmix autofluorescence from multiple populations for higher fidelity data and improve resolution of dim signals in a heterogenous multicolor sample. Autofluorescence signals detected from any laser can be used as a parameter for sorting. Patented CoreFinder algorithm automates key steps of optical alignment, laser delay optimization, droplet calibration, sort delay optimization, and side stream adjustment, eliminating subjectivity and enabling operational efficiency and setup for simple to complex applications. Guided workflows including the Spectral Reference Library and autofluorescence unmixing enable streamlined setup of experiments and make the system easy to use for researchers of various expertise. Main Specifications Excitation lasers Up to 6 Lasers (320*2/349/405/488/561/637nm Detection optics 182 channels Measurement parameters- FSC, SSC, violet SSC*2*3 and 182 fluorescence parameters Nozzles 70-, 100-*2 and 130-*2 micron orifice Input tubes 0.5*3, 1.5*3, 5 and 15 ml Output tubes 1.5*3, 5, 15 and 50*3 ml Sorting output 6-way, 4-way, 2-way*4 and multi-well (6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 384 well*5) sorting Power Source - 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz Output Data Format - Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) 3.1 *1 : Calculated based on fluorochromes currently available on the market. Number may increase especially when new fluorochrome for 320nm excitation comes to market in the future. *2 : Available via software update after launch *3: Provided as an option *4 : 6-way sorting is available for 1.5 and 5 ml tubes, 4-way sorting for 15 ml tubes, and 2-way sorting for 50 ml tubes. *5 : 6, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 384 well sorting is compatible with well plates. 96 and 384 well sorting is available for PCR plates. About Sony's Life Science Business Formed in 2010 through the acquisition of iCyt Mission Technology, Sony's Life Sciences Business has leveraged Sony's proprietary laser optics, such as those used in Blu-ray disc and other optical discs, and polymer technology to develop flow cytometers and fluorescent reagents for cell analysis. The Life Science Business will contribute to scientists in basic research and developers in clinical applications. http://www.sonybiotechnology.com/ For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, or for any other clinical purpose. This product is a Class 1 laser (JIS standard) product. ID7000 is a trademark of Sony Other company and product names used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sony-announces-launch-of-fp7000-spectral-cell-sorter-supporting-high-parameter-sorting-with-more-than-44-colors1-301950099.html SOURCE Sony Biotechnology NEW YORK , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CB Insights today named TerraPay to its sixth-annual Fintech 100 ranking (previously the Fintech 250) - showcasing the 100 most promising private fintech companies of 2023. "Representing 24 different countries across the globe, this year's Fintech 100 is shaping the future of real-time payments, spend management automation, embedded finance, and more," said Chris Bendtsen , Lead Fintech Analyst, CB Insights. Together, they are not only increasing the pace of innovation, but launching new products and features to revolutionize the industry as a whole. I cannot wait to see what this cohort accomplishes next." "It's an honor to be recognized by CB Insights as part of this year's Fintech 100 list. Over the past few years, we have been steadily building our cross-border payment network and this pace of growth has accelerated significantly in 2023. We have forged some key alliances that will help us further our vision of building a connected and empowered world of payments. As we expand, we aim to shape a more inclusive and accessible future for cross-border payments." said Ambar Sur , Founder & CEO, TerraPay Utilizing the CB Insights platform , the research team selected these 100 winners from a pool of over 19,000 private companies, including applicants and nominees. They were chosen based on factors including - including equity funding, investor profiles, business relationships, R&D activity, news sentiment analysis, competitive landscape, proprietary Mosaic scores , and Yardstiq transcripts - and criteria such as tech novelty and market potential. The research team also reviewed thousands of Analyst Briefings submitted by applicants. Today, TerraPay has established itself as a global partner to leading banks, money transfer operators, mobile wallet operators, and financial institutions to facilitate digital transactions without borders. Recently, TerraPay successfully closed its Series B equity financing round, raising in excess of $100 million in equity and debt financing. The funding round was led by IFC and supported by Prime Ventures, Partech Africa, Visa, and a consortium of other investors. This funding pushes forward TerraPay's global expansion plans, especially across the LATAM and MENA regions, aiming to grow their existing pay-out network to 150 countries by 2024. Having acquired two new regulatory approvals this year, TerraPay is now the only payment provider to be regulated and licensed across 29 countries, globally. The company's key markets include GCC; North, South, and Central Africa ; Europe and SE Asia ; Central, North, and South Americas . Quick facts on the 2023 Fintech 100: Equity funding and deals : The Fintech 100 includes a mix of companies at different stages of maturity, product development, and funding. The cohort has raised nearly $22B in equity funding across 381 deals since 2019. : The Fintech 100 includes a mix of companies at different stages of maturity, product development, and funding. The cohort has raised nearly in equity funding across 381 deals since 2019. Unicorns : There are 31 companies with $1B+ valuations on the list. : There are 31 companies with $1B+ valuations on the list. Global Reach: This year's winners represent 24 different countries across the globe. Forty-three percent of the selected companies are headquartered in the US. The UK comes in second with 12 winners, followed by Singapore with 7. Additionally, some emerging markets stand out with multiple winners this year. For example, India has 3 winners, while Indonesia and Egypt each have 2. About CB Insights CB Insights builds software that enables the world's best companies to discover, understand, and make technology decisions with confidence. By marrying data, expert insights, and work management tools, clients manage their end-to-end technology decision-making process on CB Insights. To learn more, please visit www.cbinsights.com. Contact: [email protected] 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 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. Contact: Juveria Samrin , juveria.n@terrapay.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1222771/TerraPay_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/terrapay-named-to-the-2023-cb-insights-fintech-100-list---recognized-for-achievements-in-cross-border-payments-301948858.html SOURCE Terrapay Solutions India Private Limited LONDON , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WaterWipes has announced the final four winners of the fourth annual Pure Foundation Fund, which celebrates healthcare professionals in maternity, neonatal, and postnatal care. This year's winners are Julia Cooper and June Adams from the UK , and Maria Flannery O'Boyle and Mary Meade from Ireland , who have been recognised by parents and colleagues for going above and beyond for families during pregnancy, birth, or postnatal journey. Each winner has received 5,000 / 5,000 each for their department to improve the care of parents and babies. Julia Cooper , a Neonatal Lead Care Coordinator from Ipswich , was nominated following a dedicated career of over 30 years in neonatal nursing. Julia was praised for demonstrating "excellent collaborative leadership of her team/ODN colleagues in relation to implementing various initiatives" that have made a real difference to the support of parents. June Adams , a Nurse Team Leader from Rotherham , was nominated by Gemma Woolley , who spent three months in June's care following the birth of her second child at 26 weeks. Gemma shared that June was their "biggest support and champion," providing excellent support for her husband and helping her son to bond with his little sister during a very difficult time. Maria Flannery O'Boyle , a public health nurse from Ballina, received an astounding twenty-two nominations for her work. Maria was praised for her wealth of knowledge and support for mothers on their breastfeeding journeys, as well as going above and beyond running a breastfeeding mother and baby group. Mary Meade , a midwife from Sligo , was nominated by Mary Keating , who whilst pregnant with her second baby was diagnosed with placenta previa which resulted in a hospital stay for four weeks prior to delivery. Mary quoted: "I would never have got through those 4 weeks last November without Mary Meade ." WaterWipes encouraged parents and healthcare professionals to nominate individuals who played crucial roles in pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care and made a difference in the lives of parents and babies in Ireland and the UK . They received 395 nominations for this year's Pure Foundation Fund. The winners were selected by an expert panel with representatives from the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance (INHA), Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), The Neonatal Nurses Association (NNA), and UK premature and sick baby charity, Bliss. For more information about this year's winners and the WaterWipes Pure Foundation Fund, please visit here. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238671/WaterWipes_June_Adams.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238668/WaterWipes_Julia_Cooper.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238669/WaterWipes_Maria_Flannery_O_Boyle.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2238670/WaterWipes_Mary_Meade.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/waterwipes-announces-2023-pure-foundation-fund-winners-301950654.html SOURCE WaterWipes FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden lholds a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the 78th U.N. General Assembly in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo By Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, uncomfortable allies in the best of times, will put their uneasy relationship to a further test with Israel preparing a possible ground assault on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. After months of strain over the path forward in the Middle East, the two leaders, who have known each other for decades, have been thrust into a wartime partnership following a deadly, multipronged attack by Hamas militants from Gaza into Israel. U.S. relations with Israel, Washingtons main Middle East ally, have frayed in recent months with the White House echoing Israeli critics who have organized protests opposing the far-right Netanyahu governments plan to curb Supreme Court powers. But the two leaders' differences go much deeper. As president, Biden has frequently stressed support for independent Israeli and Palestinian states. Administration officials say he has raised it in every conversation with Netanyahu, while asking him to halt the expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Having returned to office in late December, Netanyahu opposes Palestinian statehood anytime soon and has approved thousands of new housing units for West Bank settlers. Their often fraught history includes Biden's time as vice president during Barack Obamas presidency, when Netanyahu tried unsuccessfully to derail a 2015 U.S.-backed Iran nuclear deal. Hamas is backed by Iran, Israel's regional arch-foe. By contrast, Netanyahu had a meeting of minds with Biden's Republican predecessor and potential 2024 opponent, Donald Trump, whose ideological embrace of the right-wing prime minister was accompanied by staunch pro-Israel policies. Netanyahu has nonetheless hedged and avoided taking sides in the U.S. presidential campaign. After the weekend Hamas assault - the deadliest incursion since attacks by Egypt and Syria in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago - Biden set aside differences in multiple phone calls with Netanyahu, saying his team was to give Israel "everything it needs" to fight the militant group, said a senior administration official. Biden assured Netanyahu of "rock solid" U.S. support, scrambled to bolster Israel's military arsenal and dispatched a carrier strike group closer to Israel in a major show of support. In his public statements Biden has yet to say Israel should show restraint in its military response or expressed U.S. concern for the Palestinian people, often part of White House reactions during previous crises. "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 said of Bidens second call to Netanyahu on Sunday. WIDER WAR CONCERNS Biden has directed his team to reach out to counterparts in the Gulf and neighboring countries to try to prevent a spiral into a wider war, especially focused on keeping the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah from opening a second front on Israel's northern border, administration officials said. While Biden appears to have given Netanyahu a free hand for now, the policy differences remain and he could change course if the Gaza death toll rises further and the fighting drags on, foreign policy experts predict. Israeli TV channels said the country's death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900. In Hamas-controlled Gaza, Israel pressed on with its most intensive retaliatory strikes ever, which have killed more than 500 people since Saturday. "Eventually, if a conflict drags on for weeks or months, a number of U.S. allies are going to lose patience and publicly call for it to end. At that point, you may see the U.S. back channel to Israel to try and convince Jerusalem to bring the fight to an end," said Jonathan Panikoff, the U.S. governments former deputy national intelligence officer for the Middle East who is now at the Atlantic Council think tank. Biden also faces the potential challenge of securing the release of an unknown number of missing Americans who may be held by Hamas as hostages. At home, Biden faces pressure on his right and his left, with Republican hardliners in Congress accusing him of emboldening Iran with a recent prisoner swap deal, something the president's aides strongly deny. "If President Biden can stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, I hope President Biden can stand with Israel for as long as it takes," said Republican Senator Tom Cotton, a foreign policy hawk, on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures." Some fellow Democrats, before the attacks, were asking Biden to scrutinize whether Israel merits the multibillion-dollar military aid package it receives each year, and calling for him to do more for the Palestinians. The powerful pro-Israel lobby, headed by AIPAC, is a major force in U.S. politics, often backs Netanyahu and is expected to play a role in the 2024 election. NOT IN LOVE WITH 'BIBI' Biden, 80, has called himself a "Zionist," and he and Netanyahu, 73, have both spoken of having a long friendship. But Biden went months without talking to Netanyahu this year. The Israeli leader was unhappy that he did not get a face-to-face meeting with Biden until Sept. 20 and it was not at the White House but in a New York hotel on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. There, Biden expressed worries about the need for stability in the West Bank and settler violence that increased tensions with Palestinians, a senior administration official said. They appeared to find some common ground on a U.S. push to broker a landmark agreement to open diplomatic relations between longtime foes Israel and Saudi Arabia. But the Hamas attack delivered a severe blow to that effort, leaving its future uncertain. Aaron David Miller, a Middle East expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that despite Biden's problems with Netanyahu, "the people of Israel and security of Israel are deeply ingrained in Biden's DNA." "Biden is not in love with Bibi Netanyahu," he said, using the prime minister's nickname. "But he is in love with the state of Israel, the people of Israel and he'll do everything he can to protect the people of Israel." (Reporting By Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick. Editing by Heather Timmons and Howard Goller) On Monday, October 9, the Israeli Defense For ces (IDF) continued to carry out powerful strikes against the concentrations of the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas, wiping out the buildings where the militants are based. Before that, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, most countries condemned the actions of terrorists, but did not make any decision on this and the settlement of the war. ADVERTISIMENT Today, the death toll from the fighting is approaching a thousand, and several thousand more people have been injured - and among all the victims are not only Israelis, but also foreigners, including citizens of Ukraine. Tel Aviv had warned the country's residents the day before that the war would be long and difficult. OBOZREVATEL online is following the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (to see photos and videos, scroll down to the bottom of the news). 08:40 - The Israeli Ministry of Health reports that as of Monday morning, 2382 people have been treated in Israeli hospitals for wounds sustained in the war. Of these, 22 are in critical condition, 345 were seriously injured. 08:30 - The approximate number of militants who invaded Israel on October 7 is estimated at 800 to 1000. They entered through gaps in the border fence. ADVERTISIMENT 08:10 - El Salvador's President Naib Buchele, who is of Palestinian descent, condemned Hamas after its attack on Israel. "The best thing that can happen to the Palestinian people is the complete disappearance of Hamas. These wild beasts do not represent the Palestinians. Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause will make a big mistake by siding with these criminals," he said, comparing the militants to the MS-13 gang that terrorized El Salvador for years. 07:50 - Footage of what Gaza looks like in the morning of October 9. The Israeli army reported that fighting continues in six locations in the south of the country. ADVERTISIMENT 07:30 - During the night, IDF fighter jets, helicopters and artillery struck more than 800 terrorist t argets in the Gaza Strip. Seven Hamas command centers and the Islamic Jihad command center, as well as numerous high-rise buildings housing the headquarters from which the militants were helped to direct infiltrations into Israel, were hit. Three terrorist tunnels were hit in the Beit Hanoun area. 07:10 - Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky thanks Ukrainians for their support. ADVERTISIMENT 06:40 - A UN statement says the only power plant in the Gaza Strip that provides electricity to the enclave's residents could be left without diesel fuel for several days. The Strip is heavily dependent on Israel, which completely cut off supplies on Sunday, so a complete blackout would affect about 2.3 million people living there. 06:20 - In the Israeli city of Ashkelon, a terrorist rocket pierced the roof of a house and stuck in the ceiling. The owner of the house showed the footage. 06:00 - UN member states have not taken any action or decisions on the situation in the Middle East after an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Deputy US Ambassador to the organization Robert Wood said he did not want to go into details of what was discussed at the briefing. At the same time, he emphasized that there are some states that do not condemn Hamas' attack on Israel. ADVERTISIMENT 05:40 - Palestinians claim that 19 members of one family were killed in the southern Gaza Strip by an Israeli strike. The head of the family said that the IDF fired a warning shot for evacuation near his house (a precautionary measure designed to allow the population to evacuate before air strikes), but not all of his family members were oriented and could not hide. Five neighbors who were standing outside in the crowded refugee camp were also allegedly killed. ADVERTISIMENT 05:20 - Israeli aircraft continued to bombard the Gaza Strip in order to "destroy the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist group." Among the targets hit during the night were several command posts; a building housing militants; a command center used by a senior navy official of the terrorist movement; an operational facility located in a mosque in Jabaliya; and an asset used by militants for reconnaissance. 05:00 - Israel has asked the United States for guided bombs and additional interceptors for its Iron Dome air defense system, CNN reports. The request also includes JDAM - equipment that turns an unguided bomb into a precision weapon (the IDF uses such munitions to hit targets in Gaza from the air). ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Hamas militants launched a massive attack on Israel on the morning of October 7, firing 5,000 rockets, then broke through the fence near the Gaza Strip and began committing atrocities, killing civilians. The next day, October 8, Iran announced that it would enter a long war with Palestine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advised residents of the Gaza Strip to "flee immediately." The Wall Street Journal, citing members of the Palestinian terrorist movement and the Lebanese organization Hezbollah, which supported the militants, wrote that Hamas's attacks on Israel had been planned weeks before the invasion. The terrorists were assisted by Iranian intelligence services. Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden leaves Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, U.S., October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo By Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel following the weekend's attacks by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Washington believes it is likely U.S. citizens are also among those being held hostage by Hamas, Biden said in a statement. White House national security spokesman John Kirby later added it was not yet confirmed if Americans were taken hostage. "I can't say definitively that we know Americans are being held hostage. That said, we have to accept the grim possibility that some are," Kirby told reporters late on Monday. Biden said the United States was working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to the whereabouts of U.S. citizens who are still unaccounted for. "For American citizens who are currently in Israel, the State Department is providing consular assistance as well as updated security alerts," Biden said. "For those who desire to leave, commercial flights and ground options are still available," he said, adding that they should take precautions and follow the guidance of local authorities. Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. Israeli TV channels said the death toll from the Hamas attack had climbed to 900, with at least 2,600 injured. Israel subsequently battered Palestinians with air strikes in Gaza. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 687 Palestinians have been killed and 3,726 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday. Biden said he has directed his team to work with Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage situation, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from the U.S. government. Police departments across the U.S. have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, Biden said. (Reporting by Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Dan Whitcomb, Rosalba O'Brien and Jamie Freed) FILE PHOTO: SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, U.S., July 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) approved a new three-year contract with major studios on Monday, five months after the union called a strike that plunged Hollywood's film and television production into turmoil. The WGA said 99% of the roughly 8,500 votes supported the deal, which provides pay raises, some protections around use of artificial intelligence and other gains. "Together we were able to accomplish what many said was impossible only six months ago," WGA West President Meredith Stiehm said in a statement. The vote does not end labor tensions in Hollywood. Members of the SAG-AFTRA actors union walked off the job in July and were meeting studio negotiators again on Monday to try to reach an agreement. The multi-month strikes in the entertainment industry represent one of the most visible of renewed labor challenges across the United States this year at companies ranging from UPS to Detroit auto makers. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Walt Disney, Netflix and other media companies, said the contract "represents meaningful gains and protections for writers." "It is important progress for our industry that writers are back to work," the group said in a statement. Writers walked off the job on May 2, forcing many film and TV sets to shut down and delaying shows meant for the fall broadcast season. The scribes went back to work on Sept. 27 after negotiators reached a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. Late-night talk shows such as "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Real Time with Bill Maher" have returned with new episodes, and comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live" will come back this weekend. But many film and TV productions remain in limbo with actors still on strike. Performers also are seeking increases in pay and AI protections, plus other improvements to working conditions. Negotiators for the SAG-AFTRA actors union continued contract talks with studios on Monday. SAG-AFTRA, Hollywood's largest union and the studios will meet again on Wednesday, Oct. 11, the parties said in a statement on Monday. Now its time for the AMPTP to put the rest of the town back to work by negotiating a fair contract with our SAG-AFTRA siblings, said WGA East President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. The dual strikes have cost the California economy close to $6 billion in lost output, according to a Milken Institute estimate, and left many crew members struggling financially. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine;Additional reporting by Urvi Dugar in BegaluruEditing by Chris Reese and Marguerita Choy) IMF African Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie speaks during an interview with Reuters at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, in Marrakech, Morocco October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Susana Vera By Rachel Savage and Jorgelina do Rosario MARRAKECH (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Africa director said on Monday that he was "hopeful" that Zambia and its official creditors would announce a finalised debt restructuring deal before Thursday. "We're very hopeful that the authorities and the creditors will be in a position to make an announcement very, very soon," Abebe Selassie told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Marrakech. "They've told us that there's been very strong progress, that they're in the last stage of finalising things." Zambia became the first African country to default in the COVID-19 pandemic era in 2020 and its restructuring under the G20's Common Framework process has been beset by delays. It clinched an agreement in June to restructure $6.3 billion in debt owed to governments abroad including China and members of the Paris Club of creditor nations. To formalise the debt deal, Zambia has to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with these official creditors. Zambia's Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said in late September that he expected the MoU to be "finalised and executed before the end of the year." Last week, Zambia's international bondholders formally started debt talks with the government, three sources told Reuters, a key step in restructuring more than $3 billion of overseas bonds. (Reporting by Rachel Savage and Jorgelina do Rosario; editing by Jason Neely and Christian Schmollinger) FILE PHOTO: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on, on the day of the state funeral of the former Italian President and senator, Giorgio Napolitano in Rome, Italy, September 26, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi/File Photo By Giuseppe Fonte and Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) - Italy is lobbying its European Union partners with increasing urgency to approve more flexible budget rules, according to government sources, as bond spreads widen and Rome fears that deviations from its 2024 spending targets will trigger a disciplinary procedure from Brussels. Giorgia Meloni's government is particularly concerned that a future accounting ruling by the EU's statistics arm Eurostat could push up next year's fiscal deficit, three officials said, making Rome's position even more vulnerable. The country's central bank later confirmed the risks linked to the upcoming Eurostat decision, to be made by mid-2024. The EU's fiscal rules, suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, are due to return next year with amendments now being negotiated by EU governments, and Italy is proposing ways to make it as lenient as possible. These include favourable treatment of various types of investments as well as higher defence spending and financial and military aid to Ukraine. Italy's latest proposal, the officials said, would shield it against a review by Eurostat in the coming months of how costly tax credits for green home improvements are accounted for. Italy has already included them in past budgets, which has inflated its deficits for the last three years. However Eurostat, using technical accounting criteria, may decide the impact of the tax credits should be shifted to 2024 and beyond, revising down deficits for the years when EU limits were suspended and increasing them when updated fiscal rules return. The Bank of Italy warned parliament on Monday the Eurostat decision could lead to "a strong reduction in the deficits for 2020-2023 and a considerable increase in those for the following years." In this case, Italy would almost certainly fall foul of a Stability Pact reform proposed by the European Commission - the most concrete on the table so far - so Italian officials are arguing that Eurostat's potential revisions should count as a "relevant factor" to avoid a disciplinary procedure. The Commission has so far not commented on individual countries' proposals for Stability Pact reform, and was not immediately available for comment on this story. Brussels is proposing to focus fiscal consolidation on net primary expenditure - excluding discretionary fiscal revenues, interest costs and cyclical spending on unemployment support. The Italian Treasury has committed to keep Italy's net primary spending growth "well below" the 1.3% ceiling requested by Brussels for 2024. But an unfavourable ruling by Eurostat would make this impossible, one of the officials said. A Commission decision that Italy's 2024 budget is not compliant with EU rules would probably compound mounting market pressure on Rome's debt, which is proportionally the second-largest in the euro zone after Greece's. Italy's budget framework, approved by the cabinet on Sept. 27, hiked next year's deficit goal to 4.3% from a previous 3.7% and targeted its return below the EU's 3% ceiling only in 2026, with virtually no debt reduction over the same period. The plan was ill-received by markets, with the closely-watched gap between the yields on Italian 10-year BTP bonds and equivalent German Bunds exceeding 208 basis points on Monday, the widest since January. (Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Supporters of Kuomintang (KMT) gather outside the headquarters as the party announces the presidential candidate in Taipei, Taiwan May 17, 2023. REUTERS/Ann Wang TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's main opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) said on Monday that it was discussing ways to team up with another opposition group, the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), ahead of January's presidential and parliamentary elections. The election is happening as China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, has been stepping up military and political pressure, seeking to assert its sovereignty claims. Vice President William Lai, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate, has almost consistently led opinion polls, leaving the KMT's Hou Yu-ih and TPP's Ko Wen-je, a former Taipei mayor, to battle it out for second place. Both the KMT, which traditionally favours close ties with China, and the TPP have floated the idea of working together to take down the DPP, but have been unable to agree on how to do that, including whether Hou or Ko should step down as their party's respective presidential candidate. Hou's campaign team said it and the KMT's central office had decided to hold "preliminary consultations" with the TPP and called for both sides "to sit down together as soon as possible". "As long as it is an issue of mutual concern, it can be discussed without preconditions," the statement added. Ko has proposed both parties should use opinion polls to decide who should stand as president and who as vice president on a possible joint ticket, but the KMT has not been keen on that idea. The KMT is Taiwan's largest opposition party, holding 38 out of 113 seats in parliament to the TPP's five. At a local level, the KMT also controls 14 of Taiwan's 22 city mayor and county chief positions, to the TPP's two. Terry Gou, the retired billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn, is also running as an independent candidate for president but is at the bottom of the polls. He has also proposed an opposition alliance against the DPP, but neither the KMT, whose presidential nomination he tried and failed to win earlier this year, nor the TPP have shown much sign of wanting to work with him. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Miral Fahmy) JAMES CITY, Va. (Tribune News Service) Police arrested an Army soldier who is accused of shooting a victim multiple times in a home in James City County on Sunday. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Queens Crossing following a report of a shooting at about 3 p.m. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and is being treated at a local hospital, according to James City County police. Police said RaeKwan Fulton, 25, who is stationed at Fort Eustis, fled the scene in a white 2015 Toyota Tundra. Police issued a be on the look out alert to area law enforcement agencies, and Fultons vehicle was tracked to Newport News by Flock cameras, which photograph vehicles that meet a given description. Newport News police arrested him at about 3:55 p.m. Fulton is charged with aggravated malicious wounding and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is being held without bond at Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail. 2023 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. On board the USS Jackson (LCS 6) on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in San Diego, Calif. (Nelvin C. Cepeda, The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) (Tribune News Service) The USS Jackson returned to Naval Base San Diego from deployment Friday facing the possibility of being decommissioned years early over concerns that the littoral combat ship isnt well enough designed and equipped to defend itself in combat. Congress and the Navy also have expressed concern that vessels like Jackson are far more expensive than anticipated to operate, and that LCS crews are struggling to perform their basic missions, which include finding submarines and mine counter warfare. For those reasons, the Navy also is considering decommissioning another San Diego-based LCS, the USS Montgomery. The 7-year-old Montgomery and 8-year-old Jackson are Independence-class LCS. The Navy also features Freedom-class LCS. Both classes have had problems. Last week, the Navy decomissioned two of the ships, USS Detroit and USS Little Rock. Both are less than a decade old. The Navy had intended for these type of vessels, which cost about $500 million to build, to last about 25 years. The mood was far more upbeat Saturday in Tampa, Fla., where the Navy commissioned the USS Jack H. Lucas, its newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship, which cost about $2 billion, will travel to its homeport, San Diego, later this year. 2023 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Olivier Bancoult, center, the leader of the Chagos Refugee Group, stands on Capitol Hill with Roger Alexis, a Chagossian, left, and Philip Ah-Chuen, a Mauritian advisor to the group. They met last week with lawmakers to demand reparations and an apology for the forced removal of thousands of Native inhabitants from the Chagos Islands in the 1960s and 1970s to make room for a U.S. military base. (David Vine/The Washington Post) In the late 1960s, thousands of indigenous inhabitants of the Chagos Islands, an atoll in the Indian Ocean, were forced by the United States and the United Kingdom to leave their homeland to make room for construction of a U.S. military base. For decades, the islands had been administered by the British colony of Mauritius. But in the early 1960s, the British government agreed to lease part of the colony to the United States to build a naval base, in the process separating the Chagos Islands from Mauritius to form a new British colony called the British Indian Ocean Territory. According to court records, the U.S. government insisted that the Chagossians living there a population descended from enslaved Africans brought by the French in the 1700s be deported to make room for construction of the naval base. In 1971, the commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory, Bruce Greatbatch, enacted an ordinance effectively banning native people of Chagos from the islands. Chagossians would later testify before the International Court of Justice in The Hague that territorial agents threatened inhabitants who refused to leave. Then the British and U.S. agents began killing their dogs, according to court records and documents. First, they tried to shoot the dogs with M16 rifles, according to a statement by the government of Mauritius filed in 2018 in the International Court of Justice. When that failed, they tried poisoning the dogs with strychnine. Finally, they used raw meat to lure the dogs into a shed, where they gassed the animals with exhaust from U.S. military vehicles. For more than 50 years, Chagossians have argued that their rights have been violated. In 2004, they began filing for justice in international courts, arguing that the U.K. and U.S. governments violated their human rights by forcing them to leave home. Last week, Olivier Bancoult, leader of the Chagos Refugee Group, flew to Washington to meet with members of Congress and demand that the U.S. government issue an apology and pay reparations for the forced removal. In 1968, Bancoult and his parents were among more than 1,800 Chagossians driven into exile. What we are hoping to have is an apology from the U.S. government, together with reparations, Bancoult said during an interview on Capitol Hill. We want to put the U.S. government in front of their responsibility. During his visit, Bancoult attended a screening and discussion at American University of the 2022 documentary Absolutely Must Go, which chronicles the Chagossian fight to return home. Cristina Becker, associate director of Human Rights Watchs U.S. program, said Bancoults visit helps expose the story of what happened to the Chagossians. We are reaching a point where current members of Congress and President Biden can no longer say that they arent aware of the crimes against humanity that the U.S. government continues to carry out against the Chagossian people, Becker said. She called it astounding that the U.S. and U.K. governments continually deny Chagossians access to cohabitate or even work on the U.S. base that displaced them, despite extending that permission to other civilians. The U.S. military base on the Chagossian island of Diego Garcia is one of the most strategically positioned U.S. military installations outside the United States because of its location in the Indian Ocean, said David Vine, professor of anthropology at American University and author of the book Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia. Bancoult was 4 when his family was prohibited from returning to its home in Chagos after taking Bancoults sister to a hospital in Mauritius for treatment. His sister died, and the family was forced to make a new life in Mauritius. For more than 40 years, Bancoult has fought for Chagossians to return to Chagos, arguing that they have never asked for the removal of the U.S. base, but just for an opportunity to live in their birthplace. According to a February Human Rights Watch report, The U.K. government has repeatedly refused to allow the Chagossians to return, citing vague concerns about security and cost. The U.K. government has repeatedly acknowledged in the last 20 years that its treatment of the Chagossians was shameful and wrong, but these apologies have not led to concrete reparations. I think there is some discrimination taking place against the Chagossians, Bancoult said. All over the world, where we have a U.S. military base, we have habitation for local people. Its the only place where we have a U.S. military base that local people did not get access to. Human Rights Watch wants the U.K. and U.S. governments to pay reparations to the people forced from their homeland and allow them an unfettered permanent return. It is also requesting an apology from King Charles III. By 1973, the last of the native Chagossians were deported to Mauritius which gained independence in 1968 where many live in abject poverty. In 1982, a group of Chagossians began hunger strikes and protests, demanding their right to return home, according to Vine. The U.K. agreed to pay 4 million pounds in compensation. But individual Chagossians received only about $6,000 in total compensation from the British government, according to Vine. Some got nothing at all. In February, a State Department spokesperson told The Washington Post, The United States remains steadfast in its respect for and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals around the world and acknowledges the challenges faced by Chagossian communities. The manner in which Chagossians were removed is regrettable. In a February letter to Human Rights Watch, Zac Goldsmith, Britains minister of state for overseas territories, commonwealth and energy, wrote of the deportations, The U.K. has made clear its deep regret about the manner in which this happened. In 1973, Goldsmith said, Britain paid the Mauritian government 650,000 pounds to meet the cost of resettling those displaced from the islands. Goldsmith said that over the years, the British government has conducted feasibility studies, ultimately deciding against resettlement on the grounds of feasibility, defense and security interests and the cost to the British taxpayer. In 2000, Chagossians challenged their exile in the United Kingdoms High Court. The British court ruled the expulsion was illegal. But the ban was reinstated, citing security concerns, and after much legal back and forth, it remains it place. In 2010, the U.K. created the Chagos Marine Protected Area, one of the worlds largest reserves, which banned fishing a main source of livelihood for Chagossians and the collection of corals. That same year, WikiLeaks released a State Department cable revealing that U.K. and U.S. officials had agreed that creating that protected marine reserve around the islands would effectively prevent Chagossians from returning. Establishing a marine reserve might . . . be the most effective long-term way to prevent any of the Chagos Islands former inhabitants or their descendants from resettling in the BIOT, the cable said, according to WikiLeaks. In 2017, Chagossians took their case to the International Court of Justice. Two years later, the court ruled that the creation of the British Indian Ocean Territory was unlawful and that Mauritius was the rightful sovereign of Chagos. The court called on the United Kingdom to end its continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible. The United Nations General Assembly responded by passing a resolution ordering the U.K. to cooperate with Mauritius in helping Chagossians return. Last year, the U.K. government began negotiations with the Mauritian government over Chagos. But Chagossians say they have been excluded from the negotiations. In Washington, Bancoult made his way to Capitol Hill. It is a real urgent matter to deal with, Bancoult said. The U.S. is a country that is supposed to give a good example to other countries. We have never asked for removal of the U.S. military base, he said. We say, let us live there. If anyone lives there, priority should be given to the Chagossians. Vietnamese government agents tried to plant spyware on the phones of members of Congress, American policy experts and U.S. journalists this year in a brazen campaign that underscores the rapid proliferation of state-of-the-art hacking tools, according to forensic examination of links posted to Twitter and documents uncovered by a consortium of news outlets that includes The Washington Post. Targeted were two of the most influential foreign policy voices on Capitol Hill: Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Tex.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and chair of its subcommittee on the Middle East. Also targeted were Asia experts at Washington think tanks and journalists from CNN, including Jim Sciutto, the outlets chief national security analyst, and two Asia-based reporters. The targeting came as Vietnamese and American diplomats were negotiating a major cooperation agreement intended to counter growing Chinese influence in the region, when Vietnamese diplomats would have been particularly interested in Washingtons views on China and issues in Asia. President Joe Biden signed the agreement in September during a visit to Vietnam. The State Department did not respond to a question about whether it had raised the spyware issue with the Vietnamese government, but said in a statement that the agreement would give the United States a forum for such a discussion. A CNN spokeswoman declined to answer emailed questions about the targeting. None of the targeted individuals contacted by The Post said their devices had been infected. The spies used the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, to try to induce the politicians and others to visit websites designed to install a hacking software known as Predator, according to the probe. Like its better-known competitor Pegasus, Predator is a powerful and hard-to-detect surveillance program that can turn on the microphones and cameras of Apple iPhones and devices running on Googles Android software, retrieve all files and read private messages, even when they are end-to-end encrypted. Predator is distributed by an evolving network that includes the European company Intellexa and a related firm, Cytrox, both of which the U.S. Commerce Department added in July to its Entity List, a designation that requires U.S. businesses to seek a license before doing business with them. Officials were acting under a March executive order that set out policies to encourage the use of commercial spyware ... consistent with respect for the rule of law, human rights, and democratic norms and values. The new hacking attempts followed lengthy conversations and technology shipments between Vietnamese agencies and subsidiaries of the spywares creators, according to documents made available to the Paris-based news outlet Mediapart and the Hamburg-based weekly Der Spiegel. Amnesty International uncovered the extent of the hacking attempts and shared its findings with The Post and 14 international media outlets whose investigation was coordinated by European Investigative Collaborations, a journalism consortium. Through all the evidence and documents we have seen we believe that Predator was sold from Intellexa through several intermediaries to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, Donncha O Cearbhaill, head of Amnestys Security Lab, told The Post. The Vietnamese government declined to comment. Vietnam has been implicated in other hacking campaigns, including against human rights activists in other countries. It also has used commercial spyware programs previously. In 2020, the University of Torontos Citizen Lab said it had detected a Vietnamese installation of a hacking program from Circles, which like Cytrox and Intellexa was founded by Israeli military hacking veteran and entrepreneur Tal Dilian. Dilian had previously sold Circles to Francisco Partners, which combined it with NSO Group, the owner of Pegasus. Francisco Partners sold the merged company in 2019. Dilian, Cytrox, Intellexa and Intellexa director Sara Hamou did not respond to questions from European Investigative Collaborations. In the past, Dilian has said he sells to good guys who sometimes misbehave. The Biden administration found the targeting of members of Congress very concerning, said an official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. He said that 50 U.S. officials serving abroad were known to have been targeted previously with commercial spyware, a key factor leading to the March executive order. The recent campaign vindicates the decision to add Cytrox and Intellexa to the entity list alongside NSO Group, which was added in 2021, the official said. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee and chair of its subcommittee on the Middle East, was targeted by Vietnamese government agents in a scheme to plant spyware on the phones of members of Congress, American policy experts and U.S. journalists this year. (Kent Nishimura, Los Angeles Times/TNS) The intended U.S. victims who responded to questions from The Post all said they never saw the links that would have installed the hacking program or believed they did not click on them, and no evidence has emerged that the hacking tries succeeded. But the effort was surprisingly public, with the links posted by an anonymous account on X in replies to the targets tweets or in replies that tagged the targets. Top-tier spyware vendors and buyers almost always strive to keep their campaigns secret to avoid repercussions and to reuse the techniques and infrastructure. Even in this case, anyone who clicked would have been infected with only an early-stage tool that would screen out unintended victims, investigators said. X did not comment when asked about the campaign. The malicious account on X bore the handle @Joseph_Gordon16. It deleted many of the tweets within a day or two, likely to avoid detection. The account vanished entirely in recent weeks, after journalists began asking Cytrox and Intellexa executives about it. As a Predator customer is clearly in the process of learning in a painful way, exploiting across Twitter is a terrible idea, said researcher John Scott-Railton of Citizen Lab, which did its own investigation and said it agreed with Amnestys findings. The fact that would even happen proves Predator is still going to reckless operators. The EICs Predator Files investigation found that the companies selling Predator also offered the capability to infect devices through Wi-Fi wireless networks and through websites or telecom networks under national control. Bills are being considered in Congress and in other countries to attempt stronger oversight of the spyware industry after rampant abuses have been uncovered in Mexico, Greece, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere. While companies such as Cytrox and NSO Group say they sell only to governments and forbid misuse, their clients have used the spy gear against nonviolent activists, journalists and political figures. NSO has said it has terminated customers for improper targeting. Both Predator and Pegasus can be delivered in ways that require a target to click, as in this case, or with no interaction, which requires knowledge and exploitation of a security flaw that has been undiscovered by phone makers or has not yet been fixed with a software update. Those exploits can cost millions of dollars by themselves to develop or buy, which is another reason the hacks are usually reserved for the highest-value targets and kept stealthy. Acting on a tip from Google, which first spotted the campaign in late May, Citizen Lab found a half-dozen replies on X that could have led to infections. Scott-Railton said the links went to sites that connected to pages that had installed Predator previously, including in a recent attempt to hack a phone belonging to an opposition presidential candidate in Egypt. Amnesty said it found 59 replies and tweets tagging targets around the world that contained the link, including more than a dozen aimed at people in the United States. It shared its findings with the media outlets. In addition to McCaul and Murphy, the members of Congress targeted included U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). Even if they had clicked on the link, they might not have been infected if they had done so from a phone set up in the United States; some creators of spyware, notably NSO Group, say their tools are designed not to work against phones with U.S. numbers. Apples optional Lockdown Mode, which limits some iPhone functions, has so far blocked multiple methods used to deliver Predator to targets, according to Citizen Lab. That is no guarantee for the future, however, and some infections may have occurred already without detection. Leslie Shedd, a spokeswoman for McCaul, said the congressman doesnt manage his own social media accounts and would not have seen the targeting tweet. She added that staffers who operate his Twitter account would not have clicked on the link. An aide to Murphy confirmed that Google had notified his office of the targeting attempt but said that no one in the office had clicked the link to the best of our knowledge. Peters office said in a statement that it was aware of the link but did not believe it had been targeted or compromised. Kami Capener, a spokeswoman for Hoeven, said We have not been made aware of an attempted spyware attack on our office. A screenshot shows that on April 14, a few hours after Hoeven met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and the Taiwanese president posted about it on X, the Joseph Gordon account replied, citing what it said was a relevant news article. US defence contractors visiting Taiwan in May to boost security tie-up, the article was headlined, seemingly in the South China Morning Post. But the link sent by the X account led to an impostor website that could have installed Predator, Amnesty said, adding that both Hoeven and Tsai would have received the link. Citizen Lab said that over the weekend of Sept. 30, after contacts from reporters, more than half of Cytroxs active servers for distributing the spyware were taken offline. Id describe this as a radical shutdown, said Scott-Railton. A person familiar with Googles probe, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid being targeted, said the would-be hackers might have chosen to send public links to a member of Congress or other high-profile targets because such a link might seem less suspicious than an out-of-the-blue text message or email. In addition, the preview of the link that appeared in the tweet might have made it look more genuine. But Scott-Railton said he thought the attempts probably were carried out by someone with little experience. In a forthcoming post, Citizen Lab writes: We believe that targeting using mercenary spyware 1-click links via public-facing posts is quite rare because of the substantial risk of discovery and exposure, as well as the possibility of a link being crawled and clicked by the wrong party or service. The same technique was used over Twitter in Kenya in 2015, targeting a political candidate, but neither Google nor Citizen Lab could identify a similar public attack in the intervening years. Meta said it has detected public comments with links to powerful spyware on its platforms, but not by top-tier national attackers. In addition to exposing more Predator customers, the investigation into the Vietnamese campaign revealed at least one new way of attacking a phone, which has been fixed as a result, according to a person familiar with Googles work. The Google team tried visiting the dangerous links from a variety of test devices and was able to infect an Android phone with a first stage of malware. That infection came via a previously unknown flaw in the Chrome web browser, which Google studied and patched within days, the person said. Googles Threat Analysis Group, which specializes in the most serious attacks, spotted the campaign on May 23 or 24, about a day after a suspicious link was posted. In addition to initiating its own investigation, the team notified X and Citizen Lab. Apparent targets, including those in the House and Senate, would have received a notification from Google beginning in June stating that a nation-state attack attempt had been detected. Those alerts go out monthly and do not identify the method or likely perpetrator. Relations between Vietnam and the United States, once warring rivals, have warmed in recent years, but the upgraded partnership Biden signed in Hanoi in September was a significant shift. The Biden administration had made signing a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam a top priority, and the accord placed Washington on the same level as Beijing and Moscow within Hanois hierarchy of international relations. Vietnam retains deep ties to China, a fellow communist power that has also embraced state-driven capitalism. But Hanoi has pushed back against Chinese claims over the South China Sea and has indicated it is open to new friends. The new deal will help the United States diversify its supply chain away from China, with U.S. technology companies indicating a willingness to invest in advanced semiconductor manufacturing in Vietnam. Google is interested in investing, and Apple is ramping up production of MacBooks and other hardware in the country. The effort to deepen ties with Washington would have made insight into U.S. thinking on China and Taiwan important for Vietnam. Senior lawmakers whose congressional committees are nodes for lobbying and communications with the White House, State Department and Department of Defense would have been natural targets, staffers said. So too would be analysts at think tanks who are often in close contact with decision-makers. Amnesty determined that an Asia expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States was targeted by the Joseph Gordon account, along with the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. We checked and see no evidence that these attempts to penetrate our network were successful, CSIS spokesman Andrew Schwartz said. Attempts are common given the nature of our work. The German Marshall Fund declined to comment. Amnesty concluded that the Joseph Gordon account was acting on behalf of Vietnamese authorities or interest groups. Google said the technical infrastructure that Amnesty was tracking is associated with a government actor in Vietnam. A Facebook account labeled Anh Tram, aimed at Vietnamese speakers, linked to some of the same Predator pages, according to investigators for Meta, Facebooks parent company. They said that they had linked the operation to previous Predator infection attempts. The account was recently deleted. Researchers said the clumsy Predator attacks allowed them to identify new customer nations and attack vectors. Amnesty said it found new technical indicators of customers, targets or both in Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, Madagascar, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Mongolia and Angola. Previous research by Citizen Lab had pointed to the first four and to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Greece, Serbia, Armenia, Germany, Colombia, Philippines, Ivory Coast and Trinidad and Tobago. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said the attempted spying on his colleagues was not surprising by itself. But he said it is a sour reminder that efforts to regulate high-end spyware are progressing more slowly than is the capability of countries to wield it. Its quite possible that this technology can be developed faster than our ability to detect it as a threat and put its maker on the entity list, said Himes, who has a bill under consideration in the House that would punish countries that use spyware against U.S. officials. Its pretty uncomfortable for us to worry about nation-states we normally wouldnt worry about, Himes said, adding that the United States and other large countries also spy through hard-to-detect software. We do this, but its subject to immense amounts of oversight, usually consistent with our values, which are good values. The documents obtained by Mediapart show that Vietnams Ministry of Public Security signed a deal for infection solutions with a company from what was called the Intellexa Alliance in 2020. The two-year deal, known to Intellexa executives as AnglerFish, brought in 5.6 million euros or nearly $6 million. Later documents indicate that an extension was discussed for Blue Arrow, a brand name Intellexa used to market Predator. The documents also raise questions about the effectiveness of spyware regulation by the European Union. Managers from the French firm Nexa and their Dubai-based sister company, Advanced Middle East Systems, which was part of the Intellexa Alliance from at least 2019 to 2021, arranged the sale of Predator to Vietnam, documents show. In 2018, Nexa employees discussed the difficulties of shipping surveillance technology for a live demonstration to Vietnam without having obtained the required dual-use license. Then one of the company executives suggested bringing the technology in carry-on-luggage. We have done that many times, he wrote. When a deal closed two years later, a Nexa executive announced it in a chat and Dilian responded Wooow!!!! French officials including a member of the European Parliament would later be targeted with Vietnams Predator. Nexa, which has also supplied French intelligence services, declined to respond to questions about specific deals with Vietnam but told the EIC that it respects all applicable regulations governing spyware exports. Nexa said it had stopped selling offensive spyware such as Predator in the third quarter of 2021. This case shows that the E.U. regulatory regime is failing to prevent powerful spyware being developed, financed and exported from Europe globally, O Cearbhaill said. It is clear that Intellexa has been willing to sell Predator to governments with a history of abusing cyber-surveillance tools to spy on innocent dissidents, politicians or activists. Yann Philippin is an investigative reporter for the French online outlet Mediapart. Rafael Buschmann and Nicola Naber are investigative reporters for the German weekly Der Spiegel. They are members of the European Investigative Collaborations network (EIC), which brings together 11 European media outlets for cross-border investigations. This article is part of the Predator Files, an investigative project based on hundreds of confidential documents obtained by Mediapart and Der Spiegel. The project was undertaken by 15 news outlets coordinated by EIC, with the technical assistance of the Security Lab of Amnesty International. It reveals the inside story of Intellexa, an alliance of surveillance vendors operating in Europe that sold powerful spyware like Predator to authoritarian regimes. Participating media are EIC members Mediapart (France), Der Spiegel (Germany), NRC (Netherlands), Politiken (Denmark), Expresso (Portugal), Le Soir and De Standaard (Belgium), VG (Norway), Infolibre (Spain) and Domani (Italy), and their partners The Washington Post, Shomrim (Israel), Die Wochenzeitung (Switzerland), Reporters United (Greece) and Daraj Media (Lebanon). Kosovo Force Regional Command-East soldiers stationed at Camp Nothing Hill watch protests in Leposavici, Kosovo, that began on May 26, 2023. (Anna Pongo/U.S. Army) STUTTGART, Germany A contingent of reinforcements have taken up positions in Kosovo, where NATO is bolstering its peacekeeping mission as tensions have ratcheted up in the country. Britain on Friday sent the first of 200 soldiers to Kosovo, a deployment that was made at the request of U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATOs supreme allied commander. These deployments are a prudent step to ensure KFOR has the forces it needs to fulfil its UN mandate to maintain a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all people in Kosovo, NATO said in a statement Friday. The soldiers from Britains 1st Battalion of the Princess of Waless Royal Regiment join a 400-strong United Kingdom force already in Kosovo. Last week, Romania also announced it was sending about 100 extra troops to bolster NATOs Kosovo Force, known as KFOR. The deployments are a response to a late September shootout between Kosovo police and armed Serbs who barricaded themselves in a Serbian monastery. Three of the attackers and one Kosovo policeman were killed in the incident, which sparked concerns of a potential wider escalation between Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo, home to a mostly Muslim population of ethnic Albanians, gained independence from Serbia in 2008. However, Belgrade does not recognize Kosovo as a sovereign state and has complained about the status of ethnic Serbs who still reside there. NATO has been leading a peacekeeping operation in Kosovo since 1999. The current KFOR contingent involves more than 4,500 troops from 27 countries, including the United States. Trucks travel across the World Trade International Bridge in Laredo, Texas. (Callaghan OHare/Bloomberg) Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts border-security crackdown is clogging up commercial crossings, leaving at least 19,000 trucks loaded with $1.9 billion of goods stuck waiting in Mexico. Absurd safety inspections are causing wait times as long as 24 hours in lines that stretch for 14 miles, Mexicos biggest trucking group said in a statement Oct. 8. The holdup makes it exceedingly difficult for businesses to manage supply chains, it said. Texas announced a renewed push for cargo-truck inspections last month as part of Abbotts Operation Lone Star plan to deter illegal border crossings and drug smuggling amid what he says is a lack of enforcement by the federal government. His administration did the same in April 2022, prompting protests from business interests on both sides of the border. The inspections were halted a week later after Texas officials said theyd reached security agreements with their Mexican state counterparts across the border. The measure doesnt help the regions development and puts at risk tens of thousands of jobs in Mexico and in the U.S., the trucking association said. We reiterate our call to the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy to exhaust all diplomatic channels and spaces for dialogue to demand that the Texas government put an end to this measure. At midmorning on Monday, there was a 240-minute wait time for commercial vehicles to cross the Ysleta bridge in El Paso, according to government figures. About $443 billion in electronics, fruit, nuts and machinery crossed into the U.S. via Texas-Mexico ports of entry in 2021, according to the Texas Center for Border and Economic Enterprise Development at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. Texas has more than two dozen international bridges that link to the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Chihuahua. Abbotts press office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The governor, a Republican who has made illegal immigration one of his top issues, recently called a special legislative session and asked lawmakers to create legislation that would make illegal entry into the country a state crime and increase penalties for smuggling. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Monday said Abbotts administration has a very hostile attitude and has further complicated the migration issue with politicking. He said Mexico is preparing a diplomatic note to be sent Monday and that he has discussed Texas with President Joe Biden as well. The 2022 Texas border crackdown led Mexicos then-Economy Minister Tatiana Clouthier to say the country was seeking to reduce its reliance on Texas crossing points, and that the government was working to relocate a planned rail and ports expansion known as the T-MEC Corridor that had been set to include a Texas border crossing. Renowned Turkish actor Burak Ozcivit has expressed his willingness to work for the Pakistani film industry if offered a project. Ozcivit who was best known for his leading character in the Turkish historical series Kurulus Osman, a sequel season of Drislis Ertugrul, while wrapping up his two-day visit to Pakistan said in response to journalists question he would work in Pakistan, he started his first project with Pakistani brand. Ozcivit had announced his tour to Pakistan in July. Speaking through a translator Ozcivit said, Pakistan and Turkiye have similar cultures, and I myself wanted to come to Pakistan, I wish to visit the entire country but I will rejoin the shoot which I had left to come to Pakistan. He said that he would love to work in Pakistani films or a Turkiye-Pakistan co-production. I would love to work here; I really would, but right now I am very busy with Kurulus: Osman. We are in our fifth season right now, and I am not sure how many more seasons we will be running for, he shrugged. He said he also intended to promote tourism in Pakistan. Pakistani fans welcomed Burak Ozcivit on Saturday who became a most favourite actor in Pakistan after his role in the historical series Kurulus Osman based on the life of the founder of the Ottoman Empire Osman Ghazi. The fifth season of the series premiered on October 4. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued notices to former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed, and others on an application for registration of a case in the FIA. The court was hearing the case of breach of the legal barrier and misrepresentation of various events after their retirement. The court also issued a notice to the FIA on an application submitted to it for registration of a case against Gen Bajwa and Lt Gen Hameed. Journalists Javed Chaudhry, Shahid Maitla, PEMRA, the Press Association of Pakistan were also issued notices in the case. IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq issued a written order on the request of citizen Atif Ali. According to the petitioner, no action was taken despite repeated requests after filing of an application for the registration of a case against the retired army officials with the FIA, the court order stated. The verdict further said that the petitioner's counsel adopted the stance that the FIA should be ordered to register a case and take action. It was further alleged the cannabis, worth approximately 70, was in her possession for the purpose of sale or supply A GARDA accused of "forcibly" breaking into a colleagues locker in a Dublin station and stealing a cannabis exhibit from it has pleaded not guilty. Holly Lane (34), is denying drugs, theft and criminal damage offences and had her case adjourned for a trial date to be set later. The charges relate to an alleged locker break-in at Store Street garda station in the north city centre on December 12, 2021. Gda Lane is accused of damaging the locker; stealing a cannabis exhibit which was the property of another garda; simple possession of the drug, and having it with intent to sell or supply. At Dublin District Court today, state solicitor Tom Conlon told Judge Michele Finan prosecution evidence had been disclosed to the defence. The DPP consented to the case remaining in the district court and the issue of jurisdiction had to be considered, he said. Outlining the allegations, Detective Superintendent Mark Jordan said the accused was a member of the gardai and while on duty it was alleged she forcibly opened a colleague's locker, causing 30 worth of damage to the door and mechanism. On the theft charge, it was alleged she "stole an exhibit in a pending case, to wit cannabis" from the locker. This had since been recovered, he said. It was further alleged the cannabis, worth approximately 70, was in her possession for the purpose of sale or supply. Judge Finan accepted jurisdiction, allowing the case to be dealt with in the district court. Defence solicitor Liz Hughes said Garda Lane was pleading not guilty. Judge Finan adjourned the case to a date in November, for mention, to set a date for the non-jury trial. The court heard there would be CCTV evidence Gda Lane was remanded on continuing bail. She first appeared in court when she was charged in June this year, when Det Supt Jordan said she made no reply to any of the counts after caution at Coolock Garda station. She had gone there by appointment and was given Garda station bail. The charges against Gda Lane are under the Criminal Damage, Theft and Fraud Offences and Misuse of Drugs Acts. At a sentencing hearing today, Garda Conor OCasey told the court that the victim, who is now aged 23, had only arrived in Ireland ten days earlier. A man who sexually assaulted his flatmates girlfriend in an apartment shortly after her boyfriend had left for work has been jailed for four years. Mamadou Alpha Bah, a native of Guinea, was found guilty of the sexual assault and false imprisonment of the young woman from eastern Europe at an address in Kildare two years ago following a four-day trial at Naas Circuit Criminal Court in July. Alpha Bah (26), a former cleaner at Intel in Leixlip, Co Kildare, had denied the charges. At a sentencing hearing today, Garda Conor OCasey told the court that the victim, who is now aged 23, had only arrived in Ireland ten days earlier. Garda OCasey said the woman, who used to sleep without any clothes, woke to find Alpha Bah in her bedroom at around 7.15am on August 20, 2021 about 35 minutes after her boyfriend had left for work. He told counsel for the DPP, Daniel Boland BL, that the accused had told her she was a very good-looking woman but that she had pointed out that they both already had partners. Garda OCasey said Alpha Bah had pulled the bedclothes off the woman leaving her naked and proceeded to kiss her and touch her on the vagina. The court heard Alpha Bah had got on top of the victim and she struggled for around ten minutes to try and get Alpha Bah to stop. However, she managed to persuade him from doing something more serious by promising not to report him to gardai if he stopped. Garda OCasey said the woman was screaming during the incident but was not heard by anyone. He said the woman was unable to go ahead with a job interview later that morning and spent the rest of the day with a friend. The matter was reported to gardai after she informed her boyfriend about what happened when he came home that evening. In a victim impact statement read out in court, the woman said the incident had greatly affected her health with her suffering severe panic attacks and anxiety. The woman, who did not attend the hearing, said she did not feel safe at work and felt that someone could hurt her. She said her relationship with her boyfriend also suffered, while she had also spent a large amount of money on psychotherapy. The court heard that Alpha Bah had remained in custody ever since he was arrested on August 27, 2021. Counsel for the defendant, John Peart SC, said his client had come to Ireland in 2018 as part of a family reunification arrangement. Mr Peart said Alpha Bah, who is a Muslim, had no previous convictions. He also informed the court that his clients father had died shortly before his arrest, while his mother had died while he was in custody. Judge Mary OMalley Costello, noted Alpha Bah had been found guilty of serious offences by unanimous verdicts of a jury. The judge said the defendant had violated the trust of the woman as her boyfriends flatmate. She said the sexual assault was compounded by the fact that he had prevented her from leaving her bedroom. The judge said it was hard to hear the victim describe how she did not feel safe in any part of her life and commended her for her bravery. Judge OMalley Costello also noted that Alpha Bah had submitted a letter to the court in which he declared he was heartbroken and disappointed at the jurys verdict. It was all regret and remorse but no admission of guilt, she added. The judge acknowledged that drugs and alcohol had played no role in the offences. The court heard that Alpha Bah had been assessed as being at a moderate risk of re-offending in relation to sexual assault and crimes involving violence. Judge OMalley Costello sentenced him to five years with the final 12 months suspended for the conviction for sexual assault for a period of two years on condition that he make himself available on release from prison for assessment for a treatment programme for people who commit sexual offences and violence against women. The judge backdated the term of imprisonment to when Alpha Bah was first remanded in custody. She also sentenced him to three years with the final 12 months suspended for false imprisonment with the term to run concurrently. The judge remarked that being placed on the sex offenders register would also represent a significant punishment for his offences. Gardai got a search warrant for the house in Kilmainham and seized 12 cardboard boxes containing a total of 119 kilos of vacuum-packed cannabis Two men caught unloading over 2.3 million euro worth of cannabis concealed under a consignment of frozen chicken have been jailed for seven years. Daniel Bowker (40) of Empire Rd, Bolton, United Kingdom and Ibrar Sharif (47) with an address at The Belfry, Kilmainham, were arrested in Dublin three days before Christmas last year. They were both sentenced today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. In her sentence, Judge Orla Crowe said the impact of drugs upon society is well known but that the men had put their time to good use since being arrested. The sentence was backdated to their arrest last December and Judge Crowe suspended the final year of the eight-year term on the condition that both be under probation supervision for two years upon release. The two men told gardai they had been trying to gather some money to buy presents for their families. Both men came forward on signed pleas from the District Court of possessing 2.364 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply at Kilmainham, Dublin 8 on 22 December, 2022. They have been in custody in Cloverhill Prison since their arrest. Detective Garda Patrick Hearne told Diarmuid Collins BL, prosecuting, that a surveillance operation was put in place after gardai received confidential information concerning an expected delivery of pallets of illegal drugs. At 9am on the day in question, gardai observed a white Ford Transit van driven by Bowker arriving at a unit in the Chapelizod Industrial Estate. Both of the accused got out of the van and about an hour later, interacted with the driver of a transport truck that arrived. Bowker was seen driving the van closer to the shutters of the unit, before the van left in convoy with another car. The van was driven to a house in the Kilmainham area where Sharif directed it into a driveway and both men began to unload cardboard boxes from the van into the house. The van was driven off and then stopped by gardai, whereupon two men tried to flee before they were arrested. Gardai got a search warrant for the house in Kilmainham and seized 12 cardboard boxes containing a total of 119 kilos of vacuum-packed cannabis. Bowker admitted putting boxes into the van and driving them to the Kilmainham address but initially told gardai he didnt know what was in the boxes. During subsequent interviews, he admitted that there were bags of cannabis underneath frozen chicken and that himself and Sharif had taken the drugs out and put them into new boxes. Bowker has five previous convictions from the UK for minor offences including criminal damage. Det Gda Hearne agreed with counsel for the defence that both Bowker and Sharif had been cooperative with gardai and that both had long-standing alcohol problems. The garda also agreed that both accused were at the lower end of the ladder of the organised crime gang and had been used by those higher up to courier drugs. It was also agreed that neither man displayed any signs of wealth or a lavish lifestyle, nor did they stand to benefit materially from the crime. Defence counsel for Bowker said he was suffering from severe anxiety, depression and PTSD after he was assaulted in January 2022 by three men who broke into his house to try and steal a dog. The court heard Bowker suffered a facial fracture and had to get two plates inserted into his jaw in the attack. Bowker told gardai he was a heavy drinker, on medication for anxiety and depression and had wanted to make some quick money to buy Christmas presents for his three kids. Bowker wrote a letter of explanation and remorse and said he had been very naive. Letters were also presented from Bowkers former wife describing him as a caring, sensitive person when sober. Another letter from Bowkers housing manager describes him as a lovable man and a model tenant with a big heart but a tortured soul. Maurice Coffey SC, defending Sharif, said his client had similarly found himself vulnerable, broke and with a drinking problem coming up to last Christmas. Mr Coffey said Sharif began working at the age of nine in markets and later worked in restaurants, factories and Marks and Spencers until he was made redundant during Covid. He had no money, he was unemployed, he foolishly agreed to get involved and let his moral compass shift, said counsel. Defence counsel said that organised crime gangs often prey on people who have dependency problems and no money, cajoling them to do their dirty work and suffer the punishment while those at the top are protected from the law. A letter from Sharif spoke of his remorse, regret and hopes for the future. Letters were also presented from his sisters describing his good heart and hardworking ethos. McCarthy will have to wait until December to find out his fate and whether he will be going back for another stint behind bars (Red) Larry McCarthy, from Limerick pictured at the Criminal Courts of Justice(CCJ) on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie ONCE a feared crime boss in Limerick, Red Larry McCarthy is now banned from travelling to his native city without permission. Last week, just as his trial for his part in the attempt to kill rival boss Christy Keane had been due to start, he dramatically changed his plea at the last minute. What had been listed as 10-week trial with 101 witness was over in a matter of minutes as he admitted to a single charge of providing a car used by the gunmen. Although still free on bail until his sentence hearing later this year, he has to give gardai two days warning if he wants to travel anywhere in Munster. Before proceedings got underway at the non-jury Special Criminal Court this week his defence counsel asked that McCarthy be re-arraigned on the single charge. When it was read out by the court clerk McCarthy pleaded guilty and then went on to thank his legal team for their work over the last three years in preparing for the trial that never happened. Christy Keane Speaking from the dock in a confident voice he said wanted their hard work acknowledged. There was no explanation as to what prompted the change of heart with the facts of the case against him to now be heard at a future sentencing hearing. In June, 2015 Christy Keane was lucky to survive when 13 shots were fired at him in the grounds of the University of Limerick where he had arrived for an early morning gym session. The details of the assassination attempt emerged during the trials of two other men who pleaded guilty to a similar charge and were sentenced earlier this year. While one of the men was able to walk free from the court with a suspended sentence the other, Noel Price, was given a six-and-a-half sentence last July. McCarthy will have to wait until December to find out his fate and whether he will be going back for another stint behind bars. His counsel asked for various reports to be drawn up before that date and there was no objection from the State. The two sides had also agreed to vary McCarthys bail conditions which allow him to sign on three times a week at his local garda station instead of twice daily. A curfew was lifted but he has to give 48 hours' notice if he plans to travel to anywhere in Munster from his current address. During one brief break in the proceeds McCarthy, who had been accompanied to court two women, laughed and smiled while chatting with his legal team. During Prices trial it was heard how the attempt on Christy Keanes life was part of the feud between the McCarthy-Dundons and the Keane-Collopys. A garda witness told how the feud dated back to 1993 and over the years there had been 19 murders and 15 attempted murders. Red Larry McCarthy, a first cousin of the infamous Dundon brothers, had long been considered the leader of the family-based crime gang after reportedly being anointed as such by his dying grandfather. During the worst of the feud violence in Limerick in the mid 2000s, McCarthy was serving a lengthy sentence in the UK after being caught in what was described as a gun supermarket. He returned to Limerick in early 2011 after his release by which time gardai had successfully cracked down on the feuding factions. While there were a number of incidents between various gang members before June 2015, the attempt on Keanes life came as a surprise after years of relative peace. There were genuine concerns at the time the deadly feud could re-erupt in the wake of the assassination bid. Red Larry is no stranger to the Special Criminal Court. A month after the attack on Keane he was arrested over making threats to kill man in separate case of which he was later acquitted. Then in another case in 2017 he was given a six-year-sentence at the non-jury court for taking part in the beating of a man over a motorbike accident compensation claim. He got out of prison again in 2019 but it not long afterwards he was arrested over the attempt to kill Keane and was in custody until earlier this year. Any potential sentence he gets next December will more than likely take into account the time he has already served while on remand. Press Release October 9, 2023 Bong Go advocates for improved working conditions and benefits for Barangay Health Workers as he attended BHW Cebu Summit Senator Christopher "Bong" Go emphasized the critical role played by BHWs in the country's healthcare system especially in communities during the Barangay Health Worker's (BHW) Congress in Cebu City on Friday, October 6. The senator also expressed his gratitude to the BHWs for their tireless efforts in promoting health and well-being at the grassroots level. "You are the vanguards of health promotion and disease prevention at the grassroots level. You are the bridge that connects our communities with our healthcare institutions, ensuring that even the most remote and underserved areas receive the care and attention they deserve," said Go. Go acknowledged the BHWs as the real heroes of the community, saying, "Kaya naman nais kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng mga Barangay Health Workers na narito ngayon. Kayo ang mga tunay na bayani ng ating komunidad. Araw-araw, inyong inilalaan ang inyong oras, lakas, upang siguruhing ang mga mamamayan ay ligtas at malusog." In line with his advocacy for healthcare development, Go assured the BHWs of his ongoing efforts to improve their working conditions and expand their roles. "I have always been a staunch supporter of the healthcare sector and firmly believe that the Barangay Health Workers play a vital role in achieving our healthcare goals," he said. The senator also discussed two key pieces of legislation he is pushing for aimed at supporting BHWs: Senate Bill No. (SBN) 197, also known as the Magna Carta for Barangays, and SBN 427, known as the Barangay Health Workers Compensation Act. The Magna Carta for Barangays proposes that barangay officials, including the Punong Barangay, members of the Sangguniang Barangay, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, the barangay secretary, and barangay treasurer, receive similar treatment as regular government employees. This means they would be eligible for salaries, benefits, and allowances, among other perks. Meanwhile, SBN 427 proposes to provide BHWs a monthly honorarium of P3,000, along with a comprehensive package of benefits, including allowances, job security, regular training, and skill development opportunities. The bill also extends benefits from key institutions such as the Government Service Insurance System, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Pag-IBIG Fund. "Hindi po natin mararating itong narating natin ngayon, itong COVID response natin kung hindi sa sakripisyo ng ating mga BHW. Sila po ang unang dipensa natin lalo na po sa dito sa barangay level," Go said in an interview. "Sila ang gumagamot agad, sila po ang frontline ng ating hangarin na mapanatiling malusog at walang sakit ang ating mga kababayan," he added. He also mentioned his filing of SBN 2399, aimed at declaring April 7 as Barangay Health and Nutrition Workers Day. "I also filed Senate Bill 2399 to give due recognition to the contribution of all barangay health and nutrition workers in the delivery of our primary healthcare services in the country," he added. Meanwhile, the senator, who is also chairperson of the Committee on Health, outlined his three main priorities: the ongoing operations of Malasakit Centers which was enacted into law through his efforts last Congress, the establishment of more Super Health Centers in strategic locations nationwide, and the proper implementation of the newly enacted Regional Specialty Centers Act which he championed in the Senate. He urged the public, particularly Cebuanos, to avail of medical and financial assistance from any of the Malasakit Centers located at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City Medical Center, and St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital, all in Cebu City. Other Malasakit Centers in the province are available at Cebu Provincial Hospital in Carcar City, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital in Mandaue City, and Talisay District Hospital in Talisay City. Malasakit Centers bring together representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), PhilHealth, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. These one-stop shops aim to support impoverished patients in reducing their hospital costs to the least possible amount. Go is the principal author and sponsor of Republic Act No. 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which institutionalized the Malasakit Centers program. As of now, 159 Malasakit Centers are operational across the country, which have assisted over seven million Filipinos, according to DOH. His second priority, Super Health Centers, are medium-sized polyclinics offering a range of services including childbirth, dental care, and laboratory tests. Go revealed plans to construct more than 600 Super Health Centers nationwide within two years, including 19 in Cebu. Super Health Centers are designed to focus on primary care, consultation, and early detection, further strengthening the healthcare sector in the country especially in grassroots communities. Services offered in Super Health Centers include database management, out-patient, birthing, isolation, diagnostic (laboratory: x-ray and ultrasound), pharmacy and ambulatory surgical unit. Other available services are eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) service, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation center and telemedicine. Finally, Go also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on August 24. The law mandates the establishment of regional specialty centers within existing DOH regional hospitals. These centers will specialize in specific medical fields, such as cardiology, allowing patients to receive specialized care without having to travel to the National Capital Region to avail these services. In closing, the senator expressed his commitment to continue supporting and fighting for the rights of barangay health workers. "Hindi tayo magsasawa na suportahan at ipaglaban ang karapatan ng ating mga barangay health workers," he assured. "As we move forward, let us continue to work together, hand in hand, to improve the health and well-being of our fellow Cebuanos and Filipinos nationwide," concluded Go. During the event, Go and his team also distributed food packs to the BHWs. Following this, Go extended further support by distributing aid to thousands of Cebuanos facing hardships in the city. He also participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the new wing of Lapu-Lapu City Hospital. Additionally, he attended the National Teacher's Day celebration, honoring educators in the same city. On that very day, Go was also guest of honor and speaker during the 33rd Commencement Exercises of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Maragondon Branch in Cavite. Israel's National Security Council urged Sunday its citizens to refrain from travelling to Middle Eastern countries and other nations with travel warnings, according to a statement released on the council's website. The council also asked Israelis in Egypt to leave the country as soon as possible. Earlier on Sunday, an Egyptian policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists in Alexandria. The incident also resulted in the killing of an Egyptian citizen and injuring another. The shooting comes a day after Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis and captured tens of others in a surprise full-scale attack against Israeli cities, prompting Israel to announce a state of war. Gun battles between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces raged for a second day on Sunday. Shortly following the beginning of the fierce fighting between both sides on Saturday, Egypt's presidential spokesman said President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is closely monitoring the events in Gaza and has given instructions to maximise communication to contain the situation and prevent further tension between the parties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also expressed concern over the increasing violence between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, urging both sides to exercise utmost restraint and protect civilians from further harm. The Foreign Ministry warned that the escalating violence would negatively affect the future of peace talks and called on international actors involved in the peace process to intervene to stop the escalation. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry had phone conversations with various international and regional counterparts to discuss ways to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip. Search Keywords: Short link: Gardai in Togher are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the mans death A WOMAN has been arrested by gardai investigating the death of a man in his 40s discovered unconscious in Cork on Sunday morning. The man, believed to have been a Ukrainian national had been rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival. Gardai in Togher are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the mans death, according to the Garda Press Office. The male was discovered unresponsive in a premises on the Kinsale Road in County Cork. He was taken to Cork University Hospital by ambulance where he was later pronounced dead, a spokesperson revealed. A post-mortem is expected to take place on the body of the man today, the results of which will determine the course of the investigation. A woman (aged in her 40s) was arrested this morning, Monday, October 9, 2023, in relation to this investigation. She is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in County Cork. It was previously reported the man was found unconscious near a vehicle which had stopped just off the Kinsale Road, not far from Cork Airport, around 3am on Sunday morning. Gardai are understood to be keen to determine the nature and cause of a number of injuries visible on the man. Local reports indicated that the dead man was from Ukraine and had been resident in Ireland for a number of months. 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. 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 say investigations are ongoing Some of the cannabis seized at Dublin Airport A man has been arrested after 720,000 worth of cannabis was seized by Revenue officers at Dublin Airport this evening. Gardai arrested the man in his 20s after 36kg of herbal cannabis was discovered by Revenue officers who stopped and searched the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight from New York. The man in his 20s is currently detained at Garda Station in North Dublin, where he is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. Gardai said this evening that the man has been charged as part of this investigation. He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice (Court No.4) in Dublin on Tuesday morning, October 10 at 10.30am, gardai said. Ms Damtis mother said: You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is. If shes suffering, is shes still alive. I just want her back Kim Damti (22) has been missing since the Hamas attack on Israel Kim Damti (22) has been missing since the Hamas attack on Israel The Government is offering support to the family of Kim Damti, the Irish-Israeli citizen missing after Hamas militants launched a devastating attack on Israel on Saturday. The 22-year old was at a rave in the desert that was targeted as part of the incursion which was the deadliest attack on Israel in half a century. Government officials here said they were in touch with her family. Ms 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. She had been dancing at the all-night rave in the desert attended by thousands of people when it was attacked. Reports said hundreds had been killed or kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Ms Damti told her mother in a phonecall that she had been running with her friend towards a car, but this was the last time her mother heard from her. Ms Damtis mother said: You cant sleep. All I can think about is where she is. If shes suffering, is shes still alive. I just want her back. There are so many other mothers here today. I am not the only one. Everybody is missing somebody, her mother told ABC News. Jennifer Damti and her family. Photo: ABC News Kim didnt realise there were seven or eight Toyota vans full of terrorists and they just shot everywhere. "They just shot them and slaughtered them like ducks. And thats the reason Im here, because I want the world to condemn this behaviour. I didnt bring my children up to hate anybody. Her father and brother are currently visiting hospitals with her hair brush to check if she is among the dead, according to her mother. A small number of Irish citizens are also in Gaza which is ruled by Hamas and is being bombarded by Israeli forces and there are concerns they may struggle to escape. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that officials here were aware of the case. 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, he said. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs 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, he said. 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 is probably the worst attack 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 part of our message too. Israel formally declared war on Gaza a strip of land that is 12km at its widest as it emerged that more than 700 of its citizens died in the violence, and more than 400 people in Gaza have also perished. The eventual death toll is expected to be much higher. Yesterday, after Hamas attacked southern Israel from Gaza,Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to turn the enclave 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. Robbie Keane was among those evacuated from Israel. The former Republic of Ireland captain is currently the manager of Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, with fellow former Ireland international Rory Delap as his assistant. It was reported by TalkSport that the pair were forced to take shelter in a panic room as the attacks unfolded and as Hamas seized hostages, including elderly people and children. Keanes wife Claudine, with whom he has two sons, shared a message posted by the club, with the words: Stay safe everyone, Im praying for you all. There are Irish citizens in the Palestinian territories and in the conflict zone. Some are in Gaza itself. 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. 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. 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. Any citizen currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territory, should register with the embassy. Vincent Durac, who is an associate professor at the School Of Politics and International Relations at UCD, told This Week on RTE Radio 1 that the reference by Mr Netanyahu to Palestinians leaving was so fanciful it went to the very heart of this. Even before this weekends conflict, Israel and Egypt had largely closed their borders with the enclave. They have no freedom of movement, he added. He also felt it was not unlikely Israeli troops could enter Gaza. Siblings Louise (16), Marie Theresa (15), Owen (12) and Christina Maughan (8) were reported missing from the Lisnaskea area on Thursday, October 5. 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 the youngsters who they believed may have travelled into the Republic of Ireland with their father and mother. Siblings Louise (16), Marie Theresa (15), Owen (12) and Christina Maughan (8) were reported missing from the Lisnaskea area on Thursday, October 5. Police believed they travelled out of Northern Ireland with their mother and father, Kathleen and Martin Maughan, and were somewhere in the Republic of Ireland. Chief Inspector Lynne Corbett said: We are asking that Kathleen or Martin, the children, or anyone who knows of their whereabouts, get in touch with police and let us know where the children are and that they are safe. I would also ask that they be returned to Northern Ireland as soon as possible. Police can be contacted by calling 101, quoting reference 1181 05/10/23. The PSNI issued a photograph of the Maughan family which they believe to have been taken five to six years ago. In a statement on Monday morning, 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. We were sent a video in which I could clearly see our daughter unconscious in the car with the Palestinians A young German tattoo artist has been identified as the woman whose body was paraded through the streets in the back of a pickup truck by Hamas terrorists. Shani Louk was among the hundreds of victims in Israel when Hamas hit the dance party near Kibbutz Urim and other Israeli communities on Israel Saturday morning. As disturbing footage quickly spread online, family members recognized Shani, in her early 20s, in the video, in which armed terrorists chanted Allahu Akbar Arabic for God is great as they paraded her body around. As news of Hamas's multi-pronged assault into Israeli territory broke early on Saturday, Ms Louk's family began desperately trying to contact her. Her first cousin Tom Weintraub Louk told the Washington Post: We knew she was in the party. She didnt answer. But another cousin spotted footage of Shani online as her body appeared lifeless and surrounded by armed militants in the back of the truck. One Hamas fighter had his leg over her waist as another grabbed part of her dreadlocks. Her legs were unnaturally laid out in the back of the truck. Her parents watched the video to confirm it was their daughter, the Washington Post reported. We recognised her by the tattoos, and she has long dreadlocks, Louk said. Its unknown if Shani is dead or where she is, but her family has not given up hope. We have some kind of hope, Louk told the Washington Post. Hamas is responsible for her and the others. Shes a German-Israeli dual national, according to CNN. Her mother, Ricarda, said she had seen a video of Shani "unconscious in a car" after being taken. Holding up a picture of the twenty-something on her mobile phone, she said in a social media appeal that her daughter had been "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 news. Thank you very much." Over the course of his life the self-made billionaire gave away an $8bn fortune Charles Chuck Feeney receives an honorary Doctorate of Laws jointly by all the universities on the island of Ireland at Dublin Castle in 2010 surrounded by family including wife Helga (left). Picture By David Conachy Charles Francis Chuck Feeney, the Irish American businessman and philanthropist has died aged 92. Over the course of his life the self-made billionaire gave away an $8bn fortune. Almost a quarter of funds disbursed by his philanthropic vehicle Atlantic Philanthropies were to projects in Ireland, including huge support for universities here and peace projects in Northern Ireland. From 1984, when he established the fund until it was wound up in 2020 it made 6,500 grants of over $8bn, in keeping with Feeneys motto of Giving while Living. Although he eventually became well known, for decades Feeney acted largely in secret and he did not court publicity. He made a fortune selling liquor and luxury goods to travellers, and dominated the airport duty free business around the world. Chuck Feeney and Atlantic CEO Chris Oechsli But in 1984 he quietly transferred his shareholding in Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), the luxury retail chain he had co-founded, to The Atlantic Foundation. It later became The Atlantic Philanthropies, and began distributing the bulk of his personal fortune to good causes. The Republic of Ireland has received $1.3bn in grants while $570m went to projects in Northern Ireland. Atlantic Philanthropies said on Monday that Feeney died peacefully on October 9 in San Francisco. If you give while living, the money goes to work quickly, everyone gets to see the action and the results, thats what were all about, Chuck Feeney explained some years ago. He lived modestly quipping that travelling at the front of the plane doesnt get you there any faster when asked why he did not book first class tickets but amassed a vast fortune from his successful business venture. In his later years he didnt own a home or car, preferring to rent as he travelled. None of the around 200 buildings he helped fund in institutions around the world was named after him. Feeney was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Irish American parents at the time of the Great Depression. He was the first in his family to attend university, studying hotel management at the prestigious Cornell University thanks to the US GI Bill that funded education for former members of the military. He is survived by his wife, Helga; five children from his first marriage to Danielle Feeney of France: Juliette Feeney-Timsit of Paris, France; Caroleen Feeney of Los Angeles, California; Leslie Feeney Baily of London, England; Diane Feeney of London, England; and Patrick Feeney of Brussels, Belgium; 16 grandchildren and 4 nieces and nephews. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he had been deeply saddened to learn of the death of Chuck Feeney. Through Atlantic Philanthropies, Chucks vision, generosity and selfless leadership transformed the lives of people on the island of Ireland, north and south, young and old, through investment in education and community, he tweeted. It was a great honour to work with him, transforming Irelands third level research capacity. He was a pioneer in the world of philanthropy." Universities on the island of Ireland to benefit from Chuck Feeneys philanthropy over the years include the University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, along with Cork and Galway universities. Queens University, Belfast, also benefited. Landmark projects such as The McClay Library, Queens Elms Village and the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute For Experimental Medicine helped propel the institution forward. Feeneys 15m gift was the largest single donation Queens ever received. Vice chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer said: Chuck Feeney was an outstanding advocate and supporter of the Higher Education sector on the island of Ireland, he leaves a powerful legacy. "At @QUBelfast we are grateful for his many years of support and I send my condolences to his family and friends on their loss. Competitors are being urged to get their entry in early for the 2024 Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta, with a fantastic prize up for grabs for those who do, and additional late entry fees for those who dont. Early birds who sign up and pay their regatta entry fee by December 31 will go in the draw to win a top-of-the-line Gill Offshore sailing jacket from Burnsco in Opua. Skippers who are late to the start line and dont enter in time will be hit with an additional late entry fee of $100 on top of their normal entry fee. We know it seems like its still a long way over the horizon, says regatta Chair Ian Clouston, but the early entry deadline always comes around faster than you think. It's just after Christmas and time always seems to speed up at the end of the year. Organisers say theyve kept the entry fees at the same level as last year, but theyve increased the additional late entry fee from $75 to $100 this year. They hope the change will encourage more competitors to enter before the 31st December cut-off, which helps the volunteer organising committee run a successful event. If we know which boats are competing in each division nice and early it lets us plan the regatta much more easily, says Clouston. We can make sure we have the resources we need to run all our races. All our on-water race officials, judges, mark layers - theyre all volunteers, just like the organising committee, so we need time to plan ahead and organise the people we need, as well as transport and accommodation for them too. The event is gearing up for its 21st edition from 23rd to 26th January 2024, and there are already 20 yachts on the entry list, with at least a further 80 expected to sign up before the regatta begins. Organisers hope a new venue for the regatta, at the southern end of the Bay of Islands Marina in Opua, will provide more space, better views and a festival atmosphere for the hundreds of sailors and their friends and family expected to take part. Bay of Islands Sailing Week - described by Peter Montgomery as the best big-boat regatta in New Zealand - is the countrys biggest multi-day keelboat regatta, and one of the Southern Hemispheres premier sailing events. It attracts sailors from around NZ and overseas thanks to its unique combination of top class yacht racing in one of the most spectacular sailing destinations in the world. More information and online entry form can be found at www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz, and entry to the early entry prize draw for a Gill Offshore jacket cheers to Burnsco is automatic for those entered and paid by 31st December 2023. Above: Bay of Islands Sailing Week is organised and run almost entirely by volunteers, many of whom return to help year after year. Above (L): Yachts contend with blustery conditions at last years Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta. (R): The regatta attracts top class sailing crews with its combination of competitive racing and outstanding scenery. Bay of Islands Sailing Week: Website: www.bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz Facebook: /bayofislandssailingweek Instagram: @boisailingweek #boisw #boisw2024 YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/BaySailingWeek A group of recreational fishers caught with a total of 348 fish, including more than nine times their collective daily limit for snapper, has been fined $10,500. The 5 fishers Tai ah You, 46, Laupagigi Tupua Siliva, 69, Lameta Kasiano, 49, Metai Fialelei Lotoa, 58, and Avia Amosa, 55 went fishing in May 2022 in the Hauraki Gulf and caught 317 snapper. The daily limit for snapper per person is 7. The group also had 19 kahawai, two John Dory, two gurnard, six jack mackerel, one kingfish and one blue mackerel, which they caught around the Noises islands in the Hauraki Gulf. The group had its catch inspected by Fisheries New Zealand fishery officers at the popular Half Moon Bay boat ramp. The inspection revealed seven large chilly bins filled with fish. At least two of the five fishers knew the size and daily limit for snapper, and there was also a fish measurer on board their fishing vessel. They all pleaded guilty to charges under the Fisheries Act and were all sentenced in the Manukau District Court on October 5. Tai ah You, who was skipper of their fishing vessel, was fined $2500. The other four fishers were each fined $2000. "The rules are there for a reason to protect fishing resources for everyone. This was a lot of fish, and 95 of the snapper were undersize. Some of the group said they knew the rules and others didnt," says MPI Fisheries Compliance regional manager Andre Espinoza. "We would strongly encourage people to download the free NZ Fishing Rules mobile app which will provide you with the latest rules at your fingertips. If you follow the rules, youll be doing your bit for sustainability and avoiding a large fine." Along with the fines, the groups vessel and trailer was forfeited to the Crown, along with a range of fishing equipment and chilly bins. The Court ordered Tai ah You to pay a redemption fee of $5248 before the end of November. Fisheries New Zealand encourages fishing industry operators and non-commercial fishers to report any suspected illegal activity through the Ministry for Primary Industries 0800 4 POACHER line (0800 47 62 24). For many people, being homeless is not a choice and can happen to anyone at any time. During World Homeless Day today, people are being urged to remember that being homeless is not a choice, no one decides to go rough and sleep out on a cold or wet night, and regardless of what many people think, homelessness can knock on your door no matter who you are or what do you do for a living, if you are young or old. The purpose of World Homeless Day is to draw attention to the needs of people who experience homelessness locally and provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness, says a statement on worldhomelessday.org Homelessness is not something that happens far away from us or we only see on the news, homelessness is a reality. Authorities say they do not have any specific registered cases of homelessness in the city currently, however, you can see for yourself by looking under bridges or in reserves that there are a number of people sleeping in cars, tents, or just on the streets. By August this year, the average number of known rough sleepers was 36 people across 17 tent sites. In Tauranga, many organisations are working together with the Ministry of Social Development to help people facing homelessness. One of those is Takitimu House. It has been in operation for nine years now, and since opening its doors for the first time in September 2014 it has been supporting men in situations of homelessness. Our main goal at Takitimu House is to transform their lives and help them to overcome traumas and reconnect with society. We have a full team available on-site to support the men with their hopes and dreams, says Takitimu House operation manager Annamarie Angus. This is not a job of a few people, we work alongside other organisations like, Work and Income, Tauranga Hospital, and mental health [services], attending to their real needs instead of just having them sleeping here. Takitimu House support workers Lynn Cunningham, left, and Odile Sagardoys, with operation manager Annamarie Angus. The men at Takitimu House usually participate in events that help them to increase their self-esteem and trust. They are also connected with agencies that teach them how to manage debts, budgets, and everything related to having and maintaining a house. Annemarie says they also receive training and learn new skills which help them to find jobs and build a better life. We are so proud at Takitimu house of some of our men who, during their time here, have received their qualifications in different areas and now have better and more stables lives. Tauranga City Council Community Development and Emergency Management manager Paula Naude spoke to SunLive about the situation in Tauranga. This is what she says: How can we define homelessness and how many homeless people are in Tauranga at this moment? Homelessness is a complex issue that demands a collective community response. There are no easy answers. When people think of homelessness, they often think of people sleeping rough, in tents or cars. But homelessness is more than just those at the critical end of the spectrum. The region, and New Zealand as a whole, does not currently have a method to accurately count homelessness numbers, (across the full housing spectrum). What reasons take people into homelessness? "Homelessness is not a choice. In most cases, homelessness is not something that happens overnight, it is often a culmination of events or factors. Factors like poverty, discrimination, sometimes a lack of housing and rising rents collide with individual circumstances like losing a job, accumulation of debt, illness, or relationship breakdown which can result in people finding themselves homeless. What is the Tauranga City Council doing about this? This is where the Kainga Tupu Taskforce comes in, says Paula. Tauranga City Council is a key Taskforce member, and we have an advisor within our Community Development team who advocates for the needs of people experiencing housing stress and homelessness in the city. Our adviser also proactively works with community and government agencies to find proactive and sustainable solutions to provide support services for our homeless community. Kainga Tupu provides a community-agreed collaborative approach with local government agencies and community providers to support people experiencing homelessness and to look for opportunities to end homelessness in the Western Bay of Plenty sub-region. What can people do when they have a concern about a possible case of homeless people in their neighbourhood? "People can reach out to us 24/7 on 07 577 7000 if they are concerned about someone sleeping rough or would like information on how to support someone who is experiencing homelessness. One of our bylaw officers will then check on their well-being and help connect them with support services. An 80-year-old man accused of killing his wife, aged 78, in a retirement village in Mount Maunganui on Sunday night can be named. John Alfred Salter appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Monday afternoon, charged with murder. Salters lawyer Tony Rickard-Simms did not apply for name suppression and no plea was entered. His next court appearance is in Tauranga on November 1. . Police were called to Bayswater retirement village in Mount Maunganui at 6.55pm where they found the body of Jean Salter. Metlifecare, which own the Bayswater village, is helping police with its investigation. This is an extremely sad incident, and we extend our sincere condolences to the families of the individuals involved. We are providing support to our other residents and staff who knew them and have engaged Victim Support to assist, says a Metlifecare spokesperson. - Alba Tenza Villanueva de Tapia Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Villanueva de Tapia will highlight a tradition that goes back to 1869 when it celebrates the 153th Real Feria de Ganado, a livestock and agriculture fair that will take place from Tuesday 10 until Thursday 12 October. The Malaga town was chosen as the venue to host one of the most notable fairs in Andalucia because of its location, bordering the provinces of Granada and Cordoba, and it has since it gained recognition throughout Spain. Its privileged location on an important livestock route has made this fair an essential meeting point for livestock dealers from all over the country. Over the years, this fair has preserved its essence, maintaining a traditional livestock market where the buying and selling of animals, especially horses, continues to be a fundamental part of the celebration. The three-day event will also include a farm machinery exhibition, workshops, equine shoeing and shearing demonstrations, as well as traditional events such as an equine dance show. There will also be musical and folkloric performances, a domino and petanque competition along with a variety of different activities for the whole family. Pixelated photo of the Venezuelan priest pictured some years ago posing with the woman who accused him of harassing her. Juan Cano Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Following a formal complaint from a young woman the Bishopric of Malaga has removed a priest from his pastoral duties in the province. SUR was informed of the developments after the woman accused the Venezuelan priest Father Roberto of harassing her after she terminated a relationship with him. Father Roberto will cease to be parish priest of Canillas de Aceituno, Salares and Sedella, where he has been working until now. A replacement has already been found. The bishop has not suspended the man from his priestly duties because, according to sources consulted, he does not have the power to do so, since the priest continues to come under the jurisdiction of another diocese in Venezuela. The diocese issued a statement on the evening of Wednesday 4 October, the day the news broke and in which it said that the priest was on a "retreat" away from the parish and framed the matter as a conflict between two adults, with allegations between each of them. However, the priest had a 300-metre restraining order against the complainant, which has been in force since February and, according to the bishopric this information had been concealed by the priest and it only learned of it on 4 October. Francisco Grinan Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Last week, filming began on the new television series Eva y Nicole, which revisits the glamorous and frivolous Marbella of the 1980s, while on Thursday 5 October Amazon Prime Video announced a date for the premiere of the eagerly awaited Los Farad episodes, which cover the same period on the Costa del Sol. The latter focuses on the corruption and shady dealings that were hidden under the gloss of parties and high-end cars. The series is directed by filmmaker Mariano Barroso ('La linea invisible') and tells the story of a family dedicated to arms trafficking and whose patriarch is reminiscent of the famous jet-setter, Adnan Khashoggi. It will be shown from 12 December. The premiere date has arrived with the awaited teaser of the series though this reveals very few scenes from Marbella, as the film was shot mostly in Madrid, as well as Almunecar and Malaga. What the images do show is the starring role of the popular actor from Fuengirola, Miguel Herran, as well as Pedro Casablanc with a Spanish-style take on The Godfather, marrying his daughter as in the opening scene of Coppola's film. This inspiration is supported by the promotional phrase 'Family is the most dangerous weapon', with the head of the clan declaring that he is dedicated to arms trafficking but that the business is "all legal". This unique family of criminals includes Oskar (Herran), a boy who dreams of setting up a gym, but after meeting the eldest daughter of Los Farad, Sara (Susana Abaitua), he marries her and enters the dark side of the Costa del Sol. The cast also includes Nora Navas (Pa Negre), Adam Jeziersky (Fisica o quimica), Amparo Pinero (Dos vidas) and Fernando Tejero (Aqui no hay quien Viva, and Modelo 77), among others. While Puerto Banus was recreated in the marina of Almunecar, Mariano Barroso and his team filmed some sequences in the famous Marbella Club Hotel. And the sequences of a shoot-out and escape by car in a resort and casino on the Cote d'Azur were recreated in Malaga city. At the moment, these scenes do not appear in the first preview of the series. Ignacio Lillo Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The drought situation, high temperatres and the decrease in the local production of vegetables have made it necessary to increase the import of fresh foodstuffs from Morocco to Malaga by ship. The freight line that connects the Malaga capital with Tangier-Med is being bolstered with a cargo vessel with greater capacity to meet the needs of the autumn period. It is expected that the entry of fruit and vegetable products by sea will increase by up to 40% over the course of this month. The vessel Tom Sawyer began operating on Thursday, replacing the 'Friedrich Russ, which inaugurated the line and had been operating since last March. This marks the beginning of the second phase of the project to commercially link the two shores, which is being carried out by the Malaga-based company Maritima Peregar. It goes from a pure roll on-roll off vessel, which could carry a maximum of 12 drivers; to a cargo and passenger ship, with capacity for up to 125 people on board. Joaquin Perez-Munoz, of the operator Maritima Peregar, said that the decision to bolster the route responds to the fact that the new fruit and vegetable season demands a greater capacity for self-propelled vehicles. "We have received the message from all the agents that for this season, which starts in October, taking into account the serious drought, we are going to need more imports of fruit and vegetable products", the businessman said. This has been requested by the main producers and importers of agricultural products from the Axarquia, who have shown their interest in using this line for the new season due to the lack of local production. Usually, this traffic operated via Algeciras, although now part of the imports are being carried out via the Malaga route, which goes directly to Malaga city and the Costa del Sol as one of the main consumer centres. "This is possible because the port already has regular services from Monday to Sunday, to be able to attend to the demand for traffic," said Perez-Munoz. In the first phase of the implementation plan for the line between Malaga and Tangier-Med, up to now, some 28 vehicles have been moving per day in each direction. "We hope to reach at least 80 units in rotation (40 per trip) by October, which will mean an increase of 35 to 40% immediately," Perez-Munoz said. In addition to the increased transit of foodstuffs, the other two usual products that travel on this route, will continue: textiles, with fabric reels to Morocco and completed garments to Malaga; and automotive components destined for Renault's Moroccan factory. The president of Malaga's Port Authority, Carlos Rubio, said the increase in traffic marked the beginning of "a very important campaign in Morocco". Rubio added that the availability of the Tom Sawyer ship also opens up the possibility, in the near future, of carrying passengers between Malaga and Tangiers, and he is confident that this will be possible before next summer. Antonio M. Romero Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram First the sirens went off, and Cristina Marquez and Francisco Javier from Malaga just thought it was a fire alarm, but then missiles started raining down from the sky and the ground began to shake. This was the scary account of the couple from the province who were at Tel Aviv airport when it came under attack from Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Saturday 7 October. "At that moment, together with other guests of the hotel where we were staying, we went down to the bunker to take shelter in it. Our feeling was that we were in a nightmare," the couple said. Cristina and Francisco Javier (inset) and the queues at Tel Aviv airport. SUR The conflict has already left at least 1,000 dead and 100 military and civilian hostages kidnapped. At the time of the attack, Marquez was in Tel Aviv, the city where another Malaga native, Luna Wahnon, a mother of three who has lived in Israel for nine years and works in a software company, lives. "The sirens kept going off and that's not normal, so we thought something was going on. At first there was bewilderment until we realised what was happening in our country," she told SUR over the phone. Hamas had strategically chosen a Jewish holiday for the attack where civilians had been celebrating Sukkot, the festival of joy on Saturday. "The first feeling I had was one of disgust and I wondered what had happened to cause this lack of security. That feeling, as I got to know what had happened, turned into pain at what was happening. What Hamas has done is not a war, it is a massacre, a genocide where they have killed families, kidnapped young people, children... Now, as the hours go by, the feeling we have is one of hope. Although the human losses can no longer be recovered, Israel is a strong and united country; we will surely get out of this situation," Wahnon said. Despite the ongoing tensions in the country due to the Gaza Strip conflict, Wahnon has never thought of leaving Israel to return to Spain. "I'm staying here, where my children are. At this time, unity and faith are the most important things," she added. Flight cancellations The threat at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport caused many cancellations of both incoming and outgoing flights. The situation affected thousands of people, among them Cristina Marquez, who was due to return to Malaga on Sunday 8 October, but was told there would not be another departure with the airline she was flying with until 12 October. "When they told us, we looked for flights other companies. We managed to find a flight to Berlin, but it was overbooked and we were left on the ground, so we had to search. Then we found another one to Barcelona for which we paid 900 dollars. But when we had already passed the security check, they cancelled it and now we are back to square one. We go from counter to counter looking for a flight back to Spain," she said. Asked if they had contacted the embassy, Marquez said that they were told to stay in a hotel until they could find a flight. "But we don't want to move from the airport. Firstly because we have to leave from here and secondly because it is a safe place; they say it is the safest airport in the world," said the Malaga woman. Her case is similar to that of thousands of people who are trying to get out of Israel. "They are people of many nationalities and also Israelis who do not feel safe," Marquez added. Vanessa Melgar Ronda Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The pest control company Rapiplaga has warned about the arrival of the Oriental hornet, Vespa orientalis, in Ronda. It is an invasive species which has been sighted in different parts of Spain for around a decade. Although not as dangerous as the Asian hornet it can wreak havoc on the biodiversity of the Iberian Peninsula and, in some cases, on people, as well as affecting fruit crops and beekeeping. In Malaga province, specimens have been identified in Malaga city and in other coastal towns. In Marbella, a woman suffered anaphylactic shock after being stung by an Oriental hornet. In July, according to Juan Jose Zamudio, of Rapiplaga, S.L., a local resident of Ronda contacted the pest control firm after she photographed a Vespa orientalis in a cats bowl near her home in Avenida Poeta Rilke, next to the Alameda del Tajo Park. "She photographed a very large wasp that seemed strange to her and asked us for help", Zamudio said. Rapiplaga contacted different bodies such as Ronda Local Police and the Guardia Civil's nature protection branch Seprona, the councillor for the Environment and the Regional Agricultural Office (OCA) of Ronda. "None of them were aware of the presence of the Oriental hornet in Ronda," Zamudio added. He therefore contacted the local council, which "unfortunately dealt with [the request he presented] as if it were a common pest warning, referring my case to the pest control service concessionaire, which did not show much interest either". Zamudio also made reference to Montecorto, a town in the Serrania de Ronda where there have been several sightings of the Oriental hornet. The town hall has appealed to the residents to refrain from touching these insects and to try to identify the nest, alerting 112 and/or the town hall. "It is an invasive species whose presence was known in Algeciras, the port where it is presumed that it arrived into Spain, but until now there was no evidence of its presence in the Serrania. This species poses a danger to people, pets and the beekeeping sector", said a written notificaton send to Ronda town hall and signed by Zamudio. Ronda town hall said that "no more specimens have been located, nor have we received any further communications in this regard", so "we have not seen the need to inform the neighbours so as not to create alarm". What to do if stung by an Oriental hornet A single sting from the oriental hornet does not usually pose a health hazard, but they usually sting several times and defend themselves in groups, so it is necessary to take precautions in their presence. Their sting causes inflammation, itching, redness and pain. The sting should be removed with tweezers from the base. Then soap and water should be applied, medication should be taken in case of allergies and emergency services should be called in case of severe inflammation. The Oriental hornet, at between 25 and 35 millimetres long, is longer that the Asian hornet which measures between 20mm and 40mm; the common wasp measures from 10mm to 20mm. It is native to the eastern Mediterranean and north Africa and is brown, reddish and yellow in colour. Nests are usually underground or in buildings or other enclosed structures, so they are often difficult to find. Jon Garay Madrid Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Spanish company PLD Space is already working on its next rocket after the successful test launch of the reusable Miura-1 from Andalusian soil at the weekend, and it has promised it will be even bigger and better. The Miura-1 rocket was launched early on Saturday 7 October from Huelva in south-west Spain, successfully carrying out Europes first fully private rocket launch and offering hope for its stalled space ambitions. One of the founders of PLD Space, Raul Torres, said the flight lasted only 12 minutes, enough to demonstrate that its technology worked. "One hundred percent of the objectives have been met. We have achieved it, we have made history. We have made a giant leap in the country's technology. But this is only the beginning," he said. Miura-1, which has placed Spain in the select group of only ten countries with the capacity to build and launch satellites into space, is only a test platform. "Like testing with a Formula 3 to later build a Formula 1," Torres added. The Miura-5 rocket is already in the making and currently under construction - it is expected to take off from French Guiana in 2025. It will cost 60 million euros and will be 36 metres long and two metres in width, three-times bigger than Miura-1. PLD Space engineers are already working on the Miura-5 rocket. PLD Space It will be powered by five engines, each with 100,000 horsepower and its thrust force 30 times greater. It is also designed to be reusable. It is intended to carry small satellites weighing just over a kilo - to 450-kilo payloads and will weigh 68 tonnes and expected to be able to make 15 trips a year at a cost of around eight million euros each time. 'Space, the next internet' A few months ago an agreement was signed with the French Space Agency for Miura-5 to be launched from the ELM-Diamant base in Korou. PLD Space aims to enter a market that is growing exponentially. The space race of recent years has made "space the next internet because of its global impact", as Raul Verdu, the other co-founder of the Alicante company said earlier this year. 2025, a key year in the space race 2025 is shaping up to be a key year in the resurgent space race. In addition to the launch of Miura-5, all eyes will be on the Artemis programme. Led by Nasa and with the collaboration of half-a-dozen other space agencies, including Europe, the goal is to return man to the moon 56 years after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on it for the first time. American astronaut Christina Koch is expected to become the first woman to walk on the Earth's satellite in 2025. The first stage of the programme happened in November last year when the Orion spacecraft was launched to orbit the moon. The second stage is scheduled for 2024 and will already have a crew of four astronauts, the same ones who should land on the moon a year later, in the third stage. The aim of the project is to establish a permanent base on the moon, which would serve as a springboard for a future jump to Mars. The viability of the project depends largely on Elon Musk and his Starship lifter, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. Sara Bonillo Valencia Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Spanish fashion gaint Zara has announced this that its platform for selling second-hand clothing and accessories, Zara Pre Owned, will arrive in Spain in a few months' time, and certainly before the end of 2023. This was detailed by the CEO of Inditex, Oscar Garcia Maceiras, during the III Retail and FMCG Forum, organised by El Economista. Zara Pre-Owned is a platform for buying and selling second-hand Zara clothing and accessories. The aim is to extend the useful life of clothing, reduce clothing waste and encourage the reuse of products instead of discarding them, leaving fast fashion to one side and advocating responsible consumption. This does not mean that Zara will sell used clothes from its buyers, but rather that it will be a channel for sales between individuals. Customers will be able to use this platform to sell clothes, shoes and accessories from the brand that they no longer wear or that they no longer want, and in addition to that, earn money. Buyers will be able to purchase these second-hand clothes at much more affordable prices than in the shops and even find clothes that they had not been able to get before because they were out of stock. The platform has been operating in the United Kingdom since last November and, in France, for more than a month. In the coming months, it is also expected to land in Germany, Portugal, Greece and Italy, among other countries. "We are ambitious to continue investing and we will continue to invest as much as necessary for the sustainable future growth of the group," Garcia Maceiras said. The Post-Standard and Syracuse.com are seeking applicants from high school seniors for the annual Best & Brightest Awards. The deadline for applications is Sunday, Oct. 15. The Best & Brightest awards, sponsored by Upstate Honda Dealers Association, recognize the remarkable accomplishments of local high school seniors. Previous winners have demonstrated excellence in academics, sports, theater, or have been actively engaged as community or environmental activists. Central New York seniors with a positive impact on their school or community are invited to apply for the 2023 Best & Brightest class. To be considered, students are required to submit an application, essay, letters of recommendation, and details about their academic successes, extracurricular activities, and service to their school and community. Interested seniors can apply HERE. Eligible students are high school seniors with at least a B or 3.0 grade point average attending school in Section 3 (Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oswego, Oneida, Otsego counties). Winners will be selected by a community judging panel. The 2023 Best & Brightest class will be celebrated during an award ceremony on Nov. 8 and will receive notable recognition in The Post-Standard and Syracuse.com. The Upstate Honda Dealers Association is presenting sponsor for the 2023 Best & Brightest awards. Interested high school seniors can complete the application at https://www.advancemediany.com/best-and-brightest/. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Hundreds of people peacefully celebrated Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day on Sunday and Monday. At 11 a.m. Monday, the Columbus Monument Corporation held its annual wreath ceremony attended by around 100 people at the statue in downtown Syracuse. Among the attendees were Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Syracuse Common Councillor Pat Hogan, Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli and County Legislator Tim Burtis. Mark Nicotra, president of the monument corporation, thanked those who attended the Save the Statue rally on Saturday to show support for keeping the monument of Columbus in its downtown spot. Saturdays rally became heated at times when anti-statue and pro-statue protesters argued and the police were called. Mondays ceremony remained peaceful and there were no protesters at the event. On Sunday, Syracuse Peace Councils Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation organization and Women of Italian and Syracuse Heritage held the Indigenous Peoples Day Community Festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Everson Museum of Art. The all-day festival included vendors, performances of Haudenosaunee singing and social dancing, film showcases, speakers and community groups. People of all ages attended the festival and participated in social dances. Around noon, more than 50 people filled the lobby of the museum to watch Haudenosaunee dancers -- the youngest under 10 years old -- perform a traditional smoke dance. The Indigenous Peoples Day Community Festival which included traditional Haudenosaunee social dance performances was held at the Everson Museum of Art on Oct. 8, 2023. (Anne Hayes | Ahayes@syracuse.com) Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com. JERUSALEM (AP) Israels military scoured the countrys south for Hamas fighters, guarded breaches in its border fence and pounded the Gaza Strip from the air on Monday as it vowed to lay total siege to the impoverished, Hamas-ruled territory in the wake of an unprecedented weekend incursion. More than two days after Hamas launched its surprise attack from Gaza, the military said the fighting had largely died down for now. Israels vaunted military and intelligence apparatus was caught completely off guard, bringing heavy battles to its streets for the first time in decades. Israel formally declared war on Sunday, portending greater fighting ahead, and a possible ground assault into Gaza a move that in the past has brought intensified casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy the military and governing capabilities of the militant group, which is deeply rooted in Gaza. As Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and its tanks and drones guarded openings in the border fence to prevent more infiltrations, Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage from the latest bombardment. But civilians have already paid a high price. Around 700 people have been killed in Israel a staggering toll by the scale of its recent conflicts. Nearly 500 have been killed in Gaza, an enclave of 2.3 million Palestinians bordering Israel and Egypt. Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding over 130 people captured in Israel and dragged to Gaza. The armed wing of Hamas claimed on its Telegram channel that four of them were killed in Israeli airstrikes. That could not be independently confirmed. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, meanwhile, ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on the territory since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Gallant said Israel was at war with human animals, using the kind of dehumanizing language often employed by both sides at times of soaring tensions. After about 48 hours of pitched battles inside Israel, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters Israel has control of its border communities. He said there had been some isolated incidents early Monday, but that at this stage, there is no fighting in the communities. But he added that militants may remain inside Israel, and said that 15 of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be emptied in the coming day. Earlier, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press over the phone that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to painful, lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. In its airstrikes, Israels military said it leveled much of Beit Hanoun a town in northeast Gaza that Hagari said Hamas was using the 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. Hagari said the army had called up around 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization. He reiterated that the goal is to decimate Hamas military and governing capabilities. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007 and its rule has gone unchallenged through the 16-year Israeli and Egyptian blockade and four previous wars with Israel. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. The Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturdays initial incursion. The high figure underscored the extent of planning by the militant group, which has said it launched the attack in response to mounting Palestinian suffering under Israels occupation of the West Bank, its blockade of Gaza, its discriminatory policies in annexed east Jerusalem and tensions around a disputed Jerusalem holy site sacred to Muslims and Jews. The Palestinians want a state of their own in all three territories, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, but the last serious peace talks broke down well over a decade ago, and Israels far-right government is opposed to Palestinian statehood. Among the captives that Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claim to have taken are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. The Israeli military has said only that the number of captives is significant. 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: Gunmen who had broken in speak to him near the two weeping daughters, Dafna, 15, and Ella, 8. Another video showed the father being taken into Gaza. Just bring my daughters home and to their family. All the people, Zin said. In Gaza, where the U.N. said more than 123,000 people had been displaced by the fighting, residents feared further escalation. As of late Sunday, Israeli airstrikes had destroyed 159 housing units across the territory and severely damaged 1,210 others, the U.N. said. 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. In the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Barhoum said aircraft hit the home of the Abu Hilal family, and that one of those killed was Rafaat Abu Hilal, a leader of a local armed group. The strike caused damage to surrounding homes. Over the weekend, another airstrike on a home in Rafah killed 19 members of the Abu Quta family, including women and children, survivors said. Several Israeli media outlets, citing rescue service officials, said those killed on the Israeli side include at least 73 soldiers. 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. An Israeli official said security forces have killed 400 militants and captured dozens more. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. 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. The Israeli military said the situation was calm after the exchange. Elsewhere, six Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers Sunday around the West Bank. ___ Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Bidens dog, Commander, is not presently on the White House campus following a series of biting incidents involving White House staff and U.S. Secret Service officers, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden said late Wednesday. Elizabeth Alexander, the first ladys communications director, said Biden and his wife care deeply about the safety of White House staff and those who protect them every day. They remain grateful for the patience and support of the U.S. Secret Service and all involved, as they continue to work through solutions, she said in an emailed statement, adding, Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated. Alexander did not say where the dog was sent. The 2-year-old German shepherd was last seen Saturday on an upper balcony of the White House. The statement came hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked Wednesdays daily briefing about a fresh allegation that Commander had bitten a White House staffer. Jean-Pierre referred questions to the first ladys office, which said Commander and Dale Haney, the head groundskeeper at the White House, were playing and that no skin was broken in an incident that was photographed by a tourist and shared with a news organization, which published the image online. Commander had been involved in a series of biting incidents, most recently on Sept. 25. A uniformed Secret Service officer was bitten at the White House that night and was treated by on-site by medical personnel, said USSS chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi. Alexander said at the time that the White House can be a stressful environment for family pets and that the Bidens were continuing to work on ways to help Commander handle the often unpredictable nature of the White House grounds. The German shepherd purebred has bit or otherwise attacked Secret Service personnel at least 10 other times between October 2022 and January, including one incident that required a hospital visit by the injured law enforcement officer, according to records from the Department of Homeland Security. Commander is the second of Bidens dogs at the White House that behaved aggressively, including biting Secret Service personnel and White House staff. They eventually sent the first dog, a German shepherd named Major, to live with friends in Delaware after those incidents. The Secret Service provides security protection for the president and his family, and scores of its officers are posted around the executive mansion and its sprawling grounds. Commander was a gift to Biden in December 2021 from his brother James. The family also has a cat, Willow. Thomas J. Cunningham, 79, of Fayetteville, died Sept. 28. Born in Chicago, he moved to the Syracuse area with his family when he was 2 years old, according to his obituary. He graduated from Jamesville-DeWitt High School and attended Syracuse University. His obituary says he worked as a bookseller at the Syracuse Book Center on Marshall Street during and after college. He was a co-founder of Eureka Crafts in Syracuses Armory Square. The shop, which opened in 1982, was a showcase for artists whose studios were in the building and blossomed into a gallery dedicated to celebrating the work of artists from across the United States, according to his obituary. He was one of the pioneers in the redvelopment of Armory Square from a run-down warehouse district into a popular restaurant, bar and retail busines district. Eureka Crafts at 210 Walton St. thrived for 37 years, closing in 2019. A celebration of his life will 11 a.m. Oct. 14 at Pastabilities. Donations may be made to World Central Kitchen. If you have a suggestion for a feature obituary, please email the link and any other information youd like to share to citynews@syracuse.com or call our newsroom at 315-470-2265. Elizabeth Keogh | New York Daily News Albany, N.Y. Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories has prompted New York officials to bolster security measures and deploy additional police resources across the state. In addition to locating and working actively to get New Yorkers in Israel safely back to the U.S., Gov. Hochul promised her office is also focusing on whats going on here at home, she said at Temple Israel of Albany over the weekend. Immediately we deployed our state police to be activated, to protect not just the usual places synagogues and yeshivas, Hochul said Saturday. Not just in New York City either, in places like this all across New York to have heightened security, but also cultural institutions and museums and places that we view as vulnerable sites. Mayor Eric Adams said the city has resources on the ground in Israel to gather intelligence and monitor any potential threat to New Yorkers. While there is no credible threat to New York City at this time, our administration is in touch with Jewish leaders across the five boroughs and we have directed the NYPD to deploy additional resources to Jewish communities and houses of worship citywide to ensure that our communities have the resources they need to make sure everyone feels safe, he said Sunday. The NYPD will continue to monitor for any further developments or threats to the city, a police spokesperson said. The spokesperson did not indicate if or where additional resources would be deployed. In Times Square on Sunday, pro-Palestinian demonstrators flooded Times Square in a protest Adams deemed disgusting. 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 in a statement. I reject this. New York City rejects this. Do not use our streets to spread your hate. The states ramped up security comes after Hamas bombarded the Gaza Strip over the weekend in an unprecedented attack that has left hundreds dead and thousands more wounded. On Sunday, the Israeli government formally declared war and launched counterattacks against Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other countries. At least three Americans have been killed in the attacks in Israel, CNN reported. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MIAMI (AP) A Florida man and his three adult sons were sentenced Friday for selling a toxic industrial bleach as a fake COVID-19 cure through their online church. A federal judge in Miami sentenced Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, to 12 years and seven months in prison, while Mark Grenon, 66, and Joseph Grenon, 36, each received five years, according to court records. A jury found all four guilty in July of conspiring to defraud the United States and deliver misbranded drugs. The Grenons represented themselves but declined to speak during the two-day trial. Prosecutors called the Grenons con men and snake-oil salesmen and said the Bradenton familys Genesis II Church of Health and Healing sold $1 million worth of their so-called Miracle Mineral Solution. In videos, it was pitched as a cure for 95% of known diseases, including COVID-19, Alzheimers, autism, brain cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis, prosecutors said. What the Grenons were selling was actually chlorine dioxide, officials said. When ingested, the solution becomes a bleach that is typically used for such things as treating textiles, industrial water, pulp and paper, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Authorities said it is the same as drinking bleach and can be fatal. A Miami federal judge ordered the church to stop selling the substance in 2020, but that was ignored. Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were arrested in Bradenton, just south of the Tampa Bay area. Mark and Joseph Grenon fled to Colombia, where they were arrested and extradited back to the U.S. Besides the fraud convictions, Jonathan and Jordan Grenon were also convicted of violating federal court orders requiring them to stop selling Miracle Mineral Solution in 2020. U.S. authorities agreed to drop those same contempt charges against Mark and Joseph Grenon as a condition of their extradition from Colombia. President Xi Jinpings first meeting with U.S. congressional leaders in eight years was infused with tension, as the Chinese leader was confronted over his nations failure to condemn Hamas incursion into Israel. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn the cowardly and vicious attacks upon them, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Xi Monday, hours after he blasted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for showing no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times. Xi did not address the weekends surprise escalation of violence in the Middle East in his opening statement, instead expressing hope for mutual respect and peaceful co-existence between the U.S. and China. We have a thousand reasons to make U.S. -China relations better, and no reason to make them worse, Xi said. The meeting in Beijing marked the first time Xi has met with U.S. senators since 2015, when he spoke with congressional leaders on a visit to Washington. It also comes as the U.S. and China appear to be setting up a meeting between Xi and President Joe Biden at next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. Xi and Biden last met at the Group of 20 gathering in Indonesia in November last year. China-U.S. ties tumbled to a new low less than three months later when the U.S. shot down a Chinese balloon due to espionage worries. While Xi sat down with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June, the Chinese leader skipped meeting three other cabinet-level Biden officials in recent months, making the exchange on Monday all the more unusual. Taking a hard line on China has become one of the few bipartisan areas of consensus in Washington in recent years, with Congress often being a driving force for tougher policies on Beijing. The delegation to China was led by Schumer, a Democrat, and Republican Senator Mike Crapo. Xis decision to meet directly with senators, without Biden administration officials present, could be an attempt to shift sentiment among such leaders, who can also influence business ties. Schumer later said the delegation spoke with Xi for about 80 minutes, describing the Chinese leader as engaged. This might be savvy because theres been no significant traction thus far with Biden, said Josef Gregory Mahoney, a politics and international relations professor at Shanghais East China Normal University. Congressional leaders are more vulnerable to special interests, including American firms with extensive commercial interests in China who dont want to see further deteriorations in ties. A successful meeting may make talks between Xi and Biden more likely, Mahoney added. Israel looms large The Israel-Hamas conflict has featured heavily during the senators trip to China, which had been expected to focus on relations between the worlds two biggest economies. The American senators were in China when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country is at war after Gaza Strip militants fired over 3,000 missiles and infiltrated southern Israel early Saturday. The combined death toll from the Hamas attack and Israels subsequent air strikes in Gaza has climbed to more than 1,100. During the earlier meeting with Wang on Monday in which Schumer criticized the Chinese foreign ministers Israel-Hamas response, Wang told the senators he hoped their visit would get U.S. -China relations back on track. Chinas Foreign Ministry called for an immediate ceasefire and reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state on Sunday. That statement did not mention Hamas by name, and characterized the weekends events as an escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. In a regular press briefing on Monday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said her country was saddened by the casualties and opposes violence against civilians. Speaking at a press conference on Monday evening, Schumer said the U.S. lawmakers urged Beijing to use its influence with Iran to not allow the conflagration to spread, adding that Chinese officials agreed to deliver the message to Tehran. China has been building up its influence in the Middle East recently, most notably by facilitating a deal earlier this year for Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations. Business ties Schumer told Xi the main purpose of the visit was to ensure economic reciprocity. Before arriving in Beijing, the U.S. lawmakers met with American business leaders in Shanghai and discussed issues involving fair competition. We feel that China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers, Schumer said he told Xi. Most Americans, our bipartisan delegation included, do not believe we have that fairness now. Last month, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai reported that optimism among U.S. firms was at historic lows, citing concerns about geopolitics, U.S.-China relations and Chinas poor economy as weighing on expectations. Tensions between Washington and Beijing have also centered around how the two economies interact with each other, including U.S. efforts to derisk supply chains from China as well as competition over advanced technology. We certainly do not want conflict, and thats why we want to manage our relationship responsibly, Schumer told Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at an event on Monday. We do not want to decouple. Wang Wentao told Schumer that Chinese businesses have raised concerns about U.S. export controls, investment restrictions and other sanctions. We hope Chinese businesses can have access to fair treatment in the U.S. , he said. Broader Talks The other issues on the agenda concern Chinese companies role in the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. and human rights. Schumer also told Xi he wanted to make sure China doesnt support Russias immoral war against Ukraine. Biden has sent a stream of cabinet-level officials to Beijing since June to stabilize ties between the worlds largest economies. The White House encouraged the senators to go, a person familiar with the planning said before their departure. Schumer and Crapo had also planned to raise issues on behalf of Micron Technology Inc., which is headquartered in Crapos home state of Idaho and building a massive chip production facility in Schumers New York. Schumer said the delegation complained about Chinese business practices such as forced technology transfers and requirements to form joint ventures with Chinese firms. China must also end the policies that intimidate U.S. business operating in China, he said. We need reciprocity. That means that the American companies are able to compete as freely in China as Chinese companies are able to compete in America. With assistance from Colum Murphy, Xiao Zibang and Philip Glamann. ___ 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. 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. Share International conflict and humanitarian disasters have combined to make The Hague a growing target for cybercriminals. But the Dutch city is now fighting back against the hackers. Chris Price reports. Regarded as the international city of peace and justice for the last 100 years, The Hague in The Netherlands is home to the Dutch parliament (the Netherlands is one of the few countries to have its parliament outside its capital city), as well as some of the worlds most important crime-fighting and humanitarian organisations. These include the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, better known as Europol, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). Dozens of individuals have been indicted by the ICC with an arrest warrant issued for Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier this year for child abductions that have taken place during Russias invasion of Ukraine. Over 200 NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) are also located in The Hague including UNICEF Netherlands, the agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian aid to children worldwide and GHRD (Global Human Rights Defence). However, while housing all of these organisations in one city is unquestionably good for humanity, it also inevitably attracts bad actors who either want to exploit the worlds tragedies for their own financial gain or challenge the international rule of law for their own politically motivated reasons. And while years ago this may have resulted in criminal activity on the streets of The Hague, increasingly it is happening in the virtual or cyber world. CyberPeace Institute Speaking to Tech Digest at last weeks cybersecurity week in The Hague, Stephane Duguin, CEO of the Geneva-based CyberPeace Institute said that since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 more than 50 countries have been impacted by cyber attacks, not just Russia and the Ukraine. NGOs, in particular, are targeted for a number of reasons. One is that they tend not to have advanced cybersecurity systems or even personnel in place (most dont even have their own Chief Information Security Officer or CISO). Another is that as soon as there is a crisis or a disaster, NGOs are suddenly very rich, because of all the donations, says Mr Duguin. Indeed, its just at the point that donations come in to the NGOs that cybercriminals will often launch a ransomware attack in order to maximise any potential reward for themselves. Mr Duguin cites one tragic example of Roots of Peace, an NGO transforming mines to vines in other words removing landmines and replacing with sustainable agricultural farmland. In January 2020, the organisation found itself the victim of a sophisticated cyberattack during which its emails to a bank were hacked and an unauthorised amount of $500,000 was transferred to an account in China. Exactly two years later, in January 2020, the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) was also targeted in a sophisticated cyber attack which saw the personal data of 515,000 people stolen, including names, locations and contact information. Those affected included missing people and their families, detainees and other people receiving services from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as a result of armed conflict, natural disasters or migration. When the ICRC was hit, it was a wakeup call for the whole community, says the CyberPeace Institutes Stephane Duguin. The logic was if the ICRC can be hit then so could my NGO. Nation-state actors While often the cyberattack can be attributed to criminal gangs who simply want to extort a ransom from their victims, this isnt always the case. For example, its likely that the ICRC was hacked by a nation-state actor (a Palo Alto Networks report from November 2021 linked the exploitation of the same vulnerability to a Chinese state-sponsored group, known as APT27). The same is probably true of last months attack on The Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC) given the nature of its role in handling sensitive information about war crimes. However, so far little has been publicly revealed about the attack or which state was behind it. Speaking to Tech Digest during last weeks ONE conference in The Hague, Director of the Netherlands NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) Hans de Vries simply confirmed that it was working with the ICC on the issue. But he was unable to provide specific details about the attack, or whether it had yet been resolved. We co-ordinated support after the ICC was hacked and I think they really appreciated our help, said Mr de Vries. In order to help the city deal with the rising threat of cybercrime, the CyberPeace Institute announced an initiative at The Hagues ONE conference that will provide over 200 organisations access to free support from cybersecurity experts in order to make them more cyber-resilient. This includes access to hundreds of ethical hackers from the Netherlands DIVD academy as well as volunteers working for some of the CyberPeace Institutes financial backers, including Mastercard, Microsoft, Ford Foundation and the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation. Improving cyber resilience Unlike the IT Army of Ukraine a volunteer cyberwarfare organisation created to fight against digital intrusion into the countrys networks the CyberPeace Institute focuses on defence, particularly improving the cyber resilience of organisations. According to CyberPeace Institutes Mr Duguin it works more like a matchmaking service, matching the needs of the NGOs with volunteers who are vetted by their corporate sponsors. Importantly, the volunteers are only exposed to pre-cyber incident and post-incident missions and never have access to personal data. The way we get companies to partner with us is through their CSR (corporate social responsibility) and ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) objectives, explains Mr Duguin. Its one way that many companies are able to secure and retain talent by saying to their CISO that as well as being able to secure our perimeter you can help organisations like Medecins Sans Frontieres. Currently there are around 700 volunteers to the CyberPeace Institutes CyberPeace Builders Programme. For Victor Gevers, CTO/Head of Research of the DIVD academy, which provides ethical hackers free of charge to the CyberPeace Institute, volunteering is particularly attractive to young people. They want to learn the craft and contribute because its something they can put on their CV and on LinkedIn. In the Netherlands working as a volunteer at the DIVD academy has more value than a school diploma, at least as far as employers are concerned. Cybersecurity week With the rising threat of cybercrime targeting international organisations, its perhaps no surprise The Hague takes cybersecurity extremely seriously. Visiting the pretty Dutch city as a guest of The Hague and Partners during Cybersecurity Week, we witnessed several initiatives designed to improve the citys cyber resilience. Our tour began at the HSD (Hague Security Delta) campus, a sort of innovation cluster where businesses, government and knowledge institutes from across the Netherlands collaborate on security solutions. Currently, there are 34 different organisations within the building, including the IoT Forensic Lab of the Leiden University of Applied Sciences, and 275 partners in total. At the IoT Forensic Lab, students look at the security of a range of smart devices (such as smart kettles, toothbrushes and speakers) as well as examining the data they provide that can be used in criminal cases. One of the big applications used is Hansken, a tool for providing Digital Forensics as a Service (DFaaS). This has already been deployed to examine digital material in hundreds of criminal cases in the Netherlands and abroad. In addition to digital forensics, drone detection technology is also being increasingly used to combat cybercrime. We are seeing an increasing number of drones landing on organisations rooftops to carry out attacks, Thomas Petracca, CEO of Belgium-based aerospace company Senhive, told Tech Digest in a session during The Hagues Cybersecurity week. One example he gave was of drones landing on a logistics centre roof that were successfully used to jam transmissions from the employees barcode scanners until a ransom was paid. Using the companys drone detectors in Antwerp for a month-long study, Senhive also detected 122 unique drones which were not authorised to fly around the city. Many of these were flying around at night when its likely they were being used for nefarious purposes, rather than filming the citys scenery and some were flying at a height that could endanger aircraft. In most cases, Chinese-manufactured DJI drones are used for the attacks, but according to Senhive its not the drones themselves that are the problem but the payload that is put on top of them. This often includes solar panels so the attack drones can carry on working for much longer than if they are simply battery-operated. Hack the Hague Finally, one innovative cybersecurity initiative that has been running since 2017 is Hack The Hague. Here members of the public are invited to the citys municipal building (like a town hall in the UK) to find vulnerabilities within its IT systems. A few years ago hackers found a critical problem in the Ricoh printer systems that was escalated to the National Cybersecurity Centre and to the manufacturers in Japan, explains Jeroen Schipper, Chief Information Security Officer for The Hague municipality. This years event saw 116 ethical hackers take up residence in the municipal buildings large atrium looking for vulnerabilities in the citys IT networks. During the six-hour hacking competition, 65 unique vulnerability reports were submitted with six regarded as high-risk vulnerabilities. Another six were resolved during the day itself. In total, 12 prizes were awarded across four categories with prize money of up to 2,500 in each category, as well as a possible internship with one of the citys vendors in Oslo. And while, clearly, ethical hackers could earn much more working with private companies, Mr Schipper hoped that many of the participants did it because it was their civic duty. What you see is that when hackers find something really great it becomes a status symbol, he says. Certainly for the municipality its not always easy to justify its spend on cybersecurity, even the relatively modest prizes for the hacker event. In total, we have 17,500 to spend on the event and if I speak to colleagues they say thats a lot of money we could use to help families with, explains Mr Schipper. Its always a struggle to get the money for cybersecurity until the next attack, he admits. However, whats clear is that cyber security attacks on The Hague are becoming more frequent and intense, partly as a result of rising geopolitical tensions. We had visits from the Ukraines President Zelensky in May and August and our vendor advised us 24 hours ahead that they could see there was an alert given by botnets to attack The Hague. Although we were able to see it coming, several organisations fell apart because of a co-ordinated DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack, he concludes. Chris Price was a guest of The Hague & Partners. Share this: Email Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Print Reddit Twitter Tumblr Pocket At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Blessedly neutral sound Bose wrote the book on active noise cancellation, and its terrific here Easy to operate, with dedicated push-button controls Cons You wont get Boses new spatial audio processing While not Boses most expensive headphones, they are pricey ANC tends to freak out on bouncy bus rides Our Verdict Boses second-best active noise-cancelling headphone features new control options, including Spotify Tap; its analog audio cable gains a microphone; and its battery run time stretches to 24 hours. Its solid value. The all-new Bose QuietComfort Headphones are sneaky little devils. Theyre subtle in persona, but immensely capable and always good company. Building on Boses mainstream QuietComfort 45 over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, this new and simpler-named model does justice to any and everything musical and spoken, from your favorite artists albums to podcasts and mobile phone chat-ups that rival in-person conversations. If youre more interested in stereo than the spatial audio experiences Bose promises to deliver with its pricier QuietComfort Ultra, youll want to consider these cheaper cans. Design & build If not for a new color option (Cypress Green) and a different tone and texture of brand embossing on the headphones and carry case), you might take the Bose QuietComfort Headphones for their predecessor, the QuietComfort 45, which were likewise brought to market at $349. A true sleuth would also detect a slightly grainier (and evidentially sturdier) grade of vegan leather wrapped around the ear cushions. The longer I listened to the Bose QuietComfort, the more I came to appreciate their neutral, coloration-free nature. The 3.5-to-2.5mm analog audio cable accompanying this new model is also outfitted with an inline microphone. Plugging the cable into your smartphone, tablet, or computer turns off the headphones Bluetooth radio and onboard mics. Bose QuietComfort Headphones come with a 3.5-to-2.5mm analog audio cable (with an inline mic), a USB-C to USB-A charging cable, and compact hard sided carry case. Youll need to supply your power adapter to charge them. Jonathan Takiff/Foundry Hard buttons (hooray!) on both ear cups work just as well as on they did on the QC 45. (Give me dedicated volume control or give me death!) But the Action button on the left-hand cup gets a new optional function: Spotify Tap. Pressing it triggers your Spotify app to launch and begin playing tunes, even if youre on the free version of the service. Alas, when I tried it, it didnt resume the last thing Id played on Spotify: an episode of late-night TV hosts collaborative schmooze session Strike Force Five. This review is part of TechHives in-depth coverage of the best noise-cancelling headphones. Sound quality Truth be told, I felt a little, well, underwhelmed when I first listened to the new QuietComfort Headphones. They certainly arent razzle-dazzlers that hit you upside the head with tons of bass, or make you squirm from vocalists so aggressively forward they seem perched on your nose. Nor do they elicit a high-end response so sharp it could scoop the wax right out of your ears. But the longer I listened, the more I came to appreciate their neutral, coloration-free nature. Some might even describe their response as flat, but thats misleading. The new QuietComfort are fully engaged, just playing it cool. The 2023 version of the Bose QuietComfort Headphones got me going while listening to great recordings from Joshua Redman, Bruce Springsteen, the British musical Operation Mincemeat, and a seriously restored and expanded Whos Next. Jonathan Takiff/Foundry Wherever the music goes, sublimely delicate to dark and pounding, they follow, present, and flesh it out in seriously realistic, warts-and-all fashion. What they dont do is impose a club-you-over-the-head signature sound, or any other personality that might be at odds with the artists intent. Im lookin at you, Beats. Indeed, these comfy headphones carried me away on stress-free, long-distance, long-play musical journeys as I tripped from jazz saxophonist Joshua Redmans elegant Where We Are to Bruce Springsteens The Live Series: Songs of New Jersey. The latter freshens some of his classics with intimate, downsized arrangements that artfully demonstrate the QuietComforts skill at nuance and presence. I could even hear the piano keys and accordion buttons clicking. The new Bose QuietComfort Headphones are available in a limited-edition Cypress Green (worn by the author in this shot) as well as White Smoke and Black. Jonathan Takiff/Foundry This sonic traveler next made a happy British sonic connection, so the West End London cast of Operation Mincemeat could sing and rap through a daffy yet true tale of WWII Nazi misdirection that helped win the war. Through these headphones, I felt like I was in the theater where it happenedthe show, that isand could fathom almost every word. No Brit-to-American translations were required. The well-engineered Bose QuietComfort Headphones dont compress or blur the music when you crank the volume up to 11, either. Credit Boses active equalizing circuitry, which adroitly varies frequency response relative to the volume without a listener ever noticing. At aggressive listening levels, the processing tamps down the heaviest bass frequencies which, left untamed, would otherwise hog the party. 1. While a little dab of EQ boosting was all I ever wanted with these musically neutral, well-balanced headphones, preset options do offer bolder bass and treble adjustments. Jonathan Takiff/Foundry If you find this Swiss-like sonic neutrality lacking, theres always the option to make custom EQ tweaks in the Bose Music app, pushing the bass, mid-range, and high-frequency sliders up and down in 0.6dB increments. Or you can tap the more radical bass- and treble-shifting presets. As a detail freak, I was happy to boost the treble just a notch to enhance the romantic, old-world instrumental sweep of Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) while listening to the Springsteen concert set. I also did just a tad of touch-up to revel in classics such as Wont Get Fooled Again, streamed from Qobuz as a 24-bit/96kHz Life House deluxe edition of Whos Next. I heard details in Pete Townshends slash-and-burn guitar work and Keith Moons hyperactive percussion that were never in evidence before. Active noise cancellation performance Boses truly terrific active noise cancellation helps to reveal small details in music in a natural way. Theres no need to crank up the volume to pull out the background sounds on a recording, the subtle stuff that might otherwise be masked by ambient/environmental noise. New to this model, active noise cancellation can be fine-tuned to let more (or less) of the outside world into your ears. And the wind reduction mode, which I set up for one-button-tap access, does a great job of vanquishing the wooshy wind noises that attack most headphones microphones during walk-abouts. Apart from the color, its hard to tell the new Bose QuietComfort Headphones QC Headphones (left) apart from the QC 45 they replace. The bulk of the updates are under the hood. Jonathan Takiff/Foundry I experienced just one cog in the works, something Ive repeatedly encountered and that I suspect is related to the way Bose performs active noise cancellation, the fashion it suspends the drivers in its headphone assemblies, or both. Just as I experienced with the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, these new QuietComfort Headphones tend to exaggerate, rather than suppress, rattling bus suspension noise. This has been noticeable when Im hauling between Philly and New York on a Megabus and the wheels hit a pothole. Solutions? Move to the less-reverberant upper deck. Or next time, take the train! Battery life & charging Bose says the battery on this new model will last longer on a charge: 24 hours versus 22 on the QC 45. As for recharging, Bose says it can be done in 2.5 hours. But in my first-and-only attempt, the battery was only restored to 70 percent in that time frame (I used an Anker IQ Nano II power adapter). In retrospect Im thinking a different charger (one with fixed output, rather than variable) and/or a different cable would have delivered better results. This is hardly the first product Ive tried thats balked on connection to one charger but not another. Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort Headphonesor wait for the QC Ultra? As you probably know, Bose is on the cusp of shipping a higher-endand higher-pricedheadphone, the QuietComfort Ultra. The Ultra offers Boses homegrown take on spatial audio, and a step up in Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 5.3, compared to the multipoint connection 5.1 in the Quiet Comfort Headphones). The Ultra wasnt available for review as of this writing, but Bose says it will deliver even better sound (with different drivers), more advanced active noise cancellation (with additional microphones), and a customized, automated user tuning process. Bose also seeks to extract an extra $80 from your credit card for this model. For 90 percent of the populace, the Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones will deliver the essentialsand then someto elicit a 100 percent satisfaction level. WTF?! Our planet is getting warmer, the ice is melting, and young people are worried about what sort of future they face. How can big oil help placate these problems? By using Fortnite and social media to promote the use of fossil fuels, of course. Media Matters reports that Shell has been trying to reach a younger demographic by partnering with Fortnite creators and sponsoring popular gamers to create and promote the Shell Ultimate Road Trips map. The map requires gamers to refuel their in-game vehicles with V-Power NiTRO+ Premium gas at a station hub located in the center of six different areas. It also encourages them to post screenshots with the hashtag #Shellroadtrips. Media Matters writes that Shell sponsored at least six streamers, including Punisher, NateHill, Chica, and brookeab, with a combined Twitch following of over 5.5 million subscribers to help promote the map. In August, each held a sponsored stream where they tested it out. All road trips start with @shellstationsus, and you can journey across six of the most beautiful terrains to experience the Shell Ultimate Road Trips. Fuel up with Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline and hit the road to experience all that Shell Island Fortnite map has to pic.twitter.com/808n2QwRRJ Ghost Whoh (@WHOH) September 15, 2023 Some of the streamers promoted their sponsored streams on social media platforms. This is in addition to at least three other content creators posting promo videos for the map on Shell's YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram accounts. The report notes that the influencers have a combined 1.5 million Instagram followers, 8.5 million TikTok followers, and 11.6 million YouTube subscribers. "Shell's marketing to young people is another example of how big oil puts profit over people and the planet, even though it has known for decades that the product that it sells is driving the climate crisis," said Allison Fisher, director of Media Matters' climate and energy program. The response to the partnerships has been pretty much as expected on social media, much like the Shell-sponsored IGN article and the publication's website dedicated to the map. There's been a slew of worrying news related to the environment this year. July 2023 was the world's hottest month on record as more regions started feeling the effects of global warming. We heard in September that Earth is now outside most of the "planetary boundaries" under which human civilization emerged. And there was the recent revelation that Swiss glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. This comes after Antarctica experienced the sharpest heatwave ever seen on Earth last year. Shell doesn't seem overly concerned by all this. In July, the month it reported quarterly profits of more than $5 billion, chief executive Wael Sawan said it would be "dangerous and irresponsible" to cut the production of fossil fuel. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled an ambitious renewable energy plan to achieve 50% clean energy in its total energy mix by 2050. This visionary goal is bolstered by the introduction of a groundbreaking 103.5-megawatt (MW) wind power project, which will power over 23,000 UAE homes annually and save more than 120,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions - equivalent to removing 26,000 vehicles from the road each year. Wind Power in the Sun-Drenched UAE In a country renowned for its year-round sunshine, the inclusion of wind power might appear counterintuitive. However, Interesting Engineering tells us that certain coastal regions in the UAE boast favorable wind conditions that make them ideal for wind energy production. These regions are set to harness the power of the wind thanks to pioneering technology that captures low wind speeds at a utility scale. This remarkable innovation is now feasible, primarily due to larger turbine sizes, declining hardware costs, and the identification of a unique meteorological phenomenon that generates strong winds at night. Previously, wind power was deemed impractical in the UAE due to low wind speeds. Still, recent advancements in climate technology and renewable energy have changed this perception, opening the door to wind power as a complementary source alongside the nation's existing solar power generation. Read Also: Where Will The US Source The Lithium To Power Our Daily Lives? HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, expressed pride in the UAE Wind Program, stating, "The UAE Wind Program is a great source of national pride and a demonstration of Masdar's ability to pioneer and implement innovations in wind and renewable energy technologies. For a viable energy transition, the world must triple renewable energy capacity by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement goals." Supportive Regulatory Framework The UAE's success in realizing this renewable energy vision can be attributed to a robust regulatory framework. This framework includes incentives, feed-in tariffs, and power purchase agreements designed to attract investors and stimulate the development of clean energy projects. As part of these new initiatives, Masdar is setting ambitious targets to achieve a minimum of 100 GW of total renewable energy capacity by 2030, firmly establishing the organization as a key player in the global renewable energy landscape. Landmark Wind Power Project Locations The 103.5 MW wind power project spans four locations across the UAE, each contributing to the nation's clean energy goals. On Sir Bani Yas Island, a 45 MW wind farm and a 14 MWp solar farm have been developed. Delma Island hosts a 27 MW wind farm, while Al Sila in Abu Dhabi and Al Halah in Fujairah contribute 27 MW and 4.5 MW to the project. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: IMF Warns of Financial Challenges in Global Energy Transition 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A fake White House press statement claiming the Biden administration had authorized $8 billion in emergency assistance for Israel widely circulated online. The faux piece even topped Google search results despite its fallacy. According to NBC News, the false material tricked several internet outlets into posting whole stories based on the false information. The content is still displayed prominently in internet search results, making the fake White House news release the biggest instance of disinformation in the current war between Hamas and Israel. The fake press release document looks to be a modified version of US President Joe Biden's July memo announcing $400 million in Ukrainian assistance. Despite social media photographs, the fake White House news release was never published on the White House website or in the Federal Register of Presidential documents. A fake document is being widely shared online claiming to show the authorisation of $8bn in military aid to Israel by President Biden. It's a doctored version of a 25 July document detailing $400m in aid to Ukraine authorised by President Biden; fact-checked by @Info_Rosalie. pic.twitter.com/jYZDDrlRwF Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) October 8, 2023 Elon Musk to X Users: 'Stay Close to The Truth' On Saturday morning, the fake press release started to circulate on social media platforms. Around noon, verified accounts on X (formerly Twitter) started posting it, which gave it a boost. The X platform allows for the monetization of verified accounts. Many posts on the fake White House news release and its claims have garnered hundreds of thousands of views on the network. Most of these X postings lack "community notes" recognizing the document's forgery. Elon Musk, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), urged users on Sunday to emphasize facts in reaction to the spread of misleading information about the Israel-Hamas conflict, per The Independent. "As always, please try to stay as close to the truth as possible, even for things you don't like," Elon Musk advised users of X in his tweet. "This platform aims to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio of the human collective." Notably, Twitter has reduced its content moderation efforts to counter disinformation on the network since it was owned by Elon Musk. Read Also: OpenAI Plans Developing Its Own AI Chips Amid Global Shortages The fake White House news release also circulated on TikTok and, to a lesser extent, other social media sites as it gained traction on X. Requests for comments about the circumstances have not received an instant response from X. Google and other search engines have made it simple to find fake news that appeared to have been published after the distribution of the fake White House press release. US Troops Moving Toward Israel In response to the Hamas attack on Israel, US President Joe Biden declared more military support for its ally at the time this article was published. The White House said President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the "unprecedented and appalling assault." Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US verifying claims that US citizens are among the victims and hostages in the attack on Israel, the BBC reported. Israel has reported 600 killed and 100 captured after the strike, whereas Palestinian sources report 313 deaths in Gaza from Israeli rockets in retribution. The White House said Israel will get further military aid in the coming days to prevent its rivals from influencing the situation. Hamas claimed credit for the attack, which included paragliding militants, drones, missiles, and a breach of Israeli border fortifications around Gaza. Related Article: BBC Explores AI-Powered Journalism Partnerships, Taking Steps to Block OpenAI Data Scraping 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Last week saw massive stories from the world of tech with these three topping the charts, centering on the massive Sony data breach which took place earlier this year and was recently confirmed by the Japanese tech company. However, there are also X Premium's new tiers that were discovered by a tech insider, suspected to soon launch on the platform. The wave of deepfake and generative AI misinformation also took over the internet last week, expected to worsen as election season comes. Sony's Data Breach Confirmed by the Company (Photo : PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images) Sony has confirmed that it was attacked by threat actors which exploited a zero-day vulnerability in its MOVEit Transfer platform, where two cases of significant data breaches were seen. The first one occurred last May 28, but it was only until June 2 when Sony discovered that its data was accessed and stolen from it by an unauthorized group. Those that were affected were its 6,800 former and current employees, along with their family members whose data was stored in Sony's databases. The Clop ransomware gang was responsible for the attack, centering on the CVE-2023-34362, a high-severity SQL injection flaw that allowed access to sensitive data including credit card details, personal user information, and passwords. Read Also: Lyca Mobile Confirms Customer Data Theft During Cyberattack X Premium: Three New Subscription Tiers (Photo : Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Elon Musk and the social media he owns have something brewing from within, and it is the future launch of three new X Premium tiers that would expand more of the paid service. This centers on the ads that will be seen on the platform, alongside the many features and technology which it offers. These three tiers center on the Premium Basic which will get all the ads the company would push on the accounts, the Premium Standard which will get half the ads compared to its basic, and lastly, the Premium Plus, a subscription with no ads. A tech researcher recently discovered this on X's source code, and reports claim it is already under testing for select users, soon to be expected from the company. It was also claimed that this may stem from Musk's desire to juice more money from its users, leveraging the ad content they will see on the platform. Generative AI Deepfake is Rising Generative AI is now massive, but apart from its positive experiences and technology available, there are many exploiting it to create deepfake videos and campaigns online. On one hand, those who post deepfake videos on various social media platforms center on scamming people using the image of various personalities including MrBeast, BBC presenters, and more. (Photo : BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) On the other hand, there is also concern regarding the use of generative AI deepfakes for the 2024 US elections where a barrage of fake information and misleading content would appear. The concerns are massive as AI could create this misinformation content, one that could persuade or divide the public and start a wave of confusion and distress come election time. Related Article: Google DeepMind's 'Open X-Embodiment': A Groundbreaking Step in Advancing Robot Learning 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The CryptoWatch roundup is here to bring you last week's top news on the world of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, including the criminal trial of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, vs. the United States. The case has been very controversial, with many revelations and counters done by both sides. Also, a Kenyan parliamentary panel asked the country's information technology regulator to shut down the operations of the Worldcoin crypto project in the country, but only temporarily until it resolves its problems. Sam Bankman-Fried's Criminal Trial vs. US Begins The US vs. Sam Bankman-Fried criminal trial began last Tuesday, October 3. It is one of the most significant cases in the industry involving a founder of a renowned crypto exchange company that recently went bankrupt. It would take place until the second week of November, with two holidays taking place: Columbus Day on Monday, October 9, and Veterans Day on November 11. Renowned attorney Mark Cohen of Cohen & Gresser law firm will represent Bankman-Fried in this case, centering on proving his innocence of committing fraud and conspiracy during his leadership. FTX also recently filed a case against Bankman-Fried's parents, particularly for receiving massive amounts of money when the company was in its heyday. Read Also: FTX Files Lawsuit Against Sam Bankman-Fried's Parents Sam Bankman-Fried Claims Alameda Takes Customer Money The US vs. Sam Bankman-Fried case also saw a significant fight from the defendants, with the former FTX CEO and co-founder accusing Alameda Research of "taking customers' money," accessing their finances during their operations. This was also backed by Gary Wang, a disgraced FTX executive who claimed it took money from FTX as much as it wanted. Alameda's massive access to FTX customers' money was unveiled during Friday's hearing on SBF's case, with Wang serving as a key witness during its early proceedings, revealing what happened before its collapse. FTX kept a negative balance on its sheets, with Alameda having massive access to the extensive line of credit from the bankrupted company on its previous operations. Kenya Urges Shutdown of Worldcoin A Kenyan parliament panel is now pushing for the shutdown of the Worldcoin crypto project, pleading to the country's IT regulators to temporarily halt its operations until more stringent regulations are put in place. In early August, the project was suspended by the government due to privacy concerns regarding its scanning of users' irises in exchange for a digital ID intended for creating a new "identity and financial network." But despite the suspension, the project still has a virtual presence in Kenya and can be accessed via the Internet. According to Reuters, authorities were worried about the project's strategy for seeking user permission. The parliamentary panel's probe discovered that Worldcoin may have scanned the eyes of minors due to the lack of an age verification mechanism during the registration. Worldcoin has drawn criticism not just in Kenya but also in Britain, Germany, and France. The 18-member Kenyan parliamentary panel urged the country's communications authority to ban relevant IP addresses and stop Worldcoin's virtual platforms. Related Article: Hackers Steal $200 Million Worth of Cryptocurrency From Hong Kong-Based Firm Mixin 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Japan is reportedly allocating 30.6 billion yen ($205 million) to support electric aircraft systems. Reuters reported that the government aimed to support the development of electric aircraft components to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to Nikkei, the government set aside 13.3 billion yen ($89.1 million) to develop fuel-efficient engine control systems and 17.3 billion yen ($115.9 million) to create hydrogen fuel cell systems for aircraft. Nikkei reported that the trade ministry's funding plan will be presented at an upcoming meeting of a working group of the ministry's council as Airbus works on developing new aircraft powered by hydrogen with the aim of entering commercial service in 2035. For the aid initiative, the ministry will reportedly start looking for participants this year, including aerospace, battery, and auto industries. The government reportedly wants prototype testing to commence in 2030, with research to start in 2024. According to Nikkei, in a worldwide supply chain for aircraft fueled by hydrogen, the ministry sees a place for Japanese aerospace suppliers. The same report also stated that for the Boeing 787, approximately 35% of the airframe and 15% of the engine components came from Japanese sources. Japan also reportedly wants to take the lead in developing international standards for fuel cell systems for aviation. Japan's Green Innovation Fund The Green Innovation Fund, supervised by the ministry's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under the project name "Green Growth Strategy through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050," will provide Japan with financial support for developing hydrogen-powered aircraft. Japan's NEDO announced in March 2021 a slew of different projects for Japan's Green Innovation Fund, reportedly focusing on "14 promising areas," which aim to "demonstrate future growth" with an initial fund of 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) during its launch. The projects are also set with supplementary budgets to be added in the coming years. Japan's recent efforts to be carbon neutral by 2050 were announced last October 2020, targeting to "reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions to zero." BNN described Japan's recent initiative as a "precedent for other nations to follow" and a clear effort against "climate change and promote sustainable practices." Current Global Efforts Nikkei reported that other countries are also developing clean-burning hydrogen-powered aircraft as well in an effort to reduce aviation's carbon dioxide emissions. In the United States and Europe, fuel cell aircraft have reportedly previously undergone flight tests. In February, Japan partnered with the United Nations Development Programme for a $36.8 million project to support four Pacific island nations with a "Green Transformation" of their economies that will reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Through the project, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu will have more efficient management of natural resources, see more investments in clean energy, and strengthen coping capacity in the face of extreme weather events related to climate change. Member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have already set an identical objective of net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from aviation by 2050. According to reports, the International Energy Agency data claims that domestic and international aviation produced over 700 million tonnes of CO2 in 2021, accounting for nearly 2% of all CO2 emissions from energy generation and industrial operations globally. Related Article: Outdated US Electrical Grid Faces Challenges Amid Rising Demand for Renewable Energy 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. It is known that Google's mainline Pixel smartphones always see a budget phone release a few months later, but this may not be expected for the Pixel 8a, as a company executive confirmed. There was usually a mid-gen refresher for the Pixel series smartphones, centering on its budget-friendly release that features less of its technology aimed at affordability. The recent reports claim that the chances are slim for the Pixel 8a to see the light of day, as opposed to the recent Pixel 7a which was released earlier this year. Google Pixel 8a's Chances for Release are Slim (Photo : Twitter via @ishanagarwal24 Screenshot) Google's vice president of mobile business, Nanda Ramachandran has told Der Standard that there are currently no plans for a budget smartphone to release from the company. This recent information has suggested that Google's next low-cost smartphone, expected to be Pixel 8a, is already out of the question, particularly with this recent revelation from the executives. Various reports from before claim that Google is already planning to bring this next device to succeed that of the Pixel 8 series that was released earlier this October. Despite the massive expectations and the well-received Pixel devices with the "a" suffix from before (signifying that it is the budget version), the current series would not see one. Read Also: Google Photos' AI-Powered Magic Editor Tool Is Coming to Pixel 8 and 8 Pro Smartphones No Pixel 8a? Google's Plans Furthermore, Ramachandran claimed that creating or developing a Pixel 8a would lead to "too many compromises" along the way, as per TechRadar. Google's current plan is to expand the Pixel 8 series to more parts of the world, particularly Europe and Asia, which is a fairly untapped market for the Mountain View smartphone. Much can change along the way, and this may not yet be a final verdict for the Pixel 8a, particularly as a niche market already awaits it. Google's Pixel The Pixel series is booming from Google, and this is because the company still focuses on its self-made consumer technology devices that feature the best of what it has to offer, as well as Android. The latest release centers on the Pixel 8 series, offering two variants including the 8 and 8 Pro, offering the latest Tensor G3 processor, its take on Silicon tech. Not much has changed from Pixel 7 to Pixel 8, both its base and Pro versions, particularly as it sported the same design, looks, and hardware. Its battery life improved by only a slight margin, and its camera is claimed to have the most changes, with Google offering a slur of AI developments for the smartphone, centering on its massive focus on Bard and the like. It was previously rumored that Google is already looking to launch a Pixel 8a device, and it was highly rumored that it would also feature the Tensor G3, like regular Pixels do, complete with all of its upgrades. However, these speculations and rumors were recently dispelled by Ramachandran, saying that there are no plans for the smartphone to arrive soon. Related Article: Google Pixel 8a Shows up in New Geekbench Listing With Underclocked Tensor G3 Chipset Ahead of Launch 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the world of search and rescue operations, robots face a formidable task: maneuvering through a variety of obstacles, and one of the most formidable terrains they encounter is dense vegetation. (Photo : PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images) This picture taken on September 22, 2023 shows a demonstration of the X20 robot dog at the DEEP Robotics office in the 2022 Asian Games host city Hangzhou, in China's eastern Zhejiang province. Offering Distinct Advantages In their quest to overcome this challenge, robots typically harness a range of sensory tools that include ultrasonic sensors, Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, infrared sensors, and camera systems to gain awareness of their surroundings. However, when it comes to navigating through the thick foliage commonly found in outdoor environments, these sensors may fall short in providing a complete solution. Enter a dedicated team of engineers from Carnegie Mellon University, embarking on a mission to crack this intricate puzzle. David Ologan, a master's student specializing in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, eloquently describes the heightened complexity of taking robots into the great outdoors, where every action demands meticulous consideration. "Your system has to be robust enough to handle any unforeseen circumstances or obstructions that you might encounter. It's interesting to tackle that problem that hasn't necessarily been solved yet," Ologan stated on the official press release. To develop such a robust system, the engineering team is actively devising a reactive walking strategy specifically tailored for a quadrupedal robot. These four-legged robots offer distinct advantages over their wheeled counterparts when it comes to navigating complex terrains, such as avoiding entanglement with vines and branches, which was a key consideration for the Carnegie team. Taking Measures Autonomously The engineers embarked on the formidable task of designing a robot that possesses the remarkable ability to self-monitor its limbs, promptly detecting any potential obstructions. Furthermore, it can autonomously take corrective measures to free its legs from entanglements, a feat that underscores the intricacy of their work. Ologan emphasized that legged robots possess a unique ability to choose their footholds and step over obstacles rather than simply rolling over them. However, this approach presents a challenge, as each step requires careful consideration of secure footholds. Interesting Engineering reported that the system's delicacy becomes apparent, as even a slight bump can cause the robot to topple. Therefore, there is a need for methods to effectively respond to external contact. To address this challenge, the engineering team experimented with various techniques, including high-stepping and a knees-forward approach, to disentangle the robot's legs from obstacles. However, none of these methods worked as effectively as having the robot reactively retract its legs. This approach proved to be highly beneficial, enhancing the robot's agility and proficiency in navigating environments filled with potential obstacles. What's particularly noteworthy is that this method is adaptable and can be seamlessly integrated into the operating systems of other robots without the need for hardware modifications. Also Read: AI-Powered Robodogs Master Impressive Feats Thanks to Innovative Algorithm This adaptability makes the system highly configurable and versatile. The applications for this innovative method are broad and diverse. Effective obstacle avoidance and navigation are critical in various fields of robotics, including autonomous vehicles, drones, industrial robots, and service robots. As advancements in sensor technology, machine learning, and robotics algorithms continue, Fagen Wasnni Technologies reported that these improvements empower robots to navigate complex and dynamic environments more effectively. Related Article: This Bio-Inspired Robot Dog Can Run Almost Entirely on Its Own 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Philippines' state health insurer reportedly had no cyber protection, according to Bloomberg. This paved the way for hackers to exploit and access Filipinos' millions of data. Leaking it to various websites. The same report states that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. has since then notified its over 36 million members, or roughly a third of the country's population, that their data may have been exposed, though the entire extent of the breach is still unknown. The start of the attack was reportedly on September 22, wherein staff members turned on their computers, including those needed for processing records. (Photo : Patrick Lux/Getty Images) Participant hold their laptops in front of an illuminated wall at the annual Chaos Computer Club (CCC) computer hackers' congress, called 29C3, on December 28, 2012 in Hamburg, Germany. Bloomberg interviewed Israel Pargas, senior vice president for the health finance policy sector, where he stated that computer screens flashed a message with the Medusa group claiming responsibility for the attack and demanding $300,000 in exchange for the erasure of the agency's files. Around 96 computers, or approximately 10% of the agency's machines at its Manila, Metro Manila, headquarters, were impacted, he claimed. Lacking Cyber Protection Philhealth reportedly had its cyber protection services expire last May and has failed to renew due to revised procurement policies within its organization; only after the hacking incident did the organization contact a cyber protection provider by accepting a 30-day trial. Pargas, however, noted that "other tools" have also been secured by the organization to monitor future cyberattacks and pursue further cyber security improvements that will be obtained in the future. The incident is the latest in a string of cyberattacks against Philippine government institutions that have drawn attention to its significant degree of defenselessness against cyber security attacks. This has prompted investigations and concerns from government agencies and various groups. Philippines' National Privacy Commission has since launched an investigation to hold responsible officials accountable and comprehensively understand the full extent of the data breach. Read Also: Official Airbus Twitter Account Hack Goes Viral! Users Suspect Airline Employee Leaked Data from Hackers Rappler reported that both member and employee data have already been leaked on various accessible websites and applications like Telegram last October 5. Roughly 600 gigabytes worth of data and files have been leaked. An overview of the leaked data includes name, address, birthday, sex, mobile number, and identification number, according to Philstar. The leaked data may lead to a barrage of online scams ranging from messaging scams to identity theft. The state-run insurance company has announced various ways to prevent or mitigate the damages by stating that members whose personal information was deemed to be compromised will be notified, according to Philstar. The government-run insurer also advised contributors to take immediate steps, including checking their credit records for any suspicious activity. Members should add a fraud warning to their credit reports, according to PhilHealth. In addition, contributors are recommended to watch out for phishing emails and smishing SMS and to update the passwords on all of their digital accounts, especially financial ones. If the Medusa organization was behind the attack or whether another party utilized the Medusa ransomware, Bloomberg states that they were unable to independently confirm it. Furthermore, it's not immediately clear how the hackers got past PhilHealth's computer systems' protection. Related Article: 'All of Sony Systems' Allegedly Hacked: Ransomed.vc Group Allegedly Deployed Ransomware to Entertainment Giant? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In 2020, Amazon's Alexa faced scrutiny for providing responses to queries related to the U.S. presidential election, asserting that it had been stolen due to a significant level of election fraud. These responses were accompanied by references to sources such as Rumble, Substack, and Alexa Answers, which is Amazon's platform for crowd-sourced answers. (Photo : ROBERT LEVER/AFP via Getty Images) Amazon highlights how its Alexa digital assitant can be integrated into various smart home devices at its exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 11, 2019. Sparking Controversy Amazon's Alexa has sparked controversy by suggesting to users that the 2020 presidential election was marred by a significant amount of election fraud, prompting the tech giant to respond to the alarming content. An inquiry conducted by the Washington Post revealed that when individuals posed questions about the legitimacy of the election to their Alexa devices, the responses provided often referenced unverified information, asserting that electoral fraud had indeed occurred. In particular, Alexa's response included the assertion that the election had been stolen by a massive amount of election fraud while citing Rumble, a right-leaning video streaming platform. Amazon has not disclosed the reason behind its devices relying on information from unverified sources when responding to user queries. In one instance, Alexa referenced Substack and asserted that the election was notorious for many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud taking place in major metropolitan areas. The Messenger reported that Amazon maintains that they collaborate with what they deem to be "reliable sources" such as Reuters, Ballotpedia, and RealClearPolitics. According to reports from The Post, the machine's response allegedly changed once Amazon was alerted to the issue. Also Read: Amazon Alexa Gets New Accessibility Features With Eye Gaze, Call Translation Lauren Raemhild, an Amazon spokesperson, stated that these responses were inaccuracies that were delivered on a limited number of occasions and promptly rectified upon being brought to our attention. They consistently evaluate and enhance the systems we have in place for identifying and preventing the dissemination of inaccurate content. Continuing to Harbor Doubts Recent polling data reveals that a significant segment of Republican voters, influenced by former President Donald Trump, continue to harbor doubts regarding the legitimacy of President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. An August poll found that 69 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters still hold the belief that Biden's win was not legitimate, marking an increase from 63 percent earlier in the year. Among registered voters who cast their ballots for Trump in 2020, Daily Mail reported that the skepticism regarding the integrity of the last election was even higher, with 75 percent expressing doubts about its proper conduct. Pollsters discovered that 38 percent of Americans presently endorse the assertion commonly referred to as the 'big lie,' while the majority, constituting 61 percent, maintain that Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election was valid. Within the cohort of Republican-leaning voters, comprising 69 percent, who harbored doubts about the election's legitimacy, a significant portion, totaling 39 percent, professed their belief in the existence of compelling evidence supporting their contention that the election was not conducted fairly. Meanwhile, the remaining 30 percent merely indicated a sense of unease and suspicion surrounding the electoral process. In the opposite end of the spectrum, a separate 29 percent of GOP-leaning voters were of the opinion that Joe Biden's win was indeed legitimate. Related Article: Amazon's Robotic Alexa Now More Human-Like After Generative AI Update 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. AI and Generative AI Moderation continue to be a topic of concern for the European Union; Japan may be the next nation to join the possible AI moderation policies after European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova told Reuters on Monday. The connection comes after the EU senior official had a conversation with the Asian nation and saw a lot of similarities in their perspectives when looking at AI and Generative AI. (Photo : JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) EU lawmakers have voted for draft rules that require online platforms to carry news content for 24 hours before being removed. Jourova seems to have seen a "convergence" in both the countries' viewpoints as both have been reported to deepen their cooperation last July when the union became an official partner of Japan's production of vital semiconductors used in defense, electronic, and automotive sectors. Read Also: EU Encourages US to Tighten Regulations on AI Japan and Other Asian Countries on AI The European Union reportedly discussed with various Asian countries about the "AI Act" in hopes of making it a global standard despite the "lukewarm" response from several countries, according to a Reuters exclusive. The same report stated that Japan has a more flexible mindset than compared to the European Union's stand. Japan also reportedly had its sights set on boosting economic growth with the use of AI by becoming a leader in advanced chips. The July-posted press release stated that the partnership is intended to "contribute to economic resilience and security in the current geopolitical context and accelerated technological shifts." Showing Japan's attempt to energize its chip-making industry through investments and government funding schemes. Japan and EU's Other Projects Aside from semiconductor production, Japan and the EU also recently agreed to strengthen collaboration across a wide variety of areas of shared interest, such as quantum and high-performance computing, including reciprocal access for academics to their supercomputers, cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), and particularly generative AI. Both Japan and the EU, according to Japan News, have also recently shared their agreement to foster collaboration based on the views of linked nations and businesses and agreed that an undersea cable through the Arctic Ocean may result in the revival of data distribution. The latest development proves the partnership has resulted in cooperative discussions between the two. European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton has also described the partnership with Japan as "excellent" due to its economic ties and how Japan is like-minded with the EU in terms of economic security concerns. Additionally, Japan News has also reported that with technical development for sixth-generation, or 6G, communications standards have begun; the two parties also stated that they will keep talking about the value of an open and secure communications infrastructure. The "AI Act" is set to become the world's first law where the ethical, lawful, moral, and other concerns surrounding AI and Generative AI, along with its possible remedies or mitigation strategies in relation to the risk it brings, will be regulated. Related Article: Google Having Productive Talks With EU Regulators on AI Regulations, Cloud Head Claims 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed branch of the Palestinian Hamas organization, announced that they had carried out a significant strike against Israeli targets using drones packed with explosives. The attack, which started on Saturday, escalated into a deadly battle that left 600 Israelis and 370 Palestinians dead on Sunday. Al-Qassam Brigades said they used 35 Al-Zawari attack drones against numerous Israeli fronts. Mohamed Al-Zawari, a Tunisian engineer, developed these assault drones. Hamas claims Israeli intelligence assassinated Al-Zawari in Tunisia in 2016, according to Anadolu. On Saturday, Hamas started "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood," citing the seizure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and an increase in settler violence for their comprehensive attack on Israel. During the attack, the organization claimed to have launched rockets and seized several Israelis. Hamas Drone Attacks Caught on Cam Footage of the Hamas attack on Israel has surfaced online. Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV station initially aired the videos on Sunday and has gone viral on social media, per Business Insider. They offer up-close images of the Gaza border bombings of Israeli surveillance towers. Footage shows that weapons systems were targeted before Hamas launched missiles, paragliders flew over the border, and gunmen penetrated the border to engage Israeli forces, kill civilians, and seize hostages. The Al-Zawari drone is a mobile fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is sized similarly to the Russian Lancet drone. According to Forbes, it is named in Mohammed Al-Zawari's honor. The Al-Zawari drone, originally intended for reconnaissance, is currently being used for assault missions. Hamas said in 2021 that their Shabab small-attack drone could avoid Iron Dome interceptors. Drones are more difficult to spot than rockets because they may fly low to the ground instead of using a high-arching ballistic trajectory. Al-Zawari drones were launched simultaneously, intended to overload Israeli defenses and increase the probability of a breach, according to released footage of the Israel-Hamas war. A Hamas drone strikes an Israeli tank. This technique require serious training. There are two countries that have pilots who can do such drops effectively - Ukraine and Russia. And I bet it wasnt Ukraine who trained Hamas pilots, but Russia pic.twitter.com/NwCLjJqGwB Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) October 7, 2023 Read Also: Tech Times Weekly Wrap: Sony's Data Breach, X's Premium's New Tiers, and Generative AI Deepfake Israel, US Take Military Action After the Hamas attack, Israel began "Operation Swords of Iron" against Hamas in Gaza and bombed Palestinian land. On Saturday night, Israel's Security Cabinet declared war and approved "significant military steps." The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision and cited Clause 40 of Israel's Basic Law. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged Israel's munitions delivery on Sunday. Israel may have sought interceptors and precision-guided bombs. These interceptors are for Israel's Iron Dome defense system, which targets and neutralizes Hamas rockets, frequently leading them to safely explode in the air, Al Jazeera reported. The US had pre-positioned $2 billion in weaponry at six Israeli locations. This arsenal is meant to strengthen Israel's defense and be ready for crises. The Israel-Hamas war, defined by the deployment of drones and airstrikes, highlights how warfare has changed in the 21st century and how battle drones have emerged as a distinctive weapon that is affordable and simple to employ by both state and non-state players. Related Article: Fake White House Press Release Falsely Claiming Biden's $8 Billion Aid to Israel Tops Online Searches 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO and owner of X (previously known as Twitter), responded on Sunday to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's statement celebrating Hamas' attacks on Israel. The tech billionaire's remarks have received public attention and might affect the current Middle East crisis. Musk emphasized Khamenei's remarks in a post on X, claiming that they unmistakably represent Iran's intention to destroy Israel rather than just assist the Palestinians. He said, "Khamenei's official position is clear: the eradication of Israel is the actual goal, not just supporting Palestinians," as quoted by The Hill. In his X post, the tech tycoon stressed that the cycle of violence and retribution has endured for decades and that hatred is unproductive. He responded to Khamenei's statement, which contained video of the chaotic scenario as people ran for their lives under gunfire and welcomed the indiscriminate deaths of Israeli concertgoers. The hashtag #AlAqsaStorm was used in Khamenei's message, which expressed the desire for the destruction of the "usurper Zionist regime" by the Palestinian people and local resistance forces. Khameneis official position is clear that the eradication of Israel is the actual goal, not just supporting Palestinians. That will not happen. All that actually happens, decade after decade, is a never-ending cycle of violence and vengeance. Stoking the fires of hatred isnt https://t.co/ffNuY9AgAC Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 8, 2023 The message of Iran's Supreme Leader addressed the music festival assaults, which killed 260 people, according to ZAKA. Abductions also occurred during the Sukkot concert, according to reports. Khamenei's post on X was notable for having a warning that said it was against the platform's guidelines. However, X decided to retain the job open, claiming that doing so could be in the best interests of the general public. Read Also: Threads Taking on X With Trending Topics Feature: What to Expect Elon Musk's Engagement in the Middle East Crisis Elon Musk has engaged in several conversations on X about the current Middle East conflict, including this one in response to the latest events in Israel. Musk acknowledged his worry over the issue in a recent X post, writing, "Sorry to see what's happening in Israel. One day, I hope, there will be peace," as quoted in a report by Yahoo! Finance. Beyond social media, Musk is involved in the Middle East problem; last month, he visited with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in California. The topic of fighting antisemitism on the social networking site apparently dominated their meeting, demonstrating Musk's dedication to combating such problems. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the seriousness of the situation by stating that Israel is presently at war as the crisis continues to develop with numerous attacks and deaths. Elon Musk, responding with "war" to a thread on the rising violence in Israel, showed his awareness. Videos of rocket launches from the Gaza Strip, a Hamas smuggler flying into Israel in a motorized hang glider, and unknown gunmen firing at an Israeli neighborhood from a pickup vehicle were all shown in the thread. Tech Mogul Draws Criticism Elon Musk was criticized for advising Twitter users to follow an account suspected of antisemitism and disseminating disinformation about the Israel attack. According to The Telegraph, the X's owner and executive chairman first recommended users follow two accounts called "War Monitor" and "OSINTdefender," both of which had blue ticks for Twitter's premium service. The accounts with these blue checkmarks are those that have paid for premium services to promote their tweets in users' timelines. Musk eventually removed his tweet endorsing these accounts, which raises issues and worries about the role that social media plays in influencing public discourse in crises. Related Article: Hamas' Use of Explosive Al-Zawari Drones in Israel Attack Sparks International Concern 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of Egypt's oldest liberal party, the Wafd, submitted on Monday his candidacy to the National Election Authority (NEA) to contest the presidential elections slated for December. Yamama is the third to submit candidacy, joining President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Farid Zahran, head of the opposition Social Democratic Party. He secured the endorsements required to join the election race from MPs. According to the Egyptian constitution, candidates must secure endorsements from at least 20 MPs from the House of Representatives or 25,000 citizens from at least 15 governorates, with a minimum of 1,000 endorsements from each governorate. El-Sisi, whose current term ends in April, submitted his candidacy papers on Saturday supported by over 1.1 million endorsements. Other political figures announced their intention to run in the elections, including Fouad Badrawi, a former MP and member of the Wafd Party's Higher Council; Hazem Omar, head of the People's Republican Party; Ahmed El-Fadaly, chairman of the Democratic Peace Party; Ahmed Tantawi, a former MP and former head of the leftist Karama (Dignity) Party; Gameela Ismail, chairwoman of the liberal Dostour (Constitution) Party. Candidacy applications are submitted from 5-14 October. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified and an initial list of candidates will be announced on 16 October. Voting in Egypt will take place 10-12 December, with Egyptians abroad casting their votes 1-3 December. The NEA will announce the final result on 18 December if no run-off is required. This will be the fourth presidential election since the 25 January uprising in 2011. The latest presidential election was held in 2018. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 "The story behind it is stronger than the song" Biting attack on child in Bremen: Dog owners to take an exam in the future Pet abandonment often happens What to do with a large number of stray dogs in the city High incidence of respiratory diseases in autumn and winter Experts: Treat the cause to reduce the risk of co-infection 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 Granada, the only Primera team with one foot out of the Copa del Rey due to improper alignment of the goalkeeper Thanks to the efforts of the forwards: Dynamo and Rostov won tickets to the playoffs of the RPL Path of the Russian Cup, CSKA won the group The Chinese women's football team faces three choices Whether Shui Qingxia's team will be retained is to be determined 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 express "insured service" is not how much you insure The tax department has created a brand of "Tax Road" and opened up its services to the outside world at a high level How far are we from "replacing plastic with bamboo"? Bauman Moscow State Technical University will develop a Chechen "Jihad-machine" for the needs of the NWO The Autonomous Communities cry out against the debt reduction agreed by the PSOE and ERC: "What Catalonia does not pay, we all pay" What would happen if we combined Israel's explosives into Gaza and detonated them? The most prominent developments of the 27th day of the Israeli war on Gaza Therefore, the bag ban does not apply to all events Discipline inspection and supervision organs strictly review and check to improve the quality and efficiency of responses to opinions on party style and clean government Military expert: Israel is encircling Gaza by fire, not land, and the situation on the ground has not changed 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 Habeck stands up to German anti-Semitism from both the right and the left 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 Belarus banned the import of socks and bricks from Latvia to the republic 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced he will end his run for the White House as a Democrat and instead become an independent 2024 presidential candidate. Im here to declare myself an independent candidate for President of the United States, the anti-vaxxer scion of Americas most famous political family said on Monday. But thats not all, Im here to join you and make a new Declaration of Independence for our entire nation, Mr Kennedy added. We declare independence from the corporations that have hijacked our government. Mr Kennedy originally positioned himself to run against Joe Biden, but the Democratic National Committee is not holding debates and is fully supporting the presidents run for a second term in the Oval Office. Mr Kennedy made the official announcement at Philadelphias Independence Mall, with campaign signs reading Declare your Independence. Following his announcement, Mr Kenedys sister, Kerry Kennedy, issued a statement condemning his presidential run as dangerous and perilous for our country. In recent months via campaign emails and videos he has criticised the DNC and its decision not to host debates between Mr Biden and other candidates, among other things. If they jam me, Im going to look at every option, he said in September at a New Hampshire barbecue held by Republican former Senator Scott Brown. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP) Mr Kennedy, who is the son of the late US Senator Robert F Kennedy, previously filed candidacy papers for the Democratic nomination with the FEC in April, though allies of president Joe Biden had dismissed his campaign as unserious. While frequently invoking his father and uncle president John F Kennedy on the campaign trail, the 69-year-old has ties to the former president and 2024 Republican hopeful Donald Trump, and some of his biggest supporters are on the right. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP) Polls show far more Republicans than Democrats have a favourable opinion of Kennedy, according to AP. It is unclear how his shift to an independent would affect the campaigns of both Mr Trump and Mr Biden going into the general election. Despite his strong Democratic forbears, Mr Kennedy has built close relationships with several far-right figures in recent years, having appeared on a channel run by the Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Cheryl Hines, wife of Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. speaks during a campaign event for him at Independence Mall, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP) He also headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn. In 2017, Mr Kennedy was tapped by then-president-elect Trump to oversee a presidential panel to review vaccine safety and science - despite having repeatedly expressed scepticism about vaccines. He continued pushing those beliefs through the coronavirus pandemic. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former US general took to Twitter on Sunday to remind Republicans laying blame on the Biden administration after Hamas militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in decades that Donald Trump shared classified intelligence from Israel with Iran-allied Russia when he was president. Retired army general Mark Hertling shared a story about allegations the former president told top Russian officials that Israel had successfully hacked Isis computers in order to gain intelligence about bomb plots against the West in a meeting at the White House in 2017. At the time, the former presidents actions reportedly ignited fears by Israel that Russia could have passed the information to its ally Iran, which has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. Mr Trump reportedly leaked the information in a meeting in the Oval Office in May 2017 with the Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and the then-Russian ambassador to the US, Sergey Kislyak. Amid uproar over the revelation, Mr Trump insisted he had every right to give Russia the information. He tweeted: As president, I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled WH meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against Isis and terrorism." General Hertlings reminder of the incident comes after Republican presidential contenders accused the Biden administration of helping to fund the attacks in Israel, which saw more than 700 killed, after a deal was struck to free up $6bn in previously frozen assets to assist humanitarian causes in Iran. The complex deal was announced by the Biden administration in September as part of the agreement to release five US citizens detained in Iran. A Russian foreign ministry photo showing Donald Trump with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and then-Russian ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during their meeting in the White House in May 2017 (EPA) As part of the deal, roughly $6bn in frozen Iranian assets that were being held in South Korea were transferred to an account in Doha, Qatar. Administration officials have insisted the money has not yet been spent and is now being held in a restricted account in Doha but in the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel over the weekend, Republicans including Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott and JD Vance have claimed the money may have been linked to the attacks. In response to Biden administration claims the money can only be used for humanitarian purposes, conservatives have responded that the money is fungible, meaning Iran could take advantage of the $6bn by reallocating or moving around other funds. For all those focused on fungible perhaps this is something to be considered, General Hertling, the former commander of US troops in Europe and an outspoken critic of Mr Trump, tweeted. Iran provides some $100m a year to Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, according to the US State Department. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused Joe Biden of policies that have gone easy on Iran and have helped to fill their coffers. In a video statement, he said: Israel is now paying the price for those policies. Were going to stand with the State of Israel, they need to root out Hamas and we need to stand up to Iran. Meanwhile, South Carolina Senator and GOP presidential hopeful Tim Scott alleged the attack was the Biden $6bn ransom payment at work. We didnt just invite this aggression, we paid for it, he said in a statement. Ron DeSantis accused the Biden administration of helping to fund the attacks in Israel (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Mr Trump also accused the Biden administration of funding the Hamas attack on Israel, falsely stating American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks. Senior Biden administration officials have stressed $6bn is not taxpayer money, and comes from payments made by South Korea to Iran to buy oil in recent years. Mr Trump also argued that, under president Biden, the US is perceived as being weak and ineffective on the global stage, thereby opening the door to hostility. They didnt have that level of aggression with me. They didnt have it. This would have never happened with me either, Mr Trump claimed, adding later in Cedar Rapids that Mr Biden had betrayed Israel with the deal. The White House insists the money is ringfenced for humanitarian purposes such as food and medicine for Iranians and handled by what the administration described as vetted non-Iranian vendors. 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 on 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. Children and grandmother among Israeli family members taken hostage into Gaza Over the weekend, Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing hundreds of people and taking dozens captive across the Gaza border. More than 700 people were killed, with at least nine Americans among the dead. Palestinian officials have said that more than 400 have been killed in retaliatory Israeli attacks on Gaza. Thousands more people are believed to be injured while the number of individuals taken hostage by Hamas is currently unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately declared a state of war and promised mighty vengeance on Israels attackers. On Monday, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the complete siege of Gaza, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Meanwhile, sirens have sounded in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with witnesses in the latter city hearing explosions that may have been from rocket impacts or from mid-air interceptions. FILE - In this July 31, 2012 file photo, a radiologist compares an image from earlier, 2-D technology mammogram to the new 3-D Digital Breast Tomosynthesis mammography in Wichita Falls, Texas. Two large studies, published Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, by the New England Journal of Medicine, give a much sharper picture of which inherited mutations raise the risk of breast cancer for women without a family history of the disease, and how common these flawed genes are in the general population. Doctors say the results can help women make better decisions about screening, preventive surgery or other steps. (Torin Halsey/Times Record News via AP, File) ORG XMIT: TXWIC601 Construction is about to begin in this area for the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion just south of Belle Chasse, Louisiana on Thursday, August 10, 2023. The long-needed diversion will one day deliver sediment and nutrients from the Mississippi River into the disappearing south Louisiana coast just south of New Orleans. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com) Australias competition watchdog has approved the takeover of the nations biggest energy retailer Origin Energy by Canadian fund giant Brookfield and its consortium partner MidOcean, but the $18.7 billion deal still needs the backing of large shareholders who think the bid undervalues the company. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said its decision on the deal was finely balanced, ultimately deciding in the consortiums favour after a detailed review found the acquisition was likely to result in enough public benefit to outweigh competition concerns. Brookfield has outlined ambitious plans to spend another $20 billion to $30 billion on renewable energy projects. ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said Brookfields proposed investment of between $20 billion and $30 billion to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy projects would lead to a more rapid reduction in Australias greenhouse gas emissions. We found that the public benefits and public detriments in this matter were finely balanced. Likely detriments, particularly anticompetitive effects from vertical integration, had to be weighed against likely benefits to Australias renewable energy transition, Cass-Gottlieb said. Myers board is braced for a shake-up ahead of a changing of the guard in its executive team next year, with the boss of Qantas loyalty program, Olivia Wirth, and veteran corporate raider, Gary Weiss, nominated to join as directors. The retailer on Monday revealed details of a board refresh, with long-standing chairman and director JoAnne Stephenson to retire at Myers upcoming annual general meeting. She will be replaced by businessman Ari Mervis, who is already an independent non-executive director at Myer. Wirth has been nominated for a board seat along with Ardent Leisure chairman Weiss, who is a close associate of Myers largest shareholder, Solomon Lew. The billionaire rag traders Premier Investments owns a stake of around 30 per cent in Myer. Qantas loyalty boss Olivia Wirth will bring a strong background in customer analytics to the board of Myer. Credit: Bloomberg A successful entry of Wirth and Weiss into Myers board, coupled with Stephensons exit, would reset the executive options for the retailer ahead of a broader management shakeup at Myer next year. Current chief executive officer John King and chief financial officer Nigel Chadwick are both set to exit the business in 2024. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Save this article for later Remove items from your saved list to add more. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Cosy booths, a private lounge, fried mortadella sandwiches plus you can now book. QT Melbournes new-look rooftop bar is set to sizzle this summer. As featured in the November hit list. See all stories . QT Melbournes chic rooftop will relaunch on Friday, October 13 with more intimate spaces, including booths that suggest settling in for a long lunch would be a very good idea indeed. There will also be a new private cocktail lounge and a Mediterranean food focus at the hotel bar. 1 / 6 A selection of share-friendly snacks from the Mediterranean-inspired menu at the new-look Rooftop at QT. Trent van der Jagt 2 / 6 Booth seating inside the hotel bar, which now takes bookings. Trent van der Jagt 3 / 6 Seafood, such as these Abrolhos Island scallops, is a focus. Trent van der Jagt 4 / 6 Colourful artwork inside the new-look cocktail bar. Trent van der Jagt 5 / 6 Cocktails are available in single serves or to share, such as the Bulleit Punch, pictured. Trent van der Jagt 6 / 6 Fried mortadella sandos with provolone, barbecue sauce and pepperoncini. Trent van der Jagt Previous Slide Next Slide We did a massive menu tasting and were all excited, says new executive chef Nic Wood, who previously oversaw the food at Los Angeles coworking collective NeueHouse, which has dining rooms in Hollywood and Venice Beach. Its going to be approachable, fun, flavoursome food thats easy to eat. Seafood is a focus: think crayfish cocktails with cognac-horseradish Marie Rose sauce, and a raw snapper cannoli with preserved lemon, creme fraiche and barbecued jalapenos. There are few words that can convey the feelings that are running through my body right now. There is horror and anger and confusion and disbelief and revulsion, but none can adequately describe or do justice to what has happened and is currently happening to my Jewish homeland, Israel. An unprecedented national apocalypse has descended upon her, bringing with it all the darkness and evil that we thought and prayed were just echoes of history, when the world was more brutal and less civilised. Police officers evacuate a woman and a child from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon. Credit: AP It seems unreal, like mere figments of our imaginations. But the scenes of horror are all too real and being paraded before our very eyes, in the media and online. More than 700 Israelis have been murdered and more than 2000 injured so far, with a depravity and brutality that defy the comprehension of ordinary people like myself. Thats 700 lives that have been stolen from their families and their friends. Thats 700 souls than have been vanquished from this earth. 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. Uluru: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will arrive at Uluru on Tuesday in a move to rally support for the Voice to parliament at the site where the proposal was born in May 2017. As polls flag a likely defeat for the referendum across Australia, one of the original architects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Noel Pearson, told an education conference in Sydney that voting Yes would be morally right. Yes campaigner Noel Pearson characterised the referendum as a moral choice. Credit: Steven Siewert One answer is morally right and the other wrong, he said. One brings us pride and the other shame. One brings us honour and the other dishonour. Pearsons eleventh-hour characterisation of the referendum as a moral choice comes as the referendum enters its final week and campaigners from both sides crisscross the country in an attempt to sway remaining undecided voters. From luxury hotels to basic B&Bs, accommodation providers around the world have entered a new era of prioritising sleep for their guests. Sleep programs with lengthy pillow menus, handmade mattresses and medical consultations organised by a sleep butler are among the offerings welcome to sleep tourism. Sleep tourism is booming. Credit: iStock With more than 48 per cent of Australians reporting at least two sleeping disorders (associated with chronic health problems), getting some much-needed shut-eye may be just what Aussies need on holiday. But just what sleep program would you fall for? Many shades of sleep In the wake of the recent escalation in Israel, Georgian leaders and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have expressed their solidarity with the State of Israel and condemned the terrorist attacks, emphasizing the loss of innocent lives and the need to combat terror and inhumanity in the modern world."Deeply concerned with the recent escalation in Israel and the loss of innocent human lives. Georgia stands in full solidarity with the State of Israel in these difficult moments.Terror and inhumanity should have no place in our modern world," President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili wrote."I strongly condemn the terrible terrorist attack on the state of Israel and Israeli citizens, the loss of lives, and serious injuries to many. Heartfelt condolences to the Government and People of the State of Israel, wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured." Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili stated.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia also expressed its solidarity with the government and people of Israel."We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on the State of Israel, which claimed lives, and we express our solidarity with the government and people of Israel. Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the victims of this horrific attack. We wish a speedy recovery to all the injured," the statement reads.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia has condemned the construction of a Russian military base in the occupied region of Abkhazia and has expressed support for the territorial integrity of Georgia."Estonia condemns the statement regarding Russia's intention to establish a naval base in occupied Abkhazia. This constitutes a serious violation of the 6-point ceasefire agreement of 2008 and may lead to further destabilization of the region. Estonia supports the territorial integrity of Georgia and its internationally recognized borders," the statement said. At least 2000 pro-Palestinian supporters marched through the streets of Melbournes CBD on Tuesday night under the watch of dozens of police, as several speakers called out what they termed Western hypocrisy over the treatment of Palestinian people by the state of Israel and Palestines right to defend itself by any means necessary. The snap after-work rally, organised by the group Free Palestine Melbourne attracted young and old - including school children in uniforms - and heard from a number of activists including Jewish woman Dr Jordy Silverstein from a group called Loud Jew collective. Im the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors raised on stories of suffering genocide, trauma and loss and I refuse to be part of a culture and politics that says that it is okay to perpetrate these harms on another people, she told the crowd. Silverstein said that she and many other Jews supported the Palestinian people and were outraged by the lighting up of public landmarks like the National Gallery of Victoria We dont want your blue and white lit up buildings. We dont want your statements and solidarity with Israel. We dont want you to send military funding, she said. Another speaker, who spoke presented himself as Geral from left-wing Filipino organisation Bayan said his country empathised with the people of Palestine due to its history of Spanish colonisation and said violence could justified. We know as Filipinos from our hearts that the oppressed have the right to resist by any means necessary even if that means fighting with arms, he said to a cheering crowd. Another speaker, presented as a Palestinian woman named Dana, said the conflict in Israel was Palestinians finding their voice and that decolonisation was underway. No one, absolutely no one is allowed to take the high moral ground and tell us how to defend ourselves, she said.Your selective humanity and double standards is hypocrisy. Its complicity. She said those who supported the people of Ukraine fighting back against the Russian invasion of their country were, calling Palestinians terrorists for doing the same thing. For the past 75 years, we have been killed. We have been brutalized, we have been slaughtered. We have been ethnically cleansed, dispossessed and displaced, she said. Make no mistake that we will be standing by unapologetically supporting and demanding our right to freedom, we will be unapologetic in supporting and demanding and seeking or liberation and our decolonisation from the settler colony. After an hour of speeches the crowd chanted out, out Israel out and From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free as they waved Palestinian flags and marched a block as traffic and trams were stopped. Unlike at a similar rally in Sydney on Tuesday night, no anti-Semitic chants or flag burning occurred. Another rally is scheduled for Sunday. Building on more than a century of pioneering spirit, Mercedes-Maybach explores the next level of travel with Space Perspective, the world's first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company Mercedes-Maybach all-electric vehicles will exclusively transport Space Perspective Explorers on the ground during travel to and from their spaceflights Mercedes-Maybach and Space Perspective are exploring design and hospitality integrations for Explorers' end-to-end experiences Mercedes-Maybach is partnering with Space Perspective, the world's first and only carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company. Founded in 2019 by human spaceflight veterans Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, Space Perspective has completely reimagined space travel, aiming to make human spaceflight safer and more accessible than ever before with its innovative Spaceship Neptune. The spacecraft features a pressurized capsule propelled slowly and safely to 100,000 feet by a giant SpaceBalloon, and with its carbon-neutral approach, it is designed to be as gentle on Space Perspective's Explorers as it is on the Earth. The capsule's customizable interior cabin accommodates eight Explorers and a Captain and includes a world-class travel experience complete with meal and cocktail service. Together, the partners are exploring more ways to bring the magic of the Mercedes-Maybach brand to the transformative experience that Space Perspective offers its Explorers. Mercedes-Maybach vehicles will transport Explorers as ground shuttles during spaceflight trips In line with the sustainable mindset of Space Perspective, Mercedes-Maybach will provide all-electric vehicles to shuttle Explorers and guests to and from Space Perspective facilities, local activities and the launch site on Florida's Space Coast. Thanks to this partnership, Space Perspective customers will be able to ride comfortably and sustainably to and from their trips to the edge of space. Mercedes-Maybach global brand campaign features Space Perspective's Spaceship Neptune Space Perspective's innovative spacecraft makes a cameo in the new Mercedes-Maybach global brand film and appears in select campaign assets an expression of how the driving experience transports passengers to the beyond, which is much like Space Perspective's mission to offer its Explorers transformative perspective shifts through spaceflight. Mercedes-Maybach and Space Perspective to explore design and hospitality partnership As part of this partnership, Space Perspective and the Mercedes-Maybach design team are in talks on integrations of additional elements from the Maybach experience and brand. "Our partnership with Space Perspective will allow space explorers to ride in style on the ground, and for us to extend the highest level of Maybach refinement and brand experience to the edge of space." Daniel Lescow, Head of Mercedes-Maybach at Mercedes-Benz Group AG "Pairing our all-electric Spaceship Neptune with the all-electric Mercedes-Maybach represents a sustainable and inspiration-filled future, not to mention a heightened overall experience for Space Perspective Explorers." Jane Poynter, Founder and Co-CEO of Space Perspective "This partnership accelerates innovation and broadens market exposure for both companies' respective positions of strength in electric automotive and space travel." Taber MacCallum, Founder and Co-CEO of Space Perspective About Space Perspective Space Perspective, the world's first and only carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company, is on a mission to make space travel accessible to more people than ever before. Its innovative Spaceship Neptune, which comprises a pressurized capsule propelled by a giant SpaceBalloon, offers a safe and transformative six-hour journey to the edge of space. With no rockets, weightlessness, heavy g-forces or training required, the experience is designed to be as gentle on Explorers as it is on the Earth. Those who fly with Space Perspective, which is being regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and follows guidelines established by NASA and the U.S. Coast Guard, enjoy unprecedented views of our planet through the largest windows ever flown to space, a world-class meal and cocktail service, Wi-Fi, and lavatory all from the comforts of the world's first Space Lounge. Based on Florida's Space Coast, Space Perspective was founded in 2019 by human spaceflight veterans Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum, who met as original crew members in Biosphere 2. They went on to launch Paragon Space Development Corporation, which develops tech for environmental control systems that, for example, can be found on the International Space Station (ISS). Space Perspective's team more broadly has been instrumental in the development of every U.S. human spacecraft for the past 40 years. Space Perspective resumes uncrewed test flights this year, which pave the way for crewed test flights next year. At the end of 2024, the company aims to begin commercial flights for their more than 1,650 ticketed Explorers to date. Reservations are now being taken. For more information or to book a trip, please visit www.spaceperspective.com. # # # About Mercedes Benz Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 18 model lines ranging from the sporty GLA SUV to the flagship S-Class and the dynamic all-electric Mercedes-EQ family. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbvans.com. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Partly cloudy. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 44F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 44F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 38F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 38F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Afghan quakes toll 2,000 ISLAMABAD, POWERFUL earthquakes killed at least 2,000 people in western Afghanistan, a Taliban Government spokesman said on Sunday. Its one of the deadliest earthquakes to strike the country in two decades. The figures couldnt be independently verified. The magnitude-6.3 earthquake was followed by strong aftershocks on Saturday, a spokesperson for the countrys National Disaster Management Authority said. The United States Geological Survey said, the quakes epicentre was about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north-west 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. On Sunday, people attempted to dig out the dead and injured with their hands in Herat, clambering over rocks and debris. Survivors and victims were trapped under buildings that had crumbled to the ground, their faces grey with dust. One video, shared online, shows people freeing a baby girl from a collapsed building after being buried up to her neck in debris. A hand is seen cradling the babys torso as rescuers ease the child out of the ground. Rescuers said it was the babys mother. Abdul Wahid Rayan, a spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said on 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. By Tia Goldenberg and Wafaa Shurafaa 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 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 extract 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. Bawankule reviews preparations for upcoming Navratri Festival Koradi Correspondent BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday asked district administration to complete all necessary arrangements for smooth conduct of 10-day Navratri Festival at Shri Mahalaxmi Jagdamba Sansthan in Koradi. Bawankule chaired a review meeting of the arrangements with officials of various departments. The Navratri Festival is commencing from October 15 at Koradi in which lakhs of devotees will visit this pilgrimage. The concerning officials informed Bawankule that the administration had completed all arrangements for the event and the final arrangements are going on. Handling lakhs of devotees during this 10 days event is a big challenge for the district administration. Whereas the security arrangement is also a major concern for the police department. Total 554 police personnal including 13 Police Inspectors, 44 Police Sub Inspectors, 243 constables, 73 homeguard, and 53 ladies homeguard will be deployed during the 10 days celebration to maintain law and order and security of the pilgrimage. Total 150 CCTV cameras, 3 metal detectors, 50 security guards, wheel chairs for Divyang devotees, and 10 e-rickshaws for senior citizens will be arranged in the mandir premises. There will be three enterance gates, one exit gate, and one VVIP gate will be there for smooth movement of the devotees. District collector Dr Vipin Itankar, during the meeting informed that the administration will arrange medicine shop, doctor, fire brigade, drinking water, ambulance, mobile toilet, etc. at mandir premises for devotees. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will increase the city bus service from Nagpur to Koradi for transportation of devotees. Bhakta Niwas in the premises will be equipped with basic amenities for devotees who will come from outstation. Nandu Bajaj, Dattu Samritkar, Prabha Nimone, Sushila Mantri, Mukesh Sharma, Premlal Patel, Ajay Vijayvargiya, Ashok Khanorkar, Keshavrao Fulzele, Dr Nandini Tripathi, Baburao Bhoyar, Laxmikant Tadaskar and others are working hard for the success of the 10-day Navratri Festival. Doubtful Dying Declaration By Adv. R. S. Agrawal IN THE judgement of the case- Phulel Singh v. State of Haryana, delivered on September 27, 2023, a 3-judge bench, at the Supreme Court, consisting of Justices Bhushan R. Gavai, P. Sri Narsimha and Prashant Kumar Mishra, has declared that in the totality of the circumstances, it cannot be said that the dying declaration in the case is free from doubt. According to the SC, the most glaring aspect, which is required to be considered is that the High Court itself has disbelieved the dying declaration insofar as that relates to Jora Singh, father-in-law of the deceased, Kiran Kaur. The present case mainly rests on the dying declaration of the deceased. No doubt, that a conviction can be solely recorded on the basis of dying declaration. However, for doing so, the court must come to a conclusion that the dying declaration is trustworthy, reliable and one which inspires confidence. In this case, the dying declaration was recorded by the PW-5, Sadhu Singh, Executive Magistrate. He stated that he obtained the certificate from the doctor regarding the fitness of the deceased to make the statement. It was stated further by him that he recorded the statement of the deceased and thereafter it was read over and explained to her. He further stated that she had thumb marked the same, after admitting its contents to be correct. In the dying declaration, the deceased is said to have state that on November 5, 1991, at around 12 noon, her husband Phulel Singh (the appellant herein), Jora Singh father-in-law and Dhan Kaur mother-in-law caught hold of her. Her husband, the appellant poured kerosene on her person and set her ablaze. She had further stated that when she was set on fire, she had raised an alarm but the accused overpowered her. It is relevant to note that the deceased received burn injuries on November 5, 1991, but the dying declaration came to be recorded on November 8, 1991 after an application was made by the relatives of the deceased to the SDM, Ludhiana. PW-5,Executive Magistrate, Sadhu Singh admitted in his evidence that the boys, who had brought the application containing the order of the SDM, Ludhiana, had told him that the statement of the deceased should be recorded and that she was in a position to make the statement. Sadhu Singh had admitted further that those boys had told him that whatever they had to tell the deceased, they had told her and that he should accompany them to record her statement. He had also admitted that those two-three boys were related to the deceased and some other persons were also in the room in which he recorded the statement of the deceased. It could thus be seen that there is a grave doubt as to whether the dying declaration recorded by Sadhu Singh was a voluntary one or tutored at the instance of respondent-5. It is further relevant to note that the PW-8, Dr Jatinder Pal Singh, had in his deposition itself states that Sadhu Singh had recorded the dying declaration of the deceased on November 8, 1991 at 4.40 pm, whereas the opinion with regard to her fitness was given by him at 6 pm on November 8, 1991. He had further admitted that he had not mentioned in the bed-head ticket that he had attested the statement of the deceased at 4.40 pm on November 8, 1991. It is thus doubtful as to whether Dr. Jatinder Pal had really examined the deceased with regard to her fitness prior to her statement being recorded by Sadhu Singh (PW-5), the Executive Magistrate. The SC has commented that it fails to understand as to how the same dying declaration could have been made basis for conviction of the appellant when the same was disbelieved insofar as another accused is concerned. The Court has also referred to the deposition of Shri Bhagwan, ASI, Investigating Officer (PW-9). It was stated by him in his deposition that he had come to the conclusion that the present case was not a case under section 307 of IPC or section 498-A of IPC but a case under section 309 of IPC. The witness Shri Bhagwan had further stated that the higher authorities DSP Sukhdeo Singh and SHO Rajinder Singh had verified the investigations conducted by him and found the same as correct and agreed with his conclusions. During investigations, it was further revealed that the deceased was short-tempered and that accused Jora Singh was not there in the village on the fateful day and that he had gone to Rama Mandi for making purchases for Diwali. So far as allegations of harassment for non-fulfillment of demand of dowry are concerned, except the vague allegation, there is nothing in evidence to support the prosecution case. In this regard, the SC has stated that it is of the considered view that there is no evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased was harassed on account of non-fulfillment of demand of dowry. Therefore, the SCs finding is that the prosecution has not made out case under section 304-B IPC. Through the appeal in this case, the judgement and order passed by a Punjab and Haryana High Court division bench on July 24, 2009, partly allowing the criminal appeals along with criminal revision filed by the accused persons; whereby Jora Singh, father of the appellant was acquitted of the charge under section 304-B IPC and the conviction and sentence qua the appellant herein, rendered by the Nirmal Yadav, Sessions Judge, Sirsa for the offence of causing dowry death, on September 14, 1999 with sentence of RI for seven years was challenged. The marriage between the appellant and the deceased Kiran Kaur was solemnised in March, 1987 and they had two children. It is the prosecution case that the appellant used to harass the deceased on account of insufficiency of dowry. Due to harassment, eventually, she had refused to reside in the house of the appellant. In the result, the Supreme Court has allowed the appeal after quashing and setting aside the impugned judgements and orders of conviction and sentencing passed by the trial Court and the High Court in appeal. UP CM offers prayersat Kedarnath Temple RUDRAPRAYAG, UTTAR Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday offered prayers at the Kedarnath Temple on the last day of his three-day tour to Uttarakhand. Thousands of people chanted Jai Shri Ram and greeted the Chief Minister, an official statement issued in Lucknow said. Badri Kedar Temple Committee Chairman Ajay Ajayendra and other dignitaries welcomed him at the Kedarnath helipad by presenting him a bouquet. The priest community congratulated Adityanath with the traditional chanting of mantras. He visited the Kedarnath Temple and wished for the welfare of the people of the country and the State, the statement said. Later, Adityanath said places of pilgrimage are the bases of both faith as well as national integration. Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the sense of respect for heritage is presenting a new aura of the new India, he added. 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 glories of New India, he, according to the statement, said. The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group says militants in Gaza are holding dozens of Israeli prisoners, including more than 30 held by his group. Ziad Nakhaleh said in a televised speech Sunday night that the captives will not be released until all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are set free. He added that the group has more than 30 prisoners. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group took part in the operation that Hamas carried out Saturday in which hundreds of Israelis were killed. The prisoners that are being held are in the tens and I can say that they are much more than that, said Nakhaleh, who usually lives in Beirut. Nakhaleh added that Israel should acknowledge defeat. Search Keywords: Short link: Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BRDG Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the six brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $15.08. A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Bridge Investment Group from $16.00 to $15.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Bridge Investment Group from $14.00 to $15.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Bridge Investment Group from $17.00 to $16.50 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Get Bridge Investment Group alerts: Read Our Latest Report on BRDG Institutional Trading of Bridge Investment Group Bridge Investment Group Trading Up 2.7 % Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Bridge Investment Group by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 2,883,306 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,668,000 after acquiring an additional 34,287 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Bridge Investment Group by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 227,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,581,000 after buying an additional 5,590 shares during the period. New York Life Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Bridge Investment Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $462,000. Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust acquired a new position in Bridge Investment Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $631,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased its stake in Bridge Investment Group by 126.3% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,591 shares of the companys stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 2,004 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.41% of the companys stock. Shares of Bridge Investment Group stock opened at $8.76 on Friday. Bridge Investment Group has a 52-week low of $8.36 and a 52-week high of $16.40. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $10.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.59. The firm has a market cap of $292.15 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -109.50 and a beta of 1.75. Bridge Investment Group (NYSE:BRDG Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 7th. The company reported $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.20. Bridge Investment Group had a net margin of 0.24% and a return on equity of 3.38%. The company had revenue of $98.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $78.78 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.32 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Bridge Investment Group will post 0.81 earnings per share for the current year. Bridge Investment Group Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.76%. This is a boost from Bridge Investment Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. Bridge Investment Groups dividend payout ratio is presently -850.00%. About Bridge Investment Group (Get Free Report Bridge Investment Group Holdings Inc engages in the real estate investment management business in the United States. It manages capital on behalf of approximately hundred global institutions and 6,500 individual investors across approximately 25 investment vehicles. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Bridge Investment Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bridge Investment Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Autoliv (NYSE:ALV Free Report) in a report published on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the auto parts companys stock. A number of other research firms have also weighed in on ALV. Bank of America lowered their price objective on Autoliv from $130.00 to $127.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Autoliv from $98.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, July 20th. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Autoliv from $96.00 to $106.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, July 24th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Autoliv from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Autoliv from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Autoliv currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $103.42. Get Autoliv alerts: View Our Latest Report on ALV Autoliv Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ALV opened at $95.81 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $96.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $91.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.18 billion, a PE ratio of 21.39, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 1.70. Autoliv has a 1 year low of $68.53 and a 1 year high of $103.99. Autoliv (NYSE:ALV Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 21st. The auto parts company reported $1.93 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.41 by $0.52. The firm had revenue of $2.64 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.55 billion. Autoliv had a return on equity of 19.67% and a net margin of 3.98%. The businesss revenue was up 26.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.90 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Autoliv will post 6.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Autoliv Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, September 7th were issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 6th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.76%. Autolivs dividend payout ratio is presently 58.93%. Insider Activity at Autoliv In related news, Director Leif Johansson sold 11,400 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.01, for a total value of $1,060,314.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,774 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,002,089.74. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.20% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Autoliv Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC increased its holdings in Autoliv by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 5,732 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $487,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in Autoliv by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,942 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $368,000 after purchasing an additional 117 shares during the period. Prospera Financial Services Inc increased its holdings in Autoliv by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 3,229 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 118 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Autoliv by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,707 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $400,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the period. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its holdings in Autoliv by 33.3% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 553 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.70% of the companys stock. Autoliv Company Profile (Get Free Report) Autoliv, Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and supplies passive safety systems to the automotive industry in Europe, the Americas, China, Japan, and rest of Asia. It offers passive safety systems, including modules and components for frontal-impact airbag protection systems, side-impact airbag protection systems, seatbelts, steering wheels, and inflator technologies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Autoliv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Autoliv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CMC Markets plc (LON:CMCX Get Free Report) insider David Fineberg bought 294 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 101 ($1.22) per share, for a total transaction of 296.94 ($358.93). David Fineberg also recently made the following trade(s): Get CMC Markets alerts: On Friday, September 22nd, David Fineberg sold 20,000 shares of CMC Markets stock. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 110 ($1.33), for a total value of 22,000 ($26,592.53). On Tuesday, September 5th, David Fineberg purchased 288 shares of CMC Markets stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 105 ($1.27) per share, for a total transaction of 302.40 ($365.53). CMC Markets Trading Down 0.3 % LON CMCX opened at GBX 99.70 ($1.21) on Monday. The company has a market cap of 278.98 million, a P/E ratio of 664.67 and a beta of 0.47. CMC Markets plc has a 12 month low of GBX 97.10 ($1.17) and a 12 month high of GBX 271.26 ($3.28). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.70, a current ratio of 2.45 and a quick ratio of 2.47. The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 115.23 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 150.89. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently commented on CMCX shares. Shore Capital raised shares of CMC Markets to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, June 27th. Peel Hunt cut CMC Markets to an add rating and set a GBX 140 ($1.69) price target on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and set a GBX 190 ($2.30) price objective on shares of CMC Markets in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on CMC Markets from GBX 250 ($3.02) to GBX 140 ($1.69) and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Get Our Latest Report on CMCX About CMC Markets (Get Free Report) CMC Markets plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides online retail financial services to retail, professional, stockbroking, and institutional clients in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and internationally. The company offers its clients with the ability to trade contracts for difference and financial spread betting on a range of underlying shares, including indices, foreign currencies, commodities, and treasuries through its trading platform. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CMC Markets Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMC Markets and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Finsbury Growth & Income (LON:FGT Get Free Report) insider Simon Hayes acquired 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 5th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 827 ($10.00) per share, for a total transaction of 82,700 ($99,963.74). Simon Hayes also recently made the following trade(s): Get Finsbury Growth & Income alerts: On Friday, August 18th, Simon Hayes purchased 1,405 shares of Finsbury Growth & Income stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of GBX 851 ($10.29) per share, for a total transaction of 11,956.55 ($14,452.50). On Wednesday, August 2nd, Simon Hayes purchased 1,566 shares of Finsbury Growth & Income stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 889 ($10.75) per share, for a total transaction of 13,921.74 ($16,827.92). Finsbury Growth & Income Stock Performance FGT stock opened at GBX 827 ($10.00) on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a current ratio of 3.33 and a quick ratio of 0.48. Finsbury Growth & Income has a 1-year low of GBX 760.22 ($9.19) and a 1-year high of GBX 923 ($11.16). The business has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 865.63 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 883.31. The company has a market capitalization of 1.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,181.43 and a beta of 0.54. Finsbury Growth & Income Increases Dividend Finsbury Growth & Income Company Profile The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 5th will be given a GBX 10.50 ($0.13) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.21%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. This is a boost from Finsbury Growth & Incomes previous dividend of $8.50. Finsbury Growth & Incomes dividend payout ratio is presently 2,714.29%. (Get Free Report) Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched Frostrow Capital LLP. The fund is co-managed by Lindsell Train Limited. It invests in public equity markets of the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Finsbury Growth & Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Finsbury Growth & Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley restated their overweight rating on shares of Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report) in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a $16.00 price target on the auto manufacturers stock. Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Jefferies Financial Group cut Ford Motor from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the company from $17.00 to $15.00 in a report on Monday, July 31st. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 price objective on shares of Ford Motor in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on Ford Motor in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Ford Motor from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Ford Motor from $10.00 to $11.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Ford Motor has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $14.50. Get Ford Motor alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Ford Motor Ford Motor Price Performance Shares of NYSE F opened at $12.00 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $12.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.76. 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. The company 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. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by $0.21. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 20.48% and a net margin of 2.44%. The business had revenue of $44.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $43.17 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.68 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Ford Motor will post 2.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. Ford Motor Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 25th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 24th. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio is presently 58.82%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ford Motor A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Snider Financial Group boosted its holdings in 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 during the period. Newport Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 4.1% in the first quarter. Newport Trust Co now owns 153,594,790 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,935,294,000 after buying an additional 6,048,371 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 4.1% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 84,734,138 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,282,028,000 after buying an additional 3,327,465 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 2.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 72,311,048 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $1,091,123,000 after buying an additional 1,535,572 shares during the period. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 18.5% in the second quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 60,733,261 shares of the auto manufacturers stock valued at $918,894,000 after buying an additional 9,481,852 shares during the period. 52.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Ford Motor Company Profile (Get 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. Featured Articles 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. Forum Financial Management LP trimmed its stake in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 5.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,155 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 828 shares during the quarter. Forum Financial Management LPs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $746,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of SCHW. Cloverfields Capital Group LP raised its stake in Charles Schwab by 11.5% during the first quarter. Cloverfields Capital Group LP now owns 50,785 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,660,000 after buying an additional 5,246 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 39.4% in the first quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 25,007 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,328,000 after acquiring an additional 7,073 shares during the period. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.0% in the second quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,729 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $665,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the period. Bard Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 372.9% in the second quarter. Bard Financial Services Inc. now owns 24,475 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,387,000 after acquiring an additional 19,300 shares during the period. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 46.0% in the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 14,668 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $768,000 after acquiring an additional 4,618 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Charles A. Ruffel acquired 833 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 17th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $60.55 per share, with a total value of $50,438.15. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $205,022.30. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Charles A. Ruffel bought 833 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $60.55 per share, with a total value of $50,438.15. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 3,386 shares in the company, valued at approximately $205,022.30. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 3,792 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.31, for a total value of $217,319.52. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 44,725 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,563,189.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 159,599 shares of company stock valued at $10,542,469 over the last ninety days. 6.60% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts recently commented on the company. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $77.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, July 24th. Wolfe Research cut their price target on Charles Schwab from $62.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, June 26th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday. They set a sell rating for the company. Citigroup boosted their price target on Charles Schwab from $65.00 to $75.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $74.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 19th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.28. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on SCHW Charles Schwab Price Performance NYSE:SCHW opened at $51.52 on Monday. 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 company has a market capitalization of $91.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.93. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63. The businesss 50-day moving average is $59.04 and its 200 day moving average is $56.09. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.54% and a net margin of 33.15%. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.61 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.97 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal 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 paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.94%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 29.15%. Charles Schwab Company Profile (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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). 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. Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW Free Report) had its price objective cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $129.00 to $127.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the specialty retailers stock. A number of other brokerages have also commented on LW. TD Cowen assumed coverage on Lamb Weston in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $125.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Lamb Weston in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Lamb Weston from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $125.00 to $127.00 in a research report on Monday, September 4th. Barclays increased their price objective on Lamb Weston from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Lamb Weston from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $115.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $125.29. Get Lamb Weston alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on LW Lamb Weston Stock Down 4.4 % Shares of LW opened at $93.47 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $13.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.51, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Lamb Weston has a one year low of $79.39 and a one year high of $117.38. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $96.89 and its 200-day simple moving average is $105.74. Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 5th. The specialty retailer reported $1.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.55. The business had revenue of $1.67 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.62 billion. Lamb Weston had a return on equity of 77.14% and a net margin of 17.18%. Lamb Westons revenue was up 48.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.75 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Lamb Weston will post 5.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Lamb Weston Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 3rd will be paid a $0.28 dividend. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.20%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 2nd. Lamb Westons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.18%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Eryk J. Spytek sold 6,319 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.23, for a total value of $652,310.37. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 1,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $108,597.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.66% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Lamb Weston Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. American National Bank acquired a new stake in Lamb Weston during the 2nd quarter worth $26,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in Lamb Weston during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Lamb Weston during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Clear Street Markets LLC raised its stake in Lamb Weston by 92.5% during the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 283 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Finally, Missouri Trust & Investment Co acquired a new stake in shares of Lamb Weston in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.77% of the companys stock. About Lamb Weston (Get Free Report) Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc produces, distributes, and markets frozen potato products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Global, Foodservice, Retail, and Other. It offers frozen potatoes, commercial ingredients, and appetizers under the Lamb Weston brand, as well as under various customer labels. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lamb Weston Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lamb Weston and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC (LON:MTU Get Free Report) insider Arthur Copple acquired 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, October 6th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 94 ($1.14) per share, for a total transaction of 47,000 ($56,811.31). Arthur Copple also recently made the following trade(s): Get Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust alerts: On Monday, July 31st, Arthur Copple bought 50,000 shares of Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust stock. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 125 ($1.51) per share, with a total value of 62,500 ($75,546.96). Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Stock Up 1.3 % MTU opened at GBX 96 ($1.16) on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 99.54 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 102.90. The company has a market cap of 160.68 million, a PE ratio of -600.00 and a beta of 0.91. Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC has a 12 month low of GBX 91.60 ($1.11) and a 12 month high of GBX 123 ($1.49). The company has a current ratio of 33.36, a quick ratio of 41.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.44. Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Cuts Dividend About Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 11th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 20th were given a dividend of GBX 1.13 ($0.01) per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 20th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.11%. Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently -2,500.00%. (Get Free Report) Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Montanaro Investment Managers Ltd. It invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of small-cap companies operating across diversified sectors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Montanaro UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ares Management (NYSE:ARES Free Report) in a report issued on Thursday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the asset managers stock. A number of other research analysts have also commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Ares Management from $104.00 to $108.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Ares Management from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Ares Management from $110.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Ares Management from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Ares Management from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Ares Management has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $108.92. Get Ares Management alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on ARES Ares Management Stock Up 2.3 % Shares of ARES stock opened at $108.42 on Thursday. Ares Management has a 12 month low of $58.60 and a 12 month high of $109.57. The firm has a market cap of $33.02 billion, a PE ratio of 66.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.31. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $102.31 and a 200-day moving average of $93.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Ares Management (NYSE:ARES Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The asset manager reported $0.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $1.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $725.82 million. Ares Management had a return on equity of 17.56% and a net margin of 8.79%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.74 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Ares Management will post 3.69 EPS for the current year. Ares Management Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th were issued a dividend of $0.77 per share. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. Ares Managements payout ratio is presently 188.96%. Insider Transactions at Ares Management In other news, insider R. Kipp Deveer sold 200,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.13, for a total transaction of $20,026,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 861,311 shares in the company, valued at $86,243,070.43. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Director Ashish Bhutani purchased 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 15th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $98.08 per share, for a total transaction of $980,800.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 11,732 shares in the company, valued at $1,150,674.56. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider R. Kipp Deveer sold 200,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.13, for a total value of $20,026,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 861,311 shares of the companys stock, valued at $86,243,070.43. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have acquired 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. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ares Management Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ARES. Boston Partners bought a new stake in Ares Management in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $268,186,000. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its stake in Ares Management by 538.4% in the 1st quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,872,686 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $156,257,000 after acquiring an additional 1,579,332 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Ares Management in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $107,777,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Ares Management by 75.7% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,928,120 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $244,322,000 after acquiring an additional 1,261,229 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Ares Management by 159.1% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,502,659 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $125,383,000 after acquiring an additional 922,675 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 50.03% of the companys stock. Ares Management Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. SVB Wealth LLC cut its holdings in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 7.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,658 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 397 shares during the quarter. SVB Wealth LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $809,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of TRV. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the first quarter worth approximately $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 28.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,084,000 after buying an additional 1,327 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,210,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 40.6% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,420,000 after purchasing an additional 14,873 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 5.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,952,000 after purchasing an additional 1,286 shares in the last quarter. 81.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,000 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $175.05, for a total transaction of $1,750,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,464,704. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets TRV has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 target price on shares of Travelers Companies in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $186.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Travelers Companies from C$183.00 to C$185.00 in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Citigroup upped their price target on Travelers Companies from $188.00 to $191.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 24th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $195.00. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on TRV Travelers Companies Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of TRV opened at $162.95 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $155.72 and a 12-month high of $194.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $37.31 billion, a PE ratio of 17.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.59. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $164.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is $171.11. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($1.99). Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 10.75% and a net margin of 5.77%. The company had revenue of $10.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.97 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.57 EPS. Travelers Companiess quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 12.02 earnings per share for the current year. Travelers Companies Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th were issued a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.45%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.60%. Travelers Companies Profile (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SVB Wealth LLC grew its holdings in shares of JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BATS:BBJP Free Report) by 9.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,895 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,379 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLCs holdings in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF were worth $819,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 118,873,470 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,753,474,000 after purchasing an additional 1,061,726 shares during the last quarter. OLD Mission Capital LLC purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $16,190,000. Bank of America Corp DE raised its stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF by 9.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,226,306 shares of the companys stock valued at $204,553,000 after acquiring an additional 349,191 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $16,045,000. Finally, Bensler LLC purchased a new stake in JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $13,918,000. Get JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF alerts: JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF Trading Up 0.3 % BBJP opened at $49.48 on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average is $51.03 and its 200 day moving average is $50.44. The stock has a market cap of $8.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.78 and a beta of 0.67. About JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF The JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BBJP) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a market cap-weighted index of Japanese large- and mid-cap stocks. BBJP was launched on Jun 15, 2018 and is managed by JPMorgan Chase. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BBJP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BATS:BBJP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SVB Wealth LLC decreased its stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 14.3% during the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 8,568 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,426 shares during the quarter. SVB Wealth LLCs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $647,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ADM. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 71.9% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 18,699 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,688,000 after purchasing an additional 7,821 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 1st quarter valued at $277,000. Brighton Jones LLC bought a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 1st quarter valued at $226,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 22.0% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 31,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,798,000 after purchasing an additional 5,586 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 459,907 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,512,000 after purchasing an additional 9,327 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.73% of the companys stock. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have issued reports on ADM. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Argus raised their price target on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Roth Mkm began coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $92.00 target price for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $97.50. Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Down 0.4 % NYSE:ADM opened at $72.86 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $39.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.73, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.63. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a fifty-two week low of $69.92 and a fifty-two week high of $98.28. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $80.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $78.13. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.30. The company had revenue of $25.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.82 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.14% and a return on equity of 17.52%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.15 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.19 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Archer-Daniels-Midland Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were issued a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 15th. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is currently 24.03%. 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 shares were sold at an average price of $86.80, for a total value of $126,294.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 10,809 shares of the companys stock, valued at $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock. About Archer-Daniels-Midland (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. Featured Articles 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. SVB Wealth LLC trimmed its holdings in Builders FirstSource, Inc. (NYSE:BLDR Free Report) by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,793 shares of the companys stock after selling 289 shares during the period. SVB Wealth LLCs holdings in Builders FirstSource were worth $788,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Financial Management Professionals Inc. lifted its position in shares of Builders FirstSource by 1,447.1% in the second quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 263 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. BOKF NA purchased a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the first quarter valued at about $27,000. UMB Bank n.a. purchased a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its position in shares of Builders FirstSource by 179.0% in the first 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. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Builders FirstSource in the first quarter valued at about $48,000. 94.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Builders FirstSource alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Builders FirstSource In other Builders FirstSource news, EVP Timothy D. Johnson sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.69, for a total transaction of $758,450.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,748 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,973,314.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Timothy D. Johnson sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.69, for a total transaction of $758,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,748 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,973,314.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Michael Hiller sold 5,965 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 14th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,865,055.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.90% of the companys stock. Builders FirstSource Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of NYSE:BLDR opened at $119.31 on Monday. Builders FirstSource, Inc. has a 52-week low of $53.79 and a 52-week high of $156.85. The stock has a market cap of $14.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.24 and a beta of 2.04. The businesss 50 day moving average is $135.90 and its 200 day moving average is $124.77. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR Get Free Report) last announced its 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 business had revenue of $4.50 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.24 billion. Builders FirstSource had a return on equity of 45.73% and a net margin of 10.04%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 35.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.26 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Builders FirstSource, Inc. will post 13.69 EPS for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently commented on BLDR shares. Loop Capital started coverage on Builders FirstSource in a research report on Thursday, August 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $180.00 target price on the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $166.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. 888 restated a maintains rating on shares of Builders FirstSource in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $148.00 to $175.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, Benchmark upped their price objective on Builders FirstSource from $153.00 to $220.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $149.69. Get Our Latest Research Report on Builders FirstSource Builders FirstSource Company Profile (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. Read More 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. Forum Financial Management LP raised its stake in shares of The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Free Report) by 3.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 22,557 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 671 shares during the period. Forum Financial Management LPs holdings in Bank of New York Mellon were worth $1,004,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BK. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 160.0% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 5,358 shares of the banks stock worth $263,000 after purchasing an additional 3,297 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the first quarter worth about $1,096,000. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 3.3% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 35,635 shares of the banks stock worth $1,769,000 after buying an additional 1,154 shares during the period. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 54.3% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 232,115 shares of the banks stock worth $11,519,000 after buying an additional 81,728 shares during the period. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 165.3% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,459 shares of the banks stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 909 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.29% of the companys stock. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have commented on BK shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bank of New York Mellon in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $48.00 to $46.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $47.00 to $45.00 in a report on Thursday. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $58.00 to $55.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $43.00 to $44.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of New York Mellon currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $52.70. Bank of New York Mellon Trading Up 1.1 % NYSE:BK opened at $42.15 on Monday. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a 12 month low of $36.22 and a 12 month high of $52.26. The firm has a market cap of $32.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The companys 50 day moving average is $44.19 and its 200-day moving average is $43.70. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The bank reported $1.38 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.16. Bank of New York Mellon had a net margin of 10.95% and a return on equity of 11.88%. The company had revenue of $4.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.37 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.15 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate 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 business also recently announced 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 27th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.99%. This is a positive change from Bank of New York Mellons previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is 48.98%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Kurtis R. Kurimsky sold 14,045 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.64, for a total transaction of $641,013.80. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 23,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,086,962.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, EVP J Kevin Mccarthy sold 35,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.33, for a total value of $1,621,550.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 98,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,545,065.66. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Kurtis R. Kurimsky sold 14,045 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.64, for a total transaction of $641,013.80. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 23,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,086,962.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Bank of New York Mellon (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. See Also 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. TD Securities started coverage on shares of TransAlta (NYSE:TAC Free Report) (TSE:TA) in a report issued on Friday, FlyOnTheWall reports. The firm issued a buy rating on the utilities providers stock. Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of TransAlta in a research note on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $16.10. Get TransAlta alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TAC TransAlta Stock Performance Shares of TAC opened at $8.50 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average is $9.53 and its 200-day moving average is $9.43. TransAlta has a 12 month low of $7.55 and a 12 month high of $10.40. The firm has a market cap of $2.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.14 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.53, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.60. TransAlta (NYSE:TAC Get Free Report) (TSE:TA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.14. TransAlta had a net margin of 7.95% and a return on equity of 21.41%. The firm had revenue of $625.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $538.20 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.24) EPS. The businesss revenue was up 36.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that TransAlta will post 1.45 EPS for the current fiscal year. TransAlta Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, October 1st. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.042 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $0.17 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.98%. This is a boost from TransAltas previous quarterly dividend of $0.04. TransAltas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.86%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On TransAlta A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TAC. Financial Management Professionals Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of TransAlta during the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in TransAlta in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. 1832 Asset Management L.P. increased its position in TransAlta by 153.2% in the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 5,497 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 3,326 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new stake in TransAlta in the 3rd quarter valued at about $88,000. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG acquired a new stake in TransAlta in the 4th quarter valued at about $90,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.93% of the companys stock. About TransAlta (Get Free Report) TransAlta Corporation engages in the development, production, and sale of electric energy. It operates through Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas, Energy Transition, and Energy Marketing segments. The Hydro segment has a net ownership interest of approximately 922 megawatts (MW) of owned hydro electrical-generating capacity located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. Read More Receive News & Ratings for TransAlta Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TransAlta and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, declared that the earlier abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Complex which is now nearing completion, will have the capacity to employ 500,000 Nigerians once designated as a free trade zone. The President also promised to fully harness the potentials of the Complex once it is completed, noting that it would boost Nigerias foreign direct investment and provide avenue for the creation of the much-needed conducive business environment for all sectors to thrive. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President, made this known at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship campaign in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital for the governorship poll slated for November 11, 2023. Addressing a mammoth crowd in Lokoja, VP Shettima also noted that Tinubu remained committed to completing the constructions of the River Niger, the Kabba-Lokoja and the Abuja-Lokoja roads. According to Shettima, President Tinubu is a man of plenty ideas who is determined to reposition the nation in its rightful place, especially as it borders on restructuring and stimulating the Nigerian economy. A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Shettima as saying, 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 center. We must be partners in progress and work hand in hand to develop this great nation. 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. Re-emphasising that the welfare of the citizenry would never be willfully compromised, VP Shettima called on Kogi citizens to come out en masse on November 11 to vote for the candidate of the APC, Ahmed Usman Ododo, in order to consolidate on 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 has further given his nod for the rehabilitation of Obajana-Okene road in Kogi State. Speaking earlier, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji 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 in order 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 in order to move Kogi State forward, he said. On his part, APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, said because Governor Yahaya 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 center. 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 11 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 Abdulrazaq; Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar 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 November 11 governorship election. At the audience with the stakeholders, VP 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, HRH Mathew Ipaluwa, pledged their support for President Bola Tinubu. The royal father commended the state governor, Yahaya Bello, for working hard in addressing security challenges in the state. Frontline Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Igboho, has confirmed that he has regained his freedom after about two years of house arrest and detention in Benin Republic. It was reported that the Yoruba nation agitator was freed on Sunday and has departed for Germany to reunite with his family. The development was confirmed by the leader of the Yoruba nation group, Prof. Banji Akintoye. Igboho, in an interview with newsmen, said he is free to return to Nigeria or visit any country of his choice as he has fulfilled all legal conditions for his bail. I am now free to return to Nigeria and visit any country in the world. I have fulfilled all the legal conditions attached to my bail few years back and I am coming home to Nigeria, my country of origin, any moment from now. I can confirm to you that I am now free to come back to Nigeria. There is no legal encumbrance again. Even though I have been living in Cotonou for some time, I can confirm to you categorically that I have now secured the liberty to leave Cotonou for Nigeria. In a video released on Facebook, Igboho thanked all those who have supported him during his travail and detention in Benin and specifically pointed out the likes of Professor Banji Akintoye, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Olugbon of Orile Igbon and deputy chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas, Oba Francis Olushola Alao, Kabiesi Oba Topspin o ni Bariga of Bariga, Oba Tejuoso, Oni Kenta of Orile Kenta, Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan Obateru, and other Yoruba monarchs for their support while he stayed in Cotonou. Recently, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State approved a 25 percent reduction in acceptance fees payable in the four state-owned universities as part of palliatives for students. The governors approval was contained in a statement issued by Festus Ahon, his chief press secretary, on Wednesday, in Asaba. According to the statement, the reduction in the acceptance fee was in line with measures taken by the Delta State government to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on citizens. Ahon further said that the 25 percent reduction was applicable to new students at the state-owned Delta State University, Abraka; Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro; University of Delta, Agbor, and Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai-Asaba. Essentially, while the Governors action is understandable and appreciated, particularly when one remembers that the governor had earlier approved the payment of N10,000 to workers for three months and payment of N5.522bn to 50,196 workers as promotion arrears and palliatives to civil servants across the state, this piece however, holds the opinion that the issue that has to do with demand for acceptance by leaderships of tertiary institutions in the country, under any guise ought not arise in the first instance. The reason for the above assertion is predicated on the fact that there exists a resolution by the Federal House Of Representatives abolishing the demand of Acceptance Fees by tertiary institutions of higher learning in the country, not even in Delta state owned universities or any federally owned university in Nigeria. In fact, any public office holder who breaks the law is a threat to those very structures of the government he pledged to protect. Adding context to the discourse, it is factually supported that in November 2019, the Nigerias House of Representative, following public outcry against excruciating acceptance fee charged by the nations institutions of higher learning moved a motion through Honourable Emeka Chinedu, PDP-Imo (Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency), abolishing the payment of such fees in all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Leading the debate, Mr Chinedu, according to the reports observed that one of the factors contributing to poor access to tertiary education is the predatory admission policies being enforced by tertiary institutions, particularly the requirement for payment of non-refundable acceptance fees as a condition precedent for admission. He said in part; it should bother the lawmakers that Imo State University charges N70, 000 as acceptance fee. Other institutions like the University of Ibadan charge 35,000; University of Lagos, 20,000; Ahmadu Bello University, 30,000; Lagos State University, N20,000; University of Uyo, 25,000, and University of Benin hovers between N60, 000.00 to N75, 000.00, depending on the department and faculty. In the end, the plenary presided over by the Former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, (present Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu) described acceptance fee as exploitative and called on Federal Government, to immediately abolish the payment of such fees in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Without doubt, when parents and their wards heard of this resolution, they were happy. But, reacting to the development via a piece, I described the resolution as a two edged sword. First, it portrayed the House as both a responsive and responsible body capped with listening capacity to the yearning of the poor Nigerians. The piece in question also argued that the House of Representatives resolution shows that the survival of freedom depends upon the rule of law. But on the second thought, I submitted that the validity of the resolution will largely depend on how the university authorities in the country respect, interpret and enforce such promulgation, particularly, as demand for acceptance fees in the institutions of higher learning in Nigeria have become a culture that will be too difficult to uproot. Today, such fear can no longer be described as unfounded. The early warning that led to my expression of fear was nourished by perennial underfunding of the nations education sector and exacerbated by reluctant respects University leaderships in the country have paid to similar directives in the past. Take as an illustration, Idowu Olayinka, vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan,(as he then was), while informing the media of his institutions readiness to comply with the directive on acceptance fee, explained that the amount accruing to the University of Ibadan, for instance, in a year is not enough to fund the university in a month. Therefore, the school has to look for alternative means to source for funds. Someone has to take up the bill, he said. We have to make up our mind on what we really want. You cant even run a creche without funds. In a year, we spend at least N200 million on our clinic contractors. Add this to the electricity bill and diesel, then youre talking of over N800 million. What the university is getting for overhead is less than N100 million. So where do you think the remaining N700 million will come from? Unless you want to close down the whole university, he added. For me, why all Nigerians of goodwill should worry about these blanket inability by tertiary schools in Nigeria to comply with the Houses directive on acceptance fee is that instead of schools acting in compliance, many contrary to expectation and to the surprise of stakeholders/observers retained the prevailing fees while the rest in absolute disobedience and challenge to the new order had an upward review of their acceptance fees. Also deeply troubling is the awareness that school authorities demanding acceptance fees from new students have not been able to explain what the payment signifies or provide answers as to why students must pay acceptance fee for an admission they voluntarily expressed interest and paid examination fees, took time to study in order to be admitted. Expressly, it will be convenient for many to argue that the crushing weight arising from education funding in Nigeria and globally has become too heavy for only the government to shoulder, and therefore, our collective responsibility to ensure that our schools work and our children are properly educated at the right time in ways that will necessitate payments such as acceptance fees. This fact notwithstanding, it does not in any way justify the demand for acceptance fees. To therefore curb this illicit collections, Nigerian universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country as well as the Federal and state governments must in the first instance consider education as the bedrock of development; that with sound educational institutions, a country is as good as made -as the institutions will turn out all rounded manpower to continue with the development of the society driven by well thought out ideas, policies, programmes, and projects. We must also come to the collective recognition that across the world, children enjoy the right to education as enshrined by a number of international conventions, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which recognizes a compulsory primary education for all, an obligation to develop secondary education accessible to all, as well as the progressive introduction of free higher education/obligation to develop equitable access to higher education. Finally, the government and of course universities in the country must not use it to deny our youths the opportunity to be educated. If we do, chances are that most of them will run to the streets. And as we know, the streets are known for breeding all sorts of criminals and other social misfits who constitute the real threat such as armed robbers, thugs, drug abusers, drunkards, prostitutes and all other social ills that give a bad name to the society. Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via; [email protected]/08032725374 . For some years now, the socio-political stature of lmo state has remained in deplorable condition, so have other states, Nigeria and almost every other nation- state in Africa. This is the general mentality of the common man in the concerned polities who everyday long for the advent of new things and who at the presence of the new things longed for reminisce about the past socio- political experiences and leaderships revolved by these anti-thesis. This same reality has resulted in both pessimistic and optimistic views on the dreamt new things. The pessimistic yearnings on new and ameliorated sitz in leben (setting in life) has the then bemused expression of Ayi Kwei Armah as benchmark for future critics on advents of new governments, or what Benson Omonede would call Trying Another Leg. According to Armah, in the life of the nation itself, maybe nothing really new would happen. New men would take into their hands the power to steal the nations riches and to use it for their own satisfaction. That of course was to be expected. New people would use the countrys power to get rid of men and women who talked a language that did not flatter them. There would be nothing different in that. That would be a continuation of the Ghanaian way of life. This forms the backbone of his theses that The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, and as a simulacrum, the good leaders are not yet born. All we have are the same people- The Ugly Ones. Our yearnings for new leaders are just for trying another leg. This ideology seems anti-change, especially with his insistence that there is no difference between all old and new leaders, no difference between all the white and their apes, the lawyers and the merchants, and now the apes of the apes, our Party Men. And after their reign is over, there will be no difference then. All new men will be like the old. Yet, it bears in se, optimistic inclinations that characterise human rational sociality: Desire, yearnings, cravings, dreams, aspirations, etc (all in their grandeurs). The optimistic view is powered by the African mindset that anaghi ano otu uzo eti mmonwu (masquerade does not gyrate in a place, it strides), which essence is against the saying thatold wine are tasty. But we need to ask Ayi Kwei Armah what we should do in this circumstance. Do we just fold our hands and wait for the advent of the beautiful, the good? Or should we do away with the old fellows of our sort and specie? Perhaps, his answer might be no, because like his interlocutor, The Man said, what our leaders ought to do is to have attitudinal change, which concentrates on the commongood of the masses, and not to be backed up by the suffering masses themselves urging the erring leaders to speed up in the wrong directions like every other citizen. Whether adjudged from the Armahs purview or from the lived-reality, all our leaders are the same, they are from the same ugly generation. No beautiful one is there because none has been born. The new comers in the terrain are in the same ugly generation of our rational sociality and zeitgeist. And just as Armah said, they are men who know nothing about politics [who] have grown hot with ideology, thinking of the money that will come. The [retired] civil servant who hates socialism is there, singing hosanna, the poet [and novelist] is there, serving power and waiting to fill his coming paunch with crumbs. He will no doubt jump to go and shit on us. Everybody who wants speed goes there [into politics], and the only thing demanded of them is that they be good at fawning. In this category of politicians, new men are against the old, the incumbents. Everyone comes against the old powers, for change. But according to Armahs prediction, for those who had [triumphantly] come against the old power, there would be much happiness. But for the nation [or state] itself, there would only be a change of embezzlers and a change of the hunters and the hunted. Informed by these, the Imo case is a pitiable one. Inscriptions, calligraphy, bill-boards decorations and beautiful marks on campaign buses and posters, like orations and ovations at campaign grounds are no novelties in the Imo and Nigerian electoral stratagems. They are like the cyclic liturgical calendar of the hierarchical churches of European origin. Inscriptions in campaigns ought to be innocuous and cryptic. My reflections since two months now have been driven to a focal point- the political inscriptions and brief campaign slogans of some candidates, and have discovered their vagueness than cryptic or even innocuous\s nature. Its lack of comparative slogan shows his apprenticeship to the apex administrative political position. It shows lack of experience, neither good nor bad- a greenhorn-political aspirant. This reminds me of Ayi Kwei Armahs bitter regret on the calibre of political aspirants that spring up in Africa, when he wrote: men who know nothing about politics, have grown hot with ideology, thinking of the money that will come. Despite his pitiable pot of inexperience, the untrained civilian is going on rescue mission in a war front. Perhaps his return, a simulacrum of the lineage vacuity created by the fallen heroes of the Nigerian-Biafran war whom kiths and kin gave up hopes of rejoining their fraternity after many years of still absence. To rescue literary means to save somebody or something from a dangerous or harmful situation. While socio-political rescue entails first and foremost a captivity siz in leben; what Karl Jaspers called boundary situation, the extreme and poorest condition of living. I am not saying that we dont need a rescuer. Certainly we do; perhaps, just as the Jews did, even though they hallowed and assassinated the God with them, notwithstanding his godsend status. Before one can lead he must pass through the hurdles of following, for no man can lead well when he hasnt learnt the art of following and passed the hurdles of leadership-apprenticeship. Every self-imposed rescuer, leader or judge surely has the possibility of answering the Mosaic question- Who made you to be prince over us and judge? (Ex. 2:14). Every rescuer in Imo State is welcomed but let the rescuers not be Prophet Hananiah to Imolites (who prophesied contrary to Prophet Jeremiahs words, and broke the wooden yokes of the exiled Israelites only to provoke Gods imposition of an iron yoke of enslavement (Jer. 28:1-17). All over the world, and in the present day democracy, nowhere have giants and the richest ruled. The most affluent do not rule instead they sponsor those with leadership charisma- the Philosopher Kings. Aliyu Dangote is a million times richer than our president, yet he maintains his huge height in the field of life where he excels and is gifted. If philantropism gives such qualifications, St JohnBosco, Blessed Luigi Guanella, Blessed Chiara Bossata, Blessed Thomas M aria Fusco and Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta, to mention but a few renowned, top-notch and world-class philanthropists of our zeitgeist, would have become Presidents of their countries, Roman Catholic Bishops and Popes or Heads of the Vatican Nation-City. Mother Thereasa of Calcutta of the blessed memory travelled all over the world without visa and flight fees but her holiness, charity-charisma and philantropism did not make her consecrate Holy Communion for Catholics or assume clergy. Philantropism like holiness is different from a States apex leadership position (or the priesthood). There is no denying the fact that since former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar broke his silence on the certificate of President Bola Tinubu that the media has been agog with calls been made by individuals and groups that Mr. President should tender his resignation letter even as some with democratic mindsets have continue to opinionate that he should be impeached by members of the National Assembly. In fact, the last few days have remained a period of careful consolidation for the news industry that has been both disrupted and galvanized by Tinubus certificate crisis. Both journalists and audiences have, to some degree, been burnt out by the relentless intensity of the news agenda, alongside increasingly polarized debates about the propriety of his being in power. Without sounding exaggerative in this context, this could be the period when journalism takes a breath, focuses on the basics, and comes back stronger as no Journalist is expected to be unprofessionally biased or encumbered by primordial sentiments as the betterment of the country remains the bigger picture while covering and publishing stories that surround the propriety of the president to remain in power. Against the backdrop of the foregoing outlooks, it is expedient to recall in this context that the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a pro-democracy group, has issued a statement demanding the resignation of President Bola Tinubu in light of allegations related to certificate forgery at Chicago State University (CSU) and other alleged fraud issues. The call for his resignation was made by the Executive Director of NADECO in the USA, Lloyd Ukwu, who emphasized the importance of integrity and adherence to the rule of law in the office of the President of Nigeria. For the sake of clarity, and particularly for the benefits of readers that were not born at the time NADECOcontinually left its footprints on Nigerias political landscape, it is expedient to state that the coalition was known for its advocacy of democracy, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria. In a similar vein, the United Action Front of Civil Society has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the president, demanding both an apology to Nigerians and his immediate resignation, warning that failure to do so would, according to the group, warrant the National Assembly to initiate an impeachment process against him. As been expressed, and to reiteratively put, the ultimatum follows the expose of alleged forgery and perjury related to his academic records from Chicago State University (CSU). The civil society group expressed outrage and embarrassment over the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in leadership. Hamisu Santuraki, the spokesperson of the CSO, conveyed these demands through a statement released on Friday. The groups statement highlighted the longstanding speculations surrounding President Tinubusidentity and academic history. It pointed out that as governor of Lagos State, his background had been shrouded in opaqueness, and previous false claims on official documents had not been adequately addressed. Specifically, the CSO stated, It is rather unfortunate that the Tinubu Chicago Gate expose has now confirmed the longstanding speculations regarding the identity of Bola Tinubu. As widely known, and as deposed by the Chicago State University, Tinubu falsely claimed to have attended Government College in Ibadan and also forged the CSU diploma certificate he presented to INEC for the 2023 presidential elections. The group asserted that President Tinubus alleged actions amounted to a serious breach of the law, including perjury and forgery. They cited constitutional violations and called for immediate action. On a personal note, permit this writer to opine that anyone or group calling for Tinubus resignation is unarguably on a wild goose chase. The reason for the foregoing view is that it seems we have forgotten a video that trended in December 2022 ahead of the Presidential election that was held earlier this year where Mr. Tinubu was seen giving the charge to some top party operatives in London.Without doubt, the video which was posted online while he was in the United Kingdom after attending a Chatham House engagement speaks volume. As conveyed by the video, Mr. President, then as an aspirant was heard bragging that Political power is not going to be served in a restaurant. They dont serve it a la carte. At all cost, fight for it, grab it and run with it, and in that vein somewhat charged some top party operatives in London to be confident about his emergence as next Nigerian President. At this juncture, it is expedient to make reference to what someone once said that "What a man says in the past will always define him. I must confess that I once doubted the assertion, until I placed it in the context of a name that is common among Ika-speaking people in Delta State. The name Okwuonyeche simply means A mans past words wait for him in the future. You may have wondered, and asked, How accurate is this. Well, lets leave it for another day. Come to think of it, a presidential candidate for an election that was scheduled to hold in early 2023 in faraway Chatham House in the UK urging his supporters to grab power and run with it leaves much to be desired. Could it be that the words that were flagrantly uttered in Chatham House is finding expression in the ongoing political impasse? The foregoing question, no doubt, is the question which not a few political analysts and observers are asking. In fact, it beats this writer hollow to hear that some individuals and groups are urging Mr. President to resign. I cant get it. In Nigeria? I asked no one in particular. The reason for the foregoing reaction cannot be farfetched as Nigeria is not UK where Liz Truss was recorded in political history to have resigned without being forcefully prodded. No! In Nigeria, they grab power and run away with it. To recap the foregoing, it is expedient to recall that Liz Truss who was UKs Prime Minister resigned last year following a failed tax-cutting budget that rocked financial markets and which led to a revolt within her own Conservative Party. Still in a similar vein, it will be recalled that Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th President of the United States on the night of August 8, 1974 made an announcement of his resignation to Americans informing them that he will resign as the President of the United States at noon today; the next day being August 9. Sequel to his announcement, the Vice President Gerald R. Ford of Michigan was penciled to take the oath as the new President at noon to complete the remaining 2 1/2 years of Mr. Nixon's term. You might have wondered why he resigned. The answer to your question cannot be farfetched as it is recorded in political history that after two years of bitter public debate over the Watergate scandals, President Nixon bowed to pressures from the public and leaders of his party to become the first President in American history to resign. "By taking this action," he said in a subdued yet dramatic television address from the Oval Office, "I hope that I will have hastened the start of the process of healing which is so desperately needed in America." Having shared much view on this issue, it is germane to urge those advocating that the president should resign to perish the thought, and disembark from the horse theyve been riding on in their wild goose chase as it is obvious that in Nigeria, a president dont resign. Rather, He fights for it, grab it and run with it The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said its digital currency, e-Naira posed no threat to financial stability in the country. The Director, Corporate Communications Department of CBN, Dr Isa AbdulMumin said this on Monday in Marrakech. AbdulMumin was reacting to a recent media report that raised concerns about Nigerias Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), eNaira, indicating potential risks to financial stability. The media report, quoting articles from a book recently released by the CBN indicated that in spite its success in narrowing the countrys financial inclusion gap, the eNaira was a potential threat to financial stability. It said that since its inception, bank deposit conversion to eNaira have exhibited an average monthly growth of 78.3 percent and totaled about N1.66 billion. According to Abdulmumin, a review of the report indicates lack of understanding of some portions of some articles in a book recently released by the CBN titled, Economics of Digital Currencies. A recurring theme in the book is the interest of regulators such as CBN in the role of crypto currencies as speculative investments and the potential threat they harbour for financial stability. The articles in the book provide an in-depth understanding of CBDCs generally and the workings of the Naira, he said. The director assured that as the eNaira structure continued to evolve, it was undergoing modifications targeted at improving the user experience across all interfaces. We encourage Nigerians to embrace the technology for among other things, greater financial inclusion, AbdulMumin said. 2 Thais killed, 8 injured, 11 kidnapped in Hamas attack on Israel BANGKOK: Two Thais are now known to have died during the Hamas attacks on Israel on Saturday (Oct 7), the premier said after arriving in Hong Kong yesterday afternoon. violencepoliticsdeath By Bangkok Post Monday 9 October 2023 07:38 AM Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin speaks of the condition of Thai workers in Israel before he departs from Wing 6 in Don Muang district yesterday morning (Oct 8). Photo: Wassana Nanuam Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he had received a report from Pannabha Chandraramya, Thai ambassador to Tel Aviv, that one more Thai national had perished in the conflict, raising the toll to two. The ambassador said people of many nationalities had been kidnapped by Hamas militants, and battles were continuing along the border of the Gaza Strip. Israel had reoccupied only two areas, but neither contained workplaces for Thais, she said. Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said eight Thai people were injured and 11 Thais were captured, reports the Bangkok Post. Of the eight injured Thais, five were admitted to hospital and three others were awaiting rescue, the minister said. Earlier yesterday, Mr Srettha said a Thai worker was killed and about 11 others were captured during the Hamas attacks, while a total sky lockdown was delaying evacuations. Before his overseas trip set from yesterday to Thursday, Mr Srettha said at Wing 6 in Don Muang there was an unconfirmed report that one Thai was killed and about 11 others were detained in Israel. He had not been informed of the exact number of injured Thai people there. The prime minister said he would use all available diplomatic means to have the Thai victims freed. They are innocent and have nothing to do with any conflict, he said. There had yet to be a confirmed report on the whereabouts of the affected Thais, and people in Israel were ordered to stay home during ongoing lockdown measures, Mr Srettha said. The air force was readying transport aircraft for the evacuation of Thai people from Israel where the situation remains of concern, he said. He advised the Thai ambassador in Israel to keep the aircraft on standby near Israel for quick evacuation when it is possible. However, the Israeli sky remained completely closed, he said. One flight could carry 423 people, the prime minister said. There were about 25,000 Thai workers in Israel and about 5,000 of them were in locked-down areas. Mr Srettha excluded Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee from his trip delegation and ordered him to remain in the country to oversee operations concerning the situation in Israel. During this trip Mr Srettha will visit Hong Kong, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. Mongolia opens honorary consulate in Phuket PHUKET: The Embassy of Mongolia has opened an Honorary Consulate in Phuket to help facilitate tourism and trade ties. economicstourism By The Phuket News Monday 9 October 2023 01:30 PM The office is on the first floor of The Gig Hotel, located on Sansabai Soi 4, near the Bangla nightlife district. Present for the formal opening of the consulate on Saturday (Oct 7) were Mongolia Ambassador to Thailand Tumur Amarsanaa and Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, former Minister of the Prime Ministers Office, along with Mongolian Honorary Consul Nutthaphong Phathakiatpaisan and Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat. Ambassador Tumur said that the opening of the consulate help to mark 49 years of friendly relations between Mongolia and Thailand. The establishment of an Honorary Consulate in Phuket will help to elevate diplomatic relations between the two countries to a new level. It is a good opportunity to promote and create opportunities through the exchange of knowledge and wisdom in various fields between the people of both countries, he said. Mr Natthaphong added, Mongolia is a beautiful and fascinating country. It also has a long and interesting history. Mongolia is the birthplace of Genghis Khan, also known as Chinggis Khan, who was the founder and first khagan of the Mongol Empire, which later became the largest contiguous land empire in history. I sincerely hope that we can promote tourism between the two countries even more. Both Thai tourists trips to Mongolia to experience the culture and the beauty of exotic nature, and Mongolian tourists who will travel to Thailand, especially Phuket and Phang Nga provinces. Each year the number of tourists continues to increase, he said. The Mongolian government has a policy to seriously support and promote the tourism industry, Mr Nutthapong noted. The Mongolian government has announced 2023 and 2024 as its Years to visit Mongolia and has set a goal to increase the number of tourists traveling to Mongolia from 250,000 to 1 million next year, he said. The boost is hoped generate some US$1 billion in tourism revenue for Mongolia, equivalent to 15% of the countrys GDP Under the Years to visit Mongolia campaign, citizens from 34 countries, including Thailand, will be exempted from visas, bringing the total to 61 countries whose nationals are exempt from visas for entering Mongolia. Tourism between Thailand and Mongolia is increasing, Mr Nutthapong added. In 2019, there were about 6,000 Thai tourists to Mongolia, while approximately 16,000 Mongolian tourists came to Thailand. But the numbers have fallen, despite recovering somewhat after the impact on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the number of Thai tourists going to Mongolia was 1,118, while 5,245 Mongolian tourists came to Thailand, he said. Aiming to help boost tourism numbers, weekly flights between Phuket and the Mongolian capital Ulaanbataar are set to begin next month, and around 15,000 Mongolian visitors are expected to visit the island next year. Currently there are only three direct lights between Bangkok and Ulaanbataar every week. Trade and investment between Thailand and Mongolia also stood to benefit. There is a high opportunity to jointly develop cooperation. Mongolia has strengths in agriculture, livestock and various minerals, while Thailand has expertise in technology and the skills to add value to products, he explained. Over the past two years, the value of trade between Mongolia and Thailand has continued to increase. There are investors from Thailand interested in investing in the mining industry and renewable energy industry in Mongolia. Meanwhile, investors from Mongolia have entered the Thailand market, he said, highlighting that leading alcoholic beverage producer in Mongolia APU has begun to market its premium vodka brand Chinggis Khan in Thailand. Under a five-year cooperation plan between Mongolia and Thailand (2022-2027), it has been set as a goal to increase the trade value between Mongolia and Thailand by a total of US$1.5 billion US dollars by 2027, from the current cumulative investment of the Thai private sector in Mongolia of approximately US$1,035bn, he added. Patong tuk-tuk drivers charged for assault on tourist PHUKET: Three tuk-tuk drivers in Patong have been charged with jointly causing harm to another person after an altercation with a tourist over a B300 fare early yesterday (Oct 8). patongtransportviolencetourism By The Phuket News Monday 9 October 2023 09:22 AM One of the tuk-tuk drivers readies to kick the tourist as he is being led away from the attack. Screenshot: Supplied Hotel staff assist the tourist away from the attack. Screenshot: Supplied Hotel staff assist the tourist away from the attack. Screenshot: Supplied Patong Police reported late last night that the three drivers involved in the incident had been charged. The report noted that a video of the assault, right in front of a resort on Rath-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, was posted online yesterday. Patong Police said they had tracked down the primary tuk-tuk driver involved in the incident, named in the report only as Mr Anuson, 29, through CCTV. Anuson was brought to Patong Police Station, where he named two other tuk-tuk drivers involved in the physical attack: named by police as Mr Apisid, 26, and Mr Nasrulloh, 28 * The three men were later fully identified as Anuson Sansathan, 28, from Krabi; Apisid Suwanno, 24, from Surat Thani; and Nasrulloh Smuhasenito, 27, from Hat Yai. Anuson picked up a Saudi tourist at the corner of Soi Sansabai and Rath-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd at about 6:15am, police explained. The tourist asked to be taken to a hotel located near Kalim Circle. The agreed fare was B200. However, when reaching the destination the tourist said it was the wrong hotel and asked to be taken to another hotel, on Rath-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd. On arriving at the hotel on Rath-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd, Anuson said the fare was B400. The tourist paid only B300, police said. Anuson called his two friends and fellow tuk-tuk drivers, Apisid and Nasrulloh, to help. When they arrived, the negotiations were not fruitful, Patong Police explained. During the argument the tourist took the tuk-tuk keys by force, leading to the three tuk-tuk drivers, Anuson, Apisid and Nasrulloh, to assault him, police said. The video of the incident posted online showed the tourist being assisted away from the tuk-tuk by what appeared to be hotel staff. While the hotel staff were holding the tourist up and attempting to move him away from the scene of the altercation, two of the tuk-tuk drivers can be seen kicking the tourist. The first kick landed high near the face, the second kick was to the stomach. All three were charged with jointly causing physical harm to another person, Patong Police confirmed. Patong Police has also coordinated with the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) regarding the suspension of the tuk-tuk drivers driving licenses, police noted in their report. Police will still ticket motorists despite ruling BANGKOK: Motorists will continue to be ticketed despite the Central Administrative Court (CAC) deciding police have issued traffic tickets unlawfully since July 2020. transportpolice By Bangkok Post Monday 9 October 2023 03:48 PM Photo: Bangkok Post The CAC ruled on Sept 27 that a Royal Thai Police (RTP) announcement which went into effect on July 20, 2020, pertaining to traffic tickets, was unlawful, reports the Bangkok Post. The ruling came after Supa Chotngam, a motorist, petitioned the court asking the announcement be revoked. She lodged the petition against the RTP and the national police chief. The court, which made public its ruling on Oct 6, found the RTP announcement misled Ms Supa into believing she had committed a traffic offence and had to pay a fine with no right to dispute the ticket. It contravened Section 29 of the constitution, according to the CAC. Section 29 stipulates that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. No law enforcement authority must treat such a person as though they have already committed an offence. The CAC decided the announcement was also unlawful in setting fixed rates of traffic fines when the matter should be left to the direction of traffic police. The announcement was made under the Land Traffic Act. The CAC ordered the announcement be revoked with retrospective effect from July 20, 2020, raising confusion over whether motorists should pay traffic tickets issued since or if the police can continue to hand out tickets. It was reported that a minority judge in the case argued the petitioner could not be presumed to be devoid of a right to dispute her ticket. In fact, according to the judge, the petitioner was entitled to refuse to pay the fine and contest the case in court. The announcement, therefore, does not cause her right to dispute the ticket to be forfeited. The RTP has 30 days in which to appeal the CACs ruling. If the RTP does not appeal, revocation of the announcement will take effect. According to deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the RTP will appeal against the ruling, reports said. Pending the outcome, Pol Gen Surachate said fine will need to be paid at the rates specified in the announcement and traffic police will carry on issuing tickets. THEOS-2 launched into orbit BANGKOK: Thailands second earth observation satellite, THEOS-2, was successfully launched into orbit from the French Guiana Space Centre this morning (Oct 9), Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) announced. By Bangkok Post Monday 9 October 2023 01:31 PM Thailand Earth Observation Satellite 2 (THEOS-2) being prepared for launch at Europes Spaceport in French Guiana, South America, early this month. Photo: Supplied via Bangkok Post The launch was at 8:36am Thailand time (10:36pm, Sunday in French Guiana), reports the Bangkok Post At 9:31am Thailand time staff in the control room at the launch station applauded as the satellite detached from the VEGA Flight VV23 rocket and entered its orbit. About 10am, THEOS-2 began to transmit signals to Gistdas THEOS Control & Receiving Station at Si Racha in Chon Buri province. Taiwans FORMOSAT-7R and 10 satellites of the European Space Agency were also due to be launched on the same day. THEOS-2 was originally scheduled to launch on Oct 7 at 8:36am Thai time, but liftoff was postponed due to a technical problem 14 seconds before launch. The 425-kilogramme satellite can produce 50-centimetre high-resolution imagery and is tasked with security goals and disaster management. The satellite is expected to improve Thailands space technology infrastructure, human resources, space industry, geo-informatics and space technology, the announcement said. The satellite will also contribute to cartography, agricultural and food management, water management, disaster management, city planning and economic corridors, natural resources and ecosystems, Gistda said. THEOS-2 replaces THEOS-1, also known as Thaichote, launched on Oct 1, 2008, which has reached the end of its lifespan. Verstappen claims 14th win of memorable title-winning campaign FORMULA ONE: Newly-crowned three-time world champion Max Verstappen cruised to his 14th win of an outstanding season for Red Bull yesterday (Oct 8) when he won an exhausting, frantic and often confusing Qatar Grand Prix. Formula-One By AFP Monday 9 October 2023 01:50 PM Red Bull Racings Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium following the Qatari Formula One Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit yesterday (Oct 8). Photo: AFP The 26-year-old Dutchman, who secured his third straight title win in Saturdays sprint race, came home 4.838 seconds clear of McLarens rookie Oscar Piastri, who won Saturdays sprint, and lapped his Red Bull team-mate, erstwhile title rival, Sergio Perez. Lando Norris finished third in the second McLaren ahead of Mercedes George Russell, who survived a first-corner crash with team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who retired in the gravel. Ferraris Charles Leclerc, the Italian teams only runner after Carlos Sainz withdrew due to fuel issues before the start, finished fifth ahead of Aston Martins Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon of Alpine. Valtteri Bottas of Alfa Romeo was eighth, Perez came home ninth and Zhou Guanyu 10th in the second Alfa Romeo, but their positions were reversed due to the Mexicans time penalties. It was Verstappens 49th career victory and came complete with pole position and fastest lap, giving him a classic hat-trick to mark his triple title triumph. I think what made my race was my first stint, said Verstappen. After that I could manage the pace and keep the tyres in a good window, but the McLarens were quick and really pushed me. Piastri, reflecting the feelings of all the drivers, said: It was so hot. With three stops, it was flat out every lap so it was like 57 qualifying laps... Im happy, but it was the hardest race of my life. Norris said: Well, Im sweaty, hot, tired and happy. Mercedes chaos After another sweltering day, the air temperature was 32 and the track 37 when the race began in sensational fashion as the two Mercedes collided at Turn One in an accident that sent seven-time world champion Hamilton spinning out of the race. Verstappen had made a perfect start and Hamilton, the only front-runner on soft tyres, attempted to sweep round the outside of Russell, but succeeded only in steering his rear-right tyre into his compatriots front wing. The impact sent both cars spinning. Hamilton flew off, but Russell recovered to continue and make a pit stop as a safety car was deployed. After muttered complaints, Russell apologised, but it appeared that he had nowhere to go in an incident which, for Mercedes, revived memories of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix when Hamilton and team-mate Nico Rosberg collided and retired at the first corner. The winner on that day, claiming his maiden victory, was a then-18-year-old Verstappen. After four laps, the safety car came in and the race restarted with Verstappen blasting clear of Piastri to open up a lead of 1.2 seconds with Alonso third. This move followed Saturdays revision of the marked track limits and kerbs that had damaged the walls of several cars tyres on Friday and meant all the teams had to adopt a minimum three-stop strategy. Perez, who started from the pit-lane following car changes after his crash in Saturdays sprint, also sliced through the field to reach third before, on lap 18, after Verstappen pitted, Williams Alex Albon took the lead and Perez fell, after a stop, to 16th. Albon pitted within a lap and Verstappen was back in charge ahead of Piastri and Alonso, all on a three-stop strategy. In addition to the frantic tactical challenge of the new tyre rules, several drivers were shown a black and white warning flag for exceeding track limits - meaning a repeat transgression would bring a five-second penalty. For Perez, this duly came as Verstappens domination continued. By lap 30, he was 22 seconds clear of Russell as he set a record for laps led in a season with his 740th in command, beating the 2013 record set by four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. The demanding conditions took their toll on the drivers. Alonso went off at Turn Two and survived a gravel trap before re-joining via an escape road and then Logan Sargeant reported feeling nauseous and vomiting in his helmet. I dont feel well, man, said Sargeant. I need to stop. On lap 42, he retired and Perez collected another five-second penalty. Meanwhile, Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll said he was passing out and suffering from blurred vision during yesterdays race. The 24-year-old son of Canadian team owner Lawrence Stroll finished 11th but he was unhappy. Its ridiculous, he said. These temperatures - everything goes blurry. The last 25-30 laps its just blurry in the high-speed corners. Blood pressure dropping, just passing out, basically, in the high-speed corners with high loaded G-forces. The kerbs are now painted because theyre worried about punctures. I couldnt see where I was going because I was passing out. I was fading in and out. The temperature was too much. Albon was admitted to the medical centre for treatment after the race. In a statement, Williams said: 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. 'A father was washing his car with his son, and his son turned around to ask him 'Why can't you use a sponge like everyone else. My jeans are scratching the paint.' Condemns | IMPHAL, Oct 8 : Condemning the bomb attack near the residence of RD & PR Minister Y Khemchand last night, a sit-in protest was staged at Singjamei Chingamathak Yumnam Leikai today. The protesters demanded that the group or individuals responsible for the attack must clarify their motive. Speaking to the media, one of the protesters Yambem ongbi Santibala said that carrying out a life-threatening attack against a leader of the State during this difficult period is highly condemnable. She asked the group or individuals concerned to talk with the Minister if there is any misunderstanding between them instead of resorting to gun or bomb threat in a crowded place. She also appealed to all concerned to shun using guns and bombs to deliver their message. One CRPF personnel was injured in the explosion last night. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. The contractual conservancy staff of Kolkata Municipal Corporation are facing difficulties in availing medical services under the ESI services. The matter was brought to light by one of the councillors of the municipal corporation at the House yesterday. Rupak Ganguly, councillor of ward number 121, pointed out the problems being faced by the contrac- tual conservancy staff and their families who are suffering because of unavailability of medical services under the scheme. According to the member mayor-in-council for Solid Waste Management Department, Debabrata Majumdar, the agency responsible for looking after the ESI facility of the employees is allegedly not providing services to the conservancy staff and their families. Even as the regular staff are said to be getting the benefit, their families are not being provided with the facilities of the scheme. According to the MMIC, a closer look revealed that the agencys not depositing the stipulated amount was the reason for disruption of services. The agency, on being approached, is said to have agreed to pay the amount for the families of the regular employees for availing benefits under ESI. Advertisement The civic body has issued a show cause to the agency and the matter has been sent to the legal cell of the KMC. The KMC is now exploring legal options against the agency. Meanwhile, the KMC is chasing deadlines to repair the damaged roads in the city. The KMC mayor, Firhad Hakim, urged the officials of the department to complete the task before the upcom- ing pujas. Mr Hakim also asked the department officials to update him daily about repair work done from the list of 45 roads identified by the city police. With the festival of Mahalaya round the corner, the offi- cials have also been asked to visit to he city ghats and ensure they are provided with proper lighting. Siding with the downtrodden has not just been the motto of the grassroots party Trinamool but it has been its biggest weapon as far as wresting power from incumbents is concerned. Mamata Banerjee, it will be remembered, brought the thirty-four-year-old Communist regime to its knees with two powerful movements in Singur and Nandigram in the mid-2000s, when she backed the farmers resistance to the takeover of their lands for the setting up of a car factory and a chemical hub respectively. This time, before the Parliamentary elections, the party has espoused the cause of the poor laborers in the state who have not yet received payment for their work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MGNREGA. Taking on the Centre and demanding that the funds be released without delay, Trinamools high profile protest rally in Delhi between October 1 and October 3 catapulted the issue to the national level. And that was a strategic move because Trinamools current agenda is to try and dethrone the BJP-led NDA government in the general elections. Trinamool is an integral member of the alliance formed by twenty-six of the countrys Opposition political parties INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance). Highlighting its solidarity with the poor and the downtrodden is expected to project the party as one which is not only joining hands with others but also has its heart in the right place. At home, that is in the state of West Bengal, the party is keeping up the pressure by holding rallies at street corners, meetings at public places and press conferences attended by civil society. Over the weekend, members of Shomoyer Daakey the same civil society which had backed Mamata Banerjees movement in Singur and Nandigram lent their weight behind the issue when they got together to address a press conference held in Kolkata demanding the immediate release of the poor peoples money. Led by Purnendu Basu, trade union leader and former Trinamool minister, it was attended artists, film makers, music composers, journalists, politicians, writers and theatre personalities. Advertisement The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) raids today at the res- idences of prominent Trinamul Congress figures in Bengal, triggered a wave of accusations and counteraccusations. Trinamul Congress spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that the Central government has become jittery in the wake of party national secretary Abhishek Banerjees campaign against the depriva- tion of MGNREGA funds for the state, so it again let loose the CBI. The controversy all began with a surprise visit to the home of Firhad Hakim, the states minister for urban development, early in the morning. CBI officials arrived at his residence and initiated searches. Advertisement Shortly thereafter, the CBIs attention turned to the residence of Madan Mitra, a Member of the Legi slative Assembly from Kamarhati. Similar searches were car ried out at his property. The CBIs searches have yet to yield any clear results, despite their extensive efforts over the past few days. Meanwhile, tensions have escalated, with Firhad Hakim suggesting that the CBI is targeting ministers with a hidden agenda. Mr Hakim expressed his concerns, stating: The CBI seems to be targeting ministers with a predetermined agenda, creating a vortex of central agencies. He hinted at political motives behind these investigations. In response to these developments, Kunal Ghosh took to social media and posted on X: The era of Abhishek Banerjees defiance is heating up. Pressure is mounting on the BJP. Central ministers are coming, but results are elusive. The Governor seems aloof and is distancing himself. Hence, attention has once again turned to agencies. The BJPs self-defense strat- egy continues. In this way, the Trinamul Congress will not be subdued. Sunday witnessed further drama as CBI officials descend- ed upon the residences of Firhad Hakim and Madan Mitra. Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, minister of agriculture said: Creating fear in the name of investigations is not productive.The situation remains tense, with political pundits speculating about the true motivations behind these actions, and the future implications for West Bengals political landscape. Marking a significant surge, automobile retail sales in India registered a 20 per cent spike for September reaching 1.89 million units as compared to the same period last year. The data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) showed the sales surged due to a positive market sentiment driven by favourable monsoon. All the automotive categories showed a surge in the sales for the period, except for tractors which witnessed a 10% decline. Advertisement How the categories performed? FADA said the two-wheelers posted a robust growth of 22 per cent , passenger vehicles saw a steady 19 per cent rise, and the commercial vehicles also reported a 5 per cent growth. Two-wheeler segment rose from 1.08 million units last year to 1.31 million units this year while the commercial vehicle sales increased from 77,054 units last year to 80,804 units this year. Passenger vehicle sales reached 332,248 units compared to 279,137 in September 2022. Three-wheeler sales reached an all-time high in September marking a spike of 49%. For this period, 102,426 units of the vehicle were sold, marking a jump from the 68,937 units sold in the same month last year. Importantly, this number surpassed the previous record set in August 2023, which stood at 99,907 units. Speaking on the performance, President of FADA Manish Raj Singhania said, With the introduction of new models and attractive promotional offers, demand increased, especially in rural areas, fostering improved market sentiments. This uptick in demand was accompanied by heightened customer walk-ins and an overall positive market response. Soaring inventory levels A concern According to the data, an area of concern for dealers is the soaring inventory levels. It has reached an all-time high of 60-65 days. However, the industry is optimistic about the upcoming festive season, including Durga Puja and Navratri. Speaking on the soaring inventory, the President said as we move past the Shraadh period on October 14, the market is poised for the onset of Navratri, heralding a 42-day festive window. With these promising indicators, FADA adopts an optimistic stance, anticipating a thriving festive season for the Indian Auto Retail sector, he said. Septembers auto retail celebrated a 20% year-on-year leap, continuing the momentum from the previous month while marking a 3.5% month-on-month increase, seamlessly transitioning into the festive periods sweet spot set to unfold over the next 42 days, FADA President added. The collapsed crypto exchange FTX used hidden Python code to misrepresent the value of its insurance fund, according to court testimony by FTX co-founder, Gary Wang. Sam Bankman-Fried-run FTX claimed in 2021 on Twitter that the 5.25 million FTT (FTX tokens) we put in our insurance fund in 2019 now makes the fund worth over 100 million USD. Now, FTXs former chief technology officer Wang said during his testimony that FTXs so-called $100 million insurance fund in 2021 was actually fabricated, reports Cointelegraph. Advertisement Instead, the figure shown to the public was calculated by multiplying the daily trading volume of the FTX Token by a random number close to 7,500. For one, there is no FTT in the insurance fund. Its just the USD number. And, two, the number listed here does not match what was in the database, Wang said. FTXs insurance fund was designed to protect user losses in case of huge, sudden market movements. In addition to revealing the allegedly fraudulent nature of FTXs insurance fund, Wang claimed that he and Nishad Singh were prompted by Bankman-Fried to implement an allow_negative balance feature in the code at FTX. It allowed Alameda Research to trade with near-unlimited liquidity on the crypto exchange, he was quoted as saying. ]Wang had admitted to committing wire fraud, commodities fraud and securities fraud with Bankman-Fried, former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison and former-FTX director of engineering, Nishad Singh. Wang earlier told the court that a tweet sent by Bankman-Fried assuring that the cryptocurrency exchange was fine was false. FTX was not fine. Assets were not fine, because FTX did not have enough assets for customer withdrawals, said Wang. The FTX trial is expected to last six weeks. FTX once the worlds second-largest cryptocurrency exchange filed for bankruptcy in November last year. Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas on December 12, 2022 and extradited to the US on December 21. 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) General Secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth Acharya Balkrishna called it a matter of pride that the time-tested diplomatic relationship between Indian and Korean entered fiftieth year. But he said the relationship dates back to hundreds and thousands of years. Nevertheless, it is a matter of great joy that the two countries are celebrating the fiftieth year of their diplomatic relations, the Acharya said while speaking at the Wellness Festival-2023 organised in Yangsung Bukto province of South Korea. Advertisement The general secretary of Patanjali was a special invitee on the occasion. In his speech, he dwelt at length on the subject of Indian and Sanatan culture and Ayurvedic medicines. During the festival, Acharyaji released a book titled Glossary of Korean Medicines compiled by the Patanjali group. The book received lots of accolades. Speaking on the occasion, Governor of Youngsung Bukto expressed his desire to establish an Indian village in his region in future and also work with the Patanjali on the Korean Medicine System. He said the work that enhances Indianness and pride of India would definitely strengthen our mutual relations. A separate pavilion was made available for Patanjali products in this festival. Much enthusiasm was observed amongst the Korean people in the Patanjali stall. Acharya ji said there was trust and acceptance among the people towards Patanjali products. We are happy that most of the people here are already aware about Patanjali products, he said, adding that it was a pleasant surprise for them that the people there have already been using Patanjali Dantkanti and many other products. Wellness Walk and Yoga were also organised during the festival. Successful coordination of all these programmes was done by Dr. Hero Hitto, senior advisor to the University Research Committee of Subharti University, Meerut. Chief Executive Officer of Subharti University, Dr. Shaly Raj, Director of Holistic Medicine, Dr. Rohit Ravindra, Vice-Chancellor of Jamnagar University, Dr. Hirabhai Patel, Dean and Professor of Banaras Hindu University and Diplomat and Deputy Chief of Indian Embassy in South Korea. Mission Shri Nishi Kant Singh ji among others were present on the occasion. Shah Rukh Khan has been granted enhanced Y+ security by the Mumbai Police due to concerns over death threats he has received following the success of his recent movies, Pathaan and Jawan. The decision to upgrade his security was taken after he reported these threats to the authorities. Under the newly provided Y+ security cover, Shah Rukh Khan will be accompanied by a team of armed security personnel who will ensure his safety around the clock. This is a significant increase from his previous security detail, which consisted of only two personnel. As part of his upgraded security, Shah Rukh Khan will now walk along with 11 security personnel in total. This team includes six commandos, four police personnel, and a dedicated traffic clearance vehicle. Furthermore, police personnel will station themselves at Mannat, the actors residence. Advertisement Security personnel will be on a payment basis, and security measures will remain in place until high-level and review committees make further recommendations and decisions. Why did Shah Rukh ask for Y+ security? The actors request for additional security came in the form of a written complaint to the Maharashtra state government, where he expressed his apprehensions about the threats he had been receiving in the aftermath of his consecutive blockbuster releases. In response to Khans concerns, the Maharashtra government took swift action. The Maharashtra State Intelligence Department issued orders to all police commissionerates, district police, and special protection units (SPUs). The objective was to provide Shah Rukh Khan with Y+ category security immediately. This isnt the first time Shah Rukh Khan has faced such security concerns. Back in 2010, after the release of his film My Name Is Khan, he also received death threats. The Y+ security package costs 15 lakh rupees per month. The Maharashtra government provides it in accordance with its policy. In such cases, citizens need to pay a fee or deposit a security amount for their protection. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khans security is being beefed up to Y+ level. The actor has asked for security cover from Maharashtra government after he received death threats over the Besharam Rang song from his blockbuster film Pathaan, which released earlier this year. Various fringe outfits had taken offence to the use of saffron colour in one of the actress Deepika Padukones dresses in the song. These groups equated the use of saffron colour in the song with the title and took offence saying the song mocks the saffron colour which is associated with the Hindu sentiment. Advertisement Following the row over the song, Paramhans Acharya, an Ayodhya-based seer, had allegedly issued death threats to the actor. As per a media report, the actor had written to the state government seeking the security cover. Under the Y+ category, SRK will get 11 security personnel, including six commandos, four police personnel and a traffic clearance vehicle. The Y+ security is provided by the state to those citizens who face a threat to their lives. In response to the state governments directive, the IG VIP Security scaled up the actors security for which he will have to deposit a certain sum of money. Earlier, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was provided Y+ security cover last year following threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang. Lawrence Bishnoi Gang is the same gang that was involved in the day-light murder of Punjabi music star Sidhu Moosewala. Shah Rukh Khan has had run-ins with the Mumbai underworld earlier and has been known to stand up to threats. The long-anticipated passenger ferry service connecting India and Sri Lanka is set to kick off on Tuesday, October 10, marking a momentous event that has been in the making for over a decade. The initiative comes to fruition as a result of a memorandum of understanding signed between the two countries. In a collaborative effort, the Shipping Corporation of India in Mumbai, along with support from the High Commission of India and the Ministry of Port, Shipping, and Aviation, is ushering in this new passenger service bridging South India and the northern part of Sri Lanka. The ferry route will stretch from Nagapattinam, India, to the port of Kankesanthurai (KKS) in Jaffna, and vice versa. The vessel chosen to ply this route is the High-Speed Craft (HSC) Cheriyapani, which will make its inaugural call at the KKS port on October 6, 2023. This new passenger service presents an economical travel option for people in India, strengthening the historical bonds between the two nations. Advertisement Travelers will appreciate the swift journey as the transit time between the two ports is a mere 3 hours. In a bid to enhance affordability, the operators are generously offering a 50 kg baggage allowance. Departures from Nagapattinam will take place daily at 10 am, with arrivals in Kankesanthurai at 3 pm. The 150-seater ferry, manned by a crew of 14, will cover a distance of 60 nautical miles (111 km) in one direction. Notably, in the early 1900s, a combined train and ferry service known as the Boat Mail or Indo-Ceylon Express linked these two countries. The train route operated between Chennai and Dhanushkodi, while a boat service ferried passengers to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, followed by another train journey to Colombo. Unfortunately, the boat service was discontinued in 1964 after a train was swept into the sea by massive waves. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced that India and Tanzania elevated their ties to a strategic partnership as the two countries signed six accords and agreed on a five-year roadmap for cooperation in the field of defence. Today we are tying our age-old friendship into a strategic partnership, Mr Modi announced at a press conference after wide-ranging talks with visiting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan here. The PM said India and Tanzania were important partners for mutual trade and investment. Both sides are working on an agreement to increase trade in local currencies. We will continue to explore new opportunities to realise the full potential of our economic cooperation, he added. Advertisement Under the defence cooperation programme, the two nations will cooperate in areas like military training, maritime cooperation, capacity building, defense industry. Both leaders said they looked forward to increased interoperability between their armed forces. The six accords signed by the two sides are for cooperation in the field of digital solutions; technical cooperation between the two navies on sharing white shipping information; cultural exchange programme; cooperation in the field of sports; MoU between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Tanzania Investment Centre for setting up of an industrial park in Tanzania; and MoU between Cochin Shipyard Ltd. and Marine Services Co. Ltd. for cooperation in maritime industry. Tanzania was Indias largest development partner in Africa, Mr Modi noted, adding that India was providing support to it in fields like skill development, capacity building, vocational training, agriculture, health, water supply and other sectors. He informed that Tanzania has agreed to join the biofuel alliance, which was announced during the G20 summit in New Delhi last month. In addition to this, the African country has also decided to join the Big Cat alliance, which will help in exchange of felines like leopards and cheetahs, Modi added. Mr Modi also said that the opening of an IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar would open up new dimensions of quality education for students in Tanzania as well as of other nations. A joint statement issued by the two sides said the Tanzanian expressed interest to cooperate with India in the field of Blue economy including tourism, maritime trade, services and infrastructure, marine scientific research, capacity in seabed mining, ocean conservation and maritime safety and security. India and Tanzania agreed to cooperate under the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to ensure a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable Indian Ocean Region. Israel-Palestine war latest update: Israel has announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip as its defence forces continue their battle to secure Israeli territory more than two days after the unprecedented Hamas attack. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that they were in full control of the communities that had been attacked by Hamas but its border with Gaza was not yet completely secure. The IDF has said that more Palestinian militants could still be at large and acknowledged that dozens of Hamas fighters continue to enter the country from different locations. Israel-Palestine war 10 points Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, cutting off food, fuel, electricity and water supply to the Hamas-controlled region. The combined number of deaths in Israel and Gaza has soared past 1200 with nearly 6000 injured. According to the latest figures released by Israeli officials, at least 700 people, including foreign nationals have been killed since Saturdays Hamas assault and 130 Israelis have been taken hostages in Gaza. Those being held captive include women, children and IDF soldiers. On the other hand, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed so far in the Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, more than 120,000 Gazans rendered homeless after Israel asked them to flee their homes and most part of the Hamas-controlled region remain without electricity. Nine US citizens have been confirmed killed in Israel, while more than 10 British citizens are feared dead or missing, according to the officials from both the countries. The US has moved warships near Israel in the Mediterranean to show its support and said more military aide is being sent after Hamas attack. Meanwhile, an Egyptian official has claimed that Israel ignored repeated warnings of something big from Gaza and kept their focus on the West Bank. According to the Times of Israel, the official speaking on the condition of anonymity said that Egyptian intelligence agency warned Jerusalem that an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings. Citing another report, the local English daily claimed that Egyptian Intelligence Minister General Abbas Kamel called Netanyahu just 10 days before the Hamas attack and told him that Gazans were up to something unusual. Netanyahu informed south Israel officials about the countrys response to the attack and said that this is just the beginning and that their response to Hamas will change the Middle East. Advertisement Tamil Nadu Minister without portfolio, Senthil Balaji, who is in Puzhal central prison in a case related to a job-for-cash scam, was admitted to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital here after he complained of Chest pain. He was brought to the hospital on Monday early morning after the prison hospital found his blood pressure was high and he was having chest pain. The minister was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in June, and he had complained of chest pain. An angiogram was conducted that detected three blocks in his coronary artery at the Omandur Government Hospital in Chennai. However, the minister had moved the Madras High Court requesting his surgery to be conducted at a private hospital which was allowed by the court. Advertisement After the surgery was performed at Kaveri hospital in Chennai, he was shifted to the Puzhal central prison. The minister, according to sources, was also complaining of numbness in his foot and also said that he could not sit for long. The Enforcement Directorate probing the Karuvannur Cooperative Bank scam has alleged that the Kerala government is not cooperating with the investigation into the case, on Monday. The ED further alleged that the Kerala Polices crime branch is also not handing over the files related to the case to the agency. The central agency has raised the allegations in the special PMLA court at Kochis Kaloor while seeking the custody of Wadakkanchery municipal councillor PR Aravindakshan and Karuvannur bank former senior clerk Jilse, who were earlier arrested in the case. The ED had alleged that Aravindakshan, who is a local CPM leader in Thrissur was instrumental in helping Satheeshkumar, the first accused in the case. Advertisement The ED has informed the court that along with the accused in the case, the state government system is also not cooperating with the investigation in the case. The agency said by giving incorrect information, they are trying to divert the course of the investigation. The ED also said that Kerala Polices crime branch is not handing over the documents related to the case to them. During the argument, Aravindakshans counsel said the ED was making false allegations against his counsel. The counsel said his clients mother does not have a deposit in the bank as has been alleged by the ED. However, the ED countered that the account belonged to Aravindakshans mother Chandramati. Aravindakshan had admitted this in the first phase of interrogation, the ED counsel said. The ED further told the court that the Peringandoor Cooperative Bank had also provided the information. Meanwhile, the court sent Aravindakshan and Jilse to ED custody for one day. The ED sought custody of the duo for two days for interrogation. However, the court allowed their custody only for just a day. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu suffered a major setback on Monday when the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petitions in three cases and the Anti Corruption Bureau Court rejected his bail petition in the Skill Development scam. The Judge of the ACB court Hima Bindu rejected Naidus bail petition in the multi-crore Skill Development scam case and dismissed the CIDs petition seeking his custody for further interrogation. Naidu is currently in Rajahmundry Central jail on a judicial remand since 11 September as his petition seeking the quashing of the FIR in the Skill Development scam case is being heard by the Supreme Court. Advertisement Meanwhile, a single bench judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice K Suresh Reddy, dismissed the anticipatory bail petitions of Naidu for the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam and the Fibrenet scam. The court turned down his plea in a case related to violence that took place at Angulla village in the Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh in August this year. All the allegations of scam, including the skill development case, were currently being investigated by the state CID. The skill development scam was initially probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following a case of GST evasion by the private company during Naidus tenure and the Central agency wrote to the state government to inquire into the scam. The CID started inquiring into the case after the YSRCP came to power in the state. The Raj Bhavan has written to the states Chief Secretary, Hari Krishna Dwivedi, raising concerns over the Trinamul Congress second-in-command and partys national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjees dharna within the restricted area in the vicin- ity of the Governors residence. Sources indicate that the letter raised several pointed questions.Firstly, it inquires whether Section 144 of CrPC, which restricts public gatherings, was in effect in the area where the protest stage was set up and if Kolkata Police had granted permission for such an assembly. Secondly, it seeks information on who authorised the event and under which legal framework. The letter came ahead of the return of the Governor CV Anand Bose, to the city. Mr Bose was due back at around 8 p.m. on Sunday. The Raj Bhavan letter further questions what actions police have taken against the ongoing protest, which has been going on for three days without official permission. Despite restrictions under Section 144 of the CrPC, the Trinamul Congress has continued its protest, setting up a stage outside the Raj Bhavan gates. Advertisement Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, had previously urged the Chief Secretary to take action against the TMC MP and subsequently submitted a memorandum wit the same. In response to the developments, the Trinamul Congress has accused the BJP of attempting to exploit the situation for political gain, emphasising that the protests are an expression of public sentiment. Trinamul leader Shantanu Sen stated: The BJP has not come with the madate of people, rather the people brought Trinamul. We do not agree with BJP, who even brought weapons and miscreants from Munger in the name of Nabanna Abhijan. Governor CV Anand Bose is expected to return to Kolkata today, signaling a potential escalation of the political standoff.Raj Bhavans questions and the ongoing protest have intensified the political ten- sion in West Bengal, with both the ruling party and Opposition firmly entrenched in their positions. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will embark on a five-day visit to Morocco on Tuesday to attend meetings of global financial institutions. During the visit, she will attend the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) along with G20 and investor/bilateral meets with Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany and France, from October 11-15, according to a statement by the finance ministry. The annual meetings are customarily held in Washington DC for two consecutive years and in another member country in the third year. Advertisement The Indian delegation, to be led by the finance minister, will comprise officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das will co-chair the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting at Marrakech, Morocco, the statement said. The G20 FMCBG meeting will witness the participation of 65 delegations from G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations in multilateral discussions centered around a broad spectrum of important global issues. The fourth G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise two sessions: Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address shared challenges of the 21st Century; and Global Economy and Crypto Assets Agenda, it said. During the meeting, volume 2 of the report on strengthening MDBs by Independent Expert Group (IEG) will also be released. Volume 1 was released during the 3rd FMCBG held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the ministry said. Sitharaman will also engage in a roundtable discussion on IMF policy priorities and how the institution should support its membership in a high-level event organised by the US Treasury, it added. Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said that India is watching carefully the ongoing conflict between Israel-Hamas and added it would handle its energy needs with maturity. It is worth highlighting that global crude oil prices moved in the northward direction following the Israel-Hamas war that led to large fatalities on both sides. As far as the energy sector is concerned, the place where the action is taking place is in many respects the centre of global energy. We will watch very carefully, the Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the 26th Energy Technology Meet here. Advertisement We will navigate our way through this. These kinds of uncertainties only encourage people to move into sustainable, cleaner fuels, he opined citing the Global Biofuel Alliance as an example. Brent crude soared as high as about 5 per cent before some correction. The WTI variant too was similarly high. Since India is a large importer of crude oil from various sources, the latest pressure on energy prices will likely be a dampener. India is already concerned due to the consistent rise in energy prices since the war between Russia and Ukraine broke out in February 2022. The Union Minister also said achieving the net zero emissions target by 2070 is a little too long-term, indicating that the country may achieve the milestone ahead of the deadline. He is of the view that India is moving fast towards energy transition and stated that for GAIL, BPCL and others, the energy transition target is 2035 to 2040. Energy transition in India will first be from fossil-based to cleaner fuels and further to renewables, he explained. Last week, Minister Puri urged OPEC to recognize the gravity of the current economic situation. He raised concerns with the Secretary-General urging him to use his office to imbue a sense of pragmatism, balance, and affordability in the oil markets. Puri had a bilateral discussion with Secretary General, OPEC, Haitham Al-Ghais on the sidelines of the annual Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC). US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been ousted in a move initiated by members of his own Republican Party from the second-most important post in the American government. It was the first time in US history a speaker had been voted out in this way. As speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives, McCarthy was the most powerful single individual in the leg- islative branch, able to directly impact government policies from national security to infrastructure investments. In the next few days, the House of Representatives will attempt to elect a new speaker. All other business is postponed until the speakership is resolved. This process is likely to be lengthy, awkward and difficult to watch. The next few days will be a not very subtle reminder to the world that American politics remain divided and divisive. The root causes of McCarthys exit are many naked ambition, per- sonal animus, the narrow majority of House Republicans, the confidence of the faright wing of the Republican Party, Democrats willingness to step aside during the Republican turmoil and the apparently unending appeal of performative politics in the US. Advertisement The immediate author of McCarthys removal is his chief antagonist, Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who called for the vote to vacate the chair. Gaetz is a right wing, Trump loyalist, a political performer who has become a notorious disrupter in the US government. Gaetz has been under scrutiny himself after it was reported two years ago that the US Department of Justice was investigating him for alleged sex trafficking. The case was closed earlier this year, without any charges being brought. No one is talking about those allegations today. Most political operatives expect Gaetz to use his new found success in the House to run for governor of Florida in 2026 when the current governor and Republican presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis, is due to leave office due to term limits. The chaos that is now roiling the House follows several weeks of brinkmanship over the budget, with a government shutdown narrowly avoided over the weekend. Add to the mix a Republican presidential front runner (Donald Trump) facing 91 charges over four criminal cases and a multitude of court appearances over the next few months, and the political dysfunction in the United States may only get more intense. President Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress likely enjoy seeing their opponents slaughter each other. And indeed, the disarray among Republicans may help Democrats stay unified despite their own internal tensions. Republicans, however, have not always suffered at the ballot box fol- lowing congressional melees. After a GOP-led government shutdown dur- ing the Obama administration in 2013, Republicans won control of the Senate in 2014. Also, Biden isnt getting any younger and it is not entirely clear he can handle the full-time job of American commander-in-chief until 2028. There are plenty of competent Gen-X Democrats the governors of California, Michigan and Pennsylvania leap to mind who may not stay quiet as Bidens age becomes more of an issue in the lead-up to next years election. If one of these ambitious young- sters decides to throw their hat in the ring, the Democrats may show the world their own version of chaos. Foreign capitals no doubt see this turmoil and question the long-term reliability of Washington. Is it a harbinger of Trumps return to the White House? Maybe so. Or just as likely the Republican chaos turns off the swing voters in American suburbs and they become more willing to vote for Biden, the ageing incumbent. In other words, American voters remain divided right down the middle. (The writer is Non-resident fellow, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney. This article was published on www.theconversation.com) 18000 Indian citizens caught in the midst of the escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas are facing dire circumstances. The streets and highways have become battle zones, with gunfights raging on between opposing forces. Approximately 18000 Indian citizens are among those trapped within Israels borders, including caregivers, IT professionals, and students. Hamas launched a sudden and massive attack on Israel, unleashing a barrage of rockets and initiating a large-scale ground assault on a fateful Saturday. In response, Israeli forces swiftly mobilized to confront Hamas fighters in the southern regions, and the Israeli air force once again pounded targets within the Gaza Strip, intensifying the conflict. Advertisement Amidst this turmoil, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has become a lifeline for Indian nationals desperately seeking to return home. The embassy has been inundated with requests from Indian tourists who found themselves stranded in the country, yearning for a safe passage back to India. Many of these tourists were traveling in groups, adding urgency to their situation. Additionally, several businessmen caught up in the unforeseen circumstances are also seeking evacuation. Among the Indian expatriates in Israel, a significant number work as caregivers, providing essential services to those in need. Approximately a thousand students pursuing their academic dreams face the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict. Numerous IT professionals, contributing to the technology sector, are also grappling with the situation. Additionally, diamond traders involved in commerce are encountering similar challenges. Efforts to facilitate the return of Indian nationals are not confined to Israels borders alone. Around 200 Indian pilgrims and tourists were stranded in Bethlehem due to the violent upheaval. They are now being evacuated with the assistance of neighboring Egypt. Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, expressed the Indian governments commitment to bringing back stranded students in Israel. She assured the public that the government was actively engaged in efforts to repatriate Indian students facing adversity in Israel. Lekhi emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that both the Prime Minister and his office were closely monitoring developments. She underscored the enormity of the efforts underway to ensure the safe return of Indian students trapped in the region. Indian nationals, like the general population of Israel, have experienced the harrowing ordeal of seeking refuge in bomb shelters. They sought safety as alarms signaled incoming threats, highlighting the shared ordeal faced by both communities. Palestinian militant group Hamas planned Saturdays unprecedented air and ground assault against Israel for years and tricked the Israeli government into believing that they dont want an armed conflict, according to a Times of Israel report. Hamas conducted years-long campaign to fool Israel into thinking the group did not desire armed conflict and could be placated with economic incentives to maintain relative calm, the report citing sources close to the Gaza-bases outfit said. Hamas has been using unprecedented intelligence tactic to mislead Israel over the last several months and gave the impression that it was not willing to engage in an armed conflict while preparing for the assault. Advertisement The Palestinian outfit reportedly built mock Israeli community in the Gaza Strip to train its militants. Israel surely saw them but they were convinced that Hamas wasnt keen on getting into a confrontation, the source close to Hamas was quoted as saying. Hamas was able to build a whole image that it was not ready for a military adventure against Israel, the source adds. More than 700 people have been killed and nearly 2500 others have been wounded after Hamas fired thousands of rockets before launching a full blown ground assault. Hundreds of its militants invaded southern Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip border and killed women, children and Israeli defence forces personnel. The militants also kidnapped 130 people, who are being held captive in the Gaza Strip. In response to the attack, Israel declared a war against Hamas and carried out air strikes on several Hamas targets, killing more than 400 Palestinians. The Hamas attack was reportedly backed by Iran, who has openly congratulated the Palestinian militant group for carrying the assault on a such a scale. Military leaders from Iran reportedly played a pivotal role in assisting Hamas, the group governing the Gaza Strip, to strategize a multifaceted attack on Israel, marking one of the deadliest assaults in years. Insights from the Wall Street Journal reveal that officers from Irans formidable Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have been collaborating with Hamas since August to craft an intricate offensive against Israel, encompassing land, air, and sea operations. This intricate planning unfolded during multiple meetings in Beirut, where IRGC officers engaged with representatives of four Iran-backed terrorist organizations, which included not only Hamas but also Hezbollah. Hamas maintains control over the Gaza Strip, while Hezbollah operates as a Shiite militant group and political faction in Lebanon. In response to these revelations, Irans mission to the United Nations issued a statement refuting any involvement in one of Israels deadliest attacks in history. The attack orchestrated by the Islamist group Hamas resulted in the death of approximately 700 Israelis and the abduction of dozens more. According to Irans U.N. mission, the actions taken by Palestine should be seen as legitimate defense against decades of oppressive occupation and grave crimes perpetrated by the illegitimate Zionist regime. Advertisement Iran-Hamas relationship: The Iran-Hamas relationship, though complex, stems largely from their shared enmity towards Israel. Despite their religious disparitiespredominantly Shia Iran and Sunni Hamastheir common objective of opposing Israel has taken precedence. Irans consistent provision of substantial financial and military aid to Hamas underscores its view of the Palestinian group as a crucial ally in advancing its broader regional ambitions. This support encompasses the supply of weaponry, financial assistance, and military training for Hamas fighters, enabling them to bolster their military capabilities in the Gaza Strip and pursue their resistance efforts against Israel. The backdrop against which this relationship unfolds is a landscape of shifting power dynamics and geopolitical intricacies in the Middle East. Irans backing of Hamas fits into its broader strategy of challenging Sunni Arab states that align with the United States and Israel, thereby expanding its influence across the region. Nonetheless, the Iran-Hamas relationship has not been without its challenges and fluctuations, influenced by evolving regional dynamics and political developments. Over time, Hamas has sought to navigate a delicate balance between maintaining ties with Iran while simultaneously improving relations with Sunni Arab nations, exemplifying the intricate nature of Middle Eastern politics and the continuous evolution of alliances and rivalries in the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday said that their response to the unprecedented Hamas assault will change Middle East. The strong statement from Netanyahu comes amid massive air strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip by Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). More than 500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli counter strikes since Saturday, when Hamas launched unprecedented air and ground assault against Israel. The fighting is ongoing in several areas of southern Israel near the Gaza Strip border as IDF try to regain full control of its territory. According to latest information, some 100 more Hamas militants have infiltrated into Israeli territory since Saturday when they first invaded the country. The Hamas assault, the biggest Israel has seen in a generation, has killed more than 700 Israelis, including foreign nationals from the US, France, Thailand, and Nepal. Advertisement Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and cut off food, fuel, electricity and water supply to the Hamas-controlled area. Gazas in house electricity production can only cater to the regions 20 per cent demand and rest is outsourced. Meanwhile, the US has moved an aircraft carrier, ships and fighter jets to the eastern Mediterranean sea to help Israel in its war against Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas. The US also said that additional equipment and ammunition will also be given to Israel. The US decision to send military help to Israel has come after President Joe Biden announced to stand firmly with Israel against the unprecedented and appealing assault by Hamas militants. At least nine US nationals have been killed in the Hamas attack. The United States on Monday said that it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships and fighter jets to the eastern Mediterranean sea to help Israel in its war against Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas. The US also said that additional equipment and ammunition will also be given to Israel. The US decision to send military help to Israel has come after President Joe Biden announced to stand firmly with Israel against the unprecedented and appealing assault by Hamas militants. The US secretary of states Antony Blinken Sunday told media that they are verifying reports of American citizens killed and kidnapped in the Hamas attack on Israel. Advertisement Hamas last week fired thousands of rockets on Israel from the Gaza Strip and launched a massive ground assault killing more than 700 people, including foreign nationals and wounding nearly 2000 others. Israel has confirmed Hamas militants kidnapped 100 people and they are being held hostage in Gaza. In response to the attack, Israel declared a war against Hamas and launched retaliatory air strikes on several targets in the Gaza Strip. More than 400 people have been killed in the Israel air strikes, according to Palestinian officials. The attack, according to a BBC report, was backed by Iran, who funds Hamas and provides training and equipment support to the Palestinian militant group. Iranian media reports said that the countrys President has spoken to the leaders of Hamas. Earlier on Saturday, a spokesperson to Irans Supreme Leader congratulated Hamas for carrying out the unprecedented attack in Israel. The US support to Israel comes amid fears of a three front war after Hamas called on Palestinian resistance fighters in the West Bank and other Islamic nations to join the battle. Lebanon-based Hezbollah, an Iran backed political, militant and social organisation has announced its support to the Hamas militants. Hezbollah also fired rockets in a contested border area in Israel in solidarity with Palestinian people. Israel said that it has initiated precautionary movement of troops in the West Bank and Lebanon border areas in the possibility of a war on more than one fronts. In a telephone conversation with the President of UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had discussed the India-Canada row with the, 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. Advertisement 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 UKs 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. 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. 1 killed and 8 wounded in shooting at Pennsylvania community center party Authorities say one person was killed and eight were wounded in a shooting during a private party at a Pennsylvania community center early Sunday 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 Israeli and Palestinian supporters rally across U.S. as Israel declares war after Hamas attack Supporters of Israel and backers of the Palestinian cause rallied in American cities Sunday over the conflict that has killed hundreds and wounded thousands in the Middle East A senior Hamas official on Monday said only a small number of top commanders inside Gaza knew about the wide-ranging incursion launched into Israel, but that allies like Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah will join the battle if Gaza is subjected to a war of annihilation. Ali Barakeh, a member of Hamas exiled leadership, spoke to The Associated Press in his Beirut office as Israel bombarded Gaza and vowed a total blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory. The surprise attack on Saturday caught Israels vaunted military and intelligence services completely off guard, as hundreds of Hamas gunmen poured through holes blown in the border fence and rampaged through several towns, killing hundreds of soldiers and civilians, and capturing scores of others. Barakeh said the attack was planned by around a half dozen top Hamas commanders in Gaza and that even the groups closest allies were not informed in advance about the timing. He denied reports that Iranian security officials helped plan the attack or gave the go-ahead at a meeting last week in Beirut. Only a handful of Hamas commanders knew about the zero hour, Barakeh said, adding that no one from the central command or the political bureau of Hamas was in the Lebanese capital last week. He acknowledged that Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah militant group have helped Hamas in the past, but said that since the 2014 Gaza war, Hamas has been producing its own rockets and training its own fighters. He also denied speculation that the attack, which had been planned for more than a year, was aimed at derailing US efforts to convince Saudi Arabia to normalize ties with Israel. Instead, he said it was driven by a range of actions taken by Israels far-right government over the past year, including provocative visits to a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site and increased pressure on Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. He also said Hamas believed Israel had plans to kill its top leaders. He said even Hamas was shocked by the extent of the operation, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, saying it had expected Israel to prevent or limit the attack. We were surprised by this great collapse, Barakeh said. We were planning to make some gains and take prisoners to exchange them. This army was a paper tiger. His claim that Hamas has only planned a small operation is belied by the fact that an estimated 1,000 fighters took part in the incursion, attacking by land, sea, and even motorized paragliders. Israel has declared all-out war and vowed to punish Hamas like never before, and the mobilization of 300,000 Israeli reserves has raised the prospect of a ground invasion or even a reoccupation of Gaza. The Israeli military says it has already killed hundreds of militants and bombed numerous Hamas targets. Barakeh said Hamas has so far employed only a small number of its own forces. He said nearly 2,000 Hamas fighters have taken part in the latest fighting, out of an army of 40,000 in Gaza alone. Hamas may also be able to count on its allies if it faces a major setback. On Sunday, Hezbollah fired several rockets and shells at three Israeli positions in a disputed area. On Monday, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group claimed it sent four gunmen across Lebanons border into Israel. The militants said they had wounded seven Israeli soldiers. Israel said its own forces shot and killed several gunmen who crossed into the country from Lebanon. It also shelled southern Lebanon in response. Barakeh, who was Hamas representative in Lebanon for years and is now in charge of coordinating with other Palestinian factions, said his group will use the scores of Israelis it captured in the raid to secure the release of all Arabs detained in Israeli jails and even some Palestinians imprisoned in the United States on charges of funding Hamas. There are Palestinians held in America. We will ask for their release, he said, without specifying who he was referring to. In 2009, a court in Dallas sentenced two founding members of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, once the largest US Muslim charity, to 65 years in prison for funneling millions of dollars to Hamas. Three other men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years for conspiracy. Barakeh said Hamas is ready to fight a long war with Israel, saying it has an arsenal of rockets that will last a long time. We have prepared well for this war and to deal with all scenarios, even the scenario of the long war, he added. We will bring life to a stop in the Zionist entity if the aggression does not stop on Gaza. Search Keywords: Short link: Bill Gouveia is a Sun Chronicle columnist. Reachhim atbillsinsidelook@gmail.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter), @Billinsidelook . The writer, a North Attleboro resident, worked in international sales in the high tech industry until his retirement. He is a frequent contributor to The Sun Chronicle. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) is probing whether to allow trade with Turkey in local currencies, said Yahya El-Wathiq Billah, head of the Commercial Representation Authority at Egypt's Ministry of Trade and Industry. Both countries agreed in principle to trade partly in local currencies, which would range between 25 to 30 percent of the total bilateral trade, he added. "This step aims to reduce the demand for the US dollar, as Egypt and Turkey suffer from a shortage of foreign currencies," he highlighted in an interview with Ashraq Business. Egypt aims to increase bilateral trade with Turkey to $15 billion over the next five years, Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said in August. Bilateral trade between the two countries reached $7.7 billion in 2022, an increase of 14 percent from $6.7 billion the year before. Moreover, Egypt's exports to Turkey grew by 32.3 percent reaching $4 billion in 2022 from $3 billion in 2021, according to data released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Additionally, Turkish investments in Egypt rose by 30.3 percent during FY2021/22, amounting to $179.9 million, against $138.1 million in the previous fiscal year. Although Egypts net international reserves (NIRs)s have been hit hard since 2022, they rose to $34.97 billion in September, their highest level in 16 months. Search Keywords: Short link: There are actors in Indian cinema who create a lasting impression on the audience through their performances. Sunny Deol is a performer renowned for his challenging parts and commanding screen presence. He received much praise for his iconic role as Tara Singh in the 2001 hit movie "Gadar: Ek Prem Katha." Now that 'Gadar 2' is approaching quickly, actor Manish Wadhwa movies, who co-stars with Sunny Deol in the movie, has provided some fascinating details about Sunny Deol's mysterious change during a scene. Who's Manish Wadhwa and the role played in Gadar 2? Manish Wadhwa is a well-known actor who has appeared in various roles in both films and television. In the historical drama Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat, he is well known for playing Chanakya. His antagonist role in Sunny Deol's Gadar 2, the follow-up to the popular 2001 film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, has made the audience keep talking about him. The 1971 Indo-Pakistani War saw the Pakistani army kidnapped Tara Singh's son. The movie, directed by Anil Sharma, tells the tale of Tara Singh, a Sikh truck driver (Sunny Deol), who travels back to Pakistan to free his son. The film's main antagonist, Major General Hamid Iqbal, is portrayed by Manish Wadhwa in Gadar 2. After impressing his fans in theatres, the Manisha Wadhwa movie Gadar 2 is roaring on OTT ZEE5 . Manish Wadhwa on Sunny Deol's Acting in Gadar 2 Gadar 2's antagonist, Major General Hamid Iqbal, played by Manish Wadhwa movies, recently opened up about working with Sunny Deol. In an interview with The Indian Express, Wadhwa disclosed that Deol entirely changes into a "Sher" from the ordinarily soft-spoken man during a shot. Wadhwa also discussed how he got the part in Gadar 2 and how successful movies help performers stand out. He revealed that Gadar 2's lack of a villain emerged in a discussion between Anil Sharma and action director Ravi Verma. A meeting was scheduled when Ravi, who had previously collaborated with Manish Wadhwa movies on a South Indian movie, exhibited his clips. "When we finally met, he told me that Gadar is a significant movie even though he knows me as Chanakya. He said they will need to meet Sunny Deol, who is eager to learn about the actors. Manish remarked, "It's remarkable how your one piece of work can lead to something so enormous. In the first meeting, things worked out, and I was on board. Wadhwa added that although the producers had a dialogue with another actor about the role, it didn't pan out. Receiving such a significant film was nothing less than a privilege for Manish Wadhwa. The actor claimed he was "nervous as well as excited" to take on the role of Amrish Puri. "No one can replace him, and everyone connected to the movie and its audience understands. When I first met Sunny Paaji, he told me that while he knows I'm a good actor, they needed someone to replace Amrish Puri on the Gadar set. He made another point about the lack of good villains in the industry today. I promised him I would do my best to deliver, and they could count on me. He may have appreciated my genuineness because everything went smoothly. As Sunny Deol pointed out, there has been a shortage of villains due to actors suddenly taking on anti-hero roles. Manish Wadhwa was sure viewers would adore the movie despite detesting his role. In an exclusive interview with indianexpress.com, Manish said, "Purana time hota toh screen pe chappal padhte (If it were old times, they would have thrown their slippers on the screen). Actors like Sunny Deol are a unique breed in the world of film. They can change into personas that have an enduring effect on the audience. The intensity and commitment that Sunny Deol puts to his work are highlighted by Manish Wadhwa's thoughts regarding Sunny Deol's transition into a "Sher" on screen. Conclusion In conclusion, Manish Wadhwa's comments on Sunny Deol's acting in Gadar 2 provide a fascinating insight into the actor's transformation during a shot. Wadhwa's experience working with Deol highlights the latter's dedication to his craft and his ability to immerse himself in a role completely. Manish Wadhwa's movie journey to bagging the role of Major General Hamid Iqbal in Gadar 2 is also an inspiring story of how one piece of work can lead to something big. His sincerity and hard work have paid off, and he has filled in the shoes of the legendary Amrish Puri with aplomb. Adani Ports that operates Israel's Haifa Port accounting for 3 per cent of the company's total cargo volume said on Monday it is closely monitoring the ongoing conflict between Tel Aviv and Hamas militants. Pointing out that the company has a business continuity plan, Adani Ports said it's fully alert in order to respond effectively to any eventuality. "We are closely monitoring the action on ground which is concentrated in South Israel, whereas Haifa port is situated in the North. We remain fully alert and prepared with a business continuity plan that will enable us to respond effectively to any eventuality," Adani Ports said in a statement. "We have taken measures to ensure safety of our employees and all of them are safe. At a time like this, our thoughts continue to be with the people of Israel," the statement said. Watch: Ground report from Israel's Haifa Port, India's anchor in the Middle East | THE WEEK In the backdrop of the conflict, the Gautam Adani-owned company's stock plunged as much as 4.5 per cent in Mumbai trading on Monday, with investors getting concerned about a potential escalation in the near future, according to Reuters. In its statement that company said the overall contribution of Haifa in APSEZs numbers is "relatively small". "For the current financial year (Apr 23-Mar 24), we have guided for Haifa Cargo volumes range of 10-12 MMT and APSEZs total cargo volume guidance of 370-390 MMT. In the initial six months (Apr-Sep 23), APSEZs total cargo volume was ~203 MMT, of which the Haifa share is ~6 MMT. We stay confident of APSEZs business performance, it added. Avinash Gorakshakar, head of research at Profitmart Securities, told Reuters that commodity prices will also get impacted. "The next couple of months are going to be volatile for Adani Ports as the war has just started and will trade with a negative bias ... Besides, it is not just Israel and Iran, but commodity prices will also get impacted," the agency quoted Gorakshakar as saying. with inputs from agencies Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is facing backlash on social media after for his new commercial for a pan masala brand. The brand's latest ad, featuring Akshay, Ajay Devgn and Shah Rukh Khan, dropped on the internet Sunday evening. What irked fans is the fact that Akshay had publicly apologised for promoting the tobacco brand and promised fans he would step back from the commitment. While a section of netizens called out Akshay for his 'hypocrisy', a few users defended the actor and explained that this ad may have been shot before he shared the apology last year. In the statement issued last year, Akshay had clarified that he was bound by legalities and that the brand would air the advertisement till the end of his contract period. The latest is in fact a surrogate advertisement for the brand. In the ad from the tobacco brand, Akshay can be seen promoting cardamom, a non-core product of the brand. According to the Times of India, not just Akshay, but Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, too, use surrogate advertising. I am sorry. I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause. The brand might continue airing the ads till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making my future choices, Akshay had said. Users have always questioned the social commitment of popular actors who endorse tobacco brands. Amid the growing debate, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan had also terminated his contract with a pan masala brand in 2021. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released the first list of 41 candidates for the Assembly elections in Rajasthan scheduled on November 22. Interestingly, seven sitting members of parliament including Rajsamand MP Diya Kumari and Jaipur Rural MP Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, have found their names in the first list. While Diya Kumari, a member of the erstwhile Jaipur royal family, will fight the elections from Jaipur's Vidhyadhar Nagar constituency, Rathore will be contesting from Jhotwara, also in Jaipur district. The party said that its central election committee has approved the names of 41 candidates. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for five states, setting the stage for what is seen as a semi-final between the BJP and the opposition alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The commission said single-phase assembly polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30 and Mizoram on November 7 while Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats). The votes will be counted on December 3. Rajasthan, which has 200 assembly seats, will witness a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress with the saffron party looking to dethrone the Ashok Gehlot government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public meeting at Adilabad and a convention of intellectuals in Hyderabad on October 10. Shah will address the rally at 1 pm and attend the convention of intellectuals in the evening, state BJP general secretary G Premender Reddy said in a release on Sunday night. The BJP in Telangana is hopeful that its campaign for the November 30 assembly polls will get momentum with Shah's visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended development programmes and addressed two rallies at Mahabubnagar and Nizamabad in Telangana earlier this month. Modi had then announced setting up a National Turmeric Board, a long pending demand of turmeric farmers in Nizamabad, and a Central Tribal University in the state. The establishment of a Central Tribal University is an assurance mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Several senior BJP leaders are expected to take part in the party's campaign for the assembly polls. The Election Commission on Monday announced the dates for the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram. Voting for all 40 assembly seats in Mizoram will take place on November 7 along with the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh. The remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17 alongside all 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Voting for all 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan will take place on November 23, while the 119-member Telangana Assembly will be the last to go to polls on November 30. Counting of votes for all five states will take place on December 3, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said at a press conference. While the term of the Mizoram assembly ends on December 17, the terms of the legislative Assemblies in Telangana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan end on different dates in January next year. According to the CEC, nearly 16 crore voters will be eligible to vote during the five assembly elections. A total of 1.77 lakh polling stations will be set up in all five states, out of which 1.01 lakh stations will have webcasting facilities. Over 8,000 polling stations will be managed by women. There will be 8.2 crore male and 7.8 crore female voters in all five states and over 60.2 lakh first-time voters. "We have met all stakeholders, including political parties and enforcement agencies, while preparing for assembly elections in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, MP and Telangana," he said. The CEC added that the Election Commission has placed special emphasis on making electoral rolls inclusive and the focus will also be on "roll-to-poll" to ensure that all voters come to vote. The Mizo National Front is in power in the northeastern state while Congress rules Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The BRS is the ruling party in Telangana while BJP heads Madhya Pradesh. Both the BJP and the Opposition's INDIA bloc have already begun campaigning in the poll-bound states. The Congress is firming up the party's strategy in the states and Monday's CWC meet is aimed at finalising the preparations. It is said that a nationwide caste census and poll strategies are on the agenda at Monday's meeting. As for the BJP, it has already kickstarted campaigning in many states, riding on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's star power. Modi has already toured Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana multiple times to hold public rallies and meetings. The Assembly election will also be a litmus test for the newly formed INDIA alliance. The Maryada Pushottam International Airport at Ayodhya is enabled for night landing, catering to A320 aircraft and an immediate glimpse upon alighting from the aircraft of the Ram Mandir. These are just some of the highlights of the airport which will become operational in December. In 2022, as per statistics available from the UP Tourism department, some 2.3 crore local tourists visited Ayodhya. The number of foreign tourists was only 1465. With international air connectivity, this number is expected to go up substantially. The number of tourists arriving in Ayodhya is substantially lower than that in Varanasi which got 7.1 crore tourists in the same period. While the airport will facilitate foreign and local arrivals, another initiative, a direct bus from Ayodhya to Janakpur (Nepal) has not taken off as yet. The Airports Authority of India had already completed critical working elements at the airport. These include calibration of the instrumental landing system which consists of localisers, glide paths, markers, calibration of all phases etc. The Air Traffic Service unit is also operational. The airport, like the temple, is being crafted with profuse use of pink sandstone. Even the carvings at the airport are similar to that of the temple. This will ensure that inbound tourists have an immediate feel and glimpse of the temple as they come off the planes. In the phase one of the airport construction, a 2200 metre long and 45 metre broad runway has been constructed. In the pipeline is an increase to 3750 metres for which land acquisition has been completed. The airport currently has parking space for four aircraft while aprons for another four are being created. The process of licensing for the running and maintenance of the airport is currently under way. A separate fleet of fire brigade engines will be put into service for the airport. The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging the Central government to intervene and direct the Karnataka government to release the states due share of Cauvery water. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin moved the resolution urging the Karnataka government to release Tamil Nadus share of Cauvery water as per Supreme Court guidelines. Addressing the Assembly, Stalin said DMK will always stand firmly to protect the water rights of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka hasnt released the due share of water to Tamil Nadu this month. In June, Tamil Nadu received only 2.28tmc of water instead of 9.19tmc at Biligundalu, Stalin said. The chief minister said the states water resources minister met union minister in this regard and sought his intervention for the release of water from Karnataka. Stalin said Karnataka created an "artificial crisis" and had not released water from the river as per the apex court's directions. The resolution was passed after a fierce debate with between Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the Treasury benches. The AIADMK, however, supported the resolution. Palaniswami recalled the various initiatives taken by the AIADMK regime on the inter-state river dispute and said adequate pressure should be exerted on the Centre over the matter. He recalled his party had stalled the Parliament for days over the issue a few years ago. The resolution was declared passed unanimously by speaker M. Appavu after the BJP staged a walkout. BJP legislators staged a walkout charging the resolution lacked of complete and permanent resolution to the dispute. Talking to presspersons, BJP legislator Vanathi Srinivasan said, Chief Minister Stalin has been visiting Karnataka for alliance meetings. However, using his alliance strength, friendly rapport and influence with the alliance (party) government in Karnataka, Stalin hasnt been able to bring Cauvery water to the state. Srinivasan said when the Dam Safety Bill was tabled in Parliament, DMK members opposed it saying the Centre shouldnt interfere in State rights. Today, a resolution has been passed urging Centre intervention to release Cauvery water. This shows DMKs double standards, Srinivasan said. She added such issues did not arise when the BJP was ruling Karnataka. The BJP legislator charged the government is trying to deceive the public through this resolution. The Congress party has passed a resolution extending support to the rights of Palestinian people while calling for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations. The resolution passed during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Monday expressed the partys dismay and anguish on the war that has broken out in the Middle East. The CWC reiterates its long-standing support for the rights of the Palestinian people to land, self-government and to live with dignity and respect," the resolution said. Later taking to X, Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh said violence of any type has never provided a solution. "The Indian National Congress condemns the brutal attacks on the people of Israel. The Indian National Congress has always believed that the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a life of self-respect, equality and dignity must be fulfilled only through a process of dialogue and negotiations while ensuring the legitimate national security interests of the Israeli people, Ramesh said. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 700 people, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel in the deadliest war for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack. The Election Commission of India (ECI) stated on Monday that elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held at the right time, taking into consideration the security situation and other scheduled elections. Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, made this announcement while responding to queries about the upcoming elections in five states."We will inform about holding Assembly polls in J&K at the right time, considering the security situation and other elections that are also due in the Union Territory (UT)," he said. Jammu and Kashmir has been under Central rule since June 2018 following the collapse of the PDP-BJP coalition. The BJP abrogated Article 370 and divided Jammu and Kashmir into two Union TerritoriesJammu and Kashmir and Ladakhon August 5, 2019. On the same day, Home Minister Amit Shah stated in Parliament that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir after the completion of the delimitation exercise and elections. Delimitation and revision of electoral rolls have been completed, but the elections continue to be postponed for the former state. The last Assembly elections in J&K were held in 2014. Political parties, including the National Conference, Congress, PDP, and J&K Apni Party, have been demanding the calling for elections in the UT and restoration of statehood. They blame the BJP for the delay in holding assembly polls and allege that the party is nervous about contesting the elections. There is resentment among people in both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir about the absence of a political agency and democracy. The opposition parties have called for a protest on October 10 in Jammu against the "snatching of constitutional rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir." The decision to protest was made after a meeting of the opposition parties in Jammu, which was presided over by NC leader and MP Farooq Abdullah. The death toll in Sikkim and West Bengal after Teesta river flash floods last week has reached 75 on Monday, according to government officials. At least 34 bodies, including those of 10 Armymen, have been recovered so far from the slush and debris in Sikkim, according to PTI. A further 40 people died in West Bengal, said the Jalpaiguri district administration, reported Reuters citing officials who warned of duplication in the casualties reported by the two states. The officials said 101 people were still missing and a search and rescue operation is going on, reported Reuters. They added that special radars, drones and Army dogs have been deployed. At least 3,432 houses have been destroyed and 14 bridges were swept away in the flood, PTI reported. A total of 5,327 people have been rescued and evacuated. The rescue operation has been affected by the destruction of National Highway 10, which is the lifeline of Sikkim, following damage to road surface and several bridges across the Teesta river. Other routes to Sikkim's capital Gangtok are open through East Sikkim district but the roads beyond Mangan, North Sikkim, are cut off, according to officials. At least 6,505 people are staying across 26 relief camps in the state and many of them have been isolated from the rest of the country, according to PTI. with inputs from agencies In an aftermath of the powerful earthquake, a senior Taliban delegation led by deputy prime minister for economic affairs Abdul Ghani, had visited the quake-hit Herat province in Afghanistan on Monday. The 6.3 magnitude quake and series of aftershocks that followed claimed the lives of 2,400 people so far. It is one of the deadliest temblors to strike the nation in two decades. Survivors recall the horror of the earthquake. People have been digging with their bare hands and shovels to pull victims both dead and alive from under the rubble. However, the global response to the earthquake was slow as many countries were apprehensive dealing with the Taliban government. Even the Israel-Gaza war also shifted the focus as well. The aid agencies and the non-governmental groups have appealed to the international community for support. Only handful of countries including China and Pakistan has publicly announced help. Aid group CARE USA said in a statement that the quake struck at a time when Afghanistan was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis that was significantly under-funded while needs are increasing rapidly. The fast-approaching winter, combined with this new disaster, is likely to exacerbate the existing challenges and make it even more difficult for people to meet their basic needs, like adequate shelter, food, and medicine, it said. Irfanullah Sharafzai, a spokesman for the Afghan Red Crescent Society, said more than 20 teams were on the ground and have set up a temporary camp for the displaced. Our colleagues and their families are processing this devastation in their hometowns, and yet we are responding with everything we have, said Thamindri de Silva, the head of the Afghanistan office of the charity. "People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe. Please stand with us as we respond, he added. The U.N.'s humanitarian office has announced $5 million worth of assistance for the quake response, but immediate material support has come from a limited few countries. (With agency inputs) California Governor Gavin Newsom, on Sunday, vetoed a bill that would require all schools in the state to make free condoms available to teenagers. The legislation was introduced by State Senator Caroline Menjivar with the aim of preventing and reducing unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections among teenagers. Newsom, a Democrat, decided to return Senate Bill 541 without his signature because the state with over 4,000 public schools doesn't have the funding for such an extensive project. Newsom said that he agrees with the benefits the bill comes with, but, the economic strain it would put on the cash-strapped state prevented him from passing the bill. This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process, Newsom wrote in a message, AP reported. With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure, he added. The bill would have also helped teens who are usually denied condoms by stores that deny customers from buying contraception based on their age. By requiring free condoms in all California high schools, we are empowering the youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from (sexually transmitted infections), while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex, Menjivar told the LA Times. Conservative groups have raised objections to the bill. Newsom, on Sunday, signed a bill that aimed at turning the state's fleet of school buses into vehicles powered by electricity. California governor vetoes bill to make free condoms available for high school students California Governor Gavin Newsom, on Sunday, vetoed a bill that would require all schools in the state to make free condoms available to teenagers. The legislation was introduced by State Senator Caroline Menjivar with the aim of preventing and reducing unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections among teenagers. Newsom, a Democrat, decided to return Senate Bill 541 without his signature because the state with over 4,000 public schools doesn't have the funding for such an extensive project. Newsom said that he agrees with the benefits the bill comes with, but, the economic strain it would put on the cash-strapped state prevented him from passing the bill. This bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process, Newsom wrote in a message, AP reported. With our state facing continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications, such as this measure, he added. The bill would have also helped teens who are usually denied condoms by stores that deny customers from buying contraception based on their age. By requiring free condoms in all California high schools, we are empowering the youth who decide to become sexually active to protect themselves and their partners from (sexually transmitted infections), while also removing barriers that potentially shame them and lead to unsafe sex, Menjivar told the LA Times. Conservative groups have raised objections to the bill. Newsom, on Sunday, signed a bill that aimed at turning the state's fleet of school buses into vehicles powered by electricity. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told a delegation of influential American senators that the Thucydides Trap is not inevitable as he played down the concerns in Washington that China is out to challenge the superpower status of the US. Thucydides Trap is a term to describe an emerging power threatening to displace the existing great power. Competition and confrontation are not consistent with the trend of the times. Still less can it fix one's own problems and address the challenges facing the world, Xi told a US Senate delegation headed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer during a meeting. China maintains that the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the US is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to each other, Xi told the six-member delegation of top American legislators. "The Thucydides Trap is not inevitable, and Planet Earth is vast enough to accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of China and the US, he said, referring to the widely-held view in the American establishment that, China is out to challenge the sole superpower status of the US. The discussion in the meeting was, however, dominated by the escalating conflict in the Middle East after the brutal attack by Hamas militants on Israel on Saturday. While Xi focussed his remarks on allaying the US' fears of China challenging its superpower status saying, How China and the US get along will determine the future of humanity, Schumer told the Chinese leader that he was very disappointed that China has not condemned the Hamas militants attack on Israeli civilians. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks, Schumer said. China on Sunday called Israel and Palestine to exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities, without naming Hamas and the attack in which over 1,100 people were killed on both sides. On Monday, Beijing said it is probing reports that one of its citizens attending a music party has been taken as hostage by the Hamas militants. Meanwhile, reacting to Schumer's comments that China should condemn the attack by Hamas militants, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here that China opposes violence against civilians. We are saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn violence and attacks against civilians. The priority now is to get fighting to stop and restore peace as soon as possible. We hope relevant parties in the international community will play an active role and work together to de-escalate the situation, she said on Monday. Beijing, which backs the Palestinian state and also maintains close ties with Israel, is concerned that the new conflict will overshadow its successful diplomatic initiative of brokering a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March this year. The delegation of the US senators comprising three Democrats and as many Republicans is the first visit of American lawmakers since 2019. The meeting comes amid US lawmakers asking China to iron out differences in trade and economic ties between the two world's largest economies and a likely meeting between Xi and US President Joe Biden next month during a regional summit in San Francisco in a bid to manage the increasingly fraught relationship. President Biden said Friday that he could potentially meet with Chinese President Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco. Several local banks suspended on Monday hard currency cash withdrawals and purchases made outside Egypt using debit cards, as per instructions from the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to reduce pressure on foreign currency reserves, an informed source told Ahram Online. Banks such as the National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Banque Misr (BM), Commercial International Bank (CIB), and Emirates National Bank of Dubai (ENBD) have sent text messages to their clients notifying them of the new measures. On Sunday, the Arab African International Bank (AAIB) suspended using debit cards outside Egypt and set new limits on withdrawals and purchases by credit cards abroad. An official source at one of the national banks in Egypt told Ahram Online that the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has instructed all banks operating in the local market to suspend hard currency withdrawals made abroad using debit cards. The CBE has neither issued a circular implying this direction nor published a statement. The source explained to Ahram Online that the action aims to contain the misuse of debit cards abroad, as some holders tend to withdraw cash in hard currencies, especially in US dollars, and then sell it in the parallel market to benefit from the significant difference between the official rate and that on the black market. The US dollar is valued at 30.95 Egyptian pounds according to the official exchange rate of the CBE. It is, however, traded at over 40 Egyptian pounds in the black market. Last week, HSBC Egypt announced that starting 1 October, the bank lowered the limit on monthly cash withdrawals made abroad from $ 1,500 to $ 1,000 or their equivalent in other currencies. Egypt has adopted a plan to secure $191 billion through 2026 to address the US dollar shortage in the local market. In addition, some international institutions, including HSBC and Fitch Solutions, expected in reports issued this week the EGP to lose up to 25 percent of its value against the greenback before the end of 2023. Search Keywords: Short link: As the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates, the surprise strike comes amidst efforts by the United States to normalise ties between Israel and Arab countries, first stop being Saudi Arabia. Experts opine Hamass attack was aimed at disrupting normalisation efforts. The death toll in Israel-Hamas conflict has crossed 1,100. IDF's airstrikes pummelled tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children. According to a senior Hamas official, the militant group is holding more than 100 people captive. This is besides the 30 people said to be held by the Islamic Jihad militant group. The response of Saudi Arabia to the ongoing clash shows signs of efforts turning cold as the Arab country, in its statement, rather than condemning Hamas for the strikes, called for immediate cessation of the fight and stressed international community should come together to ensure the implementation of two-state solution. Saudi Arabia recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the situation exploding as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against their sanctities. Saudi Arabia renews its call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible peace process that leads to a two-state solution in a way that achieves security and peace in the region and protects civilians, Saudi said in a statement. On Saturday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US is focusing on helping Israel recover the territory that has been taken by the Hamas militant group. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel. 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. In an interview with CBS News, Blinken said the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia has the potential to change prospects of the entire region and said Hamas was opposed to it. 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, Blinken said. In an interview with Fox News in September, Saudis crown prince Mohammed bin Salman said the prospect of normalised relations with Israel was getting closer every day. But he added, For us, the Palestinian issue is very important. We need to solve that part. Few US politicians who were involved in the normalisation efforts were shocked hearing Saudis response to the attacks, The New York Times reported. Reportedly, Blinken had a phone call with Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister and urged them to condemn the strike. In a phone call with Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, Blinken said the kingdom should clearly condemn the attack. But in a description of the call, the Saudi Foreign Ministry did not include any criticism of the attack or of Hamas, and said only generically that civilians should not be targeted and stressed the need for all parties to respect international humanitarian law. NYT reported. In the wake of the Israel-Gaza war escalating, the United States has extended its support to Israel by moving its aircraft carrier, ships and jets closer to eastern Mediterranean. Being a close ally of Israel, US had already said that it will be providing additional military aid to the nation. US President Joe Biden had termed the Hamas attack as an appalling assault. According to authorities, around 1,200 people have been killed, in the ongoing fight, from both sides so far. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser and four missile destroyers were heading to the region, reported BBC. Fighter jets would also be sent, added Austin. The US on Sunday confirmed that several Americans were among those killed in the Hamas attack. Meanwhile, USs direct involvement or assistance to Israel could send wrong signals to the neighbouring states backing Hamas. The possibility of Lebanons Hezbollah and Iran joining the conflict could not be avoided. Though it is a known fact that Iran has been supplying arms and funds to Hamas, they have denied any involvement in the latest attack. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed support for the Hamas attack, saying Israel needed to be held to account for endangering the region. However, Iran had denied any involvement in the latest attack on Israel at the UN Security Council meeting. Even US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US had not seen evidence of direct Iranian involvement. "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 or involved. But the support over many years is clear," Blinken was quoted by US TV. Meanwhile, hundreds of people are reported to be missing. Israel's ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog said that there were Americans too among the soldiers and civilians abducted by the militants. Amid tensions and escalating conflicts, the UN Security Council is set to meet in New York to discuss the situation. Israel continued its bombardment of Gaza through Monday morning as the death toll in its war against Hamas crossed 1,100. Israel Defence Forces aircraft pounded Hamas targets in the Palestinian enclave which included a building housing Hamas operatives and a command center used by its senior officials. As Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant warned that the Gaza Strip "will pay a heavy price that will change reality for generations", IDF's airstrikes pummelled tunnels, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza, killing more than 400 people, including 20 children. The military said on Sunday said it had deployed tens of thousands of soldiers around Gaza and was starting to evacuate Israelis around the frontier. Though Israel is yet to release an official toll, military spokesperson Daniel Hagari called it "the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israel's history." However, local media reports pegged the casualties at 700, children among them. This includes the 250 who were shot dead by Hamas at the music festival. Relatives stand by the bodies of the Abu Dagga family who were killed in an Israeli airstrike y during their funeral in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip | AP Israeli rescue service Zaka says its paramedics removed about 260 bodies from a music festival attended by thousands. The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Earlier footage had shown dozens of festival goers running through an open field as gunshots rang out. Many hid in nearby fruit orchards or were gunned down as they fled. Meanwhile, speculations are rife over whether or not Israel would launch a ground assault into Gaza as it has declared war. No word yet on the hostages The government is mum on the hostage situation. Hundreds, including soldiers, were taken hostage by Hamas and militant group Islamic Jihad. During their rampage through southern Israel, the militants dragged back into Gaza dozens of captives, among them women, children and the elderly. According to a senior Hamas official, the militant group is holding more than 100 people captive. Mousa Abu Marzouk made the remarks to the Arabic language news outlet al-Ghad on Sunday. This is besides the 30 people said to be held by the Islamic Jihad militant group. Mayyan Zin, a divorced mother of two, told Reuters 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-husband's home in the town of Nahal Oz: Gunmen who had broken in speaking 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. Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he has ordered a 'complete siege' of the Gaza Strip after Israeli troops fight Hamas militants after the latter made an unexpected attack on Saturday. I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed, Gallant said, Times of Israel reported. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly, he added. He described it as part of a battle against "beastly people". The Israeli army had earlier said that its forces were in "control of communities" in its southern territory near Gaza. Hamas seized the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian forces. Since then, Egypt and Israel have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza. As of today, the number of people killed on both sides due to the attacks is at 1,100, with close to 4,500 injured. The attack was launched on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war that pitted Israel against Egypt and Syria, according to ABC News and as Israelis were wrapping up the seven-day-long Jewish festival of Sukkot. US President Joe Biden, on Saturday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he "condemns" Hamas' assault on Israel. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, on Sunday, said that American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and additional aircraft, have been ordered to move closer to the eastern Mediterranean in light of the attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that India stands in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple in the United States spread over 185 acres, has been inaugurated here, with devotees underscoring the temple's message of unity, peace and harmony for people living across America and the world. The grand dedication ceremony of Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey was conducted on Sunday in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj following a nine-day celebration that commenced on September 30. Swami Maharaj performed the 'Pran Prathistha' ceremony at the temple amid rituals and traditional ceremonies. The construction of the temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, started in 2011 and concluded this year. It was created by 12,500 volunteers from around the world. Among the several key unique features of the temple is the largest elliptical dome ever constructed from stone. Volunteer Lenin Joshi noted that Swaminarayan Akshardham presents India's heritage and culture to modern America. Created by volunteers around the world, this masterpiece stands as an enduring symbol of love while preserving traditions and spreading messages of peace, hope, and harmony across generations, he said. We were waiting for this moment for the last several years, Joshi said, adding that the day has finally come when people from all around the country, irrespective of their faiths and religions, will be able to visit the temple and see the grand symbol of Indian Hindu tradition, peace, devotion and architectural marvel. He said the temple has been built by nearly 12,500 volunteers - men, women and children from all walks of life - who took a break from their jobs and studies and dedicated themselves for days and months to construct the temple. Highlighting some of the unique aspects of the temple, Joshi said 1.9 million cubic feet of stone was used in its constriction. The stone was sourced from over 29 different sites around the world, including granite from India, sandstone from Rajasthan, teakwood from Myanmar, marble from Greece, Turkey and Italy and limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey. He said the temple was designed to incorporate elements from ancient Indian art, architecture and culture, including 10,000 statues, carvings of ancient Indian musical instruments and dance forms as well as water from the holy rivers of India. Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Mayor's Office for International Affairs, Dilip Chauhan told PTI here that the inauguration and dedication of the Akshardham temple is a dream come true for devotees, volunteers and followers across the US. He said the Akshardham in Robbinsville is a temple not just for any one community but this cultural complex is going to bring all communities together and will be a bridge between the local, state, and federal government and the faith-based community. We can see real diversity here, Chauhan said. Chauhan said US Congresswoman Grace Meng has dedicated October 8, 2023, as Akshardham Day' in the Congressional District 6 of New York City borough of Queens, including west, central, and northeast Queens. He said though Akshardham is based in New Jersey, New York also wants to be part of it. New York, New Jersey, and the entire United States want to celebrate the significance of Akshardham which is why Congresswoman Meng has dedicated October 8, 2023, as Akshardham Day'. Underlining New York City Mayor Eric Adams's message of breaking bread and building bonds, Chauhan said the temple underscores the message of unity in diversity and harmony. Yogi Trivedi from New York, a scholar of media and religion, underscored that the spirit of selfless service and devotion are the foundation of the temple. This spirit will speak to not just Hindu-Americans, Indians and Indian-Americans but to America and the world at large. It is that sense of inclusivity and the sense of bringing people together that will speak to those who visit the temple, said Trivedi, who is also an author specialising in Bhakti Studies and a volunteer at the temple. He said while the architectural innovation is awe-inspiring in itself, the innovation in the temple's messaging is unique and path-breaking. Akshardham Mahamandir is embedded in tradition and at the same time embracing innovation, he said, pointing out that as one walks around the Mahamandir's base plinth one will see messages from the lives of Sri Krishna and Lord Ram, the Vedas and Upanishads as well as messages of democracy, liberty, equality and freedom from iconic leaders of American society and the western world that will resonate with visitors. These include Socrates, Albert Einstein, Rumi, former President Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. These messages which are universal now speak to the Americans, the Hindu Americans and the international visitor that comes here in a way that is familiar to them. This is a Sanatan Hindu Mandir with an articulation of that universal message that speaks to the world, he said. Trivedi said at a time when the world is really divided and there are divisions among people in American society also, this Mandir is a step in that direction to bring those people together, to help people realise that we need to celebrate humanity, need to celebrate the things we share, have in common and not those that divide us. That is the message of our Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj and that is the central theme and message of this inclusive Mahamandir Akshardham. Globally, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardhams are landmarks of Hindu art, architecture, and culture and serve as spiritual and community hubs, open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005, a statement said. During the week, India's Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj led a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from the United Nations to the temple ahead of the grand dedication ceremony on October 8. The UN, on Monday, said that over 123,000 people have been displaced from the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the conflict between Israeli troops and Hamas militants. Over 123,538 people, have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes, said the UNs humanitarian agency, OCHA told AFP. Over 73,000 are sheltering in schools, and of these, some have been designated emergency shelters. Hamas militants, on Saturday, attacked Israel with missiles. So far, over 1,100 people have lost their lives on both sides; US President Joe Biden has condemned the attack and Indian PM Narendra Modi has said India stands in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour. On Monday, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he has ordered a 'complete siege' of the Gaza Strip, which entails blocking food and fuel and cutting off electricity. He called it a part of a battle against "beastly people". A spokesperson for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) Adnan Abu Hasna said the numbers are expected to rise. Theres electricity in these schools, we provide them with a meal, clean water, psychological support and medical treatment, he told AFP. The UN also said that civilians must be protected and structures providing shelter to displaced families, must never come under attack. The UNRWA said that people in the schools are being provided with meals, clean water, psychological support and medical treatment. Amid strikes and counterstrikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that Israels response to Hamas will change the Middle East. Netanyahu also warned Gaza civilians to get away from all Hamas sites as they are going to destroy it to rubbles. Netanyahu was speaking to mayors of the southern border town hit by the assault on Saturday. Meanwhile, artillery shelling and gunfire were reported at Lebanons southern border with Israel. According to Israeli military, gunmen who infiltrated from Lebanon were killed by the troops. Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that infiltrators entered the nation through the Lebanon border. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the country's priority is to maintain stability along its southern border with Israel. Mikati added that Lebanon did not want to engage in a war with Israel. Gaza health ministry had said that 560 Palestinians were killed and 2,900 were wounded in Israeli strikes. While, the death toll crossed 800 in Israel. Israel forces are conducting 'wide-scale airstrikes' on Hamas centers in Gaza. UN condemns the attack United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he was "deeply distressed" by an announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip. Guterress condemned the abhorrent attacks by Hamas and others against Israeli towns. Hezbollah had claimed responsibility for firing rockets at three Israeli positions in a disputed territory along the border of Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Also, US State department spokesperson confirmed the death of nine Americans in Israel. The European Commission said it was putting its full portfolio of development aid to Palestinians, worth 691 million euros under review and immediately suspending all payments. EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi said the measures include that all payments (be) immediately suspended. "All projects put under review. All new budget proposals... postponed until further notice," he added. EU foreign ministers are slated to meet in Muscat, Oman on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Kremlin called for a return to peace and said it was "extremely concerned" that the violence could escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East, reported Reuters. Russia has relationships with Arab countries, Iran and Hamas as well as with Israel. "This situation is potentially fraught with the danger of spillover, and therefore, of course, it is a subject of our special concern these days," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. According to sources, Qatar is in talks with Hamas over hostages. 10 Nepali students killed in Hamas attack Ten Nepali students have been killed and four others got injured in Israel in the recent Hamas attack, said Nepal's foreign ministry. "We have received the information of the sad demise of ten Nepali nationals from the site, where the Hamas had launched an attack," read the statement. All 10 people killed in the attack were students of agriculture from Sudur Paschim University in Western Nepal, reported PTI. "We are trying to identify those killed in the incident. Efforts are being made to search for one missing student. The bodies will be brought back to Nepal soon after the identification is completed, the embassy said. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau once again decided to provoke India, this time raising the diplomatic row between the two countries with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In a telephone conversation with Zayed Al Nahyan, Trudeau said it is important to uphold and respect the "rule of law". The duo also dicussed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, raising concern about deaths of innocent civilians. Taking to X, the Canadian PM posted, "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. Au telephone aujourdhui, Son Altesse @MohamedBinZayed et moi avons parle de la situation en Israel. Nous avons exprime notre vive inquietude et la necessite de proteger les civils. Nous avons aussi parle de lInde et de limportance de defendre et respecter la regle de droit. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 8, 2023 "We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding - and respecting - the rule of law," he 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. This comes a day after Trudeau discussed the India-Canada diplomatic tussle with UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, who reaffirmed the British position of respect for the rule of law after the former alleged Indian involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. US warships and fighter jets are being moved closer to Israel as a show of support, said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The announcement came as the US confirmed that several of its citizens have died since the start of Hamas' surprise attack on Israel. 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. He added that 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. Austin added that the U.S. steps "were taken to strengthen the U.S. military posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts." The US has expressed its support to Israel with President Joe Biden, on a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, promising that additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces was on its way. The move triggered Hamas, which accused the United States of taking part in "aggression against Palestinian people" by sending a Navy carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea. "These movements do not frighten our people nor their resistance, which will continue to defend our people and our holy places," Hamas spokesperson Hazem Kassem said in a statement. Meanwhile, US lawmakers and Biden administration officials discussed increasing support for Israel at a briefing with House leadership on Sunday night, CNN reported. As per the report, senior officials from the State and Defense Departments told the lawmakers they were moving as quickly to deliver weapons and resources to Israel. These include items like artillery shells and missiles for Israels Iron Dome air defence system. "While Israel's supplies are sufficient in the short term, they may need additional support if the conflict drags on," CNN quoted an unnamed source. Meanwhile, though the US is yet to confirm the number of US citizens who died in the Hamas attack, members of Congress were told that four Americans have been killed in the war. The death toll of American citizens is expected to rise, the source said. NEW DELHI , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BIRKENSTOCK, the universal Zeitgeist and Purpose brand renowned for its unique footbed creating the experience of 'Naturgewolltes Gehen' (Walking as Intended by Nature), is set to make a creative appearance and leave its footprint in India at the upcoming season of Lakme India Fashion Week in association with FDCI. Coming together with SHIVAN & NARRESH for a special runway presentation, this exquisite showcase marks an important brand moment for BIRKENSTOCK in India further cementing its position as a powerhouse of understated, effortless style and fashion. From the streets to the most influential global catwalks, from being a functional must-have item to a coveted fashion statement, BIRKENSTOCK's popularity and its ability to creatively blend its function-first ethos with high fashion is unparalleled. On the other hand, SHIVAN & NARRESH is India's first luxury holiday brand with a unique signature style that is bold, confident and sophisticated. In the presentation titled GROUNDED IN NATURE, audiences will witness a curated assortment of some of BIRKENSTOCK's most beloved styles, reimagined in fresh materials, colors and textures, paired with SHIVAN & NARRESH's ready-to-wear collection - 'Suomi Series' that finds its roots in the designers' recent sojourn to Finland. During their travels, SHIVAN & NARRESH did an immersive dive into Suomi culture, which sparked the genesis of three iconic prints: Saun, Leviland and Aurorays. BIRKENSTOCK's footwear, known for its comfort-first designs, pairs effortlessly with SHIVAN & NARRESH's innovative and sartorial aesthetics, resulting in a fusion of elegance and ease. Together, they are set to present an artistically curated mood board that sets to mark the ideal holiday and resort-wear fashion statement. Speaking on the occasion, BIRKENSTOCK CEO Oliver Reichert says, "BIRKENSTOCK is more than a shoe; it's a way of thinking, a way of living! Our attention to craftsmanship and quality combined with a distinct democratic attitude since 1774 has enabled us to deliver an array of iconic silhouettes universally embraced by all. For BIRKENSTOCK, the focus is always about timelessness. We persistently celebrate our product archive and add newer, more elegant silhouettes and materials, to ensure there is a pair for every occasion, preference, purpose and purse. We are excited to present this story on the runway in India with GROUNDED IN NATURE alongside SHIVAN & NARRESH. Both brands share a common admiration for craftsmanship and excellence. Their design sensibilities blend perfectly with our vision of effortless style and comfort." Speaking on the collection, Shivan Bhatiya, Head Designer & Narresh Kukreja, Creative Director, SHIVAN & NARRESH share, "Suomi series takes inspiration from our holiday trip to Finland. The joys of Nordic nature draws print inspirations from the striking Scandinavian landscapes, mesmerizing Northern Lights, aerial views of breathtaking snow-clad ski slopes, and the ancient self-care traditions of the Finnish Sauna Culture. 'Suomi,' the Finnish word for Finland, enlivens the soul of this creative journey. Coming together with BIRKENSTOCK came to be an instinctive and organic choice as both brands share a like-minded synergy and deep connection to nature's role in inspiring and enhancing everyday life. The designs seamlessly blend holiday allure with urban versatility. With this year's presentation we are excited to immerse our audience in the sensory richness of Nordic culture, fusing opulent comfort and functionality with our visually- immersive, maximalist design universe." ABOUT BIRKENSTOCK BIRKENSTOCK is a global brand which embraces all consumers regardless of geography, gender, age and income and which is committed to a clear purpose - maintaining foot health. Deeply rooted in studies of the biomechanics of the human foot and footed on a family tradition of shoemaking that can be traced back to 1774, BIRKENSTOCK is a timeless super brand with a brand universe that transcends product categories and ranges from entry-level to luxury price points while addressing the growing need for a conscious and active lifestyle. Function, quality and tradition are the core values of the lifestyle brand which features products in the footwear, sleep systems and natural cosmetics segments. BIRKENSTOCK is the inventor of the footbed and has shaped the principle of walking as intended by nature ('Naturgewolltes Gehen'). With around 6,200 employees worldwide, we believe how things are made matters as much as the product itself. To ensure these quality standards, we operate a vertically integrated manufacturing base and produce all our footbeds in Germany. In addition, we assemble over 95% of our products in Germany and we source over 90% of our materials and components from Europe. We process our inputs to the highest environmental and social standards in the industry by operating state-of-the-art scientific laboratories for materials testing. BIRKENSTOCK runs operational sites in Germany, in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse, Bavaria, Saxony, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Headquartered in Linz am Rhein, the BIRKENSTOCK Group also operates its own sales offices in the United States and Canada as well as in Brazil, Japan, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, the Netherlands, Dubai, Singapore and India. Birkenstock Group B.V. & Co. KG Burg Ockenfels, Linz, Germany For further information, please visit www.birkenstock-group.com You can find our online shop at www.birkenstock.com MEDIA CONTACT BIRKENSTOCK INDIA 9TH FLOOR, CAPITAL TOWERS 1, SECTOR-26 GURUGRAM Gurgaon Please send all press inquiries to BIRKENSTOCK@PRPUNDIT.COM Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241823/BIRKENSTOCKLAKMEFASHIONWEEK.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241824/LAKMEFASHIONWEEKXFDCISHIVANNARRESH.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241825/BIRKENSTOCKLogo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR MUMBAI, India, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pepe Jeans London celebrates its remarkable 50-year journey amidst the enchanting narrative of "I LOVE LONDON." This iconic denim lifestyle brand, born in the heart of London, proudly unveils its AW23 campaign as a heartfelt homage to its enduring London heritage. Set against the backdrop of London's iconic landmarks, this campaign endeavours to encapsulate the timeless essence of the city by seamlessly blending modernity with classic charm. In a pioneering move, the campaign introduces an internationally renowned model of Indian origin, strengthening its connection with the Indian audience. The campaign serves as a captivating window into the latest offerings from the collection, showcasing a curated selection of iconic denim pieces, each meticulously crafted from premium fabrics. In addition, it features an array of fashion-forward elements, including a colour-blocked hoodie, a double flap pockets shacket, a hooded parka jacket, yarn-dyed check shirts, and avant-garde styling that resonates with the contemporary spirit. Mr. Manish Kapoor, CEO & MD of Pepe Jeans India , shared his thoughts on the collection, stating, "This campaign embodies the essence of Pepe Jeans London, where timeless fashion harmonises with the dynamic beat of London. We are thrilled to introduce our AW23 collection, a fusion of classic denim and modern style that appeals to fashion enthusiasts from all walks of life." Our AW23 collection has something special in store for Indian consumers, as it artfully combines the iconic fashion legacy of London with the vibrant and diverse fashion landscape of India. From premium denim pieces to trendy streetwear, our collection caters to a wide range of tastes and celebrates the dynamic style sensibilities that define fashion enthusiasts in India. The AW23 collection is now available at all our exclusive stores, leading departmental stores, multi-brand outlets, top e-commerce partners, and on our website, www.pepejeans.in. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241876/ILoveLondonCampaign.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241878/PepeJeans.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Vedanta Ltd on Monday said the tax authorities have imposed a penalty of Rs 1.81 crore on its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc. The order was received on Sunday, October 8, Vedanta Ltd informed the exchanges. "The company has received an order from Assistant Commissioner, Div-A, Central GST Audit Circle, CGST, Udaipur imposing a penalty of Rs. 1,81,06,073/- under Section 74(9) of the CGST Act 2017 read with corresponding provisions of the SGST Act, 2017 and Section 20 of IGST Act, 2017 for the period July 2017 to March 2018," Vedanta Ltd said. "The order has been passed on the contention that the company had wrongly availed input tax credit," it said. The company further said it is hopeful of a favourable outcome at the appellate level and does not expect the order to have any financial impact on the company. New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) Infrastructure company Dilip Buildcon on Monday said it has signed an agreement for a project worth Rs 396.93 crore in Rajasthan after receiving a Letter Of Acceptance (LOA) from the water resources zone, Udaipur. The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Turnkey-based project is to be completed in 44 months, Dilip Buildcon said in a regulatory filing. "Dilip Buildcon has received LOA and signed the agreement for the new project planning, design and construction of dewas III and IV Dams Tehsil- Gogunda Udaipur district in Rajasthan...including 10 years O&M (operations and maintenance)," the statement said. The agreement has been signed with the water resources zone, Udaipur. Bhadohi/Lucknow, Oct 9 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday described artisans and craftsmen as the "greatest assets" and said schemes like 'One District, One Product' and Vishwakarma Shram Samman led to a 250-fold increase in states' exports in four years. He highlighted the global recognition of UP's traditional products, while emphasizing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly presents them to world leaders during his foreign visits. "This elevates the prestige of the state's skilled artisans," he said. He also stated that Uttar Pradesh's One District, One Product (ODOP) items are now replacing Chinese-made products in terms of popularity during festivals. Inaugurating the 45th edition of the four-day International Carpet Fair at Carpet Expo Mart in Bhadohi, the Chief Minister said, "The artisans and craftsmen of our state are our greatest assets. The One District, One Product scheme and Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana have played a pivotal role in boosting Uttar Pradesh's exports, witnessing a 250-fold increase in just four years." During the event, the chief minister pointed out that the carpet industry's total exports amount to about Rs 17,000 crore, with a substantial 60 per cent coming from three districts -- Bhadohi, Mirzapur, and Varanasi. He noted that this achievement led to Bhadohi being honoured with the 'Towns of Export Excellence' award. Adityanath also highlighted the role of the International Trade Show in Noida as a platform to exhibit Uttar Pradesh's potential and described the International Carpet Fair as another valuable opportunity to showcase the state's capabilities, the UP government said in a statement. "This fair is a campaign to give a new height to Prime Minister Modi's 'make in India' and 'vocal for local and local for global' vision," he said. He highlighted the abundant skills possessed by the state's craftsmen, emphasizing that their potential was hindered due to a lack of technology and platforms. With the government's intervention, these artisans have successfully showcased their talents on the global stage, as is evident from the participation of over 450 buyers from 68 countries in the fair, he said. Adityanath also said that Uttar Pradesh had the opportunity to join the G-20 events in which heads of state of 40 countries participated. The carpet used for the event was crafted by skilled artisans of Uttar Pradesh. He mentioned that the state is home to over 20 lakh weavers, and the double engine government will provide full support to the craftsmen and artisans of the state. During the event, the chief minister saw the carpets on display at the fair and honoured two female weavers, Madhuri Devi and Mahajabeen, by presenting them with shawls. Madhuri Devi earned recognition for her contribution in making the handmade carpet used in the newly-constructed Parliament house, the UP government said in the statement. On the other hand, Mahajabeen has been instrumental in empowering around 400 women through self-help groups, fostering self-reliance among them, the statement said. UP's MSME minister Rakesh Sachan, UP's minister of state for Minority Welfare Danish Azad Ansari, Bhadohi MP Ramesh Chand Bind, Aurai MLA Dinanath Bhaskar, Gyanpur MLA Vipul Dubey and others were present on this occasion, the statement said. Singapore, Oct 9 (PTI) A 51-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to three years in jail for voluntarily causing hurt to the chief warder of Singapore's Changi prison, a media report said on Monday. Kaliappan Kumarasamy, a narcotic abuser, was undergoing treatment at a drug rehabilitation centre located within Changi Prison when on December 21 last year he punched prison officer Lim See Chuan in an unprovoked attack, causing a fracture to the 41-year-old mans face, The Straits Times reported. Later in the court, Kaliappan said that he was feeling angry at the time because of an internal investigation against him and another inmate over an unrelated dispute. Deputy Public Prosecutor James Chew told the court, While they were talking, the victim touched the accuseds right upper arm as a friendly gesture. However, a moment later as they continued walking, the accused suddenly punched the victims face forcefully with his left fist. The victim fell to the ground. As the victim was picking himself up, the accused stood in front of him and threw another punch at the victims head with his left fist. This punch missed the victims head. Lim, who was bleeding from his nose and mouth, activated his communication device for assistance, prompting his colleagues to rush over. Despite this, Kaliappan continued to assume an aggressive fighting stance and had both his fists raised. A prison officer deployed pepper spray on Kaliappan and he was subdued. For voluntarily causing grievous hurt to a public servant, an offender can be jailed for up to 15 years and fined or caned. But Kaliappan cannot be caned as he is over 50 years old. Washington, Oct 9 (PTI) Noted Indian Americans, including two Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy, have rallied behind Israel following unprecedented attacks on it by the Hamas militant group that has left hundreds dead. Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rocket attacks in southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple airstrikes targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. Hamas and the backers who support them, the Iranian regime, were chanting 'Death to Israel, death to America.' That's what we have to remember. We are united with Israel because Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and the Iranian backers hate us," Republican presidential candidate Haley told NBC News on Sunday. "We have to remember that what happened to Israel could happen here in America. And I hope that we all unite and stand with Israel because they really need us right now, she said. In a post on X, Haley told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finish them (Hamas). Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Haley said she had introduced a resolution denouncing Hamas when she was the US ambassador to the UN. America was the only member of the Security Council to vote for it. This is what Israel is up against a world that denies the evil in front of them. We did not bow to world pressure thenwe won't now, she said. Other Indian American Republican candidate Ramaswamy said the key lesson for America to learn from the attack on Israel was that it cannot be complacent about defending its own borders. "If it can happen there, it can happen here. Our own border is near-completely porous right now. The Southern Border is a disaster and I visited the Northern Border yesterday which is wide open for invasion. Hamas picked a moment when Israel is deeply divided over domestic politics, as we are now here at home, he said. Our own foreign policy establishment has focused on distant foreign priorities while leaving us badly vulnerable on border defence, cyber and super-EMP defence, nuclear missile defence, and space-based defences. We cant lose sight of that and should use the attacks on Israel as a wake-up call here at home, Ramaswamy said on Sunday. Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) posted on social media platform X on Sunday: I stand with Israel with the flag of India in the backdrop. Bharat Barai, Indian Indian-American community leader, said Hamas and Hezbollah are the most barbaric terrorist organisations in the world. Israel has every right to destroy this brutal terrorist outfit for attacking Israel, murdering, abducting, raping and torturing innocent Israeli citizens. The entire civilised world must condemn Hamas and other similar barbarians, he said. The terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel are absolutely "horrific", said community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria. I stand with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself. My prayers are with the dead, reported hostages, and hundreds injured and all affected by these horrific attacks. I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks 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 innocent life must be protected on both sides including in Palestine, Bhutoria said. Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said the United States unequivocally stands with the people of Israel against this "gruesome" terror attack and strongly supports its right to defend itself. Sunday's war crimes carried out by Hamas against Israeli women and children were inhuman and appalling, said Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna. My heart breaks for the victims, and I stand in solidarity with the people of Israel at this dark moment, he said. Strongly condemning the terrorist attack by Hamas, Indian American Congressman Dr Ami Bera said that it is more important than ever that the United States stands with Israel and its right to defend its sovereignty. America stands firmly with Israel, said Indian American Congressman Shri Thanedar, adding that Congress must rally behind Israel until this threat is addressed and security is restored. Kathmandu, Oct 9 (PTI) Ten Nepali nationals have been killed and four others injured in Israel after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks in the country's southern region, Nepal's foreign ministry said on Monday. Hamas carried out a barrage of airstrikes in Southern Israel on Saturday, killing over 600 people, including soldiers, and wounding more than 1,900. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure. About 1,000 people have been confirmed dead in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides. In a press statement, the foreign ministry here said 10 Nepali nationals lost their lives in the recent attack by Hamas in Israel. Out of the 17 Nepali nationals working on a farm at Kibbutz Alumim, two safely escaped, four were injured and one is still missing, it said. "We have received the information of the sad demise of ten Nepali nationals from the site, where the Hamas had launched an attack, Nepal's embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement. We are trying to identify those killed in the incident. Efforts are being made to search for one missing Nepalese national. The bodies will be brought back to Nepal soon after the identification is completed. the embassy said. The Nepal government has also requested the Israeli government that necessary arrangements be provided to the injured people, who are undergoing treatment. The ministry said it was collaborating with the Israeli government and the embassy in Tel Aviv to bring back those nationals who want to return home. Jerusalem, Oct 9 (PTI) An Indian woman working as a caregiver in Ashkelon was injured when the Palestinian militant group Hamas fired a barrage of rockets on the Israel's northern city, sources said on Monday. The woman, identified as Sheeja Anand from Kerala, suffered injuries in her hands and leg on Saturday and was immediately provided treatment at a nearby hospital, sources said. She was later shifted to another hospital for recuperation and her condition was stable, they added. The Indian mission reached out to her for support and has been in touch with her family in the Kannur district of Kerala. "Her family has been informed, and we are in constant contact both with Ms. Sheeja and her family," an embassy source said. There is no reason for any concern at the moment, informed sources told PTI. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by the Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. At least 700 people, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel -- the deadliest day for the country in at least 50 years. In the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 500 deaths and over 2,000 wounded in Israel's counterattack, media reports said. Stockholm, Oct 9 (AP) The Nobel economics prize was awarded Monday to Harvard University professor Claudia Goldin for research that has advanced the understanding of the gender gap in the labour market. The announcement went a tiny step to closing the Nobel committee's own gender gap: Goldin is just the third woman to win the prize out of 93 economics laureates. She has studied 200 years of women's participation in the workplace, showing that despite continued economic growth, women's pay did not continuously catch up to men's and a divide still exists despite women gaining higher levels of education than men. I've always been an optimist. But when I look at the numbers, I think something has happened in America, that we, in the 1990s, our labour force participation rate for women was the highest in the world, and now it isn't the highest in the world, Goldin told The Associated Press. We have to step back and ask questions about piecing together the family, the home, together with the marketplace and employment, she said. Goldin's research does not offer solutions, but it allows policymakers to tackle the entrenched problem, said economist Randi Hjalmarsson, a member of the Nobel committee. She explains the source of the gap, and how it's changed over time and how it varies with the stage of development. And therefore, there is no single policy," Hjalmarsson said. "So it's a complicated policy question because if you don't know the underlying reason, a certain policy won't work. However, by finally understanding the problem and calling it by the right name, we will be able to pave a better route forward, Hjalmarsson said. Goldin, 77, told AP that what happens in people's homes reflects what happens in the workplace, with women often taking jobs that allow them to be on call at home work that often pays less. Ways in which we can even things out or to create more couple equity also leads to more gender equality, she said. Goldin had to become a data sleuth as she sought to fill in missing data for her research, Hjalmarsson said. For parts of history, systematic labour market records did not exist, and, if they did, information about women was missing. So how did Claudia Goldin overcome this missing data challenge? She had to be a detective to dig through the archives to find novel data sources and creative ways to use them to measure these unknowns, Hjalmarsson said. In Goldin's analysis, a woman's role in the job market and the pay she receives aren't influenced just by broad social and economic changes. They also are determined partly by her individual decisions about, for example, how much education to get. Often young girls make decisions about future work by looking at their own mother's participation, each generation learning from the successes and failures of the preceding generation, Hjalmarsson said. The process of evaluating prospects as times change helps explain why change in labor market gender gaps has been so slow," she said. Of receiving the Nobel, Goldin was surprised and very, very glad, Ellegren said. Her award follows the awards in medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and peace that were announced last week. The economics award was created in 1968 by Sweden's central bank and is formally known as the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. Last year's winners were former Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip Dybvig for their research into bank failures that helped shape America's aggressive response to the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Only two of the 92 economics laureates honored have been women. A week ago, Hungarian-American Katalin Kariko and American Drew Weissman won the Nobel Prize in medicine. The physics prize went Tuesday to French-Swedish physicist Anne L'Huillier, French scientist Pierre Agostini and Hungarian-born Ferenc Krausz. US scientists Moungi Bawendi, Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov won the chemistry prize on Wednesday. They were followed by Norwegian writer Jon Fosse, who was awarded the prize for literature. And on Friday, jailed Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi won the peace prize. The prizes are handed out at awards ceremonies in December in Oslo and Stockholm. They carry a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (about USD 1 million). Winners also receive an 18-carat gold medal and diploma. (AP) FZH Jerusalem, Oct 9 (AP) Israel's defence minister has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip following an unprecedented incursion into Israel by Hamas fighters. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for Saturday's surprise attack. More than 1,100 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides. The defence minister's announcement on Monday came as Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks while pounding Gaza from the air. A spokesperson said the Israeli military regained control of border communities taken by Hamas fighters during the attack. But Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. REPORT: EGYPT SEEKS ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PRISONER TRADE Egypt has engaged in negotiations with Israel and Palestinian militant groups to release Palestinian women in Israel's prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by Hamas militants, the state-owned Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported Monday. The daily paper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the negotiations were aimed at finalising an agreement on the trade. The Egyptian government is presently awaiting responses from both parties regarding the proposed prisoners exchange and a temporary cease-fire, Al-Ahram said. Palestinian militant groups have claimed to be holding over 130 people who were captured in Israel in the past two days. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press by phone that the group's fighters had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchanges. LEBANON URGES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO PRESSURE ISRAEL Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Monday that the tiny country's priority is to maintain stability along its southern border with Israel following an exchange of attacks between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants over the weekend. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets at three Israeli positions in a disputed territory along the border of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, before Israel returned fire. Mikati called on the international community to take responsibility in pressuring Israel to return to peace talks under the Arab Peace Initiative. Anything other than that is a further spiraling of violence that will not benefit anyone, he said. Iran-backed Hezbollah has praised key ally Hamas for its unprecedented incursion into Israel but not said if it would attempt to join forces. Israel has estimated that Hezbollah has some 150,000 rockets and missiles aimed at the country. EUROPEAN NATIONS REPATRIATE CITIZENS WITH FLIGHTS FROM ISRAEL Governments and airlines in Europe are conducting emergency and regular flights from Israel to bring back European citizens who were in the country when Hamas fighters attacked. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says nearly 600 Romanian citizens, including two groups of pilgrims, were repatriated from Israel on commercial flights over the weekend. A Bulgarian government aircraft has been sent to Tel Aviv to evacuate Bulgarian citizens stranded in Israel. National carrier Bulgaria Air cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv. canceled its flights to Tel Aviv. Bulgarian media say a total of 179 Bulgarians and one Croatian citizens were evacuated on the government-organized flights between Sunday night and early Monday. Two Hungarian air force planes carrying 215 people from Israel arrived in Budapest early Monday, according to posts by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Facebook. Slovakia's government plans to send a government plane to Tel Aviv on Wednesday to pick up Slovak nationals. A spokesman for Greece's government, Pavlos Marinakis, says 81 of the 149 Greeks registered as having been in Israel over the weekend returned to Athens on Sunday night. Spain's Foreign Ministry has urged people not to travel to Israel. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he expected all Spaniards wishing to leave Israel will have been brought back by later Monday. RUSSIA EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER SPIRAL OF VIOLENCE' IN ISRAEL The Kremlin is extremely concerned by the spiral of violence in Israel, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. We believe that this situation needs to be put onto a peaceful track as soon as possible. And the continuation of such a spiral of violence, of course, is fraught with further escalation and expansion of this conflict. This is a great danger for the region, so we are extremely concerned, Peskov said. The Kremlin spokesman added that Russian authorities were not aware of any Russian nationals injured in the conflict. EUROPEAN UNION CONVENES EMERGENCY MEETING The European Union is convening an emergency meeting of its foreign ministers to assess the developing violence in Israel, while stressing that the nation had every right to defend itself against the unprecedented incursion by Hamas fighters. The ministers will organise the Tuesday meeting in Oman, where EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and some EU delegations are attending an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council joint meeting. Others will join by video conference. The priority right now is for the aggression by Hamas to stop. The hostages need to be released and we need to see the overall deescalation of the situation, EU spokesman Peter Stano said. (AP) FZH Robbinsville (US), Oct 9 (PTI) BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu temple in the United States spread over 185 acres, has been inaugurated here, with devotees underscoring the temples message of unity, peace and harmony for people living across America and the world. The grand dedication ceremony of Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey was conducted on Sunday in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj following a nine-day celebration that commenced on September 30. Swami Maharaj performed the 'Pran Prathistha' ceremony at the temple amid rituals and traditional ceremonies. The construction of the temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, started in 2011 and concluded this year. It was created by 12,500 volunteers from around the world. Among the several key unique features of the temple is the largest elliptical dome ever constructed from stone. Volunteer Lenin Joshi noted that Swaminarayan Akshardham presents Indias heritage and culture to modern America. Created by volunteers around the world, this masterpiece stands as an enduring symbol of love while preserving traditions and spreading messages of peace, hope, and harmony across generations, he said. We were waiting for this moment for the last several years, Joshi said, adding that the day has finally come when people from all around the country, irrespective of their faiths and religions, will be able to visit the temple and see the grand symbol of Indian Hindu tradition, peace, devotion and architectural marvel. He said the temple has been built by nearly 12,500 volunteers - men, women and children from all walks of life - who took a break from their jobs and studies and dedicated themselves for days and months to construct the temple. Highlighting some of the unique aspects of the temple, Joshi said 1.9 million cubic feet of stone was used in its constriction. The stone was sourced from over 29 different sites around the world, including granite from India, sandstone from Rajasthan, teakwood from Myanmar, marble from Greece, Turkey and Italy and limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey. He said the temple was designed to incorporate elements from ancient Indian art, architecture and culture, including 10,000 statues, carvings of ancient Indian musical instruments and dance forms as well as water from the holy rivers of India. Deputy Commissioner at the New York City Mayors Office for International Affairs, Dilip Chauhan told PTI here that the inauguration and dedication of the Akshardham temple is a dream come true for devotees, volunteers and followers across the US. He said the Akshardham in Robbinsville is a temple not just for any one community but this cultural complex is going to bring all communities together and will be a bridge between the local, state, and federal government and the faith-based community. We can see real diversity here, Chauhan said. Chauhan said US Congresswoman Grace Meng has dedicated October 8, 2023, as Akshardham Day in the Congressional District 6 of New York City borough of Queens, including west, central, and northeast Queens. He said though Akshardham is based in New Jersey, New York also wants to be part of it. New York, New Jersey, and the entire United States want to celebrate the significance of Akshardham which is why Congresswoman Meng has dedicated October 8, 2023, as Akshardham Day. Underlining New York City Mayor Eric Adamss message of breaking bread and building bonds, Chauhan said the temple underscores the message of unity in diversity and harmony. Yogi Trivedi from New York, a scholar of media and religion, underscored that the spirit of selfless service and devotion are the foundation of the temple. This spirit will speak to not just Hindu-Americans, Indians and Indian-Americans but to America and the world at large. It is that sense of inclusivity and the sense of bringing people together that will speak to those who visit the temple, said Trivedi, who is also an author specialising in Bhakti Studies and a volunteer at the temple. He said while the architectural innovation is awe-inspiring in itself, the innovation in the temples messaging is unique and path-breaking. Akshardham Mahamandir is embedded in tradition and at the same time embracing innovation, he said, pointing out that as one walks around the Mahamandirs base plinth one will see messages from the lives of Sri Krishna and Lord Ram, the Vedas and Upanishads as well as messages of democracy, liberty, equality and freedom from iconic leaders of American society and the western world that will resonate with visitors. These include Socrates, Albert Einstein, Rumi, former President Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. These messages which are universal now speak to the Americans, the Hindu Americans and the international visitor that comes here in a way that is familiar to them. This is a Sanatan Hindu Mandir with an articulation of that universal message that speaks to the world, he said. Trivedi said at a time when the world is really divided and there are divisions among people in American society also, this Mandir is a step in that direction to bring those people together, to help people realise that we need to celebrate humanity, need to celebrate the things we share, have in common and not those that divide us. That is the message of our Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj and that is the central theme and message of this inclusive Mahamandir Akshardham. Globally, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardhams are landmarks of Hindu art, architecture, and culture and serve as spiritual and community hubs, open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Akshardham in New Jersey marks the third such cultural complex globally. The first Akshardham was created in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, India, in 1992, followed by Akshardham in New Delhi in 2005, a statement said. During the week, Indias Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj led a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from the United Nations to the temple ahead of the grand dedication ceremony on October 8. Jerusalem, Oct 9 (AP) Israel's defense minister has ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip following an unprecedented incursion into Israel by Hamas fighters. Israel formally declared war on Sunday and gave the green light for significant military steps to retaliate against Hamas for Saturday's surprise attack. More than 1,100 people have been killed and thousands wounded on both sides. The defense minister's announcement on Monday came as Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks while pounding Gaza from the air. A spokesperson said the Israeli military regained control of border communities taken by Hamas fighters during the attack. But Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The US State Department said Monday that at least nine American citizens have been killed in the weekend Hamas attacks on Israel, raising the toll from four. The State Department says an undetermined number of American citizens remain missing and unaccounted for. It is not clear whether the missing had been taken hostage, were killed or are in hiding. The State Department is in touch with families and providing all appropriate consular assistance, spokesman Matthew Miller said. Israeli troops shot and killed several gunmen who crossed into the country from Lebanon, the Israeli Defense Forces said without specifying the number of people killed nor their alleged affiliation. Local media quoted Hezbollah officials on Monday as denying their involvement in the border incident. Iran-backed Hezbollah has praised key ally Hamas for its unprecedented weekend incursion into Israel but not said if it would attempt to join forces. According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency, four gunmen crossed Lebanon's southern border into Israeli territory from the border town of Dahaira before coming across an IDF position. Israeli and Lebanese troops deployed in large numbers over the weekend along the UN-demarcated Blue Line border that separates the two countries. Hezbollah fired rockets Sunday at Israeli positions in disputed territory in southern Lebanon. Senior Hezbollah official Hashim Safieddine later said the volley was intended to send a message. In response, Israel shelled the positions where the rockets came from. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit met Monday in Moscow but did not announce any immediate steps in response to the violence in Israel and Gaza. As for mediation efforts, first of all the parties themselves must stop hostilities. Everything else can be decided later in a normal, non-military situation, Lavrov said following the meeting. Before speaking with Russia's top diplomat, Aboul Gheit said: We completely reject violence from both sides. ... We demand the creation of political perspectives and fair solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Major US airlines have suspended flights to Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas. American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the US State Department issued travel advisories for the region, citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest. American suspended service to Tel Aviv through Friday. United said it allowed two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday and accommodated its customers, crews and employee travelers who were at the airport. Delta said its Tel Aviv flights have been canceled into this week. An open-air electronic music festival will go down in Israeli history as the site of the country's worst civilian massacre after paramedics recovered at least 260 bodies from a field near the border with Gaza. The Tribe of Nova festival brought together thousands of young people to dance and revel in the swirl of bass-heavy beats. Dozens of Hamas militants who had blown through Israel's heavily fortified separation fence and crossed into the country from Gaza opened fire on the Israelis. We were hiding and running, hiding and running, in an open field, the worst place you could possibly be in that situation, said Arik Nani from Tel Aviv, who had gone to the party to celebrate his 26th birthday. For a country where everyone in these circles knows everyone, this is a trauma like I could never imagine. Egypt has engaged in negotiations with Israel and Palestinian militant groups to release Palestinian women in Israel's prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by Hamas militants, the state-owned Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported Monday. The daily paper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the negotiations were aimed at finalizing an agreement on the trade. The Egyptian government is presently awaiting responses from both parties regarding the proposed prisoners exchange and a temporary cease-fire, Al-Ahram said. Palestinian militant groups have claimed to be holding over 130 people who were captured in Israel in the past two days. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told The Associated Press by phone that the group's fighters had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Monday that the tiny country's priority is to maintain stability along its southern border with Israel following an exchange of attacks between Israeli troops and Hezbollah militants over the weekend. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for firing rockets at three Israeli positions Sunday in a disputed territory along the border of the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights, before Israel returned fire. Mikati called on the international community to take responsibility in pressuring Israel to return to peace talks under the Arab Peace Initiative. Anything other than that is a further spiraling of violence that will not benefit anyone, he said. Governments and airlines in Europe are conducting emergency and regular flights from Israel to bring back European citizens who were in the country when Hamas fighters attacked. Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says nearly 600 Romanian citizens, including two groups of pilgrims, were repatriated from Israel on commercial flights over the weekend. Bulgarian media say a total of 179 Bulgarians and one Croatian citizens were evacuated on the government-organized flights between Sunday night and early Monday. National carrier Bulgaria Air canceled its flights to Tel Aviv. A spokesman for Greece's government, Pavlos Marinakis, says 81 of the 149 Greeks registered as having been in Israel over the weekend returned to Athens on Sunday night. Two Hungarian air force planes carrying 215 people from Israel arrived in Budapest early Monday, according to posts by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Facebook. Spain's Foreign Ministry has urged people not to travel to Israel. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said he expected all Spaniards wishing to leave Israel will have been brought back by later Monday. The Kremlin is extremely concerned by the spiral of violence in Israel, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday. We believe that this situation needs to be put onto a peaceful track as soon as possible. And the continuation of such a spiral of violence, of course, is fraught with further escalation and expansion of this conflict. This is a great danger for the region, so we are extremely concerned, Peskov said. The Kremlin spokesman added that Russian authorities were not aware of any Russian nationals injured in the conflict. The European Union is convening an emergency meeting of its foreign ministers to assess the developing violence in Israel, while stressing that the nation had every right to defend itself against the unprecedented incursion by Hamas fighters. The ministers will organize the Tuesday meeting in Oman, where EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and some EU delegations are attending an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council joint meeting. Others will join by video conference. The priority right now is for the aggression by Hamas to stop. The hostages need to be released and we need to see the overall deescalation of the situation, EU spokesman Peter Stano said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has drawn a parallel between Russia's invasion of his country and the Hamas militant group's incursion into Israel, saying only rules (and) international law can ensure peace around the world. The same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine, Zelenskyy said in a video address Monday to a NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen. Our unity must and can stop the evil, Zelenskyy said. Let everyone who sponsors terror feel the power of our wrath. And let everyone who needs help defending themselves against terror feel the power of our solidarity. The top US envoy to the Human Rights Council has led a moment of silence to honor the victims of Hamas' attacks against Israeli civilians and the people killed in an earthquake in Afghanistan over the weekend. Ambassador Michele Taylor spoke Monday with a heavy heart, she said, following the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians starting on Saturday. The United States unequivocally condemns these heinous acts of terrorism. We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel in these trying times, she told the council, the UN's top human rights body. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered at the Sydney Opera House and police are advising the Jewish community to stay away. Around 1,000 protesters on Monday marched 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Sydney Town Hall to the harborside landmark chanting: Free, free Palestine! They were surrounded by a heavy police presence. One protester at the town hall rally briefly waved an Israeli flag before fleeing. The opera house is among several public buildings in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra that were to be illuminated in blue and white the colors of Israel's flag on Monday night in solidarity with the Israelis. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said authorities would cut electricity to Gaza and block the entry of food and fuel there as part of a complete siege he ordered. The announcement on Monday came as Israel's military scoured the country's south for Hamas fighters and guarded breaches in its border fence with tanks, while it pounded the Gaza Strip from the air. Israel and Egypt have imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Two Sri Lankans have gone missing while another has been wounded in the violence in the Gaza Strip, the island nation's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The two missing persons were identified as caregivers. About 8,000 Sri Lankans are employed in Israel and the majority of them work as caregivers. Twenty-two Filipinos have been rescued in Israel and seven others are still missing following the Hamas militant group's attack, the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv said Monday. Two of the rescued Filipinos were treated in hospitals for injuries. The embassy said it is working non-stop with Israeli authorities and community contacts to get more details on the missing citizens. Austria's foreign minister says his country will freeze development aid for the Palestinian areas following the attack by Hamas on Israel. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg told Oe1 radio on Monday that all development aid payments will be put on ice for now and that the affected funds are worth around 19 million euros (USD 20 million). Schallenberg also said he will summon Iran's ambassador to the Austrian Foreign Ministry on Monday to complain about the country's abhorrent reactions to the Hamas attack. On Sunday, Germany's development minister said her country would review its financial aid for the Palestinian areas. Her ministry put the amount currently pledged at 250 million euros (USD 265 million) and said no payments are currently being made. The leaders of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on Monday discussed the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan agreed on the importance of advancing diplomatic efforts that aim to de-escalate violence, protect civilians, spare blood, a statement from the Egyptian president's office said. Such efforts should include establishing a comprehensive, just and permanent peace, it added. Egypt was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in the 1970s, and shares borders with both Gaza and Israel. The UAE normalized ties with Tel Aviv as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020. The Arab Gulf nation has frayed ties with Hamas. EgyptAir, Egypt's national carrier, suspended its flights to Israel on Monday amid fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, Cairo airport officials said. The flights between Cairo and Tel Aviv are suspended until further notice, said two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media. EgyptAir normally operates a daily flight between Cairo International Airport and Ben Gurion International Airport, just outside Tel Aviv. Many carriers suspended flights to and from Israel following the unprecedented attack by the Hamas militant group, which rules Gaza, Israeli media reported. Twelve Thai nationals have died in Israel following Hamas' attack, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kanchana Patarachoke said Monday. Eleven others were taken hostage and eight were injured. The numbers, based on reports from workers and employers in the area, were still awaiting confirmation from Israeli authorities, Kanchana said. Around 5,000 Thai workers are in the areas around the Gaza Strip, and some have been evacuated to safer areas, the spokesperson said, adding that Thailand's air force is preparing planes for an evacuation whenever the situation allows. Many Thais work on farms in Israel. Israel's central bank says it will sell up to USD 30 billion in foreign exchange to prop up the country's shekel currency following market uncertainty in the wake of Hamas' incursion from the Gaza Strip. The central bank issued a statement Monday morning announcing the plan, saying it will operate in the market during the coming period in order to moderate volatility in the shekel exchange rate and to provide the necessary liquidity for the continued proper functioning of the markets. It added it would provide additional liquidity of up to USD 15 billion in the market as well. The shekel has fallen to a near eight-year low against the US dollar in early trading Monday. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who has Palestinian ancestry, decried Hamas on Sunday after its attack on Israel. The best thing that could happen to the Palestinian people is for Hamas to completely disappear. Those savage beasts do not represent the Palestinians, Bukele said on the social network X, previously known as Twitter. Anyone who supports the Palestinian cause would make a great mistake siding with those criminals. He also compared Hamas to the MS-13 gang, which has terrorized El Salvador for years. Ten Nepali nationals have been killed in fighting in Israel and at least one more is missing, Nepal's Foreign Ministry said. An unknown number of others were wounded in the violence, it added. Efforts were being made to return the bodies to Nepal and embassy officials were also trying to help citizens who want to leave the country. One of Israel's goals as it battles Hamas fighters is to remove the militant group from power in the Gaza Strip, a military spokesperson said Monday. Jonathan Conricus made the statement in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. His words appeared to go further than those of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu said Sunday that his security cabinet had made the decision to destroy Hamas' ability to govern in a way that posed a threat to Israeli civilians. A thousand Hamas militants took part in the initial, unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, Conricus said. It is by far the worst day in Israeli history, Conricus said.(AP) RUP RUP Colombo, Oct 9 (PTI) President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday expressed concern over the situation in Israel and emphasized the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans residing there. During the weekly cabinet meeting, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the need for immediate action to ensure the safety of Sri Lankans working in Israel, said a statement from his office. He asked the foreign ministry to ensure the safety of Israelis - both tourists and employees - in Sri Lanka and ensure their safe return. The police have been instructed to ensure the safety of Israeli citizens in Sri Lanka. President Wickremesinghe called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, emphasizing the broader consequences of the crisis on global fuel prices. He noted that the ongoing conflict would likely lead to a prolonged period of high fuel prices, adversely affecting developing economies, including Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Ambassador in Israel Nimal Bandara told local media over telephone that at least two Sri Lankan workers, including a woman, have gone missing while another has been wounded in Israel. The two missing persons were identified as caregivers. About 8,000 Sri Lankans are employed in Israel and the majority of them work as caregivers. "I want people to know that there is no need to feel worried," Bandara said. On Sunday, the foreign ministry called for the deescalation of the situation. It called for a negotiated settlement based on the 1967 agreement paving the way for the two states to live side by side. Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. More than 700 people, including soldiers, have been killed and more than 2,100 injured in Israel while in the Gaza Strip, there are nearly 560 deaths and about 2,900 wounded in Israel's counterattack. Kathmandu, Oct 9 (PTI) India has condoled the death of 10 Nepalese students in Israel and voiced its support to the neighbouring country in its hour of grief, Nepal's foreign ministry said on Monday. Israel has formally declared war on the Islamist militant group Hamas after its fighters launched an unprecedented attack on Saturday that has so far killed more than 700 people in Israel. Ten Nepalese students in Israel were killed by Hamas militants in the country's southern region. In a letter to Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud, the Indian ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava expressed sadness over the killing of the Nepalese students. In a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Saud, Ambassador Srivastava has expressed sorrow over the death of the Nepalese students and extended condolences to the bereaved family members, the statement from Nepal's foreign office said. India being a close neighbour stands with Nepal in this hour of grief, Ambassador Srivastava said. There are currently 4,500 Nepali nationals working as caregivers in Israel. A total of 265 Nepali students are studying in Israel under the Learn and Earn programme of the Israeli government. Of them, 119 are from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 are from Tribhuvan University and 49 are from Sudur Paschim University. All of them are bachelor-level students of agriculture. Mumbai, Oct 9 (PTI) Traffic will be blocked for two hours on the Pune-bound lane of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Tuesday for the erection of overhead gantries, an official of the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said on Monday. The Pune-bound lane of the expressway will be shut for traffic from 12 pm to 2 pm for the erection of gantries at Amrutanjan Bridge and Khandala tunnel as part of the Highway Management System, the MSRDC said in a release. The Mumbai-Pune Expressway is the first-access controlled highway in the county. Gangtok, Oct 9 (PTI) Sikkim chief secretary V B Pathak sought the Centre's assistance on Monday, which saw evacuation of stranded tourists begin in North district in Army choppers after the weather cleared up for the first time since the flash flood. The tourists were evacuated from Lachen and Lachung of the North district but the work is being impeded by the lack of telecommunication connectivity, he said. The Army choppers are also transporting relief materials and essential commodities to the two areas and the chief secretary sought an increase the number of sorties to expedite evacuation of the stranded tourists and other people from there. Pathak told union cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba during a virtual meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) that BSNL, which is working in coordination with the Army, has promised to lay optical fibre cables in the area by Monday evening. It has planned to bring 5 VSAT units and technicians in helicopters to Lachen, Lachung, Chungthang, Chatten, and Theng areas to restore telecommunication. The North Sikkim district has Tibet Autonomous Region to its north and east. During the meeting held held to review the restoration and evacuation operations, Pathak said the affected areas have been completely cut off due to destruction of infrastructure and network and apprised it of the temporary restoration work being carried out there. As permanent construction of new motorable roads and bridges may take long time, temporary arrangements like bailey bridges are being constructed by the state government in coordination with the Army and Central agencies. Efforts are now on to connect the now inaccessible Dzongu, Chungthang areas and beyond. Foot bridges are being constructed and personnel of the state administration, central agencies as well as local people are trekking to the places, the Sikkim chief secretary said. The flash flood of October 4 has completely destroyed the Army ammunition depot at Munshithang (above Chungthang) as a result of which the Teesta river basin has been filled with weapons, ammunition and explosives. It is difficult to clear the debris and the sludge, particularly adjacent to the riverbanbk dwellings, which is endangering the people, he said. To prevent any accident, the people have been warned to notify the local police if any ammunition or explosives are sighted in the river basin. The Army is carrying out controlled detonation wherever necessary, he added. Pathak said that the state government has corresponded with ISRO chairman S Somnath and requested for surveillance over South Lhonak Lake and Shako Chu Lake for any activity in order to avert further catastrophe. Secretaries of concerned central ministries, senior Army officials, director generals of NDRF and BRO were among those who were in the meeting. Chandigarh, Oct 9 (PTI) Police on Monday used a water cannon to disperse Congress workers marching towards the Punjab Raj Bhavan here over the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue. The Punjab Congress said it wanted to meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit and give him a representation over the SYL issue. Several Congress leaders including the party's state unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, former minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, former Punjab assembly speaker Rana KP Singh and other leaders were present. Police had raised barricades to prevent protesters from moving towards the residence of the governor. When the Congress workers tried to force their way through barricades, they used a water cannon to stop them. Later, police detained Congress leaders and workers. Addressing Congress leaders and workers outside the party headquarters here, Bajwa said they will not allow a single drop of water from Punjab to flow to any other state and that they will also not allow the canal to be built. He said Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state. The Congress leaders also targeted the Bhagwant Mann government, alleging that the Punjab government had failed to safeguard the interests of the state over the SYL issue. On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Mann challenged the BJP, Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal for an open debate on issues pertaining to the state on November 1, amid opposition parties' criticism over the issue of SYL canal. The Punjab BJP had on Saturday held a protest, accusing the AAP government of failing to safeguard the state's interest on river water. The state government in the apex court stated that the government was ready to build the canal but the opposition parties and farmers were opposing it, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar claimed on Saturday. On October 4, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to survey the portion of land in Punjab which was allocated for the construction of part of the SYL canal in the state and make an estimate of the extent of construction carried out there. The SYL canal was conceptualised for effective allocation of water from the Ravi and Beas rivers. The project envisaged a 214-km canal, of which a 122-km stretch was to be constructed in Punjab and the remaining 92 km in Haryana. Haryana has completed the project in its territory but Punjab, which launched the construction work in 1982, shelved it subsequently. The SYL has been a bone of contention between Punjab and Haryana for the past several years. Punjab has been maintaining that the quantum of water flowing through Ravi and Beas rivers had come down considerably, and therefore, it was seeking reassessment of the water's volume. Haryana has been seeking completion of the canal to get its share of 3.5 million acre feet of the water, and also that Punjab should comply with the 2002 and 2004 Supreme Court orders for the completion of the canal. Sultanpur (UP), Oct 9 (PTI) Two accused in the brutal murder of a doctor about a fortnight ago, including the main accused carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000, were arrested here on Monday, a senior official said. Main accused Ajay Narayan Singh and his associate Deepak Singh in the murder of Dr Ghanshyam Tripathi (53) were arrested and sent to jail, Superintendent of Police (SP) Somen Burma said. Before the arrest of these two accused, two others - Jagdish Narayan Singh and Vijay Narayan Singh - had already been arrested and sent to jail, Burma said. The doctor, a resident of Shastri Nagar in Kotwali Nagar and working at the Jaisinghpur Community Health Centre, was allegedly thrashed by the main accused and his men over a land dispute, leading to his death. A case under sections 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Law Amendment Act was registered against the main accused, the SP had earlier said. A delegation of the Indian Medical Association had met the district magistrate and sought justice for the doctor's family. According to the SP, Dr Tripathi had purchased a land parcel from Ajay Narayan Singh. "The accused were demanding more money and were not giving the possession of the land to the doctor," Barma had said. New Delhi, Oct 9 (PTI) The CBI has filed six charge sheets in connection with alleged grabbing of forest and agricultural land by hotels and guest houses in collusion with former CEOs of Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said Monday. In its charge sheets filed before a special court, Jammu, the agency has named two former CEOs of PDA Rajinder Krishan Verma and Kamal Kishore Gupta, two Khilafwarzi inspectors Avesh Jasrotia and Zaheer Abbas, besides eight hotel owners, they said. The agency filed five charge sheets on Monday while one was filed on Saturday. The agency has also named as accused owner of hotel Mount View Syed Mushtaq Shah, hotel Dream Land Nazir Shah and Samina Shah, hotel Broadway Zubeida Begum, hotel Shahi Santoor Shakeel Shah, hotel Holiday Inn Koushal Magotra and Virender Kesar and hotel Hollywood Ameen Shah. "Investigation revealed that accused public servants did not take steps to remove illegal constructions, etc. in conspiracy with other accused," a CBI spokesperson said. The CBI had taken over investigation in 2020 on the directions of Jammu and Kashmir High Court where a public interest litigation was filed by the president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, Patnitop, alleging glaring violations of the master plan of the Patnitop area. He had alleged that 70 per cent of hotels and restaurants have been constructed without permission. "It was further alleged that many hotels/guest houses were constructed without permission and were not registered with PDA. It was also alleged that officials did not take any action despite being aware of such encroachments. In some cases, no compounding fee was allegedly deposited by the hotels," the CBI had said in a statement after filing the FIR. The CBI had alleged that the public servants having dominion/jurisdiction over land in Patnitop, in conspiracy with the owners and proprietors of the hotels, guest houses and resorts, etc. failed to protect the interest of government and allowed illegal construction and illegal use of the said land earmarked for agriculture, parking area, residential area in violation of PDA master plan. FILE - Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, left, argues a point with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, right, between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX Business Network and Univision, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) Members of Britains opposition Labour Party gather in Liverpool on Sunday for their annual conference with an unfamiliar feeling: optimism. The party has been out of power for 13 years, and in the last national election in 2019, voters handed Labour its worst drubbing since 1935. But with an election due next year, polls put Labour as much as 20 points ahead of the governing Conservative Party, and Labour scored a morale-boosting special election victory in Scotland last week. Power is within the partys grasp as long as it doesnt mess things up. It was a big step in the right direction, an important one, Labour leader Keir Starmer said Friday after the special election result. But we accept this humbly. This is a step on the journey. Labours landslide 1997 election victory under Tony Blair the peak of its popularity was a quarter-century ago, and the party has suffered four straight election defeats. The Conservatives have been in power nationally since 2010, years that saw austerity following the world banking crisis, Britains divisive decision to leave the European Union, a global pandemic and a European war that has triggered the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades. Those upheavals left both Britains main parties in turmoil and both responded by picking populist leaders. Labour members elected the veteran left-wing lawmaker Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. The Conservatives, after years of division and wrangling over the countrys EU exit, chose brash Brexit-booster Boris Johnson and won a thumping election victory over Corbyn in 2019. Corbyn quit after that defeat, and amid criticism that hed allowed antisemitism to fester in a party that sees itself as proudly antiracist. Starmer won a party leadership contest in 2020, vowing to restore relations between the party and the Jewish community. He also has steered the social democratic party back toward the political middle-ground after the divisive tenure of Corbyn, a staunch socialist who advocated nationalization of key industries and infrastructure. Starmers actions angered some grassroots Labour members who want a bolder agenda, but it has revived the partys poll ratings. In a sign that corporate Britain is preparing for a change of government, Labour says companies have been queuing up to buy stands in the conference exhibition hall and to attend a business forum with Starmer and other senior party leaders. In a speech opening the gathering, Deputy Leader Angela Rayner accused the Conservatives of presiding over national decline and being too consumed with internal political chaos to sort out the countrys problems. Rishi Sunak and his party have taken a sledgehammer to the foundations on which a good life can be built, she said. And now the simple things in life are crumbling: a decent job, a secure, affordable home and a strong community. The party has to walk a delicate line to convince voters it can ease the U.K.s chronic housing crisis and repair its fraying public services, especially the creaking, overburdened state-funded National Health Service but without imposing tax increases on the public. The Conservatives, who held their own, rather muted conference in Manchester last week, have not given up hope. Conservative officials argue that voters are not sold on Starmer, a lawyer and former chief prosecutor with a cautious, managerial style. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has depicted himself as a force for change, with Starmer as the face of the status quo. But Sunaks party has a big gap to close. The Conservatives are losing support across the country, from affluent southern voters turned off by Brexit to working-class northern voters who switched from Labour in 2019. Labour is also gaining ground in Scotland, where its former dominance had been obliterated in recent years by the pro-independence Scottish National Party. Labour won an emphatic victory over the SNP in a special election Thursday for the parliamentary seat of Rutherglen and Hamilton West, near Glasgow. Starmer hailed it as a seismic result. They said that we couldnt change the Labour Party and we did it, Starmer told local party workers. They said that we couldnt win in the south of England and the north of England, and we did it. They said Youll never beat the SNP in Scotland and, Rutherglen, you did it. Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester, said the polling figures are stark for the Conservatives. But he cautioned that voters remain depressed and very skeptical of all political parties. They are much more enthusiastic about the idea of turfing the Tories out than they are about putting Labour in, Ford said. Starmers own poll ratings remain pretty mediocre. People think hes a bit weak, they think its unclear what he stands for, theyre not really sure what his vision is for government. What Labour really need to do with this conference is to convince people to steal a line from Tony Blairs 1997 campaign that things can only get better. (AP) Large businesses in California will have to disclose a wide range of planet-warming emissions under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Saturday the most sweeping mandate of its kind in the nation. The law requires more than 5,300 companies that operate in California and make more than $1 billion in annual revenues to report both their direct and indirect emissions. That includes things like emissions from operating a building or store as well as those from activities like employee business travel and transporting their products. The law, SB 253, will bring more transparency to the public about how big businesses contribute to climate change, and it could nudge them to evaluate how they can reduce their emissions, advocates say. They argue many businesses already disclose some of their emissions to the state. But the California Chamber of Commerce, agricultural groups and oil giants that oppose the law say it will create new mandates for companies that dont have the experience or expertise to accurately report their indirect emissions. They also say it is too soon to implement the requirements at a time when the federal government is weighing emissions disclosure rules for public companies. The measure could create duplicative work if the federal standards are adopted, the chamber and other groups wrote in an alert opposing the bill. In a statement Saturday, Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Barrera said the law will be burdensome to businesses. We look forward to working with the Governors office on SB 253 clean-up legislation that will address some of the major concerns of our members, particularly the impact on small business, Barrera said. The tools developed to meet the goals of SB 253 must be cost-effective and useful. California has made major strides to set trends on climate policy in recent years. The state has set out to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, expand renewable energy and limit rail pollution. By 2030, the state plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below what they were in 1990. This was Democratic State Sen. Scott Wieners third attempt to get the sweeping emissions disclosure rules passed in California. Last year, it passed in the Senate but came up short in the State Assembly. Wiener said the new emissions information will be useful for consumers, investors and lawmakers. These companies are doing business in California, Wiener said. Its important for Californians to know what their carbon footprint is. Major companies, including Apple and Patagonia, came out in support of the bill, saying they already disclose much of their emissions. Christiana Figueres, a key former United Nations official behind the 2015 Paris climate agreement, said in a letter that the bill would be a crucial catalyst in mobilizing the private sector to solve climate change. Seventeen states already have inventories requiring major emitters to disclose their direct emissions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But the new California mandates will be go beyond that to make companies report a wide range of direct and indirect emissions. Public companies are typically accustomed to collecting, verifying and reporting information about their business to the government, said Amanda Urquiza, a corporate lawyer who advises companies on climate and other issues. But the California law will mean a major shift for private companies that dont yet have the infrastructure to report information that will include a wide-range of greenhouse gas emissions, she said. The federal rules, proposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, would require major public companies to report their emissions and how climate change poses a financial risk to their business. Under the California law, the states Air Resources Board has to approve rules by 2025 to implement the legislation. By 2026, companies have to begin annually disclosing their direct emissions, as well as those used to power, heat and cool their facilities. By 2027, companies have to begin annually reporting other indirect emissions. (AP) U.N. and local investigators searched for answers on Saturday at the site of a Russian missile strike on a small Ukrainian village that days earlier turned its sole cafe to rubble and killed nearly 52 people gathered for a dead soldiers wake, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials in Kyiv. Local residents that same day began laying their lost friends to rest. Representatives from the United Nations Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) spent much of the day speaking with local residents and survivors in Hroza, in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to a statement shared with the Associated Press. 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, Danielle Bell, who led the team that visited Hroza on Saturday, was cited as saying in the U.N. statement. What happened here is yet another tragic reminder of the deadly impact Russias invasion has had on Ukraines civilians, Bell added. The village cafe was obliterated and whole families perished after the missile strike on Thursday cut short a wake for Andriy Kozyr, a soldier from Hroza who died last winter fighting Russias invading forces in eastern Ukraine. According to Ukrainian news reports, he was initially laid to rest elsewhere in Ukraine, as his native village remained under Russian occupation. Kozyrs family decided to rebury him in Hroza more than 15 months following his death, after DNA tests confirmed his identity, and the cafe reopened especially to let residents honor his memory. His son Dmytro Kozyr, also a soldier, was among those who died in the attack alongside his wife Nina, who was just days short of her 21st birthday. As of Saturday, Ukrainian law enforcement and the regional prosecutors office put the number of victims at 52. Only six people in the cafe survived, and the town is trying to fathom why and how the wake was targeted. Dmytro Chubenko, spokesman for the regional prosecutor, said on Friday that investigators are looking into whether someone from the area transmitted the cafes coordinates to the Russians a betrayal to everyone now grieving in Hroza. Among them are Kateryna Tarannyk and her brother Dmytro Androsovych, whose parents were killed at Kozyrs wake and buried on Saturday at a small cemetery on the villages outskirts. Relatives of Tetiana Androsovych, 60, and Mykola Androsovych, 63, gathered alongside Hroza residents under a grim grey sky, as rain kept falling into the fresh open graves nearby that had been dug for other victims. Tarannyk and her brother stood embracing each other, gazing at their parents closed caskets, throughout the Orthodox service. It feels like youre in a bad, incomprehensible dream, waiting to wake up. Its just unbearable, Tarannyk told the AP. Tarannyk had come to the funeral from Slovakia, where she had fled with her child in the early days of the war. She set off immediately upon hearing the news of the missile strike. Just a week ago, her parents had visited her in Slovakia. They were so happy, she recalled. Together, they had made plans for Tarannyks child to visit the grandparents in spring. Before the couple was laid to rest, Tarannyk approached each casket in turn and silently said her goodbyes, gently stroking the dark green velvet fabric covering the coffins. The missile strike was treacherous, cruel, and unjust, she said with anger in her voice. Oleksii Androsovych, Mykolas brother, rushed to the village cafe immediately after the missile hit. He found his brothers body next to that of his wife, whose head was missing. For Oleksii, it was likely the first of many funerals for his friends and neighbors that will be held in Hroza over the coming days and perhaps months, as not all victims bodies have been identified yet. Mykola and his wife were buried several rows on from Kozyr, the soldier whose wake they had attended. The tiny village cemetery has grown substantially in the last two days, as fresh graves keep appearing. Ukrainian police have identified 48 out of the 52 civilians killed by the missile blast, according to the chief police investigator for Kharkiv province. In a Facebook post, Serhii Bolvinov said that investigation teams were gathering up dead bodies, literally piece by piece. Hroza, which had a population of about 500 before the war, was seized by Russia early in the war before being recaptured by Ukraine in September 2022 along with neighboring areas. Its only 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Kupiansk, a key focus of the Russian military effort. Zelenskyy visited the area Tuesday to meet with troops and inspect equipment supplied by the West. Ukrainian officials said the village was hit by a precision Iskander-style missile, which is said to have an accuracy of 5 to 7 meters (yards). Elsewhere, a pro-Kremlin politician in Ukraines Russian-occupied south died of his injuries Saturday after his car was blown up, local Moscow-installed authorities reported. A Telegram post by Vladimir Saldo, a Kremlin-appointed regional leader, identified the politician as Vladimir Malov, the secretary of a local branch of Russian President Vladimir Putins political party, United Russia. It was not immediately clear who was behind the deadly attack on Malov. But guerrilla forces loyal to Kyiv have for months operated behind enemy lines, killing pro-Moscow officials, blowing up bridges and helping the Ukrainian military by identifying key targets. Civilians were killed and wounded by Russian shelling and missile strikes across Ukraines south and east on Saturday, local Ukrainian officials reported. A 52-year-old man died after a Russian shell fell in his yard in the southern Kherson region, local Gov. Roman Mrochko said on Telegram. Four people were injured by broken glass as Russian missiles struck the Black Sea port of Chornomorsk overnight, the regional prosecutors office reported Saturday. The missiles hit holiday accommodation and grain storage facilities along the coast, with debris later setting nearby cars and garages on fire, the prosecutors office said. (AP) Donald Trump is again testing the power of his endorsement. With an early morning social media post on Friday, Trump inserted himself into the chaotic race to replace Kevin McCarthy as House speaker by backing Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan for the post. The move was the latest example of Trump attempting to flex his influence within a Republican Party he has already fundamentally reshaped in the eight years since his first White House bid. I think he does well. I hope he does well, Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, said of Jordan in a Friday interview with Real Americas Voice. Hes got competition, as you understand. And theyre friendly with me, too. Very nice people and good people. Well see what happens. With Trumps firm grip on the GOP base, his endorsement can effectively clear the field in many congressional primaries. But the speakers race is more complex, an intraparty fight that will play out in secret at points and in a tense environment with many Republicans furious about McCarthys ouster. Jordan is facing at least one other candidate House Majority Leader Steve Scalise who is also on good terms with Trump. Its unclear whether anyone has enough votes to win the gavel and if Jordan were to lose, another Trump ally could emerge. Taken together, the dynamics mean that Trumps backing of Jordan may do little to sway the results. And that may not ultimately matter much. Regardless of who becomes the next speaker, Trump has undeniable sway over House Republicans. It was his supporters led by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz who orchestrated McCarthys ouster and who have driven much of the House GOPs agenda. They have been unable or unwilling to pull themselves from his grip and now find themselves heading toward another presidential election with him at the top of the ticket, even as many in the party worry about his electability in November and his potential impact on down-ballot races. But other factors are at play in the complicated deliberations. Speakers elections are contests that can turn on personal relationships and deals between lawmakers that fall outside ideological lines. It also remains unclear how much political capital Trump intends to use whipping votes on Jordans behalf. While Trump was poised to support Jordan, he was angry that Texas Rep. Troy Nehls broke the news before he was ready, according to two Republicans familiar with his thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity. A Trump spokesman did not respond to requests for comment Friday. Trumps 11th-hour interventions helped McCarthy win the speakership after 15 rounds of voting back in January, but the holdouts in that case were Trump allies. This time most hardline conservatives were already lining up behind Jordan. Instead, Jordan has been courting Republican moderates, trying to convince them that they will be heard if he is elected, despite his reputation as a hard-liner. Trumps endorsement ties Jordan even closer to the former president, potentially making it more difficult for moderate members to support him. For his part, Jordan said the endorsement would aid his bid for the gavel. Hes the leader of our party, and I think hes going to be the next president, Jordan told reporters Friday at the Capitol. Beyond the immediate dynamics on Capitol Hill, Trumps involvement in the speakers race speaks to his outsized role in the party. More than three months before the first votes of the 2024 campaign, Republicans are increasingly open in referring to Trump as the partys leader. Thats despite the fact that he faces four separate criminal indictments. And as he appears once again in a strong position to capture the GOP nomination, Trumps penchant for the spotlight is on display. After creating a media firestorm Monday when he showed up at his civil fraud trial in New York, Trump quickly jumped on the speakership news that threatened to shift attention from his direction. After several of his closest allies raised the fanciful notion that Trump himself could potentially serve as speaker perhaps on an interim basis Trump stoked and flirted with the notion of swooping in to save the leaderless caucus from the chaos he has helped to stoke. A lot of people have been calling me about speaker. All I can say is well do whatevers best for the country and for the Republican Party, Trump told reporters at the courthouse Wednesday. He later told Fox News Digital that he would be open to serving 30 to 90 days in the role. Trump was soon planning a trip to Capitol Hill where he planned to address Republicans at a closed-door candidate forum a trip first reported by The Messenger that would have marked his first visit to the building since the violence of Jan. 6, when a mob of his supporters stormed the building trying to overturn the election he lost to President Joe Biden. That trip is no longer expected, according to Nehls and others familiar with the plans. Jordan has long been one of Trumps biggest champions on the Hill. He has led investigations into prosecutors who have charged the former president with criminal conduct and has been helping lead efforts to impeach Biden. Ahead of Jan. 6, he helped Trump strategize about how Congress could help Trump overturn his loss to Biden. In return, Trump awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom the nations highest civilian honor five days after the attack on the Capitol. Scalise, a veteran member of leadership who is also vying for the speakers gavel, has support from a significant portion of the Republican Conference, while other GOP lawmakers are either looking elsewhere or waiting to make their choices known. Trumps involvement in the House GOPs upheaval comes just as Republican leaders have been trying to tamp down the drama and soothe tempers. On Friday, a planned Fox News debate between the candidates was called off. Republicans are also trying to avoid the spectacle of a protracted speakers contest by finding a consensus candidate in closed-door meetings next week. However, many are bracing for a dayslong contest. The last time they all gathered in the same room shortly after McCarthy was removed as speaker insults were hurled and some lawmakers even thought it could turn to blows. The contest had been dominated by three lawmakers seen as loyal to Trump: Jordan, Scalise and Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern each voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. On Saturday, Hern decided not to seek the job, saying in a statement that House Republicans must unify and do it fast. Its clear to me that a three-man race will only draw this process out longer, creating further division, which would make it harder for any candidate to win the required number of votes. That allegiance to Trump by Jordan and Scalise could prove useful to Trump if he wins. Trumps agenda while in office was often thwarted by congressional leaders from his own party as he clashed with then-House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. In the years since leaving the White House, Trump has broken from past precedent and endorsed hundreds of like-minded candidates, hoping to fill the House and Senate with lawmakers who share his America First outlook should he become president again. Trump made clear his ultimate goal earlier this week when he wrote on his Truth Social site that he would do whatever is necessary to help with the Speaker of the House selection process, short term, until the final selection of a GREAT REPUBLICAN SPEAKER is made A Speaker who will help a new, but highly experienced President, ME, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! (AP) The collapse of Ukraine aid in Congress was months in the making, and exactly what Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had feared. McConnell had warned that political support for Ukraine was in danger as a small but vocal contingent of fellow Republican lawmakers intensified their efforts against sending U.S. money overseas for the fight against Russia. First in a series of high-profile speeches this summer then in direct overtures to the White House, the Republican leader who had visited Kyiv and put a priority on U.S. support for Ukraine tried to steer the hard-right flank of his party. But in the end, neither McConnell nor the White House nor Democrats in Congress could muscle a scaled-back $6 billion military and civilian aid package for Ukraine to passage in last weeks deal to avoid a U.S. government shutdown. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support in Washington for stopping Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion, the failure to approve Ukraine aid was a sizable setback for an administration seeking to lead a Western alliance to protect the young democracy as the fighting grinds on. It also shows the perils ahead in Washington as a hardened band of Republican lawmakers who are just a minority in Congress many allied with Donald Trump, the partys 2024 presidential front-runner flex their power to overcome the will of the majority. The next steps are highly uncertain. It does worry me, President Joe Biden acknowledged last week. But I know there are a majority of members in the House and Senate both parties who have said that they support funding Ukraine. Biden said he is preparing to deliver a major speech on U.S. aid to Ukraine and has a plan in the works to ensure the flow of assistance after the upheaval on Capitol Hill, which was punctuated by the ouster of the Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. As Washington regroups, the sudden shift has unleashed political blame over the inability of the White House and Congress to work around the small but intensifying minority of lawmakers who are putting aid in jeopardy. Not another penny for Ukraine! wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Greene, a top Trump ally, arguing money should be spent on securing the U.S. border with Mexico instead. McConnell, R-Ky., had been trying to build support Ukraine for months, ever since he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv in May. The senator gave repeated floor speeches, talked with allies overseas and made the case his priority among colleagues on Capitol Hill, where Zelenskyy received a heros welcome last year and visited with a follow-up appeal weeks before the funding showdown. But after the White House announced Bidens $24 billion request for Ukraine aid in August, McConnell knew it would not have the support needed to pass, according to a person familiar with the situation and granted anonymity to discuss it. McConnell had met with a group of Republican defense hawks in the Senate before the end of September deadline to fund the government or risk a shutdown, which would typically be the time to also pass the White Houses spending request for Ukraine. But the GOP senators left McConnell with the understanding the support for Ukraine funding overall would be lacking. A week before the deadline, McConnell told Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on a Friday call that it would be impossible for Congress to pass the full $24 billion request, said the person familiar with the situation. Instead, McConnell encouraged the White House to look strongly at whether it could rely on sending Ukraine aid through existing ways for transferring or reprogramming money in the short term, the person said. The White House, in a series of conversations with McConnells team over the weekend, considered smaller amounts of funding and insisted that the Ukraine aid was vital. McConnell agreed to do what he could. Days later the Senate advanced its package to keep government open for the short term, until Nov 17, with $6 billion for Ukraine. It passed the Senate on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. The problem was, however, that the Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill had never fully articulated Ukraine as a top priority as they fought off House Republican demands for steep budget cuts to keep the government open. And McCarthy, R-Calif., was having his own problems in the Republican-led House. Greene and other hard-liners in the House had essentially forced McCarthy to strip a much smaller amount of Ukraine security assistance funds, $300 million, from an annual defense funding bill. It was a stark example of how a growing flank of the party some 100 Republicans was wresting control from the majority who widely supported the bill. It was a sign of the trouble to come. Staring down a potentially devastating government shutdown, the embattled McCarthy then stripped the $6 billion Ukraine aid from the federal funding package before the House vote to keep the U.S. government open. As the House was preparing last Saturday to avert a shutdown, McConnell convened his Republican senators behind closed doors for a lunch meeting. McConnell spoke of the need to retain the Ukraine aid in the final package, but it was clear the room was not with him. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the Republicans second in command, had been in talks with McCarthy, including that morning, and understood from the speaker that the package could not pass with the Ukraine aid attached. Thune told the Republican senators he thought they should move forward with the House version, without the Ukraine money, as the best way to avoid a shutdown, according to Republican familiar with the private meeting and granted anonymity to discuss it. The third-ranking Republican senator, John Barrasso of Wyoming, swiftly agreed, according to another Republican granted anonymity to discuss the conversation. Listening to his colleagues, McConnell then shifted course. McConnell came out after lunch and said the Republicans would vote against advancing the Senate bill as they waited to see what their House colleague would do. That afternoon, the House approved the package hours before the midnight deadline to keeping government open. The Ukraine aid was dropped. Gone from the final bill was not only the $6 billion in Ukraine assistance, but also pages of text outlining the ability to transfer funds to Ukraine. It was just what McConnell had been trying to avoid. In the aftermath, the White House made it clear that McCarthy had made a commitment on Ukraine beyond what was in the package. But when reporters asked McCarthy about it, the speaker said theres no secret deal with Biden on Ukraine. What there was, McCarthy explained, was an assurance that the ability to transfer funds for Ukraine would remain intact. If there was any confusion about that, he said, Well fix it. The next day, McCarthy was ousted from the office over long-simmering complaints about his leadership, leaving any fix for Ukraine funding uncertain. Bidens speech about Ukraine aid is coming. The White House is waiting for the House to elect a new speaker. And its working with Congress to ensure the transferability of funds and to provide new support for Ukraine. (AP) 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 worlds 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 Shanghais Communist Party chief shortly after the delegations 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, Chinas 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 Schumers 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 delegations visit to the region, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said after the trip was announced. (AP) The ad sounds like something out of the GOP 2024 playbook, trumpeting a senators work with Republicans to crack down on the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S., getting tough on Chinese interests helping smugglers, and noting how he wrote a bill signed by Donald Trump to increase funding for Border Patrol. Its actually a commercial for Sen. Sherrod Brown, an Ohio Democrat facing a tough reelection fight that will help decide control of the Senate. Ohioans trust Sherrod Brown to keep us safe, says the narrator of the ad, sponsored by the Democrat-aligned Duty and Country PAC. His campaign declined to comment. The message is one more indication of the political and security challenges the U.S.-Mexico border has presented for President Joe Biden. Some Democrats across the country are distancing themselves from the White House, and polls indicate widespread frustration with Bidens handling of immigration and the border, creating a major liability for the presidents re-election next year. The Biden administration this week took two actions seen by many as moving to the right on immigration. The Department of Homeland Security waived environmental and other reviews to construct new portions of a border wall in South Texas after Biden pledged during the 2020 campaign that he would build not another foot of wall. And U.S. officials said they would resume deportations to Venezuela not long after the administration increased protected status for thousands of people from the country. Both moves inflamed conservatives and liberals alike. Many Republicans accused Biden of being too late to adopt former President Donald Trumps ideas on a border wall, while liberals who oppose additional border restrictions accused the White House of betraying campaign pledges. My frustration has been that we are not addressing immigration in a holistic way as a country. We are depending on the president alone, said Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas, a Democrat who represents the border city of El Paso and is a national co-chair of the Biden re-election campaign. We are treating people from different nationalities in a different way. And the pathways that have been created are being challenged in court consistently. Biden has said his administration moved forward with the border wall because it was required by Congress during the Trump administration, even though he considers it ineffective. His reelection campaign pointed to Trumps record at the border, including his administrations practice of separating immigrant families as a deterrence measure and the temporary detention of children in warehouses in chain-link cells. MAGA Republicans are running on the legacy of Donald Trumps playbook of family separation, caging kids, and shouting border! without any serious solutions, said Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Bidens reelection campaign, referring to supporters of Trumps Make America Great Again movement. Border crossings hit two-decade highs under Trump but fell during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with immigration authorities expelling most border crossers using public health authority known as Title 42. Upon taking office, Biden paused border wall construction and canceled the Trump administrations Remain in Mexico program, but kept expelling many people under Title 42 until this past May. Still, border crossings are now skyrocketing, which some observers blame on his administration for creating the perception that the border was open. The White House counters that migration has surged across the Western Hemisphere due to regional challenges out of the administrations control. Conservative media outlets often spotlight border crossings and blame Biden for creating what they say is a crisis. But Biden has taken criticism from many in his own party, including Democratic mayors and governors who want more help caring for newly arriving migrants. Republican-led border states started busing thousands of immigrants to Democratic-led cities across the country, creating in many places a huge shortage of space thats led to makeshift shelters and camps. In Chicago, OHare International Airport is now housing hundreds of migrants from babies to the elderly at a shuttle bus center. They sleep on cardboard pads on the floor and share airport bathrooms. New York Mayor Eric Adams went to Mexico this week to implore would-be migrants not to come. He has accused the Biden administration of not providing enough money or resources for the city to process migrants, telling reporters this summer, The president and the White House have failed New York City on this issue. Polling suggests that Americans across the political spectrum even some people sympathetic to immigration are concerned. A Marquette Law School poll of registered voters conducted in late September gave Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP nomination, a 24-point advantage over Biden on handling immigration and border security issues 52% to 28%. The Republican focus on immigration and the border didnt stop Democrats from big victories in the 2018 midterms and Biden and Democrats beat expectations during last years election as well, keeping the Senate and losing the House by a tiny margin to Republicans. But there were some troubling signs even then. About six in 10 voters then said they disapproved of how Biden was handling the issue of border security, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping national survey of the electorate. Some 27% of Democrats disapproved of how Biden was handling the border, with one-third of Democrats who identify as moderate or conservative saying this was an issue where they disapproved of Bidens performance, according to VoteCast. Border security was also a weak spot for Biden among independents, with 66% saying they disapproved. Sixty-one percent of Democrats said they wanted stronger law enforcement at the border, as did two-thirds of Latino or Hispanic voters (65%). Escobar, who is a leading Hispanic voice for the Biden campaign, said she is concerned that immigration could hurt the presidents re-election efforts. There is going to be a tendency to blame the White House when in fact this has been a failure on Congress, she said. The last major immigration reform approved by Congress was in 1990. Auri Lugo, a 31-year-old Venezuelan who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, said she thought resuming deportations was the right thing to do, adding that federal authorities should focus on expediting applications for family-based immigrant visas and the humanitarian parole program. That allows up to 30,000 people to enter the country from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Lugo, who arrived in the U.S. six years ago and has legal residency, was able to bring her 9-year-old son from Venezuela last year through the humanitarian parole program. But shes been unable to bring her mother, who was the boys caregiver since he was 2 years old. I think its a good thing that they are taking action on the matter, she said. There are a lot of Venezuelans who are in shelters, who are not working. They do not have a work permit. So they are on the streets. Despite his 2020 promises on the border, Biden has long been more moderate on the issue than some in his party. As a senator, he voted for legislation to expand U.S.-Mexico border fencing and supported authorizing federal seizure for the construction of new barriers. He was also vice president to Barack Obama, whose administration set records for the number of people in the country illegally who were deported, earning the president the nickname deporter-in-chief from some immigrants rights activists. The Biden administration has nonetheless taken a number of steps to try and reduce the increasing numbers of migrants arriving at the U.S. border, including setting up processing centers for migrants to apply for U.S. asylum in Guatemala and Colombia, and creating more pathways for others to come legally. Republicans have run on anti-immigrant sentiments, fearmongering and xenophobia for several cycles. It hasnt worked for them before and it wont work for them this cycle either, said Pili Tobar, a former senior Biden White House official and Democratic strategist. Immigration is a complex issue and there are no easy answers. This administration is working hard with the limited resources it has, to put in place balanced solutions. (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 surprise attack by Hamas that has left more than 700 dead and thousands wounded. 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. The large 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. 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, 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 was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. Its the United States newest and most advanced aircraft carrier and this is its first full deployment. (AP) Ron DeSantis wants suspected drug smugglers at the U.S.-Mexico border to be shot dead. Nikki Haley promises to send American special forces into Mexico. Vivek Ramaswamy has accused Mexicos 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, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 nomination and long the person who has shaped his partys rhetoric on the border, has often blamed Mexico for problems in the United States 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. More than 75,000 people in the U.S. died last year from overdoses of synthetic opioids, an annual figure more than 20 times higher than a decade ago. The candidates antagonism toward Mexico is welcomed by some families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl and have argued that Washington has not done enough to address the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. 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. Youve got politicking on this side. And then on the Mexican side of the border, youve got a president who is turning a blind eye to whats going on in Mexico and who has completely gutted bilateral collaboration with the United States, said Arturo Sarukhan, Mexicos ambassador to the U.S. from 2007 to 2013. Thats 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 Joe Bidens 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. Democrats also face i mmense political pressure on border issues heading into next years election. The White House has funded national programs to reduce fentanyl overdoses and sanctioned Chinese companies blamed for importing the chemicals used to make the drug. Mexico has failed to address its problem with fentanyl production and trafficking. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador repeatedly denies his country is producing the synthetic opioid despite enormous evidence to the contrary. Border agents seized nearly 13 tons (12,000 kilograms) of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border between September 2022 and August, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. At the second GOP primary debate late last month, candidates reiterated that they would use military forces to go after drug gangs in Mexico. As commander in chief, Im going to use the U.S. military to go after the Mexican drug cartels, said DeSantis, the Florida governor. He 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 on sight before any investigation into whether those people were carrying drugs. U.S. government data undercuts the claim that people seeking asylum and other border crossers are responsible for drug trafficking. 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, a CBP deputy assistant commissioner, said 73% of fentanyl seizures at the border since the previous October were smuggling attempts carried out by U.S. citizens, with the rest being done by Mexican citizens. A study published last year from U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies called Mexico the principal source of fentanyl, with cartels manufacturing the drug using precursor chemicals largely smuggled from China. But it noted that the crisis could not be resolved without curbing addiction in the U.S. that creates overwhelming demand for illegal opioids. The supply of illicit fentanyl cannot be permanently stopped through enforcement alone only temporarily disrupted before another cartel, trafficking method, or analogue steps in to fill the market that addiction creates, said the report from the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking. Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018 campaigning with a motto of hugs, not bullets, and for four years has shredded his predecessors prosecution of the drug war. Experts agree that wide swaths of Mexico are under the de facto control of drug cartels. Lopez Obrador is already sensitive to what he considers U.S. interference in Mexico, suggesting that foreign agents were spying as they built a fentanyl smuggling case against members of the Sinaloa drug cartel announced earlier this year. Lopez Obrador is defensive about U.S. criticism of his governments failure to stop the flow of fentanyl. There is a kind of competition to see who is the most ridiculous, who is most brazen to threaten Mexico, to blame Mexico, he said at a recent news conference. They are nonsense. Mexico will elect a new president next year, and the opposition candidate recently told Univision that she would accept more U.S. agents and help. But when asked about military operations, Xochitl Galvez said, We have to get serious. We have to be smart with proposals that are clear and strong and not just to get votes. Mexico today is also the top trading partner of the U.S. It has agreed to host agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agents and to keep thousands of migrants rejected at the U.S. border under both the Trump and Biden administrations. But the U.S. has invaded Mexican territory before and tried to overthrow governments through Latin America for its own policy goals. In 1846, seeking to expand U.S. borders after supporting the annexation of Texas, President James K. Polk called on Congress to declare war with Mexico. The war ended with Mexico agreeing to cede 55% of its territory, including present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. In 1914, the U.S. invaded the port of Veracruz after the arrest of U.S. soldiers. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson deployed tens of thousands of troops in response to an attack by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in Columbus, New Mexico. More recently, Trump promised to build a southern border wall to stop illegal immigration and make Mexico pay for it. While he was president, the U.S. would build or refurbish about 500 miles of wall on the more than 2,000-mile border. Mexico never paid for any sections of wall. And border crossings would repeatedly hit record highs throughout Trumps presidency and during Bidens term. We have to take what they say seriously, Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy said about the Republican candidates. But they are pretty much going off the rails. They are engaged in political theater, and they find Mexico an easy target. (AP) Hubei Media Group: Recent devastating earthquakes that rocked western Afghanistan have taken 2,445 lives, injured nearly 10,000 people and caused heavy losses of property. China said it will do its best to assist in Afghanistans disaster-relief efforts in light of the countrys needs. Do you have any details to share with us? Mao Ning: As Afghanistans close neighbor and true friend, China feels deeply for the Afghan people as they cope with the disaster. We have expressed sympathies at various levels and offered assistance through multiple channels to the country. The Red Cross Society of China has decided to provide emergency humanitarian aid in cash to the Afghan Red Crescent. We will continue to do what we can to assist Afghanistan in light of its needs and help the Afghan people pull through the difficulties. CGTN: The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip has led to heavy casualties on both sides. Whats Chinas comment? Mao Ning: China is closely following the escalating conflict between Palestine and Israel. Were deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians. We oppose moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hope fighting will stop and peace will return soon. The international community needs to play an effective role to jointly help cool down the situation. To end the cycle of conflict between Palestine and Israel, it is essential to restart the peace talks, implement the two-state solution and settle the Palestinian question fully and properly through political means at an early date so as to take care of each partys legitimate concerns. China will continue to work relentlessly with the international community towards this end. CCTV: The scale of the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict has exceeded that of previous ones. Does the Foreign Ministry have information regarding the extent of its impact on Chinese nationals there and the local Chinese community? What help will China give them? Mao Ning: The Foreign Ministry activated the emergency consular protection mechanism immediately after the conflict broke out to coordinate and engage in work on protecting Chinese nationals and institutions in Palestine and Israel. Our Embassy in Israel and Office to Palestine have issued emergency safety alerts. They are staying in contact with Chinese nationals on the ground and doing everything they can to protect the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions there. We remind Chinese nationals not to travel to Palestine or Israel and ask those already there to follow closely the security situation on the ground, take extra precaution, and avoid going outdoors. In case of emergencies, we urge them to contact the Chinese Embassy in Israel and the Office to Palestine for help. O Globo: According to reports, the attacks committed on Saturday by the Islamic group Hamas has left over 700 dead, most of them civilians, and also dozens of kidnapped people were taken to Gaza. My question is, does the Chinese government consider those acts terrorist acts? Mao Ning: China has stated its position on the current escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel. We are deeply concerned over the escalation of tensions and violence and saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn acts harming civilians. The priority now is to end hostilities and restore peace as soon as possible and work together to deescalate the situation. Rudaw Media Network: I have two questions. What is the nature of your current relationship with both Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional Governments, and if I may add: why havent we seen any Iraqi Prime Minister and Kurdish leaders in Beijing in recent years? The second question: China is an important actor in the Middle East and it could play a big role in resolving issues in the region. As you have a strong relationship with Syria and the Syrian President and hosted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently in China, how could you help to resolve the Kurdish issue in Syria in the frame of Syrian sovereignty? Mao Ning: On your first question about China-Iraq relations, China and Iraq are strategic partners and have maintained close high-level exchanges in recent years with positive cooperation results in various fields. The then Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi paid a successful visit to China in 2019. Last December, President Xi Jinping had a successful meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on the sidelines of the China-Arab States Summit and the two leaders reached important common understandings on deepening China-Iraq relations in the new era. China stands ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the central government and subnational governments at all levels in Iraq to further substantiate the China-Iraq strategic partnership. On your second question about China-Syria relations, the two countries share profound traditional friendship. Over the past 67 years since China and Syria established diplomatic ties, the bilateral relationship has seen sound and steady growth. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently attended the the Opening Ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou. President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders held meetings with him and they had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest. The two heads of state jointly announced the establishment of China-Syria strategic partnership. China is ready to work with Syria under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state to further deepen political mutual trust and cooperation in various areas between the two countries to bring China-Syria relations to a new level. Bloomberg: Can you tell me if President Xi Jinping will meet Senator Schumer and other US Senators who are here in China right now? Will Xi and Biden meet at APEC next month in San Francisco? Mao Ning: I dont have anything to share at the moment. Please check back for updates. Al Jazeera: Western media and politicians call the Palestinians actions acts of terrorism without acknowledging the fact that these actions were taken in response to Israels military attacks on the Palestinians, in particular, the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Embassy of Israel in China said that it hopes China, Israels good friend, will condemn the acts of Palestine. How do you respond to this? Also, the US has announced that it is sending additional ammunition and military equipment to Israel. Whats your comment? Mao Ning: On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. As a friend to both Israel and Palestine, what we hope to see is the two countries living together in peace and enjoying security and growth together. The key to achieving that lies in the realization of the two-state solution and establishment of an independent State of Palestine. On your second question, China believes that dialogue and negotiation is the fundamental way out. We call on all parties to stop the fighting immediately to avoid further escalation and deterioration of the situation. The New York Times: Has China already, or will China soon, urge Iran to restrain Hamas? And also will China encourage Hamas or ask Iran to encourage Hamas to release hostages? Mao Ning: China has stated its position on the current situation between Palestine and Israel. We would like to once again call on relevant parties to immediately stop the fighting, protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation. Anadolu Agency: I think we have witnessed a series of escalation of violence this weekend after Hamas attacks against Israel in the occupied territories. And there are civilian casualties and civilians are being harmed from both sides. For the past year, China was active for a possible resumption of peace talks in the Middle East. So how do you think this escalation of violence will affect Chinas efforts for the peace process in the region? Mao Ning: We are saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn this kind of acts. We believe it is imperative to stop the fighting as soon as possible, protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation. You mentioned Chinas effort to facilitate dialogue for reconciliation in the Middle East. The most important thing we have learned from the recent reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran is that no matter how complex the issue is and how thorny the challenge is, as long as parties engage in equal-footed dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect, they will surely find a mutually acceptable solution. Violence for violence is not the answer. The international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestinian 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. Reuters: The Israeli embassy in Beijing said yesterday that it had expected to see stronger condemnation of Hamas from China, and that it was not a time to call for a two-state solution, after Hamas attacked Israel. Does the ministry have any further comment on these remarks from the embassy? Mao Ning: On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has always been on the side of equity and justice. As a friend to both Israel and Palestine, what we hope to see is the two countries living together in peace. The key to achieving that lies in the realization of the two-state solution. The most important thing at the moment is to stop the fighting as soon as possible, protect civilians and avoid further escalation. Al Jazeera: Experts believe that the current Palestinian-Israeli situation may have a far-reaching impact on international relations, including the US-Saudi Defense Agreement, US support to Ukraine and the regional security landscape. As a permanent member of the Security Council, what political and diplomatic efforts will China make? Mao Ning: China, like others, is closely following the developments. We always believe that for any issue, dialogue and negotiation is the way that will lead to a proper solution. The international community needs to work together for peace and stability in the Middle East and beyond. China is ready to work with others towards that end. Anadolu Agency: Chinas special envoy for the Middle East issue Zhai Jun had talks in April in Israel and Palestine and talked to different parties. I wonder if Hamas and other groups in Gaza were part of the talks and how these groups can fit in a peace process in the region? Mao Ning: After Special Envoy Zhai Jun came back from the Middle East, we shared information on his trip. Let me say more broadly that China believes in dialogue and negotiation as the way to address each others concerns and realize reconciliation and cooperation. The New York Times: Youve talked about the importance of the international community gathering and trying to address the Israel-Gaza issue. With world leaders gathering in Beijing this month for the Belt and Road Forum, will China try to use that gathering to negotiate some kind of response or resolution of the Israel-Gaza conflict? Mao Ning: China is ready to stay in touch with all parties to help deescalate the situation. We will continue to do our part for peace and stability in the Middle East. Financial Times: US Senator Chuck Schumer has expressed disappointment with Chinas response to the attacks on civilians and kidnapping of civilians by Hamas. Why doesnt China condemn these attacks? Mao Ning: We are saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict. We oppose and condemn violence and attacks against civilians. The priority now is to get fighting to stop and restore peace as soon as possible. We hope relevant parties in the international community will play an active role and work together to deescalate the situation. Anadolu Agency: Its been reported that a Chinese-Israeli woman was kidnapped during a music festival near Gaza border. Is she a Chinese citizen? Can you confirm if she is? Mao Ning: I have noted the media reports. China is opposed to violence and attacks against civilians. This has always been our position. Rudaw Media Network: My question is regarding Turkish military operation in east Syria in the region under the control of a Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force (SDF) that has gone on for six days today. What is Chinas position on this? Mao Ning: China is opposed to the use of force in international relations. The parties concerned need to respect and uphold Syrias sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. Reuters: The US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who was in Beijing right now has called on China to support Israel in the wake of a deadly Hamas attack on the country, saying that he was disappointed that Beijing showed no sympathy. How does the ministry respond to these remarks Mao Ning: China is closely following the recent escalation of tensions between Palestine and Israel. We are deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians. China opposes escalating the conflict and destabilizing the region. This position is consistent. We hope parties will stop the fighting and restore peace as soon as possible, and we hope relevant parties in the international community will jointly help deescalate the situation. The New York Times: Following upon the question a moment ago, have you been able to verify the nationality of the young woman who is said to have been taken away on a motorcycle? Have you been able to verify whether or not she is a Chinese passport holder? Mao Ning: We are still gathering information on this. Anadolu Agency: Are there any Chinese citizens harmed or injured? Do you have any information about this over the weekend? Mao Ning: Our Embassy in Israel and Office to the State of Palestine are maintaining contact with the Chinese nationals there and doing everything possible to provide assistance and keep them safe. Global Times: Has China extended condolences after US Senator Dianne Feinstein passed away on September 28? Mao Ning: During her lifetime, Senator Dianne Feinstein was committed to enabling better mutual understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and the US. We express our deep condolences over her passing and extend sincere sympathies to her family. A message of condolences was sent by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Minister Wang Yi to her family. Bloomberg: Can you tell me when the BRI forum will be taking place? What dates? Mao Ning: We will release information in due course. Please follow our updates. Reuters: I think others have asked about whether there were Chinese nationals injured in the conflict in Israel. Were there any deaths already so far? Mao Ning: As I have said, our Embassy in Israel and Office to the State of Palestine are maintaining contact with the Chinese nationals and institutions there as they learn about the situation on the ground, provide assistance to Chinese nationals in need and do everything possible to keep them safe. Korea has the highest employment rate for people over 65. That may either be a positive sign attesting to the physical and mental ability of elderly people to work or reflect the sad reality that they have to find menial or part-time jobs to make ends meet. Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun on Monday quoted a study of G7 nations and eight other countries which showed that Japan had a very high employment rate for the elderly last year at 25.1 percent, but Korea ranked even higher with 34.1 percent. Other developed economies ranked way lower with the U.S. at 18 percent, Canada at 12.8 percent, the U.K. at 10.5 percent, Germany at 7.4 percent and Italy at five percent. The NYPD is currently investigating two biased incidents in the Flatbush area since the horrific Hamas attacks in Israel. In the first incident, a Jewish teen was the victim of a hate crime assault in Flatbush on Simchas Torah night. NYPD sources tell YWN that the victim was approached by two Middle Eastern men in the vicinity of East 12 Street, and Ave N, and asked if he was Jewish. He was then thrown to the ground. Both suspects fled on foot. Thankfully, the victim was not seriously injured. The NYPD 70 Precinct responded immediately, and the Flatbush Shomrim Shabbos patrol was dispatched and was able to retrieve security camera footage of the incident. In a second disturbing incident, three Jewish men were shot with BBs in the vicinity of Lawrence Avenue near East 2nd Street on Simchas Torah afternoon. Luckily, they were not seriously injured. Sources tell YWN that they were shot from a nearby rooftop. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating both incidents and taking them very seriously. NYPD Commanding Officer of Community Affairs, Inspector Richie Taylor, responded to the incidents. The NYPD has increased their patrols throughout Jewish communities around the Five Boros. Flatbush Shomrim and Shomrim from other neighborhoods will have 24-hour patrols in their marked vehicles. YWN notes that there have been no other Hate incidents in NYC over Simchas Torah. If you see anything suspicious, please call 911 immediately. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Following close coordination with the Sullivan County Jewish Community Council, U.S. Congressman Marcus J. Molinaro has written a heartfelt letter addressed to the U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, expressing deep concern and called for immediate action to assist American citizens currently in Israel amid the ongoing war against Hamas. The congressman represents many constituents who are among those stranded in Israel. The letter comes in the wake of recent deadly attacks by Hamas and the subsequent declaration of war by Israel, which have left many innocent civilians in Israel and American citizens caught in the crossfire. Congressman Molinaros primary focus is on ensuring the safety and swift return of his constituents and other Americans who find themselves in a perilous situation. I am incredibly concerned for several of my constituents who are currently in Israel and need assistance returning to the United States, the letter states. It goes on to express disgust at the ongoing attacks against innocent people in Israel and highlights the tragic toll the conflict has taken, with over 900 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries reported. Furthermore, Congressman Molinaro highlights the urgency of the situation, citing ongoing attacks by Hamas and reports of Americans being taken as hostages. The suspension of operations by many airlines in the region and the cancellation of flights have left thousands stranded, adding to the urgency of the situation. In his letter, Congressman Molinaro requests specific information and actions from the State Department, including: 1. The number of American citizens currently in Israel. 2. Details about outreach and assistance efforts being made for these individuals. 3. Actions taken by the State Department to help American citizens return to the United States. 4. Any measures being considered to increase the number of outgoing flights from Israel to the United States. The congressman expresses gratitude for the State Departments efforts during this crisis and emphasizes the need for swift assistance to American citizens. We look forward to your response and stand by ready to help in any way we can, the letter concludes. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) by Rabbi Yair Hoffman 1200 Dead, Rachmana litzlan. 2400 wounded and 130 kidnapped including an 85 year-old grandmother. All of Klal Yisroel is in tears. The entire nation of Israel and their Jewish brethren across the world in a state of despair. Hezbollah has attacked as well, and the enemies of Israel are handing out candy in celebration. Our response should be, as Rabbi Yaakov Bender shlita stated in a gathering in the White Shul this evening, imo anochi betzara. We should refrain from trips, purchases, and excess eating. We should daven and say tehillim there are hostages rachmana litzlan. What should Israels response be? Just declaring war will not do the trick. I would like to humbly suggest that there is an approach that could work, and it lies in the American model in the aftermath of the second World War. How did the United States deal with a nation that grew up under the dark leadership of the villainous tyranny of the Nazis? The answer? Believe it or not, it was the policy of DeNazification as implemented by the now little known, General Lucius Clay. General Lucius Clay should become a household name. We should study how he accomplished what he did and implement it fully. Also, if we highlight his success and underscore our commitment to copy the plan, the United States may back the plan including the utter and complete defeat of Hamas. What did DeNazification involve? Firstly, it involved accepting nothing less than unconditional surrender, and then the stopping Nazi newspapers and broadcasts. But it primarily involved a combination of implementing what is known as the carrot and the stick. The idea was, after the defeat of the Nazi regime, to eliminate the scourge of Nazism and its vile philosophy through trials, prosecution, and replacement. The lists of Nazi party members were obtained. Every German citizen was categorized into one of five categories: Major Offenders, Offenders, Lesser Offenders, Followers, and Exonerated Persons. Major offenders were either sentenced to death or to prison for many years. Textbooks were rewritten, censorship was applied. Nazi imagery was made illegal. In short, an end was put to the Nazi hero-worship. And then there was the carrot. Millions of dollars were poured into education, and industry. Germanys national infrastructure was rebuilt and modernized. Mercy and moderation was given to lesser offenders and followers. After the Nazi defeat, General Lucius Clay oversaw the entire program with remarkable impartiality. But more than this, he cared for the well-being of post-war Germans. When the USSR blockaded West Berlin, it was General Clay who orchestrated the Berlin Airlift. What were the results? Germany once again rejoined the family of nations. It became one of the strongest democracies in Europe and a supporting member of NATO. They have also been a strong United States ally since the end of DeNazification and they have been very supportive of the State of Israel. Germany recognized the debt of gratitude that they owed to General Lucius Clay. He was given an honorary doctorate from the Frei Universitat of Berlin, became an honorary citizen of Germany in 1953 and even had one of the longest streets in Berlin named after him. Germany appreciated what he had for her. The modern parallel to DeNazification is something that can be called DeTerrorization. Previously it may not have worked but the horrific attack on innocents, the bloodthirsty attacks, and the kidnappings are so beyond the pale of human behavior that the world will accept the defeat of Hamas and DeTerrorization now. Israel should immediately enter Gaza now and engage in removing Hamas entirely. Nothing less than unconditional surrender. It involves neutralizing Hamas terror and military capability and simultaneously use existing technology to jam all internet, phone, and inciteful radio and television broadcasting. This program like that of General Clay, would also implement both the carrot and the stick in Gaza. Support for terrorism and the hero worship would come to a complete end. The textbooks calling for the killing of Jews and the destruction of Israel would be eliminated. In short, anyone with a background of support for the killing of innocents or for other terrorist acts would be removed form any position of leadership. They must be replaced with a new crop of leaders comprised of those untainted by terrorism. And then comes the carrot. A new infrastructure would be built and new system of education would be developed. Medical schools, schools for emerging technologies and a Palestinian silicon valley. But rebuilding Germany without the program of DeNazification would have been fruitless and indeed counter-productive. The same is true with De-Terrorization. One cannot build a new infrastructure for a people that on a seconds notice will form an alliance with a terrorist organization. One cannot build a relationship of peace with those who support such bloody murders. It is time to completely knock out Hamas and all organizations like it. It will be a politically difficult decision to make, but it is the only manner in which a lasting peace can be forged. In the past 18 years, this author has presented this idea to generals, friends of former Prime Minister Arik Sharon, military experts from Israel and others as well, having introduced them to General Lucius Clay. The general response was that it was a good idea but politically difficult unless there was a political openng to do it. If ever there was a time this is it. This idea was presented to Rav Zalman Nechemya Goldberg ztl who was very much behind the concept. The halachic explanations and rationales will be discussed, bEzras Hashem in a future article. And for all the naysayers who ridicule the idea, what are the other choices? Bomb them and stop and have the world force a ceasefire? Only to let them regroup and do it all over again? Isnt there a chance that the Biden administration will accept the endgame plan and not force a ceasefire so Israel can finish the idea? The author can be reached at [email protected] The Israeli government unanimously voted to declare war on Sunday Operation Iron Swords a first since the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and hundreds of thousands of reserve soldiers have been called up and are gathering at the Gazan border. More than 24 hours after Hamas launched its unprecedented incursion out of Gaza, Israeli forces were still trying to crush the last groups of terrorists holed up in several towns of southern Israel. Over 700 people have reportedly been killed in Israel a staggering toll on a scale the country has not experienced in decades 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. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday appointed Brigadier General (ret.) Gal Hirsch as a coordinator for captive and missing Israelis. All schools across Israel were closed on Sunday and will remain closed on Monday and Tuesday. IDF forces evacuated Israelis from Gaza border communities on Motzei Shabbos and Sunday in preparation for an extensive operation against Hamas in Gaza. Preparations are being made to evacuate residents on Israels northern border as well in preparation for an escalation by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. An exchange of fire in northern Israel with the Lebanese terror 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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 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 terror 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. (AP & YWNs Jerusalem Desk) IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari spoke to the international press on Sunday evening. This weekend, Hamas started a war against Israel with the worst massacre of innocent civilians in Israels history, Hagari said. Hamas was more barbaric and more brutal than ISIS. Let me be crystal clear: Israel will respond with determination and force to their unprovoked war crimes. Hamas murdered hundreds of Israelis men, women and children and took dozens hostage into Gaza. This horrific terror act demands a forceful, determined, and sustained response which is exactly what we are doing and continue to do. Our Air Force is attacking hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. We follow international law, while exercising our right and responsibility to protect our civilians. The days ahead will be long and difficult. We have paid a heavy price but we will restore security to the people of Israel. Let me repeat: We will restore security to the people of Israel. Israeli intelligence indicates that Hamas terrorists are hiding among Gazan civilians, inside Gazan homes and schools, hospitals and mosques. Hamas behaves like ISIS I repeat Hamas behaves like ISIS. Its the same strategy: to maximize civilian casualties in Gaza and Israel and make you all forget the massacre of hundreds of Israelis that started this war in the first place. We will not forget. Hamas terrorists target Israeli civilians; Israel will target Hamas terrorists wherever they will be in Gaza. We will do whatever it takes to protect our people and restore security to Israel. We are also looking to the north as well. With full readiness, we are fully coordinated with CENTCOM. General Halevi just finished a conversation with General Kurilla and will keep talking in the next hours again. Whoever attacks us from all over the Middle East will face a decisive attack back. This is what the last day and a half in Israel has looked like. Entire families butchered in their homes. Grandmothers, mothers and children kidnapped and taken hostage by Hamas. 700 Israelis murdered. Hamas will pay heavily for these war crimes. Share. pic.twitter.com/7w3FL8UBDW Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 8, 2023 (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Channel 13 News on Sunday evening published a transcript of the interrogation of one of the Hamas terrorists who infiltrated into Israel on Shabbos/Simchas Torah and was captured by the IDF. The terrorist said during his interrogation by the Shin Bet: We prepared for this attack for over a year. The protests in Israel encouraged us. Five hours passed before we were shot at. We were prepared with 1,000 fighters. We made 15 breaches in the fence. We were shocked that the IDF werent waiting for us. The terrorist continued: The recent riots by the fence were a deception. We led a family on foot for two hours without being disturbed to the Strip. The action exceeded all our expectations. Channel 12 News published a report revealing the depth of Israels intelligence failure. Hamas prepared for the operation via communication channels that the IDF and Israeli intelligence were unaware of. In addition, Hamas was aware that thousands of young Israelis would be attending a nature rave in the Negev and specifically went to that area to target them. A compilation of Hamas clips shows how the terror group invaded southern Israel yesterday. First they bombed Israeli observation towers and weapons systems on the border, then fired hundreds of rockets as terrorists on paragliders flew over the border. Moments later, Hamas pic.twitter.com/D4iIoCV51q Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 8, 2023 (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) About 2,000 young Israelis, including many high school students, who were attending an overnight nature rave and music festival 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 260 of the participants at the rave were found dead later in the day and were removed by ZAKA paramedics. A number of fatalities were tourists from the US and Europe. The total figure is expected to be higher as other paramedic teams were working in the area. Videos on social media showed hundreds of Israelis fleeing from the terrorists with the sounds of gunshots heard in the background. According to a Channel 12 report on Sunday evening, Hamas was aware that thousands of young Israelis would be attending a nature rave in the Negev and specifically went to that area to target them. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Some people have questioned Yeshiva World News decision to post the horrifying events of the Hamas massacre in Eretz Yisroel. We are well aware that some of the posted footage was extremely graphic and we are not oblivious to the profound effect it has on our readers. It should be clear, however, that YWN consults its Rabbinic advisor whenever such questions come up. Such footage always falls into one of three categories: 1] Do not post at all 2] Post with a warning of Viewer Discretion 3] Post with no caveat of Viewer Discretion. In this particular situation, we were instructed to pursue the Hamas attack as a Category 2. The rationale for the decision is two-fold: 1. Firstly, our ability to empathize and to be noseh bol chaveiro with our brethren in Eretz Yisroel is determined by actually seeing the unfolding horror. There is a world of a difference between merely hearing about tragedies and actually seeing what Klal Yisroel is going through. The Maharsha explains that Moshe Rabbeinu did not throw down and break the luchos until he actually had witnessed the hashchasa of Klal Yisroel in the Chait HaAigel. This is true even though Moshe had heard about what they had done from Hashem Himself. Our Posek believes that we should be empathizing with our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel much more than we are doing now. There is a halacha that one should not engage in Pru uRvu when there is a famine elsewhere. In Megilas Rus, Elimelech and his sons, Gedolei Olam, were punished because they did not empathize with their brethren in Eretz Yisroel. The Seforno explains that even Yitzchok Avinu needed to place Rivkah Imeinu in a position next to him, in order to empathize with her more so that he could more effectively daven for her to have children. In a world steeped in gashmius and mosros we could use a nudge to ensure that we are davening day and night for the victims of these horrific attacks as well as the safety of Klal Yisroel. 2. The Jewish media is now the default go-to source of the secular media in matters that pertain to Eretz Yisroel. When the secular media and the secular government pick up on the material that the Jewish media posts, and see what we care about, it has far-reaching ramifications. The government of Eretz Yisroel now needs more political support then ever in order to accomplish true protection. Experts have told us of how invaluable this information is to their work. As with all information and footage, some people are positively affected and some negatively. It would unquestionably be incorrect for a parent to show a graphic video to a sensitive child. On the other hand, we should see it, and we should cry and daven. Moshe Rabbeinu himself had done this Mitzvah when he went among his brethren as the Pasuk tells us, Vayar bsivlosam. It should be noted that this has been YWNs policy for the past twenty years. Despite accusations that YWN publishes such images and footage for clicks, the reality is that our advertising dollars are not tied to an increase in clicks. YWN has, and will always, follow its Rabbanims guidance on what and what not to post. Hashem yevaraich es amo vaShalom. YWN Editors The death toll from the massacre by Hamas terrorists and rocket attacks has risen to 800, Kan News reported on Monday at about noon. The Health Ministry says that as of this afternoon, 2,506 injured have been taken to hospitals, including 23 who are in critical condition and 353 who are seriously hurt. Dovi Weisenstern, the head of ZAKA, said: We tended to hundreds of fatalities. There are no words for the sights of murdered people in every corner and every place weve been working continuously without respite. The numbers fade away in the face of the worlds that have been destroyed. ZAKA volunteers fight under fire we are doing and will do everything not to leave anyone behind. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a complete lockdown of the Gaza Strip. I have ordered a complete closure of the Gaza Strip, Gallant said. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we will act accordingly. A record number of 300,000 reserve soldiers were mobilized in the past 48 hours. Israel is expected to begin an offensive operation against Gaza in the coming hours. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In response to the escalating tension along the Lebanon border, the IDF Home Front Command has issued a directive for residents of 28 towns in northern Israel to seek shelter immediately and remain there until further notice, as a precaution against potential rocket attacks. This directive applies to a range of northern towns, including but not limited to Metula, Rosh Hanikra, Manara, Shlomi, Misgav Am, and Dafna. Earlier, residents of Arab al-Aramshe, Adamit, Hanita, and Eilon were also instructed to take cover. These orders coincide with the IDF conducting airstrikes in Lebanon as a response to an armed infiltration incident along the border. The military reported that a group of armed individuals had crossed into northern Israel from Lebanon, prompting IDF troops to engage and neutralize several of them. The Galilee Medical Center located in Nahariya reports that it has admitted six individuals injured during the clashes along the Lebanon border. Among these casualties, one is in critical condition, while another is in serious condition. The IDF has not released any official information regarding casualties resulting from the incident. The military stated that its troops engaged and eliminated several gunmen who had infiltrated into Israel. 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. 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. 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." 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. 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. 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. 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 group's surprise attack on the Jewish state. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN's "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. 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, Israel's intelligence service, told CNN on Saturday that Israel "didn't 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 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." Hamas and Israel have fought four wars since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The UN 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 group's 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. Sponsored Content UPDATE: Yad LAchim joins Klal Yisrael mourning the terrible calamities that took place the past few days in Eretz Yisrael. We are working together with agencies to ensure the safety of our personnel. We ask that you include Yad LAchim in your prayers many of our top rescue agents have joined the frontlines. We will daven for you as well We hope you had a wonderful Yom Tov and wish you success in the upcoming year. Today, Isru Chag, is the yahrtzeit of the holy Ribnitzer Rebbe ztl he supported our work at Yad LAchim and there is a great story with him and a rescued child CLICK HERE His kever has become one of the most visited holy sites in America. HISTORIC FREE OPPORTUNITY: With one click or call you can submit names for tefillah to 3 places! Not only at the Ribnitzer Rebbe, but also at the Chasam Sofer in Slovakia & Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev as their yahrtzeits are tomorrow! (CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR NAMES FOR FREE) or visit www.YADLACHIM.org or call our us at 1-718-690-2944 and we will be happy to take your names over the phone CLICK TO WATCH Incredible Story! The Ribnitzer Rebbe ztl, was very close to Yad LAchim. He personally supported Yad LAchim, was involved in our work and gave his bracha (blessing) for all who support Yad LAchim in their work of Pidyon Shvuyim. To read the incredible story about the Ribnitzer Rebbe, children rescued from an Arab Village by Yad LAchim, Rav Shach and Satmar CLICK HERE For the First Time!! If you know someone who can benefit from this free tefillah, please CLICK HERE to share it with them via WhatsApp, (try it, its cool) Tefillos can be for SHIDDUCHIM CHILDREN HEALTH PARNASSAH & all personal requests Join (FOR FREE) the many whose prayers were answered at this holy site (no donation required) CLICK HERE OR VISIT WWW.YADLACHIM.ORG OR CALL US AT 1-718-690-2944 We thank you for your support and wish you success in the coming year. REDEEM YIZKOR PLEDGE CLICK HERE 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. Metro Bank has called in consulting giant Ernst & Young as it scrambles to find a buyer. The adviser has been in talks with lenders over the weekend, hoping to secure a deal before markets open today, according to reports from Bloomberg. Banking heavyweights JP Morgan Chase and HSBC both considered a bid for the challenger bank before deciding against it because of concerns about the extra capital any new buyer would have to put in. Santander UK is also being advised by George Osborne's firm, Robey Warshaw, about mounting a takeover, according to reports by Sky News. Metro which was set up in 2010 is reportedly looking for a lifeline of up to 600m. Struggling: Metro which was set up in 2010 is reportedly looking for a lifeline of up to 600m Its shares crashed last week after the bank confirmed that it was seeking to bolster its capital position. It recently rejected a takeover approach by Shawbrook, a so-called challenger bank. Metro, which has 2.8m customers and 76 branches, needs cash to refinance a 350m debt within a year. It has been suggested that the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), which supervises banks, has also been in conversations with several British lenders to rally interest in Metro. Danni Hewson, an analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'The clock is ticking for Metro Bank. Every minute of doubt is costly depositors lose confidence, investors become nervous and the cost of securing the bank's future goes up.' The head of Exxon Mobils shale oil and gas business was arrested at a budget hotel last week for an alleged sexual assault. David Scott, a senior vice president who oversees all the energy giants shale oil and gas production business, was arrested early on Thursday morning at a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, Texas. We are aware of the allegations and cannot comment on a personal matter, said Exxon spokesman Emily Mir. However, we can say that this individual will not continue work responsibilities as the investigation proceeds. All Exxon Mobil employees are accountable for observing the highest standards of integrity and code of conduct in support of the companys business and otherwise. Arrest: Exxon Mobil senior vice president David Scott (pictured) was picked up by police early in the morning at a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, Texas Scott, 49, has yet to comment on the matter. He was arrested in his room at the budget hotel near Exxons headquarters in Texas. 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 100 a night. Scotts LinkedIn profile shows he has been with Exxon for more than 26 years 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 Exxons Permian Basin operations in 2020 and was promoted to senior vice president earlier this year in charge of all its shale oil and gas. TORONTO, October 9, 2023 Thomson Reuters (NYSE/TSX: TRI), a global content and technology company, today announces the launch of ONESOURCE E-Invoicing. This centralized platform is designed to streamline electronic invoicing management for multinational businesses who are being mandated to comply with e-invoicing regulations around the world. The new solution gives customers a single access point to manage e-invoicing compliance. It offers pre-built integrations connecting financial systems, including common enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. Additionally, a collaboration with Pagero supports customers in achieving comprehensive e-invoicing compliance that minimizes the cost and effort to comply. ONESOURCE E-invoicing brings together the best in global tax compliance and e-invoicing into a single solution. Today, more than 80 countries have mandated e-invoicing or continuous transaction control requirements, and this figure could potentially surge by 2025 as governments prioritize tax reform and real-time reporting. Were seeing an abundance of tax reforms and greater sophistication of tax authorities worldwide, and for tax departments in multinational corporations this requires a step change in how they keep pace with new rules and regulations to mitigate risks for their business, said Ray Grove, Head of Product, Transactional Compliance, Thomson Reuters. Compliance with e-invoicing mandates is accelerating as a key priority, and historically it has not been an easy task, with regulations varying significantly across regions, Grove added. Were excited to be able to support businesses in overcoming these challenges with ONESOURCE E-Invoicing. This helps them accurately and efficiently meet compliance obligations increasing confidence and peace of mind on what can be a daunting and ongoing task. ONESOURCE E-Invoicing benefits customers managing e-invoice mandates, providing: Centralized control E-invoicing compliance supported across networks and borders, managed within a single platform. E-invoicing compliance supported across networks and borders, managed within a single platform. Reduced cost Lower implementation costs, effort, and ongoing maintenance with pre-built integrations for common ERP systems, in addition to other direct API integrations. Lower implementation costs, effort, and ongoing maintenance with pre-built integrations for common ERP systems, in addition to other direct API integrations. Simplified data management Economies of scale across countries with universal data mapping. Economies of scale across countries with universal data mapping. Time saved Maximized invoice flow supporting a faster time to payment, with automated e-invoice validation and data enrichment. The addition of E-Invoicing enhances the ONESOURCE suite, and Thomson Reuters now provides businesses with an end-to-end solution for indirect tax compliance, from tax determination and e-invoicing to compliance filing. ONESOURCE E-Invoicing will be highlighted at Thomson Reuters SYNERGY 2023, an annual user conference for corporate tax, trade, and legal industries, taking place Nov. 5-8, in Denver, Colo. To register for SYNERGY 2023, visit https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en/synergy/corporations.html. Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters (NYSE / TSX: TRI) (TR) informs the way forward by bringing together the trusted content and technology that people and organizations need to make the right decisions. The company serves professionals across legal, tax, accounting, compliance, government, and media. Its products combine highly specialized software and insights to empower professionals with the data, intelligence, and solutions needed to make informed decisions, and to help institutions in their pursuit of justice, truth, and transparency. Reuters, part of Thomson Reuters, is a world leading provider of trusted journalism and news. For more information, visit tr.com. Media contact Kirsty Bennett Director, Customer and Product PR kirsty.bennett@thomsonreuters.com Notes to editors Arlington Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report) by 114.7% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,372 shares of the conglomerates stock after buying an additional 1,267 shares during the quarter. Arlington Partners LLCs holdings in Danaher were worth $569,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in Danaher by 100,144.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,184,308,095 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $284,233,943,000 after purchasing an additional 1,183,126,676 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Danaher by 96,490.5% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 23,287,013 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $6,180,839,000 after purchasing an additional 23,262,904 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Danaher during the 4th quarter valued at $2,057,164,000. Generation Investment Management LLP acquired a new stake in Danaher during the 1st quarter valued at $374,240,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Danaher by 2,115.1% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,048,536 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $264,273,000 after purchasing an additional 1,001,200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.71% of the companys stock. Get Danaher alerts: Danaher Stock Performance DHR stock opened at $217.23 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $250.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $244.36. The company has a current ratio of 2.08, a quick ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firm has a market cap of $160.39 billion, a PE ratio of 25.50, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.81. Danaher Co. has a 1-year low of $208.96 and a 1-year high of $281.54. Danaher Announces Dividend Danaher ( NYSE:DHR Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $7.16 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.12 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 15.03% and a net margin of 20.95%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.76 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Danaher Co. will post 8.82 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 27th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.50%. Danahers dividend payout ratio is presently 12.68%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America raised their price target on Danaher from $250.00 to $280.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on Danaher from $260.00 to $292.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Raymond James lifted their target price on Danaher from $270.00 to $290.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Danaher from $285.00 to $247.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, KeyCorp lowered their target price on Danaher from $325.00 to $300.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Danaher presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $287.93. Get Our Latest Research Report on Danaher Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Joakim Weidemanis sold 22,439 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.42, for a total value of $5,910,881.38. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 88,689 shares in the company, valued at $23,362,456.38. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Teri List sold 3,490 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $263.30, for a total value of $918,917.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,494 shares in the company, valued at $4,606,170.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Joakim Weidemanis sold 22,439 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $263.42, for a total value of $5,910,881.38. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 88,689 shares in the company, valued at $23,362,456.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 47,922 shares of company stock worth $12,552,233. Corporate insiders own 11.10% of the companys stock. Danaher Company Profile (Free Report) Danaher Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets professional, medical, industrial, and commercial products and services worldwide. The Biotechnology segments offers bioprocess technologies, consumables, and services; lab filtration, separation, and purification; lab-scale protein purification and analytical tools; reagents, membranes and services; and healthcare filtration solutions. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DHR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Danaher Co. (NYSE:DHR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Danaher Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Danaher and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Shake Shack (NYSE:SHAK Free Report) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report released on Thursday. SHAK has been the subject of a number of other reports. BTIG Research boosted their target price on shares of Shake Shack from $75.00 to $85.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Shake Shack from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and set a $73.00 target price on shares of Shake Shack in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price target on shares of Shake Shack from $74.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price target on Shake Shack from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Shake Shack presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.24. Get Shake Shack alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on SHAK Shake Shack Trading Down 0.1 % NYSE:SHAK opened at $56.23 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $67.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $66.65. Shake Shack has a one year low of $40.83 and a one year high of $80.58. The firm has a market cap of $2.38 billion, a P/E ratio of -281.15 and a beta of 1.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 2.16 and a current ratio of 2.19. Shake Shack (NYSE:SHAK Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.09 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $271.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $274.55 million. Shake Shack had a negative net margin of 0.74% and a positive return on equity of 0.64%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Shake Shack will post 0.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In other Shake Shack news, Director Jeffrey Flug sold 1,987 shares of Shake Shack stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $69.86, for a total value of $138,811.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 6,511 shares of the companys stock, valued at $454,858.46. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 10.06% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SHAK. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Shake Shack by 1.2% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,071,207 shares of the companys stock worth $276,435,000 after buying an additional 48,614 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in Shake Shack by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,318,230 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,453,000 after acquiring an additional 30,401 shares in the last quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in Shake Shack by 44.3% in the 1st quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,289,965 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,580,000 after acquiring an additional 395,760 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in Shake Shack by 634.8% in the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,029,880 shares of the companys stock worth $42,771,000 after purchasing an additional 889,714 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Shake Shack by 4.4% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 723,269 shares of the companys stock worth $56,212,000 after purchasing an additional 30,739 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.70% of the companys stock. About Shake Shack (Get Free Report) Shake Shack Inc owns, operates, and licenses Shake Shack restaurants (Shacks) in the United States and internationally. Its Shacks offers hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, crinkle cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, beer, wine, and other products. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Shake Shack Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shake Shack and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesco (LON:TSCO Free Report) had its price objective raised by Barclays from GBX 325 ($3.93) to GBX 335 ($4.05) in a research note released on Thursday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the retailers stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on TSCO. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Tesco to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the company from GBX 270 ($3.26) to GBX 250 ($3.02) in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Get Tesco alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on Tesco Tesco Price Performance Tesco Cuts Dividend Shares of Tesco stock opened at GBX 278.40 ($3.37) on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of 19.79 billion, a PE ratio of 2,530.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.63. Tesco has a 12-month low of GBX 194.35 ($2.35) and a 12-month high of GBX 285.30 ($3.45). The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 129.69. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 260.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 262.47. The firm also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 12th will be given a dividend of GBX 3.85 ($0.05) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 12th. This represents a yield of 1.48%. Tescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10,000.00%. Tesco Company Profile (Get Free Report) Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Tesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the restaurant operators stock. Other analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Yum! Brands from $179.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $138.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Guggenheim lowered their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $153.00 to $152.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $155.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Finally, TD Cowen restated an outperform rating and issued a $160.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $149.11. Get Yum! Brands alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on YUM Yum! Brands Stock Performance Shares of Yum! Brands stock opened at $119.46 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $128.98 and a two-hundred day moving average of $132.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.18, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.01. Yum! Brands has a 52 week low of $103.96 and a 52 week high of $143.24. Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The restaurant operator reported $1.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $1.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.75 billion. Yum! Brands had a net margin of 20.31% and a negative return on equity of 16.16%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.05 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Yum! Brands will post 5.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Yum! Brands Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 29th were paid a dividend of $0.605 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 28th. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.03%. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio is 48.99%. Insider Transactions at Yum! Brands In other news, Director Weir Mirian M. Graddick sold 1,332 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.46, for a total transaction of $179,100.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,233 shares in the company, valued at approximately $165,789.18. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, Director Weir Mirian M. Graddick sold 1,332 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $134.46, for a total value of $179,100.72. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,233 shares in the company, valued at approximately $165,789.18. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,804 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.23, for a total transaction of $499,198.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,522,759.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 12,871 shares of company stock worth $1,725,358 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Yum! Brands Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. RB Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 9.7% in the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 4,890 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $580,000 after acquiring an additional 431 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 761,575 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $90,284,000 after acquiring an additional 3,024 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new position in Yum! Brands in the 1st quarter valued at about $664,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its holdings in Yum! Brands by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 7,530 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $893,000 after acquiring an additional 517 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands by 10.8% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 2,862 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $339,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares during the period. 80.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Yum! Brands (Get Free Report) Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Yum! Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yum! Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. At noon on the last Sunday of summer, there were no more tickets left to enter the Acropolis. On foot and under the blazing sun, a handful of visitors who climbed the sacred hill that leads to the Parthenon came face to face with the new entry policy of the largest tourist attraction in the Greek capital. At the entrance, some tried to negotiate, but without success. Its like if you go to the theater and there are no seats: they wont let you in. The same thing happens here, a security guard, in an imitation of a Socratic dialogue, reasoned with a Brazilian tourist. Since the beginning of September, the monument has limited the number of visitors to 20,000 a day, at a rate of about 2,000 per hour. Those in charge want to avoid the risk of saturation caused by a glut of tourists in the summer, which forced a rapid intervention by the Greek authorities. Visits in June and early July alone had increased by 80% compared to 2019 figures. We were quickly reaching our limits, argues the Greek Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni. The new measures, which set a certain number of visitors per hour, respond to the need to protect the monument, which is our main concern, in addition to improving the visitor experience at this historic site. That is to say, art and heritage are better enjoyed without crowds and that they themselves are their first victims. After extensive consultations with tour operators, this new numerical limit was set. Until then, an average of 23,000 people a day were allowed in. 20,000 may seem like a slightly lower number, but the difference is important. Access to the Acropolis is through a single entrance. It was very difficult for the staff to attend to so many visitors. Furthermore, most groups visited the site before noon, which created real traffic jams. Weeks after the new regulations were implemented, the only queues in sight at Sunday rush hour were in front of the Parthenon. Dozens of visitors looked for the perfect angle to take a selfie, without being backlit and avoiding the scaffolding from the temples laborious restoration appearing in the frame. In the rest of the monuments vast perimeter, the masses can wander unimpeded, following the guides who direct them briskly through the enclosure in a Bable of languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish. Those responsible for the site point out that, thanks to this new regulation, visits have been spread throughout the day, and not just between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., as was customary. If a tourist is unable to find tickets for the morning, but can find tickets for the afternoon, they will gladly book their visit for later in the day. These measures have been put in place during a trial period lasting until April 2024, when the Greek government will reassess the situation. If it is proven that the limit of 20,000 daily visitors is inefficient, we will not hesitate to change it, says Mendoni. The Greek governments project is to extend this policy to the 28 most popular monuments in the country, which are the focus of 90% of tourist visits. It is clear that tourism is desirable for the country, it contributes to the GDP and generates thousands of jobs, but we have to find ways to prevent excess tourism from damaging not only our monuments, but also their physical and human environment. We must protect residents from noise, overcrowding, and rising rents. Tourism is a blessing, but we have to control overtourism. Visitors queue to enter the Louvre in August 2023. MIGUEL MEDINA (AFP / Getty Image This neologism has become the bete noire of many European capitals that, not so long ago, focused their economic model on attracting massive numbers of visitors, before the matter got out of hand. In the middle of the last decade the numbers skyrocketed. In 2016, the number of tourists reached 1.2 billion worldwide, 300 million more than in 2010 and twice as many as in 1950. The boom in low-cost flights and platforms for temporary rentals accelerated the trend. Public spaces became congested. The ratio between visitors and residents got out of control. The commercial fabric was transformed. Cruise tourism affected the biosphere. And cities like Berlin, Lisbon, and Barcelona were filled with graffiti reading, Tourists, go home. In 2019, when the number of tourist mobility had already reached 1.5 billion visitors per year and was close to the saturation point, the pandemic hit. Until then, crowds were interpreted as an inevitable fact of life, but Covid showed that it was possible to limit tourist visits if steps were taken, and that this was good for the preservation of our monuments. Suddenly, imposing restrictions became feasible and, above all, acceptable, says Ko Koens, a specialist in urban tourism at Inholland University in Amsterdam, another of the points on the European map that receives a massive influx of visitors. Amsterdam has closed its cruise terminal in the historic center and has launched a campaign to discourage visits by rowdy British men, in addition to limiting night traffic in its red light district. Since last spring, the Dutch citys notorious red light district, which is famous for its tolerance of prostitution and drugs, has implemented measures focusing on relative rationalization: bars close at 1 a.m instead of 2 a.m, and the sex work has been interrupted between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning. In mid-2023, Amsterdam closed its cruise terminal in the historic center and launched a campaign to discourage rowdy British men from behaving badly in the city. If they used keywords with hedonistic connotations in a search engine alcohol, drugs, prostitution the authorities reminded them, through these ads, that their acts of vandalism would be punished with fines. Visitors will continue to be welcome, unless they misbehave and cause a nuisance, said Sofyan Mbarki, the citys deputy mayor. Amsterdam is a metropolis, and that means bustle and liveliness. But, to keep it habitable, we have chosen limitation and not irresponsible growth. It is not the only city that has taken action on the matter. A month ago, while UNESCO was considering including it on its black list of endangered heritage, Venice announced a new tax of 5 ($5.30) for tourists who spend the day in the city, which receives some 30 million visitors a year. Intended only for day-trippers to Venice, it will be launched in spring 2024. Dubrovnik (Croatia), where only 41,000 people reside despite hosting some 1.5 million visitors a year, is also studying a cap on the number of cruise ships and the opening of new restaurants. In Iceland, the Fjarargljufur canyon had to close to the public after appearing in Game of Thrones and in a Justin Bieber video. And in Austria this August, groups of protesters demonstrated against tourism in the town of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 700 inhabitants live, but which receives about 10,000 visitors a day in high season. In Paris, after the hiatus marked by the pandemic, the Louvre Museum also opted for tourist limits in June 2022: since then, it has put a maximum of 30,000 tickets per day on sale and only grants entry to spontaneous visitors in cases of low attendance. To enter, in most cases, you have to buy a ticket online and in advance. In Spain, although caps on visitor numbers exist in national parks and other heritage sites such as prehistoric caves, they do not affect museums. The Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, which received three million visitors in 2022, is not considering implementing measures like those at the Louvre. Last year, the Spanish museum sold 67% of admissions at the ticket office, compared to 28% purchased online. Reservations are obligatory only for groups and in the case of blockbuster exhibitions, such as those featuring Dali or Picasso, with limited visitor capacity. The Prado Museum, which had 2.5 million visitors in 2022, has a maximum capacity of 3,000 visitors per hour (about 30,000 visitors daily), which its managers say has never been reached. Currently, the average is 9,000 visitors a day. For its part, the Alhambra in Granada does have a maximum capacity of 2,763,500 visitors per year, for conservation reasons. The figure was exceeded in 2019, so to prevent this from happening again, it is finalizing a system to access the Nasrid palaces in 30-minute intervals, with a maximum of 300 visitors each. Residents of the Austrian town of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protest against overtourism in August 2023. Reinhard HOERMANDINGER (APA / AF Koens believes that, over the next decade, increasingly strict regulations will be imposed. If progress continues at the same pace, within 10 years Amsterdam will welcome 25% more tourists. That is, five or six more than the current 21 million. It is worth asking if there is enough space for those numbers, says the expert, although he predicts problems if freedom of movement in public spaces is restricted. For example, limiting pedestrian traffic in certain neighborhoods. Who would have the right to enter and who would not? I myself dont live in the center of Amsterdam. Will I be prevented from accessing certain places? It can be a minefield, but it should not be ruled out. European town councils are studying all the possibilities. It wont happen immediately, but I wouldnt be surprised if these measures are imposed in the medium term. There are others that are even more extreme. For example, since 2020, the Swiss economist Bruno Frey has proposed building recreated originals, which are identical replicas of the most visited tourist sites in places close to their actual location. After the long pandemic hiatus, the return of mass tourism this summer has marked a turning point. Europe is the region which sees over half of the tourist visits in the world 54% of the total, according to the latest data. The continents visitor numbers reached 91% of 2019 occupancy during the first half of 2023, according to the latest United Nations barometer of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In the Mediterranean there was an increase of 1%. In the absence of official figures, everything indicates that this trend intensified during the summer months. The return to normality has taken place in record time: in January 2021, the number of tourists had fallen by 86% compared to the months before the outbreak of Covid-19. The authorities are now solving a problem from 2019 with the tools that managing the pandemic has bequeathed them. For me, overtourism does not exist. What exists is poor management of flows, says Alessandra Priante, regional director for Europe at the UNWTO. Todays tourism requires programming. The more we plan, as visitors and institutions, the better the result will be. In cases like those of Venice or the Parthenon, it is a question of survival. Regulation will become widespread in the coming years. Not only for the inhabitants of those cities, but also for the tourist, who is still a temporary resident. You cant force a visitor not to go to a place, but you can offer them an alternative or an incentive. For example, if you dont come this weekend but do so in two weeks, we will offer you a free benefit. The capacity to accommodate large numbers of visitors is not a new problem. In the United States, national parks began to apply entry limits in the 1980s, as did some of the so-called wonders of the world, such as Machu Picchu, in Peru. What is new is its recent extension to cultural tourism in an urban environment. Despite everything, some specialists doubt its effectiveness. The problem is not the queue at the Parthenon or the Louvre, but gentrification, tourist housing, and the privatization of public space, argues Claudio Milano, researcher in social anthropology at the University of Barcelona. Imposing dissuasive fees or installing turnstiles at the entrance to Venice are short-term measures, an urban sticking plaster that does not affect the structural elements. For Milano, this technocratic desire to decongest tourism will not change anything. It will allow politicians to send a message of firmness regarding mass tourism in order to reduce anti-tourist sentiment in some parts of the European map. For the rest, it will benefit the same model that began to take shape a couple of decades ago. It will simply move the focus of growth to other places. Once the center has been taken over, we will dedicate ourselves to touristifying the outskirts. Expressions such as quality tourism hide a desire to stigmatize the visitor with less purchasing power and attract the elites, capable of paying more and spending more money. Sanitizing cities to encourage consumption has already been underway for some time. Public space has become a place to consume, rather than to live. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Xerox (NYSE:XRX Free Report) in a report released on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the information technology services providers stock. Xerox Trading Down 1.6 % Shares of XRX opened at $15.08 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $15.81 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 1.15. Xerox has a 52-week low of $11.80 and a 52-week high of $18.00. The company has a market cap of $2.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.77 and a beta of 1.64. Get Xerox alerts: Xerox (NYSE:XRX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The information technology services provider reported $0.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.12. Xerox had a positive return on equity of 9.89% and a negative net margin of 3.52%. The firm had revenue of $1.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.75 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.13 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up .4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Xerox will post 1.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. Xerox Dividend Announcement Insider Transactions at Xerox The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.63%. Xeroxs payout ratio is currently -58.14%. In other news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn sold 34,245,314 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.84, for a total transaction of $542,445,773.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Carl C. Icahn sold 34,245,314 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.84, for a total transaction of $542,445,773.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Suzan Morno-Wade sold 9,126 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.75, for a total value of $152,860.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,323 shares in the company, valued at approximately $775,910.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 34,260,420 shares of company stock worth $542,694,314 over the last 90 days. 0.38% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Xerox Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in Xerox by 15.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,540,136 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $239,318,000 after buying an additional 2,033,262 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Xerox by 1.4% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,383,602 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $161,977,000 after buying an additional 176,526 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management lifted its stake in Xerox by 1.6% in the second quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 5,968,955 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $88,878,000 after buying an additional 93,350 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Xerox by 1.1% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,790,757 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $74,965,000 after acquiring an additional 52,043 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Xerox by 5.8% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,435,033 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $36,258,000 after acquiring an additional 133,551 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.53% of the companys stock. About Xerox (Get Free Report) Xerox Holdings Corporation, a workplace technology company, designs, develops, and sells document management systems and solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and internationally. It offers workplace solutions, including desktop monochrome, and color and multifunction printers; digital printing presses and light production devices, and solutions; and digital services that leverage workflow automation, personalization and communication software, content management solutions, and digitization services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Xerox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xerox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST Free Report) in a research report released on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the medical instruments suppliers stock. Several other equities research analysts have also commented on the stock. Stephens upped their price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $400.00 to $420.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. Bank of America upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $390.00 to $405.00 in a research report on Friday, June 16th. Finally, KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $415.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $361.00. Get West Pharmaceutical Services alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on WST West Pharmaceutical Services Price Performance NYSE:WST opened at $377.56 on Thursday. West Pharmaceutical Services has a one year low of $206.19 and a one year high of $415.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 2.78 and a current ratio of 3.66. The firm has a market cap of $27.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.04, a PEG ratio of 8.14 and a beta of 1.09. The firms fifty day moving average is $389.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $370.27. West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.95 by $0.16. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 18.10% and a return on equity of 22.36%. The company had revenue of $753.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $755.71 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.47 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that West Pharmaceutical Services will post 7.85 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, VP Annette F. Favorite sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $414.64, for a total value of $829,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 14,877 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,168,599.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 1,680 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $396.54, for a total value of $666,187.20. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 1,829 shares in the company, valued at approximately $725,271.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Annette F. Favorite sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $414.64, for a total transaction of $829,280.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 14,877 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,168,599.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 58,752 shares of company stock worth $22,713,817 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 1.13% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of West Pharmaceutical Services A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Advisor OS LLC grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 1.0% in the 2nd quarter. Advisor OS LLC now owns 2,858 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,093,000 after buying an additional 29 shares during the period. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY now owns 4,282 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $1,008,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 384 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $133,000 after buying an additional 30 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 5,854 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $2,028,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 1,144 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $438,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.23% of the companys stock. West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the construction companys stock. Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Barclays raised their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $138.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. Oppenheimer boosted their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $140.00 to $148.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on Advanced Drainage Systems from $125.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Advanced Drainage Systems from $114.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, Stephens started coverage on Advanced Drainage Systems in a report on Thursday, August 24th. They set an overweight rating and a $148.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $147.00. Get Advanced Drainage Systems alerts: Check Out Our Latest Research Report on WMS Advanced Drainage Systems Trading Up 1.8 % Shares of Advanced Drainage Systems stock opened at $116.74 on Thursday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $122.75 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.19. The company has a market cap of $9.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.36, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 1.41. The company has a current ratio of 2.78, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Advanced Drainage Systems has a 12-month low of $75.02 and a 12-month high of $134.94. Advanced Drainage Systems (NYSE:WMS Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The construction company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.53 by $0.51. The business had revenue of $778.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $746.08 million. Advanced Drainage Systems had a net margin of 16.82% and a return on equity of 50.53%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 14.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.22 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Advanced Drainage Systems will post 5.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Advanced Drainage Systems Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.48%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 31st. Advanced Drainage Systemss payout ratio is 9.29%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.35, for a total transaction of $305,875.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,147 shares in the company, valued at approximately $752,085.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Tim A. Makowski sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $122.35, for a total transaction of $305,875.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,147 shares in the company, valued at approximately $752,085.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Anil Seetharam sold 150,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.88, for a total value of $18,732,000.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 1,317,649 shares of the companys stock, valued at $164,548,007.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 565,774 shares of company stock worth $71,489,961 in the last three months. 3.79% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Advanced Drainage Systems Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Advanced Drainage Systems by 3.8% in the second quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 2,238 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $203,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 4.6% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,525 shares of the construction companys stock worth $287,000 after buying an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA lifted its stake in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems by 94.2% in the 2nd quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 233 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Advanced Drainage Systems in the 2nd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its stake in Advanced Drainage Systems by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 21,998 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,503,000 after acquiring an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.69% of the companys stock. Advanced Drainage Systems Company Profile (Get Free Report) Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets thermoplastic corrugated pipes and related water management products, and drainage solutions for use in the construction and agriculture marketplaces in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through Pipe, International, Infiltrator, and Allied Products & Other segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Advanced Drainage Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Advanced Drainage Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in a research report report published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on WFC. Odeon Capital Group cut shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $43.75 price target on the stock. in a report on Monday, July 17th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $51.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Monday, June 26th. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $43.00 to $45.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their target price 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. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $48.02. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Wells Fargo & Company Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of Wells Fargo & Company stock opened at $39.69 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 0.83 and a current ratio of 0.84. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52-week low of $35.25 and a 52-week high of $48.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $145.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.12. The companys 50 day moving average price is $42.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $41.40. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $20.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.11 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.18% and a return on equity of 11.15%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 20.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.74 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.84 EPS for the current year. Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 4th were given a dividend of $0.35 per share. This is an increase from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.53%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 35.00%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wells Fargo & Company Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dodge & Cox lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.4% in the first quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 120,385,253 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,500,001,000 after acquiring an additional 1,662,877 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 69,071,445 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,940,412,000 after purchasing an additional 324,823 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 69.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 61,833,769 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,638,987,000 after acquiring an additional 25,268,032 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,049,693,000. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 129,312.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,287,479 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,085,410,000 after acquiring an additional 26,267,166 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.47% of the companys stock. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (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. Featured 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. Patten Group Inc. decreased its position in shares of Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Free Report) by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,849 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after selling 112 shares during the quarter. Patten Group Inc.s holdings in Oracle were worth $339,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in Oracle by 94,707.5% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,122,984,792 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $133,736,259,000 after purchasing an additional 1,121,800,302 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Oracle by 1.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 117,130,967 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $10,883,809,000 after buying an additional 1,618,027 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Oracle by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 62,586,810 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $5,815,566,000 after buying an additional 1,570,528 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Oracle by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,753,778 shares of the enterprise software providers stock valued at $2,572,592,000 after acquiring an additional 136,383 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its position in Oracle by 12.2% during the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 24,369,890 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $2,264,450,000 after acquiring an additional 2,644,377 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 42.44% of the companys stock. Get Oracle alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets ORCL has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Berenberg Bank lifted their price objective on shares of Oracle from $82.50 to $110.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of Oracle from $120.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Oracle from $84.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. Guggenheim reissued a buy rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of Oracle in a report on Friday, September 22nd. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on Oracle from $121.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, September 11th. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $124.19. Oracle Price Performance Shares of ORCL opened at $109.96 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.72, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a market capitalization of $301.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.78 and a beta of 1.03. The businesss 50-day moving average is $114.58 and its 200-day moving average is $108.68. Oracle Co. has a fifty-two week low of $61.65 and a fifty-two week high of $127.54. Oracle (NYSE:ORCL Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, September 11th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.15 by $0.04. Oracle had a net margin of 18.40% and a negative return on equity of 470.73%. The firm had revenue of $12.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.48 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.81 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Oracle Co. will post 4.5 EPS for the current fiscal year. Oracle Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 11th. Oracles dividend payout ratio is 47.62%. Oracle Company Profile (Free Report) Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Cerner healthcare, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:CHCT Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. Separately, Robert W. Baird lowered Community Healthcare Trust from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Community Healthcare Trust presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $44.40. Get Community Healthcare Trust alerts: View Our Latest Report on Community Healthcare Trust Community Healthcare Trust Trading Up 0.6 % Community Healthcare Trust Increases Dividend Shares of NYSE CHCT traded up $0.18 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $28.47. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,395 shares, compared to its average volume of 113,976. Community Healthcare Trust has a 12-month low of $27.94 and a 12-month high of $43.88. The firm has a market cap of $756.16 million, a P/E ratio of 88.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.75. The businesss 50 day moving average is $32.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.02. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 25th. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 11th were issued a $0.4525 dividend. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.36%. This is a boost from Community Healthcare Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 10th. Community Healthcare Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 565.64%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Community Healthcare Trust A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CHCT. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust by 1.2% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 30,292 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,000,000 after purchasing an additional 362 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its holdings in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 6.7% in the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 6,530 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $215,000 after buying an additional 409 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Community Healthcare Trust by 73.7% in the 2nd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 109,657 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,621,000 after purchasing an additional 46,524 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in Community Healthcare Trust by 1.1% during the second quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 32,465 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,072,000 after buying an additional 353 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its position in shares of Community Healthcare Trust by 50.0% during the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 13,919 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $460,000 after acquiring an additional 4,638 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 89.44% of the companys stock. About Community Healthcare Trust (Get Free Report) Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated is a real estate investment trust that focuses on owning income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services in our target sub-markets throughout the United States. As of June 30, 2023, the Company had investments of approximately $991.2 million in 184 real estate properties (including a portion of one property accounted for as a sales-type lease and one property classified as held for sale). See Also Receive News & Ratings for Community Healthcare Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Community Healthcare Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Ciena (NYSE:CIEN Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the communications equipment providers stock. A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on CIEN. Northland Securities lowered their target price on shares of Ciena from $45.00 to $41.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Ciena in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. They set a buy rating and a $62.00 price objective for the company. Raymond James cut their target price on Ciena from $70.00 to $63.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. Rosenblatt Securities boosted their price target on Ciena from $57.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Finally, B. Riley raised their price objective on Ciena from $60.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, September 1st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Ciena presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $61.39. Get Ciena alerts: Check Out Our Latest Report on Ciena Ciena Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of Ciena stock traded down $0.48 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $44.27. 184,245 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,744,726. Ciena has a 52-week low of $38.33 and a 52-week high of $54.25. The company has a fifty day moving average of $44.87 and a 200-day moving average of $45.18. The company has a current ratio of 3.95, a quick ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.92. Ciena (NYSE:CIEN Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 31st. The communications equipment provider reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.51 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $1.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.04 billion. Ciena had a return on equity of 10.00% and a net margin of 5.23%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 23.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.18 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Ciena will post 1.97 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling at Ciena In other news, VP Andrew C. Petrik sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.26, for a total transaction of $42,260.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 25,901 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,094,576.26. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Ciena news, SVP David M. Rothenstein sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.26, for a total transaction of $147,910.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 232,317 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,817,716.42. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Andrew C. Petrik sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.26, for a total value of $42,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 25,901 shares in the company, valued at $1,094,576.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 40,365 shares of company stock valued at $1,809,936 over the last 90 days. 0.99% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Ciena A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fulton Bank N.A. boosted its stake in Ciena by 10.7% during the 3rd quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 5,264 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $249,000 after acquiring an additional 509 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Ciena by 63.9% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 849 shares of the communications equipment providers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 331 shares during the last quarter. Portside Wealth Group LLC acquired a new position in Ciena in the second quarter worth about $262,000. Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL bought a new stake in Ciena in the second quarter valued at about $450,000. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its stake in Ciena by 10.3% during the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 26,385 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,121,000 after buying an additional 2,468 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.02% of the companys stock. About Ciena (Get Free Report) Ciena Corporation provides hardware and software services for delivery of video, data, and voice traffic metro, aggregation, and access communications network worldwide. The company's Networking Platforms segment offers convergence of coherent optical transport, open optical networking, IP routing, and switching services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Ciena Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ciena and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighMark Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of HEICO Co. (NYSE:HEI Free Report) by 16.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 904 shares of the aerospace companys stock after selling 182 shares during the period. HighMark Wealth Management LLCs holdings in HEICO were worth $160,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in HEICO by 3,192.9% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,138,939 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $174,872,000 after acquiring an additional 1,104,351 shares during the period. Select Equity Group L.P. purchased a new position in shares of HEICO in the first quarter worth about $85,710,000. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of HEICO by 336.7% during the first quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 348,363 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $59,584,000 after purchasing an additional 268,584 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new stake in HEICO in the first quarter valued at approximately $35,606,000. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in HEICO by 2,002.7% in the 3rd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 155,033 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $22,322,000 after buying an additional 147,660 shares during the period. 27.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get HEICO alerts: HEICO Price Performance Shares of NYSE:HEI traded up $3.09 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $163.47. 55,820 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 344,019. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $166.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $168.72. HEICO Co. has a 1 year low of $138.82 and a 1 year high of $182.18. The company has a market cap of $22.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.88, a PEG ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 2.50 and a current ratio of 4.03. Insider Transactions at HEICO HEICO ( NYSE:HEI Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 29th. The aerospace company reported $0.74 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.01. HEICO had a net margin of 15.05% and a return on equity of 14.30%. The company had revenue of $722.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $701.55 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.60 EPS. HEICOs quarterly revenue was up 26.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that HEICO Co. will post 2.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other HEICO news, Director Alan Schriesheim sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.23, for a total value of $328,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 105,111 shares in the company, valued at $17,262,379.53. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 8.26% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HEI has been the subject of several research reports. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of HEICO from $190.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of HEICO in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $200.00 price objective on shares of HEICO in a research note on Wednesday, August 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on HEICO in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $192.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on HEICO from $204.00 to $206.00 in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, HEICO has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $196.91. Get Our Latest Research Report on HEI HEICO Profile (Free Report) HEICO Corporation, through its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells aerospace, defense, and electronic related products and services. The company's Flight Support Group segment provides jet engine and aircraft component replacement parts; thermal insulation blankets and parts; renewable/reusable insulation systems; and specialty components. See Also Receive News & Ratings for HEICO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HEICO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC lowered its position in shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Free Report) by 3.5% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,529 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 416 shares during the quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $1,017,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PRU. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in Prudential Financial by 9.8% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 92,504 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $8,161,000 after acquiring an additional 8,292 shares during the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC grew its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 2.6% during the second quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 9,240 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $815,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in shares of Prudential Financial by 49.0% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 165,224 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $14,651,000 after buying an additional 54,307 shares in the last quarter. Plancorp LLC acquired a new position in Prudential Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $203,000. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP grew its holdings in Prudential Financial by 9.6% during the 2nd quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 6,520 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $575,000 after acquiring an additional 573 shares during the last quarter. 54.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Prudential Financial Stock Down 0.6 % Shares of NYSE PRU traded down $0.58 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $92.31. 165,817 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,989,029. The company has a current ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $95.00 and a 200 day simple moving average of $88.75. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.37 and a twelve month high of $110.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.96, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 1.38. Prudential Financial Announces Dividend Prudential Financial ( NYSE:PRU Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The financial services provider reported $2.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.04 by ($0.10). Prudential Financial had a net margin of 1.82% and a return on equity of 15.73%. The company had revenue of $12.64 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.68 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.74 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 11.83 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 22nd were given a dividend of $1.25 per share. This represents a $5.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.42%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 21st. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 166.67%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms have recently commented on PRU. Raymond James raised shares of 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 note on Thursday, August 24th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Prudential Financial in a research report on Friday, September 8th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an equal weight rating and issued a $102.00 price target on shares of Prudential Financial in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Barclays boosted their price objective on Prudential Financial from $91.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Prudential Financial from $121.00 to $119.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $102.91. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on PRU 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. Recommended Stories 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. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC purchased a new position in Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report) during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 1,292 shares of the business services providers stock, valued at approximately $214,000. A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in BR. Money Concepts Capital Corp lifted its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 400.0% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 195 shares of the business services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 104.9% in the 1st quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 666 shares of the business services providers stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares in the last quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in Broadridge Financial Solutions by 64.1% in the 1st quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 338 shares of the business services providers stock worth $50,000 after purchasing an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Broadridge Financial Solutions in the 1st quarter worth approximately $54,000. 89.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Broadridge Financial Solutions alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Broadridge Financial Solutions In other Broadridge Financial Solutions news, Chairman Richard J. Daly sold 31,565 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.82, for a total value of $5,644,453.30. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 111,761 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,985,102.02. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, Chairman Richard J. Daly sold 72,050 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.29, for a total transaction of $12,845,794.50. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 120,018 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $21,398,009.22. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Chairman Richard J. Daly sold 31,565 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.82, for a total value of $5,644,453.30. Following the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 111,761 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,985,102.02. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 191,035 shares of company stock valued at $34,423,247 in the last quarter. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders. Broadridge Financial Solutions Trading Up 0.3 % NYSE:BR traded up $0.60 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $180.29. 19,047 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 546,368. The firms fifty day moving average is $181.09 and its 200-day moving average is $163.59. Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has a 12-month low of $131.35 and a 12-month high of $189.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.97 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a current ratio of 0.58, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00. Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 8th. The business services provider reported $3.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.10 by $0.11. Broadridge Financial Solutions had a return on equity of 42.09% and a net margin of 10.40%. The company had revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.65 EPS. Broadridge Financial Solutionss quarterly revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will post 7.63 EPS for the current year. Broadridge Financial Solutions Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th were given a $0.80 dividend. This represents a $3.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.77%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 14th. This is an increase from Broadridge Financial Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Broadridge Financial Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 60.49%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently commented on BR shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $165.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Raymond James upped their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $183.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, August 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $190.00 price objective on shares of Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Thursday, September 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Broadridge Financial Solutions in a report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Broadridge Financial Solutions from $178.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Broadridge Financial Solutions presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $173.67. Read Our Latest Research Report on Broadridge Financial Solutions Broadridge Financial Solutions Company Profile (Free Report) Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc provides investor communications and technology-driven solutions for the financial services industry. The company's Investor Communication Solutions segment processes and distributes proxy materials to investors in equity securities and mutual funds, as well as facilitates related vote processing services; and distributes regulatory reports, class action, and corporate action/reorganization event information, as well as tax reporting solutions. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Broadridge Financial Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. Guitarist Rory Gallagher takes the stage on opening night with his band, Taste. The Irish musician captivates both audiences and experts alike with his impressive power, talent and emotional intensity. Two days later, Jimi Hendrix, already a global superstar, gives a typically rousing performance at the festival. At the press conference, a reporter asked, How does it feel to be the best guitarist in the world? Hendrix shrugged and replied, I dont know, ask Rory Gallagher. Rock historians generally accept this anecdote as true, even though no one has found any evidence to support it. Nevertheless, it could perfectly well be a true story. Rory Gallagher, who died in 1995 and esteemed for his musical ability and integrity, was allergic to celebrity and preferred to remain mysterious and aloof. Supposedly Hendrix said this to Rolling Stone magazine, but I couldnt find any evidence of it. But hey, its a pretty cool quote, isnt it? said Daniel Gallagher, Rorys nephew and keeper of his uncles legacy. Daniel recently finished a live album, All Around Man Live In London, pulled from two of his Rorys shows during a 1990 tour to promote his final album. Rory Gallagher in a recording studio; 1972. Michael Putland (Getty Images) For his entire playing career, Rory Gallagher, who liked to wear plaid flannel shirts and jeans, played a Fender Stratocaster that he bought as a teenager for 100 and paid off 15 years later. A worn-out guitar for a guy with rock-solid ethics. With his eyes closed, he sang, barely glancing at the guitar as he weaved his captivating solos. Rory immersed himself in the Chicago blues, later expanding his musical horizons to encompass folk, rock, jazz experimentation and the rich tapestry of Irish tradition. He didnt understand music that didnt come from the gut. When Rolling Stone magazine published its list of the 100 best guitarists of all time in 2003, Gallagher wasnt on it, prompting many musicians to protest. Queen guitarist Brian May, ranked at number 37, even called Rolling Stone to complain about Gallaghers exclusion. In their revised 2015 list, Gallagher made it to number 57. Still well below what he deserved, according to May, who said, He was a magician, you know? One of the few people back then who could make his guitar do whatever he wanted. It was pure magic. I still remember staring at that smashed Stratocaster, wondering, Where is that sound coming from? Argentine writer Marcelo Gobello is a Gallagher expert who wrote a book about the Irish musician. Rory is one of the top four or five in the world, along with legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, who totally adored him. Clapton always saw him as a serious contender. I mean, the guy had this incredible integrity and passion, and his live performances are just incredible, said Gobello. Rory Gallagher in concert at Leeds City Hall (England) with drummer Wilgar Campbell and bassist Gerry McAvoy; March 25, 1972. Michael Putland (Getty Images) Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Ireland in 1948. When he was just eight years old, his parents recognized his innate musical talents and bought him a guitar. I heard Muddy Waters on the radio playing slide on a Telecaster one night. The music just came to me out of the ether and changed my life, he said in an interview that Marcelo Gobello included in his book on Gallagher. Gallaghers first noteworthy band was Taste, a trio like Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. They released two albums Taste (1969) and On the Boards (1970). Taste was a blues band that made room for jazz, folk and improvised jams, but they only lasted four years due to internal strife and a shady manager who pocketed much of their earnings. Lawsuits and albums released without Rorys consent left long-lasting wounds. Despite the fans demands, the guitarist adamantly refused to play any Taste songs in concert for the rest of his career. Rorys distrust of the music industry started there, and his brother Donald, Daniels father, became the only person he trusted to handle his business affairs. I didnt know my uncle was a rock musician until I was five years old when my father took me to a Rory concert in London, said Daniel. When I was seven years old, my uncle bought me a guitar and taught me my first song Frere Jacques. When I was older and Guns N Roses was my favorite band, my father showed me some photos of Rory playing with Slash. I was so impressed. Slash is another devoted Gallagher fan. Rory didnt sound like anyone else he had this unique, independent sound and approach. Hes always been my hero, wrote the Guns N Roses guitarist in the albums liner notes. Following the bitter breakup of Taste in 1971, Gallagher embarked on a solo career that showcased his virtuosity as a raw and emotional performer. His songs were not merely showcases for his guitar skills, but genuine reflections of his feelings that produced outstanding albums like Deuce (1971), Tattoo (1973) and Calling Card (1976). However, it was in live performances that Gallagher truly demonstrated his brilliance. One of his most remarkable achievements is undoubtedly the mesmerizing Irish Tour 74 live album, where the synergy between the musician and the audience was a show in itself. They seemed to feed off each others energy, igniting a tangible atmosphere that was almost visible. One of Gallaghers first concerts in Spain Madrid 1975 was where Spanish rocker Rosendo Mercado met his idol. Ive never lined up to get a concert ticket in my life. You know, except for that one time, just for Rory, Mercado once said. Rory Gallagher's famous Fender Stratocaster, photographed in 2012. Guitarist Magazine (Future via Getty Images) In 1974, Gallagher was approached by the Rolling Stones to replace Mick Taylor, but Rory chose to chart his own course. Deep Purple also considered him as a replacement for Ritchie Blackmore, but he declined that offer as well. Id like to stay free for a while because you never know when theyre going to get you, he used to say. He met and played with many musicians to keep on learning and developing as an instrumentalist Muddy Waters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bela Fleck, the Dubliners and more. Many believe that Gallagher has never received the recognition he deserves. Marcelo Gobello offers some insights into the reasons. He never really made it big in the American market because he didnt want to make compromises like Eric Clapton, who, you know, embraced pop in the 1980s and even wore a suit. But Rory, he stuck to his guns and stayed true to his blues-rock roots. He didnt sellout. He was 100% pure. Daniel Gallagher said, Rory purposely avoided the trappings of fame. He never released singles that would have gotten him a lot of radio play, especially in the United States. He didnt go to any of celebrity events, didnt work with big-name producers and didnt date actresses. He just wasnt looking for all that publicity he simply wanted to be known for his music. Rory Gallagher's funeral in Cork, Ireland, in 1995. Independent News and Media (Getty Images) Gallagher didnt play the part of the stereotypical hard-partying rocker. After concerts, he would unwind in his hotel room reading and watching movies, particularly film noir. Rory didnt have any children or romantic partners after a devastating heartbreak in the late 1960s that inspired the emotional song from his first solo album, I Fall Apart. Rory drank alone, and alcohol took a heavy toll on his health. During his last year, he was really sick, making it incredibly hard for him to perform on stage. And you know, without live music, it was just really tough for him to keep going, said Gobello. In the summer of 1995, he was admitted to a renowned London hospital for a liver transplant, a consequence of his alcohol abuse. The choice was stark: undergo the difficult procedure or face certain death. Tragically, the operation was unsuccessful and the 47-year-old Gallagher died on June 14. Today, his memory lives on in the form of a towering bronze statue in his hometown of Ballyshannon, rocking his battered but beloved Fender guitar in jeans and a plaid flannel shirt. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lowered its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 2.9% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 158,521 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 4,653 shares during the quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC owned about 0.05% of Illinois Tool Works worth $39,656,000 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 the stock. Flputnam Investment Management Co. boosted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 41.6% during the first quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 7,547 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,837,000 after buying an additional 2,216 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 28.5% during the second quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,340 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $335,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the period. One Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Illinois Tool Works in the first quarter valued at approximately $249,000. Journey Advisory Group LLC raised its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 6.5% in the first quarter. Journey Advisory Group LLC now owns 2,878 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $701,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 22.0% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 20,404 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,967,000 after buying an additional 3,678 shares during the period. 79.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently commented on ITW. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $230.00 to $232.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Barclays cut their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $198.00 in a report on Thursday, September 7th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $235.00 in a report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $256.00 to $258.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $236.73. Illinois Tool Works Trading Up 1.0 % Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $235.05 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25, a current ratio of 1.59 and a quick ratio of 1.11. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $239.87 and a 200-day moving average of $238.75. The company has a market cap of $71.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.25, a P/E/G ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.15. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a one year low of $180.46 and a one year high of $264.19. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.41 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $4.07 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.14 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 94.14% and a net margin of 19.30%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.37 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a dividend of $1.40 per share. This is a positive change from Illinois Tool Workss previous quarterly dividend of $1.31. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is 55.39%. About Illinois Tool Works (Free Report) Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fortress Wealth Management Inc. decreased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 2.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 45,571 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,362 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF makes up approximately 1.4% of Fortress Wealth Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th largest position. Fortress Wealth Management Inc.s holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $2,230,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Tompkins Financial Corp increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 66.1% during the 1st quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 553 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Grove Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Impact Partnership Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Howe & Rusling Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Performance Shares of BATS EFV traded up $0.57 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $48.36. 1,614,302 shares of the stock were exchanged. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $49.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $49.22. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a twelve month low of $49.15 and a twelve month 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. Featured Stories 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. Red Cedar Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 1.9% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 50,728 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 950 shares during the quarter. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF makes up about 0.8% of Red Cedar Investment Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Red Cedar Investment Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $4,969,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of AGG. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 90,331.9% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 62,881,813 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,098,907,000 after acquiring an additional 62,812,278 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 14.9% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 58,718,589 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,751,486,000 after acquiring an additional 7,620,532 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 98,060.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 7,043,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $689,864,000 after acquiring an additional 7,035,846 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 18.6% in the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 41,245,264 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,109,678,000 after acquiring an additional 6,466,535 shares during the period. Finally, First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 1,250.7% in the 1st quarter. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. now owns 6,163,802 shares of the companys stock valued at $614,161,000 after acquiring an additional 5,707,468 shares during the period. 83.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance AGG traded up $0.62 during trading on Monday, hitting $93.37. The stock had a trading volume of 692,641 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,395,255. The companys 50-day moving average price is $95.47 and its 200 day moving average price is $97.51. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $92.37 and a twelve month high of $101.15. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AGG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 531.1% during the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 4,626 shares of the investment management companys stock after buying an additional 3,893 shares during the period. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $1,492,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in The Goldman Sachs Group during the first quarter worth about $66,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. lifted its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,505.1% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 41,300 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $13,633,000 after buying an additional 38,727 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 118,609 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $39,153,000 after buying an additional 18,540 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 79.4% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 827 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $273,000 after acquiring an additional 366 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 118.3% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 310 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $102,000 after acquiring an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $347.00 to $329.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Societe Generale cut shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and set a $410.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, July 20th. Odeon Capital Group upgraded The Goldman Sachs Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $355.75 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Atlantic Securities raised The Goldman Sachs Group from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $330.00 to $351.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $393.32. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total value of $1,496,376.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 124,782 shares of the companys stock, valued at $44,457,330.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other The Goldman Sachs Group news, CEO David M. Solomon sold 4,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $356.28, for a total value of $1,496,376.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 124,782 shares in the company, valued at $44,457,330.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO David M. Solomon sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $345.71, for a total value of $3,457,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 128,982 shares in the company, valued at approximately $44,590,367.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Down 1.1 % Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock traded down $3.32 during trading on Monday, reaching $309.16. The stock had a trading volume of 306,262 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,388,456. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.18. The company has a market capitalization of $101.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.33, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.38. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $331.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $330.05. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $287.75 and a 52 week high of $389.58. The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The investment management company reported $3.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.25 by ($0.17). The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 8.27% and a net margin of 9.74%. The firm had revenue of $10.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.61 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $7.73 EPS. The companys revenue was down 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 24.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, August 31st were paid a $2.75 dividend. This is a positive change from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.50. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 30th. The Goldman Sachs Groups payout ratio is presently 46.93%. The Goldman Sachs Group Profile (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. lowered its position in shares of Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D Free Report) by 12.5% during the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 15,418 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 2,200 shares during the quarter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Dominion Energy were worth $834,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its position in shares of Dominion Energy by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 10,630 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $903,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Equity Partners raised its holdings in Dominion Energy by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 7,635 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $649,000 after acquiring an additional 129 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its holdings in Dominion Energy by 49.8% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 394 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Dominion Energy by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 40,479 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,440,000 after acquiring an additional 132 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC raised its holdings in Dominion Energy by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 4,719 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $401,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.66% of the companys stock. Get Dominion Energy alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of Dominion Energy from $55.00 to $50.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $61.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, July 3rd. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $58.00 to $46.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $68.00 to $60.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, September 11th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Dominion Energy from $54.00 to $50.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, September 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $54.31. Dominion Energy Price Performance Dominion Energy stock traded up $0.14 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $41.84. The stock had a trading volume of 1,330,748 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,502,542. The firm has a market capitalization of $35.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.47, a P/E/G ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. The firms 50 day moving average is $47.65 and its 200 day moving average is $51.77. Dominion Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $39.24 and a one year high of $70.80. Dominion Energy (NYSE:D Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.05. Dominion Energy had a net margin of 12.71% and a return on equity of 11.94%. The company had revenue of $3.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.77 EPS. Dominion Energys quarterly revenue was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Dominion Energy, Inc. will post 3.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Dominion Energy Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 1st were issued a dividend of $0.6675 per share. This represents a $2.67 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.38%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. Dominion Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 98.89%. Dominion Energy Profile (Free Report) Dominion Energy, Inc produces and distributes energy in the United States. It operates through four segments: Dominion Energy Virginia, Gas Distribution, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Assets. The Dominion Energy Virginia segment generates, transmits, and distributes regulated electricity to approximately 2.7 million residential, commercial, industrial, and governmental customers in Virginia and North Carolina. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding D? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dominion Energy, Inc. (NYSE:D Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Dominion Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dominion Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. National Bank of Canada FI reduced its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report) by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 485,627 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 7,043 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FIs holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF were worth $91,125,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Legacy Capital Wealth Partners LLC boosted its position in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 74.7% in the 1st quarter. Legacy Capital Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,235 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $399,000 after buying an additional 956 shares during the period. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its stake in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 2.5% in the first quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 4,917 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $877,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Financial Insights Inc. grew its holdings in iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Financial Insights Inc. now owns 2,229 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $398,000 after acquiring an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. SkyOak Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 13.6% in the 1st quarter. SkyOak Wealth LLC now owns 2,051 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $366,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NBT Bank N A NY increased its position in shares of iShares Russell 2000 ETF by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. NBT Bank N A NY now owns 32,147 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $6,020,000 after purchasing an additional 119 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Russell 2000 ETF alerts: iShares Russell 2000 ETF Stock Performance Shares of IWM opened at $173.00 on Monday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $184.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $182.22. iShares Russell 2000 ETF has a twelve month low of $162.50 and a twelve 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. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSEARCA:IWM Free Report). 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. SWS Partners decreased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report) by 0.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 67,576 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 542 shares during the period. SWS Partners holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $2,883,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $210,000. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 9.7% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 909,685 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $38,825,000 after acquiring an additional 80,619 shares during the period. Simplicity Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the second quarter valued at approximately $307,000. Manning & Napier Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the second quarter valued at approximately $29,625,000. Finally, Spartan Fund Management Inc. increased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 58.1% during the 2nd quarter. Spartan Fund Management Inc. now owns 5,608 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $151,000 after purchasing an additional 2,061 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WFC traded down $0.22 during trading on Monday, reaching $39.47. 2,377,716 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,850,350. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12-month low of $35.25 and a 12-month high of $48.84. 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 stock has a market cap of $144.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.92, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.12. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $42.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.40. Wells Fargo & Company Increases Dividend Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Friday, July 14th. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $20.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.74 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 20.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, August 4th were issued a $0.35 dividend. This is a boost from Wells Fargo & Companys previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.55%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 35.00%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades WFC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup increased their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $50.00 to $52.00 in a research report on Sunday, July 16th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $43.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a buy rating and set a $44.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Friday, September 22nd. Nine 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $48.02. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WFC About Wells Fargo & Company (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. Featured 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. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund trimmed its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 19.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 230,631 shares of the companys stock after selling 56,553 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for approximately 1.3% of Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds investment portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $108,161,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.6% in the second quarter. Guyasuta Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 3,024 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,418,000 after buying an additional 132 shares in the last quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.8% in the first quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 82,966 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,449,000 after purchasing an additional 3,768 shares during the period. Martin Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the second quarter valued at approximately $234,000. HF Advisory Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 4.9% in the second quarter. HF Advisory Group LLC now owns 3,629 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,702,000 after acquiring an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrive Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 103.7% in the second quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $714,000 after acquiring an additional 775 shares in the last quarter. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets LLY has been the topic of several research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $630.00 target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Berenberg Bank increased their target price on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $375.00 to $500.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 20th. Credit Suisse Group increased their target price 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 Wednesday, August 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $617.00 to $640.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Finally, Argus upped their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $470.00 to $620.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $538.65. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of NYSE LLY opened at $568.95 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $540.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 78.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The business has a 50-day moving average of $542.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $463.28. Eli Lilly and Company has a 1 year low of $309.20 and a 1 year high of $601.84. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 8th. The company reported $2.11 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $8.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.25 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Eli Lilly and Company news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $546.51, for a total transaction of $327,906.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,939,130.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Donald A. Zakrowski sold 600 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $546.51, for a total value of $327,906.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,378 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,939,130.78. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total value of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,586,004.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. 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. See Also 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. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Monday awarded the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, more commonly known as the Nobel Prize in Economics, to the American Claudia Goldin, a professor at Harvard University. The award, which makes Goldin the third woman to win it after its inauguration in 1968, recognizes her studies on female underrepresentation and lower wages in the labor market. Despite modernisation, economic growth and rising proportions of employed women in the twentieth century, for a long period of time the earnings gap between women and men hardly closed, the academy noted in a press release to announce the award. Goldin has trawled the archives and collected over 200 years of data from the U.S., allowing her to demonstrate how and why gender differences in earnings and employment rates have changed over time. Goldin, 77, holds a BA in Economics from Cornell University and a PhD from the University of Chicago, and in her long teaching and research career she has spent time at the universities of Wisconsin, Princeton, Pennsylvania and, since 1990, Harvard. She has also been a member of the prestigious non-profit National Bureau of Economic Research for more than three decades. The award is a very important prize, not just for me, but for the many people who work in this field and who are trying to understand why there is so much change, but there are still large differences, Goldin told AFP. Goldin was herself a pioneer, becoming the first woman to achieve a permanent position in the department of economics at Ivy League Harvard and Pennsylvania. The New York-born researcher has been among the favorites for the Nobel Prize in Economics for several years. In 2019 she won the BBVA Frontiers of Knowledge Award, viewed by some as a prelude to receiving the Nobel award, for her for her groundbreaking contributions to the historical analysis of the role of women in the economy, and for her analysis of the reasons behind gender inequality, both in educational terms, which until then had always been alluded to, and for family reasons, such as the birth of a first child, which has been much less present in the academic debate and Goldin brought to the forefront. Male presenteeism Mens presenteeism has worsened the wage gap with women, Goldin noted in interview with EL PAIS in 2019. Since the 1980s, for more than 30 years, women have not done badly thanks to the improvement in their education, in which they even surpass the male sex. However, there has been an increase in the number of men who put in more hours, who are available for the company all the time. And that has led to a stagnation of the gap and no improvement is visible. Goldin also denies that the origin of the gender gap was purely discrimination: There is something else, she said in that interview. According to her research, the gap grew substantially with the growth of administrative and service jobs, a niche of the labor market in which bosses tend to place a higher value on those employees who spend the most time on the job, and not necessarily on the most productive ones. Men are disproportionately available to put in long hours at work, while women are disproportionately available to engage in household chores. That, she argued, is the other side of the coin of inequality in couples. The Harvard professor is a strong advocate of equal paternity and maternity leave, and for fathers to take it as mothers do. It is expected and assumed that women should enjoy maternity leave, but the same is not expected of men. This attitude needs to change so that men who take paternity leave are no longer thought of as not being good workers, Goldin said in 2019. In 1990, the Nobel laureate published Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women, a now iconic work in which she questioned many of the explanations that had previously been provided for the wage gap between male and female workers. The origin of discrimination, she concluded, lies largely in promotion mechanisms, with institutional and corporate personnel management policies that have helped to perpetuate it even further over the years. Although it looks at one country, the United States, its results are applicable elsewhere, Goldin said after receiving the Frontiers of Knowledge award. " The key factors behind this have to do with what is going on around individuals rather than individuals themselves. Things like economic and technological change and the rise in real incomes. These have come together with an increase in education and it is that, more than any other factor, that has empowered individual women to seek their own identities and careers. In the footsteps of Ostrom and Duflo Women are the exception among Nobel Prize in Economics laureates. Of the 93 researchers to have won the award, only three are women: Elinor Ostrom (2009), Esther Duflo (2019, who at 46 also became the youngest winner of the prize) and, now, Goldin. The Nobel Prize in Economics is the only one of the six Nobel Prizes not directly created by the will of Swedish magnate Alfred Nobel. Unlike the others, it was inaugurated in 1968 by the National Bank of Sweden the Sveriges Riksbank and was first awarded a year later. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition FOUR relatives who were sexually abused by their extended family members as children have outlined how their childhoods were ruined by their abusers, whom they described as monsters and devils. Five family members were convicted of dozens of offences relating to the sexual abuse of their four child relatives following a Central Criminal Court trial last May. A 66-year-old man and his three sons, aged 39, 40 and 41, were convicted of a total of 115 counts of sexually abusing four family members, who were all children at the time. The 64-year-old wife of the oldest man was convicted of assisting one of her sons after he anally raped her granddaughter and one count of assaulting the same child. None of the five accept the verdicts of the jury and continue to maintain their innocence, their sentence hearing was told this Monday. The three-week trial heard that the alleged offences occurred between 1999 and 2005 in various locations around the country. All of the parties are members of an extended Traveller family, the court heard. The four complainants are the oldest couple's daughter, their granddaughter and their two nephews, whom the couple fostered for a period of time. The 66-year-old man is already serving a 16-year sentence for sexually abusing his daughter who became pregnant with his child when she was just 17. This baby was brought up by the 66-year-old man and his wife as their own. Shane Costelloe SC, prosecuting, told the court that this woman's three brothers each started regularly sexually abusing and raping her at around the same time as her father did. In a victim impact statement read out by prosecution counsel, the woman said she will never feel normal and never feel safe as a result of the abuse. She said she lived in fear growing up and continues to feel terror. My childhood was like living in hell with devils, she said. The woman said she has both physical and emotional scars from the abuse perpetrated on her at the hands of her brothers. They should have been there to protect me, but they were no different, she said. She said even in court she felt terrified that they would come and get her either before or after court. The woman said she is lucky to have her partner and her children, but that her kids have lost out on having uncles and cousins as a result of what her brothers did to her. They stole my childhood. The older couple's grand-daughter also gave a victim impact statement, which was read out by counsel. This woman was regularly abused by the 66-year-old man her grandfather and two of her uncles, the 39-year-old and 41-year-old men. Her grandmother was also convicted of assaulting her and of assisting her uncle by providing her with an adult diaper in the wake of the assault and prevented her from going home and telling her parents what had happened. Because of these people, my childhood and innocence were stolen from me, she said. I still live in fear. The woman said she suffers from PTSD, mental health difficulties, depression, anxiety and flashbacks. She has self-harmed and had suicidal ideation. I am constantly looking over my shoulder and thinking they will come after me, she said. As a result of the abuse, she said her family has been torn apart and she has difficulty visiting her parents and siblings because of her extended family. I now want to live a life free of fear and their actions, she said. In his victim impact statement, one of the brothers who was anally raped by the 39-year-old man his cousin said he was fostered by the family. But I could not call them my family, they are monsters, he said. He said he was starved as a child, was not allowed go to school and was deprived of an education as a result. He said he was often cold and beaten. He said he often wakes up in fear during the night and has lost count of the number of times he has tried to take his own life. My life was ruined, he said. I never had a chance in life because I lived with those monsters. The second brother who was also fostered by the family, said he remains in fear to this day and it never goes away. This man was regularly sexually abused by the 66-year-old man his uncle. Words have not yet been invented to describe the pain (my uncle) put me through, he said. The betrayal killed me inside. He said he still lives in constant fear. It never goes away, he said. I have fear in my heart and my head. I'm always nervous. He said he has also made numerous attempts to end his own life and has engaged in self harm in an effort to make the pain go away. Every moment is a struggle. The court heard the 66-year-old man has 185 previous convictions, including 99 for the sexual abuse of two of his daughters. The remainder are for road traffic offences, larceny, burglary and public order offences. The 41-year-old man has 178 previous convictions, almost all for road traffic offences, including 13 convictions for hit and run incidents. He is also in custody. The 40-year-old man has 145 previous convictions, mostly road traffic offences, while the 39-year-old man has 24 similar convictions. The 64-year-old woman has no previous convictions. These three have been on bail throughout the case. Paul Murray SC, defending this woman, read out a letter in court from some of her other children, pleading for leniency in her case and asking that she not be jailed. Some of the complainants were visibly upset when this letter was read out and left court in tears. Mr Murray submitted his client comes from a background of domestic and sexual abuse. He cited a probation report which submitted she may have been fearful of the consequences, should she speak out on behalf of the complainants. Mr Murray said the woman might benefit from therapeutic work to help her understanding of the harm inflicted in the case. Defence counsel for the 66-year-old man said he received no education and was illiterate. He learned to spell his name in prison, the court heard. Defence counsel asked Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring to take into account the fact the offences he is currently in jail for occurred during a similar time to the offences in this case. Defence counsel for the 41-year-old man said he is also illiterate and has been trying to better himself during his time in prison. Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, for the 40-year-old man, said he had no formal education and became a father at the age of 17. Dominic McGinn SC, for the 39-year-old man said he has a low intellectual capacity and was disadvantaged as a result of his upbringing. Ms Justice Ring adjourned the matter for sentence on November 6. She ordered that the three remaining family members on bail be taken into custody. The victims in this case all continue to feel - not surprisingly the consequences of this abuse which will likely be lifelong, the judge said. Sexual abuse does not go away. It lives with the victims throughout their lives. They may come to deal with it in different ways but it never goes away. She noted the convicted persons have no acceptance for the offending behaviour. Tsiolkovsky (Russian Federation), 12/09/2023.- Russian President Vladimir Putin (2-R) greets North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) during a visit to the Vostochny cosmodrome outside of the town of Tsiolkovsky. 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 munition 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. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [October 09, 2023] SolarWinds Commemorates Cybersecurity Awareness Month by Highlighting Software Industry's Secure by Design Progress Tweet SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI), a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software, commemorates Cybersecurity Awareness Month by highlighting the software industry's progress toward becoming more Secure By Design. Informed by years of experience from industry-leading cybersecurity experts, the SolarWinds Secure by Design initiative is a gold-plated cybersecurity approach to software build systems and processes that set a new standard in software supply chain security. SolarWinds developed Secure By Design to address the evolving threat of highly sophisticated and unforeseeable cyberattacks, including those by advanced nation-state threat actors. As a guiding principle for software security and cyber resiliency, Secure By Design provides an effective and novel defense for thwarting advanced supply chain cyber threats. With a focus on creating more secure environments, the SolarWinds Secure By Design guiding principles were designed to make both the company and the software industry at large safer. "Security is an ongoing journey with no finish line but, as we reflect on the past year, it's clear we've made great progress on the journey towards a Secure by Design industry," said Sudhakar Ramakrishna, CEO and President of SolarWinds. "The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats demand a collective response from the cybersecurity community. It is our shared responsibility to come together, collaborate, and innovate to build a more secure future for all." The past year has seen significant advancement of the adoption and implementation of a more Secure By Design approach, including new community approaches to support cyber resiliency, more secure software build systems, improved information sharing about threats across the industry, and a stronger cyber workforce. Building Out a Community Approach to Support Cyber Resiliency This year marks the 20th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month, in which the President of the United States and Congress dedicate time to work together with the public and private sectors to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. SolarWinds has continually called for transparent and open information sharing across the industry and more robust public-private partnerships to combat increasingly sophisticated nation-state cyberattacks. SolarWinds recently hosted a panel discussion in Washington, D.C., highlighting several key ways to help the industry stay secure. Ramakrishna was joined by Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and CISA Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Eric Goldstein for a conversation on why stronger public-private partnerships are needed to enhance the security of the nation's cyberinfrastructure. Additionally, SolarWinds will be in attendance at GovWare 2023, joined by more than ten thousand other policymakers, tech innovators, and end-users. This year's theme, "Fostering Trust Through Collaboration in the New Digital Reality," aims to address the significant link between digital trust and achieving success in today's cyberspace. Developing A Resilient Build Environment with The Next-Generation Build System The SolarWinds Next-Generation Build System, a key component of the company's Secure By Design approach, leverages a uniqu parallel build process where software is developed in multiple secure, duplicate, and ephemeral environments. First unveiled by SolarWinds last year, the Next-Generation Build System was developed to make supply chain attacks more difficult to execute by prioritizing cybersecurity throughout the entire lifecycle management process. As SolarWinds recently announced, the Next-Generation Build System meets or exceeds the Secure Software Development Framework (SSDF) updated last year by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The build system's alignment with SSDF and CISA's Enduring Security Framework has been a continued driver encouraging more organizations to become Secure By Design. The SolarWinds Next-Generation Build System has received multiple industry recognitions this year, including the CSO50 Award for IT Infrastructure Monitoring and Management, the BIG Innovation Fortress Cyber Security Award and recognition from the Cloud Security Awards. Additionally, SolarWinds Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Security Tim Brown, who has spearheaded the ongoing development of the Next-Generation Build System, was named CISO of the Year by the Globee Cybersecurity Awards. Improving Security Through a Stronger Cyber Workforce This year, the industry has prioritized growing the cybersecurity workforce, a critical mission as more than 3.4 million positions in the field remain unfilled. The White House recently unveiled a first-of-its-kind National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy to address both immediate and long-term cyber workforce needs. Alongside this announcement, the U.S. National Science Foundation CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program will provide more than $24 million over the next four years to support the development of a stronger cybersecurity workforce. SolarWinds has long advocated additional resources for skill and vocational training. The company has taken on a leadership role in this regard, encouraging software companies to allocate the equivalent of one trained, full-time employee to support CISA and foster information-sharing between companies and government agencies. This collaboration across sectors is necessary to create unified best practices and develop shared threat intelligence. For more information on the SolarWinds Secure By Design initiative, please visit: https://www.solarwinds.com/trust-center Connect with SolarWinds THWACK Twitter Facebook LinkedIn #SWI #SWIproducts #SWIcorporate About SolarWinds SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI) is a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software built to enable customers to accelerate their digital transformation. Our solutions provide organizations worldwide-regardless of type, size, or complexity-with a comprehensive and unified view of today's modern, distributed, and hybrid network environments. We continuously engage with IT service and operations professionals, DevOps and SecOps professionals, and database administrators (DBAs) to understand the challenges they face in maintaining high-performing and highly available hybrid IT infrastructures, applications, and environments. The insights we gain from them, in places like our THWACK community, allow us to address customers' needs now and in the future. Our focus on the user and our commitment to excellence in end-to-end hybrid IT management have established SolarWinds as a worldwide leader in solutions for observability, IT service management, application performance, and database management. Learn more today at www.solarwinds.com. The SolarWinds, SolarWinds & Design, Orion, and THWACK trademarks are the exclusive property of SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC or its affiliates, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other SolarWinds trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks or are registered or pending registration. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks of (and may be registered trademarks of) their respective companies. 2023 SolarWinds Worldwide, LLC. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009079626/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 08, 2023] VinCSS Applauded by Frost & Sullivan for Reducing Security Risks Associated with Traditional Authentication Technologies with Its Passwordless Authentication Ecosystem Tweet VinCSS's passwordless authentication ecosystem eliminates reliance on passwords, simplifying identity and access management (IAM) strategies and enhancing operational efficiency. SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 8, 2023 /CNW/ -- Recently Frost & Sullivan assessed the passwordless authentication industry and, based on its findings, recognizes VinCSS with the 2023 Asia-Pacific New Product Innovation Award. The company has emerged as an innovation trailblazer in passwordless authentication technology using fast identity online (FIDO2) standards. Positioned in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, it focuses on research, development, and supply of passwordless authentication solutions based on FIDO2 standards, cybersecurity services for IT, IoT and Automotive. VinCSS's comprehensive authentication product ecosystem ensures secure and efficient authentication without the need for traditional passwords. It incorporates user presence checks that mandate physical interaction with a hardware token or a soft token on a cellphone before authentication transactions can occur, rendering credential replay virtually impossible. Its products enforce passwordless authentication standards using FIDO2 to help organizations address supply chain security concerns. With a holistic approach to passwordless authentication, VinCSS's solutions enhance resilience against cyber threats and breachesa significant advancement in authentication protocols. They help organizations stay compliant with authentication regulations while enhancing, streamlining, and increasing operational efficiency. Anh Tien Vu, global cybersecurity industry principal at Frost & Sullivan, observed, "ViCSS sets itself apart from many competitors with a unique and innovative approach that enables customers to deploy its products across different environments, including IT, IoT, and OT, while competitors still only focus on addressing identity security challenges for the workforce." VinCSS seamlessly integrates its products within physical and cyber-physical environments through its IoT FDO (FIDO device onboarding) solution. The FDO solution uses an automated onboarding protocol and asymmetric public key cryptography to ensure secure device setup and configuration and address IoT security concerns. It is an ideal authentication solution in automated factories, smart cities, logistics services, security cameras, smart cars, and all businesses with a complex digital infrastructure that requires quick and effective scalability. VinCSS is a strong competitor in pricing because it has control over its entire product range and technologies and does not require outsourcing or white labeling with other technology vendors. This differentiates it as a trailblazer in passwordless authentication, enabling it to gain traction in the market. "VinCSS's customer-centricity is evident in its commitment to innovation and evolution, aligning its products with current and future requirements. As a result, the company is increasingly recognized in the industry with an increasing number of domestic and international customers and partners," added Vu. With its strong overall performance, VinCSS earns Frost & Sullivan's 2023 Asia-Pacific New Product Innovation Award in the passwordless authentication industry. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value-added features/benefits of the product and the increased return on investment (ROI) it gives customers, which, in turn, raises customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential. Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry. About Frost & Sullivan For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact: Tammy Chan E: [email protected] About VinCSS VinCSS Cyber Security Services Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of Vingroup Corporation, specializes in the research, development, manufacturing, and delivery of cybersecurity services, and innovative passwordless authentication solutions. Established in late 2018, VinCSS rapidly evolved into a successful startup, achieving significant milestones in various domains such as IT system cybersecurity, Identity and Access Management (IAM), IoT security, and automotive cybersecurity. Company website: https://passwordless.vincss.net/ and https://www.vincss.net/ Contact: [email protected] and [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vincss-applauded-by-frost--sullivan-for-reducing-security-risks-associated-with-traditional-authentication-technologies-with-its-passwordless-authentication-ecosystem-301947320.html SOURCE Frost & Sullivan [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 08, 2023] bolttech Insurance and Trip.com forge partnership to launch in-app insurance service in Hong Kong HONG KONG, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- bolttech Insurance, the Hong Kong general insurance arm of international insurtech bolttech, has partnered with leading travel company Trip.com to embed travel insurance into the Trip.com customers' purchase journey. Through the partnership, Trip.com customers in Hong Kong can now purchase bolttech Insurance travel policies directly on Trip.com's mobile app. The streamlined in-app feature also provides policy documents immediately, allowing for an even more hassle-free purchase journey. bolttech Insurance's TravelCare insurance is available for a single trip or purchased as an annual plan. It offers all-rounded protection ranging from leisure and amateur sport activities, mobile phone, trip delays and cancellation, as well as coverage of medical expenses due to COVID-19. Research shows that convenience and user friendliness are top priorities for insurance app users in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area1. The new partnership aims to meet these needs by enabling Trip.com customers to seamlessly access relevant bolttech Insurance products in-app, at their point of need. Zhe Wang, Trip.com Head of Global Payments and Insurtech, said, "As a tech-forward company, we look to stay ahead of the curve by partnering with businesses that will complement our app-first approach. Consumers can now plan their trips with greater peace of mind because our platform offers comprehensive travel insurance provided by bolttech Insurance." "We are proud to collaborate with the fast-growing, global travel platform Trip.com," said Alister Musgrave, General Manager of bolttech Insurance. "This partnership is aligned with our goal to enhance our partners' offerings and provide customers with more choice, convenience and protection globally. Together, we will connect Trip.com's customers to our flagship insurance products and ensure that they are sufficiently covered for their travels," he added. bolttech Insurance currently offers travel coverage on Trip.com's mobile app, with plans to add home and pet insurance products in the future. Please visit https://www.trip.com/pages/appdownload to download Trip.com app to access the insurance feature. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bolttech-insurance-and-tripcom-forge-partnership-to-launch-in-app-insurance-service-in-hong-kong-301950345.html SOURCE bolttech [October 09, 2023] The Most Precise ID Verification Is Here: Regula Extends Its Most Comprehensive Document Template Database to 13,000 Items Tweet When adding new identity documents to the database, Regula's experts meticulously describe all security features, providing detailed descriptions of how every element should look and how exactly one can verify its genuineness. Recent documents, including those integrated into Regula's 2023 database update, reveal a growing trend for more protection against counterfeits, which leads to including more security features or sophisticating the existing ones. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231002758733/en/ A Swiss passport design is examined closely using ultraviolet light, revealing concealed images printed with invisible fluorescent ink. These "secret" images serve as a highly effective security element, as their intricate and hard-to-replicate details act as a natural deterrent to counterfeiting. (Graphic: Business Wire) This trend has been particularly evident in the global increase in electronic documents, which have proved to be more fraud-resilient. In 2023, this trend continued evolving, as new countries introduced their first electronic passports. Among them are Bahrain, Iraq, Jamaica, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Somaliland. All of these documents are already in Regula's database with the most detailed description of their feaures and references to compare with during the verification process. "Our aim is to record every security and unique document feature as precisely as possible by using our expertise in forensic analysis and forensic device development. With identity fraud on the rise, it's vital to know what exactly to pay attention to when verifying a document. By backing up our identity verification solutions with such a comprehensive database of IDs, we ensure a seamless, swift, and accurate verification process, regardless of the document provided," says Ihar Kliashchou, Chief Technology Officer at Regula. Since the beginning of the year, Regula has added more than a thousand new document templates to its database. In addition to the previously mentioned e-passports, it enlarged with: Passports: Barbados Canada China Finland Indonesia Pakistan Paraguay Uganda Vietnam ID cards: Djibouti Ethiopia Finland Greece Nepal Paraguay Switzerland Driver's licenses: Cyprus Greece Iraq Latvia Niue Norway Sao Tome and Principe Somaliland Sudan Switzerland Zimbabwe Besides, Regula has updated its extensive set of US driver's licenses and ID cards that differ greatly from state to state. The vendor's template library now contains the documents issued in 2023, like those of Arizona, Idaho, North Dakota, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. For a complete list of identity document templates available in Regula's database, please refer here. About Regula With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the largest library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies in document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula was named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Identity Verification in 2023. Learn more at regulaforensics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231002758733/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] HUBER+SUHNER introduces lead-free radio frequency SMA connectors in boost to product sustainability Tweet The lead-free SMA connectors deliver the same levels of electrical performance as conventional connectors HERISAU, Switzerland, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HUBER+SUHNER is proud to be one of the first companies in the electronic connectivity sector to launch a lead-free solution for its radio frequency (RF) SMA connectors. These eco-friendly connectors are available for order immediately via its distributor network. With decades of expertise in connectivity solutions, HUBER+SUHNER's SMA interface is widely recognized and has been in use in Communication, Defense, Aviation, Test and Measurement and within other industrial applications. Their engineers have now devised a lead-free solution for connectors that can deliver the same levels of electrical performance as conventional connectors. Mechanical properties are also maintained at an equally high level, specifically with regards to mating forces, and the amount of guaranteed mating remains uncompromised. They feature a broadband frequency range of up to 18 GHz, have excellent return loss, high mechanical strength and are inter-mateable with PC3.5 and SK. Lead is added to alloys to improve their machinability, acting as a lubricant and as a chip breaker element. If it is improperly handled and in an unbounded state, it can have detrmental effects on human health and ecology. Therefore, European legislative regulations are already in place to restrict its use and release, in products, and into the environment. Among them are the EU's RoHS Directive (2011/65/EU) that deals with hazardous substance restriction and the EU REACH (EC) No. 1907/2006, that deals with substances. The latter has included lead as a "Substance of Very High Concern" (SVHC). By introducing a lead-free SMA connector solution, HUBER+SUHNER is staying several steps ahead of, and fulfilling every aspect of these changing regulations. As a reliable technology partner, it is already providing sustainable solutions to several industries that rely on high performance, availability and products with long-term functionality, while also ensuring the health and safety of its workforce, customers and the environment. For further information about HUBER+SUHNER's lead-free SMA interface, please visit the website. This media release can also be found under https://www.hubersuhner.com/en/company/media/news. HUBER+SUHNER Group The globally active Swiss company HUBER+SUHNER develops and produces components and system solutions for electrical and optical connectivity. The company serves the three main markets Industry, Communication and Transportation with applications from the three technologies of radio frequency, fiber optics and low frequency. HUBER+SUHNER products excel in excellent performance, quality, reliability and long service lives - even under the most demanding conditions. Through a global production network, combined with subsidiaries and representatives in over 80 countries, the company is close to its customers worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2239601/HUBER_SUHNER.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2005031/4066445/HUBER_SUHNER_AG_Logo.jpg Media contact: Darius Mistry [email protected] +41 71 353 41 11 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hubersuhner-introduces-lead-free-radio-frequency-sma-connectors-in-boost-to-product-sustainability-301948552.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Taiga Cloud Announces Strategic European Partnership with GIGABYTE Tweet The strategic European partnership builds on Taiga's position as Europe's largest independent Cloud Service Provider of NVIDIA hardware largest independent Cloud Service Provider of NVIDIA hardware GIGABYTE will supply Taiga Cloud with 20 NVIDIA H100 GPU pods, worth 400 million, with customer access beginning late Q4 2023 with 20 NVIDIA H100 GPU pods, worth 400 million, with customer access beginning late Q4 2023 Taiga Cloud continues to scale to meet the exploding demand for Generative AI compute power FRANKFURT, Germany, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiga Cloud, Europe's first and largest Generative AI Cloud Service Provider and part of Northern Data Group, has entered into a strategic European partnership with GIGABYTE, an industry innovator and leader in the enterprise computing market. The partnership positions Taiga Cloud to meet the surging demand for compute power for Generative AI applications. The partnership follows the recent investment in 20 NVIDIA H100 GPU pods, each made up of 512 H100 GPUs, which will be supplied by GIGABYTE. This purchase builds on Taiga's position as Europe's largest independent Cloud Service Provider (CSP) of NVIDIA hardware - now with over 19,000 NVIDIA H100, A100 and RTX A6000 GPUs affirming its status as an Elite NVIDIA partner. GIGABYTE worked closely with Taiga Cloud engineers to uniquely configure the NVIDIA H100 GPU infrastructure into pods of 512 GPUs, connected into islands of four pods each (2,048 GPUs) using NVIDIA BlueField DPUs and the NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand platform. The configuration will help to power the next wave of innovation in the Generative AI market by enabling efficient and quick means of training LLMs, offering businesses Generative AI solutions in a much shorter timeframe. Through supplying Taiga Cloud with the highly sought after NVIDIA H100 GPUs, GIGABYT is facilitating the acceleration of the chip supply chain in Europe. Customers can pre-register their interest in H100s, with access going live before the end of 2023. This partnership is the evolution of more than two years of collaboration between the companies, which began with GIGABYTE supplying NVIDIA A100s to Taiga Cloud which are hosted in Northern Data Group's pioneering data center in Boden, Sweden. Karl Havard, Managing Director, Taiga Cloud commented: "We're excited to take this strategic next step in our long-standing partnership with GIGABYTE, which will help Taiga Cloud on its journey to make computing power accessible to organisations across Europe. The partnership builds on GIGABYTE and Taiga Cloud's ongoing collaboration, supplying compute power to the organisations at the forefront of innovation and heralds an exciting future for the Generative AI market. With customer access to H100 GPUs beginning before the end of Q4 2023, this partnership helps accelerate Generative AI innovation across Europe." Giga Computing's Sales Director, Thomas Yen commented: "In answer to huge demand from businesses seeking AI-powered solutions, GIGABYTE is proud to be supporting Taiga Cloud in providing access to the largest clean-energy powered, scalable AI and ML compute capacity in Europe. We look forward to realising the full potential of our relationship as the strategic partnership continues." About Taiga Cloud: Taiga Cloud is Europe's first and largest Generative AI Cloud Service Provider. Part of Northern Data Group, we provide a flexible, secure and compliant cloud-based ultra-fast GPU Network, powered by the latest generation of NVIDIA hardware to meet organisations' most ambitious compute needs. High-intensity large-scale processing power is crucial for accelerating Generative AI models and research which will deliver a new era of technological breakthroughs. Taiga's energy-efficient Cloud is powered by Europe's largest cluster of NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core and H100 Tensor Core GPUs, helping enable organisations to accelerate AI and ML innovation on demand, with technology that is fully scalable and up and running within an hour. About Northern Data Group: Northern Data Group (ETR: NB2) is a provider of energy-efficient High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure to businesses and research institutions, utilising GPU- and ASIC-based solutions. Our flexible compute power fuels innovation in our three core business divisions: Taiga Cloud, Ardent Data Centers, and Peak Mining. Through our HPC infrastructure, we pioneer ambitious computing innovation that drives progress in the AI, ML and Generative AI industries. Our close collaboration with industry-leading manufacturers including Gigabyte, AMD, and NVIDIA is fundamental to the acceleration of innovation across sectors including life sciences, financial services and energy. About Giga Computing: Giga Computing Technology is an industry innovator and leader in the enterprise computing market. Having spun off from GIGABYTE, we maintain hardware expertise in manufacturing and product design, while operating as a standalone business that can drive more investment into core competencies. We offer a complete product portfolio that addresses all workloads from the data center to edge including traditional and emerging workloads in HPC and AI to data analytics, 5G/edge, cloud computing, and more. Our longstanding partnerships with key technology leaders ensure that our new products will be the most advanced and launch with new partner platforms. Our systems embody performance, security, scalability, and sustainability. To find out more, visit https://www.gigacomputing.com/ and join our newsletter. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2217499/4288380/Taiga_logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/taiga-cloud-announces-strategic-european-partnership-with-gigabyte-301950364.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Over 50 advanced manufacturing innovations to launch at Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC 2023 Tweet Headlined by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, ITAP 2023 will convene over 18,000 global Industry 4.0 leaders, solution providers and delegates from 18 -20 October at Singapore EXPO SINGAPORE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The sixth edition of Industrial Transformation ASIA-PACIFIC (ITAP) will be the launchpad for over 50 new-to-market and new-to-region products and solutions set to transform the region's advanced manufacturing sector. Organised by Constellar with international partner Deutsche Messe, ITAP 2023 will focus on three key dimensions: Sustainability, Optimising Manufacturing Efficiency, and Supply Chain Resilience; convening over 300 exhibitors, 100 speakers and 18,000 delegates, trade visitors and attendees from 18 20 October at Singapore EXPO. Guest-of-Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, will be launching the event at its opening ceremony on 18 October. "Recent disruptions have placed a greater impetus for manufacturers and businesses in the global supply chain to adopt new technological innovations and sustainable solutions to remain competitive. As the region's leading marketplace for connecting businesses, ideas, and networks in the advanced manufacturing sector, ITAP 2023 continues to be the preferred platform for industry players to discover Industry 4.0 innovations and gain insight to how emerging technologies such as AI and digital twins contribute to the accelerated pace of industrial transformation experienced in many sectors today," said Paul Lee, Chief Executive (Markets) at Constellar. Key product highlights will be showcased at the I4.0 Tech Capsule stage on the ITAP 2023 exhibition floor, including direct current grids by LAPP Asia Pacific to increase energy efficiency and cost savings for industry 4.0 solutions, a unified data collection and analytics platform by Litmus Automation to make sense of industrial data, as well as Profet AI which empowers organisations to efficiently implement AI solutions that address daily production and business needs. Spanning20,000 sqm across two halls, the exhibition will also feature made-in-Singapore innovations such as a new plug-and-play IoT-powered Ops-analytics Solution by Auk Industries, an AI-powered AR platform by Clemvision combining machine vision with human dexterity, as well as the industry's first mobile robot-powered dual-unit picking station. "For the past five years, ITAP has played an important role in bringing together manufacturers from the Asia-Pacific region to connect with global technology leaders game on meeting the industry's changing needs. I'm confident that this year's edition of ITAP will continue to be a critical platform in fostering international collaboration, catalysing cross-border innovation and further advancing manufacturing capabilities for a better, brighter future," said Dr. Jochen Kockler, Chief Executive, Deutsche Messe. Event Highlights Global industry leaders, decision makers and key players in the region's business ecosystem will be joining the robust three-day conference programme at ITAP 2023, with highlights such as the Industrial Transformation Forum, the invitation-only Future of Manufacturing (FOM) CXO Summit, and the Industrial Innovation Stage. Expert speakers at ITAP this year include President of Boeing Southeast Asia Alex Feldman, Global CTO of Smart Manufacturing, Edge Compute and Digital Twins at DELL Technologies Todd Edmunds, Managing Director & Co-Founder of Semodia GmBH Anna Menschner, Head of Enterprise ASEAN at Amazon Web Services Vikram Rao, Senior Director Factory Automation Sales Asia-Pacific of Siemens Digital Industries Sascha Maennl and General Manager Logistics Technology Business of Cainiao Candice Yuan. On the exhibition floor, delegates and trade visitors can explore cutting-edge technologies and learn from use-cases at interactive experience zones, as well as join off-site tours to leading innovation centres and advanced factories in Singapore. ITAP 2023 Founding Sponsor Siemens will also be presenting solutions such as the open digital business platform Siemens Xcelarator with a curated portfolio of products, services and solutions, as well as Industrial Operations X, which helps to accelerate the engineering, execution and optimisation of industrial operations. Siemens will also showcase how it is applying its industrial automation and digitalisation solutions to a vertical farm from local start-up Artisan Green, boosting the farm's operational efficiency and productivity. Additionally, visitors to the Siemens booth at ITAP 2023 can meet with the winners from Siemens' "This is Industrial Edge" competition, who will be showcasing solutions that can either improve manufacturing processes and/or sustainability, using Industrial Edge products. "As a conference that is designed and curated to help companies start, scale and sustain their adoption of Industry 4.0 processes and solutions, ITAP is the perfect platform for Siemens to show how we are combining the real and digital worlds to help our customers become more competitive, resilient and sustainable," said Isabel Chong, Head of Siemens Digital Industries ASEAN. ITAP is also excited to welcome global semiconductor leader Analog Devices as the Platinum Sponsor at the event for the first time. "As the prime event that brings together leading players and stakeholders across the manufacturing value chain, ITAP is the go-to platform for Analog Devices to showcase our innovation and manufacturing capabilities that create long-term value for our customers," said Jerry Fan, Senior Vice President, President of Asia Pacific for Analog Devices. If you'd like to attend ITAP 2023, click here to register. To check out the key topics and speakers at this year's ITAP, click here. Media Assets can be downloaded here. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/over-50-advanced-manufacturing-innovations-to-launch-at-industrial-transformation-asia-pacific-2023-301950549.html SOURCE Constellar [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Semiconductor Foundry Market to Reach $231.5 Billion, Globally, by 2032 at 8.1% CAGR: Allied Market Research Tweet The global semiconductor foundry market is driven by factors such as increase in consumption of consumer electronics devices around the world and surge in internet of things (IoT) technology. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Semiconductor Foundry Market by Node Type and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20232032". According to the report, the global semiconductor foundry market was valued at $106.9 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $231.5 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 8.1% from 2023 to 2032. Download Research Report Sample & TOC: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/125371 A semiconductor foundry, commonly referred to as a 'foundry,' is a specialized facility dedicated to the manufacturing of integrated circuits (ICs) or microchips. Unlike integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) that oversee both chip design and production, foundries focus solely on the production process. They provide a vital service to companies and designers who may lack the required resources or infrastructure to produce semiconductors independently. Typically, foundries operate under contractual arrangements, producing chips according to the specifications and designs provided by their clients, who are often referred to as fabless semiconductor companies. Prime Determinants of Growth The semiconductor foundry market analysis is expected to expand significantly during the forecast period owing to increase in utilization of consumer electronics, and surge in internet of things (IoT) technology. On the contrary, the complexities in manufacturing associated with semiconductor foundry restrains the market growth during the forecast period. In addition, the semiconductor foundry market is anticipated to benefit from increase in investments in semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and materials, during the forecast period. Report Coverage & Details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $106.9 billion Market Size in 2032 $231.5 billion CAGR 8.1 % No. of Pages in Report 289 Segments covered Node Size, Application, and Region. Drivers Increase in utilization of consumer electronics Surge in internet of things (IoT) technology Opportunities Increase in investments in semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and materials Restraints Complexities in manufacturing Covid-19 Scenario The positive pandemic impact for semiconductor foundries was witnessed in the increased demand for automotive components. Semiconductor foundries played a crucial role in critical applications, contributing to improved medical equipment and patient care as the healthcare sector rapidly adapted to new challenges. The 7/5nm segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on type, the 7/5nm segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for more than one-fourth of the global semiconductor foundry industry revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, as it is known for its small size & flexibility, and it is widely used in cameras, for industrial end users and in consumer electronics sector. The same segment is estimated to cite fastest CAGR of 9.0% throughout the forecast timeframe. The consumer electronics segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Based on application, the consumer electronics segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for nearly one-third of the global semiconductor foundry market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The same segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 8.9% from 2023 to 2032 due to increase in use of smartphones. North America to maintain its dominance by 2032. Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifth of the global semiconductor foundry market revenue and is expected to rule the roost throughout the forecast timeframe. The growth is attributed to the increase in use of charging points, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and industrial systems. However, Europe region is estimated to showcase a notable CAGR of 9.1% from 2023 to 2032. Inquiry before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/125371 Leading Market Players: - Globalfoundries Inc. Hua Hong Semiconductor Limited Intel Corporation Micron Technology, Inc. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited Texas Instruments Incorporated United Microelectronics Corporation X-FAB Silicon Foundries SE The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global semiconductor foundry market. These players have adopted different strategies such as product development, and product launch to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Key Benefits for Stakeholders: This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the semiconductor foundry market analysis from 2022 to 2032 to identify the prevailing semiconductor foundry market opportunity. The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities. Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network. In-depth analysis of the semiconductor foundry market segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities. Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market. Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players. The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global semiconductor foundry market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies. Semiconductor Foundry Market Key Segments: By Node Size 180nm 130nm 90nm 65nm 45/40nm 32/28nm 22/20nm 16/14nm 10/7nm 7/5nm 5nm By Applications Telecommunication Defense and Military Industrial Consumer Electronics Automotive Others By Region North America (U.S., Canada , Mexico ) (U.S., , ) Europe ( France , Germany , UK, Rest of Europe ) ( , , UK, Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , South Korea , Rest of Asia-Pacific ) ( , , , , Rest of ) LAMEA ( Latin America , Middle East , Africa ) Procure Complete Report (289 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/3RNeIMy Trending Reports in Semiconductor and Electronics Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount + COVID-19 Scenario): Compound Semiconductor Market is projected to reach $347 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2022 to 2031. SiC GaN Power Semiconductor Market is projected to reach $7.05 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 27.1% from 2021 to 2030. Embedded Die Packaging Technology Market is projected to reach $370.7 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 18.3% from 2022 to 2031. Semiconductor Market is projected to reach $1,033.5 billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.21% from 2022 to 2031. Organic Semiconductor Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports Insights" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us: David Correa 1209 Orange Street, Corporation Trust Center, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware 19801 USA. Int'l: +1-503-894-6022 Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-800-792-5285 [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/semiconductor-foundry-market-to-reach-231-5-billion-globally-by-2032-at-8-1-cagr-allied-market-research-301950556.html SOURCE Allied Market Research [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Young ADIPEC 2023 showcases innovative energy sector career paths to 1,000+ high school and 400+ university students Tweet Students participated in 160 hands-on workshops and interactive experiences across 10 unique zones while Youth Innovation Talks connected high school students to university researchers and industry innovators Young ADIPEC introduced a university student focus, showcasing the innovative possibilities and impact of energy-related industries to over 400 university students Young ADIPEC part of ADIPEC's wider focus on bringing together future energy leaders, equipping them with the knowledge to pioneer the next phase of energy solutions and empowering them to work together for a common cause ABU DHABI, UAE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), the 11th edition of Young ADIPEC has held 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 His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and fully supported by ADEK, Young ADIPEC is part of ADIPEC 2023, taking place between 2-5 October in Abu Dhabi. ADIPEC is a platform that brings together the world's 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 today's rapidly evolving energy sector. Students had 20 unique field trips to choose from, like the Schlumberger Middle East & Asia Learning Center, where they witnessed next-generation cementing technology innovations. The students also visited Abu Dhabi University, where they engaged in a hands-on creativity and design challenge to create a process flow diagram for a chemical engineering plant using a software simulation. This year Young ADIPEC also introduced its University Programme, which engaged 400+ university students from five universities in ADIPEC's Innovation Sessions and specialised industry areas focused on decarbonisation, digitalisation, and manufacturing and ndustrialiation, to demonstrate how they can contribute to the energy sector's ongoing innovation and growth. In one session titled 'Fifteen Minutes with a CEO', attending students heard from visionary leaders who are at the forefront of harnessing youth talent in the energy industry. Speaking in the session, Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO of Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), highlighted an example of how Uganda approaches this challenge, saying: "Uganda has a very young population, and what we are doing is putting inclusive programs in place. We have a national content plan of how we bring youth and SMEs in to be part of the oil and gas industry. We have youths who are field-ready to take part in this industry, but it is important to train them with the right skillsets and deploy them into the right projects. We want them to have transformational skills, and those that can be transferred to other parts of the economy." Hosting a total of 160 hands-on workshops and other interactive experiences, this year's 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. This setup allowed the attending students to clearly see what was on offer at a glance, making their preferred 'must-attend' workshops more accessible. An equally important source of inspiration for the students in attendance was to see how young minds like theirs can play an active role in shaping the world's clean energy future. Across four Youth Innovation Talks, students engaged with in-depth presentations and Q&A sessions with Khalifa University students, detailing the process of how they invented, refined and delivered two highly impactive cleantech innovations. These included a novel nanomaterial-enhanced membrane capable of removing oil from wastewater in a sustainable manner, as well as a computational screening method for identifying the best photocatalysts for green hydrogen production a crucial pillar of the UAE's clean energy production future. 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 ADIPEC's wide range of exploratory experiences and industry showcases for high school students complements ADIPEC's 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. Made up of 20 extraordinary university students and young professionals under the age of 30, the council supports ADIPEC's event's larger goal of ensuring the inclusion of young people in the ongoing sustainable transformation of the energy sector. The ADIPEC Global Youth Council works in tandem with ADIPEC's Future Leaders Programme, which was introduced last year to empower young energy leaders to drive clean energy transition by equipping them with relevant insights and skills. ADIPEC 2023 featured a dedicated Future Leaders Programme Conference that brought together energy industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, investors, and academic experts, together with the next generation of leaders to establish their role as stakeholders in the energy transition, drive entrepreneurship, and nurture the skillsets required for the realisation of a clean energy ecosystem. About ADIPEC Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and hosted by ADNOC, ADIPEC will take place in Abu Dhabi between October 2 and 5, 2023. Built on a nearly 40-year legacy of innovation and evolution, ADIPEC brings together the ideas, ambition, technology and capital needed to decarbonise and create the energy system of the future, faster. It unites industries and key stakeholders from across the energy ecosystem to accelerate urgent, collective and responsible action, produce credible, game-changing solutions, and foster the transformational progress indispensable for building an inclusive, future-proof energy system. Across 350 unique sessions comprising strategic and technical conferences, ADIPEC 2023 will welcome more than 1,500 speakers including government ministers, CEOs, policymakers, energy experts and innovators to rally industries, sectors and individuals around a common cause. As the UAE prepares to welcome global leaders to COP28 in November 2023, ADIPEC will help frame diverse conversations that complement the nation's goal of delivering a COP of collaborative action, while driving investment into the clean energies of the future. For more information visit: www.adipec.com About ADNOC ADNOC is a leading diversified energy and petrochemicals group wholly owned by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. ADNOC's objective is to maximise the value of the Emirate's vast hydrocarbon reserves, through responsible and sustainable exploration and production to support the United Arab Emirates' economic growth and diversification. To find out more, visit: www.adnoc.ae Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2240434/Young_ADIPEC_Group.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/young-adipec-2023-showcases-innovative-energy-sector-career-paths-to-1-000-high-school-and-400-university-students-301950569.html SOURCE ADIPEC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Security Analytics Market to grow by USD 6.51 billion between 2022 - 2027 | Growth Driven by Increasing cyber threats - Technavio Tweet NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Security Analytics Market report has been added to Technavio's offering. With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the security analytics market between 2022 and 2027 is USD 6.51 billion. The increasing cyber threats drive the growth of the security analytics market. Cyber attack's frequency and complexity are the two factors that drive the global security analytics market as traditional security techniques are becoming ineffective at detecting and preventing breaches as cyber threats become more complex. Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here Market Challenge - The shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals challenges the growth of the security analytics market. There is a serious lack of qualified cybersecurity personnel who are able to successfully adopt and manage security Analytics systems. Furthermore, there is also a greater need for cybersecurity professionals than there is a qualified workforce, which delays implementation, increases the workload for current employees, and exposes possible vulnerabilities owing to insufficient analysis. Hence, such factors impede the growth of the security analytics market during the forecast period. Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read the Free Sample PDF Report Now North America , Europe , APAC, Middle East and Africa , and South America ). By sector, the large enterprises segment will be significant during the forecast period. Large companies are prominent end-users in the global security analytics market because of their immense IT infrastructure and increased sensitivity to cyber threats. Thus, there is an increasing demand for sophisticated security tools that are able to quickly identify and fight complex attacks. Furthermore, businesses place a high priority on risk management and cyber resilience. As a result, it is expected that demand for security intelligence within large organizations will continue to grow. will be significant during the forecast period. Large companies are prominent end-users in the global security analytics market because of their immense IT infrastructure and increased sensitivity to cyber threats. Thus, there is an increasing demand for sophisticated security tools that are able to quickly identify and fight complex attacks. Furthermore, businesses place a high priority on risk management and cyber resilience. As a result, it is expected that demand for security intelligence within large organizations will continue to grow. By Geography, North America is estimated to contribute 39% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. View the Free Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report. Key Companies in the Security Analytics Market: Broadcom Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Exabeam Inc., Forcepoint LLC, Fortinet Inc., Fortra LLC, GURUCUL, Haystax, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., International Business Machines Corp., Juniper Networks Inc., LogRhythm Inc., McAfee LLC, Musarubra US LLC, Palo Alto Networks Inc., Rapid7 Inc., Securonix Inc., Sumo Logic Inc., Tier 3 Pty Ltd. Related Reports: The application security market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 19.32% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 13.14 billion. The security in schools market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.57% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 3,429.97 million. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Sizes Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Sector Market Segmentation by Application Market Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/security-analytics-market-to-grow-by-usd-6-51-billion-between-2022---2027--growth-driven-by-increasing-cyber-threats---technavio-301949790.html SOURCE Technavio [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Girls forcibly turned into brides, in increasingly larger numbers, younger, and more and more psychologically affected. The restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban particularly the ban on their continued education after the age of 12 combined with the economic crisis in Afghanistan have led to an increase in child marriages. There has also been a notable increase in cities, where this tradition had been on the decline over the past 20 years. It is impossible to cite exact figures, but 70% of the more than 3,000 young women interviewed by the local organization Bishnaw-Wawra in August know girls who have been forced to marry aged under 18. There is a clear link between the return of the Taliban in 2021 and the increase in child marriage, especially in urban centers, where, since two decades ago, there had been an evolution and families no longer felt they had to marry off their daughters as soon as possible, because girls were getting opportunities to work and study and were also contributing financially to the household, Mariam Safi, director of The Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies (DROPS), created in Kabul in 2014 to strengthen the values of inclusion and pluralism in Afghan society, and of which Bishnaw-Wawra is a member, tells EL PAIS. Bishnaw-Wawras work provides an insight into what is happening inside the homes and in the villages of Afghanistan, where for the past two years conducting surveys has been an arduous mission, especially if the objective is for womens opinions to be heard. In August 2023, this organization managed to interview 3,840 Afghan women face-to-face, by video conference and in focus groups. The vast majority were aged under 35 and, to make the sample as representative as possible, they came from 23 different Afghan provinces and from both rural and urban settings. The Taliban prohibit young women from working in most sectors, studying, and moving around the city alone, and many families are once again feeling the burden and urgency to marry off their daughters as soon as possible. That is why we are seeing girls getting married younger and younger, at 11 and 12 years of age, explains Safi. She notes that in womens discussion forums, the tone about what women suffer and see around them is even more stark, and the data is alarming. Families feel very insecure when their daughters start to reach an age and have no husband. The Taliban harass them and the parents become afraid that a Taliban will take their daughter to make her his wife. So, they prefer to marry them off to anyone first, she adds. Yesterday, a 13-year-old girl was forced to marry a 45-year-old man. The family received 250,000 Afghanis [$3,160], said a young Afghan girl in one such discussion group in September. The family decides on the girls marriage when they are very young, mostly out of fear of the Taliban and poverty, said another. Two women on the streets of Kabul in May 2022 AHMAD SAHEL ARMAN (AFP) The vacuum is back, there is no protection Fawzia Koofi, a former Afghan parliamentarian known for her advocacy for womens rights, and one of the politicians involved in peace talks with the Taliban before 2021, recalls that child marriage has been a common practice in the country but over the last 20 years it had been possible to protect women with institutions, laws and with a female presence in positions of power. A Ministry for Womens Affairs was created, a law against violence was drafted... but now the vacuum is back, there is no protection. Families see no future or hope for their daughters and marry them off. They are children, they dont even know whats going on, she says in an interview with EL PAIS. On average, about one in three girls is married before the age of 18 and in some provinces, where the practice has always been more widespread, one in two girls is married before the age of 18, notes Fran Equiza, UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, based on the findings of the U.N. organizations Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2022-23. In Afghanistan, the law states that women can marry from the age of 16. When Bishnaw-Wawra asked respondents at what age girls in their village or community are getting married, 15% said brides are under 15 years and 54% said they are between 18 and 25. When questioned about the age they consider appropriate for marriage, more than 70% said between 18 and 25. And when asked how the community reacts if a family is slow to marry off a daughter, 25% responded that the clan is viewed negatively and 21% added that the girl is seen as a burden to those close to her. Another factor driving child marriage is increasing poverty, which forces families to sell their four- or five-year-old daughters because they cannot afford all the children they have, according to Safi. These girls are at a very high risk of ending up married as soon as they reach puberty. There is also a kind of dowry market; the earlier you bargain for your daughter, the better dowry you can get, she adds. In Afghanistan, the burden of poverty falls mostly on girls as child marriage persists, especially among poor families, who are often forced to trade their daughters for dowries to alleviate their economic hardship, says UNICEFs Equiza. According to the World Food Program, 15 million people out of a total population of 43 million depend on humanitarian assistance for food. No solution can be sustained over time if the people of Afghanistan are not guaranteed their rights, and women are demanding only their fundamental rights Mariam Safi, Bishnaw-Wawra Dead bodies in the river Bishnaw-Wawra, which in the Dari and Pashto dialects means listen, began collecting womens opinions in 2020, in order to convey them to the team negotiating a peace agreement for Afghanistan in Doha. Around the table were members of the government and the Taliban, as well as some women such as Koofi, who asked for more details on what the priorities and demands for Afghan women were. After the return of the Taliban, they continued working to send their findings to the U.N., the European Union and other countries involved in Afghanistans. In total, they have interviewed some 30,000 women on different topics. We continue to publish this data so that when the international community makes decisions about humanitarian aid, relations with the Taliban or possible recognition of their regime, they take into account what the people are saying, what women want. Because no solution can be sustained over time if the people of Afghanistan are not guaranteed their rights, and women are demanding only their fundamental rights, Safi stresses. Surveys conducted by Bishnaw-Wawra see a clear link between these forced unions and the deteriorating mental health of young women, among whom depression and suicide are on the rise. In March, the institution conducted a survey on this subject in 18 provinces and 67% of the more than 2,000 interviewed said they knew girls who were suffering from some kind of mental problem, especially depression and anxiety. In addition, 164 of those interviewed said they knew another woman who had attempted suicide. And we are talking about a small survey; lets imagine the real number, Safi says. According to that study, the lack of freedom of movement and the prohibition on studying and working, with the exception of a few sectors such as health, are the decisions that have most affected the mental health of Afghan women. But we will never know the magnitude of what is happening. I am told that in my province, Badakhshan, bodies of girls who have committed suicide are appearing in the river, Koofi says. For Koofi who from exile advocates for the rights of Afghan girls education remains the most powerful weapon. It is the only hope, she insists. The former parliamentarian now manages, from a distance, a center where 200 girls between the ages of 14 and 18 study clandestinely. Without diplomas, with hardly any resources and with a lot of fear, in her own words. We feel that for the world Afghanistan is an old story, but for us, it is an open wound. We need countries to take in these girls and help them go to university. Because in four years, when they finish their studies, they will be able to help others, and who knows? Maybe then something will have changed in Afghanistan, she says. Safi denounces what she sees as the hypocrisy of the international community, which contradicts its own values by its inaction in Afghanistan. But she is also pragmatic. A situation is being created in which the Taliban will gradually become an internationally recognized regime. Good for them. Theyre here and theyre going to stay, but at least let the world use its power to get them to remove restrictions against women. Because then, for better or worse, they will be able to live their lives and will not be imprisoned in their homes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [October 09, 2023] Block Dojo Reveals Next Chapter in Empowering Blockchain Innovation Across Developing Markets Tweet LONDON, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Block Dojo, one of the UK's most successful and renowned blockchain incubators, continues to blaze a trail around the world, by fostering the spirit of technological innovation in the Philippines, and paving the way for expansion into India in 2024. With the aim to empower start-ups, enterprises, and developers with the necessary tools to succeed in the blockchain industry, Block Dojo is set to transform the global landscape of blockchain development and entrepreneurship technology hubs. Block Dojo's journey in the Philippines began with a shared vision to provide comprehensive training, education, upskilling, and business counsel to homegrown talent. The initiative aims to cultivate a pioneering generation of blockchain companies and developers who will drive innovation and foster economic growth in the region. Earlier this year, Block Dojo announced the launch of its incubator program in the Philippines, followed by a call for submissions, inviting entrepreneurial start-ups and developers to secure a spot. This intensive program offers participants a unique opportunity to sharpen their skills through technical education, investment guidance, investor pitching, and commercialisation. In December 2023, Block Dojo will shortlist applications, with the first cohort embarking on a transformative 12-week course in January 2024. With an eye on the future, Block Dojo has ambitious plans to expand its footprint into India in 2024. With the Philippines and India poised to become the next hubs for blockchain development, Block Dojo's entry into these markets aligns perfectly with te regions' growing emphasis on tech-driven solutions for commercial success and societal good. James Marchant, Executive Chairman at Block Dojo, said, "This is an extremely exciting time for Block Dojo. It's always a challenge launching a new business, but over the past two and a half years we have secured ourselves as one of the leading incubators in the UK. The next milestone has been the establishment of our first international location, and I'm thrilled that Block Dojo Philippines is primed for success, spearheaded with a stellar team in Manila. We now have the blueprint to rollout our incubator program, so this next phase is all about scaling. I am so energised to begin building Dojos across the globe, with the valuable support of nChain, with a focus on developing nations where there is a concentration of skilled developers." Christine Leong, Chief Information Officer at nChain, added, "We are delighted to partner with Block Dojo on their remarkable journey, as they continue to revolutionise blockchain innovation across key growth markets. Block Dojo's recent rollout in the Philippines and its upcoming expansion into India, aligns perfectly with our focus on tech-driven solutions for commercial success and real-world advancement. What sets Block Dojo apart is not only their dedication to nurturing talent but also our strategic alliance, granting successful applicants with exclusive access to nChain's unparalleled industry connections and technical expertise. This collaboration promises to create a thriving ecosystem, driven by innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing." Block Dojo is more than just an incubator program. In partnership with nChain, this collaboration promises to foster an ecosystem of innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. Block Dojo's global expansion reflects its commitment to nurturing blockchain innovation in emerging tech economies. Contact [email protected] About Block Dojo The mission of Block Dojo is to nurture and support start-ups that will change the world. This means providing a pathway to educate, train and elevate start-up entrepreneurs to the highest standards by providing best-in-class mentors and teaching with the latest tech tools. Block Dojo is the first start-up accelerator focused exclusively on BSV; it mentors and develops entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, as well as takes care of the administrative hassle of getting a great idea off the ground, so that founders can focus on bringing their tech solutions to market. https://www.blockdojo.io View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/block-dojo-reveals-next-chapter-in-empowering-blockchain-innovation-across-developing-markets-301950676.html SOURCE Block Dojo [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] ZincFive and ABB Work Together to Bring Safe, Sustainable Energy Storage to the Data Center UPS Market Tweet ZincFive, the world leader in nickel-zinc (NiZn) battery-based solutions for data centers, announced today that ABB has added ZincFive as an approved supplier, allowing ABB to deliver UPS systems that include green and safe ZincFive NiZn battery solutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009640186/en/ The BC Series offers an industry-leading smallest footprint, minimal maintenance requirements, no thermal runaway, and the higher reliability demanded for mission-critical applications while placing an emphasis on sustainability. (Photo: Business Wire) ABB has completed a comprehensive suite of tests of ZincFive's nickel-zinc battery-based BC Series UPS Battery Cabinets with their MegaFlex UPS portfolio to ensure full compatibility with their UPS systems. The testing was done by ABB and ZincFive in their U.S. and Switzerland locations to certify ZincFive's BC Series on the ABB MegaFlex UPS platform. "ABB works closely with innovative companies to provide customers with sustainable options," said Sebastien Surply, Head of Power Protection, ABB Electrification. "Extensive testing has ensured ZincFive's NiZn batteries meet data center safety, performance, and reliability requirements. The adoption of NiZn technology will enable our MegaFlex UPS solutions to provide high levels of power protection and will support customer decarbonization goals." ABB is currently supplying ZincFive nickel-zinc battery solutions on several projects where footprint, safety (no thermal runaway), high ambient temperature operation and full life cycle sustainability are factors in the energy storage selection process. Many of these applications are in modular enclosures or containers where the small footprint, high operating temperature range and safety of the ZincFive nickel-zinc battery cabinets significantly reduces installation time and cost vs. lead-acid and lithium chemistries. ZincFive's BC Series UPS Battery Cabinets are the first nickel-zinc battery energy storage solution with backward and forward compatibility with megawatt class UPS inverters. The BC Series offers an industry-leading smallest footprint, minimal maintenance requirements, no thermal runaway, and the higher reliability demanded for mission-critical applications while placing an emphasis on sustainability. ZincFive's NiZn batteries have a significantly lower end-to-end climate impact than lead-acid and lithium batteries, as validated by expert third-party analysis. "As the importance of sustainability in data center backup battery systems continues to grow, companies such as ABB are leading the industry in bringing the power of good chemistry to the data center market," said ZincFive CEO and Co-Founder Tim Hysell. "Our shared commitment to reducing carbon footprint and operating costs without sacrificing safety or performance is what makes this collaboration a great benefit for ABB customers." About ZincFive, Inc. ZincFive is the world leader in innovation and delivery of nickel-zinc batteries and power solutions. Supported by an impressive portfolio of international patents, ZincFive technology harnesses The Power of Good Chemistry to propel the world forward. ZincFive technology leverages the safety and sustainability of nickel-zinc chemistry to provide unparalleled high power density and performance for mission critical applications. ZincFive is a privately held company based in Tualatin, Oregon. For more information, visit www.zincfive.com. ZincFive and the ZincFive logo are registered trademarks and The Power of Good Chemistry is a trademark of ZincFive, Inc. Follow ZincFive: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009640186/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Kexing Biopharm Holds China-MENA & South Asia Pharmaceutical Cooperation High-end Forum, Aiming at Foreign Emerging Markets Tweet SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2023 China-MENA & South Asia Pharmaceutical Cooperation High-end Forum and Kexing Biopharm's Series of Globalization Activities were successfully held recently. MENA and South Asia are recognized as pivotal regions for Kexing Biopharm's overseas business expansion. The event brought together industry experts and heads of well-known pharmaceutical companies from these regions, and Chinese pharmaceutical analysts, sharing their insights into local pharmaceutical policies, regulations, and market prospects. They also had an in-depth exchange of views on how to develop markets at a faster pace. Their interactions were highly positive and enthusiastic. Kexing Biopharm has been deeply engaged in overseas markets for many years, with a presence in more than 40 countries worldwide. Since its IPO, the company has prioritized overseas business expansion as one of its three major strategies. MENA and South Asia are among the earliest overseas markets where the company established its presence. In 2022, the company established its subsidiary in Egypt and officially initiated local operations. Sinc then, it has been accelerating its expansion and investment in MENA and South Asia, particularly in such markets as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. At the event, representatives from drug regulatory authorities and heads of leading pharmaceutical companies in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan delivered insightful speeches. They provided authoritative interpretations of the local drug regulatory systems and relevant policies, in addition to offering detailed introductions to the local drug distribution channels and market trends. Many attendees said the pharmaceutical markets in MENA and South Asia are experiencing rapid growth with buoyant demand. This undoubtedly presents excellent opportunities for Chinese pharmaceutical companies seeking to expand their presence in the local pharmaceutical sectors. Kexing Biopharm has established a strong foothold in the regions, particularly with its flagship product EPOSINO, which enjoys a significant market share. Going forward, the company will export numerous biosimilars, offering a diverse range of products that have garnered customer recognition for their exceptional quality across multiple countries. Kexing Biopharm has proactively forged strategic partnerships with both domestic and international biotechnology companies. It aims to promote China's exceptional biosimilars abroad, including Infliximab, Adalimumab, Bevacizumab, and Trastuzumab. The company has engaged in extensive cooperation with overseas clients in various fields such as tumor, autoimmunity, and has made significant contributions to local medical and healthcare endeavors. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kexing-biopharm-holds-china-mena--south-asia-pharmaceutical-cooperation-high-end-forum-aiming-at-foreign-emerging-markets-301950723.html SOURCE Kexing Biopharm [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] "Wikipedia for the Forgotten"--Audiopedia Earns United Nations Endorsement for Tackling Gender Inequality Tweet A Revolutionary Audio Platform Targeting the 'Silent Billion' Women and Girls Earns Global Recognition ANNWEILER, Germany, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In a major endorsement from the United Nations, Audiopedia is being recognized for its groundbreaking approach to closing the gender digital divide. This audio platform aims to bring essential information to women and girls who either cannot read or lack internet access. Its inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Digital Acceleration Agenda by the UN marks a landmark validation of its mission. The Audiopedia Difference: More Than Just an Info Hub While Wikipedia and other digital platforms serve millions, they miss the mark for those who are illiterate or don't have internet access. Audiopedia fills this gap with easily accessible audio content on vital topics such as health, legal rights, and financial literacy. "We're dedicated to making knowledge universally accessible, focusing especially on the often-ignored women and girls worldwide," says Felicitas Heyne, executive director and co-founder of Audiopedia. The Urgency of Speaking to the 'Silent Billion' The term "Silent Billion" underscores the vast number of women and girls who are deprived of critical knowledge due to illiteracy, absence of internet access, or societal barriers. Audiopedia meets this need by offering content in local languages, tailored for these marginalized populations. To grasp the significance of Audiopedia's work, consider the experience of Naila, a beneficiary in Pakistan: "Before Audiopedia, our daily challengs often went unacknowledged. Audiopedia has been more than an information source; it's a lifeline. It's a beacon of light, easing burdens in a world that too frequently overlooks women like me." Why Audiopedia Caught the UN's Eye The UN's Digital Acceleration Agenda is committed to leveraging technology to solve some of humanity's most urgent problems. Audiopedia's unique, scalable approach has earned it a place in this initiative, underscoring the platform's global relevance and potential for impact. Simple Yet Effective: The Tech Behind Audiopedia In a world inundated with complex technologies, Audiopedia stands out for its simplicity. Its straightforward audio formats ensure that even the most remote or under-resourced areas can access invaluable knowledge, compatible with various devices including those that are solar-powered. A Locally-Led, Holistic Strategy As the world faces escalating challenges like COVID-19 and climate change, the dissemination of knowledge has never been more vital. Audiopedia takes a holistic approach by collaborating with local stakeholders for capacity-building and upskilling, resulting in not just an information platform but a robust ecosystem for community empowerment. In a complex world, Audiopedia offers a simple yet profound solution. For More Information About Audiopedia Foundation: The Audiopedia Foundation (www.audiopedia.foundation) is committed to democratizing knowledge by providing essential, easily accessible information to marginalized women and girls around the world. Founded in 2016 and based in Annweiler, Germany, the organization has a global footprint. Audiopedia has recently been selected for inclusion in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Digital Acceleration Agenda (www.sdg-digital.org), highlighting its worldwide relevance and impact. Audiopedia Foundation Press Kit: https://www.audiopedia.foundation/press Media Contact: Felicitas Heyne +49 6346 928 0601 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wikipedia-for-the-forgottenaudiopedia-earns-united-nations-endorsement-for-tackling-gender-inequality-301949527.html SOURCE Audiopedia Foundation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Echo360 Unveils Artificial Intelligence Innovation at Educause 2023 Tweet Echo.ai Assist enhances recently launched EchoPoll with A.I. technology that saves time for instructors and increases engagement for learners worldwide. NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Echo360, the leading provider of comprehensive, global, SaaS solutions for the creation, delivery, and assessment of learning engagement outcomes across diverse educational settings, is launching revolutionary artificial intelligence technology for its EchoPoll SaaS platform. This groundbreaking innovation will significantly increase the efficiency of formative polling creation, elevate learner engagement, and preserve the integrity of the instructor's content. Echo360 is unveiling Echo.ai Assist at Educause 2023, North America's largest conference of higher education administrators and instructors, who will get a first look at the technology both on the exhibit hall floor and also at a company hosted AI-themed reception and panel discussion at the University of Illinois-Chicago, a longtime Echo360 customer. "What makes Echo.ai Assist different from other applications of generative AI is that it builds upon the instructor's trusted content to create real-time interactive polling, questions, and learning engagement," said Kathryn Stewart, Echo360's Chief Product Officer. "Many machine learning applications replace or deliver generic subject matter content from alternative sources -- Ech.ai Assist was designed to elevate, not denigrate, the instructing and learning experience." Echo360 has been developing AI applications on pace with the rapid advancements and rise in popularity of the technology. Its first application of Echo.ai Assist augments EchoPoll, a next-generation enterprise SaaS educational polling platform launched six months ago. The company has plans to expand Echo.ai to its entire Echosystem of inspired learning solutions including EchoVideo, EchoAuthor, and the recently launched EchoExam summative assessment SaaS platform. "For more than 20 years Echo360 has been a pioneer in EdTech innovation to enrich education and learning outcomes, from the first video lecture capture and audience response, and engagement platforms up to today with the launch of Echo.ai Assist," said Murad Velani, Echo360 President and CEO. "The role and impact of AI in higher education is top of mind for our administrators, instructors, and learners, and the collaborative approach we've taken to develop Echo.ai ensures their needs are met by maintaining the integrity and trusted source of course content, saving time for instructors, and improving upon the learning experience." About Echo360 Echo360 is a leading SaaS interactive video learning management, content, engagement, and assessment platform serving over 2 million learners and instructors at more than 1200 higher education institutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Built for the cloud and grounded in principles of learning equity, evidence, and engagement, instructors and learners around the world can use the platform from wherever they are, on any device, to create, record and consume content, give, and receive feedback, and gain real-time insights along their inspired learning journey. For more information visit www.echo360.com. CONTACT INFORMATION: Jeff Peterson Echo360 612.859.0488 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/echo360-unveils-artificial-intelligence-innovation-at-educause-2023-301950806.html SOURCE Echo360 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] BLUETTI Sponsors ASES National Solar Tour 2023, Promoting Clean Energy and Sustainable Living Tweet LAS VEGAS, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BLUETTI, a leading name in the clean energy storage industry, announces its sponsorship of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour, taking place from October 6th to 8th, 2023. The ASES National Solar Tour, America's largest annual grassroots solar event, aims to promote renewable energy awareness and increase the adoption of solar energy. It offers both in-person and virtual tours for individuals and communities to explore solar systems and learn about sustainable living practices. Homeowners and businesses across the country will open their doors to showcase their solar installations and share their experiences with visitors. BLUETTI's sponsorship of the ASES Solar Tour is rooted in its unwavering commitment to delivering clean energy solutions to empower communities and individuals. James Ray, a spokesperson for BLUETTI, expressed the company's enthusiasm for this partnership: "At BLUETTI, we believe in the transformative power of clean energy. Our mission aligns seamlessly with the goals of the Solar Tour to inspire, educate, and encourage the adoption of renewable energy. We are thrilled to support this event and do our part to make the world greener." As a key player in the clean energy storage field, BLUETTI provides a range of power solutions to maximize solar energy use. In addition to its well-regarded portable power stations, BLUETTI has taken a significant step forward this year by introducing two exceptional home energy storage systems: the EP800 and EP900. The BLUETTI EP800 is an off-grid energy storage system, while the EP900 can operate both on-grid and off-grid. These modular solutions allow homeowners to tailor their backup power as needed, up to 19.8kWh. Both systems use LFP batteries that are eco-friendly and have a longer lifespan than other types of batteries. Highly compatible with diverse solar panels for up to 9,000W of charging, these systems enable high-efficiency capture and storage of solar energy for later use, particularly during nighttime or power outages. By empowering households with clean solar energy, BLUETTI has helped millions of users become more energy-independent and live a more sustainable life. For more information about BLUETTI's clean energy solutions, please visit https://www.bluettipower.com/ About BLUETTI BLUETTI has been committed to promoting sustainability and green energy solutions since its inception. By offering eco-friendly energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use, BLUETTI aims to provide exceptional experiences for our homes while also contributing to a sustainable future for our planet. This commitment to sustainable energy has helped BLUETTI expand its reach to over 100 countries and gain the trust of millions of customers worldwide. Social Media: Youtube Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluetti-sponsors-ases-national-solar-tour-2023-promoting-clean-energy-and-sustainable-living-301950815.html SOURCE BLUETTI POWER INC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] ABCoA Hosting Third Deal Pack User Conference of 2023 Tweet The Deal Pack User Conference offers attendees a unique opportunity to learn about the latest trends and best practices in dealership management, finance, and accounting, as well as to network with peers and industry leaders. JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. (ABCoA), a leading provider of software solutions for automotive and finance professionals, is hosting its third Deal Pack User Conference of 2023 at its headquarters on October 16th and 17th. This performance and growth focused event is tailored specifically for dealerships and finance companies using ABCoA's flagship software, Deal Pack. The Deal Pack User Conference provides training and collaboration among users to maximize productivity and profitability within their organization. ABCoA Customer Success Specialists provide in-depth training sessions of Deal Pack's Sales, Finance, and Service & Parts modules specifically for independent, BHPH, and leasing dealerships, related, direct, and indirect finance companies, and rental companies. The User Conference's boutique format is laser-focused on the needs of each attendee, encourages collaboration, and drives future development. Attendees get the chance to network, learn how new and existing features can simplify daily processes and compliance, and see how Deal Pack gives them complee financial visibility of their entire operation. The two-day event is completely free for attendees. "We are committed to making our customers successful with tools that provide total operational control and maximum efficiency," said Jonathan Hedy, President of ABCoA. "We are excited for our third Deal Pack User Conference of 2023 our seventh User Conference since 2019. Our goal is to create a learning environment where attendees can connect with peers, discuss the latest trends and best practices, and establish a roadmap for growth." The User Conference is open to all current and potential Deal Pack users; attendees include owners, executives, controllers, accounting professionals, underwriters, IT professionals, business development representatives, collectors, and managers. Vendors and exhibitors are not permitted. The two-day event is completely sold out. To register for future Deal Pack User Conferences, please visit dealpack.com/company-events. ABCoA is celebrating its 40th year in business. About Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. (ABCoA) is a Software-as-a-Service company focused on transforming the used car industry. With over 40 years of expertise developing highly customized software for used car dealerships and subprime finance companies, ABCoA offers a complete range of industry proven software solutions backed by an uncompromising commitment to quality and service. Its cloud-native ecosystem supports every type of loan and seamlessly connects every part of business operations. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, ABCoA continuously elevates the standard for software in the subprime industry. Founding member of the Association of Dealer Management Software (ADMS), ABCoA is recommended by accountants, auditors, and users nationwide. Media Contact Evelyn Hedy, Vice President Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. P.O. Box 54221 Jacksonville, FL 32246 904-354-2073 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abcoa-hosting-third-deal-pack-user-conference-of-2023-301950822.html SOURCE ABCoA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Kuwait Oil Company Selects Trustwave as its Managed Security Partner Tweet Trustwave, a global cybersecurity and managed security services leader, today announced it has been awarded a multi-year managed security contract with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC), to fortify KOC against disruptive and damaging cyber threats. Kuwait Oil Company selected Trustwave for its full cybersecurity portfolio, including Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Co-Managed SOC, Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), Threat Research, and Cyber Advisory services. "We chose Trustwave due to its global reputation as a recognized leader in managed security after our internal due diligence process," said Mohammad Al-Sarraf, Chief Information Security Officer and Team Leader - Information Security of Kuwait Oil Company. "As cyber threats grow increasingly sophisticated, KOC needs to have the ability to proactively prevent, detect, and remediate critical threats to allow us to maintain the security of our critical business operations." Kuwait Oil Company is an oil company headquartered in Al Ahmadi, Kuwait, and is a subsidiary of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), a government-owned holding compan. Kuwait Oil Company's responsibilities under the KPC's umbrella involve the exploration, drilling, and production of oil and gas within the State of Kuwait. "We are honored to have been selected by Kuwait Oil Company as their trusted partner," said Trustwave General Manager, EMEA, Barry O'Connell. "This partnership underscores our commitment to delivering world-class cybersecurity solutions led by our expert SpiderLabs Threat Research team to drive meaningful outcomes for our clients in the region." "Today's news is an important milestone as it reinforces our commitment to supporting and working with organizations in Kuwait," said Trustwave CEO Eric Harmon. "We look forward to partnering with KOC and the broader region to further build cyber resilience and stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape." About Trustwave Trustwave is a globally recognized cybersecurity leader that reduces cyber risk and fortifies organizations against disruptive and damaging cyber threats. Trustwave's comprehensive offensive and defensive cybersecurity portfolio detects what others cannot, responds with greater speed and effectiveness, optimizes its client's cyber investment, and improves security resilience. Trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide, Trustwave leverages its world-class team of security consultants, threat hunters, and researchers, and its market-leading security operations platform to decrease the likelihood of attacks and minimize potential impact. Trustwave is an analyst-recognized leader in managed detection and response (MDR), managed security services (MSS), cyber advisory, penetration testing, database security, and email security. The elite Trustwave SpiderLabs team provides industry-defining threat research, intelligence, and threat hunting, all of which are infused into Trustwave services and products to fortify cyber resilience in the age of inevitable cyber-attacks. For more information about Trustwave, please visit https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009423361/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Wanda Fish Raises USD $7M in Seed Funding To Accelerate Pilot Production of Cultivated Bluefin Tuna Tweet Netherlands-based aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark led the round, joined by additional investors The Kitchen Hub, Peregrine Ventures, PICO Venture Partners, MOREVC, and CPT Capital REHOVOT, Israel , Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, FoodTech start-up Wanda Fish Technologies , Ltd., announces it has secured USD 7 million in seed funding. The round was led by Netherlands-based global aquaculture investment fund Aqua-Spark, with additional funding from returning pre-seed investors The Kitchen Hub by the Strauss Group, Peregrine Ventures, LLC, PICO Venture Partners, MOREVC, and CPT Capital, LLP. Since its inception, Wanda Fish has raised USD 10 million in funding. Founded in 2021 by The Kitchen Hub and Daphna Heffetz, a leading figure in biotechnology-based innovation, Wanda Fish develops premium quality, cultivated fish outside of the ocean. This new injection of capital will boost Wanda Fish's ability to accelerate the creation and increase the scale of a cultivated whole-cut filet of bluefin tuna. These cuts replicate the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of wild-caught bluefin tuna as they comprise the fish's muscle and fat cells and contain the same native proteins and fatty acids, including omega-3 and other essential nutrients. As a cultivated filet, Wanda Fish's bluefin tuna has no common ocean pollutants, like mercury, and is produced under non-GMO standards. "We are excited and feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with Aqua-Spark in propelling our venture forward," says Daphna Heffetz, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Wanda Fish. "We are on a shared mission to improve the global food value chain, creating a tasty, more sustainable future for all. This financial backing by leading global venture funds gives us significant leverage to make sustainably cultivated, cruelty-free, and ocean-friendly bluefin tuna a reality." Valued for its nutritional content, texture, and flavor, bluefin tuna is an expensive, sought-after species that is particularly popular with high-end sushi restaurants due to its perfect balance of fat and protein. Further driving demand is bluefin tunas inaccessibility. Overfishing of bluefin tuna has pushed it to the brink of endangerment, leading governments to significantly limit fishing quotas. Meanwhile, tuna is considered unsustainable to farm due to the feed resources, pen size requirements, and difficulty of breeding in captivity. In addition, tuna is one of the oceans' most polluted fish, often contaminated with plastic debris and extremely high levels of heavy metals such as mercury, intensifying the need for an accessible, stable supply of sustainable alternatives. Wanda Fish has made rapid progress on key developmental breakthroughs toward achieving a whole-cut bluefin tuna prototype to provide an abundant, premium source of highly nutritious fish that will alleviate strain on the delicate ocean ecosystem. This includes forming a 3D filet structure using bluefin tuna cells, differentiated into both muscle and fat tissues. With its proprietary technique, Wanda Fish can precisely control fat levels in its end products. This enables the creation of a diverse range of filet cuts, including the highly sought-after Toro premium cut. "In such a burgeoning and innovative sector, we are pleased to welcome Wanda Fish into our portfolio of companies based on the remarkable speed with which they've met significant milestones," asserts Lissy Smit, CEO of Aqua-Spark. "We firmly believe in a future where sustainably farmed and cultivated seafood will work in concert with one another to alleviate the burden of overfishing, especially species like bluefin tuna which are deemed unsustainable to farm." "As the start-up's incubator, we've had the privilege of witnessing the immense progress Wanda Fish has made since their inception less than two years ago," enthuses Jonathan Berger, CEO of The Kitchen FoodTech Hub. "Wanda Fish is transforming visionary ideas into a tangible, cutting-edge product that is just steps away from reaching its prototype. This is credited to a skilled and ambitious multinational team led by Daphna Heffetz that is undoubtedly poised for a resounding success story in the thriving alternative protein space; this spells good news for an overburdened marine ecosystem." About Wanda Fish Wanda Fish is a cutting-edge company spearheading a more sustainable future for ocean seafood. Through disruptive technologies, they produce a variety of whole-cut cultivated premium fish filets outside of the ocean. The company's first product in development is the whole-cut cultivated bluefin tuna filet composed of the fish's muscle and fat cells. It bears the authentic texture, flavor, and nutritional richness of wild-caught fish. The Wanda Fish team comprises a highly skilled multidisciplinary team. Daphna Heffetz, PhD, co-Founder and CEO, brings over 20 years of experience in establishing and growing biotechnology companies. Malkiel Cohen, PhD., VP of R&D at Wanda Fish, is an expert in stem cell technology and genomic engineering, and Yaron Sfadyah, LL.B & B.A., VP of Business Development at Wanda Fish, having 10+ global marketing and business development experience. Under an exclusive licensing and sponsored research agreement with Tufts University in Boston, Wanda Fish also works closely with David Kaplan, PhD, a world-leading academic authority in cellular agriculture. For more information about Wanda Fish, please visit www.wandafish.com About Aqua-Spark Aqua-Spark is a global investment fund, active in 22 countries with investors across 33 countries, building a portfolio of solutions across the aquaculture value chain with the ability to transform the industry into one that is healthier, more sustainable, and more accessible. With just shy of EUR 500 million in assets under management, each investment is chosen for its potential to generate financial returns while also activating positive environmental and social outcomes. For more information about Aqua-Spark, please visit www.aqua-spark.nl Press Contacts: Liat Simha | Wanda Fish: [email protected] Tel +972-9-9742893 Oona Eager | Aqua-Spark: oona@aqua-spark.nl Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241865/Wanda_Fish.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wanda-fish-raises-usd-7m-in-seed-funding-to-accelerate-pilot-production-of-cultivated-bluefin-tuna-301950831.html SOURCE Wanda Fish Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] MadCap Software Brings the Power of ChatGPT to MadCap Central with AI Assist Tweet San Diego, CA, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technical writers and other corporate content professionals increasingly recognize the potential to significantly improve their productivity by using generative artificial intelligence (AI) programs, such as ChatGPT. Today, MadCap Software, Inc., the leader in multi-channel content authoring, management and publishing, is delivering on this demand with the newest release of its MadCap Central content management platform featuring AI Assist. Available today, MadCap Central with AI Assist is the first comprehensive content management platform to provide integrated ChatGPT functionality optimized for authors and editors of technical content, such as documentation websites, knowledge bases, online Help, policy manuals, and training. With AI Assist, authorized users can now: Make requests to ChatGPT and receive responses directly in MadCap Central. Train ChatGPT on their existing content to receive responses in the companys voice. Edit and format the ChatGPT responses in the AI Assist interface. Click to insert the text directly into a document on MadCap Central. View the difference between original content and text edited by ChatGPT. Translate content directly in the Content Editor. MadCap Central featuring AI Assist and an enhanced Content Editor is debuting at MadWorld 2023, MadCap Softwares annual user conference, which runs October 8-11, 2023, at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego. Technical writers, trainers, and other content developers face greater pressure than ever to keep pace with changes to their businessfrom new products and services to improved best practices and evolving government and industry reporting mandates, said Anthony Olivier, MadCap Software founder and CEO. With the addition of AI Assist to our MadCap Central content management platform, we are empowering these highly skilled professionals to harness the power of ChatGPT in an integrated, controlled and relevant way to deliver content faster while complying with company standards. Harnessing the Power of AI in MadCap Central Designed for teams and enterprises, the comprehensive, cloud-based MadCap Central platform combines the state-of-the-art contentauthoring capabilities also found in MadCap Flare with robust functionality for publishing, project management, collaboration, translation, hosting and analytics. Because MadCap Central supports single-source publishing, the same content can be repurposed to deliver modern documentation websites, print brochures, online Help, knowledge bases, support sites, training and development content, and more. The newest version of MadCap Central adds AI Assist, which allows customers to connect their MadCap Central license to ChatGPT. As a result, authors and editors only need to interact with a single interface rather than opening multiple windows. And it only takes the single click of a button to insert ChatGPT responses into topics and snippets or even replace existing text that was initially selected. Additionally, each time a user receives a ChatGPT response, AI Assist opens a toolbar for editing the response, such as setting styles, applying bulleted or numbered lists, inserting images, and adding tables. Meanwhile, the Diff feature in AI Assist enables authors and editors to see the differences between the original content and the revised text from a ChatGPT response. AI Assist documentation provides examples of how to use ChatGPT for several use cases. These include producing new content, rewriting content, enforcing style guide rules, fact checking, providing feedback, search engine optimization (SEO), summarizing text or videos, creating regular expressions, using the corporate voice, translating content, and writing scripts and code. Importantly, MadCap Central allows administrators to control how much or whether to use AI Assist at all in line with their corporate policies. Users designated as Authors on MadCap Central automatically receive access to AI Assist if it has been enabled. However, administrators can add or remove access and manage specific permissions, such as Create/Edit Files and Edit Code. Content Editor Enhancements in MadCap Central In addition to AI Assist, the latest version of MadCap Central features enhancements to the Content Editor. It is now easier than ever to copy and paste content within MadCap Central: Formatting is retained when copying and pasting text whether it resides on MadCap Central or in external applications. Table formatting is retained when copying and pasting tables within and between files in MadCap Central. Images can be copied and pasted when they are located in the same MadCap Central topic or snippet. With the new release, users also can simply drag and drop images into a topic or snippet on MadCap Central rather than having to insert image files. Availability and Pricing The latest release of MadCap Central is available today. Pricing for MadCap Central is based on the team size and implementation. Visit MadCap Software at https://www.madcapsoftware.com, or contact MadCap Software at [email protected] or +1 (858) 320-0387 to learn more. About MadCap Software MadCap Software has spent decades building solutions to help customers improve their content experiences and maximize their return on investment. Customers come first, customization is simple, and teams are integrated with a powerful cloud-based platform. Todays solutions include the Madcap Central cloud-based content management platform, MadCap Flare desktop authoring software, and MadCap IXIA CCMS enterprise-class DITA component content management system. The companys solutions are complemented by a range of services, including product training, consulting services, translation and localization, and an advanced developer certification program. Headquartered in San Diego, California, with offices in Austin, Texas; Montreal, Quebec; Toronto, Ontario; Frankfurt, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan, MadCap Software is home to some of the most experienced software architects and product experts in the content development industry. Learn more about MadCap Software at www.madcapsoftware.com. MadCap Software, the MadCap Software logo, MadCap Central, MadCap Flare, and MadCap IXIA CCMS are trademarks or registered trademarks of MadCap Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other marks are the properties of their respective owners. Rebecca Hurst Kinetic.PR for MadCap Software [email protected] Mobile: 650-544-5059 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Antonio, Wilmer and Rayder are barely 20-years-old. Theyre biding their time, hanging out in a kind of trench. Leaning on a mound of earth, they have the border with the United States just a foot away from them. You can see the river and the American police officers protecting the fence. Since they left their small town in Venezuela more than two months ago, theyve longed to cross over. But, for the moment, they prefer to wait. Until those idiots from the Mexican immigration leave, Antonio mutters, while he changes out of his old sneakers and puts on a pair of flip-flops. He thinks theyll be better for crossing the water. Just before the river, there are four vans from the Mexican immigration agency. The three friends have had bad experiences with officers from this agency while traveling across the country. They robbed us several times. Theyre more corrupt than in Venezuela! All three young men acknowledge that theyre more afraid of the unarmed Mexican agents than of the military police who carry assault rifles on the American side of the border. A similar feeling is shared by the more than 10,000 migrants waiting in Ciudad Juarez, the most populated center along the Mexican border. In addition to stories of abuse and violence during their extreme journey across the country, the migrants fear is also backed up by numbers. Mexico has accelerated deportations which have grown by more than 20% in August alone according to the latest available data. In Ciudad Juarez, the trauma of one of the greatest recent migrant tragedies hasnt yet been forgotten. At the end of March, 40 men died in a fire at a detention center for migrants. No one opened the door for them and no one has been punished for what happened. We have friends who are already there [in the United States] and they tell us that theyre being treated much better than here, Wilmer notes, without losing sight of the Mexican officials vans. A few weeks after that tragedy, Title 42 came to an end. It had been put into force as an exceptional measure for health reasons during the pandemic, before it was extended. Title 42 allowed for the immediate deportation of those crossing the border, without any procedure. Since it expired, however, the number of migrants has been increasing. Official figures from the U.S. Border Patrol threaten to break all recent records. Its forecasted that, by the end of 2023, there will have been more than 300,000 recorded arrests this year. A group of migrants attempt to cross into the United States from Ciudad Juarez. Rodrigo Oropeza The influx has increased pressure on President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party, in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential elections. In addition to reinforcing police along the 1,900-mile-long southern border with 25,000 extra agents being deployed since May the president added another measure that, until now, seemed anathema to his party: building 20 miles of fence in the south of Texas. Biden has thus abandoned one of the promises that he made upon reaching the White House in 2021: no more American taxes will be used to build a wall. He had sought to put an end to Donald Trumps heavy-handed policy. Despite the latest measure announced by the United States, the perception within the Good Samaritan shelter on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez is that the most obvious danger is still on the Mexican side of the border. Were more afraid that theyll arrest us in Mexico and deport us back to our country, says Brisel, a 25-year-old Honduran who left Tegucigalpa with her family to escape death threats. Her husband had a metalwork shop: the mafias demanded $40 a week from him, more than half of the money he earned in the small business. Theyve been at the Mexican border for almost three weeks. Theyve requested political asylum and are waiting for confirmation of the appointment through the digital application that the U.S. launched a few months ago. Meanwhile, she and her two small children barely leave the shelter. My husband leaves in the mornings, because he found work in construction. But I dont go out. Im afraid. The Mexican police also robbed us and beat us along the way, she explains, while searching through a bag of donated clothes that just arrived at the shelter. The fire More than six months after the fatal fire that claimed the lives of 40 men, the migrant detention center where the tragedy occurred is sealed. But you can still see the black marks on the walls, which are visible through the narrow windows and the metal door that the guards locked before escaping. Despite the mountain of negligence, only seven people including custodians and regional directors from the National Migration Institute (Inami) are being prosecuted for different crimes in relation to the case. This includes the director of the organization, Francisco Garduno, who is charged with abusing his authority as a public official. While the slow machine that is Mexican justice chugs along, Garduno remains at the head of the agency. In August, he returned to Ciudad Juarez in the midst of the umpteenth crisis. The company that manages the freight trains that migrants board to travel north including the disastrous and infamous Beast announced that it was suspending activities, due to the crowds that kept gathering and the dangers of train-hopping that were increasingly evident. Garduno limited himself to promising a greater police presence on the trains, while announcing the inauguration of a new shelter with space for 500 migrants. When consulted by EL PAIS, the Inami did not respond to questions about its current rescue policies a euphemism for the migrant detentions. A shelter for migrants in Ciudad Juarez, pictured on October 6, 2023. Rodrigo Oropeza The fire episode tells us that the strategy of attempting [to achieve] socioeconomic integration for the large groups of migrants that the city receives has long since ended, says Jesus Pena, a researcher at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF, the College of the Northern Border). During the years of the Trump administration when the U.S. government forced asylum seekers to wait on the Mexican side of the border for their cases to be processed, even if this took months or years Ciudad Juarez attempted to find accommodation for the migrants. During that four-year-long period, migrants were given work permits while their applications were being processed. Some found work in the Juarez maquilas the cheap labor factories near the border. Now, all thats over. [The Mexican government is increasing] deportations, which will increase distrust among migrants, pushing them underground. That is, into the arms of the human-trafficking mafias, Pena adds. In the center of Ciudad Juarez, you can see groups of migrants carrying blankets and plastic bags on their shoulders. The shelters are almost full many prefer to look for cheap motels as close as possible to the border crossing, or for parks where they can spend the night. Sometimes, they find makeshift accommodation in the citys red-light district, between brothels and money-exchange agencies. Long ago, Ciudad Juarez was afflicted by a stigma that still persists. It became a black hole for hundreds of women, who were murdered or declared missing in the 2000s. Juarez has also been the scene of one of the most barbaric wars between drug-trafficking mafias. In 2010, it reached number one on the list of cities with the highest homicide rate in the world. And today amidst the wave of generalized violence that is once again hitting Mexico it occupies first place again. Juarez is the largest city on the U.S.-Mexico border, with a million-and-a-half inhabitants almost triple that of its Texan neighbor, El Paso. But the city wasnt always feared. In the 1970s, it was known as Mexican Las Vegas, for its party halls and nightlife. The arrival of the maquilas engulfed the small town that previously lived on cotton and alcohol sales. In the 1990s coinciding with the signing of the free trade agreement with the United States and Canada (NAFTA) the population practically doubled. Juarez became a city filled with Mexican workers and migrants. And, in recent years, migrants from Central America, Venezuela and Africa have also arrived. An aerial view of the Monument to the Mexican People, in Ciudad Juarez. Rodrigo Oropeza Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [October 09, 2023] IDology GBG Protects Online Gaming Market With Robust KYC/AML Solution Tweet IDology solution increases player acquisition, loyalty, and revenue while complying with AML/KYC regulations. ATLANTA, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IDology , a GBG company, a leading identity verification provider in the Americas for over 20 years, today announced an expanded portfolio of gaming solutions designed to optimize player acquisition, loyalty, and revenue while fortifying operators against fraud and money laundering through strategy and automation, ensuring compliance with both state and federal regulations. Today's gaming landscape presents both remarkable opportunities and significant challenges for operators. With the gaming industry facing an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, IDology's full-lifecycle AML compliance solutions come at a pivotal time. IDology's expertise addresses these challenges head-on, ensuring that operators can focus on growth without compromising on security, compliance, or the customer experience. IDology's enhanced gaming solution includes: Expanded Data Coverage and Increased Pass Rates: Comprehensive access to new data sources ensures more customers, including thin-file and hard-to-identify populations, can be successfully verified and onboarded at a higher level of speed and accuracy. Robust and reliable age verification checks simplify compliance procedures, while potecting underage individuals from creating accounts and placing bets. Comprehensive access to new data sources ensures more customers, including thin-file and hard-to-identify populations, can be successfully verified and onboarded at a higher level of speed and accuracy. Robust and reliable age verification checks simplify compliance procedures, while potecting underage individuals from creating accounts and placing bets. Step-Up Verification: Patented technology automates in-line authentication of government-issued IDs to increase acquisition and enhance the customer experience using a global document library covering all 196 countries and territories with over 8,000 document types. Forensic and CVML tests ensure detection of expired, stolen, forged, and tampered with IDs, while biometric protection with a simple ID to selfie face match provides an added layer of identity assurance. Patented technology automates in-line authentication of government-issued IDs to increase acquisition and enhance the customer experience using a global document library covering all 196 countries and territories with over 8,000 document types. Forensic and CVML tests ensure detection of expired, stolen, forged, and tampered with IDs, while biometric protection with a simple ID to selfie face match provides an added layer of identity assurance. Orchestration and Contactability: Full stack orchestration of a player's identity journey by IDology. Technology solution for the implementation of customizable workflows for onboarding and cost optimization that assert contactability of your player through every step of the workflow while building ROI. Full stack orchestration of a player's identity journey by IDology. Technology solution for the implementation of customizable workflows for onboarding and cost optimization that assert contactability of your player through every step of the workflow while building ROI. PEPs and Sanctions Screening: Comprehensive checks against 450+ global sanctions lists, including individual country, OFAC, Interpol, and UN Sanctions, during onboarding and beyond, for continuous monitoring and risk assessment without human intervention. Advanced algorithms and match filters ensure accuracy and reduce false positives. Comprehensive checks against 450+ global sanctions lists, including individual country, OFAC, Interpol, and UN Sanctions, during onboarding and beyond, for continuous monitoring and risk assessment without human intervention. Advanced algorithms and match filters ensure accuracy and reduce false positives. Fraud Prevention: Tenured fraud prevention solutions for identifying and managing risk in-line including Velocity Rules engine and Fraud Consortium of more than 15 million attributes, preventing piracy, multi-accounting, unfair gameplay, bonus abuse, account take-over and chargeback fraud . All backed by ML and dedicated Fraud Analyst support to keep operators proactive in their fraud mitigation needs. Tenured prevention solutions for identifying and managing risk in-line including Velocity Rules engine and Consortium of more than 15 million attributes, preventing piracy, multi-accounting, unfair gameplay, bonus abuse, account take-over and chargeback . All backed by ML and dedicated Analyst support to keep operators proactive in their mitigation needs. End-to-End Compliance: Comply with state and federal regulatory requirements and promote responsible gaming with a comprehensive, full-lifecycle compliance and risk management ecosystemall with one provider. Heidi Hunter , Chief Product Officer, IDology GBG. "We understand the complexities faced by the gaming industry and have dedicated ourselves to building robust, sophisticated solutions that prioritize both user experience and regulatory compliance. In this era of rapid online expansion, we're proud to empower operators to tap into new growth opportunities confidently and securely." For more information or to talk to a Trust Expert today, visit https://www.idology.com/ . About IDology GBG IDology, a GBG company, delivers a comprehensive suite of identity verification, AML/KYC compliance solutions and fraud management to help businesses drive revenue, deter fraud and maintain compliance. IDology provides end-to-end coverage of the customer identity lifecycle, offering standalone or multi-layered capabilities, with thousands of diverse data sources and leading technology for document authentication and ID + selfie verification. Under GBG, Acuant and IDology recently united to form the largest pure play identity verification provider in the Americas. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, GB Group plc ('GBG') is a global leader in developing and delivering digital identity, address verification, fraud prevention and compliance software to businesses globally with over 30 years' experience. To learn more about GBG visit https://www.gbgplc.com . Media Contact: Kathy Berardi Carabiner Communications 678.644.4122 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idology-gbg-protects-online-gaming-market-with-robust-kycaml-solution-301950100.html SOURCE IDology [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Remote Work Security Market worth $136.0 billion by 2028 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets Tweet CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As work dynamics change, there will be an increased reliance on AI and automation, emerging threats, improved security measures, and a sustained focus on securing remote work settings. Organisations will be able to maintain a solid security posture in the environment of remote work thanks to these improvements. The Remote Work Security Market is expected to reach USD 136.0 billion by 2028 from USD 51.7 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 21.3 % during 20232028, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Browse in-depth TOC on "Remote Work Security Market" 250 - Tables 50 - Figures 300 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=67560422 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2018-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 20232028 Forecast units Value (USD) Million/Billion Segments Covered By Offering security type, remote work model, vertical, and region Region covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America Companies covered The major players in the Remote Work Security Market are Cisco (US), VMware (US), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point (Israel), Fortinet (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Trend Micro (Japan), Broadcom (US), Cloudflare (US), Sophos (UK), ZScaler (US), Citrix (US), CyberArk (US), Crowdstrike (US), Forcepoint (US), Proofpoint (US), ESET (Slovakia), Seclore (US) The adoption of remote work has experienced a remarkable surge in recent years, driven by advancements in technology and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizations of all sizes have embraced this paradigm shift, solidifying its widespread acceptance during the crisis. According to Citrix's 2022 report, 'The State of Security in a hybrid work environment,' 52% of security decision-makers foresee a future where most of the workforce would either be permanently remote or adopt a hybrid work model. Moreover, the advantages of remote work are numerous, offering increased flexibility, cost savings, and access to a global talent pool. Employees appreciate the improved work-life balance and reduced commuting stress, as highlighted by the survey conducted by GitLab in 2022. The study found that 80% of employees experienced reduced job-related stress when working remotely. Additionally, remote work has contributed to decreased sick leave days (50%) and fewer absences (56%) among remote employees. As a result, the long-term impact of remote work on traditional workspaces is undeniable, fostering a more connected and agile workforce that transcends geographical boundaries. Organizations are embracing this new normal, recognizing the potential for enhanced productivity and employee well-being. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=67560422 The network security registers the highest market size in the Remote Work Security Market during the forecast period. Network security is a fundamental component of remote work security, primarily concerned with safeguarding the communication channels and data transfers between remote employees and an organization's network infrastructure. Network security becomes paramount in remote work scenarios, where employees access corporate resources from various locations, including home and public networks. It involves using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to encrypt data on public networks, firewalls for traffic monitoring and filtering, and Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS) for real-time threat detection and prevention. Network security in remote work environments fortifies the connections and data flows between remote employees and the organization's network. This ensures that data privacy, integrity, and confidentiality are upheld, even in remote work's dynamic and dispersed landscape. The retail & e-commerce segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Retail and e-commerce companies handle sensitive information, including customer payment details, personal data, and proprietary business strategies. Therefore, ensuring the security of this data is paramount. Remote work security measures in this sector encompass various aspects. Firstly, organizations must secure remote access to their systems and networks to prevent unauthorized entry and data breaches. Robust authentication methods and secure VPNs are standard tools used for this purpose. Data encryption is crucial to protect sensitive customer information and payment transactions. Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains unintelligible to unauthorized parties. Moreover, businesses in this sector must adhere to stringent compliance standards, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), which sets guidelines for securing payment card data. Non-compliance can lead to severe financial penalties and damage to brand reputation. Based on region, Asia Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific countries are highly concerned about increased security spending due to the ever-growing threat landscape. The region comprises emerging economies like China, Japan, and India. With effective government regulations and technological advancements, remote work security is witnessing high growth opportunities in this region. The Asia Pacific Remote Work Security Market is experiencing substantial growth, primarily driven by the increasing acceptance of remote work, cloud adoption, and the imperative for enhanced security in remote work environments. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid remote work adoption and prompted significant investments in security control systems to protect remote employees. While the pandemic was pivotal in driving the Remote Work Security Market, a surge in highly sophisticated cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and government entities has further compelled regional organizations to bolster their investments in remote work security technologies. Top Key Companies in Remote Work Security Market: The report profiles key players such as Cisco (US), VMware (US), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point (Israel), Fortinet (US), Microsoft (US), IBM (US), Trend Micro (Japan), Broadcom (US), Cloudflare (US), Sophos (UK), ZScaler (US), Citrix (US), CyberArk (US), Crowdstrike (US), Forcepoint (US), Proofpoint (US), ESET (Slovakia), Seclore (US). Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=67560422 Recent Developments: In April 2023 , VMware and Lookout partnered to offer a secure access service edge (SASE) solution, integrating the Lookout Cloud Security Platform with VMware SD-WAN. The partnership ensures optimized network connectivity, data protection, and enhanced visibility for cloud-first enterprises, providing reliable and secure remote access to applications from any device and location. , VMware and Lookout partnered to offer a secure access service edge (SASE) solution, integrating the Lookout Cloud Security Platform with VMware SD-WAN. The partnership ensures optimized network connectivity, data protection, and enhanced visibility for cloud-first enterprises, providing reliable and secure remote access to applications from any device and location. In April 2023 , Palo Alto Networks and Accenture joined forces to offer AI-powered Prisma SASE solutions, enhancing cyber resilience and enabling secure access control for organizations amidst the complexities of remote work and multi-cloud environments. , Palo Alto Networks and Accenture joined forces to offer AI-powered Prisma SASE solutions, enhancing cyber resilience and enabling secure access control for organizations amidst the complexities of remote work and multi-cloud environments. In July 2022 , Cisco and Ricoh formed a strategic partnership, offering Secure Remote Access Solutions, combining network security and Auto VPN elements, to enhance hybrid working and IoT support services in Hong Kong . The collaboration provides comprehensive smart office solutions for businesses. Remote Work Security Market Advantages: Solutions for remote work security shield confidential company information and intangible assets from unauthorised access, data breaches, and cyberattacks. Secure access to corporate networks, apps, and resources is available to remote workers, enhancing productivity and lowering security concerns. Endpoint protection is a component of remote work security solutions that guards against malware, ransomware, and other threats on gadgets like laptops and mobile devices. IAM solutions guard against unauthorised access by ensuring that only authorised users can access corporate systems and resources. By demanding several forms of authentication, MFA adds an extra layer of security and lowers the chance of unauthorised access even if login credentials are stolen. For distant employees to connect to company networks securely, virtual private networks (VPNs) build tunnels that encrypt data in transit. Employee education about cybersecurity best practises is a common component of remote work security solutions, lowering the chance of human EDR tools improve overall security by keeping an eye out for unusual activity on endpoints and quickly responding to attacks. Through the use of encrypted communication tools, remote work security solutions enable secure cooperation while safeguarding private communications and files. Report Objectives To determine and forecast the global Remote Work Security Market by offering (solution and service), security type, remote work model, vertical, and region from 2023 to 2028, and analyze the various macroeconomic and microeconomic factors affecting market growth. To forecast the size of the market segments concerning five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America , and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). , , (APAC), , and the and (MEA). To provide detailed information about the major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the Remote Work Security Market. To analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall Remote Work Security Market. To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of the Remote Work Security Market. To profile the key market players; provide a comparative analysis based on business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and key financials; and illustrate the market's competitive landscape. Track and analyze competitive developments in the market, such as mergers and acquisitions, product developments, partnerships and collaborations, and Research and Development (R&D) activities. Browse Adjacent Market: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Other Reports: Public Key Infrastructure Market- Global Forecast to 2028 Zero Trust Security Market- Global Forecast to 2028 Biometrics as a Service Market- Global Forecast to 2025 Network Security Firewall Market- Global Forecast to 2025 Security Policy Management Market- Global Forecast to 2024 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/remote-work-security-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/remote-work-security.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/remote-work-security-market-worth-136-0-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301950574.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] United First Partners Welcomes Elite Equity Derivatives Trio in New York, Further Strengthening Its Offering Tweet United First Partners (UFP), a global financial services firm renowned for its leading Special Situations Research offering, is proud to announce the strategic hiring of an accomplished equity derivatives trio that had previously worked together at Jefferies LLC: Michael Cohen, Russ Marcus, and John Naso. Michael, Russ, and John bring a wealth of experience and a proven track record in equity derivatives, further bolstering UFP's competitive position and helping it to fulfill its mission of providing first class M&A and Special Situation solutions across asset classes. Michael Cohen joined as a Senior Managing Director after a tenure at SVB Securities, Russ Marcus joined as a Senior Managing Director directly from Jefferies, and John Naso joins as a Managing Director following a tenure at JonesTrading. "We are excited to welcome Michael, Russ, ad John to the United First Partners family," said Michael Hadjedj, CEO and Founder of United First Partners. "Their expertise, combined with our world-class special situations offering, will enable us to expand the breadth of our derivatives business and marks another meaningful milestone in our firm's efforts to provide our clients with exceptional and differentiated services. This reunion is a testament to our dedication to assembling the finest talent in the industry." Throughout their careers, Michael, Russ, and John achieved remarkable success and built a strong reputation for fostering client relationships, managing large order flow, and developing innovative and customized equity derivatives strategies. Their integration into the UFP derivatives desk is a testament to the company's strategic vision and its dedication to maintaining and enhancing its competitive edge in the global financial landscape. About United First Partners: United First Partners is a leading financial firm, recognized globally for its innovative Special Situations offering. With a commitment to innovation and client-centric services, UFP is constantly striving to meet the evolving needs of its sophisticated clientele. United First Partners is a FINRA registered member. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009363021/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Swipeclock Hosted Its Sixth Annual Summit Partner Conference with Over 500 Attendees Tweet The virtual two-day event included an inspirational keynote address, product updates, and a view from the top, all designed to benefit partners as they sell Swipeclock solutions to their clients. SOUTH JORDAN, Utah, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Swipeclock hosted the 6th annual Summit Conference, designed to help reselling and referral partners, on October 5 and 6, 2023. This virtual event included more than 500 participants and 9 vendors and sponsors, each of whom contributed to its overall success. Swipeclock hosted the 6th annual Summit Conference, designed to help reselling and referral partners on Oct 5-6, 2023 . All participants have access to the recorded sessions on demand for 30 days. The recordings are accessible via the link sent to individual attendees via email. The conference included keynote addresses from Coleman Barney, CEO of Swipeclock, and Seth Mattison, an expert in the future of work and what that means for business owners. Attendees also took part in breakout sessions, split into three tracks geared tward different experience levels with Swipeclock products. Among the most popular sessions were the Compliance Panel, which was led by experts from The Compliance Center, and the Trailblazing Guide, focused on the product roadmap and the future of workforce management. Partners were encouraged to share feedback about the solutions to help development teams prioritize new and enhanced features to benefit users. An Expo Hall served as the ideal backdrop for networking with fellow partners and vendors, who served as sponsors for the event. At the start of day two, Swipeclock honored its top-performing partners: The Leading Edge: Trion Solutions Inc. Super Partner: Journey Employer Solutions Best Integration (TaaP): AccountingWare Best Rookie Partner: Pando PEO Like a BOSS: Trion Solutions Inc. Marketing Megaphone: Schlenner Wenner & Co. Most Engaged Partner: Valor Payroll Solutions "Our elite service partners strive to maximize the experience they deliver to their clients. The Summit conference provides hands-on product training, compliance updates and vibrant discussions on the future of work that help our partners along that journey," said Barney. "We involve our product and service leaders throughout the event, which is a great opportunity to gain the valuable insights we use to shape the future of our solution." Participants are encouraged to fill out the survey about their experience, sent via email at the close of the conference. Additional details around Summit '24 will be forthcoming, although the event is tentatively planned for October 3 and 4, 2024. About Swipeclock Swipeclock provides timekeeping and labor management solutions designed for the way small businesses work. With a "get in and get work done" friendly and clean user interface, Swipeclock solutions minimize compliance challenges, improve productivity, and have the rapid time to value that small businesses need. WorkforceHub, powered by Swipeclock, seamlessly connects time and labor, scheduling and hiring tools within one unified solution. Over 45,000 businesses and 1,000,000 employees are powered by Swipeclock solutions either directly or through an extensive network of valued partners. The solutions are built and supported by teams of workforce management experts, ensuring robust features and an implementation process engineered to deliver quick results and delighted clients. Media Contact: Allie Blackham ablackham@swipeclock.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/swipeclock-hosted-its-sixth-annual-summit-partner-conference-with-over-500-attendees-301950911.html SOURCE Swipeclock [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Email Encryption Market worth $16.3 billion by 2028 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets Tweet CHICAGO, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The future of email encryption is probably going to include end-to-end encryption becoming more popular, quantum-safe encryption to combat new threats, enhanced usability and integration with email clients, standardised protocols, and compliance with changing laws. Email security will also be significantly improved by advanced authentication techniques, AI-driven security, and user education. The global Email Encryption Market size is projected to grow from USD 6.2 billion in 2023 to USD 16.3 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 21.3% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The Email Encryption market experienced substantial growth due to a surge in Email data breaches, an increase in BEC frauds and spear-phishing incidents, a rise in stringent government regulations and data privacy compliance, and advancements in encryption technology. Browse in-depth TOC on "Email Encryption Market" 291 - Tables 49 - Figures 297 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=182623205 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years - 2017-2028 Base year considered - 2022 Forecast period - 20232028 Forecast units - Value (USD Million/Billion) Segments Covered - Offering, Deployment, Verticals, and Regions Geographies covered - North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America Companies covered - Major vendors in the global Email Encryption market include Fortinet (US), BAE Systems (UK), Mimecast (UK), Cisco (US), Proofpoint (US), Zoho (India), Broadcom (US), OpenText (Canada), Barracuda Networks (US), Thales (France), HPE (US), Entrust (US), Fortra (US), Sophos (UK), Trend Micro (Japan), Seclore (US), Egress Software (UK), Echoworx (Canada), LuxSci (US), Neocertified (US), SSH Communication (Finland), Retarus (Germany), Paubox (US), PreVeil (US), Sealit Technologies (UK), SendSafely (US), and Zivver (Netherlands). By vertical segment, the healthcare vertical will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. The healthcare vertical is anticipated to have the highest CAGR in the Email Encryption market, primarily driven by stringent regulatory compliance demands worldwide, particularly concerning patient data protection. In many countries, such as the US, with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), healthcare institutions are mandated to safeguard patient health information, especially when transmitted via Email. Additionally, as cyber threats aimed at health data escalate, especially given its substantial value on the black market, healthcare institutions are progressively channeling resources into sophisticated encryption tools. They aim to bolster the security of Email communications, minimize the risk of data breaches, and sidestep significant regulatory penalties. This heightened concern for safety and regulatory imperatives propels the rapid growth in Email Encryption within the healthcare domain. Request Sample Pages @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=182623205 By deployment, the on-premises holds the largest market size during the forecast period. The on-premises deployment mode is anticipated to dominate the Email Encryption market during the forecasted period primarily due to the enhanced control and customization it offers organizations. Direct oversight over their Encryption infrastructure allows entities to tailor solutions to specific needs and ensures seamless integration with existing systems. Furthermore, on-premises solutions address data sovereignty and compliance concerns by keeping data within an organization's infrastructure, which is especially pertinent for sectors with stringent data residency regulations. These factors propel the on-premises deployment mode in the Email Encryption market to have the largest market size. By region, the Asia Pacific market is to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Asia Pacific region, encompassing well-established economies like China, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand and emerging players like India and Singapore, is poised for the most significant CAGR during the anticipated period. This is due to its rapid digital transformation, especially in countries like India, China, and Southeast Asian nations. This transformation amplifies the volume of online communications, necessitating advanced Email Encryption solutions. Additionally, the robust growth of emerging economies in this region has led to the expansion of IT infrastructure and increased business activities, all heightening the demand for Email Encryption. Coupled with this is a rising awareness and understanding of cybersecurity prompted by the region's escalating cyberattacks and data breaches. Top Key Companies in Email Encryption Market: Fortinet (US), BAE Systems (UK), Mimecast (UK), Cisco (US), Proofpoint (US), Zoho (India), Broadcom (US), OpenText (Canada), Barracuda Networks (US), Thales (France), HPE (US), Entrust (US), Fortra (US), Sophos (UK), Trend Micro (Japan), Seclore (US), Egress Software (UK), Echoworx (Canada), LuxSci (US), Neocertified (US), SSH Communication (Finland), Retarus (Germany), Paubox (US), PreVeil (US), Sealit Technologies (UK), SendSafely (US), and Zivver (Netherlands) are the key players and other players in the Email Encryption market. Recent Developments In July 2023 , Telefonica Tech ( Spain ) partnered with Proofpoint to introduce 'Clean Email Business' in Spain , enhancing email security for medium-sized companies. The service incorporates advanced features such as spam filtering, malicious attachment and URL analysis, and protection against BEC attacks. The initiative is geared towards ensuring security, regulatory compliance, and uninterrupted business continuity for its users. , Telefonica Tech ( ) partnered with Proofpoint to introduce 'Clean Email Business' in , enhancing email security for medium-sized companies. The service incorporates advanced features such as spam filtering, malicious attachment and URL analysis, and protection against BEC attacks. The initiative is geared towards ensuring security, regulatory compliance, and uninterrupted business continuity for its users. In April 2023 , Barracuda Networks, Inc. forged a strategic distribution agreement with Ingram Micro to bolster its presence in the Gulf region. Under this agreement, Ingram Micro will distribute Barracuda's comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, covering email, applications, cloud, network, and data protection. This partnership aims to provide resellers across the UAE, Kuwait , Qatar , Oman , Bahrain , Yemen , and Pakistan with access to Barracuda's cutting-edge cybersecurity offerings. , Barracuda Networks, Inc. forged a strategic distribution agreement with Ingram Micro to bolster its presence in the Gulf region. Under this agreement, Ingram Micro will distribute Barracuda's comprehensive cybersecurity solutions, covering email, applications, cloud, network, and data protection. This partnership aims to provide resellers across the UAE, , , , , , and with access to Barracuda's cutting-edge cybersecurity offerings. In March 2023 , proteanTecs ( Israel ) and BAE Systems partnered to enable a zero-trust supply chain for defense and critical infrastructure applications. With this partnership, proteanTecs' advanced deep data analytics technology will be leveraged by BAE Systems to ensure product authentication and supply chain integrity, thereby potentially strengthening email encryption by ensuring the hardware components are authentic and secure. , proteanTecs ( ) and BAE Systems partnered to enable a zero-trust supply chain for defense and critical infrastructure applications. With this partnership, proteanTecs' advanced deep data analytics technology will be leveraged by BAE Systems to ensure product authentication and supply chain integrity, thereby potentially strengthening email encryption by ensuring the hardware components are authentic and secure. In January 2023 , Zoho Corporation's Bigin CRM introduced an 'Email-In' topping feature that automates the process of mapping emails sent to different aliases within an organization to the relevant customer records, streamlining email organization and implicitly enhancing security. In addition, the 'File Cabinet' topping allows customers to manage documents through unique, secure links, bolstering data protection and suggesting a move towards improved email content security. , Zoho Corporation's Bigin CRM introduced an 'Email-In' topping feature that automates the process of mapping emails sent to different aliases within an organization to the relevant customer records, streamlining email organization and implicitly enhancing security. In addition, the 'File Cabinet' topping allows customers to manage documents through unique, secure links, bolstering data protection and suggesting a move towards improved email content security. In August 2022 , Mimecast introduced the Mimecast X1 Platform, an advanced email and collaboration security solution designed to safeguard business communications in hybrid work environments. It uses AI and ML to detect threats, offers scalable cloud-delivered security, and integrates seamlessly with other security systems through its extensive API ecosystem. Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=182623205 Email Encryption Market Advantages It protects sensitive information from unauthorized access, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read the email content, reducing the risk of data breaches. Email encryption preserves user privacy by preventing email content from being accessed by email providers or other third parties. It helps organizations comply with data protection regulations and industry-specific requirements by safeguarding sensitive data in transit. Encryption can be paired with digital signatures to verify the authenticity of the sender, reducing the risk of phishing and spoofing attacks. It ensures that confidential information remains confidential, making it suitable for industries like healthcare, finance, and legal services. Report Objectives To define, describe, and forecast the Email Encryption market based on offering, deployment, verticals, and regions: To predict and estimate the market size of five main regions: North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Middle East & Africa , and Latin America , , , & , and To analyze the subsegments of the market with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall market To provide detailed information related to the primary factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the Email Encryption market To analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying high-growth segments of the Email Encryption market To profile the key players of the Email Encryption market and comprehensively analyze their market size and core competencies. Track and analyze competitive developments, such as new product launches, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, agreements, and collaborations in the global Email Encryption market. Browse Adjacent Market: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Other Reports: Data Center Transformation Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Metaverse Market - Global Forecast to 2030 AR VR Software Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Finance Cloud Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Digital Payment Market - Global Forecast to 2028 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/email-encryption-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/email-encryption.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/email-encryption-market-worth-16-3-billion-by-2028---exclusive-report-by-marketsandmarkets-301950685.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] BUSAN IN THE RUNNING TO HOST THE WORLD EXPO 2030: LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE FOR THE SOUTH KOREAN CITY Tweet PARIS and BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the date for the selection of the host country for the World Expo 2030 has been announced for November 28, Busan, the second-largest city in Republic of Korea after Seoul, wishes to reaffirm its desire to host this unique event more than ever. Korea aims to turn the World Expo 2030 Busan into a significant milestone that shifts the paradigm of the international community from competition to solidarity by offering unique experiences for global citizens to share and explore various ideas, rather than intensifying competition in the fields of science, technology and cutting-edge industries. For the 2030 edition of the World Expo, Busan aims to engage in dialogue and reflection on the theme "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future," at the intersection of technology, humanity, and the environment. A candidacy that looks into the future "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future" is the theme proposed by Busan for its bid to host the World Expo 2030. A theme rooted in the identity of South Korea, which has undergone significant transformation over the past century, overcoming war, national divisions, and poverty. Today, it is one of the world's largest economies. Having transformed from a developing nation to an advanced one, Korea now aspires to solidify its position as a global pivotal state for freedom, peace, and prosperity - a fundamental cornerstone of Korea's diplomacy. Situated at the heart of this remarkable transformation, Busan is a gateway to a better future and reflects the essence of the World Expo itself. Through this theme, Busan places great emphasis on conveying a collective message of hope and responsibility. As the United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda, an ambitious sustainable development program by 2030, the World Expo in Busan has a major role to play in assessing progress on environmental matters and continuing the collective effort for a more sustainable future. "We are in a key transition period towards a more sustainable future, which involves collective responsibility to achieve the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda. We are very proud hat Busan is a candidate to host the World Expo 2030 to further the discussion on actions for the benefit of humanity and sustainable development. Busan 2030 will be an expo of solidarity, a festive space to share the history, culture, products, and future visions of countries around the world. South Korea is now one of the world's largest economies, a hotbed of technological and cultural innovation. We have a role to play in bringing nations together and showing the way", says Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of Korea and Co-Chair of the Bid Committee. An exhibition that aims to be the most inclusive and transformative ever organized Busan wants to convey messages of inclusivity and enable as many countries as possible to participate in its World Expo. To achieve this, the city will provide an allocation of $520 million, the highest ever recorded by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). In an effort to include as many countries as possible to represent all cultures at this 2030 edition, Busan is committed to funding the construction of pavilions and implementing skills sponsorship to assist beneficiary countries in organizing their exhibitions and making better use of digital technologies. In addition to inclusivity, this exhibition aims to be unique in focusing on four other differentiation angles: the commitment to a carbon-neutral exhibition, the use of new technologies, data preservation, and, of course, the promotion of culture. Because South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, AI, 6G, holograms and IoT will take pride of place at the heart of the Busan World Expo. "As Chairman of the largest business organization in Korea, we are proud to play an essential role in Busan's bid for the World Expo 2030. Korea's innovation aligns with the inspiring vision that Busan carries for this World Expo. We firmly believe that humanity's prosperity will also come through intelligent use of technology. The presence of UAM today in Paris is a means to demonstrate the benefit of technology in our daily lives", says Chey Tae-won, President of the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Co-Chair of the Bid Committee, and President of the SK Group. To find out more about Busan's candidacy and the sub-themes selected to shape future reflection, visit the official website . Korea, a passionate candidate determined to host World Expo 2030 Korea is putting forth extensive efforts to secure the hosting of the World Expo 2030. President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a remarkable display of dedication, engaged in bilateral meetings with 61 countries in a single month during September to promote Korea's bid to host World Expo 2030. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has also played a pivotal role by making three trips to Paris since June last year, participating in various World Expo hosting activities. These activities include delivering a presentation at the General Assembly of the BIE and continuing to garner international support through attendance at the annual conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and visits to member countries of BIE in Africa. Furthermore, Korea is hosting Korea Week in Paris this month, featuring a symposium on October 9, and a K-pop concert on October 15, as part of its comprehensive campaign. Korea's unwavering commitment to hosting the World Expo 2030 arises from its desire to make a significant leap forward as a prominent nation that shares its transformative development experience, actively participates in the global agenda, and seeks solutions with numerous countries. Having transitioned from a developing nation to an advanced one, Korea aims to leverage the World Expo not solely as an exhibition event but as a platform for tackling common challenges such as climate change and seeking viable solutions. Hosting the World Expo stands as a central pillar of Korea's strategy for achieving these goals. Meanwhile, hosting the World Expo 2030 Busan serves a key objective of fostering balanced regional development. Busan is the second-largest city in Korea, however, the regional gap between Busan and the Seoul Metropolitan Area remains large. Korea envisions leveraging the World Expo to serve as a catalyst for promoting more balanced regional development. Busan, a city of resilience Throughout its history, Busan has embodied unwavering resilience. The city became an economic hub after the war, leading to the industrialization of the country and the development of the local culture, which until then had been ignored. Today, Busan is committed to the education and enrichment of its population. As South Korea's financial hub, it was elected as the second-largest transshipment port in 2021 and accounts for 75% of domestic trade in South Korea. Busan is the epicenter of K-pop and K-content, which have captured the hearts of Korean culture enthusiasts around the world. Looking to the future, in 2030, Busan will see the completion of an unprecedented construction supported by the United Nations: a floating city that can accommodate 12,000 citizens and aims to contribute to environmental preservation and a sustainable future. "We are committed to making Busan a sustainable city, focused on technology, to combat climate change. Sustainability is at the heart of our proposal for the World Expo, as we plan to transform the central district of Busan into an environmentally friendly site. At the end of this unique event, the infrastructure will be made available to citizens and businesses, in line with our ambition to navigate towards a better future," concludes Park Heong-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/busan-in-the-running-to-host-the-world-expo-2030-latest-announcements-before-the-final-vote-for-the-south-korean-city-301951012.html SOURCE World EXPO 2030 BUSAN, KOREA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] NextSmartShip Revolutionizes Efficient E-fulfillment with Direct-from-Manufacturer Service, Amplifying Global Reach with New European and Upcoming US Branches Tweet AMSTERDAM, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As e-commerce thrives, NextSmartShip (NSS) emerges as the unparalleled e-fulfillment solution, redefining how Direct-to-Customer (DTC) brands navigate global logistics. The spotlight shines on two pivotal offerings that set NSS apart: their unmatched approach to leveraging China's supply chain and their groundbreaking direct-from-manufacturer express service. NextSmartShip, conceived by visionary logistical professionals, stands as a GLOCAL logistics titan anchored in technology. With a robust and expanding portfolio of over 2,000 DTC brands, NSS has cemented its position as the go-to for reliable, economical, and proficient fulfillment services, annually delivering a million packages to destinations worldwide. The company's multifaceted suite encompasses DTC fulfillment, Crowdfunding fulfillment, FBA Prep & FBM, B2B order fulfillment, and Subscription box management. Earlier this year, the company garnered a significant multimillion-dollar A-Crop investment from Gobi Partners GBA, propelling its global footprint, brand strategy, and SaaS infrastructure development. In June 2023, NSS inaugurated its European branch in Amsterdam, compemented by an impending debut of the US branch. Historically, NSS managed 11 state-of-the-art fulfillment centers in regions like the EU, US, UK, AU, and JP, operating via 100+ shipping routes that spanned over 200 nations. Given that more than 80% of their DTC clientele are based in the US and EU, NSS's global influence has been indisputable. China, the epicenter of the global supply chain, manufactures 70% of DTC items. Despite 95% of DTC brands operating outside of China, NSS stands out as the sole significant Chinese company capitalizing on order fulfillment from this prodigious source. This strategic alignment not only distinguishes them from European competitors but also results in substantial cost efficiencies, translating to savings of up to 70% for users. These savings stem from a holistic management of the global supply chain and the inherent advantages of their China-based fulfillment center, which minimizes communication costs, warehouse overheads, and inventory surplus. NSS further distinguishes itself with a pioneering direct express service. Abstaining from the traditional dependency on local warehouses, NSS offers a solution where online sellers can dispatch products directly from the production facility to the consumers within an impressive 3-5 days, ensuring streamlined inventory control. Backed by a 24/7 English-speaking support team, NSS remains committed to delivering unmatched customer service on a global scale. NSS's upcoming engagements include appearances at the Madrid Tech Show on October 30-31 and the Webwinkel Vakdagen from January 23-24, 2024. Additionally, they have recently unveiled a European partnership initiative, extending an invitation to e-commerce stakeholders to join forces in creating game-changing brand solutions. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nextsmartship-revolutionizes-efficient-e-fulfillment-with-direct-from-manufacturer-service-amplifying-global-reach-with-new-european-and-upcoming-us-branches-301951016.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Richard Roderick Joins Alliant Insurance Services as Executive Vice President, Managing Director Tweet Richard Roderick has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Alliant Specialty. Roderick is a 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles insurance community, with a client focus on private equity (PE) sponsors and extensive experience in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) sector. Roderick is a proven leader who creates innovative, deal-facilitating solutions on behalf of strategic and financial buyers. Focusing on risks in the middle market and for Fortune 1000 companies, Roderick provides solutions for property and casualty, management liability, transactional liability and health benefits. "As a fixture in the Los Angeles insurance market, Richard can support clients that span a broad spectrum of the economy" said Peter Arkley, President, Alliant Retail Property & Casualty. "We are confident that Richard will drive enhanced success for Alliant clients, drawing from his skill and experience after a career spanning decades in commercial insurance." Roderick's expertise includes private equity, hospitality and gaming, restaurant and food service, staffing, basic and chemical manufacturing, technology, healthcare and life sciences, and transportation, among other industries. "Alliant provides a platform that is well positioned to elevate the level of care and responsiveness that I can provide to clients," added Roderick. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nation's leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com. #TheMoreRewardingWay View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009943060/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] ASYAD EXPRESS PARTNERS WITH EVRI TO LAUNCH TRANSFORMATIONAL E-COMMERCE GATEWAY HUB IN OMAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST Tweet Asyad Express forms landmark strategic alliance with Evri, the UK's largest dedicated parcel delivery company Partnership to attract major UK, European, US and Chinese players to Oman by facilitating access to Asyad Group's world-class logistics ecosystem by facilitating access to Asyad Group's world-class logistics ecosystem Collaboration provides a unique opportunity for UK and European retailers to expand into the Middle East e-commerce market e-commerce market Partnership with Evri enables Omani SMEs to market and ship their products globally through an advanced e-commerce network Asyad Express and Evri will continue to explore avenues for expansion to build out a valuable global proposition for e-commerce brands MUSCAT, Oman, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Asyad Express, part of Asyad Group, is proud to announce an agreement with Evri, the UK's largest dedicated parcel delivery company, to establish a landmark strategic alliance set to revolutionize e-commerce and e-fulfilment logistics in the Middle East. The agreement was signed during Bloomberg's high-level business event, "Foreign Direct Investment: Scaling New Heights", that focused on Oman's FDI prospects as a rising regional hub for foreign investment. The exciting partnership will attract major UK, European, US and Chinese e-commerce players to Oman and the region, where they will have a unique opportunity to capitalize on Asyad Express' developed network and world-class capabilities and ifrastructure, powered by Asyad Group's state-of-the-art integrated logistics ecosystem. Shaikh Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hosni, Acting CEO of Oman Post and Asyad Express, expressed his enthusiasm for the strategic alliance with Evri: "Our collaboration with Evri is a testament to our commitment to positioning Oman as a prominent e-commerce hub in the Middle East. By partnering with a distinguished global industry player such as Evri, we solidify our presence in the vital e-commerce markets of the UK, the US and China and establish Asyad Express as the logistics partner of choice in the region. We are confident in this strategic partnership's potential to promote sustainable economic growth in Oman and the Middle East." "In keeping with Asyad Express' priority of ensuring customer satisfaction, the strategic alliance will also provide international customer service support, catering to local languages and delivering high-quality assistance to clients." Shaikh Ibrahim added. Jason Ashbrook, VP Commercial at Asyad Express, said: "Under this partnership, we will jointly build a comprehensive e-commerce logistics ecosystem that completely integrates our combined services and creates a solid e-commerce gateway for Evri's clients, placing Oman as Evri's exclusive e-commerce fulfilment hub in the Middle East. Asyad Express and Evri will also be developing an international outbound product that will utilize Evri's network, providing Omani SMEs with a platform to market and sell their products worldwide." From his side, Evri's Director of International Operations Ed Ayyad commented on the beginning of this promising strategic collaboration: "We are immensely excited about the potential this newly formed alliance holds. By joining forces with Asyad Express, we are well-positioned to offer a superior e-commerce solution that caters to the unique needs of the Middle Eastern market. Together, we will create a seamless and efficient e-commerce ecosystem that fuels growth and empowers businesses across the region and from the UK & European markets where existing Evri customers are looking to enter one of the fastest growing e-commerce markets." "Through this strategic alliance, Evri and Asyad Express will bring together our industry-leading capabilities, innovative technologies, and deep market knowledge to optimize the e-commerce landscape in the Middle East. By focusing on customer-centric solutions, streamlined logistics, and a commitment to excellence, we are confident that this partnership will redefine the e-commerce experience in the region," Ayyad added. With its latest partnership and future expansion plans, Asyad Express forges ahead in fulfilling the Group's strategy to broaden Oman's e-commerce capabilities in key global markets, highlighting the Sultanate's growing potential as an e-commerce hub and attracting international brands seeking to expand their services in the region and beyond. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2242199/Asyad_Express_Partnership_with_Evri.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asyad-express-partners-with-evri-to-launch-transformational-e-commerce-gateway-hub-in-oman-and-the-middle-east-301951042.html SOURCE Asyad Express [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] CorWave Announces the Grand Opening of Its Manufacturing Facility on the Banks of the Seine, next to Paris Tweet CorWave, a French company that develops and manufactures innovative cardiac assist devices, held the grand opening of its new facility on the banks of the Seine in Clichy, next to Paris, on Monday, October 9th. The company occupies over 2,400m of production, laboratory, and office space, bringing together its headquarters, R&D center and its first manufacturing facility of almost 1,000m. This world-class manufacturing facility will support the clinical trial phase and commercial scale-up. Today, CorWave's urban factory is entirely dedicated to the production and assembly of heart pump systems. Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry, and Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Sector, were among those present at the event. Founded in 2012, CorWave's mission is to provide healthcare professionals with solutions to save heart failure patients and offer them an active life, by developing and manufacturing innovative cardiac assist devices. Today CorWave held the grand opening of its manufacturing facility in Clichy, next to Paris. The facility contains close to 1,000m dedicated to the production and assembly of heart pump systems. Featuring world-class equipment and layout, the facility is divided into two main areas designed for efficient and controlled operations. The first area contains several high precision CNC machining centers, enabling the meticulous manufacture of components required for heart pump development. The second area is dedicated to heart pump system production including an ISO 7 cleanroom to provide a clean, controlled assembly environment, a dedicated inspection area for quality control of parts and assemblies to ensure product compliance with the strict quality requirements, and high-density warehousing storage for components and finished products. This facility supports CorWave's goal to become a world-class medtech with its next-generation cardiac pumps (mechanical circulatory support devices), based on a breakthrough technology, the undulating membrane pump The facility is designed to produce up to 1,000 pumps a year, representing potential sales of around 100 million euros. A possible extension within the same site could increase production capacity to 10,000 pumps per year, representing potential sales of around one billion euros. Michael Webb, CorWave's Vice President, Manufacturing, who has worked on the process development and the production of over 18,000 heart pumps during his career, comments: "The opening of our world-class medical device manufacturing facility marks a milestone in CorWave's mission to help patients in their fight against heart failure. The facility is the outcome of a great team effort and I thank all involved in support of CorWave's mission." Louis de Lillers, CEO of CorWave, continues: "We are delighted to be taking a new strategic step for CorWave, the fruit of many months of hard work. We chose to set up in the heart of Greater Paris, in Clichy, in particular to be as close as possible to our talents and to bring together Research & Development and production in a single location. Our journey is a symbol of the reindustrialization underway, which we need to encourage, as evidenced by the presence of Roland Lescure, Minister Delegate for Industry, and Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister Delegate for the Digital Sector. We were a Research & Development company, we are now also a manufacturing company, with the same ambition - to help healthcare professionals save heart failure patients and give them an active life." About CorWave CorWave is a French company developing innovative cardiac assist devices. CorWave's wave membrane is a breakthrough technology that differs from today's commercially available left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) by its physiological operation, designed to mimic a pulse and blood flow rates similar to those of a healthy heart. Ultimately, CorWave's membrane pump technology is expected to reduce the complications associated with current devices and improve the management of heart failure patients. A member of the French Tech 120, CorWave was founded in 2012 by start-up studio MD Start and is funded by renowned investors including Bpifrance, Exor Ventures, EIC Fund, Financiere Arbevel, M&L Healthcare, Novo Holdings, Seventure Partners, Sofinnova Partners, Ysios Capital and Vlerick Group. The company has secured over 80 million in equity and employs over seventy people. For more information: www.corwave.com | twitter.com/corwave | www.linkedin.com/company/corwave This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 954151. The SPI fund's investment in CorWave is part of the France 2030 program. CorWave's R&D program is supported by the French state through the "Programme d'Investissements d'Avenir" (PIA). CorWave's Industrialization program is supported by the Paris region through the call for projects "Relance Industrie". View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009961584/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The European Commission has decided to suspend all payments immediately of development aid to Palestine in response to the Hamas attacks on Israel. The scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people is a turning point. There can be no business as usual, warned EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi on X (formerly Twitter). As the biggest donor of the Palestinians, the European Commission is putting its full development portfolio under review, worth a total of 691 million ($728 million), he added. The Commissions decision comes after Germany and Austria also said they were suspending development aid for Palestinian territories, totaling some 144 million ($152 million). Hamas, an Islamist movement that does not recognize the Jewish state and is considered a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, launched a massive surprise attack on Israel on Saturday that killed around 700 people in its territory, mostly civilians. Around 100 people were taken hostage on a day that is already considered the deadliest day in the seven-decade-long conflict. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that Israel is going to change the Middle East in its response to the offensive launched over the weekend by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. All new budget proposals, including the one for 2023, are postponed until further notice and the Commission will do comprehensive assessment of the whole portfolio, Commissioner Varhelyi specified. Incitement to hatred, violence and glorification of terror have poisoned the minds of too many. We need action and we need it now, he added. The EU decision comes after the German government said Monday that it is suspending bilateral aid worth 125 million ($132 million) planned for this year, pending a thorough review of how the aid was being used. Austria has also announced a halt to payments worth 19 million ($20 million). Across Europe, there are different opinions regarding the freezing of bilateral and EU funding. Italy, for example, assured this Monday that it intends to maintain aid to the Palestinian territories. The country argues that cutting off the supply of funds would punish civilians more than the perpetrators of the attack. The foreign ministers of the 27 EU member states will meet this Tuesday, most of them by videoconference, to analyze the joint reaction of the bloc to the attack. On Monday, the European Unions High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, said on X: There can be no justification for anyone to target innocent civilians, ever, in reference to the 260 young people killed at a concert on Saturday by the Islamist group Hamas. The EU has committed some 1.18 billion ($1.24 billion) in financial support to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (ruled by Hamas) starting in 2021 and running through next year. Brussels has explained that the funded projects in education, democracy and sustainable economy are carried out by NGOs and other partners and that, following a policy of not maintaining any contact with Hamas, these funds have not gone to the organization. The EU does not directly or indirectly fund Hamas or its terrorist activities, a spokesman said Monday. However, it is now taking the decision to suspend those payments. Germanys Development Minister Svenja Schulze, a Social Democrat, said in a statement Sunday that the attacks were a terrible watershed and that Germany would coordinate with its allies to find the best way to respond. She added that the German government was preparing to review its entire commitment to the Palestinian territories. Then, on Monday, a spokesperson confirmed that aid was being halted on a temporary basis. Germanys decision has provoked criticism among members of the coalition of Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and liberals headed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. SPD parliamentary foreign policy group spokesman Nils Schmid spoke out against the measure in an interview with Die Welt: Germanys financial aid gives people better access to health care, water, and sanitation. Green parliament member Jurgen Trittin is of the same opinion: If humanitarian aid is cut off now, terrorism will not be deprived of its breeding ground. It will be strengthened, he said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition [October 09, 2023] Talon Air Joins SmartSky dealer network, commences GV installation and Hawker 4000 STC projects Tweet Award-winning MRO to offer the most advanced inflight connectivity system ever built RESEARCH TRIANGLE, N.C., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartSky Networks, the innovative air-to-ground inflight connectivity provider, today announced Talon Air as a new sales and installation partner. The Farmingdale, New York-based full-service private jet company specializes in aircraft charter, aircraft sales, maintenance, and management. As a SmartSky dealer, Talon Air can now install both existing and new customer aircraft with SmartSky, the most advanced IFC ever built, and has already begun its first projects which include a Gulfstream V installation and a Hawker 4000 STC project. "SmartSky is now widely available and receiving rave reviews," said James Chitty , CEO of Talon Air. "We aim to provide our customers with a world-class travel experience. Fast and reliable in-flight connectivity is now an absolute must for our customers" said James Chitty CEO of Talon Air. "The opportunity to expand our network and partner with next-gen provider SmartSky made this an easy decision. SmartSky is now widely available and receiving rave reviews and we look forward to the successful completion of our first two projects." Based at Republic Airport (FRG), the Talon Air fleet is comprised of nearly 50 aircraft that include Gulfstream, Bombardier, Falcon, and Textron aircraft. The company is equipped to install both the SmartSky Flagship system for mid to large cabin jets as well as SmartSky LITE , the first-ever streaming-level connectivity solution for smaller business aircraft. All SmartSky service plans include streaming with no pre-set cap on the number of simultaneously connected devices. The current Cash Back promotion enables customers to receive up to $50,000 from SmartSky following installation and activation. More information is available at www.smartskynetworks.com/cashback. "Talon Air has ben a responsive and customer-focused partner since the first moment we made contact," said Aria Bahawdory Director of MRO Account Management for SmartSky. "Having both this installation and an STC project at the outset of the partnership demonstrates Talon Air's high level of commitment to delivering the market and its customer base the best available connectivity solutions. We are extremely pleased to welcome Talon Air to our growing dealer network." SmartSky has many STCs for a wide variety of aircraft models, with nearly a dozen more in-progress or awaiting certificate issuance from the FAA. A full list of STC's can be found at smartskynetworks.com/STC. Ask your MRO or OEM for SmartSky on your aircraft and contact [email protected] or visit www.smartskynetworks.com . About SmartSky SmartSky Networks was founded to transform aviation through disruptive communications technologies, services, and tools. The network takes advantage of patented spectrum reuse, advanced beamforming technologies and 60 MHz of spectrum for significantly enhanced connectivity. SmartSky Networks uniquely enables an "office in the sky" experience with unmatched capacity for data transmissions both to and from the aircraft. This real-time, very low latency, bidirectional data link makes SmartSky Networks the best in-flight user experience, and a key enabler for new and enhanced applications and services. For more information, visit SmartSkyNetworks.com SmartSky Networks. Data moves us. About Talon Air Talon Air, a leader in Aircraft Management and Aircraft Sales and Acquisitions, is a full-service private jet company that offers a turn-key solution for your aircraft charter, maintenance, management and business jet sales needs. Talon Air offers best-in-class aircraft management, maintenance and charter services combining the operational expertise of a mega-operator with the personalized service and attention to detail typically found in the best corporate flight departments. With nearly 50 aircraft under management operating both Part 91 and Part 135, our customers base continues to expand thanks to our team of industry professionals. Talon Air undergoes a vigorous safety audit and has been certified by ARGUS, WYVERN, and IS-BAO to meet the highest safety standards of business jet aviation. For more information, www.talonairjets.com. SmartSky Media Contact Mark Hazlin Phone: (202) 289-4001 Email: [email protected] Website: www.smartskynetworks.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talon-air-joins-smartsky-dealer-network-commences-gv-installation-and-hawker-4000-stc-projects-301951064.html SOURCE SmartSky Networks [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Xoxoday Empuls Enhances the Employee Rewards and Incentives Experience with Amazon Business Tweet SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9, 2023 /CNW/ -- Xoxoday, a leading fintech SaaS company, has exciting news for organizations looking to revamp their employee recognition and rewards programs. Xoxoday has seamlessly integrated Empuls, their employee engagement platform, with Amazon Business, creating a dynamic fusion that promises to make employee rewards more meaningful and delightful. This partnership goes beyond adding more choices; it's a fundamental shift in how employees receive recognition and rewards. With the Empuls-Amazon integration, employees can pick rewards they truly connect with. The redemption experience is just great, due to Amazon's fast shipping, easy returns, and excellent service. Plus, it provides detailed financial reports for organizations to fine-tune their recognition strategies and achieve desired results. "At Xoxoday, our mission has always been to elevate the employee experience and empower organizations to create meaningful connections with their workforce. Integrating Xoxoday Empuls with Amazon Business is a testament to our commitment. By providing employees with the extensive product selection of Amazon Business, e're not just enhancing recognition we're offering a personalized journey that fosters a culture of appreciation and engagement," says Manoj Agarwal, Co-founder, and Chief Product Officer, Xoxoday. To illustrate, imagine a dedicated software developer who used to receive a standard gift card as a reward for their exceptional work. Now, with Xoxoday Empuls and Amazon Business, they can upgrade their home office with an ergonomic chair or indulge in the latest tech gadget. This flexibility enhances their sense of achievement and appreciation. Organizations digitizing recognition and reward programs with Empuls benefit from the following: A FREE Amazon Business account providing access to millions of products No markups so you get the full value for every dollar of your reward budget Fast and convenient shipping, returns and support from Amazon Business The most comprehensive reward marketplace offering unlimited choices A custom-branded recognition platform for reinforcing the company's brand Detailed financial reports for analyzing the success of recognition programs In essence, the partnership between Xoxoday Empuls and Amazon Business is about creating a more rewarding, personalized, and engaging experience for employees. It's a testament to Xoxoday's dedication to fostering meaningful connections within organizations and making every recognition moment truly special. About Xoxoday Xoxoday is a rapidly growing fintech SaaS firm helping companies propel business growth by focusing on human motivation. Backed by Giift and Apis partners Growth Fund II, Xoxoday offers a suite of three products - Plum, Empuls, and Compass. Xoxoday works with more than 2000 clients, across 10+ countries and over 2.5 million users. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Xoxoday is a 450+ strong team spread across four global offices in San Francisco, Dublin, Singapore, and New Delhi. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1983226/Xoxoday_New_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xoxoday-empuls-enhances-the-employee-rewards-and-incentives-experience-with-amazon-business-301950516.html SOURCE Xoxoday [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Pacific Defense Awarded US Army Contract to Advance Integrated CMOSS Mission Systems for Ground and Airborne Platforms Tweet Pacific Defense, a leading provider of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products and mission solutions, was recently awarded a contract by the US Army to further develop and mature mission solutions aligned with the U.S. Army's C5ISR Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) and The Open Group's Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) technical standard. The award builds on a series of prior US Army, Navy, and Air Force awards to build a family of SOSA and CMOSS aligned capabilities that enable both ground and airborne mission capabilities to reduce risk in preparation for CMOSS Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) programs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009887789/en/ Pacific Defense Ares Vehicle (left) emonstrating SOSA / CMOSS mission systems "Pacific Defense is proud to continue its work in support of the US Army to rapidly advance the readiness of CMOSS mission systems," said Dr. Niraj Srivastava, VP of Integrated CMOSS Systems at Pacific Defense. "We are laser-focused on end-to-end system integration and mission operation, including demonstration of Pacific Defense and industry partner capabilities in our demonstration vehicle Ares." The contract scope includes the development and delivery of (9) slot Standard A-kit Vehicle Envelope (SAVE) chassis for mounted (ground vehicle) applications, as well as Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA) Small Form Factor (SFF) chassis with enhanced system management software for advance EW threats. About Pacific Defense Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Pacific Defense takes an organic, commercial-minded approach to developing military-use advanced solutions delivering EW, SIGINT, Comms, and C2 capabilities to US and International customers, with a particular focus on CMOSS solutions. Products are designed from the outset for modern, AI-driven autonomy with CMOSS and SOSA-aligned hardware and software. This includes state-of-the-art processing that can readily follow the evolution of commercial technology with complete data sharing across networks and platforms. See more information at www.pacific-defense.com and www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-defense. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009887789/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2023] Wizeline Expands Partnership with Google Cloud to Offer Cutting-Edge Generative AI Solutions, Empowering Businesses with AI-Native Capabilities in Mexico and Latin America Tweet SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wizeline , an AI-native digital services provider specializing in modern, scalable products and platforms, announced the development of new generative AI services as part of its Intelligence Everywhere offering in partnership with Google Cloud. This partnership complements Wizeline's generative AI strategy with new solutions and experiences built on Google Cloud technologies, helping clients accelerate the adoption of AI-native capabilities. As part of our mission to empower customers with transformative AI solutions, Wizeline is taking our partnership with Google Cloud to the next level, focusing on creating innovative solutions using generative AI to grow market share and optimize business operations, said Anibal Abarca, Chief AI and Technology Officer, Wizeline. We have launched a massive transformation initiative to train 100% of our team on AI technologies, expecting that by the end of the year, more than 80% of our technologists will be leveraging generative AI to augment software development and business processes for our clients across industries. The partnership with Google Cloud expands Wizelines consulting and technology delivery offerings to help clients materialize the value proposition of generative AI in their businesss, using its AI-Native Framework to accelerate adoption of next generation capabilities. Wizelines AI-Native Strategy Workshop guides customers through the development of a short-term action plan, from defining business goals to outlining a concrete action plan, and positions them for a seamless transition into the development phase with Wizelines team of certified engineers. Google Clouds generative AI capabilities can add real world value for organizations of all types and sizes, said David Ruiz, Data and AI Lead for Google Cloud Mexico. New services and solutions from partners like Wizeline will scale these capabilities to customers more quickly and effectively, and create even more opportunities for organizations to accelerate their AI-driven transformations. Wizeline plans to continue investing in the development of its Google Cloud partnership over the next year, certifying an additional 100 engineers on Google Cloud technologies through Wizeline Academy to qualify their teams across specializations and expertise in the Google Partner Program. Press Contact [email protected] About Wizeline Wizeline, a global AI-native technology solutions provider, specializes in developing cutting-edge digital products and platforms that leverage the power of artificial intelligence. In collaboration with our customers, we are revolutionizing businesses by harnessing data and AI to accelerate time to market and drive transformative outcomes. Our agile and adaptive teams bring a unique blend of AI expertise, advanced methodologies, and innovative solutions to deliver exceptional results while fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation alongside our customers teams. We invest in doing well while doing good, striving to have a positive impact where we live and work. Our diverse culture of innovation, ownership, and community, combined with our AI-focused Academy, offers unparalleled opportunities for talented people to work on innovative projects and build thriving, long-term careers. Discover how Wizeline's AI-centric approach can revolutionize your business at wizeline.com . To join our visionary team, explore exciting career opportunities at wizeline.com/careers . [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A worthwhile editorial remembers a recent story that seems apropos for the Halloween season. Check the sitch and the resolution . . . Last month, Rick Morrow, pastor of Beulah Church, a Baptist church in Richland, Missouri, said from his pulpit that autism was an example of demonic possession and that the best thing to do about it is just cast the demon out. That statement is so profoundly ignorant that its dangerous. First of all, its factually wrong. Anybody can perform any kind of hocus pocus exorcism that they want over a person with autism. That person is still going to be autistic. There is no demon to be cast out. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . A School Board Casts Out Ignorance A Baptist pastor in Missouri claimed that autism is an example of demonic possession and one must "just cast the demon out." He has since resigned from his local school board position after calls for his removal. Aftermath . . . This morning America's favorite reality TV family inspires our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Cowtown Trash Talk Cont'd GETTING RESULTS: Kansas City woman sees cleanup at abandoned lot targeted by illegal dumping KMBC Chronicle: Dirty Kansas City features Marlon Thatcher's concerns about properties near 52nd and Indiana Ballers Favored Again Chiefs open as 10.5-point favorites over the Broncos in Week 6 In a short Week 6, the Kansas City Chiefs opens as a big home favorite over the Denver Broncos. Diva Shows Off Her Moves Kim Kardashian dances around in sexy string bikini Kim Kardashian reveals she is 'manifesting' a new relationship on Season 4 of The Kardashians. Prez Demands Computer Crackdown Biden's latest effort to censor speech online Biden's latest effort to censor speech online involves the outlandish idea of having Microsoft's Bing search engine as a "public utility" you were stuck with by default. White House Works For Peace Biden administration scrambles to deter wider Mideast conflict As Israel prepares a ground offensive in Gaza, the White House sends military aid to Jerusalem and moves to prevent a crisis across the wider Middle East. MAGA Talk Redux Flashback: Trump's border wall was called 'racist' and 'anti-immigrant' by liberal media for years President Biden's administration is set to begin building a new portion of the border wall, which members of the liberal media condemned as "racist" under the Trump admin. Big Apple Split Amid War NYC pro-Palestine rally splits Democrats over Israel Gov. Kathy Hochul and other leading Democrats blasted the rally as "abhorrent and morally repugnant." American Warships Set Sail U.S. sends aircraft carrier group to eastern Mediterranean in response to Hamas attack on Israel Defense Secretary Austin said Sunday that he has ordered American military ships to move closer to Israel after Hamas' unprecedented attack. Iran From Payouts Iran prisoner swap for $6 billion in spotlight after Hamas attacks Israel The Palestinian group Hamas's surprise assault on Israel Saturday and Israel's retaliation have killed more than 1,100 people and focused attention on the Iran-backed Islamist group. Tech War Restock Ukraine races to make more war drone components at home As Ukraine seeks the upper hand against Russia's far larger military with tens of thousands of cheap attack drones, producers and officials are working to have more components made locally to avoid exposure to shifting geopolitics. Far East Diplomacy FAIL Schumer Criticizes China's Response to Israel Over Attack Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Beijing's initial response to the conflict in Israel during a meeting with China's top diplomat. After Hamas launched attacks over the weekend, China's Foreign Ministry on Sunday called for peace but avoided any criticism of Hamas for launching the as Rising Sun Solution?!? China Calls for Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Beijing repeated its support for a "two-state solution," calling it the fundamental way out of the conflict. Strike Persists Out Of Spotlight UAW members reject tentative agreement with Mack Trucks, prep for strike Monday The UAW reached a tentative agreement at the start of October but members defeated the proposed contract. They'll strike five site in three states. Mama Sudeikis Pipes Up On Traylor Judgement Call Olivia Wilde slammed for Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce post: 'Who is she to say s-t?' Taylor Swift fans are hitting back at Olivia Wilde after the "Don't Worry Darling" director shared a tweet to her Instagram Story on Thursday wishing Swift "was in love with a climate scientist." Group Hug Testimony 27 People Who've Had Threesomes Are Revealing The Juicy Stories And Life Lessons From Their Experiences "I was much too 'in my own head' trying to split my attention between the two. She said she found it overstimulating with too much going on and would rather have more intimacy. For those thinking about it, the key is just open communication." Cowtown Drinking Game Exposed Bring the party home! These tips from KC interior designers will help you perfect your home bar. Bring the party home! Perfect your home bar with these tips from KC interior designers. It's the sure fire way to enjoy a Chiefs game. Katie's Forecast For Now . . . Sunny and cool to start the work week Sunny and cool for Monday, strong winds and rain later in the week. Multiple impact days ahead. blink-182 - DANCE WITH ME is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. And so it seems that more than anybody else . . . Local politicos are quickly becoming addicted the additional revenue that legal weed has provided municipalities. Check local governments rushing to get their cut . . . Pleasant Hill voters will see the issue labeled as Question on the ballot. It askes if the city of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, should impose a 3% sales tax on non-medicinal marijuana sold within city limits. Drexel voters will see the issue called Proposition A on their ballots. It asks if the city of Drexel should impose a 3% city sales tax on the sales of adult use marijuana sold at retail. North of the river in Platte County, Parkville is also asking voters to decide on a 3% marijuana sales tax. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . This protest resonates locally given similar complaints that have emerged in the metro on the Kansas side. Here's the word and links to more info . . . "Those who attended say they hope it will inspire change in both Kansas child welfare systems and the hearts of community members . . . Those at the march say THE SUSPECT isnt the only one who should be held accountable for Zoeys death. They criticized organizations like the Department for Children and Families for not intervening on Zoeys behalf." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . March 4 Zoey draws hundreds demanding justice for murdered 5-year-old Demonstrators expressed anger, sadness, and shock over the death of Zoey Felix. A lot of people and agencies let down Zoey Felix. We can honor her by demanding changes Kansas Department for Children and Families needs to be as transparent as possible. The system can't be fixed without an account of what happened. Developing . . . Before this years National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Chrystal Tabobandung wanted to be sure the Seguin River Bridge was replenished with bright orange flags and was disheartened when some went missing two days before Sept. 30. I feel like its a form of assimilation again, said Tabobandung. Youre allowed to be seen but not heard We can passively, parallelly exist but stay on your side of the bridge. Tabobandung replaced the flags the same day, only to have more disappear again in the following days. Orange reminders have been hanging from the Seguin River Bridge on and off since the discovery of the graves of 215 Indigenous children on the property of a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, two years ago. Although media coverage and public outrage have dwindled, Tabobandung said the orange flags are a "visual reminder in honour of those who have been unearthed and the ones that are still being unearthed." The latest discovery was in Yukon First Nation on Sept. 26 where elder Sandra Johnson announced the investigation of 15 potential graves near Chooutla Residential School in Carcross, south of Whitehorse. Five days earlier, Sto:lo Nation provided an update on its three-year initiative to investigate potential unmarked graves and missing children. Their findings have so far identified 158 deaths at three former residential school sites and one former hospital. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Memorial Register listed close to 3,000 names but the website itself noted this was only a starting place and an extensive amount of work remained to find all the children who never returned home. Tabobandung said tending to the flags has been a form of ceremony for her. I think of my grandmother. I think of my family, and I think of each and every First Nations, communities, families, and nations across Canada. As owner and operator of RAISE: Indigenous Cultural Awareness and Competency, Tabobandung has not only been facilitating workshops but also working toward bringing cultural inclusivity to Parry Sound. The Angus Reid Institute recently explored Canadians views on the legacy of colonialism, the harm of residential schools, and the status of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Data found slightly more than half of respondents recognized the lasting legacy and will require attention and resources to overcome. The other 45 per cent felt enough has been done and the focus should be put on other priorities in Indigenous communities. Tabobandung said allyship went beyond sporting an orange shirt to physical actions. Its part of Truth and Reconciliation and having people come out and take that initiative. She said the missing flags have only fuelled her actions further. It says something to the community, and if it didnt, I wouldnt be doing it. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support for former students and those affected toll-free at 1-866-925-4419. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken appear before the media Saturday at the White House following the Hamas attack on Israel. Yuri Gripas / POOL (EFE) The outbreak of hostilities in Israel could not have come at a worse time for Washington, which is embroiled in a serious institutional crisis in Congress following the dismissal of the Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy by his Republican co-religionists, while the threat of an administrative shutdown looms if the brief extension agreed upon a week ago expires without an agreement to approve the federal governments spending plans for the recently begun fiscal year. Any supplementary aid from Washington to Israel, like that for Ukraine, may be hampered by the political and institutional impasse. The example of aid to Kyiv, which was ignored in the extension and has been criticized by Republicans, is on everyones mind. Nevertheless, President Joe Biden informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that military backing will be provided. Additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces is now on its way to Israel with more to follow over the coming days, the White House said in a statement. Washington will send ships and military aircraft to Israel as security reinforcements, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed, in addition to providing ammunition to the Israel Defense Forces (IFD). The Pentagon has given the order to move a carrier strike group deployed in the Mediterranean, which includes the USS Gerald R. Ford, the worlds largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, with support ships, closer to Israels coast. I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean, Austin said. The deployment will also occasionally serve to evacuate U.S. citizens. On the presence of Americans among the casualties of the war, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed his department is attempting to identify several people reported killed in the attack, as well as others listed as missing. 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, he told CNN. According to preliminary reports, at least four U.S. citizens were killed in the Hamas offensive against Israel. A spokesman for the National Security Council confirmed late Sunday that several had been killed, without specifying the number. While putting Congress under extraordinary pressure due to the power vacuum on Capitol Hill, the open war between Israel and Hamas has contributed to shortening the existing distance between Joe Bidens White House and Benjamin Netanyahus government. Despite Washingtons express criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister over his controversial judicial reform and the planned expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank an erosion in its view of democratic values and international legality the Biden administration closed ranks Saturday to defend Israels right to security: Biden conveyed his full support in a telephone conversation with Netanyahu. This is nothing new, but serves as confirmation that Washingtons unwavering backing is the policy adhered to, without exception, by both Democratic and Republican administrations. The presence of significant Jewish communities in the U.S. New York has the largest Jewish population in the world outside of Israel and the role of the powerful lobbies that represent them, albeit with diverse and sometimes conflicting interests, act as a lever on Washington with regard to safeguarding the security and defense of the Hebrew State. Biden and Netanyahu brought their positions closer in New York in September, at a bilateral meeting during the U.N. General Assembly. The fact that the encounter was not held at the White House was already a sign from the U.S. president: since he resumed power last December, Netanyahu has not yet visited the Oval Office, the obligatory destination for Israeli leaders whenever there is a change of administration in the United States. However, to oil the wheels of the meeting at a Manhattan hotel, Biden let slip that he hoped to be able to meet Netanyahu in Washington before the end of the year. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, whose role is more ceremonial, has been received at the White House. The timeframe suggested by Biden could now perhaps be extended because of the war in Israel and the dual crisis in the U.S. The situation in Israel and Washingtons interlocution have also become political ammunition for the 2024 election campaign, with the primaries looming. Republicans have attacked Bidens handling of the Middle East crisis. Iran has helped fund this war against Israel and Joe Bidens policies that have gone easy on Iran have helped fill their coffers. Israel is now paying the price for those policies, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is competing with Donald Trump for his partys presidential nomination, said Saturday. DeSantis was referring to the prisoner swap deal the Biden administration reached with Iran last month. Under the pact, the United States relieved sanctions imposed on Tehran, issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to Qatar, a prerequisite for the swap. Adrienne Watson, a National Security Council spokesperson, rejected DeSantis accusation, stating that not one cent of the $6 billion unblocked has yet been spent, and that the money will be used exclusively for humanitarian purposes. The Abraham Accords Like DeSantis, Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination his lead last week stood at 40 points , has also placed responsibility for the Hamas offensive on Democratic policy, enshrining a new Republican casus belli against Biden. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden administration, Trump said in a statement. 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. Here we go again. The Abraham Accords, Trumps legacy in the region, almost definitively cornered the two-state solution backed by the majority of the international community and led to the normalization of relations between several Arab countries the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco and Israel. A regional alliance against Iran was thus forged, which the planned Washington-sponsored agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia should in principle enshrine. Trump did not pass up the opportunity to lash out at the Democratic administration, claiming that the Hamas attacks on Israel are the result of the weakness and ineffectiveness that in his view the U.S. conveys. The Israeli attack was made because we are perceived as being weak and ineffective and with a really weak leader [Biden] the former president said Saturday at a campaign rally in Waterloo, Iowa. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Q: On October 7, a spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines said that Chinas claim of indisputable sovereignty over West Philippine Sea is disputable. Chinas unfounded claim and its actions in the West Philippine Sea is irresponsible, he added. How does China respond to this? A: Recently the Philippines has taken a series of steps at Renai Jiao that seriously violate Chinas territorial sovereignty. We have made serious demarches to the Philippines on multiple occasions. I would like to reiterate the following points. First, Renai Jiao has been Chinas territory since ancient times. It is an integral part of Chinas Nansha Qundao geographically, economically, politically and historically. This has been established as a widely held international common view and fully accords with provisions on archipelagos in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and the adjacent waters, including Renai Jiao. This was developed and established throughout the long course of history and is consistent with international law including the UN Charter. Second, Renai Jiao has never been the Philippines territory. The territory of the Philippines is defined by a series of international treaties, including the 1898 Treaty of Peace between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain (the Treaty of Paris), the 1900 Treaty between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain for Cession of Outlying Islands of the Philippines (the Treaty of Washington), and the 1930 Convention between His Majesty in Respect of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States regarding the Boundary between the State of North Borneo and the Philippine Archipelago. Nansha Qundao, including Renai Jiao, is completely beyond the limits of Philippine territory. The Philippines has no legal basis at all to claim sovereignty over Renai Jiao on the grounds of its comparative proximity to Philippine territory. Third, the so-called South China Sea arbitration award is illegal, null and void. The arbitration initiated by the Philippines directly concerns the issues of territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation. Territorial issues are not subject to UNCLOS. Besides, in 2006, pursuant to Article 298 of UNCLOS, China excluded issues relating to sea boundary delimitations from the jurisdiction of a court or tribunal. By unilaterally initiating the South China Sea arbitration, the Philippines contravened the stipulations of UNCLOS. The Arbitral Tribunal violated the principle of state consent, exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of the law. Such an award is illegal, null and void, and completely invalid. It is legally untenable for the Philippines to claim that Renai Jiao is part of its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the above-mentioned award. Fourth, by grounding a military vessel at Renai Jiao, the Philippines gravely violated Chinas territorial sovereignty. In May 1999, the Philippines grounded a tank landing ship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Renai Jiao. The Chinese side immediately lodged serious demarches, asking the Philippines to tow away the vessel at once. The Philippines repeatedly promised to do so as soon as possible. However, 24 years have passed, and the Philippine warship is still there. China cannot accept the Philippines acts of going back on its words again and again and violating Chinas territorial sovereignty. The Philippines has the responsibility to tow away the grounded military vessel. Fifth, the responsibility for the current situation at sea completely lies with the Philippines. For some time, the Philippines, ignoring Chinas goodwill and sincerity, has kept sending official vessels and warships to forcibly intrude into the adjacent waters of Renai Jiao in an attempt to send construction materials for repairing and reinforcing the grounded military vessel on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Renai Jiao. These actions seriously violated Chinas territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, contravened international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and disrupted peace and stability in the region. China once again urges the Philippines to take seriously Chinas concerns, stop making provocations and creating troubles at sea, and stop groundless attacks and smears, so as to avoid undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea and harming the common interests of countries in the region. China will continue to, in accordance with our domestic laws and international law, do what is necessary to firmly safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso swears in Cesar Zapata, the new general commander of the National Police. Presidencia Ecuador (Presidencia Ecuador/EFE) The death of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio who was assassinated on August 9, just days before the elections has revealed all the ghosts that haunt Ecuador. The investigation into his murder has exposed the gross incompetence of the authorities and the extent to which organized crime has infiltrated public institutions. Seven of the 13 men who were detained for the assassination were murdered this past Friday night and early Saturday morning. They were killed in prison, due to the permissiveness of the guards. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso was in New York when he learned of the deaths. He subsequently canceled a planned trip to South Korea and flew back to Ecuador, where he convened his security officials. By the end of the session, the president announced a restructuring of the police leadership, which has so far included the dismissal of General Fausto Salinas, the general commander of the National Police. The purge has begun at the highest echelons. A week before Ecuadorians vote for their next president, Lasso wants to show firmness. He has also ordered the dismissal of the director of prisons (SNAI), Luis Ordonez, who is being replaced by Fausto Cobo, the current director of Ecuadors intelligence service. In the Guayaquil penitentiary (one of the most dangerous in Ecuador) the six Colombian hitmen who were arrested after the assassination of Villavicencio were murdered. According to police sources, they were hanged. The seventh murder that of an Ecuadorian named Jose Montano, who was accused of transporting the hitmen and providing them with weapons occurred at 4 a.m. this past Saturday, at the Inca prison, in Quito about 260 miles from the Guayaquil prison. The deaths have shocked the world. Earlier, the U.S. government had offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to the masterminds of the murder of Villavicencio, an investigative journalist who denounced the criminal networks that had infiltrated his countrys politics. From the moment the suspects were arrested, those most skeptical of the states ability to solve the crime feared for their lives. The six Colombians were set to be transferred to another prison but the order was never carried out. The government has filed a criminal complaint against the director of the Guayaquil prison, who is now detained for his alleged collaboration. Photograph provided by the Armed Forces of Ecuador. It show prisoners gathered in a patio, during a search at the Litoral penitentiary, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in July 2023. Fuerzas Amadas (EFE) Riots have previously occurred in the Guayaquil penitentiary, resulting in dozens of deaths. Criminal gangs associated with drug cartels fight for control over the jail. It certainly didnt seem like the best place to shelter the accused, especially when there were strong suspicions that they could be the victims of settling scores, or attempts to silence them forever. Weeks before they were killed, a drone with explosives flew over the prison. The device detonated and damaged the roof of the building. The circle was tightening around the hitmen. Ecuadorians are shocked by the violent drift of their society. For decades, they were safe from the violence that plagued the two neighboring countries, Colombia and Peru, the two largest coca producers in the world. However, in recent times, Mexican and Colombian mafias have infiltrated Ecuador. Through associations with local gangs, theyve managed to challenge the state. And the power of these groups of gang members has grown, paradoxically, from the prisons. So far this year, 5,320 murders have been recorded in Ecuador, while in 2022, the country recorded its highest number in history (4,600) double that of 2021. The figures place Ecuador among the most dangerous countries in the world. All of this is occurring just one week before the runoff of the presidential elections on October 15. Ecuadorians will choose between a young businessman Daniel Noboa and Luisa Gonzalez, a former minister and close ally of former president Rafael Correa (2007-2017). After Villavicencios murder, the candidates have limited their public events, campaigning mainly via social media. The main issue up for debate, unsurprisingly, has been insecurity. Noboa has promised floating prisons offshore to lock up the most dangerous prisoners, while Gonzalez has pledged to return the country to the times of Correa, when insecurity wasnt as prevalent as it is today. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition On Wednesday, a group of students got to experience what it's like to make decisions in loca Russia is already and will likely continue to exploit the Hamas attacks in Israel to advance several information operations intended to reduce US and Western support and attention to Ukraine. This is said in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukrinform reports. Thus, Russia has blamed the West for neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine and claiming the international community will cease to pay attention to Ukraine. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev claimed the United States and its allies should have been busy with working on Palestinian-Israeli settlement rather than interfering with Russia and providing Ukraine with military aid. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) accused the West of blocking efforts by a necessary quartet of Russia, the US, the European Union, and the United Nations, leading to an escalation in violence in Israel. Read also: Zelensky expresses condolences to families of those killed in Hamas terrorist attack on Israel Russian propagandists also claim that Russia will benefit from the escalation 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. As reported, a massive rocket attack was launched on the central and southern regions of Israel on Saturday morning. At least 250 people were killed in the large-scale attack by Hamas on Israel. Mohammed Deif, a senior Hamas military commander, announced the start of the operation in a broadcast on media, calling on Palestinians everywhere to fight. He claimed that 5,000 rockets had been launched into Israel. Israel said that 2,200 rockets had been fired. The Israeli defence minister approved the call-up of military reservists; the number of reservists to be called up will depend on the IDF needs. The Israeli army announced the start of the operation Swords of Iron" in response to the Hamas attack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war. The United States, the EU, Ukraine and a number of other countries have condemned the attacks on Israel. Western air defense systems, with which Ukraine is gradually replacing existing Soviet models, will focus on protecting the energy sector as a whole, as well as strategic facilities and critical infrastructure, as they did last winter. Thats according to Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports. "These capabilities will strengthen the same areas as last year. It is clear that during the heating season the bet will be made on energy facilities, as well as on strategic state facilities and critical infrastructure objects," Ihnat said. He noted that there is a whole list of objects that the enemy might seek to hit. "Also, the food sector should be added to the objects of critical infrastructure as the Russians have been attacking it, too," the spokesman added. Ihnat once again emphasized that Ukraine still lacks the required number of defense systems, so it is necessary to make use of everything that can be employed to hit air targets. Despite this, the spokesman for the Air Force assured, air defense forces will try to shoot down as much as possible of what Russia launches at Ukraine. As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky noted on Thursday, following a series of meetings within his working visit to Spain, that an agreement was reached on the supply of air defense capabilities and long-range weapons. The Spanish government will send six launchers for Hawk anti-aircraft missile systems, while Germany vowed to donate an additional Patriot system for the winter months. The military training of Hamas militants who attacked Israel could be provided by instructors from Tehran and Moscow. The Russian trace in this attack is clearly visible. "The military training of Hamas, which launched the attack on Israel, could be provided by instructors from Tehran and Moscow because the Russian trace is also clearly visible here through Iran, directly, through possible financial assistance for Hamas from Russia. If we take Iran in this chain, if Israel decides to launch strikes on Iran's military facilities, which, for example, produce ballistic missiles that can be supplied to Russia, then Ukraine may also have an interest in this. This is our common interest and a unifying factor," Oleksandr Musiyenko, head of the Center for Military and Legal Studies, said on the air of Ukrainian Radio. At the same time, the expert notes that the nomenclature of weapons in security assistance packages for Israel and Ukraine coincides by only 20% but these are different types of war. "For Israel, the priority now is rockets for building up the Iron Dome. After all, there is a need to produce a large number of rockets because there are a lot of attacks, and this exhausts Israel's rocket potential. Then weapons and missiles for aviation are provided also, as well as some other elements of weapons that are not our primary needs. Therefore, in the sense of security assistance, Ukraine and Israel do not overlap much. For example, for Israel, large packages of artillery shells will not be provided because it is a slightly different type of war and they now need something different," says the head of the Center for Military and Legal Studies. As reported, on October 7, terrorists fired thousands of missiles on Israel from the Gaza Strip, armed militants invaded Israel, they entered the homes of civilians, killed women, men, and children. The Israeli government confirmed that more than 100 Israelis were currently being held in Gaza but denied reports of hostage negotiations. Photo: AA To help Ukrainians in Israel, the operational headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing emergency routes for Ukrainians to leave the Gaza Strip. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reported. "The Ukrainian Embassy is in constant contact with the Israeli police, rescue services, major hospitals, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine of Israel. We keep in touch with Ukrainians who are in the Gaza Strip, we are developing emergency routes out of the enclave, in case of such a need," the Foreign Ministry informed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded that in any critical situation, one should contact the hotlines of the Embassy of Ukraine in Israel: + 972 546 676 782 and the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Ramallah: + 972 59 823 93 99. Read also: Ukraine verifying reports of death of three Ukrainians near Gaza Strip For more information, Ukrainians are advised to follow the website of the Israeli Defense Forces Home Front Command (accessible from Israel). As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is checking the information about the deaths of three Ukrainians in and near the Gaza Strip. Earlier, the Foreign Ministry reported that two Ukrainian citizens were killed in Israel. In the morning of October 7, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. The militants invaded the country, simultaneously launching a massive rocket attack. The Israeli army announced the launch of the 'Iron Swords' counter-terrorist operation in response to the Hamas attack, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country is at war and that a purge of terrorists has begun. A boy cries as he sits next to debris, in the aftermath of an earthquake in the district of Zinda Jan, in Herat, Afghanistan, October 8, 2023. A senior Taliban delegation visited western Afghanistans Herat province on Monday in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that killed at least 2,000 people over the weekend and flattened entire villages, a statement said. Saturdays magnitude 6.3 quake hit a densely populated area in Herat and was followed by strong aftershocks in what was one of the deadliest temblors to strike the country in two decades. Disaster authority spokesperson Janan Sayiq told reporters in Kabul that so far around 4,000 people killed and injured without giving a breakdown and nearly 2,000 houses have been completely destroyed in 20 villages. The United Nations estimated the dead and injured to be closer to 2,500 people. The Taliban-appointed deputy prime minister for economic affairs, Abdul Ghani Baradar, and his team are visiting the quake-affected region on Monday to deliver immediate relief assistance and ensure equitable and accurate distribution of aid, according to a statement from the capital, Kabul. The quake also trapped hundreds, and people have been digging with their bare hands and shovels to pull victims both dead and alive from under the rubble. Authorities said Monday they were still waiting for an update on the latest casualties from Herat. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quakes epicenter was about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of the city of Herat, the provincial capital. It was followed by three very strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. Residents of the city rushed out of their homes again on Monday to stay on the streets after another aftershock hit. The USGS said the aftershock was magnitude 4.9. I have lost five members of my family; three daughters, my mother, my sister-in-law, and three from my uncles family, said Asadullah Khan. He added that a total of 23 people in his village were killed. Dozens of teams have scrambled to help with rescue efforts, including from the military and nonprofit groups. Sayiq, from the disaster authority, said that more than 35 teams alongside local people were involved in rescue operations. A global response to the Afghanistan quake has been slow, with much of the world wary of dealing directly with the Taliban government and focused on the deadly escalation between Israel and the Palestinians in the aftermath of the surprise attack by Gaza militants on Saturday that has left more than 1,100 dead in fighting so far and thousands wounded on both sides. Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for the international community to come forward but only a handful of countries have publicly offered support, including neighboring China and Pakistan. Some countries, such as Denmark and Norway, have said they will work with international partners and humanitarian agencies on the ground. Aid group CARE USA a member of CARE International umbrella said in a statement that the quake struck at a time when Afghanistan was already facing a severe humanitarian crisis that was significantly underfunded, while needs were increasing rapidly. The fast-approaching winter, combined with this new disaster, is likely to exacerbate the existing challenges and make it even more difficult for people to meet their basic needs, like adequate shelter, food, and medicine, it said. CARE is deeply saddened by the devastating earthquake that struck the western province of Herat, said Reshma Azmi, the groups deputy director for Afghanistan. This comes less than seven months after another powerful earthquake hit the country, leaving thousands homeless and displaced. Azimi was referring to the magnitude 6.5 earthquake in March that struck much of Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan. Also, an earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan in June 2022, striking a rugged, mountainous region, wiped out stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people. The situation is worse than we imagined, with people in devastated villages still desperately trying to rescue survivors from under the rubble with their bare hands, said World Vision, a global charity. Reinforcements from Kabul arrived on Sunday, but the area of the quake has only one government-run hospital. Our colleagues and their families are processing this devastation in their hometowns, and yet we are responding with everything we have, said Thamindri de Silva, the head of the Afghanistan office of the charity. People need urgent medical care, water, food, shelter and help to stay safe. Please stand with us as we respond. The International Rescue Committee IRC said in a statement the earthquake caused significant damage to villages and infrastructure and that emergency response teams have been deployed to the area to provide immediate humanitarian assistance. The IRC said in a statement that, including bridges in the affected region. Salma Ben Assia, IRC Afghanistan director, said that even before the devastating earthquake struck, over 29 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance. The earthquake has further exacerbated the situation, warning that harsh winter conditions can have a disastrous effect on those displaced, particularly women and children. In neighboring Pakistan, the government held a special session to review aid for Afghanistan, including relief teams, food items and medicine, as well as tents and blankets. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on X, formerly Twitter, that he was deeply saddened by the devastation in Afghanistan. Our hearts go out to the affected communities. We stand in solidarity with the Afghans during this difficult time, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called his Afghan Taliban counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, to express condolences, according to a post on X by Hafiz Zia Ahmad, the deputy spokesman for the foreign ministry in Kabul. The Iranian diplomat promised humanitarian aid to victims, said Ahmad. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Finland is contributing EUR 92 million to the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA) to scale up support to Ukraine, Moldova and other countries affected by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. That's according to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ukrinform reports. "This additional funding shows Finland's unwavering support for Ukraine in line with the Government Program. We will also support improving food security in countries affected by Russia's invasion," said Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. Finland will allocate EUR 62 million to the Support Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery, with EUR 12 million of the amount to be allocated as a grant and EUR 50 million as a loan. In addition, Finland will provide EUR 30 million in loans to countries affected by Russia's aggression to help them prevent the spread of infectious diseases, among other efforts. Read also: Finland preparing new military aid package for Ukraine In Ukraine, the Special Program for Ukraine and Moldova Recovery will address needs in the health, transport, energy, agriculture, housing and social security sectors. It will help improve access to healthcare services, modernize medical care, promote the availability of services addressing acute energy deficits, repair vital road and railway networks and residential buildings and sustain agricultural activities. It will also accelerate long-term efforts to support Ukraines recovery and the reconstruction of critical sectors. Particular attention will be paid to the rights of women, girls and persons with disabilities. In Moldova, the IDA Crisis Facility will primarily help cover the costs of receiving people fleeing Ukraine and finance development programs and crisis preparedness supporting Moldova's economic and social recovery. Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov discussed Ukraine's needs for air defense systems, long-range missiles and artillery during a telephone conversation with Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren. "Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov had a telephone conversation with Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren. The ministers discussed Ukraines urgent needs, in particular for air defense systems, long-range missiles and artillery," the Ministrys press service posted on Telegram. During the phone conversation, Umerov focused on the experience of the Netherlands in procurement and provision of the armed forces which will be useful for Ukraine. In addition, the defense minister thanked the Netherlands for its leadership in the F-16 coalition. "Grateful to the Netherlands for their leadership in the F-16 coalition, pilot training, willingness to provide aircraft and plans to establish F-16 pilot training center. Im looking forward to meeting Ollongren during 16th Ramstein format meeting and we invite [minister Ollongren] to visit Ukraine," the press service quotes the minister as saying. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Azerbaijan has provided ten shipments of humanitarian aid to restore the country's power grid, with a new batch of aid for the restoration of distribution networks expected by the end of the year. That's according to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. "Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine has received from Azerbaijan ten shipments of humanitarian aid for the energy sector, which includes 50 back-up power plants and 45 power transformers. By the end of 2023, the arrival of another large batch of new equipment for the restoration of distribution networks is also expected," the report reads. According to the report, Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko and Azerbaijani Ambassador to Ukraine Seymur Mardaliyev discussed cooperation in the oil and gas industry, including the issue of storage and transit of resources. Photo: Ministry of Energy of Ukraine Slovakia will not provide security assistance to Ukraine after the victory of the anti-Ukrainian Smer party in the elections. As TV Markiza informs, President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova noted that the powers of the president did not include making decisions on the supply of security assistance. At the same time, Acting Prime Minister Ludovit Odor consulted with Caputova about his position that his government would no longer approve decisions on the provision of security assistance. The president noted that she had agreed with his reasoning. In addition, according to Caputova, another factor was the content of the security assistance package. "It was not only about ammunition... If there was only ammunition, it would be a completely different issue, a completely different topic of discussion," she said, adding that it was about other, more powerful equipment. As reported, parliamentary elections were held in Slovakia on September 30, in which the populist party Smer-SD ("Direction Social Democracy") won. Its leader, Robert Fico, built his campaign on rhetoric that denied support for Ukraine. The new coalition government should be formed by October 16. Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi called the head of the Hamas politburo, Ismail Haniyeh to declare support for the Palestinian people and the "resistance forces". This was posted by the press service of the Islamist group, Ukrinform reported with reference to LB.ua "What you have done is about pride, glory and power, and God is your support," Raisi said. He declared Iran's backing for the Palestinian people and the "resistance forces". "You have made the Islamic nation happy with your initiative," he said, adding that he prayed to Allah for new victories. As reported, on the morning of October 7, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Militants invaded the country, simultaneously launching a massive rocket attack. Israel has officially declared a state of war. The death toll on the Israeli side has already exceeded 700. At least two Ukrainian nationals are among those killed. The EU, as well as the U.S., Ukraine, and a number of other countries have condemned the attacks on Israel. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was determined to ramp up diplomatic efforts to achieve deescalation between Israel and Palestine, adding that a two-state solution was the only way to achieve peace. That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports. Turkey, which has supported Palestinians in the past, hosted members of Hamas which launched the attack on Israel, and backed a two-state solution, said it was ready to help ease tensions. Erdogan repeated a call for both sides to avoid steps that would exacerbate the conflict, adding that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was at the root of all problems in the Middle East. "So long as this problem is not resolved in a fair way, our region will continue to live in longing of peace," Erdogan said. Read also: Zelensky announces joint action with partners to counter terror "Lasting regional peace will only be possible by finding a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. In this regard, as we have always underlined, the preservation of the two-state solution perspective is very important." He added the formation of an independent Palestinian state, in line with the borders set out in 1967, with its territorial integrity intact, and with Jerusalem as its capital was now "a necessity that cannot be delayed." "As justice is delayed, unfortunately the price of this is paid by Palestinians, Israelis, and our whole region," Erdogan said. Since fighting began on Saturday, Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan has held calls with his U.S., Palestinian, Spanish, Qatari, Saudi, Iranian, Egyptian, and Jordanian counterparts to discuss the matter. Erdogan warned against "adding fuel to the fire" on Sunday, and said Turkey was ready to do whatever it can to ease tensions and stop the violence. "We are determined to continue the diplomatic efforts we have started to re-establish calm by intensifying them. We call on all parties with a say in the region to sincerely contribute to peace," he said. Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen has called on the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. She stated this in her speech at the NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen on Monday, Ukrinform reports with reference to The Guardian. We must be with Ukraine to the bitter end. None of us can claim war fatigue while Ukraine continues its tireless fight. Let us decide that war fatigue will not take place in our transatlantic community, she said. In her speech, the Danish prime minister claimed Russian president Vladimir Putin had miscalculated, thinking that NATOs words of support to Ukraine would remain just that, words. Ukrainian soldiers are fighting with our weapons, our tanks, our missiles, and soon Ukraine will also fly our F-16s, she added. Frederiksen also appealed to representatives of other NATO nations to broaden the coalition that is supplying fighter jets and the required training for pilots. As reported by Ukrinform, Denmark will provide Ukraine with 19 F-16 fighter jets. Photo credit: Liselotte Sabroe/EPA President Daniel Ortega with his wife First Lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo in a stock photo. Two members of the National Assembly and another priest have become the latest political prisoners in Nicaragua, jailed by the regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. In a context of unchecked repression and following the release and forced exile of 222 political prisoners this past February the ruling Sandinista National Liberation Front has maintained a revolving door policy around its carceral apparatus. As of August, the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners in Nicaragua a human rights collective counts a total of 89 political prisoners in the country. Between August 1 and August 31 of 2023, 24 arbitrary arrests were recorded [as a possible result of] political persecution. Of these, five individuals were released and at least 15 remain in prison, details a report that was presented by the opposition organization. The human rights collective is denouncing a new method of repression being employed by the regime, which consists of holding trials that are carried out without the accused person being transferred from the jail to the court. The hearings, instead, are held through videoconferences. Detainees are not permitted to communicate with the defense lawyer of their choice. Complaints continue to be received from detained people who have been victims of the repressive waves [since] April of 2023, the researchers add in their report, referring to the political persecution that the regime has unleashed against Catholics. In this way, the state of terror among the population is evident. Due to fear of reprisals, [Nicaraguans] keep quiet about the cases of their relatives, who have been unjustly detained for up to more than two months. This hunt is framed by the dictatorships objective of maintaining a totalitarian state theyve been violating, for example, citizens rights to freely profess faith and engage in political resistance for a long time, explains Juan Diego Barbarena a member of Nicarguas Blue-White National Unity (UNAB) opposition coalition in an interview with EL PAIS. Its a scenario of continuity of totalitarianism, but its also a manifestation of the regimes weakness, because it needs to keep Nicaraguans within the framework of a de facto state of emergency in the streets. [The regime] needs to continue arresting political dissidents, to position itself for an eventual political negotiation, which isnt in sight for now. The regime [needs to have an advantage] when making concessions. The most notable arrest in recent months was that of Brooklyn Rivera, a social leader of Indigenous origin, who founded the Yapti Tasba Masraka Nanih Aslatakanka (YATAMA) political party or the Children of Mother Earth, in the Miskito language. On September 29, the 71-year-old legislator was hiding in his home, in the city of Bilwi, when police burst in and detained him. Rivera had remained in his home since last May, when he returned to Nicaragua from a trip abroad, after participating in the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, where he criticized his countrys government. Despite the regime denying him the right to return to his own country, he did so anyway. According to Riveras daughter, the legislator was being monitored since he came back to Nicaragua. In 2007, Rivera became a political ally of the Sandinista National Liberation Front the party led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. However, this alliance was broken in 2015, when he was dismissed as a legislator from the National Assembly, accused of engaging in land-trafficking. In 2016, YATAMA participated as a regional party in the parliamentary elections: Rivera was once again elected as a deputy. YATAMA is the dominant political force in eastern Nicaragua. After Riveras recent arrest, the regime canceled his partys political status, while also confiscating its properties. Then, on October 1, the police arrested Riveras substitute deputy and the regional president of the YATAMA Indigenous party, Elizabeth Henriquez James. Both were subsequently removed from the list of lawmakers appearing on the National Assemblys website. The arrest of Brooklyn Rivera is also aimed at imposing totalitarian control over [Nicaraguas] Caribbean coast, especially in the north, where YATAMA is the main political party. We must remember that next year, in 2024, there will be regional elections in the Caribbean region, Barberena notes. This past Thursday, October 5, a priest Alvaro Toledo was arrested hours after he sounded the alarm about the arrests of multiple priests from the diocese of Esteli, which is headed by Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who has been imprisoned since August of 2022. Father Toledo was also taken to prison, after being dragged from his residence in the city of Ocotal. Our diocese is running out of priests we dont have priests, we ask our Good Shepherd for abundant vocations and for them to be placed in their parishes, Toledo said last week during mass. He reminded his parish that six priests from his diocese had been arrested for political reasons. Furthermore, just days ago, there was a rumor that he had also been arrested a rumor that has now become reality. The truth is that we already know that [the state] can grab us at any moment, but we have peace and a clear conscience. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A primary school teacher and his students, in Laguna del Tigre, Guatemala, in March 2020. The Washington Post (via Getty Images) Julio Cesar Rodriguez Molano graduated in mathematics and computer science in Colombia, completed a masters degree in website management and engineering and is a doctoral student in computer science from the University of Oviedo (Spain). However, his salary as a teacher in a rural Colombian school does not exceed $813. Baltazar Sanchez, director of the official mixed rural school of Aldea Juil, in Guatemala, earns less than $900. Dario Greni Olivieri, in Uruguay, receives $1,300. Although the cost of living and the salaries vary greatly between the different Latin American countries (ranging from $300 to $1,500), most teachers have lower wages than people from other careers that require similar years of training. And passion does not put bread on the table. The prices of the essential goods are sky-high, and our salaries cannot keep up. We are professionals, and we cant always make ends meet, says Sanchez. I should be earning $370 more; the difference is due to the governments obstacles to promotion. My salary is not enough, says Rodriguez. According to estimates by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published last Wednesday in the context of World Teachers Day, there is a global shortage of 44 million teachers. Some of the reasons are job insecurity, the lack of government support, little or no digitalization and obsolete infrastructure. At least 3.2 million are needed in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve the educational goals of the 2030 Agenda. Twenty years ago, this unmet demand was linked to an increase in school enrollment. Today, it has more to do with the difficulty of attracting candidates or keeping them in their jobs. Claudia Uribe, director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, is very concerned about desertion in the sector: This rate among primary school teachers has doubled in seven years. In 2015, it was 4.62% and, in 2022, 9.06%. According to regional estimates, most of the teacher shortage expected for 2030 is attributed to the potential need to fill existing positions. When personnel are in such demand, explains Bibiam Diaz, education specialist at the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the requirements are not so strict. This has a notable impact on the performance of many teachers and students. We are facing a great challenge in the continent regarding teacher training, especially in the digital area. Although it is true that the different countries are making progress in this sense, they often go through the process of adapting to artificial intelligence or technology alone, in their free time, she explains. This is the case of Greni, director and teacher of the rural school number 88 in Las Violetas, Uruguay, who estimates that he devotes an average of 10 extra hours a week to prepare his classes and train. Although Uruguay has been praised for its famous Ceibal Plan, which provided tablets and computers and incorporated digital tools throughout the educational process, adaptation to technological reality is still slow. We have not received any courses on artificial intelligence yet. I think we could really benefit from it, but I havent ventured into it with my students because I think I need training. We dont have it yet. For rural teachers like Rodriguez, the gaps are even wider: Although governmental organizations constantly offer us courses on emerging technologies, they are difficult to apply because they are concentrated in training institutions that are located in large populated areas. Diaz insists: A lot can be improved in the way the teaching career is designed, but also in the role of the governments so [the teachers] wont be left alone. Solitude at work increased during the Covid-19 crisis. The teachers did not want to know about schedules or medical restrictions if that meant weariness or hopelessness among the students. Despite their efforts, Latin America took more than a year and a half to return to in-person learning, and the setback in student learning was equal to a decade. In addition, nearly 15 million children left school after the pandemic. Greni questioned many times if anybody was thinking about the well-being of the teachers. And Sanchez, in Guatemala, says he is still suffering the consequences of the hiatus: We are only starting to recover. Although teaching is a highly feminized career (73%), those who leave are usually men who are either at the very beginning or near the end of their careers, working in schools with a high level of vulnerability. UNESCO data shows that after the pandemic, teacher dropout rates increased considerably at primary levels. The scarcity also seems to affect certain disciplines, such as mathematics and science, as well as schools that are more vulnerable or of Indigenous origin. A teacher and his group of students in Unguia, Colombia, on May 4, 2022. Anadolu Agency (via Getty Images) More practical training is necessary But what can change the training of teachers in the education system? Veronica Cabezas, executive director of Elige Educar, a public-private initiative dependent on the Chilean Ministry of Education and the Public Policy Center of the Catholic University in Spain, is clear: everything. For her, the key lies in three main points: It is necessary to have more practical training that is closer to the territories where classes are taught, understanding the context of the students well; monitoring that does not end with the graduation of the teachers, but continues during the first year of internship; and a solid socio-emotional orientation. She adds: Those who study to become teachers have to know what it means to teach long before they graduate, since in cities like Buenos Aires, for instance, only one in three teaching students graduates. Endless hours, low salaries and a heavy workload. Although the teaching sector in the region has many things to improve, the three teachers interviewed cannot imagine doing anything else. Experts, however, point out that their calling and passion cannot be the only pillars on which such important work is supported. Our office is a classroom full of children, adds Grani. Teachers have to understand that the higher quality of the educational system is a benefit for them; the students. They need to try teaching as soon as possible to know if they like it or want to give up. I am clear that I will do this until I retire. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In 1973, when Arab countries attacked Israel by surprise during the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, just as the Gaza militants did on Saturday, taking advantage of the end of Sukkot, it destroyed in just a few days the so-called conseptsia the consensus among intelligence services that Israels neighbors would not launch a war because they understood that it was a lost cause. Six years earlier, the Jewish state had scored a euphoric win in the Six-Day War, in which the Israeli military took Gaza and Sinai from Egypt; East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. But Egyptian forces also surpassed at record speed the famous Bar Lev Line, a series of fortifications east of the Suez Canal, which until then had been considered impregnable. In fact, Israel was relatively close to defeat, until the United States sent the country 93 combat aircraft and 26,000 tons of equipment. This was just two days after the then prime minister Golda Meir described the panorama on the battlefield as absolutely terrible. On Saturday, 50 years and one day since the Six-Day War, another conseptsia in the Jewish state collapsed: that the wall on the border with Gaza in which it has invested billions of dollars and placed sophisticated surveillance systems was also practically impassable. It believed that its control of communications and network of informants on the ground would allow it to anticipate an attack of such magnitude, and that, regardless of what day of the year it is, the Israeli Army is one of the most powerful in the world. But, above all, it believed that Hamas the Islamist movement that does not recognize the Jewish state and has governed Gaza since 2007 was more interested in maintaining stability in the impoverished Gaza Strip and in preserving the 18,000 work permits in Israel for Palestinians than in engaging in a new escalation of violence, due to the deterrent effect of the foreseeable response. Hamas managed to deceive Israel for months, with a distraction strategy, in which it was preparing the operation, says Uzi Rabi, director of the Moshe Dayan Center of the Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University, who defines the Hamas attack as a strategic and military fiasco for Israel. It is both a triumph for Hamas and a failure for Israel. The numbers [of dead and kidnapped] have never been seen before. October 7, 2023 is going to be a date as historically important as October 6, 1973. At least 700 Israelis have died and dozens more are estimated to have been abducted. It is the first attack since the war that followed the creation of Israel in 1948 in which the enemy has been able to infiltrate the country. Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson of the Israeli Defense Forces, said Sunday that militia members are still in Israeli territory. How could Israel with all its human, technological and military resources and its informants in the Gaza Strip which has been blockaded for more than a decade not foresee an action that had been in the works for months? It has been a great failure of the intelligence and preparation services, but also a problem of concept: of assuming that Hamas did not want an escalation, says Rabi. Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Kobi Lavie, former head of the Palestinian affairs branch in the Israeli Ministry of Defense agency that manages civil affairs in Gaza and the West Bank (COGAT), where he was also responsible for intelligence services, disagrees. It is impossible to organize an operation of this magnitude in Gaza without Israel knowing about it. The intelligence information existed. What has failed is the understanding of that information. There has been talk of a war for three or four months. But it is impossible for any army to be permanently prepared for something that it does not know when will happen. A photo distributed by the Israeli Government Press Office shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) during a situation assessment meeting in Tel Aviv on October 8, 2023. AMOS BEN-GERSHOM/GPO HANDOUT (EFE) Lavie gives as an example the Iron Dome rocket shield, whose batteries are deployed based on the perception of danger. In just a few hours, the Gaza militias launched an unprecedented number of rockets: 3,000, according to the Israeli Army; 7,000, according to Hamas. It was, above all, a diversionary maneuver to distract from the real objective: entering Israel. The militants first attacked the military posts on the border wall, which gave rise to unprecedented images, such as an excavator breaking down part of the barrier. Palestinians are prohibited from approaching the border wall. In the so-called Great March of Return of 2018 and 2019, Israeli snipers killed more than 300 Palestinians who were protesting in front of the wall. Hamas also took advantage of gaps in the wall, flew over it with paragliders and entered Israel through the Mediterranean Sea, guarded a few miles away by the Navy. Once in Israel, they advanced, killing and kidnapping civilians, police and soldiers, recording videos, walking and chanting slogans with hardly any resistance, as if they were not in one of the countries with the highest military spending per capita in the world. From a military point of view, there was a similar approach to that of 1973, despite the differences. And it was that Hamas did not want to alter the status quo, except to create a bit of trouble to [force] Qatar [to increase its economic support], but it was not preparing anything big, says Lavie. I have no doubt that Hamas itself was surprised by the ease with which it was able to enter, he adds. There is also the issue of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus judicial reform. It is the elephant in the room, which few mention at a time of national unity. The heads of the two main opposition parties, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz both critics of the reform have proposed that Netanyahu form an emergency government in the face of the coming war. For months, military commanders and former heads of the intelligence services had been warning that the deep political and social schism unleashed by the controversial reform was seen as a sign of weakness by Israels enemies. Not only because of the countrys internal divisions and the massive weekly demonstrations that have been taking place since January, but also because army reservists have refused to serve. The leader of the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, summed this up last July, when Israels Parliament approved the first key law of the reform. Israeli society which thought that its army would not be defeated and that the state must stretch from the Nile to the Euphrates, and that Israel is a regional power began to deteriorate in terms of its faith, its consciousness, its self-confidence and confidence. This is what puts it on the path of collapse, fragmentation and disappearance, God willing, he said in a televised speech. Amit Segal, one of the main Israeli political commentators, tweeted on Saturday: We forgot to be brothers and received a war. Humiliated by hundreds of men trapped in 140 square miles, Israel is now focused on a response, which in the words of Netanyahu, will continue with neither limitations nor respite until the objectives are achieved. On Sunday, Hagari said: There will be a time for hard questions and tough investigation, but now we are at war. In 1973, the Agranat Commission examined the errors that facilitated the pincer attack by Syria and Egypt at the beginning of the Yom Kippur War. When its first conclusions were known, Golda Meir resigned. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 09th Oct, 2023) LONDON, 9th October, 2023 (WAM) H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs met with James Cleverly, UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in London to discuss the latest developments in the region and the ongoing escalation on the Palestinian-Israeli track. The UAE top diplomat underscored the seriousness of the escalation that began in Gaza and its role in increasing tensions in the region and threatening its security and stability. The two sides stressed the importance of coordination between all active international parties to contain the current crisis through all possible means and solutions, as well as to address all provocative actions that aim to destabilise the region and threaten its peoples. Sheikh Abdullah also affirmed that the UAE-UK cooperation levels are steadily growing based on the 'Partnership for the Future' that unites the two countries and aims to achieve sustainable prosperity for their peoples. The talks between the two sides also touched on the latest developments on the border between Serbia and Kosovo, ways to reduce tensions between the two sides, and the importance of adhering to dialogue under the auspices of the European Union. In this regard, Sheikh Abdullah affirmed the UAE's support for all efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Western Balkans region. The meeting was attended by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Commercial Affairs, and Mansoor Abdullah Al Balhol Al Falasi, the UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Caretaker Federal Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of Major Ali Raza and Havaldar Nisar Ahmed during the operation against terrorists in Zhob ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2023) Caretaker Federal Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of Major Ali Raza and Havaldar Nisar Ahmed during the operation against terrorists in Zhob. He admired the valour of brave soldiers in the operation with the families of the martyrs and shared their grief. Major Ali Raza and Havaldar Nisar Ahmed were martyred while fighting bravely against terrorists, said the minister in his message while paying respects to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country. The minister said that the Pakistani nation owes the sacrifices of martyrs, adding brave soldiers of security forces killed five terrorists. He said that the entire nation stands with the Pakistan Army and terrorism must be eradicated at any cost. Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed four "prisoners" held by Hamas, said Monday the Palestinian militant group whose fighters carried out a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend Gaza City, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2023) Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed four "prisoners" held by Hamas, said Monday the Palestinian militant group whose fighters carried out a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. "The occupation's bombing last night and today on the Gaza Strip led to the killing of four of the enemy's prisoners," the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said on its website. AFP could not verify the claim, which comes after dozens of people were taken hostage by the militants in attacks across southern Israel on Saturday. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the deaths of "prisoners" when contacted by AFP. More than 700 people have been killed in Israel, officials said, the majority slain by militants who crossed the border from Gaza by land, air and sea. Israel has retaliated with repeated strikes on Gaza, where at least 560 have been killed according to health officials in the Palestinian territory. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2023) The Kremlin said Monday there was a "high risk" of a third party entering the conflict between Israel and Hamas, after the US moved warships closer to its ally Israel. US President Joe Biden announced the show of support on Sunday, sending fresh aid to Israel following surprise attacks by Palestinian group Hamas. "The risk of third forces becoming involved in this conflict is high," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency. "It is very important to find ways as soon as possible to move towards some kind of negotiation process in order to reduce this escalation and move away from a military solution," he said. Frankfurt, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2023) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's beleaguered coalition was counting the cost Monday of heavy losses at two state elections halfway into its term, which also saw the far right make strong gains. All three parties in the coalition -- Scholz's centre-left SPD, the Greens and the liberal FDP -- saw support fall Sunday in the the southern region of Bavaria, the country's biggest state, and Hesse in the west. The main conservative opposition won in both polls, as expected, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained more ground, causing fresh concern about their growing appeal. Nearly 14 million people were eligible to vote in the states, almost one in five of Germany's electorate. The polls were seen as a crucial indicator of the population's mood, with surging immigration and economic woes among key topics. "It is clear who won the vote: populism," said news weekly Der Spiegel while the top-selling Bild said a whopping 80 percent of Sunday's voters were calling for a change in migration policy, citing polling institute Infratest dimap. Two years after coming to power, the polls were a kind of "interim report card" for Scholz's coalition, Der Spiegel said. "The results are disastrous," it went on. "The coalition needs a reset if it wants to be re-elected in two years." For the anti-immigration AfD, the votes were the latest sign of growing momentum and showed their appeal was extending beyond their traditional strongholds in the ex-communist east. The elections came after a torrid two years for Scholz's government, which has had to contend with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and an 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. However Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit sought to play down the vote setbacks, saying the government was on course to tackle the most pressing issues facing the country. "The chancellor is convinced that the government is doing a good job, that it has the right positions and is charting the right course for the longer term," he told reporters. - Conservative strongholds - Not helping the cause of the SPD and its coalition partners, both states are conservative strongholds. Hesse had been ruled for 24 years by the main opposition CDU and Bavaria since 1957 by the CSU, headed by Markus Soeder. The SPD had sought to gain ground in Hesse by fielding a heavyweight to run for state premier, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. But the party won just 15 percent of the vote, almost five percentage points below its last result in 2018. The CDU maintained its first place in Hesse and extended its lead by over seven points to 34.6 percent. State premier Boris Rhein is thus set to retain his job, while Faeser is left facing questions about her political future. SPD party leader Saskia Esken said the poor showing underlined that the government in Berlin must speed up its response on migration in particular. "We have got to seal migration agreements with the main countries of origin now," she told public broadcaster ARD. The AfD looked to have gained about five percentage points in both Bavaria and Hesse, building on recent local poll wins, although the mainstreams parties have ruled out cooperation with it in government. Immigration was a central theme at the polls 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 will retain his post. But with vote projections showing the party's worst result for decades, it could deal a blow to his ambitions to one day stand as a chancellor candidate. An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council has failed to take any action to deal with the raging Middle East conflict sparked off by a surprise Palestinian fighters' assault on Israeli border towns as Israel responded with deadly air strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll to 1,100 UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2023) An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council has failed to take any action to deal with the raging Middle East conflict sparked off by a surprise Palestinian fighters' assault on Israeli border towns as Israel responded with deadly air strikes on Gaza, raising the death toll to 1,100. According to diplomats, the United States demanded that the 15 Council members issue a statement strongly condemning these heinous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas, but not all members agreed with the call. Unanimity is needed for the U.N. Security Council to produce a statement. After the closed-door meeting, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said that a good number of countries did condemn the Hamas attack but not all council members. He told reporters they could probably figure out one of them. Sources said the Security Council did not consider any joint statement, let alone a binding resolution, with members led by Russia hoping for a broader focus than condemning Hamas. My message was to stop the fighting immediately and to go to a ceasefire and to meaningful negotiations, which was told for decades by the Security Council, said Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations. This is partly the result of unresolved issues, he said. China said it would support a joint statement. Its abnormal that the Security Council doesnt say anything, Ambassador Zhang Jun said, who earlier promised Chinese support for a condemnation of all attacks against civilians. "What's really important is to prevent the further escalation of the situation and further casualties of civilians," Zhang said. "What's also important is really to come back to the two-state solution." The Council met for about 90 minutes and heard a briefing from the UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland. The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Israel as part of a landmark 2020 deal, said it expected more UNSC meetings on the crisis. I think everyone understands that today, the situation is one of grave concern, said the UAE Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh. Many members of the Council believe that a political horizon leading to a two-state solution is the only way to finally solve this conflict, she said. Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour called on diplomats to focus on ending the Israeli occupation. Regrettably, history for some media and politicians starts when Israelis are killed, he said. This is not a time to let Israel double down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed. In an open letter sent to UNSC members ahead of the meeting, three Palestinian human rights organizations said the UNs inaction had enabled the latest violence and meant its members were complicit in what had happened. The Palestine-based organisations Al-Haq, Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights called on UN member states to address the root causes and protect the Palestinian people from Israeli attacks. APP/ift OSullivan Contributes Expertise on Annual Percentage Rate to WalletHub Mon, 10/09/2023 - 10:46am | By: David Tisdale Dr. Jennifer A. OSullivan, an assistant teaching professor of finance in The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Parks School of Leadership, was recently featured in WalletHub's piece about the Annual Percentage Rate (APR), What is APR? written by WalletHub Managing Editor John S. Kiernan. In her contribution cited in the article, Dr. OSullivan urged consumers to be vigilant about paying attention to APR when making decisions about taking out loans of any type, and to also employ financial calculators to assist them in making informed choices. It is very important that consumers use a financial calculator, such as the ones on WalletHub, to understand the true cost of a purchase and to compare loan offers, Dr. OSullivan noted. Read Dr. O Sullivans entire contribution on the topic and the article. Leard more about the USM School of Leadership. Private Event Raises Funds for The Childrens Center at USM Mon, 10/09/2023 - 02:30pm | By: Courtney Tesh If you had driven by the home of the Roses on the evening of May 6, 2023, you may have thought for a moment that you were in the wrong state. Guest after guest could be seen entering the home donning suspenders, fascinators, bow ties, and hats. Bright colors abound as couples passed through the front door to an entryway dripping in roses. Inside, the Kentucky Derby played on screens throughout the home and friends clinked glasses custom-engraved by Carters Fine Jewelry filled with mint juleps and champagne served by Jamie Farris of Lincoln Road Package Store, all while Half Shell Oyster House filled the air with the aroma of fresh grilled oysters. Run for the Roses may have been held at the Rose familys home in the Timberton neighborhood of Hattiesburg, but the scene was straight out of Kentucky. The event, the first of its kind, was a private Derby-themed gathering hosted by several families in the Hattiesburg community with one overarching goal in mind raising funds for The Childrens Center for Communication and Development at USM. Hosts included Dr. Beth and Jeff Rose, Dr. Melanie and Jerry Hall, Chrissy and Ben Yelverton, Sarah and Bradley Myers, Jenny and Brad Boudreaux, Candace and Kent Oliver, Amanda and Robert Lee, Jackie and Max Dyar, and Marina and Todd Little. Our daughter, Aubrey, attended The Childrens Center, and we had such a great experience there, said Jeff Rose of he and wife, Dr. Beth Roses connection to the Center and motivation behind helping host this event. Seeing firsthand the impact that this program has on children and families in our region, Beth and I really wanted to be a part of something that not only helps the children currently enrolled at the Center, but those who will be in need of their services in the future. The Childrens Center, a non-profit serving children ages 0-5 with complex communication needs and disabilities has locations on both USM campuses and maintains a waitlist full of children needing those very services. The team of experts at the Center includes speech language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, a pediatric audiologist, listening and spoken language therapists, a special instructor, a social worker, and support staff who work together to create and carryout individualized, comprehensive therapy plans for each child enrolled at the Center, all at no cost to their families. One of the countless individuals impacted by The Childrens Center since its inception in 1974 is Layla Lee. Although (my husband) Ben and I did not know each other at the time, in 2012, a very special little girl entered both of our lives, said Chrissy Yelverton, a friend of The Childrens Center and a host of Run for the Roses. We were both friends of the Lee family, and through this shared friendship, we experienced firsthand the roller coaster of emotions one experiences when bringing home a baby with special needs. As our friends welcomed their daughter, Layla, we saw the joy she brought to everyones lives. But we also saw the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with a rare diagnosis. Layla was diagnosed with Jacobsen syndrome at birth and received speech, physical, and occupational therapy from The Childrens Center from infancy until she graduated at the age of 5. Chrissy goes on to explain the impact that The Childrens Center had on their friends lives. I can still remember the immediate sense of relief in her mothers voice and the confidence and hope she found after being connected with The Childrens Center. For families to have access to the expertise and resources of this program without having to worry about any financial constraints is truly amazing. Ben and I hope to always play a small part in the continued efforts of The Childrens Center. And its clear this is a sentiment shared by each Run for the Roses host. Watching so many families that the Center has touched come together with the shared goal of raising money for an organization that helped our little ones we love so much during that pivotal first chapter of their lives was incredible, said Jeff Rose. I know I speak for all of the hosts when I say that we are beyond grateful to everyone who came, volunteered their services, sponsored, and donated. Seeing what started as an idea come to life and exceed our expectations was really special to see. Thanks to all those involved, this event brought in double the amount we hoped to raise for The Childrens Center. We were absolutely floored by the support from our community through this event, said Sarah Myers, Director at The Childrens Center. It was so moving to see not only the response to the event and the number of attendees who came out to support us, but to watch as friends of the Center, families who have been touched by our work in one way or another, pour their time, energy, and talents into making this event so incredible, all in honor of our little ones and their families. We cant overstate our gratitude for this group of wonderful hosts and for the individuals and local businesses who played a role in the success of what we hope will be the first of many such events. About The Childrens Center for Communication and Development The Childrens Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi is a non-profit that provides cost-free communicative and developmental transdisciplinary services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers while educating, training, and supporting families, university students and professionals. The Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research and the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Wyoming will host University of Arkansas Professor Daniel Kennefick for the inaugural Rebka-Hafele-Einstein Distinguished Lecture Friday, Oct. 20. Kennefick will discuss A Brief History of Gravitational Wave Emission from 3:10-4:10 p.m. in Room 129 of the Classroom Building. His lecture also will be livestreamed via WyoCast. UW President Ed Seidel will provide opening remarks. The UW and Laramie communities are invited to attend. Kennefick received his Ph.D. in physics from Caltech in 1997. Since 2003, he has been at the Department of Physics at the University of Arkansas. He is the author of No Shadow of a Doubt: The 1919 Eclipse That Confirmed Einsteins Theory of Relativity from Princeton University Press. He also is the author of a history of gravitational waves called Traveling at the Speed of Thought and is the co-author of An Einstein Encyclopedia. Kenneficks research concentrates on gravitational waves, galactic structure and the history of physics. The University of Wyoming College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources recently honored notable alumni and supporters at the annual deans banquet in Laramie. The event, which took place Oct. 5, marked the beginning of Agriculture Appreciation Weekend, a yearly event celebrating UWs connection to the agricultural community. Honorees were Roger Stuber and Karen Williams, Outstanding Alumni Award recipients; Laura Bucholz, Legacy Award recipient; and Mountain Meadow Wool, Corporate Partner Award recipient. Outstanding Alumni Awards Stuber was the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning a bachelors degree in animal science in 1962. He originally set out to become a lawyer, but he quickly realized hed rather put his education to use on the family ranch. With Stuber at the helm, the Stuber Hereford Ranch (SHR) has raised and owned bulls at the top of almost every expected progeny difference category at the American Hereford Association. In 2014, Stuber was inducted into the associations Hall of Fame. In addition to winning the National Western Stock Show twice, SHR cattle have achieved international acclaim. They have been shipped to buyers as far away as Argentina and Kazakhstan. Over the years, Stuber has influenced state, national and international legislation through leadership in industry organizations, including the National Cattlemens Beef Association. He considers UW a vital contributor to his success, saying, If Ive had any success in these national boards, its because Ive taken classes in commerce. Posthumous recipient Williams was a champion of educational excellence in Wyoming and beyond. Her lifes work focused on the education of young children and the education of those who teach young children. Williams received her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction in 1993, specializing in early childhood education. Her lengthy career in the UW Department of Family and Consumer Sciences included a seven-year stint as department head. One of her most cherished achievements was the creation of UWs Early Care and Education Center. Karen was the lead advocate and designer of the new building, says Margaret Cooney, a longtime colleague and friend. Williams also was an early advocate for distance learning, leveraging technology to serve place-bound students and adult learners. She launched UWs distance professional child development bachelors degree program and later established the Bachelor of Applied Science in organizational leadership program. Williams rounded out her career at UW as a university assessment specialist in the Office of Academic Affairs, retiring in 2015. Her legacy lives on in the educational opportunities she created for past, present and future students. Legacy Award Bucholz is president of the Gretchen Swanson Family Foundation. The foundation recently made a generous gift to UWs hydrology program in honor of her late husband, Kurt. A rancher, veterinarian and legislator, Kurt paved the way for a new approach to irrigation administration in southern Wyomings Brush Creek watershed. Laura has continued his quest for ethical water rights management through her engagement with the Brush Creek project, which brings together area ranchers and UW scientists to manage local water priorities. The Swanson Foundations gift created the Dr. Kurt S. Bucholz Irrigation Science Excellence Fund, which supports water management research in the UW Department of Ecosystem Science and Management. The gift also established the Watershed Hydrology Graduate Assistantship, which provides funding to a graduate student serving as irrigation administrator in the Brush Creek system. This gift will leave an impression not just on the university, but also on the state of Wyoming as a whole, says UW President Ed Seidel. Corporate Partner Award In the six years that UW has partnered with Mountain Meadow Wool, a regional wool mill in Buffalo, the mill has hosted more than 200 undergraduate students and 130 sheep industry stakeholders. Mountain Meadow Wool also acts as a production partner in Wyoming Wool Initiatives annual blanket project, now in its third year. Through the blanket project, Ben Hostetler, operations manager, and his team have contributed to traceability research on the use of blockchain technology in the sheep industry. Its not hyperbole when we say that Mountain Meadow Wool is an unofficial satellite campus and laboratory in our educational and outreach efforts, says Lindsay Conley-Stewart, Wyoming Wool Initiative project coordinator. Mountain Meadow Wool is working with UW on several new projects, including sock production and a feasibility study on first-stage wool processing. The swift fox (Vulpex velox), which is native to North America, was declared extinct in the state of Montana in 1969. In response, different organizations reached an agreement to begin a reintroduction program that established a population of foxes on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northern Montana. Thirty years after their extinction, the first individuals were released, and the reservation once again saw swift foxes running across its plains. This program not only managed to successfully recover this species, but also marked a before and after for conservation. For the first time, it had taken into account the personality of the animals that were released. Today, there is no doubt that animals even fish and invertebrates such as crustaceans also have a personality, which is defined by the differences in the behavior of individuals of the same species. These differences have to be constant over time and in different situations or contexts. In the same way that there are people who tend to be braver, more sociable, or more aggressive than others, these personality traits have also been observed in other species. Currently, the study of animal personality is one of the fastest growing fields in biology and has very interesting applications. One of these is in the field of conservation and especially in species reintroduction. Every reintroduction program worth its salt includes a thorough evaluation of the process. If this does not happen, we are simply talking about releasing animals or something else, but not about reintroduction. The programs carry out studies to ensure that the animals meet appropriate health and behavioral criteria to survive in the wild, such as being able to find their own food or flee from predators. Furthermore, after release, the animals are monitored for months or even years and the reintroduction is only considered a success if they reproduce and manage to create a stable and long-lasting population. The scientists in charge of the swift fox reintroduction wanted to go further and also studied whether the foxes personality affected their survival in the wild. They decided to focus specifically on one trait: bravery. The foxes came from a captive colony, where personality tests could be applied. To carry out their experiment, they introduced a new object into the animals enclosure and measured the time it took each individual to approach it. Those foxes that were repeatedly more likely to explore new stimuli were considered braver. Thus, they evaluated 31 individuals for two months who were then released. The results were overwhelming: the brave foxes died before the cautious ones. According to the authors of this research, it is possible that captive foxes were less fearful than would be appropriate for a wild fox. Stress affects reproduction, therefore, those individuals that are less stressed in captivity (because they are less fearful) will reproduce more. After several reproduction cycles, it is expected that the new generations of these foxes will be less afraid of new stimuli. Thus, upon returning to their natural habitat, they explore the territory more and avoid cars less, which makes it easier for them to die from being run over. At least, this was the case for the only two deaths whose cause could be determined. Thanks to this research, it was possible to recognize the importance of considering the personality of animals in conservation efforts. Since then, other reintroduction programs have included personality studies. In particular, aspects such as daring, courage and sociability are taken into account. For example, to reintroduce social species, conservationists seek to have a wide variety of personalities among individuals, because it makes coexistence easier. This is what is proposed by the social niche specialization hypothesis, which is corroborated by a variety of studies in species such as shrews, spiders, and fish. Now, if one clear conclusion can be drawn from all these studies, it is that there is immense variability in the results. Even within the same species, the optimal personality for survival might be different depending on the environment and time. Braver individuals are more likely to take risks and may die sooner, but they also reproduce and take over new territories faster. Each trait has advantages and disadvantages, and the balance can easily tip one way or the other depending on the circumstances. The 'game' of survival A clear example is the European mink reintroduction program in Estonia, which evaluated the survival capacity of these animals based on their propensity to explore new territories. Curiously, at the beginning the less exploratory individuals were more successful, but within a year the tables had turned. This could have been due to external factors, such as variation in the abundance of prey, or because the second year was drier and warmer. The important thing is that the population remained stable over time, thanks to the fact that the personality of the minks was varied. Some authors have suggested that animal personality differences can be explained by what is known as game theory. Suppose a population of animals in which the most aggressive individuals win fights against the more docile animals and reproduce more. In this case, being aggressive would be an advantage and, over time, the population would be dominated by this type of individual. There would come a point when fights would be so frequent and deadly that the tables could be turned. Those animals that are more timid and peaceful would engage in fewer conflicts and be more likely to survive. In this way, evolution favors some personality traits or others in nature, and diversity is maintained over time. The relationship between an animals personality and its ability to survive is extremely complex, and this field of study still has a lot of potential. Each reintroduction program will have to find the ideal personality types to guarantee survival in the wild for as long as possible. At a time when species are becoming extinct faster and faster, any small push towards conservation is helpful. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Republicans in Wisconsin are threatening to impeach a recently elected state Supreme Court justice and raised the possibility of doing the same to the states election director. A Georgia Republican called for impeaching the Fulton County prosecutor who brought racketeering charges against former President Donald Trump. Republicans in the Pennsylvania House have already impeached the top prosecutor in Philadelphia. None of the targets met the bar traditionally set for impeachment credible allegations of committing a crime while in office. Their offense: staking out positions legislative Republicans didnt like. As Republicans in Congress begin their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, the process is calling attention to the increasing use of impeachment in the states as a partisan political weapon rather than as a step of last resort for officeholders believed to have committed a serious offense. Its not just impeachment. Over the past two years, Republicans also have sought to pry Democrats and nonpartisan executives from office through recalls, legislative maneuvers and forced removals, even when no allegations of wrongdoing have surfaced. To some, the moves appear anti-democratic actions that could have major implications if they become routine and supplant the ballot box as the final arbiter of an election. If voters cannot go to the voting booth and cast their ballot without the fear of an election being vacated and their vote being rendered null and void, whats the point of having elections in the first place? said Melissa Agard, a Democrat who is the Senate minority leader in Wisconsin. This is the fundamental promise of our nation. The political power moves have most recently been on display in her state and generated national attention. Republican legislative leaders there have threatened to impeach a liberal Supreme Court justice, Janet Protasiewicz, who won her seat by more than 10 percentage points this year in an election that flipped the Wisconsin court to liberal control for the first time in 15 years. Republicans want her to withdraw from redistricting cases involving the states heavily gerrymandered political map, which has given the GOP outsize control of the Legislature in a state where Democrats have won most statewide executive offices. They cite her campaign statements and fundraising. even though other justices have acted similarly in the past without sanction. Since the founding of our state in 1848, no state Legislature has even introduced articles of impeachment in order to nullify a vote by the people of Wisconsin to gain partisan advantage, the states Democratic Party chair, Ben Wikler, said last month. Its a thought that for most of our states history has been unthinkable. On Friday, the states Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to the gerrymandered maps on a partisan 4-3 vote, with the new justice declining to step aside, thereby increasing the chances of an impeachment. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has been the most outspoken in threatening impeachment, but has stopped just short of promising to take that action. Never once will you find me saying that if she didnt recuse, were going to impeach. I never said that, Vos said. What I did say is that is wrong if she doesnt. She needs to recuse herself if you predetermine an outcome. In Pennsylvania, Republicans already voted to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner over his progressive criminal justice policies when they controlled the state House in 2022, before it flipped to Democratic control. The impeachment trial is indefinitely stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate while Pennsylvanias highest court considers legal challenges. A panel of lower-court judges split on the legality of impeaching Krasner, who was reelected overwhelmingly in 2021, but issued a lead opinion casting doubt on the charges. It said they failed to meet the constitutional requirement that reserves impeachment for misbehavior in office. The state Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in the case for late November. After Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought charges against Trump and 18 others for trying to overturn Georgias 2020 election results, some state legislative and congressional Republicans called for the Legislature to impeach her. The idea was rejected quickly by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who referred to the threats as political theater. A Republican lawmaker, state Sen. Colton Moore, was suspended from the GOP Senate Caucus because of his stance and public comments against his fellow Republicans who had followed Kemps lead. Their statement said Moores persistent attacks against them for not agreeing to the impeachment was causing unnecessary tension and hostility. The recent impeachment and trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stands in contrast. Paxton, a Republican, had been indicted on securities fraud charges and was the subject of an FBI investigation when he was impeached last spring by the state House of Representatives, which is controlled by his fellow Republicans. The articles of impeachment included bribery and abuse of public trust. He was acquitted last month by the GOP-controlled Senate, where his wife serves. Republicans have tried other ways in recent years to remove Democrats or nonpartisans from office even in the absence of any allegation of wrongdoing. In Florida, two Democratic prosecutors have filed lawsuits challenging their removal by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, saying his actions were political and without merit. DeSantis has criticized them for being too lenient and addressed his actions during the second Republican presidential debate. When I had two progressive prosecutors that werent following the law in Florida, I removed them from their posts, and the people of Florida are safer as a result of it, he said, adding that if elected president he would have the Justice Department bring civil cases against other progressive prosecutors. North Carolina Republicans recently passed legislation that, among other things, could allow them to replace the executive director of the state election board, a position the board hires. Theyre upset with her over a legal settlement as voting began in 2020 that eased some rules for mailed ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic beyond what state law permitted. Their supermajority status will allow them to override a veto by the states Democratic governor, who called the legislation a serious threat to our democracy. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom handily defeated a 2021 recall attempt staged by Republicans, who have not won a statewide office in years and based their campaign on the governors approach to the COVID-19 pandemic. No actual wrongdoing was alleged, and Newsom breezed to reelection the following year. Michigan State University law school professor Brian Kalt described the failed recall as just another example of polarization and the weaponization of constitutional law to solve political disputes. Richard Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, said impeachment and recall are intended for cases where there seems to be a clear abuse of power. Its important to have these powers because sometimes you dont want to wait for a bad actors term to end before theyre removed from power, he said. But I think what weve seen is a greater willingness to play political hardball and that these devices that are meant to stop abuse could potentially be themselves abused. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned that aid fatigue is growing at a time when a record number of people are fleeing conflict, persecution, human rights violations, climate change, and grinding poverty. "It is mainly conflict that has driven forced displacement to unprecedented numbers 110 million refugees and displaced people, the highest in decades," said Filippo Grandi, UNHCR chief, as he opened the organization's annual conference. The yearly event got off to a solemn start with a minute of silence to honor the victims of the recent earthquake in Afghanistan and the conflict in Israel two incidents that struck both countries on Saturday with devastating repercussions for millions. Grandi expressed his shock at "the appalling attacks carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians," warning that this would cause more suffering for both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, "bringing grave instability to a region already plagued by tensions." Grandi called the escalating violence another "very dangerous piece in a growing mosaic of crises which, if not addressed courageously, spells doom for world peace." As conflicts grow, he said, so does disrespect for international humanitarian law with serious consequences for millions of people caught in the middle and forced to flee. During a visit to Egypt, South Sudan, and Chad earlier this year, Grandi said he met some refugees fleeing the devastating conflict in Sudan and who spoke of the destruction, death, torture, and rapes they left behind. "They recounted how they had to run from the brutal violence that erupted without warning on 15 April. Their lives upended as suddenly as were those of the Ukrainians the year before, and of many Ukrainians now, facing every day the death and destruction resulting from the Russian invasion," he said, adding that all 110 million people around the world who are uprooted by conflict, violence, and persecution share the same experiences. While it was up to the UNHCR to help protect, assist, and find solutions for these people, he acknowledged that this was becoming harder to do every year. Grandi said the global situation was dire and worsening. In the past year, he said the UNHCR responded to 44 new emergencies in 31 countries, "capping off an awful record of number of crises in one year." The latest emergency, he said saw 100,000 refugees fleeing Nagorno-Karabakh, an enclave in Azerbaijan, for safety to Armenia a few days ago. But he notes violence continues in many other places, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where nearly 1.5 million people have been newly displaced this year alone, "78,000 of whom fled within the country in just one day last week." "Or in central Sahel, where amidst growing political instability, violence perpetrated by armed groups is forcing more people to flee, including to coastal states. Or in Somalia, where the climate emergency coupled with conflict has forced nearly 900,000 from their homes. "Or in Myanmar, where hundreds of thousands have been and are being displaced by fighting," he said. Given this backdrop, the high commissioner said he was extremely worried that underfunding was hampering the UNHCR's humanitarian operations. For example, he noted that the $1 billion Regional Refugee Response Plan, for refugees from Sudan, was just one quarter funded. Grandi added that this was only one of many humanitarian operations that are short of cash and have been forced to make drastic cuts in food rations, protection needs and other services. When humanitarian aid is in short supply, he said many people feel compelled to leave their country or countries of refuge and embark on dangerous journeys in search of a better life. For example, among those reaching Tunisia and Italy today, he said, are Sudanese nationals who recently fled fighting back home and have moved on from countries neighboring Sudan because of insufficient assistance. Then again, he notes a significant increase in the number of Syrians attempting the dangerous Mediterranean Sea crossing "at a time when humanitarian aid in Syria and in neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon is experiencing, again, drastic reductions." The latest data from the International Organization for Migration show nearly 2,000 migrants died between January 1 and June 26 while crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe. Major airlines have suspended flights in and out of Israel after the nation declared war following a massive attack by Hamas. Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants continued firing barrages of rockets, setting off air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Video posted online appeared to show a plume of smoke near a terminal at Ben Gurion International Airport. Scores of arriving and departing flights at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport were canceled or delayed, according to the airport's online flight board. American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended service as the U.S. State Department issued travel advisories for the region citing potential for terrorism and civil unrest. American suspended service to Tel Aviv through Friday. The airline said that it has issued a travel alert providing additional flexibility for customers whose travel plans are impacted. "We continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed," American said. United said it allowed two scheduled flights out of Tel Aviv late Saturday and early Sunday and accommodated its customers, crews and employee travelers who were at the airport. The airline said that its Tel Aviv flights will remain suspended until conditions improve. Delta said its Tel Aviv flights have been canceled into this week. The airline said it's monitoring the situation and making schedule adjustments accordingly. The company said customers with canceled flights or who want to change their Tel Aviv ticket should check the Delta app, website or call Delta reservations to make adjustments. Airlines in Europe and Asia also put fights on hold amid the hostilities, and offering refunds and waiving rebooking fees for passengers. Air France said that it has suspended services to Tel Aviv "until further notice" after coordinating with French and Israeli authorities. "The airline is constantly monitoring the geopolitical situation in the areas served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety," Air France said in on its website. Germany's Lufthansa, which suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until Saturday, said Monday that the decision regarding its planes and those of its subsidiaries was made "due to the still unclear developing security situation in Israel and after an intensive analysis of the situation." The Lufthansa Group includes Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines as well as Lufthansa itself. Hong Kong's main carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, said that "in view of the latest situation in Israel," it was cancelling its Tel Aviv flights scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday. "The safety of our passengers and crew are our top priority. We will continue to monitor the situation very closely," the airline said on its website, adding it would provide another update on Friday ahead of its third weekly flight on Sunday to the Israeli city. Virgin Atlantic canceled its service between London's Heathrow Airport to Tel Aviv on Monday and Tuesday as well as the return flight from Tel Aviv to London on Wednesday. Budget airline Wizz Air, which flies to Israel from Abu Dhabi and more than two dozen airports in Europe, said it was cancelling all flights to and from Tel Aviv "until further notice." The U.K. discount carrier easyJet said that "due to the evolving situation in Israel," it has decided to "temporarily pause operations" its flights from London Luton and Manchester airports to Tel Aviv. "Our thoughts are with those who have been affected and the safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority," easyJet said in a statement. British Airways said it's planning to continue operating flights to Israel "over the coming days with adjusted departure times." Dutch carrier KLM said it's scrubbing flights to Tel Aviv "until and including Wednesday." President Joe Biden said Monday that his administration is supporting Israel in its all-out war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and that he has put U.S. officials on high alert in the wake of the stunning, "heart wrenching" weekend attack on Israel by the U.S.-designated terrorist group. He confirmed that at least 11 Americans were killed in the multipronged, surprise Hamas attack, and said officials believe that some of Hamas' hostages may be Americans. "I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts," he said. And domestically, he said, "in cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centers of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel." The White House has been a hive of activity since Saturday morning's attack, with Biden and administration figures speaking to officials from countries in the Mideast, Palestinian officials, and close allies like the U.K., Germany and Italy. In the U.S., political figures on both sides of the aisle condemned Hamas and spoke of the far-reaching global impacts of events in the Gaza Strip, which is an area about twice the size of Washington, D.C. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is in China with a congressional delegation, said he asked China's president to toughen his stance. "I raised with President Xi [Jinping] the unfolding atrocities carried out against Israel and the need for the world community to stand together against terrorism and with the Israeli people, and pointedly requested from President Xi that the Chinese Foreign Minister strengthen their statement; they did," he said. And Schumer's Republican counterpart, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, demanded swift action against known Hamas supporter Iran. "The West should reimpose extensive multilateral sanctions on Tehran and deny Iranian planes overflight rights. Impound the shipping vessels Iran uses to circumvent sanctions. Close Iranian banks with access to the West, and cease the Iranian operations of European businesses," he wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Monday afternoon. "Treat Iranian officials like pariahs and sink Iranian naval boats that threaten international shipping." Over the weekend, a senior Biden administration official told journalists: "it's too early to say whether the state of Iran was directly involved, or planning, or supporting," but added that "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." Biden did not mention Iran in his lengthy statement Monday. Analyst Ray Takeyh of the Council on Foreign Relations said that while a "shadow war" between Israel and Iran has been ongoing for some time with officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps meeting with Hamas representatives, and with Israeli officials targeting Iranian officials, scientists and Iranians working with proxy forces in Syria "All this is likely to be aggravated by Saturday's attack on Israel." Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump said Monday, during a rally in New Hampshire, that Biden's policies led to the carnage seen over the weekend. "As president, I will once again stand strongly with the state of Israel, and we will cut off the money to the terrorists on day one and reimpose the travel ban on terror-afflicted countries," he said. By late Monday afternoon, an Israeli embassy spokesperson said the death toll had risen to at least 900 Israelis. And the Gaza Ministry of Health said at least 687 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli airstrikes. Both figures are expected to climb. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said nearly 6,000 people were wounded on both sides. The number of hostages, Guterres said, numbered "over 100, possibly more," including civilian women, children and the elderly. Some, he said, were being held in Israel; others are believed to be inside the Gaza Strip. This situation poses an extraordinary challenge to Israeli leadership, wrote analyst Natan Sachs of the non-profit Brookings Institution. "Israeli sensitivity to POWs and MIAs is world-record-setting," he wrote, noting that Hamas' current leader in Gaza was himself part of a swap of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli soldier in 2011. He added, "The Israeli government faces a conundrum: enter with force and risk many more Israeli casualties, both military and civilian. Refrain from it, and find yourself at the mercy of a terrorist organization on your border. Freeing all Hamas and Islamic jihad operatives from Israeli prisons, as these organizations demand, would be difficult for the Israeli government to agree to. Israel might eventually try to negotiate, or it might embark on risky rescue operations inside the Gaza Strip with the best case outcome being only partial success." Advocacy group J Street, which describes its membership as "pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans," encouraged the White House to show its support for Israel. On Saturday, hours after the initial attacks, Biden said his commitment to Israel remains "rock solid." "We are deeply worried for the safety of the Israeli people, including the hostages now in Gaza, as well as for the safety of the Palestinian civilians who are now caught in the crossfire," the group said in a statement Monday. J Street added, "We support the Biden administration as they take all necessary measures to aid, support and reinforce our Israeli allies, as they combat Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and guard against the threat of further attacks on additional fronts." Margaret Besheer at the U.N. and Linda Gradstein in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Israels defense minister has ordered a complete siege of the Gaza strip and a cutoff of water supplies, food and electricity two days after Hamas militants launched surprise attacks that left hundreds of people Israel dead or kidnapped. Israeli counterstrikes on Gaza have since killed hundreds of Palestinians. VOAs Carol Van Dam spoke with Robert McCaw, government affairs director of CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, about how the violence will end. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: How does this conflict end? CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw: While all reasonable people do want this violence to stop, and every human life has value whether it's Palestinian or Israeli but the only way to permanently stop this violence is to end the occupation. Because I believe, similar to Ukraine, Americans and the international community would like to side with the oppressed, not the oppressor. The international community's refusal to hold the radical far-right Israeli apartheid government accountable for escalating human rights abuses and theft of Palestinian land has only emboldened more abuses. And you know, led to this violence. It had not happened in a vacuum but had been led up to this point. VOA: As you point out, Palestinian-Israeli relations have deteriorated even further after the hard right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took over. So, give us a little glimpse of what has led up to this point and what led up to this attack. McCaw: The Israeli government has used American taxpayer dollars to murder Palestinian American journalists in the last year, leave a beaten and gagged elderly Palestinian for dead, expanded illegal settlements, and enabled wanton settler violence, which, by the way, targeted American Palestinians taking shelter calling on the U.S. government for protection, which they did not get. We've also seen the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the killings of hundreds of Palestinians, including many children every year. We've also seen that Gaza, since Hamas was elected [in 2006], it's been an open-air prison where its borders have been closed and Israel controls access to water, electricity and medical aid. VOA: And as you know water and electricity and other kinds of emergency supplies have been cut off now by Israel to Gaza, do you have any inside contacts of how things are today in Gaza? McCaw: It's very hard in America to get a clear picture of what is happening. You know, we're relying on Palestinian Americans in contact with their relatives to let us know. But closing off the electricity to Gaza is part of a plan to silence voices in Gaza so that the world doesn't know what is going on. This violence needs to end, though. The indiscriminate and violent bombing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is only going to lead to a tragic loss of life and create new barriers to a lasting solution. Again, I think what's happening in Gaza is a dire situation and that this is kind of a last solution and it's a tragic and violent and deadly one. But here we are now. We have to figure out how, as peacemakers, we can address the core roots and concerns of this violence to make sure that this never happens again. VOA: You allude to other attacks that were carried out by Israeli forces on Palestinians, but this was clearly a Hamas attack on Israelis inside Israel. Does your group condemn the attack that happened on Saturday? McCaw: Again, every human life has value, whether it's Palestinian or Israeli. We condemn any violence against civilians. Somehow, though, the world has neglected to address the core concerns of the people of Gaza for 17 years. They would rather have peace with no solution. They would rather further the status quo. Even our own president has turned a blind eye to the two-state solution and just let Israel further its settlements without any solution in sight. Governments around the world are scrambling to learn the whereabouts of their nationals in Israel, and in some cases, evacuate them amid the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Several foreigners were killed or taken hostage when Hamas fighters poured out of the Gaza Strip on Saturday and began attacking targets in Israel, most prominently the Tribe of Nova music festival, in which an estimated 260 people lost their lives. The U.S. State Department confirmed the deaths of nine U.S. citizens on Monday. Thailand's government said 12 Thai nationals have been killed and another 11 taken hostage by Hamas. Argentina confirmed four of its citizens were killed, while the BBC reported "more than 10" British nationals are feared dead or missing, although only two fatalities have been confirmed. With most regular flights into and out of Israel's main airports canceled, governments are organizing charter flights to evacuate nationals who wish to leave the country. Hungary evacuated 215 people from Israel on two planes overnight, and they landed safely in Budapest, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a Facebook post Monday morning. VOA's Albanian Service reports a flight carrying 40 nationals from Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia landed in Albania's capital, Tirana, Sunday evening. The evacuees were met at the airport by Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani. The Albanian Foreign Ministry announced that "in the coming days, there will be more special flights to Tel Aviv, while we are also coordinating with the sister ministries of the countries of the region to come to the aid of all citizens who seek to return to their countries." North Macedonia is attempting to organize an evacuation effort for between 150 and 200 of its nationals who remain in Israel. The country's prime minister, Dimitar Kovacevski, said the embassy in Israel is "working around the clock" to contact and locate them all. "That's the thing now, to contact them, to find a way to get out of Israel and return home safely," he said. Other large-scale evacuation efforts are in progress. The Thai Foreign Ministry said 1,000 Thai nationals have requested help to leave Israel. The Royal Thai Air Force is on standby to evacuate them, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said. Mexico announced Monday it was sending two planes to Tel Aviv to pick up Mexican nationals. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that some 5,000 Mexican nationals are in Israel and some 300 have asked to leave. Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona told VOA Khmer that the country was working with Israeli authorities to evacuate Cambodians. He said the government is also coordinating with Israeli officials "so that they can ensure the safety of all Cambodian citizens and students who are staying there." VOA's Albanian, Macedonian and Cambodian Services contributed to this story. Some information came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Trump, the Republican front-runner and long the person who has shaped his party's rhetoric on the border, has often blamed Mexico for problems in the U.S. and promises new uses of military force and covert action if he returns to the White House. Ron DeSantis wants suspected drug smugglers at the U.S.-Mexico border to be shot dead. Nikki Haley promises to send American special forces into Mexico. Vivek Ramaswamy has accused Mexicos 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, the Republican front-runner for the 2024 nomination and long the person who has shaped his partys rhetoric on the border, has often blamed Mexico for problems in the United States 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. More than 75,000 people in the U.S. died last year from overdoses of synthetic opioids, an annual figure more than 20 times higher than a decade ago. The candidates antagonism toward Mexico is welcomed by some families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl and have argued that Washington has not done enough to address the worst drug crisis in U.S. history. 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. Youve got politicking on this side. And then on the Mexican side of the border, youve got a president who is turning a blind eye to whats going on in Mexico and who has completely gutted bilateral collaboration with the United States, said Arturo Sarukhan, Mexicos ambassador to the U.S. from 2007 to 2013. Thats 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 Joe Bidens 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. Democrats also face immense political pressure on border issues heading into next years election. The White House has funded national programs to reduce fentanyl overdoses and sanctioned Chinese companies blamed for importing the chemicals used to make the drug. Mexico has failed to address its problem with fentanyl production and trafficking. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador repeatedly denies his country is producing the synthetic opioid despite enormous evidence to the contrary. Border agents seized nearly 13 tons (12,000 kilograms) of fentanyl at the U.S.-Mexico border between September 2022 and August, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. At the second GOP primary debate late last month, candidates reiterated that they would use military forces to go after drug gangs in Mexico. As commander in chief, Im going to use the U.S. military to go after the Mexican drug cartels, said DeSantis, the Florida governor. He 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 on sight before any investigation into whether those people were carrying drugs. U.S. government data undercuts the claim that people seeking asylum and other border crossers are responsible for drug trafficking. 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, a CBP deputy assistant commissioner, said 73% of fentanyl seizures at the border since the previous October were smuggling attempts carried out by U.S. citizens, with the rest being done by Mexican citizens. A study published last year from U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies called Mexico the principal source of fentanyl, with cartels manufacturing the drug using precursor chemicals largely smuggled from China. But it noted that the crisis could not be resolved without curbing addiction in the U.S. that creates overwhelming demand for illegal opioids. The supply of illicit fentanyl cannot be permanently stopped through enforcement alone only temporarily disrupted before another cartel, trafficking method, or analogue steps in to fill the market that addiction creates, said the report from the U.S. Commission on Combating Synthetic Opioid Trafficking. Lopez Obrador took office in December 2018 campaigning with a motto of hugs, not bullets, and for four years has shredded his predecessors prosecution of the drug war. Experts agree that wide swaths of Mexico are under the de facto control of drug cartels. Lopez Obrador is already sensitive to what he considers U.S. interference in Mexico, suggesting that foreign agents were spying as they built a fentanyl smuggling case against members of the Sinaloa drug cartel announced earlier this year. Lopez Obrador is defensive about U.S. criticism of his governments failure to stop the flow of fentanyl. There is a kind of competition to see who is the most ridiculous, who is most brazen to threaten Mexico, to blame Mexico, he said at a recent news conference. They are nonsense. Mexico will elect a new president next year, and the opposition candidate recently told Univision that she would accept more U.S. agents and help. But when asked about military operations, Xochitl Galvez said, We have to get serious. We have to be smart with proposals that are clear and strong and not just to get votes. Mexico today is also the top trading partner of the U.S. It has agreed to host agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal agents and to keep thousands of migrants rejected at the U.S. border under both the Trump and Biden administrations. But the U.S. has invaded Mexican territory before and tried to overthrow governments through Latin America for its own policy goals. In 1846, seeking to expand U.S. borders after supporting the annexation of Texas, President James K. Polk called on Congress to declare war with Mexico. The war ended with Mexico agreeing to cede 55% of its territory, including present-day states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, most of Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. In 1914, the U.S. invaded the port of Veracruz after the arrest of U.S. soldiers. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson deployed tens of thousands of troops in response to an attack by Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa in Columbus, New Mexico. More recently, Trump promised to build a southern border wall to stop illegal immigration and make Mexico pay for it. While he was president, the U.S. would build or refurbish about 500 miles of wall on the more than 2,000-mile border. Mexico never paid for any sections of wall. And border crossings would repeatedly hit record highs throughout Trumps presidency and during Bidens term. We have to take what they say seriously, Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy said about the Republican candidates. But they are pretty much going off the rails. They are engaged in political theater, and they find Mexico an easy target. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Russian shelling has destroyed or damaged 27 out of 34 schools in the Chernihiv region, according to NOVA Ukraine, a nonprofit group that provides aid to the people of Ukraine. But even as the war continues, some schools are starting to reopen with lots of help. Anna Kosstutschenko reports from Ukraines Chernihiv region. Camera and video editing by Pavel Suhodolskiy. At least 27 people were killed, and more than 50 others were injured after floods devastated the Cameroonian capital of Yaounde and some surrounding neighborhoods Sunday. Heavy rains unleashed flooding in the district of Yaounde 2 near the capital, sweeping away buildings in a torrent of water and mud, reducing many to chunks of rubble. Adding to the disaster, the rising floodwater overwhelmed a dike built in the colonial era, and it gave way, releasing a manmade lake which swept several structures down a hill Sunday, according to Assola Joseph, a local leader in the Mbankolo neighborhood. The flood destroyed many buildings in the district and washed away at least 30 houses in the Mbankolo neighborhood, causing others to collapse with residents inside. The search and rescue mission began Monday, with authorities still looking through the rubble "with the hope of saving lives," said Daouda Ousmanou, the top government official in the district. The bodies of flood victims have been laid out in a morgue, awaiting identification while those injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Yaounde General Hospital which said it received 12 injured people, including a 7-year-old girl. All those injured will be treated for free, according to Cameroon Territorial Administration Minister Paul Atanga Ngi. "I have come to extend the condolences of Cameroon President Paul Biya to the bereaved families," he said Monday. Flooding is common in Cameroon, especially in recent years, according to experts who point to the effects of climate change as the reason. Destruction from the flooding was exacerbated by low quality construction that circumvents local regulations. Cameroonian authorities have been demolishing houses and buildings recently in areas that are at high risk to flooding. Many of those that were destroyed in Sunday's flooding had been marked for demolition. Some information in this report was taken from The Associated Press and Reuters. Vivian Nomalanga Bhebhe said the day that Hamas launched its surprise attack on Israel was a normal Saturday, just like any Shabbat until people were awoken to sirens and the sounds of Israels Iron Dome defense system intercepting rockets. Before we realized it, rockets were raining all over. Only to discover that as rockets were being fired all the way from the border to places like Tel Aviv, where I live, already there were infiltrators attacking residents on [the] ground. Bhebhe, a Zimbabwean household laborer working in Tel Aviv since 2017, is one of thousands of foreigners living in Israel who were caught up in the attack on the country. She told VOAs Zimbabwe Service that it took time for the Israeli Defense Forces to counter the assault. Why? Because I believe most of the time, when this happens, it's normally because Israel would have done something [on] that side [of the West Bank], like attack [Hamas militants]. She said in this instance it looks like Israel did not do anything so that's why they were caught unaware. On Monday, Israeli warplanes hit the Gaza Strip with repeated airstrikes, while the military said it mobilized an unprecedented number of reservists ahead of going on the offensive. The death toll stood at 700 people in Israel and nearly 500 in Gaza around midday Monday, and the death toll is expected to climb. Thousands of people on both sides have been injured. Bhebhe said she has not been going to work since the attack because everyone is being told to stay indoors. The security forces are all over the place trying to locate militants who could be hiding in Tel Aviv. It's going be a difficult week for all of us here because we don't know what we expect, she said. Sei Gin Mang, a Myanmar national living in Tel Aviv, said as soon as the sirens went off, we heard the sound of rockets exploding in the air. Starting around 6:30 am on Saturday, there was the sound of continuous firing, he told VOAs Burmese service. Sei Gin Mang said in big cities, like Tel Aviv, sometimes one or two militants enter and shoot but said this the first time since he moved to Israel in 2019 that he has experienced an attack like this. He estimates that around 300 Myanmar nationals live in Israel and said several of them work on a farm in Gaza. When the fighting began, those workers had to go into nearby bomb shelters and hide. When Hamas militants are entering the country and firing, [the workers] kept silent in their bunkers. They only have dry noodles and rice and bread, he said. The sirens continue to go off to warn people of danger. The main thing is to listen carefully to the sirens. After that, the people in the agricultural farms near the border should take shelter for a while in the bomb shelters, Sei Gin Mang said. Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday urged its nationals who are in Israel to stay in their homes unless there is an urgent need. Isolda Kirkhel, who has lived in Israel since 1981, also heard warning sirens at 6:30 in the morning. "I thought I was in a dream, I didn't want to believe it," Kirkhel told VOA's Georgian service. "I got dressed, went downstairs, and there a neighbor told me that Hamas fighters invaded Israel, that they started killing people and killed everyone they met on the street. I woke up, I called my children, everyone was asleep and they heard from me what was happening." Hostages Compel Governments to Stay Involved Brenda Shaffer, a senior adviser for energy at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Councils Global Energy Center in Washington told VOAs Azerbaijani service that foreign nationals were among those captured by Hamas militants in the Gaza strip. She said that according to press reports, American, British and European citizens are among the captured in the Gaza Strip and said one of the young women who were mutilated and dragged around by Hamas militants is a German citizen. Shaffer said the fact that foreign nationals are among the dead and captured means their countries governments must be closely involved in the conflict. Even if these governments wanted to turn away, they really can't. Their citizens are directly involved, she said. The U.S. State Department said that nine Americans were among those killed and that other U.S. citizens were unaccounted for. The dead in Israel also included people from Britain, France, Nepal, Thailand and Ukraine, officials from those nations said. President of the Korean Association in Jerusalem, Chae Wanbyung, told VOAs Korean Service that to the best of his knowledge all Koreans in Israel are safe. He said Koreans in Israel are accustomed to sirens and emergency situations, so they are staying calm. The South Korean government estimates that there are approximately 570 Koreans living in Israel, with an additional 360 tourists currently visiting the country. Major airlines have suspended or limited flights to Tel Aviv, saying they are waiting for an improvement in safety conditions. Poland and Hungary were among countries that carried out evacuation flights from Israel on Monday. Dilshad Aliyarli from VOAs Azerbaijan Service and Gibbs Dube from VOAs Zimbabwe Service contributed to this report, as did VOAs Burmese Service and VOAs Korean Service. The Taliban government and aid groups in western Afghanistan said Monday that rescue efforts were ongoing to find and recover survivors trapped under rubble, two days after a powerful earthquake and multiple aftershocks killed hundreds of people and injured many more. The 6.3 magnitude quake hit the western province of Herat on Saturday, destroying more than a dozen villages in and around the hardest-hit remote Zinda Jan district. Officials and witnesses said the disaster zone was twice shaken by fresh tremors Monday, rattling the provincial capital, also called Herat, and sending thousands of its residents into the streets. No losses were reported immediately. While the Taliban government has reported at least 2,000 deaths since the calamity on Saturday, the United Nations confirmed more than 1,000 fatalities, saying nearly 1,700 injured were injured. More than 1,300 homes have reportedly been destroyed or partially damaged. Siddiq Ibrahim, the UNICEF's field officer for western Afghanistan, told VOA by phone from Herat that the casualties were expected to increase, saying volunteers and residents from surrounding areas were assisting Taliban teams in the rescue efforts. "They are using very basic tools to dig up and try to see if there are any survivors or bodies underneath the rubble," Ibrahim said after visiting some of the affected villages. "I was shocked to see that these villages have been completely wiped to the ground. There is absolutely nothing standing," Ibrahim said. "When the first earthquake hit, people thought it was a missile or a bomb, and they ran into their homes. Unfortunately, the quake continued, and houses started collapsing," he said, explaining the reasons for the high number of casualties. Ibrahim said UNICEF and partner agencies had set up tents to provide emergency medical aid to the area communities, and efforts were also under way to establish temporary schools to enable children to resume their education as soon as normalcy returns to the area. The earthquake struck the country on the day renewed hostilities broke out in the Middle East, effectively diverting global attention from the crisis in Afghanistan. "We need the world to keep working with us, supporting us. There are so many issues in the world, but we also need to keep giving equal attention to the children of Afghanistan who are in desperate need of aid," Ibrahim said. Afghanistan, an impoverished country of about 40 million people, mainly relies on foreign aid to run its economy, health care, and social services. Donor nations have cut most of the financial assistance since the hardline Taliban seized power two years ago. The U.N. humanitarian office has announced $5 million worth of assistance for the quake response. The Taliban have urged foreign nations and international aid agencies to help in rehabilitating quake victims. Neighboring Pakistan, Iran, and China's Red Cross Society immediately extended cash and material aid for Afghan earthquake victims. The Taliban said Monday that a Saudi charity had provided $2 million dollars worth of humanitarian food and other material through the Afghan Red Crescent Society. Monday, the head of the U.S. diplomatic mission to Afghanistan, which operates out of Qatar, applauded the U.N. for approving the funds to support emergency relief efforts. "My heart goes out to the Afghan people following the earthquakes in Herat province on Saturday and today. U.S. partners have already started to distribute hygiene kits, food, safe drinking water, and medical supplies to affected families in Afghanistan," Charge d'affaires Karen Decker said on X, formerly Twitter. In a statement Monday, Amnesty International urged Taliban authorities to guarantee safe and unrestricted access to the quake-hit regions for humanitarian agencies. "People in Afghanistan are already suffering from the impacts of the acute economic crisis and several years of conflict," said Zaman Sultani, the global watchdog's regional researcher for South Asia. "With the winter months ahead, Amnesty International calls on the de facto authorities and the international community to immediately mobilize resources to support access to housing, adequate food, potable water, safe sanitation, and health care as thousands of families face an uncertain future with their homes destroyed by the earthquake," Sultani said. The Taliban have banned humanitarian groups from employing Afghan female staff and ordered many women government employees to stay home since taking control of the country. Aid agencies say restricting women employees has hampered their humanitarian activities in the deeply conservative society. Teenage girls are forbidden from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade across Afghanistan, prompting the world to isolate the Taliban and refuse to recognize their government. Gabon's military-appointed government says it will invest more than $10 million and distribute hundreds of luxury vehicles said to be part of ill-gotten wealth recovered from family and friends of ousted President Ali Bongo since the military junta took power about six weeks ago. The government says the money will be used to provide public social amenities such as water, electricity and education. Gabon's military junta says the government, appointed by transitional President General Brice Oligui Nguema, has begun consultations to determine how best to use the items recovered from state officials and business executives under the rule of ousted President Ali Ben Bongo. Raymond Ndong Sima, Gabon's prime minister, said Nguema instructed him to meet with all government ministers before investing ill-gotten wealth recovered by the military junta since it seized power on August 30. He said Nguema has launched an irreversible battle against impunity and corruption and the military juntas government wants to recover all ill-gotten wealth. Sima said on Gabon state TV on Monday that the junta has recovered about $11.6 million and close to 350 luxury vehicles over the past 45 days. Nguema told Gabon's state TV that he has issued guidelines on how to distribute the recovered vehicles. Nguema said the 344 vehicles his government recovered from current and past senior state functionaries and partners of former President Bongo should be distributed to government institutions, especially schools, universities, hospitals, and water and electricity companies that need them to improve the living conditions of citizens. The junta has not said who the funds and vehicles were seized from, nor explained how they were recovered. In September, the junta said it had arrested and detained Noureddin Bongo Valentin, son of ousted President Bongo, as well as five of the deposed leaders aides and members of his Cabinet. They were charged with various crimes that included treason and corruption. The military said Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, the ousted presidents wife, is being held under house arrest for corruption, money laundering and misappropriation of Gabon state funds. Video of troops searching the homes of former Cabinet members and seizing trunks, suitcases and bags filled with banknotes, were shown on state TV. Joseph Marie Efoudo, a lecturer in political science at the University of Yaounde, said Nguema does not want to be seen as someone who betrayed the public in Gabon, which appears to have supported the August coup. Before the coup, the Bongo family ruled Gabon for 56 years. Efoudo said Nguema is carrying out historic changes less than 45 days after he seized power to prove to the international community that the military junta he leads saved Gabon from a long, ironfisted rule that impoverished civilians of the oil-producing nation. By doing so, he said, Nguema expects the international community to lift sanctions imposed to press for a return to civilian rule in Gabon. Gabon's opposition and civil society groups say the government also needs to investigate real estate empires and huge amounts of money hidden in foreign banks by the Bongo family and their close aides. They say bringing back the money could ease high levels of poverty. When Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip carried out attacks in Israel on Saturday, resulting in thousands of Israeli and Palestinian civilian casualties, it was the latest clash in a conflict with origins ascribed to biblical times. The modern battle between Israelis and Palestinians is primarily a territorial dispute, although there is a religious component as Israel is a Jewish state and the Palestinians are predominately Muslims in a land deemed holy by several religions, including Christianity. In Jerusalem, the holiest site in Judaism is known as The Temple Mount, because two ancient Jewish temples that were destroyed are located there. It is also the location of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the third-most sacred site in Islam (known in Arabic as Haram al-Sharif, meaning Noble Sanctuary) Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended into heaven from there. A Hamas leader referred to Saturdays assault into southern Israel, which included Palestinian gunmen on paragliders under cover of thousands of rocket launches, as the al-Aqsa flood in defense of the mosque, 75 kilometers to the northwest of Gaza. There have been numerous assaults on the mosque by Israeli soldiers marching in with their boots on, which is total desecration. If that happened in any synagogue in the world, something comparable, we'd be screaming that it was antisemitism, which indeed it would be, said Professor Joel Beinin of Stanford University. For the Israeli government, Jerusalem is its unified, eternal capital. It has held the eastern part of the city since the 1967 Middle East war, a setback for Palestinian dreams of a capital there. Israels annexation of largely Palestinian eastern Jerusalem is not internationally recognized. There are now more than 200,000 people living in Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem. A nationalistic mythology, rooted in biblical scripture, is used by those on the right in Israel to justify the occupation of Palestinian territories and the continuing repression of its people, according to Khaled Elgindy, director of the Palestine and Israeli-Palestinian Affairs program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. The primary area in dispute is on the west bank of the Jordan River, which the Israeli government refers to as Judea and Samaria. Many Jews living there assert it is the land of their people going back 4,000 years and was never under Arab rule. Palestinians see history differently and point to their families residing there under four centuries of Turkish rule and before. Hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians and a two-state solution waxed and waned through declarations, armed conflict and treaties since the early 20th century after the British took control of the region following the end of the First World War. Britain and France then carved the area into spheres of influence. Violence between the Arab indigenous population and arriving Jewish settlers, part of a burgeoning Zionist movement, escalated. A war erupted in 1948, a day after Israel declared independence and Arab armies from five countries marched into areas that had not been apportioned by the United Nations to the Jews. The Israelis emerged victorious. For Palestinians, it was a historic loss known as the Nakbah or catastrophe for the large number of families who lost their land and became refugees. More wars would follow. Its hard to ignore the parallels [Saturday] with events from exactly 50 years ago when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. Israel had been feeling quite triumphalist and invincible after its lightning victory of 1967, Elgindy told VOA. There was a burst of hope, 30 years ago, when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat, with U.S. President Bill Clinton as a witness, signed the Oslo Accords at the White House. But the interim agreement failed. It did not lead the Palestinians to a state of their own after a period of self-governance under the Palestinian Authority. Israel did not stop settlement building, blaming the Palestinian leadership for failing to prevent terrorist attacks emanating from territory under Fatah control. No U.S. president since Barack Obama has effectively raised the issue of scaling back the Israeli presence in their territories, according to the Palestinians. The two-state solution has been dead for decades, unfortunately. I never would have said that before because I never wanted to subject the Palestinian people to more years of trauma and tragedy living in a one state that was not giving them their rights, said James Zogby, the founder and president of the Arab-American Institute. The result is that today, I don't know where you get a Palestinian state. I don't know where it's to be set up. Analysts across the political spectrum generally concur there will be continuing repercussions if the plight of the Palestinians is ignored. The Palestinian people are not going to vanish into thin air. This issue is not going to go away just because you think it's too much of a problem to deal with it, Beinin told VOA. Palestinian disgust with the corruption of Fatah, the largest faction of the PLO, led to Hamas as the victor in 2006 balloting in Gaza, the last time elections were held there. Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip every several years since 2008. They call it mowing the grass, said Beinin, a former president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America. The deterioration of the situation in the Middle East in recent decades is clearly an American failure, according to Zogby, contending that Washington has not effectively used its influence. Zogby refers to the Israelis as Americas spoiled child and the Palestinians as the abused child. America has not taken the adult role that it should take and create limits for both sides. We put pressure on and punished Palestinians, and we've continually rewarded and placated Israel, Zogby told VOA. That led to an inevitable violent outburst from Hamas in the densely populated Gaza Strip, according to Beinin. Youre going to imprison 2.1 million people for a decade-and-a-half and there won't be an explosion? The Stanford professor said he has family at a kibbutz that was attacked on Saturday, adding, I dont know where they all are at this moment. More than 600 Israelis were killed and at least 2,200 wounded in the Saturday attacks by Hamas, according to officials in Tel Aviv. It was the deadliest day of violence for Israel since the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago. Hamas has also abducted 100 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly, as well as soldiers, and taken them to Gaza. Israeli retaliation in Gaza, through shelling and airstrikes, has killed 300 people, half of them civilians, according to Hamas. There is a wider geopolitical context with the timing of the Hamas attack an attempt to thwart the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Who opposes it? Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday during an appearance on ABCs This Week program. So, to the extent that this was designed to try to derail the efforts that were being made, that speaks volumes. The Abraham Accords, initiated by the previous U.S. administration of President Donald Trump, effectively ignored the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in pursuing diplomatic recognition between Israel and additional Arab nations. Iran and Hamas have a long relationship, noted Blinken in his Sunday TV interviews. Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support it's had for many years from Iran. In this moment, we don't have anything that shows us that Iran was directly involved in this attack, in planning it or in carrying it out. But that's something we're looking at very carefully, and we've got to see where the facts lead, said Blinken on NBCs "Meet the Press program. I think it's unlikely Hamas could have carried this out without that support, said Elgindy at the Middle East Institute. But, he added, Hamas is not an operative or a proxy of the Iranian regime. For decades, the Saudis, who are Sunni Muslims, have been engaged in a rivalry with the Iranians, who are Shiite Muslims, for leadership of the Islamic world. The split goes back to the 7th century when Muslims became divided about who should be the Prophet Muhammads successor as caliph. Nearly all Palestinian Muslims are Sunnis and Hamas is a Sunni-led faction, something that has not prevented support from the Shiite Islamic Republic in Tehran. State television in Iran on Saturday showed video of members of parliament in Tehran standing and chanting Death to Israel and Palestine is victorious, while government officials were quoted pledging support for the anti-Zionist resistance across the region. People will talk about Israeli intransigence and Palestinian suffering. All true. None of that justifies this barbaric attack on civilians and hostage taking. The Middle East will never be the same, predicted Steven David, a professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. With Saturday's attack on Israel saturating the global news media, people around the world are reacting with large scale rallies. Aron Ranen reports from New York. In an animal shelter near Athens, veterinarian Kleopatra Gkika gently smears soothing cream on the leg of a tortoise, one of hundreds singed in Greece's devastating summer wildfires. The healing process is going well, the vet noted. The burnt skin has fallen off and the tortoise can soon be released back into its natural habitat. Even though, there may not be much of that habitat left, Gkika mused. In July and August, Greece was affected by a series of successive wildfires around the country that left at least 26 people dead. The area around the shelter in Kalyvia Thorikou, some 60 kilometres (37 miles) southeast of Athens, was among the first to be hit. A few weeks later, the pristine forest of Dadia in northeastern Greece, which contains a natural park, went up in flames. The fires eventually engulfed nearly 94,000 hectares of the forest in the largest blaze ever recorded on European soil. Deflecting criticism, the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis -- which won re-election in June by a landslide -- has blamed the disaster on climate change. Some 400 tortoises overall were rescued from blaze sites surrounding Athens and on the nearby island of Evia. 'Nothing left' They were brought to Anima, a non-profit first aid center for wildlife, and to a zoo near the capital. "Some tortoises had burns on their legs or on their shell. Others had breathing difficulties because of smoke inhalation," said Vassilis Sfakianopoulos, the founder of "Save your hood", a volunteer group that normally cleans up litter. This summer, the group rescued the tortoises as well as snakes, cats and other animals trapped in the inferno. "The intensity of the fires was such that there was nothing left. Shrubs turned to charcoal," added Celine Sissler-Bienvenu of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) charity, which carried out a mission to Greece. With thousands of people in Greece forced to flee for their safety from the fires, the wildlife was largely forgotten, she said. But tortoises are resilient animals. "Tortoises will reduce their metabolism. They can go without eating for several weeks," Sissler-Bienvenu noted. "And at the first rain, they will come out to eat." At the Kalyvia shelter, the first thing an injured tortoise requires is immersion in a water basin for rehydration. When an injury is not immediately apparent, vets attempt to detect possible internal injury through smell, Gkika said. Racing against time Tortoises ready to be released into the wild have a blue chalk cross mark on their shell. Around a hundred were already relocated in September. The team know they are racing against the clock to release them from captivity as soon as possible, said Sissler-Bienvnu. For animals such as these, which are wild and not social at all, placing them together in an enclosure constitutes additional stress," she told AFP. In particular, males will continuously seek to mate and need to be kept apart from the females lest they injure -- or even kill them. Tortoises are also extremely attached to their home area, where they are familiar with hiding places and water sources, and may stop eating if moved elsewhere, Sissler-Bienvenu said. A 38-year-old engineer, Sfakianopoulos said he is enraged at the sight of the suffering reptiles. "I find it extremely unfair that no-one in Greece has been taking care of wildlife since the financial crisis," he said, referring to the decade-long crunch that brought the country to its knees. But in confronting disaster, "you find hope", he said. "It makes you grow and change and you have a real impact on the environment." The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Israel declares war on Hammas one day after surprise attack. More than 700 Israelis killed and dozens taken hostage; Israel retaliates attacking Hammas command centers. The UN Security Council met on Sunday evening, VOA was there. Plus, the latest from Afghanistan following a deadly earthquake. Israel said Tuesday its military struck hundreds of targets in the Gaza Strip overnight, hours after Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu said his countrys forces were just beginning to fight back against Hamas militants. Military spokesperson Richard Hecht said the bodies of 1,500 Hamas fighters had been found in Israeli territory following their incursion Saturday, and that no militants had crossed into Israel since Monday. The targets of the latest airstrikes included the Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, home to many Hamas ministries and government buildings. "What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations," Netanyahu said in an address late Monday. The Israeli military said it mobilized 300,000 reservists ahead of "going on the offensive" in response to the surprise attack Saturday by Hamas into areas of Israel along the Gaza Strip. A Hamas military spokesperson threatened that its fighters would kill one of about 150 civilian hostages Hamas is holding any time Israel targets Gaza civilians without warning. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video statement that Israel would implement a complete siege on Gaza, cutting the Palestinian territory off from access to electricity, food, water and gas. Those comments drew alarm from human rights groups that said collective punishment of people living in Gaza would violate international law. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters that while he recognizes Israels legitimate security concerns, military operations must be done within humanitarian law. He said civilians must be protected and civilian infrastructure must not be targeted. I am deeply distressed by todays announcement that Israel will initiate a complete siege of the Gaza Strip, nothing allowed in no electricity, food, or fuel, Guterres said. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities; now it will only deteriorate exponentially. The death toll Monday rose to at least 900 people in Israel and 687 in Gaza, and that figure is expected to climb. Nearly 6,000 people on both sides were injured. U.S. President Joe Biden said 11 Americans were among those killed. The dead in Israel also included people from Argentina, Britain, Cambodia, France, Nepal, Thailand and Ukraine, officials from those nations said. Some governments have worked to carry out evacuation flights for their nationals in Israel. South Korea told VOAs Korean service it expected a flight with 300 of its citizens to arrive in Seoul early Wednesday. The United Nations said more than 187,000 of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza have been internally displaced. The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the United States issued a joint statement expressing united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism. All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed, the statement said. Ari Harow, former chief of staff to Netanyahu, told VOAs Deewa service that Israel did not have a choice when entering the conflict, with Hamas militants attacking on one of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. This is not something that Israel had planned for or had wanted, Harow said. But once we have been dragged into this and once war was declared, the goal is one and very clear, and that is to destroy forever the terror infrastructure in Gaza, to make sure that the people of Israel, the citizens of Israel, don't have to face this type of brutality ever again. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a parallel between Russia's invasion of his country and the Hamas attack on Israel. "The same evil, and the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a video address Monday to a NATO parliamentary assembly in Copenhagen. Gaith al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told VOA that Russia will try to use the Israel-Hamas conflict to sever international support for Ukraine. If Israel conducts the war in a way that minimizes civilian casualties, I believe it will continue having international support, al-Omari said. Yet however, if they use unreasonable force, then the shift will change. In the meantime, yes, Russia will try to break the consensus. China will also try to break the consensus. This is going to be a test for the U.S. too. Hayde Adams, Rahman Bunairee and VOA Korean service contributed to this report. Some information for this story came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2023 - 18:20 | All, World The death toll from a large-scale, surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas and retaliatory strikes from Israel rose to around 1,200 on Sunday, according to local reports. Local Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported that 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas began its attack with thousands of rocket launches early Saturday morning. The Palestinian Health Ministry has said more than 490 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air strikes on the heavily populated Gaza Strip enclave. Hamas gunmen crossed from Gaza into Israel on Saturday, shooting civilians and security forces and taking Israeli hostages, according to media reports. The Associated Press reported claims from Hamas and another jihadist group that more than 130 people have been taken hostage, including soldiers and civilians, and transported to Gaza where they could be used as bargaining chips in negotiating the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas' attack has been labeled the most damaging to Israel in recent history. Related coverage: Over 970 dead after Hamas attack from Gaza, Israel retaliation Strong quakes in Afghanistan leaves over 2,000 dead: AP Monday in the United States is celebrated as both Columbus Day and as Indigenous Peoples' Day. When the Spanish-financed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus made contact with native inhabitants of the Caribbean in 1492, there were more than 500 languages spoken across the Americas. In the land that became the United States, the remaining number of such languages has dwindled to about 100. Most now have only a handful of speakers. Alex Fire Thunders two young boys are a thriving exception as their ethnic Lakota language again has thousands of aspiring speakers. I want them to have a strong sense of their Lakota identity. Language is everything. Its something that nobody can take away from them, says Fire Thunder, Oglala Lakota from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and deputy director of the Lakhol'iyapi ki nawecizi (Lakota Language Consortium). Fire Thunder is optimistic his sons, Odowan, 3, and Iyoyanpa, 2, will have others besides themselves to converse in Lakota when they grow up. There are immersion schools. There are other second-language learners learning the language and teaching their children, Fire Thunder, who has been among those formally teaching Lakota in schools, tells VOA. That was not the case for decades. My mom is a speaker, but she did not transmit the language to my siblings and I, he says. For generations, Native American children in North America were sent to boarding schools where they were immersed in American culture and punished for speaking their own languages. Teaching and learning these Indigenous languages in the 21st century are a challenge because there are scant resources and opportunities remaining. If you want to learn Spanish, there are a number of countries you can go to where all youre going to hear is Spanish and youre going to be expected to speak Spanish, as well, Fire Thunder says. For Lakota learners there are limited options. Some elders converse in Lakota at the post office or senior centers. The elders that do speak are, at this point and time, all bilingual so there is no situation where you absolutely have to use Lakota, Fire Thunder explains. Thats something youre not going to find if you go to Spain or Mexico. Lakota is part of the Sioux language group and primarily heard in the Dakotas. A unique aspect of the language is the use of kinship terms, considered an essential to Lakota cultural expression, and many of the terms do not have precise English equivalents. There are only about 10 to 15 languages left in the U.S. that have any viable chances in terms of moving forward beyond the next 50 years, according to Wilhelm Meya, chairman of The Language Conservancy. When languages lose their last fluent speakers, it can also mean the demise of their Indigenous songs and prayers. The average speaker is about 75. Children for the most part are not learning the language, Meya tells VOA. So, theres a lot to do in order to try to get these languages back on their feet. Meyas organization is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting endangered languages. It currently partners with 52 Indigenous communities. One successful project has been the creation of the New Lakota Dictionary, considered the most expansive Native American dictionary. Hundreds of Indigenous linguists, educators and scholars are to gather this week in Bloomington, Indiana, to share knowledge and inspire language revitalization efforts. For the elders and the speakers, they want to pass on the language, and they want to do so with hope theyre going to leave a legacy for generations going forward, Meya says. As Kyiv fights a bloody war with Moscow, a new Gallup public opinion poll gives a striking look inside what ordinary Ukrainians think about their countrys future. VOA talked to leading experts to help unpack the findings. Given everything thats happening, paying attention to whats going on in Ukraine daily is more important now than it was before, Julie Ray, Gallups managing editor for world news, told VOA. Gallup is an independent global research organization based in Washington that is best known for its public opinion surveys. What does winning look like? Nearly every Ukrainian agrees that winning the war means regaining all the land that Russia has conquered from their country since 2014, when the Crimean Peninsula was annexed by Moscow, the Gallup survey found. While most Ukrainians support fighting until the war is won, that majority is shrinking. Last year it was 70%, and this year it is 60%. Fatigue is building up, said Sergey Radchenko, a scholar of Soviet history at Johns Hopkins. A growing number of Ukrainians are now hoping Kyiv can negotiate an end to the conflict. That sentiment, Ray said, is especially strong near the front lines in the nations south and east, where the toll of war is worst. One in two Ukrainians reported in Gallups survey that they struggle to afford food and shelter. Experts say that Russia wants to see increasing disillusionment in Ukraine as the war drags on. Thats why [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has pursued this strategy of targeting infrastructure, power plants and so on, Radchenko said. He wants to exhaust the Ukrainian public. This winter, Putin could make further headway. There are going to be difficult conditions, said Joseph Nye, a former dean of Harvard Kennedy School. As the Russians concentrate on destroying infrastructure, people are going to go cold and hungry. Thats probably going to have some effect on how Ukrainians view the war. Most Ukrainians have confidence in Zelenskyy, military Although there is some evidence of fatigue, Ukrainians overall remain committed to winning the war, Ray said. Continued approval of the army and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, she added, are key to victory. Ukrainians are deeply confident in their military, with approval ratings at a record high of 95%, according to Gallup. Support for Zelenskyy has faltered slightly but is still overwhelmingly strong at 81%. Gallups findings show that Ukrainians may back Zelenskyy now, but shrinking confidence in his leadership, however subtle, sounds sort of like bad news, Radchenko said. If I were [Zelenskyy] looking at this polling data, I would start getting worried. Zelenskyys slight decline in support could owe to the fact that Ukraines offensive has been less decisive than last years, Nye explained. But Nye does not see any cause for concern. [U.S. President Joe] Biden, he said, would be delighted to have such poll numbers, and so would any leader in the democratic world. Ups and downs are natural. Support is up for Germany but dragging for the US Zelenskyys approval ratings depend largely on his diplomatic successes in the West, experts say. Ukraines two greatest military aid providers are the U.S. and Germany. Fifty-three percent of Ukrainians approve of the U.S. and German governments, Gallup found. That number was a marked dip from last years data for the U.S., but an increase for Germany. Theres a creeping sense of disappointment with the U.S. that it hasnt delivered as much as it could have, given all Ukraine has been doing to hold back Russian aggression, Radchenko said. All that [Ukrainians] have been asking for is financial help, military help. As Republican and Democratic politicians in the U.S. spar with one another over sending military equipment to Ukraine, Germany has come through in its support, Radchenko said. The survey was conducted on the heels of Julys NATO summit, where Biden told the world that Ukraine wasnt ready to join NATO until after the war was over. Its possible that raised some questions, Ray said. The percentage of Ukrainians who said they didnt have an opinion about U.S. leadership increased to 25% and disapproval also ticked up to 22%. Unsurprisingly, Ray said, 0% of respondents support the Kremlin, and only a sliver of Ukrainians back the Chinese government (Beijing is Moscows top trade partner, and one of its closest political allies). Hopes for NATO, EU membership Almost three-quarters of Ukrainians believe that their country will join NATO and the European Union within a decade, Gallups polling shows. It will be hard for Ukraine to get into NATO as long as the war continues, Radchenko said, pointing out a contradiction in how most Ukrainians want both NATO membership and to see the war through. NATO countries are formally obligated to defend each other, so being admitted in the middle of a war is a difficult sell, experts say. There's nothing to prevent anyone from wanting more things than they can get, Nye said. But theres a trade-off. Its hard to see [Ukraines] accession to NATO being agreed on by all member nations when shooting is still going on. Nevertheless, Ukrainians are optimistic. [They] see their future firmly planted with the West, Ray said. One year ago Friday, a police officer who was recently fired for drug abuse stormed a nursery in northeast Thailand and proceeded to shoot and stab 36 people to death, including 24 children, before fatally shooting himself. Panya Kamrabs killing spree made for Thailands worst mass killing by a lone gunman on record. It set off a wave of calls for tougher firearms laws in a country with the highest rate of gun ownership in the region. Then-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha convened a special meeting of top officials to brainstorm ideas and promised action. A year later, however, none of the laws and regulations governing who can buy, sell or own a gun in Thailand has changed. "At this moment, [there has been] no ... change in the laws and regulations," Chavanut Janekarn, a criminologist at Thailands Thammasat University and retired 25-year veteran of the police force, told VOA. "Its the same," he said of the rules for buying and owning a gun. "Its still easy." Gun dealers in Bangkok's Wang Burapha neighborhood, the epicenter of the capitals retail firearms trade, echoed the point. They told VOA the government has been applying existing laws more strictly but has not changed them. "The rules [are] the same because the rules never changed," said Thititorn Bupparamanee, president of the Firearms Traders Association of Thailand and a Wang Burapha gun shop owner. Proposed reforms from the police following last years tragedy included adding psychological evaluations to the application process and having gun owners periodically reassessed, and a chance for unlicensed gun owners to turn their weapons in without being prosecuted. The police also announced plans to freeze a "welfare guns" program that allows officers, soldiers and many other government officials to purchase guns at steep discounts. A spokesperson for the government that took office last month following national elections in May confirmed to VOA this week that none of the reforms came to pass but conceded that his own administration has not prioritized gun reform either. Chai Watcharong said that changed Tuesday after another shooting shocked the nation. That afternoon, police say, a 14-year-old boy shot and killed two people and wounded five in one of Bangkok's premier shopping malls with a pistol designed to shoot blanks but which had been modified to fire live rounds. Naming the problem In the days since, authorities have proposed a raft of reforms, from reclassifying guns that shoot blanks as lethal weapons to an immediate and indefinite freeze on all new gun permits. Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters he would review the country's gun laws for possible amendments but offered no details. Industry experts are skeptical that real, lasting changes are on the way. "The gun business sector is very large in Thailand and there are lots of gun dealers that have close connections to the government or to the Ministry of Interior or to the police and to the military. So, in my opinion, I think it's quite difficult to propose any policy that disrupts the gun business in Thailand," Chavanut said. That business has given Thailand the highest rate of gun ownership in Southeast Asia, with some 6 million registered firearms in civilian hands in a country of 71 million. GunPolicy.org, a project of the University of Sydney, listed another 4 million unregistered guns in 2017 and 1.2 million in 2021, citing different sources, though both may be vast undercounts. "For most countries like Thailand similar level of wealth, not an island country we expect unregistered guns to be two to three times the total number of registered; that would be very common," said Aaron Karp, a senior consultant for the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. Conservatively, that would mean at least 18 million civilian guns in Thailand, or roughly one for every four people. Government figures also show gun-related crime surging, from about 24,000 cases in 2018 to over 87,000 last year. Most of the reforms authorities have proposed over the past year have been little more than "window dressing" or miss the root causes, says Michael Picard, a consultant for HALO Trust and Transparency International on the small arms trade. He says real change will take a fundamental shift in thinking. "It's not so much the Thai gun laws that have to change, in the sense of the laws that govern civilian weapons and civilian-owned weapons. It's really internal, its the institutions themselves that dont really ... want to reform their firearms regulations," he said. Searching for answers Perhaps the best thing the government could do, Picard said, is to scrap the welfare guns program altogether and have the state supply the security forces with all the weapons they need to do their jobs, as most countries do. Its just an easy way for underpaid police officers to make a buck, he said of the program. They pay 60% of what they normally would if they were just buying a firearm through the legal civilian market, and then they can easily go and sell that online or to whoever and supplement their income. Chavanut agreed that the program has provided freelance gun traders with a back door to the black market. He advised the government to at least rein it in, and to follow through on the idea of demanding a clean bill of mental health from anyone applying for a gun permit. The government has not floated either idea since Tuesdays mall shooting, and Bangkoks firearms dealers are wary of both. They say Thailand needs the welfare guns program to keep its police well-armed, and that any mental health tests would prove flimsy. "Anyones mental state can change at any time, and they can trick the psychologists," said one shop owner, who asked to remain anonymous. "Give it a try, I guess ... but Im not sure it would actually work." They say the laws are as tough as they need to be and that the authorities just must do a better job of catching those trying to get around them. "The law can control only the people who [have] respect for the law and the law cannot control ... the bad guy to have illegal guns; they still can [get] the illegal gun from the black market," the trade associations Thititorn said. "If they have more controls [on] the good guy to buy the gun, then sometimes the good guys dont have the guns to protect themselves." Security concerns have been raised In Liberia following the deaths of at least two people in preelection violence. Political watchers say campaign messaging has deepened political divides, and are calling on the national police to be more proactive during the presidential and legislative elections set for Tuesday. On the streets of Monrovia, university students chanted, "We want peace, Liberia is our only country; we want peace," as they distributed peace-branded handbills to commuters, urging voters to desist from violence. Grace Yeah Yeaney, a student leader at the University of Liberia, says the deaths of two people due to electoral violence in Lofa County on September 29 is alarming. "In Lofa, there was a clash where people lost their lives; there was a trickle of violence," she said. "You also find out that history has proven that sometimes in Liberia, our elections are very violent and so we are learning from the past and we are trying to conscientise our citizens, and the students are saying no to electoral violence." Liberia's Peace Building Office, which develops policies for conflict resolution, says data collected around the country shows that campaign messaging has deepened political divides. Edward Mulbah, the group's executive director, says six of Liberia's 15 counties are hot spots for potential violence. "This election is going to be very much challenging. There are going to be sporadic tensions, some sporadic violence, but we think that the violence will be intensive, but may not be widespread," Mulbah said. This is the first time Liberia is running a national election without the support of international partners, including the United Nations and the ECOWAS security forces, since civil war ended in 2003. ECOWAS is the Economic Community of West African States. The National Elections Commission, in its first autonomous national vote, has introduced some reforms, including a new biometric voter system. Mulbah and the Peace Building Office say there hasn't been enough education on these new reforms. "This is the very first time. Maybe they will make some mistakes along the road, but those mistakes are not being seen in the eyes of the citizens. They see these mistakes as deliberate in the part of the National Elections Commission to the advantage of the regime. So, we see that as potential for violence," Mulbah said. Oscar Bloh, chairperson for the Elections Coordinating Committee, a network of civil society organizations that observe elections in Liberia, says the absence of international security partners will put a strain on police. "The police, the internal security, they are faced with enormous challenges from limited human resource capacity, limited logistics, uniform issues, issues of finances to deploy across the country," Bloh said. Liberia's National Police say they are committed to maintaining peace during and after the elections. "We are adequately ready to provide security to this election, and this is a commitment we have made from the time we spoke to heads of political parties," said Moses Carter, a police spokesperson. "We have assured them of their safety and the safety of all Liberians." Liberians will elect 73 legislators, 15 senators and a president on Tuesday. Nineteen candidates are attempting to unseat President George Weah. Russia is seeking to reclaim its seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council after it was suspended by the General Assembly in April 2022 following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. "The Human Rights Council must be protected from misuse as a tool for settling political scores and from practice of double standards," Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told attendees at a reception his mission held recently to mark their candidacy, according to remarks published on the mission's website. "Those are tactics of certain states that proclaim themselves to be "human rights champions." In a vote of 93 in favor, 24 against and 58 countries abstaining, the General Assembly voted Russia off the HRC last year. At the same meeting, Russia announced it was resigning from the rights body. The Czech Republic replaced Russia on the council for the remainder of its term. On Tuesday, the General Assembly will vote by secret ballot to elect 15 members for three-year terms to the 47-member Geneva-based rights body. There is risk for Moscow, as it is running against Albania and Bulgaria for only two available seats. Since its invasion of Ukraine, the General Assembly has considered six resolutions related to Russia, and Moscow has lost them all three by an overwhelming majority of votes. Richard Gowan, U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, said the vote could be close, and Moscow may be counting on countries that do not want to support it publicly to vote for it in private, since it is a secret ballot. "I suspect Russia believes it can win or at least get enough votes to show that it is not entirely isolated at the U.N.," Gowan told VOA. "It could spin even a narrow defeat as proof that it is regaining friends diplomatically." He notes that Western diplomats recently warned that Russia had a solid lead over Albania, although the gap may be closing a bit as the vote nears. Rights advocates say in addition to atrocities carried out in Ukraine, the Kremlin has tightened its restrictions on domestic rights and freedoms since the invasion and does not deserve to return to the HRC. "In the past year-and-a-half, it has been adopting and enforcing laws to silence and punish critics and persecute any genuine political opposition," said Rachel Denber, Human Rights Watch's associate director of Europe and Central Asia. Countries elected to the HRC are expected to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights" both at home and abroad. Rights advocates warn that countries with poor rights records use their position on the council as a cover for their abuses. China, which is currently a member, is seeking a second term and has a strong chance of obtaining the necessary simple majority, as it is running on what is known as a "clean slate," an equal number of candidates for available seats. In their Asian regional group, China, Japan, Kuwait and Indonesia are looking to fill four available seats. The lack of real competition significantly raises the odds of their achieving the simple majority of votes needed. "U.N. member states do have a choice; they do not have to vote for China," said HRW's U.N. director, Louis Charbonneau. "They can leave that part blank. We can leave an empty seat in the Human Rights Council and have another special election in the future, come back and find a country qualified to fill it." While he acknowledges that it is a bit of a long shot, he said, "We'd love to see it happen," as "they don't belong there." China's human rights violations are well known. At home, Beijing arbitrarily arrests and detains government critics and human rights defenders and has detained as many as one million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in "reeducation camps" in its Xinjiang province. It has also cracked down on freedoms in Hong Kong and Tibet. Also under the spotlight for their poor human rights records are candidates Cuba and Burundi. In addition to the countries already mentioned, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Peru are competing with Cuba for three seats in the Latin America and Caribbean group; Burundi, Malawi, Ghana and Ivory Coast are running a clean slate in the African bloc; and France and the Netherlands are running uncontested in the Western group. Winners will begin their three-year terms in January 2024. In a sign that President Vladimir Putin may resume nuclear testing, Russian lawmakers were given until October 18 to examine ways to rescind Moscow's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a global nuclear test ban. The possible step was announced Friday by Russia's envoy to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). In a statement Monday, the head of the CTBTO, Robert Floyd, expressed concern about the developments. "Banning nuclear testing remains essential to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and to safeguarding current and future generations from the harmful effects of explosive nuclear testing," he said Washington has denounced Russia's move as endangering "the global norm" against nuclear test blasts. However, Putin said Russia's possible action to revoke the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty would bring it into line with the United States, which has signed but not ratified the pact. The U.S. did not ratify the treaty, but it has observed a moratorium on nuclear weapon test explosions since 1992. 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 International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) urged Moscow to think before acting. "Russia must drop its reckless threat to leave," ICAN said in a statement. "International treaties ... are critical to making sure nuclear testing, which has harmed people's health and spread lasting radioactive contamination, is not resumed." Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, has said the move could "take Russia and the world backward to a dangerous era of tit-for-tat nuclear threats." Ukraine-Middle East Addressing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the atrocities on civilian populations in Ukraine and those on the people of Israel. "The only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine," he said, and called for unity amid the crisis. In a separate video address, Zelenskyy warned Russia is interested in triggering a war in the Middle East, "so that a new source of pain and suffering could undermine world unity, increase discord and contradictions, and thus help Russia destroy freedom in Europe." "We see Russian propagandists gloating. We see Moscow's Iranian friends openly supporting those who attacked Israel. And all of this is a much greater threat than the world currently perceives," he added. In an exclusive interview with the Ukrainian service of VOA, Ukraine Main Directorate of Intelligence spokesperson Andrii Yusov claimed that the Russian special services are using the terrorist attacks on Israel in an anti-Ukrainian propaganda campaign. Yusov claimed that Ukrainian intelligence received information that Russia has funneled to Hamas "trophy" weapons captured by Russia in Ukraine. This move, Yusov alleged, is meant to implicate Ukraine as a supplier of western weaponry to Hamas terrorists and subsequently discredit it "in the eyes of the free world, its partners and allies." Yusov added such a propaganda campaign aims "to disrupt or complicate the provision of further Western military assistance" to Ukraine. "These are fakes and provocations, of course," Yusov said, "All aid to Ukraine and all armaments are under strict control by our partners, the United States and the countries of the European Union, NATO. The results of this control and the results of inspections have been reported on several times. Ukraine is being as transparent and open as possible," he said. A warning 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 the focus of the West on the Israeli crisis will deflect its attention from the war in Ukraine was reiterated Sunday by 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. Hroza burial Residents of the Ukrainian village of Hroza, in northeastern Ukraine, wept beside coffins Monday as they buried relatives and neighbors killed in one of the deadliest attacks in nearly 20 months of war. The small community has been devastated by Thursday's attack, in which Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile slammed into a cafe in Hroza as people gathered to mourn a fallen Ukrainian soldier. United Nations investigators are in the Ukrainian village where the Russian missile strike killed 52 people. 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 soldier's wife and son. VOA Ukrainian Service reporter Mariia Ulianovska contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters and The Associated Press. The Taliban have been forced to deny claims that they are trying to join Hamas fighters, after a fake post on the X social media platform claimed the Afghan militant group wants to travel to fight in the war. Analysts say this has put the Taliban into the difficult position of publicly backing away from active support for Hamas and possibly angering some of their own cadre. A social media account, Taliban Public Relations Department, which later changed its name to #Free Palestine, posted on Saturday that the Taliban contacted Iran, Iraq and Jordan for passage to join Hamas in the ongoing fighting between the militant group and Israel. The post was viewed 2.5 million times and was also carried by some media outlets. The head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, Mohammad Suhail Shaheen, told a group of journalists in a WhatsApp group that the news was inaccurate. "Not correct," he wrote, in answer to a question, adding, "These are rumors, not confirmed news." The Taliban's spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, told VOA that the Taliban's "foreign ministry has issued a statement, and the Taliban's position is the same." The Taliban's foreign ministry's statement, issued Saturday, said it is "carefully monitoring the recent events in Gaza." "The Islamic Emirate considers every kind of defense and resistance of the people of Palestine for the freedom of the land and the holy places to be their legitimate right," added the statement. The fighting between Israel and Hamas started on Saturday after Hamas fighters breached the fence line along the Gaza border and entered southern Israeli towns. Hamas was one of the first groups to congratulate the Taliban on taking power in Afghanistan in 2001. Both groups have met several times since then. Difficult position Hashim Wahdatyar, a program director at the Institute of Current World Affairs in Washington, told VOA that the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, put the Taliban in a difficult position. He said that the Taliban "tilt toward Hamas" and will provide "political, logistical and military" support to the group. Still, they will not "publicly announce" it. "Taliban won't publicize its support to Hamas since it has obligations according to the Doha agreement that the Taliban must prevent any threat from Afghanistan to the U.S. and its allies, for example, Israel." Sher Jan Ahmadzai, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska, said that Taliban involvement in the war would be a violation of the Doha Agreement. "If the Taliban engage in the Palestine-Israel conflict, this would be considered a direct violation of the Doha deal," he said. He added that it would be "unprecedented" if the Taliban got involved in the Middle East conflict. Ahmadzai said that the Taliban might not officially engage; however, "there might be groups of the Taliban fighters who still believe in global jihad and consider the Palestinian-Israel conflict a religious deed to be engaged in." 'Vocal support' Wahid Faqiri, an Afghan political analyst, told VOA that the Taliban leadership is "trying hard to stay away from foreign involvement." "They know if they try to do this, the U.S. will cut all financial assistance, arm the opposition, and impose more sanctions," said Faqiri. The U.N. says that Afghanistan is facing the world's largest humanitarian crisis as more than 28.3 million people, or over two-thirds of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. Thomas Johnson, a research professor at the National Security Affairs Department at Naval Postgraduate School, told VOA that the Taliban's position is "extremely anti-Israeli." "I just don't know if they have the resources to really add anything to Hamas other than vocal support," Johnson said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew parallels Monday between Hamas attacks on Israelis and Russian strikes on Ukrainians, calling them "equally evil." "And the Israelis themselves, the Israeli journalists who were with us, in Ukraine, who were in Bucha, now say that they saw the same evil where Russia came. Equal evil. And there is only one difference: There is a terrorist organization that struck Israel, here there is a terrorist state that struck Ukraine," Zelenskyy told participants at a NATO meeting via video link. "The declared intentions are different, but the essence is the same. You see it. You see the same blood on the streets. The same shot civilian cars. These are the same bodies of tortured people," the Ukrainian leader said. Disinformation campaign Ukraine's main intelligence directorate Monday accused Russian intelligence of conducting a campaign to discredit Kyiv. "The aggressor state Russia is using the Hamas terrorist attack on the State of Israel for a large-scale provocation against Ukraine. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports that the Russian GRU has already transferred captured weapons produced in the USA and EU countries to Hamas terrorists captured during the fighting in Ukraine," said a statement on the department's Facebook page. Russia has not signaled that it is supporting any party in the conflict, and has called on all sides to cease violence and negotiate. But Hamas leaders reportedly have traveled to Moscow several times in recent years, and Moscow and Tehran are strategic allies. In a follow-up interview with VOA's Ukrainian Service, representative Andrii Yusov of Ukraine's intelligence directorate said they have information that Russian agents have taken captured equipment in Ukraine and begun handing it over to representatives of Hamas, to create the impression that Ukrainian officials have been selling off the weapons. "We have information that some of the trophy weapons captured in Ukraine have already been handed over [by Russia] to terrorists-representatives of Hamas, with further unfolding of this IPSO (informational and psychological special operation) and the conclusion that Ukraine was selling something to someone." Yusov warned there will be more false accusations that Hamas militants are allegedly fighting the Israeli army with weapons from Ukraine. Russia hopes attacks divert attention The American Institute for the Study of War wrote in a report on October 7 that the Kremlin is using, and will likely continue to use, Hamas attacks in Israel to promote information campaigns aimed at reducing U.S. and Western support for and attention to Ukraine. "The Kremlin has stepped up several information operations since the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, most notably accusing the West of neglecting conflicts in the Middle East in favor of supporting Ukraine and declaring that the international community will stop paying attention to Ukraine while reaffirming attention to the Middle East," ISW analysts say. The report quotes one Russian propagandist as saying that Russia would benefit from the escalation as the world would "temporarily look away from Ukraine and return to putting out the eternal flames in the Middle East." U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Monday for an immediate end to attacks on Israel and the release of all hostages. He also warned Israel's army to carry out their operations in accordance with international law. "I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people, but nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians," Guterres told reporters at U.N. headquarters following an emergency meeting of senior U.N. officials. "I reiterate my call to immediately cease these attacks and release all hostages." Saturday morning, Hamas fighters conducted a coordinated, surprise multipronged attack on several Israeli towns and cities, killing, injuring and kidnapping hundreds of Israelis and some foreigners. The secretary-general said he is "deeply distressed" that Israel plans to put the entire Gaza Strip home to more than 2 million people under a complete siege, not allowing in food or fuel or supplying it with electricity. "The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially," Guterres warned. He said relief supplies and aid workers must be allowed into Gaza. The United Nations said more than 120,000 people have been internally displaced in Gaza. Damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has affected services to more than 400,000 people. The U.N. said the Gaza power plant is now the only source of electricity in Gaza and could run out of fuel within days. The World Food Program began distributing pre-positioned aid to Palestinians in Gaza shelters run by UNRWA, the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees. Guterres said he and U.N. Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland are speaking with regional leaders to voice their concern and outrage, and to advance efforts to avoid any spillover to the wider Middle East. The U.N. chief said the recent events did not happen in a vacuum. "It's time to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization," Guterres said. He urged a negotiated peace in the form of a two-state solution that fulfills Israel's needs for security and the national aspirations of the Palestinians. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer said Monday he was grateful for a strengthened statement from China condemning the killing and kidnapping of Israeli and foreign civilians by Hamas, issued during a bipartisan congressional visit to Beijing that included a lengthy meeting with President Xi Jinping. Schumer led a delegation of six senators to China for talks aimed at stabilizing ties following a sharp deterioration in recent years over trade, U.S. support for self-governing Taiwan, human rights and other issues. The delegation, which included three Democrats and three Republicans, was the first visit by U.S. lawmakers since 2019 and came at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijings rise as a global power. Schumer told Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier in the day that he had been very disappointed by Chinas failure to strongly condemn the attack on Israel and show sympathy for the country and its people. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said later Monday that China is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict between Palestine and Israel. China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians, along with actions that expand conflict and undermine regional stability, Mao said, going beyond an initial Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday. China hopes for a resumption of peace talks, the implementation of a two-state solution, and a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestinian issue, which guarantees the legitimate concerns of all parties, through political means, as early as possible, Mao said at a daily briefing. The Chinese Embassy in Israel said a young woman of Israeli and Chinese heritage was among the scores of hostages seized by Hamas fighters, who killed at least 800 people in Israel. "Noa was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists when attending a peace music festival in southern Israel. She was dragged from Israel to Gaza," an embassy statement said. She is a daughter, a sister and a friend." Schumer's delegation also met with the head of China's rubber-stamp parliament, the commerce minister and Wang, the country's highest-ranking diplomat. Xi's comments were not immediately reported, and Wang did not respond before journalists were escorted out of the room. Schumer said he had made a direct request to Xi to strengthen the Foreign Ministry's statement on the Hamas attack and the horrible, gut-wrenching loss of civilian life, which had been omitted from the earlier missive. I'm gratified the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement that did condemn the loss of civilian life, he told reporters at a news conference following the conclusion of meetings. Schumer's meeting with Xi ran to 80 minutes 20 more than scheduled emphasizing the careful preparation and highly detailed nature of the discussions, the senator said. He said the U.S. side asserted its concerns about the lack of reciprocity and the need for a ""level playing field" for American businesses in China, and urged China to take measures to prevent the export of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl, which has fueled a deadly wave of addictions. Both sides, the Chinese and us, said unless we have sincere conversations about our differences and not pull any punches, that we would never solve these problems, Schumer said. The two governments are trying to arrange a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping during a regional summit in San Francisco next month in a bid to manage the increasingly fraught relationship. China has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. In recent years, it has stepped up its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming Syrian President Bashar Assad on a visit to China. Schumer told Xi that the top priority for the Senate delegation is seeking fair trade between the two countries. We want the Chinese people to have economic opportunity. That would be good for America, he said. But China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now. Earlier, Wang urged the United States to respect Chinas core interests and development rights, a frequent refrain as Beijing seeks to counter American restrictions on trade and technology exports that it views as attempts to hold back the countrys economic growth and rise as a global power. Schumer also urged China to drop its tacit support for what he called Russia's immoral war against Ukraine, advancing human rights and releasing detained Americans. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China this month. China says it remains neutral in the conflict, but has refused to condemn Russia's full-on invasion of Ukraine and has condemned international sanctions imposed on Moscow as a result. KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2023 - 14:23 | All, Japan, G7 Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged on Monday that a part of an upcoming economic package, to be drawn up possibly by the end of the month, will include measures to boost the development of artificial intelligence. Kishida made the remarks at the ongoing Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, western Japan. The outcome of the discussions will be utilized in the Hiroshima AI Process, in which the Group of Seven industrialized nations will establish rules on AI-related topics to avoid the misuse of the technology. The prime minister said the government will earmark funds to also facilitate the incorporation of AI in small and midsize companies and in medical and other fields. Kishida also said the G-7 nations are working on international guidelines for developers of AI in the run-up to an online meeting among leaders that will take place in fall at the earliest. Related coverage: U.N. forum on internet governance begins in Kyoto, focus on AI G-7 pushes for int'l standards for AI amid spread of ChatGPT use G-7 ministers agree on 5 principles to govern AI, emerging tech A Zimbabwean living in Tel Aviv says the situation is tense in Israel as the country continues to engage in skirmishes with Hamas militants amid reports that over 1,000 people have so far been killed in the outright war, which started Saturday. Vivian Nomalanga Bhebhe, who has lived and worked a general worker in the city since 2017, says foreigners living in the country are shocked about the war. According to Reuters, 700 Israelis and at least 370 Palestinians have been killed, including children and women. About 2,000 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli air strikes in Gaza. Ms. Bhebhe says the Hamas attack surprised people in cities like Sderot, where the militants massacred people attending a music concert while others were still in bed. The residents in those towns it seems were asleep when those people came in. I believe it was before sunrise. It seems like when they woke up these people (Hamas) were knocking at their doors and those that are unlucky to have opened (doors) were just shot. Some of them were killed while they were jogging and others stretching up at parks. They were taken by surprise, shot and killed by Hamas. She says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaus government has urged people to stay in doors. Right now, we have been told to stay at home because the Israeli defence forces will be doing a counter attack this evening, if not this night or tomorrow morning. So, we have been told to stay indoors. We dont know whats going to happen after Israel has attacked that side. Maybe they would want to retaliate also after the attack. The situation is just tense. We couldnt go to work because those people (Hamas), its not only the rockets this time They infiltrated by coming into the country. Right now the government doesnt know how many of them are inside Israeli cities as we speak right now. They are trying to keep us safe. Ms. Bhebhe says its too scary to go to work. What I have heard is that in 2014 these people (Hamas) almost did the same and they were killing people, planting bombs inside buses, inside trains. So, I think the government is trying to minimize casualties and the damage. And thats why they want us to stay at home until they apprehend all the infiltrators or until they are sure that they have caught most of them. Its scary to take a bus or train to work. Remember these people look the same. Its only them (Hamas) who know that this is an Arab and this is a Jew. But to us Africans they look the same. So, you wouldnt know when you are in a bus whether you are with one of them (Hamas) or not. So its not easy. We will know that we are safe when the government says so but for now its just scary. Ms. Bhebhe says rockets are not raining on Israel. Since the Israeli Defence Force was caught by surprise yesterday, the bomb shelters were locked just praying that we will be safe at home, trusting the iron domes to do the job. As bad as it is, I think if you decide to follow the rules, stay at home, you will be safe because its not like you go there and a rocket hits you, no. There are iron domes that are doing a good job so far. So, yes, its happening, they are hitting some buildings here and there but not that they are raining on buildings because the iron domes are working. I think as long as we stay in doors, then its safe that way. The problem is just going out and not knowing who you gonna meet out, who is out at the moment. According to the Wall Street Journal, Israel's Iron Dome defense system is a land-based system that intercepts and destroys short-range rockets and mortars. Out of War: Girl Becomes TV Inspiration in Troubled Middle East SAT-7 KIDS TV presenter Christina Issa draws on Syria war experiences to bring hope to others on Int'l Day of the Girl, Oct. 11 INSPIRING GIRLS ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST: SAT-7 KIDS (www.sat7usa.org) presenter 21-year-old Christina Issa draws on her own childhood war experiences in Syria to bring hope to others on Int'l Day of the Girl, Oct. 11. NEWS PROVIDED BY SAT-7 Oct. 9, 2023 EASTON, Md., Oct. 9, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- As a young girl, Christina Issa found a way to block out the horror of war raging in her homeland of Syria by watching a faith-based television channel for kids, broadcast in her native Arabic. She never dreamed that a few years later she'd be a presenter on the same channel, SAT-7 KIDS, encouraging other girls and boys living amidst war, violence and devastating loss. To watch her story, click here. On International Day of the Girl a global awareness event held on Oct. 11 each year Issa, now age 21, is using her platform to show girls living in even the most desperate circumstances that faith in God can change their lives. Television: 'Source of Hope' "Growing up in the middle of war in Syria, life was full of uncertainty and fear," Issa recalled. "But in the chaos, there was a source of hope that brought comfort to us... a sound coming from our small television set." Issa and her siblings crowded around their television set every day to watch SAT-7 KIDS (www.sat7usa.org), a free-to-view channel broadcasting Bible-based content in regional languages with local presenters across the Middle East and North Africa. As Syria plunged deeper into civil war a brutal conflict that has claimed an estimated 350,000 lives since 2011 Issa says it was "hard to keep our faith strong when everything around us was falling apart." Issa's own life fell apart at age 14 when her father died of cancer. She lost her faith "in God and everyone." After her family moved to Lebanon to escape the war, Issa's faith slowly began to return. "Deep down, I knew all I ever needed was one more gathering around that television set," she recalled. 'Challenge Accepted' When SAT-7 KIDS auditioned for new presenters for its "Challenge Accepted" show, Issa jumped at the opportunity and was hired. "I found myself working for the same television channel that brought so much comfort to me as a child in Syria," she said. "At that moment, I remembered little me, wishing to go into that television in our living room, never knowing that it might actually come true one day." Now in the show's third season, Issa shares her faith and experiences with a generation of young viewers across the Middle East facing their own struggles and heartaches. "I want to reassure them that their pain is understood and they are never alone," she said. "With Jesus, they have the strength to overcome life's storms." Launched in 1996, SAT-7 USA (www.sat7usa.org) -- with its international headquarters in Cyprus -- broadcasts Christian and educational satellite television and online programs in the Middle East and North Africa. Its mission is to make the gospel available to everyone, and support the church in its life, work and witness for Jesus Christ. SAT-7 broadcasts 24/7 in Arabic, Farsi (Persian), Dari, and Turkish, using multiple satellite channels and online services. SOURCE SAT-7 CONTACT: Nicole Ponder, 321-586-2332, nponder@inchristcommunications.com KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2023 - 22:23 | World, All Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his eagerness to improve Sino-U.S. ties in his talks with a U.S. congressional delegation in Beijing on Monday as he called for bilateral cooperation to address global challenges such as climate change, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Xi said ties between China and the United States are "the most important bilateral relations in the world" and how they get along will determine the future and destiny of mankind, the ministry said. In the meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in the capital, the Chinese president also said competition and confrontation are not in line with the trend of the times, stressing that their common interests far outweigh their differences, the ministry added. The meeting between the Chinese leader and the six-member bipartisan Senate group led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took place as Beijing and Washington seek to arrange talks between their presidents in November. The group has been visiting China since Saturday. It is the first trip to the Asian country by U.S. lawmakers in four years. Xi said China welcomes more members of the U.S. Congress to visit to better understand his country, the ministry said. Schumer said the United States does not seek conflict with China nor to decouple from it, and it is willing to strengthen dialogue and communication and responsibly manage bilateral relations, it added. He later told a press conference that the U.S. lawmakers warned against China's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying they believe the country "doesn't help itself by aligning itself with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin." "When they align themselves with Russia, an outlawed nation like Russia, they are not helping their own cause," Schumer said, in reference to deepening cooperation between Beijing and Moscow. China is opposed to sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other Western nations. Earlier Monday, the lawmakers held talks with the country's top diplomat Wang Yi and shared the view that the world's two largest economies should avoid conflict, according to media reports. In the talks, Wang expressed hope that this visit would help the United States view China "more accurately and objectively" and bring bilateral relations back to the track of sound development, Hong Kong's Phoenix TV reported. He also called for the two countries to "respect each other's core interests" -- a reference to issues including Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Communist-led China regards as its own -- and avoid letting their differences cause confrontation or conflict. Schumer said the United States welcomes competition with China and sought a level playing field for U.S. businesses in the Asian country, telling Wang that most Americans "do not believe we have that fairness now," according to Reuters news agency. The U.S. lawmakers arrived in Shanghai on Saturday and are scheduled to visit Xian after Beijing, Phoenix TV said. Their trip is the latest in a series of high-level communications between the two countries, whose relationship is fraught with tensions over numerous economic and diplomatic issues. The delegation will also visit South Korea and Japan, with its Asian tour aimed at "advancing U.S. economic and national security interests in the region." The United States and China are exploring the possibility of holding the talks between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum slated for November in San Francisco. Related coverage: U.S. averts government shutdown at last minute with stopgap funding bill Vajont Dam disaster occurred 60 years ago today. Italy marks the 60th anniversary of the Vajont Dam disaster which claimed the lives of almost 2,000 people in the Piave valley, in the northern Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, on the night of 9 October 1963. Italian president Sergio Mattarella on Monday will visit the Fortogna cemetery to commemorate the victims of the disaster which occurred when a vast landslide collided into the artificial reservoir formed by the dam over the Vaiont river. The landslide, comprising around 260 million cubic metres of rocks from Monte Toc, created a massive inland tsunami that reached up to 200 metres above the dam. La sera del #9ottobre 1963 dal versante nord del monte Toc si staccano 260 milioni di metri cubi di roccia che, cadendo nel bacino della diga del Vajont, causano un'ondata che distrugge i paesi sottostanti. In video un breve racconto attraverso immagini di repertorio RAI. pic.twitter.com/0cPNsd6iXq raicultura (@RaiCultura) October 9, 2023 Electricity in the surrounding area went off suddenly at 22.39, moments before the giant tidal wave - travelling at 80 km p/h - ripped through the narrow valley below. The wall of water engulfed the nearby town of Longarone, drowning around 80 per cent of its inhabitants, including more than 300 entire families. It also caused widespread deaths and destruction in the neighbouring villages of Fae, Pirago, Rivalta, and Villanova, with many of the bodies never found. The Vajont Dam disaster occurred on the night of 9 October 1963. The dam, which remained largely intact after the disaster, was designed by Italian engineer Carlo Semenza in the 1920s, however construction by the Societa Adriatica di Elettricita (SADE) did not begin until the late 1950s. The lake created by the dam was intended to generate hydroelectric power to meet growing demand from the rapidly-industrialising north. However authorities had dismissed numerous warnings that Monte Toc, to the southern side of the basin, was geologically unstable. The Vajont dam disaster devastated the Piave valley. The 262-metre high dam, hailed as the tallest of its kind in the world, was inaugurated in 1960, and two years later it was nationalised by the Italian ministry of public works. The dam still stands to this day however the reservoir has never been refilled. Share Comment on this story Comment Add to your saved stories Save Denied the dubious spectacle of a cage match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, the world may yet be treated to a contest pitting the Tesla chief executive against an underdog from Indiana. Shawn Fain, leader of the United Auto Workers, shares Musks taste for hyperbole and confrontation. More importantly, he feels not just the crowd supporting him but also, as it were, the steel of the cage at his back. The UAWs strike is a money-loser for the Big Three Detroit automakers, both in terms of lost production while it goes on and the likely higher labor costs that will result. On that view, it can only be a plus for Tesla Inc., whose US plants arent unionized and pay workers lower wages. But it also would widen the gap between those unionized and non-unionized wages. Including benefits and other incentives, the all-in cost of Detroits full-time employees is estimated to be around $65-$70 per hour, compared with about $45 at Tesla. That implies a labor cost advantage in the US of about $1.4 billion to $1.75 billion, or up to $2,700 per vehicle. Raise base wages for UAW employees by 30% which seems to be where negotiations are coalescing and at the top end that gap would rise above $2 billion,(1)a target that would get any unions attention. Advertisement For Fain, who frames his fight as part of a larger struggle against the billionaire class, Musk is virtually a caricature, if not a gift: The richest man in the world with a space-travel sideline, an expensive social media fetish and an animosity to unions expressed in both word and, according to rebukes from the National Labor Relations Board, deed. Fun as it might be jabbing at Mary Barra and Jim Farley who lead General Motors Co. and Ford Motors Co., respectively Musk would surely make for a more engaging sparring partner. More importantly, Tesla offers a potential way out of the UAWs biggest dilemma albeit a way out that is strewn with obstacles. Besides the unions immediate concerns over pay and benefits, its existential challenge concerns electric vehicles. More digital than mechanical, the EVs rise portends layoffs as some legacy factories close, even assuming new ones for batteries (many of them in union-unfriendly states). The importance of this shift for the union is underscored by its decision Friday to hold off expanding strikes after GM caved on the issue of putting employees manufacturing batteries under the UAWs master contract. Meanwhile, the UAWs aging demographics also point to a further thinning of the ranks. Advertisement The long-running decline in union membership mirrors the decline in Detroits share of the US vehicle market. That was 90% during the industrys, and organized labors, 1960s heyday. By the time of the debacle of 2009, it had fallen to about 50%. Now its closer to 40%. As Kevin Tynan, automotive analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, points out, the Big Three have effectively downsized by ditching cheaper models and focusing on higher-priced trucks and SUVs to chase profits. As they attempt to open up a new avenue of growth, EVs, they are confronted with big near-term costs that higher pay settlements will exacerbate. The UAW must broaden its view if it is going to increase its membership, says Tynan, adding they have to stop only going back to GM, Ford and Stellantis. There is no more blood in those stones. The UAW has been aware of this for some time, which is why it targeted foreign automakers factories so called transplants and Tesla itself at various points over the past decade. Such effort has been largely in vain. Tesla, meanwhile, has become profitable at scale only recently. The companys identity as a disruptive newcomer, with plants far from the UAWs heartland around the Great Lakes, is another barrier. It is harder to entice workers into a union when their employer is hiring at breakneck speed rather than shedding thousands of jobs. Tesla has also pushed back aggressively against unionization, as those NLRB rulings attest (Tesla is appealing several of these). Advertisement Then theres that defining feature of Tesla: Its runaway stock price. In a 2018 tweet that the NLRB ruled illegally threatened workers, Musk questioned why his staff would choose to unionize and give up stock options. (Teslas appealing that one). Musk has claimed such options have made some line workers millionaires and he is probably right about that, given the roughly 1,100% increase in the stock price since the end of 2018. Then again, most of that surge happened in 2020. While Teslas stock peaked in late 2021, today it is roughly where it was at the start of that year. So while more recent hires who also happen to be deft traders might reap huge gains from their grants, they must surely wonder if theres really another 10-bagger lurking in a company already valued north of $800 billion. As it stands, Teslas manufacturing-related stock based compensation in 2022 of $594 million implies a benefit of around $9,300 per employee or $4.65 per hour.(2) Share this article Share That is roughly the same as the $4.44 per hour, assuming 2,000 hours worked per year, that Ford paid in profit sharing and bonuses to US employees last year. If Fain wanted to counter Musks options argument, he might point out that Teslas stock has effectively tread water for almost three years while annual net income has gone from less than $1 billion to more than $12 billion over the same span. A check for a sliver of that, rather than an option on Teslas AI ambitions, might appeal more at this point. Advertisement That Teslas stock price is, unlike the Detroit automakers, overwhelmingly a function of growth expectations also makes it an enticing target for the UAW, as does the companys integrated structure. Tesla has two major auto plants in the US, in California and Texas. Organizing just one would provide the potential to disrupt production growth significantly. Just look at the latest quarterly sales miss, blamed by the company on factory downtime for retooling. For that reason alone, Tesla has all the incentive in the world to fiercely resist any renewed UAW push. And even if the union established a foothold, that would only set the stage for negotiations over pay and conditions, which would likely also be contentious and time-consuming. Musks long-standing push for automation and robotics would also get renewed impetus. The UAW is gearing up for another crack at Tesla nonetheless, according to a recent report in the New York Times. In part, Fain may feel the combination of (pending) success in the current strike, Musks antics and Teslas segue from underdog to juggernaut means the time is now. He also must know that if his union doesnt get out of Detroit soon, its days are numbered.More From Bloomberg Opinion: Advertisement The Moral Case for No Longer Engaging With Musks X: Dave Lee Striking Autoworkers Cant Bring Back the 1950s: Liam Denning Its Too Soon for Unions to Pop the Champagne: Stephen Mihm (1) Tesla had 127,855 employees at the end of 2022, of which half were in manufacturing roles, according to the companys Impact Report. Teslas plants in Shanghai and Berlin reportedly had 20,000 and 9,000 employees each, leaving just under 35,000 in the US plants. Assuming approximately half of Teslas vehicles were produced in the US (based on the companys factory capacity figures) and that workers put in 2,000 hours per year, the $20-$25 per hour cost difference with the three Detroit automakers equates to an implied advantage of between $2,154 and $2,692 per vehicle. Regarding the 30% wage increase, this calculation assumes wages account for about half of the all-in cost of employees at the Detroit three. Advertisement (2) Tesla discloses stock-based compensation related to cost of goods sold in the notes to its annual 10K filing. Absent any geographical breakdown, dividing this by its global manufacturing workforce of about 64,000 at the end of 2022 implies an average benefit of $9,292. Spread over an assumed 2,000 hours per year, that averages $4.65 per hour. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Liam Denning is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy. A former banker, he edited the Wall Street Journals Heard on the Street column and wrote the Financial Timess Lex column. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. At his first town hall less than a week after announcing his campaign, Phillips faced screaming and profanity from attendees disappointed in his response to a question on a ceasefire in the Middle East. Demolition works have begun to return one of Sydneys most prominent historic sandstone buildings to its former glory while paving the way for a new public square dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Once the repository of the births, deaths, marriages and land titles of every NSW citizen, the old Registrar Generals building has lain empty for most of the past three years. Public space will be restored to the curtilage of the old Registrar Generals building from next October. Credit: Arterra Interactive Bulldozers have moved in to pull down its modernist additions behind Macquarie Street a northern extension built in 1956 and the 1963 Records Annexe designed by Sydney Opera House architect Peter Hall. These changes are deemed necessary to restore the 1913 neo-gothic building to its original design and open up access to its curtilage and the wider historic precinct. The whistleblower who testified about the social harms of Facebook and its products in the US Congress says major online platforms invested heavily in safety measures after her disclosures, only to wind them back, and any progress has instead come from government action. When Frances Haugen left Facebook in 2021 she took documents that provided compelling evidence of wide-ranging harms, such as knowingly promoting misinformation and hate speech and pushing eating disorder content to teenagers using the photo-sharing app Instagram. Former Facebook worker Frances Haugens revelations led to regulatory changes around the world. Credit: Eddie Jim But Haugen, who is in Australia for the South by Southwest conference in Sydney next week, said any action from major companies was shortlived. Elon Musk bought Twitter in October 2022, when huge numbers of employees left the company as the billionaire removed most of the platforms content moderation and reinstated banned accounts. KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2023 - 14:39 | All, Japan Four people were attacked by a bear on Monday in a residential area in Akita, northeastern Japan, with the whereabouts of the animal currently unknown, local authorities said. The extent of injuries suffered by the male and female victims, aged from their 60s to 80s, is unclear, but all could hold conversations when they were rushed to hospital following the incident that occurred shortly after 9 a.m. One of the five people initially reported to have been attacked, a man in his 80s, instead sustained injuries when he tripped while fleeing the scene. Akita Prefecture has seen a higher-than-usual number of bear sightings this year, with police saying a record 30 people have been injured in attacks. Also on Monday, an 84-year-old man in Kanazawa and a 79-year-old woman in Toyama, both in central Japan, were attacked by bears, with both suffering non-life-threatening injuries. Related coverage: FEATURE:Rampant Yezo deer causing farm damage,traffic accidents in Hokkaido Woman in Japan dies of Oz virus in world 1st, possibly tick-borne 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. 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. 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) A WCO National Workshop on the modernization of the Customs Laboratory in Albania, funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund Germany, was held at the Customs Laboratory in Tirana from 19 to 23 September 2023. The workshop was facilitated by two experts from the Greek Customs Laboratory (General Chemical State Laboratory of Greece GCSL). The Workshop focused on the classification and analysis of polymers and elastomers (Chapters 39 and 40 of the Harmonized System) by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) with a view to achieving the uniform interpretation and application of the Harmonization System. By introducing actual analysis practices applied by the Greek customs Laboratory (GCSL), comprehensive analysis methods were explained and demonstrated by utilizing the DSC and TGA techniques on a large variety of polymers and other samples brought from the Greek Customs Laboratory (GCSL) and by interpreting the existing thermal curves of samples that have already been run by the Albanian Customs Laboratory. This included the sample preparation, the instruments configuration and calibration, the processing and the evaluation of the analysis results. More specifically, properties like glass transition temperature, melting points, enthalpies of fusion and dropping points were measured on various polymer samples by using the DSC technique. Properties like decomposition temperatures, ash content, volatiles content, waters of crystallization were measured by the TGA technique. Furthermore, classification was also explained among EU Combined Nomenclature Codes of Polymers (Chapter 39) and Elastomers (Chapter 40) providing an in-depth analysis of their classification by utilizing the results of techniques DSC and TGA and also of others like FTIR, etc. The large number of the different polymers and elastomers that are being traded commercially on a global level requires a good knowledge of their properties in order to verify their identity during customs clearance. The Workshop was attended by 7 participants from different departments of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Albania, involved in Chemical Laboratory and Classification of Goods Unit. At the closing of the Workshop, the Director of the Customs Laboratory, Mr. Arber Misja, highlighted the continuous support given by the WCO and thanked the two representatives from the Greek Customs Administration. China's Xinjiang is a dynamic place where commerce converges, connections are forged, and fruitful exchanges occur. Xinhua travels to Horgos in Xinjiang to find out how the Belt and Road Initiative breathes new life into the border port. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service WYOMISSING, Pa. - A solidarity gathering and vigil for Israel will be held Wednesday evening in Wyomissing. The Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks, in partnership with Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom, Kesher Zion Synagogue and Chabad of Berks, will hold the event at the home of Reform Congregation Oheb Sholom and Kesher Zion Synagogue, located at 555 Warwick Drive in Wyomissing. The brief prayer service and candlelight vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 11. In a statement issued Monday, the Jewish Federation of Reading/Berks said it "stands shoulder to shoulder with Israel as we pray for our families and friends, and for the safety of Israel." For more information, call 610-921-0624. BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - Large flames could be seen as firefighters battled a well-involved 2-alarm fire in Bethlehem Township early Monday morning that injured three people. The fire was reported around 3:50 a.m. at 2-story home Monday on the 3700 block of Tiffany Dr. A media release says the fire was discovered by Palmer Township police units on patrol near the border of Palmer and Bethlehem Township. Officials say the initial fire crews forced entry into the dwelling and made an aggressive attack on the interior of the building. The release continues to say two homeowners and a firefighters were injured in the blaze. The firefighter injured is a 28-year-old Nancy Run firefighter with 11 years of service. Officials say 50 firefighters responded to help extinguish the blaze that took about 45 minutes to get under control. The release says one homeowner suffered burns and the second homeowner has respiratory distress. Both were taken to the hospital for evaluation. The resident's dog, a yellow- lab mix, has not been located. The firefighter was treated at the hospital for burn injures and released with second-degree burns sustained from interior firefighting efforts on the initial fire attack. No word on what caused the fire to start. Heavy fire could be seen coming from the back of the home coming through the roof. The Bethlehem Twp. Fire Marshal is investigating. Oct. 8 - Oct. 14 is Fire Prevention Week. The Nancy Fire Fire Co. is reminding everyone that working smoke detectors can save lives and that now is the time to test. Smoke detectors should be tested monthly and should be less than 10 years old. For more information on fire safety, visit www.nfpa.org or www.nancyrun.org. This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows the entrance of a school destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA/JERUSALEM/CAIRO, 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 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. - - - - 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. - - - - 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. - - - - At least 20,000 Palestinians from various governorates of the Gaza Strip have been displaced to the schools belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), a senior official said on Sunday. Adnan Abu Hasna, the UNRWA media advisor, said in a press statement that "the displaced people, including women, children, and elderly people, headed to 44 UNRWA's schools." He added that "28 schools only were equipped for sheltering the displaced people during the conflict times," expecting the number of displaced people to increase in the coming hours. This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows damaged ground at a school following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. 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. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A man holds the body of a child died in 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. Meanwhile, death toll from Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has reached 600, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) A man holds the body of a child died in 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. Meanwhile, death toll from Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has reached 600, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) People walk past the entrance of a school destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City 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. Meanwhile, death toll from Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has reached 600, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People hold the bodies of children died in 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. Meanwhile, death toll from Hamas' surprise attack on Israel has reached 600, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported on Sunday. (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) 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 stand by 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) BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A gathering is being held Monday night in support of Israel. An informational flyer about the event says the community gathering will be held at 7 p.m. at the Lehigh Chabad. The Lehigh Chabad is located at 306 Wyandotte St. in Bethlehem. The event is being co-sponsored event with all the Jewish organizations on campus and will include a lighting of memorial candles for those who've lost their lives. ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Lehigh County Coroner's Office is ruling the manner of death in a recent shooting in Allentown as homicide. A media release from the corner's office writes that Sian Cartagena, 18 was pronounced dead Wednesday, Oct. 4th at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest. Cartagena was shot just before 5:40 a.m. at a home in the 2000 block of W. Green St. in Allentown on Oct. 2. An autopsy ruled the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the body. The Allentown Police and the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office are also investigating. LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. - Following the closures of two Easton area Rite Aid stores about a month ago, the drugstore chain's footprint is continuing to shrink in the Lehigh Valley. Rite Aid, the Philadelphia-based company with more than 2,100 locations in 17 states, recently shuttered an Allentown location and plans to close a Bethlehem store next week. The Allentown store, at 361 S. Cedar Crest Blvd in The Shops at Cedar Point, closed in late September. The Bethlehem store, at 2178 W. Union Blvd in the Lehigh Shopping Center, is set to close on Oct. 17, according to store signage. A clearance event featuring expanded shopping opportunities began Oct. 4 and will continue through Oct. 17 at the Bethlehem location. Many items are discounted 50% or 75% off their original prices. The pharmacy will continue to meet your prescription and health care needs thru October 17th as well, the posted message continues. Thanks for your patience and understanding. News of these Allentown and Bethlehem locations follow the closures of two Easton area Rite Aid stores: 601 S. 25th St. in Palmer Township, which closed on Sept. 7; and 901 Northampton St. in Eastons West Ward, which closed on Sept. 13. Rite Aid provided the following statement regarding its store closures: "Like all retail businesses, we regularly review each of our locations to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers, communities and overall business. A decision to close a store is one we take very seriously and is based on a variety of factors including business strategy, lease and rent considerations, local business conditions and viability, and store performance. We review every neighborhood to ensure our customers will have access to health services, be it at Rite Aid or a nearby pharmacy, and we work to seamlessly transfer their prescriptions so there is no disruption of services. We also strive to transfer associates to other Rite Aid locations where possible." On Sept. 22, The Wall Street Journal reported that Rite Aid is negotiating with creditors about the terms of a bankruptcy plan that would include closing 400 to 500 stores, citing people familiar with the talks. Rite Aid would either sell or let creditors take over its remaining operations, according to the report. No decisions have been made as conversations remain ongoing, Rite Aid said in a statement to news outlets. Rite Aid faces more than $3.3 billion in debt and more than a thousand federal lawsuits alleging that the company oversupplied opioids, the Wall Street Journal reported. On Oct. 4, Rite Aid announced that the New York Stock Exchange informed the company that it is no longer in compliance with NYSE continued listing standards set forth in Section 802.01B (the Minimum Market Capitalization Standard), and Section 802.01C (the Minimum Stock Price Standard) of the NYSEs Listed Company Manual. Rite Aid noted that under NYSE rules, it is provided with certain cure periods and the companys common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE during the cure periods, subject to the companys compliance with other continued listing requirements. The current noncompliance with the NYSE listing standards does not affect the companys ongoing business operations or its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reporting requirements, nor does it trigger any violation of its material debt or other obligations, the company announced. Rite Aid noted that it has been engaged in reviewing and continues to review strategic alternatives to recapitalize, refinance or otherwise optimize its capital structure, which may result in the company pursuing one or more significant corporate transactions or other remedial measures. LOWER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. Union Auto Workers (UAW) members voted against the ratification of a collective bargaining agreement and began a strike on Monday. Mack Trucks announced in a news release Sunday evening that the strike would start at 7 a.m. Monday. According to the news release, the workers rejected the five-year agreement, which covers about 3,900 employees across Mack Truck facilities in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. More than 70% of union members rejected the tentative agreement from Mack Trucks. The announcement comes just one week after the union's negotiators and Mack Trucks reached a tentative agreement to avoid an immediate strike. Mack Trucks is part of the Gothenburg, Sweden-based Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people worldwide. It employs 2,700 people at a plant in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County 2,300 of whom are represented by UAW. The truck-maker said it offered a 10% general wage increase in year one for all employees, a compounded 20% increase to general wages over five years, and a guarantee of no increases in health insurance premiums through the term of the contract. The president of Mack said he's surprised and disappointed that the UAW decided to strike but that they remain committed to the bargaining process and is confident they'll come to an agreement. Meanwhile, the UAW's president said he's inspired by union members for holding out for a better deal. Employees will continue the strike until a deal is reached between the union and Mack Trucks. HARRISBURG, Pa. Enrollment of new students increased by 3.4% this fall at Pennsylvania's state colleges, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) announced in a press release Monday. According to the press release, this is the second consecutive fall increase in new student enrollment at PASSHE schools. Enrollment is now up a combined 10% between the Fall 2022 and Fall 2023 semesters, the press release said. According to PASSHE Board of Governors chair Dr. Cynthia Shapira, tuition freezes at the state level are responsible for the increases. "The State System has frozen tuition and aligned academic programs to in-demand jobs, and two straight years of new-student enrollment growth shows that is what students want. The strategy is working," Shapira said. Schools with the largest increases in new student enrollment this fall are East Stroudsburg (21.1%), Cheyney (15.2%) and Indiana (15%), the press release said. According to the press release, PASSHE schools confer more than 20,000 degrees each year, and the system has more than 800,000 living alumni. 88% of current PASSHE students are Pennsylvania residents. NORRISTOWN, Pa. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is investigating an "officer-involved" shooting that ocurred in Upper Moreland Township. According to DA Kevin R. Steele, Upper Moreland Police responded to a report of a woman "waving a gun outside of a residence" in the 100 block of Evans Avenue. The incident occurred around 5:06 p.m. Sunday, Steele said. According to Steele, the initial investigation indicates that the woman, 69, pointed a firearm at EMTs responding to the scene. She apparently did not follow police commands to drop the weapon and was shot by an officer, Steele said. Upon being shot, the woman was transported to Abington Hospital, where she died, Steele said. The names of the woman and officers involved in the incident are not being released at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Montgomery County Detectives at (610) 278-3368, Steele said. The Jewish diaspora is trying to make sense of an attack that killed hundreds and wounded many more during a holiday season that is supposed to be among the most festive times on the Jewish holiday calendar. The attacks by the militant group Hamas came the day after the end of Sukkot, the weeklong celebration to commemorate the harvest season and the period in which Jews lived in the desert after being freed from slavery in Egypt. American Jewish Congress president Jack Rosen says it's no accident that the attack was carried out during a holiday and the Jewish Sabbath. GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Guatemalas attorney general on Monday called for the government to act against largely peaceful protesters, who have taken to the streets for weeks demanding her resignation for what they say are clear attempts to undermine their nations democracy. Protests broke out in Guatemala two weeks ago following one of the most tumultuous elections in the countrys recent history. The protests are fueled by accusations that Attorney General Consuelo Porras has tried to prevent President-elect Bernardo Arevalo from taking office in January. Since emerging as a political contender earlier this year, Arevalo a progressive outsider challenging the elite who have long controlled the Central American nation and his Seed Movement party have faced waves of legal attacks. Those only ramped up when he won the countrys elections in August. The attacks have included raids on electoral facilities and the suspension of Arevalos political party, effectively handicapping his ability to govern. Such moves against the incoming leader prompted Indigenous groups and rural-dwellers long disenfranchised in Guatemalan society to call for an indefinite strike, which began with 14 blockades. Now two weeks into protests, the blockades have since expanded to block more than 80 roads throughout the country. In a video released Monday morning, Porras described the demonstrations against her as illegal, and asked for authorities to forcibly clear the blocked roads and allow for the free circulation of people once again. I want to express my complete disagreement and distaste of the protests, she said, adding that they clearly violate the rights of all Guatemalans. Demonstrators have largely been peaceful, but her message comes after a handful of incidents over the weekend. People annoyed by the road blockades drove their cars at protesters and were later arrested for causing material damage and making attempts against the lives of the people protesting. Porras and other prosecutors have been sanctioned by the U.S. government and had their entry visas withdrawn, accusing them of obstructing the anti-corruption fight and undermining democracy in the country. JERUSALEM (AP) Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the war's death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Hamas also escalated the conflict, pledging to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the war's third day, Israel was still finding bodies from Hamas' stunning weekend attack into southern Israeli towns. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Be'eri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. The Israeli military said more than 900 people already have been killed in Israel. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israel's aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy. Attacks by both sides created more scenes of devastation Monday. In Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house. In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp. Early Monday evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have razed 790 housing units and severely damaged 5,330, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said early Tuesday. Damage to three water and sanitation sites have cut off services to 400,000. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries. Tens of thousands of Gaza residents continued to flee. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed. New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. Meanwhile in the West Bank, Palestinians entered a fourth day under severe movement restrictions. Israeli authorities have sealed off crossings to the occupied territory and closed checkpoints, blocking movement between cities and towns. Clashes between rock-throwing Palestinians and Israeli forces in the territory since the start of the incursion have left 15 Palestinians dead, according to the U.N. Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Police have destroyed 110 acres of hashish in north Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, said a statement of the Ministry for Interior Affairs on Monday. According to the statement, the counter-narcotics police have recently cleared 110 acres of hashish farmland in the provincial capital Faizabad city and different areas of Badakhshan province. The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to fight against illicit crops including poppy and hashish, drug processing, and drug trafficking until the country gets rid of the drug menace. 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. This story has been updated to correct the day of the week U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed at least 11 U.S. citizens have been killed in the surprise Hamas attacks. He said so Monday, not Wednesday. Union workers at Mack Trucks are on strike after voting down a tentative five-year contract agreement that negotiators had reached with the company. The United Auto Workers said 4,000 unionized workers walked out at 7 a.m. Monday, adding to labor turmoil in the industry that has ensnared all three big Detroit automakers. Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday. The UAW represents Mack workers in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1. Today Mostly sunny and continued chilly; below freezing temps to start the day. Tonight Mostly clear and cold; another night of below freezing temperatures. Tomorrow Mostly sunny skies; a cold start, but a little milder in the afternoon compared to the last few days. Arcataur Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 3,427 shares of the energy exploration companys stock, valued at approximately $392,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pinnacle Holdings LLC bought a new stake in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Kalos Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter valued at about $27,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of EOG Resources in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. grew its position in shares of EOG Resources by 1,136.4% in the 1st quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 272 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.21% of the companys stock. Get EOG Resources alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have commented on EOG. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the company from $137.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on EOG Resources from $141.00 to $147.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on EOG Resources from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on EOG Resources from $145.00 to $156.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 27th. Finally, TD Securities boosted their price objective on EOG Resources from $125.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. Six investment 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 company. According to MarketBeat, EOG Resources presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $150.04. Insider Buying and Selling at EOG Resources In other EOG Resources news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 4,551 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.76, for a total transaction of $595,088.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 145,259 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,994,066.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. EOG Resources Stock Performance Shares of EOG stock traded up $5.21 during trading on Monday, hitting $125.89. The companys stock had a trading volume of 835,772 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,332,175. The company has a market cap of $73.30 billion, a PE ratio of 8.13, a P/E/G 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 business has a fifty day moving average of $128.84 and a 200-day moving average of $120.15. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 52 week low of $98.52 and a 52 week high of $150.88. EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy exploration company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $5.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.74 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 28.52% and a net margin of 33.58%. EOG Resourcess quarterly revenue was down 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.74 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.34 earnings per share for the current year. EOG Resources Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, October 16th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 22.24%. 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 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. Shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspect shore power facilities at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) This aerial photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspecting shore power facilities at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) This aerial photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspecting shore power facilities at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company works at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Shore power maintenance staff members with the State Grid Yichang Power Supply Company inspect shore power facilities on a boat at Zigui port in Yichang City, central China's Hubei Province, Oct. 9, 2023. Since 2015, Yichang has been active in constructing shore power facilities. To date, 168 sets of shore power facilities with a capacity of 27,000 kilovolt-amperes have been installed, covering 67 docks on the Yichang section of the Yangtze River. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Oak Thistle LLC acquired a new stake in Valmont Industries, Inc. (NYSE:VMI Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,729 shares of the industrial products companys stock, valued at approximately $1,085,000. Valmont Industries makes up about 0.6% of Oak Thistle LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest position. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Valmont Industries in the 4th quarter worth approximately $64,415,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its holdings in shares of Valmont Industries by 101,897.2% in the second quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 108,117 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,468,000 after purchasing an additional 108,011 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Valmont Industries by 19.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 639,546 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $204,195,000 after buying an additional 106,268 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Valmont Industries by 3.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,067,641 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $555,409,000 after buying an additional 71,967 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc purchased a new stake in Valmont Industries in the 1st quarter valued at $17,706,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.15% of the companys stock. Get Valmont Industries alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have recently weighed in on VMI shares. DA Davidson lowered their price target on shares of Valmont Industries from $310.00 to $290.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 31st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Valmont Industries in a report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Valmont Industries Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE:VMI traded down $0.57 on Monday, reaching $236.74. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,340 shares, compared to its average volume of 155,348. Valmont Industries, Inc. has a 12-month low of $228.13 and a 12-month high of $353.36. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $246.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $273.77. The firm has a market cap of $4.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 2.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Valmont Industries (NYSE:VMI Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The industrial products company reported $4.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.02 by $0.26. Valmont Industries had a net margin of 6.37% and a return on equity of 19.56%. The firm had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.14 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Valmont Industries, Inc. will post 15.4 EPS for the current fiscal year. Valmont Industries Announces Dividend 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 issued a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.01%. Valmont Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 18.63%. About Valmont Industries (Free Report) Valmont Industries, Inc produces and sells metal products in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, and internationally. The company operates through two segments: Infrastructure and Agriculture. It manufactures and distributes steel, pre-stressed concrete, composite, and hybrid structures for lighting, transportation, and telecommunications equipment, as well as electrical transmission, distribution, substations, and renewable energy generation equipment; and provides coatings services to preserve metal products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Valmont Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valmont Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) had its price target dropped by equities research analysts at Bank of America from $49.00 to $47.00 in a research note issued on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Bank of Americas target price would suggest a potential upside of 11.72% from the companys current price. MO has been the subject of several other research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Altria Group from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 22nd. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on Altria Group from $40.40 to $39.20 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $47.60. Get Altria Group alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MO Altria Group Price Performance Shares of MO opened at $42.07 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group has a 1 year low of $40.91 and a 1 year high of $51.57. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $43.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $44.60. Altria Group (NYSE:MO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.31. Altria Group had a net margin of 27.40% and a negative return on equity of 225.61%. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.26 earnings per share. Altria Groups revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Altria Group will post 5 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 100,097.6% during the second 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. Capital World Investors increased its position in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock worth $4,367,008,000 after acquiring an additional 7,546,851 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Altria Group by 1.8% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 70,564,529 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,262,710,000 after acquiring an additional 1,240,150 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 3.8% in the second quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 43,615,505 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,962,702,000 after purchasing an additional 1,585,048 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Altria Group by 3.3% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 37,025,033 shares of the companys stock worth $1,672,836,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168,982 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock. Altria Group Company Profile (Get 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. Featured Stories 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. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:JHMM Free Report) by 1.2% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 619,238 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 7,091 shares during the quarter. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF comprises about 4.1% of Amplius Wealth Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC owned about 1.00% of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF worth $30,765,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Money Concepts Capital Corp lifted its stake in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 139.3% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 718 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 418 shares during the period. Clear Investment Research LLC purchased a new stake in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF in the first quarter valued at $34,000. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 300.0% in the second quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,148 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 861 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. grew its position in John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 23.4% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 1,779 shares of the companys stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the period. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF by 51.8% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 2,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $96,000 after buying an additional 686 shares during the last quarter. Get John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF alerts: John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Stock Performance John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF stock traded down $0.08 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $46.52. 55,880 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 228,333. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF has a fifty-two week low of $41.96 and a fifty-two week high of $51.96. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.99 billion, a PE ratio of 13.93 and a beta of 1.08. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $48.90 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $48.39. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Company Profile The John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF (JHMM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the John Hancock Dimensional Mid Cap index. The fund tracks an index of US firms ranked 200-950 by size, weighted by multiple factors relative to their sector peers. JHMM was launched on Sep 28, 2015 and is managed by John Hancock. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund trimmed its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM Free Report) by 24.2% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 205,865 shares of the companys stock after selling 65,771 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $15,555,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ADM. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 4.7% in the first quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 43,470 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,463,000 after buying an additional 1,940 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 0.4% during the 1st 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 purchased a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland during the first quarter valued at about $574,000. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the second quarter worth about $691,000. Finally, Transform Wealth LLC increased its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 21.3% in the first quarter. Transform Wealth LLC now owns 204,456 shares of the companys stock worth $16,287,000 after acquiring an additional 35,944 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.73% of the companys stock. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms recently commented on ADM. Argus raised their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $91.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Roth Mkm began coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, June 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $92.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Archer-Daniels-Midland has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $97.50. Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Up 0.8 % NYSE:ADM traded up $0.56 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $73.42. The stock had a trading volume of 112,061 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,938,167. The stock has a market cap of $39.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.73, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.83. The businesss 50 day moving average is $80.24 and its 200 day moving average is $78.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a fifty-two week low of $69.92 and a fifty-two week high of $98.28. Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.89 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.30. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.14% and a return on equity of 17.52%. The company had revenue of $25.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.82 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $2.15 EPS. Archer-Daniels-Midlands quarterly revenue was down 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 7.19 earnings per share for the current year. Archer-Daniels-Midland Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, August 15th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.45%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands dividend payout ratio is currently 24.03%. Insider Transactions at Archer-Daniels-Midland In related news, insider Fruit Molly L. Strader sold 1,455 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the insider now directly owns 10,809 shares in the company, valued at approximately $938,221.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Archer-Daniels-Midland 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. Read More 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. Arlington Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report) by 152.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 572 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 345 shares during the period. Arlington Partners LLCs holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $108,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 290.0% during the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 156 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 2,142.9% during the first quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 157 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. BOKF NA purchased a new stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities in the first quarter worth about $29,000. CVA Family Office LLC boosted its stake in AvalonBay Communities by 106.7% during the second quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 155 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new position in AvalonBay Communities during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock. Get AvalonBay Communities alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Joanne M. Lockridge sold 3,331 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $186.25, for a total value of $620,398.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 21,558 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,015,177.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.42% of the stock is owned by company insiders. AvalonBay Communities Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSE AVB opened at $172.00 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $24.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 2.49, a current ratio of 2.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a twelve month low of $153.07 and a twelve month high of $198.65. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $180.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $180.18. AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $2.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.60 by ($0.01). AvalonBay Communities had a return on equity of 11.01% and a net margin of 46.32%. The business had revenue of $690.86 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $675.67 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.43 earnings per share. Analysts expect that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. AvalonBay Communities Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 16th. Investors of record on Friday, September 29th will be paid a $1.65 dividend. This represents a $6.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. AvalonBay Communitiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 74.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on AvalonBay Communities from $188.00 to $201.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Monday, August 21st. Wedbush began coverage on AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $179.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on AvalonBay Communities in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on AvalonBay Communities from $193.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $190.00 to $211.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $195.56. View Our Latest Report on AvalonBay Communities AvalonBay Communities Company Profile (Free Report) As of June 30, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 294 apartment communities containing 88,659 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development and one community was under redevelopment. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AvalonBay Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AvalonBay Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Autohome (NYSE:ATHM Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday. Separately, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Autohome from $48.00 to $46.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Get Autohome alerts: View Our Latest Stock Report on Autohome Autohome Price Performance ATHM stock opened at $29.37 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.05 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a 50-day moving average of $29.93 and a two-hundred day moving average of $30.07. Autohome has a 52-week low of $23.66 and a 52-week high of $38.91. Autohome (NYSE:ATHM Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The information services provider reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.59. Autohome had a return on equity of 9.03% and a net margin of 27.61%. The firm had revenue of $252.79 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $259.12 million. Equities analysts expect that Autohome will post 2.3 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Autohome by 137.5% in the 1st quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 44,775 shares of the information services providers stock worth $1,316,000 after purchasing an additional 25,922 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Autohome by 39.7% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 186,914 shares of the information services providers stock worth $5,684,000 after buying an additional 53,122 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Autohome by 1.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,863,666 shares of the information services providers stock valued at $117,497,000 after acquiring an additional 50,368 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its holdings in shares of Autohome by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 93,217 shares of the information services providers stock worth $2,954,000 after acquiring an additional 2,200 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Autohome by 3.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,106,816 shares of the information services providers stock worth $64,068,000 after acquiring an additional 78,170 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 48.07% of the companys stock. About Autohome (Get Free Report) Autohome Inc operates as an online destination for automobile consumers in the People's Republic of China. The company delivers interactive content and tools to automobile consumers through its three websites, autohome.com.cn, che168.com, and ttpai.cn on PCs, mobile devices, mobile applications, and mini apps. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Autohome Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Autohome and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the banks stock. Separately, Morgan Stanley lowered shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $6.34. Get Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Stock Performance Shares of BBVA stock opened at $7.81 on Thursday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $7.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.50 and a beta of 1.29. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a 12 month low of $4.37 and a 12 month high of $8.19. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 28th. The bank reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.34 by $0.02. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria had a return on equity of 14.53% and a net margin of 26.54%. The company had revenue of $7.83 billion for the quarter. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.30 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Cuts Dividend The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 10th will be given a dividend of $0.1685 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 6th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.1%. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentarias dividend payout ratio is currently 22.50%. Institutional Trading of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Tucker Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new stake in Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria during the 2nd quarter valued at $30,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 124.8% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 6,859 shares of the banks stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 3,808 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC grew its stake in shares of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria by 24.4% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 8,357 shares of the banks stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 1,641 shares in the last quarter. 2.83% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Company Profile (Get Free Report) Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services. It offers current accounts; and demand, savings, overnight, time, term, and subordinated deposits. The company also provides loan products; deals in securities; leasing, factoring, brokerage, and asset management services; and manages pension and investment funds. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tesco (LON:TSCO Free Report) had its price target raised by Barclays from GBX 325 ($3.93) to GBX 335 ($4.05) in a research note released on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the retailers stock. A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of Tesco to a neutral rating and dropped their target price for the stock from GBX 270 ($3.26) to GBX 250 ($3.02) in a report on Tuesday, September 5th. Shore Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Tesco in a report on Monday, July 3rd. Get Tesco alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on TSCO Tesco Price Performance Tesco Cuts Dividend Shares of LON TSCO opened at GBX 278.40 ($3.37) on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of 19.79 billion, a PE ratio of 2,530.91, a PEG ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.63. The firm has a fifty day moving average of GBX 260.47 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 262.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 129.69, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.74. Tesco has a one year low of GBX 194.35 ($2.35) and a one year high of GBX 285.30 ($3.45). The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 12th will be issued a dividend of GBX 3.85 ($0.05) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 12th. Tescos payout ratio is 10,000.00%. About Tesco (Get Free Report) Tesco PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a grocery retailer in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. It offers grocery products through its stores, as well as online. The company is also involved in the food and drink wholesaling activities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Tesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC lowered its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 12.8% in the second quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 424 shares of the companys stock after selling 62 shares during the quarter. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $199,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in LLY. Latitude Advisors LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 41.6% in the second quarter. Latitude Advisors LLC now owns 1,184 shares of the companys stock valued at $555,000 after purchasing an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 1,079.1% in the second quarter. Hanseatic Management Services Inc. now owns 1,297 shares of the companys stock valued at $608,000 after purchasing an additional 1,187 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 5.4% in the second quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 12,352 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,793,000 after purchasing an additional 632 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 4.9% in the second quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 256,629 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,354,000 after purchasing an additional 11,896 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 85.0% in the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 253,080 shares of the companys stock valued at $117,303,000 after acquiring an additional 116,253 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance Shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock opened at $562.09 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $533.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 78.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.33. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $309.20 and a twelve month high of $601.84. The companys fifty day moving average is $542.00 and its 200 day moving average is $463.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63. Analyst Ratings Changes Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.58 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 65.00% and a net margin of 22.01%. Eli Lilly and Companys quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.25 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and Company will post 9.83 EPS for the current year. A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $600.00 to $700.00 in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $565.00 to $633.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. Barclays lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $500.00 to $590.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $615.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Eli Lilly and Company from $617.00 to $640.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Eli Lilly and Company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $538.65. Read Our Latest Stock Report on LLY Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company In other Eli Lilly and Company news, EVP Alonzo Weems sold 1,148 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed 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 stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $590.98, for a total transaction of $678,445.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,586,004.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 204,409 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $52,805,462,249.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 693,246 shares of company stock valued at $20,948,820,977. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. 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. Read More 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. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD Free Report) in a report published on Thursday. The firm issued a buy rating on the stock. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $82.00 to $83.00 in a report on Thursday, July 13th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Boyd Gaming from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price target for the company from $69.00 to $75.00 in a report on Thursday, July 13th. Finally, Argus raised their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $77.00. Get Boyd Gaming alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BYD Boyd Gaming Stock Performance Shares of BYD stock traded down $0.87 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $57.93. 36,646 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 842,372. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $64.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $66.33. The company has a current ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. Boyd Gaming has a 52-week low of $48.86 and a 52-week high of $73.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.48, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.76. Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $1.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.02. Boyd Gaming had a net margin of 19.61% and a return on equity of 41.56%. The business had revenue of $916.95 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $910.59 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.48 EPS. Boyd Gamings revenue was up 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Boyd Gaming will post 6.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Boyd Gaming Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 15th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a $0.16 dividend. This represents a $0.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. Boyd Gamings payout ratio is presently 9.26%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Boyd Gaming news, insider William S. Boyd sold 40,207 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.53, for a total value of $2,634,764.71. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 9,680,003 shares in the company, valued at $634,330,596.59. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Boyd Gaming news, EVP Stephen S. Thompson sold 16,825 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.15, for a total value of $1,146,623.75. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,113 shares in the company, valued at $1,507,000.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider William S. Boyd sold 40,207 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $65.53, for a total transaction of $2,634,764.71. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 9,680,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $634,330,596.59. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 169,681 shares of company stock worth $11,379,921 in the last 90 days. 29.21% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Boyd Gaming Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Belpointe Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Boyd Gaming by 237.6% during the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 655 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 461 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its stake in Boyd Gaming by 130.3% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 822 shares of the companys stock worth $53,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in Boyd Gaming by 73.1% during the second quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,208 shares of the companys stock worth $84,000 after acquiring an additional 510 shares in the last quarter. Sunbelt Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Boyd Gaming in the first quarter worth approximately $86,000. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 460.8% in the first quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 1,744 shares of the companys stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 1,433 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.98% of the companys stock. Boyd Gaming Company Profile (Get Free Report) Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It operates through three segments: Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, and Midwest & South. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Boyd Gaming Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boyd Gaming and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GAZA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A new air defense system stationed in Gaza has been activated against ongoing Israeli offensives, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Gaza-ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said Monday. Al-Qassam Brigades said in a brief statement to Xinhua that it had introduced "a homegrown air defense system of the Metbar 1 model" into "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" to confront Israeli aircraft. A short video released on the Brigades' website showed a number of masked members launching missiles using the air defense system. Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets said that the Israeli army is pursuing over 40 "terrorists" in Israeli towns. Citing Israeli military estimates, Israeli media outlets reported that the surprise attack starting on Saturday morning had been planned for a year, and some 800 to 1,000 Al-Qassam fighters had entered 20 villages and 11 bases in Israel. The Hamas-led "Operation Al-Aqsa Flood" included the firing of thousands of rocket shells and drones from Gaza, and in parallel, an unprecedented land and sea attack toward Israeli territory. Shares of Whirlpool Co. (NYSE:WHR Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Reduce from the five ratings firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $131.00. Several brokerages recently issued reports on WHR. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Whirlpool from $90.00 to $87.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 18th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Whirlpool in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Whirlpool from $118.00 to $121.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $150.00 target price on shares of Whirlpool in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Get Whirlpool alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on WHR Insider Buying and Selling at Whirlpool Institutional Investors Weigh In On Whirlpool In other news, CEO Marc R. Bitzer sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.18, for a total value of $2,863,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 138,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,842,313.94. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . In other Whirlpool news, CEO Marc R. Bitzer sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.18, for a total value of $2,863,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 138,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,842,313.94. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, CFO James W. Peters sold 6,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.12, for a total transaction of $858,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 40,764 shares in the company, valued at $5,834,143.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 1.85% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Whirlpool in the 2nd quarter valued at $25,000. Cutler Group LLC CA acquired a new stake in shares of Whirlpool during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Hall Laurie J Trustee purchased a new stake in shares of Whirlpool in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S boosted its stake in Whirlpool by 88.3% in the 2nd quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 209 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in Whirlpool by 52.9% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 211 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. 90.89% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Whirlpool Price Performance WHR opened at $124.26 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.81 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.36, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a 50-day moving average of $136.35 and a 200-day moving average of $138.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.92, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.87. Whirlpool has a 1-year low of $122.64 and a 1-year high of $160.74. Whirlpool (NYSE:WHR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, July 24th. The company reported $4.21 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.76 by $0.45. Whirlpool had a positive return on equity of 29.70% and a negative net margin of 8.13%. The firm had revenue of $4.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $5.97 earnings per share. Whirlpools quarterly revenue was down 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Whirlpool will post 16.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. Whirlpool Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 25th were given a $1.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 24th. This represents a $7.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.63%. Whirlpools dividend payout ratio is presently -24.59%. About Whirlpool (Get Free Report Whirlpool Corporation manufactures and markets home appliances and related products and services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The company's principal products include refrigerators, freezers, ice makers, and refrigerator water filters; laundry appliances, and commercial laundry products and related laundry accessories; cooking and other small domestic appliances; and dishwasher appliances and related accessories, as well as mixers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Whirlpool Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Whirlpool and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW Free Report) in a report published on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the specialty retailers stock. Several other brokerages also recently commented on BBW. Northland Securities began coverage on Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research note on Monday, September 11th. They set an outperform rating and a $36.00 target price for the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $42.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, DA Davidson assumed coverage on shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research note on Tuesday, September 19th. They set a buy rating and a $42.00 target price for the company. Get Build-A-Bear Workshop alerts: Check Out Our Latest Analysis on BBW Build-A-Bear Workshop Trading Up 2.3 % NYSE:BBW opened at $28.00 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $406.84 million, a PE ratio of 7.94 and a beta of 1.89. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a 1-year low of $13.44 and a 1-year high of $30.49. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $26.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $23.66. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 24th. The specialty retailer reported $0.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.41 by $0.16. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.63% and a return on equity of 45.76%. The company had revenue of $109.23 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $101.89 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.38 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 23,158 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.50, for a total value of $660,003.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 110,493 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,149,050.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CAO Eric R. Fencl sold 5,281 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.00, for a total value of $142,587.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 188,186 shares in the company, valued at $5,081,022. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Vojin Todorovic sold 23,158 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.50, for a total value of $660,003.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 110,493 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,149,050.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 78,336 shares of company stock valued at $2,160,179. Insiders own 11.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Build-A-Bear Workshop Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bailard Inc. raised its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 4.9% in the second quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 10,700 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $229,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 5.4% during the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 12,726 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $273,000 after acquiring an additional 649 shares during the period. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. SummerHaven Investment Management LLC now owns 50,658 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $1,177,000 after acquiring an additional 730 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 0.3% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 247,521 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $5,752,000 after acquiring an additional 756 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp raised its position in Build-A-Bear Workshop by 1.6% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 50,239 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $918,000 after purchasing an additional 804 shares in the last quarter. 72.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile (Get Free Report) Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Build-A-Bear Workshop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Build-A-Bear Workshop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE Get Free Report) gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $33.64, but opened at $35.69. Callon Petroleum shares last traded at $35.92, with a volume of 574,236 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Callon Petroleum from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 18th. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Callon Petroleum from $51.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $50.00 price target on shares of Callon Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Callon Petroleum in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Callon Petroleum from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $40.00 to $45.00 in a report on Wednesday, August 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $51.00. Get Callon Petroleum alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CPE Callon Petroleum Price Performance The companys 50-day moving average is $37.62 and its 200-day moving average is $35.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 2.70. Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The oil and natural gas company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $562.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $561.08 million. Callon Petroleum had a net margin of 35.11% and a return on equity of 21.41%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 38.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $3.68 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Callon Petroleum will post 7.88 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Strs Ohio acquired a new position in Callon Petroleum during the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new position in shares of Callon Petroleum during the second quarter worth $30,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new position in shares of Callon Petroleum during the first quarter worth $33,000. CWM LLC lifted its position in shares of Callon Petroleum by 260.7% during the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,100 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 795 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Callon Petroleum during the second quarter worth $40,000. 92.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Callon Petroleum (Get Free Report) Callon Petroleum Company, an independent oil and natural gas company, focuses on the acquisition, exploration, and development of oil and natural gas properties in West Texas. The company was founded in 1950 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Callon Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Callon Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) has been given a consensus rating of Moderate Buy by the fifteen brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $90.93. A number of research firms recently commented on CP. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $85.00 to $86.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $91.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Thursday. Susquehanna reduced their price objective on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $98.00 to $93.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com raised Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on Canadian Pacific Kansas City Institutional Investors Weigh In On Canadian Pacific Kansas City Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Performance Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the 4th quarter valued at $84,000. WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 31,281,327 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,526,593,000 after buying an additional 1,845,478 shares in the last quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. Legacy Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 3,724 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $287,000 after buying an additional 290 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 8.7% during the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 2,544,646 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $195,830,000 after buying an additional 203,818 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Intact Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 51.2% during the 1st quarter. Intact Investment Management Inc. now owns 551,070 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $42,431,000 after buying an additional 186,540 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.93% of the companys stock. Shares of CP opened at $72.85 on Monday. 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 stock has a 50 day moving average price of $78.18 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $78.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.01. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a 52 week low of $65.17 and a 52 week high of $85.40. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported $0.62 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.47 billion. Equities analysts forecast that Canadian Pacific Kansas City will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $0.1437 dividend. This represents a $0.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.79%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This is an increase from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is 16.28%. About Canadian Pacific Kansas City (Get 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. Further Reading 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Free Report) (TSE:CP) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Thursday morning. CP has been the topic of several other reports. CSFB lifted their target price 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. Barclays reduced their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $89.00 to $84.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Susquehanna lowered their price target on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $98.00 to $93.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research note on Tuesday, September 5th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $100.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $87.00 to $88.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 9th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $92.93. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Get Our Latest Analysis on CP Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Up 0.1 % Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock opened at $72.85 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $78.74. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a one year low of $65.17 and a one year high of $85.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.67. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The transportation company reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.69 by ($0.07). Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a net margin of 41.92% and a return on equity of 8.92%. The business had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.47 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Canadian Pacific Kansas City will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be given a $0.1437 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $0.57 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%. This is an increase from Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 16.28%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Canadian Pacific Kansas City A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,828 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,389,000 after purchasing an additional 559 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 69.1% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,539 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $457,000 after buying an additional 2,263 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 2.4% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,249,662 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,496,807,000 after acquiring an additional 695,215 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 2,417 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its position in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 116.4% during the 1st quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 14,274 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,178,000 after acquiring an additional 7,678 shares during the last quarter. 67.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Company Profile (Get 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. Read More 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. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report)s stock had its overweight rating reaffirmed by analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald in a report released on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $75.00 price target on the biopharmaceutical companys stock. Cantor Fitzgeralds target price points to a potential upside of 34.02% from the stocks previous close. BMY has been the topic of several other research reports. Atlantic Securities lowered their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $90.00 to $85.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 28th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $84.00 price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an underweight rating and set a $59.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $69.50. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Read Our Latest Analysis on Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance BMY traded down $0.70 on Monday, hitting $55.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,437,232 shares, compared to its average volume of 8,998,598. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $60.23 and its 200-day simple moving average is $64.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $55.83 and a 12 month high of $81.43. The firm has a market cap of $116.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.99 by ($0.24). Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.62% and a return on equity of 50.51%. The company had revenue of $11.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.93 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred 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 in the company, valued at $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the firms 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 completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 24th. The stock was 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Bristol-Myers Squibb A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BMY. Plancorp LLC grew its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% in the second quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 8,973 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $574,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Security Asset Management increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 20.3% during the 1st quarter. Security Asset Management now owns 9,230 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $640,000 after purchasing an additional 1,558 shares in the last quarter. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc lifted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.5% in the second quarter. Richard P Slaughter Associates Inc now owns 22,040 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,409,000 after buying an additional 750 shares in the last quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.5% during the second quarter. Mcdaniel Terry & Co. now owns 6,915 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $442,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Talbot Financial LLC bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $4,482,000. 74.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Get 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. Recommended Stories 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. Channel Wealth LLC cut its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report) by 17.7% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 1,438 shares of the companys stock after selling 310 shares during the quarter. Channel Wealth LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF were worth $207,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Straight Path Wealth Management increased its stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 63.4% during the 2nd quarter. Straight Path Wealth Management now owns 53,127 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,664,000 after purchasing an additional 20,610 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 2,919,685 shares of the companys stock worth $421,165,000 after acquiring an additional 89,212 shares during the last quarter. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at about $460,000. Center For Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 1.3% in the second quarter. Center For Asset Management LLC now owns 6,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $973,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Finally, Fermata Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 456.5% in the second quarter. Fermata Advisors LLC now owns 11,230 shares of the companys stock worth $1,622,000 after purchasing an additional 9,212 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF alerts: iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Stock Up 1.5 % Shares of BATS MTUM opened at $140.51 on Monday. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a 52 week low of $81.37 and a 52 week high of $113.60. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $143.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $142.07. The firm has a market cap of $8.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.91. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Company Profile The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA 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 USA Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE:HRB Free Report) by 34.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,839 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,283 shares during the quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in H&R Block were worth $760,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in H&R Block by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 114,971 shares of the companys stock worth $4,053,000 after purchasing an additional 7,192 shares in the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board boosted its holdings in H&R Block by 12.4% in the 1st quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 28,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $994,000 after purchasing an additional 3,100 shares during the period. ExodusPoint Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of H&R Block during the 1st quarter valued at $2,940,000. Ziegler Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of H&R Block in the first quarter worth $968,000. Finally, Level Four Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of H&R Block in the first quarter worth $251,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.89% of the companys stock. Get H&R Block alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on H&R Block in a research report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Barrington Research upped their price objective on shares of H&R Block from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of H&R Block from $28.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 16th. H&R Block Price Performance Shares of H&R Block stock traded up $1.24 during trading on Monday, hitting $42.10. 286,974 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,594,318. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 46.44. The stock has a market cap of $6.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.43, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.60. The firms fifty day moving average is $39.05 and its 200-day moving average is $34.84. H&R Block, Inc. has a 52 week low of $28.83 and a 52 week high of $44.02. H&R Block (NYSE:HRB Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 15th. The company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.88 by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $1.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.01 billion. H&R Block had a net margin of 15.95% and a negative return on equity of 263.99%. The businesss revenue was down 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.43 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that H&R Block, Inc. will post 4.17 EPS for the current fiscal year. H&R Block Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 7th were paid a $0.32 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 6th. This is a boost from H&R Blocks previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.04%. H&R Blocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.85%. Insider Activity at H&R Block In other news, CEO Jeffrey J. Jones II sold 91,192 shares of H&R Block stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.00, for a total value of $3,465,296.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 812,150 shares in the company, valued at approximately $30,861,700. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO Jeffrey J. Jones II sold 91,192 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.00, for a total value of $3,465,296.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 812,150 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $30,861,700. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Kellie J. Logerwell sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.61, for a total value of $316,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 27,721 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,098,028.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders. H&R Block Profile (Free Report) H&R Block, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides assisted income tax return preparation and do-it-yourself (DIY) tax return preparation services and products to the general public primarily in the United States, Canada, and Australia. It offers assisted income tax return preparation and related services through a system of retail offices operated directly by the company or its franchisees. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for H&R Block Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for H&R Block and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC increased its holdings in Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report) by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,206 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 1,156 shares during the quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Edison International were worth $1,334,000 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 stock. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edison International in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Capital Analysts LLC increased its position in Edison International by 64.0% during the 1st quarter. Capital Analysts LLC now owns 438 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the period. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in Edison International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Edison International by 61.4% in the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 615 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 234 shares during the period. Finally, Ancora Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Edison International in the 1st quarter valued at $41,000. 88.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Edison International alerts: Insider Activity at Edison International In other Edison International news, SVP Caroline Choi sold 11,222 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, September 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.64, for a total transaction of $803,944.08. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 20,881 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,495,914.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.03% of the stock is owned by insiders. Edison International Stock Down 0.3 % EIX stock traded down $0.19 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $61.87. 300,071 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,738,021. Edison International has a 52 week low of $54.45 and a 52 week high of $74.92. The company has a market cap of $23.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 0.82. The firms fifty day moving average price is $68.43 and its 200-day moving average price is $69.62. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87. Edison International (NYSE:EIX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.06. Edison International had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 12.69%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.28 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.94 EPS. The firms revenue was down 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Edison International will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Edison International Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 29th will be issued a $0.7375 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 28th. This represents a $2.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.77%. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 118.95%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on EIX shares. Mizuho upgraded shares of Edison International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $73.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 22nd. StockNews.com began coverage on Edison International in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $81.00 target price on shares of Edison International in a research report on Tuesday, September 12th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Edison International from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Guggenheim reduced their price objective on shares of Edison International from $74.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Monday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $71.73. Read Our Latest Research Report on Edison International Edison International Company Profile (Free Report) Edison International, through its subsidiaries, generates and distributes electric power. The company supplies electricity to approximately 50,000 square mile area of southern California to residential, commercial, industrial, public authorities, agricultural, and other sectors. It also provides decarbonization and energy solutions to commercial, institutional, and industrial customers in North America and Europe. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EIX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Edison International (NYSE:EIX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Edison International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edison International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:ARW Free Report) by 58.0% during the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,584 shares of the technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,315 shares during the period. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Arrow Electronics were worth $513,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its stake in Arrow Electronics by 4.5% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 53,278 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $7,631,000 after acquiring an additional 2,315 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC bought a new stake in Arrow Electronics in the 2nd quarter worth about $589,000. Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its stake in shares of Arrow Electronics by 6.5% in the 2nd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 27,099 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,881,000 after buying an additional 1,646 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Arrow Electronics by 8.8% in the second quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 2,175 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $312,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Creative Planning increased its position in shares of Arrow Electronics by 9.0% during the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 8,434 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,208,000 after acquiring an additional 696 shares during the last quarter. 94.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Arrow Electronics alerts: Arrow Electronics Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:ARW traded down $0.61 during trading on Monday, hitting $119.43. 87,892 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 446,411. Arrow Electronics, Inc. has a 52-week low of $89.38 and a 52-week high of $147.42. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $128.65 and a 200 day moving average of $128.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.61 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The company has a market cap of $6.65 billion, a PE ratio of 6.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.42. Analysts Set New Price Targets Arrow Electronics ( NYSE:ARW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 3rd. The technology company reported $4.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.33 by $0.04. Arrow Electronics had a return on equity of 22.19% and a net margin of 3.35%. The business had revenue of $8.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.73 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.78 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Arrow Electronics, Inc. will post 16.07 EPS for the current year. A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Arrow Electronics from $155.00 to $148.00 in a research note on Sunday, August 6th. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Arrow Electronics from $131.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Arrow Electronics in a report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Arrow Electronics has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $129.57. View Our Latest Stock Report on ARW Arrow Electronics Company Profile (Free Report) Arrow Electronics, Inc provides products, services, and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Global Components and Global Enterprise Computing Solutions. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ARW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:ARW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Arrow Electronics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arrow Electronics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attends the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the event. The meeting was also attended by other leaders of the CPC and the state, including Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, all of whom are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. During a speech delivered on behalf of the CPC Central Committee by Cai Qi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Cai offered warm congratulations to the meeting and extended sincere greetings to all workers and trade union cadres across the country. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the country's working class has closely united around the CPC Central Committee, bravely shouldered heavy responsibilities, worked hard, and made important contributions to the Party and the country's cause that has realized historic achievements and witnessed historic changes, Cai said. Over the past five years, by adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, trade unions at all levels have strengthened Party building, deepened reform and innovation, performed their duties in the protection of workers' rights, promoted harmonious labor relations, and mobilized workers in embarking on China's new journey of building a modern socialist country, Cai said. Noting that the 20th National Congress of the CPC established the central tasks of building a strong nation and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, Cai called on the nation's working class to remain loyal and reliable, and to continue adhering to the noble principles of unity and hard work. Trade unions at all levels must also remain loyal to the Party's cause, serve the country's workers wholeheartedly, build broad unity, and effectively improve the quality of rights protection services, Cai said. Nearly 2,000 delegates from all walks of life attended the meeting, as well as more than 50 specially invited delegates. Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state, including Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, attend the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Delegates walk to the Great Hall of the People to attend the 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opened in Beijing on Monday morning. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) The 18th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Convergence Investment Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Apartment Income REIT Corp. (NYSE:AIRC Free Report) by 16.1% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 18,284 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,496 shares during the quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLCs holdings in Apartment Income REIT were worth $660,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in AIRC. Allworth Financial LP boosted its holdings in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 872.2% in the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 700 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 628 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Apartment Income REIT in the first quarter valued at $27,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its position in Apartment Income REIT by 356.7% during the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 813 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 635 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 776.2% in the 1st quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,139 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 1,009 shares during the period. Finally, First Manhattan Co. acquired a new position in shares of Apartment Income REIT in the 1st quarter valued at about $121,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.13% of the companys stock. Get Apartment Income REIT alerts: Apartment Income REIT Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of AIRC stock traded up $0.26 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $30.96. 83,529 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 862,217. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 0.15 and a current ratio of 0.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.77 and a beta of 0.90. Apartment Income REIT Corp. has a one year low of $29.64 and a one year high of $40.28. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $32.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $34.61. Apartment Income REIT Announces Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 29th. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.81%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. Apartment Income REITs dividend payout ratio is currently 86.12%. A number of equities analysts have recently commented on AIRC shares. 92 Resources reissued a reiterates rating on shares of Apartment Income REIT in a research note on Wednesday, June 28th. Truist Financial upgraded Apartment Income REIT from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $44.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 28th. Mizuho lowered their target price on Apartment Income REIT from $40.00 to $33.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. BMO Capital Markets raised Apartment Income REIT from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $39.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Apartment Income REIT from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Apartment Income REIT has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $39.78. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on AIRC About Apartment Income REIT (Free Report) Apartment Income REIT Corp (NYSE: AIRC) is a publicly traded, self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT). AIR's portfolio comprises 73 communities totaling 25,739 apartment homes located in 10 states and the District of Columbia. AIR offers a simple, predictable business model with focus on what we call the AIR Edge, the cumulative result of our focus on resident selection, satisfaction, and retention, as well as relentless innovation in delivering best-in-class property management. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIRC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apartment Income REIT Corp. (NYSE:AIRC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Apartment Income REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apartment Income REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EastGroup Properties (NYSE:EGP Get Free Report) had its price target dropped by equities research analysts at Evercore ISI from $177.00 to $170.00 in a research note issued on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Evercore ISIs price target would indicate a potential upside of 1.84% from the stocks previous close. A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on EGP. Piper Sandler raised their target price on EastGroup Properties from $195.00 to $215.00 in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of EastGroup Properties in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of EastGroup Properties from $195.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on EastGroup Properties from $165.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Finally, Wedbush initiated coverage on EastGroup Properties in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $175.00 target price on the stock. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $186.64. Get EastGroup Properties alerts: Get Our Latest Report on EGP EastGroup Properties Stock Up 0.3 % Insider Transactions at EastGroup Properties NYSE EGP opened at $166.93 on Monday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $174.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $171.16. EastGroup Properties has a one year low of $137.47 and a one year high of $188.85. The firm has a market cap of $7.58 billion, a PE ratio of 44.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.01 and a quick ratio of 0.01. In related news, SVP Richard Reid Dunbar sold 1,600 shares of EastGroup Properties stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $181.25, for a total value of $290,000.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 17,288 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,133,450. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.50% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On EastGroup Properties Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EGP. American Century Companies Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of EastGroup Properties in the first quarter valued at about $354,000. Group One Trading L.P. acquired a new position in shares of EastGroup Properties during the 1st quarter worth approximately $41,000. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 10.3% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,212 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $246,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH acquired a new stake in shares of EastGroup Properties in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $12,520,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of EastGroup Properties by 2.2% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,172,033 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,254,651,000 after buying an additional 133,344 shares in the last quarter. 90.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About EastGroup Properties (Get Free Report) EastGroup Properties, Inc (NYSE: EGP), a member of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 and Russell 1000 Indexes, is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona, California and North Carolina. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for EastGroup Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EastGroup Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR Get Free Report) had its price objective cut by investment analysts at Evercore ISI from $70.00 to $66.00 in a report released on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Evercore ISIs price target suggests a potential upside of 11.30% from the stocks previous close. EQR has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 19th. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, August 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Equity Residential from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the company from $62.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. Wedbush initiated coverage on Equity Residential in a research note on Tuesday, October 3rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Equity Residential from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, August 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $68.00. Get Equity Residential alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Equity Residential Equity Residential Trading Up 1.4 % Insider Buying and Selling at Equity Residential Shares of EQR opened at $59.30 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $62.91 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $63.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a current ratio of 0.19. The company has a market cap of $23.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.83, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.84. Equity Residential has a 52-week low of $54.60 and a 52-week high of $69.45. In related news, COO Michael L. Manelis sold 2,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, August 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.04, for a total value of $165,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 22,844 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,508,617.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.69% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Equity Residential Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Equity Residential during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,822,309,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 99,398.2% during the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 6,783,786 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $447,526,000 after buying an additional 6,776,968 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in Equity Residential by 66.2% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,739,081 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $708,457,000 after buying an additional 4,278,160 shares during the last quarter. Chai Trust Co. LLC raised its holdings in Equity Residential by 346.3% in the 2nd quarter. Chai Trust Co. LLC now owns 5,402,788 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $356,422,000 after acquiring an additional 4,192,082 shares during the period. Finally, D1 Capital Partners L.P. acquired a new stake in Equity Residential during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $193,626,000. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock. Equity Residential Company Profile (Get Free Report) Equity Residential is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 304 properties consisting of 80,212 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ervin Investment Management LLC lessened its holdings in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report) by 38.9% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,455 shares of the aircraft producers stock after selling 925 shares during the quarter. Ervin Investment Management LLCs holdings in Boeing were worth $307,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Boeing by 109,667.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 16,055,730 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $3,058,456,000 after buying an additional 16,041,103 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Boeing by 734.7% during the first quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,359,740 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $926,140,000 after buying an additional 3,837,422 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in Boeing by 8.1% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 35,950,526 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $7,636,970,000 after acquiring an additional 2,682,272 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Boeing by 1,071.3% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 2,592,100 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $550,640,000 after acquiring an additional 2,370,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Boeing by 175,431.2% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 2,141,481 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $452,195,000 after acquiring an additional 2,140,261 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.33% of the companys stock. Get Boeing alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Steven M. Mollenkopf bought 850 shares of Boeing stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 31st. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $237.00 per share, with a total value of $201,450.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,767 shares of the companys stock, valued at $892,779. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Boeing news, Director Steven M. Mollenkopf purchased 850 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 31st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $237.00 per share, for a total transaction of $201,450.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 3,767 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $892,779. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Theodore Colbert III sold 8,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.37, for a total transaction of $2,026,145.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 59,255 shares in the company, valued at $14,124,614.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.15% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Boeing Price Performance NYSE:BA opened at $189.22 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $216.49 and a 200-day moving average of $211.99. The company has a market cap of $113.83 billion, a PE ratio of -25.03 and a beta of 1.45. The Boeing Company has a one year low of $124.17 and a one year high of $243.10. Boeing (NYSE:BA Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($0.82) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.99) by $0.17. The firm had revenue of $19.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted ($0.37) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that The Boeing Company will post -3.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes BA has been the topic of several analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price target on shares of Boeing from $250.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 31st. TheStreet upgraded shares of Boeing from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Tuesday, August 15th. SpectralCast reiterated a reiterates rating on shares of Boeing in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $285.00 price objective on shares of Boeing in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Finally, TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of Boeing from $255.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, August 28th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given 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 target price of $240.06. View Our Latest Research Report on BA Boeing Company Profile (Free Report) The Boeing Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, sells, services, and supports commercial jetliners, military aircraft, satellites, missile defense, human space flight and launch systems, and services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; Global Services; and Boeing Capital. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Boeing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boeing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sterneck Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in shares of FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Free Report) by 12.1% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,910 shares of the shipping service providers stock after selling 400 shares during the quarter. Sterneck Capital Management LLCs holdings in FedEx were worth $721,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Convergence Investment Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of FedEx by 20.9% in the second quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 1,155 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $286,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Westwood Wealth Management raised its holdings in FedEx by 2.1% in the 2nd quarter. Westwood Wealth Management now owns 2,640 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $654,000 after acquiring an additional 55 shares during the last quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of FedEx by 13.9% during the 2nd quarter. Phillips Wealth Planners LLC now owns 993 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $246,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its position in shares of FedEx by 6.5% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 107,975 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $26,767,000 after purchasing an additional 6,614 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WealthBridge Investment Counsel Inc. increased its holdings in shares of FedEx by 2.1% in the second quarter. WealthBridge Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 32,215 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $7,986,000 after purchasing an additional 660 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.61% of the companys stock. Get FedEx alerts: Insider Activity at FedEx In related news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total value of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,478 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,886,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total transaction of $1,504,500.60. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,886,538.64. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 13,348 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.25, for a total value of $3,447,121.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 3,428 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $885,281. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 8.73% of the companys stock. FedEx Stock Down 1.5 % Shares of FedEx stock traded down $3.74 during trading on Monday, hitting $254.16. 605,592 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,990,055. The stock has a market cap of $63.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.33. The firms 50-day moving average price is $260.76 and its 200 day moving average price is $243.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.32. FedEx Co. has a 12-month low of $148.93 and a 12-month high of $270.95. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.84. FedEx had a return on equity of 16.14% and a net margin of 4.71%. The business had revenue of $21.68 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.74 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.44 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that FedEx Co. will post 18.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. FedEx Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 11th were issued a $1.26 dividend. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 8th. FedExs payout ratio is 30.73%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades FDX has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $290.00 price objective on shares of FedEx in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. UBS Group lifted their target price on FedEx from $312.00 to $323.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Evercore ISI increased their price target on FedEx from $275.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, September 18th. Sanford C. Bernstein boosted their price objective on shares of FedEx from $261.00 to $284.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on shares of FedEx from $273.00 to $265.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a 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 $277.84. View Our Latest Stock Report on FDX About FedEx (Free Report) FedEx Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of transportation, e-commerce, business services, and business solutions. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment offers transportation and delivery services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Korn Ferry (NYSE:KFY Get Free Report) and Recruit (OTCMKTS:RCRUY Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends. Institutional & Insider Ownership 92.2% of Korn Ferry shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of Korn Ferry shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Korn Ferry alerts: Profitability This table compares Korn Ferry and Recruits net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Korn Ferry 6.24% 14.29% 6.90% Recruit N/A N/A N/A Earnings and Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Korn Ferry $2.86 billion 0.89 $209.53 million $3.39 14.23 Recruit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A This table compares Korn Ferry and Recruits revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Korn Ferry has higher revenue and earnings than Recruit. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Korn Ferry and Recruit, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Korn Ferry 0 2 3 0 2.60 Recruit 1 1 1 0 2.00 Korn Ferry currently has a consensus price target of $58.50, indicating a potential upside of 20.47%. Given Korn Ferrys stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research analysts plainly believe Korn Ferry is more favorable than Recruit. Summary Korn Ferry beats Recruit on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Korn Ferry (Get Free Report) Korn Ferry, together with its subsidiaries, provides organizational consulting services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Consulting, Digital, Executive Search, and Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) & Professional Search. The company provides executive search services to recruit board level, chief executive, other senior executive, and general management talent of organizations. It also offers organizational strategy, assessment and succession, leadership and professional development, and total reward services. In addition, the company provides RPO, business project, professional search, and outsource recruiting solutions. Further, the company offers tech-enabled solutions that identify structures, roles, capabilities, and behaviors to drive businesses. It serves public and private companies, and middle market and emerging growth companies, as well as government and non-profit organizations. The company was formerly known as Korn/Ferry International and changed its name to Korn Ferry in January 2019. Korn Ferry was founded in 1969 and is based in Los Angeles, California. About Recruit (Get Free Report) Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. provides HR technology and business solutions in Japan, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: HR Technology, Matching & Solutions, and Staffing. The HR Technology segment provides various technological solutions that help job seekers and employers in navigating hiring and recruitment. The Matching & Solutions segment offers marketing solutions that provide matching platforms for businesses in various industries, including housing and real estate, beauty, bridal, travel, dining, and others; and SaaS solutions, which are business and management support tools for small and medium-sized companies. It also provides HR solutions that support business clients' recruiting and hiring activities and individual users' job search activities through its job advertising services and placement services. The Staffing segment provides temporary staffing services in Japan, Europe, the United States, and Australia. The company was formerly known as Recruit Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. in October 2012. Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for Korn Ferry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Korn Ferry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HighMark Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Free Report) by 108.0% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 233 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period. HighMark Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $32,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. RB Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Yum! Brands by 9.7% during the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 4,890 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $580,000 after acquiring an additional 431 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Yum! Brands by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 761,575 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $90,284,000 after buying an additional 3,024 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new position in shares of Yum! Brands during the first quarter worth approximately $664,000. Moors & Cabot Inc. boosted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 7.4% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 7,530 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $893,000 after acquiring an additional 517 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its stake in shares of Yum! Brands by 10.8% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 2,862 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $339,000 after acquiring an additional 279 shares during the last quarter. 80.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Yum! Brands alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Yum! Brands In other news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,877 shares of Yum! Brands stock in a transaction on Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.92, for a total value of $526,961.84. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,791,614. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Yum! Brands news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,858 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $134.81, for a total value of $520,096.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,727,983.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,877 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.92, for a total value of $526,961.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,791,614. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 12,871 shares of company stock valued at $1,725,358 in the last ninety days. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Yum! Brands Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of YUM stock traded down $2.04 during trading on Monday, reaching $117.42. 421,150 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,583,130. The firms fifty day moving average price is $128.98 and its 200-day moving average price is $132.93. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a twelve month low of $103.96 and a twelve month high of $143.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.90 billion, a PE ratio of 24.18, a PEG ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.01. Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The restaurant operator reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.17. Yum! Brands had a net margin of 20.31% and a negative return on equity of 16.16%. The firm had revenue of $1.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.75 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.05 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Yum! Brands Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 29th were paid a $0.605 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 28th. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.06%. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.99%. Analysts Set New Price Targets YUM has been the subject of several research reports. Citigroup reduced their target price on Yum! Brands from $179.00 to $173.00 in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Guggenheim cut their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $153.00 to $152.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. TD Cowen reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $160.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a research note on Wednesday, September 20th. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Yum! Brands in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. They set a neutral rating and a $142.00 target price for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $155.00 price target on shares of Yum! Brands in a research note on Thursday, August 3rd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $149.11. Get Our Latest Stock Report on YUM Yum! Brands Company Profile (Free Report) Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through four segments: the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division. It operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding YUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Yum! Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Yum! Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Janney Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK Free Report) by 7.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,901 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the quarter. Janney Capital Management LLCs holdings in BlackRock were worth $4,079,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Michael S. Ryan Inc. bought a new position in BlackRock in the 2nd quarter worth $347,000. Ballentine Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of BlackRock by 6.8% in the second quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 2,698 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,865,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in shares of BlackRock by 222.9% during the 2nd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 91,453 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $63,375,000 after buying an additional 63,134 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of BlackRock by 42.3% during the 2nd quarter. Arlington Partners LLC now owns 370 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $256,000 after acquiring an additional 110 shares during the period. Finally, Channel Wealth LLC raised its stake in BlackRock by 30.6% during the 2nd quarter. Channel Wealth LLC now owns 1,130 shares of the asset managers stock worth $781,000 after acquiring an additional 265 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock. Get BlackRock alerts: BlackRock Stock Performance BlackRock stock opened at $648.26 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 4.21, a current ratio of 4.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. BlackRock, Inc. has a twelve month low of $503.12 and a twelve month high of $785.65. The companys 50-day moving average price is $682.54 and its 200-day moving average price is $681.27. The company has a market cap of $96.79 billion, a PE ratio of 18.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.29. BlackRock Dividend Announcement BlackRock ( NYSE:BLK Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 14th. The asset manager reported $9.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.52 by $0.76. The business had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.47 billion. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.29% and a net margin of 29.90%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $7.36 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that BlackRock, Inc. will post 35.3 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a $5.00 dividend. This represents a $20.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, September 7th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is currently 58.41%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $921.00 to $868.00 in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the company from $770.00 to $835.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Citigroup increased their target price on BlackRock from $750.00 to $815.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on BlackRock from $820.00 to $720.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of BlackRock in a report on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $751.92. Read Our Latest Analysis on BLK Insider Buying and Selling at BlackRock In related news, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 6,160 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,520,331.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other BlackRock news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 20,200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $742.04, for a total transaction of $14,989,208.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 464,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $344,399,315. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Mark Wiedman sold 2,079 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 approximately $4,520,331.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.06% of the companys stock. 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. Read More 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. Janney Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:SHM Free Report) by 1.0% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 68,048 shares of the companys stock after selling 678 shares during the period. Janney Capital Management LLC owned about 0.08% of SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF worth $3,202,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Trust Co. of Vermont acquired a new stake in shares of SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Old North State Trust LLC acquired a new stake in shares of SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF during the first quarter worth $43,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $79,000. Evensky & Katz LLC acquired a new position in shares of SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $125,000. Finally, Sentinus LLC bought a new stake in shares of SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF during the 1st quarter valued at about $283,000. 95.97% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF alerts: SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF Price Performance Shares of NYSEARCA SHM opened at $46.14 on Monday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $46.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.95. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $45.97 and a 52-week high of $47.76. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF Profile SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (the Fund), formerly SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital Short Term Municipal Bond ETF, correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Barclays Capital Managed Money Municipal Short Term Index (the Index). The Fund uses a passive management strategy designed to track the Index. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR Free Report) by 0.8% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 968,058 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,591 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC owned approximately 1.17% of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF worth $50,949,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of IEUR. M&R Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 72.5% in the second quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,105 shares of the companys stock valued at $111,000 after acquiring an additional 885 shares during the period. Stratos Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $271,000. WBH Advisory Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,155,000. Naviter Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF in the first quarter worth approximately $262,000. Finally, Columbus Macro LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF by 20.3% during the 1st quarter. Columbus Macro LLC now owns 78,609 shares of the companys stock worth $4,203,000 after acquiring an additional 13,252 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Stock Up 1.3 % IEUR stock opened at $49.45 on Monday. iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF has a twelve month low of $38.54 and a twelve month high of $54.81. The firm has a market cap of $4.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.11 and a beta of 0.95. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $51.21 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.36. About iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF The iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (IEUR) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Europe IMI index, a market-cap-weighted index of developed European securities. IEUR was launched on Jun 10, 2014 and is managed by BlackRock. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEUR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF (NYSEARCA:IEUR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NICOSIA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people leaving Israel in the wake of the fighting between the Israeli Army and Hamas forces are arriving in Cyprus, a spokeswoman for the country's airports said on Monday. Several international airlines have announced the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv following the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Saturday. "At Larnaca Airport, both yesterday and today there were several emergency flights from and to Israel. Today (Monday) we expect 20 departures and 20 arrivals to the neighboring country, of which 11 were scheduled in the last 24 hours," Maria Kouroupi, senior director of aviation development and communication of Hermes Airports, said. Kouroupi told state-run Cyprus News Agency that flights from Israel are full of people fleeing the country, either foreign nationals or Israelis who seek shelter in Cyprus. Those departing are mainly Israelis, she said. Kouroupi said Larnaca Airport, just a 40-minute flight away from Tel Aviv, has prepared to act as transit station in case it becomes necessary to evacuate foreign nationals from Israel. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday night that security authorities had tightened controls in several parts of Cyprus to deal with possible attacks against Israeli targets or individual Israelis living in Cyprus. Ballentine Partners LLC cut its position in Kimberly-Clark Co. (NYSE:KMB Free Report) by 9.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,038 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,168 shares during the quarter. Ballentine Partners LLCs holdings in Kimberly-Clark were worth $1,524,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Viking Fund Management LLC raised its stake in Kimberly-Clark by 5.5% during the first quarter. Viking Fund Management LLC now owns 77,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,335,000 after buying an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 193.0% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 288,390 shares of the companys stock worth $38,708,000 after purchasing an additional 189,962 shares during the period. WealthPLAN Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Kimberly-Clark in the 1st quarter worth approximately $90,000. Perpetual Ltd acquired a new position in Kimberly-Clark during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $545,000. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System increased its position in Kimberly-Clark by 0.5% in the first quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 21,900 shares of the companys stock worth $2,939,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. 74.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Kimberly-Clark alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Jeffrey P. Melucci sold 4,423 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.23, for a total value of $576,007.29. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 28,169 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,668,448.87. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, insider Sandra R. Karrmann sold 5,122 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.80, for a total value of $664,835.60. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 6,228 shares of the companys stock, valued at $808,394.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Jeffrey P. Melucci sold 4,423 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.23, for a total value of $576,007.29. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,169 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,668,448.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Kimberly-Clark Price Performance Shares of NYSE KMB opened at $118.81 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $126.04 and a two-hundred day moving average of $133.54. The company has a market capitalization of $40.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.50, a PEG ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.21. Kimberly-Clark Co. has a twelve month low of $108.74 and a twelve month high of $147.87. Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 25th. The company reported $1.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a return on equity of 303.40% and a net margin of 8.07%. Kimberly-Clarks revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.34 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Kimberly-Clark Co. will post 6.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Kimberly-Clark Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th were given a $1.18 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $4.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.97%. Kimberly-Clarks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.32%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. TheStreet lowered shares of Kimberly-Clark from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 25th. Bank of America dropped their price target on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $145.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. StockNews.com upgraded Kimberly-Clark from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 4th. Citigroup cut their target price on Kimberly-Clark from $130.00 to $126.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on Kimberly-Clark from $137.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, July 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $135.15. View Our Latest Report on Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark Company Profile (Free Report) Kimberly-Clark Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide. It operates through three segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The company's Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swimpants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, reusable underwear, and other related products under the Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Thinx, Poise, Depend, Plenitud, Softex, and other brand names. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Latitude Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries (NYSE:LYB Free Report) by 15.4% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,043 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after buying an additional 406 shares during the quarter. Latitude Advisors LLCs holdings in LyondellBasell Industries were worth $279,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of LYB. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 1.0% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 10,812 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $1,112,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in LyondellBasell Industries by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Securian Asset Management Inc. now owns 20,945 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,967,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 33.9% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 446 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 113 shares during the period. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 9.1% in the second quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 1,363 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $125,000 after buying an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Hexagon Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of LyondellBasell Industries by 2.8% in the first quarter. Hexagon Capital Partners LLC now owns 4,368 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $410,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares during the period. 91.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get LyondellBasell Industries alerts: LyondellBasell Industries Price Performance LYB stock opened at $90.62 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $29.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.29 and a beta of 1.20. The firms fifty day moving average is $97.34 and its 200 day moving average is $93.53. LyondellBasell Industries has a 52 week low of $75.24 and a 52 week high of $102.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.81. LyondellBasell Industries Announces Dividend LyondellBasell Industries ( NYSE:LYB Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.30 by $0.14. LyondellBasell Industries had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 4.92%. The firm had revenue of $10.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.79 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.19 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 30.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that LyondellBasell Industries will post 8.26 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 28th were given a $1.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 25th. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.52%. LyondellBasell Industriess payout ratio is currently 77.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on LyondellBasell Industries from $100.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. SpectralCast restated a maintains rating on shares of LyondellBasell Industries in a research report on Thursday, June 29th. KeyCorp raised LyondellBasell Industries from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of LyondellBasell Industries from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $104.00 to $106.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $100.19. Check Out Our Latest Report on LYB Insider Activity In related news, EVP Jeffrey A. Kaplan sold 10,000 shares of LyondellBasell Industries stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.56, for a total value of $975,600.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 49,876 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,865,902.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, major shareholder Ai Investments Holdings Llc sold 483 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.61, for a total transaction of $48,111.63. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 765,996 shares in the company, valued at approximately $76,300,861.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey A. Kaplan sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.56, for a total value of $975,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 49,876 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,865,902.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. LyondellBasell Industries Profile (Free Report) LyondellBasell Industries N.V. operates as a chemical company in the United States, Germany, Mexico, Italy, Poland, France, Japan, China, the Netherlands, and internationally. The company operates in six segments: Olefins and PolyolefinsAmericas; Olefins and PolyolefinsEurope, Asia, International; Intermediates and Derivatives; Advanced Polymer Solutions; Refining; and Technology. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for LyondellBasell Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for LyondellBasell Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Latitude Advisors LLC bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) in the second quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor bought 2,284 shares of the energy producers stock, valued at approximately $237,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $274,000. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC increased its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 130.0% during the 2nd quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 7,375 shares of the energy producers stock worth $764,000 after purchasing an additional 4,168 shares in the last quarter. Summit Global Investments bought a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $585,000. EP Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 1st quarter worth approximately $258,000. Finally, Arosa Capital Management LP boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Arosa Capital Management LP now owns 124,050 shares of the energy producers stock worth $14,638,000 after buying an additional 4,050 shares during the last quarter. 80.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: ConocoPhillips Stock Up 3.7 % COP opened at $119.58 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $143.20 billion, a PE ratio of 11.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.28. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. ConocoPhillips has a 52 week low of $91.53 and a 52 week high of $138.49. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $118.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $109.06. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The energy producer reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.94 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $12.88 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.64 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 18.66% and a return on equity of 27.27%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.91 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that ConocoPhillips will post 9.18 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 16th were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 27th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. ConocoPhillipss payout ratio is 19.65%. Insider Buying and Selling at ConocoPhillips In other ConocoPhillips news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total transaction of $231,476.31. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Sharmila Mulligan sold 1,849 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.19, for a total transaction of $231,476.31. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Ryan Michael Lance sold 569,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 18,187 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,221,360.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 602,049 shares of company stock worth $73,591,956 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades COP has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on ConocoPhillips from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. UBS Group boosted their target price on ConocoPhillips from $147.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $151.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, September 18th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips in a research note on Monday, August 14th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $145.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $135.63. Get Our Latest Stock 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. 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. Shares of Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The company traded as low as $3.50 and last traded at $3.51, with a volume of 1908319 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $3.56. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Nokia Oyj in a research report on Thursday. They issued a hold rating for the company. TheStreet cut Nokia Oyj from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Monday, June 12th. DNB Markets upgraded Nokia Oyj from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on Nokia Oyj from $6.60 to $5.90 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Northland Securities reduced their price target on Nokia Oyj from $7.00 to $6.00 in a research report on Monday, July 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Nokia Oyj presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $5.68. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on NOK Nokia Oyj Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.32. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $3.87 and a 200-day moving average of $4.11. The stock has a market cap of $19.77 billion, a PE ratio of 4.68 and a beta of 0.97. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The technology company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.09 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $6.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.22 billion. Nokia Oyj had a net margin of 16.16% and a return on equity of 10.43%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.11 EPS. Research analysts predict that Nokia Oyj will post 0.42 EPS for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nokia Oyj Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Citigroup Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 696.3% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 851,769 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $4,182,000 after purchasing an additional 744,800 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 5.7% in the 2nd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 55,593 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $231,000 after purchasing an additional 2,979 shares during the last quarter. Redwood Financial Network Corp bought a new stake in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Profund Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 8.3% in the 1st quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 95,701 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $470,000 after purchasing an additional 7,300 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $65,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.26% of the companys stock. About Nokia Oyj (Get Free Report) Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. It offers products and services for radio access networks and microwave radio links for transport networks, and solutions for network management, as well as network planning, optimization, network deployment, and technical support services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oak Thistle LLC raised its stake in CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Free Report) by 177.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,540 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after purchasing an additional 7,375 shares during the period. Oak Thistle LLCs holdings in CVS Health were worth $798,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in CVS. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 4.4% during the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 446,573 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $30,872,000 after acquiring an additional 18,668 shares in the last quarter. WealthBridge Investment Counsel Inc. increased its holdings in CVS Health by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. WealthBridge Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 82,883 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $5,730,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. First American Trust FSB raised its stake in shares of CVS Health by 19.2% in the second quarter. First American Trust FSB now owns 82,744 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $5,720,000 after purchasing an additional 13,340 shares during the last quarter. Lipe & Dalton lifted its holdings in shares of CVS Health by 81.6% in the second quarter. Lipe & Dalton now owns 27,745 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $1,918,000 after purchasing an additional 12,471 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC grew its holdings in CVS Health by 2.1% during the second quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 40,129 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $2,774,000 after buying an additional 816 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.99% of the companys stock. Get CVS Health alerts: CVS Health Price Performance Shares of NYSE CVS traded up $0.87 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $70.77. 383,999 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,912,930. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $70.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $71.04. The company has a market cap of $90.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.66, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.59. CVS Health Co. has a 12-month low of $64.62 and a 12-month high of $104.83. CVS Health Announces Dividend CVS Health ( NYSE:CVS Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The pharmacy operator reported $2.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.12 by $0.09. CVS Health had a net margin of 0.86% and a return on equity of 15.43%. The firm had revenue of $88.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $86.41 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.40 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that CVS Health Co. will post 8.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.605 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 19th. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.42%. CVS Healths dividend payout ratio is 106.14%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP James David Clark sold 25,759 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.92, for a total value of $1,929,864.28. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,698 shares in the company, valued at approximately $351,974.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.25% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on CVS. StockNews.com started coverage on CVS Health in a research note on Thursday. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on shares of CVS Health from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 1st. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of CVS Health from $103.00 to $98.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. Edward Jones downgraded CVS Health from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, August 17th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $87.00 price target on shares of CVS Health in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CVS Health has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $95.28. Get Our Latest Research Report on CVS CVS Health Company Profile (Free Report) CVS Health Corporation provides health services in the United States. It operates through Health Care Benefits, Pharmacy Services, and Retail/LTC segments. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services. It serves employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its stake in FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Free Report) by 6.5% during the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 107,975 shares of the shipping service providers stock after buying an additional 6,614 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in FedEx were worth $26,767,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in FedEx by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 6,904 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $1,712,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Zullo Investment Group Inc. lifted its holdings in FedEx by 0.8% in the 2nd quarter. Zullo Investment Group Inc. now owns 5,497 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,363,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in shares of FedEx by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 5,236 shares of the shipping service providers stock worth $1,196,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of FedEx by 1.1% during the first quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. now owns 4,098 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $936,000 after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its holdings in shares of FedEx by 4.3% during the first quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 1,105 shares of the shipping service providers stock valued at $252,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.61% of the companys stock. Get FedEx alerts: Insider Activity at FedEx In other FedEx news, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total transaction of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,886,538.64. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, VP Jennifer L. Johnson sold 13,348 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $258.25, for a total transaction of $3,447,121.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 3,428 shares in the company, valued at $885,281. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Michael C. Lenz sold 5,745 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $261.88, for a total transaction of $1,504,500.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 22,478 shares in the company, valued at $5,886,538.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 8.73% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have issued reports on FDX. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of FedEx from $295.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. UBS Group lifted their price objective on FedEx from $312.00 to $323.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on FedEx from $284.00 to $285.00 in a report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on FedEx from $270.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, September 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $300.00 price objective on shares of FedEx in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, FedEx has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $277.84. Read Our Latest Stock Report on FedEx FedEx Stock Down 1.6 % FDX traded down $4.03 during trading on Monday, hitting $253.87. 252,886 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,988,208. The stock has a market capitalization of $63.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.73, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.33. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $260.76 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $243.79. FedEx Co. has a 12-month low of $148.93 and a 12-month high of $270.95. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, September 20th. The shipping service provider reported $4.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.71 by $0.84. FedEx had a return on equity of 16.14% and a net margin of 4.71%. The company had revenue of $21.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.74 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $3.44 earnings per share. FedExs revenue was down 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that FedEx Co. will post 18.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. FedEx Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 11th were issued a dividend of $1.26 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, September 8th. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.99%. FedExs payout ratio is 30.73%. FedEx Company Profile (Free Report) FedEx Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of transportation, e-commerce, business services, and business solutions. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment offers transportation and delivery services. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its stake in CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Free Report) by 4.4% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 446,573 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after buying an additional 18,668 shares during the quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in CVS Health were worth $30,872,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P grew its holdings in CVS Health by 92.9% during the 1st quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 377,875 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $38,245,000 after purchasing an additional 181,966 shares in the last quarter. United Bank grew its stake in shares of CVS Health by 7.2% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 18,658 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $1,888,000 after acquiring an additional 1,260 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its position in shares of CVS Health by 4,063.8% during the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 12,075 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $1,222,000 after acquiring an additional 11,785 shares during the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its holdings in CVS Health by 116.9% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,572 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 1,386 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in CVS Health during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,551,000. 75.99% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get CVS Health alerts: CVS Health Stock Performance Shares of CVS traded up $0.56 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $70.46. 334,825 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,912,843. CVS Health Co. has a 12 month low of $64.62 and a 12 month high of $104.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $90.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $70.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $71.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.86. CVS Health Dividend Announcement CVS Health ( NYSE:CVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 2nd. The pharmacy operator reported $2.21 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.12 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $88.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $86.41 billion. CVS Health had a return on equity of 15.43% and a net margin of 0.86%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.40 EPS. Equities analysts predict that CVS Health Co. will post 8.6 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 20th will be paid a $0.605 dividend. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 19th. CVS Healths dividend payout ratio is currently 106.14%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms have recently commented on CVS. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on CVS Health from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 1st. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and set a $87.00 price objective on shares of CVS Health in a report on Thursday, September 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of CVS Health from $114.00 to $106.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. Mizuho reduced their target price on CVS Health from $120.00 to $88.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on CVS Health from $89.00 to $86.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $95.28. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on CVS Insiders Place Their Bets In other CVS Health news, SVP James David Clark sold 25,759 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.92, for a total value of $1,929,864.28. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,698 shares in the company, valued at $351,974.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. CVS Health Profile (Free Report) CVS Health Corporation provides health services in the United States. It operates through Health Care Benefits, Pharmacy Services, and Retail/LTC segments. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services. It serves employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups, and expatriates. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for CVS Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CVS Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund reduced its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 24.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 571,697 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 186,265 shares during the period. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $36,560,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 86,002.1% in the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 659,143,253 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $42,152,211,000 after acquiring an additional 658,377,716 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $1,873,696,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,544,751,000 after purchasing an additional 21,451,006 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 193.4% during the 1st quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,214,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $186,351,000 after purchasing an additional 4,755,058 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 31.1% in the first quarter. Boston Partners now owns 18,080,568 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,252,480,000 after buying an additional 4,286,479 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total value of $1,101,642.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at $1,706,915. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible 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 transaction, the executive vice president now 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 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.7 % Shares of BMY stock traded up $0.39 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $57.05. 898,435 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,991,324. The company has a market capitalization of $119.18 billion, a PE ratio of 15.13, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $55.83 and a 52 week high of $81.43. The business has a 50 day moving average of $60.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $64.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $11.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.93 EPS. The companys revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Investors of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BMY has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $65.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 28th. SVB Leerink reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Truist Financial restated a buy rating and issued a $84.00 price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday. TD Cowen dropped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $80.00 to $66.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, September 15th. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued an outperform rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $69.50. View Our Latest Analysis 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. Featured Stories 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. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund boosted its holdings in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE Free Report) by 379.9% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 405,409 shares of the conglomerates stock after acquiring an additional 320,935 shares during the quarter. General Electric accounts for about 0.5% of Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Funds holdings in General Electric were worth $44,534,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in GE. Hengehold Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of General Electric by 2.4% during the 2nd quarter. Hengehold Capital Management LLC now owns 4,232 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. SFG Wealth Management LLC. boosted its position in General Electric by 0.6% in the second quarter. SFG Wealth Management LLC. now owns 16,956 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $1,863,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment Corp IL grew its stake in General Electric by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Rothschild Investment Corp IL now owns 7,372 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $810,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares during the period. Northstar Group Inc. increased its position in shares of General Electric by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Northstar Group Inc. now owns 3,673 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $351,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avantax Planning Partners Inc. raised its stake in shares of General Electric by 3.5% during the 2nd quarter. Avantax Planning Partners Inc. now owns 3,138 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.83% of the companys stock. Get General Electric alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at General Electric In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 112,614 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.20, for a total value of $12,973,132.80. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 57,923 shares in the company, valued at $6,672,729.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.67% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. General Electric Price Performance NYSE:GE traded down $1.31 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $110.16. The stock had a trading volume of 270,068 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,976,682. General Electric has a one year low of $48.98 and a one year high of $117.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.25. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $112.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $106.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $119.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.22, a P/E/G ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 1.27. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.22. The firm had revenue of $15.85 billion for 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%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 18.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.78 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that General Electric will post 2.32 earnings per share for the current year. General Electric Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 26th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 25th. General Electrics dividend payout ratio is 3.80%. Analyst Ratings Changes GE has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of General Electric from $125.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, July 25th. Wolfe Research boosted their price target on shares of General Electric from $107.00 to $125.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. Oppenheimer lowered General Electric from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, July 31st. Argus boosted their price objective on General Electric from $112.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 26th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on General Electric from $126.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, July 27th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, General Electric presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $122.71. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on General Electric General Electric Company 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. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. cut its stake in shares of Parker-Hannifin Co. (NYSE:PH Free Report) by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,127 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 58 shares during the quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Parker-Hannifin were worth $1,610,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. Red Cedar Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 35.9% in the second quarter. Red Cedar Investment Management LLC now owns 6,067 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,366,000 after purchasing an additional 1,603 shares in the last quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 0.5% in the second quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 10,001 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,901,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 9.6% in the second quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 1,050 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $410,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 5.5% in the second quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 36,832 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $14,366,000 after purchasing an additional 1,913 shares in the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI lifted its holdings in shares of Parker-Hannifin by 127.7% in the second quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 33,934 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $13,259,000 after purchasing an additional 19,028 shares in the last quarter. 82.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Parker-Hannifin alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PH has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $470.00 target price on shares of Parker-Hannifin in a report on Thursday, September 14th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Parker-Hannifin from $436.00 to $465.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, August 3rd. KeyCorp increased their price objective on Parker-Hannifin from $450.00 to $460.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. Argus increased their price objective on Parker-Hannifin from $390.00 to $460.00 in a report on Friday, August 4th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Parker-Hannifin in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Parker-Hannifin presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $439.14. Parker-Hannifin Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:PH traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $391.56. The companys stock had a trading volume of 74,586 shares, compared to its average volume of 818,673. The stock has a market capitalization of $50.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.25, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 1.52. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $403.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $368.72. Parker-Hannifin Co. has a fifty-two week low of $244.85 and a fifty-two week high of $428.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a current ratio of 0.88. Parker-Hannifin (NYSE:PH Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The industrial products company reported $6.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.48 by $0.60. The company had revenue of $5.10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.01 billion. Parker-Hannifin had a return on equity of 29.26% and a net margin of 10.93%. The firms revenue was up 21.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $5.16 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Parker-Hannifin Co. will post 22.69 earnings per share for the current year. Parker-Hannifin Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 8th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 28th were given a $1.48 dividend. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 25th. Parker-Hannifins dividend payout ratio is currently 37.00%. Insider Activity In related news, VP Berend Bracht sold 863 shares of Parker-Hannifin stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $419.47, for a total transaction of $362,002.61. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,700 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,132,569. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, VP Berend Bracht sold 863 shares of Parker-Hannifin stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $419.47, for a total transaction of $362,002.61. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,700 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,132,569. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Joseph Scaminace sold 1,660 shares of Parker-Hannifin stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $409.91, for a total value of $680,450.60. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 5,487 shares in the company, valued at $2,249,176.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 12,918 shares of company stock valued at $5,385,885. 1.03% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Parker-Hannifin (Free Report) Parker-Hannifin Corporation manufactures and sells motion and control technologies and systems for various mobile, industrial, and aerospace markets worldwide. The company operates through two segments: Diversified Industrial and Aerospace Systems. The Diversified Industrial segment offers sealing, shielding, thermal products and systems, adhesives, coatings, and noise vibration and harshness solutions; filters, systems, and diagnostics solutions to ensure purity and remove contaminants from fuel, air, oil, water, and other liquids and gases; connectors used in fluid and gas handling; and hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical components and systems for builders and users of mobile and industrial machinery and equipment. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Parker-Hannifin Co. (NYSE:PH Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Parker-Hannifin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Parker-Hannifin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Israel declares "state of war" as conflict with Hamas continues Xinhua) 08:08, October 09, 2023 This photo taken on Oct. 8, 2023 shows Israeli soldiers at the southern Israeli town of Ofakim. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua) JERUSALEM/GAZA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel's cabinet declared a "state of war" on Sunday after a massive surprise attack launched by Hamas has so far killed at least 700 in Israel while retaliatory Israeli airstrikes killed at least 413 in Gaza. The Israeli army continued its extensive airstrikes on targets in Gaza on Sunday as Hamas militants are fighting with Israeli soldiers on Israeli territories. Hamas militants remained in control of several communities in southern Israel on Sunday evening, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers engaged in gunfights with them, the IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said. Zaka, an Israeli rescue service, said in a statement that it has collected the remains of about 260 young women and men who were partying at the Nova festival, an outdoor music event in a rural farmland area near the Gaza-Israel fence. Many festival attendees were still missing on Sunday night. Social media was flooded with people trying to locate their relatives and friends after Hamas militants raided the festival and other locations in the area as part of the massive surprise attack on Israel that included the firing of thousands of rockets. People hold the bodies of children died in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) MORE VIOLENCE The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a militant group that operates in Palestinian territories, has also joined Hamas and launched attacks on Israel. In a televised speech on Sunday, Ziad al-Nakhalah, the Secretary-General of the PIJ, stated that the group had taken custody of 30 Israelis and declared that they would not be released unless Palestinian prisoners were freed from Israeli jails. Outside Gaza, Israeli forces and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militia engaged on Sunday in artillery and rocket exchanges. Hezbollah expressed solidarity with Hamas and claimed responsibility for a rocket attack from southeastern Lebanon into Israeli-occupied territories. In Egypt's northern province of Alexandria, two Israeli citizens and their local Egyptian guide were killed when they were on a tourist group tour when local security personnel opened fire on them. In a show of support for Israel, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday multiple military ships and aircraft would be sent closer to Israel. Israeli forces demolish a police station where some Hamas militants were holed up in Sderot, southern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023. (JINI via Xinhua) ISRAELIS BLAME INTELLIGENCE FAILURE An editorial in Ha'aretz newspaper on Sunday criticized the Israeli security forces for what it deemed an "intelligence and military failure." The editorial also blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for forming a far-right government which has pro-settler ministers that neglected Palestinians' rights and contributed to mounting anger and frustration, factors that played a role in the recent attack. Israeli analysts believe that Hamas has carefully planned the military operation. Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Israel Institute for National Security Studies, told Xinhua that Hamas' preparation for the military operations "is estimated to have taken several months." Additionally, Israel has been observing various Jewish festivals, including Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, since mid-September. The recent attack occurred amid Israeli holiday season, a time when Israel's vigilance tends to decrease, according to Eyal Pinko, a senior researcher at Israel's Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. Israeli military analyst Avi Benayahu has observed that the current round of conflict differs significantly from those in past decades due to the fact that Gaza-based militants currently hold a substantial number of Israeli civilians and troops as hostages, potentially influencing the scale of Israel's response. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 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. NEW DELHI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and six others injured Monday in a blast that triggered a devastating blaze inside a firecracker factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police said. The blast took place inside the private factory at Viragalur village in the Ariyalur district, about 320 km southwest of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu. "The workers were inside the unit and beginning to start the day's work when the blast went off. The workers were trapped inside the factory as it immediately went in flames and triggered a series of explosions," a police officer said. Fire and rescue service personnel were rushed to the spot to contain the blaze, and the injured were immediately sent to the nearest hospital, police said. Witnesses said thick columns of smoke from the firecracker factory were seen and bursting crackers were heard from a distance. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has expressed grief over the deaths and extended sympathies to the families of the victims, adding a monetary compensation of 3,601 U.S. dollars will be given to each family that lost a member in the incident and 600 dollars to each injured. On Saturday, 14 people were killed and a few others injured after a fire broke out inside a firecracker store in neighboring Karnataka. Accidental explosions are common at Indian firecracker factories and shops as owners usually ignore safety standards. Patten Group Inc. lowered its stake in shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK Free Report) by 8.7% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 8,100 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 768 shares during the period. Patten Group Inc.s holdings in WestRock were worth $235,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of WRK. Dupont Capital Management Corp lifted its position in shares of WestRock by 498.0% in the second quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corp now owns 23,440 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $681,000 after buying an additional 19,520 shares in the last quarter. Meridian Financial Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of WestRock by 6.8% in the second quarter. Meridian Financial Partners LLC now owns 20,864 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $633,000 after purchasing an additional 1,321 shares in the last quarter. Pflug Koory LLC increased its position in WestRock by 10.2% in the second quarter. Pflug Koory LLC now owns 8,779 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 815 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Capital LLC purchased a new stake in WestRock during the second quarter valued at $206,000. Finally, DAVENPORT & Co LLC lifted its position in WestRock by 0.6% during the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 105,191 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $3,058,000 after purchasing an additional 591 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock. Get WestRock alerts: WestRock Trading Up 0.5 % WRK stock opened at $36.06 on Monday. WestRock has a twelve month low of $26.84 and a twelve month high of $39.30. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $34.09 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $30.98. The company has a current ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. WestRock Announces Dividend WestRock ( NYSE:WRK Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The basic materials company reported $0.89 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.39. WestRock had a negative net margin of 6.82% and a positive return on equity of 8.75%. The firm had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.16 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.54 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that WestRock will post 3.02 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 24th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th were issued a $0.275 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 9th. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.05%. WestRocks payout ratio is -19.86%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently weighed in on WRK. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of WestRock from $37.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 4th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on WestRock in a research report on Saturday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on WestRock from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, August 4th. UBS Group decreased their price target on WestRock from $42.00 to $37.00 in a report on Friday, June 30th. Finally, Truist Financial raised their price target on WestRock from $34.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, September 21st. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, WestRock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $37.57. Read Our Latest Research Report on WestRock WestRock 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. Shares of Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $12.30. PSO has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Pearson from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, September 30th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Pearson from GBX 900 ($10.88) to GBX 930 ($11.24) in a research report on Monday, October 2nd. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Pearson from GBX 1,000 ($12.09) to GBX 1,030 ($12.45) in a research report on Tuesday, August 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of Pearson from GBX 1,190 ($14.38) to GBX 1,210 ($14.63) in a research report on Wednesday, September 13th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Pearson from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Get Pearson alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PSO Pearson Price Performance Pearson Cuts Dividend NYSE:PSO opened at $10.79 on Monday. Pearson has a 52 week low of $9.28 and a 52 week high of $12.03. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $10.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.49. The company has a quick ratio of 2.07, a current ratio of 2.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 11th were paid a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, August 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.6%. Institutional Trading of Pearson Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Pearson by 88.3% during the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,064 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,437 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its stake in Pearson by 240.8% during the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,764 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,953 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in Pearson during the 1st quarter valued at $45,000. First Affirmative Financial Network bought a new stake in Pearson during the 2nd quarter valued at $109,000. Finally, Greenleaf Trust bought a new stake in Pearson during the 1st quarter valued at $111,000. Institutional investors own 2.21% of the companys stock. Pearson Company Profile (Get Free Report Pearson plc offers educational courseware, assessments, and services in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, other European countries, and internationally. The company operates through five segments: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Higher Education, and Workforce Skills. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pearson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pearson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Physicians Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 4.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 17,288 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 784 shares during the quarter. Physicians Financial Services Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,106,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 6,001 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $416,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Keystone Wealth Services LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Keystone Wealth Services LLC now owns 7,468 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $518,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Dillon & Associates Inc. boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Dillon & Associates Inc. now owns 3,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Abbrea Capital LLC boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Abbrea Capital LLC now owns 10,025 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $695,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, Westshore Wealth LLC lifted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.3% during the 1st quarter. Westshore Wealth LLC now owns 3,658 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets 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 value of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.25, for a total value of $1,101,642.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 6,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $402,545.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock traded down $0.38 during trading on Monday, reaching $56.28. 3,360,975 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,003,579. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $55.69 and a 1-year high of $81.43. The firms 50-day moving average price is $60.23 and its 200 day moving average price is $64.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.39. The company has a market cap of $117.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.90, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.81 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.93 EPS. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue for the quarter was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 5th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.05%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 60.64%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently weighed in on BMY shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday. Credit Suisse Group cut their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 12th. SVB Securities started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, SVB Leerink reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bristol-Myers Squibb has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $69.50. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on BMY Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (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. Recommended Stories 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. Plancorp LLC purchased a new position in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:VOE Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 1,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $212,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of VOE. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF by 130,819.2% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 350,096,392 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,347,036,000 after purchasing an additional 349,828,978 shares in the last quarter. Betterment LLC lifted its position in shares of Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 10,188,342 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,365,951,000 after buying an additional 194,936 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF by 22.8% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,242,304 shares of the companys stock valued at $485,276,000 after acquiring an additional 602,148 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. increased its holdings in Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,688,250 shares of the companys stock worth $360,414,000 after acquiring an additional 38,231 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stephens Group Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF by 15.1% during the second quarter. Stephens Group Asset Management LLC now owns 1,015,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $140,487,000 after purchasing an additional 133,530 shares in the last quarter. Get Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF alerts: Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF Stock Up 0.7 % VOE stock opened at $129.03 on Monday. Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF has a 52 week low of $119.81 and a 52 week high of $147.74. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $136.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $135.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.40 and a beta of 1.05. Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF Profile Vanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Fund (Fund) is an open-end investment company, or mutual fund. The fund offers two classes of shares: Investor Shares and ETF Shares. Investor Shares are available to any investor who meets the funds minimum purchase requirements. ETF Shares can be purchased and sold through a broker. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. reduced its stake in shares of Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM Free Report) by 2.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,065 shares of the CRM providers stock after selling 158 shares during the period. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Salesforce were worth $1,597,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of CRM. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in Salesforce by 92,823.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 238,763,957 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $50,441,274,000 after acquiring an additional 238,507,009 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Salesforce by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 45,509,345 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $9,091,832,000 after acquiring an additional 391,648 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its holdings in Salesforce by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 36,357,722 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $7,263,546,000 after acquiring an additional 695,355 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Salesforce by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 19,003,836 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $2,519,719,000 after acquiring an additional 149,012 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Salesforce by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,749,285 shares of the CRM providers stock valued at $3,536,910,000 after acquiring an additional 332,375 shares during the last quarter. 77.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Salesforce alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages have recently issued reports on CRM. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Salesforce from a conviction-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $255.00 to $262.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Mizuho boosted their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $250.00 to $255.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and set a $250.00 price objective on shares of Salesforce in a research note on Friday, September 15th. Finally, Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on shares of Salesforce from $235.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, August 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, twenty-six have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $242.28. Insider Activity In other news, insider Brent Hyder sold 48,737 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $221.50, for a total transaction of $10,795,245.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 9,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,086,087. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Marc Benioff sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, October 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.54, for a total transaction of $3,023,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 15,341,166 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,091,858,595.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Brent Hyder sold 48,737 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $221.50, for a total value of $10,795,245.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 9,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,086,087. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 704,316 shares of company stock valued at $152,882,777. Company insiders own 3.70% of the companys stock. Salesforce Stock Performance Shares of CRM traded down $1.37 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $205.99. 844,131 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,784,396. The firm has a market capitalization of $200.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.42, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.02 and a quick ratio of 1.02. Salesforce, Inc. has a twelve month low of $126.34 and a twelve month high of $238.22. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $212.17 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $209.09. Salesforce (NYSE:CRM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 30th. The CRM provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.90 by $0.22. The company had revenue of $8.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.53 billion. Salesforce had a return on equity of 7.67% and a net margin of 4.77%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.52 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Salesforce, Inc. will post 5.86 earnings per share for the current year. About Salesforce (Free Report) Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and relationship intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer service and support at scale. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Salesforce Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Salesforce and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 3.0% during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,457 shares of the companys stock after selling 199 shares during the period. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $628,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of PM. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 120,884 shares of the companys stock worth $11,801,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. First American Trust FSB acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $248,000. Simplicity Solutions LLC increased its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 81,092 shares of the companys stock worth $7,916,000 after purchasing an additional 5,859 shares during the last quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 9.1% during the 2nd quarter. Alera Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,380 shares of the companys stock worth $330,000 after acquiring an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Janney Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Philip Morris International by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 93,406 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,118,000 after acquiring an additional 555 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently weighed in on PM. 22nd Century Group restated a reiterates rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. 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 note on Tuesday, August 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus restated a buy rating and issued a $114.00 price target on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. Citigroup upgraded Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the company from $109.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 20th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price target on Philip Morris International from $118.00 to $111.00 in a research note on Friday, September 29th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $109.92. Philip Morris International Stock Performance Shares of NYSE PM traded down $0.64 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $91.53. The company had a trading volume of 498,417 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,232,861. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $84.00 and a one year high of $105.62. The firm has a market cap of $142.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.83, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.71. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $94.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $95.63. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The company reported $1.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $8.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.48 earnings per share. Philip Morris Internationals revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.04 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 27th will be paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 26th. This is a positive change from Philip Morris Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $1.27. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.68%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 100.58%. About Philip Morris International (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. Read More 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. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. lowered its holdings in TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Free Report) (TSE:T) by 8.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 39,723 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock after selling 3,721 shares during the quarter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in TELUS were worth $737,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ridgewood Investments LLC purchased a new position in shares of TELUS in the 1st quarter worth approximately $32,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in TELUS by 227.5% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,598 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,110 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in TELUS during the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Clear Street Markets LLC purchased a new stake in TELUS during the 4th quarter worth approximately $54,000. Finally, Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc purchased a new stake in TELUS during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $70,000. Institutional investors own 49.48% of the companys stock. Get TELUS alerts: TELUS Price Performance NYSE:TU traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $16.52. 233,387 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,595,436. The company has a current ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. The stocks 50-day moving average is $17.03 and its 200-day moving average is $18.84. The firm has a market cap of $24.02 billion, a PE ratio of 26.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.74. TELUS Co. has a twelve month low of $15.47 and a twelve month high of $22.08. TELUS Increases Dividend TELUS ( NYSE:TU Get Free Report ) (TSE:T) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, August 4th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.14 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.72 billion. TELUS had a return on equity of 8.19% and a net margin of 6.04%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that TELUS Co. will post 0.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 8th were paid a $0.274 dividend. This is an increase from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 7th. TELUSs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 174.19%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have weighed in on TU shares. Desjardins dropped their target price on shares of TELUS from C$29.00 to C$27.50 in a research report on Friday, July 14th. TD Securities dropped their target price on shares of TELUS from C$30.00 to C$29.00 in a research report on Tuesday, August 8th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of TELUS from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$33.00 to C$31.00 in a report on Thursday, July 20th. Finally, Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of TELUS from C$29.50 to C$28.00 in a report on Tuesday, August 8th. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on TELUS About TELUS (Free Report) TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Free Report) (TSE:T). Receive News & Ratings for TELUS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TELUS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc. cut its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 3.6% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,595 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 800 shares during the quarter. Schmidt P J Investment Management Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,377,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 86,002.1% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 659,143,253 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $42,152,211,000 after purchasing an additional 658,377,716 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 175,584,734 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $12,169,778,000 after acquiring an additional 2,856,746 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 10.3% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 26,084,266 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,807,487,000 after acquiring an additional 2,439,814 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth about $1,873,696,000. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 114,228.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,469,785 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,544,751,000 after acquiring an additional 21,451,006 shares in the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Shares of BMY traded down $0.38 on Monday, reaching $56.28. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,441,767 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,003,579. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The stock has a market capitalization of $117.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.90, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.43. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $60.23 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $64.13. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $55.69 and a 12-month high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.99 by ($0.24). The business had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.81 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.51% and a net margin of 17.62%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.93 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 7.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 5th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 60.64%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on BMY. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $62.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Monday, October 2nd. SVB Securities started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 price objective on the stock. SVB Leerink reissued a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, July 10th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Thursday. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, June 28th. They set an outperform rating and a $70.00 price objective on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $69.50. Check Out Our Latest Report on BMY Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the firms 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 27,868 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,706,915. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Robert M. Plenge sold 732 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.14, for a total value of $44,754.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 6,584 shares of the companys stock, valued at $402,545.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Ann Powell sold 17,986 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,868 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,706,915. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.08% of the stock is owned by company insiders. 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. Featured Articles 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. Simplicity Solutions LLC grew its position in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS Free Report) by 3.0% in the second quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 211,713 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 6,139 shares during the period. Simplicity Solutions LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF were worth $3,919,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EWS. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 4.7% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 11,598 shares of the companys stock worth $230,000 after acquiring an additional 525 shares during the last quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Barry Investment Advisors LLC now owns 81,079 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,609,000 after purchasing an additional 924 shares in the last quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 21.3% during the 2nd quarter. Asahi Life Asset Management CO. LTD. now owns 5,700 shares of the companys stock worth $106,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 86.2% during the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,015 shares of the companys stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 1,396 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Singapore ETF by 0.7% in the second quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 215,022 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,980,000 after buying an additional 1,420 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Singapore ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Stock Performance Shares of EWS opened at $18.25 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $491.84 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.86 and a beta of 0.81. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF has a 1 year low of $16.16 and a 1 year high of $20.54. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $18.52 and its 200 day simple moving average is $19.04. iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI Singapore ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Singapore Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund (ETF). The Funds seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of the MSCI Singapore Index (the Underlying Index). The Underlying Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (NYSEARCA:EWS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Singapore ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Spartan Fund Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL Free Report) by 117,696.2% during the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 588,981 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 588,481 shares during the quarter. Spartan Fund Management Inc.s holdings in Valaris were worth $31,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Valaris in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Valaris in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of Valaris during the first quarter worth approximately $52,000. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC acquired a new stake in Valaris during the 1st quarter worth approximately $59,000. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in Valaris by 49.0% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,375 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 452 shares during the period. 89.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Valaris alerts: Insider Transactions at Valaris In related news, VP Colleen Grable sold 5,034 shares of Valaris stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $377,550.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 15,074 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,130,550. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder Hill Advisors Lp Oak sold 4,200,000 shares of Valaris stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.10, for a total transaction of $307,020,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,766,016 shares of the companys stock, valued at $348,395,769.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Colleen Grable sold 5,034 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $377,550.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 15,074 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,130,550. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock. Valaris Stock Up 2.4 % NYSE VAL opened at $73.38 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $74.33 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.43 billion, a PE ratio of 45.37 and a beta of 1.28. Valaris Limited has a fifty-two week low of $53.32 and a fifty-two week high of $80.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 2.20 and a quick ratio of 2.20. Valaris (NYSE:VAL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 1st. The company reported ($0.29) EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $415.20 million for the quarter. Valaris had a return on equity of 10.00% and a net margin of 7.04%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Valaris from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, August 7th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Valaris from $85.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, August 11th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded shares of Valaris from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Wednesday, August 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Valaris has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $95.50. View Our Latest Report on Valaris About Valaris (Free Report) Valaris Limited provides offshore contract drilling services to the international oil and gas industry. The company owns an offshore drilling rig fleet, which include drillships, dynamically positioned semisubmersible rigs, moored semisubmersible rig, and jackup rigs. It serves international, government-owned, and independent oil and gas companies in the Gulf of Mexico, South America, the North Sea, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Valaris Limited (NYSE:VAL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Valaris Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valaris and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The global initiatives launched by China over the past decade, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), have helped promote development, security and stability worldwide, a senior official of the Arab League (AL) told Xinhua in a recent interview. Adel Al Asoomi, speaker of the Cairo-based Arab Parliament affiliated with the AL, described the BRI, launched by China 10 years ago, as an important initiative because it creates win-win partnerships and common interests among participating states. "Common interests undoubtedly overcome the problems and difficulties that countries go through, which is why the Arab Parliament sees the BRI as a global initiative that will surely benefit all countries of the world," he said. The initiative is welcomed by the AL, which represents all Arab states, he said, noting that China has undertaken mega-development projects in several Arab states under the BRI umbrella. The Arab Parliament supports the initiative "because it has positive effects worldwide and brings the countries of the world closer," the Arab Parliament speaker told Xinhua. China also launched in the past few years the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). "These initiatives have been welcomed by most countries of the world because they are positive and in favor of the international community," he said. Highlighting the fact that Beijing's mediation has helped Saudi Arabia and Iran restore diplomatic ties after years of rift, the speaker said reconciliation between the two countries, both big, influential countries in the region, will "surely lead to positive results for the region and the world." Leading a delegation of Arab parliamentarians, Al Asoomi visited Beijing in late August and met with senior Chinese legislators and other officials to discuss bilateral cooperation. "The Communist Party of China (CPC) actually played an important role in China's development," said the Arab lawmaker, applauding the CPC's successful programs to eradicate absolute poverty in the giant Asian country. "I sensed that the CPC is close to the people, not in words but in actions, programs and activities," he added, commenting on his latest visit to China. During the visit, the Arab Parliament speaker voiced support for the Chinese global initiatives that seek to foster development and peace worldwide. Amid increasing challenges facing the world, these initiatives "represent the opposite of wars, crises and problems and serve the international community in many ways," he said. Sterneck Capital Management LLC trimmed its stake in Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV Free Report) by 8.8% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,612 shares of the airlines stock after selling 540 shares during the quarter. Sterneck Capital Management LLCs holdings in Southwest Airlines were worth $203,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in LUV. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Southwest Airlines by 74,645.8% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 29,236,805 shares of the airlines stock worth $1,058,665,000 after acquiring an additional 29,197,690 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Southwest Airlines by 91,675.0% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,296,139 shares of the airlines stock valued at $515,021,000 after purchasing an additional 15,279,472 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Southwest Airlines by 39.7% in the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 21,991,802 shares of the airlines stock valued at $715,615,000 after purchasing an additional 6,244,136 shares during the last quarter. Provident Trust Co. grew its holdings in Southwest Airlines by 161.8% during the first quarter. Provident Trust Co. now owns 6,693,394 shares of the airlines stock worth $217,803,000 after purchasing an additional 4,136,264 shares during the period. Finally, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC acquired a new position in Southwest Airlines during the first quarter worth approximately $93,082,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.22% of the companys stock. Get Southwest Airlines alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes LUV has been the subject of several research reports. Redburn Partners downgraded Southwest Airlines from a neutral rating to a sell rating and set a $27.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, August 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Southwest Airlines from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their target price for the stock from $52.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Friday, July 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein decreased their price target on shares of Southwest Airlines from $32.00 to $28.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, September 26th. 22nd Century Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Southwest Airlines in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Finally, BNP Paribas downgraded Southwest Airlines from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $34.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, September 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $35.33. Southwest Airlines Price Performance Southwest Airlines stock traded down $0.94 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $26.14. The company had a trading volume of 2,908,370 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,131,466. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $30.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $31.80. The company has a market cap of $15.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.77, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.19. Southwest Airlines Co. has a fifty-two week low of $25.94 and a fifty-two week high of $40.38. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The airline reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.08 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $7.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.98 billion. Southwest Airlines had a return on equity of 5.81% and a net margin of 2.31%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Southwest Airlines Co. will post 1.75 earnings per share for the current year. Southwest Airlines Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 6th were given a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 5th. Southwest Airliness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 81.82%. Southwest Airlines 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. Read More 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. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Targa Resources (NYSE:TRGP Free Report) in a report released on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the pipeline companys stock. Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on TRGP. Barclays reduced their price objective on Targa Resources from $92.00 to $89.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 18th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Targa Resources from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Targa Resources in a report on Thursday. They set a buy rating and a $101.00 target price for the company. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Targa Resources from $99.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on shares of Targa Resources from $104.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, August 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $102.64. Get Targa Resources alerts: View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TRGP Targa Resources Stock Performance Shares of TRGP opened at $81.29 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.60. Targa Resources has a 52-week low of $62.74 and a 52-week high of $88.01. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $84.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $77.42. The company has a market capitalization of $18.19 billion, a PE ratio of 22.03 and a beta of 2.24. Targa Resources (NYSE:TRGP Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 3rd. The pipeline company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.23 by $0.21. Targa Resources had a net margin of 4.75% and a return on equity of 18.14%. The company had revenue of $3.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.56 billion. Equities research analysts predict that Targa Resources will post 4.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Targa Resources Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Monday, July 31st were paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 28th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.46%. Targa Resourcess payout ratio is currently 54.20%. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Director Charles R. Crisp sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.22, for a total value of $287,770.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 121,024 shares in the company, valued at $9,950,593.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Targa Resources news, EVP G Clark White sold 2,577 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, August 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.72, for a total transaction of $218,323.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 122,865 shares in the company, valued at $10,409,122.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Charles R. Crisp sold 3,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.22, for a total value of $287,770.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 121,024 shares in the company, valued at $9,950,593.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 14,610 shares of company stock valued at $1,215,524. Insiders own 1.39% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Targa Resources A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TRGP. Lifestyle Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Targa Resources in the third quarter worth $204,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Targa Resources during the 3rd quarter worth $49,000. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in Targa Resources by 16.2% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 507,803 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $38,645,000 after purchasing an additional 70,976 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in Targa Resources by 4.6% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 410,072 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $31,206,000 after purchasing an additional 18,030 shares during the period. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in shares of Targa Resources by 5.5% during the second quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 125,007 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $9,513,000 after purchasing an additional 6,519 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.21% of the companys stock. About Targa Resources (Get Free Report) Targa Resources Corp., together with its subsidiary, Targa Resources Partners LP, owns, operates, acquires, and develops a portfolio of complementary domestic midstream infrastructure assets in North America. The company operates in two segments, Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Targa Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Targa Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE:TNP Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the shipping companys stock. Separately, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $28.00 target price on shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation in a report on Thursday, August 31st. Get Tsakos Energy Navigation alerts: Get Our Latest Report on TNP Tsakos Energy Navigation Trading Up 2.1 % Shares of NYSE:TNP opened at $20.51 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $605.25 million, a P/E ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.54 and a quick ratio of 1.49. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $20.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.77. Tsakos Energy Navigation has a 1 year low of $14.88 and a 1 year high of $24.78. Tsakos Energy Navigation (NYSE:TNP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 7th. The shipping company reported $1.65 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $182.56 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $174.10 million. Tsakos Energy Navigation had a return on equity of 39.40% and a net margin of 39.90%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.31 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Tsakos Energy Navigation will post 7.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. Tsakos Energy Navigation Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 26th. Investors of record on Friday, October 20th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 19th. This represents a yield of 3%. This is a positive change from Tsakos Energy Navigations previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.30. Tsakos Energy Navigations payout ratio is currently 5.00%. Institutional Trading of Tsakos Energy Navigation Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 7.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 189,278 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,664,000 after acquiring an additional 13,698 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 157.2% during the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 18,109 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $158,000 after acquiring an additional 11,067 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Tsakos Energy Navigation by 110.5% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 74,887 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $658,000 after acquiring an additional 39,309 shares during the period. Engineers Gate Manager LP bought a new stake in Tsakos Energy Navigation in the first quarter valued at approximately $108,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE increased its position in Tsakos Energy Navigation by 167.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 20,460 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $180,000 after purchasing an additional 12,804 shares during the period. 21.18% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Tsakos Energy Navigation (Get Free Report) Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited provides seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services worldwide. The company offers marine transportation services for national, major, and other independent oil companies and refiners under long, medium, and short-term charters. It also operates a fleet of double-hull vessels, comprising of conventional tankers, LNG carriers, and suezmax DP2 shuttle tankers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsakos Energy Navigation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) in a research report report published on Thursday. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock. Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Bank of America from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $35.00 price target on shares of Bank of America in a report on Tuesday, September 12th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of Bank of America from $28.00 to $27.50 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, September 15th. 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. Finally, HSBC started coverage on Bank of America in a research report on Thursday, September 7th. They issued a buy rating and a $35.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $35.75. Get Bank of America alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Bank of America Bank of America Trading Up 0.0 % NYSE:BAC opened at $26.07 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The company has a market capitalization of $207.16 billion, a PE ratio of 7.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.36. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $28.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.90. Bank of America has a 52-week low of $25.47 and a 52-week high of $38.60. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.04. Bank of America had a net margin of 19.97% and a return on equity of 12.01%. The business had revenue of $25.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.98 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.73 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Bank of America will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of America Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 1st were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. This is a positive change from Bank of Americas previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 31st. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 27.59%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 185,108 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,836,455.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Bank of America news, insider James P. Demare sold 75,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.53, for a total value of $2,364,750.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 185,108 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,836,455.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Dean C. Athanasia sold 77,806 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the insider now owns 353,971 shares in the company, valued at $11,143,007.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.27% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. LifePro Asset Management boosted its position in shares of Bank of America by 58.6% during the third quarter. LifePro Asset Management now owns 27,847 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $762,000 after buying an additional 10,292 shares during the period. Bay Rivers Group boosted its position in Bank of America by 20.4% during the 3rd quarter. Bay Rivers Group now owns 10,186 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $279,000 after acquiring an additional 1,725 shares during the period. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 1.6% in the third quarter. Harbour Capital Advisors LLC now owns 110,849 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $3,035,000 after purchasing an additional 1,705 shares in the last quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 11.6% during the third quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC now owns 12,396 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $356,000 after purchasing an additional 1,284 shares during the period. Finally, Allied Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Bank of America by 2.6% during the third quarter. Allied Investment Advisors LLC now owns 274,688 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,521,000 after purchasing an additional 6,907 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock. Bank of America Company Profile (Get 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. Featured Articles 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. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of CAE (NYSE:CAE Free Report) (TSE:CAE) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the aerospace companys stock. Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. TD Securities lifted their price target on shares of CAE from $37.00 to $39.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 10th. Bank of America lifted their target price on CAE from $33.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on CAE from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, August 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, CAE currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $35.50. Get CAE alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Report on CAE CAE Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of CAE stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Thursday, reaching $22.90. The stock had a trading volume of 5,195 shares, compared to its average volume of 194,180. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The company has a market capitalization of $7.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 1.67. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $23.55 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $22.61. CAE has a 52 week low of $15.77 and a 52 week high of $25.04. CAE (NYSE:CAE Get Free Report) (TSE:CAE) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, August 9th. The aerospace company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $785.03 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $765.40 million. CAE had a return on equity of 7.48% and a net margin of 6.60%. Sell-side analysts predict that CAE will post 0.88 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On CAE Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of CAE by 29.9% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 31,960,441 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $715,244,000 after buying an additional 7,363,625 shares during the last quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. lifted its holdings in CAE by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. now owns 12,081,091 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $270,700,000 after purchasing an additional 80,220 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its position in CAE by 1.3% during the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 10,034,952 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $224,583,000 after purchasing an additional 128,457 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of CAE by 3.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,006,409 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $153,398,000 after purchasing an additional 300,523 shares during the period. Finally, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lifted its stake in shares of CAE by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 8,422,083 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $190,476,000 after buying an additional 98,558 shares during the last quarter. 64.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. CAE Company Profile (Get Free Report) CAE Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides simulation training and critical operations support solutions in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa, and Rest of Americas. It operates through three segments: Civil Aviation, Defense and Security, and Healthcare. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CAE Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CAE and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Welltower (NYSE:WELL Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the real estate investment trusts stock. A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on WELL. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Welltower from $82.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 2nd. Wedbush initiated coverage on Welltower in a research report on Tuesday, October 3rd. They set a neutral rating and a $83.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their target price on Welltower from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, September 14th. Raymond James increased their target price on Welltower from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 20th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Welltower from $87.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 15th. Three 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, Welltower presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $86.75. Get Welltower alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on Welltower Welltower Price Performance Welltower Announces Dividend Shares of NYSE WELL opened at $81.48 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 354.26, a PEG ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 1.04. Welltower has a 12 month low of $56.50 and a 12 month high of $86.72. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $82.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $79.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 3.12 and a quick ratio of 3.12. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, August 23rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 15th were issued a $0.61 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 14th. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. Welltowers payout ratio is currently 1,060.87%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WELL. Lcnb Corp increased its stake in shares of Welltower by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Lcnb Corp now owns 4,935 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $399,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Welltower by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Cresset Asset Management LLC now owns 5,044 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $485,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Dai Ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd increased its stake in shares of Welltower by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Dai Ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd now owns 33,012 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,174,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Welltower by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Cornell Pochily Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 11,705 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $947,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co increased its stake in shares of Welltower by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co now owns 11,573 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,113,000 after acquiring an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.61% of the companys stock. About Welltower (Get Free Report) Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a real estate investment trust ("REIT") and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Welltower Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Welltower and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tenet Healthcare Co. (NYSE:THC Get Free Report) has been given an average recommendation of Buy by the fifteen analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation, thirteen have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $84.18. A number of equities analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Tenet Healthcare from $95.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. Stephens boosted their price objective on shares of Tenet Healthcare from $87.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 1st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Tenet Healthcare in a research note on Thursday. They issued a buy rating for the company. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Tenet Healthcare from $83.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Tenet Healthcare from $84.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, August 1st. Get Tenet Healthcare alerts: View Our Latest Analysis on THC Tenet Healthcare Stock Performance Tenet Healthcare stock opened at $61.66 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $71.82 and a 200-day moving average price of $71.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.47, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.44. Tenet Healthcare has a fifty-two week low of $36.69 and a fifty-two week high of $85.40. The company has a market capitalization of $6.26 billion, a PE ratio of 13.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 2.15. Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 31st. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.18. Tenet Healthcare had a net margin of 2.51% and a return on equity of 26.60%. The firm had revenue of $5.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.91 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.50 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Tenet Healthcare will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Tenet Healthcare Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in Tenet Healthcare by 259.1% during the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,281,465 shares of the companys stock worth $185,666,000 after purchasing an additional 1,646,137 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Tenet Healthcare by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 11,639,373 shares of the companys stock worth $691,612,000 after purchasing an additional 1,491,799 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Tenet Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth about $65,580,000. Glenview Capital Management LLC grew its position in Tenet Healthcare by 9.8% during the 4th quarter. Glenview Capital Management LLC now owns 8,896,111 shares of the companys stock worth $434,041,000 after purchasing an additional 796,463 shares during the period. Finally, Greenlight Capital Inc. grew its position in Tenet Healthcare by 116.6% during the 1st quarter. Greenlight Capital Inc. now owns 1,426,970 shares of the companys stock worth $84,791,000 after purchasing an additional 768,070 shares during the period. 93.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Tenet Healthcare Company Profile (Get Free Report Tenet Healthcare Corporation operates as a diversified healthcare services company. The company operates through three segments: Hospital Operations, Ambulatory Care, and Conifer. Its general hospitals offer acute care services, operating and recovery rooms, radiology and respiratory therapy services, clinical laboratories, and pharmacies. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tenet Healthcare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenet Healthcare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Field & Main Bank grew its position in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY Free Report) by 1.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,968 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 69 shares during the quarter. Field & Main Banks holdings in Hershey were worth $991,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of HSY. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey in the second quarter valued at $25,000. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the 1st quarter worth $27,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its stake in Hershey by 121.3% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Hershey during the 1st quarter worth $38,000. 56.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Hershey alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Michele Buck sold 14,251 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction on Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.73, for a total transaction of $3,402,141.23. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 111,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,678,316.23. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Michele Buck sold 14,251 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, July 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $238.73, for a total value of $3,402,141.23. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 111,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,678,316.23. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Pamela M. Arway sold 187 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $241.66, for a total value of $45,190.42. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 15,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,752,738.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 17,438 shares of company stock valued at $4,079,372. 0.22% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HSY has been the subject of several analyst reports. HSBC initiated coverage on Hershey in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $248.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Hershey in a research note on Thursday. They set a hold rating for the company. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Hershey from $285.00 to $240.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, September 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their target price on Hershey from $264.00 to $262.00 in a research note on Monday, July 17th. Finally, TD Cowen began coverage on Hershey in a report on Wednesday, September 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $250.00 price objective on the stock. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $262.10. Get Our Latest Research Report on HSY Hershey Trading Up 0.1 % Shares of HSY stock opened at $195.25 on Monday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $213.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $241.90. The Hershey Company has a twelve month low of $190.13 and a twelve month high of $276.88. The company has a market capitalization of $39.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. Hershey (NYSE:HSY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 27th. The company reported $2.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.89 by $0.12. Hershey had a return on equity of 55.74% and a net margin of 16.49%. The company had revenue of $2.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.50 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.80 EPS. The companys revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that The Hershey Company will post 9.54 EPS for the current year. Hershey Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Friday, August 18th were paid a $1.192 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 17th. This is an increase from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.04. This represents a $4.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.44%. Hersheys payout ratio is 54.89%. Hershey Profile (Free Report) The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HSY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Hershey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hershey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of VOC Energy Trust (NYSE:VOC Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the oil and gas producers stock. VOC Energy Trust Stock Down 1.0 % Shares of VOC stock opened at $9.29 on Thursday. The firms 50-day moving average is $8.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $8.44. VOC Energy Trust has a 12 month low of $6.86 and a 12 month high of $13.70. Get VOC Energy Trust alerts: VOC Energy Trust (NYSE:VOC Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 10th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.23 earnings per share for the quarter. VOC Energy Trust had a return on equity of 138.79% and a net margin of 92.07%. The company had revenue of $4.22 million during the quarter. VOC Energy Trust Cuts Dividend Institutional Trading of VOC Energy Trust The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 31st were issued a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 28th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.04%. Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VOC. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in VOC Energy Trust during the first quarter worth $752,000. Wexford Capital LP acquired a new position in VOC Energy Trust during the 2nd quarter worth about $513,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its holdings in VOC Energy Trust by 96.1% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 101,804 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $1,056,000 after acquiring an additional 49,898 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley grew its position in VOC Energy Trust by 24.8% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 81,536 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $846,000 after acquiring an additional 16,202 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in VOC Energy Trust by 72.9% during the second quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 37,395 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 15,769 shares during the period. VOC Energy Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) VOC Energy Trust acquires and holds a term net profits interest of the net proceeds from production and sale of the interests in oil and natural gas properties in the states of Kansas and Texas. The company has an 80% term net profits interest of the net proceeds on the underlying properties. As of December 31, 2021, its underlying properties had interests in 452.5 net producing wells and 51,147.2 net acres. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for VOC Energy Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VOC Energy Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Free Report) had its target price dropped by equities research analysts at Evercore ISI from $25.00 to $24.00 in a research report issued on Monday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Evercore ISIs price target indicates a potential upside of 14.83% from the stocks current price. A number of other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial cut Vornado Realty Trust from a buy rating to a hold rating and upped their price target for the stock from $22.00 to $27.00 in a report on Friday, September 15th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $18.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 8th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Vornado Realty Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 4th. Finally, Compass Point initiated coverage on shares of Vornado Realty Trust in a research report on Tuesday, September 26th. They issued a neutral rating and a $25.00 price objective for the company. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Vornado Realty Trust presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $19.82. Get Vornado Realty Trust alerts: Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Vornado Realty Trust Vornado Realty Trust Price Performance Institutional Trading of Vornado Realty Trust Shares of NYSE VNO opened at $20.90 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.72, a current ratio of 4.15 and a quick ratio of 4.15. Vornado Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $12.31 and a 1-year high of $26.76. The company has a market capitalization of $3.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.25 and a beta of 1.45. The business has a 50-day moving average of $23.01 and a 200-day moving average of $18.31. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of VNO. FNY Investment Advisers LLC bought a new stake in shares of Vornado Realty Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. raised its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 55.5% during the first quarter. SOA Wealth Advisors LLC. now owns 2,494 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 890 shares during the period. Spire Wealth Management lifted its position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 158.8% in the 1st quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 2,580 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 1,583 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 170.0% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,277 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $58,000 after buying an additional 804 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC acquired a new position in shares of Vornado Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at about $88,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.86% of the companys stock. About Vornado Realty Trust (Get Free Report) Vornado is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio of premier New York City office and retail assets and the developer of the new PENN DISTRICT. While concentrated in New York, Vornado also owns the premier assets in both Chicago and San Francisco. Vornado is a real estate industry leader in sustainability, with over 27 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings and over 23 million square feet at LEED Gold or Platinum. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Vornado Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vornado Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. VIENTIANE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lao authorities have discussed ways to ensure that preparations for the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Tourism Forum 2024 (ATF) will be completed on schedule. According to Lao national TV report on Monday, the ATF will be held in the Lao capital Vientiane from Jan. 22 to Jan. 27, 2024, under the theme "Quality and Responsible Tourism -- Sustaining ASEAN Future." The dates were announced at a meeting held in Vientiane on Thursday to report on the progress of preparations for the forum, chaired by Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket. "We still have a lot of work to do, such as revising the ATF 2024 action plan, creating a travel program for delegates, and ensuring that restaurants serve up good quality food in a clean environment," the minister said. "In addition, we must make sure that entry and exit procedures at border crossings are well organized, and that we can import all the goods and equipment needed by visiting delegates." Director General of the ministry's Tourism Marketing Department Khom Douangchantha said a lot of progress had already been made in preparing for the forum. Laos previously hosted the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2004 and 2013, which led to a surge in visitor numbers in subsequent years. Phone: 757-221-1020 Email: [[eazagu]] Duties: Serves as primary writer for major events and general assignment. Also helps coordinate the News & Media social network sites, has the lead on web posting of news stories and photos and also serves as backup spokesperson and contact for press queries. Beat: Major Events, Civic Engagement, Student Health and Wellness, Diversity, Rankings, Information Technology liaison, University Advancement liaison (with Suzanne Seurattan) About Erin I've long been awed by the power and beauty of well-told tales, and I decided early on that joining the ranks of the world's storytellers would be my life's pursuit although I wasn't quite sure what shape that would take. I studied English at Christopher Newport University in my hometown of Newport News and considered a career in journalism, but I ended up spending my first year after graduation telling stories in a different way: as a historical interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg. Although that position allowed me to scratch my storytelling itch, I missed writing and began looking for positions in journalism and public relations. I was accepted into the U.S. Air Force's PALACE Acquire program for public affairs, and started at Langley Air Force Base's Air Combat Command the day before 9/11. Needless to say, it was an interesting time to begin working for the Air Force's warfighting command. I spent three years working at Langley in both the Air Combat Command (ACC) and 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs Offices. During that time, I also attended the Defense Information School's Public Affairs Officer Qualification Course at Fort Meade, Maryland. After completing the Palace Acquire program, I became the chief of media relations for the 435th Air Base Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where I spent two years working with news agencies as they covered stories related to both the base and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During my time with the Air Force, I was lucky enough to work in all three areas of Air Force public affairs: media relations, internal information and community relations. I wrote news stories and press releases, worked with press from around the world and organized special visits and events. I have been quoted as an Air Force spokesperson by various media outlets and had the privilege of traveling to such locations as the Republic of Georgia and even Iraq for a week to conduct public affairs work. I was also presented with several honors, including ACC's Print Journalist of the Year Award and the Air Force's Outstanding Public Affairs Entry-Level Civilian (MAJCOM Level) of the Year Award. I returned to Virginia in 2006 and soon after took a "temporary" position at William & Mary as an information manager. Since then, I have served University Relations (now News & Media) as lead writer, news manager and, now, associate director of university news. During my time at the university, I have also served on the campus-wide Diversity Committee as well as the Professionals and Professional Faculty Assembly, where I chaired the communications committee. I received a Diversity Recognition Award from the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity and a certificate of achievement from the W&M ROTC program for support of the military science department. In William & Mary, I have found a never-ending source of compelling stories, and I look forward to telling them for many years to come. This photo taken on Oct. 6, 2023 shows the exhibition area of China at the 8th Nicosia Book Fest in Nicosia, Cyprus. [Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua] 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 (2nd, R, front), speaker of the Cypriot House of Parliament, and Zhang Jianchun (1st, R), vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, visit the Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings exhibition in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct. 5, 2023. [Photo by George Christophorou/Xinhua] 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. This photo taken on Oct. 6. 2023 shows a scene of the China-Cyprus Civilization Exchange Forum in Nicosia, Cyprus. On the sidelines of the Nicosia Book Fest, the capital of Cyprus hosted the China-Cyprus Civilization Exchange Forum on Friday. [Xinhua/Wen Xinnian] "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." (Source: Xinhua) BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has been formally put forward at a two-day national meeting on the work of public communication and culture, which was held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday. Since the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress, historic achievements have been made in the fields of public communication and culture, according to the meeting, attributing the achievements to the leadership of President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. The new ideas and judgments about cultural development in the new era put forward by Xi have enriched and developed Marxist cultural theories and formed Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, the meeting noted. A recent instruction by Xi was conveyed at the meeting. In the instruction, Xi stressed building stronger cultural confidence, following the approach of openness and inclusiveness, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground to provide a strong ideological guarantee, spiritual strength and favorable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Noting that the work of public communication and culture is extremely important, Xi said in the instruction that since the 18th CPC National Congress the Party Central Committee has made systematic planning and arrangements in this regard from an overall and strategic perspective, securing historic achievements in the cause. Xi noted the overarching and fundamental changes that had taken place in the country's ideological landscape, adding that there is a notably stronger sense of cultural confidence and a higher level of morale throughout the Party and the nation. Xi said in the instruction that momentous changes not seen in a century are accelerating across the world, and the work of public communication and culture is facing new circumstances and new missions. Related work should be done with a focus on the new cultural mission, which is to further advance cultural prosperity, to build a leading country in culture and to foster the modern Chinese civilization at a new historical starting point, Xi said. Xi stressed solid efforts on strengthening the Party's leadership over the work of public communication and culture, developing a socialist ideology that has the power to unite and inspire the people, and cultivating and applying core socialist values, among others. He called for efforts to continuously consolidate the common intellectual foundation for the whole Party and all Chinese people to strive in unity, and grow China's cultural soft power and the appeal of Chinese culture. Xi's instruction points the direction for further improvements in the work of public communication and culture, the meeting said. It added that Xi Jinping Thought on Culture has shown that the Party's understanding of the laws underlying the development of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics has reached a new height and so has the Party's confidence in the history and culture. Xi Jinping Thought on Culture is an evolving and open system of thought that will be enriched and developed as practice progresses, the meeting said, urging more efforts in studying, researching, and interpreting the thought. The meeting urged efforts to earnestly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and promote sound progress of related work on all fronts. It underlined the need to cement and expand the mainstream thoughts that inspire hard work in the new era, and extensively apply core socialist values, among others. Efforts should be made to advance the protection and inheritance of fine traditional Chinese culture, and extend the reach and appeal of Chinese civilization, the meeting added. It also called for efforts to prevent and defuse ideological risks in a resolute and effective manner, and muster the courage to take an unequivocal stance and fight. The meeting also asked for a new look and progress in the endeavor to turn China into a country with a strong socialist culture and build modern Chinese civilization. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, announced work plans. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attends a national meeting on the work of public communication and culture and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China. A recent instruction by Xi Jinping was conveyed at the meeting, which was held on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, 2023. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei] Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, announces work plans at a national meeting on the work of public communication and culture in Beijing, capital of China. A recent instruction by Xi Jinping was conveyed at the meeting, which was held on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8, 2023. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan] (Source: Xinhua) The Star of David stands atop the Park East Synagogue on March 2017 in New York City. YAOUNDE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a landslide in Cameroon's capital city of Yaounde rose to 27 on Monday, according to Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji. Dozens are still feared trapped under layers of mud and slush. The landslide occurred at 20:00 local time (1900 GMT) on Sunday in the hilly neighborhood of Mbankolo in Yaounde after persistent heavy downpour. About 20 people wounded in the tragedy were receiving treatment in hospitals, and rescue operations were underway to save more lives, Nji told reporters during his visit to the disaster site. Local authorities said ealier in the day that at least 13 people were killed in the landslide. "Relief material is underway, and the government extends condolences to the bereaved families," Nji said. Yaounde is one of the wettest cities in Africa, with dozens of steep hills. Heavy rains have triggered several devastating floods throughout the country this year. Four Americans killed in Israel attacks, with death toll expected to rise, sources say Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., here on July 25, announced on Monday his independent candidacy for president. UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Sunday held emergency consultations behind closed doors following massive attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants in occupied Gaza. The council did not come up with any document after the consultations. Riyad Mansour, Palestine's ambassador to the United Nations, said before the consultations that Israel's impunity and international inaction are to blame for the current situation. "Regrettably, history, for some media and politicians, starts when Israelis are killed," he said in a statement. "This is not a time to let Israel double down on its terrible choices. This is a time to tell Israel it needs to change course, that there is a path to peace where neither Palestinians nor Israelis are killed." "Israel keeps saying: the blockade and repeated assaults on Gaza are to destroy Hamas' military capabilities and ensure security. Clearly and expectedly, its blockade and assaults accomplished neither," he said. "The only thing they did accomplish was inflicting terrible suffering on an entire civilian population. It is time for an immediate end to the violence and the bloodshed, and it is time to end this blockade and to open a political horizon," he added. Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group ruling the Gaza Strip, launched a massive surprise attack on Israel on Saturday. 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. Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, called for restraint to avoid further escalation. During the consultations, Zhang said China is gravely concerned about the clashes between Israel and armed groups in Gaza, and is saddened by the numerous civilian casualties. China is also worried about the prospects of further escalation, according to the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Zhang called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint in order to avoid further escalation and to agree on a cease-fire. He called for efforts to push for the two-state solution with a sense of urgency. Labours Sir Keir Starmer was one of the first world leaders to denounce the Palestinians courageous uprising against Israeli occupation, describing it as an appalling act of terrorism. As missiles rained down on the besieged Palestinians of Gaza, killing hundreds of unarmed civilians, Starmer backed the fascistic ravings of Zionist generals announcing they would destroy the Palestinians and open the gates of hell, declaring: Israel has the right to defend itself. Starmers full-throated support for Israels war on the Palestinians was made on the eve of the Labour Party conference which opened Sunday in Liverpool. The conference is being staged with one central goal: to profile the partys readiness for government based on a programme of militarism and class war. Support for Israels ongoing bloodbath served as the touchstone for these efforts. Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain's Labour Party makes his speech at the party's annual conference in Liverpool, England, September 27, 2022 [AP Photo/Jon Super] Speaking at a fringe event at the conference over the weekend, Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed Starmers declarations, stating that if a similar act of terrorism took place in Britain, we would be approaching that on a war footing. Lisa Nandy, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, said Britain should review all aid given to Palestinians after Saturdays attack. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves denounced former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyns plea for a ceasefire and urgent de-escalation and his call for an end to Israels occupation. She told BBC Radio 4s Today programme, Gaza is not occupied by Israel. On Monday, she declared that Corbyn would absolutely not be welcomed back as an MP. Labours National Executive Committee has prepared a motion to conference authorising the expulsion of any party member who supports Corbyn or others dis-endorsed by Labour. Starmer has seized on the conference to demonstrate Labours zero tolerance for any opposition to the crimes of the Israeli state, even while Netanyahus far-right government tramples international law, announcing its genocidal military campaign and enforcing collective punishment of civilians. On Saturday, the Labour Party banned the words end apartheid from a Palestine Solidarity Campaign fringe event at the conference. A party spokesperson stated: the Labour party will not publish a description of Israel as an apartheid state. The term apartheid has been used by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch in recent landmark reports evidencing Israels decades-long state violence and inhumane oppression of the Palestinian people. Starmers support for the war unleashed by Israel against Palestinians, including the Biden administrations dispatch of the U.S.S. Gerald Ford Strike Group and squadrons of F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 warplanes to the region, is an essential element of a global military strategy backed to the hilt by Labours shadow cabinet. On September 27, the pro-Tory Telegraph published an article by Lammy and Labours Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey under the headline, The nuclear deterrent is part of Labours heritage. Their article burnished Labours credentials as the party of NATO, assuring the Telegraphs readershipabove all Britains military and defence chiefsthat Sir Keir Starmer has exorcised the anti-war posture of Corbyn and that Labour will unconditionally pursue the vital interests of British imperialism in every corner of the globe, from Europe to the South China Sea. Healey and Lammy wrote, with Keir Starmer, our commitment to NATO and the UKs nuclear deterrentmaintained on behalf of NATO alliesis unshakeable. They outlined Labours plans to massively boost the NATO alliance, enhance British nuclear capabilities and prepare for direct military conflict with Russia and China, committing a future Labour government to a militarist and expansionist course that is rapidly spiralling toward World War III. The pair boasted of their private audiences in Americas corridors of power: Our joint visit to Washington DC last weekfor meetings in the White House, State Department, Pentagon and Congressreinforced the seriousness and scale of the challenges Labour aims to inherit after the election. The world has become less stable and more dangerous since we served as ministers in the Blair and Brown governments. David Lammy (centre) and John Healey (right) speaking at the Wilson Centre think tank in Washington during their United States visit [Photo: screenshot: Woodrow Wilson Centre/YouTube] What are the implications of this statement? Healey and Lammy are speaking as point men for the next Labour government, anointed successors to a Conservative government viewed in Washington as a spent force. Labour is being readied to facilitate direct military confrontation against Russia and to bolster US plans for war against China, an agenda outlined by Healey in a series of bellicose speeches this year. Labour is Britains party of war. Its bloody crimes include the partys support for the imperialist carve-up of World War I, and its coalition with the Tories in World War II, encompassing the brutal suppression of the anti-imperialist and anti-fascist insurgency in Greece and Indochina. In 2003, on behalf of US and British imperialism, the Blair Labour government manufactured intelligence that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Their lies were used to stampede Britain into an illegal US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq that claimed more than 1 million lives. From left, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown ahead of the Accession Council ceremony at St James's Palace, London, London, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, where King Charles III is formally proclaimed monarch [AP Photo/Kirsty O'Connor] What more dangerous challenges did Lammy and Healey discuss with the Pentagons generals? And what commitments did they make on behalf of a future Labour government? Both men are silent. But their first action on returnhailing Britains nuclear weapons programmeindicates the subject of their talks, posing immense dangers to the working class. Healey and Lammy arrived in the US amid a political crisis in Washington following the collapse of Ukraines NATO-backed spring offensive. The Biden administration is seeking to press plans for a major escalation of war against Russiaup to and including the mobilisation of NATO troops. Healey and Lammys Telegraph article was followed days later by the newspapers interview with the British Defence Secretary, headlined: Grant Shapps to send UK troops to Ukraine. Shapps had stated that Britain would deploy military trainers to Ukraine, and that Britains Royal Navy must prepare to confront Russian forces in the Black Sea. On Friday, the Socialist Equality Party (UK) responded with a statement, Oppose sending British troops to Ukraine! Mobilise the working class against imperialist war! While Conservative Party Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined Shapps in rowing back on the troops announcement, the earlier statements from Labours shadow defence team and their high-level talks in Washington suggest that plans for military escalation are far advanced. On September 23, the Telegraph reported Labours Washington visit with the headline, Labour: You can trust us on defence. We are committed to Nato and US leadership. It stated bluntly, Two decades after Iraq, the partys shadow foreign and defence secretaries echo Blair as they mount a defence and diplomacy offensive. Ahead of a UK general election expected next year, and with Labour holding a 20-point poll lead over the Tories, the Telegraph reported Starmers shadow cabinet has racked up tens of thousands of air miles crossing the Atlanticand connections with the Biden White House are growing. Lammy and Healey were in Washington, the Telegraph reported, to promote a new, robust Labour foreign and defence policy, their visit coinciding with Vlodymyr Zelenskys audience with top US officials to discuss an impasse in Congress over US military support for Ukraine. They boasted that in Britain no similar conflict exists over NATOs proxy war in Ukraineboth parties are equally committed to military confrontation against Russia. As the Telegraph put it, the war in Ukraine has provided the party with an opportunity to chip off the veneer of distrust on defence issues it acquired among British voters after the Iraq War and the beleaguered leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. What a grotesque inversion of reality. Corbyn was elected Labour leader in September 2015 by more than 250,000 party members who demanded an end to the Blairites programme of austerity and war. A destabilisation campaign immediately ensued, involving the military and intelligence agencies of Britain, the US and Israel, aimed at subverting the democratic will of the British people. Unnamed generals threatened a mutiny if Corbyn were elected prime minister, while British soldiers were later filmed shooting live ammunition rounds into target photos of Corbyns head. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared just months before the 2019 general election that the US would push-back to prevent Corbyn ever becoming prime minister. This destabilisation campaign, spearheaded by Labours right-wing, was facilitated by the Corbynites capitulation at every turn. Corbyn and the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPsincluding John McDonnell and Diane Abbottceded to the Blairites key demands: allowing a free vote on the bombing of Syria, retaining support for NATO and Trident nuclear subs in Labours manifesto, and colluding with the mass expulsion of party members framed-up as anti-Semites for their defence of Corbyn and their support for the Palestinians against Zionist oppression. Healey and Lammy are spelling out the results of this filthy state conspiracy, declaring that an incoming Labour government will ensure that Britain takes a lead European nation role in NATO, backed by a NATO test of the armed forces in the first 100 days of Sir Keirs administration. They have attacked the Tories for hollowing out Britains armed forces and have pledged to increase military spending by billions of pounds to compete with Germany. Labours defence planning goes beyond the current war in Ukraine. It is preparing a new imperialist carve-up of the globe. That is why Lammy and Healey were invited into the Pentagon for meetings with top officials including Michael Chase, the deputy assistant Secretary of Defence for China, Taiwan and Mongolia and it is why Labours defence team describes the AUKUS military alliance against China as a once in a lifetime opportunity. Is it any wonder that the Telegraph concludes: among policy anoraks in the Washington defence establishment there no longer seems to be concern about Labours commitment to NATO. In the midst of the Israeli war on the Palestinians, following the incursion of Hamas fighters, and the deepening crisis of the US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine, the political impasse in Washington continues unabated. Congress remains paralyzed as a fractious Republican majority in the House of Representatives seeks to elect a new speaker following the removal last week of Kevin McCarthy. Already, the failure of Congress to include additional funding for Ukraine in a bipartisan stop-gap spending bill and growing opposition among Republicans to additional money for Kiev have fueled concerns in the White House and the Democratic Party, as well as among NATO governments, over US financial backing to escalate the war and deliver a decisive defeat to Moscow. And with no clear solution to the impasse in the House of Representatives at hand, Washingtons political breakdown is further eroding confidence within ruling classes around the world in US imperialisms ability to crush a growing insurgency of the oppressed masses in the Middle East as well as an emerging mass movement of workers in the centers of world capitalism, including the US. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, shakes hands with President Donald Trump as he arrives at Lima Allen County Airport, Wednesday, March 20, 2019, in Lima, Ohio. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Two top House Republicans have announced their candidacies for the vacant speakership. The Republican conference is slated to return to Washington on Monday for closed-door meetings at which the candidates, Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio, will make their cases. The current plan calls for further internal discussions on Tuesday and a vote by the Republican conference on Wednesday. The Republicans hope to elect a new speaker in a floor vote later Wednesday, but this is by no means assured. The overriding concern of Biden and the Democrats, who control the Senate, is to secure countless billions in additional financing for the Ukraine war. Last week, Biden announced that he had reversed his previous opposition and ordered the building of a 20-mile extension of Trumps wall along the US-Mexico border. The following day, the Homeland Security Department said it would begin deporting asylum seekers from Venezuela who had crossed into the US illegally. This was a brazen attempt to exchange Democratic support for the Republicans agenda of more brutal attacks on immigrants for GOP votes to continue funding the US puppet regime in Kiev. The World Socialist Web Site previously wrote that the Democrats will collaborate with the domestic agenda of the Republicans in exchange for guarantees that funding for Ukraine is untouchable. The Democrats have no problem working with the fascists in the Republican Party; after all, they are in an alliance with fascists in Ukraine. Toward this end, House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries published an op-ed in Fridays Washington Post headlined, A bipartisan coalition is the way forward for the House. He wrote: Traditional Republicans need to break with the MAGA extremism that has poisoned the House of Representatives since the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, and its aftermathwhen the overwhelming majority of House Republicans continued to promote the big lie and voted not to certify the presidential election. The 139 House Republicans who voted in the early hours of January 7, 2021 to decertify the victory of Joe Biden over Donald Trump in the Electoral College in fact included both Jordan and Scalise, as well as deposed House Speaker McCarthy. Jordan is a co-founder of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. He threatened to seek the removal of Republican House Speaker John Boehner during the Obama administration. Boehner resigned rather than face a motion to vacate, calling Jordan a legislative terrorist. One of Trumps closest allies in Congress, Jordan was deeply involved in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 presidential election and maintain Trump in office as president-dictator. Ahead of the attempted coup of January 6, 2021, Jordan was in frequent contact with Trumps chief of staff Mark Meadows and the president himself, plotting to disrupt and delay the congressional certification of Bidens victory in the Electoral College. On January 5, 2021, the day before Trumps fascist mob besieged the Capitol, he sent Meadows a message calling for Vice President Mike Pence to call out all electoral votes that he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all, and unilaterally declare Trump the winner. Five days after the assault on Congress Trump awarded Jordan the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Post-January 6, he has led investigations of federal and state prosecutors who indicted Trump, and is playing a leading role in the current impeachment inquiry into alleged corruption on the part of President Biden related to his son Hunters business activities in Ukraine and China. He also heads a special subcommittee on the supposed weaponization of government against the right. Jordan has reiterated his opposition to additional funding for the regime in Ukraine, channeling the line of Trump, the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2024. They are seeking to exploit popular opposition to the war and at the same time argue for a greater focus on the conflict with China. Last week, Liz Cheney, former number three Republican in the House and co-chair of the House Select Committee on January 6, spoke at the University of Minnesota, where she said, Jim Jordan knew more about what Donald Trump had planned for January 6 than any other member of the House of Representatives. Jim Jordan was part of the conspiracy in which Donald Trump was engaged as he attempted to overturn the election. Cassidy Hutchinson, former top aide to Mark Meadows, said recently, Jim Jordan was privy to about everything, if not everything, pertaining to January 6. Jim Jordan cant be trusted with the Constitution. Trump endorsed Jordan early Friday for the House speakership, stating on Truth Social that the Ohio lawmaker has my Complete & Total Endorsement! Scalise has also been a close supporter of Trump, while denouncing the actual mob attack on Congress on January 6. Like many Republicans, he has sought to equate the attack on Congress and attempt to overthrow the 2020 election with the mass demonstrations that swept the country that year against police violence following the police murder of George Floyd. He has also promoted the line that then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was responsible for the January 6 attack because she opposed calling for troops to defend the Capitol from the mob. This lie was exploded last October when video emerged showing him standing only feet from Pelosi and then-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (Democrat from Maryland) in the Capitol as the two Democrats pleaded over the phone with acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, who was appointed by Trump after the election had been called for Biden, to send National Guard troops. In the event, Miller failed to approve sending the troops for more than three hours. Scalise has voted in favor of military aid to Ukraine in the war against Russia, but his continued support for the war is believed to be uncertain. The two candidates have been making phone calls to line up support, with each having won endorsements from about two dozen House Republicans, while the majority in the conference have put off making a decision. On Friday, a bloc of more than 90 GOP House members proposed a change in party rules to require a unanimous vote in the conference behind one candidate instead of mere majority support before a vote is held on the floor of the chamber. One of the leaders of the proposal is Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who has endorsed Jordan. Scalise has denounced the proposal as an attempt to block him from gaining the nomination on the basis of majority support. Such a rule, if adopted, would help the hard-core Trump-aligned far-right group headed by Florida Rep. Matt Gaetzwhose eight votes, combined with the votes of all House Democrats, removed McCarthy last weekto exercise veto power over the selection of McCarthys replacement. The proposal is to be discussed on Monday behind closed doors. 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] 1. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) unequivocally denounces the Netanyahu governments declaration of war on the Palestinian people following the uprising in Gaza against the Israeli occupation. The hysterical frothing of the Israeli regime, reminiscent of the Nazis, can be interpreted as nothing less than a call for the extermination of a large portion of the population of Gaza. The ICFI denounces no less emphatically the declarations of total support given by the Biden administration and the governments of the European Union to the genocidal campaign that is now being planned and implemented by the Israeli armed forces. The dispatch of an American aircraft carrier to the region is a vile display of imperialist solidarity with the massive attack on the Palestinian people. 2. It is the responsibility of the working class internationally, and in Israel itself, to defend the Palestinian workers and youth in their struggle against oppression. In the imperialist centers and throughout the world, there must be protests and opposition to the shipment of arms and financial support to the Israeli government. In every country, there must be mass demonstrations demanding an end to the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. 3. We appeal especially to the Israeli working class and all progressive elements among the Jewish population to reject the poisonous chauvinism of the regime. Israeli workers and youth must separate themselves from and denounce the criminal actions of the Netanyahu government, which does not represent their interests. 4. As has always been the case throughout history, every act of resistance from the masses evokes frenzied outrage from the ruling elites. Biden, Scholz, Macron and the rest can shout terrorism until they are blue in the face. But despite the relentless pro-Zionist propaganda, the sympathy of workers, youth and the oppressed throughout the world is with the Palestinians. It is understood that what is taking place is a mass uprising against a brutal occupation, and that by terrorism the ruling class means any manifestation of opposition to its interests and policies. 5. As with the war in Ukraine, the events in Palestine are, in the capitalist media, torn from their entire historical context. It is 75 years since the occupation of Palestine by the newly formed Israeli state and the expulsion of those living there from their homeland. It is 56 years since the Six-Day War in 1967, which began the Israeli occupation and annexation of the West Bank. It is 17 years since the 2006 Israeli war on Gaza and the ensuing blockade, which turned Gaza, in the words of Human Rights Watch, into an open air prison. Over the decades, there have been innumerable killings and bombardments on the increasingly small slivers of land upon which the Palestinians have been concentratedas well as areas they have fled to, as in the 1982 massacre of Palestinians in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon. 6. Throughout all of this, Israel has been backed by the imperialist powers, above all the United States, for which Israel has functioned as the chief proxy in the Middle East. The United Nations has refused to enforce its own resolutions against annexations, while the Arab bourgeois regimes have cut deals with imperialism and Israel and left the Palestinian people to be massacred and beaten down. Despite everything, however, the Israeli state and its backers have not been able to suppress the strivings of the Palestinians for their democratic and social rights. 7. This is a decisive moment. For months, Netanyahu and his fascistic coalition partners, Religious Zionism led by Bazalel Smotrich and Jewish Power, led by Itamar Ben Gvir, have spearheaded an offensive by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Police and settler groups have carried out near daily attacks on towns and villages in the West Bank, Gaza and in Israel itself, together with provocations at the Al Aqsa mosque. 8. The resistance of the Palestinian masses is a political debacle for Netanyahu, who is a criminal even in Israeli law. It is a fact of political life in Israel that this unscrupulous gangster clings to power in order to stay out of prison. It is also recognized by millions of Israelis that Netanyahu has staged provocations against Palestinians in order to provoke a violent response that could be used to distract domestic opposition. However, the Palestinian reaction to his criminal schemes has vastly exceeded Netanyahus calculations. 9. Hamas has launched a military offensive involving thousands, despite being surrounded by enemy troops in a supposedly impenetrable ghetto and subject to constant surveillance and targeted assassinations. An operation on this scale could only have been planned and kept secret due to the overwhelming support of Gazas two million inhabitants. It is a genuine popular uprising, undertaken against a massively armed oppressor, that evokes the example of the uprising of Jewish inmates of the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 and the massive rebellion of the Warsaw working class against the German Nazi occupation in 1944. 10. The Israeli ruling class is now at the point where the reactionary perspective of securing an exclusivist Jewish state through the forcible expulsion of the Palestinians can only be maintained by mass murder and ethnic cleansing. Netanyahu has pledged to reduce the 43 kilometre-long and 10 kilometre-wide Gaza strip to rubble, and tells its captive population to get out of the way, knowing they cannot. 11. The brutal military response has already begun. The second day of Operation Iron Swords saw Israel mount attacks on 800 targets in Gaza, end its supply of electricity, stop the movement of goods in and out of the besieged enclave and pound hospitals and residential towers that are home to hundreds of defenceless civilians. Palestinians have flocked to UNRWA-run schools, seeking refuge from the aerial bombardment. 12. This is the stark reality behind the universal backing for Netanyahus declaration of war by the Biden administration in the United States, the leaders of all the worlds major powers and the mass media. At a time of mounting social unrest and strike activity throughout the world, the ruling class everywhere is terrified of the example that any manifestation of popular opposition will set. 13. The imperialist leaders and their media echo chamber are opposing not terrorism, but mass opposition to occupation and the terror inflicted daily by Israel. And they will do so up to and including supporting genocide against the Palestinians, and extending this to a regional war against Iran, Syria and Lebanon. The Wall Street Journal editorialized: And please no more condemnation of Israels blockade or occupation... the temptation at the White House will be to give Israel a week or so to respond with a free hand, and then lean on the Netanyahu government to stand down. That is always the US pattern, but it shouldnt be this time. And if a wider war breaks out, the US will have to provide Israel with the arms and diplomatic support necessary to destroy Hamas and the military capacity of Hezbollah. 14. The media need fear no such retreat by the Biden administration. Yesterday, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US will send a carrier strike group to the region, including the $20 billion Ford aircraft carrier, and provide munitions in the coming days. This is not merely solidarity with Israel, but preparation to take part in war. In the full-throated support for Israels military response, not a word is said about the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians. There are no calls for restraint, let alone a ceasefire. The only concern now being expressed in imperialist circles is that the supply of munitions to Israel may lessen the supply of munitions required for the escalating US-NATO war against Russia over Ukraine. 15. In order to discredit any and all expressions of support for the Palestinian people, the imperialist governments and media inevitably hurl the accusation of anti-Semitism. This wretched slander is drenched with hypocrisy. When it serves their interests, the ruling elites have no problem allying themselves with Hitler apologists and neo-Nazis. The German government endorses efforts by right-wing academics to justify and whitewash the crimes of the Nazi regime. Less than two weeks ago, the entire Canadian parliament, along with Prime Minister Trudeau and the German ambassador, gave a rousing standing ovation for Yaroslav Hunka, a former member of the Nazi Waffen-SS, which participated in the massacre of Jews in the Holocaust. 16. The Netanyahu regime is capable of any crime. But it is not invincible. The bloodcurdling ferocity of its war cries cannot conceal the governments fear and desperation. It faces not only the resistance of the Palestinian masses, but also the growing opposition of the Israeli working class. Throughout the year there have been mass demonstrations of Israeli workers and youth against the Netanyahu government and its authoritarian measures. These demonstrations were undermined by the official leadership, which refused to raise the issue of the oppression of the Palestinians. Netanyahus declaration of war has also irrevocably exposed the main Zionist opposition leaders, Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid and Benny Gantz of the National Unity Party, who have predictably rallied behind the Israeli war plans. Intensive talks are underway to form a government of national unity with Netanyahu. 17. For the masses of workers and youth in Israel, it is not the Palestinians who are the enemy, but the Netanyahu government and the Israeli ruling class. The moves to overturn democratic forms of rule within Israel are connected to the extreme growth of social inequality and the intensifying assault on social programs. 18. The great historical and political paradox of the present situation is this: The Israeli working class cannot defend its own democratic rights without fighting for the democratic rights of the Palestinian people against Zionist oppression. And the Palestinians cannot achieve their aspirations for democratic rights and social equality without forging a fighting alliance with the Israeli working class. The only viable perspective is not a mythical two-state solution, but a unified socialist state of Jewish and Arab workers. 19. No matter how heroic the struggle of the Palestinians, the intolerable conditions they confront will not be resolved without the development of an international movement of the working class for socialism. This is no less true for the Jewish workers and youth in Israel. The danger posed by a renewed growth of anti-Semitism is very real. But it emanates not from the democratic strivings of the masses of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, but from the reactionary national chauvinism incited by capitalism and imperialism. 20. The uprising in Palestine is itself part of a developing eruption of anger and opposition in the form of mass strikes and protests throughout the world. It is this social movement, guided by a consciously socialist and revolutionary program and perspective, that must be mobilized to put an end to imperialist war, inequality and all forms of oppression. This is the perspective and program of the Trotskyist Fourth International, led by the International Committee. October 9, 2023 Britains Conservative government is intensifying its attacks on refugees and asylum seekers, spurred on by fascistic elements led by Home Secretary Suella Braverman. After her speech to the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) in Washington in September, Braverman told the Tories annual conference last week, that The future could bring millions more migrants to these shores, uncontrolled and unmanageable, unless the government they elect next year acts decisively to stop that happening. She complained that Britain had become enmeshed in a dense net of international rules that were designed for another era. She said of the misnamed Human Rights Act I am surprised they didnt call it the Criminal Rights Act. A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, August 8, 2020 [AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth] Braverman is enforcing a brutal agenda threatening asylum seekers with being made homeless and destitute if they refuse to get aboard unsafe barges or under tents as they await deportation. They are also denied the right to work and forced to survive on small payments for food. The British Red Cross (BRC) issued a statement October 5 warning, More than 50,000 (53,100) refugees could be made homeless by the end of the year if the Government doesnt take urgent steps to support them as it clears the asylum backlog. This is due to the government pledge to process all legacy asylum applications made before June 28, 2022 by the end of the year. The BRC warn that that even if this target is not met, 26,000 could still be at risk of destitution and homelessness. The time given to refugees to move from state-funded asylum support to finding accommodation, employment and benefits has been slashed from a 28 day move-on process to seven days. This began in August and since then the BRC Refugee Services report a 140% increase in destitution for people they support with refugee status, from 132 people in June and July, to 317 people in August and September. The Home Office now counts the 28 days from the time when asylum seekers receive their asylum decision letter, rather than when they receive their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), which is needed to apply for Universal Credit. Alex Fraser, BRC Director for Refugee Support, said, People who have been forced to flee their homes have already experienced unimaginable trauma It takes at least 35 days to start getting Universal Credit and local authorities need at least 56 days to help them find accommodation. The Independent reported that Charity Refugees at Home, which matches refugees with rooms, has seen referrals increase from 70 in September 2022 to 223 last month. One Sudanese refugee, Hamad, 20, now supported by the charity, had to live in a London Park after he was granted refugee status in Britain and was given seven days to leave his hotel accommodation. Carly Whyborn, executive director of Refugees at Home, said, Since the changes, we have had a five-fold increase in the number of referrals from refugees desperate for somewhere to live, and the situation is getting worse. We are urgently trying to reach out to new hosts, particularly in major cities, who may be able to offer a temporary place to stay. Homelessness charity network NACCOM said 2022-23 was the first time since it started collecting data a decade ago that more than half the adults given help were refugees. Major cities London, Glasgow and cities in the North West of England have higher numbers of asylum seekers at risk in addition to housing shortages. The Guardian reported Seana Roberts, the manager of the Merseyside Refugee Support Network in Liverpool, saying, Ive never seen anything like this in my 25 years in the sector. Normally we might have seen one or two people present themselves as street homeless in a year. Now weve got 50 people in the space of six weeks. Roberts had handed out sleeping bags to a number of refugees in the past six weeks. They chose not to take tents because they didnt want to be visible or feel vulnerable in the park, she added. Steve Smith, the chief executive of the charity Care4Calais, warned of a refugee homelessness crisis this winter. Hundreds if not thousands of refugees are facing homelessness or destitution. Refugees are telling us that they are being forced to buy tents and sleep rough in the streets. The impact of the passing of the Illegal Immigration Act in July will make conditions for asylum seekers unbearable. Its attacks are the subject of a report by the Refugee Council, The Truth About Channel Crossings and the impact of the Illegal Migration Act. The main elements of the Act, it notes, include the creation of a duty for the home secretary to arrange for the removal of anyone who arrives irregularly into the UKincluding, but not limited to, those who arrive by small boat. Anyone who is covered by the duty to remove will have any asylum application or relevant human rights claim deemed automatically inadmissible. The Refugee Council analyses Home Office statistics and shows that three in every four of the people who have crossed the channel so far this year would be recognised as refugees if the UK Government processed their asylum applications. This is higher than the Refugees Council previous analysis of those who made the journey in 2022, which found it was almost two-thirds. It notes that more than 54 percent who have made perilous crossings are from five countriesAfghanistan, Iran, Eritrea, Syria, and Sudan, all devastated by the imperialist powers. Once the Illegal Migration Act comes into force: Each year, over 27,000 refugees who cross the channel will be denied status in the UK. As few as 3.5 percent of those people arriving by small boat, 1,297 people, will be removed from the UK to their own country. 35,409 people who arrive in the UK by small boat could be left in limbo each year, having had their asylum claim deemed permanently inadmissible but not having been removed. The Act states that asylum seekers deemed to have arrived in Britain illegally can be deported to a safe third country. The report notes, Even with a safe third country agreement in place with Rwanda which allows for up to 10,000 people to be removed there annually at least 25,409 people will be left in a state of permanent limbo each year and could be as high as 35,409. Many future asylum seekers will receive no state support while also denied the right to live and work in the UK indefinitely. The report states, It is highly likely these people will disappear into the margins of communities and be at risk of long-term destitution, exploitation and abuse. Last month more than 140 refugee and homelessness organisations sent a letter to Braverman and Housing Secretary Michael Gove pointing out that the government policies were causing severe hardship for refugees, as well as placing unnecessary pressures on local authorities who are already facing challenges finding accommodation for other groups. The organisations warn, The significant number of refugees already made homeless by this change is also placing huge pressures on the voluntary sector, including refugee hosting and housing schemes and mainstream homelessness services The demands are quickly becoming unsustainable. It is already inevitably leading to increased rough sleeping, undermining government targets to end it. The full force of the state is being brought down on a few thousand people fleeing poverty stricken and war-torn homelands, as a result of decades of imperialist war and geopolitical intrigues. This agenda is shared by the Labour Party, which takes every opportunity to try to outflank the Tories on anti-immigration rhetoric. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declared in an interview with the Telegraph, as Labours annual conference began, Net migration is now at a record high. We expect it to come down, we think it should come down. On Friday, nearly nine months after Manuel Esteban Paez Tortuguita Teran was fatally shot by police in a hail of gunfire, Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Christian announced that none of the police would face criminal prosecution. Teran was shot and killed while encamped in the South River Forest outside of Atlanta, Georgia, protesting the construction of Cop Citya $90 million militarized police training complex. Teran, affectionately known as Tortuguita/Tort, or Little Turtle, by friends and comrades, was a 26-year-old environmental and anti-police violence activist from Venezuela. Teran was one of dozens of Cop City protesters who had spent months camping in the forest in order to delay construction of the facility. Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, a 26-year-old environmental activist, was shot and killed by Georgia police during a "clearing operation" on January 18, 2023. [Photo: Family of Manuel Esteban Paez Teran] Previous autopsy reports done by the state and the family of Teran have confirmed that Teran was shot multiple times while inside a tent. The autopsy report conducted by the family concluded that Teran was seated cross-legged with hands in the air when shot by police. In the only body camera footage that has been released by the police, Atlanta police officers are heard speculating that police had shot their own in a friendly fire incident. According to Christians contradictory report, six Georgia State Patrol officersMark Lamb, Jonathan Salcedo, Bryland Myers, Ronaldo Kegel, Royce Zah and Jerry Parrishshot Teran at least 14 times, causing at least 57 gunshot wounds. Christian ruled that every single officer who shot Teran was objectively reasonable in deploying lethal (deadly) force, and that none of them acted with any criminal intent. The use of lethal (deadly) force by the Georgia State Patrol was objectively reasonable under the circumstances in this case, wrote Christian. Christian claimed that police, none of whom were wearing body cameras, shot Teran after he fired on them from inside the tent after they began shooting him with a pepper ball launcher. Police claim that one of the four shots fired by Teran struck trooper Parrish in the abdomen. Christian took over the criminal cases against the Cop City protesters this past June after DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston withdrew from the cases, citing fundamentally different prosecution philosophies than those of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (Republican). Carrs office is currently overseeing 61 cases against Cop City protesters, who are facing trumped-up RICO, or conspiracy, charges. A RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) conviction carries a minimum five-year prison sentence and up to 35 years of incarceration. For over two years, thousands of people, including local residents, have been protesting the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, commonly known as Cop City. Local Democrats, including African-American Mayor Andre Dickens, have steadfastly refused to delay construction of Cop City, even in the face of a petition that has garnered over 115,000 signatures. Earlier this year, the Democratic Party-dominated Atlanta City Council provided $67 million in public funding towards the 85-acre facility, which will not only train US police. It is also slated to provide military training for the Israel Defense Forces, which are currently engaged in a mass killing campaign against the Palestinian people. The report issued on Friday reeks of a cover-up. In a statement by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) accompanying the report, the GBI reveals that because of pending criminal investigations into other Cop City protesters, any Open Record Act request for additional information to be publicly released, including video and photographic evidence, will be denied, until such time as the above investigation and prosecution is not pending. Given the fact that there are over 60 cases pending, this means additional evidence could remain hidden from the public for years. Further exposing any claims of a transparent investigation into the killing of Teran, the GBI statement added that there will be no additional information provided or comments about the Report concerning the use of lethal force by the Georgia State Patrol on January 18, 2023. The report issued by Christian contains nothing but statements from the cops who shot and killed Teran shortly after 9:00 am on January 18, or statements from police who witnessed the shooting. No photos, videos or forensic analysis is provided in the report to support its claims. All of the police statements claim that Teran refused to get out of the tent after being ordered to do so by police. Every cop also reported that it was the police who first fired into Terans tent with a less lethal pepper ball launcher carried by Trooper Myers. According to Lambs account, after the troopers came upon Terans tent, they ordered Teran out. Lamb claimed Teran briefly unzipped the tent to tell police, No, I want you to leave, after which trooper Myers began firing pepper balls into the tent, after having first warned Teran that such less lethal device would be used if he did not come out of the tent. The report does not give any indication if Teran acknowledged the warning or was aware that police were going to be using a less lethal munition against him. It is entirely possible that once police began firing pepper balls, which travel from the TAC-SA launcher at a speed of 280-300 feet per second, Teran thought he was being shot at with lethal rounds. Trooper Myers, the cop armed with the pepper ball launcher, claimed in his account that after police told Teran he was under arrest for refusing to come out of the tent, Teran unzipped the tent briefly to tell police he was not leaving. Myers claims that after Teran zipped the tent closed, he used the pepper ball launcher in an effort to cause Teran to come out of the tent, knowing that the pepper ball launcher would be the best way to accomplish Teran coming out of the tent without causing him physical injury. How, or why, shooting someone repeatedly with a pepper ball round would cause the person to come towards the police was not explained by Myers or the report. In the following paragraph, the police explain the real reason the pepper ball launcher was deployed: [B]y using the pepper ball launcher, the Troopers would avoid having to go inside the tent and physically remove Teran. Police claim that after they had fired an unknown number of pepper ball rounds into the tent, Teran began shooting back at them from inside the closed tent with a Smith and Wesson Shield handgun, which he had allegedly purchased from a Cabelas in Acworth, Georgia on September 6, 2020. Myers said that after Teran had allegedly fired four rounds, in total, he switched from the pepper ball launcher to his pistol and began shooting inside the tent. In an interview with the Guardian, Marcos, a friend of Teran, confirmed that Teran had purchased a pistol for community defense. Like Lamb, Salcedos narrative of events has Teran refusing to come out of the tent, followed by police shooting him with a pepper ball launcher, prompting Teran to fire back with his pistol four times. Like Lamb, Salcedo admits he fired his rifle into the tent. After shooting and killing Teran, Salcedo said that he participated in the search Terans tent, and that he heard a trooper say weapon secure, which indicated to him that a weapon had been found inside the tent. In all of the pictures released by the GBI, the pistol that Teran is alleged to have fired at the police is outside the tent, covered in debris. The report briefly details the autopsy report performed by the DeKalb County Medical Examiner on January 19, 2023. The Report notes that a Gun Shot Residue (GSR) kit was collected, and that Gunpowder residue was not seen on [Terans] hands. In the Crime Lab Examination and Results section of the Report, Christian writes that testing of the Gunshot Residue Kit revealed the presence of particulates characteristic of gunshot primer residue, which supports the possibility that the individual (Teran) discharged a firearm, was in close proximity to a firearm upon discharge, or came into contact with an item whose surface bears GSR. The report further noted: It is possible for victims of gunshot wounds, both self-inflicted and non-self-inflicted, to have GSR present on their hands. In other words, the GBI and the police have yet to provide any actual evidence, beyond their own statements, that Teran fired a pistol at police before Teran was shot dead. Leon Trotskys October 8, 1923 letter to members of the Central Committee (CC) and the Central Control Commission (CCC) of the Russian Communist Party was one of the most important political documents that underlay the formation of the Left Opposition to the emerging Stalinist bureaucracy in the Soviet Union. This translation was first published in the International Workers Bulletin, issued by the Workers League, the predecessor of the Socialist Equality Party (US), on October 18, 1993. The translation was based on the first full Russian publication of this letter by the journal Izvestiia TsK KPSS in its May 1990 edition, pp. 165-175. The translation and notes were slightly edited to facilitate the understanding of the document. For an introduction to this document which explains the historical context in which it was written, see David Norths On the Founding of the Left Opposition. The first-ever full publication of the October 8, 1923, letter by Leon Trotsky to the CC and CCC in the Soviet journal Izvestiia TsK KPSS in its May 1990 edition. 8 October 1923 Top secret To Members of the CC and CCC[ 1 ] 1. One of the proposals of comrade Dzerzhinskys[ 2 ] commission (on strikes and other matters) states that it is necessary to oblige members of the party who know about groupings within the party to immediately inform the GPU, the CC and CCC. It would seem that informing the party organization that there are hostile elements operating within its ranks is such an elementary obligation of each party member, that there is no need to pass a resolution about it six years after the October Revolution. The fact that the need for such a resolution has arisen is an extremely troubling symptom, accompanied by other no less clear symptoms. The need for such a resolution signifies: a) that illegal opposition groupings [ 3 ] have formed within the party, which can become dangerous to the revolution, and b) that there exist in the party such moods which allow comrades who know about such groupings to not inform the party organization about them. Both of these facts testify to the extreme worsening of the situation within the party since the time of the XIIth Congress, at which the full unity of 90% of the party was proclaimed in the reports of the Central Committee. It is true that this evaluation was optimistically exaggerated even at that time. There are very many members of the party, and by no means the worst, who were deeply alarmed at the methods and means with which the XIIth Congress was convened.[ 4 ] The majority of delegates to the congress were filled with such alarm. It is beyond dispute that the overwhelming majority of the party, taking into consideration the international situation and Lenins illness in particular, were fully prepared to support the new Central Committee. It was precisely this desire to guarantee the possibility of the unanimous and successful work of the party, first of all in the realm of the economy, that smoothed over the groupings in the party and forced many to suppress their dissatisfaction and refrain from expressing their legitimate concern from the tribune of the congress. Six months of work by the new CC, however, intensified the methods and means with which the XIIth Congress was convened [April 1923]. And the result inside the party of this was both the formation within the party of openly hostile and embittered groupings, and the presence of many elements who know about this danger and yet who remain silent about it. We see here both the sharp deterioration of the inner-party situation, and the growing distance of the CC from the party. The publication of the October 8, 1923 letter by Trotsky in the International Workers Bulletin issue of October 18, 1993. 2. The extreme deterioration of the inner-party situation has two causes: a) the fundamentally incorrect and unhealthy inner-party regime and b) the dissatisfaction of the workers and peasants with the severe economic situation which has developed not only as a result of objective difficulties, but as a result of obvious fundamental mistakes in economic policy. Both of these reasons, as will become clear from the following, are closely bound up with each other. 3. The XIIth Congress gathered under the slogan of the smychka [a term used to refer to the alliance between the working class and the peasantry]. As the author of the theses on industry[ 5 ], I pointed out to the CC before the congress was held the enormous danger if our economic tasks were to be presented at the XIIth Congress in an abstract-agitational form, precisely when our task consisted in calling for a turn in the attention and will of the Party toward the concrete and vital tasks of lowering the costs of state production. I can only advise all members of the CC and CCC to acquaint themselves with the correspondence which was exchanged on this question in that period within the Politburo.[ 6 ] I proved that with the inclination toward simply explaining in our agitation and using the slogan of the smychka, while ignoring its real economic content (planned economy; sharp concentration of industry; sharp reduction of overhead expenses of industry and trade), the report on the organizational tasks of industry would be robbed of practical significance. At the insistence of the Plenum, however, I gave a report in which I tried on my part to refrain from complicating the work of the future CC, which was being chosen for the first time without comrade Lenin. Trotsky, standing in the center, at the Third Congress of the Communist International, June-July 1921 4. The resolution on industry[ 7 ] demands the strengthening and reinforcement of the organization of Gosplan [the State Planning Commission], its consolidation as the leading organ of planning. It is extremely noteworthy that after the XIIth Congress the CC received at its disposal comrade Lenins note which was written when he had already fallen ill. Here he expresses the idea about the need to give Gosplan even legislative (or, to be more precise, administrative-management) rights.[ 8 ] In actual fact, however, Gosplan during the period after the congress has been moved even further into the background. Its work on various assignments is useful and necessary, but this has absolutely nothing in common with the planned regulation of the economy in the form which was established by the XIIth Congress. The incoherence of the plan assumes the most obvious forms in the work of the central and generally most basic state-economic organs. To a greater extent than before the XIIth Congress, the most important economic questions are decided hastily in the Politburo, without the necessary preparation and apart from their relation to the plan. Comrades Rykov and Pyatakov,[ 9 ] who are in charge of state industry (with comrade Rykov being in charge of the economy as a whole), sent a report on 19 September to the CC in which they cautiously say that several decisions of the Politburo compel us to direct attention to the fact that, under the conditions which have developed, the direction of the state industry, which has been entrusted to us, is becoming exceedingly difficult. It is true that the comrades I have named refused to distribute their letter, considering it unwise to start a discussion on this subject at the Plenum. But this formal circumstance (refusal to send their letter), in no way alters the fact that the directors of economic activity characterize the policy of the Politburo in economic questions as the policy of accidental, unsystematic decisions, which render any planned direction of the economy exceedingly difficult. In private conversations this evaluation assumes an incomparably more categorical character. There is not a single party or Soviet organ where economic questions are examined and worked out in their inner connections and with the necessary perspective. In order to be absolutely precise, we must say: there is no direction of the economy, chaos proceeds from the top. Alexei Rykov, a leading representative of the right wing of the Bolshevik leadership, in the Kremlin, 1924 5. Within the framework of this letter I will not attempt to make a concrete analysis of our policy in the realm of finance, industry, grain procurement, grain export, or taxes, since this would require the development of very complex argumentation with the introduction of much material. There can be no doubt today that one of the main reasons for the present trade and industrial crisis is the self-sufficient character of our financial policy, i.e. one which is not subordinate to a general economic plan. Separate great successes in industry are interrupted or are at risk of being interrupted by the lack of coordination between the basic elements of the state economy; and, due to the very nature of the NEP, every interruption in the realm of state industry and state trade means the growth of private capital at the expense of state capital. What chiefly characterizes the moment is the fact that the rapidly growing disproportion between the prices of agricultural and industrial products is equivalent to the liquidation of the NEP, for the peasant the basis of NEP doesnt care why it is he cant buy: whether its because trade is banned by decree, or because two boxes of matches cost as much as a pood [36 pounds] of grain. I wont begin now to draw a picture of how concentration a question of life and death for industry at every step runs up against political (i.e. local) considerations and moves ahead much more slowly than prices for industrial products. But I feel that it is necessary to deal with a minor aspect of the problem, which, however, gives an extremely clear illustration of the whole question. It shows what the partys direction of the economy is degenerating into, given the absence of a plan, system and correct party line. At the XIIth Congress there was demonstrated a disturbing abuse of industrial and trade advertising on the part of several party organizations.[ 10 ] What was the essence of this abuse? Some party organizations, who are supposed to lead economic organizations by teaching them a higher level of conscientiousness, precision, economizing, and a feeling of responsibility, are in actual fact corrupting them, by resorting to the crudest and most wasteful means of deceiving the government: instead of simply taxing the industrial enterprises for the sake of the party organizations, which would be illegal, but which would at least make sense, they resort to the forced purchase of ridiculous advertisements, which leads to a squandering of paper, typographical labor and so forth. What is most outrageous in all this is that the managers dont decide to resist this extortion and this demoralizing activity, but meekly pay for a half-page or a full page of advertising in some Communists Companion, according to the exact orders of the city committees secretary. If one of the managers were brave enough to refuse, i.e. if he were to demonstrate a genuine understanding of party duty, then he would immediately be assigned to the ranks of those who fail to acknowledge the party leadership, with all the resulting consequences. After the XIIth Congress things didnt improve in this area, with the exception, perhaps, of a few individual places. A person would have to understand nothing about proper economic work and what a feeling of responsibility means in order to look through his fingers at economic leadership of this type, or to consider that such phenomena have little significance. 6. There is no doubt that the XIIth Congress, along with the whole party, tried to reinforce the leading and controlling influence of the party in economic organizations, especially in the direction of placing on the managers genuine responsibility for the methods and results of their economic work. But it is precisely along this line (initiative, economizing, responsibility and so forth) that accomplishments have been minimal. And the dissatisfaction of the masses is caused primarily by the wastefulness and unaccountability of very many economic bodies, the leaders of which all the more willingly subordinate themselves to the so-called party leadership (in the form of senseless advertisements and other extortions), so that all their basic activity remains as before beyond any genuine direction or control. 7. The last Plenum of the CC created an extraordinary commission for reducing expenses and lowering prices.[ 11 ] This very fact is a cruel witness to the incorrectness of our economic work. All elements of pricing were analyzed in a timely fashion and the resolutions of the XIIth Congress on lowering production costs and trade expenses were carried unanimously.[ 12 ] The organizations which should have carried out these resolution are well known: the Supreme Soviet of the Peoples Economy, Gosplan, the Soviet of Labor and Defense, and the Politburo, as the leading political organ. What does the creation of an extraordinary commission mean under these conditions? The fact that the standing bodies, whose direct task was to produce at the lowest possible cost, failed to deliver the needed results. What can an extraordinary commission accomplish? Acting from the side, it can here or there get things moving, give a push in the right direction, insist on certain measures and finally, simply administratively order the lowering of various prices. But it is absolutely clear that the mechanical lowering of prices by governmental agencies, under the influence of political pressure, will in most cases only enrich the middleman and will hardly have any effect on the peasant market. Closing the scissors,[ 13 ] that is, to approach a real, genuine economic smychka, can only be done organically: by strictly planned concentration, by an organic, and not a precipitate, lowering of production costs, and by guaranteeing the actual responsibility of managers for the methods and results of their economic activity. The very creation of a commission on lowering prices is eloquent, and at the same time, devastating proof of how policy which ignores the significance of planned, flexible regulation, under the influence of its own inevitable consequences, is again trying to command prices as under war communism. One leads to the other, undermining the economy rather than healing it. A graph of the "scissors crisis" that is inspired by Trotsky's analysis at the 12th Party Congress at which he presented a similar diagram to illustrate the divergence of agricultural and industrial prices. [Photo by Volunteer Marek / CC BY-SA 3.0 8. The monstrous price disparity, added to the burden of a single tax, which is burdensome mainly because is doesnt correspond to real economic relations, has once again aroused extreme dissatisfaction among the peasants. The latter is reflected in the moods of the workers both directly and indirectly. Finally, the changed moods of the workers have spread to the lower ranks of the party. Opposition groups have come alive and gained strength. Their discontent has sharpened. Thus the smychka: from the peasant through the worker to the party has shown us its backside. Whoever didnt foresee this earlier, or who has been closing his eyes to it until recent days, has received a rather graphic lesson. The general agitational formulas of the smychka yield directly opposite results if there is no resolution of the central problem: the rationalization of state production and the closing of the scissors. This was the essence of the sharp clash within the Politburo on the eve of the XIIth Congress. Life has given an irrefutable reply to this argument. This cruel lesson, which we havent begun to resolve, could have been avoided at least by half if not by three fourths if there had been anything approaching a correct accounting of the interaction between economic factors, and a planned approach to basic economic problems. 9. As one of the most important tasks of the new Central Committee, the XIIth Congress indicated the careful personal selection of managers from top to bottom.[ 14 ] The attention of the Orgburo [Organizational Bureau] in selecting personnel was directed, however, along completely different lines. In appointing, removing or relocating members of the party, what has been valued most of all was the degree to which they might assist or oppose the maintenance of the inner-party regime which secretly and unofficially, but all the more aggressively is being run through the Orgburo and the Secretariat of the CC. At the XIIth Party Congress it was said that the Central Committee should be composed of independent 15 people. This word now has no need of any extra commentary. After this, the criterion of independence began to be advanced during the appointment by the general secretariat[ 16 ] of gubkom [provincial committee] secretaries, and beyond that, of secretaries from top to bottom, right down to the smallest party cell. This process of selecting the party hierarchy from comrades who are recognized by the secretariat to be independent in the sense of the word mentioned above has proceeded with unheard of effort. There is no need to introduce separate examples here, when the entire party knows and is talking about hundreds of prominent cases. I will only point to Ukraine, where we cannot help but experience serious consequences from this truly disruptive work in the upcoming months.[ 17 ] Christian Rakovsky, one of Trotskys closest co-thinkers, was removed from his position as head of the Soviet Ukrainian government in July 1923 10. During the most severe moments of war communism, appointment from above in the party was not one tenth as widespread as it is now. The appointment of gubkom secretaries has now become the rule. This creates what is essentially a position for the secretary that is independent of the local organization. If he encounters opposition, criticism, or dissatisfaction, the secretary can resort to a transfer by relying on the center. At one of the sessions of the Politburo it was noted with satisfaction that when provinces are joined together, the only question that interests the organizations being merged is who will be secretary of the united gubkom. Appointed by the center and therefore almost independent of the local organization, the secretary in turn is a source of further appointments and dismissals within the borders of the province. This secretarial apparatus, created from the top down and becoming ever more self-sufficient, is gathering up all threads in its own hands. The participation of the party masses in the actual formation of the party organization is becoming ever more ephemeral. In the last year and a half, a specific secretarial psychology has been created; its chief characteristic is the belief that the secretary is capable of deciding each and every question, without being familiar with the heart of the matter at hand. We frequently see how comrades, who have displayed no organizational, administrative or other qualities whatsoever while they headed soviet organizations, begin to imperiously decide economic, military and other questions as soon as they assume the post of secretary. Such a practice is all the more harmful since it weakens or destroys any feeling of responsibility. 11. The Xth Party Congress [in March 1921] proceeded under the sign of workers democracy.[ 18 ] Many of the speeches delivered at that time in defense of workers democracy seemed to me to be exaggerated and to a certain degree demagogic, in view of the incompatibility of fully developed workers democracy and a dictatorial regime. But it was absolutely clear that the clamping down during the epoch of war communism would have to give way to a broader and more lively party collegiality. However, the regime which fundamentally developed even before the XIIth Congress, and which after the congress became much more reinforced and fully formed, is much further away from workers democracy than the regime during the most severe periods of war communism. The bureaucratization of the party apparatus has reached unheard of proportions by applying methods of secretarial selection. If during the cruelest hours of the civil war we argued in the party organizations and even in the press about the use of specialists, about a partisan versus a regular army, about discipline and so forth, then now there is not even a hint of such an open exchange of opinions about problems which are truly troubling the party. There has been created a very wide layer of party workers who are part of the apparatus of the state or the party and who simply refuse to hold any party opinions, or at least ones that can be openly stated; it seems that they consider that the secretarial hierarchy is the apparatus which creates party opinion and makes party decisions. Beneath this layer of those withholding their own opinions is the wide layer of the party masses, before whom each resolution stands already in the form of an appeal or a command. In these ranks of the party there is an enormous amount of dissatisfaction, some of which is absolutely legitimate and some of which is caused by incidental factors. This dissatisfaction is not being dissipated through an open exchange of opinions at party conferences or by the pressure of the masses on the party organizations (the election of party committees, secretaries, etc.), but is building up in secret and leading therefore to internal abscesses. At a time when the official, i.e. secretarial, apparatus of the party presents an ever greater picture of an organization which has achieved almost complete homogeneity, reflections and judgments about the sharpest and most painful issues simply bypass the official party apparatus and create conditions for illegal groupings within the party. Lenin and Trotsky (in the middle) with delegates to the 10th Party Congress of the Russian Communist Party, held in Moscow in March 1921. 12. The XIIth Congress officially set a course in the direction of the Old Bolsheviks.[ 19 ] It is absolutely obvious that the cadres of old, underground Bolsheviks are the revolutionary leaven of the party and its organizational backbone. We must and should, with all the normal ideological and party measures, assist the selection of Old Bolsheviks who, of course, have the necessary qualifications, for leading party posts. But the way the selection is now carried out the method of direct appointment from above contains an even greater danger: with this method the Old Bolsheviks are divided at the top into two groups, guided by the criterion of independence. Old Bolshevism as such is, as it were, made responsible in the eyes of the entire party for all the peculiarities of the present inner-party regime and for its serious mistakes in building the economy. We must not forget that the overwhelming majority of the members of our party consists of young revolutionaries without the tempering of the underground, or of members who have come from other parties. The growing discontent with the self-sufficient secretarial apparatus, which identifies itself with Old Bolshevism, may have, given the further development of events along the same lines, the most severe consequences for maintaining the ideological hegemony and organizational leadership of the underground Bolsheviks in our party which now numbers half a million. Lev Kamenev, and Leon Trotsky with delegates of the 12th Party Congress of the Russian Communist Party, held in Moscow in April 1923. Among the delegates was also future Left Oppositionist Nikolai Muralov (sitting behind Trotsky). 13. An ominous symptom was the attempt by the Politburo to build a budget based on the sale of vodka,[ 20 ] i.e. to generate income for the workers state independent of the successes of building the economy. Only a decisive protest within the Central Committee and beyond its confines put a stop to this attempt, which would have struck the cruelest blow not only to the work of the economy, but to the party itself. However, the idea of the future legalization of vodka has not been rejected by the Central Committee as yet. There is absolutely no doubt that there is an inner connection between the self-sufficient character of the secretarial organization, which is increasingly independent of the party, and the tendency to create a budget as independent as possible from the successes or failures of the partys collective construction. The attempt to turn a negative attitude toward the legalization of vodka into a virtual crime against the party and to drive a comrade from the editorial board of the central newspaper for demanding the freedom to discuss this fatal plan, will forever remain one of the most unworthy moments in the history of the party. 14. The army has been and continues to be just as severely affected by both the unsystematic direction of the economy and the inner-party regime characterized above. The decisions made by the Politburo with regard to the army always have an episodic or incidental character. The basic questions of building the army, of its preparation for military deployment, have never been examined in the Politburo, since the Politburo, which is weighed down by a multitude of various questions, never has the chance to investigate even a single issue in full detail and in a planned, systematic way. Economic and international events evoke from the Politburo absolutely opposed decisions concerning the army within the shortest amount of time. In order not to go too deeply into the matter, I will point out that by the time of the Curzon ultimatum[ 21 ], the question was twice raised in the Politburo of increasing the size of the army by one hundred or two hundred thousand; it required great effort to turn down this proposal. In July, when I was on vacation, the Plenum of the Central Committee instructed the Revolutionary Military Council [Revvoensoviet] to draw up a plan to reduce the army by fifty or one hundred thousand troops. This assignment was feverishly worked on by the General Staff in July and August. At the end of August it was cancelled because of the events in Germany[ 22 ] and replaced by a directive to work out a plan for strengthening the army. Each such directive, requiring complex and difficult planning, provokes a series of corresponding proposals, directives and questions from the center to the outlying districts. In the latter the impression is created that the Revvoensoviet lacks any guiding idea in its work. One of the central committee members who, it seems, should have known where the impetus for these decisions originates, found it possible to formulate this conclusion about the contradictory nature of the Revvoensoviets directives, in printed form no less in a military journal of the Ukrainian military district. Leon Trotsky leading the Red Army during the Civil War following the Russian Revolution As for the party selection carried out under the aegis of the official institutions of the party, then it deals no less severe a blow to the moral cohesiveness of the army. Absolutely the same kind of systematic work which was carried out from above against, let us say, the old Ukrainian Sovnarkom, has been carried out and is being carried out against the Revvoensoviet of the Republic. The tempo of the work in this latter instance is a bit slower and its forms are a bit more cautious and disguised. But in essence, both here as well as there, what can be seen is predominantly the appointment of personnel who are ready to assist the isolation of the leading bodies of the army. Duplicity is introduced from above into the internal relations of the military apparatus. Usually indirectly, but sometimes rather openly, the Revvoensoviet is counterposed to the party, although there is hardly a Soviet institution which so strictly carries out both the letter and the spirit of not only the directives of the party, decided at its congresses, but all the resolutions of the Politburo; the Revvoensoviet permits within its walls neither condemnation nor even discussion of these decisions, although, as has been said above, they are not always distinguished by their expediency or coordination. The simplest step would be to replace the Revvoensoviet. However, while not deciding for the time being to take such a step, the Orgburo is developing its organizational policy in the military area, which forces all serious personnel in the army to anxiously ask themselves: where will this work end and what is it leading to? 15. Guaranteeing the fighting capability of the army now depends nine tenths not on the War Department, but on industry. The generally unsystematic nature of the economy has its effect, it goes without saying, fully and completely on industry which supplies the army. The change of leading personnel, which was conducted here, too, according to the criterion of independence, was completed with such speed, that in todays extremely responsible period, military production, where work should have been conducted with ten-fold energy, has remained without real leadership for almost three months. Instead of concentrating its attention on industry as a whole, and military industry in particular, at the last Plenum an attempt was made to add a group of central committee members headed by comrade Stalin to the Revvoensoviet.[ 23 ] Apart from the inner-party meaning of this measure, which requires no explanation, the very announcement of a new Revvoensoviet cannot be understood by our neighbors as anything but the transition to a new, i.e., aggressive policy. Only my protest, expressed in the most decisive form, kept the Plenum from immediately carrying out the given measure. The Plenum set aside the creation of a new Revvoensoviet until mobilization. At first glance it seems inexplicable why we should carry out such a proposal in advance, distributing it in dozens of copies, when it is absolutely unknown when, and under what circumstances, a mobilization will be needed, if it will be needed at all, and who in particular the party can assign at that time to military work. But in actual fact, this directive, which at first glance seems so unclear, is one of those indirect preparatory steps toward reaching the goal mentioned earlier. They are typical in the practice of the majority in the Politburo and Orgburo. Moreover, the Plenum decided to immediately add to the Revvoensoviet one or two members of the Central Committee in a special capacity for monitoring military industry, which is in no way subordinated to the Revvoensoviet and which has remained for almost three months without a leader. On this grounds the Politburo added comrades Lashevich and Voroshilov[ 24 ] to the Revvoensoviet; comrade Voroshilov, meanwhile, appointed in a special capacity for monitoring military industry, remains in Rostov. In essence, this measure, too, is preparatory as mentioned above. It is no accident that, in reply to my reproach that the actual motives for the changes in the Revvoensoviet have nothing in common with the officially stated reasons, comrade Kuibyshev[ 25 ] not only didnt deny the contradiction and how could he deny it? but openly said to me: We feel that it is necessary to fight against you, but we cannot declare you an enemy; that is why we are forced to resort to such methods. 16. The present rapidly growing crisis in the party cannot, of course, be overcome with repressive measures, regardless of how correct or incorrect they are in each given case. The objective difficulties of development are very great. However they are not lessened, but increased by the fundamentally incorrect party regime; by diverting attention from creative tasks to inner-party groupings; by artificially selecting personnel, often disregarding their party and Soviet standing; by replacing authoritative and competent leadership with formal commands, counting exclusively on the passive obedience of all. Undermining economic development, this inner-party regime was and is the immediate reason for the growing dissatisfaction of some, for the apathy and passivity of others, and for the virtual removal from work of still others. Perhaps the party could live temporarily with the present oppressive inner-party regime, if it guaranteed economic successes. But this is not the case. That is why this regime cannot last for long. It must be changed. 17. If the unsystematic nature of the economic policy and secretarial bureaucratism of party politics caused alarm even before the XIIth Congress, then, on the other hand, no one, probably, expected that this policy would so quickly reveal its bankruptcy. The party is entering into what may be the most crucial epoch in its history, carrying the heavy burden of the mistakes made by our leading bodies. The activity of the party has been stifled. With great alarm the party is watching the howling contradictions of our economic work with all its consequences. Perhaps with even greater alarm the party is watching the divisiveness which is artificially introduced from above at the cost of rendering helpless the leading party and Soviet organs. The party knows that the official motives for appointments, dismissals, replacements and transfers by no means always coincide with the true motives or with the interests of the cause. As a result, the party has broken down. On the sixth anniversary of the October Revolution and on the eve of the revolution in Germany, the Politburo is forced to discuss the draft of a proposal which states that every member of the party is obliged to inform the party organizations and the GPU about illegal groupings within the party. It is absolutely clear that such a regime and such a general state within the party are incompatible with the tasks which may arise and according to all evidence will arise before the party because of the very fact of the German revolution. An end must be put to secretarial bureaucratism. Party democracy, at least within the bounds which are necessary to prevent the party from being threatened with stagnation and degeneration, must be given full rights. The party ranks must, within the bounds of party principles, explain what they are dissatisfied with; they must receive the real opportunity, in accordance with the party regulations and, primarily, with the entire spirit of our party, to create its organizational apparatus. There must be a regrouping of party forces, depending on the real demands of our work, primarily in industry and in particularly in military production. Without truly carrying out the decisions of the XIIth Congress regarding industry, it is impossible to guarantee anything approaching a stable level of workers wages and the systematic raising of this level. The least painful and shortest way out of this situation would be if the present leading group acknowledged all the consequences of the regime it artificially supports, and demonstrated that it is sincerely ready to assist the redirection of party life in a healthier direction. In this case the methods and organizational forms for changing course could be found without any difficulty. The party would breathe more freely. It is precisely this path that I propose to the Central Committee. Joseph Stalin in 1943 [AP Photo] 18. The members of the Central Committee and Central Control Commission know that, while I have been struggling as decisively and precisely as possible within the Central Committee against incorrect policies, particularly concerning the economy and inner-party regime, I have decisively refrained from presenting the struggle within the CC to be judged by even a very narrow circle of comrades, and particularly by those who in the event of anything close to a correct inner-party course will have to occupy prominent posts within the Central Committee or the Central Control Commission. I must state that my efforts over the last year and a half[ 26 ] along these lines have not produced any results. There is the danger that the party may be caught unawares by a crisis of extreme sharpness, and in this case the party would have the right to accuse everyone who saw the danger, but didnt openly call it by name, of placing form higher than content. In view of the situation which has been created, I consider it not only my right, but my duty, to say what is to every member of the party whom I consider to be sufficiently prepared, mature, self-possessed and, consequently, able to help the party to emerge from the impasse without fractional shocks and convulsions. L. Trotsky 8 October 1923. [Rossiiskii gosudarstvennyi arkhiv sotsialno-politicheskoi istorii (RGASPI), fond 17, opis 2, delo 685, listy 53-68; typewritten copy] PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A senior Cambodian official on Monday called for more Chinese tourists, saying that their presence has significantly contributed to the kingdom's economic and touristic growth and poverty reduction. Ministry of Tourism's Secretary of State and Spokesman Top Sopheak said Cambodia received 364,844 Chinese visitors during the January-August period this year, a year-on-year increase of 611 percent. The number accounted for 10.4 percent of 3.5 million international tourist arrivals to the country during the first eight months of this year, he said. "We want more Chinese tourists as they have importantly contributed to our economic and touristic development as well as poverty reduction," he told Xinhua, predicting that the country would receive at least 600,000 Chinese tourists this year. Sopheak said he has a strong belief that close ties and increasing direct flights between the two countries will encourage more Chinese tourists to spend their holidays in Cambodia in the coming years. "I want to send a message to all Chinese citizens that please come and visit Cambodia, a safe tourist destination," he said. Tourists can enjoy cultural and ecological tourism, such as the Royal Palace and the National Museum in Phnom Penh, the Angkor Archeological Park in the northwest Siem Reap province, the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk in the central Kampong Thom province, and the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Koh Ker archeological site in the northwest Preah Vihear province, as well as a beautiful bay in southwest Sihanoukville. "Chinese tourists are warmly welcomed to these key tourist destinations as well as other attractions across Cambodia, as the government has always prioritized security and safety for all tourists," he said. China was the biggest source of international tourists to Cambodia in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, Sopheak said, adding that the kingdom received 2.36 million Chinese tourists in 2019, accounting for 35.7 percent of total international tourist arrivals and generating about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in revenue. He said the "China Ready" strategy, which was first launched in 2016, had been reintroduced to relevant authorities and tourism-related businesses after restrictions were lifted. The strategy listed steps to be taken by tourism authorities to facilitate visits by Chinese tourists, such as providing Chinese signs and documents for visa processing, encouraging local use of Chinese yuan and language, and ensuring that food and accommodation facilities are suited to Chinese tastes. Tourism is one of four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy. The country attracted up to 6.61 million foreign tourists in 2019, earning gross revenues of 4.92 billion dollars, according to the Ministry of Tourism. To initiate its commemoration of the centenary of the founding of the Left Opposition on October 15, 1923, the WSWS is re-publishing an editorial by David North which introduced the first-ever English-language publication of key documents related to the founding of the Opposition on the pages of the International Workers Bulletin in 1993. At the time, the ICFI was commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Left Opposition under conditions of capitalist triumphalism and the early stages of what would become a thirty-year period of uninterrupted wars by US imperialism. In December 1991, barely two years earlier, the Stalinist bureaucracy had dissolved the Soviet Union. It was the culmination of its decades-long betrayal of the internationalist program of the October revolution, which included the massacre of generations of socialists in the political genocide of the 1930s and the assassination of Leon Trotsky in August 1940 in Mexico. A central component of the Stalinist reaction against October was the systematic falsification of history. Leon Trotsky and the leaders of the Left Opposition were not only murdered, but also erased from the history books. Many of the most important documents of the Marxist opposition to Stalinism were either destroyed or kept behind lock and key in closed sections of archives and libraries. Toward the end of the Soviet Union, the bureaucracy felt compelled to publish a portion of this documentary record. It was not until 1990over 66 years laterthat the full text of the letters sent by Leon Trotsky to the party leadership on October 8 and October 23, 1923, as well as the Declaration of 46, the founding document of the Opposition, were published in Russian in the journal Izvestiia TsK KPSS (Herald of the Central Committee of the CPSU). Only the International Committee undertook an effort to translate and publish them to make them available to an international working class audience. The translation and publication of these documents became a major component of the ICs response to the collapse of Stalinism: the systematic struggle to re-establish a Marxist consciousness in the working class, based on the defense of the historical truth about the fight of Trotskyism against Stalinism. The 1993 editorial on 70 Years Since the Founding of the Left Opposition by David North in the International Workers Bulletin, October 18, 1993 In contrast to all other political tendencies that claimed to be socialist or Trotskyist, the International Committee assessed the dissolution of the Soviet Union not as the end of socialism, but as the culmination of the Stalinist betrayal of October and a new stage in the crisis of world imperialism. In a report to the 12th Plenum of the International Committee of the Fourth International on March 11, 1992, David North explained that the October Revolution had arisen out of the decades-long struggle of the Marxist movement in Europe and Russia for socialist consciousness in the working class. By contrast, Stalinism set out to destroy the greatest conquest of Marxism: the development of the revolutionary political consciousness of the working class, the transformation of an oppressed and exploited mass into a conscious historical force. ... It falls upon the Fourth International, led by the International Committee, to reestablish within the working class the great political culture of Marxism. That is the only foundation upon which a genuine revolutionary workers movement can be built. Based on this assessment, the ICFI initiated a close intellectual collaboration with the Soviet historian Vadim Rogovin, who would go on to write seven volumes on the history of the Opposition, initiate the 70th anniversary commemoration of the Left Opposition, and play a critical role in the struggle against the post-Soviet school of historical falsification. David North lecturing at the Moscow Historical Archival Institute in November 1989 Thirty years later, this struggle has been fully vindicated. The world is in the grips of the early stages of a new imperialist redivision of the world, which has begun with the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. On the most fundamental historical level, this war is the outcome of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Stalinist betrayal of the October Revolution. The question of whether there was a socialist alternative to Stalinism has today become the question of whether there is a socialist alternative to capitalism. Over the coming weeks and months, the WSWS and the ICFI will celebrate the founding of the Trotskyist movement a century ago by publishing these and many other hitherto unavailable documents, as well as with meetings and other educational initiatives. The assimilation of this history will be indispensable in the fight to impart the emerging mass movement of the international working class against imperialist war and capitalism with a Marxist leadership and consciousness. This month marks the seventieth anniversary of the beginning of a political struggle of epochal significance. On October 8, 1923, Leon Trotsky addressed a letter to the members of the Central Committee and Central Control Commission of the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik). Writing with a bluntness that stunned the letters recipients, Trotsky declared that the party was being destroyed by a process of bureaucratization that had concentrated immense power in an apparatus that systematically suppressed internal democracy. He warned that the party, weakened by a bad political regime, was losing the capacity to deal with the worsening economic crisis that threatened the survival of the Soviet state. With words whose prescience can only now, in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, be fully appreciated, Trotsky declared: The party is entering into what may be the most crucial epoch in its history, carrying the heavy burden of the mistakes made by our leading bodies. Leon Trotsky, leader of the Red Army during the civil war The effect of the letter was that of a political bombshell. To those who knew that it was their leadership and methods that were the objects of its harsh criticism the informal triumvirate of Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin, whose unprincipled faction dominated the RCP Politburo Trotskys letter was seen as a declaration of war. But to others, among whom were to be found the most outstanding Marxist leaders in the period of the revolution and civil war, the letter of October 8 was an inspiration. In terms of his political and moral authority among the most class-conscious sections of the Soviet and international working class, Trotskys stature was exceeded only by Lenin. Thus, Trotskys criticisms of the bureaucratization of the party and state, coupled with a trenchant analysis of the mistakes in economic policy, provided a focus for the discontent that was spreading throughout the party ranks. One week later, on October 15, a document that became known as the Declaration of the 46 was delivered to the Politburo of the RCP. Building upon Trotskys letter, the Declaration called for measures to reinvigorate party democracy and thereby establish the political conditions necessary for overcoming the grave problems that endangered the Soviet Union. The publication of the Declaration, whose signatories included such outstanding figures as Preobrazhensky, Piatakov, Serebriakov, Muralov, Smirnov, Boguslavsky, Sosnovsky and Voronsky, marked the beginning of the political activity of the Left Opposition. The emergence of the Left Opposition was the climax of a year of extreme tension within the Russian Communist Party. The general sense of foreboding and uncertainty was intensified by the illness of Lenin, whose political activity was brought to an abrupt end by the stroke he suffered on March 9, 1923. But even before illness removed Lenin from the scene, the RCP was in crisis. Indeed, Lenins stroke came just as he had concluded that the survival of the RCP depended upon an uncompromising struggle against the bureaucracy in the state and party apparatus. The objective basis of the crisis lay in the fundamental problem of the Russian Revolution. The Russian working class had come to power under the leadership of the Bolsheviks in one of the most backward of the European capitalist states. The creation of a modern Soviet industry, not to mention its development along socialist lines, depended upon the fate of the proletarian revolution in western Europe. The Bolsheviks had hoped that their victory in Russia would soon be followed by other socialist revolutions. However, the absence within Europe of a party comparable to the Bolsheviks gave the bourgeoisie the breathing space it required to stabilize the capitalist system in the aftermath of World War I. Demonstration of workers and soldiers in October, 1917 [Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images] The ferocity of the civil war that followed the revolution which was prolonged by the direct intervention of the imperialists on the side of the counterrevolutionary forces ravaged the economy of the young Soviet republic. An effort to revive industry on the basis of forced requisitions from the peasantry and the militarization of labor (so-called War Communism) provoked intense hostility. Fearing for the stability of the Bolshevik regime if the workers government lost the support of the peasant masses, and recognizing the ebb in the international revolutionary movement, Lenin proposed a temporary retreat. The New Economic Policy (NEP) proposed in March 1921 permitted the peasantry to sell its produce on the market. The relaxation of restraints on capitalist enterprise led, in the short term, to an economic revival. The links between the cities and the countryside were restored. However, despite the unmistakable improvements, those engaged in Marxist analysis detected new dangers. First, in the economic sphere, the revival mainly benefited agriculture and the peasantry. The growth of industry, upon which the fate of the Soviet Union ultimately depended, remained extremely limited. The inability to spur the growth of industry within the framework of NEP found its reflection in a phenomenon to which Trotsky, with characteristic brilliance, drew attention. While the prices of agricultural goods continued to fall, those of the industrial sector were rising rapidly. In his speech to the Twelfth Party Congress in April 1923, Trotsky illustrated the divergent movement of agricultural and industrial prices in a graph whose lines resembled an open scissors. As the prices of commodities produced by the two basic components of the Soviet economy moved in opposed directions, the scissors widened; and this widening exposed the danger contained in the NEP: if the terms of trade between agriculture and industry continued to deteriorate, the danger of an economic split between the countryside and the cities, and of a political split between the proletariat and the peasantry, increased. Trotsky argued, with the notable support of Preobrazhensky, that Soviet policy should strive to lower industrial prices. This required the development of the concept of economic planning, so that the Soviet state could organize production and allocate resources in the most efficient manner. It also required placing a greater burden on agriculture to provide the resources necessary for industrial investment. Evgeni Preobrazhensky Trotskys analysis was a model of precision and lucidity. No attempt was made to oppose his analysis at the Twelfth Party Congress. However, it unsettled those layers within the party leadership and ranks who had, after all the years of revolutionary storm and stress, found the more relaxed environment of the NEP quite congenial. This shift in the political psychology of the RCP was connected to changes in its internal composition. The period of the civil war had exacted from the party and the working class a massive human toll. Battlefield wounds, assassinations and disease claimed many of the finest party cadre and best representatives of the Soviet proletariat. The impact of the human losses was compounded by the effect of the economic devastation on the Soviet proletariat, a class whose existence was inextricably linked to industrial production. The collapse of large sections of industry contributed to a degree of deproletarianization that objectively weakened the social basis of Bolshevism. Yet another factor undermined the revolutionary elan of Bolshevism. The requirements of organizing and supervising a state drew significant sections of the party cadre into the regimes administrative apparatus. Here many found themselves in a new and strange milieu. They acquired not only new habits of work, but also new privileges. The latter may not have been extravagant, especially by the standards of the capitalist world, but they were significant in an impoverished country where even a piece of fatty meat was a luxury. Another product of the NEP contributed significantly to the degeneration of the Bolshevik Party. Along with the revival of the capitalist market came a significant relaxation of the stringent bans on the admission of elements from the old pre-Revolution upper middle classes into the party. Not only were those who were referred to ironically as Red Managers and Red Industrialists increasingly active in the direction of economic affairs, they were able to obtain a party card as well. One such individual who entered the party in this period was Andrei Vyshinsky, who had been an attorney employed by the oil trusts before 1917 and later, during the civil war, a functionary in the counter-revolutionary administration set up by Admiral Kolchak in the area under his control. This same Vyshinsky was to serve as Stalins chief prosecutor in the three Moscow Trials of 1936-38. Lenin, from the earliest days of the NEP, had been acutely sensitive to these negative consequences of the retreat that had been imposed upon the Bolsheviks by unfavorable objective conditions. Frequently he referred scathingly to the scoundrels that were infiltrating the party many of whom had been notorious opponents of the Bolshevik Revolution. But in late 1922, after his recovery from his first major stroke, Lenin became alarmed by signs that previously isolated indications of degeneration were assuming a distinctly political form in crucial areas of party and state policy. Vladimir Lenin in his office in the Kremlin, Moscow, around 1919. [AP Photo] First, Lenin learned in October 1922 that during his absence, the Politburo, at the initiative of Bukharin and with the support of Stalin, had agreed to permit the weakening of the state monopoly on foreign trade. Recognizing at once the dangers to which this decision would expose the extremly fragile Soviet economy, Lenin accused its initiators of adapting themselves to the expanding influence of the NEP-men, that is, the petty-bourgeois traders who were playing an increasingly conspicuous role. Even a stock exchange was again in operation. Lenin succeeded, with the support of Trotsky, in forcing the reinstatement of the monopoly. But a more serious crisis arose within a few weeks, as Lenin obtained reports that exposed the crude methods that had been employed by Stalin and his henchman, Ordzhonikidze, to compel the leaders of the Georgian Republic to accept their plan for Georgias integration into the newly formed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. As he studied the complaints of Mdivani and other Georgian leaders, Lenin was appalled by Stalins attempt to intimidate the representatives of a non-Russian nationality. Stalins actions brought to Lenins mind the brutal and hated visage of the Great Russian chauvinist bully. Stalin and his close associates Anastas Mikoyan and Sergo Ordzhonikidze (in the white shirt) in Tbilisi, 1925 Though his health was rapidly deteriorating, the Georgian incident compelled Lenin to initiate a profound reevaluation of the state of the party. The final weeks of Lenins political life were devoted to the dictation of an extraordinary series of notes which contained candid appraisals of the principal leaders of the party and proposals for counteracting the influence of the bureaucracy. The most remarkable aspect of Lenins notes was his identification of Stalin as the direct embodiment of the bureaucratic degeneration that was threatening the party. In an addition to his political testament, written on January 4, 1923, Lenin stated that Stalin is too rude, and recommended that he be removed from his position as general secretary. As Lenin prepared for a decisive showdown with Stalin at the scheduled party congress, he turned for political support, as he had in the struggle over the foreign trade monopoly, to Trotsky. On March 5, 1923, he wrote to Trotsky: It is my urgent request that you should undertake the defense of the Georgian case in the Party CC. And later that day, after learning that his wife, Krupskaya, had been verbally abused by Stalin, Lenin wrote an angry letter to the general secretary breaking off all personal relations. This was, however, Lenins last political act. His health took a disastrous turn for the worse, and on March 9 he suffered a stroke that left him without the ability to speak or write. With Lenin removed from the political scene, Zinoviev, Kamenev and Stalin formed an informal alliance to counteract Trotskys immense prestige and influence. In this operation, Stalin exploited his control of the party organization. His principal weapon was his ability to make appointments to responsible positions within the party and state apparatus. This power of appointment made a mockery of internal party democracy, because those who were appointed to party posts were completely independent of the ranks. Their power depended, in the final analysis, not on their relation to the advanced strata of the working class but on the approval of Stalin. Lev Kamenev and Grigory Zinoviev formed a triumvirate with Joseph Stalin For several months, hoping that Lenin would return to political activity, Trotsky refrained from a direct attack upon the triumvirate. But by the autumn of 1923 two factors led him to conclude that the time had come to speak out. First, the economic situation continued to deteriorate, as he had warned at the Twelfth Congress. Second, the deepening crisis in Germany, where revolution seemed on the agenda, carried with it the possibility of a sharp change in the international political situation. This was the context within which Trotsky composed his letter, whose complete text appears in English for the first time on the following pages. Last month, the Sri Lankan government issued two extraordinary gazette notifications announcing its Online Safety Bill (OSB) and the Anti-Terrorism Bill (ATB). On Tuesday, the OSB was presented to parliament, indicating it will be debated over two weeks. The ATB is scheduled to be presented to parliament soon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, accompanied by heads of the armed forces, at 75th Independence Day ceremony in Colombo on February 4, 2023. [Photo: Sri Lanka presidents media division] If enacted, these bills will provide President Ranil Wickremesinghe with unprecedented dictatorial powers to suppress anti-government opposition and target working-class resistance to the governments International Monetary Fund dictated attacks on jobs, wages, and social conditions. The OSB gives the president the power to both appoint and remove the participants of a five-member Online Safety Commission (OSC) and its chairman. In short, it is a commission totally controlled by the head of the state. OSCs role will be to suppress all online communication, including social media platforms, deemed to be circulating false and unauthentic statements. The OSC can order the courts to imprison Sri Lankan citizens, in or outside the country, accused of violating the online safety laws. It can also order internet service providers or internet intermediaries to disable the accused services and to block any financial support. This is necessary, the bill states, to protect persons against damage caused by communication of false statements or threatening, alarming or distressing statements. Part three of the bill, however, indicates the bills principal target. It states: Any person, whether in or outside Sri Lanka, who poses a threat to national security, public health or public order or promotes feelings of ill-will and hostility between different classes of people, by communicating a false statement, commits an offence. These broad-ranging formulas allow the OSC to suppress any opposition to the government, including campaigns against the escalating attacks on democratic and social rights and, above all, the mobilisation of the working class against the capitalist class and its ruling regime. Anyone convicted of OSC charges will be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine, with the punishments doubled for those found guilty of second offences. Several offences cited in the bill include communicating false statements to cause religious disharmony and disturbances. This has nothing to do with defending religious harmony but is aimed at further consolidating Sinhala-Buddhist hegemony, which has been used for decades by Colombos ruling elite to divide the working class. Cheating, fraud, and child abuse are also listed as offences in the OSB bill. The ATB and the OSB are aimed at vastly strengthening the repressive powers of the president and his government. The ATB, it declares, is necessary for the protection of national security of Sri Lanka and its people from acts of terrorism. This is a lie. The regimes real concern is protecting the capitalist class and its state. Under this bill, terrorism includes any anti-government activity, political dissent, or opposition. The offence of terrorism, it states, is intimidating the public or a section of the public, as well as wrongfully or unlawfully compelling the Government of Sri Lanka, or any other Government, or an international organisation, to do or to abstain from doing any act. In another sweeping attack on freedom of expression, it targets anyone who publishes or causes to be published a statement, or speaks any word or words, or makes signs or visible representations which is likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public as a direct or indirect encouragement or inducement for them to commit, prepare or instigate the offence of terrorism. Within the broad scope of the legislation, any individual or organisation calling for or involved in the mobilisation of workers, youth, and the oppressed masses against the government, and demanding their legitimate rights, can be branded a terrorist, and accused of carrying out terrorist acts. Those accused of terrorism can be punished with life imprisonment, with the prison sentences of those involved in the direct or indirect encouragement of terrorism liable for 10 years jail and heavy fines. CWE workers involved in sit-down protest at CWE's Waksole Street branch in Colombo on 27 September 2023. Under the ATBs wide-ranging definition of terrorism, any individual can be arrested and detained for one year without the filing of a legal case, i.e., arbitrarily. This can be extended continuously through a judicial directive. The ATB is to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979, which has been used over the last 44 years and in the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to suppress unrest among the Tamil minority, rural youth, workers, and other opponents of the government. As the history of the PTA demonstrates, the new bill has nothing to do with fighting terrorism but is to strengthen the state against workers, the poor and young people. Since his anti-democratic elevation into the presidency, Wickremesinghe has used the PTA to detain student protest leaders and anti-government activists. The ruling class has been shaken to the core by the multi-million strong mass anti-government uprising in AprilJuly last year which forced former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse to flee the country and resign, and his government to collapse. Social media was the main means for communication and mobilisation used by the masses in this struggle. Wickremesinghe is determined to stifle these forms of communication. The trade union bureaucracies, backed by pseudo-left groups, betrayed the working-class movement, subordinating it to the parliamentary opposition parties and their campaign for an interim capitalist government. While this created the conditions for the ruling elite to temporarily stabilise Sri Lankan capitalism, the moves to entrench a presidential dictatorship underscore its fear of another social explosion. Throughout this year, workers have come forward in numerous strikes and protests against the governments IMF austerity attacks on jobs, wages and pension cuts, and in opposition to privatisation and unbearable price increases. As the World Bank reports, poverty is expected to hit 28 percent of Sri Lankas total population this year, up from 25 percent in 2022. The trade union bureaucracies are doing everything they can to dissipate workers anger and prevent the eruption of mass struggles. While using these betrayals to deepen his governments attacks, Wickremesinghe knows he cannot rely solely on the union bureaucracies and is rapidly moving to strengthen his autocratic powers. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main bourgeois opposition party, has declared that it will take legal action against the OSB. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parliamentarian Vijitha Herath has also said his party will take the Supreme Court action against the new bill. These political organisations are blatantly hoodwinking the masses. The leaders of both these parties, whether in government or in opposition, unwaveringly backed the PTA and other repressive laws during Colombos war against the LTTE to suppress the Tamil minority, the working class and youth. Both parties are fully committed to the IMFs austerity demands. They know that the Supreme Court might propose cosmetic changes to the new bills but that the government will use its majority to ram these bills through parliament. In power, these parties would not hesitate to use these laws against a mass movement of the working class and the rural masses. The working class cannot rely on the opposition parties and the trade union bureaucracies to defend its democratic and social rights. That is why the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on workers and young people, including students, to take the initiative. The working class must mobilise independently of every faction of the bourgeoisie and supporters in the trade union bureaucracies and the fake left. We urge youth to turn to the working class. The fight for jobs, wages, pensions, and social rights, including health and education, is part of the struggle to defend democratic rights. Just as social media platforms were used in the past to communicate freely, discuss and organise class actions, so they must be used to initiate a wide-ranging discussion on the impact of these draconian laws on their struggles and their rights. We call upon workers to form independent action committees in every factory, plantation, neighbourhood, and other major economic centres, and for the rural masses to establish their own action committees. The Sri Lankan working class is an integral part of the global working class and needs to unite with their international class brothers and sisters to take forward this struggle. The turn by the Wickremesinghe regime and the capitalist class towards dictatorial forms of rule in Sri Lanka is not an isolated development. The crisis-ridden ruling elites everywherefrom major imperialist powers to underdeveloped countriesare adopting autocratic forms of rule and bolstering extreme-right forces to suppress the unfolding working-class struggles. Capitalism offers only war, fascism, worsening social inequality and poverty. To begin the struggle to defend democratic rights we demand: Abolish the Executive Presidency! Repeal of all repressive laws, including the Public Security Act and Essential Public Services Act! No to the OSB and the ATB! To defend all social rights, it is necessary to reject IMF austerity; repudiate all foreign debts; seize the wealth of the super-rich; and nationalise the major banks and corporations under democratic workers control. The Wickremesinghe government must be brought down, and a workers and peasants government established to implement the socialist policies. These include the re-organisation of production and distribution under workers control to end the poverty facing millions, the provision of jobs for all on a livable wage, guaranteed fertiliser subsidies and the cancellation of the debts of poor farmers, and free health and education with modern facilities for all. That is why the SEP is calling for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses based on delegates democratically elected from their action committees. The congress will provide the basis to unite the working class and rally the rural poor in a common struggle for this socialist program. Less than a week out from the October 14 referendum, the campaign to enshrine an indigenous Voice in the Constitution is in a deepening crisis, with all opinion polls showing it is on track for defeat. Proponents of the Yes campaign have responded with increasingly hysterical denunciations of the population, which they accuse of mass racism. A young Aboriginal worker in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, April 2008. [Photo by WSWS/John Hulme] One of the main arguments of the Yes camp in favour of the Voice is its assertion that 80 percent or more of Aboriginal people support the establishment of the indigenous advisory body to parliament. Yes campaign groups and representatives of the Labor government that initiated the referendum continuously cite that figure, not as an estimation, but as an unassailable fact. But what is their evidence? Very little. In reality, there is no reliable data indicating the level of indigenous support for the Voice. The assertion of over 80 percent backing for the initiative among Aboriginal people is based on two surveys in January and March. The first, conducted by Ipsos, found that 80 percent of indigenous respondents indicated they would vote yes. The sample size was small, being just 300 people, with an effective sample size of 181 after weighting used to improve representation. The second poll, by Yougov, was conducted in March. It had a larger sample at 738 people identifying as indigenous, 83 percent of whom said they would vote yes, with 14 percent indicating a no vote. There are obvious issues with asserting that these polls constitute irrefutable evidence of mass indigenous support for the Voice. The first is that an opinion poll is not a lifetime contract, locking a respondent into a position they can never alter. Both surveys were conducted when polling indicated majority support for the Voice across the entire population. Many polls at the time indicated that support to be as high as 65 percent. The Yougov poll found 60 percent support for the Voice when undecided voters were excluded. All recent polling indicates a massive fall in those levels. National polls now place support for the Voice at anywhere between 33 percent and 45 percent. The claim that 80 percent of indigenous people support the Voice, based on polling from the beginning of the year, assumes that the drop in support has occurred across all demographics, except for Aboriginal people. Without any supporting evidence, that is a highly dubious contention. There is also the nature of the polling itself. Both the January and March polls were conducted online. The respondents were selected from existing panels of people agreeing to take part in surveys. How likely is it that the most oppressed layers of the indigenous population are on the databases of the major polling corporations and frequently respond to online surveys? Not very. A 2021 report found that in the Northern Territory, which has the highest per capita Aboriginal population in the country, 10 percent of households have no regular access to mobile phones or the internet. Similar issues, though less extreme, exist in remote and regional indigenous communities across the country. The exclusive reliance of the Yes campaign on two small polls conducted at the beginning of the year also raises suspicions. The Yes campaign has been showered with multi-million dollar donations from major banks, corporations and philanthropic institutions. Surely, with those resources, the Yes campaign could have funded more recent, large scale and representative polling. A possible answer was provided by the remarks of GetUp! CEO Larissa Baldwin-Roberts to a Yes campaign webinar in early June. Her comments were leaked to the Australian, which claimed Baldwin-Roberts told the gathering: Over 45 percent [of Indigenous Australians] are saying they have heard very little or know nothing about the referendum [and] 25 percent have said theyre a No in terms of where they are sitting on the campaign. Those remarks were made months after the polls which the Yes campaign cites. If accurate, they indicate that up to 70 percent of indigenous people were reporting they knew little or nothing about the referendum, or were planning to vote no. That is a far cry from the 80 percent in support figure the Yes campaign continually touts. One aspect of the media coverage of the referendum campaign is a dearth of interviews with broader layers of the indigenous population, especially the most impoverished. The little that has emerged has painted a far more complicated picture than the Yes campaign presents. Unsurprisingly, when indigenous people have actually been asked by the mainstream media what they think about the Voice, different opinions have emerged. The conception that all indigenous people would have an identical position on a political issue, merely by virtue of their racial background, itself smacks of a paternalistic racialism. An Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) report last month, for instance, cited Uncle Frank Doolan, a Wiradjuri elder based in Dubbo, who indicated he was voting no. Commenting on the official material for the Yes and No camps distributed by the electoral authorities, he stated: The pamphlets are informative in a sort of white, middle-class way. I know they will mean little or nothing to indigenous people at a grassroots level in regional Australia, let alone in isolated communities out in the desert. Another ABC article featured interviews with four indigenous young people from Tasmania. One indicated he would not be supporting yes or no. A republic where we can have a clean slate ... we dont need associations to the horribly racist 1901 White Australia policies and the many policies that existed in that colonial era, he said. Another was voting no, a third was voting yes but said that the Voice is flawed, very flawed. The only one of the four indicating a hard yes vote was herself part of the Yes campaign. On the weekend, the Sydney Morning Herald published a feature with comments on the Voice from residents of Wilcannia, one of the most impoverished Aboriginal towns in New South Wales. The article was headlined: Would a Voice help Wilcannia? Elders deliver a resounding yeah, nah, i.e., no. Lee Hynch, the chair of the Wilcannia Community Working Party and a member of the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly, told the Herald: They [the Voice] cant speak for us, not in a million years. Hynch stated: I have seen programs come in, worked, and then they shut it down. Why? Because the government pulled funding. As for the Voice, I dont see the point in it. What difference is it going to make? He said: I just think it is stupid. It is going to divide us again. Most strikingly, the article featured the comments of William Murray, a local elder who was Wilcannias sole representative at the Uluru Dialogue. That 2017 gathering of handpicked and government-endorsed indigenous leaders issued a statement that became the basis for the Voice. Murray has disavowed the Dialogue entirely. Would the Voice mob listen to what us locals want to tell them fellas? Murray asked. That is what they have got to get through their heads. They say they will do this. When they get there they will change their minds and go on to something else. Murray added: Have a look at Wilcannia. F--- all here, is there? If the government was going to do something, they would have done it years ago. I know we Aboriginals have been fighting for our rights and that, but does the Voice say that? The Voice says yeah, we want this, we want that. That is all it is saying. There is no action with the Voice, the way I see it. When ordinary Aboriginal people have told the press that they will vote yes, it has invariably been connected to hopes that the establishment of the Voice will improve social conditions. But Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has explicitly stated that one of the key aims of the advisory body, if it is formed, will be to help slash spending on indigenous programs, not increase it. The responses, limited as they are, underscore the fact that the Voice is a top-down initiative. It was birthed in the corridors of power. To the extent that a layer of indigenous people were involved, they were representatives of a privileged elite, a million miles from the social hardships and grinding poverty afflicting the majority of Aboriginal people, who constitute the most oppressed section of the working class. As the Socialist Equality Party has insisted, the way forward is not the pro-business racialism represented by the Yes campaign, or the thinly-veiled racist dog-whistling of the official No campaign. Instead, through its campaign for an active boycott of the entire referendum, the SEP is fighting to build an independent movement of the whole working class against poverty, government austerity, war and their source, the capitalist profit system. Note: Under conditions of compulsory voting, which makes it a crime to urge a boycott of the vote itself, the SEP calls on workers and youth to register their opposition by casting informal ballots and join our active boycott campaign in the lead-up to October 14, that goes well beyond the individual act of voting. Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Suite 906, 185 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000 The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at Australias University of Melbourne held a successful Inaugural General Meeting (IGM) on October 5. The IYSSE had previously been affiliated on campus between 2016 and 2022, before being undemocratically disaffiliated by the student union a year ago. IYSSE club reestablished at the University of Melbourne. The meeting to reestablish the club was attended by 30 students in-person and online, surpassing the 20 required to reach quorum. It unanimously adopted the IYSSE club aims to advance a socialist and anti-war perspective on campus. The meeting is a significant development in the IYSSEs international fight to establish a global anti-war movement of youth and students. Reestablishing the IYSSEs University of Melbourne club is the product of a sustained political campaign among the students on campus. Over recent weeks, IYSSE members and supporters have spoken with hundreds of students at the university. The IYSSE won support for its opposition to the US-NATO imperialist war against Russia in Ukraine, US-led preparations for war against China in the Asia-Pacific, and the promotion of divisive, racialist identity politics by the Australian political establishment in the Voice referendum. Internationally, the IYSSE has come under attack precisely for its principled stance against imperialist war. University administrations in several countries have worked hand-in-glove with governments and far-right, Ukrainian nationalist forces to try and prevent the IYSSE from elaborating an anti-war, internationalist perspective among students. The concern among the ruling elite is that the socialist perspective of the IYSSE will win a hearing among broad layers of youth who oppose war and the social crisis borne out of the crisis of the capitalist profit system. In Australia, the attacks against the IYSSE saw its clubs anti-democratically disaffiliated last year by the student union at the University of Melbourne and the university administration at Macquarie University in Sydney. At Macquarie University, management is engaged in open political censorship of the IYSSE, refusing to reaffiliate the club for over five months based on false claims. The October 5 IGM was titled Fight the danger of nuclear world war! Build the international anti-war movement! It opened with the unanimous passing of a resolution calling for the immediate and unconditional release of courageous, anti-war journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. IYSSE club president-elect Morgan Peach delivered a report examining two interconnected political developments: the danger of nuclear war and the Australian Labor governments Voice referendum. Morgan Peach, delivering main report to IYSSE meeting. At first, these may not seem to be related issues, Peach said. He went on to describe the reactionary character of the Voice referendum, with the Yes and No camps representing two factions of the Australian ruling class. The Voices aim, he explained, is not to resolve the horrendous conditions facing the indigenous working class and youth. Instead, it will further bolster a privileged Aboriginal elite, with connections to government and big business, and it will divide the working class along racial lines. The report also outlined the Albanese Labor governments deepening integration into the US-led drive to war with China, carried out behind the backs of the population. There was no referendum on any of these decisions, which threaten a nuclear world war, Peach said. The Voice must be assessed within this context. It is being advanced to pursue the geo-strategic aims of the Labor governments ever-expanding involvement in US war plans against Russia and China. He concluded by elaborating the Socialist Equality Partys call for an active boycott of the referendum. As with the IYSSEs principled opposition to the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine and the drive to war with China, the active boycott charts an independent path for the development of a movement of the working class and youth against war, poverty, and their source: the capitalist profit system. This report provoked a lively discussion involving several of the clubs student members. Questions were raised on the Marxist conception that class is the fundamental division in society, the origins of racism, the growth of the far-right globally, as well as broader historical and theoretical issues related to the Russian Revolution and the concept of objective truth in opposition to reactionary postmodernist subjectivism. Sharukh, an international student from India doing a PhD, said he agreed with the position that war itself is a symptom of capitalism, and that Russia is reacting to the imperialism of the US and Europe. Sharukh also enjoyed the IYSSEs stance on objective truth, the fact that it is not a postmodernist student organisation. This aspect resonated with me. I agreed with what one speaker said about Marxists defending the idea of objectivity over personal narratives and individualism. Daniel, a fine arts student and club secretary, said he had been reading the WSWS for over a year. When I heard about the IYSSEs campaign to restart their club at Melbourne Uni, I wanted to get involved, he said. Daniel commented on the reaffiliation of the IYSSE under conditions of a rapid militarisation in Australia. It pushes against that pro-war narrative, it helps create an active voice against that among students and young people. Itll help to establish a real alternative for students to the whole political setup. Its so easy as a student to think that you cant have an impact on the situation, and thats what the IYSSE is trying to change. On the war in Ukraine, Daniel said, The global scale of the wars impact is undeniable: economically of course, but its also heating up the political crises worldwide, with each government aligning itself with the different forces. War wont solve the issues facing the Ukrainian people, its not about national liberation. War is such an inherent feature of the capitalist system of nations. It enforces this national identity of serving your country and resenting other nations. But really it comes from the tension between the government and the population within a nation. And its the working class who is sent to the battlefields. Miranda, a psychology student who was elected club treasurer, said, It was great to see so many students wanting to engage with our club, with socialism and the issues we talk about, on a very deep level. Its really important that we have a club up and running again. On the discussion surrounding the Voice referendum, Miranda said, The Yes vote is being pushed very heavily on campus. Students are definitely feeling that pressure. The discussion touched on issues of identity politics, which I was influenced by before meeting the IYSSE. It was good that we could present our perspective to students. The way we were disaffiliated last year was so undemocratic. It was an act of political censorship pure and simple. To be able to fight against that is very important. We are genuinely the only anti-war socialist club on campus, and I think thats so needed at a time when were moving closer towards risks like nuclear war. Marxism has been proven to have an objectively viable action to truly prevent war and fight against capitalism. That solution to war involves political discussion with students. The fact we can do that now at Melbourne Uni is very important. The club president Morgan Peach told the WSWS, The re-establishment of our club here is real achievement, given that the IYSSE is under attack worldwide, from Germany and Canada to Sydneys Macquarie University. University managements recognise that the IYSSE alone poses a threat to their agenda of transforming institutions of learning into militaristic, pro-war nerve centres. They see that we have the potential to mobilise students against this agenda. The pseudo-left clubs, by contrast, have enjoyed a comfortable existence on campus because, like the capitalist parties and pro-corporate trade unions for whom they provide cover, they are pro-war, pro-imperialist organisations. We were dissafiliated last year when the student union seized on a minor clerical error to falsely claim that we werent an active club. This meeting and the response we won from students disprove that, as does our six-year history at the uni since affiliating in 2016. The IYSSE will now be able to continue its work in developing socialist consciousness among students and helping to build an international anti-war movement. On Saturday afternoon, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain held a rally in Chicago with national and local union officials and the Democratic Party mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson. Other speakers included Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) and a leading member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). UAW President Shawn Fain speaks in Chicago on October 7, 2023 [Photo: WSWS] Although there are currently 4,500 UAW members on strike at the Ford Chicago Assembly Plant, and the Chicago metro area is home to half a million union members, the event, held at the UAW Local 551 hall, only attracted a few hundred workers and their family members. There were two aims of the rally. The first was to boost the credentials of Fain whose militant veneer is rapidly wearing off as a result of his disastrous stand up strike policy, which keeps four out of five autoworkers on the job producing profits for the auto companies. Fain and the UAW bureaucracy he leads are facing widespread opposition from the rank and file, which is in no mood to accept the sellout deal he has already crafted with the auto companies and the Biden administration. The day after the Chicago rally, Mack Trucks workers in Pennsylvania overwhelmingly defeated a sellout agreement backed by Fain, which would have only raised wages by 19 percent over five years, leaves out any cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and maintains the hated two-tier wage and benefit system. A month before, nearly 1,000 workers at the Lear seating plant in nearby Hammond, Indiana, voted down the third UAW-endorsed sellout deal. Nevertheless, the UAW bureaucracy kept them on the jobignoring their near unanimous strike mandateso a walkout at the Lear plant would not force the closure of Ford Chicago plant. After Fain called out the Ford workers on September 29, the Lear workers were laid off and the UAW denied them strike benefits. In his weekly Facebook Live address last Friday, Fain did not announce any further strike targets. Instead, he said the union had won a transformative agreement with GM to bring its new EV battery plant under the UAWs master agreement. In reality, this only means that the UAW will be able to collect dues from the low-paid workers in the battery plants while collaborating with the companies in the elimination of tens of thousands of jobs in the EV transition. The second aim of the event was to provide a progressive cover to the Democratic Party, which intervened last December to outlaw a strike by railroad workers, is planning immigrant detention camps in Chicago and other cities and building Trumps border wall, and is fixated on escalating military aggression against Russia and China, along with backing Israels war against the Palestinians. In that sense, Saturdays rally was a mutual aid benefit for these two anti-working class agenciesthe trade union bureaucracy and the Democratic Partywhich are deeply discredited. It occurs 11 days after Biden joined Fain for a photo op on a Michigan picket line and described the UAW president as a kindred spirit. With strikes and militancy among workers escalating after decades of concessions contracts and social attacks, the Biden administration is relying on the UAW bureaucracy to wear down the resistance of workers and impose the type of labor discipline and austerity needed to convert the US into a wartime economy. Fain and the rest of the UAW apparatus are more than willing to be integrated into the machinery of the capitalist government in order to carry out this role. That is the significance of Fains remarks at the Chicago rally where he referred to the role of then UAW Vice President Walter Reuther [Fain incorrectly describes him as President] in the conversion of the auto industry for military production during World War II. UAW members were essential in building Jeeps, tanks, B24 Liberator bombers, Fain said. That was called the arsenal of democracy. That arsenal was the vision of UAW President Reuther. He had the vision of converting excess capacity to be able to build a movement where we can produce airplanes and tanks without building new factories. Just as today, we have no respect from the boss class, from the CEO class and the corporate class. And when Reuther presented that idea back in the day, he was laughed at and mocked by the Big 3 CEOS who said stay in your lane. But the reality was when Pearl Harbor happened, FDR [President Roosevelt] went to Reuther and they adopted that plan and we dont get credit for that today. Reuthers arsenal of democracy, employed by FDR, and built by our labor was the main, integral piece of our winning that war. These comments, made under conditions of the escalating US/NATO war against Russia and ever greater provocations against China, must be taken as a warning by workers. In exchange for government backing, the union bureaucracy plans to go much further than Reuther and the UAW did during World War II, when it banned strikes and allowed war profiteering companies to impose brutal conditions in the factories. Today, Fain & Co. are subordinating the working class to a world war, which would be fought with nuclear weapons and result in the end of civilization. Fain poses with Sara Nelson, Mayor Brandon Johnson and other at Chicago rally [Photo: UAW] The Chicago area has long been a center of various pseudo-left organizations, including the Democratic Socialists of America. The DSA specializes in providing a left cover to the union bureaucracy while functioning as a pro-war and pro-capitalist faction of the Democratic Party. The DSA currently has five alderman on the Chicago City Council, four of whom ran as Democrats. Sara Nelson praised the Chicago Teachers Union for the 2012 strike and building so much power that we have the mayor Chicago from CTU, thats setting the agenda for the people. She praised Fain as the members president and his bankrupt stand of strike policy, which is modeled on the civil disobedience and publicity stunts the AFA has used to prevent real strikes by flight attendants in defiance of the bipartisan anti-strike laws. In his comments, Mayor Brandon Johnsona former legislative official for the CTU and Cook County Commissionermade a series of empty demagogic statements, praising the union bureaucrats and thanking them for putting him in office. So youre gonna listen to us at the negotiating table, on the streets, at the ballot box, and we have made it very clear, if you dont hear us, well get a contract. But well also send someone to the 5th floor [mayors office] who supported the labor movement. In order to secure Republican support for the war in Ukraine, the Democrats are adopting the most vicious policies against immigrants. Johnson recently signed a $29.4 million contract with a defense security firm Gardaworld to build migrant camps for South and Central American migrants who have been bussed into Chicago by Texas Governor Greg Abbot. In her remarks, CTU President Stacy Davis Gates also made the point that the backing of the unions was crucial for securing the election of Democrats. Comparing the autoworkers strike to the 2012 Chicago teachers strike, a point also made by Fain, she said: Let me make it clear, we are never just fighting for a contract, were fighting for transformation. You use this contract campaign like Karen Lewis used her contract campaign back in 2012 and you transform. Cause our brother said we have a mayor in this city named Brandon Johnson. But we didnt just get a mayor, we got aldermen. We didnt just get aldermen, we got state senators. Comparing Fains conduct in the current struggle with the CTUs role in 2012 reveals more than Gates intended. In 2012, Chicago teachers revolted against the school privatization policies of Democratic Mayor Rahm EmanuelObamas former Chief of Staff. Then-CTU President Karen Lewis and Vice President Jesse Sharkey shut down the powerful strike and agreed to the deal that paved the way for a record wave of school closing and teacher layoffs. Since then the CTU bureaucracy has moved to stifle every struggle by educators against the keeping of schools open as COVID spread and Democratic Party austerity measures were implemented. Fains collaboration with the Democratic Party is the surest sign that he is preparing to sell out the autoworkers struggles. If workers are to defeat this betrayal, it is necessary to expand the network of autoworkers rank-and-file committees to fight for an all-out strike and win their demands. In this fight, rank-and-file workers must oppose both capitalist partiesthe Democrats and the Republicansand their policies of austerity, war and dictatorship. The German industrial union IG Metall and its works councils at Volkswagen (VW) are always ready to sacrifice the jobs, wages and rights of the workforce upon the altar of competitiveness and return on investment. If, however, their own six-figure salaries are on the line, they defend them by every means possible. The Volkswagen complex in Wolfsburg [Photo: Volkswagen AG] On the Tuesday before last, police conducted a raid of Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, Germany over excessive works council salaries. Armed police officers searched board offices, as well as rooms of the works council and the legal department, for several hours. According to the public prosecutors office, four private residences were also searched, which have nothing to do with VW. The reason for the raid was salary payments to works council members in violation of the ban on favoritism in the Works Constitution Act, a spokesman for the Braunschweig public prosecutors office told the press. According to the German Works Constitution Act, members of the works council may not be disadvantaged or favored because of their activities. Because of their work on the works council, they should not earn less, but also not more than their colleagues in production and administration. In practice, however, this is not at all the case. Some works council members are not only released from their duties, but also receive salaries and benefits that are much closer to the income of a manager than to the wages of a worker. Bernd Osterloh, the predecessor of the current VW General Works Council Chairwoman Daniela Cavallo, at times hauled in up to 750,000 a year. The works councils are worth these large sums to the VW Group because they ensure discipline and order in the plant, suppress any resistance to the Groups attacks and thus partly replace middle management. Osterlohs predecessor, Klaus Volkert, was so obviously bought off that the judiciary finally intervened and sentenced him to prison without probation for disloyalty. VW personnel manager Peter Hartz, the inventor and namesake of the hated Hartz social security laws in Germany, was also sentenced to two years probation for disloyalty and favoring the VW works council chairman. Hartz paid Volkert a special bonus of 200,000 a year for 10 years in addition to his already high income and gifted Volkerts Brazilian girlfriend a total of 400,000. He financed luxury world travel and prostitutes for the works councils, paying undisclosed expenses of 780,000 within just two years. Volkert and Hartz ended up in court, but this did nothing to change the corruption and venality of the works councils. This is shown by the latest raids. Osterloh has maintained that he has never received unjustified payments. He believes that he is worth every euro that VW has paid him. After all, he saved the Group many billions of euro at the expense of the workforce through his own cost-cutting proposals. He also justified his high income by saying that he had turned down the 7 million-a-year post of personnel director that VW had offered him. The Braunschweig public prosecutors office took a different view and launched an investigation in 2017. As a result, the VW Group cut the salaries of 15 works council members. They received only 8,000 per month, corresponding to the top bracket of the standard wage scale. Since bonuses, which are usually higher than the basic salary, were also eliminated, their income was roughly halved. Osterloh himself lost 40 to 80 percent of his pay. The investigation then, as now, was not directed against the works councils, but against the personnel managers who approve the salaries and are traditionally appointed by IG Metall. The charges ultimately failed at the Braunschweig Regional Court, which gave its judicial blessing to the corrupt cooperation between the group and the works councils at the end of September 2021 and acquitted the four accused VW managers of the charge of breach of trust. VW paid the affected works councils high salaries again starting in spring 2019 following internal arbitration proceedings. According to Handelsblatt, the latest search addresses this incident. Namely, at the beginning of the year, the Criminal Court Senate of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) overturned the acquittals of the Regional Court of Braunschweig and reopened the proceedings against the four acquitted HR managers. Following the BGH ruling, VW again cut the salaries of several dozen works council members. Many took legal action against this in labor courts. These have so far ruled in favor of the works councils in 16 of 17 cases, justifying their high salaries. A spokesman for the VW works council commented: Something is required under labor law that can simultaneously be a risk under criminal law, and called on the federal government to end this state of affairs with a legal clarification. While the middling ranks of the works council caste go to court to defend the high salaries they are paid for their corrupt services, the high princes of the works council generally rise directly into management. Bernd Osterloh became a board member of truck subsidiary Traton for two years in 2021, after 16 years at the head of the works council, and had his retirement income gilded with an annual salary of up to 2.5 million. Jens Rothe, chairman of the VW works council in Zwickau and the general works council in Saxony until February 2023, has become head of human resources at the Transparent Factory in Dresden to advance the strategic realignment of the site, according to a VW press release. In Dresden, 340 employees produce 38 model ID.3 every day, but it is unclear for how much longer. Rothe is haggling over just this with his former colleagues on the works council. The last person, to date, to announce his transition into management is long-time Audi General Works Council Chairman Peter Mosch. After 17 years as works council chairman, the 51-year-old has declared that he will use his skills elsewhere for Audi, having asked the company management to offer him another position. For the time being, he intends to retain his supervisory board positions until successors are named. Mosch is deputy head of the supervisory board of Audi and VWs Cariad software unit, as well as a member of the supervisory board of the VW Group as a whole. Even if works council members may no longer be flown to Thai brothels at corporate expense as they were under Peter Hartz, but instead are served with six- and, if they rise to the board, seven-figure annual salaries, the relationship remains the same: they are paid stooges of the corporations. Since works councils were first enshrined in German law in 1920, they have served to suppress class struggle and subordinate workers to the interests of corporations in the name of co-determination and social partnership. On January 13, 1920, some 100,000 workers led by the Independent Social Democrats (USPD) and the German Communist Party (KPD) demonstrated in front of the Reichstag (parliament building) against the passage of the first Works Council Act. Prussian police opened fire, killing about 100 demonstrators and wounding numerous others. Reich President Friedrich Ebert (SPD) imposed a state of emergency so that the law could be passed. After World War II, the legal entrenchment of co-determination and works councils served to suppress demands for socialization and workers control, which were widespread after the crimes committed by German corporations in the Third Reich. The Krupps, Flicks, Quandts, Porsches and many others had amassed huge fortunes through the exploitation of forced laborers and concentration camp slaves. During the post-war upswing, improvements in social conditions were achieved within the framework of co-determination, and committed works councils were able to win a lot for their colleagues. But with the growing pressure of global competition and the threat of jobs being relocated to low-wage countries, that has changed. Works councils and trade unions see it as their task to defend Germany as a business location by ensuring its competitiveness. They pursue the same goal as the managers. Most of the works councils therefore see nothing at all objectionable about their managers salaries. Somelike Osterloh and Moscheven consider themselves better managers. This development can be observed in all unions around the world. In Germany, the symbiosis of companies, unions and works councils is already built into the Works Constitution Act. What is punished as bribery and corruption in many countries is called co-determination and social partnership in Germany, and is legitimized by law. The fact that the horrendous salaries of works council members fall in a legal gray zone incenses union officials. That is why they are calling for remedial action by the legislature. The unions are reacting to the growing crisis in the global economy, the intensification of international competition, especially in the auto industry, and the escalation of the war against Russia, on which billions are being spent, by merging even more closely with the state and the company. The Volkswagen Group, which in addition to VW and Audi also includes Porsche, Skoda, Seat and other brands, has developed this system of co-management like no other. Now VW is planning a huge restructuring of production with a stringent cost-cutting program. Returns on investment are to be doubled and tripled. Shareholders, management, IG Metall and works councils are cooperating as usual. Allegedly, this is the only way to safeguard competitiveness, and thus jobs, in the long term. This equation of the interests of companies and workforces is false. In reality, job cuts, work pressure and wage reductions do not save a single job, rather save the profits of the shareholders. In the case of VW, these are the two family clans of Porsche and Piech, whose fortunes are estimated at almost 40 billion; the state of Lower Saxony, which holds 20 percent of VW shares; and the Emirate of Qatar, with 17 percent. The fight against the onslaught of attacks can only be won through formation of rank-and-file committees that organise resistance independently of IG Metall and their works councils and establish contact with the 670,000 workers of the VW Group all over the world. In order to build rank-and-file committees at VW, Audi, Porsche and other manufacturers as well, contact us via WhatsApp message to the following number: +49 163 33 78 340 and register using the form below. 25 years ago: Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet arrested On October 10, 1998, acting on a warrant originating in Spain, British police arrested General Augusto Pinochet at the London Clinic, shortly after he underwent an emergency back operation. His arrest was issued under international human rights law on charges of genocide and terrorism that include murder for actions taken during fascist coup he led in 1973 against the government of Salvador Allende and the bloody, US-backed dictatorship in Chile that he headed until 1990. Augusto Pinochet in 1995, photo by Emilio Kopaitic The Chilean dictators visit to the UK was made with the full knowledge and sanction of Tony Blairs Labour government. The British ambassador in Santiago, Gwynne Evans, was informed of the trip long in advance. Pinochet traveled to Britain using a diplomatic passport and was given VIP treatment when he arrived at the London airport. A statement from his solicitor claimed that permission for him to enter and stay in this country was stamped in his diplomatic passport. Over recent years General Pinochet has traveled without hindrance to the UK on several occasions with the approval of Her Majestys Government. General Pinochet had been a regular visitor to Britain and often met with Margaret Thatcher. He had been a frequent guest of arms and defense manufacturers who were eager to sell their wares. In 1994, British Aerospace staged a special demonstration of their rocket launchers for his benefit and the National Army Museum received him with honors. He was entertained for a week by British Aerospace again in 1995, after they clinched a big contract with the Chilean defense firm Famea. An official entry in the Chilean embassy logbook recorded his October 1997 visit to Britain. This occurred during the Labour Party conference and involved ongoing contracts with UK defense manufacturers, which he had established as commander-in-chief of the Chilean armed forces. In an interview with the New Yorker magazine a week prior to his arrest, Pinochet said the visit was one of his regular trips to Britain. He indicated that he was in the country as Chiles armed forces purchaser. The arrest and extradition proceedings disrupted diplomatic and political relationships both across the Atlantic and within Europe, with Britain and the US tacitly opposing the Spanish action, which was supported by major European powers. A public trial for his actions in 1973 and afterwards threatened to unleash a broader social movement against those in Chile who had gone unpunished. Washington could not look favorably at interference in what it traditionally regarded as its backyard in Latin America. Later in October, Britains High Court in London upheld Pinochets claim to enjoy diplomatic immunity. Lord Bingham, the Lord Chief Justice, said, The applicant is entitled to immunity as a former head of state from the criminal and civil process of the English courts. During the hearing, Pinochets lawyer, Clive Nicholls, argued that arrest of a former head of state was not legally justified and both the original warrant and a second warrant from Spain were fatally flawed. He further argued that a United Nations court would be the proper forum to take action against Pinochet, as a British court had no power to intervene in internal matters regarding Chile. The British and American ruling classes coddling of the bloodstained Pinochet will forever be juxtaposed to their savage persecution of journalist Julian Assange. 50 years ago: Spiro Agnew, Nixons VP, resigns Spiro Agnew On October 10, 1973, US Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned from office shortly before pleading no contest to charges related to tax evasion while he was serving as the governor of Maryland. In addition to the tax fraud charges, Agnew had been accused of widespread corruption, mainly in the form of taking bribes both while serving as governor and as vice president. The charges stemmed from a 1972 federal investigation led by US Attorney George Beall into corruption in Maryland involving engineering and construction contracts. The investigation found that while serving as the governor of Maryland Agnew received kickback payments from firms that were awarded lucrative contracts with the state. Initially, Beall was hesitant to pursue charges against the vice president and believed pursuing a prosecution would not be possible as the statute of limitations had expired. However, as the investigation continued it gathered overwhelming evidence that bribery and kickbacks where not only a routine operation during Agnews tenure as governor, but that he continued to receive payments while serving as vice president. As just one example, one of Agnews benefactors, Lester Matz, gave the vice president $10,000 in cash during a visit to the White House. Despite the daily news coverage reporting on new corruption allegations and scandals in the Nixon administration, the resignation of Agnew was somewhat unexpected. In the weeks leading up to his indictment, Agnew insisted upon his innocence and fervently declared that he would never resign the office, even if charges were brought against him. The sudden change was undoubtedly connected with the Watergate scandal. Powerful sections of the national-security apparatus and the ruling class were concerned that as the investigation moved closer to Nixon himself, his prospective replacement was a completely untested and discredited politician with none of Nixons experience in managing imperialist foreign policy. In both his court appearance and in his official letter of resignation to President Nixon, Agnew claimed he had resigned only because staying in office during a trial would seriously prejudice the national interest. Nixon replied to Agnews letter stating that resignation was advisable in order to prevent a protracted period of national division and uncertainty. Before Agnew set foot into the courthouse, a deal had been worked out between Judge Walter E. Hoffman and Attorney General Elliot Richardson, on behalf of the Nixon administration. In return for agreeing not to contest the single charge of tax evasion, Agnew was placed on unsupervised probation for three years and ordered to pay a fine of just $10,000, a tiny fraction of the sums he received in bribes. 75 years ago: Israeli offensive more than doubles Gaza refugee population to 230,000 On October 15, 1948, the Israeli military launched Operation Yoav, a seven-day campaign aimed at inflicting a defeat on Palestinian and Egyptian army forces and securing control of the Negev Desert. The assault occurred in the context of the first Arab-Israeli war, precipitated by the imperialist-backed declaration earlier in 1948 of a Jewish state established through the violent dispossession of the Palestinians. In the months leading up to Operation Yoav, there had been unstable ceasefires brokered by the United Nations, temporarily halting some of the hostilities between the Israeli army and a coalition of Arab states opposed to the formation of Israel. Israeli command, however, was determined to secure substantial territorial gains to consolidate the new state. The immediate aim of Yoav was to drive a wedge between the Egyptian forces near the coast and the BeershebaHebronJerusalem road. The more fundamental goal, however, was to secure control of the entire Negev Desert, including through the forcible removal of its Palestinian inhabitants. On October 15, Israel launched its attack with an aerial bombardment of Gaza, al-Majdal, Beersheba and Beit Hanoun that would last for two more days. Beginning October 21, Israeli land forces launched a coordinated assault on Beersheba, eventually overrunning an Egyptian garrison stationed there. Over the following weeks, Israeli troops would continue a bombing campaign, even as the Egyptian military retreated, and the Israelis took a series of villages including Iraq Suwaydan. On October 28, Israeli troops carried out a massacre in the Hebron town of Al-Dawayima, indiscriminately murdering up to 200 women and children. That was only the most infamous of a series of onslaughts against Palestinian villagers associated with Operation Yoav. The United Nations Refugee Relief Project would report that the campaign had resulted in an increase in the Gaza Strips refugee population from roughly 100,000 to around 230,000. The onslaught was a continuation of the activities by Zionist organizations to establish Israel. They had carried out terrorist attacks on Palestinian forces, as well as against the British, to secure the most favorable terms when British imperialism relinquished its colonial mandate in 1947. The Zionist groups had then carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing, killing thousands of Palestinians and forcing thousands more from their homes, in order to lay the basis of a state explicitly founded on Jewish racial supremacy. 100 years ago: Old Bolsheviks send Platform of the 46 to Russian Communist Party leadership On October 15, 1923, 46 leading members of the Russian Communist Party sent a letter to the Political Bureau of the party, its leading body, to outline a crisis in the Soviet economy and inner-party democracy and the need for immediate action to remedy the situation. All of the 46 were leading cadre who had joined the party in the years of its underground existence before the October Revolution of 1917 that had established the worlds first workers state. The letters main author was probably Evgeni Preobrazhensky. Evgeni Preobrazhensky A dire economic situation had arisen in the gap between high prices for industrial goods and lower prices for agricultural goods, and especially the lack of systematic planning and development in the industrial sector to lessen these price differences. Such planning was hampered, however, by the development in the party of a bureaucratic regime of appointment to responsible posts, as opposed to direct election by party members. All significant decision in the party about the economy and much else were taken by the troika of Lev Kamenev, Gregory Zinoviev, and Joseph Stalin, which articulated the interests of this bureaucracy, not the needs of the workers and peasants. The Platform stated, The party has, to a significant degree, ceased to be a living, independent collective which is sensitive to the changes in living reality ... instead of this we observe an ever progressing, barely disguised division of the party into a secretarial hierarchy and into laymen, into professional party functionaries, chosen from above and the remaining party masses who take no part in social life. Although Leon Trotsky was not a signatory to the letter, and while it is likely he did not know of it in advance, it was Trotsky who had taken the lead in the struggle against the bureaucracy a week earlier on October 8 in his sharp and comprehensive letter to the Central Committee and Central Control Commission on the same issues: Secretarial bureaucratism must be ended. Party democracy must come into its own. The rank-and-file party members must indicate, within the framework of party-mindedness, what they are dissatisfied with, and they must receive the real opportunity to create its organizational apparatus. Lenin had been paralyzed by his third stroke in March and was unable to participate in any of these discussions. But both the Platform of the 46 and Trotskys letter had continued where Lenin had left off in his final articles in January, in which he began the fight against bureaucratization. Both the Platform of the 46 and Trotskys letter of October 8 laid the basis for the Left Opposition. GAZA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Monday that four Israeli captives in Gaza have been killed in Israeli air raids. Abu Obida, the spokesperson of the armed group, said in a brief statement that the bombardment of Israeli aircraft overnight and during the day in the Gaza Strip led to the killing of four enemy captives and their captors from the armed wing. Over the past two days, Israeli warplanes carried out hundreds of airstrikes in various areas of the Gaza Strip, with the sound of huge explosions being heard from time to time and plumes of black smoke rising from the area. The Israeli army said in a press statement that the Air Force launched hundreds of raids on the Gaza Strip, targeting sites including the operational headquarters of the Hamas movement. Salama Marouf, head of Hamas' government media office in Gaza, said the raids also targeted residential buildings, homes, mosques, facilities, and schools used as shelter centers. In a press statement, Marouf said that "the difficult humanitarian reality places responsibility on the international community," calling for urgent intervention of relevant organizations to curb the occupation, "which follows a scorched earth policy in densely populated areas and does not even pay attention to the shelter centers that display the United Nations logo." TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein on Sunday night discussed the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel. In a phone call, the two sides stressed the necessity for coordination and solidarity among Muslim countries in support of the "oppressed people of Palestine," and convening an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to review the ongoing developments in Palestine and support the Palestinian nation, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. The Iranian foreign minister stressed that "resistance against aggression and occupation is a legitimate right of the Palestinian nation." The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza. At least 560 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,900 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, according to an update issued by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday, while more than 800 have been killed in Israel in the Hamas attack. CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The illustrated "Chinese Brief History Ballad" has been recently published in simplified Chinese, which condenses 5,000 years of Chinese history in 144 lines with 1,440 Chinese characters. The book, authored by Gan Kaiwan, a Chinese New Zealander, has been warmly welcomed by Chinese both home and abroad as it helps promote the Chinese culture, especially to children who were born or live overseas. The 11-part vividly illustrated, elaborately annotated book allows children to learn about Chinese culture through easy-to-understand rhyming texts, with Chinese Pinyin as the learning pathway. At the launch of the book on Monday in New Zealand, Gan said many overseas Chinese children cannot speak good Chinese and do not understand Chinese history well, so the book was to help them learn better. The book also meets the needs of passing on the Chinese culture overseas, and helping foreigners understand the Chinese civilization, Gan said. Holding a doctorate in chemistry, Gan spent three years writing the book after his retirement, which vividly presents the important events and people in Chinese history in the form of a catchy five-character ballad. "How can we call ourselves Chinese if we don't know about Chinese history?" Gan said the use of the five-character ballad form, which is catchy and like the Three Character Classic, makes it easy for children to read. But it was not easy to create, especially with 5,000 years of history highly condensed into a five-character sentence pattern. Chinese Consul General in Christchurch He Ying said the book's total of 1,440 Chinese characters in the 144 lines, which reproduces the 5,000 years of glorious history, have been extracted from a vast number of history books, and the painstaking work involved can be imagined and is admirable. The book is a successful attempt by Gan to teach his grandchildren living in New Zealand how to learn and understand the 5,000-year civilization and how to inherit and promote the profound Chinese culture, she said. Kevin Grounds, who teaches Chinese at Burnside High School, said the book provides an interesting way to introduce some history to young students. "It is very concise, just one (historical) period for one or two pages, which is very simple for students to learn some history," Grounds said. Although most New Zealand high school students would struggle with understanding the Chinese poems in depth, they would understand individual words with some help, he said, adding that the poems are short enough that students could memorize some and the history can be taught. Gan was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013. A woman casts her vote for the regional elections in Athens, Greece, Oct. 8, 2023. Greek conservatives of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party won seven out of 13 regions in the first round of regional elections on Sunday, according to the preliminary results released by the Interior Ministry, with about 40 percent of ballots counted till midnight. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Greek conservatives of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party won seven out of 13 regions in the first round of regional elections on Sunday, according to the preliminary results released by the Interior Ministry, with about 40 percent of ballots counted till midnight. The regional elections came as a political test for the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who won a second term in office in this summer's general elections. "We are here to work with each governor and mayor. After all, this is what we did in the previous four years because problems have no (political) color," the premier said on Sunday evening after the announcement of the results, sending a message of cooperation. Candidates for regional governors, as well as mayors in the 332 municipalities nationwide, needed to secure 43 percent of votes to win the seat outright, otherwise the 1st and 2nd runners will contest in a runoff on Oct. 15. In the region of Attica, where the capital Athens is located and is the most populous region, ND candidate Nikos Hardalias won the election with 46.53 percent of votes after 50.37 percent of votes were counted. "All together we will fight in the next five years and together, undoubtedly, we will make it," he said. Athens' incumbent Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis gained 41.27 percent of votes with 44.49 percent of votes counted, and thus will face a candidate backed by the socialist PASOK-KINAL party in the second round. In Piraeus, the incumbent mayor Yiannis Moralis achieved a clear victory with 69.8 percent of votes. A clear picture of the results of municipal elections was expected on Monday. The local administration officials are elected for a five-year term. Some 9.7 million Greek citizens aged above 17 were registered to vote. In addition, 17,957 citizens of 26 EU member states, who are living in Greece and have registered for the elections, could also cast their ballot, according to the Interior Ministry. A girl is seen waiting for her father to cast his vote in Athens, Greece, Oct. 8, 2023. Greek conservatives of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party won seven out of 13 regions in the first round of regional elections on Sunday, according to the preliminary results released by the Interior Ministry, with about 40 percent of ballots counted till midnight. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) A man casts his vote for the regional elections in Athens, Greece, Oct. 8, 2023. Greek conservatives of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party won seven out of 13 regions in the first round of regional elections on Sunday, according to the preliminary results released by the Interior Ministry, with about 40 percent of ballots counted till midnight. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) Jamar Montae Porterfield Herriot, Jr., 22, died of gunshot wounds, police tell PEOPLE Sean Stipp/TribLIVE.com via AP Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, Indiana County, Pa. Shots broke out at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, Pa., shortly after midnight Sunday. Nine people were struck in the gunfight, and Jamar Montae Porterfield Herriot, Jr., 22, of Homestead, Pa., died on the scene, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper First Class Clifford A. Greenfield tells PEOPLE. UPDATE: Troop A Major Case Team Continues to Investigate Shooting in Indiana County. Troopers have confirmed that at least nine people were shot during this incident. We continue to urge anyone with information to immediately contact Troop A, Indiana at 724-357-1960. pic.twitter.com/ncDlbGhsd3 Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) October 8, 2023 The other eight injured 5 men and 3 women were all between the ages of 18 and 23, state police said in a press release this weekend. One of the injured, an 18-year-old man from Chicago, was listed in critical condition as of Sunday morning. Two injured people were released and the other six still undergoing treatment as of Sunday night, police said. Dozens of gunshots were fired inside the building and that investigators had recovered a slew of shell casings and multiple firearms, Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a press conference Sunday. The shooting occurred at a private event with a fee at the door to get in with some 150 people at the community center, Bivens said. You can imagine the chaos that would ensue from a number of gunshots in a relatively confined space, Bivens said. People dove through windows, people ran through doors, ran through porch railings, trying to get away from that scene. The shooters also got away, and police said that they are investigating the case as a multi-shooter incident, although officials declined to say how many shooters are suspected in the case. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. As of Monday afternoon, no one had been taken into custody, Greenfield tells PEOPLE. Pennsylvania State Police ask that anyone with information about the shooting call Pennsylvania State Police Troop A, Indiana at 724-357-1960. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000. In addition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is additionally offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and prosecution of the shooters. Herriot is among 540 people shot dead this year in mass shootings across the country, according to Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass-shooting as an incident in which at least four people, excluding the shooter, are shot. Since Herriots death, the online archive has logged another mass-shooting out of Chicago, Ill. Eight more people were injured in that shooting. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Former Good Morning America producer Kirstyn Crawford has settled a legal battle against ABC News, which she accused of sweeping under the rug multiple sexual harassment allegations against her then-boss and ex-senior news executive Michael Corn. A stipulation was filed on Friday in New York state court moving for dismissal of the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, against ABC and Corn, who allegedly assaulted Crawford during a 2015 work trip to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards. Lawyers for Crawford, ABC and Corn signed the document. Terms of the deal werent disclosed. More from The Hollywood Reporter In a statement, an ABC News spokesperson thanked Crawford for courageously speaking out about her experience at ABC News. The rep added, Ms. Crawford thanks ABC News for its prompt response to her formal complaint in 2021. A lawyer for Corn, who has denied the accusations, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The senior executive producer of Good Morning America abruptly departed the network in April 2021. After Crawford sued the company and Corn in August that year, an independent investigation over how it responded to allegations of assault and harassment was announced. The lawsuit revolved around claims that Corn in 2015 pulled Crawfords head into his chest and began kissing her and rubbing her legs during a business trip to Los Angeles. It also included allegations from former ABC News producer Jill McClain, who accused Corn of assaulting her on two separate work trips. In one incident in 2010, Corn allegedly pinned her down on a hotel bed, pulled down the top of her jumpsuit, and fondled her bare breasts after he forcibly entered her hotel room. Crawford claimed that ABC knew that Corn had a propensity to sexually harass female colleagues from several other women who had reported him to human resources and senior management. She argued the network looked the other way and promoted Corn due to his commercial success as a producer, facilitating the hostile workplace that [he] cultivated through his influence over subordinates careers, sexual harassment, gaslighting, and anger management issues. A New York appeals court in May revived some claims, including for hostile work environment and sex discrimination, that were dismissed by the judge overseeing the case, who found that they were brought past the statute of limitations. It also concluded that accusations from McClain, who wasnt a plaintiff in the lawsuit, shouldnt be precluded as any evidence regarding those allegations may be relevant to plaintiffs hostile work environment claim, according to the order. An allegation that the network engaged in quid pro quo harassment was kept out of the lawsuit since there is no allegation that Corn denied [Crawford] a promotion during the limitations period, the appeals court ruled. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. Bangladesh is a vital presence at the 2023 Busan International Film Festival with three films in competition and a film at the Asian Project Market. The current wave of Bangladeshi cinema was heralded by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki s Television, which closed Busan in 2012. The festival has subsequently screened almost every major work emerging from the country. More from Variety Farookis latest effort Something Like an Autobiography plays in the festivals Jiseok competition. Feature debutants Biplob Sarkars The Stranger and Iqbal H. Chowdhurys The Wrestlers are in the New Currents competition for first or second features. Robiul Alam Robis Suraiya is selected for the APM. Like all cinema that successfully transcends national borders, this latest crop from Bangladesh is rooted in the local ethos but features themes that are universal. Something Like an Autobiography, for example, deals with themes of pregnancy alongside societal and political pressures on celebrities. The Wrestler marries sport, pride and climate change, while The Stranger deals with matters of familial relationships and burgeoning sexuality. Language, communication and immigration are the themes that Suraiya will explore. We can see that these films are capturing elements of our familiar contemporary life. In terms of storytelling, we have become increasingly localized, and as a result, our films are creating their own space in the global cinematic landscape. Even though these films will be showcased at this years Busan festival, they are deeply rooted in local narratives, Sarkar told Variety. The Stranger South Asia is hugely influenced by the filmmaking colossus that is India and the separate, original narratives in Bangladesh have taken time to emerge. Sometimes its good not to have a legacy. You then feel inspired to create a legacy. Bangladesh is a young nation which has long been under the shadow of its giant neighbor when it comes to cinematic styles and expressions. Post 2000, a new generation of filmmakers, writers, poets arrived on the scene. They displayed a deep desire to find their own voices in cinema and other fields of art. This has gradually contributed to the ongoing surge in Bangladeshi cinema. We are still a long way from calling it a wave but we are surely getting there, Farooki told Variety. As with every emerging industry, there are opportunities and challenges. The identity formation process of Bangladeshi cinema is in a nascent phase. From its mainstream to independent scene, from streaming platform to cinema, Bangladeshi cinema is in an odyssey to create its own style and identity, Robi told Variety. Farooki lauds the Bangladeshi audience who are ready to accept different kinds of stories and story-telling and the countrys vibrant pipeline of budding filmmakers. Chowdhury is all praise for the countrys national film funding, without which The Wrestler would not have been possible. He is also appreciative of his compatriots ability to pitch Bangladeshi stories to the world. The Wrestler Opportunities are there because the whole film industry wants diversity, Chowdhury told Variety. I feel like its a very crucial time for decolonization in cinema also. Our top superheroes dont always need to come from North America. The Wrestler producer Piplu R. Khan sees an opportunity in South Asias global footprint. The South Asian diaspora can definitely be a catalyst to a growth in terms of reach and impact, Khan said. In terms of challenges, the main ones appear to be that of an ecosystem for independent cinema that is currently fledgling at best, the absence of a clear national film policy and the bane of most of Asia censorship. The biggest challenge is a lack of proper policy. A policy that will ensure producers and distributors are getting proper revenue shares, a policy that will ensure artistic freedom. Censor and institutional control is still a major issue in Bangladesh. Without this, our filmmakers would be throwing more questions to the status quo, Farooki said. (The filmmakers Saturday Afternoon is yet to see a release in the country as despite being cleared by the censors after a four-year struggle, the film is yet to receive a censor certificate.) Chowdhury would like to see the government provide long-term financial support that is required to nurture artists and talents, while Robi and Sarkar say that that lack of formal education and training opportunities for filmmaking has resulted in a dearth of skilled professionals in Bangladesh. We are still struggling to make our policy makers understand the strength of our new wave. If we can strengthen on some of these key issues and initiate some sort of reform, things can be amazing, Khan said. While the audience may be enthusiastic, distribution is another issue. There isnt much enthusiasm for marrying commerce with art in this type of cinema, and distributors are not keen on releasing such films in theaters. This poses a significant barrier to the dissemination of our cinema, Sarkar said. The audience is also fragmented thanks to the boom in streaming. The streaming platforms often cater to specific target audiences based on data-driven decisions. This could limit the scope for experimentation, as the popularity of independent cinema determines whether similar content will be produced in the future. This can stifle diversity and innovation in Bangladeshi cinema, said producer Abu Shahed Emon, a Busan regular whose No Ground Beneath the Feet debuted at the festival and is Bangladeshs entry to the Oscars this year. Its crucial to remember that cinema has historically evolved through experimentation, and nurturing an ecosystem that encourages these original voices is vital for the future of Bangladeshi cinema. In this case a solution is at hand. Something Like an Autobiography is produced by leading Bangladesh streamer Chorki and is part of the Ministry of Love anthology that also features films by voices in the countrys independent cinema scene, including Robi and Emon. Yes, we have challenges but we remain optimistic, said Nusrat Imrose Tisha, star and co-producer of Something Like an Autobiography. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Matteo Garrone s Io Capitano (Me Captain in English), which was recently chosen as Italys entry for this seasons best international feature Oscar competition, will be celebrated with the Humanitarian Award at the 28th Capri, Hollywood International Film Festival later this year, the fest announced Sunday. The award will be accepted in-person by Garrone and the films stars, Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall. The film which premiered in September at the Venice International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Silver Lion for the direction by Garrone (2008s Gomorrah) and the Marcello Mastroianni Award for the performance by Sarr tells the story of a Senegalese teenagers desperate quest to get from Dakar to Europe. More from The Hollywood Reporter Io Capitano is well deserving of the Capri Humanitarian Award, as it is an important work of art encouraging inclusion and solidarity among human beings and shows the utmost respect for individuality and cultural diversity, the Oscar-winning screenwriter Bobby Moresco, who is the honorary chair of this years Capri, Hollywood fest, said in a statement. The film emphasizes the importance of brotherhood and the need for sensitivity towards those whose existence is laden with discomfort and distress in large parts of the world, and whose struggle for a better life needs to be acknowledged and supported by the rest of the world. Fest founder-director Pascal Vicedomini, who previously dedicated the 2016 edition of the fest to African migrants, added in a statement: Were pleased to warmly welcome the protagonists of a work that has touched the hearts of international audiences beyond all expectations. Unfortunately, the European Film Academys regulations dont allow young actors Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall to be eligible for awards, despite their extraordinary performances and amazing achievements. We hope that the regulation will be amended in consideration of the realities of todays film world and the world at large. The next edition of the Capri, Hollywood fest, which takes place on Capri, an island off the coast of Naples that has long been a favorite for tourists and filmmakers (1963s Cleopatra was largely shot there), will run Dec. 27-Jan. 2, in the thick of the awards season, as always. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. In a new episode of Sneaker Shopping with Complex, DJ Khaled dished about his vast sneaker collection and a time when Fat Joe got a tad aggressive with him over a pair of rare worn Air Jordans. After speaking about opening his own sneaker store in Miami, which was a dream of his since working in Champs and putting mixtapes in the sneakers, he shared a time that his brethren in rap demanded a pair of his $25,000 kicks. I dont know what was in him that day, it actually scared me, Khaled recalled the situation. So one day he was at my house, but Ive never seen him go in my sneaker room with like good aggression. It was like a mission. Speaking of having four pairs of the Black Chrome Eminem x Carthartt Air Jordan 4 Retro kicks, he added, He was like Yo give me the worn ones I looked at him like, are you crazy? I was like running grabbing I thought I was gonna have to fight him. And this is my family, Im not doing that. Im just telling you, I thought. Major keyeverything you think, doesnt mean you have to react. I had to stop myself, Im not fighting Joey Crack, he said. Earlier in the episode, the We The Best boss spoke on giving back to the community with his own store. When I opened this store, it took me five years to openand I collaborated with Snipes, he said. This store is for the community, for the city, for the beach, for everyone that flies in out of town to witness Miami greatness. its about giving. Khaled also teamed up with Airbnb for a limited-time last November, offering a replica of his sneaker closet for guests to stay in. The God Did creator offered an overnight stay for two in a transfigured version of his massive sneaker closet in Miami. Not only did guests receive keys to his sneaker paradise, but also an exclusive autographed pair of Jordan 5s from his new We The Best Air Jordan collaboration, a handwritten welcome note from DJ Khaled upon arrival, and suggestions for the ultimate 305 experience. Sneakers are an essential part of Hip-Hop culture and collecting them is an art just like creating music, said DJ Khaled, a self-proclaimed sneakerhead from birth. We bring the same passion and energy to the shoe game as we do the studio. Thats why were excited to share our sneaker kingdom with fans and give them a chance to walk in our shoes, literally. More from VIBE.com Click here to read the full article. Mayim Bialik took to Instagram Live on Monday to recite the Shema, a Jewish prayer, to show her support for the people of Israel in light of the horrific situation currently unfolding. I dont know what to say, Im kind of speechless, she told her followers after concluding the prayer. Its not my job to be a politician. Its not my job to give people a running commentary about whats going on in the world. But I am a very public Jewish person, and it feels conspicuous to not say something today about how a breach like this could happen, and what it means. More from TVLine On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a series of deadly attacks on Israel. Amid the ongoing fighting, 1,400 Israelis and Palestinians have been killed, with thousands more injured. Bialik continues, My family has lived in Israel since I was born, and in that time we have never known anything like this. Theres a lot I want to say, theres a lot that Im furious about, and theres a lot of misunderstanding that Id like to clear up. Its been an exceptionally painful time for those of us who are in the diaspora, Bialik adds. Theres a level of disbelief, theres a level of terror and fear. I know its late in Israel. Our hearts are with you, no matter what side of the political divide we are on. Jews from all ends of the political spectrum have been coming together in miraculous ways. Watch Bialiks emotional video below: Bialik has since last Spring been on hiatus from co-hosting Jeopardy! due to the myriad Hollywood strikes. Its believed that she will return once the SAG-AFTRA strike is resolved. And Bialik is just one of many celebrities to have publicly condemned the attacks in the past few days. My heart is aching, Gal Gadot posted, while Natalie Portman wrote, I am in horror at these barbaric acts and my heart is pounding with love and prayer for the families of all affected. Other outspoken celebrities have included Jamie Lee Curtis, Yael Grobglas, Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman. Best of TVLine Get more from TVLine.com : Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Newsletter Click here to read the full article. On day one as the CEO of CNN, Mark Thompson found himself facing a global crisis after Hamas surprise attack against Israel. The veteran news executive is taking over a massive news organization in the middle of an enormously consequential world event, one that will undoubtedly be critical for CNN and its plan to restore itself as the global TV news leader. When Russia invaded Ukraine last year (just a few months before Thompsons predecessor Chris Licht took over the venerable news channel), CNNs viewership soared as it converged on the nascent war (CNN has long benefitted from viewers who dont typically watch TV news but tune in where there is a major event). More from The Hollywood Reporter Its too soon to tell if CNN will see a similar rise in viewers given the violence in Israel, but Thompson, speaking on CNNs Monday morning editorial call, seems acutely aware of the stakes. The executive said in recorded remarks that CNNs coverage of the Hamas-Israel conflict has been basically great. Thompson, who officially started at CNN on Monday morning, is not a stranger to the news business. He previously served as director-general of the BBC and CEO of The New York Times, so its safe to say he has been at the center of seismic events that have galvanized newsrooms. And he wont have to micromanage CNNs coverage either. I was blown away at the muscle memory that kicked in at CNN during major crises, Jon Klein, the former president of CNN U.S., tells The Hollywood Reporter, noting that the channel has veterans who have covered every news event imaginable. Its just lurking not very far under the surface because youve got to move quickly. Having run two world-class news organizations already, Mark no doubt brings the right DNA to the crisis coverage he is stepping into, Klein adds. Thompson has serious business-side problems to solve at CNN. TV is also too dominant at CNN and digital too marginal, Thompson also told staff on Monday. We have some real talent and bright creative spots on the digital side, but despite all the hard work, our digital products today lag well behind the current state of the art. But the Israel conflict is now the second time in as many years that new leadership is joining right as a geopolitical conflict breaks out, and as CNN itself shines through its coverage. While Thompson was addressing CNN staff in New York, Atlanta and Washington on Monday morning, CNN foreign correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team found themselves diving into a ditch on the side of a road near the Israel-Gaza border, as sirens blared and rockets and jets roared overhead. So we have had to take shelter here by the roadside, Ward said, looking into the camera lying on the ground next to her, as her producer was visible behind her, cell phone glued to his ear. Gaza is in that direction. We can hear now a lot of jets in the sky. We can also hear the Iron Dome intercepting a number of those rockets as they were whizzing overhead and making impact in that direction, not too far from here. As the Hamas attack on Israel appears poised to erupt into a full-blown conflict, news organizations once again find themselves surrounding a story that is vital to cover given its international significance. NBC News Lester Holt, ABC News David Muir and CBS News Norah ODonnell, the network evening news anchors, all flew into Israel on Monday. But journalists are also finding themselves grappling with a geopolitical landmine. What you were able to witness was how her cameraman even as hes running for cover had the savvy to keep rolling even while heading for safety, and her producer while theyre huddled against an embankment, and Clarissa is looking at the camera, you could see her producer behind her continuing to talk into his cell phone presumably to the control room in New York or London, says Klein. Thats a very vivid example of the kind of experience that you want to have available. Less experienced people will either panic when something like that happens and fall apart, or they wont know when to take cover or how to take cover. For a news outlet and news executives, conflicts like Russias invasion of Ukraine and the emerging violence in Israel are, in Kleins words, among the most fraught and unpredictable. But they are also critical. Challenging world events are when news outlets define themselves. But for the executives in charge, it also takes a personal toll. You cant sleep, you know, its your people out there, Klein says. Even the most seasoned journalists can suddenly find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and be arrested, be captured, be killed or injured. Its a grave concern constantly, and so, maximum communication and maximum caution, he adds. The people on the ground need to know that the most important thing is their safety, not getting the story. You dont want them taking unnecessary risks, being reckless, putting themselves in harms way unnecessarily. That said, the very act of basically parachuting into a war zone is inherently dangerous and risky, and these tend to be risk-taking people so youre really dependent on everyones cooler head prevailing. Its not a hypothetical concern. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich is currently in a Russian jail after being arrested in March on charges of espionage. And in March of 2022, in the early weeks of Russias invasion of Ukraine, shelling from Russian troops killed a veteran Fox News camera operator, Pierre Zakrzewski, as well as a local fixer working for Fox Oleksandra Sasha Kuvshynova. The correspondent they were working with, Benjamin Hall, suffered grave injuries, losing one of his legs, his other foot, and the use of one of his eyes. In an interview with THR earlier this year, Hall said he thinks of the moment of the attack every day. I think back to lying on the ground, I think back to sitting next to Pierre [in the car before the attack]. I try as hard as I can to remember what it felt like, and in a strange way it gives me strength, Hall said. I realized that if you can get through that you can get through absolutely anything. In another sense I realized that I had to remember that point forever. Because if you dont make the best of everything, then Pierres life is going to waste as well. According to Klein, in difficult breaking news events, networks lean on veteran correspondents (like Ward) and producers, who know how to handle difficult situations. Of course, you want to get there as quickly as you can, and you want to report as thoroughly as you can, but you really want to make sure that everyone comes home from there, Klein says. The best way to ensure that, first of all, is to deploy highly experienced people who know which risks to take and which ones not to. (During his tenure atop CNN from 2004-2010, Klein oversaw coverage of Israels disengagement from Gaza, two U.S. presidential elections, a tsunami in Southeast Asia and a devastating earthquake in Haiti.) Youre looking for people who understand that even if their title is producer and theyre technically in charge of the operation, that they have a good sense for the people like the camera operators or other producers or correspondents who have far more experience than they do, he adds. So its its a matter of looking for people with a cool head and good judgment, and to understand that the first task is not to get the story but to get home. Of course when mayhem erupts, theres not always a guarantee of anything, Klein notes. In the case of the conflict in Israel, some circumstances make it easier for news organizations to report on whats happening. There are multiple non-stop commercial flights from the U.S. to Tel Aviv every day, and essentially every news outlet has a bureau in the country, giving it ample resources on the ground already. While conflicts are unpredictable, having an existing presence in the country has a number of advantages that can be felt in coverage. Another component is the casting, making sure that it isnt just sending the closest bodies to the scene, but rather adding people who know the story best and could bring a depth or perspective that goes beyond just narrating the unfolding events, Klein says. So the difference between a story that that informs you about whats going on and one that blows you away is that combination of narration plus background understanding, not just the what but the why of it all. Klein recalled another complex story that ultimately helped define CNN: the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. When the Haiti earthquake struck, we insisted on making [CNN chief medical correspondent] Sanjay Gupta one of the three reporters that we sent we actually pulled another correspondent off the plane that the logistics team had had already gotten fueled up and ready to take off for Haiti within literally within an hour of the earthquake we pulled one correspondent off so that Sanjay could fly in because we knew there was a huge medical component to the story, Klein recalls. He ended up performing surgery on patients on camera thats that idea of matching the story to the right correspondents with the proviso that they understand how to get the story as safely as possible. But speaking on the CNN edit call Monday, Thompson also weighed in on another core challenge of a news executive: What to cover and what not to cover, and what perspectives should be brought to the table. The new CNN chief wanted viewers and readers to understand what Hamas is, who they are, and what their goals were in the unprecedented attack. Its a challenging piece of the puzzle, given the stakes and emotions at play. On Monday morning Jonathan Greenblatt, the director of the Anti-Defamation League, appeared on MSNBCs Morning Joe, where he criticized how the channel had been covering the attacks. I must say, I love this show. And I love this network. But Ive got to ask who is writing the scripts? Hamas? Greenblatt says, angry at how MSNBC covered the events. To my colleagues in the media: call it what it is. Terrorism, conducted by a (designated) terrorist organization. Murder and torture of Jews. There is no justification. No context that explains these atrocities, added CNBC Squawk on the Street anchor Sara Eisen Monday afternoon. Klein says that is a problem that is impossible to avoid. Theres the question of perspective, recognizing that given inflamed passions on all sides of the global crisis, its invariably going to cause half of your viewers or sometimes almost all of them to think that youre biased or ignorant or putting your finger on the scale for one side or the other, Klein says, adding that as a news executive to have to take all of that into consideration when it comes to directing coverage. For Thompson, now fresh on the job at CNN (and where he will be serving as its editor-in-chief, per Warner Bros. Discovery), its a consideration that will come into play sooner rather than later. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. U.S. producer E. Bennett Walsh, who has made films including Mortal Kombat, Meg 2: The Trench and The Kite Runner across the APAC region, says hes got his eye on Japan and Korea as the next hot destinations for footloose Hollywood productions. I think the opportunity in Asia is in Korea and Japan, said Walsh. Tokyo Vice recently had a great experience in Japan and there are more opportunities for productions like that. Some pieces of the Marvel movies have filmed in Korea, but that was just scratching the surface. More from Deadline Japan recently introduced an official production incentive to fund up to one half of the qualifying Japanese spend of international productions, while Korea has been operating incentives for several years. In addition, Japans largest studio Toho recently formed a joint venture production services outfit with established Japan-based producer Georgina Pope (Equals, Giri/Haji). The opportunities in Japan have been under-estimated the crew base is developing, and the language barrier is changing. Everything is becoming more accessible because of the [Tokyo 2020] Olympics, Walsh said. E. Bennett Walsh Walsh was speaking at the MPA Chanel X BAFA Film Workshop, organized by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and BIFF Asian Film Academy (BAFA), at the on-going Busan International Film Festival. Walsh added that Thailand remains the major offshore production hotspot in Asia, with Malaysia playing catch-up with it incentives and studios. Hollywood has been shooting Thailand for 30 years, so the crews are incredibly skilled. Malaysia is probably the biggest competition for Thailand in Southeast Asia. He said the reason he was free to attend the festival is that Mortal Kombat 2, which should have been shooting in Australia, has been on hold since mid-July due to the SAG-AFTRA strikes. However, he was optimistic that an agreement would be reached soon, and the production could start up again. He acknowledged that China, where he filmed Kill Bill, The Kite Runner and Zhang Yimous The Great Wall, is a bit trickier these days due to regulations and increasing costs as the domestic industry booms. Kill Bill: Volume 1 filmed at Beijing Film Studios in 2002 at the very beginning of the Chinese film industrys spectacular growth trajectory, at a time when the country was just starting to build multiplexes and open up to international productions. Having gone back to China again and again, its been a real treat to see the industry grow from nothing to what its become today, said Walsh. On the opportunity for future China-US co-productions he said: Its a case of finding the right stories. Ive always been in awe of the way the Chinese film industry has grown. Walsh also recently filmed China-US co-production Meg 2: The Trench in the UK and Thailand but said the decision to not film in China was wholly due to Covid restrictions. He described The Kite Runner as his hardest movie ever because the production had to go to Afghanistan to cast for three months, then get all the cast out of that country and into Kashgar in the far West of China, where the film was partly shot. After doing 25 movies I can solve anything not because of ego but just because Ive had to get on with it. There are some things I have to sleep on, but I can always get it done. The MPA Chanel X BAFA Film Workshop also organized a pitching competition for Asian filmmakers, which awarded its Grand Prize to Lebanese director Pascale Asmar for Tamima. The prize comes with a trip to Los Angeles to participate in the Global Film & Television Immersion Course. The Presidents Special Recognition Prize was awarded to Vietnams Nguyen Phan Linh Dan for If Wood Could Cry, It Would Cry Blood. The pitch competition judges said: Tamima is a powerful tale that reflects the turbulence of current times and the powerful forces that shape our identity. Pascale Asmar made a passionate and accomplished presentation that gave the judges confidence that the filmmakers would bring this project to fruition. They praised If Wood Could Cry, It Would Cry Blood as a thoughtful and deeply layered film about childhood trauma, beautifully developed and realized through Nguyen Phan Linh Dans presentation. The filmmaker is thoroughly in control of her medium and her participation at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards should open further doors for this stunning feature film project. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. HBOs John Oliver on Sunday spotlighted the behavior of a GOP mayoral candidate in Franklin, Tennessee, as being entirely emblematic of Republican politics, from the local level all the way up to the top. Real estate agent and town alderman Gabrielle Hanson has branded herself as a hardcore MAGA candidate, the Last Week Tonight host noted. Hanson has attempted to shut down Pride and Juneteenth celebrations, reportedly received support from a white nationalist group, and allegedly been busted for lying about a social media photo and foreseeing a school shooting, Oliver said. In a world that made sense, this woman would obviously have withdrawn from this mayoral race in shame, he added in a video shared online by Raw Story. But theres a real chance she could still win this election, Oliver said. Because while her numerous scandals are clearly almost cartoonish in their extremity, her behavior is entirely emblematic of Republican politics, from the local level all the way up to the top. If we learned anything this week, its that far-right Republicans maintain a vise-like grip on the party, he added, referencing the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the House speakership. For his main story, Oliver focused on home-schooling and managed a dig at former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson. Watch here: Related... 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). This photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows smoke rising following the Israeli artillery shelling on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, adjacent to Israel. Israeli artillery on Monday targeted the outskirts of the Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, the al-Jadeed local TV channel reported. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli artillery on Monday targeted the outskirts of the Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, the al-Jadeed local TV channel reported. Al-Jadeed noted that citizens in the town fled their houses as the Israeli artillery shelling intensified in the afternoon. It was also reported that intense reconnaissance flights were seen at low altitudes in southern Lebanon. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it hit southern Lebanon with helicopters and intensified artillery shelling toward the area, in response to militants crossing into Israel's territory and a mortar attack from southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Chief of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) Aroldo Lazaro Saenz has contacted authorities from both sides, urging them to exercise restraint, the National News Agency reported. The situation on the Lebanon-Israel border escalated over the past two days, with Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah firing dozens of missiles toward Israel in support of the joint attacks launched by Gaza-based Palestinian armed groups starting Saturday morning. The Israeli military said in a statement on Monday that at least two militants were shot dead when they were crossing from Lebanon into Israel. This photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows smoke rising following the Israeli artillery shelling on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, adjacent to Israel. Israeli artillery on Monday targeted the outskirts of the Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, the al-Jadeed local TV channel reported. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) This photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows smoke rising following the Israeli artillery shelling on the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, adjacent to Israel. Israeli artillery on Monday targeted the outskirts of the Aita al-Shaab town in south Lebanon, the al-Jadeed local TV channel reported. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) As congress continues to search for a replacement House Speaker, two frontrunners emerged last week, in the form of Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Steve Scalise . Both options were pretty bleak for John Oliver , especially considering the latter candidate has previously likened himself to the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan. To kick off his second episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver immediately got into Kevin McCarthys ouster, first poking fun at Patrick McHenry, who is filling the role in the interim. Oliver joked that he looks like Patton Oswalt as a ventriloquist dummy and, like most of the late night hosts did this week, had a laugh at how hard McHenry slammed the gavel to adjourn the House after McCarthy was booted. The late night host then turned his attention to Jordan and Scalise, pointing out that Scalise was once equated to David Duke without the baggage. And you know who described him as that? He did! Oliver marveled. And to describe yourself as David Duke, the former Grand Wizard of the KKK, without the baggage is a choice. Because that man is all baggage! Without it, hes just a crypt keeper with a patchy bleach job. Oliver added that, whether the job ends up going to Jordan or Scalise, neither option is all that great. It is pretty clear that the Republican party is being controlled by the absolute extremists but not just nationally, Oliver explained. From there, he went in-depth on a Tennessee mayoral race, in which the incumbent Republican is being challenged by a woman who has branded herself as a hardcore MAGA candidate. Running down a laundry list of her exposed lies and hypocrisies, Oliver compared her to many of the far-right Republicans in Washington D.C. Theres a real chance she could still win this election, because while her numerous scandals are clearly almost cartoonish in their extremity, her behavior is entirely emblematic of Republican politics, from the local level all the way up to the top, Oliver said. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is now streaming on Max. The post John Oliver Roasts Steve Scalise for Dubbing Himself David Duke Without the Baggage: Duke Is Literally All Baggage appeared first on TheWrap. As Hispanic Heritage Month continues in the United States, a new report from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative assesses the state of Hispanic and Latino representation in Hollywoods top-grossing films. The full study will be released next month, examining 1,600 top-grossing films released from 2007 to 2022 and more than 69,000 speaking characters, with qualitative data about how those Latino and Hispanic characters are presented in films, including whether they stereotype or stigmatize the community. Its the third study analyzing Hispanic and Latino representation from the Initiatives researchers, led by founder Dr. Stacy L. Smith. More from Variety According to the report, Hispanic/Latino actors filled just 10 leading or co-lead roles across last years 100 top-grossing films, and eight of those 10 roles went to Hispanic/Latina actors. In the 16-year span studied, just 76 actors filled lead or co-lead roles (across 1,600 top-grossing films); 44 were Hispanic/Latina; and five were Hispanic/Latinas aged 45 and older. Overall, the study showed that there has been no significant change in the prevalence of Latino characters. In 2022, a mere 6% of speaking characters were Hispanic/Latino, which researchers note is not dissimilar to the 3% found in 2007, but vastly underrepresents the largest ethnic group in the country. (According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Hispanic population reached 63.7 million in 2022, representing 19.1% of the population.) Of the few Hispanic/Latino characters that appeared on screen in 2022, almost 60% were male-identified. The year saw the release of blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water, Top Gun: Maverick and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which, respectively, starred actors Zoe Saldana, Danny Ramirez and Xochitl Gomez (pictured above) as well as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which featured a number of Hispanic and Latino actors in its ensemble. In addition to instances of on-screen representation, researchers also analyzed roles behind the camera. Their findings: Hispanic/Latinos continued to be virtually absent from directing and writing among popular films especially by Hispanic women and Latinas. The studys lead author Ariana Case states: Top movies still do not reflect the stories of the Hispanic and Latino communities in this country. Both behind the camera and on screen, the numbers reflect how little opportunity Hispanic and Latino creatives have to share their experiences and see themselves reflected on screen. While this report takes a look at 2022 films, the results are indicative of the climate in 2023, where Latinos, as well as other underrepresented and marginalized groups, were greatly affected due to the historic Hollywood strikes. In August, with actors unable to promote projects due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, 27 Latino organizations united to support projects such as DC Studios Blue Beetle, their first film starring a Latino superhero. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study was produced with support from McDonalds Spotlight Dorado, an endeavor aimed at empowering Latino and Hispanic voices across industries, beginning with film. Their mission is to increase inclusivity and pave the way for these underrepresented stories and storytellers. McDonalds USAs content and culture director Ryan Worthy notes that the Initiatives research has been an integral part of how weve been informing our efforts for Spotlight Dorado. Worthy adds: Were excited to take our partnership to the next level to continue on our shared mission of shining a light on the underrepresentation of Hispanics and Latinos, while doing our part to give the community a voice and drive much-needed change in the industry. In 2022, McDonalds launched the Spotlight Dorado short film contest, which aims to bridge the gap for budding filmmakers. The contest is free to enter and the selected filmmakers are awarded a $75,000 production budget and provided mentorship from industry leaders including Anthony Ramos, Al Madrigal, Danay Garcia, Carlos Lopez Estrada and Nancy C. Mejia as they shoot their own projects. The 2023 finalists are Marissa Diaz (director of Fancy Florezs Summer Staycation), Kryzz Gautier (Chimera) and Pablo Riesgo (Cuando Volvimos a la Tierra). Their shorts will premiere in November, and the public will vote for their favorite. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. EXCLUSIVE: James Patterson and the late Michael Crichton are teaming on a novel, and now it has a title and pub date. The duo has combined global sales in excess of 675 million books, so we can expect a monster screen auction to erupt early next year. Hachette Book Groups Little, Brown and Company will release Eruption on Monday, June 3, with Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch calling it one of the most spectacular meetings of minds in literary history. More from Deadline The novel is based on a partially finished manuscript by Crichton, who died in 2008. It was given to Patterson by Sherri Crichton, the authors wife and CEO of CrichtonSun, the publishing/production company of Crichtons estate. The subject: A once-in-a-century volcano eruption of Hawaiis Mauna Loa volcano threatens a secret cache of chemical weapons that can destroy not only the island but the world. The last time Michael Crichton penned a Hawaii-shot thriller was Jurassic Park, which remains Steven Spielbergs highest-grossing film and a series that has grossed globally in excess of $6 billion. Like Jurassic Park, Eruption is planned to be the first book in a series. Ive read Michael Crichtons thrillers avidly for decades and have always thought of him as one of the worlds best storytellers, Patterson said. Im honored that Sherri Crichton entrusted this extraordinary story to me and that I had the opportunity to bring Crichtons brilliant ideas to life. Im particularly excited to have worked on this wonderfully prescient novel about Mauna Loa in light of current events. Its as if Crichton could see into the future, and Im eager to bring that vision to his readers and to mine. Michael Crichton had been working on the book for years. It was his passion project and centered in the place that inspired him the most, Hawaii, Sherri Crichton said. Michael had large volumes of scientific research, comprehensive notes, detailed outlines with extensive character bios and locations featured throughout the novel, as well as a number of interviews with volcanologists and it has been a privilege to work with James Patterson, the most successful author in the world to bring Michaels original vision to life. The Crichton/Patterson deal was the first deal signed after CrichtonSun signed with Shane Salerno and The Story Factory. Salerno has worked closely with Sherri Crichton to re-imagine the company and to generate new adaptations of her late husbands work in film, TV and publishing as well as to unveil new Michael Crichton titles the author was secretly working on prior to his death. Its the publishing worlds version of when George Lucas and Steven Spielberg came together to create Raiders of the Lost Ark, Salerno said of the Crichton and Patterson tandem. I remember seeing that poster in theaters when I was nine years old. It read: From the creators of Jaws and Star Wars. This feels like a big event just like that did. The Story Factory (representing Crichton) and CAA (representing Patterson) will broker the screen right auction. Story Factory repped CrichtonSun in the book deal and Williams and Connollys Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell repped Patterson. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Rower Tom Robinson said his boat was turned upside down by a "rogue wave" Instagram; COSS Nouvelle-Caledonie Facebook Tom Robinson was rescued by a commercial cruise ship A naked Australian rower was saved from the Pacific Ocean after clinging to his capsized boat for 14 hours. Tom Robinson, 24, was rescued by a cruise ship on Friday morning after sending out a distress signal shortly before 9 p.m. local time, Thursday, according to the New Zealand Herald. Robinson told the outlet that the hatch to the cabin on his boat was open when a rogue wave came out of nowhere and turned the boat upside down. Instantly I had to swim out from the flooded cabin and climb on top of the hull, he told the publication. I didnt have any clothes on when the wave hit the boat I usually row naked because it stops chafing, Robinson, who is from Brisbane, continued. So I was sitting in the cabin with no clothes on and then all of a sudden Im upside down. It was really cold and I tied myself on to the boat and that really helped me because waves were breaking over the boat constantly and I was just sort of holding on for dear life," he added to the New Zealand Herald. Tomrobinsonboats.com Tom Robinson was suffering from sunburn when he was saved from the water Related: Sailor Stranded for 3 Days on Uninhabited Island in Good Health After Rescue by Coast Guard According to U.K. newspaper The Times, a French Navy aircraft located the 24-foot rowing boat late on Thursday. P&Os Pacific Explorer, which had 2,000 passengers on board on a round-trip to Auckland, then made a 124-mile detour to rescue Robinson. After being reached by the cruise ship, Robinson had to climb naked up a rope ladder hanging from the boats side, per The Times. Id like to say thank you to all the staff onboard P&O Cruises for just being really helpful and really kind, Robinson added to the Herald in a video recorded by passenger Rod Pascoe. COSS Nouvelle-Caledonie Facebook Tom Robinson was first spotted by the French Navy Related: Man, 25, Rescued After Spending 24 Hours Floating on Partially Submerged Boat in the Ocean I feel really bad that I had to interrupt a cruise, I really do, he continued. And it is a real shame that my life was in danger and I had to put other peoples lives out of their way to come and save me. Im not proud of that at all and Id rather it not be like that. According to the publication, the cruise missed two ports of calls due to the rescue mission. Robinson who was suffering from sunburn and dehydration when he was rescued, per The Times shared that he was surprisingly calm and collected during the ordeal. GoFundMe Tom Robinson hopes to one day complete his mission 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. I had the utmost faith that help would arrive. You cant let any doubts creep in because then that becomes a really bad headspace to be in, he told the Herald, adding, This morning, after first light, I saw the cruise ship approaching and I knew I was saved. According to The Times, Robinson was on the final leg of a 15-month voyage across the Pacific when his boat capsized near Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands. His voyage began in Peru in early July 2022. On Monday, Robinson returned to Brisbane, Australia for the first time in 18 months and was reunited with his parents at the airport, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. His mum told the outlet she was "very pleased to have him home." "Thursday night was a very stressful night for us, but when we got the phone call on Friday morning and we heard his voice, and he was safe, well we were just so elated," she said. As for whats next, Robinson told the Herald that he hopes to write a book about his experience, adding that he might one day try to finish the last leg of his voyage, which has been his dream since he was 14. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Marcus Hall, 2, was found by authorities after his mother reported him missing GoFundMe Marcus Hall, 2, died from an apparent drowning in a neighbor's pool in Oregon, Ohio. A 2-year-old Ohio boy died in an apparent drowning on Wednesday after he wandered from his home and entered his next-door neighbors pool, according to authorities. In a statement shared with PEOPLE Monday, Police Chief Brandon H. Begin said officers initially responded to a call in Oregon, Ohio, around 10:34 a.m. local time about a 4-year-old boy outside by himself wearing a diaper and accompanied by a dog. When authorities arrived at the scene, according to Begin, they found the child and the dog back inside the home. Begin also said that officers spoke with the 4-year-olds mother who had been sleeping when the incident occurred and advised her of safety measures that need to be taken to ensure the well-being of her children. The chief added that his officers left the residence after their discussion with the mother, who never mentioned to them that her other son, later identified by ABC affiliate WTVG-TV as 2-year-old Marcus Hall, had disappeared. Related: 'Superhero' Big Brother, 6, Saves 2-Year-Old from Drowning in South Carolina Pool 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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. About 45 minutes later, the mother called 911 to report that Marcus was missing, per Begin's statement. When officers arrived at the home, they checked a neighbors above-ground pool that sat directly behind the familys property. Authorities said the pool was not fully enclosed with a fence and had a ladder outside. That was when officers found Marcus in the pool. One officer immediately jumped into the pool to get the child out, said Begin in his statement. He quickly handed the child off to another officer who walked the child out to an awaiting police cruiser. Our officer attempted CPR on the infant while another officer drove them to St. Charles Hospital, which is approximately 1 mile from the home of the child. Lifesaving attempts were made by hospital staff, but unfortunately the child did not survive. Related: 19-Month-Old Twins Who Drowned in Backyard Pool 'Always Wanted to Be Together,' Godmother Says Police noted that Marcus unidentified 4-year-old brother was unharmed in the incident. In an interview with WTVG, Marcus father, Anthony Hall, described his late son, who was also known as Mar Mar, as a cool little dude. Anthony, who was at work at the time, told the station that Marcus was very energetic. He learned quickly. He was very smart. In a GoFundMe created by Anthony to raise money for his son's funeral expenses, he wrote, This story [breaks] my heart every time i have to tell it he was only two years old this is not fair to baby Marcus so please anything help i just want my baby to be able to rest, i cant [imagine] what was going though his mind during all this. More than $2,100 has been raised as of Monday afternoon. PEOPLE has reached out to Anthony for comment. Related: California Daycare Pool Drowning Victims Identified as 1-Year-Old Girls as Investigation Continues Begin said that the incident is under investigation and that charges are very likely to be filed. The issue with the pool fence is a zoning issue and the City of Oregon Building and Zoning Department has been notified of the situation and they are handling that end of it, Begin said, per the statement. Lucas County Childrens Services responded to the hospital after the incident to meet with the family. The police chief described what happened as a terrible tragedy. "We are all mourning the loss of a young boy in a very tragic accident," he said, "which was avoidable with the correct safety measures. I truly hope that this situation will open the eyes to other parents and those who have pools to the dangers presented in this situation and that everyone takes the steps to ensure the safety of children in the community." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Good things come in small packages and JaneJira Thai, the little restaurant sandwiched between a barber shop and a fitness business in Harbor Point shopping plaza in Vero Beach, is a perfect example. Building from the freshest locally sourced ingredients, vibrant and exotic spices from Thailand, and the seasoned expertise of a Thai culinary family, JaneJiras menu is brimming with authentic Thai specialties. JaneJiras atmosphere can be described as bright and sparkling clean, calm and playful in this minimalistic space. Sweet music fills the air. There are just a handful of metal tables and chairs inside, a table or two outside on the sidewalk and a small window counter with a few stools. Service is polished but friendly. It is a comfortable place to be. All things food: New restaurants, reviews, inspections & best bets At JaneJira in Vero Beach, the green curry chicken was sublime and velvety with wonderful, complex flavors that would satisfy and delight any Thai food aficionado. Having checked out the menu online prior to arriving, I was very excited to experience Ramune ($3) for the first time. Although Ramune tastes pretty much like any other carbonated beverage, its the bottle that makes this drink so special. A popular Japanese soft drink, Ramune was introduced in the 1800s by a British pharmacist, Alexander Cameron Sim, to supposedly fight cholera. It is bottled in a unique Codd-neck bottle named for the inventor Hiram Codd. The bottle is very chic with a tight waist a quarter of the way down the bottle and a glass marble in the top. The marble serves to effectively keep carbonation inside the bottle. There is a little bit of a trick to opening the bottle, so I took lessons from our server this first time. Long story short, I was enthralled with Ramune and took the bottle home as a souvenir. Another favored beverage, creamy Thai iced tea that soothes the burn of spicy Thai food ($4.95) came in handy as I enjoyed the wonderfully spicy tom yum lemongrass soup ($6.95). This light and tasty hot and sour soup infused with many Thai herbs just might be the perfect answer when the common cold has a person feeling under the weather. Move over Grandmas chicken soup. At JaneJira in Vero Beach, the atmosphere is bright and sparkling clean, calm and playful in this minimalistic space. Crab rangoons ($5.95) and vegetable spring rolls ($3.95) were made onsite from scratch and were impeccable, delicate, crunchy appetizers. A lunch portion of Thai stir fried cashew nut sauce with bell peppers, onions, mushroom, carrots, celery, scallions, and beef ($10.95) was quite generous but, nonetheless, had my husband scraping up every delicious morsel, something I rarely see him do. Green curry chicken, also a $10.95 lunch portion, was sublime and velvety with wonderful, complex flavors that would satisfy and delight any Thai food aficionado. At JaneJira in Vero Beach, the light and tasty hot and sour lemongrass soup infused with many Thai herbs just might be the perfect answer when the common cold has a person feeling under the weather. I always feel that I earn my keep when I can point out at least one thing that might be done a tad differently to make dining just a little bit better. Ive racked my brain on this one and nothing comes to mind. This little place delivers Thai food in a great big way. JaneJira Thai Cuisine: Thai Address: 5240 U.S. 1, Harbor Point, Vero Beach Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4-9 p.m. Monday through Sunday Online: janejirathai.com Maribeth Renne dines anonymously at the expense of TCPalm for #WhatToDoIn772. Contact her at maribeth.d.renne@gmail.com This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Restaurant review: JaneJira serves Thai food in Vero Beach Two years after Cardi B won a nearly $4 million defamation verdict against a YouTube host named Tasha K over her salacious lies about drug use, STDs and prostitution, a federal judge has ruled that the gossip blogger cannot use Chapter 11 bankruptcy to avoid paying most of the judgment. Tasha, who filed for bankruptcy in a May petition that said she had less than $60,000 in assets, will not be able to discharge $3.4 million owed to Cardi via the Chapter 11 process, Judge Scott M. Grossman ruled Thursday (Oct. 5) meaning shell continue to be on the hook even after she exits bankruptcy. More from Billboard Bankruptcy law allows insolvent people to escape certain debts, but it doesnt shield them from paying money they owe because of willful and malicious injury they caused to others. After Tasha filed for bankruptcy, Cardis lawyers said that exception clearly applied to the huge judgment a debt they said Tasha had incurred by spreading false and defamatory statements that were intended to cause harm. After Cardis attorneys made those arguments, Tashas lawyers didnt really fight back, essentially agreeing that $3.4 million of the $3.9 million judgment wasnt going to be erased by the bankruptcy. And on Friday, Judge Grossman made it official: The award of damages [and] interest thereon pursuant are excepted from discharge. The ruling leaves only $500,000 of Cardis judgment in doubt. That money is technically owed solely by Tashas company Kebe Studios LLC. Whether or not Tasha herself is required to pay it will be the subject of future proceedings before the bankruptcy court. Tashas bankruptcy attorney did not immediately return a request for comment on Monday. Cardi (real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) sued Tasha (Latasha Kebe) in 2019 over what the rappers lawyers called a malicious campaign on social media and YouTube aimed at hurting Cardis reputation. The stars attorneys said they had repeatedly tried and failed to get her to pull her videos down. One Tasha video cited in the lawsuit includes a statement that Cardi had done sex acts with beer bottles on fing stripper stages. Other videos said the superstar had contracted herpes; that she had been a prostitute; that she had cheated on her husband; and that she had done hard drugs. Following a trial in January, jurors sided decisively with Cardi B, holding Tasha liable for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. They ordered her and her company to pay more than $2.5 million in damages and another $1.3 million in legal fees incurred by Cardi. Tasha appealed the verdict last summer, but a federal appeals court easily rejected that request in March. Cardi B has repeatedly vowed to recover the money. Shortly after she won the jury verdict, she tweeted imma come for everything along with the acronym BBHMM bitch better have my money. And her lawyers spent months legally pursuing the money, including garnishing her YouTube monetization account. But in May, Tasha said there was barely any money for Cardi to take. In her bankruptcy petition, she listed just $58,595 in total assets to her name, the vast majority of which came from a truck thats tied as collateral to an unpaid auto loan. She listed only $11,750 in other properties, including two Louis Vuitton purses and just $95 in actual cash in her bank account. She counted the trademark to her UnWineWithTashaK YouTube channel as an asset, but says the value of the brand is unknown. Lawyers for Cardi quickly filed a so-called adversary proceeding a lawsuit-like process that takes place within a larger bankruptcy case to ensure that Tasha couldnt dodge the damages she owes. It was that case that led to Fridays decision. Best of Billboard Click here to read the full article. Famed California chef and restaurateur Michael Chiarello has died at 61. Chiarello died Friday surrounded by family and friends at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, where he had been treated over the past week for "an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock," his restaurant group, Gruppo Chiarello, announced in a news release Saturday. "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael. His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being," Chiarello's family said in a statement. "He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table." PHOTO: Chef Michael Chiarello attends Day 1 of the 3rd Annual Yountville Live - Music Food & Wine Festival on March 16, 2017 in Yountville, California. (Steve Jennings/Getty Images) "As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts," the family's statement continued. "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." ABC News reached out to Gruppo Chiarello for further comment on Chiarello's death but did not immediately hear back. The Italian American chef and former Food Network host, who was born in Red Bluff, California, and raised in the Central Valley, built a small empire of acclaimed restaurants in both San Francisco and Napa Valley, starting with Tra Vigne in 1987. Chiarello made his mark with food that perfectly combined his Southern Italian roots with distinctive hallmarks of the Napa Valley, fusing Californian and Italian cuisine. "What keeps me motivated is not the food itself but all the bonds and memories the food represents," Chiarello wrote in his cookbook "The Tra Vigne Cookbook: Seasons in the California Wine Country," first published in September 1999. Chiarello's profound impact on the culinary world reverberated with tributes on social media over the weekend from his esteemed chef friends and colleagues across the hospitality industry. PHOTO: Chef Michael Chiarello attends Day 1 of the 3rd Annual Yountville Live - Music Food & Wine Festival on March 16, 2017 in Yountville, California. (Steve Jennings/Getty Images) Chef Thomas Keller, owner of The French Laundry -- which is a six minute walk from Chiarello's famed Yountville restaurant Bottega -- shared a touching tribute on Instagram to his longtime neighbor, dear friend and colleague. "Michael's great love for food and entertaining, the warmth he exuded, and the laughter he shared with our community left an indelible mark," Keller wrote in the post's caption. "Chef Michael, your enduring legacy lives on. Thank you for your friendship and for all your contributions to our profession. Sending love and peace to your entire family and your dedicated team." Chiarello graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, in 1982, and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in hospitality management from Florida International University in 1984. From there, Chiarello blazed a trail for Californian and Italian cuisine over his 40 year career as a chef and restaurateur, in which he developed more than 10 restaurants, starting with Toby's in Miami, and was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine magazine. A few of his other top culinary accolades include being named the Culinary Institute of America's Alumni of the Year in 2011, Chef of the Year by Esquire in 2013, James Beard finalist in the same year for Best New Restaurant, and garnering a glowing 3.5 star review by the San Francisco Chronicle for his Spanish restaurant Coqueta on Pier 5. He hosted two hit shows, the Emmy Award-winning Food Network series "Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello," which was set among the beautiful wine country backdrop at Trefethen Winery, and "NapaStyle" on the Fine Living Network. He also appeared in other culinary shows on PBS and the Cooking Channel, and later made it to the finals as a runner-up on Bravo's "Top Chef Masters" in 2009. He also finished in third place on the Food Network competition show "The Next Iron Chef" in 2011. Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies at 61 in Napa Valley originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Aldi is quickly establishing itself as one of America's favorite grocery store brands. The company currently has over 2,000 stores in the United States and gained 1 million customers in 2022 alone. Many of these individuals were attracted by Aldi's famously low prices. Those who are not in the know might assume that Aldi maintains such low prices by stocking lower-quality products. This is not the case. Instead, Aldi makes numerous strategic decisions that allow the brand to offer high-quality food and drinks at lower prices than its competitors. For example, the vast majority of products stocked by Aldi are private labels. Stocking private labels above name brands allows Aldi to keep marketing and distribution costs low while not impacting product quality. The savings made by this approach are reflected in the product's lower price. Many consumers shop at Aldi in order to save money, but this doesn't mean customers are not in the market for fancy foods. As a result, Aldi stocks many luxurious, private-label products. While these products remain cheap, they are also of impressive quality and regularly outscore expensive products from well-established, luxury brands when entered into competitions. Here are some of Aldi's fancy products that prove you can have both value for money and luxury. Read more: 10 Frozen Foods You Should Always Buy At Aldi Black Angus Ribeye Steak Black Angus Ribeye Steak - Aldi Americans love all types of steak, but no cut gets as much love as the ribeye. This is thanks to ribeyes carrying a great deal of intramuscular fat, known as marbling. The presence of this fat lends the cut a great deal of flavor. It also means that this cut is one of the most tender on the entire cow. The ribeyes that Aldi stocks come from Black Angus cattle. These are a breed known for consistent, excellent marbling. As a result, the Black Angus ribeyes are routinely veined with a great deal of intramuscular fat. During cooking, this intramuscular fat liquefies creating an appetizingly juicy steak. The Black Angus Ribeye Steak's quality is backed up by a USDA Choice grading. This is the second highest grading beef can attain in the United States behind USDA Prime. While not as exclusive as USDA Prime, the quality of meat -graded USDA Choice is still exemplary. As such, Aldi's Black Angus Ribeye is a steak of dependable and excellent quality. Giambellino Peach Bellini A bottle of peach Bellini - X, formerly known as Twitter Aldi has a long history of producing alcoholic beverages that punch above their weight. The Giambellino Peach Bellini is one such example; the product has previously received an exceptional rating of 92, and a gold medal, from the Beverage Tasting Institute. The Bellini also received a bronze medal from USA Wine Ratings. It's not just the professionals that like the Bellini either. The product was voted an Aldi Fan Favorite in 2022. The Giambellino Peach Bellini is made with sparkling wine and natural peach flavors that remain strong throughout the drinking experience. At around $7 for a 750-milliliter bottle, the peach Bellini is a cheap and easy way to upgrade any Sunday brunch. Aldi's bottled cocktail selection does extend further than the Bellini; the company also stocks a highly regarded mimosa. The Oh Me, Oh My! Mimosa is made from freshly squeezed orange juice and dry white wine. Although it is not sparkling, this cocktail is well-rated; it received an exceptional score of 90 from the Beverage Tasting Institute. Both products boast an ABV of 8% and are sure to be crowd-pleasers no matter the occasion. Organic Mini Sweet Peppers Mini sweet peppers - grey_and/Shutterstock Since 2014, Aldi has added several organic options to its stores. Unsurprisingly, these products are much cheaper than the organic options stocked by other grocers. This value for money has not gone unnoticed; when speaking about Aldi to NBC News consumer savings expert Lauren Cobello said: "They have a phenomenal line of organic food that is amazing. You're going to save at least 50% off Whole Foods." Mini Sweet Peppers are one example of an organic product that the brand stocks. These peppers are a versatile vegetable which can be used both raw and cooked to add sweetness, crunch, and color to a variety of dishes. Thanks to their size, the mini sweet peppers also lend themselves to being stuffed. As with all of Aldi's organic products, the Mini Sweet Peppers are grown according to USDA Organic guidelines. These guidelines prohibit the use of most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. What's more, the peppers are not genetically modified. Ducktrap Lightly Smoked Salmon Portions Ducktrap Lightly Smoked Salmon Portions - Aldi Few fish are as luxurious as salmon. While Aldi stocks multiple versions of this sought after fish, none are as decadent as Ducktrap Lightly Smoked Salmon Portions. The salmon in this product comes from producers that are Best Aquaculture Practices certified. This certification ensures that every stage of the production chain meets exacting environmental standards and is in keeping with Aldi's drive to adopt increasingly sustainable seafood sourcing strategies. In terms of taste, the salmon benefits from a smoking process that encompasses four types of wood: cherry, apple, oak, and maple. This mixture of fruit and hardwoods results in a complex flavor that is marked by both subtle sweetness and an intense smoky note; flavors that perfectly complement salmon's rich, oily flesh. The result is a brilliant piece of fish that consumers, including this individual who posted to Reddit, love: "The last time I went they had a brand called Ducktrap lightly smoked that was 30% off so I tried it. [it] was the best piece of salmon I've ever had. I can't wait to get more." 3 REIN Red Blend Bottle of 3 REIN - Aldi Aldi routinely stocks an array of exceptional, private-label wines. 3 REIN Red Blend is perhaps the best of these, boasting a decadent, smoked aroma and a robust, medium body. On the palate, this red wine presents a mixture of berry flavors and smoke alongside exceptional tannins. The result is an impressive wine that was awarded 92 points by the Beverage Tasting Institute. Made from an undisclosed blend of grapes in Washington State's Columbia Valley, 3 REIN Red Blend would not be out of place alongside the most decadent meal. Its flavor and body ensure the wine can be paired with a variety of foods including beef, pork, cheese, and rich pastas. For this reason, we would suggest serving it alongside a hearty ragu. 3 REIN Red Bend retails at around $8 per bottle. A wine of this price from Washington's prestigious Columbia Valley is almost unheard of. For comparison, other exceptional red wines from this region are known to cost over $200. Specially Selected Stuffed Queen Olives Jar of Aldi's stuffed olives - X, formerly known as Twitter Queen olives, otherwise known as Gordal olives, are known for being the largest green olives produced in Spain. Aside from size, they are celebrated for their firm texture and bright, citrus flavor. Aldi supplements the olive's natural flavor with a variety of fillings including blue cheese, garlic, and jalapeno. Such a variety of flavors all but ensures there is a stuffed olive to suit every occasion. While all of these olives make exceptional appetizers, their usage should not be limited to snacking alone. The blue cheese stuffed olives in particular have a variety of uses. Most notably, they work exceptionally well as a garnish for martinis -- a trend that gained traction in the 1990s. If a whole blue cheese stuffed olive in your martini feels too much, the brine the olives come submerged in can be used to create a cheese-tinged dirty martini. Just add a few drops to taste when making your drink. Moser-Roth Luxurious European Chocolate Truffles Box of chocolate truffles - Aldi To many consumers, American chocolate is inferior to European chocolate. This is because of a very simple reason: American chocolate contains less cocoa and more sugar. As a German brand, Aldi routinely imports high-quality chocolate straight from Europe. Much of this chocolate comes packaged under the Moser-Roth brand, a private label produced for Aldi by Storck, another company that's based in Germany. Much of Moser-Roth's chocolate comes in the form of differently flavored bars. However, the fanciest Moser-Roth product is the Luxurious European Chocolate Truffles. This product features 16 truffles that include flavors like chocolate and caramel as well as strawberry and rhubarb and even cheesecake. The product has been well-reviewed by Aldi customers with one customer stating on Reddit: "I love these! Great texture and flavors! I bought some for a Christmas present and ate them already." Aldi also sells smaller boxes of truffles under its Specially Selected brand. Specially Selected Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Aldi Sicilian olive oil - Aldi When it comes to cooking oils, few are held in as high regard as extra virgin olive oil. Unfortunately, many fake iterations of extra virgin olive oil -- where subpar oil is labeled as extra virgin -- are being sold within the United States. Thankfully, one extra virgin olive oil sold by Aldi has a protected denomination certification guaranteeing that the oil inside the bottle is genuine. Aldi's Specially Selected Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil carries the Val Da Mazara P.D.O. This certification ensures that all olives are cultivated and processed within Palermo and Agrigento. The oil must pass certain checks and is packaged within this area too. Not only is the oil rigorously tested, it is also delicious, presenting distinct grassy flavors as high-quality olive oil is known to do. The other two extra virgin olive oils stocked by Aldi are not P.D.O. certified, however, they do carry the NAOOA certification. All oils that have achieved NAOOA certification must meet International Olive Council standards. The oils are also regularly tested with samples being taken directly from the market. As a result, the integrity of all these extra virgin olive oils should not be doubted by customers. Wernesgruner Brauerei Pils Opened bottle of German pilsner - X, formerly known as Twitter Aside from wine, Aldi also stocks an exceptional range of beer. The best of all these is Wernesgruner Brauerei Pils, a German pilsner. Good iterations of German pilsner are traditionally pale with a malty sweetness balanced by a strong presence of bitter hops. Such excellent beer is why Germany is renowned as a leader in the pilsner market. Aldi's take on Pilsner is a fantastic one. Certified cicerone Eric Sadovnick described it to Thrillist as follows: "The malt and hops are so well balanced. It's true to type with a nice long finish and a depth of flavor. The aroma carries over to the flavor. It's an excellent beer." Sadovnick's opinion is backed up by others; Wernesgruner Brauerei Pils has previously been awarded a score of 88 from the Beverage Tasting Institute. This high score was partly due to the beer's refreshing nature, a result of the distinct flavor of lemon zest. At 4.9% ABV, Wernesgruner Brauerei Pils is also a weak pilsner which makes it all the more approachable for the regular drinker. Emporium Selection Manchego Packet of manchego cheese - Aldi Emporium Selection is a private label that Aldi markets its premium quality cheese under. While the usual suspects of parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar are represented, this line also boasts more select options including protected denomination manchego from Spain. The P.D.O. certification guarantees that Aldi's manchego is made in Spain's central region of La Mancha from the milk of Manchega sheep raised in the region's famous dehesa. As a result, Aldi's cheese demonstrates the classic characteristics associated with manchego. It is semi-hard with a herringbone weave pattern on the rind. In terms of flavor, the cheese is sweet with lovely herbal notes. These characteristics have caused the cheese to be well received by Aldi shoppers of all descriptions with former cheesemongers even praising the cheese. Aldi's also sells other famous European cheeses under its Emporium Selection brand. Most notable is the gruyere, a nutty, Swiss cheese that is particularly suited to melting. Smoked gouda is also available. Cattlemen's Ranch USDA Choice Bacon Wrapped Beef Chuck Tender Filet Bacon wrapped steaks - Aldi Another USDA Choice steak stocked by Aldi is Cattlemen's Ranch USDA Bacon Wrapped Beef Chuck Tender Filet. Unlike ribeye, chuck steaks are known for being incredibly lean. As a result, grilling this steak can have dire consequences; it is extremely easy to overcook the meat, turning it tough and dry. To prevent this from happening, the beef should be slow-cooked instead of grilled. Browning the meat and then braising it in a stew softens the meat and allows the flavor of both beef and bacon to seep into the entire dish. This is a unique way to enjoy a steak that should not be passed up on, especially as the Cattleman's Ranch Chuck Steak routinely retails for a meager $2, Once again, the steak's quality is guaranteed by its USDA Choice grading. What's more, the steak is hand-selected and trimmed which limits moisture loss during processing. Appleton Farms Prosciutto Packet of Aldi prosciutto - Aldi Prosciutto is a type of dry-cured ham that was invented in Italy. As with many other European specialties, Aldi produces an exceptional version, sold at a bargain price under one of its private brands. Appleton Farms Prosciutto is not only excellent by Aldi standards but by prosciutto standards in general. The product regularly ranks among the best when tasted side-by-side with competing products. The general consensus is that, at under $5, the prosciutto is exceptional value for money, a sentiment echoed by one customer on Reddit: "Appleton Farms dry-cured ham prosciutto. Great quality every time at a reasonable price. A phenomenal bite that pairs well with mild cheese, sweet fruit, or both. Phenomenal." Fans of this dry-cured meat should also try Aldi's Specially Selected Panino Deli Tray. This product contains three different deli meats -- prosciutto, pepperoni, and salami -- wrapped around strips of mozzarella; a brilliant addition to any charcuterie board. Read the original article on Daily Meal. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." If were being honest, the diversity within the publishing industry is abysmal at best. (Were still not quite over the trauma porn fiasco of 2018.) Despite being the fastest growing demographic in the United States, the Latinx population is vastly underrepresented in the literary arts. In fact, as of 2021, only 7.62 percent of published authors identify as Hispanic or Latino. And that doesnt even begin to touch upon the novels written by white authors that depict harmful stereotypes about the Latinx community. Needless to say, the publishing industry has a long way to go before it can accurately represent the world we live in. Still, the books written by Latinx authors on the market today are vibrant and full of power. They represent different ethnicities and life experiences, proving once again that the Latin community is anything but a monolith. From queer teens navigating Catholic school to gothic romances with bone-chilling vampires and everything in between, we have plenty of recommendations to help you refresh your home library. In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado In the Dream House has no shortage of well-earned awards for Machados expert storytelling, including the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ nonfiction. The intimate memoir takes a look at Machados own experience with domestic abuse and understanding herself as a queer Latina. Shop Now In the Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado amazon.com $14.49 When Trying to Return Home: Stories by Jennifer Maritza McCauley This powerful collection of stories spans over a century to document Black and Afro-Latinx life in Puerto Rico and the United States. Its great for fans of moving novels thatll have you questioning your own sense of belonging and hunting for a community of your own. Shop Now When Trying to Return Home: Stories by Jennifer Maritza McCauley amazon.com $16.61 In The Country We Love by Diane Guerrero Actor Diane Guerrero, best known for her roles in Netflixs Orange Is the New Black and Disneys Encanto, penned a heart-wrenching memoir about her life as the daughter of undocumented immigrants. After both her parents are deported, Diane is left alone to navigate the world and the darkness within it. Shop Now In The Country We Love by Diane Guerrero amazon.com $14.88 Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo This Good Morning America book club pick follows the life of a Dominican-American family ahead of a living wakeyes, you read that right. One of the sisters can predict when someone is going to die and decides to host her own wake while shes still alive. If that didnt sound exciting enough, the novel has no shortage of family drama, secrets, and chisme to keep you entertained in its entirety. Shop Now Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo amazon.com $18.99 Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas From the mind of The Hacienda author, Vampires of El Norte is a masterclass in horror and romance. This supernatural western *might* give you nightmares, but its totally worth it. Shop Now Vampires of El Norte by Isabel Canas amazon.com $19.58 The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas This riveting Mexican-inspired fantasy from the author of New York Times best-selling novel Cemetery Boys follows a group of semi-dioses as they compete in a grueling competition to claim fame and glory for themselves (and their godly parents). Shop Now The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas amazon.com $16.14 Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez If you havent read Olga Dies Dreaming yet, youre missing out on a contemporary fiction novel that perfectly blends romance with a poignant deep-dive into Puerto Ricos turbulent political strife and familial pressure. Shop Now Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez amazon.com $14.47 Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The latest gothic horror novel from Mexican Gothic author Silvia Moreno-Garcia needs to be at the top of everyones TBR pile. Set in 1990s Mexico City, Moreno-Garcia takes you on a terrifying journey complete with occultism and curses. Shop Now Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia amazon.com $19.99 The Neapolitan Sisters: A Novel of Heritage and Home by Margo Candela This 2023 International Latino Book award winner dissects exactly what it means to be your truest self. The alternating POVs take a deeper look into the lives of three sisters and how theyve each coped with their childhood trauma. Shop Now The Neapolitan Sisters: A Novel of Heritage and Home by Margo Candela amazon.com $6.34 Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia In this poignant debut, readers follow the interwoven stories of women from the same family. It delves into the political state of Cuba in the 1800s, modern-day immigration struggles, addiction, and so much more in an effort to remind us all to never let anyone silence us. Shop Now Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia amazon.com $10.00 Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir by Erika L. Sanchez From the author of Im Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter comes a collection of must-read essays that delve deep into her personal life. America Ferrera called this book equal parts pee-your-pants hilarity and break your heart poignancylike the perfect brunch date you never want to end. Shop Now Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir by Erika L. Sanchez amazon.com $15.29 Lightlark by Alex Aster A rich and enticing fantasy involving five rulers fighting to break their generational curses, Alex Asters expertly crafted novel is great for fans of The Hunger Games. Complete with a movie in development and a massive fanbase on TikTok, youll want to add this novel to your library ASAP. Oh, and did we mention theres a love triangle? Sign us up. Shop Now Lightlark by Alex Aster amazon.com $9.74 The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina: A Novel by Zoraida Cordova If were being honest, any of Cordovas novels should be on your TBR list, but The Inheritance of Orquidia Divina is particularly special. Great for fans of Paulo Coelho and Isabel Allende, this novel is mesmerizing and insightful in all the right ways. Shop Now The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina: A Novel by Zoraida Cordova amazon.com $9.89 Ander & Santi Were Here: A Novel by Jonny Garza Villa A hopeful YA about two queer teens falling in love? Yeah, we dont need to say anymore, because this novel serves and delivers an epic love story. Shop Now Ander & Santi Were Here: A Novel by Jonny Garza Villa amazon.com $10.99 A Lot Like Adios: A Novel by Alexis Daria Second-chance romance fans will fall head-over-heels in love with A Lot Like Adios. When childhood best friends Michelle and Gabe reunite to work on a project together, they might just rekindle their spark Shop Now A Lot Like Adios: A Novel by Alexis Daria amazon.com $9.08 In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is many things. A career woman. An author. A trailblazer. In this bone-chilling memoir, she recounts her experience on Mount Everest and how it helped her better understand her own experiences with alcoholism, abuse, and complicated family dynamics. In 2020, it was announced that Selena Gomez was set to play the Peruvian mountaineer in an up-coming biopic. Shop Now In the Shadow of the Mountain by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado amazon.com $16.04 Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color by Lorraine Monteagut, PhD This non-fiction book delves into the history of BIPOC witches and their revival in modern pop culture. It chronicles the lives of different practitioners in an attempt to destigmatize and decolonize the idea of witches as theyve been perceived throughout time. Shop Now Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color by Lorraine Monteagut, PhD amazon.com $19.99 Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora by Saraciea J. Fennell This must-have anthology delves deeper into the idea of Latinx diaspora by challenging the stereotypes that surround different ethnicities within the community. Some essayists include Elizabeth Acevedo, Mark Oshiro, and Lilliam Rivera. Shop Now Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora by Saraciea J. Fennell amazon.com $12.49 The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes So, whats it really like to be a queer Mexican American teen attending a Catholic school? Thats exactly what youll discover in Sonora Reyess poignant coming-of-age novel thatll have you laughing (almost) every step of the way. Shop Now The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes amazon.com $12.99 When My Brother Was an Aztec by Natalie Diaz The debut collection of poems from Pulitzer Prize winner Natalie Diaz delves into Mojave life in an intimate and unabashed way. Diaz, who is Mexican and Mojave, uses her unique experience to bring this underrepresented community to life through her passionate prose. Shop Now When My Brother Was an Aztec by Natalie Diaz amazon.com $16.00 You Might Also Like Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows excavated belongings from ruins following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) by Abdul Haleem SARBLAND, Afghanistan, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. "My house was completely destroyed in the earthquakes and I have no place to live while the winter is getting closer," quake-affected man Ghulam Sarwar said. The reconstruction work might be hindered as the weather in impoverished Afghanistan is gradually getting colder with each passing day. Last winter, more than 150 people lost their lives due to a chilly winter in mountainous Afghanistan. Sarwar, who lost three members of his 10-member family in the devastating quakes, told Xinhua about his inability to reconstruct his four-room mud house because it could cost him 200,000 afghanis (about 2,670 U.S. dollars). Revealing his ordeal, Sarwar said that the first tremor took place at around noon, turning the village to dust and leaving several dead including three from his family. "My brother and two nephews, four years and six months old, were martyred in the quake," Sarwar spoke with sorrow. Expressing similar grief, Nazar Mohammad, whose house was destroyed in the earthquakes, also felt helpless to reconstruct his shelter. "My house, a compartment of three bedrooms and a hall, was destroyed in the tremors. If I construct a mud shelter, I need 100,000 afghanis, but I don't have such economic capacity," Mohammad said. Mohammad said his child and wife were injured, and 30 more villagers were killed in the disaster. The Afghan caretaker government has allocated 100 million afghanis as cash aid to the affected families, while countries and aid agencies have announced readiness to dispatch humanitarian aid to the quake-affected areas. Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows excavated belongings from ruins following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows excavated belongings from ruins following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows excavated belongings from ruins following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 9, 2023 shows the scene of rescue work following deadly earthquakes in the Zindajan district, Herat province, western Afghanistan. Thousands of people have been left homeless in west Afghanistan's Herat province in the wake of devastating earthquakes that struck Herat and its neighboring Farah and Badghis provinces on Saturday. The two deadly quakes, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, each with a magnitude of 6.2 followed by several aftershocks rocked west Afghanistan. The epicenters were in the Zindajan district of Herat province and so far, 2,445 deaths have been confirmed. The rescue operations have been continuing, in a bid to recover the survivors. (Photo by Zahir Khan/Xinhua) Experts share their top sights on the continent. Gabriel_Amaral/Getty Images As a digital nomad who works and travels full time, I spend a good portion of the year in South America. The first city I visited was Buenos Aires, and it immediately stole my heart it is arguably one of the best cities on the continent. Since then, Ive had the opportunity to explore beyond Argentina, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay; Peru will be added to that list in the coming months. South America has unlimited things to offer, from beautiful beaches and mountainside villages to world-class cuisine and two of the New 7 Wonders of the World. With the help of Elisban Huarancca, an official tourism guide in Peru, Eva Castro, owner of Creo Ecolodge Jardin Project in Antioquia, Colombia, and Alexander Balardjischvili, CEO of C2Rio Tours & Travel, weve compiled a list of the 25 best places to visit in South America. Related: Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Resorts in South America of 2023 Jardin, Antioquia, Colombia reisegraf/Getty Images Jardin is a small town a few hours south of Medellin with colonial architecture, beautiful scenery, and lots to do. Castro of Creo Ecolodge, where I stayed during my trip to Jardin, gave plenty of recommendations for things to do while youre in town. Take a tour of Cueva del Esplendor, or Cave of Splendor, where you'll find a beautiful waterfall, or head to a nearby coffee farm to learn how Colombian coffee is produced. My favorite is Cafe Historias, which has some of the best coffee Ive ever tasted. Castro says the best time of year to visit is August and September when there are very few travelers. This is also when the annual Jardin Film Festival takes place. It gets much busier in town from December through April, Castro says. Cocora Valley, Salento, Colombia jmichaelmedia/Getty Images Due west of Bogota is Cocora Valley, one of Colombia's most famous hiking destinations. You can take a day trip from the nearby town of Salento or do a multi-day hike throughout the valley. There are campsites available for use if you choose to spend the night looking at the stars. Its famous for having the tallest palm trees in the world, which stand at over 195 feet tall and can live up to 200 years. The almost oversaturated green colors of the hills are stunning. Castro highly recommends going at "golden hour" early in the morning or late in the afternoon for the best views. The Lost City, Magdalena, Colombia PetraKosonen/Getty Images The Lost City, or Ciudad Perdida in Spanish, is located near Santa Marta in northern Colombia. Its estimated to have been founded in the 8th or 9th centuries, making it hundreds of years older than Machu Picchu. It was home to anywhere between 1,400 to 3,000 people and about 170 terraces, with apparent spaces for living, working, and religious practice. Youll have to do a three- to six-day trek with a tour company to get there. On the way, you will see rare native plants and wildlife, which is an adventure in itself. The Rock of Guatape, Guatape, Colombia Jens Otte/Getty Images Guatape is a town in northern Colombia, directly east of Medellin, and its famous for The Rock of Guatape, which is reached via more 740 steps. At the end of your climb, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the town and different islands in Guatape Lake. The town is reachable via a bus ride that's less than two hours from Medellin, making it a perfect weekend trip. The people here are more welcoming and warm, says Castro. When you are walking, you can find many smiling faces... Its part of our culture. San Rafael, Antioqua, Colombia San Rafael is excellent if you really want to have the deepest connection with yourself and with nature, says Castro. She recommends Vanadurga Ashram, a yoga sanctuary, if you want to practice yoga while you're here. These places are really magical, and you can learn how to change your perspective," Castro adds. San Rafael is known for its natural beauty, including mountains, waterfalls, and rivers. You can bird watch, hike, or simply soak in nature. People want to come to have an inner journey, says Castro. If thats your goal to find out something inside of you Id recommend places like San Rafael. Cusco, Peru PocholoCalapre/Getty Images If you are interested in Inca ruins, Cusco is the perfect place. Churches, museums, and winding streets here will leave you charmed. Travelers to Peru should know that they will face a diverse and colorful culture, with very warm and very friendly people, says Huarancca. Also, understand that they will face different flavors that will help them experience every second of their trip. Cusco makes a great starting point to reach Machu Picchu. Many travelers spend a few days here exploring and acclimating to the 11,150-foot elevation. (In comparison, Denver has an elevation of 5,280 feet.) Machu Picchu, Peru SL_Photography/Getty Images Arguably one of the most famous places in the world, Machu Picchu is unlike anything youve ever seen. The site was initially an Inca citadel, likely built in the 1450s and often called The Lost City of the Incas. Machu Picchu is about 50 miles from Cusco; from there, youll take a train to Aguas Calientes and then a bus to the site. You cannot visit without a tour guide, so make reservations well in advance. The visit to Machu Picchu can be all year round; different climatic factors help to understand the mysterious nature of Machu Picchu, says Huarancca. But if you are looking for dates with little rain, it is well suited from April to the end of October. Lake Titicaca, Peru Didier Marti/Getty Images Lake Titicaca is the largest of South America's freshwater lakes, as well as the world's highest navigable lake. Its an estimated three million years old, and there are man-made islands constructed of layers of tortora roots and reeds. The number of islands varies at any given time but is usually somewhere between f40 to 60. You will have some of the best views in the Andes from this place, and it is extremely important to Peruvian and Bolivian indigenous communities. Rainbow Mountain, Vinicunca, Peru maylat/Getty Images Close to Cusco in the Andes Mountains is Vinicunca, also known as Rainbow Mountain because of the colorful stripes on display year-round. The colors result from different mineral layers that were combined with melted ice to create rows of reds, yellows, purples, and greens. The Amazon Rainforest, Peru JarnoVerdonk/Getty Images The Amazon Rainforest spans eight countries and is almost 2.6 million square miles in size. You can visit the Peruvian Amazon from three areas: Manu National Park, Tambopata Province, and the city of Iquitos. Each provides something unique to tourists. The best option depends on what you want to see, how much time you can spend, and your budget. The only recommendation I can give to international travelers is to make reservations in advance and have good information about the places you will visit, says Huarancca. It is necessary to find out the type of food, drinks, and traditions that place has. Huacachina, Peru Istvan Kadar Photography/Getty Images Huarancca recommends visiting Huacachina, a small oasis in the middle of the desert. Located south of Lima and near the city of Ica, Huacachina is a desert village complete with rolling sand dunes on all sides. You can't swim in Huacachina Lagoon, but you can rent paddle boats to glide across the water. Its the only natural oasis in all of South America, formed by underground aquifers. Colca Canyon, Peru Caroline Brundle Bugge/Getty Images Colca Canyon is another tourist attraction in Peru that you should not miss, according to Huarancca. Its one of the worlds deepest canyons (twice as deep as the Grand Canyon) and you can take a day trip from Arequipa to see it or a multi-day trek for the most spectacular views. Either way you're likely to see plenty of native wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia Chris VR/Travel + Leisure Bolivia is home to the largest salt flat in the world, originally a prehistoric lake that went dry. Now Uyuni Salt Flat is around 4,200 square miles of striking white salt and rock formations. If you visit between December and April, which is the rainy season, you may see bright pink flamingos. Many people who have visited when water is on the ground describe the experience as walking on a cloud, since the sky is reflected in the water. Book a room at Kachi Lodge, which is set right on the flat, for a very special stay. Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil dislentev/Getty Images Christ the Redeemer is one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and a must-see for anyone heading to Brazil. The statue of Jesus stands almost 125 feet tall and looks over Rio de Janeiro. When visiting the marvel, you can expect phenomenal views of the city. Balardjischvili recommends taking the train to see the statue and to book that ticket in advance. Pantanal Wetland, Brazil micsmt/Getty Images Measuring more than 40 million acres, Pantanal Wetland is the biggest wetland on Earth. Jaguars and crocodiles are just two of its residents with more than 4,700 plant and animal species, its one of the most biodiverse destinations on the planet. Balardjischvili recommends bringing insect repellent, a light raincoat, and a sweatshirt and always hydrate. The Imperial City of Petropolis, Brazil diegograndi/Getty Images Petropolis is a mountain resort outside of Rio de Janeiro known for its palaces, architecture, and food. Visit Petropolis on a guided tour to enjoy the historical aspect," Balardjischvili says. "Always book your tour on legalized companies with good reviews." Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Holger Leue/Getty Images Sugarloaf Mountain is a major landmark in Brazil, well known for the panoramic city views guests get at the top. The cable car system here opened in 1912; it was the first in Brazil and the third in the world. For Sugarloaf, visit it in the morning, as it is fresher; sunset is beautiful but extremely crowded," says Balardjischvili. "If you are traveling during the high season, buy a skip-the-line ticket." The mountain peak sits almost 1,300 feet in the air, so youll be grateful you dont have to climb all the way up. When asked about the best time of year to visit Rio de Janeiro, Balardjischvili says May or June, when "youll enjoy beautiful sunny days with no rain and 77 degrees. Buenos Aires, Argentina visualspace/Getty Images One of my favorite cities in the world is Buenos Aires, where you can find anything from tango shows and street art to the best steak youll ever eat. Each neighborhood has something special. Head to La Boca for beautiful murals along the streets, then tour the famous cemetery in Recoleta before stopping at a speakeasy in Palermo. Theres no shortage of fantastic things to do here, and the city makes a wonderful home base for seeing more of Argentina. Zuccardi Winery, Uco Valley, Argentina David Silverman/Getty Images Zuccardi Valle de Uco is an award-winning winery that I had the opportunity to visit this past January. It certainly lives up to its reputation, with fantastic wines and the Andes as a stunning backdrop to the property's extensive vineyards. Reservations for tastings and tours can be made online. Iguazu Falls, Puerto Iguazu, Argentina DIEGO GUTIERREZ/Getty Images Located on the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguazu Falls is comprised of about 275 individual waterfalls, making it the largest waterfall system in the world. Most of the waterfalls are on the Argentina side, but the tallest is on the Brazil side. Its a stunning sight to behold and an absolute must for anyone traveling through South America. Patagonia, Argentina noblige/Getty Images Patagonia is larger than many countries around the world and is split between Argentina and Chile. You can expect each city in the region to feel unique; some of the most popular ones in Argentinian Patagonia are El Calafate, Ushuaia, and El Chalten. Whether you go to Patagonia Brewery in San Carlos de Bariloche or hike one of the 300 glaciers throughout the region, you will surely have an experience youll never forget. Punta del Este Beaches, Uruguay ElOjoTorpe/Getty Images Uruguay is still relatively underrated, but it is a fantastic place for international travelers. It takes just a couple of hours by ferry to get from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. From there, its about a two-hour drive to Punta del Este, which has some of the best beaches in the country, plus high-end shopping and fantastic steakhouses. Valparaiso, Chile Patrick Donovan/Getty Images Valparaiso is located on the coast of Chile and is less than a two-hour drive from Santiago. Its famous for its colorful homes and for being the home of renowned poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda. Its also connected to Vina del Mar, where you'll find some of Chile's top beaches. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site with excellent architecture and many things to discover. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador Andrew Peacock/Getty Images The Galapagos Islands are perfect for nature lovers. Visitors can learn about the archipelago's unique biodiversity, go scuba diving, lounge on beaches, or embark on a multi-island cruise. You might also swim with sea lions or hang out with giant turtles. Easter Island, Chile daboost/Getty Images Easter Island is a Chilean territory in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. Its known for the nearly 900 stone statues of human figures, called moai, that you'll find here. The statues are believed to have been created over time, from the 11th century to some time in the 17th century. From Santiago, its about a 5.5-hour flight to reach the island. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. British ports may be in for more strikes a year after the United Kingdoms major gateways at Felixstowe and Liverpool suffered multiple days-long labor stoppages. Unite the Union warned Associated British Ports (ABP) that strike action could be brewing across its 21 ports. These gateways handle around one-quarter of the U.K.s seaborne trade, or $183.2 billion in total goods, according to the labor organization with over 1.2 million members in sectors including construction, manufacturing, transport and logistics. More from Sourcing Journal The union said Friday it registered a dispute regarding increased medical standards of maritime pilots who navigate ships in and out of the U.K.s waterways and ports. The pilots said the new standards were introduced without consulting them first as required under national health and safety legislation and Unites recognition agreement. The pilots could go on strike by the end of December or early next year if negotiations fail and if authorization is given for a work stoppage. Maritime pilots know local waterway details including weather, depth, currents and hazards. They efficiently guide the ships passage and have expertise in handling ships of all types and sizes. Only 60 or so individuals complete the five-year training to do the job in the U.K. Maritime pilots are scarce, skilled and highly experienced. Ships cant leave or enter the U.K.s ports without them, said Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite the Union, in a statement. Its all the more incredible that ABP Ports is refusing to negotiate important changes to their health and safety. According to Unite, the union has no objection to improving the medical standards, but there has been no negotiations and no detail about how these medical tests will be done or what happens if a member fails. This is a serious concern as ultimately members jobs could be at stake. According to The Independent, the British media outlet, the union pilots are concerned whether they would pass or fail the health examinations under the new standards, particularly since the criteria are unclear. The health, safety and wellbeing of all colleagues is of critical importance to ABP, an ABP spokesperson told Sourcing Journal. Having reviewed our already comprehensive package of health provision for our maritime colleagues, we have implemented a new regular health assessment to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of maritime colleagues, reflecting the demanding nature of the roles they carry out. We are disappointed that Unite have chosen to oppose the introduction of these measures, which we strongly believe are in the interests of their members. We continue to engage with Union representatives and the mention of industrial action is unhelpful. Most Unite members work in South Wales (Swansea, Port Talbot, Barry, Cardiff and Newport) as well as two areas in England: Southampton and the Humber (Port of Hull and Immingham). But the dispute could impact all 21 ports operated by ABP. Unite is not opposed to enhanced checks but they need to be negotiated and introduced fairly, Graham said. ABP needs to realize that Unite stands ready to defend our members jobs, terms and conditions. Pilots carry specific responsibilities addressed in national U.K. legislation such as The Pilotage Act 1987. Under law, the pilots are also already required to hold medical certificates. Unite regional coordinating officer, Jane Jeffery, said: Pilots must be in a good physical condition to tolerate the physical stresses of boarding and landing ships. Such a strike would be different from the 2022 labor disruptions that slowed the movement of goods at the Port of Liverpool and the Port of Felixstoweboth of which involved dockworkers represented by Unite the Union. Approximately 1,900 of Felixstowes 2,500 dockworkers walked out for two separate strikes, each eight days long, in August and September, before finally accepting a new deal in December. The agreement authorized an 8.5 percent pay rise plus an extra one-off payment of 1,000 pounds ($1,157) starting from January 2023. Workers at the Port of Liverpool held three separate strikes last year from September through November, with roughly 600 workers walking off the job. In November, a resolution was reached that secured better pay for workers. The strikes happened before of the two-week strike at Canadian West Coast ports that ended in August. The newest maritime pilot strike would occur amid low cargo demand, with one hub even cutting jobs several times. The Port of Liverpool said late last month that it was preparing to lay off up to 125 out of 850 employees. Click here to read the full article. Sherry Saetern and Lee Keomorakoth are the owners of 3lephant Noodle Shack, bringing Laotian and Mien cuisine to the Salem area. The aroma of fish sauce, chili and beef broth coming from 3lephant Noodle Shack are tantalizing to those familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine. Salem's newest food truck is introducing customers to Laotian and Mien cuisine, particularly pungent noodle soups. Owner Sherry Saetern and her husband, Lee Keomorakoth, have run the cart since it opened in early September. The cart is parked in the food pod just off Silverton Road NE in north Salem. Despite a lack of formal food service experience, the two grew up in households that cooked their cultural dishes extensively, from everyday staples to special occasion foods. Serving the food they know and love is not just a passion, but also an opportunity to represent a country many have little awareness of. Saetern is Mien, while Keomorakoth is Laotian. The Mien, typically known as Iu Mien, is one of many Indigenous groups that predominantly reside around Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and southern China. Across Southeast Asia, many dishes across cuisines overlap. This is due to the ingredients, herbs, flavor combinations and preparations being largely the same throughout the region. 3lephant Noodle Shack recently opened, bringing in Laotian and Mien cuisine to the Salem area. Small selection, big flavors The food truck's logo reflects the regional similarities. It depicts three baby elephants, each eating a different bowl of noodles. From left to right are kapoon, kaopiek and kasoy. You may have some familiarity with the dishes if you've had Thai-Laotian cuisine before, but much of the region's food is reliant on layered flavors provided by cooked meat and an abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables. Spicy, tangy, sour, umami and mild bitterness are as common as the varied textures in dishes. Kasoy is distinctly Mien, and has no relation to the Thai curry-based khao soi (pronounced "cow-soy"). Kasoy is a rice noodle soup with beef broth, quail eggs, meatballs and topped with ground pork. On the side are herbs like Thai basil and lime to add into the dish. Keomorakoth said it's almost a cousin to pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup). Kapoon is a red coconut curry vermicelli noodle soup served with fresh veggies and herbs at 3lephant Noodle Shack. Kapoon is closer to khao soi, as it has a red coconut curry base with vermicelli noodles and chicken (including a pair of chicken feet), with vegetables and fresh herbs. Kaopiek (pronounced "cow-pick") can be described as a variation of chicken noodle soup, Keomorakoth said. It has fresh tapioca noodles in chicken broth, with quail egg and (optional) pork blood. It's a different take on the dish many know, but comforting regardless, he said. Also on the menu is Vietnamese bun bo hue (pronounced "boong baw whey"), or Vietnamese spicy beef noodle soup, pad Thai, fried rice, pad kee mao and papaya salad in regular and platter size. On the weekends, the truck offers kalungfun (KLF), a cold and sour snack made with flour that sits in a tamarind juice and is topped with a pepper sauce of fermented bean paste, roasted Thai chilies, tomatoes and garlic. Kapoon and Thai tea are served at 3lephant Noodle Shack on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 in Salem, Ore. The standout is the papaya salad platter, which provides a family-size portion of the dish separated by salad addition. In the center is the traditional pungent papaya salad, soaked in the "dressing" of fish sauce, shrimp paste, crab paste, green beans, Thai chilies and tomato. The remaining compartments contain pork rinds, Vietnamese ham, cabbage, sliced hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, water spinach, vermicelli noodles and additional fresh Thai chilies. To eat, rip the water spinach leaves into a bowl and then add all the other ingredients, mixing to get all the flavorful dressing and textures in every bite. The spicy, sour yet tangy flavors of the airy pork rinds and soft crunch of vegetables is delicious and intriguing to eat if you haven't had it before. Adjusting the heat levels and adding other ingredients such as more meat or vegetables is also available. You can also get Thai tea and Thai coffee, which is a cousin of Vietnamese coffee in that it is concentrated coffee mixed with milk instead of condensed milk. "Salem didn't have a lot of what we offered, so that's why we wanted to introduce this to the community," Keomorakoth said. Papaya salad, with pork meatloaf, pork rinds, cabbage and hard boiled eggs is served at 3lephant Noodle Shack on Sept. 20 in Salem. Serendipitous turn of events Starting a business to sell the foods they loved most was an idea they had discussed for the past two years. But it wasn't until this year and a series of serendipitous events that they could finally open. Before the food cart, Keomorakoth worked in sales and Saetern in collections. In July, the married couple found the food cart for sale in a Facebook marketplace ad. Once they finalized the sale, they decided to go all in. They said the manager of the food pod space has been kind and there were no real hiccups except the process of adjusting to the limited space inside the food cart. It only took a month to turn things around and be ready to open. Keomorakoth said they were shocked by the reception in their opening weekend, and are grateful for the patience of customers as they ran out of items or had to come up with alternatives. Off to the side of the little white food cart is a covered seating area, with each table containing an assortment of Southeast Asian condiments. They include hoisin sauce, fish sauce, fried garlic, housemade chili oil, dried chili powder, soy sauce and Thai chilis in fish sauce. 3lephant Noodle Shack recently opened, bringing in Laotian and Mien cuisine to the Salem area on Sept. 20 in Salem. Cultural homage, local representation 3lephant Noodle Shack in name and logo are representative of the Laotian flag. The couple wanted to make sure customers knew their foods are Lao-based. The logo background has the three red and blue stripes of the current Laotian flag, while the three baby elephants eating bowls of noodles are representative of the former Laotian flag. The former flag had a three-headed elephant in the center, which represented the three kingdoms that were united and ruled the country. The former flag of the monarchy was replaced in 1975 when the country became recognized as Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) with the political influence of communist Vietnam. Those who know the history of Lao will understand how grim the historical context is, but Keomorakoth said he hopes the logo offers a more positive representation of their heritage. Despite the plethora of Thai-Laotan restaurants between Keizer and Salem, the couple hope people will come out and try for themselves the difference in the cuisines. For more info on the food cart, visit its Facebook page. Address: 4792 Silverton Road NE Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @catchuptoemily. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: 3lephant Noodle Shack food truck serves Laotian, Mien foods In 2022, lawyer Victoria Vesce joined the SI Swimsuit family, making her debut as a finalist in the years Swim Search. She posed alongside a couple of other finalists on the beaches of the Dominican Republic with photographer Yu Tsai. In addition to rocking her rookie shoot, she took the opportunity to speak up about her 2017 diagnosis and experience with multiple paraganglioma, a brain-skull tumor and body tumor, as well as her experience with grief following the passing of her mother in 2021. She took to Instagram in May of 2022 to preview the SI Swim launch and reflect on what the feature meant to her. And so it begins Im so excited the launch is next week i legit got goosebumps when I saw this and started tearing up ! My mom is so with memy angel helping me fulfill my dreams! Also lets keep donating to @natlbraintumorsociety for brain tumor awareness month! To help patients and survivors like me! she captioned the photo, giving a shoutout to her late mom and calling on her followers to donate to the National Brain Tumor Society. The model proved the importance of using your platform for good following her SI Swim debut. Below are a few of our favorites from her rookie shoot. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated 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 Check out our list of the safest countries in Africa and their best features. Pictured: the African sunset against a tree in the distance. Africa boasts an array of diverse landscapes and unparalleled natural beauty. Africa is a dream destination for many since it has many countries to explore (54 countries, in fact) that all offer attractive and unique landscapes and adventures. With the second largest population in the world, it can be hard to decide where exactly to visit in the large continent and where it is safe or ideal for particular interests. Whether visitors want to experience flourishing wildlife or a judgment-free environment, Africa is the perfect place to explore on your next trip because it has so many countries that appease varying tastes. Often referred to as the cradle of life, it is no surprise that Africa has an array of countries that offer inclusive communities for visitors. Among those are countries that provide the best environment for solo travelers, women, LGBTQIA+ community members and wildlife lovers. Safest Countries in Africa for Solo Travelers and Tourists Malawi and Rwanda are countries that are considered the safest in Africa due to their low crime rates and friendly locals. Pictured: a street market. Solo travel can boost confidence significantly and Africa offers unforgettable experiences, so why not combine the two? Africa offers plenty for solo travelers to do, including wildlife safaris, city tours and hiking. If Africa is the next stop on the bucket list, check out these countries that will provide comfortable environments. Malawi Malawi has the same Global Peace Index (GPI) score as France and in terms of peace and security, it is the third ranked country in Africa. With the slogan, The Warm Heart of Africa, Malawi is clearly known as a serene destination. It is incredibly small and has a welcoming community, so it is a popular country for first-time visitors to Africa. While visitors should always stay vigilant and aware, this hidden gem is one of the safest countries travelers can visit in Africa. Rwanda This country is on a level one travel advisory, which means travelers should exercise normal precautions, according to the U.S. Department of State. The crime rates are consistently low in Rwanda, even in more touristy places like the capital city of Kigali. Local Rwandans are helpful and friendly, so visitors should not have any trouble getting around and are likely to make new friends while traveling solo. While Rwanda is a peaceful place to stay, the border of Rwanda is an area where travelers should exercise increased caution due to armed conflict between Rwanda and The Democratic of Congo. If travelers abide by sensible travel precautions, their visit to Rwanda will go smoothly and they may even count down to the next visit. Safest Countries in Africa for Women To Visit Woman travelers can find solitude in Mauritius and Botswana. Pictured: a Black woman with her arms outspread; behind her is the open sky of Africa. Although racial acceptance is not a huge issue in Africa since it is a diverse continent, some areas are preferable for travelers of gender minority groups. Harassment can be prevalent in certain areas, which makes it crucial to know the safest countries in Africa for women. Cultural and religious beliefs impact the safety of women worldwide and vary by region, so where and where not to go are important things to know while traveling. Mauritius One of the cultural reasons this area is safe for women is because Buddhists are prevalent in Mauritius. The surrounding temples are popular tourist attractions and signify the peaceful outlooks that have historically been present. Mauritius has a significantly low crime rate compared to other countries and is known for its friendly locals. Of course, regardless of these factors, female travelers should always take precautions like being observant of their surroundings and keeping their valuables secure. Gender equality is a complex subject in Mauritius since the constitution states that women have equal rights but the society is otherwise conservative. While women are independent, the youth of Mauritius have done the work of shifting traditional viewpoints so that women feel comfortable and free in their country. Botswana Botswana is one of the safest countries in Africa and seldom has any issues with travelers. Along with its lack of serious crime, the popularity of Botswanas guided tours has contributed to the safety level of the country. Professional guides and tours are easily accessible, so Botswana is considered a tourist destination and often has foreign travelers passing through it. The majority of women travelers feel safe since the locals are welcoming and the area has comparatively low crime. Women traveling through Botswana need only worry about safety when in public areas (as usual for foreigners) or if they venture to bars or streets late at night. Unwanted attention is not common but may occur in more rural or poorly lit late-night spots, which some women may opt to avoid. Where the LGBTQIA+ Community Should Visit in Africa LGBTQIA+ community members deserve safe travel experiences too! Check out these countries in Africa that are the most accepting and safest. Pictured: a Black man smiling with a rainbow mural behind him. Safety for members of the LGBTQIA+ community has historically been a topic of strife. While laws have reflected and signified the slow acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community, the reality of that acceptance varies. These African countries are, in reality, the most comfortable places for LGBTQIA+ travelers. South Africa South Africa is generally considered the most open African country for LGBTQIA+ rights. The South African constitution outlaws discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, so it is considered extremely progressive. Cape Town is the official capital of South Africa but is unofficially known as the gay capital of Africa! The general attitude toward the LGBTQIA+ community is progressive in South Africa. Despite this, countries bordering South Africa are not so accepting and some even consider homosexuality a crime, so travelers should be wary of straying. Seychelles This East African country comprises 115 huddled islands. It also is one of the handful of destinations where homosexuality is legal (which was legalized in 2006). Holding hands at the beach or stealing kisses while out and about are accepted since the law is on the side of LGBTQIA+ community members. This country is a great place to express yourself freely and not worry about disapproving glances. Of course, sometimes the law does not reflect the culture, so it is important to be observant of instances when stigma or discrimination may impact travelers. Countries in Africa for Animal Lovers Conservation and sustainability are significant parts of African culture. Travelers can learn more about the countries that are doing the best in their sustainability efforts. Pictured: herd of elephants in Africa. Conservation in Africa is an important effort that contributes to the overall ecosystem and in turn, how safe areas are for visitors. Protecting the environment reduces the risk of climate change, improves sustainability and preserves natural resources. These two countries are the front runners when it comes to conservation and wildlife tourism. Tanzania Tanzania has rich biodiversity and boasts 14,000 wildlife species. Safeguarding wildlife is a priority of this country and it shows in its respect for animals and nature. Almost a third of the country is protected, so natural habitats are inhabited by an array of species. While tourism is still a part of Tanzanian culture, it is secondary to wildlife management and species conservation. If visiting Tanzania, consider visiting the Serengeti National Park, which is a safari that has the big five game animals (elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and rhino), or Kilimanjaro National Park which has Africas highest mountain. Kenya Kenya is home to 25 national parks, 16 national reserves, 6 marine parks and many private conservancies. Of those, the most popular national park is Amboseli. Amboseli is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site that spans 151 square miles. It is near the Tanzanian border and is known for its huge elephant population. When it comes to conservation and animal protection, Kenya is hard to beat. Travelers should try to catch Africas Great Migration, which is when millions of mammals and herbivores go north to follow the rain. The migration is best observed during the dry season between July and October. Items get left behind at restaurants all the timeI recently forgot my umbrella after a meal out and didnt realize it for days. With my umbrella probably long gone by that point, I just ordered a new one on Amazon. But sometimes customers walk away without something truly valuable or sentimental, something they care way more about than a simple black umbrella. Employees at some of the nations largest and busiest restaurants spilled the deets to The Washington Post on what people have condemned to their lost-and-found boxes. There are all the usual things, sure: keys, credit cards, etc. And then there are items that leave restaurant staffers agog. More from Robb Report Like a mans bag that contained a passport, a gun, and $14,000 at Joes Stone Crab in Miami Beach. When the customer returned to claim the bag, Brian Johnson, the restaurants recently retired general manager, brought him to Joes security person. With proper ID and a concealed-carry permit, the diner was able to retrieve his belongings and go on his way. Sometimes, the items left behind arent just inanimate objects. A number of restaurant employees had stories about forgotten kids or babies, who are usually shortly reunited with their (somewhat flustered) parents. And Brennans in New Orleans has seen a few service animals without their owner. While those usually tend to be dogs, general manager Christian Pendleton told the Post that one patron left his service bird, a parrottwice. The bird had been trained to stay in its place, making it difficult when employees tried to remove it from the dining room. Luckily, the owner returned for his parrot, although likely after a little squawking. At Beverly Hillss Spago, frequented by celebs like the Obamas and John Legend, the lost-and-found section can compete with a department store. Shopping bags from Rodeo Drive are left behind regularly, and the restaurant recently returned an orange leather Chloe trench coat to a diner. Once, a famous British actor even left his lifetime achievement award behind, general manager Steve Scott Springer told the Post. And in the restaurants safe sit about 50 lost American Express black cards. Restaurant staffers do their best to return lost items to their rightful owners, and some diners may feel inclined to tip in response. But as Jeremy Mancuso of the Old Ebbitt Grill in Washington, D.C., said: The best thanks is to come back. Maybe just remember all your belongings next time. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Whether you're in need of cleaning supplies, a new set of tires, or an entire Thanksgiving dinner, Costco has it all for a shockingly reasonable price. The bulk retailer has made a name for itself as a warehouse full of quality products for a low price. Accordingly, many members leave with an extra-full cart and an extremely light wallet, even with all those discounts. One of the biggest mistakes that shoppers make at Costco is overspending on their shopping trips. While we all deserve to treat ourselves every now and then, Costco is a dangerous place to keep adding items to your cart. It doesn't take long for customers to go over budget after seeing all the Kirkland exclusives and big box deals that the store offers. According to data collected by Numerator (via Business Insider), Costco is the third most popular retailer in America and the average customer will spend at least $100 per visit, shopping approximately every other week. As products become even more expensive and budget restraints become tighter than ever, many members are searching for ways to save money at Costco without breaking the bank each trip. Spoiler alert: Don't buy what you don't need. As tempting as it can be, Costco veterans have shared that the key to taking advantage of Costco's discounts is to simply grab your essentials and head straight for checkout. Read more: All The Benefits Of A Costco Membership If It's Not On Your List, It's Not In The Cart Person hold shopping list in store - Lordhenrivoton/Getty Images In a thread on Reddit, a concerned member asked for help maximizing their Costco trips to save as much money as possible on their "weekly grocery bills." With all the savings hacks available on the internet, we were expecting to be let in on some serious insider secrets. However, the most popular tip on the thread was also the most self-explanatory. One user shared their best tip for shopping at Costco on a budget: "Have a list and don't deviate." Although it is fun to wander all the aisles and see what new products Costco has in stock, the temptation to try new snacks is not ideal for those hoping to spend less money. Another commenter shared their money-saving hack, stating, "There are times I will not even get a cart and everyone thinks I'm crazy, but I say if I can't carry it I'm not buying it!" It makes sense that only buying what you can carry will seriously limit your spending. Another user agreed, saying, "if i grab a cart it's gonna cost me at least $200.00 [sic]." Next time you're headed to Costco for only a few items, roll up your sleeves and say no to the cart, grabbing only the items on your list. Costco's Layout Encourages You To Overspend Costco shopper looks at items on shelf - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images It might sound like a straightforward concept to simply not spend money on what you don't need. But when you are wandering through the open-concept warehouse, it's almost impossible not to. From the unbeatable savings to the free samples of delicious, yet unnecessary, food offerings, Costco knows exactly what they are doing when enticing customers to spend more than they planned. The constantly rotating inventory keeps shoppers excited to snag products that will only be available for a limited time. Plus, the physical layout of Costco's warehouse also encourages shoppers to spend more money by putting flashy products like electronics and seasonal merchandise at the front of the store, and saving essential items like groceries and cleaning products for all the way in the back corners. This "labyrinth" style has shoppers wandering through all the aisles, seeing many products that are not on their shopping lists but may be tempting to place in their carts, per Business Insider. If you need to stick to a tight budget on your next trip to Costco, make sure you have a specific list of only the items you need and make a beeline for those items once you enter the store, making sure to avoid the flashy sights of clearance signs and the delicious smell of free samples. Read the original article on Daily Meal. This article is part of an ongoing series covering Benedikt Boehm and Prakash Sherpa's planned speed ascent of Cho Oyu, Tibet -- the 6th highest mountain in the world. For background information, click here. This past weekend, on October 7th, Benedikt Boehm and Prakash Sherpa raced to the top of Cho Oyu's summit in 12.35 hours. The team started the journey around midnight on October 6th and made it back down on the 7th without using supplemental oxygen. Boehm notes that the initial plan of reaching the summit in roughly 10 hours was over-ambitious as "the way was very long and also tricky." The team ropes in during the ascent. Dynafit/Benedikt Boehm Here's a quick retelling from Boehm: "We arrived at the summit exactly after 12:35 hours. The summit can be recognized by the weather station (video). Certainly my best time compared to an 8000m peak because it is a very long route and also high at 8201m. In addition, there were harsh snow conditions and many technical changes. A lot of wind. Both of my feet (especially me) really froze. Endlessly long route. I took the skis with me for safety reasons (leaving the death zone more quickly), but didn't use them. It was a safety issue for me, and the snow conditions were terrible. Overall it was really quick. The descent through the hard rock and the eternal moraine gave me the absolute rest. It was very, very hard for us until base camp. Prakash and I worked very well together and sometimes pushed each other. We also went down from the base camp with the yaks. We didn't make it to the border but were in Tingri. Tomorrow we're going to Kathmandu." Boehm further explained the speed ascent in a text conversation with me over the weekend, where he detailed suffering from lung pain comparable to a lung infection and toes that were "frozen blue." He, unsurprisingly, described the climb as "really brutal." From Tingri, Boehm returned to Kathmandu, Nepal, before making his way back to Munich, Germany. A stroll with a view. Dynafit/Benedikt Boehm Congratulations to the team! What an effort. The team spent just over two weeks in Tibet, which is a staggeringly small amount of time to prepare for and execute the climbing of one of the tallest peaks in the world. Don't miss another headline from POWDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skiing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging ski-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on POWDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality ski videos. Its a tale as old as time for any woman whos ever gone to a doctor while overweight. Were constantly dismissed, told that losing weight will solve any and every health problem. For one Florida woman, that meant battling serious health issues for years. She had lupus, a serious autoimmune disorder that wreaked havoc on her health, all while doctors told her to just lose weight. Alexandra Marcela started experiencing symptoms when she first became pregnant at 18 years old, she told People. My legs were so swollen I couldnt walk, she said. Doctors were telling me it was preeclampsia, but this was also my first pregnancy and I was having so many complications. So it was very frustrating, and nobody knew the answer to what was going on. She continued, I remember I went to my doctor for one of my checkups and my OBGYN looked at my face and said I had a butterfly rash, so she sent me to a rheumatologist. I was a heavier set girl, so when I started following up with all my appointments, I was always told that losing weight would fix all my problems. Marcela, who lives in Orlando, remembers doctors telling her, my legs wouldnt hurt if I wasnt so heavy set. She was also told she must be depressed, because she must be unhappy with herself and insecure. Two years later when she became pregnant again, she had similar symptoms, but much worse. I was like, this cant be normal, theres something wrong, Marcela said. I got sent back to rheumatology. I had to do tons of blood work. They did an A panel, and sure enough, they came back that I had lupus. I was 20 years old, and Im like, what the heck is lupus? Ive never heard of lupus a day in my life. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that causes the bodys immune system to attack its own tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by the attacks can affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. Now, Marcela shares about her diagnosis, symptoms, and daily struggles on social media. She shares her story because it was difficult for her to get treatment from doctors who would only focus on her weight, not her health. Somebody had to advocate, she said. You dont ever hear much about autoimmune diseases. And theres still no cure. The worst part about it being an invisible illness is that we may feel were literally crumbling on the inside, but nobody is ever going to see that. To take in the best of the Nordic art scene, head out of Helsinki and into the countryside. LINUS WESTERLUND RIVERPOINT/COURTESY OF CHAPPE Julia Lohmanns Corpus Maris II at the Chappe art museum, in Ekenas, Finland Its been a big year in Helsinkis art world. The Finnish capital is wrapping up its second Biennial and celebrating the 150th anniversary of its Design Museum. But even frequent visitors may not know that some of the countrys most inspiring cultural attractions lie just outside the city. AJ Rantala/Kaarne Photography/Courtesy of Onoma; Kaarne Photography/Courtesy of Onoma An opening party at Onoma, an artists collective in the Finnish village of Fiskars; "Gone With the Wind" by Tommi Toija In April, Chappe opened in the bayside town of Ekenas, about an hours drive west of Helsinki. Billed as an art house by the sea, it was conceived and funded by the prominent Finnish geneticist Albert de la Chapelle, who died in 2020. The architecture firm JKMM the same team behind Helsinkis popular Amos Rex museum created a bright space with high, timber-lined ceilings. Its perfect for large-scale contemporary exhibitions like Climate & Art Alternative Approaches, one of the opening shows, which includes mixed-media photography and sound installations. Related: This City in Scandinavia Youve Never Heard Of Is a Must-visit Summer Destination With Beautiful Castles and New Nordic Cuisine Jarmo Piironen/Alamy Stock Photo The historic mill in Fiskars. Thirty minutes drive north of Ekenas is Fiskars, a former ironworks village thats known for its namesake orange-handled scissors. Now home to more than a hundred artisans, many of whom belong to the cooperative Onoma, the town draws 200,000 visitors every year. To meet demand, boutique hotel the Torby opened in a former paper factory in June, with lighting and furniture provided by Finnish designers. Kaarne Photography/Courtesy of Onoma Arts&Crafts And Rabbit Holes exhibition by Onoma Cooperative 2023 Since 2019, Fiskars creators have organized the Fiskars Village Art & Design Biennale, bringing together both local and international artists in pop-up exhibitions. The next one takes place in May 2024, but the designers operate their shops year-round. At Jalo, goldsmith Timo Mustajarvi recycles old jewelry into custom pieces. Youll find imaginative leather jewelry and bags by Leanika Korn at Leanika, while at Bianco Blu, glass artist Tarmo Maaronen sells quirky figurines and holds glassblowing workshops. One of the best places to pick up a souvenir for home is the Fiskars Shop, which also features Finnish manufacturers like the pottery house Arabia, the cutlery maker Hackman, and the glassware brand Iittala. Victoria Ornmark/Courtesy of Chappe Chappe Art House A version of this story first appeared in the September 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Finland Fresh." For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. COPENHAGEN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- In a joint effort to mitigate the impending threats of COVID-19 and seasonal influenza this autumn and winter, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, alongside the European Commission and the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), urged higher-risk individuals across the region on Monday to safeguard their health by availing themselves of the forthcoming vaccinations. "COVID-19 and influenza remain serious diseases, particularly for the most vulnerable, including those who haven't completed their vaccination courses," Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said in a press release. Focusing on the elderly, the immune-compromised, the very young, and pregnant women, the WHO recommends these priority groups be offered an additional vaccine dose six to 12 months after their last, "depending on their level of risk." The call comes as the number of COVID-19 deaths and people admitted to intensive care units continues to fall significantly compared to the peak of the pandemic, according to the press release, but "hospital admissions are beginning to creep up again in some WHO Europe member states, particularly where vaccine uptake remains low." Kluge emphasized three pivotal considerations in the ongoing battle against COVID-19. He advocated for nations to expedite the administration of booster doses without hesitation, underscored the paramount importance of persistent COVID-19 surveillance, which encompasses wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2, and highlighted the necessity to prioritize indoor air quality and ventilation. The WHO also stresses the need for health care professionals to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their patients. Adopting a dog from the shelter involves a lot of trust from everyone involved. Not only did you trust the shelter to care for your soon-to-be best friend, but they're also trusting you to raise a happy and healthy canine. Not to mention the trust you'll earn from your new pup! Every now and then, though, a shelter dog puts their trust in someone who doesn't deserve it. 2-year-old Thane is one of those dogs, and he's back at the Humane Society of Broward County after being adopted for less than 24 hours. We're not kidding! This mixed-breed dog was returned to the Fort Lauderdale animal rescue on October 5 because he was too interested in his new family's cat. Clearly, this poor pup is heartbroken to be back at the shelter, and we don't blame him at all. View the original article to see embedded media. Oh, Thane! We are just shattered to hear about your difficult few days. It must've felt so confusing and disappointing to be brought back to the shelter after getting a taste of life in a forever home. The amazing staff and volunteers at @humanebroward will continue to take great care of you, but we're determined to help you find your perfect home. Maybe his perfect owner will find him from this video! Several commenters have expressed interest in either adopting the Wolfhound mix or helping with transport. It's comforting to know how many people care about shelter dogs like Thane, even if the owners who had him first weren't those kinds of people. No matter who you are, you should give a rescued pet plenty of time to adjust to life in a new home. Animal experts recommend that new pet parents follow the 3-3-3 rule, which explains how long it can take before a pet reaches certain milestones in a new home. It could be 3 days before a dog or cat begins to feel safe, while it takes around 3 weeks for them to get used to new routines. By the 3 month mark, you should begin to see more and more of your new adopted dog's personality. If a dog starts to take interest in a fur sibling like Thane did, it's up to the owners to keep interactions brief. This situation was completely avoidable! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. READ THE COMMENTS The Epson International Pano Awards 2023 has announced this year's winners, with Spaniard Jose David Riquelme Penalver emerging as the standout photographer. Riquelme not only secured the prestigious title of Open Photographer of the Year but also dominated the Nature / Landscape category with his breathtaking, diverse entries. Riquelme's three winning images wowed the judges with their thoughtful compositions, artistic flair and diverse subject matter. The Bridge captured the majestic beauty of Iceland from an aerial perspective while Alone in the Dark transported viewers to the desolate landscape of Deadvlei, in Namibia, where a singular silhouette of a tree stood against a starry night sky. Check out the best panoramic tripod heads, which will help you capture wide scenic shots and wrap-around views Returning to Iceland for Ghost Cave, this extreme panorama made using three rows of photographs captured the iconic Kirkjufell Mountain. Epson International Pano Awards 2023 The Epson International Pano Awards is the largest global competition for panoramic photography, showcasing the work of panoramic photographers from around the world. This year a record-breaking 4,414 entries were received from 1,104 professional and amateur photographers, representing 102 countries. Craig Heckenberg, Managing Director of Epson Australia, expressed his gratitude to everyone who entered. "They are all excellent in terms of quality and creativity Epson is proud to support and sponsor these awards as they connect photographers of all levels and from all walks of life through their passion." Epson International Pano Awards 2023 This year's winners received prizes including an Epson printer and an ultra-slim projector. The Raw Planet Award was presented to Teo Chin Long from Singapore for his photograph Yellow Net 1, and the Epson Digital Art Prize went to Swee Choo Oh from the USA for Disney Concert Hall. In the Built Environment category, Cao Ky Nhan from Vietnam emerged as the Open runner-up and category winner with Vortex of Ducks. Merche Llobera from Spain claimed the Amateur winner and the Nature / Landscape category winner titles with Jack Fish Art, You Can Eat and Spirits of the Sea. The Amateur runner-up in the Built Environment category was Hung Chang Lin from Taiwan, whose photograph Mystical Inca, Peru captured the abandoned, mountainous village of of Machu Picchu. Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Competition Curator David Evans noted the diversity and boundary-pushing nature of the 2023 collection, highlighting the strong performance of entrants from Southeast Asia and Europe. Now in its 14th year, the Epson International Pano Awards continues to celebrate the evolution of panoramic photography, pushing photographers to experiment with techniques and composition to create wide-format works of art. Head to the Pano Awards website to view the top 100 images. Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Epson International Pano Awards 2023 Check out the best tripods including a range of travel-friendly lightweight models and big sturdy options designed for larger cameras and lenses. And if you're feeling inspired, check out our how to shoot a panorama guide. Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, launched an attack on Israel this Saturday, firing at least 2,200 rockets into the country and adding 500 or more to the death toll in a war that has carried on for decades. The Israeli Defense Forces, in return, declared a state of war and retaliated with airstrikes. Bloodshed is not something to take sides in. And a conflict that has gone on for centuries, killed millions of innocent families, and wreaked religious, political, and economic havoc in two populations, can only be described as a catastrophe that must find its resolution. Below, a list of organizations calling for peace and helping the victims of this war. ALLMEP is the largest network of Palestinian and Israeli peace builders. Donate here. The Carter Center has been promoting peace in Israel and Palestine since the 1990s. Through election observation, conflict resolution, and human rights work in the occupied Palestinian territory, The Carter Center has developed strong relations among key Israeli and Palestinian political leaders, electoral officials, civil society leaders, and human rights practitioners, they say. Donate to their cause here. The United Nations remains a neutral organization aiming to bring peace between the two territories. Donate here. The International Red Cross provides assistance during times of crisis, and has pleaded for an end to the violence between Israel and Palestine. In our role as a neutral intermediary, we are ready to visit anyone detained so we can check on their well-being and provide news to their loved ones, they say. Help here. Doctors Without Borders provides immediate medical aid during humanitarian emergencies. Help them save lives here . International Medical Corps works with local health agencies and partners to provide emergency health services, gender-based violence services, and COVID-19 prevention services. Donate here. Save the Children is providing resources to affected children. Donate here. Direct Relief provides medical resources in vulnerable communities worldwide. Help here. The International Rescue Committee is assessing needs on the ground and the organizations capacity to ensure critical, life-saving humanitarian relief reaches affected civilian populations. Donate here . You Might Also Like Panama is a country of remarkable diversity, and one of its most vibrant and rich cultural traditions is Afro culture. To truly immerse yourself in the Afro-Panamanian experience, visitors have a variety of options to explore. From lively neighborhoods in Panama City to cultural festivals in historic towns, there are numerous ways to connect with this vibrant culture. Panama City: Where It All Begins Your journey into Afro culture in Panama can start right in the heart of the countrys capital, Panama City. The historic district, known as Casco Viejo, is a melting pot of Afro-Panamanian heritage. Here, you can delve into the essence of this culture through its music, dance, and delectable cuisine. Local artists often display their Afro-Panamanian art, showcasing the creativity and talent of the community. To truly get a taste of the culture, consider visiting one of the many local eateries serving Afro-Panamanian dishes. These dishes, often influenced by African, Caribbean, and indigenous traditions, offer a flavorful journey for your taste buds. Savor classic dishes like rice and peas, sancocho (a hearty stew), and the beloved fried plantains known as patacones. The cultural immersion doesnt stop at food. Be sure to catch live music performances and dance events featuring traditional rhythms like cumbia, tamborito, and congo. These musical expressions are deeply rooted in the Afro-Panamanian culture and have a unique energy thats hard to resist. Colon: A Gateway to Afro-Panamanian Spirituality Heading east from Panama City, youll find Colon, a city with significant historical and cultural importance for Afro-Panamanians. One of the most iconic landmarks in Colon is the Black Christ Church, also known as the Iglesia de San Felipe. This church holds a special place in the hearts of Afro-Panamanians and is renowned for its annual pilgrimage, where thousands gather to pay homage to the Black Christ. The pilgrimage is a powerful spiritual experience that offers a glimpse into the deep faith and devotion of the Afro-Panamanian community. The Black Christ Church is not just a religious site; its a symbol of resilience and cultural identity. While in Colon, make sure to explore the local markets. Here, you can find a treasure trove of Afro-Panamanian craftsmanship, from intricately woven baskets to vibrant artwork. These markets are an excellent opportunity to support local artisans and take a piece of Afro-Panamanian culture home with you. Dont forget to indulge in the diverse Afro-Caribbean cuisine offered in Colon. The flavors here provide a delicious insight into the multicultural tapestry that is Afro-Panamanian cuisine. David: A Taste of Afro Culture in Western Panama In western Panama, the city of David is another hub of Afro-Panamanian culture. Here, youll find a lively community that proudly celebrates its African roots. Visit the local markets to discover a wide array of traditional crafts and artwork that reflect the regions Afro heritage. David offers a unique opportunity to experience the mesmerizing rhythms of the Congo dance. This traditional dance, characterized by its colorful costumes and symbolic movements, is often performed during special celebrations and festivals. Dont miss the chance to witness the energy and storytelling prowess of the dancers. Bocas del Toro: An Island Paradise with Afro-Flavor For a different perspective on Afro culture in Panama, venture to the enchanting archipelago of Bocas del Toro on the Caribbean coast. African influence is deeply ingrained in the local culture. Explore the islands communities and savor the flavors of Afro-Caribbean cuisine, which often features fresh seafood and tropical ingredients. While in Bocas del Toro, you can also participate in drumming workshops and dance classes that introduce you to traditional rhythms and moves. The islands natural beauty and Afro-Panamanian culture make for a truly immersive and memorable experience. Cultural Festivals: A Celebration of Tradition To fully immerse yourself in Afro-Panamanian traditions and customs, consider timing your visit to coincide with one of several cultural festivals that take place throughout the year. In addition to the Congo Carnival in Portobelo and the Congo Festival in Colon, you can also attend festivities in cities like David and Bocas del Toro, where the local Afro-Panamanian communities proudly showcase their heritage through dance, music, and art. It's time to watch some great queer films! Searchlight Pictures AFI Fest is bringing quality queer movies to Hollywood! Now in its 37th year, the film festival, which runs October 25-29 in Hollywood, has announced its slate of movies, including several queer films that are must-sees. The five-day festival will open with the world premiere of Sam Esmails Leave the World Behind and closes with Bradley Coopers Leonard Bernstein biopic Maestro. But between those films, theres some terrific queer content. 20,000 Species of Bees 20,000 Species of Bees In this sun-soaked, sublimely sensitive debut (from writer/director Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren ), an eight-year-old experiences a gender identity crisis over one uncertain summer vacation in Basque Country, where three generations of women in her family reside together. All of Us Strangers all of us strangers Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal star in the latest from Looking creator Andrew Haigh in this moving, metaphysical ghost story that explores love, loss, and memory. Going Varsity in Mariachi mariachi In South Texas, Edinburg North High Schools prized mariachi team prepares to compete against their rivals, equipped with a mix of determined seniors and rookie musicians in this spirited documentary. Smoke Sauna Sisterhood Smoke Sauna Sisterhood In Estonias Oscar submission for Best International Feature, tucked away in a forest in southern Estonia, a group of women gather seasonally in a communal smoke sauna. Their traditional practice offers a look into the healing powers of solidarity and sisterhood. Slow slow Lithuanias Oscar submission for Best International Feature follows the whirlwind romance between sex positive dancer Elena and soft-spoken sign language interpreter Dovyda unfolds as Elena attempts to understand Dovydas asexuality. The Summer With Carmen The Summer With Carmen Best friends Demos and Nikitas spend the day on a queer nude beach soaking in the Greek summer sun as they brainstorm a script based on the lively events of last summer. Directed by Zacharias Mavroeidis. Orlando, My Political Biography Orlando, My Political Biography Based on Virginia Woolfs classic gender-bending novel, Paul B. Preciado, with 26 trans and non-binary people, constructs a manifold and beautiful image of transness, one that is both broadening and unifying, devastating and joyful. Sometimes, additional provenance information about a painting can significantly increase its perceived value. In the case of a small nocturne showing a Biblical scene, a shift in attribution from the Circle of Rembrandt to the actual Dutch master himself has increased its auction estimate by several hundred-fold. When The Adoration of the Kings was last auctioned by Christies in Amsterdam in 2021, it had an estimate of 10,000 to 15,000. Sothebys is now listing the oil on oak panel with an estimate of 10 million to 15 million ($12.2 million to $18.4 million) as part of its OId Masters and 19th-century paintings evening sale in London on December 6. The work will also have a third-party guarantee, according to the Art Newspaper, which first reported the news. More from Robb Report The work ended up at Christies in Amsterdam after being consigned by a private family collection in Germany. According to its provenance history, it was first acquired by the Dutch collector Johannes Carel Hendrik Heldring in 1955. Even though it was attributed to Circle of Rembrandt during that online sale in October 2021, the painting caught enough attention to garner bids shooting well past its estimate to close at 860,000, including fees. According to the Art Newspaper, Sothebys specialist George Gordon was approached by the winning bidder from the Amsterdam sale to reattribute the work to Rembrandt, a research project which spanned 18 months and included infrared imaging technology. One of the most prominent scholars who supported Gordons reattribution efforts was Volker Manuth, who co-wrote a 2019 catalogue raisonne of the Dutch masters paintings. Gordon told the Art Newspaper the estimate was based on recent sales made by the Sothebys for works by Rembrandt, including a self-portrait that was sold in July 2020 for 14.5 million (with fees) against an estimate of 12 million to 16 million. In 2018, an oil sketch for a head of Christ sold for 9.5 million with fees on an estimate of 8 million to 10 million. It was purchased by the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Sales information from other auction houses that informed the estimate include the panel painting Abraham and Angels (ca. 1646) at Sothebys in New York offered it in 2021. The work was withdrawn from public auction, but was sold privately shortly afterward within its original estimate of $20 million$30 million. Christies also holds the world auction record for Rembrandt, with Portrait of a Man with Arms Akimbo (1658) selling for 23.2 million with fees in 2009. That price wasnt far from the $25.8 million achieved by another biblical scene by Rembrandt, Saint James the Greater (1661), when it was auctioned in 2007. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Even though the majority of people in the world are kind to animals and aware of the ways humanity endangers them, very few folks consider animal rescue outside of stereotypical pet species. But the reality is that all kinds of animals need saving! The incredible animal rescuers at The Gentle Barn's three locations understand just how many kinds of animals need love. Their Santa Clarita, California farm recently welcomed 5 rescue turkeys who were being raised for Thanksgiving dinner, and the birds couldn't be more grateful! Watching them explore the farm sanctuary is simply magical. I never thought I'd say that I'm tearing up at the sight of turkeys, but alas--here I am. Their sweet reactions are just so pure and joyful! View the original article to see embedded media. Welcome home, turkeys! It's so clear by the smiles on everyone's faces that @thegentlebarn is thrilled to have these new additions at the farm. They're taking the proper precautions and keeping them quarantined for 30 days, but it won't be long until they're running free on the pasture with the rest of the turkey flock. We'll admit--they make raising turkeys look so easy and fun! "This is beautiful and made me tear up," gushed commenter @jeanousse_sol. "I wish more people were like this. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving these precious souls." She isn't the only one feeling touched by this rescue farm's work! This video has nearly 1,000 comments, and it's safe to say that people are talking about this rescue. After all, it's not every day that one gets to see a group of turkeys getting a whole new lease on life. And remember, these aren't wild turkeys. These young birds were bred specifically for Thanksgiving, so this unexpected turn of events quite literally saved their lives. People may not think much of these birds aside from Thanksgiving, but the Humane Society of the United States explains that turkeys are both smart and affectionate. They're social creatures who form bonds with loved ones, so this group rescue likely means even more to the rescue turkeys than we even thought. What's important is that they're home now! Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. READ THE COMMENTS When you think of empanada filling, what's the first thing that comes to mind? You could be thinking about beef, chicken, cheese, veggies, or some combination of those ingredients. Empanadas don't have to be confined to the world of savory foods, though. All you need to do to take your empanada from dinner to dessert is swap out the filling. Making a dessert empanada can challenge your creativity to come up with any number of delicious filling combinations. You could think of your sweet empanadas like a Pop Tart, fill them with fruits or jam, and top them with sugar or icing. If you're a lover of all things chocolate, you could stuff the empanada dough with Nutella and bananas or even chocolate and peanut butter. Additionally, you could experiment with flavored or sweeter doughs, which feature more sugar than the traditional empanada dough that's meant to enclose a more savory filling. Read more: 41 Must Try Hot Sandwich Recipes Where Do Sweet Empanadas Come From? empanadas on a plate - Maritza Luna/Shutterstock Classic empanadas actually have a much richer and more interesting history than you may have expected. While you might immediately place empanadas in the category of Spanish food, they actually could have evolved from an Arabic food called sfeehas. Those are a portable meat pie. The Moors may be responsible for bringing sfeehas to Europe when they occupied parts of Spain. From there, the savory pies became entrenched in Spanish culture. The first mention of an empanada in a printed cookbook came all the way back in 1502. When Spain began exploring the "new world," they brought with them their culture -- including their food. Regional variations of empanadas started popping up in Central and South America that incorporated sweeter flavors. In Ecuador, one variation called empanadas de viento, which directly translates to "wind empanada," is filled with cheese and covered in sugar after it's fried. Empanadas de viento could pair perfectly with coffee in the morning, or could be enjoyed as a post-dinner dessert. Another regional variation that is filled with guava and cream cheese comes from Puerto Rico. It's believed to have evolved from a similar Spanish version that used a fruit called a quince -- it kind of looks like an apple, if you're unfamiliar with one. Guava replaced quince in these empanadas because it's native to the locations the conquistadors traveled to, whereas quince is not. In Mexico, it's not uncommon to find empanadas de cajeta, which are filled with dulce de leche and covered in cinnamon sugar. Read the original article on Mashed. Coming January 2024, Tony Hawk will be heading down under for a special event taking place in three locations across Australia. During the events Tony will be a talking about his entire skateboarding journey. Check the official flyer below! There will be three separate events spanning across Austrailia, in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. On January 19th he will be heading to the Enmore Theatre, on January 22nd he will be at The Athenaeum in Melbourne, and the last stop of the down under event tour will be on January 25th at The Triffid in Brisbane. Tony will be talking about his entire skateboarding journey, from the beginning, talking about all the highs and even some of the lows. If this hasnt sold the event enough Tony will be joined by the Aussie band Birdman, covering classics from Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Don't miss another headline from TransWorld SKATEboarding! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skateboarding. Courtesy of subject Growing up, I always thought that my chin looked a little bit different from everyone elses. Instead of being smooth, mine had a significant dimple in the middle that, from certain angles, I thought made it look as if Id split my chin in half. As I got older, I became extremely bothered by it every time I looked in the mirror. The medical term for this type of dimple is a cleft chin. The not-so-medical term is butt chin. By any name, its a genetic trait that expresses itself as a dimple or crease that may be prominent or barely noticeable. Though a cleft chin can certainly add character to the face, making it more attractive and unique, mine was something I wanted to get rid of. It became a point of insecurity when I started to lose baby fat from my face. The loss of facial fat left my chin looking much less smooth and my cleft more prominent. More recently, after spending countless hours staring at my face over Zoom, I finally felt ready to explore options to get rid of my cleft chin. Read on to learn more about what a cleft chin is, what its like to have it fixed, as well as the risks and costs associated with having it altered. Meet the experts In this story: What is a cleft chin? Our chins are made up of jawbone, muscles, and soft tissues," says David Shafer, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue in New York City. Normally, when your chin develops in the womb the two sides [of the bone and muscle] fuse at the center or midline. If there is an incomplete fusion, then this can result in a cleft or dimple, he explains. The cleft itself, says Oren Tepper, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and co-director of Greenwich Street 497 Plastic Surgery in New York City, can best be described as a depression in the middle of the chin that comes in different degrees, forms, and shapes. The term cleft chin should not be confused with the horizontal fold in the upper portion of the chin which can be found between the chin pad and the lower lip, adds Dr. Tepper. Theres nothing medically related to having a cleft chin; its merely a matter of appearance. Dr. Tepper notes that over time, with the loss of facial fat, the cleft can become more and more apparent which is exactly what I experienced. While it remains unclear what percentage of the population is walking around with a cleft chin, like any genetic trait, if a family member has one, theres a better chance you or someone else in your family might, too. Case in point: My dad has a cleft chin, as did his father before him. Prevalence has been shown to vary based on ethnicity, adds Dr. Tepper, explaining that cleft chins are most common among people from Northern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia. That said, research on the prevalence of cleft chins tends to be more generalized and often conducted in the context of genetic studies or anthropological research, he says, so its difficult to quantify. What can be done to fix a cleft chin? A lot of people love this incredibly unique facial feature but others, like myself, may want to smooth the appearance of a cleft chin. Patients who come to see me to reduce the appearance of a cleft chin typically [say they] want a more symmetrical, even appearance, says Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, a board certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. Women tend to favor treatment for cleft chins more than men, as cleft chins have traditionally been seen as masculine. Dermal fillers are most commonly used to correct a cleft chin, with surgery being an alternative option for those that desire a more permanent result. Chin filler is just like cheek or lip filler it is made up of hyaluronic acid, says Dr. Shafer. In 2020, Juvederm Voluma, which is also approved for the cheeks, was the first filler to be FDA-approved for use in the chin. Though, of course, injectors were using filler off-label for this purpose long before that. While injecting filler tends to minimize or completely erase the appearance of a cleft chin, the injection of said filler also creates more of a projection in the chin, which can change the appearance of your profile. Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of PFRANKMD in New York City, adds that the chin is always something that has to be considered relative to the balance [of the face]. In other words, when having your cleft chin filled, your dermatologist or plastic surgeon needs to anticipate how the added filler will look to ensure your chin does not wind up seeming out of proportion with the rest of the face so just like anytime you get filler, do your homework when choosing a provider, only go to a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon (look them up on certificationmatters.org), and know that you are totally within your rights to ask questions like, how often do you do chin filler? and can I see before and afters? The way chin filler will look with the rest of the face is especially important to consider since, as Dr. Shafer explains, filler can last between one to two years in the chin. Its also an investment: The cost of a single syringe of filler can range anywhere from $800 to $1,600, depending upon geographical location, and type or brand of dermal filler. According to Dr. Shafer, most patients with cleft chins need anywhere from one to two syringes of filler to achieve a smoother look. Aside from filler, a cleft chin can be surgically removed in two different ways: Fat grafting (at a cost of around $3,000 to $5,000) involves using your own fat to introduce volume to the area similar to filler, but with more permanent results. About 50 percent of what is put in [through fat grafting] lasts forever," says Dr. Tepper. A genioplasty (which can cost around $7,500 to $10,000) is surgery that changes the underlying structure of the chin. Dr. Tepper explains that it can be performed in two different ways: by either cutting the bone or adding in a chin implant to build up the chin from beneath the muscle. Both ways yield permanent results without a visible incision, as its made from inside the mouth. Dr. Tepper notes that though these cosmetic surgical options are available, filler is a great place to start so that the patient can get a sense of what type of improvement in the appearance of the chin can be expected. However, due to the fact that the tissue is abnormal where the cleft occurs, the response of that overlying skin to the addition of volume [from filler] can be somewhat unpredictable. So, filler beware though hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down filler, can also be injected if youre not happy with the result. On the flip side, there are also procedures available to create a cleft chin. There was a fad in the 70s and early 80s where people would surgically induce a cleft chin, says Dr. Frank, who suspects Saturday Night Fever actor John Travolta (and his distinct dimple) could be responsible. Dr. Frank says that he occasionally gets requests to use filler to achieve the same effect today. You can create a pseudo non-surgical cleft chin by putting filler on the lateral portion of the chin, leaving a dip in the center. What its like to have your cleft chin filled I visited Dr. Shafer at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue for my procedure, which was performed gratis with the understanding that Id be writing about my experience. He told me to avoid taking aspirin or ibuprofen for the two days prior to my appointment to prevent bruising, which tends to happen to me after getting any kind of injection. I discussed my goals with Dr. Shafer. I wanted to completely rid my face of my cleft chin but I also wanted to fill the sides so it would be smooth and seamless with my jawline. After our short discussion, he cleansed my chin with rubbing alcohol and I expected numbing cream to follow; however, it was not necessary. There is numbing cream in the actual filler, but for new or hesitant patients we can offer cream if it helps them feel more comfortable, says Dr. Shafer. Courtesy of subject Using Juvederm Voluma, he began injecting directly into the dimple in my chin. Despite my high pain tolerance and the numbing agent being present in the filler, I was taken aback by how far the needle went into my chin and just how much I could feel it. My face uncontrollably grimaced for a few moments during the injection. It was a deep sensation I had never experienced before. I could actually feel my chin hardening with the filler as he continued to inject into the cleft. When augmenting the chin, the filler is usually injected right on the bone so it works by extending the reach or projection of the bone, similar to a surgically-placed chin implant, says Dr. Shafer. It was no wonder the sensation of the chin filler was so different from any other filler I had ever had in my face: When filler is used to smooth wrinkles or add volume to other parts of the face, Dr. Shafer says that it is often injected much more superficially. During my first session, one syringe of filler was used, as Dr. Shafer prefers to be conservative with his injections. Its always best to come back for more than to inject too much, he says. I ended up going back two more times over the course of about five months (waiting a month and half or so between injections) during which an additional syringe was used each time totaling three to get my cleft chin to a point where it was fully filled and exactly how I wanted it. Courtesy of subject What is post-care and recovery like for chin filler? The filler is moldable for several days, so its important not to compress or squish it. Sleeping on your back for the first several days is recommended, says Dr. Shafer, who also suggests applying a cool compress to the area once an hour to help reduce swelling as well as avoiding exercise and extreme heat. You can resume normal activity usually within 48 to 72 hours after treatment, adds Dr. Hartman. While I have had multiple syringes of filler placed in my face over the years (in my lips, cheeks, and under eyes) with minimal swelling post-injection, after my first syringe of chin filler, my chin hurt and felt like a rock for a week or two afterwards. My chin looked like Jim Carreys in Me, Myself, & Irene (minus the cleft). Dr. Hartman says that most patients experience little to no side effects post-injection other than some tenderness and swelling that subsides within a few days. Unfortunately, I fell into the small subset of people that experience swelling that lasts past a few days, and possibly a couple of weeks. But the results were worth it. Courtesy of subject My honest thoughts on chin filler After three syringes of filler, I am extremely happy with my results. My chin now appears smooth exactly the way that I wanted it. An additional (and great) side effect of all the filler I had placed in my chin is that the added projection has reshaped my entire jawline for the better. This isnt uncommon: Chin filler and filler in the lower third of the face in general can have a huge impact on the overall definition of the whole face, says Jeremy Brauer, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at Spectrum Skin and Laser in Purchase, New York, adding that this can depend on your face shape. After my chin filler, my square jawline took on more of a heart-shaped appearance. I plan on getting more filler as needed to maintain my results. Most patients top it off annually, says Dr. Shafer. So if you did two syringes to reach your goal, then you might come back annually for one syringe to maintain the results. While there are many positives to having filler, one of my favorites is that it isnt permanent. I may change my mind down the line and want my cleft chin back, but for right now, my new chin suits me. Read more about filler: Now watch a dermatologist demonstrate hand filler: Follow Allure on Instagram and TikTok, or subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all things beauty. Originally Appeared on Allure Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in Beijing on Monday. Xi said that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and how China and the United States get along will determine the future and destiny of humanity. Competition and confrontation do not conform to the trend of the times, still less can they help solve a country's own problems and the challenges facing the world. China always believes that the common interests of China and the United States far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the United States is an opportunity rather than a challenge to each other, Xi said. He said the "Thucydides trap" is not inevitable, and the world is big enough to fully accommodate China and the United States' respective development and common prosperity. With deep economic integration, China and the United States are interdependent and can benefit from each other's development. Xi said the post-pandemic global recovery, addressing climate change, and resolving international and regional hotspot issues all require coordination and cooperation between China and the United States. He said that as two major countries, China and the United States should show their great minds, vision, and responsibility, and properly handle their relationship in an attitude of being responsible to history, the two peoples, and the world. Xi called on the two sides to deal with the relationship in the spirit of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation to improve the well-being of the two peoples, promote human progress, and contribute to world peace and development. As the winter season in New Zealand draws to a close, we are buzzing about Kaito Hamada's jaw-dropping frontside 720. He begins with a stylish Japan grab, setting the stage for the first 360-degree spin. With remarkable precision, he tweaks his body position, adding an unexpected level of style and finesse to the trick. But the magic doesn't stop there. As he completes the first 360, Hamada somehow contorts into a shifty. This unexpected twist during the second 360 takes his already impressive trick to a whole new level. His flawless execution and seamless transition from one spin to the next showcase his unparalleled board control and creativity. In a world where snowboarding tricks like the 1980s and 1620s have become commonplace, it's riders like Kaito Hamada who remind us why we fell in love with the sport in the first place. His ability to push the boundaries of what's possible on a snowboard is what makes him a true innovator in the snowboarding community. So as winter bids farewell to New Zealand, the memory of Kaito Hamada's frontside 720 will linger, inspiring riders around the world to dream big and push the limits of what's possible on the slopes. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging snow-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional rider or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SNOWBOARDER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality snowboarding videos. Don't miss another headline from SNOWBOARDER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of snowboarding. Were finally starting to get a better understanding of what the Tesla Cybertruck will be able to do. Over the weekend, the EV makers official account on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, livestreamed its eagerly anticipated EV in action. The footage, which was also posted as a video, isnt some heavily edited highlight reel, either. Its one long, sustained shot of the pickup off-roading in Baja California. More from Robb Report The seven-minute-long clip was shot from the front seat of one of two Cybertruck release candidates dispatched to Baja for off-road testing, according to its unnamed narrator. The lead pickup can be seen maneuvering its way through a winding course that crosses multiple types of terrain with ease. Weve seen EVs tackle worselike the Rivian R1T that scaled Hells Gate in Moab, Utah, a couple of years backbut its impressive how untroubled the truck looks, something that can likely be attributed to its suspension system. You can be super comfortable driving on-road, turn off onto the trailhead then suddenly swith to off-road mode, the narrator can be heard saying. Weve got air suspension and active dampers. We can totally change the ride and handling characteristics of the vehicle. Elon Musk may have unveiled the Cybertruck way back in November of 2019, but we still know precious little about the vehicle almost four years later, including when it will go on sale and how much it will cost. The company hasnt announced technical specs or performance numbers, either, though it promised the pickup will have a 500-mile range and be able to tow up to 14,000 pounds. Sundays video suggests it will make quite the off-roader as well. The livestream wasnt the only show of the Cybertrucks abilities to go viral over the past few days. Late last week, a short clip of the EV towing one of Space Xs massive Raptor rocket engines also surfaced online. It remains to be seen if the Cybertruck will be able to deliver on all of Musk and Teslas bold promiseswere particularly curious about its rangebut these glimpses are promising. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Oct. 10 is the deadline to register to vote in Ohio. Tuesday, Oct. 10 is the deadline to register to vote in Ohio ahead of the Nov. 7 general election. Early voting begins Wednesday, Oct. 11. Ohio voter registration lookup To check your voter registration, go to voteohio.gov or call your county board of elections. You can also update your voter information or register to vote at the same website. What's on the ballot in Ohio? Ohio voters will decide on State Issue 1, a constitutional amendment on reproductive rights, and State Issue 2 which would legalize recreational marijuana. More: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue on abortion More: What Ohioans need to know about November ballot issue to legalize recreational marijuana Voters in many communities will also have mayor, council, school board and township races on the ballot as well as local issues. How to vote early by mail in Ohio Absentee ballot applications must be received by boards of election by 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. Absentee ballots must be received by boards of election by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7. Ballots cannot be turned in at polling places on Election Day but can be returned to county board offices in person on Election Day. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Monday, Nov. 6 and received by Friday, Nov. 10 to be counted. How to vote early in-person in Ohio Absentee ballots can be cast in-person at local board of elections offices or the county's designated early voting center. All locations have the same hours: Oct. 11-13: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16-20: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 23-27: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 30: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 1-3: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5: 1 to 5 p.m. What is Ohio's new voter ID law A new state law no longer allows voters to use utility bills and other documents as identification to receive a ballot. Now, a photo ID is required for in-person voting, either on Election Day or during the early voting period at county boards of election. To cast a ballot by mail, voters can provide a copy of their photo ID, driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number. Free state IDs are available to residents at local Bureau of Motor Vehicles deputy registrar locations. More information can be found at bmv.ohio.gov. What are the polling hours on Election Day? Polls open Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. Kayla Bennett is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism's Statehouse News Bureau. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What to know about voter registration, early voting for Ohio election Emmanuel and Edith Ansah were planning to spend their honeymoon in the New Jersey and New York metropolitan area. They reserved and paid for a room at the Courtyard by Marriott on Davidson Avenue in Franklin and arrived at about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 2, 2021, on their wedding night. They told the clerk they were on their honeymoon and requested "the best of services." They "immediately" went to bed, but according to a lawsuit, the Woodbridge, Va. couple have filed in Somerset County Superior Court, they woke up two hours later. The couple both felt sharp pain and severe itching all over their bodies, the lawsuit says. When they turned on the lights, they saw bedbugs all over the bed. They could also see rashes from the bites all over their bodies, according to the lawsuit. The honeymoon, the lawsuit charges, "ended abruptly" and the couple immediately checked out of the hotel and returned to their home in Virginia. Also see: Paris battles bedbug infestation ahead of 2024 Olympics The bedbugs completely ruined (their) honeymoon plans, the lawsuit says. Marriott did not respond to a request for comment. The two suffered "severe pains" from the bites and scratching of the irritated skin, inflammation and "general body discomfort," according to the suit filed by Delaware lawyer Andrew K. de Heer. In asking for damages, the lawsuit says the hotel's actions were "negligent, outrageous and reckless." Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Bedbugs ruin wedding night at Courtyard by Marriott in NJ: lawsuit Two young men arrested in connection with fatal Halloween shooting in Columbus. Columbus police released the names of the man and woman found shot in an apartment on the city's Far East Side on Thursday morning. Jermaine Levert, 46, and Adrianne R. Collins, 37, were found unresponsive on the morning of Oct. 5, in an apartment in the 600 block of Lake Club Court. Police released the pair's names on Monday after notifying their next of kin but did not release any new details on what may have led to the double shooting. Officers received a call about a possible shooting at about 9:30 a.m. at the Cornerstone Crossing Apartments and Townhomes. When officers arrived, they found Levert and Collins, who had both been shot. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. One of the gunshot wounds is preliminarily believed to be self-inflicted, police said. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Columbus Police Detective Kirby at (614) 645-2372, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477). jlaird@dispatch.com @LairdWrites This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police release names of man, woman fatally shot in apartment After two years of denying that detailed COVID-19 data relating to 2021 infections and vaccines existed, and then being forced by a court to turn it over, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Health have agreed to a settlement that will require the state to disclose coronavirus data on its web site and pay attorneys fees for attempting to circumvent state public records law. The settlement, announced Monday by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, a non-profit public records watchdog which sued the state on behalf of former state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith , requires the department to publish detailed COVID-19 data on the Florida Department of Health website and pay $152,250 in legal fees to attorneys representing FLCGA and Smith. The department lied about the existence of these public records in court and did everything to restrict information and downplay the threat of COVID even while the Delta variant ripped through Florida a decision that cost many lives, Smith, an Orlando Democrat, said in a statement. Department of Health spokesperson James Jae Williams III, called Smiths statement and the FLCGAs press release a political stunt and said the agency has always reported data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is unfortunate that we have continued to waste government resources arguing over the formatting of data with armchair epidemiologists who have zero training or expertise, Williams said. Smith, who in 2021 was a member of the House Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee, sued the state in August 2021 after submitting a public records request to the Department of Health seeking detailed COVID-19 information in his home county as the cases of the Delta variant spiked. The Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, and several other news organizations, as well as the First Amendment Foundation, joined the lawsuit. At the time, a third wave of cases was ballooning in Florida and hospitalizations were rising dramatically, but the Department of Health was changing the way it reported death data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, giving the appearance of a pandemic in decline, a Miami Herald analysis found. The Florida Department of Health collects the COVID-19 death data published Monday-Saturday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Aug. 10, amid a surge in cases, Florida switched from reporting deaths by report date to death date, creating what experts called an artificial decline in the final two weeks of data. Florida changed its COVID-19 data, creating an artificial decline in recent deaths The agency also had started launching a series of criticisms on Twitter, accusing the CDC of publishing incorrect COVID numbers, but offering little explanation. In June 2021, the health department discontinued its COVID-19 dashboard and changed to a weekly report. But when Smith sought the detailed data in August, the agency said the information he sought was now confidential and exempt from public disclosure under a state law. On Aug. 16, 2021, FLCGA made the same public records request for all of Floridas 67 counties and was denied for the same reasons. They sued days later. Smith and FLCGA urged the court to require an agency official to give a deposition about the departments decision making. In January 2022, Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper denied a Department of Health request for a protective order to prevent the deposition. The department appealed the ruling, and argued in court that the records requested did not exist. But after the appellate court upheld the trial courts order requiring an agency official to answer questions under oath, the records were produced in March 2023. The First District Court of Appeal panel of judges was made up of Republican appointees Stephanie Ray, Timothy Osterhaus and Rachel Nordby. Both Smith and FLCGA said they had hoped the information sought would illustrate the larger impact of the virus in each region of the state including the ages, sex, ethnic and racial demographics of those with confirmed cases of the virus, and vaccination rates for the county to better inform the public of its risks. Public health experts have shown that trust in data is crucial to getting the public to comply with government guidelines for how to behave in a crisis. At the time of the Department of Healths shift in policy in the summer of 2021, President Donald Trump had failed to win re-election and DeSantis was running for a second term as governor while attempting to position himself to seek the GOP nomination for president. Condemning the reliability of COVID-19 data and the federal governments handling of the COVID-19 virus, as well as discrediting the science behind the vaccine, would become a central plank in DeSantis platform. The August 2021 decision was not the first time the DeSantis administration had withheld COVID-19 data from the public as the governor was pursuing a different political narrative, however. In the spring of 2020, when Trump was seeking re-election and was hoping to show that the virus was on the decline, the governor and his agency officials changed the way the state handled other infectious diseases. DeSantis announced that most of the state would reopen for business on May 4, 2020, citing a data-driven strategy and success at achieving the federal benchmarks that included a drop in infections. But when the Miami Herald obtained the data and examined it against the governors claims, it became clear that the governor either wasnt aware the data showed that community spread, regional outbreaks and death tolls were worse than he was telling Floridians, or he selectively focused on outdated statistics to make his case and help the president claim Florida was open for business. The settlement agreement vindicates the position that transparency and accountability are not negotiable. The Constitution mandates it, said Michael Barfield, director of Public Access Initiatives at FLCGA. The Department hid public records during the height of the pandemic to fit a political narrative that Florida was open for business. The settlement agreement requires the Department of Health to provide detailed COVID-19 data for the next 3 years, including vaccination counts, case counts, and deaths, aggregated weekly, by county, age group, gender, and race. Williams said the Department of Health will now display the COVID data like other diseases and it will shift from the previously published Biweekly Reports and now solely be available on Florida CHARTS alongside all other public health data. FLCGA said in its statement that it will continue to monitor the departments compliance with its legal obligations under the agreement and will release the COVID-19 data to the public for educational and research purposes. Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Florida Department of Health and to remove a headline that said the court ordered the disclosure of data. The court approved the settlement agreement, which was mutually agreed upon, in which the state agreed to disclose the COVID-19 data on its web site. Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@miamiherald.com @MaryEllenKlas A Florida man who couldnt stay awake on a late night drive ended up arrested on the Space Coast. According to the Brevard County Sheriffs Offices Facebook post, a deputy on night patrol spotted a car in Cape Canaveral that wasnt budging at a stop sign at a little before 2 a.m. Friday. The patrol car activated the emergency lights, but still nothing. READ MORE: Florida man steals car during job interview When the deputy walked over to talk with the driver, he found the 23-year-old asleep at the wheel with the smell of marijuana emanating from the car, according to the sheriffs office. The deputy woke the suspect, who could not produce a medical marijuana card because he did not possess one. A subsequent search revealed large amounts of cash in the Sebastian residents pocket, as well as other drugs, including cocaine, in the vehicle. READ MORE: Florida man refuses to come down from railroad crossing Photos on the social media post show stacks of bills in various denominations laid out on a table, along with two small plastic bags containing a green substance that appears to be pot. As the suspect was about to be placed into handcuffs, he reportedly took off running, but didnt get far. Are you nuts? wrote Sheriff Wayne Ivey of the defendant. This is Brevard County and I guess he had not gotten the memo that if you run from BCSO you only go to jail tired! Charges included possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, driving with a suspended license and resisting without violence. The suspect was booked into the Brevard County Jail, aka, The Iron Bar Lodge, in Cocoa, on $17,500 bond. Whats rushed, wasteful, repetitive and has limited choices? Of course, fast food. But critics also cite something far more important: the way Americans vote. To improve voting in ways that Canada and other nations have done make it less rushed, less costly to taxpayers, less repetitive and more open to minor candidates theres a movement underway. This fall, two new approaches are getting attention in Royal Oak and elsewhere around Michigan: Early voting is the term for giving people more than just one day to vote. Its nothing new in other countries. Canadians can vote as early as 10 days before the official election day. Those in Finland can start 11 days ahead. In Royal Oak, voters will get nine days to vote in advance of Election Day on Nov. 7. In nearly two dozen other communities in Oakland County, and in scattered other places such as Westland, election officials are trying early voting this fall, as a rehearsal before Michigan adopts early voting statewide in 2024 the result of Michiganders passing Proposition 2 in the 2022 election. Ranked choice voting is an approach that does away with the traditional all-or-nothing system. It caught on in Ireland, Australia, Alaska, Maine, and New York City. Voters mark their first choice, as usual, but also their second choice, third choice, and so on. By a process of elimination, the ultimate winner is more likely to represent what most voters want. Ranked choice also lets minor parties challenge the two-party system because voters who give their first choice to, say, a Libertarian or Green Party candidate, still get to vote for other preferences, avoiding the guilty feeling that I threw my vote away on someone who couldn't win. How ranked choice voting looks on a ballot. Ranked choice voting has other advantages, too. It's a time and money saver because it can eliminate the need for holding both a primary and a runoff election. It's sometimes called instant runoff voting. On November ballots in Royal Oak, as well as in East Lansing and Kalamazoo, residents will see a referendum asking whether they want their city to offer ranked-choice voting. The Royal Oak Senior Community Center will be the site of early voting, the term for extended days and hours for visiting a polling place prior to Election Day on Nov. 7. Residents of either Royal Oak or Madison Heights will be able to vote at this site during a nine-day period prior to Election Day. Early voting in Royal Oak will take place at the senior community center, 3500 Marais, near 13 Mile Road, and it will follow a schedule prescribed by state law, said Royal Oak City Clerk Melanie Halas. The poll will open "starting the second Saturday before Election Day, which this year is Oct. 28, and ending on the following Sunday, which will be Nov. 5," Halas said. Hours will be 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. each day "except Thursday, which will be noon to 8 p.m.," she said. Royal Oak is partnering with Madison Heights, whose residents can simply head west on 13 Mile to join in early voting at the same site, and on the same days, at the same times. Those days and hours will be duplicated at numerous locations around Oakland County. For example, residents of Oak Park, Berkley, Huntington Woods, and Pleasant Ridge can try early voting at the Oak Park Community Center, 14300 Oak Park Blvd. Although the challenger running to unseat the incumbent mayor of Royal Oak has questioned whether Michigan elections are fair and legitimate, Halas is among countless local and county clerks in Michigan who disagree. "I feel very confident with our election workers and with the integrity of all our elections. After every election, Royal Oak's results are audited by the state of Michigan and also by the Board of Canvassers," said Halas, Royal Oak's city clerk since 2008. With early voting, she added, "we're making voting more accessible for everyone." Election officials with Oakland County "are paying for the extra equipment and the supplies we need," using a state allocation, Halas said. Michigan judge: Defendants accused in false elector scheme will not have charges dropped Oakland County's top election official, Clerk Lisa Brown, said it's important to note that early voting doesn't mean early counting. "People should know their ballot will go through the tabulator and everything will be recorded internally, but no one will be counting those results until the polls close on Election Day at 8 p.m.," Brown said. Early voting has supporters from across the political spectrum, said Oakland University professor of political science Dave Dulio, the author or coauthor of 11 books on politics and elections. Conservative states such as Texas and Georgia have adopted early voting periods, along with liberal-leaning states. "This is about giving more people more opportunities to vote," Dulio said. Some pundits have said that early voting, in effect, already is available, thanks to the expanding use of absentee ballots. Still, early voting at polling sites is a boon to those who prefer voting in person or who forgot to request an absentee ballot. Volunteers with the nonprofit RankMIVote gathered on Oct. 3, 2023, for a photo at Royal Oak's Centennial Commons park. From left are Katie Monaghan, of Royal Oak, T.J. Wolfgram, of Ferndale, Suzanne Joy, of Royal Oak, Wayne Carr, of Royal Oak, William and Elaine Asher, of Royal Oak, and Ron Zimmerman, of East Lansing. The other new approach to voting in Royal Oak is just an idea, so far, but it's a question on the city's November ballots. Voters will be asked whether their city should allow ranked choice voting. Volunteers gathered 3,000 signatures to put that question on city ballots, said Ron Zimmerman, an East Lansing resident who heads the nonpartisan, nonprofit RankMiVote. Ranked choice voting, wherever communities approve it, brings more people out to vote, gives third-party candidates a boost, and reduces negative campaigning because candidates don't want to alienate anyone who might make them a second choice, Zimmerman said. It can even save taxpayer dollars by eliminating some primary elections. "Lansing looked at more than $100,000 they would've saved by eliminating a recent primary, which had just a 10% turnout," he said. Another vital benefit is that ranked choice voting prevents "unrepresentative outcomes that can arise when more than two candidates run for a single position," according to the website of FairVote.org. To unpack that phrase, Rolling Stone magazine used a scenario of five candidates seeking one political office in mythical Dessert Town four who like popular strawberry ice cream, one who favors unpopular rum raisin. With usual voting, four candidates would split the strawberry vote, which might allow unpopular rum raisin to eke out a win. But under ranked choice voting, voters would cast second choice, third choice, and fourth choice preferences, mostly for other strawberry candidates. Those votes ultimately would flow to one strawberry winner, ensuring that Dessert Town did not get stuck with, yuck, rum raisin. Besides being voted on in Royal Oak, ranked choice voting is on ballots this fall in East Lansing and Kalamazoo. When offered to residents of Ann Arbor in 2021, and those in Ferndale in 2004, ranked choice voting got a thumbs-up. Yet, the system has never been implemented anywhere in Michigan, Zimmerman said. (It was used in a 2019 City Council election in Eastpointe under a federal lawsuit settlement.) "The State Board of Canvassers refuses to approve anyone using it. Obviously, we're hoping to get that changed," he said. If approval doesn't happen, it may take a new state law to implement this form of voting, which lets participants continue with the usual "all or nothing" approach but also allows them to rank their choices first, second, third, etc. Inkster mayor: Feds indict Patrick Wimberly in corruption case just weeks before election In Royal Oak, volunteers are knocking on doors and handing out yard signs in support. They range from recent college grads to senior citizens, and from an auto engineer to a married couple of retired librarians. T.J. Wolfgram, of Ferndale, is a U.S. Army soldier, just ending four years of active duty and heading into the Army Reserve. When it comes to politics, he calls himself "just an interested citizen" who in 2018 helped to organize RankMiVote. "I thought our system wasn't always producing the most just outcomes," Wolfgram said. Another volunteer, auto engineer Katie Monaghan, of Royal Oak, said she liked ranked choice elections because "I'd like to see candidates doing less attack ads and working to please everybody, which they do when they know they need the second-choice votes." Like early voting, ranked choice voting is another change that gets support from both liberals and conservatives, although liberals tend to embrace it first, Wayne State University professor of political science Kevin Deegan-Krause said. "Frankly, this is something I've studied but I'm also an advocate for," said Deegan-Krause, who has visited countries in Europe and elsewhere to see ranked choice voting take place. "Our current system of electing is one of the few in the world that allows very little choice beyond winner takes all," he said. Ranked choice voting is beginning to catch on, as more people grasp the idea. Simply put, imagine a "what if" election, Deegan-Krause said. "Imagine, 'what if the last-place candidate didn't run?' After the results are in, you drop that candidate out and assign their supporters' second-place votes to other candidates, and assign their third-place votes, and so on. The process continues, with more votes shifted around, until a clear winner emerges. Voters are still free to vote for just one person," Dulio said. "But who, in any situation, doesn't usually have at least a second choice?" Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Early, ranked choice voting gain attention in Royal Oak, Michigan The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will investigate possible racial discrimination in Alabamas management of funds that can be used to bolster sewage infrastructure. In a notice issued Tuesday, the Biden administration said it will look into whether the state excludes residents from participating in its water infrastructure program or denies them benefits on the basis of race. The decision comes after civil rights and environmental groups accused Alabama of discriminating against Black residents through the management of its clean water funds. Their complaint states that Alabama makes it impossible for people who need help with onsite sanitation to access this money a problem that disproportionately harm[s] Alabamas Black residents. Specifically, they say that Alabamas Department of Environmental Management blocks access to the funds in a number of ways, including not considering financial need, conducting inadequate outreach to disadvantaged communities and giving few points in its scoring system to people who use at-home sewer systems rather than public systems. In doing so, they argue that the state perpetuates harms caused by sewage exposure and denies Black residents an equal opportunity to compete for federal funding. The fact that the EPA is investigating does not mean that the allegations will be substantiated. In fact, the EPA recently dropped a civil rights probe into Louisiana, saying it did not find civil rights violations there. Under the Biden administration, EPA Administrator Michael Regan has toured a number of states, looking to address racial and other forms of inequality linked to environmental issues. The state of Alabama disagrees with the allegations underlying the agencys newest probe. Alabama has made addressing the wastewater and drinking water needs of disadvantaged communities a priority in awarding federal funding, said M. Lynn Battle, a spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, in an email. Battle said that in 2022, 34 percent of the wastewater and drinking water funding awarded by the agency went to communities in the Black Belt region the one that the civil rights complaint says is facing harms. She said the department recognizes the challenges faced by poor, disadvantaged and minority communities due to inadequate resources and welcomes the opportunity to provide information to EPA to counter the allegations in the complaints and to answer any questions the federal agency might have. Alabamas Black Belt region stretches across several southern-central counties of the state. It is named for its dark, fertile soil. It has a significant African American and low-income population. A lot of people lack access to a centralized wastewater treatment system and so they have either septic systems that dont work and are failing or in many cases, people discharge the sewage from their homes in whats called a straight pipe, which just dumps the sewage, untreated, into their yard, said Becky Hammer, a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the groups who complained. The complaint says that the smell of sewage in the area can be a near-constant nuisance and that rain can mean that there will be a sewage backup into peoples homes. Other residents bar their children from playing in their yards because of the risk of exposure to human waste, it states. The sewage problem has also come under criticism from the United Nations, and a representative in 2017 described seeing various houses in rural areas that were surrounded by cesspools of sewage that flowed out of broken or non-existent septic systems. In that statement, Philip Alston, U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, said the problem doesnt appear on the political or governmental radar screen since most of the impacted residents are Black. The Justice Department in 2021 launched a separate investigation into accusations of discrimination amid sewage-related issues in the state. It settled that case earlier this year, requiring Alabamas Department of Public Health to create a plan to improve access to adequate sanitation in the Black Belts Lowndes County. Hammer noted that the case in question did not deal with water infrastructure funds, which the current probe does. What were asking for is for changes in how Alabama runs the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, she said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. An annular solar eclipse will be visible across the Western Hemisphere this weekend, and some Americans will be able to see it including Austinites, NASA is predicting. NASA projects the eclipse will be visible across North America, Central America, and South America, including parts of the U.S. and Mexico. The solar eclipse will happen on Saturday, Oct. 14. NASA states the annular solar eclipse will begin in Oregon around 9:13 a.m. PT and end in Texas around 12:03 p.m. CT. Here's what you need to know about the eclipse coming up later this year and how you can watch it. What is an annular solar eclipse? An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in between the sun and the Earth while at its farthest point from Earth. Why is it called the 'ring of fire'? "Because the moon is farther away from Earth, it appears smaller than the sun and does not completely cover the star. This creates a 'ring of fire' effect in the sky," according to NASA. Where is the best place to see the solar eclipse in Texas? On Oct. 14, the annular solar eclipse will be visible throughout parts of Texas. Anyone within the eclipses path from Oregon to Texas will have a chance to see the event if the skies are clear. San Antonio is inside the direct path of optimal viewing, so people there will be able to view the eclipse anywhere from 3 to 4 minutes. Because Austin is just northeast of the path, the range of viewing here will be less than 3 minutes. The best time for eclipse viewing in the Austin area will be between 11:50 a.m. and 11:55 a.m. 'Internet apocalypse': How NASA's solar-storm studies could help save the web How can I safely watch the eclipse? Looking at the sun for an extended amount of time can cause eye damage. While watching the eclipse, NASA recommends specialized eye protection meant for solar viewing. Regular sunglasses are not safe for viewing the sun. "Viewing any part of the bright sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury," the website states. Where can you get free solar eclipse glasses near you? Five million solar eclipse glasses will be distributed to 10,000 libraries across the nation as part of the Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) program. Libraries will also provide resources, information and activities to library patrons. See if your library is participating below or click here to see the map. Where can you buy solar eclipse glasses? There are many retail chains that sell eclipse glasses. These are typically made of cardboard and often less than $2. If you buy eclipse glasses, be sure they are made by companies the American Astronomical Society and NASA has certified as safe for use. They should all have the "ISO" (International Organization for Standardization) icon. The glasses also must have the ISO reference number 12312-2. A sampling of certified companies: If you do not have the glasses, you can create a pinhole projector to safely look at the eclipse. How to make solar eclipse glasses at home Materials for pinhole projector: A cardboard box White paper Aluminum foil Tape You can even use a kitchen colander to view the eclipse. What's the difference between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse? There are two kinds of eclipses solar and lunar. A solar eclipse is when the moon passes in front of the sun, covering its light. A lunar eclipse is when the Earth blocks the suns light from hitting the moon, creating a reddish hue on the moon during the night. The distance between the moon and the Earth affects how visible a solar eclipse is. When the moon is closer to Earth, it can completely block the sun, resulting in a total solar eclipse. When the moon is farthest away from Earth, it does not block the entire view of the sun, creating an annular, or ring-shaped, solar eclipse. People will be able to see a "ring of fire" as the outer edges of the sun remain uncovered by the moon. Texas hopes to take giant leaps: A new law will help $350 billion aerospace industry take off When will an eclipse happen again? On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur. The eclipses path will go northeast from Texas to Maine. The next annular eclipse will happen on Oct. 2, 2024. But if you want to view that one, you're going to have to travel to South America or Antarctica. After that, the next annular eclipse visible in the U.S. will occur June 21, 2039, per NASA. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: How to get free solar eclipse glasses in Texas before Saturday by Olatunji Saliu MONROVIA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Political parties in Liberia have concluded their campaigns in a final push for votes ahead of Tuesday's general elections in the West African country. Campaigns for the general elections ended at midnight Sunday, following the guidelines provided by the National Election Commission (NEC), which is overseeing the electoral process. Twenty candidates, including incumbent President George Weah, will participate in Tuesday's presidential election, alongside the national legislature elections. The fates of the presidential candidates will be decided by more than 2.4 million registered voters out of Liberia's population of 5.4 million. The polls will be conducted across a total of 5,890 polling places in the 2,080 voting precincts identified by the National Election Commission. On Sunday, the streets of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, and its suburbs were filled with thousands of supporters of the Liberian ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) party in a final push for votes. Amid the chanting of party songs and slogans, many supporters, mostly young people, held a carnival-like rally for hours, defying the heavy rainfall throughout the day. Weah, who took part in the CDC's campaign finale, acknowledged cheers from supporters wearing blue or red color berets as his motorcade toured the suburbs of Monrovia up to the party's headquarters in Congo Town. The 57-year-old Liberian president expressed confidence in winning the election, which has been widely described by local and international analysts as "a two-horse race." "My performance will be sufficient for my reelection," Weah said at a rally earlier this month, counting on his achievements in office. During his six-year presidency, Weah has focused on economic development, education and healthcare, implementing infrastructure projects and seeking to attract foreign investments to boost the country's economy. Meanwhile, Joseph Boakai, former vice president of Liberia and the presidential candidate of the opposition Unity Party (UP), concluded his campaign Saturday with a rally that also witnessed a large turnout of supporters. The UP has primarily focused its campaign on good governance, poverty reduction and social justice issues. While emphasizing the need to address corruption and strengthen institutions for a more prosperous Liberia, Boakai has made continuous efforts to overcome the perception of being part of the previous administration, which has faced criticism for corruption and inadequate economic growth. The 78-year-old has vowed to "increase domestic rice production and establish three agricultural hubs in the country," drawing on his rich experience as minister of agriculture between 1983 and 1985. Boakai has also pledged to improve cross-border trading by paving the highways connecting county capitals and those connecting Liberia to other countries. The Collaborating Political Party (CPP), led by Alexander Cummings, its presidential candidate, also concluded the campaign Sunday with a grand rally held in the country's Grand Bassa County. Addressing his party's supporters, Cummings vowed to accept the election results "on the condition that they truly reflect the will of the Liberian people." The CPP's campaign has mainly highlighted the lack of essential services such as healthcare, education, electricity and clean water, as well as the poor state of the country's infrastructure and the high levels of poverty, attributing all these challenges to "decades of ineffective leadership and mismanagement of public resources. Mysterious 'slow-motion' earthquakes that have shaken New Zealand could be due to a hidden 'ocean' buried two miles under the sea floor near the island nation. The 'hidden ocean' was revealed by a 3D seismic image captured by sensors towed behind a research vessel. 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 US breached the Earth's surface in the Pacific Ocean 125 million years ago. The event was one of the planet's largest known volcanic eruptions and rumbled on for several million years. The team used seismic scans to build a 3D picture of the ancient volcanic plateau in which they saw thick, layered sediments surrounding buried volcanoes. Lab experiments on drill core samples of the volcanic rock and found that water made up nearly half of its volume. Lead author Andrew Gase, who carried out the research as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, said: Normal ocean crust, once it gets to be about seven or 10 million years old should contain much less water." The ocean crust in the seismic scans was 10 times as old, but it had remained much wetter. Earthquakes: Read more What are slow earthquakes? The fault is known for producing slow-motion earthquakes, called slow slip events, where the energy from an earthquake is released over days or months, rather than minutes or seconds as in a normal earthquake. 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. But until now there was no direct geologic evidence to suggest such a large water reservoir existed at this particular New Zealand fault. Gase said: "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." Why is the finding important? Understanding how the 'hidden ocean' dampens the earthquakes could help researchers to understand large earthquakes better, Gase said. Gase speculated 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. Researchers believe a sea's worth of water is buried here. (UTIG) (UTIG) Over time, the rock and rock fragments transformed into clay, locking in even more water. Gase is now calling for deeper drilling to find where the water ends up so that researchers can determine whether it affects pressure around the fault an important piece of information that could lead to more precise understanding of large earthquakes, he said. 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. Our readers' letters are not necessarily the opinions of The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board. GOP House must support Israel and Ukraine With two democracies and U.S. allies fighting terrorist and tyrannical regimes, the House GOP majority needs to grow up, come to its senses, and pass legislation to fund the aid that both Ukraine and Israel need and deserve. Playing politics and theatrics for the cameras is not an option in these life-and-death cases. Hamas is a terrorist group that not only desires to destroy Israel. It also is at odds with the Palestinian Authority governing body in the West Bank. Hamas might describe itself as a freedom fighting movement struggling for independence but what their leaders dont say is their independence is realized by the destruction of Israel. Theres little difference between Hamas and Vladimir Putin. Putin might have the title of head of state but, like Hamas, he acts like a ruthless, savage terrorist, murdering those who oppose and disagree with him and invading countries for the sheer ego and narcissism of it. If the U.S. is to remain a beacon of democracy, we must keep our promises and aid democratic allies who need and request it. The adults in the House GOP must stand up, work across the aisle, and approve aid to our democratic friends who are putting their lives on the line fighting terrorism and tyranny on behalf of the free world. Scott Benarde, West Palm Beach The next Speaker of the House faces war in the Middle East among a growing set of problems here and abroad. More: Both Israel and Hamas are aiming to look strong, instead of finding a way out of their endless war It's the innocent who pay in war Throughout history, there were leaders motivated by power, greed, ethnic-cultural and religious hate who used their armies to carry out their justification for such bloody warfare. But in all confrontations, there are always unarmed civilians men, women and children, the elderly, the mentally and physically disabled caught in this web of hate and who are victims of unconscionable crimes of murder, torture and rape and other human depravity. The heart of the world continues to suffer; the tears of the world continue to flow; and the number of innocent victims continues to rise. When is enough, enough? Mary Ann DAngio, Boynton Beach Netanyahu government must resign Some of your readers may be sympathetic to the Palestinian terrorists in Gaza and the West Bank, yearning to be free of Israeli occupation. Many more fully support the far right-wing, racist and increasingly anti-democratic government that is bringing even the Jewish population of Israel to the edge of civil war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , like the other corrupt wanna-be dictator Donald Trump, has long campaigned on a promise of Only I can keep you safe. In reality both need to stay in office only to keep themselves out of jail. Regardless of who you support, the recent attacks by Hamas on Israel came as a complete surprise. By any measure Netanyahu and his entire Cabinet failed completely. Their response will be the same as always; bomb the poorest piece of land on Earth in Gaza and demand $8 billion in aid from the American taxpayer to support their agenda. All Israelis should be outraged and demand the immediate resignation of the Israeli government. Dan Spotts, Ocean Ridge A banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seenn during a protest against his far-right government, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Another point of view: Yes, the current anti-Israel sentiment is antisemitic War steeped in Palestinian oppression As an American Jew living in South Florida, I am devastated to hear the Israeli government promising to commit war crimes against Palestinians in response to recent violent actions by Hamas. But this is not just a question of Israeli government policy. Our own government sends billions of dollars to Israel every year to support an apartheid regime that violates human rights as well as Jewish ethics. For 75 years, Palestinians have faced brutal oppression, and every US taxpayer is complicit in this violence and oppression. The root of today's violence is this history of oppression, which is funded by the U.S. and supported without question by South Florida politicians. As a Jew and as a human being committed to human rights, I must speak out against this complicity and I hope that others will join me in demanding that the U.S. end military support for Israel. Nicole Morse, West Palm Beach GOP response to attack predictable The Republican response to war in Israel reveals they are bankrupt of positive solutions to this latest crisis. Their theory is that President Biden is responsible for the Hamas attack because he lifted the freeze on Iranian oil profits. This is false because the money has not yet been released and even if it had, the attack was planned and funded long before the freeze was lifted. Having said that, I am glad Republicans are finally admitting a truth weve all known: Oil profits fund terrorism. The wars in Ukraine and Israel are being funded by Russian and Iranian oil profits. Therefore, by using their oil, we are all funding these atrocities! I wish Republicans would stop fighting and join the effort to reduce U.S. consumption of foreign oil. Transitioning to renewable energy, such as wind and solar, and ditching gasoline engines for electric vehicles, will bankrupt those rogue nations, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and as a bonus, will slow down climate change. Randy Johnson, Boynton Beach The Palm Beach Post is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. Please send your views to letters@pbpost.com or by mail to Letters to the Editor, The Palm Beach Post, 2751 S, Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach 33405. Letters are subject to editing, must not exceed 200 words and include your name, address and daytime phone number. We only published names and cities with the letters. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: War in Israel and the US response prompt responses from Post readers "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." 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 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 A black bear has been euthanized after behaving aggressively and charging two teenagers and a wildlife officer in Colorado. In a news release, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) explained that it had received a call on Wednesday, which was initially described as a bear attack in which two boys (aged 12 and 13) had been injured in dense woodland. After arriving, officers found that the bear had charged the boys, one of whom had suffered minor injuries after running into a tree branch while trying to escape. CPW officers, together with the local police department, began searching for the bear and her cubs. They soon found the sow, which continued to show aggressive behavior, and decided to euthanize the animal for public safety. After many hours of searching, including use of a drone, officers eventually found the two cubs, which were tranquilized with darts. The animals were old enough to survive alone, and CPW officers drove them to the CPW Southeast Region office where they were tagged them for relocation. They were then given a drug to reverse the effects of the tranquilizer, but sadly one of the animals didn't come round. This was an unfortunate situation where a sow had become dangerously aggressive toward people instead of being scared of humans, said Tim Kroening, CPW wildlife manager for the Pikes Peak area. There was no choice but to put it down after it repeatedly charged people. And the death of the cub was a sad reminder of why CPW is reluctant to tranquilize wildlife. There are many risks involved when tranquilizing wildlife. Keeping wildlife wild Habituation is a serious problem where wild animals lose their natural wariness of humans, and may approach and confront people rather than retreating. The National Park Service (NPS) describes it as something that happens when animals are repeatedly exposed to a stimulus (in this case human contact) and eventually stop responding to it. It's often caused by people feeding wildlife deliberately, or leaving food where it can be accessed by a foraging animal. People approaching wild animals for photos can also be a factor. This can be dangerous for both animals and people. "When animals stop seeing people as a threat, they can be unintentionally harmed by people," says the NPS. "In Grand Canyon National Park [for example], elk are a common sight along the roads. Naturally, they should be scared of people, and should run away if a person leaves their car and approaches the elk. "Unfortunately, this happens very frequently, and the elk have become habituated to people and cars. Every year, many elk are killed in collisions with cars because they have lost their fear of roads." The best way to avoid this happening is to always secure food and garbage, and never approach wild animals. Instead, it's safest to appreciate them from a distance using a telephoto lens or pair of binoculars. Get a free 148-page ebook celebrating the world's greatest National Parks Love Island's Faye Winter has unveiled a new hairstyle over the weekend. The reality TV personality attended the Pride of Britain awards on Sunday (October 8), where she debuted a shorter, shoulder-length bob, which she paired with a black tulle gown. Mike Marsland - Getty Images Related: Love Island's Jay Younger has body part "reattached" after training accident In an Instagram Story on her profile, Faye spoke to the camera alongside The Only Way is Essex's Pete Wicks , and fellow former Islander Maura Higgins , who previously denied that she and Winter had fallen out. Meanwhile, Winter recently responded to the rumours that she would be returning to the Villa for the 'All Stars' series that is planned for next year. Addressing the speculation, Winter said: "Obviously Love Island Games is going on in Fiji I'm not there, I'm here. "I don't know [about All Stars]. I definitely said I was gonna take this year and just be me. I always said if the opportunity comes to me, I'll decide as and when it comes. So, we'll wait and see. "But yeah, who knows? I love Love Island. It was the best thing and it taught me so much about myself, and that was a big thing for me actually... Honey, if I'm not there, it's not happening. I will speak to the executives. I'll say, 'No! Let me in!'" Getty Images Related: Love Island's Jess Harding breaks silence following Sammy Root split Back in the summer, Winter denied that she had started dating Toby Aromoloran following her split from Teddy Soares. "Absolutely not, that would just be weird," she said when asked if they are or could become an item. "It's so hard because as soon as guys and girls are friends, it's like, you've got to remember Toby was mine and Teddy's friend. There would never be anything more than that I'm just very grateful for him." Love Island airs on ITV2 and streams on ITVX. You Might Also Like Royalist is The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday. Nicholas Witchell, the BBCs long serving royal correspondent who was famously branded an awful man by King Charles on a hot mic, has said that it was he who first suggested to Princess Diana that she do her 1995 interview with the BBC and labelled his former colleague Martin Bashir, who ultimately landed the interview using underhand means, an absolute blaggard. The BBCs veteran royal correspondent, who is retiring this month, revealed in a farewell interview that he was the person who put the idea of doing the Panorama interview into Dianas head, and added: 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 Daily 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. A 2021 inquiry found that Bashir commissioned fake bank statements and used other underhand tricks to encourage Diana to do the interview by feeding her sense of paranoia. Witchell also described being the first reporter to find out about Dianas death in 1997. He was on an assignment in the Philippines with then foreign secretary, Robin Cook. We were eight hours ahead and we knew the accident had happened, he told the Telegraph. We were on the steps of the aircraft and one of Cooks officials approached, ashen-faced and said: Shes dead. 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. I kept saying: The news from Paris, its going to be very grave. There was an Australian news editor at the end of the line who said: For Christs sake, Nick, what are you trying to say? And I said, Well, shes dead. In 2005, the-then Prince of Wales was caught on a hot mic making disparaging remarks about Witchell during a photoshoot in the Swiss Alps. He said: Bloody people. I cant bear that man. I mean, he is so awful, he really is. Witchell said of the incident: It had all been pre-arranged and it was supposed to be an opportunity for the boys to publicly endorse the wedding. I was going to bowl the first question, as the BBC normally does, and that was supposed to then allow William and/or Harry to say, Yeah, were really pleased about it all. But it just went horribly wrong. People werent in the best of moods that morning. It sounds the most inane and pathetic question really: How do you feel about the wedding? But if you sort of unpack that, as the then Prince of Wales immediately did I could see that his face was somewhat changing colour. He says: I was shocked, but to be perfectly honest, we all mutter under our breath, dont we? I dont think it did me any harm. Ive been able to tell the story so I think Ive done quite well out of it really There are a number of people who think Im an awful man, so why shouldnt he? Witchell also discussed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the interview, saying. I finished reading Spare with more sympathy and more understanding for him and for what hes gone through than I had before. But he has misunderstood the idea that the media collude with the palace to do down members of the royal family. Thats just absurd. He added: He wanted out and she provided him with that means of escape A lot of people would say that he has let a lot of people down, but I think he has been affected by the tragedy of his mothers death and I think, temperamentally, perhaps he wasnt suited to that role. 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. Law enforcement in Colorado found at least 115 "improperly stored" bodies at a "green" funeral home. The owner of the home tried to cover up how the bodies were stored, per AP. Multiple agencies are investigating, including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Law enforcement officers in Penrose, Colorado, were shocked to find over 100 decomposing bodies in a funeral home after investigating a "suspicious incident." On October 3, officers from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the Return to Nature Funeral Home and returned the following day with a search warrant for the property, per a sheriff's office press release. According to the release, officers found "improperly stored" human remains in the funeral home while searching the property. The Associated Press reported officers counted at least 115 "decaying bodies" and an "awful smell" at the home. The "suspicious incident" that was a catalyst for the initial search has not yet been disclosed by law enforcement, per AP. Although investigators have not released many details about the findings the sheriff's office press release says media and resident information requests will not be answered multiple agencies have been brought in to deal with the case. The sheriff's office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the Fremont County Coroners' Office, and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies are involved, and trying to determine if there was any criminal wrongdoing involved, per the release. The funeral home in question is a "green" one meaning it does not use chemicals to embalm bodies, and burial vessels like coffins or urns are biodegradable, per the home's website. According to Colorado law, these green burials are legal, but if a body will not be buried in 24 hours it needs to be properly stored in a refrigerator. A document from the Colorado Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration said Jon Hallford, the owner of the home, tried to hide how he had been storing the corpses and said he was doing taxidermy at the home. Hallford said he had a "problem" at the home in Penrose, which is one of Return to Nature's several homes, per the document. According to KRDO, the home's business license expired in November 2022, and Hallford and his wife Carie are named as defendants in multiple civil lawsuits that claim the couple owes thousands of dollars to different entities. One says the Hallfords owe a funeral services company over $20,000; another says the couple owes nearly $100,000 to the landlords of their funeral homes, per KRDO. No one has yet been charged criminally for the findings. The sheriff's office has asked families who used the home to reach out to investigators. The CBI referred Insider to the press releases from the sheriff's office for information. Representatives for the funeral home, the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, the Colorado Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration, the Fremont County Coroners' Office, and the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Insider The Historical Society is saddened by the loss of a longtime volunteer Kay Dennis, who volunteered hundreds upon hundreds of hour to the society. She was a founding member of Olde Main Street Players in addition to singing and acting in dozens of performances. She was also present for tour buses, public shows, and assisted in serving meals. She will be remembered for her positive attitude and never-ending smile. Kay was also named Cy Young Senior Queen in June, a title she was so very proud of. Kay passed away on Sept. 15, and she leaves behind a host of family and friends. Kay Dennis Council highlights from Oct. 2 The village fire department reported going on nine calls in the last two weeks. Two of these were significant, including a diesel fuel spill. On Sept. 21, the fire department was dispatched along with Tri-County Joint Ambulance to an accident with entrapment at the intersection of U.S. 36 and Morris Crossing Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find a passenger vehicle had collided with a tractor trailer, causing a large fuel spill. The fire department was assisted by Arrowhead and Delaware Valley fire departments, the Newcomerstown Police Department, Tuscarawas County HazMat Team, Ohio State Highway Patrol, ODOT, Rosenberry and Pine Tree towing to contain and clean up spilled fuel. Both drivers were treated by E.M.S. and transported to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. An estimated100 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled and U.S. 36 East was closed for several hours. Trick-or-treat has been set for 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 in the village. The village council approved a contract with Yodel to link community events to the community to the village's website. Newcomerstown Now fall banners have been received and will be displayed on Main and North College streets. These banners highlight people and events in the village. Fiscal Officer Lisa Spillman said the first round of budget meetings for 2024 have been held, and she is scheduling the second meeting dates with department heads at this time. An unveiling of Newcomerstowns LoveTUSC Sculpture will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 16, prior to the council. This statue was created by local artist Carole Hunt and showcases village landmarks, founding fathers and more. After that date, the statue will be housed in the lobby of the Newcomerstown Village Administration Offices, 308 S. College Street. Haunted trail will return this year Newcomerstown NOW will again host the haunted trail. This year the group will offer new activities and is looking for sponsors. Sponsorships are $50 and there are other ways to donate as well. For more information visit newcomerstownnow.com/ or call Lisa Spillman at 740-498-6313. The non-profit organization was established in 2022 to revitalize and preserve Main Street and the downtown area. Proceeds from the haunted trail will go back into the community. Statewide burn ban The Newcomerstown Village Fire Department reminds citizens there is a statewide burn ban during the months of October and November. No opening burning is permitted from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Items for Newcomerstown News can be emailed to kkwilkin61@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Kay Dennis remembered for her dedication and smile Nikki Haley improved on her fundraising from the previous quarter. Nikki Haley improved on her fundraising from the previous quarter. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley didnt beat Ron DeSantis in overall fundraising for the third quarter, but she surpassed him in one key metric that underscores the Florida governors weakening position in the GOP presidential primary. Haley raised $11 million in the third quarter, which includes $9.1 million in cash on hand she can spend in the primary, her campaign announced Monday. Thats more than the $5 million that DeSantis has on hand, according to figures his campaign released last week that show an overall $15 million haul between July and September. The numbers reinforce the Florida governors steady slide in the polls since entering the race in May, while Haley, who is still polling in single digits nationally, seems to have benefitted from her performances in the first two debates. DeSantis cash situation has suffered as a result: He was forced to shrink his staff over the summer and focus his campaign operation mainly on Iowa, the first state to vote in the GOP primary. DeSantis was down from the $20 million he raised in the second quarter, while Haley brought in $7.3 million during the same period. Neither candidate comes close to the fundraising advantage enjoyed by Trump. The former president claims to have raised $45.5 million in the last quarter. Of that, Trumps campaign says it has $36 million available to spend on the primary. None of the GOP candidates has filed their Q3 disclosures with the Federal Elections Commission ahead of the Oct. 15 deadline, meaning the numbers released by their campaigns cant be checked yet against their official filings. Haley likely has more to spend now because she did better than DeSantis with small-dollar donors an area of strength for Trump while DeSantis benefitted early on with high rollers willing to write him one big check. Haleys campaign, in a press release, said it has seen an explosion in donor interest that resulted in 40,000 new donors alone in the third quarter. We have seen a big surge in support and have real momentum, Haley spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said in a statement. Nikki is emerging as the candidate who can move America beyond the chaos and drama of the past and present, and we have the resources we need to do it. DeSantis campaign didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Candidates can accept $3,300 per person for the primary and $3,300 for the general election all at once, but they cant spend that general election money now. Super PACs supporting both Haley and DeSantis have yet to release their totals. Never Back Down, the super PAC backing DeSantis, accepted $82.5 million that DeSantis had in a Florida political committee, money left over from his 2022 reelection campaign for governor. The New York Times reported in early August, however, that Never Back Down had already burned through $34 million on campaign expenses, including voter outreach and consultants, while still having $97 million on hand more than the super PACs supporting Trump. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the Republican candidate who ended the last quarter with the most money on hand, has yet to announce his haul. Scott raised $5.8 million last quarter, but still had $21 million cash on hand largely from money he raised as a senator. Related... CANBERRA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has announced it will fund free shingles vaccines for the elderly and immunocompromised. Mark Butler, the minister for health, on Sunday said that the government will spend 826.8 million Australian dollars (524.8 million U.S. dollars) to give nearly 5 million people who are at high risk of severe disease from shingles free access to the improved Shingrix vaccine under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Under the initiative, all Australians aged 65 and over, Indigenous Australians aged 50 years and above and immunocompromised people aged 18 and over will be eligible to receive a free Shingrix vaccine from November 1. Previously, a two-course shot of Shingrix, which provides up to 10 years of protection against shingles, cost Australians up to 560 AUD (355.4 USD) and was only available to those older than 50. Also known as herpes zoster, shingles causes painful, blistering rashes on one side of a patient's face or body that last 10 to 15 days and up to 20 percent of cases develop post-herpetic neuralgia, severe nerve pain that can be permanent. "Without vaccination, almost one in three Australians will get shingles in their lifetime," Butler said in a statement, "This investment will ensure nearly 5 million Australians can get free protection from shingles and the very painful nerve damage that it causes." The Shingrix vaccine will replace Zostavax on the NIP on the advice of the independent Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC). Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday that he is very disappointed Beijing has not condemned the Hamas attack on Israel in more definitive terms. The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific, Schumer said at a meeting with Xi. I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks. The New York Democrat also said that 250 young people gathered at a dance and the Hamas terrorists took machine guns and shot them all dead. I was very disappointed, to be honest, by the Foreign Ministrys statement that showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these troubled times, he added. Schumers rare meeting with Xi came during the Senate majority leaders trip to China with fellow Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.). His comments came in response to a statement made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday after Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel early Saturday. The surprise multi-front attack has resulted in more than 700 Israeli deaths and more than 100 Israeli hostages taken into Gaza, according to reports. Israel has responded with air attacks into Gaza. The Chinese Foreign Ministry described the attack as an escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel and called on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation. 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 statement read. 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. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Joe Biden speaks about the attacks on Israel on Saturday with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the top top US diplomat, by his side. Israel's war with Hamas following the militant group's unprecedented and deadly weekend attack is also sending shockwaves through domestic US politics. The crisis is creating new headaches for the Biden administration, sharpening the focus on the current turmoil in Congress and threatening to add an extra level of unpredictability to the 2024 US elections. And while the American public tends to pay slight attention to events abroad, the horrifying images of civilian deaths from the Middle East - and the news that Americans are among the casualties - ensures that this story will grab the national attention. The blame game begins Already Joe Biden's critics are lining up to place the blame for violence in Israel squarely at the president's feet. They've accused Iran of masterminding the attack and say that US policies toward that nation, including allowing it to increase oil sales and have access to $6bn (4.9bn) in frozen assets as part of a deal to achieve the release of some jailed American citizens, was a signal of American "weakness". A senior administration official on Saturday said that was a "ridiculous charge," adding that only non-Iranian third-party groups have had access to the $6bn, which can only be spent on humanitarian aid. Former president Donald Trump , in a speech in New Hampshire on Monday, pledged to reinstate all US sanctions on Iran and reimpose a US travel ban on all "terror-afflicted" majority Muslim nations. Mr Trump pointed to his successful negotiation of the Abraham Accords between Israel and two Persian Gulf states as an example of what had been a trend toward peace in the Middle East. Some experts, however, have said that by bypassing the Palestinian issue, those accords - and the recent Biden administration push to normalise diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia - may have been a contributing factor in the Hamas attack. Top Republicans, including Donald Trump, have sought to use the conflict to their political advantage One of Mr Trump's presidential rivals, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis , also accused Democratic administrations of being too soft on Iran. "Ultimately, this was an attack by the Iranians," Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said. "US policy under both Biden and Obama, they just had rose-coloured glasses with respect to Iran." While the lion's share of Republican criticism was directed at Mr Biden, the attack on Israel also exposed some fault lines within the party - particularly on the changing views among conservatives on the merits of the kind of interventionist foreign policy that was long a hallmark of Republican presidencies. Former vice-president Mike Pence used the moment to launch one of his most direct critiques of what he said was a nativist and isolationist worldviews of some of his Republican rivals. "It's absolutely essential that we call out leaders in the Republican Party," he said in a statement released by his campaign. "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." A House divided On Monday morning, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy joined in with the Republican chorus blaming Mr Biden's policies for laying the groundwork for the attack. Mr McCarthy was a victim of an uprising among right-wing conservatives, and his ousting has essentially frozen the chamber until Republicans can unite behind a new speaker - a process that could take at least several days more. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, the mastermind of the move against the then-speaker, dismissed accusations that his actions may have made it more difficult for the US Congress to come to Israel's aid, noting that America gives Israel $3bn (2.45bn) in military support every year. "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," he said, adding that the world doesn't spend much time thinking about Mr McCarthy's political career. More on Israel-Gaza attacks It was an opportunity for Mr McCarthy's supporters to get another round of digs at a colleague they now thoroughly revile. "I look at the world and all the threats that are out there," Michael McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said 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?" The Biden administration has said there is no immediate need for a congressionally approved aid package for Israel. But two senior officials told US senators during a briefing today that new assistance should be included in a legislative package that also contains continued support for Ukraine. Given the resistance to additional Ukraine funding among some Republicans, however, it remains to be seen whether such a move would make such an aid package more likely to pass - or less. A social media post earlier today by Republican Senator Josh Hawley seemed to suggest the latter. "Israel is facing existential threat," he wrote. "Any funding for Ukraine should be redirected to Israel immediately." Widespread Democratic support - for now If Republican fault lines have been exposed by the Israel crisis, the same cannot be said for divisions on the left - at least for the moment. While the Democratic Party has traditionally been vocal advocates for Israel, that support has ebbed in recent years as the party has moved to the left and its criticism of the right-wing policies of Israel's Likud-led government - including its aggressive expansion of settlements in the occupied territories - has intensified. A January 2023 Gallup Poll showed more Democrats sympathised with Palestinians (49%) than Israelis (38%) for the first time in the poll's 22-year history. The ferocity and indiscriminate nature of the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, however, has obscured these divisions. While some far-left groups have rallied to express backing for the Palestinians, mainstream Democrats have been vocal in their support for Israel and quick to denounce signs of dissent from their side. Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Cori Bush of Missouri, two of the more outspoken critics of Israel in the House of Representatives, offered sympathies for Israeli and Palestinian civilian casualties while calling for the end of US aid to Israel. Those comments prompted condemnation from several of their fellow Democrats. "It sickens me that while Israelis clean the blood of their family members shot in their homes, they believe Congress should strip US funding to our democratic ally and allow innocent civilians to suffer," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey. Rep Rashida Tlaib angered some Democrats by calling for an end to US funding of Israel Ms Bush and Ms Tlaib are in the minority of their party for the moment. Bernie Sanders, one of the leaders of the progressive left, issued a statement on Saturday saying he absolutely condemned "the horrifying attack". "There is no justification for this violence, and innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it," he wrote on social media. As headlines about Israeli civilian deaths are replaced by coverage of what could be a lengthy Israeli ground campaign in the Gaza Strip, however, the sentiment among Democrats could begin to shift to where it was earlier this year. The situation in the Middle East has shifted dramatically in a matter of days. Given the existing cross-currents and partisan divisions inside the US, the domestic political dynamics of the current crisis are likely to be equally unpredictable. 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. Republican White House hopeful Tim Scott said President Joe Biden was complicit in the ongoing strife in Israel and Palestine after the Hamas, a militant organization, conducted a surprise attack and infiltrated border towns and army bases. Scott, campaigning at Stax's Original Restaurant in Greenville Monday, said the Biden administration exacerbated the conflict with $6 billion funding to Iran. "The weakness of Joe Biden attracts the attacks and negotiations. Giving $6 billion to the Iranians, frankly, funds the attack," Scott said. "I think the fact of the matter is that weakness from the American presidency does invite conflict and chaos all over the world." Scott's criticism stems from a deal made in September where the Iranian government agreed to release five detained American citizens in exchange for a promise that the U.S. will not sanction $6 billion of frozen Iranian money in South Korea and release five Iranian citizens detained in the U.S. Tim Scott speaks with members of the media during a retail campaign event at Stax's Original Restaurant on Poinsette Highway in Greenville, S.C., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Many Republicans claim Iran and the Hamas are aligned, and any concession to Iran translates into a lack of U.S. support to Israel. The junior senator from South Carolina was not alone in blaming the Biden administration for the current conflict. Politicians from across the spectrum have banded together to call for a swift action to end the conflict that has claimed hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian lives. "I think having our Special Operations Forces prepared to be of assistance is going to be helpful," Scott said. "We should also recognize though that Israel does have the resources and the manpower to deal with this conflict themselves, we just need to make sure that they have the backing of the United States that keep Hezbollah from wanting to engage in this conflict situation in Israel." Recently, the U.S. Navy deployed its Sixth Fleet closer to Israel as show of support and Scott advocated for the move in an interview with the National Review. But Democrats said Monday that his efforts weren't comprehensive as he supported Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville's long blockade that paused the promotion of about 300 military personnel due to his anti-abortion stance. The U.S. Senate was able to confirm three nominees, individually, but are unable to confirm promotions, en masse, as the procedure requires a unanimous vote. "Our service members and communities in the Upstate deserve to know if [Scott] still supports undermining our national security in the wake of an attack on our United States ally," S.C. Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain said in a press statement. Tim Scott mingles with restaurant patrons at Stax's Original Restaurant on Poinsette Highway during a retail campaign event in Greenville, S.C., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Scott's stop in Greenville coincides with slip in SC polling As he made his way around booths at the breakfast place, Scott's tour in Upstate South Carolina comes at a time when his polling numbers have continued to lag behind other presidential candidates. In his home state, a recent Winthrop poll had him marked at single digits with Ohio-based candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who was touring in Spartanburg the same day. Though Scott performed better among Republican-leaning Independents and 49% of the polled voters were confident in the was he was handling his job in the Senate, Scott is headed toward a homegrown contest with former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, who has seen growing momentum in polls. Pickens County resident Retta Sundblad, 67, came to support Scott from Easley. Sundblad said Scott's office had saved her life after she was convicted for taking money from her company after her daughter had a motorcycle accident. While serving her sentencing, Sundblad's family heard about the First Step Act, a bipartisan legislation that former President Donald Trump signed in an effort to reduce recidivism and over-incarceration. The law sought to reduce prison time for non-violent offenders, and Sundblad's family then contacted Scott's office for help. "Every week the prison administrator told me "'You don't have to have Mr. Scott's office keep calling us, we have your name on the list,'" Sundblad recalled. But she knew Scott would come through. "(Scott's staffers] are gonna call until I walk out the door," she recounted telling the prison administrator. Tim Scott shares a moment with Retta Sunblad, 67, Pickens County resident, at Stax's Original Restaurant on Poinsette Highway during a retail campaign event in Greenville, S.C., on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. For her, Scott's help and his diplomacy set him apart from the larger Republican primary field, adding that other Republican candidates, like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have vowed to repeal the First Step Act. After meeting patrons at the restaurant, Scott also made a stop at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Greenville. He was scheduled to meet pastors for a round of question and answers. Media was allowed to cover the event for only a portion of his visit. The question and answer round was not open to press. The entire Republican primary field has made efforts to woo the Christian base in early voting states. While talking to pastors, Scott prayed for Israel and reiterated the need for a Biblically sound foundation for the U.S. government. "I can't think of a more important time for us to step back away from politics and realize that the human carnage that we are seeing as a result of a boss, attacking Israel is undeniably the personification of evil," Scott said. Devyani Chhetri covers SC politics for the Greenville News. You can reach her at dchhetri@gannett.com or @ChhetriDevyani on X. This article originally appeared on Greenville News: At Greenville SC stop, Scott says Biden center of Israel-Hamas conflict Donald Trump praised his good friend Vladimir Putin during a rambling speech at a campaign event in Iowa on Saturday. Mr Trump repeated one of his favourite stories to the audience in Waterloo, claiming that the Russian president would not have invaded Ukraine on his watch. I said, Vladimir, you and I are friends. Were good friends. But if you go in, were gonna hit real hard, Mr Trump said. He said, No way you would do that, theres no way. I said, Way, drawing a laugh from the crowd as he appeared to mimic a line from the 1992 Mike Myers comedy Waynes World. Elsewhere, Mr Trump boasted of appointing the three Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v Wade while baselessly accusing Democrats of wanting to execute babies. The former president went after his likely opponent in the 2024 presidential election Joe Biden as weak, after his administration said it would resume construction of a wall along sections of the southern border. Donald Trump hams it up at a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on Saturday (Reuters) When foreign countries watch all of this they cant believe it. The stupidity of Afghanistan is one of the reasons that Putin went in [to Ukraine] and that China is so aggressive all of a sudden. He also attacked New York attorney general Letitia James, who is suing the Trump Organisation in a civil court trial for fraudulently inflating the values of his properties. He described Ms James as evil, adding: She goes after Trump, but she doesnt go after murderers. The GOP presidential primary frontrunner also repeated bogus claims that US taxpayer money had funded Hamass deadly attacks in Israel. We agreed to free up $6bn, that is an absolute disaster. I would not be at all surprised if part of that tremendous wealth that they just accumulated went into this level of aggression. Mr Trump was holding two campaign events in Iowa on Saturday, 100 days before state Republicans will hold the first-in-nation caucuses on 15 January. His closest rival Ron DeSantis was campaigning in the state on Saturday, while former vice-president Mike Pence and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson also held events. Fearing that West Melbourne City Manager Tim Rhode is underpaid and could get lured away by a better salary offer from another community the City Council approved raising Rhode's annual pay by more than $27,000. Council members on Oct. 3 unanimously approved raising Rhode's annual salary to $177,248, up more than 18% from the $150,000 salary he was given when he became city manager a little more than one year ago. Rhode's new salary is the midpoint of West Melbourne's current pay range for city manager of $139,018 to $215,479. Rhode's new salary also is higher than the $168,972 salary of Rhode's predecessor, Scott Morgan, at the time of Morgan's retirement in August 2022. Morgan served as city manager there for 13 years. Morgan's salary when he retired was at the top of the salary range at the time for the city manager position. West Melbourne City Manager Tim Rhode's annual salary was increased by more than 18% to $177,248, through a unanimous vote of the West Melbourne City Council. A city analysis of city manager pay levels in West Melbourne and nine other Brevard County cities showed that the average salaries of city managers is $183,410, with four earning more than $211,000. West Melbourne is Brevard's fourth-most-populous city behind Palm Bay, Melbourne and Titusville with a population of about 29,000. During debate on Rhode's salary, City Council Member Daniel McDow said Rhode's previous salary "was way too low," especially in light of Rhode's recent performance evaluation scores from the City Council. "I think highly of him, and I think he's good for the city," McDow said. "We do not want to lose the CEO." City manager selection: West Melbourne may hire Tim Rhode as city manager; Daniel Batcheldor to leave City Council As part of the performance evaluation process, the seven members of the City Council each rated Rhode on 45 factors, and gave Rhode an average overall score of 3.93 on a 0-to-5 scale for his one-year evaluation. Rhode scored highest on fiscal management issues. The scores were an improvement from Rhode's six-month evaluation, in which he received an average score of 3.39 and did not receive a raise at that time. But the scores remained under the rating City Council members gave Morgan in each of Morgan's last five annual evaluation, including a 4.57 in 2020. A score of 3 is considered "average," a score of 4 is considered "above average" and score of 5 is considered "excellent." Rhode had been assistant city manager of West Melbourne from September 2021 until he became city manager on Sept. 1, 2022. As assistant city manager, Rhode managed the day-to-day operations of the public works and human resources departments. Before being hired by West Melbourne, Rhode led the governments in five cities, towns or villages, each with a population of less than 10,000. He was: Village administrator in Hartland, Wisconsin, from January 2020 to June 2021. Town administrator in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, from May 2016 to December 2019. City administrator in St. Francis, Wisconsin, from May 2011 to May 2016. Village administrator/clerk in Butler, Wisconsin, from February 2006 to May 2011. City administrator in Monticello, Iowa, from March 2004 to February 2006. Rhode told City Council members that he is "very honored" and "very appreciative" to get a salary boost to the midpoint of his salary range. Rhode gave himself an overall score 3.58 in his self-evaluation. He said his major goals for the coming year include the city budget; seeking out grants for the city; police department staffing; starting construction of a new building department facility; and continuing efforts to get a new potable water plant in operation by 2027. He said one of his major challenges in his first year in office was rebuilding the department head team, including hiring a new police chief, human resources director, finance director, capital projects manager, building official and recreation director, as well as helping the City Council hire a new city attorney. He also reorganized some of the city departments, including putting the parks department under the public works director, as well as moving code enforcement to the police department. The City Council last year opted to promote Rhode from assistant city manager to city manager, rather than consider the 43 external applicants to become the next city manager. Approach to succeed Mayor Rose In another West Melbourne city government development, longtime Mayor Hal Rose presided over his final meeting, and the City Council reached a consensus on the procedure to replace him. Decision to retire: Longtime West Melbourne Mayor Rose retiring from position, after residency controversy Rose retired as mayor, effective Oct. 4, after two City Council members raised issues about whether Rose met residency retirements to continue to serve as mayor. Rose sold his house in West Melbourne and bought one on Viera, but said he still maintains a residence in West Melbourne. Hal Rose on Oct. 3 presided over his last meeting as West Melbourne mayor before his retirement from that post took effect. In final remarks to City Council members at the end of the Oct. 3 council meeting, Rose said: "I've had a lot of fun over the years. The city has done well, and I'm sure you'll keep it going in the right direction. The city is a lot better off than it was many, many years ago. At the end of the day, the city moves forward, and we're all working together." Rose was first elected mayor in 2007. Before that, he was a member of the West Melbourne Planning and Zoning Board and a member of the City Council. The City Council agree to hold a special meeting on Oct. 17 to vote on which one of them would take over as mayor for the remainder of Rose's term, which would end in November 2024. Under provisions of the City Charter, the City Council has 60 days from the date the vacancy was created to choose a new mayor from within its ranks. If they are deadlocked after 60 days, a special election is scheduled, and any West Melbourne resident not just City Council members can seek to become a candidate. For now, West Melbourne Deputy Mayor Stephen Phrampus is serving as interim mayor until a new mayor is selected. Phrampus and City Council Member Andrea Young both are announced candidates for mayor in the November 2024 election. Once someone is selected to fill out the rest of Rose's term as mayor, if a vacancy is created on the City Council, council members will seek applicants for the vacant council position and will vote on filling the vacancy, potentially as early as their Nov. 14 meeting. During Rose's last meeting as mayor, council members and other public officials lauded Rose's work. Phrampus said Rose "did an awesome job" as mayor. Young told Rose that he was an inspiration to her, and "you've got big shoes to fill." Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54 This article originally appeared on Florida Today: West Melbourne City Council gives city manager $27,248-a-year raise People at a festival flee a surprise attack launched by Hamas, near Reim on October 7, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from social media video. Reuters An Israeli woman didn't tell her family she was going to a music festival, her mother told Insider. Noa Argamani, 25, figured her parents would be concerned and chose not to reveal her plans. She was taken hostage by Hamas fighters at the festival on Saturday, per a widely shared video. The mother of a 25-year-old woman who was taken hostage at an Israeli music festival said her daughter didn't tell her family she was going because she was afraid they would be concerned for her safety. "She didn't tell us anything because she didn't want us to worry about her," Liora Argamani told Insider, adding: "It is very, very hard for me." Noa Argamani and her partner, Avi Natan, attended the outdoor, all-night music event held about three miles from the border of the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on Saturday. After armed Hamas fighters stormed in and began taking hostages, Argamani was separated from her partner and taken away by Hamas fighters, according to widely shared social media footage. In the video, she can be heard begging the Palestinian militants: "Don't kill me," per The Times of Israel. 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 Argamani's family only found out she had been kidnapped when the video went viral on social media. They have not heard from her since. Her mom says their "worst nightmare" has come true. Shlomit Marciano, a close friend, said she tried to talk Argamani out of attending the event a few days before it began, because the area is considered "very dangerous" due to its proximity to Gaza. Going to that music festival "wasn't even a consideration" for Marciano, she said, adding: "It didn't even cross my mind." Marciano says she has been with Argamani's parents since they discovered their daughter was missing. She said an Israeli military representative, whose identity she withheld for security reasons, stopped by the house on Monday morning, but didn't share any intelligence about Argamani's whereabouts, she said. Argamani's mother said she is "very" hopeful her daughter is still alive. But she said she was concerned about what Hamas could do to her. "I have no expectations of the humanity of Hamas," she said, adding: "We all already know what they're capable of." Hamas' attack on the music festival was the "single largest massacre of Israeli civilians since the country's establishment," IDF spokesperson Libby Weiss told Insider. At least 260 bodies were found at the site of the Tribe of Nova Music Festival, according to the Israeli rescue service Zaka . Hamas militants launched their attack on Israel over the weekend, killing at least 700 Israelis across the country, per Israel's Foreign Ministry . The scale of the attacks from land, sea, and air is such that some Israelis have dubbed it their "9/11", comparing it to the September 11, 2001, attacks on the US. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "state of war" shortly after the attacks began, and on Monday Israel announced a "complete siege" of Gaza , pledging to cut off its electricity, food, water, and fuel. Read the original article on Business Insider 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. It Happened here is a weekly history column by Yakima Herald-Republic reporter Donald W. Meyers. Reach him at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com. Sources for this column included Historylink.org, Roslyn, a Towns Portrait by Wayne F. Larrabee Jr., Washington Rural Heritage, Columbia, the Magazine of Northwest History, The Inflation Calculator created by Morgan Friedman, the Washington Rural Heritage collection and the archives of the Yakima Herald-Republic. BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- China's eight-day Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holiday has brought a tourism consumer market boom that highlighted the vitality and resilience of China's economic development. Although certain Western media organizations and analysts take a pessimistic view on China's economy, the consumer market data from the country's exuberant consumer market during the "super golden week" has demonstrated convincingly that their gloomy sentiment is unnecessary. People in China made 826 million domestic tourist trips during the holiday, an increase of 71.3 percent from last year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The revenue of the tourism sector increased 129.5 percent year on year to approximately 753.4 billion yuan (103.2 billion U.S. dollars) during the period. According to the online platform Meituan, the average daily spending on service retail sales soared 153 percent from the same period in 2019, making this year's golden week the busiest of the last five years. The holiday consumer market data has consolidated confidence in the recovery of social consumption, and demonstrated increasing domestic demand for goods and services, which leads to economic growth. The consumption potential of the Chinese market has been released this year, with the government rolling out a slew of policies to boost domestic demand. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that in the first eight months, the total retail sales of consumer goods in China increased 7 percent year on year, and retail sales in services grew 19.4 percent. The recovery of China's economy has recently prompted many international financing institutions to raise their forecasts for the country's economic growth this year. Citigroup and J.P. Morgan have raised their forecasts for China's annual economic growth to 5 percent. The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group raised its economic growth forecast for China to 5.1 percent. Other growth indicators are also encouraging. The purchasing managers' index for China's manufacturing sector came in at 50.2 in September, bouncing back to expansion territory after four consecutive months of growth. China's major industrial firms saw a strong rebound in profits in August, surging 17.2 percent from a year earlier and representing the first increase since the second half of 2022. The results of a host of pro-growth policies are beginning to show. Certain Western think tanks and media continue to exaggerate and hype up the current difficulties in China's post-COVID economic recovery. Facts will prove them wrong. The booming consumer market during the holiday has provided clear signs of China's economic resilience, enormous potential and strong vitality. China has the ability to realize its economic goals for the year. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Over 20 fighters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in Turkish airstrikes on a military training camp in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah in early Monday, a war monitor reported. The airstrikes targeted the camp of local security forces Assayish after midnight in the countryside of Hasakah, leaving also 50 fighters wounded, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UK-based watchdog group said the death toll will likely rise due to the number of critically wounded fighters. Following the airstrike, the Turkish air force intensified their aerial bombardment, hitting 30 areas controlled by the SDF, the Observatory added. It noted that the areas under the SDF control have been witnessing intense Turkish aerial and ground bombardment, leading to the destruction of infrastructure and the falling of fighters. The latest escalation follows threats issued by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who warned of an expanded cross-border operation in Syria and Iraq against Kurdish fighters after a suicide bomb rattled the Turkish capital Ankara, and injured two police officers, earlier this month. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for the attack, marking the first time the group had claimed an attack in Ankara since 2016. Turkish intelligence officials suggested that the two assailants had received training in Syria. Activitatea Casei de Asigurari de Sanatate Prahova blocata! Angajatii au intrat in protest generalizat pe perioada nedeterminata N. Dumitrescu Ploiestenii ori prahovenii care venisera joi special in municipiul de resedinta al judetului Prahova pentru a-si rezolva problemele ce tineau de Casa de Asigurari de Sanatate (CAS) [citeste mai departe] This photo taken on Sept. 19, 2023 with a mobile phone shows a station set up for bird protection in Lanshan County, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Wangmin) CHANGSHA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At 8:30 p.m., the high-beam lamps at a square went off on time. With the hustle and bustle fading gradually, the birds hovering over the square flew by. Even during the just-concluded eight-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day -- occasions traditionally for festive illuminations, Lanshan County in central China's Hunan Province extinguished the lamps every day to have migratory birds pass by. "Haunted by lights, the birds migrating at night are prone to get lost because of the phototaxis. The lights out program has made way for the birds' migrations," said Zeng Chengbin, an official in charge of road maps from the county's urban management and comprehensive law enforcement bureau, adding that neon lights are also encouraged to be off. The lights out program initiated in 2020 is part of the county's efforts to protect migratory birds and battle illegal fowling. This year, the program will last till mid-October, the end of the peak migration period. Located on the northern side of Nanling Mountains, Lanshan County is an important passageway for birds' migrations. In the past, villagers often lighted up the night on hills to attract the birds and hunt them, leading to a shrinking population of migratory birds. "Fowling used to be a major source of income for a long time, and almost the entire village was engaged in fowling," recalled Zhang Xiuqiang, 52, one of the former bird hunters. Things have changed since 2012, when the concept of "beautiful China" was proposed as a grand goal for ecological progress. Fowling was forbidden in the same year in Lanshan and the local people started to explore how to better protect migratory birds and live in harmony with birds. Making use of the resources of lucid waters and lush mountains, the county has developed ecological tourism, with many former bird hunters, including Zhang, working at tourist resorts. They also serve as part-time guardians at three stations set up for bird protection. Zhang said they were on duty from 7 p.m. every day to the early morning the next day. "Now, it's the peak period for birds to fly southward, so we have to be vigilant," he said. Their efforts have paid off. According to the latest observation data this year, the number of migratory birds flying over the county has surged to 3.5 million from 2 million in 2012, with the number of species exceeding 100 from 60 in 2012. This photo taken on Sept. 19, 2023 with a mobile phone shows Zhang Xiuqiang, a part-time guardian, watching real-time monitor of migratory birds at a station set up for bird protection in Lanshan County, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Wangmin) The government is drafting legislation to further tighten regulations on immigration and labour of third-country citizens, the economic development ministry said. The government will rigorously review the regulations in force with the aim to fully revamp and tighten regulations on immigration and labour. Comprehensive measures are needed on the residence and employment of third-country citizens, to protect the Hungarian workforce and citizens, the statement said. The new bill will make it clear that third-country citizens can only live and work in Hungary for the reasons determined by Hungary, by meeting the requirements of the state, and by its approval, the statement said. Companies must first try to fill all jobs with Hungarians, and will only be allowed to employ foreigners if that is not possible, it said. The implementation of the law on the employment of guest workers will be put on hold until the full-scale legislation is in place, the statement said. Mi Hazank Hails Role in Changes to Law on Guest Workers Opposition Mi Hazank has claimed credit for the governments recently announced changes to rules on guest workers, saying the governments move was a rearguard reaction to the radical partys rising popularity and protests against the law. The economic development ministry on Thursday said the government is drafting legislation to further tighten regulations on immigration and labour of third-country citizens. [Ruling] Fidesz has backed down on the import of guest workers, Mi Hazank deputy leader David Docs told a press conference on Friday. Instead of a mass influx of guest workers to Hungary, Mi Hazank wants vacancies to be filled by enticing Hungarians who have emigrated to return home, Docs said. The party is also in favour of supporting domestic small businesses over basing the economy on battery production, leading to the sectors multinationals importing masses of guest workers, he added. We dont want to become a country of immigrants, Docs said, adding that there were already hundreds of thousands of guest workers in Hungary, while close to a million Hungarians have left as economic refugees. Mi Hazank would only take in a limited number of guest workers who would not be a burden to society, Docs said. Were not xenophobic, we simply fear for our country, he added. Laszlo Solyom, the president of Hungary between 2005-2010, and the first president of the Constitutional Court, died on Sunday, his secretariat told MTI. Solyom died after a long illness which he bore with great strength, activity and serenity, the secretariat said in a statement. May God rest Laszlo Solyom in peace, President Katalin Novak said in a statement, expressing her condolences. Laszlo Solyom was an internationally recognised lawyer who as first president of the Constitutional Court had a decisive role in the regime change, and in the establishment of democracy and the constitutional framework that defines our lives, Novak said. I am grateful that he shared his experiences with me. Novak said that the national flag was lowered to half-mast at the presidential Sandor Palace in tribute to Solyom. Solyom to Be Laid to Rest on 18 October Former President Laszlo Solyom will be laid to rest at Fiumei Street cemetery in a Roman Catholic ceremony on Oct 18 at midday, the National Heritage Institute said in a statement. Solyom was also the first president of the Constitutional Court and a university professor. Mass will be celebrated at 10.15am in the Heart of Jesus Jesuit Church. Solyoms family have asked for their complete privacy to be respected at both the Mass and at the funeral. Mourners are asked to arrive on time and declare their intention to participate in advance by writing to meghivo@nori.gov.hu. The former head of state died on Oct 8 after a long illness. GRAND ISLAND On Saturday morning, Palmer music teacher Anna Sake was proud of her students, with whom she has been working for 13 years. These seniors are the first class of kindergartners I got to teach, an emotional Sake said after the Harvest of Harmony parade. Sake was tearful because she loves our band so much. She wants us to succeed, and shes a great teacher, said sophomore Hailey Weller. Fifty-six Palmer students marched in the parade, playing Narco by Timmy Trumpet. Sake, who is Palmers K-12 director of music, doesnt know if her students enjoy marching. But they have a lot of pride when they do it. They put a lot of effort and hard work into it. The hardest part of preparing is just finding time in their schedules, because were a Class D school and theyre involved in absolutely everything, Sake said. In the morning, band members are busy with cheer practice, FFA, dance and one-act play. At night, they have games. Students follow that schedule consistently. But on Saturday morning, Sake was just very proud of them. And I cant wait to see what else they do this year, she said. Weller said the Palmer students like marching. Well, we act like we dont. But then afterward, the students talk about the parade and how they did, which makes Weller think they enjoyed it. Because Miss Sake puts so much passion into it, I think it bleeds into us a little bit, Weller said. Playing in the band is easy because we have so much talent, Weller said. The biggest challenge in a parade is probably just being consistent and staying in consistent lines. Whats the hardest part of marching in a parade? For me, its definitely walking backwards, said Megan Toahty, drum major for Doniphan-Trumbull. Toahty, who also plays trumpet, was one of 59 Doniphan-Trumbull students in the parade. They played 24K Magic. I think it went really well, said Colton Kohl, the schools K-12 music director. The kids just seemed to be in step, playing out and articulating the way I wanted them to. Kohl said the students love parades, because they get to share music with people. The challenge is being perfect in every aspect. In addition to Harvest of Harmony, Doniphan-Trumbull performs in the Columbus parade and the Veterans Day parade in Central City. In Columbus, Doniphan-Trumbull took first place in Class D, Toahty said. The students worked really, really hard during the summer, Toahty said. She hoped the band would get a good score in the field competition later. I want it to be for something, she said, referring to the work theyd put in. The Loup City band, headed by Kyle Knaub, totaled 18 students. The group played Thriller. Senior Anthony Braesch, marching in the parade for the fourth time, said the best part is all the people and the music. Knaub was excited about the field show. Thatll be a lot of fun. The chilly forecasts for Saturday morning didnt come to pass. Shortly before 8 a.m., the temperature in Grand Island was 34. Two hours later, it had climbed to 47. Just before 7 a.m., the Grand Island temperature was 32. Grand Marshal Diane Miller, a former teacher, heard people calling out Miss Miller as she passed. So I knew I had a lot of students in the crowd, she said. Miller, 66, said the parade was wonderful. Its such an honor to represent Grand Island, she said. Miller rode in a 2002 Corvette, owned by Mike Milhon. Sen. Pete Ricketts began the day visiting veterans at Precinct Auto, 320 N. Lincoln Ave. Every year, owner Jack Luth invites veterans to attend a pre-parade gathering at the used car business. Dan Naranjo gave the invocation. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Stephanie Hongsermeier sang God Bless America. About 20 people attended the gathering, which started at 7 a.m. Ricketts has appeared at Harvest of Harmony many times. I was just telling my campaign manager on the way in how much I love this parade. It is great, he said in an interview. Ricketts often says Nebraska is what Americas supposed to be. And Grand Island lives up to that with this parade, he said. The Grand Island parade always has great participation, and its just a ton of fun, Ricketts said. Another parade Ricketts likes is the Groundhogs Day parade in Unadilla. Its much shorter than this parade. Its only three blocks long, he said. On the Fourth of July, Ricketts attends the Ralston and Seward parades. Hes also a regular at the Central City parade and Czech Days in Wilber. After his visit to Grand Island, he attended a lunch and pheasant shoot in Tekamah. PHOTOS: 81st Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island Schools from throughout Nebraska marched in the 81st Harvest of Harmony parade in Grand Island. Firefighters Members of the Grand Island Professional Fire Fighters Local 647 carry the flag to begin the 2023 Harvest Of Harmony parade Saturday in downto Harvest of Harmony The High Plains band. Harvest of Harmony The High Plains band. Harvest of Harmony The High Plains band. Harvest of Harmony The York High School band. Harvest of Harmony The York High School band. Police honor guard and firefighters Members of the GIPD Honor Guard and Grand Island Professional Fire Fighters Local 647 carry the flag to begin the 2023 Harvest of Harmony para Northwest Members of the Northwest band march during the 2023 Harvest of Harmony parade Saturday in downtown Grand Island. Harvest of Harmony The University of Nebraska at Kearney band. Harvest of Harmony parade More than 200 entries marched in downtown Grand Island during the 81th Harvest of Harmony parade on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. GICC band Members of the Grand Island Central Catholic band march during the 2023 Harvest of Harmony parade Saturday in downtown Grand Island. Palmer band A Palmer High School trumpet player plays their horn during the Harvest of Harmony Parade on Saturday. Diane Miller Harvest of Harmony Grand Marshal Diane Miller waves at parade goers Saturday. Candy A young boy throws out candy during the 2023 Harvest of Harmony parade Saturday in downtown Grand Island. GISH band Members of the Grand Island Senior High band spin while performing during the 2023 Harvest of Harmony parade Saturday in downtown Grand Island. Northwest Members of the Northwest band march during the 2023 Harvest of Harmony parade Saturday in downtown Grand Island. Bigfoot Bigfoot thought the Harvest Of Harmony parade was a myth so he had to see it for himself that it does exist. GILT Toad Schroeder of the Grand Island Little Theater has some fun with the crowd during the 2023 Harvest Of Harmony parade Saturday in downtown G Harvest of Harmony The Kearney Catholic band. Harvest of Harmony The Kearney Catholic band. Harvest of Harmony The Kearney Catholic band. Harvest of Harmony A member of the UNK flag team gets ready to twirl during the parade. Harvest of Harmony The University of Nebraska at Kearney band. Harvest of Harmony The York High School band. Harvest of Harmony A drummer with the University of Nebraska at Kearney marches in the parade. Harvest of Harmony The University of Nebraska at Kearney band. Harvest of Harmony The Shelton High School band. Harvest of Harmony A Shelton High School flag team members shows off the colors. Harvest of Harmony The Shelton High School band. Harvest of Harmony The Centennial High School band. Harvest of Harmony The Centennial High School band. New Delhi: Adwaita Nayar, the daughter of Falguni Nayar has a journey that speaks tales of unconventional choices and remarkable achievements. Adwaita's mother Falguni Nayar, the founder of Nykaa, through her vision and dedication has shaped her own future. Falguni went from working as an investment banker to being the richest self-made woman entrepreneur in India. Her accomplishment from being a banker to a billionaire businesswoman is an inspirational story for millions of woman who want to rule the roost in boardrooms. Adwaita Nayar's journey unfolds as a tale of unconventional choices and remarkable achievements. After graduating from the prestigious Dhirubhai Ambani School in Mumbai, she pursued her academic ambitions at Yale University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Applied Mathematics. She also joined Harvard University, where she gained a degree in MBA. In 2012, while working as a consultant at Bain and Company in the United States, Adwaita's life took an unexpected turn. Her mother, Falguni Nayar, made a pivotal decision to launch an online cosmetics store --Nykaa. Adwaita joined her mother as a co-founder and they forged a path to extraordinary success together. Adwaita Nayar's Mother Falguni Nayar, India's Richest Self-made Female Entrepreneur Falguni was ranked 44th in the Forbes 2022 list of India's 100 wealthiest people. Falguni has a net worth of $2.8 billion, according to a Forbes report. Falguni Nayar was born into a Gujarati family on February 19, 1963 in Mumbai. She graduated from the IIM Ahmedabad. Sanjay Nayar, head of the private equity firm KKR & Co., is Falguni's husband. They have twin kids --Adwaita and Anchit. Falguni spent almost 18 years working for Kotak Mahindra Bank, after which she decided to leave her position as the MD and founded Nykaa in 2012. She then launched her own line of cosmetics and personal care products. Nykaa underwent a public company conversion in 2021. Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa at the time when there was no opportunity for women to purchase cosmetics online. After Nykaa's launch, customers may now purchase cosmetics with only a few taps on the phone. Falguni is today the richest self-made woman entrepreneur in the nation whose company Nykaa is the first company run by a woman to list on the stock exchange in India. NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is expected to announce the much-anticipated schedule for the upcoming assembly elections in five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram - on Monday. The poll panel is expected to announce the full assembly election schedule for five states in a press briefing to be held this afternoon. The top poll body will be holding a press conference to give a brief about the preparations that will undertaken to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the election process and the dates when voters will exercise their franchise in these five states. According to news agency ANI, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar will hold a press conference around 12 noon to give a brief about the preparations that will be undertaken to ensure fair and smooth conduct of the election process and the dates when voters will exercise their franchise in these five states. Election Commission of India to hold a press conference in Delhi today. The election schedule of the general election to legislative Assemblies of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana to be announced. pic.twitter.com/Xni6RJDise ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2023 Presently, the BJP holds power in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress governs in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is in power in Telangana under the leadership of K Chandrasekhar Rao, and the Mizo National Front (MNF), an ally of BJP, holds power in Mizoram. These assembly polls are significant as they come just months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP-led NDA aims for a third consecutive term in office. The opposition has united under the mega I.N.D.I.A bloc to challenge the PM Narendra Modi-led government in the general elections, with over 25 parties collaborating for the polls. However, there has been no announcement regarding their PM candidate or seat distribution within the alliance. It appears that this alliance is primarily for the parliamentary elections, as most parties continue to contest the assembly elections individually. Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh will elect legislators from 230 Assembly constituencies. In the 2018 elections, the Congress secured 114 seats with a vote share of 41.5%, while the BJP won 109 seats with a vote share of 41.6%. However, in 2020, the Congress government lost its majority due to resignations by some MLAs led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, who later joined the BJP. Following this, the BJP formed the government, with Shivraj Singh Chouhan reinstated as the Chief Minister. Rajasthan The Congress party holds the majority in the 200-seat Rajasthan Assembly, with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot leading the state government. In the previous assembly elections in December 2018, the Indian National Congress emerged as the single-largest party, winning 99 seats. However, they fell short by one seat to secure a majority. With a vote share of 39.8%, Congress formed the state government through an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party and the support of independent MLAs. The BJP secured 73 seats with a vote share of 39.3%. Telangana Telangana is set to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, and the Congress in the upcoming assembly election. In the previous Assembly election held in 2018, BRS won 88 out of 119 seats and had a dominant vote share of 47.4%. Congress came a distant second with 19 seats and a vote share of 28.7%. Chhattisgarh In Chhattisgarh, Congress won 68 out of 90 seats, securing a vote share of 43.9%. The BJP won 15 seats and gathered a vote share of 33.6%. Mizoram In the 40-seat Assembly of Mizoram, the Mizo National Front won 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8%. Congress secured 5 seats, and BJP won a single seat. Zoramthanga is the current chief minister of the state. SRINAGAR: The National Conference and Congress have won the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council- Kargil polls by winning 22 out of 26 seats. The National Conference won 12 seats while the Indian National Congress emerged winner on 10 seats. The BJP and independent candidates emerged winners of two seats each. This was the first election in Kargil after August 5, 2019. Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that the BJP was dealt a resounding defeat at the hands of the NC-Congress alliance in Kargil today. He 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. 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. This victory belongs to the people of Zanskar, Kargil, and Drass, who have decisively endorsed the National Conference-Congress alliance. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the elected councillors, recognizing their dedication to serving the people. The Indian National Congress leaders also congratulated the people of 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 Bharat Jodo Yatra last month across the region has given people of Ladakh and Kargil the faith that the Congress and INDIA have a deep concern about the issues they face and the need for their democratic sentiments to be given a voice. Congratulations to all victorious candidates and I am confident this will usher in a new democratic dawn in Ladakh and Kargil, said K C Venugopal, General Secretary of Congress. The National Conference also launched a scathing attack on the BJP. NC leader Omar Abdullah said These election results should serve as 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. New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Monday announced the schedule for holding assembly polls in five poll-bound states - Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana. According to the EC, elections in the northeastern state of Mizoram will be held on November 7. Similarly, the polling in Chhattisgarh will take place on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23 and Telangana on November 30. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. The announcement of poll dates was made by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar at a press conference here. Of the five states, polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases. Mizoram: Important dates to remember According to the Election Commission, the Date of Issue of the Gazette Notification is October 13, 2023 (Friday) and the Last Date Of Making Nominations is October 20, 2023 (Friday). The Date for Scrutiny of Nominations is October 21, 2023 (Saturday) and the Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures is October 23, 2023 (Monday). The Date Of Polls for the Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 is November 7, 2023 (Tuesday) and the Date of Counting is December 3, 2023 (Sunday). The Date Before which the elections shall be completed is December 5, 2023 (Tuesday). Take a look at the Mizoram Assembly Elections Full Schedule in tabular form, below. Mizoram Date of notification: October 13 (Friday) Last date of nominations: October 20 (Friday) Date for scrutiny of nominations: October 21 (Saturday) Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: October 23 (Monday) Mizoram election 2023: Result on December 3 Model Code Of Conduct Comes Into Force The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. Rajiv Kumar was accompanied by the two Election Commissioners at the press conference. The elections to five states are crucial as these come months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year. Congress and BJP are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Telangana is expected to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and BJP. Madhya Pradesh assembly has 230 seats. In the 2018 elections, Congress won 114 seats with a vote share of 41.5 per cent while BJP got 109 seats with a vote share of 41.6 per cent. Congress government lost the majority in 2020 following the resignations of some MLAs considered loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia, who later joined the BJP. The BJP came to power in the state with Shivraj Singh Chouhan as the Chief Minister. Rajasthan has 200 seats with Congress almost winning a majority in the state in 2018 by wresting 99 seats. The party had a vote share of 39.8 per cent and has ruled the state for the past five years with Ashok Gehlot as Chief Minister BJP won 73 seats with a vote share of 39.3 per cent in the 2018 polls. In Telangana, the ruling BRS won 88 of 119 seats and a vote share of 47.4 per cent in the 2018 elections. Congress came at a distant second with 19 seats and a vote share of 28.7 per cent. Congress stormed to power in Chhattisgarh in the 2018 elections, winning 68 of 90 seats in the state assembly. The party had a vote share of 43.9 per cent. BJP won 15 seats and had a vote share of 33.6 per cent. In a 40-member Mizoram assembly, Mizo National Front bagged 26 seats with a vote share of 37.8 per cent to emerge victorious in the 2018 polls. Congress secured five seats and BJP won one seat. Political parties have been making preparations for the assembly polls in five states with their leaders addressing rallies and announcing promises to people. New Delhi:If you are a beneficiary of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN), there is crucial update for you regarding the PM-KISAN 15th Installment. The Central Government provides financial assistance of Rs 2000 to crores of farmers across the country. However, to receive the 15th installment, you must complete three essential tasks promptly, the deadline of which according to media reports is October 15, 2023. Reports say that the 15th installment of PM-KISAN will be disbursed only to those beneficiary farmers who have completed these three tasks by October 15th. 1. e-KYC Verification: Ensure that you have completed the e-KYC verification (PM-KISAN e-KYC). Failure to do so will result in the next installment not being credited to your bank account. 2. Land Data Seeding: Provide accurate information about your land's seeding. 3. Aadhaar-Bank Account Linkage: Link your bank account with your Aadhaar. This step is mandatory for all beneficiaries and must be completed by October 15th. You have just seven days left to complete these tasks. Please remember that if your e-KYC is not done, you will not receive the benefits of this scheme. The next installment may be credited to your account in November or earlier, but no official announcement has been made regarding the release date. To check the status of the 15th installment or for more information, you can visit the official website at pmkisan.gov.in. Act now to ensure you continue to receive the PM-KISAN benefits. PM Narendra Modi gave the much needed cheers to lakhs of farmers who had been waiting for the transfer of funds under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN) by transferring the amount on July 27. PM Modi handed out the 14th tranche of around Rs 18,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) to eligible farmers by releasing direct benefits transfer to more than 8.5 crore beneficiaries. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme, was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions. Under the Scheme, the amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three three-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. New Delhi: India's largest public sector lender State Bank Of India (SBI) allows several seamless facilities to its customers looking to change their personal details. If you're seeking to update your mobile number at an SBI branch, you can do so by filling a couple of forms at the bank branch. SBI offers a straightforward process for changing your registered mobile number by visiting the nearest branch. To ensure the security of your account and confirm your identity, SBI requires specific documents as proof during this process. The list of documents typically includes a valid photo ID issued by official authority. These essential documents are crucial to facilitating a seamless update of your mobile number and ensuring that you receive important notifications and alerts from your bank. As per the latest master direction, list of Officially Valid documents (OVDs) for making Mobile Number Change at the SBI Branch are the following - Passport - Driving License - Voter ID Card - Proof of Possession of Aadhaar - MNREGA Card - Letter issued by National Population Register In order to change your mobile number by physical presence, visit your nearest SBI Branch. Fill in a Letter of Request and submit the letter. After necessary verification, the linking will be done by the branch. You will receive an SMS on your registered mobile number regarding the status of updation. Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line also known as the Whitefield-Challaghatta Metro corridor will be fully operational from Monday, October 9, without any official inauguration, Bangalore Central MP, PC Mohan informed on Sunday. In a post on X, PC Mohan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to commence services on the new stretches of the Purple Line without postponing operations for a formal inauguration ceremony with VIP presence. Also read: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik To Lay Foundation Stone For Bhubaneswar Metro On January 1 The 2.1-km Baiyappanahalli-KR Pura and 2.05-km Kengeri-Challaghatta sections will open to the public from 5 am. While the last train from Whitefield will depart at 10.45 pm while from the rest of the terminal stations at 11.05 pm. They are part of the Purple Line, which will stretch from Whitefield in the east to Challaghatta in the west and span 42.85 km. "PM Narendra Modi Ji has instructed BMRCL to throw open services on the new stretches of the purple line (Challaghatta to Kengeri and Baiyappanahalli to Whitefield) on an immediate basis and without delaying the operations to hold any formal inauguration ceremony with a VIP presence," a communique, posted by PC Mohan on X said. It further said that this is another demonstration of cutting down VIP culture in the country and placing public interest as the top priority. "We must place on record PM Modi ji's invaluable contribution to Bengaluru - the most among any other PMs," it said. It further said that whether it is the long-pending approvals for the Suburban Rail, the rapid approval and construction of the STRR (Satellite Town Ring Road), the expansion of Namma Metro Phase 2A and 2B, the addition of electric buses to augment BMTC's fleet size under the FAME-II scheme, or the expansion of Kempegowda International Airport with a new terminal (T2), PM Modi has truly prioritised the development of Bengaluru. "All of these infrastructure projects will ease the commute in the city and greatly contribute to enhancing the quality of life of an average Bengalurean," the communique said. On the occasion of throwing opening of the new stretch of Namma Metro's purple line, the three MPs representing Bengaluru, DV Sadananda Gowda, PC Mohan and Tejasvi Surya, have extended gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for his 'invaluable contribution' to the city's development and constant support for Bengaluru. WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday that the Pentagon is sending warships and fighter jets to the Eastern Mediterranean region in a show of support for Israel amid escalating conflicts between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters. Austin said in a statement that he had directed the movement of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which consists of an aircraft carrier, a guided missile cruiser and four guided missile destroyers, to the Eastern Mediterranean. The Pentagon 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," the defense chief said. He added that the U.S. government "will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions." The first round of U.S. security assistance to Israel "will begin moving" on Sunday "and arriving in the coming days," Austin said. TEL AVIV: A recent report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has alleged that Iran played a role in helping Hamas strategize its surprise attack on Israel during a meeting in Beirut last week, with planning underway for several weeks. The report, citing senior members of both Hamas and Hezbollah, indicates that the plans have been in progress since August and have involved multiple meetings in Beirut, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp. According to the WSJ report, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard officers had been collaborating with Hamas on the attack since August. The report states that IRGC officers were present at the meeting in Beirut, along with representatives from other Iranian-backed militant organizations. Hamas, a Shiite militant group, is in control of Gaza, while Hezbollah represents the political faction backed by Iran in Lebanon. In response, Iran's mission to the United Nations vehemently denied any involvement in the attack, asserting that Palestine's actions were a legitimate defence against decades of oppressive occupation and crimes perpetrated by the Israeli government. Iran emphasized its unwavering support for Palestine, clarifying that while it stands with Palestine, it is not directly involved in Palestine's actions, which are determined solely by Palestine itself. Iran's UN mission contended that Israel's attempt to attribute its security failures to Iran's intelligence and operational planning is a way to justify its defeat at the hands of a Palestinian group. Israeli airstrikes were launched in response to Hamas' attacks, targeting houses, tunnels, a mosque, and homes of Hamas members in Gaza, resulting in the loss of over 400 lives, including 20 children. The death toll has surpassed 1,000, with casualties on both sides, including citizens from the US, France, Nepal, and Ukraine. The conflict has left over 700 Israelis dead and more than 2,100 injured, while in the Gaza Strip, over 413 lives have been lost and around 2,300 individuals injured. The Israeli Foreign Ministry conveyed the grim situation on social media, condemning Hamas for war crimes and promising retribution for the loss of innocent lives. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the historical support from Iran that enabled Hamas' existence but stated that direct evidence linking Iran to the recent attack has not been substantiated yet. He expressed concerns about the involvement of up to 1,000 Hamas fighters in the assault, leaving several Israeli cities in ruins. On Monday, a barrage of rockets was launched by terrorists in the Gaza Strip toward towns in southern and central Israel, causing injuries to five individuals. Two of them are reported to be in critical condition. One of the rockets exploded near Ben Gurion International Airport, adding to the severity of the situation, according to media reports. There were multiple explosions, caused either by impacts or interceptions by the Iron Dome missile defense system. Israel Defence Forces said that sirens were blaring in Jerusalem. Some blasts were also reported from the city. "On Saturday, Hamas brutally massacred over 700 Israelis. The Israeli Air Force is conducting one of the largest air strikes ever against Hamas in Gaza to degrade and destroy their ability to terrorize the people of Israel. Hamas launched a war. We will restore security to our country. Between Saturday and Monday morning, over 1,200 targets were hit by Israeli aircraft across the Gaza Strip, including weapons storage and manufacturing sites, command and control centers, rocket launchers and more. Today we doubled that number," said the IAF. Between Saturday and Monday morning, over 1,200 targets were hit by Israeli aircraft across the Gaza Strip, including weapons storage and manufacturing sites, command and control centers, rocket launchers and more. Today we doubled that number. pic.twitter.com/bRxZetbNqP Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 9, 2023 Meanwhile, the IDF Homefront Command instructed Israeli civilians in towns near the Lebanese border to remain in their homes. The Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulance service reported treating four individuals in Ashkelon for injuries sustained from rocket impacts. The victims included a 75-year-old man, two men aged 55 and 30, as well as another person. Additionally, in Ashdod, MDA medics attended to a woman in her 50s who suffered serious injuries from a rocket impact. IAF strikes in recent hours in Beit Hanoun, Sajaiya, El-Furqan and Rimal in the Gaza Strip. We will continue to fight Hamas terrorists as long as necessary for the sake of the residents of the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/zIT5bB1wd6 October 9, 2023 Sirens blared in various locations such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Raanana, and even as far north as Baqa al-Gharbiyye, as noted by the Times of Israel. This marked the first instance of sirens being heard in many of these locations since Saturday. The barrages came a day after Israel formally declared a state of war as the death toll from the massive Hamas attack rose above 700 and was expected to rise further, with the fate of over a hundred people abducted and taken into the Gaza Strip still unclear, Times of Israel reported. Tel Aviv: In a strong retaliation to an attack by Hamas in Israel, the Israel Air Force carried out a retaliatory strike on Monday targeting several buildings hosting leaders of the Hamas terrorist organization and multiple operational headquarters. According to the Israel Air Force, the strikes included a three-floor headquarters and a base connected to senior Hamas naval force member, Muhammad Kashta. Additionally, the Air Force obliterated an operational facility utilized by the terrorist organization, which was concealed within a mosque in the Jabaliya area. Informing the public about these actions through their social media platform 'X', the Israel Air Force stated, "The Air Force conducted a strike on a building housing operatives of the Hamas terrorist organization. Simultaneously, several operational headquarters of the group were targeted, including a three-floor facility and a base associated with senior Hamas naval force member, Muhammad Kashta. Moreover, an operational asset used by Hamas, concealed within a mosque in the Jabaliya area, was neutralized." The IAF attacked a building where operatives of the terrorist organization Hamas were staying. At the same time, several operational headquarters of the terrorist organization were attacked, among them a headquarters spread over an area of three floors and a headquarters- Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 9, 2023 associated with the senior Hamas naval force, Muhammad Kashta. In addition, an operational asset used by the terrorist organization Hamas, located in the heart of a mosque in the Jabaliya region, was destroyed. Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 9, 2023 Also, an asset used by Hamas intelligence and an asset used by the terrorist organization Hamas to target terrorism was destroyed. Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 9, 2023 In a significant escalation on Saturday, Hamas initiated a surprise attack on Israel by launching a barrage of rockets into the southern and central regions of the country. The death toll in Israel since the initiation of the Hamas attack has now exceeded 900 people, as reported by Hebrew media outlets citing The Times of Israel. This toll includes dozens of soldiers and police who lost their lives during the attack. Furthermore, there were reports of several Israelis being held hostage in Gaza, as mentioned by The Times of Israel, citing official sources. Prior to this, in response, the Israel Air Force carried out a potent and lethal airstrike in the Gaza Strip, deploying dozens of fighter jets to target areas utilized by Hamas terrorists. Israeli airstrikes were launched as a countermeasure to Hamas' attacks, targeting residences, tunnels, a mosque, and homes of Hamas members in Gaza, resulting in the loss of over 400 lives, including 20 children. The death toll has now surpassed 1,000, with casualties on both sides, including citizens from the US, France, Nepal, and Ukraine. The conflict has claimed over 700 Israeli lives and left more than 2,100 injured, while in the Gaza Strip, over 413 lives have been lost and around 2,300 individuals injured. -150 '. . ' , pic.twitter.com/YJlre0NIYb Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 8, 2023 In a previous announcement by the Israel Air Force, they mentioned that their jets targeted the military headquarters belonging to the Hamas group, which were used for recent operations. Over 24 hours after Hamas launched rocket attacks followed by an unprecedented ground assault, ongoing skirmishes between forces and terrorists were reported in Kfar Aza, near the Gaza border, according to The Times of Israel. Meanwhile, Israel's security cabinet approved the "war situation" and initiated "significant military measures according to Article 40 of Basic Law: The Government," as announced by the Israel Prime Minister's Office on X. The war was stated to have been forced on Israel through a "terrorist assault from the Gaza strip," which began at 6 am (local time) on Saturday. On October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Hamas, declaring the commencement of a dire war and affirming that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) would employ all its might to undermine its capabilities. Historical Background The Israel-Palestine conflict is a protracted and deeply entrenched geopolitical dispute with its origins dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It primarily revolves around competing national aspirations and territorial claims by Israelis and Palestinians. Pre-1948 Tensions During the late 19th century, Jewish immigration to Palestine, then part of the Ottoman Empire, increased. After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate over Palestine, leading to further Jewish immigration. Tensions mounted as both Jewish and Arab communities sought self-determination. 1947 UN Partition Plan In 1947, the United Nations proposed a plan to partition Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem as an international city. While Jewish leaders accepted this plan, Arab states rejected it, resulting in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Israel declared independence, and neighboring Arab nations invaded, leading to Israel's establishment and the displacement of numerous Palestinians. Ongoing Conflicts and Occupations Subsequent conflicts, including the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973, further escalated tensions. Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War added complexity to the dispute, resulting in a prolonged military occupation. Core Issues The Israel-Palestine conflict encompasses several core issues, including borders, the status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees, security concerns, and the establishment of a Palestinian state. These issues have been central to numerous peace initiatives, negotiations, and agreements. Failed Peace Efforts Various peace efforts, such as the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, aimed at resolving the conflict, but achieving a final resolution has proven elusive. Cycles of Violence The conflict has resulted in cycles of violence, including Intifadas (Palestinian uprisings) and periodic military confrontations, causing immense human suffering. International Dimensions The Israel-Palestine conflict has broader regional and international implications, with various countries and organizations involved in diplomatic efforts and supporting different sides. Challenges to Resolution Despite decades of negotiations, the Israel-Palestine conflict remains unresolved, requiring compromise, sustained dialogue, and international cooperation to achieve a lasting and just peace in the region. How War Started In October Unexpectedly, tensions between Israel and Palestine escalated significantly on October 7 when Hamas, a Palestinian militant group in control of the densely populated Gaza Strip along Israel's border, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. This attack tragically resulted in the deaths of at least 700 Israelis, and there are concerns that the death toll may rise further as reported. Israeli forces are currently engaged in confrontations with militants who have taken refuge in various locations. In response to this attack, Israel initiated retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, declaring a state of war against Hamas and pledging to dismantle the "military and governing capabilities" of the group's leadership in the enclave. Unfortunately, these retaliatory actions have led to the loss of more than 400 Palestinian lives. Israeli troops have been actively involved in efforts to dislodge Gaza gunmen from areas in southern Israel, while Palestinian militant groups claim to be holding over 130 Israeli captives. The situation remains fluid and volatile, with significant humanitarian and geopolitical implications. Tel Aviv: In response to the ''brazen and barbaric'' Hamas attack on Israel, Israel Defence Force (IDF) International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht likened the assault to their own "9/11" and affirmed that Israel would take necessary actions in retaliation. Hecht condemned the barbaric style of the attack, emphasizing the unprecedented targeting of civilians. He stated, "We are prepared to take whatever action is necessary. This is akin to our 9/11, targeting innocent civilians and disrupting daily life in the Gaza Strip. We will stand strong and overcome this." During a live video on X, the Israeli defence spokesperson asserted that the attack violated international law and the principles of Islam, and emphasized that Israel would respond severely. "We will respond with great severity to this attack. It blatantly violates international law and the principles of Islam, especially the harming of children. We are also closely monitoring the situation in the north, hoping for no further escalation. We are ready and resolute to overcome this," he added. Operational update with IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht. https://t.co/9d9JeiUYFG Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 8, 2023 Hecht also provided updates on the situation, highlighting Hamas's multi-faceted attacks on Israel. The attacks have resulted in an unfortunate toll on civilian lives, injuries, and hostage situations. So far, over 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2150 Israeli nationals have been injured in the ongoing war with Hamas. 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 'Colossal Intelligence Failure', Say Defence Experts The surprise and unprecedented multifront attack by air, land and sea by the Hamas militant group in southern Israel from the Gaza Strip is a result of a "colossal failure" of the country's intelligence agencies, according to media reports and experts. Militants from Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, fired more than 3,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Saturday morning, according to the Israeli military, while Hamas fighters entered southern Israel by land, sea and air, using paragliders and even captured several Israeli soldiers near the border. Israel has always prided itself on its intelligence agencies, Shin Bet, the domestic unit, and especially on Mossad, its external spy agency. However, more than 5,000 rockets were fired as dozens of Hamas fighters infiltrated the heavily fortified border in several locations by air, land and sea, catching the country off guard on Sukkot, a major Jewish holiday. All this happened despite Israel having one of the strongest militaries in the region, security cameras at the fortified border, personnel from both Shin Bet and Mossad in the field, state-of-the-art thermal imaging/motion sensors and even sophisticated border fencing. Some experts feel that Israel got so totally engrossed in countering Iran and in efforts to foil the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme that it has neglected its own backyard. Israeli ministers said the military must provide answers about the failure of its intelligence, in a security cabinet meeting held late on Saturday, YNetNews, a leading portal, said. Israeli Rockets Pound Gaza Strip In retaliation for the Hamas attack, the Israel Air Force conducted a powerful air strike in the Gaza Strip, targeting areas used by Hamas terrorists. The IDF pledged to continue acting against Hamas. The conflict escalated dramatically when Hamas launched a surprise attack, launching rockets into southern and central parts of Israel. The casualties continued to mount, with the death toll surpassing 300 and injuries exceeding 1,800, including several Israelis taken as hostages in Gaza. In response to the escalation, the Israeli security cabinet approved a "war situation" and significant military steps, as announced by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the historical support of Iran to Hamas but mentioned the lack of direct evidence linking Iran to this specific attack on Israel. The Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon, asserted that Iran supported the Hamas attack and supplied the group with ammunition, emphasizing that terrorists involved would face grave consequences. The death toll rose to over 400 people, with numerous soldiers and police among the casualties. No Direct Evidence Of Iran's Backing to Hamas: US Notably, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated 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." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier issued a stern warning to Hamas, asserting that they had started a terrible war, and the IDF would use all its strength to undermine their capacity. He expressed the heaviness of the day and the determination to overcome the challenge. "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 the midsize premium SUV, space has evolved in the recent past. It has seen the entry from German brands like Volkswagen and Skoda in the form of Tiguan and Kushaq. The latter has now received a generation change. Yes, the 2024 Skoda Kushaq is revealed internationally and is expected to reach our shores either by the end of this year or early next year. The Kushaq is the flagship product of the Czech carmaker in our market and rivals the likes of the Hyundai Tucson, Citroen C3 Aircross and more. Well, heres everything about the updated Skoda Kushaq. 2024 Skoda Kushaq - Design The all-new Kushaqs design is inspired by the Vision 7S concept. Therefore, it now carries a rather utilitarian and rugged appeal. Highlights of the new design include a new front bumper, redesigned alloy wheels, and a revamped D-pillar. Moreover, the wheel arches are now squared off, while the front end gets a full-width LED DRL, bringing in some Enyaq vibes to the overall design. As for dimensions, the new Skoda Kodiaq is 61 millimetres longer than before. 2024 Skoda Kushaq - Interior The design overhaul has also resulted in an increment in the overall boot volume by 70 litres. Similarly, the space on the inside has also increased by a fair margin, elevating higher leg room, shoulder room, and knee room for the occupants. The Kodiaq can seat seven occupants in total. The dashboard layout is also changed now, which now features a larger 13-inch free-standing touchscreen infotainment unit. However, the overall layout remains clean and cluttered. 2024 Skoda Kushaq - Specs The updated Kodiaq gets multiple powertrain choices - 1.5L TSI, 2.0L TSI, and 2.0L TDI. The 1.5L TSI motor can be had with either a mild-hybrid tech or a plug-in hybrid tech. Moreover, the bigger 2.0L engine can be had either with an FWD or AWD layout. New Delhi: The highly-anticipated drama 'Thank You For Coming' was released in the cinemas on October 6. The coming-of-age drama starring a bunch of talented female cast Bhumi Pednekar, Kushi Kapala, Shehzaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, and Shibani Bedi, deals with a bold subject, but the makers have delivered a fantastic film with a strong message. The film has met with favorable reception from the fans and the audiences and is touted as the most entertaining film. While the film is casting its magic in the audience's hearts, the screening of the film was held in Delhi by the team of 'Thank You For Coming'. The film screening at Delhi was attended by the leading ladies - Bhumi Pednekar and Dolly Singh, along with their family and close friends. After the screening, audience was seen hailing the film and the makers for projecting a sensitive topic in a way which can be watched by the youth. The reviews pouring out from every corner prove that the audiences love the film and are ready to accept the path-breaking content. The sex-comedy film has been directed by Karan Boolani and produced by Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor. It is written by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh, and premiered at the 46th 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in the Gala Presentations section on September 15, 2023. Upon its release, 'Thank You For Coming' collected 1.06 crore on the first day. The film has been struggling to bring footfalls to theatres. On Day 2 and 3, the film Rs 1.56 cr and Rs 1.67 crore, taking its total collection to Rs 4.29 crore. New Delhi: Dice Media announces the launch of its captivating romantic comedy Half Love, Half Arranged, offering a fresh perspective on love & arranged dating! Featuring the adorable duo of Maanvi Gagroo and Karan Wahi in the lead, the streaming service released the quirky trailer, giving audiences a glimpse into a wholesome blend of love, comedy, and a crazy circus of emotions one goes through while looking for the perfect match. The show takes us on a journey with a successful, millennial gynaecologist Riya Tanwar (Maanvi Gagroo) who has had a roadmap for her entire life - personal and professional. However, an unexpected turn of events lead her to get on a quest to find her Mr. Perfect through modern matchmaking. Half Love, Half Arranged is all set to embark on a quirky journey of blissful and beautiful love story exclusively on Amazon miniTV from 12th October for free. The trailer takes viewers through the life of Riya, who is all set to get proposed to by her long-term boyfriend, but situations take turns, and so do her relationships and life. Riya finds herself in the middle of insane arranged marriage matches and amusing dates, with a supportive yet quirky family in tow. As Riya tackles the bizarre questions and hilarious meet-ups, in walks a prince charming, who sweeps her off her feet and has her wondering if her simple road-map is what she wants to follow! Watch the trailer here: Talking about the series Karan Wahi said, Rom-coms have always been everyones favourite, lightening up their mood. With Half Love Half Arranged we are bringing in a unique perspective with a twist of traditional marriage and modern matchmaking. This light-hearted series is sure to give viewers jitters, with women relating to the character of Riya and the situations she gets stuck in. We have tried to address the untouched topic of arranged matchmaking in an Indian family with a flavour of comedy and love. I think the concept of Half love half arranged, is ideal right. You love someone and your families are on board! Just like many women, in Riyas life too, everyone, her family, relatives, astrologers, neighbours.. are trying to get her to settle down. The story revolves around bizarre & quirky scenarios, meet-ups with prospective groom, crazy questions, expectations from their families & the saga of finding the right match. Viewers will get a dose of romance, getting a glimpse of Riyas love life, filled with sweet, heartwarming moments., shared Maanvi Gagroo. Half Love Half Arranged will be available exclusively for streaming on Amazon mini TV on 12th October within the Amazon Shopping app and on Fire TV for free. TS Inter Admission 2023: The Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education will close registration for admission to the first year of the Intermediate programme today, October 9. Access for the school year 2023-24 is still open. "All the principals are instructed to take necessary action to admit the candidates into the Intermediate first year until the last date. This will ensure that eligible students are not deprived of the opportunity to pursue their higher education," said the board. Students who have passed their matriculation or 10th standard and want to enroll in intermediate courses at Telangana Junior Colleges can apply now. TS Inter Admission 2023: Steps to apply here 1. Visit the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education's official website at tsbie.cgg.gov.in. 2. On the homepage, click the 'Intermediate 1st Year Admissions 2023-24' option. 3. Candidates will be sent to another page where they must select the Mandal and District in which they wish to enrol. 4. A list of colleges will be provided on the screen. 5. Candidates can choose their favourite college from a list of options. 6. They must complete the application form and upload all required documentation. 7. Double-check the information and submit the form. 8. Print a copy of the confirmation page for future use. According to the circular, enrolling in a programme at a private junior college is possible after paying a Rs 1,000 late fee. All public and private colleges will admit students without charging a late fee to this course. The announcement further said that the final admittance date will not be extended. Every year on October 10, the World Mental Health Day is observed. According to the World Health Organization, "The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide." Mental Health has long being ignored globally, including India, and the stigma associated with mental health issues have often prevented people from seeking help. While things are slowly changing and there's greater acceptance of mental health problems, there's still a long way to go. Apart from stigma, lack of awareness play a significant role in hindering the treatment for depression and other mental health issues. A loss of a loved one - whether it's a death of a close member of the family or a dear friend, or a divorce or seperation from partner - can lead to depression that can be clinical. Dr Gorav Gupta, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Founder & Director Tulasi Healthcare, shares, "Suffering a loss, whether it's the death of a loved one or a separation from a partner, can be one of the most emotionally challenging experiences in life. During these times, prioritizing your mental health is essential for healing and moving forward." While time heals, you need to take active steps to help yourself feel better. World Mental Health Day 2023: How To Cope With Separation And Breavement Any kind of personal loss - death of a loved one or seperation from partner - can be immensely taxing on your mental health, which in turn can affect your physical health too. Dr Gorav Gupta shares 10 steps to help ensure your mental well-being after experiencing such a loss. Read on: 1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: It's crucial to recognise and accept the wide range of emotions that accompany grief sadness, anger, guilt, and even relief. These feelings are normal and part of the healing process. 2. Seek Support: Reach out to friends and family who can provide a listening ear and emotional support. Talking about your feelings can be therapeutic and help you feel less alone in your grief. 3. Professional Guidance: Consider seeking help from a mental health professional or counsellor experienced in dealing with grief. They can provide you with the tools and strategies to navigate your emotions effectively. 4. Self-Care: Pay attention to your physical health. Eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep are vital for maintaining your mental well-being. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. 5. Establish Routine: Create a daily schedule that gives you a sense of structure and purpose. This routine can help you maintain stability during turbulent times. 6. Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation and deep breathing exercises. These practices can help you manage stress and stay present in the moment. 7. Honouring Memories: Find meaningful ways to remember and honour your loved one. This could involve creating a memorial, starting a charitable project in their name, or simply cherishing the memories you shared. 8. Realistic Expectations: Understand that healing takes time, and there is no specific timeline for grief. Be patient with yourself and allow for moments of sadness and setbacks. 9. Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and understanding. Avoid self-criticism and negative self-talk. Remember, you are going through a challenging time, and self-compassion is essential. 10. Reconnect With Passions: Reengage with hobbies and interests that bring you joy. These activities can provide comfort and a sense of identity during times of loss. Mental Health: 'Seeking Help Is A Sign Of Strength, Not Weakness' Emphasising the importance of mental well-being as a crucial aspect of overall health, Dr Gorav Gupta shares, "Coping with the loss of a loved one or the end of a significant relationship is a deeply personal journey. The above-mentioned ten steps, when followed with patience and self-compassion, can help you prioritise your mental health during this challenging time. Remember that seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Healing from loss is a process, and with the right support and self-care, you can gradually find a path towards recovery and renewal." Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov will hold bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in Shusha, according to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Azernews reports. It was noted that the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organisation will be held in Shusha on 10 October under the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov will take part in the event. During the event, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov is expected to hold bilateral meetings with high-ranking foreign officials, as well as make a statement at a press conference. ANKARA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police have detained 148 suspected drug traffickers in anti-narcotics operations across 21 provinces, the country's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Monday. The simultaneous raids were carried out in provinces including Istanbul, Bursa, Sivas, Bolu, Kahramanmaras, Osmaniye, Igdir, Usak, Mugla, etc., Yerlikaya said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Among the seized were 300 kg of methamphetamine, 126 kg of skunk, 10,500 pills, 900 kg of marijuana and methamphetamine, and a substantial amount of other drugs, he added. The minister vowed to continue relentless efforts to counter drug-related crimes in the country. Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Turkiye has been grappling with international drug smuggling for many years. Turkish security forces frequently launch operations against drug dealers as part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug use and trafficking. Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau engaged in discussions regarding the India-Canada diplomatic standoff with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, emphasizing the significance of upholding the "rule of law." During their telephone conversation on Monday, they also addressed the current situation in Israel, expressing mutual concern about safeguarding civilian lives. "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," Trudeau shared on X. "We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding - and respecting - the rule of law," he added in his post. 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. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) October 8, 2023 In a call with Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau, UK PM Rishi Sunak urged de-escalation of the India-Canada dispute. The call took place on Friday evening, where Sunak was updated on the situation concerning Canadian diplomats in India, as per a Downing Street statement. "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," the statement mentioned. Sunak reaffirmed the UK's stance that all countries should honour sovereignty and the rule of law, aligning with the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Trudeau also provided updates on the situation involving Canadian diplomats in India. Diplomatic relations between India and Canada soured after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat, accusing India of involvement in the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. In response, India swiftly denied any involvement and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Amid escalating tensions, India urged for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India. Addressing reports indicating India's request for the removal of 41 out of 62 Canadian diplomats in the country, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that Canadian diplomatic presence is significantly higher in India, and they seek "parity" in their respective diplomatic presence. "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," mentioned MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. The Election Commission of India has announced the date for Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023. The state is currently governed by the Congress and is being led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The BJP is the key opposition party in the state. Chhattisgarh assembly has a total of 90 seats and the majority mark is 46 seats. There are 10 seats reserved for SCs and 29 seats reserved for STs. The Congress had won 71 seats in the last assembly election while the BJP had bagged just 15 seats. While CM Baghel's popularity will be a key for the Congress in the election, the BJP is likely to bet big on the Modi Magic the wrestle back the state from the Congress party. According to the election commission of India, Chhattisgarh has a total of 2,03,80,079 voters including 2,03,60,240 general voters and 19,839 service voters. There are a total of 2,63,829 young voters aged beween 18-19. There are 1,86,215 voters who are 80 plus and the state has 1,60,955 PwD voters. There shall be maximum 1500 electors in a polling station. In Chhattisgarh, the number of polling booths has been increased to 24,109 compared to 23,677 in 2018. Chhattisgarh Election 2023 Date, Time The elections in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases in November. The voting fot the first phase will be held on November 7 and the second phase will take place on November 17. The voting time is likely to be between 7 am to 5 pm. Chhattisgarh Election 2023 Results The polls for the 90 assembly seats are likely to be held in November and the results will be out in December 3 along with other poll-bound states. Chhattisgarh Election 2023 Full Schedule Chhattisgarh Election 2023 First Phase Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: October 13 Start of nomination: October 13 Last Date of making nominations: October 20 Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: October 21 Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: October 23 Date of Poll: November 7 Date of Counting: December 3 Date before which election shall be completed: December 5 Chhattisgarh Election 2023 Second Phase Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: October 21 aStart of nomination: October 21 Last Date of making nominations: October 30 Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: October 31 Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 2 Date of Poll: November 17 Date of Counting: December 3 Date before which election shall be completed: December 5 Five states are going to the polls in November this year - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. The results of these state assembly elections will be crucial given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term. The results are likely to be the true semi-finals in the run-up to the parliamentary polls next year. The Election Commission of India has declared the poll dates for Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2023 today. The state is currently under the BJP rule led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress, which won the polls in 2018 ending the 15-year-old BJP regime had to cede power to the saffron party following a defection led by Jyotiraditya Scindia in 2020. Ahead of the poll date announcement, Chief Minister Chouhan has made several welfare announcements for the people to woo the voters. On the other hand, the Congress is betting big on its five poll promises that include cheaper LPG and monthly financial assistance for women. Madhya Pradesh assembly has 230 seats. After the defection, the BJP has a total of 128 seats while the Congress has 98 seats. Madhya Pradesh has a total of 5,61,36,229 voters including 2,03,60,240 general voters, 19,839 service voters, 11,29,513 young voters aged between 18-19, a total of 5,05,146 PwD voters, and 6,53,640 senior citizens aged over 80. There shall be maximum 1500 electors in a polling station. In Madhya Pradesh, the number of polling booths has been reduced to 64,523 compared to 65,367 in 2018. Madhya Pradesh Election 2023 Date, Time The elections for the Madhya Pradesh assembly will take place in a single phase. The voting will be held on November 17. The voting time is likely to be between 7 am to 6 pm. Madhya Pradesh Election 2023 Results The polls for the 230 seats will be held November and the results will be out on December 3. MP Election 2023 Full Schedule Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: October 21 Start of nomination: October 21 Last Date of making nominations: October 30 Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: October 31 Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 2 Date of Poll: November 17 Date of Counting: December 3 Date before which election shall be completed: December 5 MP Election 2023 Opinion Poll The opinion polls in the state have predicted a close contest between the ruling BJP and the Congress. While the BJP is likely to go with Chouhan as CM, Congress leader and former CM Kamal Nath will look to dethrone the saffron party once again. Five states are going to the polls in November this year - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. The results of these state assembly elections will be crucial given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term. The results are likely to be the true semi-finals in the run-up to the parliamentary polls next year. The Election Commission of India has announced the date for Telangana Assembly Election 2023. The state is under the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly Telangana Rashtra Samithi). The Congress is the key opposition party while the BJP is looking to establish itself as one of the key parties in the state. The election will be a test for K Chandrashekar Rao who will be seeking a third straight term. Since the formation of the state in 2024, the BRS has been ruling Telangana. Telangana assembly has a total of 119 seats and the majority mark is 60 seats. The BRS has 99 seats in the assembly while the Congress has seven MLAs. Telangana has a total of 3,17,32,727 voters including 3,17,17,389 general voters, 15,338 service voters, 5,32,990 young voters, 5,06,493 PwD voters and 4,43,943 senior citizens aged over 80. There shall be maximum 1500 electors in a polling station. In Telangana, the number of polling booths has increased to 35,356 compared to 32,812 in 2018. Telangana Election 2023 Date, Time The elections in Telangana will take place in a single phase with the nominations starting from November 3. The voting for the state elections will take place on November 30. The voting time is likely to be between 7 am to 6 pm. Telangana Election 2023 Results The polls for the 199 seats will be held towards the end of November and the results will be out on December 3. Telangana Election 2023 Full Schedule Date of Issue of Gazette Notification: November 3 aStart of nomination: November 3 Last Date of making nominations: November 10 Date for Scrutiny of Nominations: November 13 Last date for the withdrawal of candidatures: November 15 Date of Poll: November 30 Date of Counting: December 3 Date before which election shall be completed: December 5 Five states are going to the polls in November this year - Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram. The results of these state assembly elections will be crucial given the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term. The results are likely to be the true semi-finals in the run-up to the parliamentary polls next year. On Monday, the Palestinian organization Hamas issued a threat, stating that if the Israeli army conducted airstrikes in the Gaza Strip without giving prior notice to the residents, they would endanger the lives of hostages. The Ezzedine al-Qassem Brigades, the armed branch of Hamas, conveyed in an official statement that they would retaliate to any attack on their people without warning by executing a civilian hostage. The statement emphasized their belief that the opposing side does not comprehend the principles of humanity and ethics. The threat from the Hamas group comes amid frequent air strikes launched by the Israeli Air Force and Israel Defence Force. So far, around 1300 people have been killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Around one thousand Israelis have died so far in the attack that Hamas launched on Saturday, out of which more than four hundred deaths occurred within about four hours of the attack itself. Many foreigners are also among the people taken hostage by Hamas fighters. 12 citizens of Thailand, 4 citizens of America, and one citizen each of France and Mexico have died in these attacks. Hamas had claimed that it has taken more than a hundred people hostage, including Israeli citizens as well as Israeli soldiers. Even today, while the Hamas launched a barrage of rockets on Israel, the IDF also pounded the Gaza strip and demolished several buildings being used by Hamas to launch the terror operation. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that the Israeli retaliation has just begun, and Hamas will go through many tough and terrible things. The Israel Defense Forces' top spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that Israeli troops have regained control of all towns on the Gaza border. The situation in Israel continues to remain tense with sirens blaring every now and then and people rushing to bunkers for their safety. Zee News has reached ground zero with Vishal Pandey reporting from Israel's Ashkelon. Some rockets fell in Ashkelon city as well. While Israeli Defence Forces has continued to pound Hamas targets in Gaza, Hamas has also been responding to Israel's counter-offensive. Around 1,200 people have lost their lives in the attack so far. According to Israeli local media cited by The Times of Israel, more than 700 Israelis have died since Saturday's attack. According to Israeli government, over 2000 people have been injured in the attack. Meanwhile, Iran warned Israel that if any attack takes place inside its territory, then the outcome will be bad for Israel. Hamas has claimed that Iran supported it in attacking Israel. With over 1.6 million U.S. dollars worth of trade conducted on average every minute, China and the EU, who are each other's second-largest trading partners in 2022, have forged deeper ties with thriving maritime trade routes. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Chen Yi, professor at the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Zhou Long, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer, Zhou Juan, a student of musical arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City, Jindong Cai, artistic director of the sixth season of the China Now Music Festival, Chen Bing, professor in the Conducting Department at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM) and Liu Xiaojing, pipa virtuoso from the Central Conservatory of Music (from L to R) bow at Jazz at Lincoln Center's in New York, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) by Yueer Lin, Yang Shilong NEW YORK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China. Titled "The Orchestra Now Celebrates the Music of Chen Yi and Zhou Long," the concert featured major symphonic works by this legendary couple, two of the most influential Chinese-American composers and their renowned teacher at Columbia University, Chou Wen-chung, who passed away at the age of 96 in 2019. With the addition of two pieces by their young students -- Zhou Juan, a student of musical arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City and Li Shaosheng, a composer in residence at the China National Symphony Orchestra and Guangxi Symphony Orchestra, the program linked three generations of composers to highlight the generational musical bridge that Chen and Zhou have built between the United States and China. Chen Yi and Zhou Long, both born in 1953, embarked on their musical odysseus during the 1980s at Columbia University under the tutelage of composer Chou Wen-chung, whose compositions, characterized by their deep connections to both Eastern and Western traditions, left an indelible mark on Chen and Zhou. Inspired by their mentor's fascination with exploring the intersection of diverse musical cultures, Chen and Zhou have, over the decades, seamlessly blended their cultural heritage with contemporary compositional techniques, spawning a unique and captivating musical language that resonates across borders. The concert was presented by The Orchestra Now, a graduate-level training orchestra based at Bard College, conducted by Jindong Cai, artistic director of the festival, and Chen Bing, a professor in the Conducting Department at the Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM). Before the performance, Cai, also director of the U.S.-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, observed: "Music is a reflection of society. We want our own stories and music to be heard. We want our own culture and history to be shared with the rest of the world through music." This sentiment eloquently encapsulated the spirit of the event, as the audience thronging the theater embarked on a transcendent musical journey. The celebration also extended beyond the realm of music, marking a pivotal moment in the history of cultural exchange between the United States and China. "Today, we also celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Philadelphia Orchestra's first visit to China in 1973 as the first American orchestra to perform in China under the conduct of Eugene Ormandy," said Cai. Since that historic visit, The Philadelphia Orchestra has made 11 visits to China, with its latest in 2019. The orchestra's unwavering commitment to connecting people through the universal language of music has fostered profound and lasting connections with the Chinese people, transcending concert halls, educational institutions, and municipal settings. In between the performances, the audience was treated to the announcement by Yu HongMei, CCOM's professor and director of the Chinese Music Department, of Chen Yi's prestigious recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus, a testament to her outstanding contributions to the world of music. The concert concluded on a heartwarming note, as The Orchestra Now band serenaded the audience with a rendition of "Happy Birthday," celebrating Chen and Zhou's 70th birthday, a fitting tribute to the artists whose music has struck a chord with people around the world. The China Now Music Festival is a joint endeavor by Bard College's U.S.-China Music Institute and the Central Conservatory of Music in China. Since its inception in 2018, it has been dedicated to building a cultural bridge between the United States and China through music. Each year, it hosts a series of thematic concerts and lectures, presenting exhilarating contemporary Chinese musical works. Previous editions of the festival have attracted over 10,000 live attendees, with nearly 80,000 participating in online events. Members of The Orchestra Now perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Musicians perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) Musicians perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the United States, Oct. 8, 2023. The sixth season of the China Now Music Festival culminated in a grand finale on Sunday in a spellbinding concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, paying homage to three generations of composers bridging the United States and China. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) MOGADISHU, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Elite forces of the Somali National Army, backed by international partners, killed 20 al-Shabab militants in an overnight operation in the southern Mudug region, in central Somalia, officials said Monday. The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said the operation targeted al-Shabab militants at their hideout in Shabellow forest. "The joint forces' aim was to destroy battle wagons used by the terrorists, military consignment, food, medicine and disable their network, which were completely destroyed," the ministry said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The ministry said the troops killed more than 100 al-Shabab militants last week in one of the deadliest fighting of a year-long operation to flush out the militants who have engaged government forces in near-daily attacks. Al-Shabab did not comment on the latest onslaught by government forces. The campaign to regain control of the country comes after Mogadishu requested the United Nations Security Council to delay the ongoing troop drawdown from Somalia. Under the current schedule, some 3,000 troops of the African Transition Mission in Somalia were to leave the country at the end of September, in a continuing withdrawal meant to last until December 2024. Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the bipartisan delegation of the U.S. Senate led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the Great Hall of the People on Monday. Xi underlined that the China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. How China and the United States get along will determine the future of humanity. Competition and confrontation is not consistent with the trend of the times. Still less can it fix one's own problems and address the challenges facing the world. China maintains that the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the United States is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to each other, Xi said. He said the "Thucydides Trap" is not inevitable, and Planet Earth is vast enough to accommodate the respective development and common prosperity of China and the United States. Given the high degree of integration between the Chinese and U.S. economies and their closely entwined interests, both countries stand to benefit from each other's development. Xi said a post-pandemic global recovery, meeting the climate challenge and resolving international and regional hotspots all require China-U.S. coordination and cooperation. As two major countries, China and the United States should demonstrate the broad-mindedness, vision and readiness to rise to the occasion expected by the international community, and act with a sense of responsibility to history, to the people and to the world. The two countries should properly handle their relations, respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation. They should work to increase the well-being of the two peoples, and contribute to human progress and world peace and development, Xi said. Xi pointed out that the Chinese civilization has been developing uninterrupted for more than 5,000 years. It has all along striven to stay abreast with the times, learned from others in the spirit of inclusiveness, and kept to a philosophy of peace that highlights cooperation and exchanges. China has achieved the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, ended absolute poverty once and for all, and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects. These achievements are possible because the country has found a development path that suits its national conditions, meets the people's expectations and has the people's support, according to Xi. He said China will keep to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and advance Chinese modernization on all fronts. It will stay committed to peaceful development and work with all countries across the world to build a community with a shared future for mankind. "China welcomes the visits of more U.S. Congress members to gain a better understanding of China's past, present and future," Xi said, adding that it is hoped that the two legislatures will have more interactions, dialogues and exchanges to increase mutual understanding and make a positive contribution to the stabilization and improvement of the China-U.S. relationship. Senator Schumer and other members of the delegation expressed their delight to visit the beautiful country of China and their appreciation to the Chinese side for its hospitality, saying that during the visit, they have felt the vigor and potential of China's development. They shared their views and suggestions on relevant issues in China-U.S. relations, noting that a stable U.S.-China relationship is of vital importance not only to the two countries, but also to world peace and development. They said China's development and prosperity is good for the American people. The U.S. side does not seek a conflict with China, nor does it seek to decouple. The United States is willing to enhance dialogue and communication with China in an open and candid manner based on mutual respect, responsibly manage the bilateral relationship, and stabilize and strengthen U.S.-China relations. The U.S. side looks forward to strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation with China, and increasing communication and cooperation on such issues as climate change, drug trafficking and regional conflicts, they said. Wang Yi was present at the meeting. HONG KONG, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's talent-related initiatives have received enthusiastic response since implementation, with over 100,000 talent admission applications approved by the end of September, an official said Monday. Approximately 60,000 approved talent visa holders have arrived in Hong Kong, surpassing the target of bringing in at least 35,000 talents annually, Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, told a forum. Hong Kong is willing to work hand in hand with other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), strengthening collaborative efforts in talent development, and contributing to the development of the GBA and the nation, he said. As of the end of September, Hong Kong's various talent attraction programs received approximately 160,000 applications, of which about one-third were applications for the "Top Talent Pass Scheme." The scheme seeks to attract top talents with rich work experience and good academic qualifications from all over the world to explore opportunities in Hong Kong. These top talents include high-income talents and graduates from the world's top universities. Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the HKSAR government proactively trawls for talent to create a strong impetus for Hong Kong's growth. A series of talent attraction measures announced in the Policy Address has been implemented since Dec. 28, 2022. They include introducing the top talent scheme as well as enhancing existing talent admission schemes. Palestinians check a damaged street following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Oct. 8, 2023. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The U.S. government was "in close contact with the government of Israel as they continue to conduct security operations to locate missing U.S. citizens." WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The White House confirmed Monday that nine U.S. citizens were killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. "At this time, we can confirm the death of nine U.S. citizens. We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and to the families of all those affected, and wish those injured a speedy recovery," a spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a statement. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed the casualties, telling CNN that the government was "in close contact with the government of Israel as they continue to conduct security operations to locate missing U.S. citizens." JERUSALEM, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Israeli military confirmed Monday that several suspects have infiltrated into the northern region from Lebanon, urging local residents to remain at home. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that troops continued scanning the area. It added that the gunmen who breached the north border have been killed. Earlier in the day, air raid sirens were activated in the border area with Lebanon amid artillery shelling and gunshots, according to Israeli media. BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sun Shutao, a former senior political advisor of east China's Shandong Province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws, the country's top anti-graft body said Monday. The decision came following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision upon the approval of the CPC Central Committee. Sun was a member of the leading Party members group of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice chairperson of the committee. He is found to have lost his ideals and convictions, betrayed his original aspirations and mission, deceived the Party, and rejected investigations into his problems, according to an official statement. He is also found to have violated an eight-point code aimed at improving Party and government conduct, accepting money and shopping cards, as well as arrangements for banquets and care retreats that could have compromised his impartiality in performing his duties. Sun is alleged to have sought gains for others in the selection and promotion of officials, obtained high financial returns through private enterprises, and abused his power to benefit his relatives in their business operations. Sun fabricated economic data to glorify his performance, traded power for money, took advantage of his positions to seek gains for others in business operations and job promotion, and accepted a large amount of money and gifts in return, according to the statement. These actions have gravely breached Party discipline and constitute serious duty-related crimes, the anti-graft body said, adding that Sun is also suspected of criminal offenses of accepting bribes. In line with Party regulations and laws, a decision has been made to expel Sun from the Party, remove him from public office, terminate his qualification as a delegate to the CPC Shandong provincial congress, and confiscate his illicit gains. The case will be referred to the procuratorate for criminal investigation and prosecution, according to the anti-graft body. ISLAMABAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- One terrorist was killed by security forces during a clash with terrorists in North Waziristan district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday night. An intense exchange of fire between troops and terrorists took place on Saturday in Razmak area of the district, resulting in the killing of a terrorist, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the killed terrorist who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and killing of innocent civilians, the statement said. Sanitization of the area has been carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, according to the ISPR. 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. ULAN BATOR, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- An expo on Chinese language study and seeking a career in Chinese enterprises was held here in the Mongolian capital on Sunday. The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) Study in China Education and Career Expo 2023 was sponsored by the Chinese Testing International Co., Ltd. and organized by the Confucius Institute at the National University of Mongolia. China and Mongolia are each other's comprehensive strategic partner, and educational cooperation between the two countries is an important part of China-Mongolia relations, Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan said at the opening ceremony. "Chinese is one of the most popular foreign language courses in Mongolia. China has a tradition of emphasizing teaching and learning since ancient times," Shen said. "China has developed into an important destination for studying abroad in the world and a hot spot for young people to find jobs and start businesses," she added. "Everyone is welcomed to go to China to start a new exciting journey, become a bridge of friendship between China and Mongolia, and let more Mongolian people understand and love China," Shen said. More than 20 Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University and Peking University, introduced their curricula, scholarships and admission policies to students and parents at the event, and answered questions from students and parents regarding their concerns. In addition, 15 Chinese enterprises in Mongolia, including HSK MOCK, China Gezhouba Group, Huawei, ZTE and SF Express, attended the event, offering their job vacancies. Over 2,000 people including Chinese-speaking students and job seekers participated in the expo. "I think without doubt, all the countries that have partnership into this BRI, both sides have benefited from it." Ambassadors to China attending a forum in China's Tibet spoke positively about the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service CAIRO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday discussed the recent developments in Palestine amid the current rising tensions in the Gaza Strip, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. In a phone call, the two leaders also discussed efforts to stop the ongoing military escalation. "They agreed on intensifying consultations and pushing forward diplomatic efforts to alleviate violence and escalation to protect civilians and prevent bloodshed, and to initiate a path for achieving comprehensive and just peace to guarantee regional stability and security," the statement added. On Saturday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which controls Gaza, showered Israel with thousands of rockets in a massive surprise attack that was responded to with heavy Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and punitive measures, including power outages. At least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Monday. Israel's cabinet has declared a "state of war" as the Israeli death toll from the Hamas attack has climbed to 800. BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The State Council Information Office of China will release a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" at 10 a.m. Tuesday and hold a press conference. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in Hunan province, boasts more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, all clad in lush vegetation. Having committed himself to the same territory since 1994, 55-year-old Peng Shiwen has become very familiar with the terrain he safeguards. As a ranger of the State-owned Zhangjiajie forest farm in Hunan province, his daily routine includes patrolling the secluded wood-covered mountains and staying vigilant for signs of fire. "After all these years, I've grown accustomed to my simple life in the forest farm and formed a deep emotional connection with it. I consider the forest ranger station as my home and green mountains and woods as my companions," he says. Peng recalls that in the past, he had to communicate with other rangers with a walkie-talkie or face-to-face, but nowadays, thanks to new technology, they're able to use smartphones and update their patrol trails and work logs in an app. "Our working conditions are much better, with tools such as drones that patrol specific areas regularly and plan routes. We do manual patrol every day and focus on forest fire prevention and safeguarding against pine wilt disease," he says. The forest farm is part of the Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1992. It meets the criteria for the assessment of outstanding universal value "containing superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance". A spectacular area stretching over 26,000 hectares, the site is dominated by more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 200 meters high. In addition to the striking beauty of the landscape, the region is also noted for the fact that it is home to a number of endangered plant and animal species. Li Wei, an official from the administrative bureau of Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area, says they're using a forest-fire early warning system, with high-altitude thermal imaging cameras to identify smoke or fire and a 24/7 control center to quickly respond to any emergencies. To protect against pine wilt disease, they regularly clear dead pine trees to eliminate the threat of the epidemic. "Each forest ranger is in charge of patrols of a specific region. The tradition of forest protection has been passed down through the generations. Our careful protection has achieved positive results, with good quality water and air, and conservation of wild flora and fauna," Li says. Heritage preservation In January 2001, the Hunan provincial authorities implemented the regulations for the protection of Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage Site, which have been revised several times. Ecological migration and relocation in scenic areas have always been the primary challenges in the coordinated protection and development of the Wulingyuan area. Between 1999 and 2001, Wulingyuan initiated two large-scale ecological migration and relocation projects, moving residents from the core scenic area and demolishing a total of 235,000 square meters of buildings and structures. In May 2017, the local government issued an announcement for the third project, which is still ongoing, involving 3,087 residents and 185,100 sq m of housing. "Wulingyuan has attached great importance to heritage conservation," says Hu Xinhua, former director of the protection office of Wulingyuan World Natural Heritage property. "We've demolished buildings in the scenic area that violated the regulations or had a negative impact on the intrinsic value of natural heritage." The government has also relocated noncompliant reception facilities out of the core scenic area, as well as the people involved. Now, there are no overnight services in the core area. According to Hu, if there are construction projects, all building materials must be approved before entering the core region. "We've put in significant efforts to protect heritage resources in Wulingyuan. Thanks to years of preservation, the lush and green hills clothed in wild profusions of vegetation are more beautiful," he says. He says that as heritage preservation is an ongoing effort, it's necessary to improve the organizational structure to ensure a long-lasting national mechanism for sustained efficiency. He calls for more financial support from the central government because it's not easy for the local government to balance heritage preservation and economic development. They sometimes have to rely on future development to provide the funds needed for protection, but the investment in protection is high. Hu also suggests that education about the uniqueness of Wulingyuan should start from kindergarten, exerting an invisible, formative influence on local younger generation. It will raise their awareness of protecting the natural environment and resources. "Tour guides play a crucial role as ambassadors for Wulingyuan, and they should promote the heritage value. For example, they can improve their knowledge via training, and incorporate more heritage-related content to tour guide speeches, ensuring that visitors have an overall understanding of Wulingyuan," he says. The International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Heritage Outlook assessed Wulingyuan as of "significant concern" in 2014, noting that its outstanding universal value was threatened by the development of tourism facilities, roads, and increased visitation. Since then, Wulingyuan started to put more efforts into prioritizing preservation, and in 2020, the IUCN World Heritage Outlook assessed it as "good with some concerns". Xiao Shizhen, professor at the School of Geography and Environmental Science, Guizhou Normal University, says that Wulingyuan's protection is a tortuous progress and it now embraces the idea of focusing on conservation and sustainable development. According to Xiao, this transformation was achieved through the collaborative efforts of relevant management authorities, expert teams, as well as various local departments and enterprises. "Now management is highly effective and continues to see improvement. The awareness of protection has been elevated greatly among all the teams, including local government and managing authorities. We see that the heritage value of Wulingyuan is well-preserved, with its integrity well-maintained," she says. "Success in heritage declaration doesn't mean we can engage in development or other activities without restrictions." Since 2015, Xiao and her team have written Wulingyuan's state of conservation reports to the World Heritage Committee, providing responses to concerns in a scientific and rational manner. She analyzed the actual situation, proposed resolutions and offered recommendations on how to implement them. She stated in the reports that the infrastructure facilities, such as cable cars and an elevator in the scenic area, have brought positive impacts despite some negative influences on the aesthetic landscape. "Tourists can enter and exit more quickly, improving the efficiency of sightseeing, so they no longer need to stay longer on the mountains. As more tourists can now appreciate the mountains' scenery, it has promoted the development of the tourism industry," she says. She adds that it's also good for fire prevention and handling tourist emergencies. Achieving balance "The current stage of heritage preservation and tourism development in Wulingyuan is in a positive cycle of growth," says professor Zhang Chaozhi from the School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. "To balance heritage preservation and tourism development, it's essential to figure out where the equilibrium between preservation and development lies," he says. "If we must provide a simplified answer, it involves respecting the traditional livelihood needs of the local community and balancing local socio-economic development and the preservation of natural heritage integrity." Zhang says the most pivotal approach is to develop a tourism industry that's compatible with heritage conservation. He also emphasizes that not every mode of tourism development, every form of tourism, or every category of visitor, can help balance tourism growth and heritage conservation. He says that heritage preservation and tourism development reinforce each other, creating a mutually beneficial loop. On one side, preserving heritage improves scenic areas greatly, such as reducing unauthorized constructions and enhancing infrastructure and the environment, thereby creating a better experience for visitors. On the other side, tourism development brings in revenue that can support the government in environmental improvement, land expropriation and demolition, and sewage treatment. "The success of managing a heritage site largely depends on how well the conflicts between the community's livelihood development and heritage protection are handled," Zhang says. He explains that in heritage tourism development, the community has a vital role local residents are not only the inheritors of heritage value, but they also bear the impact of heritage preservation on their livelihoods, and actively participate in tourism industry. In later stages, as the community seeks to expand facilities due to high demand for tourism, conflicts may arise with heritage preservation efforts. Many heritage sites in China are popular tourist spots. While welcoming visitors, they follow stricter protective measures than other places, setting benchmarks in tourism. MOGADISHU, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said its troops held a meeting with security committee officials in Jubaland State to strategize on how to ensure the safety and welfare of the local community. The AU mission said the meeting, which was held over the weekend, also discussed the threat posed by the al-Shabab and how to counter the militant group's activities in the area that borders Kenya. "We need to ensure the Forward Operating Bases (military bases) occupied by the Somali security forces are well establishing a robust security infrastructure," said William Kamoiro, the ATMIS Sector Two commander, in a statement issued Sunday evening in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. Kamoiro said such reinforcements will provide a solid foundation to effectively counter any potential security threats. During the meeting, the ATMIS and local security committee officials also agreed to form a task force that will be entrusted with the responsibility of developing a comprehensive plan to mitigate the effects of the much anticipated El Nino rains beginning in October. "Planning for contingencies such as adverse weather conditions is essential to ensuring the wellbeing and safety of the local population and the security forces," Kamoiro noted. The initiative is in line with the ATMIS strategic objective of supporting the Somali security forces to jointly hold priority population centers and provide protection for the local communities. Sector Two, which has its headquarters in Dhobley town along the Somalia-Kenya border, is under the Area of Responsibility of ATMIS Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) troops. The local security committee officials commended ATMIS troops for their role in supporting the Somali security forces to safeguard the area despite persistent threats from al-Shabab militants. "Public security in Dhobley district is good; our forces are engaged in joint operations to deter any attempts by al-Shabab to disrupt the peace and security of our people," said Mohamed Heybe Muhumad, the commander of the Somali security forces in Dhobley. YAOUNDE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed in a landslide on Sunday night in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, local authorities said Monday. Persistent downpour loosened the earth on a hillside above Mbankolo neighborhood of Yaounde, burying the victims as they slept in their houses below, the region's governor, Naseri Paul Bea, told reporters. "As of now, the bodies are still under the ground," Bea said. Rescue operations were underway and the death toll could increase, according to firefighters at the site. Yaounde is one of the wettest cities in Africa, with dozens of steep hills. Heavy rains have triggered several devastating floods throughout the country this year. ISLAMABAD, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Pakistani soldiers and five terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based military operation in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, the military said in a statement. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said Monday that the operation was conducted in Zhob district of the province to clear a hideout of terrorists. During the conduct of the operation, terrorists were surrounded and after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed, the ISPR statement said, adding that in the ensuing exchange of fire, two army personnel including a senior officer, who was leading the operation from the front, were killed. Sanitization of the surrounding areas is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area, it added. The Pakistani military said that the sacrifices of soldiers further strengthened the nation's resolve to uproot the menace of terrorism from the country. TOKYO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Four people on Monday were attacked by a bear in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Akita, with another one tripped when fleeing the scene, according to local authorities. The four victims in their 60s to 80s, living in a residential area along the Omono River in the prefecture's capital city of Akita, were attacked by a bear and taken to the hospital at around 9 a.m. local time, according to the local police. All the victims were conscious and able to talk when they were transported, said local media reports, adding that a man in his 80s who saw a bear and fell as he tried to run away also sustained injuries. The whereabouts of the animal are currently unknown. Akita Prefecture has seen a higher-than-usual number of bear sightings this year, with a record 30 people injured in attacks, national news agency Kyodo reported on Monday, citing the police. Also on Monday, an 84-year-old man and a 79-year-old woman were separately attacked by bears in central Japan's Kanazawa and Toyama, suffering non-life-threatening injuries. From April to July this year, a record number of bear attacks occurred across Japan and 53 cases of injuries were reported, the highest since records began in fiscal 2007, statistics from Japan's environment ministry showed. VIENTIANE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have signed an agreement to provide technical support to the National Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Secretariat. The key objective is to further enhance multi-stakeholder engagement at national and provincial levels for SDG localization, monitoring and reporting in Laos, Lao News Agency reported on Monday. The support draws on the capacity of FAO as the custodian U.N. agency for 21 SDG indicators and is a major contributor to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 14 (Life below Water) and 15 (Life on Land). Achieving SDGs requires a paradigm shift in working together and drives transformational changes. "The support that FAO provides, together with wider U.N. system, to the National SDG Secretariat is strategic. It helps bring together not only stakeholders at the national and sectoral levels but also provincial authorities and local communities to accelerate progress toward the SDGs", Director General of Department of International Organization under the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Daovy Vongxay, said recently. To achieve this, it is crucial to clearly define roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, while strengthening their capacities and providing them with appropriate information and tools, Vongxay said. According to the report, the FAO is committed to greater collaboration and deeper partnerships between governments, civil society, the private sector, U.N. agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that all the sectors have knowledge and skills required to contribute to the achievement of SDGs. Finland and Estonia said Sunday that the undersea Balticconnector gas pipeline running between the two countries across the Baltic Sea was temporarily taken out of service due to a suspected leak. Gasgrid Finland and Elering, the Finnish and Estonian gas system operators, said they noted an unusual drop in pressure in the pipeline shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, after which they shut down the gas flow. Based on observations, it was suspected that the offshore pipeline between Finland and Estonia was leaking, Gasgrid Finland said in a statement. The valves in the offshore pipeline are now closed and the leak is thus stopped. The Finnish operator gave no reason for the suspected leak and said it was investigating together with Elering. In September 2022, the Nord Stream gas pipelines running between Germany and Russia in the Baltic Sea were hit by explosions in an incident deemed to be a sabotage. A total of four gas leaks were discovered on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. The case remains unsolved. Gasgrid Finland said the Finnish gas system is stable and the supply of gas has been secured through the Inkoo floating LNG terminal, referring to the offshore support vessel Exemplar a floating liquefied natural gas terminal at the southern Finnish port of Inkoo. Elering said the accident did not affect the gas supply to Estonian consumers. After the shutdown of Balticconnector, gas for Estonian consumers was coming from Latvia, it said. The pipeline is bi-directional, transferring natural gas between Finland and Estonia depending on demand and supply. Most of the gas that was flowing in the pipeline early Sunday before closure was going from Finland to Estonia from where it was forwarded to Latvia, Elering said. The length of the offshore part of the Balticconnector running from Inkoo to the Estonian port of Paldiski is 77 kilometres (48 miles) long. The pipeline started commercial operations at the beginning of 2020. Kai Mykknen, Finland's minister of climate and the environment, said the state of the Nordic country's gas system remains stable despite the disruption of the pipeline that enables gas deliveries from Finland to the three Baltic states - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania - and vice versa. The failure of the Balticconnector does not cause immediate problems for the security of energy supply. The causes of the pipe damage are being investigated and further actions will depend on them, he said in a statement. Finland and Estonia are both European Union and NATO members that border Russia and stopped importing Russian oil and gas since 2022, as part of sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. COLOMBO, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka will remove import restrictions on all items except vehicles effective from Monday night, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said on Monday. The minister told the media that the gazette notification in this regard would be issued on Monday night. The government said in September that Sri Lanka would relax restrictions imposed on imported goods except vehicles in October to help price stabilization. The Sri Lankan government restricted the import of 1,465 items in August 2022 due to an economic crisis but lifted restrictions on most of those items on several separate occasions. Official data show that Sri Lanka's total import expenditure in 2022 amounted to over 18 billion U.S. dollars, recording a decline of 11.4 percent from 2021. BRUSSELS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Following the legislative elections on Oct. 8, Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri received Xavier Bettel, prime minister and minister of state, in an audience on Monday. Bettel presented the government's resignation, according to a statement from the Grand Ducal Court. Bettel, who has been the prime minister since Dec. 4, 2013, announced the resignation of his government due to the election results. This decision came in the wake of the decline of the Greens, who went from nine to five seats, leaving Bettel's liberal, socialist, and ecological coalition without a sufficient parliamentary majority. Subsequently, the Luxembourg Head of State consulted with Fernand Etgen, president of the Chamber of Deputies, and Christophe Schiltz, president of the Council of State, to discuss the next steps. Sunday's legislative elections also made it impossible to renew the previous coalition, as they now only have 29 out of 60 deputies in the Chamber. VARNA, Bulgaria, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania signed here on Monday a joint declaration on boosting trilateral transport and digital connectivity. The document, signed by Prime Ministers Nikolai Denkov of Bulgaria, Kyriakos Mitsotakis of Greece and Marcel Ciolacu of Romania, underlined the excellent relations between their countries, and acknowledged the key importance of good-neighborly relations in southeastern Europe. The three leaders recognized the urgent need to further increase and expand cooperation in developing connectivity by building strategic transport and energy interconnections and digital networks along the North-South axis to strengthen cohesion and economic growth in the region and in Europe as a whole. "The ever-growing importance of multidimensional connectivity between our three countries, the EU (European Union) interregional connectivity as well as connectivity in the wider neighborhood demand further advancement of projects of common interest in order to radically improve the cross-border infrastructure," the joint declaration said. "We have agreed to identify and develop new routes/corridors on the North-South axis connecting the three countries through new rail and motorway infrastructure," it said. The three leaders agreed to establish a Trilateral Working Group led by relevant ministers to prepare and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the financing, development, construction and management of a multimodal transport corridor linking the three countries. The three leaders renewed their call for a positive decision on the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU's border-free Schengen area in 2023. The three leaders also agreed to strengthen cooperation in combatting illegal migration and in breaking human smugglers' networks and disrupting their financing and supply chains as part of the common effort at EU level towards managing illegal migration. India has recently acquired a new tranche of financial information from Swiss bank accounts belonging to its citizens and various organizations. This data exchange is part of an annual, automatic information-sharing agreement, wherein Switzerland has disclosed details from approximately 3.6 million financial accounts to 104 countries. This marks the fifth consecutive year of information exchange between India and Switzerland. Officials have disclosed that the recently shared data includes data pertaining to hundreds of financial accounts. This encompasses numerous instances of multiple accounts linked to individuals, corporations, and trusts. The shared details encompass vital information such as identification data, account particulars, and financial data, including names, addresses, countries of residence, tax identification numbers, as well as information about the reporting financial institution, account balances, and capital income. While the officials have refrained from disclosing the precise monetary value involved in this exchange, they cite the confidentiality clause governing information sharing as the reason for their discretion. They emphasize that this data will be instrumental in the investigation of suspected tax evasion and other illicit activities, including money laundering and terrorism financing. The exchange of information transpired last month, with Switzerland scheduled to provide another set of data in September 2024, according to officials. The information shared through this exchange enables tax authorities to verify whether taxpayers have accurately declared their financial accounts in their tax filings. In an announcement from the Swiss capital, Berne, the Federal Tax Administration (FTA) stated on Monday that it has executed information exchanges on financial accounts with 104 countries, adhering to the global standard on the Automatic Exchange Of Information (AEOI). Notably, this year's update included the addition of Kazakhstan, the Maldives, and Oman to the existing list of 101 countries. This resulted in a substantial increase in the count of financial accounts exchanged, totaling nearly two hundred thousand additional accounts. Egypt's Sovereign Bonds Plunge as Moody's Downgrade Deepens Economic Woes India's Unique Manufacturing GDP Growth: NITI Aayog's Arvind Virmani Nestled amidst the majestic Himalayan mountains lies the enchanting Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth, a sacred site revered by pilgrims and spiritual seekers from far and wide. This hidden gem in Nepal holds a rich tapestry of history, culture, and spirituality that beckons travelers to embark on a journey of discovery. In this article, we will delve deep into the mystique of Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth, uncovering its significance, legends, rituals, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the surrounding landscape. The Divine Essence of Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth 1. A Place of Divine Feminine Energy Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth is renowned as a sacred spot dedicated to the worship of the Divine Feminine, the source of all creation. It is believed that this divine energy radiates from the heart of the Himalayas, filling the atmosphere with spirituality and reverence. 2. The Legend of Jayanti Devi According to Hindu mythology, Jayanti Devi is considered a manifestation of the Goddess Parvati. Legend has it that her temple was established at the spot where her tongue fell during the great cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, known as the Tandava. This legend lends the site immense spiritual significance. The Spiritual Pilgrimage 3. Pilgrims' Sacred Journey Devotees and pilgrims undertake an arduous journey to reach Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth. The path leading to the temple is filled with challenges and hardships, but the spiritual rewards are profound. 4. Rituals and Offerings At the temple, visitors engage in various rituals, including lighting lamps, offering flowers, and performing aarti to seek the blessings of Jayanti Devi. These rituals connect them to the divine energy of the goddess. 5. The Majestic Temple Complex The temple complex itself is a work of architectural beauty, featuring intricate carvings and sculptures that depict stories from Hindu mythology. The atmosphere here is serene, making it an ideal place for meditation and self-reflection. The Natural Beauty of Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth 6. Himalayan Bliss Surrounded by the breathtaking Himalayan mountains, Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. The snow-capped peaks and lush green valleys create a mesmerizing backdrop. 7. Serenity of the Bhagmati River The temple is situated on the banks of the Bhagmati River, adding to its tranquility. Pilgrims often take a dip in the sacred river before entering the temple premises, as it is believed to purify the soul. 8. Flora and Fauna The region around Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth is rich in biodiversity, with various species of plants and animals. It's not uncommon to spot rare birds and other wildlife in the vicinity, making it a nature lover's paradise. The Essence of Devotion 9. A Spiritual Retreat For those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life, Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth offers a peaceful retreat where one can connect with their inner self and find solace. 10. Faith and Belief The unwavering faith of pilgrims who visit the temple is truly remarkable. It is a testament to the enduring power of spirituality and the deep-rooted belief in the divine. Challenges and Conservation 11. Preservation Efforts As the site gains popularity, conservation efforts are essential to maintain its natural beauty and sanctity. Local authorities and organizations are working tirelessly to ensure the preservation of this sacred space. 12. Accessibility The challenging terrain and remote location of Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth can be a deterrent for some travelers. However, for the determined pilgrim, this adds to the sense of adventure and devotion. Embracing Diversity 13. A Place for All Faiths While the temple is primarily of Hindu significance, Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth welcomes people of all faiths to experience its spiritual ambiance and natural beauty, promoting unity and diversity. 14. Cultural Exchange The site also serves as a cultural hub where visitors from different backgrounds come together to exchange stories, beliefs, and experiences, fostering a sense of global community. In the heart of the Himalayas, Jayanti Devi Shaktipeeth stands as a testament to the enduring power of spirituality and the enchanting beauty of nature. This sacred site invites all who seek solace, devotion, and a connection with the divine to embark on a journey of discovery. As pilgrims brave the challenging path to Jayanti Devi, they are rewarded with a sense of peace and enlightenment that transcends the ordinary, making this mystical place a true gem in the tapestry of Nepal's spiritual heritage. Bangalore Metro Purple Line Opens For Locals; Know About Time, Fare and More Children start vomiting while traveling in a car, keep 5 things in mind Want to travel with family in October? These places in India are better options AFP Un antiguo miembro de una pandilla que durante mucho tiempo se habia jactado de su participacion en el asesinato de la leyenda del rap Tupac Shakur en 1996 se declaro inocente el jueves ante un tribunal de Estados Unidos.Davis, exintegrante de la pandilla South Side Crips de Compton, ha reconocido durante mucho tiempo su participacion en el asesinato, alardeando de ser el "comandante en el lugar" en el esfuerzo por matar a Shakur y a la jefa de Death Row Records, Marion "Suge" Knight, en venganz mthipsorn / Getty Images/iStockphoto Saving a substantial amount of money isnt easy especially over a relatively short period of time. However, you might be more prepared than you think. Find Out: 11 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay Learn: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases If youre trying to save $10,000 or more over the next year, youre not the only one. Approximately 27% of people are hoping to achieve this goal, according to a recent GOBankingRates survey. Want to figure out if youre up to the challenge? Heres 12 signs you can do it. You Have a Goals-Based Budget Saving $10,000 might be your goal, but Tanya Peterson, vice president of brand at Achieve, a digital personal finance company, said your chances of success will increase if its tied to a life goal. She said this might be a wedding, down payment on a home or building up your emergency fund. Know that you are saving for something important to you, she said. Read More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 You Have No Credit Card Debt If you currently have credit card debt, Peterson said now might not be the best time for you to focus on a lofty savings goal. Carrying credit card debt means you bypass the chance to save that money and you lose more by paying the interest, she said. You Have a Money-Saving Mindset If youve adopted a money mindset filled with cliche saving suggestions, Peterson said youre on the right path. It is cliche to ask, Can I skip the cup of coffee at the local coffee shop with what I make at home or get at the office?, she said. But this is just the type of mindset that will lead to accumulating savings. You Dont Treat Savings as Optional If you have a mindset where saving money is mandatory each pay period, Peterson said this is a good sign. By making savings automatic, it becomes a mandatory bill you pay yourself, she said. Even if your employer does not offer automatic deposit, you usually can set up your own automated transfers from checking to savings accounts. Story continues You Live Beneath Your Means Some people spend their entire paycheck, but if that isnt your style, this is a good thing. Peterson said if you know exactly what you have to spend each month and then spend less, this leaves room to save. You Budget Consistently If you unfailingly follow a budget, this is a key sign you have the potential to accumulate major savings, said Michelle Delker, CPA, founder and CEO of The William Stanley CFO Group. Individuals who know where their money goes and control their expenditures are better set up for saving, she said. They can identify discretionary expenses and significantly cut back, which may contribute remarkably in accumulating a substantial amount to their savings. You Have a Healthy Disposable Income After covering all necessities, if there is a considerable amount left, it is probable that one could divert a significant portion of this to savings, Delker said. It might be tempting to spend this extra money, but that wont help you reach your savings goal. You Practice Incremental Savings If you increase the amount of money you save each month when you get a raise or otherwise have extra room in your budget, Delker said this is a good sign. Those already practicing incremental savings steadily accumulate wealth, she said. If they systematically and regularly save, and these amounts are increasing over time, they show a strong saving potential. You Have a Low Debt Ratio Having little-to-no debt can pay off in more ways than one. Individuals who maintain a low debt ratio naturally have fewer financial obligations and hence more potential for savings, Delker said. Less money spent on interest and repayment could be channeled into savings. You Have a Rainy Day Fund If youre financially prepared for unexpected expenses, Delker said youre on the right path. Having a substantial emergency fund about three to six months of living expenses suggests a positive saving behavior, she said. This fund shows the individuals successful savings efforts in the past, indicating their capability to continue saving in the future. Youre Investment Savvy People with a strong understanding of investments and who frequently engage in calculated investment risks indicate a propensity to save, Delker said. Their investment returns can significantly contribute to their savings goal. If youre able to put these returns toward your savings goal, dont forget to factor them into you savings plan. You Make Money-Smart Lifestyle Choices Lifestyle choices guided by frugality and minimal consumerism often translates to savings success, Delker said. Repeated patterns of controlled and thoughtful spending present an excellent set-up for shooting for a $10,000 savings target, she said. If several of these signs describe you, feel confident youre in a great position to save at least $10,000 over the next year. This will likely feel challenging at times, so try to focus on the goals youre planning to achieve with your newfound savings. Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,037 Americans aged 18 and older from across the country between Sept. 5 and Sept. 7, 2023, asking five different questions: (1) How much money do you hope to save in the next year?; (2) What are you saving money for?; (3) How many savings accounts do you have?; (4) What is the primary method you use to save money?; and (5) What is your biggest roadblock/challenge in trying to save money?. GOBankingRates used PureSpectrums survey platform to conduct the poll. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Signs You Can Save $10K or More Over the Next Year QINGDAO, China, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 4th Qingdao Multinationals Summit (QMS) is scheduled to take place in Qingdao from October 10th to 12th, 2023 with the theme of "Multinational Corporation and China". QMS is an important activity jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and Shandong Provincial Government. Assistant Minister of Commerce Chen Chunjiang said , the Summit aims to further promote the improvement of an efficient platform for investment docking, which is not only conducive to comprehensively showcasing new achievements and opportunities in China's economic development, but also helps to boost corporate confidence, allowing multinational corporations to share the opportunities and dividends of China. Song Junji, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, introduced that the summit will also hold a series of promotion activities, including multinational corporation symposiums, policy closed-door meetings held by national ministries and commissions such as the Ministry of Commerce, China's policy and project introduction for attracting foreign investment, as well as investment cooperation promotion meetings in the Yellow River Basin, etc. This summit has six major topics, focusing on greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment, new practices for the development of multinational corporations in China, new trends in industrial investment layout, new achievements in creating a business environment, international cooperation in the digital economy, and green, low-carbon, and high-quality development. The summit will cooperate with the "Year of Investment in China" event, hold a "Innovation, Development, Cooperation, and Win Win" China's policy explanation and project promotion meeting to attract foreign investment, provide a detailed introduction to the latest batch of "stabilizing foreign investment" policies of the State Council, and respond to the current concerns of foreign enterprises in China's development, to help foreign enterprises achieve long-term stable development. During the summit, a series of research reports on "Multinational Companies in China" will continue to be released. Story continues In addition, a "Multinational Corporation and China Theme Exhibition" is also set up to focus on the cooperation between multinational corporations and the Chinese industry in the new era, showcasing the development achievements, advanced technologies, and cooperation intentions of multinational corporations in China. The number of guests attending the summit is expected to exceed 800 and 316 multinational companies have registered. Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-4th-qingdao-multinationals-summit-will-be-held-on-october-10th-301950610.html SOURCE Information Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Johnson Matthey's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions 51% of the business is held by the top 15 shareholders Recent purchases by insiders If you want to know who really controls Johnson Matthey Plc (LON:JMAT), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 82% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Johnson Matthey, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Johnson Matthey What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Johnson Matthey? 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 Johnson Matthey. 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. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Johnson Matthey's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Story continues Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Johnson Matthey is not owned by hedge funds. BlackRock, Inc. is currently the largest shareholder, with 9.2% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 6.7% and 5.9%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 51% of the ownership is controlled by the top 15 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Johnson Matthey The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our information suggests that Johnson Matthey Plc insiders own under 1% of the company. Keep in mind that it's a big company, and the insiders own UK1.8m worth of shares. The absolute value might be more important than the proportional share. Arguably, recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 16% stake in Johnson Matthey. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Johnson Matthey . If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. 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. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan issued a statement regarding the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Azernews reports, citing KABAR. The Foreign Ministrys statement said: The Kyrgyz Republic is following with alarm and concern the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has caused numerous casualties and destruction. We call on the parties to cease hostilities and begin a political and diplomatic dialogue as soon as possible in order to achieve peace, protect civilians and stabilize the situation in the Middle East. In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust (KLSE:ARREIT), since the last five years saw the share price fall 50%. We also note that the stock has performed poorly over the last year, with the share price down 28%. Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns. Check out our latest analysis for AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. Looking back five years, both AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 45% per year. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 13% compound annual share price fall. So the market may previously have expected a drop, or else it expects the situation will improve. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Dive deeper into AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust's TSR for the last 5 years was -30%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust shareholders are down 25% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 9.8%. 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. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust better, we need to consider many other factors. Even so, be aware that AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust is showing 5 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 2 of those are concerning... But note: AmanahRaya Real Estate Investment Trust 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 Malaysian 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. Austin, Texas-based Arrive Logistics recently opened an office in Toronto, aiming to work with more clients across Canada. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) With nearshoring trends increasing freight flows across North America, Arrive Logistics aims to tap into more freight north of the border with its newest office in Toronto. The Toronto location helps the Austin, Texas-based freight brokerage provide more localized service to customers across the Great White North. The expansion into the Toronto office is really exciting for us, because it puts us in a pretty small class of brokers who have boots on the ground in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, Noah Sidenberg, Arrives senior director of Canada sales and operations, told FreightWaves. Bringing the technology that Arrive has built into the Canadian market also puts us in a really small class. And then the culture that weve built as well, both in the way that we attack business, the way that we build and scale, and the way that we empower our people I think is going to set us up really excitingly for not only taking over the talent market here but also becoming one of the key brokers in in Canada. Arrives Toronto office marks the companys eighth location across North America. The tech-enabled brokerage firm also has offices in Austin, Chicago, San Antonio, Phoenix, Tampa, Florida; Columbus, Ohio; and Guadalajara, Mexico. Arrive Logistics was co-founded in 2014 by CEO Matt Pyatt and President Eric Dunigan. Today, the firm has 1,700 employees, 6,000 customers and 70,000 carriers in its network. Arrive is one of the largest firms in the freight brokerage industry, with $2.35 billion revenue in 2022. Canada is currently the No. 2 trading partner of the U.S., behind Mexico, with trade between the two countries totaling $908 billion in 2022. Some of the top commodities traded between Canada and the U.S. include commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles, auto parts, oil, gasoline and other fuels, according to WorldCity. FreightWaves SONAR Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI.CAN) for Canada, which measures national freight demand by shippers requests for capacity, fell 5% week over week, while on a year-over-year basis, OTVI is down 23%. Story continues Volumes in the Canadian freight market have been falling since late September. To learn more about FreightWaves SONAR, click here. Previous to opening the Toronto location, Arrive would often assist its Canadian clients from the companys Chicago office, Sidenberg said. This expansion positions us really well to take a bunch of big steps in the Canadian market that would have been potentially more difficult to take without entering the Canadian market physically, Sidenberg said. We have a carrier team in Chicago that we built, who are absolute rock stars, but we realized that theres only so far you can go within the Canadian market from Chicago. So we decided to put boots on the ground. Sidenberg said Arrive already has a strong carrier base in Canada, as well as a diverse book of clients. Arrive will provide dry van truckload and other services across Canada, as well as intermodal solutions. We do a lot of almost everything food and beverage, auto parts, manufacturing of different types, Sidenberg said. The Canadian market has a number of industries that are bigger than others, so certainly where theres the greatest opportunity within Canada, well try to focus on there, but our intention is to remain very diverse within Canada, both with the industry verticals that we work with, as well as the type of solutions that were providing. Although the freight industry has been soft for most of the year, there is still a lot of opportunity in the market, said Sidenberg, who joined Arrive Logistics in May. Weve seen tremendous opportunity. Weve seen shippers all over the place who even with the loose market and with capacity being out there right now, they need help with service, they need help with actually making sure that things go the way they need to and that theyve got communication where they need to, Sidenberg said. Weve seen some pretty exciting growth within the Canadian division since my arrival at Arrive. Were excited to just keep our foot on the gas and keep building. FreightWaves discusses the sudden closure of Sunset Logistics Click for more FreightWaves articles by Noi Mahoney. More articles by Noi Mahoney Border bottleneck continues, creating huge delays for truckers Borderlands: Arizona officials want Mexico trade lanes reopened Port Houston sees falling container traffic in August The post Arrive Logistics expands freight brokerage operation into Canada appeared first on FreightWaves. (Bloomberg) -- Workers at Chevron Corp.s liquefied natural gas facilities in Australia gave notice Monday to resume strikes from Oct. 19, a move that threatens to disrupt supplies and send prices higher. Most Read from Bloomberg Union members intend to begin new industrial action at the companys Gorgon and Wheatstone plants, Chevron said in a statement. Workers are required to give seven working days notice before stoppages commence. Workers voted last week to reinstate strikes after they criticized Chevrons efforts to finalize an agreement on pay and conditions. Both sides had last month pledged to implement a proposed settlement put forward by the Fair Work Commission, Australias labor regulator. Chevron has asked for additional assistance from the regulator to help complete drafting of a final agreement, and to resolve a small number of items that the parties interpret differently, the company said in its statement. We will continue to take steps to maintain safe and reliable operations in the event of disruption at our facilities, Chevron said. Read more: Australia LNG Workers Set to Resume Strikes as Prices Rise Renewed strike action revives the risk of interruptions to shipments from Australia one of the worlds biggest exporters of the fuel at a crucial time of year. The two LNG plants made up 7% of global LNG supply last year. Still, no LNG cargoes were missed during previous strikes, and its unclear if a new round of walkouts would impact exports. While the threat of previous stoppages sent gas prices surging last quarter, the most recent developments havent had a major impact amid muted demand. --With assistance from David Stringer. Story continues (Updates with date for strikes in first paragraph, Chevron comment) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. As the UAW strike entered its 25th day Monday, local automotive parts supplier Sodecia Automotive Detroit filed notice that it laid off 62% of its workforce while General Motors and Ford Motor Co. also trimmed back. Sodecia Automotive Detroit in Center Line, a metal stamping facility, laid off 143 employees of its total workforce of 232 people at that location due to the United Auto Workers ongoing Stand Up Strike, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filing posted Monday. The filing said the company gave notice on Sept. 25 of the layoff citing "reduced business/work" as the reason for the temporary layoff of 129 union members and 14 salaried employees at the business. It lists the layoff lasting to Nov. 25. Striking workers, many of whom caravanned in Ford Broncos and Jeeps, listen to UAW president Shawn Fain talk with them at the UAW Solidarity House on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. The company did not respond to a request for comment, but this is the third company to file a notice with the state about jobs being trimmed in relation to the strike against the Detroit Three car companies. GM and Ford lay off more people GM said Monday that it has laid off an additional 155 people across its Toledo Propulsion Systems, Lansing Regional Stamping and Marion Metal Center in Indiana facilities, bringing the total number of employees affected by the strike to about 2,300. On Oct. 3, GM said it had to begin laying off 163 employees at its Toledo Propulsion Systems. It had previously laid off 358 employees there. On Monday, an additional 72 workers had to be idled, bringing a total of 430 laid off at that facility. GM manufactures transmissions at Toledo for the midsize pickups and cargo vans made at Wentzville Assembly plant in Missouri and the SUVs made at Lansing Delta Township Assembly. Ken Bland, vice president of Local 1781, works at making more UAW On Strike signs on the sidewalk in front of the Blue Shield of Michigan office towers at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Over 1,000 workers in Detroit's Region 1 and Region 1D in Grand Rapids and Lansing walked out this morning after their contract expired on Aug. 31 and after the extensions they had approved ran out on the morning of Sept. 13. GM laid off 70 people at its Lansing Regional Stamping plant on Friday due to a lack of work because of the strike. At Marion Metal, an additional 13 people were laid off on Friday for a total of 50 people idled at that facility. There are other GM facilities that have experienced layoffs, including nearly 2,000 at its Fairfax Assembly in Kansas. Story continues On Monday, Ford said in a statement that it asked 71 employees at Livonia Transmission Plant to not report to work beginning then. Ford said it was not a lockout, but a layoff as a result of the strike at Chicago Assembly Plant. Livonia Transmission supplies parts used at the Chicago plant. Ford has 1,800 total workers laid off due to the strike, after cutting nearly 500 on Friday. While we are doing what we can to avoid layoffs, we have no choice but to reduce production of parts that would be destined for a plant that is on strike, said Bryce Currie, vice president, Americas Manufacturing and Labor Affairs, Ford Blue. Strike-related layoffs are an unfortunate result of the UAWs strategy. The UAW's strike started after the labor contract expired on Sept. 14 and nearly 13,000 UAW workers across the three automakers walked out at three plants that were the first wave of shutdowns. The UAW expanded its strike to include 38 GM and Stellantis parts distribution centers across the nation on Sept. 22, shutting down the facilities that deliver the parts that car dealers need to make repairs to customers' cars. About 5,625 workers walked out in that wave. Then on Sept. 29, the UAW took strike action at Ford's Chicago Assembly and GM's Lansing Delta Township plant. This past Friday, the union did not extend the strike, saying it is making progress with all three automakers, though gaps remain. It also announced that GM agreed to the demand to include battery plant workers in its master agreement. Strike cost: UAW strike has cost GM $200 million but could plunge into billions if strike continues More supplier layoffs On Sept. 18, CIE Newcor filed a WARN saying a temporary closing "is possible, but will be determined by the length of the potential UAW Detroit 3 strike." CIE Newcor makes components for tier 1 suppliers out of its two plants in Michigan: One in Owosso and another in Corunna. That notice said the layoff was expected to start Oct. 2 and last one month. CIE Newcor has not responded to requests for confirmation on whether the layoffs happened. Wixom-based automotive supplier Eagle Industries on Sept. 25 announced it may need to lay off a substantial portion of its 171 hourly workers, citing "unforeseen business circumstances." At the time, Eagle Industries President John Bull said his company filed the paperwork as a precaution. It employs about 171 hourly workers, but he said any possible layoff would likely affect 55 to 60 employees. One analysis from the University of Michigan predicted 150,000 people in Michigan could lose their jobs if the strike lasts four weeks. As the Detroit Free Press has reported, layoffs at parts suppliers are expected to ramp up as the strike against General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Stellantis continues. Auto sales: Why UAW strike puts GM most at risk and Toyota in position to win Free Press staff writer Phoebe Wall Howard contributed to this report. Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW strike: Sodecia Automotive Detroit, GM, Ford all add more layoffs The iconic rum brand has partnered with cult streetwear brand Filling Pieces to give people across Europe even more reasons to hit the dance floor just in time for Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This October, BACARDI Rum wants you to dance like everyone's watching as the world's most awarded rum brand announces its partnership with Amsterdam-based luxury streetwear brand Filling Pieces. The collaboration sees the brands join forces on the first BACARDI x Filling Pieces dancefloor-ready capsule collection including the ultimate BACARDI x Filling Pieces Dancing Shoe, which will be available online from 18th October 2023 as well as at a unique pop-up in the Filling Pieces flagship store in Amsterdam, during Amsterdam Dance Event. BACARDI x Filling Pieces The speakeasy-inspired experience will see BACARDI Rum take over the Filling Pieces Flagship store in Amsterdam's historic Canal District, between 19th and 21st October. The space will be transformed to showcase the nine-piece BACARDI x Filling Pieces limited-edition collection, consisting of outerwear, hoodies, t-shirts, and sneakers, inspiring you to dance the night away in true BACARDI style. Filling Pieces fans will recognise the clean silhouettes, tonal palate and functional design that typifies the Filling Pieces aesthetic, but this time with a unique BACARDI twist. Fans will see the flagship Filling Pieces store transform into a one-of-a-kind retail and party experience with cocktail bars serving the BACARDI Mojito, BACARDI Caribbean Colada and more - as well as a special BACARDI x Filling Pieces cocktail found in a secret speakeasy-style bar. Sneakerheads will enjoy a dance floor where the "Sound of Rum" will come alive through the hottest DJs the city has offer: Jarreau Vandal, CinCity, Philou Louzolo and Patrick Mason will mix electronic music and the Sound of Rum like never before. The pop-up event is set to take place during one of the world's biggest electronic and dance festivals, Amsterdam Dance Event. The five-day music extravaganza draws in some of the most respected artists within the genre, making it the ideal backdrop for a partnership rooted in self-expression, dance, and music. Guests who enter will be immersed in the Caribbean heritage of BACARDI, as they sip on delicious rum cocktails, explore the collaboration, and do what moves them in their new pair of BACARDI x Filling Pieces dancing shoes. Story continues Tjalling Simoons, Regional Brand Director of Europe at BACARDI Rum, commented, "Our collaboration with Filling Pieces brings to life the essence of BACARDI Rum and our Do What Moves You brand platform, which embodies the spirit of liberation and self-expression through dance and music. The powerful synergy between both brands aligns seamlessly and is reflected across all the partnership elements. We're looking forward to inviting everyone to not only enjoy our exceptional rum cocktails but also to put on their BACARDI x Filling Pieces Dancing Shoes and move to the Sound of Rum." Guillaume Philibert, Creative Director and Founder of Filling Pieces, said, "Both BACARDI and Filling Pieces encourage people to express themselves through music and their own individual styles - which is very important for us. We have combined our craft and knowledge with BACARDI and we're excited to share this collaboration and event with our community." The BACARDI x Filling Pieces collection will be dropping on the 18th of October and can be purchased online via the Filling Pieces website or in-store at its Flagship location. Sign up to be notified when the collection is live. The BACARDI x Filling Pieces speakeasy pop up will be open to consumers aged 18+ between the 19th-21st of October by RSVP only. The BACARDI x Filling Pieces collaboration builds on the wider success of the BACARDI Do What Moves You campaign, which first activated with the BACARDI x Stadium Goods speakeasy pop-up earlier this Summer in New York City. Spain is the latest country to join the movement with its recent partnership with clothing brand Kaotiko, with the Amsterdam pop up event following closely behind. BACARDI x Filling Pieces Limited-Edition Collection T-Shirt - 75 Hoodie - 180 Cardigan - 270 Sneakers - 300 Shirt - 180 NOTES TO EDITORS: About BACARDI Rum - The World's Most Awarded Rum In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardi Masso revolutionised the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste - BACARDI. The unique taste of BACARDI rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous recipes including the BACARDI Mojito, the BACARDI Daiquiri, the BACARDI Cuba Libre, the BACARDI Pina Colada and the BACARDI Presidente. BACARDI rum is the world's most awarded spirit, with more than 1,000 awards for quality, taste, and innovation. Today, the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico is home to BACARDI rum where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862. www.bacardi.com The BACARDI brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241273/1__HERO_CAMPAIGN_IMAGE.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241274/2_SUPPORTING_IMAGE_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241275/4__SUPPORTING_IMAGE_4.jpg BACARDI x Filling Pieces BACARDI x Filling Pieces Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bacardi-rum-and-filling-pieces-launch-dance-floor-ready-capsule-collection-with-speakeasy-inspired-pop-up-during-amsterdam-dance-event-301950613.html SOURCE BACARDI Rum Long-established in the Oil & Gas industry, Baytex Energy Corp (NYSE:BTE) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. It has recently witnessed a daily gain of 7.09%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of 27%. However, fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Baytex Energy Corp. Baytex Energy Corp (BTE): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Baytex Energy Corp the GF Score of 65 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Baytex Energy Corp: A Snapshot Baytex Energy Corp is an oil and gas company with a market cap of $3.64 billion. The company operates in Canada and the United States, with the majority of its revenue derived from Canada. Its operations include the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas in Western Canada. The company reported sales of $1.87 billion and an operating margin of 21.83%. Baytex Energy Corp (BTE): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Financial Strength Analysis Baytex Energy Corp's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's Altman Z-Score is just 0.78, which is below the distress zone of 1.81. This suggests that the company may face financial distress over the next few years. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.01 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. Story continues Profitability Analysis Baytex Energy Corp's low Profitability rank can also raise warning signals. This suggests that the company may struggle to generate profits relative to its peers. Growth Prospects A lack of significant growth is another area where Baytex Energy Corp seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. Lastly, Baytex Energy Corp predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. Baytex Energy Corp (BTE): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Conclusion Given Baytex Energy Corp's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While the company has a strong reputation in the Oil & Gas industry, its current financial indicators suggest that it may struggle to maintain its historical performance. Therefore, investors should exercise caution when considering this stock. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Bear Hug Honey Company in downtown shop in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Ever since its doors opened in 2017, Bear Hug Honey Company has brought artisan honey right into the heart of Athens for residents to enjoy. Now, the honey company is expanding its operations to Lexington, Georgia, buying property on West Main Street across from the Oglethorpe County Courthouse. Recently approved for its commercial license, the Lexginton property will be used as Bear Hug Honey Companys new kitchen, where owner Sam Johnson will bottle and infuse honey as well as craft the shops beeswax candles. This new space marks a development for the company, as previously it utilized a shared kitchen with Piedmont Provisions as well as Johnson's own home for its operations. While the new property is only for operations, there is potential for a storefront to open in downtown Lexington in the future as well. Sam Johnson, owner of Bear Hug Honey Company, poses for a photo at the downtown shop in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Theres another building for sale right beside us, so depending on how the area develops, Im hoping to eventually turn it into a little shop, too, said Johnson. As of now though, the only location for Bear Hug Honey Company is in downtown Athens at 193 E. Clayton St., as well as its booth at the Athens Farmers Market every Saturday. Along with international and local honey, the shop sells Johnsons specialty infusions with a variety of flavor profiles such as Southern Sriracha Spicy Honey, Vanilla Bean Honey, and Ginger Honey. Johnsons expertise for honey comes from a long career in the industry, working with honeybees, honey, and beekeepers across the Southeast. His start in honey came following his graduation from the University of Georgia in 2007. Armed with a degree in agricultural economics, Johnson possessed a passion for local food that he wanted to explore, leading him to Savannahs farmers markets and eventually the Savannah Bee Company. Signs and Wonders: Artist finds creative outlet, successful business in hand-painted signs From there, I just became fascinated with bees. The more I learned about them, the more interested I got, said Johnson. Story continues After helping to set afloat a honey company in Asheville, North Carolina, Johnsons journey brought him back to Athens and his roots when a space opened up on College Avenue for him to start his own company. In 2020, Bear Hug Honey Company moved into a larger space on Clayton Street, its current location. I wanted to get back closer to home and closer to family, said Johnson. I had always loved Athens, being a creative and quirky city, and thats what brought me back. Johnsons company is dedicated to all things honeybee. Along with a wall of honey, his shop features beeswax candles, apparel, local pottery, decor, and natural soap. Every corner of the shop has something new to explore. Adding a local touch, the store also carries various Athens products and prints as well as highlights a new local artist every few months. Bear Hug Honey Company also offers a variety of soaps like its wildflower honey and skincare products. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Bear Hug Honey Company opens a commercial kitchen in Lexington, GA MBA students gather in the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on the campus of Notre Dame. Photo by Peter Ringenberg Photography Its tough times for one-year MBA programs. For the second time in a year, a U.S. business school with a premier one-year MBA has announced it will shutter the program despite prospective students saying for the first time ever this year that they prefer the format to two-year MBAs. Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business announced today (October 9) that despite the programs continued financial viability, the school will end its one-year MBA at the end of the current school year. The current class of Mendozas one-year MBA, which graduates in 2024, will be the last. The move means greater resources will be dedicated to the schools two-year MBA program, Mendoza Dean Martijn Cremers says. While the one-year MBA historically has attracted talented and dedicated students and remains financially viable, the decision to discontinue the program reflects the colleges focus on the two-year MBA as our priority and was informed by the ongoing strategic review aimed at optimizing and elevating Mendozas graduate program portfolio, Cremers says. ANOTHER 1-YEAR MBA PROGRAM RECENTLY KILLED: CORNELLS ACCELERATED PROGRAM Martijn Cremers, dean of Mendoza College of Business: One-year MBA students are forever important members of the Notre Dame family Notre Dames announcement comes almost exactly one year after another top business school announced the shuttering of its premier one-year MBA. In October 2022, Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management announced the end of its Accelerated MBA program, a move that B-school made to dedicate more resources to another one-year MBA, the Tech MBA based on Cornells Roosevelt Island campus in New York City. The final class of Cornells Accelerated MBA graduated in spring 2023. Cornells closure of a major program was gut check time, Andrew Karolyi, dean of Cornells College of Business, told Poets&Quants last October. Weve had some wonderful students come through the Accelerated program and have gone on to be able to leverage it for very successful careers. Its wonderful meeting them along the way. But weve never felt that we were able to drive hard enough with that given its mission as it was crafted. We never felt we were able to meet our ambitious goals for it. Story continues Cornells Accelerated and Tech MBA programs and Notre Dames program all shared spots on P&Qs list of the top one-year MBA programs. Other schools with popular one-year MBAs include Northwestern Kellogg School of Management, Duke Fuqua School of Business, and Emory Goizueta Business School. NYU Stern has two one-year MBA programs: the Tech MBA and the Andre Koo Fashion & Luxury MBA. In a survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council released earlier this year, prospective MBA students for the first time said they actually prefer the one-year format to the more expensive two-year MBA. NOT THE FIRST NOTRE DAME PROGRAM IN RECENT HISTORY TO GET THE AXE According to its program website, graduates of Notre Dame Mendozas one-year MBA overwhelming found success upon completion of the program, with 96% of the Class of 2022 accepting job offers within three months of graduation. The program was rated No. 2 for global alumni effectiveness by The Economist in 2022 and No. 5 for global alumni network by The Financial Times in 2023. Tuition for the Mendoza one-year MBA was around $99K this year; the average cohort size was 45 students, with five years average work experience. Mendozas one-year MBA is not its first in recent history to get the axe: The school also sunsetted its MBA-Master of Science in Business Analytics program in 2022, citing a lack of student interest despite the dual degrees STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) designation. Ending the one-year MBA will allow the college to elevate the two-year MBA as its core strategic priority, providing greater flexibility in directing the appropriate resources to advancements in experiential learning, leadership development, career discernment and personal growth over the programs two-year arc, the school says in a news release. Cremers adds that discontinuing the program will have no impact on the academic experience of current students; Notre Dame offers 10 masters programs plus several dual-degree programs, two Ph.D. programs, and its undergraduate program. The Mendoza faculty and staff remain fully committed to the personal and professional growth of our One-Year MBAs, now and after they graduate, Cremers says. They are forever important members of the Notre Dame family. DONT MISS THE TOP ONE-YEAR MBA PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES and GUT CHECK TIME: WHY CORNELL IS SHUTTERING ITS 1-YEAR ACCELERATED MBA The post Notre Dame Axes Its One-Year MBA Program appeared first on Poets&Quants. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, SBM Offshore fair value estimate is 12.67 SBM Offshore's 11.54 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Our fair value estimate is 38% lower than SBM Offshore's analyst price target of US$20.40 In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of SBM Offshore N.V. (AMS:SBMO) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. View our latest analysis for SBM Offshore What's The Estimated Valuation? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$967.7m US$492.6m US$286.8m US$203.4m US$162.3m US$139.6m US$126.2m US$117.9m US$112.6m US$109.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x2 Est @ -41.77% Est @ -29.08% Est @ -20.20% Est @ -13.98% Est @ -9.63% Est @ -6.58% Est @ -4.45% Est @ -2.95% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 11% US$875 US$403 US$212 US$136 US$98.4 US$76.6 US$62.6 US$52.9 US$45.7 US$40.2 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$2.0b 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 0.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$109m (1 + 0.5%) (11% 0.5%) = US$1.1b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$1.1b ( 1 + 11%)10= US$404m 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 US$2.4b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 11.5, the company appears about fair value at a 8.9% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. 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 SBM Offshore 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 2.000. 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 SBM Offshore Strength Debt is well covered by . Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Interest payments on debt are not well covered. 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. Paying a dividend but company has no free cash flows. Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Dutch market. Moving On: Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For SBM Offshore, we've put together three fundamental aspects you should look at: Risks: For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for SBM Offshore (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does SBMO'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. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ENXTAM every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (NYSE:CNQ) recently experienced a 6.3% daily gain, contributing to a 19.12% gain over the past three months. With an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of 5.05, the question arises: Is the stock modestly overvalued? This article attempts to answer this question through a comprehensive valuation analysis. Read on for an insightful exploration of the intrinsic value of Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ). Company Overview Canadian Natural Resources Ltd is an independent crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production company. Its operations span across North America, especially Western Canada, the UK portion of the North Sea, and Offshore Africa in Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa. The company focuses on the exploration, development, production, and marketing of crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. It operates two divisions: Oil Sands Mining and Upgrading Midstream and Refining, with the majority of its revenue coming from North America. Comparing the stock price of Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) with its GF Value, an estimation of fair value, provides a deeper understanding of the company's value. This comparison ingeniously integrates financial assessment with essential company details. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A Closer Look at Its Market Valuation Understanding GF Value The GF Value is an exclusive method to estimate the current intrinsic value of a stock. It is calculated based on three factors: historical multiples (PE Ratio, PS Ratio, PB Ratio, and Price-to-Free-Cash-Flow) that the stock has traded at, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's past returns and growth, and future estimates of the business performance. The GF Value Line on our summary page gives an overview of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. Story continues Based on GuruFocus valuation, the stock of Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) is estimated to be modestly overvalued. At its current price of $ 65.29 per share, Canadian Natural Resources stock is estimated to be modestly overvalued. As a result, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be lower than its business growth. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A Closer Look at Its Market Valuation Link: These companies may deliver higher future returns at reduced risk. Financial Strength Before investing in a company, it's crucial to assess its financial strength. Investing in companies with poor financial strength have a higher risk of permanent loss. A great way to understand the financial strength of a company is by looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage. Canadian Natural Resources has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.05, which is worse than 85.62% of 1029 companies in the Oil & Gas industry. The overall financial strength of Canadian Natural Resources is 6 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Canadian Natural Resources is fair. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A Closer Look at Its Market Valuation Profitability and Growth Investing in profitable companies, especially those with consistent profitability over the long term, is less risky. A company with high profit margins is usually a safer investment than those with low profit margins. Canadian Natural Resources has been profitable 7 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $31.20 Billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $5.05. Its operating margin is 23.3%, which ranks better than 70.98% of 982 companies in the Oil & Gas industry. Overall, the profitability of Canadian Natural Resources is ranked 7 out of 10, which indicates fair profitability. Growth is probably the most important factor in the valuation of a company. A faster growing company creates more value for shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. The 3-year average annual revenue growth of Canadian Natural Resources is 28.2%, which ranks better than 81.59% of 858 companies in the Oil & Gas industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 25.5%, which ranks better than 62.65% of 822 companies in the Oil & Gas industry. ROIC vs WACC One can also evaluate a company's profitability by comparing its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the return on invested capital exceeds the weighted average cost of capital, the company is likely creating value for its shareholders. During the past 12 months, Canadian Natural Resources's ROIC is 11.26 while its WACC came in at 14.24. Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ): A Closer Look at Its Market Valuation Conclusion In conclusion, the stock of Canadian Natural Resources (NYSE:CNQ) is estimated to be modestly overvalued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is fair. Its growth ranks better than 62.65% of 822 companies in the Oil & Gas industry. To learn more about Canadian Natural Resources stock, you can check out its 30-Year Financials here. To find out the high quality companies that may deliver above average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. "The Hirkan National Park has recently been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After that, we will jointly with Georgia discuss the issues of inclusion of our other specially protected border territories in this list," says Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Vugar Karimov in a statement, Azernews reports. According to the Minister, Azerbaijan has very close cooperation relations with Georgia in the field of biodiversity protection and forest protection. Karimov said that there have been many improvements in the forest legislation of Georgia: "Compared to the legislation of Azerbaijan, there are more liberal and soft legislative possibilities here regarding the use of forests. We want to study them and apply them in our country". "Cooperation in issues related to Georgia, in changes related to global climate change, consideration of possible cooperation opportunities related to water issues are also among the topics to be discussed," the deputy minister emphasized. Problems with edible cannabis products in Arizona spiked in 2020 during the pandemic and have stayed at a heightened number since voters legalized recreational marijuana that same year. Arizona law allows adults 21 and older to legally possess up to an ounce of marijuana flower or five grams of cannabis concentrates, which are the active ingredient in "edibles." The roughly quarter-million Arizonans with medical marijuana cards can possess more weight and more potent edibles. Hundreds of thousands of people in the state use edible cannabis items like gummies, chocolate bars and other infused food products to relax, to help them sleep, to treat medicinal ailments or to enjoy the psychoactive effects. For some people, edibles come with a surprise punch of negative effects. Some adults, especially novice users, will faint or experience anxiety, paranoia, sleepiness or other symptoms, even with relatively small doses. Small children can have severe problems including difficulty breathing because their bodies can't absorb as much THC the main substance behind the physiological effects of cannabis as adults can. Poison control experts say new types of products containing delta-8 THC, rather than the typical Delta 9 THC found in products sold by regulated dispensaries, are contributing to the cases. Several deaths from THC have been alleged in the past few years, but some experts are skeptical, arguing the deaths likely have other underlying causes. In general, edibles are relatively safe to consume: No deaths of adults or children have been reported in Arizona from THC, and most people who experience acute THC intoxication don't suffer from any long-term effects. What to know about delta-8: A new marijuana product is for sale in AZ without any restrictions Sick kids: Pediatric cases related to edibles rise Banner University Medical Center Phoenix Poison and Drug Information Center received 157 calls about children in 2021, the year after voters approved legal marijuana for all adults 21 and older a 67% increase from the prior year. Story continues Calls rose to 170 in 2022 and are on track to surpass that number this year. Most of the cases involved children between newborn age and 5 years old, and many required hospitalization, said Maureen Roland, a registered nurse and director of the center. About two-thirds of those cases were due to some kind of THC edibles, she said. "We've seen some really sick kiddos," she said. "Most of them end up with vomiting and lethargy. ... The airway is our biggest concern." Roland said she hopes continued education efforts make sure the products are kept out of children's reach and will reverse the trends. Arizona law already requires edibles and other legally sold cannabis products to be sold in childproof packaging, and it can't be made to appeal to children. Recreational edibles can be sold only in 10 milligram pieces, under state law, for a total of 100 milligrams in a container. But adults can buy (and possess) the legal limit of five grams of concentrates at one time, which would be 50 containers. Medical cardholders don't have such limits and can purchase and possess up to 2.5 ounces of any form of marijuana. Marijuana 'mishaps' among older users Adults experiencing marijuana or THC problems like intense anxiety or a racing heart increased substantially in 2020, the center's data shows. Most of the calls involved smoking or vaping and products of unknown origin. The biggest increase was in people in their 40s, who were responsible for 45 calls in 2020 five times as many as in 2019. Total calls about adults dropped after 2020, but cases with edibles increased for most adults in 2020 and 2021. People over 50 saw the largest increase in that category, with 21 calls last year. "You have some elderly people that are maybe just starting to use and not understanding dosages and having mishaps," Roland said. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in Tucson, which takes calls from people in Arizona's other 14 counties, has seen a general decrease in THC-related calls since a big spike in 2021, said Steven Dudley, that center's director. The Tucson center didn't provide the same detail as Banner, but Dudley said his numbers fell from a high of 581 calls in 2021 with most involving children to 480 last year. To date this year, 371 calls have come in, with most involving hospitalizations. "As time goes on, people are more aware of these products and they're more educated on the dos and don'ts," he said. Raul Molina, chief operating officer for Mint Cannabis dispensaries, agreed. "We're hearing less and less stories of people tripping too hard," he said. Pot overdoses not charged as crimes Cases of children falling ill because of legal marijuana don't usually result in a criminal charge. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said she couldn't recall any such case. A 2018 arrest in Tempe of a mother whose child ate THC-laced macaroni and cheese made national news, for example, but prosecutors never filed charges. Two 2021 cases of acute intoxication among Glendale toddlers reviewed by The Arizona Republic the only two investigated by Glendale police in recent years were closed by police after no criminal intent was discovered. Both cases involved 2-year-old boys who were taken to emergency rooms after accidentally eating THC-infused chocolate brought into the home by another family member. Symptoms included "shaking" and an altered state of consciousness in one child; the second child had problems waking up the morning after he ate the infused candy, Glendale police reports state. In the second case, police found that the state's Department of Child Services had investigated the mother two years earlier after the boy was born "exposed to marijuana." DCS was "concerned" the mother was involved in the 2021 incident but still closed its case, the report states. This year, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an appeals court decision that DCS cannot place mothers who are medical marijuana patients on the state's child-abuse registry, which can limit employment options, if they use marijuana while pregnant. Edible politics The concern over delta-8 and other lesser-known cannabinoids turned into a political fight in 2022 between hemp advocates and the dispensary industry, with poison-control centers appearing to take the side of the industry by warning about "unregulated" cannabis products. Hemp is type of a cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC, and neither Arizona nor federal law expressly prohibits making cannabinoids like delta-8 with it. Dudley testified at a legislative committee hearing last year about a bill supported by the Arizona Dispensary Association that would have prohibited making any sort of "impairing cannabinoids" like delta-8 from hemp without a dispensary license. Dudley and Roland told The Republic they were concerned about the products but took no position on any bills. They believe that many THC exposure calls are due to edibles containing delta-8, which can be found in Arizona smoke shops and other locations, but said that equipment that can confirm delta-8 in patients has not yet been installed. Products with cannabidiol (CBD) can contain THC and have also led to THC-exposure poison-control calls, they said. Sully Sullivan, executive director of the Hemp Industry Trade Association of Arizona, said the bill which failed in committees would have distributed state money to help fund the poison control centers while it "monopolized" sales of hemp products. He said his organization is now focused on a new Farm Bill that Congress is considering in 2023 and how the bill will address the issue of hemp-derived THC products. Reach the reporter at rstern@arizonarepublic.com or 480-276-3237. Follow him on X @raystern. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Marijuana edibles in Arizona: What to know and how to keep kids safe While Warren Buffett is often cited for his memorable quotes on investing, his long-time business partner and billionaire Charlie Munger has his own share of wisdom to offer. Munger once stated, "The big money is not in the buying and the selling but in the waiting." This sentiment, though perhaps not as widely cited as some of Buffett's lines, holds tremendous weight in the investment world for several reasons. Don't Miss: The Power Of Compounding: Patience Pays Off Munger's statement highlights the magic of compounding. Time is a powerful factor in the growth of investments. As investments begin to yield returns, those returns can be reinvested, potentially leading to exponential growth over time. This concept isn't just mathematical it requires the discipline of patience. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait, and in the investment realm, waiting can be quite profitable. Trending: Jeff Bezos Is Focus Of A Bizarre Petition Urging Him To Buy And Eat The Priceless Mona Lisa Its Not For Sale, But He Could Afford It The Human Psyche And The Misconception Of Effort The 99-year-old investor's insight also addresses a fundamental aspect of human nature: the belief that high returns require high effort. Society often teaches that significant accomplishments require hard work, which is true in many contexts, from careers to personal relationships. But when it comes to investing, continuous tinkering and frequent trading aren't always beneficial. Instead, a well-thought-out strategy, coupled with patience, often yields the best results. Take, for instance, art as an investment. Historically, art has outperformed the S&P and shown consistent appreciation in value. Like Munger's approach to traditional investing, art investment requires patience. The most significant gains in art investments often come to those who hold onto pieces for extended periods, allowing their value to mature over time. Masterworks is a platform that offers regular people the opportunity to invest in art, something that was once only available to billionaires like Buffett and Munger. Story continues Munger's Legacy: Beyond Financial Acumen While Munger might not hold the title of the fourth-richest individual in the world like Buffett, he's no less influential in the financial world. His investment insights, backed by decades of experience, offer valuable lessons for all investors. Beyond his financial expertise, Munger is also a philanthropist. He recently demonstrated this by donating 77 Class A Berkshire Hathaway shares, with an estimated value of $40 million, to the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Museum in San Marino, California. This act of philanthropy highlights Munger's commitment to giving back and emphasizes the importance of art. Read Next: Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article Charlie Munger Says, "The Big Money Is Not In The Buying And The Selling But In The Waiting" High Returns Don't Actually Require High Effort originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Union members have voted to restart industrial action at Chevrons liquefied natural gas facilities in Australia, threatening renewed strikes that could disrupt about 7% of global LNG supply. The decision was announced Friday, two weeks after the US company and the Offshore Alliance, which represents two Australian labor unions, said they had accepted new employment agreements proposed by Australias workplace relations tribunal, ending a protracted standoff. Chevron have reneged on the commitments they gave the Fair Work Commission only two weeks ago to incorporate the commissions recommendations into Enterprise Agreements covering workers at the Gorgon and Wheatstone Downstream facilities, Brad Gandy, a spokesperson for the union group, said in a statement shared with CNN. In the past days, the Offshore Alliance had been working with Chevron (CVX) to finalize the agreements, the alliance said in the statement. However, as part of that process, lawyers acting for Chevron have been attempting to walk back some clauses previously settled, it added. Neither Chevron nor the Offshore Alliance responded to requests for comment on which specific terms were once again in question. Chevron told CNN Monday that it had not received an official notice of planned industrial action. Chevron's Wheatstone LNG facility in Western Australia - Chevron/Reuters Chevron Australia has consistently and meaningfully engaged in an effort to finalize enterprise agreements, a company spokesperson said, adding that the deal had included competitive remuneration and conditions. We have accepted the recommendation of the Fair Work Commission, which proposed terms to resolve outstanding claims that would form part of the proposed agreements, and we continue to work with all parties. According to Felix Booth, head of LNG at energy data provider Vortexa, the threat to restart strikes can be seen as an attempt by unions to help them get the best terms possible in the final contract. At this stage, the commissions recommendations have to be translated into the legal terms which can reignite differences between the parties, he told CNN Monday. Story continues The strikes may go ahead but the gas market is more comfortable with this news, as the two parties have a mechanism to continue work towards. Improved pay and working conditions The deals proposed by the Fair Work Commission contain substantial improvements in terms and conditions of employment, including increased remuneration, job security, locked-in rosters [and] career progression, the Offshore Alliance said on Sept. 22. Chevron responded at the time that it had accepted the recommendation to resolve all outstanding issues. Workers at the companys Gorgon and Wheatstone facilities began walking off the job in early September over pay and other conditions of employment. The sites importance extends well beyond Australia. If strikes stopped production at the facilities for a month, about 7% of global LNG supply would be lost, according to Daniel Toleman, a senior gas and LNG analyst at energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie. In Europe, the threat of strikes in Australia had caused a series of spikes in natural gas prices since August. On Friday, Dutch natural gas futures, the European benchmark, closed 5.6% higher at 38.2 ($40.2) per megawatt hour, but were still down by almost a third from a late-August high. Its too early to assume a big impact on the gas market, said Alex Froley, LNG analyst at commodities research firm ICIS, referring to the vote to restart industrial action. The action could still be called off, he told CNN Friday, noting that even recent strikes hadnt shut production down completely at the two sites. After Russia once Europes biggest source of natural gas invaded Ukraine last year, the continent scrambled to find new suppliers, ramping up imports of pipeline gas from Norway and of LNG, mostly from the United States and Qatar. Europes success in filling the gap left by Moscow has helped bring prices down from a record high of around 300 ($317) per megawatt hour hit in August 2022. However, European prices remain above their long-term average, Moodys noted in a report Thursday. Persistently high and volatile gas prices will erode European competitiveness, [which is] a longer-term risk, the credit rating agency wrote. Gas prices will remain higher in Europe than elsewhere, making energy-intensive sectors like chemicals less competitive. Michelle Toh contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. 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. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. In light of that, when we looked at China Aviation Oil (Singapore) (SGX:G92) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. 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. The formula for this calculation on China Aviation Oil (Singapore) is: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.011 = US$10m (US$1.8b - US$849m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). So, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) has an ROCE of 1.1%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Oil and Gas industry average of 12%. See our latest analysis for China Aviation Oil (Singapore) roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for China Aviation Oil (Singapore) compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. So How Is China Aviation Oil (Singapore)'s ROCE Trending? On the surface, the trend of ROCE at China Aviation Oil (Singapore) doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 2.7% over the last five years. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se. Story continues On a related note, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) has decreased its current liabilities to 48% 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. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE. Either way, they're still at a pretty high level, so we'd like to see them fall further if possible. The Bottom Line We're a bit apprehensive about China Aviation Oil (Singapore) because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Investors haven't taken kindly to these developments, since the stock has declined 34% from where it was five years ago. Unless there is a shift to a more positive trajectory in these metrics, we would look elsewhere. China Aviation Oil (Singapore) could be trading at an attractive price in other respects, so you might find our free intrinsic value estimation on our platform quite valuable. For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. (Bloomberg) -- China aims to grow the countrys computing power by more than a third in less than three years, a move set to benefit local suppliers and boost technology self-reliance as US sanctions pressure domestic industry. Most Read from Bloomberg The worlds second-largest economy is targeting more than 300 exaflops of computing capacity across its tech sector by 2025 from 220 this year, according to a joint statement from several agencies including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The goal marks Beijings latest attempt to construct digital infrastructure to spur a sluggish economy. China also plans to build an additional 20 smart computing centers in two years. Bigger optical networks and more advanced data storage will be installed in the years until 2025, the regulators said. The additional computational power will support manufacturing, education, finance, transportation, healthcare and energy, they added. China plans to strengthen the synergy in the industry and safeguard the supply chain by developing controllable solutions and encouraging the use of home-grown, reliable software, the statement read. What Huaweis Comeback Says About US-China Tech War: QuickTake Supply chain security is a key aspect of that infrastructure build-up, the agencies emphasized. The US has clamped down on exports of high-end products to China including advanced chips from Nvidia Corp., critical in training AI models. The Asian country is now pushing the adoption of home-made IT products from operating systems to memory chips as the tech conflict forces Beijing to target an American-free supply chain. US-blacklisted Huawei Technologies Co. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. are among the most active in advancing local technology. The pair have succeeded in developing a sophisticated chip for Huaweis latest smartphones, galvanizing that overall endeavor and raising questions about the effectiveness of Washingtons curbs on China. Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese stocks ended lower in a choppy session following their return from the Golden Week break, as investors parsed holiday-spending data while navigating global market volatility spurred by Hamas surprise attack on Israel. Most Read from Bloomberg The CSI 300 Index closed down 0.1% on Monday, its first trading session since Sept. 28. Risk assets were hammered last week as renewed concern about higher-for-longer US interest rates spurred a Treasuries selloff that rippled through world markets. The listless resumption came as tourism revenue from Chinas Golden Week holiday fell short of government estimates despite a year-on-year jump to above pre-Covid levels. Traders had been pinning hopes on a consumption boost to lift the market, which has been hurt by persistent worries about the property crisis. READ: Xi to Meet Schumer, US Senators Amid Tension on Hamas-Israel War Its sort of tricky to call [the market] at this point because the external environment has been very complicated, Hao Hong, chief economist at Grow Investment Group, said in a Bloomberg TV interview. There are pluses and minuses, so for a trader, he or she may find it a little difficult to trade the overall index. Selling by foreign investors continued as mainland China markets returned from the break. Overseas funds sold 7.5 billion yuan ($1 billion) worth of onshore shares on a net basis via trading links with Hong Kong in Mondays session, the most since Sept. 25. Home sales during the vacation period slumped from Septembers levels, underscoring Chinas struggle to arrest a record housing-market slump thats stifled economic growth and weighed on the worlds second-largest stock market. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts said while China is likely to roll out more housing easing measures in the next few quarters, the sector is still expected to see an L-shaped recovery in the coming years. Story continues A Bloomberg Intelligence gauge of Chinese developers slumped as much as 3.5% as Hong Kong trading resumed in the afternoon. The markets morning session was canceled due to a typhoon. More broadly, a Hang Seng gauge of Chinese shares listed in Hong Kong rose 0.4% on Monday, aided by gains in energy-related stocks following oils rally. It had fallen 0.3% in the period that mainland markets were closed. Overall, pessimism toward Chinese markets remains prevalent, with the CSI 300 Index down 4.8% for the year and less than 5% away from erasing all its gains from the reopening rally that took off in October 2022. Travel- and leisure-related stocks dropped on Monday as some traders saw the holiday data as disappointing. Air China Ltd. and China Southern Airlines Co. fell at least 1.6% each, while UTour Group Co. plunged more than 9%. Chinese equities are weighed down by a bit of negatives from couples of aspects that include a slight miss in holiday spending numbers and the conflict in Israel, said Willer Chen, senior research analyst at Forsyth Barr Asia Ltd. --With assistance from Zhu Lin. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's new yuan lending is expected to jump in September after a surprising surge in August, a Reuters poll showed, as the central bank strives to boost the economy's recovery amid tepid demand both at home and abroad. Chinese banks are forecast to have extended 2.5 trillion yuan ($342.63 billion) in net new yuan loans last month, up 84% from August, when new loans nearly quadrupled to 1.36 trillion yuan, according to the median estimates of 23 economists. Net new yuan loans in September last year were 2.47 trillion yuan. The central bank has vowed to implement policy in a "precise and forceful" manner to support the economy, which has showed some signs of steadying after a flurry of recent policy steps. In September, the central bank cut the reserve requirement ratio - the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves - for the second time this year to boost liquidity and aid growth. "The key focus should be on whether credit demand picks up following recent policy measures," analysts at Citi said in a note. "For corporate, long-term loans should be a point to watch with bottoming exports and profit improvement, the number should rise again. For households, early mortgage repayment should end with the long-waited mortgage repricing." China is expected to meet the annual growth target of slightly more than 5% this year, an adviser to the central bank said in September. Some analysts, however, thought the target could be missed amid woes over a prolonged property slump and weak consumer sentiment. Outstanding yuan loans were estimated to grow by 11.1% in September from a year earlier, unchanged from August, the poll showed. Broad M2 money supply growth was seen rising 10.7% year-on-year, quickening slightly from the previous month's 10.6%. Any acceleration in government bond issuance could help boost total social financing (TSF), a broad measure of credit and liquidity. Annual growth of outstanding TSF quickened to 9.0% in August from 8.9% in July. Story continues Local governments issued a net 600.7 billion yuan in special bonds in August, more than triple July's 196.3 billion yuan, according to official data. China is aiming to complete issuance of the 2023 special local government bonds quota of 3.8 trillion yuan by end-September. In September, TSF is forecast to rise to 3.8 trillion yuan from 3.12 trillion yuan in August. ($1 = 7.2966 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Qiaoyi Li and Kevin Yao; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) China and the United States do not necessarily have to head to a confrontation, President Xi Jinping told visiting American senators on Monday. It was the strongest sign yet that he might attend the Apec summit in San Francisco next month, raising hopes also for a meeting with US counterpart Joe Biden. "The Thucydides Trap is not inevitable," Xi told the bipartisan delegation headed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, referring to the concept of confrontation between a rising and a dominant power. 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. "The wide world can accommodate China and the US in their respective development and common prosperity." Beijing has always believed that the common interests of China and the US far outweigh their differences and the success of either country "presents an opportunity, not a challenge" for the other, state news agency Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. The meeting came amid months of efforts to get bilateral ties back on track amid confrontations in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, as well as US-led tech export curbs directed at China. South Korea, a close US ally, said on Monday that Washington would allow major Korean chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to import the advanced US machinery they needed to sustain and expand their operations in China, a move that could be seen as a concession by the Biden administration. Schumer said the US team spoke candidly with Xi about a range of issues and "respective priorities" during their 80-minute meeting. They also held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and other senior Chinese officials. "We made clear to President Xi that America wants fairness and stability. At the foundation of the relationship must be a level playing field for American businesses and workers, as well as responsible competition," the Democrat told a press briefing after the meetings. Story continues The senators also called on Beijing to remove restrictions and open up Chinese markets to US companies, including the semiconductor, financial services and aerospace industries. They also urged Xi to open a channel of communication to stem the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals as the US battles an opioid epidemic. "We had a long list of issues we feel China had to address and we were very, very clear and specific on all of those," Schumer said. Schumer also criticised China for not supporting Israel after the Hamas attack on Saturday. "I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks," he told Xi, adding he was "disappointed" at Beijing's apparent lack of "sympathy or support". Schumer expressed similar views to Wang Yi when they met earlier in the day. The delegation's trip marks the first US congressional visit to China since 2019. The six-member team arrived in Shanghai at the weekend, seeking "direct, candid and respectful" conversations with the Chinese leadership. The visit was viewed as helping lay the groundwork for a potential trip by Xi to attend the Apec summit, where an in-person meeting with Biden was expected to take place. Beijing did not confirm the Xi-Schumer meeting even hours before it took place, but the surprise talks were seen as a positive sign that the Chinese leader would travel to the US. Lu Xiang, a specialist in US-China relations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), said the surprise meeting "reversed the communication mechanism between the US Congress and China that had been stagnant for many years". "Although Congress has relatively little power in foreign policy, Schumer can personally understand China's intentions through the visit and convey them to Congress, which is of positive significance," Lu said. Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said Xi and Schumer's meeting did not guarantee a Xi-Biden meeting but there was a high chance because both sides were working closely towards one. "The meeting between US and Chinese senior diplomats actually intensified recently, and I believe there are a lot ... less senior exchanges [between the two countries] to work out the detailed plan for Xi's meeting with Biden in the US," he said. China's foreign ministry issued a statement on Sunday, calling for restraint and a ceasefire from all parties, without condemning the attack. The US group's trip to China followed visits by a series of senior officials in the Biden administration earlier this year, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and climate envoy John Kerry. The bipartisan congressional delegation will head to the northwestern Chinese city of Xian after stops in Shanghai and Beijing. The delegation will then visit South Korea and Japan. Hours after landing in Shanghai on Saturday, the senators met the city's Communist Party secretary, Chen Jining. "We will, as always, create a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, rule of law-oriented and internationalised, and help enterprises to better invest and prosper, and achieve greater development through win-win cooperation," Chen said. Chuck Schumer (centre) meets the press at the US embassy in Beijing, after talks with President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials on Monday. Photo: AP alt=Chuck Schumer (centre) meets the press at the US embassy in Beijing, after talks with President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials on Monday. Photo: AP> The senators told Chen the US did not seek decoupling or conflict with China while the purpose of their visit was to enhance understanding between the two sides to help resolve differences and concerns, according to the Chinese readout. Schumer, as the top Democratic lawmaker, has long urged a harder US line on China. In May, he and Democratic committee leaders launched a legislative package dubbed China Competition Bill 2.0 to boost US ability to face the Asian powerhouse on issues from technology to security and threats to Taiwan, building on the Chips and Science Act passed last year. 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. BANGKOK, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chula Marketing professor draws attention to Chula's readiness to drive research and social innovation to create the leaders of the future and drive Thai soft power to the global society. Chula Joins the Move for Economic Advancement with Thai Soft Power through Research and Innovations Thai soft power is trending at the moment. This trend helped revive the Thai economy and tourism after the great slump of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) during which the number of tourists declined by more than a hundredfold. Yet, in 2023, tourism has swung back to 80 percent growth, and more than 30 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Thailand. Asst. Prof. Dr. Ake Pattaratanakun, Chula's Chief Brand Officer, Head of the Marketing Department, at Chulalongkorn Business School, and Board member of the Office of Creative Economy Agency (CEA) (Public Organization), which is responsible for overseeing Thailand's soft power promotion, discusses the strengths of Thai Soft Power and Chula's stance to drive it. Thai Soft Power has many dimensions. What sets Thai Soft Power apart is its blend of vibrant culture with flexibility, informality, and friendliness, which remains intact even when mixed with other cultures, much like a 'melting pot', as highlighted in the study by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. As a leading educational institution in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University plays a crucial role in the development of leaders who will drive Thai soft power through programs of various faculties, such as the Faculties of Fine and Applied Arts, Art Education, Architecture, and Arts, to name a few. In addition, Chula also offers specific programs to build the soft power knowledge base, such as the long-standing Graduate School's master's degree program in Cultural Management. Examples of Chula projects related to soft power in the areas of language, arts, culture, tourism, economy, and business, are as follows: Story continues "These are what Chula has carried out to drive Thai soft power. We have created the future leaders for soft power and will continue to do so to grow the Thai economy sustainably," Asst. Prof. Dr. Ake concluded. Read more at https://www.chula.ac.th/en/highlight/133305/ Contact: Chula Communication Center Pataraporn.r@chula.ac.th Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/chula-joins-the-move-for-economic-advancement-with-thai-soft-power-through-research-and-innovations-301950684.html SOURCE Chulalongkorn University Communication Center Company Logo Dublin, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Building Energy Management System Market (by Components, End-User, & Region): Insights and Forecast with Potential Impact of COVID-19 (2022-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global building energy management system (BEMS) market is on the brink of significant expansion, with an estimated value set to soar to US$6.60 billion by 2023. This remarkable growth is forecasted to occur at a steady compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.68% during the forecast period. BEMS is a versatile system encompassing hardware, software, and services designed to optimize energy management through innovative strategies, including information and communication technology. Moreover, BEMS technology plays a pivotal role in monitoring, automating, and controlling various building systems such as heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and lighting to enhance energy efficiency and comfort. Several key factors are driving the market's growth, including the surging urban population, increased consumer awareness of cutting-edge technology, and a surge in new construction projects for buildings, institutions, and complexes. Segmentation Highlights By Component: The global BEMS market is segmented into three components: Services, Software, and Hardware. Services currently hold the largest market share, while the software segment is poised for the highest CAGR growth in the upcoming years. This growth can be attributed to technological innovations, growing acceptance of data analytics and cloud technology, and the development of customer-centric models. By End-User: In terms of end-users, the market is divided into three segments: Residential, Commercial & Institutional, and Industrial. The residential sector dominates the market, driven by the increased use of electricity-intensive products like pool heaters, water heaters, batteries, chargers, and attic fans. Story continues Geographic Overview The global BEMS market spans multiple regions, including Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Notable countries in these regions include the US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, South Korea, India, and more. Europe leads the market due to stringent government regulations regarding greenhouse emissions and favorable policies for green BEMS adoption. In North America, Mexico is expected to witness the fastest growth, while China dominates the Asia Pacific region due to its energy policies emphasizing efficiency and digital technologies. Driving Force: Escalating Energy Consumption Rapid global population growth has led to increased energy consumption across various sources, including renewables, coal, and natural gas. Urban dwellers, in particular, rely heavily on energy-consuming products and equipment. This heightened energy consumption drives up electricity production and costs. To alleviate this burden, people are increasingly turning to energy-conservation technologies like BEMS to efficiently manage natural resources and reduce electricity expenses. Challenge: Skilled Labor Shortage The BEMS market's growth is hampered by a lack of skilled labor in the industry. Implementing and operating BEMS technology requires specialized teams to ensure equipment functions properly. Improper setup can lead to faulty outputs or safety hazards, making skilled labor essential for BEMS technology implementation. Trend: Embracing Cloud Technology Cloud technology has ushered in a new era for BEMS, extending its capabilities beyond energy visualization and analytics to demand response systems. Cloud integration allows for smart sensor management across multiple locations, access to a wealth of energy data through convenient terminals, and enhanced energy management across multiple buildings. The continued growth of cloud technology is expected to further propel the BEMS market. Impact of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the BEMS market in 2020. Industrial and commercial building energy demand decreased, while residential energy demand surged due to lockdowns and social distancing measures. However, in 2021, as the global economy stabilized and industrial manufacturing resumed, the BEMS market witnessed substantial growth. Key Players The global BEMS market is moderately fragmented, with numerous small- and medium-sized manufacturers contributing significantly to the revenue. Key players in the market include Siemens AG, Johnson Controls International PLC, ABB Group, Honeywell International Inc., Enel S.p.A (Enel X), General Electric Company (GE), Schneider Electric SE, Emerson Electric Co., Robert Bosch GmbH, IBM Corporation, Azbil Corporation, and Landis+Gyr. Top Impacting Factors Growth Drivers Rapid Urbanization Surging Energy Consumption Growth in Adoption of Smart Home Products Rise in Carbon Dioxide Emission Challenges High Installation Cost Lack of Trained Experts Trends Cloud Technology Surge in Adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) Decline in Fossil Fuel Government Initiatives and Regulations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/opj5hv About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Tarabut, Menas leading open banking platform, has announced a new partnership with Flooss, a Bahrain-based digital lending platform, to approve small loans within minutes. Tarabuts Income Verification product powers Flooss to offer seamless and swift loan approvals, providing consumers with easy access to the funds they need, when they need it. Flooss is the first and fastest digital loan app in Bahrain offering consumer loans of up to BD750 ($1,990) with a repayment period of up to 12 months. Open banking-enabled digital lending service This partnership pioneers Bahrains first open banking-enabled digital lending service. The collaboration streamlines Floosss digital lending experience and significantly reduces loan approval times to a mere few minutes using Tarabuts Income Verification product. The loan approval process has been reduced to just minutes, a drastic change from the prior two-week process. By leveraging open banking APIs, the newly launched product enables instant loan approvals, eliminating the previous, conventional, days-long approval process. Flooss approached Tarabut with the goal of providing its customers with a seamless lending journey: offering easier access, saving both money and time, enhancing security, and digitising a traditional manual journey. Tarabut transformed the customer journey via direct access to customers salary information, eliminating the need for manual salary certificate submissions during the application process. Abdulla Almoayed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tarabut, said: Together, we are promoting financial inclusion and developing Bahrains financial infrastructure, in line with the countrys plans for a robust financial ecosystem. Everyone should have access to affordable and efficient lending facilities, and this partnership is a crucial step towards that goal. Customer-first solution Fawaz Ghazal, Chief Executive Officer of Flooss, said: The customer lending experience and journey must be reimagined; customers expect more from their financial service providers. Working with the team at Tarabut, Flooss has been able to implement a customer-first solution that improves lending processing times to a few minutes and more seamlessly than any other lenders, anytime and anywhere. We are proud of the innovative work and look forward to more announcements with our partner, Tarabut, in Saudi Arabia soon. In Bahrain, the demand for personal loans has been steadily growing, with a significant increase of 11.9% in 2022, totalling BD5.7 billion or 38.2% of GDP. Access to credit is crucial for consumers as it supports their financial goals, emergencies, and investments playing an important role in their financial well-being.--TradeArabia News Service Legendary investor Warren Buffett has achieved astounding returns throughout his career. From 1964 to 2022, his company Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK) delivered an overall gain of 3,787,464%, dwarfing the S&P 500's 24,708% return during the same period. Other than picking stocks that skyrocketed in value, Buffett also collects dividends a lot of dividends. Buffett famously said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." Don't Miss: Plenty of companies in Buffett's portfolio pay dividends to shareholders. Today's focus is on Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX), the largest energy stock in Berkshire's portfolio. As of June 30, Berkshire held 123,120,120 shares of Chevron. With the position valued at $19.4 billion at the time, Chevron was Berkshire's fourth-largest publicly traded holding. With oil prices being volatile, energy stocks also tend to experience wild swings. Chevron shares enjoyed massive rallies in 2021 and 2022, but are down about 7.6% in 2023. Besides trading the stock, investors can also collect dividends from the energy giant. Chevron has a quarterly dividend rate of $1.51 per share, translating to an annual yield of 3.76%. Considering that Berkshire held 123,120,120 shares of Chevron, it stands to collect $184.68 million in quarterly dividends from the company. But you don't need to be the Oracle of Omaha to earn dividends from the energy giant. Growing Dividends From Chevron In January, Chevron's board approved a 6% increase to the company's quarterly dividend to $1.51 per share. With this increase, Chevron is on track to mark 2023 as the 36th consecutive year of increased annual dividend payout per share. Story continues Chevron follows a quarterly distribution schedule. If you want to collect $1,000 per month from the company, you are looking at $3,000 per quarter. And that means you would need to own 1,986.75 shares of the company. This is calculated by dividing the $3,000 by the per-share quarterly payout of $1.51. And because Chevron currently trades at $160.63 per share, 1,986.75 shares would mean about $319,132 worth of the stock. If you aim for a smaller target of earning $200 per month or $600 per quarter you would need 397.35 shares ($600/$1.51) or $63,826 worth of Chevron stock (397.35 x $160.63). While Chevron shares have pulled back recently, Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar sees better days ahead for the oil supermajor. The analyst has a Buy rating on the company and a price target of $215 around 33% above where the stock currently sits. Stocks can fluctuate wildly, and even top analysts aren't right 100% of the time. Always conduct comprehensive research and due diligence before diving in. Read Next: Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article How To Collect $1,000 Per Month From Warren Buffett's Favorite Energy Stock originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. (Reuters) - On Sept. 27, barely a week before Hamas fighters launched the largest surprise attack on Israel since the 1973 Yom Kippur war, Israeli officials took the chair of NATO's military committee to the Gaza border to demonstrate their use of artificial intelligence and high-tech surveillance. Israeli officials publicly spoke of using such technology in their last major war in Gaza in 2021, and both its best AI and latest drones are doubtless again helping select and destroy targets in the territory. The failure of those systems to deliver advanced warning of Saturday's Hamas attack, however, represents a failure of intelligence likely to be studied and discussed for years. The scale of events over the weekend is still only just becoming clear, with 700 Israelis now reported dead and hundreds of Palestinians killed in retaliatory strikes on Gaza. Multiple forward Israeli military positions and communities near Gaza were overrun, in many cases apparently with no or little warning, while the scale of Hamas missile launches at times overwhelmed Israels sophisticated Iron Dome defences. U.S. and allied intelligence agencies that congratulated themselves on their early warning of Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine also appear to have been taken by surprise. They will also likely be examining what happened for lessons to avoid the same thing happening with the potential conflict that now preoccupies Washington most: any Chinese invasion of Taiwan. There will have been warning signs, one former Western intelligence official said on condition of anonymity. Clearly, Hamas were able to do this without leaving a data trail, or the clues were there but not interpreted from the data. From drones overhead utilising face recognition software to border checkpoints and electronic eavesdropping on communications, Israeli surveillance of Gaza is widely viewed amongst the most intense and sophisticated efforts anywhere. Story continues According to a NATO statement, Dutch Admiral Robert Bauer was visiting Israel last month in part to learn from the expertise of Israels nearby Gaza Division and "seek out innovative military capabilities." In May, Israeli Defence Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir said the country was on the brink of becoming an artificial intelligence "superpower", using such techniques to streamline decision-making and analysis. Events this weekend suggest Israeli authorities were already becoming overconfident in those abilities. That may be a warning for other governments, increasingly turning to a range of artificial intelligence contractors who promise to be able to deliver incisive analysis and early warning. Such techniques can prove invaluable for synthesising huge volumes of data, particularly in technical areas such as sonar or radar. But they are only as good as their sources of material and human activity in a congested urban environment like Gaza is rarely simple to interpret. Israels ongoing air and perhaps coming ground offensive into Gaza will be seen as a chance to avenge the attack but also reassert the reputation of the Israeli security state and high-tech industry that supports it while Israeli officials argue that any resultant civilian casualties remain the fault of Hamas. Israeli officials say each of their previous wars and operations in Gaza has utilised ever more precise intelligence and strikes but its 2021 attacks still killed almost 350 Palestinians. Targets currently being hit have likely been collated over months and years. HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT? In concealing their attack, Hamas will have been helped by conditions of Gaza Strip, where Hamas seized power in 2007 and some 2.3 million people are hemmed in behind a 51-km border. The densely populated and built-up nature of Gaza will have helped Hamas position equipment such as bulldozers close enough to the fenced border be used at speedpresumably without using communications suspected to be monitored. To what extent fighters were pre-warned by commanders of plans for the assault remains unclear, but given Israels reputation for recruiting human sources, Hamas leaders may have kept their plans extremely tightly held. Even a warning of hours or minutes might have made a difference to shocked Israeli troops and civilians living close to the border with Gaza. The final moments before the assault when movements could more readily have been tracked may have been missed over the Sukkot religious holiday, as well as earlier training including that of paraglider-flying militants. The other major question, for both Israel and the world, is what other nations and their proxies might have known in advance. According to former Israeli military spokesman Jacob Dallal writing in the Times of Israel this weekend, Israeli intelligence this autumn believed a much greater threat was an attack from Iranian-backed Hezbollah launched from Lebanon. Israel may still fear the Hamas assault from Gaza is a precursor to that. Hezbollah said on Sunday it had fired rockets and artillery into three points in Israel "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. Israel is likely also to be more sceptical now of Egypt which had pledged to secure its Gaza border as well as Qatar, which houses a Hamas political HQ and brokered a deal between the group and Israel to reopen the Israel-Gaza crossings at the end of September after a two-week shutdown. As Israel looks to recover hostages, those two nations may yet be among the best avenue for negotiation. But with rumours that multiple U.S. and other foreign citizens might also have been killed or taken, Hamas may shortly also find itself on the receiving end of U.S. and perhaps wider military action with all the intelligence resources that come with it. COMPLEX REGIONAL RELATIONS Hamas described its weekend operation as an effort to liberate Jerusalems Al Aqsa mosque, scene of mounting confrontation between religious nationalist Jews and Palestinian protesters. In doing so, they look to be hoping to exploit pre-existing widespread regional antipathy to Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government in particular. That and anger at Israels massive military response in Gaza may complicate an imminent U.S.-negotiated deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel, building on a similar accord with the United Arab Emirates. Blocking that would clearly benefit Iran. Immediate statements of support from Tehran for the attacks by Hamas as well as what Israel says is a long-running effort to ship weapons to both Hamas and Hezbollah will also intensify Israeli suspicions that Iran was involved directly in the weekend assault. Israels border with Syria is also unpredictable, controlled in some areas by Islamic State. So is the situation within Syria itself, where Russia, China and Iran have all quietly stepped up support for the Assad government. Other forces also remain in Syria, with the U.S. last week taking the unusual step of shooting down a Turkish drone they said appeared to threaten their own forces and Kurdish allies. All point to increasingly messy regional dynamics following the invasion of Ukraine. U.S. and Western officials have pressured Israel to reduce its ties with Russia, as well as largely successfully persuading the government and its tech firms to pull back on quietly growing financial ties with China.Last month, Mossad chief David Barnea told a conference that Israel worried Russia might sell Iran advanced weaponry in return for vital drones. Hamas leaders said earlier in the year they had met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. Since the Hamas attack, Russia has reasserted its support for an independent Palestinian state and called for a ceasefire while Israeli officials have criticised China directly for failing to condemn Hamas. For Moscow or Beijing to have directly encouraged Hamas to take the actions it has this week even tacitly through Iran would have been a major and perhaps unlikely risk. But officials in both capitals will be watching events very closely, learning every lesson they can for their own current and future confrontations. (Editing by Mark Heinrich) The ideological divide between the US and China in the United Nations, reflecting a broader global competition playing out between the two countries, may widen after a key vote this week. While Beijing is all but assured of a seat on the United Nations Council on Human Rights at Tuesday's election, given that the spot is uncontested, Beijing's detractors are calling on member nations to use the power of silence and leave their ballots blank. Majority voting by the 193-member UN General Assembly Tuesday is broken out by region and the Asia slate has three candidates for three spots, giving China an easy ride. Critics say UN elections, wherein back room deals frequently trump genuine debate and lofty principles, typifies a sclerotic system. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. "It would be better to leave one seat empty and find a suitable candidate later," said Louis Charbonneau , UN director with Human Rights Watch. "We can't say it's realistic, but it is possible. It's basically a rigged election system, but you never know. We have had other surprises." Among those, he said, are Russia's unexpected 2016 electoral loss for the human rights body, in part over its support for Syria, and China's narrow win in 2020 that might have gone the other way had there been another candidate. While human rights groups have touted the "don't vote" strategy before - which some consider naive - civic organisations say their campaign is more forceful this year. Seats on the council are hotly contested in part because it is among the few UN bodies that get results. Measures are passed by simple majority and permanent Security Council members the US, China, Russia, France and Britain lack a veto. Story continues Thus even as the Security Council has failed to sanction Moscow over Ukraine, the Human Rights Council booted Russia off last year, launched an official inquiry, tabled resolutions and held spirited debates. "You have to be in it to win it," said Marc Limon, executive director of Universal Rights Group, a civic group headquartered in Geneva, where the council is based. "That's why China wants to be there, why Russia wants back in." Moscow's return campaign has set up another UN showdown between democracies and authoritarian states, its outcome less assured than China's campaign given Russia's competitive race against Albania and Bulgaria for two Eastern European seats. "If [Russia] were elected, it would be a catastrophe, for the credibility of the Human Rights Council, for the UN,' said Limon. "For the General Assembly one year to kick a country off the council for gross human rights violations, and then, less than a year later, to elect them back onto the body - you don't need to be an expert in international relations to see how that will play with the public," he added. Local residents dig graves at the cemetery in the village of Hroza, near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. The day before, 52 people were killed when Russian missiles struck a house full of people mourning other losses in the war. Photo: Reuters alt=Local residents dig graves at the cemetery in the village of Hroza, near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. The day before, 52 people were killed when Russian missiles struck a house full of people mourning other losses in the war. Photo: Reuters> Human rights groups will need to push harder to check China's and Russia's influence, added Ted Piccone, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "If you don't want to vote for China or against China, then abstain," he said. "Make it harder for China to get 97 votes. If they didn't clear, there would have to be another ballot and symbolically it would be very important." A week ago, it looked like Russia would win, analysts said, as initial outrage over the invasion abated somewhat and Moscow's lobbying campaign with African countries - including increasingly authoritarian Burkina Faso and Mali after recent coups - seemed to pay dividends. But there appeared to be a late surge in support for Albania, they added, as Tirana organised events and met with member delegations in New York and Geneva. "Western diplomats have gotten quite worried," said Richard Gowan, UN director with the International Crisis Group consultancy. "There are rumours that Albania is picking up a good deal of last-minute support though." Rana Siu Inboden, a senior international security fellow at the University of Texas, Austin and former State Department human rights official, said the West has been less than strategic about pursuing its interests at the UN. "I'm glad I'm not working at the State Department trying to lobby on this because, for whatever reason, it is an uphill battle. The worst thing would be if both China and Russia end up on the council together." There is little sign that China has actively lobbied on Russia's behalf, analysts said, in part because of its own candidacy and juggling act. Beijing's long-standing advocacy of territorial integrity and non-interference in other's domestic affairs has made it difficult to push Moscow's case too aggressively, they added, amid growing global concern over China's own military posture toward Taiwan, the South China Sea and India. In recent years, states that once shied away from human rights debates - other than to block measures critical of their records - have increasingly refashioned the debate. Led by China, they have redefined human rights, from political expression to raising people out of poverty, orderly state control and citizen safety, which play to Beijing's strengths as an economic powerhouse fixated on security. "The structure of Human Rights Council elections and the way they're set up is a microcosm of the way the international system is working and not working," said Piccone, who served at the US National Security Council, State Department and Pentagon from 2000 to 2008. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the council kicked off a member that committed gross human rights violations, he said. "That's the upside. On the downside, Russia is running for election again, and it's probably the most important vote this fall, a real bellwether on whether the UN will hold Russia responsible for ongoing violations," Piccone added. "Compared with China, at least it's a competitive slate." China's UN mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In May 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping defended Beijing's human rights record, saying nations should be allowed to choose their own course. "China has successfully embarked on a path of human rights development that conforms to the trend of the times," he told a visiting council delegation. "We don't need 'masters' that dictate to other countries." Fuelling uncontested elections are the significant resources member states spend lobbying and their desire to ensure that taxpayer money is not wasted. Furthermore, even as Washington and US-led civic groups decry the lack of competition, experts say, the US is hardly blameless. When the US ran in 2009, for instance, it arm-twisted New Zealand to drop out so it could run uncontested. A loss at the polls is embarrassing for any country, but particularly difficult in the US given its position as leading UN donor and strong Republican Party opposition to the institution. "The worst of all is the US," said Limon. "Every time they've been elected to the Human Rights Council, they've done so by engineering a clean slate." Limon added that urging member states to leave ballots blank for China or other alleged violators in unchallenged slates is unlikely to work. Three of the five regional blocs this year - Latin America and Central Europe are the exceptions - are uncontested. A better strategy, he argues, is to encourage more small states to run. This would widen the field, break the grip of a few larger countries reelected repeatedly and play well with the Global South. Of the four uncontested Asia group seats this year, for example, big players China, Indonesia and Japan have held the post five times before, while the fourth, tiny Kuwait, has been on once. Winners are required to step down for a year after two consecutive three-year terms on the 47-member body. A Universal Rights Group report released this week underscores China's growing clout and ability to further its agenda at the human rights body. It has repeatedly voted against Western backed measures to expand political rights, failed to ratify key treaties and balked at investigations into its policies regarding Tibet, Hong Kong or Xinjiang, where up to 1 million ethnic Uygurs have reportedly been detained. A long stalled inquiry on religious freedom dates to 2006. Once again, however, the US record is hardly spotless, said Limon. A fractious Congress has even failed to ratify the seemingly non-controversial Convention on the Rights of the Child. Furthermore, in the battle for UN influence, China is doing a better job than the US these days, he added. After a period of sending hardline "wolf warrior" representatives to Geneva, Beijing has recently adopted a more conciliatory approach, posting Western-educated, increasingly deft diplomats. This contrasts with the US stance since it rejoined the council in 2022, following former President Donald Trump's decision to pull out in 2018, Limon said. "Since they came back, they don't seem to have a strategy other than going after China" in the battle for hearts and minds, said Limon, compared with Beijing's vocal support for popular development programmes. "Whether you like it or not, China is the big dog in town. Along with Africa and the [Global South], they largely control the council. And the West keeps getting beaten." 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. Long-established in the Oil & Gas industry, Comstock Resources Inc (NYSE:CRK) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. It has recently witnessed a daily gain of 6.21%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of 7.64%. However, fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Comstock Resources Inc. Comstock Resources Inc (CRK): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Comstock Resources Inc the GF Score of 52 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Comstock Resources Inc: A Snapshot Comstock Resources Inc is an independent energy company operating in the Haynesville shale, a natural gas basin located in East Texas and North Louisiana with superior economics and geographical proximity to the Gulf Coast markets. It is engaged in the acquisition, development, production, and exploration of oil and natural gas. Its oil and gas operations are concentrated in Louisiana, Texas, and North Dakota. With a market cap of $3.38 billion and sales of $2.89 billion, the company has an operating margin of 49.13%. Comstock Resources Inc (CRK): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Financial Strength Analysis Comstock Resources Inc's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's Altman Z-Score is just 1.88, which is below the safe threshold of 2.99. Although this does not imply immediate danger of financial distress, the stock may face some financial struggles if the Altman Z-score drops below 1.81. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. Story continues Profitability and Growth Prospects Comstock Resources Inc's low Profitability rank can also raise warning signals. A lack of significant growth is another area where Comstock Resources Inc seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. Lastly, Comstock Resources Inc predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. Comstock Resources Inc (CRK): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Conclusion Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While Comstock Resources Inc has a strong history in the Oil & Gas industry, its current financial indicators suggest that it may struggle to maintain its performance in the future. Therefore, investors should exercise caution when considering this stock. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Corero Network Security (LON: CNS), the specialists in distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection solutions, today announced a significant milestone in the evolution of its SmartWall ONE DDoS protection solution. SmartWall ONE advances with this latest version to a modular architecture integrating with industry-leading routers, increasing protection against DNS-based attacks, and adding 100G software appliances. (PRNewsfoto/Corero Network Security) "We continually enhance our platform to stay ahead of rapidly evolving cyber threats. This major update empowers our customers to take control of their DDoS protection like never before," said Ashley Stephenson, Corero's Chief Technology Officer. Among the key benefits: Market-leading edge router integrations. Corero's direct integration with routers such as Juniper's MX and PTX routers transforms edge devices into real-time security sensors, blocking DDoS attacks at the edge with surgical precision. This unprecedented control allows rapid, automated threat response and uncompromising protection of vital assets. Additionally, Corero's support of BGP FlowSpec provides multi-vendor flexibility, enabling unrivaled DDoS protection within any network environment. These integrations underscore Corero's commitment to adaptively protect their customers' environments and bring added value to existing infrastructure investments. Advanced protection against increasing DNS infrastructure attacks and TCP exploits . Corero SmartWall ONE introduces new protections countering the growing trend of DNS infrastructure and TCP-based threats. Unmatched throughput for SmartWall ONE 100G software appliances. Corero sets the industry benchmark for performance, extending 100G DDoS protection into a software-driven future, delivering unmatched throughput. As providers increasingly embrace software-based network infrastructure deployments, Corero is ready to scale with software-based SmartWall ONE DDoS protection solutions. Story continues To learn more, visit www.corero.com. About Corero Network Security Corero Network Security is a leading provider of DDoS protection solutions, specializing in automatic detection and protection solutions with network visibility, analytics, and reporting tools. Corero's technology protects against external and internal DDoS threats in complex edge and subscriber environments, ensuring internet service availability. With operational centers in Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA, and Edinburgh, UK, Corero is headquartered in London and listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker: CNS). For more information, visit: https://www.corero.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/corero-releases-major-ddos-protection-platform-update-with-edge-router-integration-dns-protection-and-expanded-software-appliances-301949816.html SOURCE Corero Network Security D&H Distributing The Distributor Adds a Major Security Partner to its Modern Security Offering to Help MSP and MSSP Partners Enhance Cyber Security Protection in the SMB and Mid-market Spaces HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- D&H Distributing, a leading provider of technology solutions to the North American channel, announces it has entered into a new distribution agreement with Check Point Software Technologies, a leading provider of cyber security solutions globally. D&H will carry Check Points full suites of solutions including Quantum, CloudGuard, Harmony and Horizon solutions, expanding the roster of partners in its Modern Security portfolio. Building on its robust relationships within the MSP and MSSP communities, D&H aims to bolster Check Points market presence, ensuring that the SMB and mid-market segments benefit from their top-tier cyber security technology. Check Point Quantum Spark 1500 Pro Next Generation Firewalls stand out with industry-leading protection and high-performance features, including flexible connectivity options, rapid deployment, automated threat management, and compatibility with 5G cellular, Wi-Fi 6, and SD-WAN environments. Recognized for its excellence, Check Point Software was recently named as the Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan and achieved Best-in-Class accolades for the Next Generation Firewall Industry. Additionally, their prowess in cyber defense was further highlighted with top rankings in the Miercom Next Generation Firewall Benchmark Report. D&H is thrilled to welcome Check Point into the fold of its Modern Security offerings, representing a key area of our growing Modern Solutions Business Unit, said Jason Bystrak, D&Hs vice president of Modern Solutions. Hybrid workplace environments continue to become more complex, encompassing distributed workspaces, edge computing devices, and remote networking environments. Consequently, securing this wide range of variable environments has become more nuanced, requiring a layered approach and the application of powerful cybersecurity solutions. Story continues Advancing technologies such as natural language generators like ChatGPT make it easier for nefarious actors to create effective malware. This makes it much more crucial to offer top-flight solutions like Check Points to address an array of evolving threats, said Ryan Flynn, director of modern applications and security at D&H. Were proud to offer their solutions to the channel partner community under the Modern Security umbrella. Highlighting the efficacy of their solutions, Nisha Holt, Head of Americas Channel Sales at Check Point Software Technologies, stated, Our SMB products boast a 99.7% catch rate against sophisticated Gen 5 cyberattacks. In partnership with D&H, we aim to deliver unparalleled security solutions to MSPs and resellers, fortifying the SMB landscape against mounting cyber threats. D&H partners can see www.dandh.com/security for further details. Visit www.dandh.com for more information on how to become a D&H Distributing partner, or call (800) 877-1200 in the US; (800) 340-1008 and www.dandh.ca in Canada. About D&H Distributing D&H Distributing supports resellers and MSP partners in the corporate, small-to-midsize business, consumer, education, and government markets with endpoints and advanced technologies, as well as differentiated services. D&H is ready to fill new market needs created by consolidation in the marketplace. Now in its 105th year (dandh.com/anniversary), its vendors and partners can be confident in its ability to provide a wealth of enablement resources, multi-market expertise, credit options, and consultative services. D&H is agile in response to the needs of its VAR and MSP partners, demonstrating resilience through decades of industry mergers and market disruption, overcoming everything from wars and recessions to pandemics. The company works to expand the competencies of its partners in areas such as cloud services, ProAV, collaboration, UCC, mobility, esports, digital displays, smart home automation, video surveillance, digital imaging, and server networks across a range of markets. Its value proposition includes highly lauded training opportunities and partner engagement events, dedicated Solutions Specialists, certifications, professional marketing resources, and an expanding digital Cloud Marketplace. The distributor is headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, in the US and Mississauga, Ontario, in Canada, with additional warehouses in Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Fresno, CA; and Vancouver, BC, Canada. Call D&H at (800) 877-1200, visit www.dandh.com, or follow the distributors Facebook and Twitter feeds, https://www.facebook.com/DandHDistributing/ and @dandh Contact: Suzanne Mattaboni Suzanne Mattaboni Communications, Inc. For D&H Distributing (610) 737-2140 suzanne@mattaboni.com An auto industry trade group wants the Energy Department to back off a regulatory change it says runs counter to the Biden administration's goal of transitioning to electric vehicles and having them built in the U.S., noting it could cost the Detroit Three automakers billions more in fines compared with other manufacturers. The American Automotive Policy Council, which is based in Washington and represents Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, sent a letter to Energy Department officials last week, saying the proposed change to drastically scale back the effect of what is known as the petroleum equivalency factor, or PEF will have significant consequences to the U.S. automakers' bottom lines at a time when they are investing in new electric vehicles. "The D3 (Detroit Three) have announced tens of billions of dollars of combined investments to transition their assembly operation and develop new battery operations in the United States. These investment announcements were made as early as 2019 with a specific understanding (of the current rules remaining in place)," wrote the policy council's head, former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt. In his letter, Blunt noted that the Detroit Three automakers could face more than $10 billion in fines under the change between 2027 and 2032, compared with about $3 billion for all other automakers combined, when looked at in tandem with stronger mile-per-gallon standards otherwise known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE standards under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "(The department's) deliberative action on the PEF will require the (automakers) to pay needless CAFE civil penalties, hurting American competitiveness," Blunt wrote in the Sept. 29 letter. Environmental groups, which pushed to have the standards toughened, are clamoring against the Biden administration backing off, saying automakers have plenty of tools to keep penalties down especially with the bulk of those potential fines not likely to come until later this decade and into the next. Story continues The question regarding the Energy Department's proposed change and the impact it and the standards proposed by the Biden administration which it says could result in two-thirds of all new cars being sold being electric vehicles, compared with just 6% in 2022 could have on U.S. automakers comes at a fraught time. The UAW is on strike against the Detroit Three automakers, in part because of worries about jobs that could be lost during the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and many Republican politicians, including former President Donald Trump, are criticizing the plans to transition the industry, saying consumers don't want the EVs and they are too expensive. There have also been complaints about American automakers joining forces with China-connected companies to use their battery technology or tap supply chains. Reuters first reported on the AAPC's letter this week, noting the change in the PEF could cost GM $6.5 billion, Stellantis $3 billion and Ford about $1 billion. But those charges were first specifically referenced by NHTSA in July in materials supporting its proposal to hike fuel efficiency in cars and trucks significantly, beginning with model year 2027. Along with the EPA's proposed rules for auto emissions, the regulatory changes are widely seen as promoting, if not virtually requiring, automakers to transition to selling many more electric vehicles than at present. In its proposal this summer, NHTSA noted that there could be significant compliance costs for some automakers, saying, "While some of this change may be due to increasing standards, the updated PEF value also has notable effects on manufacturers computed compliance levels." U.S. automakers, while investing billions in new battery and EV plants, have argued that the Biden administration's goals may be too ambitious and, they say, that is also true in the proposed PEF change. In the letter, Blunt argued that change actually works in favor of other automakers that have been slow to embrace plug-in EVs instead of protecting American companies. Blunt's letter also comes at a time when the Energy Department is considering whether it should delay implementation of the new PEF which is set to go into effect in 2027 because of automaker concerns that doesn't give them enough time to react with new product lines to avoid larger fines. Last spring, the Energy Department said it would significantly reduce the PEF in response to a petition filed by two environmental groups, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club. The PEF is a value, required to be determined by law, that attempts to measure the energy use by EVs, converted to what that same energy amount would be in terms of petroleum. Then, that factor is used, when looking across an automaker's fleet of vehicles, to determine whether they are meeting required fleet-wide mile-per-gallon standards. Automakers are fined for not hitting the target, though the total penalties paid by all automakers combined over the last half-century has been about $1.5 billion. The NRDC and Sierra Club successfully argued, however, that the current PEF gives automakers' EVs too much credit, meaning "that a relatively small number of EVs (could) mathematically guarantee compliance without meaningful improvements in the real-world average fuel economy of automakers' overall fleets." Last spring, just as the EPA was rolling out new stricter car and truck emission standards, the Energy Department agreed with the environmental groups, saying, "This runs counter to the need of the nation to conserve energy, particularly petroleum." 'Major' development: GM to put battery plants under master contract with union, UAW says But this, Blunt said, also runs counter to the American automakers' strategy, endorsed by the Biden administration and funded in part by billions in subsidies and investments to make and sell more EVs. He said that strategy counts on a more generous PEF to balance out the number of internal combustion engine trucks those automakers still sell which are far more than those of foreign automakers but which also consume far more petroleum. NHTSA is already planning to hike truck mile-per-gallon standards by about 4% a year, about twice as fast as car standards beginning in 2027. The PEF change, automakers say, will create "a hole," where the Detroit Three's fleet-wide mile-per-gallon average for trucks will only be about 45 mpg by 2032 well under the federal mpg target compared with 61 mpg, well over the target, with the current PEF. Cars, on the other hand, wouldn't be as impacted by the PEF changes, with the Detroit Three's fleet-wide average being about 65 mpg in 2032 compared with a target of 66 mpg. But those are a much smaller segment of U.S. automakers' sales. "The truck fleet contains more than just pickup trucks," Blunt wrote. "It also includes family vehicles such as SUVs, crossovers, and minivans. These family vehicles are 68% of the U.S. market. Moreover ... 83% of the vehicles produced by the (Detroit automakers) are included in the 'truck fleet.' " NHTSA has already estimated that the Detroit automakers' per-vehicle cost of complying with the new standards, in terms of technological costs and fines, is expected to be $2,151, compared with $546 for other automakers. Automakers want the Energy Department to delay any change to the PEF for now, arguing that it will only serve to drain investment in EV technology and reward other automakers like Toyota who have embraced hybrids, which have high mile-per-gallon capabilities but still use petroleum. Pete Huffman, a lawyer with the NRDC, said the automakers are being disingenuous with their argument. He said NHTSA's figures for compliance costs are based largely on what regulators calculate will be the EV products of each brand in model year 2027 and extrapolated out to 2032. But American automakers, he added, have already said they plan to introduce many more EV models than those calculated by NHTSA, meaning they shouldn't face those fines. "They're going to have a lot more EVs," he said. "In those more realistic scenarios, nobody pays any significant fines." He also said environmental groups oppose any effort to delay the new PEF from going into effect, given that the current one has been in place since 2000, when current EV technology was in its infancy. "It's basically a windfall they've been getting for a very long time," he said. Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit automakers: Biden rule change could cost them billions Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 16% in the last quarter. But the silver lining is the stock is up over five years. However we are not very impressed because the share price is only up 24%, less than the market return of 66%. In light of the stock dropping 5.9% 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 five-year return. View our latest analysis for Brunswick 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). During the last half decade, Brunswick became profitable. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up. 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 Brunswick has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. Take a more thorough look at Brunswick's financial health with this free 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. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Brunswick the TSR over the last 5 years was 35%, 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 Brunswick shareholders are up 12% for the year (even including dividends). But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it's actually better than the average return of 6% over half a decade This suggests the company might be improving over time. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Brunswick you should know about. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 9, 2023 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. ("Eco," "Eco Atlantic," "Company," or together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") (AIM:ECO)(TSXV:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins in South Africa, Namibia, and Guyana, is pleased to announce the following Board changes. Director Appointments Eco Atlantic is pleased to announce the appointment of Miss Alice Carroll and Miss Selma Usiku as directors of the Company with immediate effect. Miss Alice Carroll is currently the Company's Head of Corporate Sustainability and joins the Board as an Executive Director. Alice is an experienced international stakeholder and external relations professional, with over a decade of experience within the oil & gas industry. Alice is skilled in marketing strategy and project execution, leading communications, and external relations on country entries, asset acquisitions, and monetisation across a global portfolio. Alice previously worked with Azinor Catalyst, the UK focused Oil and Gas exploration company, before becoming the Global Marketing and Investor Relations Manager for the Seacrest Azimuth Group, managing all external and stakeholder relations across UK, Ireland, Namibia, South Africa, Brazil, Honduras and Indonesia. Miss Carroll holds a BSc First Class honours in Biology with Science and Society from the University of Manchester. Miss Carroll joins the Board as an Executive Director with immediate effect and will continue her role as Eco's Head of Corporate Sustainability. Miss Selma Usiku is an experienced exploration geologist with a history of working in South Africa and in both the Namibian Oil & Energy and diamond industries. Selma's experience is predominantly in exploration geoscience, geophysics, basin modelling, petroleum geology and earth sciences, from almost 10 years as an exploration geologist with Brazilian HRT and Azinam. Selma was directly involved in the wild cat wells that made Namibia's first technical discovery of hydrocarbons at the Wingat-1 Walvis Basin play opener in 2013. Selma is an active member of the Namibia Petroleum Operators Association and currently Exploration Geologist with Debmarine Namibia. Story continues Miss Usiku holds a Master of Science (MSc) focused in Petroleum Geoscience from Royal Holloway, University of London. In 2018, Selma received the Global Women Petroleum & Energy Club Award for Excellence in Africa, and she was an Ambassador for the Geoscience Council of Namibia in 2021. Miss Usiku joins the Board as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect. Retirement of Non-Executive Director Mr Helmut Angula will retire as a Non-Executive Director of the Company, having served on the board since November 2011, with immediate effect. Mr Angula will remain with the Company in the role of a senior advisor to the Board. Peter Nicol, Chairman of Eco Atlantic, commented: "I am absolutely thrilled to welcome both Alice Carroll and Selma Usiku to the Board of Eco Atlantic, both bring fresh thinking and impressive skill sets. I am looking forward to the contribution of stakeholder and technical expertise Alice and Selma bring as we build on our latest pivotal transaction in Guyana and very busy continuation of our workstreams across the Company's exploration portfolio in Namibia and Orange Basin South Africa." Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eco Atlantic, commented: "Helmut Angula joined the Board of Eco at inception in 2011, serving on both the Audit and Compensation Committees. We have benefitted greatly from his understanding of the financial and energy sectors in Namibia. We wish him all the best with his well-deserved retirement and are grateful he will continue to support us as a senior advisor to the Board." **ENDS** For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following: Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Gil Holzman, CEO Colin Kinley, COO Alice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability +44(0)781 729 5070 Strand Hanson (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris James Bellman Berenberg (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Matthew Armitt Detlir Elezi Echelon Capital (Financial Adviser N. America Markets) Ryan Mooney Simon Akit +1 (403) 606 4852 +1 (416) 8497776 Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 Mark Antelme Jimmy Lea About Eco Atlantic: Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM-quoted Atlantic Margin-focused oil & gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure. Offshore Guyana in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Company holds a 15% Working Interest in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block Operated by Tullow Oil. In Namibia, the Company holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interest in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PELs: 97, 98, 99, and 100, representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin. Offshore South Africa, Eco is Operator and holds a 50% working interest in Block 2B and a 26.25% Working Interest in Block 3B/4B operated by Africa Oil Corp., totalling some 20,643km2. AIM Rules for Companies, Schedule 2(g) Disclosures The following additional information is provided in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the AIM Rules for Companies. Miss Alice Mary Sweeney Carroll (aged 34) Current Directorships Past Directorships (in the last five years) VIM Advisory Limited VIM Property Group Limited Miss Carroll holds 1,366 common shares of no par value in the Company ("Common Shares"). Miss Carroll also holds 175,000 Restricted Share Units under the Company's Restricted Share Units Plan and holds 500 options over Common Shares. Miss Selma Ndatega Usiku (aged 37) Current Directorships* Past Directorships (in the last five years) CEVITEG Investments CC NIEUCO Trading 1093 CC Edutech Academy CC Pwaame Investment (Proprietary) Limited Grace Unlimited Investments CC TEGRIS Trading Enterprises CC Windhoek Shelfco Commercial Twenty-Seven (Proprietary) Limited * It is noted that the list of directorships above does not include 21 companies incorporated in Namibia at which Miss Selma Usiku has been registered as a director without her knowledge or consent. This matter has been reported to the Namibian police and the Business and Intellectual Property Authority ("BIPA"), and a BIPA investigation is underway. The companies in question are as follows: Market Day Television, GlobalNet ITV Africa Operations PTY, Tegris Tours & Travels cc, Tegris Financial Services cc, NIUECO, FOMONIX Procurement Services CC, Conceptial Mining and Geological Services CC, Cloudrevel Agricultural Servcies CC, Panafrican Marine Energy Namibia PTY, AVI Meteorological Services CC, Fresh unit Medical Supplies CC, Amazed Investments CC, Maki Saki Investments CC, EZRIS Travels and Tours CC, SEEKINGON Medical Services CC, Metricsilo Aviation Services CC, Black Marine Investments, MPP Construction CC, Watergate Film Production CC, Zahara Oil and Gas Namibia CC, and KNOWEZA Trading CC. Miss Usiku currently holds no interests in the Company's Common Shares. There is no further information to be disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies. 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. SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/791173/eco-atlantic-oil-and-gas-ltd-announces-board-changes OSLO, Norway, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices, is announcing a historical milestone in the PC industry. The companys latest breakthrough is set to reshape device-to-device interoperability and redefine seamless user experience across systems and devices. The contract is a license agreement and follows the successful completion of a previously announced PoC for the OEM customer. At the core of the breakthrough lies Elliptic Labs software-only AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform, which leverages the companys technological leadership in AI/machine learning, ultrasound, and sensor fusion. Device interoperability is the latest feature in the platforms set of transformative capabilities, and will enable laptops, smartphones, and other devices to seamlessly find, identify, and automatically connect with each other. This functionality will empower Elliptic Labs OEM customers to innovate new user experiences based on easy communication between devices and peripherals, making user experiences simpler and more engaging. Consequently, OEMs will be better equipped to gain customer loyalty, add stickiness to their ecosystems, and drive innovation. "This groundbreaking agreement marks a pivotal milestone in Elliptic Labs' history," stated Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "Our legacy is driving innovation within major industries like smartphones and PCs. Our pioneering, software-only platform for proximity sensing has been deployed on over 500 million devices to date. Weve followed up this success with our AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor, which is the world's first software-based Human Presence Detection solution for PC and laptop manufacturers." "Now, with the introduction of our new innovative functionality enabling device-to-device interoperability, we are once again pushing the boundaries of what an AI software Platform can bring to the market. True multi-device interoperability will revolutionize how users interact with technology in their work and in their daily lives. The functionality is yet another stepping-stone that will drive Elliptic Labs towards its stated targets. Were proud that our contribution to technological advancement is producing experiences and products that are greener, smarter, and more human friendly," continued Danielsen. Story continues About Elliptic Labs Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norways Oslo University, the companys patented software uses AI, ultrasound, and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly, and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022. Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231008829370/en/ Contacts PR Contacts: Patrick Tsui pr@ellipticlabs.com Investor Relations: Lars Holmy Lars.Holmoy@ellipticlabs.com Roshn Group, a leading real estate developer in Saudi Arabia, has announced the opening of sales for Warefa, a new mixed-use residential community in Riyadh. The project places residents at the centre of the citys exciting new growth story and is within easy reach of the capitals key locations, Roshn said. Building on the success of Roshns flagship Sedra development, Warefa will offer Saudi residents high quality, integrated living in the rapidly developing district of Al Janadriyyah. To support Warefa community and facilitate property ownership, Roshn has inaugurated a dedicated sales centre, located in the eastern part of Riyadh, within the Warefa community. It features a detailed model of the project and various interactive technologies to showcase the community, units, and facilities. These technologies provide a unique experience for ROSHN customers, allowing them to explore all unit details, types, sizes, and the entire community, making the unit selection process smooth and enjoyable. In addition, there are dedicated offices and representatives of local banks within the sales centre. These bank representatives play a crucial role in providing financial planning services to customers, ensuring that their financial budgets align with the available options. They also offer advice on suitable payment methods and future commitments. Their role extends to assisting sales advisors by providing insights into the amount a customer is willing to pay, ensuring that Roshn customers get precisely what they need and can afford. Furthermore, they facilitate the home financing process in the most convenient way possible. Roshn's goal is for the center to be a comprehensive one-stop shop, addressing all customer needs and providing the best services to facilitate long-term property ownership. Customers can schedule a visit to the center through the website. Warefa will offer 1,609 units for the first phase of the project, varying between villas, townhouses, and duplexes will be available for purchase, all supported by Roshn's mix of civic amenities and attractive public spaces. "As we chart new horizons for Roshn, our expansion into the heart of the capital is a testament to our dedication and vision. We're introducing an innovative way of living to the eastern gateway of Riyadh. Waref stands as the epicentre of a region poised to shape Riyadh's dynamic transformation in the years to come. Here, families are nurtured and set to thrive amidst Roshns signature blend of exquisite homes, verdant landscapes, pedestrian-friendly pathways, and a myriad of life-enhancing amenities. From top-tier educational establishments and state-of-the-art healthcare canter to a bustling district mall, artisanal shopping havens, and eclectic eateries and cafes, Warefa promises a holistic living experience," said Jason Margetts, Roshn Group's Chief Sales Officer. Developed over six vibrant neighbourhoods and set over 1.4 million square metres, 11% of Warefas total footprint is dedicated to open and green spaces. SINGAPORE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IX Technology (IXT), a leading Singapore-based provider of data centre mechanical and electrical (M&E) infrastructure solutions, proudly announces its expansion into Vietnam (Hanoi) and Malaysia (Johor Bahru). IXT is also a proud Silver Sponsor for Data Centre World Asia (DCWA), taking place in Singapore from October 11 to 12, 2023. You can find IXT at Stand S20. IX Technology Established in 2004, IXT has dedicated itself to becoming the foremost provider of data centre M&E infrastructure solutions in Singapore. Offering end-to-end services from design and construction to preventive maintenance, IXT ensures the uninterrupted operation of mission-critical facilities. With over 500,000 square feet of built space and active maintenance of 200 sites, IXT extends its reach to serve multinational clientele in Vietnam and Malaysia. Significant investments and strategic partnerships fortify IXT's expansion into these markets. The company officially incorporated its Vietnam and Malaysia subsidiaries in August 2023. Both countries have seen rapid growth in the data centre sector, presenting substantial opportunities in government and private sectors. Johor, in particular, benefits from its proximity to the Southeast Asian data centre hub, Singapore, attracting investments and operators. As SEA's data centre market flourishes, IXT stands ready to support this expansion with the backing of key OEM vendors and service partners. Steven Lee, Founder and Managing Director of IXT, expressed his enthusiasm for the company's expansion: "We initiated this strategic move well ahead of COVID-19. With the extension of our presence to Hanoi and Johor, we look forward to empowering our clients with high-quality professional support for their data centre M&E infrastructure." IXT's participation in DCWA 2023 marks its seventh year at the event, the premier platform for data centre professionals to connect with experts and explore cutting-edge technology solutions. Story continues For more information, visit www.ixtechnology.com.sg or follow @IX Technology Pte Ltd on LinkedIn. About IX Technology IX Technology (IXT) is a professional M&E infrastructure solution partner that provides turnkey design and build solutions and preventive maintenance services for data centres, corporate server rooms and offices. Headquartered in Singapore, IXT helps clients with mission-critical facilities to save cost, minimise risk and ensure their business operational uptime. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/emerging-leader-ix-technology-makes-strides-in-expanding-footprint-to-vietnam-and-malaysia-301949248.html SOURCE IX Technology Singapore, Singapore--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2023) - Enjinstarter, a pioneer in the blockchain crowdfunding industry, is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with Olritz Financial Group, under the leadership of renowned hedge fund manager and investment director, Sean Chin MQ. This partnership marks a significant step forward in developing the carbon value chain and promoting sustainability through investments across the carbon value chain. Sean Chin MQ, Founder of Olritz Financial Group. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10029/183368_69f69723746cb93d_001full.jpg The partnership recognizes the evolving significance of carbon as a unique asset class. By bringing together Enjinstarter's blockchain expertise and Olritz Financial Group's financial acumen, the collaboration aims to create innovative investment products that harness the value of carbon credits. This partnership will drive the development of solutions that enable organisations to achieve their sustainability goals faster and more efficiently. Prakash Somosundram, CEO and cofounder of Enjinstarter. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10029/183368_figure2.jpg Enjinstarter and Olritz Financial Group will explore opportunities in both the compliance and voluntary carbon markets. This approach ensures a comprehensive approach to carbon credit trading, offering flexibility for entities seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) boasts an abundance of carbon sinks, making it a critical region for sustainable development finance. This partnership will explore these untapped resources, potentially unlocking new avenues for sustainable financing in the region while addressing global carbon emissions. Enjinstarter and Olritz Financial Group recognize the value of quality carbon assets. Through this collaboration, the opportunity arises to acquire such assets, some potentially backed by sovereign guarantees. Story continues Sean Chin MQ, founder and investment director of Olritz Financial Group, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, saying, "Our team at Olritz Financial Group recognizes the immense potential in the carbon value chain. Enjinstarter's blockchain technology has the power to transform the carbon credit market, and we are excited to be a part of this innovative journey. Together, we will create new opportunities and drive sustainability efforts forward." Prakash Somosundram, CEO and Co-founder of Enjinstarter, shared his thoughts on this partnership, stating, "We are honoured to join forces with Olritz Financial Group and Sean Chin MQ, who brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking perspective to our mission. Enjinstarter remains committed to accelerating the adoption of carbon credits and sustainability practices globally, and this collaboration will amplify our impact. We see a massive funding gap and we hope to continue building infrastructure in this space with a special focus on the Global South." Enjinstarter and Olritz Financial will work together to explore new avenues for blockchain-based carbon credit solutions, leveraging their combined expertise in capital markets, blockchain technology, and sustainability. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to environmental responsibility and the belief that blockchain can play a pivotal role in addressing climate change challenges. Both companies will be committing a portion of the economic benefits of this collaboration to go into programs that will help local communities. For media inquiries and further information about the partnership between Enjinstarter and Olritz Financial Group, please contact: Stankevicius MGM pr@stankeviciusmgm.com +358409665893 About Enjinstarter: Enjinstarter a leading player in the Web3 and Digital Asset industry. They have invested into over 80 projects and helped more than 60 of them to raise capital on their launchpad. They are currently working towards launching a regulated launchpad focused on Climate Finance. Enjinstarter is currently headquartered in Singapore with a presence in Dubai. Founded by serial entrepreneurs Prakash Somosundram and Alvin Tang, Enjinstarter is venture funded by True Global Ventures (TGV) a Singapore based venture fund who are early investors in Animoca Brands, The Sandbox and Chromaway. Website: www.enjinstarter.com About Olritz Financial: Olritz Financial is a renowned financial institution managed by Founder and Investment Director, Sean Chin MQ. The firm specializes in identifying and capitalizing on investment opportunities in emerging markets and innovative technologies, with a keen focus on the carbon value chain and sustainability. Website: www.olritz.com For more information or interview requests, please contact: Stankevicius MGM pr@stankeviciusmgm.com +358409665893 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/183368 Long-established in the Utilities - Independent Power Producers industry, Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd (NASDAQ:ENLT) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. However, it has recently witnessed a daily loss of 10.4%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of -26.53%. Fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd (ENLT): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd the GF Score of 64 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd: A Snapshot Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd is a green energy company with a market cap of $1.51 billion. It specializes in initiating, developing, financing, constructing, managing, and operating electricity production projects involved in generating electricity from renewable energy sources. The company also provides installation services. Its segments include Photovoltaic Israel, Israel wind, Eastern Europe wind, Eastern Europe Photovoltaic, Western Europe wind energy, and Management and construction. The company generates the majority of its revenue from its Photovoltaic business in Israel and Eastern Europe. Story continues Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd (ENLT): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Financial Strength Breakdown Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's interest coverage ratio of 2.05 positions it worse than 65.08% of 315 companies in the Utilities - Independent Power Producers industry. This ratio highlights potential challenges the company might face when handling its interest expenses on outstanding debt. It's worth noting that the esteemed investor Benjamin Graham typically favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least five. The company's Altman Z-Score is just 0.58, which is below the distress zone of 1.81. This suggests that the company may face financial distress over the next few years. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.16 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 2.06, which is worse than 78.67% of 375 companies in the Utilities - Independent Power Producers industry. A high debt-to-equity ratio suggests over-reliance on borrowing and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's debt-to-Ebitda ratio is 17.58, which is above Joel Tillinghast's warning level of 4 and is worse than 89.24% of 316 companies in the Utilities - Independent Power Producers industry. Tillinghast said in his book Big Money Think's Small: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing that a high debt-to-Ebitda ratio can be a red flag unless tangible assets cover the debt. Conclusion Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While the company has a history of success, these indicators suggest that it may face significant challenges in the future. Investors should consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. 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 in contrast you can make much more than 100% if the company does well. For example, the EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) share price has soared 216% in the last three years. Most would be happy with that. On the other hand, we note it's down 9.1% in about a month. This could be related to the soft market, with stocks down around 3.4% in the last month. So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Check out our latest analysis for EOG Resources There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During three years of share price growth, EOG Resources achieved compound earnings per share growth of 191% per year. This EPS growth is higher than the 47% average annual increase in the share price. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 8.07 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, EOG Resources' TSR for the last 3 years was 274%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective EOG Resources provided a TSR of 2.2% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. If we look back over five years, the returns are even better, coming in at 4% per year for five years. Maybe the share price is just taking a breather while the business executes on its growth strategy. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with EOG Resources , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. EOG Resources 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. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Broadridge Financial Solutions fair value estimate is US$216 With US$180 share price, Broadridge Financial Solutions appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value The US$181 analyst price target for BR is 16% less than our estimate of fair value How far off is Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Broadridge Financial Solutions The Method We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$963.0m US$1.14b US$1.23b US$1.32b US$1.35b US$1.37b US$1.40b US$1.43b US$1.46b US$1.49b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 1.95% Est @ 2.01% Est @ 2.05% Est @ 2.08% Est @ 2.10% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.9% US$901 US$996 US$1.0k US$1.0k US$964 US$920 US$877 US$837 US$800 US$764 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$9.1b 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 6.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$1.5b (1 + 2.2%) (6.9% 2.2%) = US$32b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$32b ( 1 + 6.9%)10= US$16b 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 US$25b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$180, the company appears about fair value at a 17% discount to where the stock price trades currently. 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. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. 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 Broadridge Financial Solutions 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 6.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.952. 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 Broadridge Financial Solutions Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Professional Services market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Moving On: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and 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. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Broadridge Financial Solutions, we've put together three important aspects you should explore: Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Broadridge Financial Solutions that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for BR's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! 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. Key Insights Tyler Technologies' estimated fair value is US$326 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With US$388 share price, Tyler Technologies appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value The US$447 analyst price target for TYL is 37% more than our estimate of fair value In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Tyler Technologies The Method We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$352.9m US$469.2m US$557.8m US$635.1m US$700.8m US$756.1m US$802.7m US$842.6m US$877.3m US$908.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x10 Analyst x4 Est @ 18.88% Est @ 13.86% Est @ 10.35% Est @ 7.89% Est @ 6.17% Est @ 4.96% Est @ 4.12% Est @ 3.53% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% US$329 US$408 US$453 US$481 US$495 US$498 US$493 US$483 US$469 US$453 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$4.6b Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$908m (1 + 2.2%) (7.2% 2.2%) = US$18b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$18b ( 1 + 7.2%)10= US$9.2b 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 US$14b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$388, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. 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 Tyler Technologies as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.010. 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 Tyler Technologies Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market. Threat Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Tyler Technologies, we've compiled three relevant factors you should consider: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Tyler Technologies you should know about. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for TYL's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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. (Bloomberg) -- A group of offshore creditors of China Evergrande Group said they were left in the dark after the developer scrapped a meeting for its multi-billion dollar restructuring plan, in the latest example of investor frustration with governance issues at some Chinese firms. Most Read from Bloomberg The holders of more than $6 billion of the defaulted builders offshore public bonds implored the company to resolve any regulatory issues with the countrys securities regulator and top economic planning agency, describing the development as a complete surprise, according to a press release Monday. The comments come after Evergrande said late last month that it was canceling key creditor meetings and must reassess its proposed restructuring. One of the major setbacks the builder cited was that its been unable to meet regulator qualifications to issue new bonds, which had been a crucial part of its restructuring proposal. The creditors complaint adds a new twist to Evergrandes increasingly uncertain destiny, now that Chinese authorities also have launched a probe into founder Hui Ka Yans suspected crimes. The worlds most indebted developer with liabilities exceeding $300 billion will face an Oct. 30 court hearing in Hong Kong of a petition to liquidate the firm. The latest development also expands a growing list of distressed Chinese companies, including Evergrandes industry peer Country Garden Holdings Co., that have faced criticism of weak governance and disclosure practices that are putting investors off the countrys borrowers longer-term. Evergrandes position that the restructuring cannot be implemented for regulatory reasons just does not add up, according to the press release. It is difficult to believe that NDRC would actually stop a distressed company from restructuring by means of amending defaulted debt, it added, referring to the state planning agency National Development and Reform Commission. Story continues The ad hoc creditor group is advised by Moelis & Company Asia Ltd. and Kirkland & Ellis, and its members comprise international investors based in New York, London and Hong Kong, the release said. Evergrandes shares fell 13% Monday, registering a four-day losing streak. The ongoing uncertainty and lack of transparency surrounding Evergrande and its executives have exacerbated the nervousness and negative sentiment in the Chinese real estate sector, said Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management. --With assistance from Jackie Cai and Xinyi Luo. (Update with more details and comments) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. FILE PHOTO: The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen By Scott Murdoch and Clare Jim SYDNEY (Reuters) - China Evergrande Group's offshore bondholder group said on Monday it was surprised by the property developer's recent announcement that its offshore debt restructuring plan failed to meet regulatory requirements. In a statement, the ad hoc bondholder group said it had not been given any documents or filings from Evergrande despite repeated requests. Evergrande did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Evergrande announced in late September that Chinese regulators said it would be unable to issue new debt due to an investigation into its main unit, throwing its offshore debt restructure plans into disarray. The ad hoc group said it was urging the Chinese property developer, the mostly heavily indebted in the world, to seek a resolution from regulators to allow the restructuring to proceed. "This is the only way the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the regulatory issues can be resolved," the statement said. "Until then, the base case is that China Evergrande Group will be liquidated at the next winding up hearing on October 30, 2023." A Hong Kong court is due to hear a winding up petition against Evergrande on that day. (Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Sydney and Clare Jim in Hong Kong; Editing by Kim Coghill and Lincoln Feast.) FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian 500 hryvnia banknotes and U.S. 100 dollar banknote are seen in this picture illustration taken in Kiev By Karin Strohecker and Jorgelina do Rosario LONDON (Reuters) -Ukraine has been sounding out major investors over plans to restructure the country's $20 billion in international debt and the possibility of raising fresh financing, three people with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. Interactions have intensified in recent weeks led by the head of the debt management office, Yuri Butsa, who has been seeking investor feedback, they said. Talks with bondholders were due to start early next year. But concerns that international backing for Ukraine may be waning and few indications that the conflict is close to abating have brought fresh momentum into debt talks, the sources said. The U.S. in late September passed a stop-gap funding bill to avoid a government shutdown that did not include aid for Kyiv while fighting in Israel and Gaza was dominating the news flow as policymakers and investors land in Marrakech for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meeting to discuss their most pressing issues. Bondholders agreed in August 2022 two a two-year payment freeze after Russia's invasion in February shattered its economy and finances, forcing it into a sovereign default. Most of Ukraine's bilateral lenders have suspended repayment obligations until 2027 - and some analysts had expected Ukraine might ask its bondholders for a matching extension. Butsa had many direct meetings with creditors, one source familiar with the discussion said on condition of anonymity. Ukraine's ambition is to tap markets early, the source added, to help shore up access to financing while its International Monetary Fund programme runs to 2027, the person said. Talks are informal and bondholders have yet to form a creditor committee, the sources added. Ukraine's finance ministry and debt management office said they would provide comment later. Under the four-year $15.6 billion IMF loan programme approved in April, the Fund stipulated that Kyiv has to overhaul its debt, but did not prescribe a timing. Story continues FROM DEBT REWORK TO FRESH FUNDS As part of a debt restructuring, Ukraine would issue new bonds to existing holders once losses on existing debt had been agreed upon. But given the risk inherent in lending to a nation at war, investors said they would favour some form of guarantee or backstop by Ukraine's partners to agree to the deal. The market wants to see some sort of credit enhancement, said a second source familiar with the situation, adding this might prove more difficult for Ukraine to obtain given how much public money had already flowed into the country. Credit enhancements help reduce the default risk by the issuer and thereby borrowing costs - for example through guarantees. In addition to issuing bonds as part of the debt restructuring, Ukraine also told investors it is weighing options to raise fresh additional financing, the sources said. The options include collateralized and guaranteed structures that could form part of a restructuring solution and potentially facilitate financing for the country, the third source said. These could see Ukraine's international partners - either multilaterals or individual countries - provide collateral for new bonds, akin to the so-called Brady bonds issued by Latin American countries in the late 1980s that were backed by U.S. Treasuries. Whether Ukraine would be able to raise fresh funds from capital markets is unclear, as IMF programmes generally do not envisage that countries can seek non-concessional funding whilst undergoing a debt overhaul. How willing large asset managers would be to lend more money to Ukraine also remains to be seen, the first source said. The real challenge is making sure that new money commitments from private-sector creditors really materialise, said the first source. Ukraine required much more than $1 billion a year, the person said. (Reporting by Karin Strohecker and Jorgelina do Rosario in London, and Olena Harmash in Kyiv, editing by Philippa Fletcher) Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport is the home base for national carrier El Al, which is continuing to operate as Israels war with Hamas escalates. (Photo: Shutterstock/Dimitry Pistrov) (Editors note: This story was updated at 10:15 p.m. ET on Oct. 19 to include new information from FedEx.) FedEx Express joined a long list of airlines that have sharply reduced international flights into Israel after a large attack by Hamas insurgents from Gaza over the weekend, but other cargo operators are trying to keep air cargo traffic flowing during the war despite the risk in the air and at Tel Aviv airport. UPS late Monday also said it had stopped flying to Israel. We are closely monitoring the situation and have temporarily suspended flights into and out of Israel. Service disruptions may occur, the express logistics provider said in a statement to FreightWaves. UPS added in a new service alert that it has contingency plans in place to move shipments that are already in Israel to their destinations as quickly as it is safe to do so. Civil aviation authorities in the U.S., European Union and Israel all urged airlines to use caution in the regions airspace but have not restricted flights. Israels aviation regulator advised carriers to review security and threat information and to carry more fuel, and they changed some flight paths to the capital. Aircraft tracking site Flightradar24 shows an average delay of 42 to 60 minutes for flights at Tel Aviv airport. Israels air cargo market is relatively small, with about 300,000 to 400,000 metric tons of goods carried annually, according to Trade and Transport Group, a logistics consulting firm. FedEx on Tuesday said in a service bulletin that it has resumed inbound and outbound flights to the country. Delivery of shipments already in Israel will be performed where safe and possible, a message on Monday said. Lufthansa Cargo also notified customers that freighter flights to Tel Aviv are canceled through Thursday and that an embargo on receiving new shipments to Israel will run until Sunday. Lufthansa Cargo operates a Boeing 777 roundtrip between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv two times per week and a smaller Airbus A321 freighter from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv three times per week. Story continues Challenge Group, Israels only all-cargo operator, will continue to operate to Tel Aviv through its hub at Liege Airport in Belgium, said Gianluca Marcangelo, head of industry relations and marketing, in an email. Challenge Airlines, which operates under licenses in Israel, Belgium and Malta, has four Boeing 747-400 freighters and three 767-300s. Live tracking data showed one of the 747s on the ground in Tel Aviv on Monday, but its next destination was not available. The company is a key enabler in supplying the country [Israel] with needed commodities and supporting the local economy. We will continue to operate without compromising with the safety of our staff and assets, Marcangelo said. An Airbus A300-600 freighter operated by DHL Express arrived in Tel Aviv Monday evening from the express carriers hub in Leipzig, Germany. Two DHL 757 freighters were scheduled to arrive and depart at night, according to Flightradar24. Stan Wraight, co-founder and CEO of aviation advisory firm SASIWorld, said that if the conflict continues, he expects an influx of cargo charters to replace the cargo capacity lost on passenger aircraft. OPS Group, a member-supported information exchange for pilots, air traffic controllers and dispatchers, is warning airlines to stay away from Israeli airspace because of the high risk that an aircraft could be mistakenly shot down. It pointed to the Malaysian Air flight shot down over Crimea by Russia-supported Ukrainian separatists in 2014 as an example of the risk to civil aviation in conflict zones. The situation is far more dangerous than the sporadic rocket attacks on Israel that are the norm. And the risk extends beyond a rogue missile strike on a flight, OPS Group said. Other risks include debris from air defenses, GPS spoofing (when someone uses a radio transmitter to send a counterfeit GPS signal to a receiver antenna to override a legitimate satellite signal) that can cause an aircraft to go off course and into the path of danger, false alerts from ground proximity warning systems that are now common in Israeli airspace, and reduced route and diversion options in the event of an aircraft emergency. U.S. carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines all suspended direct flights to Israel. American said it canceled flights through Friday, while United said flights are canceled until conditions are safe. Delta has canceled direct flights to Tel Aviv for the rest of the month. In Europe, Air France suspended direct flights to Tel Aviv until further notice and Lufthansa said it wont fly there through Saturday. Many other carriers also temporarily suspended operations. Israels national carrier El Al is flying a full schedule and adding flights to bring back reservists called into duty by the government, Reuters reported. (Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified another airline as the victim of the shootdown over Crimea and incorrectly attributed the manufacturer of the A300-600 as Boeing. Its Airbus.) Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric Kulisch. RECOMMENDED READING: Wait for airfreight recovery could extend well into 2024 The post FedEx, UPS suspend freighter flights to Israel appeared first on FreightWaves. Big 5 Global, the largest and most influential construction industry event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre in December. With registrations open for participants who wish to attend the annual gathering of the global construction industry, the event, from December 4 to 7, aims to host 2,200+ exhibitors and 68,000+ attendees from more than 150 countries for four days of valuable business networking, fruitful partnerships and knowledge exchange. Big 5 Global unites the whole industry bringing together contractors, developers, architects, engineers, consultants, disruptors, innovators and suppliers to ESG advisors and international and local policymakers, empowering the development of the construction industry. The construction industry is booming in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, with over $7 trillion in active projects and $3.8 trillion worth of recently awarded projects, according to ABiQ. The increasing number of projects in the region attracts a wide range of stakeholders, making Big 5 Global the ultimate platform for numerous opportunities for both local and global companies wanting to meet decision-makers. The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure continues to support the event, emphasising the importance of industry collaboration and tackling the impact of climate change. Ben Greenish, Senior Vice President Construction, dmg events, organiser of Big 5 Global, said: For 43 years, Big 5 Global has continued to serve as a true testament to the regions attractiveness in the global construction arena, bringing together groundbreaking ideas, cutting-edge technologies and unparalleled expertise. The event not only enhances the diversity of offerings with the participation of 2,200+ exhibitors but also fosters international collaborations and promotes cross-border partnerships as stakeholders from different parts of the world come together to share products and services whilst driving the industry towards a sustainable future. Eight product sectors In its 44th edition, Big 5 Global is once again accompanied by eight specialised events covering the entire construction value chain. These include Big 5 Heavy, Middle East Concrete, Windows Doors & Facades Event, Gulf Glass, HVAC R, Middle East Stone, the Urban Design & Landscape Expo and FM Expo. Twenty country pavilions shine the spotlight on construction solutions from Germany, Italy, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, the UK, Turkiye, Cyprus, India, Austria and China, among others. "The return of Austria's participation at Big 5 Global after 5 years underscores the importance of showcasing innovations on a global stage. It comes at a time when Austria is seeking to meet new buyers in the booming MEASA market and engage in partnerships, added Greenish. The event gathers over 50,000 products and solutions and welcomes a host of new-to-show brands. Eight product sectors take centre stage at Big 5 Global including building envelope and special construction, building interiors and finishes, construction technologies and personal protective equipment, intelligent buildings, MEP services, off-site and modular construction, digital construction products and services and solar products, technologies, and services. Advancing thought leadership Big 5 Global brings together leaders, experts, innovators and practitioners from various related industries, such as contracting, architecture, engineering, technology and sustainability, among others to maximise the potential of the regional construction market, as a global leader. In 2023, Big 5 Global is accompanied by Big 5 Global Leaders Summit, Big 5 FutureTech Summit as well as Big 5 Talks which are being held under 10 different streams including Project Management, Concrete, Geotechnical, Architecture, Solar, Facilities Management & Retrofit, Facades, HVAC R & MEP, Offsite & Modular, Technology, and Urban Design & Landscape. This years Big 5 Global will celebrate the third edition of Big 5 Global Impact Awards, recognising innovation, sustainable development, technology and digital achievements in the construction industry in 19 categories. With shortlists being announced, 100 finalists will undergo intense competition to lift the winners trophy. The annual exhibition is free to attend for industry professionals. Visitor registrations are open at https://www.big5global.com - TradeArabia News Service Federal Reserve vice chair of supervision Michael Barr pushed back against recent claims that a new US proposal requiring banks to bolster their capital buffers would curb lending and hurt the economy, telling bankers that their industry thrived after regulators imposed changes following the 2008 financial crisis. "The private costs of capital must be weighed against the social benefits of higher capital in creating a healthier, more resilient financial system and reducing the likelihood of financial crises," the Fed official said in a speech made Monday to the American Bankers Association in Nashville. Federal Reserve vice chair for supervision Michael Barr, testifying on Capital Hill in May. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein (Evelyn Hockstein / reuters) He cited similar concerns bankers had about lending and economic growth in the years after the 2008 crisis, as regulators asked banks to boost their capital cushions to protect against future blowups. Yet, he said, the US economy grew, banking profits recovered to historical averages, and the banking system expanded in size to $23 trillion in assets from $12 trillion. "As banks increased their capital cushions, their profitability grew, as did their market valuation," he said. "This is not to dismiss arguments that higher capital could harm the economy just to note that similar warnings were not borne out in recent experience." US regulators proposed their most recent set of changes in July, saying banks affected by the changes would see an aggregate 16% increase in their capital requirements. Regulators said the increase would primarily affect the largest banks and that most have enough capital already to comply. Capital is the buffer banks have to hold to absorb future losses. Regulators also proposed changes in how these banks assess risks and widened the scope of the new rules to institutions with as few as $100 billion in assets, meaning roughly 30 banks would be subject to the same calculations. That would include giants such as JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC) as well as midsized regional banks such as Fifth Third (FITB) and Regions (RF). Story continues Regulators are accepting comments on this proposal through Nov. 30. Banks have reacted aggressively to the suggested changes. Several bank trade groups sent a letter to the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency asking them to "re-propose" the rule, arguing that the initial proposal "relies on data and analyses that the agencies have not made available to the public." JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon on Capital Hill in May. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein (Evelyn Hockstein / reuters) JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon called the new proposal "hugely disappointing," warning that it could push more lending into private credit markets. "I would love to know what they really want to accomplish," Dimon said. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon also didnt hold back. "I dont think these rules make sense," he said. Financial Services Forum President and CEO Kevin Fromer on Monday said "the largest banks have tripled their capital since the crisis and have clearly demonstrated their strength and resilience. There is no evidence in the proposal or todays remarks that justifies a 20 percent increase, and no one should downplay the costs of these increases to the economy. Barr said the bulk of the increase in proposed capital is tied to trading and other areas besides lending activities that he says have generated large losses at big banks and areas where he feels current rules have shortcomings. "The effective rise in capital requirements related to lending activities in the current proposal is a small portion of the estimated overall capital increase," Barr said. Barr estimated the higher requirement would increase the costs to banks for funding the average lending portfolio by up to 3 basis points. Though, he added, "We recognize that the cost of funding for a specific loan would depend on the specific risk weight for that activity and that there may be other channels by which higher capital requirements could matter." He said the Fed is very interested in public feedback for the capital proposal but that since the Fed has just begun receiving comments, he couldnt say how the rules could evolve. Barr noted that the Fed has already heard concerns that the proposed risk-based capital treatment for mortgage lending, tax credit investments, trading activities, and activities that generate fee-based income might overestimate the risk of those activities. Regulators have argued the changes are needed to make lenders stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for shocks like the crisis of this spring, when the failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic triggered deposit withdrawals across the banking world. Barr said Monday that banks need to be prepared for the worst. After the 2008 crisis, he said, it took six years for employment to recover. The cost of a financial crisis could range from $5 trillion to $25 trillion, he added. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance FLYPLAY HF 85% Load Factor, 164,000 passengers & PLAY Cabin Crew wins USA Today Readers Choice Award PLAY carried 163,784 passengers in September, which is a 77% increase from September 2022 when PLAY carried 92,181 passengers. The load factor in September 2023 was 85%, compared to 81.5% load factor in September 2022. PLAY had an on-time performance of 85.1%. in September 2023. Of all passengers flying with PLAY in September 2023, 22.9% were departing from Iceland, 31.6% were traveling to Iceland, and 45.5% were connecting passengers (VIA). Delivering such a good load factor in the month of September, which is historically a slow month in travel, is notable because PLAY increased its capacity considerably by adding four new aircraft to its fleet this spring. Average ancillary revenue continues to rise for PLAY, being 23% higher in September 2023 compared to September 2022, and the trend is looking robust for the coming months. PLAY Wins USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Award PLAYs flight attendants have been recognized as the best cabin crew by USA Today. PLAY was nominated by USA Today and readers and fans voted for the top 10 airlines. PLAY was selected as the #1 cabin crew after four weeks of voting. PLAYs cabin crew is known for a friendly, accommodating and helpful service during PLAYs flights and this award is a true testament to their outstanding work. Among the airlines that were nominated were Virgin Atlantic, Fiji Awards, Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, Korean Air, British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. PLAY Delivers a USD 12 million profit in Summer 2023 PLAY Airlines turned a USD 12 million profit over the summer months of 2023. It is the first time the company has reported profit from operations after tax at the end of the summer season. It shows that PLAY was a profitable company for the summer and that its business model is working well. PLAY expects to carry around 1.5 million passengers in 2023 and forecasts carrying 1.8 million passengers in 2024. PLAY has secured two additional aircraft for the year 2025, which will expand its fleet to 12 A320neo family aircraft from Airbus and is looking into further capacity increases. Story continues Birgir Jonsson CEO: Its great to see such a strong load factor for the month of September, which is historically a slow month in the aviation industry. We continue to perform well in our key markets after seeing solid financial results over the summer months of 2023 with revenue nearly doubling from last year and the airline delivering a net profit of $12 million in the same period. For our cabin crew to win the USA Today 10Best Readers Choice Award is a massive achievement that makes us all very proud of our fantastic crew. It has only been just over two years since our inaugural flight and just over one year since our first flight to the USA. We know that our cabin crew is dedicated, prioritizes safety and customer satisfaction, and makes the on-board experience fun, and the recognition from USA Today 10Best is therefore well-deserved! Were thankful for their hard work that makes PLAY stand out around the world. We are looking forward to the coming winter season and I know that the whole PLAY team will keep up the good work and continue delivering good results for the company and an enjoyable experience for our passengers. Attachment Francesca Gino at Harvard Business School Harvard Business School Professor Francesca Gino In a letter to her research collaborators, Harvard Business School Professor Francesca Gino maintains that the facts back up her insistence that she is innocent of charges of research misconduct. The letter, sent Oct. 8th and obtained by Poets&Quants, brings attention to what Gino calls a broken and sloppy investigation process by a three-person committee at Harvard Business School that investigated accusations that the embattled professor had manipulated data in at least four published studies. Among other things, Gino says the committee appointed by HBS Dean Srikant Datar interviewed only two of more than 300 research assistants that she had turned over to the panel. She added that the investigation never examined raw datasets and the correct research records in its probe. An award-winning behavioral scientist at Harvard Business School, Gino was placed on unpaid administrative leave and banned from campus by Dean Datar in June after a three-person committee of current and former faculty members found her guilty of research misconduct. In an unprecedented move, Dean Datar also began the process of stripping her of tenure. The schools investigation of her work occurred after a blog called Data Colada accused her of fabricating data in at least four published research papers,and possibly many more. Gino, however, has maintained her innocence and filed a $25 million lawsuit against Harvard, Dean Datar ,and the authors of the blog for defamation, breach of contract, and gender discrimination. The blog that initially accused Gino of fraud is written by prominent data and behavioral scientists Uri Simonsohn (Professor of Behavioral Science at ESADE Business School), Leif Nelson (Ewald T. Grether Professor in Business Administration & Marketing at Berkeley Haas School of Business), and Joe Simmons (Dorothy Silberberg Professor of Applied Statistics At The Wharton School). Story continues NEW LETTER IS PART OF AN EXTRAORDINARY CAMPAIGN BY GINO TO PROVE HER INNOCENCE In addition to her lawsuit, Gino has launched an extraordinary effort to tell her side of the story in LinkedIn blog posts, letters to HBS faculty colleagues, the launch of a website, a lengthy interview with The New York Times, and now this email to her collaborators. Her campaign to prove her innocence has raised questions about the handling of the controversy by Dean Datar who is facing increasing pressure from some faculty who believe that Gino was treated unfairly and harshly. When the news broke in mid-June, I felt isolated and confused, wrote Gino. Few people reached out to check on me and ask questions. Everyone seemed to jump to conclusions based on incomplete information. Gino said that she has since learned that journals are no longer printing papers that had been accepted for publication if her name is on them. Editors want published papers to be audited, no matter when they were published, she added. Co-authors want to remove me from R&Rs in fear that otherwise reviewers will be negative. I was sad to learn about these many problems. It feels wrong to take my name off completed projects I contributed to. At the same time, these developments helped me see how much my situation created headaches for you, as well as many other collaborators. SOME SAY MY LAWSUIT IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO ADDRESS ALLEGATIONS OF DATA MISCONDUCT. ACTUALLY I AGREE She also took issue with reports that the investigation committees report was an in-depth study of her work, noting that the panel only focused on four papers. Data Colada referenced in their posts a 1,200-pagee report, wrote Gino. You, like many others, may have interpreted this as evidence that HBSinvestigatedt all my work, or at least more papers than the four studies included in the allegations Data Colada had against me. Thats incorrect. The HBS investigative committee focused only on those 4 studies. It is easy to confuse length for depth, but the final report was actually only 41 pages: So, you may ask, why is it that the report is so long? Much of the report consists of supporting documents, like the integrity research policy (48 pages, as the policy was included three times), the allegations received from Data Colada which track closely with their blog posts (18 pages), the papers with the four studies in question (233 pages, as the papers were included more than once), transcripts of interviews (251 pages). Even the cover pages, separating parts of the document, add surprising length (94 pages). And theres a considerable duplication within the file (78 pages that appear twice). The final report itself was only 41 pages long, and even there, theres surprisingly little at the heart of the matter. The committee was chaired by HBS Professor Emerita Teresa Amabile, serving as Chair, and included HBS Professor Emeritus Robert Kaplan. The professor also addressed the criticism she has received for filing her lawsuit against Harvard, Dean Datar and the three authors of the Data Colada blog. Some may say my lawsuit is not the right way to address allegations of data misconduct, wrote Gino. Actually I agree. The normal way is normal correspondence, scientific inquiry, and good science. Unfortunately, that became impossible here when Data Colada went to HBS without coming to me first; when HBSs process was beyond sloppy and not a search for the truth. With no other opportunity to defend my work, this is the path I am left with. I count myself fortunate that no matter the allegations, the actual facts are on my side. HARVARD ULTIMATELY WILL BE VINDICATED A Harvard Business School spokesperson has said the school will prevail in its defense of Ginos lawsuit. Harvard ultimately will be vindicated, claims Harvard Business Schools PR representative in an emailed statement to The Harvard Crimson. Professor Gino has raised allegations in her lawsuit that Harvard strongly denies, wrote HBS spokesperson Brian Kenny. We believe that the investigation carried out by three senior HBS faculty members was thorough, fair, and fully complied with HBSs policy and procedure for dealing with allegations of research misconduct. In an earlier email to Harvard Business School faculty, Dean Datar defended his decision to discipline Gino. I ultimately accepted the investigation committees recommended sanctions, which included immediately placing Professor Gino on administrative leave and correcting the scientific record (a measure incumbent on every responsible academic institution when research misconduct is found), Datar added. I did so after consulting confidentially with a small number of individuals at HBS and Harvard, including senior faculty members here at the School, as is permitted by our policy. The sanctions reflect a shared belief that the misconduct represented a significant violation of academic integrity and that the evidence not only met but surpassed the applicable preponderance of evidence standard. I shared my conclusions with Professor Gino and, in accordance with our policy and consistent with University practice, began implementing the institutional actions. Ginos full letter to her research collaborators follows: I am writing this note to all my collaborators. This letter is overdue. For more than a year, HBS was investigating m, but banned me from telling anyone (not to mention, as I discuss below, consulting coauthors, RAs, and experts who might help clear my name). Then when Data Colada began criticizing me publicly and HBS put me on involuntary leave, my life quickly came unwound from basics like where to get health insurance for my kids, to hostile emails from strangers, to an unexpected but unavoidable focus on preparing for litigation as the last resort way to defend my innocence. Meanwhile, multiple collaborators wanted to end projects in progress. Before I had a chance to reply in substance, many of my prior collaborators concluded I was guilty or found it difficult to see a way forward in research that involved me. What you may have read may seem compelling: Data Colada wrote their posts persuasively. And Harvard conducted an18-month-longg process, which produced a 1,200-pagee report. It is easy to assume the investigation was both fair and comprehensive, when in fact it was not. There is another side to this story. About a week ago, I launched a website to explain it: https://www.francesca-v-harvard.org/ I hope youll read the analyses Ive conducted to prove that both Data Colada and HBS reached conclusions that are wrong. So far, I posted the analyses for one paper (see here and here). I hope to post the others soon. This work takes significant time, and while litigation complicates what I can share at times, I am committed to showing, without any shadow of doubt, that I am innocent. People exhibit motivated skepticism: when we hold a positive bias towards someone, we sift through more data, hoping for some redeeming quality. But if we harbor negative feelings, we quickly make up our minds after only skimming a few pieces of information. I hope youll read my side of the story with an open mind, avoiding motivated skepticism and its close cousintom behavioral science, confirmation bias. Here are some of the most important things I wanted to share with you about the HBS investigation that you may not know from the information available to date: The HBS investigative committee only focused on those 4 studies: Data Colada referenced in their posts a 1,200-pagee report. You, like many others, may have interpreted this as evidence that HBS conducted an investigation about all my work, or at least more papers than the four studies included in the allegations Data Colada had against me. Thats incorrect. The HBS investigative committee focused only on those 4 studies. It is easy to confuse length for depth, but the final report was actually only 41 pages: So, you may ask, why is it that the report is so long? Much of the report consists of supporting documents, like the integrity research policy (48 pages, as the policy was included three times), the allegations received from Data Colada which track closely with their blog posts (18 pages), the papers with the four studies in question (233 pages, as the papers were included more than once), transcripts of interviews (251 pages). Even the cover pages, separating parts of the document, add surprising length (94 pages). And theres a considerable duplication within the file (78 pages that appear twice). The final report itself was only 41 pages long, and even there, theres surprisingly little at the heart of the matter. HBS opted to significantly limit who they interviewed: Despite considerable data available, little of it was used. For example, I provided the names of RAs who helped with my research over the last decade. The list included over 300 people. The committee interviewed only two of them. Harvards investigation did not examine raw datasets and correct research records: The committee hired a forensics firm to analyze my files and data. They did not ask me for the files the firm should use as a basis for their analyses. I pointed to some, but inexplicably they ended up using others without consulting with me on their relevance. And Im finding more and more evidence that some of the files they chose werent what they thought they were and didnt mean what they thought they meant. The investigation process was broken and limited my ability to access the tools I needed to defend myself: The process the investigative committee followed was broken including, outrageously, disallowing me from consulting appropriate experts not to mention my coauthors and RAs. (Read more about process problems here and here.) Now that Ive gotten forensics help, Ive begun a fair and comprehensive analysis of the four studies in question. I wont rest until the truth is out. When the news broke in mid-June, I felt isolated and confused. Few people reached out to check on me and ask questions. Everyone seemed to jump to conclusions based on incomplete information. Ive since learned that a lot has been happening in the field journals are not printing papers accepted for publications if my name is on them; editors want published papers to be audited, no matter when they were published; co-authors want to remove me from R&Rs in fear that otherwise reviewers will be negative. I was sad to learn about these many problems. It feels wrong to take my name off completed projects I contributed to. At the same time, these developments helped me see how much my situation created headaches for you, as well as my other collaborators. When I first heard about the Many Co-Authors project I was excited: I thought this would be an opportunity for everyone to realize Ive always used rigor in my work and have not engaged in research misconduct. But I soon learned I was being optimistic: the project was set up without any guardrails for me, and collaborators could use this as a moment to throw me under the bus for data in studies they had issues with, even if I neither collected the data nor handled it in any way. Sad enough, as I learned, this is in fact happening. Despite all that, I hope this becomes a moment for everyone to reflect on common practices in our field and make it better. How we collect and share data. How we check for data quality. What record we keep of every step of the research process. Ive seen some of the efforts taking place and they give me considerable hope of something good coming from this situation. As for me, I am still very much committed to you, as my collaborators, and your success. In due time, I will audit all my papers. For now, I am limited in the way I can engage in research. Placed on involuntary leave, I cannot use any HBS resources for research, limiting my ability to continue my passion. But Ill work hard to make sure the type of analyses Ive done on those four studies are analyses I carry out for other studies as well. Some may say my lawsuit is not the right way to address allegations of data misconduct. Actually I agree: The normal way is normal correspondence, scientific inquiry, and good science. Unfortunately, that became impossible here when Data Colada went to HBS without coming to me first; when HBSs process was beyond sloppy and not a search for the truth. With no other opportunity to defend my work, this is the path I am left with. I count myself fortunate that no matter the allegations, the actual facts are on my side. With appreciation, francesca DONT MISS: HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL DEAN HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO or THE ACADEMIC MOB COMES FOR A HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL THOUGHT LEADER The post Francesca Ginos Letter To Her Collaborators: The Actual Facts Are On My Side appeared first on Poets&Quants. Ahead of EADV, LEO Pharma announces that Professor Alexander Egeberg, a board-certified dermatologist, and top key opinion leader, will join the company as Head of Global Medical Affairs. BALLERUP, Denmark, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LEO Pharma A/S, a global leader in medical dermatology, is today announcing the appointment of Professor Alexander Egeberg, a globally recognized dermatologist and top key opinion leader as the companys new Vice President, Head of Global Medical Affairs. The announcement happens ahead of the upcoming 32nd European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress. Alexander Egeberg joins LEO Pharma from a role as Professor of Dermatology at the University of Copenhagen and head of one of the largest clinics in Northern Europe for biologic therapy at Bispebjerg Hospital's Department of Dermatology. He is a globally known professor and a board-certified dermatologist with an extensive research and clinical background. Having authored over 300 international scientific publications, he is an expert in inflammatory skin diseases with extensive experience in epidemiology, real-world evidence, translational medicine, and clinical trials. In addition, Alexander has through his work in Medial Affairs at Pfizer and as a consultant for additional global pharma companies built a solid understanding of corporate pharma. The appointment of Professor Egeberg cements LEO Pharmas commitment to medical dermatology and to integrate the clinicians and patients voices at the core of the organization. Professor Alexander Egeberg comments: "I am genuinely excited to join LEO Pharma as Vice President, Head of Global Medical Affairs. Medical dermatology is a rapidly evolving field, yet there are still many diseases with few or no good treatment options. LEO Pharma has a proud 115-year legacy in dermatology, but their ambition and transformative journey is beyond exhilarating. I look very much forward to applying my experience and perspective to support the companys commitment to advancing care for patients with dermatological diseases." Story continues Becki Morison, EVP Global Product Strategy and International Operations with LEO Pharma comments: "I am very pleased that such a strong, international profile in the dermatology space has decided to join LEO Pharma. With him on board we are adding extensive clinical experience and strong understanding of patients needs into our medical affairs work. Alexander will certainly strengthen a dermatologic mindset across our organization and ensure that we always put patient needs at the core as we continue to make a fundamental difference for those who need us most in medical dermatology. I am thrilled to welcoming Alexander to our team and looking forward to seeing his contributions to Global Medical Affairs and to our organization." Professor Egeberg will start in his new role January 1, 2024, reporting to Becki Morison. He will remain affiliated with the Department of Dermatology at Bispebjerg Hospital, and the University of Copenhagen to ensure that the patients needs, and the voice of the medical community remains deeply embedded in the core values and practices of the company going forward. --ENDS-- About LEO Pharma LEO Pharma is a global company dedicated to advancing the standard of care for the benefit of people with skin conditions, their families and society. Founded in 1908 and majority owned by the LEO Foundation, LEO Pharma has devoted decades of research and development to advance the science of dermatology, and today, the company offers a wide range of therapies for all disease severities. LEO Pharma is headquartered in Denmark with a global team of 4,400 people, serving millions of patients across the world. In 2022, the company generated net sales of DKK 10.6 billion. For further information, visit: www.leo-pharma.com www.timberpharma.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009559233/en/ Contacts Karen Frost +45 3166 1567 kasfr@leo-pharma.com (Bloomberg) -- Gold Fields Ltd. said Michael Fraser will take over as chief executive officer from January, a permanent replacement for Chris Griffith, who stepped down in December. Most Read from Bloomberg Fraser, who is currently CEO of AIM-listed Chaarat Gold Holdings, will replace Martin Preece, who has served as interim CEO since January, the Johannesburg-listed gold miner said Monday in a statement. Fraser was previously an executive at South32 Ltd. and BHP Group Ltd. Griffith left Gold Fields in the wake of its failed attempt to take over Canadian miner Yamana Gold Inc., denting a plan to expand in the Americas that faced opposition from some of the South African companys own investors. Preece will remain on the companys executive management team, and the company is continuing its search for a new chief financial officer after Paul Schmidt retired in August, Gold Fields Chairman Yunus Suleman said on a call with analysts on Monday. We were looking for someone with global experience, and Mike has worked in a number of jurisdictions, including Australia and Colombia, said Suleman. Suleman also ruled out any plans to restructure the firm or relocate its listing to New York like rival AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. did earlier this year. We really dont believe theres any justification for a relocation, said Suleman. Were not going to see Gold Fields doing an AngloGold Ashanti. (Updated with comments from Gold Fields chairman in fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Candidates for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination condemned the Saturday attack on Israel by militant group Hamas. Every American should condemn the unprovoked and massive attack on Israel by terrorists in Hamas, Former Vice President Mike Pence said in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Our prayers are with the families and soldiers of our most cherished ally. @netanyahu says Israel is at war America Stands With Israel[.] Hamas attack involved its militants infiltrating Israeli towns and the launching of missiles and 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 price. We are at war and we will win it. Former President Donald Trump said Israel has a right to defend itself in a statement. Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden Administration, Trump said. 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. Here we go again. The dastardly terrorist attacks perpetrated against innocent Israeli civilians by Iran-backed terror group Hamas deserve a swift and lethal response, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in his post on X. Israel not only has the right to defend itself against these attacks, it has a duty to respond with overwhelming force. I stand with Israel. America must stand with Israel. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said he is appalled by the barbaric and medieval Hamas attacks. Shooting civilians and kidnapping children are war crimes, Ramaswamy said in a post on X. 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. Story continues Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called Hamas a bloodthirsty terrorist organization backed by Iran. The reports out of Israel are horrific with a stunning number of dead and wounded and should be universally condemned, Haley said on X. Israel has every right to defend its citizens from terror. We must always stand with Israel and against this Iranian regime. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott said he was horrified by the attack. This blatant disregard for innocent life must be unequivocally condemned, Scott said on X. Israel has a right to defend itself and the United States must stand in support of its steadfast ally. Iran and its terror sponsors in Gaza are showing the world their true face: pure evil. Israel is at war with brutal terrorists and the United States must provide maximum support to our democratic ally, North Dakota Doug Burgum said on X. Our prayers go up for the all the victims of these horrific attacks. We also must remember who pays for this terrorism: Iran, Burgum continued. An Iran that is billions of dollars wealthier thanks to Joe Biden. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie blamed Bidens appeasement for the attack. Bidens appeasement of Israels enemies has invited this war against Israel, Christie said in a post on X. Appeasement anywhere never works. We must do whatever it takes to support the State of Israel in its time of grave danger, and we must end the scourge of Iran-backed terrorism. This terrorism is funded by Bidens idiotic release of $6 billion to the Iranians. The Hamas war against Israel is now the second war started under Bidens failed presidency, first by Russia in Ukraine and now by Hamas in Israel. Both could have been deterred by strong American leadership. Under my presidency, America will restore the deterrence Biden has foolishly given away, Christie continued. A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said early Saturday that the U.S. unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand firmly with the Government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks, Adrienne Watson said in a statement. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has spoken to Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and we remain in close contact with our Israeli partners. Updated 4:05 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. 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 Aussie Broadband (ASX:ABB). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it. See our latest analysis for Aussie Broadband Aussie Broadband's Improving Profits In business, profits are a key measure of success; and share prices tend to reflect earnings per share (EPS) performance. So for many budding investors, improving EPS is considered a good sign. It is awe-striking that Aussie Broadband's EPS went from AU$0.024 to AU$0.091 in just one year. Even though that growth rate may not be repeated, that looks like a breakout improvement. This could point to the business hitting a point of inflection. Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. The good news is that Aussie Broadband is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 2.2 percentage points to 5.0%, over the last year. Both of which are great metrics to check off for potential growth. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image. You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Aussie Broadband's future profits. Story continues Are Aussie Broadband Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It's a necessity that company leaders act in the best interest of shareholders and so insider investment always comes as a reassurance to the market. Shareholders will be pleased by the fact that insiders own Aussie Broadband shares worth a considerable sum. Given insiders own a significant chunk of shares, currently valued at AU$131m, they have plenty of motivation to push the business to succeed. That holding amounts to 13% of the stock on issue, thus making insiders influential owners of the business and aligned with the interests of shareholders. It's good to see that insiders are invested in the company, but are remuneration levels reasonable? Well, based on the CEO pay, you'd argue that they are indeed. Our analysis has discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like Aussie Broadband with market caps between AU$626m and AU$2.5b is about AU$1.6m. The Aussie Broadband CEO received AU$1.2m in compensation for the year ending June 2023. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given it's below the median for similar sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making. Is Aussie Broadband Worth Keeping An Eye On? Aussie Broadband's earnings per share growth have been climbing higher at an appreciable rate. An added bonus for those interested is that management hold a heap of stock and the CEO pay is quite reasonable, illustrating good cash management. The drastic earnings growth indicates the business is going from strength to strength. Hopefully a trend that continues well into the future. Aussie Broadband is certainly doing some things right and is well worth investigating. Still, you should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Aussie Broadband. There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up. 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 ASM International (AMS:ASM). Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business. See our latest analysis for ASM International ASM International's Earnings Per Share Are Growing If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS) outcomes. So it makes sense that experienced investors pay close attention to company EPS when undertaking investment research. It certainly is nice to see that ASM International has managed to grow EPS by 26% per year over three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about. Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. While we note ASM International achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 36% to 2.7b. That's progress. In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. For finer detail, click on the image. You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for ASM International's future profits. Story continues Are ASM International Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Investors are always searching for a vote of confidence in the companies they hold and insider buying is one of the key indicators for optimism on the market. That's because insider buying often indicates that those closest to the company have confidence that the share price will perform well. However, small purchases are not always indicative of conviction, and insiders don't always get it right. We did see some selling in the last twelve months, but that's insignificant compared to the whopping 3.4m that the CTO & Member of the Management Board, Hichem M'Saad spent acquiring shares. The average price paid was about 343. Big purchases like that are well worth noting, especially for those who like to follow the insider money. The good news, alongside the insider buying, for ASM International bulls is that insiders (collectively) have a meaningful investment in the stock. Indeed, they hold 14m worth of its stock. That's a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard. Even though that's only about 0.07% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders. While insiders are apparently happy to hold and accumulate shares, that is just part of the big picture. That's because on our analysis the CEO, Benjamin Loh, is paid less than the median for similar sized companies. Our analysis has discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like ASM International, with market caps over 7.6b, is about 3.2m. ASM International offered total compensation worth 2.7m to its CEO in the year to December 2022. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. While the level of CEO compensation shouldn't be the biggest factor in how the company is viewed, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making. Is ASM International Worth Keeping An Eye On? You can't deny that ASM International has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Better still, insiders own a large chunk of the company and one has even been buying more shares. Astute investors will want to keep this stock on watch. However, before you get too excited we've discovered 1 warning sign for ASM International that you should be aware of. Keen growth investors love to see insider buying. Thankfully, ASM International isn't the only one. You can see a a free list of them here. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed. So should Bannerman Energy (ASX:BMN) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn. View our latest analysis for Bannerman Energy How Long Is Bannerman Energy's Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at June 2023, Bannerman Energy had cash of AU$43m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was AU$9.3m. So it had a cash runway of about 4.6 years from June 2023. There's no doubt that this is a reassuringly long runway. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Is Bannerman Energy's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Although Bannerman Energy reported revenue of AU$1.4m last year, it didn't actually have any revenue from operations. To us, that makes it a pre-revenue company, so we'll look to its cash burn trajectory as an assessment of its cash burn situation. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by 25%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. Story continues How Hard Would It Be For Bannerman Energy To Raise More Cash For Growth? While Bannerman Energy does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Bannerman Energy has a market capitalisation of AU$402m and burnt through AU$9.3m last year, which is 2.3% of the company's market value. That means it could easily issue a few shares to fund more growth, and might well be in a position to borrow cheaply. Is Bannerman Energy's Cash Burn A Worry? As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about Bannerman Energy's cash burn. For example, we think its cash runway suggests that the company is on a good path. Although its increasing cash burn does give us reason for pause, the other metrics we discussed in this article form a positive picture overall. Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. On another note, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the company, and identified 3 warning signs for Bannerman Energy (2 are a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. DORTMUND, Germany, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HEXA, Belgium's number one vape brand, presented a number of products at the InterTabac 2023, showcasing their pod-systems and disposables. Since securing the No.1 position in the Belgian market in both major categories of pod-system and disposable products, HEXA has been rapidly rolling out its products to the wider European market. With the trend of disposable products gaining popularity in the European market, HEXA has created HEXA Go, which is now available in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Estonia. FEELM, the global leader in closed vape system solutions, is the technology supplier of HEXA's pod and disposable products. HEXA has been ranked No.1 in the Belgian market in both the pod-system and disposable vapes, with FEELM as the driving force behind it. HEXA Go continues the extraordinary compliance of HEXA's high quality products, as the new disposables quickly passed the EU TPD directive along with its launch. It is one of the reasons why the product has been able to seize the opportunity to promote rapidly in the European market. In the U.S. market, FEELM's parent company, SMOORE, has become the manufacturer that has helped the highest number of clients to pass the PMTA application, while in the European market, several FEELM customers, such as HEXA Go, have also quickly passed the TPD to complete their speedy rollout. As of now, HEXA Go has reached more than 50% share in the disposable segment in Belgium. The product is equipped with the FEELM Max 800+ disposable solution, which can increase the number of TPD compliant disposable product puffs from the common 600 puffs to more than 800 puffs, for the first time in the industry. Since the FEELM Max solution adopts ceramic coil, it avoids the wastage of vaporized e-liquid, a common problem in traditional cotton coils. It is leaps and bounds in increasing the number of puffs possible in TPD-compliant disposable products for the EU market, with a more delicate and smooth mouthfeel experience. Story continues Previously, HEXA pod-system products used FEELM ceramic core solution, and with this differentiated technology they quickly became the No.1 brand of pod-system vapes in Belgium. HEXAs pod vapes have captured a share of more than 70% the category's market. The success of HEXA's pod-system products is a testament that FEELM is a truly differentiated technology with significant market competitiveness. Therefore, since the beginning of the planning of the disposable category, HEXA continued to choose the ceramic core solution. It became the creation of the top brand of the Belgian disposable vape, HEXA Go. Although the HEXA Go is humbly labelled as 750 puffs, a test report distributed to visitors on the show floor confirms that the FEELM Max solution on board the HEXA Go is truly accommodating the 800+ puff technology. The report was issued by Inter Scientific, an independent third-party testing organisation, and their tests showed that the actual number of puffs in FEELM Max vaping can reach 880-920 puffs. It also verifies that the actual number of puffs in the HEXA Go can easily exceed 800. In the process of rapid growth of the European disposable market, product quality upgrading and technological differentiation is the key to breaking through the industry's highly competitive environment, to achieve transcendence of the flat line that many brands are experiencing. At present, there are several FEELM Max customers who have broken through quickly in various regions of Europe and occupied the position of disposable leaders in the local market, such as HEXA Go, AROMA KING, OS Vape and more. At this German exhibition, several new products equipped with FEELM Max technology also made a concentrated appearance, and it is not difficult to see that FEELM Max has already become a disposable technology benchmark in the European market. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231008228321/en/ Contacts Ruiqi Wang Email: Ruiqi.wang@smooretech.com Premier calls for enhancing nation's ties with Uzbekistan 08:34, October 09, 2023 By CAO DESHENG in Hangzhou ( China Daily Premier Li Qiang shakes hands with visiting Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who attended the closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games on Sunday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY Joint construction of Belt and Road, expansion of cooperation discussed Premier Li Qiang called on Sunday for China and Uzbekistan to enhance Belt and Road cooperation, promote the synergy of development strategies and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. Li made the remarks during a meeting in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, with visiting Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who attended the closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games on Sunday. Li said that China and Uzbekistan are close neighbors who share weal and woe. China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to continuously transform the important consensus reached by the two heads of state into concrete actions and tangible outcomes, and enrich the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in the new era, he said. He underlined the need for both countries to promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road, fully play the role of the intergovernmental cooperation committee, enhance the integration of development strategies, expand economic and trade cooperation, boost connectivity and increase energy collaboration. China will steadfastly support Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in following a development path that suits its own national conditions, the premier said. The country encourages more Chinese companies to invest and do business in Uzbekistan and supports Uzbekistan in building an innovative economic zone, he added. Li also called on both countries to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, sports, healthcare and other areas. China is willing to work with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, to implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit, and promote cooperation in important areas such as investment, trade and connectivity, in order to build a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, he said. Aripov congratulated China on the successful hosting of the Hangzhou Asian Games, and said that China has achieved remarkable achievements in economic and social development, which has attracted worldwide attention. Uzbekistan attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports and actively participates in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, he said. Aripov said that Uzbekistan is ready to learn from China's experience in deepening reform, expanding opening-up, and comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization, and to intensify cooperation in various fields on the basis of equality, friendship and mutual benefit. Uzbekistan wants to work with China to jointly combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and promote China-Central Asia cooperation, in order to elevate the Uzbek-Chinese relationship to a new level, he added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) UAEs Al Shirawi Equipment Co has become a member of My Inner Strenx programme of SSAB, the world-leading producer of high-strength steel. By doing this, Al Shirawi, a manufacturer of transport equipment under the ATLAS brand including trailers, tippers, and truck-mounted bodies, will use Strenx performance steel in its trailer chassis. This programme is exclusively designed for manufacturers deeply committed to producing top-tier products with Strenx performance steel, a release said. Remarkably, Al Shirawi Equipment Co - ATLAS LLC has achieved a milestone by becoming the first company in the Middle East to hold a dual brand programme membership, encompassing both Hardox In My Body and My Inner Strenx of SSAB. Hardox abrasion-resistant steel Al Shirawi had partnered with SSAB to use Hardox abrasion-resistant steel for tipper bodies and trailers since 2003. Al Shirawi Equipment Co - ATLAS LLC was appointed as Hardox In My Body member in 2016 with its Hardox applications in Tipper bodies and Tipper Trailers. Building upon this success, the company continues to excel in 2023 by joining the My Inner Strenx programme. Al Shirawi has been constantly improving its trailers and truck body manufacturing to suit the rigorous demand of the industry. By incorporating Strenx high-strength structural steel into their superstructures, Al Shirawi achieved significant benefits including reduced trailer weight, increased payload capacity, and improved overall cost-effectiveness which has been acknowledged and accepted by their customers in the region. Strenx steel has a wide range strength (from 600 MPa to 1300 MPa) allowing for reduced weight of steel structures by up to 40%, making it ideal in truck body and trailer chassis manufacturing in terms of overall strength, quality and cost. Game changing combination In tandem, Hardox abrasion-resistant steel and Strenx high-strength structural steel represent a game changing combination for building lightweight, durable, and highly efficient transportation solutions. This dynamic pairing has the potential to redefine the service lifespan, lower operational cost and enhance the overall efficiency of transport equipment within a wide array of industries, the release added.--TradeArabia News Service Key Insights K+S' estimated fair value is 31.84 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of 16.19 suggests K+S is potentially 49% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 62% higher than K+S' analyst price target of 19.64 Does the October share price for K+S Aktiengesellschaft (ETR:SDF) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. 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 K+S Is K+S Fairly Valued? 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. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) 250.1m 179.3m 370.0m 347.0m 333.0m 324.0m 318.2m 314.5m 312.3m 311.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x8 Analyst x4 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -4.03% Est @ -2.72% Est @ -1.80% Est @ -1.15% Est @ -0.70% Est @ -0.39% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 5.3% 238 162 317 282 258 238 222 208 197 186 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = 2.3b 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) = 311m (1 + 0.4%) (5.3% 0.4%) = 6.3b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= 6.3b ( 1 + 5.3%)10= 3.8b 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 6.1b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of 16.2, the company appears quite good value at a 49% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. 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 K+S 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 0.986. 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 K+S Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Opportunity Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years. Moving On: Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for 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. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For K+S, there are three fundamental items you should consider: Risks: For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for K+S (1 can't be ignored) you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does SDF'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. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Monash IVF Group fair value estimate is AU$2.49 Monash IVF Group is estimated to be 48% undervalued based on current share price of AU$1.29 Analyst price target for MVF is AU$1.32 which is 47% below our fair value estimate In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Monash IVF Group Limited (ASX:MVF) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Monash IVF Group What's The Estimated Valuation? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$24.0m AU$34.0m AU$37.0m AU$39.2m AU$41.1m AU$42.8m AU$44.2m AU$45.5m AU$46.8m AU$47.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 6.05% Est @ 4.84% Est @ 3.99% Est @ 3.40% Est @ 2.98% Est @ 2.69% Est @ 2.49% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.0% AU$22.6 AU$30.3 AU$31.1 AU$31.1 AU$30.7 AU$30.1 AU$29.4 AU$28.6 AU$27.7 AU$26.7 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$288m Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. 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 (2.0%) 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 6.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$48m (1 + 2.0%) (6.0% 2.0%) = AU$1.2b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$1.2b ( 1 + 6.0%)10= AU$682m 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 AU$970m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$1.3, the company appears quite good value at a 48% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. 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 Monash IVF Group 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 6.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. 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 Monash IVF Group Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Healthcare market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year. Next Steps: 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. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Monash IVF Group, there are three important elements you should further examine: Risks: As an example, we've found 1 warning sign for Monash IVF Group that you need to consider before investing here. Future Earnings: How does MVF'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 High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Australian 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. (Bloomberg) -- The electric vehicle unit of defaulted property developer China Evergrande Group said Dubai-based NWTN Inc. will suspend carrying out its obligations under their share subscription agreement. Most Read from Bloomberg NWTN isnt obligated to provide the second and third tranches of transitional support to China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group Limited, given the current situation, according to a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Sunday. Evergrande NEV said its willing to renegotiate the deal and that trading of the company will resume on Monday, according to the filing. The move adds to the list of questions over the future of the worlds most indebted developer, after setbacks to its restructuring plan in recent days roiled financial markets and raised the risk of a liquidation. Evergrande NEV stock is an important part of the wider groups debt restructuring, which is among the largest ever in China. Evergrande has proposed that creditors can choose to receive a combination of new debt and instruments tied to the shares of its property-services unit, its EV division or the builder itself. Founded in 2019, the Guangdong-based EV unit of what was Chinas largest developer announced ambitions to become the worlds biggest EV maker within three to five years and that it would start selling vehicles soon. Peak Valuation The car maker had said in July that it plans to raise about $500 million to satisfy capital requirements for production and sales of its Hengchi 5 EVs, its only available model. The company delayed payments and halted production when liquidity strains and liability issues mounted around its parent. Story continues In August, NWTN, a mobility technology company, said it would invest $500 million in Evergrande NEV in exchange for shares and a majority of seats on the electric vehicle makers board. At its peak valuation in April 2021, Evergrande NEV was worth more than Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., despite not yet having started sales. It began delivering electric sport utility vehicles late last year. Still, the company recorded a net loss of 84 billion yuan ($11.7 billion) for 2021 and 2022 combined, according to results released in July. The firm also warned of its ability to continue as a going concern. Hui Ka Yan, the founder of Evergrande, which is at the epicenter of Chinas property crisis, has been put under police control, suggesting the firm may have entered a new phase involving the criminal justice system. (Updates with context on Evergrande NEV throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Israeli stock and bond prices dipped on Sunday a day after Hamas terrorists killed at least 700 people and wounded thousands more in a series of rocket and gun attacks over the weekend. Israels TA-35 Index, which is composed of 35 blue-chip companies, was down 6.47% on Sunday while the broader benchmark TA-125 index declined by 6.69%. Banking shares weighed heavily on both indices, declining by 9% with outflows of 2.2 billion shekels (or $573 million), with government bond prices also falling by up to 3% in the markets initial response to the deadliest attack on Israel in decades. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is at war with Hamas in the wake of the attacks while the countrys security cabinet voted to officially declare war for the first time since the Yom Kippur War of 1973. AT LEAST 600 DEAD, ISRAELI PM NETANYAHU DECLARES WAR AFTER HAMAS TERRORISTS LAUNCH MASSIVE ATTACK "They attacked us on the ground, in the air, and also through the sea," said Israel Defense Force international spokesperson Lt. Col. Richard Hecht in a video posted to the IDFs account on X, formerly known as Twitter. "They didnt go for military targets. They went for civilians. They went for grandmothers, children, babies." Hecht called the attacks by Iran-backed Hamas "barbaric" and likened images of the attacks to those carried out by the Islamic State. He said Israel would have a "very severe" response to Hamas and added, "In a way, this is our 9/11." READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE TO RETRIEVE HOSTAGES: COUNTERTERRORISM EXPERT ISSUES URGENT WARNING OVER ISRAEL WAR Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that Israel is "at war" with Hamas following the weekend's attacks. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he has directed heads of ministry departments to provide budgets to help manage the war. The Bank of Israel said its too early to assess the economic damage from the conflict but noted that the countrys 2014 war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza , which lasted 50 days and caused about 3.5 billion shekels in damage, or 0.3% of Israels gross domestic product (GDP). Story continues The central bank has been projecting that Israels economy will grow by 3% in 2023 and 2024. Many Israeli businesses were closed Sunday, although the countrys 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 Israels production independence even in times of emergency, the residents of Israel will lack nothing." Reuters contributed to this story. Original article source: Israel markets slide in fallout of Hamas attacks (Bloomberg) -- Israel ordered the shutdown of a major gas field run by Chevron Corp. in the eastern Mediterranean, citing safety concerns as fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military rages for a third day. Most Read from Bloomberg Due to the situation, the security establishment ordered to temporarily stop the supply of natural gas from the Tamar reservoir, the nations energy ministry said in a statement. Gas discoveries in Israel over the last two decades have transformed the nations economy, and the shutdown of the field about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of Haifa threatens its plans to become a major regional supplier. Israel in August said it would export more gas to Egypt from the project amid strengthening ties with its neighbor. Some of the supply to Egypt goes on to Europe, where buyers are increasingly reliant on alternatives to Russian pipeline flows. In the short term, the fields stoppage may result in lower onward shipments, or even delays. Gas prices in Europe surged as much as 14%. Chevron has been looking at how to expand output in Israel and supply the fuel to neighboring markets or convert it into LNG for Europe, including the possibility of a floating plant. Saturdays surprise attacks by Hamas and Israels subsequent response raise questions about the future security of the region. The combined death toll in the conflict is already at more than 1,100 as the fighting continues. Our top priority is the safety of our personnel, the communities in which we operate, the environment and our facilities, Chevron said in an emailed statement. The company is still supplying customers in Israel and the region from another major project called Leviathan, it said. Story continues Tamars gas is produced from six wells, with output from each at about 7.1 million to 8.5 million cubic meters a day, according to Chevrons website. --With assistance from Ruth Liao and Paul Wallace. (Updates with context from second paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. FILE PHOTO: A part of the facade of U.S. chipmaker Intel Corp's "smart building" is seen in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv By Max A. Cherney, Mica Rosenberg and Steven Scheer SAN FRANCISCO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Tech companies operating in Israel are expected to fortify security as they could face disruptions, said investors and analysts, as the Israeli military shifted to a war footing that may include a full-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip. Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted an unknown number of others, kicking off a fresh conflict in the region. High-tech industries have for a few decades been the fastest growing sector in Israel and crucial for economic growth, accounting for 14% of jobs and almost a fifth of gross domestic product. Israeli stock and bond prices slid on Monday after gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns on Saturday. Militants also fired thousands of rockets into Israel in a surprise attack. Some rockets reached as far as Tel Aviv, prompting airlines to suspend flights to and from Israel. Israel retaliated with air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, and hundreds of people have died. "It is a huge disruption to business as usual," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer and founding partner at Cresset Wealth Advisors. He said in the short-term resources could be diverted if the conflict expands, such as staff at tech companies being called up as military reservists. Israel has already said it would call up an unprecedented 300,000 reservists, many of which could come from U.S.-based tech operations. Were preparing for this to take a while, said Noam Schwartz, the Israeli-born founder and chief executive of ActiveFence, "a tech firm that specializes in online threats with headquarters in New York and Tel Aviv. His company will keep serving customers during the conflict, he said, even as he expects to return to Israel for military duty. We have enough people worldwide to make sure everyone is in check. Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial in Charlotte, North Carolina, said there will likely be a "tremendous effort" to guard physical installations for companies based in Israel from attacks because some technology spending is tied to the military. Story continues U.S. tech shares were largely down, including bellwethers with large operations in Israel. A spokesperson for chipmaker Intel, Israel's largest private employer and exporter, said the company was "closely monitoring the situation in Israel and taking steps to safeguard and support our workers." The spokesperson declined to say whether chip production has been affected by the situation. Intel's shares fell 0.5% on Monday. Nvidia, the world's largest maker of chips used for artificial intelligence and computer graphics, said it had canceled an AI summit scheduled for Tel Aviv next week, where its CEO Jensen Huang was due to speak. Israel-based Tower Semiconductor, which provides customers with analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, mainly for the automotive and consumer industries, said it was operating as usual. Its New York-listed shares fell 4.9%. Other tech giants, Meta Platforms, Alphabet and Apple did not respond to requests for comment. Microsoft declined to comment. Israel's technology sector had already been facing a slowdown in 2023, exacerbated by internal political conflict and protests. A growing number of Israel's tech startups have been incorporating in the United States. MILITARY, AI SPENDING BOOST Israel's tech sector dates back to 1974 when Intel established a presence, but the start-up scene took off in the 1990s, earning a reputation as the world's second-largest tech center outside of Silicon Valley, with thousands of companies and developing a significant ecosystem. There are now 500 multinationals operating in Israel - mainly research and development centers after buying Israeli start-ups - from Intel to IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Google and Facebook. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in June said Intel was planning to spend $25 billion on a new factory in the southern city of Kiryat Gat some 42 km (26 miles) from Gaza. Due to open in 2027, he called it the largest-ever international investment in the country that could employ thousands of people and would add to its chip plants and design centers there. In the longer term, the tech and AI sector, where Israel has been a leader, could see increased investment because of the industries' close tie-in with military spending, LPL's Krosby said. "They will probably increase the investment in AI," Krosby said. "When a country is caught literally off guard the first thing they look at - beside the obvious problems with intelligence - is what was missed within the security systems." (Reporting by Max A. Cherney in San Francisco, Mica Rosenberg and Helen Coster in New York, and Steven Scheer in Jerusalem; Editing by Kenneth Li, Megan Davies, Jamie Freed and Nick Zieminski) Nearly 4,000 UAW members at Mack Trucks facilities in three states walked out on Monday morning after voting down a tentative agreement Sunday night. Mack Trucks employs about 3,900 people in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida where the smallest of the company's facilities is located in Jacksonville. There are 27 employees at the Jacksonville parts distribution facility, according to a Mack Trucks FAQ page. It is located at 4949 Bulls Bay Highway, near an Amazon warehouse. The last time Mack Trucks workers went on strike was in 2019 after their contract expired on Oct. 1, resulting in the first UAW-Mack strike in 35 years. The strike lasted nearly two weeks, from Oct. 12-25, 2019. The latest contract negotiation with Mack Trucks, owned by Volvo Group, covers a five-year term and included a 10% general wage increase, a 19% increase to general wages over five years and a guarantee that health care premiums will not increase during the contract. The union voted the tentative agreement down with a 73% majority, according to a letter from UAW. Employees then walked out in an "orderly manner after performing tasks necessary to prevent damage to the company's equipment or product" at 7 a.m. In addition to the Jacksonville location, UAW members walked out from Mack Trucks facilities in Macungie and Middletown, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mack Trucks workers vote to strike, walk out of work in Jacksonville on Monday Key Insights The considerable ownership by private companies in Jardine Matheson Holdings indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy A total of 4 investors have a majority stake in the company with 53% ownership Recent purchases by insiders To get a sense of who is truly in control of Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (SGX:J36), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. With 35% stake, private companies 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). Institutions, on the other hand, account for 34% of the company's stockholders. Insiders often own a large chunk of younger, smaller, companies while huge companies tend to have institutions as shareholders. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Jardine Matheson Holdings. View our latest analysis for Jardine Matheson Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Jardine Matheson Holdings? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Jardine Matheson Holdings already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. 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. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Jardine Matheson Holdings, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. Jardine Matheson Holdings is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Jardine Strategic Limited is the largest shareholder with 22% of shares outstanding. With 13% and 13% of the shares outstanding respectively, Butterfield Asset Management Ltd. and 1947 Trust are the second and third largest shareholders. Story continues On looking further, we found that 53% 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 are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Jardine Matheson Holdings 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. We can see that insiders own shares in Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited. Insiders own US$918m worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 25% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 35%, of the Jardine Matheson Holdings stock. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the 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. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Jardine Matheson Holdings you should know about. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. 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. The new Kohls store in the former Boston store on the corner of West Wisconsin Avenue and North Vel R. Phillips Avenue in downtown Milwaukee on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Kohl's Corp. has revealed the date to open it's downtown Milwaukee location -- November 3. The store will be located at HUB640, 640 N. Vel R. Phillips Ave., which previously housed a Boston Store. The company has been planning on opening the store since July 2022 and is now finishing its final details to open in less than a month. More: New Kohl's store on schedule for fall opening in downtown Milwaukee Kohl's for most of its history has avoided urban locations in favor of stores in the suburbs. Its only Milwaukee store is at 3737 S. 27th St. Nationwide, Kohls has more than 1,100 stores. Here is some more information for shoppers: How big is the new Kohl's store? The store is 35,000 square feet with a 2,500 square foot Sephora at Kohls shop featured prominently at the Wisconsin Ave. entrance. The size of the store is part of a strategy the company is using to be flexible with merchandise and purposeful for its space. Where are the entrances to the new store? There are three entrances to the store: an entrance on Wisconsin Ave., an entrance from the 3rd Street Market Hall, and from the elevator that leads to the parking structure on Vel Phillips Ave. What will this store have? The store is filled with an assortment of merchandise to fit the needs of the downtown shopper. There will be a localized assortment of Milwaukee products from brands, Milwaukee Home drinkware, holiday ornaments, pet, and accessories. The store will also include Home by Homefield apparel, including t-shirts and hoodies. Will I be able to make Amazon returns at this store? Yes. Services include self-pick up, self-checkout and Amazon returns. How many people work at the Kohl's store in downtown Milwaukee? The company began hiring people for the store in August. The store plans to be staffed with 10 full-time employees and 60 part-time employees. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kohl's Corp. has a date for grand opening of downtown Milwaukee store SEOUL, South Korea, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) announced that Korea's Leading Environmental Companies, with the support of the Ministry of Environment, will establish a Korean Public Relations Center and participate in the Pollutec 2023, the largest show on solutions for the environment, held in Lyon, France, from October 10 to 13. The term "Leading Environmental Companies" refers to the most prominent businesses in the Korean environmental sector, recognized for their outstanding business performance and technological expertise. Five outstanding environmental companies from Korea will join the exhibition to showcase their exceptional environmental technologies and products: NANO CO., Ltd. DUKSAN Co., Ltd. LD Carbon Co., Ltd. WON KWANG S&T Co.,Ltd WINTEC GLOVIS Co., Ltd. You can find these participating companies at the Lyon Eurexpo 4 Hall Exhibition Hall (Booth No. H4-H064). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009347862/en/ Contacts Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) Sujin Kang +82-32-540-2212 sujin@keiti.re.kr The conflict between Israel and Hamas, following the massive co-ordinated assault by Hamas militants on Saturday, has already killed more than 1,100 people, reports said. The Hamas attack killed 700 Israelis in Israeli towns, the deadliest incursion into Israeli territory since Egypt and Syria's attacks in the Yom Kippur war 50 years ago. Dozens more are reported abducted. 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", said a Reuters report. "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. 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. The death toll will continue to rise as a large number of people are critically wounded, the Israel Defense Forces says. Hamas' assault on Israel drove oil prices higher on Monday as markets priced in fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. Rescuers say they have found 260 bodies at a music festival which was attacked by Hamas militants. In Gaza, air strikes have displaced 123,000 Palestinians with close to 74,000 seeking shelter in schools, the UN said. The US is moving its aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, closer to Israel as President Joe Biden pledged Washington's 'rock solid' support to Tel Aviv. On Sunday night, rockets were still being fired from the Palestinian enclave of Gaza into southern Israel, a BBC reporter said. Partnership to expand opportunities for Seoul-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by tapping into Lazada's platform capabilities and vast network of users across Southeast Asia Collaboration to further diversify assortment and increase access to South Korean brands and products for Lazada customers SINGAPORE, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lazada Group (Lazada) and Seoul Business Agency (SBA) have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to open up new horizons for South Korean small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Seoul seeking to expand their reach into the vibrant Southeast Asian market, starting with Singapore. This collaborative effort aims to create greater opportunities for South Korean businesses, and to empower them through Lazada's technology, tools and solutions to thrive and prosper in the Southeast Asian digital shopping space. Concurrently, this will also enhance the range of products and brand options accessible to Lazada's customers. Jason Chen, Chief Business Officer, Lazada Group and Chief Executive Officer, Lazada Singapore; and Hyunwoo Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Seoul Business Agency at the signing of the MoU at Lazada One. The MoU was signed by Jason Chen, Chief Business Officer, Lazada Group and Chief Executive Officer; and Hyunwoo Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Seoul Business Agency at the Lazada office, Lazada One in Singapore. This occasion marks the first visit by Hyunwoo Kim, CEO of SBA to Singapore for the signing ceremony with Lazada, a leading eCommerce platform in Southeast Asia, underscoring the significance of the partnership between the two companies. Jason Chen, Chief Business Officer, Lazada Group and Chief Executive Officer, Lazada Singapore; said: "We are thrilled to embark on this strategic journey with Seoul Business Agency. This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to offering buyers an extensive variety of products but also reinforces our dedication to fostering cross-border shopping and welcoming brands and sellers from across the globe to our eCommerce ecosystem. South Korean SMEs have much to offer, and together with Seoul Business Agency, we aim to unlock their potential in Southeast Asia." Story continues Hyunwoo Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Seoul Business Agency, echoed the sentiments: "Seoul Business Agency has always been dedicated to driving innovation and economic growth for SMEs in Seoul. Partnering with Lazada will allow South Korean SMEs to sell their products to customers in Southeast Asia, and to optimize their businesses by accessing Lazada's technology and seller tools. This is a natural extension of our mission, and this MoU signifies our commitment to creating quality job opportunities and facilitating the success of South Korean businesses. We are excited about the potential this collaboration holds for our SME community." Under this agreement, SBA will take the lead in promoting Lazada as a key Southeast Asian eCommerce marketplace destination among SMEs in Seoul. The collaboration will first roll out in Singapore, where SBA and Lazada will work together to onboard and incubate selected new cross-border sellers from Seoul onto the Lazada Singapore platform. About Lazada Group Lazada Group is Southeast Asia's pioneer eCommerce platform. For the last 11 years, Lazada has been accelerating progress in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam through commerce and technology. Today, a thriving local ecosystem links about 160 million active users to more than one million actively-selling sellers every month, who are transacting safely and securely via trusted payments channels and Lazada Wallet, receiving parcels through a homegrown logistics network that has become the largest in the region. With a vision to achieve USD100 billion annual GMV, Lazada aims to serve 300 million shoppers by 2030, and be the best at enabling brands and sellers in digitalizing their businesses. About Seoul Business Agency The Seoul Business Agency was established in accordance with the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Promotion Act, its enforcement decree, and the Seoul Business Agency Establishment and Operation Regulations, with the aim of contributing to the promotion and revitalization of the economy of Seoul Metropolitan City by promoting startups, fostering corporate growth, and nurturing industries. To enhance economic activity and results perceived by Seoul citizens, startups, and businesses, the Seoul Business Agency is pursuing various projects based on communication and cooperation. The central focus of Seoul's economic development policy includes seven major policy tasks: fostering global startup companies, increasing sales for Seoul-based businesses, nurturing corporate talent and hiring, enhancing corporate competitiveness, promoting the content industry, activating industrial hubs, and fostering the beauty and fashion industry. The Seoul Business Agency strives continuously to efficiently implement policies for the promotion of Seoul's economy and to provide comprehensive and systematic support for small and medium-sized enterprises. For more information, please contact: Seoul Business Agency, https://www.sba.seoul.kr/eng Lazada Group Seoul Business Agency (SBA) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/lazada-group-and-seoul-business-agency-forge-strategic-partnership-to-create-ecommerce-opportunities-for-south-korean-smes-in-southeast-asia-301949208.html SOURCE Lazada Group SCHLIEREN, Switzerland, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LimmaTech Biologics AG today announced the closing of a USD 37 million (CHF 33 million) Series A financing round co-led by Adjuvant Capital, AXA IM Alts, and the Novo Holdings REPAIR Impact Fund. The proceeds will enable LimmaTech to advance its proprietary technology platform and accelerate its pipeline of preclinical and clinical vaccine candidates against increasingly dangerous bacterial infections, including programs addressing shigellosis and gonorrhea. Later-stage clinical development efforts will focus on the companys Shigella vaccine program, which LimmaTech developed as part of a joint collaboration with GSK and recently exclusively in-licensed. The company expects to announce preliminary results from the Shigella programs ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial in the second half of 2023. As part of the companys next phase of corporate growth, LimmaTech also welcomed seasoned biotech industry leader Dr. Franz-Werner Haas as CEO. Concurrent with the financing, Kabeer Aziz from Adjuvant Capital, Zina Affas Besse, PhD, from AXA IM Alts, and Camilla Petrycer Hansen, PhD from Novo Holdings will join LimmaTechs Board of Directors. "Within the next decade, multiple bacterial infections will become untreatable due to antimicrobial resistance, which is already a significant burden on global health. By advancing our innovative technology platform, LimmaTech has the potential to simultaneously provide vaccine-induced protection against bacterial infections, mitigate the increasing risk of antibiotic resistance, and move toward the control of several highly transmissible pathogens," said Dr. Franz-Werner Haas, CEO of LimmaTech. "Our Series A with backing from highly experienced and strategic institutional investors reflects the increasing value of our technology and our achievements to date. With this support and our team of proven experts in bacterial vaccine development and manufacturing, we look forward to providing life-changing vaccines to address a major global medical need." Story continues Kabeer Aziz, Partner at Adjuvant Capital, commented: "Each of the firms co-leading this financing is dedicated to using venture capital investments to support bold and innovative companies like LimmaTech that are developing technologies with the potential to generate significant improvements in global public health. Given the deadly threat posed by increasingly treatment-resistant pathogens, and the enormous scale of the problem, vaccines targeting these indications represent highly attractive commercial markets as well." Zina Affas Besse, Partner, Deputy Head of Healthcare, Private Equity, at AXA IM Alts, further commented: "Our investment in LimmaTech through our healthcare private equity strategy supports our wider goal of investing in companies with innovative and affordable solutions to global health challenges and we are proud to collaborate with this outstanding team of biotech industry veterans. LimmaTechs leadership team has a long track record of success, having built two vaccine technology platforms with programs in late-stage clinical development. We are happy to support LimmaTech in growing its pipeline of much-needed vaccine candidates and contributing to improving health globally." Camilla Petrycer Hansen, Principal at Novo Holdings and REPAIR Impact Fund, said: "Our investment in LimmaTech reflects Novo Holdings continued commitment to tackling antimicrobial resistance. We believe that with its outstanding record of success in the vaccine field, its seasoned leadership at the helm, and its promising technology, LimmaTech represents a very attractive investment opportunity, which we are pleased to pursue in partnership with leading investors. We are thrilled to support LimmaTechs pipeline of much-needed vaccine candidates with the potential to significantly improve health outcomes globally." The Series A is the first venture-backed round of funding for LimmaTech since it was spun out of GlycoVaxyn, its predecessor company that was acquired by GSK in 2015. LimmaTechs leadership team has in-depth bacterial vaccine development and manufacturing expertise, having sponsored, and led several clinical trials around the world. LimmaTech's unique technology platforms are all based on E. coli expression systems. These technologies allow the production of multivalent vaccines combining carbohydrates and protein antigens with broad and novel modes of action. The companys overall objective is to develop and manufacture highly effective vaccines that can stop the spread of infections caused by emerging antimicrobial resistance. About Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) AMR is responsible for approximately 5 million deaths annually.1 Nearly one million of these deaths occur in children under the age of five, and these numbers are rising at an alarming rate. Treatment with antibiotics has historically been able to reliably stop bacteria from growing or kill these pathogens, however, inappropriate or excessive use of antibiotics has caused bacteria to develop natural resistance to these agents. As a result, infections that were once easily treatable have now become difficult, if not impossible, to cure. As a leading example of this threat to global health, half of the approximately 700,000 annual2 gonorrhea infections in the U.S. are already resistant to antibiotics as of today, and there is a real threat of gonorrhea soon becoming untreatable.3 This development is also projected for a growing number of other infections, such as Shigella sp., in both developed and low- and middle-income countries. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified AMR as a serious threat to public health due to its resistance to reserve antibiotics. Shigella sp. is responsible for approximately 450,0004 infections in the U.S. alone, and 700,0005 deaths globally each year. For children, it is the most common bacterial cause of diarrheal death worldwide.6 The discovery of new antibiotics, while promising, has not kept pace with the growth of AMR, making the development of vaccines against pathogens with concerning multidrug-resistant patterns an essential component of any strategy to contain this deadly global health threat. About LimmaTech Biologics AG LimmaTech Biologics AG is applying its deep know-how of engineering complex molecules to develop next-generation vaccines to prevent life-threatening diseases. Spun out from GlycoVaxyn after that companys acquisition by GSK, LimmaTech Bio is advancing its own proprietary clinical pipeline to halt the increasing threat of global infections due to emerging antimicrobial resistance such as gonorrhea, alongside partnered programs with GSK. LimmaTech is committed to translating novel scientific concepts into highly effective vaccines that benefit humanity. For more information, please visit www.lmtbio.com About Adjuvant Capital Headquartered in New York, with offices in Zurich, Adjuvant is a global life science investment fund built to accelerate the development of new technologies for the world's most pressing public health challenges. Backed by prominent healthcare and emerging market investors, Adjuvant draws upon its network of scientists, public health experts, biopharmaceutical industry veterans, and development finance professionals to identify new investment opportunities. Adjuvant invests in companies developing promising new vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices targeting high-burden infectious diseases, maternal and child health, antimicrobial resistance, and malnutrition, with a commitment to make these interventions accessible globally. For more information, visit http://www.adjuvantcapital.com About the REPAIR Impact Fund The REPAIR (Replenishing and Enabling the Pipeline for Anti-Infective Resistance) Impact Fund was established by Novo Holdings in 2018 with a purpose to increase humanitys therapeutic arsenal in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. With a total commitment of USD 165 million, the Fund invests in start-ups, early-stage companies and corporate spin-outs in Europe and the United States and gives priority to first-in-class therapies, covering small molecules, biologics and new modalities, from the early stage of drug development to the early stages of clinical development. The Fund focuses on priority pathogens as defined by the World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a catalogue of 18 families of bacterial and fungal pathogens that pose the greatest threat to human health. For more information: REPAIR Impact Fund Home (repair-impact-fund.com) Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. For more information: www.novoholdings.dk 1 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators (2022). Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet (London, England), 399(10325), 629655. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02724-0 2 Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (May 16,2023). National Overview of STDs, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2021/overview.htm 3 Alirol, E., Wi, T. E., Bala, M., Bazzo, M. L., Chen, X. S., Deal, C., Dillon, J. R., Kularatne, R., Heim, J., Hooft van Huijsduijnen, R., Hook, E. W., Lahra, M. M., Lewis, D. A., Ndowa, F., Shafer, W. M., Tayler, L., Workowski, K., Unemo, M., & Balasegaram, M. (2017). Multidrug-resistant gonorrhea: A research and development roadmap to discover new medicines. PLoS medicine, 14(7), e1002366. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002366 4 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (April 6, 2023). Questions & Answers. Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/shigella/general-information.html 5 World Health Organization. (March 24, 2023). Extensively drug-resistant Shigella sonnei infections - Europe - European Region (EURO). Retrieved August 31, 2023, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-DON364 6 Fleming, J. A., Gurley, N., Knudson, S., Kabore, L., Bawa, J. T., Dapaah, P., Kumar, S., Uranw, S., Tran, T., Mai, L. T. P., Odero, C., Obong'o, C., Aburam, K., Wanjiru, S., Hanh, N. T. M., Dung, L. P., & Hausdorff, W. P. (2023). Exploring Shigella vaccine priorities and preferences: Results from a mixed-methods study in low- and middle-income settings. Vaccine: X, 15, 100368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvacx.2023.100368 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009329425/en/ Contacts LimmaTech Biologics Franz-Werner Haas, CEO E-Mail: media@lmtbio.com For media inquiries Gretchen Schweitzer or Alexander Siebert Trophic Communications Phone: +49 1511 0619 905 E-Mail: limmatech@trophic.eu LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The leading sports and merchandise retailer, Rally House, is excited to expand its presence in Arkansas with a new storefront. Rally House Outlets of Little Rock makes the second location in Little Rock, AR, this time on the city's south side. Fans in the area will enjoy shopping an array of officially licensed sports apparel and collectibles for many popular teams alongside one-of-a-kind local merchandise at this store. Rally House is a specialty sports boutique that offers a large selection of apparel, gifts and home decor representing local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS teams. We also carry local novelties and regional-inspired apparel, gifts and food. With locations in the Midwest, South and Northeast, we bring stylish sports apparel and unique team gifts to cities where fans live, work and cheer. (PRNewsfoto/Rally House) Rally House debuted its first Arkansas location earlier this year, and the company is proud to have three stores in this iconic state now. "Rally House Outlets of Little Rock is ideal for all the passionate fans in southern Little Rock," District Manager Andrew Mills describes. "Our store has plenty of team gear and hometown merch so that every customer can represent in style all year long!" A major benefit to shopping at Rally House Outlets of Little Rock is the many renowned brand names in stock, such as Nike, New Era, Mitchell & Ness, Adidas, and others. Along with an array of high-quality products, this new Rally House store also offers gear for a wide range of pro and college teams, like the Arkansas Razorbacks, Little Rock Trojans, Dallas Cowboys, and St. Louis Cardinals, to name a few. Rally House Outlets of Little Rock stands out by providing passionate residents and tourists with distinct local apparel and gifts. Customers can browse an extensive selection of local Arkansas gear inspired by the many landmarks and themes in the area, including uniquely designed RALLY Brand apparel. Patrons can count on Rally House Outlets of Little Rock for top-tier customer service and a comprehensive inventory. Still, the company encourages shoppers to explore www.rallyhouse.com for more options that can ship nationwide. Rally House recommends customers visit the Rally House Outlets of Little Rock Store Page or follow on Instagram (@rally_house) and Facebook (@RallyHouse) for the latest store updates and company news. Story continues About Rally House Rally House and Sampler Stores Inc. is a family-owned specialty boutique that offers a large selection of apparel, hats, gifts and home decor representing local NCAA, NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, and MLS teams in addition to locally inspired apparel, gifts and food. Proudly based in Lenexa, Kansas, Rally House operates 170+ locations across 17 states. CONTACT: Andrew Mills, District Manager media@rallyhouse.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/little-rock-becomes-home-to-newest-rally-house-store-301950945.html SOURCE Rally House Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) witnessed a daily gain of 8.06%, though it experienced a 3-month loss of -4.92%. The company's Earnings Per Share (EPS) stands at 27.35. But the question remains: Is the stock fairly valued? In this analysis, we delve into Lockheed Martin's financial performance, focusing on its intrinsic value. We encourage you to read on for an insightful assessment of Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT). About Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:LMT) Lockheed Martin Corp, the world's largest defense contractor, has dominated the Western market for high-end fighter aircraft since winning the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2001. The company's largest segment, aeronautics, generates upwards of two-thirds of its revenue from the F-35. Lockheed Martin's remaining segments include rotary and mission systems (mainly the Sikorsky helicopter business), missiles and fire control (creating missiles and missile defense systems), and space systems (producing satellites and receiving equity income from the United Launch Alliance joint venture). The company's stock price currently stands at $433.03, with a GF Value of $450.63, suggesting that the stock is fairly valued. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Market Value Understanding the GF Value The GF Value is a proprietary measure of a stock's intrinsic value, computed considering historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past performance and growth, and future business performance estimates. The GF Value Line denotes the stock's ideal fair trading value. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued, and its future return is likely to be poor. Conversely, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is estimated to be fairly valued based on GuruFocus' valuation method. At its current price of $433.03 per share, Lockheed Martin stock is estimated to be fairly valued. Because Lockheed Martin is fairly valued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be close to the rate of its business growth. Story continues Lockheed Martin (LMT): A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Market Value Link: These companies may deliver higher future returns at reduced risk. Financial Strength of Lockheed Martin Investing in companies with poor financial strength has a higher risk of permanent loss of capital. Thus, it is crucial to carefully review a company's financial strength before deciding whether to buy its stock. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great starting point for understanding a company's financial strength. Lockheed Martin has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.21, which is worse than 71.33% of 293 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry. GuruFocus ranks the overall financial strength of Lockheed Martin at 6 out of 10, indicating fair financial strength. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Market Value Profitability and Growth Investing in profitable companies, especially those demonstrating consistent profitability over the long term, poses less risk. A company with high profit margins is also typically a safer investment than one with low profit margins. Lockheed Martin has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $67.40 billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $27.35. Its operating margin is 12.86%, which ranks better than 75.51% of 294 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry. Overall, GuruFocus ranks Lockheed Martin's profitability at 9 out of 10, indicating strong profitability. Growth is probably the most important factor in a company's valuation. The faster a company is growing, the more likely it is to be creating value for shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. The 3-year average annual revenue growth rate of Lockheed Martin is 5.8%, which ranks better than 61.74% of 264 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 0.9%, which ranks worse than 50.43% of 230 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry. ROIC vs WACC Another method of determining a company's profitability is to compare its return on invested capital to the weighted average cost of capital. Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. When the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it implies the company is creating value for shareholders. For the past 12 months, Lockheed Martin's return on invested capital is 16.26, and its cost of capital is 6.42. Lockheed Martin (LMT): A Comprehensive Analysis of Its Market Value Conclusion In conclusion, the stock of Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is estimated to be fairly valued. The company's financial condition is fair, and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks worse than 50.43% of 230 companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry. To learn more about Lockheed Martin stock, you can check out its 30-Year Financials here. To find out the high-quality companies that may deliver above-average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. London Business School Dean Francois Ortalo-Magne London Business School Dean Francois Ortalo-Magne will step down at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year London Business School is looking for a new dean, a year earlier than expected. Francois Ortalo-Magne, dean of the UKs premier B-school since 2017, announced today (October 9) that he will step down at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year to return to the classroom. LBS ninth dean since its foundation, Ortalo-Magne will join the B-schools faculty as a professor of management practice next year, teaching in the MBA and executive education programs while also serving in an advisory capacity to the new dean as executive dean of external relations. By this summer, Ill have been in post for seven years, relaunching the LBS brand, navigating the Covid years and establishing a strategic five-year plan, Ortalo-Magne says in the schools announcement. The foundations and the talent are in place with great momentum towards exciting times ahead. So, it is now the right moment for me to pass the baton to a new leader for this remarkable school. Editors note: An earlier version of this story stated that Ortalo-Magnes departure would be three years before the end of his term; when he leaves at the end of the current academic year it will be one year before the official end of his second term. OVERSAW A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN London Business School Dean Francois Ortalo-Magne London Business School Dean Francois Ortalo-Magne: I look forward to sharing my passion for impactful research with new generations of curious minds keen to benefit from our world-leading research and faculty Ortalo-Magne came to London Business School from Wisconsin Business School, where he was dean for five years after joining the school as a professor in 2011. Before joining Wisconsins faculty, Ortalo-Magne, whose main research focus was on real estate and housing markets, was a tenured faculty member in the economics department at the London School of Economics. He received a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Minnesota in 1995 and a masters in agricultural engineering and management from Frances Ecole Superieure dAgriculture de Purpan in 1990. Story continues Ortalo-Magne began his first term as LBS dean in August 2017 and won a second term that began in August 2022. Among his accomplishments in the LBS deanship, he presided over London Business Schools No. 1 rankings in The Financial Times prestigious annual list in 2018 and 2019; however, the school has been in a bit of a rankings free-fall since then, sinking to 8th in 2022 and another eight places, to 16th, in 2023. LBS ranked 9th in Poets&Quants latest international schools list, down six spots in a year. Ortalo-Magnes success as LBS dean might better be gauged by the status of the fundraising campaign Forever Forward, which launched in November 2022. The school reports significant progress toward the campaigns initial target of 200 million over five years, having reached more than half of the scholarship goal of 60 million a fact credited with boosting the school to its highest-ever proportion of women students in the full-time MBA this fall. A web page dedicated to the campaign shows the school has raised a total of 71.4 million after approximately 11 months, nearly half of which (34.2 million) is earmarked for scholarships, along with 11.5 million for research and 21.3 million for innovation. The outgoing dean is also credited with overseeing a surge in new business for his school: Last year, LBS revenues for executive education and degree education reportedly reached their highest-ever level. And, LBS reports, innovation has not faltered under his leadership, with a new Innovation & Transformation team supported by philanthropy and serving as a real catalyst of progress around the school, Ortalo-Magne says. SUCCESSOR TO OUTGOING DEAN EXPECTED TO BE NAMED IN EARLY 2024 David Pyott, chair of London Business Schools Governing Body, says the panel has approved a global search for Ortalo-Magnes successor, with an appointment expected to be announced in early 2024. As dean, Ive loved every interaction with our students, alumni, and executives, Ortalo-Magne says. I look forward to sharing my passion for impactful research with new generations of curious minds keen to benefit from our world-leading research and faculty. LBS attracts such wonderful diverse talent and Im so grateful for all the support Ive received from colleagues, our alumni and friends of the school. Special thanks to my wife, Sondra, whos been at my side as we have served the school together. The school will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year, a great opportunity to celebrate our history and fuel the impact yet to come. I look forward to supporting the next dean, our chair, David (Pyott), and our community. Onwards. Adds Pyott: Dean Francois has made major contributions to the long-term strength of London Business School during his tenure. It has been and will continue to be a pleasure to work with a dean who is committed to improvement in performance and reputation of LBS as a leading global business school. A DEEPER, TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY Ortalo-Magnes time as LBS dean will be largely remembered as a period of extreme turmoil caused by the worldwide coronavirus pandemic that disrupted all B-school functions from the classroom to research to fundraising from early 2020 and well into 2021. LBS dean reflected on Covid-19s impact in an interview with P&Q in May 2021: Covid came in two steps because we have a campus in Dubai, he said. We had about 10 days in between the two but, we did the same as everyone else, and switched to online. We did not find a way to substitute the face-to-face experience, he added, but said he believes that the education LBS provided was just as impactful as in normal times. One thing that surprised us was how certain audiences engage much better online actually than face-to-face. As a school, we do a lot of executive education, and a number of clients told us that they have never experienced their introverted employees being as engaged as they were during the pandemic. That is something that we will keep integrated in what we do, because, again, it is part of diversity and being more inclusive and allowing people to thrive. Mulling the long-term impact of the pandemic to the MBA degree, Ortalo-Magne said, I see employer demand, and prospect demand. I dont know how many MBAs the world needs, but there is a demand. What is the value? That depends on the MBA. If you want academic rigor, if you want diversity, if youre open and curious to be inspired to different perspectives on yourself in the world, then yes, an LBS MBA can be for you. If you want an MBA because you want the toolkit, you know where you want to go and you want tools to achieve that, then there are better and more efficient ways to achieve that. The LBS MBA, he stressed, is a deeper, transformational journey. DONT MISS LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOLS MBA: A DEEPER, TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY and MEET LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOLS MBA CLASS OF 2024 The post London Business School Dean To Step Down Early; Search Begins For Replacement appeared first on Poets&Quants. Key Insights The projected fair value for UMediC Group Berhad is RM0.92 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity UMediC Group Berhad's RM0.73 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of UMediC Group Berhad (KLSE:UMC) by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. 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 UMediC Group Berhad The Model 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. To begin with, we have to get estimates of 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, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM8.80m RM12.3m RM15.1m RM17.6m RM19.8m RM21.8m RM23.6m RM25.2m RM26.6m RM28.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 22.44% Est @ 16.77% Est @ 12.81% Est @ 10.03% Est @ 8.09% Est @ 6.73% Est @ 5.77% Est @ 5.11% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 9.0% RM8.1 RM10.4 RM11.6 RM12.5 RM12.9 RM13.0 RM12.9 RM12.6 RM12.3 RM11.8 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM118m 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 (3.6%) 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 9.0%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM28m (1 + 3.6%) (9.0% 3.6%) = RM531m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM531m ( 1 + 9.0%)10= RM224m 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 RM342m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.7, the company appears about fair value at a 20% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. 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 UMediC Group Berhad 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 9.0%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. 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. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching 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 instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For UMediC Group Berhad, we've put together three fundamental elements you should consider: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for UMediC Group Berhad (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about. Future Earnings: How does UMC'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 Malaysian 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. LYON, France, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and a leader in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to enhancing survival for patients with cancer, announced an increase in the resources allocated to the liquidity contract with the brokerage firm Kepler Cheuvreux. An additional contribution of 50,000 euros was made on October 6th, 2023, under the liquidity contract implemented since March 22, 2022. Therefore, the updated resources allocated to the liquidity account are: 250,000 euros It is recalled that as of September 29th, 2023, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account: 20,238 shares of MaaT Pharma 12,244.51 The execution of the liquidity contract could be suspended under the conditions set out in Article 5 of AMF Decision 2021-01 of 22 June 2021. As a reminder, the liquidity contract may be terminated: at any time by MaaT Pharma without notice at any time by Kepler Cheuvreux, subject to thirty (30) calendar days' notice without notice and without formality if the shares are transferred to another stock market The implementation of this liquidity agreement, pursuant to the renewed authorization granted by the resolutions 20 & 21 of the General Meeting held on June 19, 2023, has been carried out in accordance with the legal framework in force, and more particularly to the provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 16, 2014 on market abuse (MAR), Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/908 of February 26, 2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regulatory technical standards on the criteria, procedure and requirements for the establishment of an admitted market practice and the requirements for maintaining, discontinuing or modifying its conditions of admission, Articles L. 225-209 et seq. of the French Commercial Code and AMF decision no. 2021-01 of June 22, 2021, applicable as of July 1, 2021. Story continues About MaaT Pharma MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma has launched, in March 2022, an open-label, single arm Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with acute GvHD, following the achievement of its proof of concept in a Phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, enables the identification of novel disease targets, evaluation of drug candidates, and identification of biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The companys Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice. MaaT Pharma is listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009394694/en/ Contacts MaaT Pharma Investor Relations Guilhaume DEBROAS, Ph.D. Head of Investor Relations +33 6 16 48 92 50 invest@maat-pharma.com MaaT Pharma Media Relations Pauline RICHAUD Senior PR & Corporate Communications Manager +33 6 14 06 45 92 media@maat-pharma.com Trophic Communications Corporate Communications Charlotte SPITZ or Stephanie MAY +49 171 351 2733 maat@trophic.eu (Bloomberg) -- Malaysias main objective for seeking former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ngs return to the country is for him to help authorities recover more 1MDB assets linked to the US bank, according to Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution. Most Read from Bloomberg There is no time limit for how long Ng will remain in Malaysia, Saifuddin told reporters in Putrajaya on Monday. It will depend on how fast the enforcement agencies handle the investigation and what comes out of it, he said. Ng, a Malaysian, arrived in the Southeast Asian nation over the weekend. Malaysia is focusing on recovering as much as possible from the billions of dollars looted from the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. The development company took shape in 2009 under former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was imprisoned last year for corruption and is currently seeking a royal pardon. Goldman made $593 million working on three bond sales that raised $6.5 billion for 1MDB in 2012 and 2013. Under a July 2020 settlement, Malaysia dropped all criminal charges against the bank over its role in the scandal in exchange for a $2.5 billion cash payment and for the guaranteed return of $1.4 billion of seized 1MDB assets. Ng was convicted in the US in connection with 1MDB, and was scheduled to begin a 10-year prison sentence on Oct. 6. But US officials allowed the sentence to be deferred so that Ng could return to Malaysia and assist the investigation. When Malaysia was investigating Roger, the Department of Justice requested for him to be sent to the US, said Saifuddin. After the US case finished and he was sentenced to 10 years, we asked for Ngs return so that we can complete our unfinished business, he added. (Updates with details throughout.) Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad (KLSE:MAYBULK) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 32% over a half decade. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. View our latest analysis for Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad 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). Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad became profitable within the last five years. 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 steady dividend doesn't really explain why the share price is down. It could be that the revenue decline of 11% per year is viewed as evidence that Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad is shrinking. With dividends up, but revenue down, some investors might be concluding that the company is no longer growing. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. 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 incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad's TSR for the last 5 years was -14%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad's TSR for the year was broadly in line with the market average, at 9.0%. The silver lining is that the share price is up in the short term, which flies in the face of the annualised loss of 3% over the last five years. We're pretty skeptical of turnaround stories, but it's good to see the recent share price recovery. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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 Malaysian 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 Russian Energy Week International Forum (REW 2023) will be held in Moscow on October 11-13. The participants will discuss the prospects for energy cooperation between Russia and the worlds largest emerging economies including China, India, and the African countries. One of the key topics of the upcoming Forum is the impact of the restructuring of transportation and logistics corridors on the global energy sector. THE STRUCTURAL CHANGE IS ON THE WAY The global oil trade is undergoing a major structural change. Middle Eastern countries, which used to play an important role in providing commodities to the growing economies of East Asia, are now increasing their oil supplies to Europe. In turn, Russia has sharply increased its oil exports to India, China, and some other Asia Pacific countries. Additionally, Latin American countries, including Brazil and Guyana, with a commensurate shipment distance to Europe and Asia Pacific countries, are playing an increasing role in the oil market, said Anton Kobyakov, Adviser to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the REW 2023 Organising Committee. THE SHIFTS IN THE OIL MARKET IMPACTS ITS FUTURE Stating that the global oil market continues to try to adapt to the current geopolitical events, Russian oil, despite the restrictions imposed, enters various markets with a changed price structure. Logistics have become more complicated and expensive, as oil tankers have to travel long distances to deliver raw materials and petroleum products. The impact of these shifts on the future of the oil market will be one of the most important topics of the upcoming Russian Energy Week, Kobyakov added. ALMOST HALF OF THE SUPPLY GOES TO 3 COUNTRIES The largest importers of Russian refined products in August 2023 were Turkey, India, and the UAE. These three countries accounted for 46 per cent of marine supplies from the Russian Federation (1.04 million out of 2.27 million b/d). The role of Brazil, China and Malaysia is becoming increasingly significant: These regional consumers accounted for a total of 18 per cent (397,000 b/d) of the total structure of Russian oil products supplies. Singapore, which is actively developing its oil product hub, accounted for another 7 per cent of the Russian Federations refined products shipments (152,000 b/d) in August. Greece and Malta also play a notable role: Transshipment of petroleum products takes place in the territorial waters of these EU countries, making the total share of these countries in exports in August 2023 8 per cent (191 b/s). LOGISTICS FLOWS TO BE RESTRUCTURED The restructuring of logistics flows is not just a beautiful slogan, but a solid fact. For example, in August 2023, the top 20 leading importers of petroleum products from the Russian Federation included 9 African countries: Algeria, Ghana, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, and Togo. The volume of marine supplies of petroleum products from Russia to these countries reached 411 thousand barrels per day (b/d), and their share in the structure of Russian exports amounted to 18 per cent, says Igor Yushkov, an expert from the REW Energy Club. In general, according to Igor Yushkov, the volume of offshore supplies of oil products from Russia has decreased by about 780,000 b/d over the past few months. This is primarily due to Russias commitments to reduce oil production under the Opec+ deal. Supported by the Moscow City Government, the Russian Energy Week International Forum is organised by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the Roscongress Foundation, which is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organiser of conventions, exhibitions and business, public, youth, sporting, and cultural events.--OGN/TradeArabia News Service If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Although, when we looked at Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad (KLSE:MPI), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It? 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 Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.042 = RM104m (RM3.0b - RM544m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2023). Thus, Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad has an ROCE of 4.2%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Semiconductor industry average of 11%. View our latest analysis for Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad roce In the above chart we have measured Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad'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 Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us In terms of Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 14% over the last five years. Given the business is employing more capital while revenue has slipped, this is a bit concerning. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se. Story continues The Key Takeaway We're a bit apprehensive about Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Yet despite these poor fundamentals, the stock has gained a huge 154% over the last five years, so investors appear very optimistic. Regardless, we don't feel too comfortable with the fundamentals so we'd be steering clear of this stock for now. On a separate note, we've found 1 warning sign for Malaysian Pacific Industries Berhad you'll probably want to know about. 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. Value-focused investors are always on the hunt for stocks that are priced below their intrinsic value. One such stock that merits attention is Mercury Systems Inc (NASDAQ:MRCY). The stock, which is currently priced at 38.35, recorded a gain of 5.62% in a day and a 3-month increase of 13.68%. The stock's fair valuation is $56.07, as indicated by its GF Value. Understanding GF Value The GF Value represents the current intrinsic value of a stock derived from our exclusive method. The GF Value Line on our summary page gives an overview of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on three factors: historical multiples (PE Ratio, PS Ratio, PB Ratio and Price-to-Free-Cash-Flow) that the stock has traded at, GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's past returns and growth, and future estimates of the business performance. We believe the GF Value Line is the fair value that the stock should be traded at. The stock price will most likely fluctuate around the GF Value Line. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. Is Mercury Systems (MRCY) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap However, investors need to consider a more in-depth analysis before making an investment decision. Despite its seemingly attractive valuation, certain risk factors associated with Mercury Systems should not be ignored. These risks are primarily reflected through its low Piotroski F-score of 1. These indicators suggest that Mercury Systems, despite its apparent undervaluation, might be a potential value trap. This complexity underlines the importance of thorough due diligence in investment decision-making. Deciphering the Piotroski F-score The Piotroski F-score, created by accounting professor Joseph Piotroski, is a tool used to assess the strength of a company's financial health. The score is based on nine criteria that fall into three categories: profitability, leverage/liquidity/ source of funds, and operating efficiency. The overall score ranges from 0 to 9, with higher scores indicating healthier financials. Mercury Systems's current Piotroski F-Score, however, falls in the lower end of this spectrum, indicating potential red flags for investors. Story continues Company Introduction Mercury Systems Inc is a commercial technology company serving the aerospace and defense industry. The company envisions, creates and delivers secure open architecture solutions powering a broad range of mission-critical applications in the challenging and demanding environments. Inspired by its purpose of delivering Innovation that Matters, By and For People Who Matter, Mercury helps make the world a safer, more secure place for all. When comparing the stock price and the GF Value, the latter is an estimation of fair value. This comparison paves the way for a more profound exploration of the company's value, ingeniously integrating financial assessment with essential company details. Is Mercury Systems (MRCY) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap Analysis of Mercury Systems's Profitability Firstly, let's address profitability. One significant component of the F-Score is a positive return on assets (ROA). A closer look at Mercury Systems's ROA reveals a worrying trend of negative returns. This indicates the company's inability to generate profit from its assets - a fundamental concern for any investor. Let's delve deeper into Mercury Systems's financial health by examining the decline in its return on assets (ROA) over the past three years. The data indicates 2021: 3.42; 2022: 0.53; 2023: -1.20, when expressed in percentages. Such a decrease is concerning, as the Piotroski F-Score penalizes companies with lower current ROA compared to the previous period. This ongoing decline highlights another potential risk associated with investing in Mercury Systems. Observing the financials of Mercury Systems, it's important to note that the cash flow from operations over the trailing twelve months (TTM) stands at $-21.25 million, whereas the net income in the same period is significantly higher at $-28.34 million. The Piotroski F-score considers this discrepancy as a potential red flag. The rationale behind this is that a company's operating cash flow is a more direct and less manipulated measure of its cash-generating ability than net income. Net income, while important, is susceptible to accounting treatments and non-cash items which can distort the true cash profitability of the company. If a company consistently shows lower cash flows from operations relative to its net income, it could indicate that the earnings quality is poor and the company might have difficulties sustaining its operations or financing its obligations, a fact which could negatively impact its financial stability and investor confidence. Leverage, Liquidity and Source of Funds: A Worrying Trend Assessing the aspect of leverage, liquidity, and sources of funds, Mercury Systems demonstrates an alarming rise in its debt-to-total assets ratio over the past three years. The provided data shows 2021: 0.14; 2022: 0.23; 2023: 0.24, expressed as percentages. A higher debt ratio suggests that Mercury Systems is increasingly financing its assets through debt, thereby escalating its financial risk. The Piotroski F-Score views this as a negative indicator, further cautioning investors about Mercury Systems. Is Mercury Systems (MRCY) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap Examining Mercury Systems's financial stability, there's a notable decrease in its current ratio over the past three years, as shown by the data 2021: 4.26; 2022: 4.20; 2023: 4.02, which is expressed as percentages. The current ratio is a key indicator of a company's short-term financial health, as it gauges the ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets. A declining current ratio suggests that Mercury Systems's liquidity and capability to manage immediate financial obligations are deteriorating. Operating Efficiency: A Darker Picture Examining the data provided: 2021: 55.59; 2022: 57.12; 2023: 57.29, it becomes evident that Mercury Systems has seen an increase in its Diluted Average Shares Outstanding over the past three years. This trend signals that the company has issued more shares. While issuing additional shares can provide immediate capital for the business, it can also lead to the dilution of existing shares' value. This dilution occurs because the earnings of the company now have to be divided among a larger pool of shares, which could decrease Earnings Per Share (EPS). Consequently, if the company's earnings don't grow at a pace that matches or exceeds this share increase, it could lead to a reduction in the value perceived by existing shareholders, potentially impacting their investment returns. Hence, while additional share issuance may provide necessary capital, it is important to monitor its impact on shareholder value carefully. Lastly, concerning operating efficiency, the Piotroski F-score examines changes in gross margin and asset turnover. Regrettably, Mercury Systems follows a discouraging trajectory with a decrease in gross margin percentage over the past three years, as demonstrated by the data provided: 2021: 41.69; 2022: 39.97; 2023: 32.52 (expressed in percentages). This contraction in gross margin suggests that Mercury Systems is grappling with either an escalation in the cost of goods sold or dwindling prices - both of which are inauspicious indicators for profitability. In terms of operational efficiency, another key indicator, Mercury Systems has unfortunately reported a declining trend in asset turnover over the past three years, as evidenced by the data: 2021: 0.51; 2022: 0.46; 2023: 0.41 (expressed in percentages). Asset turnover measures how effectively a company uses its assets to generate sales, and a decrease in this ratio can indicate a drop in efficiency. This could be due to various factors, such as underutilization of assets or a decline in the market demand for the company's products or services. Consequently, this downward trend in asset turnover implies that Mercury Systems may need to revisit its operational strategies to improve the utilization of its assets and boost its sales volume. While the Piotroski F-score is not the only lens through which to view a potential investment, it is a robust and comprehensive tool for evaluating a company's financial health. Unfortunately for Mercury Systems, its current score suggests potential troubles. The company's declining ROA, the discrepancy between cash flow from operations and net income, the rising debt ratio, decreasing current ratio, increasing diluted average shares outstanding, decreasing gross margin percentage, and declining asset turnover are all concerning signals that potential investors should be aware of. Conclusion Despite Mercury Systems's seemingly attractive valuation, the company presents several risk factors that suggest it might be a potential value trap. Its low Piotroski F-score, coupled with various financial red flags, indicate that it may not be as profitable an investment as it may initially appear. Therefore, investors should conduct thorough due diligence and consider these risks before making an investment decision. GuruFocus Premium members can find stocks with high Piotroski F-score using the following Screener: Piotroski F-score screener . This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen outside of a Metro Bank in London By Iain Withers LONDON (Reuters) -Shares in Metro Bank jumped in early trading on Monday, after the embattled British lender struck a fundraising deal overnight to bolster its balance sheet following urgent weekend talks in the wake of volatile trading. Metro announced a 325-million-pound ($396-million) capital raising exercise and a 600-million-pound debt refinancing on Sunday, in a deal that would hand majority shareholder control to its biggest investor, Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski. Gary Greenwood, banking analyst at Shore Capital, said the deal appeared to secure the bank's immediate future, but represented "a very painful rescue" as it entailed a hit for both shareholders and bondholders. Metro Bank shares were up 26% at 56.9 pence by 0800 GMT. Metro launched in 2010 to challenge the dominance of Britain's big banks but hit a string of setbacks in recent years, such as accounting errors, leadership departures and delayed regulatory approval for key capital reliefs. The bank's stock whipsawed last week on reports that it was trying to raise about 600 million pounds, with the lender later confirming it was exploring its options. Metro's principal regulator, the Bank of England's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), approached a number of major banks last week including Lloyds and HSBC to consider takeover offers for the bank. The PRA welcomed Metro's fundraising deal on Sunday. As part of the deal, Metro has agreed to a capital raise comprising 150 million pounds of new equity and a 175-million-pound issuance of bail-in debt known as "MREL". The equity raise was led by Metro's largest shareholder, Gilinski-owned Spaldy Investments, which contributed 102 million pounds. Spaldy will become the controlling shareholder once the transaction is completed, Metro said, with a stake of 53%. The shares in the equity raise will be priced at 30 pence per share, or a discount to Friday's closing price of 45 pence. Story continues Bondholders will also face a hit - with holders of a 250-million-pound Tier-2 bond taking a haircut of 40% - before switching into higher interest-paying bonds. In a note, John Cronin, banking analyst at Goodbody, said while there was "the feel of a deal", the bank's backers still had to grant approval and he expected some resistance. "As things currently stand, Metro shareholders will suffer material dilution and the bondholders are taking a deep haircut." Metro shares remain around 97% down from when it first listed on the London stock exchange in 2016 at 20 pounds a share. ($1=0.8199 pounds) (Reporting by Iain Withers; Editing by Louise Heavens and Clarence Fernandez) PORT ORANGE, Fla., October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Metronet today announced that residents and businesses in initial construction areas throughout Port Orange now have access to 100% fiber optic internet. As Metronets service becomes available throughout the city, residents will have access to multi-gigabit speeds up to 2 gigabits; and businesses will have access to speeds up to 10 gigabits. With access to 100% fiber optic internet, customers will experience ultra-high-speed service that connects directly to their home or business, bringing symmetrical upload and download speeds right to your device, free of buffering. Customers located in Metronets initial construction areas may now sign up for service installation online at metronet.com. "Several communities in Florida are quickly gaining the opportunity to tap into ultra-fast fiber optic internet, and we are proud to bring that opportunity to Port Orange," said Bill Gilliam, Metronet Florida General Manager. "As weve worked to launch our service and connect the first residents in Port Orange, were grateful to see the positive response from the community. We are committed to providing the fastest speeds available with reliable connectivity, and we look forward to seeing the impact that our service will have on the thriving community." Port Orange residents will see Metronet trucks throughout the area as construction activities expand throughout the community. Residents will receive communication by mail about construction activity in their neighborhood 30 days prior to starting. Additional messaging, such as yard signs, will also be provided to notify residents of when construction is beginning in their neighborhood. Metronet crews are identified by ID tags and branded Metronet vehicles. Metronet plans to hire local market management positions, sales and customer service professionals and service technicians to support the Port Orange area. Those interested in joining the Metronet team can visit metronet.com/careers to search available positions and to submit applications. Story continues City officials interested in adding their community to Metronets growing list of "Certified Gigabit Cities Powered by Metronet" may visit metronet.com/gigabit-city or contact Eddie Massengale, Metronet Sr. Director of Business Development & Government Affairs at Eddie.Massengale@metronetinc.com or at 423-280-9031. About Metronet: Metronet is a 100% fiber optic company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, and has quickly grown to become the nations largest independently owned 100% fiber optic provider. The customer-focused company provides cutting-edge fiber optic communication services, including high-speed Fiber Internet and full-featured Fiber Phone. Metronet started in 2005 with one fiber optic network in Greencastle, Indiana. Since then, Metronet and its affiliates have grown to serve and construct networks in more than 250 communities across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin, Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, and Louisiana. Metronet is committed to bringing state-of-the-art telecommunication services to communities services that are comparable or superior to those offered in large metropolitan areas. By offering XGS PON technology, Metronet can easily carry its communities into the future of multi-gigabit service. Cablefax has named Metronet as the 2023 Fiber Provider of the Year. Metronet has also been recognized by PCMag as the Fastest Major ISP in 2023 and as one of the Top 10 ISPs with Best Gaming Quality Index in 2021. For more information, visit www.Metronet.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009576969/en/ Contacts Katie Custer Katie@RunSwitchPR.com 502.821.6784 Nanoflex Robotics AG The innovative medical robotic startup received CHF 2.9 million in non-dilutive grants in 2023 Nanoflex Robotics and Brainomix to collaborate on AI-powered stroke interventions ZURICH, Switzerland, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nanoflex Robotics AG, a remote robotic surgical company based in Switzerland, announced it has received a second grant from Innosuisse, Switzerland's Innovation Agency this year. The receipt of the second grant brings Nanoflex Robotics' total non-dilutive grant funding received from Innosuisse this year to CHF 2.9 million. It reaffirms the company's commitment to bringing life-saving procedures to more people through innovative remote robotic solutions. The second grant, disbursed under the UK Switzerland Bilateral: Collaborative R&D program, is administered by Innosuisse and Innovate UK, United Kingdom's innovation agency. It was awarded to Nanoflex Robotics and Brainomix, a UK-based AI-powered medtech solutions company. As part of the grant, both companies will work together to jointly develop an integrated remote diagnosis and treatment platform for stroke, powered by artificial intelligence. Innosuisse awarded CHF 400,000 to Nanoflex Robotics, while Brainomix received 400,000 from Innovate UK. We are truly honored to receive our second funding grant from Innosuisse this year. The Innosuisse grants are a testament to our teams unwavering dedication in developing cutting-edge remote surgical solutions and devices that bring life-saving procedures to more people across the globe. Our project with Brainomix aims to improve stroke discovery and treatment options, by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to enhance our magnetic robotic navigation system, said Matt Curran, Chief Executive Officer, Nanoflex Robotics. Starting in 2024, Nanoflex Robotics and Brainomix will collaborate to create an artificial intelligence-assisted magnetic navigation system for robotic surgical tools. The project will leverage Brainomix's artificial intelligence-enabled diagnostic imaging capabilities and Nanoflex Robotics precise magnetic navigation technology to create an assisted-navigation feature for interventional devices, such as catheters, as it moves through the vascular network. Story continues In April, Nanoflex Robotics received the inaugural Swiss Accelerator Grant of CHF 2.5 million in non-dilutive funding. The Swiss Accelerator Grant supports innovative startups in Switzerland across a range of industries. It aims to foster collaboration and entrepreneurship by providing financial support and expert guidance to promising projects. Funding from the Swiss Accelerator Grant will be used to further develop Nanoflex Robotics remote magnetic navigation system and ultra-flexible guidewires for its first target application treating acute ischemic stroke. Time is critical when it comes to treating stroke patients. Every delay in removing a blood clot reduces the chance of post-stroke functional independence. By enabling increased and earlier access to mechanical thrombectomies through our remote robotics platform, we hope to give more people a greater chance to live independent lives after stroke, said Christophe Chautems, Chief Technology Officer, Nanoflex Robotics. Nanoflex Robotics first product will be a mobile robotics system that utilizes ultra-flexible guidewires to allow for direct steering control of the tip. This gives physicians precise control and dexterity over a range of complex interventions. ### About Nanoflex Robotics AG Nanoflex Robotics is building next-generation remote robotic surgical solutions and devices to enhance access to life-saving procedures. The Nanoflex Robotics platform's first target application is to enable remote mechanical thrombectomies in acute ischemic stroke patients where timely intervention is critical. Nanoflex Robotics unique advanced magnetic navigation technology and ultra-flexible endoluminal robotic tools aims to give physicians greater control and dexterity over procedures, allowing for safer and more precise interventions that enhance patient care, reduce complications and improve overall outcomes. Additionally, the platform is being developed to facilitate various other procedures, that can be executed comfortably and conveniently by in-person physicians. The platform's compact and mobile design enables seamless integration into diverse clinical settings and operating rooms, underscoring its versatility as a robotic assistant tailored for hospital environments. For media inquires, please contact: ir@nanoflexrobotics.com By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) - Oil prices surged 4% on Monday, recouping some of last week's steep losses, as military clashes between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas ignited fears that a wider conflict could hit oil supply from the Middle East. Brent crude settled $3.57, or 4.2%, higher at $88.15 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude closed at $86.38 a barrel, up $3.59 or 4.3%. At their session highs, both benchmarks spiked by more than $4, or over 5%. Last week, Brent fell about 11% and WTI retreated more than 8%, the biggest weekly decline since March, as a darkening macroeconomic outlook intensified concerns about global demand. On Saturday, Hamas launched the largest military assault on Israel in decades. Israel retaliated with a wave of air strikes on Gaza. "The most serious outcome for crude is that the conflict escalates into a more devastating proxy war which could affect crude supply," said Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth US. Israel's port of Ashkelon and its oil terminal have been shut in the wake of the conflict, sources said. The eruption of violence threatens to derail U.S. efforts to broker a rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Israel, in which the kingdom would normalize ties with Israel in return for a defense deal between Washington and Riyadh. Saudi officials reportedly on Friday told the White House they were willing to raise output next year as part of the proposed Israel deal. Goldman Sachs said the conflict reduced the likelihood of normalization of Israel's relations with Saudi Arabia, and the associated boost to Saudi production over time. It does not see any immediate major effect on near-term oil inventories from the attacks. Riyadh and Moscow have agreed to a combined 1.3 million barrel per day (bpd) voluntary cut until the end of 2023. New disruptions would exacerbate an expected supply tightness for the rest of the year. Story continues Analysts suggested the implications of the conflict could include a potential slowdown in Iranian exports, which have grown significantly this year, despite U.S. sanctions. "If the U.S. were to judge that Iran is involved in Hamas' attack, this could lead it to 'turn the screws' on Iran's oil exports by enforcing sanctions more strictly," said Caroline Bain, chief commodities economist at Capital Economics. Iran's production has risen by close to 600,000 barrels per day during the past year while crude stored on and offshore has been sold into market, mitigating some of the tightness being orchestrated by Saudi Arabia and Russia, said Saxo Bank's Ole Hansen. Meanwhile, Venezuela and the U.S. have progressed in talks that could provide sanctions relief to Caracas by allowing at least one additional foreign oil firm to take Venezuelan crude oil for debt repayment if President Nicolas Maduro resumes negotiations with the opposition in Mexico, sources said. The conflict is likely to lead to higher volatility and speculation in oil markets, the CEO of Brazil's Petrobras said. On the demand side, major international air carriers have suspended or scaled back flights to or from Tel Aviv after the attack. High oil price due to the conflict could bolster inflation, analysts said, forcing rate hikes that could dampen demand. (Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston, Natalie Grover in London and Andrew Hayley in Beijing; Additional reporting by Emily Chow in Singapore; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Lisa Shumaker and David Gregorio) (Bloomberg) -- Oil surged after Hamas surprise attack on Israel over the weekend threatened to destabilize the Middle East, injecting fresh geopolitical risk into a market thats been roiled by OPEC+ supply cuts, declining inventories, and concerns that lofty prices may destroy demand. Most Read from Bloomberg Traders fear an escalation could prompt a wider conflict that embroils Tehran and, possibly, the US. Iranian security officials helped to plan Hamas assault, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing senior members of the militant group and Hezbollah. The US, meanwhile, said its moving a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and augmenting its fighter squadrons in the region. With global benchmark Brent trading almost 5% higher above $88 a barrel on Monday, heres what market watchers are saying about the fallout so far, and what may happen to the global oil market in the days and weeks to come: RBC Capital Markets: Iran Is Very Big Wild Card Iran is a very big wild card and there will a focus on how strongly Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blames Tehran for facilitating the attacks, RBC Capital Markets LLC analysts including Helima Croft said in a note. If Israel directly implicates Iran, it will likely be difficult for the Biden administration to continue to adopt such a permissive sanctions regime against Tehran. In addition, the US-led effort to secure a sweeping diplomatic reset with Saudi Arabia appears to be in a very precarious place. While the Saudi leadership has insisted on Israel making significant concessions to the Palestinians as part of any normalization agreement, given the weekends events, it is difficult to envision a government that is now on war-footing agreeing to such terms. Story continues Goldman Sachs: Sticking With $100 Forecast, for Now While Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s forecast for Brent remained for now at $100 a barrel by June, analysts Daan Struyven, Callum Bruce and Farouk Soussa flagged two potential implications of the attacks for global oil supply. First, the conflict reduces the likelihood of a near-term normalization in Saudi-Israeli relations and, as part of that, reduces the probability of an early unwind of the Saudi output cuts. Second, given the possibility of tensions re-escalating, the risks to Iranian oil supply projections are now tilted to the downside. Citigroup: Bullish Implications The attack by Hamas has bullish implications for oil, although the key issue is for how long thatll be the case, according to Citigroup Inc. There are now growing risks of an Israeli attack on Iran, given its backing of Hamas, analysts incluidng Ed Morse said in a note. In addition, it seems likely the Saudi-Israeli rapprochement will be postponed, cutting expectations that Riyadh could reduce or end its 1-million-barrel-a-day voluntary supply cut, they said. Morgan Stanley: Limited Impact, But That May Change The impact from events in Israel is likely limited as neither that country nor its direct neighbors are large oil producers, and the near-term risk to crude supply is limited, according to Morgan Stanley. However, that could change if conflict spreads to other countries, although thats not an assumption, analysts including Martijn Rats, Charlotte Firkins and Amy Gower said. ING: War-Risk Premium The war-risk premium has returned to the oil market following the weekends developments, according to Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING Groep NV. If Iran has played a role in these attacks directly or indirectly there could be stricter enforcement of US oil sanctions against Tehran, which would then act to tighten up an already very tight market, Patterson said. At the same time, its likely that OPEC+ will stick with existing supply cuts, easing them only if the crude market shows significant strength, he added. CBA: Iranian Supplies in Focus For the conflict to have a lasting and meaningful impact on oil markets, there must be a sustained reduction in supply or transport, Commonwealth Bank of Australia analyst Vivek Dhar said in a note. If not and as history has shown the price reaction tends to be temporary. Nevertheless, should Western countries now officially link Iranian intelligence to the Hamas attack, then Irans oil supply and exports face imminent downside risks. Sanford C. Bernstein: The Key Points There are three major points for oil, according to Neil Beveridge, managing director of Sanford C. Bernstein HK Ltd. First, if Iran is seen to be behind Hamas attacks and the US imposes stricter sanctions, that could disrupt Iranian exports, he said. Second, theres a question whether the conflict will escalate to involve neighboring nations, and third, whether the Saudi-Israel normalization agreement will hold, he said. Javier Blas: US Sanctions May Hold Key At this stage, everything depends about how Israel responds to Hamas, which launched the attack, and Iran, which typically pulls the strings of the Palestinian group. Among the tentative conclusions is that even if Israel doesnt immediately respond to Iran, the repercussions will likely affect Iranian oil production as the US enforces sanctions with greater rigor. That could be enough to push oil prices to $100 a barrel, and potentially beyond. CITIC Futures: Watch for Escalation Previously, oil rose as much as 240% , 45%, and 40% during 1990 Gulf War, 2003 Iraq war, and 2011 Libya war, with prices later falling back, according to Gui Chenxi, an analyst at CITIC Futures Co. This time, the Israel-Palestinian conflict hasnt yet filtered through to neighboring crude-producing nations, having a limited impact on fundamentals, Gui said. However, the risk-off mood could support prices, and the market should watch for any escalation. --With assistance from Elizabeth Low, Sarah Chen and Serene Cheong. (Adds comments from Morgan Stanley) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Value-focused investors are always on the hunt for stocks that are priced below their intrinsic value. One such stock that merits attention is Patterson-UTI Energy Inc (NASDAQ:PTEN). The stock, which is currently priced at 13.15, recorded a gain of 6.74% in a day and a 3-month increase of 2.32%. The stock's fair valuation is $26.46, as indicated by its GF Value. Understanding the GF Value The GF Value represents the current intrinsic value of a stock derived from our exclusive method. The GF Value Line on our summary page gives an overview of the fair value that the stock should be traded at. It is calculated based on three factors: 1. Historical multiples (PE Ratio, PS Ratio, PB Ratio and Price-to-Free-Cash-Flow) that the stock has traded at. 2. GuruFocus adjustment factor based on the company's past returns and growth. 3. Future estimates of the business performance. We believe the GF Value Line is the fair value that the stock should be traded at. The stock price will most likely fluctuate around the GF Value Line. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. On the other hand, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. Is Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap Unveiling Patterson-UTI Energy Patterson-UTI Energy is one of the largest land rig drilling contractors in the United States and maintains moderately sized pressure-pumping operations primarily in Texas and the Appalachian region, plus some modest operations in Colombia. It also provides directional drilling services and tool rental services in most U.S. onshore oil and gas basins. Despite its seemingly attractive valuation, certain risk factors associated with Patterson-UTI Energy should not be ignored. Is Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap The Bearish Signs: Declining Revenues and Earnings In the case of Patterson-UTI Energy, both the revenue per share (evident from the last five years' TTM data: 2019: 14.25; 2020: 9.23; 2021: 5.12; 2022: 9.26; 2023: 14.19; ) and the 5-year revenue growth rate (-8.1%) have been on a consistent downward trajectory. This pattern may point to underlying challenges such as diminishing demand for Patterson-UTI Energy's products, or escalating competition in its market sector. Either scenario can pose serious risks to the company's future performance, warranting a thorough analysis by investors. Story continues Is Patterson-UTI Energy (PTEN) Too Good to Be True? A Comprehensive Analysis of a Potential Value Trap The Red Flag: Sluggish Earnings Growth Despite its low price-to-fair-value ratio, Patterson-UTI Energy's falling revenues and earnings cast a long shadow over its investment attractiveness. A low price relative to intrinsic value can indeed suggest an investment opportunity, but only if the company's fundamentals are sound or improving. In Steelcase's case, the declining revenues, EBITDA, and earnings growth suggest that the company's issues may be more than just cyclical fluctuations. Conclusion Without a clear turnaround strategy, there's a risk that the company's performance could continue to deteriorate, leading to further price declines. In such a scenario, the low price-to-GF-Value ratio may be more indicative of a value trap than a value opportunity. Investors can find stocks with good revenue and earnings growth using GuruFocus' Peter Lynch Growth with Low Valuation Screener. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Bogdanovich to add depth and industry experience to Alliants Northeast Employee Benefits practice IRVINE, Calif., October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Paul Bogdanovich has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Senior Vice President within its Employee Benefits Group. Based in Portland, Maine, Bogdanovich has more than 35 years of insurance industry and sales experience with a focus on Absence, Disability, and Life (ADL) and Voluntary Benefitsdynamic programs that have proven to make a real difference in the lives of employees. In his role with Alliant, Bogdanovich will work with clients across the country to create robust benefits solutions that address the ever-changing needs of employees and businesses. He will also focus on working with healthcare and healthcare-related entities and their workforce by leveraging the exclusive programs from the Alliant Sagewell Healthcare Benefits Trust. His decades of experience, first in the Texas market and then along the East Coast from Virginia to Maine, has given Bogdanovich insights and perspectives on the different ways people live and workand how those differences can affect the way they access and use benefits. "Paul comes to Alliant with a deep knowledge base," said Kevin Overbey, President, Alliant Employee Benefits. "At a time when benefits are more important than ever to help employers attract and retain top talent, Paul has the experience to work directly with business leaders to craft solutions that really move the needle for both employees and employers." Prior to joining Alliant, Bogdanovich was an executive with a leading insurance, consulting, and financial services firm. He earned his bachelors degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Bogdanovich can be reached at (207) 671-9852 or Paul.Bogdanovich@alliant.com. About Alliant Insurance Services Alliant Insurance Services is one of the nations leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services. We operate through a network of specialized national platforms and local offices to offer our clients a comprehensive portfolio of solutions built on innovative thinking and personal service. The business of managing risk is getting more complex, and Alliant is meeting this complexity head-on, not with more layers of management, but with more creativity and agility. Alliant is changing the way our clients approach risk management and benefits, so they can capitalize on new opportunities to grow and protect their organizations. Visit us at alliant.com. Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009213358/en/ Contacts Nick Kopinga First Vice President Corporate Marketing and Communications (949) 260-5004 nkopinga@alliant.com While Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) shareholders are probably generally happy, the stock hasn't had particularly good run recently, with the share price falling 12% in the last quarter. But over the last year the share price action has been satisfactory. Indeed the stock is up 18% over twelve months, compared to a market return of about 18%. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 1 year and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for Pinnacle West Capital While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. 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. Over the last twelve months, Pinnacle West Capital actually shrank its EPS by 26%. This means it's unlikely the market is judging the company based on earnings growth. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics. We note that the most recent dividend payment is higher than the payment a year ago, so that may have assisted the share price. It could be that the company is reaching maturity and dividend investors are buying for the yield, pushing the price up in the process. Though we must add that the revenue growth of 15% year on year would have helped paint a pretty picture. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Pinnacle West Capital's TSR for the last 1 year was 24%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's good to see that Pinnacle West Capital has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 24% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 1.7%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Pinnacle West Capital better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Pinnacle West Capital (2 make us uncomfortable) that you should be aware of. Of course Pinnacle West Capital may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of growth stocks. 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. poland factory The spectre of idle factories, brought to a halt last year by surging gas prices, still casts a long shadow over Germany. The impact of the Ukraine war has triggered anxious soul-searching about the previously unthinkable: deindustrialisation. Yet hop on the autobahn and drive east for a few hours and you will find a starkly different picture in Poland, Europes rising star. While Germany frets about competitiveness, its Central European neighbour continues to expand its manufacturing might. In the past decade, output per person in Poland has surged 85pc to $43,113 (35,223) according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). That compares with a rise of just 46pc in Germany and 55pc on average across the EU during the same period. Germanys manufacturing industry shrunk from 20.3pc of economic output to 18.5pc in the decade to 2022. Poland, meanwhile, saw its factory output grow from 16.7pc of GDP to 17.7pc over the same period. Output has leapt from $101bn in 2019 to $122bn last year. This embedded content is not available in your region. Theres a broad success story in Poland over the last few years, says Tomas Dvorak, a senior economist at Oxford Economics. Not just the industrial sector but the whole economy has done remarkably well. Poland might be the only country in Europe possibly worldwide where industrial production has not only surpassed pre-pandemic levels but is actually back on pre-pandemic trend. The last three years with Covid, the energy crisis and so on that hasnt put a dent into Polish industry. And thats remarkable. Economists are still scratching their heads as to why Poland has been so resilient, says Dvorak. Some credit the boom to supportive government policy, while enduring structural factors such as lower wages and cheap land also help. Simple good timing has also played a role. A growing near-shoring trend, where Western companies are bringing supply chains back from countries such as China closer to home, is also boosting investment. Story continues This embedded content is not available in your region. Industry has been a key part of Polands growth story since the fall of communism. The country emerged from the Soviet Union with a large and ageing industrial base but its skilled and technically educated workforce made it an attractive place for a range of industries, particularly because of comparatively lower wage costs. The average hourly cost of Polish manufacturing labour stood at $12.33 in 2021, according to the German federal statistical office, compared to $49.56 in Germany. For a long time, Poland has been something of a younger sibling to German industry. It was a key pillar of the German automotive supply chain, producing engines, tyres and car seats, among other things. Automotive production still represents around one-tenth of the countrys manufacturing output. Yet ministers in Warsaw want the country to start making higher-value items. They have launched a charm offensive to attract foreign cash in new and cutting-edge technologies. Intel, the chipmaking giant, announced a $4.6bn factory near Wrocaw earlier this year, while the government in Warsaw is also chasing investment by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which is seeking to hedge geopolitical risks posed by China. Poland has also raced ahead of others to secure investment in battery gigafactories that will sit at the heart of electric vehicle production processes. This embedded content is not available in your region. In 2022, the Central European nation overtook the US to become the worlds second-largest battery manufacturer, with an annual output of 73 gigawatt hours more than double that of Germany. A lithium-ion battery cell factory operated by LG Chem in Wrocaw is the largest built in Europe so far. (Both Poland and Germany are dwarfed by China, which boasted an output of 893 gigawatt hours.) Underpinning all this industrial investment is massive growth in infrastructure. From 2011 to 2021, Poland built 429 miles of motorways, compared to 193 in Germany albeit Poland is starting from a vastly smaller base. Theyre building like its China, remarks Micha Piekarski, head of Baker McKenzies energy and infrastructure practice in Warsaw. Poland is expanding at a time when Germany is in decline. With the end of cheap Russian gas pushing electricity and gas prices higher, the German Industry Federation (BDI) has warned that its members are relocating or scaling back. The most totemic example is German chemicals giant BASF, which is winding down plants in Germany and axing thousands of jobs all while expanding in China. Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has acknowledged that the problems run deeper than just the gas price. He has vowed to reinvent his country as a renewable energy juggernaut, targeting 80pc green power by 2030. However, experts say Berlins policies leave much to be desired not least the stance on nuclear. This embedded content is not available in your region. Just as the country is scrambling to ramp up clean electricity generation, it has shut its remaining nuclear power plants early. The final three closed in April taking four gigawatts of carbon-free capacity off the grid overnight. Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine and feels even more exposed to Russia, is heading in the opposite direction. The country, which generates around 70pc of its electricity by burning coal, is racing to roll out renewables including its first generation of nuclear power plants. A fortnight ago, ministers signed a contract with US giant Westinghouse to build a AP1000 reactor slated to become operational by 2033 with work beginning immediately. There are plans for atomic energy to meet up to two-fifths of the countrys future electricity needs in future. At the same time, industrial groups including Industria and Synthos are looking to build small modular reactors (SMRs) with help from the likes of Rolls-Royce and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. Mark Nelson, managing director of consultancy Radiant Energy, says the Polish nuclear programme could give factories easier access to stable, reliable sources of power a selling point for foreign investors compared to a more volatile energy system in Germany that is more reliant on renewables, gas and coal. He said: Nuclear can guarantee you, year after year, hyper-cheap, hyper clean electricity. If you as an industrial firm know that then you can justify investing in a big operation. This embedded content is not available in your region. Meanwhile, Germanys uneasiness about the advantages of nuclear power can be clearly seen in its lobbying against French proposals to reform EU electricity markets. Paris wants to be able to sell nuclear power at cheaper rates that are closer to the cost of production but Germany is resisting. Berlins decision to close its own nuclear plants early has also forced it to reopen smoke-belching coal power stations to get through next winter a step experts view as self-defeating. For now, Germany remains the undisputed champion of EU industry, boasting 26pc of the blocs manufacturing output compared to Polands 6pc. However, the gap is narrowing. Poland will need to evolve to stay ahead, says Dvorak at Oxford Economics. The richer the country becomes, the more wages grow and so it becomes less competitive. Theres no choice but moving up in the value chain, if you want to retain the manufacturing sector. That will be little comfort to Scholz and his allies, however, with the journey to Warsaw feeling shorter than ever. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer. The Insight Partners Portable Generator Market is growing at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030. Pune, India, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to The Insight Partners, Portable Generator Market Forecast to 2030 Global Analysis By Fuel Type (Gasoline, Diesel, Others) Power Rating (Below 5 kW, 5-10 kW, 10- 20 kW, and Above 20 kW), End-user (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial), the Portable Generator market is expected to grow from US$ 4.58 billion in 2022 to US$ 6.90 billion by 2030, the market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030. The increased demand for portable generators in commercial buildings with increasing infrastructure developments around the globe is driving the market. However, high capital requirement and fluctuation in raw material pricing is expected to hinder the market's growth. Download Sample PDF Brochure at https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00007867 With the increasing urban population, rising high-rise buildings investments has created massive demand for the electricity. This urban population requires electricity for performing day-to-day activities. Also, rising investments in construction buildings around the globe is the major driving factor for the portable generators market. These generators are used to power the construction equipment at remote sites and outside the areas where electricity is unavailable. As per Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), 1,480 skyscrapers over 200 m have been built in the last 20 years in the US. The number also includes 40 new residential skyscrapers constructed during 20192022. The surge in construction work across residential, commercial, and several industries owing to growing urbanization is driving the growth of the windows and doors market. Government bodies emphasize strengthening construction and infrastructural development, further enduring the demand for portable generators market. As per the Global Construction 2030, construction volume is expected to rise by 85% and reaching to US$ 15.5 trillion by 2030 worldwide. The US, Germany, France, Mexico, Argentina, and India are projected to lead the path and are growing rapidly. Moreover, high capital investment is required to manufacture these generators and continuously fluctuating raw material pricing hinders the global portable generators market. Story continues The adoption of portable generators is high in European and Asia Pacific countries, including France, Italy, Spain, India, Japan and Australia. India is the growing economy with increassed construction activities. The portable generator has shown significant adoption from the industrial and commercial sector in India. Rising investment by the leading companies around the globe for developing the economy by investing a considerable amount in infrastructure development is driving the market in India. Increasing urbanization and rising infrastructure investment are driving the portable generator market. Portable generators are used to power the construction devices to meet the electricity demand. According to the Global Infrastructure Investor Association, the infrastructure investment reached US$ 3.3 trillion annually to support global economic growth. Portable Generator Market Analysis: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments Cummins, Inc., Honda, Yamaha Corporation, Atlas Copco, Kohler, Caterpillar Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Siemens, and Generac are a few of the key companies operating in the portable generator market. The leading platers are focusing developing new product, expanding their businesses through mergers & acquisition strategies, which allow them to access prevailing business opportunities. In February 2022, Honda launched the latest models of portable EU3200i generator in its EU Series product line. The EU3200i model delivers high power convenience and compact size with a portable package. In January 2021, Atlas Copco launched two P 3500i and P 2000i portable inverters. This generator is power efficient, lightweight, and offers a reliable power source. Atlas Copcos inverters use advanced electronics to ensure efficiency. It converts AC power to DC at the required frequency and voltage. Order a Copy of this Report at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00007867 Portable Generator Market: Segmental Overview The market is segmented based on fuel type: gasoline, diesel and others. The diesel segment held the largest share of the market in 2022, whereas the gasoline toilet segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. Based on Power Rat, the market is divided into Below 5 kW, 5-10 kW, 10- 20 kW, and Above 20 kW. Among these, 5-10 kW portable generators have the largest share in 2022, and 10- 20 kW is growing with the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Based on the end-user, the market is segmented into residential, commercial, and industrial. Among this, the commercial segment is expected to hold the largest share in 2022, owing to rising demand from commercial business offices around the globe. Additionally, increasing weather-based power outages and surge in the requirement for the reliable power supply around the globe are expected to drive the global portable generator market. Increased Investments In Construction Activities are expected to Create Lucrative Opportunities for the Global Portable Generator Market: The increased investment towards the building and construction activities with rising demand for generators to power the equipment at the remote sites drives the market growth. Small-sized portable generators are usually used to facilitate electricity at remote locations. According to the Ceramics Organization Report, the global market for residential buildings, including new construction, renovation buildings, and remodeling, was valued at US$ 6.80 trillion in 2022. Rising electricity demand for commercial and residential buildings across developing nations, including Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and India, is driving the market growth. According to the NITI Ayog Indian government organization, electricity demand reached 1,993 TWh in 2020, and peak load electricity demand is expected to reach around 299 GW, growing with a CAGR of 6.32% by 2027. Such rising demand for electricity and increasing urban population in developing nations is expected to create ample opportunity in the future. A power outage indicates an unexpected termination of connectivity with the rest of the globe. Portable generators are widely used in construction projects where electricity supply from power grids cannot reach. These portable generators help in providing the light for conducting construction activities. Different power tools such as motor drives, drilling machines, air compressors and hammers are employed in the construction industry. The construction industry around the globe is developing at a rapid pace for developing economies and improving their daily lives. However, the building & construction industry has performed unsatisfactorily during the Covid-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed a crisis on the construction industry that is growing in the upcoming years, particularly to improve the economic cycles. The construction industry consists of infrastructure, real estate, and industrial structures, accounting for around 13% of the worlds GDP. In the construction industry, the workers use many power tools for performing their operations. As a result, portable generators are reliable for delivering consistent power to these tools. Companies such as Honda, Cummins, Generac, and many others offer portable generators with features such as 8,000 watts, up to 11 hours of running time, and 50% load-carrying capacity. Go through further research published by The Insight Partners: Generator Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030 Biogas Generator Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030 Large Generator Market - Global Analysis and Forecast to 2030 About Us: The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials. Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us: Contact Person: Ankit Mathur E-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.com Phone: +1-646-491-9876 Options to either repair or replace Interstate 794 are to be narrowed by early 2024. Replacing much of Interstate 794 with at-grade streets will continue to be among the freeway project alternatives when proposals are narrowed in early 2024. That's according to a Monday presentation on the $300 million project by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Officials from WisDOT and HNTB, the department's project consultant, spoke at an Intergovernmental Cooperation Council meeting. WisDOT at an August public information meeting presented several conceptual alternatives for either repairing the elevated freeway, or replacing it with at-grade streets between roughly the Hoan Bridge's northern approach and a few blocks west of the Milwaukee River. That included two different plans to remove I-794. The department also presented four different plans to rebuild freeway bridges within I-794's current alignment that keeps a wider separation of the eastbound and westbound lanes. Those plans would maintain all existing freeway access points. Finally, WisDOT offered two plans to rebuild freeway bridges with a tightened alignment between eastbound and westbound lanes that uses updated design standards. Those plans would consolidate freeway access ramps and improve connections to streets where feasible. The narrowed range of conceptual plans will include at least one option from each of those three groups, said Dave Pittman, I-794 project manager, and Carolyn Seboe, HNTB planning group director. Those plans are to be presented at WisDOT's next public information meeting, Pittman said. That hasn't been scheduled yet but is to happen in early 2024, he said. WisDOT plans to choose a preferred alternative by the end of 2024, Pittman told the council, a group of officials from Milwaukee and other Milwaukee County communities. Final design work is to occur in 2025 and 2026, with construction work from 2027 through 2030 he said, pending on whether that work obtains funding. Pittman was asked by Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride whether urban planning considerations would be part of choosing a preferred alternative. Story continues Pittman said WisDOT is working with city and county officials. But, he added, "Ultimately, the decision is going to come down to traffic." Downtown business interests, as well as officials from St. Francis, Cudahy and South Milwaukee, fear removing part of the freeway would shift thousands of cars daily to surface streets clogging traffic and lengthening commutes. Freeway removal supporters say the streets can handle the change, which would open several blocks for commercial development and tear down a barrier between downtown, the lakefront and the Historic Third Ward. Tom Daykin can be emailed at tdaykin@jrn.com and followed on Instagram, X and Facebook. THANK YOU: Subscribers' support makes this work possible. Help us share the knowledge by buying a gift subscription. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more Subscribe to get the BusinessWatch email newsletter. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Replacing I-794 with streets to be among project alternatives in 2024 Rationalstat LLC The Mexico road construction & maintenance market is projected to reach US$ 296.6 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.8%. Wilmington, Delaware, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance Market size was valued at US$ 175 billion in 2022 and is predicted to rise at a substantial CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period of 2023 and 2030 according to RationalStat analysis. Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview The government investment in infrastructure, and transport development projects under the National Infrastructure Plan, and T- MEC corridors development for the northern, southern, and central regions of the country is expected to have a positive impact on the countrys construction industry in 2022. The countrys mining industry is expected to grow significantly due to the surge in investment in gold, copper, and silver mining production projects in 2022. An investment of USD 2.8 billion is expected for extraction projects of gold, silver, and copper. Mexican government will focus on harnessing renewable energy resources like solar, hydro, and wind in 2023 and beyond. The government aims to increase clean energy production by 35% by 2024, which prompts investment in renewable energy projects in the country. The demand for excavators and cranes is expected to grow due to a surge in construction, mining, and renewable energy projects in 2023. According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including solutions, deployment, end use, and geography/regions (including North Mexico, Central Mexico, and Southern Mexico) . The report also offers Mexico and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market intelligence for the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Tons) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc. In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market. It also includes the industry's current state Production Levels, Capacity Utilization, Tech quotient, etc. Key information will be manufacturing capacity by country, installed base, import volumes, market size, key players, market size, dynamics, market data, insights, etc. Story continues Request A Customization- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/mexico-road-construction-maintenance-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis On the basis of type, the Highways segment is expected to dominate the market owing to the rising travel and tourism need in the country. On the basis of application, new construction is slowly gaining traction as the government focuses on building infrastructure in the country. Report Synopsis Report Metrics Details Base Year 2022 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 175 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 296.6 billion Growth Rate 6.8% Key Market Drivers Growing Real Estate Sector Increasing adoption of technology in real estate Rising demand for online property service Companies Profiled Empresas ICA S.A.B. de C.V. Elementia Grupo Carso Cemex Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en America Latina (IDEAL) Consorcio Constructor de Obras del Sureste Grupo Tribasa Promotora y Desarrolladora Mexicana Omega Construcciones Industriales Constructora y Pavimentadora Vise Explore more about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/mexico-road-construction-maintenance-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Competition Analysis and Market Structure Some of the prominent players adopt various strategies in order to reinforce their market share and gain a competitive edge over other competitors in the market. Mergers & acquisitions, and partnerships and collaborations are some of the strategies followed by industry players, some of the key developments in the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market include, In October 2023, Grupo Mexico, a Mexican construction company, acquired ICA, another Mexican construction company, for US$ 3.8 billion. This deal was the largest merger in the Mexican construction industry in history. In September 2023, Aleatica, a Mexican infrastructure company, acquired Pinfra, another Mexican infrastructure company, for US$ 3.5 billion. This deal created the largest infrastructure company in Mexico. In September 2023, Grupo Mexico partnered with Blackstone, a global investment firm, to invest US$ 1 billion in the development of new toll roads in Mexico. In August 2023, Aleatica partnered with Abertis, a Spanish infrastructure company, to develop a new airport in Mexico. The project is worth US$ 5 billion and is expected to be completed in 2028. Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market growth include Empresas ICA, Elementia, Grupo Carso, Cemex, Impulsora del Desarrollo y el Empleo en America Latina (IDEAL), Consorcio Constructor de Obras del Sureste, Grupo Tribasa, Promotora y Desarrolladora Mexicana, (Prodemex), Omega Construcciones Industriales, and Constructora y Pavimentadora Vise, among others. Get A Free Sample- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/mexico-road-construction-maintenance-market/#tab-ux_global_tab RationalStat has segmented the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market based on type, application, region Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Tons), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Type Highways Street Bridges Others Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Tons), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Application New Construction Reconstruction Repair Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Tons), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region Northern Mexico Central Mexico Southern Mexico For more information about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/mexico-road-construction-maintenance-market/ Key Questions Answered in the Road Construction & Maintenance Report: What will be the market value of the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market by 2030? What is the market size of the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market? What are the market drivers of the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market? What are the key trends in the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market? Which is the leading region in the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market? What are the major companies operating in the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market? What are the market shares by key segments in the Mexico Road Construction & Maintenance market? Running an Year End Discount of 20%- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/mexico-road-construction-maintenance-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Explore Our Trending Reports Research Methodology RationalStat has developed a state-of-the-art research methodology to crunch numbers and provide the best possible real-time insights to clients. We combine a varied range of industry experience, data analytics, and experts viewpoint to create a research methodology for market sizing and forecasting. RationalStat combines a mix of secondary sources as well as primary research to assess the market size and develop a forecast. Key steps involved in accurately deriving the market numbers are: Defining the problem by understanding the type of market and data required by the client. Data gathering and collection through relevant paid databases, publicly available sources, company reports, annual reports, surveys, and interviews. Formulating a hypothesis to create market numbers, forecasts, influencing factors, and their relevance. Evaluating and analyzing the data by referring to data sources utilized and leveraged. Validating, interpreting, and finalizing the data by combining the details gathered from primary and secondary sources with the help of experienced analysts. Download Key Insights and Market Data - Raise a Query About RationalStat LLC RationalStat is an end-to-end Global market intelligence and consulting company that provides comprehensive market research reports, customized strategy, and consulting studies. The company has sales offices in India, Mexico, and the US to support Global and diversified businesses. The company has over 80 consultants and industry experts, developing more than 850 market research and industry reports for its report store annually. RationalStat has strategic partnerships with leading data analytics and consumer research companies to cater to the clients needs. Additional services offered by the company include consumer research, country reports, risk reports, valuations and advisory, financial research, due diligence, procurement and supply chain research, data analytics, and analytical dashboards. Contact RationalStat LLC Kimberly Shaw, Content and Press Manager sales@rationalstat.com US Phone: +1 302 803 5429 UK Phone: +44 203-287-1245 LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest Integration unveiled at HLTH 2023 aims to give millions of Samsung Health users control of their longitudinal health record plus proactive insights and easy-to-access care from a growing network of providers, including Walgreens, ThedaCare, Lee Health and Rise Health LAS VEGAS, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- b.well today announced at the HLTH 2023 conference that Samsung Health will use the b.well Connected Health platform to transform how consumers manage their health and engage with healthcare solutions and services. This new offering will enable Samsung Health users to create a longitudinal health record, receive proactive health insights, and conveniently access care from a growing network of trusted providers all through a single secure application on Galaxy smartphones. b.well connected health "As one of the world's leading electronics companies, Samsung is uniquely positioned to empower consumers with proactive insights and give them convenient access to care," said Dr. Hon Pak, Head of Digital Health Team at Samsung Electronics. "With b.well, we are planning to create a consumer health experience that is frictionless, connected, and easy to navigate the way healthcare should be." The seamless integration between Samsung Health with the b.well Connected Health platform is a significant step toward providing consumers with a unified and holistic health experience. This integration empowers Samsung Health users to consolidate a 360-degree view of their health, which not only includes clinical records but also encompasses wearables, pharmacy, laboratory, and insurance data including that from CMS and Veterans Affairs. For consumers, this places them in control of their data, allowing them to determine how it is shared and utilized. Beyond a longitudinal health record, Samsung Health users will receive deeply personalized insights and proactive health recommendations, driven by the b.well platform's algorithmic approach using Clinical Quality Measures and advanced analytics. The b.well platform will also establish direct connections to participating in-person, digital, and virtual care providers, ensuring users can easily act on insights and connect to the care they need. With health data tracked on their devices, users might receive a reminder for a preventive screening, a prompt to follow up on a care plan from their physician, or a helpful reminder for someone they care for. Every recommendation is tailored to the individual's unique health profile. Story continues "Today's news represents a huge step toward a healthcare experience that is more transparent, and convenient. Health data is just the beginning it's the personalized insights and actionable care connections that will create meaningful change for consumers," said Kristen Valdes, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of b.well. "We are excited to support Samsung's vision to create a truly connected healthcare ecosystem where consumers are in control of their health data and receive timely insights alongside clear, actionable choices that make it easy to manage their entire family's health." Leveraging the combined capabilities of Samsung Health and b.well, digitally enabled participating providers will be able to offer scheduling for in-person care, telehealth, second opinion services, pharmacy management services, and more to millions of Samsung Health users. Walgreens, ThedaCare, Lee Health, and Rise Health will be among the first forward-thinking organizations to connect consumers instantly to in-person and virtual care establishing a high-quality digital health experience that is integrated, personalized, accessible, and available in the palm of their hands. "Walgreens aims to deliver more joyful lives through better health, and one of the ways we can do this is by providing a frictionless and improved patient experience across the entire health continuum, which includes enabling the ability to manage your health at your fingertips," said Tracey D. Brown, Executive Vice President, President of Walgreens retail and Chief Customer Officer. "Collaborations like this one with b.well and Samsung aim to provide Americans access to the care they need, when they need it, while empowering them to be more engaged in their health. We look forward to finding additional ways to provide quick access to proactive and relevant information that matters most to them about their health." Dr. Hon Pak, Kristen Valdes and Tracey D. Brown will discuss the collaboration in a panel session at HLTH entitled "Tech That Empowers." The session occurs on Monday, Oct. 9, at 1:40 p.m. PT on the Sky Stage. Additionally, HLTH attendees can learn more about Samsung Health and the b.well Connected Health Platform by visiting Samsung at Booth #4424 or b.well at Booth #2035. About b.well Connected Health b.well Connected Health is on a mission to solve healthcare's fragmentation problem. b.well's scalable, FHIR-based platform unifies all healthcare data, solutions, and services in one place empowering healthcare organizations to offer experiences where consumers can create longitudinal health records, receive proactive, n-of-1 health insights, and conveniently shop and access care for themselves and their loved ones. Our white-labeled solution integrates within existing digital systems, enhancing technology investments and ensuring consumers are the heart of every interaction. Learn more at icanbwell.com . Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/samsung-health-taps-bwell-connected-health-to-make-personalized-healthcare-a-reality-301950301.html SOURCE b.well Connected Health (Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinpings first meeting with US congressional leaders in eight years was infused with tension, as the Chinese leader was confronted over his nations failure to condemn Hamas incursion into Israel. Most Read from Bloomberg I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn the cowardly and vicious attacks upon them, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told Xi Monday, hours after he blasted Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for showing no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times. Xi did not address the weekends surprise escalation of violence in the Middle East in his opening statement, instead expressing hope for mutual respect and peaceful co-existence between the US and China. We have a thousand reasons to make US-China relations better, and no reason to make them worse, Xi said. The meeting in Beijing marked the first time Xi has met with US senators since 2015, when he spoke with congressional leaders on a visit to Washington. It also comes as the US and China appear to be setting up a meeting between Xi and President Joe Biden at next months Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. Xi and Biden last met at the Group of 20 gathering in Indonesia in November last year. China-US ties tumbled to a new low less than three months later when the US shot down a Chinese balloon due to espionage worries. While Xi sat down with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June, the Chinese leader skipped meeting three other cabinet-level Biden officials in recent months, making the exchange on Monday all the more unusual. Story continues Taking a hard line on China has become one of the few bipartisan areas of consensus in Washington in recent years, with Congress often being a driving force for tougher policies on Beijing. The delegation to China was led by Schumer, a Democrat, and Republican Senator Mike Crapo. Xis decision to meet directly with senators, without Biden administration officials present, could be an attempt to shift sentiment among such leaders, who can also influence business ties. Schumer later said the delegation spoke with Xi for about 80 minutes, describing the Chinese leader as engaged. This might be savvy because theres been no significant traction thus far with Biden, said Josef Gregory Mahoney, a politics and international relations professor at Shanghais East China Normal University. Congressional leaders are more vulnerable to special interests, including American firms with extensive commercial interests in China who dont want to see further deteriorations in ties. A successful meeting may make talks between Xi and Biden more likely, Mahoney added. Israel Looms Large The Israel-Hamas conflict has featured heavily during the senators trip to China, which had been expected to focus on relations between the worlds two biggest economies. The American senators were in China when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared his country is at war after Gaza Strip militants fired over 3,000 missiles and infiltrated southern Israel early Saturday. The combined death toll from the Hamas attack and Israels subsequent air strikes in Gaza has climbed to more than 1,100. During the earlier meeting with Wang on Monday in which Schumer criticized the Chinese foreign ministers Israel-Hamas response, Wang told the senators he hoped their visit would get US-China relations back on track. Chinas Foreign Ministry called for an immediate ceasefire and reiterated support for an independent Palestinian state on Sunday. That statement did not mention Hamas by name, and characterized the weekends events as an escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. In a regular press briefing on Monday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said her country was saddened by the casualties and opposes violence against civilians. Speaking at a press conference on Monday evening, Schumer said the US lawmakers urged Beijing to use its influence with Iran to not allow the conflagration to spread, adding that Chinese officials agreed to deliver the message to Tehran. China has been building up its influence in the Middle East recently, most notably by facilitating a deal earlier this year for Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations. Business Ties Schumer told Xi the main purpose of the visit was to ensure economic reciprocity. Before arriving in Beijing, the US lawmakers met with American business leaders in Shanghai and discussed issues involving fair competition. We feel that China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers, Schumer said he told Xi. Most Americans, our bipartisan delegation included, do not believe we have that fairness now. Last month, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai reported that optimism among US firms was at historic lows, citing concerns about geopolitics, US-China relations and Chinas poor economy as weighing on expectations. Tensions between Washington and Beijing have also centered around how the two economies interact with each other, including US efforts to derisk supply chains from China as well as competition over advanced technology. We certainly do not want conflict, and thats why we want to manage our relationship responsibly, Schumer told Commerce Minister Wang Wentao at an event on Monday. We do not want to decouple. Wang Wentao told Schumer that Chinese businesses have raised concerns about US export controls, investment restrictions and other sanctions. We hope Chinese businesses can have access to fair treatment in the US, he said. Broader Talks The other issues on the agenda concern Chinese companies role in the fentanyl crisis in the US and human rights. Schumer also told Xi he wanted to make sure China doesnt support Russias immoral war against Ukraine. Biden has sent a stream of cabinet-level officials to Beijing since June to stabilize ties between the worlds largest economies. The White House encouraged the senators to go, a person familiar with the planning said before their departure. Schumer and Crapo had also planned to raise issues on behalf of Micron Technology Inc., which is headquartered in Crapos home state of Idaho and building a massive chip production facility in Schumers New York. Schumer said the delegation complained about Chinese business practices such as forced technology transfers and requirements to form joint ventures with Chinese firms. China must also end the policies that intimidate US business operating in China, he said. We need reciprocity. That means that the American companies are able to compete as freely in China as Chinese companies are able to compete in America. --With assistance from Colum Murphy, Xiao Zibang and Philip Glamann. (Updates with more comments from Schumer at evening press conference.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, China Railway collaborated with Xufang International Media, a subsidiary of China International Communications Group (CICG), to publish the documentary series "Silk Road Insights: International Influencers Explore China Railway's Belt and Road Initiatives." Jakarta-Bandung bullet train (PRNewsfoto/Xufang International Media, CICG) Four international bloggers were heading to explore and film four major transportation projects: the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway in Indonesia, the Padma Bridge Railway in Bangladesh, Guangdong Shenzhen-Jiangmen Railway's Pearl River Estuary Tunnel and the Jiangsu Changtai Yangtze River Bridge. The vloggers have obtained firsthand the profound impact that China's railway projects have had on local residents' lives. Indonesian vlogger Xiaoli took her first ride on the Jakarta-Bandung bullet train, which began its commercial operations earlier in October. She expressed her excitement for Southeast Asia's first high-speed train: "This marks Indonesia's entry into the world's league of bullet trains. I'm thrilled." The journey from Jakarta to Bandung, which previously took 3.5 hours, has now turned into a brisk 40-minute trip due to this new railway. "Despite its speed, the ride is smooth, and the carriage feels stable and comfy." Northern Ireland-based blogger Adam traveled to Bangladesh to witness a milestone: the inaugural train crossing over the Padma River via the Padma Bridge Rail Link. "China is making a significant impact here," Adam observed. "Locals halted their day, eyes fixed on that train, cheering as it made its historic bridge crossing. The palpable excitement for this monumental project was everywhere." Locally, the bridge is dubbed "Road of Dreams." Venezuelan influencer Rafael Saavedra, after touring the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge in Jiangsu Province, remarked: "Upon completion, this will stand as the world's longest cable-stayed bridge. Truly, a monumental feat." Story continues British blogger Jason rode through the Pearl River Estuary Tunnel, a prominent feature of the Guangdong Shenjiang Railway. He was struck to learn that the tunnel is the deepest and the best for withstanding water pressure in the country and even unparalleled globally. Jason said: "The marvel of China's construction capabilities is evident. Standing inside these Chinese-constructed tunnels, I always feel a deep sense of safety." Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/silk-road-insights-global-bloggers-experience-chinas-landmark-railway-projects-301950710.html SOURCE Xufang International Media, CICG M_a_y_a / Getty Images Hundreds of thousands of Arizona residents can look forward to extra money in the coming weeks thanks to the Arizona Families Tax Rebate. According to the Arizona Department of Revenue, an estimated 743,000 Arizona taxpayers will see up to $750 by the end of October, The Arizona Republic reported. Food Stamps: 4 Changes to SNAP Benefits Happening For Fall 2023 Learn: What To Do If You Owe Back Taxes to the IRS Earlier this year, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed the $17.8 billion budget she negotiated with Republican leaders. Approximately $260 million was approved as a tax rebate to year-round residents who claimed the states existing tax credit for dependents and filed a state income tax return for 2019, 2020 or 2021, KAWC reported. If families had a tax liability of at least $1 in any of those years, theyll receive a one-time $250 rebate for each child 17 or younger in 2021, up to a maximum of $750. Those with older dependents are eligible to receive $100 credit for each, up to $300. KAWC also noted that only those who had dependents in 2021 are eligible. New parents in 2022 are not. The legislation also excludes those who made generous donations that year, which can often eliminate someones income tax liability. Also, anyone with a dependent of any age qualifies for the $100 tax rebate. Tax attorney Bob Kamman told KAWC that if anyone had a live-in partner who earned no money, the taxpayer could declare them as a dependent and get $100 back from the state. Warren Buffetts Financial Plan to Tackle Americas Debt: I Can End the Deficit in 5 Minutes The Arizona Department of Revenue had a Nov. 15 deadline to get the rebates out and will begin issuing them after Oct. 30, The Arizona Republic reported. Arizonans dont need to do anything to receive the rebate. The state will distribute rebates automatically either by direct deposit or via paper check in the mail based on the most recent tax information. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Stimulus Update: Arizona Residents Can Expect Up to $750 When October Ends See Who Qualifies #1 Most-Awarded American Single Malt Looks to the Future of the Category DENVER, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, the number one-sellingi and most-awardedii American Single Malt, is pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Aden as its first Head Blender. In this critical role, Aden will oversee the intricate process of blending, distillation, and maturation of Stranahan's diverse range of American Single Malt whiskies. Justin Aden, Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey New Head Blender As the Trade Tax Bureau's official designation of the American Single Malt category quickly approaches, Aden's hire comes at a critical time. This strategic appointment underscores Stranahan's commitment to innovation and growing its category leadership. Aden joins Stranahan's with nearly 14 years of experience in the whiskey industry, including his tenure as Distillery Operator and Research Scientist at Michigan State University's world-renowned Artisan Distilling Program. His creative vision, technical knowledge and deep background in craft spirits will play an integral role in developing Stranahan's distillery exclusives, selecting premium barrels for Stranahan's annual Diamond Peak limited-edition release and more. Aden is at work now on one of his biggest responsibilities: hand-selecting and blending barrels from deep in the rackhouse for Stranahan's coveted annual "Snowflake" release. Available at the brand's Denver distillery for only one day every December, Stranahan's Snowflake Whiskey is blended from an array of rare and worldly cask finishes harmonized in one bottle of American Single Malt. "It is an honor to be entrusted to take the reins as the first Head Blender of beloved Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey," says Aden. "Working alongside our veteran distillery team to advance Stranahan's legacy as the leader of American Single Malt at this seminal moment for the category is the privilege of a whiskey maker's career." Story continues A skilled distiller with a degree in Microbiology & Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University (MSU) with a specialization in ethanol fermentation science, Aden carries unique scientific knowledge and prolific craft spirits experience, making him the ideal addition to the esteemed Stranahan's team. Along with his tenure at MSU, Aden has served as Head Distiller and Production Manager at Headframe Spirits Distilling, and as Distiller, Blender and Head of Operations at Valentine Distilling Company. About Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey is a pioneering American single malt whiskey composed of 100% malted barley and Rocky Mountain water, aged in new American white oak barrels. From grain to glass, Stranahan's whiskey is distilled and bottled at its Colorado distillery, the state's first legal distillery since Prohibition. Stranahan's expressions include Original, Blue Peak, Sherry Cask, Diamond Peak, Mountain Angel 10 Year Old and the limited-edition yearly release: Snowflake. As one of the first and best-selling American single malts, Stranahan's is committed to building recognition and admiration for the category globally. To learn more, visit Stranahans.com. Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey. 43-47% Alc./Vol. (94 proof). 2023 Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, Denver, CO. Please drink Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey responsibly. i Nielsen Total x AOC + Liquor + Conv, Eq Vol, Nielsen 52 W/E 7.15.23; comparison to other ASM brands ii Claims based on 2020 2023 award results; third-party audit conducted by Avid Marketing Group Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey Logo Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stranahans-colorado-whiskey-appoints-new-head-blender-justin-aden-301949781.html SOURCE Stranahans From software for reporting sustainability metrics to makeup that can stand up to a day in the gym students from Southeastern Conference universities are creating business ideas to shape the future. On Oct. 23, student entrepreneurs from 14 SEC schools will gather at the Truist Pitch Deck in Studio 225 on West Broad Street in Athens as the University of Georgia hosts the annual SEC Student Pitch Competition. Each student team will pitch their business to a panel of judges for the chance to walk away with $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place or $1,000 for third place. Its always good to get all the students together from the different universities so they can exchange ideas and see what other students are working on across the country, said Bob Pinckney, the Milton Anthony (Tony) Greene Director of Entrepreneurship at UGA, which hosts this years event. Its also an opportunity for the various entrepreneurship center directors to get together, share ideas and work toward making all of our programs better. Bob Pinckney, the Milton Anthony (Tony) Greene Director of Entrepreneurship at UGA On pitch day, student teams will break into two groups of seven and pitch to two panels of judges nominated by the participating schools. Judges will score the presentations and the top three teams will pitch one final time that evening. The final pitches and awards reception will be held in Studio 225 at 5:30 p.m. The reception is open to the public. Each year a different SEC school hosts the contest. Louisiana State University hosted the 2022 contest. UGA was slated to host the contest in 2020 but the competition was moved online that year due to COVID. The 2023 contest marks the first time UGA has hosted this event since opening the Studio 225 student entrepreneurship center. The SEC Student Pitch Competition was started by the provosts of the SEC Universities in 2015 and has continued every year since. Pinckney is excited to celebrate how far UGA and the SEC student entrepreneurship programs have come. Story continues Were all kind of in the same boat in the Southeast, Pinckney said. I mean, none of us have been doing entrepreneurship programs for that long. Its something as a region weve been working on, and weve all been trying to make entrepreneurship a more prominent part of our schools. Every SEC university has an entrepreneurship program now or an entrepreneurship center. Many schools have developed alumni angel networks that support their student entrepreneurs. Its become a mainstream, important part of what we do at SEC universities and everyones doing a great job. The competition provides teams of SEC students at the undergraduate or graduate level a platform to showcase their ideas for ground-breaking products and services to a panel of judges, including SEC alumni, who are successful entrepreneurs and have built businesses that contribute daily to the regions economic development. The mission of the UGA Entrepreneurship Program is to help develop the mindset of future entrepreneurs and prepare students for business leadership roles. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Student entrepreneurs from SEC schools come to Athens pitch competition Delaware has boosted its efforts to return unclaimed property money left in everything from abandoned bank accounts to unused gift cards as it has faced criticism regarding its collection of such funds and a court ruling looms that could cost Delaware hundreds of millions. As the corporate home to almost 2 million companies, Delaware receives unclaimed property from all over the country. It amounts to Delaware's third-largest revenue source and helps allow taxes to remain low compared with other states. But over the past few years, Delaware's unclaimed property practices have started to be challenged. Most notably, the state is now in the second phase of a U.S. Supreme Court case revolving around its collection of MoneyGram agent and teller's checks. In February, the court ruled in favor of the 30 states challenging Delaware, stating that the checks should be returned to the states where they were purchased, not the company's state of incorporation. Delaware has argued that the long-term effect of the ruling is narrow, impacting the state's collection of an antiquated financial instrument, but the ruling will likely have a significant financial ripple. In the second phase of the case, a Special Master is determining whether the defendant states, led by Pennsylvania, will receive damages from Delaware for past collections and if so, how much. The Special Master has set a tentative trial date for the fourth quarter of 2024, according to Delaware Department of Finance Public Information Officer Melissa Marlin. Pennsylvania estimated the amount due at around $400 million. When asked about how Delaware will pay potential damages, Marlin said the state does not comment on active litigation. For fiscal year 2024, $410.1 million is allocated to the state's Budget Stabilization Fund and $328.8 million is allocated to the state's Budget Reserve Account. Use of state reserves requires General Assembly approval. Story continues Beyond the handsome payment expected for the defendant states, the MoneyGram lawsuit could lead to more challenges to Delaware's collection of other financial instruments and thus threaten the state's budget, according to Charles Elson, a retired University of Delaware professor and the founding director of UDs Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance. "I don't think [the voting public] realize(s) the severity of the issue," Elson said. "It's going to affect their taxation if it goes away." Delaware officials have said the Supreme Court made a crucial distinction that will narrow the effect of the case. The court ruled that the MoneyGram checks should be treated like money orders or traveler's checks, which are subject to a federal act passed in 1974 that gives the unclaimed money to the state in which the instrument was purchased. The court left intact an order of priority established by a 1965 Supreme Court case that governs other forms of abandoned property. The first priority is to the state of the property owner's last-known address. If the address is unknown or the state does not claim the property, the second priority is to the state where the property holder is incorporated. Enter Delaware. Delaware State Escheator Brenda Mayrack, the head of the office of unclaimed property, said Delaware collected about $20 million from MoneyGram each year prior to the start of the case. MoneyGram put unclaimed property in escrow accounts beginning in 2016. "This decision impacts a specific type of property that is issued by one company, and it is a MoneyGram official check," Mayrack said in March. "The impact of this particular decision is limited." How the process unfolds and why Delaware has faced heat After a certain period of time, companies are required to turn over abandoned property to the states, which are then supposed to act as custodians of the unclaimed dollars or securities and work to return them to their rightful owners. Each state has different rules for when property is considered dormant and must be handed over (in Delaware, after 3 years for securities and after 5 years for other property types). Some states set the property aside in perpetuity, but most add it to their general funds with the promise they will pay out whatever is claimed down the line. For most states, unclaimed property is a small note on their budget sheets, but it has had a significant role in Delaware. That has led to complaints from other states and attorneys that represent companies under audit that Delaware's unclaimed property practices are overly aggressive or as one federal judge put it "troubling." From left Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley arrive before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. PREVIOUS REPORTING: Taking unclaimed property keeps Delaware taxes low but other states cry foul A group of corporate lawyers from Reed Smith likened Delaware's practices to Aesop's cautionary tale of "killing the golden goose." In a 2021 report, they argued that the role of unclaimed property in Delaware's budget shifted the state's incentive structure, placing the need for higher collections above the state's role as custodian of lost property. "As revenue has gotten scarcer, we've gotten more aggressive in our efforts," Elson said. "They're not going to admit the error that started this whole thing to begin with. Others wouldn't have seen how lucrative it would be." Mayrack says those critiques are misplaced. Prior to working for the state, Mayrack represented companies under audit for unclaimed property. She said what she's learned on the state side that she didn't recognize before is the degree to which the office follows "a wait to receive and accept" approach. "It's not really an act to go out and receive," she said, adding that most abandoned property is submitted to the state through voluntary compliance. State's reliance on unclaimed property decreasing The percentage of the state's budget derived from unclaimed property has been in decline. The state's most recent revenue estimate says that Delaware will receive $404 million in unclaimed property after collecting $554 million and returning $150 million. That accounts for 6.4% of the state's projected $6.28 billion in revenue. In previous years, unclaimed property seizures by Delaware have totaled more than $500 million and funded more than 10% of the state's budget. In 2017, the General Assembly overhauled the state statues governing unclaimed property. The updated law barred the state from seeking unclaimed property that is more than 10 years old, a response to criticism that the state aggressively sought property from decades ago. State Auditor candidate Brenda Mayrack gives her concession speech at the Christiana Hilton, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. Mayrack is now the Delaware State Escheator. Under Mayrack, the office of unclaimed property has also bolstered its efforts to return property. The office last month announced that it returned $570,000 to Delaware taxpayers through its MONEY MATCH program. The program, now in its third year, unites Delawareans with lost money without the need to file a claim or gather paperwork. It runs the state's unclaimed property database against taxpayer information from the state division of revenue. And for the last year, Delaware has been a part of missingmoney.com, a website that allows users to search for unclaimed property across 49 states. Any time it is mentioned in national media, Delaware's database sees a significant spike in web traffic, Mayrack said. To claim property, individuals have to prove their identity and then provide documentation to prove they are the rightful owner. Finalizing claims becomes more difficult the longer the property is left abandoned if someone leaves a bank account untouched for several years or is attempting to recover a deceased relative's long lost property, they are not likely to have documents tying them to the property. Before companies report unclaimed property to the state they are required to send a final letter of notice. Mayrack's best advice for claiming property is to respond to those letters and not let the property become unclaimed property in the first place. Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on X @holveck_brandon. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware boosts unclaimed property return as court ruling looms MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd. Chicago, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Swarm Robotics Market Size by Platform (UAV, UGV), Application (Security, Inspection & Monitoring, Mapping & Surveying, Search & Rescue and Disaster Relief, Supply Chain and Warehouse Management), End-Use Industry and Region - Global Forecast to 2028 Swarm Robotics Market Size Market Players Major vendors in the swarm robotics companies include Hydromea (Switzerland), Boston Dynamic (US), SwarmFarm (Australia), Swarm Technology (US), Sentien Robotics (US), Berkeley Marine Robotics (US), Swisslog Holding AG (Switzerland), FARobot, Inc. (Taiwan), K-Team Corporation (Switzerland), KION Group AG (Germany), among others. Dowload PDF Brochure : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=208095486 Swarm Robotics Market Size Dynamics: Driver: Rising adoption of swarm-based drones in the military sector Swarm-based drones can easily cover large areas at low costs, owing to which their adoption has been increasing for military operations. In addition, these swarm-based drones are used in times of natural calamities such as earthquakes, forest fires, and floods. UAVs are extensively used for various military operations, such as search and rescue, surveillance, traffic monitoring, weather monitoring, and firefighting. The increasing adoption of swarm drones in military sectors and growing research and development activities in this swarm technology is driving the market growth. For instance, in 2023, NewSpace Research, a Bengaluru-based start-up has delivered SWARM drones to Indian Army, which makes the Army the first major armed force in the world to operationalize these high-density SWARM drones. Restraint: Technical Challenges and High Initial Investment Several characteristics that make swarm robotics strategic for many future use cases (autonomous, decentralized, etc.) also limit the evolution of the technology from academic institutions to scalable industrial solutions. Swarm robots need to be able to communicate with each other in order to coordinate their actions. This can be a challenge in complex environments, such as those with a lot of noise or interference. In some cases, robot swarms are unable to complete a task if global communication is blocked. Although several existing wireless technologies are available, the protocols specialized for swarm robotics remain undiscovered. Story continues Opportunities: Integration of swarm intelligence technology with connected cars The growing penetration of connected cars in the swarm robotics market is expected to positively impact the market. Connected cars are equipped with sensors and communication technologies that allow them to interact with each other and with the environment. This makes them ideal platforms for swarm robotics applications. Connected cars enable the driver to connect with online platforms and facilitate real-time communication. The growth of this market is driven by government mandates on telematics applications, the implementation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), rapid urbanization, and increasing demand for usage-based insurance (UBI). Challenges: Low awareness about swarm intelligence and reluctance to accept new technology by key industries There is currently less information about swarm robotics in the market, although the situation is expected to change positively in the coming years. Due to less information, users are unaware of the advantages such as decentralization, robustness, flexibility, and scalability of swarm intelligence. Therefore, they are less willing to adopt this technology. There has been a gradual information wave elucidating and educating end users, which is expected to gain momentum in the coming years, leading to the increased adoption of swarm technology and robots. Browse in-depth TOC on " Swarm Robotics Market Size, share, value, Trends, Growth Drivers" 120 Tables 45 Figures 157 Pages REQUEST SAMPLE :- https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=208095486 Swarm Robotics Companies - LG Energy Solution (South Korea) and Samsung SDI Co., Ltd are the Key Players Hydromea is a company specializing in underwater wireless communication and robotics solutions. They focus on developing innovative technologies for various industries requiring reliable and efficient underwater communication. Hydromea's drones are designed to inspect submerged assets, such as pipelines, offshore platforms, and ships. The drones are equipped with a variety of sensors, including cameras, sonar, and lasers. They can also be used to collect water samples and to perform other underwater tasks. The company offers various products such as VERTEX, EXRAY, LUMA, and DISKDRIVE. The company serves various industries, such as oil and gas, shipping, and renewable energy. The company is engaged in developing small autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) designed to cooperate in large groups using a low-frequency radio system for robotic swarms. SwarmFarm Robotics is one of the leading companies engaged in the development of agricultural robots for crop production. It offers driverless tractors that automate existing field operations. They are lightweight, efficient, and sensor-guided autonomous machines loaded with technology that allows new farming methods. Its crop protection robot, for example, provides precision application of protection products, significantly improving efficiencies. Through individual weed treatment, the robot massively reduces the amount of herbicide used on farms, improving agriculture's sustainability and environmental impact. It also has mowing and slashing robots. Related Reports: Military Battery Market Size, Share & Industry Growth Analysis Report by Type (Rechargeable, Non-rechargeable), Installation (OEM, Aftermarket), Application (Propulsion, Non-propulsion), Platform (Ground, Airborne, Marine), Composition, Voltage, Power Density and Region - Global Growth Driver and Industry Forecast to 2027 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/military-battery-market-135165088.html CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of Americas best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com DALLAS, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) will release its third quarter 2023 results after the market closes on Monday, October 30, 2023, to be followed by a conference call at 4:00 p.m. CT (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). A live webcast and audio archive of the call may be accessed through the investor relations section of Tenets website at www.tenethealth.com/investors. About Tenet Healthcare Tenet Healthcare Corporation (NYSE: THC) is a diversified healthcare services company headquartered in Dallas. Our care delivery network includes United Surgical Partners International, the largest ambulatory platform in the country, which operates or has ownership interests in more than 475 ambulatory surgery centers and surgical hospitals. We also operate 61 acute care and specialty hospitals, approximately 110 other outpatient facilities, a network of leading employed physicians and a global business center in Manila, Philippines. Our Conifer Health Solutions subsidiary provides revenue cycle management and value-based care services to hospitals, health systems, physician practices, employers, and other clients. Across the Tenet enterprise, we are united by our mission to deliver quality, compassionate care in the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.tenethealth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231006178158/en/ Contacts Investor Contact Will McDowell 469-893-2387 William.McDowell@tenethealth.com Media Contact Robert Dyer 469-893-2640 mediarelations@tenethealth.com Med-Or The jihadist threat may be silent, but that does not mean it is dead ROME, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The jihadist threat may be silent, but that does not mean it is dead. This is what emerges from the Special Report issued by the Med-Or Foundation, titled The Silent Enemy: Presence and Evolution of the Jihadist Threat in the Broader Mediterranean, presented at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome. The report, overseen by the Director of Institutional Relations at the Foundation, Andrea Manciulli, analyses the current state of threats linked to terrorism and jihadist radicalism in the geopolitical and geographical space of the enlarged Mediterranean. The jihadist threat is not an imminent threat but an immanent one, meaning that it can resurface at any moment, said Marco Minniti, Chairman of the Med-Or Foundation. Today, international terrorism has two major incubators. One is in Asia, particularly in Afghanistan, where we have a significant and important presence of both Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in conflict with each other. [] The other incubator is Africa, where we have all the national variants of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. According to Alfredo Mantovano, Undersecretary of State to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, the key to averting Islamist threats is not repeating past mistakes: A dramatic mistake was thinking that the military dismantling of the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq between 2016 and 2017 had ended the Islamist threat. On the contrary, Mantovano observed, the fragmentation of the Islamic State has resulted in a massive exodus of jihadist militants streaming from the Middle East to Africa, without the West fully grasping the magnitude of the situation, without the adoption of effective and coordinated measures and with a progressive withdrawal of military contingents from sensitive areas. Keeping attention high is also the call issued by Lorenzo Guerini, President of the Parliamentary Committee for the Intelligence and Security Services and for State Secret Control (COPASIR), according to whom we must understand that the fact that the threat is silent does not mean that it is absent. Guerini drew attention to the danger posed by so-called void areas where terrorism could find fertile ground. These are places where terrorism can thrive, and we must pay attention, reflect, and above all, work together. When it comes to Africa, this means European cooperation. Europe must put the situation in Africa at the top of its agenda in many areas of work, from supporting local governments and local realities to create better security conditions and counter terrorism, to a real, concrete, ambitious plan for Africa and its development. Story continues For more information: Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07d392b5-f95c-46a4-ad2f-3e8b7658ec89 By Victoria Waldersee GRUENHEIDE, Germany (Reuters) - Tesla workers at the carmaker's Brandenburg plant are joining the IG Metall union in rising numbers over concerns around health, safety and overwork, the union said on Monday. Lack of staff and inadequate safety provisions in the workplace were leading to a high number of accidents at work, and it was not rare that around 30% of workers were signed off sick, the union said in a statement. Reuters was not able to independently verify the union's claims and Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Union representatives met workers at the factory gates, on the platforms of nearby stations and inside the factory on Monday handing out stickers stating "Together for safe and fair work at Tesla". On Sunday night, Tesla managers invited their teams to a meeting with "free food and a surprise" to discuss IG Metall's presence on the site, stating: "We want to speak with you and your teams about the questionable methods and actual goals of IG Metall," according to a copy of the email seen by Reuters. "The law gives all workers the right to organise in a union and stand openly for that at their workplace. That counts at Tesla in Brandenburg as well," Dirk Schulze of IG Metall said. The union said it does not share specific membership numbers for companies as a matter of course, but that it has seen a steep rise in the number of new members at Tesla. Reuters spoke to twelve workers at the factory on Monday. While four said they were satisfied with working conditions, eight said pressure was too high, with some reporting high incidence of accidents and issues with receiving overtime pay. Two workers said they were not allowed to speak to the media. "Speed is not compatible with safety," said one 56-year-old worker from Poland, who declined to be named, adding there were too few workers to meet targets and that he would seek a new job next year if conditions did not improve. (Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Rationalstat LLC Thailand IT & Security market is expected to reach US$ 5.3 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of more than 6.5% Wilmington, Oct. 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thailand IT & Security Market was valued at US$ 3.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of over 6.5% over the forecast period of 2023-2030, according to the latest market report by RationalStat Market Definition, Market Scope, and Report Overview The Thailand IT & Security Market is expected to grow at a steady pace in the coming years, driven by factors such as Government investment in digital transformation, growing adoption of digital technologies by businesses, and rising cybersecurity threats. The market is expected to be bolstered by the government's focus on digital transformation, the growing adoption of digital technologies by businesses, and the rising awareness of cybersecurity. Moreover, businesses and individuals in Thailand are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of cybersecurity. This is driving demand for cybersecurity products and services. According to a deep-dive market assessment by RationalStat, Thailand IT & Security market has been analyzed on the basis of market segments, including type, end user and geography/regions (including North Thailand, Eastern Thailand, Central Thailand, South Thailand) . The report also offers global and regional market sizing for the historical period of 2019-2022 and the forecast period of 2023-2030. Market intelligence for Thailand IT & Security market covers market sizes on the basis of market value (US$/EUR Million) and volume (Units/Subscription) by various products/services/equipment, demand assessment across the key regions, customer sentiments, price points, cost structures, margin analysis across the value chain, financial assessments, historical and forecast data, key developments across the industry, import-export data, trade overview, components market by leading companies, etc. In addition, the long-term sector and products/services 10-year outlook and its implications on Thailand IT & Security market. It also includes the industry's current state Production Levels, Capacity Utilization, Tech quotient, etc. Key information will be manufacturing capacity by country, installed base, import volumes, market size, key players, market size, dynamics, market data, insights, etc. Story continues Request A Customization- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/thailand-it-security-market/ Thailand IT & Security Market: Segmental and Market Share Analysis Based on Type, the cloud segment is dominating the Thailand IT & Security market owing to the growing adoption of cloud computing by businesses coupled with increasing awareness of cloud security. On the basis of IT hardware and devices, the laptop segment is dominating the Thailand IT & Security Market. Laptops are also increasingly being used for business purposes, as more and more businesses are adopting remote work and hybrid work arrangements. This is driving demand for laptops with security features such as fingerprint sensors and facial recognition. Report Synopsis Report Metrics Details Base Year 2023 Forecast Period 2023-2030 Base Year Market Size US$ 3.4 billion Market Size Forecast US$ 5.3 billion Growth Rate 6.5% Key Market Drivers Government Investment in Digital Transformation Growing Adoption of digital technologies by businesses Rising cybersecurity threats Increasing awareness of cybersecurity Companies Profiled Outsourcify Hire Quality Software Co. Ltd. Tech Curve AI and Innovations Fujitsu Thailand Co. Ltd Movaci Co. Ltd AppSquadz Software Pvt. Ltd G-Able Co. Ltd Microsoft Corporation Cisco Inc. Dell Technologies. Fujitsu Infosys Oracle among others. Explore more about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/thailand-it-security-market/#tab-ux_global_tab Competition Analysis and Market Structure Prominent players adopt various strategies in order to reinforce their market share and gain a competitive edge over other competitors in the market. Mergers & and acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations, and product launches are some of the strategies followed by industry players. Some of the key developments in Thailand IT & Security market include, In September 2023, Fujitsu announced the strategic acquisition of Thailand-based SAP consultancy, Innovation Consulting Services (ICS) to boost its SAP consulting and managed services across Asia Pacific. In July 2023, SET-listed aviation technology company Sky ICT plans to acquire a 100% stake in Siam Administrative Management and Security Guards Co (SAMCO), a Thai security service. Some of the prominent players and suppliers operating and contributing significantly to Thailand IT & Security market growth include Outsourcify, Hire Quality Software Co. Ltd., Tech Curve AI and Innovations, Fujitsu Thailand Co. Ltd, Movaci Co. Ltd, AppSquadz Software Pvt. Ltd, G-Able Co. Ltd, Microsoft Corporation, Cisco Inc., Dell Technologies., Fujitsu, Infosys, and Oracle, among others. Get A Free Sample- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/thailand-it-security-market/#tab-ux_global_tab RationalStat has segmented Thailand IT & Security market based on security type, IT hardware & devices, IT software, IT services, and region Thailand IT & Security Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Security Type Cloud Data Network Consumer Identity Access Management Infrastructure Protection Thailand IT & Security Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by IT Hardware & Devices Desktop Laptop Tablet Thailand IT & Security Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by IT Software Enterprise Software Productivity Software Application Development Software System Infrastructure Software Thailand IT & Security Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by IT Services Business Process Outsourcing IT Consulting and Implementation IT Outsourcing Other IT Services Thailand IT & Security Market Value (US$ Million), Volume (Units/Subscription), and Market Share (2019-2030) Analysis by Region Thailand IT & Security Market North Thailand Eastern Thailand Central Thailand South Thailand For more information about this report- https://store.rationalstat.com/store/thailand-it-security-market/ Key Questions Answered in the IT & Security Report: What will be the market value of Thailand IT & Security market by 2030? What is the market size of Thailand IT & Security market? What are the market drivers of Thailand IT & Security market? What are the key trends in Thailand IT & Security market? Which is the leading region in Thailand IT & Security market? What are the major companies operating in Thailand IT & Security market? What are the market shares by key segments in Thailand IT & Security market? Explore Our Trending Reports Research Methodology RationalStat has developed a state-of-the-art research methodology to crunch numbers and provide the best possible real-time insights to clients. We combine a varied range of industry experience, data analytics, and experts viewpoint to create a research methodology for market sizing and forecasting. RationalStat combines a mix of secondary sources as well as primary research to assess the market size and develop a forecast. Key steps involved in accurately deriving the market numbers are: Defining the problem by understanding the type of market and data required by the client. Data gathering and collection through relevant paid databases, publicly available sources, company reports, annual reports, surveys, and interviews. Formulating a hypothesis to create market numbers, forecasts, influencing factors, and their relevance. Evaluating and analyzing the data by referring to data sources utilized and leveraged. Validating, interpreting, and finalizing the data by combining the details gathered from primary and secondary sources with the help of experienced analysts. Download Key Insights and Market Data - Raise a Query About RationalStat LLC RationalStat is an end-to-end global market intelligence and consulting company that provides comprehensive market research reports, customized strategy, and consulting studies. The company has sales offices in India, Mexico, and the US to support global and diversified businesses. The company has over 80 consultants and industry experts, developing more than 850 market research and industry reports for its report store annually. RationalStat has strategic partnerships with leading data analytics and consumer research companies to cater to the clients needs. Additional services offered by the company include consumer research, country reports, risk reports, valuations and advisory, financial research, due diligence, procurement and supply chain research, data analytics, and analytical dashboards. Contact RationalStat LLC Kimberly Shaw, Content and Press Manager sales@rationalstat.com US Phone: +1 302 803 5429 UK Phone: +44 203-287-1245 LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. Buying under-rated businesses is one path to excess returns. For example, the Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO) share price is up 34% in the last 5 years, clearly besting the market decline of around 0.7% (ignoring dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 3.8% , including dividends . With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies. View our latest analysis for Rio Tinto Group 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 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. During five years of share price growth, Rio Tinto Group actually saw its EPS drop 1.1% per year. By glancing at these numbers, we'd posit that the decline in earnings per share is not representative of how the business has changed over the years. Therefore, it's worth taking a look at other metrics to try to understand the share price movements. In fact, the dividend has increased over time, which is a positive. Maybe dividend investors have helped support the share price. The revenue growth of about 9.1% per year might also encourage buyers. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). Rio Tinto Group 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? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Rio Tinto Group the TSR over the last 5 years was 114%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective Rio Tinto Group shareholders gained a total return of 3.8% during the year. But that return falls short of the market. If we look back over five years, the returns are even better, coming in at 16% 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. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Rio Tinto Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British 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. Seven West Media Limited (ASX:SWM) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 18% in the last quarter. But that doesn't undermine the rather lovely longer-term return, if you measure over the last three years. Indeed, the share price is up a very strong 119% in that time. So the recent fall in the share price should be viewed in that context. The thing to consider is whether the underlying business is doing well enough to support the current price. So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. See our latest analysis for Seven West Media While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. 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. During three years of share price growth, Seven West Media moved from a loss to profitability. Given the importance of this milestone, it's not overly surprising that the share price has increased strongly. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). It is of course excellent to see how Seven West Media has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 6.2% in the last year, Seven West Media shareholders lost 35%. 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. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 11% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Seven West Media (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant) . Story continues If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Australian 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. As United Auto Workers' (UAW) negotiations with the Big Three GM, Stellantis, and Ford roll on, union members at Mack Trucks (VOLV-B.ST) made a bold move to reject a tentative deal with company management. This comes as Canadas auto union, Unifor, says GM is making negotiations difficult, as a big deadline looms for tonight. Late on Sunday, the UAW announced workers voted to reject a tentative agreement its negotiators made with the truckmaker with a 73% no vote, prompting workers to strike at 7 a.m. ET on Monday. "I'm inspired to see UAW members at Mack holding out for a better deal, and ready to stand up and walk off the job to win it," UAW president Shawn Fain said via the UAWs X account. The union has 4,000 workers at Mack Trucks plants in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Maryland. In a letter to Volvo North America Trucks (which owns Mack Trucks) head of labor relations Holly Georgell, Fain stated the union's demands of the trucking company are similar to those of the Big Three, including cost of living allowances (COLA), wage progression, job security, pension, healthcare, and other issues. "We clearly demonstrated our commitment to good faith bargaining by arriving at a tentative agreement that was endorsed by both the International UAW and the UAW Mack Truck Council," Mack Trucks CEO Stephen Roy said. Roy added that he was surprised and disappointed by the vote to reject the deal, which included a 19% pay hike, a $3,500 ratification bonus, increased retirement benefits, additional vacation time, and a decrease in time for wage progression to top pay. Meanwhile in Canada, the countrys Unifor auto workers union said GM (GM) was "resisting" a number of important elements that the union secured with Ford (F), with a strike deadline looming Monday night at 11:59 p.m ET. Unifor, like the UAW in the US, uses a pattern agreement with one automaker to use as a template for the others. Unifor chose GM as its second target after Ford, to hammer out issues it has with the Detroit-based automaker using concessions gained from its Ford deal. Story continues A used Mack truck on a lot in Evans City, Pa., Jan. 9, 2020. Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted down a tentative five-year contract agreement reached with the company. (Keith Srakocic/AP Photo, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) GM is reportedly resistant to conceding expanding benefits to GMs full-time temporary workers, a universal healthcare allowance for retirees beyond Canadas national healthcare program, and outlining future project and hiring commitments namely with new factories that will build batteries and next-gen vehicles. Unifor representatives did not immediately respond following Yahoo Finances request for comment. Earlier last month, Unifor ratified a new three-year contract with Ford that offered wage increases of up to 25%, COLA protection, and a reduction of the wage progression wait time to four years for top pay for the approximately 5,600 workers at Canadian Ford facilities. If a deal is not reached, Unifors 4,300 workers at GM Canada facilities will potentially go on strike late Monday night. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Ultimovacs ASA The orphan drug designation was granted based on data from the randomized Phase II clinical trial NIPU The results from the NIPU study will be presented at the ESMO Congress being held October 20-24, 2023 in Madrid UV1 also received FDA orphan drug designation for treatment of patients with malignant melanoma in December 2021 Oslo, October 09, 2023: Ultimovacs ASA (Ultimovacs) (OSE ULTI), a clinical-stage biotechnology leader in novel immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) to the companys therapeutic cancer vaccine UV1 for the treatment of patients with mesothelioma. The designation was granted based on the initial data from the Phase II clinical trial, NIPU. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer with a high mortality rate and few therapeutic options. Patients with mesothelioma commonly have a history of occupationally or environmentally exposure to asbestos, and it typically takes decades for this specific form of cancer to develop. The impact of UV1 vaccination in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma is being assessed in the randomized Phase II clinical trial, NIPU. In the study, UV1 was combined with checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab and compared to ipilimumab and nivolumab alone as a second-line treatment after first-line treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. The randomized, open-label, multicenter trial with 118 patients was conducted in Australia, Denmark, Norway, Spain, and Sweden. The first patient in the trial was enrolled in June 2020, and the last patient was enrolled in January 2023. The NIPU study is sponsored by Oslo University Hospital with support from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ultimovacs. The results from the study will be shared at the ESMO Congress in Madrid, held October 20-24, in an oral presentation by the Principal Investigator, Aslaug Helland, MD, Ph.D., Professor at Oslo University Hospital. The presentation title is LBA99 - First survival data from the NIPU trial; A randomized, open-label, phase II study evaluating nivolumab and ipilimumab combined with UV1 vaccination as second-line treatment in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Story continues Gaining FDA orphan drug designation for UV1 in mesothelioma highlights UV1s potential and the significant need for new treatment options for this patient population, said Carlos de Sousa, CEO of Ultimovacs. We look forward to the presentation of the NIPU results at the ESMO Congress later this month and to continue our dialogue with the FDA as we seek to bring UV1 to cancer patients as quickly as possible. The FDAs Office of Orphan Products Developments grants orphan status to support the development of medicines for rare disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Orphan drug designation provides certain benefits, including potentially up to seven years of market exclusivity upon regulatory approval, exemption of FDA application fees, and tax credits for qualified clinical trials. UV1 is a therapeutic cancer vaccine that generates an immune response against the human telomerase (hTERT) enzyme. The enzyme is essential for the ability of cancer cells to proliferate. Telomerase is present in 85-90% of all cancers across all stages of the disease. Ultimovacs is evaluating the universal cancer vaccine UV1 in a broad clinical development program across various cancer indications with different biologies and disease stages, combined with different checkpoint inhibitors. The topline data from NIPU are the first results among the currently five randomized trials in the UV1 Phase II clinical program. In addition to malignant pleural mesothelioma, Phase II studies are ongoing in patients with malignant melanoma, head and neck cancer, ovarian cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. The topline data from the malignant melanoma and head and neck cancer trials are also expected within a year. UV1 is a patented, proprietary technology owned by Ultimovacs. ==ENDS== About NIPU NIPU ( N ivolumab and I pilimumab P lus/minus U V1 vaccination) is a randomized, multi-center phase II trial in which Ultimovacs universal cancer vaccine, UV1, is evaluated in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibbs checkpoint inhibitors, nivolumab, and ipilimumab, as second-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The trial sponsor is Oslo University Hospital, supported in the preparation and execution of the trial by Ultimovacs and Bristol-Myers Squibb. The 118 patients are randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms. All participants receive treatment with nivolumab (240 mg every two weeks) and ipilimumab (1 mg/kg every six weeks) until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or for a maximum of 2 years. Patients randomized to the experimental arm received eight intradermal injections of UV1 vaccine during the first three months of treatment. The objective of the study is to achieve a clinically meaningful benefit in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) after progression on first-line standard platinum doublet chemotherapy. Subsequent events emerging in patients in both arms of the NIPU study will continue to be monitored beyond the read-out of the primary endpoint. The ipilimumab and nivolumab combination has been approved as first-line treatment for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in Europe and the U.S. About Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue surrounding the lungs and inside the chest. Mesothelioma accounted for 30 870 new cancer cases and 26 278 cancer deaths worldwide in 2020, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Globocan 2020). Pleural mesothelioma is a disease with a high unmet medical need, especially in industrialized countries. The median overall survival is approximately one year. Occupational asbestos exposure is the No. 1 cause of the disease, and several occupations, like firefighters, military veterans, construction, and industry workers, are at risk. This cancer usually takes several decades to develop after a persons first exposure to asbestos. Most patients are diagnosed after age 70 because of the long latency period. Even though the use of asbestos, to a large extent, is banned in many countries today, new incidences of mesothelioma will continue to be a medical and public health challenge because of the long latency period typical of the illness. Few treatment options are available after first-line chemotherapy for patients with inoperable disease. The combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has recently shown increased survival compared to standard chemotherapy, but most patients do not respond, and improvements are called for. Telomerase is expressed in mesothelioma cells and is, therefore, a relevant target for therapeutic vaccination. About the UV1 Phase II program The immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine UV1 is investigated in combination with checkpoint inhibitors in patients with various cancer indications with diverse tumor biology. The diversity of the UV1 Phase II program places Ultimovacs in a favorable position to capture the cancer vaccines potential broad applicability when combined with checkpoint inhibitors: INITIUM: Evaluating UV1 in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab as first-line treatment for patients with malignant melanoma. Enrollment of 156 patients completed. Expected readout H1 2024. Sponsored by Ultimovacs. NIPU: Evaluating UV1 in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab as second-line treatment for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Enrollment of 118 patients completed; results will be presented at the ESMO Congress in October 2023. The investigator-initiated study is led by Oslo University Hospital and supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ultimovacs. FOCUS: Evaluating UV1 in combination with pembrolizumab as first-line treatment for patients with head and neck cancer. Enrollment of 75 patients completed, expected readout H2 2024. The investigator-initiated study is led by Halle University in Germany, supported by Ultimovacs. DOVACC: Evaluating UV1 in combination with olaparib and durvalumab as maintenance therapy in non-BRCA mutated patients with advanced ovarian cancer. >20% of 184 patients recruited as of Q2 2023 reporting, expected readout H2 2024. The investigator-initiated study is led by NSGO-CTU and supported by ENGOT, AstraZeneca, and Ultimovacs. LUNGVAC: Evaluating UV1 combined with cemiplimab as first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer patients. <10% of 138 patients recruited as of Q2 2023 reporting, expected readout H2 2025. The investigator-initiated study is led by Vestre Viken (Drammen Hospital) and supported by Ultimovacs. About Ultimovacs Ultimovacs is a clinical-stage biotechnology leader in novel immunotherapeutic cancer vaccines with broad applicability. Ultimovacs lead cancer vaccine candidate UV1 is directed against human telomerase (hTERT), an antigen present in 85-90% of cancers in all stages of tumor growth. A broad clinical program, with Phase II trials in five cancer indications enrolling more than 670 patients, aims to demonstrate UV1s impact in combination with other immunotherapies in multiple cancer types expressing telomerase and where patients have unmet medical needs. UV1 is universal, off-the-shelf and easy to use, and is a patented technology owned by Ultimovacs. In addition, Ultimovacs adjuvant platform, based on the proprietary Tetanus-Epitope-Targeting (TET) technology, combines tumor-specific antigens and adjuvant in the same molecule and is in Phase I clinical development. About UV1 UV1 is a universal cancer vaccine designed to induce a specific T-cell response against telomerase. UV1 consists of long, synthetic peptides representing a sequence in the reverse transcriptase subunit of telomerase (hTERT), shown to induce CD4+ T-cells. These CD4+ T-cells have the potential to provide inflammatory signals, and T-cell support is believed to be critical for triggering a strong anti-tumor immune response. Following intradermal injection, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in the skin are exposed to the vaccine peptides. These APCs will process the peptides and present vaccine epitopes on Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) molecules to naive T-cells in the lymph nodes. Activated vaccine-specific T-cells will then enter the circulation and search for cells displaying their cognate antigen in the context of HLA molecules. The UV1 peptides contain several epitopes, shown to be non-restrictive in terms of (HLA) alleles for presentation. It is, therefore not required to perform HLA pre-screening of patients, which potentially enables broad population utilization of the vaccine. UV1 is administered over three months as eight intradermal injections together with the immune-modulator GM-CSF. For further information, please see www.ultimovacs.com or contact: Carlos de Sousa, CEO Email: carlos.desousa@ultimovacs.com Phone: +47 908 92507 Anne Worse, Head of IR Email: anne.worsoe@ultimovacs.com Phone: +47 90686815 This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Anne Worse, Head of Investor Relations at Ultimovacs ASA, on October 9, 2023 at 07:00 CET. Long-established in the Travel & Leisure industry, Carnival PLC (NYSE:CUK) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. However, it has recently witnessed a daily loss of 6.51%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of -35.59%. Fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Carnival PLC. Unraveling the Challenges Ahead for Carnival PLC (CUK): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Decoding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Carnival PLC the GF Score of 63 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Understanding Carnival PLC's Business Carnival PLC, with a market cap of $1.67 billion and sales of $20.04 billion, operates with an operating margin of 3.89%. As the largest global cruise company, it boasts 90 ships in service as of the end of fiscal 2022. Its portfolio of brands includes Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn in North America; P&O Cruises and Cunard Line in the United Kingdom; Aida in Germany; Costa Cruises in Southern Europe; and P&O Cruises in Australia. Carnival also owns Holland America Princess Alaska Tours in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Prior to COVID-19, Carnival's brands attracted about 13 million guests in 2019, a level it should reach again in 2023. Story continues Unraveling the Challenges Ahead for Carnival PLC (CUK): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Financial Strength Breakdown Carnival PLC's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's interest coverage ratio of 0.43 positions it worse than 92.93% of 566 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. This ratio highlights potential challenges the company might face when handling its interest expenses on outstanding debt. It's worth noting that the esteemed investor Benjamin Graham typically favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least five. The company's Altman Z-Score is just 0.32, which is below the distress zone of 1.81. This suggests that the company may face financial distress over the next few years. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.09 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 4.69, which is worse than 92.91% of 663 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. A high debt-to-equity ratio suggests over-reliance on borrowing and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's debt-to-Ebitda ratio is 11.86, which is above Joel Tillinghast's warning level of 4 and is worse than 86.62% of 583 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. Tillinghast said in his book Big Money Think's Small: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing that a high debt-to-Ebitda ratio can be a red flag unless tangible assets cover the debt. Growth Prospects A lack of significant growth is another area where Carnival PLC seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. The company's revenue has declined by -27.8 per year over the past three years, which underperforms worse than 87.6% of 758 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. Stagnating revenues may pose concerns in a fast-evolving market. Lastly, Carnival PLC predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. Unraveling the Challenges Ahead for Carnival PLC (CUK): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Conclusion Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While Carnival PLC has a rich history and a diverse portfolio, its current financial health and growth prospects raise concerns about its ability to outperform in the future. As value investors, it's crucial to consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Long-established in the Travel & Leisure industry, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. However, it has recently witnessed a daily loss of 4.8%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of -26.98%. Fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Unraveling the Future of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics What Is the GF Score? The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd the GF Score of 58 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. Understanding Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd Business Norwegian Cruise Line is the world's third-largest cruise company by berths, operating 30 ships across three brands (Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas), offering both freestyle and luxury cruising. The company had redeployed its entire fleet as of May 2022. With seven passenger vessels on order among its brands through 2028, Norwegian is increasing capacity faster than its peers, expanding its brand globally. Norwegian sails to around 700 global destinations. Story continues Unraveling the Future of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Financial Strength Breakdown Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. The company's interest coverage ratio of 0, positions it worse than 0% of 566 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. This ratio highlights potential challenges the company might face when handling its interest expenses on outstanding debt. The company's Altman Z-Scoreis just -0.22, which is below the distress zone of 1.81. This suggests that the company may face financial distress over the next few years. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.07 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 903.85, which is worse than 100% of 663 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. A high debt-to-equity ratio suggests over-reliance on borrowing and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's debt-to-Ebitda ratio is 21.12, which is above Joel Tillinghast's warning level of 4 and is worse than 93.83% of 583 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. Growth Prospects A lack of significant growth is another area where Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. The company's revenue has declined by -27.2 per year over the past three years, which underperforms worse than 87.2% of 758 companies in the Travel & Leisure industry. Stagnating revenues may pose concerns in a fast-evolving market. Lastly, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. Unraveling the Future of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH): A Deep Dive into Key Metrics Conclusion Given the company's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd has a rich history and a strong brand, its current financial health and growth prospects raise concerns about its future performance. Investors should consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. CoStar Group Inc (NASDAQ:CSGP) has recently been in the spotlight, drawing interest from investors and financial analysts due to its robust financial stance. With shares currently priced at 80.85, CoStar Group Inc has witnessed a daily gain of 0.26%, marked against a three-month change of -6.89%. A thorough analysis, underlined by the GF Score, suggests that CoStar Group Inc is well-positioned for substantial growth in the near future. Unveiling the Investment Potential of CoStar Group Inc (CSGP): A Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Metrics and Competitive Strengths Decoding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. CoStar Group Inc's GF Score components are as follows: Each one of these components is ranked and the ranks also have positive correlation with the long term performances of stocks. The GF score is calculated using the five key aspects of analysis. Through backtesting, we know that each of these key aspects has a different impact on the stock price performance. Thus, they are weighted differently when calculating the total score. With high ranks in financial strength, profitability, and growth, and decent ranks in GF value and momentum, GuruFocus assigned CoStar Group Inc the GF Score of 96 out of 100, which signals the highest outperformance potential. Understanding CoStar Group Inc's Business CoStar Group Inc, with a market cap of $33.01 billion and sales of $2.32 billion, is a leading provider of commercial real estate data and marketplace listing platforms. Its data offering contains in-depth analytical information on over 5 million commercial real estate properties related to various subsectors including office, retail, multifamily, healthcare, industrial, self-storage, and data centers. It operates many flagship brands such as CoStar Suite, LoopNet, Apartments.com, BizBuySell, and LandsofAmerica, with more than 80% of its revenue classified as subscription-based. The company also recently expanded its presence in Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. Story continues Unveiling the Investment Potential of CoStar Group Inc (CSGP): A Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Metrics and Competitive Strengths Financial Strength Breakdown According to the Financial Strength rating, CoStar Group Inc's robust balance sheet exhibits resilience against financial volatility, reflecting prudent management of capital structure. With an Altman Z-Score of 13.72, CoStar Group Inc exhibits a strong defense against financial distress, highlighting its robust financial stability. With a favorable Debt-to-Revenue ratio of 0.48, CoStar Group Inc's strategic handling of debt solidifies its financial health. Profitability Rank Breakdown The Profitability Rank shows CoStar Group Inc's impressive standing among its peers in generating profit. Furthermore, CoStar Group Inc's Gross Margin has seen a consistent rise over the past five years, as evidenced by the data: 2018: 77.35; 2019: 79.34; 2020: 81.38; 2021: 81.62; 2022: 81.03; . This trend underscores the company's growing proficiency in transforming revenue into profit. The Piotroski F-Score confirms CoStar Group Inc's solid financial situation based on Joseph Piotroski's nine-point scale, which measures a company's profitability, funding and operating efficiency. CoStar Group Inc's strong Predictability Rank of 4.5 stars out of five underscores its consistent operational performance, providing investors with increased confidence. Growth Rank Breakdown Ranked highly in Growth, CoStar Group Inc demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding its business. The company's 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate is 12.8%, which outperforms better than 69.9% of 1671 companies in the Real Estate industry. Moreover, CoStar Group Inc has seen a robust increase in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the past few years. Specifically, the three-year growth rate stands at 6.8, and the rate over the past five years is 14.6. This trend accentuates the company's continued capability to drive growth. Unveiling the Investment Potential of CoStar Group Inc (CSGP): A Comprehensive Analysis of Financial Metrics and Competitive Strengths Conclusion Given CoStar Group Inc's strong financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential outperformance. This analysis underscores the company's robust financial health, consistent profitability, and impressive growth trajectory, making it a compelling investment opportunity. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV (NYSE:PAC) has recently been in the spotlight, drawing interest from investors and financial analysts due to its robust financial stance. With shares currently priced at $131.82, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV has witnessed a daily loss of 0.29%, marked against a three-month change of -28.67%. A thorough analysis, underlined by the GF Score, suggests that Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV is well-positioned for substantial growth in the near future. Unveiling the Investment Potential of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV (PAC): A Comprehensive Analysis Decoding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV has been assigned the following ranks: Each one of these components is ranked and the ranks also have positive correlation with the long term performances of stocks. The GF score is calculated using the five key aspects of analysis. Through backtesting, we know that each of these key aspects has a different impact on the stock price performance. Thus, they are weighted differently when calculating the total score. With high ranks in financial strength, profitability, and growth, and slightly lower ranks in GF value and momentum, GuruFocus assigned Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV the GF Score of 97 out of 100, which signals the highest outperformance potential. Story continues Understanding Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's Business Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV, with a market cap of $6.66 billion and sales of $1.68 billion, is engaged in the construction, development, and operation of airports in Mexico. The company's segments include Guadalajara; Tijuana; Puerto Vallarta; San Jose del Cabo; Montego Bay; Hermosillo; Guanajuato and Other Airports. It generates maximum revenue from the Guadalajara segment. The company's operating margin stands impressively at 48.32%, indicating its efficiency in controlling costs relative to its total sales. Unveiling the Investment Potential of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV (PAC): A Comprehensive Analysis Financial Strength Breakdown According to the Financial Strength rating, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's robust balance sheet exhibits resilience against financial volatility, reflecting prudent management of capital structure. The Interest Coverage ratio for Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV stands impressively at 6.77, underscoring its strong capability to cover its interest obligations. This robust financial position resonates with the wisdom of legendary investor Benjamin Graham, who favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least 5. With a favorable Debt-to-Revenue ratio of 0, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's strategic handling of debt solidifies its financial health. Profitability Rank Breakdown The Profitability Rank shows Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's impressive standing among its peers in generating profit. Furthermore, the company's Gross Margin has seen a consistent rise over the past five years, as evidenced by the data: 2018: 53.69; 2019: 55.22; 2020: 38.38; 2021: 51.54; 2022: 55.41; . This trend underscores the company's growing proficiency in transforming revenue into profit. The Piotroski F-Score confirms Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's solid financial situation based on Joseph Piotroski's nine-point scale, which measures a company's profitability, funding and operating efficiency. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's strong Predictability Rank of 4.0 stars out of five underscores its consistent operational performance, providing investors with increased confidence. Growth Rank Breakdown Ranked highly in Growth, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding its business. The company's 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate is 20.4%, which outperforms better than 81.29% of 914 companies in the Transportation industry. Moreover, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV has seen a robust increase in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the past few years. Specifically, the three-year growth rate stands at 19.5, and the rate over the past five years is 11.6. This trend accentuates the company's continued capability to drive growth. Unveiling the Investment Potential of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV (PAC): A Comprehensive Analysis Conclusion With its strong financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico SAB de CV's unparalleled position for potential outperformance. This comprehensive analysis provides investors with a clear understanding of the company's robust financial health and growth potential, making it a compelling investment opportunity. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. MarketAxess Holdings Inc (NASDAQ:MKTX) has recently been in the spotlight, drawing interest from investors and financial analysts due to its robust financial stance. With shares currently priced at $236.72, MarketAxess Holdings Inc has witnessed a daily loss of 0.84%, marked against a three-month change of -3.93%. A thorough analysis, underlined by the GF Score, suggests that MarketAxess Holdings Inc is well-positioned for substantial growth in the near future. Unveiling the Investment Potential of MarketAxess Holdings Inc (MKTX): A Comprehensive Analysis Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Each one of these components is ranked and the ranks also have positive correlation with the long term performances of stocks. The GF score is calculated using the five key aspects of analysis. Through backtesting, we know that each of these key aspects has a different impact on the stock price performance. Thus, they are weighted differently when calculating the total score. With high ranks in financial strength, profitability, growth, and GF value, and a slightly lower rank in momentum, GuruFocus assigned MarketAxess Holdings Inc the GF Score of 96 out of 100, which signals the highest outperformance potential. Overview of MarketAxess Holdings Inc's Business Founded in 2000, MarketAxess Holdings Inc is a leading electronic fixed-income trading platform that connects broker/dealers and institutional investors. The company is primarily focused on credit-based fixed income securities with its main trading products being U.S. investment-grade and high-yield bonds, Eurobonds, and Emerging Market corporate debt. Recently the company has expanded more aggressively into Treasuries and municipal bonds with the acquisitions of LiquidityEdge and MuniBrokers in 2019 and 2021, respectively. The company also provides pre- and post-trade services with its acquisition of Regulatory Reporting Hub from Deutsche Borse Group in 2020 adding to its product offerings. Story continues With a market cap of $8.92 billion and sales of $733.03 million, MarketAxess Holdings Inc has an operating margin of 44.35%, indicating a high level of operational efficiency. This is the income breakdown of MarketAxess Holdings Inc: Unveiling the Investment Potential of MarketAxess Holdings Inc (MKTX): A Comprehensive Analysis Financial Strength Analysis According to the Financial Strength rating, MarketAxess Holdings Inc's robust balance sheet exhibits resilience against financial volatility, reflecting prudent management of capital structure. The Interest Coverage ratio for MarketAxess Holdings Inc stands impressively at 871.49, underscoring its strong capability to cover its interest obligations. This robust financial position resonates with the wisdom of legendary investor Benjamin Graham, who favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least 5. With an Altman Z-Score of 13.94, MarketAxess Holdings Inc exhibits a strong defense against financial distress, highlighting its robust financial stability. With a favorable Debt-to-Revenue ratio of 0.11, MarketAxess Holdings Inc's strategic handling of debt solidifies its financial health. Profitability Rank Analysis The Profitability Rank shows MarketAxess Holdings Inc's impressive standing among its peers in generating profit. The Piotroski F-Score confirms MarketAxess Holdings Inc's solid financial situation based on Joseph Piotroski's nine-point scale, which measures a company's profitability, funding and operating efficiency. MarketAxess Holdings Inc's strong Predictability Rank of 5.0 stars out of five underscores its consistent operational performance, providing investors with increased confidence. Growth Rank Analysis Ranked highly in Growth, MarketAxess Holdings Inc demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding its business. The company's 3-Year Revenue Growth Rate is 12.3%, which outperforms better than 60.98% of 674 companies in the Capital Markets industry. Moreover, MarketAxess Holdings Inc has seen a robust increase in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) over the past few years. Specifically, the three-year growth rate stands at 12.2, and the rate over the past five years is 15.2. This trend accentuates the company's continued capability to drive growth. Unveiling the Investment Potential of MarketAxess Holdings Inc (MKTX): A Comprehensive Analysis Conclusion Given the company's strong financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential outperformance. MarketAxess Holdings Inc's robust financial health, consistent profitability, and impressive growth trajectory make it a compelling investment opportunity. As the company continues to innovate and expand, it is well-positioned to deliver substantial returns to investors. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. (Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration will allow Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. to acquire the equipment they need to sustain and expand their giant chipmaking operations in China, a victory for the worlds two biggest memory makers. Most Read from Bloomberg Washington has effectively granted the pair an indefinite waiver on broader restrictions banning the shipment of advanced chipmaking gear to China, South Koreas presidential office said in a statement. The US concession means Hynix and Samsung are free to import advanced American machinery that would otherwise be prohibited from entering China, but are crucial in allowing the Korean industry leaders to operate in the worlds biggest chip arena over the longer term. The US governments decision means that the biggest trade issue for Korean semiconductor companies has been resolved, Presidential Economic Advisor Choi Sang-mok told reporters during a briefing. Korean chip companies are key suppliers and equipment consumers, accounting for 60.5% of the worlds memory output, and their stable production is directly linked to the stability of the global semiconductor supply chain. Samsung shares rose as much as 2.4% while Hynix gained 3.2% in Seoul early Tuesday morning. Read more: SK Hynix Says Chip Market to Rebound With Surging Interest in AI Hynix warned in 2022, when Washington unveiled its broadest series of chip export restrictions, that escalating curbs could force the closure or sale of a major plant in China in a worst-case scenario. It operates a DRAM factory in Wuxi in central China, which produces a major proportion of its global memory chips, and also runs NAND facilities in the northern city of Dalian. Memory chips made in China can be integrated into a range of products assembled in the country, including for US companies like Apple Inc. Story continues This is a big achievement for the Korean semiconductor industry and government, said Yeo Han-koo, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington and a former South Korean trade minister. While the decision lifts some of the uncertainty, Koreas tech leaders will continue to grapple with the fallout from geopolitical tensions as Washington tries to contain China, both a major market as well as production base for Hynix and Samsung. The sweeping 2022 regulations struck at the heart of Beijings tech ambitions but also cast uncertainty around foreign operators in China, including Hynix and its larger rival Samsung. Both secured a one-year waiver at the time that let them import necessary equipment, but have since grappled with uncertainty over whether that waiver will get extended. Hynix warned around that time that it will cut capital spending by half in 2023 to reflect waning electronics demand. Washington has decided to scrap that restriction for Hynix and Samsung with immediate effect, local news agency Yonhap first reported on Monday. We will continue to work closely with all relevant governments to maintain a stable supply chain for the global semiconductor industry, a Samsung Electronics spokesperson said. Hynix welcomed the wavier extension, a spokeswoman said. The Biden administration in late September also removed a stringent curb on expansion in China by semiconductor companies that get federal funds to build plants in the US. It eliminated a $100,000 spending cap on investments in advanced capacity in China, which would effectively prevent companies getting federal funding from growing output of chips more advanced than 28nm. Samsung is likely to secure a US grant for new facilities in Texas, while the company also makes NAND in central China in Xian. Read more: SK Hynix Cuts Capex in Half With Unprecedented Drop in Demand --With assistance from Sangmi Cha and Mayumi Negishi. (Updates with stock price reactions in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING (AP) U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday he was grateful for a strengthened statement from China condemning the killing and kidnapping of Israeli and foreign civilians by Hamas, issued during a bipartisan congressional visit to Beijing that included a lengthy meeting with President Xi Jinping. Schumer led a delegation of six senators to China for talks aimed at stabilizing ties following a sharp deterioration in recent years over trade, U.S. support for self-governing Taiwan, human rights and other issues. The delegation, which included three Democrats and three Republicans, was the first visit by U.S. lawmakers since 2019 and came at a time of growing attacks on China in Congress as America contends with Beijings rise as a global power. Schumer told Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier in the day that he had been very disappointed by Chinas failure to strongly condemn the attack on Israel and show sympathy for the country and its people. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said later Monday that China is deeply saddened by the civilian casualties caused by the conflict between Palestine and Israel. China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians, along with actions that expand conflict and undermine regional stability, Mao said, going beyond an initial Foreign Ministry statement on Sunday. China hopes for a resumption of peace talks, the implementation of a two-state solution, and a comprehensive and proper settlement of the Palestinian issue, which guarantees the legitimate concerns of all parties, through political means, as early as possible, Mao said at a daily briefing. The Chinese Embassy in Israel said a young woman of Israeli and Chinese heritage was among the scores of hostages seized by Hamas fighters, who killed at least 800 people in Israel. "Noa was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists when attending a peace music festival in southern Israel. She was dragged from Israel to Gaza," an embassy statement said. She is a daughter, a sister and a friend." Story continues Schumer's delegation also met with the head of China's rubber-stamp parliament, the commerce minister and Wang, the country's highest-ranking diplomat. Xi's comments were not immediately reported, and Wang did not respond before journalists were escorted out of the room. Schumer said he had made a direct request to Xi to strengthen the Foreign Ministry's statement on the Hamas attack and the horrible, gut-wrenching loss of civilian life, which had been omitted from the earlier missive. I'm gratified the Foreign Ministry issued a new statement that did condemn the loss of civilian life, he told reporters at a news conference following the conclusion of meetings. Schumer's meeting with Xi ran to 80 minutes 20 more than scheduled emphasizing the careful preparation and highly detailed nature of the discussions, the senator said. He said the U.S. side asserted its concerns about the lack of reciprocity and the need for a ""level playing field" for American businesses in China, and urged China to take measures to prevent the export of chemicals used to make the drug fentanyl, which has fueled a deadly wave of addictions. Both sides, the Chinese and us, said unless we have sincere conversations about our differences and not pull any punches, that we would never solve these problems, Schumer said. The two governments are trying to arrange a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping during a regional summit in San Francisco next month in a bid to manage the increasingly fraught relationship. China has traditionally backed the Palestinian cause but has also boosted ties with Israel as it seeks a larger role in trade, technology and diplomacy. In recent years, it has stepped up its involvement in the Middle East, assisting in the restoration of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran and welcoming Syrian President Bashar Assad on a visit to China. Schumer told Xi that the top priority for the Senate delegation is seeking fair trade between the two countries. We want the Chinese people to have economic opportunity. That would be good for America, he said. But China must also provide a level playing field for American companies and workers. Many Americans, most Americans including our delegation, do not believe we have that fairness now. Earlier, Wang urged the United States to respect Chinas core interests and development rights, a frequent refrain as Beijing seeks to counter American restrictions on trade and technology exports that it views as attempts to hold back the countrys economic growth and rise as a global power. Schumer also urged China to drop its tacit support for what he called Russia's immoral war against Ukraine, advancing human rights and releasing detained Americans. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit China this month. China says it remains neutral in the conflict, but has refused to condemn Russia's full-on invasion of Ukraine and has condemned international sanctions imposed on Moscow as a result. ___ Associated Press writer Christopher Bodeen in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report. SALT LAKE CITY, October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE:USNA) today announced that third quarter results will be released after the close of market on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Shortly following the issuance of the Companys earnings release, the Company will post its Management Commentary document on the Companys Investor Relations website (http://ir.usana.com) under the News/Events section. USANA will hold a conference call to discuss this announcement with analysts and institutional investors the following morning, Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast over the Internet and can be accessed at http://ir.usana.com. About USANA USANA develops and manufactures high-quality nutritional supplements, healthy foods and personal care products that are sold directly to Associates and Preferred Customers throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Thailand, France, Belgium, Colombia, Indonesia, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Germany. More information on USANA can be found at www.usana.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009296536/en/ Contacts Investor contact: Andrew Masuda Investor Relations (801) 954-7201 investor.relations@usanainc.com Long-established in the Telecommunication Services industry, VEON Ltd (NASDAQ:VEON) has enjoyed a stellar reputation. It has recently witnessed a daily gain of 9.78%, juxtaposed with a three-month change of 3.32%. However, fresh insights from the GF Score hint at potential headwinds. Notably, its diminished rankings in financial strength, growth, and valuation suggest that the company might not live up to its historical performance. Join us as we dive deep into these pivotal metrics to unravel the evolving narrative of VEON Ltd. VEON Ltd (VEON): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Understanding the GF Score The GF Score is a stock performance ranking system developed by GuruFocus using five aspects of valuation, which has been found to be closely correlated to the long-term performances of stocks by backtesting from 2006 to 2021. The stocks with a higher GF Score generally generate higher returns than those with a lower GF Score. Therefore, when picking stocks, investors should invest in companies with high GF Scores. The GF Score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 as the highest rank. Based on the above method, GuruFocus assigned VEON Ltd the GF Score of 67 out of 100, which signals poor future outperformance potential. VEON Ltd: A Snapshot of the Business VEON Ltd is a global provider of connectivity and internet services. The company provides more than 210 million customers with voice, fixed broadband, data and digital services. Currently, the company offers services to customers in 10 countries: Russia, Pakistan, Algeria, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Georgia. The reportable segments currently consist of the following five segments: Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. The company provides services under the Beeline, Kyivstar, banglalink, Jazz and Djezzy brands. The maximum revenue derives from Russia. Story continues VEON Ltd (VEON): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Financial Strength Analysis VEON Ltd's financial strength indicators present some concerning insights about the company's balance sheet health. VEON Ltd has an interest coverage ratio of 3.45, which positions it worse than 63.25% of 302 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry. This ratio highlights potential challenges the company might face when handling its interest expenses on outstanding debt. It's worth noting that the esteemed investor Benjamin Graham typically favored companies with an interest coverage ratio of at least five. The company's Altman Z-Scoreis just 0.24, which is below the distress zone of 1.81. This suggests that the company may face financial distress over the next few years. Additionally, the company's low cash-to-debt ratio at 0.46 indicates a struggle in handling existing debt levels. The company's debt-to-equity ratio is 7.24, which is worse than 96.51% of 344 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry. A high debt-to-equity ratio suggests over-reliance on borrowing and vulnerability to market fluctuations. Additionally, the company's debt-to-Ebitda ratio is 5.8, which is above Joel Tillinghast's warning level of 4 and is worse than 84.86% of 317 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry. Tillinghast said in his book Big Money Think's Small: Biases, Blind Spots, and Smarter Investing that a high debt-to-Ebitda ratio can be a red flag unless tangible assets cover the debt. Profitability Analysis VEON Ltd's low Profitability rank can also raise warning signals. Growth Prospects A lack of significant growth is another area where VEON Ltd seems to falter, as evidenced by the company's low Growth rank. The company's revenue has declined by -21.5 per year over the past three years, which underperforms worse than 94.1% of 373 companies in the Telecommunication Services industry. Stagnating revenues may pose concerns in a fast-evolving market. Over the past five years, VEON Ltd has witnessed a decline in its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). The three-year growth rate is recorded at -16.5, while the five-year growth rate is at -11.4. These figures underscore potential challenges in the company's profitability. Lastly, VEON Ltd predictability rank is just one star out of five, adding to investor uncertainty regarding revenue and earnings consistency. VEON Ltd (VEON): A Deep Dive into Its Performance Potential Conclusion Given VEON Ltd's financial strength, profitability, and growth metrics, the GF Score highlights the firm's unparalleled position for potential underperformance. While the company has a rich history in the Telecommunication Services industry, its current financial indicators and growth prospects suggest that it may struggle to maintain its past performance. Investors should consider these factors when making investment decisions. GuruFocus Premium members can find more companies with strong GF Scores using the following screener link: GF Score Screen This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Earthstone Energy Inc (NYSE:ESTE), an independent oil and natural gas development and production company, has seen a significant surge in its stock price over the past three months. Despite a 5.53% decrease over the past week, the company's stock has increased by an impressive 39.46% over the past three months. This article will delve into the factors contributing to this remarkable performance and provide an in-depth analysis of the company's financial health and growth prospects. Unpacking Earthstone Energy's Stock Performance Earthstone Energy's stock price currently stands at $19.94, with a market capitalization of $2.12 billion. The company's GF Value, a measure of intrinsic value defined by GuruFocus.com, is currently at $20.85. This suggests that the stock is fairly valued. However, three months ago, the GF Value was $22.33, indicating that the stock was significantly undervalued at that time. This undervaluation may have contributed to the subsequent surge in the stock price. Company Overview: Earthstone Energy Inc Earthstone Energy Inc operates in the oil and gas industry, focusing on the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of onshore, crude oil and natural gas reserves. The company's operations are primarily conducted in the Midland Basin of West Texas and the Eagle Ford Trend of South Texas. Earthstone Energy's business model and strategic operations have played a crucial role in its impressive stock performance. What's Driving Earthstone Energy Inc's Surprising 39% Stock Rally? Profitability Analysis Earthstone Energy's Profitability Rank stands at 7 out of 10, indicating a high level of profitability. The company's Operating Margin is 45.11%, which is better than 87.37% of companies in the same industry. Furthermore, the company's ROE, ROA, and ROIC, which measure the company's profitability in relation to its equity, assets, and invested capital respectively, are all higher than the majority of companies in the same industry. Over the past 10 years, the company has been profitable for 6 years, which is better than 59.18% of companies in the same industry. Story continues What's Driving Earthstone Energy Inc's Surprising 39% Stock Rally? Growth Prospects Earthstone Energy's Growth Rank is 7 out of 10, indicating a high level of growth. The company's 3-year and 5-year revenue growth rates per share are both higher than the majority of companies in the same industry. Furthermore, the company's future total revenue growth rate and EPS without NRI growth rate are also higher than the majority of companies in the same industry. These figures suggest that Earthstone Energy has strong growth prospects. What's Driving Earthstone Energy Inc's Surprising 39% Stock Rally? Top Holders of Earthstone Energy Stock The top three holders of Earthstone Energy's stock are Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio), First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio), and Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio). Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio) holds 845,438 shares, representing 0.8% of the company's stock. First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio) holds 383,029 shares, representing 0.36% of the company's stock. Paul Tudor Jones (Trades, Portfolio) holds 352,647 shares, representing 0.33% of the company's stock. Competitive Landscape Earthstone Energy's main competitors in the oil and gas industry include Talos Energy Inc (NYSE:TALO) with a market capitalization of $1.96 billion, Gulfport Energy Corp (NYSE:GPOR) with a market capitalization of $2.3 billion, and Sitio Royalties Corp (NYSE:STR) with a market capitalization of $1.94 billion. Despite the intense competition, Earthstone Energy's strong financial performance and growth prospects position it well in the industry. Conclusion In conclusion, Earthstone Energy's impressive stock performance can be attributed to its strong financial health, high profitability, and robust growth prospects. The company's strategic operations in the Midland Basin of West Texas and the Eagle Ford Trend of South Texas have also contributed to its success. Despite the intense competition in the oil and gas industry, Earthstone Energy stands out as a strong performer with promising future prospects. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. 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. Helmerich & Payne Inc (NYSE:HP), a leading player in the Oil & Gas industry, has seen a significant surge in its stock price over the past three months. Despite a recent dip of 8.56% over the past week, the stock has risen by 13.80% over the past three months, reflecting a strong market performance. The company's current GF Value stands at $67.9, indicating that the stock is significantly undervalued. This is consistent with the past GF Value of $64.35, which also suggested that the stock was significantly undervalued. The GF Value, defined by GuruFocus.com, calculates a stock's intrinsic value using historical multiples, past performance adjustments, and future business estimates. What's Driving Helmerich & Payne Inc's Surprising 14% Stock Rally? Company Overview and Profitability Analysis Helmerich & Payne Inc operates the largest fleet of U.S. land drilling rigs and has a growing international presence. The company's FlexRig line is the leading choice to drill horizontal wells for the production of U.S. tight oil and gas. H&P is present in nearly every major U.S. shale play, contributing to its market capitalization of $4.01 billion. When it comes to profitability, Helmerich & Payne Inc has a Profitability Rank of 5/10, indicating moderate profitability. The company's operating margin of 17.87% is better than 65.27% of the companies in the industry. Its ROE, ROA, and ROIC stand at 14.66%, 9.22%, and 10.13% respectively, outperforming a significant portion of its competitors. Over the past decade, the company has demonstrated profitability for five years, better than 50.68% of the companies in the industry. What's Driving Helmerich & Payne Inc's Surprising 14% Stock Rally? Growth Prospects and Major Holders Despite its moderate profitability, Helmerich & Payne Inc's growth prospects appear to be limited, with a Growth Rank of 1/10. The company's 3-year revenue growth rate per share stands at -9.00%, and its 5-year revenue growth rate per share is -5.00%. However, the company's future 3 to 5-year total revenue growth rate is estimated at 12.81%, and its future 3 to 5-year EPS without NRI growth rate is projected at a whopping 165.28%. Story continues The top three holders of the stock are Ken Fisher (Trades, Portfolio), Prem Watsa (Trades, Portfolio), and First Eagle Investment (Trades, Portfolio), holding 0.81%, 0.56%, and 0.06% of the shares respectively. What's Driving Helmerich & Payne Inc's Surprising 14% Stock Rally? Competitive Landscape Helmerich & Payne Inc faces stiff competition in the Oil & Gas industry. Its main competitors include Seadrill Ltd with a market cap of $3.42 billion, Patterson-UTI Energy Inc with a market cap of $5.45 billion, and Transocean Ltd with a market cap of $6.11 billion. Despite the competition, Helmerich & Payne Inc's significant undervaluation and strong profitability metrics position it favorably in the industry. Conclusion In conclusion, Helmerich & Payne Inc's stock has demonstrated strong performance over the past three months, despite a recent dip. The company's significant undervaluation, moderate profitability, and promising future growth estimates make it an interesting prospect for investors. However, its low growth rank and stiff competition in the industry are factors that investors should consider. As always, potential investors are advised to conduct their own comprehensive research before making investment decisions. This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Key Insights The considerable ownership by retail investors in Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy A total of 12 investors have a majority stake in the company with 50% ownership Insider ownership in Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad is 14% If you want to know who really controls Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (KLSE:CMSB), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 44% stake, retail investors possess the maximum shares in the company. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. And institutions on the other hand have a 23% ownership in the company. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad. See our latest analysis for Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad? 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. We can see that Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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 Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Story continues Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Majaharta Sdn Bhd is currently the largest shareholder, with 13% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 11% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 7.5% by the third-largest shareholder. Looking at the shareholder registry, we can see that 50% of the ownership is controlled by the top 12 shareholders, meaning that no single shareholder has a majority interest in the ownership. 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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad 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. 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 most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM1.2b, and insiders have RM172m worth of shares in their own names. 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 44% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 18%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad (1 doesn't sit too well with us) that you should be aware of. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. 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. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., October 09, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--White River Private Capital Management ("WRPCM"), a wholly owned subsidiary of White River Energy Corp (OTCQB: WTRV) ("White River Energy" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated oil and gas exploration company, announced key leadership appointments for WRPCM, including Colin Cosgrove as President & Chief Executive Officer, and Zack Holley as EVP & Chief Distribution Officer. Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Holleys biographies are listed on the WRPCM website for reference purposes: https://wrprivatecapital.com/team/ Management Commentary "With the appointments of Colin and Zack, White River Private Capital Management is well-positioned to expand its reach and drive investment success," stated Mr. Randy May, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of White River Energy Corp. "Their leadership reinforces our commitment to excellence and growth and will help to ensure that our investors receive the highest level of expertise and opportunities in the oil and gas exploration sector. We look forward to their deep experience and strategic vision driving WRPCMs success and contributing to the overall success of White River Energy." "We are thrilled to lead White River Private Capital Management and drive its strategic vision within the oil and gas industry," said Mr. Colin Cosgrove, President & CEO of WRPCM. "Zack and I have a proven track record of building out sales and distribution teams focused on private products for broker-dealers and registered investment advisors. We feel that WRPCM is a career-defining opportunity for us to partner with Randy May and his team to take this public company to the next level. Our focus is on creating unparalleled investment opportunities while maintaining a commitment to risk management and sustainable growth." "I am honored to join WRPCM and look forward to executing on our goal of connecting financial advisors and their investors with innovative investment solutions by leveraging our expertise and industry relationships," added Mr. Zack Holley, EVP & Chief Distribution Officer of White River Private Capital Management. "The traditional oil and gas investment sector has seen little innovation for decades. Through our unique features and tax-focused investment structure, WRPCM products seek to modernize the investment experience to meet the demands of todays investor." Story continues About White River Private Capital Management White River Private Capital Management is a structured financial product development and distribution company focused on offering various tax-advantaged products such as intangible drilling cost deduction ("IDC") funds, 1031 exchange funds, and insurance designated funds in the oil and gas industry via a limited partnership model. About White River Energy Corp White River Energy Corp is a vertically integrated energy company with oil and gas exploration, production, and drilling operations on approximately 34,000 cumulative acres of oil and gas mineral leases in Louisiana and Mississippi. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231009922467/en/ Contacts IR@white-river.com 1-800-203-5610 Starbucks (SBUX) is the latest company to rethink its presence in San Francisco. Effective Oct. 22, the coffee giant plans to close seven stores in San Francisco. Following these closures, there will be 52 remaining Starbucks locations in the city. Starbucks did not disclose the reason for the closures. In a letter to employees, Jessica Borton, the Northern California regional vice president, stated: "There are several factors Starbucks considers when tasked with the tough decision of closing a store, but it is all part of ensuring a healthy store portfolio." Starbucks isn't the only consumer-facing giant to take a second look at its San Francisco portfolio this year. Other companies that recently closed locations in San Francisco include Amazon (AMZN), which closed a Whole Foods Market just 13 months after opening it earlier this year and all four Amazon Go Stores in March; Office Depot (ODP), which closed a store in April; and Anthropologie (URBN), which left Union Square after two decades in May. Gap (GPS) also shuttered Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta stores this year, while Nordstrom (JWN) closed its flagship store in August, and Saks Off 5th shut its doors this fall. The Starbucks stores being added to this list are located on Mission and Main, Geary and Taylor, 425 Battery, 398 Market, 4th and Market, 555 California, and Bush and Van Ness. It's worth noting that none of the stores set to close are unionized and employees at the stores will be offered the opportunity to transfer to other locations. San Francisco sluggish in returning to offices What's behind the exodus? Hybrid and fully remote companies may be partly to blame. "A big component for sure is that people are remote working and not coming into those offices as much," John Zolidis, president of Quo Vadis Capital, told Yahoo Finance. "That's got to be one of the driving forces just less traffic from office workers." Story continues A customer leaves a Starbucks coffee shop in San Francisco, Calif., on Sept. 13, 2018. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images) (Robert Alexander via Getty Images) Per foot traffic analytics platform Placer.ai, San Francisco has the lowest number of visits to offices of any major US city. In August 2023, office visits were down 52.7% compared to August 2019, before the pandemic disrupted workplaces. San Francisco is "by far the slowest to come back," Ethan Chernofsky, senior vice president of marketing at Placer.ai, told Yahoo Finance. "When you think about what that means for retail more broadly ... lots of people work there and then shop there and eat there, so that's obviously going to have an impact. ... Then, even [the] people who are coming back to the office [are] not doing so five days a week." Migration patterns such as people moving out of the city are a factor too, Chernofsky said, affecting cities across the US as well as San Francisco. And if retailers leave a city, it can lead to fewer visits to that area as well, causing companies to further reconsider their real estate portfolios. "We see significant headroom for new store growth in underpenetrated areas in the US, including smaller cities, as well as new formats in larger metros," Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said on a call with investors following its Q3 earnings results. However, the tide may be turning for San Francisco, with the artificial intelligence boom acting as a bright spot for activity. Just as the tech industry was the first to move to remote work during the pandemic, it may be a leader in bringing workers back to offices. "San Francisco and the Bay Area in general is really a market that's led by the tech industry," Colin Yasukochi, executive director at CBREs Tech Insights Center, told Yahoo Finance. "Over the last six months ... they're starting to see growth perk up in the tech industry. Artificial intelligence is one of those particular areas where the companies are actually looking to expand they're looking to upgrade the [office] space that they currently have to provide a better experience for their employees." Pedestrians and vehicles are visible at the base of the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco, Calif., on May 5, 2022. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) (Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images) A 'difficult operating environment' Crime and safety may also be playing a role. On Sept. 26, Target (TGT) announced plans to close nine stores at the end of October, including three in the San Francisco and Oakland area. Target said crime and retail theft were the reasons behind the decision to close stores. "We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance," the company said in a statement. According to crime data on the city's website, theft has been the top issue, followed by burglary. That has affected not only whether companies open retail space in the city but also where they choose to expand. "On-the-ground type of issues have probably impacted where companies are willing to be located in terms of their office space," Yasukochi said, "which is why we've seen a greater concentration of companies looking for space in the central business district and less so in the South of Market or mid-market areas." For Starbucks, though, it's a bit harder to understand if crime truly was a factor. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on whether safety played a part in the decision in particular. "There's not large quantities of merchandise to steal and resell," Zolidis said about Starbucks stores, though he added: "It's just a difficult operating environment from an employee safety perspective." Another factor affecting how companies position themselves in the Golden State could be the approach of a minimum wage law that goes into effect on April 1. The law, which raises starting pay for fast food workers to $20 an hour, is one to watch, Zolidis said. But, he added, "if that were a deciding factor [for Starbucks], it wouldn't be seven stores in San Francisco [but] a much broader group of stores." Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed remains optimistic about the city's future, despite its challenges. "People still want to be here," Breed told Yahoo Finance in a recent interview at Salesforce's annual Dreamforce conference. "They're starting their companies, their businesses here." Brooke DiPalma is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @BrookeDiPalma or email her at bdipalma@yahoofinance.com. Click here for all of the latest retail stock news and events to better inform your investing strategy Let's talk about the popular Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY). The company's shares received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the NYSE over the last few months, increasing to US$422 at one point, and dropping to the lows of US$379. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Teledyne Technologies' current trading price of US$401 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Teledyne Technologiess outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for Teledyne Technologies What's The Opportunity In Teledyne Technologies? According to my valuation model, Teledyne Technologies seems to be fairly priced at around 9.0% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Teledyne Technologies today, youd be paying a fair price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $441.21, then there isnt much room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Teledyne Technologiess share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Can we expect growth from Teledyne Technologies? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 13% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Teledyne Technologies. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. Story continues What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in TDYs positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on TDY, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for the company, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Diving deeper into the forecasts for Teledyne Technologies mentioned earlier will help you understand how analysts view the stock going forward. Luckily, you can check out what analysts are forecasting by clicking here. If you are no longer interested in Teledyne Technologies, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. COLUMBIA, S.C., Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SpeedBuilder Systems, Inc. (SBS) today announced that Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company (Wolverine) is now live with the Homeowners, Watercraft, and Yacht lines of business on the BindExpress Suite in the states of Michigan and Indiana. Wolverine Mutual Goes Live on the BindExpress Suite from SpeedBuilder Systems Rod Giess, President of SpeedBuilder Systems, stated, "We are proud to now have Wolverine Mutual offering all their major products on the BindExpress platform. We look forward to the challenge of continuing to deliver solutions that will enable them to thrive in today's competitive market." Jim Laing, President of Wolverine, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, "We are excited to reach this milestone with SpeedBuilder Systems. Our goal is to continually improve the insurance experience of our agents and customers, and the BindExpress Suite aligns perfectly with that mission. Our field reps report it only takes about 30 minutes to train a new agent on the system, empowering them to quote, upload documents, process all billing and endorsements, and seamlessly share notes between BindExpress and their agency systems a true 'win' for everyone." Built using open-source technologies, the BindExpress Suite's AlwaysCurrent Architecture is the only market solution that enables clients to customize the system as desired, yet accept all software updates and enhancements at any time, without retrofitting the customized code. About SpeedBuilder Systems SpeedBuilder Systems, Inc. (www.speedbuildersystems.com) offers large enterprise-class solutions for small-to-medium sized P&C insurance carriers and MGA's. The BindExpress Suite is an integrated set of components including policy administration, rating, automated underwriting, agent and consumer portals, product configuration, billing, automated workflow, claims, and document generation. Story continues About Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company Established in 1917, Wolverine is a regional mutual insurer providing personal insurance in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Wolverine's commitment to providing a strong financial future for policyholders has been steadfast for over a century, and is reinforced by a strong corporate desire to meet changing customer needs and focus on customer service excellence. CONTACT: Jerry Bush, media@speedbuildersystems.com SpeedBuilder Systems, Inc. (PRNewsfoto/SpeedBuilder Systems, Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wolverine-mutual-insurance-goes-live-on-the-bindexpress-suite-from-speedbuilder-systems-301949632.html SOURCE SpeedBuilder Systems, Inc. BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- During the 20th China-ASEAN Expo, orah mandarins from Xingbin District in Laibin City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were embraced by Filipino buyers. The photo shows the Marketing Director (lady in red on the right) of Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc. from the Philippines visiting Wanmao Modern Orah Mandarin Base and formalizing a cooperation agreement for orah mandarin procurement. On September 19, Jocelyn Tago, the Marketing Director of the Philippines' Raspina Tropical Fruits Inc., signed a cooperation agreement for orah mandarin procurement with representatives from enterprises based in Xingbin District. Located in the central part of Guangxi, Xingbin District benefits from a favourable climate with abundant sunshine and ample rainfall year-round, creating an ecological setting ideal for cultivating high-quality orah mandarins. During the China-ASEAN Expo, Xingbin District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs coordinated visits to the orah mandarin industry by foreign companies. Jocelyn Tago was invited to visit the 3,600 mu (about 240 hectares) orah mandarin orchard owned by Guangxi Laibin Yongqiang Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. Jocelyn Tago gained insights into orah mandarin cultivation and production from local growers throughout the visit. Meanwhile, she toured the standard fruit sorting line and packaging workshop at Wanmao Modern Orah Mandarin Base. At the 20th China-ASEAN Expo, during a session dedicated to the production and marketing of Xingbin orah mandarins, Jocelyn Tago expressed optimism about the prospects of the orah mandarin industry in Xingbin District. They were ready to formalize procurement intentions through cooperation agreements with local orah mandarin enterprises, Jocelyn Tago added. According to Wu Lushan, deputy director of the Xingbin District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, there are 80,000 mu (about 5333 hectares) of orah mandarin orchards in the district, producing approximately 240,000 tonnes each year. In April and August this year, Xingbin orah mandarins received certifications as green foods and nationally recognized high-quality new agricultural products. Story continues At this year's China-ASEAN Expo, these orah mandarins were much favored by foreign companies from the Philippines, Cambodia and Singapore, Wu said. The 20th China-ASEAN Expo was held in Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, during September 16-19, 2023. Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/336350.html Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-orah-mandarins-in-guangxis-xingbin-district-poised-to-enter-overseas-markets-301950426.html SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road (Bloomberg) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economists said the surge in US Treasury yields to historically high levels over the last several weeks will crimp economic growth and sow financial risks, though the bank is still not calling for a recession. Most Read from Bloomberg The main implication of the further tightening in financial conditions led by rising rates is that the drag on GDP growth will last longer, Goldman economists David Mericle and Ronnie Walker wrote in a note to clients Sunday. Goldmans team estimates about a 0.5 percentage-point blow to US gross domestic product over the next year. Thats meaningful, but less than the drag from tightening financial conditions last year and too small to threaten recession, they wrote. Ten-year US Treasury yields have climbed about 70 basis points since the start of September, and on Friday hit the highest level since before the global financial crisis began in 2007. They closed at 4.80% Friday, leaving much of the yield curve around 5%. The move to a higher-rate regime poses an array of risks, Mericle and Walker wrote. They are probably not large enough individually to trigger a recession unless they occur abruptly and aggressively or simultaneously, they added. And even if the adverse scenarios resulted, Federal Reserve interest-rate cuts would offset much of the impact, they wrote. Goldmans economists laid out the following dangers: Valuations on stocks are reduced by the relative attractiveness of higher yields on Treasuries, which guarantee principal repayment. If the so-called equity-risk premium fell to its 50th historical percentile, the blow to GDP growth would be 1 percentage point. Greater difficulty in finding financing drives more companies out of business. A 50% increase in the exit rate of firms would involve roughly a 0.2 percentage-point reduction to the US expansion rate. Concern about federal debt sustainability made more precarious by the surge in yields spurs Washington into deficit-reduction actions. A deal like the 1993 fiscal legislation would suggest as much as a 0.5 percentage-point hit, for a number of years. Story continues On the last point, Goldmans economists stressed, we think it is unlikely that concern about debt sustainability will lead to a deficit-reduction agreement anytime soon. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Bond traders are expecting Treasury yields to slide when the cash market reopens from a US holiday. Most Read from Bloomberg The futures market, open for its usual hours on Monday, surged as concern around conflict in the Middle East fueled a flight to quality. The 10-year note contract was higher by around 30 ticks as of 2:30 p.m. in New York, indicating a decline in yields of approximately 15 basis points versus Fridays 4.80% close. Exchangetraded funds tracking Treasuries also got a lift. Treasury futures took their lead from European rates, which rallied hard on the day. German 10-year yields slid 11 basis points while rates on UK gilts fell almost 10 basis points. Among ETFs, the iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT) climbed as much as 1.9% in its biggest intraday gain since August. Still, the worlds largest long bond ETF is mired in its worst drawdown on record, down roughly 50% from its 2020 highs. Mondays risk-off backdrop also saw investors downgrade the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will hike again. Traders are now pricing around 5 basis points of rate hikes for the November meeting a roughly 20% chance of a 25-basis-point move down from 9 basis points priced at Fridays close. That move was supported by a series of dovish comments from Fed officials, which also further supported Treasury futures and pressured the US dollar lower. Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said higher yields may mean less need for rate hikes, while Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson said officials are in a position to proceed carefully in assessing the extent of any additional policy firming that may be necessary. Story continues Price action on the day was on thin trading volumes. As of 2:30 p.m. New York futures were running at around 35% of usual 20-day average levels. --With assistance from Emily Graffeo. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. This article has been updated, removing incorrect information about further public hearings for data center development plans, which do not require public hearings for approval. The Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings for rezoning requests on four data center proposals Tuesday night. The supervisors meeting, which will be held at the Holbert building, starts at 4:30 p.m., with public hearings scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m. Data centers server farms for cloud computing housed in large buildings filled with computer equipment have been popping up in the state. Initially, data center growth focused on Northern Virginias Loudoun and Prince William counties, but has spread to Fauquier, Culpeper, Stafford, King George and Spotsylvania. Data center growth was spurred by a Virginia program that entices data center development via grants, which require matching funds from localities. The Fredericksburg area is popular because of the fiber-optic lines that run along Interstate 95. In preparation for handling data center interest, Spotsylvania has amended its Comprehensive Plan. Tech giant Amazon has filed four rezoning requests in Spotsylvania for developments that could include several million square feet of data centers. Another company also has filed a rezoning request for data centers in an unrelated project. In another proposal, earlier this year the supervisors approved a rezoning of 314 acres between U.S. 1 and Interstate 95 in Thornburg from agricultural to industrial to allow the building of a 2.9-million-square-foot corporate technology campus, which could include data centers. Tuesdays public hearings will address requested rezoning for four proposals: Summit Crossing tech campus: This proposal seeks rezoning from rural district to industrial to build a campus on Summit Crossing Road, with up to 2.1 million square feet of warehouse space to be built on 231 acres off Summit Crossing Road. Cosner tech campus: The company wants the county to rezone the property from mixed-use to industrial to build the campus, east of Interstate 95 and just south of the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center. Amazon wants to build 1.9 million square feet of data centers, in phases over a 10- to 15-year period. Carters Store tech campus: This proposal calls for 2.6 million square feet of data center space on 313 acres along Flippo Drive, east of I95. The company is asking the county to rezone the property from rural to industrial. Mattameade tech campus: This Amazon application differs from the three other proposals in that it bifurcates Spotsylvania and Caroline counties. In Spotsylvania, the property is off of Orrock Road, totaling approximately 158 acres. The request calls for about 4.5 million square feet of data center warehouses to be built on the Caroline property. The Spotsylvania property would provide utilities for the Caroline data centers. The applicant wants to rezone the property from agricultural to industrial. While the state and various localities support the growth in data centers, there are critics and watchdogs warning about the pace of that growth and what they deem a lack of proper planning and study on the impacts to areas around data centers. The Piedmont Environmental Council is a prominent critic of data center expansion. The nonprofit focuses primarily on nine counties, which include Culpeper, Fauquier, Orange, Albemarle, Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Clarke and Loudoun. But the PEC, along with other conservation groups, has been closely following the data center growth across the state. In a September newsletter to its members, the PEC pointed out that the state is the worldwide leader of cloud infrastructure, already the home to the largest and fastest-growing data center market in the world, housing nearly 50% of all U.S. facilities, and by some estimates, enabling up to 70% of the worlds internet activity. The PEC newsletter says Virginia is subsidizing billions of dollars in data center development on the backs of its taxpayers, without a full understanding of the long-term ramifications. The newsletter zeroes in on key topics regarding data centers: energy and water use; land disruption; air quality and fossil fuels. Also, in other documents and reports the PEC has noted concerns with noise emitted by data centers. In September, the PEC sent a letter of public comment regarding Dominions forecast of load obligations to the State Corporation Commission. The letter states that, according to the energy provider, newer data center load requests range between 60-90 megawatts per building, which equates to the energy usage of more than 15,000 households at peak demand! These lines are NOT paid for by the data center developer. Rather, their costs are built into the energy tax bills paid by all Virginia ratepayers, and the utility can ask the state to approve eminent domain to route them through private property. The PEC says water usage for data centers varies depending on the cooling systems, but a single data center can use between 1 million and 5 million gallons of water per day as much as a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people! Air quality and noise also are concerns raised by PEC as well as residents in localities with data centers. PECs September newsletter points out that data centers often use commercial-sized, diesel-fueled backup power generators and large fuel storage tanks to ensure uninterrupted 24/7 service in the case of a power grid outage, adding yet another layer to its environmental threats. Noise concerns have arisen at some data center projects, including the Great Oak neighborhood in Prince William County. Data centers have been built, with more under construction, near the neighborhood, which is just outside the city of Manassas. Dale Browne, the neighborhood HOA president, told The Free Lance-Star in June that residents have battled with Amazon over its data center impacts, including noise from high-powered fans atop the facilities. The continuous thrum of data centers is irritating, he said, adding that studies have shown the low-frequencies the fans emit have negative effects on people. Land disturbance also is highlighted in the PEC newsletter, with data center development resulting in the conversion of thousands of acres of forests and farms to impervious pavement and buildings. The board of supervisors meeting can be attended in person, but also can be viewed on local television stations or online. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently sued Third Bench Holdings LLC on behalf of three employees, contending that they were retaliated against in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. According to the federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico, Third Bench owns several millwork, cabinet installation and property renovation companies. The lawsuit alleges that in August 2021, managers Gabriel Dominguez and Yasmin Saenz (a husband and wife), who worked at the subsidiary companies, thought they were being discriminated against due to their national origin, Hispanic, and believed the Third Bench controller, Melissa Johnson, was providing disproportionate oversight to them versus non-Hispanic employees. Saenz expressed these concerns in an open meeting, and then contended she was excluded from future meetings. Later that month, Saenz complained to Third Benchs COO. According to the lawsuit, the COO told Saenz not to go to HR and that (he and Saenz) could fix it between themselves. The EEOC alleges that despite the redirection and assurance by the COO, Saenz was given no reason to believe that (the COO) exercised his responsibility to take further preventative, corrective or remedial action at that time. Things then quickly unraveled. In mid-September, Saenz complained about the alleged discrimination to HR manager Lori Nawman, who had begun working for the holding company four months earlier. Upon receiving Saenzs complaint, Nawman forwarded the information she received to the CEO. A few days later, Saenz complained again to Nawman, this time stating that Johnson was condescending and withholding work-related assistance from Saenz and Dominguez. Saenez feared retaliation. Nawman informed the CEO that she thought Johnson was harassing her (the HR manager) for expressing concern of Saenzs complaints. The CEO did not take further corrective or remedial action at that time. Saenz complained again to Nawman, stating that her situation was getting worse and that she thought she was being retaliated against by Johnson and the COO for her complaints. Nawman opened an internal HR investigation into Saenzs complaints. She conducted an investigation and then sent an email to the CEO with interview notes, including those from Dominguezs interview. The next day, Nawman sent an email titled: Yazmin Saenz Title VII Complaint to the CEO as part of her investigation. Later that same day, Dominguez was terminated and Saenz demoted from general manager to salesperson, all allegedly at the instruction of the COO and CEO. Nawman thought that Johnson continued to subject her the HR manager) to harassment. Nawman informed the CEO that she (the HR manager) intended to file a charge of discrimination with EEOC because of Johnsons continued harassment of her. The company hired a third-party human resources contractor to investigate Nawmans concerns. Nawman was interviewed by the investigator, who, according to the lawsuit, advised the HR manager that she did not have standing to make a claim under Title VII and the investigator allegedly attempted to persuade Nawman not to file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC. Three days after her interview with the investigator, the investigator terminated Nawman allegedly at the order of the CEO. The EEOC alleges that the defendants decisions to terminate Dominguez, demote Saenz and terminate Nawman were in retaliation for engaging in statutorily protected activities in violation of Title VII. So much went wrong here. To prove retaliation, an employee needs to demonstrate that he/she: 1) engaged in protected activity (the employee complains of harassment or discrimination, opposes harassment or discrimination or participates in an investigation into harassment or discrimination); 2) the employer took materially adverse action against the employee; and 3) there is a causal connection between the #1 and #2. Here, we know that all three engaged in protected activity: Dominguez participated in an investigation, and this was known to the CEO, and the other two lodged complaints. Further, the Supreme Court has held that terminating the fiance of someone who engaged in protected activity could be retaliation, which is relevant because Dominguez is Saenzs spouse. The two terminations and one demotion all are materially adverse actions, and a reasonable person could conclude there is a causal connection between the complaints and the actions by the employer. Most important, employers cannot ignore complaints ever. Investigators need to be free to conduct objective investigations without management interference. And, of course, investigators should not be telling witnesses they have no case. COOs should not tell employees not to go to HR. Once a complaint is made, the employer must take active steps to prevent retaliation. This week is Fire Prevention Week, and the American Red Cross wants to keep you safe from house fires. Cooking causes most home fires. "Cooking is the No. 1 cause of home fires in the U.S., said Phil Martinez, executive director of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado. Part of that is because we lose track of the stove, we veer away from the stove, and we generally have things around the stove, and that really causes the issue." The Red Cross has several recommendations for homeowners to follow: The first is to make sure you have nothing around the stove. You should be at least 3 feet away. Make sure the kids are not anywhere near it, as well. Most people have home fires because they step away from the stove, they step away from the fire and next thing you know, you've got a burning inferno, said Martinez. "Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on hand, as well. A lot of people don't know how to handle a fire extinguisher. We recommend that you go to your fire department and get lessons on how to handle that. Also, make sure you don't have things near the stove, if you have loose clothing. If you have anything on a simmer, just stay near it. We also recommend that you have a timer, as well. If you're watching TV, or you step away for a second, you've got to have something that reminds you the No. 1 priority is your stove, said Martinez. 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. If you need to buy or install smoke alarms, the Red Cross may be able to help. "We have a program called Sound the Alarm, part of our home fire campaign, where we install free smoke alarms for folks that do not have one. If you don't have one, we encourage you to give us a call, come by our office over on Eighth Street, said Martinez. We'll come by and install one for you. We have certain campaigns throughout the year where we stop by folks (homes) and install them absolutely for free." You can call the American Red Cross of Southeastern Colorado at 719-632-3563. You can find out more information at RedCross.org/homefires. _________ Finally, I wanted to let you know about an event taking place this week. The Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado is hosting the 29th annual "A Night of Excellence." Its taking place 4-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Flying W Ranch. You can find more information and purchase tickets at anightofexcellence.org. I will be the emcee of the event, so I hope to see you there! Rachel Gabel is a longtime agriculture writer and the assistant editor of The Fence Post Magazine. Timothy Hurst, the Denver Gazette A Denver Health employee hands out doses of Narcan, a-soon-to-be over the counter nasal spray that can reverse overdoses from opioids, during an event to mark International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 at the Denver Health main campus in Denver. 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: 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. 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. Chinese premier meets with Uzbek PM Xinhua) 08:35, October 09, 2023 Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 8, 2023. Aripov attended the closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) HANGZHOU, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday met with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who attended the closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games here in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province. Noting China and Uzbekistan are close neighbors that share weal and woe, Li said China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to constantly transform the important consensus reached by the two heads of state into actions and concrete outcomes to enrich the China-Uzbekistan comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era. Li said China would, as always, staunchly support Uzbekistan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and in following a development path suited to its national realities. China is ready to work with the Uzbek side to take the Belt and Road Initiative as the main line in cooperation, advance synergy of development strategies, expand economic and trade cooperation, improve interconnectivity, enhance energy cooperation, and deepen cooperation in various fields between the two countries, Li said. China encourages its enterprises to invest in Uzbekistan and start and develop business in the country and supports Uzbekistan in fostering an innovation-oriented economic zone, said Li, urging the two sides to strengthen cooperation in education, culture, tourism, sports, healthcare, and other areas of people-to-people exchanges. China is ready to work with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, to promote cooperation in key areas including investment, trade and interconnectivity to forge an even closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Li added. While congratulating China on the success of the Hangzhou Asian Games, Aripov said Uzbekistan highly values its comprehensive strategic partnership with China. The Uzbek side is willing to learn from China's experience in deepening reform, expanding opening-up and comprehensively advancing Chinese modernization and deepen cooperation with China in various fields based on equality, amity, and mutual benefit with win-win results, Aripov added. Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 8, 2023. Aripov attended the closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Brazilian government reserved six Brazilian Air Force (FAB) aircraft for repatriation; Also this Sunday, the 8th, the first plane took off bound for Rome, Italy, to bring Brazilians trying to leave the Palestinian or Israeli territories due to the conflict that started this weekend Reproduction/Twitter @DefesaGovBr FAB planes will be used to repatriate Brazilians in Israel The Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv has already collected data from around 1,000 Brazilians staying in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem interested in returning to Brazil. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE), the majority are tourists who are in Israel. Interested parties filled out an online form available at embassy website. According to the agency, filling out the form does not guarantee the right to repatriation and inclusion on the passenger list will be informed later. O Itamaraty says he continues to monitor the situation of tourists and Brazilian communities in the region. The estimate is that 14 thousand Brazilians live in Israel and 6 thousand in Palestine, the vast majority outside the area affected by the attacks. The Brazilian government reserved six aircraft from Brazilian air force (FAB) for repatriation. Also this Sunday, the 8th, a plane took off bound for Rome, Italy, to bring Brazilians trying to leave Palestine or Israel due to the conflict that started this weekend. To date, three missing Brazilians and one injured following the conflict have been identified. All are binational and were participating in a music festival in the southern district of Israel, less than 20 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. The injured Brazilian was released from hospital today and is doing well. Contacts The Brazilian Embassy in Tel Aviv published, in its site, a form for registering those interested in possible repatriation flights and will transmit instructions for travel to Ben-Gurion airport as flights are confirmed. The Brazilian government set up a structure at Itamaraty to monitor the situation of Brazilians in the region. The consular services at the Embassy in Tel Aviv (+972 (54) 803 5858) and at the Representative Office in Ramallah (+972 (59) 205 5510), with WhatsApp, remain open to assist nationals in emergency situations. Itamaratys general consular duty can also be contacted by calling +55 (61) 98260-0610. *With information from Agencia Brasil Quote: Ultimately, they are both great schools and you won't make a wrong choice. That being said, I chose Kellogg and am very happy with it. What really swayed me towards Kellogg were three main things: 1. People: One of my friends has a very similar background to me, same undergrad and previous masters. She told me that she only liked 25% of the people she met at Booth, and that scared me a bit away. So far at Kellogg I've liked everyone I've met. 2. Job Placement: I compared the job placements of Booth (part time) vs Kellogg (part time) and for my desired career goals in tech, Kellogg places more than Booth and I felt that'd give me a stronger network. 3. Kellogg made me feel wanted. Booth just gave me a simple phone call to say I was admitted, Kellogg called, offered to connect me with current students, followed up, etc... Here's the feedback I gave Kellogg and Booth when I got surveys from them: I put considerable thought into whether I should attend Kellogg or Booth. I come from a tech background, so if I had to boil it down, it came down to whether I wanted to broaden my T more at Kellogg, or deepen it more at T, but obviously both would help. I felt that at Kellogg I would develop more of the skills I am lacking while Booth would more reinforce skills I already have, but of course both would do both to strong degrees. The primary pros to Booth to me were the very flexible curriculum, its somewhat stronger reputation, and larger study abroad program. For Kellogg the strongest pros were the emphasis on teamwork, the higher placement in tech, the KLJ, the marketing strength and nonprofit work. I was concerned for Kellogg about having so many courses pre-chosen, I would have liked to have more selection, and the limited OCR options for PT students. But Kellogg places more people in Tech at jobs I want, develops skills I want to develop, and I think I will learn more. Plus people at Kellogg have reached out to me to make me feel wanted before and after admission, at Booth it's been generic emails, and when I went to a Kellogg class a student was assigned to meet me and I just attended a Booth class randomly. The culture at Kellogg is the biggest factor that makes me want to attend. I was asked to add some follow up thoughts now that it's been about a year. To start with, as I said above, I went with Kellogg thanks to input from this community and my network, but to be a bit more detailed, here's a write up I sent others who asked over the past year:Now that I've been at Kellogg for a year, I can say it's been a wonderful experience. The people are amazing, incredibly supportive, my cohort is filled with people I expect to be connections and friends for years, and I'm learning quite a bit in courses. I feel that my rationale for picking Kellogg has mostly been vindicated, every class really does have groupwork, the KLJ is a great tool for understanding ones own leadership style, and I've gotten support for my non-profit work. CIM as part of onboarding was a great experience to get to know everyone in my cohort, and anyone going to Kellogg, I highly encourage doing it. There is always so, so much going on at Kellogg, you could fill every evening with some after work event or hangout practically.While I feel that I would have found reasons to like Booth had I gone, I am very happy at Kellogg. I don't feel at all when talking to others any issue with the fact that we're #3 vs Booth being #1 for part-time. Really depends on your goals with the MBA. I'm sure if I were more directly finance focused Booth would be better.I am mildly jealous of the FT students, there are far more activities going on for them (not that the amount for PT is limited) and frankly they're having more fun. But... I like having my job's income and I'd be much older than the typical FT student so I imagine culture fit would be a bit harder. I already am a bit older than most of my cohort. It is a bit amusing how at Kellogg Table (one perk of PT is that you get dinner served each night) it is very much the cafeteria style of finding your friends to sit with like back in high school.If anyone is on the fence, I'd say make a similar table like I did above and weigh the pros/cons of each. There's no wrong choice, just what's right for you. Find people with similar backgrounds to talk to about their experiences at both. But once you make a choice, just go all in and don't look back, you can't undo it so make the most of the choice.Anyway, my PMS are open anytime someone wants to ask me any questions, more than happy to try to help. Danville Public Schools will launch a new program in January aimed at curbing students who excessively miss school. Known as Meaningful Learning Saturday sessions, children who are chronically absent missing more than 10 days will be mandated to attend the sessions. We dont want this to be punitive, but we want to convince parents that missing days will create gaps, Danville Public Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston said at Thursdays school board work session. The system will identify students who are chronically absent before leaving on winter break, Hairston explained. The Saturday session was part of a presentation on absenteeism by Olivia McCraw, director of assessment and state reporting. Last school year, 25% of Danville students were chronically absent, meaning they missed 18 or more days of school. It doesnt matter if its excused a note from a parent or doctor or unexcused when it comes to counting absences. Citing data from the United States Department of Education, McCraw said students in preschool, kindergarten and first grade who are chronically absent are far less likely then their peers to read on grade level by the third grade. Carrying that forward, students who cant read on grade level by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Students considered chronically absent in from eight to 12th grades are seven times more likely to drop out, the data shows. Responses from Danville Public Schools include hiring at least five social workers for the system, having a nurse at each school and offering a second-chance shuttle service for students who are late. Hairston previously told the Register & Bee theyve even done things like purchase alarm clocks so a student will wake up at the appropriate time. Also, schools have implemented positive reinforcements with attendance parties and incentives like a bicycle drawing for students with perfect monthly attendance. School has to be fun sometimes, Hairston said. A lot of our schools are really coming up with incentives. Thats something Jurnee Mitchell, George Washington High Schools alternate representative on the school board, said should help. It was mentioned before to bring activities to make it more fun to come, she said, explaining that sometimes students will only venture to school because a fun class. Were looking at attendance in school instead of sending them home, McCraw said when it comes to suspensions. The idea is to not create a system when a student knows misbehaving would mean automatic time at home. As an alternative, they are looking at Bibleway World Wide Church and the Boys and Girls Club of the Danville Area as suspension sites. With the Saturday sessions, students who need additional academic help also can spend the extra day at school, Hairston calls it meaningful learning for students behind in studies in addition to those now showing up for class. Charles McWilliams III, a member of the school board, floated the question of how they will be able to get students who wont go to school on a random Tuesday to show up for the Saturday sessions. Hairston responded by explaining they will do contracts, again noting it will be mandatory. Down the road, Hairston said she may ask the school board to tie attendance to credits in another measure to booster students to come to class. School bus problems In addition to absences, just getting to school can be a problem. Tim Scearce, director of transportation for the school system, also provided an update on school bus behavior issues Thursday evening. That presentation came after a request for information from school board member Philip Campbell at a previous meeting. From Aug. 7 through Sept. 22, 386 discipline referrals were made, with the largest number coming at the elementary school level. Its just a rambunctious age, Scearce explained. The No. 1 issue is students moving while the bus is in motion. But a month and a half, 386 infractions is a lot to me, school board member Keisha Walker said. Scearce explained the number of issues is within the same range as last year. The system system has nine bus aides deployed to help, working on at two-week rotation. Scearce also said they plan to take a bus to each elementary school to conduct session with students on proper behavior and whats expected when they travel on the yellow vehicles. CHATHAM In a few years, once a new Pittsylvania County jail is built on U.S. 29 near Chatham, drivers along the major highway may not even notice its there. Thats the point. The nearly 33-acre property was bought by the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors in August for $500,000 We thoroughly evaluated the subject property, Dave Arnold, assistant county administrator, explained to the Pittsylvania County Planning Commission last week. He said the sheer size makes it a great candidate for a jail, in addition to the access in the middle of the county. The current jail built in 1981 has suffered from overcrowding from the early days. Being overcapacity, that means up to 50 inmates must be housed elsewhere on a routine basis, a costly problem for the county. Arnold also pointed to the antiquated heating and air system for the current jail in need of a massive overhaul as a reason to begin what will be a long process to build a new facility. But the first part of the yearslong trek cleared Oct. 3 when the planning commission approved rezoning the property to allow for a public facility. Outlining some of the details of the project, Arnold said the new jail will be about 91,000 square feet. Itll have 146 beds that can expand up to 202 should the demand arise in the future, he explained. Itll be set back about 900 feet from U.S. 29. Passing motorists wont even see the security fencing from the road. Its not going to have a very imposing presence along the U.S. 29 corridor, he said. While specific design elements havent been iron out, Arnold showed some recently projects as examples. If you look at them, they dont look like your grandparents jail, he explained to the commission. They look like a school or something along those lines. Since it is close to schools, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor and Vaden Hunt, county attorney, presented the plans to the county school board in a closed session over the summer. Among emerging ideas from the school board, a campaign to be transparent to the public with the project emerged. Thats why the county debuted a website with details and frequently asked questions, Arnold said. Janet Mease, a planning commission member representing the Callands-Gretna district, asked about security surrounding the new building. Of course the new facility will have the latest technologies in regard to the inner workings, Taylor said. I can assure you it is much more secure than what we have today. Arnold said the security of new jails is greatly enhanced. Gone are the days of guard towers. In place will be high-tech security. Also, when it comes time for someone to be released, they are going to require a relative for friend pick up the inmate. If that cant happen, the sheriff said a courtesy ride will be provided. This was brought up as a precaution with schools in somewhat close proximity. Taylor explained that no jail will be fully escape-proof, but the new building will have all of the modern enhancements to prevent it. It will really enhance the ability of the employees and the safety of those who work inside and the safety of the other detainees, he explained. Inside, there will be a clear line of sight, Arnold said without showing any interior possibilities. Thats obviously everybodys first concern, he said referencing safety inside. A preliminary needs assessment should be completed by the end of the year. Meetings with the board of supervisors will start in January about the project. It will likely take about 1.5 years to gain the necessary legislative approvals. The contract for construction is expected to come in June 2025 and if all goes according to schedule it will be ready for occupancy by November 2027. No one from the public spoke during the hearing last week. The planning commission unanimously approved the rezoning. The father of a boy injured on an amusement ride at the State Fair of Virginia in Doswell says his son has returned to school this week, but still has a long road to a full recovery. Its a lot for an 8-year-old to go through, said Matt Nungent, 37, of Shenandoah County, whose son received a broken foot, a gash on his left leg that required surgical repair, abrasions and friction burns on his legs and back. Nungent told The Richmond Times-Dispatch that his son boarded the ride, called The Storm, on Sept. 29 after meeting the height requirements listed for the attraction. The boy was by himself, Nungent said, and the father was watching him from the other side of the fence. When it started up and (his cart) came around for the second time, his seat was empty, Nungent said. The little girl who was sitting across from him had a look on her face and her hand over her mouth. I knew something wasnt right. Nungent said he sprinted through the gate and up to the operator, yelling at him to stop the ride. He then went over the fence to find his son. I was expecting the worst, Nungent said. Nungent said his son had been ejected from his seat, struck by another cart and flung into a fence. He found the boy on the ground, bleeding from a deep laceration near his left knee. I have been in fire and rescue for the last 18 years, so Ive seen a lot of things. That was probably the most horrific thing Ive ever had to see, Nungent said. Your own son getting tossed around by a piece of equipment that large its hard to get that picture out of your mind. Nungent said he rode with his son in an ambulance to the VCU Medical Center, where the boy underwent surgery to irrigate and close the wound on his leg. You just want to take (the pain) away, and you cant, he said. Report: 'There were no mechanical and/or operator errors' David Silek, an attorney for the boys family, says the enforced height limits and the safety restraints on "The Storm" were insufficient to prevent the mishap. We believe the harness did not come down securely enough to keep him in the chair, and he was pulled out of the bottom of (the ride), Silek said. The piece that locks across the legs did not keep him in, and he was pulled down and out Hes extremely lucky to be alive. Silek said the boy tried to pull himself back into the cart, but the momentum of the ride overwhelmed him. The attorney also said that the height limits for boarding the ride changed a day after the incident. Deggeller Attractions operator Andy Deggeller cited the incident report compiled by Caroline County Building Inspector Kevin Wightman, which concluded that there were no mechanical and/or operator errors that did not comply with the manufacturers specifications or the governing code. Deggeller said that the height limits in place on the day of the incident met the requirements established by the ride manufacturer. After the incident, Deggeller said he heard from eyewitnesses and consulted with inspectors, prompting him to make the voluntary decision to increase the height limit from 48 inches to 54 inches for unaccompanied minors. That step was above and beyond the requirements, Deggeller said. Were a family business, Deggeller said, I have three young children of my own. Anything like this, we take absolutely seriously. The manufacturer of the ride, who Deggeller identified as Wisdom Rides, could not be reached for comment. The Sep. 29 incident was not the only one involving a Deggeller Attractions ride at the state fair this year. Two days later, on Oct. 1, multiple passengers were stranded after a miniature roller coaster malfunctioned while in operation. Nobody was injured in that incident, which representatives for the state fair said lasted about 20 minutes. "The emergency braking system (on the roller coaster) worked exactly as designed and intended, Deggeller said, adding that operators acted in accordance with their training to resolve the issue safely. Deggeller said his emphasis on safety is evident in the way he runs his company. He said that county building inspectors and third-party private companies conducted independent inspections of his rides before the fair started. Then, Deggeller said, company employees inspected the rides every morning before the fair opened. He referred to this approach as doubl(ing) up. Deggeller said he would not speculate on what led to a passenger being injured on one of his rides, but said the incident report seems to indicate that his company was operating in compliance with regulations. That report refers to eyewitness accounts that the boy attempted to escape the ride as it was in motion. But Silek said the idea the boy would try to get off an active ride is not in the realm of possibility. He loves rides, Silek said. He did not maneuver out of his seat. 'It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault' Silek said it is possible that eyewitnesses saw the boy struggling to remain in the cart and interpreted that struggle as an effort to exit the cart. He added that two little girls and a mother witnessed the boy fighting to stay onboard the ride. The fair, the ride manufacturer (and) the operator are responsible to make sure all rides, ages and heights are appropriate and to make sure a little boy cant be sucked out of a seat, Silek said. The Nungent family and their doctors are uncertain as to how long it will be until the boy is fully recovered as they continue to work out the extent of his injuries. Right now, Silek said, the top priority is getting him well. Follow-up medical appointments are scheduled for next week, Silek said, at which point it will be easier to determine liability and loss. Nungent said the family is focused on getting through the difficult healing process, which includes brutal dressing changes and learning to walk in a medical boot. In addition to helping his son recover, Nungent said he wants to get his story out there (to) keep other families from going through something like this. It surely is not an 8-year-olds fault, he said. From the Archives: Photos of the State Fair of Virginia HIGH POINT Before Brown vs. Board of Education, there was Mendez vs. Westminster School District. Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez banded together with other Hispanic parents to sue the California district in 1945 after their children were denied admission to the all-white public school near where they lived. Their lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of separate schools for Mexican-American students in Southern California and eventually helped end public school segregation across the state, according to the National Park Service. But their daughter, Sylvia Mendez, didnt comprehend the importance of the battle at the time. I was in that trial sitting every day in the front row never knowing what they were fighting for, Mendez told guests at the opening ceremony for the Sylvia Mendez Newcomers School in High Point on Wednesday. All I knew was that I was going to go to a school with a playground. **** Joined by Gov. Roy Cooper, Guilford County Schools Superintendent Whitney Oakley and her family members, Mendez cut the ribbon for the school that bears her name. With nearly 20% of the districts students being Hispanic, we are taking steps to ensure that they see role models who look like them in their classroom teachers and principals and district administration and now on our school buildings, said Deena Hayes-Greene, who chairs the school board. Hayes-Greene said it meant the world to former Superintendent Sharon Contreras, the districts first Latina superintendent, to recommend naming the school in Mendezs honor. The school is the first named after a Latina person in North Carolina, according to the district. Mendezs father was a Mexican immigrant and her mother was Puerto Rican. The Sylvia Mendez Newcomers School was one of a pair of new schools that district leaders purposefully named after women of color in 2022, with the other being the yet-to-be built Katherine G. Johnson School for Science and Mathematics. As part of a brief message read at Wednesdays ceremony, Contreras thanked English Language Learner Director Mayra Hayes, school Principal Christian Walter and Guilford County Schools Chief of Staff Jose Oliva for galvanizing the community to support naming the school after Mendez. Prior to a May 2022 meeting to vote on the name, the Guilford County Board of Education received over 100 submissions in support of the nomination. As a Latina in North Carolina, this is important to me because this will be the first school named after a Latina leader and activist in education, wrote Liliana Guevara, who identified herself as a UNCG student in the letter she submitted. Growing up, I never had a teacher that looked like me much less have a school named after a Latina activist. Representation matters as the number of Latinos continue to grow in our state. This is one of the first steps to raising awareness. **** Mendez, who still lives in Orange County, Calif., said that when she finally got to the all-white school, she remembers a boy saying: Youre Mexican, what are you doing here? Dont you know we dont allow Mexicans? His words led to tears and to a conversation with her mother, who asked, Dont you know what we were fighting for? We were not fighting for you to go to a beautiful school. We were fighting because here in this wonderful country of ours we are all equal and we all deserve to have equal opportunity. Mendez said that in attending integrated schools she learned that not everyone was bigoted. Eventually, she was welcomed by classmates. After finishing high school, she went to college and became a nurse and later an assistant nursing director. Her mother, Mendez recalled during Wednesdays ceremony, had a heart condition and she retired to take care of her while she was in hospice. It was at that point that Mendez said her mother told her nobody knew about the the case and how theyd fought and implored her to start telling the story. Mendez said she was hesitant and questioned her ability to properly tell the tale. Her nervousness was easily visible when, with the help of a friend, she was first able to get in front of a group of students to talk about what her parents had done. One of the ninth-graders said, Dont be scared Ms. Mendez. Just tell us the story. With the encouragement of those students, Mendez found the confidence to keep going. Shes now been telling her familys story for two decades. **** Mendez has multiple other schools named after her as do her parents. The U.S. Postal Service also created a stamp in honor of the 60th anniversary of the 1947 appellate court decision on the case. And in 2011, Mendez was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest honor, by President Barack Obama. But on Wednesday, Mendez said that the ribbon-cutting ceremony in High Point was the best reception shed received even after being to the White House. Mendez said that prior to traveling to North Carolina for the ceremony, she hadnt known what a newcomers school was. As the name implies, the school serves Guilford County Schools students in grades 3 through 11 who are newly arrived to the United States. (Younger children can pick up English without going to a special school). The students spend two semesters there adjusting and receiving intensive English instruction before joining other district schools. Many of those students participated in Wednesdays ceremony. Prior to performing the song, What a Wonderful World, a procession of newcomers students displayed banners representing the United States and their countries of origin: Sudan, Morocco, Syria, Guatemala, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Iraq, Mexico and Thailand to name but a few. When the children came out, I started crying. I couldnt believe it, Mendez said. I am so honored and feel so privileged to have this school named after me. HIGH POINT The Doris Henderson Newcomers School in Greensboro, which serves immigrant youth, used to be the only one of its kind among school districts in North Carolina. Now it has a sister. The Sylvia Mendez Newcomers School also serves Guilford County Schools students in third through eleventh grades who are newly arrived in the United States. The districts unique strategy is to have new immigrant students spend two semesters adjusting to the United States while undergoing intensive English instruction before joining other district schools. Guilford County is home to the states largest and most diverse refugee population, according to the district. The new school has been operating in the same building in Greensboro with Doris Henderson since the start of the school year. On Monday, roughly 40 students are set to start school in a newly renovated building on the campus of High Point Central High School. Enrollment is expected to increase. In explaining the decision to start the school, Guilford County Schools leaders have said that the immigrant population in the High Point area is growing and that trend is expected to continue. It wouldnt make sense, they explained, to continue to bus the High Point students to Greensboro, where the Doris Henderson Newcomers school has long used portable classrooms to handle its enrollment. Superintendent Whitney Oakley said the change will help with alleviating overcrowding at Doris Henderson, but because immigrant student populations are difficult to predict, its not clear whether the district will be able to eliminate the portable classrooms at the school in Greensboro. Oakley said issues with inspections and materials contributed to delays for the renovation project. Were very fortunate that we are opening now in October, she said. The students are excited. The teachers are excited. One of those people is art teacher Jasmine Silva. Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Silva led tours of the new school, which includes a library and lunchroom along with classrooms, science labs, office space and other amenities. Silva, who is working with newcomers students for the first time this year, said she has been learning a lot from co-teaching with the art teacher at the Doris Henderson Newcomers School for the past six weeks. Classes at the newcomers schools are taught in English, and while there are translators on staff serving as resources to students and their families, they arent embedded in the classes, Silva said. Silva said jumping into communicating with students whose languages she does not share was nerve-wracking, but shes been picking up strategies from the teachers at Doris Henderson. Some examples include ways to use her body in articulating what shes trying to convey, and ways to employ humor to connect with students. Now shes excited to get her own art classroom one with tall tables, where students can sit or stand to work on their projects. Silva said that the schools principal, Christian Walter, is always emphasizing how the Sylvia Mendez Newcomers School is not just an English-learning school, its also an academic one. So, Im really excited to get anchor charts up and really make the room feel like an art space, she said. A place where they can not only learn English, but learn a lot about the elements of art. 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. Dallas Man Sentenced For Shooting Constable A Dallas man who shot and injured Hill County Precinct 4 Constable Kevin Cordell in May 2021 has been sentenced to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to the crime. Hector Murillo, now 21, is also facing charges in Dallas and Johnson counties after a multi-county pursuit during which Cordell was shot in the face and the defendant's twin brother, Adrian Murillo, was killed. Dallas and Johnson counties asked Hill County District Attorney Mark Pratt to prosecute the local case first, and Murillo was brought to the Hill County jail to await trial after being released from the hospital. Information presented by Pratt showed that Dallas authorities began following the Murillo brothers, who were suspects in a Dallas murder case and had aggravated assault warrants for which they had been released on bond. Hector has since been indicted on the murder charge. Pratt said that the chase began in Ellis County, with Waxahachie Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff's Office and Milford Police Chief Carlos Phoenix joining in as the brothers traveled south. For the complete story, see the Monday, October 9, edition of The Reporter Newspaper. Registration Deadline For Voters Oct. 10 The voter registration deadline for new voters planning to cast a ballot on the November 7 election date is Tuesday, October 10. Voters will decide statewide constitutional amendments, and several local cities and schools will hold elections. Texas law requires eligible voters to register by the 30th day before election day. To confirm voter registration status, Texans can visit the Texas Secretary of States "Am I Registered?" portal, which allows them to look up their voter registration record in the statewide voter registration database. For the complete story, see the Monday, October 9, edition of The Reporter Newspaper. Voter Guides Available At City Library Non-partisan voter guides for the Tuesday, November 7 Texas constitutional amendment election are available in both English and Spanish at the Hillsboro City Library while supplies last. The guide lists the 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, gives an explanation of each one and arguments for and against the proposition. The Voters Guide is funded and published by the League of Women Voters of Texas. An online, interactive version of the Voters Guide is available at VOTE411.org. The library is located at 118 South Waco Street, one block south of the courthouse. There are two goals of hoof trimming, according to veterinarian Gerard Cramer: Treat lameness and prevent lameness. If you take off any horn, it has to meet those two goals. If it doesnt meet those goals, you should probably leave it on, said Cramer during the annual conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) held in Milwaukee, Wis. The associate professor at the University of Minnesota offered hoof trimming advice for dairy veterinarians. Successful hoof trimming starts with selecting the right cows to trim, Cramer said. He pointed to four categories of cows that might enter the trimming chute: The visibly lame cows. These cows need to be treated, he said. The recheck cows. These are cows that were treated before and need to be reassessed. The chronic cows. These are cows that are repeatedly dealing with lameness issues due to changes in the foot. The healthy cows. The ultimate question here, Cramer said, is when to trim these healthy animals. He acknowledged that a common recommendation is to trim cows twice per lactation. There is a cost, though, for each trim, both for the actual trim this could be $12 to $20 for a healthy cow, Cramer estimated and unintended consequences such as changes in lying time and a decline in milk production. Trimming changes behavior, and not always for the better, Cramer noted. Determining the best trimming schedule is farm dependent, and Cramer said to base this decision on hoof wear and hoof health data if it is available. He advised that a trim prior to dry off is likely warranted for every dairy cow. Cramer also emphasized the importance of using the proper equipment. This begins with the ability to restrain the cow in a way that is safe for the animal and the person doing the trimming. I absolutely want you to do something for a lame cow, but I want to think about safety for yourself, he said to the bovine veterinarians in the audience. You can help the cow more if you can do a better job, and if you have good restraint, you can do a good job trimming. He also commented about trimming tools. Your hoof trimming knives should be sharp, he advised. If you have a sharp knife, you can do a good job and you are not going to cut yourself. Cramer noted that there are several trimming techniques performed on farms that can work well. He said he is less worried about the steps and how trimming is done and more concerned about the final product that helps keep cows walking on four healthy feet. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023 October 2, 2023 Margins in the dairy industry have become more pinched over time. Some farms grow larger to keep margins profitable, but if your goal isnt to get larger, what does the future look like for a small or mid-sized dairy farm? Extension dairy specialists Jenn Bentley and Fred Hall from Iowa State University and Jim Salfer from the University of Minnesota came together on an episode of the I29 Moo U Dairy podcast to talk about staying relevant as a smaller dairy farm. Bentley reminded listeners that the demand for dairy is there and not going away. Per capita dairy product consumption continues to grow in the United States and globally. Farms keep producing milk more efficiently. As a smaller dairy farm, how can you keep margins profitable without adding cow numbers? Hall stated, You need to ask yourself, What can I do to increase margins, or is there something else I need to be doing? Farmers need to fit into their marketplace as a smaller dairy, which could be purebred cattle, or using beef embryos as basic examples. The trio talked about figuring out what you are good at that you can take advantage of and striving to be a winner in the marketplace. Maybe that is operating well at a low cost of production or being a good crop grower. Bentley mentioned that some farms in her area are finding their niche through on-farm processing. Salfer said that he has seen some farms putting in robots, so the next generation has the ability to work off the farm and still work with cows. With any idea, the three recommended working with your agribusiness consultants or lenders to make sure the plan has strength. Salfer shared FinBin data that the University of Minnesota collected on dairy farms since 2015. In looking at data from farms milking 200 to 500 cows, the top 20% of farms had an average of $250,000 net farm income. He noted two big things these top farms do: Their operating profit margins are bigger. For every dollar these farms spend, they keep 15 cents to 23 cents. The asset turnover rates on these high-profit farms fell between 25% and 30%. These farms invest in assets that make money now and in the future. An example could be cooling systems for cows. A new truck may not do this. In conclusion, the three shared their key takeaways from the podcast: Bentley There is no one way to run a dairy farm. A lot is in the details, know your numbers and know what you are investing in. Hall Take your ideas, look at your records, and understand what that change will be. Do things that make you money. Salfer Look in a mirror and lay out what you want your farm to look like. Take advantage of your advantages. More FinBin data is available at https://finbin.umn.edu/. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023 October 2, 2023 The largest seaport in India, located in the Gujarati city of Mundra, recently celebrated 25 years of operation., the billionaire Chairman of the firm, stated that a country's logistical strength lay not only in its ships and cargo but also in its capacity to weave dreams and aspirations. One of the biggest ports in the world,has a capacity of more than 260 million tonnes. Nearly 11% of India's marine freight was handled by it in the fiscal year 20222023, totaling over 155 million tonnes. The port handles up to 33 percent of India's container traffic and has given the state and national exchequer more than Rs 2.25 lakh crore since it opened."Since berthing its first ship, MT Alpha on October 7, 1998, the port has consistently demonstrated a visionary approach, unwavering ambition and impeccable execution, positioning itself as one of the premier and technologically advanced ports on the global map", stated the business in a statement. Mundra Port has developed into a multimodal center that promotes commerce and strengthens economic advancement after emerging as a significant commercial gateway. "The EXIM gateway for container traffic is Mundra. According to the statement, a designated freight corridor that provides the special capability of double-stack containers from the northern hinterland to Mundra is where 33% of India's container traffic passes via the port.Commenting on the occasion, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said, "Mundra, for me, is much more than just a port. It is the beachhead of a horizon of possibilities for the entire Adani Group". 25 years ago, when we started the journey, we dreamt of a beacon that would represent India's march forward. The heartbeat of this commitment resonates not just in Mundra but throughout the nation and echoes in the confidence of every stakeholder who had the faith to sail on this journey with us. "As we mark our silver jubilee, Mundra stands as a testament to the wonders that can unfurl when foresight, tenacity and a united community converge. Along with our employees and partners, we did not merely construct a port we sculpted an emblem of global excellence, transforming an entire region and crafting new blueprints. Our confidence has never been higher and Mundra will continue to trailblaze, setting benchmarks on the global canvas", he said. Tech giant Amazon has launched its first two prototype satellite for Amazon's network called Project Kuiper, launched aboard a United Launch Alliance rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, last Friday, 6 October, at 2:06pm as part of its mission to build massive constellations of satellites to provide internet connectivity anywhere around the worlda move that would mark its rivalry with SpaceX and its Starlink system. Project Kuiper vice president of technology Rajeev Badyal in a statement expressed confidence about satellite design but pointed out, "there's no substitute for on-orbit testing." This is Amazons first time putting satellites into space, and were going to learn an incredible amount regardless of how the mission unfolds," he said. US media CNBC reported Amazon wants to plan a built of network of 3,236 satellites, investing US$10 billion to build Kuiper, and broke ground on a US$120 million pre-launch processing facility in Florida. The flight last Friday was named "Protoflight" with United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket carrying two satellites: Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2. According to US media, Amazon twice switched rides before onboarding the Atlas V rocket. It was intended to originally launch on ABL Space's RS1 rocket but was delayed, prompting it to tranfer to the United Launch Alliance Vulcan Rocket. It was delayed again and the satellites were moved to Atlas V. Amazon did not provide information about the size and design of the satellites and only shared photos of the shipping containers that delivered the spacecraft to Florida. ULA's details about the launch were also limited. Amazon last year signed what it claimed to be "the biggest corporate rocket deal" in the history to launch the Kuiper satellites, inking contracts with ULA, Arianespace, and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin worth a total of US$7.4 billion. However, the contracts have met a shareholder lawsuit that accuses Amazon of "failing to do proper due diligence" and failing to consider potentially cheaper rockets from its rival SpaceX. According to US media, the contracts have booked 77 launches, fast enough to outpace regulatory requirements. Last week, Amazon said its first production of Kuiper satellites are on track to launch in the first half of next year. It is planning to begin beta testing with customers by the end of 2024. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Donald Trump is getting indicted and tried all the way into a third Republican presidential nomination, and perhaps a second term in office. Trumps court dates and legal entanglements arent a distraction from his campaign, as some observers predicted; in large part, they are the campaign. Were all familiar with the so-called front-porch campaigns of the late 19th century, most famously the Republican William McKinley who would have delegations of supporters visit him at his home in Canton, Ohio. Joe Biden built on the concept with his lockdown-compliant basement campaign during the 2020 campaign (at least McKinley interacted with real people). Now, Trump has come up with another variant of this concept the courtroom campaign. It involves massive media attention before, during and after court appearances; images and statements of bold, unadorned defiance; and inflamed Republican emotions from the sense that he is being treated unfairly. This is the potent political cocktail that Trump has used to build what appears to be a nearly unassailable lead in the Republican primaries. Perhaps GOP voters were going to swing toward Trump no matter what, or maybe the struggles of the Ron DeSantis campaign have played a big role. But everything suggests that, so far, Trumps legal travails have been political gold. Certainly, Trumps opponents within the party have been thinking, Please, make it stop, since the initial Alvin Bragg indictment. But it hasnt stopped, and its not going to stop. Every key juncture of Trumps legal drama has allowed him to dominate the fight for media coverage, which, as we learned in the 2016 nomination battle, is key terrain in a primary. Trumps various indictments, arraignments and court appearances have given him an entirely new way to blot out the sun. It used to be that candidate debates were, besides some traditional events (a state fair, a party dinner), the most important events on the political calendar. No more. So there was a nice initial Republican debate in August? Well, the next day there was an instantly iconic Trump mug shot everywhere on TV and social media. There was another, not-so-great Republican debate in September. Who cares? Trump showed up at a his civil fraud trial in New York City the following Monday. When much of the Republican Party is in a state of high alarm about the instruments of the establishment being used against the right, Donald Trump is starring in a real-life drama about partisan prosecutors and the Biden justice department trying to annihilate his business and jail him ahead of the 2024 election. What else is going to generate more interest and sympathy among perhaps a decisive proportion of Republicans than that? Promises to end the deep state, which we hear from almost all the Republican candidates, are as nothing compared to Trump spitting defiance at legal adversaries who are playing for keeps. It only helps Trump that, despite his sundry deceptions and disgraceful conduct, the myriad legal actions against him are generally ridiculous at worst and ambiguous and legally adventurous at best, while almost all represent blatant selective prosecution. Perhaps the political reaction in his favor wouldnt have been as strong if hed only been prosecuted for obstruction related to his handling of classified documents, a case where the Special Counsel Jack Smith seems to have him nailed. But not for the first time, Trump and his enemies have a symbiotic relationship they want to destroy him by any means necessary, and he uses their enmity as his chief political calling card. This time, the stakes are higher than ever and we could be heading to a true Gotterdamerung next year, with a major-party presidential candidate at risk of going to jail months before a national election. Republican voters would wise to avoid finding out where this will end up by nominating any of the plausible alternatives to Trump. But none of them are being charged or arraigned like the frontrunner, whose courtroom campaign is overwhelming them all. (COMMENT, BELOW) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. "There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States." Who said that? Donald Trump? Rep. Matt Gaetz, R- Fla.? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.? Nope. These are the words of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The comment landed Wednesday 180 degrees opposite Mayorkas' oft-stated lie: "The border is closed." Regardless, Mayorkas is just the latest Democrat to acknowledge basic reality. Regarding the U.S.-Mexico border, Democrats are beginning to look a lot like mega-MAGA Republicans. "We want them to have a limit on who can come across the border," Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., told CBS News' "Face the Nation" on Oct. 1. "It is too open right now." "This issue will destroy New York City," warned Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. Some 110,000 illegal aliens have swamped Gotham since spring 2022. Adams expects to spend $12 billion to babysit them. Consequently, he's slashing the budgets for police, fire, sanitation, and other services by 15% through fiscal 2025. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Adams' chief adviser, told WPIX-TV: "We need the federal government, the Congress members, the Senate, and the president to do its job: Close the borders." "Massachusetts is in a state of emergency, and we need all hands on deck," Gov. Maura Healey, D-Mass., declared in August. She deployed the National Guard to fix her state's illegal-alien crisis. Gov. J.B. Pritzker, D-Ill., complained to President Joe Biden that "the federal government's lack of intervention and coordination at the border has created an untenable situation for Illinois." Pritzker's constituents, particularly blacks, are enraged in Chicago, a Democrat fortress that backed Biden over Trump in 2020, 74% to 24%. "We are in the community of black people, where we already get the low scraps. And then you want to take the little scraps, the resources, that we have and put us at the bottom of the barrel?" a woman seethed at a Windy City town hall Tuesday. "Thats not fair. And I wont have it." A man there said: "Thats the simple solution. No!' Turn the buses around." "We have a hard No' for immigrants coming here. A very hard no,' one man said at a protest that day. "You cannot keep bringing immigrants in. The city does not have the money." "You cannot track them," a furious lady stated. "You ain't tracking them through the police stations. You dont know [their] names, but you want to spread them all over the city?" Another peeved woman declared: "It is unsanitary. Its unsafe. And its just not right." Fueling this anger, an estimated record 11,000 illegal aliens from 152 nations lately have invaded the southern frontier daily. U.S. students are being booted from gymnasia and dormitories to house illegals. Military veterans heading to December's Army-Navy game in Massachusetts have seen their hotel rooms canceled to shelter illegal aliens. Far from the Mexican border, in Bemidji, Minnesota, illegal alien Oscar Luna, 22, allegedly got an 11-year-old girl drunk and then raped her in a house with 11 other illegals. This catastrophe has devolved from the unthinkable to the indecipherable. Mayorkas on Thursday totally contradicted his statement Wednesday, which already had T-boned into his previous remarks. "There is no new administration policy with respect to the border wall," Mayorkas said in Mexico City. Sweating like a jittery bomb maker, he added: "From Day One, this administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer. That remains our position, and our position has never wavered." "Construct physical barriers" or "a border wall is not the answer?" Which is it? As usual, Biden amplified the confusion. On Thursday, he rebuffed his new policy from Wednesday that "never wavered." "Do you believe the border wall works?" a journalist asked in the Oval Office. Biden replied: "No." Will Biden side with Wednesday's Mayorkas and these other Democrat neo-hawks on the border? Or will he stick with Thursday's Mayorkas and his own campaign pledge? As Biden told Yahoo News on Aug. 5, 2020: "There will not be another foot of wall constructed in my administration." Who knows? When guessing what next will tumble from Biden's mouth, remember Scarlett O'Hara's immortal words: "Tomorrow is another day." Biden and Mayorkas might build 20 miles of wall in Texasfar short of Trump's 450and then straddle it. If this makes them comfortable, who are we to judge? While the Biden administration juggles its own contradictions, enjoy the man-bites-dog spectacle of Democrats demanding a closed border. This is even more astonishing than Republicans screaming for higher taxes. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. Hamas's surprise attack is a humanitarian horror. It is also a strategic opportunity for Israel, the U.S. and democracies everywhere. Hamas is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, which author Cynthia Farahat describes as "the world's incubator of modern Islamic terrorism." From Hamas's origins in 1987, it has engaged in violence against Israelis, Palestinians and whoever else might cross its path. A sequence of Israeli missteps led in 2007 to its taking power in the Gaza Strip, an area the size of Omaha, Neb., with a population of two million. It imposed a totalitarian rule on Gaza similar to that of the mullahs in Iran, attempting to implement medieval strictures, oppressing its own population, and threatening to destroy Israel. There are many indications that Gazans hate Hamas. "There is boiling anger in the streets against the Hamas movement," Tholfekar Swairjo, a Gazan political analyst, told NPR in 2022. "They are blamed for the very low quality of life in Gaza." A 32-year-old woman said that "most Gazans have stopped believing in Hamas and the others. You know why? Because they don't feed us, they don't provide anything. You have to depend on yourself. How can we build a future with these guys?" Polling finds overwhelming support among Palestinians, especially in Gaza, for the statement that "Palestinians should push harder to replace their own political leaders with more effective and less corrupt ones." Gazans also reject Hamas by emigrating in droves. An estimated 250,000 to 350,000 young adults have left the strip since Hamas took over in 2007. In short, most Gazans loathe Hamas, but they dare not rise up against their power-hungry oppressors, who enjoy support from Iran. What about Israel? It has the motive and the means to end Hamas rule, but its security establishment has preferred that Hamas, for all its horrors and threats, stay in power rather than have the Israel Defense Forces move back into Gaza (from which they withdrew in 2005) and run the territory again. For one sign of Israel's acquiescence to Hamas rule, note that it permits and even encourages the government of Qatar to send Hamas $30 million a month. As a result, nothing changes. Perhaps the moment has come for American leadership. In 2003, President George W. Bush said that "the free world, those who love freedom and peace, must deal harshly with Hamas" and that "Hamas must be dismantled." President Barack Obama said in 2014: "I have no sympathy for Hamas. I have great sympathy for ordinary people who are struggling within Gaza." Joe Biden should join their ranks. In a statement Saturday, he said he "unequivocally condemns this appalling assault"a good start. The next step is to urge Israel to remove Hamas. Perhaps this, along with the size and barbarism of the latest assault, will change the Israeli security establishment's reluctant acceptance of Hamas and persuade it to rid the world of this scourge. Once Gaza has been secured, Israel would find a great number of its inhabitants ready to start over and build productive lives rather than focus endlessly and hopelessly on the destruction of Israel. Gaza could aspire to become the "Singapore of the Middle East" of which optimists dreamed decades ago. None of this can happen as long as Iran's medieval-minded agents run the enclave. The Hamas charter of 1988 calls for Islam to "obliterate" Israel. After this vicious assault, the time has come for Israel to obliterate Hamas. Long-time JWR contributor Daniel Pipes is president of the Middle East Forum and a historian. A columnist for The Washington Times and The Spectator, his special interests include the public role of Islam, Turkey, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the liberal-conservative divide. CBS Sunday Morning says Daniel Pipes was "years ahead of the curve in identifying the threat of radical Islam." "Unnoticed by most Westerners," he wrote, for example, in 1995, "war has been unilaterally declared on Europe and the United States." The Boston Globe states that "If Pipes's admonitions had been heeded, there might never have been a 9/11." (COMMENT, BELOW) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. On the fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, Israelis woke up to a sustained attack on multiple southern towns near the border with the Gaza Strip (half of the so-called "Palestinian Authority" territory). This isn't the usual vicious but random spasm of slaughter in which Hamas likes to engage. It appears to have been very well planned and executed, with thousands upon thousands of rockets barraging Israeli residential areas from the southern border to north of Tel Aviv. It is also an invasion: Hamas used bulldozers to demolish Israeli border barriers, enabling an unknown number of its assets to enter the country - followed by reinforcements: Reinforcements arrive for the Palestinian terror groups that have entered Israel. They are wearing yellow "friend-or-foe" armbands to help prevent friendly fire. Israel still doesn't have control of its border pic.twitter.com/3Rjo11Bx27 Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023 That's different - as the locals quickly noticed: We woke up at 6:30 a.m. to alarms, we thought it was the usual rocket attacks but we started hearing gunshots on the street, sounded like it came from the parking of our building. Then we realized something was unusual. We then started seeing Hamas people in pickup trucks. They knocked on the homes of residents, who thought they were Israeli soldiers. They took them hostage. The twin prongs of the invasion were in evidence at an all-night "nature party": first the revellers came under rocket attack; then, as they fled, they came under gunfire. Dozens of the partygoers were massacred. There are reports that the Israelis have lost control of parts of their territory, and that Hamas is now in charge of certain communities: Their men patrol the streets in captured Israeli military vehicles - not something most of the world would have thought possible. The first part of this Telegraph montage gives you an idea of the infiltration: As I write, over 100 150 200 250 300 Israelis are dead, and well over a thousand 1,500 are injured. Dozens of others have been kidnapped, and taken across the border into Gaza. Among the hostages are seventeen Nepalese citizens. The border community of Netiv HaAsara, a town of nine hundred people, has released the names of fifteen civilians killed by terrorists. Just one hospital in Beersheeba has in its emergency ward sixty 114 civilians critically wounded. In the southern city of Ofakim, a family has been seized in its home by terrorists armed with live grenades. Also in Ofakim, a paramedic was shot dead in his ambulance en route to treat the injured. In Sderot, the fire chief has been killed in a battle with Hamas. This is the biggest and most brutal Palestinian assault on the Jewish state ever, and is looking, proportionately and psychologically, like an Israeli 9/11, or Pearl Harbor. For several Mark Steyn Club members, it's hit pretty close to home: House next to us took a direct hit. Fortunately they were not at home. Our building has much broken glass. It would seem to me improbable that Hamas could pull off anything as strategically calculated as this on their own. The unprecedented scenes are also a catastrophic Israeli humiliation of even greater improbability: it represents a total failure of intelligence and perhaps something worse, if critical Israeli agencies have fallen to the same enervation and loss of purpose as their American equivalents. The fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War was surely a date to which one would have expected the Israeli authorities to have been alert. Even to type that merely underlines its unlikelihood: you don't have to be a conspiracy theorist to regard the intelligence failure as the most striking aspect of the day's events. A central premise of the tiny Jewish state surrounded by merciless enemies is that it's not as other nations - it's sharp enough to know what's coming its way before it arrives. That reputation has just taken a profound hit. If you're one of those mullahs itching to nuke the Jews, today was a very good day. That said, we know very little at the moment, so one must be cautious about the facts on the ground. My old shingle in the Holy Land, The Jerusalem Post, has a live feed, but one notices it has very little of the cellphone video and Tweets that readers have come to expect in a breaking news story - which suggests not only a fairly major breakdown of communications, but also that a lot of the footage is too graphic and disturbing to publish. Here is one video that has made it out - a Hamas kidnapper cheering "Allahu akbar!" as he arrives back in Gaza with his prize: Jewish Israeli woman reportedly kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza The world ignored us when we said how sick Palestinian society is with a bloodlust for antisemitic violence. Now everyone knows the truth. Devastating day. pic.twitter.com/q6nvODt5IH Emily Schrader - (@emilykschrader) October 7, 2023 And another: Palestinian terrorists captured an Israeli woman and took her hostage. Just hear her screams. pic.twitter.com/L8obwWxpL9 Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) October 7, 2023 If you can stomach it, here are streetfuls of Palestinians doing their usual happy dance as their heroes arrive back in town with dead Israeli bodies. The fitter ones climb up on the flatbed and start thwacking the corpse with sticks: warning. disturbing content. Hamas terrorists parade the bodies of murdered Israelis through Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians are celebrating the slaughter of innocents, the elderly, the young, the infirm. pic.twitter.com/B6ApQayNXE Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) October 7, 2023 So these guys are doing all the things - targeting civilians, especially women and children - that the US and EU argue justifies the toppling of Vladimir Putin. Fortunately for them, the Palestinians enjoy a much better press. The Government of the United States reacted to the unprovoked invasion from a neighboring state by immediately urging Israel "to refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks. Terror and violence solve nothing" - which is in striking contrast to its general approach in Ukraine: Team Biden made a Day 1 decision to pour millions of dollars into Hamas areas. Internal emails show them saying it would boost Hamas terrorism, but they did it anyway. Then Hamas launched an invasion of Israel. Team Biden's immediate response was to tell Israel to roll with it. pic.twitter.com/PopoiBo3oM Omri Ceren (@omriceren) October 7, 2023 When whoever does the weekend shift at the White House woke up, he/she/zhe evidently felt that was going a bit far even for the Biden Administration and ordered the advice deleted. For his part, Netanyahu has said simply: "We are at war." And, when you're at war, listening to Joe Biden is a luxury you can't afford. The alleged President supposedly telephoned the Israeli Prime Minister. That's not a call I would have bothered to take. One assumes that Joe has been given a notecard instructing him to remind the PM of the need for "restraint". In our comments section, Chris Hall writes: I'm afraid that the gloves will have to come off this time. Israel never gets any credit for being nice, so they might as well end this endless war, permanently. Indeed. How "restrained" is Israel? So restrained that it supplies the invaders' electricity. From the BBC: Israel's energy and infrastructure minister Israel Katz said that Israel will cut off its electricity supply to Gaza Strip. "I have signed an order instructing Israel's electric company to stop the electricity supply to Gaza," Katz said in a statement. So Israel provides the electricity for the Hamas war-room - and now that they've turned it off, the self-same BBC's commentators will be denouncing its lack of "restraint". Have they had Layla Moran on yet? Or Toronto mayor Olivia Chow? Or the Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin? Or the Archbishop of York, who has already issued a "Statement on the Violence in Israel and Gaza"? There'll be enough moral equivalence to choke on in another hour or two. Meanwhile, the Taliban have apparently asked Iran, Iraq and Jordan for safe passage through their territory so they can join the fight and "conquer Jerusalem": BREAKING: The Taliban have announced that they have asked Iran, Iraq and Jordan to grant them passage to Israel. They have stated that their intent is to "conquer Jerusalem" pic.twitter.com/X5eLnPTboS Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023 If they bring even a tenth of the weaponry Thoroughly Modern Milley and the US military gifted them, that could be a significant escalation. Given all that, underneath the kidnappings and murder of civilians, what's going on? As I said, it's not credible that Hamas could have pulled off anything this coherent unaided. For what it's worth, Obama and Biden's indulgence of Iran's nuclear ambitions destabilised the balance of power in the Middle East. That helped spur the Abraham Accords, under which Israel and the Sunni Arabs became new best friends. The Jerusalem-Riyadh axis is regarded as a threat by Tehran to its own hegemony. Did they decide to act on that threat and try to prise the besties apart? At least one western government thinks so: The British government believes that Iran is linked to the Hamas attack on Israel and that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is likely to have played a role in training and the supply of weapons (Dipesh Gadher writes). A Whitehall source said: "The Revolutionary Guards have their fingerprints all over this multifaceted attack. Hamas is just another tool in Iran's campaign against the West." Those thousands of rockets don't come cheap, but, thanks to Obama and Biden's pallets of cash, that's no problem - they got another six bil from Biden just last month. UPDATE! From Hamas and Iran: A Hamas spokesperson earlier told the BBC that the militant group had backing from its ally, Iran, for its surprise attacks on Israel, saying it was a source of pride. Ghazi Hamad told the World Service's Newshour programme that other countries had also helped Hamas, but he did not name them. Earlier, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed the Islamic Republic supported the attacks, but did not go into any details. Hmm... So what happens next? When the Israelis are retaliating against Gaza, how many of those Gulf regimes will stick with the Abraham deal? And, aside from those newfound chums in Saudi, Israel has far fewer friends around the world than it did fifty years ago. Just contrast the coverage of this unprovoked invasion with that of Ukraine - same time-zone, different rules. It will be interesting to see whose fingerprints are on this as the facts emerge. Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) (COMMENT, BELOW) Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) Q: I have heard of scams where they pretend to be your grandchild who has gotten in trouble and needs help. How can I prevent this from happening to me? Answer: According to the FBI, last year Americans lost more than $10 billion to online scams and digital fraud. Unfortunately, older adults made up $3 billion of that total. It is true that calls to parents and grandparents that a younger loved one is in trouble and needs money sent immediately is a popular scam being committed by con artists. Receiving this type of call can be quite frightening, which makes this scam particularly effective. Parents or grandparents dont want to risk their loved ones safety, so they are often quick to follow the instructions given. These scammers sometimes use artificial intelligence apps to imitate the younger loved ones image and voice to make the deception even more realistic. To avoid being taken advantage of in these situations, there are some precautions that you can take. One option is attempting to contact the person that they are claiming to be using another means of communication. If the suspicious call came on your home phone, try calling or sending a text message from a cell phone. This gives you the opportunity for your loved one to confirm that they are fine or they are in fact in need of help. Another option is to create a secret code word that your family will use when any money is requested over the phone or through text. If the caller doesnt know/use the word money will not be sent. Most con artists are good at their jobs and can be quite convincing. Many people only realize theyve been scammed after transferring funds or sharing financial information. If this happens to you, contacting your bank as soon as possible is vital. They can often cancel or reverse the transaction if notified in time and advise you on the next steps to take. If you sent the funds via a gift card or money transfer app, report the scam to the issuer. They might be able to help you stop the transaction and get your money back. If you get any suspicious calls, report them to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and forward suspicious texts to 7726. Q: With the new variants and rising numbers of COVID-19 cases, can I get more free home tests? Answer: It is true that there has been a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina in the past couple of months. There are several variants that are currently circulating, but EG.5, also known as Eris, is currently the most common. Households can order and receive up to four (4) COVID-19 tests at no cost from the federal government at COVIDTests.gov. These at-home kits will test for the most common currently circulating variants. People are encouraged to test for COVID-19 infections as needed, especially as the holiday season approaches. North Carolinians can also obtain free at-home COVID-19 tests from Community Access Points (CAP) located throughout the community. These tests must be picked up at the designated site. You can find CAP locations near you by visiting https://bit.ly/C-19Tests. The Forsyth County Department of Public Health located at 799 N Highland Ave Winston-Salem, NC 27101 is the site in Forsyth County. Learn more by visiting their website co.forsyth.nc.us/publichealth/ or by phone at (336) 703-3100. Older adults are still more at risk for complications from COVID-19 and should take precautions when out in public. It is recommended that people who are at especially high-risk keep six feet of personal space and wear a mask while in public. Remembering to frequently wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and to cough or sneeze into your elbow can help prevent an infection. If you or someone in your family is feeling sick; it is best to stay home and seek medical attention if there is trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, difficulty staying awake, or paled discolored skin. JERUSALEM Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday in retaliation for a bloody incursion by Hamas militants, as the war's death toll rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides. Meanwhile, Hamas pledged to kill captured Israelis if attacks targeted civilians without warnings. In the war's third day, officials said rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. The Israeli military said it largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israel deployed tanks and drones to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. The moves, along with Israel's formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. "We have only started striking Hamas," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. "What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations." The U.S. has begun delivering munitions and military equipment to Israel, and the Pentagon is reviewing inventories to see what else can be sent quickly to boost its ally in the three-day-old war, a senior Defense Department official said Monday. The weapons movement came as President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. death toll in the war has gone up to 11. As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. About 900 people, including 73 soldiers, already have been killed in Israel, according to media reports. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israel's aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas' armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza "without prior warning." The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That is fomenting calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood. Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end the Israeli occupation. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the world's apathy. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israel's siege would spell "utter disaster" for Gazans. "There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law," he said. "If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes." The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries. The U.N. said Tuesday that more than 187,000 of Gaza's 2.3 million people have left their homes the most since a 2014 air and ground offensive by Israel uprooted about 400,000. UNRWA, the U.N. agencies for Palestinian refugees, is sheltering more than 137,000 people in schools across the territory. Families have taken in some 41,000 others. New exchanges on Israel's northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. Palestinian militants from the Islamic Jihad group slipped from Lebanon into Israel, sparking Israeli shelling into southern Lebanon. Lebanon's 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants also launched about 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Good morning, Lincoln. Here are this morning's top headlines. Barber hanging up his scissors A longtime College View barber will soon call it quits after 57 years of cutting hair. Gary Francisco, who will retire in a couple of weeks after recently selling College View Barbers, never intended for cutting hair to be his life work. "I was only going to do this until I decided what I really wanted to do with my life," the Lincoln native said Along the way, he found a career, and although hairstyles may have changed from decade to decade, his love for the job and his clientele never wavered. Lincoln's first female bank chief dies Alice Dittman, the first female bank president in Lincoln, died late last month, just days after attending her sons wedding and days before her 93rd birthday. Dittman became the first female president of Cornhusker Bank in 1975, as well as the first female president of any bank in Lincoln or Omaha. She was also the first woman to chair the Bryan Hospital Board of Directors in 1982, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce in 1988, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce in 1992 and the Community Bankers Council in 1997. She was inducted into the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame in 1996 and was the Lincoln Journal Star Inspire Woman of the Year recipient in 2019. Speed limit cut after crashes Jared Kerkman wishes it hadn't taken a string of serious accidents to get the state to listen to local residents about what they see as an unsafe stretch of Nebraska 2 near Palmyra. But Kerkman, the chairman of the village's board of trustees, is happy that something is finally being done. The Nebraska Department of Transportation last week announced it will lower the speed limit on a section of Nebraska 2 near Palmyra while it evaluates the safety of the highway. The department said the speed limit will be lowered from 70 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour near Palmyra from approximately mile marker 475.5 to mile marker 477. Thats it for Monday, Oct. 9. Stay in the know with Lincolns longest-standing news source at Journal Star dot com and well see you back here on Tuesday. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 Update Louisville man identified as combine driver killed in train crash near Firth A man died Monday after the combine he was driving in Gage County was struck by a train, according to the Nebraska State Patrol. At about noon, the Gage County Sheriffs Office requested assistance from troopers at the scene of a crash involving a combine and a loaded coal train. The crash occurred near the intersection of South 110th Street and East Apple Road, a few miles southeast of Firth. A news release from the State Patrol said the operator of the combine was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the driver hadn't been released as of Monday evening. The crash remains under investigation. Ten worst states for fatal car crashes 10. West Virginia 9. Louisiana 8. Oklahoma 7. Arkansas 6. Montana 5. New Mexico 4. Wyoming 3. Alabama 2. South Carolina 1. Mississippi An unidentified man walked into a west Lincoln convenience store early Sunday morning and was chased out by a store employee after stealing a display case full of shot-sized liquor bottles, according to police. A 31-year-old employee called police to the Casey's General Store at 606 W. A St. at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday after the man fled the gas station with a display case full of Fireball, "99" brand and Frost Trail shooters, Lincoln Police spokeswoman Erika Thomas said. The employee followed the man outside but encountered a car full of four or five people, Thomas said. The clerk said he was punched and knocked to the ground before he retreated into the Casey's. An investigation into the robbery is ongoing. Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers NEW YORK Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and scion of the storied Democratic dynasty, launched an independent presidential bid on Monday. Cornel West, a philosopher and Black social leader, made the same choice last week. No Labels, a new political party, is intensifying candidate recruitment efforts. While the politics are murky, the fresh frenzy of outsider candidates threatens to weaken both major parties as President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump tighten their grip on their party's presidential nominations. There's little concern that the independent or third-party candidates would actually win the presidency, but they could siphon support from the ultimate Democratic and Republican nominees. A heightened sense of concern is spreading especially among Democratic officials, who see the outsiders as a dangerous wildcard that harkens back to 2016, when Green Party nominee Jill Stein may have enabled Trump's razor-thin victory by winning a small portion of the vote. Those associated with the third-party efforts make no apologies for their work. "The American people have been hungry for options. So, get ready," Stein said in an interview. "What we're seeing is a voter rebellion. It's been a long time coming." The rise of outsider candidates is an acute reminder of the intense volatility and uncertainty that hangs over the 2024 presidential election. Both of the major parties' most likely nominees Biden and Trump are extraordinarily unpopular. They're running as the nation grapples with dangerous political divisions, economic anxiety and a deep desire for a new generation of leadership in Washington. Much more activity is expected soon. Kennedy outlined his plans in Philadelphia on Monday. Stein said the Green Party will likely make an announcement about its presidential aspirations later this month. No Labels, meanwhile, plans to make a formal decision about its presidential nominee in the spring. The efforts face steep hurdles beyond winning more than a small fraction of voters. Simply qualifying for the ballot in every state will be a gargantuan task for outsider candidates without the benefit of existing political networks. Jim Messina, who managed President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign and is now a prominent Biden ally, didn't downplay the possibility that the new candidates could weaken Biden's coalition. "I am a campaign manager so I am wired to plan for everything and panic about nothing, and the threat of a third party needs to be planned for seriously," Messina said. Gallup released new polling last week showing that 63% of U.S. adults agree with the statement that the Republican and Democratic parties do "such a poor job" of representing the American people that "a third major party is needed." It was among the highest figures since Gallup first asked the question in 2003. Still, it's far from certain that dissatisfied voters would cast a ballot next fall for Kennedy, West or a No Labels candidate. Historically, polls showing that people want a third party to exist have rarely translated into substantial support for actual third-party candidates. On paper, Kennedy may be most likely to draw support from Trump's coalition given his embrace of anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and positive attention from far-right media. In an interview, however, Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita said Democrats have much more to lose as independent and third-party candidates line up to run. That's also the consensus of many Democratic officials. "The most intriguing thing about this is, you have an incumbent president of the United States, and all of the elements of the third-party run are coming out of his coalition, not ours," LaCivita said. The Trump and Biden campaigns are quick to note that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for the political outsiders with no major funding sources or political infrastructure to get their name on the ballot in most states. No Labels is the big exception, having already secured a presidential ballot line in 11 states backed by an army of paid signature collectors. In Arizona, alone, minor party candidates must collect more than 34,000 signatures to qualify for the general election ballot. Signatures must be collected in at least five different counties, and at least 10% of signatures must be from counties with populations of less than 500,000. An independent candidate must collect more than 43,000 signatures. Michigan requires a minor party candidate to collect 44,619 signatures and independents to collect 12,000. In Nevada, a minor party or independent candidate must collect 10,095 signatures to qualify for the ballot. At least 2,524 signatures must be collected in each of Nevada's four congressional districts. OMAHA Bob Kerrey likes to tell a story about the bridge that spans the Missouri River between Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa 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 past 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 For Grand Island Jockey Zachary Ziegler, horse racing is more than just a sport: It's a livelihood and a way of life. After an accident during a race at Ag Park on Sept. 30, it will take some time for him to get back in the figurative and literal saddle. The accident occurred just after a turn on the track, according to Ziegler's spouse, Carrie Robb. Ziegler had fallen at this spot before and she and her sister immediately knew it would happen again. "He's gone down on that first turn two times before. All the jockeys are very aware of that first turn," Robb said. Ziegler's horse, After Burn, clipped heels with the horse immediately in front of them, prompting the fall. When he attempted to right himself and the horse, it stepped on his neck and left side. As officials were unable to remove Ziegler and After Burn from the track before the rest of the racers caught up to them, the race was declared a no-contest. He was airlifted to Lincoln for medical treatment. Robb said via a GoFundMe page for Ziegler that he is currently able to hear and understand requests. When asked to open his eyes or wiggle his toes, he is able to do so. He did incur a traumatic brain injury, the update said, so recovery will move at his pace. However long it takes, Robb said, if Ziegler is cleared to ride again in the future, he'll be back in the saddle as soon as possible. "I can't keep him off a horse. It's his life, his passion, how he provides for his kids and himself. When he's not competing, he's not making money," Robb said. "I'm sure he's going to want to get back to it as quickly as possible. He's stubborn like that and there's nothing he would rather do." Robb said Ziegler has been racing for nearly 13 years. He is originally from Lower Brule, South Dakota and, following an injury years ago, came to Nebraska to work with Gilbert Ecoffey, who owns horses in Columbus. Racing has taken him all over the Midwest, Robb said. "(He's ridden in) Grand Island, Lincoln, Omaha, ventured out into Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma. He skipped a few races in Nebraska but ultimately came back this year because he wanted to be closer to his kids," Robb said. "He came back from Oklahoma five days prior to the accident." Those who want updates from Robb on Ziegler's condition can find them on the GoFundMe she organized for him at https://bit.ly/46Dum0X and those who wish to help support the family with a T-shirt may do so at z3strong.itemorder.com. Top Journal Star photos for October 2023 UNION GROVE Union Grove High School has been recognized for its high participation and achievement on Advanced Placement exams. The school holds a level three 2022 Advanced Placement Pacesetter Award, which are administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, in partnership with the Wisconsin Advanced Placement Advisory Council. Base on data from the 2021-22 school year, the awards are presented at three levels and reflect student participation rates and the percentage of students who earn a score of three or higher on the exams. More than 10% of the UGHS student body participated in at least one AP exam, and more than 60% of those participating students attained scores of three or above. AP courses present an opportunity for students to delve deep into rigorous academic challenges, setting them on a path to meet the rigors of higher education. Receiving the Pacesetter Award is a testament to the dedication of our outstanding teachers, Principal Joel Adamczyk said. They go above and beyond on a daily basis to prepare our students. BURLINGTON The Underground Railroad Freedom Heritage Trail continues to grow in Racine County. Seven historical markers were dedicated Sept. 24 in Burlington. The markers make up the second phase of what is intended to be a three-phase project to designate significant Underground Railroad sites across the county. Three of the are at the Abraham Lincoln monument park at State and Kane streets in Burlington. The Burlington markers memorialize locations used to harbor fugitives on their way to freedom in the 1800s: the Perkins House, the Dyer House and the Cooper House. Dr. Edward G. Dyer was considered to be the commander in chief of the Underground Railroad in Burlington. Joshua Glover made his way to Racine in 1852 after escaping from his master in St. Louis, according to the Burlington Historical Society. He hid for a short time at the Cooper House. Three other markers are at the Racine County Visitor Center, 14015 Washington Ave. One memorializes the Ives Grove Tavern site, which was owned and operated by William L. Utley, who was an outspoken abolitionist who went on to lead what became known as the Abolition Regiment during the Civil War, according to Christopher Paulson, Racine Heritage Museum executive director. The other two signs that have yet to be installed at the visitor center memorialize locations in the City of Racine. One identifies the former toll house in what is now West Racine, at Blaine and Washington avenues. According to the Racine Heritage Museum, there is documentation that Glover passed through the toll gate while hidden in a false-bottom wagon. The second recognizes Mound Cemetery, 1147 West Blvd., where several abolitionists are buried. The final marker dedicated in September is at Horlick Park along the Root River, 3630 Rapids Court. This marker identifies the site of the Rice and Sinclair Sawmill, where Glover was employed and lived prior to being captured in 1854. According to the Racine Heritage Museum, more sites in Burlington, along with sites in Rochester and the Town of Norway, will be installed in the third phase of the project. The Professional Womens Network for Service and the Racine Heritage Museum are spearheading the installment of the markers across Racine County. The Burlington Area School District, the City of Burlington and Racine County partnered in the second phase effort in Burlington. There is no timeline for the third phase of the project. The Racine Heritage Museum was awarded a Wisconsin Humanities Council grant to develop a companion app for the Underground Railroad Freedom Heritage Trail markers. Paulson said the museum will be developing that tool in 2024. In photos: Stops along the Racine Underground Railroad Heritage Trail The city of Racine is a bit closer to memorializing the important role it played for people escaping slavery on the underground railroad. Site Map A pamphlet outlining the sites on the self-guided walking/driving tour of the Roots of Freedom Underground Railroad Heritage Trail has been av The Racine Heritage Museum. Racine has a rich abolitionist history and accounts of smuggling escaped slaves to safety. The Racine Heritage Museum was one of several organ Racine Heritage Museum marker This marker will be placed outside of the Racine Heritage Museum to note the contribution the museum has made to maintaining the history that Location of Reverend Kinney's home Reverend Martin Kinney was the pastor of the Congregational Church and an ardent abolitionist who gave an anti-slavery speech the night Joshua Reverend Kinney's house marker Markers such as this one, designating the location of Rev. Martin Kinney's home on State Street, are to be part of the Racine Underground Rail The Racine Advocate The former location of the Racine Advocate whose editor, Charles Clement, spread the word about Glover's capture. Racine Advocate marker This marker will denote the location of the Racine Advocate. Cartwright's Blacksmith Shop This was the approximate location of Cartwright's Blacksmith Shop. Justinian Cartwright was born free in Kentucky and later moved to Racine wh Cartwright's Blacksmith Shop marker UR First Presbyterian Church 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 KEARNEY It was a day of food, songs, dancing, gifts and proclamations for descendants of the Pawnee Scouts at Fort Kearney State Recreation Area Saturday. The Pawnee were honored at the 150th anniversary of the Pawnee Scouts, who helped keep watch over this region 1864-71 during the westward expansion. They were eventually relocated to Oklahoma, but central Nebraska is their homeland, and this homecoming was a joy. Saturday morning, Pawnee members set up a living history station at Fort Kearny State Historical Park. They shelled Pawnee beans and cut Omaha pumpkin into strips before placing them on a drying rack. They were served a lunch of buffalo and beans under a gala tent at the Fort Kearney State Recreation Area. State Sen. John Lowe presented tribal leaders with a proclamation from Gov. Jim Pillen honoring them for protecting settlers from Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne, also enemies of the Pawnee. The Pawnee never fought against the U.S. Instead they helped protect the frontier. We are privileged, Warren Pratt, a Pawnee, said. Hes a direct descendant of a corporal in the Pawnee Scouts. Pawnee member Adrian Spottedhorsechief said, The proclamation touched my heart. We had heard stories about our homelands in Nebraska, and I am thankful for this recognition. The Nebraska National Guard honored the Pawnee for their military service as well. After the meal, the grounds came alive with Pawnee music and dancing. Young tribe members demonstrated Pawnee sign language used by the Pawnee Scouts as they monitored the Great Plains. Saturday evening, the Pawnee enjoyed pulled pork and baked beans as guests of First Presbyterian Church, which also celebrated its 150th anniversary this weekend. Saturdays event also recognized the Pawnee Seed Preservation Society, made up of corn growers in Nebraska and Oklahoma who grow Pawnee corn and save ancestral seeds to revitalize all its varieties. The event was planned by Broc Anderson, community engagement director at Buffalo County Historical Societys Trails & Rails Museum; Lori Potter, freelance writer; Gene Hunt, supervisor at Fort Kearney State Recreation Area and Historical Site, and Ronnie OBrien, a key leader in the Pawnee corn project. On Friday, the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison celebrated its 75th anniversary. When the department was founded in June 1948, the modern science of meteorology was arguably just a few years old, and even basic understanding of the nature of the mid-latitude cyclones that batter us from October to May was truly in its infant stages. The scholarship within our department over this three-quarters of a century has made enormous contributions to our science and, in turn, to the protection of lives and property through improved forecasts of both tropical and mid-latitude cyclones. Some of the highlights include the launching of the first weather satellites in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These tools now contribute a huge amount of data to global weather forecasting models, and the UW-Madison remains at the very forefront of the research efforts dedicated to remotely sensing the atmosphere and oceans of Earth. Developments in the computer models that make such forecasts also has a strong Wisconsin pedigree. The recently retired director of the National Weather Service got all three of his degrees from UW-Madison. The Space Science and Engineering Center, or SSEC, originally developed as an outgrowth of the department, has been at the heart of improved forecasts of tropical weather systems, fire detection and severe storms research for decades. Clearer understanding of both tropical and extra-tropical weather systems, the global oceans and their interactions with sea ice, the complex climate system and many other important, fundamental issues in the atmospheric and oceanic sciences are being generated every day in our dynamic and diverse department. We are grateful to the citizens of the state of Wisconsin for their support of our endeavors, and those of all of our colleagues at our great University of Wisconsin-Madison. On, Wisconsin! 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 EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR MONDAY OCTOBER 9, 2023 Whats Actually at Stake in Gaza ... and Ukraine ... and the Financial Crash Oct. 8, 2023, (EIRNS)Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche has been warning repeatedly that the global crisis is going to get a lot worse, and even more dangerous, unless and until the underlying cause of the crisis is addressed: the systemic breakdown of the entire, predatory trans-Atlantic system. Now, over the weekend, the Southwest Asia tinderbox has exploded, with the Biden administration pouring fuel on the fire by announcing that it is sending the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to the eastern Mediterranean. The danger of a hot war that would engulf the entire region, much like NATOs Ukraine nuclear chicken-game in the middle of Europe, is palpable. And this, as the bankers of the City of London and Wall Street warn publicly that their system is on the verge of a cataclysmic financial crisis, and deep political fissures widen in Washington and in Europe as well. How, then, is the crisis to be addressed? There is in fact a profound discussion already underway internationally about the required philosophical and political principles needed to usher in the needed change, as seen in the consonant, clear policy statements coming from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, andfortunately for the cause of world peaceinterlocutors in the West best represented by the Schiller Institute and its founder, Helga Zepp-LaRouche. It is ideas such as these that in fact shape the course of history, as American statesman Lyndon LaRouche argued and proved, and it is such a dialogue that offers the only viable way out of the current policy dead-end. With that concept in mind, readers should study the following three excerpted policy statements, and consider the implications. First: On Sept. 26, the Chinese State Council issued a 40-page White Paper A Global Community of Shared Future: Chinas Proposals and Actions which proclaimed that the new era calls for new ideas. It continued: In the universe there is only one Earth, the shared home of humanity.... Whether human civilization can survive there has become an existential issue that must be squarely faced.... The vision of a global community of shared future bears in mind the wellbeing of all humanity. It is based on both observation of the present and visionary planning for the future.... This vision serves the common interests of humanity.... The shadow of the arms race lingers on, and the threat of nuclear warthe Sword of Damocles that hangs over humanityremains.... Standing at a crossroads, humanity is faced with two opposing options. One is to revert to the Cold War mentality that deepens division and antagonism and stokes confrontation between blocs. The other is to act for the common wellbeing of humanity, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, advocate openness and win-win results, and promote equality and respect. The tug of war between these two options will shape the future of humanity and our planet in a profound way. Second: On Oct. 5, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Valdai Discussion Club annual meeting in Sochi, Russia, and presented his proposal for the principles underlying the new international order. Putin stated: We want to live in an open, interconnected world, where no one will ever try to put artificial barriers in the way of peoples communication, their creative fulfillment and prosperity.... We want the worlds diversity to be preserved and serve as the foundation for universal development.... Only true cultural and civilizational diversity will ensure peoples wellbeing and a balance of interests.... Russia stands for universal security and lasting peace built on respect for the interests of everyone: from large countries to small ones.... These are the principles that we would like to follow and that we invite all of our friends and colleagues to join. Russia was, is and will be one of the foundations of this new world system. Third: On Nov. 22, 2022, Helga Zepp-LaRouche at the Schiller Institute conference, Stop the Danger of Nuclear War Now; Third Seminar of Political and Social Leaders of the World, offered ten principles as food for thought and a dialogue among all people concerned to find a basis for a world order guaranteeing the durable existence of the human species. The new International Security and Development Architecture must be a partnership of perfectly sovereign nation states, which is based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the UN Charter, Zepp-LaRouche stated. The absolute priority must be to alleviate poverty in every nation on the planet, which is easily possible, if the existing technologies are used for the benefit of the common good.... Since mankind is the only creative species known so far in the universe, and given the fact that human creativity is the only source of wealth through the potentially limitless discovery of new universal principles, one of the main aims of the new International Security and Development Architecture must be providing access to universal education for every child and adult person living.... The international financial system must be reorganized, so that it can provide productive credits to accomplish these aims.... The new global security architecture must eliminate the concept of geopolitics by ending the division of the world into blocs. The security concerns of every sovereign nation must be taken into account.... A solution to the existential threat to humanity cannot be found with the help of secondary or partial arrangements, but the solution must be found on the level of that higher One, which is more powerful than the Many. It requires thinking on the level of Coincidentia Oppositorum, the Coincidence of Opposites, of Nicholas of Cusa.... The basic assumption for the new paradigm is, that man is fundamentally good and capable to infinitely perfect the creativity of his mind and the beauty of his soul, and being the most advanced geological force in the universe, which proves that the lawfulness of the mind and that of the physical universe are in correspondence and cohesion, and that all evil is the result of a lack of development, and therefore can be overcome. A new world economic order is emerging, involving the vast majority of the countries of the Global South. The European nations and the U.S. must not fight this effort, but by joining hands with the developing countries, cooperate to shape the next epoch of the development of the human species to become a renaissance of the highest and most noble expressions of creativity! Think it through. The Nobel Prize in economics has been awarded to Claudia Goldin for her work on the gap between men and women in the workplace. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the prize on Monday. The 77-year-old Goldin is only the third woman among 93 past Nobel economics prizewinners. She is a professor at Harvard University. Goldins research has shown that even in the field of economics, women earn about 13 percent less than men. The pay gap prevents some women from continuing their education. The Nobel committee credits Goldin with finding missing data to better explain continuing differences between both the pay and work involvement, or participation, of men and women. The group called Goldin a detective who found new data sources and creative ways to use them to measure these unknowns. Goldin studied information related to female participation in the workplace over 200 years and found that their pay started low and never caught up to men. She looked at women whose jobs went uncounted, such as those who worked on farms alongside their husbands or made clothing at home. Goldin said the pay gap that existed then still exists today, even as women gain higher levels of education than men. In the 1990s, she said, American women led the world in their labor participation rate. But the rate has dropped since then. I think something has happened in America, Goldin said. We have to ask questions about piecing together the family, the home with the marketplace and employment. Even as women have made education gains, Goldin notes, they still often feel pressure to stay at home to care for children or to choose jobs that permit them to be available to children. They graduate from college at much higher rates than men. They do better in high school than men do. So why are there these differences? Goldin asked. Randi Hjalmarsson of the Nobel committee said Goldins work does not provide specific solutions to the problem. However, she said Goldin did identify the source of the gap, and how its changed over time Hjalmarsson added, By finally understanding the problem and calling it by the right name, we will be able to pave a better route forward. Goldin suggested men need to do a better job sharing childcare and work responsibilities. Women, she said, often miss out on career progress that comes with working longer hours or on weekends because they feel pressure to care for children. She also suggested that the U.S. government put more money into after-school programs. Very few of us have jobs that finish at 3 p.m., she said. Goldin noted that women in Canada, France and Japan currently have a higher labor participation rate than those in the U.S. Goldin said some of the work still needs to be done by couples. She notes that couple equity also leads to more gender equity. Goldin also noted that girls pay attention to how their mothers participated in work and that each generation (learns) from the successes and failures of preceding generations. The prize comes with an award of about $1 million and will be presented at a ceremony in Sweden later this year. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this report for VOA Learning English based on reporting from the Associated Press. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story gap n. the distance between two things, such as mans pay and a womans pay couple n. two people who live together and have a romantic or sexual relationship detective n. a person who solves a mystery or finds an answer to something unknown preceding adj. existing or happening before We want to hear from you. How do you share childcare and work responsibilities in your home? Our comment policy is here. China plans to increase the size of its space station in the coming years. The station will offer astronauts from other countries a different choice for near-Earth missions. The International Space Station (ISS), led by NASA, is nearing the end of its service life. The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) said the operational lifetime of the Chinese space station will be more than 15 years. The organization is China's main space contractor. Chinese officials made the estimate recently at the 74th International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan. That new operational lifetime would be more than the 10 years announced earlier. China's space station, known as Tiangong, or the Celestial Palace in Chinese, has been operational since late 2022. It holds up to three astronauts and orbits 450 kilometers above Earth. After an increase from three to six modules, Tiangong will be about 180 metric tons. Tiangong is 40 percent of the mass of the ISS, which can hold a crew of seven astronauts. But the ISS, in orbit for more than 20 years, is expected to stop service after 2030. China has said it expects to become "a major space power". Chinese state media said last year as Tiangong became fully operational that China would be no "slouch" as the ISS headed toward retirement. State media added that "several countries" had asked to send their astronauts to the Chinese station. But, the European Space Agency (ESA) said this year it did not have the financial or "political" approval to take part in Tiangong. The announcement suspended a plan that had been developed over years for a visit by European astronauts. The Global Times, a newspaper linked to the Chinese Communist Party, wrote at the time: "Giving up cooperation with China in the manned space domain is clearly short-sighted, which reveals that the U.S.-led camp confrontation has led to a new space race." Tiangong has become a symbol of China's growing influence and belief in its space missions. U.S. law bans China from any work, direct or indirect, with NASA. Russia is highly involved in the ISS and has similar space diplomacy plans. Russia suggested that its partners in the BRICS group - Brazil, India, China and South Africa - could build a module for its new space station. Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, said last year that it was planning to build a space station. The goal is for the station to have six modules that could hold up to four astronauts. Im Mario Ritter Jr. Ryan Woo reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________ Words in This Story contractor n. a person or business who is hired to perform work or to provide goods at a certain price or within a certain time module n. a part of a space vehicle that can work alone no slouch expression used to say that someone is good at a particular job, activity domain n. an area of knowledge or activity confrontation n. a conflict or dispute symbol n. a person or thing that represents an idea or goal and stands for it This Monday is Columbus Day in the United States. The U.S. government established Columbus Day as a national holiday in 1934 to honor the explorer Christopher Columbus. The day recognizes Columbuss arrival in the Americas in October 1492. Recently, critics have said that Columbus did not discover America since native people already lived there. His explorations helped open the way for a huge migration of Europeans to what they called The New World. This brought war, disease and death to many native peoples. Some American states have since moved away from honoring Columbus and instead observe a day for Native American people. In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. The day is to be celebrated along with Columbus Day. The May 2020 death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in the state of Minnesota, led to nationwide protests against police use of force and racial injustice. Protestors directed some of their anger at statues and monuments honoring Confederate officials from the American Civil War. Many cities then removed the statues and monuments said to be connected to racial injustice, racism and slavery. The anger led to protest attacks on memorials to Columbus around the country. Statues of the explorer were taken down in Boston, Chicago and many other cities. A statue was removed, then returned In the Rhode Island capital of Providence, a statue of Christopher Columbus was also removed in June 2020. The removal came after protestors covered it with red paint and a sign, reading Stop celebrating genocide. The statue was placed in storage and then purchased for about $50,000 by former Providence Mayor Joseph Paolino. After three years out of the public eye, the statue will return to a park in the city of Johnston, about 14 kilometers west of the capital. The statue will be officially uncovered on Monday. Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. said people 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. People should learn about him, the good and the bad. Not everyone is happy with the return of the explorers statue. Harrison Tuttle is president of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island PAC. Tuttle said he understands the connection that many of Italian ancestry feel for Columbus. But he wished the mayor had spoken with members of the community who were offended by the decision to return 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. Darrell Waldron, director of the Rhode Island Indian Council, is the son of a Narragansett father and a Wampanoag mother. He said he and others hoped that the statue would have been sold off and kept out of public view, with money going toward a new 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 in Rhode Island is part of a larger debate in America about what to call the federal holiday that falls on Monday, October 9, this year. I'm Caty Weaver. Hai Do adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Mario Ritter, Jr. of VOA and The Associated Press. ________________________________________________ Words in This Story perspective - n. a way of thinking about or understanding something heritage - n. traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc... that are part of the history of a group ore nation The American space agency NASA is preparing to launch a spacecraft designed to observe an asteroid made mostly of metal. The launch of the vehicle, called Psyche, is set for October 12 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft will fly to an asteroid also called Psyche. It orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. NASA says the asteroid was discovered by an Italian astronomer in 1852. Since it was the 16th asteroid discovered, it is sometimes also called 16 Psyche. Psyche will be NASAs first trip, or mission, to an asteroid that contains a large amount of metal. Past missions explored asteroids made mostly of rock or ice. Astronomers say the asteroid Psyche is about 280 kilometers at its widest point. They believe it may be part of a center, or core, of a planetesimal. This is an object thought to be the metallic remains of an early rocky planet. Scientists think Psyche is made up mostly of iron and nickel, similar to Earths center. NASA believes the asteroid could have separated during violent crashes that happened during our solar systems early creation. Scientists think data collected on the asteroid could provide new details about how rocky planets, including Earth, formed. But NASA says the object could also turn out to be something else, such as a different kind of iron-rich body that formed from metal-rich material somewhere in the solar system. The space agency expects Psyche to travel about 3.6 billion kilometers over six years to reach the asteroid. If the spacecraft reaches its target as planned in August 2029, it will then start orbiting the object for at least two years. Once in orbit, the mission team will examine data gathered by several science instruments aboard the spacecraft. Psyche will take pictures, map the asteroids surface and collect data on what materials are contained in the object. NASA says once Psyche separates from its launch vehicle, it will use a different kind of propulsion system never tried in missions beyond the moon. The system to be used is called solar electric propulsion. Large solar panels will be extended outward from the main part of the spacecraft to collect light from the sun. The panels then change, or convert, this sunlight into electricity that powers the spacecrafts thrusters. Psyche will depend on solar electric propulsion to reach its target. NASA describes the thrust as gentle, but strong enough to push the spacecraft through its long trip. The spacecraft is also set to get a gravitational push when it passes by Mars in May 2026. NASA said experiments have shown that solar electric propulsion can be highly effective. Scientists estimate Psyches thrusters could operate nearly nonstop for years without running out of fuel. In addition, NASA says Psyche will be carrying nearly 1,000 kilograms of propellant, xenon gas, in its tanks. Xenon is also used in automobile headlights and some televisions. Agency engineers have estimated the mission would need to burn through about 15 times that amount of propellant if the Psyche spacecraft used traditional chemical thrusters. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, with Arizona State University, is the lead investigator for the mission. She said NASA had always planned on having Psyche use an electric propulsion system. Without it, we wouldnt have the Psyche mission, Elkins-Tanton said. NASA says the Psyche mission also includes a technology demonstration involving a laser-based data communications system. This experiment is designed to test the ability of lasers to transmit data at increased rates beyond the moon. The technology to be tested in the demonstration is known as optical communications. It is meant to one day replace the radio communication systems long used by NASA to transmit data between Earth and space. NASA says a laser-based communication method will permit the agency to send and receive data faster and more effectively. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from NASA and Reuters. Quiz - NASA to Launch Spacecraft to Observe Metal-rich Asteroid Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________ Words in This Story asteroid n. an object made of rock and metal that orbits the sun, but is smaller than planets propulsion n. a force that pushes something forward panel n. a flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity thruster n. an engine that produces propulsion by releasing a jet of fluid or a stream of particles transmit v. to send The World Health Organization (WHO) approved a second malaria vaccine last week. The decision could offer a less costly and readily available shot to help fight the disease. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the U.N. health agency approved the new malaria vaccine based on advice from two expert groups. They suggested the shot could be given to children at risk of the disease. As a malaria researcher, I used to dream of the day we would have a safe and effective vaccine against malaria. Now we have two, Tedros said. Britains Oxford University developed the new three-shot vaccine along with the Serum Institute of India. Research suggests it is more than 75 percent effective. The vaccine can protect people for another year with an additional shot called a booster. Tedros said the shot would cost about $2 to $4 and could be available in some countries next year. Earlier this year, health officials in the African countries of Ghana and Burkina Faso also approved the vaccine. Infected mosquitos spread the parasitic disease when they bite people. This is one more tool we will now have, but its not going to replace bed nets and spraying insecticides, said John Johnson of the aid group Doctors Without Borders. This is not the vaccine thats going to stop malaria, he added. Johnson was not part of the expert groups that advised the WHO. The WHO approved the first malaria vaccine in 2021. The U.N. agency described the vaccine development as an historic effort to end the deadly disease in Africa. The continent is home to most of the worlds estimated 200 million malaria cases and 400,000 malaria deaths. But that vaccine, known as Mosquirix and made by GSK, is only about 30 percent effective. The treatment requires four shots and becomes less effective within months. WHO experts, however, said the data to date on the GSK and Oxford-developed vaccines does not show which one is more effective. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation had been one of the GSK vaccines biggest financial supporters. But, the non-profit ended its support for Mosquirix last year. It said the GSK shot was less effective than officials would like and that money would be better used elsewhere. The big difference with these two vaccines is access, Johnson told the Associated Press. He noted that about 10 countries or more could get the GSK vaccine in the next few years. GSK has said it can only produce about 15 million treatments a year. The Serum Institute has said it could make up to 200 million treatments of the Oxford vaccine a year. Alister Craig is with Britains Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He said countries still waiting for the GSK vaccine should turn to the Oxford vaccine instead. If the new vaccine is widely available across Africa, it could greatly reduce severe sickness and deaths caused by malaria in a few years, Craig said. Neither of the vaccines stops transmission of malaria. As a result, immunization campaigns alone would not be enough to prevent epidemics. And, reports of resistance to malaria drugs are on the rise. You would be foolish to think that this vaccine is going to be the end of the malaria story, Craig said. Dengue vaccine In a separate decision, the WHOs expert group also approved the dengue vaccine made by Takeda. European Union drug officials approved the dengue vaccine earlier. The WHO advised that the dengue vaccine be used in children aged 6 to 16 in countries where the disease is widespread. Dengue killed almost 1,000 people this year in Bangladesh. Im Caty Weaver. Maria Cheng reported this story for The Associated Press. Hai Do adapted the story for VOA Learning English. WHO Approves a Second Malaria Vaccine Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________ Words in This Story parasitic - adj. living in another animal or person spray - v. to put a stream of small drops of liquid on (someone or something) insecticide - n. a chemical substance used to kill insects access - n. a way to get to something transmission - n. the act or process by which something is spread or passed on Have you thought about going back to school but arent sure where to start? Youre not alone. According to a 2022 report by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, more than 700,000 Wisconsin adults have college credits but no degree. Others never attended college but now find they need a degree to change careers or advance in the workplace. In either scenario, returning to school as an adult student after a stretch of five, 10 or 20 years can be stressful, and many people are afraid to fail. At Continuing Studies, we talk to hundreds of students like this every year. Here are some useful tips to help you through the process: Talk to an adviser. Before you even apply to college, make an appointment to talk with an education or admissions adviser, who can help you understand your educational options and the process, including what you need to do and when. Consider your options. Taking in-person classes on a full-time basis can be particularly challenging to fit into your schedule if youre an adult student with a job, a family and other responsibilities. Fortunately, educational opportunities abound. You might instead consider taking classes at a nearby community college, enrolling in an online degree or certificate program or attending part time. Plan ahead for life as an adult student. Dont wait until your classes start to plan your time, make child care arrangements and determine transportation plans. When will you study in addition to your other responsibilities? What activities will you forgo while youre a student? Share your plan with your family and friends, and dont be afraid to ask them for help when something unexpected comes up. Make a financial plan. Review your finances and determine expenses you can limit or cut while youre in school. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) because even if you dont qualify for federal aid, many scholarships require it. Apply for scholarships and grants through your school and community organizations. Your employer might also offer tuition assistance. Talk to your professors. Professors often enjoy having adult students in class because they add workplace and life experiences to classroom discussions. Professors can better understand your needs as a returning student if they know about your unique background. Ask for help. This may seem obvious, but many students think they have to go it alone, which is not true. Get to know the in-person and virtual resources available at your school libraries, tutors, writing centers, disability resources, veteran services, etc. Some colleges even have dedicated offices or resources for returning adult students. If you need help but arent sure where to go, ask your adviser. Returning to school with family, a job or other adult responsibilities will be a challenging time in your life. The best advice? Keep your eye on your goals and remember why you decided to return to college in the first place. Its that time of year again, students: time to help someone in need through the Wisconsin State Journals letter-writing program. As it does each year, the newspaper is inviting children and teens to write a brief letter about someone in their community who could use a helping hand during the winter holidays. Heres how it works. Readers ages 18 and younger are asked to explain what they would do if they had $200 to help someone else. Helping Hands coordinators will choose some of these letters and help carry out the writers plans to help a classmate, friend, neighbor or community member. And the selected entries, edited for length and to avoid identifying recipients, will be published in the State Journal in December. Helping Hands does not make donations to organizations, but rather to individuals and families, so please keep that in mind as you write your letter. The letters are carefully screened to make sure these gifts are being sent to people who are among those who need them the most. Over the years, Helping Hands and our letter writers have made the holidays brighter for countless area residents. Heres how to submit a letter to Helping Hands: Email your letter to helpinghands@madison.com, or mail it to: Helping Hands, Attn: Gayle Worland, Wisconsin State Journal, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53711. Families, classes or other groups may submit entries individually or in a single envelope. Include the following: The writers first and last names, age, grade, school and community/city name, plus a parent/guardians name, email address and phone number in case we have questions. Teachers and group leaders, please include your name, email address and phone number so we can contact you. The deadline for entries is Friday, Nov. 17. All emails and postal mail should be received by that date. Please email your questions to helpinghands@madison.com. Were happy to help. The Helping Hands program is supported by the State Journals Empty Stocking Club and the generosity of our readers. To support Helping Hands, please donate online at emptystockingclub.com or mail a check to Empty Stocking Club, Wisconsin State Journal, 1901 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53711, and write Helping Hands in the subject line. Students ask for help for friends, parents, teachers through Helping Hands Hundreds of letters from area schoolchildren focus on the needs of others in their community. Attracting and retaining skilled workers remains a leading worry for Wisconsin manufacturers, but theyre not letting it stand in the way of competing in what many see as an uncertain economy. In fact, automation and adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are among strategies a growing number of manufacturers are pursuing as they aspire to improve productivity, tap new markets and grow their bottom lines. Thats among conclusions to be drawn from a statewide survey of 415 manufacturing executives conducted this summer by the Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity, which levers industry and government partnerships and initiatives to help companies become more competitive. Wisconsin is one of the nations most manufacturing-intensive states when it comes to output and the share of the private workforce employed by manufacturers of all sizes. It usually ranks with Indiana and Pennsylvania among the top states in per capita terms. In raw numbers, Wisconsin ranked ninth among the 50 states in a 2023 analysis by Industry Select with nearly 575,000 workers and more than 9,200 companies. In short, manufacturing is a huge contributor to the Wisconsin economy which affects the prosperity of its communities and citizens, directly or indirectly. Learning what matters to manufacturers of all sizes can help to identify emerging trends, especially over time. Thats been the goal of the WCMP survey in its first three years, using demographics that reflect the states sector mix (metal fabrication and machinery manufacturing are two leading examples) and the regional distribution of all types of manufacturers. Also factored into the survey is finding the right mix of small (under 50 employees) companies and larger firms, which is a three-to-one split in Wisconsin. The latest survey released in time for Octobers Manufacturing Month showed a narrow majority of owners and executives believe the economy is on the right track. While not as optimistic overall as they were in 2021, 85% said they were confident in the financial outlook for their own company. Asked about the leading barriers to success, attracting and keeping skilled workers emerged on top for the third straight year especially for manufacturers with 50 or more employees. It was high for smaller firms, too, although the cost of materials ranked higher on their worrisome scale. Buckley Brinkman, executive director at WCMP, said workforce challenges have changed how many companies view traditional staffing patterns. Rather than laying off workers during slow times, for example, companies might choose to keep employees versus venturing out later in a tight hiring pool. Such trends may help to explain the declining percentage of executives who said finding workers is very difficult, especially among the larger companies. That may be linked to strategies such as higher pay, better benefits and other changes in the work environment. However, those same employers are turning to automation and other technologies. Automation in manufacturing is the process of using production management software or robotic tools to operate a plant. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed (64%) said automation is either important or very important to the future of their company. A higher share of large manufacturers said automation was important, but the percentage was also on the rise for small firms. Relatively new on the technology scene for manufacturers is the use of artificial intelligence. Possible uses in manufacturing include predictive maintenance, monitoring production, quality assurance and inventory management. Wisconsin executives were asked: Have you previously used, are you currently using, or are you considering using artificial intelligence ... in your business operations? One in four replied yes, again, mostly among the large company leaders, but a surprising number given AI is still relatively new on the scene. And yet, about half of surveyed executives (51%) when asked said: AI is not going to have much of a real impact on businesses like mine. That flies in the face of those who predict AI will change everything about everything over time. Brinkman said too many manufacturers may be asleep at the wheel when it comes to recognizing the need to at least consider how AI could help their business. More companies also need to take cybersecurity seriously, he added, in an age of costly phishing attacks and data breaches. Wisconsin is a leading manufacturing state because, for the most part, companies have embraced innovation. The latest manufacturing survey points to the need for that trend to continue. Heres how members of Wisconsins congressional delegation voted on major issues last week. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress. House Kevin McCarthy Deposed as House Speaker: Voting 216-210, the House on Oct. 3 adopted a resolution (H Res 757) to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as House speaker. He was elected to the post Jan. 7 on the 15th ballot of a four-day power struggle among House Republicans. McCarthys continuance as speaker drew opposition from all Democrats who voted and eight Republicans. Because the chamber cannot perform a full range of official duties without a speaker, this vote effectively shut down legislative business until a successor takes office. The Republican conference is scheduled to meet as early as Oct. 10 to begin the process of choosing McCarthys replacement. A yes vote was to vacate the office of House speaker. Voting yes: Mark Pocan, D-2, Gwen Moore, D-4 Voting no: Bryan Steil, R-1, Derrick Van Orden, R-3, Scott Fitzgerald, R-5, Glenn Grothman, R-6, Thomas Tiffany, R-7, Mike Gallagher, R-8 Senate James C. OBrien, Assistant Secretary of State: Voting 67-31, the Senate on Oct. 4 confirmed James C. OBrien as assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, putting him in charge, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, of U.S. diplomatic efforts to confront Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. An attorney who joined the Department of State in 1989, OBrien served most recently as chief coordinator of U.S. sanctions policies around the world, and before that, he was the special envoy for hostage affairs, special envoy for the Balkans and, coordinator of the Dayton Accords peace agreement among Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, among other positions. A yes vote was to confirm the nominee. Voting yes: Tammy Baldwin, D Voting no: Ron Johnson, R Key votes ahead The House will meet to elect a speaker during the week of Oct. 9, while the Senate will consider judicial nominations and fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills. VoteFacts.com News Reports is a nonpartisan, fact-based news service whose mission is to help civically engaged individuals and organizations track major actions in the U.S. House and Senate. Readers can visit www.VoteFacts.com to research other top issues and individual voting records in the current 118th Congress and recent 117th Congress. LIVING Self expression, individuality and celebration: These are some of the reasons people opt for permanent jewelry. What began as a social media phenomenon has spread; you might see permanent-jewelry popups at the local spin studio, hair salon or farmers market, or at traditional stores. If you're new to the concept, permanent jewelry isn't as scary as it sounds. A chain is made into a bracelet, anklet, ring or necklace with the ends welded together, no clasp. There's no pain involved as there is in getting a tattoo. And technically, it's not permanent since you can cut off the chain. Marisa Ellman, a 39-year-old small business owner in Boulder, Colorado, was surprised a few months ago when her older sister asked her to meet, along with their mom, at a nondescript garage near the University of Colorado. A sign outside said "Love Saro." "My mom and I were like, 'What are we doing here?' but it was such a fun surprise," Ellman said. It was the first time she had heard of permanent jewelry. "I love jewelry," she said. "But I usually take my bracelets off to run or whatever." The trio went into the studio for a glass of champagne and a psychic card reading. Then a Love Saro employee presented a display of gold chains in varying designs and price points. They each left with dainty bracelets fastened snugly around their wrists, and a memory in the bank. It was extra special for Ellman, who had recently lost a bracelet with her boys' names on it. And the permanent fixture on her wrist doesn't bother her when she's exercising. "They made a whole experience, and it's a special memory for us," she said. Love Saro, operated by Sacha Jarmon, 31, and her mother, Carol Ritter, 64, opened in Boulder in November 2020. Since then, they've been so busy they opened two more locations in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver and on Melrose in Los Angeles. "It's a place where you can be you, where you can customize the jewelry to whatever vibe you are," Jarmon said. Clients choose jewelry, charms or gemstones, and also have the option of bringing in anheirloomm piece, ooreven a broken piece, and have it made into something new. An idea that's new, and not Jewelry is one of the oldest ways to express sentiment, so it's no surprise that permanent adornments have captured the public's imagination, said Abby Lillethun, a professor of fashion history and human culture and appearance at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Skeletons adorned in jewelry have been found at sites thousands of years old, including pieces made of gold and semiprecious stones. Humans also used shells and nuts strung together on plant fiber and fashioned into necklaces as far back as the Mesolithic period. As with any fashion, jewelry trends change over time, but what's out often ends up coming back in. "Jewelry that doesn't have a clasp is not new, but at this moment, it is new," Lillethun said. The trend is about identifying your tribe, connection, rites of passage and commemoration. "It is differentiating from the past and a new way to mark a moment," she said. Being alike, being different "We all have a drive for novelty, but we also want to be like those who you identify with or want to emulate," Lillethun said. In Boston's splashy Seaport District, Brave Daughters is a busy and popular permanent-jewelry popup. Owner Erin Myles, who is 41 and from Providence, Rhode Island, went to school for metal smiting and worked in jewelry production for 18 years. She watched trends in custom jewelry and decided to go out on her own. She opened Brave Daughters in Providence in 2018, and then a location in Boston in 2022. She hopes to move the Boston popup into a brick-and-mortar shop in the same neighborhood. Customers will be able to come in larger groups, and hire a photographer for parties and special occasions, while still getting the customized bling Brave Daughters is known for. Adriana Ballas, 25, a university student, has visited the Brave Daughters popup several times. She has taken friends and her boyfriend jewelry. What draws her to this type of jewelry, she says, is high quality but low maintenance. "It will last as long as you," she said. "You just have it on all the time and it's just this pretty, sparkly thing." AFGHANISTAN | EARTHQUAKE ISLAMABAD Men dug through rubble with their bare hands and shovels Sunday in western Afghanistan in desperate attempts to pull victims from the wreckage left by powerful earthquakes Saturday 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 people out. Living and dead, victims were trapped under rubble, their faces grey with dust. A government spokesman said Sunday that hundreds were still trapped, more than 1,000 hurt and more than 1,300 homes destroyed. "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, wiped out stone and mud-brick homes and killed at least 1,000 people. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was about 25 miles northwest of Herat. It was followed by three strong aftershocks, measuring magnitude 6.3, 5.9 and 5.5, as well as lesser shocks. With much of the world wary of dealing directly with the Taliban government and focused on the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Afghanistan hasn't received an immediate global response. Almost 36 hours after the first earthquake hit Herat province, there have been no planes of aid flying in, no specialists. Aid agencies and nongovernmental groups have appealed for the international community to come forward but only a handful of countries have publicly offered support, neighboring China and Pakistan among them. The International Rescue Committee warned that the lack of rescue equipment could push up the death toll in western Afghanistan because trapped survivors cannot be freed. "There's not much disaster management capacity and what there is can't cover people on the ground," said Salma Ben Aissa, the committee's country director for Afghanistan. "The numbers (of dead) are increasing hour by hour." People injured in the quake on Saturday can't get the treatment they need because of poor medical infrastructure so they are losing their lives. A lack of food, shelter and clean water are increasing the health risks among communities. The world rushed in aid after an earthquake rocked Syria and Turkey this year, killing tens of thousands of people. Abdul Wahid Rayan, a spokesman at the Ministry of Information and Culture, said Sunday that hundreds of civilians were buried under the debris in Herat, and he called for urgent help. 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 aiceaseand-desist order to a group called New York Citizens Audit demanding that it halt any "unlawful voter deception" and "intimidation eff orts." 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 eff orts 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 ceaseand-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-ofdate 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 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. Access to voter lists 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. First Federal Foundation seeks grant applications The First Federal Foundation, now in its 20th year, is accepting grant applications through Nov. 30 to support community improvement for educational, civic, health, human services, social and cultural organizations. The Foundation awarded over $60,000 during in its initial round of funding this year including a gift that allowed the Jerome Senior Center to purchase new tables, chairs and window coverings for its dining room and activities area. We absolutely love First Federal, Sheila Harmon, the centers site manager, said in a news release. They are always willing to help and are the nicest people. The grants we have received are a tremendous help, allowing our members to gather and enjoy time spent together. The Foundations minimum award is $1,000 and the maximum grant is generally $5,000, according to the release. Applications are accepted online and can be accessed at www.bankfirstfed.com/Foundation. Idaho Wedding Scene plans pop-up eventsThe new Idaho Wedding Scene held its first free pop-up event last weekend in Twin Falls and plans more in the coming months to help connect prospective brides and grooms with local vendors. The first event featured florists, makeup artists, coordinators and photographers, said Alea Peters, founder of Idaho Wedding Scene. To learn about upcoming events and local vendors, go online to idahoweddingscene.com or follow Idaho Wedding Scene on Facebook. Also: Manone Myers of Twin Falls won a $150 cash prize during Zion Banks 150th anniversary celebration last week at the banks Twin Falls branches the largest of dozens of cash prizes handed out by the bank. The St. Lukes Health System has earned recognition from the American Medical Association as a Joy in Medicine organization for its work toward initiating and building a systemwide well-being program. As part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day , Twin Falls County and the Idaho Office of Drug Policy will accept unused and expired medications at a free and anonymous drive-thru event on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Fred Meyer parking lot, 705 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. The Cassia Arts Society will host its first Holiday Art Show on Saturday, Oct. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at the King Fine Arts Center, 2100 Parke Ave. in Burley. For more information, call 208-219-8610. Times-News TEL AVIV, Israel For Palestinians in Gaza, Israel's eyes are never very far away. Surveillance drones buzz constantly from the skies. The highly-secured border is awash with security cameras and soldiers on guard. Intelligence agencies work sources and cyber capabilities to draw out a bevy of information. But Israel's eyes appeared to have been closed in the lead-up to an unprecedented onslaught by the militant Hamas group, which broke down Israeli border barriers and sent hundreds of militants into Israel to carry out a brazen attack that killed hundreds. Israel's intelligence agencies have gained an aura of invincibility over the decades because of a string of achievements. Israel foiled plots seeded in the West Bank, allegedly hunted down Hamas operatives in Dubai and was accused of killing Iranian nuclear scientists in the heart of Iran. Even when their efforts stumbled, agencies like the Mossad, Shin Bet and military intelligence maintained their mystique. But the weekend's assault, which caught Israel off guard on a major Jewish holiday, plunges that reputation into doubt and raises questions about the country's readiness in the face of a weaker but determined foe. "This is a major failure," said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "This operation actually proves that the (intelligence) abilities in Gaza were no good." Amidror declined to offer an explanation for the failure, saying lessons must be learned when the dust settles. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, acknowledged the army owes the public an explanation. But he said now is not the time. "First, we fight, then we investigate," he said. Some say it is too early to pin the blame solely on an intelligence fault. They point to a wave of low-level violence in the West Bank that shifted some military resources there and the political chaos roiling Israel over steps by Netanyahu's far-right government to overhaul the judiciary. The controversial plan has threatened the cohesion of the country's powerful military. But the apparent lack of prior knowledge of Hamas' plot will likely be seen as a prime culprit in the chain of events that led to the deadliest attack against Israelis in decades. Israel withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005, stripping it of a close handle on the happenings in the territory. But even after Hamas overran Gaza in 2007, Israel appeared to maintain its edge, using technological and human intelligence. Despite those abilities, Hamas was able to keep its plan under wraps. The attack, which likely took months of planning and meticulous training and involved coordination among militant groups, appeared to have gone under Israel's intelligence radar. Amir Avivi, a retired Israeli general, said that without a foothold inside Gaza, Israel's security services have come to rely increasingly on technological means to gain intelligence. He said militants in Gaza have found ways to evade that technological intelligence gathering, giving Israel an incomplete picture of their intentions. "The other side learned to deal with our technological dominance and they stopped using technology that could expose it," said Avivi, who served as a conduit for intelligence materials under a former military chief of staff. Avivi is president and founder of Israel Defense and Security Forum, a hawkish group of former military commanders. "They've gone back to the Stone Age," he said, explaining that militants weren't using phones or computers and were conducting their sensitive business in rooms specially guarded from technological espionage or going underground. But Avivi said the failure extends beyond just intelligence gathering and Israel's security services failed to put together an accurate picture from the intelligence they were receiving, based on what he said was a misconception surrounding Hamas' intentions. An Egyptian intelligence official said Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, had spoken repeatedly with the Israelis about "something big," without elaborating. "We have warned them an explosion of the situation is coming, and very soon, and it would be big. But they underestimated such warnings," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel has also been preoccupied and torn apart by Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu received repeated warnings by his defense chiefs, as well as several former leaders of the country's intelligence agencies, that the divisive plan was chipping away at the cohesion of the country's security services. Martin Indyk, who served as a special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations during the Obama administration, said internal divisions over the legal changes was an aggravating factor that contributed to the Israelis being caught off guard. "That roiled the IDF in a way that was, I think, we discovered was a huge distraction," he said. I daho Rep. Mike Simpson often talks about his love for the House of Representatives a place that he has called home for 24 years. The 73-year-old Simpson has made it clear that he will run for reelection next year, which means that he likely will be around for at least a couple more years. Lately, though, there hasnt been much to love about serving in the House, with the firing of the House speaker. Simpsons good feelings could be put to the test if Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a conservative firebrand who has a long history with the House Freedom Caucus, becomes speaker. I am deeply disappointed that eight House Republicans joined the entire Democratic caucus to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, Simpson said in a statement. Instead of using our limited time to work on critical appropriations bills, we watched a political personal stunt unfold. A House divided cannot stand. As you might imagine, nothing is being done on those appropriations bills, which could mean a government shutdown on Nov. 17. Dont blame fellow Idaho Rep. Russ Fulcher for this one. He voted to keep McCarthy and is frustrated Congress is not spending a minute on the pressing budgetary issues. Thats a problem, Fulcher told me. People are looking at this as a Republican revolt against McCarthy, and thats not the case. You have every single Democrat voting against him and eight Republicans. Some 96% of Republicans didnt want to do anything, and the vast majority of members of the Freedom Caucus (of which Fulcher is a member) wanted to stay the course. Quote Finding a new speaker will not be an easy task. ... Simpson and Fulcher can brace themselves for at least a few long days and nights in Washington. One notable exception was Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who led the charge against McCarthy and convinced seven other Republicans to go along. This was personal Matt and Kevin, Fulcher said. It has been personal since the get-go. Gaetz may be basking in glory at the moment, but not so much in Fulchers eyes. Dont look for a lot of Matt Gaetz legislation to pass. We have come to a grinding halt. We can conduct business in committee, but we cannot legally conduct any more business without a speaker of the House. Finding a new speaker will not be an easy task. We have a broad conference, Fulcher said. We have Republicans in New York who would be Democrats in Idaho. Then we have conservatives who are farther right than what there is in Idaho. There are members who are trying to negotiate a coalition government with Democrats, which may sound like a good thing to the outside world. But thats not a good thing. The only thing thats standing in the way of a socialistic system is the House. Its important to have a speaker with 218 votes from the Republican side. Fulcher is backing Jordan, who was endorsed by Donald Trump. But Fulchers support has nothing to do with the former president. Jim is the real deal. For someone like me, hes a conservative and a liberty-focused guy. Hes a friend and a good man. Fulcher says he also could support the partys No. 2 man in the House, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana. Fulchers main reservation is that Scalise has been going though cancer treatments and Fulcher, a cancer survivor, has some personal expertise in that area. I went through a very robust level of cancer therapy. What Steve is going through is not as aggressive. Im telling Steve that he will come out of it fine, but in about three to five weeks, one of the biggest challenges is getting out of bed. Nothing happens with your mind, you can think clearly, but your physical strength is zapped, Fulcher said. That job is a punching bag the worst job in politics, the Idaho congressman said. Ive told others that if we coalesce around Steve, they are going to have to a lot of the footwork for the next six months, because Steve may not have the endurance to do it. He could be right guy over time, but the timing is not right for him. Whether the timing is right remains to be seen. Simpson and Fulcher can brace themselves for at least a few long days and nights in Washington. This is likely going to deeply anger the Idaho congressional members, but they have a big (poorly kept) secret that has got to be exposed and likely will infuriate many people in their party. They havent done a great job of keeping the lid on, though, since everything that follows is based on press releases from their offices, and Im only reciting releases from the last three months. All four of them Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Reps. Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson for years have been engaging in behavior many of their constituents, of their own party at least, have been persuaded is deeply wrong. These veteran Republican legislators have worked, on legislation, with Democrats. A lot. Repeatedly. Hundreds of times, at least in the cases of Crapo, Risch and Simpson, who have been there longest. The last three months of press releases issued by the four the picture going further back would be similar but the data volume unmanageable in the space of a column tells the tale. Quote Such work is a necessary part of the job for any member of Congress ... who wants to accomplish something, which many of them actually do. Crapo and Risch both worked on a measure (concerning rural veterinarians) with, among others, Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith of Minnesota, Kristen Gillibrand of New York. They joined in a resolution on nuclear power with Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, among others. They joined with Oregons two Democrats, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, on a measure supporting the Forest Services Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program. Democratic Montana Sen. Jon Tester was with them on a measure concerning operations procedures on Customs offices at the Canada border. Colorado Democrats Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper were alongside them on a measure concerning veterans services. A measure the Idahoans backed to prevent closure of Air National Guard fighter squadrons was joined by Hickenlooper and Marylands Chris Van Hollen. Both senators independently joined alongside Democrats on other measures. Crapo and Wyden (plus two Northwest Democratic representatives) lent their names to legislation on innovative forest products. Wyden and Crapo, in fact, have co-sponsored lots of measures over the years, including (in announcements from the last three months) measures on pharmacy accounting and identity theft. Crapo and Virginias Mark Warner joined on a Prevent All Soring Tactics Act (has to do with horses). Crapo has co-sponsored nuclear downwinder legislation with New Mexicos Ben Ray Lujan. When Risch recently co-introduced a measure on tax credits and adoption, one of his partners was Pennsylvania Democrat Robert Casey, and Merkley joined with Risch in a measure on stillbirths. New Mexicos Martin Heinrich signed on with him on a hardrock mine measure. Close Idaho political watchers may be unsurprised that Simpson has worked across the aisle for help on legislation, and he has. The VA Benefits Act and the VET CARE Act on which hes worked both have lots of sponsors, deeply split between the parties. But Fulcher has done a fair amount of work with Democrats, too. When he got House passage for the Treating Tribes & Counties as Good Neighbor Authority Act on Sept. 14, his co-leader was Washington Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. And Fulcher and Simpson both joined with New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas on the Bring Our Heroes Home Act (on prisoners of war). All of this isnt a complete list, either, and, once again, it only covers the last three months. This season hasnt been unusual. For that matter, lists like this wouldnt be abnormal for most members of Congress of either party. All of this is worth bearing in mind as the subject of working across the aisle and the role that concept has played in ousting of a speaker of the House and general congressional disruption has come to the fore. Such work is a necessary part of the job for any member of Congress (or, for that matter, a legislature) who wants to accomplish something, which many of them actually do. However scandalous that might seem in some quarters. Guayaquil, Ecuador Ecuador on Sunday extended by a month a state of emergency in place since the August assassination of presidential candidate and anti-graft crusader Fernando Villavicencio, the presidency announced. The extension comes shortly after seven Colombians arrested over Villavicencios killing were found dead in prison. Six of the suspects were killed Friday in the Guayas 1 prison in the port city of Guayaquil, while a seventh was found dead Saturday in a prison in the capital Quito. With the extension of the state of emergency, the government guarantees the participation of the Armed Forces and the Police in the fight against organized and common crime, President Guillermo Lassos communications office said on X, formerly Twitter. Lasso on Saturday announced a reorganization of the countrys police leadership, with the forces general commander, investigations chief and prisons director removed from their posts. His office also said it would file a criminal complaint against the director of the Guayaquil prison where the prisoners were said to have died amid disturbances. The assassination of Villavicencio, a centrist who had been polling in second place, rocked Ecuador days ahead of the August 20 national elections in which corruption and the countrys declining security situation were major themes. Six Colombians with long criminal records were arrested shortly after, while one was killed at the scene of the crime. Authorities arrested seven others days later. The suspects deaths occurred just over a week before the October 15 runoff election between leftist frontrunner Luisa Gonzalez and challenger Daniel Noboa. Qamishli, Syria A Turkish air strike on Monday killed 20 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training centre for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said. Turkey has been bombing sites in the area since Thursday, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, said that 20 people had been killed and around 50 wounded after a Turkish war plane targeted a training centre belonging to Kurdish internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyah. The Kurdish force acknowledged the strike, saying that a number of our forces were killed and others wounded. AFP correspondents said that authorities in the area have called for blood donations, while witnesses said that hospitals were full of casualties. Amid the chaos of Syrias long-running civil conflict, Syrias Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the countrys northeast. Turkeys defence ministry said on Friday that it had launched the new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel. A branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies claimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016. Turkey launched strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq hours after the October 1 attack, with foreign minister Hakan Fidan saying days later that the assailants came from Syria and were trained there. Kurdish denial The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces spearheaded the battle to dislodge Islamic State group fighters from their last scraps of territory in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) that dominate the SDF as an offshoot of the PKK. The SDF, the Kurds de facto army in the northeast, denied that those behind the Ankara attack had passed through the area. Turkish bombings had mostly subsided over the weekend after strikes hit energy infrastructure, including power stations and oil facilities on Thursday and Friday, killing at least 15 security personnel and civilians, according to the Kurdish authorities. Since 2016, Turkey has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened a new incursion. Turkey supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country which angers Damascus. In November last year, Turkey launched air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria and Iraq in response to a bombing in Istanbul that killed six people. The conflict in Syria has killed more than half a million people since it began in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, spiralling into a devastating war involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists. QAMISHLI, SyriaA Turkish air strike on Monday killed 20 Kurdish security personnel and wounded dozens at a training centre for police in Kurdish-held northeast Syria, a war monitor said. Turkey has been bombing sites in the area since Thursday, hitting civilian and military targets and infrastructure and causing casualties, according to Kurdish authorities. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitor, said that 20 people had been killed and around 50 wounded after a Turkish war plane targeted a training center belonging to Kurdish internal security forces, known as the Asayish, on the outskirts of Al-Malikiyah. The Kurdish force acknowledged the strike, saying that a number of our forces were killed and others wounded. AFP correspondents said that authorities in the area have called for blood donations, while witnesses said that hospitals were full of casualties. Amid the chaos of Syrias long-running civil conflict, Syrias Kurds have carved out a semi-autonomous area in the countrys northeast. Turkeys defence ministry said on Friday that it had launched the new wave of air strikes in retaliation for an attack in Ankara earlier this month that wounded two security personnel. A branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK)listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western alliesclaimed responsibility for the first bombing to hit the Turkish capital since 2016. Turkey launched strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq hours after the October 1 attack, with foreign minister Hakan Fidan saying days later that the assailants came from Syria and were trained there. The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces spearheaded the battle to dislodge Islamic State group fighters from their last scraps of territory in Syria in 2019. Turkey views the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units that dominate the SDF as an offshoot of the PKK. The SDF, the Kurds de facto army in the northeast, denied that those behind the Ankara attack had passed through the area. Turkish bombings had mostly subsided over the weekend after strikes hit energy infrastructure, including power stations and oil facilities on Thursday and Friday, killing at least 15 security personnel and civilians, according to the Kurdish authorities. Since 2016, Turkey has carried out successive ground operations to expel Kurdish forces from border areas of northern Syria, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened a new incursion. Turkey supported early rebel efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and maintains a military presence in northern stretches of the war-torn country which angers Damascus. In November last year, Turkey launched air strikes on Kurdish-held areas of Syria and Iraq in response to a bombing in Istanbul that killed six people. The conflict in Syria has killed more than half a million people since it began in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, spiraling into a devastating war involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has located the fishing boat that sank off Pangasinan last week after being hit by a foreign oil tanker. According to PCG spokesperson Admiral Armand Balilo, the fishing boat Dearyn was located 180 nautical miles off Agno, Pangasinan. Based on the PCG report, the fishing boat Dearyn is reportedly in bad condition and would require to be lifted onboard a salvor ship to prevent further damaging the boat that would be used in the investigation of the collision with a crude oil tanker TCR Pacific Anna, Balilo said in a message. From its initial position of being capsized on its left side, with its two outriggers already detached and its plywood-made bow already missing, the fishing boat was reported to be floating, he added. Balilo also said that the salvor is expected to reach the location in two days travel and will make it back to mainland Pangasinan on a two or three days voyage. The salvor, which is expected to leave Navotas on Monday evening, would take around two days of travel time to reach the location of the FFB Dearyn and it would take another two to three days to reach the shore, Balilo said. Earlier, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said that they want to recover the fishing boat and use it as evidence in the cases that may be filed over the collision. The foreign crude oil vessel believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged TCR Pacific Anna struck the fishing boat last Monday causing the fishing boat to capsize. The incident killed three Filipino fishermen, including the captain of the vessel, eleven members of the crew survived the incident. The boat was reportedly moored to a fish aggregating device called a payao when the collision happened in the waters off Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal. Tarriela said the recovery of the boat could support the Philippines case against the Pacific Annas owner if found that the ship was involved in the collision. The Coast Guard has already sent a letter to the Marshall Islands, where the vessel was registered, requesting them to reach out to the owner and be cooperative in the ongoing investigation we are conducting, Tarriela said. PCG also sent a letter to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, where Pacific Anna was sailing from Incheon, South Korea. Tarriela said that the two authorities have already noted the facts about the Coast Guards independent investigation but have yet to send more information. What we are demanding here is to hold whoever is at fault for running over the fishing boat of our countrymen and your insuranceyour damages, compensation to the victims, he said. THE Marcos administrations anti-illegal drugs campaign has so far resulted in the seizure of 7.4 tons of banned substances worth some P30 billion. Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous Drugs, revealed this at the start of the panels hearing on House Resolutions 1346 and 1351 authored by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Rep. Jefferson Khonghun, respectively, to investigate the drug hauling incidents in Mexico, Pampanga, and in Subic port. Officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Customs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA), and the Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) attended the hearing. I would like to extend my heartfelt felicitations to the law enforcement agencies, the PDEA, NBI, PDEG, and the Bureau of Customs, for a very very fruitful campaign against illegal drugs under the administration of President Marcos, Barbers said in his opening statement. All your hard work, diligence and perseverance are bearing positive accomplishments. May you continue your dedication to duty and may none of you be tempted to sell this country and our youth to this evil, he added. Barbers said from July 1, 2022 the first day in office of President Marcos Jr. until today (October 9, 2023), the bloodless anti-drug campaign has hauled almost 4.4 tons of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and almost three tons of dried marijuana leaves. The drug haul, with a street value of P30 billion, is enough to fund the election campaign of drug lords, Barbers added. This amount can most definitely finance the elections and victory of drug lords in our political arena. Kahit po kampanya pang Presidente, kayang pondohan ng war chest na yan, Barber explained. (Even a presidential campaign, that war chest can finance it) We are fortunate that there are still good law enforcement personnel secure the peace. Although there are a handful who stay from the straight and narrow, so long as we do not become complacent, they will not overcome, Barberd said. Of the 4.4 tons of drugs seized, a sizeable amount was just confiscated over the last several weeks: the 200 kilos in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, on August 25; the 560 kilos from the Subic port that was taken to Mexico, Pampanga, on September 24; and the latest, 323 kilos just this October 4 seized at the Manila Internatioal Container Port in Manila. In just five weeks, 1.3 tons have already been caught. And this happend during the only one and a half years of the Marcos administration, Barbers expressed. So lets work together. We will adapt a whole nation approach on this problem. We will help our agencies what they need to carry on their tasks, and you promise us that you will remain steadfast in the performance of your mandate, he added. Gonzales, who filed one of the resolutions being taken up by the committee, expressed deep concern that areas in Pampanga are being used for smuggling illegal drugs. He said he was saddened saddened that Pampanga has been used in the storage of illegal drugs. For the information of all, the municipality of Mexico, which is under my jurisdiction, is a booming economy in Central Luzon, Gonzales said. The good people of Mexico worked hard to achieve where they are now. And I will not let these incidents hinder future investments and other economic opportunities. We will get to the bottom of this problem and all people involved will have their day in court, he declared. Both Barbers and Gonzales vowed to ferret out the names and personalities involved in the smuggling of illegal drugs in the country. We will thresh out the whys and hows our country continues to be the favorite destination of illegal drugs and who are the big personalities or even bigger entities behind these shipments to flood us with these contrabands with fictitious and non-existent consignees, Barbers said. Gonzales said, We will dig deeper and uncover the mystery behind this smuggling because I believe that there are personalities who knowingly facilitated this shipment. Maparaan at talagang wala ng takot ang mga smugglers na sumisira sa ating bansa. Hackers have stolen the personal data of potentially millions of people from the Philippiness national health insurer, which has urged members to change their passwords after the staggering cyberattack. The hackers have started releasing files including confidential memos from the stolen data to pressure the government into paying a $300,000 ransom. Here is what we know so far about the attack, which was discovered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on September 22: What did the hackers steal? PhilHealth and the government have yet to say exactly how many people have been impacted, but the insurer warned members in a notice that data such as addresses, phone numbers and insurance IDs was compromised. As of June 30, according to its website, PhilHealth had more than 59 million direct and indirect contributors more than half the population of the Philippines. PhilHealth asked members to monitor credit card transactions and change passwords, especially for financial services. Separately, employee information was also stolen from the targeted computers. The hackers released some of the data on the dark web, showing health memos and other information that a top government official described as confidential. An investigation into the scale of the attack is ongoing, but the National Privacy Commission has described the amount of data stolen as staggering. Who are the hackers, and what do they want? The Philippine government has referred to the attackers as the Medusa group, who have demanded $300,000 to restore access to PhilHealth computers and delete the stolen data. MedusaLocker, first detected in late 2019, has been used to mainly target healthcare organisations and its creators took particular advantage of the emergency situation during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a US government report. The ransomware has been sold to criminal actors, and a US government cybersecurity advisory said its creator receives a cut of any ransom. It was not clear if the Medusa group identified by the Philippines government is the creator of or an entity that purchased MedusaLocker. How did they get the data? On September 22, PhilHealth staff were unable to access a number of computers, which displayed a message saying hackers had locked the machines and encrypted the data. The insurer shut down the affected systems to try and stop the attack from spreading, slowing or entirely shutting down some online services for days. The government has so far not said exactly how hackers got access to the computers. But in interviews with local media last week, senior PhilHealth official Israel Pargas said the insurer did not have an antivirus software at the time of the attack. How has the government responded? With a blunt No. The Philippines does not pay ransom in any criminal cases, including cyberattacks, officials have said. However, with hackers releasing more data from the stolen files, calls have grown for the government to conduct an audit of its cyber defences. The National Privacy Commission said Saturday it has started an investigation into any potential lapses and data law violations by PhilHealth. The NPC said its analysis of 734 GB of stolen data revealed sensitive personal data, and warned the public that anyone who downloads this information could face criminal charges. President Marcos will make at least five more trips abroad before the end of 2023, bringing his total foreign trips since assuming office to 19, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. The President is attending the Gulf Cooperation Economic Summit in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 20, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said. The summit would be the first meeting of Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) leaders with the Arab state, the DFA official said. Mr. Marcos is also scheduled to attend the ASEAN Cooperation Council, APEC Economic Leaders in the United States, the Climate Change Conference in Dubai, and the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, de Vega added. As of early August, the Chief Executive had made 14 foreign trips since he took office on June 30, 2022, including one to watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix race in Singapore in October 2022. The President has made five state visitsIndonesia, Singapore, China, Japan, and Malaysia. He again watched the Singapore Grand Prix-Formula 1 in mid-September. Mr. Marcos also went on an official visit to the United States from April 30 to May 4 this year. He also was a guest at the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, 2023. De Vega noted the President would represent the Philippines at the highest level and that it was important for Mr. Marcos to be on those trips, as the heads of state of other countries are also going to be there. All the ASEAN leaders will be in those meetings. Do you want our President not to be there? he said in a television interview over ABS-CBN. Hes going to talk to Saudi Arabia. We know we have pending issues, De Vega said. If hes not going there, then the Philippines is not represented at the highest level. He has to be there, De Vega added. Earlier, the Commission on Audit (COA) reported that the Office of the President (OP) incurred P403.088 million in travel expenses in 2022, up by a whopping 995.6 percent or P366.296 million from the P36.792 million in total travel expenses in 2021. In the proposed 2024 national budget, Malacanang asked for P1.408 billion to fund Marcos local and foreign trips next year, a 58 percent jump from his 2023 travel allocation. Sderot, Israel Israel, reeling from the deadliest ever attack on its territory, declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflicts death toll surged above 1,000 after the Palestinian militant group launched a massive surprise assault from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steeled the shocked and grieving nation for a long and difficult war a day after Hamas fired a barrage of thousands of rockets at Israel and sent a wave of fighters who gunned down civilians and took at least 100 hostages. The bloody escalation sharply heightened Middle East tensions and killed more than 600 people on the Israeli side, the countrys worst losses since the 1973 Arab-Israeli war when it was attacked by a coalition led by Egypt and Syria in battles fought in occupied territories. Israel was caught flat-footed by the unprecedented attack, said Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative. Ive heard multiple comparisons to 9/11, and many Israelis are struggling to understand how this could have happened. Gaza officials reported at least 413 deaths in the impoverished and blockaded enclave of 2.3 million people, which was hammered by Israeli air strikes on 800 targets ahead of what many feared may be a looming ground invasion. US President Joe Biden ordered additional support for Israel in the face of this unprecedented terrorist assault by Hamas. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. Austin also said he had directed the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and group of warships to the eastern Mediterranean, and that Washington was augmenting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Hamas charged the US aid amounted to aggression against Palestinians. Several foreign countries have reported nationals killed, abducted or missing in the fighting, among them Brazil, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States. Tens of thousands of Israeli forces were deployed to battle holdout Hamas fighters in the south, where the bodies of civilians had been found strewn on roads and in town centres. The enemy is still on the ground, said military spokesman Daniel Hagari as a second night fell after the massive opening attack. Gun battles raged as the Israeli army sought to secure desert regions near the coastal enclave, rescue hostages and evacuate all areas near Gaza, after the cabinet formally declared war by activating Article 40 of the Basic Law. Well reach each and every community until we kill every terrorist in Israel, vowed Hagari, a day after Hamas fighters surged into Israel using vehicles, boats and motorised paragliders. Abducted to Gaza Shock and dismay gripped Israel after at least 100 citizens were captured by Hamas and abducted into Gaza, with images circulating on social media of bloodied hostages, and distraught relatives pleading for their release or rescue. Yifat Zailer, 37, said she was horrified to see online video footage from 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, her voicing breaking with emotion, 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 UN-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 on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, raining down at least 3,000 rockets as fighters infiltrated towns and kibbutz communities and stormed an outdoor rave party where many revellers were shot dead. Panicked Israeli residents phoned media outlets as they hid in their homes, whispering that militants were going door to door and shooting civilians or dragging them away. No respite 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 the leaders of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group. 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. 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. Israels National Security Council urged its citizens to leave Egypt as soon as possible and avoid non-essential travel, especially in the Middle East. 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, pledging no respite until victory. Israeli attacks have reduced several Gaza residential towers to rubble and destroyed a mosque in Gazas Khan Yunis as well as the central bank. Schools were closed and many flights were cancelled to Ben Gurion airport amid the fighting, as the Tel Aviv Stock Exchanges main TA-35 index fell 6.47 percent and UEFA postponed an Israel-Switzerland Euro 2024 qualifier match. We will not give up 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 conflict 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. He recalled the terror of the attack on their town near Gaza. I held a kitchen knife and a large screwdriver, and I told my wife that, if something happens, to make sure to read the Kaddish (prayer) over me, if you stay alive, he said. And so we stayed close to each other at home, shut everything and turned off the lights. 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. An Israeli survivor of the attack on Sderot, Yitzhak, 67, said he now expected the army to conquer Gaza house by house, clean the area there properly, and not leave Gaza until they get the very last rocket out of the ground. Many Gaza residents voiced defiance. We will not give up, and we are here to stay, said Mohammed Saq Allah, 23. This is our land, and we will not abandon our land. The 27th Siargao International Surfing Cup is poised to set the island ablaze with anticipation and adrenaline. From October 25 to November 1, 2023, the iconic Cloud 9 of Siargao, nestled within the vibrant Municipality of General Luna, Surigao Del Norte, will once again become the epicenter of world-class surfing. With athletes and aficionados descending from every corner of the globe, this event stands as a testimony to Siargaos legendary waves and its unwavering spirit in the face of past challenges. An Unwavering Legacy: The Surfing Spirit of Siargao Initiated in 1994 by former Governor Lalo Matugas and former Mayor Jaime Rusillon, Siargao International Surfing Cup is a project by the Municipality of General Luna in partnership with the World Surf League, the global body that oversees various international contests towards naming the World Champions across divisions. It has evolved into a symbolic testament to the islands surfing prowess and its tight-knit community. This years edition promises to be a multicentric celebration of surfing culture, values, and community, as pro international surfers gear up to challenge the formidable waves of Siargao in a bid for the WSL Mens and Womens QS3000 International Surfing Cup. The 27th Siargao International Surfing Cup is a collaborative effort to spotlight Siargao on the global stage and is presented by the Municipality of General Luna in Surigao Del Norte, the Office of Congressman Bingo Matugas, supported by SMART Communications, Coca Cola Beverages Philippines, Inc., Streakk, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Tingog Party List Representative Yedda Romualdez, Mr. Vincent Marcos, and NextGen. Calling All Surf Enthusiasts! To all surfing enthusiasts who eagerly anticipate this annual spectacle: Mark your calendars and make sure to register for the event as soon as possible through the WSL website at https://wsl.memberpro.net/main/body.cfm. Inviting the World to the Gem of Surigao Del Norte The 27th SISC also plays a significant role for the community of Siargao, drawing not only athletes but also tourists from all over Asia. In the wake of the devastation brought about by Typhoon Odette in 2021, the people of Siargao have shown unparalleled resilience, and the Surfing Cup stands as a proof to their spirit. Tourists are invited to experience the breathtaking beauty of Siargao and immerse in the unique surfing culture of Cloud 9, which has been recognized by CNNGo as one of the best surf spots in the world. FREDERICKSBURG On July 12, 1958, guitarist Link Wray and his band performed at the Fredericksburg Arena, a concert venue that used to sit at the corner of U.S. 1 and Fall Hill Avenue. The teens packing the hall yelled at him to play The Stroll, a song-and-dance hit that was sweeping the nation, but Wray didnt know it. Instead, he made up a progression of five chords, which he played into the vocal microphone stationed in front of his amplifier. The resulting distorted sound, bristling with fuzz and feedback, electrified the young crowd. Everybody liked it, John Lightner, a local resident who attended the show, told The Free LanceStar in 2019. We yelled for him to play it again, play it again. Those power chords and that primal sound, which Wray eventually recorded as the song Rumble, laid the foundation for the garage rock of the 1960s, the punk rock of the 1970s, the heavy metal of the 1980s and the grunge rock of the 1990s. Next month, Wray, who died in 2005, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Musical Influence Award. The award is given to artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock & roll and music impacting youth culture, according to the Hall of Fames website. Every young rebel who has donned a leather jacket and slashed away at an electric guitar with loud, distorted abandon owes a significant debt to Wray, the Hall of Fames page on Wray reads. Wray told Guitar Player magazine that when he went to record Rumble, he couldnt immediately recapture the sound that made those kids scream at the Fredericksburg show. Finally, he punched holes in his amplifiers two-inch speakers with a pencil to create the distortion the teens had responded to. Rumble reached No. 16 on the charts in 1958. It was banned by many radio stations because of fears that it would incite teen violence, but Wray told the magazine that the ban just made it sell more. Local resident Sonya Flowers is a fan of Wray, a friend of his children and the administrator of a Facebook group called RUMBLE the instrumental created in Fredericksburg, Va. She said words are not enough to adequately express what it means to see Wray inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Im glad as a fan, but moreover Im over the moon happy for his family, Flowers said. (Wrays daughter) Beth (Wray Webb) has worked tirelessly for many years to maintain and promote her fathers legacy, which for me has been a privilege to watch. Flowers said she was with Webb and her brothers, Link III and Link Elvis, for the dedication of a mural depicting Wray in his hometown of Dunn, North Carolina, on May 2 what would have been his 94th birthday. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2023 inductees the next day, May 3. It was quite the birthday surprise! Beth was ecstatic, and we all were very excited, Flowers said. I was in disbelief at first until I saw it in print. It was a special moment to witness, and be a part of it. Webb will be present at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 3 in New York. She said she is most excited about being there to thank everybody for helping me get Daddy the recognition he deserves. All his fans and musicians they have been the ones to help keep his legacy alive. I wouldnt have been able to do it without them, Webb said. Its them. Theyre the ones. Im just the daughter thats proud of her father. In July, Webb and Flowers went to visit Bobby Morris, a longtime friend of Wrays. Morris presented Webb with three objects that belonged to her father a red guitar pick, an unsealed album by Link Wray and the Wraymen and the pair of black-and-white shoes Wray wore in the album cover photo. The items will be on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year. Flowers and Webb said theyd like to work with the City of Fredericksburg to install a historical marker commemorating the creation of Rumble and its pioneering sound. Bobby Morris put it well ... when he said, Link Wrays achievements have caught up with him. I say, now its Fredericksburgs turn, Flowers said. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be streamed live on Disney+, starting at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. On a beautiful October morning, city of Marion officials, the McDowell Trails Association, N.C. Rep. Dudley Greene and other local leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new trailhead entrance that marks the beginning of the Peavine Trail. The ceremony took place Friday morning at the newly created trailhead for the Peavine located on State Street. Mayor Steve Little welcomed all those who attended. They included Greene, other city officials, MTA President Steve Pierce, Turtle Laboratories owners Joey Sacco and Tegan Strautmann Sacco, Debora Workman with the Marion East Community Forum, Amanda Elledge Finn with the Friends of the Fonta Flora State Trail, longtime trails activist Frank Dean, Shannon Odom with the McDowell Tourism Development Association and others. In 2010, the city of Marion acquired from Norfolk Southern 33 acres of the old Peavine railroad lines right of way from State Street to just south of Jacktown Road, a distance of about 2.4 miles. For many years, the Southern Railway operated a secondary rail line called the Peavine, which branched off the main line and continued southward through Marions neighborhoods. It ran across State Street and Virginia Avenue, past Oak Grove Cemetery and the Morehead Cemetery, through East Marion and continued south alongside Rutherford Road toward Jacktown Road. The Peavine kept going all the way down to South Carolina. In the late 1980s, Norfolk Southern, the successor company of the Southern Railway, stopped running trains on the Peavine and weeds and bushes soon started reclaiming the tracks and land. In the 2000s, Norfolk Southern officials filed a request with the federal governments Surface Transportation Board for permission to abandon the Peavine. City officials and trail enthusiasts quickly realized this old railroad could be turned into a walking and bicycle trail. They envisioned the trail running through that section of southern Marion. But the city couldnt do anything until Norfolk Southern filed for abandonment in 2010. Since then, the city and MTA volunteers have steadily worked to transform the Peavine Trail. The consulting firm of Destination by Design has created a plan for the future of the Peavine. The new trailhead on State Street is the first step in this process. Turtle Laboratories has created colorful and attractive signs that mark the Peavines trailheads. The compelling Peavine Trail brand incorporates the quality signage and surface treatments at trailheads and street crossings to create a visual identity for this local community asset. A new sign has been placed to mark the entrance to the nearby Morehead Cemetery, which is a historically African-American cemetery. The Morehead Cemetery is now restored and properly maintained through the efforts of McDowell Cemetery Association Inc. and the city of Marion. During the time of segregation, the Morehead Cemetery and the traditionally white Oak Grove Cemetery were established on opposite sides of the Peavine rail line. Another recommendation from Destination by Design calls for new fencing and ornamental trees to add a visual buffer of Duke Energys substation next to Oak Grove Cemetery. Another recommendation calls for trailhead improvements at Baldwin Avenue. City Planning Director Heather Cotton told those who attended about her vision for the Peavine Trail. That includes the master plan by Destination by Design for the section between State Street and Jacktown Road. But there is also a larger more regional plan that would connect Marion with Rutherfordton along the Peavine-Thermal Belt Trail and that is part of the N.C. Department of Transportations Great State Trails plan. It would connect with McDowell Technical Community College. We have a vision of connecting in Marion the Peavine Rail Trail to the college so we can have a walking and biking facility that goes from downtown Marion to McDowell Technical Community College, she said. It also traverses through half of the population who live here in the community. We want to create a space for our community. We want to create a space for people to come and enjoy this trail from outside the area to learn more about the community, come spend their dollars here, spend the night here and support our local businesses. Cotton also talked about the future of the old trestles located in the southern end of Marion. These two old train trestles could someday be transformed for pedestrian and cyclists to use on the Peavine. The biggest and most prominent trestle is behind Mi Morelia Mexican Restaurant on Rutherford Road. The other one is smaller, less visible and further south. Both of them are closed to the public. They need repairs to enable for them to be used for the trail but once done this would allow extension of the trail to Jacktown Road. An engineering study addressing the trestles was completed in 2019. Grant funding requiring a local match will be necessary for trestle repairs. City officials credited local volunteer Oscar Creech with advocating for the repair of the old trestles. He challenged the city to find a way to save them rather than letting them be demolished. The total cost of repair for these trestles has been estimated at $650,000. The city is seeking a state grant for this project, which would require a 50% local match. This local match will be supported by the MTAs Revive the Peavine fund-raising campaign. In addition, the McDowell Tourism Association will contribute toward this local match and the McDowell Trails Association has agreed to continue raising money to help with the effort. While last year, Senegalese authorities intercepted just one known boat headed for Europe, this year, the West African countrys navy has been stopping refugee boats at record rates, as it had recently intercepted four boats over three days with more than 600 people on board. The would-be migrants, mostly Senegalese, but also Gambians and Malians, were reportedly attempting the treacherous crossing to Spains Canary Islands gateway to Europe. Footage on social media has showed some of them jumping off a boat that had run aground in Senegals coastal city of St Louis. Witnesses say winds forced them back and they wanted to avoid arrest by the navy, which has recently stepped-up patrols. This comes as, in late July, the Senegalese government put forward a 10-year plan to combat irregular migration, including stronger border management. The UNs International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that at least 140 migrants attempting the Atlantic crossing have died or gone missing since early 2023. In August alone, more than twice as many people as in the same month last year made it to the Canary Islands from Senegal and Morocco. The surge in the numbers of would-be refugees who have been transferred from to local authorities since May shows how Senegal is stepping up to stem irregular migration flows. As the European Union agreed on a common migration pact on Wednesday (4 October), it remains unclear whether Senegalese authorities are getting funding from the EU, though the bloc has publicized moves to partner with the country. Dakar has worked with the Spanish coastal guard to monitor transit routes since 2005 and is now in talks to partner with the Frontex. Some experts point out that Senegals increased action could serve as a model for other African countries, whose citizens now make up half of the top 10 origin countries for irregular refugee arrivals in Europe. Guinea, Cote dIvoire and Egypt top the list. But others argue that by itself, stopping migration doesnt address the underlying root causes forcing people to move most notably natural disasters, conflict, repressive governance, and limited economic opportunities. No shaking hands or sharing food: Zimbabwe has imposed sanitary measures on public gatherings, to combat a resurgence of cholera. The restrictions had been imposed from Saturday October 7 last week. In the last 24 hours, 36 new suspected cases have been recorded by the Ministry of Health. All regions of the country have been affected since the disease reappeared in the southern African country earlier this year. An acute diarrhoeal infection caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with bacteria, cholera is on the rise again on the continent, according to the World Health Organization. In Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health has officially recorded 30 deaths since February and over 900 cases. However, around a hundred people are suspected of having succumbed to the disease and almost 4,650 of having been infected. The countrys urban areas, which have been in the throes of a deep economic crisis for the past twenty years, and where health infrastructures and drinking water supply systems are often in a state of disrepair, are regularly hit by cholera. In a notice widely shared on social networks, the Harare municipality advised against shaking hands, eating at public gatherings and buying food from informal vendors. Nearly 340 kilometers from the capital, in the Zaka district, local authorities have banned public gatherings, which are now subject to authorization by the Ministry of Health. In 2008, cholera claimed at least 4,000 lives in Zimbabwe and infected 100,000 people. With the economy in its death throes, most public hospitals were plagued by drug shortages. Some thirteen Ghanaians have completed a three-day training course in Fraud Investigation Management organized by the Economic and Cyber Crime Academy of the City of London Police (CoLP) in the United Kingdom. The training programme which commenced on October 2 and ended on October 5, was an initiative of the NCA, UK aimed at building the capacity of officers of law enforcement agencies in Ghana. Given the Importance of this collaboration to combat crime in the West African country, we deem it important to report this at the moment. The delegation was made up of eleven officers from the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), an officer from the Ghana Police Service and a State Attorney from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, Accra. The team was welcomed at the Training Center by the Director of the Economic and Cyber Crime Academy, Detective Chief Inspector Craig Mullish. Officer Mullish took the opportunity to address participants on the importance of the course and the need to share ideas and adopt international best practices in financial crime investigation and ultimately enrich the quality of fraud investigations in Ghana. During the closing ceremony at the end of the third day, the participants were presented with certificates. There was also the exchange of memorabilia between both nations (Ghana and the United Kingdom). The leader of the delegation, Commissioner of Police, Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah (Mrs) took the opportunity to express her gratitude to the Commissioner of the City of London Police for the kind gesture and also to the facilitators of the course for the professionalism and commitment demonstrated during the course. She presented EOCO souvenirs to the facilitators in appreciation of a job well done. The preparatory works of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meeting opened this Monday in Marrakesh with the launch of a book titled: Moroccos quest for stronger and inclusive growth. Prepared by the IMF, the book highlights the economic progress made by Morocco over the last few decades and discusses the challenges the country is facing and its structural reforms engaged to speed up socioeconomic development, by making it more inclusive and resilient to external shocks, setting the example for other emerging market and developing economies to follow. Speaking during the book presentation ceremony, IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva said this book explores the factors underlying Moroccos resilience. The book points to the numerous reforms Morocco began decades ago, including measures to open the country to international trade, invest in key infrastructure, reduce subsidies, strengthen the independence of the central bank, build a strong financial supervisory framework, and modernize governance in both the public and private sectors, she added. Moroccos success in these areas suggests that these reforms are essential for countries in search of macroeconomic stability as a precondition for growth, underlined the IMF chief, noting that the Kingdom is a gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The Marrakech 2023 Annual Meetings provide an opportunity to recognize Moroccos strong commitment to economic reforms and stability and to promote the country as an example of how to build trade and investment links in a fragmenting world, she said. For his part, Moroccos Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch said the country has made over the past twenty years important reforms that enhanced the Kingdoms resilience and macroeconomic balances. The new IMF book on Morocco shows the countrys determination to accelerate its march towards shared progress and prosperity under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. The WB-IMF Annual Meetings are bringing together 14,000 participants including central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, civil society, media and academics. They are gathering in Marrakesh to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, global financial stability, poverty eradication, inclusive economic growth and job creation, climate change, and others. 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A 50-year-old man has died from bird flu in Cambodia, the health ministry said on Sunday, the second death from the virus recorded in the country this year. The World Health Organization has called for vigilance after bird flu was detected in mammals, but has stressed that the risk to humans is low. The ministry said that tests had confirmed the manwho has not been named, but is from eastern Svay Rieng province bordering Vietnamwas positive for bird flu virus H5N1 from October 7. Officials did not specify the man's time of death, but said health authorities are "investigating and researching this bird flu case". The disease typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact. Officials said they were looking into the source of the infection, and were examining any suspected cases or people who may have been in contact with the victim. The ministry said around 50 poultry, some belonging to the man and some owned by his neighbors, had died recently. "The dead chickens were shared among villagers to eat," the health ministry statement said. The ministry urged villagers to be vigilant about H5N1, which is "still a threat to the health of people, especially children". The case is the 58th recorded instance of bird flu since the virus hit Cambodia two decades ago. In February an eleven-year-old girl died from the virus. Since late 2021, Europe has been gripped by its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, with North and South America also experiencing severe outbreaks. This has led to the culling of tens of millions of domestic poultry worldwide, many with the H5N1 strain. The global outbreak is also responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of wild birds. The recent detection of the disease in a number of mammals, including foxes, otters, minks, sea lions and even grizzly bears, has sparked concern that humans could be more at risk. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Although several medications are approved to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some individuals experience limited benefits from the drugs or develop side effects from their use. A recent clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), a founding member of Mass General Brigham (MGB), has demonstrated that the drug solriamfetol may be an effective alternative for managing ADHD in adults. Solriamfetol is currently approved in the United States for treating excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. The drug increases the amounts of certain natural substances in the brainspecifically, dopamine and norepinephrinethat control sleep and wakefulness, thus sharing some of the properties of current ADHD medications. To test the potential of solriamfetol for treating ADHD, researchers randomized 60 adults with the condition to solriamfetol (75 or 150 mg) or placebo for six weeks. Participants were interviewed serially using the primary outcome measure for the trial, the Adult ADHD Investigator Symptom Rating Scale (AISRS). ADHD symptoms were further evaluated by a patient-reported measure. ADHD related impairment was assessed using the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI), and executive function challenges were measured using the participant rated Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Form (BRIEF-A). By the end of the study, a greater proportion of individuals taking solriamfetol had improved measures on all of these scales, when compared with patients taking placebo. Solriamfetol had no significant effect on sleep quality as evaluate by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, or on average heart rate or blood pressure. Adverse experiences that occurred at a higher numerical rate than placebo fell under the categories of decreased appetite, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, insomnia, increased energy, cardiovascular and neurologic effects. "Our results suggest that solriamfetol may be a safe and effective treatment for ADHD in adults. Larger studies replicating these findings could confirm the strong evidence of benefit and the tolerability of this agent as a treatment," says lead author Craig B.H. Surman, MD, the Director of the Clinical and Research Program in Adult ADHD at MGH and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "Although there are currently safe and effective treatments for ADHD, they are not effective for all individuals with ADHD or tolerated well by all patients. Our findings offer hope of a new method of supporting the daily challenges that individuals with ADHD face." Additional authors include Daniel M. Walsh, BA; Nora Horick, MS; Maura DiSalvo, MPH; Chloe Hutt Vater, BA; and Daniel Kaufman, BS. More information: Craig B. H. Surman et al, Solriamfetol for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2023). DOI: 10.4088/JCP.23m14934 Journal information: Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 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: Loss of Emc1 in mouse endothelial cells results in retinal vascular defects. (A) Representative overview (top panels) and high-magnification images (bottom panels) of P7 control (Ctrl) and Emc1iECKO/iECKO mouse retinae stained with Isolectin B4 (IB4). The circles indicate vessel outgrowth of Ctrl retinae. Scale bars, 500 m and 100 m. (B, C) Quantification of vascular progression (B) and vascular density (C) of P7 control (Ctrl) and Emc1iECKO/iECKO mouse retinae. Error bars, standard deviations (SDs). Student's t-test (n 7), P < 0.001, P < 0.0001. (D) Representative immunofluorescence images of P6 Ctrl and Emc1iECKO/iECKO mouse retinae stained with IB4. Red dots indicate sprouts at the angiogenic front. Scale bars, 50 m. (E) Quantification of the numbers of sprouts per unit of front length (mm). Error bars, SDs. Student's t-test (n = 5), P < 0.01. (F) Representative immunofluorescence image of superficial and deep IB4-staining retinae of P9 Ctrl and Emc1iECKO/iECKO mice. Scale bars, 50 m. (G) Representative overview and high-magnification images of P6 Ctrl and Emc1iECKO/iECKO mouse retinae co-stained with IB4, EdU, and ERG. Dotted boxes indicate magnified areas. Scale bars, 20 m and 200 m. (H) Quantification of the percentage of EdU+/ERG + cells to total ERG + cells per field. Error bars, SDs. Student's t-test (n = 9), P < 0.0001. (I) Representative immunofluorescence images of P6 Ctrl and Emc1iECKO/iECKO mouse retinae co-stained with IB4 and Ter119. White arrows indicate leakage of erythrocytes. Scale bars, 200 m. Credit: Genes & Diseases (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.10.003 In a recent study published in the journal Genes & Diseases, researchers from University of Electronic Science and Technology of China have uncovered a key relationship between the EMC1 protein and retinal vascular development. Mutations in the EMC1 gene appear to be associated with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR), a severe ocular condition. The discovery offers potential new therapeutic avenues for treating this disorder and other related vascular defects. Scientists have discovered that the depletion of Emc1 in endothelial cells in mice causes significant defects in retinal vessel development, including reduced vascular growth and retinal bleeding. This impairment is intricately linked with the Wnt signaling pathway, a critical regulator for blood vessel development, whose gene activity is altered when EMC1 is compromised. This observation prompted researchers to examine the EMC1 gene in patients with FEVR, leading to the identification of a genetic variant in two related patients, suggesting a potential genetic connection. Notably, treating EMC1-depleted cells with LiCl, an activator of the Wnt signaling pathway, mitigated some of the adverse effects, hinting at potential therapeutic avenues for conditions associated with EMC1 dysfunction. The EMC1 protein has emerged as a pivotal factor in retinal blood vessel development, operating primarily via the Wnt signaling pathway. Variants in the EMC1 gene found in FEVR patients can disrupt this vital process, shedding light on potential causes and treatment avenues for the condition. This discovery enhances our understanding of FEVR's origins and broadens the horizon for targeted therapeutic interventions. By focusing on the Wnt signaling pathway, researchers hope to develop treatments that could alleviate or even reverse the vascular defects associated with compromised EMC1 function. More information: Shujin Li et al, Defective EMC1 drives abnormal retinal angiogenesis via Wnt/-catenin signaling and may be associated with the pathogenesis of familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, Genes & Diseases (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.10.003 Provided by TranSpread This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A study of more than 850,000 children born in Australia found that parental infertility may be a factor for a small increased risk of birth defects in children conceived through fertility treatment. The authors also found that the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was associated with an increased risk for major genitourinary abnormalities. However, the authors caution that the overall increase in the relative risks is small. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Many children are conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles each year. Previous research has shown that children born from ART have a 25% to 50% increased risk for congenital abnormalities, particularly cardiac and genitourinary anomalies. However, it is unclear how much of this risk can be attributed to parental infertility problems compared to ART treatment. Researchers from University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, conducted propensity scoreweighted population-based cohort study of 851,984 infants born between 2009 and 2017 in New South Wales, Australia. The authors found that there were approximately 40 additional cases of any major congenital abnormality per 10,000 singleton ART births compared to singletons conceived naturally to parents without prior infertility problems. This risk became insignificant when ART-conceived children were compared to children conceived naturally to parents with a history of infertility. The authors say that these findings suggest that parental infertility may partly explain the increase in risk seen in ART-conceived children. The authors also found that ICSI treatment was a risk factor for genitourinary anomalies, even in couples without male infertility. They note that these findings strongly suggest that ICSI represents an independent risk factor for congenital abnormalities and should be reserved for patients with male infertility. More information: Risk for Congenital Anomalies in Children Conceived With Medically Assisted Fertility Treatment, Annals of Internal Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.7326/M23-0872. www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M23-0872 Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine 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: Researchers from the United States, Brazil, and Spain joined in an analysis of ultra-processed food published in the Oct. 10 special edition of the British Medical Journal, stating there is converging and consistent support for the validity and clinical relevance of food addiction. Credit: Clayton Metz/Virginia Tech Researchers from the United States, Brazil, and Spain, including scientists with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, published an analysis in a special edition of the British Medical Journal (BMJ ) with a timely and controversial recommendation: It's time for an international shift in the way we think about ultra-processed food. "There is converging and consistent support for the validity and clinical relevance of food addiction," said Ashley Gearhardt, the article's corresponding author and a psychology professor at the University of Michigan. "By acknowledging that certain types of processed foods have the properties of addictive substances, we may be able to help improve global health." While people can give up smoking, drinking, or gambling, they can't stop eating, said co-author Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, assistant professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. The challenge, and the open and controversial question, is defining which foods have the most potential for addiction and why. Their work was published in Food For Thought, a special edition of the British Medical Journal. DiFeliceantonio is also associate director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute's Center for Health Behaviors Research and an assistant professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. Not all foods have the potential for addiction, the researchers said. "Most foods that we think of as natural, or minimally processed, provide energy in the form of carbohydrate or fatbut not both," DiFeliceantonio said. Researchers gave the example of an apple, salmon, and a chocolate bar. The apple has a carbohydrate to fat ratio of roughly 1-to-0, while the salmon has a ratio of 0-to-1. In contrast, the chocolate bar has a carbohydrate to fat ratio of 1-to-1, which appears to increase a food's addictive potential. "Many ultra-processed foods have higher levels of both. That combination has a different effect on the brain," DiFeliceantonio said. Researchers also called for more study into the role of food additives used in industrial processing. Key takeaways from the analysis include: Behaviors around ultra-processed food, which are high in refined carbohydrates and added fats, may meet the criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorder in some people. Those behaviors include less control over intake, intense cravings, symptoms of withdrawal, and continued use despite such consequences as obesity, binge eating disorder, poorer physical and mental health, and lower quality of life. This global health challenge needs to consider geographic differences. In a review of 281 studies from 36 different countries, researchers found ultra-processed food addiction is estimated to occur in 14 percent of adults and 12 percent of children. In some countries, ultra-processed foods are a needed source of calories. Even within high-income countries, food deserts and other factors could limit access to minimally processed foods. People facing food insecurity are more reliant on ultra-processed foods, and therefore more likely to demonstrate food addiction, researchers noted. Viewing some foods as addictive could lead to novel approaches in the realm of social justice, clinical care, and public policy. Policies implemented in Chile and Mexicotaxes, labeling, and marketingare associated with decreases in caloric intake and purchases of foods high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt, for example. And in the United Kingdom, a salt-reduction program was associated with a decline in deaths from stroke and coronary artery disease. The co-authors represent international expertise on food addiction, nutrition physiology, gut-brain reward signaling, food policy, behavioral addiction, and eating disorders. They call for more study and science surrounding ultra-processed foods, "Given how prevalent these foods arethey make up 58 percent of calories consumed in the United Statesthere is so much we don't know," DiFeliceantonio said. The researchers call for more study into such areas as: how complex features of ultra-processed foods combine to increase their addictive potential; better defining which foods can be considered addictive; differences among countries and communities, including disadvantaged communities; the value of public-health messaging; and clinical guidelines for preventing, treating, and managing addiction to ultra-processed foods. In addition to Gearhardt and DiFeliceantonio, authors include Nassib B. Bueno, a professor at Universidade Federal de Alagoas in Brazil; Christina A. Roberto, associate professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine; and Susana Jimenez-Murcia and Fernando Fernandez-Aranda, both professors in the Department of Clinical Psychology at the University Hospital of Bellvitge in Spain. 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Over the last week or so, there has been widespread condemnation of a letter to the editor penned by a retired British anesthetist and published in a U.K. newspaper. In his letter, Dr. Peter Hilton described female doctors as a "snowflake generation" who need to "toughen up" in response to new research showing that 30% of female surgeons had been sexually assaulted by their male colleagues while at work. Dr Peter Hiltons letter sparked outrage. Picture: X While his comments sparked outrage, he went on to defend his stance. "You will meet people who are bullies, you will meet people who are misogynistic and do inappropriate things but deal with it. I've sent the letter to colleagues I worked with and they agree wholeheartedly." Sadly, he is correct about the fact that many of his colleagues agree. He is incorrect in saying female doctors should just "deal with it." But opinions like Peter Hilton's are not isolated. They are widespread in our public hospitals. I've seen it, heard it and lived it. Misogyny in medicine in 2023 While female medical students at universities in Australia have outnumbered males since the mid-1980s, there remains significant underrepresentation of women in leadership across all medical and academic fields. Especially in senior prestigious roles. In my specialty of endocrinology, of the 11 teaching hospitals with Endocrine Departments in Victoria, only one is led by a female. This is despite 78% of endocrinology trainees being female. When raised, most men are shocked and oblivious to that dominancea reflection of their unconscious bias and privilege. But repairing broken systems becomes impossible when leaders view misogyny as a shocking anomaly instead of acknowledging it as an underlying structure. Hospitals are hierarchical institutions built by men for men. Whether it's the name of a lecture theater, a hospital wing or the portraits adorning the wallsthe patriarchal culture is unmistakable. There are few spaces where women are represented and visible. Outright discrimination is common, ranging from unconscious bias, repeated microaggressions, to harassment, bullying or sexual assault. Under-reporting of such behavior in Australian medicine is endemic. The small microaggressions faced by female doctors occur daily; "are you a nurse?" or "you're so bossy" are common, being interrupted when speaking, or having ideas and suggestions ignored in meetings but then finding those same ideas appropriated by a male doctor who then receives credit. Cumulatively, microaggressions like these have been clearly shown to negatively impact the physical and mental health of recipients. Men hold most of the senior leadership roles within public hospitals, and as such, control performance reviews, references and the future careers of medical staff they supervise. This power imbalance in hospital structures perpetuates inequity, with junior staff often gaslit or feeling unable to report inappropriate behavior for fear of reprisal. As leaders, once appointed, often remain in their roles until they retire. Even when complaints about misconduct are raised, they can be ignored for years with little prospect of effecting change. Hospital leadership structures need a radical review to enable psychological safety to speak up and ultimately, to nurture innovations most effectively in patient care. Female doctors are quitting Research has found that female doctors do more for our patients for less recognition. Salaries of female doctors are 12 to 25% lower than males across all specialties, even after accounting for hours worked. There are less resources to support womenwhether it's financial resources, support staff or disparities in mentoring and sponsorship. On top of the gender pay gap is a workload gap. Female doctors undertake more mentoring of junior medical staff, accept more committee service, are more likely to answer patient queries and more accurately document in medical records. All highly important but invisible work. Outside of the hospital, inequity doesn't end. High achieving female physician scientists spend 8.5 hours more per week than their male counterparts on domestic activities like caring for children or family. This disparity was magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, male medical researchers published more studies than women compared to pre-pandemic levelswhich suggests that women are at far greater risk of falling behind their male colleagues during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Not surprisingly, the constant inequity and battles for recognition negatively impact physical and mental well-being. When women don't feel heard, they disengage, don't turn up or they leave. Burnout, depression, inability to find professional fulfillment and realize career goals and amplified imposter syndrome are just some of the consequences. Harm is magnified for women who are part of other underrepresented groups like women of color. Research shows that across every career stage, female doctors are leaving teaching hospitals, or are planning to withdraw, at a higher rate than male doctors. All of this is happening at your local hospital. Female doctors provide better patient care Despite these workplace challenges, patients of female surgeons and physicians have better outcomes, unrelated to case complexity. Doctors from diverse socio-educational backgrounds better serve the community, and there is clear evidence that patients are not only less likely to die, but have less surgical complications, hospital readmissions and even better control of their diabetes with female doctors. The relative risk reduction of 4% seen by patients of female doctors compared to patients of male doctors is equivalent to the reduction in all-cause mortality seen over the last 10 years because of advances in medicine. Many female doctors practice medicine differently to male doctors and research supports this. They are more likely to provide preventative care, use patient-centered communication, provide more psychosocial counseling, take more time per patient, may be more deliberate in their approach to solving complex problems, are more likely to adhere to clinical guidelines, and spend more time documenting in medical records. Who would you prefer to have treating you next time you arrive in the Emergency Department? The inability to retain female doctors was already an issue prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but staffing shortages have now reached crisis point and will only worsen. If drastic changes don't occur to support and retain female doctors, we will face a hospital staffing crisis where critical health operations cannot be sustained. Action is needed now to protect our community Established in 2005 to encourage and recognize commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), universities across the world have committed to the Athena SWAN Charter. This is a framework designed to support and transform gender equality within higher education and research. Nothing like this exists in our public hospitals or health care organizations. There needs to be a commitment and mandate from Government, unions and hospital boards to urgently address misogyny in medicine and embed change in governance and accountability structures. Hospital leaders need to: Prioritize and appropriately resource gender equity, diversity and inclusion work Undertake transparent, rigorous self-assessment to analyze existing culture and barriers to gender equity Develop proactive plans to reduce identified barriers, increase the safety of all staff and enable system-wide cultural change. Some examples include the American Society of Clinical Oncology's practical steps for cultural change or Ruchika Tulshyan's ADAPT framework. There is no reason why hospitals and health care organizations cannot commit to the Athena SWAN Charter or other similar frameworks like the National Academies of Medicine recommendations to address misogyny in medicine. We have enough evidence. We already know enough to act. Public hospitals use public funds to best serve the community. We can't hope to effectively improve the health of the wider community if we can't ensure that female staff in our health care and academic institutions are safe, healthy and well. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain In some ways, the link between viruses, vaccines and heart health is simple. Think of your heart as a house, said Dr. Jorge Alvarez, an interventional cardiologist at Methodist Cardiology Clinic of San Antonio. "You have the walls of your house, which are like the walls of your heart. You have the doors, which are the valves. And then you have plumbing and electricity. "A virus can affect all of those aspects of your house," he said. That makes being vaccinated against COVID-19, flu and other illnesses an important way for people with heart disease to protect themselves. That fact can get lost in the swirl of new information, not to mention misinformation, surrounding vaccines. Now that the updated COVID-19 vaccine is availableand can be given at the same time as the flu shothere are more straightforward answers from the experts on what people with cardiovascular issues should know about viruses and vaccines. Viruses pose serious heart risks Heart issues and infection are linked in many ways. One is inflammation, said Dr. Saate Shakil, an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco. Diseases caused by viruses, such as the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, can cause inflammation. So can bacterial illnesses such as pneumonia. If you have coronary heart disease, blood flow is restricted by plaque-filled arteries. In such cases, inflammation could lead to a plaque rupture, blood clot and blocked artery that causes a heart attack or stroke, said Shakil, who has studied links between COVID-19 and stroke. Other research has shown: Problems such as heart attacks and heart failure (the inability of the heart to pump properly) occur in about 20% of adults hospitalized with RSV, according to a 2018 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology . . COVID-19 is linked to an increased risk of irregular heartbeats, heart failure and coronary disease. In a study published in 2021 in The Lancet , COVID-19 was associated with a threefold to eightfold increased risk of having a heart attack and a threefold to sevenfold increased risk of having a stroke. , COVID-19 was associated with a threefold to eightfold increased risk of having a heart attack and a threefold to sevenfold increased risk of having a stroke. The risk of a heart attack may be as much as six times higher in the week after a flu diagnosis, found a study published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine. A virus doesn't have to attack the heart directly to endanger it, Shakil said. Someone with pneumonia might have trouble breathing, which strains the heart. Meanwhile, Alvarez said, a high fever caused by infection can sometimes lead to heart rhythm issues in certain people. Vaccines protect against those risks Alvarez likens cardiovascular problems to a campfire. Cholesterol, which leads to arterial plaque, is like a growing pile of wood in his analogy. Inflammation is the lighter fluid. A viral or bacterial infection is the match that sets it all off. A vaccine, he said, is like a bucket of water for that match, stopping the whole process. A research letter published in February in JACC found that among more than 1.9 million people infected with the coronavirus, vaccination was associated with a lower risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events. Flu vaccination, meanwhile, is associated with a lower risk of stroke. In an analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2021, flu vaccination also was associated with an 18% lower chance of death from cardiovascular problems and a 25% lower chance of death from any cause. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that people who have heart disease or have had a stroke should talk to their health care team about vaccinations for COVID-19, flu and pneumococcal disease, which includes pneumonia and meningitis. They should also stay current on a Tdap vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (also known as whooping cough). The CDC also recommends that adults 60 and older ask about the new RSV vaccine. A health care professional can offer advice on other vaccines, as well as whether to avoid certain formulations. For example, the CDC says people who are pregnant, have weakened immune systems or are 50 and older should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine, which is a live virus-based vaccine. "It's not that they can't get vaccinated," Shakil said. "It's just that the type of vaccine has to be tailored for them." Vaccination risks are realbut far outweighed by the benefits Vaccines can have side effects. The COVID-19 vaccine, for example, has been linked to rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis, types of heart inflammation. That has to be viewed in context, said Dr. Gregory Piazza, director of vascular medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "What we're talking about with the risks of the vaccine are very infrequent events," said Piazza, who also is an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "And you pit that against the large degree of benefit that you get" by reducing the severity of COVID-19 and reducing the odds of being hospitalized or having a cardiovascular complication. "Those are real, tangible benefits," he said. Piazza, who designed and oversees a large nationwide study of COVID-19 patients, said the scope of serious side effects is "very small. Very, very small." For example, some vaccinated people had issues with blood clots. "But many people have issues with blood clots if they are hospitalized because of COVID-19," Piazza said. A study in England published in Circulation in 2022 found 10,500 more cases of dangerous blood clots among 1.4 million COVID-19 patients than would be expected without COVID-19. When Alvarez's patients express concerns about vaccine risks, he points out that their risk of getting in a major car accident on the way to his officea risk they all were comfortable withis higher than the risk of a serious reaction to the vaccine. "Vaccines are safe and effective, and they help save lives," he said. Shakil said her patients often have asked about vaccine safety, so she examined the history of each patient for risks. "I see a lot of patients, and I don't think there was a single patient where we went through their data and felt like it was risky for them to have the vaccination. If anything, it would have been more of a risk for them to have gotten COVID and not have been immunized." Vaccines aren't perfect Despite their overall benefits, COVID-19 and flu vaccines don't stop every infection. That does not mean they didn't work, Alvarez said. He likens a vaccine to helping your immune system study for a testit might not score 100%, but it's going to do a lot better than someone who didn't study at all. You don't have to sort this out alone Worried or confused about which vaccines you need? It's OK to grill your cardiologist or primary care physician, Alvarez said. Ask them to explain their reasoning, then be open-minded about what they say. "There should be some thought and some discussion behind some of these things," he said. There are no silly questions, Shakil said. "The worst thing that could happen is that you walk away with more information than you came in with." China's Red Cross to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan Xinhua) 08:38, October 09, 2023 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China on Sunday said it has decided to provide the Afghan Red Crescent with 200,000 U.S. dollars in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance to aid its rescue and disaster relief efforts. Two 6.2-magnitude earthquakes jolted Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon local time, resulting in huge casualties and property losses. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain In a new Annals 'Beyond the Guideline's feature, two experts review the available evidence about cognitive impairment to determine effective screening tools, interventions to improve patient outcomes, and the circumstances under which they would recommend screening for cognitive impairment (CI). All Beyond the Guidelines features are based on the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston and include print, video, and educational components published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Dementia, according to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is defined by a significant decline in 1 or more cognitive domains that interferes with a person's independence in daily activities. Mild cognitive impairment differs from dementia in that the impairment is not sufficient to interfere with independence. A variety of screening tests are available for Cognitive Impairment. A positive screening test does not diagnose CI; rather it should lead to additional testing to confirm the diagnosis. Upon review of the evidence, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded in 2020 that the evidence was insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for cognitive impairment in older adults ("I statement"). The USPSTF did clarify that although there is insufficient evidence, there may be important reasons to identify CI. BIDMC Grand Rounds discussants, Michael Barry, M.D., Chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Deborah Blacker, M.D., ScD, member of the Department of Psychiatry and the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School recently debated the case of Ms. B., a 75-year-old woman who, along with her primary care physician, were wondering whether she should be screened for memory loss given multiple risk factors and her desire to be proactive about her medical care. Dr. Barry explained the rationale for the "I" statement and the lack of sufficient evidence from either the direct or indirect evidence pathway to recommend for or against screening. Dr. Blacker agrees that the available screening tests have issues with reliability, especially in certain patient populations. Both discussants also agree that the established agents have limited efficacy and have not been observed to change the course of the disease. Dr. Blacker reviewed that the newer anti-amyloid agents may change the course of the disease, but any cognitive benefits are modest and carry the risk for significant adverse effects. Dr. Barry reviewed that although the USPSTF found that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening, there may be important reasons to identify CI, as early detection may allow for identification and treatment of reversible causes, help clinicians be aware of patients who might have difficulty understanding and adhering to medical treatment plans, and provide useful information for patients and families as they begin advance care planning. Dr. Blacker concurs and adds that these potential benefits add to the importance of developing a system that conducts and supports screening in primary care. In summary, Dr. Barry would leave the informed decision to screen our patient, Ms. B, to her and her clinician. Dr. Blacker would grant Ms. B's request for screening, as she thinks Ms. B's request may reflect greater difficulties than are otherwise apparent and that, given her family responsibilities and complex medical regimen, the prompt recognition of CI is of particular importance. 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: Inflammatory markers are elevated in VITT and non-VITT patients. Inflammatory markers were measured in VITT patient, non-VITT patient, and healthy donor (HD) plasma by Simple Plex ELLA automated assay system or ELISA. IL-1 (A), IL-6 (B), IL-8 (C), TNF- (D), and C-reactive protein (E). Dotted lines indicate pooled normal plasma antigen concentrations. Data are shown as median interquartile range. P < .05, P < .01, P < .001. VITT, vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis. Credit: Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.09.007 A team of scientists led by the University of Aberdeen has taken an important step forward in understanding the mechanisms by which adenovirus-based vaccines, including some of those used in the COVID pandemic, can cause serious adverse reactions. Working in collaboration with NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and NHS Lothian, the researchers have identified a new key feature of the ultra-rare condition termed Vaccine Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT). This life-threatening condition is associated with the adenovirus-based vaccines to COVID-19, including Oxford-Astra Zeneca and Johnson-Johnson. During the vaccine rollout, a small number of previously healthy people became rapidly unwell after vaccination and developed sometimes fatal blood clots or bleeding abnormalities. Patients with VITT have unique antibodies to a protein called platelet factor 4 (PF4). The antibodies cause activation of small cell fragments in the blood called, platelets, and trigger blood clotting. In the case of VITT blood clots were often present in unusual sites such as the brain, gut and liver. The team led by Professor Nicola Mutch analyzed samples from all suspected cases of VITT from across Scotland. Some of these patients were confirmed to have this rare condition based on the presence of antibodies to PF4 and other clinical features, including the presence of blood clots. Analysis of the samples from these patients found that there was overactivation of the body's natural "blood-clot-busting system," termed fibrinolysis. Uncontrolled fibrinolysis results in breakdown of the main building block of a blood clot, called fibrinogen. Published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, these important observations help explain both the clot formation and the bleeding complications, commonly intracranial hemorrhage, seen in VITT patients. This missing piece of the puzzle is vital, as adenoviruses are used in other aspects of medicine, including as vectors in gene therapy for cancers and hemophilia. Understanding the mechanisms by which adenovirus-based products can cause adverse reactions, like VITT, is crucial in considering future use in other medicinal products. It may also guide therapeutic strategies to treat similar conditions to VITT in the future. In this study, all samples from suspected cases of VITT seen in Scottish hospitals were included in the analysis. This allowed the team to make comparisons between patients with a VITT diagnosis and those initially suspected but who were ultimately found to be negative for the condition. Patients with VITT showed a very high incidence of a complication called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a severe abnormality in the blood clotting cascade which can cause organ damage and uncontrollable bleeding. In patients with VITT there was also evidence of excessive breakdown of these blood clots and their precursor, fibrinogen, suggesting overactivation of fibrinolysis. Emeritus Professor, Henry Watson explains, "This research was triggered by the recognition of the catastrophic outcomes of VITT, in which previously healthy, frequently young individuals were becoming rapidly unwell. This extremely rare but often fatal reaction to the adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine usually occurred around seven to 30 days after vaccination. "Given that Aberdeen held all of the Scottish samples of suspected VITT, we quickly realized this was a unique opportunity to help define the features of this complex syndrome and how it differs from other thrombotic conditions." Professor Mutch adds, "Our work identifies a novel aspect of VITT which was previously unrecognized. It helps us to understand the mechanisms underlying the clinical observations, whereby the patients suffer from complications due to both blood clots and bleeding at the same time. "The demonstration of overt disseminated intravascular coagulation and the breakdown of the clotting protein fibrinogen in VITT had not previously been recognized but this helps explain the acute symptoms and rapid course of this extremely rare complication of vaccination with adenovirus-based vaccines." More information: Megan Simpson et al, Fibrinogenolysis and fibrinolysis in vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis, Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.09.007 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: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Every eight minutes, a child experiences a medication error at home. These mistakes can be life-threatening. Errors can include administering the wrong medication, the wrong dose, wrong concentration or preparation, for the wrong duration or frequency. These are more likely to occur in children six years of age and younger. We asked Ulfat Shaikh how to prevent home medication errors. She recently published a paper on this topic in Clinical Pediatrics. Shaikh is a UC Davis pediatrician and medical director of health care quality at UC Davis Health, Are there specific groups who are more at risk for medication errors? Children with complex medical conditions are at high risk for medication errors since they often take multiple medications that may have complex administration instructions. But any child receiving medicine at home is at risk. Each year, approximately 300,000 medication errors are reported annually to poison control centers in the United States; 90% of these errors occur at home. The most common errors are giving the wrong medication or the wrong dose, administering medicines that their child has known allergies to, missing doses or taking more than they should. There are also problems with swallowing medication when it should be applied on the skin. What kinds of medications are responsible for the most medical errors? Liquid medications for children are most frequently misused compared to tablets. Many parents use household spoons to measure liquid medication and these spoons can vary widely in size and shape. Five milliliters (ml.) is a teaspoon but household spoons can vary from 2 ml. to 10 ml. It is much safer to use an oral medication syringe to measure out liquid or use the dosing tool that comes with the medication or that your pharmacist gives you. What are other common medication errors? There are also mistakes with the wrong strength or concentration. Many medications like Tylenol are available in infant's strength and children's strength. What people don't know is that infant's strength is much stronger, more concentrated than children's strength. Parents can easily make a mistake by giving a higher dosage of infant's strength medicine, thinking that this is not as strong as children's strength. Always check the label for your child's weight and age to find the right dosage. This can also happen with inhalers. If your child has asthma, they may have two inhalers: a rescue inhaler, which is a short acting inhaler when they are having symptoms, and a maintenance inhaler, a long-acting inhaler that they should use every day. Often families get confused and their child uses the wrong inhaler at the wrong time. Sometimes the inhalers are both the same color or they look very similar. It's critical to keep these apart. One trick is to create a label that reads "everyday" for the everyday inhaler and an "emergency" label for the rescue inhaler. You can use different colored duct tape or painter's tape to label them or ask your pharmacist if they can make visible labels. What should parents do if an error occurs? Look closely at their child. If they have mild or no symptoms, call Poison Control at 800-222-1222. Add this phone number to your cellphone's contacts. If your child is having serious symptoms like they are having trouble breathing, if they are extremely drowsy or having seizures, call 911. What are other ways that parents can avoid medication errors? Don't give your child medicine for fever if you have already given your child cold medicine. Cold medicine often has a fever medicine in it and can result in a double dose. If you have been alternating between acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce your child's fever, I advise parents to pick one to treat your child's fever instead of alternating. It's best to avoid alternating in young children because alternating raises the likelihood of errors. Children should never take adult medicine. Keep in mind that those under 4 years old should not be given cough and cold medicine that has a decongestant or an antihistamine because of the risks of dangerous side effects including convulsions and rapid heart rates. Parents should be sure to throw away expired medication and never share prescriptions or antibiotics among children. Why should parents not save antibiotics and give them to their children? If your child is prescribed antibiotics, they should take the full treatment and not stop halfway through once they are feeling better. There should not be any antibiotic leftovers. But for any prescriptions, keep in mind that this was meant for a child's specific weight, age and medical condition and you don't want to share it with others. What's a good way to dispose of medication? Some pharmacies and local law enforcement agencies have drop-off kiosks or take-back days for dropping off medication. Don't flush medication down the toilet or pour it down the sink unless the medication instructions indicate that it is safe to do so. Medication can be thrown away in the garbage, but it's best to remove it from its original containers and make it less appealing for people who may be looking for drugs. Mix it into old coffee grounds, dirt or used cat litter before throwing it into the garbage. How can doctors help parents avoid medication errors? Approximately 40% to 80% of health information that patients receive during medical visits is incorrectly remembered or not retained at all. Patients with limited English should request and use an interpreter to ensure they understand the medication prescribed and the dose. Doctors should use plain language in non-medical terms. Doctors should use the "teach back" technique and ask the parent to explain the information that was explained to them. Let them know it's not a test of a parent's knowledge but a test of how well a doctor has explained something. Parents should take notes on a notepad or their phone. Ask to record what a doctor is saying so they can go back over it later or share it with another caregiver. Doctors should also provide this same information as printed instructions in the after-visit summary or on the patient portal. What are some safety tips for older children who are self-managing their medication? For older children who use over-the-counter medication on their own, be sure you go over instructions with them and use the 'teach back' technique to confirm your child's understanding. Reinforce that they should never share over-the-counter medication with friends, siblings or any children whom they are babysitting. And they should never use someone else's medicine. Always store medication out of reach. For teens, make sure they add the Poison Control number to their cellphone list so it's readily available to them if needed. More information: Ulfat Shaikh et al, Implementing Strategies to Prevent Home Medication Administration Errors in Children With Medical Complexity, Clinical Pediatrics (2023). DOI: 10.1177/00099228231196750 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: Colorized transmission electron micrograph of Avian influenza A H5N1 viruses. Credit: Public Domain A two-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, the health ministry said Monday night, the second death recorded in the country in two days. The World Health Organization has called for vigilance after the virus was detected in mammals, but has stressed that the risk to humans is low. The health ministry said tests on Monday confirmed the unnamed girl from eastern Prey Veng province had contracted H5N1. On Sunday, authorities said a 50-year-old man had died from the virus in neighboring Svay Rieng province. It is the third confirmed case in Cambodia this year after an eleven-year-old died in February, and the 59th recorded instance of bird flu since the virus hit the country two decades ago. Some chickens died at the two-year-old child's home, the ministry said in a statement, adding that they were investigating the case. The disease typically spreads from birds to humans through direct contact. The ministry again urged villagers to be vigilant about H5N1, warning them not to eat unwell or dead poultry. On Monday officials said the virus was "still a threat to the health of people, especially children". Since late 2021, Europe has been gripped by its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, with North and South America also experiencing severe outbreaks. This has led to the culling of tens of millions of domestic poultry worldwide, many with the H5N1 strain. The global outbreak is also responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of wild birds. The recent detection of the disease in a number of mammals, including foxes, otters, minks, sea lions and even grizzly bears, has sparked concern that humans could be more at risk. 2023 AFP Cut Bank police shot and killed a 54-year-old man on Friday who authorities say violated a protection order and was armed with a rifle, according to the Montana Attorney Generals Office. Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Fifth Avenue Southwest in Cut Bank on Friday for a report of a protection order violation, according to a news release. As officers arrived on scene, the respondent of the protection order exited his vehicle and confronted officers with a rifle, the news release stated. An officer fired his duty weapon, striking the suspect. The man, a Cut Bank resident, died from his injuries. The officer who fired the shot was placed on administrative leave and was uninjured, according to the release. The identity of the officer and the deceased will not be released at this time, the release stated. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI), part of the state Department of Justice, was called in to investigate the shooting, as is common when someone is killed by law enforcement in Montana. The Glacier County Sheriffs Office is handling the coroners investigation, while the Cut Bank Police Department is doing an internal review to ensure policy and use of force guidelines were followed, according to the release. We ask for patience as the investigations are conducted," Cut Bank Police Chief Michael Schultz said in the release. "As the Chief in Cut Bank, I have seen the impact incidents like this can have in a small community. I also know how well small towns come together and support each other in a crisis. I ask that you please keep those involved, as well as their families, in your thoughts and prayers." DCI agents were dispatched to Cut Bank to start an investigation upon the chiefs request, DCI administrator Bryan Lockerby said in the news release. "Every investigation into an officer-involved shooting takes considerable time for us to process the scene and follow up with interviews, ballistics, and toxicology. We will be responsive, intentional, and thorough, Lockerby said. A coroners inquest will be scheduled after the investigation is finished. Inquests are required by state law when someone dies in a prison or jail or in the custody of any law enforcement agent. A coroner (not a judge) presides over an inquest before a coroners jury in a public courtroom. Evidence surrounding the persons death is presented to a jury, which then decides if the use of the force by law enforcement was justified. More recreation and camping facilities, as well as measures to protect fish habitat, could come to Fish Creek State Park and surrounding state lands under a draft plan developed by the state of Montana. FWP partnered with The Center for Natural Resources & Environmental Policy at University of Montana to manage public input and to help develop the plan, which was originally expected to be released last March. The survey last year garnered 675 responses. The planning team also held multiple stakeholder meetings and a site visit in 2022. Fish Creek State Park, a more than 5,600-acre plot about 35 miles west of Missoula on the south side of the Clark Fork River and Interstate 90 between Alberton and Superior, is part of a larger complex of more than 45,000 acres of state lands in the area. The park is surrounded by the 35,317-acre Fish Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and about 6,000 acres of state trust lands. The amalgamation of state lands borders the Lolo National Forest. The area also includes campgrounds, fishing access sites and the Alberton Gorge Recreation Area. Last year, a reorganization of FWP placed WMAs and fishing access sites under the Parks and Recreation Division alongside state parks like Fish Creek. Trails and trout: State seeks input on Fish Creek recreation The state of Montana wants to balance recreation and resource conservation in western Montana's largest state park and adjoining state lands. Much of the Fish Creek watershed was former timber lands that the state acquired from The Nature Conservancy in 2010. The area is etched with a spider web of logging roads and other roads and trails. It's popular among anglers and campers, as well as hunters, mountain bikers, hikers and people floating the nearby Alberton Gorge. FWP's draft strategy covers a project area of more than 45,000 acres of the various state lands in the watershed, which the document states is "a stronghold for Montanas native trout, including bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout, and wild populations of rainbow trout and brown trout." It's also home to an estimated 57 mammal species, 115 bird species, five amphibian and five reptile species. That includes game animals like moose, elk, black bear, mountain lions and wolves. In the draft, FWP proposes a variety of management actions divided across three phases. Phase 1 actions could be accomplished with existing agency resources and would have a high benefit to resources in the area. Such actions include FWP recommending that the Fish and Wildlife Commission close Fish Creek to recreational floating to prevent the removal of woody debris that serves as important fish habitat. Phase 1 activities also include delineating dispersed campsites to confine heavy impacts to certain areas and rehabbing sites that are too close to water or each other. Vault toilets could be installed near clusters of dispersed sites. Three existing off-highway vehicle loops Hay Creek, Bear Point and Williams Pass would be preserved, maintained and marked with signs. ADA-accessible campsites would be added at the Big Pine and/or Forks campgrounds. Phase 2 actions would require resources beyond those currently available to the agency for Fish Creek, and may require legislative appropriation or environmental analysis under the Montana Environmental Policy Act. Those actions include an expansion of dispersed camping and developed campgrounds, hiring campground and park staff and installing information signs and kiosks. Phase 3 actions are "long-term management actions that require additional public engagement and planning," according to the draft, and may also require completion of the first two phases. Those actions include rehabbing the Williams Peak Lookout and opening it to the public (planning work would begin in Phase 1), planning the development of new purpose-built trails for hiking and mountain biking, establishing trailhead parking areas for OHV users, and maintaining and developing stream access trails. Similar to the draft plan, fishing and camping topped survey respondents' interests in the area. Sixty-five percent of respondents most often visited Fish Creek to go fishing, 51% for camping and 44% for hiking. Hunting was the main draw for 28% of respondents. Mountain biking trailed most activities at 22%, and motorized recreation like OHV use was the main draw for 11% of respondents. Wednesdays 20th annual International Conference on Central and Southwest Asia at the University of Montana has gained new urgency after violence erupted in Israel and the Gaza Strip over the weekend. Conference organizer Bob Seidenschwarz said Israeli Consul General Marco Sermonetas keynote speech Wednesday evening remains on the schedule, although its content is likely to change. Sermonetas speech was titled Charting a new course: Israels engagement in the Middle East and Beyond. Montana Commerce Department Director Scott Osterman will join Sermoneta for a facilitated discussion starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the University Centers third-floor theater on the UM campus. Hamas militants launched a surprise rocket attack on Saturday from both inside and outside the Gaza Strip on the cities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and several smaller cities. The initial attacks killed an estimated 700 people and saw at least 100 Israelis taken hostage, reportedly including military personnel and American citizens. Israeli counter-attacks on the enclave of about 2 million Palestinians killed an estimated 560 people and wounded almost 3,000 as of Monday morning. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Gaza, and the United States ordered an aircraft carrier group to move close to Israel to discourage others from escalating the conflict. The U.S. also sent new military supplies to Israel. The conflict erupted despite efforts by both the Biden and Trump administrations to broker better relations between Israel and its Middle East neighbors, particularly Saudi Arabia. The two-day conference starts at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday with members of the Montana Army National Guard presenting on their activities in Central Asia. At 12:30 p.m., UM scholars Michel Mayer, Mehrdad Kia and Seidenschwarz will probe U.S., China, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran: A new world order in the Middle East. The afternoon panel features Learning Economy co-founder Jackson Smith on Why I learn artificial intelligence and how you can too. Thursdays slate starts at 11 a.m. with Concept Elemental founder Jennifer Warren speaking on Chronicles in Energy and Geopolitics. UM professor Ardi Kia speaks at 12:30 p.m. on Central Asia: Myth and Reality. At 2:30 p.m. UM professors Mladen Kozul and Michel Valentin discuss Banlieues, police, violence and Muslim immigration in contemporary France." Former Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Warren provide the evenings keynote presentation on Montana, international conflicts and energy crisis at 6 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. The conference is organized by the Central and Southwest Asian Studies Center at UM and the Montana World Affairs Council. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service are once again seeking comments on a repeatedly stalled and revived draft plan to reintroduce grizzly bears to the Northern Cascades Ecosystem in Washington. In response to a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, the agencies resurrected the plan last fall. Late last month, they released a draft environmental impact statement the most rigorous level of environmental analysis of a proposed federal action for transplanting grizzlies to the ecosystem. The plan seeks to build a population of 200 bears over 60100 years, starting with a base of 25 bears in the first five to 10 years. Grizzlies were once prevalent in the region, according to NPS research. The species, which has been protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 1975, was extirpated from the area in the 1900s through a combination of habitat destruction and killing by humans. As many as six bears from neighboring British Columbia may occasionally venture into the Cascades, but none are known to permanently reside in the ecosystem. The plan to return grizzlies to the 95,000-square-mile ecosystem surrounding Northern Cascades National Park has been mired in disagreement from local ranchers to Cabinet secretaries and the halls of Congress. An independent poll in 2016 found that 80% of Washington voters supported grizzly recovery in the state. Since then, two previous rounds of public comment brought in more than 127,000 comments. In 2017, President Trump's then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ordered a halt just as the planning process was finishing its third year of review. Zinke restarted the process four months later, and left the Cabinet position at the end of that year. He was elected a second time as a Montana congressman in 2022. Zinke's replacement at Interior, David Bernhardt, halted the reintroduction plan again in 2020. That stoppage led to the ultimately successful lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity, which argued the agency was required by the ESA to pursue reintroduction. The agencies are accepting comments on the 303-page plan until 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on Nov. 13. Comments can be submitted online at parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=112008 or mailed to Superintendent, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 810 State Route 20, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284. Washington agriculture groups have vehemently opposed grizzly reintroduction. Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Washington, has also been a vocal opponent in Congress. Newhouse, who has a background in agriculture, blasted the draft plan in a statement Thursday, calling it "ill-conceived" and a threat to humans and agriculture. He also criticized comments coming from outside the area of north-central Washington around the northern Cascades. "The Biden administration should prioritize listening to local voices rather than being swayed by unelected bureaucrats from D.C. or radical environmentalists from out-of-state who will not be affected by these dangerous creatures," Newhouse said. "Its easy for urban-dwellers hundreds of miles away to be excited by the prospect of grizzly bear restoration, but they won't have to grapple with the consequences of an 800-pound killing machine being introduced into their own neighborhoods." The congressman also knocked the comment period as nothing more than a performative gesture. "This is incredibly reckless and underscores a larger concern," Newhouse said. "The Biden administration seems to have a preconceived conclusion in mind, rendering this public comment period a mere facade." Andrea Zaccardi, the Center for Biological Diversity carnivore conservation legal director, lauded the draft plan in a statement upon the document's release late last month. "Im delighted to see that a plan to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades is moving forward," she said. "Grizzly bears once thrived in the North Cascades, and this is a good step toward bringing grizzlies back to this vast, wild area where they clearly belong." The Northern Cascades Ecosystem is one of six grizzly bear recovery zones identified by FWS in the 1990s as part of the agency's recovery plan for the species. The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem around Montana's Glacier National Park and Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex is home to just over 1,100 grizzlies. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem around Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks at the Wyoming-Idaho-Montana interface is home to more than 1,000 grizzlies. The Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem in far northwest Montana and Selkirk Ecosystem in far northern Idaho and northeast Washington are each home to fledgling populations. The Bitterroot Ecosystem in southwest Montana, like the Northern Cascades Ecosystem, has no known resident grizzlies. But grizzlies do occasionally roam into and out of the areas in small numbers. Earlier this year, in response to a separate lawsuit from Alliance for the Wild Rockies, a federal judge ordered FWS to follow through with a long-stalled plan to reintroduce the species to the Bitterroot. Before Lewis and Clark's 1805 expedition, grizzlies number about 50,000 in the Lower 48 across habitat spanning from Canada to Mexico. When the species received federal protection in 1975, they numbered fewer than 600 and occupied 2% of their original range in the Lower 48. As Melinda Kaye drove from the Flathead Reservation to Missoula on Monday morning with her son and niece in tow, she got a call from Polson High School asking why the children weren't in school. "I said, 'This is Indigenous Day!'" Kaye recounted. "I told them, 'It's a celebration. And people at the school should be celebrating with us.'" Administrators at the school excused the absences as a "cultural day" and told Kaye they had received several similar calls that morning. Kaye and her family were among hundreds of community members who gathered in Caras Park on Monday for the second annual Beartracks Celebration Powwow, an event filled with song, dance, food and crafts. Kaye's niece, Abigail Lei, is a 16-year-old student at Polson High School. She's also Miss Kootenai, meaning she was considered royalty at the powwow and had the opportunity to introduce herself to the crowd. Like many of the powwow participants, she missed school to attend Monday's event. "I didn't learn about Indigenous Peoples' Day until last year," Lei said. "No one talked about it or celebrated it. So I really hope this celebration will bring it to light." Kaye agreed. "Missoula is aboriginal territory," she said. "Having this event here is a big deal. This is a college town and lots of people come here from all over. It's a good thing; this is a way to raise awareness and educate." Hosted by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the event commemorates last years renaming and dedication of the Beartracks Bridge. Martin Charlo, CSKT councilman, said this years event was a little different from the year before, which acknowledged and honored Selis ancestors who were ordered by the U.S. government to leave their homelands in the Bitterroot Valley and relocate to the Flathead Reservation in 1891. This is more of a celebration of resiliency and the fact that were doing pretty well under the circumstances, Charlo said. Last year was a bit more somber. This showcases our success. We want to educate the community of our history here and our connection with the land. Practicing our culture here in downtown Missoula means a lot. Charlo admitted Montana has a long way to go in recognizing Indigenous people. There needs to be support and acknowledgment of who we are, he said. If people were more educated on the history of homesteading, of allotment, the termination era or assimilation era, they might truly understand our resiliency is something we can really showcase and celebrate. While at least 20 states and several cities in Montana recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, Montana, as a whole, does not. There are 12 tribal nations and seven reservations in Montana, and Native Americans comprise at least 6.7% of the states population. Indigenous lawmakers and community members have long urged the Legislature to establish Indigenous Peoples Day to no avail. Sen. Shane Morigeau, D-Missoula and a citizen of the CSKT, introduced a bill replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day last winter. In his introduction, Morigeau listed atrocities that Columbus had committed against Native people, including amputation, rape and beheading. Sen. Dan Salomon, R-Ronan, later blamed Morigeau for the bills failure, citing his introductory remarks. (Morigeau) starts off with accusing Columbus of rape, beheading, amputations I have never in my experience been so mad, Salomon said. Morigeau later defended his introduction, saying, I shared factual information. At the event, Morigeau spoke of resiliency, unity and the great contributions of tribal leaders, past and present. "We are here, and we've always been here," he said, adding he couldn't think of a better way to spend the day. George Bambalis walked into the bridal boutique at Nitsas Apparel and looked around to make sure no customers were browsing rows of elegant gowns before he spoke. Force of habit. I dont like to interrupt anything in here, he said after confirming that the coast was clear. Hed ducked into the bridal room to confirm in person the news slowly making the rounds. After 60 years as a clothier to generations of women in Winston-Salem brides and their mothers in particular Nitsas, the business his mom started over a pool hall downtown, was closing. Charmolypi, Bambalis said when asked about his feelings. Thats a Greek word, obviously. It means joyful sorrow, a little deeper maybe than bittersweet. You dont end something youve cultivated and cared for this long that involves family without feeling some sadness. Modest beginning In many ways, the story of Nitsas Apparel mirrors the mythology of the American dream. An immigrant who came to this country after being forced from her home made good through hard work and determination. The details, though, are best told by the second generation, George and Chrisanthy Chris Bambalis, who took over for Georges mother Nitsa following a health scare. Mom was an immigrant, George Bambalis said. She came here in 1951, an orphan in a sense because her father, a lieutenant in the Greek army, was killed fighting the Italians in Albania (at the beginning of World War II.) Her family ran a mill in their village, he said, which gave them access to electric generators. But it also made the family a target of the Germans and communist insurgents after the war ended, so she and her two brothers came to the U.S. Raleigh specifically to start over. Mom met Dad at a wedding. They got married in 1958, and I came along in 1959, George Bambalis said. His father, George Pete Bambalis, was a beloved figure in his own right for operating Recreation Billiards, an institution downtown he opened in 1947 using most of his war pay from World War II. A sharp businesswoman, Nitsa Dombalis Bambalis started doing alterations and making custom dresses in a room above the pool hall in 1964. More than one couple met in the pool hall, and the bride had her dress made upstairs, George Bambalis said. A shrewd eye for trends and spotting opportunities led to steady expansion after a modest beginning. A difficult decision The shop has been in its current and final home near Five Points since 1995. It had grown from alterations and custom bridal gowns to offering sportswear, of all things, special-occasion dresses, a day spa, cosmetics and prom wear. A second location opened in Charlotte, and was, as George Bambalis says with a great deal of pride, the first place in North Carolina to offer Vera Wang. To be sure, that sounds a bit incongruous coming from a former Olympics-style powerlifter, but a noteworthy achievement nonetheless. I never thought Id be in this business, George Bambalis said. But here we are. Ive been doing this for 37 years. The decision to close a landmark after so long didnt come easily. The Bamabises are approaching the age when Nitsa stepped away following a health scare to spend quality time with family. Slowing down carries a certain appeal. We put a lot of thought into it, said Chris Bambalis. We analyzed the data and looked at the economic environment. With a contract for renewing the lease for another five years coming due soon, the timing began to feel right. Once a final consideration, the most personal of all, was factored in, the decision to wind down by years end became clear. We lost our daughter, and our son moved to another city, Chris Bambalis said, referring to the passing of Sophia Bambalis, 25, in 2014. There was nobody to leave (the business) to. An announcement rolled out via Instagram and an old-school Going Out of Business banner went up. Were grateful for all the years we had, Chris Bambalis said. PHOTOS: Nitsa's Apparel closing after 60 years Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has responded to critics who called him out for comments he made in February, asserting that the Kenya Kwanza administration would prioritize those who voted for President Willaim Ruto. Addressing the audience on Sunday in Nandi County during a fundraiser at the Kapsabet ACK church, the Deputy President emphasized that he was steadfast in his stance, even quoting the Bible to back his claims. The matter of saying those who voted (for this government) be looked after is Biblical. What I am asking is within the Bible, he said. DP Gachagua cited Galatians 6:10, which reads: So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyoneespecially to those in the family of faith. The DP reiterated that safeguarding the interests of those who voted in the Kenya Kwanza administration is his responsibility, and he intends to continue doing so. He pointed an accusatory finger at the media, rejecting allegations of a rift between him and President Ruto. It is in the Bible; not my words. I want to tell these people, dont waste your time, there will be no division in this government. President William Ruto and I talk the same language. We consult, agree, and move on, Gachagua said. Gachagua clarified that his Mt Kenya unity initiative is strategically designed to secure a resounding victory for President Ruto in the next general election. He said their goal is to incorporate additional regions into their political strategy for the 2027 plan. Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, the Second Lady of Kenya, has claimed that the country will never legalize same-sex relationships. Mrs. Gachagua conveyed this message while addressing first-year students at the orientation forum held at Maasai Mara University in Narok County. I am a pastor and am a mother, and I have never in the history of the world found where religion, that is Christianity, the Muslim and the traditional religion, the culture and the law, meet at one place and say that this is the wrong thing. In this country, it is not lawful for a man to marry a man. It is not lawful for a woman to marry a woman. It is illegal, she said. Adding: Africa is not ready for that, we have our culture, we have our own religion, we have our religion, I think it is time we come out and speak. When you hear us speak about this, it is because we want to have a thriving Africa. Pastor Dorcas at the same time emphasized the importance of students openly addressing the challenges they face instead of resorting to drastic measures like taking their own lives. She made these remarks in response to the rising incidence of suicide among university and college students. During a recent interaction with students from the University of Nairobi, Pastor Dorcas was informed about numerous instances of suicide within the student community. Pastor Dorcas has been delivering talks in various institutions of higher learning. She conducted sessions at the University of Nairobi, Daystar University, Mt. Kenya University, and several vocational institutes. Additionally, she extended her preventive program to secondary schools, including Tudor Boys in Mombasa, Dagoreti High School, Aldai Girls in Nandi County, Kahuhia High School in Muranga, Kagumo High School in Nyeri, and Narok Boys High School. This initiative is a collaborative effort with NACADA and various religious organizations. Please dont die on me, I am a mother crying and speaking to you, please stay alive. We need you. She urged the Masaai Mara University students. President William Ruto has said the Government will lease sugar factories in a bid to revive the ailing sector. The Government, he added, will ensure prudent management of the factories to safeguard the interests of farmers. He noted that resources from the private sector will be instrumental in upgrading the factories facilities to enhance efficiency. We will agree with them to install new machines and pay farmers on time, he said. The Head of State observed that privatization is not a viable option, as it would result in private firms assuming ownership of farms. The President made the remarks during Sunday Service at Uriri Technical and Vocational College in Migori. He later launched the institutions digital skills laboratory. The President also visited the South Nyanza Sugar Company (Sony) and held talks with farmers. In Uriri, he laid the foundation stone for the establishment of Piny-Owacho Level 3A Hospital that will serve more than 200,000 people of Kanyamkago. This will expand the delivery of accessible, affordable and quality medical care, accelerating Universal Health Coverage. The Head of State launched the Mabera Affordable Housing project in Kuria West; a 200-unit project that will create job opportunities for the youth in the region. Present were Cabinet Secretaries Eliud Owalo, Ezekiel Machogu, Susan Nakhumicha, Moses Kuria, Davis Chirchir, and Salim Mvurya. Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko and a host of MPs and MCAs also attended. Governor Ayacko said it was in the best interest of the people that leaders work together to transform the country. -PCS Prof. George Wajackoya participated as one of the guests at the Watanashati festival hosted at Kinoru Stadium in Meru on Saturday, where he urged Kenyans to embrace reconciliation as a means of fostering national unity. Speaking to journalists during the festival, the former Presidential contender stated that his visit to the county was driven by a mission to convey the message that Kenya is a unified nation. He emphasized that everyone is free to explore any part of the country without harboring any fears. If you go to South Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, and any other part of the country you should feel comfortable. This issue of dividing the country into regions and backyards should have no place in modern Kenya, he said. The leader of the Roots Party extended thanks to President Dr. William Ruto for championing the vision of a unified nation. He appreciated the Presidents commitment to ensuring that every region and community receives equitable development, regardless of their voting patterns. I fully support the Presidents sentiments, during his ongoing visit to Nyanza region, on the need to have one Kenya, where people can all walk everywhere in this country and embrace each other as the country belongs to all of us, said Prof. Wajackoya, who also lauded the ongoing spirit of dialogue in the country. He added: Whoever says that one should not get to a certain area because it belongs to a certain community and such misconceptions is living in the 14th century and should be shunned by all and sundry. Prof Wajackoya expressed his gratitude to the people of Meru, particularly the youth, for their support during the previous years presidential elections. He assured them that, despite not winning the race, he remains dedicated to advancing their aspirations and will continue to work towards their goals. I would also encourage the young people of Meru to use the available opportunities to build their future, fully aware that you are all part of this great country, and let nobody divide you along ethnic lines, or discriminate you in any aspect, he implored, Prof. Wajackoya added: So, I am here to reconcile, to build and to provide the vision and the mission for the future of our youth. I seldom miss a Saturday Napa Farmers Market day, but this year the lure of the Santa Fe, the New Mexico Wine & Chile Fiesta got the best of me. This was my fifth trip to the festival, and it never disappoints. Once again, I got to taste foods such as red chile tamales, lamb barbacoa, stuffed Nu Mex Big Jim chiles, and a flat bread with green and red Nu Mex chiles. I was in chile heaven. The food is so good it outshines the wines being poured. No trip out of town is complete without a visit to the local farmers market, and Santa Fe has one of the best, particularly in September when chiles are in their peak season. When arriving at the market you immediately encounter Big Jims, Chimayo, Sandia or one of the other Nu Mex varieties being roasted in an oblong stainless steel mesh drum hooked up to a propane tank. The roasters have several burners that blast the chiles until scorched to the point the skin falls off. The smell of roasting chiles is truly memorable and one-of-a-kind. Santa Fe is about 1,100 miles from Napa, which is bit far to travel, so I purchased my own roaster some years ago. It is now a rite of fall to buy 50 pounds or so of Big Jim also known as Anaheim chiles at the Napa Farmers Market, fire up the roaster and prepare a years worth of roasted chiles. I like to wrap the roasted chiles in plastic wrap and then place them in a one-quart zip lock bag and freeze until needed. Chiles have a wide range of flavors and heat levels so look at them as something fun and affordable that can spice up your life or at least your dinner tonight. If you want your very own chile roaster, they can be found on the internet for a few hundred dollars. Otherwise, a gas or charcoal grill can do the job. If you google "Top Ten Farmers Markets" in the country, the Santa Fe Farmers Market will often pop up, and deservedly so. The setting is along abandoned railroad tracks with a permanent structure for their year-round market on one side. The fresh produce looked delicious but what I was there to buy were products I cant find at home, such as powders made from the different chiles grown in New Mexico, Mexican oregano, pozole and locally grown Anasazi and Bolita dried beans. To top it off, I also purchased garlic oil and goat shanks, two more products that are hard to find in California. Yes, Santa Fe Farmers Market is a great farmers market but is it any better than Napa Farmers Market? As I said, its considered by some to be a top 10 market but I think the Napa Farmers Market is in that list. Missing in Santa Fe were specialty foods except for a few bakeries. No vendors selling bao buns, sausage rolls, chocolates, empanadas, and crepes just to mention a few. No fish, olive oil, or vinegar were available and there were no food trucks. Without specialty foods there was not a community meeting area where customers could sit with friends and neighbors and enjoy the offerings of the market. Artisans could be found at Santa Fe, but they were across the street and not part of the market itself. Nonprofits were non-existent so this aspect of a community meeting place was missing. All of these things and more can be found at the Napa Farmers Market. Not to mention our glorious selection of fresh and local produce. So, friends and market customers, maybe it is time to tout what Napa Farmers Market has to offer and get our beloved market up in the top 10 where it belongs. Green Chile Sauce One of my favorite recipes to make this time of year is a simple Green Chile Sauce. Its great on enchiladas, egg dishes or over grilled meats and roasted potatoes. 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 large white onion, chopped 3 large garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cups roasted Nu Mex Big Jim or Anaheim chiles (seeds and stems removed) 2 cups coarsely chopped peeled and seeded tomatoes 2 cups chicken stock 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican preferred) Directions 1. Heat a heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil, 2. Add the onion and saute until softened. Stir in the garlic and saute another minute. Add the flour and continue cooking for another minute or 2. 3. Add the remaining ingredients and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for about 15 minutes until thickened. 4. Serve immediately with meat or veggies, or you can refrigerate the sauce for about 5 days. The sauce can also be frozen. 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. ___ A Napa Valley College student who had not been heard from in over a month is safe, family members said Sunday. Paulina Casas, the mother of 28-year-old Santos Angel Lopez, said Sunday evening that her son called her from Chile, their first contact in 36 days. It was not immediately clear when or how Lopez traveled to South America. Lopez contacted his mother at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, shortly after she arrived in Napa to search for him for the second time in two weeks, Casas said. How he got there I have no idea, but he should be coming home within the next two days, she said in a brief telephone interview. Casas added that she contacted Napa Police later Saturday after the phone call with her son, to start the process of withdrawing a missing-person report Lopez family had filed with the department Sept. 22. (Sgt. Tommy Keener on Sunday confirmed the departments contact with Casas, and said police will close the report after verifying Lopez safety.) Lopez family earlier said they had last spoken with him during a video call in early August and received their last contact with him a text message on Sept. 1. A Modesto native, Lopez moved with his family to Napa several years ago and then stayed along with a sister when his family returned to the Central Valley, according to Casas. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, October 7, 2023 Updated at 2:20 p.m. Monday Four vegetation fires were reported early Sunday afternoon in the Yountville and Oakville areas, but were contained in less than an hour, according to Cal Fire. Fires were reported starting at 12:23 p.m. along Highway 29 from Washington Street near Yountville north to Oakville Cross Road, Cal Fires Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit said in a Facebook post. All of the fires were contained by 1 p.m., according to Cal Fire spokesperson Jason Clay. The cause of the fires remained under investigation Monday. The California Highway Patrol did not impose any road closures as a result of the fires, according to Vince Pompliano of the agencys Napa station. There were no reports of injuries or structural damage. Photos: Napa Valley Faces and Places, October 7, 2023 Photo: The Canadian Press A strike sign is positioned at one of the gates during the ongoing United Auto Workers strike at the Stellantis Toledo Assembly Complex, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, in Toledo, Ohio. (Kurt Steiss/The Blade via AP) Union workers at Mack Trucks have voted down a tentative five-year contract agreement reached with the company and plan to strike at 7 a.m. Monday, the United Auto Workers union says. Union President Shawn Fain said in a letter to Mack parent company Volvo Trucks that 73% of workers voted against the deal in results counted on Sunday. The UAW represents about 4,000 Mack workers in three states. Union leaders had reached a tentative agreement on the deal on Oct. 1. The deal included a 19% pay raise over the life of the contract with 10% upon ratification. There also was a $3,500 ratification bonus, no increase in weekly health care contributions, increased annual lump sum payments for retirees and a $1,000 annual 401(k) lump sum to offset health care costs for employees who dont get health insurance after retirement. Fain said in his letter to Volvo Trucks' head of labor relations that employees working early Monday will exit the factories after performing tasks needed to prevent damage to company equipment. The workers are in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Florida. Fain wrote that UAW members and workers across the country are seeking their fair share in wages and benefits. The union remains committed to exploring all options for reaching an agreement, but we clearly are not there yet. The company and union are still apart on work schedules, health and safety, pensions, health care, prescription drug coverage, overtime and other issues, he wrote. The contract may have been sunk by high expectations Fain has set in bargaining with Detroits three automakers. In those talks, the UAW has asked for 36% raises over four years, while Ford has offered 23% and the other two firms are at 20%. Mack Trucks President Stephen Roy said in a statement Sunday night that the company is surprised and disappointed that the union chose to strike. The union, he wrote, called the tentative agreement a record for the heavy truck industry. We trust that other stakeholders also appreciate that our market, business and competitive set are very different from those of the passenger car makers, the statement said. Mack, he wrote, is part of the only heavy truck manufacturing group that assembles all of its vehicles and engines for North America in the U.S., competing against trucks built in lower-cost countries. The company is committed to collective bargaining and is confident both sides will reach a deal that delivers competitive wages and benefits while safeguarding the companys future, the statement said. The UAW went on strike at selected factories run by automakers General Motors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis on Sept. 15. It started with one assembly plant for each company, then spread to 38 GM and Stellantis parts warehouses. Two additional assembly plants at Ford and GM were added later. On Friday, the union decided not to expand the strikes to any more plants for the time being after GM agreed to bring its electric vehicle battery factories into the UAWs national contract, assuring that theyll be unionized. The union also reported progress with all three automakers. Winery growth action and controversy used to be plentiful for the Napa County Planning Commission, but not this year. The commission has canceled six consecutive meetings. It last met on July 13, back when sunset was at 8:30 p.m. and the San Francisco Giants were a mere 2 1/2 games out of first place and had title hopes. It has canceled 11 of 19 meetings. Commissioners did refamiliarize themselves with each other on Wednesday. But they met as members of the Airport Land Use Commission to talk about a proposed monopole near the county airport, not as the Planning Commission. I feel a little bit rusty, Commissioner Megan Dameron said. Commissioner Heather Phillips this year rejoined the commission after a previous nine-year stint that ended in 2017. Since Ive been back, it seems to be a spate of not meeting, she said. For comparison, the commission from 2015 through 2022 averaged six new winery requests and 11 winery major modification requests annually, even amid wildfires and pandemic. So far this year, it has taken on no new wineries and five modifications. It has done a few other things looked at the general plan safety element and delayed a new home request. But this has been the lightest Planning Commission workload in years. Brian Bordona, the county Planning, Building and Environmental Services director, gave potential reasons for the slowdown. He noted recent county streamlining efforts now send some requests to the zoning administrator. California has changed fire safety requirements and requirements concerning groundwater and drought. Bordona said this can prompt applicants to pause their project designs until they have a clearer understanding of the regulations. "The availability of essential professionals such as consultants, engineers and architects can significantly impact the timeline of application preparation," he said. "For instance, it's reported that lengthy delays, often in the range of six to 12 months, can occur when preparing water availability studies due to high demand for consultant services." Bordona expects the Planning Commission to consider one or two new winery requests by year's end. The commission is scheduled to consider a voluntary code compliance winery issue on Nov. 1. "In the short term, it is likely the pace of Planning Commission activities, particularly related to use permit items, will continue to remain relatively lower compared to recent years," he said. Yet the lean days may not last forever. Napa County has dozens of pending project applications that include more than just wineries. Among those that eventually could end up before the Planning Commission are: At least nine new winery requests. One of the largest is Nights in White Satin for the Carneros area at 120,000 gallons annually. Most are in the 5,000- to 50,000-gallon range. At least 19 winery major modification requests, some to correct code violations. They include Castello di Amorosa the castle winery near Calistoga wanting to build a 30,000-square-foot storage building to replace one lost to the Glass Fire three years ago. The Inn at the Abbey, a proposed 79-room hotel along Highway 29 north of St. Helena. The Planning Commission in 2020 held a scoping hearing for a planned environmental impact report. Bordona said the draft report could come out in six to nine months. Proposed floating solar panels on Napa Sanitation District ponds south of the city of Napa and the Highway 29 Butler Bridge that would generate enough electricity for 5,000 homes. Four warehouses totaling 697,000 square feet along Highway 221 near the city of Napa and Syar quarry. Howell Mountain Cemetery. This would be a proposed green burial cemetery where non-toxic and biodegradable materials, such as caskets of untreated or soft wood, would be used. Pridmore rezoning. This would help allow the 5-acre former Capell Valley Elementary School site near Lake Berryessa to have nine rental cottages. The Pridmore family donated land for the school in 1958 and bought the land back from the Napa Valley Unified School District in 2016. A Planning Commission workload slowdown isn't unprecedented. Bordona recalled one in the wake of the Great Recession. The commission approved 11 new wineries in both 2009 and 2010, only to see this fall to five in both 2011 and 2012. PHOTOS: Scenes from Napa Blues, Brews & BBQ 2023 Blues, Brews and BBQ 11 Blues, Brews & BBQ 1 Blues, Brews & BBQ 2 Blues, Brews & BBQ 3 Blues, Brews & BBQ 4 Blues, Brews & BBQ 5 Blues, Brews and BBQ 6 Blues, Brews and BBQ 7 Blues, Brews and BBQ 8 Blues, Brews and BBQ 9 Blues, Brews and BBQ 10 Blues, Brews and BBQ 12 Blues, Brews and BBQ 13 Blues, Brews and BBQ 14 Blues, Brews and BBQ 15 Blues, Brews and BBQ 16 Blues, Brews and BBQ 17 Blues, Brews and BBQ 18 Blues, Brews and BBQ 19 Blues, Brews and BBQ 20 Blues, Brews and BBQ 21 Blues, Brews and BBQ 22 Blues, Brews and BBQ 23 Blues, Brews and BBQ 24 Blues, Brews and BBQ 25 With only a few days left to decide on hundreds of bills, Gov. Gavin Newsom took action on more than 400 proposed laws over the weekend. He signed new measures to require businesses to disclose their carbon emissions, to ban the purchase of gasoline-powered school buses by 2035 and to hold social media platforms accountable for curbing the spread of child sexual abuse materials. In the same stroke, he vetoed legislation that would have limited the price of insulin, allowed for the creation of cannabis cafes in California and provided free condoms at high schools. Heres a look at a few of his high-profile signings and vetoes. Legislation signed by Gavin Newsom Social media: Platforms will be barred from knowingly facilitating, aiding, or abetting commercial sexual exploitation beginning in January 2025. They are also expected to permanently block any instance of reported material from their platforms. A court will be required to award damages of between $1 million and $4 million for any act of child sexual exploitation facilitated or aided by a social media platform. A company could fend off litigation by performing biannual audits to try to detect problematic features. Corporate emissions: The first-of-its-kind legislation will require large corporations to publicly disclose their carbon emissions and financial risks posed by climate change. Starting in 2026, companies with more than $1 billion in annual revenue must disclose their emissions, including pollution estimates from their supply chain. School buses: By 2035, all newly purchased or contracted school buses must be zero-emission. School systems may request a one-time extension of up to five years if purchasing or acquiring such buses is not feasible due to route constraints. Newsom wrote in a signing message that the legislation demonstrates our states commitment to maintaining a healthy environment for our children through improved air quality. Food additives: California is joining dozens of countries across the world and prohibiting the use of certain chemicals in food. The measure will ban the sale, delivery of offering of any food products containing brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben or Red No. 3. California bills vetoed by the governor Cannabis cafes: Assembly Bill 374 could have brought Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes to the Golden State. The legislation would have allowed cannabis lounges to serve food or drinks and permitted customers to consumer cannabis on-site. The bills author, Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, likened his proposal to wine bars, where people pay a premium to drink in a social environment. In his veto message, Newsom said that he appreciated Haneys intent but was concerned the bill would undermine Californias long-standing smoke-free workplace protections." Condoms: Senate Bill 451 would have provided free condoms to all California teenagers who attend public high school. The governor said he agreed that condoms were important to supporting improved adolescent sexual health but cited fiscal restraints for rejecting the proposal. In his veto statement, he wrote that the bill would create an unfunded mandate to public schools that should be considered in the annual budget process. Displaced workers: In a loss for labor, Newsom rejected Senate Bill 627, the Displaced Worker Transfer Rights Act. The legislation was meant to discourage corporate chain employers from using store closures in a discriminatory or retaliatory manner. It would have required businesses to notify workers 60 days in advance of closing their workplace and grant them transfer rights within the company. The governor said in his veto message that the bill would impose significant burdens on employers and he anticipated challenges with implementation and enforcement. Insulin: Senate Bill 90 called for capping the out-of-pocket cost of insulin at $35 for a 30-day supply and prohibiting health plans from imposing a deductible on insulin prescription drugs. Newsom said the state is already actively working to bring down the cost. Earlier this year, California secured a $50 million contract with the nonprofit drug manufacturer Civica to sell insulin through the states generic drug label, CalRx, at just 10% of the typical cost for cash-paying patients. A Cook County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Winnetka resident alleging that a proposed land swap between the Winnetka Park District and billionaire Justin Ishbia violates the states park district code and its public trust doctrine. The judges ruling, if it remains in force, would allow the long-sidetracked land trade to take place, although whether the swap ultimately happens remains in question. Advertisement Beginning in 2020, Ishbia, a private equity executive who lives in Lincoln Park and co-owns the Phoenix Suns, began buying lakefront properties on both sides of Centennial Park in Winnetka. One of the properties he purchased is 261 Sheridan Road, a site that separates two village lakefront parks, Elder Lane Park and Centennial Park. Ishbia proposed trading that house and its 71-foot-wide strip of land to the district in exchange for an equally sized piece of land at the south end of Centennial Park, in order to create a larger homesite for himself immediately south of the park. The proposed land swap would allow the district to attain its longtime goal of uniting the two lakefront parks while giving Ishbia added land for a homesite. Ishbia is proceeding with construction on a $43 million mansion on a site south of Centennial Park. Advertisement The land swap has remained stalled for some time now, initially over Ishbias proposal to divide his property from the park with a louvered steel wall. And although Ishbia agreed to remove the proposed louvers, the land swap continued to be hung up, due to community opposition and objections by some members of Winnetkas park district board. The proposed land swap was further snarled in October 2022 when Winnetka resident Robert Schriesheim, Sears former chief financial officer, filed a lawsuit against the park district in Cook County Circuit Court, contending that under the states law governing park districts only the Illinois General Assembly has the ability to trade away parkland. On Oct. 2, Cook County Circuit Judge Eve Reilly dismissed Schriesheims suit, concluding in her ruling that the park district acted in accordance with the states park district code and that the value of the land that Ishbia would give up is greater than the value of the land he would gain. She also disputed Schriesheims contention that the park district has no authority to dispose of public trust land. In a statement, Winnetka Park District President Christina Codo said that she is extremely pleased the court upheld the Park Boards decision to enter into the exchange agreement and found the District complied with the law. The Park Board always acts with the best interest of the community in mind and will continue to be guided by that principle as plans to improve the lakeshore continue. Park District Executive Director John Peterson noted that Reillys ruling restores the opportunity to combine Elder Lane Beach and Centennial Beach to create an eight-acre park and uninterrupted 1,000 feet of lakefront property dedicated to public use. This is one of the principal goals of the Winnetka Waterfront 2030 Lakefront Master Plan. Schriesheims attorney, Paul Gaynor, told the Tribune in a statement that Schriesheim plans to amend his lawsuit, consistent with the courts guidance, to demonstrate that the exchange is arbitrary and unreasonable. The (judges) order allows us to pursue the crux of our case that the Winnetka Park Districts proposed exchange of Centennial Park beach is a violation of the public trust doctrine, Gaynor said in the statement. We will continue to protect the publics right to use and enjoy public land. The case has its next status hearing on Nov. 1. In the meantime, the park board also has been dealing with discussions surrounding a proposed $3 million donation by Ishbia to the park district to help it rebuild the Elder Lane and Centennial beaches, including his interest in securing naming rights for Centennials dog beach. Advertisement Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. Jose Sosa might have cooked for you already. Even if you havent had a chance to visit his debut restaurant, which opened in August in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. The chef and partner describes his menu simply as contemporary Italian, but its more than that. Ummo is the surprising exploration of inventive dishes tempered by personal culture and chosen traditions. Advertisement Sosa was most recently the executive chef at Gibsons Italia. He worked for the restaurant group for nearly 15 years in the city and suburbs. You may have had one of his steaks or pastas previously. Chef and partner Jose Sosa at Ummo in Chicago on Oct. 4, 2023. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) But youve probably never had octopus quite like his carpaccio di polpo at Ummo garnished with a fantastical chicharron by the chef who immigrated from Mexico. The seafood is not raw but cooked perfectly, thinly sliced and arranged like a mosaic. Dollops of a delicious Calabrian tonnato aioli meld the flavors of chile, tuna and garlic around the tender white canvas, and across a mysterious black shard. That inky cracker is miraculous, crisp and light, capturing the essence of octopus more than the octopus itself. Advertisement The dish also captures the culinary and cultural struggles of the chef. I love octopus, Sosa said. And I just didnt want to do another chargrilled braised octopus. Nor just another carpaccio. When we started doing the tastings, we were happy with the texture and the flavor of the carpaccio, but I wasnt really happy. Im like, Its missing something. He worked on tastings at Tzuco, chef Carlos Gaytans restaurant thats the flagship of the Somos Hospitality Group. Even with the millefiori presentation, Sosa wasnt happy with the end product. So he went back to the beginning. We layer the octopus with olive oil, Calabrian chile peppers, garlic, parsley, more olive oil and then put something heavy on it, the chef said. So its cooking very slowly, releasing its own juice. You end up with this consomme of octopus that is so good and unique. And we were using it for nothing. Chef and partner Jose Sosa works in the kitchen at Ummo on Oct. 4, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) They had to use it for something, Sosa said, but again, he didnt just want another sauce. Then I thought Im gonna play with it, where I can create a texture with it. So thats how the chicharron came alive. Hes also a good friend of Marcos Carbajal, owner of Carnitas Uruapan, who brought chicharron and carnitas when invited for a tasting. Advertisement When I was working at Hugos, I added chicharron to the fish tacos, Sosa said. But he wanted to do something different. He used the concentrated consomme of octopus to make his own chicharron with tapioca flour. Its a technique modernist chefs borrowed from Asian prawn crackers and the airy wheat crackers under Mexican chicharrones preparados. A chicharron seems to be a surprising item for a contemporary Italian menu, albeit not listed, as is the choice to call it a chicharron. I just wanted to incorporate a little bit of me into the dish, Sosa said. I mean, with my love for Italian cuisine, but also my background being Mexican. But its a challenge for the chef. Youve got to be careful, he said. Where you dont get too pulled away from traditional Italian cuisine, but also trying something that represents you. Advertisement When Sosa left Gibsons Italia last December, he took a trip to Italy for a couple of weeks to work on his knowledge, he said, and make more connections with suppliers. I wondered, as a Chinese American woman who cooked in France and Spain, but never in China, sometimes questioned about my culinary identity, if the chef had also fielded those questions about who gets to cook what food? Yes it was often fellow chefs questioning his chosen cuisine. When youre Mexican, theyre like, Why is he trying to do Italian? Sosa said. There are no rules where it says that if youre Mexican, you shouldnt be cooking Italian. And youve got to work harder to prove to them. When he left Gibsons Italia, he was still questioned. Everyones like, Are you going to open up a Mexican restaurant? And Im like no. This is my passion, this is what I do, Sosa said. Advertisement What he also does is steak. The filetto is served sliced to reveal impeccably cooked medium-rare filet mignon at Ummo. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Ummo is from the word fumo in Italian, smoke in English, the chef said. You can see him cooking some of the menu items on a wood-fired grill in the open kitchen, including a filetto. The 7-ounce filet mignon tagliata (from the Italian verb tagliare, which means to cut) is served sliced to reveal an impeccably cooked medium-rare, as recommended, requested and expected from the chef with a Gibsons pedigree. What was unexpected, alongside the accompanying bright green bagnetto verde sauce and a whole head of garlic cooked in olive oil, was a tiny pot of bordelaise. The classic French red wine sauce took me back to Michelin three-star restaurants in Paris, but also wasnt listed on the menu. The filet was one of the final dishes that I added to the menu, Sosa said. We needed a small portion for someone who wants a steak, but they dont want the big steaks. I started working on a nice veal demi reduction and incorporated foie gras, then it came out really good. Advertisement That is an understatement, especially with secret foie gras. I dont know why we didnt put it on the menu, the chef said, laughing. It does take time. And skill. That classic French sauce also takes us back to his first job after arriving in Chicago as a 14-year-old immigrant. His family lived in Mexico City, where his father is from, then Michoacan, where his mother is from, before his parents split up. My moms family was here in Chicago, the chef said. They came with nothing and had to start working immediately. Sosa didnt attend high school, but went to English classes and earned his GED diploma. Through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, he received his first work permit. But his first job here began before that. Advertisement It was this restaurant called the Rosewood in Rosemont, the chef said. It was a white tablecloth establishment open for 23 years, before closing in 2014. They used to make veal stock, au jus, everything from scratch. Really nice. I learned a lot. I was there for three or four years and I started as a dishwasher. Then the chef moved me to garde-manger, so I started working the cold station. We worked different stations there. Now he has one of the hottest new restaurants in River North, with a second-floor cocktail bar and lounge called the Loft, open Fridays and Saturdays only. On my second visit, I had dinner upstairs in the lovely lounge, overlooking the rowdy pumpkin patch across the street. The upstairs lounge with a deejay booth at Ummo on Oct. 4, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) One thing he doesnt have, especially shocking in Chicago, is any kind of pizza. Trust me, I love pizza, Sosa said. And everyone was like, Are you going to have pizza? They were thinking about a pizza oven on the second floor, in the private event space kitchen. But then I changed my mind. Im like, No, no pizza. Because then were gonna add it on the first floor. And he just couldnt focus on that right now and do it right. The focaccia, cut into tavern-style squares and piped with ricotta and honey, could satisfy some pizza needs with its golden gilded crust. The ravioli di aragosta al nero di seppia, a supple black squid ink pasta with lobster, has become something of a signature on social media possibly due to the dramatic presentation with a whole lobster head. A server carries it out, only to awkwardly reveal its empty. The shell is meant to herald the lobster within, but it was foreshadowing the scarcity of my serving in flesh and flavor. Advertisement The garganelli, small hand-rolled cylinders tinted green with spinach, is one of the chefs favorites. Served with a lamb belly ragu, fresh ricotta and mint pesto, I wish there was something more to the dish, which the labor-intensive pasta deserves. A seven-year aged risotto rice ai funghi with wild mushrooms and Parmigiano-Reggiano is finished generously with 10-year-old balsamic vinegar at the table. I wouldve gobbled up every single pearlescent grain in the house if I could, but the shallow plate cools and coagulates the dish too fast, and the intensely sweet vinegar should be judiciously applied drop by drop in the kitchen. The desserts pomodoro e basilico, cantaloupe with flowers and tiramisu by Spanish pastry chef consultant Jesus Escalera, are all pretty, precise and playful, but oddly out of sync with the Sosas thoughtful savory menu. The faux tomato, made from molded yogurt mousse and filled with a raspberry compote, would have been far better replaced by a bigger scoop of basil sorbet and a lot more olive oil, which can turn into a stunning fruity Magic Shell. The pomodoro e basilico dessert is a faux tomato, made from molded yogurt mousse and filled with a raspberry compote at Ummo. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) An ambitious melone cantalupo e fiori with limoncello-infused melon, brown butter lemon cake and citrus caviar tasted overwhelmingly of a nonnas favorite perfume. The tiramisu, with a promising amaretto chocolate sauce poured tableside, was a nice chocolate cake, but please dont promise me and fail to deliver my beloved sticky and chewy meringue layered with whipped cream. You might skip dessert and get one of the many espresso martinis your fellow diners are having instead. Or try the Numero Due, a refreshing take on the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2, but with Lillet Rose, ginger liqueur and passion fruit. Do note its a sneakily strong drink. The spirit-free Saturno with Lyres nonalcoholic agave blanco spirit, lime juice and more passion fruit offers soothing complexity. The Saturno, left, and Numero Due, right, a refreshing take on the classic Corpse Reviver No. 2, but with Lillet Rose, ginger liqueur and passion fruit at Ummo. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) My servers on both visits each made my drinks, as part of an excellent service team, from the moment I walked into the stylish sanctuary, to the attentive busser who cautiously cleared my silverware without judgment after I absurdly insisted on keeping too much. Advertisement A dish I nearly missed was the branzino arrosto. The wood-fired fish with roasted tomatoes and pickled onion petals is served head and tail on, but mostly deboned. The hint of smoke and crispy skin evoke memories of an early fall campsite, real and imagined. The branzino arrosto is a wood-fired fish with roasted tomatoes and pickled onion petals served head and tail on, but mostly deboned, at Ummo. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Was there ever a question about keeping the head on the branzino, which is admittedly aesthetically unlovely among fish? There was a concern at first, but not for the chef. To be honest, we were expecting more like, Oh my God, take it back, no head, no tail! They can be removed in the kitchen if requested. It happens, he said, but eight out of 10 keep it whole. When you remove the head, it doesnt have that wow factor. Advertisement And this is a head worth keeping. Ummo 22 W. Hubbard St. 312-374-8736 ummochicago.com Open: Main dining room on first floor, Sunday to Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday to 11 p.m.; Loft on second floor, Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Prices: $14 (focaccia) to $150 (bistecca alla fiorentina); cocktails $12 (Saturno nonalcoholic drink) to $22 (Ummo Old-Fashioned) Advertisement Noise: Conversation-friendly mostly, but conversation-challenged when packed Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible from street by entrance to left of main door by elevator with restrooms on lower level and second floor Tribune rating: Very good, 2 stars Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune. lchu@chicagotribune.com Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. Native Americans celebrated their history on Monday with events across the country marking Indigenous Peoples Day, from a sunrise gathering in Minneapolis to a rally at the Maine Statehouse and traditional dancing, music and food in Arizona and Alaska. The ceremonies, costumed performers and speeches came two years after President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples Day. At the time, he said the day is meant to honor Americas first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that continue to thrive today. Advertisement At a gathering in Phoenix where dancers performed in traditional Aztec costumes, Sifa Matafahi said it was an opportunity to pay respect to indigenous cultures ... to reflect on our past and history while also acknowledging our cultural presence. In Minnesota, about 150 people, including the governor and lieutenant governor, attended a sunrise prayer and ceremony at Bde Maka Ska, a lake surrounded by parkland on the south side of Minneapolis. Advertisement Today, we recognize our ancestors and predecessors who really laid the foundation for us to stand, said Thorne LaPointe, a Native American organizer. And we will always recognize our elders who are here and those who have gone on before us, who really kicked open the doors in their time, nationally and internationally. Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., have holidays honoring Native Americans, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of them celebrate it on the second Monday of October, pivoting from a day long rooted in the celebration of explorer Christopher Columbus to one focused on the people whose lives and culture were forever changed by colonialism. Dozens of cities and school systems also observe Indigenous Peoples Day. In Augusta, Maine, several hundred people celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day by rallying outside the Statehouse in support a Nov. 7 statewide vote on an amendment that would require the restoration of tribal treaties that were omitted from printed versions of the state constitution. Maulian Bryant, Penobscot Nation ambassador and president of the Wabanaki Alliance, said once people understand the importance to Native Americans, they will support it like they did when towns, and then the state, enacted Indigenous Peoples Day. Bryant recalled the successful grassroots conversations that took place about the legacy of Columbus, whose arrival brought violence, disease and suffering to Native Americans. We want to honor the true stewards of these lands, she said. Some who gathered for a ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska, said such a celebration would have been unheard of there six decades ago. Gina Ondola, a Denaina Athabascan from the city, said she graduated from East Anchorage High School in 1962 with only four or five other Alaska Natives in her class and certainly no Indigenous culture club for Native students. Advertisement We didnt learn much about our history, she said. Instead they were taught how white Europeans who came to North America were slaughtered by Native Americans. When I was growing up, I didnt feel too much pride in being Native. I always heard about drunk Natives, said Odola, who was wearing black gloves with red and white beadwork to represent her familys colors. It feels good for me to be able to feel pride in who I am, she said. The Anchorage celebration included Alaska Native dance groups, traditional Alaska Native game demonstrations and a student wearing a Molly of Denali costume. The PBS show was the nations first childrens series to feature Indigenous leads. Abigael Hollis, a freshman film student at the Institute of American Indian Arts, was among those who attended a powwow at a downtown plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. It brought together Native American dancing groups from throughout the state and beyond, as well as Native American jewelers, potters and weavers who sold artwork at outdoor stands. Its celebrating the fact that my ancestors lived to have me, and that were still around and that we can celebrate each other and love each other, said Hollis, who is of Cherokee ancestry and wore traditional dress including a coming-of-age necklace made of buffalo bone and glass beads. Advertisement New Mexico, which is home to 23 federally recognized tribes, replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day through legislation in 2019. The Santa Fe festival began with a blessing by dancers from nearby Tesuque Pueblo an acknowledgement that the city stands on the pueblos ancestral lands, said Caren Gala, who heads the Santa Fe Indigenous Center and helped organize the powwow. We wanted to pay respect and homage to that that this is their land, said Gala, who is affiliated with three Native American pueblos, Laguna, Taos and Nambe. Lee reported from Santa Fe, N.M. Associated Press writers David Sharp in Augusta, Maine, Mark Vancleave in Minneapolis, and Ross Franklin in Phoenix contributed to this report. JERUSALEM Israel increased airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and sealed it off from food, fuel and other supplies Monday 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 the conflict, 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. Rescue workers found 100 bodies in the tiny farming community of Beeri around 10% of its population after a long hostage standoff with gunmen. In Gaza, tens of thousands fled their homes as relentless airstrikes leveled buildings. Advertisement The Israeli military said it had largely gained control in the south after the attack caught its vaunted military and intelligence apparatus completely off guard and led to fierce battles in its streets for the first time in decades. Hamas and other militants in Gaza say they are holding more than 130 soldiers and civilians snatched from inside Israel. Israeli tanks and drones were deployed to guard breaches in the Gaza border fence to prevent new incursions. Thousands of Israelis were evacuated from more than a dozen towns near Gaza, and the military summoned 300,000 reservists a massive mobilization in a short time. Advertisement The moves, along with Israels formal declaration of war on Sunday, pointed to Israel increasingly shifting to the offensive against Hamas, threatening greater destruction in the densely populated, impoverished Gaza Strip. We have only started striking Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. What we will do to our enemies in the coming days will reverberate with them for generations. As the Israeli military brought additional forces near the border, a major question was whether it will launch a ground assault into the tiny Mediterranean coastal territory. The last ground assault was in 2014. Around 900 people, including 73 soldiers, already have been killed in Israel, according to media. In Gaza, more than 680 people have been killed, according to authorities there; Israel says hundreds of Hamas fighters are among them. Thousands have been wounded on both sides. In response to Israels aerial attacks, the spokesman of Hamas armed wing, Abu Obeida, said Monday night that the group will kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza without prior warning. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas against harming any of the hostages, saying, This war crime will not be forgiven. Netanyahu appointed a former military commander to manage the hostage and missing persons crisis. Israel and Hamas have had repeated conflicts in past years, often sparked by tensions around a Jerusalem holy site. This time, the context has become potentially more explosive. Both sides talk of shattering with violence a yearslong Israeli-Palestinian deadlock left by the moribund peace process. The surprise weekend attack by Hamas left a death toll unseen since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. That fomented calls to crush Hamas no matter the cost, rather than continuing to try to bottle it up in Gaza. Israel is run by its most hard-right government ever, dominated by ministers who adamantly reject Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Hamas, in turn, says it is ready for a long battle to end an Israeli occupation it says is no longer tolerable. Desperation has grown among Palestinians, many of whom see nothing to lose under unending Israeli control and increasing settler depredations in the West Bank, the blockade in Gaza and what they see as the worlds apathy. Attacks by both sides laid ruin to more homes Monday and added to the ranks of families in mourning. In Israels southern coastal city of Ashkelon, a man holding a crutch with one hand and an older boy with the other joined evacuees being shepherded from a street after a rocket blew out the front of a house. The blast shattered windows and set cars on fire. In Gaza, Palestinians passed the bodies of the dead through dense crowds of men in the rubble in the Jebaliya refugee camp. In the early evening, the sound of explosions echoed over Jerusalem when a volley of rockets fired from Gaza hit two neighborhoods a sign of Hamass reach. Israeli media said seven were wounded. Also Monday evening, Israeli warplanes carried out an intense bombardment of Rimal, a residential and commercial district of central Gaza City, after issuing warnings for residents to evacuate. Amid continuous explosions, the building housing the headquarters of the Palestinian Telecommunications Company was destroyed. Advertisement Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a complete siege on Gaza, saying authorities would cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel. Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council aid group, warned that Israels siege would spell utter disaster for Gazans. There is no doubt that collective punishment is in violation of international law, he told The Associated Press. If and when it would lead to wounded children dying in hospitals because of lack of energy, electricity and supplies, it could amount to war crimes. The Israeli siege will leave Gaza almost entirely dependent on its crossing into neighboring Egypt at Rafah, where cargo capacities are lower than other crossings into Israel. An Egyptian military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, said more than 2 tons of medical supplies from the Egyptian Red Crescent were sent to Gaza and efforts were underway to organize food and other deliveries. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli airstrike early Monday killed 19 people, including women and children, said Talat Barhoum, a doctor at the local Al-Najjar Hospital. Advertisement The U.N. said more than 123,000 people have fled their homes in Gaza many after Israeli warnings of imminent bombardment. 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. Hundreds of Hamas militants were buried under rubble of buildings destroyed by Israel in the past 48 hours, according to Israeli Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. His claims could not be confirmed. New exchanges on Israels northern border Monday raised worries that the war could spread to a new front. 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. After breaking through Israeli barriers with explosives at daybreak Saturday, an estimated 1,000 Hamas 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. Palestinian militants have also launched around 4,400 rockets at Israel, according to the military. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told the AP that the groups fighters continued to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning. Advertisement He said the group aims to free all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, which in the past has agreed to lopsided exchange deals in which it released large numbers of prisoners for individual captives or even the remains of soldiers. Among the captives are soldiers and civilians, including women, children and older adults, mostly Israelis but also some people of other nationalities. Egypts state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said Monday that Egyptian officials are trying to mediate a release of Palestinian women in Israels prisons in exchange for Israeli women captured by militants. Hamas has ruled Gaza since driving out forces loyal to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007, and its rule has gone unchallenged through the blockade and four previous wars with Israel. On Sunday, the U.S. dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel, and said it would send additional military aid. Adwan reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. AP writers Isabel DeBre and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem; Wafaa Shurafa in Gaza City; Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel; Bassem Mroue and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut; Samy Magdy in Cairo; and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. 09:58 "Hamas is a genocidal Islamist jihadist terror organization. It is no different than ISIS. It is no different than Al-Qaeda. There is no reasoning with genocidal jihadists. They do not want dialogue. They do not want conversation. They want one thing and one thing only the annihilation of the Jewish state," he said. Speaking about the genocidal charter of Hamas, he said, "This is a direct quote from their charter. The day of judgment will not come until Muslims fight the Jews and kill them. This is the Hamas charter, And it also says that whenever a Muslim encounters a Jew, he must butcher him. That's the Hamas charter internalizes this. They want to butcher me. They want to butcher my children, my people, and my nation. They will not stop until they murder every single one of us." Moreover, Israel's representative to the UN further condemned the attack and highlighted the failure of Israeli intelligence and said that this was Israel's 9/11 and that the country would do everything to bring its people back home. "This is Israel's 9/11 and Israel will do everything to bring our sons and daughters back home," he stated. Erdan later noted that although today, the international community is supporting Israel, it might not be the case tomorrow and said that this time, "We will not let the world forget the atrocities our country suffered." "Today, many members of the international community are supporting Israel. But if history has taught us anything, we know that tomorrow that may not be the case. The international community, and particularly the UN and the Security Council, have a very short memory when it comes to Israel. The terror that we endure quickly becomes a side note. But this time will not be the same. And this is precisely why. This atrocity is Israel's 9/11," he said on Monday. Furthermore, he promised that the situation will be not as it was earlier, highlighting that, "Today we are shattering the paradigm. We are changing the equation." -- PTI Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Gilad Erdan in response to the deadly Hamas attack, said that "Hamas is a genocidal Islamist jihadist terror organization. It is no different than ISIS, Al Qaeda" adding that, they do not want dialogue and wants only the annihilation of the Jewish state. Sign up now for Oct. 12 SIU Apex Accelerator small business workshops by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. The Illinois APEX Accelerator at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will celebrate National APEX Day on Thursday, Oct. 12, with a mayoral proclamation and a pair of virtual webinars for small businesses. The center, formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), will begin the celebration by noting that Carbondale Mayor Carolin Harvey has announced plans to sign a proclamation Oct. 10 designating Oct. 12 as APEX Accelerator Day in Carbondale, in recognition of the centers countless no-cost services and contributions. Nationally, more than 90 accelerators served over 56,000 clients in 2022, helping them secure more than $24 billion in government contracts and subcontracts. Government contracting can add significant growth to a small business, and the center wants to help facilitate this growth in our regions businesses while increasing the contract dollars that stay in Southern Illinois, said Brenda Henderson, director of the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU. In addition, we are a sister program with the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU and businesses get the extra benefit of utilizing the complete hub of resources. Our team encourages businesses to reach out and join our network. We are here to help businesses grow and succeed at no cost to them. Sign up now for virtual webinars Two Zoom webinars are planned on the inaugural National APEX Day Oct. 12. While there is no cost to participate, pre-registration is required. Intro to Government Contracting is set for 9-10:30 a.m. and provides information about what you need to know to sell products or services to the government, including market research, small business certifications, what registrations are required, valuable resources and more. Sign up online. Intro to Small Business Certifications will be from 3 to 4 p.m. It will cover the benefits and application processes involved for women, minority, veteran, or persons with disabilities to own a business. Register online. In the coming weeks, the center is offering numerous other webinars and workshops, including: How the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Programs Can Benefit Small Innovative Companies (2023 update) Oct. 19, noon-1:30 p.m. Online registration. Reboot 2023 Starting or Growing a Veteran-Owned Business, Oct. 31, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 1740 Innovation Drive, Carbondale. Planning is underway for another Reboot 2023 on Nov. 1 in Cairo. Registration information for these workshops coming soon. Find the complete list of workshops and events on the webpage. For more information about the many services and programs available at the APEX Accelerator at SIU, visit the website, call 618-536-2355 or email Brenda.j.henderson@siu.edu. PRNewswire New Delhi [India], October 9: 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/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241234/image_1.jpgPhoto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2241235/image_2.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], October 9: Dr. Santosh G. Honavar, the Honorary Secretary of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS), Director of Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery and Ocular Oncology at the Centre for Sight Eye Hospital, Hyderabad, former Associate Director of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, and the past Editor of the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, has claimed the top spot among researchers in Ophthalmology in India for the third consecutive year. The rankings for the year 2023 were announced by a panel of experts from Stanford University and Elsevier, featuring the top 2% of researchers globally, based on the impact of their work in 2022. Dr. Honavar is an internationally renowned ophthalmologist with expertise in eye cancers, and his illustrious career has earned him accolades such as the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award from the Government of India and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is the sole ophthalmologist from the Indian subcontinent to receive the Honorary Fellowship, the highest honour bestowed by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in the UK. Dr. Santosh G. Honavar also holds the second position in the Stanford List based on his lifelong contributions to the field. Heading the list of researchers in ophthalmology in India for career-long impact is Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, the Founder-Chairman of LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad. Dr. Rao, a highly esteemed ophthalmologist in India, has been honoured with the Padma Shri for his outstanding achievements. Additionally, he has served as the former Secretary-General and Chair of the Board of the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness, playing a pivotal role in the global initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness. Dr. Rao has also been inducted into the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Harbansh Lal, the President of AIOS, extended his congratulations to the Indian researchers featured in the Stanford list. He highlighted AIOS's commitment to promoting Indian research through its Journals, scientific activities, and research as part of the Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to support and nurture the research potential of Indian ophthalmologists. He expressed optimism about witnessing more young Indian ophthalmologists making their mark on the Stanford list in the near future. Forty Indian Ophthalmologists figure in the list of top 2% of world researchers considering the impact of their work in 2022. There are 21 Indian Ophthalmologists who are part of the list of top 2% of researchers in the world in terms of career-long impact. Top 10 Indian researchers in ophthalmology included in the 2023 Stanford list are: 1. Santosh G. Honavar, 2. Philip Aloysius Thomas, 3. Murthy G. V. S., 4. Savitri Sharma, 5. Mohammad Javed Ali, 6. Swathi Kaliki, 7. Gullapalli N. Rao, 8. Rohit Shetty, 9. Virender S. Sangwan and 10. Namrata Sharma. Top 10 in the Stanford 2023 list for career-long impact are: 1. Gullapalli N. Rao, 2. Santosh G. Honavar, 3. Philip Aloysius Thomas, 4. Virender S. Sangwan, 5. Balasubramanian D., 6. Savitri Sharma, 7. Muthiah Srinivasan, 8. Amod Gupta, 9. G. V. S. Murthy and 10. Prashant Garg. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Kathleen Carroll was a senior executive for human resources at several major Chicago-area firms, including Lake Forest-based distributor W.W. Grainger, Inc., who was devoted to mentoring and promoting women in leadership roles while also fostering discussions on identity and equality. Kathleen was an inspirational leader who challenged each of us to be the best version of ourselves, and in turn made Grainger a better place to work, said Grainger Chair and CEO D.G. Macpherson. She loved nothing more than meeting new team members and hearing their stories, and she was a relentless champion for everyone, especially in creating new opportunities for women. Advertisement Carroll, 55, died of cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, on Sept. 3 at her home in Winnetka, said her brother, Rob Schmiedeler. Born Kathleen Marie Schmiedeler in Black Jack, Missouri, outside St. Louis, she earned a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1990. Advertisement She worked as a tax manager for the Price Waterhouse accounting firm both in St. Louis and in Atlanta before getting an MBA from Northwestern Universitys Kellogg School of Management in 1996. Carroll returned to St. Louis in 1998 to work for Capital for Business, a private equity firm, before moving to Chicago in 2000 and taking six years off to raise her children. In 2006, she became a senior director overseeing corporate development and strategy for the onetime Lincolnshire-based human capital and consulting firm Hewitt Associates, which in 2010 was purchased by Aon. From there, Carroll went on to hold increasing roles of responsibility working for Aon over the next seven years, including developing a private health care exchange for Aon Hewitt, overseeing global human resources operations and overseeing hiring. Because she had both an accounting and HR background, she had a unique ability to simultaneously drive large-scale strategies and also connect one-on-one at a personal level with everyone, said Cary Grace, Aons former CEO for retirement and investment. Denise Poole, who also worked with Carroll at Aon and also served on the Leadership Greater Chicagos board with her, said Carroll made everyone feel comfortable, like they should be there and like their voice mattered. She was a great listener and was great at looking at different angles of a situation that you may not have seen yourself, Poole said. "She then would give such authentic, strong advice and would send you into the situation with confidence and a positive outlook. In 2017, Carroll joined Chicago-based First Midwest Bancorp as its chief HR officer. The following year, she took the same job at W.W. Grainger, Inc. In 2020, Carroll launched an initiative at Grainger called the BeBrave conversations about identity and equality, with an initial focus on race, gender, age and sexual orientation. Advertisement Carroll sought to make employees feel more comfortable discussing their perspectives and their backgrounds, colleagues said, and to that end, she and others in her department came up with a series of questions to ask one another, such as what they love about their hometown. Brodie Bertrand, Graingers vice president of communications and public affairs, said Carroll was the driving force behind the BeBrave initiative and the effort to increase inclusiveness, and he noted that Carroll often incorporated that kind of inclusion in her leadership meetings. Kathleen led with her head, her hands and most importantly, her heart, Bertrand said. She made her team feel emotionally safe to bring her the good and the bad news, and she challenged our thinking to ensure we made the best decision for the company. Carroll also was involved in volunteer organizations aimed at helping women in the workplace, including the International Womens Forum, where she had been a fellow and later served on the board, and Leadership Greater Chicago. Mary Lee Montague, a friend and past president of the International Womens Forums Chicago chapter, said Carroll was influential in building the groups leadership fellows program, which is a professional development initiative. 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 > The International Womens Forum connects women in every profession and sector to support each other and thats what she was all about, Montague said. She was very positive in her endorsement of others in their leadership, even if she didnt know them very well. She just knew that she was there to prop them up, if they needed something. Advertisement Michelle Warner, the executive director of the Corporate Leadership Centers CEO Perspectives program, recalled meeting Carroll in 2021 when Carroll was a participant in the program. She was so kind, positive and helpful, and she had this huge smile and she lit up the room. People just gravitated toward her, Warner said. She seemed to take a lot of energy and joy from making connections and helping people. She was integral across our organization. A marriage to Patrick Carroll ended in divorce. In addition to her brother, Carroll is survived by two sons, Joe and Mac; a daughter, Katie; her father, Patrick Schmiedeler; and another brother, Patrick Schmiedeler. Services were held. Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter. To purchase a death notice, visit https://placeanad.chicagotribune.com/death-notices. To suggest a staff-written obituary on a person of local interest, email chicagoland@chicagotribune.com. SRV Media New Delhi [India], October 9: Symbiosis Law School, Pune, a distinguished constituent of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), hosted a captivating book discussion centred around the fiction novel "Yes, My Lord, It's You in The Mirror," penned by the esteemed Justice R.C. Chavan, a Former Judge of the High Court of Bombay. The event commenced with the illumination of a ceremonial lamp, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge. Justice R.C. Chavan, the author, was honoured with a token of appreciation. Prof. (Dr.) Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and Dean of the Faculty of Law at Symbiosis International University, as well as Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP Co-funded by EU), introduced Justice R.C. Chavan. In her welcome address, Prof. (Dr.) Shashikala Gurpur described the book as a unique window into the author's world and values. She emphasized the importance of the discussion, noting that although the judiciary possesses autonomy, it sometimes functions as a pedestalized institution rather than an independent and democratic one. Prof. (Dr.) Gurpur highlighted the significance of discussions like the one held that day, providing students with enriching learning experiences beyond the classroom. She also emphasized the collaborative spirit between Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and student associations, transforming it into a close-knit family within the international university landscape. Justice R.C. Chavan shared insights into the essence of law as it pertains to human life, expressing concern that this crucial aspect is often overlooked in the legal domain. He aimed to unveil the less visible side of justice from the public eye and stressed the critical nature of his book, which explores the interactions and creations of judges. Justice Chavan's endeavour to reveal this hidden side of justice led to the release of the book, which delves into and highlights real-life stories and experiences of the judicial system through fictional characters. The book intriguingly commences with a recipe inspired by cooking shows, where materials drawn from various sources over the decades are presented in a structured manner. The book is narrated in an anecdotal style, which significantly piques the reader's curiosity and interest. Sonal Jain, a student of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, provided a prelude to the book. During the book discussion, Dr. Atmaram Shelke, Associate Professor at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, engaged in a meaningful conversation with Justice R.C. Chavan, seeking insights into the inspiration behind the book and the message it intends to convey. The event concluded with a Q&A session between the attendees and Justice Chavan. Dr. Aparajita Mohanty, Deputy Director (Academics) at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, delivered a vote of thanks, marking the conclusion of this insightful discussion. To know more visit https://www.symlaw.ac.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], October 9: In the fast-paced digital era, where businesses are racing to establish their online presence, the need for digital marketing expertise has never been greater. Enter DigiVend Training Institute, your go-to destination for mastering the art of digital marketing. With a range of courses catering to both online and offline learners, DigiVend is redefining the way individuals embark on their digital marketing journey. DigiVend paves the way for both novices and experienced marketers with two meticulously crafted courses: "Professional in Digital Marketing" and "Master in Digital Marketing." These courses are available in both online and offline formats, ensuring accessibility for all aspiring marketers. Digital marketing is more than just a buzzword; it's the driving force behind brand visibility and customer engagement in the digital age. It encompasses a multitude of strategies, from optimizing search engine results (SEM) to developing persuasive online advertising campaigns. To keep up with the industry's lightning-quick pace, one must stay attuned to the latest trends and techniques. DigiVend ensures its students remain on the cutting edge by offering top-notch training courses. DigiVend stands out by offering a hands-on learning approach. They firmly believe that digital marketing is best learned through practical experience, not just theoretical knowledge. With DigiVend, students get the opportunity to learn from industry experts with over a decade of experience. This ensures that graduates emerge industry-ready, with the knowledge and skills to excel in their careers. The institute boasts a track record of successfully training over 7,000 digital marketing enthusiasts, and this number is steadily rising. Their students consistently express their satisfaction with DigiVend's courses, trainers, and the quality of education they receive. At DigiVend, they understand that world-class trainers make a world of difference. Their instructors are not only Google certified but also possess over 10 years of practical experience in digital marketing. They are dedicated to resolving doubts and ensuring students grasp each topic thoroughly. Moreover, DigiVend offers a plethora of benefits, including 100% placement assistance, extensive practical learning, and a vast network of over 100 placement partners. They focus on real-world projects and offer internships with leading companies to bolster students' practical experience. For those who seek a vibrant learning environment with continuous support, DigiVend's 24/7 customer support and Google certification are the cherries on top. With a proven track record of success and a commitment to practical learning, DigiVend is the ideal launchpad for aspiring digital marketers. To explore more, please visit https://www.digivendindia.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 9: Malabar Gold & Diamonds, a leading global jewellery retail brand, has bagged two prestigious awards in the jewellery sector. The jeweller has won 'The Bride's Pride' National Jewellery Award 2023, instituted by the All India Gems and Jewellery Domestic Council, for the best bridal diamond jewellery, and 'Seventh Retail Jewellers Guild Award' for the best diamond jewellery design. Malabar Gold & Diamonds' western region head Fanzeem Ahamed received 'The Bride's Pride' award from Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty in Mumbai and northern region head Jishad N.K received the 'Retail Jewellers Guild Award' from portfolio director Pankaj Shinde in Delhi. Malabar's extraordinary management skills, expertise and branding in launching elegant gold and diamond jewellery with diverse designs made it eligible for these coveted prizes. Further, the jeweller's transparency, credibility, and commitment to customer satisfaction were also taken into consideration while determining the awards. Malabar Gold & Diamonds has a vast and diverse collection of traditional and modern jewellery that distinguishes it from other jewellery brands. The jeweller is fully focused on and devoted to designing new ornaments that satiate customers' demands and preferences of new generation brides. It's 'Brides of India' campaign, highlighting India's rich and diverse wedding culture, was a big hit that resulted in reviving a huge demand for ethnic, antique and traditional jewellery designs for brides who are keen to preserve local flavour and attire. Malabar Gold & Diamonds presents a modern and attractive jewellery collection that consists of contemporary designs, bridal, party wear, casual wear and daily wear, which suit customers of any age, for any occasion and any festival. It also offers various sub-brands like 'Mine' Diamond Jewellery, 'Era' Uncut Diamond Jewellery, 'Divine' Indian Heritage Jewellery, 'Ethnix' Handcrafted Designer Jewellery, 'Precia' Gem Jewellery, Zoul Lifestyle Jewellery, Viraaz Royal Polki Jewellery, and children's Starlet Jewellery. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is the first in the industry to implement 'One India One Gold Rate' practice through which it charges the same price for jewellery everywhere in India. Along with ornaments, it issues a price tag that carries accurate making charges, stone weight, net weight, and stone charge. The jeweller also gives 10 promises that include sourcing of authentic gold, buyback guarantee, one-year free insurance for ornaments, free lifetime maintenance, 100% exchange value for gold, minimum making charges, 100% HUID hallmarking to ensure the purity of gold, and IGI-GIA certified diamonds. At present, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has over 330 showrooms, 14 wholesale units, and 9 production centres, spread across 11 countries. The Group spends 5% of its annual profit for various charity works and CSR initiatives. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN New Delhi [India], October 9: IIBM Institute is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in the Edtech arena, as we proudly unveil our groundbreaking platform, IIBM Institute. This pioneering Edtech platform has achieved the distinction of being recognized as the "Best Edtech Management Institute 2023" by the CEGR "Centre for Education Growth and Research". This esteemed accolade reaffirms our unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of digital education management. Vikas Maheshwari, CEO of IIBM Institute, expressed his gratitude and said, "We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reaffirms our mission to deliver top-quality education through the latest technological advancements. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff who continually strive for excellence." While receiving Award 2023. IIBM Institute has been on an impressive growth trajectory, and its leadership is confident that the coming year will see continued success and expansion. Their ambition to achieve a turnover of 150 crores in 2023-24 reflects their determination to continue making a significant impact in the ever-evolving Edtech landscape. IIBM Institute stands as an interactive and user-friendly platform, empowering learners to access educational content at their convenience, from any location. Meticulously designed to cater to MBA Degree aspirants, it offers a personalized learning journey. Furthermore, it equips educators with cutting-edge tools to create engaging and informative lessons. Our platform's state-of-the-art technology has redefined the consumption of digital educational content, providing a more immersive and comprehensible learning experience for students. We remain steadfast in our dedication to advancing the frontiers of education through innovation and personalized learning experiences. "IIBM Institute is a game-changer for the education industry, and we look forward to further developing and refining our platform to meet the evolving needs of competitive exam aspirants and educators." Since 2008, IIBM has trained more than 50,000 candidates in Management and data science careers and aims for 150 cr turnover in 2023-24. IIBM Institute will equip 4,000 learners with a globally recognized MBA and master's degree in Data Science by September 2024, the company said in a press release. It added a portion of the fund will also go towards scholarships based on merit, financial aid, and improving students' overall learning experience. With a strong focus on leveraging technology for learning, IIBM Institute is committed to shaping the leaders of tomorrow and providing MBA degrees, in France, and affiliated with other universities in providing MPBA certification programs also with various specializations. Globally Recognised in EU, US, Canada & 60+Countries and Accredited by the Ministry of Education, France. Offering Online MBA Degree from FRANCE with the Best IIT/IIM Faculty and Mentorship by ceos and Assured placement GUARANTEE at top companies. For further details please visit our website: https://iibmindia.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC) Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 9: Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has successfully conducted two illustrative events in India, in the presence of the Group CEO Andre Lacroix. Andre Lacroix visited Tiruppur, one of Asia's biggest knitwear export hubs, on 4th October. The events were sustainability-oriented and attended by top industry stakeholders of the region's textile and apparel industry. 55 km from Coimbatore, Tiruppur is home to 10,000 garment manufacturing units, of which the majority are MSMEs. Andre met with key members of the Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) in a Round Table discussion on the Sustainability agenda. The workshop, hosted by Intertek, was designed to explore the development of Tiruppur as a Sustainability Cluster for MSMEs. In attendance were leading textile manufacturers and brands like Poppys Knitwear, KM Knitwear, SNQS, Best Corporation, Esstee Exports, Techno Sport, CR Garments, Royal Classic, and Eastman Exports attended the workshop to discuss ways to strengthen their sustainability credentials and boost the adoption of digital tools and innovations within the Tiruppur cluster with Intertek's expertise and support. General Secretary N. Thirukkumaran from TEA spoke appreciatively about the invaluable role that Intertek is playing in supporting the region's textile industry. "Andre Lacroix is an expert on the topic and sharing of his experience with a global perspective will be fruitful to Tiruppur exporters," the TEA spokesperson said. "Intertek has been doing sustainability services in their global business for more than 100 years, providing end-to-end solutions so that the exporting units will ensure quality, safety, and sustainability in their business to protect all stakeholders connected with our business." The textile industry in Tiruppur is especially open to collective efforts and knowledge-sharing, which was evident during these events. Following the workshop, a large customer event was held for the major manufacturers, brands, and retailers from Tiruppur/Coimbatore, Chennai, and Bangalore. The event focused on the way ahead for India's textile industry, through science-based customer excellence, sustainability leadership, and digital innovations for the future. "At Intertek, we believe the Quality industry is moving from TIC - Testing, Inspection, Certification - to ATIC - which is Assurance, Testing, Inspection, and Certification," Andre said in his opening remarks, "and eight years ago, we strengthened our Value Proposition in the marketplace with end-to-end assessment of quality, safety, and sustainability processes. Sustainability is indeed the movement of our times, and the future success of the Apparel industry will be determined by how effectively it adapts to it." As a global ATIC leader, Intertek leverages science and the latest technology to provide the industry with solutions in the quality assurance space for addressing today's supply chain challenges. The company has remained a close partner of Tiruppur's growth journey over the years; in fact, since 1998, when Intertek first expanded its presence to the buzzing garment manufacturing hub. Currently, Intertek's sprawling Softlines Lab caters to the assurance, testing, inspection, and certification (ATIC) requirements of the textile belt of South India. Part of Intertek's wider efforts to support the development of the Indian textile industry includes their contribution to the Race to Net Zero Journey through sustainability initiatives and partnering in various socioeconomic development programmes, such as creating technical skill development and workforce training opportunities in Tiruppur and surrounding areas. From providing industry-agnostic to industry-specific solutions to helping bring total quality, safety, and sustainability to life, CEO Andre Lacroix's interactions with the region's industry stakeholders were a reflection of how Intertek lives its customer promise every day; delivering the Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise consistently with precision, pace, and passion, enabling customers to power ahead safely. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC). ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will embark Tuesday on an official visit to Marrakech, Morocco, to attend the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2023. The Union Finance Minister will also participate in the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting under the G20 Indian Presidency, besides investor and bilateral meetings with many countries and organisations During the visit, bilateral and investor meetings with Indonesia, Morocco, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany and France, besides other associated meetings, are also scheduled to take place from October 11-15, 2023, in Marrakech, Morocco, Ministry of Finance said in a release Monday. The Annual Meetings will be attended by Finance Ministers and Central Bankers from across the world. The Annual Meetings, which generally take place in October, are customarily held in Washington DC for two consecutive years and in another member country in the third year. The Indian delegation for the Annual Meetings will be led by the Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs and will comprise officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of India. Finance Minister Sitharaman and Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), will co-chair the fourth G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting. G20 FMCBG meeting will witness participation of 65 delegations from G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations in multilateral discussions centred around a broad spectrum of important global issues. The fourth G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise of two sessions -- Strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address shared challenges of the 21st Century The fourth G20 FMCBG meeting will comprise of two sessions -- strengthening Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to address shared challenges of the 21st Century; and Global Economy and Crypto Assets Agenda. During the meeting, the Volume 2 of the Report on strengthening MDBs by the Independent Expert Group (IEG) will also be released. Volume 1 was release during the 3rd FMCBG held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. On the sidelines of the fourth G20 FMCBG meeting, Principals from Indian G20 Presidency, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank will co-chair Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) on October 12, 2023. The Roundtable will discuss the progress made on debt restructuring and explore ways and means to support work of G20 countries. In a high-level event organised by the US Treasury, the Union Finance Minister will engage in a Roundtable Discussion on "IMF policy priorities and how the institution should support its membership". The Union Finance Minister will also participate in a discussion on the Partnership for "Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement" (RISE) - with the World Bank Group, organised by the G7 Japan Presidency. On the margins of the IMF-WB Annual Meetings in Marrakech, Sitharaman will participate in a discussion on the macroeconomic outlook during a G7 Africa Ministerial Roundtable. Sitharaman will also give the keynote address at a session on "MDBs evolution", co-hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and Center for Global Development (CGD). In the course of her visit, the Union Finance Minister will also participate in a Roundtable on "Reviving Growth with Inclusivity: Galvanising Private Capital to support Governments and Multilateral Institutions". In another high-level event on the sidelines, the Union Finance Minister will engage in a conversation with the Atlantic Council on India's economic prospects through 2024 and beyond. (ANI) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 9: Intercontinental Hotels Group Signed Hotel Management Agreements with Nikhil K Raheja, MD - Saryu Properties & Hotels Private Limited for VOCO Mumbai Powai Hotel & Convention Centre with Vijayta Raheja, Director - Sphpl for Holiday Inn Express & Suites Both Set To Open In Powai, Mumbai IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading hotel companies, has signed a management agreement with Saryu Properties & Hotels Pvt. Ltd. (Part of the K Raheja Group Family) to convert two hotels in Mumbai into VOCO Mumbai Powai Hotel & Convention Centre and Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Mumbai Powai. This Signing will see the debut of INTERCONTINENTAL'S VOCO brand in Western India and bring a new Holiday Inn Express & Suites to Mumbai, India / Bharat. Currently in the development phase, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mumbai Powai and VOCO Mumbai Powai Hotel & Convention Centre are scheduled to open in Q4 2023-2024 and Q2 2024-2025 respectively. Both hotels will be strategically located in the city's burgeoning start-up hub of Powai, appealing to a diverse array of business and leisure travellers. Powai is home to several educational institutions, Hiranandani Business Park, SEZ Parks and other commercial complexes. The area is a short drive from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, making it an extremely accessible locality. Once opened, both hotels will see demands from nearby businesses, corporations and IT companies. Commenting on the signings, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South-West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, "We are thrilled to announce the signing of two hotels in Mumbai, in partnership with Saryu Properties & Hotels Pvt. Ltd. The city offers a wealth of opportunities for the hospitality sector, and we are excited to contribute to its economic growth." Nikhil K Raheja, Managing Director, SPHPL shared, "We Believe this Partnership will assist us to deliver World Class Hospitality in Powai, Mumbai. Over the years, we have seen the growth of the locality and the change in dynamics with the New International Airport, Metro proximity and the Proposed Aarey Development. This signing is a testament to IHG's commitment to grow its footprint in India by bringing the right brands to the right markets." Vijayta Raheja, Director & Spokesperson, Saryu Properties & Hotels Pvt. Ltd., added, "We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts to introduce IHG's popular premium brand, VOCO in Mumbai & further expand the presence of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites - which is loved by guests worldwide. We are confident that our partnership with IHG to redevelop the two hotels will help us provide world-class hospitality to guests, at a time when demands from MICE/corporate events and the start-up industry have increased exponentially. We expect to benefit from the strength and scale of IHG's global systems, technology and strong loyalty programme." Sudeep added, "We are pleased with the confidence our owners have placed in our business and brands, and we look forward to further strengthening our portfolio in the country to offer exceptional hospitality to our guests. We are thrilled to bring these brands to Mumbai's flourishing hospitality industry and these properties will not only contribute to our net system size growth rapidly but also accelerate the momentum for the VOCO and Holiday Inn Express brands in the region." Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mumbai Powai Located at the heart of the city centre will deliver the brand's promise for a hassle-free and efficient stay for guests. Alongside comfortable modern rooms, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mumbai Powai will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge, and a well-equipped business centre. Also, guests looking to adhere to their fitness routine will be able to use the hotel's fully-equipped gymnasium. VOCO Mumbai Powai Hotel & Convention Centre Set to open in Q2 FY24-25, the 134-key VOCO Mumbai Powai will feature an all-day dining restaurant as well as a lobby and lounge bar. With meeting spaces spanning approximately 2,500 sqm of outdoor & indoor event space, the hotel will cater to business guests and MICE opportunities in the city. As one of IHG's fastest-growing premium brands, VOCO allows guests to enjoy a unique and refreshed experience. Since launching globally in 2018, voco has enjoyed rapid growth with multiple signings across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA). Once opened, VOCO Mumbai Powai will provide guests with a distinctive premium hospitality experience in Mumbai. The strategic deal further expands IHG's portfolio in Mumbai, supporting the company's growth ambitions in India and strengthening K Raheja Group's position in Mumbai as a World Class Developer partnering with Reputed International Brands for their Real Estate & Hospitality Endeavours. Nikhil K Raheja & Vijayta Raheja are third generation developers hailing from the reputed K Raheja Family Group with interests in Real Estate & Hospitality. Websites : www.krahejagroup.in | www.ihg.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has approved new rates for advertisements to be issued on private FM radio stations for the government policies and programmes based on the recommendations of the Rate Structure Committee set up by it, an official release said Monday. The release said this marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the Ministry to ensure a fair and sustainable pricing framework for private FM radio stations. The rising popularity of private FM channels in the country numbering over 380 in several Indian languages and in most States of the country has been an important platform for the central government to inform people about the policies and programmes. The new rates approved by the Ministry in the month of September 2023 include a 43 per cent increase in the base rate taking into account the rising cost dynamics for the period of December 2015 to March 2023. With this increase, the Gross Base rate for FM radio advertisements will increase from 52 to 74 rupees per ten seconds. This revision by the Ministry happened after 7 years, the release said. "This adjustment is intended to maintain parity with current market rates. The increase in Gross base Rate will also be beneficial for more than 400 Community Radio Stations that are currently operational in the country," the ministry's release said. Further, the Ministry has also decided to continue with the existing pricing formula for calculating city-wise rates. The pricing formula takes into various factors like city population and listenership data from the India Readership Survey (IRS) of 2019. Based on this formula the rates for 106 stations will increase by 100 per cent, a 50 to 100 per cent increase for 81 stations, and a less than 50 per cent increase for 65 stations for which listenership data is available. The Rate Structure Committee for private FM radio stations was set up by the Ministry last year to evaluate and recommend new rates which were last revised in 2015. The Committee submitted its recommendations after holdings several rounds of meetings with industry experts and stakeholders in addition to taking inputs from bodies like Association of Radio Operators of India. (ANI) Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared details about his meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the promotion of the film 'The Vaccine War.' "We had a great meeting with Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. He said that science is the future. We even requested him to screen the movie for students in the state," Agnihotri told ANI. In a recent interview with ANI, Agnihotri spoke about his film and said that there was a big gang of people who believed that India couldn't survive the COVID-19 pandemic. "Amidst the Covid pandemic, there was a fight whether we will survive or not. There was a big gang of people who were trying to sell their own country. They were saying to bring foreign vaccine and they believed that India can't do this," said Agnihotri. He added, "But in such a terrible situation some of our scientists risked their lives and believed that they can do it. They not only saved the lives of 130 crore people but also saved the lives of needy people by sending their vaccines to 101 countries. The person behind this was mostly our women scientists, our mothers." He said that his film described how India became self-reliant on vaccines and became the 'pharmacy of the world'. "I have focused mostly on India's victory, how India is becoming a great nation, how India has become self-reliant and how India's science is ready to show direction to the world. More than that, I also wanted people to understand who your enemies are. If you want to know who are the enemies of India, who is trying to sell India, then now you will get the answer in the vaccine war." Helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film stars Nana Patekar, Anupam Kher and Pallavi Joshi in the lead roles. 'The Vaccine War' narrates the tale of the triumph of scientists and 130 crore Indian citizens who fought the battle against COVID-19. It gave a glimpse of the activities of scientists involved with the BBV152 vaccine, also known as Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Virology. (ANI) American actor and writer Greta Gerwig is revealing an unexpected detail about her critically acclaimed film, 'Barbie', reported People. The 40-year-old filmmaker explained that she made the decision to do her own clandestine fieldwork during the movie's opening weekend in July by hiding in the theatre's back during showings to observe the audience's response first-hand. "I went around to different theatres and sort of stood in the back, and would then also turn up the volume if I felt it wasn't playing at the perfect level," she recounted during a screen talk on Sunday at the BFI London Film Festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She said at one of those sneaky screenings, she heard a woman cracking up over a particularly zingy one-liner about the Proust Barbie. "And I was like, 'That joke was for you!' " Gerwig told the festival audience. According to People, Gerwig went on to share that the film was "the most joyful" experience she's ever had on a set. "So, I thought, if I can make a movie that is half as fun to watch as it was to make, I think maybe we've got a shot," she said. Gerwig also said that she occasionally struggled with self-doubt with the writing and some of her artistic decisions, such as the adored "I'm Just Ken" dance scene, which depicts the numerous Kens fighting. "That sequence, in particular, was just filled with choices that thrilled me and made me so happy, but then I'd be driving home at the end of the day and thinking, 'Oh no!' " she recalled. Gerwig is focusing on brand-new artistic endeavours as she continues to enjoy Barbie's record-breaking success. She made light of the fact that she was presently working on anything new by withholding further information. "I'm in the writing process," she said at the festival, adding that she is still grappling with self-doubt. "It's hard because I'm having recurring nightmares." In July, Gerwig echoed that same sentiment when talking about another upcoming project that will see her directing two Narnia movies, based on acclaimed British author C.S. Lewis' classic The Chronicles of Narnia book series, reported People. "I haven't even really started wrapping my arms around it. But I'm properly scared of it, which feels like a good place to start. I think when I'm scared, it's always a good sign," she said on the Inside Total Film podcast. "Maybe when I stop being scared, it'll be like, 'Okay. Maybe I shouldn't do that one.' No, I'm terrified of it. It's extraordinary. And so we'll see," Gerwig continued. "I hope to make all different kinds of movies in the course of the time I get to make movies, which -- it's a long time, but it's also limited," she added. "I want to do big things and small things and everywhere in between, and having another big canvas is exciting and also daunting." Sometime in the future, Gerwig also hopes to dive into the Barbie universe again and bring fans even more movies. "There's a tone and a humor and a joy, and obviously the world is so beautiful," she told People in July, declaring, "I want to go back to Barbie Land." (ANI) A toddler sits on the ground momentarily at an arrival area for migrants bused in from Texas in the 500 block of West Vernon Park Place on Oct. 3, 2023, in Chicago. OEMC workers on-site said they expected two more buses to arrive Tuesday night, for a total of ten buses for the day. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is going south, and in more ways than one. Johnson has announced that he will lead a city delegation to the southern U.S. border soon to survey the situation there. As his administration preps for the trip, the citys migrant crisis is spiraling. Advertisement Since August 2022, 17,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago from Texas and other states on the southern border. More than 10,100 are in city-run shelters, while another 2,400 are in Chicago police stations and 820 at the city airports, the Tribune reported last week. We have anywhere from 23 to 25 buses that we would expect to be coming in on a 24-hour cycle, the mayors deputy chief of staff, Cristina Pacione-Zayas, told WLS-Ch. 7. We are not able to control the number of buses. But what we can control is when we better understand whats happening at one of the source points. Advertisement The Chicago team would point out the difficulties of travel to Chicago in the middle of winter, Pacione-Zayas explained to Politico Illinois. The city has been deluged with migrants, and Johnson has been bombarded with critics. While he is at the border, the city will be drowning in the crisis. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 97 Migrants live in tents along the Dan Ryan Expressway near 5100 S. Wentworth Avenue and outside a Chicago police station on Oct. 17, 2023. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) Aldermen such as 11th Ward Ald. Nicole Lee are crying, Enough! In an Oct. 3 letter to Johnson, Lee noted that there are roughly 298 migrants living at the 9th District police station in her ward, which includes Chinatown. The situation is unsafe and unsanitary for the migrants, the police and our community, she wrote, as she asked for more support and resources. Mr. Mayor, the 9th District cannot handle any more migrants at this time. Other aldermen have expressed similar concerns about the perils at some of the large shelters, which are housing hundreds of asylum-seekers. In recent weeks, at raucous community meetings across the city, the loudest voices have pushed back hard on proposals to locate shelters in their neighborhoods, only to see city officials go ahead with the controversial moves. Residents of South Shore have filed a lawsuit demanding that the city of Chicago cease housing the migrants in publicly owned buildings. The lawsuit argues that using facilities such as police stations and schools endangers the communitys health and violates city zoning laws. Meanwhile, the Johnson administration has signed a contract to erect massive, climate-controlled tent camps to house the refugees this winter, while Gov. J.B. Pritzker and others have questioned that effort as Chicagos polarlike season approaches. So, when Johnson travels to the border, he will leave behind a city in crisis and plenty of questions. Such as, has the city reached out to neighboring towns and suburbs and asked them to accommodate some of the migrants? Some have argued that vacant schools and government buildings could be repurposed as temporary housing. Are city officials considering that option? Is it time for Chicago to declare, Enough! and refuse to take on any new arrivals? Advertisement We already know whats going on at the border a steady flow of desperate people crossing into our country to escape harsh, and in some cases, deadly, political and economic repression. The refugees are willing to get to a place where they may sleep for weeks on floors in police stations, rather than remain in those terrible places. 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 > Critics dismiss Johnsons planned trip as a publicity stunt, a high-profile attempt to show he is large and in charge. Mr. Mayor, instead of touring the border, heres a better use of your extremely valuable time. You love to remind voters that you are a former community organizer. So, you should be right at home, attending those community meetings to hear firsthand the barrage of complaints and concerns of your constituents and respond. Instead of jumping on a jet to fly 1,400 miles to the border, take a short ride to OHare International Airport to inspect the humanity languishing there. Come to my neighborhood, where I regularly walk by the shuttered American Islamic College, at Irving Park Road and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The school has been transformed into temporary housing for 1,000 migrants. Young children are playing outside, their numerous bicycles propped up inside the gates. All are provided beds, hot showers and regular meals. Directly across the street, on an embankment butting up against the busy drive, sit several thin, raggedy tents blowing in the wind. Living there are homeless Chicagoans. Mayor, ask yourself, whats wrong with that picture? Advertisement Laura Washington is a political commentator and longtime Chicago journalist. Her columns appear in the Tribune each Monday. Write to her at LauraLauraWashington@gmail.com. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the Bihar government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the cast survey, stating that it was done out of "political hatred". "The cast survey, which has been conducted, was done out of political hatred. Nitish Kumarji got it done to acquire dominance in the political space. The report of the cast survey showed that the percentage of the upper caste people in the state is 15%. When the cast survey was conducted back in 1956 and 1962, the percentage was the same, in fact, above than this", Paras said while speaking to ANI in Bihar's Patna. "Sitting at the Patna secretariat, the Chief Minister ordered for the survey. No one came to conduct a survey in my village. The upper caste people who are not the voters of Nitish Kumar and the 'Ghamandiya' alliance, the survey deliberately showed them less in numbers', he added. Earlier, the Bihar government released caste survey data, with the figures that may have ramifications for the Lok Sabha polls next year, showing that Other Backward Caste (OBC) and Extremely Backward Class (EBC) together account for 63 per cent of the state's population. "The extremely backward class is 36.01 per cent, the general category is 15.52 per cent and the Other Backward Caste (OBC) is 27 per cent," Vivek Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary said. According to the data, 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 communities form 4.27 per cent and 2.87 per cent of the population, the caste survey said. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar belongs to the Kurmi community in the state. The total population of Bihar is more than 13 crore. Meanwhile, a couple of days after the Bihar government released caste survey data, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President and Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan also questioned the Bihar government, asking it to make the process transparent. "Mere words can't define caste survey, you have to make the process transparent. On what basis did the Bihar government conduct a caste survey? Nobody knows the process. Most of the residents would say that nobody asked them, they're not even aware..." the LJP (Ram Vilas) chief told reporters in Patna. (ANI) After the corruption allegation from opposition leaders, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday called the opposition leaders for an open debate and said that he is fully prepared. Mann challenged Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, Sukhbir Singh Badal of Akali Dal and Raja Waring-Pratap Bajwa of Congress for open debate on 'Punjab Day'. CM Mann posted on X, "It is my open invitation to BJP president Jakharji, Sukhbir Singh Badal of Akali Dal and Raja Waring-Pratap Bajwa of Congress that instead of the daily cliche, come and sit in front of the Punjabi people and the media, how did they loot Punjab so far, bro? - Nephews, brothers-in-law, friends, mulahze, toll plazas, youth farmers, business-shopkeepers, gurus' words, water of canals" "Let's debate live on all issues.. You can also bring paper with you but I will speak orally. November 1st 'Punjab Day' will be a good day.. you will get time for preparation. I am fully prepared because there is no need to memorize things to speak the truth", the Punjab Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, hitting out at the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Punjab, Jhakar said that the party under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann has done a huge deception with Punjab. "Today, the AAP party under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann has done a huge deception with Punjab. The water of Punjab is its lifeline. Not just the farmers, but the economy of Punjab is dependent on it. Punjab BJP will not let anyone take water from here, and Punjab does not have water to give to anyone. I appeal to the people of Punjab to be alert, AAP can do anything and spread disturbance here," the president of the BJP, Punjab unit Sunil Jakhar told ANI. (ANI) National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah expressed gratitude towards the Congress party after the Congress-NC alliance scored a victory in the LAHDC (Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council)-Kargil elections. Abdullah also said that these elections should be a wake-up call for the Bhartiya Janata Party. "The BJP was dealt a resounding defeat at the hands of the NC-INC 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", he posted on X. Launching an attack on the BJP for its defeat in the elections he said, "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". "These election results should serve as a wake-up call for the Bharatiya Janata Party. 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." Abdullah posted on X. Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh gave credit to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in Ladakh. "...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 posted on X. The Chief of People's Democratic Party (PDP) Mehboob Mufti said, "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." The PDP however did not contest the election. The Congress-National Conference alliance bagged 22 seats out of 26 seats (10 Congress and 12 National Conference) while the BJP just won 2 seats and 2 seats were won by independent candidates. This was the first election in the Union Territory Ladakh after Article 370 was scrapped from the Indian constitution. (ANI) A Kerala woman working as a caregiver in Israel was injured in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict on Saturday. According to her family, Sheeja Anand (41) who was working for a family in Israel was injured in a rocket attack. Anand contacted her family after the attack started in Israel and informed them that she was safe. She called her family at noon, the second time, but her call got disconnected while speaking to her family. Later in the day another Indian citizen hailing from Kerala called and informed the family that Anand was injured and had undergone surgery. However, she further informed that she is being shifted to another hospital for another surgery. Anand's family is awaiting more information from her. Anand has been working in Israel for the last seven years. Her husband and her two children are in India. On Saturday, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country. The death toll in Israel since Hamas began its attack has surpassed 700 people, according to officials, The Times of Israel reported citing Hebrew media outlets. Among the dead, dozens of soldiers and police were killed in the attack. Several Israelis were taken as hostages in Gaza, the Times of Israel reported citing officials. 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. Earlier, in retaliation, the Israel Air Force launched a very powerful and lethal air strike in the Gaza Strip with dozens of fighter jets attacking the areas used by Hamas terrorists. Israel has 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. (ANI) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting scheduled to be held on October 9 has commenced in the national capital. The meeting will hold discussions on various issues from poll strategies for the upcoming elections to caste-based census and the Women's Reservation Act. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi arrived at the AICC office to attend the meeting. Along with them the Chief Ministers of all the Congress-ruled states and the top party brass will deliberate on several issues at the CWC meeting. Speaking about the CWC meeting, Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, "In the CWC meeting we will discuss our strategy, what we are going to do, how we are going to do it, and which leaders will get the duty for the upcoming state elections." Earlier today, Congress MP Deepender S Hooda also spoke about the meet and said, "The party's strategy and preparedness for upcoming 5 states elections and Lok Sabha polls will be discussed. Himachal aur Karnataka toh abhi jhanki hain, poora Hindustan abhi dikhana baaki hai." Talking about the caste-based census, Congress leader Bhanwar Jitendra Singh said, "In the Udaipur declaration and the CWC meeting, we have decided that the Congress party is in favour of caste-based census. Orders have been given, and the process has started in Rajasthan... There should be no doubt about it." 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. Earlier, Congress held a two-day Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Hyderabad with party leaders expressing optimism about receiving a "clear mandate" in the upcoming assembly elections in five states. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana are set to go to polls later this year. "We will fulfil their expectations of law and order, freedom, social and economic justice, equality and equity," the party took a resolution during the meeting. The party also announced six guarantees for the people of Telangana after the CWC meeting. General Secretary KC Venugopal said, "The Congress has announced 6 Guarantees to transform Telangana into a prosperous state so as to address the needs of the poor, and backward and ensure that marginalised are uplifted and live a life of dignity." (ANI) In a move towards promoting education and the socio-economic development of Scheduled Castes (SCs) in India, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has launched the "Scheme for Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas" (SHRESHTA). The primary objective of SHRESHTA is to expand the reach of government development initiatives and address service deficiencies in SC-dominant areas within the education sector, read the press release from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The scheme aims to achieve this through the collaboration of grant-in-aid institutions run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and residential high schools offering high-quality education. SHRESHTA envisions creating an environment conducive to the socio-economic upliftment and holistic development of SC students while securing their future opportunities. The scheme is structured in two modes, read the press release. SHRESHTA Schools (Best CBSE/State Board Affiliated Private Residential Schools): Under this mode, a specific number of meritorious SC students from States/Union Territories are selected through the National Entrance Test for SHRESHTA (NETS), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). These selected students are admitted to the best private residential schools affiliated with CBSE/State Boards in the 9th and 11th grades, enabling them to complete their education up to the 12th standard. The selection process involves identifying the best-performing CBSE-based private residential schools with over 75per cent pass percentage for the past three years. Approximately 3000 SC students with parents' annual income up to 2.5 lakh are chosen annually based on their merit. The scheme covers the entire fee for each student, including school fees (tuition fees) and hostel fees (mess charges). Admissible fees for each class are specified as follows- 9th: Rs 1,00,000, 10th: Rs 1,10,000, 11th: Rs 1,25,000, 12th: Rs 1,35,000, read the press release. The scheme also incorporates a bridge course within the selected schools, targeting the individual academic requirements of students and aiding their adjustment to the school environment. The cost of the bridge course, equivalent to 10% of the annual fee, is also covered by the Department. The Ministry will regularly monitor the students' progress. Second, NGO/VO Operated Schools/Hostels (EXISTING COMPONENT)- This mode applies specifically to schools and hostels run by voluntary organizations (VOs) and NGOs, offering education up to class 12, read the release. Schools and hostels receiving grant-in-aid and demonstrating satisfactory performance will continue to benefit under this mode. Grants under this scheme are provided to cover school fees and residential charges for SC students admitted to these schools, read the release. The grant amount per SC student is specified based on applicable guidelines. The SHRESHTA scheme signifies the government's commitment to ensuring quality education and holistic development opportunities for SC students. By bridging service gaps and promoting educational excellence, it aims to empower SC students and facilitate their socio-economic progress. (ANI) These incidents took place in July and September 2023. The High Court directed Delhi Police to file the status report. The matter is listed on October 19 for a hearing. As per Delhi police, a fourth-year B. Tech student allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in July 2023. The deceased was identified as Ayush (20), a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly. In another similar incident, a 21-year-old student of B. Tech final year at the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi died by suicide on September 1, said police. The B.Tech student was on an extension as he failed to clear some exams, said police. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Kerala High Court order refusing to suspend the conviction of Lakshadweep politician Mohammed Faizal in an attempt to murder case and also permitted him to continue his membership as a parliamentarian. A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and Sanjay Karol also issued notice to the concerned respondents on the Mohammed Faizal plea. The top court while staying the Kerala HC order dated October 3 this year said, "The interim order passed by this Court in favour of the petitioner in remand order is made operational." On August 22, the top court remanded the matter to the High Court to reconsider Faizal's plea again but with a clarification that the benefit of the suspension of conviction order would continue for Faizal till the HC decides it again. Hence the top court has permitted Mohammed Faizal to continue as a Lakshadweep MP. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of Parliament Mohammed Faizal has moved the Supreme Court against the Kerala High Court order rejecting his plea seeking suspension of his conviction in an attempt to murder case. Kerala HC on October 3 dismissed his plea seeking suspension of his conviction in the attempt to muder case. Faizal now challenged said HC's order in the Supreme Court. In consequence of the Kerala HC order, Mohammed Faizal has been disqualified from the Lok Sabha after the Kerala High Court rejected his plea in an attempt to murder case. This is the second time for the NCP MP that his Lok Sabha membership has been disqualified. In January this year, he was disqualified from the lower house of Parliament, over his conviction in a case along with four others for an attempt to murder, . However, his disqualification was revoked in March after the Kerala High Court stayed his conviction in a criminal case. But the Supreme Court remanded the matter back to the High Court to consider it afresh. Earlier, the Kavaratti Sessions Court had convicted four persons, including Faizal. Thereafter, The UT Administration of Lakshadweep moved the Supreme Court challenging the Kerala High Court order, which suspended the conviction of Lakshadweep MP Faizal in the attempt to murder case. According to the prosecution, Faizal led a group of people to attack and grievously injure Salih over an argument about constructing a shed. The victim had been flown to Kerala where he remained hospitalised for months. (ANI)